vnto the Lord. (q) 1. Sam. 15.21 And Ionas sent to Niniuie fled from the commaundement of the Lord and being punished for it yet he would excuse his sinne (r) Ionas 4.2 And thus do Vsurers at this day common swearers blasphemers prophaners of the holy Saboath day and infinit other sinners which not onely do such things but with as bad an excuse fauour themselues in their owne wickednesse And here may be reprooued non residents dumbe dogs and Idle Pastors theeues c. But when Christ shall come with his Redde rationeÌ„ giue account of thy Stewardship (Å¿) Mat. 25.31.32 It is not Lord Lord haue wee not prophesied in thy name and in thy name cast out diuels and done great workes that shall helpe much lesse then any of your excuses The will of God must be done or else it shall be said I neuer knew you depart from me ye that work iniquitie into euerlasting fire c. (t) Math. 7.21.22.23 It was not inough for Israel neither could they escape Gods wrath by their Templum aâ—trint Templum domini nor the Iewes with Domine domine nor for the Romanists The Church the Church nor for vs The Gospell the Gospell the Word the Word but wee must do workes worthy of the Word worthy of the Gospell as saith a learned Bishoppe How many Kingdomes Nations hath God cut off for their sinne and shall we escape that do not only commit sinne euen with greedinesse but also will not stick to defend the doing of it As the Minister doth such a thing others doo such and such things and why may not I Thus wee our selues cause others to blaspheme the worthy calling wherewith wee be called (v) Rom. 2.24 And thus men heape one sinne vpon an other (w) Eccl. 3.29 to make vp the measure of their sinnes (x) Mat. 23.32 and so hasten the wrath of God But alas deare bretheren it is written Thou shalt not follow a multitude to doo euill (y) Exod. 32.2 That is thou must not take example to sinne which is to feede thy selfe with winde in excusing thine own wickednesse (z) Hos 12.1 Nec enim exempla nobes simpliciter imiâ—anda deus proposuit sed verbum suum dediâ— adcuius regulam consilia nostra aliorum exempla examinemus (a) Gual in Hos cap. 12 Ser. 39. For God hath not simply set vs examples to follow but he hath giueÌ„ vs his word according to the true rule and direct line wherof we may examine both our owne deuices and the examples of other If they swarue from the commandements go not after them neither excuse thine owne sinne Binde not two sinnes together for in one thou shalt not be vnpunished (b) Ecc. 7.8 And as for them that giue wicked example it is written Woe bee to that man by whom the offence commeth (c) Mat. 18.6 But if it were not for Pride all this would soone be laid aside Secondly saith Augustine He is proud Qui in confessione peccatorum non agit penitentiam which in the confession of his sinnes doth not repent like Kain Saul Ahab and Iudas Kain murthered his brother he consessed his sin but could not repent (d) Gen. 4.13 After Saul had sinned was reprooued hee said I haue sinned I haue transgressed the commaundements of the Lord and thy words because I feared the people and obeyed their voyce Now therfore I pray thee take away my sinne c. (e) 1. Sam. 15. Was not this much yet all this was but like a sacrifice of swines flesh because this confession was not washed with teares wroong out of the heart with grieuous grones of the spirite which cannot bee expressed Ahab hearing Gods iudgements denounced against him for his sinnes Hee rent his cloathes and put Sackcloath vpon him and fasted and lay in Sackcloath and went barefooted (f) 1. King 21.27 yet hee could not repent for the eye of his soule was closed vp that he could not behold the bright beames of the sonne of righteousnesse appearing with the spirit of regeneration and so he sunke backe to his sin again as appeareth in the chapter As for Iudas he said I haue sinned betraying the innocent bloud (g) Math. 27.4 and he brought againe the siluer peeces and cast them downe in the Temple and departed but he could not wash his soule in the lauer of the innocent blood and take hold of the hornes of the altar of Gods mercie Therefore he went and hanged himselfe and hath purchased a field with the reward of iniquitie (h) Act. 1.18 euen hell fire by his euill gotten goods Beware you bribe-mongers Now at this day how many Kains Sauls Ahabs and fewe so good as Iudas haue we many to confesse fewe to restore none to repent then all to bee damned Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish (i) Luk. 13.3 And if any desire to know repentance entending to liue in it I will borrow so much time of my Text as to describe it vnto you but the true and right vse thereof euery one must shewe forth in his owne life and conuersation like Vrim and Thummim on the breast of the Priest Repentance is an vnfeyned griefe and groaning of the heart through sorrow for sinne committed confessing and forsaking the same (k) 2. Cor. 7 10.11 with turning vnto God by newnesse of life (l) Act. 2.18 apprehending the mercie of God by faith in Christ Iesus (m) Rom. 3.21.22 c. Who of God is made vnto vs Wisedome and righteousnesse and sanctification and redemption (n) 1. Co. 1.30 Where this is that mans heart is filled with ioy Iohn 15.11 as the temple was with the glory of the Lord. (o) 2. Chro. 5.14 This felt Dauid and Peter and therefore though theyr sinnes were great yet the guiltinesse thereof was done 〈◊〉 way and so with confession seeke wee repentance and cast away Pride the deadly enemie thereof Thirdly hee is proud saith Augustine Qui illa ipsa pauca quae videtur habere bona sibi vult arrogare derogat misericordiae dei Such Paul saith are proud boasters (p) 2. Timo. 3.2 which do arrogate or attribute vnto themselues those fewe good things which they doo but seeme to haue for indeed they haue none (q) Ro. 7.18 and so do diminish the mercie of God Which is to rob God of his honour as do the Pelagians and Papists who putting their trust in their workes as some put their confidence in horses and chariots neuer remembring the name of the Lord and grace of God in Christ may haue a name to liue but they are dead with the Angell of the Church of Sardi because they remember not how they haue receiued and heard and hold fast and repent (r) Re. 3.1 namely that saluation is of the Lord (Å¿) Gal. 5.4 and that there is no good thing in man but that which
Honour mee before this people So those that are proud in heart say to their ruffes schoters and hoopes with their other implements of Pride Honour me before this people But alas they bee so farre from dooing them any honour that in the sight of God whom they should feare (i) Deut. 28 58. and to all of an humble spirit whom they should loue without dissimulation (k) Rom. 12 9 and not offend (l) Mat. 18.6 For it is written Whosoeuer shall offend one of these little ones which beleeue in me it were better for him that a mill-stone were hanged about his necke and that hee were drowned in the depth of the Sea And againe the holy Ghost saieth Grieue not the holf spirit of God by whom ye are sealed vnto the day of redemption (m) Ephe. 4.30 To these I say their fond fashions make them as rydiculous as they are monstrous Though they themselues bee as much besotted with them as is said Narcissus was with his owne shadow (n) Ouid. Meta. li. 3 And do delight to wallow in them as the sowe in myr◠before the greene grasse preferring them as a child doth a trifle as an apple before the best Gold You tell vs indeed of a kind of straying vermine is there such how shall w◠know them How man Heu quà m difficile est crimen non prodere vultu Answer How hard is it in outward shew To keepe thy sinne from open vew As S. Ambrose saith (o) Amb. de li. de Nab. Iere. cap. 13 Quasi is cognitus esse non potest cum sibi desiderat demonstrari As though he can be vnknowne which is desirous like a foole to shewe his coate The wise man saith A mans garment laughter and going declare what he is (p) Eccl. 19 