i Philip. 2.7 no reputation became for vs a servant Accursed are the proud though their excellency mount vp to the heaven yet shall they perish for ever like their dung Iob 20.6 He is an example for you in patience for hee was oppressed and afflicted yet as a k Esai 53.7 Act 8.32 sheepe before his shearer was hee dumbe and opened not his mouth being reviled hee reviled not againe suffering he threatned not but committed it all to him that iudgeth righteously 1. Pet. 2.23 He is an example for you in Charitie for he prayed for his enimies Father forgiue them for they knowe not what they doe Luk. 23.34 Hee is an example for you in Constancie for he died like a lambe Revel 5.6 These such like are the things wherein Christ must be followed alwaies necessarily which although it may not be gainesaid doth notwithstanding permit the examples of good men to be imitated sometime and in some things For the better conceaving whereof let it not bee troublesome to vs to obserue foure sorts of examples of the elect and righteous set downe vnto vs in the holy Scriptures 1 Some we find were singular such as neither others in those daies might nor we in our daies may follow for that they alone had the speciall and extraordinary motion of the holy Spirit for their warrant Such was Abrahams readinesse to kill his own and only sonne Isaac Gen. 22.3 Such was the spoile of the Iews made of the Egyptians by detaining their iewels of gold and silver Exod. 12.35 Which deeds in them because they were commanded were commendable but in vs because they are forbidden should be most damnable 2 Others in those daies were generall which wee in our daies may not follow without displeasure of the Highest They circumcised their male children the eight day but wee may not doe so for if wee bee circumcised Christ shall profit vs nothing Gal. 5.2 They offered bloody sacrifices vnto the Lord wee are forbidden so to doe for being dead with Christ from the ordinances of the world wee ought not as though wee liued in the world be burdened with traditions Coloss 2.20 Among them one brother married the wife of another Farre from vs let such weddings be remoued It is not lawfull for Herod to haue his brothers wife Mat. 14.4 3 There were wicked examples which none of vs I hope will dare to follow You caÌ„not but heare of l Gen. 19.33 Loâ—â— incest m Num. 20.12 Moses incredulity n 2. Sam. 12.9 Davids adultery o Mat. 26.70 Peters deniall the p Mat. 18.1 ambition of the Apostles and such like which all are set before vs but doubtlesse for good ends First to shew vs how false it is which some teach that the elect and regenerate sinne not 2. To make vs wary how we walke for if such whom God hath favoured so highly and adorned so singularly with his celestiall gifts if such I say did fal and so filthily defile themselues with how great q Philip. 2.12 feare and trembling ought we to make an ende of our salvation 3. To strengthen vs that though we sinne we go not on forward in sinning nor despaire of Gods mercy no more then they did For the sonne of man came to seeke and saue that which was lost Luk. 19.10 and hee came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Mat. 9.13 and by him Paul did attaine mercy to the ensample of them which shall in time to come beleeue on him vnto eternall life 1. Tim. 1.16 Last of all to teach vs that as God is merciful so should we shew mercy vnto all that in Gods iudgement we may finde mercy 4 There were good examples which we may be bolde to follow as r Rom. 43.20 Abrahams faith Å¿ Gen. â—9 9 Iosephs chastity t Psal 69.9 Davids zeale the like which are set before vs as the Apostle witnesseth that we should not be sloathfull but followers of them which through faith and patience inherite the promises Heb. 6.12 And hitherto belongeth that which S. Chrysostome hath Homil. u In Graecâ Savilii editione est hom 61. 62. in Mat. 18. If saith he it seeme a hard matter vnto thee to imitate God betake thy selfe to the imitation of his servants Imitate Ioseph for he was a reliefe vnto his brethren in time of famine although they iniuriously sold him into bondage Gen. 42.25 Imitate Moses for he spared not to powre forth his praiers to the living God for the people although they had done him many wrongs Exod. 32.11 Imitate S. Paule for hee could haue wished that he might be separated from Christ for the Iews although they had many times oppressed him Rom. 9.3 Imitate S. Steven for he praid for the people even then when they stoned him LORD lay not this sin to their charge A 7.60 Imitate Ioseph Moses Paule Steven and the whole