we heard before And can we be so blockish and vnkind towardes him againe This reason might mooue vs more if we looke thoroughly into it The Lord sometime reasoneth in such like maner by his Prophetes that he spent his strength in vaine Esay 49.4 and for nothing to shame the people withal who had caused the Lorde to labour in vaine by his seruaunts and so be mooued to repentaunce So he testifieth Iere. 7.13 and 11.7 Rom. 10.21 That he rose vp earely and stretched out his handes all the day long by his seruauntes the Prophetes but they would not heare Oh let vs take héed my brethren least that by our scornefull refusall of the Lordes long sufferaunce and labour we cause the Lord to vse this reason against vs to our condemnation in the daye of iudgement if it be not now a reason to mooue vs to repentaunce and to open vnto the Lorde after so long a suite Thus you see the first part of this chapiter contayning the suite of Christ and the calling of his Spouse with the reasons which are vsed to prouoke her with all Let vs therefore in few wordes be mooued here by deare christians to imbrace this so earnest and paineful a Sutor and rest in his loue that Christ may lyue in vs here and we may liue with him after this life in his heauenly inheritaunce for euer more Amen Now in this third verse followeth the second part of this Chapiter The second part of the Chapiter concerning the manner of the Spouses comming on and obeying of her calling which I will consider in three pointes First the lets hindering the Spouse One circumstaunce whereof was touched in the 2. verse which reacheth to the 7. verse Secondly the renuing and recouerie of her zeale by diligent inquiring after Christ conferring with the daughters of Ierusalem which continueth from the 7. ver to the 18. verse as I reade it Thirdly the conclusion of the whole wherin the Spouse assureth her selfe of the loue of Christ affianceth her selfe to him But first concerning the lets which are two folde The lets First within at home in her selfe verse 3. 4. 5. Secondly abroade and in others which are effectes and punishmentes of the former as we shall note when we come at them First of the lets with in Le ts with in verse 3. I haue put off my coate how shall I put it on I haue washed my feet how shall I defile them Some vnderstande this as though the Spouse should confesse her nakednes and that of her selfe she had nothing neither was able to rise to open Which confession as the Spouse might iustly make yet because the speeche and wordes properly affoorde no such sense in my iudgement the Metaphors being considered I can not therfore willingly receiue that interpretation First for that then the spouse shoulde acknowledge that she had put of that which she neuer had For we are by nature naked and voyd of grace and so haue not cast it of sith we neuer haue it till the Lorde instilleth it into vs. Secondly the other Simile or rather metaphor of washing of feete can not properly note our nakednesse vnability or emptines of grace for that the scripture vsually taketh the washing of the feete for sanctification and purging of the affections as Ecclesiastes 4.17 Ioh. 13.10 and so pure handes for pure affections 1. Tim. 2.8 Other reasons I could alleadge from the contrary but these suffice me Others take it and more properly as if the spouse should reason that sith she is once clensed she would not defile her self again and so promiseth to grow in sanctification For the reason is very forcible if wee take it in this sence that because God hath sanctified iustified and freed vs from sinne it were vnseemely and a shame that we should againe defile our selues and so frustrate our selues of the fruite of Christes death and cleansing sacrifice offered for our sinnes For the benefite of our cleansing and redemption should be so farre from ministring occasion of sinne vnto vs or to presume on Gods mercyes that it should be the greatest argument to stirre vp our selues to holines and sanctimony as the Apostle reasoneth Ro. 12.1 By the mercies of God to cause the Romaines to offer vp them selues wholy a spirituall and holy sacrifice to God So that in this sense the Metaphor agreeth with the speeches that Paule vseth Col. 3. and els where hidding vs to put off the olde man c. So that by translation our owne corrupt nature with the appurtenances is compared to a coate both olde past wearing which bring nothing but shame in the vse of it therfore to be put off And true it is we can not otherwise come vnto Christ neither will he receiue vs vnlesse we deny our selues laying a side all our owne lustes and carnall affections which all are rotten ragges that causeth Christ to loath vs. For as he that hath lyen long in pryson in one coate olde and louzie men would be loath to company with him and would be squamishe to eat drink or lodge with him vnlesse he be new shifted ridde of his lice and wel ayred So if we will haue fellwoship with Christe our husband we must leaue our selues behind and wayte on him we must be well ayred sweeted and shifted els Christ will be squaymishe of our company For he hath redeemed vs out of the pryson of Hell and Sinne where we were forlorne hath also washed rensed and bathed vs in his owne bloud not to goe wallow againe in the myre of sinne but to walke in holinesse and righteousnesse before him beeing arayed and beautified with the garmentes of his spirite and decked with the new man In deede there are many ciuill men and carnall Gospellers that can afoord the Lorde some outwarde reformation in wordes or behauiour as though they woulde put off their coat but they neuer deale in truth with their heartes to root out from thence the root of bytternesse altering their will thoughts and affections For Christ loueth to dwell in the priuy Chamber of our heartes and to bear rule there When she saith that she hath washed her feet it is ment of the affections as before I noted importing that the saintes of God when they feele themselues sanctified and prepared to imbrace Christ they féele such benefit by his presence that they stirre vp themselues by al means that they may not turne back againe to their own lustes and corruptions but labour to consecrate them selues wholy body and soul to the Lorde that whereas they haue before in their members serued sinne sathan and their owne lustes hauing let them out and bound them as apprentices vnto sathā Now they make new vowes and couenantes with the Lorde that they will giue ouer their members as instrumentes of righteousnesse vnto God Then here is no way for Ciuill men so long as they are meere Ciuill men nor for worldlinges couetous men Athistes