28. And againe The whoredome of a woman may be knowne in the pride of her eyes and eye-lids (q) Eccl. 26 9. Thus the Lord God knew the daughters of Syon to be proud or haughtie because they walked with stretched out neckes with rowling eyes ietting or nodding and minsing as they did goe with costly apparell sweete balles bracelets and bonnets their head attire head-bands Tablets Earings Rings Chrisping pinnes and such like (r) Isay 3.16.17.18.19 c. And are you perswaded he knowes not you Wee read of one Athila sometimes King of Pannonia now called Austria whose Pride the people noted by his very gesture These be the words of Historiographers (ſ) Paulus Iouius Charl. Steph. Textor Erat Athila Rex Pannomae superbus successu huc atque illuc oculos circumferens vt illata potentia in ipso corporis motu appareret There was one Athila king of Pannonia proud in his very going rowling his eies hither and thither in so much that his mightie Pride did appeare by the very motion of his body And by your leaue in these daies many their proud going speaking scornful looking becomes thē not neither be they meet for their persons no more then pearls for swine or holy things for dogs King Dauid saith Lord I am not high minded I haue no proud lookes (t) Ps 131.1 And your elders in former times were not ashamed to be meeke humble Therefore as S. Ambrose saith Caue ne in te erubescant tuorum merita maiorum (v) Amb. li. de Nab. Iere. cap. 13. Beware least thou thinke scorne of the modestie and good qualities of thy predecessors Which of them did euer weare either schoters for their ruffes or hoopes vpon their hippes or blew starch How vgly were one by naturall proportion so bigge about What doost thou meane to mend or marre Gods workmanship or to make thy selfe so bigge that thou mayest not enter in at heauen gate thy grandmothers doubtlesse had neuer such imaginations And I hope they were more commendable before God and man more meeke and humble and better to the poore then thou that vsest them A graue matron and sober dame would be sore grieued that she should be once imagined to bend her selfe or desire to vse the light gesture and behauiour of a wanton and me-thinketh it is more shame to see a Puritane got within a hoope and to bee painted with blew starch but most shame for Prelates thēselues and their second selues to be thus spotted neither do I commend any that vse them though they haue small feare of God in them The Prophet of God was more bold with the dainty dames of Syon Isa 3. But know we though wee seeme holy yet such things doo shewe those that vse thē to be but counterfeits and do bewray their folly like Ierobohams wife who disguised her selfe that the Prophet of God should not know her (w) 1. Reg. 14.2 Nay when they haue heaped on all their trinkets it is most like they know not themselues but wondring at themselues who should bee like vnto the Image of God as the Iewes did at Christ when he came riding into Ierusalem they say who is this What is it I is it I As the Disciples said musing which of them should betray Christ (x) Math. 21.10 Wel to be briefe for time draweth on notwithstanding Ieroboams wife was disguised yet the holy Prophet knew her and sent her home with a burthen of heauie newes that she all her posteritie should be destroyed (y) 1. Reg. 14.10.11 12. But I haue better newes for you if you repēt but if you cannot know your selues being so farre beyond comelinesse disguised against the lawe yet the Prophets of the Lord that know how to discerne spirits wotteth what you be and feare not to tell you from the Lord The Lord will destroy the house of proud men (z) Prouer. 15.25 And thus much for this this then amend and then come for more Now discontentment of mind I may adde for the fourth feather of Prides wing which maketh her to flye aboue the cloudes as the winde forceth the fire for to flame Through this the Angels in happinesse created to behold the maiestie of God in heauen kept not their first estate but left their owne habitation whom God hath reserued in euerlasting chaines vnder darknesse vnto the iudgement of the great day (a) Iude. ver 6. Their Pride following the counsell of discontentment as Rehoboam did of his younglings (b) 1. Reg. 12.14 did mount them thus high that of Angels they became diuels Adam and the woman could not be contented with their creation therefore God thrust them out of Paradise (c) Gen. 3.24 This made Absolon thirst for his fathers kingdome but he leapt short and was hanged in an Oake (d) 2. Sam. 15. 18. This this I suppose is that which maketh our hotte-spurres and vnstayed cock-brained crew to wring at the Princes Scepter get it out of her hāds whose peaceable and heauenly gouernment the world doth admire and if lawes were executed as her will is what policie can appoint
Cor. 1.17.19 I preach Christ crucified and teach you to crucifie the olde man and his lusts Be not you like the Gaderenes who because their swine were gone desired Iesus to depart out of their coastes (f) Math. 8.34 Be not like the Philistines and men of Asdod Who because their Idoll Dagon could not stand by the holy Arke but still fell downe and was broken sent away the Arke of God to keepe their Idoll still (g) 1. Sam. 5 1. c. But forsake your sinnes and keepe Christ (h) Reue. 3.20 burne your Idolls of sinne and confesse the Arke of Gods couenant Let not your sinnes flatter you and entice you though they be as importunate vpon you to thrust you out of Gods fauour as SampsoÌ„s wife was vpon him to get away his strength as she did indeed therefore hee was ouercome of the Philistines (i) Iudg. 16.15.16 to 21. and so shall you of the diuell at his will But if God be God go after him and if Baall or Pride or Vsurie c. be hee then follow them For no man caâ— serue two maisters you cannot seruâ— God and Mammon (k) Math. 6.24 Now then confesse I enuie none I grieue at youâ— sinnes And the holy Prophet of God teacheth me who saith Fret not 〈◊〉 selfe because of the vngodly men neithâ—â— be thou enuious against the euill dooers (l) Ps 37.1 Yet he saith also It grieueth me becauâ—â— men keepe not thy lawe (m) Ps 119.158 But mâ—â— should not grieue the holy spirit of God by whom we haue commission as well to reprooue your sinne as to instruct you in the truth of Gods holy will neither should you hate vs because we tell you the truth as the Iewes did Christ (n) Ioh. 8.40 or as Herod did Iohn the Baptist (o) Mat. 14 3.4 If you do The seruant is not greater then his Lord and Maister (p) Ioh. 15.20 13 16. And here withall remember what the Maister Christ Iesus saith comforting his faithfull seruants against obstinate contemners of his word Whosoeuer as well Princes Potentates Prelates as people shall be ashamed of me and of my words among this adulterous and sinfull generation of him shall the sonne of man be ashamed also when he commeth in the glory of his father with his holy Angels (q) Mar. 8.38 And here I will rest for this time Wee see in Pride a contempt of all other in regard of her self and how she dooth mount aboue the cloudes in desire to tread them vnder her feete and she cannot be content with this but she will be like God which is here the second vanitie of Pride CHAP. VII How Pride would be like God Pride may be said to be like God either in some proprieties or else in name First her propertie is to exalt her selfe and desire to be praised and held in honour as much or rather more then God Secondly she challengeth vengeance to her felse to plague whom she list In Name shee is like God because shee vsurpeth or challengeth to be called God OF the first wee haue heard something alreadie how Pride dooth seek to exalt her self aboue the clouds and being got vp into this perswasioÌ„ of her selfe then she lookes that all should feare her and extoll her and doo forsoothe all reuerence and worship vnto her as the diuel would haue had Christ do vnto him (r) Math. 4.9 And here the Pope steppes in for his interest but wee will put him backe vntill anon telling him and his nurse Dame Pride that when God shall come in iudgement against them Then the Lord onely shall bee exalted in that day (Å¿) Isay 2.11.17 The Lord of Hoasts shall be exalted in iudgement the holy God shall be exalted in iustice (t) Isay 5.16 For it is written I will arise saith the Lord now will I bee exalted now will I lift vp my selfe (v) Isay 33.10 Therefore the Psalmist in this respect remembring the promise of God in which the faithful patiently expect the fall of the proud and their owne deliuerance singeth Not vnto vs ô Lord not vnto vs but vnto thy name giue thy glory for thy louing mercie and for thy truth sake (w) Ps 115.1 Thus Dauid so earnestly in his Psalmes exhorteth the childieÌ„ of God to praise the Lord (x) Ps 106. 