in-sufficient idle and reproachfull Ministery and an euident occasion of keeping out of sufficient men and able Work-men both able and apt to teach and of impouerishing such as are already entred This is the cause of many wandring Leuites and of sundry that sit idle for want of imployment Lastly this ordinary absence is against the Statutes of Princes and the decrees of Counsels holden not onely in the most pure times but in the most palpable times euen as it were at midnight when the whole earth was ouer-shaddowed with darknesse These appointed l Conci Antioch can 17. Conc. Sardi c. 14. Can si quis vult dist 39. Conc. Calsid can 10. Conc. Trid. sess 7. ca. 8. many Cannons and Constitutions charging the Minister to bee resident in Gods Tabernacle not to be absent from his Parish least hee loose that excellent Talent which God hath bestowed vpon him appointing that no man should be ordained Minister of two Churches but limiting him to remaine in that vnto which hee was first called If any be called to another charge let him simply giue ouer the former and claime no interest in it If any be otherwise he shall be prohibited from the Lords Table and be excommunicated Hitherto we haue shewed the necessity of the Pastours presence and opened the reasons whereby it is confirmed and strengthned Now it remaineth to answere such obiections m Obiections brought to iustifie the Pastors absence as are brought to iustifie the ordinary absence from the charge which hee hath taken vpon him There are many thinges brought and alleadged to warrant this absence Salomon teacheth that the Sluggard is wiser in his owne conceit then seauen men that can render a reason The causes that are pretended to excuse and defend the Pastours absence are taken partly from the holy Scripture and partly from naturall reason Obiection 1. First they say it was lawfull and lawfully practised in Epaphras who was the Minister of the Colossians yea a faithfull Minister yet absent from that Church Col. 1 7. and 4 12. The like might be said of Epaphroditus absent from the Phillippians Answere I answere first it doth not appeare plainely and directly that they were the Pastors of those Churches rather it seemeth they were Euangelists that went from place to place and alwaies seconded the labours of the Apostles For it is to be thought that Archippus n Col. 4. was the Pastour of the Colossians who is charged to looke to his Ministery that he had receiued in the Lord that he fulfill it Secondly their absence was not wilfull and ordinary but they were imploied by the necessary occasions of the Church chosen and enioyned to dispatch the businesse thereof Obiection 2. Againe they obiect that hee which preacheth the Gospell must liue of the Gospell 1 Cor. 9. but without ioyning Liuing to Liuing as it were house to house all cannot liue by reason of the smalnesse and slendernesse of the liuing therefore it is tollerable in some Answere I aunswere the want of sufficient prouision cannot bring with it a sufficient tolleration It dooth no more warrant the Act then to do euil that o Rom. 3 8. good may come therof whose damnation is iust If there be a rouing Ministery among vs and a wandring vp and downe of such as offer their seruice for ten shekles of Siluer and a sute of apparrell and an ordinary allowance of meate and drinke it belongeth to the Magistrate to reforme this disorder and to redresse this mischeefe Thus it was among the Iewes in the Old Testament but this misery and calamity fell vpon them p Iudg. 19 1. when there was no King in Israell Secondly it is better to take some other lawfull meanes in such pouerty of the Church as to labour with the hands as q Act. 20 1. Thess 3 8. Paul did or to practise some other laudable science which will be without offence to God or Man Obiection 3 It is in his power to roote vp that did plant it belongeth to him to pull downe that did build he can destroy that doth preserue But the positiue Law of man appointed them their circuit and boundes and consequently may order them as it thinketh and may giue leaue of absence Answere I aunswere that Magistrates may not abrogate and abolish Lawes constituted and conformed according to Gods Lawes Againe the diuision of Parishes is not from men but of God For when the Scripture r Act. 24 23 Tit. 1 5. and 1 Cor. 12 40. willeth Elders to bee chosen for euery Church and that these assemblies should bee with the greatest conuenience of order and comelinesse it is plaine that thereby is prescribed a diuision of nationall Churches into particular Congregations For this cause Paule left Titus in Creta that he should continue to redresse the thinges that remaine and should ordaine Elders in euery Citty So the Apostles ordained Elders by election in euery Church Obiection 4. Againe it may be said a man may haue two Liuings being by Law vnited Therefore before they be vnited Answere I answer if the vnion bee such that there may bee but one body and one competent