also the husband hath not power of his owne bodie but the wife Defraude not one another that is leaue not one anothers bed except it be with consente for a time that ye may giue your selues to fasting and praier and againe come together that Sathan tempt you not for your incontinencie 29 That one Christiā ought to instruct edifie and exhort another WHerefore exhorte one another s Thes 5 11 and edifie one another euen as ye do Take héede brethren Heb. 3 ver 13 14. least at any time there bée in any of you an euill hart and vnfaithfull to departe away from the lyuing God but exhort one another daily while it is called to day least any of you bée hardned through the deceitfulnesse of sinne And let vs consider one another to prouoke vnto loue Heb. 10 2. to good woorkes not forsaking the fellowship that wee haue among our selues as the manner of some is but let vs exhort one another that so much the more bicause you sée that the day draweth néere Then spake they that feared the Lord Mal◠.3 16 euerie one to his neighbour the Lorde harkened and heard it and a booke of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord. The righteous teacheth the house of the wicked Prou. 21 1 The lippes of the righteous féede manie Prou. 10 21 Let euerie man as hee hath receiued the gift 1 Pet 4 10. minister the same one to another as good disposers of the manifolde grace of God 30 That euerie Christian is bounde in conscience when his brother sinneth to rebuke him for his sinne THou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart Leuit. 19 17 but thou shalt plainly rebuke thy neighbour and suffer him not to sinne Let the righteous smite me Psal 141 5. for that it is a benefite and let him reprooue me it shall bee a pretious oyle that shall not break my head for within a while I shal euen pray in their miseries We desire you brethren admonish thē that are vnruly 1 Thes 5 14 comfort the féeble minded beare with the weake be patient towards all men 31 That priuate offences are to bee rebuked priuately or secretly IF thy brother trespasse against thée Math. 18 15 go and tell him his fault betwéene thée and him alone if he heare thée thou hast wonne thy brother 32. That open sinne must haue open rebuke THem that sinne rebuke openly 1. Tim. 5.20 that the rest also may feare And whē Peter was come to Antioch I withstood him openly Galat. 2 11. for he was worthie to be rebuked He that rebuketh a mā shall find more fauour at the length Prou. 28 23. then he that flattereth him with his lips why then should any man cast any of these doubts why then I shall loose his good will and I am afraid he will not take it well hauing his promise of God A reproofe entreth more into him that hath vnderstanding Prou. 17. then an hundreth stripes into a foole A scorner loueth not him that rebuketh him Prou. 15 12. neither will he go vnto the wise A wise sonne will obey the instruction of his father Prou. 13 1. but a scorner will heare no rebuke Better is it to heare the rebuke of wise men Prou. 7 7. then the song of fooles He that hardneth his necke when he is rebuked Prou. 29 1. shall suddenly be destroyed and cannot be cured 33. That no Christian ought to haue any felowship with any wicked mā who professing christianitie leadeth his life lewdly to the slander of the profession but to auoid such a one as filthines and dirt IF any that is called a brother that us to say a Christian man be a fornicatour 1. Cor. 5. or couetous or an idolater or a railer or a drunkard or an extortioner with such one eat not Haue no fellowship with the vnfruitfull workes of darkenesse Ephes 5.11 but euen reprooue them rather If any man obeye not our sayings 1. Thes 3. verse 14. note him by letter and haue no companie with him that he may be ashamed He that walketh with the wise shal be wise Prou. 13 20. but a companion of fooles shal be afflicted For Epes 5. verse 6.7 for such things cōmeth the wrath of God vpon the children of disobedience be not therefore companions with them They that forsake the law praise the wicked Prou. 28 4. but they that kéepe the law set themselues against them Lord who shall dwell in thy tabernacle Psal 15.1 4. c. He in whose eies a vile person is contemned but he honoureth them that feare the Lord. Example ℣ se 2 And Iehu the son of Hannani the Seer went to méet him that is Iehoshaphat who went to the war with Ahab king of Israell and said to king Iehoshaphat 2. Chron. 19. wouldest thou helpe the wicked and loue them that hate the Lord therefore for this thing the wrath of the Lord is vpon thée Yet after this did Iehoshaphat king of Iudah ioyne himselfe with Ahaziah king of Israell who was giuen to do euill 2. Chron. 