136. which subdueth our enemies vnder our feete And the Euangelist Saint Iohn sawe all the Angells fall before the Throne on their faces and worship God saying Amen praise and glory and wisedome and thankes and honour and power and might be vnto our God for euermore Amen (y) Reu. 7.12 And not onely the Angels but all the creatures which are in heauen and in the earth and vnder the earth and in the sea and all that are in them heard I say saith Iohn praise and honour and glory power be vnto him that sitteth vpon the Throne and vnto the Lambe for euermore (z) Reu. 5.13 And the Angell would not suffer Iohn to worship him (a) Reu. 22.8.9 But Pride indeed shee is none of Gods creatures would haue all to honour and worship and praise and feare her she would be like God Thus the Samaritanes praised Symon Magus (b) Act. 8.10 and thus the people extolled Herod (c) Act. 12.22 Thus Pride cryeth to the hearts of men saying Not vnto God not vnto God but vnto mee giue the glory And this is the cause that wee haunt so much and greedily gape for to be praised of men like the Pharisies (d) Math. 6.16 to exclude Iesus Christ from his due honour and glory and praise who is ascended into the heauens and led captiuitie captiue Pride brings out Symon Magus speaking to the holy Apostle S. Peter saying Doost thou thinke thy Christ to be therefore great because he ascended from the earth to heauen A great peece of worke that can I doo And then he mounted into the ayre by the helpe of his familiar diuell But he that carried him vp let him tumble downe alone and so hee was crushed in peeces with shame inough to all his former coniurings for hee was condemned of all and no doubt damned of God there his Pride had a filthy fall (e) See Niceph lib. 5. cap. 16. Eccl. Hist. Is not this Pride the poyson of the beast which all they that dwell vpon the face of the earth shall worshippe whose names are not written in the Lambes booke of life which was slaine from the beginning of the world And they worshipped the beast saying Who is like vnto the beast who is able to warre with him (f) Re. 13.4 The holy Ghost saith Feare ye the Lord all ye his Saints And again Tremble thou earth at the presence of the Lord at the presence of the mightie God of Iacob But now Pride will be regarded this is an Idoll set vp in euery corner and who dooth not flee
or as this Publican c. Hee said true but not so well for himselfe as he thought he did For surely beloued hee was not like the Publican for the Publican was better then he as S. Augustine well noteth saying Ille superbus erat in bonis factis ille humilis in malis factis videte fratres magis placuit deo humilitas in malis factis quà m superbia in bonis factis (i) Aug. in Ps 93. The meaning is The Pharisie was proud in doing good deeds the Publican meeke and lowly because of his euill deeds Marke my brethren God was better pleased with the Publicans humilitie though he had liued wickedly then with the good deeds of the Pharisie because hee was proud and disdainfull Which Christ confirmeth saying I tell you and he knew the truth this man euen the humble Publican departed home to his house iustified more then the other Or as some note and not the other Againe you know the insolent boasting of the proud youth in the Gospell (k) Mat. 19.16 to 23. He said he had kept the commaundements but hee lyed with those that say so and so thought to haue eternall life But when Christ came to search him by his deeds hee found no such matter in him but that whē he thought best of himselfe and euen preferred himselfe before other then was hee worst in the sight of God And Pharao king of Egipt disdained that there shuld be any God to commaund him therefore when Moyses Aaron came with commission from the Lord for Israels deliuerance out of Egipt the King answered Quis est dominus vt audiam vocem eius Who is the Lord that I should heare his voyce (l) Exod. 5.2 and let Israel goe I know not the Lord neither will I let Israel goe Euen so in these dayes men make as little account of Gods word and his Embassadors and through Pride by which they are ouerwhelmed they disdaine that God should teach and commaund them to let their sinne go and this is the cause they regard him no better but euē say like Pharao who is the Lord that I should heare his voyce and let my Pride vsury extortion oppression or any my pleasure goe I know not the Lord neither will I let them goe Iesus Christ saith Learne of me take my yoake vpon you my yoake is easie and my burthen is light (m) Math. 11.30 But S. Augustine speaking of Pride sheweth the cause why men will not saying Propter hoc vitium dedignantur subdere colla iugo Christi obligati arctius iugo peccati (n) Aug. in Ps 18. Because of Pride men disdaine to yeeld their neckes to the yoake of Christ and will rather gall them in the yoake of sinne But know you this that whosoeuer by this disdainfull Pride will endeuour to mount himself the higher he riseth the greater shall bee his fall And if you meane to ascend indeed the humble your selues vnder the mightie hand of God that he may exalt you in due time (o) 1. Pet. 5.6 And let euery man esteeme others better then himselfe (p) Phil. 2.3 For he that humbleth himselfe shal be exalted (r) Luk. 18.14 As the examples of Iob Daniel Sidrach Misach and Abednego Christ Stephen the thiefe vpon the Crosse and the Centurion with many other do plainly testifie The Centurion in the meekenesse of his humble mind said to Christ who promised wh◠he did come to his house to heale hi◠seruant Lord saith he I am not worth◠that thou shouldest come vnder my roofe◠but speake the word onely my seruan◠shall be healed (ſ) Math. 8.78 If hee were not worthy that Christ should come vnder his roofe because of his maiestie holines it is a shame for you to foster Pride in yours as the bawd doth the hatlot because of her filthinesse His humilitie Christ honored with a great commendation shall not your Pride be shamed in due condemnation but I returne The want of this humilitie such height of haughtie minde swelling with disdaine like bodies poisoned caused Kain that he could not abide to see Abels sacrifice accepted before his therefore Kaine slew Abell his brother (t) Gen. 4.8 It made Iosephs bretheren that they could not abide to thinke that their brother should come to greater honour then they therefore they made awaye with him and sold him into Egypt (v) Gen. 37 The Rebells Corath Dathan and Abiram hauing found this they disdained superiorie like our pretended Presbitery so they rebelled against Moyses their godly gouernour (w) Numb 16.12 It made Herod that blood-sucker to seeke to murther Christ (x) Math. 2 16. and the Nobles of Babilon greatly to thirst after Daniels death (y) Dan. 6.4 Where disdaine lookes out at Prides window as Iezabe◠did to see Iehu (z) 2. Reg. 9.30 there euery one despise other (a) Luk. 18.9 and iustifie themselues (b) Luk. 16.15 onely because as Diotrephes loued the preheminence among men (c) Ioh. Epist 3.9 so they would haue the highest roomes (d) Luk. 14.7 and disdaine that any should get before the Thus much for disdaine a feather of Prides wing I will