should repeate all the letters of the Alphabet or A B C before he against another did either speake or do any thing 3. To depart out of those places where those are with whom we are angrie 4. To auoide contention both in word and deed Do nothing through contention Lidia Say I sinne by couetousnesse and ambition what must I do P. Remedies against those bad desires of riches and honor are 1. God doth euen in famine quickeÌ„ and reuiue them which feare him Psal. 33. 18. 19. The eye of the Lord is vpon them that feare him to deliuer their souls from death and to preserue them from famine 2. Godlinesse is great gaine if the mind of man can be therewith content 1. Tim. 6. 6. 3. we do waite and looke for the resurrection of the bodie and eternall life therefore we should not take such carking care for this present mortall life 4. We are seruants in our fathers house therefore looke what is conuenient for vs that will he louingly bestow vpon vs. 5. The palpable blindnesse of an ambitious mind desireth to be set aloft that he may haue the greater downe-falle and he feareth to be humbled lest he should not be exalted 6. Adam when he would needes be checke-mate with God did bring both himselfe and his posteritie headlongâ—â— destruction 7. He is a very ambitious rob God which desireth to take that commeâ—dation to himselfe which is appropriate only to the Lord. Lidia Admit Satan allures me to carnal vncleanenesse how may I preserue my selfe that I may with the wise virgins enter with the bridegrome Pa. Preseruatiues against the desires of the flesh are 1. He that will be Christs disciple must euery day take vp his crosse Luk. 9. 23. 2. They which are according to the spirit sauour of such things as are according to the spirit Rom. 8. 5. 3. We ought to behaue 〈◊〉 selues as citizens of the kingdom of heauen Philip. 3. 20. 4. We are the temple of Godâ— 1. Cor. 3. 6. Our members they are the meÌ„bers of Christ. 1. Cor. 6. 15. And we haâ—â— dwelling within vs the spirit of Christâ— which we should not grieue Eph. 4. 30. Lid. How may I fall in this temptations Paul When you being preuented fall 〈◊〉 some offence Gal. 6. 1. Lidia What doth Satan when one is thus â—â—llen Paul Here Satan doth wonderfully aggrauate the offence committed and doth acâ—use and terrifie the offender with the iudgements of God Mat. 27. 3. Then when Iudas which betrayed him saw that he was condemâ—â—d he repented himselfe and brought againe the thirtie peeces of siluer to the chiefe Priests and Elders 4. Saying I haue sinned betraying the innocent bloud but they said What is that to vs see thou to it 5. And when he had cast downe the siluer peeces in the Temple he departed and went and hanged himselfe Lid. What remedie is there if that I fall Paul The remedie is a renewed repentance the beginning whereof is sorrow in regard of God for the same sinne the fruites hereof are especially seuen 2. Cor. 7. 9. Now I reioyce not that you were sorrie but that ye sorrowed to repentance for ye sorrowed godly so that in nothing ye were hurt by vs. 10. For godly sorrow causeth repentance vnto saluation not to be repented of but worldly sorrow causeth death 11. For behold this thing that ye haue bene godly sorrie what great care hath it wrought in you yea what clearing of your selues yea what indignation yea what feare yea how great desire yea whâ—â— zeale yea what punishment in all things 〈◊〉 haue shewed your selues that ye are pure in this matter Lid. Repeate out of this place those seuen fruites of repentance Paul First a desire of doing well Secondly an Apologie that is a confession of the sinne before God with a requiring of pardon for the offence Psalm 32. 5. Then I acknowledged my sin vnto thee neither hid I mine iniquitie for I thought I will confesse against my selfe my wickednesse vnto the Lord and thou forgauest the punishment of my sinne 2. Sam. 12. 13. Then Dauid said vnto Nathan I haue sinned against the Lord and Nathan said vnto Dauid The Lord also haâ—â— put away thy sinne thou shalt not die 3 Indignation against a mans selfe for his offence 4 A feare not so much for the punishment as for offending the Lord. Psal. 130. 3. If thou streightly markest iniquities O Lord who shall stand 5 A desire to be fully renewed and to be deliuered from sinne 6 A feruent zeale to loue God and to embrace and keepe all his commandements 7. Reuenge whereby the flesh may be taâ—ed and subdued lest at any time afterward such offences be committed Lidia Blessed be God that thus teacheth â—e by you Let me speake yet vnto you concerning calamities I reade in the Scriptures of the patient bearing of the crosse what wil it teach me Paul The patient bearing of the crosse teacheth how Christians should vndergo the burden Lidia VVhat I pray you is the crosse Paul The crosse is a certaine measure of afflictions appointed by God to euery one of the faithfull Math. 6. 