and the armye of the Egyptians so that there appeared no meanes eyther to flye backe or els to passe one Was he moued or anye whit amased at all this though he sawe the imminent perill and all the people about him in that sorte astonyed that they thought not but that they had beene vtterly cast away neuerthelesse he remayned stedfast and inmooueable in the midst of this great feare neuer douting but that God would shewe some notable acte of his souereigne power or else open vnto them some passage whereby they might escape Ios 12. Iosuah to whom God after the decease of Moses committed the charge of his people and to make warre to thirtie and one Kinges all of them mightie and hauing their people brought vp in Martiall feates their cities strong and well fortified their men well appointed to fight did he euer feare any of all these thinges Did he not goe cheerefully against his enemies making no more account of them and their forces then to eate a morsell of breade Iudg. 3.31 Shamgar with an oxe goade assaulted sixe hundred Philistines Iudg. 7.19 whome he discomfited Gedeon with three hundred men who were onely armed with trumpets and pitchers went boldly against an innumerable multitude of Madianites Iudg. 15.15 whome he destroyed Sampson with the iaw bone of an asse smote a thousand men Dauid being yet but a childe addressed himselfe couragiously to the combat Sam. 17.49 against that great and terrible giant Goliah whome he smote deade to the grounde with the first throwe of his sling And he himselfe was woont euer since that time to say to shew the great boldnesse that he went withall vnto the warre vnder the confidence and conduct of the Lord of whome he saw himselfe assisted in all his affaires I will not be afrayed for tenne thousand of the people that would beset me rounde about Whereby we may plainely see that all they that liue in a true feare of God and who by his promises assure themselues of his helpe fauour do not feare nor are affrighted with any thing whatsoeuer Nay euen in death they are most resolute as it appeareth in Dauid The Lorde is my sheepeheard I shall not want Psal 23.1 he maketh me to rest in greene pastures and leadeth me by the still waters He restoreth my soule and leadeth me in the pathes of righteousnesse for his names sake Yea though I shoulde walke through the valley of the shadow of death I will feare none euill for thou art with me thy rod thy staffe they comfort me Thou dost prepare a table before me in the sight of mine aduersaries And we must not think that this was a peculiar grace which God had bestowed vpon Dauid only for it is common to all true beleeuers as he himselfe doth testifie vnto vs. Psal 125.1 They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Sion which can not be remoued is most iustly and most wisely done and there is nothing in all his counsailes his wordes and his workes that is not void of all blame or reproofe Psal 111.8 As the Prophet sayth All his statutes are established for euen and euer and are done in truth and equitie Wherefore it were most safe and expedient for vs when God speaketh to stoppe our mouthes continually to reply nothing against that he sayth to open our eares and to hearken attentiuely to that which pleaseth him to command vs and to be alwayes ready to craue his grace to obey and execute chearefully his will For we can not ossâ—â— vnto him a more acceprable sacrifice then a readye and willing obedience But to shewe how friuolous the excuses are which the delayers coÌ„monly bring forth to acquite themselues from performing their dutie and entring into the Church which is the onely place where they ought to seeke and are able to find then saluation We wil examine some of them more perticularly to the end we may see what shewe of ground they can haue The commonest is for the most part that which all vse to alledge the feare that they haue of falling into those dangers whereunto they see those layd open who would withdrawe themselues from the company of Antichrist to follow lesus Christ But but remaineth for euer The reason whereby the delaiers are tossed Mat. 6.33 and withholden by so many vaine feares which hinder them from obeying God readily and seeking his kingdome and his righteousnesse aboue all other thinges is for that they haue no true feare of God which woulde expell out of their heartes all other feare if it were once entered into them But so long as they lye still in ther filth and will not once mooue themselues to enter into the Churche to heare the worde of God Esay 59. to be strengthened by his spirite which doth accompanie it they will still tremble for feare imagining vnto themselues feare where there is none There shall neede as the Prophet saith But the sounde of a leafe shâ—ken Psal 53.5 Leu. 26.38 To terrifie them and to exanimate them altogether Whereas being indued with faith they would be so constant Mat. 16.18 that euen the verye gates of hell that is to saye the counsayle and the power of the Deuils coulde in no wise mooue them If they will then be ridde of this so weake and effeminate an heart which doeth intangle and hinder them from performinge their duetie let them hasten to come into the Church Which as the Prophet sayeth doeth bring foorth men children Esay 66.7 that is to saye hauing a stoute and a manly courage and who do not yeelde themselues easily Apoc. 12.5 whatsoeuer sharpe and furious assaultes the Deuill and the worlde make against them Nowe after wee haue spoken in generall of the vayne feare whiche they haue and shewed that it proceedeth not from anye other thinge then from the wante in them of loue and affiance and true feare towardes God let vs nowe shewe the same more particularlye and let vs handle euerye feare more seuerallye one by one They doe alleage first the feare that they haue to indaunger the losse of their life To whiche I aunsweare them Rom. 1.25 Rom. 2.5 that trusting to saue it as they hope to wit in dissembling and withholding the trueth of God in vnrighteousnesse and on the other parte heapinge continuallye vnto themselues the wrath of God by the Idolatryes and superstitions wherewith they defile themselues daye by daye they doe loose it as Iesus Christ sayeth Ioh. 12.25 He that loueth his life and studieth to keepe it by vnlawfull meanes shall loose it And contrariwise He that hateth his life in this worlde and doth not feare to forgo it for the honor seruice of God and for the confession of the name of Iesus Christ and of the truth of the Gospel shall keepe it vnto life eternall Moreouer God who hath geuen it vnto them is it not he alone which
