is the ground Men that will beleeue God must know God Ro. 10. 17. 18 19 Acts 8. 30. 37. of faith therefore little knowledge little faith no knowledge no faith for How can we beleeue in him of whom we haue not heard When Philip had made knowne Christ vnto the Eunuch he beleeued and was baptized Although there may be knowledge where there is not sauing faith yet there can neuer be sauing faith without knowledge He therfore that would bring much glorie to God must labour for much knowledge both to be acquainted with the will of God as also the wayes of sin and deceits He that wold forsake sinne and Satan must learne to know thē of corruption He that would ouercome the enemy must seeke to know what way the enemy cometh and how he layeth his baites and snares So there can be no ouercomming of sinne and Satan vnlesse we be acquainted with their stratagems Thirdly a life without knowledge is a life without faith and a life without faith is a life without God Christ saith that he knoweth his sheepe and is knowne Iohn 10. 14. Iohn 13. 17. of them so then no knowing of Christ no sheepe of Christs If ye know these things saith he to his Disciples blessed are ye if ye do them as if he should haue said otherwise If ye do not know these Knowledge is part of gods image resident in his children things ye can neuer do them Would we then differ from Pagans and senslesse creatures and withall do the will of God Let vs seeke for knowledge for Whatsoeuer is not of faith is sinne Fourthly good meanings will not serue the turne the vaine trustings of ignorant persons are both barbarous and dangerous He that dependeth vppon his good meaning shall be guiltie Good meanings without good actions can neither please God nor bring peace of conscience both of sinnes of commission and omission What ground then can such haue of their saluation Fiftly no assurance nor sound comfort without knowledge for there can be no applying of the promises without faith and faith there cannot be without knowledge The consciences of the seruants of God wil oftentimes witnesse the same when they practise things they doubt of what ioy or peace haue they For when their faith cannot truly apply their stay and comfort ceasseth because nothing sooner bereaueth the child of Grac◠seeketh to do Gods will according to his will God of his comfort then when he findeth that he hath not done Gods will according to his will Therefore for the attaining of this excellent grace I will lay downe some speciall meanes First labour for an humbled and deiected Meanes for the getting of knowledge spirit for The Lord will teach the humble his wayes Psal 25. 9. Secondly finde out thy wants by an able Ministerie and lay them open before the Lord by earnest prayer for The hungrie the Luke 1. 53. Lord filleth with good things but the rich he sendeth away empty Thirdly frequent the house of God and the society of his people for such as do his will are most like to know his will Fourthly be full of heauenly meditations labour to serue the Lord in all thy actions Dauid had got more wisedome then his teachers by Psal 119. 99. 100. this meanes Fiftly practise that knowledge which the Lord already hath bestowed vpon thee examine how thou hast applied euery Sabbath daies worke For no doubt if thou liue vnder an able Ministerie thou mayst be searching thy failings either in thy generall or particular calling or both The reason why He that wold know much must practise much men know little is because they practise little The husbandman tilleth no more ground then he meaneth to sowe euen so men litle respect that which they purpose not to do it is sinne therefore and disobedience that keepeth men in blindnesse in these Sunne-shine dayes of the Gospell Sixtly remember the duty of thankesgiuing Thankes for blessings are alwayes increased both for thy knowledge and for the meanes of knowledge let it appeare that thou prizest it at an high rate by remembring the donor The gift of a penny deserueth thankes of him that is in need of it therefore a great gift must needs deserue and require great thankes Seuently impart thy gift to others lay He that soweth shal reape by Gods blessing more then he soweth it not vp in a napkin The mother that biddeth the child giue his brother something of that she gaue him if he do not she telleth him that she will giue him no more euen so is it iust with God that such as haue bene churlish and negligent this way should not onely be kept without more but likewise depriued of the comfort and benefit of that which they haue Vse 6 The sixt vse may serue to encourage all true beleeuers to proceed and hold on in the workes of faith for such