taught let vs confer about it that we may not onely call to remembrance those things that euery one of vs haue caried away but also that one may haue y ◠benefit of the labors of others surely it must néedes proue a very profitable way for if one haue missed y ◠obseruation of this or that point an other hath marked it so that among them they may bring away the whole and so be edified one by another And as all are to be careful herein soespecialy it is to be practised by maisters fathers of families that forsomuch as children seruāts be often carelesse in attending vnto the word of God the very feare of rebuke or correction at their faithers or maisters hands wil make them learne somwhat If the benefite of this course were perceiued and the practise of it vsed besids the commodity redoūding to the parties it would be y e meanes to stay manie horrible offences that are committed For what is y e cause of such idle talk that mē haue delight in Euen the lack of better matter wherein they might be occupied What is the cause y ◠Lords saboths be so ill spent yea so horribly prophaned Euen this that so soone as they come from Church if yet they come there at all they thinke their dutie to God fully performed and so go in all haste to dice cardes bowling tipling and euerie other wicked pastime as they call them wherin want neither cursing swearing nor blaspheming to the great dishonour of God and procuring of his heauie wrath to be powred vpon this land and the decay of all religion but marke in this point the height of all iniquitie in these out daies whereas Magistrates should redresse these things and others that take vppon them the correction of vice in the Church do make a shewe of defending religion if there be anie smal number which is rare y ◠woulde gladlie following the example of these shéepheardes confer priuately of those things that they haue hearde and be carefull to grow in the knowledge of religion by and by it shalbe charged to be within the compasse of a conuenticle and their good and godly course shalbe checked and blamed by pretence colour of law but if twenty méete togither in an Alenouse though they most prophanely abuse the creatures of God lewdly mispend their time blasphemously dishonour the Lord and vncharitably reuile euen the very profession of Iesus Christ all this is no harme it is but good neighbourhood it is no conuenticle they haue or will haue no law to punish it from hence do spring all the abominable sinnes that reigne in this land euen that religious exercises by the secret papistes and prophane atheistes that be in authoritie and abuse the law and meaning thereof are discoūtenanced godlesse and irreligious dealinges boalstered whose reckoning for their partes in the day of account wil be most intollerable which they least think of but let vs pray vnto God y ◠he woulde grant vs reformation of these and such thinges when his good will and pleasure is and in the meane while to grant vs the spirit of wisdome and discretion that we may walke warily in these daungerous dayes Moreouer in the consideration of the parties what kinde of people they were we may note that which concerneth our instruction They were as you see shéepheardes men of no greate calling and most like of small learning yet beholde both howe the Lord doth reueale the birth of his Sonne first vnto them and also how carefull they are to search out euery circumstance of y e same There is no doubt but if they had liued in these our dayes they should haue bene charged with great presumption that being men of meane vnderstanding durst meddle with such high matters whereof the very Rabbines could not agrée But we learne by their example 1. to admire the wonderfull wisdome and loue of God wisdome that doth thus reueale his Sonne to these simple ones not to the great clarkes of the Iewes y ◠Scribes and Pharisies his loue that so mercifully maketh him self knowne vnto these that in their own eies no doubt and also in truth were by reason lesse capable of so high mysteries y e vse wherof we must acknowledge to be this which also S. Paul teacheth vs that the Lord thereby stoppeth the way for anie man to reioice or boast in himselfe but that he may learne to ascribe all glorie onelie vnto God Secondly we learne that it is the dutie euen of the simplest to séeke the knowledge of Iesus Christ out of his word and to exercise himselfe continually in the same and not to say as commonly is said I am a Lay man I haue no learning let them that are preachers and haue béene brought vp in Schooles meddle with Scriptures I must attend vpon my worldlie businesse by which and such like spéeches they thinke they haue gotten inuincible shields to defend them from knowledg and shrowd them in their ignorance but they will proue no better than broken réedes and figge-leaues in the daie of iudgement for God hath not placed any man in this earth to the ende that he sléeping in ignoraunce should fatte vp himselfe with the vse of Gods blessings here and seeke no further but that he should aboue al things be carefull to search out of Gods worde how to know his will that knowing it he may obey him and so earnestly set foorth the glorie of his holie name Againe we sée the maner of their procéedings to be this that they say let vs go then vnto Bethlehem and sée this thing that is come to passe which the Lord hath shewed vnto vs as if they should haue said as we are careful to be further certified in this matter so must we both be wary that we go to the place and also search the things that haue been told vs least we doing otherwise reape no benefite by our iorney wherein wée may behold for our example a patterne of right obedience vnto God they are verie forward and yet notwithstanding ty themselues vnto that which they had heard Al men by the verie instinct of nature are desirous to knowe the trueth but yet in the manner all naturally doe erre for they seek it after the course that their owne fancies doe imagin but they that wil séeke the truth truly in truth they that euer shal come to y e knowledge of the same do follow the stricte rule of Gods worde neither swaruing to the right hand nor declining to the left and they be most earnest and diligent in the same Whereby we may make notable triall of our selues both whether we be in the way of truth or no and also how carefull we be to finde it Which triall if it were duely applied vnto our hearts y e greatest number of vs no doubt should find themselues carelesse and so haue iust matter with in themselues either to