of mans bodie to direct them in all their actions Furthermore is it possible that in the day without the light of the Sunne or in the night without a lanterne to make good choise of the pathes wherin we must walke or walke in them any longe tyme without stumbling Euē so our vnderstādings which be not onely blinde by nature but are euen darkenes it selfe can they any more thinke that which is good right if they be not guided by a light from aboue Psal 119.105 but now there is no other but the word of god as Dauid sayth Thy worde is a lanterne vnto my feete and a light vnto my path I haue sworne and I will performe it that I will kepe thy righteous iudgemēts And in an other place in the same Psalme vers 24. Thy testimonies are my delight and my consellers And in another place Open myne eyes vers 18. that I may see the wonders of thy Law It may be gathered by all these places going before many other like vnto thē that without the worde of God men are altogether miserable and that the life honour riches pleasures and all true felicity doe depend thereon and where it doth want there wanteth also with it all goodnes and all good hope and that is the reason why the Prophet doth so cōmend the reading meditatiō therof vnto the whole world Psal 1.2 Deut. 6.9 And that Moses exhorteth euery one to write and ingraue it in all the corners of their houses to the end it might continually be set before their eyes that they might euer haue a present memory therof feed their spirites therewith day night for the water the fire so necessary for the life of the bodye to maintaine and keepe it as is the worde of God for the spirituall life of our soules to preserue it Whosoeuer doth loue and follow it he is sure that God wil blesse him that within with out his house al things wil succeed happily vnto him Psal 119.165 as Dauid saith They that loue thy law shal haue great prosperity And in another place They shall walke in the light of thy countenance Psal 89.15 and in thy righteousnes shall they exalt themselues Cōsidering these things we should pray vnto God without ceasing for his grace that he would continue vnto vs so great a benefite say vnto him that which is written in Moses songe Psal 90.12 Teache vs to number our dayes that we may apply our hartes vnto wisedome returne O Lord how long be pacified toward thy seruants and bewaile the condition of the Apostates who hauing forsaken the Gospell the Churches Rom. 1.16 where it is preached that is to say the power of God which he hath ordained to saluation to euery one that beleeueth be without al doubt in the way of damnation in dāger of eternal death Psal 119.155 as Dauid saith Saluation is far from the wicked because they seeke not thy statutes For they decaue themselues if they thinke that they can obtaine it any where els but only in the church of god where it is purely preached Esa 2.2 Wherfore the Prophet Esay doth allure euery one to heare vnderstand Esa 2.2 It shall be in the last daies that the mountain of the house of the Lord shal be prepared in the tops of the moūtaines shal be exalted aboue the hils al nations shal flow vnto it many people shall go and say come let vs go vp to the mountaine of the Lord to the house of the God of Iacob and he will teach vs his waies and we will walke in his paths for the law shal go out of Sion the word of the Lorde from Ierusalem To be informed aright in the wil of God must be done in his church where he is worshiped in spirit truth called vpō purely And it must be by the mouth of his Prophets ministers which are ordained established in the same by him Mal. 2.7 to preach expound it As Malachy writeth That the Priests lips should keepe know ledge they should seeke the law at his mouth for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts Moreouer Eph. 4. Rom. 12. 1. Cor. 12. 1. Tim. 3. to whom are the true Prophets preachers sent Is it not to the Church of Iesus Christ the spirit of prophesie and interpretation Is it not vnto it which is the piller stay of the truth The Church is our mother the mouths of the good shepheards which are ordained therein to gouerne it be the pappes wherby she giueth sucke vnto her children who by faith take the brest draw and sucke the milke wherewith they do nourish and fat themselues so much especially if it be good milke and in great abundance that they become faire goodly maruelous beautifull But when the breastes come to be staied and dried vp as it chanceth in time of papistry where al their Pastors are at this present blind watchmen Esa 56.10 that haue no knowledge and dum dogs despitefull in mind which can not bark who desire and haue no other care but to liue and become fat and sleepe softly in this world and moreouer where the milke that is giuen to the children is all waterish and corrupt is it not necessarye that being so nourished they should become dry withered that in the ende they die with languishing for want of good toode The Apostates then that are gone out of the Church where they might if they would Psal 81.16 haue bene fed with fine wheate flower God would haue fed them with the fat of wheate and with the hony of the rocke would I haue sufficed thee to return to papistry as to an Egypt to be there fed with stinking garlicke and onions which are giuen there vnto them What can they looke for of such nourishment but in short space to die with languishing for they haue not any whit of the worde of God pure in the synagogues and conuenticles of Antichrist but onely some litle peeces or shreds which are drawen out here and there out of the foure Gospels the Epistles of the Apostles and most commonly il fitted to that purpose whereto they woulde haue them serue whereof neither the Pastors nor the sheepe can receaue any instruction or edification because the one and the other being equally ignorant neither vnderstande the tongue which is spoken nor the sence and mysteries which are conteined therin Considering that the secrets of the Lord are reuealed vnto those who haue them in honor and reuerence who by feare and humilitie are prepared to the vnderstanding of the same and not vnto those proud and arrogant Apostates which are at this present blasphemers of God contemners mockers of his worde and deadlye enemies of his Church which they would wish vtterly banished Psa 25.14 The secret
to passe their destruction as likewise contrarily Rom. 8.28 all helpe to saluation to those that loue God and are loued of him againe and there is no creature which doth not by and by make a couenant with vs when we are once firmely knit and vnited vnto him Hosea 2.20 I will euen mary thee vnto me in faith fulnes sayth the Lorde and thou shalt knowe the Lorde And in that daye I will heare sayth the Lord I will euen heare the heauens and they shall heare the earth the earth shall heare the corne and the wine and the oyle and they shall heare Israell Whereby we may easily gather that all creatures draw neere vnto the children of god and do chearish them as soone as they see them come into fauour with God and contrarily that they slide backe and start aside from those who are bereaued of his grace For it is a generall rule which we ought euer to remember Leuit. 