plucke at it no longer for it will not come out But now to your selues and yet I will spare you in hope you will amend The second feather of Prides wing may be presumption two waies to bee seen to moūt her vp aboue the clouds First when men dwell in wickednesse and therin delight as the Owle in darknesse and say Thou God carest not for it tush I shall neuer be cast downe there shall no harme happen vnto me (e) Ps 10.6.12.14 And therefore of Pride presumptuously they determine with Synacharib the subuersion of Kingdomes (f) 2 Reg. 18.19 and commit murther with Kaine (g) Gen. 4.8.19 whordome with Lamech the first founders thereof extortion and oppression with Rehoboam (h) 1. Reg. 12.14 against the law of God which saith Thou shalt not oppresse thy brother (i) Leu. 19.13 Nay Pride in mans hart maketh him entend to do euen what him list and thinks to go forward without any controlment neuer so much as once making the blessed God of their counsell which the Apostle S. Iames sharply reproueth (k) Iam. 4.13 These and such like I take to bee those of whom the Prophet of God speaketh where he saith The vngodly is so proud that hee careth not for God neither is God in all his thoughts (l) Ps 10.4 And therefore in distresse thinke not that God will care for them (m) Pro. 1.28 Will they yet runne on The other kinde of presumption is when men will dwell and continue in sinne and thinke to salue the matter with this plaister God is mercifull (n) 2. Cor. 1.3 forgetting that he is iust and true (o) Ps 7.9 10.14 11.7 and so repentance is deferred sinne is encreased God
is blasphemed and in the end thou thy selfe most like to bee deceiued like one that ouer-sleepeth the Tyde and then cannot take Ship or like the 5. foolish Virgins who sought â—yle when it was too late (p) Math. 25.10 Of such almightie God complaineth by the Psalmist saying The plowers plowed vpon my backe and made long furrowes (q) Ps 129.3 By which is ment that to prolong thy sinne and to put off from day to day thy amendment of life still hoping on mercie to haue it at thy will is to plow or digge vpon Gods backe but marke what followeth The righteous Lord hath cut the cordes of the wicked to wit in peeces Heere is a crosse barre or a double gate to stoppe thy way to presumption euen the iustice of God and the execution thereof according vnto truth Ah fellow art got vp to plowe and goare the backe of God hee is iust as well as mercifull and hee will cut in sunder the cordes of thy presumption First hee will frustrate thy hope by which thou drawest on thy sinnes as the Oxen doo the plough by the chaine And to assure thee of this the holy Ghost vseth the time past in this word Hath for the time to come as that it shall so surely bee performed as if it were past alreadie To confirme this the word of God saieth The person that doth ought presumptuously whether he be borne in the Land or a Straunger the same blasphemeth the Lord Therefore that person shall bee cut off from among his people because hee hath despised the word of the Lord and hath broken his commaundement that person shall bee vtterly cut off his iniquitie shall bee vppon him (r) Numb 15.30.31 Paul also will haue no man presume aboue that which is written (Å¿) 1. Cor. 4.6.1 And it is written Put not off from day to day for suddenly shall his wrath come and in the time of vengeance hee shall destroy thee This then expect except thou repent c. Thirdly rebellion is an other feather in Prides wing by which shee would heaue vp her selfe in vsurping and stretching her authoritie ouer men wthout lawfull right or true commission forcing them to obey her and leading them captiue after her owne will as well against Gods word as any ordinance of his And heere to goe from time to time from one Common-wealth to an other and view the cause of treasons among subiects towardes theyr Princes and gouernors of warres contentions c. we should find it to bee Pride and loftinesse of minde ambitiously desiring one an others kingdome rising and rebelling through immoderate greedines of glory Which the holy Apostle Saint Iames affirmeth saying From whence are warres and contentions among you are they not herehence euen of your lusts that fight in your members (t) Iam. 4.1 Onely of Pride saith wise Salomon doth man make contention (v) Prouer. 13.10 Looke in Genesis 14. and the second booke of the Kings cap. 18. As in many places more and thou shalt haue examples to confirme this matter And our English Chronicles want no store but Richard the third dooth make mee tremble to name any moe Therefore for this time I wil keepe me at home and as I speake to you so I wil speake of you for you beloued I desire to be taught Will you giue mee leaue in a word to tel some of you how you runne after Pride rebell against God if you will I shall but onely passing along by your coats costs I mean plucke at here and there a weed which hindreth the growing of better corne CHAP. VI. Two chaines to tie vp the branded beast Pride NEcessitie comelinesse for attite firmly fastned to the strong pillar of true humilitie (w) Eccl. 11 4. ought to be the two chaines to tie vp the branded beast Pride branded because shee is of â—iuers colours of starch and trash chanâ—ing her selfe like the Camelion and â—ltering her fashions like Proteus or Vertumnus neuer remembring that the â—id man which is in the hart should be without all corruption (x) 1. Pet. 3.4 But euen as the false Prophets were schooled by the diuell to speake as the King would haue them (y) 1. Reg. 22.22 so Pride contemneth the spirit of God and saith what haue I to do with thee as the possessed with â—â—uels said to Christ (z) Math. 8 29. teaching the flesh as she will haue it For the head â—â—ust nod the eies must rowle the boâ—â—e must iette the tongue must trowle â—â—d all as Pride will haue them Soft â—â—iment saith Christ is in Kings houses As if there were the fittest and most proper place for rich apparell to be (a) Math. 11.8 because it belongeth to such as are oâ— the Kings Court The rich glutton rich so he might the more easily do it yet but a glutton and therefore it was no credit to him was cloathed in purple and fine linnen (b) Luk. 16 19. or white Paul the Apostle of Christ teacheth (c) 1. Cor. 11.6.11 that it is a shame for men to weare long haire and for women to pray bareheaded But as the poore man of the proude worldling is thrust to the footestoole d Iam. 2.3 so the counseâ— of the holy Ghost is set at nought (e) Prouer. 1.30 And men doo weare long haire women doo goe bareheaded with they haire vncouered Come from the Court to the Countrie in rich attire what wanteth thâ— subiect of the Prince view them with the poore and you shall see of the poorer sort as proud as the rich and thâ— most of our common women to excell those of the better sort For noueties and chaunge of fashions and toies men and women are as full as a toade 〈◊〉 of poyson Of whom I may speake 〈◊〉 S. Ambrose doth of the couetous Laborant vt quaerant vt inueniaÌ„t laborant quid habere non norunt (f) Ambr. li. de Nab. Iere. ca. 13 They toile to get and labour to finde but what they would haue they cannot tell theÌ„selues Come wee to seruants it is well wee must stand to reprooue theyr Pride these though their wages be not great yet their ruffes must be as bigge and ilfauoured as their harts and the cloath as fine as their proud dames with blew starch too Lastly behold our wanton and ruffinly mynions see how without all shame they surmount their callings and contemne God It grieueth me to speake that which they bee not ashamed to do But why do they so Euen as Christ saith of the Pharisies The hypocrites and the Pharisies do their deeds to be seene of men (g) Math. 6.16 23.28 And when are we most proud in apparell but when wee thinke most to be seene of others Then as Saul whom God had cast off from fauour to keepe a peece of credite with the world for with God he had none said to Samuel (h) 1. Sam. 15.
