all knowledge all power all mercy euen that is my name Par. What is the Word or second person in Trinitie Past Hée is the onely naturall Sonne of the most high and eternall God his Father his Word his Image and Character coessentiall and coequall with the Father and the holy Ghost Hée is said to be the Sonne of God in regard of his Godhead and not in regard of his manhood Par. Now let me intreate you to speake of his humanitie Past This diuine nature tooke vpon himselfe a reasonable soule and an humane body of a virgin and was made flesh as of the séed of Dauid and of the roote of Iesse The Godhead in no case can be said to haue any conuersion into the flesh neyther the Godhead to stand in stead of the soule no more then that he could be turned into sinne After his glorious resurrection these two natures to wit his Diuinitie and his Humanitie continued still distinct in substance and properties and euer continued one and the same And yet it is to be granted that there was great necessitie of the Godhead in his humane action or suffering that by the vertue thereof hée might ouercome all sufferings yea Death and the Diuel In the holy vnion or coniunction of these two natures we are to take them inseparably euen â—ince the moment or point of time in which the holy Virgin conceiued being made as one person Par. What vse haue wee of these two natures in one person Past It declareth the obedience of Christ performed in the manhood with innarrable wisedome and surpassing faithfulnesse In his wisedome he was able to deliuer vnto vs the whole will of his Father and in his faithfulnesse he concealed nothing As the Phoenix in her hot nest at Arabia is burned to ashes and yet saith I liue still and old age dyeth in me euen so Christ though being in his graue like one dead yet dyeth not but mortalitie dyeth in him for the good of all men Par. What be the parts of Christs mediation Past It consisteth principally of two parts to wit his Priesthood and his Kingdome His Priesthood stands in teaching and in doing he is a Prophet Doctor and Apostle for that he plainely teacheth the will of his father and saith I call you no more seruants because they know not what their maister doth but I call you friends Christ taught by Prophets by Apostles and by Euangelists and himselfe taught by farre greater authoritie then euer did any before or after The priesthood of Christ and the priesthood of Aron being compared wée shall therein finde two necessary parts to be considered One is what manner one he ought to be that entreth into this Office The other how it ought to be executed The manner or qualitie of him that entreth is two-fold to wit well qualified with gifts within and well called without He is to vs sanctification that is fréedome from the tyrannie of sinne the effects of righteousnesse and sanctification goe alwaies together For immediately so soone as man is partaker of Christs righteousnesse he is also possessed with the spirit of sanctification which worketh mortification and viuification P. what is the third persoÌ„ in Trinity Past He is said to be the holy Ghost to wit a diuine innarrable maiestie procéeding from the father and the son who in respect of his diuers operations workings and effects is called by diuers effectuall names which being considered in their natures they doe clearly enlarge his gifts and graces towards the Church It is sometimes called Fire Oyle Wine Water Doue Cloude Winde Spirit Earnest peÌ„ny Comforter God Par. What religion had these the other holy fathers before recited betwixt the Creation the Flood Past The law of nature Gen. 11. They had the Law of Nature which was a rule of reason or an hidden iustice inforcing to doe well It was indéede the sum and effect of Gods diuine law which was most liuely expressed in the names of those ten holy Fathers who being linked together makes vp a Christian Sacrifice or an holy summe of true religion As he is not rightly reckoned a man that wants reason so hée was not then rightly reckoned to be of God that wanted this religious rule Saint Paul said as the eternall power and godhead by the creation of the world maketh all wicked men without excuse though they had no law euen so men knowing the end of their creation by the law of nature are without excuse if they doe euil though they were blinde and saw not the creation The Gentiles said hée that had not the Law written did by nature the things contained in the Law they hauing not the law written were a law vnto themselues euen so the people of the old world and others that sinned before the Law perished euerlastingly as those which afterwards perished vnder the law Rom. 7.23 Saint Paul cals the Law of nature the Law of the minde shewing thereby that as the minde is such an effectuall power of the Soule as maketh all other faculties thereof and of the bodie to plyable and without tediousnesse to performe matters beyond ordinary strength euen so by the law being spirituall he was vrged to the performance of all other matters and lawes which were literall beyond all ordinary strength And as a line Diameter-wise in a Geometricall figure doth equally diuide one side from another euen so this Law naturall diuideth equally that which is Gods to God and that which is mans to man Nightingales are said to contend in singing that they die