then reason thus with your selues this is not agreeable to my profession this is contrary to that I haue learned this will procure the name of God to be dishonoured my religion to be defamed and my selfe to be discredited therefore though it might be gainefull delightfull or any other way pleasure me I may not doe it this you had neede to marke very well for I tell you you haue many lookers on that would laugh to see your fall you dwell in a country where the Gospell is very litle preached insomuch that your ignorant neighbours make them selues sport to mocke at you that will be so foolish as to suffer your selues to be seduced by the Scriptures you haue godlesse and profane men that doe deride you Libertines and freewill men that doe despise you worldlings and bellygods that doe carpe at you insomuch that you haue very great neede to walke warily that it standeth you vpon to behaue your selues circumspectly therefore doe thus be diligent in publike hearing and as it may stand with your calling priuate reading of the worde of God for that is the onely schoolemaister to teach you all truth vsing daily and hartie prayer vnto God for the presence of his holy spirite to teach you the true meaning thereof looke what you finde therein required of euery Christian be carefull to doe it in your dealing with others deale faithfully without facing out of ill matters without swearing or lying reproue others with the spirite of mildnes that doe amisse in your presence shewe your selues obedient vnto all authoritie that is appointed of God and that for conscience sake Bring vp your children and seruants in the feare of God instructing them in the principles of religion detract no man secretly but tell them plainely of their faults to conclude shewe your selues approued vnto the Lord in the testimonie of a good conscience being alwaies carefull to seeke the glorie of God and benefit of your brethren be alwaies in worde and deede that which according to the Scriptures ye professe and then let Satan broach his lyes let the wicked carry them abroad let godlesse persons hate you as long as they may it shall turne to their shame at the length as to our great comfort we see it doth daily and being a triall of your patience to your greater glorie in the kingdome of heauen and let not the glory of this world bewitch you for ye are not of this world let not the successe of godlesse persons dismay you for the world loueth his owne and is liberall vnto them let not the slaunders of the wicked discourage you for because you runne not on into the same excesse of riot with them therefore they speake euill of you let not the multitude of your aduersaries feare you for God is strōger then all men let not the threatnings of great ones daunt you for their heartes are in the handes of the Lord to be guided at his pleasure let not the pronenesse of your owne nature seduce you for he that liueth after the flesh shall die let not the crosses that accompanye the Gospell wearie you for they bring the ioyfull fruite of righteousnesse to all that are exercised thereby so shall the name of God be glorified by you so shall your foes be put to flight your profession known to be the truth of the eternall God that liueth for euer Now to come to speake of these present sermons which I haue dedicated chiefly vnto you partly for that by that calling which the Lorde hath layd vpon me I am at this instant bound by all lawfull meanes to doe you good partly because it is the earnest sute of some of you to haue them penned partly for that they contain in them sundrye pointes of religion which you doe professe and for which you are of the world condemned that euery man may see thereby the impudencie of Satan that dare note Gods owne word with the marke of infamie onely let me craue this at your hands as a recompence for my trauaile that you woulde expresse the doctrine in your liues that I haue expressed though simply yet truly therein that I may once see in you all that zeale which the example of these sheepeherds may teach you then shal I thinke my labour well bestowed when the beames of righteousnesse doe breake forth as the sun at noone day which the Lord for his mercie graunt in his Sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ to whome with the father and the holy ghost be all honor and glorie both now and for euer Amen Your seruant for Iesus Christes sake his vnworthy messenger IOHN VDALL The table The birth of Christ reuealed by the Angells did worke effectually in the sheepeherds in whome are to be considered these things their conference the time when it was 1. the maner of it 2. their iorney in going with haste vnto the place where the childe was 3. the fruite of the conference and iorney 1. founde the child 4. 2. published it abroad 5. returned praysing God 6. the people who wondered at the thinges which they had heard 7. Marye who kept all these things 8. pondred them in her hart 9. Two sermons of obedience to the Gospell Luke 2. