would be a Proselyte to our Religion come in amongst us would not he say that we are all mad so far from being together with one accord that the variety of our Behaviours is argument too notorious that our minds are not intent upon the same business this is not the Beauty it is the very Deformity of Holiness Once more 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they were together and because so they were with one accord An outward Visible Conformity is in the very nature of the thing it self causal of internal Vnity Love and Charity is there increased where external Communion is promoted wheresoever there is Order there is Peace whereas Mutinies and Discontents are both the Child and Parent of Confusion Well therefore has the Psalmist compared the comliness and pleasantness of Brotherly Love to the outward administrations and solemnities of the sanctuary Psal 133.1 2. Behold how good and how decent a thing it is for Brethren to dwell together in Vnity It is like the precious ointment upon the head which ran down upon the beard even Aaron 's beard that went down to the skirts of his clothing it is like the dew of Hermon even as the dew that descended upon the Mountains of Sion where the Lord himself commanded the Blessing even life for evermore Thus Love and Amity Union and Communion amongst Brethren professing the worship and service of One and the same God looking for and hastning to One and the same Hope is not only compared unto but also a due consequence of the sweet Odors upon Aarons head having their delightful refreshing influence upon the whole Assembly this is the Blessing of God out of Sion to those that are the sons of Sion Love and Peace Joy and Good-will for ever more Hence not without good reason was Jerusalem styled as the name imports a City of Peace because the Temple of the God of Peace was there that Temple which was built by Solomon who was a Prince of Peace after that God had given him Rest from all his Enemies round about neither was the noise of Axe or Hammer heard in all the Holy Mountain while it was Building This the Temple at Jerusalem and therefore the City it self is Built and Compact together even a City at Unity in it self for thither the Tribes go up the Tribes of the Lord to the Testimony of Israel to give thanks to the Name of the Lord. Oh! that we would Recall to our Minds our former happiness under a well ordered and a settled Vniformity how did the people of this Land rejoice to go up together to the House of God as Friends how comely were our Solemnities when whole Families met together at Gods Table the servant was thus far as free as his Master not as a Servant but as a Brother and yet when he came home he did his service without grudging not as unto man but as to the Lord in singleness of heart as knowing that he had a Master in Heaven How was the staff of Beauty in those days no other then the staff of Bands and whilst we did in a general unanimous consent serve our God with one heart and with one voice the result of Glory to God in the Highest was Peace on Earth and Good-will amongst men But wo and alas for us ever since we began to quarrel at our Religion to abhor the sacrifices of our God how has every Mans Hand been against his Brother Father against Son and the Son against his Father Maxima debetur servis reverentia a Man's Table has been made his Snare whilst the servants that attended upon him have been the Informers against him his worst Enemies those of his own House nay the Marriage Bed it self as Honorable as it is has not been free from this shame whilst there have been a Generation of men that would not allow St. Pauls Doctrine to be Gospel That the Believing Wife sanctifies the unbelieving husband and the Believing Husband sanctifieth the unbelieving Wife but our of a supercilious designe to pry into the secrets of Families as if they onely knew who were the chosen of God according to the election of Grace even at the Marriage-supper it self they have separated and divided betwixt Man and Wife put those asunder whom God Nature and Christianity had joined together this being the Religion of our later Reformation what Christ fore-told should be a final destruction upon the people of the Jews Two in abed the one taken and the other left Oh! That at length we might recover our first works and how shall we do that hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches Repent and do your first works Betake we our selves now at last to that from whence we are fallen to our old honest Principles of Piety and Devotion toward God of Reverence and Obedience toward our Superiours of Love and Charity one toward another Oh! that we would but seriously think upon it nay for the childrens sake that yet are unborn that we would consider it our Fathers before us have left us a glorious Religion and what shall we do for the Generations that are to come shall we leave nothing to Posterity but Schisme and separation disorder and confusion But in the words of Holy Church we direct our Prayers unto our God since there is no help in man nor in the son of man O God we have heard with our ears and our Fathers have told us the noble works that thou didst in their dayes and in the old time before them O Lord Arise help us and deliver us for thy name sake and thy honour 'T is not to be expected that ever God should bless that Nation or people where the only fewds are about his service and till our Vniformity in the strictness of it be more countenanced than it has