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
sleepe and make them drouzie For when my heart in the beginning of my calling began to yeelde towards the Lord and to be somewhat wakened then the pleasures of sinnes past the shame of reproches which I saw to be vttered of the world against the Godly the basenes of the Gospell the daungers of trials in the professing of christ Iesus the glittering and deceiuable pleasures of this life the holding of friendship with the worlde and worldly friends but especially the manifolde daungers and intollerable waightines of this high calling of the preaching of the word to deale with it purely and sincerely as in the sight of God from God through Christ these thinges helde tacke with me a long time and a thousand other thinges amazed me so as I aunsweared my calling at the first but as one a stammed or in a sleepe or dreame Let euery man therefore among you in good earnest deale with his owne heart for it is full of deceitfulnesse Euery moouing of the hearte and hopping for ioye after Christ is not a right moouing For so he that receiued the seede with ioye Math. 13.20 might haue beene in Christ who yet vannished againe Thou mayest thinke that thy heart is maruailous affectioned after Christe and that thou ioyest in him when as thy affection truely tryed is altogeather carnal and filthy Yea many no doubt perswade them selues that they haue Christ sure in their heartes that they are in his fauour that they are euen hugged in his armes and that they shall bee saued by him as well as the best which yet neuer so much as truely knew Christ nor tasted of him and are furthest off from being saued by him A man would think beloued that there could not be any such deceitfulnsse in mans hearte that when they are most sure they should be most deceiued The reason is because they perswade themselues to be of Christ if they do but speak of him though the fruictes and effectes of Christs residence are not to be seen in them For when Christ truely taketh possession of men occupieth the roome of their harts there his death is strōg to expell Sathan the worlde sinne euil thoughtes yea to destroy and pull downe sathans kingdome Also his resurrection is not idle in his saints but sanctifieth the heart thoughts minde will affections and vnderstanding yea reformeth the whole man within and without that he is chaunged and becommeth a new creature his words lookes gestures and all his members bewray a holy and spiritual chaunge which although it be not wrought all at once but by degrees yet men must not loyter and flacke their pace to aspire to perfection I haue marked by experience within these fewe yeares that many whom the Lord hath called to the loue of his Gospell from their former euil and ciuill life that they haue bene very diligent and painefull in hearing the worde at the first neglecting their callings and trades yea more then was expedient sometimes yet after a while when they had somewhat waded in the worde that they haue come to some knowledge or some other gift haue againe much neglected the worde prayer and other holy exercises both in publick and also in their priuate families and so againe somewhat sleeping in their pleasures and profites Thus men sleepe and are easly drawne to it but let them take héed that their hearts sleepe not It standeth Christians in hand to looke to them selues sith they haue so daungerous a nature and deceauable as also so hurtful enemies of Sathan and the world Many a man and woman when God calleth them and their hearts begin to ayme after the Lorde and they are forced to acknowledge the power of his word and to condemne and find fault with their corruptions yet they sleepe One deferreth of the Lord with this excuse Oh I haue a trade and I must follow it I could find in my hart to heare the worde and to doe as other do but I must liue and I please God as wel sayth another in my trade c. as in going to Sermons Here is a sleepe that falleth vpon men that they might not wake at the Lords call and suit Why God promiseth not to blesse any man in his calling though he prospereth the contemners to their condemnation somtime to make them inexcusable vnlesse they are carefull to obey his word and wil. And it is a greater worke to worship God and to heare his worde is a part of his worship then to labour in our trade I bind no man from following his calling but to bee diligent in it yet so that the Lorde haue his part at our handes and that wee serue not oure owne turnes and the worlds and so neglect the Lordes worship yea and our owne saluation which is brought vnto vs by the preaching of the gospell Others there are whose heartes somewhat melt at the word praier and good things would fain haue part in thē but eyther some seueral sinnes which they do not thoroughly set them selues against and vse means to mortify but they breake forth at euery occasion so as they are a sléep againe and yet the heart may haue some waking after Christ These do hinder them make their heart almost a sléep and faint vnto any duties or els wanting the means to stir them vp being of themselues lubbrish to seek the means hauing their minds too much occupied in the world or els shame deteining them or feare of laws taking holde of them of the wicked spying them out c. they neglect all good meanes that may do them good Thus euery man may complain and say I am asleepe but few see the daunger of their sleepe and so labor to stirre vp themselues from sleep as the spouse doth here but it is to be feared that many men are a sleepe euen in their hearts which hope better of themselues and that is a dangerous sleepe Awake therfore truely out of sleeep and sinne not Let vs therfore good christians in the loue of Christ Iesus and of our own soules searche and suruey all the corners of our harts that there lie hid nothing in vs that may holde vs back frō following of Christ yea let euery one of vs say here Lord we are at hād to wait vpon thée our souls body doth delight in the liuing God That we may thus shake of al sleepy drowzy worldly cares affections and watch to wayt vpon the Lordes call that we may be ready willingly at a beck to imbrace him heartely in our soules which grace God graunt vs. Amen Thus we see in this circumstance of the lets that is interlaced here in a word what lets are with in vs which make our hearts heauy to looke vp to Christ Iesus Yet we must note that the spouse laboured to waken herself and giueth not place to sleeping but museth and calleth to minde her louers voyce making suit to be intertained Oh sayth shee This is
dumpes a while that after in his good time hee might the more recouer our zeale loue fayth hope patience and waiting on the Lorde that wee may say with Dauid Psal 77.7.10 I sawe it was but mine owne infirmitye In which Psalme Dauid speaketh of greate tryalles and so causeth his Sayntes to make so muche the more of his mercy and fauour howe much the more Sathan and our incredulitie seeketh to hide it from vs. And this hyding of Christ is described here of Solomon by the figure of louers which sometime by shewing of strangnes one to the other mak one the more faine on the other Likewise Christ by his strangenes somtimes kindleth the desire of his saints the more towards him So Christ shewed himself strange to the woman of Cananea was of a verie grown countenance not vouchsafing to answere her a while Math. 15.22 and when hee answered it was as a man would thinck a verie churlish answere but al was to stir vp and trie her faith Somtime also Christ séemeth to leaue his church afflicting it so that when it séeketh after him he séemeth to be awaie Which somtime dismaieth the Godly they thinck that the Lord neglecteth them as Dauid complaineth Why hidest thou thy face in the needfull time of trouble and againe Why art thou so far from my health from the teares of my complaint The like complaints he maketh Psalm 89.46 to the ende and Psalm 69.17.18 And this last manner of Christes holding off by afflicting his Sayntes doth amaze them when they see the Churche of God left in the Bryars and the wicked tryumphing For wee thinke that the Lord put vp too many iniuries at the handes of his enemies I sought him but I coulde not finde him c. See how the Spouse though in a maze and mammering at the absence of her loue yet lingreth after him and seeketh out for him but as yet she findeth him not neyther will hee aunswere when shee calleth This should not discourage vs or put vs off from inquiring after God though he seem to absente him selfe for a time and though wee haue not out of hande the knowledge fayth zeale loue obedience or that measure of repentaunce which wee woulde fayne haue yea though we haue often craued for some grace at the hande of God wayting long for it and yet he seemeth to denye it vnto vs in not graunting that grace which wee pray for yet let vs not giue ouer but still pray and euen wrastle with the Lorde till wee obtayne the blessing For God deferreth off long sometime before hee will heare that hee might trye oure Faithe for hee will bee tyed neyther to time meanes nor measure so as wee muste not prescribe him neither when how or how farre he shall graunte oure requestes onelye lette vs still bee inquiring after him and calling vppon him seeking him whereas hee is to be founde euen in his word and when hee is to be found which is so long as hee maketh offer of his grace by his worde This inquiring after God is a part of his worshippe as wee may gather from the contrary Zephany 1.5 where God threatneth to cut of al that sought not after God nor inquyred for him So then wee see what a damnable state all those are in what so euer they are which doe not seeke after God aright in his word and are not daily inquiring after his will to do it but rather turn themselues away wilfully when the Lorde seeketh to finde them As they doe which contemne the woorde will not heare it or hearing it are not mooued with Zeale to followe after God and walke in his wayes increasinge in the knoweledge of his will but thinke it euen a drudgerye to bee compelled or called on to heare the woorde or at leaste waye counte it a needelesse thing But let vs bee stirred vp beeloued to vse all meanes wherebye wee maye shake off all suche lettes as hinder vs that wee maye open vnto Christe and seeke after him euen then when hee seemeth as it were to bee turned asyde that we maye neuer let him slippe vtterlye from vs nor giue him cause by our scornefull behauiour to departe from vs leaste wee after seeke him with teares when hee will not be founde Thus at this time we haue seene some of the letts of the spouse too morrow if God will we shall see the rest so far as time shall permit The Lord our good God make all this fruitefull vnto our Soules that wee by his grace may ouerstride all lettes to imbrace Christe and seeke after him so as hee maye abide with vs for euer by his grace here and we abide with him in his Heauenlye Kingdome for euer and euer Amen Let vs pray c. The third Sermon IT followeth in the seuenth verse The watchmen that went about the Citie found me they smote and wounded mee the watchmen of the wals tooke away my vaile from me We heard yesterday concerning the lets in nature which hindred the Spouse in her comming on and how many stayes men meet with al in their Christian calling Also we haue seene that the spouse for slowing the time had some what to do afterward when she would faine haue found her loue that he with drew him selfe for a time which was some trouble to her And sure it is when men driue off long or they come to the obedience of the Gospel it is a corzie to them when they are called to see how they driue off the time with the lord God correcteth such slackinges in his saints by many means Well here the spouse inquiring after Christe her husband and hauing ouer stryded al lets in her selfe maketh report what lets shee found abroad in others And how the malice of the false and enuious teachers burst out aganst her that they abused her greatly Some vnderstand this of the Godly teachers that they found the Spouse and smote her with reprehensions of the worde and tooke away the vaile of her ignoraunce from her But because she still inquireth for her husband and louer and that of others of Ierusalem after for that she could not be satisfied by the watchmen which rather hindred her I take it therfore without question to be ment of the wicked teachers which are so farre from helping forwarde of the Godly that they pine at the zeale and diligence of Gods children labouring to disgrace them and hazard their profession to discredite among the wicked pulling off their vaile dealing roughly as roynishe rufflers to boysterous to handle or louingly intreat the tender Spouse of Christe Iesus Yea some are not ashamed to saye none are worse then those great professours and these that talke moste thus they strengthen the hands of the wicked and raylers opening the mouthes of the enemies to blaspheme euen the Gospell it selfe discountenauncing the true seruauntes of God causing them to mourne whome the Lorde hath not caused to mourne Ezek. 13.
