n Pro. 23. 9. despise the words of wisedome and o Mat. 7. 6. â— trample them vnder feete but also p Pro. 9. 8. hate q Verse â— scorne and r Mat. 7. 7. â— rent vs for tendring such vnto them For Å¿ Eccl. 7. 22. often-times also our own hearts knoweth that wee haue not spoken the best of others that haue reproued vs t Esa 63. 17. hardened our hearts from Gods feare Now considering our selues this should make vs pause in respect of our neighbours u Ier. 31. 20. since we spake against them wee should remember them still as God did vs and as Gods bowels were troubled for vs so let ours for them and let the pitteous case of their soules pleade with vs as ours did with the Lord saying t Esa 63. 15 Where is thy zeale and thy strength the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies towards mee are they restrained And in imitation of our mercifull Father who cryed out x Hos 12. 8. how shall I giue thee vp Ephraim how shall I deliuer thee Israell how shall I make thee as Admah how shall I set thee as Zeboim my heart is turned within me my repentings are kindled together c. â—o should we say How shall I giue thee vp brother how shall I deliuer thee O my neighbour how shall I make thee as a swine how shall I set thee as a dogge my heart is turned within me and my repentings so kindled together that I wil neuer execute the fearefulnesse of this doome vpon thee till in feare of our iealous God who forbids the giuing of holy things to dogs I dare no more cast pearles before thee Remember I pray that the Apostle would haue no y Tit. 3. 10. Heretique reiected till after the first and second admonition Yea our mercifull Sauiour in priuate personall iniuries requireth z Mat. 18. 15 c. a threefold distinct admonition if neede bee and each of the two latter more solemne then the former for the recouery of our brother till he should be vnto vs a Heathen and a Publican Nay if he a Luk. 17. 4. trespasse against thee seauen times a day and seauen times in a day turne vnto thee saying I repent thou shalt forgiue him And if thou wonder at this and say with b Mat. 18. 21 22. Peter Lord vnto seauen times remember Christs answere I say not vnto thee vntill seauen times but vntill seauenty times seauen And who among vs hereupon feeleth not cause to cry with the c Luk. 17. 5. Apostles Lord increase our faith and to remember our Sauiours caueat giuen vs in respect of brotherly admonition d Verse 3. Take heede to your selue For who almost heeds this that if our brother offeÌ„ding vs come not to reconcile himselfe vnto vs as our Saâ—iour vpon fearefull tearms chargeth him to doe yet e Mat. 5. 24. wee should f Mat. 18. 15 goe and tell him and why If he heare thee saith Christ thou hast gained thy brother Now who among many takes â—eed to himselfe in this For as the good Father hereupon saith If in doing this thou gainest him then he had beene lost if thou hadst not done it and so with the losse of thy brother thou hadst also lost the gaine thou hast in recouery of thy brother whereby thou maist g Dan. 12. 3. shine as a starre for euer Men are sensible of worldly losses but who almost takes to heart these losses Is it a small losse to loose a brother when the sonne of man yea the Son of God himself came down from heauen h Mat. 10. 21 to saue that which was lost Or by thy vncharitable negligence wilt thou suffer a i 1 Cor. 8. 11 weake brother to perish nay wilt thou k Rom. 14. 15. destroy him for whom Christ dyed For in this case l Mark 3. 4. not to saue is to kill wilt thou say thou art sure that m Ioh. â—7 1â— none of those for whom Christ dyed can bee lost or euer perish True and thankes be vnto Christ that n Ioh. 1â— 28 29. none shall be able to plucke them out of his hands but that is no thanke to thee who in doing that which tendeth to his destruction art iustly charged by the Apostle with destroying him And neuer tell me that thy brother may see thy charity patience in forgiuing him and letting him alone without rebuke whereas he would perhaps impute thy rebuke to anger and hatred For * Pro. 27. 5 better is open rebuke then such secret loue that appeareth not in deed And take the answere of that good Father that saith that because thou art not angry enough to hate and smite with reproofe the sinne which would destroy his soule in this thou art conuinced of so much the more hatred against his person whom thou shouldest o Iam. 5. 20. saue by turning â—im from his euill way For as the Father saith suppose a boy swimming and sporting in a floud by the violence whereof he may be carried and cast away thou if thou seest it and patiently sufferest it thou hatest him and thy patience is his destruction And neuer tell mee that thy brother hauing trespassed against thee ought to come to thee for reconciliation Should hee 〈◊〉 Yes and so ought thy 〈◊〉 away child to come to â—â—ee too but if hee be so â—â—unded that hee cannot â—â—me to thee for weakeâ—esse wouldest thou in this â—â—se stand vpon thy tearmes of prâ—cedency nay woulâ—est thou not hasten to him as soone as thou hearest of â—it O remember then the â—ffence giuen to thee is a â—ound giuen to his owne â—oule else God would neâ—er haue said p Hos 14. 4. I will heale â—â—eir backe-sliding and lest that which is halting q Heb. 12. 13 bee turned out of the way let it rather be healed And if Sathan hath conspired â—ith carnall feare shame to with-hold him from thee as by r Gen. 3. 10. these he withheld Adam from God shouldest not thou goe to him as our Sauiour chargeth theeâ— to rescue hiâ— soule out of the hand oâ— such enemies Yea knowing him in such a case shouldest thou not euen whiles he is afarre off haue compassion on him as the Å¿ Luk. 15. 20. Father had on his Proâ—igall sonne yea runne and imbrace him and receiue him into thy fauour As t Rom. 15. 7. Christ also receiued vs to the glory of God and u Cant. 2. 8. came leaping vpon the mountaines and skipping vpon the hils passing ouer all obstacles and difficulties and pauing his way w Heb. 9. 12 by his owne bloud entered into the holy place and hauing obtained eternall redemption for vs x Eph. 2. 17. came and preached peace to vs â—â—suing and as it were y 2 Cor. 11. 2 wooing vs as his spouse by his Ambassadours who z 2