actions are in high esteeme with the Lord that faith which worketh by loue is a blessed faith vngrounded actions end in Grounded actions well done shall haue a reward misery but grounded actions cannot but end in comfort For he is faithfull that hath promised The remarkable notes of such faithfull Euangelicall workes are cheerefull sound and constant workers are these first his seruice is willing and ready seruice for he loueth his God and beleeueth the promises Secondly it is ordinarily sound both for matter manner and end but if there be a failing there is sorrow and repentance when it is seene as also a more strict examination of his actions for time to come Thirdly it is constant the more faith the more fruite For as he laboureth daily for knowledge so both the continuance increase thereof must needs produce a constant enlarged practise Thus as he laboureth for the weldoing of that which he doth so his care is to do much not onely for the answering of his gifts and graces receiued but also for the accomplishing of that vniuersall obedience which is required of him for Whatsoeuer is not of faith is sinne FINIS
THE GROVND OF A CHRISTIANS LIFE Deliuered in a Sermon at Harwood in Lancashire the first day of December 1618. By ROBERT WORTHINGTON Minister of Gods word at Acceington Heb. 11. 6. Without faith it is impossible to please God Iohn 6. 68. Lord to whoÌ„ shall we go Thou hast the words of eternall life LONDON Printed by R. Field for Robert Mylbourne and are to be sold at the great South doore of Paules 1620. THE EPISTLE TO THE READER CHristian Reader the Apostle prophesied that in 2. Tim. 3. 5. 2. Tim. 4. 3. the last dayes shold come perillous times when men hauing a shew of godlinesse should denie the power therof refusing wholsome dostrine through their itching eares should get themselues an heape of teachers What proud Anabaptist that vaunteth himselfe vppon the stage of vaine Imagination or secure Papist that trusteth to the broken staffe of Egypt can free himselfe from such spirituall maladies who leauing the key of knowledge and fountaines of liuing water haue digged vnto themselues broken cisternes And no maruell since Satan cantransforme himselfe into 2. Cor. 11. 14. an Angell of light how can he worke in the darkened vnderstanding and the heart not truly humbled He that dare enter combat with the Lord of glorie wisdome and soueraigntie and offer disputation in the full and onely point of mans redemption how boldly will this politicke and puissant enemie inuade Gods Church wrastling with vs about that staffe of faith whereby we stand seeke to strip vs of that shield which is Ephes 6. 16. able to keepe backe all his fierie darts What soldier is there in Christs campe if he do but watch that shall not be acquainted with his subtill enterprises Christs watchword was not in vaine Watch pray lest ye enter into teÌ„ptation Math. 26. 41. nor his prayer needlesse for his seruant Peter I haue prayed for thee Luk 22. 32. that thy faith faile not For what greater treacherie then to strike at the root witnessed in the Gunpowder treason hatched by Satan and his instruments or what greater follie then to build an house without a foundation To this purpose is my weake vnperfect labor at this time the which I had thought to haue shrowded vnder some Christian refuge but considering with my selfe I thought so small a worke deserued not a patronage of anie worth and the rather therefore haue I sent it to the broade world to seeke for it selfe trusting that there is no faithfull heart that will denie so plaine and needfull a doctrine entertainment Yet I feare that if it shall either meete with Atheist Anabaptist Papist or earthly worldling it is like without Gods mercie to finde as litle friendship as Christ the author of faith did among the Gadarens But howsoeuer Math 8. 34. I haue at the earnest desires of some as also for the defence of my selfe if haply anie popish surmiser or other secret opinionist should arise in opposition it being preached in a countrey where are many aduersaries of our faith presumed to commit that to publike view which before I deliuered in open assembly not aduenturing to change my style lest I should bewray my selfe of follie in bringing vnto light a groundlesse action it being like to be perused by shallower iudgements then manie of those who were present wheÌ„ it was at the first diuulged Wherfore I beseech thee gentle Reader that if by Gods blessing thou shalt gaine to thy selfe hereby either information of thy iudgement or confirmation in thyÌ„ iudgement or thy will proucked to a more constant vigilancie ouer thy wayes remember to returne to him that rent of thankfulnesse vnto whom thou art bound from whom thou receiuest euery good and perfest gift praying withall for the vnitie of Gods Church the propagation of the Gospell that through the meanes of grace in season and out of season thy faith being strengthened when this life of faith shall be finished Christ the obiect of thy faith may assigne thee the end of thy faith seating thee in his celestiall Ierusalem with true beleeuers Thine in Christ Iesus Robert Worthington Acceington The ground of a Christians life deliuered in a Sermon at Harwood the first day of September 1618. ROM 14. 