as they doe or to serue the presēt time but zealously inquireth the more after her make euē in the midst of the contempt of men not being satisfied of the euil watchmē turneth to the godly in Ierusalem saying vers 8. I charge you O daughters of Ierusalem if you finde my welbeloued that you report to him that I am sick of loue shee now rowzeth vp her selfe and is rered vp an end after the pushes of the enuious watchmen yea she ouerstrideth these perils that albeit shee saw some hang behinde and othersome to let what they could yet she recouereth her zeale and becommeth of an inuincible corage The second part of the manner of her comming on Heere therefore is the second part of the manner of the spouses comming on namely the recouering of her zeale and inquiring more busily after Christ when she saw what lets were in the waie and contemning all lets she boldoly chargeth the godly of Ierusalem for that shee knewe saluation should come from Sion and the word of God from Ierusalem that they would direct her and further her vnto Christ praying for her and commending her to the Lord signifiing her earnest affection constant loue towards Christ Iesus Thus the godly should not cease to inquire after God stil and not be hindred by the wicked but continue in confessing Christ imbracing his worde with carefulnes musing conferring and reading of it which prayer and calling vppon God that so others also should be stirred vp by their example As after followeth vers 17. For it is not enough to shake handes with Christe when all other plausibly entertaine him when princes countenance his Gospel and in a calms and sunshine day But we must also when troubles arise when fals teachers shal seeme to depraue the trueth yea when princes shal gage batel against Christ Otherwise we shall prooue our selues to be but timeseruers In déed it is somwhat and that which fewe come vnto to countenaunce the gospel to speake ride and go in the behalf of the preachers and godly men and to further the preaching of the worde euen nowe in the time of our Halcion daies But this is not al. Wee must prepare and adresse our selues for foule weather and stormy trials and to be forward though al other shoulde flip backe We must not alone then confesse Christ Iesus with others and perfourme the exercises of Religion when others doe onely but also apart by our selues as Zach. 12.13 They should mourne euery family apart and their wines apart by themselues for a man may pray when others pray or with his familie and heare the worde or conferre of it when others doe and yet bee a verye hypocryte For it is a daungerous signe of Hypocrisie if a man haue a delighte to praye to heare the woorde or to talk of it or to be occupied in any godly exercise onelye when others are occupied in them or when hee is in company or may bee seene or harde and hath not a ioye and delighte also to bée occupied in suche holy exercises euen alone and apart by him selfe thoughe none bee with him heare him nor see him Wee see that often times men hardlye come to this to bee zealous when other are zealous to praye when other praye to confesse when other confesse and to exercise the worship of God when other doe but also be zealous and forwarde in Religion when others hang backe or become enemyes this is rare and seldome amongst men It were good therefore if men woulde goe many times aside by themselues and in the closet of their owne harts deale with God humbling themselues praying earnestlye fasting apart by themselues that they might bee the more fit to doe good to themselues and others So then we see the zeale of the faythfull must breake oute more and more though it be insulted vppon by men and sought to be vndermined yea we shoulde study to procure and stirre vp our housbandes wiues housholde kindred neighbours and friendes As we read they of the church should shew their zeale not only in being forward themselues but calling vppon others as Esay 2.3 Come let vs goe vp to the mountaine of the Lorde c. Also Iosshua in the 24. Iosh 14 15. Chapter of his booke exhorting the people to serue God in truth bad◠them consider what they would doe But I sayth he and my houshold wil serue the Lorde If then this be the duties of Christians one to further another as they can not tarrying one for another as men straint curtesie in this point how much more should the Minister bee forwarde in Godlinesse knowledge and zeale notwithstanding all lets to towle on the people with them vnto God Yea this is required of all magistrates rulers richmen headboroughes of parishes that they should be forwardest stirring vp others by their example But for the most part they are flowest in the lords causes but let not vs tarry vppon others the more we haue forslowed the time the more we are bound to redéem it The spouse rescueth her selfe from the abuse of the euill watchmen and turneth to them of Ierusalem wher the Lorde was then onely resident by his ministery in his temple inquiring of the Lorde in his lawfull and ordinary meanes euen the ministerye of his word whereby both he instructeth his Church and the Church and faithfull againe consult with the Lorde We shoulde therefore make our recourse to the lawfull ministery of the word and cal vpon yea and charge our Pastors and ministers if they are slow to the execution of their charge that they reueale and discouer Iesus Christ vnto vs. And because this wil séeme somewhat saucely mallepertly done that the people should cal vpon and charge their ministers to be careful c. I must be faine to vndershore my exhortation in this point by some example For I speake no other thing then that which Paule exhorteth the Collossians vnto in his Epistle to them chapter 4. ver 17. Say vnto Archippus looke vnto thy ministery which thou hast receiued in the lord that thou fulfill it So that Paule woulde haue the congregation by admonition to stirre him vp And sure Paule coulde haue admonished him him selfe in his owne person but he layeth that charge on the Collossians that they ought them selues to spurre forward their Pastor if he waxe colde and the Pastor him selfe shoulde not refuse to be admonished by his church or people but it must be done of them with reuerence If Archippus was to be stirred vp to his duety by the people who yet laboured in some measure in the Church what shall be sayed to those that laboure not at all neyther can a way with admonition but are deafe at suche doctrine as concerne their duety Or what shal be sayde of those Archministers which are appointed to ouer see the rest yet some of them are so farre from charging them to teach as they doe after a sort maintaine a dumbe
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
Sathan and sinne the worlde and our owne selues to match with Christ Iesus and bee gouerned vnder him hee will vouchsafe to embrace vs and receiue vs to fauour Oh therefore good people as you loue your owne souls let me intreate and in intreating let me obtaine that you will vnfeignedly loue Christ Iesus againe I maye not leaue you til I obtaine at your handes O that I coulde so vndermine your hearts and vse my speech so as I might preuaile with you and speede for so gracious a sutor and louer Alas my deare brethren we haue serued our owne lustes too too long already For is it not sufficient for vs that we haue spent the time past of the life after the lust of the Gentiles walking in wantonnes lustes drunkennesse pride selfeloue couetousnes gluttony drinkings and such other abhominations 1. Pet. 4.3 Let the rest of our life be consecrate vnto God for we haue played the filthy harlots too much and haue mocked with the Lord a long time We haue made many fayer promises and shewes of loue but in vaine some of vs for we haue turned to our owne filthines againe and not liued chaste in our soules before the Lorde so as it is wonder that he hath not giuen vs a bil of diuorcement al this time and turned vs out of doores Let vs therefore humble our selues before the bill of diuorcement be published against vs. Alas let not the loue of this world though it séeme neuer so gorgious rich and precious in our eyes deceiue vs so that our loue shoulde be set vpon that and Christe shoulde be gainesayd who hath beene at great cost with vs. Some refuse to ioyne with Christ because they are wedded to their pleasures and profits and are loth to be weaned from them Some thinke Christe to homely and plaine for them and not gallant ynough to maintayne them in their pride in their great ruffes gorbellies broadred heare and a thousande such vanities which hinder them from matching with Christ The courtlike minions drowned in their pleasures are ashamed of the playnes of Christ for they that are in kinges housen weare soft apparell but Christe is without such pompe Othersome refuse him because he is deformed and worne with afflictions being loath to vndergo the crosse with him Othersome imbrace him willingly so farre as their pleasures and commodities reache and as they may liue easely but when Christ looketh to haue their loue in trouble in pouerty in shame in dishonor then they leaue him as most faithlesse and shamelesse strompetes Other some vse Christ as a band to couer their vnchast and filthy life and as a cloake to couer their vncleannesse when in professing of him they thinke to set a good face on the matter countenance themselues by him though they priuily nourish pamper most vile beastly affections yea vglesome monsters at home as a harlot which taketh a husband is bear his name as an outward honesty and yet let out her body most shamelesly to other men who cutteth off her selfe by her vnfaithfulnesse from her husband So shal al such haue a bill of diuorcement and bee vtterly caste off from Christe Iesus vnlesse they repent Christ I say is come into his Garden by his ministers and ouerlooketh his Church labouring by his worde to draw men more neere vnto him for his word is his errande or suite which he maketh to vs and the free deed of feofment which hee maketh to his Spouse of his inheritaunce so as we must by faith set our hand to it doing all seruices and loyalties due to the Lorde who holdeth the prerogatiue ouer vs. Yet we refuse to make sure this our estate vnto vs or to match with Christe affiauncing our selues wholy vnto him both body and soule to be sanctified to the vse of holinesse and righteousnesse Surely there is iust cause that we should yeeld to this suite to eat of his pleasures with him to make merry with Christ in this his roial banquet and to match our selues to him In deed there is a great inequalitie in the match that the sonne of God should come downe from heauen indued in our â—â—â—she to espouse him self to mans soul which was forfeited into the hand of sathan and hel so as modesty might seeme to be an excuse to hold vs backe but it is not that which hindreth vs but euen pride selfeloue contempt ignorance worldly mindednesse and such like Cast off therefore al lets and yeeld ouer your selues to the Lorde sith he hauing all riches offereth to participate the same with vs and intreateth vs so to doe by his seruantes If we seeke for a rich match Lo he is most rich If for honor and dignity he is most honorable and king of al kings If for pomp he hath al the glory of his father If for beauty and person he is most beautifull and personable If for pleasure he hath all true pleasures If for ease he offereth true rest and ease euen to our soules If we seeke to match with an honest stock who is more honest gratious louing and holy then the sonne of God Who loketh not to our person beauty riches stock or pareÌ„tage for we come al off the rotten poore beggerly deformed Psal 44.3 and defiled race of Adam but beholdeth vs in him selfe and as the Hebrwes speake pleaseth him selfe in vs and so sanctifieth vs in him self to become a noble generation and kingly priesthood 1. Pet. 2.9.10 yea he hath mercy on her that was not pittied Hosh 2.23 Thus we see that Christ in whom all riches are without measure is not a niggarde to kéep theÌ„ to himself but most frankly frely he imparteth theÌ„ al to his church and participateth euen his own glory with his saintes so as he hath giuen charge to his angels to becom the princely gard of his quéen which is the company of the beléeuers whom the Lord sanctifieth to be holy without spot and wrinckle For we must not looke to be at our owne wil and follow our owne minds but must be at the commandement of our spiritual husband Christe Iesus to doe his will renouncing our owne will and corrupt affections and become new creatures For they that are Christes haue crucified the flesh with the lusts desires thereof Gal. 5.24 and let him that is in Christ become a new creature 2. Cor. 5.17 And this is it that frayeth men from Christ because they are loath to vnder go his burthen and yoke to cast of the world leuing theÌ„selues behind theÌ„ to follow Christ And true it is vntil we are truely won vnto christ affianced to him by faith forsaking our own selues we are in the state of damnation Let vs therfore vpon paine of damnation forsake our selues the world Sathan sinne and our owne worthines and stand to the Lords curtesie yea let vs wed our selues to him seruing him with obedient heartes preseruing our thoughtes affections and