25. Deut. 28. namely that the grace and loue of God is the ofspring of all benediction and that his wrath on the other side is the fountaine of all male diction so that without the one nothing is blessed and with the other all things are cursed What then can these wretched Apostates doe who eating drinking going comming whether they sit or stand whether they walke or lye still are euer musing in their bed at the table within and without the house before and behind them of the wrath of God with a firebrand in his hand ready to consume them If they will turne aside Amos. 5.19 they shall meete with a Lyon as sayth the Prophet if they will returne thinking to flee and saue themselues on the other part there will by and by a Beare start out before their eyes and if to assure themselues on all sides they will come to their house againe and leane their hand on the wall they shall finde in it a Serpent whiche will â—ite them which is as much to saye as that â—hey can neither finde hole nor secret corner wherein they may hide themselues from the wrath of God which is exceeding fearefull â—o all those to whome he sendeth it as the Apostle sayeth He. 10.31 That it is a fearefull thing to fall into the handes of the liuing God Which may euidently appeare by the examples propounded vnto vs in the Scriptures Gen. 4.14 as in Caine who hauing slayne his owne brother for religion and fled from the face of God that is to saye hauing giuen him ouer and the Churche which was gathered together in his fathers house neuer had afterward aâ—ye reste of conscience but as a man vexed with furie went heere and there like a vagabound and runnagate with a fire whiche did consume him and with an vnquietnes of minde whiche suffered him not to reste in anye place 1. Sam. 18.10 Saule likewise when the spirite of God had forsaken him and was departed from him did not the cuill spiriâ— foorth-with come vpon him and since thâ— tyme neuer ceased to torment him vntiâ— he had throwne him headlonge into despaire Iudas also after he had betrayed Iesus Christ Ioh. 13. and that the Deuill by reason 〈◊〉 his couetousnesse had once entered into his heart and had drawne him awaye from thâ— true Churche whiche was the companye oâ— Iesus Christ and his Apostles to reconcile himselfe vnto the Priestes and Pharisies and to make him to enter againe into their Sinagogue had he euer any quietnes in his soule after that did he euer thinke of any thinge but onely howe he might destroye himselfe hopyng though in vayne by this meanes to rid himselfe out of that fearefull griefe wherewith his conscience was vexed and tormented And they of whome mencion is made in the Prophetes Apoc. 6.16 cap. 9. and in the Reuelation of Saint Iohn who hauing receiued the badge cognisance of the beast and hauing dronke of the cup of hir whoredomes abhominations not hauing repented seing themselues in the ende ouerwhelmed with the iudgementes of God for hauing euer beene coupled with Antichrist will they not say to the mountaines fall on vs and to the earth open thy selfe deâ—our and swallowe vs vp quicke to the ende â—â—ey may escape by this meanes if it were posâ—â—le the great griefe and anguishe of minde â—herein they liue All which testifie plainely â—nto vs that the wicked who seperate themâ—elues from God and will exempt themselues â—â—om his obedience are so pursued by his iuâ—tice that they can neuer take any good rest â—â— their mindes Also the holy Scripture saith â—hat in whatsoeuer happy florishing estate they be whatsoeuer prosperitie they haue whatsoeuer riches or goodes they do possesse â—o whatsoeuer honours and dignities they are exalted and whatsoeuer delicacies and sweete pleasures they mioye yet notwithstanding they are neuer at rest nor at quiet in their mindes Esay 49. Psa 34.16 For as Dauid saith The face of the Lord is against them that do euill to cut of their remembrance from the earth And their conscience which waiteth continually on them as it were a Sargeat neuer ceaseth to threaten them and to set before their eyes continually the wrath of God and his arme which is alwaies stretched foorth to beat them downe And I pray you what other thing is hell eternal fire gehenna and the bottomlesse pit where the Deuill and the reprobate shall be condemned to remaine for euer then this horror and liuely apprehension and feeling of the wrath oâ— God which doth pearce and goeth cleanâ— through them Iam. 2.19 As Saint Iames saith that thâ— Deuils beleeue there is a God and tremble There is nothing that causeth the Angels in heauen to be contented and happie but onely the feeling of God his loue towardes them which they read and plainely see expressed in his face and in the earth likewise there is nothing that doth comfort the children of God and vpholde them in all their afflictions but his great and incomprehensible loue towardes them which they see vnfolded in his word in his sacramentes and in the whole order of the church and aboue all in the face and death of his sonne That is it which Dauid desired aboue all things sal 4.6 as it appeareth Many say who will shew vs any good But Lord lift vp the light of thy countenance vpon vs. Thou hast giuen me more ioy of hart then they haue had when their wheat and their wine did abounde I will lay me downe and also sleepe in peace for thou Lord only makest me dwell in safetie And contrariwise there was nothing that he grudged at so much nor that grieued him so sore as when he sawe the libertie taken away by the tyrannie and violence of Saule from resorting with the people of God vnto those places whereas he â—iscouered his face vnto them Psal 42.1 As the hart â—rayeth for the riuers of water so panteth my â—ule
of the minde as the ripenes of witte vertue and learning if all these be not blessed of God and accompanied with his grace they can neither profite nor benefite anie way him who possesseth them but contrarily without the blessing of God all will turne to his misery Esay 5 1 Tim 6.9 his riches shall serue to no other end but to set on fire and continue his desires to puffe vp his hearte with pride to cause him nether to regard nor make acoumpt of his poore neighboures to put his trust in vaine corrupt and vncertaine thinges to be at superfluous prodigall expences and which is a great deale worse and most dangerous Luk. 3. to withdrawe him from the kingdome of god to let as thornes weedes to hinder the good seed of the word of god from growing and fructifying in him His frendes in stead of good counsaile wil flatâ—er him Mat. 13.22 will seeke by him their owne profite â—ot his They will withdraw him froÌ„ the feare â—k seruice of God to entice him to follow the â—anities of this world In prosperity they will â—ugh with him sooth him vp but in aduerâ—ty they wil flitte forsake him Concerning â—he bodily goodes as health they wil abuse it to â—ugh sport leap dance play to hauÌ„t company 〈◊〉 feasts to quaffe to coÌ„mit folly excessewith â—ut al measure their strength they wil employ to beate strike maime rauishe steale spoile and oppresse in euery respect al those whome they suppose to be weaker then themselues lesse able to make resistaunce They will vse their beautie and good fauour if they haue anie be it either in their speach or in their countenance in steade of a baude to seduce and circumuent all those with whom they can acquaint themselues into whose fauour they can insinuate As for the goodes of their minde as it might be quicknes and dexteritie of witte they will employ them to inuent craftes and subtities to cosen and deceiue those with whome they haue to deale and to boaste when by some subtill slight they shall haue gotteÌ„ allured some one to intrappe him in their net if they haue learning it will serue but to pusse theÌ„ vp to vaunte of and by a vaine ostentation to cause themselues to be esteemed among men to conclude it is not possible for a man without God who