23. Whatsoeuer is not of faith is sinne THe blessed Apostle in the The cohetence of the Text. eight verse of the former Chapter exhorteth vnto that royall law of Charitie being that new commandemeÌ„t Loue a grace of absolute necessitie in Gods church Iohn 13. 34. propounded by his Lord and Sauiour as a grace absolutely necessary to be in Gods Church A new commandement saith he giue I vnto you that ye loue one another as I haue loued you that you also loue one another Now inuisible graces must haue visible testimonies both for the manifestation of the graces themselues as also for our iustification before men therefore in this chapter the Apostle taketh occasion to describe and teach the proper effect of this Christian grace it being of that nature as to edifie and support according to his owne testimonie Loue 〈◊〉 and 1. Cor. 8. 1. 1. Cor. 14. 26. his generall command is Let all things be done to edifying There were in this church some strong Sound Christians are builders vp of Gods church others weake as there shal be euer poore in the world that the rich may exercise their pity and compassion so weake in the Church that the strong may exercise their loue and affection to shew themselues hereby faithfull disposers and practisers of the manifold gâ—aâ—es of God Christ was the nursing father of his little flocke neuer was it knowne that he Esay 42. 3. broke the bruised â—eed or quenched the smoaking flaxe so must Christians whose Image they beare and whom they are to follow daily exercise this grace of loue since God hath giuen to euery one the measure of faith Hard was it to bring this people from the traditions of their fathers or to wean them from the law â—f ceremonies Touch Coloss 2. 21. not taste not handle not Therefore the Apostle dealeth with them as new borne babes putting a difference Corruption not easly weaned from custome and ceremonie betweene them and the strong Some had receiued the full power of Christian liberty others had not attained vnto it but were like punies in their A B C not fully satisfied in this poynt that vnto the pure all things were pure Tit. 1. 15. Now the drift of the Apostle is to schoole the strong and teach the weake not ruinating but nourishing the worke of God which was in both shewing the necessitie of faith and loue in the Church of God for as he correcteth the one for The correcting of sinne must be the erecting of grace putting a stumbling blocke before the weake in things indifferent so he teacheth the other to be fully perswaded in his mind For he that doubteth is condemned if he eate that is
downe the imaginations and euery high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God and bringing euery thought into captiuity vnto the obedience of Christ But where the Lord hath not a mouth to speake there his peculiar people may not haue an eare to heare for Whatsoeuer is not of faith is sinne Vse 3 In the third place it layeth open and bewrayeth the miserable deluge of sinne in these last and worst dayes What aberrations How do men wander from the Lord denying by their works that God The liues of men ordinarily shew what they are that made them and Christ that bought them How few are the families which square their liues by the rule of faith Are not the greatest commandements the oftenest violated Are not these dayes like the sinfull dayes of Noah prophecied of by Christ wherein this principal grace of faith is so meanly prized But alas sins of all sorts in all sorts of people in fore Choro both in Church and market What iniquity can the corrupt heart of Sinne did euer and shal euer abound on the earth man imagine but it may be patronized by a practitioner and warranted by a defender How ridiculous and of base esteeme is the life of faith If any shall examine their liues the diuell by wicked men will forthwith examine and censure Satan can abide profession but not practise their heauenly courses To talke and discourse of religion Satan will sometimes permit but vniuersall and constant obedience he would neuer abide If thou dare set thy face towards Sion behold the northerne army of cruel Assirians No affinitie with sinne small frendship with the world Faith and the world were euer at variance For this is the victory which 1. Iohn 1. 