20 ℣ s 35 36 37 and he ioyned with him to make ships to go to Tarshish they made the ships in Ezion Gaber then Eliezer the son of Dodauah of Meresha prophesied against Iehoshaphat saying because thou hast ioyned thy selfe with Ahaziah the Lord hath broken thy workes the ships were broken that they were not able to go to Tarshish 34. That all Christians ought to be full of good workes and to what end FOr wée are his workemanship created in Christ Iesus vnto good works Ephes 2 10. which God hath ordeined that we should walke in them This is a true saying Titus 3 8. these things I will thou shouldest affirme that they which haue beléeued God might be carefull to shew forth good works these are good and profitable to men Who gaue himselfe for vs Titus 2 14. to redéeme vs from all iniquitie and to purge vs a peculiar people vnto himselfe zealous of good workes Charge them that are rich in this world that they be not high minded 1. Tim. 6 17 that they trust not in vncertaine riches but in the liuing God which giueth vs aboundantly all things to enioy that they do good and be rich in good workes and ready to distribute and communicate End of good workes Let your light so shine before men Math. 5.16 that they may sée your good workes and glorifie your father which is in heauen And haue your conuersation honest among the Gentils 1. Pet. 2 12. that they which speake euill of you as of euill doers may by your good works which they shal sée glorifie God in the day of their visitation And this I pray that your loue may abound Philip. 1. ℣ se 9 10 11. yet more and more in knowledge and in all iudgement that ye may discerne things that differ one from another that ye may be pure and without offence vntill the day of Christ filled with the fruits of righteousnesse which are by Iesus Christ vnto the glorie and praise of God Ioine moreouer vertue with your faith 2 Pet. 1. ℣ se 5 6 7. and with vertue knowledge and with knowledge temperance and with temperance patience and with patience godlinesse and with godlinesse brotherly kindnesse and with brotherly kindnesse loue For if these things vs among you and abound they will make you that ye neither shal be idle nor vnfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ for he that hath not thess things is blind and cannot sée farre of and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sinnes And let ours learne to shewe foorth good works for necessarie vses Titus 3.14 that they be not vnfruitfull Now good Reader this being ended there remaineth nothing but thy diligēce carefully to practise that which thou shalt here find as thy calling shal require and bind thee which that thou maist do I shal not cease to pray And thus in Christ I bid thee farewell FINIS
written that we are therfore deliuered by Christ from our enemies Hell Death and Damnation that wee shoulde serue God without feare all the daies of our life in holines and righteousnes before him and in another place that wee should liue soberly Tim. 2 â„£ se 12. righteously and godlye in this presente worlde And in another place That if anye bee in Christ hee must be a new creature 2 Cor 5. And againe Follow peace with all men Heb 12. and holynesse without the which no man shal see the Lorde And to the same effecte there are infinite testimonies of holie Scripture But I would suche mocke-gods were once mindfull of their wofull state which maye rather bee tearmed incarnate Diuels then Christian meÌ„ or members of the holy body of Christ so long as they continue so desperately nought I would good reader either thine or mine admonition might doe some of them good Farewell in Christ and let vs pray in the spirit for the peace and prosperity of Zion our gratious Souereigne Thine in Christ Th. Settle A fardle of Christian duties needful to be taken vp and borne of all such as trauaile towards eternall life according as euery of their callings require 1. That all Christian men and women are bound to go to Church or the place appointed for Gods worship namely where Gods word is preached praiers and Sacraments ministred to ioyne themselues in fellowship in those holy exercises of religion that so they may growe vp in true Christianitie BVt yee shall séeke the place which the Lorde your God shall choose out of all your tribes Deut 12 verse 5. to put his name there and there to dwel thither thou shalt come This place was vnder the lawe Ierusalem or where Gods Arke and tabernacle was pitched And now since Christes birth is all places of the worlde where Gods word and sacramentes are truely preached and ministred It shall be in the last dayes Esay 2 ver 2. that the mountains of the house of the Lord shal be prepared in the top of the mountains and shall bée exalted aboue the hilles and all nations shall flowe vnto it And And many people shall go say Micha 4 1. Come and lette vs goe vp to the mountaine of the Lorde to the house of the God of Iacob and hee will teach vs his wayes and we will walke in his pathes And they that dwell in one Citie shall goe vnto an other Zachar. 