examples that the Saints of God yea such men as vvere most high in Gods fauour haue alwaies beene carefull to serue their Creator with feare and reuerence And without true feare and reuerence Augustine no man liuing can be righteous in the sight of God Boldly hereby may we then with Sirach Ecclê° 18 26 count him a vvise man that feareth God in all his actions And rightly with Salomon pronounce Prou. 28. 14 him blessed that standeth alwaies in dread to doe that which may offend his Maker But hee that hardneth his owne hart shall fall into euill Happy therefore is the man vnto whoÌ„ Ecclê° 25. 12. it is graunted to haue the feare of God And blessed is the soule of him that feareth Ecclê° 34. 15 the Lord. Yea blessed is euery one that feareth Psal 128. 1. the Lord and walketh in his wayes It shal goe wel with such men at the last Ecclê° 1 13. and they shall finde fauour in the day of their death For who so feareth the Lord hee shall Ecclê° 1 18 prosper and at the end of his life hee shall be blessed Yea the spirits or soules of such men Ecclê° 34 13 shall surely liue for their hope is in the Lord their God that can helpe them ¶ Of Loue. §. 1. LOue as Plotinus saith is a diuine Plotinus passion of the soule or Spirit inspiring it with a celestiall desire of heauenly things and inflaming the harâ— to God-ward through the hope vvhich iâ— conceiueth of euerlasting felicitie But like as I haue saide before of Feare that there are two sorts thereof so doe I heere certifie vnto euery one that readeth that diuers worldly men haue out of this holie roote of Loue deriued tvvo seuerall Trees Namely this diuine Loue wholelie dedicated to Pietie and an immodest affection extending it selfe to base Concupiscence vvhich they entitle by the name of Loue also This vile Loue or rather Concupiscence is as Aristotle saith the vvorst Aristotle worke of a mans Malus Genius It disturbeth the passions of the hart and maketh the sences mad It is the roote of violence furie murders and execrations and the sole confounder of all the holy actions of the soule Full fraught with this filthy lust-loue was the heart of wicked Amnon vvhen 2. Sam. 13. through his deceitfull policie he obtained meanes to abuse by violence the body of his sister Thamar But the other Loue sirnamed Charitie which is true perfect diuine and onelie sacred * is the very originall and cheefe Gregory ground of all godly actions It is the way of man to God the vvay Augustine of God to man It is heauens Embassadour to the soule Rauisius and the whole scope or fulfilling of all Gods commaundements §. 2. This Loue as the Apostle saith suffereth 1 Cor 13 4. 5 6 7. long It is bountifull It enuieth not It doth not boast it selfe It is not puffed vp It disdaineth not It seeketh not that which is her owne It is not prouoked to anger It thinketh not euill It reioyceth not in iniquitie but reioyceth in the truth It suffereth all thinges It beleeueth all things It hopeth all things It endureth all things This loue teacheth vs true vvisedome Plato namely to loue the soule more then the body not the body â—etter then the soule This loue beeing both diuine and charitable mooueth a man according to the Deut 6 5 commaundement of God in the Law to loue his Maker aboue all things and his Leuit 19. 18 neighbour as deerely as hee loueth himselfe This loue beeing a good and gracious Plotinus affect of the soule so worketh in the harts of the godly that they haue no fancie to esteeme value or ponder any thing in the wide world beside or before the care and studie how to please God For the greatest argument of godly loue Pacuuius is to loue that which God willeth and to forbeare to doe that which he hath forbidden §. 3. This loue resembleth fire which naturally Erasmus inflameth all things that it toucheth This loue teacheth vs according to the commaundement of our Sauiour Christ Math 5 44. to loue our enemies to blesse them that curse vs to do good to them that hate vs and to pray for them that hurt vs and persecute vs. Yea this loue couereth all trespasses Prou 10 12 It is strong as death Much water cannot Cant 8 6. 7 quench it neither can the floods drown it This loue maketh men to forsake sinne Chrisostome and embrace vertue This loue increaseth fayth begetteth Augustine hope and maketh vs at peace with God This loue in aduersity is patient in prosperitie Bernard temperate in passions strong in good workes quicke in temptations confident in hospitality bountifull This loue is neuer idle but alwayes labouring Ambrose to serue him whom it loueth §. 4. This loue as Pacuuius saith cannot Pacuuius stand with any worldly care or studie for the things of this life neither abideth it the coupling with any other loue It beareth no partiall affection to kindred It knoweth no difference betweene poore rich It knoweth not what meaneth mine and thine Neither can it deuide a foe from a friende For hee that truely and perfectlie loueth GOD loueth him alone nothing besides him nor with him but all thinges indifferently in him and for him By which speech it appeareth that the * right measure where-with vvee ought to Bernard loue God is to loue him entirelie without either end or measure Not in part but in whole as hee himselfe in his holy VVorde hath willed vs Leuit 6. 5. Luke 10 27 namely vvith all our heart vvith all our soule with all our minde with all our strength VVhich speech of GOD beeing by Maister Becon in a certaine Sermon of his Becon expounded hee enterpreteth the same in this manner saying To loue God with all our hart is to preferre the loue of him both aboue before all things else whatsoeuer To loue God with all our soule is to loue him discreetly To loue God with all our minde is continually to meditate vpon his commaundements And to loue him with all our strength is manfullie to suffer all kinds of aduersities with willingnesse patience for the testimonie of his truth §. 5. VVith this sacred and religious loue of man to his Maker was the hart of holie Dauid greatly enflamed as may for example be seen in sundry places of his psalmes where in zealous affection to the Lorde and his Lavv he first of all saith * One Psalm 27. 4 thing haue I desired of the Lorde the which I will still require euen that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the daies of my life to beholde the beauty of the Lord and to visite his holy Temple I haue loued ô Lord saith hee the habitation Psalm 26.