in their contention happy say I is he that so contends with the law of his minde against the law of his members for so to die is indéede to liue The East gate of Sala Temple was alwaies shut and neuer opened because the Lord God of hosts once entred by it and as into the windowes of Noahs Arke nothing entred but light euen so the minde of man wherein the law of God hath once entred must alwaies be shut against prophane inclinations and euer opened to diuine contemplations Par. Who were enemies in those times and who I pray you were they that priuately or publikely opposed themselues against this Law and the professors thereof Past These were open and knowne enemies to wit the Diuell Caine. Lamech From whom issued that wicked sort of people who so highly displeased God that he repented him of the good he had done to mankinde Par. What is there to be said concerning the Diuell Past The Angels séeing the excellencie of their creation day by day and perceiuing that they and all creatures else were made but as seruants to Adam they presently vpon his creation murmured and not being content God threw them into euerlasting darknesse The head of these euill spirits was Lucifer As he was more cleare and brighter then other Angels so hée fell into a more filthy Apostacie Hée was not euill by kinde but of his own aduisement
a witnesse because the conscience is a thousand more then needes euen so repentance towards God that is deferred needes no witnesse because when it commeth the conscience doth accuse it doth witnesse it doth condemne it doth iudge and it is many times ready to execute As Honey doth make sowre things sweet euen so I must tell you that the sight of my sins doth make things that are in their nature sweet to others sowre to me As he that is in extreame heate will be glad with a little cooling as hee that is in extreame sicknesse will be glad with a little ease and as hee that is in extreame hunger will be glad of a little food euen so I good reuerend Sir extreamely tormented wth the waight of sinne miserably vexed with the guiltinesse of conscience and heartily frighted with the feare of Gods deserued iudgements wold be glad with a little comfort with a little ease with a little pittance or crumme of recreation For mee thinkes I see Birds swimme and Fishes flye all things are so crosse and so contrary vnto me Me thinkes I see the lake Troglodides thrise sweet and thrise bitter in one day and me thinkes I see the shoare Lepanthus in the morning sending forth a sweet pleasant calme but in the euening lightning and thundering Some perswade me that by faith onely I shall haue comfort in conscience and saluation which glads mee and is sweet vnto mee for a while others disswade me and say vnto me that I must obtaine it by Faith and Workes which presently dampe mee and are as hot thunderbolts vnto me I am as in a mismaze or labyrinth Ariadnes thread would winde mee out but conscience still puls me in As Diues being in hell did wish and desire that his brethren might be warned lest they also should come to that place of torments so I being thus perplexed doe heartily wish and desire Almighty God that not onely my naturall brethren but all people may be warned by Gods word that they may make conscience of his Sabaoths and that they may specially regard zealous men lest they be tormented in conscience as I am Tell me therefore tell me I humbly pray you tell me what shall I say what shall I doe or what way or course shall I take in hand to be reconciled to God to haue peace in my owne conscience and to haue assurance that my soule shall be receiued into the fellowship of the Saints in heauen amongst whom there are some that I most heartily desire to see A comfortable Confection for a sorrowfull Sinner Pastor YOu discourse so philosophically of naturall things as makes you séeme yet to me a naturall man in which discourse I obserue two speciall questions or rather obiections well worthy the answering One is your perturbations for sinnes committed the other is your doubt whether Faith Works or Faith onely iustifieth To the first I answere that your great griefes perturbations in soule and conscience are not arguments or notes of reprobation but rather of Faith of Iustification which is begunne in you For by how much you haue the sense and féeling of your sins by so much the more you haue the assurance of mercy as hée who hath the sense and féeling of his naturall disease hath some assurance that he is not in danger of death And by how much dangerous the disease of the body is found to be so much the more vehement and bitter a corosiue must be vsed but first a Corasiue then a Lenitiue Euen so Christ Iesus the holy Physitian heales the soules of great sinners by suffering them to call to cry to vexe to grieue and euen to roare with the surpassing greatnesse therof and afterwards when the extremitie and bitternesse of the passion is past then hée heares then hée grants and then hee receiues to mercy vsing therein the practise of a good naturall Physitian who ministreth not medicine to a maladye when it is raging and at the worst but when it is somewhat mitigated asswaged and abated And it is iustice with God to doe sometimes as hée is done vnto he cals cryes earely and late and man will not heare he offers mercy earely and late yet man will