affect me so as I am forced to listen but yet as a far off as one in a dreame or drouzie hauing mine eyes heauy but my faith is not vtterly extinguished for that my heart is pricked and mooued at him but I am so fettred with the things of this life and my corrupt nature lingereth about these earthly vanities so that I am as in a sléepe and slumber when my loue speaketh For the spouse complayneth of her vntowardnes finding fault with her selfe and accusing her selfe of her flacknes Solomon therfore here in the person of the spouse discouereth the estate of the faithful noting how hardly they are throughly brought on vnto Christe and how long it is or euer we yéelde to his suite so as he hath much a do to get any aduauntage at our heartes they are so inuironed with the loue of the thinges of this life For the worlde holdeth her owne in vs so long as it can and we naturally wedded therevnto securely sléeping in the inticing deceiuable pleasures therof do suffer the vanities of this life to seke too too deeply into our bowels for horor promotions dignities titles credite riches possessions and the company of those that we haue pleasured in before our calling doe make sore assaults vpon men that the lord cannot easily vndermind them a long tyme. And what is the reason that men sleepe in these earthly pleasures and profites euen then when their heartes are by many priuie motions of the spirite affectioned or moued towards Christ after a sort Or why are men so hindred from yeelding wholy vnto christ by these transitory things For sooth because Sathan abuseth the lawfull thinges of this life to poyson man withall For vnder the title of lawfulnes sathan beguileth and bewitcheth the heartes of men to breake foorth into al intemperate vse of profites and pleasures as thus to eate drinke to bye sell to exchaunge to labour in a trade to marry to prouide necessaries of this life to be in honor to be rich to vse profits and pleasures to weare apparell and such like are thinges in themselues lawful now sathan inueigleeh men closely rounding them in the eare perswadeth them that sith they are lawful men may vse them at their pleasure and satisfy their destres in thē to the full thus he stealeth the greatest part of mens heartes to the world crouding vp the Lord but in a corner of their heartes yea thrusteth him altogeather out sometimes taking their pennyworthos of the worlde but letting the Lorde and his kingdome fal to the ground Howbeit Christe teacheth vs to take another course Math. 6.33 First to seeke the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof and then all other things shall be cast vnto vs. Also Paul teacheth vs to vse these thinges as though we vsed them not hauing our affections remoued and freed from them least they become incombrances to fetter and cloy vs that we fayle in heauenly duties Lo then how the saints of God also are many times holden a loufe from following of Christ and listening to the voyce of his worde euen then when their heartes linger after him Thus haue they lets in them selues and vntowardnes to keep them from a choerful following of Christ But we must valiantly striue against these lets and ouerstryde al stumbling blocks to hasten towards him whom we loue For we shal be sure to be holden backe ynough yea euen our selues finde delaies to driue off the time in following our God calling vs. For the pleasures and profites of this life do so ceaze vppon our affections to take them vp into the seruice of the world sathan and sinne that we haue smal lust to serue God as is required Any of all the saintes of God can easely testifie with me that euen when Christ hath by the preaching of his worde somewhat drawne our heartes towardes him yet we make stay at euery smal let vnlesse we are marueilous watchful ouer our selues For how hath the Lorde made suite to vs and presented it to our heartes by many priuy motions of his spirite which we quench againe sometimes hauing our heartes possessed againe with filthy lusts We make many beginninges and commings on But alas if sathan make neuer so little suit to vs in the behalfe of our own lustes pleasures or profits how soone are we a sleepe at Christes suit but marueilous waking vnto the suit of Sathan though sometime the heart goeth against it Some are loath to be weaned from their vaine companie when they haue yet some lingring in their hearts after Christe Some haue much a doe to renounce speciall sinnes that haue deepely rooted and strongly ruled in their nature afore their calling Othersome loath to yeelde vp their pleasures gaminges profites riches estimation honor promotions c. I meane not that they shoulde vtterly cast off their honor or calling but renounce the ouermuch loue of thē which holdeth them frō following of God sincerely or furthering of religiō carefully Othersome are holden a sléep in the cares of this life some ouercharged with the troubles of a family and crosse thinges in their housholde become drowzie and slacke to listen vnto Christe so as many step backe againe If God cal some ruffian or famous wicked man or one that hath beene a companion of vaine persons then this commeth into his head if I take this course and follow the hearing of his word and keepe company with the Godly sure the worlde wil point me out I shall be laughed at of my companions and so shall become a signe to nod the head at amongst men Thus shame disputeth with many men when God beginneth to turne their heartes and to worke in them a disliking of their former life so as men aunsweare their inward calling but as men in a sleepe and halfe amazed til God worke further in them Also when God beginneth to frame the heart of some honorable or worshipful man to the obedience of his Gospel to here it and preferre the preaching of it then these replies are made of the worlde which hold them in a slumber for the time Syr say they you shall loose your estimation in the court and among the great men you shall not be so regarded as you haue beene such grauitie and melancholike passions of sadnes as the Gospell bringeth beseemeth not your honorable and worshipful estate These are the engines of sathan yea these are his charmes wherby he laboureth to lull euen the Godly a sleepe that they might not cheerfully waight vppon their calling But the saints of God though in their beginninges these thinges may somewhat weigh with them for a time yet certainely if their heartes doe truely lye after Christe they striue exceedingly with them selues by prayer vnto God till they haue gotten the mastery in these things My selfe most miserable and wretched man that I am haue had good experience of the daungerous pulbackes and lets which lye hid in our nature to lull men a
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
as hee is pure These spéeches attribute not to man any thing of him selfe For albeit God requireth vs to open to come to him to purge our selues and to heare c. yet all these are borrowed from the lord who worketh them in his saints by his spirite and God requireth obedience at our handes Iohn 6.44 Christ saith no man cōmeth vnto me vnles my heuenly father draweth him Also the means of our purging is in the word for Ioh. 15.3 Christ affirmeth that his Disciples were cleane by his worde Yea God worketh both the will and the déed of his owne good pleasure Phil. 2.13 Notwithstanding here arise disputations in the fleshe Either we wil challenge too much to our selues or els wilfully set against the Lordes grace offered and so cease doing wel saying if I be chosen then whatsoeuer I do I shal be saued if I be a reprobate then what soeuer good I do I shal perishe Thus men murmure againste God and woulde bring him to account of his owne workes sitting like proud men in the seate of the Lordes iudgement arreigning him as though they would compel God to hold vp his hand at the barre O intollerable pride Oh damnable blasphemy If thou art chosen then shalt thou in time feele of the fruite of thy election in Christ by holinesse and sanctimonie For therfore hath God elected his that in time they may be called to be saintes Rom. 1.7 1. Cor. 1.2 Yea he hath chosen vs before the foundation of the world that we shuld be holy and without blame before him Ephes 1.4 So then this is the euidence of our election and so of our saluation if we labour for holinesse and a new life For so God sanctifieth his vnto a new life and refourmeth them to haue their hearts open that so being renued they open vnto Christ So that it followeth not that if thou art elect what soeuer thou dost thou shalt be saued But if thou art elect then God calleth thée in time vnto sanctification to renounce sin and thine owne lusts and so causeth thee to make sure thy election by good fruits as are mentioned Col. 3.12 As the elect of God holy and beloued put on tender mercy kindnes humblenes meekenes c. with al the furniture of the new man And read I pray you the first Chapter of the second Epistle of Peter verses 5.6.7.8.9.10.11 So then who soeuer is in Christ must become a new creature 2. Cor. 5.17 And who so euer neuer tasteth of true mortification holinesse and newnes of life forsaking sin and vngodlines can neuer haue euidence of saluation but remaine still in damnation and the wrath of God abideth vpon him And as for the other obiection where they say that if they be reprobates c. what so euer good they do yet they shal be damned This followeth not neither so as they take it For although the purpose of God in the reprobate can not be altered yet they must know that the cause of their destruction is of them selues who beeing left of God to them selues in the matter of their condemnation do perish of them selues and wilfully despise the sacred meanes of life hardning their heartes and shutting them vp againste Christe by that malice which is resident in their own nature Then how soeuer man murmureth against God calling them to obedience as thogh God required some vnlawful or vnresonable thing at their handes Yet let them know that howsoeuer the wicked perish in their contempt not shewing the fruits of election so shut vp the gate against christ it is the iust iudgement of God On the other side the children of God being sanctified and their harts renued by his spirit they opē vnto Christ For the regenerate as god worketh in them by his spirit wherby the praise of their regeneration belongeth vnto God so their actions are both actiue passiue Actiue in the God hauing reformed altered their wils nature by his second creation they will good things desiring the lords wil to be accōplished in them And passiue in that though they are reformed yet by the reason of the remnāts of sin which remaine in the saints not fully purged they still haue néed of the lords aide to go through in their calling As Paule doth insinuate whē praying that God wold make thē worthy of their calling 2. The. 1.11 fulfil the good pleasure of his goodnesse and the worke of faith with power He sheweth that the Godly must stil be continued and holden vp of God to the ende But they neglect not the hearing of the worde prayer and all the soueraigne meanes of their saluation For they know that as God worketh all in all so he hath appointed ordinary meanes to cause his graces to be effectual in his saints as the preaching of his word 1. Cor. 1. the vse of the Sacraments and prayer c. And sure it is who soeuer is in the way of