8 of thine house the place where thine honour dwelleth The zeale of thine house ô Lord hath Psalm 69 6. eaten mee vp One day in thy Courts is better then a Psal 84 10. thousand other-where I had rather be a Doore-keeper in the house of my GOD then to dwell in the Tents of the vngodly As the Hart brayeth for the Riuers of Psal 42 1 2 water so panteth my soule after thee ô Lord. My soule thirsteth for God euen for the liuing God When shall I come appeare before the presence of God I will loue thee deerely ô Lorde my Psal 18. 1. strength VVhom haue I ô Lord in heauen but Psal 73 25. thee and there is none vpon earth that I desire in comparison of thee I haue longed ô Lord for thy saluation Ps 119. 174. and thy law is my delight Oh how I loue thy law It is my meditation Psal 119. 97 continually Oh teach mee thy statutes ô Lorde Psalm 119. 26 27. make mee to vnderstand the vvay of thy commaundements and I will meditate in thy wondrous workes Teach mee ô Lord the way of thy statutes Psal 119 33 34 I will keepe it vnto the end Giue mee vnderstanding and I will keepe thy Law yea I will keepe it with my vvhole hart Direct me in the path of thy commaundements verse 35 for therein is my delight Behold I desire thy commaundements verse 40 quicken me in thy righteousnes And incline my hart vnto thy testimonies verse 36 Deale with thy seruaunt ô Lord according Ps 119 124. 125. to thy mercie and teach mee thy statutes I ô Lord am thy seruaunt graunt mee therefore vnderstanding that I may know thy testimonies Looke vpon mee and be mercifull vnto Psalm 119 132. mee as thou vsest to doe vnto those that loue thy Name Direct my steps in thy Worde and let verse 133. none iniquitie haue dominion ouer me Teach mee to doe thy will for thou art Psal 143. 10 my God Let thy good Spirit lead me vnto the Land of righteousnesse By these and manie moe such like sayings in the Booke of Psalmes dooth thys princely Prophet make manifest as I said before with vvhat earnest zeale feruent affection hee alwayes loued the Lord and his Law The true and perfect loue also of man to his Maker was as it seemeth deeply rooted in the hart of old Eleazer when he refused all the friendship worldly fauours 2 Mac 6 28 that were offered vnto him by the seruants of Antiochus and chose rather to suffer death by torments then to saue his life by breaking the rules of his Religion With the like loue and constancie did the seauen brethren and their mother endure 2 Mac. 7. death by tortures vnder that wicked Tyrant Antiochus and left behinde them a woorthy remembrance of their feruent affection to the Lawe of the Lorde their God VVe reade also in the Newe-testament that Saint Stephen the first Martir after Acts 7 59. Christ through his religious loue to his Lord and Maister willingly suffered himselfe to be stoned to death commending his spirit into the hands of his Creator And such like diuine and holy loue to Christ our Captaine ought euery Christian professor to harbour in his heart else may it greatly be doubted that hee shall shoote short of life euerlasting §. 6. But as I said in the beginning this loue is both diuine and charitable First mouing man to loue the Lord and his lawe for the sundry blessings and benefits which God both already hath and daily doth bestowe vppon him through Christ Secondlie to loue his neighbour or brother as himselfe because GOD in his holy Worde hath so commaunded him and for that hee is the very forme of his own Image or likenes With which kinde of charitable loue of man to man or man to his neighbour was the heart of the Samaritane softned vvho Luke 10. 33 34 35. finding a stranger in the high-vvay halfe dead first bound vp the wounds of his body then setting him vpon his own beast brought him to an Inne and made prouision for him commaunding the Host of the house to take care of him and looke quoth he what-soeuer the charges of this man commeth vnto more then the two pence which I now giue thee at my next comming hether I will pay thee all But with more then charitable loue of man to his neighbour was the hart of holy Moises moued when through his great affection hee prayed vnto the Lord to pardon the foolish and Idolatrous sinne of his people Yea such was his feruent affection more theÌ„ charitable loue towards them that he desired of GOD in his prayer to Exod 32 32 graunt that theyr foule offence might be forgiuen or else his owne name to be rased out of the Booke of life And vvith more also then charitable loue of man to his neighbour was the Apostle Saint Paule acquainted when verie zeale for Gods glory and loue to his owne Nation enforced him to say * I vvould Rom 9 3. wish my selfe to be separated from Christ or to loose mine owne saluation for my Bretheren that are my kinsmen according to the flesh I terme these two last ensamples more then charitable loue because it made these men ready to refuse their ovvne soules health rather then their Brethren should be vnpardoned and cast from their Creator for their offences §. 7. By which few examples onely wee may sufficiently perceiue the forcible effect of true and perfect loue and iustly may wee confesse with the afore-named Apostle That * although we speak with the tungs 1 Cor 13 1 2 3. of men and Angels and haue not loue we are but as sounding Brasse or a tinckling Cymball And though wee had the gift of prophecie and knewe all secrets and all knowledge yea if we had all fayth so that we could remoue mountaines and had not loue we were nothing And though vvee feede the poore with all our goods giue our bodies to be burned haue not loue it profiteth vs nothing For God hath chosen vs in Christ Iesus Ephe 1 4 before the foundation of the World that we should be holy and without blame before him in loue And this commaundement haue we of 1 Ioh 4 21. him that he which loueth GOD should loue his brother also For as a King is honoured in his Image Bernard so God in man is either loued or hated hee cannot hate man who loueth GOD neither can hee loue GOD who hateth man Also like as the body without the soule Fulgotiâ—â— enioyeth no life so all other vertues without godlie loue are but colde and fruitlesse §. 8. If wee loue one another saith S. Iohn 1 Ioh 4 12 God dwelleth in vs and his loue is perfect in vs. Also hee that loueth his Brother abideth 1 Ioh 2 10 in the
light there is none occasion of euill in him But he that hateth his brother is in darknesse verse 11. and walketh in darknesse knoweth not vvhether hee goeth because that darknesse hath blinded his eyes §. 9. Loue saith the Apostle doth no euill Rom 13 10 to his neighbour therefore is loue the fulfilling of the lawe For all the law is fulfilled in one vvord Gala. 5 14. which is this Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe Wherefore If any man say I loue 1 Ioh 4 20. God and hate his brother he is a lyer for howe can hee that loueth not his brother whom he hath seene loue God whom he neuer saw Moreouer Whosoeuer he be that hath this worlds good seeth his brother haue 1 Iohn 3 17 neede and shutteth vp his compassion from him howe dwelleth the loue of God in him For by the true and perfect loue which Erasmus we beare vnto God we rightly vnderstand what our dutie is towards our neighbour And this is the coÌ„maundement of God 1 Ioh 3 11. which we haue heard from the beginning That we should loue one another * Euen Ephe 5 2. as Christ himselfe hath loued vs. §. 10. Beloued let vs therefore loue one another 1. Ioh 4 7 8 for loue commeth of God euerie one that loueth is borne of God and knoweth God He that loueth not knoweth not God for God is loue Let vs not loue in vvorde neither in 1. Ioh. 3. 18. tongue onely but in deede and in truth That we may walke worthy of the vocation Ephe 1 1 2. 3. where-vnto wee are called vvith all humblenes of minde meekenesse with long suffering supporting one another through loue endeuouring to keepe the vnitie of the Spirit in the bond of peace ¶ What the will and desire of Almighty God is concerning men and how louingly he admonisheth euery one to come to repentance promising mercy forgiuenes to all those that amend 2. ESDRAS 7. verse 20. 