people for they dote about questions now whether the 25 th day of December ought to be kept for Christmass day as an holy day in remembrance that Christ was born on that day for how know you say many that Christ was born on that day more then another the Papists keep it ten dayes before us and other Churches not on our day and they say it was the shortest day of the yeere and therefore seeing it is so uncertain let it be abolished wee will keep none Answer I answer How did the Jewes know which was the right Sabbath but by the Manna the day before And how did they know by the rods which was chosen to be Priest but because one budded and blossomed and brought forth ripe Almonds So I know that England doe keep the right day that Christ was borne on above all the Nations in Christendome because we have a miracle hath often been seene in England upon that day for we have a tree in England called the Holy thorne by Glassenbury Abby nigh the Bathe which on the 25. day of December which is our Christmasse day hath constantly blossomed which the people of that place have received from antiquitie that it was that kinde of thorne wherewith Christ was crowned Which I have received from credible men that have seene the thorne that have inquired and tooke the testimony of the substantialst-men in that Countrey which did affirme that if you come to that tree over-night there appeares nothing but a bare thorne but come on Christmasse day and it is blossomed Many people have come and seene it so that they would cut off a piece with their knives that it is much whitled and some nigh that place have graffed some of that thorne upon others which doe also blossome on that day You may reade of this Miracle in many Authors and especially in Cambdens Britannia a Chronicler to be credited for that matter because there are so many eye-witnesses of knowne credit that have seene and testified of the same Wherefore so long as that Thorne shall blossome in England on Christs Nativitie day or can be proved that it hath blossomed on that day England shall keepe that day of praising God for the birth of Christ Because the Angels sung an hymne on that day Glory be to God on high peace on earth and good will towards men never more need for us to pray and sing so for peace is taken from the earth and there is ill will towards men I am perswaded that the Jewes shall receive their Christs Nativitie day from England and from our blossoming Thorne rather then from any other Church in Christendome I wish if there be any Jewes in England that are incredulous in this point that they might be sent to that place to prove the truth of it for what doe we know but that some of the Jewes may be convinced by it to be sorry that they crowned Christ with Thornes and desired his bloud to be upon them and their children by whose bloud we must overcome the Devill Brethren we say that Omni nulli credere utrumque nefas for to beleeve all the false miracles of Papists as of the coming of soules out of Purgatory which is but the delusion of the Devill were evill and for me not to beleeve this of the Thorne were also naught Because for these Reasons I am bound to beleeve it 1. Because my Father which dedicated me to the Ministry before I was borne to be for the Lord And the world should see I was dedicated to the Lord if they would let my Books come out He having seene the tree told me the discourse of it and the blossoming on that day I pondered it in my heart with Mary After that my brother went to the Bathe and saw the tree and tooke the Testimony of honest and substantiall men in the Countrey which told him of the constant coming of people to see it and how that some have graffed of it upon other thornes which also doe blossome on Christmas day and how it was whitled caused me further to ponder it and then hearing it confirmed by many that came from the Bathe and by the testimony of credible Chroniclers Cambden and others that writ so of it being a thing that hath been seene of five hundred Brethren Now for me not to beleeve my Father and brother and so many honest Witnesses and Historiographers that write so of it were to account them all lyers which in me were a sinne Well you see my reasons why I am bound to beleeve it I will also shew some reasons why such a perpetuall miracle shal remaine in the world All will grant thus much that Christ was crowned with thornes for the Scripture is cleare Mat. 27. 29. and that thornes and thistles were the curse of the earth for Adams sinne is plaine Gen. 3. 18. Now it is certaine that Christ being crowned with thornes tooke the curse upon him for as God the Father hath throwne upon him the iniquities of us all Isa. 53. 