and commodious resort thereof together in one place so as one Pastour may fitly instruct them and lead them out and in in the duties of Religion in the sanctification of the Sabbaoth in the practise of holinesse and in example of life then it followeth that albeit it be lawfull to make this coniunction yet it is not proued lawfull before the vnion It is lawfull being made one Congregation one assembly one Church which is vnlawfull so long as it remaineth diuided maketh two Congregations two assemblies two Churches For the Minister may conueniently teach them together whom he cannot possibly teach asunder as the Schoole-maister may teach the Schollers that belong to one Schoole but not those that belong to diuers Obiection 5. Moreouer if it bee vnlawfull then especially in this point and for this cause because he receiueth maintenance where he doth not labour But it is lawfull to take wages where there is no worke doone as appeareth 2. Cor. 11 8. Where Paule saith I robbed other Churches and tooke Wages of you to doe you seruice Answere I answer the place is to be vnderstood of extraordinary Ministers and of extraordinary occasions when and where no setled and sufficient maintenance is established and therefore doth not prooue the matter in question And where as according to our diuision of Parishes lands are occupyed by Forrainers and Strangers and consequently Tithes and duties taken of them without any feeding of them it was ordained to establish a certaine knowne and definite maintenance and besides the Minister not failing in his calling they may be partakers of his labour Obiection 6. Furthermore it is obiected that Pastors are not tied to particular places but are discharged by a generall teaching It skilleth not where
whole world Hence it is that the Pope and his Bishops threaten Princes chalenge authority to excommunicate them to depose them and to discharge their subiects of subiection and alleageance This is cruelty ioyned with impiety this is seuerity accompanied with Hipocrisie this is cursing and banning contrary to the Christian faith and therefore being causelesse they cannot come Vse 3. Thirdly and last of all we learne for our obedience that whensoeuer entreating beseeching gentle or louing dealing is vsed to call men home to God and to themselues it is their duty to yeeld themselues and to embrace earnestly the mercies of God offered vnto them The sinne of contempt and contumacy is fearefull when the bountifulnesse of God is despised his mercies loathed his patience and long suffering abused If we will not heare when he crieth to vs k Prou 1 28. we shall cry also in the daies of our misery and he will not heare vs in our trouble but mocke at our affliction Our Sauiour remembreth the Iewes that he would often haue gathered them together as an Hen gathereth her Chickens vnder her winges but they would not and therefore their Habitation should be left vnto them desolate First he preached mercy then iudgement first he gathereth then he scattereth first he counselleth then he confoundeth This is the order which the Apostle teacheth to be obserued by the Lord himselfe in the first place by patience and long suffering he calleth men to repentance neuerthelesse if they will not turne vnto him but harden their hearts against the meanes and Ministry that he vseth to call them he hoardeth and heapeth vp wrath for them against the day of wrath This hath beene the dealing of God with vs in this Land more then fifty years he hath preached vnto vs by his mercies he hath intreated vs and prouoked vs by peace by plenty by patience by temporall blessings by spirituall blessings by prosperity which the glorious Gospell of Christ hath brought with it he hath planted his Vine among vs he hath looked for good fruit answearable to such great meanes and long mercies But what haue we perfourmed according to that which God hath expected and how haue we behaued our selues in respect of this bountifulnesse which we haue tasted and receiued Surely we become euery yeare worse then other l Esay 5 4. more barren and lesse fruitfull we are not onely void of good fruits but full of euill fruits bearing nothing but leaues of vanity and shewes of Hipocrisie We cannot deny but God as a carefull dresser of his Vineyard hath often times beene constrained to take his pruning knife into his handes he hath scourged vs by famine and chastened vs by plague and pestilence yea still doth visit vs in sundry places and yet though he haue put vs into the furnace and tried vs with the fire of his iudgements he cannot purge out our drosse or take away our tinne or cleanse away our corruptions from vs but still we swarue from him swarue with blasphemies with oathes with prophanenesse with drunkennesse with whoredome with contempt of the Gospell we abound with the fruits of the flesh and workes of darknesse which agree not with that light into which we are brought The word of God was more reuerently esteemed