Linguistic DNA - Concept Modelling Demonstrator

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	david_n	king_n	saul_n	12,106	5	9.9774	5	false

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A09998	Master Bezaes sermons vpon the three chapters of the canticle of canticles wherein are handled the chiefest points of religion controversed and debated betweene vs and the aduersarie at this day, especially touching the true Iesus Christ and the true Church, and the certaine & infallible marks both of the one and of the other. Translated out of French into English by Iohn Harmar ...; Sermons sur les trois premiers chapitres du Cantique des cantiques. English	Bèze, Théodore de, 1519-1605.; Harmar, John, 1555?-1613.	1587 (1587)	STC 2025; ESTC S101752	345,082	450

them of Kedar For all the shining brightnesse of this spouse commeth vnto her from the true Salomon which is that true king of peace on whome dependeth all her beeing and brightnesse as the moone hath no light but of the sunne This bewtie is also wel set forth and described in the 45. Psal vers 11. vnto which the Kedarits are here opposed I meane the children of darckenesse who appertaine not at all to this King of light nor vnto this Queene amongest which also Dauid complaineth that hee had dwelt and beene held captiue too long Psalme 120. vers 5. 13 Now by these matters which wee haue aboue declared and the times wherein we are the Lord maketh vs to see if we haue any eies and causeth vs feele and perceiue if we be not more then bereaued of sense how not onely expedient but howe altogether necessarie it is that wee bee well instructed in the knowledge of the true markes of the Church being in so manie places as yet wholly defaced and in other places so counterfeited that it is hard for a man not to bee deceaued among them if hee looke not the nearer vnto them examine all by this touchstone which is the worde of the Lorde enregistred by the Prophets and Apostles the summe whereof wee haue in our Christian Creede Aboue all let these temporizers and irresolute and politique fellowes of our time vnto whome properlie this spouse here speaketh looke vnto themseues and insteede of beeing scandalized and offended with the poore estate of this spouse according vnto the worlde prouide for their owne conscience vpon paine of euerlasting death seeing that without the church there is no saluation and hearing the reprehension which Elias maketh against them which knowe not on which side to turne themselues 1. Kings 18.21 let them take pitty on themselues and ioine themselues vnto this spouse to the end all may come togither with hir vnto eternal and euerlasting blisse and felicity through our Lorde Iesus Christ Amen THE SEVENTH SERMON Our helpe be in the name of God c. It is written as followeth in the first Chapter of the Canticle of Canticles the sixth verse 6 Regard me not that I am browne for the sun hath looked vpon me The sonnes of my mother were angry against mee they set mee to keepe the vineyard but I kept not my owne vineyard 1 A briefe rehearsall of the Sermon going before 2 The Church leaueth not to bee a Church for some defects of hers bee it in manners or in doctrine How we ought to beare our selues in such a case The difference betwixt a bodie which hath some fauls defect a bodie vtterlie rotten in the most noble and chiefe parts 3 The crosse ought not to bring the Church out of knowledge but is contrariwise an expresse demonstration thereof 4 The great desolations of the Church haue happened by the principall of them within it 5 Wherefore the spouse speaketh here of a vine 6 In what sense the Church calleth hir persecutours the sonnes of hir mother 7 Whence the anger and despite of bastard brethren proceedeth against their innocent sister euen to put her sometimes out of the house 8 The application of this Doctrine to the estate of the Church froÌ„ many ages vnto this which is now WEE haue vnderstood the woordes of the spouse turning her speech vnto the daughters of Ierusalem that is to say vnto them who according to the diuersitie of times which went before Salomon folowed afterwards beeing Israelites by name made small reckoning notwithstanding of knowing either what religion was amidst the conflicts and strifes they had with the nations bordering about them or what this spouse meant or els applied themselues to the greatest and mightiest despising the poore estate and condition of the small number of the children of God as appeared by the writings of the Prophets and as it happened vnto Iesus Christ himselfe Mat. 11. and Mar. 6.3 Whereupon the spouse warned them that for all this shee leaueth not to haue her true beuty to be knowen thereby and followed But now shee addeth a singular exhortation which consisteth in three points the first that it is not the outward hew which men must stand vpon to iudge of her bewty the second that men make her blacker then indeed she is the third that this blackenesse of hers is not naturall and therefore by consequent will not alwaies continue to be such adding withall through whose fault it is that shee is in this case 2 Now touching the first of these points she warneth and aduertiseth them not to stand so much vpon considering of her in this hew how sun-burnt soeuer it be a warning aduertisment of al others most necessarie seeing there is nothing so faire and perfect in nature whereof a man groweth not out of tast and liking if letting passe to consider the bewty and goodnes thereof he settle his minde wholy to take a view of euery defect imperfection which may be found in it whereas rightly to iudge of a thing and to make our profit thereby we must equally consider of it and vprightly ballance euerie thing in it And as this measure is to be held in esteeming al other things so is it especially and aboue all to bee obserued in this matter wherof we here speak They whom they called in ancient time Catharists as also the Donatists and of our time a certain sort of Anabaptists make good proofe hereof who imagining a perfect beuty of a church in this world seuer theÌ„selues from all others as if in their particular assemblies this perfection were to be found wherein they doe greatlie abuse and deceiue themselues First in this that they stand only vpon the defects of the Church thinking that therefore the Church is no Church Secondly in this that they espy a mote in the eie of an other will not see the beame which is in their own eies We are therefore to note that there is a diuersity difference of defectes and imperfections which are found in the Church The first are touching manners which howe wicked and corrupt soeuer they bee either in the pastours and sheepheards or in the sheep ought not to cast vs into such a rage as therefore to thinke that there is no Church in those places where such corruptions are found I say so long as the truth is there taught according to that which the Lord said speaking to the Scribes and Pharisies so long as they sate in the chaire of Moses that is to say so long as they taught the doctrine of Moses doe yee saith he that which they saie but doe not that which they do Mat. 23.2 Although this hinder not but that a man may well withdrawe himselfe from the company of such men following the Apostles admonition 1. Cor. 5.11 as the Prophet protesteth himselfe did Psal 17.4 and warneth vs to do the like Ps 1.1 nay letteth not but that a man may

that in this life which the Apostle Saint Paul 1. Cor. 15.45 maketh to consist of a liuing soul man had receiued neither hurt nor chaunge but had beene maintained and continued therein so long as it had pleased God But man hauing so wretchedlie and carelesly offended God did most iustlie enthrall and make himselfe subiect vnto death Rom. 5.12 and thereupon haue entred all the disorders and confusions by which death hath beene caused aswel within men as without among the which wee are to account among the principal causes the chaunging of the seasons through which there happen these coldes and heates moistures and droughs which are as it were so manie preachers of the sinnes of man and so manie executioners of the iust condemnation of him This notwithstanding it is a marueilous naie an infinite grace fauor that the Lord hath so ruled this vnrulinesse so ordered this disorder signified by Moses where hee saith that God beeing prouoked by the sinne of man cursed the earth Gen. 3.17 that for all this the woorld is maintained and continued by a reciprocal and enterchangeable succession of foure seasons which is reckoned vp for a speciall fauour vnto mankind after the deluge Gen. 8.22 the sharpnes of the winter being bounded with the sweete and gracious spring-time as if death were chased away by life the parching heat deaded by the teÌ„perature of the autumn-time according as the sunne accompanied with light and with heat commeth near or goeth farther from vs a work of God maruailouslie nay infinitly admirable 2 Now if this visible woorlde and which tendeth vnto his ende and terme bee subiect to such varieties of years seasons moneths and daies the other worlde which is spirituall albeit it tend vnto immortality is yet more turning wheeling not on two stars which the Astronomers call Poles but vpon the wheele of Gods prouidence conducting this other woorld by the springs of a motion altogether secret and vnknowen vnto vs except it be so far as it please God to make vs more particularlie to knowe and perceiue them I vnderstand by this other world him whose sinnes are taken awaie by the Lambe Ioh. 1.29 him for whom the father gaue his sonne Ioh. 3.16 and who is opposed vnto him for whom Iesus Christ saith that hee praieth not Ioh. 17.9 and from whom also wee are seuered Ioh. 17.16 In a worde it is the Church that is here spoken of and which hath so long as it continueth here belowe her spring-time and her sommer her autumne her winter not ruled by the course of the starres but as I haue said by a speciall motion of him who hath made the heauens and the earth to beginne and ende where and how far and in what sort it pleaseth God Neither is it therefore to bee said that the Church beeing composed of men passeth not through the colde and heat of this lower and elementarie world and by the effectes which follow thereof as are barrennes famines plagues and other inconueniences nay that sometimes it suffereth not in these things more then others as this argument is handled at large Ps 73. yet notwithstanding this naturall disposition of seasons is not it whereby wee must iudge the seasons of the Church because her spring time is often in the greatest and sharpest winter of others and contrariwise that which is the spring-time to others is vnto her the most rough and tempestuous winter For shee hath her sunne by her selfe the approching whereof with a milde and quickning heate not parching or scorching bringeth her alwaies a most pleasant spring-time for her better sowing budding florishing afterward a teÌ„perat suÌ„mer for the bringing forth of her fruit after that a goodlie autumn to gather it in his ripenesse finally a good winter for the enioying thereof and preparing of another seede Contrariwise when this sunne withdraweth it selfe or distributeth not the influence of his light and heate as the necessities require there are no good times of sowing or of haruest or of vintage but a general barrainnes and mortal famine in a word a perpetual winter that a man cannot see so much as one greene leafe though all the woorlde besides bee in great good health and tranquillitie with plentie and abundance of al dainties and delicacies This sunne is this Bridegroome that sunne of righteousnesse who carrieth health vpon his wings Malac. 4.2 that braunch of light or daie-spring from on high Zach. 3.8 Luke 1.78 lightenning them whom hee found in the shadow of death Esai 9.2 and shining on his Ierusalem Esaie 60.1.2 And because that this is by the order which he hath established that this world of his is gouerned I meane by the sincere preaching of his word and the administration of his sacramentes accompanied with the efficacie of his holie spirite according as the sunne drawing neare or going farther off appeareth vnto the worlde we must necessarilie conclude that according as this holie ministerie hath his force or is depriued of it whether it be for a time eclypsed or whether it cast forth his beams mightily but meÌ„ loue darknes stil more then this light in such sort that litle effect thereof appeareth it is vpon this diuersitie and difference wee must iudge of the good and faire weather or of the il and hard time of the Church not according vnto the outward either prosperitie or aduersitie of this worlde belowe Notwithstanding when it so pleaseth God the sunne of the Church and the sunne of this world meet to cherish it in al kind of sortes as sometimes on the contrarie both of them are withdrawen together to bring on it a marueilous rough and as it were a deadlie winter 3 Examples hereof are sowen throughout the sacred histories and appeare yet most clearly in our time but I wil content my selfe with the allegation of a few notable examples vnto the which Salomon himselfe might seem to haue had an especiall regard I say then that if euer the Church enioyed a goodly and faire time of weather it was vnder Iosua and the gouernours of that time the people beeing planted together with the seruice of God most triumphantly in the land of promise as appeareth by that which is written in Iosu 24.35 Afterwarde for al the time of the Iudges vntill Samuel if it had one faire day it had an whole yeare of stormy weather and tempestes And what a witnter was that time in the which the Arke of the couenant was taken captiue Silo ruined briefly all brought into an vtter confusion God draue away afterwarde this storme of fowle weather by his Samuel who also reformed the schooles of the Prophets But this sun-shine was scarcely appeared when horrible darckenesse was brought in by Saul the Priests themselues beeing massacred sorcerers and southsaiers set vp and restored and the people exposed to ignominie among their enimies beeing as a body without an head vntill that Dauid not without grieuous rough stormes being made king by

