Pharisies had then beene in the right but bring the Scripture to them rather than reforme their order to it yea impute defect to the first constitution rather than condemne their owne aberration VERSE 22. Which all are to perish with the using after the commandements and doctrines of men THe first reason from the nature of the things Such things as vanish and come to nothing being of no use unto godlinesse such you are not to use But these elementary ones are thus Ergo. That which CHRIST said of meats they defile not a man for they goe into the stomack and so are carried into the draught so passing away Correspondently to that Saint Paul seemeth to say These things perish in the using of them Observe then first Doct. That these bodily observations profit nothing Which must not be so taken as if due fasting 1 Tim. 4.8 and sober use of the creatures were of no use to godlinesse but to doe those things not as using them in holy wisedome to some end but as resting in the things themselves once performed as which for themselves please GOD or to use outward rites to such ends which GOD hath not sanctified them unto all such customes have no profit to godlinesse either to use meanes unto godlinesse as if they were a part of godlinesse themselves or to use such meanes which are not sanctified of God to any such person is bodily exercise utterly unprofitable Let us then learne to see the Popish religion what it is Vse their sprinkling ashes on their heads as on Ashwednesday their carrying Palme branches Processions their difference of meats for though fasting is a meane yet choice of some meats before other yea of milke of wine junkets this is no meane of mortification their singing of Masse Pilgrimages Incense c. all these are bodily things of no profit Let us learne hence lesse to stand on outward observances and more to affect the power of godlinesse which is profitable for every thing And doctrines of men Observe Doct. That wee are not to give credence to any thing which is taught without warrant of Gods Word This is gathered out of the Context Why are you enjoyned such things as are after mens doctrines though the manner of our teaching be humane that is such as is subject to errour yet the matter we teach must be out of God's Word or it is not to be received yet this is to be understood so that we must not exclude whatsoever is not in the Word of God from finding any manner of beliefe for though no humane doctrines must come into our Creed that is our divine faith which respecteth God's revelation onely yet we may have an humane perswasion and opinion of many things which we finde not in the Word expressed this Saint Paul teacheth when he teacheth us to anathematize or accurse what is taught besides the Gospell This serveth to confute the Papists whose doctrine hath a whole Creed as it were of unwritten verities by some of themselves no lesse is confessed as Peter à Soto acknowledging all for Apostolicall traditions whose authors cannot be found reckoneth these for examples the Masse Chrysme calling on Saints Prayer for the dead the Bishop of Romes Primacie the consecrating of the water in Baptisme Confirmation the Sacraments of Orders Matrimony Penance Extreme Vnction Merits Satisfactions Auricular Confession set Fasts worshipping Images besides some above named the Churches Precepts with the Communion in one kinde Consecration of oyle in Baptisme adoration of Bread or Hoast Private Masse Purgatory Indulgences Perasius addeth Par. 3. Priests single life but these mint-masters of doctrines shall one day beare their judgement It must teach us to be wise Bereans to examine by the written Word what is taught to account that with Ierome vaine garrulity which is taught as matter of faith without the Scriptures authority VERSE 23. Which things have indeed a shew of wisedome in will worship and humility and neglecting of the body not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh NOw followeth the third Argument Such things as have but an empty shew wanting substance you must not stand upon But these are such this is laid downe Verse 23. wherein is expressed 1 The appearance and semblance of Vertue 2 The Censure of the HOLY GHOST in the first part of the Verse We must marke 1 The shew it selfe Which have a shew of wisdome 2 The things which make this shew Will worship or religious devotion 2. Humility fained lowlinesse of minde 3. Neglect of the body which the most led by sensuality have onely in admiration The Censure of the HOLY GHOST likewise hath two things 1 The sentence passed of them they are of no worth 2 The reason because they are occupied about such things wherewith the flesh is filled Though this may be read otherwise as tending to describe the last thing named in not sparing the body thus Which things have a shew of wisdome in not sparing the body as not having in any account things belonging to the filling of the flesh that is meats and drinkes wherewith the body is replenished as if 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were borrowed from the beginning of the Verse and thus understood The Verse is not a compound sentence standing of parts one opposite to the other but a simple sentence thus to be resolved as containing 1 The shew of wisdome 2 The things which make this shew which are three as is abovesaid the latter of not sparing the body first being propounded then expounded by the cause of it viz. a pround contempt of those things wherewith it is cherished