22. Lord Lord c. yea h Luk 13. 25 c. knocke and cry presumptuously Lord Lord open vnto vs presuming on the great things they reckon to receiue at his hands for the profession they haue made and the wonders they haue done in his name as if the name of Iesus had beene all in all vnto them yet as surely as by ignorance or disobedience they abide in vnbeliefe so assuredly will i Ioh. 3. 39. the wrath of God abide vpon them and the Lord Iesus will haue nothing in that day to render vnto them but k 2 Tess 1. 8 9. vengeance with euerlasting perdition as to them that know not God so to them that disobey the gospell Now wee that l 2 Cor. 5. 11 know the terror of God and how the iudgment-seate of Iesus Christ will know no difference betweene the m Ier. 9. 25. circumcised and vncircumcised betwixt an vnwashen Turke and an ignorant or wicked Christian the one being n Vers 26. vncircumcised and o 1 Pet. 3. 21. vnbaptized in the heart as the other in the flesh doe not we by this euidence oâ— Scriptures see discouered euery where among our neighbours a multitude oâ— p Reu. 3. 17 poore blinde naked and stâ—rued soules howsoeuer some of them may be q Luk. 16. 19 cloathed in purple and fine linnen and fare deliciously or sumptuously euery day with the damned glutton and the most of them trauaile with high conceipts of their r Reu. 3. 17. riches increase of goods as if they had neede of nothing like the luke-warme Laodiâ—â—an And by how much the more blind and insensible they are to know anâ— feele this their spirituall pouerty nakednes are they not so much the more Å¿ Verse the same wretched and miserable that is so much the more to be pit tyed of vs as they are wofull in themselues Heere then t Phil. 2. 1. if there be any consolation in Christ if any comfort of loue if any fellowship of the spirit if any bowels and mercies must not euery one of vs shew the same by u Esa 32. 8. deuising of liberall things and by w â—sa 58. 10 drawing out our replenished soules to these hunger-starued naked soules that by our x Pro. 10. 21. lipfeeding they may be sed with the breâ—d of life and cloathed with the garments of saluation And that if it y Rom. 12. 18 be possible as much as in vs lyeth we may z Iam. 5. 20. 1 Cor 9. 22. saue all of them from staruing and famishing And is not this the chiefe mercy and almes that the royall Law requireth of all Christians that haue obtayned mercy saying a Leu. 13. 17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour not suffer sin vpon him And doth the * 1 Ioh. 3. 16 gospell by vertue of Christs loue to vs call for our liues to be layed downe for our brethren shal we be sparing of the rebukes which the Law so vâ—hemently presseth vpon vs â— saying as it in the Hebrew Text b Leu. 29. 17 rebuking thou 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shalt rebuke that is asmuch as possibly in thee lyeth that thou mayst not suffer sin vpon him As S. Iohn saith c 1 Ioh. 3. 17 Who so hath this worlds good and seeth his brother haue neede and shutteth vp his compassion from him how dwelleth the loue of God in him May not I much more heere say who so hath trâ— d Mat. â— 11. good things of the e Luk. 11. 13 holâ— Ghost or the f Col. 2. 3. treasures â— wisedome and knowledge and seeth his brothers souâ— haue neede and shutteth â— his bowels of compassioâ— from it how dwelleth thâ— loue of God or neighbouâ— in him I conclude therefore thâ— it is no lesse then a hatefuâ— mockery to naked destituâ— soules as to bodies as â— g Iac 2 15 16. Iames sheweth to feeâ— and warme them one with faire wishings anâ— wouldings as we say aâ— not to giue them thoâ— things that are needefull â— the soule And whatsoeueâ— pretences of tender louâ— and affections men maâ— make insparing to wounâ— mens consciences as in effect h Pro. 13. 24 he hateth his Sonne that spareth the rodde so he hateth his brother that spareth the i 1 Cor. 4. 21 rod of rebuke because it is the best k Psal 141. 5 kindnesse to smite there-with l Pro. 19. 18. whiles there is hope â—ea to smite and m Verse the same not to spare for his crying It is better once to smart then euer to aâ—e as we say much more then to n Mat. 25. 30. weepe and gnash the teeth in hell as the Scripture saith o Marc. 9. 43 44. where their worme dyeth not and the fire is neuer quenched Where-vnto then shall wee liken those many among vs who p Act. 1â— â—5 16. caring no more then Gallio did for matters of the soule bestow all their care cost and paines for the worldly welfare wealth and creditte of theâ— neighbours and families then q Deut 29. 19. blesse themselues in their harts saying mucâ— like Idolatrous r Iudg. 17. 13. Micaâ— now know I that the Lorâ— will doe me good seeing I haue louâ—d my wife children and neighbours as if they had neuer heard that Å¿ Iam. 4. 4. the loue of the worlâ— is the enmity of God or t Mat â—6 26. what is a man profited iâ— he should gaine the whole world and loose his owne soule The v Eph. 1. 18 vnderstanding being the eye of the minde as the vv Mat. 6. 22. light oâ— the body is the eye and the will and affections of the soule being as the vitall spirits of the heart and the x Luk. 16. 9 Mammon of vnrighteousnes and y 1 Ioh. 2. 16 pride of life witâ— all the things of the world being not to be compared to the excrements of mens haires and nayles which might be better spared then the parings of mens nayles if men would z Esa 46. 8. remember shew themselues men and bring to minde what verdict the Scripture hath past vpon those that dote most on them namely that a 1 Ioh. 2. 15 if any man loue the world the loue of the Father is not in him these premises being considered is not the comparison in our mouth and in our heart wherunto wee shall liken them Surely they are like witles merciles parents that take great thought and spare no cost for trimming and dressing their childrens hayre anâ— suffer their eyes to rot ouâ— of their heads or that are most curious and carefull for curing the white oâ— their nayles and carelesly suffer a gangrene to eate out their very hearts And in all such is that prouerbe verified b Pro. 12. 10 The tender