points of aduancing the good hindering the il by a watchful naie continuall care and prouidence handling the sworde of the word of God with the right and the left hand as occasion requireth as wel in general vnto the whole flock as also by diuiding it particularly to euerie one as it is written Act. 21.31 and 2. Tim. 2.15 Go to then saith the Bridegroome in this place yee Gardiens keepers of my vineyard be you continual in chase of these hurtfull beastes and leaue not vntill you haue rid and freed my vineyard of them And by what means Marie setting the toiles and pitching the haies of the word of God to catch and entrap them therein shutting them vp in their dens and caues by this woorde also compared vnto fire consuming the chaffe of falshood and lies and if they will not bee taken and tamed and transformed into sheepe chasing them awaie and driuing them out of the flocke 1. Tim. 1.20 and so leauing them vnto the iudgement of him who iudgeth those who are without Tit. 3.20 and 1. Cor. 5.13 Asmuch is to be sayd concerning other foxes who by their scandalous maners wicked examples wast destroy the vines in like maner especially the tender ones which sort of foxes are otherwise called scabbed sheep compared vnto leaueÌ„ which sowreth the whole lump of which the Apostle giueth vs a rule in the person of the incestuous 1. Cor. 5.5.11 And these are the chief and principall hunters of these foxes and young cubbes For it is properly by the spirit of the Lords mouth that the vineyard of the Lord is planted husbanded and preserued 6 But besides these vnto whom properly this charge appertaineth there are yet other hunters in the vineyard of the Lord who ought to trauell no lesse in this hunting to wit the magistrates aswell soueraigne as other called also seruantes of god established in autority girded by him with a bawdrier Iob. 12.18 Rom. 13.1 to the end they should mantaine not only honesty of life opposed vnto all violence and dissolution but to the end that God may bee knowen and obeied by the establishment and maintenance of the true seruice of God which is called Piety or godlinesse 1. Tim. 2.2 These are they therefore who should with al their power which God hath giuen them vphold maintaine the holy ministery seruice of God as wel in the purity of doctrine as also in the discipline of the Church each conformably vnto the word of the Lord witnessed by the writings of his Prophets without either adding any thing thereto or diminishing ought there-from and consequently bridle as much as in them lieth and also punish according vnto the exigence of the case the open and conuicted wicked and incorrigible perturbers of that which is the true Archpiller and foundation of humane society namely the purity and exercise of true religion and all this they should doe by the order which God himselfe hath established not medling with that which appertaineth vnto the pastors and auncientes of the Church and the holy ministerie like vnto Vzzias 2. Chron. 26.19 Matth. 20.25 and Luk. 12.14 pertaining also as little and lesse a great deale to the pastors to intermedle with ciuil Iurisdiction and temporal as they call it as vnto the magistrates to administer in the Church the word and the sacramentes The magistrates on the other side must take heede how they make Lawes to bind the conscience or take vpon them to sette vp a gouernment of the house of God according vnto their owne wisedome and aduice which thing appertaineth vnto God alone who hath ordained deliuered and enregistred his inuiolable lawes in his holy Scriptures as wel of the olde couenaunt which dured but a time as of the newe which shal continue and endure vnto the end of the world Which if it had beene well obserued or if it might bee redressed at this day then verily we should see the Church of God so reformed as it ought to be as we see how the holy Kings gouerned theÌ„selues in this point as Dauid and Salomon who euer tooke counsel of the mouth of the Lord and did according thereunto without passing of their boundes The like did Asa 2. Chron. 15.12 and Iosaphat 2. Chr. 17.7 and 19.11 and Ezechias and Iosias as their historie declareth 7 But wil some man say is this enough to say Take vs those foxes seeing there are so and so many sortes of them and that they who should be the hunters and takers of them are often times themselues the most dangerous foxes and wolues of al Mich. 3.3 Act. 20.29 I answere that it is enough to saie take them seing this word proceedeth out of his mouth which in speaking giueth vs the abilitie efficacie of executing that which he commaundeth as experience hath alwaies declared the same being neither the wilines of those foxes nor the violence of those Lyons Tygers euer able to hinder the conseruation or restauration of this vineyard wheÌ„ the time therof was come this heritage possession which reacheth from one end of the world vnto an other being giuen vnto this Bridegrome for euer Psal 110. whose kingdome by consequent which is this vineyard remaineth for euer although that vntil that later daie in the which the Angels shall rid this vineyard of brambles and briars and shal faggot them vp and cast them into euerlasting fire Matth. 13.41 when God shalbe all in all 1. Cor. 15.25 it be in danger still to bee thus assaulted but yet so that not one good and true plant of this vineyard can be taken away and rooted vp Ioh. 17.12 189. 8 And this is the cause why the spouse addeth this verse full of incomprehensible comfort and consolation saying The Bridegroome is mine and I am his For what a treasure is this This is the only sonne coessential and coeternal with God the father in asmuch as he is God and in asmuch as he is man the perfit of perfits he in whom the father is fully pleased contented in whom are al the treasures of knowledge and vnderstanding and who hath a name aboue al names hauing power in heauen in earth and who is so good so mighty so rich as he And we what are we conceiued and born in sin not able of our selues to think on that which is of God in respect of our saluation but culpable of iust and eternal malediction Who can therefore conceiue of such a bountie liberality either in respect of the giuer or in regard of that which is giuen or in respect of them vnto whom it is giuen He who is the giuer thereof hath all the reason in the world to hate him on whom he bestoweth this exceeding treasure the gift is no worldes-good but the giuer himselfe hee on whom the gift is bestowed is not only vnworthy thereof but worthy of the cleane contrarie All which circumstances beeing well considered ought so to moue the

him all power and all empire yea ouer euery temporall estate of this worlde sitting in the middest of Magistrates Psal 182. losing and girding the collar and girdle of Princes Iob. 12.18 As hee also demaundeth them an account of their gouernement Psal 58.1 But here is mention made of a kingdome which is not like vnto them of this world as the king hath himselfe declared it Ioh. 18.36 the one concerneth all men the greatest part whereof shall perish by their owne fault Math. 7.13 the other concerneth them who are especially called the house of God although there bee more which are called then chosen Math. 20.16 In the one the question is of the gouernement heere belowe which passeth no farther in the other the case is of the gouernement of the conscience reaching farther theÌ„ this life The one is temporall the other is eternall the one is sensuall the other is spirituall and if there be any thing visiblie and corporally administred it is to lead vs farther and beyond this worlde the one is administred of God by the Magistrates whom he appointeth with power authoritie to make lawes and politicke statutes according vnto that naturall equitie which he giueth them in the other which concerneth the dominion ouer soules this authoritie is more high then that it may bee communicated vnto Angels themselues This King therefore hath alwaies beene is and shalbe hee who bindeth the soules and consciences hauing reserued this onely right vnto himselfe in so much that if an Angel from heauen should say I wil haue this to be law to bind the conscience we ought to haue him in execration as attributing vnto himselfe the power of God alone seeking to raigne ouer his sonne our mediator Gal. 1.8 14 And in this point is it also that the difference of these two kingdoms consisteth For as for the affaires of this world whereas al may be vnderstood gouerned by this light of naturall vnderstaÌ„ding wisedome it hath pleased God to leaue vnto meÌ„ according as it pleaseth him of his bounty to dispeÌ„se it they may ordaine lawes statutes either to command or to forbid impose temporall paines on the transgressors of theÌ„ but so that they must one day yeeld an account vnto the king of kings But as touching this spiritual regiment the officers of this king haue no other power nor autority but to declare and publish the ordinances which hee hath made adioyning vnto them the promises and threats such as he hath deliuered vnto them and left in writing with the execution either of absolution towardes the repentaunt or of condemnation towardes the incorrigible rebels but in the name of this king according vnto the tenour of the commission hee deliuered them vnder paine of Nullity Mat. 28.18 and all after a spirituall kinde of proceeding exhorting and reprouing by the woord and binding and loosing by the same and no otherwise And as touching christian magistrates they beeing also commaunded to doe homage vnto this king Psa 2.12 they are also officers truly of this spirituall kingdome yea principall ones but not to approch vnto the aultar as that proueth which happened to Vzziah otherwise a good king and zealous 2. Chron. 26.16 but to arme with their authority the spiritual ordinances of this king as did Dauid Salomon and their good successours and to represse in due sort such as not willing to order themselues vnto this king despising his spiritual officers seeke to ouerthrow the true seruice of the Lord Deut. 13. As we shal find that neither any true Prophet vsurped this autority but alwaies vsed this true preface So hath the Lord saide And when some would haue lifted vp Iohn Baptist vnto this degree he answered contrariwise and said I am not woorthy to vnloose the shoes of his feete Ioh. 1.27 Moses contented himselfe to be a faithfull seruaunt in Gods house Hebre. 3.6 hauing made all thinges according vnto the modell which was shewen him in the mount Heb. 8.3 and hauing expressely forbidden to ad or to diminish ought from that which God had ordained by him Deut. 4.2 12.32 In a word this is a thing neuer yet heard that the Prophets added any thing vnto the commandements of God or made any lawe to binde the conscience Contrariwise the lord speaking by the mouth of Esay expressely condemneth euery Doctrine inuented by men Esay 1.12 and 29.13 which Iesus christ calleth Pharisaical leauen of which he willeth vs to take heede Mat. 16.11 And if this haue place in that which concerneth the will of this King touching that which he wil haue vs doe in this life to conforme our selues vnto his will aswell towardes him as towards our neighbors what shall wee saie touching the doctrine of the Gospell that is to saie touching that which wee ought to beleeue of God vnto saluation as it is spoken Luk. 1.77 Act. 20.17 What blasphemy is this then to belie the sonne of God witnessing that he hath declared vnto his Apostles as vnto his friends whatsoeuer he receiued froÌ„ God his father And what shal we say of the Apostles That they added changed or clipped anything froÌ„ the tenor of their commission bearing these words goe teach theÌ„ to keepe all those things which I haue commaunded you Shall wee say also that touching the substance of the ecclesiasticall discipline and substantiall exercise of the holy ministery by the which the sonne of God will haue his house to be gouerned vntill his latter comming that the holie Ghost taught not the Apostles al or that they did not acquit theÌ„selues faithfully of al without omitting of any thing At the least let vs beleeue S. Paul 1. Cor. 11.23 though it bee there especially spoken of the administration of the holy Supper Coloss 2.16 the verses folowing in which is contained whatsoeuer may be said of this matter Let vs beleeue Saint Peter also aduertising the pastours expresly vnto the companie of whom hee ioyneth himselfe not as a prelate but as a companion in the same ministery to feede euerie one his flocke not as hauing a lordship ouer the Lordes heritage but that they be ensamples to the flocke 1. Pet. 5.1 Whereunto S. Paul agreeing 1. Cor. 7.35 protesteth that he wil not ty and intangle any man And thus you see what this name of king importeth in this place ioyned also with the name of Salomon which signifieth as much as peaceable is meant of the exercise of this kingdome in regard of this spouse which is his Church ouer which himselfe alone hath power quickening iustifieng and sauing it as it is hee also alone vnto whom she yeeldeth al obedience in that which concerneth this spirituall kingdome It remaineth we consider whether this king be takeÌ„ for such a one as he is among theÌ„ from whom we haue separated our selues Alas nothing lesse For he is no otherwise called King among them then he was of those who whipped him in Pilates iudgement-hal not that I