not estéeme of it No maruell then if man call and cry and God will not heare him if man call and cry for mercy and God will not by and by heare him Hope confidently in Gods mercy constantly and resolutely abide therefore and wait the Lords leasure be strong and he shall comfort thy heart You haue the example of Dauid of Ezekias of Peter and many others who called who cryed who wept and roared bitterly who hoped in God and were resolute at last the Lord heard them As for your other scruple or doubt concerning faith with workes or faith without works the places befitting this purpose are farre more then néede or conueniency will suffer me to vtter That faith onely iustifieth Paul hauing no good worke but rather being full of guile and crueltie as his owne story sets forth was iustified by faith only which makes him in great humility and thankfulnesse to preach the same in all that his Epistle to the Romanes and in many places of his other Epistles to the other Nations S. Iames in his Epistle catholicall writes no lesse when as he saith Iames 2.15 Shew me thy faith by thy workes and I will shew thee my faith by my workes meaning workes that follow a true iustifiing Faith and not workes annexed as iustifying with Faith S. Peter setting forth the excellencie of Faith saith 1 Pet. 1. that the triall therof is much more excellent then gold meaning a tryall in tribulations after iustification and not before S. Iohn approuing Iustification also by faith 1 Iohn 1. magnifieth the mercies of God in Christ and concludes all men vnder sinne The allowance of faith onely is manifestly proued by Christs owne examples who healed all manner of diseases vpon sinners by Faith onely and also forgiuing sinnes which was in effect the office also of Iohn Baptist Mat. 3. And againe the vse of ceremonies in the Law forced no farther for Iustification then to faith in the Messiah I must say in another sort if righteousnesse come by the Law that is to say if righteousnesse come by workes then Christ dyed in vaine and our Faith is of none effect And I must say as S. Paul said 1 Cor. 15. If there be no resurrection then are we of all men most miserable euen so if faith and workes doe iustifie then am I with you and with infinite thousands more of all men most miserable Gen. 11. As Nimrod with his builders were far wide when they thought with the strength of their hands to worke their way to heauen and the Pharisee when he boasted of his vprightnesse euen so are they that think to obtaine saluation by their workes farre wide and cleane out of the right way Like the
holy pure and immaculate substance incorporated in an humane body where it became sinfull This great and innarrable creature so wonderfully wonderfull was made and framed of nothing as other creatures were As when a man makes a blast or breath out of his mouth it procéedeth not of his nature but of the ayre which he draweth in the strength of nature enforceth out not the same but some other euen so the Almightie breathed into Adam the breath of life to wit it came out of his mouth not out of his nature nor out of this ayre about vs but euen of nothing The naturall man cannot extinguish or decay the soule because it hath production not from him but from GOD onely As the body is the instrument of the soule so the soule is the instrument of God Par What be the affections of the soule Past They are motions first and then acts eyther good or euill There is also a custome grounded or fixed in the soule to good or euill which hardly can be remoued Par What difference make you of Soules or how many sorts of soules be there Past Trées hearbs plants and such like haue a soule but it is onely effectuall for growing Beasts are said to haue soules sensitiue féeling and perceiuing things present Man is said to haue a soule reasonable and hauing both the former Par. Doth God daily create soules as men come into the world Past It were very offensiue to affirme the same for then wée should inferre that God in the beginning when he created all things left something vnperfect or vndone Though sinne possessed the soule originally the sixt day in which Adam was created yet God created afterwards no new but preserued the selfe same soule by his diuine wisedome whereby it may be said he worketh alwayes and yet not after the same manner as at the first Par. I remember that you said the soule was created pure holy and immaculate how came it to passe that it was so sodainly ouerthrown by contagion corruption and such like Past The breach of Gods commandement was the cause of that corruption Such is the nature of sinne that it seazeth vpon the soule possessing it with all filthinesse and so consequently dispossessing her of all former integritie As in a sanctified and pure soule the beames of Gods truth and clearnesse doth shine euen so in a soule once touched or tainted with disobedience all deformities and workes of Satan will appeare As the body feareth death and other hurtfull things euen so the soule that continueth in Gods fauour not onely shunneth grosse sinnes but also small sinnes because they also proue very pernicious Par. Proue the immortalitie of the Soule Past The immortalitie of the Soule is substantially proued by the resurrection of Christ God said to Moses I am the God of Abraham of Isaac and Iacob Whereupon