life delighteth in these meanes But he that contemneth or neglecteth these meanes neglecteth his owne saluation hauing no true taste of Christ and so open not vnto him in so much as the doore of vtterance is closed vp in them their heartes not beeing opened by the keyes of the worde which beeing committed to Peter and the Apostles haue successiuely beene deliuered to the ministers of the word In deed the Lord must first open our heartes booring through our ears as Dauid speaketh by his spirite yet this hindreth not but that the worde openeth them also by preaching conueying as it were the spirite into the hearts of the faithful and therfore is called the ministry of the spirite 2. Cor. 3.8 I will not stand to confute the Maniches nor the Minium spirituales which deuide the spirite from the worde when the worke togeather in the faithfull neither wil I trifle with the Scholiastes and Papistes affirming that freewil though it be holpen by grace Yet is it in vs to deserue righteousnes c. they may easely be confuted by the former places alleaged I need not delay time to frame any seuerall conclusions against them in any Syllogistical forme I conclude therefore generally that they which open vnto Christ doe open by the grace of God clensing and preparing their hearts thervnto through his worde and so as a fruitful cause bringeth foorth necessary effectes of faith obedience And they which do not open being left in their own sins by the iust iudgement of God through their owne fault open not and not through any defect or fault in God or in the meanes whereby hee offereth grace but they refuse it Let vs therefore craue that God would vouchsafe to opē our eies that we sleep not in death Also to open our eares hearts minds and souls and forbeare them by his spirite that his worde may enter and Christ may haue place in vs that we may open vnto him at his suite and request and so we may heartely byd him
drunkerds raylers proud persons Swearers or any suche like to come vnto Christe till their corrupt nature bee caste off and their affections washed sanctified and reformed Yea and this not for a time but wee must vowe it for euer For it is impossible that they which haue tasted of the heauenly gift and were made partakers of the holy ghost hauing tasted of the good worde of God and of the powers of the world to come if they fall away should be renued againe by repentance Heb. 6.4 If the righteous scarcely bee saued 1. Pet. 4.18 where shal the vngodly and the sinner appeare Wo be then to the swinish and brutish generation the wallow stil in the myre of their own affections and wil not come out from the world vncleane things These shal howle with pitifull shrikes and shril voices when they shall bee shut out from the bridegrome Christe Iesus in his comming Then shal they lament their whoredoms gluttonies pride contempt their railings vnbeleefe and al their vnhappy wayes but too late Let vs therefore deare brethren craue Gods spirite to wash our affections and cleanse our hearts that we drasse them not in the dirt of sinne any more least our latter end be worse then our beginning But albeit this be the more receiued interpretation which I haue nowe longest stayed in namely that sith she is cleansed shee wil not defile her selfe againe Yet mee thinkes it is to be taken of the excuses which the Spouse made shewing that shee had muche a doe to renonunce her pleasures and complaineth that she is vntoward to obey her calling hauing many lets as if a man being in bed is loath to rise and diseaze himself in the night so the Spouse though desirous to arise to Christe yet her pleasures stick some what in her stomacke and she findeth many delais in her nature debateth the matter before shee can cheerefully rise vp to follow the call of Christ Iesus The reasons that mooue me to this sence are these cheefly 1. because it is an answere to the former suite of Christe desiring to be opened vnto as one knocking in the night she aunswereth she hath put of her coate and is at rest hauing washed her féete as the manner of that country was so as she was loath to rise and ray her feete discouering her vntowardnesse Now if she shold answere when Christ calleth that she is clensed and sanctified how shold she be vncleansed again and sanctified when Christ calleth to sanctification it were a weake aunswere to the request of Christ 2. The metaphor of sleep and of the night and al circumstances in a word aford this sense as moste naturall and proper to this place So then the vse of it is to teach vs howe harde beginninges wee haue in our calling howe slowly wee come forward and how many delayes our corrupt nature findeth to shift of al true obedience to Christe Iesus For we must know that our condition and estate is figured vnto vs in the person of the spouse Therefore purposely Solomon sheweth how we hang of on with Christe til the Lord hath throuhlye humbled vs and weaned vs from our selues which is a doctrin most necessary and comfortable that we maye be stirred vp to shake of all drowsines and loytering For we see how hardly we obey our calling and listen to the word of God but we aunswere a farre off and hould our selues aloofe As Samuel 1. Sam. 3.5 which ranne to Hell often before he tooke a straight course to the Lorde For we thinke that the Lorde calleth vs not because he speaketh by men so childish or babish are we in our beginnings which are poore And we scant perceiue who calleth vs. Faine wee wold follow God and come to heauen but we are loath to foyle our féete to step the way that leadeth thither Our pleasurs whispereth vs in the one ear and our profits round vs in the other the corruption of our nature the cleaueth so fast on custom of sin presseth vs so sore downe that wee can not looke vp to the heauenly calling but are inueigled carried away alas almoste at euery motion but we must bid al farwell to followe Christe Gen. 19.16 Lot lingred behinde and loytered in his departure from Sodom Ieremiah had excuses Iere. 1.6 Ionah 1.3 Ionas fled from the presence of God because of the charge inioined him Luk. 9.59.61 Peter was loath to follow a while and kept aloofe Luk. 9.59.61 The disciples made delaies one would bury his father first then hee woulde wayte on Christ Another would néeds bid his freends farwell first Thus we see how our nature is very slowe and vntoward to followe the Lorde shifting of so long as we can and we will set times our selues to wayte on him Thus we set the Lord his stent and he must daunce attendance vpon our leasure Gen. 12.4 Math. 9.9 Luk. 19.6.8 Mat. 4.28.22 Iohn 3.2 Iohn 19.38 Some are more suddenly called and obey as Abraham Mathewe Zacheus the two brethren Magdalen others Other som are longer comming on as Nicodemus Ioseph of Aramathia and others the one by night came to Christ the other secretly at the first And though the spouse here confesseth her slacknes and how she was hindered from following of Christ as she destred through her owne corruptions and worldly affections Yet after she recouereth her zeale and groweth more earnest in seeking after Christe euen then when other would haue discouraged her As verse 8. So that faith standeth not at a stay in the saintes but increaseth by degrees as we see in Nicodemus and Ioseph For Nicodemus Iohn 7.50 spake boldly in Christes cause before the Pharisyes though he receiued a checke Mar. 15.43 and both he and Ioseph Iohn 19.38.39 expressed their zeale after in a costly and honorable buriall of Christ Iesus euen then when greatest daunger was Peter also is charged after his denial that when hée is conuerted he shoulde strengthen his brethren So that we must not cocker and flatter our selues in our poore beginninges as though God required no more then we can do or to beginne and stande at a stay but we must increase in faith knowledge zeal and loue vnfained towards our brethren also in care to further others especially those of our charges and families We sée then that it is a harde thing to follow Christ it must cost vs our pleasures and profites yea euen our selues wholy Therfore Psa 45.10 The Spouse of Solomon which is a figure of the Church is taught that she can not be fit for doctrine and instruction and for her husband til she had forgot her own people and her fathers house so casting off all carnall affections to obey Christ onely Now this we do maruailously vnwillingly til the Lorde put vs forward And in déed God measureth his graces by degrees to his saintes partly to discouer our owne miseries wants vntowardnes and
vnfitnesse to heauenly thinges as also the hardnesse of repentaunce that so we may bee humbled and forced to seeke vnto God to obtaine grace to grow vnto perfection and to be thankful to God for his owne worke in vs. Partly also that we should not lift vp our selues to contemne the smal beginninges in our brethren but labour to drawe them on sith we haue found it hard in our selues So that the difficulty of the thing would stir vs vp to vse the meanes the more carefully to increase As the hearing of the word exercising our selues in it with cōtinual earnest praier This answere of the the spouse the former sléeping she cōplained of in her selfe bewrayeth our vntowardnes that wrangle with the Lorde a long time before we yéeld and haue many out Lanes to turne a side from him If therefore men will prooue themselues to belong to Christe though they feele many lets in them selues yet that shall not excuse them but they must labour against all lets and indeuour to resemble the Image of Christ Iesus in righteousnesse and holines hating sinne in them selues and in others no more intangle themselus in the pleasures of sinne But they féel the power of Christes death as I sayd before mortifiyng in them the corruptions of their nature Gal. 5.24 wherby they crucify the flesh with the lusts and desires therof And so are changed within and without in their heartes and in their maners and become holy euen as God which hath called them is holy 1. Pet. 1.15 But me thinkes I heare some reply yea taught euen now that the faithfull come very hardly on and now ye looke for great thinges at our handes and exact very precisely a great chaunge Men are but men and we can doe no more then we can do and as God will giue grace and euery man can not be a like neither can euery man shewe that which is in him nor handle his tongue but we hope to doe as well as the proudest professor of them all And a thousand such sleightes men haue to deceiue them selues and to deny christ in effect These are goodly shiftes that shal neuer stand for payment Men are but men say they I answere so long as they are but men they are not in Christ they must be more thē natural men 1. Cor. 6.11 for such know not the thinges that are of God 1. Cor. 2.14 They muste bee sanctified and cleansed by Gods spirit from their corruptions for fleshe and bloud can not inherite the kingdome of God but must be chaunged 1. Cor. 15.50 And where they say men can do no more then they can do and God requireth no more I aunswere God requireth more then we can doe of our selues for we haue nothing as of our selues no not to think a good thought but God worketh in his both to wil and to doe of his owne good pleasure Now God requireth holinesse faith obedience c. Phil. 2.13 which we can not doe therfore he requireth more of vs then we can doe of our selues that we by his grace may be inabled to do that which of our selues we can not do When they adde as God will giue grace they seeme to charge the Lorde priuely of iniustice and cleare them selues as faultles if they perishe for want of grace and so would blasphemously arraigne the Lord as gilty of their perishing When they see not miserable men as they are that the cause is in them selues that God with holdeth his graces from them And further how shoulde the Lorde giue grace to them which despise his word and the ministery thereof Whereby the Lorde conuayeth the graces of his spirite into the hearts of his Children and increaseth the same graces by the same meanes And yet despising grace offered like desperate and brainelesse men will blame the Lorde as cause why they want grace Oh say they euery man can not be a like nor shewe that which is in them but hope to doe as as wel as the greatest professor of thē all c. Here they think they haue stroken dead al the professors