that we should reioyce in any thing but in the crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ nay rather they are become our enemies because we beleeue in Iesus Christ crucified because we say as Gods word teacheth that Iesus Christ is the only aduocate to the father for our sinnes and that he hath with one suffering consecrated for euer them that are sanctified and that the blood of Iesus Christ his sonne clenseth vs from all sinne for this cause are they become our enemies Let vs nothing feare their trecheries and attempts let vs keepe that is good and hould it fast vntill death now that we haue tasted of the good word of God and haue receiued the comsort of the Gospell Let vs not despise it nor be weary of it let vs pray to God that he wil establish the loue of his truth in vs and that he wil open the eyes of their harts bring them to be partakers of those mercies which yet through ignorance they haue despised Now when we haue tryed by the word which is truth and which is error what shall we them doe keep that which is best that is to say as the truth we must keepe and hold the truth that is defend it with thy tongue maintaine it with thy purse further it with thy labour in danger and trouble losse and displeasure come life come death thinke to doe as Christ did seale the truth with his blood so thou must seale it with thy blood or else thou dost not keepe it but let it goe Well did Paul put trie before chuse for he which tryeth may chuse the best but hee which chuseth before he trye taketh oft the worst before the best Now it followeth in this last admonition Abstaine from all appearance of euill AFter trye all things and keepe the best followeth abstaine from all appearance of euill as if he should say that is like to bee best which is so far from euill that it hath not the appearāce of euil that is like to be truth which is farre from error that it hath not the shew of error whereby sheweth that nothing should be brought into the Church or added to our religion but that which is vndoubted truth without suspition of error it is not enough to be perswaded of our faith but we must be assured of it for religion is not built vppon doubts but vpon knowledge Heere we may maruell why Paul biddeth vs abstaine from all appearance of euil because sin and heresie and superstition are hippocrisie that sinne hath the appearance of vertue and heresie hath the appearance of truth and superstition hath the appearance of religion but this the Apostle doth note that there is no sinne nor heresie nor superstition but if the Visor be taken away from it it will appeare to be sinne and heresie and superstition though at the first sight the Visor doe make it seeme none because it couereth the euill like a painted sepulcher vppon wormes and rotten bones Therefore keep your selues not only from doing those things which are euill but also from all appearance of euill offend not the conscience of thy brother that he may haue no occasion to thinke euil of thee commit not adultery and withdraw thy selfe from the company of such vnthrifty light and suspected persons be not like to them that are such lay not out thy money to vsury nor doe any thing whereby others may thinke euill of thee beware of vncharitable conueyance of thy money be no Idolater and leaue of to do any thing that may bring you into suspition of Idolatry giue not thy honour unto any creature which is proper vnto God haue no fellowship with their workes beare no shew no appearance of liking their euill goe not as they goe liue not as they liue Saint Paul reprooueth the Galathians saying yee obserue dayes and monethes and times and yeares I am in feare of you least I haue bestowed on you labour in vaine Gal. 4. so doth he the Collossians 2. If ye bee dead with Christ from the ordinance of the world why as though yee liue in the world are yee burthened with traditions as touch not tast not handle not so doe the Idolaters you should not be like vnto them they are the children of darknesse you are the children of light they will not be like you and forsake their false Gods why should you then become like vnto them forsake the God that made the heauens the earth you cannot make them ashamed of their errors and to embrace the truth why then should you betray the truth and be partakers with them in error The King Antiochus sent to Ierusalem and to the Citties of Iuda that they should follow the strange lawes of the country many of them chose rather to die then to be defiled with vncleane things and so to breake the holy couenant which God gaue them Machab. 1. Therefore abstaine from all appearance of euill be not like the wicked of this world you are the salt of the earth you should not bee partners of their corruptions but powder and season them You are the light of the world you may not be partakers of their darknesse but lighten and guide them dessemble not but serue God in the simplicity of your hearts and in the sight of the world let it bee written in your foreheads what you thinke in your harts why should any man be ashamed of Gods truth Thus wee haue heard the care of the Apostle in teaching the Thessolonians three principall duties of a Christian that is to reioyce to pray and to giue thankes as hath beene declared more at large and withall for the confirmation thereof in the verses following foure admonitions which are as fortresses to hould vp those duties that is 1. quench not the spirit 2. dispise not prophecying 3. trie and examine all things and so hold fast that which is good the last is abstaine from all appearance of euill which hath also beene declared Now when the Apostle had taught them these lessons and set them forward in the race of true Godlinesse like a good Pastor which hath care ouer his flocke he doth not thus leaue them but withall giues them a friendly farwell in the next verse saying Now the very God of peace sanctifie you throughout and I pray God that your whole spirit and soule and body may bee kept blamelesse vnto the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ 1. Thessalonians 5. verse 23. That is as if the Apostle should say our God is the God of peace hee giueth peace and quietnesse to his Church he doth mussell the Lion maze the Tyrant make blunt the Sword and quench the Fire prepared against his seruants hee giueth his Sonnes peace and quietnesse among them-selues hee abhorreth discord and malice betweene bretheren God is loue saith Iohn and hee that dwelleth in loue dwelleth in God and God in him hee that loueth not his brother abideth in death God hath made vs all members