company of holy ones as Paule himselfe desireth to be imitated Be yee followers of me saith he even as I am of Christ 1. Cor. 11.1 Walke therefore in the way which the LORD hath made plaine for you and tread yee those pathes wherein by the good examples of Gods Saints yee are directed and so shall yee be able to follow the lambe whithersoever he goeth O blessed are you if you keepe the right way but withall you must make haste Which is my third circumstance observed in Christian imitation The wise man passed by the field of the sloathfull and lo it was al growne over with thornes nettles had covered the face therof and the stone wall thereof was broken downe Prov. 24.30 Our corrupt nature what is it but this field If we be sloathfull and slacke in husbanding it how can it bring forth any thing but thornes nettles The wise man passing by may easily through the broken wall descry all manner of filthinesse and abhomination If Saule lie sleeping with his servaÌ„ts it wil be no hard matter for David to come and take away the speare and the pot of water even from Saules owne head 1. Sam. 26.12 If we being now set in the right way in the Lords way shall be negligent given to sleeping too easie will it be for Leviathan that pearcing serpent that crooked serpent that serpent which fel down from heaven like lightning to come and steale away all good motions even from our inmost heart The enimy came and sowed tares among the wheat but it was while men slept Mat. 13.25 The foolish virgins were not provided to go with the bridegroome for they slept too Mat. 25.5 It is time then to watch that the enimy choake not vp out whome with his tares it is time to watch if we meane to accompanie the bridegroome We must runne for a slow pace will not serue the turne we must run if we looke to obtaine 1. Cor. 9.24 CHRIST telleth vs that the kingdome of heaven suffreth
seaven eies which goe through the whole world Zach. 4.10 You may interpret them with me many millions of eies he is i Hieronym in Psal 94.9 See my 10. Lecture vpoÌ„ Amos. 1. p. 115. totus oculus altogether eie for he seeth all things We might haue long since learned that God hath hands to measure the waters and to span the heavens Esay 40.12 You may interpret it with me that hee hath many Millions of hands he is totus manus altogether hand for he worketh all things We may well remember that God hath feet to set vpon his footstoole Mat. 5.35 You may interpret it with me that he hath many millions of feet he is totus pos altogether foot fot he is every where O then farre be it from vs to plucke out the eie of knoweledge as when we sinne to say with those Psal 10.11 Tush who seeth vs God hath forgotten he hideth away his face will never see Let vs rather confesse with the blessed Patriarch that all places are filled with Gods Maiestie as he said the Lord was in this place and I was not aware how fearefull is this place This is the house of God and the gate of HeaveÌ„ Gen. 28.16.17 So let vs for that place and this place and all other places vpoÌ„ the face of the earth are alike let vs I say let each of vs in particular wheresoever and whensoever we shall be entised with sinnes too pleasing bait rouse vp our selues and bee awaked as Iacob was and say with him The Lord was in this place and I was not aware how feareful is this place this is the house of God and the gate of Heaven The due consideration of this all-eyed all-handed all-footed presence of God as it must needs strike a terrour into the hardest hearts of the children of darknesse while they k In circuitu impii ambulaÌ„t Psa 11.9 vul walke by compasse in their crooked and circular endlesse waies so also must it needs affoord a sweet comfort to the afflicted soules of the children of light walking with a right foote toward the l Phil. 3.14 marke in hope to attaine to the price set before them For wheÌ„ they shal perswade themselues that God is at hand with them in all their crosses and tribulations they cannot chuse but endure with patience the worst that may befall them especially knowing that all all things worke together for their best because they loue God Rom. 8.28 So doth Gods presence perswade his children that it is he the Lord none but Hee since all worldly helpes are vaine that it is He the Lord that will lift them vp A second motiue to the same perswasion is the Lordes liberalitie whereof many things worthy our meditation might be delivered but let it suffise for our present occasion to vnderstand that all the good things we haue are from the Lord. Meate to nourish vs wee haue it from the