8 â„£ 21 22. saying Vp let vs goe and pray before the Lorde One must prouoke another to go to the assembliâ—s and seeke the Lord of hostes I will go also Yea great people and mightie nations shall come to séeke the Lord of hostes in Ierusalem and to pray before the Lord. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thée Psal 84 â„£ se 5 6 7. whose heart are in thy wayes They going through the vale of Baca make welles therein c. They go from strength to strength till euerie one appeare before God in Zion Then a shower of rayne ought not to bee an excuse for any to absent himselfe from the holie assemblies as many a one of our daintie Christians doe in these dayes make it 2. Examples of the meetings of Christians for the hearing of the word prayer and administration of Sacraments ANd they continued in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship Acts 2 42. and fellowship breaking of bread and praiers And they continued daily with one accorde in the temple Acts 2 46. and breaking of bread at home And daily in the temple Acts 5 46. from house to house they ceased not to teach and preach Iesus Christ And the next Saboth day came almost the whole Cittie together to heare the word of God Acts 13 44. And the first day of the wéeke the Disciples beeing come together to breake bread Acts 20 7. Paule preached vnto them readie to depart on the morow continued the preaching vntill midnight When yée come togeather therefore into one place 1 Cor 11 20 this is not to eate the Lords Supper 3. Examples of the seruantes of God reioicing to go to the assemblies of God and to see others goe And of the seruants of God complaining sorrowing for the want of the holie assemblies when as by persecution they were hindered and of their desires to be there I Reioised when they said to me Psal 122 â„£ se 1 2. we wil go into the house of the Lord. Our féet shall stand in thy gates O Ierusalem O Lord of hostes how amiable are thy tabernacles Psal 84 verse 1 2 3. My soule longeth yea and fainteth for the courtes of the Lorde for my heart and my flesh reioice in the liuing God Yea the sparrow hath founde her an house and the swallow a nest for her where she may lay her young euen by thy altars O Lord of hostes my king and my God Blessed are they that may dwell in thine house they will euer praise thée As the Hart brayeth for the riuers of water Psal 42 verse 1 2 3 4. so panteth my soule after thée O God My soule lusteth for God euen for the liuing God when shall I come and appeare before the presence of God My teares haue béene my meat day night while they daily say vnto me where is thy God WheÌ„ I remeÌ„bred these things I poured out my verie heart because I had gone with the multitude and ledde them into the house of God c. And he said that is Dauid vnto Saule Wherefore doth my Lorde thus persecute his seruant 1 Sam 26 18 19. for what haue I done or what euill is in my hande Nowe therefore I beseech thée lette my Lorde heare the wordes of his seruant If the Lorde haue stirred thée vp against mee lette him smell the sauour of a Sacrifice But if the children of men haue done it cursed be they before the Lorde For they haue cast mee out this day from abyding in the inheritaunce of the Lord God saying goe serue other Gods Hezekia hearing the message of death from the Lorde Esay 38. â„£ se 1 2 3 18 19. praied and wept not for feare of death but as the whole chapiter doth euidently declare because he should no longer liue to praise God in his sanctuarie and to growe vp among the people of God in more graces to promote Gods glorie For sayth hee after hee had promise of life The graue cannot confesse thée death cannot praise thée they that goe downe into the pitte cannot hope for thy truth But the liuing the liuing hée shall confesse thée as I doe this day the father to the children shall declare thy truth One thing haue I desired of the Lorde that I will require Psal 27 4. euen that I maye dwel in the house of the Lord all the daies of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord to