21. Many perrish in this life because they despise the Law of God that is appointed For God hath diligently admonished such as came so oft as they came what they should doe to haue life and what they should obserue to auoyd punishment ¶ What the will of God is c. §. 1. THis is the will of God as saith the Apostle euen our sanctification 1. Thes 4. 3. 4. 5. 6. that we should abstaine from fornication that euery one of vs should knowe howe to possesse his vessell in holinesse and honour and not in the lust of concupiscence as doe the Heathen which know not God that no man oppresse or defraude his brother in any matter for the Lord is the auenger of all such things He therefore that despiseth these things 1 Thes 4 8. despiseth not man but God who hath giuen vnto vs his holy Spirit And whose will is that all men should 1 Tim 2 4 be saued and come vnto the knowledge of the truth For it is not the will of God that one of Math 18 14 the least should be lost §. 2. Deerely beloued saith S. Peter be not 2 Pet 3 8 9 ignorant of this one thing that one day is with the Lord as a thousand yeeres and a thousand yeeres as one day The Lord is not slack concerning the promise of his comming as some men count slacknes but is patient toward vs would haue no man to perrish but would haue all men to come to repentance For GOD would not that man should 2 Esdr 8 59 perrish But vnto them that will repent hee giueth Ecclê° 17 22 them grace to returne and exhorteth such as faile vvith patience and sendeth them the portion of the veritie Amend your liues therefore and turne Acts 3 19. that your sinnes may be put away when the time of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. And as it came into your minde to goe Baruc 4 28. astray from your God so endeuour your selues tenne times more to turne againe to seeke him For he that is Lord ouer all is rich vnto Rom. 10 12 all that call vpon him §. 3. Make no tarrying to turne vnto the Ecclus 5. 7. Lord neither put it off from day to day for suddainly shall the wrath of the Lord breake forth and in thy securitie thou shalt be destroyed thou shalt perrish in time of vengeance VVherefore as the holy Ghost sayth Hebr 3 7 8 To day if yee shall heare his voyce harden not your harts Yea this day if yee heare his voyce Heb 4 7 harden not your harts For it is a fearefull thing to fall into the Heb 10 31 hands of the liuing God §. 4. VVee finde in the eyghteene of Ezechiell and the 23. verse that the Almightie by the mouth of the same Prophet exhorting the Children of Israell to repentance first maketh this demaund of them Ezec 18 23 saying * Haue I any desire that the wicked should die or shall hee not liue if hee returne from his wayes Then followeth in the 27. and 28. verses Ezec 18 27 28 31 32 sundry promises of Gods loue mercie vnto him that truly repenteth and forsaketh his sinnes And in the 31. 32. verses of the same chapter he thus concludeth all his former speech held with them to that purpose saying Cast away from you all your transgressions whereby you haue transgressed and make you a newe heart and a nevve Spirite for vvhy vvill yee die ô house of Israell For I desire not the death of him that dieth cause therefore one another to returne and liue §. 5. We finde likewise in the prophecie of Esay that the Lord beeing there desirous to withdraw that wicked obstinate people of Israell from their greeuous offences in which too long they had wilfully continued beginneth also first with a gentle admonishment saying * VVashe you Esay 1 16 17 make you cleane take away the euill of your workes from before mine eyes cease to do euill learne to doe well seeke iudgement relieue the oppressed iudge the fatherlesse and defend the widdow And hauing thus fore-told them vvhat they ought to doe hee then presently addeth * Come nowe and let vs reason together Esay 1 18 though your sinnes were as Crimson they shall be made white as snowe though they were redde like Skarlet they shall be as vvooll Declaring heereby vnto vs howe readie he is to receiue them that truly repent and how prone to put all their former offences cleane out of his remembrance As may further appeare againe euen by the witnesse of his owne wordes in the 18. chapter of the afore-named Ezechiell vvhere hee saith * If the wicked will returne Ezec 18 21. from all his sinnes that he hath committed keepe all my statutes do that which is lawfull and right hee shall surely liue and shall not
well or Augustine that wee vnderstand aright wee haue it of God of our selues wee haue nothing but onely sinne that is within vs. And surely deserued paine through Adams Augustine fault would bring al men into euerlasting death vnlesse the vndeserued grace of God through fayth in Christ deliuered some from it §. 11. All men in the first man namely Adam vvere created of God saith S. Ambrose Ambrose without vice or fault all our nature was sound and in health but by the sin of the same man we haue lost it Also We say truly in affirming that the Augustine first man onely could fulfill that he would when as yet his free-vvill of choyse vvas sound and whole before the fault But man misvsing his free-will lost both Augustine himselfe and his will The first man vvas created in nature Augustine without blame in nature without fault he was created vpright he did not make him selfe vpright It is knowne what hee made himselfe falling out of the hande of the Potter he was broken For hee that made him did gouerne him but hee was willing to forsake him that made him and God suffered him so to doe as it were saying thus Let him forsake me that he may find himselfe and that he may by his misery proue that without mee he can doe nothing By this meane therefore would God shew vnto man what free-will is able to doe vvithout God Free-vvill before the fall of Adam vvas Augustine an vpright free-will before which fire and water was layde of God and the first man did reach his hand vnto which hee would hee did choose fire forsooke vvater See therefore the righteous Iudge the same which man beeing free did choose he did receiue hee would haue euill the same did follow him We had free-will before sinne to worke Chrisostome well but after sinne we had none because we were not able by our owne power and strength after sinne to escape from the power of the deuill But as a ship when the sterne is broken is driuen hether and thether where the tempest will so by the deuill wee are driuen from one sinne to another neither hetherto can vvee doe any thing but euen as the deuill will And except GOD doe deliuer vs with the strong hand of his mercie we shall remaine in the bonds chaines of sinnes vnto death For by our owne willes and negligence wee are bound but it is onely by the mercies of almighty God that wee are loosed and set at libertie §. 12. No man can beleeue hope or loue vnlesse Augustine he will saith S. Augustine yet euen the selfe same will to beleeue hope and loue commeth not of our selues but from God Wee indeed thinking beleeue thinking we speake thinking we doe whatsoeuer Augustine we doe But as touching that that appertaineth vnto the way of godlinesse and true vvorship of God wee are not able to thinke any thing as of our selues but our ablenesse commeth of God For our own harts and our owne thoughts are not in our owne powers Also that we should beleeue in GOD liue godly it lyeth not in the wil or running Augustine of man but in the grace and mercy of God Not that we ought not both to wil and to runne but because that God himselfe by his holy Spirit doth worke in vs both to will and also to runne §. 13. Mans naturall free will then vve doe verily Maxentius beleeue saith Maxentius is of no more value but onely for carnall or worldly desires or such deseruings which possiblie may seeme glorious among men but not with God For those things which belong vnto euerlasting life we can neither thinke neither will neither desire neither performe except it be by the infusion and operation of the holie Ghost Besides our prayers are alwayes made Ambrose in vaine if it be in our owne free-wil to do what we will Let no man therefore flatter himselfe Augustine for of his owne hee is a very sathan hee hath that of GOD onely whereby hee is blessed §. 