better to conuey it vnto a Presbytery The Officers thereof and their number and what their office should be in an established Common-wealth cannot be prooued by any scripture neither can our new reformers tell themselues For they chaunge their opinions as the Camelion doth his colours Or as the wise man saith Like a foole that chaungeth as the Moone (e) Eccl. 27 11. And their writings as wel as their words declare what these men haue in their heart (f) Eccl. 27.6 Now name Pride harnessed with discontentment and thou hast found the souldiers that fight their battles and their scoldings are grieuous for to heare c. (g) Eccl. 27 15. Furthermore you know that Haman could not be contented with all his promotion being preserred by King Ahasuerus to be the chiefe man vnder him in all the Prouinces of his dominion but he obtained a Commission to kill all the Iewes onely of spight vnderserued of any but by Gods prouidence they were deliuered and Hamans discontented Pride was discharged by his owne gallowes (h) Ester 3. 7. This made Ahab he could not be quiet without Naboth his vineyard (i) 1. Reg. 21.15.16 Pride is neuer contented like her sister Conetousnesse I would our coat were without this stain But with Balaam I am afraid many follow the reward of iniquitie May wee not pray that the Fullers sope might get this spot out of theyr cloath If they could silkes and veluets would not be in so great request nor the Countrie cloyed with so many singlesolde gentlefolke carrying more vpon their backes needlesse at once then would comfort the poore at theyr boordes a whole moneth And thinke you that you bee none of these schismatickes of Martins crew If they were well looked vnto it may bee you should finde theyr tables in theyr Farme-houses as mouldie as many Pulpets are full of copwebbes for want of vsing Dooth not this keepe mens pittie from the poore â—ow they lament I will not speake but I would from God exhort the rich â—n time for to take compassion on them (k) Gal. 6.10 And though of many their hearts â—re hardned yet because the crye of â—he poore is knowne to her Maiestie â—nd to the wisedome of her Maiesties honourable Councell doubt not beloued but that speedie remedie and helpe is appointed Onely this I say that whole Countries and Nations by this sinne of minde malecontent rise one against an other fewe content with their owne Patrimony only our dread soueraigne and most gracious Queene dooth hold the garland from them all God saue her life for euer Amen What needs further proofe where experience is plaine She ioyeth more most renowmed Queene in sauing one drop of her subiects blood then in winning of a whole Kingdome and therefore shee is content with her owne long ô Lord let her enioy it to the great example of all other O pray for the peace of Ierusalem euen litle England Christ saith Learne of me and if any would learne of her Maiestie what need either ioyning of house to house or laying of field to field till there be no place for the poore that ye may bee placed by your selues on the middest of the earth (l) Esa 5.8 Why should there bee such racking of rents such colde hospitalitie dearth of corn and all other things since there is plentie But it is easie to shewe that where Pride once setteth her foote vpon discontentment or ingrafteth this feather into her wing there God is forgotten and fewe contented with that which is Aequum iustum nor with their owne then away with equitie yea and equalitie too euery churle must be a gentleman Pride will be like God These be foure sicke feathers in Prides wings vnder which who so shrowdeth himselfe is couered from the fauour of God Away from him all ye workers of iniquitie Goliah said I defie the hoast of Israel this day (m) 1. Sam. 17.10 But God doth defie the house of Pride for euer that will not turne For it is written Hee that hath high lookes and a proud stomacke doth his soule abhorre And wise Salomon saith These sixe things doth the Lord hate yea his soule abhorreth seuen the haughtie eyes a lying tongue c. Loe Pride is the first as captaine of the rest (n) Pro. 6.16.17 And thus much of this matter But peraduenture it may be thought that I haue a grudge to some of you as Salomon had to Shimei (o) 1. Reg. 2.36 c because I tell you the truth so boldly and plainly Now beware you grudge not me as as Saul did Dauid (p) 1. Sam. 18.9 I can wash my hands in innocencie and cleare my selfe of this matter Innocentia est vbi non est nocendi voluntas (q) Amb. li. de bono Mor. ca. 1 That is innocencie which is without desire to hurt Augustine saith Duo sunt genera persecutorum vituperantium adulantium Nam plus persequitur lingua adulatoris quà m manus persequentis (r) Aug. in Ps 69. There are two kindes of hurting or persecuting enemies that is backbyters and flatterers for the tongue of the flatterer woundeth or hurteth more then the hand of a sworne enemie for so the meaning is Againe hee saith Nemo peritorum aut prudentium putet c. There is no man of vnderstanding and wisedome but seeth more danger or harme to be by a lying and flattering rongue then by the hands of a murtherer (Å¿) Aug. ad Casul 4. ad Demet. Ep. 14â— For Dauid still fled from Saul when he came to kill him and so was saued (t) 1. Sam. 18.11 But Absolom by flattery caught his brother Ammon and slew him (v) 2. Sam. 13.28 29 So Ioab murthered Abner and Amasa (w) 2. Sam. 3.27 Againe Augustine saieth that Flatterie makes men colde in Religion (x) Aug. in Ps 69. Therefore Iesus Christ saith Feare not them that kill the body (y) Math. 10.28 And the Prophet Isay saith Feare not crye aloud spare not lift vp thy voyce like a Trumpet and shewe my people their transgression (z) Isay 43.1 51.1 And the holy Apostle S. Paul saieth Rebuke not an Elder but exhort him as a father and the younger men as bretheren (a) 1. Timot. 5.1 Put both together and this lesson may be learned not to doo the worke of the Lord negligently (b) Ier. 48.10 and yet patiently to rebuke and to be instant in season and out of season but yet in loue (c) 2. Timot. 4.2 That wee may bee blamelesse and pure as the sonnes of God without rebuke in the middest of a noughtie and crooked Nation in the which we shine as lights in the world holding foorth the word of life c. (d) Phil. 2.15.16 Therefore I know what to doo I tell you the truth why doo you not beleeue me I cannot speake with glosing words of mans wisedome (e) 1.
that she will not come downe like those rebels Corath Dathan Abiram which would not obey but answered Moses saying Num. 16.12 We will not come vp Yet when God comes vnto her as hee did to the builders of the Tower of Babel or vnto Sodome and Gomor Hee will set her downe with a vengeance For it is written Deu. 32.35 Vengeance is mine and I will recompence saith the Lord. Then shall she hode that it is fearfull thing to â—all into the hands of the liuing God For the Lord out God is euen a consuming fire and this is he that saith here in my text to the spirit of Pride Thou shalt be brought downe Thus wee see it is God that threatneth Now behold the truth of his word and whether we may beleeue him And this we shall see by â—â—s infallible assurednesse of his word firme for euer more The word of the Lord endureth for euer And because this point is so neare of affinitie with the former next before I will briefly strengthen this pesition with the testimonie of the hoâ—y scripture to assure you of the truth and so proceed further Our Sauiour Christ saith Heauen and earth shall passe but my word shall not passe And God saith by his Prophet My word shall stand That which God promised to Ahab and his house to Nabuchadnezzar and proud Balthasar and many other came vpon them truly Because thus saiâ—th the Lord Dominus locutus est the Lord hath spoken it And will hee not be as good as his word to them that are proud Of them the Lord saith by the Prophet Isay I will visit the fruite of the proud heart of the King of Assur 1. Synacharib and his glorious and proud lookes And so hee did and slew him by the hands of his owne sonnes Againe The high lookes of man shall bee humbled and the loftinesse of men shall be abased And againe The day of the Lord of Hoasts is vpon all the proud and haughtie and vpon all that is exalted and it shall be made lowe euen the eyes of the proud shall be humbled And Christ saith He that exalteth himselfe shall bee brought lowe And Salomon saith The pride of man shall bring him lowe Preprio gladio iugulabitur Her owne sword shall cut her throate as Iudith did Olifernes with his owne Will you haue any more then woe to the crowne of Pride Woe is a kinde of threatning against sinne whereby the holy Prophets Iustum dei iudicium exprimunt quod omnes manet qui idem faciunt do expresse the iust iudgement of God wherof all shall bee partakers that continue in sinne And an other saith by woe woe Ingentes calamitates indicantur Horrible calamities are foretold Gual in Haba 2. Hom. 7. Vae autem malorum condemnationem proprie manifestat Woe threatned dooth properly assure the wicked of their condemnation vnto which Corozin Bethsaida and Capernaum are come against whom Christ denounced woe to bee to the Corozin c. Thus we see that fearefull are the threatnings and strong are the testimonies of holy scriptures which denounce destruction to them that be proud and yet there be more Dauid saith Ps 59.12 Iob. 20.6.7 Let them be taken in their pride They shall perish for euer like their owne dung though their excellencie mount vp to heauen and their head reach vp to the cloudes Iob. 24.24 Againe They are exalted for a lule but they are gone and are brought lowe as all ethers they are destroyed and cut off as the top of an eare of corne Isa 3.16 for the Lord hath spoken it And by the Prophet Ezechiel Ezech. 