Lord apparell to cloath vs wee haue it from the Lord the Sunne to comfort vs the Moone to pleasure vs wee haue them from the Lord life for our being riches honour whatsoever else for our wel being all commeth from the Lord. What hast thou saith St Paul that thou hast not receaued 1. Cor. 4.7 Art thou rich it is not of thy selfe the LORD giueth saith Iob. ch 1.21 Art thou in estimation in this world It is not of thy selfe The LORD setteth vp saith Hannah 1. Sam. 2.7 Hast thou cuÌ„ning or skil in any thing whatsoever It is not of thy selfe God teacheth handy-crafts-men to worke Himselfe saith so to Moses Exod. 31.3 It is impossible for me to recount those manifold blessings wherewith our gratious God from time to time hath blessed vs such is their infinitie Let every one goe downe into the closet of his owne breast and then say hee whether the Lord hath beene liberal to him O yee righteous m Psal 33.1 reioyce in the Lord for it becommeth well the iust to be thankfull yea it becommeth each of vs very well to take vp Davids song and to say with him O Lord let my mouth be filled with thy praise that I may sing of thy glory and honour all the day long Psalm 71.8 Vpon which place a blessed n Augustine Father hath this meditation What meaneth the Prophet by these words al the day long He meaneth saith he continually O let my mouth bee filled with thy praise CONTINVALLY because in prosperitie thou hast been to me a comfort in adversitie thou hast given mee chastisement when I was not thou madest me since I haue beene thou hast preserued me when I had offended thou forgavest mee at my conversion thou receavedst me and for my perseverance thou hast crowned me O let my mouth be filled with thy praise that I may sing of thy glory and honour all the day long that I may sing continually And the rather doe I commend to you the due consideration of the liberalitie of our God because I would put you in minde of your principall meanes to avoid desperation It is a principall meanes to avoid desperatioÌ„ to cal to mind the goodnesse of the LORD forepassed either to our selues or others If we thâ—nke with our selues that it was the LORD that tooke vs from our mothers wombe that HEE hath beene our hope ever since we hung at the breasts that HEE hath opened his hands from time to time to fill vs with his goodnesse if thus we think vnfeignedly can we thinke that HE will not blesse vs still Here should we compare and lay the times together as Davids vse was Thus he argued I haue heretofore slaine a Lion and a Beare at the fold therefore God will also enable me to prevaile against the hand of this Philistine 1. Sam. 17.37 So may we reason The mercies of the Lord haue beene bountifull towardes vs in former times to create vs of the slime of the ground to breath into vs a living soule to nurse vs vp in a civill countrey to redeeme vs with the blood of his only begotten sonne to visit vs with the light of his glorious Gospell to blesse our garners with store and our baskets with increase to be nowhere wanting to vs in any thing that may doe vs good such and in such sort haue the blessings of God beene vnto vs his arme is not now shortned hee is the same to day that hee was yesterday therefore shall his loving kindnesse be vpon vs for evermore Why should any afflicted child of God take vp Sions complaint Esai 49.14 and say The LORD hath forsaken me my Lord hath forgotten me Never would any so complaine if hee would thinke vpon the Lords name as it was proclaimed in mount Sinai Exod. 34.6 7. The LORD the LORD strong mercifull and gratious slow to anger and abundant in goodnesse in truth reserving mercy for thousands forgiving iniquitie transgression and sinne Never would any so complaine if hee would remember why Ioel would
hony in their mouthes but poyson in their stomacks Could Samuel tell Saul all that was in his heart 1. Sam. 9.19 could Elisha know that Gehazi had taken bribes 2. King 5.26 And shall not God bee able to knowe the deedes and thoughts of men yes if Miriam Aaron speake but against Moses the Lord will heare them Num. 12.2 old Sarah must not think to laugh and not be seene Gen. 18.13 Hel and destruction are before the Lord saith l Prov. 15.11 Solomon how much more the hearts of the sonnes of men He hath m Esai 40.12 measured the waters in his fift counted heaven with his spanne comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure and waighed the mountaines in a waight the hils in a ballance there is no thought hid from him Let them therfore harkē vnto the words of this God in the 3. Chap. of Mal. vers 5. I