is the chiefest good to vse or acquaint him self with any other good thing For al creatures be good god by his owne testimony after be had created all thinges in sixe dayes 1. Tim. 4 4. approued that which he had done without any exception spake of his workes that all in generall euery one in particular were good Gen. 1.31 that is to sayâ— commodious necessarie pleasant profitable wholesome But in that consideration that he do by his grace blesse the vse of them For as the Apostle saith 1. Tim. 4.5 They be all sanctified by the worde of God and thankes geuing vnto the faithfull only and to those which haue knowen the trueth For as he sayeth in another place Tit. 1.15 vnto the pure are all things pure but vnto them that are defiled vnbeleeuing is nothing pure but euen their minds consciences are defiled Is not then the condicion of the Apostates wretched that being without God without his grace they are also miserable in all things that is to say that the bread which they eate the bed whereon they lie the verie coate and shirte which they put on the light which doth lighten them the woode and fire which warmeth theÌ„ the aire which they breath in the water wherewith they wash themselues the earth which doth beare and nourish them and al thinges generally which they vse are vncleane vnto them Leuit. 26. Deut. 28. and bringe a wretchednes vpon them For ther is nothing but the word of God which we beleue and obserue the obedience which we performe vnto him and the feare of his name wherein we walke that doth make vs holie and happie in all thinges As the Prophet saieth Psal 1.2 that he which delighteth in the Lawe of the Lord and in his Lawe doth meditate daye and night shall be like a tree planted by the riuers of waters that will bringe forth her fruite in due season whose leafe shall neuer fade so whatsoeuer he shaldo shal prosper And in an other place Psal 119 165 They that loue thy law shal haue great prosperity they shall haue no hurt And as they who loue God serue him doe prosper in all their affairs vnder his fauour blessing so the wicked who go astray from him blaspheme him thoughe that for a time they haue the winde at will though it seeme to them to the whole world that all things do fall out vnto them according to their minde neuertheles al their felicitie in the ende being accursed and not fauored of god doth finish in great misery As Dauid also saith Psal 1.6 The way of the wicked shall perish But as the wicked caÌ„ not be happy without god being the author of all felicity so they can be no lesse being seperated froÌ„ Iesus Christ who is the only means therof He is the blessed seede which at his coÌ„ming by his obedience first hath takeÌ„ away all the malediction which had bene brought into the worlde by the disobedience and rebellion of our first parentes against the commandementes of God And then secondly hath brought afterward againe the blessing which God had promised to Abraham for him Gal. 3. and his seede That is to saye for those that should beleue in the promise to him made This is also the reason why among other names which are giuen vnto him by Esay this is one amongst the rest namely the name of Prince of peace Esay 9.6 Peace in the Hebrue tongue signifieth prosperity and happy successe it seemeth theÌ„ since the spirit of god hath so named Iesus Christ that he woulde teach vs by the name which he giueth him that he onely at this present is the spring of happines of all good whatsoeuer in the world So the Angels bringing tidinges of his birth into the world Luk. 2.11 told the shepheards of Iudea to whom they disclosed it first Vnto you is borne this day in the city of Dauid a Sauiour vers 14. which is Christ the Lord. Glory be to God in the high heauens peace in earth and towardes men good will And the Prophet speaking of his kingdome sayd Psal 27.3 The mountaines and the hilles shall bring peace to the people by iustice vers 6. And a litle after in the same Psalme He shall come downe like the raine vpon the mowen grasse and as the showers that water the earth Also we see that the Apostle in all his Epistles doeth wish euen in the beginning vnto those to whome he writeth the
vse to come vnto him Chap. 10. IN the couenant which God hath made with his people he doth promise to geue vnto theÌ„ his spirit his word which are two things vnseperably knitt together to worke the saluatioÌ„ of men as it is written in Esay Esay 59.21 This is my couenaÌ„t with them saith the Lord my spirit that is vpoÌ„ thee my words which I haue put in thy mouth shall not departe out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of the seed of thy seede sateth the Lord froÌ„ heÌ„ceforth for euer For as in the bringing forth of the frutes of the earth the seed is first requisite afterward the husbandmaÌ„ tilleth the earth maketh it fit to receaue the seed cast theron so in the regeneratioÌ„ of meÌ„ the word of god which is an immortal seed is first necessary then the spirit who as an husbaÌ„dmaÌ„ prepareth our hearts to receiue it to make it fructifie in them But the Apostates haue it at this day in disdaine conteÌ„pt 1 Pet. 1.23 2 Cor. 2.16 nay ther is nothing more odious vnto theÌ„ It is vnto theÌ„ the sauor of death vnto death and the cause of it is that as the euil doer taketh no plea sure to heare the seÌ„teÌ„ce wherin his death is pronounced vnto him nor to se the gibet wheron he must be executed so these traitors can not abide to heare the worde of God wherin their condemnation is written wherein they see the gallowes set vp wheron they must be hanged and punished for there disloyalty They are like vnto those that are sicke of the drowsie euill who will not be awaked but dye in their sleepe and as they doe exasperate themselues against those that woulde come nighe their bed and twitch them by the eare to hinder them from sleping therby to deliuer them from death wherevnto they runne by sleepe so the Apostates woulde neuer meete with anie that might awake them and tell them of their disease and laye before them the great dangers wherein they are and if by chaunce they fall in companie where their fault is shewed them and the great offence which they haue geuen vnto the Church of God they will either bringe them to another matter or else by and by geue them the slipe finally they are like vnto ill pay maisters who cannot abâ—de to heare any talke of their debtes because they will not discharge them And like vnto those who had rather die then to heare the newes of death leaste they shoulde take some fearefull conceite thereof The occasion then that causeth the worde of God to be so odious vnto them is not in it selfe which as the Prophet sayeth Is sweeter then the honie and the honie combe Psal 19.10 But in that they do reiect it who because they haue their heartes full of gall can not taste nor feele the sweetenes thereof As those who haue some inflammation in the roofe of their mouth can not eate breade nay they abhorre it though it be the best foode and most sauorie that may be founde for among all other meates there is not one wherewith in time we are not wearied glutted be it neuer so daintie notwithstanding any sauce prepared for the seasoning thereof yet we are neuer weary of the taste of