God in hearing his worde frequenting Sermons resorting to the companye of the Godly perswading others also to seeke God with them such a man is counted O intollerable contempt euen a monster among men or as an owl in the day time among the birds And as Isaiah saith he that refrayneth from euill maketh himselfe a pray Isai 59.15 Oh say the scorning raylers now this holy man will goe to heauen in a Hey barne now these Puritans flocke together and I cannot tell what scornfull reproches they hurl out against those which would fayne profite by hearing of the worde Yea I tremble to thinke vpon their damnable speeches which they spewe oute of theire poysoned mouths and the mischiefs which they conceiue in their viperous heartes against the seruaunts of God Thus our times ah alas in stéede of inquiring one of another seeking after God together do despise their brethrē casting the Lord behinde them But let not vs be dismaid at these reproches taunts of the wicked so that we shoulde cease to stir vp all that we can to seek Christ Iesus with vs. Let the minister exhort perswade earnestly cal on his people to ioin in this christian society Let the husband say to his wife children and seruants come I pray you wife let vs go to the sermon childrē and seruants hasten and make speede that we maye together séek after the Lord of hostes let euery man ad this I wil go with you also So one neighbour should say to another I pray you neighbor let vs goe together to such a sermō or such a godly exercise I wil go with you So let vs perswade not only in word but in exāple also to do our selues that which we require of others For manye there are that can say to others goe which goe not themselues Some husbande can bee content his wife goe or his childe of which there are but fewe but hee will not mooue him selfe which is a lamentable and doleful estate for though we shoulde bee willing that al men shoulde goe to God hearing his worde vsing his Sacramentes praying vnto him carefullye and continually if we our selues ioin not with the Godly in these holy exercises and in this holy Communion vnity and fellowship what shal it boote vs What shal it pleasure a man to see his Wyfe goe to Heauen and him self go to hel or what shal it benefite a Wyfe to see her Housbande carefull to serue God and so goe to lyfe but her selfe refusing the ordinarye meanes of Saluation to taste of eternal Death For whosoeuer ioyneth not himselfe in Christian society with the church of God cutteth of him selfe from God and dismembreth him selfe from Christe Iesus Neyther can any man be of God which heareth not his word Iohn 8.47 yea and that by his seruants and ministers For hee that is of God hearetth vs saith S. Iohn 1. Iohn 4.6 but hee that is not of God heareth vs not Also no man can haue fellowship or acquaintance with the father or the sonne vnlesse hee abide in the word for whosoeuer transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christe hath not God 2. Iohn 9. c. Alas my deare brethren let there not bee found a froward heart in any of you to be so proude or ashamed that you shoulde bee loath to bee drawne forward of your brethren to seeke after God in his worde where onely hee is truely to bee founde Oh let vs ioyne hands and hearts together good christians to seeke our God whilste hee may bee founde let vs say one to another neyghbour if you wil goe to anye sermon or Godlye exercise I wil goe with you and beare you company I speake grosly vnto you but for your good and yet no otherwise then the spirite of God spake by Zacharye Now as there are some that can bee content others go and themselues tarry at home so ther are of the other side some that can afforde themselues leasure and can beteem to be saued themselues but are verye Nigardes and churles towarde their wife children seruauntes or neighboures Neuer caring to further them or to vse means to drawe them on being vntoward of them selues which is a haynous iniurye againste the Soules of those that belong to vs sith we stande charged from the Lord vpon the penalty of his high displeasure and forfaiture of his fauour to teach our houshold children and seruaunts acquainting them with the Lordes will making them priuy to his heauenly councel enacted in the parliament house of the heauens and proclaymed to men by the preaching of his worde Looke I pray you vpon such places perusing them with reuerence as lay this charge vppon vs from the Lorde to teach our housholde and children yea euen our childrens children Deu. 4.9.10 Deu. 6.7 11.19 But our times thinke this a precisenes or at least a duetye that standeth at our owne curtesy to doe or not to doe As though God made Lawes or drewe out statutes vnauthorized and sent them downe to men leauing them to their wil wisdome to be interlined altered or confirmed at their pleasure No we must not ad nor take from his word Apoc. 22.18.19 vpon paine of damnation and danger of al the curses that are written in Gods book Let vs therefore in Gods name my brethren be forwarde our selues therewithall likewise carefull ouer others A third sorte of people there is which neither themselues wil enquire after Christ as much as lie in them do also wilfully hinder others with scorning rayling at them end speaking taunting disouraging disswading putting in the heades of suche as they dare bewray them selues t◠saying what meane you to bee thus zealous in Religion and to bee so precise You see wise men and they of countenance and some graue Fathers like not of this way you will be laughed at if you gadde thus to sermons And you shal be slouted behind your backe you wil also indaunger your selfe to trouble and a thousand other such poysoned charmes the subtle Adder setteth a worke to discourage the saintes of God and to carry many soules vnto Hell Some wil adde this complaint that many vndo them selues with going to sermons and poore men can not liue for them Thus as Pharaoh they seeke to set the poore so a worke as they might loyter in matters of saluation Other some they aske what neede these sermons on the working dayes is not the sunday or Lordes day ynough and I can not tel what But thus they enuye the worke of God in sauing men euerye waye Not knowing that wee had neede to bee occupied in the worde of God day and night And some are loath that on the Sabboth daye eyther there should be continually Sermons c. As the rulers of the Synagogue which checked the people for that they came to Christe to bee healed on the Sabboth Luk. 13.14 But a fourth sort of people they goe them selues to