at once and haue quitted them selues like men but though all haue not graces a like yet all must striue by like meanes to come to grace and perfection by diligent hearing reading and musing of the worde by Prayer and vse of the Sacramentes and such like to grow on in holinesse But these poore wretches are neuer aunsweared but seeke euen to lull them selues yea and that their heartes a sleep that they might not heare the voyce of Christe speaking by his Ministers But let vs my deare brethren cast off al delaies and not be sluggish as they which are loath to rise to open vnto Christe But willingly leape out of our beds and renounce all worldly cares pleasures profites friendes and such other hinderances as the spouse is taught psa 45.10 That we may hasten to Christe for our liues that we may be imbraced of him which grace he grant vs. It followeth verse 4. My beloued put in his hande at the hole of the doore and my inwarde partes were moued towardes him or groned after him or were troubled for him as the same Hebrewe wordes import in Ieremy Chapiter 31.20 These speeches of the gestures of loue are not to be carnally vnderstoode but they note that Christe whome Solomon as you haue hearde presenteth to vs in the person of a Sutor vseth all tokens of spirituall iestures and shewes of loue that may be to allure his Spouse to loue him againe Not that Christe commeth downe in his owne person now to intice men to his loue But as I haue sayde he presenteth him selfe to bée seene of vs in his Gospell as in a glasse 2. Cor. 3.18 where hee appeareth in the glory of his father vnto vs. For by his worde he putteth in his hand as it were at the dore of our harts vseth his faithfull Ministers as soliciters of his cause to his Churche and faithfull who feele in deed the hand power of Christ in his worde by preaching so as they are rauished and inamored vpon him In deed some take the putting in of the hand for smiting and afflicting his Church and so trāslate the worde following And my bowels trembled at him So the sense after their meaning is that the Church beeing slacke and slow to grow in faith and obedience was afflicted rebuked and corrected of Christ whereby she was terrified and forced with feare to regarde more earnestly the call of Christ Iesus And indeed true it is that the lord calling his saintes and they being very slow of thē selues he vseth whyps and corrections to spurre them forwarde of his greate loue and we are often made more quicke and ready to obey our calling when the Lord some way afflicteth vs. For our nature is so vntamed so proud so lofty sturdy and rebellious that the Lord is faine to ioyne with his word many crosses and trials
either of sicknesse pouerty reproch losse of friends losse of goods crosses in wise in Children in families in affaires hauing enemies stirred vp againste vs and such like that his worde and admonitions might sincke the more deepely into our heartes Which fruite Dauid felt by afflictions when he sayd Before I was afflicted I went wrong but nowe I keepe thy word Psal 119.67 So then the Lorde is fayne to vrge vs to obey often times Furthermore some sinnes which wee see not a long time in oure selues by the worde yet thorough our owne blindenesse the Lorde by some rod traceth out in vs and haleth vs foorth before his iudgement seat causing vs to bring in euidence againste our selues that conuicted in our owne conscience at the bar of his iudgement seat we might confesse our selues and humbly sue for pardon And this fruit we haue not simply by the affliction it self in so much as the wicked also are afflicted oftentimes and yet profit not by it but being taught the vse of it by the word the doctrine of the word sincketh the deeper when some triall is annexed as the souls that are truly humbled can beare good witnesse with me by their owne experience but if wee are still blockish and sullen that wee murmure and bristle vp oure affections against Gods corrections secretly in our hearts though our mouthes are silent and so not stirred vp to profite in repentaunce by them then wée loose the vse of them But the Spouse she trembled at the Lordes hande and rose to open It is a good signe when with reuerence men tremble at the word ioining with that fear a purpose to keepe the woorde and obey it in our heart Otherwise the wicked are forced spite of their teeth sometime to tremble at the worde as Foelix did Act. 24.25 but they seeke shiftes to cast of the handes of the Lords obedience without purposing to obey But as I saide this place may be vnderstood of the louing iesture of Christ who by his worde allureth the godly so as the spouse testifieth she was affectioned towardes him For this effect the worde worketh in the faythfull that their heartes doe melt at Gods threates 2. Kin. 22.11 19. repenting them of their backwardnesse as Iosiah did and ioy in the sweete comfort of his worde and promises reckoning of them aboue all riches and pleasures as Dauid did Psal 119.111 and else where Other some vnderstand this place as though Christ left off knocking and departed when hee had receiued so churlish an aunswere of his Spouse whereby her hearte was smitten with sorrowe repenting her of her slacknesse which may well agree to that which followeth where shee findeth her loue departed when shee had opened The Doctrine of which sense wee shall haue fitter occasion to note afterwarde verse 5. I rose vp to open to my welbeloued and my handes did drop down myrrh and my fingers pure myrrh vppon the handles of the barre Here the spouse beginneth somewhat to rowze vp her selfe seeking at the call of Christe to be reconciled vnto him And first shee sheweth that all her purest naturalities or ciuil sobernes which she highly thought of at the first or her good workes or whatsoeuer shee coulde present Christe with all of her owne were nothing to procure his fauour or draw his loue towardes her For he is not to be founde by them neither needeth he oure Myrrh to annointe him withall So then we must not come in our owne garmentes but away with al beauty of nature and flesh and blood and on with a pure fayth and a good conscience in which Christe hath delight The Romish Church therefore and al the iustitiaries they preparing themselues with their owne workes annoyntinge and trimming themselues with their owne ciuility naturalities and morall coniectures are but as painted Harlottes that driue Christe farre from them though they seeme to carry him in their bosomes But he wil not be takē in their beauty for it is but as a menstruous cloth vnto him It may also be that the Myrrb may be vnderstood of the blessing sweet sauour of the gospel which Christ powreth by the preaching therof into the harts of the faythfull so as they are annointed with it and made swéete yea are also brought to repentance and to seck after God in his word As the spouse heere perfumed with the sweet odours and moistened with the smelling ointment which is spiritually to bee vnderstood of the graces of Gods spirite which her loue had left behinde him she ariseth to open and séeke after him ver 6. I opened to my beloued but hee was gone and past my heart was gone when he did speake I sought him but I coulde not finde him I called but be aunswered mee not Secondly lets without Here the spouse beginneth to complaine of the lets she founde without and first the absence of her husbande whereby after she found some discommoditie in that others afflicted her vers 7. For she sheweth that shee got some courage and gathered vp her spirites so as she openeth vnto him desyring to imbrace him yet she found le ts abroade also which partly dismayed her as the absence of her louer and partly tyed or hindred her though in the end she preuayleth For finding her loue slipt aside shee fainted and hearing his voyce which so affected her and wroght vpon her that she swounded for sorrow and her heart failed her Which yet caused her to seeke the more earnestly after him but he wōld not be found nor answere So that Solomon inferreth Christ taking displeasure that he was not graunted vnto at the first and therfore turneth a side also the faithful mourning after him and repenting that they imbraced him not at the first Wherin we sée the state of a fainting soule that longeth sore after Christe such a one as Dauid bewrayeth in him selfe Psalm 42.1 whose heart thirsted after God as the weary and chased heart doth after the water brooks And after he sayth verse 6. Why hast thou forgotten me Why go I mourning so heauily c. For the thirstie soule that longeth after Christe Iesus in trueth and would fayne yeelde obedience vnto him and haue assuraunce and full pledge of his loue making haste to Christe inquyring after him in his worde groning sighing and calling after him by Prayer Sathan the enuious and malicious man enemie of our soules seeketh to stirre vp our incredulity to steppe betweene vs and Christe presenting to our eies oure sinnes past oure present infirmites our sinnes before oure calling and since our calling oure wantes lacke of zeale our litle profiting by the woord and a thousande other bye thoughtes that wee should seeme not to bee neere Christe but as though hee had turned his backe vppon vs had cast vs of agayne and helde scorne of vs and as though all our former beginnings had beene in vayne So we wee beginne to languish the Lorde also sometime leaueth vs in oure
watchmen for the people because they abused their office For many ambitious men creeping into the seate of the Church were ashamed of the humilitye of Christ Which al thinges are truely verefied in the Romish Church where the Pope challengeth to be Oecumenical and vniuersal Bishop of the whole Churche and so is noysome to all churches And woulde to God this noysomnesse had onely kept it selfe at home in Rome had not also infected some Christian Churches But such is the misery of our times thorough sinne as we can witnesse of manye troublesome watchmen which count them selues so in the Church of God in many places Yea the noysomnes of that Romishe crew hath sore annoyed the Churches beyond the seas and ceaseth not to trouble and vex our Church of this lande by sending out their Seminary Papists and scattering abroade that Viperous brood of the Iesuites which greatly molest our Church and land through their seditious and traiterous practizes that they might bring the spouse eueÌ„ the church of England in bondage againe to that daungerous whatchman the Pope which I hope shall neuer be For hee ceaseth not to smite and wounde where soeuer hee can reach and to disturbe the true Spouse of Christe Iesus For he playeth the roynish ruffler with the Spouse where soeuer he becommeth and all his complices and adhearentes are troublesome watchmen and smiters Furthermore there are some other which for want of warrines smite the sincere professors and their fellow brethren wounding them either with doctrine misapplied as Ezek 13. or with complaining of them as Amaziah did of Amos. Amos. 7. Or by open reproch or some such kind of Ishmaeliticall persecution Othersome as the Brownists if I may so terme theÌ„ they smite all spare none yea the carefullest Preachers are most charged of theÌ„ as reuolters c. they seeke after a sort the subuersion of the whole state Finally many vngratious men of a filthy life and seruile nature which pretend som better shew for the time seeke to occupy the roomes of the Church which are manye times sooner admitted a room I know not by what negligence and grosse ouersight then they which are careful to discharge a conscience in that calling But would to God that they in whose handes it is to reforme would bend themselues to root out such loytering idle and loose men out of the Church But thus the vanitie which SolomoÌ„ noted in the world is to be séen Folly is set in great excellency and the rich set in the law place I haue seene seruants on horsebacke and Princes walking as seruants on the ground Ecc. 10.6 For many vile and vnworthy persons as I said are crept I know not by what ouersight into the Church liuinges Ruffians gamesters fornicators idolaters popish prelates idol ministers as Esay speaketh domb dogges belly Gods Isai 59.10.11 2. Pet. 2.13.14.17 louers of filthy lucre wels with out water empty cloudes wandring stars c. also sectuaries Famelists or Louists many