4 ouer commeth the world euen our faith What concord can there be betwixt Christ and Beliall light darknesse Our Sauiour telleth the vnbeleeuing Iewes That the world cannot hate them but him it hated the reason Iohn 7. 7. followeth not for iniury but for innocency not for falshood but for truth he testified that the workes thereof were euill What is the cause that true pietie and grounded sincerity is of so smal account but because the world of the vnregenerate â— Iohn 5. 19. lieth in wickednes and faith to carnall affections bringeth little contentment How can it be that oppressours extortioners vsurers these idolatrouâ— worldlings together with thousands of delicious prodigals should entertaine the Gospell since Zaccheâ—â— must diuide his goods Mathew must bid farewell to his place of customary receipt yea the people of God must vse this world as if 1. Cor. 7. 31. The life of faith very difficult to nature they vsed it not How hard therefore will it be for such as trust in vncertaine riches to subiect themselues to this life of faith May not Gods Ministers take vp a lamentation What happy tidings from the word of faith which we preach how is the way to euerlasting blisse plainly beaten foorth yet how few delight to walke in it How sluggish are our common professours that cannot watch one houre and how faithlesse are those backsliding hypocrites as if the vnchangeable possessour of heauen and earth were vnfaithfull or vnable to recompence and fully reward his faithfull people Thus we see that streight is the way and small is the number that go it Ephraim is an vnruly heifer that will not be tamed Euer haue Gods Saints bene like the shaking of an oliue after the vintage Wicked men are mad men they will not be ordered they are deafe men they will not heare charme the Charmer neuer so wisely If that be sinne which is not done of saith how wofull will it be with the greatest number who neither know nor beleeue being blinde Old naturall men are very miserable for they are full of sinnes and dissolute hauing from their nonage to their old age wandred from the waies of God being seuen fold more the children of hell then they were in their mothers wombes If all actions that want faith be sins how many are the sins of those who were neuer enlightened with the knowledge of God My text hath driuen me into such a narrow streight so paled me in that I cannot get liberty either to licence the nouelties of the Athenians or the blindnesse of the Atheist or the idolatry of the Papist or the dreames of the Anabaptist or the hypocrisie of the Pharisie I am forced either Gods word giueth no libertie to any sin or sinner to raze my text or racke the conscience of euery vnregenerate man but seeing the grosse sinnes of our sinfull times are so apparently arraigned and condemned in all generall teaching and the light of conscience I desire to descend into particulars If therefore indifferent things must be of faith at least in the general how much more matters of greater importance No life of faith without â—â—amination Where is the examination of thoughts words actions Vnder what spirituall and heauenly promise do the workes of impenitents consist What vse can there be of faith without the life of faith For his will and promise are consonants they are companions and cannot be disioyned The vncharitable railer that spends his time in whispering and back-biting the sheepe of Christ who desire to glorifie He which hateth Gods people wanteth faith God in obedience whereas loue edifieth and thinketh not euill but where there is no loue especially to the childreÌ„ of God there is no faith for faith if it Galat. 5. 6. be sound worketh by loue In like manner the proud spirit and secure worldling that esteemeth the powerfull preaching of the Gospel a meane and needlesse labour promising to himselfe repentance without the constant and conscionable vse of the meanes setting at light the blessed doctrine of vocation although in an audible voyce it was hard from heauen This is my welbeloued Sonne in whom I am well pleased heare him And the Apostle dare confidently affirme Matth. 17. 5. Rom. 10. 17. 41. both by doctrine and experience That faith commeth by hearing and no sound hearing without a preacher yea he acknowledgeth the Gospell of Christ to be Rom. 1. 16. the power of God to saluation to euery beleeuer And what good was done in Coâ—inth or Galatia he affirmeth that through Christ by his meanes it was wrought In Christ Iesus saith he to the Church at Corinth I haue begotten you 1. Cor. 4. 15. through the Gospell and expostulateth the matter with the Church at Galatia Gal. 3. 2. Thus receiued ye the Spirit by the workes of the Law or by the hearing of faith preached Thus then we see these wofull contemners of able and conscionable Ministers ground vpon no better a foundation then their corrupted imagination They It is a note of a wicked man not to loue and frequent the meanes of grace will not be guided by God nor established in Christ but