CERTAINE VErie worthie godly and profitable Sermons vpon the fifth Chapiter of the Songs of SOLOMON Preached by BARTIMEVS ANDREAS Minister of the word of God Published at the earnest and long request of sundrie well minded Christians ESAY 62.6.7 I haue set watchmen on thy walles O Ierusalem which all the day and all the night continually shall not cease yee that are mindfull of the Lord keepe not silence And giue him no rest till he repayre and vntill he set vp Ierusalem the praise of the worlde 2. TIM 2.19 But the foundation of God remayneth sure and hath this zeale The Lord knoweth who are his and let euery one that calleth on the name of Christ depart from iniquitie AT LONDON Printed by Robert Walde-graue for Thomas man 1583. TO THE RIGHT honorable and my very good Lorde Henrie Earle of Huntington Lorde Hastings Hungerforde Botreaux Mullens Moyles of the most honorable order of the garter Knight Lord president of the Queenes Maiesties councel established in the North parts Bartimeus Andrewes wisheth increase of all true honour and the fruition of all those blessed promises which concerne this life and the life to come Amen BEING at the last ouercome right honorable by the long and earnest request of diuers Godly and wel disposed christians to yeeld my consent to the publishing of this to homly and simple a worke I forthwith was resolued in my selfe to dedicate the first fruits of my labour in this kinde of wryting vnto your honour as to a most worthy MECOENAS and conuenient Patron both of all learning and good causes And albeit at the first blush it may seeme some what straunge vnto your honour that I should presume to present you with so simple a gift being vnworthy the view of so honorable a personage and wise Yet because I do it not as one expecting anye temporall benefite or preferment at your hand as the maner of the worlde for the most part in such matters is But as a token rather of my speciall good will and duety towards you and an argument of thankfulnesse vnto God for his graces in you as also to minister some occasion of increase and going forwarde with constancy and Heroicall spirite in so good gracious and Godly wayes as you haue turned your feete to steppe in already I perswade my selfe therefore of your facile and curteous nature and good will in accepting of the same And euen this small duety of wryting is one point of the honouring and gratifying of our betters and those to whom we stand charged from the Lorde to perfourme duties of reuerence and honour Especially when we see the Image of God by the seconde creation to shine in them as it doth breake forth in your honourable and vertuous brest by many worthy and commendable graces and vertues with the plausible approbation fame and report both of the wise and Godly I speake not this as one that would fill the trompe of flattery with the winde of vaine-glorious praise to seeme to speake for your honour to the worlde for that is not my maner sith your vertuous religious and Godlye wayes speake for them selues to your great commendation and your euerlasting praise in Christe Iesus But I speake of the worke of God in you right honorable that God might haue his iust glory in his owne worke and your selfe might also be incouraged with comfort to proceede and increase in that good course so as the worke of God which is begun might be perfited in you For sure it is my very good Lord that the enemy of mankind seeketh to beset as all men so specially those whome the Lorde beginneth to frame to him selfe but chieflyest those that are as it were ouer frayghted with the aboundaunce of the troublesome affayres of this present life by reason of their great calling For they whom God calleth to so great honour riches and dignity are as one wisely wryteth set vpon the mayne sea of occasions in daunger to bee drenched and swallowed vp of the tempestuous rages and surging waues of diuers temptations if the Lorde doe not mightely by his grace support and vnderstay them But when God standeth by them and frameth their heartes to the loue of his truth then doth he reape great honour and glory at their handes VVhich he highly priseth and reckoneth off insomuch that he hath honorably spoken of such by his Prophetes that they shoulde bring much glory to his Church Esay 49.23 60.16 and be nursing fathers and nursing mothers therevnto yea the glory of LEBANON euen of great personages shal come togeather to beautify the place of my sunctuary saith the Lorde for I will glorify the place of my feete Esay 60.13 For the seruice which such shoulde doe to his Church was not a seruile condition but a beautifying of his Church as it is there called and a glory euen vnto him selfe And vndoubtedly blessed are those Princes Nobles honourable and worshipfull who them selues imbracing and obeying the truth sincerely become presidentes and examples in their owne persons to allure others to the fellowship of the church to the loue of the worde and true religion For the fall or vprising of many after a sort dependeth vpon the publique persons whom God hath lift vp in high places ouer others Insomuch as the eyes of the multitude are bene vpon the examples of publique persons Furthermore wee see from time to time howe the Church of God not without great cause accounted highly of such personages as those by whom they receiued speciall blessings from the Lorde So the church of Israel Psal 21.6 made precious account of DAVID that worthy Prince as one that was set of God as blessings for euer Meaning as a benefite and testimony of Gods fauour vpon his people EZEKIAH NEHEMIAH Neh. 1. 2. Hag. 1.14 Ier. 40. 2. Chr. 35.25 ZERVBBABEL GEDALIAH c. were great blessings to the Church who greatly lamented the losse of thē Also IOSIAH his death was lamented with a doleful lamentation of al the church of IVDA And sure it is that our Church hath great cause to magnifie the mercies of God towards vs in trusting vs with so gracious a IOSIAH as our Soueraigne Princesse ELIZABETH as by whose gouerment the church hath receiued many blessings The losse of whome if our sinns should procure which the Lord keep far from vs would yeeld no lesse occasion for vs to complayne and say then the Churche of IVDA had Lamen 5.20 at the death of IOSIAH when they sayd Our life the breath of our nostrels the annoynted of the Lorde vvas taken in their nets of vvhome we sayd vnder his shadow vve shall be preserued aliue among the heathen Herevnto god hath added further matter of ioy and thankfulnes vnto his Churche in that many nobles worthy personages of this land both learned Godly and wise among whom your honour hath not the least roome are faythfull Patrons of the cause of