them should answere I neuer baned them with meate nor poysoned them with liquor for they had none at all from mee But all the world knoweth bodies may bee murthered as well by want of meate and drinke that should bee giuen them as by bane or poyson in lieu thereof ministred vnto them And so may soules likewise be d Hos 4. 6. destroyed for lacke of knowledge and c Pro. 5. 23. 10. 21. dye for want of instruction and wisedome wherein f Mat. 12. 30 he that is not with Christ for sauing soules is against him and he that gathereth not scattereth And therefore g 2 Tim. 2. 7. the Lord giue vs vnderstanding in all things whereby wee may h 1 Tim. 3. 9. haue the mysterie of the faith in a pure conscience that so wee may bee i Acts 20. 26 pure from the bloud of all men And thus you haue my second generall motiue Aqu. Brother Aristarchus how truely may wee with the two Disciples say one to another k Luk. 24. 32 did not our hearts burne within vs whiles the Scriptures haue bin thus opened vnto vs The Lord bee mercifull to our former luke-warmenesse and grant that our affections thus now kindled may bee for the time to come l Cant. â— 6 7 like those coales of loue which many waters may neuer quench And to this end we pray you Mr. Archippus to proceede and m 2 Cor. 13. 2. spare not though the word of GOD in your mouth be n Ier. 23. 29. like a fire and your lips as o Ier. 6. 29. bellowes to make the flame vehement that you may not leaue vs as the p Verse the same Founder that melteth in vaine How much better is it seeing the hardest frost must sooner or later haue a thaw that our frozen hard hearts should melt here that we may bee q 1 Cor. 3. 15 saued though so as by fire then to bee r Iob 21. 30 reserued vnto the day of wrath to bee thawed with Å¿ Esa 33. 14. euerlasting burnings hereafter which t Mat. 24 51. is the portion of hypocrites Arch. Blessed bee God that by v Esa 4. 3. the spirit of iudgement and by the spirit of burning doth purge the bloud of Ierusalem and thus vv 1 Pet. 4. 17 begins iudgement at his owne house here that they may not be x 1 Cor. 11. 31. condemned with the world And to your comfort be it spoken this tender y Esa 66. 2. contrite heart of yours thus trembling at the word is a powerfull blessed z Iob 33. 23 27. effect of Gods gratious aspect towards you as a Heb. 12. 23 his first borne that b Esa 4. 3. are written among the liuing in Ierusalem O my brethren how should you c Luk. 10. 20. reioyce in this as our Sauiour saith that your names are written in heauen â— And as I haue spoken these things vnto you that this our d Ioh. 15. 12. Saurours ioy might remaine in you and that your ioy may be full so whatsoever I shall adde is intended as e 2 Cor. 1. 24. a furtherance of this your ioy though by the way any thing should f 2 Cor. 9. 8. make you sorry for a season And so I proceede My third generall motiue deriued from the consideration of our selues is this that wee all professors being here in the militant Church g Can. 6. 10. terrible as an army with banners and hauing our h 2 Cor. 10. 3 life for a warfare and the i 1 Tim. 6 12 good fight of faith for our combat as euer wee looke to k Eph. 6. 13 stand in the euill day so must wee put on the whole armour of God especially the l 1 Thes 5. 9 brest-plate of faith and loue and the hope of saluation for an helmet And passing here by loue as already dispatched I say Faith is compared to a brest-plate because as this is the safeguard of the heart wherein the naturall life consisteth so Faith is the safeguard of m Rom. 2. 29 1 Pet. 3. 4. the hid man of the heart wherein spirituall life consisteth And therefore as wee are said to n Gal. 2. 20. liue by faith of the Sonne of God so Faith is said to be o 1 Ioh. 5. 4. the victory that ouercommeth the world and we know the teâ—or of the Gospell is plaine and peremptory p Mar. 16. 16 hee that beleeueth shall bee saued but he that beleeueth not shall bee damned Vpon this ground I inferre that I must either make good proofe of my faith or quit clayme to the sauing-state of grace Now wee know what euidence S. Iames cals for q Iam 2. 17. 18. c. shew me thy faith by thy workes Aske yee what workes Search the Scriptures and among all outward ordinary works they produce that in the prime place as the prime-rose and fairest euidence of Faith which is in least esteeme with worldlings I meane the fruit of our lips whereby we blesse God and edifie our neighbours r â— Cor. 4. 13 Wee hauing the same spirit oâ— Faith saith S. Paul according as it is written I beleeued and therefore haue I spoken we also beleeue and therfore speake Agâ—ine Å¿ Rom. 10. 9 if thou confesse with thy mouth the Lord Iesus and beleeue in thy heart c. thou shalt bee saued Anâ— this he doubleth again witâ— a reason annexed saying t Verse 10. For with the heart maâ— beleeueth vnto righteousnesse and with the moutâ— confession is made vntâ— saluation Thou wilt saâ— then that the fruit of thâ— lips being as I auouch the prime-rose of outward workes belike the Apostle teacheth men to bee saued according to their workes In no wise but this I say that the confession of the mouth being the chiefe euidence of true Faith in the heart whereby wee are iustified as by Gods priuy seale in the reuelation of Gods righteous iudgement wee shall bee admitted by confession as by Gods broad-seale to passe from iustification to saluation And search the Scriptures and you shall finde that both before and in the time of the Law as well as in the dayes of the Gospell the fruit of the lips is not onely culled out as the choise but made as the epitome of all outward works being alleadged in stead of all the rest and produced as Gods broad-seale to distinguish v Gen. 4. 26. 6 â— the Sonnes of God from the Sonnes of men w Ier. 10. 25 Psal 14. 4. the beleeeuers from Infidels and x Ioel 2. 32. Act. 2. 17. 21. Rom. 10. 13 the saued from the damned And for this cause the Scriptures attribute to the tongue aboue all other members of the body the title y Psal 5â— 7. 108. 1. of our glory because though it bee for matter a small member yet in vertue and power