iudges in the land through out all the strong Cities of Iuda 2. Chron. 19 verse 5 6 7. citie by citie And said to the Iudges take héed what ye doe For ye execute not the iudgements of man but of the Lord he wil be with you in the cause and iudgement Wherefore nowe let the feare of the Lord be vpon you take héed and doe it for there is no iniquitie with the Lord neither respecte of persons nor receiuing of reward Heare this I pray you ye heads of the house of Iacob princes of the house of Israell Mich. 3. verse 10 11. they abhor iudgement and peruert al equitie they build vp Zion with bloud and Ierusalem with iniquitie the heads therof iudge for rewards c therfore shal Zion for your sakes be plowed as a field To make good for the euill of their hands the prince asked Mich. 7. vers 3 4. the iudge iudgeth for a reward Therefore the great man speaketh out of the corruption of his hart and so they wrap it vp the best of them is like a brier the most righteous is sharper then a thorne hedge Thou shalt take no gift Exod. 23 8. for the gift blindeth the wise and peruerteth the words of the righteous Wrest not thou the lawe Deut. 16 19. neither respect any person neither take reward for the reward blindeth the eies of the wise peruerteth the words of the iust Their rulers loue to say with shame bring yée Osea 4 18. Woe vnto them whiche iustifieth the wicked for a reward Esay 5 23. and taketh away the righteousnesse of the righteous from him Read the 82. Psalme 11. That magistrates must punish the wicked or else they shall prouoke Gods wrath against themselues and be a cause to increase sinne A Wise king scattereth the wicked Prou. 20 26 causeth the whéele to turne ouer them For Princes are not to be feared for good workes Rom 13. ℣ se 3 4. but for euill wilt thou bée without feare of the power doo well so shalt thou haue praise of the same for he is the minister of God for thy welth but if thou do euill feare for he beareth not the sword for nought for he is the mininister of God to take vengeance on him that dooth euill Because sentence against an euill worke is not executed spéedily Eccles 8 10. therefore the hart of the children of men is fully set in them to do euill Neither will I be with you any more except ye destroy the excōmunicate from among you Iosu◠7 12. Examples I put on iustice Iob 29. verse 14 15. and it couered me my iudgement was as a robe a crowne I was the eies of the blind and I was the féet to the lame I was a father vnto the poore and when I knew not the cause I sought it out diligently I brake also the iawes of the vnrighteous and plucked the pray out of his téeth Betimes will I destroy al the wicked of the land Psal 101 ◠that I may cut of al the workers of iniquitie from the citie of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord 1. Kings 20. ℣ se 42. because thou Ahab hast let go out of thine hands a man that is Benhadad king of Aram whom I appointed to die thy life shall go for his life and thy people for his people A worthie example to be noted of all magistrates that they may not spare foolishly pittie Idolaters and vile sinners whom God in his law commaundeth to be slaine 12. That princes magistrates and men in authoritie ought to be religious mainteiners and nursers of religion and take especiall delight in those that feare God BE wise now therefore yée kings Psal 10. ℣ se 11 12. be learned ye iudges of the earth serue the Lord in feare and reioyce in trembling Kisse the sonne least he be angrie ye perish in the way when his wrath shall suddenly burne And when he that is the king shal sit vpon the throne of his kingdome Deut. 17. ℣ se 18 19. then shall he write him this law repeated in a booke by the priests of the Leuits and it shal be with him and he shall read therin all the daies of his life that he may learne to feare the Lord his God and to kéepe all the wordes of this law these ordinances for to do them That his hart be not lifted vp aboue his brethren and that he turne not from the commaundement to the right hand or to the left but that he may prolong his daies in his kingdome he his sonnes in the midst of Israell Let not this booke the Lords words to Iosua in his person to all magistrates of this law depart out of thy mouth but meditate therin day and night Iosua 1 8. that thou maist obserue do according to all that is written therein For then shalt thou make thy way prosperous then shalt thou haue good successe Thou that is the Church shall sucke the milke of the Gentiles Esay 60 16. shalt sucke the brests of Kings thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy sauiour Kings shal be Esay 49 ℣ se 23 24. thy that is the churches nursing fathers and quéenes thy nurses they shall worship thée with their faces towards the earth and licke vp the dust of thy féet and thou shalt knowe that I am the Lord. In the Reuelation it is written Reue. 21 24 That the kings of the earth shall bring their glorie honour vnto the new Ierusalē Example of Dauid O my soule Psalm 16.2 thou hast said vnto the Lord thou art my Lord my well doing extendeth not to thée but to the Saints that are in the earth to the excellent all my delight is in them I am a cōpanion of al them that feare thée and kéepe thy precepts Psal 119 63 Mine eies shal be vnto the faithfull of the land that they may dwell with me Psal 101 6. he that walketh in a perfect way he shal serue me When I remembred these things I powred out my very hart Psal 42 4. because I had gone with the multitude led them into the house of God 13. That all subiects are to obey their princes and those that are appointed vnder them that is inferior magistrats in all things not contrarie to the commandements of God to pay them tributes LEt euery soule be subiect vnto the higher powers Rom. 13. ℣ se 1 2 3. for there is no power but of God whosoeuer therfore resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God and they that resist shall receiue to themselues iudgement For princes are not to be feared for good workes but for euill wilt thou then be without feare of the power do well so shalt thou haue praise of the same c. wherefore ye must be subiect not because of