to forsake father and mother to retire a mans selfe into a desert for contemplations sake vnprofitable both to ones selfe and to others but according as the first table of the Law which ruleth the second teacheth vs when we are commanded to loue God with al our heart which cannot be done if the things of this woorld haue neuer so little a part of it for it is another thing so to vse this world as to referre all things thereof to the glorie of the Creator without seeking after anie thing else in it but the vse with giuing of God thanks And this is that which Salomon himselfe hath taught vs at large in that excellent booke of the Preacher in the which he hath walked vs through the whole labyrinth mizmaze of this life shewing vs the knowledge of vsing it wel without abusing of it according as the Apostle doth also warn aduertise vs 1. Cor. 7.31 and 1. Tim. 5.17 and the psalmist most amplie Psal 49. Therefore although it be here said that a man must think more vpon the dilections of the beloued theÌ„ vpon wine wee maie not so take it as if wee might giue our heart ouer to them both but more vnto the one then vnto the other but this must be taken to signifie that neither the present life nor ought at al in it should possesse the affection and mind of the spouse So wheÌ„ it is said Ps 52.5 thou louest that which is euil better then that which is good and Ioh. 3.19 that the world loued dracknes better then the light we must vnderstaÌ„d hereby that that which was euil was loued as also darkenesse not that the good light were lesse loued that is loued indeed but not so much loued as euill and darkenesse 11 Neither must wee marueile that this word of Wine is taken here generally rather then any other word to signify vnto vs the abuse of the good creatures of God For if there bee any thing in the world which the world hath for all time and in all places abused it is wine in such sort that for one murderer one couetous person one adulterer or such other like vitious man yea for one glutton there shalbe found a thousand drunkards or abusers otherwise of wine be it of the vine or of other natural or artificiall drinke a thing so much accustomed that men haue a long time made it a common trade yea a vertue as Esay hereof beareth vs witnes Esay 5.11 22. since which time we se to our great griefe how the most part of the world is growen to bee worse and worse in this poynt the Apostle not hauing spoken in vaine Ephes 5.18 That therein is excesse and that which an auncient writer who neuer hard Iesus Christ spoken of saith That drunkennes was the Metropolitan or capitall Cytty of all the whole prouince of vices In steede of this the Apostle in the place aboue alleaged warneth vs to be filled with the holy Ghost as before him the Lord himself doth crying so loude by Esay 55.1 Come take wine without mony or mony worth How euer it be the sentence giuen by the Lord shalbe executed to wit That drunkardes shall haue no part in the kingdome of heauen 1. Cor. 6.10 Besides the horrible iudgements which God executeth dayly vpon the bodies of drunkards witnessed by that common prouerb being most true The pot sleyeth more men then the sword To returne to our purpose so to conclude this holy Queene and her companions acknowledging that al goodnes commeth from the mere grace of god drawing vs vnto himselfe protest in this place that being once admitted and let in into the secret chambers of the king they will forget whatsoeuer they haue had and receiued without him that is to say they wil not looke back to sorrowe for this or for that nor haue their minds affection any where else then on the glory and praise of this king whom they shall then enioie which shal be truly and fully accomplished in the later daie but must be happily begun coÌ„stantly pursued after of vs here below not following the example of Lots wife Luk. 17.32 but making in veritie and truth the same protestation which Dauid maketh Psal 16.5 and the Apostle Galat. 2.20 and 6.14 to wit that God is our true foundation and that we liue not in our selues but that Iesus Christ liueth in vs and that the world is crucified vnto vs and wee crucified vnto the world According to this holie doctrine c. THE SIXTH SERMON Our helpe be in the name of God c. It is written as followeth in the first Chapter of the Canticle of Canticles the fourth and fifth verses 4 The vpright loue thee 5 I am black but comely ye daughters of IerusaleÌ„ I am such as the tabernacles of Kedar the pauillions of Salomon 1 A summarie rehersal of the sermons going before and wherefore the spouse changeth her speech casting her eies vpon the companie which followed her 2 The small number is on the Churches side 3 Euerie small number or great number is not the Church but that of the vpright 4 True vprightnes and the loue of god are things inseparablie lincked togither 5 This spouse is accoÌ„panied with three sortes of maidens whereof some of them are indeed her companions others her enemies others are as it were betwixt both 6 Why these here are called daughters of Ierusalem and the meane to bring them to their true mother 7 In what sense this spouse faith that shee is blacke that she is of that comelie hew which is contrary to the tanned and parched colour 8 The inward beuty of the spouse is neuer taken from her but she may wel bee spoiled of her outward ornaments for a time when it pleaseth her Bridegroome 9 Examples of this poore estate of the spouse in the auncient Church 10 Examples of the same in the Christian Church 11 This spouse is sometimes so disfigured that she is not knowen of men 12 But yet shee is alwaies faire and shining before God and such as are of a cleare sight 13 That this doctrine is of all others most necessary in this our time WE haue hitherto vnderstoode the earnest and ardent desire of the spouse thinking on no other thing then on this real coniunction with hir beloued in which consisteth her whole felicitie and for this cause desiring him that either hee would come vnto her or else beeing forced as it were to make this request by an holy impatiency desiring that she may be drawen vnto him We haue examples of either of these desires in the holie Scriptures being a thing most certaine that the auncient fathers from the beginning of the Church wished for nothing more then the comming of their deliuerer as Iesus Christ witnesseth Mat. 13.17 and Saint Peter in his first chapter verse 11. and Dauid in many Psalmes singing reioycing as if he saw already this soueraigne king before

destitute and distressed beeing persecuted we are not forsaken being beaten downe we perish not 2. Cor. 4.8 In a word if we ought to iudge of the nature of thinges according to their last effect and working this browne or tanned colour is the meanes to come vnto our true and perfect whitenes the sufferings of this world beeing in no point comparable vnto the glory which wayteth for vs 2. Cor. 4.17 the waie vnto which is the crosse or sufferings I meane for righteousnes and for Iesus christ Matt. 5.11 This is the coÌ„fort which we ought at this day to oppose against these Daughters of the terrestriall and earthlie Ierusalem who think vs so poore and miserable not knowing what our riches are how yet at this day it is in Aegypt that there is darcknes and light in the land of Gosen onelie Let vs giue them leaue therefore to iudge of our coulour black or browne as they list it sufficeth vs that the spirit of God iudgeth altogither otherwise to whose iudgement we appeale being assured we shal get and win our cause 4 The third point of this aduertisement or lesson namely that which the spouse addeth That this browne colour of hers is hapned her not from her birth but by the means of the sonnes of her Mother who droue her out of doores and set her in the parching of the sunne beeing constrained to keepe her selfe among strange vineyards whereas shee ought to haue kept her owne vineyard this I saie containeth also an excellent doctrine and instruction For the vnderstanding whereof wee must first of all note that by this natural beutie and fairenes with which this accident sunne-burning is contrary matched is not vnderstoode or meant the qualitie or condition of the children of God in their first generation and birth according to the which they are borne in themselues the children of wrath as are others Eph. 2.3 and consequentlie are most foule vile and filthy by reason whereof the Church which is the assemblie of the faithfull is compared in respect of her first estate vnto a foule and filthie maideÌ„ child comming out of the womb of her mother Ezech. 16.6 but we must refer the original and beginning of this beutie vnto her free vocation and calling or spiritual newe-birth Ioh. 3.6 and to that which foloweth in Ezech. 16.4 and the other verses following Hereunto accordeth that which is said of Abraham himselfe Iosua 24.2 to that beuty that is to say to that happie estate compared to the marriage of the Lord and of his church of the fiansailes whereof the contract is already made passed in most excellent magnificencie in the mount of Sinai then when the tabernacle with all the seruice thereof was established the bodie whereof is our Lord Iesus Christ Col. 2.17 Heb. 9. to that beauty I say and brightnes which againe shewed it selfe yet greater in the time of Dauid and Salomon so long as hee continued wise this sunne-burnt hew of hers which is here spoken of is opposed which may bee vnderstoode after two sorts namely referring it either to the great and horrible confusion which hapned more then once after the death of Iosua vntil the time of Dauid as is to bee seene in the history of the Iudges or els speaking of other most strange desolations which happened both in Iuda vnder the most part of the kings which were of the race of Dauid as also especiallie in the kingdome of Israel vntill the time that the poore Church was exiled and banished among the barbarous and sauadge nations yea and after the returne from out of the captiuity of Babylon aswel vnder the empire of the Greekes as also the Romans euen to the comming and departure of Iesus Christ which confusions and desolations of the church wee maie say to haue beene in this place prophetically foretold by Salomon And as for that which might heere bee replied that mention is heere by name made of that banishment and driuing forth of hers which befel her not by straungers but by such as were within whom the spouse calleth the sonnes of her mother I aunswere first that the most notorious desolations of the church are not those which hapned vnto the church of the Iewes both by the people bordering about theÌ„ sowed and scattered among them whom they should haue rooted out and exterminated and by those which were farther remoued I meane the Assyrians Chaldaeans Aegyptians others of whom the holy sacred histories make mention but those which hapned by the negligence wickednes of the gouerners rulers as is in the historie of the Iudges expreslie to be seen and in the ciuil war Chap. 12. yea vnder Sampson himself whose life doth verie well declare the little regard which the Leuits then had of their duty But this is especially to be seene in the storie of the ciuil war against the Beniamites As for the history of the wicked kings this is yet more notably to be seen aswel in the kingdome of Israel where the whole publick seruice of God was ouerthrowen and ruined and the Leuites themselues driuen forth and expulsed so far that the rest of the poore Prophets were constrained to bee hidden in holes and dennes and that by the singular bountie and goodnes of one man there to be norished and sustained with bread and water 1. King 18.13 as also in the kingdome of Iuda in which the faithful seruants of God had no worse nor no crueller enimies then the Kings and the Priestes namely vnder Achaz 2. King 16.12 and vnder Manasses 2. King 21.9 Secondly it is to bee noted that when the Lord exercised his iust iudgements vpon his people by straunge nations neare or far off it was in manner alwaies because of the outrages and enormities committed within both by the priests and by other the gouernours and officers so that this poore desolate spouse doth iustly and by good right impute al this mischiefe and misery which hath so disfigured and marred her fauour to the sonnes of her Mother who draue her forth out of her owne vineyard and set her foorth to the open parching of the sunne that is to al the iniuries and contumelies which might happen to a poore vagabound subiected and made a slaue to strangers her enemies 5 To go on we are to obserue that it is not in this place alone that the heritage and possession assigned and allotted to the Church of the Iewes I meane the land of Chanaan is compared to a vineyard well planted well husbanded enuironed and compassed about with good ditches for her defence and safegard and blessed most plentifully with al manner of blessings but also Psal 80. by Asaph in the time of Dauid and Salomon and afterward by Esay 5.1 Ier. 2.21 Eze. 17. which was afterward most largely and amply expounded by the Lord himself Mat. 21.33 Neither is it without most great and waighty reason that the holy Ghost vseth this similitude as being marueilous

made no account of men pressed and thronged to snatch the kingdome of heauen by violence 10 And now what Edicts and Lawes being establâ—shed to this purpose and some libertie and freedome offered and presented men contemn that which is euerie day at their doore If we should be sent into the suburbs or fields after it that were too farre if some monie must be made for the relieuing of the poore woorke-men this costs too deare in a word the Manna which was at the first so sweete in our mouthes hath nowe no relish the Lorde of his mercy remedy it and giue vs a better mind We desire peace and quietnesse but it is for nothing els but to be at our ease and that is the cause that this benefit flyeth from vs God knoweth also that if wee had it we would abuse it 11 Let vs therefore relie our selues on him who giueth vs our poore brethren peace after so long so rough storms let vs take heed we be not like horses fatted on the litter wil afterwarde abide neither bridle nor saddle but fling out with all foure and specially against their master Deutr. 32.15 If on the contrariside he chastise vs with any scourge it shall please him let vs shew that his power is made perfect by our weakenesse 2. Cor 12.9 and reioice that it is giuen vs to be made conformable vnto our head Rom. 8.29 Phil. 1.29 Acts. 5.41 In a word let those combats which are giuen vs whet and sharpen the power which is giuen vs from aboue The world in the meane while will laugh vs to scorne and will cal vs fooles franticke monarkes but it shall weepe in his time and wee shall laugh in the Lord in that our season when that which is giuen vs alreadie to bee shalbe reuealed 1. Ioh. 3.2 12 Moreouer let vs note that this spouse is compared vnto a goodly horse to couples linked together which is spoken by a most proper and fine similitude For the church represented by this name of spouse in asmuch as according vnto the lords petition request we are al of vs one in him Ioh. 17.11 and all members composing one and the same bodie 1. Cor. 12.12 what thing is it else but a company coupled and yoked as a man would say two by two vnder the yoake saying one to the other aswell by wordes as also by example Come let vs ascend vp vnto the mount of the Lord Esay 2.3 and with Dauid Psal 22.2 I reioiced when they said vnto me we wil go into the house of the Lord Psal 122.1 Briefly the whole Scripture is full of such exhortations that wee should al iointly together tend vnto the same marke yea that not only in going but in running as I tould you on the 4. verse the stronger supporting the weaker which is coupled with him Gal. 6.2 and 1. Thess 5.14 And this is the cause why it was ordained in the law that a maÌ„ should not couple an Horse and an Asse to labour together for feare the one should not draw the other vnder his feet Deutr. 22.10 And thus you see what this holy assembly is whereof we haue here a singuler patterne whereunto the holy ghost had respect in numbering of the Apostles by six couples Mat. 10.2 in sending them forth two and two Mark 6.7 not at auentures but as it is likely according as they were wont to follow their master by order not by any degree the one had aboue the other as after it happened they disputed thereof more then once 13 But in lieu of holding themselues to the decision their master and ours hath made in this behalfe they who cal themselues the Apostles successours as a wicked man may well succeed a good man in what title soeuer haue changed this order into superiorities and prelateships nay which more is are gotten themselues vp into the charriot insteed of drawing coupled in it in which the chiefe conductour of this charriot being sitten vaunteth himselfe saith that though he should driue it full of soules vnto hell yet is it not for any liuing creature to say vnto him Why doest thou so These are the verie wordes of one of these goodly successours of the Apostles in one of his Canons and Decrees And do we marueile then if this charriot haue gon so aside nay if it hath beene turned vpside downe and not kept in the right path-way As little are meant by these coupled horses these wallet breethren going by two two or rather by troupes like locustes caterpillers browsing and deuouring the wretched world 14 As little appertaine these wilde and dissolute liuers to this ioint coupling who leaue not to runne wilde ouer the fallowes vntil they haue their necks broken and who in lieu of subiecting them to this so sweete and so gracious a yoake of the Lorde Matth. 11.29 saie they must cast awaie these bondes Psalm 2.3 not considering that to serue the Lord is trulie to raigne whereas themselues become more then miserable beeing bondslaues of sinne Ioh. 8.34 and drawen vnder the Captiuitie of the enemie of our saluation as pleaseth him 2. Timoth. 2.26 Let vs on the contrary side hearken vnto the Lorde warning vs if wee will bee his true Disciples to beare his Crosse after him Matthew 16.24 hauing alwaies our hammes supple and readie Heb. 12.12 to followe on the course of our vocation vnto the end Almighty God c. THE THIRTEENTH SERMON Our helpe be in the name of God c. It is written as followeth in the first Chapter of the Canticle of Canticles the 10. and 11. verses 10 Thy cheeks are comely with borders of stones and thy necke with chaines 11 We wil make thee borders of gold with buttons of siluer 1 The friendlie caresses and louing intertainement of the bridegroome receiuing his spouse that is to say his Church which was for a time in some sort straied from him 2 We must make a distinction between the fiansailes the spowsailes and ful consummation of this spiritual marriage 3 The borders of iewels and chaines of this spouse serue little for defence patronage of weomens excesse dissolution in apparell defiling thereby the christian church with answere to the contrarie obiections 4 The rule and measure which ought to be obserued in the cost and brauery of apparel 5 Application of this doctrine to the Church of Geneua and others aswell to men as to weomen 6 What the borders of stones other iewels are which are giuen to this spouse by her Bridegroome 7 A complaint both touching the defect as also the abuse of these nuptial ornaments which God hath at this day bestowed vpon his Church 8 In what sense expres meÌ„tion is made of the cheeks of the neck of the spouse 9 The spouse doth yet looke for more precious iewels in the daie of the ful consummation of this marriage 10 Wherefore the Bridegroome speaketh of