12 25.28 God saith I am the Lord I will speake and that thing that I shall speake shall come to passe it shall no more bee prolonged Ier. 1.12 For I will hasten my word to performe it And further also do you not know that God said Let there be light Gen. 1.14 15. and it was so The lawes of the Medes and Persians alter not and shall Gods truth faile Beloued be not deceiued you see what God saith against Pride Ecech 17.9 Euen I the Lord haue spoken it shall it then prosper No no deare bretheren And yet I feare men doo not beleeue these holy scriptures c. for if they did they could not seeke sinne and follow after it with that greedinesse as they doo But ô Lord turne their hearts and then shall they be turned Breake thou the power of the vngodly and malicious take away his vngodlinesse and thou shalt finde none And thus now I end with that note which is giuen and approued vpon these words of our Sauiour Christ Math. 7.26 Hee that heareth of me these sayings and dooth them not shall be likened vnto a foolish man that built his house vpon the sands c. That is hee that practiseth not Gods word which hee hath heard giueth a plaine testimonie of himselfe that he dooth not beleeue nor credit the word And now for to end this point let me exhort you to pluck down your plumes of Pride as the Peacock casteth downe his traine beholding his blacke feete Come home with the prodigall sonne saying Luk. 15.21 Father I haue sinned against heauen and against thee I am no more worthy to be called thy sonne Be ashamed of your sinne as Adam was of his nakednesse And as Ioel teacheth Turne vnto the Lord with all your hearts Ioel. 2. He careth not fot a peece rent your hearts and not your garments for they be too much hacked alreadie because you will bee contrarie to the most high God Lament as Niniuie did let euery man turn from his euill way and from the wickednesse that is in their hands Then shall your light breake foorth as the morning and your iust dealing as the noone-day and God will put away your wickednesse out of his remembrance as he hath promised by his holy Prophet But if you will not then will hee come against you Gen. 18.21 as he did against Sodome and see whether you haue done altogether according to that cry which is come vp vnto him If you haue then will hee call and muster his Hoasts together encouraging and hastning them to the slaughter crying against Pride as the childreÌ„ of Edom did in the day of Ierusalem Downe with it downe with it Ps 137.7 euen to the ground Then his souldiers will answere comming to destroy as it is written of Christ comming for to saue Loe I am come to doo thy will ô God Heb. 10.7 And they shall go forth in the strength of the Lord God and in the power of his might and come vnto all that are proud as Dauid did against Goliah in the name of the Lord of Hoasts whom men haue despised and blasphemed And they will not bee carelesse in destroying as Saul was to destroy some and saue some aliue but they will away with all that they are commaunded
most terrible to remember sometimes by the sword of one neighbour against another This was his promise against the Egiptians Isay 19.2 2. Chro. 20.22.23 This hee dealt in iudgement with the Ammonites Moabites and Idumeans They slew one an other and euery one helped to destroy an other Such was his vengeance vpon the Midonites Iudg. 7.22 Isay 9.4 2. Sam. 13 See Exod. 32.27.28 The Lorde set euery mans sword vppon his neighbor Absolon slew his brother Ammon and in the end of the world Amons enemies shal be those of his own household But good Lord defend vs from ciuill warre and domesticall blood-shead through one neighbour against an other by which thou hast promised to destroy them that tread thine inheritance vnder their feete Isai 49.29 saying I will feed them that spoile thee with their owne flesh and they shall be drunke with their owne blood as with sweete wine and all flesh shall know that I the Lord am thy Sauiour and thy Redeemer the mightie one of Iacob If I should step to other histories I could shewe you that it was saide to King Cyrus Herodotus Thou hast thirsted after blood and thou shalt drinke thy belly full of blood Calippus would haue stabbed his friend Dion but with the same dagger hee was stabbed in himselfe of his owne friends This alas is most lamentable when almightie GOD to bring downe our Pride doth stirre vp one friend to destroy an other to execute his fearce wrath vpon them that dwell on the face of the earth 6 Lastly when the Lord God hath gone thus farre with the children of men that are abhominable hee will not here rest so filthie vilde is Pride and sinne in his sight but their memoriall shall perish with them their posteritie shall be cut off and their name shall be cleane put out Therfore saith the Prophet Dauid Psal 34 16. The face of the Lorde is against them that do euil to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth And Eliphash saith in the booke of Iob of such men Their braunch shall not be green Iob. 15.32 c. but shall be cut off before his day God shall destroy him c. and the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate Againe Psal 37.28.35.36 The seed of the wicked shall be cut off saith Dauid Thus the Lord dealt with the house and posteritie of Ieroboā and Baasha and fulfilled the like iudgement vpon wicked king Ahab all his posteritie by the sword of Hasaell Iehu and Eliza. And what is become of all the Tribes of Israel Alas they haue drunke of the like cup of Gods heauie wrath displeasure though they were the chosen peculiar people of God And hath God dealt in truth of iudgement against them Then thou which art but a wilde Oliue braunch Be not high minded but feare But who euer thinketh that it is for their sin and wickednes that God giueth them no children and againe taketh away those that they haue because hee will roote out their remembrance from off the earth But nill they will they as men say in spight of their teeth thus God bringeth man downe and layeth their Pride in the dust like water that is powred vpon the earth which cannot be gathered vp againe 2. Sam. 14.14 Then vnderstand ye vnwise among the people Psal 94 8. What need I tell you further of Gods infinite armies which going foorth at his commaundement runne verie swiftly to execute his will When he commaunded the water obeyed and drowned the world When he commaunded the fire hasted consumed Sodome To destroy Synacharibs campe hee armed an Angel To some he sent Lyons to some fierie Serpents to some he sent Beares and to Herod Wormes and all these destroyed without any pittie for God had so commaunded Moreouer Some the earth swallowed some the Sea drowned Others laughter hath killed as Sophocles Dionisius the Tyrant of Sicilia Some died with gluttony or surferting as Valentinian and Iouinian the Emperours Some haue died with drinking and bousing as Anacreon and Archesilaus And many wofully pined away with famine in the siege of Ierusalem In the siege of Casilinum and in that great famin of Sagunthus in Spaine Infinite are the diseases and extraordinary meanes as Dauid in some sort sheweth whereby the Lord fighteth his battels destroyeth man Mille modis miseros mors rapit vna homines In so much then as all the hoasts of men neuer so proud and loftie are not able to withstand the least of Gods armies euen of silly wormes and such like vermine but they will preuaile against vs when God sends them forth O fooles that we are why will we not be wise O we of vncircumcised hearts eares let vs not forget how God hath cast some downe we know not what will become of our selues our sinnes call for vengeance and the Lord is not slacke in comming as some men count slacknesse But inough of this point Thou shalt be brought downe And how this promise is effected it doth plainely appeare CHAP. III. Whither proud men shall bee brought downe The Text saith First to the graue then to the side of the pit Of death I obserue 1. The diuision 2. The description 3. The necessitie 4. The certaintie 5. Why some men do tremble and quake Other do ioy at the comming of death 6. Whether we are to mourne for our friends that be dead VVHen Death hath seized vpon man Ier. 16.3.4 then the graue is a meet habitation for the carkasse Aug. de cura pro Mor. Her l. ca. 3. lib. 1. de de Ciuit. dei cap. 12. c. And when this may not be had it is a great plague of God as it is a blessing to attaine vnto Christian buriall which of dutie those that liue ought to performe to the dead corpes after the examples in these places of the word of God Gen. 23.19 and 25.8.9 50.13 with many other And when Moses was dead Deu. 34.6 Iud. 9. God sent an Angel and buried him Thus his maiestie regarded the buriall of the dead And when wicked Iezabel died a most cursed death 2. Reg. 9.34.35.36 yet Iohn said Visit now yonder cursed woman and bury her And some went but before they came the dogges had eate her Loe though she were the cursed of God it was thought meet that she should be buried Then I condemne the light opinions of those that say It is no matter what becomes of the bodie being dead and I wish them to correct their folly that denie to bury the dead and that they would not cease to doo good to them that are dead Well to the graue with Nabuchadnezzar those that be proud must come Which in my Text I take to be spoken Nomine to scorne Pride because shee would be aboue the cloudes shee shall be brought vnder the earth Insomuch that todes serpents and dogs and swine and wormes