other vnworthy persoÌ„s are set on horseback when many worthy meÌ„ for their learning Godlinesse grauity yea as Solomon calleth them princes are fayn to go on foote like seruauntes For so many blinde Dolts of the Country Ploughmen and artificers thorough Symmony and corruption steale into the liuinges of the Church that the learned and meete persons in the Vniuersitie which shold be called foorth are fayn to be without place Which happeneth partly by default of Patrons which make not conscience of the Lordes people partly by other corruptions but howsoeuer it be the poore soules of the people are in extreame hazard thereby and the people for the moste part see not their owne misery and therefore pitty not themselues nor vse any prayer to the Lord in such causes wherein lyeth the cheefest daunger of soules so as both people and ministers in many places conspire to murther and spoyle their own fouls For if they may haue an honest quiet man as they term him and a good fellow they are best with such a one though he hath no graces from the Lord méet for that honourable and high ambassage which is a lamentable case And the Lorde punisheth the neglect contempt of oure times with the iust plague of the famine of their soules in some place As Hoshea mentioneth chap. 9. ver 7.8.9 The dayes of recompence are come Israel shall know it The prophet is a fool the spiritual man is mad for the multitude of thine iniquity therefore the hatred is great The watchmen of Ephraim shoulde bee with my God but the Prophet is the snare of a fowler in all his wais hatred in the house of his God So that they exercised hatred in the Church bringing such as desire to be taught in to coÌ„tempt to be wondred at as Owls in the day time being made a sign to nod the head at euery man hath a pul at theÌ„ raising vp scornful reproches lies troubles vexations against the godly Esay 8.18 yea they lift them vp on the scaffolds of the worlde as monsters among men to be displaied and laide foorth to contempt as Esay in his time complayneth I and the children whom thou hast giuen me are as signes and wonders in Israel by the Lorde of Hostes which dwelletb in mâ—â—nt Sion Of the one side diuers harsh spirites vnder the pretence of zeale for the reformation of the Church which all the godly hartily wish for and procure in their callings what they may they doe sore assault the Church and the tender consciences of such simple ones as they can preuail with rashly condemning all thinges and seeking soule good thing after an vngodly and vnlawfull manner as the Brownists and such like which labour to alienate the mindes of men from their teachers and from the worde and Sacramentes in the Churche of this Lande because of their priuate dislikings whome I would wish to learne more modesty I speake not to discredite any but to wish men to be wise and stayed in their zeal without rashnesse But thus the saintes of God are tryed by diuers means and haue many repulses in their comming on and by these means some that shold be the watchmen smite the spouse and pull of her vaile playing the rufflers with her Which as it is not without the Lordes witting but by his prouidence so it shal be reuenged vpon them by the same God when he shal take the cause of his church into his hand here we sée then that the church somtime findeth greatest lets and hurts at their hands who should chiefly preferre the cause of the church yet these watchmen they go about the city to visit but to what end they are painful as many now a daies can haue nimble eies to spy out the best forwardest not to further theÌ„ but to hinder them Now let vs sée what the spouse doth in these lets afflictions she groweth not blockish neither waite on other to doe
and loose ministery I say therefore againe intreat the ministers of your parrishes and call vppon them yea charge them but reuerently in the feare of God with an humble spirite that they haue care of you to fulfil the ministery inioyned them of the high God vpon paine of his displesure and as they wil aunswere before God for you and your families in the dreadful day of iudgement when they shall giue an account for your soules Heb. 13.17 Oh it shaketh my trembling ioyntes and dissolueth my sinnewes with feare to thinke what woofull euydence shall bee brought in againste the carelesse ministery by the Soules of their charge which perishe for want of instruction when they shall stande vp in plea againste them to testifie vppon their heads saying Ah alas we neuer receiued instruction by our Pastors we maye thanke them in part of our damnable destruction which haue not sought to bring vs vnto God nor taught vs the way of truth nor laboured to turne vs from our sinnes being without knowledg themselues kept vs in ignorance and blindnes flattering vs in our sins But now wo alas Hosh â— 6 we perish because we had not the knowledge of God Me thinkes I see the woeful wringing of handes the trickling teares distilling from their eyes the condemning of themselues by speechlesse silence their heads hanging downe and the diereful dent of doleful death to cease vpon them Yea me thinkes I heare their shiftles shifts their shouting shrames crying out of their damnable estate For what shiftes can they haue before the alseeing and iust iudge of all the world Shal pretence of lawes excuse them if they can say I haue read seruice to them and the common booke of Prayer and done al that law require For herewith they thinke they haue stopped mens mouthes But they slander the lawes of our Prince which require as I suppose most of those gifts in the ministers that should be admitted which Paule mentioneth to Titus Howsoeuer it be ouerseen of those that haue admitted such but lawes of men countenance of Magistrates nor the example of others shal not bear vs out in the glorious and fearefull presence of the great God who shal sit as sole iudge ouer al persons and causes But if thou hast not fedde the Lordes people and preached the Gospel thogh to read the worde is good to read the booke of common Prayer is good yet thou shalt not be excused sith it pleased the Lorde not simply by his word but Through preaching to saue them that beleeue As the publique ordinary means in his Church Yea and the lawes of the realme require such to be admitted as are able to teach 1. Cor. 1.21 2. Tim. 4.1.2 And Paule giueth a precise charge to Timothie to preach the word But some man wil say that I wander from my text to speak thus much of the dumbe and carelesse Ministers I swerue not from it at al. For if the Spouse straitely chargeth them of Ierusalem where God was to be inquired after in his worde to further her to her loue then is it necessarie that the neglect of this duetie in the Pastors which chiefly should helpe that way shoulde be found fault with al especially where their owne daunger is greatest for we know how the Lorde hath threatned such in the law I speake not this of the ministerie that men shoulde insult vppon the same with reproch for our owne loosenesse haue made vs reprochful ynough to the worlde but rather that men shoulde praye for the state hereof the more carefully beeing so deformed Neither doe I speake to whette the tongues of men for it is their glorie to deface the ministerie neyther yet of sinister affection againste anye as the Lorde knoweth But I speake from a heart pitying the estate therof That if it might please God the loose ministerie may see their danger and so be mooued to reforme them selues with grace God grant them Amen And I speake the more of that state now because many are here present of that calling This title of Daughters as it is a Metaphorical speech borrowed from the fellowship of Virgins before their marriage and in the time of their suit as Psalm 45.14 may appeare so also this name of Virgins in the ninth Chapter of the Prouerbes signifieth the Preachers of the worde Prou. 9.2 as Prophetes Apostles c. where wisedome sendeth out her Maidens to call men to her heauenly and riche banquet so the Daughters of Ierusalem may not improperly signifie the teachers in this place For their lips shoulde preserue knowledge and the people shoulde inquire the lawe at their mouthes as the prophet Malachi saith Mal. 2.7 adding also a strong reason to mooue the people to inquire and the pastor to teach because he is the mâ—ssenger of the Lord of Hosts Now shal we think that the Lorde will send vnfit messengers blind men and babes of his ambassage or errande that shall not speake foorth their message Will Princes wisely prouide to send wise and learned men on their ambassage And shal we deny the Lord his wisdome and foresight but we thinke anye good ynough for the Lords errand But al such as they run before they are sent so the Lorde sendeth them in his iustice to punishe the sins of men as we heard before Hosh 9.7.8 Now followeth If yee finde my welbeloued tell him I am sicke of loue The like diligent inquiry after Christ the Spouse maketh Canticles 3.1.2 Read it I pray you where she maketh streight search as for a thing of high price So that she desireth after Christ so much the more how much the more she was beaten backe of others yea she euer languisheth after Christ contemning all other things in respect of him As Paule counted all thinges vile dung in comparison of Christ Iesus These are all speeches of loue she woulde haue the Godly specially the teachers to commend her in their prayers vnto God This speech I am sicke of loue is to discouer the heart and loue of the faythfull towardes Christ that they cannot tell how to loue him ynough The worldly men neuer trouble themselues with this loue neither pine of this heauenlye and spirituall loue sicknesses It is rather sicknesse to the earthly minded men to hear of this loue or to be required to loue the Lord againe But they are meruellous fain of the worlde which is an euil sicknesse as Solomon sayth Well let vs my deare brethren laboure to affect our hearts more with Christ Iesus casting of al lets to studie of his loue and require of all the Godlye and of the faithfull Pastors that they woulde further vs in this loue The Spouse seemeth to be impudent here to spread abroade her loue towardes her Sutor For our louers are ashamed to haue it knowne that they are sicke of loue so also the worlde is ashamed to be sick of loue for Christ Iesus but the Spouse openly confesseth and bewrayeth
properties or diuers kindes of them it is called of som Berillus which stone was in times past moste vsed in ringes of loue or marriage rings because of the effect that was thought to be in it for the coupling of the loue of louers and married folkes the six square forme thereof the kindes and qualities I leaue to the Physiologists to inquire out It meaneth that he aboundeth with al pretious and excellent things His belly like white Iuory couered with Saphires The belly or intralls is set downe for the body by Synecdochen and she sayth it hath the brightnesse of Iuory and it is ouerlayd or beset with Saphires that is moste comely and moste conueniently arayed Hauing all pure affections As for the Iuory it is known for the purenes whitenes and vertues of it The Saphire is a moste pretious stone of all others so as it is called the gemme of gemmes Al which costly gemmes rich Iewels beseemly the Princes of most worthy renowne are to note the inestmable riches treasures spirituall and heauenly which Christe doth possesse farre surpassing and amounting in price all the riches in the worlde or a thousand worldes vers 15. His legs as pillers of marble fastned on sockets of fine gold Apec 1. His feete are compared to fine brasse most pretious yea more accounted of then Golde it was made of salt Peter a certaine stone as Pliny reporteth lib. 24. chap. 2. calling it a kind of brasse which is digged out of the veynes of the earth in times past had in great price Some thinke it to be the same which is called Hasmal Ezek. 1. a present remedye againste poysons for if poyson intoxicate bee put in a Goblet made thereof it will hisse whereby the poyson is detected But here the Spouse compareth his legges to Marble pillers his feete to sockettes of fine brasse noting his perfect constancy soundnesse strength and duraunce for of all other stones the Marble is moste sound strong smooth durable and profitable So then shee commendeth her loue as most