14. There is a sentence in Salomons Prouerbs where the Wiseman thus speaketh saying * The preparations of the hart are Prou 16 1 in man but the aunswere of the tongue is of the Lord. Vpon which wordes S. Augustine thus Augustine writeth Some not vnderstanding thys place wel are deceiued insomuch that they beleeue that to prepare the hart that is to beginne goodnesse without the helpe of the grace of God pertaineth vnto man But God forbid saith he that the chyldren of promise should so vnderstand it as though thereby they woulde confute the Lord whereas they haue heard him saying * Without mee yee can doe nothing And Iohn 15 5 say Behold we are able of our selues to prepare our hart by that to think som goodnes God forbid that any man should vnderstand it so saue the proude defenders of their will For therefore it is written It is the mans part to prepare the hart the aunswere of the tongue is of the Lord because the man prepareth the hart yet for all that man cannot prepare his hart without the helpe of God For God dooth so worke in the harts of men and in their free will it selfe that euery good thought good counsaile and all good motions of the will or minde is of God Hee doth first preuent vs with his grace Gregory that wee may be willing to leaue euill and doe good and afterward with his helping hand also he doth folow vs least we should will in vaine Yea It is God that worketh in vs both Augustine to will also to worke We will then but it is God that worketh in vs euen to vvill We work then but it is God also that doth worke in vs the worke euen freelie of his own good will It is expedient for vs both to beleeue this and also to confesse this This is godly this is true that our confession may be humble and lowly and that all goodnes may be ascribed vnto GOD alone No man can come vnto me saith Christ Iohn 6 44 except the Father which hath sent mee draw him Neither can any man say that Iesus is the 1 Cor 12 3 Lord but by the holy Ghost For to beleeue is the gift of God As Mat 16 17 Christes owne wordes testifie vnto Peter where he sayth * Blessed art thou Simon the sonne of Ionas For flesh and bloode hath not reuealed this vnto thee but my Father which is in heauen Also It is written in the Prophets And Iohn 6 45. they shall be all taught of GOD. Euery man therefore that hath heard and hath learned of the Father commeth vnto me Yea All that the Father giueth mee Iohn 6 37 ◠shall come to mee and him that commeth vnto mee I cast not away §. 16. Moreouer Except a man be borne againe
in his flesh vpon the Crosse the God-head and manhood vvere still together but his Godhead did not suffer that we might be iustified not onely in his flesh but also in his Diuinitie and that we might be saued both in his God-heade and manhood together For we could neuer haue beene deliuered Augustine by that one onely Mediatour between God and men the man Christ Iesus vnlesse he had beene also God The benefites which we dâ—ily receiue by Ambrose his death are foure The first is the change of our naturall death The second is in that he hath quite taken away the second death from those that are in him The third is that his death is a meanes to satisfie his last will and Testament The fourth is that it doth serue to abolish the originall corruption of our sinfull harts The meanes also of our saluation by him Augustine are two his Merrite his Efficacie The first is in that by his obedience to the Law and by his death he made full satis-faction vnto his Father for all our sinnes freed vs from death and reconciled vs vnto God The second is in that he gaue his Spirit to mortifie the corruption of our natures that we thereby may daily die vnto sin and liue vnto righteousnes haue true comfort in terrors of conscience and in the pangs of death Beleeuing assuredly that what-so-euer Caluine Christ hath suffered hee hath suffered for vs and that all his righteousnes through fayth is made our righteousnesse For hee himselfe alone hath fully discharged by his death the debt which all vvee owed and hath made vs by his obedience the sonnes of God fellow heires with him of euerlasting glory For hee hath put out the hand-vvriting Colos 2 14 15. that was against vs contained in the Lawe written which was contrary to vs he euen tooke it out of the way fastned it vpoÌ„ the crosse hath spoiled the Principalities Powers hath made a shew of theÌ„ openly triumphing ouer theÌ„ in the same crosse §. 8. The Lawe saith S. Iohn was giuen by Iohn 1. 17. Moises but Grace and Truth came by Iesus Christ For God sending his owne sonne in the Rom 8 3 similitude of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sinne in the flesh that the righteousnesse of the Lawe might be fulfilled in vs which walke not after the flesh but after the spirit And wee through the spirit waite for Gala 5 5 the hope of righteousnes through faith Be it knowne vnto you therefore men Acts 13 38 39 brethren that through this man Christ is preached vnto vs the forgiuenesse of sinnes from all things from which we could not be iustified by the Law of Moises by him euery one that beleeueth is iustified For the Lawe made nothing perfit but Heb 7 19. the bringing in of a better hope made perfect whereby we draw neere vnto God And albeit that we in time past beeing Ephe. 2. 11. 12. 13. Gentiles and vncircumcised people in the flesh were indeede without Christ and were aliants from the common-wealth of Israell and strangers from the couenaunts of promise and had no hope and were without God in the world yet nowe by the meanes of Christ Iesus we which once were farre off are made neere by the blood of Christ For hee being our peace hath made of Ephe 2. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. both one and hath broken down the stop of the particion Wall that was betweene the Iewes and vs in abrogating through his flesh the hatred namely the Lawe of Commaundements which standeth in ordinances for to make of twaine one nevv man in himselfe so making peace And that he might reconcile both vnto God in one body thorow his Crosse and sley hatred thereby he came preached peace both to vs vvhich were a farre off and to them also that were neere For through him vvee both haue an entrance vnto the Father by one spirit And GOD vvhich is rich in mercie through his great loue wherewith he loued Ephe 2 â— 5 6 7. vs euen wheÌ„ we were dead by sinnes hath quickned vs both Iewes and Gentiles together in Christ by whose grace we are saued and hath raised vs vp together and made vs sitte together in the heauenly places in Christ Iesus That he might shew in the ages to come the exceeding riches of his grace through his kindnes towards vs in Christ Iesus Not by the vvorkes of righteousnesse Titus 3 5 6 7. which we had doone but according to his mercie hee saued vs by the washing of the newe birth and the renewing of the holie Ghost which he shed on vs aboundantlie through Iesus Christ our Sauiour that we beeing iustified by his grace shoulde bee made heires according to the hope of eternall life For God so loued the vvorlde that hee Ioh 3 16. hath giuen his onely begotten Sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him shoulde not perrish but haue euerlasting life And heerein was the loue of God made 1. Ioh 4 9. manifest amongst vs in that hee sent his onely begotten sonne into the world that we might liue through him Yea heerein is loue not that wee loued 1 Ioh. 4. 10. GOD but that he loued vs and sent his Son to be a reconcilâ—ation for our sinnes For Christ vvhen we vvere yet of no Rom 5 6 strength at his time died for the vngodly And hee beeing very God equall vvith Philip. 2. 6 7 8. the Father in power and glory made himselfe notwithstanding of no reputation taking on him the forme of a seruaunt and was made like vnto men and was found in shape as a man Hee humbled himselfe became obedient vnto the death euen the death of the Crosse That hee might heâ—eby deliuer vs from the wrath of God and from the danger of Becon eternall damnation whereunto through our Father Adams transgression vvee all remained subiect Likevvise then as by the sinne of one Rom 5 18. namely Adam there sprang vp euill on all men to condemnation euen so by the righteousnesse of one namely Christ â—pringeth good vpon all men to the righteousnes of life For as by one mans disobedience many verse 19 were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many also be made righteous §. 1. CHrist saith the Apostle is risen from 1 Cor. 15. 20. the dead was made the first fruites of them that slept For since by man came death by man verse 21 22 came also the resurrection of the dead and â—â— in Adam all die euen so in Christ shall 〈◊〉 be made aliue Yea Christ himselfe and no other for him did by his owne power raise himselfe Augustine to life Which proueth that hee was not onely man but also true God VVherefore if he were able to giue lyfe Ierome vnto himselfe beeing deade and buried then much more now beeing aliue and in