saith the word of â—â—omise m Mat. 25. 29 To euery one â—â—at hath to imploy for â—â—e Lords aduantage shall 〈◊〉 giuen and he shall haue â—â—undance but from him â—at hath not so to imâ—â—oy shall bee taken away â—â—en that which hee hath 〈◊〉 worldly treasure the riâ—â—er a couetous man is the â—ore vnwilling hee is to â—â—mmunicate and distriâ—â—te to others because the â—ore he giues the lesse hee â—inkes remaineth for him 〈◊〉 feede n Eccl. 5. 11. his eyes withall â—â—t in the true riches of â—race the Prouerbe is veriâ—â—d o Pro. 11. 24 There is that scatteâ—â—th and yet increaseth and there is that with-holdeâ— more then is meete but â— tendeth to pouerty Noâ— therefore hast thou hope tâ— stand when others fall anâ— to thriue in grace when others turne bâ—nkerupt â— make good then thy hopâ— by p Heb. 3. 6. holding fast the confâ—dence and the reioycing â— the hope firme vnto thâ— end Aske ye how The Apostle sheweth by q Verse 13. exhoâ—ting one an other daily whiles it s called to daâ— This is the way to hold faâ— the profession of our hopâ— as of our faith withoâ— wauering r Heb. 10. 23 24. when wee consider one another to prâ—uoke vnto loue to gooâ— workes by exhorting oâ— another Herein deuise â— the Prophet Å¿ Esa 3 â— â— saith of libâ—rall things like a liberall lip-feeder and by liberall things thou shalt stand yea the more thou winnest soules to God by imployment of thy talents the more shalt thou increase in thy owne stocke with t Mat. 25. 20. c. the good and faithfull seruants Looke on such as by reading praying catechising and singing in their families and by mutuall exhortations and conferences imploy their talents how are they as u Cant. â— 16 gardens whose spices flow out how is their vv Pro. 4 â—8 path as the shining light that shineth more and more vnto the perfect day â— how x Hos â—4 5 6 7. grow they as the Lilly and cast forth their rootes as Lebanon how spread their branches with beauty as the Oliue-tree with smell as Lebanon so that they that dwell vnder their shadow returne On the contrary take a view of Ministers and People that with the sloathfull seruant hide their talents How many of those that once began to shine as starres and dislilled doctrine as raine vpon the tender hearbs became afterwards as clouds without raine and starres without light yea some like snuffes in scokets whose wimpering light cannot be so comfortable as their stench is abhominable And how many others among the people that once flourished like greene bay-trees and yeelded refreshing like Ionas gourd to all about them ceasing afterwards from mutuall exhortation haue bin blasted as forward buds with vntimely frosts and withered as Ionas gourd smitten with the worme How is the knowledge of some ouercast with fogs of ignorance and vnresolued doubts as the light with clouds of darkenesse their â—ast looseth their sweet reâ—ish in the things of the spiâ—it as the Israelites in their Manna their memories that marble-like could â—â—st â—â—etaine the good things â—hey heard are now as leaâ—ing tubs or out-running â—â—eues and the dore of their â—ips that was wont to open â—ith the law of grace is â—ow lockt vp from good words or moues as doorâ— on rusty hinges with murmuring and complaning and words tending ratheâ— to the peruerting of the hearers then godly edifying They haue left their first loue with y Reu. 2. 4. Ephesus their zeale is cooled with z Reu. 3. 16. Laodocia and they haue a name that they liue but are dead with a Reu. 3. 1 Sardis Aâ— ye see these things so consider them I pray and look on them as Salomon did on b Pro. 24. 30 31 32 the field of the sloathfull and receaue instruction And if all this be not enough to rowze theâ— take heede left while a spirit of slumber fall on thee c Hos 7. 9. strangers deuoure thy strength and thou know 〈◊〉 not as the strength of Gods spirit departed from d Iud. 16 19 c. Sampson whiles he slept on Dalilahs knees And then when thou art awakened to see what foule spiritual wickednesses are vpon thee thou mayst fondly imagine as Sampson to goe out as at other times shake thy self when thou wast wont to breake the bonds of iniquity as Sampson did the Philisâ—ines withes and ropes But alas the Lord being departed from thee the powers of darkenesse may so surprize thee that they may not onely put out the eyes of thy minde but binde thee with fetters worse then of brasse and make thee grinde in any base seruice and filthy drudgery of the vncleane spirit as the Philistines made Sampson grinde in the prison-house And how many may you see or heare of to be thus kept grinding at the Diuels pleasure some in play-houses whore-houses others in tauernes and lehouses and not a few in extortions vsuries abundance of idlenesse pride and new-fanglednesse and many other abhominations Yea but yet haue all these free liberty in the midst of all this bondage to come to the house of God and there to present themselues among the sonnes of God I answeare what can this auaile them when e Iob. 1. 6. Satan himselfe may be there aswell as they Nay vnlesse in better manner they make good their f 1 Ioh. 1. 3. hope by purging themselues as God is pure their presence there and all their praying hearing and receauing of the Sacraments whereto serue they but as g Iud. 16. 25 Sampson when out of his prison he was presented among the Philestines euen to make sport for the Diuell and all his children who hauing espied what a foundation of goodly hope these men began to lay and how ill they are able to finish it h Luk 14. 29 30. begin to mocke and say loe these men began to build and were not able to finish Wilt thou therefore be without feare of such â—ellish slauery and scorne let thy glory thy tongue then awake and bestirre it selfe to the glorifying of God and edifying of thy neighbours disperse the fruit of thy lips and giue to poore soules so shall thy i Psal 112. 9 righteousnesse endure for euer and thy horne shall be exalted with honour Yea though men and Deuils may grieue and gnash the teeth to see it and k Iude Vers 13 like raging waues of the sea foame out their owne shame against thee yet this thy l Heb. 6. 11. 19 diligence shall make to the full assurance of hope vnto the end which hope thou hast as an anchor of the soule both sure and stedfast and which entreth into that within the vayle to secure thee that as thy diligence shall be blest with perseuerance heere so it shall be crowned with glory hereafter Last of all this hope of the glory that shall be reuealed