been restored to its wonted exactness and splendor we must never expect to see an end of those fewds Divisions are alwayes running upon the Multiplication say's our Royal Martyr and there is no settlement but in the point of Vnion Toleration then you may give it a new name and by an Vniversal Character Style it Comprehension but Babel in the original both in name and story is the most proper word to signifie Confusion this cannot be the way to peace because it is not like to be a service to the God of Peace of altogether with one accord The Musick of the Sanctuary is not made up of Discord Vnisons here is the only harmony the sweetest Melody both to Heaven and Earth it is a contradiction in the very terms of it and it is impossible that both parts of it should be true that if there be Divisions and those Tolerated therefore there would be no thoughts no searchings of heart Let us take our measures by this one instance Our Fathers worshiped in this Mountain said the Samaritan to the Jew and the Jew said that at Jerusalem men ought to worship and both these were satisfied in
Scripture though it may be sadly observed a new way of spinning out discourses without any the least regard had to the Law and the Prophets Bring me hither the Ephed says David that Ephod from behind which he took his Sword and so it was consecrated for the Lord's battels thus doth he enquire of the Lord upon every enterprise and that in no other way then according to the Divine Institution with a linen Ephod The answer from God to him was either a speedy return of Peace and safety or else a sure caution certainly to prevent and escape the Danger Upon this doth Doog that wicked Edomite put forth his hand to fall upon the Priests of the Lord kills them onely to take possession of their inheritance and is Abiathar escaped unto David with the Ephod in his hand there was a strange Providence in the escape and a wonderful security unto Both in that flight 1 Sam 22.23 Abide with me says the King unto the Priest and fear not for he that seeketh my Life seeketh thy Life but with me thou shalt be in safeguard Both these for a while may be hunted after upon the mountains by the sons of violence and yet they travelling together in yea and persecuted through a wilderness shall even there find a Sanctuary at the Mount of God and in God's due time which is the best for Both these Two keeping still close together the Consecrated Sword in the hand of the One the lâ—nnen Ephod upon the breast of the Other the Kingdom shall be established in the hand of the One the Priesthood shall be confirmed to the house of the Other these are the suremercies of David and of the Son of David to them Both. But let not David in his prosperity forget the House of Abiathar which was afflicted with him in all his affliction nor let Abiathar in his eminency and prelacy be unmindful of the servants of David so oversee them as to overlook them who were formerly a security to him when he fled from the face of Tyranny and Oppression let Both together live in that mutual Dependance in which God hath set them carrying on the same design so advantagious to Both keeping as sacred this Vnion which I must still reinforce to be the Divine Institution lest the last errour prove worse then the first and again some rebellious Sheba do blow the Trumpet God in his mercy prevent such doleful Alarms that they never more be heard amongst us To your Tents O Israel we have no part in David nor inheritance in the son of Jess Now see to thine own House David And would David look well to his own House it must be by having a due regard unto and a tender care of the House of God Thus Psal 132.1 God remembers David and all his trouble in that this was his Oath unto the Lord this was his Vow unto the mighty God of Jacob that he would not come within the Tabernacle of his house nor climb up unto his Bed untill he found out a Place for the Lord and with this most pathetick repetition of the words of his vow an Habitation for the mighty God of Jacob. The instance in the Text is the conclusion of the whole matter v. 27. Aaron met Moses in the Mount of God and kissed him Oh happy interview Moses and Aaron mutually embracing locus honestat the very Place bespeaks both Love and Honour it was at the Mount of God and then the Ceremony denotes both Veneration and endearment Osculum dignitatis he kissed him as a Token of subjection to him thus acknowledging his Majesty and Supremacy deosculatus est ex amore he rejoiced in his heart when he saw him and because he loved him he gave the seal of his affections with his lips an intimation at this first greeting that his Mouth joyned unto those lips quasi coalescebant in Vnum Os was now become but One Mouth with which he was resolved to proclaim Liberty to the Captives and after that enjoyn obedience to those ransomed ones This was Aaron's promise unto Moses and that because of the Divine appointment the Brethren being doubly dear to each other both in the flesh and in the Lord that he would be Moses's Spokesman unto the People he would be even he would be unto him instead of a Mouth Moses embraceth Aaron in the Arms of Love and of Protection the Rod in his hand is a Scepter of favour held out as a token of good will and kind acceptance to him This is the Rod which shall be stretched out working wonders in the defence of the Priesthood Moses embracing him in his Arms assures him from his very heart to the heart of his Brother that they Two thus clasping together