breade Nay there is not so much as sugar and honie but they seme vnsauorie of an ill taste without it And as those who hauing sore eyes can not abide the light though it be the pleasantest and most delectable thinge that can be desired although the onely cause which maketh them to flie it is not in it but in the euill disposition and desease of the eye which can not receaue it In like manner that that causeth the Apostates to haue in such abhomination the word is nothing but their owne desease for that at this present their eares and heartes are vncircumcised They go often to the sermons of these paltrie friers taking pleasure to heare their blasphemies lyes and slauerings and do feel themselues like rauens or filthy beasts on carrions and rotten things hauing more delight in that then to eat the foode of Angels and to refresh themselues with the pure word of God which as a sweete breath proceeding from the mouth of God doth quicken all those on whome it is breathed And they are like vnto those that grudged at the stincking garlick which they had left in Egipt Num. 11.5 and preferred it before Manna that was sent them downe from heauen And vnto Adam who gaue more credit vnto the speach of the Deuil then to the word of God chosing rather to tast of the tre of knowledg of good euil against the expresse commaundement which had bene giuen vnto him and by that meanes make himselfe mortall wretched for euer then to enioye peaceably the fruite of the tree of life and in obeying the wil of god to become he and his children happy for euer and vnto Esau who esteemed more a messe of pottage then the birthright wherevnto were annexed the promises of the couenant of God Gen. 25 33 Luk. 8.37 and by consequent a certaine and euerlasting happines And to the Gadarens who had a greater care of the losse of theire hoggs Mar. 5.17 then of Iesus Christ and his word to which are adioyned all manner of temporall corporall and spirituall blessings And vnto Iudas who loued rather thirty peeces of siluer with a gibbet and a miserable death then saluation and an assured happines with Iesus Christ for the Apostates are as much or rather more wretched then all those aboue named because that departing willingly froÌ„ the church they do depriue theÌ„selues not onely of the participation that they shoulde haue therein of the treasures Coloss 2 Iohn 1. and knowledge of the wisedome of god which are bestowed geueÌ„ as a pledge vnto it but also of the fulnesse of Iesus Christ that is to say of all the goodes which his father will distribute vnto vs by his meanes by his grace which they loose by their sliding back which is worst Heb. 10 the hope also of euer recouering it againe for the meanes thereof is wholly taken away from them when as they loose the fruition of the word of God which is called in the Scripture The word of reconciliatioÌ„ 2 Cor. 5. because it is the instrument which God doth vse to reconcile vnto vs him and to adopte vs for his children and to regenerate vs and make vs new creatures Gen. 1. And as in the beginning god vsed his word onelie to create the heauen the earth and all that is contained in them so wheÌ„ he woulde renue the worlde and draw it from the corruption whereunto it was fallen by the sinne and disobedience of our parents he hath wrought it by his worde which he hath sent vs in these latter dayes first by his
sonne who hath spoken vnto vs Mar. 16.15 secondly by his Apostles ambassadors whom he sent into all the world to preach the Gospel to euerie creature to the ende that whosoeuer would receiue him by faith and true obedience should receiue also by the same meanes the remission of all his sinnes thereby his saluation life Whereby we may see that the word is the instrument which God vseth to accomplishe his worke when he would regenerate vs cal vs iustifie vs lead vs to glory happines to the which he hath predestinated vs and that finally all that which doeth appertaine to our saluation is brought to passe accoÌ„plished by this word By it we are illuminated in the true knowledge of God of Iesus Christ of the whole mistery of our redemption by it we know our selues that we are nothing but vanitie corruption Psal 39.5 to the ende we may learne alwaies to humble our selues before God and presume nothing of our selues nor of our vertues nor of our dignities nor of wealth nor of frends nor of riches nor of our power but to depend of God in all our affaires and to bow downe our neckes and make the curtesie euer before him and not to ground the hope of our saluation in any other thing then onely in his grace and mercy By it we learne how to serue god to wit the affiance which we ought euer to haue in him and the recourse vnto him in all our necessities the homage and reuerence that we owe vnto his maiestie the obedience which we ought to performe towardes him the feare which we ought to haue in offending him the care to acknowledge call to mind oftentymes the benefites which he hath bestowed on vs to thank him aboue all the perfect loue which we ought to beare vnto him with al our heart with all our soule with al our strength that doth cause vs to esteeme lesse of all other things theÌ„ of his honor seruice by it wear aduertised of those things wherby he may be blasphemed disho nored to the end we may take heed of them shuÌ„e theÌ„ Furthermore by it wear taught how after what sort we oght to pray what things we ought to aske Ihon. 14.13 1. Cor. 14. what assuraÌ„ce we haue to obtaine them when we aske them in the name fauour of Iesus Christ by it we are exhorted moued to performe our duty when we are neghgeÌ„t slouthfull likewise threatned wheÌ„ we are to much behinde hand Psal 19. By it we are coÌ„forted and vpholden in our afflictions there is no kinde of sorowe for the which we maye not finde a ready preseÌ„t remedy to asswage heale the same Ephes 611 By it we are fortified against all teÌ„ptations which may happen vnto vs by Sathan the world the flesh and other cur enemyes by it we are sharply reproued wheÌ„ we go out of order out of the way wherin we oght to walke It is vnto vs in stead of a bridle to restraine vs wheÌ„ we wold go astray of a spurre to prick vs foreward when we are laisie slow to do that which our maister coÌ„mandeth vs. It the light which doth direct our steps for feare of stuÌ„bling Psal 19. the guide which doth accoÌ„pany vs to shew vs the fairest surest shortest waâ—es It is the rule which god hath geuen vs wherby we must squaire al our thoughts our affections our words actioÌ„s in measuring theÌ„ therby we must see whether they be straight that we may continue in them or croked that we may redresse them Mat. 4.4 It is the foode of our soules It is the armor both to hurt our enemies defend our selues to strengthen fortifie assure vs in all combats oh who were able to tel all the coÌ„modities which the word of God bringeth to those Psal 1.2 who will heare beleeue read meditate therin day and night as Dauid doth exhort vs for the Apostle saith that 2. Tim. 316 The whole Scripture is geueÌ„ by inspiratioÌ„ of god is sufficieÌ„t WheÌ„ by the grace spirit of god it is receiued and wel imprinted in the heart of maÌ„ to make him perfect absolute in al good works And he that will diligently know