should be a strong motiue to all of vs that with m Heb â—â— â—6 Moses haue respect to the recompence of reward For as in bodily almes so much more in spirituall n 1 Cor. 9. 6. he that soweth sparingly shall reape sparingly and he that soweth bountifully shall reape bountifully And if o Mat. 10. 42 a cup of colde water giuen in the name of a disciple shall not loose a reward how much more shal the excellent oyle of reproofe the precious perfume of harty councell and the fruit of the lips feeding many hungry soules for Christs sake p Act. 10. 4. come vp for a memoriall before God q Phil 4. 17. abounâ— to our account Sâ—ith the scripture in vayne r Pro. 11. 30. hee that winneth soule vsing all aâ—t and cunning industry to catch soules as fowlers doe to take birdes as the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 importeth he is wise The wise saith the Å¿ Dan. 12. 3. Prophet Daniel shall shine as the brightnesse of the firmament but they that turne many to righteousnesse as the stars for euer and euer How should this make vs with the Apostle to be t 1 Cor. 9. 22 19. made all things to all men that wee may by all means win and saue some yea and make our selues seruants vnto all that we may gaine the more Shall they that runne in a race * Vers 24. 25 and striue for the mastery so temper stretch out themselues for a corruptible crowne and not wee for an incorruptible Shall wordlings so striue euery husband-man who may haue the best crop at haruest euery merchant who may haue the best returne in a Mart euery souldier who may haue the best booty in a conquest and all these as vncertayne venturers vpon doubtfull hopes which are sometime swept away as spiders cobwebs and haue we a hope so sure and stedfast grounded vpon the truth of God that can not lye and on his omnipotency which being infinite can neither fayle oâ— it selfe nor be mated by any â—â—uerse power which at greatest is but finite And heare wee the righteous Iudge encouraging vs saying u Reu. 22. 11 12 He that is righteous let him be righteous still c. and behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to giue euery man according as his work shall be And shall not we be x 1 Cor. 15. 58. stedfast immoueable alwayes abounding in this worke of the Lord in this fruite of the righteous which is a tree of life Arist Mr. Archippus you haue twisted such a threefold corde in your 3. motiues already dispatched that is able to draw any faithful heart to the practise of that you presse We pray you therefore that briefly touching the 4. you may come to your directions for the right manner of performing the same which our resolued hearts long to heare Arch. My fourth generall motiue is drawne from the consideration of our enemies Wee vv Eph. 6. 12 wrestle saith S. Paul not against flesh and bloud onely or principally but against principalities against powers against the rulers of the darkenes of this world against spirituall wickednesses in high places And therefore wee must not onely x Eph. 6 11. 13 c. put on the whole armour of God and stand euery man vpon his y 1 Pet. 5. 8. watch and z 1 Ioh. 5. 18 guard but as euer wee hope to stand 〈◊〉 and quite our selues likâ— men and be conquerouâ— in the good fight of faith wee must a Phil. 1. 27. stand fast in onâ— spirit with one minde strâ—uing together as the Apostlâ— saith for the faith 〈◊〉 the gospell For in battaile they that look to conqueâ— are careful to put their souldiers in array to march in rankes supporting and encouraging one another aâ— Captaine Ioâ—b tolde Abishaâ— saying b 2 Sam 10 11 12. if the Syrians be toâ— hard for me then thou shaâ—â— helpe me but if the children of Ammon be toâ— strong for thee then I wiâ— come and helpe thee be oâ— good courage and let vs play the men c. And woâ— to the battaile where the array is broken and euery man shifteth for himselfe being diuided each from other So if we ioyne c 1 Thess 5. 8 loue with faith in our brest plate and d Col. 3. 14. put on charity which is the bond of perfectnesse and so with vnited forces fight together the good fight of faith encouraging and strengthning each other our e 1 Ioh. 5. 4. faith is the victory that ouercommeth the world and neither men nor deuils nor gates of hell shall preuaile against vs. For f Eccl. 4. 12. if one fayle two shall withstand and a threefold corde is not quickly broken But g Vers 10. woe to him that is alone that is vncharitably or presumptuously alone when he falleth for he hath not a second to help him vp Loue therefore h Col. 2. 2. knitting vs together is not without cause called the bond of perfectnesse because as a bond ioyning many weake sticks fast together in a fagot makes them too strong for a man of strength to breake which yet a weake childe may breake one by one being loosed from the bond So if the saints of God be knit together in loue they are i Cant 6. 4. terrible as an army with banners too strong â—or that strong man armed and all the powers of hell If k Mat. 12. 26. Satan be diuided against himselfe how then can his Kingdome stand Nay the diuell our aduersary is wiser then so If l Reu. 12 7. the dragon fight his Angels shall fight with him and though they be m Marc. 5. 2. 9. legions yet they ioyne together as if they were all but one spirit as they are all named n Eph. 2. 2. the spirit that worketh in the children of disobedience And this wise-dome the diuel so teacheth his children that o Pro. 11. 21 hand ioynes in hand among the wicked And howsoeuer in their opposite lusts they may agree as ill as hounds about their bones yet as the whole kennell can ioyne and run together with one mouth in pursuite of the Hare so they against Christ and his members p Luk. 23. 12 Herod Pilate q Mat. 22. 19 16. Pharises and Herodians yea r Mat. 16. 1 Pharises and Sadduces most Å¿ Act. 23. 8. contrary one to an other in their seuerall opinions can be good friends and stick together against Christ t Gen. 11. 3 4. Goe too said the old Rebels one to an other let vs make brick and goe too let vs builde c. u Pro. 1. 11 14. Come with vs say the theeues to their fellowes cast in thy lot among vs let vs all haue one purse w Esa 56. 12 Come ye say the drunkards I will fetch wine and wee will fill our selues with