And so much likewise affirmeth Socrates who was Platos Socrates Schoole-maister But King Salomon the sonne of Dauid beeing farre wiser in knowledge then eyther Socrates or Plato giueth in his Prouerbs many prayses of this vertue Telling vs plainly that * the feare of the Lord Prou 9. 10 which is a dutifull reuerence and avve of the Almighty firmely fixed in the harts of all the godly is Initium sapieâ—â—e the very beginning of vvisedome That in it is an assured strength Prou. 14. 26 Prou 10 27 Prou 14 27 That it increaseth our dayes That it is as a Well-spring of wisedome to auoyde the snares of death That it leadeth to life and that hee that Prou. 19. 23 is filled there-with shall prosper and shall not be visited with euill §. 3. Iesus likewise the sonne of Sirach who well deserueth the name of a second Salomon for his great wisedome telleth vs in the beginning of his Booke That the feare of the Lord is worship tryumph Ecclê° 1 11. gladnesse and a ioyfull crow 〈…〉 That it is an holy knowledge Ecclê° 1. 16. That it is both wisedome discipline Ecclê° 1 32. Ecclê° 25 13 That it is the beginning of the loue of GOD. That it passeth all things in clearenes Ecclê° 25 11 That it maketh a merry hart giueth Ecclê° 1 12. gladnesse ioy and long life That it expelleth sinne and driueth away Ecclê° 1 26. anger That it is the Crowne of vvisedome Ecclê° 1. 22 giueth pleace and perfect health That it is the roote of vvisedome and Ecclê° 1. 24. the branches thereof are long life That it is a pleasant garden of blessing Ecclê° 40. 27 that there is nothing so beautifull as it is Neither is there any thing sweeter then Basill the same §. 4. Besides Sirach doth not onely giue coÌ„mendations of this vertue it selfe but also vttereth sundry speeches in prayse of the man that is enriched there-with and consequently declareth how much mindfull it maketh them that haue it prouident to please God in all theyr proceedings saying Ecclê° 10. 25 The great man the Iudge and the man of authoritie are all of them honourable yet is there none of them greater then he that feareth the Lord. Hee that hath small vnderstanding and Ecclê° 19. 23 feareth God is better then hee that hath much wisedome and transgresseth the law of his Maker Oh howe great is the man that findeth Ecclê° 25. 10 wisedome knowledge yet is there none aboue him that feareth the Lord. §. 5. They that feare the Lord saith he will Ecclê° 2. 18 prepare their harts humble their soules in his sight They will also seeke out the thinges Ecclê° 2. 1â— that are pleasant vnto him They will keepe his commaundements Ecclê° 2. 19. Ecclê° 32. 15 And receiue his doctrine They will honour theyr Parents doe Ecclê° 3. 8 seruice vnto them Yea they that feare the Lord will be diligent Ecclus. 15. 1. Ecclê° 2. 16 to do good and will not disobey his VVorde And such as feruently loue the Lord wil euer be careful to keep his wayes For as by the feare of God our harts are Vincentius first framed to the obedience of his holy will so through the loue of God vvee are afterwards enforced to goe forward daily more and more with ioy and delight in his seruice Yet * Augustine â—ee that loueth GOD best alwayes feareth him most §. 6. VVith this holy religious and louing Gene 39 10 11. 12. feare of the Lorde was the hart of Ioseph the sonne of Iacob fully stored when beeing seruaunt with Potiphaâ— in Egipt hee fledde from the company and vnlawfull liking of his maisters wâ—fe This true and reuerent feare also of the Almightie kept the three young men Dan. 3. 18. mentioned in Daniell from falling downe before the false God vvhich Nabuchadnezzar the great King of Babell had sette vp It likewise caused Daniell himselfe to do Dan 6 10. contrary to the Decree of Darius And made the * faire and constant wife of Ioakim Dan 13. to withstand the wit-wanting Rethorick of the two Isralite Rulers Also whosoeuer else he be that truelie Gueuara feareth God as he ought shall vndoubtedlie finde the same such a stay vnto him in the time of temptation that he shall thereby be kept safe from falling in those dangers which lead men into destruction For the feare of God doth not onelie Boetius withdraw the hand the eye other members of the body from committing euill but it also helpeth to clense the minde and to keep the consent thereof from yeelding to euill Very well therefore saith Saint Bernard Bernard That there is nothing of greater force and efficacie to keepe vs in the grace fauour of God then to liue coÌ„tinually in his feare and to eschew by all meanes that may bee the performance of our proude and presumptious thoughts But if the feare of GOD be once gone Bernarde from a man then there remaineth in him nothing else but lewdnes of life extreame rashnes forgetfulnes of vertue a harmfull running head-long into all kindes of sinne and wickednes §. 7. It is written of Iob that hee was an vpright and iust man one that feared God Iob 1 1 and â—sâ—hewed euill VVhereby I vnderstand that the true feare of God kept him vpright in life and his abstaining froÌ„ euill caused him to be counted iust And to shew further that Iob ledde his whole life in the feare of God it is as a speciall testimony plainly expressed vnto vs by his owne speech where in effect hee thus speaketh saying * I am afrayd of all Iob 9 28 my dooings ô Lorde knowing that thou wilt not iudge mee innocent or without sinne in thy sight The Prophet Dauid likewise although himselfe be many times praysed in the sacred Scriptures for his religious holinesse and vprightnes of life yet to make known vnto all men how much he was acquainted with the true feare of GOD hee spareth not to reueale the same in the hundred and nineteene Psalme where hee saith * My Psalm 119 120. flesh trembleth for feare of thee ô Lord and I am afrayd of thy iudgements VVee finde furthermore that S. Paule the Apostle was commended by the Lord himselfe to be an elect and chosen vessell Acts 9 15 vnto him to beare his Name before the Gentiles and Kings of the Earth Yet notwithstanding in his first Epistle to the Corinthians by his owne words it is witnessed how greatly hee feared God in all his actions as namely in the 9. chapter where hee saith * I doe beate downe my 1 Cor. 9. 27 bodie and bring it into subiection least by any meanes it should come to passe that after I haue preached to others I my selfe should be reproued §. 8. Thus see wee both by seuerall sentences and
