with him in Aegypt did not loue him as their brother till hee had made himselfe knowne and till they were verily perswaded that hee was their brother so wee shall neuer loue GOD as his children till wee acknowledge him for our Father and bee by faith perswaded of his loue Fourthly I said that loue was Kindled in the soule For the loue of GOD is a Coelestiall Fire seruing to comfort and refresh the heart and to inflame it with an holy zeale and to consume these filthy vapours of malice enuy pride treachery and such other noysome lusts as arâ— within him Fiftly I say it is kindled by thâ— HOLY SPIRIT therefore Saiâ—â— Paul cals it the Fruit of the Spirit for if the hatred of GOD be a worke of the flesh and from the motion of the Deuill then the true loue of GOD must needes bee the worke of the Spirit who enlightens the minde inspireth faith and perswades the heart to loue and delight in GOD How much are wee bound to GOD of whose pure loue to vs it is that wee haue any loue to him He comes downe to vs before we go vp to him Hee drawes vs before we run and lookes vpon vs before we turne our eyes to him LORD what is man that thou regardest him or the sonne of man that thou so thinkest on him What shall I render vnto the LORD for all his benefits towards mee O my GOD and my King I will extoll thee and will blesse thy Name for euer and euer Finally I said that loue doth knit our hearts to GOD and makes a man take him for his chiefe contentment For as hatred doth rend disioyne and separate So loue doth vnite knit and tye together Loue married Iacob and Rahel loue vnited Dauid and Ionathan and so our hearts by loue are wedded and vnited to GOD and for GOD to one another That they might bee knit together in loue saith Saint Paul 'T was Loue that made our Sauiour pray that all his Members might bee One with Him and his Father and it is loue also that makes vs deny our selues and the world and study to liue so as if wee were not ours but GODS 'T is hatred that breeds dislike auersation and discontentednesse And so it is loue that causeth ioy delight contentment When loue hath once possest the soule it moues it to ioy in GOD to make him her prime contentment and to exclaime with the Psalmist Whom haue I in heauen but thee and I haue desired none on earth with thee GOD is the strength of mine heart and my portion for euer And vndoubtedly what thing soeuer a man doth best loue that to him is his best contentment for loue causeth content as the light doth comfort and contentment is imbarked and enbotled in it as a Tree in a Barke as water in the clowdes Therefore the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying to loue signifies to rest in or to bee contented And thus wee haue seene what loue is The Obiect on whom this loue heere spoke of should bee fixed is the LORD euen hee who is gracious and mercifull slow to anger righteous in all his waies and holy in all his workes Euen he whose greatnesse is incomprehensible and whose wisedome is infinite which made heauen and earth the sea and all that is therein and keepeth his fidelity for euer which executeth iustice for the oppressed giueth bread to the hungry loueth the righteous healeth those that are broken in heart preserueth all that loue him fulfill the desires of all that feare him releeueth the fatherlesse and widdow and sheweth mercy vnto thousands to them that loue him Euen hee I say that remembred vs in our base estate cut the cords of the wicked rescued vs from our oppressors deliuered vs from our sins brought vs from our errours translated vs out of Babylon saued vs from that Purple Harlot shewed vs his Word giuen vs his Gospell honoured vs with peace deliuered our Rulers rescued his Annointed and saued vs all both Church and Kingdome from that Hel-made horrid and prodigious Powder O LORD how great is thy loue vnto vs how amiable is thy Name in all the world Blessed bee thy Name for euer and let all thy people say Amen The Personâ— who are exhorted to this Loue are All GODS Saints euen all they that haue tasted of his loue and which in mercy hee hath hallowed for himselfe euen All of them yong and old rich and poore high and low men women and children for in saying All hee exâ—epteth None the Yong men for their strength Old men for their wisedome the Rich for their wealth the Poore for their correction the High for their greatnesse the Low for their meanesse with which vertue and piety commonly cottens best with Men for their supereminent honour Woemen because hee hath graced their Sex by bringing forth of a Sauiour and Children for his great care and manifold protection of them and all in generall for their Sanctification by grace on earth and eternall Saluation in immortall glory in the Heauens But are none bound to loue the LORD but his Saints Yes without doubt the Law ties all for all are of his making his goodnesse reacheth vnto all and hee is the Sauiour of all But Dauid heere speakes vnto Saints onely being such as himselfe most delighted in and of whom hee best hoped being best affected and such also as whom GOD doth most deerely loue and honour with his greatest fauours Our lesson then from hence is this All of vs euery mothers child without exemption of any should loue the LORD But because as hee that speakes Greeke or Lattine to him that is no Grecian or Latinist is but as a Barbarian to him and does but beate the aire So the Language and discourse of loue to him that loues not is but barbarous and vnpleasing as sounding Brasse and a tinckling Cymball Tâ—erefore that wee may conceiuâ— and reape profite by these things which shall bee deliuered concerning our loue of GOD it behoues vs to blow vp the dying and fainting coales of this heauenly and holy fire within our breasts And seeing that the eare tasteth words as the palate doth meate let vs haue vnderstanding and attentiue eares that discerning the things we shall heare to bee good wee may receiue and digest them and like prudent hearers shewforth the fruits therof in our liues conuersations First then I say Necessity lies vpon vs to loue the LORD Woe vnto vs if wee loue him not For first it is GODS expresse commandement Thou shalt loue the LORD thy GOD and now Israel saith Moses what doth the LORD thy GOD require of thee but to feare and loue him This our Sauiour calleth a Great Commandement the Commander is great the Obiect is great the vse of the duety is great and their reward is great that take care to do