the name of the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost euerie one of them being this one God who giue vs grace thoroughlie to vnderstand and meditate this most deare and precious doctrine to his honour and glorie and to our owne saluation as we wil therefore beseech him saying Almighty God c. THE FOVRTEENTH SERMON Our helpe be in the name of God c. It is written as followeth in the first Chapter of the Canticle of Canticles the 12.13 and 14. verses 12 The King beeing sate at his round table my Spikenard giueth his smel 13 My welbeloued is vnto mee as a bundle of Myrrhe he is lodged in my bosome 14 My welbeloued is like a cluster of Copher in the vineyards of Engaddy 1 The happy estate of the spouse reunited againe vnto her Bridegroom declared by the similitude of a feast or banquet figured by the Leuiticall sacrifices both in the tabernacle and after in the temple of Salomon 2 The round table declareth that this feast is referred vnto the Bridegroomes comming in personne with whom the people of all the round woorld shal sit downe although the full celebration of this banquet be reserued vnto the later daie 3 In what place of the woorld this banquet is kept 4 With what meat it is furnished by whom and howe 5 The excellencie of the Euangelicall banquet aboue the Leuiticall 6 Whence the allegorie of the odour of the spouses spike-nard is taken 7 It is not ynough to enter into the banquet or to sit down but we must cause our odour to smell thereat 8 Why there is no mention made here of eating or drinking in this banquet 9 What the odour or smell of this spike-nard is 10 Application of this allegorie to the present time 11 Satans assaulting vs in this poynt on the left hand 12 His assaulting of vs on the right haÌ„d against merit-mongers 13 What this true spike-nard is and his true smel 14 The Mirrhe and the Copher of the Bridegroome maketh the spike-nard of the spouse to smell sweete 15 Whence this blessing coÌ„meth and to whom it appertaineth WE haue vnderstood before the kind caresses and louing entertainment of the Bridegroome at the meeting and taking againe of his spouse who now reioycing in her selfe and beeing withall verie desirous that euery one shoulde vnderstand what a benefit she hath receiued declareth how she was inuited vnto the banquet of her Bridegroome and how shee behaued her selfe sitting by him enioying his presence with infinit contentment This matter truely is most excellent being wel vnderstood and practised For this is most certaine that there is no ioy nor pleasure in the woorld to bee compared in any sort with that repose and quiet which euery faithfull soule feeleth by consequent the whole Church sauouring smelling the sweetes of the Lord who comforteth her within which thing is painted out vnto vs in a great part of the Psalmes and represented especially in that most excellent song of reioycing of the virgine Mary And this is it which is vsually declared to vs in the holy Scripture vnder the similitude of a banquet not onelie because frindship and familiarity is testified by eating and drinking together and that men are willingly disposed vnto mirth at their repast and refection but especially in respect of the banquets of the sacrifices which were made in the presence of the Lord as if himselfe had had a room at the vppermost end to wit at his altar and there contenting himselfe with one part burnt on his altar shoulde distribute the rest of the sacrificed host vnto the priestes and to the rest of them which brought the offering whereof we haue a goodly description in the historie of Samuels mother 1. Sa. 1.4 al of it representing this heauenly repast and true nourishment of our souls as Iesus Christ handleth this matter at large Ioh 6. and the Prophets in many places speaking of spirituall blessings make mention of wine of milke of honie of liuing water which Christ followed and expounded speaking with the Samaritane woman Ioh. 4.14 But besides al this Salomon hath in this place a special regard to the restablishment or rather beutifieng of the seruice of God when in steede of the tabernacle after so many changes and interruptions which hapned after the death of Iosua after vnder Saul during Dauids wars that goodly temple should at the length be built and the whole Ecclesiastical ministery erected and set vp with an admirable magnificencie according vnto the ordinaunce of the Lord declared by the Prophets of that time 2 Neither may we lightly passe ouer the word which Salomon vseth which we haue translated to bee as it were at a round table according as the custome of the auncient fathers was For this kind of baÌ„queting at a round table seemeth more friendly and familiar then if the king should haue his table apart the vpper end of the round table being knowne rather by the dignitie of some one person then by any place by reason of the roundnes besides that there is great likelyhoode that Salomon by a Propheticall spirit as all the legall seruice and ceremonies had had respect vnto Iesus Christ To whom the nations of the four quarters of the woorld were promised as it is foretolde Psal 2.8 Math. 8.11 This is therefore the banquet whereof the spouse hearespeaketh glorying that she was brought in thereunto And placed by her Bridegroomes side Psal 45.10 What was then all that costly furniture and prouision of the temple how rich sumpteous so euer it were in respect of the reall and visible manifestation of this Bridegroome In regard of the accomplishment and consummation of all that which was figured by the Leuiticall Priesthoode In comparison of the full declaration of the gospell which is called The power of God vnto saluation vnto all them which beleeue bee hee Iewe or Grecian Rom. 1.16 It is then the Christian Church that is to say the Church considered since the comming of Christ which can trulie say that shee hath beene brought in vnto this goodlie banquet of the bridegroome as himselfe declareth it Matth. 22. and Luke the 14.16 which place may serue in steed of a commentarie for the clearer opening of this place But wee must still vnderstand that this banquet is but a preparatiue vnto that which wee looke for and which is prepared for vs in heauen of which mention is made Matth. 7.22 and 25.1 At which banquet we are not yet sate but by hope Eph. 2.6 3 Now then this banquet whereof mention is heer made is kept in earth And know you where whersoeuer saith the Lord there shal be two or three gathered togither in my name there am I in the midst of them Mat. 18.20 Without seeking therefore of the place any farder I say that it is here it is here I say in this place that this banquet is kept heere is this holy table set heere the Bridegroome entertaineth his

in the history of the transfiguration of the Lord hauing his eies dazeled with the appearaunce of his glory Mar. 9.6 7 Now as it is not in the power of men to giue vnto vs this repose and rest Ioh. 14.27 so neither can they take it from vs. True it is that Satan troubleth it and cutteth it off so much as he can and wanteth no helpes yea of our owne selues in this behalfe and to this purpose But yet notwithstanding it is not in the power of any to trouble vs except when how farre it pleaseth God they shall doe it This is it which we are heere to learne touching the expresse charge the Bridegroome in this place giueth vnto the daughters of Ierusalem that they trouble not this rest of his spouse but suffer her to sleepe quietly so long as shee will Wherein we haue first to marcke diligently this continuall perpetual prouidence of him of whom it is saide that hee that keepeth Israell doth neither slumber nor sleepe Psal 121.4 And therefore it is vnto him we must make our only repaire and refuge saying with the same Dauid I will laie me downe to sleepe wil not wake for the eternall wil defend me Which he doth not only then when in despite of the Diuel al his complices wee haue some rest as wee may say that for these fifty yeares or thereabout it hath pleased God to continue it vnto vs in this place and as it is said Psal 23. to feed vs in al aboundance with his heauenly foode in the sight and view of all the enimies of his trueth but also principally in the most rough tempestes of tryals that we might say with Dauid he hath hid me in his tabernacle in the time of aduersitie according vnto those wordes with which the Lord coÌ„forteth his church Esay 26.20 Arise my people enter into thy secret chambers and shut the dore vnto thee hide thy selfe for a litle time vntill the indignation be ouerpassed It is the Lord then who giueth this true repose and rest vnto his Church and who defendeth it so farre as seemeth expedient vnto his blessed will 8 But what are these daughters of Ierusalem which are thus adiured in this place Some take them to bee the damsels of the spouses traine as if a man should say vnto the waiting gentlewemen of a Queene take heede you awake not your Lady Mistresse But it were needlesse to vse so solemne a charge towardes such persons and it seemeth rather that this is spoken vnto them who would not faile to trouble this repose and rest if so be they were not hindred The Bridegroom therfore in this place calleth them daughters of Ierusalem whom the spouse before Chap. 1.6 calleth not Her sisters but Children of her mother namely those which are in the Church but not of the Church as S. Paul putteth a great differeÌ„ce between the circuÌ„cised without the circumcised within Rom. 2.18 saying that al are not the children of AbrahaÌ„ which are of the posteritie of AbrahaÌ„ Rom. 9.7 These are therfore they vnto whoÌ„ the Bridegrome giueth this charge as vnto those who are the nearest therfore the most dangerous enemies of the Churches rest as experience hath dayly shewed yet euery day stil sheweth theÌ„ to be For who are they who at this daie doe most hinder the aduancement of the kingdome of God and that the Church ioyeth not in this rest They are neither Iewes nor Turkes which so much doe it in comparison of them who call themselues the Catholique Church naie the chiefe pillers thereof together with certaine cursed Apostates and heretiques gone foorth from vs because they were not indeed of vs 1. Ioh. 2.9 but what God brideleth them notwithstanding then so far as is behooueful expedient as it is said in this place 9 As for the Roes and Hindes which are heere taken to witnesse of this charge besides that this maner of speech is agreeable to the whole tenour of this Canticle in which this mutual discourse is represented to be had between those which are in the fields it is no new thing that the Lord and his seruants take to witnes against men al sorts of creatures as the heauens and earth Deut. 32.1 the oxen the stars Esai 1.2 the cranes the storcks and the swallowes Ier. 8.7 yea the mountaines the foundations of the earth Mich. 6.1 As in deed there is no creature high middle nor lowe which demaundeth not vengeaunce of God against such as are rebellious and disobedient vnto his commandementes Rom. 8.21 Yea when it pleaseth God hee maketh them executioners of his iudgementes as appeareth by the sauadge and cruell beastes of which it is spoken 1. King 13.25 and 2. King 17.25 euen the verie frogs and flies as appeareth by the plagues of Aegypt so that it is verilie a terrible thing to fal into the handes of the liuing god And with this are they especially threatned who are the perturbers troublers of the church otherwise called the annointed of the Lord Psalm 105.15 and which are heere named the Bridegroomes loue a woord most sweete pleasant and amiable O wretched and wretched againe is he who refuseth to haue his part therein especially now when the sonne hath reuealed vnto vs al the secretes of our saluation as vnto his frindes and not as vnto his seruantes Ioh. 15.15 yea hath confirmed and ratified vnto vs this infinit Loue and Dilection of his by giuing his life for vs. 10 But what meane these wordes which follow vntil she wil be awaked For can the faithful soule be full of this sleepe and desire to be awaked out of it Certainlie Saint Peter had no such meaning in the historie of the transfiguration but rather desired he might stay continually in the mountain I confes therefore that such a meditation and as it were such a retired contemplation of euerie faithfull soule is a thing altogether incomparable in respect of anie thing in this woorlde besides whereof Dauid may be a witnes Psal 63.6.7 But notwithstanding seeing the members of the Church ought not onlie to receiue this nourishment to be thereby sustained and nourished but also to imploie themselues to the vse and seruice of the whole bodie there is no talke of being alwaies continuing in this contemplation but we must come also vnto action and trauaile daie and night euery man according vnto his vocation And therefore these good fathers who so sequester themselues from the world that in the end they haue neither serued to their own others profit haue greatlie abused themselues So wee read that Iesus Christ the true and perfect patterne of Christian life withdrewe himselfe aside at euening into some secret place but he emploied al the day in going vp downe in teaching and doing of miracles yea busying himselfe so far as that he forgate his meate Mark 3.20 Saint Paul also knoweth not which of the two he should chuse