is good because it prouideth for this life but Maries part is better because it leadeth to eternall life it is good to bee occupied about our calling to get our liuing but it is better to bee occupied in hearing the word which is able to saue our soules As the head and the foote are both needfull in the body so Mary and Martha are both needfull in a common-wealth therefore God hath giuen two vocations vnto man the one earthly by his labour as hee sayd vnto Adam Thou shalt eate thy bread with sweat of thy browes the other is heauenly as is written Thou shalt serue the Lord thy God in holynesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of thy life so there is an actiue life which consisteth in the practising of the affaires of this life wherein man sheweth himselfe to bee like himselfe and there is a contemplatiue life which consisteth in the meditation of diuine and heauenly things wherein man sheweth himselfe to bee like the Angells for they which labour in their temporall vocation doe liue like men but they which labour in spirituall matters liue like Angels when these heare the word then GOD speaketh vnto them and when they pray they speake vnto God so that there is a continuall conference betweene GOD and them because they are continually exercised in hearing and praying As for all other things whether they bee honors promotions pleasures riches and what not they serue onely for maintenance of this present life which is so short and subiect to mutability but the word of God is the food of the soule the bread of life that immortall seed which bringeth forth vnto eternall life Let the word of God therefore be precious vnto vs alwayes because it is so permanent Againe the spirituall minds are heauenly and looke vp because their minds are aboue where their treasure is but the carnall minds are earthly and looke downe like beasts because their treasure iâ— below As the Serpent grouels vpon the earth so doth the Serpents seed and hath not so much as the countenance of grace Therefore as God hath giuen these vocations vnto euery true Pilgrim to bee exercised therein during this present life the one for himselfe the other for God And for that wee may the better as it were beare an euen hand in the practising and exercising of them as God may be pleased and wee comforted Let vs therefore take those directions for the same as God hath appointed by his word otherwise wee should not be able to walke aright but wander cleane out of the right way For if we doe not aske councell at Gods word but trust in flesh and bloud wee are sure to runneawry for as the difference is betweene the body and the soule the one mortall to liue but a short time the other immortall to liue for euer euen so must our exercise and reuerent care bee in our seruice towards them both Now for the bodily estate the Apostle saith If wee haue food and raiment let vs be therewith content 1. Tim. 6. and Salomon beeing both wise and rich prayed for a competent liuing saying Lord giue mee neither pouerty nor riches onely grant mee a necessary liuing Pro. 30.8 Againe the Apostle exhorteth vs to haue our conuersation without couetousnesse beeing content with such things as wee haue besides many other like places for the same purpose Now the worldly man hath no contentment but a continuall desire of worldly riches which is but a false treasure to trust vpon but Saint Paul sheweth vnto vs a riches which euery true Christian ought to couet and desire saying Godlinesse is great gaine if a man be content with that hee hath 1. Tim. 6. Out of these words issue many profitable lessons and instructions for all true Christians to obserue and follow for a Christian shall finde little ioy in riches but shall finde great ioy in the holy Ghost they shall finde little peace in the world but shall finde great peace in conscience Now when the Apostle had found out the disease of couetousnesse hee like a skilfull Physition goeth about to pick out the greedy worme which maketh men so hungry for wealth and then setteth such a glasse before them which hee calleth contentation that will make a shilling seeme as great as a pound and a cottage seeme as faire as a Pallace c. that hee which hath but twenty pounds shall be as merry as he which hath an hundred pounds If wee heare and vnderstand them with the same spirit that Saint Paule writ them then will they so worke vpon our hearts that euery man shall goe away contented with that hee hath like Zacheus which before hee had seene Christ knew nothing but to scrape but as soone as hee had heard Christ all his minde was set vpon giuing This was the first day that Zacheus seemed rich to himselfe when riches seemed dung vnto him and godlinesse seemed riches for when wee contemne riches then shall wee seeme riche because no man hath enough but hee which is contented for wee shall be couetous vntill wee become religious Therefore he that will haue contentation must leaue his couetousnesse in pawne for it for what hath brought vsury and simony and bribery and cruelty enuie strife and deceit into the world and made euery house an Inne and euery shoppe a market of othes and lyes and fraude but the superfluous loue of money and therefore name couetousnesse and thou hast named then the mother of all these mischiefes Of them which seeme to bee wise there bee no such fooles in the world