not men and knowe yee that whatsoeuer good thing any man doth the same hée shall receiue of the Lord whether he be bond or frée Seruants Collos 3. ℣ se 22 23 24 25. be obedient vnto them that are your maisters according to the flesh in all thinges not with eye seruice as men pleasers but in singlenes of heart fearing God and whatsoeuer ye doe doe it hartily as to the Lorde and not vnto men knowing that of the Lorde yée shall receiue the rewarde of the inheritance for ye serue the Lord Christ but hée that doth wrong shall receiue for the wrong that he hath done and there is no respect of persons Seruants 1 Pet. 2. ℣ se 18 19 20. 21. be subiect to your maisters with all feare not only to the good curteous but also to the froward For this is thank worthy if a man for conscience toward God endure griefe suffering wrongfully For what praise is it if whē ye be buffeted for your faults ye take it patiently but and if when ye do wel ye suffer wrong and take it patiently this is acceptable to God For hereunto yee are called for Christ also suffered for vs leauing for vs an example that ye should follow his steppes Iacob an example of a faithfull seruant to Laban This twentie yeare haue I béen with thée Gen. 21 verse 38 39 40. thine ewes and thy goates haue not cast their young and the Rammes of thy flocke haue I not eaten Whatsoeuer was torne of beasts I brought it not vnto thée but made it good my selfe of mine hande diddest thou require it were yt stollen by day or stollen by night I was in the day consumed with heat and frost in the night and my sléepe departed from mine eies 26 That Maisters and Mistresses owe duties to their seruantes and what those duties are ANd ye Maisters Ephes 6 9. doe the same thing vnto them that is your seruants putting away threatning know that euen your maister also is in heauen neither is there respect of person with God Ye maisters Collos 4 1. do you vnto your seruāts that which is iust and equall knowing that ye also haue a maister in heauen A seruant will not bee chastened with words Prou. 29 19 though he vnderstand yet wil he not answere Such a seruant then when he is knowne must haue the scourge He that delicately bringeth vp his seruant from his youth Prou. 29 21 at length he wil bée euen as his sonne which is by maisters to be considered of Example of Iobs good dealing with his seruants farre from rigour IF I did condemn the iudgement of my seruant Iob 31 verse 13 14 15. and of my mayde whē they did contend with mee what then shall I doe when God standeth vp and when he shal visite me what shall I answere hée that hath made me in the wombe hath he not made him hath not hee alone fashioned vs in the wombe Hereby may those masters sée their wickednes which wil not heare their seruants speake but vppon a simple surmise and brainsicknes do euil intreat them by cruell stripes when indéede there is no iust cause Thou shalt not oppresse an hyred seruant Deut. 24 14 that is néedie poore neither of thy brethren nor straunger thou shalt giue him his hyre for his day 27 What the duties of husbands are vnto their wiues LIkewise yee husbandes 1 Pet 3 7. dwell with them that are your wiues as men of knowledge giuing honour vnto the woman as vnto the weaker vessell euen as they which are heires together of the grace of life that your praiers be not interrupted Let the husband giue vnto the wife due 1 Cor. 7 ◠beneuolence and likewise also the wife vnto the husband Husbands Collos 3 19 loue your wiues and be not bitter vnto them Husbandes Ephes 5. ℣ se 25 26 28. loue your wiues euen as Christ loued the Church and gaue himselfe for it that hee might sanctifie it c. so ought men to loue their wiues as their owne bodies Hee that loueth his wife loueth himselfe 28 What the duties of wiues bee vnto their husbands WIues Ephes 5.22 submit your selues vnto your husbands as vnto the Lord for the husband is the wiues head euen as Christ is the head of the Church the same is the sauiour of his body therefore as the church is in subiection to Christ euen so let the wiues be to their husbāds in all things The man is the womans head 1 Cor. 11 3. 