will come neere to you to iudgement and I will be a swift witnesse against the soothsayers and against the adulterers and against false swearers and against those that wrongfully keepe backe the hirelings wages and against them that vex the widow and the fatherlesse and oppresse the stranger and against all that feare not me saith the Lord of hosts If Elah king of Iudah drinke till he be drunken his servant Zimrie must kill him 1. King 16.9 If the men of Gibea play the adulterers with an harlot 25000. Beniamites must loose their liues for it Iudg. 20.46 If Achan be found to bee covetous he all that he hath must be burnt with fire Iosh 7.24 If the swearer persist in his swearing the lyer in his lying the idle minister in his idlenesse and every wicked one in his wickednesse behold he that n Rev. 19.15 treadeth the wine presse of the fiercenesse and wrath of Almightie God shall come quickly o Vers 13 cloathed with a garment dipt in blood his eyes shall be as a p Vers 12 flame of fire out of his q Ver. 15. mouth shall come a sharp sword his reward shal be with him to thrust every one of them into the ever burning pit This shall be the portion of their cup if they will not turne from their wicked waies But if they will returne from all their sinnes and keepe the statutes of the living God and doe that which is lawfull and right God will haue mercy on them If their transgressions were more in number then the sands of the earth yet God wil be ready to forgiue them Rehoboam could no sooner humble himselfe but he was forgiven howsoever before he had forsaken God 2. Chron. 12.7 Manasseh did evill in the sight of the Lord like the abominations of the heathen and was therfore taken by the Captaines of the king of Assyria put in fetters bound in chaines and caried vnto Babel yet he could no sooner pray vnto God but his prayer was heard and God brought him backe againe to Ierusalem placed him in the kingdome 2. Chron. 33.13 If the thiefe even thē when he is on the crosse will pray to Christ to remember him Christ will tell him that he shall be that night with him in Paradise Luk. 23.43 Since then such is the compassion of our God let vs not greeue him let vs not provoke him to r 2. Kin. 21.13 stretch over vs the line of Samaria and the plummet of the house of Ahab left so hee wipe vs as a man wipeth a dish who wipeth it and then turneth it vpside downe let him that is covetous be covetous no more let the swearer sweare no more let every one mend one and then our ſ Esai 1.18 crimson sinnes shall be white as snowe and our skarlet sins shall be as wooll for God hath spoken it Esa 1.18 Is there any soule among vs that hath oft times fallen and most infinitely offended his maker with such a soule God communeth in the 3. of Ierem. 1. in this sort They say that if a woman depart frō her husband and do ioine her selfe to another man she may not return to her first husband againe for that she is polluted and defiled yet whereas thou hast departed from me and hast committed fornication with many other lovers doe thou returne vnto me againe and I will receaue thee saith Almightie God Remember the Ninevites Gods sentence was gone out against them t Ion. 3.4 yet 40. daies and Nineveh shall bee overthrowne Come see tast how good our God is u Esal 54.10 the mountaines shall remoue and the hills fall downe but Gods mercyes shall not depart from his people neither shall the covenant of his peace fall away The Ninevites could no sooner in detestation of their former liues x Ion. 3 5. proclaime a fast put on sackcloath and turne frō their wicked waies but y Ver. 10. God repented him of the evill which he had said that he would doe vnto them he did it not Let vs looke to our selues Gods sentence is given against all Idolaters adulterers wantons and the like they shal not inherite the kingdome of God 1. Cor. 6.10 yet let not such despaire of Gods mercy so be hardned to persist in living wickedly the Ninevites can assure them that they may be forgiven If they haue fallen they may rise againe if they haue been lost companions yet they may be saved if they haue committed adultery or haue been drunken for the time past they may be continent and sober for the time to come if they haue delighted in lewd and evill company they may hereafter acquaint themselues with good This only is necessary that they beginne their conversion out of hand that they repent vnfeignedly throughly reforme themselues If they do this they shall liue Yea we must all do so or else we shall not liue We must repent vs of our sinnes from the bottomes of our harts