and by Saint Iohn 1. Ioh. â— not to receyue them into their houses nor to bydde them God spéede much lesse to ioyne them selues in any league or amitie with them or to suffer such to haue any dealing vnder them Abraham refused to take of the King of Sodom so much as a thread Gen. 14.23 or a shoâ— latchet least he should say Eâ—dr 4.3 I haue enritched Abraham Zerobabell would not suffer the Samaritanes to lay lyme and stone in the building of the Lord. 1. Reg. 13.16.18 The young Prophete for eating bread with the wicked olde Prophete was denowreâ— of a Lion Euse lib. 4. Cap. 14. Nicepb lib. 3. Cap. 14. Euse in vit Const lib. 1 Cap 11. Iohn the EuaÌ„gelist would not tarie in the same house with the heretique Cerinthus Constantinus to trie his men commaunded that all which would not doo sacrifice to Idolles should be thrust out of his seruice and when many for feare obeyed the coÌ„maundement he put them all away Psa 110.6.7 for he would suffer none to serue him which would not also serue the Lord and he knewe that they could not be faithfull to men which were vnfaithfull vnto God Theo. lib. 2. Cap. 6. Liberius going into banishment refused all the gifts of the Emperor and his wife saying Let them giue those thinges to Auxentius and Epictetus their Arrian heretiques Ephe. 5.11 2. Cor 6.14 we must haue no fellowship with the vnfruitfull workes of darknesse nor any way yoake our selues with Infidelles Leuit. 19.19 We are commauÌ„ded by the lawe of God not to plowe with an Oxe and with an Asse nor to sowe our ground with diuers seede nor to make our garmentes of Linsey wolsey Wherefore we must auoide all mingling of contraie Religions and in no wise ioyne our selues with the wicked but endeuour our selues that we may say with Dauid Psal 110.6.7 Mine eyes shall be vnto the faithfull of the lande that they may dwell with me he that walketh in a perfite way he shall serue me There shall no deceiptfull personne dwell within my house he that telleth lyes shall not remayne in my sight O Lorde doo not I hate them which hate thee Psa 139.21.22 and doo not I earnestly contend against those that rise vp against thee yea I hate them with a perfect and vnfeyned hatred as they were mine vtter enimies But what is the cause why these pollitique worldlie wise men doo so familllarlie ioyne them selues with the wicked and so many wayes withdrawe them selues from the true confessing of the Lorde Iesus Surely this is onelie the cause for that they are afeard least a chaunge should shortlie come whereby they might be compelled eyther with shame to turne their coates or else incurre great daunger of suffering for the name of Iesus Christ Saint Iohn sheweth Ioh. 12.48 howe many of the chéefe Rulers beléeued in Christe but because of the Phariseis they durst not confesse him least they should be cast out of the Sinagogue for they looued the prayse of men more then the prayse of God As many there are nowe which would gladly professe the true faith of Christe and yet because they are eyther TenauÌ„ts to such Landlordes or Seruaunts to such Maisters as are backwarde in Religion and frowardlie bent to superstition or else because they are afeard of afterclaps and perilles which may héereafter ensue they dare not with their mouth confesse the Lord Iesus These doo not consider that which our Sauiour Christe sayth That who soeuer will be his Disciple Math. 16.24 Luk. 14.27 must take vp his crosse and followe him Nor that which the Apostle sayth That we must through many afflictions Acts. 14.22 enter into the kingdome of God and that they which will liue godlie in Christ Iesu must suffer persecutioÌ„ Neither doo they consider 2. Tim. 3.5.12 that trouble and affliction is profitable yea and necessary for the Church of God For whome the Lord looueth he chasteneth Pro. 3.11 Apo. 3.17 Hebr. 12.6.7.8 and scourgeth euerie Sonne that he receyueth If ye endure chastening God offereth him selfe vnto you as vnto sonnes For what Sonne is he whome the Father dooth not chasten If therfore ye be without correction whereof all are partakers then are ye bastardes and not sonnes Psa 119.67.71 Before I was afflicted sayeth Dauid I went astraye but nowe I keepe thy woorde it is good for mee that I haue beene afflicted that I may learne thy statutes Iohn 15.2 When the Vine groweth out of order it must be husbanded pared and drest when the bodie aboundeth with euill humours Eccle. 2.5 1. Pet. 1.7 it must be purged Golde must be tryed in the fire before any precious worke be made thereof Stones must be hewed and Tymber must be squared before wée can rayse vp any buylding Corne must be thresht Grapes must be prest before we can haue eyther bread or wine And all this is wrought in vs by trouble and affliction for affliction is the sickle which dooth pare and dresse the braunches it is the purgation which doth purge our soules from our former wickednesse and driue vs to repentaunce and amendment of life it is fire wherein the Golde is tried it is the toole whereby we are hewed and squared and made sit for the building of the Lord it is the instrument whereby we are thresht and prest and made as pure spiritual wheate fit for the Garner and storehouse of euerlasting ioyes And therefore Ignatius sayde when he was brought to be cast into the den of Lions Thus it behoueth me to be grounde with the teethe of Lions that I may be made a sweete manchette for the Lord. The Faith of a Christian is compared to Camamill which the more it is tread vpon the more it dooth florishe and the better it dooth prosper as Paule sheweth Howe the outward man must perishe before the inwarde man can be renued 2. Cor. 4.10.16 and we must beare in our bodyes the dying of the Lorde Iesus that the lyfe of Christe maye be made manifest in vs. And what is the cause now why many doo liue so careleslie and carnallie setting their mindes wholie vppon the glorie and riches and vaine pleasures of this world and hauing no care at all eyther of the honour due vnto the name of the immortall God and the setting forwarde of the glorious Gospell of Christe or of the saluation of their owne soules Surely the cause is onely this for that they are drunken with too much prosperity the outward man dooth not perishe they doo not carie about in their bodies the dying of the Lord Iesus For I am fullie perswaded that there are a great nuÌ„ber in England which nowe doo shewe them selues carnall and carelesse which if GOD should laye vppon them his rodde of correction would become much more holie and farre more zealous for the trueth of God Our Lord God hath two waies
hissing and a reproche among all nations where I shall cast them because they haue not heard my words saith the Lorde When I sent vnto them my seruaunts the Prophets rising vp early and sending them but yee would not heare saith the Lord. But while they mocked the Messengers of God and despised his worde and misused his Prophets 2. Chro 36.16 beholde the Kinge of the Chaldaeans comming with a fearce and terrible Armie brake downe the Walles of their Cittie fiered their Temple burnt all their Towers destroyed Man Woman and Childe so that none escaped death but such as were ledde into Captiuitye and all the Goulde and Treasures bothe of the Temple and of the Noble men was all caryed awaye into Babilon The Lorde knoweth whether the like Captiuitye be reserued for vs or no and the Lorde graunt that the dayes of our Gracious Prince Elizabeth be not shortened for our vnthankfulnesse There was neuer Countrey that euer despised the Prophetes of God but it afterwarde felte the scourge of God and shall wee which are most guiltye of this synne be onelye frée from the punishment No no it cannot be but either we shall taste of a miserable Captiuitie in this world or els of a farre greater Captiuitie 2. Thes 1.8.9 when Sathan shall lead bothe body and soule into the bottomlesse pit of Hell there to be punished with euerlasting perdition from the presence of God and from the glory of his power These things good people if they were well pondered in our minds they would make vs continually to flie vnto God with feruent and hartie prayer and to say with Dauid Blessed art thou O God Psalme 119.12 18 19 33 35 97 135. O teach me thy Statutes open mine eyes that I maye see the wonders of thy Lawe teache me O Lord the way of thy Statutes and I will keepe it vnto the ende direct me in the pathe of thy commaundements for therein is my delight O how I loue thy law it is my meditation continually shew the light of thy countenaunce vpon thy seruaunt and teach me thy commaundements and they would make vs carefully to performe this which our Sauiour dooth commaund his seauentie Disciples To prave the Lord of the Haruest to sende forthe Labourers into his Haruest and not onely to pray for faithfull Labourers but also to put to our helping hands and to indeuour by all lawfull meanes possible to prouide for such as shall painefully labour in the Haruest of the Lord for otherwise if we will in words seeme to pray for them and then indéede can not finde in our harts to bestow any peny vpon them that the Labourers may haue their hier that they which sowe vnto you spirituall things Math. 10.10 1. Tim. 5.18 1. Cor. 9.11.14 Gala. 6.6 may in like māner reape of your carnall things that they which preach the Gospel may liue of the Gospell as the Lord hath ordeyned then are our prayers nothing els but mockeries and plaine Hipocrisie before God for outwardly we praye for them but inwardly we are not touched with the want of the thing that we desire Héere then is a Lesson for all Latrones as they are but Patrones as they should be that in bestowing their liuings they séeke not to enritche themselues by Sacriledge and Church robberie nor yet to prouide for such as will flatter them in their sinnes and sowe Pillowes vnder their Elbowes and crie Peace peace where as no peace is Ezech. 