And thus the Verse layeth downe both a third reason and an answer to an objection the reason is above expressed the prevention may be thus conceived I but how commeth it to passe that these things are every where almost received with applause Answ They have indeed a shew of wisdome so it is no wonder if many be beguiled and bewitched with them And this as it agreeth with the translation so it seemeth to me the most warrantable sense for the things which are said to have a shew of wisdome are not onely precepts of difference in meats but of worshipping Angels for Verse 18. this was it which pretended humility refraining meats was a point of perfection in which they gloried above others as prophane not grounded in confession of their unworthinesse but in the prophane pollution of the creature refrained Now the end of the Verse cannot be a censure of these things by the HOLY GHOST because this is a spirituall will worship yeelding no repletion to the body Againe this reason seemeth to be intimated in the Verse before they perish with their use for what is this They goe into the mouth thence to the stomack and so are cast into the draught To come unto the Doctrines 1 We see Doct. that vice and errour may have a shew of truth and vertue Even as an harlot can wipe her
did Tertullian then shew that traditions were not to be regarded which were beside the authority of the Word in matters of faith and manners even thus The Apostles were sent by Christ If therefore they did not publish things faithfully either they wey were unable or not sincere and Christ blame-worthy that would send those so qualified we may say either they could and would not would but could not or else were willing and able but might not That they could not is absurd who had the guifts of the Holy Ghost so abundantly That they would not is unlikely who were so faithfull and who suffered all things yea death it selfe for the Churches good That they might not least holy things and that more perfect should be too much divulged and so Pearles cast before Swine for Christ bid them speake all things they heard from Him yea though in secret upon the house toppes And as for Dogges and Swine there is no feare for the Bible though open is a clasped booke to them as for others all the counsell of God belongeth to them Thus you may see the truth of this that humane authority hath beene a backe to error and an allurement from the faith Let them not deceive you with things after the tradition of men First then by this we come to discerne the deceived estate of the Romane Church Vse 1 for one egge is not liker another then they to those old Heretiques and the Principall part of their beliefe and practice hath no better ground then tradition without the Word 2 This must teach us not to stand too much upon the bare authority of men as to pinne faith upon their opinion Omnes patres tota schola are not the Old and New Testament We all incline to speake as they Which of the Rabbins and Doctors of the law believe in Him and to reject that which commeth not ushered in with humane testimonies whereas we should not receive any thing because men affirme it nor deny any thing in this regard simply because greate Clerkes are of another judgement though we must not on the other extreame passe by Antiquity and moderne judgements upon a selfe willed fancy as if they were not to be heeded You will say then what use are we to make Object how are wee to be disposed to them Say I conceite this or that opinion but I see Answ as it is told mee such are against me in it of worthy note knowing this 1 I am so farre to respect this not as therefore to discard it and judge of it as erroneous but onely not to precipitate any determination against them 2 I am to have the more jealousie of that which by opinion I conceive 3 I am to excite my selfe to the more full inquiry to see what grounds they had what verisimilitude at least for their sentence 4 If I find my selfe in the truth I am with the more humility and thankefulnesse to imbrace it when I see that even men of greater parts had it not shewed unto them So on the other side the Fathers say this unanimi consensu I doe not therefore beleeve it this were humane faith but I account it a presumption that the thing is true Secondly I search the grounds of it with more alacrity and confidence Thirdly I having grounded my faith on GODS Word am in this regard more confident in my perswasion Lastly this must teach us to adore the fulnesse of the Scripture Vse according to the which who so speaketh not in the things of God speaketh without understanding for whatsoever any knoweth out of his naturall wisedome is foolishnesse in Gods matters but what he knoweth without the Word he hath it out of his own wisedome there is no shift unlesse we will say there is place for revelation without the meanes of the Word therfore what he thus speaketh is foolishnesse the Word conteyneth all things if not in syllables yet in sense that are needfull for faith and manners yea directions for all indifferent things which are variable According to the elements of this world Observe first What maketh error Doctr. and false worship so infectious even because they are carnall savoring of the flesh and after the fashion of this world like lipps love like lettice now we are by nature in error and therefore Saint Paul saith that heresie is a worke of the flesh Againe we are sensuall and therefore delight in such fashion of worship as is not spirituall