is not of this faith is sinne euen in things indifferent sinne I say to any that doubtingly and vnnecessary shall aduenture thereon Thirdly being in Christ and hauing knowledge of the lawfulnesse of the particular matters wee must trie whether the doing of them bee g 1 Cor. 6. 12 10. 23. expedient that is helpe to the maine end of the Law which is h 1 Tim. 1. 5. loue out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith vnfaigned For God commanding i 1 Cor. 16. â—4 all our things to be done in loue k 1 Cor. 10. 3 all to his glory and l 1 Cor. 14. 26 all to edifying that is so as all may helpe and further our selues and our neighbours in holines and righteousnesse whatsoeuer choise or vse bee made of things indifferent â—f it bee not expedient to these ends m 1 Cor. 10. 23 24 expedient I say for our selues and n 1 Cor. 6. 12 expedient for our neighbors it must needes be sinne because it o 1 Ioh. 3. 4. transgresseth the Law in these respects howsoeuer the thing chosen vsed bee of it selfe lawfull So that that rule of our Sauiour p Mat. 12 30 he that is not with me is against mee must of necessity holde as well in the vse of things indifferent as of things necessary Fourthly when being in Christ wee know our warrant for the lawfulnesse of the matter and see the expediency of it to the foresaid ends then that which before was indifferent in nature become now * Roâ— 19. 21. good and * Acts 15. 18. necessary in vse and we must set about it as thus in the right manner and end so with obseruation of all due circumstances namely that we do it q Rom. 13. 4. 5. conscionably and r Eph. 6. 6 â—7 Col. 3. 22. 23 willingly as to the Lord who commandeth the doing of it as it is expedient Å¿ Eccl. 8. 5. 6 seasonably â— decently and t 1 Cor. 10. 30. circumspectly according to all other â— Eph. 5. 15 knowne rules of the Word not conformed to v. Rom. 12. 2 this world but transformed by the renewing of our minde that we may prooue what is that good â—â—at aâ—ceptable aâ—d perfect will â—f God And heere let no man say that 〈◊〉 destroy the whole nature of all indifferent things câ—â—ctions for schoolemâ—n themselues confesse that x Gâ—rsâ—â— in â—ogul mor. no action though it be indifferent as it is considered in it's naked nature can be indifferent as it is â—â—ad with it's particular circumstances in doing And y Tho. Aquisum paâ—t 1. q. 18. â— 9. no particular morall action or no action of the reasonable soule proceeding from reason can possibly be so indifferent but it must of necessity be good or euill and either conformable to the rules of Gods holy Word or disconformable thereunto Now if any man notwithstanding all that hath beene said shall loue to range where he list after the sight of his own eyes z Eccl. 11. 9. with the young man or to bee turned loose to the wayes of his owne heart with the a Luk. 15 12 13. prodigall Sonne and say the indifferent things wee meddle withall are for the most part sports and trifles or petty matters and in such light matters at least men haue sufficient warrant to make choise and vse according to their own discretion so that nothing bee done against the generall rules of Gods Word or else men shall be left in perpetual suspence and amazements First I answere that b Psal 119. 168. all our wayes being before God wee cannot play out of Gods presence no more then pray and if in play or other wayes any man draw backe sequestring himselfe from Gods presence as c Heb. 10. 38 Gods soule shall haue no pleasure in him so hee may looke to haue the diuell for his play-fellow And when God hath branded such for d Psal 106. 13 14 exceeding lust that waited not for his counsell must not we set God alwayes before vs as did e Psal 16. 7 8 Dauid that hee may giue vs counsell whereby we may be directed as well to play as to f 1 Cor. 10. â—0 eate and drinke and to doe whatsoeuer wee doe to the glory of God as hee commaundeth vs. And when we reade that g 1 Sam. 13. 14 23. rebellion in not obeying the voyce of the Lord is as the sinne of witchcraft though in a light matter as Saul esteemed it as the sparing of a few cattell Nay when we heare of such wrath reueiled from heauen against petty matters as mâ—n would deeme as h 2 Sam. 6. 6 â— touching and i 1 Sam 6. 19 looking into the Arke k Num. 15. 32 36. gathering a few sticks oâ— the Sabbath and l Gen. 3. 6. c. eating of an Apple alas what meane men yet thus to talk of things so fearefull as but of trifles and petty matters Wee know him who saith He that breaketh the least Commandement c. For the authority of the commander is violated in the wilfull breach of the least tittle as of the waightier matters and one m Iam. 2. 10. poynt wilfully offended makes a man guilty of the whole Law as one little leake let alone may sinke the whole shippe one little hole in a shooe may make the whole foote watershod and one little claw held fast in the sâ—are brings the whole bird into the Fowlers hands And why doth the Scripture tell vs of n 1 Tim. 1. 19 shipwracke of faith of o Eph. 6. 15. feet shâ—d with the preparation of the Gospell of peace and of p 2 Tim. 2. 22 men taken captiue in the snare of the diuell but that men should fore see if happily they might feele those spirituall dangers by such earthly similitudes Secondly concerning mens owne discretion iâ— choise and vse so that nothing bee done against the generall rules of the Word I answere that if herein they intend to lean to their owne wisedome and not to acknowledge God in all their ways they haue already broken the pale of the Lords q Pro. 3. 5. 6. direction r Hos 5 10. like them that remooue the bound and are Å¿ 1 Tim. 6. 9. fallen into temptation and a snare whereby they may fall into many foolish and noâ—some lusts which drowne men in perdition and destruction But if herein they intend to take heed according to the Word as that which must be bound continually t Pro. 6. 21. vpon their heart to bee their u Psal 19. 1 1 admonitor their â— counseller and their w Psal 119. 24. â— leader Then they must x Pro. 6. 22. acknowledge with reueâ—â—nd â— Caluin that seeing the Calu. inst lib 3. cap. 10. sect 1. Scripture giues generall rules for the lawfull vse of actions and things indifferent