Religion And therefore if the church reuerenced highly accounted of such if the godly teachers of the church commended such and gratifyed them by wryting of some such duety as the Apostle IOHN did the elect Lady and HIEROM 2. Ioh. 1. that vertuous Lady LETA GAVDENTIA to incourage them in the truth to shew their thankfulnes for them vnto God why may not we in our times likewise gratify our noble worthy personages with some such duty to shew forth our thankfulnes and reuerence towardes them as also to minister occasion by such means as we can of further proceeding in all religious and godly wayes with zeal to aduance gods glory in his church For we should all step out for the defence and aduancement of Gods gospell glory For the true honor of al men standeth in this chiefly that they imbrace the word which is the wisdome of God sith without religion there is no true honour Therfore Prou. 8 VVisdome layeth claime to all the honor kingdom of princes Pro. 8.15.16.18 as without whom they wanted al true honor Yea she challengeth to her selfe al true wisdome councel vnderstanding strength and honour c. Also els where SOLOMON a prince of greatest honoâ—â— wisdome setteth down plainly Pro 4.8 ver 14. that they which imbrace wisdome shal haue great honor they which exalt her shal be exalted theÌ„ selues For God crowneth them with honour which honour his word But strippeth al such naked of honor renoum before him which do not honor his word Therefore the gouernours of Israel were charged to be alwayes conuersant in the booke of the law day night that they might learne to feare the lord their God Deu. 17.19 adding a great reason that by such meanes they should prouide for their own safety and for the good estate of their posteritie Verse 20. Yea it was promised to DAVID as a speciall prerogatiue that so long as hee helde the Lord to be his Father and made him his God by trusting in him and imbracing the testimonies of his word Psa 89.26 ver 28.29 that the Lorde would not fayle him but establishe his couenaunt with him yea and with his seede for euermore So that such as set their delight in the word of God carry with them store of blessinges from the Lord both for them selues and for their posterity And we see that the Lorde doth not otherwise promise to prosper the affayres of men then as they are carefull to know his will in his word Hereof it was that the Lorde promised the lyke successe vnto IOSHVA For after he had incouraged him to obey his worde Iosh 1.7 ver 8. shewing that therein stoode all true prosperity he addeth this exhortation Let not this booke of the Lawe depart out of thy mouth but meditate therein day and night that thou mayest obserue and doe according to all that is wrytten therin then shalt thou make thy way prosperous and then shalt thou haue good successe For the Lorde knew that sith IOSHVA stood in great perill of temptation euery way by the reason of the waightynesse of his calling and dignity therefore also he sheweth that hee had greatest neede of the meanes to vnderstay himselfe and to be acquainted with the Lordes priuy Councell reuealed in his worde to direct him in all his actions So DAVID made the worde of God his Councellers Psa 119.24 without whom he woulde doe nothing For he knew that it behoueth such to imploy their honour glory estimation riches and credite as handmaydes to further Gods glory And then no doubt they are to expect greate blessinges from the Lorde with immortall prayse and euerlasting honour with Christ Iesus I doubt not therefore right honourable but all these blessinges shall be accomplished vpon you as also vpon your posterity sith you loue and imbrace the religion of the true God and the truth of his worde who will not see you want that honour that he hath promised to his most excellent Saintes And now here I present vnto your Honour this poore Tallent of myne which may it please you to accept at my hand as of one that wisheth all happynesse vnto you and yours in the Lorde humbly crauing that your fauourable wisedome would supply the wants of this thing and that this so simple a gift as it is may be accepted of you rather for my good meaning in the thing and the ende wherefore I doe it then for the vallue of the thing it selfe Doing your honour to vnderstande that you are not to expect any flourishing speeches garnished with Rhetoricall flowers and figures or any cunning sleightes of mans wisedome or paynted eloquence with affected wordes but hauing an eye to the matter and not to the maner to expect a simple and plaine handling of that which is intreated off For my desire is not to be seen in the heighth and intricate questions of mans wisedome but in the basenesse and simplycity of the Gospell that it may appeare in the power thereof Thus right honourable surceasing from adding any further wordes of discourse and remayning ready to vndergoe all lawfull duetyes towardes your honour which God any maner of wayes shall inable me to doe I humbly commit your honourable Lordship with the right honourable that vertuous Lady the Countesse your wyfe euen to our good and mercifull God who euermore preserue you and yours in al blessed safety both of body and soule be present with you gouerne and guyde you by his gratious spirite and heape vpon you all heauenly blessings and shew forth the riches of his grace vppon you that you may holde out with all constancy in his truth vnto the ende so as you glorifying him in this lyfe may be receiued vnto eternal glory and felicity with him in the lyfe to come through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Your honors humble to command in the Lord Bartimaeus Andrewes To the Christian Reader IT was not in vaine Christian reader that the ancient fathers of the Church worthy and Godly wryters vsed alwayes preuentions in some preface or Epistle before their workes to reclaime their writinges from suspition and reproch in so much as the Church of God neuer wanted enuious malicious and captious aduersaries who with their slaunderous tongues and dispightfull lawes sought to teare in pieces or by Zoylous vpbraydings to blemishe or by reprochfull speeches and lyspings to cancell the credite of whatsoeuer was godly wisely carefully and to good purpose penned downe by them These times yeelde occasion of no lesse suspition of like intertainment to be giuen to good thinges written for the comfort and help of the simple and ignorant especially wheÌ„ they are to proceede from so vnworthy an instrument and so vnskilfull an indictor as my selfe when the writings and workes of so famous godly men haue gone before as great torchelights or as the Sunne at noone dayes and I to come after in so