better regarded and more carefully practised thirty yea forty yeares agone then it is in these declining times in which we liue We haue a long time gone backward and not forward we grow downeward and not vpward wee are farther from the Kingdome of Heauen and not neerer What then remaineth for vs m Heb 10 27. but a fearefull looking for of iudgment and violent fire which shall destroy his aduersaries If he open the Treasures of his wrath and the store-houses of his iudgements if he bring forth the arrowes of his quiuer and draw his sword out of his sheath let vs prepare to meet our God by vnfained repentance let vs forsake our sinnes which bring all curses and callamities vpon vs. If his mercies will not moue vs his iudgements shall remoue vs out of our places The Figge-Tree is first n Luk 13 9. Husbanded and digged about if the digging and dunging of it will not make it bring forth fruite it is appointed to be cut downe The patience of the Lord goeth before denuntiation of iudgement or execution of punishment A Phisition neuer aduentureth vpon a desperate Phisicke but in a desperate disease A Surgeon applieth salues and all possible remedies before he proceed to the cutting off of Arme or Leg So hath the Lord dealt with vs so he doth deale with vs if his word could conuert vs his iudgements should not ouertake vs if his mercy could turne vs his iustice should not destroy vs if his loue could saue vs his wrath should not condemne vs. Being such a one euen Paule aged and now also a Prisoner of Iesus Christ We heard in the wordes before Paules beseeching of Philemon amplified by a diuerse reason of commanding Now we haue to consider the second part of the sentence which is a description of his person generally and particularly which hath great force to moue him and instruct him He mentioneth his age and the tearme of his life now almost ended together with his afflictions and bands for Christs sake and the Gospels thereby to teach him not to be ashamed of him or to be offended at him but to reuerence his person and to and to obey his word Heere then we see that the Apostle doth chalenge much to be due vnto him which he might iustly doe in regard of sundry priuiledges of his calling of his age of his sufferings and imprisonment that he sustained for the cause of Christ Doctrine 3. Superiors in guiftes age are to be reuerenced aboue others Heereby we learne that such as God hath marked out from others by age guiftes or other priuiledges are much to be regarded and reuerenced We must acknowledge it to be a duty belonging vnto vs to yeeld much to such as God hath distinguished and seperated from the common order of men by length of life by greatnesse of guiftes or other worthy respects which they haue receiued The Apostle teacheth that the King and Magistrate are to be honoured a Rom 13 1. Let euery soule be subiect to the higher powers for there is no power but of God and the powers that be are ordained of God And 1 Pet. 2. 17. Honour b 1 Pet 17 2 13 14. all men loue brotherly fellowship feare God honour the King Thus also he speaketh a little before Submit your selues vnto all manner Ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether it be vnto the King as vnto the superior or vnto Gouernours as vnto them that are sent of him for the punnishment of euill doers and for the praise of them that do well Touching such as are superiors in age it is a precept giuen by Moses c Leuit 19 32
for vs euen when we ohld our peace Vse 2 Secondly we see that Christian poillicy is not against Common-wealth policy so that there is no State vnder heauen whether entertaining the regiment of one or of many but may giue entertainment to the Gospell For seeing it medleth not with matters of ciuill gouernement whether it bee a free state or depending of others it shall receiue no impeachment or detriment in temporall affayres Our Sauiour teacheth h Iohn 28 36 That his kingdome is not of this world but spirituall for the soule Conscience When one came vnto Christ and intreated him to bidde his Brother diuide the with him i Lu. 12 13 14 he saide vnto him Man who made me a Iudge or a diuider ouer you When tribute was required by the Officers and Receiuers he sent Peter k Math. 17. 