what is the vertue efficacy of this word together with the great coÌ„modities honor riches pleasures the felicity which it bringeth vnto all those which loue follow it Let him read diligeÌ„tly attentiuely the psalmes of Dauid especially the 119 Psal 119.1 wher euen in the beginning he doth ascribe vnto it the felicity of man Blessed are those that are vpright in their way and walke in the law of the Lord Blessed are they that kepe his testimonies and seeke him with their whole hearte And by by after he setteth downe the partes of true felicitie to wit honor riches and pleasures the honor in the first place ver 6 Then shall I not be confounded when I haue respect to all thy commandements Secondly the riches ver 72. The lawe of thy mouth is better vnto me ver 14. then thousands of gold syluer Thirdly the pleasurs I haue had as great delight in the way of thy testimonies as mal riches Furthermore in another place ver 174. O Lord thy law is my delight and in the 19 Psalme wheÌ„ he saieth the law of the Lord is perfect coÌ„uerting the soule the testimony of the Lord is sure giueth wisedoÌ„ vnto the simple the statuts of the lord ar right reioyce the hart ver 10. the coÌ„maÌ„demeÌ„t of the iord is pure giueth light to the eyes a litle after more to be desired theÌ„ gold yea theÌ„ much fine gold sweter also then hony and the hony combe and in the 130 Psalme speaking of the grounde of his hope and the meanes which he had to vphold coÌ„fort himselfe in his greatest sorowes euen theÌ„ when by reason of his sinnes he did so feare the rigour and seuerity of the iudgement of God that he was altogether beateÌ„ downe therwithall and ready to fall into despaire he saieth he had no other meanes to releaue himself and to thrust backe these horrible feares whereby he felt him selfe so assaulted but by the onely remembrance and meditation of the worde and promises of God wherein beholding his mercy and readines to take pittye on all miserable sinners who with greife for that they haue offended him desire humbly his mercy began to come to himsellf againe say Psal 130.5 I haue waited on the Lord my soule hath wayted I haue trusted in his worde my soule wayteth on the Lorde more then the morning watche watcheth for the morning Moreouer is not counsaile and wisedome as necessary for men to carie gouerne themselues in all their affaires well and happily as the eye for the members
their coÌ„sultations The first shal be that ther is no saluation but in the church As the Prophet sayth Ioel. 2.32 And it shal come to passe that whosoeuer shal cal one the name of the Lord shal be saued for in mouÌ„t Sion in IerusaleÌ„ shal be deliueraÌ„ce as the Lord hath said in the reÌ„â—ant whom the Lord shal cal Esay 4.5 Esay saith as much The Lord shal create vpoÌ„ euery place of mouÌ„t SioÌ„ vpoÌ„ the assemblyes therof a cloud smoke by day the shining of a flaming fire by night for vpon al the glory shal be a defence a couering shal be for a shadow in the day for the heat a place of refuge a couer for the storme for the rayne So doth Zachary in his song Luc. 1.68 Blessed be the Lord god of Israel because he hath visited redeemed his people That we may theÌ„ be made partakers of the saluation which god the Father doth offer vnto vs in his sonne we must be vnited vnto him made members of his body that is to saye that we be adopted into the houshold of Abraham with whom the couenant hath bene made and associated by faith with the holy vniuersall church which caÌ„ not be done except we beleue the communion of the Sainctes and vntil such time as we be ioyned with theÌ„ in the publicke assemblyes wherein the word of God is preached the Sacramentes administred the order kept in confessions prayers and open thankes geuinges and in the discipline and censures which are made of maners to put in authoritie the practise and vse of the worde of God and to meete with those corruptions which otherwise easily enter into the Church and alter it The second Axiome is Luke 12. that in thinges which God doth commaunde we ought not to delaye nor to be slowe to put them in execution But alwayes to haue our loynes girded vp and houlde in our handes the burning lampe to be readye to goe euery where whether it shal please him to send vs. And to do readily that which he coÌ„maundeth vs Rom. 1. Heb. 11. Gen. 12.4 For true faith is euer accompanied with this ready obedience as we see by experience in Abraham the Father of the beleeuers who was ready to departe out of his countrey and leaue all his commodities yea and to sacrifice his owne sonne in whom he put the effect and truethe of the promise Gen. 22.3 as soone as God had commaunded him And that is it which Iesus Christ teacheth vs to aske of his Father to wit Mat. 6.10 that his will should be done in earth as it is in heauen That is to say that he do graunt vs the grace that we be as ready and willing to doe his will as the Angells which are in heauen who haue no sooner receaued the commandement of God but euen in the verye instaunt they put it in execution for God loueth not those dodgers which bargayne and aske still more dayes of aduise to deliberate vpon that which he commaundeth them whether they should do it or not For sithens he is the Soueraigne Lord commandeth nothing but that which is reasonable and for the profit of those whome he will employ in his seruice must we take counsell whether we should obey him or no in that which he doth commaunde vs and to be more hastie or slower in accomplishing his will then are senseles creatures which doe not come short or go beyonde in anie one litle point of that which the creatour doth command them Psal 23.5 Exod. 4.14 Ier. 1.7 The Scripture teacheth how God was greeuously prouoked against Moses Ieremy and Ionas in that they were wayward in taking the charge and commission which he was to giue them in obeying that which he commaunded them And the great daunger wherein Ionas fell because because he would haue fledde away Ion. 1.4 to the end he might haue exempted himself from going to Niniuye whether God would haue sent him doth shew plainly enough the iminent perill to which they lay open themselues who delay so long to enter into the Church to obey in that the calling of god who doth summone inuite them so willingly vnto him Esay 65. hauing euery day from morning to night his armes stretched forth to receaue and embrace them comming vnto him And are they not amased at that which Iesus Christ spake vnto him that would haue followed him but vpon that condition that he would suffer him Luk. 9.62 first to go bid them farewell which were at his house No maÌ„ sayeth he to him that putteth his hand to the plowe and looketh backe is apt for the kingdome of God The thirde Axiome that we ought neuer to let flippe the occasion of weldoing nor a receauing the benefite that God doth set before vs when occasion offreth it selfe but apply our selues immediatly vnto it and vse it lest that it being once lost it cannot be possiblye recouered againe That is it which Christ Iesus sayde speaking vnto the Iewes Yet a litle while is the light with you Ioh. 12 35. walke while ye haue light least the darknesse come vpon you for he that walketh in the darke knoweth not whether he goeth admonishing