of the Scripture Esay 66. 2. 3 Grosse reproach against God 2. King 19. 10. Mat. 27. 29. ver 40. c. 4 Alleaging of Scripture to maintaine sin errour and heresie Math. 4. 6. 5 Excusing of sin by the infirmities of holy men in the Scriptures V. To vse the name of God carelesly in common talke Phil. 2. 10. VI. Lightly to passe ouer Gods iudgements in our selues and others Luke 13. 1. 2. VII To abuse the name of God to charming and witchcraft Actes 19. 13. VIII Popish hallowing of Candles Ashes Oile and Palmes Salt and Water IX To praise and thanke God for euill things 1 Sam. 23. 21. X. Cursing and banning either of our selues simply or conditionally XI To abuse the properties of God as 1 His power by rash and faithlesse speaking of it 2. King 7. 2. 2 His wisedome and prouidence vnder the names of chance and fortune 3 His mercy and patience to embolden vs in sin and impenitency Rom. 2. 4. Ezech. 12. 27. Amos 6. 3. XII Fearefull swearing by the names and properties of God XIII Vaine and idle swearing among ignorant people Math. 5. 33. 34. Iam. 5. 12. XIIII Superstitious swearing Iosh 23. 7. Zeph. 1. 5. Ier. 5. 7. XV. Blasphemous and out-ragious swearing as among Dicers and Carders XVI Swearing wickedly to doe euill 1. King 19. 2. Actes 23. 12. 1. Sam. 25. 22. XVII Periury Leuit. 19. 12. Mal. 3. 5. XVIII Vaine and wicked Lots casting Prou. 16. 33. Actes 1. 26. XIX Mocking ieasting and speaking vnreuerently of the workes of God XX. Superstition Vertues commanded First Reproofe correction and punishment of the former sinnes and sinners according to our power place and calling 1. Sam. 2 23 c. Tit. 1. 3. Leuit. 19. 17. Math. 18. 16. Secondly a lawfull and religious oath Deut. 6. 13. Exod. 22. 11. Heb. 6. 16. Thirdly priuate instruction of Families Deut. 6. 6. Iosh 24. 15. Fourthly to take seek occasion in time place conuenient to commend Gods Greatnesse Excellency Wisedome Power Goodnesse Iustice Mercy manifested in his Word and Workes Fifthly to vse the names of God onely in waighty affaires and with all reuerence Deut. 28. 58. Sirthly Zeale of Gods glory aboue all things in the world Numb 25. 8. Psal 69. 22. Actes 7. 51. 52. Actes 13. 10. Reu. 3. 19. Tit. 2. 14. Gal. 4. 18. Fiue signes of true Zeale 1 It beginnes at our selues 2 It is suspitious of our owne secret euils 3 It is constant not hote by fits 4 It causeth vs to reioyce in the prosperity of the Church though our selues bee in affliction 5 It is earnest in matters of godlinesse but cold in worldly things Seuenthly Sanctification of Gods gifts and ordinances they are sanctified by two meanes 1 By the Word that teacheth the holy and right vse of them Psal 119. 24. 2 By prayer whereby wee obtaine the assistance of Gods grace to vse them rightly and whereby we magnifie and blesse God for giuing them to vs and giuing vs grace to glorifie him in them The fourth Commandement Remember that thou keepe holy the Saboth day Sixe daies thou shalt labour and do all that thou hast to do But the seuenth day is the Sabaoth of the Lord thy God In it thou shalt do no manner of work thou and thy son and thy daughter thy man-seruant and thy maid-seruant thy cattell and the stranger that is within thy gates For in sixe daies the Lord made heauen and earth the sea and all that in them is and rested the seuenth day Wherefore the Lord blessed the seuenth day and hallowed it THe occasion of this Commandement is our readinesse to fall away from God vnlesse daily meanes bee vsed Vertues commanded First Preparation of the body the day before by moderate labour and diet and earely rising on the Saboaths morning Exod. 32. 6. Ex. 19. 14. 15. Secondly preparation of mind by fréeing it from worldly thoughts and cares Thirdly preparation of the heart by purging out corrupt lusts and euill affections Esay 1. 13. Fourthly the rest of man and beast the whole day from all labour not necessary nor holy Exod. 34. 21. Fifthly Sanctification of the Saboath that is the separating of it to Gods worship onely as the second commandement requireth Esay 58. 13. Sixthly visiting of the sicke Seuenthly relieuing of the poore 1. Cor. 16. 1. 2. Neh. 8. 12. Eightly instruction of our Families Deut. 11. 19. Ninthly reconciliation of them that are at variance and admonition of them that offend Vices forbidden First to do any worke at any time without present and euident necessitie Ex. 34. 21. Math 12. 11. Numb 15. 25. Secondly néedlesse iournies Ex. 16. 29. Thirdly Bargaining Faires and Markets Neh. 13. 15 c. Fourthly all vaine ieasting sporting gaming dancing banquetting Esay 58. 13. Fifthly outward worship without inward affection Esay 1. 14. 15. 2 T. im 3. 5. Amos 5. 