and turne frō our wicked waies and now at last begin to deny our selues and to take vp our crosses dayly and to follow Christ and this is the doctrine which I noted in the third place Diosc li. 4. ca. 77. Describing the nature of the * Nerii sive Redodaphnes Enecant folia floresque ejus jumenta quadrupedesque omnes Eadē homini contra venenatorum morsus medicinā faciunt Vide Leon. Fuchsium Comment de hist stirpium cap. 204. rose-laurel saith that the flower thereof is a very strong poison to al cattle and foure footed beasts but to men of a soveraigne remedy against poison of such a nature is this doctrine of our Saviour It is as poison to the wicked and vnbeleeving the very z 2. Cor. 2.16 savour of death vnto death but to the godly and beleeving it is a preservatiue against poison even the a Ibid. savour of life vnto life The first precept contained therein is that we must deny our selues in which the whole nature of man is
should not be condemned with the world 1. Cor. 11.32 And therefore be the crosse never so bitter yet is it sweet to the hungry soule Prov. 27.7 Resolue wee then to take vp our crosses dayly which is my last note of the second precept The body is then of best liking when it is dayly exercised and the godly are then of best living when they are dayly afflicted Agur knew it well and therefore he prayed God not to giue him riches but only to feed him with food convenient lest hee should be full and deny God and say who is the Lord Prov. 30.9 When Israel waxed fat hee spurned with his heele and regarded not the strong God of his salvation Deut. 32.15 When Gedeon was poore and a thresher of wheat the Angel of the Lord visited him but after that the Lord had giuen the Midianitâ— into his hands he made an Ephod of golden earings and placed it in his citie OPHRAH so that all Israel went a whoring after it Iud. 8.27 Wee find not that Ieroboam was reputed evill as long as he was of low estate but when he was once preferred to be ruler of the 10 tribes he made two golden calues called them the Gods of Israel 1. King 12.28 We likewise since God hath giuen vs prosperitie since hee hath withholden from vs his afflicting hand are very ready b Ierem. 5.7 to forsake him to swear by them that are no Gods yea impiously to sweare by him that is the revenging God to commit adultery to assemble our selues by companies in harlots houses to rise vp in the morning like c Ierem. 5.8 fed horses to account religion a prety policie to keepe the meaner sort in awe to thinke him scarse worthy a Gentlemans company that will make a conscience of committing any vice be it never so brutish Shall I not visit for these things saith the Lord shall not my soule bee avenged on such a nation as this Ierem. 5.9 Many of these were the sinnes of Iudah and all of them are our sweet sinnes Would you knowe what was the portion of Iudahs cup for these her transgressions The 15. vers of the 5. Chap. of Ierem. will shew you what the LORD hath said I wil bring a nation vpon you from farre a mightie nation an ancient nation a nation whose language thou knowst not neither vnderstandest what they say whose d Vers 16. quiver is an open sepulcher they are all very strong e Vers 17. they shall eate thine harvest and thy bread thy sheepe and thy bullocks thy vines and thy fig-trees they shall devoure thy sonnes and thy daughters they shall destroy with the sword the fenced cities wherein thou hast trusted Shall our trespasses against God be more then Iudahs were and can wee looke that our punishments should bee lesse Let vs not flatter our selues there is scarse any one of vs that hath not heard newes of a nation that is * This SermoÌ„ was preached March 28. 1596. coÌ„ming against vs from far a mightie nation an ancient nation a natioÌ„ whose language we know not neither vnderstand wee what they say If they come wee haue learned so much that God in his good providence bringeth them vpon vs who knoweth whether God wil strengthen them that they shall be able with fire and sword to beate downe all our forces to devoure our sonnes and daughters to eate vp our harvest and our bread our sheepe our bullocks our vines and our fig-trees It may bee that the strength of our country maketh some little to regard the invasion of any forraine enemie O put your trust in God for vaine is the helpe of man The king is not saued by the multitude of an host neither is the mighty man delivered by his great strength Psal 33.16 Iabin with his confederats even thirtie and one Kings with all their forces must fall by the edge of the sword if the LORD doe but send Ioshua with a few against them Iosh 12.24 The whole host of the Midianites shall be discomfited if the LORD doe but once bid Gedeon goe with his three hundred men Iud. 7.7 The Moabites and Ammonites be they never so many shall yeeld to Iehoshaphat and his small number without resisting 2. Chron. 