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. Verse 15. AND it came to passe when the Angels were gone away from them into heauen that the sheepeherds sayd one to another let vs goe then vnto Beth-leem and see this thing that is come to passe which the Lord hath shewed vnto vs. 16 So they came with haste and found both Marie and Ioseph and the babe layde in the cratch 17 And when they had seene it they published abroad the thing which was tolde them of that child 18 And all that heard it wondered at the things which were told them of the sheepeherds 19 But Marie kept all those things and pondered them in her heart 20 And the sheepeherds returned glorifieng and praising God for all that they had heard and seene as it was spoken vnto them WHEN the birth of our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ was made manifest vnto the shéepeherds that were kéeping their shéepe by night it wrought effectually as you haue heard first in the Angels of God that they were moued to praise and glorifie God saying glorie to God in the highe heauens and peace in earth towards men good will Whereby they both declared that all praise honor and glorie was due to God for the work of Christs incarnation and also made knowne the blessing of god y e was shewed vpon mankind thereby to wit that here on earth they should féele themselues at peace in conscience because of the full perswasion of the remission of their sinnes and also should be tyed together one to another in a true league of spirituall vnitie all which floweth neither from mans will nor desert but onely from the frée fauour and good will of God our heauenlye father Secondly it wrought most effectually in mankind generally
so many as were made partakers of the knowledge thereof Which parties remayne now together with the doctrine conteined in the historie of them to be considered of that we may learne out of the same such doctrine as may serue for our edification comfort the place of Scripture therefore that we may procéede according to our ordinarie maner offereth the doings of thrée sorts of people to our consideration 1. The shéepeherds 2. The people that heard of it 3. Marie In the doings of the shéepeherds the holy ghost setteth downe their conference their iorney to the place where it was told that Iesus was and the fruite or euent of their iorney In the conference there is set downe the time when it was and the thing it selfe The maner of their iorney is set downe to be in haste the fruite or euent that came of it is thréefold first that they found Marie and Ioseph and the child secondly published those things that they had heard thirdly which is in the last verse of all they returned glorifieng and praysing God The second sort is the multitude that wondered at the thing The third is Marie y ◠kept al these things and pondered them in her heart These be the braunches of the matter conteined in this text And it came to passe that when c. The first braunch that is to be considered of is the time when these shéepeherds conferred to wit presently vpon the departure of the Angells that is as soone as euer the Angells had made an ende of speaking and were gone from them they began to consider with themselues that the matter was of great importance and therefore not to be deferred that it was a thing most necessary and therefore not to be neglected but further to be enquired after Out of which we haue to learne for our instruction two profitable doctrines First that we may not linger or prolong the time in the performance of those things that God enioyneth vnto vs we may not deferre the matter vntil hereafter but presently vpon the hearing of his worde by his ministers we must obey it the reason whereof is most apparant for when God speaketh then doth he offer the thing whereof he speaketh If he threaten his iudgements for sinne his word speaking the same his hand is ready to powre downe the thing if he teach vs any point of doctrine for the confirmation of our faith then is he ready with his spirite to seale the same in our hearts if he exhort vs vnto amendment of life with promise of reward then doth he mercifully bind him selfe to the performance of the same so that we may surely settle our faith vpon an vndoubted expectation of it the which doctrine is notably vrged in the epistle to the Hebrewes out of the saying of Dauid to day if ye will heare his voice harden not your hearts Where the holy ghost doth tell vs that whensoeuer the worde of God is preached vnto vs euen at that instant doth Almighty God offer his mercie and maketh this vse of it that then we should not harden our harts with contempt or carelesse harkening therevnto and to imprint it the déeper in our hearts the Lord by the mouth of Salomon hath vttered this fearefull threatning because I haue called sayth he and ye refused I haue stretched out myne hand none woulde regard but ye haue despised all my counsell and would none of my correction I will also laugh at your destruction c. then shall they call vpon me but I will not answere they shall séeke me earely but they shall not finde me because they hated knowledge and did not choose the feare of the Lord wherevnto that of the Prophet accordeth beholde the dayes come sayth the Lorde God that I will send a famine in the land not a famine of bread nor a thirst for water but of hearing the word of the Lord and they shall wander from sea to sea and from the north euen vnto the east shal they runne to and fro to séeke the word of the Lord and shall not finde it We haue a moste terrible example of Gods iustice herein in that profane person Esau who despising the blessing of god in the birth right sold it away for a portion of meate of whome it is sayd that he found no place to repentance though he sought the blessing with