comely through out and personable His countenaunce as Lebanon excellent as the Cedars Noting the stature talenesse and boldnesse of his countenaunce Thus shee commendeth the personne of her beloued by tâ—e seuerall members shewing by these figuratiue speeches the excellencie of his personne And all these are by Solomon applied to figure as I sayd the spirituall beauty of Christ Nowe haue ye seene the lettes without which the Spouse founde in others which smote and hindred her Also the recouerie of her zeale notwithstanding lets in inquiring more bustlye after Christe and charging others to further her whereby others were stirred also to conferre with her about her louer whereupon she taketh occasion as you see to describe him moste liuelye and worthilye hitherto first his complexion then his personne as concerning his manner of speeche followeth and remayneth to be handled which we shall consider of with others thinges that followe the next reading The Lorde giue vs all grace that no lets maye hinder vs from following of the call of God and that wee maye not alone professe him when others doe but euen when others steppe harke and in the time of trial Labouring to stirre vp others by our zeale conferring one with another that wee may bee able to make report to others of the excellency of Christ Iesus our eternal louer euen as the Spouse doth here of her loue That we may be alwayes commending his goodnesse to all ages that so we may bring much glory to Christ Iesus to God his Father by our obedience sanctimony holinesse and care to professe his loue mercy truth and kindnesse which grace God grant vs and his whol Church c. Amen Let vs pray c. The 4. Sermon or lecture IN the former verses you haue hearde beloued how the Spouse hath described her louer First from his excellent colour and complexion Secondly from his person and the parts and members therof Now it remayneth in the third place to consider the description of him from the maner of his speech verse 16. His mouth is as sweete thinges And he is wholy delectable this is my welbeloued and this is my louer O daughters of Ierusalem His mouth she vseth metonymically for his speech and wordes which are sull of sweet gracious and comfortable doctrine replenished with heauenly pleasures for to the saintes of God which are seasoned with his spirit the words and doctrine of Christ Iesus are most sweet and delectable Dauid reporteth the law was more sweet vnto his tast then hony and the hony combe Psa 19.10 This effect of sweetnes and pleasantnes is ascribed vnto the word Therefore it is sayde of the preacher Eccle. 12.10 That he sought to find out pleasant words and an vpright writing Eccl. 12 10. euen the words of truth For the wisdome and doctrine of Christ Iesus bringeth life sweetnesse to the soule so as the faithfull feele a most blessed effect of the worde of Christ and his heauenly doctrine in their hearts which forced Peter to answere to his master asking of his disciples if they would start from him as the other which saw not the vse of his doctrine Ioh. 6.68 To whom shal we come but to thee for thou hast the wordes of eternal life This is that beloued Sonne of God the Father whom he hath authorised and replenished with al heauenly wisedome charging vs that we shold heare him The like spéech is of Solomon being a figure tipe of Christ that his speech was gracious as psa 45.2 Thou art fayrer then the sonnes of men ful of grace are thy lips because God hath blessed thee for euer In which the excellency of the Gospel whereof Christ was a Minister is noted which is full of grace and sweetnes in so much that the Ministers therof are sayd 2. Cor. 5. 15 2. Cor. 5.15 To be a sweet sauour of Christ vnto God in them that are saued and in them which perish For the gospel in the own nature alwaies breatheth forth a comfortable sauour of life but because malice rebellion and treason lye hid in the hearts of men against it therefore it is deadly to the wicked and vnbeleeuers thorough their owne corruption Wherefore there followeth in that 45. Psalme after mention of the gratious wisedome of Christ that he should be gyrded with a swoord and sufficiently armed against all his enemies and the contemners So then sith most sweet pleasant and amiable speeches proceede out of the mouth of Christe Iesus let vs willingly and cheerefully imbrace and obey them least we be compelled to vse his sword against vs Apoc. 1.16 for a two edged swoorde commeth out of his mouth most sharp and cutting hauing two effects either to defend comfort and maintaine the obedient or els to confound ouerthrow and destroy the disobedient and vnbeléeuers The wise man sayth Pro. 12.14.18 Pro. 13.14 14.3 A man shal be sociate
with good thinges by the fruit of his mouth also the tongue of the wise men is health yea the instruction of a wise or Godly man is as the well spring of lyfe to turne away from the snares of death and the lyps of the wise preserue them Many such commendations are of the spirite of a Godly speech proceeding from good men Now if God hath sanctified his doctrin in the mouth of his seruaunts to be healthfull euen to the soule how sweet comfortable healthful and happy are the speeches of Christ Iesus and how shoulde we imbrace and loue the doctrine of the Gospel which he hath by his owne mouth in his owne person begun to preach and confirmeth the same vnto vs Heb. 1.2 2 3. by his ministers and faythfull teachers It standeth vs in hand therefore to examin what sweetnes we find in the word of Christ Iesus and how our soules are taken vp with the delight of it so as we set our felicity in the worde that it be not wormewood vnto vs as it is vnto most men In deed true it is the wicked reprobates worldlinges ruffians dispisers of the word preached and such others think the Gospel to be suger to them imagining they haue good tast of it Oh say they God is merciful a sweet figgy God who forgiueth sinnes freely for Christs sake he sayth Come to me al you that labour c. I will ease you and Iesus Christ came into the world to saue sinners Math. 11.28 1. Tim. 1.15 c. These and such like sweete fragmentes prophane worldlinges and others snatche to them selues supposing and imagining that they haue greate sweetenesse by them the adulterer drunkard belly god and carnal man can saye Christe came to dye for sinners and we hope to bee saued by him c. But alas poore soules their sweetnesse shal be turned to wormewood their pleasaunt taste into gal and bitternesse It is no sweete taste of Christes doctrine when wee flatter our selues in sinne and yet hope to escape vnpunnished because Christe is merciful No no thou deceiuest thy selfe because thou delightest stil in euil which is bitter and bringeth damnable agues thou louest the spéeches of mercy and remission of sins but the iudgements of god they are very vnsauory thou hast no tast nor vse of them to humble thy self before God and to feare him forsaking thy sinnes But all doctrine that maketh against thy sinnes and pleasures thou suspectest and arte shie of as of poyson Now whosoeuer tasteth of true sweetnesse in the worde can not but like of the iudgementes of God which is a part of his word as wel as of his mercies to fear the one and loue the other For it is an essential properly in God to be a iudge to consound the wicked to correct rebuke his saints as wel as to be merciful Now to whō soeuer gods mercy seemeth swéet not his iudgements because god is author of both he is with out all question voyde of true taste of God and his worde Dauid prayed O Lorde teach me thy iudgements And surely this publique out cry of men wherby they sue al for the Gospell the Gospel giue vs the Gospel preach not the lawe to vs it bewrayeth both a maruailous ignoraunce in men as though the doctrine and ende of the lawe and Gospel were vtter contraryes and were not al one in effect though diuersly reuealed therewithall it discouereth a priuy euidence in the heartes of men against their owne soules that they neuer were truely humbled in the sight of them selues neither tasted of Christ aright how soeuer they wrangle and seeke shyftes in their owne imaginations More then this they vomite out afore they are aware a haynous reproche againste God as though they woulde set the Lorde to schoole and Catechise him a new For though they seeme to insult vppon men charging that they which preach the lawe and iudgementes are blacke preachers and blacke Rauens come from hell as I am sory that such odious wordes can bee witnessed to proceede from the mouths of such as challenge to them felues the title of learning and reuerence for theire iudgement yet notwithstāding their blows and reproches reach euen to the Lord insomuch as the Lorde framing the hearts and mouthes of his faithfull teachers dothe speake by them I will not stande to prooue the lawfulnes nay the necessity of the preaching of the lawe when our times abounde with sinne and wantonnesse is couered vnder the title of the Gospell yea when the godly themselues greatlye neede to bee humbled for I suppose that any man of wisedome or meane vnderstanding in the worde specially if he be truly humbled would blush to gainesaye this thing But let vs knowe my deare brethren that the sweetenes of Christes worde whether teaching repentance and a newe life promising eternall life to the beleeuers or threatning the curse of God to the disobedient and vnsanctified is sweete and comfortable to all that are truely in loue with Christ Iesus and worketh in them a care to apply Gods iudgements to themselues to humble their flesh by them stirring thē selues vp to reformation forsaking sin also it worketh in them a care to seale vp the assuraunce of the Lordes mercye towards them in that they feel the effect of the word conuerting their harts from sinn vnto the liuing God for the most part men estéem of the mouth of Christ as ful of sharp bitter and loath som things because they contemn or neglect the preaching of the gospel thinking it a thing superfluous so they commend not of the sweetnes of his doctrin when in the meane time the seruants of God which with a carefull conscience frequent sermons with a gréedye desire hear the word they gaine so much good receiue such swéetnesse from the mouth of Christ Iesus euen the preachers which are his mouth as they with hopping hearts return to their wiues families or neighbors so filled with the pleasāt things of his mouth that they say Oh what a sweet sermō haue we heard to day oh how my hart is ioyed in this heauenly and sweete tasting doctrine of Christe Iesus thus they make report as the Spouse doth here what comfort they haue by Christ that they may also affect others For they that truely are in loue with Christ Iesus can not but highly accounte of the wordes of his mouth But the cause why the worde is not sauouring to so many men is for that they delight in euill wherebye men growe to so grosse a contempt as they commaund in effect the prophets not to prophesy But as the Lorde replieth agaynste the contemners Mic. 2.7 Are not my words good to him that walketh vprightly So then if all the doctrine of Christ who is authour as well of the lawe as of the Gospell bee not sweete and pleasant to vs it is because we make not conscience to walke vprightly before oure God For men will not