as they can not discrye the brightnesse thereof at times when they couet moste to feele it Yea when they groane in the secretes of their heartes for it vnto God calling after him by Prayer beeing Sutors for it a long time betweene hope and dispayre not feelinge the comforte of his fauoure but suspecting rather vvhen yet they are in best state yea in best assuraunce of his grace though they feele it not for the time Sith they retayne a true heartye and vnfeyned desire to taste of that fauoure which for the time they can not feele For tâ—at desire after his fauoure vvith a loathing of oure selues for sinne is an infallible argument of the interest which the Spirite of God hath in the beleeuers Especially when that desire inforceth them to vse the meanes wherebye God offereth himselfe vnto vs. Namely to heare the word preached vvhere God is residente vvith his perver and to praye often and heartilye Math. 18. â—0 for to suche God promiseth him se fe to bee presente Thus it pleaseth the Lorde to exercise his Sayntes by holding aloofe from them sometime that they mighte bee made priuye to their ovvne infirmityes and mighte see the lettes that lye hidde in them selues which hinder them and so laboure to shunne them VVhich things the second Sermon cheefly doth handle The thirde Sermon spendeth it selfe partly in laying foorth the lette 2. Le ts abroaâ—e in others vvhich the faythfull finde abroade in others vvhereby sathan seeketh to discourage them by the reproche of the vvicked by the contempte of the vvorlde and enuye of the malicious and spightfull aduersaries VVhich albeit they shrewdly dismay the Saintes of God for a time yet in the end they shal see by the example of the spouse how to ouerstride all stumbling blocks For God causeth the fayth of his children to breake out so much the more how much the more it is impugned A second circumstance of the maner of the comming on of the faâ—thful is also ther noted namely how they recouer their zeal and stir vp themselues to a more diligent inquiring after Christ wheÌ„ they see what lets ther are in themselues in other 2. The recouering of the zeal of the faythfull notwithstanding lets which would defeat them of the benefit of Christe Iesus their eternall louer VVherby they break out into a famous descrâ—ption of Christ Iesus alluring others thereby to h ue part with them in him And in the fourth sermon is set down the great fruit and Senesit that commeth to the church faithfull by the mutuall profession conference and commending of the graces of God one to another How other by that meanes are dravvne on to the Lorde Zac. 8.22.23 as vvas prophesied of the Churche of the Gentiles that they shoulde flocke to the Iewes and associate themselues to the Church when they shoulde here that God was with them The fifth and last sermon sheweth the conclusion of the whole hovve the church spouse of Christ Iesus namely the true beleeuers doth assure her selfe of the loue of Christe tovvardes her 3. The conclusion of the match 1. The vnity between Christ the faithful when thee feeleth the Testimonies of his residence in her in which conclusion is matter of moste singuler comfort First the vnity wherby Christ and the faythfull become one so as they can neuer be seuered is comfortably I hope though plainly handled where the godly may see how to be assured that they are one with Christ euen in this life so coÌ„sequeÌ„tly after a sort one with God himself that the faithful caÌ„nnot be cut of or vtterly seuered froÌ„ him so long as God himself Christ remaineth Secondly the certainty of perseuerance 2. The certainty of the saluation of the beleeuers and their perseuerance of the saluatioÌ„ of the saints of God wherby they may in som measure assure theÌ„selues of their saluation euen in this life is at large proued against the assertioÌ„ of the Papistes against al the replies that our nature maketh to desâ—aâ—â—â—s of the comfort of that assurance VVhâ—ch last sermon let me desire thee to read good christian with the spirit of sobernes and iudgement VVhich I haue only written for the comfort of the afflicted conscience Yet so that the enemies of grace the Libertines I hope shal haue smal aduauntage therby to soâ—th them selues in their loose Libertye but rather matter to humble them selues yea euen to condemne themselues if God smyte them with the Spirite of iudgement Thus haue I breefly giuen thee a taste christian reader of the pryncipal matters handled in larger circumstances in this litle volume perswading my selfe both of thy diligence in perusing them to the end and of thy accepting in good worth and fauourable construing of this worke as also of thy moderation equity of mind in casting away all sinister affections in reading thereof fith I commit my selfe to the iudgement of those that are neyther ignorant nor malitious And now to conclude commending thee vnto God and to the worde of his grace which is able to build further and to giue thee an inheritance among all them that are sanctified I humbly beseech the Lorde our God euen the God of peace that hee will make thee perfect in all good works to do his will working in thee that which is pleasant in his sight through Iesus Christe To whome be prayse for euer and euer Amen Thine in the Lorde B. Andrewes Certaine very worthy Godly and profitable Sermons vpon the songs of Solomon FOR somuch as right dearely beloued in the Lorde Iesus Christ by the prouidence of God I am come among you at this time where I am likely to stay a few dayes I thought good as my maner is to spend the time in bestowing on you some portion of such Talentes as the Lorde in some measure hath enriched me with all My purpose is therfore the Lord ayding me with his holy spirite in this so holy and weighty a worke as the preaching of his sacred worde is to handle vnto you for some good considerations the fifth Chapter of the excellent songs of Solomon with the two firste verses of the sixth Chapter as it is read in the common translation but I reade them with the fifth chapter for the causes that shall be alleaged when I come to the handling of them the Chapter followeth to this effect Canticles 5. 1 I Am come into my garden my Sister my spouse I gathered my myrrhe with my spice I ate mine honye combe with mine bony I dranke my wine with my milke eate O friendes drinke and make you mery O welbeloued 2 I sleep but mine heart waketh it is the voyce of my welbeloued that knocketh saying Open vnto mee my sister my loue my doue my vndefiled for mine head is full of dewe and my locks with the droppes of the night 3 I haue put of my coate how shall I put it on I haue