coalescebant in Vnum Hominem became now but One Man this being the Promise of Moses that he would never be unmindful of the Word of the Lord as an everlasting command upon him That he should be unto Aaron instead of God Appl. Let it be known this day that there is a God in Israel that this God is to be worshipped and that in the Administration of this worship the Priesthood is to be secured from Contempt to be had in honour for the works sake about which it doth converse I dare not in the least venture to give directions here he must not presume who is the meanest and unworthiest of all the sons of Aaron who hath not been Eloquent neither heretofore nor since the Word of the Lord came unto him but humbly beg we may and heartily in all Duty and Submission invoke we must the Assistance of the Secular Arm lest both our Message and our Persons be altogether despised Did I say our Message or our Persons alas we can easily venture both these through a bad or through a good report and be unconcerned But sad it is to behold that amongst those that are baptized Christians Atheism and Profaneness should so strangely overspread it self yea and that notwithstanding so many popular Discourses every where made about the Reasonableness of Religion hence it is that the Offerings of the Lord have been abhorred amongst us whilst irreligion and a licentious Libertinisme doth exalt it self above all that is called God or Good in the midst of us what means else the bleating of the Oxen of the Beasts of Bashan in our ears the continued murmurings and gainsayings of Core strange fire every where offered up whilst the Lamp burning bright in the Sanctuary is neglected and all this mischief from some of the sons of Levi pretended ones at least fomented by the dissentions of false Brethren men that cannot be contented with their present station but they lead aside the simple and the ignorant into Houses Oh! may our new Laws for which we bless God and have more and more cause to honour and obey Authority may these be executed and may our old Ones not quite antiquated be seasonably re-inforced and shall I humbly make one
satisfaction and Benefit Yea and this does intimate unto us the great advantage of solemn and regular institutions in the Church in that the meannest and the plainest persons may joyn in its communion each man particularly reflecting upon his own circumstances may beforehand resolve and apply such and such particular passages in Divine Services to the like particular emergency in himself and so literally prepare himself for the worship of his God according to the preparations of his Sanctuary such Petitions as these are the Prayers of Faith the Church does thus receive a liberal addition but the Belief is in the Lord we may with the more confidence expect acceptance when we make our humble requests in the voice of the Church Prayers which were certainly composed by the assistance of the Holy Ghost for these two Articles in our Creed follow one on the other the Holy Ghost and the Holy Church this is the best and most effectual Praying by the Spirit when Publick Prayers are in Faith and Piety referred to private necessities he that has Faith has it to himself and therefore for himself each one says I Believe but when we pray it is to be with a Publick Spirit in regard to a whole Community and therefore Christ has taught us to say Our Father Vis unita fortior both the Solemnity as of God and the whole assembly as before him do contribute much to the intensness and vehemency of the Devotion it is thus an effectual fervent Prayer because in and by the Church and so the greater are the praises ascribed unto God amongst the Multitudes Which is the Third instance of this Great Benefit at this present Ecclesiastical Dispensation the Benefit Great because diffusive the Redemption pretious because intimated that it might be Universal 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Believers added to the Lord in the Community of the Church were Multitudes Multitudes and those in a Communion together with one accord how were the Solemnities in Solomons Porch both glorious and efficacious this was the Gospels great energy at the first in that it gained Proselytes unto its profession by Multitudes But alas this has of later years been the Epidemical Degeneracy in the Christian world in that our Religion looses of its followers even to a Popular Backsliding Is it not sad to reflect upon it that the Church should be almost reduced to a necessity of humouring the Multitude against its own Communion whereas external unity was wont to be effectual in the hearts of all how many soever they were that saw it that they should seek after it And yet this is Visible beit in reality or in strife their number is great who by Faith in the Lord are added to the Church and therefore though we cannot suppose the Multitudes here to be so distinguished yet the usual account given us of the Outward Church is that the Multitudes in its Communion are of two sorts either formal Professors or sincere true Believers and both these do belong to Christs Visible Body the Tares will multiply together with the good Corn untill the harvest one and the same Field incloseth both they are not separated till that which proves best is fit for the Granary in the mean time it is not for man to presume to make a difference so the Church increase by Multitudes we are therein to rejoyce and in our joy to hide even a Multitude of Sins let every one examine his own