thee r Psal 91. 11. who haue charge ouer thee to guard thee in all thy wayes Yea the Å¿ Psal 121. 4 5. Lord himselfe that keepeth Israell and neither slumbereth nor sleepeth will be thy keeper he t Psal 37. 23 will order thy steps and delight in thy way leading thee familiarly as a v Ioh. 15. 13 15. friend that hauing laid downe his life for thee will not keepe his secret from thee compassionately as a w Heb. 2. 13 1â— 4. 15. Brother who partaking the same flesh with thee can be touched with thy infirmities and is able to succour thee and most louingly as a x Esa 62. 5. husband reioycing ouer thee as a Bridegroome doth ouer the Bride y Cant. 2. 6. with his left hand vnder thy head and with his right hand imbracing thee z Psal 45. 11 greatly desiring thy beauty and a Cant. 4. 9. his heart being rauished with the loue of thee to whom thou art b Can. 7. 6. faire and pleasant for delights c Can. 2. 14. thy voice sweet thy countenance comely his Loue his d Can. 6. 8. 9 Doâ—e his vndefiled faire as the Moone cleare as the Sun e Cant. 4. 7. all faire and no spot in thee For he being the Sun of righteousnesse hath â— blotted out all thy sinnes as a cloud and hee hath g Micah 2. 19 cast them all into the depths of the sea of his mercies which in its vastnesse can swallow a thousand as one and mountaines as mole-hils so that h Ier. 50. 20. no sins of thine can bee found though they be sought for but i Ier. 54. 17. euery tongue that riseth against thee in iudgement shalt thou condemne k Rom. 8. 33 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect it is God that iustifieth who shall condemne It is Christ that dyed yea rather that is risen againe who is euen at the right hand of GOD who also maketh intercession for vs. So that committing our way to him in things indifferent as in all things else we may l Esa 45. 25. glory in him in whom wee are iustified casting downe the gantleâ— of defiance against all our spirituall enemies for m Rom. 8. 31 if God be for vs who can bee against vs so that for ioy of heart wee may sing to him with Dauid n Psal 73. 24. thou shalt guide mee with thy counsell and â— afterward receiue me to glory Aqu. Mr. Archippus you haue euen rauished our soules with the admiration of Christ our Counsellor Wonderfull may his name well bee who is such a friend and brother and husband as well as councellor vnto vs. The children of this world that are wise in their generation if they haue a Lawyer at hand of whom they may aske counsaile vpon euery occasion at their pleasure and free-cost will bee sure to doe nothing wherein appeareth any suspition of danger without aduise And haue we a Councellor so nigh vs with his word in our mouth yea with his spirit and word in our heart so wonderfull in his friendly familiarity in his brotherly compassion and husbandly louing kindenesse with whom wee may in all things consult without money or price who is neuer weary of our conference but delighted with our voice and presence and neuer displeased with vs but either for o Esa 30. 1. 31. 1. not asking or p Pro. 1. 25. 30. not following his counsell and shall wee children of light sleight him and presume on our owne discretion without him especially where there is such deadly danger in the abuse of things indifferent would not the children of this world so rise vp in iudgement against vs Surely confusion already couereth our faces to thinke on our former foole-hardinesse and whiles we liue we sh 〈…〉 neuer more say to our diâ—cretion 〈…〉 u art our guiâ—â— Now 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 proceeâ—â— we pray you to your tâ—irâ—â—ile of direction for our mutuall edification Arch. My third rule concerneth the materials the parties I meane whom wee are to edifie and they are principally the p 1 Pet. 2. 17. brotherhood houshold of q Gal. 6. 10. faith for they are r Esa 61. 3. called trees of righteousnesse and Å¿ 1 Pet 2. 5. liuely stones because they are already fit to be built vp a spirituall house an holy Priest-hood to offer vp spirituall sacrifice acceptable to God by Iesus Christ And among them t 2 Tim. 5. 8. especially those that are our own and of our own house our u Phile. verse 16. brethren both in the flesh in thâ— Lord. Yet may not Deut. 11. 19. Gen. 18. 9. our loue that edifieth bee restrained onely to those for the same Scriptures that order vs to doe good especially to the houshold of faith and to loue the brotherhood charge vs also to vv 1 Pet. 2. 17. honour all men and to doe good euen x Gal. 6. 10. to all â— Thes 5. 15. yea to y Mat. 5. 44. loue and to doe good to our enemies yea though they be our hateful spitefull persecutors much more then to our friends and families and other neighbours Aqu. But say some what man can edifie all Arch. As when the Scripture saith z Heb. 12. 14 follow peace with all men the meaning is not as if any good man could haue either commerce or concord with all for besides all those whose â—aces he neueâ— saw there are some a Psal 120 6 haters of peace against whom Dauid made his protestation saying I am for peaâ—e but when I speake they are for warre as also hee complained of furious Ioab that b 1 Reg. 2. 5. he shed the bloud of warre in peace but as the Apostle saith c Rom. 12. 18 If it be possible as much as lyeth in you liue peaceably with all men so here wee meane not as if any could edifie all for besides those millions of people whose faces we neuer see how many of those with whom wee conuerse are as stones crumbling all to crattell as soone as we begin to hammer them and as timber falling to splinters when we fall to hewing of them both which are fitter for the high-way and chimney corner then for Gods building and other such d 1 Sam. 25. 17. sonnes of Beliall there are that a man cannot speake to them they are e 2 Sam. 23. 6 7. thornes that cannot be taken with hands but the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and with the staffe of a speare will such euer be edified Nay they shall be thrust away as thornes saith the Prophet yea vtterly burnt with fire in the same place The meaning therefore is that if it bee possible as much as â—lyeth in vs wee should edify all and f 1 Cor. 9. 22 be made all things to all men as euery mans calling