but feedeth the sense and hangeth us so up by the senses that we ascend not to spirituall contemplation Many mervaile why so many professe and daily fall to Popery but they might as well marvaile why frogs love the fennes for the truth is it is naturall to the corrupt man all is sensuall and of this World Such a Prince-like Clergy such sumptuous Temples and goodly pictures heavenly musicke odoriferous incense al exercises such as their owne strength may undertake every thing of this world the world cannot but love his owne and therfore unregenerate men cannot but affect these things yea we neede no better confirmation then that petitioner who did preferre this as one motive for tolleration in commendation of their religion that it was sensuall it had to please the sense in it and is the reason why the sincerest reformed Churches that have cut off all these fleshly services are by all sorts of worldly men the most maligned because they have the least with them to feed the senses nay nothing but that which CHRIST hath left which because it is commanded is therefore odious The use is Vse that we would take heed of worldly fashions and such things as please the carnall understanding and naturall man this is a presumption against them that they are not right for as Saint Paul saith of men so we may say of religious observancies if they then please corrupt men and suite with their corruption they are not the ordinances of CHRIST Yea even hence they are to be resisted because they are after the guise of this world The Primitive age kept it that they would not admit the least Pagan rite or Iewish ceremony they would not have a Sermon on Saturday and allowed a kind of trading on Sunday out of exercises on this ground Ages following were not so cautelous Againe seeing these words doe not onely point at that which maketh these deceits effectuall but also give a reason to us that are in CHRIST why we should beware of them Doct. note hence That upon this ground we are to resist all false superstitious rites of religion because they are after the fashion of this world The things of this world are enmity to GOD and in this that exhortation taketh place Rom. 12.2 Fashion not your selves to the World The not observing of this rule hath brought all miseries upon the Church when men to gaine the Gentiles would take up their rites a little altered when they would come to the world a little thinking
which faith layeth hold on onely CHRIST IESUS this is the only matter that Faith claspeth for righteousnesse before God and life everlasting So God loved the world Ioh. 3.16 that he gave His only begotten Son that whosoever beleeveth in Him should not perish but have life everlasting He is lifted up as the brazen Serpent that eying Him crucified we might be healed Rom. 3.25 Him hath GOD set forth for a reconciliation through faith in his bloud True it is the same saving faith beleeveth all that is set downe of GOD in the Scripture all particular promises for the passing of this life for these distinct offices doe not make three distinct faiths in us as the reasonable sensitive and naturall functions doe not make three soules in man but one whose effects are three-fold Neverthelesse Faith though it lay hold of all truth as it is taught yet so farre forth as it justifieth it buildeth and leaneth it selfe on Christ onely like as the Israelites they with their eyes did see divers things and looke on sundry objects as occasion served but so farre as they got themselves healed of the stings of firy serpents they looked with their eyes at nothing but the serpent lifted up To rebuke the worldlings faith Vse 1 which is grounded not on CHRIST crucified but such a mercy in GOD as is generally so good that it will save all The Papists their faith is grounded on their good workes with CHRIST and on the treasury of merits and satisfaction but the Arke and Dagon wil not stand together CHRIST and this stubble will not agree Wee may trie the truth of our faith this way Vse 2 it layeth hold on CHRIST Eph. 3 17. Phil. 3.3.7 bringeth Him to dwell in the heart rejoyceth in Him counteth all things drosse in comparison of Him Toward whom our love especially must be shewed Obs 2 to Saints Gal. 6.10 Rom. 12.13 Doe good to all especially to the houshold of Faith Distribute to the necessities of the Saints My good reacheth to the Saints Psal 16. all my delight is in them All in their order are to have the fruits of our love but those most who are nearest us as in nature every one is next himselfe then next to such as are of his bloud in neerest degree or otherwise made one body with him as the wife with the husband Thus in grace after GOD and our owne soules the Saints are neerest us as who are by faith and love fellow-members knit to CHRIST the Head of us all Againe a wise man will sow his seed in the best ground which will returne it with most increase So a Christian will sow the fruits of his love chiefly on the Saints for GOD taketh that which is done to them as done to Himselfe Againe this love of the brethren the Saints is a token we are translated from death to life for as this is a token the world doth not know GOD and so have not life everlasting in them because they know not His children So it is an evidence when we acknowledge such as are begotten of GOD that God hath brought us to know him who is the begetter of them To stirre us up to our duties Vse 1 our eyes should be to them that are faithfull our affections with them