heart whether he experience to a spiritual and a holy advantage the comfortable effect of that Communion under which he lives and so as to the Multitudes a judgment of Charity will in the best sense and to very good purpose comprehend them all whatsoever may be the Election of grace this is sure we are not to be censorious in reference to the present or future state of any since the seal of that Election is that God onely knows who are his however for our comfort with him there is no respect of persons of every Age and of every sex whosoever worketh righteousness is accepted with him the Multitudes seem to imply all the Young and Old high and low One with another but more particularly this General Division of Mankind is specified to shew that the whole race is included Which is the Fourth Instance of a great Benefit in this present Dispensation there was no difference in relation unto Sex in Christ Jesus it is neither Male nor Female but a New Creature even the weaker Vessel has here its equal honour and proportionable too in its number 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there were Multitudes as of Men so of Women of honourable and vertuous Women and of holy Men not a few Vtriusque sexus fit mentio quia in utroque judicium sacrilegii Mention is here made of both sexes because that Gods judgment against the sin of Sacrilege was exerted upon both Ananias and his Wife were alike consenting to the sin and they share alike in the dreadful punishment that hence both Men and Women be fore-warned that they should be as the Apostle directs Gal. 3.28 As Male and Female all one in not against Christ Jesus Considering in the Text both Sexes met together in a holy Communion their faith increased with the increase of God I might observe how that schism and separation like the Devil of old begins with a Division even upon this account first surprising and shattering the weaker Vessel Women who because of their tender apprehensions and their weaker judgments do quickly embrace any thing that is offered them in reference to a future state are many times seduced into a mistake Act. 13.50 even the Devotion of honourable Women was abused by the Jews unto errour they raising a persecution against St. Paul by this means whom they could easily perswade that in so doing they did God good service I would not here speak without a witness what I urge is from the Scripture 2 Tim. 3.6 Of this sort are they who creep into houses and lead captive silly women who are ever learning and because thus deceived they never come to the knowledge of the Truth But this is not as Men and Women professing Godliness God from the begining intended that they should be meet helps to each other not only in the circumstances of humane life but also of Divine and Religious worship and shall they act the Devils part one against another what must they seduce and betray and that of all things in Gods service What is the Wife in the Bosome a Serpent there or is the Man at her right hand a Lion in the way to devour No may they live together as becometh holiness the one in love honour and prudence the other in silence and obedience both together in godliness and sobriety which have the Blessing of this life and of that which is to come let us all therefore both Men and Women without designes upon each other as One in the Lord chuse those things
which are good and profitable and which tend to peace Which is the Fifth and last Instance of the great Benefit here in the Text unto the whole Community from the present Dispensation and that once again yet another reflection upon the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the more or the rather was this great addition made to the Church all this because of what they saw and what they heard which denotes even in the Multitudes in the Women as well as in the Men an act of their free choice upon a most sober and mature deliberation Here was no violence at all offered upon their faculties though it was the terrour of the Lord in a most dreadful judgment yet it kindly perswades them the Signes and Wonders were both Miraculous and Convincing the solemn and holy Convention because Beautiful therefore of it self desireable the Miracles of Providence though they were surpassing yet they were clear and manifest so that at this time as at all others God drew the People unto himself with the cords of a Man that so whilst he drew they might of themselves run after him they were a willing People though it was a day of power they saw what was done they heard what was spoken and throughout they were convinced of all so that it was here an act both of their judgement and their reason in that they did deliver themselves up unto the obedience of Faith Believers were the more or the rather added to the Lord Multitudes of men and women I need not neither have I time to prosecute it as I should here urge that God works with us and within us in order to salvation as we are men and reasonable creatures he proposeth everlasting happiness to us in his Word or by his Church as to our free voluntary choice and whilst he does kindly allure us he doth at the same time leave us in the hand of our own counsel See I have set before you Fire and Water Blessing and a Curse Life and Death chuse you whether you will says God by his Prophet Deu. 30.19 But I am confined both by the time and the Text that I cannot descant so closely as I might upon this Probleme which is indeed too much controverted At present I take it for