chuse rather to wander in the wildernesse of naked hope openly descrying and publishing that condemnation which is in the world spoken of by our Sauiour Iohn 3. 19. 20. This is the condemnation that light Ioh. 3. 19. 20. is come into the world and men loued darknesse rather then light because their deedes were eâ—ill for euery â—an that euill doth hateth the light neither commeth to light lest his deedes should be reprooued Others through the blindnesse of their vnderstanding and peruersnesse of their wills and affections account the He that knoweth not Gods day and worship knoweth not God Lords day but as the Scholler doth the Thursday onely a day of sport and pastime examining more their appâ—rell theâ—â— the day or their hearts as also their naturall and base companions more then the assembly of Saints in the Sanctuary Whence it commeth to passe that they neither prepare to nor take any delight in Gods publike worship The reason is because they ground not on faith being both ignorant of the mystery of the day wherein our chiefest happinesse is resembled as also being led by their owne sensualities and carnall appetites following rather the direction of their own wils then the guide of faith Thus as they are grounded vpon themselues so they remaine ignorant of Christ and secrets of the Gospell and for want of a sensible He that thirsteth not for knowledge hath no care to liâ—e well thirst and appetite vnto the word shall neuer be able to liue the life of faith or walke the way to euerlasting happinesse But let vs come to more close and vnwarrantable courses of men not grounded on this rocke of faith Aâ— first when we receiue the blessings of God not sanctified by the word and prayer whereas the Apostle teacheth 1. Timoth. 4. 4. that euery creature of God is good and nothing ought to be refused if it be receiued God is to be remembred in all his blessings with thankes-giuing Wherein is implyed the contrary that the creatures are not good vnto me without thankesgiuing the reason followeth for they are sanctified by the word of God and prayer and not sanctified without it Besides the examples in former times the poore maides of Ramath Zophim told Saul that 1. Sam. 9. 13. the people would eate no meate vntill the Prophet Samuel had blessed the sacrifice 1. Sam. 9. 13. Iohn 6. 11. Yea Christ himselfe did neuer eate meat but he practised this duty and the Apostle would eate no bread but first gaue thanks in the presence of them Acts 27. 35. all and commandeth it as a speciall dutie In all things giue thankes and addeth 1. Thess 5. 18. this reason for this is the will of God If these Scriptures and examples were well weighed there would not be such brutish receiuing of the creatures as there He that seeth God in the lesser blessing wil praise him for the greater commonly is Nay many that do coldly performe this duty if God euer enlighten them to see further the necessitie and excellencie of this duty they will not neglect to blesse the Lord for greater mercies they will I say be more carefull to performe and offer vp morning and euening Sacrifices It would be holden a very inhumanâ— and shamefull dealing to forget the kindnesses of men how vnnaturall then is it and intollerable to forget so many Learne to blesse God by the light of nature renewed mercies of the Lord He therefore that is without sobriety praier and thankesgiuing in the vse of Gods creatures plainly manifesteth that he neither by faith dependeth on God nor in faith receiueth his blessings but Whatsoeuer is not of faith is sinne Secondly when men confesse their sinnes in generall and cry for pardon for them but they cannot credit these two things First that all thoughts words Pure actions are strained actions and actions must be strained through faith or else they will be impure Secondly that God forgiueth no more knowne sinnes then a man earnestly endeuoureth to forsake they being blotted Sin is forgiueÌ„ by God when it is mortified in vs. out of Gods register when they are dead in vs the power and vigor of them being extinguished and we in all things as ready to glorifie God as we would