Birds of a feather will fly together good fellowes love one another And shall not the fellowship of grace in those that are members of one body whereof CHRIST is the Head knit the Saints together in the strongest band of love This rebuketh the weaknesse of some Vse 2 they are afraid to give any countenance to a Saint though like Nicodemus they have some good affection and liking to the godly yet they dare not be seene to hold any neere communion and familiar converse with such lest they should be thought Puritanes and favourers of men in disgrace with the State Blessed is he that is not offended at CHRIST in His poore members This rebuketh the prophanenesse of othersome Vse 3 who as the Philistims brought out Sampson when they would be merry So out must some Saint come and beare their flouts and derision when they are more pleasantly disposed Ismaeliush mockers of Isaak Yea others worse than the former hate the Saints wish there were not one in a towne of them like Cain who hated his brother to death because his workes were better than his It is an evidence of a godly heart to cleave more affectionately to those who are more godly than other And it savours of a carnall heart in a great measure when any one doth equally impart his favour If any have points of service and can apply themselves to their humour though they have small acquaintance with GOD they shall be countenanced this maketh their religion linsey-woolsey this confirmeth the hands of such in their carnall course this maketh those that are good more remisse than they should be should they finde from Christians better incouragement Davids delight was in the Saints Psal 16.3 Ps 101.6 he did purge his family of such as were unprofitable and gracelesse he set his heart on such as did set their hearts to please GOD in all things not such as could get the length of his foot were precious in his eyes Can a loyall wife take pleasure in such men who are observant and officious about her but devoid of all respect to her husband Are your soules betrothed to GOD in CHRIST and can you abide their service about you who are carelesse in dutie toward your LORD with whom you are by faith contracted this shewes there is but a forme of godlinesse or that it is much decayed when wee can like of men not as wee see them sincerely serve GOD but as their behaviour is more or lesse pleasing and contentful to our selves VERSE 5. For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven whereof ye heard before in the Word of truth the Gospell FOr the hope Hope is put for the quality of hope or the thing hoped for we are to take it here in the latter sense Observe hence Obs 1 What is a spurre quickning us to all duty the recompence which our GOD hath in store for us Heb. 11.25 26. Moses chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of GOD then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season esteeming the reproach of CHRIST greater riches then the treasures of Aegypt for he had respect unto the recompence of reward We faint not knowing that our labour is not in vaine in the Lord. If the Lord kept nothing in store for us we might thinke as good play for nothing as worke for nothing but no office of love no not a Cup of cold water shall goe unrequited How doth this provoke to obedience but we must not hence thinke wee merit and grow mercenary minded serving for our Penny not of love to our Father for we looke not at these hopes this recompence of reward as
heart but the harvest of it lasteth not all the yeare without interruption CHRIST telleth His Disciples that after His departure they should be heavy though afterward their heavinesse should be turned into joy Sometimes chastisements which lie heavy upon us doe over-cast our comfort Heb. 12.11 for the present they are not joyous Sometime inward lawes of evill with which we conflict make us cry o miserable Ro. 7.24 Sometime grievous falls whereby we have wounded our consciences Psa 51.12 Lord restore me to the joy of thy salvation In a word as civill rejoycings are upon many occasions damped though life continue so is spirituall joy though faith and grace faile not in us The use is to strengthen and support by this consideration such weake ones as doe call in question the truth of their faith through want of this comfortable taking which the Scripture much speaketh of and they see others enjoy One complayned to me that sure if his faith were right and living he should have more joy So I asked him what he would say to this reason living men are merry and goe cheerefully about their businesse but you are sadde and full of griefe and heavinesse surely you are not alive you could not be thus mournfull sadd and heavy if you were even as naturall life and naturall joy are not alwayes coupled so spirituall life and spirituall joy till we come to heaven are not joyned together inseparably There is a wonder in Spaine of a river that runneth fifty miles under ground this river though it be sometimes unseene yet it is continuall and it breakes out againe So the consolations of GOD are sometimes unseen not onely of others that goe away sadde when they see us want the comforts of GOD but also to our selves the Lord hiding the sweet Sunshine of his countenance from us which is yet in the skie and giveth some measure of light to us like as the Sunne though sometimes it be darkened yet there will be a time of reviving againe Thirdly observe Doct. What kind of joy the spirit worketh in believers