teares We sée then both the necessitie of present imbracing Gods word with faith and amendment of life and also the terrible threatnings that God denoūceth to powre vpon the heads of the contemners the which we ought to apply most diligently vnto our selues for if God estéeme so greatly of his word and punisheth so sharpely the neglect thereof we haue great cause to searche our owne consciences how faithfull obedience we haue yéelded therevnto for we haue heard his word longe we haue professed the same and doe professe it to the sight of the world Nowe if by triall we can finde thorough the testimonie of gods spirite in our hearts and examination of our liues that we haue not heard in vaine but haue increased both in knowledge of the gospell and also reformation of life according to the same our owne consciences may minister vnto vs matter of vnfeined consolation but contrariwise if we haue long time bene hearers of the worde and haue neither profited in knowledge of god nor obedience to his lawes surely our estate is most lamentable howsoeuer we flatter our selues in our owne imagination and therfore let vs search our owne consciences whether we finde that ready mind in our selues that we sée to be in these shéepeherds to make present profit of gods word when we haue heard it The second thing that we haue to marke out of this point is that we sée the word of god was effectuall in them and made them carefull to séeke further to be informed in the matter of the birth of Christ that they hauing the whole knowledge of the thing in euery point might not lacke the vse of it any way because they did know that the thing both being straung and also comming from God must néedes be most necessary for them to know The lesson that is to be gathered out of the same for our instruction is this that those who be truely called vnto the faith in Iesus Christ and haue the vnfeined earnest of Gods spirit within them doe perswade themselues that Gods word in euery point is to be knowne of them and also euery way to be practised which is a doctrine most néedefull to be learned for Satan hath so inueigled the hearts of a number yea euen of them that take themselues to be gospellers that they thinke the most part of Gods worde not to appertaine vnto them that the knowledge thereof is néedelesse the comfort of it fruitlesse and the particular obedience therevnto more precise than necessarie insomuch that they settle themselues in these and such
to denie my selfe wholly but this I will doe I will take vpon me the profession of Iesus Christ and giue him some intertainement in my heart but not wholly I will not trust him too farre but take him in the one hand and the world in the other that if at any time I be troubled for the one I may cleaue with honesty to the other and say I neuer meant any lesse Thus doe a number in these dayes as their déeds doe most euidently declare but what get they by it Surely the Lord in his iust iudgement doth so bridle them because they would not trust him wholly to be their gouernour that they doe neuer féele the swéetnesse of Religion in so much that in time of persecution they vanish away and in the dayes of trouble they knowe not which way to turne because they would gladly retaine Christ and yet feeling no comfort by his worde dare not cleaue wholly vnto him But let vs beware of parting stakes betwéene God and the world let vs not come limping vnto the Lord but with our whole wils hearts and minds haue affiance in him that by his mercy we may reape the benefit of Iesus Christs obedience for our full contentment in this world and glorification in the world to come And wheÌ„ they had seen it they published abroade that which was tolde them of the Childe Nowe followeth the second fruit of their trauaile to wit that they séeing the truth of God in his promise and perceiuing that God had some greater work to doe in him they dispersed it abroade and told it to others as they coulde get conuenient occasion so that this being the meaning of the wordes let vs obserue those things that are to be learned out of the same for our instruction first let vs consider the time wheÌ„ they published it euen when they did sée and perceiue plainely that it was so indéed as they were told of the Angell so that there could be no deniall of it any way Which teacheth vs this lesson that religioÌ„ must first be knowen before it be vttered for how can a man reueale a thing vnto an other whereof he is still ignorant himselfe How can a blind man sée to directe an other in the way and therfore the first thing that is required at our handes in the seruice of God is that we seeke thoroughly to knowe his will to the end that we may haue a most certain ground both how to directe our owne wayes and also to make our lightes shine to others which al men do desire to do or at least to be so accounted but because they haue not that care to be directed by certaine knowledge both their own wayes that séeme good in their own eyes yea thoughe they be workes in themselues good are odious in the sight of God as being fruits that procéede not from faith and also their profession or outward shewe is espied faultie euen in the world and they accounted hypocrites so that if we enter duely into the coÌ„sideration of the estate of such persons we shall sée it to be of all others most desperate for in the sight of God their doings are abhominable insomuch as they haue not learned by the knowledge of his word to do them in faith and in the iudgement of men they are also reiected for both the godly to whom the Lord hath giuen the spirit of discretion to discerne those thinges that differre do sée their course to be only in outward appearance and therefore ioyne not with them and also the wicked who cannot discerne