it And though there were no other reason to moue vs to it but his bare command yet were that reason strong enough to bind vs Sic vult sic iubet stet pro ratione vâ—luntas The power of a King the authority of a Father the place of a Maister necessitatis the subiection and obedience of a Subiect Childe and Seruant But GOD is our King our Father and our Maister hee hath an absolute ineuitable and vncontrouleable power and iurisdiction ouer vs Therefore his very bare command should condition and controule vs without more adoe But secondly besides the precept there is a most heauy curse which vnlesse a man do loue GOD hee cannot scape For though our loue of GOD bee not the causâ— why but a signe that GOD will blesse vs yet our hatred or Non-loue doth deserue his curse Therefore Saint Paul denounceth him accursed that loues not the LORD IESVS who is GOD ouer all blessed for euer Amen Thirdly except wee loue GOD wee cannot worship him For true worship is Loue ioyned with duety towards a mans superiours So that where there is no loue there is but counterfeit seruice or none at all And indeed as hee that loues not GOD cannot worship him so neither can hee loue his neighbour for GOD and in GOD And Hee that loueth not his brother is not of GOD but abideth in death Certainely hee that loues not the father as the father loues not the sonne as the son loues not his brother as the childe of GOD as the brother of CHRIST as the childe of the Church which wee all ought and who so doth not shall haue small reward And that the necessity of this duty may yet appeare let vs know that as iron is vnfit to bee wrought on vnlesse it bee heated in the fire and as waxe will not seale well except it bee warme and soft euen so are wee till wee bee inflamed with loue till that holy fire hath heated vâ— Till then the Word the Sacraments the Minister his Binding Loosing Preaching Praying Blessing will bee of no true reckoning with vs and wee shall take no comfort in them And say that a man had the loue of all men say that hee could speake all Languages in the world and were able to remoue Mountaines to cast out deuils to cure all diseases to heale all wounds and should crumble out all his goods to the poore suffer for the truth do and suffer many things for his Country yet if he loued not GOD he might truely say with Saint Paul Hee were Nothing And thus wee see the necesity of louing GOD. A second argument of this duety is from the Equity thereof For seeing Almighty GOD doth loue vs as it appeareth by his Electing Redeeming Sanctifying and Preseruing vs in CHRIST IESVS his beloued Sonne it is a matter of equity that wee should remonstrate our loue vnto him in that his Sonne and the rather also because our loue to him comes short in measure of his loue to vs For GODS loue is a Descending loue but our loue to him is an Ascending loue and loue descending is more naturall more vigorous and more vehement then loue ascending As wee see in fathers and mothers who loue their children better then their children loue them And reason may bee giuen heereof For GOD knowes vs better then wee know him And there is no corruption no vitiosity of nature in him as there is in vs Wee are not so good and candid of naâ—ure as Hee Neither haue wee any thing of ours in GOD to loue as hee hath in vs for wee and euery good thing in vs is of GOD. Besides GOD loues vs that deserue his hatred being by nature dead in sinnes and children of wrath and bringing forth many rootes of bitternesse and fruites of iniustice how vnequally then should wee deale with him if wee should not loue him who deserues our loue being most louely in himselfe and bearing such loue vnto vs. What is man saith Dauid vnto GOD that thou art so mindfull of him or the sonne of man that thou thinkest on him And what is GOD ô man that thou art so vnmindfull of him bearing so small respect and loue vnto him If it bee vntolerable ingratitude for a man to be loued of a man and to receiue continuall tokens of loue from him and yet in the meane time not to loue his louer and to show no signes of kindnesse towards him What horrible impiety iniustice and vnthankefulnesse is it to bee beloued of GOD and to returne no loue vnto him to receiue daily testimonies of loue from him and yet to shew no loue vnto his Name Farre be this vneuen and vnthankefull dealing from vs that owe more loue vnto him then wee can expresse in worke or word Nimis durus est animus qui si dilectionem nâ—lebat impendere nâ—lie rependere His heart is Oke not flesh but flint that though hee will not beginne to loue yet finding loue will shew no loue But GOD doth loue vs out of his loue hee sent his Sonne his onely Sonne the Sonne of his loue into the world to saue vs Hee sends vs fruitfull seasons and fils our hearts with gladnesse It is his mercies that wee are not consumed they are renewed euery morning Yea we should bee very vniust and iniurious vnto our selues if wee will not loue him seeing as the Apostle teacheth All things life and death health and sickenesse same and reproach plenty and penury prosperity and aduersity worke together for good vnto those that loue GOD. And what reason is there that wee should desire his loue to vs and with-hold ours from him Or what reason haue wee to require loue of our wiues children seruants neighbours acquaintances if wee care not to shew loue to him who hath adopted married and assumed vs vnto him Or finally with what equity can we desire that our commands should bee respected of those that depend on vs if wee make no count of this duety which drawes on all the rest which he exacteth and expecteth at our hands Wee see then that common sense and Equity extorts it from vs and cals vs to it Thirdly the commodities of this loue should moue vs to the entertainement and performance of it For first by this loue our faith produceth those good duties which we owe to GOD. For Faith is as an Hand Receiuing but by loue we giue and bestow and without it wee can do no good workes well Therefore the Apostle saith that Faith worketh by loue And as Saint Austen speaketh Our life and all our conuersation is named of our loue Nec faciunt bonos vel malos mores nisi boni vel mali sint amores Which being good or bad makes our manners to be thereafter such as the loue is such is the life a holy loue a holy life an earthly loue an earthly
word the loue of GOD is as strong as death for as death doth kill the body so our loue to GOD doth mortifie our loue to the world and like a strong wind it dispels the thicke and stinking fogs of rancour wrath malice And as the rising of the Sunne doth driue away the cold and dulnesse of the night and as the pouring in of wine into a vessell causeth the aire to giue place so the loue of GOD doth diminish and send packing the inordinate loue of worldly vanities and when our hearts are once warmed with it it causeth the coldnesse of our affections vnto good to depart and lessen When GOD comes into the heart as hee doth when the heart doth loue him Mammon must needs go out When wee fixe our eyes on heauen wee remoue them from the earth and when wee fall into a league of loue with GOD it cannot bee but that wee must fall out of loue and into hatred with all his enemies Therefore Dauid saith out of his loue to GOD Do not I hate them O LORD that hate thee I hate them with an vnfeygned hatred as if they were mine vtter enemies And thus wee haue had a say of the commodiousnesse of this our loue to GOD. The Excellencie thereof remaineth yet to bee discussed True loue wherewith GOD is affected is excellent in all these respects which follow First in respect of the Authour of it which is not man but GOD For loue as Saint Iohn sheweth commeth of GGD and whosoeuer loueth GOD doth it by the finger and gift of GOD. Secondly in respect of the true Endes thereof which are not base but honourable as the glory of GOD the saluation of our