the voyce of my beloued knocking c. We should thus learne to rouze vp our selues from worldly sleepes by musing of that which we haue heard out of the word and when sathan would bring vs a sléep in these sweete pleasures of this life and profites we shoulde thus make vse of this doctrine and reply vpon all temptations saying Oh I heare the voice of my beloued Christ Iesus by the preaching of his worde calling out vpon me that I should beware of such sleepes I may not be wooed from him In euery tentation a man maye make vse of this reply Let not sathan or sinne or the world so soone whisper in our ears to allure vs to any vncleannes but let vs straight way answere Oh I heare the voice of Christe calling me another way I must waight vppon him and obey his word c. But I cannot go forward with this matter any further at this time because the time cutteth me off you shal heare the rest of the suite and reasons in the after noone by the grace of God And the Lord our God giue vs al the true vse of this doctrin that we may make gaine of it in our hearts to the Lord so as these reasons of our heauenly suter Christe Iesus may mooue vs in truth that we seeing his greate riches and spirituall treasures with the eyes of faith and also hauing the offer of them made vnto vs by the preaching of his word may cast off al lets and incumbraÌ„ces what so euer and willingly imbrace Christ with all his riches that we may communicate with him and may be fruitfull in all obedience towardes him all our life Which grace God graunt for Iesus Christe his sake both to vs and to all Nations and his whole church c. Amen To the which Christ with the Father and the holye Ghost be all honor glory maiesty dominion and power now and for euer Amen Let vs pray c. The second Sermon After Prayer as is before mentioned following thus IN the former part of this day beloued in the Lorde we haue hearde of two reasons which were vsed of the husband to mooue his spouse to participate with him in his riches and to imbrace him The one drawne from his excellent dignitie and eternall riches and possessions which he had already receiued The other taken of his kindnesse and liberall offers to participate the same his riches to his Spouse which as I sayde included in it a part of the suite it selfe Also we haue hearde of one circumstaunce of the second part of the chapiter concerning the maner of the spouses comming on and namely of the lets in her selfe which somewhat tyed her at the firste Yet so as she stirreth vp her selfe notwithstanding with the meditation of the suite and voyce of her husband or sutor All these circumstances with the vse of them we haue already handled Now it followeth in the 2. verse wherein the suit is stil continued Open vnto me my sister my loue my doue my vndefiled c. This second suite as it were is noted by Solomon to be mentioned by the spouse her selfe making report of the exceding loue of her sutor Christ Iesus who spak to her so amiably gratiously honorably ye so carefully as he was loath for her owne good to lose his labor Therfore christ is brought in as one renuing his suite again again and continuing it as hee doth euen to this day by the preachers of his word Yea he hath long come a wooing vnto vs. Wherefore I pray you my brethren let him now come a speeding open your heartes vnto him enlarge your bowels towardes him imbrace and hugge him thorough faith yea set your whole loue on him The like speeche of knocking and opening we haue in other places as namely in the 3. chapter of the Reuelation verse 20. Behold I stand at the doore and knocke if any man heare my voyce and open the doore I wil come in vnto him and wil sup with him c. Which speeches import the Christ is alwayes calling vpon meÌ„ and vouchsafeth to come to them by the preaching of his word crauing entertainment God â—â—ocketh diuers wayes Yea he knocketh aloud at euery mans hearte and that sundry wayes First by his word First by his word as by an ordinary meanes to awaken men And howe long hath the Lorde continued knocking to vs by his word And yet alas few open vnto him None can deny but the Lordes voyce hath shaken euen the foundation of their heartes ye euen the most vngodly ones though they refuse to heare the voyce of the charmer charme hee neuer so wisely So he knocked earely and late to the people of Israel by his Prophetes but because they refused to heare his voice the Lord forsooke them gaue them ouer in the end to be a dispersed people Secondly Secondly by his spirite the lord knocketh by his spirit for meÌ„ caÌ„not deny but many instincts motions of Gods spirite haue knocked at their heartes though they haue rebounded again men haue queÌ„ched the spirit so as the Lord hath punished them with the spirite of slumber that they shoulde haue eares to heare and should not vnderstand eyes to see and not perceiue hearts to know should not beleeue least they shold be conuerted I should heal them saith Christ Math. 13.15 Thirdly Thirdly by his iudgementes Christ knocketh by his iudgements works by signes in the heauens aboue tokens in th earth beneath The constellations of the heauens threaten strange alterations exchaÌ„ges great calamities the strange wonders haue their lowd voices as vntimely thuÌ„ders fiery appearances vnknown commets Also beneath vniuersal earthquaks practised conspiracies reports of warrs the Romish Antichrist seeking to subuert the trueth dangers at home daÌ„gers abroad Which al are forewarnings knocking 's for our good to waken vs cause vs to trim vp our selues for our bridegroms comming to entertaine him in our hearts here below that we may be entertained with him at his comming into the heaueÌ„s Fourthly Fourthly by his mercies he knocketh by his mercies benefits as a most gentle and friendly knocking so that the heauens the earth sonne moone starres foules beasts fishes fruits the daily kindnes of God are arguments of his suite to mooue vs to open vnto Christ But of al these the knocking of his word is vehement and mighty for our good if wee can sée it or had hearts to open vnto it Open vnto me c. When such speeches exhortatioÌ„s ar vsed in the scripture that is not left to the power wil of maÌ„ to open as els where 2. Tim. 2.21 If any man purge him self froÌ„ these he shal be a vessel of the Lorde vnto honor sanctified and prepared to euery good worke So Heb. 4.7 To day if you wil hear his voice c. Also Io. 3.3 He that hath this hope in himselfe purgeth himselfe euen