24. If any man wil follow me let him forsake himselfe take vp his crosse and follow me Col. 1. 24. Now reioyce I in my sufferings for you and fulfill the rest of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his bodies sake which is the Church Lidia How must this crosse be taken vp Paul We ought to take vp this crosse willingly euen with both hands when it shall please God to lay it vpon vs. And after we haue taken it vp we must beare it with patience and perseuerance Col. 1. 11. Strengthened with all might through his glorious power vnto all patience and long suffering with ioyfulnesse Luke 21. 19. Possesse your soules with patience Lidia How may I preserue patience Paul The preseruatiues of patience are first strength by the holy Ghost Phil. 4. 13. I am able to do all things through the helpe of Christ which strengtheneth me Phil. 1. 20. It is giuen to you for Christ that not onely ye should beleeue in him but also suffer for his sake 2. An holy meditation which is manifold 1. That the afflictions of the faithful come not by chance but by the counsell and prouidence of God which disposeth all things in a most excellent sort Gen. 45. 4. 5. It was God that sent Ioseph into Egypt 2. Sam. 16. 10. The Lord biddeth Shemei curse Dauid Psal. 119. 71. It was good for me that I was afflicted that I might learne thy statutes Hence it is euident that afflictions to the godly are ineuitable Act. 14. 21. By many afflictions you must enter into the kingdome of God Mat. 7. 14. The gate is streight and the way narrow that leadeth vnto life and few there be that find it Iohn 16 20. In the world ye shall haue troubles 2 That albeit afflictions are grieuous yet are they good and profitable For they
meate they were readie to distrust his prouidence And therefore it must admonish vs that we must not in our requests and petitions as the Bethulianes did appoint God the time place or meanes how we would be helped in pouertie sicknesse or other waies but coÌ„tinuing in prayer waite vpon the Lords leysure and leaue these circumstances to his good will and pleasure Secondly God is tempted when men will not beleeue his word but do demaund signes and wonders from heauen as the Scribes and Pharises did Ioh. 2. 18. tempt our Sauiour Christ not beleeuing his doctrine vnlesse he would confirme it by some miracle And thus all they tempt God who refuse to beleeue the doctrine of God because it is not confirmed vnto them at their pleasure by signes and wonders But some may say What is it not lawfull theÌ„ to demaund and require a signe at Gods hands Yes we may sometimes and so we reade that Gedeon did require a signe of God and sinned not so did Hezechiah 2. King 20. 8. In two cases men may aske a signe of the Lord. First when the Lord giues a man commaundement to aske a signe then we may aske it lawfully and thus the Lord bidâ— Achaz to ask a signe and he sinned in refusing to do it Secondly a man may aske a signe of God when it is necessarie for the confirmation of a man in some extraordinarie calling as we see in Gedeon being extraordinarily appointed of God to be the Captaine and deliuerer of Gods people he being not fully perswaded of this his vocation desired a signe of God not of infidelitie but the better to resolue himselfe of Gods calling him to that busines And so it was in Hezechiah to perswade himselfe of Gods extraordinarie deliuerance from an extraordinarie diâ—ease The third way whereby men tempt God is when men liue in sinne continually without repentance and so will trie Gods mercie and thus the Israelites tempted God Num. 14. 18. And so all those which liue in â—inne from day to day without repentance do indeed tempt God and abuse his patience Mal. 3. 15. And therefore seeing that this is euen to tempt God to liue in sinne without repentance it must stirre vs vp all to take heed how we runne on in sinne but that we do wiâ—â— speed repent and breake off the course of our sins for so long as we liue in sinne without repentance we tempt God and then we can promise no safetie to our selues neither looke for the protection of Gods Angels but ly euen naked to all Gods heauie iudgements The fourth manner of tempting God is to inioyne men the obseruations of the ceremoniall lawe as it appeareth Ast. 15. 