come to the light because their works are euill But it will be obiected of the contemners I loue the word the sweet things of Christes doctrine are pleasant vnto me But the preachers they are verye harshe and collericke others are too too Melancholick vrging heauinesse mourning and solitarines beeing too precise they will abide no pastime c. tell vs of pleasaunt things of wine c. Isai 30.10 Micah 2.7 Surely I aunswere them as before are not the Lord his wordes good to him that walketh vprightly but you are risen vp against the Lorde he that walketh in the spirite would prophesy of new wine he shal be a prophet for this people Thus these men wold separate the word from the ministry and preaching of it or else would haue the worde limitted by their owne affections and liking to serue their owne turne and their filthy lustes But wee speake as we are taught of God 1. Iohn 4.6 Hee that knoweth God heareth vs hee that is not of God beareth vs not Also he that despiseth the ministers of God despiseth God that sent vs As for our partes we haue the euidence of our owne conscience to stand for vs that we seeke to do nothing against the truethe but with the trueth we haue the Lorde also to witnes on the one side yea our labours and the poure of our doctrine speak for vs in the hearts of those that are conuerted nay euen the conscience of the wicked themselues do afford vs som euidence insomuch as they tremble at the worde though they spurne against it being disobedient So that we stand confidentlye perswaded in oure selues through the Lord that our ministery is the ministery of the spirit of God the sweete words of Christe Iesus euen then whē we do by thretning iudgments seek to conuert the wicked to repentaunce as also to further and increase the same already begun in the godly for we are a swéet sauour of Christ vnto God in thē which are saued and in them that perish 2. Cor. 2.15 So that they which will seeme to count of the worde in it selfe as they imagine and yet contemne it and parbreake it vp as a bitter or loathsom thing when it is preached certainly they neuer tasted in truethe of the worde but remayne deadly diseased in their soules of spirituall Hellishe and damnable agues Well after this woorthye description of her Louer the Spouse vauntingly tryumpheth saying He is wholy delectable this is my beeloued this is my loue O daughters of Ierusalem This emphaticall repetition poyntinge him oute so often is forcible to mooue those whome shee talked with to the liking and allowing of her Louer Thus shee concludeth in one worde that her loue was wholye delectable wanting nothing to comlinesse and perfection For not being able by any figures metaphors or similies to discribe him fully shee in a worde shutteth vp al that hee is altogether amiable When she calleth him her welbeloued she noteth that as her Sutor bore good will to her so she also helde him as her dereling and best beloued on whome onelye shee coulde finde in her hearte to bestowe her whole loue in calling him louer Solomon noteth that Christe loued his Churche and Spouse first so as in louing of him wee shall loue suche a one as loued vs first In this conferrence of the Spouse with them of Ierusalem Solomon woulde insinuate vnto vs howe the Faythfull should often be talking of their loue Christ Iesus confessinge his Inestimable kindnesse towardes them to allure others It is one cheefe effect or token of a true calling when a man syncerely delighteth in Wisedome to bee talking of the woorde to commende the Loue of God in Christe as Dauid saythe My mouth shall bee alwayes telling of the louinge kindenesse of the Lorde and I will also tell of thy greatnesse So also the Woman of Samaria Ioh. 4. After shee was wonne by Christes Sermon contented not her selfe to bee acquaynted with Christ her selfe alone but leauing her Water pot and other necessaryes in all haste made report of the Messiah to her Neighboures to toule on them also And certaynlye when a man is truelye called his desire is kindled to make others partakers of those ioyes of the worde which himselfe dothe feele He is also greeued and sorrowfull when hee seeth it to bee contemned of men Especiallye suche couet to acquaynte theire Wife Children Seruauntes and Neyghboures or those which haue beene partners with them in the dayes of their vanities with that Heauenlye message of life For wee shoulde bee careful that whomsoeuer wee haue offended or hurte by oure example afore or they with whome wee haue had fellowshippe in euill mighte by our meanes bee broughte to a taste of Christe that wee commending the grace of God in Christe to them might by some meanes draw them if it may bee from their vanities to Christe Saying Oh that you felte the good that I feele by the woorde for where I loued sinne before now I hate that and Christ Iesus is my loue Yea let euerye one say to other it pityeth my soule and I am couered with shame blushing to thinke how I haue before times liued in vanitie when I knew not Christ aright But now Oh happy I I see the loue of Christe towardes me in his worde and I can not but loue him againe Thus we should be reporting the good that we haue by Christe seeke to make others partners with vs. If it be a duety of one Christian to another much more shoulde ministers towle on their people the husbands their wiues the parentes their children the masters their seruants c. Then who soeuer delight not to talke of God in his worde but rather enuie the forwardnes of others it is a manifest taken that they belong not to Christe What shall we saye then of them which wil not commend Christ to their people nor draw them on but rather discourage and pull back how can they haue any true loue to Christ them selues when they are afrayde men should come too neare him Thus Solomon hath allegorically set before our eyes a description of Christe Iesus Sith then we haue presented before our eyes so honorable a state so gracious a personage so peereles a Prince so worthy a Moschel wise and rich in al pretious iewels as Solomon victorious as Dauid finally who is all in all why shoulde we not highly account of him honorably entertaine him and with all submission subiect our selues vnto him as our onely head and guid who shineth in passing beauty surpasseth in al victorious courage in princely dignity in perfect purenes his habite is most seemly his comely lookes most gracious and amiable in the eies of his saints his face wholy glorious of perfect hue sweete with heauenly perfumes odoriferous with spirituall spice and ointment his garments and attire most costly and orderly man garments of vnspotted righteousnesse and most perfect holinesse whereby he
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
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
our estate in our selues howe wee are short of all duties vnfitte to serue our God in al true obedience finding many treasons and rebellions in our selues being ignorant in his truth also when we profite not by the word by praier neyther preuayle as we would agaynst our imperfections infirmities and corruptions then we doubt of the Lordes loue towards vs suspecting of his work in vs fearing least al our former profession be in vain and can see nothing that should giue vs comfort of the fauour of God towardes vs. Thus we suppose the loue of God and his fauour to be inconstant measuring them by our infirme and weake faith or by the scant measure of our obedience But what shoulde such a one doubt of the grace of God who seeing his wants loathing his sinnes stryuing against them louing the word vnfaynedly desiring to haue a heart to pray without hypocrisie labouring for a new life beeing angry with him selfe for sinne and that he can no more profite by the worde in knowledge true zeale humility loue patience and desiring hartely that he may neuer start from the obedience of God and his word Can it be that when the Lorde loued vs before we were ye when we were his enemies before our calling of his free mercye that he wil now loath vs leaue and forsake vs vtterly when he hath begun his owne worke in vs Could he loue vs when we were in our sinnes without remorse of conscience and can he now hate vs when we indeuour to leaue our sinnes and are vexed that we can no more grow in godlinesse and obedience Could he loue vs when we were voyde of his grace and vnsanctified and can hee abhorre vs when hee hath begun sanctification in vs by his worde and spirite shall wee measure the loue of God by our infyrmities or shall wee thinke that his loue lasteth no longer then wee stande in full obedience In deede wee must continue grounded in the trueth and Paule after the mention of the constant estate of the faythfull prayeth still for the increase of grace because wee can not bee perfecte in this earth But God who beginneth and calleth vs is faythfull The. 5.24 Thes 3.3 which will also doe it yea hee is faythfull whiche will stablishe vs and keepe vs from euill Furthermore what moued the Lord to beginne any beginning of grace in vs did not his owne free mercie and loue and the same cause also mooueth the Lorde to continue and holde out his mercies begunne to his saintes vnto the ende So Gen. 18. Gen. 18.18 God reasoneth and taketh occasion from his owne mercies to bee still mercifull vnto Abraham So that God doth not measure his mercy by our faith or obedience but by his owne loue and nature that as his loue is eternall so his mercyes haue no ende Oh dâ—uinity vnspeakable Oh infinite loue Oh gracious mercye Oh the wonderfull goodnesse constancye truth and faithfulnesse of so louing and kynde a God towardes vs poore miserable vyle wretches and crauling Wormes But as for the contemners of grace and they which herevpon shal presume of their good estate without good testimonye of the Lordes worke in them not louing his worde not hearing nor obeying the same nor beeing carefull to mortifie seuerall sinnes in them not caring but neglecting to refourme them selues and their familyes by the worde nor exercising Prayer a necessarye fruite of faith c. Let suche bee assured that the Lorde hath not begunne his woorke in them yet nor made them priuye to his eternall and free loue But they are voyde of the earnest peny of the spirite of God and in danger to be damned from the presence of God For he shall come in flaming fire â— The. 1.8.9 rendring vengeaunce to them that know not God nor obey vnto the Gospel of our Lord Iesus Christ which shal be punished with euerlasting perdition from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his power This might make the contemners and neglecters of the word to tremble if their heartes were not closed vp to destruction Therefore if we want the effectes a fore say e or haue them but in a shew or in hipâ—â—â—â—sie let vs feare for the hypocrites may goe very far so as in outward apperaunce there appeareth no difference betwéen them and the children of God Let vs then beware that our harts deceiue vs not For hypocrites may confesse their sinnes and that to the seruants of God may also craue forgiuenesse desiring the prayers of the Godly but more for the escaping of the punishment of sin Exo. 10.16.17 Acts. 8.24 then the hatred of the sinne it felfe as Pharao did and Simon Magus Hypocrites may seeme to haue a great tast and ioy in the happy estate of the righteous and a desire to haue part of their felicity as Balaam Num. 23. â— 24.4.5 excelling in some gifts of knowledge yea they are forced to blesse and fauour the righteous but al this as men in a traunce 1. Kin. 21.2 27. They may repent after a sorte with Achab who yet was solde to do wickedly and as Iudas who hung himselfe For the repentance of hypocrites is not ioyned with a hatred of their sinne nor a desire of change and amendment neither yet with the hope of Gods fauour but either they are ouercharged altogether with the horror of the punishment of sinne but not of the sinne it selfe and so dispayre or else they harden their heartes agayne in their sinnes and so purpose not vnfeyned amendment of life therefore though they seeme to rerepent often yet are neuer the better But the godly as they tremble shook at the horror of the punishment of sinne so they also hate sinne it selfe desiring and longing for a new change in them selues and a through amendment panting thirsting breathing and vnfaynedly longing to taste more and more of the fauour of God Furthermore hypocrites maye striue for the defence of religion inferre scriptures for their purpose may finde fault with the ignorant and dumbe ministery maye boast them selues to be of God as Abilah did Chr. 13.4 vers 9.10 Yea they may be hot against papistry and idolatry and yet faint from the true faith in God and bee hurtfull and mercilesse towardes the saintes of God as Asâ— the king was Chr 15 9.6 16.10.2 Yea hypocrites may after a sort reuerence the ministers of God and doe good thinges whilest the preachers are with them furthering religion and countenancing after a sort good things for the time â— Chro. 24. â— 6 Mark 6.20 as Ioash did in the dayes of Iehoiada the priest And as Herod in the dayes of Iohn the Baptist And yet in the ende turne againe to idolatry and slea those that rebuke them as Ioash did 2. Chr. 24.21 Hipocrites may assemble with the saints of God to holy exercises and frequent the same as Achitophell did with Dauid Psa 55.13.14 They