25. to pay it declaring by his willing obedience that ciuill pollicy is not taken away by the preaching of the Gospell Against the Anabaptists This serueth to ouerthrow two sorts of Heretickes both of them enemies to the Crowne and Dignity of Princes the Anabaptists who take away Magistracy and despise gouernment and the Papistes who followe apace after them and if they make hast as they beginne they wil soone ouertake them The Anabaptists take away all dominion and power denie Magistracy to be lawfull take away the propriety of things and will haue all things common These are such as the Apostle Iude prophesied of in his Epistle l Iude 8. which despise gouernment and speake euill of them that are in authority Their error or rather heresie they ground vpon diuers places of Scripture which we will breefely answere Obiection 1. First they obiect that Christ saith m Math. 5 39. Resist not euill which is required of al Christians What vse then is there of the Magistrat who beareth the sword and resisteth euill Answere I answere Christ in these words exhorteth vs to christian patience and reproueth priuate reuenge he doth not abrogate the Office of the Magistrate as appeareth by the words of Christ if they be aright considered For he doth not say if any man shall strike thy neighbour on the right cheek command him to turn the left also neither doth he say if any wil sue his neighbor at the law take away his coat charge and require him to deliuer his cloak also but whosoeuer shal giue thee a blow on the right cheek turne thou to him the left also if a man shal take away thy coat let go thy cloke also Wherefore it appeareth that this concerneth priuat persons not publick Magistrates Againe To resist euil is not simply and in it selfe euill but to do euill is euil indeed For if it were simply euil in it selfe no housholder among Christians should withstand and resist the euils of his house but suffer them to do what they list and lay the bridle in their owne necke No Schoolemaister shall bridle the folly and licentiousnesse of youth which the rod of correction doth driue away no Father shall bee allowed to chastise and punnish his children but must let them alone to run into al euil If these things be absurd vnworthy the person and doctrine of Christ it followeth that it is not simply absolutely forbidden to resist euil For what is the Magistrat else in the commonwealth then as an housholder among his family as a schoolmaister among his schollers as a father among his children nay if there be neede any where of a Christian Magistrate it is among faithfull Christians that is amongest those that doe not reuenge themselues but are patient before their oppressors as the Sheepe that is dumbe before his shearers The Children of this world are like brute beastes who as they make no conscience of wrong so they make no conscience of reuenge Obiection 2. Secondly they obiect that we are charged to stand fast in the liberty which Christ hath purchased for vs and wherby he hath set vs free Gal. 5 Answere I answer this is to be vnderstood of spirituall liberty not ciuill the liberty of Conscience not of obedience of Christian liberty not Anabaptisticall For the liberty of Christ is a freedome from the power of Satan of sinne of death of hell and of condemnation it is not a freedome from the power of Princes and an exempting of men from ciuill subiection Obiection 3 The third obiection is that Kings sonnes are free from tribute and therefore from subiection Math. 17 26. Answere I answere though all Christians be made the sonnes of God yet Christ Iesus speaketh that of himselfe who according to his deity was the naturall sonne of God and according to his humanity byrth into the world was of the linage of Dauid and heire to the crown and kingdome and consequently was freed from payment of tribute But this serueth nothing to free men from Magistrates and the duties wee owe vnto them Obiection 4 Fourthly the Apostle saith Ye are bought with a price be ye not the Seruants of men 1 Cor. 7 23. But Magistracie maketh vs the seruants of men Answere I aunswere this toucheth nothing the calling of Magistrates but teacheth that in matters of Religion we should not depend vppon the aurhoritg of men or hang vpon their sleeue as the Corinthians did who are reproued for addicting themselues some to one teacher some to another This is to make men Lords of our faith To conclude wee must know that the Magistrate is the Minister of God and hath receiued from God not an absolute power to do what he list but a limited power n Rom 13 1 2 to take vengeance of the wicked to countenance the godly that so we may liue a peaceable and quier life in all godlinesse and honesty He is the keeper of both the Tables of the Law he executeth Iustice and iudgement without respect of persons hee abolisheth Idolatry and maintaineth publicke tranquility without whom one of vs coulde not liue by another but men would bee as Wolues and wilde beasts one to another so that the Anabaptists that would abolish this ordinance of God are enemies to religion to godlinesse to equity to honesty to peace and quietnesse Against the Popes and Iesuites Secondly the Popes Iesuites and Papists that hang vppon the Pope as vpon their God doth cut short the authority of Princes thar they may establish an absolute soueraignty and supremacy of Antichrist the man of sinne who tyrannizeth ouer mens Consciences and aduanceth himselfe aboue all Kings and Emperors and Magistrats of the earth Hence it is that the Priests and Iesuites bring in an immunity and exemption of the Cleargy from the authority of the ciuill Magistrate and secular powers which is a kinde of rebellion this is claimed as a priuiledge belonging vnto them by the whole Roman Cleargy Againe the Iesuites are medlers in State-matters in establishing and deposing