10. the Iewes are said to tempt God in that they vrged the obseruation of the ceremonies of Moses And by this we may iudge of the present estate of the Church of Rome and of their religion which stands for the most part in vaine and superstitious ceremonies and that which is worse of Iudaisme and Gentilisme The last way how men tempt God is not to vse the lawfull ordinarie means which God hath appointed either concerning mens soules or concerning their bodies and this is here vnderstood in this place when Christ saith Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God When we shal refuse such lawfull and ordinarie meanes as the Lord hath appointed and vse extraordinarie euen as a man hauing a readie way ouer a bridge should leaue that and thrust himselfe into the water what were this but to tempt God Or when a man hath the ordinarie way to come downe by the steppes or staires and refusing that shold cast himselfe downe from the top of a steeple So those men who contemne the word of God and will not vouchsafe to heare what do they else but euen tempt God seeing they refuse the preaching of the word which is the ordinarie meanes to saue mens soules And thus Satan tempted our Sauiour Christ to tempt God For hauing now set him on the toppe of the temple in a dangerous place he perswades him to cast himselfe downe and he addeth that he may be bold to do so because God hath giuen his Angels charge to looke vnto him that he take no harme But our Sauiour Christ answers him That were to tempt God seeing he had the lawfull and ordinary way to go downe by the staires and therefore he had no reason to cast himselfe downe In a word all those tempt God which either refuse the ordinary meanes God hath appointed or do wilfully cast themselues into daunger being not called thereunto of God as Peter hauing no calling of God went and thrust himselfe into Caiphas hall to see what became of his maister the three Worthies which ventured through the hoast of the Philistims to fetch water at the well of Bethell for Dauid whereas he might haue had it without danger at home Here some may aske What we are to iudge of those which vse to walke on ropes on high places and on the toppe of houses whether do such men sin or not Ans. These men do so either with a calling or without a calling Such as do it by vertue of their lawfull calling as Mosons and such as build churches and houses and so by reason of their trades work on high places cannot be said to tempt God nay rather so long as they walke faithfully in their lawfull callings they may assure themselues of Gods blessing and his protection But as for those who to shew their agilitie and to make sport walke on ropes or runne vpon the roofe of houses these men hauing no calling from God so to do they cannot looke for Gods protection nay they in so doing tempt God casting themselues vpon daunger And our Sauiour Christ might a thousand times better haue done this which Satan wold haue him here to doâ— yet would he not put himselfe into needlesse daunger lest he should tempt God much lesse ought any man else aduenture to do it And in this that our Sauiour Christ vseth the ordinarie way euen the staires we may learne that if any man looke to haue Gods protection and blessing he must also make sure to vse the lawfull and ordinarie meanes appointed of God keepe himselfe within the compasse of his calling yea if we desire to find comfort in any of Gods gracious promises we must be wary to keepe our selues within the compasse of his commaundements but if we leaue them then we find no true comfort neither haue we any promise of protection from God But so long as we walke in obedience of Gods commaundements and within the compasse of our callings we haue this blessed promise from God that his Angels shall take the care of vs to guard and to defend vs. Againe the diuell taketh him into an exceeding high mountaine In the seuen verses going before we haue heard of the two first temptations of our sauior Christ
then must be my remedy Paul The remedie for this is subiection which must be made to the iudgement and censure of the brethren and Ministers Reuel 3. 15. I know thy workes that thou art neither cold nor hote I would thou werest cold or hote Gal. 6. 2. 1. Tim. 1. 20. Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander whom I haue deliuered vnto Satan that they might learne not to blaspheme Lid. What is the second assault Paul The second assault is concerning faith Lid. How may one be thus assaulted Paul By an illusion which the Diuell casteth into the hearts of godly ones as when he saith Thou art not of the number of the elect thou art not iustified thou hast no faith thou must certainely be condemned for thy sinnes as Mat. 4. 3. Then came to him the tempter and said If thou be the Sonne of God command that these stones be made bread Now as he dealt with Christ so will he with Christians Lidia What helpes doth the Diuell abuse for the strengthening of such illusions as these Paul 1. He abuseth Aduersitie as dangers losses persecutions iealousie grieuous offences c. So in Dauid Psal. 73. 12. Loe these are the wicked yet prosper they alway and increase in riches 13. Certainely I haue cleansed mine heart in vaine and washed mine hands in innocencie In Iob 13. 23. How many art mine iniquities and sinnes Shew me my rebellion and my sinne 24. Wherefore hidest thou thy face and takest me for thine enemie 25. Will thou breake a leafe driuen to and fro and wilt thou pursue the drie stubble 2 The remembrance of sinnes past Iob 13. 