6. and so he threw on him the curses of us all and set the curse of the earth upon his head in that he was crowned with thornes by the Souldiers it was the determinate counsell of God that Christ should be made a curse for us for cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree and that he should beare the curse of the earth also which was imposed as the fruit of mans sinne and therefore he did not onely beare our sinnes in his owne body upon the tree 1 Pet. 2. 24. but also the curse of the earth which was thornes which came for mans sinne Now when sinne was throwne upon everlasting Righteousnesse sinne must needs be overcome saith Luther for Righteousnesse was infinite and could not be overcome and therefore must needs conquer sinne So the curse of thornes being set upon Christs head which was everlasting holinesse Christ hath turned away the curse of that Thorne and in token that it was set upon the head of {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} God-man that he hath taken away the curse of the earth to beleevers Gal. 3. 13. That Thorne by a perpetuall miracle shall blossome on Christmas day morning to the end of the world for the convincing of unbeleeving Jewes and Gentiles That Christ did come on that day and for the confirmation of the faith of beleevers not onely by the world of God Gal. 3. 13. but by that miracle also that Christ was made a curse for us and hath taken away the curse of thornes of the earth to all beleevers and being everlasting blessednesse hath made the cursed thorne to become a blessed thorne and therefore called an Holy thorne to this day and that as the Angels sung on that day so should wee sing with them that sung on that day Glory be to God on high peace on earth and good will towards men And I wish that all faithfull Preachers of England might preach on that text on every Christs nativitie day because the Angels have given us that text from heaven saying Behold I bring you tidings of great joy that unto you is borne this day in the Citie of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord Therefore sing and make melody in your hearts to the Lord Glory be to God on high peace on earth and good will towards
men They which doe this in faith that they are in him that is true in that his Sonne Jesus Christ which is very God and eternall life 1 Joh. 5. 20. by Baptisme into him shall finde more peace with God in conscience and finde good will with men that are the children of God I speake not this that I would have a carnall Christmas kept in prophanenesse as it hath been much abused but a spirituall day in duties of piety and charitie to the poore to shew our selves Christians by honouring Christ in his birth day Thine in the Lord Jesus Christ J. E. The Contents of the Doctrines Reasons and Uses handled in this insuing Treatise GOod Newes for Souldiers or the way to overcome the Devill by the bloud of the Lamb Rev. 12. 11. The Exposition from the 7. verse to the 12. to make entrance 1. Doctrine That all faithfull Souldiers that love not their lives to the death shall overcome the Devill by the bloud of the Lambe and the proofes Three things requisite for to make a man able to overcome the Devill and all his enemies 1. He must have the golden faith of his Baptisme for his Regeneration 2. He must have a lively faith in the white raiment of Christs Righteousnesse And 3. Eye-salve of the Spirit of Christ Six Reasons 1. Reason When Satan tempts to sinne or despaire shew him the bloud of the Lambe 2. Reason When he shews to Conscience the curse of the Law shew him the bloud of Christ 3. Reason When he fights against Conscience with the feare of death say O death where is thy sting here is the bloud of the Lambe 4. Reason When he fights against Conscience with the feare of hell shew him the bloud of the Lambe saying O Hell where is thy victory 5. Reason For by the bloud of the Lambe wee are Conquerours already 6. Reason For by the bloud of the Lambe wee are more then Conquerours And that in foure Respects Uses how to disarme Satan Objection I am not afraid of the Devill but I am afraid of the Papists and Rebels of Ireland to cut my throat Answer If thou hast prevailed over the God of this world thou shalt prevaile with men Object They are wonderfull strong They have great Iron and Brasse Ordnance Ans. So had the Canaanites Chariots of Iron 2. Doctrine That all that fight against the Devill with the shield of Faith of the bloud of the Lambe and the word of their testimony shall surely overcome him for they by it quench all his fiery darts 1. Reason First Because by the word of our testimony wee give God the glory of his holinesse 2. Reason Because by it wee give him the glory of his wisdome 3. Reason We give him the glory of his truth 4. Reason We give him the glory of his power 5. Reason We give him the glory of his mercy 6. Reason We give unto God the glory of his Justice in three points of Justice Foure sleights of Satan to take this shield of faith out of thine hand 1. Use If Souldiers will give