great vnthankfulnesse deny corporall benefits so that it cannot be expressed how well he hath deserued of that person whom he hath won by the word to God c Col. 1 13. And deliuered him by his Ministry from the power of darkenesse and translated into the Kingdome of his deare Sonne Thirdly we may obserue in the Apostles correcting of his former grant that as he is commended that doth his duty that is required of him freely and willingly so he is worthy to be praised and commended that doth not goe about to wring and wrest a benefit against a mans will though it be due debt and a bounden duty but laboureth by all meanes that it may be voluntary and not vpon necessity for hereby it commeth to passe oftentimes that he not onely getteth a benefit but winneth his heart and good will that giueth it and many times it falleth out that the minde of the giuer is more to be respected then the guift it selfe as we see in the poore Widdow mentioned in the Gospell d Luk. 21 2 3. who casting into the treasury two mites is said to haue giuen of her penury more then all the rich men that bestomed of their superfluity Thus much of the generall obseruations Now let vs come to the particular Doctrines I would haue retained him with me that for thee he might haue ministred vnto me in the bonds of the Gospell The Apostle in these wordes doth claime both Philemon and Onesimus to owe vnto him being in bondes their seruice and comfortable administration Indeede he senderh his Seruant backe to him yet he seemeth closely and secretly to insinuate that hee would take it thankfully at his handes and receiue it as a guift most welcome vnto him if Philemon would returne him to him againe and that he should deserue more praise if of his owne accord and liberality he would haue sent back his Seruant now restored vnto him of whose helpe and Ministery he had so great neede The Seruants of Christ that suffer for his Name are to be succoured by what duties soeuer we can For seeing the banishing of our persons the whippings of our bodies the spoiling of our goods the impairing of our good Name and many other reproaches and afflictions doe accompany the preaching and profession of the Gospell whosoeuer shrinketh back from suffering them and refuseth to be partaker of them when God calleth him to beare witnesse vnto the truth he renounceth the Gospell forsaketh his Brethren and separateth himselfe from Christ The defence of the Gospell is common to all and euery man must be an helper to the truth Therefore the man that suffereth persecution for Gods cause and the Gospels is not to be accounted as a priuate person but as one that dischargeth a publike duty of the whole Church and therefore the care of him generally lieth vpon the shoulders of all those that professe the faith Doctrine 1. Euery Christian is bound to serue the common good of the Church by what meanes soeuer God hath inabled him From hence we learne that help succour and seruice is a due debt from all that truely are religious to them that suffer for the Gospell and for righteousnes sake We see how Paul requireth it of Philemon and Onesimus that they should in his bondes Minister vnto him and helpe him in his distresse The vertue heere required is that fruit of loue by which a man becommeth a Seruant to euery one for their good within the compasse of his calling So then euery Christian is bound to serue the common good of the Church and of them that haue need therein by his guiftes by his goods by his wisedome by his authority and by what other meanes soeuer God hath inabled him This is commaunded by by the Apostle Gal. 6. While e Gal. 6 10. we haue time let vs do good vnto all men but specially to thē that are of the houshold of faith So the same Apostle setteth out loue by his effect f 1 Cor. 13 5. Loue seeketh not her owne things but the good of others it suffereth all things it endureth all things The Church of the Hebrewes is commended for the notable fruits of their loue shewed vnto the Saints that thereby they might be encouraged to go forward and to hold out vnto the end g Hebr. 6 10. For God is not vnrighteous that he should forget your worke and labour of loue which ye shewed toward his Name in that ye haue ministred vnto the Saints and yet Minister This we read to haue beene the practise of the Primitiue Church in time of extreame misery and the hard weapon of necessity pressing sore vpon them h Actes 4 33 34 35. Great grace was vpon them all neither was there any among them that lacked for as many as were Possessers of Landes or Houses sold them and brought the price of the things that were sold and laid it down at the Apostles feet and it was distributed vnto euery Man according as he had neede The examples of the godly are worthy to be considered who haue shined in the world by this vertue as by a light in dark