as they which loue money better then themselues but this is the iudgement of God that they which deceiue others deceiue themselues and liue like Caine which was a vagabond vpon his owne land so they are beggers in the middest of their wealth for though they haue vnderstanding to know riches and a minde to seeke them and wit to finde them and policie to keepe them yet they haue a false sight and bleered eye that when their riches lye before them they seeme poore and hee which hath so much seemeth richer then they It is a wonder to see men compassing about seeking what they may get such loue is there betweene men and money that they which professe good will vnto it with their harts will not take so much paines for their life as they take for gaine therefore no maruell if they haue no leisure to sanctifie themselues which haue no leisure to refresh themselues Our Sauiour Christ knew what hee spake when hee said No man can serue two Maisters meaning God and the world therefore the Apostle saith The loue of this world is enmity to God signifying such emulation is betweene these two that God cannot abide the world should haue a part and the world cannot abide that God should haue a part therefore the loue of the world must needs be emnity to God And so no couetous person is Gods seruant but his enimy
spoken of Christ in special in 40. Psal thou hast loed righteousnes and hated iniquity must be verrified and in some measure accomplished in al the members of Christ they must loue righteousnes and hate iniquity this is the difference that the Apostle putteth betweene the children of God the children of the Deuil that the children of God both loue do righteousnesse and the children of the deuill loue sinne and doe it 1. Iohn 3.6.7 Let no man therefore thinke that he is predestinated to saluation vnlesse he feele and find in himselfe the effects and fruits of predestination for those whom God hath predestinated them also in his good time he calleth Ro 8.29.30 not vnto vncleannesse but vnto holinesse 1. Thes 4.7 and whom he hath called them also hee iustifieth and indueth with the grace of sanctification Ro. 6. and whom he iustifieth them also he glorifieth Ro. 8 if any be ingrafted into Christ by a liuely fayth hee cannot but bring forth the fruit of god life Iohn 15. And whosoeuer doth not bring forth such fruit it is a certaine note that he is not yet grafted into Christ None can say that they are grafted in Christ and shall be saued by him but only those in whom the new worke of regeneration is wrought and doe by the inward work of the spirit feele Christ to be theirs for it is the sanctifiing spirit that giueth feeling in this point For as the Vine branch cannot liue and bring forth fruit except it abide in the Vine no more can we except we abide in Christ and be truely grafted in him by a liuely fayth none can haue any benefit by him but they only which dwell in him none can liue by Christ but they which are changed into Christ none are partakers of his body but they only which are in his body none can be saued by Christ crucified but they which are crucified with Christ noue can liue with him being dead but those which die with him being aliue Therfore let vs roote downward in mortification that we may shoote vpward in sanctification Let vs dye to sinne that we may liue to righteousnes Let vs dye while we are aliue that wee may liue when we are dead Let vs not therefore flatter nor deceiue our selues as though we had true fayth when wee haue not the true fruites of fayth for as the sun cannot be without light nor the fire without heat no more can a sauing faith bee without good workes which are the fruites and effects thereof The penitent theef had but a short time of repentance yet in that short time he wanted no good works to declare his fayth by Luk. 23.40.41 for no sooner was it giuen him to beleeue in Christ but that presently he maketh answer on the behalfe of Christ and cleareth him of all amisse herebuketh his fellow for his incredulity he confesseth the greatnesse of their sinne and their iust punishment for the same he acknowledgeth Christ to be the Lord and calleth vppon him Therefore it is not enough for vs to say we haue faith the diuills haue a kinde of faith Iames 2.19 nor it is not enough for vs to come to the Church onely and to call vpon the Lord for to say Lord Lord wil not serue thy turne Math. 7.21 nor it is not enough for the preacher to preach vnto vs for vnto some that haue preached in the name of Christ it shal be saide at the last day Depart I know you not it is not enough for vs to be onely hearers of the word for then we deceiue our selues Ia. 1.22 but you that say you haue faith must shew it by your deedes Ia. 2.17 And you that come to call vppon the Lord must depart from iniquity 2. Tim. 2 19. And they that preach vnto vs must practise that themselues which they preach and be an example of holy life for vs to follow 1. Pet 5.3 and we that are hearers of the word must be doers of the same and then we shall be iustified Ro. 2.13 There are 10. special notes to be required of al those that shal be able to walke in this holy heauēly way which leadeth to eternal saluation 1. The first is he must be a new creature 2. Cor. 5.17 Ro. 12.2 2 Secondly he must haue fayth according to Gods elect therby we are at peace with God 3 Thirdly he must not liue after the lust of men but after the will of God 1 Pet. 4.2 4. Fourthly hee must walke as Christ hath walked Ioh. 2.6 5. Fiftly he must not walke after the flesh but after the spirit Rom. 8.1 6. Sixthly he must be zealous of good works Titus 2.14 7. Seuenthly hee must die to sinne and liue to righteousnesse Rom. 6.14 8. Eightly hee must bee holy and vnblameable Colos 1.22 9. Ninthly hee must crutifie the flesh with effects and lusts Gal. 5.24 10. Tenthly and last hee must serue God in righteousnesse and true holinesse all the daies of his life Luk. 1.75 God requireth true and vnfained holinesse wash