13.18 Ierem. 23.30 nor such as haue sweete lippes and will passe and repasse vnder their armes at their own pleasure nor such as are domb Dogges and cannot barke blinde guides and cannot see Isa 56.10 but that they trauaile to the vttermost of their power to place faithfull labourers in the Haruest of the Lord or otherwise they are accessarie to the murder of so many soules as perish And héere also is a lesson for you of the inferior sorte that séeing our liuings are so spoyled by impropriations that they are not able to maintaine Preachers amongst you for ye know that we haue but the chaffe and others the corne we the parings and other the Aples we the shels and others the Kernels and ye sée how euery day it waxeth worse worse so that he now dooth account him happiest which can pill the Church moste yet ye must not follow their wicked and desperate ensample but euery one contribute something to the maintenaunce of some learned Pastor to instruct you in the word of God which is able to saue your soules Set not your mindes so vpō worldly things Luke 14.18 as vpō your Oxen your Farmes and your Wiues that in the meane time Math. 13.46 ye neglect the Heauenly Supper which is prepared for you by Iesus Christe Ye must accompt the Gospell of Christ to be that Precious Pearle which when a Marchaunt man hath found it he selleth all he hath to bine it Phil. 3.8 Math. 6.33 ye must accompt all things but doonge so that ye may win our Lord Iesus Christ Seeke ye firste the kingdome of Heauen and then all things shall be giuen vnto you Spend not your substaunce in pride riot drunkennesse and excesse to the destruction both of your soules and bodies but bestowe it to the glory of God to the comfort of your brethren to the godly reléeuing of your familyes and to the saluation of your own soules Dauid saith Psalm 69. ◠O Lorde the zeale of thy house hath eaten me vp but we may say the zeale of our owne houses the pride and excessiue riotousnesse of our owne houses hath eaten vs vp but few of vs can say with Dauid O Lord the zeale of thy house hath eaten me vp Especially ye that are Landlordes and haue all the swéete and fatte of the earth ye are to looke vnto it that there be prouision made for Labourers in the Lords Haruest and that ye bestowe your portion liberally thereunto for what a great shame is it that ye whom the Lord hath blessed with so great aboundance should prodigally spende it all vpon your owne backes all vpon your owne bellyes all vpon your owne Kitchins all vpon your owne Stables all vpon Hanking and Hunting all vpon Whores and Hounds and nothing vpon the Church of God nothing vpon the honour of your cheefe Lord in Heauen nothing vpon the common wealth nothing vpon your brethren in Christe deerly bought with the bloud of Christ And what a shame is it that ye should accompt the liuings of the Church to be your owne to giue them to buie them to sell them to farme them at your owne pleasures in the meane time to thinke that the care of the Church dooth nothing appertaine vnto you As the Prophet requireth of Princes Isa 49 23. so also all inferior Maiestrates ought to be Nurcing Fathers Nurcing Mothers to the church of God Now the dutie of a Nurce is not onely to
all excusable And secoÌ„dly by the lawe of nature which God hath ingrafted in their hearts their owne consciences eyther accusing or excusing them The Iewes he condempneth by the written lawe of God which they read and heard continuallie yet not withstanding were daylie transgressours of the same so that they which were without the lawe did perish without the lawe and they which were vnder the lawe were iudged by the lawe and therefore that bothe Iewes and Gentiles were all sinners and depriued of the glorie of God were iustified fréely by grace through the redemptioÌ„ that is in Christ Iesus which he prooueth bothe by the ensample of Abraham who about fouretéene yéeres before he was circumcized was counted iust only by faith and by the sentence of Dauid who pronouÌ„ceth That man only blessed whose iniquities are for giuen whose offences are couered and to whome the Lorde dooth not impute his sin Afterward he maketh a comparisoÌ„ of Christ with Adam of Death with Life of the Lawe with Grace In the sixt Chap. he descendeth from Iustification to Sanctification shewing them by an argument taken of Baptisme That they which were baptized in Christe were baptized into his death And therefore as Christe was raysed vp from the dead by the glorie of God the Father so they also should walke in newnesse of life not giuing their members seruaunts to vncleannes and iniquitie but making them seruants to righteousnes and holines of life Which that they might the better doo he sheweth them in the next Chapter of the right vse of the Lawe and of the bent ready will which euerie Christian ought to haue to the vttermost of his power to performe the law of God and with the vertue of his spirit to striue against the flesh And then he setteth downe the conclusion of the first part of his Epistle next after his salutation to wit That there is no condempnation to them which are in Christ Iesu which walk not after the flesh but after the spirit because the spirite of adoption which they haue receyued in their harts wherby they cried Abba Father dooth so seale in them the hope of euerlasting life that nothing â—s able to seperate theÌ„ froÌ„ the loue of God which is in Iesus Christe their Lord. Now in the thrée Chapters following the .9.10 â— 11 He disputeth Of the iust reiecting of the Iewes and of the free calling of the Gentiles Wherein after that he hath in the last Chapter layde downe the foundation thereof in the frée election purpose of God Who will haue mercy on whome he will haue mercie and whome he will he hardeneth and dooth of the same luÌ„pe of clay make some vesselles of honour some of dishonor some vesselles of mercy to shewe foorth his goodnesse and some vesselles of destruction to be glorified in his power Now in this tenth Chapter least God should séeme vniust in reiecting those whome he had ordained to be vessels of wrath He sheweth an other seconde cause of the casting away of the Iewes because they were ignoraunt of the righteousnes of God and went about to establish their owne righteousnes and would not submit them selues to the righteousnes of God And because the Apostle S. Paul did long for nothing so much Rom. 10.3.4.5 as that Israel might be saued so that for their sakes he desired to be seperated from Christe for his brethren which were his kinsmen according vnto the flesh He therefore beginneth héere to instruct them in the faith of Christe teaching them That Christe was the end of the lawe for righteousnes vnto al beleeuers And shewing them that the promise of God in Deuteronomy Deut. 30.14 The woord is verie neere vnto thee euen in thy mouth and in thy heart for to do it Was it therfore spoke because they were not able of them selues to performe the â—awe of God and to obtaine righteousnes thereby but that in that place God dooth signifie the woord of faith which we doo preache which is néere vnto thée in thy mouth and in thy heart for If thou shalt confesse with thy mouth the Lord Iesus and beleeue in thine hart that God raised him againe from the dead thou shalt be saued In which péece of Scripture we haue two thinges to consider first That we are iustified only by faith in the death and resurrection of Christ Iesus SecoÌ„dly That we must shewe foorth the fruite of our faith to confesse him with our mouthes But because the confession of our mouthes is first set downe in this place as well in the sentence of Paul and also in the woords in Deuteronomy The woord 〈◊〉 neere vnto thee euen in thy mouth and â—n thy heart I haue thought it best at this â—me to followe the same order which the â—oly Ghost dooth vse in this place and to speake first Of the fruite of confession And secondly Of the tree of faith rooted and grounded vpon the death and resurrection of Christe Rom. 10.9 If thou shalt with thy mouth coÌ„fesse the Lord Iesus c. The Apostle beginneth héere