soule the edification of our brother the honour of our calling and that wee might not grieue the Spirit of GOD. Thirdly in respect of that of GODS which moues vs to loue which is his goodnesse because he is good in himselfe and good to vs. Fourthly in regard of the Subiects of it or the persons in whom it raigneth which are onely the beloued Saints and Seruants of GOD the excellentest of humane race and in them the Heart euen the best member in them is the Hearth or Altar on which this heauenly fire kindled by the HOLY GHOST doth lie Fiftly in respect of the manifold and excellent Attendants and Companions which waite vpon it euen all the vertues For our loue of GOD is not forlorne and solitary but like an honourable Lady very well attended Sixtly for the perpetuity thereof beyond faith and hope For whereas they shall cease when a man hath once obtain'd full fruition of the things which hee doth beleeue and to expect haue and enioy loue shall not cease but become compleate Seuenthly our loue of GOD hath three most excellent Effects to speake of no more First it makes a man officious to GOD and for GOD to Man True obedience is the fruit of loue and all obedience which is not of loue is hipocriticall and vnsauory Wee see the loue of a child forces him to obey his father though hee had not a rod not an arme So GODS Childe by his loue is moued to serue GOD yea and would study to obey hiâ— though hee would not strike though there were no hell to be punisht in for disobedience Yea the force of loue is such that it will make a man obey GOD though there were no After-reward of obedience Euen as wee see amongst men loue will enforce a man to doe well vnto one whom hee loues euen freely then when the party receiuing the benefite is not able now nor likely heereafter to make a requitall of it Secondly it makes a man like to GOD for GOD is LOVE and it is not the least commendation of a childe to bee like his father Thirdly hee that loueth GOD doth as it were depriue himselfe of himselfe and bestowes himselfe on GOD whom hee doth loue insomuch that hee doth dye by little and little in himselfe but GOD whom hee loueth liueth in him For the loue of GOD if sincere and feruent is of a Rauishing disposition by the which the louer is so rapt out of himselfe that hee forgets himselfe denies himselfe and is wholy in GOD whom he loueth and GOD whom he affâ—cteth being in him So that this loue is able to make the louer say I liue but not I now but GOD liueth in mee For euen as the loue of the world makes the worldling liue vnto the world and the world to liue in him so as it may bee said of them in some sort They two are become one So our loue to GOD doth cause vs to liue to GGD and GOD as it were to liue in vs so as that wee are now no more Ours but His no more Two but One Neither seeke we our selues but Him Non nostra sed sua not ours but His. Eightly our loue of GOD may bee said to bee excellent in respect of that excellent and supereminent Reward wherewith GOD will recompence them that loue him how poore or meane soeuer and this is no lesse then a Crowne then a Kingdome the Crowne of Glory the Kingdome of Heauen Hearken my beloued Brethren saith Saint Iames Hath not GOD chosen the Poore of this world that they should bee rich in faith and Heires of the Kingdome which hee hath promised to them that loue him And Saint Paul likewise sheweth that the Crowne of righteousnesse euen that which CHRIST hath purchased by his righteousnesse that which GOD hath in mercy promised and in iustice will performe that wherewith righteous men shall bee rewarded shall bee rendred to them that loue his comming which onely they do that loue him himselfe Doubtlesse hee that loues not the Iudge loues not his comming to iudgement Hee then that would liue in heauen like a King let him loue GOD first on earth like a Subiect Hee that would haue that Glory let him haue this Grace Oh! how men loue the world whose pleasures are but for a season and whose ioyes are but imperfect But in the presence of GOD there is fulnâ—sse of ioy and at his right hand there are pleasures for euermore O! how couetous are men of riches how ambitious of a Crowne And yet Riches remaine not alway nor the Crowne from generation to generation But the riches of Glory that come By the loue of GOD are euerlasting the Crowne and Kingdome promised to them that loue him is eternall and vnchangeable The preferments profites and pleasures which the earth can affoord are obuious to the eye and not so goodly as foolish men imagine But the things which GOD hath prepared for them that loue him are such as no eye hath seene no eare hath heard no heart hath conceiued none can expresse them but they that enioy them Oh that men would therefore set their loue vpon him and remoue it from the world For
information of the LORD piously except the loue of GOD doth moue them to it How shall wee bee able to meditate in the Law of GOD day and night as wee are exhorted our dulnesse and auersnesse is so great by nature except the loue of GOD do spurre vs vp and vanquish vs How shall wee with the children of Israel turne quickely out of the way wherein our fathers haue walked and go an whoring after the idoll idle and addle inuentions of men specially if we were but put to it a little except our loue to GOD restraine and bridle vs What soule will say to GOD but that which loues him deerely as Ruth said to Naomi Whether thou goest I will go and where thou dwellest I will dwell It is lacke of loue which makes men forsake him deny him seruice and depart out of his house Will a mother with Hannah dedicate her sonne vnto the LORD but that shee loues him surely if her dedication be in deuotion it is the fruit of her loue Wouldest thou with Dauid set all the Lawes of GOD before thee and not depart there from Wouldst thou bee vpright towards him and keepe thee from thy wickednesse Then loue him For what was it that made Ionathan so sincere to Dauid what caused him to say vnto him Whatsoeuer thy soule requireth that will I do vnto thee Euen this Because hee loued him as his owne soule What but loue forced the true mother of the child to say vnto Salomon Slay him not whereas the other for want of loue said Diuide it So nothing but the loue of GOD makes a man study the peace vnity of his House and causes his bowels to yearne at the diuiding of it What but the zeale of loue to GOD moued Hezekiah to break the images to cut downe the groues â—nd to demolish the brazen Serpent So certainely thou shalt neuer â—leaue fast to the LORD and throw downe those idols that are within thee and keep thy soule from inchastity except thy loue to GOD constraine thee Wouldst thou haue thy Religion costly and not count it a burthen to thee Wouldst thou bee cheerefull and Free-spirited in all thine oblations and gifts vnto GOD Then must thou needs addict thy soule to GOD by loue It was this which made Dauid say to Ornan I will not take thine for the LORD nor offer burnt offerings without cost It was deuotion which moued the Israelites to bestow their siluer and gold and precious stones vnto the building of the Temple Of whom it is written that They offered willinglâ— vnto