43 44 45 Thou shalt loue thy neighbour and hate thine enemie But I saith Christ say vnto you loue your enemies blesse them that curse you do good to them that hate you and pray for them that hurt you and persecute you that yee may be the chyldren of your Father which is in heauen For he maketh his sunne to arise on the euill and on the good and sendeth downe raine on the iust and vniust For if yee loue them which loue you verse 46. 47 what reward shall yee haue doe not the vngodly euen the same And if you be Luke 6 32 friendly to your Brethren onely what singuler thing doe yee Doe not euen the vngodly likewise Yee shall therefore be perfect as your Math. 5. 48 Father which is in heauen is perfect §. 17. Auenge not your selues but giue place Rom 12. 19 vnto wrath for it is written Vengeance is mine I will repay saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemie hunger feede verse 20 him if he thirst giue him drink for in so doing thou shalt heape coales of fire vppon his head Contrariwise hee that seeketh vengeance Ecclê° 28. 1 shall finde vengeance of the Lord and he will surely keepe his sinnes Should a man beare hatred against man Ecclê° 28. 3 and yet desire forgiuenes of the Lord Hee will shew no mercy to a man that is verse 4. like himselfe and will hee aske forgiuenes of his owne sinnes If he which is but flesh nourish hatred and aske pardon of God who will intreat Ecclê° 28 5. for hys sinnes Remember therefore the end and let verse 6 enmitie passe imagine not death and destruction to another through anger but perseuer in the commaundements And forgiue thy neighbour the hurt that Ecclê° 28. 2 hee hath done thee so shall thy sinnes be forgiuen thee also when thou prayest §. 18. If thy Brother trespasse against thee rebuke Luk 17 3 4 him and if hee repent forgiue him And though hee sinne against thee seauen times in a day and seauen times in a day turne againe vnto thee saying It repenteth mee thou shalt forgiue him For if you doe forgiue men their trespasses Math 6 14 15 your heauenly Father will also forgiue you your trespasses but if you do not forgiue others God will not forgiue you Be alwaies therefore as ready to forgiue Iunius thy brother vvhen hee repenteth as thou thy selfe art willing to be pardoned of God when thou prayest And be not ouercome of euill but ouercome Rom 12 21 euill with goodnes §. 19. Nowe the end of all things saith the Apostle 1. Pet 4 7 8 is at hand be yee therefore sober and watching in prayer But aboue all things haue feruent loue among you for loue couereth the multitude of sinnes Be yee likewise harberous one to another verse 9 10 vvithout grudging And let euery man as hee hath receiued the gift minister the same one to another as good disposers of the manifold grace of God If any man speake let him talke as the wordes of God If any man minister let 1 Pet 4 11 him do it as of the abilitie vvhich God ministreth that GOD in all thinges may be glorified through Iesus Christ §. 20. Cast away prophane and olde wiues fables 1. Tim 4 7 8. and exercise thy selfe vnto godlines For bodilie exercise profiteth little but godlines is profitable vnto all things which hath the promise of the life present and of that that is to come Flee also from the lusts of youth follow 2. Tim 2. 22 after righteousnesse faith loue and peace vvith them that call on the Lord with a pure hart For the end of the commaundement is loue out of a pure hart and of a good conscience 1. Tim 1. 5. and of faith vnfained §. 21. Be nothing carefull but in all things let Phil. 4. 6. 7 your requests be shewed vnto GOD in prayer and supplication with giuing of thanks And the peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding shall preserue your harts and mindes in Christ Iesus Bee also at peace among your selues 1. Thes 5 13. 14 admonish them that are vnrulie comfort the feeble minded beare with the meeke be patient toward all men Reioyce euermore pray continually in 1. Thes 5. 16 17 18. all things giue thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Iesus toward you Quench not the Spirit despise not prophesying 1. The. 5. 19 20 21 22 try all thinges and keepe that which is good Abstaine from all appearance of euil Let your conuersation be without couetousnes Hebr 13 5 and be content with those things that ye haue Remember them that are in bonds as Heb. 13 3. though yee were bounde with them and them that are in affliction as if yee were also afflicted in the body Bee alwaies affectioned to loue one Rom 12 10 another with brotherlie loue Reioyce in hope be patient in trouble Rom 12. 12 13. and continue in prayer Distributing vnto the necessitie of the Saints and giuing your selues to hospitalitie Also vvhatsoeuer thinges are true Philip 4 8 vvhatsoeuer things are honest what soeuer things are iust whatsoeuer things are pure whatsoeuer things pertaine to loue whatsoeuer thinges are of good report if there be any vertue or if there be any praise thinke on these things which ye haue both learned and receiued and heard Those things also doe the God of verse 9. peace shall be with you §. 22. Finally my bretheren be strong in the Ephe. 6. 10. 11 12. Lord and in the power of his might Put on the whole Armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the assaults of the deuill For wee wrestle not against fleshe and blood but against principalities against powers against vvorldly gouernours the princes of the darknesse of this world and against spirituall wickednesses which are in the hie places For this cause take vnto you the vvhole Ephe. 6 13. Armour of God that yee may be able to resist in the euill day and hauing finished all things stand fast Stande therefore and your loynes girded Ephe 6 14 15. about with the truth hauing on the brest-plate of righteousnes and your feete shod with the preparation of the Gospell of peace Aboue all take the shielde of faith verse 16. 17 vvhere-with yee may quench all the fierie darts of the vvicked and take the helmet of saluation and the svvorde of the Spirit which is the word of God And pray alvvaies with all manner of verse 18. prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watch there-vnto vvith all perseuerance and supplication for all Saints Let euery one also that calleth on the 2 Tim 2 19 Name of Christ depart from iniquitie And what-soeuer yee would that men Math 7 12 should do vnto you euen so doe yee vnto them for this is the
that a man hath not according to that he hath not This yet remember that he which soweth 2 Cor. 9. 6 7 sparingly shall â—eape also sparingly hee that soweth liberally shall reape also liberally As euery man wisheth in his hart so let him giue not grudgingly or of necessitie for God loueth a cheerfull giuer §. 6. Because saith the Lord there shall bee Deut 15 11 euer some poore in the Land therefore I commaund thee saying Thou shalt open thy hand vnto thy brother vnto thy needie and vnto thy poore in the land Bestow thy treasure then according to Ecclus. 29. 11 12. the coÌ„maundement of thâ— most High and it shall bring thee more profite then golde Lay vp thine almes in thy secret chambers it shall keepe thee from all afflictions Lay not vp treasures for your selues vpon Math 6 19 20 21 earth where the moth and canker corrupt and where theeues digge through steale but lay vp treasures for your selues in heauen vvhere neither the moth nor canker corrupteth where theeues neyther digge through nor steale For where your treasure is there wil your harts be also §. 7. If thou wilt be a good Merchant or a Augustine gainefull Vsurer giue that which thou canst not keepe that thou maist receiue that which thou canst not loose Giue a little that thou maist receiue a hundred fold giue a temporall fading possession that thou maist receiue an euerlasting inheritance And vvhat-soeuer thou giuest giue it Augustine freelie for hee neuer giues in vaine that giues in zeale Neither doe I remember that euer I Ierome read of any one that dyed an euill death vvho willingly exercised the vvorkes of mercie For they haue the prayers of manie and it is vnâ—ossible but that their prayers should be heard §. 8. Giue vnto the most High according as Ecclê° 35 10 hee hath enriched thee looke what thy hand is able giue with a cheerefull eye For the Lord recompenseth wil giue verse 11. thee seuen times as much Stretch out thine hande vnto the poore Ecclus 7 32 and needy that thy blessing and reconciliation may be accomplished Be as a father vnto the fatherlesse and as Ecclus 4 10 an husbande vnto their mother so shalt thou be as the sonne of the most High and hee shall loue thee more then thy mother dooth §. 9. Charge them that are rich in the vvorld saith Paule vnto Timothie that they bee 1. Tim. 6. 17 18. 19. not high minded and that they trust not in vncertaine riches but in the liuing God which giueth vs aboundantly all things to enioy That they doe good and be rich in good workes and be ready to distribute communicate laying vp in store for themselues a good fouÌ„dation against the time to come that they may obtaine eternall life For hee that giueth almes layeth vp for Tob 4. 