26. For thou writest bitter things against me and makest me to possesse the iniquities of my youth 3 A feeling of death euen alreadie at hand Lidia How may I withstand these Paul By a true faith applying Christ with all his merits particularly after this manner I assuredly beleeue that I shall not be condemned but that I am elected and iustified in Christ and am out of all doubt that all my sinnes are pardoned Esa. 53. 11. He shall see the trauell of his soule and shall be satisfied by his knowledge shall my righteous seruant iustifie many for he shall beare their iniquities Rom. 8. 38. For I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come 39. Nor heighth nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Lidia Giue me a preseruatiue that I may resist Paul Your best preseruatiue is in temptation not to behold faith but the obiect of faith which is Christ. So did Paul Philip. 3. 12. Not as though I had alreadie attained vnto it either were alreadie perfect but I follow that I may comprehend that for whose sakâ— also I am comprehended of Christ Iesus 13. One thing I do I forget that which is behind and indeuour my selfe to that which is before 14. And follow hard toward the marke for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus So must all Ioh. 3. 14. And as Moses lift vp the Serpent in the wildernesse so must the sonne of man be lift vp that he that beleeueth in him should not perish but haue life euerlasting Lid. What is my falling in this assault Paul Your falling is doubtfulnesse and distrust of your election of Gods mercie Psal. 77. 6. I called to remembrance my soâ—â— in the night I comâ—â—ned with mine own heart and my spirit searched diligently 7. Will in Lord absent himselfe for euer and will he shew no more fauour 8. Is his 〈◊〉 cleane gone for euer doth his promise faile for euermore So Dauid of himselfe saith Psalm 22. 1. My God my God why hast thou forsaken me and art so farre from my health and from the words of my roaring Lid. What is my remedie Paul The remedie is double First the operation of the holy Spirit stirring vp faith and increasing the same Philip. 1. 6. I am perswaded of this same thing that he that hath begunne this good worke in you will performe it vntill the day of Iesus Christ. Luk. 17. 5. And the Apostles said vnto the Lord Increase our faith The second is an holy meditation which is manifold 1 That it is the commandement of God that we should beleeue in Christ. 1. Ioh. 3. 23. This is then his commaundement that we beleeue in the name of his Sonne Iesus Christ and loue one another as he gaue commaundement 2 That the Euangelicall promises are indefinite and do exclude no man vnlesse peraduenture any man do exclude himselfe Esa 55. 1. Ho euery one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and ye that haue no siluer come buy and eate come I say buy wine and milke without siluer and without money Mat. 11. 28. Come vnto me all ye that are wearie and laden and I will ease you Ioh. 3. 15. That whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue eternall life Also the Sacraments of Baptisme and the Lords Supper do to euery one seuerally apply indefinite promises and therefore are very effectuall to enforce particular assurance or plerophorie of forgiuenesse of sinnes 3 That doubtfulnesse and despaire are most grieuous sinnes 4 That contrarie to hope men must vnder hope beleeue with Abraham Rom. 4. 18. Which Abraham aboue hope beleeued vnder hope that he should be the father of many nations according to that which was spoken to him So shall thy seed be 5 That the mercie of God and the merit of Christs obedience being both God and man are infinite Esa. 54. 10. For the mountaines shall remoue and the hils shall fall downe but my mercie shall not depart from thee neither shall my couenant of peace fall away saith the Lord that hath compassion on thee Psal. 103. 11. For as high as the heauen is aboue the earth so great is his mercie toward them that feare him 1. Ioh. 2. 1. My babes these things write I vnto you that ye sinne not and if any man sinne we haue an aduocate with the Father Iesus Christ the iust 2. And he is the reconciliation for our sinnes and not for ours onely but also for the sinnes of the whole world Psal. 137. 7. Let Israel waite on the Lord for the Lord is mercie and with him is great redemption 6 That God measureth the obedience due vnto him rather by the affection and desire to obey then by the act and performance of it Rom. 8. 5. For they that are after the flesh sauour the things of the flesh but they that are after the spirit the things of the spirit 7. Because the wisedome of the flesh is enmitie against God for it is not subiect to the law of God neither indeed can be Rom. 7. 20. Now if I do that I would not it is no more I that do it but the sinne that dwelleth in me 21. I find