places Obadiah ministred to the Prophets in the time of Famine and in the daies of persecution i 1 King 18. Neh. 1. and 5. He did not onely hide them from the rage of the enemy but supplyed their necessitie Nehemiah imploied himselfe for the good of Ierusalem by his authority power wealth and credit that he had with the King This was in Paul as he testifieth of himselfe k 1 Cor. 9 19 Though I be free from all men yet haue I made my selfe Seruant vnto all Men that I may win the moe So that he was ready to offer vp himselfe vpon the Alter of their Faith Likewise he requireth of the Widdowe 's imployed in the Church-seruice to attend vpon the sick that they should be of this good report As l 1 Tim. 5 10. to haue lodged Strangers to haue washed the Saints feet to haue Ministred to them that are in necessity So the Church of Thyatira is commended by Christ for the performance of this duty m Reu. 2 19. I know thy workes and thy loue and seruice and faith and thy patience and thy workes and that they are moe at the last then at the first This is so generall a duty that the Apostle Paule expresseth it among the common fruits of Faith Rom. 12. Be affectioned to loue one another with n Ro. 12 10 11 brotherly loue in giuing honour goe one before another Not slothfull to doe seruice feruent in Spirit seruing the Lord. No man is exempted from this duty be hee neuer so high is is no disparagement but a great aduancement euen of the honour and glory of Princes as the Prophet teacheth o Esay 49 23. Kings shall be thy nursing Fathers and Queenes shall be thy Nurses they shal worship thee with their faces toward the
from another So then let vs remember these few points fit to be learned and practised of vs. Knowe what kinde of man hee is for whome thou becommest a surety If he be a stranger to thee meddle not with him if he haue broken his credite with any before suspect him if he bee a shifting Companion discard him if he bee vnsufficient to pay his owne debt deny him if the summe bee great and thy ability little so that it may hinder thee and thy Calling if thou be driuen to pay it enter not into it and if thou canst not see which way thou mayest be freed from the perrill and daunger that hangeth ouer thy head flye away from it as from a Serpent that will sting thee as from a Canker that will consume thee as from a Gulfe that is readie to swallow thee There are ſ Two Cankers that consume the Cōmon-wealth Vsury and Suretyship two eating sores that are in Nature as a Gangrene which are as two Vultures that are continually gnawing vpon the heart deuoure the flesh euen vnto the bones to wit Vsury and Suretyship These are neere of Kinne one to another and are ioyned together as the Father and Sonne as the cause and the effect The vnmercifulnesse of the Vsurer constraineth the poore debter to craue mercie of the suretie I speake of that Vsury that byteth and of such suretyship as vndoeth Of that Vsurie that oppresseth and of such suretyship as when it hath taken away the coat will take away the Cloake also which strippeth a man of the Iewels where-with he was decked of the furniture wherewith he was stored of the Garments wherewith he was cloathed Notwithstanding there is great difference to bee made betweene them t Prou. 30 15 This Vsurer is as the Hunter the Suretie as the prey The Vsurer as the Horse-leech doeth cry alwayes bring bring the poo◅ Surety is made as the Porter on the Packe-horse that beareth till his shoulders breake It is necessary for euery man to haue these notes before his eyes that he be not sodainly taken or rather ouer-taken by the instigation and importunity of others This reproueth such as make an ordinarie and common matter of it and a notable point of good fellowship the part of a good nature louing disposition to be of a flexible nature as the soft wax to yeild to euery mans request in this businesse Wee see generally that they which haue the least purpose to pay and the smallest care to performe that which they haue promised are for the most part most forward to vndertake and offer themselues their words their wealth their bandes their bodies for other men But such as are most carefull and Conscionable in payeng their Debtes answearing the Arrerages that accrew by the false-hoode of faigned friends are most backeward to yeelde their neckes to this yoake assuring themselues that it is farre better to walke at libertie then to haue his feete put in the Stockes for Correction Wherefore let no man blame those men that hang backe and are not readie to serue euerie mans turne nor to graunt euerie mans request with their Band and Obligation How many are there in this present and haue beene in former times that haue beene quite vndoone and fallen into decay and with that fall haue throwne downe their Wiues and Children for euer by yeelding to gratifie others and damnifie themselues thorough this meanes of rash Suretyship Such as are cruell Creditors and liue vppon the prey as the u Math. 24 28 Eagle doth vpon the Carkasse wil shew no more mercie to the debter that is come in his danger then the miserable rich man x Luke 16 21 did to the Begger that lay at his Gate This we see in the Creditor mentioned 2 Kings 4 1. where one of the Wiues of the Children of the Prophets commeth cryeth and complaineth vnto Elisha That her Husband that feared the Lorde being dead the Creditor came to take her two Sonnes to bee his Bond-men This also appeareth in the practise of the vnmercifull Rich-men mentioned in Nehemiah 5 1. 