granted that which I suppose every one experienceth upon consulting his own thoughts that we are all of us as men endued with reason free sreatures and voluntary Agents and that we would do good but evil is present with us because we are not in our judgments or to our senses sufficiently convinced as we might of what is best And therefore since the Design of all that hitherto is inferred from this Text is to promote Vnity and Vniformity amongst Brethren professing Godliness which is here the Holy solemnity The Apostles with the Primitive Christians all with one accord in a holy Place and upon this their persons reverenced the Word of Life was magnified it did not return in vain but accomplished the work for which it was sent for the Benefit was great and exceeding prosperous for a parting now to this subject so much insisted on in one word fain I would perswade shall we suffer the word of exhortation Be entreated to frequent Solomons Porch the Author because of that August solemnity and Ministration that is in it we should with David be glad to go up unto the House chuse to be a Door-keeper in the Porch to wait at the Gates of Wisdom rather than assemble amidst the Congregations of the wicked Tell me says the Spouse to Christ Cant. 1.7 where thou feedest where thou makest thy flocks to rest at noon and this was her kind expostulation Why should I be as one that turneth aside from the flocks of thy Companions our Saviour there feedeth where he is himself fed upon the flocks are there together yea and at rest and that at noon Separation is a work of Darkness chuseth to it self the night To turn aside is to be as one Vae soli alone and woe to him that is alone this the greatest both sin and misery to forsake those flocks which in love and Vnity are companions Behold then may the Separatists of our Age see that I have set before them Fire and Water Blessing and a Curse Life and Death Chuse they whether they will Fire not a strange fire but that of the Sanctuary a pure and bright flame of Love upon Gods Altar Water alas the waters are troubled schism and sedition is a tempestuous sea casting forth mire and dirt Blessing even that which is out of Sion good luck and Prosperity out of the House of the Lord A Curse none more bitter to be cut off from the Congregation what will our Schismaticks thus invade the Priests Office will they excommunicate themselves and deliver themselves up to Satan shall God by his Prophet call unto them and say stand ye in the ways and see and ask for the old paths where is the old way the good way because the old way and amidst all our tumblings and tossings from one post to another we cannot find a better Shall God command peremptorily that we walk in these ways with a promise of rest unto our souls for out of such paths there is nothing but disorder and disquietude and shall we return that answer which the Jews did Jer. 6.16 But they said we will not walk therein Thus the Rebells against their settled and fixed administration of old Korah and his Accomplices Numb 14.2 Moses called them to the Congregation and they said We will not come up they turned their backs to the Tabernacle Satan therefore claimed them for his Synagogue and soon took possession of them Hell from beneath was moved to meet them at their coming The Earth opened her Mouth and they went down alive into the Pit and therefore yet once more may the Sons of Belial who cast off every yoke see this day set before them Life and Death and that in the utmost extremity in the eternity of both Life a Life of of Grace here in order to glory hereafter and still out of Sion goes forth this Blessing the Promise of Life for evermore Christ with whom are the words of eternal Life is not to be found as I must again and again inculcate in the Wilderness or in the secret Chamber but in Solomons Porch by the Chair of Moses not in the Stool of Wickedness or in the Seat of the Scornful he is head of all things to his Church in the Communion of which alone we expect salvation without there is nothing but sin sin that excludes from pardon the wages of which is Death Solomon hath in a Proverb told us the misery of those who turn aside from his Porch The Man that wandreth out of the way out of the beaten path of understanding shall fall into the Congregation of the Dead And now let our Schismaticks chuse for themselves I have in this though a private Person yet with
made manifest unto all there are mollisma tempora certain times and seasons in which it is most amiable and it is part of Christian prudence so to exert it that it may appear beautiful and lovely unto all in its proper season the present circumstances are to be consulted seriously least our Moderation do degenerate into a sordid and a sneaking compliance an Holy Zeal must sometimes have its perfect work as well as Patience when once Remissness gets the upper hand of Order God himself is neglected whilst his Divine Offices are perfunctorily carelesly and slubberly performed when the publike Solemnities of Religion are if not laid aside yet so managed as if they were altogethar needless and to no purpose the Moderate Man may mourn in secret and by his silence at such a time manifests his prudence because it is an evil time but this seems to be rather an opportunity for courage and constancy in the Resolute that the world may see that we are neither afraid nor ashamed of that which some count madness and folly that we are neither to be complemented by the sly Polititian nor Hectored