the LORD with a Perfite â—eart It was without question true loue to GOD which made Sâ—lomon pray for wisedome and knowledge to gouerne the people of GOD and build an house for the Name of the LORD and which made Dauid say I will not enter into the Tabernacle of mine house nor come vpon my pallat or bed nor suffer mine eyes to sleepe nor mine eye-lids to slumber vntill I finde out a place for the LORD an habitation for the mighty GOD of Iacob Euen so doe thou whom CHRIST hath made a spirituall King deuote and bestow thy selfe on GOD by loue if euer thou desirest to gouerne thy selfe to mortifie thy lusts and to make thine heart an house for GOD to dwell in Wouldst thou not sleepe till thou hast found out an house for GOD to dwell in Then surely thy loue must keepe thee awake Loue vnto God and of his worship made the people sing for ioy and shoute with a great shoute when the foundation of the LORDS House was laid Euen so it behoues vs truely to loue GOD if wee would truely reioyce when wee see the Church which is the House of GOD newly founded or repaired in any Kingdome State Citty Towne Village Family or when wee see the truth of CHRIST planted and receiued in any man Wee are commanded to sanctifie the Sabboath day and Nehemiah was very zealous for the keeping of it and reproues the Rulers for the breach thereof What euill thing is this saith hee that yee doe and breake the Sabboath day Did not yours fathers thus and our GOD brought all this plague vpon vs and vpon this Citty yet yee increase the wrath vpon Israel in breaking the Sabboath Now certainely vnlesse by loue we sanctifie GOD in our hearts we shall neuer sanctifie the Saboath for GOD. This is the cause that wee steale away the Saboath from GOD because our lucre and pleasures doe steale away our loue that is due to GOD from vs. It was loue that made Ester say to the King How can I suffer and see the euill that shall come vpon my people or how can I suffer and see the destruction of my kindred Doubtlesse he loueth Iacob that pitties the affliction of Ioseph Loue vnto GOD will make the heart bleed at the bloud-shed of the godly Thou canst not loue GOD if thou beest not moued at the plots and practises of godlesse men against the people of GOD I suppose him void of all loue to GOD that could haue seene suffered that execrable Powder-practise or which now doth grieue in secret to see it disapointed To conclude what moued Iob to patience Loue. What made him say Though hee slay mee yet will I trust in him and I will reproue my waies in his sight Loue. What made Dauid say Thou art my LORD thy Law is within mine heart Loue. What made him so sing of GOD and compose so many Psalmes vnto him Loue. What made Agur pray Feed mee with foode conuenient least I bee full and deny thee and say Who is the LORD and least I be poore and steale take the Name of my GOD in vaine Loue. What made Salomon rise at the last relinquish his lusts cry All is vanity call vs to the remembrance of GOD in our youth Loue. What moueth the Church to speak thus vnto her husband Let him kisse mee with the kisses of his Mouth Shew me where thou feedâ—st where thou liest at noone Stay me with flagons comfort me with Apples Nothing but Loue. Shee is sicke of loue What made Daniel venture vpon the Lyons the three children vpon the fire and the Christian Martyrs vpon all kinds of deaths Surely this They loued not their liues vnto the death but out of their loue vnto GOD made more account of his glory then of their owne liues liberties pleasures profits and preferments and held the truth at an higher rate then all earthly things whatsoeuer Loe then what reason wee haue to loue the LORD I all the wit and industry of flesh and bloud were spent and exercised in arguing for the loue of earthly things yet all were nothing of no validity nor efficacy to remoue our loue from GOD to them What shall detaine our loue the world Know yee not saith Saint Iames That the amity of the world is
the LORD is still musing and thinking of him of his Grace and Glory his Power and Prouidence his Truth Iustice Mercy c. His Head is on him his Heart goes with him his Spirit is present with him For the soule is present as well Vbiamat as vbi animat where it loues as where it liues and lisens As GODS loue to vs made come downe as it were to vs so our loue towards him makes vs go vp to him as his loue to men made him conuerse with men so mens loue to GOD makes them conuerse with him And as his loue to vs makes him present with vs to helpe and guide vs so our loue to him makes vs present with him to cleaue vnto him and to follow him His loue causeth him to thinke on vs and our loue maketh vs to thinke on him So that hee which in heart is present with him and doth meditate and thinke often on him may bee assured that the loue of GOD is in him It is true a man cannot but bee where GOD is because hee is euery where Doe not I fill heauen and earth saith the LORD Yet this presence is rather absence when our heart is absent euen as his presence is but absence if his loue be absent A friend is then present when hee is at hand to helpe and his thoughts are to relieue and hee loues truely whose heart is present with his Loue continually not letting it to slide out of his memory Seuenthly hee that is not fickle and inconstant in his deuotion and deuote affection vnto GOD may know that hee loues him truely I say if hee loue like a true friend At all times as wel when the whether is foule as faire in winter as well as in Summer when the heauens are blacke as well as when the Sunne doth shine For onely true loue is constant it accounteth nothing hard nothing grieuous and intolerable Fel. quod amarum est id mâ—l faciet It will make gall which is bitter to bee sweete as hony Periculis insultat mortem irridet si amor est â—incit omnia It contemneth dangers it scorneth death if it bee true loue it ouercommeth all things insomuch that though the louer may bee kil'd yet Inuictiu moritur â—ee dies vnvanquished as wee see in the Martyrs whom neither pleasure profite nor promotion on the one side nor any torture or cruell kinde of death on the other could beguile inueigle astonish or deterre But through their loue by Him that did enable them they conquered and contemned all things stucke fast to GOD. Eighthly the keeping of GODS Word in the minde to remember it in the heart to beleeue and embrace it and in the life to liue by it and a contention of Spirit to obey his Precepts is an infallible argument of true loue vnto him This is the loue of GOD saith Saint Iohn that wee keepe his Commandements A child by obedience demonstrates his childe-like affection vnto his parents Hee sheweâ— his loue and loyalty to the King which makes account of his Edicts and Lawes In vaine doth a seruant say hee loues his Maister except hee bee carefull to obey his will So then hee that liues in any knowne enormity and preferres his gaine pleasure credite and fauour with men to GODS Commandements doth plainely shew that hee wants the loue of GOD without which his Loue his Baptisme hearing of Sermons receiuing the Communion and all his faire showes will stand him in no steed but rather further