them thereby that they should take heede of reiecting of the grace which God offred vnto them in him by him that if they did it being taken from theÌ„ they could no more come by it which they haue fouÌ„d in deed for hauing not receiued the light then when it was offred they haue bene vtterly depriued therof and are yet at this day So that since fifteene hundred yeares ago there hath not beene in the whole world a people more wretched than that because they haue not knowne the time of their visitation Luk. 19 44 and haue not receyued the great benefites which God would haue bestowed on them then wheÌ„ they were offered those that were bidden to the wedding of the kings son did excuse them selues Matt. 22 5. the one alledging their merchandize the other their domesticall busines and the rest those impediments which they had they were so farre from satisfiyng and contenting the king by these excuses that contrariwise his anger beeing more extremely kindled against those that had not made any account of the honor fauour that he did vnto them he pronounced them vnworthy of his liberalitie and of euer being receiued into his house Mat. 25.10 The foolish virgines because they had not the care to light their lamps in due time were ouertaken by the comminge of the bridegroome and excluded out of the hall where the banket was made which dothe teache vs not to imitate the slouthefull who gaspe and wringe their handes or hange downe their armes then when they shoulde worke in the time of neede But to followe the example of the Ant who earelie and betimes maketh her prouision foreseeing that in
8.17 we must be likewise participant of his crosse and tribulations Wil they thē that God who is vnchangable in his counsailes decrees should breake them for their sakes that by an especiall priuiledge he should except them from the commō rule and exempt them alone from persecution from which his owne sonne was not freed when in great feare and horrible anguish of death he desired his father saying Mat. 26.39 O my Father if it be possible let this cup passe from me Should they not content themselues with this condition that their estate should be like to their Lord and Maisters And yet it is better Heb. 7.26 for of all the children of God there is none that hath suffred so much in this world as the first borne who was his naturall sonne his onely sonne his welbeloued sonne and who alone was innocent and vndefiled amongest all men Were it not a great shame for a man to request to be crowned hauing not fought and to receaue the price of the race 2. Tim. 2.5 wherein he neuer ranne that were to reape hauing not sowen and to gather not hauing laboured 1. Cor. 9. Doe not we feare least we shoulde be thought not onely too too fine and daintie but also treacherous and disloyall if whilest the other fight in the fielde couered on all sides with dust and blood weary out of breath halfe dead for the great thirst which they indure we shuld stay still vnder the tent in the shadow to refresh vs at our ease by the bottels flagons Whē Dauid would haue sent the valiāt knight Vriah vnto his house 2. Sam. 11.11 there toly delite himselfe with his wife being returned frō the cāpe frō which he came by the cōmandement of his general to bring tidings vnto the King of the army excused himselfe frō doing of that which the king cōmanded by a notable excellent aunswer God forbid said he that thy seruaunt should euer suffer so shamefull a reproch that he hath lien soft in his house whē his captaine in the war hath in his pauiliō laid on the straw bed What shame then or rather what impudēcy is it for the delaiers to dwel stil in their houses drinking of good wine making mery in the meane time they beholde their captaine Iesus Christ tied vnto the crosse Ioh. 19.29 to whome is giuen vinegre to quench his thirst The Rubenites Gadites and the halfe tribe of Manasses Numb 32. thogh Moses by the cōsent of al the other tribs had assigned vnto them their portion dwelling in the lands which they had conquered on the other side of Iordan vpon the two Amorean Kings Sehon the King of Basan for that cause had noweleisure to rest themselues their wiues and their children not taking any more paines in the trauels labours of warre neuertheles they would not inioy this rest whilest their brethren were in the fieldes fighting conquering of the Chananits the residue of the land which God had promised vnto thē for their inheritāce but with a noble valiant hart did offer themselues to go the foremost in the battell to be partakers of all the toiles daungers of their brethren vntill such time as they also should be setled haue occasion to rest as they themselues had Which is an example of great courage which these weake and faint heartes should set before their eies to imitate consider with themselues what a reproch it is to eate the hony as drones when it is gathered and refuse in the meane time the paynes to goe into the fieldes to gather it But what Which of these two will they be Children or bastardes Heb. 12.8 If they choose rather to be bastardes besides the reproche they get thereby they can not be heires If they be children they must be partakers of the chasticements afflictions which are cōmon to all the children whereby they get their inheritance Rom. 5. Gal. 6. Mat. 5.11 Why doe they flye the crosse and persecutions of Iesus Christ seeing it is the badge and chiefest glorie of Christians Doe they thinke they shall be miserable when they shall be iniuried imprisoned banished robbed of al their goods That their names shal stinke and be execrable to the whole world and that euery euil word shall be sayd against them for Iesus Christ his cause Nay contrariwise he pronounceth those happie and sayth that it is one of the seales of our election to assure them that the kingdom of God doth belong vnto them and that this narrowe way which they abhorre so much Mat. 7.14 is euen that which leadeth thereunto and he pronounceth those wretched who desire riches pleasures and the honors of this worlde Wo be to you that are riche Luk. 6.24 for ye haue receiued your consolation Wo be to you that nowe laugh for ye shall waile and weepe Wo be to you when all men speake well of you for as he sayth in an other place that which is highly esteemed amongst men Luc. 16.15 is most commonly abhominable in the sight of God Soph. 1. I will visit all those who as wine rest vppon their dregs That is to say which loue rather to wallowe and rot in their filth then to rise and hasten themselues to preuent the iudgement of God and the day of his wrath Which shall be vnto them no doubt a day of tribulation anguish of darkenes and obscurity of weping and gnashing of teeth Apoc. 21.8 The fearefull sayeth S. Iohn shall not enter into the kingdome of God but shall haue their part as also al vnbeleeuers liars and Idolaters in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the seconde death but he that ouercommeth shall inherite all things and I will be his God and he shall be my sonne Shoulde not the threatnings of God so horrible correct the feare of the most fearefull person in the worlde And on the other side those excellent promises that God maketh vnto all those that shall be couragious and who fighting manfully shall be victors ouer their enimies ought they not to incourage stirre vp the greatest coward that is to take the whole armour of God that is the breastplate of righteousnesse The shielde of faith the helmet of saluation Eph. 6.13 the sword of the spirit which is the word of God To resist the Deuils the Lords of the world and gouerners of the darkenesse of the same and to fight against al the malicious spirits which are in heauenly places 1. Cor. 10.5 cast downe all imaginations euery high thing that exalteth it selfe against the knowledge of God and bring into captiuity euery thought to the obedience of Christ The spirit of God which is a power frō on high Luk. 24.49 Ioh. 3.5 which by faith is communicated vnto vs by our regeneration is it a spirite of feare and not