first with the Mouth because the Tongue is one of the principallest partes of mans body as S. Iames sayth If a man sinne not in woord he is a perfect man able to bridle the whole body For if the tongue be well vsed he compareth it to a little bit which ruleth the Horse be he neuer so fierce vntamed and to a rudder which though it be small yet it gouerneth the huge Ships béeing tossed assaulted with many blustering stormes and tempests But if it be ill vsed he sayth It is a world of wickednes it defileth the whole body it setteth a fire the course of nature and is it selfe set on fire of hell And therfore Anacharsis the Philosopher béeing asked What was the best wholsomest part of any thing and what the wurst and most vnholsome When it was thought that he would haue made aunswer of two seuerall partes to a double question he aunswered in one single woorde saying The Tongue Because béeing well vsed it is of all partes of mans body the best and on the other side béeing yll vsed the wurst and therefore if we imagine the case â—o be thus that we should carie about with vs two boxes whereof the one conteyneth most deadlie Poyson and the other a soueraigne Remedy against all diseases what great héede would we take vnto them least if the one of them should run out we should be most daungerouslie infected or if any of the other should be spilt we should loose so precious a Iewel In the Tongue there is bothe there is venemous Poyson and there is also a soueraigne Medicine for all infirmities and maladies and therefore what great care â—ought we to haue least eyther by abusing it we be infected or otherwise by out negligence loose the right vse thereof To rehearse all the poysons of the Tongue as Rayling vaine babling filthy talke lying slaundering cursing
amiable are thy Tabernacles My soule longeth yea and fainteth for the courts of the Lord for mine heart and my flesh reioyceth in the liuing God The sparowe hath found her a house and the swalowe a nest for her where she may â—ay her young euen hard by thine aultars O Lord of hoastes my King and my God Where the Prophete Dauid is gréeued that the sparowes swalowes had more accesse to the Church of God then he had There are many now a dayes which will say that they beare as good a soule toward God as they which resort so often to the Church and that they can serue God as well at home as in the Church But these must learne of the Prophete Dauid to prayse God not onelie at home but in the assemblies also as he â—ayteh vnto God Psa 68.26 Psa 22.22 I will declare thy â—ame vnto my brethren in the midst of â—he congregation I will sing prayses vnto thee For otherwise if we doo not séeke to â—et foorth the glorie of God as well publiquelie in the assemblies as pruiuatly in our Families our hearts are not aright before God Héere then they are condemned which béeing Land-Lordes and Men of Worshippe doo disdaine to come into the Congregation of God to coÌ„fesse Gods name vnto their brethren and in the middest of the assemblies to sing prayses vnto him but will haue the Seruice of God done priuatlie in their Chambers and in their Closets These are farre vnlike to the holy Prince and Prophet Dauid the annointed of God Psal 42.4 who led the people into the house of God and accoumpted nothing so déere vnto him as openlie in the assemblies to coÌ„fesse the name of God vnto his brethren And therefore he sayth Psal 26.8 Psa 27.4 O Lorde I haue looued the habitation of thine house and the place where thine honour dwelleth One thing haue I desired of the Lord that I will require euen that I may dwel in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life to beholde the beautie of the Lord and to visite his holy Temple For although that cannot but be most true Math. 18. â—0 which our sauiour sayth that Whersoeuer two or three be gathered together in his name he will be in the midst of them and whatsoeuer they aske they shal receiue Yet this priuate praier ought not to take away publique prayer but much more establish it For if God will â—are the prayers of .ij. or .iij. being gathered together in his name how much more wil â—e heare a whole coÌ„gregation Rom. 15.6 when with â—e hart one voice they shal glorify God â—e father of our Lord Iesus Christe If the prayers procéede froÌ„ a faithfull heart God â—ill heare Ezechias in his bed Hoster in â—er chaÌ„ber Iob vpon the dunghill Daniel Isa 38.2 Hest 4.16 Iob. 2.8 Dan. 6.16 Ionah 2.1 Exod 15.1 Iosu 10.12 1. Reg. 17.20 19.8.9 Acts. 10.2 30. Luk. 6.12 Math. 27.46 â—n the den of LioÌ„s Ieremy in the prison Ioâ—s in the Whales bellie He will heare the people of Israel in the land of Egipt Moâ—s and Aaron in the wildernes Iosua in â—is warres Elias in the house of the widâ—ow of Sarepta in a Caue of the mouÌ„t Noreb Cornelius at home in his owne â—ouse Simon Peter in the house of Simon â—he Tanner Paule in the Ship and on the 〈◊〉 banke and our sauiour Christe on the mouÌ„taines in the fields in the garden â—n the Crosse So that in euery place the â—ord is nigh vnto all the call vpon him I â—y vnto all that call vpon him in trueth Psal 145.18 notwithstaÌ„ding this dooth God especially â—quire of euery christian that we should all â—ogether publiquely in the assemblies make â—en confession of our Faith in the Lord â—esus vnto the lande and praise of God And therfore miserable is their blindnes and intollerable is their arrogaÌ„cie which thinke they may serue God sufficientlie in their houses and doo therfore abstaine from publique prayer and from the open confession of their faith in the Church of God wherin first they rob God of his honour and commit Sacriledge in kéeping back their tongues from the publique coÌ„fessing their bodies from the open glorifying of the name of the Lord Iesus Secondlie they cut them selues off from the mysticall body of Iesus Christe for Christ is the head Ephe. 1.22 Ephe. 4.15.25 and we are the body one head hath but one body And thus as Paule sayth We are all members one of an other And therefore as one body we should be all of one faith all agrée in one trueth and all with one hart one voice lawde and magnifie the name of God and who soeuer by schismes deuisions dooth seperate him selfe from his brethren and cut him selfe off froÌ„ the Church that man dooth cut him selfe off froÌ„ the misticall body of Iesus Christ Thirdly they shew intollerable pride and arrogancie for what proude wretches are they which take vpoÌ„ them to condempne the congregation of Christe which is assembled togeather in his holy name and to accoumpt them heâ—tiques for whome Christe shedde his â—ood and howe vilie doo they thinke of â—eir brethren Psal 22.22 which will not vouchsafe 〈◊〉 pray to make confession of their faith â—gether with them They are wurse a â—reat deale then the Phariseis for they â—though they were proude hautie and â—d aboue all others disdayne the Publiâ—nes yet they did not refuse to come to â—e Temple because the Publicans reâ—rted vnto it For S. Luke sheweth how â—e Pharisey the Publican Luk. 18.10 came bothe 〈◊〉 the Temple together And therefore â—ey which denie or disdaine to come to â—e Church eyther they make vs wurse â—en Publicans or else they them selues â—e wurse then Phariseis Fourthlie they giue great offence vnto â—hers by their yll ensample especiallie Psa 42.4 〈◊〉 they be such as should leade the people to the house of God I meane Landâ—des and Gentlemen for if they pray â—elie at home the poorer sort say straight â—ayes within them selues why may not â—e pray also at home séeing we haue all â—e Lord and Maister in heauen for inâ—riours are called Apes of superiours Herodian â—cause whatsoeuer they sée done of them they thinke that they may doo the like Seneca and Graauissimus morbus est qui a capite diffum ditur That disease is most perillous which commeth from the head And therefore Woe be to him by whome offences come Mat. 18.6.7 it were better for him that a myll stone were hanged about his necke and that he were drowned in the bottome of the sea Last of all they which refuse to come into the Congregation of God Psal 22.22 to confesse the name of God amongst their brethren they condemne and despise the holie ordinaunce of God For God hath ordained in holy woord commaunded That his people should come together to