otherwise then by the fruites do sée that they make a shewe of one thing and practise an other and therefore doe euen of all other detest them most so that they being neither beloued of God nor man must néedes of all other be in the worst case Therefore they that intend to take a right cause where with they may both please God â—… bring comfort vnto their owne soules and also stoppe the mouthes of their aduersaries as they be desirous to doe those thinges that may be approued before men so let them first beginne with this that they may learne of the worde how they may haue warrant from him and be sure that they doe his will and not to take vpon them for any priuate occasion either of gaine credit or pleasing others to make shewe of that which neither they know nor yet haue any féeling of so shall they in any extremitie haue the testimony of a good conscience the comfort whereof ouercom meth all those euils that the godly are continually thorough the malice of Satan haunted withall Moreouer as wée sée that these shéepheards begunne with knowledge and were first instructed thoroughly in the thing themselues so we see that as soone as they had sure intelligence of the matter they published it and made it knowen to others wherein they make knowen both their thankfull heartes to God and also their louing affections to their bretheren their thankfull heartes that hauing reciued such a benefit from the hand of God thinke it their duetye to make knowen vnto others what a bountifull God he is Their louing affections to their brethren that are desirous to haue them partakers of those notable benefits of God in the birth of his Sonne Iesus Christ whereby we may learne a most notable point of our duety that our thankefulnesse to God and loue to our brethren must moue vs by al lawfull meanes to make that knowen vnto others which we our selues doe learne out of Gods worde the summe whereof standeth in these two pointes to reproue our bretheren offending and to instruct them when we sée them ignorant The carnall man that would not be reproued because he will not amende nor be instructed for that he despiseth knowledge will say that a minister must doe so but priuate persons are not to meddle in any such matter against whom if I shoulde aleadge no more but only the doings of these shéepheardes he were thoroughly answered but to make it more cleare by the Scriptures for reprouing sinne which is the first point The Lord sayth thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart but thou shalt plainely rebuke thy neighbour and suffer him not to sin Whereby we do most euidently sée both that we ought to reproue one another offending and also that if we doe it not we hate him and for instructing the second point Dauid saith restore to me O Lord the ioy of thy saluation and sta blish me with thy frée spirit then shall I teach thy wayes vnto the wicked and sinners shall be conuerted vnto thee So that it appeareth plainely hereby what is the duety of euery Christian which indéede causeth them that haue a care to kepe Gods commandementes to take this course where with all the godlesse are moste of all offended and are readye to offer them any violent iniury charging them to doe it not of
generally in thē that haue y e gouernment of thēselues in these things but also to be diligētly considered of by seruants that professe religion for it is a common complaint the trueth whereof I referre vnto euerie mannes conscience that if once they become religions they waxe more carelesse in their Maisters businesse which if they do it is a greeuous sinne in them for religion teacheth them no such matter neither giueth them anie such leaue but rather cleane contrarie for Saint Paul enioineth vnto seruants that they should be obedient vnto them that are their Maisters according to the flesh in all things not with eie seruice as men pleasers but in singlenesse of heart fearing God and bringeth a reason in an other place to perswade them therevnto to wit that whatsoeuer good thing any man doth that same shal he receiue of the Lord whether he be bond or frée and saith further in an other place that else they make the name of God and his doctrine euill spoken of and therefore if anie shall by colour of religion waxe carelesse in his Maisters affaires lette both himselfe and others knowe that he is not religious indéede but abuseth the name of religion to couer his owne sinnes For this is most true that religion is the onelie thing that maketh seruauntes haue a conscience to looke to their Maisters gaines and therfore they that would haue profitable seruants let them not onelie be carefull to retaine such as they know to feare God but also that they instruct them dailie in the feare of the Lord teaching them to do euerie thing by knowledge out of the word and conscience of obedience vnto God The second sort of people that by this doctrine are iustly reprooued be the Anabaptiste and their Cousingermanes the family of Loue of Lust I may terme them better who mistaking that place of Scripture in the Actes of the Apostles where it is said that they that were conuerted vnto Christ had all things common do holde that no man hath anie propertie in any thing that he possesseth but that euerie brother hath as lawfull interest in it and may vse it when he will as the partie him selfe and though the words of the text at the first blush séeme to import so much yet being duely considered they containe no such matter for the verse following doth shewe the meaning of the former where it is saide that they sold their possessions and parted to euerie one as they had need that is they had such a zeale and loue vnto the brethren that they did reléeue and helpe them But if it should be so taken it were manifest contrarie to