Let vs pray vnto God he wil vouchsafe to teach them vs throughly We haue said before that the spouse the Church is brought in in this place and represented vnto vs assisted by her Bridegroom in such sort that sometimes she languisheth after him sometimes she obtaineth as it were the fiansailes sometimes she seemeth to be as it were a far off sometimes as it were somwhat nearer sometimes she is seeking as it were after him sometimes shee seemeth to be sought after which thing we are necessarily to vnderstand diligently to consider that we take heed the better of the mask of the false Church which many paint foorth and shape out vnto themselues in their owne braine perswading themselues that the Catholique Church continueth always in her apparant glosse and bewty contrary vnto that which is deliuered throughout the whole sacred historie and the experience wee haue since had and haue vntill this day thereof wherein these so wretchedly abused resemble the Butterflie which flieth into the candle and burneth himselfe and those simple seely birdes which fly into the fire thinking they are in the warm sun This is then a false opinion in which many do gladly please themselues because they would haue a gospel of ease and a Church all of veluet whereas it is in the crosse that the Bridegroome triumpheth and hee was crowned with a crowne of thornes and there is no reason the spouse be put in a better liuery then her Bridegroome Wee haue therefore heard aboue in the 11. verse how the Bridegroome made mention of the winter bringing tidinges vnto his spouse of the sweete and pleasaunt spring-time Hee speaketh therefore now vnto her as if shee were frighted and skared as sometimes Pigeons are and driuen from the doue house and therfore flowen to hide herselfe in some chinckes and creuises of a rocke to haue there some place of retire and rest Where we are to note that it is properlie in these and such like occurrences that the faithfull shewe themselues like Doues not countermining deceit by deceit but withstanding and fighting against the sleights and craftes of the world by their meeknes and simplicity Luk. 16.18 and leaue not for al the hote assaultes that are giuen them to keep their conscience pure stil and vndefiled as Dauid so often both in woord and deed professeth which is the cause also why the Lord spareth them when the rod of the wicked is vpon them Psal 125.3 and 1. Cor. 10.13 but yeelding vnto the furie of their persecutors so much as they maie their only refuge they haue is to endure in silence patience Luk. 21.19 It is this spouse therefore who beeing forced to shroud and to hide herselfe in the clefts and holes of the rocks is now inuited by her Bridegrome to come downe againe into the plaine the foul weather being ouerpassed and gone 3 Such was the state and condition of the Church manie times vnder the Iudges and especially in Helies time as when the arcke was taken there followed an horrible confusion In the time of Samuel it had as it were some small refreshing vnder the beginning of Saules raigne But by and by after and especially during the time of the persecution raised against Dauid the massacring of the Priests the discomfiting of Saul the ciuil war betweene Dauid Iphiboseth whither shal we say the small number of the true faithful were brought so long as god exercised his iust iudgements vpon the whole country In what estate was then this doue-house that is to say the tabernacle the whole seruice of God Silo being destroied the Arcke placed in a priuate mans house to wit Abinadabs 1. Sa. 6.22 separated from the tabernacle which was in Nob 1. Sam. 21.1 from thence was brought vnto Gibeon 2. Chro. 1.3 And this separation of the Arke from the tabernacle dured vntill the time of Salomon who beeing a figure of this bridegroome set vp that goodly temple as it were a doue-house whither he inuiteth this doue in this place whereunto it is no doubt but this text ought to bee referred especially the same being twise specified in the historie 1. Sam. 7.1 2. Sam. 6.3 namely that the house of Abinadab from whence the Ark was brought by Dauid vnto Hierusalem was seated within an hill which it may bee Salomon meant expressely to note vnto vs making mention of the cleftes of the rocke whither this spouse retired herselfe during this tempest But there is nothing letteth but that we may extend this yet farther For during the kingdome of Salomon himselfe was she not in part as it were driuen from her doue-house by the Idols which Salomon set vp And what was she afterward So that the condition of the Church is here represented vnto vs not as it is once or fiue or sixe or moe times but as beeing an ordinary and customary thing vnto this spouse whom notwithstanding her Bridegroome in his good time calleth downe againe into the plaine So then after Salomon by the diuision of the ten tribes how many doue-houses I meane synagogues were ruined plucked downe to lodge Ieroboams calfes in Whither was then the resort and repaire of Leui flying as it were in flockes with as many as feared the Lord into the rocke of the temple of Hierusalem 2. Chron. 11.14 But alas what was this nest vnder the greatest part of the kings of Iuda from Roboam vnto Zedechias A nest prophaned vilanously polluted with the doung of Idols as the storie witnesseth and is especially most amply declared in Ezech. 16. What could theÌ„ the poor childreÌ„ of God do but sigh mourne like vnto poore pigeons in their smal holes Such was the flight of the prophets into wast desert places of Israel vnder Elias and Elizeus 2. Kings 4.38 And yet was this poore culuer-house sorer shaken and as it were vtterly ouerturned by Iesabel insomuch that an hundered of the Prophets were hidden by a good man in two caues and fedde with bread and water 1. King 18.13 Behold also Elias himselfe brought vnto that extremity that he was faine to bee fedde in an hideous desert by two rauens 1. King 17.16 by the ministery of an Angel 1. King 19.5.6 And during the captiuity this poore doue beeing driuen thrise away by that horrible northerne wind which razed at length the doue-house the Citty did shee not nest and as it were hide her head in secret holes For so is it said Esay 26.20 and vnder the horrible persecution of Antiochus whither retired she herselfe with Mattathias 1. Macab 2.17 4 But what Beginning with Iesus Christ himselfe the Bridgroom which is here spoken of was he not himselfe from the time of his natiuity driuen as it were out of the world For in what place was he born in In a stable the lodging of beasts for there was no other roome for his mother Luk. 2.17 from thence must he not fly into the deserts of Aegypt Math. 2.14

vnto vs by the Apostle in his Epistles and namely Rom. 6. and 7. and 8. Ephes 5.30 Col. 3. and elsewhere 8 Euery faithful soule therefore in the person of the spouse by whom is vnderstood al the company of the faithfull beeing yet here belowe hauing receiued the power to will to do is heere inuited to shew himselfe to speake vnto his Bridegroome that is to say to make the effects of his grace which hee hath receiued of his regenerator to appear both within without This is that which was figured vnder the Lawe by that commaundement of God that euery male childe should present himselfe before the Lord thrise a year at the least in the tabernacle and afterwarde in the temple as if God who is euerie where and seeth all had said vnto them you are dispersed here and there throughout the country and in your synagogues therefore are as it were absent from me who haue chosen this place as it were for mine house and habitation Now I would see you and heare you and therefore you shall come and visit me and doe me homage thrise a year to the end that you may reioice in my presence and I with you And whom would not the consideration of such kindnesse and bounty rauish astonish cause him to say O Lord thou art not conteÌ„ted to haue shewen me so great fauor vnto me I say altogether vnworthy thereof nay worthy of thy curse and malediction but which more is knowing my heauinesse and lazinesse and that if by adding grace vpon grace thou shouldest not forme in mee a desire and power to be thankfull vnto thee therefore and to honour thee I would continue groueling stil on the ground burie the memorie of thy benefits thou prickest mee forward and inuitest mee to present my selfe before thee and to cause thee to see by effect what thou hast wrought in me voutsafeing of a third grace of thine to like and accept of my woorkes considering them not as they come from me who am yet soiled with sinne but in asmuch as thou acknowledgest in me thy worke and new creation That then which the Bridegroome saith in this place is the same which is said Psal 50.23 And in deede as Dauid saith Psal 116.12 What can we render vnto the Lord for so great benefits of his but this reknowledgemeÌ„t presenting our selues before his face with the confession of the mouth speaking of the abundance of the heart Neither are we now to trot vp and downe hither thither as these holy pilgrimes of Ierusalem who go yet at this day to seeke after Iesus Christ in his sepulcher For euery land and country is now sanctified vnto him 1. Cor. 10.26 and he is neere vnto vs in euery place and we must cause our selues to be seene and heard lifting vp of pure hands 1. Tim. 3.8 in al places wheresoeuer it pleaseth him to lift vp his banner For the question is heere of a publike appearance inuocation in respect whereof the Bridegrome leadeth his spouse down from the rock out of the desert into the plain wheÌ„ he wil haue the faire weather return againe as hee hath specially doone since about these threescore years ago But what doe we all this while The Lord hath proclaimed by so many trompets the yeare of acceptation and our true Iubile renewing and as it were sending againe into the worlde that which is said Esaie 61.2 and Luk. 4.18 euerie day he still calleth vnto vs in this place My doue come out of the desert shew me thy face and let me heare thy voice and I will take pleasure in it 9 But what There was indeed at the beginning some zeale shewed and many came running from farre to do their duty as it is said of those which entered into Canaan with Iosua the gouernours of that time Ios 24.3 But these are nowe departed in peace and seem to haue caried away all the zeale whatsoeuer good thing els was among vs. The Bridegrome crieth by his seruants Come see me and let me heare your voice Yet for al this some haue no cares others heare but they hearken not vnto it Others especially on those daies which are specially ordained for this appearance and inuocation of the name of God had rather be a walking playing tipling gathering in their debtes toying and sporting in the streetes and before their doores Others there are who will appeare in the place where the Lorde is but is it to cause their voice to bee heard that is hauing diligently hearkened vnto the voice of the Bridegroom the praier of their pastour to answere with heart with mouth the AmeÌ„ of Christians 1. Cor. 14.16 that is to say to make a true and perpetuall acknowledgement towards God by true amendment of life Alas no. For were it so the effects thereof would appeare whereas nowe you shall haue some sing the Psalmes in deed but their heart shall be far from that which they sing Esay 29.13 Others come to the Church to sleep others wil not voutsafe to open their mouth or eares If any maÌ„ demaund how we know this I answer that wee see part of it with our owne eies the rest is made knowen and discouered by all the fruites of the flesh which are quoted numbred vp Gal. 5.19 And thither it is I must send you you hypocrites conteÌ„ners adding for the reward which is reserued for you if you change not your selues become new meÌ„ that which the eternal saith Esa 57.12 I wil declare thy goodly righteousnes thy deeds which shal not help thee Ps 50.21 these things thou hast don because I made as if I heard not thou thoughtst that I was like vnto thee But I will reproue thee will set all these things before thine eies Ã´ what a terrible thing it is to fal into the hands of the liuing god wheÌ„ he is angry And therfore for the honor of god let euery one amend himselfe while it is time let vs consider of this great and endlesse bountie of our God who hath retired and gathered together his poore doues out of the holes of the desert out of the powers of those cruell beasts out of the iawes of the rauening Lion inuiting vs still at this day to present our selues before him with a true repentance that pleasant acceptable sacrifice vnto him of a contrite hart and of thankesgiuing Psal 51.19 and 19.32 to the end that receiuing vs to mercy and finding vs fruitefull trees indeed in his house he may heape on vs his blessings according vnto his holy promises THE XXII SERMON Our help be in the name of God c. It is written as followeth in the second Chapter of the Canticle of Canticles the 15.16 and 17. verses 15 Take vs these foxes these yong cubs which destroie the vines while our vines bud forth 16 My beloued is mine and I am his hee feedeth among