21 c. Sixthly giuing liberty to seruants and children to spend the Saboath in idlenesse and gaming Seuenthly neglect of bringing our whole Family to the Church as necessity shall permit The fifth Commandement Honour thy Father and Mother that thy daies may bee long in the land which the Lord thy God giueth thee THe occasion of the fifth commandement is our proud and enuious nature that cannot abide to be vnder gouernment or giue men their due By Father and Mother is meant our naturall Parents Kings Magistrates and all Gouernours spirituall and temporall ministers of Gods Word by what name or title soeuer they bee called Guardians that haue the Ward-ship of children Maisters of Liberall Arts and Mechanicall Trades All aged persons and all that excell in any gift or calling Two sorts of vertues or duties are heerein commanded 1 Generall duties of superiours and inferiours one towards another 2 Speciall duties of particular calling The duties of the Superiour to the Inferiour First to loue and seeke for the welfare of their inferiours hauing the place and title of parents 2 King 25. 13. Rom. 13 4. Esay 49. 23. Secondly to giue example of godly and Christian life Tit. 1. 2. 3. Thirdly to shew forth grauity and dignity by their countenance gestures words and deeds Iob. 29. 8. Fourthly to yeeld to their inferiours in good matters as to their brethren Deut. 17. 20. Iob. 31 13. 2. King 5 13. 14. Fifthly not to shew their owne authority but Gods in them for that is to rob God of his honour which is the sin of the Deuill and Anti-christ Ex. 16. 7. 8. Numb 16. 11. 29. Duties of Inferiours to their Superiours First to rise vp and stand before them when they sit or passe by vs Leuit. 19. 32. Secondly to rise vp and meet them when they come towards vs Gen. 18. 2. 1. King 2. 19. Thirdly to how the knee in token of reuerence Gen. 18. 2. 1. King 1. 23. 30. Fourthly to vncouer the head before the ancient 1. Cor. 11. 7. Fifthly to giue them the better place in all méetings
THE TREE OF GOOD AND EVILL OR A Profitable and Familiar Exposition of the Commandements directing vs in the whole course of our life according to the Rule of Gods Word whereby we must bee iudged at the last day By THOMSS GRANGER Preacher of Gods Word DEVT. 30. 19. I call heauen and earth to record this day against you that I haue set before you life and death blessing and cursing therefore chuse life that both thou and thy seed may liue LONDON Printed by N. O. for SAMVEL MAN and are to bee sold at his Shop in Pauls Church-yard at the Signe of the Ball. 1616. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL SIR IOHN LEVENTHORP KNIGHT and to the most wise and vertuous Lady IOANE his wife Grace and Peace from God the Father and our Lord Iesus Christ bee multiplied MANY causes there were Right Worshipfull that moued mee to penne this Exposition on the Commandements but especially these following The first cause was the hindering at least of Satans busie working euen in our reformed Church who as in the times of darknesse hee murthered multitudes of soules through Idolatrous Deuotions and the false imagination of meritorious workes euen so doth hee now in the cleere light of the Gospell slay a great number through a liuelesse faith and outward empty profession Yet in both times hath there been a certaine number whose workes were faithfull and whose faith is fruitfull Therefore to the end that they who through selfe-loue and ignorance of Gods lawes seeme to bee somewhat may see what sinnes they daily commit and what vertues they continually omit that they I say who seeme to themselues beautifull and rich enough may see themselues to bee but wretched miserable poore blind and naked Reu. 3. 17. For their benefite and good I first attempted this short Treatise A second reason was because I saw very many yet so ignorant as that they thinke they can keepe the whole Law grossely and Pharisaically examining themselues by the outward letter of the tenne Words or Commandements euen which notwithstanding they make small conscience continually to breake because God is mercifull so that with them as with carnall Gospellers the commandements are quite growne out of request A third reason like to this was because that many euen on their death-beds doe comfort themselues onely in their owne righteousnesse which standeth in this that they haue alwaies paid euery man his owne That they neuer hurt their neighbour by word or deed That they haue euer carryed a good meaning whatsoeuer they said or did That they haue giuen almes to the poore whereupon some being exhorted by their Minister to repent and to call vpon God for mercy in Iesus Christ haue answered that they knew no sinne they had Others againe being more then wontedly sick haue maruelled that God should so vndeseruedly punish them A fourth reason was because that many not willing to buy a larger Exposition partly for the cost partly for the length thereof as they thinke who are cumbred with Martha about many things might bee induced and allured to buy and reade this short Exposition both for the little price for the plainenesse and for the many proofes and breuitie thereof A fifth reason was that children and yong folkes hauing learned by heart the Principles of Christian Religion might be instructed further in the Law which is the end of vertuous and godly life both that they may vnderstand Sermons the better when they heare that whereof they haue already a fundamentall knowledge which must needes stirre