other places of the Scriptures which were great blasphemie to think that any parte of Gods worde shoulde be contrarie to an other for trueth is one and alwaies like it selfe and nothing commeth from God but it is all truth and nothing but truth Nowe in the Scriptures we reade that God hath set downe lawes to gouerne men buying and selling that euery one shold deale iustly therein and that none shold defraud an other by false waights or measure or counterfaite wares which were a néedelesse doctrine if men had no propertie in things for then why should they sell Or what néeded the other to buy Besides that the Scripture is plentiful in this to exhort rich men vnto liberalitie and pitie in reléeuing their néedie brethren and neuer enioineth vnto anie to accompt nothing his owne Againe we reade of manie godlie men that were rich and had great possession as Abraham Iob Salomon Zacheus Ioseph of Aremathia yea and after the time of those conuerted by pitie as Cornelius Simon the Tanner and Gaius who is saide to be the hoste of the whole Church Lastly which is the most inuincible place of all God hath commaunded that we shoulde not steale which commaundement is neuer broken if no man possesseth of his owne or if one mans goodes were common to an other man therefore let vs imbrace this as an vndoubted truth that God hath giuen vnto euerie man a propertie in that which he lawfully possesseth onelie let him know this that he is to haue care that he be liberall to his power vnto those that néede or else he is no féeling member of Iesus Christ. The third sort is that rout of Friers and Monkes who pretending the more oportunitie to serue God abandoned themselues from all callings both of the Church and common wealth to the ende that they might liue an idle and loytering life who through their hypocrisie robbed the people to enrich themselues and their celles and being carelesse of euerie good exercise whereas by the Apostles rule afore alleadged they should not haue eaten yet notwithstanding they were for the most so stall-fed and were so fatte Abbey lubbers that though they had béen willing they were vnfit and not able to performe anie good thing these be they that would deuoure not onelie widows houses but euen whole Lordships yea and the fat of whole countries vnder the pretence of deuotion and long superstitious praiers and yet notwithstanding the veriest Caterpillers that euer were whereby we may behold discerning the trée by the fruit what gréedie vermine Poperie doth hatch and bring foorth to the greate impouerishing of whole cōmon welths and kingdomes Wée are not Gods name be praised for it much troubled with such people in these our daies yet we are maruelously pestred with a kind of men that be much like them in qualities and those be they that when they could not thriue in their trades or could not liue idly in them being good for nothing though they can neither teach others nor yet haue learned what religion is themselues haue and do dailie thrust them selues into the Ministerie being of qualities much like vnto Ieroboams Priests where vpon aryseth this enormity of all other most to be lamented that poore people notwithstanding thys long libertie of the Gospell remayne stil as ignorant as they were in the time of Poperie and are now more prophane in life and godlesse in conuersation than euer they were because they sée these people that should leade them who haue onelie chaunged their coats liue so wickedly that they neyther care for religion nor yet ciuill honestie who in truth I speake that I knowe by experience are the greatest foes that the true Ministers of Gods worde haue peruerting priuately that whiche they teach publiquely the Lorde putte it in the hearts of gouernours to see it redressed The fourth and the last sort of people is the gréedie couetous worldlings who respecting onely their own gaine haue no regard what course they take be it lawful or vnlawful so that they may haue great aduantage by it which people generally be such as séeke either to féede the veines and itching desires of fantastical heads with gay gorgeous and new deuises whose gaine through the follie and fickle headed alteration of
vs Englishmen is great but if they had truely learned this doctrine that religion enioineth vnto euerie man a laweful calling and such a one whereby he may be a profitable mēber among men they would with those godly Ephesians not onelie leaue those curious Arts but euen burne the bookes whereby such follie is learned Contrariwise where religion is taught and the fruit not shewed such persons prooue the sorest enimies and most professed foes vnto religion For what a stirre did Demetrius make in Ephesus at the preaching of Paule and al to defend his owne trade of vngodlie gaine by making still temples or shrines for Diana much like vnto the boxes wherein the Papists are wont to putte their little God almightie as they terme him so that it behooneth euerie one that is careful to please God and benefite by religion to labour to be certified out of the worde of God of the lawefulnesse of his calling to the end that he may embrace the Gospell with a good conscience But particularly those be especially by this doctrine seuerely to be reprehended that either respecting the greatest gaine or idlest life doe conuert all that they haue into money and putte it out vnto Usurie of all other synnes the verie Canker of the common wealth at this day and a thing so generally vsed euen of them that would be counted religious as if it were as lawful as to reape the fruites of the earth againste which offence I meane not to make any great inuectiue at this present because the common place is long and handled most learnedly of others onely thus much wil I say of it that it is flatly