nor anie Church at al. And yet the humanity and manhood of Christ began not actually to bee before then that it was conceiued by the vertu of the holy ghost in the womb of the most blessed virgine This I confesse to be most true and yet I saie with the Scripture that Iesus Christ which name importeth together with the quality of an onely mediatour that which is absolutely and necessarily required namely that he bee apprehended and considered by faith true god and true man in one only person not onely was but was also sacrificed from the beginning of the woorlde seeing that the Church beeing from al eternity elected and chosen was not saued but by him Apoc. 13.8 And these things are easily agreed and accorded if we consider diligentlie that which is said Heb. 11.1 namely that faith that is to saie this gift of God through which euery faithfull one assureth himselfe of his saluation by that onelie mediator Iesus Christ true God true man causeth that which the beleeuer hath not yet but by hope to be vnto him alreadie as it were present in beeing and sheweth him I meane vnto the spirit of the beleeuer that which he seeth not The humanity therfore and manhood of Iesus Christ without the which he should not bee our mediator nor the obiect of our faith was not in nature in Salomons time nor many ages after but yet notwithstanding was really effectually present in respect of the eies of faith whereof Saint Paul is a witnes ouer and besides that inuincible reason which I haue before alleadged who calleth Christ him whom the fathers tempted in the desert 1. Cor. 10.9 and saith that the fathers being in the desert did eat the same spiritual meate and dranke the same spiritual drinke which we doe to wit Iesus Christ Now Iesus Christ to come and Iesus Christ come which was to be borne and to accomplish whatsoeuer was absolutely requiâ—â—â—â—nto our saluation and which was borne and hath accomplished it in his time are not two Iesus Christes as also there neuer was nor euer shal be anie more then one god one faith and one Church the difference therefore consisteth in the diuerse dispensing and manifesting of Iesus Christ and not in the essence of him whereas Abraham could not see the day of this Bridegrome and Lord but he saw it by the eies of faith though Christ were not yet actually in nature Ioh. 8.56 This is it which the spouse meant in this latter verse praying this Bridegroome that hee returne vntil the wind of that daie arise and the shadowes fly awaie calling the condition in which they were shadowes namely during the time that this Bridegroome shewed not himselfe but vnder the shadowes and figures of the Lawe ceremoniall Heb. 10.1 the substaunce of which to wit Iesus Christ Col. 2.17 appeared not but afar off Heb. 11.13 not that there was not light enough through this shadow to conduct the Saints vnto the light of glory according vnto their measure seeing this light is called the bosome of Abraham Luk. 16.22 but obscure in comparison of this great day which hath brought this spouse vnto vs comming in person and declaring vnto vs clearly and particularly the whole counsell of God his father touching our saluation Ioh. 15.15 Mat. 13.17 as he did afterwards by his Apostles yet doth shal do vnto the end consummatioÌ„ of the world by his true pastors and Doctors Eph. 4.11 in such sort that wee must distinguish the shadow of this night from that which is called the shadow of death whereof mention is made Esai 9.2 wherein we are al of vs borne Eph. 2.1 11 And we must heedfully obserue this manner of speach vntill the wind of that daie arise which is taken from that which naturally hapneth and commeth to passe namely that when the daie beginneth to break some smal wind is wont to arise which proceedeth and commeth from the beames of the Sun beginning to chase and driue awaie before it the grosse and thicke vapours of the night which winde is compared to this great and incomprehensible vertue and power of the holie Ghost which stirreth and as it were bloweth on the world togither with the light of the gospell to enlighten or rather to creat the world anew Esai 65.17 I meane by that wind which was sent vnto the Apostles which shal neuer cease to blow vnto the end and consummation of the world Act. 2.2 Matt. 28.20 and Act. 20.28 So in the creation of this corruptible world it is said that it stirred and moued it selfe vpon the waters as it were warming and cherishing them to hatch as it were and breed thence the creatures which were after formed of them by the which vertue also they are yet maintained in their beeing which either faileth or is renewed by the want and presence hereof as it is said in the Psal 104.29.30 12 But what is the cause the spouse vseth here the woord of returning For this presupposeth some retire withdrawing going before And this is the reason why some haue taken this woord as if returne were as much as forsake me not But it is better we keepe the signification of the worde notwithstanding with some declaration of it For to say the tueth the Bridegroome did neuer vtterly forsake this spouse no not when she for the most part forgot herselfe her duty greatly for which reason we shall ordinarily finde in the Prophets in one the same Prophesie the wound of chastisement and the medicine of grace neuer befalling the like to Sion as vnto Sodom and Gomorrha Esa 1.9 But because he is neuer so neare at one time as at an other not onely when the drawing backe is on the spouses side Ier. 2.3 but also when it pleaseth the Bridegrome so to proue his spouse Psal 44.1 as the Lord hath thought it good to make his trueth to shine in the worlde more in one time then in an other as it is to be seene in the ancient history especially from Iosua vntil the time of Dauid this is the cause why the spouse beseecheth him to approch nearer and nearer as also how euer it be the Lorde for his part hath doon though the one halfe hath more more abused this grace fauor of his This is theÌ„ that praier which we in like maner should daylie make beseeching the Lord who iustly seemeth to draw himselfe from vs by little little hauing verily takeÌ„ out of the world within these fewe yeares so many great and excellent lightes of his Church who might yet haue continued because we were not woorthy of them that it wil please him to approch and draw nearer againe vnto vs then euer before 13 Finally this surname or name of addition which she vseth calling them craggie or cleffie Mountaines as beeing full of downe-falles hollow places in which the chamoyse and other beastes of marueilous and almost incredible agilitie are mounting and

which proceedeth from his meere grace as hee also causeth vs to finde the waie out of which we are wandred and straied and that waking good morrow of sinne which the wicked haue which leadeth such as are reprobate into despaire according vnto that which is said that there is no peace vnto the wicked Esai 48.22 and as is to be seene in that horrible example of Iudas the traitor Matth. 27.4 For this awaking proceeding from the pricke of sinne maketh the sinner to flie before the face of the Iudge according vnto the example of Adam Genes 3.8 but that awaking which proceedeth from grace from an hart truly contrite createth in a man an ardent desire of returning vnto his Sauiour for which reason the spouse here saith that when shee awoke she sought him 3 But what meaneth that which afterwardes is added by her namely that she founde him not And how agreeth this with that promise of Christ verified by so many experiences knocke and it shal be opened vnto you seeke and you shal find Matth. 7.7 and Luk. 11.9.10 And if the Lorde hath caused himselfe to bee found of those who sought him not Esa 65.1 for it is the sheephard which seeketh after the straie sheepe and not the sheepe the sheepeheard Matt. 18.12 how is it possible that this spouse found him not I aunswere that the spouse saith not that shee could neuer find him which should contrarie the promise aboue but that seeking after him in her bed shee found him not True in her bed for there he was not To find him therefore it is not enough to seek him but we must seek where he is to be sought therfore it is no maruel though the spouse found not her Bridegroome in her bed for he was not there Moreouer we must seek him in a fit and conuenient time if wee will find him namely when the time is of setting the dore open otherwise wee loose but our paines to seeke him Esai 55.6 and we must knocke at the doore before it be bolted on the innerside Mat. 25.12 Farâ—her we must aske of him of whom we ought to aske and who wil not be mocked 1. King 18.27 and then that which wee ought to aske Mat. 20.21 and againe in such a sort as we ought to aske Iam. 1.7 and finally vnto the end which we ought to aske it We may not therfore wonder or take on with God but with our selues if for the most part we find not that which we seek after For the fault is in vs. And though wee failed in no one point of those which I haue aboue set downe yet we must doe God this honor to giue him leaue to chuse the time and the meanes to grant vs that which he wil giue vs when we haue demanded it as he hath giuen vs our rule Abraham beleeued and obtained the child which was promised him but it was fiue and thirty yeares after the promise was made Dauid obtained the kingdome but it was after he had waited in waiting Psal 40.1 yea vntil his eies were dimme and failed in looking and waiting after it Psal 119.82 and that hee was hoarce with crying Psal 69.3 not that the Lord is not without al comparisoÌ„ more ready to heare then we are to pray seeing it is hee who formeth in vs the desire of praying and who teacheth vs how we ought to pray Rom. 8.26 and it is he who must open our lippes that they maie shew forth his praise Psal 51.17 But it is expedient and profitable for vs to be so delaied because we are wont to make light of that which we come lightly by in a woord how euer it bee it is hee who hath the times and seasons in his hand Act. 1.7 4 But here the spouse seeketh after him whom shee ought to seeke faileth not in any thing saue this that shee seeketh him of errour there where he is not and where is that In her bed And yet who gaue her this bed and who laide her there Her Bridegroome hauing so expresly inuited her and so amiably and kindly entertained her as we haue seene in the chapter going before and especially in the tenth verse and in the verses following What is the reason then why hee could not bee founde as if hee had parted cleane awaie Because the spouse falling asleepe made more of the gift then of the giuer that is to say gaue herselfe so farre ouer vnto this rest and ease that she continued to be heauie and drowsie still So commeth it to passe in all other temporall and spirituall blessings when we stay and settle our harts and mindes wholly vpon them Life it selfe is an especiall gift and blessing of God in whom we are we moue and we liue Act. 17.28 But say we once with the children of this worlde There is nothing more to be desired then to liue We are dead whilest we liue 1. Tim. 5.6 Asmuch is to be said of all the commodities and blessings of this life albeit they bee the blessings of God vnto them on whom the gift is bestowed of vsing them wel as on Abraham on Iob Iob. 31. and on a verie fewe others But what doe the most part of the world desire Mary they would find Paradise in their bed that is to say they would haue a peaceable gospell that they might lie downe softly and sleepe passe their time of life with others in rest and security I speake not yet of them who loose the raines to all sortes of pleasures and giue themselues ouer to their vnmeasured lusts but of those who would content themselues with a measure Notwithstanding if we settle rest our selues hereon as if we were to find herein our only felicity we shall finde our selues deceiued and depriue our selues of the principall vse of these benefits and blessings which is to handle them so as if we handled thorns Mat. 13.22 to be more carefull in the well disposing our expence then in the encreasing of our receipt 1. Tim. 6.18 in a worde to followe the protestation of Dauid Psal 16.5 5 For example we may and ought to say that God hath at this day prepared vs a goodly soft bed and giuen vs rest both here in many other places whether we respect that which is the principall I meane the purity of doctrine some kind of order in the Church together with the meanes of being instructed in learning and good letters or whether wee regard our ciuil liberty and freedome opposed to the miserable condition of a great part of the world besides This is a goodly bed which God hath himselfe made vs by litle and litle in this world which he hath curtained and kept close for vs about these 60. years notwithstaÌ„ding the infinit resistaÌ„ces of our enimies to the coÌ„trary which is as much as if he should haue built his nest in the middest of the impetuous waues of the maine Ocean If hereupon euerie man

seeing him not in the bed where shee slept was not therefore cleane out of hart but getting her selfe vp sheweth that because she found him not her desire of seeking after him was so much the more augmeÌ„ted And indeed as we said the last daie this is the means by which the Lorde not suffering himselfe to bee alwaies found at the first sharpeneth the faith and hope and fortifieth the patience of his as we see it by infinit many of examples of the holy Scripture So the people serued as a straunger foure hundred yeares in the land of Chanaan and of Aegypt and fortie yeares in the desert and seuenty yeares in Babylon So did Ioseph endure much in prison and Dauid during his flight saying in the 40. Psal I waited and waited for the Lord and he heard me According therefore vnto these examples if in diuerse difficulties and distresses touching our conscience either in perils or aduersities it seemeth that the Lorde as I maie so saie flieth from vs let vs runne couragiouslie after him vntill hee suffer himselfe to bee taken of vs. But who shall continue vnto vs this vigor and courage He who for the loue which he beareth vs first formeth in vs the loue whereby wee loue him reciprocally as the spouse doth thrise heere reiterate it that is to saie not fainedly as hypocrits do nor so so as they who are neither hot nor cold nor seething but luke-warme and therefore are by and by vomited vp Apoc. 3.16 whereas they who are violent and importune catch the kingdome of heauen away by an holy importunity Matth. 11.12 Luke 18.2 2 But wee must especially consider that which the spouse saith in this place namely that she diligeÌ„tly sought after her Bridegroome by the open places and went round about the Cittie and found him not For contrariwise in the parable of the banquet Luk. 14.21 the seruantes are commanded vpon the refusall which the greater sort and the rich made to go vnto the open places streets of the City to bring together those which were poore impotent lame and blind But this similitude tendeth to another purpose then this of the spouse to wit to shew vs that they are no members of the Church or if they were before leaue to bee who make more reckoning of their woorldly ease and other their commodities and affaires of this world then they doe of their conscience in whose places God doth often chuse the poore and contemptible of the world as it is saide in the Canticle of the blessed virgin Luk. 1.52.53 We read also Pro. 1.20 that Wisedom maketh her voice to ring in the streets and open places but it is not said that she was harkned vnto or receiued there yea coÌ„trariwise Wisedome lamenteth and bewaileth the disorders which doe there raigne There is likewise speach in the parable of the sower of seed which fel in the waie which because it pearced not into and entred the earth it was incontinently eaten vp by the birds These two places maie serue vs for the interpretation of this in which we vnderstand by the open places and the circuite of the Citty that which is coÌ„monly receiued beareth sway among men And to saie al in one word it is that mask which is called at this daie by the name of the Catholique Church not that Catholique Church which wee mention in our Creede but that monster which the efficacie of errour hath engendred by her who hath bewitched the kinges and nations of the earth as it hath beene before prophecied and foretold 3 To answere therefore this matter which is the last refuge of our aduersaries what is that the spouse here saith beeing so affrighted hared for that her Bridegrome is departed from her while she was asleep in her bed It is this which I say repeate againe that she thought that he whom she sought and so consequently the truth and her saluation were to be found in the religion which was commonly receiued among the people And what induced her to think so The promises made vnto that people and to no other before the comming of the Bridegroome in flesh Act. 3.25 as at this daie the Church say they cannot erre hereupon to ground al their errours Wherein then did this spouse deceiue her self Euen with that which was aunswered Ier. 18.18 and presupposing as they woulde gladly make vs to beleeue at this daie of Saint Peters steeple at Rome that religion was nayled as it were with a tennepenie naile vnto Abrahams race without distinguishing the true Israelites from the false as Saint Iohn Baptist reproched them in his time shee iudged of true religion according vnto that which was brought in when she was asleepe of a long time receiued of great smal whereas shee should haue sought after that which was proposed and commanded for a rule vnto the people that is to saie in the lawe and in the testimony as it is said Esa 8.20 For seeing that the true Church iudgeth not the the controuersies of religion but so farre as to referre her selfe wholy vnto that which the Bridegroome hath thereof determined by the mouth of his Prophets Apostles it followeth that it is neither vnto that which is commonly receiued and maintained nor vnto the greater number that wee are to refer our selues to be resolued seeing that euen in the affairs of this world there bee more fooles then wisemen and more wicked men then good but we must refer our selues vnto the Bridegrome himself who is iudge both of the one and of the other Yea but where shall a man finde him Wee must not say saith the Apostle after Moses wee will ascend vp into heauen to finde him there or passe the Sea to seeke him But the woorde is in thy mouth and in thy heart that is to saie this word of faith which wee preach Rom. 10.8 And this is it by which we must discerne the true Catholick Church from the false 4 What is then you will say this Catholicke Church in the which no where else Iesus Christ is found out of which there is no saluation It is the assembly of all the true elect and faithfull gathered out of al people and nations in vnitie of the Propheticall and Apostolicall doctrine considered in her generality in which assemblie truely the light of the trueth can neuer be put out albeit in the parts and members of the bodie distinctly seuerally considered there may be some defects doubts ignorances as the history of all times declareth the same To this Church thus vniuersally considered is opposed the generality of all companies besides which are also called Christian and which keepe the marcke of Baptisme but haue forged vnto themselues a religion according vnto their owne lust and fancy whether they couer themselues with the name writings of the Prophets Apostles il interpreted or whether they inuent a doctrine altogether newe according vnto their own pleasure for which cause