4 5. so that there was a great out-cry of the people and of their Wiues against them who sayde Wee haue borrowed Money for the Kinges Tribute vppon our Lands and our Vineyardes and now our flesh is as the flesh of our Bretheren and our Sonnes as their Sonnes And loe we bring into subiection our Sonnes and our Daughters as Seruants and there be of our Daughters now in subiection and there is no power in our handes for other Men haue our Landes and our Vineyards If then wee would not willingly draw vppon our selues the burdens of other men nor see with our eyes the taking away of our goods for which we haue laboured nor heare with our eares the crie of our wiues and Children spoyled of their hope and expectation nor feele our selues bitten with hunger pinched with cold throwne into prison and vexed with all kinde of miseries let vs looke to it betimes least wee repent when it is too late It is profitable and Heauenly Counsell giuen by Salomon Prou. 22 26 27. Be not thou of them that touch the hand nor among them that are surety for debts If thou hast nothing to pay why causest thou that he shold take thy bed from vnder thee It is a true saying He is happy that can by other Mens harmes can learne to beware Let vs not be cruell and vnmercifull to our own Families nor rush our selues into these Quicke-sandes of troubles and turmoyles that after follow at the heeles of this rashnesse Let vs vse all carefulnesse and dilligence to know the party for whom wee promise to become Pay-Maisters Let vs weigh his Truth and Honestie his Estate and Ability his Profession and Piety And withall let vs examine our selues thoroughly and ponder our owne sufficiencie that wee bee not at vnawares surprized and hastily ouertaken Let vs prooue our selues and enter seriously into this Cogitation and consideration whether wee bee able without shaking of our Wealth or Substance or diminishing of our credite and estimation or weakning of our estate to discharge that which wee haue vndertaken if our friend for whome wee are bound should fayle and fall downe Neyther let any Foolish and Vndiscreete persons Obiect that this pretending of daunger and entering with warinesse is to be accounted no better then a wanting of Loue that ought to bee in vs For it is rather a point of good Wisedome and Discretion to looke vnto our owne estate and to beware and to bee warned in time by the falles and ruines of other Men. How manie are falne from great Riches to extreme pouertie from much to little from an high condition to great Beggerie and misery and beene as it were consumed with the scorching heat that this fire of Suretyshippe hath cast out Wherefore let vs learne to bee Wise betimes and take heede by the chaunges and chances of other men least by engaging
of the Gospell is accused to breede them but this is a false imputation The true cause is the mallice of Sathan and the furie of his Instruments that cannot abide the Light of the Truth to shine among them So then let vs not thinke it a straunge thing when we see such stirres and tumults arise but Arme our selues with Patience Learne to bee VVise as Serpents and Innocent as Doues and condemne those that are the authors and beginners of those broyles and contentions Fourthly obserue the Titles that hee giueth vnto our Lorde and Sauiour he describeth him by two Names First hee calleth him Christ then hee calleth him Iesus Christ signifyeth as much as Annointed Iesus importeth as much as a Sauiour who was so called h Math. 1 21. because hee saueth his people from their sinnes From whence obserue that Christ is the King the Prophet and the Priest of his Church to gouerne vs to teach vs to Redeeme vs to saue vs. This is his Office for these Ends and Vses hee was annointed of the Father with the Oyle of Gladnesse aboue his fellowes This serueth to our great good and the benefit of it is communicated vnto vs he maketh vs i Reuel 1 6. Kings and Priests to God his Father he armeth vs with power and strength against sinne the Flesh the World the Deuill and maketh vs able to ouercome them thorough him wee haue accesse to the father and may boldly appeare in his sight and offer vp our Prayers with assurance k Rom. 12 1. Yea he enableth vs to offer vppe our selues our soules and bodies an holy liuely and acceptable Sacrifice vnto him which is our reasonable seruing of him hee doth enstruct vs in the will of his Father enlighten vs in the knowledge of