you saith the Prophet Esay 1.16 Make you cleane take away the euill of your workes from before mine eyes cease to doe euill this is the Commandement of God that so wee should bee pertakers of his heauenly nature As he which hath called you is holy so bee yee holy in all manner of conuersation saith Saint Peter Our bodies are the temples of the holy Ghost saith the Apostle to the Cor. 6.15 and therefore glorifie God in your bodies and in your spirits for they are Gods in these bodies we shall rise out of our graues and appeare before the Iudgement seate of God in these bodies we shall sit vpon the twelue tribes God shall crowne them with glory and honour keepe these vessels cleane these are precious keepe them in honor keepe them in holinesse make not the members of Christ the members of the deuil shame not your bodies shame not your selues The Scripture teacheth vs manifestly that none shall become pertakers of the glorious rysing againe wherein consisteth the full measure of our felicity but those which haue endeuoured here to die vnto sinne and to liue againe in newnesse of life which is called the first resurrection euen by the spirit of Christ whom all true Christians haue clothed themselues with all and which haue mortified the deeds of the flesh which haue put off the old man with his workes and put on the new man according to the Image of him that created vs and which haue clensed themselues heere from all vncleanesse both of body and soule and that is the reason why Saint Paule hauing said that when Christ appeareth we also shall appeare with him in glory doth forewarne vs to mortifie our members that are vpon earth whereby hee doth vs well to vnderstand that this mortification must goe before in vs here if we purpose to attaine to glory The same Paul telleth vs that our bodies shall be quickned by reason of
the same Apostle sayth Brethren be not children in vnderstanding knowledge because the same Apostle saith Brethreren bee not children in vnderstanding but in maliciousnesse be children but in vnderstanding be of a ripe age For when we come to heare the word of God euery man must reach and stretch out his heart to receiue it for then indeed the word worketh most effectually in vs when our hearts before are kindled and inflamed with desire of it So when wee waxe warme in the spirit and conceaue a desire and a thirst of the word it is an vndoubted token that we are borne againe and that there is breath and a soule in vs and that wee are not vtterly dead in the life of grace Therfore we must desire and imbrace the word because our faith is not able to sustaine and support it selfe vnlesse it be presently fed and nourished with the food of life Now we come to the matter and obiect which we must desire namely the food and nourishment in Christ our Lord which is here called the Milke of the word By this our Sauiour recalleth vs from all our dainties Labour not saith hee for the meat which perisheth but for the meat which endureth for euer for the word is euerlasting food and immortall seed because it makes vs immortall and to last for euer The word of God hath many titles and names giuen for the benefit and nourishment of all true Christians it is called a lanthorne to direct vs a medicine to heale vs a guide to conduct vs a bit to restraine vs a sword to defend vs water to wash vs fire to inflame vs sault to season vs milke to nourish vs and a key to vnlocke heauen gates vnto vs. It is the word of saluation because it saueth euery faithfull soule from damnation it is called the word of life because it reuiueth the spirit it is called the word of reconciliation because it is like a golden chaine to linke God and the faithfull together And in regard hereof it is called a Iewel of inestimable price as if all the treasures in this world were not sufficient to buy it The Prophet Dauid saith it is more to bee esteemed then gold yea then much fine gold and it is sweeter for comfort then hony and the hony combe Psal 19. Againe in the 119 Psal O how sweete are thy words vnto my throate yea more sweeter then hony vnto my mouth Likewise Sallomon his sonne setteth forth the great benefit and comfort that commeth by the word of God vnder the title of wisdom saying Blessed are they that finde wisdome and get the vnderstanding thereof for the marchandise thereof is better then the Marchandise of siluer and the gaine thereof is better then gold shee is more worth then precious stones yea and all things that thou canst desire are not to bee compared vntò her in her right hand is long life and in her left hand riches and honour her waies are pleasant and all her pathes are peaceable shee is the tree of life to them that lay hold on her and blessed is hee that entertoyneth her Pro. 3.13.14 Therefore seeing the word is so precious and so beneficial vnto euery faithful Christian let vs most earnestly long and languish for the milke therefore The word is resembled to milke in three respects first because it is the onely food of the faithful as milke is the onely proper food for babes secondly because it is not hard and intricate but plaine and easie to bee conceiued thirdly because it is sweete and comfortable to the soule For the first our Sauiour Christ fendeth vs to search the Scriptures because by them we haue eternall life And therefore it is the food whereby our soules must liue If wee would duly consider that we cannot be nourished vnto eternall life but by the word of God◠wee would rather wish our bodies might be without soules then that wee should want knowledge and comfort of the word The second point that the doctrine of the Gospel is plaine when the wise man saith All the words of his mouth are plaine and easie to them that will vnderstand Againe the testimony of the Lord is sure and giueth light to the simple If the Gospell bee hid saith the Apostle it is hid vnto them that perish So that if the word of GOD bee a Lanthorne vnto our feete and a light vnto our pathes