with others would easily shew their nature against the people of God if they had oportunitie and yet they are hatched oh pitiful danger and nouâ—ished euen in the lap of the church Thus many Cankers breede in the bowels of the church heresies fonde opinions familists Brounists and such other Thus by such meanes as lamentable it is to see the graft of godlinesse and zeale is hindred And through the neglect of officers magistrates rather then laws these beastes swarme in our Church Also drunkards swearers whores adulterers proude pecockes raylers contemners of God and his word prophanations of the Sabboth and an innumerable kindes both of sinners and sinnes which ouergrow the church as a wildernesse which because magistrates doe not laboure to roote out so carefully as they ought the Lord doth strangely consume som sinners by the fire of his wrath froÌ„ heauen Which al shold be cut off by discipline or at least way bee forced to some reformation Can it be that the Lord wil trust vs any longer with a Lease of his garden we abusing him in such maner so as we greeue the Lords soul with our vnfaithfulnes and cause his soule to hate vs. Esay 1.14 Who bestoweth such cost on vs we prosper so little as hee can gather very few Lillies amongst vs he wanteth the fruit of our hearts and lippes as faith loue feare obedience charity thankesgiuing prayse inuocation hearing his word professing his name c. But some perhaps wil say why it is in as good case as we found it the same discipline laws and doctrine are stil which was in the beginning of her maiesties raign so the Lords garden and church is not impaired and it shal bee left in as good case as it was found and better then heretofore Sure the Lorde doth not plaÌ„t a vineyard let it out to stand or be kept alwaies at a stay but to bee tilled and dressed that it maye grow and prosper to bring foorth more fruite For hee requireth that men bestowe their care labour wisedome and trauail vpon it that hee maye haue it more furnished and fenced For hee tataketh payne him selfe aboute his Churche to that ende that sinne may bee suppressed and Godlinesse aduanced But the Lorde make vs truely thankfull in Christ Iesus for those beginninges and proceedinges of his church which we haue that he hath planted his worde true religion amongst vs countenancing the same his truth with the authoritye and sworde of our gratious Princesse Elizabeth as also with many worthy learned godly and noble Councellers as also other learned Patrons of his Church without whom we should find to our great misery and the spoyle of religion howe hardly the Lordes garden should be at al kept without them But our sinnes yea our contempt and neglect of the word of God and his glory doe hinder the Lorde from blessing vs with that encrease which otherwise wee mighte enioy yea our sinnes betraye the state of our Churche and lande and deserue the losse of so Princely a Deborah and other woorthye personnages wherewith our Church is inriched yea that the Lorde shoulde take away all the walles and defences of our church and land giue vs ouer to the spoile Let vs therefore if we beare any good will to our Church or Countrye labour to purge oure selues from al corruption and to repent vs of oure sinnes that we may bring foorth good fruits such as the lord may haue pleasure in that hee may haue a delight to abide among vs. For it is the sinnes of a land that causeth the Lordes wrath to smoke against the same but our land I suppose haue exceeded the old world Sodom and Gomorrha Israell Iehuda and al landes in straunge sinnes so that if in comparison Ezec. 16.51 Iudah and the inhabitants thereof iustified Sodom for that their sinnes exceeded the sinnes of the Sodomits Then we haue iustified al Nations in comparison of our sins and therefore are in daunger to al the feareful plagues that are mentioned in the booke of God vnlesse we speedely therfore repent I feare we shal tast of such iudgementes as that the stranger that shal come from a farre land Deut. 29.22 shal saye when they see the plagues of this land and the diseases therof wherwith the Lord shal smite it because it shal be fearefully destroyed except they repent Oh wherefore hath the Lorde done thus vnto this lande and ver 24. and ver 25. how feirce is this great wrath And it shal be answered because they haue forsaken the couenant of the Lord God of their Fathers and haue sinned againste the Lorde Let vs al then my deare brethren be humbled with Godly sorrow that may cause repentaunce vnto saluation not to be repented of Being offended with our selues that we haue not sooner and more earnestly inquyred after Christ praying the Lorde to beautifie his Garden and Churche of this land with such sweet flowers as he may please him selfe in vs and we may grow and prosper in al fruites of the spirit I can not finish this chapiter to daye because of time and the matter of the conclusion though in few words yet includeth very comfortable and heuenly matter which cannot in a few words be vttered I wil therfore defer it til to morrow when by Gods grace I shal finish the whole Now the Lord our good God sanctifie our hearts to conceiue the excellencye and féele the sweetnesse of the wordes of the mouth of Christ Iesus that we being our selues purged and sanctified by his word and truth may carefully labour that others with vs may truely be affected towards him that we may ioyn togeather in seeking of Christ so as in the ende finding him in his worde and Sacramentes and feeling of him by his spirite our soules and bodies may become cleane and well tilled Gardens beautified with al heaueÌ„ly fruits of his spirite as that Christ may haue pleasure to walke in vs to dwell and make his abode in vs vnto the ende and in the ende we also may be receiued with him into his heauenly Garden of eternal ioye to dwell continue and abide with him in the company of al the glorious Angels and fellowship of the heauenly saintes in the presence of God his Father for euer and euer Amen Let vs pray c. The fift Sermon or lecture YEsterday we heard beloued a part of the description of Christ concerning his spéech and swéet thing of his mouth with the excellency of his doctrine also the second question of the maydens concerning the place where he vsed with the aunswere betweene which was interlined what fruit came by this conference and how the Godly at Ierusalem were kyndled with loue to Christ by the example of the Spouse whereby she answereth to her companions making them priuy to the place of his abode shewing how the church is his Garden and that he delighteth to be conuersant there yea the soule of euerye