9. himselfe a good store against the day of necessity Because the almes of a man is as a thing Ecclê° 17 20 sealed vp before God and he keepeth the good deedes of men as the apple of the eye and giueth repentance to their sonnes and daughters At the last also shall he arise reward verse 21. them and shall repay theyr rewards vpon theyr heads Giue almes therefore of those thinges Luke 11 41 which thou hast Giue of thy bread to the hungry giue Tob 4 16. of thy garments to the needy and naked and of all thine abundance giue almes and let not thine eye be enuious when thou giuest thine almes For nothing doth so much commend a Ambrose Christian as commiseration and charitie §. 10. Let it not at any time grieue thee to doe Plotinus good vnto the poore and needy but rather couet to be liberall in thy gifts to such as want and are distressed for the almesdeedes of the liberall doe more profit the giuer then benefite the receiuer Haue alwaies compassion on the poore Caluine the blinde the lame and endeuour by good counsell to comfort him that is afflicted in conscience Forget not often to visite the sicke to Gueuara relieue them that are in bonds to succour poore Orphanes and to defend the cause of the widdow and oppressed For pure Religion and vndefiled before Iames 1 17. God euen the Father is this to visite the fatherlesse and widdowes in their aduersitie to keepe our selues vnspotted of the world Also like as all things else that are bred vpon the earth are all created and ordained Cicero for the vse commoditie of man so man for the benefit of man is begotten borne into the world to the end they should continually doe good by helping one another And they vvhich exercise almes righteousnesse Tob 12 9 shall be filled with life But euery one that sinneth is an enemie Tob 12 10 to his owne soule §. 11. Almes saith Tobie is a good gift before Tob 4 11 the most High to all them vvhich vse it And it is better to giue Almes then to Tob. 12. 8. lay vp gold Say not vnto thy neighbour Goe and Prou 3 28 come againe and to morrow I will giue thee if thou now haue it For he that giueth vnto the poore shall Prou. 28. 27. not lack but hee that hideth his eyes shall haue many curses Giue almes therefore of thy substance Tob 4 7 and when thou giuest thine almes let not thine eye bee enuious neither turne thy face from any poore body least that God turne his face from thee Giue part of that which thou possessest Iraeneus though thy gift amount to no more in value then the poore vviddowes two mites Giue also at the first asking for the gift Socrates is not worth thankes vvhich is often craued Besides the gift which is grudginglie Plato giuen may well be called a stonie loafe which although it be hard yet it is needfull to be receiued of him that is hungry §. 12. Hee that hath mercie vpon the poore Prou 19 17. lendeth vnto the Lorde and the Lorde vvill recompence him that which hee hath giuen For GOD so greatly loueth the poore Ierome that what-soeuer good deede is done vnto any of them for the loue of him he taketh it as it were doone vnto himselfe And hee shall vndoubtedly finde many Leo. great blessings at Gods hand who letteth not the poore and needy depart from him without comfort §. 13. But vvhen thou mindest to distribute or giue any thing vnto the poore thou Rom 12 8 must euer-more obserue this rule therein namelie to doe the same as the Apostle counselleth with simplicitie Not causing a trumpet to be blowne before Math 6 2 3 4. thee when thou giuest thine almes as the hypocrites doe in the Sinagogues and in the streets to the end they may be seene and praysed of men For verily I say
doctrines of deuils vvhich speake lyes through hypocrisie and haue theyr consciences burned with an hote yron forbidding to marry and commaunding to abstaine from meates which God hath created to be receiued vvith giuing thanks of them which beleeue and knowe the truth For euery creature of God is good and verse 4 5 nothing ought to be refused if it be receiued with thanksgiuing For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer Yee therefore beloued seeing yee know 2. Pet. 3. 17 these things before beware least ye be also plucked away vvith the errour of the wicked and fall from your owne stedfastnesse For of this sort are they vvhich creepe 2. Tim. 3. 6. 7. into houses and leade captiue simple women laden with sinnes and led with diuers lusts VVhich vvomen are euer learning and are neuer able to come to the knowledge of the truth ¶ Against ouer-curious searching and adding of any thing to the word of God §. 1. SEeke not out saith Sirach the thinges Ecclus 3 22. that are too hard for thee neither search the things rashly which are too mightie for thee But what God hath commaunded thee verse 23. thinke vpon that with reuerence and bee not curious in many of his workes for it is not needfull for thee to see with thine eyes the things that are secrete Be not curious in superfluous matters for verse 24 25 many things are shewed vnto thee aboue the capacitie of men The medling vvith such hath beguiled many an euill opinion hath deceiued their iudgement Thou canst not see without eyes professe verse 26. not the knowledge therefore vvhich thou hast not §. 2. I through the grace that is giuen vnto Rom 12 3 mee saith the Apostle say to euery one that is among you that no man presume to vnderstand aboue that which is meet to vnderstand but that he vnderstand according to sobrietie as GOD hath dealt to euery man the measure of fayth For hee is sufficiently rich in vnderstanding Hermes that knoweth how to doe well and hee hath power enough that can refraine from dooing euill §. 3. Ye shal put nothing vnto the word which Deut 4 2 I commaund you saith Moises neyther shall yee take ought there-from that yee may keepe the commaundements of the Lord your GOD which I commaund you Therefore what soeuer I commaunde Deut. 12. 32. you take heede you doe it Thou shalt not turne away from it to the Iosua 1 7. right hand nor to the left that thou maist prosper whether soeuer thou goest §. 4. Put nothing vnto the word of God saith Prou. 30. 6. Salomon least hee reproue thee and thou be founde a lyer For I protest saith the holy Ghost vnto Reue. 22. 18 euery man that heareth the wordes of the prophecie of this booke If any man shall adde vnto these things God shall adde vnto him the plagues that are written in thys Booke And if any man shall diminish of the Reue. 22 19 words of the booke of this prophesie God shall take away his part out of the booke of life and out of the holy Citty and from those thinges vvhich are vvritten in this booke ¶ Against foolish securitie §. 1. SAy not thou I will hide my selfe from Ecclê° 16 17 the Lord for who will think vpon me from aboue I shall not be knowne in so great an heape of people for what is my soule among such an infinite number of creatures But rather remember vvhat our Sauiour Christ saith in Saint Mathewes Gospell namely that one sparrow falleth not to the ground without the will of God our heauenly Math. 10. 29. 30. Father and that all the haires of our head are numbred by him Howe much more then may wee vndoubtedly beleeue that wee our selues are knowne and numbred of him For hee onely is the Creator and Preseruer of men and without his permission wee are not able to drawe our breath a minutes while §. 2. Besides thus speaketh the Lord himselfe Iere 23 23 24. interrogatiuelie by the mouth of Ieremy saying Am I a GOD at hand and not a GOD farre off Can any hide himselfe in secrete places that I shall not see him saith the Lord Doe not I fill heauen and earth saith the Lord And to this effect likewise tendeth the speech of the Prophet Dauid in the 139. psalme where he saith O Lord thou hast Psalme 139. 1. 