then it is euident that the word hath no darkenesse in it The third point that the Gospell is the onely comfort and consolation of a faithfull soule the Prophet Ieremy saith Thy words were found by mee and I did eate them and thy word was vnto mee reioycing and the ioy of my heart thy testimonies haue I taken for an heritage for euer for they are the ioy of my heart In all the story of the Actes wee see ioy and comfort to haue followed the word so all true Pilgrims may haue great matter of ioy and comfort when they heare the word preached which shall carry them to heauen So that if the wicked did seele the calme of conscience the ioy of heart the consolation of spirit and the exceeding and euerlasting comfort in God which the faithfull possesse and enioy by hearing and reading the word they would then more gladly indeuoure themselues to heare and read the word with more diligence then they doe Now it is to bee considered the end of our hearing that is that wee may grow in grace and increase in the faith of righteousnesse for the faithfull are called the trees of righteousnesse because they must alwayes spring liuing stones because they must growe in the Lords building good seruants which must trade and traffique the Lords Talents to increase fruitfull branches which must bee purged and pruned by the hand of the heauenly husbandman Therefore wee must not alwayes bee children but grow vp and encrease and profit more and more for wee must neuer rest walking till wee come to God if wee haue faith wee must proceed from faith to faith if we haue loue we must encrease and abide in loue if wee haue zeale we must endeuour to bee consumed with zeale if wee bee liberall to the Saints distressed wee must double our liberalitie and that with cheerfulnesse if wee read the Scriptures wee must goe on and continue in prayer so wee must still increase till wee come to perfection Let vs bee ledde forward vnto perfection Hebrew 6.1 As God hath ordained a heauen for all true Pilgrims so hath hee appointed a way to come to it which way hee that misseth shall neuer come to the end of his race for there bee many wrong wayes as there is many errors but there is but one right way as there is but one truth Iohn Baptist is said not to prepare the wayes of the Lord but the way shewing that there is but one right way to life So that the right way to heauen is by the word of God which
vs to walke in we should shew our selues to be called to his grace and gift of faith which good workes and life who so hath not doth shew himselfe not to haue such a faith in Christ as is required in vs. To Christ must we come and follow him with acheerefull mind that he may teach vs for he is our maister lowly and humble of heart he is to vs an example wherby we must learn the rule to liue well Moreouer he is our Bishop and our high priest which did himselfe offer vp for vs his owne blood being the only mediator betweene God and men who now sitteth at the right hand of God the father being made our aduocate making intercession for vs who doubtles shall obtaine for vs whatsoeuer we shal desire either of him or else of his father in his name if so be that we thus desiring shal beleeue that he wil so do for thus hath he promised therefore let vs not doubt if we sinne at any time to come with repentance and with sure trust to the throane of his grace with this beleefe that wee shal obtaine mercy for therefore came hee into the world that hee might saue sinners by his grace This is verily Christ Iesus which shall come at a certaine time appoynted by his father and shal sit in great maiesty to iudge all men and to render to euery man the workes of his body according to that he hath done whether it bee good or euill And he shall say to them which shall be on the right side which in this world did looke for the good things to come that is to say life euerlasting Come yee blessed of my father enioy the kingdome that hath beeene prepared for you from the beginning of the world but to them which shall be on the left hand he shal say Depart from me yee cursed into euerlasting fire prepared for the Deuill and his Angells and then shal the end be when Christ hauing vanquished all manner of enemies shall deliuer vp the kingdome to God the father A breefe Description of Christ CHrist is described first by his person secondly by his office In his person wee are to note first that Iesus Christ is true God secondly that he is true man thirdly that the person of Christ is but one in which there is to wit the deuine and the humane natures He is prooued to be God because hee is the sonne of God and because his deuine maiesty is declared by vndoubted testimonies first by his might and power in working miracles secondly by his essentiall sanctity and thirdly his resurrection from the dead because hee quickned and gaue life vnto himselfe The office of Christ is heere breefely touched first because hee is Iesus that is the sauiour of his people Mat. 2.21 secondly because he is Christ that is anoynted with the fulnesse of the spirit aboue measure Esay 61.1 Psal 45.7 Iohn 3.34 Acts 20.38 to be a Prophet a Priest and a King and so our Lord not only by reason of our creation but especially because he bought vs with his blood and purchased vs for peculiar people and Church for himselfe The Apostle Paul in the first to the Cor. 1 30. saith that Christ is made of God the father righteousnes vnto vs and that is to be considered in two poyntes first is in discharging vs of our sinnes and the punishments due for the same the second is in presenting ve blamelesse before his heauenly father in such perfect obedience as the law cannot reprooue or iustly charge with any want of obedience according as the Apostle sayth that Christ is the end of the law for righteousnesse to all that beleeue That is Christ hath fulfilled the whole law and therefore as many as haue true fayth in him are compted righteous before God as if they had fulfilled the law