certaine as is shewed Now for Hezechias The fifteene yeares are said to be added not that his time to die appointed from the beginning was then come for though the Prophet told him Thou shalt die and not liue It is true yet hee told him not when and at his repentance and contrition those fifteene yeares were added as a blessing not to the definite time of his age which was vnchangeable but to that time of his sicknesse Then what vse is there of phisicke 1. Euen to preserue health and to prolong thy daies in ease which else should be consumed in paine For as thy end is appointed of God certaine so are the meanes vnto the same end and they must not be despised 2. To helpe nature to ouerthrow that disease in short time which she her selfe will ouercome by good order and dyet in the end Therefore saith the wise man Eccles 38.4.7 Honour the Phisitian with that honour which is due vnto him because of necessitie For the Lord hath created him and the Lord hath created medicines of the earth and hee that is wise will not abhorre them For with such doth he heale men and taketh away their paines In ipso corpore alia praecipitur medicina ne bona valetudo amittatur alia verò vt amissa recuperetur Aug. lib. 80. Quest q. 45. In mans body one medicine is giuen to preserue health an other to recouer that which is lost But we see wicked men liue long a grieuous burthen to the poore c. Their long life is to them a curse and the same is their reward the poore must trust in God for God will be their deliuerer if they fight firme in faith Secondly such wicked men haue their pleasure in this world to make them most inexcusable and their damnation sure in the life to come with Diues CHAP. VII Why wee know not when wee shall dye WEll if our end be so certaine why is it not made knowne vnto vs when it shall bee Why Dixit dominus the Lord hath so determined and that should suffice thee Deut. 28.66 For hee saith Thou shalt haue no assurance of thy life And to this end it is said 1. Thes 5.2 The day of the Lord shall come euen as a theefe in the night Againe hee which hath the seuen spirites of GOD saieth I will come vpon thee as a theefe Reue. 3.3 and thou shalt not knowe what houre I will come vpon thee This then beeing so why shouldest thou aske any moe questions Secondly for the knowledge of thy end it is not opened in the word of God and therefore it appertaineth to his vnreuealed will and thou must not seeke further and busie thy selfe in the secrets of God as coniurers and figure-flingers and starre-tooters doo Therefore I answere thee as Christ did his Disciples enquiring of him to know the like matter saying Act. 1.7 It is not for you to knowe the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in his owne power Thirdly the knowledge of our last end is hidden from vs to the ende men should not encourage themselues to sinne and presume of repentance a litle before their end Therefore well saith Augustine Aug. in Ps 34. conc 1 Diem nobis nouissinum mortis nostrae abscondit ne nobis de futuro aliquid promittamus The effect is God hath not reuealed vnto vs the last houre of our death least wee should sinne of presumption Againe hee saith Ne de speveniae peius viuerent Idem in Ps 101. fecit diem mortis incertum God hath made to vs the day of death vncertaine least vpon hope of pardon we should liue the worse Fourthly it is most certaine that GOD hath kept from vs the knowledge of our dying day because wee should continually watch and be prepared for it with the oyle of good workes in our Lampes of faith clearely burning to light in the Bridegrome whensoeuer hee knocketh Therefore it is written 1. Pet. 1.13 Math. 24.42.44 Luk. 12.35 to 47. 2. Pet. 3.1 Gird vp the loynes of your minde awake and be ye also readie with your lights burning and ye your selues like vnto men that waite for theyr maister And Peter the Apostle saith Seeing that all things must be dissolued what maner of persons ought wee to be in holy conuersation and righteousnesse Againe 1. Pet. 4.7 8.9 The ende of all things is at hand bee yee therefore sober and watching in prayer but aboue all things haue feruent loue among you O some of you cannot abide this but loue couereth the multitude of sinnes Bee you harberous one towards an other without grudging These and such like good workes done in and for Christ are those garments which wee must keepe Our lights that must shine before men to glorifie our father which is in heauen and that same treasure which wee must lay vp for our selues in heauen And blessed shall that seruant bee whom his maister when hee commeth shall finde so doing Moyses doubtlesse knowing this hee euen reproouing the stubberne negligence of the Iewes and beeing desirous that they should make right vse of the consideration of theyr owne deathes saith Deut. 32.29 O that they were wise then they would vnderstand this they would consider their latter ende Euen by it to bee kept and guided from sinne as Israel was from the sight of the Egiptians in the day time by the pillar of a cloud Againe Moyses knowing that to all those that bee wise and haue any true feare of God in them the remembrance of death dooth effect the same thing Ps 90.12 hee prayeth saying O teach vs to number our dayes that wee may apply our hearts vnto wisedome Therefore Aug. de discip Christ Latet vltimus dies vt obseruentur omnes dies Serò parantur remedia quum mortis imminet periculum Our last end or dying day is kept secret from vs because wee should watch and be readie euery day For the medicine comes too late when death is knocking at our gate This is that which the Apostle meaneth and would haue vs to doo when hee saieth Eph. 5.15.16 Take heed therefore that yee walke circumspectly not as fooles but as wise redeeming the time for the dayes are euill And againe Gal. 4.5 Walke wisely towards them that are without and redeeme the time So that Moses the man of God praieth that we may be taught to nūber our daies And the holie Apostle of Iesus Christ would haue vs To redeem the time That is to remember consider how vainly we haue spent yesterday and to day to make amends for it by walking in Holines and righteousnes before God all the dayes of our life To this the consideration of death should guide vs. And therfore it is compared of some to the stern of a ship which though it be in the hinder part of the ship yet it guideth the whole whither soeuer the lust of the Gouernour
first and also of the Gretian Reue. 2.9 O the fearefull trembling that these and such like truthes of Gods holy word doo bring to a desperate soule at the remembrance of death Of which in their life time though they haue no feeling yet at the day of death they may bring a wofull griping Thirdly I omit to speake of the vnsatiable care worldly men haue to get their greedie desire to keepe and their loathsomenesse to depart from theyr Mamonisme worldly wealth and pleasure All which doth make them sorrie to see death and quake to thinke vpon it Ecclesi 41.1 Mat. 19.21 The worldling in the Gospell was loth and sorrowfull yea more he would not leaue his worldly pelfe to walk with Iesus Christ though hee was promised treasure in heauen And how wil those that be such grieue when they see they must in spight of their teeth goe with death of whome they are perswaded it neuer bringeth good vnto them but euil 1. Reg. 21.8 as Ahab was by the holie Prophet or messenger of the Lord Fourthly I would if any of my paines could preuaile with you to wring sinne from you shewe what reare God may strike into the hearts of wicked men at the remembrance of death when they call to mind 1. how they haue caused many to blaspheme Rom. 2.24 Mat. 18.7 and to commit sinne by their euil example And 2. do know that therefore their punishment shall be the greater As 3. to consider that the fathers wicked life shall be cast in their childrens teeth as Rom. 18.8 what was thy father but an Vsurer Extortionerâ—â— Drunkard Eccle. 