the articles also of our Creede called the Apostles Creede because it is the summarie abridgement of the whole doctrine taught by the Apostles it followeth that we must draw all this truth from the mouth of the Lord himself who hauing spoken vnto the fathers in a certain measure Heb. 1.1 hath finally declared vnto the whole world whatsoeuer is requisite vnto our saluatioÌ„ Ioh. 15.15 First by the preaching of his Apostles who were most faithfully perfectly taught yea extraordinarily who haue with like faithfulnes executed their charge not onely in speaking but also in writing in such sort that it is a mere phreasy to imagin that they haue omitted to preach by mouth or to set down in writing any one point of the doctrin of saluation Our aduersaries reply at this day hereupon say that though happily the Apostles haue taught al yet haue they not written all But when we demaund them what the pointes then are of doctrine which they haue omitted in their writings they stick fast as a man would say in the glue-pot For either nothing of that which they alleage appertaineth vnto doctrin the articles of faith or els it is such as maybe proued to haue been forged by this man or by that man being a thing easie to quote the inuenters thereof the beginning or els it shalbe found to agree no better with the articles of our faith which are the extract of the whole essentiall doctrine of the Apostles then light with darknes falshood with truth I know they are too wise to confesse thus much But besides that these thinges haue beene so often disputed and clearly proued that we may say with saint Paul 2. Cor. 4.3 that if they be obscure and hidden it is vnto them who will not heare them spoken of or whose eies the prince of this worlde hath blinded we haue alwaies offered and doe still offer to shewe and proue them to the eie before a true and Christian councell 3 I say the same touching the whole estate of the house of the bridegrome namely that by these same Apostles he hath fully set vp appointed both the vocations charges thereto belonging as also the exercise of them in that which concerneth the substaunce of the gouernement of his family in such sort that it is more lawfull to change diminish or ad any thing in these vocations then in the doctrine the application execution onely of the saide charges and vocations being onely left free according vnto the circumstaunce of places times persons which caÌ„not be ordered alwaies after one fashioÌ„ because of the necessary diuersity of them So did Moses order himself as a faithfull seruant in the house of God hauing done nothing but according to the patterne which he had seene in the mount Heb. 3.2 8.5 In which afterward nothing was chaunged or taken away by the true Prophets but when it pleased god to erect his teÌ„ple to set vp the whole building ordering of the ecclesiasticall charges thereof which was ordained by the Lord by the mouth of Dauid effected by Salomon yet this estate was not to endure but vntill the coÌ„ming of the Lord master of the house Heb. 3.6 who afterward by his holy spirit ledde his Apostles into al truth Ioh. 16.7 who withhold hid nothing thereof but haue declared and opened all the counsell of God Act. 20.27 yea left in writing to continew vnto the end and consummation of the world Whereupon it followeth that that which is customarily and commonly alleadged to wit that the master holdeth it for done which is done by his workemen cannot haue any place in this matter I meane neither in the doctrine nor in the generall and fundamentall estate of the house of God to attribute thereby vnto the successors of the Apostles any power and aucthoritie of chaunging adding vnto or diminishing any thing either in the one or in the other The reason is because the Apostles haue left nothing to be set vp by their successours but haue themselues taught and established all things hauing left nothing to the Pastors Doctors Elders Deacons but to gouerne them-selues and their flockes according vnto this rule and foundation 1. Cor. 3.11 without adding to any new thing or clipping therefrom or changing ought the Coche God be thanked of this bridegrome being of an other building then is saint Peters Church at Rome a true figure of false religion in which there is alwaies some thing to be amended added or chaunged And therefore they who began first not to content themselues with such ordinaunces as were truely Apostolicall witnessed by their writings what end thereof so euer they had and what occasion so euer they pretended opened the gap to all that confusion desolation whereunto the Church of God was by little little most pitifully brought So theÌ„ to coÌ„clude this point it is the bridegrome himself our only true Salomon who hath diuised built this Coch by his trusty faithful Cochwrights Carpenters 4 But why is this house which is so strong and stable that it preuaileth against hel-gates it selfe Math. 16.18 compared here vnto a Coche which is made to go froÌ„ place to place We haue already yeelded the reason therof to which ye shall adde this which I will farther tell you It is to shewe vs how shamefully and wittingly they abuse them-selues who dreame that God hath tied his truth vnto one sole place or See which men in our time haue perswaded theÌ„selues to be the See of Rome in so much that some are become so blockish blind as to think that the Catholicke Apostolicke Church the Romane Church is all one adding this word vnto the Apostles Nicene Creed a thing as improper absurd what reply soeuer be made to the coÌ„trarie as if a maÌ„ should say that the head of a maÌ„ a maÌ„ were al one though we should grant theÌ„ that the See of Rome such as it is at this day were not only the true Church but which is more the head of al particular Churches Let vs therefore note that this true Coche is there found where this Bridegroome is purely preached both in respect of his person and in regard of his office without matching him or ouer-matching him with a companion either superior as they do who pray the virgine Mary to command her sonne or collateral as they doe who cal the same virgine their aide and their hope or else inferiour as they doe who call vpon the Saintes absent or vpon the deade But some man will say Is there then no certaine visible place on which the Christians ought to depend stay themselues to say we must beleeue and do that which is taught and commaunded in such a place Iesus Christ beeing asked the same question answereth not that it is Rome or any other place But saith he where the dead body is there the eagles gather themselues

Salomon proceedeth froÌ„ his spouse but from the eternal father as also by a correspondence the coronation of the terrestriall Salomon celebrated by those of Ierusalem proceeded not of them of the City but from the ordinance and commandement of Dauid which the city accepted of But it may be together with this that the holy ghost speaking by the mouth of the spouse to the disloyal of Ierusalem in particular would in this place vpbraid them the same with which S. Peter did Act. 2.23.24 3.13.14 Saint Stephen Act. 7.52 conformably vnto that which was foretolde Zach. 12.10 and Mat. 26.64 as if shee said Beholde indeede the true king of peace accepted and crowned with all maiestie of Ierusalem Come and see him you who desire your owne welfare and saluation as for you the contemners and persecuters of him looke vpon him hardly vnto your confusion You haue bought him of a traitor and condemned him by false suborned witnesses It was through your cryinges that Pilate scourged him that hee crowned him with thornes that he crucified him You haue denied him to bee your king and haue sought to put forth the title of his royalty yea you mocked him on his crosse you shut vp and sealed his sepulcher to hinder his victorie and yet lo he is a king maugre your despite hauing vanquished all his enemies vpon the Crosse euen vnto Satan sinne and death Behold how he sitteth aboue euerie creature at the right hand of the father and thence it is he shal come to condemne all his enemies and to absolue those who are his for euer There it is you shal see him vnto your condemnation Yea the sufferinges which you caused him to endure were the waie by which hee is entred into his glorie Luc. 24.46 Behold I saie in what sort this spouse might by a Prophetical spirit reproch the Daughters of Ierusalem But besides al this to expresse yet more clearely this name of Mother I saie that this which is heere saide of this coronation of Salomon by his Mother may be also referred vnto that which is in his history namelie vnto that that the crowning of him came to passe by his Mother in asmuch as she by the suggestion of Nathan put Dauid in minde in good time of his promise which hee had made of leauing the crowne vnto Salomon and not vnto Adonias Which being referred vnto the true Salomon we must attribute the crowning of him vnto the heauenly father which is some-what referred vnto the Mother in respect of him which was the figure of him seeing in similitudes it is not necessarie that all the partes thereof agree throughout 11 It remaineth yet we expound what this daie of the espousailes is and of the great ioie of this king Whereupon we must cal to remembraunce that which I haue alreadie more then once reiterated vpon this Canticle namelie that in this spirituall marriage which is heere mentioned there are so manie degrees to be considered as there be approchings of the Messias neare his Church by the manifestation of his will Vntil the time of the Lawe therefore there was the treatie as it were of these fiansailes and the time after the Law which was as it were the chalking forth of this Bridegroome shal be accounted as it were the solemnizing of the fiansailes especially in the building of the Temple in that so magnificent establishing of the Leuitical priesthoode Afterward at the comming of the Lorde in flesh this marriage was really contracted by wordes of the present according vnto that which the Apostle expressely teacheth vs Ephes 5.25.29 the contract of the new couenant beeing ratified and confirmed by the newe seale of the holie Supper as appeareth by the tenour of the institution of it and by the scope and end whereunto it tendeth namelie to the communion of bodie and goods with this Bridegrome 1. Cor. 1.30 and 10.16 in such sort notwithstanding that the ful and perfectly real consummation of this marriage appertaining vnto the enioying of eternal life 1. Cor. 15.28.54 is differred vnto the daie of his glorious appearaunce 1. Thess 4.16.17 and elsewhere in manie places As this is also the ende and hope of this spouse waiting for now with no lesse deuotion this second comming whereof she hath the pledges then she did sometimes vpon other pledges expect his first Vnto what time therefore shal we referre these espousailes and this ioy and gladnesse Salomon the sonne of Dauid beeing set before vs in this place as a figure of the true Salomon and his coronation in Ierusalem here below beeing represented vnto vs as no vaine figure of the real taking of possession of the true Salomon in the heauenly Ierusalem it seemeth that it is not to bee doubted but that according vnto the ordinarie stile of the Prophets the time of the soleÌ„nising of the fiansailes vnder the which this Canticle was written is properly mentioned in this place but yet so that it is ioyned with that which is figured that is with the solemnising of the espousailes as if it were one and the same time And indeede this hath bin alwaies the right maner of speaking of the figures shadowes of the Lawe ceremoniall that the people was alwaies ledde vnto the substance bodie of them which is our Lorde Iesus Christ Col. 2.17 throughout the whole Ep. to the Hebrues in such sort that for want of obseruing of this methode those abuses haue bin engendred which are reproued Psal 50. so oft by al the Prophets finally the pharisaisme reprehended by our Lord Iesus Christ afterwards by the Apostls And yet at this day the selfesame fault is still committed by them in the Sacramentes ordained by Iesus Christ in others forged by men Briefly SalomoÌ„ hath in this place declared by this diuine medly of himselfe crowned in his fiansailes in his Ierusalem with the espousailes of the true Salomon in his celestial Ierusalem which was to be gathered out of al nations of the world that he had not forgotten that the promise made concerning him to Dauid his father had in such sort lincked him with the other sonne of Dauid of which himselfe was only the figure shadow that it might seem at first sight that the Lord spake of one onely person and of one onely eternall kingdome 2. Sam. 7.14 1. Chron. 17.13 12 Nowe that it is not without great cause that the spouse calleth this day the day of the gladnes of the heart of this bridegrome appeareth by the more theÌ„ maruelous effects For if this bridegrome had not taken an vnspeakeable pleasure to make his very enimies his spouse how would he haue giuen his life for the winning of her Ioh. 15.13 and Rom. 5.8 How would hee haue obiected him selfe vnto the horrible wrath of God for vs Gal. 3.13 How going vnto death woulde hee haue prayed so feruently for vs Ioh. 17.20 How woulde hee haue protested that he desired nothing more then this oblation of himselfe to carry our sinnes vpon the tree which is the principall article of the contract of this marriadge Luke 12.50 How would he haue protested of that singular desire he had to celebrate that last supper with his disciples Luk. 22.15 How in the anguishes of death which were more horrible a great deale in his soule then in his body as that frightfull cry of his which obscured the sunne shooke the earth claue the stones namely that My God my God why hast thou forsaken me declareth would he haue praied for theÌ„ who crucified him Lu. 23.30 on whom also afterwardes he shewed mercie Act. 3.17 which he yet continueth to doe at this day towardes vs so vnworthy of so great and incomprehensible fauour 13 Go too then my brethren vnto whom in our time this king is as it were again appeared to cause vs to see the brightnes of his crowne buried as it were before in such thicke darknes of ignorance and superstition which were couered with the name of Christianitie and true deuotion let vs pray him with al our hart that this infinite loue charitie of his which sheweth vs from on high the flowers of his crowne to cause the glory of that kingdome which was prepared for vs before the foundation of the world Math. 25.34 to be poured down vpon vs Let these thinges I say pearce our hartes to cause vs to goe forth of our selues to the ende that wee may throughly contemplate this king there where he causeth himselfe to bee seene of vs let vs know him loue him followe him through all the path-waies it shall please him to conduct vs vntill wee arriue vnto the full consummation of this most holy coniunction in the which he shalbee all in all in his Amen And because that hauing hitherto done the cleane contrary we haue so oft and so greatly offended him let vs craue grace mercy at his hands as foloweth Almighty God c. THE END OF THE SERMONS VPON THE THIRD CHAPTER OF THE CANTICLE OF CANTICLES