themselues And also discharged the punishments which were due for our sinnes and so thereby wee are receiued vnto grace and accepted before God as righteous in Christ The Prophet declareth plainely of Christs obedience saying Hee hath onely taken on him our infirmities and borne our paines and was wounded for our offences and smitten for our wickednesse for the paine of our punishments was layde vpon him and with his stripes are wee healed Esa 53.2.3 Likewise Saint Peter affirming that Christ his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his body on the tree that wee beeing deliuered from sinne should liue vnto righteousnesse by whose stripes wee are healed 1. Pet. 2.24 All this is performed in Christ for vs who hath satisfied in his sufferings for our sinnes and wrought our full discharge in that hee perfectly kept the whole law and euery commandement thereof in the behalfe of vs that bee his for hee beeing God and aboue the law as Lord and giuer thereof needed not to haue beecome a subiect therevnto for himselfe therefore it appeareth plainly that hee went vnder that obedience in oâ—â— names and for vs and that the same obedience of his is auaileable for vs that bee his as it is written that as by one man his disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one which is Christ shall many also be made righteous The tree must bee good before the fruite bee good and therefore wee our selues must bee made righteous before any good fruits of righteousnesse proceed by faith as righteous in Christ whoe is made of God the Father our righteousnesse before the Lord will take in good part any thing that shall proceede from vs. For the Apostle prooueth plainely that our good workes and holynesse of life going before doe not iustifie vs or make vs righteous For it is written that God which is rich in mercy for his great loue wherewith hee loued vs euen when wee were dead in sinnes hath quickened vs together with Christ by whose grace we are saued Ephes Therefore no workes then those went before to quicken vs seeing it is sayd that when wee were dead in sinnes not onely sinnes but dead in sinne God hath quickened vs This prooueth plainly that our good workes and holynesse of life did not procure righteousnesse to bee in vs when the matter is cleare that wee are dead in sinnes when he in mercy quickned vs. So that wee ate not to looke for any righteousnesse to bee in vs but onely in and by Christ whoe is made of GOD the Father righteousnes vnto vs according as the Apostle â—aith to the Cor. that Christ is made sinne for vs which knew no sinne that we might be made the righteousnes of God in him it is not that Christ did sinne for in him was no sinne at all But by way of imputation that is our sinnes being imputed vnto him and he take them vppon him whereby his righteousnes was imputed vnto vs that we might be made accepted righteous before God in him We must therefore bee grafted into Christ and then draw power from him to bring forth fruit that
one bewray the lightnes of the other what thing in the world is soe massie and soe weightie as the truth Therefore as the prophet saith If ye will heare the voyce of God harden not your hearts as they did in the prouocation and as in the day of temptation in the wildernes it is noe sinne to yeilde vnto God it is noe shame to lay apart all affections and to change our mindes to the deniall of all vngodlynes and imbracinge of true holinesse It is the part of a good Christian and a wise man to know himselfe and to know the nature of his flesh which hee beareth about him which fighteth alwayes so mightily against the spirit and to know the waywardnesse and crookednesse of his heart and the weaknesse and vanity of his mind Many are so farre from this they thinke all their ability is of themselues I haue saith one iudgement I haue the light of reason I haue sence I haue vnderstanding and Counsell and the ordering of mine owne way thus say they that neither know God nor themselues The will and power to doe well is of God and not of our selues therefore we must humble our selues vnder the mighty hand of God and acknowledge that we are nothing we must confesse with S. Paul I know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good Ro. 7. Againe it is not in him that willeth not in him that runneth but in God that sheweth mercy Ro. 9. Our Sauiour Christ sayth that which is borne of the flesh is flesh and that is borne of the spirit is spirit Iohn â— And God sayth the immagination of man heart is euill from his youth Gene 8. this is his saying and his iudgement of vs this we find true for our will is froward and our vnderstanding blind therefore sayth the Prophet O Lord I know that the way of man is not in himselfe neither is it in man to walke and direct his steppes Iere 12. Againe the steppes of man are ruled by the Lord. How can a man then vnderstand his owne way Behold as the clay is in the Potters hand so are you in my hand O Israell I mould you and frame you to my glory sayth the Lord. Iere. 18. When the Apostle putteth the Corinthians in mind of that good successe which God gaue vnto his ministers among them hee sayth such trust haue we through Christ to God not that wee are sufficient of our selues but our sufficiency is of God Cor. 3. Christ sheweth this to his disciples saying ' I am the Vine you are the branches he that abideth in mee and I in him bringeth forth much fruit for without mee yee can do nothing Iohn 15. To the Collossians Paul saith It is God that worketh in you both the will and the deed euen of his good pleasure Colloss 2. It is God that disposeth our goings and turneth our hearts as seemeth him best hee is able to make of the stones in the Streetes children vnto Abraham hee is able to take away our stony heartes and giue vs heartes of flesh The Consideration heereof leadeth vs to seeke help and comfort by prayer at the hand of God and because wee stand in need of continuall help either to giue vs