Christ concludeth that Abraham and the faithfull shall liue for euer If our soules were not immortall no reward to the godly nor punishment to the wicked were to be expected Then as S. Paul said we of all men were most miserable In this life the soule doth nourish the body with much care but being fréed from the body it nourisheth it selfe with diuine contemplation Par. Why did the Serpent tempt Euah and not her husband Past As the Serpent being a most subtile creature was a fit instrument for the Diuell to traduce sinne and disobedience into the woman euen so the woman being a goodly garish and an intising creature was a fit Instrument to traduce sinne into Adam and so consequently into euery man Par. How did the Serpent tempt her Past He tempted her with the promise of greater felicitie and glory which he effected by alledging profit and omitting the penaltie Sometimes the Diuell peruerteth Scripture giuing it a false glosse or a wrong interpretation as he did of that Psalme when he tempted Christ himselfe Par. Why did God so seuerely punish so small a sinne and all mankinde for one mans sinne Past There were two reasons one was to declare how loathsome a small sinne is to his Maiestie withall to declare that a small sin doth deface and disgrace the holy Image of God in man Par. Why did God create all other creatures first and man last Past Thereby to declare his singular mercy and prouidence in preparing and in making all things ready méete and fit for man against he came giuing no place for him nor for his posteritie to depend vpon themselues neyther yet to be doubtfull of any thing that might satisfie the body content the eye and delight the heart for all things were ready Par. Whence haue we the names and the right vse of these creatures Past Euen from Adam for we read that God brought euery creature or rather euery creature came of his owne accord being commanded of God and presented himselfe before Adam Par. How were all things made and created Past They were made euen of this word Let as though hée would declare thereby his excéeding power to whose will or Let there was no let or stay but all things had a present prosperous progresse Par. Whereas in the creation of Adam God spake of himselfe plurally Gen. 1.26 to wit Let vs make man after our owne likenesse declare vnto mee somewhat briefly and materially what God is by whom as you say all things were so wisely ordered so effectually performed and miraculously maintained and preserued Past The Epicures Atheists and such like are compared to the Hircanian fishes from whom comes neither good nor euill because they are not danted with the feare of God nor delighted with his loue But you I finde by this to be far otherwise minded and therefore reuerently and in the feare of his holy Maiestie I will answere you God before the creation was perfect and after the creation was the same God is vnknowne according to his essence and infinite according to his Maiestie He illuminateth spirituall things he illustrateth intellectuall natures and he is the highest amongst intelligible things No man is able to attaine vnto the essence of a Star much lesse of God As a man standing vpon the shoare of the Sea séeth not the bredth and depth of it euen so the Angels in heauen and the Elect on earth may sée God really yet not comprehend the depth of his greatnesse nor the height of his euerlasting essence In regard whereof he answered Moses when he desired to know what he was with few words of innumerable difficultie and incomprehensiblenesse Exod. 3.14 saying I am that I am As though hée had said Though I did declare my selfe vnto thée what I am yet canst thou not comprehend mée neyther yet he to whom I send thée When he was to comfort Abraham and to set him forward as an example vnto all his posteritie for faith and an vpright life Gen. 17.1 he said vnto him I am God all-sufficient As if he had said Feare not in me is
ten Fathers before the Flood by the ten Fathers after the Flood and by the twelue Patriarches succéeding them Par. What particular obseruation shall I make for the better vnderstanding of this Ceremoniall Law Past There are diuers necessary obseruations but specially these sixe which by way of interrogation you must finde out 1 The Tabernacle 2 Feast dayes 3 Sacrifices 4 Sacraments 5 Sacrificers 6 Sabaoth Par. Tell me first of all what the Tabernacle was Past The Tabernacle was a place principally dedicated for religion whiles they were in the wildernesse trauelling towards Canaan It was made by the Lords commandement of brasse of siluer and of gold as an whole entire worke or one thing to containe diuers things but parted with vaâ—es into thrée roomes Par. What was the first roome of the Tabernacle Past The first roome was Southward containing an Altar of earth whereon burnt offerings were made by the people themselues and also by the priests on the Sabaoth day and on feast dayes Par. What was the second roome of the Tabernacle Past It stood Northward it was called holy and it was made and framed with Sethim wood and couered with gold that it might not rot and that the priests might burne incense thereon both morning and euening There was the table of gold whereon was set the shew bread which was not lawfull for any man to eate but for the priests when it was stale and they were