enioyned addeth a most solemne charge too high and heauy for any earthly potentate to dispense withall saying b 1 Tim. 5. 21 I charge thee before God and the Lord Iesus Christ and the elect Angels that thou obserue these things without preferring one before an other doing nothing by paâ—tiality And sure if publique sinnes were to haue priuate admonition before publique reproofe then would not the Prophet Elias so c 1 Reg. 18. 18 21. 20 instantly and openly haue reproued king Ahab nor our Sauiour so haue d Luk. 13. 32 taxed king Herod for a foxe nor haue said so openly to Peter e Mat. 16. 23 get behind me Satan c. nor to the ruler of the synagogue f Luk. 13. 15 thou hipocrite c. neither would S. Paul so haue g Gal. 2. 14 reproued S. Peter before all nor S. Peter himselfe haue so said to his auditors h Act. 2. 36. Iesus whom ye haue â—rucified c. and againe i Act. 4 15. this is the stone set at nought of you builders c. Now if rulers if Apostles if kings be not to be spared who men Doubtles it is a great â—ult and no lesse then an k Eze. 22. 2 abhomination to l Verse 7. set light by Father Mother to m Iud. vers 8 despise dominion and to speake euill of dignities for it is written n Act 23. 5. thou shalt not speake euill of the ruler of thy people that is by o Exo. 22. 28. any reuiling manner or cursing as the law expresseth the meaning But this is no reuiling when reuerence and honour being exhibited to dominions and dignities and that with all feare and trembling as vnto Gods vicegerents on earth the scandall of a publique flagitious offence is sought to be remoued by a publique reproofe And most famous through the Christian world is that commendation which Thedosius Vid. Theodoris hist Eccl. lib. 5. cap. 17. the Emperour gaue to S. Ambrose saving that he had hardly found a teacher of truth and that he knew onely bishop Ambrose worthy of that name because Ambrose had openly reproued him Ruffinus his fauourite for their publique scandalous faults And to the euerlasting praise of our gracious Soueraigne King Iames it is worthy to be written with the point of a Diamond how Anno Domino 1619. in detestation of the impudent whorish attire and habits of some man-like monstrous women who with a whores fore-head then out-faced Church Court his most excellent Maiesty commanded the Lord Arch-bishop of Cant and other Bishops by him to charge the preachers in his royall name publiquely in their pulpits to rebuke such women and put them to open shame And for as much as by notorious haynous offences p Rom. 2. 24 Gods name is blasphemed and many soules endangered notorious offences being as q Heb. 12. 15 powerfull to corrupt others as a r 1 Cor. 5. 6 little leauen is to leauen the whole lumpe What reason that the honour of our heauenly Father and the safety of many soules should yeeld to the vndeserued credit or respect of any one man Vnles it were good piety towards our parents to heare them capitally slaundered in publique and to dismisse the slaunderer with a reproofe in secret or good charity towards our neighbours to suffer a whole citty to be infected rather then they should heare an Alderman publiquely rebuked for going among them with the botch running on him Finally when I heare how the loue of euery naturall childe cryeth to haue the plaister as broad as the wound giuen to his Fathers honour and remember the verdict of our Sauiour saying Å¿ Mat. 10. 37 he that loueth Father more th 〈…〉 e is not worthy of me Againe when I consider that as Mr. Perkins saith t Perk. in Gal. 2. 14. liberty in reprouing is not the fruit of a rash disposition but the fruit of Gods spirit and so to be acknowledged as the Prophet u Mic. 3. 8. Micah sheweth and that S. Paul is neuer any where so witnessed to be filled with vv Act. 13. 7 8 9 10 the holy Ghost as when he set his eyes on Elymas and openly to his face said though he were a man in respect with the Deputy of the Country O full of subtilly and mischiefe thou child of the diuell thou enemy of all righteousnesse c. Last of all when I remember how in the dayes of Iohn Baptist x Mat. 11. 12 when the Kingdome of heauen suffered ruiolence and men tooke it by force men were y Mat. 3. 6. baptised of him in Iordan confessing their sinnes and how afterwards in the dayes of the Apostles preaching the z Act. 19. 18 c. word is said so mightily to grow and preuaile that many beleeuers came and confessed and shewed their deeds and many great curious artists brought their bookes together and burnt them before al men though the price of them being counted was found to be 50000 pieces of siluer about 800 English pounds and how long before these a Num. 20. 10 11 12. Moses the seruant of God b Psal 51. 1 in the title of the Psal King Dauid c Ion. 1. 3. 5 Ionas the Prophet and d Act. 22. 4. 5 26. 9. c Paul the Apostle for an example to all the w 〈…〉 d being all e 2. Pet. 2. 21 inspired by â—â—e holy Ghost that f 2 Tim. 1. 6 spirit of power and loue of a sound minde stoode forth as voluntary penitents with their publique writings accusing confessing against themselues their publique notorious offences and shaming themselues to glorifie God and edifie men When I call to minde these things and lay them to heart my belly trembleth to conceiue in what disgrace and contempt the word of publique reproofe is held being censured as the froth of a rash and giddy braine rather then the fruit of Gods spirit and how it is husht and almost buried in silence as well in pulpits as p 〈…〉 ru meetings to fulfill the prophecies written of these last and perillous times namely g Mat. â—4 12 because iniquity shall abound as Christ saith the loue of many shall waxe colde h 2 Tim. 3. 1 2 5. and men shall be louers of their owne selues as S. Paul saith hauing a forme of godlinesse but denying the power thereof Concerning the manner of publique reproofe I gain say not any discretion or respect to men that good is but wish all heauenly skill and humble endeauours therein to be vsed either by helpe of parables as the i 2 Sam. 12. Prophets dealt with King Dauid and k 1 Reg. 20. 39 c. â—ing Ahab or by way of intercessio◠〈◊〉 humble aduise and intrâ—aty as l Dan. 4. 19 27. Daniel delt with King Nebuchadâ—ezzâ—r and m Iere. 38. 20 c. Ieremy with King Zedekiah