Maister might leane on his hand and so he might serue the King according to his office As godly Ioseph serued wicked Pharao Gen. 41.42 1. Reg. 18.4 Phili. 4.22 vertuous Obadiah serued the Idolatrous Achab and there were many Saints in the house of Nero. And thus dooth Naaman require that he might for a time doo seruice to the King of Aram to how down that he might â—leane on his haÌ„d 2. Reg. 5.17 but otherwise he prououÌ„ceth plainlie that he will offer sacrifice to none but vnto the Lord God of Israell And for a signe and seale thereof he requested to haue two Mules loaded with the earth of Israell to carie with him into the lande of Syria to be a witnesse and as it were a publique confession that he worshipped none but the Lord God of Israell and yet notwithstanding he dooth not instifie this his seruice to a heathen Prince but dooth acknowledge it to be a faulte and therfore desireth the Prophet to pray for him that this sinne may not be layde to his charge And Elisaeus dooth not denie but that it was a faulte but he byddeth him Goe in peace rather bearing with his infirmitie then any wayes allowing it and howsoeuer Elisaeus would not presse him too sore because he was a Nouice and newlie conuerted vnto the true Religion of God yet it dooth not followe that we Christians which haue receyued more aboundaunt knowledge of the trueth béeing confirmed with the death and passion of Christe and witnessed with the blood of so many Martyres should of a particular exsample gather a generall doctrine to couer our dissembling in Religion and renouncing of our Lord and Sauiour And last of all the aunswere of Elizaeus Goe in peace because it is the common phrase whereby the Hebrewes doo bydde a man farewell to saye Goe in peace it must not be referred to the last woordes which Naaman spake of the bowing downe in the Temple of Remmon but generallie to all the woordes which were before spoken betwixt them For their talke béeing ended Eccl. 23.11 he vade him farewell saying Goe in peace and so departed whereby ye sée plainlie that this place dooth nothing allowe any dissembling in Religion neyther by the woordes of Naaman nor yet by the woords of the Prophete An other ensample there is of Paule 1. Cor. 9.20 who amongst the Iewes became a Iewe and amongst the Gentiles a Gentile and became all thinges to all men to winne some This place is abused by many to couer their fleshe with a maske and to transforme their Satan into an Angell of lyght whereby they doo great iniurie to the holie Apostle of Christe For because hee became amongst them which were without the lawe as béeing him selfe without Lawe shall we therefore thinke that amongste drunkerdes he became a drunkerde or amongste théeues a théefe or amongste Idolatours an Idolatour When he was at Ephesus or at Ciprus or at Athens dyd he doo any worshippe or offer any Sacrifice to Diana to Venus Acts. 17.32 19.24 21.28 24.28 to Minerua to Iupiter to Neptune Nay dyd he not so fréelie reprooue and condemne their Idolatrie and preache vnto them the Lorde Iesus that they persecuted him euerie where and moued insurrection against him and sought by all meanes possible to dispatch and to murder him Acts. 16.3 Acts. 18 18. 21.24 Vnto the Iewes in déede Paule became a Iew he went into the Temple at Ierusalem to purifie him selfe and to offer Sacrifice he made a vowe and caused his head to be shauen he circumcised Timothy But why so because these Ceremonies of the Iewes were commaunded of God him selfe and therefore it was lawfull for all men to vse them to edification according vnto Christian lybertie vntyll Iesus Christe was fullie made manifest and by his death and passion had vtterlie taken away all the Iewes Rites and Ceremonies and also vntil the Iewes were perfectlie aduertised of their lybertie in Christe and of the abrogation of their Ceremonies But afterward when Paule sawe that some of them did confirme them selues in superstition and required Ceremonies as necessarie vnto saluation then he cried out against them and openlie condemned them and when he sawe that some false brethren came to spie his libertie Gal. 2.3 Gal 5.2 he could not Circumcize Titus as he had Circumcized Timothie But he accoumpted it damnable and taught men plainlie that if they were Circumcized the death of Christe could nothing profite them So also among the Gentiles Paule became a Gentile But howe Not in allowing their Idolatrie but in obeying their ciuill Lawes pollitique customes and in agréeing to all their déedes which were not repugnaunt to the word of God He obeied also their Princes and Rulers Act. 16.19.38 22.25 26.32 and béeing a Cittizen of Roome appealed vnto Caesar and vsed Heathen Magistrate for the defence of his cause in that they were the Ministers of God But otherwise he neuer applied him selfe vnto their false Religion and Idolatrie neither did he by holding his peace allowe any thing in them which was contrary to the woord of God But what shall we saye to Nicodemus Iohn 3.2 He stole to our Sauiour Christe in the night he durst not confesse him openlie in the daye was he therefore condemned because he durste not openlie with his mouth confesse the Lord Iesus I aunswere that although Nicodemus came to our sauiour Christe in the night it dooth not therefore followe that he dyd blaspheme him or deny him in the daye And although in the beginning his incredulitie and infirmitie could not be excused Iohn 7.50 yet afterwarde he became so zealous and constaunt that he resisted his companions the Phariseis and thought nothing too precious Iohn 19.39 to be bestowed vpon the honouring of his Lorde and Sauiour He declared him selfe with Ioseph of Aramathia to be one of his Disciples when all his Disciples had forsaken him he made then a publique confession with the greatest daunger that might be and when there was more occasion to feare then euer there was then they demaunded the body of Pilate to burie it and Nicodemus bought Myrhe and Aloes mingled together about an hundred pounde and wrapped the body of Iesus in Linnen and swéete Odours to burie it And thus ye see good Brethren that these exsamples doo nothing serue to cullour and cloake the infirmitie of our flesh howsoeuer they séeme at the first to make some thing for vs yet if we examine them thorowlie they are vtterlie against vs. But it fareth with this fleshe of ours as it dooth with a quarrelling man whose delight is onlie to trouble his neighbours in suites of Lawe He goeth to séeke the aduise of some Councellors and Attorneyes and if he lyght vpon such as haue good Consciences and tell him the trueth of his case and bydde him giue ouer his suite for his matter is not good then he goeth away angrie
honor but some to dishonor it is cōpared also to a draw Net Math. 13.47 which being cast into the Sea dooth gather all kinde of Fish good bad And our Sauiour saith that the kingdom of heauen is like vnto a man which sowed good seed in his field Math. 13.24 but while mē slept the enemy came sowed tares amōg the wheate wēt his way whē the blade was sprōg vp brought forth fruite thē appeared the tares also thē came the seruāts of the housholder said vnto him Maister sowedst not the good seed in thy field from whence then hath it Tares and he sayde the Enuious man hath done this Then the Seruants saide vnto him wilt thou then that we goe and gather them vp But he said naye least while ye goe about to gather the Tares ye pluckt vp the Wheate also Let bothe grow together vntill the Haruest and in the time of the Haruest I will say vnto the Reapers gather ye first the Tares and binde them in sheaues to burne them but gather the Wheate into my Barne And therefore vntill the Haruest doo come that is the consumation of all things and the end of the world we must looke for nothing but to haue the wicked mingled with the godly and the Tares with the good Graine Some haue gathered out of this place that obstinate Heretickes and Idolators ought not to be punished with death because the Householder dooth commaund his seruaunts to let the Tares and the Wheate growe together vntill the time of the Haruest Mat. 13.24.30 But we must vnderstande that as by the good Corne is mēt all the faithfull all which are sowē of God all which shall be gathered into the Barnes of euerlasting life so by the Tares are mēt not onely Hereticks and Idolaters but also all which are sowen of the Deuill all Hipocrites Infidels and all which shall be cast into the Furnace of euerlasting fier And therfore if by this Parable our Sauiour did forbid the punishment of Idolaters by the ciuill Maiestrate it would follow also that neither Traitours Whoremongers Théeues nor Murderers were to be punished with death which were too absurde and too grose to be Imagined For by the Tares are signified all the wicked and all which are sowen by the enuious mā Math. 13.28 And therefore this commaundement of Christ giuen to his Seruaunts dooth not concerne the ciuill Magistrate but as by the Field is signified not the Church where the Gospell is purely preached nor our minde as some do expounde it but the whole world conteyning all bothe graine and chaffe wheate and Tares And as the Haruest in that place is taken not as it is héere for the company of the faithful which gladly receaue the word of God but for the vniuersall consummation of the world so by the seruaunts are ment not ciuill nor Ecclesiasticall Magistrates but the Angels of God by whose Ministery the haruest that is the consummation of the world shal be accomplished And therefore as in the beginning of the Historie of Iob God is set foorth consulting with his Angels as a Kinge with his honourable Counsell