viz. not a hollow but a hearty rejoycing he maketh our hearts glad and spirits rejoyce in God our Saviour As the groanes Gods spirit helpeth us with are inward such as cannot be uttered So is the joy hearty which in believers it worketh 1 Pet. 1.8 yea a joy unspeakeable and glorious Why glorious partly in respect of the principall object of it which is the glory of the life to come and partly in respect of the quality and kind of it as it is opposite to that contemptible beggarly base and filthy rejoycing of beggarly base and filthy persons There is a joy that men are ashamed of such is the joy of sinners that have overgrowen the controle of Nature it selfe Otherwise take them in their meriment let there come in a man of gravity or civill honesty and you see what a dampe he casts upon the joy of carnal and wicked men as if he had taken all their tongues from them some goe one way and some slinke another way they are afraid he hath overheard some words that they have spoken What a base joy is this that men are ashamed of Such is the joy of all naturall men compared with the joy and rejoycing of a sanctifyed man it is base and contemptible joy He can goe no higher then to rejoyce in his riches because he is rich in his ease and that he hath a good house he feeles no evill money comes in apace trading lasts well and the like a poore base joy What are these things to the things of eternity what is thy house thy plate thy furniture what are these riches and these houses of clay to the house whose builder and maker is God what are these riches which the moath shall eate or the canker corrupt to those riches which are eternall and glorious The joy of worldlings yea of temporizers reacheth not beyond the teeth it is but the joy of a deluded dreame which a man waking findeth nothing so Hence Salomon compareth carnall laughter to the cracking of thorns under a pot it is a widdowes blaze assoone almost extinct as kindled and this is it that causeth the wickeds joy soone to come to an end His joy is like seede that hath no depth of ground it deweth not his heart and therefore wanting this deepe rooting it fodainly fadeth away Wherefore if ever any would bee glad at heart indeede Vse let him know that it is God through His Spirit who must worke this in him he cannot till the Lord give it him through the knowledge of Christ be truly joyfull True it is Object you may say who merry to wicked men they spend their dayes in merriments laugh their hearts fat But alas Answ have you not seene mad men whose phrensie lyeth in bloud have you not marked them notably addicted to laughter frequent in it till they tickle at conceits which within themselves they apprehend there is nothing more common yet we count not this mirth but pitty it as a woefull fruite of a crazed braine and deluded senses Such is thy joy till thou commest to GOD it commeth from the absence of all heavenly understanding with which thou shouldest descry the misery of thy estare Finally from the thing intreated in the end of the verse joyned with the beginning that their hearts might be comforted in their comming out of the darkenesse of sinfull ignorance for that is the force of the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to know the mystery of God in Christ Observe hence Doct. What must be the matter of sound joy the Gospell of CHRIST The Gospell is called glad tydings because it maketh glad no wonder good newes as Salomon saith from a farre Country is very delightfull What then is newes from heaven of Gods mercy to a sinfull soule in the pardon of his sinne in giving him a Title to a Crowne of everlasting glory A carnall man joyeth when his bags are full when Corne and Wine and earthly commodities abound with him but the Saints have another joy set upon matters so high that in comparison of them they count all drosse and dung But one may say Object may not wicked men rejoyce in the Gospell Yes in the novelty of it Answ as a matter they have not before thought of Iohn was a burning Candle and yee would for a while rejoyce in his light or from a licke and taste which they may get of sweetnesse in it Hebr. 6. They may have a taste of the powers of the life to come they may have a flashing and momentany lightning of joy in them Or finally from an ungrounded overtly perswasion that they shall have pardon of sinne and salvation by CHRIST they may shew forth for a time great gladnesse but soundly to take joy in these things is only proper to true believers who humbled in sight of their unworthinesse and guilt rejoyce in Christ as the onely
not looke upon them GOD will vouchsafe no such priviledge unto them because they are poore blind and naked But I say for that cause receive Him and take Him for that end He is offered therefore when the Lord convinceth the Church of Laodicea thou art wretched poore blind and naked then I counsell thee to buy of mee eye-salve that thou maist see and white rayment that thou mayst be clothed Say not Christ is not myne I dare not apply Him because I am a sinner indeede if thou hast a purpose to goe on in sinne thou must not venture to apply Christ But if thou be humbled in the sight of thy own unworthinesse and doest account it the greatest favour of GOD to be freed from sinne thou hast good warrant to receive Christ thus offered for so the LORD IESUS doth invite poore sinners Mat. 11.28 Come unto mee all yee that are weary and heavy loaden and I will ease you It may serve to teach us Vse 3 by way of examination