by the prophane Atheist out of that Faith which we have professed and wherein we stand In a word this is our Moderation when in affliction we are not froward under discouragements we are not discontented when we can love those who persecute us and are ready to do good to those who do despightfully use us when we count it all joy that for righteousness sake we are evil thought of or evil spoke of when we are not over-sollicitous of every ones good word but should God and his Truth require it we can venture through a bad report to shew our Constancy and Perseverance and though the Moderate Man walks circumspectly not as a fool but as wise endeavouring to approve himself to the Consciences of those with whom he has to do yet his heart doth neither mis-give him nor reproach him as his humility is conspicuous so his integrity is solid if he does approve himself it is that the Lord may commend the singleness of his heart and the integrity of his Soul even the Lord who is at Hand And so I press to the Third and Last thing propounded to wit How the Coming of Christ either in the Flesh or to Judgment is an Argument to us to improve this Grace of Moderation The Lord is at hand just now gone from us lately appearing in our Flesh And he is at hand in like manner to come again the day is approaching in which God will Judge the World by the Man whom he hath ordained even the Man Christ Jesus and the Apostle doth in another place joyn both these together to wit that the consideration of Christs first Coming should have this effect upon us that we live in a continual expectancy of his Second Tit. 2.11 12. The Grace of God which bringeth Salvation hath appeared unto all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present evil world Moderation is but one comprehensive word for all these looking for that blessed Hope and the glorious appearance of the Great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ First Let your Moderation be known unto all men the Lord is at hand not far from every one of us lately appearing in our flesh having Sanctified our inclinations and affections whilst he was subject unto like Passions with us being in every thing tempted as we are yet without sin we might indeed sometime have been foolish deceived by and deceiving one another Status Naturae status Belli in this sense we were by Nature the Children of Wrath not only in relation to God whom we had provoked but also in relation to each other delighting in violence and oppression But Tit. 3.4 After the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward Man appeared we are freely justified by his Grace and made Co heirs together according to the Hope of Eternal Life and this is that which we must Persevere in since we have believed on God that we be alwayes careful to maintain good works and those such which are not in the least Destructive but every way profitable unto men let every one that nameth the Name of Christ Jesus our Lord depart from all iniquity Our Saviour in the Flesh God incarnate in his Birth throughout his Life but chiefly at his Death was not only a most successful example but a prevailing argument for our Moderation First His Birth was the Son of Righteousness arising with healing in his wings it was through the tender Mercies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 through the Bowels of the mercy of our God that the Day-spring from on high did visit us and this is our Happiness consequential hereupon that being delivered from our Ghostly and our carnal Enemies we may serve God without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all the daies of our lives this was the Angelical Hymn at his Birth that as his coming into the World was Glory to God in the highest so it was in Earth Peace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and good will towards Men nay further that our Love upon this occasion might be raised to its due pitch those words are not unfitly rendered by the Vulgar In terris pax hominibus bone voluntatis On earth Peace unto Men of Good will And now shall our Saviour empty himself of his honour that he may accommodate himself unto us and we be puffed up one against another are we not all of us now Brethren doubtly dear unto each other both in the Flesh and in the Lord or rather in the Lord who was made Flesh Secondly Nay yet again not only the fruit of his holy Mothers Womb at his Birth but the whole course of his Life was nothing else but a continued labour of Love could he do any good were it to the poorest and the meanest to the basest and unworthiest it was his meat and his drink he loved much and therefore all along though loaded with indignities he forgave much he had not where to lay his head and yet he wrought Salvation wheresoever he came how glad was he though in a crowd that vertue wentout of him in this chiefly was his humility conspicuous in that he confessed and he denyed it not that He though the Son of Man and so the first born of the whole Creation came not to be Ministred unto but to Minister and to give his Life a Ransome for many And are not we likewise to tread in his steps is not this the Lesson which hence we are to take out that the greatest amongst us be in all good and vertuous offices as it were a Servant unto all remembring alwayes the words of our Lord Jesu Christ that it is better to give than receive we should therefore from his example be ready to give and willing to communicate Thirdly Yet once more and chief of all his Death was