that thereby the incomprehensible prouidence of God which gouerneth all things by his Ministring spirites might be as in a liuely table set foorth before our eyes so héer is the Lord set downe as it were talking with his Angels of the state of the Ghurch and of the end of the worlde when there shall be an vniuersall purging of the Church of God And this may appeare bothe by the wordes of the seruaunts Num vis vt colligamus Zizania They do not say shall we gather this or that Tare shall we punish this or that Idolater this or that Murderer but wilt thou that we shall gather the Tares that is that we shall make an end of all things and purge the good seede which thou hast sowen from all offences and also by the words of the Housholder for he dooth not commaunde his seruaunts to suffer the Tares to growe least they chaunce to pluck vp Wheate for Tares but least with the Tares they pluck vp the Wheate also signifying thereby that he gaue the commaundement not to prouide for the Tares but to prouide for the good Corne and therefore neither dooth the generall gathering of the good Corne into the Barnes any thing hinder but that God may particularly by death euery day gather some of his Saints into Abrahams bosom Exod. 32.27 Deut. 13.9 2. Par. 15.13 2. Reg. 23.20 1. Keg 18.40 2. Reg. 10.1 neither dooth the vniuersall burning of the tares any thing hinder but that they may particulerly be pluckt vp by the Magistrate according to the word of God And there is no reason but if they may be put to death which murther the bodye and spoile men of their goods much more they which murther the soules of many and disturbe the quietnesse of the common wealth and robbe God of his honour whose name be blessed for euer and euer Then the meaning of that Parable of our Sauiour Christ is that so longe as this wicked worlde continueth we must looke for no perfect purging of the Church of God Let the Magistrate execute neuer so much and the Preacher teache neuer so muche there will be Heathen Infidels Iewes Turkes Papistes Atheists Hipocrites continually troubling the church of God But all our comfort is that the Lorde dooth tell vs that there will come an Haruest time wherein he will seperate the Tares from the wheate the sheep from the Goates The wicked doo prouoke the wrath of God to burne and consume them presently and to throw them headlong into the bottomles pit of Hell notwithstanding for the elects sake God dooth spare them for a time vntill the Haruest that is vntill the number of the elect shal be accomplished which shall neuer be vntill the consumation of all things and the end of the worlde be brought vpon vs and therefore if in the meane time in the Haruest of the people of God the Tares be mingled with the Corne we must not fret our selues because of the vngodly neither be enuious for the wicked dooers Psa 17.1.2.35 For they shall once be cut downe like grasse and as the greene Herbe shall they wither away though for a time they be lustie and stronge spread themselues like greene bay Trées yet shall they sodainly passe away so that we may saye with Dauid O how sodainely are they destroyed Psalme 73.19 perished and come to a fearefull ende euen as a dreame when a man awaketh And though for a time the Tares doo florish amids the Wheate yet shall the Haruest at the last be ripened thē shall the Lord send his Reapers to gather the Corne into his Barne but the Tares shall they binde together and cast into vnquencheable fier Héere then learne good people to shew foorth the fruite of your profession Math. 7.16 for by the
required this at your hands that ye should take the sacrameÌ„t of my bloud which I shed for al meÌ„ froÌ„ the common people so to make my supper rather an excoÌ„munication then a Communion who required this at your hands that ye should rather thrust your children into Abbeis Couents there to liue an idle a Swinish life being pampered vp with all dilicious fare which may stir theÌ„ vp to all filthines theÌ„ to set theÌ„ to some homest occupatioÌ„ Gen. 3.19 2. Thes 3.12 to get their liuing with the sweate of their browes to the profit and furtherance of the Common wealth Who required this of you that ye should accompt it a more meritorious work to gilde an Image their to cloathe a poore naked man and a better déede to go a gadding on Pilgrimage to séeke dead bones then to tarie at home and visite the poore members of Christ which laye sick and bedred lame and impotent 1. Iohn 1.7 Eccle. 12.7 Luke 23.49 Actes 7.59 Apoc. 14.13 who required this at your hands that ye should make any other Purgatorie then the bloud of Iesus Christ which dooth purge you from all your sinne or that ye should place your holynesse in kissing of Reliques créeping to crosses choyce of meates contempt of mariage sprinkling of holy water ceÌ„sing of Herbs boughes auricular shriuing in consecrated war Agnus Deis Crucifyres Palmes Creame Spittle Salte Oile Ashes Bels Beads Ladies Psalters Portuises LegeÌ„daries MaÌ„s merits work of supererogatioÌ„ Shrines Roodes Tapers Frankencense Masses Dirges Trentals Buls Pardons Indulgences and all such trashe and trumpery wherof there is no mention at all in my holy worde Who required these things at your hands if I neuer required them but rather forbad them and commaunded the cleane contrarie then are ye no faithfull labourers 2. Peter 2.3 ye labour for your owne gaine to make Marchandise of soules for Lukers sake but ye are no labourers in my Haruest Apoc. 22.19 to bring increase into my Barnes and therefore ye are accursed and haue no part in the booke of life Thus good brethren ye sée how we shall be faithfull labourers we must Deut. 4.2 12.32 Pro. 30.6 adde nothing to the woord and take nothing from it neither to decline vnto the right hand nor to the left for if it be vnlawfull to adde or to chaunge Gala. 3.15 or to abrogate any thing in the Will and Testament of men how much lesse shall it be lawfull to put too or to diminish or to disanull any thing in the Will and Testament of the euerliuing God and if in making of the Tabernacle Exod. 25.40 2. Cron. 8.14 or building of the materiall Temple it was not lawfull for the workemen to doo any thing but what the Lorde appointed how much lesse may the builders of the spirituall Temple the Church of God decline from that rule which God hath prescribed in his holy worde Moreouer that we may be faithfull labourers this is required of vs that we auoide all flatterie and without respect of persons doo bouldly that Message Gala. 101 whereunto the Lorde shall send vs knowing that if we seeke to please men Ezech. 13.12 we cannot be the seruaunts of Christ â—ech 13.18 The Prophet denounceth an woe against those which sowe Pillowes vnder mens elbowes and crie peace peace where as no peace is and God dooth threaten by Ieremie that hee will come against those Prophets which haue sweete lips Ieâ— 10. and flatter men in their sinnes Woe be to them which speake good of euill and euill of good which put darkenes for light and light for darkenes which put bitter for sweete find sweete for sower Pro. 12.2 Disperdat Dominus omnia labia adulationum the Lord â—ut out all flattering lips saith the Prophet Dauid and as flattering lippes are abhominable in all meÌ„ so especially they ought to be abhorred of vs which are the Messengers of the Lord of Hoasts We must all Ephe. 6.19 open our mouthes bouldly to publish the secret of the Gospell Howsoeuer it be a daungerous thing for Lot to reprooue the filthy and beastly Sodomites Gen. 19.7 assaulting his house yet he must not cease still to say I pray you my bretheren Proâ— â—0 2 doo not so wickedly Howsoeuer the wrath of a King be the roaring of a Lion and he that dooth prouoke him to anger dooth hazard his owne life yet if Princes offend the Prophet of God must say the Princes are rebellious Isa 1.23 companions of theeues euery one loueth bribes they iudge not the fatherles nether doth the widdowes cause come before the Ezech. 22.27 the Princes of Iuda are like rauening wolues sucking bloud and destroying soules for couetous Lucre. Although it must cost Iohn Baptist his life yet must he not cease to say to Herod Math. 14.4 It is not lawful for thee to haue thy brother Phillips wife And not onely the wicked but the godly also wheÌ„ they fall they must be bouldly sharply reprooued so that Nathan must say vnto Dauid thou art the man 2. Sam. 12.7 it is thou that hast done this deede doubt not but the Lord will so worke with it that thy smiting shall be taken for a benefit Psa 141.5 and thy reproouing for a precious balme which will not breake his head howsoeuer the wicked doo kick spurne against thy godly admonitioÌ„s yet no vnthankfulnes of the world ought to driue them froÌ„ performing thy duty but that the more stormy tempests that the weather dooth bring the more painefull thou shouldest be in the Haruest of the Lord What though thou be sent as Christe héere sent foorthe his seuentie Disciples as Lambes among VVolues Luke 10.5 What though thou be Sawde in péeces with a Sawe of wood as the Prophet Isay was or haue a Naile of Iron driuen into the Temples of thy head with Amos or be beheaded with Iohn Baptist or be Stoned with Steuen or slaine with the Sworde with Iames or most cruelly put to death with Peter Paule and the rest of the Apostles or haue thy portion among the blessed Martirs of God whereof some were deuoured with wilde Beasts some burnt with fier and Faggot some broyld vpon hoate coales some hanged some drowned some torne in péeces with wilde Horses yet must you alwayes remember the comfortable promise of Christe Math. 5.10 that great shal be thy rewarde in Heauen Blessed is the man that endureth temptation Iam. 1.12 for when he is tryed he shall receaue the Crowne of life which the Lorde hath promised to them that loue him Thus must the Ministers labour faithfully and not onely faithfully but willingly as Peter sayth feede the flock of Christ 2. Peter 5.2 which dependeth vpon you caring for it not by constraint but willingly not for fylthy luker but of a ready minde For if the laboring Seruaunts which are hyred to doo