41.7 Wisd 4 6. a whoremaster or such like Of which saith the wise man The Children complaine of an vngodly father because they be reproached for his sake Will not these thinke you with a thousand the like cogitations driue terrour and feare into wicked mens hearts at the sight of death Fift and lastly when such wicked men doo call to minde how they haue seen the poore to be afflicted many and sundry wayes and haue not comforted them but haue rather sought diuersly to vexe them and so haue brought the curse of the people vpon them And herewithall remember how the poore shall be comforted Luc. 16.25 Pro. 10.7 Psal 37.2.9.10 and themselues tormented and that their name shall rotte and their remembrance shall be cleane put out And also do perswade themselues that they be of the number of them of whom it is said Woe be to you that are full for ye shall hunger Woe be to you that now laugh for you shall waile and mourne Luk. 6.25 Then they may turne their faces to the wall with Hezechias but looke for small comfort and say What hath our Pride profited vs or what profit hath the pompe of our riches brought vs We sometimes haue had many in dirision and in a parable of reproach We fooles we counted their life madnesse and thought their ende would be without honour But they are reckoned among the children of God Wisd 5.3.4.5.8 and shall haue their portion among the Saints But with vs it is not so 1. Psal 1.5.6 Wisd 4.14 we are like the chaffe which the wind driueth away from the face of the earth therefore we shall not be able to stand in the iudgements neither in the congregation of the righteous O the consideratioÌ„ of these things to a distressed soule plunged in distrust is iust cause to sorrow and mourne Of such it may truly be said Nasci miseria viuere paena mori angustia est To be borne is miserie to liue is a plague and for to die is anguish and woe And thus much to shewe you some causes why death is a terror vnto the wicked people of the world CHAP. XII Who feare not death NOw there is an other sort of men vnto whom death is neuer terrible but most heartily welcome And these are those spirituall minded men the number whereof is but small Math. 7.14 which haue the seale of the liuing God in their foreheads Reue. 7.3 Whose names are written in the Lambes booke of life Which haue made their long robes white in the bloud of the Lambe These haue the spirit of the liuing God by which they are sealed vnto the day of redemption and are not in the flesh but in the spirit because the spirit of God dwelleth in them Which spirit beareth witnesse vnto our spirits Rom. 8.9.16 that wee are the children of God and heires annexed with Christ if so bee that wee suffer with him that we may also be glorified with him or else not For after death there is a seperation of the soule from God into hell onely Math. 7.23 Which the learned doo call the death of the soule and the Euangelist Iohn Luk. 16.26 The second death Quam omnes patiuntur qui periculorum metu fidem abnegant mundo sese conformes reddunt Gualt in Hos 14. Hom. 44. Mat. 10. 1. Ioh. 2.15 Which all soules do fuffer that for feare of daungers doo denie the faith and fashion themselues like vnto the worlde But the Saints of God are free being iustified by faith and are at peace with God through Iesus Christ our Lorde And they do shewe forth their faith by their workes being borne anew not of mortall seed but of immortall by the word of God who liueth and endureth for euer And these beeing strong in the Lorde and in the power of his might doo cast away the workes of darknesse and put vpon them the armor of light euen the whole armour of God by which they are able to resist in the euill day and hauing finished all things they stand fast For their heart as the Prophet saith beleeueth in the Lord and they are not afraid to meete with their enemie in the gate Therefore if death come or the diuel or whatsoeuer they feare not For who shall laie any thing to the charge of Gods elect Rom. 8.33 It is God that iustifieth who shall condemne And so these are as willing to welcome death Luk. 2.25.28 Colloss 1.21 Psal 120.5 as Simeon was ioyfull to imbrace Christ because death is to them aduantage Therefore the Princely Prophet Dauid said Woe is me that I am constrained to dwell with Meshech and to abide among the tents of Kedar And againe Bring my soule out of prison Ps 142.7 1. Reg. 2.2 And a little before his death quietly hee said I goe the way of all the earth that is I know death is at hand Iob. 6.8.9 Ien. 4.3 This holie Iob wished for and Ionas praied O Lord take I beseech thee my life from me for it is better for me to die then to liue Paul knowing the same Rom. 7.24 saide O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer mee from the bodie of this death And writing to the Philippians hee saith Phil. 1.23.24 To abide in the flesh was needfull for them but
In all this did not Iob offend nor charge God foolishly And thus much for the down-fall of Pride CHAP. XV. A briefe note of Hell NOw to her destruction to the sides of the â—it that is euerlasting death and damnation Not that I counsell you to goe thither but that I feare many wil and I would forewarne you of that place of torments The God of heauen giue vs grace to be warned whilest we haue time for it will be too late to seeke for helpe as Diues did when the gate of geace shall be shut against vs. The proud heart of Nabuchadnezzar perswaded it selfe to get aboue the cloudes as the Spaniard spiteth vs and to be like the most high God that is he determined to take Ierusalem which the Lord had chosen to be an habitation for himselfe and of Pride hee ment to tread downe the people of God vnder his feet as the Pope did the Emperour But he is brought downe and so shall I trust the Spaniard if our Pride and sin hold him not vp to the graue euen to the sides of the pit By which is ment that Pride shall haue the greatest torments and chiefest roome in hel of all other sinnes because on earth she hath bene the foremost chiefe ringleader of all other Musc in Isai 14.15 Qui similis esse volebas deo pro coelo demersus es in tenebras inferni Thou which wouldest be like vnto God in stead of heauen thou art drowned or plunged in the darknesse of hell It is euen the same iudgement which the sonne of God Christ Iesus denounced against proud Capernaum saying And thou Capernaum which art exalted to heauen shalt be thrust downe to hell Luk. 10.15 Hell is a place without the heauen prepared of God with vnspeakeable most horrible confused euerlasting torments for the damned Of which though the extreame and full horror thereof cannot of man bee expressed no not if a damned soule were permitted to expresse what it could of the paine it is not able to describe that which it most wofully feeleth yet the holy scriptures of God do speak plainly and sufficiently thereof for our learning and instruction most wonderfull to behold Whereof many men haue written learnedly the chiefe substance whereof thou shalt finde collected by Parsons in his Resolution the ninth Chapter vnto which for this time I will send you 1. Because of the truth of the argument and the plaine easie maner of handling it 2. As also I must confesse I cannot much amend it neither now stay to speake that which I would of it 3. Because honour is to be giuen to whom honour is due The Idollators rob God of his honour and he that taketh an other mans workes without his name is like a theefe that stealeth an other mans goods to enrich himselfe As many do in these dayes that cause the poore to smart as vsurers extortioners oppressors theeues and the couetous c. for whom is reserued the myst of darknesse for euer without repentance And thus for this time I haue finished that which I determined for the Lord beeing but able to rough-hewe my timber and so leaue it the more readie for a better builder God graunt we may all build together the worke of the Lord to the humble and perfect finishing of our faith through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen The Lord liueth and blessed be my strong helper and praised be the God of my saluation Psal 18.47 Amen FINIS Si malè quid dictuÌ„ est hominem dixisse memento Si bene quid dixi gloria Christe tua est Is ought here past my penne humane that same is due to mee But what is right and true O God that same I haue of thee And thee do praise for all thy grace and knowledge of thy word O Father Sonne and holy Ghost one God and mightie Lord. Let vs pray O Holy and eternall God most mightie Lord and mercifull Father whose truth reacheth vnto the heauens righteousnesse vnto the ends of the world which haste now taught vs that those which exalt themselues shall be brought downe to the graue to the sides of the pit euen to hell giue vs grace that we by thy power may subdue the flesh vnto the spirit that wee may be the habitation of thine owne holinesse and the place which thou hast chosen to put thy name there So shall wee be safe vnder thy protection and our hearts shall be filled with ioy as the Temple was with the glory of the Lord. And then as Symeon reioyced to embrace Christ so shall wee to receiue death without trembling through faith being assured of deliuerance from thy wrath Heare vs ô Lord for Iesus Christs sake our onely Mediator and Aduocate To whom with the Father and the holy Ghost be all thankes and praise and honour and power and glory and maiestie ascribed now and for euer Amen FINIS