his eies Ps 96 97. and in others following Whereunto belongeth that also which the Lorde himselfe saith of Abraham that seeing the daie of the Lorde hee reioyced Ioh. 8.56 But whereas the fathers saw him not but afar off in the promises and shadowes of the Lawe Heb. 11.13 it is no maruaile if they desired some thing more for which Simeon giueth God thanks in his song seeing the Saints at this daie since his first comming insteede of beeing satisfied therewith desire yet more feruentlie his returne as witnesseth that demaund of ours euerie daie in our praier That his kingdome come or else wishing to bee dislodged quickly from below as the Apostle crieth out Rom. 7.24 and Phil. 1.23 which is nothing else but to bee drawen vnto him leauing here below the old cast garment of this bodie vntill it be chaunged taken againe in incorruption 2. Cor. 5.5 Now the spouse hauing ended her former speech by the which shee was raised as it were aboue the cloudes by the winges of faith and hope shee entereth here now into another as hauing cast her eies both vpon her companie and traine and vpon hir selfe and others which beheld hir And this hath Salomon here set downe not without great reason as shal appeare by the handling of this matter For it cannot bee but such considerations wil often arise in the mindes and thoughts of such as are most perfect for which cause it is more then necessarie we prouide before hand that wee be nothing shaken by them as manie in our daies are This Queene therefore hauing bosted her selfe that if shee were drawen by the king her beloued shee would come running vnto him with a goodlie and triumphant companie and hereupon beginning to consider what this troupe and traine of hers could be in comparison of them whom shee calleth here Daughters of Ierusalem and of those of whom shee afterwards complaineth she becommeth at the first as it were ashamed But afterwards considering the quality and not the quantity thereof shee pronounceth cheerefully these wordes The vpright loue thee as if she should haue said wee are indeede a small companie but fayre and good for I bring thee nothing which is not entire and vpright and which beareth thee not a true and sincere affection And a little and good is better then a great deale and naught 2 This is the comfort consolation which hath been yet is most necessary vnto the church according to these words of the Lord Luk. 12.32 Feare not litle flock for it is your fathers pleasure to bestow on you a kingdome There are then no greater deceiuers to terme them in most courteous manner then they who to discerne the true church to the which wee must of necessity ioyne our selues if we wilbe saued from the false from which we must of necessity separat our selues if we wil not perish stand wholy vpon a multitude For first of al euery one is constrained to confesse that euen in the affaires dealings of this world there are alwayes to be found more fools then wise men How is it then when the point concerneth supernaturall wisdome and goodnes If wee will not beleeue that which the Lord himselfe hath saide in expresse termes speaking of the broade gate which leadeth to destruction through which many doe passe and of the streit and narow gate leading vnto life and which fewe doe finde Mat. 7.13 let vs at least beleeue that perpetual experience which wee haue hereof For what was I praie you the number and multitude of the true children of God when the deluge came vpon the world in the which only eight persons were spared which perished not by the waters And afterward what was Abrahams house in respect of the Cananits onely Yea what was the whole people of Israell to comprise therein the hipocrites and false Israelites in comparison of all the nations of the world shut out of the couenant of saluation Eph. 2.12 Yea and then especially when the Bridegroome came into the earth in person to gather and to visite his church who reiected him but the builders who cried away with him away with him crucifie him crucifie him but the multitude what multitude was that first number of sixscore persons by which the the Christian church began in Ierusalem To bee short when our aduersaries at this day who oppose their great number to our small companie shall haue wel counted what are they all together in comparisoÌ„ of the rest of the world which acknowledge not Iesus Christ The multitude therefore is so far from beeing a true marke of the Church of God that on the contrarie side the greatest number ought rather to bee suspected of vs. 3 Notwithstanding we say not that euery small companie ought alwaies to be followed but it must be withall qualified with this name which is here giuen vnto it to wit the name of vpright which wee ought well to waigh to know not onlie where the true church is but also those which are the true meÌ„bers thereof The true church therefore is that where the vpright and true veritie of God touching our saluation is purely taught and they are indeede of the church who embrace it in their minde and hart and by effect do declare the same And what is this vprightnes but the will of our God witnessed in all perfection by the writings of his prophets Apostles I mean in his law in respect of our applying our selues to perfourme it according to the measure of his grace and in his gospell in respect of that our beleeuing vnto saluation Euery assemblie therefore be it great or litle which holdeth not it selfe to this vprightnes cannot bee the church of God nor he a member of the true church who beleeueth or doth otherwise 4 And we must note wel that this tru vprightnes the loue of God are things altogether ioyned each to other inseparable wheÌ„ce it foloweth that what doctrine soeuer withdraweth vs neuer so litle from the loue of God as all false religions haue this in coÌ„mon that they stay men either on theÌ„selues or vpon other creatures in whole or in part cannot be the true right way wherof meÌ„tion is here made likewise that whosoeuer witnesseth not by his life that he loueth feareth god is no true vpright man nor a Christian though he haue all the knowledge of truth in his head And because the loue of God is declared by the loue of our neighbour whosoeuer loueth not his neighbour is a lyar if he saie that he loueth God Ioh. 13.35 and 1. Ioh. 4.20 5 There follow now after this the words of the spouse turning her selfe to the daughters of Ierusalem which wee must by name discerne distinguish as wel from those which shee called the vpright to wit the ladies of her traine as from them of whom she complaineth afterward and calleth the sonnes of her mother Seeing then that wee vnderstand by this spouse the

the Lord the goodly clear fair wether indeed began to arise which continued as it were vnto his full noone vnder Salomon who furnished the house of the Lorde both within and without with a most triumphant magnificencie at which time God graunted so long a peace vnto his Church with aboundance and plenty of all temporall blessinges and it may be that the Bridegroome setteth before the eies of his spouse that happy change of the time inuiting bidding her to awake to haue the fruition thereof As much may we and ought we to say to haue come to passe in the time begunne about these threescore yeares since the lord hauing of his infinite bountie and mercy driuen away out of a great part of Christendome the horrible and deadly darckenesse of that Idolatry brought in by the false whore with such an efficacie of the spirite of error that the greatest part of them who attribute vnto themselues the name of great Catholickes and Christians are yet therewith vnto this day enchanted and bewitched This spring-time therfore was sent by the Lord from heauen who raised vp in our time these great and famous personages in the holy ministerie of his woorde and on the other side placed in the seates of magistrates his Ezechiasses and Iosiasses who mightily destroyed the newe Baalimes and Astarothes 4 And what did they els but call and inuite this spouse being awaked to come vnto her Bridegroome and to accompany him into those goodly gardens of true delights wherof the Prophet maketh mention Psal 22.36 And we which are succeeded after them what other thing doe we but crie in your eares in the name of this Bridegroome Arise come the winter is past the goodly weather is come the acceptable time the day of Saluation 2. Cor. 6.2 But alas what shall I say Euery one playeth the deafe maÌ„ euery one is asleep euery one is shrowded nestled in I know not what retchles securitie against the which though we haue long cried yet we crie still in vaine so that the end is wee are likely to be shortlie awaked by other maner of messengers In the meane time let vs take a viewe of the excellent description of this goodly season whereof mention is made by Dauid Psal 118.24 to the end that they who haue eares may heare what the Bridegroome here saith and reioyce in this merry good morowe of his 5 The winter saith the Bridegroome is past the raine is past it is gone away We know that the winter is nothing els but the death as it were of the woorld besides that the stormie colde and the obscuritie and darknesse of the ayre couered throughout with thicke cloudes depriue men of the vse both of the heat as also of the light of the sunne The Church on the contrarie side is the kingdome of light Ioh. 5.6 and 1. Thess 5.5 And because that Iesus Christ is the life Ioh. 11.25 nay hath life in himselfe Ioh 5.26 it followeth that the church only is in life as the worlde is in death and therefore is she also compared vnto a forrest of trees not dead and such as are ready to be cut down and cast into the fire Mat. 3.10 but alwaies greene florishing and laden with fruite Psalm 1.3 yea and that when they are extreme old Psal 92.14 The reason is added in that place because they are planted by the riuers of running waters and of what waters Certainly of those which flowe forth vnto eternal life Ioh. 4.14 not of that which is in ditches and welles rising from out of the bowels of the earth but of the water saith this Bridegroome which I giue which issueth from aboue not which this sun draweth vp from the earth but sendeth down into the earth as flowing proceeding from him as it is said Psal 110.3 that the Church is borne of the dew of this morning and Matth. 5.45 beeing borne anew by the water which is from aboue which is the spirit of God Ioh. 3.15 much lesse that water which is drawne out of some standing poole or cestern but that which is most pure and most cleane Ier. 2.13 namely not the water which men haue digged in the earth but which himselfe sendeth from heauen and whereunto hee calleth and inuiteth all those who are his Esay 55.1 These things being well considered teach vs to know the true Church from the false I meane the liuing Church from the dead Apoc. 5.1 the true woord of God powred from heauen vpon the Prophets and Apostles to carry abroade and disperse it through the whole woorld Esay 2.20 Apoc. 22.2 from the false proceeding from the earth and out of mens braines Esay 29.13 and Coloss 2.22 and consequently the true christian from the superstitious and from the hypocrite 6 That which the Bridegroome addeth of flowers with which the earth is tapistred is referred vnto the same that that before beeing meant hereby the efficacie and working of the holie ghost in the Church when it pleaseth God to blesse the labour of his ministers and seruants in such sort that the whole ground of the Lord is throughout platted with flowers which cast a sweet smel euen vnto heauen being most pleasing vnto the Lord I meane in Iesus Christ saith the Apostle 2. Cor. 2.15 and not in themselues that men forge not vnto themselues merites out of the qualities of the fairest and sweetest flowers which our garden can bring though it be blessed from aboue so far is it that that ground on which the pestilent and contagious windes which come forth of the holownes of the earth doe blow can produce these flowers which are heere mentioned how euer they smel sweete vnto men who beare themselues in hand that the filth of their inuentions sauour of musk before Lorde These flowers then are such as God soweth in his ground 1. Cor. 3.9 namelie by the ministerie of such as hee hath ordained to plant and to water 1. Cor. 3.16 for which cause the Apostle calleth the Philippians his ioie and crowne Philip. 4.1 7 For who else soweth these flowers but the Lorde who sendeth them from an high by his most precious woorde dispensed and administred by the order which hee hath established Esai 5.2 namelie vnder the Lawe in that magnificent temple togither with all his furniture and prouision by that so wel ordered armie of the Priestes and Leuites in that magnificencie which is particularlie painted out vnto vs in the first of the Kings the first of the Chronicles wherunto we must adioine the wisedom of SalomoÌ„ which gaue his shining brightnes vnto the ends of the world accoÌ„panied with al other blessings of God by which his people became admirable woÌ„derful to al the natioÌ„s of the earth But yet were al these flowers nothing in comparison of the ministery of the gospel committed first vnto the Apostles Euangelists his most excellent and diligent planters and sowers 1. Cor. 3.9 by whom the garden-plat as it were

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