to supply it with new against euery Sabaoth In this roome were set diuers instruments which were for the seruice and dedication of the Temple Par. What was the third roome or part of the Tabernacle Past The third part of the Tabernacle was Westward called the holiest of all made of Sethim wood but couered within and without with fine gold In this roome was the Arke of the couenant which represented God himselfe Therein were the two Tables of the law the golden pot Aarons rod and the Mercy seat couered with Cherubins and shadowing the Arke This most excellent workmanship of the Almighty with the Arke and all the appurtenances continued amongst the people of Israell vntill the death of Eli the high priest at which time the Arke was taken by the Philistines in a great battell and it continued as a pilgrime tossed too and fro in priuate mens houses vntill the death of Saul the king then king Dauid being moued with the zeale of God and being grieued that the Arke of his Maiesty was so exiled and banished ioyned with the Leuites the priests and Nobles of the land to fetch it to Ierulalem Par. Now I would heare what is conuenient concerning feast dayes which you spake of Past There were diuers feasts vsed in the ministrations of the law especially these fiue The feast of Easter Pentecost Trumpets Tabernacles New Moone Par. Tell me briefely concerning the feast of Easter Past Easter was one of the great solemne feast dayes in the which all the people of Israell were commanded to come vnto Ierusalem wheresoeuer they inhabited ouer the world that then and there they might eate the Passeouer in the commemoration of their deliuerance out of Egypt and also in expectation of the holy Messiah which was for to come who in Ierusalem according to that time should be the true Passeouer or Pascall lambe offered vpon the crosse Par. What was the feast of pentecost Past The feast of Pentecost or Whitsontide was another such like feast or holy assembly full 〈◊〉 dayes after Easter thereby to continue the remembrance of that time in which God gaue them the two Tables of stone written with his owne hand and also to haue relation by a spirituall expectation to the abundant graces of God in Christ which shortly after his Ascention was to be sent downe vpon his Apostles in signe of clouen tongues Par. Set me downe I pray you the feast of Tabernacles Past It was a feast of seauen dayes continuance which was solemnized for to put the people in remembrance of their estate when they were in bondage vnder Pharao and when afterwards they were in the wildernesse without house or habitation full fortie yeares that thereby they might be taught to endure with the greater patience in the consideration of their better and more continuing habitaon which in time to come they should haue in Canaan and afterwards in the holy kingdome of heauen Par. There remaineth yet one more of the feasts which you named to wit the feast of new Moones Past The feast of new Moons was the beginning of euery month in which the people were bound to offer burnt offerings vnto the Lord. Par. You spake vnto me of Sacrifices I pray you tell me somewhat thereof and how many kindes or sorts there be Past Sacrifices were of sundry sorts or kindes especially foure The first kinde was a burnt Sacrifice or oblation which was offered by the common people vpon the Altar as they would and as they were able The second kinde of Sacrifice was that which the priests onely offered for the sinnes of the people according as euery man was able after this manner for the gouernors they offered a Goat The third for the poore they offered a payre of Turtle doues or two yong Pigeons The fourth for other of lesse ability the tenth part of an Epha Par. What was the third kinde of Sacrifice Past The third kinde for sanctification or consecration of the priests was of thrée sorts 1 a Calfe 2 Ramme 3 red Cow Par. What was the fourth kinde of Sacrifice Past The fourth kinde was a Sacrifice or oblation of reconciliation or of attonement which the high priest offered for himselfe when he appeared before God in the holy place vnder these speciall kindes to wit A yong Cow A Bullocke Two hée Goates Aaron was to cast lots which of these two hée Goats were to be offered and which should escape Par. You spake of Sacraments tell mee I pray you how many Sacraments there be the difference betwixt the old and the new and how I may know the difference betwixt a Sacrament and a Sacrifice Past Sacraments in the time of the Law as in the time of the Gospell were in number two Circumcision and Paschal Lambe before Christ Baptisme the Lords Supper after Christ Par. Now declare the difference betwixt the old Sacrament and the New Past The old did promise Christ for to come the new doth performe him already come Againe the old were but figures shadowes and relations of things to come The new are the very same indeede the most perfect and most substantiall matter Par. What difference is there betwixt a Sacrament and a Sacrifice Past In Sacrifices men offer and giue vnto GOD in Sacraments GOD offers and giues vnto men Par. Declare vnto me the sixt particular to wit of Sacrificers who they were and what else is fit to be learned therein Past Sacrificers were the priests as was Aaron and his sonnes They were men seperated and segregated from ill and