to try whether we have received Christ or not To receive Christ is a thing done with the whole heart It was a question which the Apostles were woont to put when they received any man to be baptized Acts 8. Doe you believe with your whole heart as Philip said to the Eunuch It must be a receiving of Christ with the whole soule 2 True faith apprehends Christ such a Saviour as the spirit of God in Scripture setteth Him out to be Hebr. 7.25 a perfect Saviour who is perfectly able to save all that come to Him through faith As He alone trod the wyne-presse of Gods wrath So He alone worketh our salvation This the Apostle presseth because of the false Apostles that were crept into the Church they would graunt that Iesus Christ the Sonne of Mary was the true Christ in whom the Iewes and Gentiles should trust yet they would have something else to be joyned with him they would have Moses joyned with Christ and the Law with the Gospell in the matter of salvation against which the Apostle much laboureth and to settle their hearts onely upon Christ excluding all other causes and things from having any hand or share in being meritorious causes of mans salvation 3 All is not done when the judgement is informed that Christ is the onely Saviour and a perfect Saviour without any act of ours concurring to merit salvation there is another thing to be added which must fasten upon the affections Christ must be received with the whole heart not onely with the understanding but the will and affections the whole soule must incline to it thus to rest onely upon Him to prize Him onely for Himselfe faith fixeth upon the person of Christ and takes all other things as consequents deduced from that which is in Christ So the joy of a Christian the delight of a Christian the love of a Christian should bee fixed onely upon Christ 4 There is yet another thing to be done to receive whole Christ into the whole heart is to receive Christ in all His offices Ioh. 14.6 I am the way the truth and the life He is our way He is our Peace-maker so He is our Priest He is the truth as He is our Prophet to leade us into all truth and He is our life as He is our King and mighty Lord to worke effectually in the hearts of all that shall be saved Take Him thus expect not onely peace by Him but truth also nor knowledge of the truth onely but life also and ability to walke in obedience to that truth thus you must receive whole Christ not only as a Saviour to free you from the wrath of God but also as a Lord and King to rule over you and to guide you Hereby you may know whether you have received CHRIST or not 2 Marke hence Doct. That true beliefe on Christ must have with it perseverance and a life obedient unto Him A true believer on Him must be a constant believer and a good liver in Him for to walke in Christ is every where to converse as those who must in all things acknowledge Him As Christ is the author and object of our faith so He must be the Soveraigne commander the chiefe worker the end of all those workes which I walke in and occupy my selfe about through my whole life But the phrase is worth the opening 1 It signifieth as much as to doe all we doe after the rule and command of Christ the same with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 after CHRIST verse 8. He is our onely law giver we are in all things to heare Him and to attend His pleasure not stirring without His warrant 2 It signifieth continuing in Him in faith on Him to which Hee hath brought us not to recoyle or give in 3 To walke in Christ is to set before our eyes His glory as the white we shoote at in all our affaires great and small Whatsoever you doe doe all to the glory of GOD and so of Christ I count not my life deare that I may fulfill the ministery which the Lord Iesus hath given me whether in my wits or out c. I am to the Lord. And what is more equall when a woman hath married a man must she not live to Him alone Is she to be commanded by others Is shee not to seeke to please him to obey him honour him in all things with feare How much more meet is it that we being by the hand of faith contracted to our Lord should live to Him And as a woman new married must not start but for better or worse continue where her faith is plighted So must we having given our faith not goe backe from Christ our husband that hath bought us deare and given us in joynture heaven it selfe Wherefore this must both admonish us of our duties Vse and be applyed to convince such as say they believe in Christ but live not in Him looke not to His will deny not themselves seeking for His strength labour not to set forth His glory Nay they are at the command of men what such and such like of is their ten commandements yea walke in the flesh in obeying the lusts of their owne hearts following their owne corrupt mindes and affections and the examples of others like themselves O wretch hart thou not ashamed hast thou the face of an honest man and wouldst thou not blush to take a woman to thee and make no conscience of following every trull and leaving her so as she scarce from the beginning of the weeke to the end comes into thy thoughts thus thou servest thy husband Christ Observe lastly Doct. That our good beginnings must be a bond unto us to make good proceeding Have you begunne saith Saint Paul in the spirit and will you end in the flesh have you suffered so many things in vaine So he exhorteth Timothy even from this that hee had beene brought up in the Scriptures of a child and