of the Lord saith Dauid is reuealed to them that feare him and his couenant to giue them vnderstanding And doth not Iesus Christ say I giue thee thankes ô Father Mat. 11.25 Lord of heauen earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise men of vnderstanding and hast opened them vnto babes It is so Father because thy good pleasure was such The conclusion then of all the discourse of this chapter shal be that the Apostates being out of the Church are depriued of the word of God of all the benefits which do redound of the inioying therof And though some of them haue bookes thereof yet that doth profit them no more then it doth the Iewes to haue the Bible wherof they haue not the true sence and what auaileth it sayth the Prophet Esay Esay 29.11 to haue a booke that is sealed vp or els open and not to know the letters and characters wherewith it is written The Apostates are depriued of the Sacraments aswell as of the word Chap. 11. THe second instrument which God vseth to entertaine preserue and assure alwayes more more the life which he hath communicated vnto it by his word and promises and which he hath receiued by the faith which he attributeth vnto it be the 2. Sacraments to wit the Baptisine the holy Cōmunion that god hath instituted and annexed vnto his word as seales to confirm helpe our faith 〈◊〉 props pillers to hold stay it on both sides so that it abideth stable and inuincible against all the tēptations wherwith it might be hurt assalted of the vse benefit which might be reaped of them the Apostates do voluntarily depriue themselues when they depart from the fellowship of the church for being seperated from it the baptisme can no more serue thē for a tokē to testifie declare thē to be mēbers therof or that they appertaine any longer to the father the Sonne or the Holy Ghost whose house dwelling place they haue forsaken And euen as if a knight hauing receiued that order of the King made promises taken the accustomed oths if afterward through some hatred or mislike he should depart from that promise troth which he had giuen in token whereof he should send him back his order to signifie vnto him that he would afterward be freed released from his oth So the Apostates hauing giuē ouer the couenāt of God haue also by the same meanes forsaken the tokēs marks therof so that they can not at this present call God any more their father whose children they are not or Iesus Christ their Sauior whose mēbers sheepe they are not or the Holy ghost their director guide whose tēples they are not any lōger although they haue receiued their external signe of baptisme neuertheles they haue not the vertue efficacy nor the thing which is represented thereby so that it may be sayd of thē that they haue a body without a soule they haue a ring not a husband the deds titles without possessing emoying the inheritāce the scepter the crowne the armes without the kingdome and that which they haue can serue them to no other vse out to prooue declare their disloialty and to make them inexcusable in the iudgement of God when as they shall appeare before him For as a man can not haue a more certaine and euident proofe against a theefe to conuince and condemne him then to finde the purse which he hath lately cut in his owne handes so it is not possible to alleage or bring a more cleere argument against the Apostates to prooue that they be disloiall vnto God then to shewe the couenantes of God which they haue broken yet printed and ingrauen in their bodies And as the Apostates are departed from Iesus Christ who is the substance of the sacramentes and of the Church which is the people of God wherein they are administred and receiued where they onely can shew forth their vertue become wholesome so they haue depriued themselues of the whole fruit which they might haue reaped by their baptisine staying in the Church as to assure themselues they were members of the Church and comprehended within the couenant of God and that their sinnes were forgiuen them and washed away in the blood of Iesus Christ that the holy Ghost was communicated vnto them to sanctifie them and in begetting getting them a new by litle litle to change their nature and become new creatures which be no small graces or things lightly to be accounted of Also they are at this present wholly depriued of the communion of the Lorde which is one of the excellentest meanes that we haue to confirme and strengthen the vnion and fellowshippe which we haue with Christ Ioh. 6. For in it we eat his flesh and drinke his blood that he may dwell in vs and we in him inseparably as the foode which is neuer separated frō the body of him that doth eat it after it be once changed into his substance Nowe if it be asked to what ende they haue withdrawne themselues from the table of Iesus Christ disdaining the exquisit and pretious meates that are serued thereon to feede those that come vnto it in a sure hope of an eternall and most happy life It may be answered that it was done that they might be partakers of the table of Deuils 1. Cor. 10.21 where they can not eate or receiue any thing but venome and all kindes of poysons For the Masse whereto they haue this day so great deuotion that they runne wheresoeuer it is song the first to ring to it and to answer in it to helpe as varlets of the chamber to attire the foole that sheweth them this sport what is this but a mysterie of iniquitie 2. Cor. 2. much more expectable then can be named amōg men as denying open renoūcing of the blood and the death of the sacrifice and of their whole redēption of Iesus Christ The head of al iniquity idolatry and to conclude the vtter ouerthrow as wel of the saluation of men as of all religion For the Deuill neuer made a greater breach into the church of God thē whē he established that because he did at once bury as it were in a tombe of forgetfulnes first of all the honor of God Exod. 20. Mat. 4. who is more dishonored blasphemed by this masse then by any thing that euer he had inuented since the beginning of the world Heb. 9.28 10.10 Secōdly the whol benefit of Iesus Christ which is groūded wholly vpon the oblation made by him of himselfe to make satisfaction for all our sins by this satisfaction to procure vnto vs for euer a general remission pardon which this enemy of mankind hath by the meanes of the masse translated to his abhominable priesthood and facrifice of Papistrye And finally all the meanes of the saluation