2 3 c. tryed mee knowne mee thou knowest my sitting my rising thou vnderstandest my thought a farre off thou compassest my pathes and my lying downe and art accustomed to all my wayes For there is not a word in my tongue but loe thou knowest it vvholie ô lord Thou holdest mee straite behinde and before and layest thy hand vpon mee Thy knowledge is too wonderfull for mee it is so high that I cannot attaine vnto it Whether shall I goe from thy Spirit or whether shall I flee from thy presence If I ascend into heauen thou art there If I lie downe in hell thou art there Let mee take the wings of the morning and dwell in the vttermost parts of the sea yet thither shall thy hand leade mee thy right hand hold mee If I say yet the darknesse shall hide me euen the night shall be light about mee Yea the darknes hideth not from thee but the night shineth as the day and the darknes and the light are both alike For thou hast possessed my reines thou hast couered mee in my mothers vvombe ¶ Against the loue of the world §. 1. LOue not the vvorld saith Saint Iohn 1 Ioh 12 15. neither the things that are in the world If any man loue the world the loue of the Father is not in him For all that is in the worlde as the lust verse 16 17 of the flesh the lust of the eyes the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the World And the vvorld passeth away the lust thereof but hee that fulfilleth the will of God abideth euer Yee adulterers and adultresses know ye Iames 4 4 not that the amitie of the world is the enimitie of God Whosoeuer therefore vvill be a friende of the world maketh himselfe the enemie of God And they that waite vpon lying vanities Ionas 2. 8. forsake theyr owne mercie §. 2. VVhat is there in the World saith Seneca Seneca wherefore it should be loued The flowers of this life to wit the lusts pleasures thereof are all of them false shewes shadowes and vanities the fruites of it are labour care sicknes and tediousnesse the tree it selfe is corruption frailety And hee that is enamored of the world Seneca may well be likened to the man which voluntarily runneth into the Sea who if hee chaunce to scape the dangers thereof men will say hee is greatly fortunate but if hee perrish they will say he was wilfully deceiued
him as with a shielde The wicked shall see the same be angry Psal 112. 10 hee shall gnash with his teeth and consume away §. 12. Feare the Lorde therefore yee that be Psalm 34 9. his Saints for nothing vvanteth to them that feare him The Lyons doe lacke and suffer hunger Psal 34 10. but they that seeke the Lord shall want no manner of thing that is good Neither shall any euill happen vnto the Ecclê° 33. 1. man that feareth him but when hee is in tentation the Lord will deliuer him and keepe him from harme For his eyes are ouer the righteous and 1 Pet 3 12 his eares are open vnto theyr prayers Hee knoweth the dayes of vpright men Psal 37 18 theyr inheritance shall be perpetuall §. 13. Hee also preserueth the state of the Prou 2 7 righteous is a shield to them that walke vprightly They shall not be confounded in the Psal 37 19 perrillous time and in the dayes of famine they shall haue enough For his eye is vpon them that feare him Psalm 33 18 19 and vpon them that trust in his mercy to deliuer theyr soules from death to preserue them in the time of dearth Yea his eyes haue respect vnto them Ecclê° 34 16 that loue him hee is theyr mightie protection and strong ground a defence from the heate and a shadow for the noone day a succour from stumbling and a helpe from falling §. 14. They that put theyr trust in him shall Psal 125. 1. be euen as the mount Sion which cannot be remoued but remaineth stedfast for euer They shall florish like a Palme tree and Psal 92. 12. shall spread abroade like a Cedar in Lebanon They shall inherite the land and dwell Psal 37 29 therein for euer They shall still bring forth fruite in their Psal 92. 14. age and shall be fat and florishing §. 15. The man that serueth him shall be accepted Ecclê° 35 16 with fauour and his prayer shall reach vnto the clowdes His prayer shall pierce thorowe the Mart. Bucer clowdes and preuaile mightily in the presence of his Maker That which a wicked man feareth shall Prou 10 24 come vpon him but GOD will grant the desire of the godly For a good man getteth fauour of the Prou 12 2 Lord but a man of vvicked imaginations will the Almightie condemne He respecteth not the speech of vngodly Iohn 9. 31 persons when they pray vnto him but if any man be a vvorshipper of him and obedient vnto his will him he will heare For as hee himselfe is all goodnes so loueth Plato hee all those that loue goodnes and as hee can haue no euill in himselfe so can he not away with the workers of iniquitie §. 16. They that trust in the Lord shall vnderstand Wisd 3. 9. the truth and the faithfull shall remaine with him in loue for grace mercie is among his Saints and hee regardeth his elect His secrete is reuealed to them that feare Psal 25. 14 him and his couenaunt to giue them vnderstanding Hee is euer-more mindfull of those men Theophilact that make his Word the guide vnto theyr waies and neuer ceaseth to succour his seruants which through faith confidence continually cleaue vnto him For he alwaies loueth them that loue his Lyra. law and bestoweth many benefites on the man that maketh his coÌ„maundements his daily meditation §. 17. Hee highly regardeth euery one that beleeueth Origen in him and will in time performe what-soeuer hee hath promised vnto the faithfull Hee will most certainly graunt vnto the Euagoras godly all things that are needfull for theyr life present And at his pleasure hee will make the Virgilius penitent to reioyce greatly in his loue and mercie He will also be fauourable to the righteous Eugenius in the time of theyr affliction And be ready to heare the cry of the confident Hillarius when-soeuer they call vpon him Yea before they call hee will aunswere Esay 65. 24. and whiles they speake or whiles they are thinking what to speake hee will heare them By all vvhich former speeches most plainly according to the saying of the Psalmist it appeareth That * they which Psalm 119. 165. loue the lawe of the Lord shall haue great prosperitie and shall haue no hurt That they vvhich obey and serue him Iob. 36. 11. shall end theyr dayes in prosperitie and theyr yeeres in pleasures And that the man that is faithfull shall Prou. 28. 20 abound in blessings §. 18. Taste yee then and see how gracious Psal 34 8. the Lord is blessed is the man that trusteth in him Yea blessed is the man whose strength Psal 84. 5 is in the Lord and in vvhose hart are the vvayes of God Blessed is euery one that feareth the Psal 128 1. Lord and walketh in his wayes For to them that thinke on good things Prou. 14. 22. shall be mercie and truth And as many as in this world endeuour Phil. Mel. to liue vprightly shall after death be receiued of God into euerlasting glory §. 19. A booke of remembrance saith Malachie Mala. 3. 16. is written before the Lord for all them that feare him and that thinke vpon his Name Many sorrowes shall come vnto the vngodly Psal 32 10 but hee that trusteth in the Lord shall be compassed with mercie He will honour them that honour him 1. Sam 2 30 but whosoeuer despiseth him shall of him be despised Hee hath alwayes a speciall respect vnto Pet. Lomb. the godlie and will neuer suffer any that serue him to want theyr reward For the righteous Lord loueth righteousnes Psalm 11 7 his countenaunce doth behold the iust VVhen they cry hee heareth them Psal 34 17 deliuereth them out of all theyr troubles So that theyr hope shall neuer come to Gregory confusion but prosper euen in the time of perrill and lay sure hold on heauen as the cheefest harbour of theyr perfect happinesse §. 20. Hee that walketh in iustice saith Esay Esay 33 15 and speaketh righteous thinges refusing gaine of oppression shaking his handes from taking of gifts stopping his eares from hearing of blood and shutting his eyes from seeing euill Hee shall dwell on hie his defence shall verse 16. be the munitions of Rocks breade shall be giuen him and his waters shall be sure Hee shall receiue a blessing froÌ„ the Lord Psalm 24 5 and righteousnesse from the God of his saluation For the Lorde preserueth all them that Psal 145. 20 loue him Hee delighteth in them that feare him Psal 147. 11 Hee careth for all those that haue confidence 1. Pet. 5. 7 in him And no good thing will hee with-hold Psal 84 11 from them that walke vprightly §. 21. Hee that walketh in his integritie is iust Prou 20.