vp in them a desire to heare and know further therein whereof commeth dilligent attention and also that knowing when they do well and when they do ill not onely in deed but in word and thought they may bee brought to make conscience of euery sinne which the ignorant cannot do that their mindes and consciences being possessed with the lawes of God in euery particular in their yong age the head of sinne may be suppressed and kept vnder that they may truely repent of their sinnes which they that know not sinne cannot do and that they may know to what commandement euery vertue and sinne is referred And lastly the reasons why I was bold to offer so small a present to your Worship of whom I haue receiued so many kindnesses and am indeed for sundry respects for euer obliged vnto you are First because I haue alwaies knowne you to be a sincere louer of learning simply for it selfe without by-respects which plainely appeareth in this that you haue not onely beene alwaies a speciall fauorer and Patron of the learned but also separating your selfe from the world as much as your place and calling will permit haue euer deuoted your selfe to all good learning Moreouer the inward and sincere loue and affection in the Lord that I haue alwaies heeretofore at this present and euer shall beare vnto you and your good Lady for these excellent and most amiable vertues wisedome truth vprightnesse kindnesse compassion tender-heartednesse haue enforced mee to shew forth my hid and smothered loue wherein I am able and wherein it could finde passage Therefore I desire your Worships both in one whom coniugall and Christian loue and vnanimity haue made one to accept this little gift which I am bold to cast into the treasury of Gods Church vnder your Worships protection The Lord continue still his fauourable kindnesse goodnesse and mercy towards you in powring downe still his manifold blessings vpon your ancient and honoured Family from generation to generation for euer Botterwike in Holland neere Bosten in Lincoln 1616. Your Worships In all duties to command THOMAS GRANGER To the Reader COurteous Reader the Lord forbad our first Parents to eate of the Tree of Knowledge of good and euill with denunciation of an euerlasting curse vpon their disobedience Againe the same Lord commandeth vs to eate of the Tree of good and euill as a preparatiue to an euerlasting and perfect remedy For as the eating thereof was the beginning of all euill so the eating thereof is the beginning of all good For as the desire of the knowledge of good and euill brought ignorance and death euen so the knowledge of good and euill maketh wise vnto life But heerein wee shew out of what root wee are growne and out of what rocke wee are hewne namely to be alwaies against the Lord. For as our first parents being forbidden to eate of that one Tree did first of all eate of that Tree so wee being commanded to eate of this one Tree of the Garden with promise of blessing had rather eate of any other Tree of the Forrest though the fruits thereof be present death which obseruation of our froward hearts caused the Heathen Poet to say Nitimur in vetitum semper cupimusque negata Englished thus To things forbidden wee chiefly doe aspire And things denyed wee most of all desire Now seeing that the onely good and wise God hath turned this curse into a blessing that both the
tending to our neighbours hurt as if I had but this or that c. 2 Particular wishes and desires as I would such an house were mine such a liuing such a thing c. V. All vnchaste dreames arising from concupisence Vertues commanded I. A pure heart towards our neighbour 1. Tim. 1. 5. II. Holy thoughts and motions of the Spirit 1. Thess 5. 23. Eph. 4. 23. III. A conflict or warfare against the euill affections and lusts of the flesh Rom. 7. 21. 23. 24. 2. Cor. 12. 7. 8. 9. ROM 7. 7. I knew not sinne but by the Law for I had not knowne lust except the Law had said thou shalt not lust Exod. 20. 17. 9 I was once aliue without the Law but when the Commandement came sinne reuiued 14 For the Law is spirituall but I am carnall sold vnder sinne 24 O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer mee from the body of this death PSAL. 119. 9. Wherewithall shall a yong man cleanse his way euen by ruling himselfe after thy Word A Prayer for any priuate Person MOST mighty God and in Iesus Christ my most louing Father and mercifull Sauiour I being one of the meanest of thy seruants and vnworthy of the least of all thy mercies do acknowledge and confesse thy great goodnesse and bounty towards mee in that thou hast from my birth till this present powerfully preserued mee graciously susteyned mee and mercifully prouided all things needfull for my soule and body as well as for thy deerest children Thou mightst haue made mee a serpent hatefull and loathsome to all thy creatures Thou mightst haue vtterly taken from mee the spirit of wisedome vnderstanding and knowledge and giuen me vp into a reprobate minde and into a foolish and corrupt iudgement to hate the truth and to beleeue lies Thou mightst haue