his condemnation And one thing more I adde although hee do many deeds in appearance good and seeme to keepe sundry precepts yet it is not of loue vnto GOD without which his doing and keeping shall not bee remembred in the world to come but for some other reason if hee shall in the meane while addict himselfe vnto some one sinne which hee knowes to bee a sinne For the power of true loue is such as it will moue a man to humour his friend in euery lawfull and conuenient thing and he giues not his heart that is disposed to thwart and resist him especially being his Gouernour in anything that 's honest and not vnseemely But GOD is our Supreme Moderator LORD and all his Commandements are lawfull and good For his Will is the rule of Law and reason and all his Commandements ate according to his will To conclude GOD will be loued in his Church in his Ministers in his Chilâ—ren and finally in that his beloued Sonne CHRIST IESVS so as that they which hate these loue not him First for the Church by which I vnderstand not so much the Catholique Church which is the Mother of vs all and which whosoeuer loueth not as his MOTHER loueth not GOD as his FATHER and so will proue himselfe to bee some Bastard-plant as I meane all True visible Chuâ—ches or Congregations And such I call True which GOD hath honoured with True Doctrine or meanes sufficient vnto saluation and with such men as haue a True Power or authority to Minister and Dispense the same Now heere I say whosoeuer loueth such a Church because shee is such a Church whosoeuer loues her for GOD and in GOD without doubt it argues his loue to GOD. Hee that loues a Ring for the Diamond â—hat is set in it or for the worke-man that made it questionlesse hee loues â—he Diamond and the Worke-man much more So certainely â—ee that loues a Church for the Word and Sacraments and power â—f GOD that is in her and because shee is the Church of GOD planted by his gracious blessing doth much more loue GOD Surely that thing for which wee loue an other thing that wee cannot hate but loue On the contrary if thou shalt hate a true Church of GGD how dwelleth the loue of GOD in thee Thou wilt say I know that iâ— thou wert assured that shee is a true Church thou weulâ—st not hate her but ioyne vnto her I say againe art thou sure that the Church which thou hatest is false If thou beest sure of it if thou darest pawne thy soule vpon it but be sure thou beest sure then auoide her depart out of her giue her a Bill of Diuorcement let her go But if thou beest not sure hate her not seuer not thy selfe from her Wilt thou hate and leaue her most certainely whiles thou art not certaine what to iudge of her Thou dost not see her Truth but canst thou spye her falshood A blind man cannot see the Sunne at Noone but they which caâ— see may see her But what if a man bee so blind aâ— that because hee doth not see the Sunne himselfe therefore he thinketh the Sunne is seene of none And what if thou with a few more as blind as thy selfe dost hate and forsake a Church because yee do not see her Truth I say what if all her Sister-Churches in Europâ— besides
by feeding his Flocke Peter saith he louest thou mee Feed my Lambs feed my Sheepe Feed my Sheepe Pasce mente pasce ore pasce opere pasce animi oratione verbi abhortatione exempli exhibitione Feede them saith Bernard with thy minde Feed them with thy mouth feed them with thy worke feed them with the prayer of thy heart with the exhortation of the word with setting them a good ensample What other thing saith Saint August is this If thou loue mee Feed my sheepe then if it had bene saidâ— If thou loue mee do not thinke to feede thy selfe but my Sheepe Feâ—d them as mine not as thine seeke my glory in them not thine my Lordship not thine my gaines not thine Which speech when Saint Paul as Chrysostome speaketh had heard was vttered to Saint Peter hee studied to declare this loue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 euen in the superlatiue degree And vndoubtedly doubtedly there is no Minister which doth truely loue GOD but hee will bee carefull to feed the people of GOD which are the Sheepe of His Pasture committed to him and Depending on him And hee that onely looketh after the Fleece but leaueth his Flocke at sixe and seuens doth bewray his loue of the world but declares no loue to GOD. Finally GOD will bee loued in his Sonne IESVS CHRIST the Sonne of the Virgine Mary For he that hateth me saith CHRIST hateth my FATHER also Except yee beleeue that I am HEE yee shall die in your sinnes Which shewes the fearefull estate of vnbeleeuing Turkes Iewes and Pagans And most worthy is hee of our loue For hee is White and Ruddy the chiefest of ten thousand and wholly delectable Being GOD hee hath married our flesh Hee came downe from heauen that wee might go vp to heauen Hee serued to make vs free Hee became poore to make vs rich Hee was made a curse that wee might bee blest Hee died that wee might liue Hee was Crucified that wee might bee Crowned And that our loue vnto him might appeare true let vs try it by these two notes First by our care to know and keepe his Lawes euen to the death For saith CHRIST If yee loue me keepe my Commandements Hee that keepes them loues mee Hee that loues mee not keepeth not my words If wee breake them at our pleasure and preferre our gaine or gaming or any thing else to them truely wee loue him not For did wee indeed loue him wee would bee loath to offend him and would make more estimation of Him and his Word then of any earthly thing Secondly try thy loue to CHRIST by thine endeuour to bee Like him For true loue causeth imitation CHRIST was the mirrour of Mercy very Meeke Humble Patient and Zealous of GODS Glory Hee went vp and downe doing good Hee prayed for his persecutors FATHER fogiue them Canst thou for CHRIST pray for thine enemies CHRIST forgaue thee wilt thou for CHRIST forgiue him that wrongs thee that reuiles thee to thy face that bites thee behind thy backe that scornes thee hates thee troubles thee If thou dost thou louest him but if thy heart bee so great thou wilt not where is thy loue For vnderstand thus much where CHRIST is loued there CHRIST loues where CHRIST loues there he liues and where hee liues there the flesh with the lusts thereof dies so then hee that liues out of Charity in the spirit of rancour hatred and reuenge and will not controule his corruptions hee is not CHRISTS CHRIST liues not in him he liues not in CHRIST he loues not CHRIST hee loues not God but is in the state of death how well soeuer hee conceiueth of himselfe For tell me dost thou thinke that CHRIST liues in an heart of Oake of Adamant No no but in an heart that is humble meeke and louing And what thankfulnesse what loue is shewed vnto CHRIST when thou wilt not pardon him whom CHRIST doth pardon when thou wilt not forgiue him whom CHRIST hath died for when thou wilt not vouchsafe him thy pardon to whom CHRIST hath giueÌ„ himselfe when thou I say thou wilt not forgiue CHRIST hauing forgiuen thee and hauing giuen Himselfe vnto thee yea and thy selfe vnto thy selfe for by thy sinnes thou hadst lost thy selfe Certainely therefore thou must forgiue for CHRIST or else