God the glory of his holines then they must beware of whoredome and keepe their bodies chaste and pure Temples for the Holy Ghost 2. Use If you give God the glory of his wisedome then aske counsell of the Lord for every battell as David did and you shall prevaile as he did 3. Use If you give glory to the truth of God then Souldiers must speake and practise truth accuse none falsly and then plunder them 4. Use If you give glory to the power of God sprinkle the bloud of the Lambe well and you shall be shot-free howsoever Devill-free 5. Use If you give glory to the mercy of God you must be mercifull as your Father is mercifull not cruell and to whom Justice 6. Use If you give God the glory of his Justice you must practise Justice towards men in three poynts Against the Anabaptists which would not have the Law Preached These things may doe good to many Christian Souldiers Let none stop them from the Presse Written by J. E. GOOD NEVVES FOR ALL CHRISTIAN SOULDIERS DEare Christians in stead of complementing Eloquence I shall endeavour to shew you that love not your lives unto the death how to overcome the Devill by the bloud of the Lambe and by that word of your testimony Revel. 12. 11. In the 7th verse wee heare there was a battell in Heaven i. in the Church saith Brightman and so there is now Michael and his Angels fought Michael which is by interpretation Quis sicut Deus he was sent to destroy his enemies that rose up against his Church when it lay in the Wildernesse for the wrath of the Dragon as it doth now lie in warre by the wrath of the Dragon the Devill and the Beast and false Prophet Michael the Lord Jesus Christ then whom none is stronger in heaven or earth For who is like our God as Meyer noteth in heaven i. in the justified Church which is rightly called heaven as Gal. 4. 26. Jerusalem which is above is the mother of us all is the holy Catholick Church saith Luther out of which Satan was cast which led the people to dumb Idolls Eph. 2. 2. And so he shall in this battell for Michael and his Angels will fight for you which is called the great Prince for the people of God Dan. 10. 21. i. Christ Jesus whose Angels are as Bullenger noteth those blessed ministring Spirits and all faithfull Christians which serve the Lord Jesus to fight against Antichrist and his instruments And the Dragon and his Angels fought i. all evill spirits and all evill men as the wise and rich of this world that fight against the Gospel and against a reformation whose power and subtiltie are their armour to fight against the Church against whom you must fight with spirituall armour Eph. 6. 13. For you have Michael your Prince that will give you the crowne of victory Rev. 2. 10. Marlorat A great battell first in respect of the Souldiers all beleevers on the one part and all unbeleevers on the other part Secondly In respect of the time the Enmitie between the seed of the woman and the seed of the Serpent is the cause of it and therefore as the seed of the bond-woman persecuted the seed of the free-woman so it is now Gal. 4. 29. that now reached to you and will be to posteritie Thirdly The manner of the Battell all beleevers fight by the bloud of the Lambe and by the word of their testimonie which are invincible But the adversaries
when it is more needfull to strive for a wedding garment for to him that overcometh and keepeth his garments Rev. 16. 15. will I give saith Christ to sit with me in my Throne Rev. 3. 21. signifying that shall be the conquering and raigning people whom Christ hath loved and washed from their sins in his own blood and made Kings and Priests to God his Father and they shall raign upon earth Rev. 1. 5. and 5. 10. Let England consider Christs words Rev. 3. 18. I counsell thee to buy of mee gold tried in the fire that thou mayest be made rich which is the lively faith in the merits of Christs death in baptisme which make men rich that were poor by Adam and white raiment that thou mayest be cloathed that the filthinesse of the wickeness of sin may not appeare which is the white wedding garment of justification which makes a Christian know hee is ready for Christ when he hath it and eye-salve of the spirit of Christ that we may see how to walk by the Spirit and in discipline of the Word for untill this counsell of Christ be taken in England both of the Angels and Church this war will not cease for untill a mans wayes or Churches wayes please the Lord he will not make all his enemies to be at peace with him Prov. 16. 7. And when shall that be in England think you when they will be guided by his counsell i. Rev. 3. 18. he will then receive them to glory Psal. 73. Now many men dote so much about Discipline that they think to make a rare Church by it but are greatly deceived For if a man should take a company of Vipers to make them Nightingals do you think he can make them such by Discipline all the orders and skil let him order them how he can will not make them become Nightingals but if he can make them new creatures they may be made Nightingalls as well as any other creature There were two Pharisees which were the generation of Vipers Matth. 