taken from me health strength and soundnesse of body and continually haue tormented mee with paines sickenesses and diseases and haue fastened all the sharpe arrowes of thy wrathfull indignation in my head heart liuer lungs and other members of my body Thou mightst haue depriued me of all the meanes of necessary maintenance and made mee a common reproach and by-word to the most abiect and basest people Yea thou mightst with-draw thy presence from mee and cause the fretting worme of feare and despaire to gnaw on my heart day and night giuing mee my portion heere with the wicked and after death with the damned in hell for euermore But louing Fathert â—y mercy hath beene endlesse towards mee a wretched sinner thou hast not with-drawne thy louing kindnesse from mee but alwaies comforted and refreshed mee both in soule and body with all things needfull thou hast reioyced my heart with the riches of thy grace thou hast measurably corrected mee louingly instructed mee and plentifully offered the meanes of saluation vnto mee And now most gracious God least I forget those fearefull iudgements oft-timeâ— inflicted on thy deerest children and despise these heauenly graces and tender mercies through the deceitfulnesse of sinne sathan and this euill world thou that openest mine eyes from bodily sleepe of the night open I beseech thee also the eyes of my minde enlighten me with the sauing knowledge of thee thy blessed will and holy waies that I sleepe not in death lighten the heauinesse of my wordly heart waken the drowsinesse of my dul dead spirit reforme and set in order my sensuall and earthly affections take from me this hardnesse of heart rebellion of will foolish thoughts vaine imaginations selfe-loue pride frowardnesse take from me the way of lying dissembling double-dealing treachery flattery worldly craftinesse and all vnlawfull getting Conuert ô Lord and strengthen my vnbeleeuing fearefull and distrustfull heart that trusting in thee the liuing God and relying wholly on thy gracious prouidence in the lawfull vse of such meanes as thou daily offerest to mee I may escape the snares of the deuill and auoid a sea of euils whereinto the men of this world doe plunge themselues to eternall perdition O Lord incline my heart to thy Word and not to couetousnesse cause mee to valew the worth thereof aboue gold and siluer and to humble my selfe to my Spirituall Pastors and Teachers whom thou hast sent to call mee out of the darkenesse of this world into thy maruellous light Giue mee power and strength to redresse my waies according to thy Word and let not those common sinnes of presumption and carnall security get the dominion ouer mee Inable mee in some good measure to discerne the spirits of men and the vaine fashion of this transitory world that I turne not aside with the multitude to do euill but that I may delight in the Saints heere on earth and such as excell in vertue And whereas Satan and his instruments are enemies to Christian loue and fellowship giue me wisedome strength and constancie that I neither giue offence vnto them whereby they should withdraw themselues from my company neither yet take offence at their infirmities and imperfections that I should withdraw my affections from them to sort my selfe with such as know not thee feare not thee and condemne the generation of thy children Giue me grace to walke warily in these latter euill daies preserue my going out and comming in this day and euermore and send thy good Angell to guide and protect mee in all my waies And as ô Lord I grow elder in yeares and euery day draw neerer to my graue so grant that I may grow in knowledge faith hope loue and all vertue that when it shall please thee to call me to giue vp an account of my Stewardship I may enter into thine euerlasting ioy Vouchsafe ô Lord to bestow and encrease these graces in me for thy deerely beloued Sons sake Christ Iesus my Sauiour in whom onely thou art well pleased to whom with Thee and the holy Spirit bee giuen all honour glory praise and thankesgiuing now and for euer Thankes-giuing before Meate VVEe thank thée O heauenly Father for all thy mercies and blessings heretofore bestowed vpon vs and still continued and renewed vnto vs and especially at this time for these thy good creatures that of thine owne goodnesse and bounty thou hast ordained and prouided for the maintenance of our bodies giue them vertue and power to nourish vs that thereby our strengths being renued wee may bee made the more fit and able to serue thee in the duties of our Callings to thy honour and glorie and to the comfort of our owne soules and consciences through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Thankes-giuing after Meate THe God of all glory and power who hath created redéemed and presently â—ed vs hee blessed and praised now and for euermore Amen God preserue his Church our King his Realmes and Dominions increase in vs a true and liuely faith continuall peace of conscience and the comfortable ioy of the Holy Ghost through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen FINIS