beleeue it thou dost not loue CHRIST Let vâ— therefore deale truely with our selues examining our hearts and practises by the fore-named notes and wee shall easily see whether the loue of GOD and of his Sonne CHRIST IESVS bee in vs or whether the loue of the world and of our selues beare sway with in vs. And so much concerning the Loue of GOD to which we are exhorted The reasons which the Psalmist vseth to perswade vs to this duety follow One is drawne from the Louing and courteous dealing of GOD with them that are faithfull in their loue and seruice to him the other is taken from the seuerity of his Iustice against those that out of pride and obstinacy cast of his yoke and care not for to loue and serue him The former is set forth in these words The LORD preserueth the faithfull A man may bee said to bee faithfull in a double sense First he that beleeueth in GOD and giues credite to his Word is a faithfull man and to this Faith diffidence and incredulity is opposed and by this kind of faith a man laies hold vpon the mercy of GOD in CHRIST for his Iustification Secondly hee that may bee beleeued for his truth hee that is iust and true in his words and dealings is a faithfull man For faith Fides is of fio to be done Fac quod dicis fides est do what thou saist and it is Faith saith Saint Austen Then saith Gregory are wee truely faithfull if what wee promise in word wee performe in deed To this kind of faith treachery falshood and hypocrisie is opposed So that he that doth truely loue GOD and is a faithfull keeper of his Doctrine and forgets not his promise to him in his Baptismâ— but is carefull and studious to performe it hee may bee said to bee a faithfull man Such a faithfull man was Caleb Who followed GOD still and had another Spirit then those tempting and disobedient Israelites had which were not suffred to enter into Canaan Such a faithfull man was Moses who was faithfull in GODS House Such a one was Dauid of whom GOD spake saying I haue found Dauid the son of Iesse a man after mine owne heart which will do all things that I will Such were Zacharias and Elizabeth that walked in all the Commandements and Oâ—dinances of GOD without reproofe Finally such were all the Martyrs of CHRIST who rather then they would betray his truth and make shipwracke of their faith and conscience indured all manner of torments and refused no kinde of death which was deuised for them
The Christians LOOKING-GLASSE Wherein hee may cleerely see His loue to GOD liuely expressed His Fidelity truely discouered And Pride against GOD and Man Anatomised whereby the Hypocrisie of the times is notoriously manifested By THOMAS TVKE Minister of GODS Word at Saint Giles in the Fields LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes and are to bee sold by Richard Bolton at his Shop in Chancery-lane neere Holborne 1615. TO THE RIGHT VERTVOVS AND HONOVRABLE LADY the Lady ALICIA DVDLEY MADAME THere are three necessary vertues well be-seeming euery Christian Man Charity Fidelity and Humility both towardes God and Man There are foure reasons to passe by many moe which should moue vs to the loue of God First because hee is our gracious Father who of his owne will begat vs with the word of truth that we should be as the first fruits of his Creatures Now if a childe shall loue his father of whom he hath receiued a part of his body how much more ought he loue God Qui animam suam infundendo creauit creando infudit of whom hee hath receiued his soule and to whose goodnesse he stands obliged both for soule and body both for the being continuing of them Therefore Dauid saith Thou hast possessed my reines thou hast couered me in my Mothers wombe Vpon thee haue I been staied from the wombe thou art hee that tooke me out of my mothers bowels And Iob long before him Thine hands haue made me and fashioned me wholly round about thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh and ioyned me together with bones and sinewes thou hast giuen me life and grace and thy visitation hath preserued my spirit Secondly God is to be loued for his most sweet and pleasing nature which the wicked indeed feeleth not because as Isidore saith he hath lost the palate of his heart with the feuer of iniquity Thirdly God by his beneficence hath deserued our loue for out of his meere loue he sent his own and onely Son into the world to saue vs when we were lost to redeeme vs when we were captiues and by his death to giue vs life when we had deserued nought but death Fourthly aske now the beasts they shall teach thee and the fowles of the heauen and they shall tell thee speake to the earth and it shall shew thee or the fishes of the sea they shall declare vnto thee Euen these things in their kindes do praise God and shew their loue vnto man for whom they were appointed and shall man shew no loue to God and in loue do nothing for God for whom his creatures doe so much good suffer so much euil being all put vnder his feet and subiected to his power All sheepe oxen yea the beasts of the field the fowles of the aire and the fish of the sea Now because a man hath in him life like a plant sense as a beast and vnderstanding proper to a Man therefore it behooues him to loue God with his life with his senses and with his reason Our Sauiour saith we ought to loue God with all our heart with al our soule and with all our minde We ought to loue him with all our heart that is with all our affections delighting and ioying in him more then in any thing For he loues not God that delights in any thing more then in God and as S t Austen saith Minus te amat qui aliquid tâ—cuÌ„ amat quod non propter te amat By how much the more the lower bowes of a Tree are multiplied by so much the lesse it groweth vpwards so by how much the more a man doth loue these things beneath by so much the lesse is his loue erected and lifted vnto God aboue therefore such loue is to be pruned cut away as superfluous branches froÌ„ a tree that it may thriue the better God requires the whole heart My son giue me thy heart like some noble Bird of prey that seizeth vpon the heart for he alone created it he alone couers it and he only can content and fill it Totum exigit te qui fecit te totum he requires thee all that made thee all If we owe our selues wholly for our generation what shall wee adde for our regeneration Neither are we so easily new made as made In the first work God gaue vs vnto our selues in the second he gaue vs himselfe and restored vs vnto our selues Being therefore both giuen and restored we doe owe our selues for our selues and we do owe our selues twice But what shall wee repay vnto the Lord for himselfe For although we were able to repay our selues a thousand times what are wee vnto the Lord If a man had some speciall iewell which he is minded to giue away he would bethinke himselfe where hee might best bestow it Our heart is the best member which wee haue and God is our best friend let vs bestow it vpon him it is not lost that is giuen vnto him Secondly wee must loue the Lord with all our Soule induring rather the separation of the soule from the body then that our soule should be separated from God who is the soule of our