latter daye hauing assuraunce that we shal dye happely and well yea that we may haue the eyes of faith to looke into our saluation so farre as wee maye saye with Simeon Lorde now lettest thou thy seruaunt depart in peace according to thy worde â—uk 2.29.30 for myne eyes haue seene thy saluation Also that we may with Iob stand perswaded through saith that our redeemer lyueth and that we shall See God not with other but with these same eyes â—ob 19.25.27 In the meane time let vs labour to glorifie oure God by oure obedience fayth loue and newnesse of life that we maye shewe how we are one with Christe by this that he maye liue in vs and we maye dye so our selues that so we may in this lyfe bee sure of saluation afterwarde For what myserye is it to lyue and in the ende not to bee sure of saluation To this purpose Iohn in his first Epistle chapiter 3. verse 2. sheweth that the loue of God is great in that he hath admitted vs to be his sons after he addeth That we are euen now the sonnes of God but it doth not appeare what we shal be that is we see not now fully what glory the Lord hath layd vp for vs. But we are assured that we shal be like to the sonne of God So then the faithfull haue their comfort and assuraunce in this lyfe of obtayning life after Also Paule affirmeth vnto Timothy 2. Tim. â— That he was sure from hence forth there was layd vp for him the crowne of righteousnesse which the lord the righteous iudge should giue him at the last day And because we shoulde not make exception and saye yea Paule was a notable instrument of God I easly beléeue he might be sure of life but I am nothing to Paule c. therefore he addeth That crowne is not layd vp onely for me but for al them also that loue his comming or appearing For sure it is God hath committed vs to the custody of him that wil neuer see vs perish and he againe moste carefully committeth vs to his father Ouerlooke I pray you with all diligence that heauenly prayer of our Sauiour Iesus Christe in the 17. Chapiter of Iohn especially from the sixth verse to the ende Which is full of moste Heauenlye and wonderful comfort if the Lorde giue vs eyes and hearts to see and vnderstand it aright Christe there noteth these qualities chiefly in his saints After the fountayn of their election discouered which issueth out of the free loue of God he saith of them that they kéep his worde 2. They acknowledge all good thinges to come from God thorough Christ receiuing them thankfully as from him also they receiue his wordes and are assured that hee came from God And because he was to leaue his Disciples and to departe concerning his corporal presence hee therfore committeth them in this sort to his father saying Verse 11. I am now no more in the worlde these are in the world and I come to thee O holy father keepe them in thy name euen them whom thou hast giuen me that they may be one as we are This vnitie he prayeth for in al that shold after beleeue that they may be one in God and Christ as be and his Father was one O wonderfull care of so gracious a Patron In these wordes Christe sheweth that as the father and the somâ— are one so as they can not be seuered so also they which are in Christ in whome these foresayde effectes are to bee founde in trueth in some measure are one with God and Christ so as nothing can deuide nor seperate them asuÌ„der Which is a wonderful comfort to the Saints of God that their happy life and eternal being is necessarilye after a sorte ioined with the life and eternal being of God and Christe He meaneth not that the saints are so one with God as he shoulde bee hominified with man and man deified with God For this foolish and doltishe blasphemye of the Family of loue is so absurd as it were a folly to spende any speech in the confutation thereof But as the godly are in Christe and so sure of saluation so they must not loyter in hope and neglect their calling now because men are subiect to this sliding our Sauioure Christ in that 17. of Ioh. Iohn 17. ver 15. prayeth that his father woulde keepe them from euil sanctifying them in his trueth which is his worde For that is the ordinary means and instrument whereby God vpholdeth his children and we abide in him and hee in vs so long as we abide in his doctrin 2. Iohn 9. which is easily seene in this that Sathan séeketh nothing more then to weaken our fayth in the worde raysing vp so many opinions sects and heresies therefore this should stirre vs vp to watchfulnesse Thus we see the Spouse might lawfully conclude of the certaintie of her vnity and perseuerance with her husbande Yea al of vs by her example should labour to haue the like perswasion of our selues affiancing our selues also vnto Christ praying for the fruits of the spirit of adoption in vs that we being careful to keepe the word to beleeue and receiue it that being assured that Christ was sent of God a sauiour vnto vs maye imbrace him heartely with al his heauenly riches stryuing to ouerstride al lets that might hinder vs from coÌ„ming to him being zealous of his glory truth stirring vp others by our example professing his name boldly exercising all godly exercises hearing his word praying oft heartly vnto him ioyning in the company of the godly beeing humbly thankfull vnto God for his greate mercyes in Christe so as euery one of vs may be bolde in truth and feeling to say I am Christs and Christ is mine O let vs indeuour our selues my deare brethren that we may haue a liuely tast assurance of this heauenly and spirituall communion vnity coniunction society and felowship with Christ Iesus that we may stande perswaded of his eternal loue towards vs and of our owne saluation in him For alas it maketh me tremble to think what a miserable state the doubtful vnbeléeuers which labour not to haue any assuraunce of life shall come vnto Who as they neuer were in Christ nor tasted not in truth of the effects before mentioned so shall they be without christ in eternal paine banished from the presence of God of his glorious angels without the fauor of God without life it selfe But let not those be dismaied which doubting sometime yet in the middest of their doubt desire to be sure of Gods fauour for the vnbeleeuing doubters haue no suche desire in truth resting vpon the word and waiting for further grace and assurance I know our nature wil neuer make an end of replying against the certainty of our saluation because of the imperfections and infirmities of the Children of God beeing ful of distrust many times For when we consider