1 Cor. 7 3. Let the wife giue vnto her husband due beneuolence Wiues Collos 3 18. submit your selues vnto your husbands as it is comely in the Lord. Likewise also the women 1. Tim. 2 9.10 11 12 13 that they array themselues in comely apparell with shamefastnes and modestie not with broidered haire or gold or pearles or costly apparel but as becommeth women that professe the feare of God with good workes Let the women learne in silence with all subiection I permit not a woman to teach neither to vsurpe authoritie ouer the man but to be in silēce for Adam was first formed then Eue Adam was not deceiued but the woman was deceiued and was in the transgression notwithstanding through bearing of children she shall be saued if they continue in faith and loue and holines with modestie Let the wife sée that she feare her husband Ephes 5 33. Vnto the woman hee saide that is the Lord I wil greatly increase thy sorow Gen. 3 16. thy conceptiōs in sorow shalt thou bring forth children thy desire shal be subiect to thy husband he shal rule ouer thée Let your women kéepe silence in the Churches 1 Cor. 14 ℣ 34 35. for it is not permitted vnto them to speake but they ought to be subiect as also the lawe saith if they will learn any thing let them aske their husbands at home for it is a shame for women to speake in the Church Likewise let the wiues bee subiect to their husbandes 1 Pet. 3 verse 1 2 3 4.5 16. that euen they which obey not the word may without the word be woon by the conuersatiō of the wiues While they behelde your pure conuersation which is with feare whose apparelling let it not be outwarde as with broidered haire and golde put about or in putting on of apparell But let the hid man of the heart bee vncorrupt with a méeke and quiet spirite which is before God a thing much sette by For euen after this manner in times past did the holie women which trusted in God attire themselues and were subiecte to their husbandes As Sara obeyed Abraham and called him Sir whose daughters yee are whilest yée doe well not béeing afrayd of any terrour Dutie of husband and wife The wife hath not the power of her owne bodie 1 Cor. 7 4.5 but the husband and lykewise
how a man may know certainely that he hath faith and Repentance An. If he can say in true féeling The good that I would doo that I doo not Rom. 7 19. and the euill that I would not doo that I doo with Paule in the 7. to the Romans Math. 5. and mourne vnder the burden of his sinne If he delite in the lawe of God in the inner man Rom. 8 16. If he be led by the spirit of God Rom. 8 14. If he haue crucified the flesh with the affections of the flesh Galat. 5 24. If he walke according to the rule of a new creature Galat. 6 15. be a new creature peace shal be vpō him mercie as saith the Apostle If he can say with the Apostle 2. Cor. 1 12. This is my reioycing the testimonie of my cōsciēce that in simplicitie godly purenes and not in fleshly wisedome but by the grace of God I haue had my conuersation in the world If hée haue true loue towardes the brethren euen to be gréeued in their griefes and ioyfull in their good and carefull to helpe them in christian compassion by easing their gréeues and furthering their good it is a true marke of the child of God And thereby saith Iohn we know that we are of the truth 1. Iohn 3.19 and shall before him that is God assure our harts And in 1. Iohn 4. he saith Herby we know that he dwelleth in vs and we in him because he hath giuen vs of his spirit that is the fruits of his spirit Roman 8. And if any haue not the fruits of the spirit the same is none of his The fruits of the spirit are as appeareth in Galathians 5. loue ioy peace Galat. 5 22. long suffering gentlenes goodnes faith meeknes c. If a mā by these notes examine himselfe he may iudge of his repentāce If any man haue not repented he is diligently to attend vpon the holy ministry of the law the gospel that he may be called in Gods good time Qu. How may Gods people know a faithfull man An. By 3. marks specially First by his professing frequenting of the publike worship of God when it may be had As in Romans 10. Rom. 10 9. For if thou shalt cōfesse with thy mouth the Lord Iesus beleeue with thy hart that God raised him from the dead thou shalt be saued And in 1. Peter 3. 1. Pet. 3.15 Be redie alwaies to giue an answer to euery mā that asketh you a reason of that hope that is in you Our sauiour Christ saith in Iohn 8. He that is of God heareth Gods word Iohn 8 47. Secondly by his honest godly conuersation amōg men for Paule saith 2. Tim. 2. The Lord knoweth who are his ℣ se 15 let euery one that nameth the name of Chrst departe from iniquitie Shew me saith Iames in the second of his Epistle thy faith by thy works Iames. 2 18. and I will shewe thee my faith by my workes Where he plainely sheweth that if good works be away Matth. 