3. which were made sweet Nightingals by baptisme wherein they were made new creatures and sang sweetly in the night as Nicodemus that having learn'd the doctrine of regeneration of water and the Spirit in baptisme he was so changed that in the night when the other Pharisees as Vipers would have condemned Christ sang for him thus Doth our law condemn any man before it heare him and hee sweetly buried him with sweet odors And another notorious Viper that was a murtherer and a blasphemer Saul was so changed by baptisme when he did arise and was baptized he washed away his sins in calling on the name of the Lord that of a murtherer and blasphemer he became a sweet Preacher of the Gospel by night and till the dawning of the day and sang Psalmes in the night so sweetly that the Lord heard him and sent an earthquake Acts 16. Wherefore if you would make a good Church it must be by faith in our baptisme into Christ when wee were little children and by the white raiment of Christs righteousnesse applyed by faith Discipline may order a childe in good manners but he must have a soul and body first Now Baptisme and the white raiment is as the soul and body of all Christianity he that wants faith in this cannot tell whether hee be in Christ or no Discipline may order a Church but cannot make one Truly I never look to see a pure Discipline untill the Jewes be called which I wish all the faithfull to pray for except the woman clothed with the Sun begin to make one which hath the bright morning Star which are that chast and holy Congregation as Mr. Brightman calls them which are the place of Gods pleasures and the hill of his delights wherein God taketh more delight then in any thing of the world as Rev. 19. 17. which Church is now arising out of the corruption of the Church of Laodicea Corruptio unius est generatio alterius for though he will spue the luke-warm out yet there is a few names in Laodicea that shall sit with Christ in his Throne wherefore if you be brethren and going to the new Jerusalem remember Josephs words to his brethren Fall not out by the way for a Discipline who shall have the preeminence Let not him that putteth on the armour boast as he that putteth it off for as victory is of the Lord so is government If you look for government before wee have peace the gift of God you reckon without your hoast wherefore I command you from the Lord study to be quiet and do your own busines and work out your salvation with fear and trembling and perswade Euodius of the Presbyters and beseech Syntiche of the Independents to be of one accord in the Lord and labour all to overcome the Devill by the bloud of the Lamb as this Sermon shews you who would set you together by the ears to kill one another that he might get both I have writ of the miseries of England and of the remedies of the same and have shewen at least forty causes how the Bishops have brought the sword upon the land and therefore are justly put down of the Lord and his Parliament which I purpose to set in print if Satan hinder it not Let it not be said that the Presbyters and Independents have set dissention in the Parliament and City and in the Armies and brought the sword into their own bowells to make the Papists sport wherefore let no man speak any more of any government in the Church of England except by Parliament untill the wars cease those that shall remain shall pray unto the Lord to shew them such a Discipline out of Gods Word as shall be pleasing unto him Men may imagine that there may be a smiling shew of peace but they shall finde that Male sarta gratia nequicquam coit there is so much blood in the morter that it will not daub love will not grow within there is so much blood without and yet for my part I desire if the Lord will and pray for the peace of Jerusalem that peace may be within our walls and plenteousnesse within our palaces for no peace no plenty for where wars and sedition remain wee must look for earthquakes famine and pestilence Luke 21. 9 10 11. you shall have little pleasure in a Presbyterie or Independencie before these warres cease for there is a flood of Gods judgements coming now on all the world there shall none escape but those that get into the Ark of the faith of their baptisme into Christ 1 Pet. 3. 21. and such as take Christs counsell Rev. 3. 18. which are the blessed people that keep Christs garments unto them that their filthy nakednesse may not be seen Rev. 16. 15. and such as keep the word of his patience Rev. 3. 10. these shall be delivered from this hour of tentation Question 2 Now there is another Question also among many