20.17 And what are we that wee may bee sure that the LORD will not deliver vs into the hands of our enimies how can we presume to thinke so since as a cage is ful of birds so are our houses full of deceits Ier. 5.27 Many among vs are become great and rich f Ier. 5.28 they are waxen far and shining they doe overpasse the deeds of the wicked they execute no iudgement no not the iudgement of the fatherlesse g Vers 29. Shall not the LORD visit for these things shall not his soule be avenged of such a nation as this He turneth the floods into a wildernesse and the springs of waters into drinesse a fruitfull land into barrennesse for the wickednesse of them that dwell therein Psal 107.33 It may be h Iosh 7.20 Achan offendeth yet three thousand Israelits shall be put to flight for it Ios 7.4 David i 2. Sam. 24.1 committeth the sinne yet seventie thousand of his people must die for it 2. Sam. 24.15 Baasha may bee the man that k 1. King 16.2 transgresseth yet his whole houshold his kinsfolke and friends shall smart for it 1. King 16.11 Rent your harts therefore and turne vnto the LORD your God with fasting with weeping and with mourning for hee is gracious and mercifull slow to anger of great kindnesse repenteth him of the evill that he hath said he will do Ioel. 2.13 Who knoweth if he will returne and repent and leaue a blessing for vs and make his cup to passe from vs His mercies are called everlasting because they endure for ever but his anger is compared to the clowds because it lasteth but a season whom hee loveth he loveth to the end but whom he scourgeth he scourgeth till they repent Ezechias was sicke but vntil he wept 2. King 20 3. Nebuchadnezzar was banished but vntil he repented Dan. 4.34 And no doubt if we wil repent vs vnfeignedly of our sins we shall finde that to be the best remedy against our present famine and the warres we looke for Now as peace plenty and prosperity maketh men yea manie of vs to thinke that there is no God at least to forget him so on the other side daily afflictions will make vs feele that there is a God and daily to remember him The blewnesse of the wound serveth to purge the evil and the stripes within the bowels of the belly Prov. 20.30 Sharp punishments that pierce even the inward parts are profitable for vs to bring vs to amendment When we are tried we shall receiue the crowne of life wee shal then bee blâ—ssed when we endure tentations Iam. 1.12 Let vs therefore take vp our crosses daily that is
haue vs turne vnto the Lord Ioel 2.13 His reason is the Lord is gratious mercifull slow to anger and of great kindnesse repenteth him of evill Never would any so complaine would he but beleeue the Lords answere to Sions complaint Esai 49.15 Can a woman forget her child and not haue compassion on the sonne of her wombe Bee that possible yet will I not forget thee saith the Lord. O all yee that thirst come to the waters of comfort bibite inebriamini let me vse the words to you although in another sense Ier. 25.27 bibite inebriamini drinke and drinke till your soules bee more then satisfied Call to remembrance how hee hath accepted the thiefe vpon the crosse confessing Matthew sitting at the receipt of custome the womā washing his feet with her teares the Canaanitish womā begging for her daughter the woman taken in adulterie the Publican standing a farre off the Disciple that denied him that other Disciple which persecuted him and his followers the wicked that crucified him call to remembrance these his mercies yea call to remembrance all other the tender mercies of the Lord which haue beene ever of olde and say whether such his liberalitie hath not perswaded you that He the Lord none but He since all worldly helps are vaine that He the Lord will lift you vp A third motiue to the same perswasion of no lesse weight then the two former then that of Gods presence the other of his liberalitie is his abilitie of which the schoolemen in generall teach thus That God is absolutely Almightie In this generall they all agree but when they come to scanne how God may be said to be thus Almightie they vary much Some say that God is therefore said to be Almightie because he is able to doe whatsoever he will doe These doe so tie Gods power to his will as if he were able to do nothing but what