forbidden by al law both Statute law Ciuil law and Canon law and as for the law of God whose only authoritie I fight withal against it it is as plaine to be prooued that it is a horrible sinne to take any gaine in any commoditie for the loue of money as that Iesus Christ our sauiour died vpon the Crosse for the guilt of our sinnes and therefore let no man flatter himself with this or that qualification as why may I not c. For no excuse may serue against Gods owne word no exceptions may be made against it for God saith flatly Thou maist not giue out thy mony vppon vsurie nor take any interest for if thou doest there is no place for thée in the Tabernacle of God neyther shalt thou rest vpon his holie hill and therefore neuer excuse the matter for lucres sake Damn not thine owne soule for money sel not thy birth-right for a messe of pottage for wel maist thou by pretences shift out the matter from the punishment of man but al is no better than fig-leaues to couer thy nakednesse when God shall call thée to accompt Againe though these Shéepeheards shewed themselues maruelous forward yet you sée that after they had found that they did desire they had their flockes to returne to againe wherein we may behold the great loue of God vnto them that in those daungerous times their flocks were preserued vnto them wherby wée may learne this generall lesson that religion rightly vsed is no enimy to lawful gaine neither of it selfe doeth it bring vnto man any hindraunce a doctrine that will hardly sincke into the heads of a number for they perswade themselues that nothing is more enimy to worldly gaine than religion whom I do briefly answere thus that if they meane euerie kinde of gaine which way soeuer it be come by without regard whether it be had by right or wrong they say truly that religion is the onely foe next vnder God that it hath and as for such it is but lost labour to tell them of anie religion for the feare of God is not before their eies but if they meane that gaine which may lawfully be gotten with the warrant of Gods worde no point of religion can be against it for the Lorde as you haue heard enioineth such a course to gaine vnto euerie one of his children whereby it is proued lawfull and for the fruit of their labour the Lord hath promised that he shal reape it First séeke the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse and al these things shalbe ministred vnto you Where you sée that God hath promised his blessing euen in this life to them that be truly religious But you wil say to me how is that tru For we sée in experience the godlie man commeth vnto many extremities I answere that religion was neuer the cause of any of them for you must vnderstand that God neuer punisheth but either to correct to trie or else to giue example one whereof is the cause of euerie affliction and therfore let no man say if I had not béene a Gospeller this had not befallen vnto me or religion is the cause of this miserie For if he will truly enter into the consideration of the thing by the word of God he shal find that God neuer afflicteth any man because he is religious contrariwise wée reade and sée daily by our owne experience that God seuerely plagueth the lacke or contempt of religion euen in worldly matters for you shal see some that are so vigilant and careful about their earthly commodities that they can not affoord themselues any time to refresh their weary bodies with sléepe and food nor the Lord anie part of his Sabaoths to be duly honored in that a man woulde thinke they can not choose but prooue marueilous rich and yet notwithstanding they are neuer the néerer why surely because they not hauing that care of gods seruice that they shold nor that regard to depend vpon his blessing that God requireth but thinke to bring greate matters to passe by their owne industrie and as it were in despite of the Lord he of his iust iudgement laieth such a curse vppon their labours that they profite nothing at all whereby such persons may haue iust occasion to learne that man liueth not by bread onely For the Lord can break the staffe of bread that is the strength thereof that it shall not nourish and can frustrate the hope of the labourer that he shall not reape the fruit of his owne works And therefore we are first to séeke his glorie and then in all our trauailes to acknowlege them to be vnfit to yéelde vs any comfort without his gratious blessing be vpon the same Glorifying and praising God The second point of this last branch is that they did in and after their returne glorifie and praise the Lord. Wherein they shewed them selues not to be forgetfull or vnthankefull of Gods mercie toward them by whose example we may learne what duetie we owe vnto the Lorde our God in respect of his manifold blessings that we must glorifie his holy name continually for them which lesson we had verie much néede to obserue and folowe for it is the course of the worlde now adaies to be thankefull vnto God as they are to