haue him to glorifie vs. But alas when prayers are not grounded vpon a liuely sense of sinne and Gods eternall vengeance due vnto them as also godly sorrow and faith in the promises how sodainly do men turne to their old vomite and filthy wallowing in the vncleannes of sinne causing sound iudgement and grounded reason to subscribe to peruerse Where there is not thesense of sin there cannot be the forsaking of sinne will and carnall affection preferring Ishmael before Isaac Esau before Iacob Zidkijah before Michaiah the Pharises before Christ custome before conscience tradition before the commandement Thus for want of diuine illumination as also a correspondencie betwixt their supplication and conuersation confession and affection their vngrounded prayers become a vaine lip-labour impure and abhominable in the eares of God Thirdly when men apparell themselues beyond their estate and aboue their degrees although God hath threatned to visite all such as weare strange attire Zeph. 1. 9. and hath granted grounds for our attire namely the presidence of the wise graue and godly of that degree we liue in Whatsoeuer things are pure honest and of Phil. 4. 8. good report saith the Apostle if there be any vertue or any praise thinke on these things which you haue both heard and seene in me But the wantons of our dayes turne their eyes from Gods booke and people fixing them vpon their owne fancies and backs of Iesabels imagining that if they be out of the fashion they be out of the world Hence it followeth that seruants attire themselues like their Masters Carters like Courtiers Yeomen like Gentlemen Schollers like Souldiers Thus vnseemely and vnwarrantably do men and women apparell themselues preferring the garments of corruption before the image of Christ oftentimes against iustice equitie and common honestie cutting their suites in another mans cloth being daily vagrants from the life of God and ground of faith But Whatsoeuer is not of faith is sinne Fourthly when men liue vpon the sweate of other mens browes crushing the back of the diligent workman Such are wandring vagabonds prying busie-bodies These and such like sin against the second Table â—â—llish tale-bearers gamesters stage-players who sinfully transgresse the law of charity walking in the wayes of Balaam who loued the wages of vnrighteousnesse being without God and without Christ Fiftly when with offence and without edification we vse things of an indifferent nature whereas the Apostle telleth vs that in some cases and amongst some persons it is euill to eate with offence Rom. 14 2â— meaning to the weâ—ke not wilfull For the law of loue and spirit bindeth where the law of commandements bindeth not
was there any opposition in the Spirit of Christ which was both in Moses and the Prophets 1. Pet. 1. 10. 11 The doctrine of Moses and the Prophets rightly applied very profitable and Christ Of this saluation saith the Apostle the Prophets haue enquired and searched which prophesied of the grace that should come vnto you Searching when or what time the Spirit which testified before of Christ which was in them should declare the sufferings that should come vnto Christ and the glorie that should follow Yea the same Apostle affirmeth that We haue a 2. Pet. 1. 19. most sure word of the Prophets What letteth then but we may attend vnto the sound doctrine of Moses and the Prophets Furthermore the testimonie of the Apostle Paul is pregnant to this purpose who auoucheth That the whole 2. Tim. 3. 16. Corruption needeth correction as well as instruction Reproofes sometimes very needfull Scripture is giuen by inspiration of God and is profitable to teach improue correct and to instruct in righteousnesse therefore the whole Scripture is necessarie the Christian standing in neede of it either for ground of faith or rule of obedience both in his generall particular calling Like vnto these dreames is the errour of many Libertines who ground vpon that saying in Ieremiah After those dayes Ierem. 31. 33. saith the Lord I will put my Lawes in the◠inward parts and write them in their hearts as also vpon that saying of the Apostle Yee are our Epistle written not with inke 2. Cor. 3. 2. 3. but with the Spirit of the liuing God Although it be true that the knowledge of the Law may be written naturally in mens hearts yet he commanded the same to be writtē in two tables of stone For how doth the Lord write this Law in our hearts How doth he seale vp vnto vs the couenant of our reconciliation and regeneration by the finger of his The preaching of the word the conduit pipe to conuey grace into our harts Spirit but by the doctrine of the Law and Gospell preached heard written read meditated Or how could the Apostles call themselues the Preachers of the New Testament if the Gospel could not be preached And in vaine should Christ bid vs Search the Scriptures Iohn 5. 