7. there is no faith Yee shall know them saith Christ by their fruit verse 16 20. for a good tree bringeth foorth good fruit c. Thirdly by true Christian loue Iohn 13 35. Hereby saith Christ in the 13. of Iohn shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye haue loue one to an other These are thrée sure markes to know a faithfull man by so farre as man may iudge Hypocrites God will either display in this world in time by bringing their sinnes abroad to the view of all men as he did Symon Magus his sinnes Iudas Saules and many others or else when the secrets of all mens harts shal be disclosed he will throwe those tares into vnquenchable fier with others prepared to condemnation Qu How may a mā know an vnfaithfull man and an infidell An. By his life vnreformed continuance in his wickednes after he is rebuked heareth how he ought to walke Luke 6. verse 43 44. It is not a good tree saith Christ in the sixt of Luke which bringeth foorth euill fruit neither an euil tree that bringeth forth good fruite Againe Iohn saith in his first epistle and third chapiter 1 Iohn 3 10. In this are the children of God knowne and the children of the deuill whosoeuer doth not righteousnesse is not of God And againe He that committeth sinne is of the deuill Prouerbes 29. Hee that hardeneth his necke when he is rebuked Prou. 29 1. shall sodainly be destroied and cannot bee cured Psalme 68. Surely God will wound the head of his enemies Psal 68 21. and the hairy pate of him that walketh in his sinne Qu. Now shew what ioyes are prepafor true Christians An. Such as saith the Apostle in the second chapiter of the former Epistle to the Corinthians The eye hath not seene 1 Cor 2 9. neither the eare heard neyther the heart of man conceiued prepared by God for them that loue him Peter in the fift of his first Epistle tearmeth those ioyes the incorruptible crowne of glory In the 21. of the Reuelation 1 Peter 5 4. Reuel 21 ℣ 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25. this ioy is described in the description of newe Ierusalem buylded of gold pretious stones and pearles c. where by most excellent earthly things is sette foorth the excellencie of those thinges which passe and excéede mans capacitie Wherfore let none of vs be a prophane person as was Esau Hebr. 12 16. to sell our birth-right for a messe of pottage and for the pleasures of the doonghill of this world which endure but for a season to loose the ioyes and dainties of heauen which are eternall Which thing God graunt vnto vs for his Christ his sake to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost thrée persons one onely God King of kinges and Lorde of lordes who onelie hath immortalitie and dwelleth in the light that no man can attaine vnto whom neuer man sawe neyther can sée be honour and power euerlastingly Amen The ende of the Catechisme To the Christian Reader BEcause this Catechisme is verye short I thought it needfull to adde and adioyne vnto the ende thereof good Reader certeine duties requyred by God at the handes of his people to be performed vnder payne of damnation and the testimonies of Scripture which proue the same For surely this naughtye age in performance of dutie is verie remisse vntoward perswaded as it seemeth that a meere profession of Religion with the lippe is Christianity inough And what is the speeches of the most part of men in these dayes when they are blamed for their vngodly life but these such like VVhy God is merciful men cannot be saints and angels you are ouer precise pure Luke 1 ℣ se 74 75. As if it were not
not as many which make marchandize of the word of God 2. Cor. 2.17 but as of sinceritie but as of God in the sight of God speake we in Christ O I would to God that all our ministers could thus in truth speake 17. That ministers and pastours ought to be examples to their flockes in holy conuersation and godly life otherwise they are a slander to the ministrie BE vnto them that beléeue an example in word 1. Tim. 4.12 in conuersation in loue inspirit in faith and in patience In all things shew thy selfe an example of good workes Titus 2 7. with vnedrrupt doctrine with grauitie and integritie and with the wholesome word which cannot be condemned that he which withstandeth may be ashamed hauing nothing conrerning you to speake euill of Féed the flocke of God 1. Pet. 5 3. c. That ye may be examples to the flocke Ye are witnesses and God also saith Paule how holily iustly 1. Thess 2. ℣ se 10. and vnblameablely wée behaued our selues among you that beléeue We giue none occasion of offence in any thing that our ministrie should not be reprehended 2. Cor. 4.6 Brethren be ye followers of me Philip. 