his wil is to doe But St. Austine was of another mind in Enchirid. c. 95. where he saith Deum multa posse quae tamen nolit nihil autem velle quod non possit God is able to doe many things which hee willeth not but willeth not any thing which he is not able to doe plainely shewing that Gods will power are not equall that his power is extended to more things then his will that those things which God is able to doe are more then those things which he willeth The Scriptures also doe confirme this difference of Gods will and power Thinkest thou saith Christ that I cannot pray now to my Father and he will giue me more thē twelue legions of Angels Mat. 26.53 Christ was able to aske his Father and his Father was able to giue him that host of Angels but neither would he aske nor his father giue God is able of these stones to raise vp children vnto Abraham saith our Saviour Mat. 3.9 He is able but will not God hath mercy on whom he will haue mercy and whom hee will hee hardneth saith the Apostle Roman 9.18 Is it not herehence plaine that God is able to haue mercy on all and is able to harden all but will not So true is it against the first opinion That God is not therefore said to be Almightie because he is able to doe whatsoever he will doe Others are of opinion that God is therefore saide too bee Almighty because he is absolutly simply able to do al things whatsoever may be spokē or thought of If you shal aske thē whether God can sin their answer is he can but wil not if whether he cā suffer they say he can but will not if whether he cā lie they say he can but wil not But this opinion is as more wicked so more foolish then the former For to say that God is able to doe such things as are repugnant to his nature is as to say the fire is able to cause cold the Sun to make darknesse a bad tree to bring forth good fruit But S. Paule hath not feared to say that God cannot do some things 2. Timoth. 2.13 He saith If we beleeue not yet abideth he faithfull yet abideth God faithfull he cannot deny himselfe he saith not he will not deny himselfe but plainely he saith he cannot deny himselfe And why can he not deny himselfe The reason is set downe before because he is faithfull He is faithful non tam voluntate quam naturà the is naturally faithfull and therfore can he not deny himselfe I adde he is naturally living and therefore cannot die hee is naturally righteous and therefore cannot sinne he is naturally immutable and therefore cannot be changed hee is naturally God and therefore cannot be like man Quam mult a non potest omnipotens est Here is matter to wonder at God cannot do many things yet he is Almighty yea because he cannot do those many things therfore is he Almighty For could he die he were not Almighty could he ly he were not Almighty could he be deceived could he deceiue could he do wickedly he were not Almighty Quā multa non potest Deus omnipotens est How many things is God not able to do and yet is Almighty saith S. Austine de Symbolo ad Catechumenos lib. 1. cap. 1. So true is it against this second opinion that God is not therefore said to bee Almighty because he is absolutely and simply able to doe all things whatsoever may be spoken or thought of But why thē is God said to be Almighty Out of that which is already delivered this proposition may be gathered God is therefore said to bee Almighty because he is able to do all such things as naturally in themselues and simply are not impossible with God The truth whereof as it might evidently appeare by particulars whereon I cannot now stand so also may it sufficiently be manifest if in generall only we will consider this Alablenesse of God I deny not but earthly man hard to beleeue the workes of God in mans eies vnprobable hath ever beene ready to demand How How can this or these things bee An Angell from heaven may tell Sarah of a sonne after it hath ceased to be with her after the manner of women but shee will laugh within her selfe but shee wil say what after I am waxen old and my Lord also Gen. 18.12 But what saith the Angell to her Shall any thing be hard to the LORD vers 14. God may promise a whole moneths meate to the children of Israel lusting after flesh but Moses will hardly beleeue it but Moses will say Six hundred thousand footmen are there among the people among whom I am and thou saiest I will giue them flesh to eate a moneth long Shall the sheepe the beenes be slaine for them to finde them Either shall all the fish of the Sea be gathered together for them to suffice them Num. 11.21 But what saith God to Moses Is the Lords hand shortned