shall be pronounced Giue an accompts of thy stewardship Luk. 16.1 thou maist be no longer Steward The Texte saith that the euill Stewarde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he was first accused to his Maister that he wasted his goods and then he was called to his reckoning Euen so shall all blinde guides dombe Dogges vnfaithfull Stewards Idole Sheepheards slouthfull loiterers first be accused to God and then called to their accompts who shall be their accusers euery slothfull and vnfaithful Steward of what calling soeuer he be shall haue thrée accusers Rom. 2.15 The first is their owne conscience for that will be as good as a thousand witnesse Iuuenal Nocte dieque suum gestare in pectore testem A corrupt conscience is called a continuall Hangeman Gen. 4.7 it is sinne laying at the doore of our hearts it is called of the Prophet Esay a Worme that neuer dyeth and a Sea which alwayes rageth without rest Isa 66.24 1. Tim. 4.2 of Paul a fearing with a hoate Iron and in the Epistle to the Hebrewes Hebr. 10.26 a terrible looking for of iudgement and violent fier to deuour the aduersaries and therefore as often as they call to minde remember how they haue eaten the fat Ezech. 34.3.4 cloathed themselues with the Woll but that they haue not fed the Sheepe nor strengthened the weake nor healed the sick nor bouÌ„d vp the broke nor brought againe that which was driuen away nor sought vp that which was lost but haue ruled their slocks with rigor and cruelty this corrupt conscience Rom. 2.15 wil be as good as a thousaÌ„d witnesses to accuse coÌ„demne theÌ„ before the throne of God Isa 57.21 2. Tim. 1.7 Sap. 17.10.11 There is no peace to the wicked the Lord hath sayd it but they shal cary in their brests feare terror tormeÌ„ting furies coÌ„tinually citing theÌ„ before the tribunall seat of Christ And if there be any which with vayne pastimes and pleasures of this worlde doo driue away the remembraunce of Gods iudgements for a time yet are they neuer the better for it for although they séeme to reioyce yet as Salomon sayeth Pro 1.14.13 20.17 Euen in the laughing the hart is sorrowfull and the mirth dooth end in heauines Although the bread of deceipt be sweet in the mouth for a while yet in the end the mouthe shal be filled with Grauell although for a time they liue without remorse of conscience Luke 11.21 and the stronge man dooth so possesse all things that all things seeme to be quiet yet in the end they shall be neuer the better for it no more then the stall fedde Oxe is the better because he knoweth not that he is taken out to the slaughter house for a sodaine death will haue the greater feaâ—e 1. Cor. 1.12 And therefore good brethren let euery one of vs endeuour as much as we can to kéepe the testimonie of a good conscience for as of all the treasures and pleasures in the worlde a quiet conscience is the greatest Pro. 15.15 as Salomon saith a good conscience is a continuall feast so it is the greatest horrour in the world to make Shipwrake of a good conscience 1. Iohn 3 21. for if our hart condemne vs God is greater then our heart and therefore let euery one of vs labour faithfully and painefully in the Lords Haruest let vs as good stewards giue vnto the household their portion of meate in due season that whensoeuer we must leaue our flocks we may euery one of vs in the testimonie of a good conscience say as Paule saide to the Elders of Ephesus Act. 20.26.27 I take you all to recorde this day that I am pure from the bloud of all men for I haue kept nothing back but haue shewed you all the counsell of God The second witnesse which shall accuse thée if thou be an euil Steward is the crie of the poore people which by thy negligence are pinched with the famine of the worde of God Amos. 8.11 for if in plaging of the body of goods that be true which the wiseman saith Ecclc. 35.15 that the teares which runne downe from the Widdowes cheekes go vp into heauen and the Lord which heareth them doth accept them and that which Iames saith Iam. 5.4 the crye of the poore dooth enter into the eares of the Lorde of Hoastes and that which Dauid affirmeth that Psal 56.8 God dooth put the teares of his Saints in his bottell how much more shall the teares and the cry which commeth by the plaging of the soule go vp into the eares of the Lord of Hoasts when the People shall huÌ„ger thirst for the foode of Godsword thou hast none to giue them when they shall crie for their portion of meate and thou hast none neither for thy selfe nor for them This crie goeth vp into heaueÌ„ and the Lord which heareth it dooth accept it when he calleth thée to thy reckoning he will one day remember it The thirde witnesse which shall accuse all euill Stewards is the hurt dammage which is done in the Lords Haruest by their negligence Gen 4.10 for if the voice of the bloud of Abell did crie out of the earth for vengeance and if in building of houses with the oppressioÌ„ of the poore one stone doo crie vnto another â—bac 2.11 one beame crie against an other woe be to him that buildeth of bloud How much more shal the bloud of the soules of meÌ„ the maintaining of our wealthy estates by the perishing of so many soules cry continually out of the earth to the Lord for vengeance And thus if thou be an vnfaithfull and negligent Steward thou hast three accusers continually citing thee before the throne of God and the Lord which heareth their accusations will one day call thee to thy reckoning when he himselfe shall descende from heauen with a showte 1. The. 4.16.17 and with the voice of the Archangell with the trumpet of God and thou shalt meete him in the Cloudes where thou shalt see heauen aboue thee ready to receaue the saints of God Hell beneathe thee gaping to deuoure thee round about thee the world burning the Elements melting with heate thine owne sinnes on the one side of thee and the sinnes of all those which haue perished by thy negligence on the other side of thee behinde thee the Deuill ready to accuse thee within thee a conscience already condemning thee and before thy face the terrible Iudge accompanied with thousands of Angels calling thee to giue an accomptes of thy Stewardship And if it be founde that Luke 12.48.45.46 thou hast not giuen to the Househoulde of God their portion of meate in due season but hast smitten thy fellow seruauÌ„ts and giuen thy selfe to eate and drinke Math. 25.30 and to be dronken then moste assuredlye thou shalt be cut off and haue thy portion
with the vnbeléeuers thou shalt be cast as an vnprofitable seruaunt Mark 9.44 Ezech. 