somthing that is good or to deliuer vs from that is euill the Apostle biddeth vs pray continually for the eares of the Lord are open to the righteous therfore saith Christ aske and it shall be giuen you seeke and yee shall find knoek and it shal be opened vnto you Math. 7. Let vs therefore go boldly to the throne of grace that we may receiue mercy and find grace to help in time of need Dauid a man according to Gods own heart prayed diuersly Open thou mine eyes lighten my darkenesse direct my feete into the way of peace incline my heart O Lord vnto thy testimonies establish O God that which thou hast wrought in vs take not thy holy spirit from vs bee thou our helper in trouble O forsake vs not veterly Dauid beeing a great prophet of GOD found no way to attaine vnto knowledge of the will of God vnlesse God would open his vnderstanding and endue him with his spirit faith is the gift of GOD or else was the Apostles praier in vaine therefore without the grace and mercy of GOD wee can doe nothing to the setting forth of his glory and to the attayning vnto our saluation The Apostle saith vnto the faithfull Let your conuersation bee in heauen from whence you looke for the Sauiour euen the Lord Iesus Christ Yee were once darkenesse but now yee are light in the LORD walke as children of the light approouing that which is pleasing to the Lord. The great day of the Lord shal be dreadful and come sodainely vpon the wicked but to you it shall not seeme sodaine which feare the LORD and put your trust in him and take all care to bee in readinesse against his comming Arme your selues therefore strongly the enemy is the diuell with all his force your strength standeth not in your owne prowesse or man-hood but in the mighty power of God put on therefore the brest-plate of faith and loue hee that beleeueth shal be saued hee that abideth in loue abideth in God and whosoeuer putteth his trust in him shall neuer be confounded For the grace of God that bringeth saluation vnto all men hath appeared saith the Apostle and teacheth vs to deny vngodlinesse and worldly lusts and that wee should liue soberly righteously and godly in this present world looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Sauiour Iesus Christ which gaue himselfe for vs that hee might redeeme vs from all vnrighteousnesse and purge vs a peculiar people vnto himselfe zealous giuen to good workes Titus 2.11.12 Therefore wee must not alwaies be children but grow vp and increase and profit more and more for wee must neuer rest walking till wee come to God if we haue faith wee must proceede from faith to faith if wee haue loue wee must abide and increase in loue if wee haue zeale wee must endeauour to bee consumed with zeale if wee bee liberall to the Saints distressed wee must double our liberallity and that with cheerefulnesse if wee read the Scriptures wee must goe on and continue in praier so wee must still increase till wee come to perfection Let vs bee led forward saith the Apostle vnto perfection Hebr. 6.1 As God hath ordained a heauen for all true faithful Pilgrims so hath he appointed a way to come to it which way hee that trauaileth not shall neuer come to the end of his race for there be many wrong waies as there are many errors but there is but one right way as there is but one truth To knit vp this part with that warning and exhortation of the Apostle saying Let vs drawe neere with a true heart in assurance of faith sprinckled in our hearts from an euill conscience and washed in bodie with pure water let vs hold the possession of the hope without wauering for hee is faithfull that promised for if wee sinne willingly after that wee haue receiued the knowledge of the truth there remaineth no more sacrifice for sinnes but a fearefull looking for iudgement and violent fire which shall deuoure the aduersaries Hebr. 10.22.23.26 So it cannot be that they which were lightened and haue tasted of the heauenly gift and were become pertakers of the holy ghost and haue tasted of the good word of God and the powers of the world to come and they fall away should be renued againe into repentance crucifying to themselues the sonne of God a fresh Heb 6.4.5.6 The Apostle therfore admonisheth the faithfull to haue discretion in their walking saying Take heed that yâ—e walke circumspectly not as vnwise but as wise redeeming the time because the daies are euill Wherefore bee yee not vnwise but vnderstanding what the will of the Lord is Speaking vnto your selues in psalmes and hyms and spirituall songs singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts Giuing thankes alwaies for all things vnto God the Father in the name of the Lord Iesus Christ Now as al these parts of Scriptures going before in this Booke are needfull special means to teach all true Christians to walke the right way towards heauen whereby we may bee able not only to walke aright but also to make a right and sound reason of our religion agreeable to the word of God a sound reason of our faith and a sound reason of our saluation agreeable to the same word of truth and so to continue to the end of our race then shall wee bee made happy for euermore and be procured happy in the great day of our Lord by our Lord and you blessed of my Father inherite the Kingdome of heauen which is prepapared for you from the beginning which kingdom grant vs Lord for Christ Iesus sake Amen FINIS