men with a worde and away neuer remembring him any more But we are to know that God will not be so serued he requireth continuall and heartie thankes at our handes which if we would rightly consider we shoulde not generally be so secure as we be For time which should teach vs experience of the loue of God towardes vs and so make vs more zealous doeth cleane weare out of our mindes the remembraunce of former benefites receiued so that you shall sée them that by special fauor that they haue found at Gods hands are for a season excéeding hote and forward in religion But it is with them according to the common Prouerb soone hote soone colde for they become afterward so faint and cold in their course begunne that it may be truly said of them as it was of the Church Ephesus that haue fallen from their first loue I wold to God that I had not iuste cause to make this complaint in this place for surely to speake generally I haue séene more zeale more loue and care vnto religion than nowe I can beholde the world doth so carie men awaie and they be so crammed with the word that now they be ready to surfet of it they be cloied with it séeme to loath it as the Israelites did that heauēly Manna but assure your selues that if the plentie thereof do make you estéeme it lesse precious God will send you that darth famine that he threatneth by the Prophet that yée shall séeke it from sea to sea and not finde it Moreouer in that these are saide to haue this wroght in them by the vnderstanding of the thing that they glorified and praised God we learne that where religion is truly imbraced where the word of God taketh root true holde it wil bring foorth the fruit conuenient agréeable to the same for of it selfe it is a most liuely séede is mightie in operation so when it méeteth with a heart that is pliant therevnto it is verie forcible and therefore let no man flatter deceiue himself by perswading his own hart that he is truly religious when in the meane while he is cold and carelesse in the fruits of it for Gods spirit accompanieth religion which is a spirite of heate and zeale making mans heart as it were to melt at those things y ◠are for the glorie of God encrease of true religion in the harts of Gods people which ought to be farre more glittering in vs than it was in the shéepeheards for wée haue greater cause the whole passion death glorificatiō of Christ is manifested vnto vs so that we lacke nothing to perfect our knowlege if we will receiue it therfore there must be no lingering in vs to shew forth al y ◠praises of god in most perfectiō which we do litle regard For al that they had heard and seene as it was spoken vnto them The third and last point of all which is the cause that mooued them to reioice and praise the Lord euen the things that they had heard and seene by whom we must learne the last but not the least duetie that we owe vnto God euen continually to recount ponder and consider the manifold blessings that the Lorde doeth multiplie vpon vs daily by the iust consideration whereof we cannot choose but burst out into admiration of his woonderfull loue and mercie towards vs miserable and wretched sinners and so to deuise with our selues howe wée may shewe our selues effectually thankefull so did the Prophet Dauid What shal I render vnto the Lord saith he for al his benefites towards me I wil receiue the cup of saluation and call vpon the name of the Lord I will pay my vowes vnto the Lord euen now in the presence of all his Saints Whose good and godlie example if we will reape benefite by we must doe as he did worship him truely according to his word and perfourme that dutie in obedience to his commaundements that he requireth at our hands As for the manner of his praise wée may also learne it by these shéepeheards that they did it as it was tolde them that is according as God had commaunded so must we do praise his holie name as he requireth at our hands and doe it as himselfe hath commaunded in his word and so shall it be acceptable in his sight Let vs therefore to conclude séeing we be hedged in on euerie side with y ◠great blessings of God séeing that by him wée liue and moue and haue our being séeing he sheweth himselfe most kinde and liberall both in things that concerne the soule and the bodie let vs I say studie and indeuour by all possible meanes that so long as we abide in this transitorie world we may shew foorth the glorie of his name according to his will then shal we be sure of his fauour vnto vs in this life and of eternall ioies in the world to come by the merites and bloodsheding of Iesus Christ our sauiour to whome with the father and the holie ghost be all glorie and honour now and for euer Amen Let vs pray O Eternall God in Iesus Christ our most louing and mercifull Father vvee render vnto thy Maiestie most humble and hartie thanks for all thy blessings and manifold benefites bestovved vpon vs namely for those inestimable graces of our election creation vocation iustification sanctification and redemption for this great treasure of thy holie vvord vvherein vve acknovvledge thy great loue tovvardes vs vile vvretches and miserable sinners And for as much O Lord as thou hast taught vs at this present hovve forcible and effectuall thy vvorde vvas vnto the Sheepeherdes vvorking in them such an ardent and burning loue to see thy sonne Iesus Christ vvhen he vvas manifested in the flesh such forvvardnesse and haste to satisfie that godlie desire vvhich thy holie spirit had vvrought in them finding that vvhich they soght for vvere carefull to publish it abroade that others might be partakers of that comfort and after returned vnto their vocation againe glorifying thy holie name vvith all obedience vnto thy blessed vvorde And moreouer bicause vve haue lerned from thee that the multitude that heard of it yet shevved not anie zeale or care to see the truth of it themselues but suffered the cogitation therof to vanish out of their mindes vvithout any profit vnto themselues but contrarivvise thy seruaunt Marie kept euerie thing in remembrance being carefull by continual pondering thereof in her heart to make vse of it for her comfort and further instruction VVe confesse good father that the example of these parties doth teach vs both the duetie that vve ovve vnto thee the obedience that thy vvorde requireth at our hands and the zeale vvhich vvee shoulde expresse in our liues to set foorth thy glory and also hovv to shun that carelesse course vvhich the greatest number doth follovve but O Lord vve acknovvlege against our selues that vvee are not able