39. Furthermore the Euangelists and Apostles call their doctrine which was the New Testament a Scripture or Writing as appeareth by that testimony of Luke who thought it meete to write Those Luke 1. 3. things which he had diligently searched out Luke 1. 3. as also Iohn witnesseth who saith That these things are written that ye may beleeue Iohn 20. 31. And the Apostle Paul thought it necessary to write as is plaine in his Epistles Phil. 3. 1. Thus we see that the men of God and The Spirit of God in the hearts of his people and his word agree together Ministers of the Gospell wrote by the Spirit the Gospell with inke the hearts of true beleeuers sanctified by the Spirit through the preaching of the Gospel answering correspondently that word which was both written and preached as was euident among those Conuerts at Corinth in whom was manifest the power of the Gospell the preaching of faith being the power of God to saluation to Rom. 1. 16. euery one that doth beleeue We see then by wofull experience that Satan transforming himselfe into an It is the work of Satan to draw men frō Gods word which is the ground of faith Angell of light seeketh to ground many a poore soule vpon seeming shadowes drawing them from the rocke of refuge and certenty namely Moses and the Prophets Euangelists and Apostles of Iesus Christ who haue written and spoken as the Spirit directed and gaue them vtterance Were not therefore the proud Anabaptist fuller of conceit then iudgement he would neuer paraphrase the sacred Scriptures in that manner as he doth as I haue already shewed and will further shew in one instance Christ saith Mathew 5. 34. Sweare not at all therefore Matth. 5. 34. saith he it is not lawfull in any case to sweare Whereas the Lord vpon necessitie hath commended and commanded a lawfull oath warranting the same both by example and precept as appeareth in Deut. 6. 13. Thou shalt feare the Lord thy Deut. 6. 13. God and serue him and shalt sweare by his Name Yea the Apostle testifieth vppon necessity an oath to be a very good thing An oath saith he for confirmation Hebr. 6. 16. is the end of all strife Thus by conceited exposition would this sect of people bring Christ to abrogate his Fathers law and derogate from his Fathers glorie A proud spirit vnfit to expound the Scripture whereas our Sauiour meaneth nothing lesse for his purpose is nothing else but to expound the Law and deliuer it from the grosse corruptions and deprauations He that willingly wresteth the Scripture neither respecteth God nor Christ of the Scribes and Pharises For they taught that the third commandement was to be vnderstood of periurie onely or false swearing therefore our Sauiour sheweth that in this commandement is forbidden not onely periury and false swearing by the Name of God but also all rash and ordinary swearing in our common talke whether by the Name of God or any of his creatures because swearing amisse by them redoundeth to his dishonour He therefore here forbiddeth all needelesse and superfluous All needlesse swearing is much forbidden in the Scripture oathes in our ordinary communication And as these do erre not knowing nor vnderstanding the Scriptures so do many others as namely the Carnall cauiller that ioyneth himselfe with the publike assemblies partaking of the same word and Sacraments with the Saints of God But this man would haue one line to be sufficient vnto saluation for he findeth it written in the Scriptures That Iohn 3. 36. Naturall men would haue all but they would do nothing he which beleeueth in the Sonne hath euerlasting life But if this man reade forward he shall see and finde That he which obeyeth not the Sonne shall not see life Such will like the doctrine of faith but they cannot well brooke the doctrine of repentance But if they attend or list to heare they shall heare Christ to be as rigorous as his Father both in summoning all men Marke 1. 15. Luke 13. 5. to repent as also in threatning woes against impenitents The Apostles as they preach faith so they preach sanctification Acts 2. 38. and amendment of life for it is the absolute will of God that we should 1. Thessal 43 1. Pet. 1. 15. be holy as the Lord our God is holy The whole word of the Lord therefore must be deliuered by the Ministers of the Gospell that the whole courses of mens liues may be guided by the rule of faith Christ and his Apostles did not alwayes Rom. 9. 10. 11 preach faith but according to the dispositions