the trueth and maketh vs as it were his Household Disciples and Schollers to reueale vnto vs all thinges needefull for our saluation Let vs therefore confesse him to be the onely sonne of God perfect God and perfect Man l 1 Tim. 2 5. the sole Mediator betweene God and Man and let vs acknowledge no other Sauiour able to Redeeme and ransome vs to pay so great a price and to deliuer vs from so great wrath and destruction If wee make other Mediatours and set vp other Sauiours wee renounce the Mediation of Christ and Saluation purchased by Christ This pierceth the verie Marrow and entereth into the bowelles of the Romish Religion which setteth vp other Mediators and consequently establisheth a false Christ of their owne which indeed is no Christ no Iesus no Sauiour no Redeemer Fiftly obserue with me that speaking of Marcus Aristarchus Demas Luke he calleth them his fellow-helpers whereby he putteth the Ministers of the Gospell and all the Children of God in minde to bee helpers to the truth and to further the preaching and propagation of the Gospell by all possible meanes that God hath enabled them For this cause the Apostle commendeth many of the faithfull Rom. 16 3 9. Greet Aquila and Priscilla my fellow-helpers in Christ Iesus We must doe all for the truth and nothing against the truth This reproueth those that employ their wits and bestow their strength to hinder the truth and the professors thereof These haue no part nor fellowship in the Ministration nor in the sound profession of the Gospell but are professed enemies to the faith of Christ Moreouer this shall Minister vnspeakeable comfort vnto vs to consider that wee haue beene helpers to the truth and furtherers of the Faith which is in Christ Iesus we shall leaue a good Name behinde vs and receiue and incorruptible Crowne of eternall Glory Lastly note with mee that when Paule wrote this Epistle hee was at Rome and hee ioyneth with him sundry others which were the cheefe and principall whose verie names might carry some credite and authority to perswade Philemon in this matter which hee vndertooke yet in all this Epistle wee haue no mention of Peter who is supposed to haue liued there to haue dyed there to haue beene Byshop there fiue and twenty yeares He ioyneth to himselfe so many Assistants as he could to obtaine his suite He writeth as we heard before from Rome to haue Onesimus pardoned and hee vseth the name of Timothy to that purpose why is Peter heere forgotten Why doth he not ioyne him with himselfe in the same Epistle if he had been resident at Rome as a good Byshop ought to haue beene Againe we see he specifieth many by name Marcus Aristarchus Demas and Luke but we haue no mention of Peter And it is said that Marke was the Disciple of Peter and by his Commandement wrote his Gospell was it fit to name the Disciple and to forget the Maister to remember the members and to forget the Head To expresse meaner persons and to omit the principall Besides he calleth these men his fellow-helpers Paul was as the Master-workman and cheefe builder they were his helpers and partners in the businesse Was not Peter also one of his bretheren and either a fellow-prisoner or a fellow-helper in the Gospell Wherefore then is hee concealed Obserue with mee from hence and by Conference of many other Scriptures n Peters being at Rome is vncertaine that Peters being at Rome is an vncertaine opinion and an vngrounded assertion It was by composition agreed vpon betweene Paule and Peter o Gal. 2 9. that Peter should preach to the Iewes and Paul to the Gentiles how then could Peter sit as byshop at Rome Or if he preached to the Iewes at Rome how commeth it to passe that the christiā religion was strange in a maner vnknown vnto them when Paul came to Rome as appeareth in the end of the Actes of the Apostles where they say vnto him p Acts 28. 22 We will heare of thee what thou thinkest for as concerning this Sect we know that euery where it is spoken against Againe when Paule wrote to the Romaines hee willeth them to salute manie particularly and by name both men and weomen but he maketh no mention at all of Peter which no doubt he would haue done if hee had at that time also beene at Rome Furthermore the Apostle Wrote many of his Epistles from the Citty of Rome as we shewed in the beginning of this Epistle as for example to the Galathians Ephesians Colossians Phillippians to Timothy this to Philemon and that other Epistle vnto the Hebrewes if it were his and from thence hee sendeth manie salutations in the Name of manie that remained at Rome Among whome Peter is neuer mentioned but his name and beeing there is ouer-passed Lastly the Apostle testifieth that while he was called forth to giue an account of his Faith p 2 Tim. 4 16. All did forsake him and none assisted him wherefore either Peter was not then at Rome or if he were he did shamefully forsake him Thus then we conclude from these and such like Circumstances that it cannot be gathered out of