soule the comfort both of soule and body And because our soule affoords life and sense vnto the body therefore to shew that we loue God with all our soule we ought to honour him with our liues all our life long and with all our senses suffering them to be guided by his will and chusing rather to bee depriued of them all then of him that gaue them all Thirdly we must loue him with all our minde and vnderstandings and cogitations being fixt vpon him and ruled by him His word should informe â—nd direct our reason our reason rightly informed should rule our wils our affections and conuersations in all which wee ought to seeke and apply our selues vnto God that our liues our affections our wils and our vnderstandings may be said to be Gods so as although we liue yet we may truly say We liue not but God doth liue within vs. And so much for our loue of God Loue of Man is either loue of our selues or of our Neighbour That a man should loue himselfe it is very necessary for he that loues not himselfe cannot loue another And as S t Austen saith Sinon nosti diligere teipsum timâ—o ne decipias proximum sicut teipsum if thou knowest not to loue thy selfe I am afraid least thou shouldst deceiue thy neighbour as thy selfe Yet is it no easie matter for a man to loue himselfe aright for he that loues iniquity hateth his owne soule and hee that loues himselfe in the way of sin doth loue a robber condemned to dye Si malè amaueris tunc odisti si benè odeâ—is tunc amasti If a man loue himselfe amisse hee hates himselfe but if hee hate himselfe well
called it modici semporis tyrannidem a tyrant which raigned but a while Theophrastus said it was Tacitam deceptionem aut silentem fraudem a Still deceiuer or Silent fraud And as for beâ—utifull persons if vicious and voide of loue to GOD they are like Tulipees goodly to looke on but of no good sauour Or like Alablaster boxes filled with vineger like guilded pot-sheards or more properly like a ring of gold in a Sowes snowt or some precious iewell in a Beares eare And finally if beauty the gift of GOD be of so great request how much more then should GOD the giuer of it who is so full of beauty as that if His Beautifulnesse could bee seene it would draw the eyes and hearts of all that saw it to him But say if none of these what shall haue thy loue Thy selfe Beware if thou makest thy selfe thy GOD thou makest thy selfe thy diuill Certainely thou maist loue thy selfe so thou loue GOD in thy selfe and thy selfe in GOD and whilst thou dost loue thy selfe vnder GOD and not ouer GOD For GOD and not against GOD Otherwise if thou dost loue thy selfe thou dost but hate thy selfe if thou wouldst saue thy soule thou shalt destroy thy soule For GOD is the Soule of thy soule the Ioy of thy heart the Strength of thy life thy Shield and Shadow thy Sauiour and Deliuerer Much better were it therefore for a man to leaue his body and to loose his life rather then by louing what he should not loue at all or more then is allowed to loose and depriue himselfe of GOD who is the true Light and Life the Grace and Glory of all our soules and bodies also What shall therefore separate vs from the loue of GOD the Father of our spirits the Breath of our nosthrils the Castle of our comfort our Rocke of defence and the Fountaine of Life What shall extinguish this Sacred and Celestiall fire of loue vnto his Maiesty within our breasts What shall vnloose vs or cut the cords of our loue whereby wee are tyed vnto him What shall wipe him out of the Table-bookes of our hearts and blot him out of our memories Shall promotions profites pleasures beauty brauery tribulations life death men or diuels No no nothing no not the whole world and all that is therein What were it to gaine all the world and to loose thy soule What were it to bee Lord of all the world and to bee depriued of him for whom all the world was made What were it to bee beloued of all men and yet to bee hated of the GOD of men I will therefore loue GOD keepe GOD for hee that hath GOD wants nothing but hee that wants GOD hath nothing Now because to loue GOD truely and as euery good Christian ought is a duety so needfull equall excellent and commodious and because men are much abused by their immaginations the heart of man being a Sea of subtilty and a Mine of deceipt giuen to deceiue and beguile it selfe I will therefore propound certaine notes whereby wee may discerne if wee loue him truely with a sincere and regular affection or whether wee onely draw neere vnto him with our lips being far from him in regard of hearty loue First true loue is not lither but laborious Si operari renuerit amor non est it if it will not labour it is not loue What paines will not the Soldier take that affects the victory what wil not the worldling do to get or keep riches How did Ester labour to saue her kindred Country-men the Iewes Iacob indured the heate of the day the frost of the night and want of rest euen continuall toyle and trauell in a seruice of foureteene yeares vnder none of the kindest Maisters Laban his name turned but his nature retained a very Naball and all this for his loue to Rahell Our Gamesters will sit vp night and day at dice and cards Our gallant Dames out of their loue of brauery what cost will they spare what time will they not spend in making changing dressing pluming pranking And is the loue of GOD onely lazy sleepy sluggish and vnwilling both to do and suffer It is not doubtlesse Secondly hee that loues GOD truely and with a well regulated loue will loue GOD chiefly for GOD himselfe euen because hee is Good Excellent Perfect and Amiable in himselfe and not for those Loue-tokens onely which GOD in loue doth daigne to giue him For to loue one meerely for gaine is not to loue him that giues it but our selues that take it If this bee well considered it is to bee feared that many men loue GOD as they vse to loue their friends that is not for their friends sake but for themselues not because their friends are Religious Iust Wise Vertuous but because they receiue benefites as money meate credite and such things by them But Saint Paul was of a more generous and truer Spirit For he saith I seeke not myne owne profite but the profite of many that they might bee saued And againe I seeke not yours but You and doe all things that you may bee edified And againe yee haue done well that yee did communicate to mine affliction Not that I desire a gift but I desire a fruit which may further your reckoning And yet more fully I could wish my sefe to bee sepâ—rated anathematized from CHRIST my life my light my glory For my brethren that are my kinsmen in the flesh If they might be receiued he passed not though himselfe were reiected if they might be saued hee cared not though himselfe were excluded out of heauen so they might bee blessed hee could wish himselfe were accursed Thus the Galatians loued the Apostle They despised not his trials not his pouerty and afflictions but receiued him as an Angell of GOD and to haue done him good could haue found in their hearts to haue pulled out their owne eyes and haue giuen them vnto him This true loue also was seene in Moses to GOD and his Country-men For when they had in his absence made them an Idoll and prouoked GOD against them by their idolatry insomuch that GOD speaking to Moses said Let Mee alone for I will consume Them but I will make of Thee a mighty people which was a tempting offer but marke how Moses took it Hee most earnestly besought the LORD to spare them preferring their good to his owne greatnesse which argued the truth of his loue vnto them and intreated the LORD to turne from his wrath and why Least his enemies should blaspheme his Name and say Hee brought them out maliciously to slay them in the mountaines esteeming more of GODS glory then his owne greatnesse and aduancement Yea so louing hee was of the people but especially so iealous of GODS glory that rather then hee would haue them destroyed or it eclypsed hee wisheth himselfe To bee razed out of GODS Booke So