for this cause couetousnesse is called Idolatry Now the Apostle to make vs to loue godlinesse hee calleth it by the name of great gaine heare wee may see that God doth not command men to bee godly onely because it maketh for his glory but because godlinesse is profitable to vs. Also for godlinesse is not called gaine in respect of God but in respect of vs it is gaine to vs but it is duty to him so it is not called a health in respect of vs because it is the health of our soules so it is not called a kingdome in respect of God but in respect of vs because wee are intituled to the kingdome by this difference from the reprobates Now put all the good things in the world together and the goodnesse of all is found in godlinesse to shew that the godly are as well as merry as content with their loue towards God and Gods loue towards them as other are with health and wealth and pleasure Therefore it is said of the godly The feare of the Lord is their treasure But the riches of the world are called earthly transitory snares dung as though they were not worthy to bee counted riches and therfore to draw the earnest loue of men from them the holy Ghost brings them in with such names of disdaine to disgrace them with their louers But when hee comes to godlinesse which is the riches of the soule then hee calleth it great riches heauenly riches vnsearchable riches euerlasting riches with all the names of pleasure and all the names of happinesse The worldly man hath a kinde of peace and ioy and riches but it cannot be called great because they haue not enough they are not content as the godly are therefore godlinesse hath his honour to be called great gaine Riches makes bate but godlinesse makes peace riches breeds couetousnesse but godlinesse brings contentation riches makes a man vnwilling to dye but godlinesse makes a man ready to die therefore onely godlinesse hath this honour to be called great riches such ioy such peace is in godlinesse and yet no man couets it For this is the quality of vertue it seemeth nothing vnto a man vntill he haue it but when hee hath found it hee will not then loose it againe for all the world because it brings him to be contented with that he hath Now because contentation is of such a nature that it can please it selfe with pouerty aswell as riches as though it had all which they wanted and this contentment wee owe to godlinesse because it is not possible for a wicked man to bee contented but the godly man hath found that which all the world doth seeke that is enough It is sildome seene that contentation is found in riches therefore the Apostle teacheth vs to seeke it in godlinesse saying Godlinesse is great riches and this riches the world seldome thinketh of but when Godlinesse commeth vnto a man it saith Peace be in this house peace be in this heart peace be in this man and this is the signe whether Godlinesse bee in a man if hee haue ioy and contentment with that he hath if he haue much he can say with Saint Paul I haue learned to abound if he haue little I haue lâ—arned to want that is if we haue much as Abraham as Lot as Iob as Iacob c. Yet it cannot corrupt his mind for though the godly man be full of riches yet his heart is not rent his minde is not troubled his countenance is not changed because he remembreth that these things were giuen him to do good such a commander is contentation that wheresoeuer shee setteth foote an hundreth blessings waite vpon her in euery disease shee is a Physitian in euery strife shee is a Lawyer in euery doubt shee is a Preacher in euery griefe shee is a comforter Therefore if wee see a man contented with that hee hath it is a great signe godlinesse is entered into him for the heart of man is made the temple of God and nothing can fill it but God alone Therefore blessed is the man whom godlinesse doth make rich saith Salomon and bringeth no sorrow of heart with it Pro. 10.22 these are the riches which at the last wee must dwell with when all the rest which we haue lyed for and sworne for and fretted for and broken our sleepe for and lost many a Sermon for will forsake vs like seruants which change their Maisters then godlinesse shall seeme as great gaine vnto vs as it did to Saint Paul and hee which loued the world most would giue all that hee hath for a dram of faith that he might be sure to goe to heauen when he is dead though he went towards hell so long as he liued Thus wee may see the fruites of godlinesse and the fruits of couetousnesse for if wee bee couetous wee shall neuer haue enough although we haue too much but if we bee godly wee shall haue enough though wee seemed to haue nothing therefore what counsell is there to be taken herein but as our Lord Iesus councelled his Disciples Bee not friends to riches but make you friends of riches and know this that if wee cannot say with Saint Paul in what estate soeuer we are in wee haue learned therewith to be content that is whether we be riche or poore in health or sicknesse or in any other estate whatsoeuer if contentation be not there then godlinesse is not yet come vnto that man for the companion of godlinesse is contentation which when shee commeth will bring vnto vs all good things Thus much for this first part wherein is contained the beginning of our Pilgrimage iourney beeing strangers here placed in this world and withall hauing all other creatures giuen and made in subiection for the vse and seruice of man And so consequently man himselfe while he remaineth a Pilgrim to ferue God his Creator with true faith obedience and holynesse of life all his dayes and that all earthly things be made indifferent for the vse and seruice of man with a breefe note how the most part of this world doe runne contrary in this point and doe not take care of that duty and businesse for which alone they were created and placed here in this world and is also declared what great dangers and destructions such runners away fall into with an admonition to all true Christians which are but strangers and Pilgrims in this world and hauing many enimies to encounter withall and for the auoyding the dangers of them wee ought to bee carefull to distinguish truly betweene spirituall and worldly care which is recited in the story of Martha and Mary by our Lord and Sauiour Christ himselfe Also that God hath giuen two vocations vnto men the one heauenly and spirituall for the soule the other earthly and temporall for the body therefore as God hath giuen these vocations to euery Christian to beexercised therein the one for our selues the other for God and that