3. ℣ se 17 18. and looke on them whiche walke so as you haue vs for an example For many walke of whom I haue told you often now tell you wéeping that they are the enimies of the crosse of Christ whose end is damnation whose God is their belly whose glorie is to their shame which mind earthly things 18. That the pastors and ministers of Gods word are to bee esteemed greatly of to be reuerenced and to be obeyed in their message otherwise reproch is offered to God LEt a man so thinke of vs 1. Cor. 4 1. as of the ministers of Christ and disposers of the secretes of God How bewtifull are the féete of them that bring glad tidings of peace Rom. 10 15 〈◊〉 bring glad tidings of good things Now we beséech you brethren that ye acknowledge them 1. Thes 5. verse 12 13. which labour amōg you and are ouer you in the Lord and admonish you that ye haue them in singular loue for their workes sake Obey them that haue the ouersight of you Hebr. 13 17 and submit your selues for they watch for your soules as they that must giue accompts that they may do it with ioy and not with griefe for that is vnprofitable for you Verely Iohn 13 20. verely I say vnto you if I sēd any he that receiueth him receiueth me and he that receiueth me receiueth him that sent me He that heareth you heareth me Luke 10 16. and he that dispiseth you dispiseth me and he that dispiseth me dispiseth him that sent me Example And the trial of one which was in my flesh ye dispised not neither abhored Gal. 4.14 but ye receiued me as an angell of God yea as Christ Iesus Receiue him therefore that is Epiphroditus in the Lord with all gladnes Philip 2 29. and make much of such 19. That the people or parishes which haue Gods word preached diligētly faithfully vnto thē are bound in conscience liberally to susteine and nourish those that preach vnto thē BEware that thou forsake not the Leuite Deut. 12 19. as long as thou liuest vpon the earth The Leuits were appointed to teach the people which came of Leui Iacobs son Deut. 33 10. And into whatsoeuer house ye enter first Luke 10 ver 5 6 7. say peace be to this house c. in the house tarrie still eating drinking such things as shal be set before you by them for the laborer is worthie of his wages My defēce to thē the examine me is this 1. Cor. 9. ver 3 4 5 6 7 11 12 13 14. haue we not power to lead about a wife being a sister as wel as the rest of the Apostles as brethren of the Lord and Cephas or I onely Barnabas haue not we power not to worke who goeth a warfare any time at his owne cost c. If we haue sowne vnto you spirituall things is it a great thing if we reape your carnal things Do ye not know that they which minister about the holy things eat of the things of the temples they which the altar so also hath the Lord ordeined that they which preach the gospell should liue of the gospell The elders that rule wel are worthy double honour 1. Timoth. 5. ℣ se 17 18. that is double reward specially they which labour in the word doctrine For the Scripture saith thou shalt not mosel the mouth of the are that treadeth out the corne the labourer is worthie of his wages Let him that is taught in the word Galath 6.7 make him that teacheth him partaker of all his goods be not deceiued God is not mocked 20. That the not hauing or to bee depriued of faithful Pastors Ministers is a signe of Gods wrath and displeasure against a people and to haue them is a signe of mercie SVrely I will no more spare those that dwell in the lande Zachar. 11 ℣ 6 15 16. saith the Lorde c. And the Lord said vnto mee take to thée yet the instrumentes of a foolish shepheard for loe I will raise vp a shephard in the land which shall not looke for the thing that is lost nor séeke the tender lambs nor heale that which is hurt nor féede that which standeth but he shal eat the flesh of the fat and teare their paws in pieces The daies of visitation are come Osei 9 v. 7. the daies of recompence are come Israell shall knowe it the prophet is a foole the spirituall man is mad for the multitude of thine iniquities therefore the hatred is great We sée not our signs Psal 74 9. there is not one Prophet more nor any with vs that knoweth how long Behold the daies come saith the Lord God Amos 8 11. that I will sende a famine in the lande not a famine of bread and a thirst for water but of hearing the word of the Lord. For loe Esay 3 v. 1 2 the Lorde God of hostes will take away frō Ierusalem c. The iudge the prophet the prudent and the aged Beholde Esay 24 ℣ s 1 2. the Lorde maketh the earth emptie and hée maketh it waste hée turneth it vpside downe and scatteresh abroad the inhabitants thereof and there shall be like people like Priest like seruant like maister Turne againe Ierem. 3. ℣ se 34 15. O ye disobedient children saith the Lorde for I am your Lorde and I wil take you one of a Citie and two of a tribe and will bring you to Zion And I will giue you Pastors according to mine heart which shall féede you with knowledge vnderstanding 21 That parents ought to instruct their children and bring them vp in the feare of the Lord