then to contemne and skorne others and â—steeme all as Cyphâ—rs in comparison of themselues What more vngodly then to glory of riches honours dignities noblenesse of birth wit strength beauty vertue as if they were not â—he free-giftâ— of GOD as if men were not obliged to him for them Againe what more iniust then pride For a proud man ascribes more to himselfe then is due and takes that from others which is due vnto them What more contentious then pride Therefore Salomon saith Onely by pride doth man make contention Pride hath euer beene a setter on foote of all heresies and schismes that euer were in the Church and is a notorious Make-bate in Common-wealthes Kingdomes Citties and priuate houses Harder it is for a man to keepe peace with the proud then with any and impossible it is for one proud person to agree sincerely with an other except peraduenture in such a case as this when as one out of his pride will endure no man to bee aboue him and another being proud of humility or humiliation rather will not like that any should be vnder him These two perhaps may liue friendly together being though both proud yet in a different respect Finally what can be more mishapen and ougly then this vice of pride which makes a man vnlike to GOD whom to bee like is mans greatest Honour and like to the deuill who is the father of pride and by pride ouerthrew himselfe What more certaine signe and effectuall worker of any mans ouerthrow then pride Pride goeth before destruction saith Salomon and an high mind before a fall What more hatefull and wastefull enemy to all vertues and all good things a man hath then pride By pâ—ide a man is spoyled of them all Therefore as men take heed of Theeues that rob and spoyle so and much more should wee beware of pride Quae insidiatur bonis operibus vt pereant which marres all good things and turnes them vp side downe If an humble man be proud of his humility hee hath lost of his humble minde and is become puft with pride If a man be proud of his beauty he hath lost his true beauty and is a beautifull foole If a man bee proud of his wisedome hee is become a foole if hee bee proud of his wit an Asse hath it in keeping if hee bee proud of his pouerty hee is rich in pride if hee bee proud of his riches hee is poore in piety Now what a woefull and odious sinne is pride which is not onely euill in it selfe but it turnes the nature of good things as they say thunder doth good drink and as venemous beasts turne whatsoeuer they eate into venome so pride makes the proud man turne all his thoughts words and workes into pride whiles hee draweth and referreth euery thing to his owne praise and honour Thus pride becomes like a moth or worme which frets the cloath and eates the wood wherein it was bred For pride springing of vertue corrupts it and there is no good thing so excellent which becomes not euill so soone as this wicked vice hath tainted it It behoues vs therefore to fly this wretched vice which wee cannot vnlesse wee submit our selues to GOD and his Ordinances vnlesse wee confesse him to bee the Free-Giuer of all good things we haue vnlesse wee cut off that errour of conceipt whereby wee thinke better of our selues then there is reason vnlesse wee seeke to GOD for his helpe and finally vnlesse we remember that GOD resisteth the proud but giueth grace to the humble and that Pride as one prettely speaketh was bred in heauen but hauing as it were forgotten which way it fell from thence it could neuer afterward finde the way thither backe againe Secondly the consideration of Gods iudgements vpon the Proud should teach vs as Dauid would haue it to loue the LORD who hates and punishes that sinne aboundantly that is or ought to bee so odious to vs. Seeing therefore GOD takes part with vs against the proud and by hating them shewes the goodnesse of his owne Nature and in that hee plagues them being euer the bitterest enemies to his truest friends it behoues vs and the rest of all GODS Saints to delight in GOD and loue him and in loue to submit our selues vnto him If we loue not him wee do not loue our selues but if wee loue him truely wee do truely loue our selues and wee are not in our owne opinion onely but truely beloued of Him which is infinitely much more worth then if all the world besides him did affect vs. Neither need wee care how ill the world thinkes of vs if he thinke well of vs as a sober and chaste woman cares not how other men are conceited of her so be it her husband like well of her and truly loue her or as a loyall subiect who makes more reckning of his soueraignes loue then of the frendship of all the traitors in the world Now the God of loue work and confirme this loue within our hearts that we may liue and dye in his loue and at length obtaine a full and finall fruition of him whom we doe loue receiving the reward of our loue the euerlasting life and happinesse of our soules and that by the merits of that his beloued Son Iesus Christ our Sauiour to whom with the Father and the holy Ghost three persons but one Euerliuing Euerlouing God be all loue and honour all praise and power now and euer-more Amen FINIS ERRATA PAge 25. l. 2. read commination l. 3. read streaming P. 39. l. 11. read Laf-ford and whence p. 58. and last line read if all 4. Reasons of louing God Math. 23. 9 Iam. 1. 18. Psalm 139 13. Psal 71. 6. Iob. 10. 8. 11. 12. 2. Reason 3. Reason Ioh. 3. 16. 4. Reason Iob. 12. 7. Psal 8. 6. 7. 8. Of the manner how wee ought to loue God Mat. 12. 37 1. With all our heart A Simile Pro. 23. 26. A Simile Augusâ—ine Si totum me debeo pro me facto quid addam iam pro me refecto Bernard A Simile 2. With all our soule Our life and senses should be bestowed vpon God 3. With all our minde God mâ— haue oâ— thoughâ—â— vnderstanding Of self loue Why and how a maÌ„ should loue himselfe Augustine Gregory Why our neighbour is to bee loued 5. Reasons of louing our enemies Math. 5. 44 Colos 1. 22 Rom. 5. 8. Math. 5. 45 46. Mat. 5. 47. Gal. 6. 10. Rom. 12. 20 Rom. 12. 17. How our neighbour is to be loued Mat. 22. 39 Sanctè Iustè Verè August Perseueranter Of the coÌ„stancy of loue Gal. 6. 9. Heb. 13. 1. 1. Cor. 13. 13 Of faithfulnesse 7. Reasons oâ— Fidelity Reu. 2. 20. 2. Tim. 4. 7. 8. Psal 94. 14. Psal 146. 6. Ier. 32. 40. Mat. 1â— 22. Heb. 1â— 39 Reu. 21. 8 Of humility Iam. 4. 7. 10 Ex. 20. 12. 1. Pet. 5.