34.1 1. Cor. 9.16 Luk. 16.26 Apoc. 14.11 into vtter darkenesse where shall be weeping gnashing of teeth where the worme neuer dyeth and the flame neuer goeth out where woes thou shalt finde on euery side and nothing but woes and of all woes this is the greatest that there shal be no ende of thy woes Where thou shalt alwaies consume and yet neuer be consumed alwayes burne and yet neuer be burnt away alwayes die and yet neuer giue ouer to death but haue paines vnquencheable intollerable easelesse endlesse and hopelesse from the which the Lord of his infinite mercy for his sonne Christ his sake deliuer vs all and giue vs grace so to vse our Talents in this vale of miserie that when our accompts shal be made we may be founde acceptable in his sight and héere that ioyfull saying O ye good and faithfull seruaunts Math. 25.21.23.34 yee haue beene faithfull in little I wil make you Maysters of much enter into the ioyes of your Lorde come ye blessed of my father possesse the kingdome prepared for you froÌ„ the beginning of the world Thus deerely belooued ye see the thyrde propertie which is required in him that shall labour in the Lords Haruest that Luk. 12.46.45 he must be dilligent and that if he let any perish for want of foode then doth he smite his fellow seruaunts and murder them with a murder which before God is of all others most horrible and therefore if when we haue murdered a man although it be but by chaunce medley yet the remembraunce of it dooth gréeue vs vexe vs terrifie vs torment vs and make our flesh to quiuer shake and tremble how much more ought ye to auoyde the wilfull murder of so many thousand soules which perishing by your wilful negligence and ignoraunce 2. Thes 1.8.9 because they know not God are thrown headlong into euerlasting perdition and if the bloud of meÌ„ that are slaine béeing behoulden with the eies of the body dooth moue pitty and compassion howe much more ought it to gréeue the eyes of your hearts and spirits to sée the bloudshed of the soules 2. Sam. 22.15 which bringeth death eternall When Dauid in the Haruest time being in the Caue of Adullam did greatly longe to drinke of the water of Bethlehem sayd O that some man would giue me to drinke of the waters of Bethlehem there could not well any water be fetched because the Garrison of the Philistines which were Dauids enemies were then in Bethlehem Notwithstanding when thrée of Dauids mighty Captaines saw how greatly their King loÌ„ged for that water they valiauntly brake thorough the Hoaste of the Philistines and drew water out of the Wel of Bethlehem and brought it vnto Dauid when Dauid sawe what they had done he refused to drinke of it and sayde O Lord be it farre from me that I should doo this Is not this the bloud of the men which went in daunger of their liues And so he would not drinke of it but powred it out for an offering vnto the Lorde Now if Dauid would not drinke once of the water of Bethlehem because it was brought vnto him with the ieopardie of thrée mens liues how much lesse ought ye not onely to eate and drinke but also to cloathe your selues yea and delight your selues in pastimes and plesures not once but euery day not with the dauÌ„ger of thrée mens liues but with the manifest murder of so many hundred soules And therefore as in the Solemnization of Matrimonie in this Church of Englande the Minister dooth firste charge the parties that are to be maried as they will aunswer at the dreadfull day of iudgement when the secrets of all hearts shall be opened that if either of them doo knowe in themselues any impediment why they may not lawfully be joyned together in Matrimonie that they confesse it Euen so I am to charge you before the Lord Iesus Christ and as you will aunswer at his appearaunce that if any of you doo know in your selues any secret impechment that either ye want the inward calling not to respect the liuing but to doo good in the Church of God or els that ye haue not the giftes of Nature fitte for that function or that yee feele not your selues so mortified with the spirite of sanctification that ye haue good hope to liue according to your profession to despise the worlde and painefully to discharge your duties that ye vtter it or at the least wise withdrawe your selues from rashelye entring into so high a calling Otherwise assure your selues that ye doo nothing els but plucke the vengeaunce of God vpon your owne heads But some of you say that ye haue no other way to liue and therefore vnlesse ye â—e nows made Ministers ye must néedes he brought to extreame beggerie I aunswer Ps 33 19. 34 8. 112.1 â— 3 that if the Lord be willing to deliuer you from pouertie he is able to deliuer you and he will deliuer you by a farre more lawfull meanes if ye will serue him and feare him 1 Tim. 1.5 1. Pet. 3.16.21 Tit. 1.15 and although he should neuer bring you out of it yet how much better were if for you to liue here in perpetuall begger is with a quiet conscience then with the best benefice in this Realme to haue a hell in your consciences in this worlde and euerlasting death in the worlde to come for then Mar. 8.36.37 what will it profit a man to win the whole world and loose his own soule or what shall a man giue for his soule ye must remember the counsell which Paul giueth to Timothie 1. Tim. 5.22 Psalm 38.4 not to be partakers of other mens sinnes our own sinnes are a burthen too heauie for vs to beare and altogether intollerable then what a desperate case are we in if we doo also charge and loade our selues with a heape of sinnes committed by other men Ezech. 3.18 whose bloud must be required at our hands if they be not dilligently lye warned and reclaymed from their wickednes that they may repent liue The fourth propertie which must be in the labourer is that he labour with bothe hands that is both with life and doctrine for otherwise if he be painfull in teaching and haue no care to expresse the same in life and conuersation then dooth he but build with the one hand and pluck downe with the other with the one hand he gathereth together and with the other hand he scattereth abroade and then he is no good labourer in the Haruest of the Lorde and therefore Saint Paul biddeth Timothy 1. Tim. 4.15 Act. 20.28 take heede vnto himselfe and to his doctrine and continue therein for in so dooing he should saue himselfe and theÌ„ that heard him And he willeth Titus Tit. â— 7 abooue all things to shew himselfe an ensample
they be sent we must continually beare in minde this cōmaūdement of our Sauiour Christ that we praye vnto the Lord of the Haruest to send foorth Labourers into his Haruest Which cōmaundement because Christ gaue it in this place to his 70. Disciples Let vs of the Ministery firste apply it to our selues and learne heere our dutye which is that with all laboures we ioyne our prayers vnto the Lorde of the Haruest For if in temporall things nothing can prosper without the blessing of the Lorde as the Prophet Dauid saithe Psal 127.1 Except the Lord build the house their labour is but lost that builde except the Lorde keepe the Cittie the Watchemen watcheth but in vaine It is in vaine for you to rise vp earely and to lye downe late and to eate the bread of carefulnesse as we sée by experience euery day many rise early and lay downe late and eate the bread of carefulnesse but they prosper not because the Lord doth not build the house if worldly riches be the blessing of the Lord as Salomon saith it is the blessing of the Lorde which maketh men riche if in fishing in the Sea Luke 5.5 Peter may fishe all night catch nothing vntil our Sauiour Christe voutchsafe to come into the barge thē how much lesse shall we think that we can build the Lords house or watch ouer the flock of Christ or gather a rich haruest vnto the lord or catch the soules of mē with the spiritual net of gods word vnlesse with our rising early lying downe late eating the bread of carefulnes we alwaies let our praier supplicatiō be made to God with thāksgiuing Phil. 4.6 Iob. 31.27 Iobe saithe If my heart did flatter me in secret or if my mouthe did kisse mine hand this had bin an iniquity to be condemned for I had denyed the Lorde aboue where Iob maketh the ascribing of our temporall goods to our owne handie worke and saying Haec sunt opera manuum mearum these are the workes of mine owne hands to be nothing els but a denying of the Lord aboue How much more then doo we deny the Lorde aboue if in spirituall graces we doo not confesse and acknowledge that it is nothing for Paul 1. Cor. 3.6 2. Cor. 3.5 to Plant and Appollo to water except the Lord doo giue the encrease that we are not sufficient of our selues to thinke one good thought as of our selues but all our sufficiencie commeth of God who hath made vs able Ministers of the new Testament that Isa 6.5.7 Ierm 1.6.9 the Prophet Isay is a man of polluted lippes bēfore the Lorde doo purge them that Ieremie is but a Childe and cannot speake before the Lord doo put his woords into his mouthe and therefore that in all our endeuours we trust not to our owne wisdome to our owne learning to our owne pollicie to our owne gifts of nature but that in all our laboures we doo in feruencie of spirite Psalm 51 1◠pray with Dauid O Lorde open thou my lippes and then my mouthe shall shew foorth thy praise Héere also in that our Sauiour dooth commaund his Disciples to pray the Lord of the Haruest to send foorth labourers into his Haruest we haue to consider the tender care which euery Minister ought to haue of the Church of God still to pray vnto God for the same and not onely to pray vnto God but also with great griefe of hart to remember as well the small number of the faithfull labourers as also the great number of the peoples sinnes This vehement zeale and tender care for the Haruest of the Lord was in Moyses when he prayed so earnestly for the people that he sayde Exod. 32.32 O Lord pardon their sinnes or els raze me out of the booke which thou hast written Gen. 18 24. This was in Abraham for when he saw how the sinnes of the Sodomites had prouoked the scourge of God against them he prayed vnto the Lord and sayd Lord if there be but fiftie righteous in the Citie wilt thou destroy the place and not spare it for the fiftie righteous and againe behould I haue begonne to speake vnto the Lord and am but duste and Asshes If there lack fiue of fiftie wilt thou destroy them for fiue And againe what if but fortie And againe what if thirtie what if twentie And againe let not my Lord be angrie if I speake once againe what if but ten shewing thereby sufficiently the earnest zeale which he had 2. Pet. 2.7 for the saluation of the people This was in Lot who was vexed with the vncleane conuersation of the wicked for béeing righteous and dwelling among them in séeing and heareing vexed his righteous soule from day to daye with their vncleane and foule déedes This zealous care for the Lords Haruest was also in Samuel 1. Sam. 7.9 Psal 119.136 who cried vnto the Lord for Israell And in Dauid whose eyes gusht out with Riuers of water because his people kept not the Lawe of God This was in the Prophet Isay Isa 22.4 who in the aboundance of looue bewayled his bretheren which would needes perishe saying Turne away from me I will weepe bitterly labour not to comfort me for the destruction of the Daughter of my people Ierm 9.1 Ierem. 14.17 This was in Ieremy who cryed out O that my head were full of Water and mine eyes a Fountaine of Teares that I might weepe day and night for the slaine of the daughter of my people Let myne eyes droppe downe teares night and daye without ceasing Dan. 9.7.16.18.19 This was in the Prophet Daniel who when he heard out of Ieremie that the Captiuitie should continue seauentie yeares he turned his face vnto the Lord with fasting with Sackcloth and Ashes and prayed saying To thee O Lorde belongeth righteousnes to vs open shame and confusion O Lord I beseeche thee let thine anger be turned away from thy Cittie Ierusalem thine holy Mountaine We doo not present our selues vnto thee trusting in our owne righteousnesse but in thy great and tender mercyes O Lorde heare O Lorde forgiue O Lord consider and doo it not for our sake but for thyne owne sake O my God This was in the holye Apostle Sainte Paule Actes 20.31 Phil. 3.18 Rom. 9.1 who ceased not to warne euery man bothe daye and night with Teares and hee called God to wytnesse that hee spake the trueth howe hee had great heauynesse and contynuall sorrowe of heart for hys Bretheren and that for their sakes Luk. 19.41 he wished himselfe to be seperate from Iesus Christe This was also in the chéefe Shéepheard our Sauiour Christ who when he beheld the Citty Ierusalem and the iniquitie thereof he wept ouer it and cried out with gréefe of heart O if thou hadst knowen at the least in this thy day these things which belong vnto thy peace but nowe they are hidde from thine eyes and this ought
to be in all the Ministers of Christ to haue a zealous and a tender care of the Church of God which Christ hath purchased with his moste precious bloud and therefore our Sauiour dooth héere commaund his seuentie Disciples that in all their prayers they should not haue so much respect vnto themselues as vnto the Haruest of the Lorde and biddeth them pray the Lord of the Haruest to sende foorth labourers into his Haruest And this is the dutie not onely of the Minister but generally of all men Psal 137.5.6 to pray for the peace of Ierusalem and the prosperous estate of the Church of God Ephe. 6.19 to pray for the Ministers that vtteraunce may be giuen vnto them that they may opē their mouthes bouldly to publish the secret of the Gospell to pray 2 Thes 3.1 that the word of God may haue free passage and be glorifyed among them to pray for their Pastors Colos 4.3.4 that God wyll open vnto them the doore of vtteraunce that they may so speake the Misteries of Christ as it becommeth them to speake to pray with Dauid that the Lord will be fauourable vnto Sion Psa 51.18 and build vp the walles of Ierusalem And finally to praye heere with the seuentie Disciples that the Lord of the Haruest will send foorth labourers into his Haruest and this shall euery one of you performe a great deale more carefully if ye will call to minde either the great comfort which commeth vnto you by the paines of faithfull Labourers or els the miserable estate that ye stande in if ye want these Labourers For first what greater comfort can there be to a trauayler béeing in a straunge place and among his enemyes then to be well armed and to haue a good weapen to defēd him Neither can there be any greater comfort to vs that Psalm 39.12 are straungers and Pilgrimes in this vale of misery and continually assaulted with most cruell enemies the world the flesh and the Deuill then to be well weaponed with the sworde of the spirite Ephe. 6.17 Hebru 4.12 the word of God which shall cut downe sinne in vs and enter thorough euen to the deuiding a sunder of the soule and of the spirite of the ioyntes and of the marrowe Then we ought alwayes to pray with Dauid I am a straunger vpon earth Psal 119.19 O hide not thy commaundement from me What greater comfort to a man which walketh in darkenesse and in a daingerous place Ephe. 5.8 Psa 119.105 2. Pet. 1.19 Ephe. 5.8 then to haue a light to be brought vnto him Neither can there be anye greater comforte to vs which of our selues are nothing but darkenesse as Paule saythe then to haue the worde of God a Lanterne to our feete and a Candle shining in a darke place whereby we may be made light in the Lorde and walke as the children of light What greater ioye vnto a poore man then to shrowde himselfe vnder the winges of some Nobleman or Gentleman and to weare his Liuerie and Cognisance neyther can there be any greater ioye to a true Christian then to weare the Badge of a Christian which is a zeale to heare the worde of God Iohn 8.47 1. Ioh. 4.6 Iohn 10.27 that hearing Gods worde he may be knowne to be of God and hearing the voyce of Christ may be knowne thereby to be one of the Sheep of Christ and therefore such a one as cā neuer perrish There is no man but he would willingly be reconciled to his Landlorde or any other which is able to hurt either his body or goods The Gospell of Christ is called 2. Cor. 5.19 Math. 10.28 the worde of reconciliation whereby we are reconciled to him which is able to destroy bothe body and soule and cast bothe into Hell lier No man but he would willingly be saued Iam. 1.21 Rom. 1.16 Isa 12.3 it is called the worde of saluation which is able to saue our soules and therfore we ought with ioy to draw water out of the Wels of saluation as the Prophet speaketh ther is no mā but he would willingly be preserued frō errours falshood it is called 2. Cor. 6.7 Iohn 17.17 the word of truth No mā but if he haue any sparkle of grace he would willingly be deliuered frō the bondage of sinne iniquitie It is the Law of God Psal 19.7.11 119.9 which is perfect conuerteth the soule the Testimony of the Lord is sure giueth wisdom vnto the simple by thē is the seruāt of God made circūspect by teaching improouing 2. Tim. 3.16 correcting instructing they make the mā of god absolute perfect in al good works There is no mā but if he haue enemies suing him at Lawe for a péece of Land he would gladly haue the aduise of good and learned Counsellers our enemyes séeke to pluck from vs the kingdome of Heauen and therefore our delight ought to be in the statues of God for they are our Counsellers Psal 119.24 saith Dauid if we haue any suite we are desirous to know the end how that iudgement shall passe Christ saithe If any man receiue not my woords Ioh. 12.48 Sermo quem loquutus sum iudicabit eum in nouissimo Die the word which I haue spoaken shall iudge him the last day There is no man but if his Father haue made a Will and Testament and therein bequeathed vnto him any worldly goods or possessions he wyll read the Will ouer and ouer againe to see what his father hath bequeathed vnto him But the Minister dooth bring vnto you not the Testament of any mortal man but the Will and Testament of our Lord Iesus Christ Rom. 11 27. 2. Cor. 3.6 Hebru 8.8 9.15 1. Pet. 1.18 wherein he hath bequeathed vnto you not temporall riches but the euerlasting ioyes of Heauen purchased not with Siluer nor Gould but with his owne precious bloud How much more then ought ye to héere marke and commit vnto me morie this Will and Testament of our Lorde and redéemer When the Market day commeth that we must prouide for foode and rayement for our bodyes we wyll applye it dilligently to our great costes and charges Behoulde the Lorde hath appointed many dayes especially the Sabbaoth dayes to be the Market dayes of our soules wherein we may fréely prouide for some thing to the nourishment and comforte of our soules What a great care then ought wee to haue to resort vnto the Church Apoc. 3.18 Isa 55. ◠to buy Gould tryed by the fier that we may be riche and white rayment that we may be cloathed and as the Prophet saythe to buie Wyne and Mylke without Siluer and not so to care for the body which shortly shall be Wormes meate that we haue no care of the soule which shortly shall be in the companye of Angels There is none of vs but he would willingly conceaue some hope of eternall life and