then by the law that when I would do good euill is present with me 22. For I delight in the law of God concerning the inner man Mal. 3. 17. I will spare them as a man spareth his son that reuerenceth him 7 When one sinne is forgiuen all the rest are remitted also for remission being giuen once without any prescription of time is giuen for euer Rom. 11. 29. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance Act. 10. 43. To him also giue all the Prophets witnesse that through his name all that beleeue in him shall receiue remission of sinnes 8 That grace and faith are not taken away by fals of infirmitie but thereby are declared and made manifest Rom. 5. 20. Moreouer the law entred thereupon that the offence should abound neuerthelesse where sin abounded there grace abounded much more 2. Cor. 12. 7. And lest I should be exalted out of measure c. there was giuen vnto me a pricke in the flesh the messenger of Satan to buffet me 8. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from me 9. He said My grace is sufficient for thee 9 That all the workes of God are by contrarie meanes 2. Cor. 12. 9. My power is made perfect through weaknesse Lidia By the blessing of God I will not forget to practise these soueraigne remedies if Satan at any time seeke to take away my faith and to cut off this hand by which I must apply or to blindfold this eye by which I may behold Christ sitting at Gods right hand as Stephen did Let me heare I pray you the third assault and what it concerneth Paul The third assault is concerning Sanctification Lid. What is this temptation Paul The temptation is a prouoking to sinne according as the disposition of euery man and as occasion shall offer it selfe 1. Chron. 21. 1. And Satan stood vp against Israel and prouoked Dauid to number Israel Ioh. 13. 2. And when supper was done the diuell had now put into the heart of Iudas Iscariot Simons sonne to betray him Lid. Let me not be ignorant of Satans enterprises How will he allure to sinne Paul In this temptation the diuell doth wonderfully diminish and extenuate those sins which men are about to commit partly by obiecting closely the mercie of God and partly by couering or hiding the punishment which is due for the sin Besides there are helpes to further the diuell in this his temptation as first the flesh which lusteth against the spirit sometimes by begetting euill motions and affections and sometimes by ouerwhelming and oppressing the good intents and motions Gal. 5. 17. For the flesh lufteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh and these are contrarie one to another so that ye cannot do the same things that ye would 19. Moreouer the workes of the flesh are manifest which are adulterie fornication vncleanenesse wantonnesse 20. Idolatrie witchcraft hatred debate emulations wrath contentions seditions heresies 21. Enuie murthers drunkennesse gluttonie and such like whereof I tell you before as I also haue told you before that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdome of God Iam. 1. 14. But euery man is tempted when he is drawne away by his owne concupiscence and is entised Secondly the world which bringeth men to disobedience through pleasure profite honour and euill examples Ephesians 2. 3. Among whom we also had our conuersation in time past in the lustes of the flesh in fulfilling the will of the flesh and of the mind and were by nature the children of wrath as well as others 1. Iohn 2. 16. For all that is in the world as the lusts of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the father but is of the world Lid. How may I resist this temptation Paul Resistance is made by the desire of the spirit which worketh good motions and affections in the faithfull and driueth foorth the euill Gal. 5. 22. But the fruite of the spirit is loue ioy peace long suffering gentlenesse goodnesse faith 23. Meekenesse temperancie against such there is no law 24. For they that are Christs haue crucified the flesh with the affections and the lusts thereof 26. Let vs not be desirous of vaine glorie prouoking one another enuying one another Lid. Giue me here some preseruariues that I may resist Paul The preseruatiues are these 1 To account no sinne light or small Gal. 5. 9. Alitle leauen doth leauen the whole lumpe Rom. 6. 23. For the wages of sinne is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Iesus Christ our Lord. 2 To auoide all occasions of sinne To these rather agreeth the Prouerb vsed of the Plague longè tardè citò that is aloofe slowly quickly 1. Thessal 5. 22. Abstaine from all appearance of euill Iud. v. 23. And other saue with feare pulling them out of the fire and hate euen the garment spotted by the flesh 3 To accustome thy selfe to subdue the lesser sinnes that at the last thou maist also ouercome the greater Rom. 13. 4. 4. To apply thy selfe to thy appointed calling and alway to be busily occupied about something in the same 5 To oppose the law the iudgements of God the last iudgement the glorious presence of God and such like against the rebellion and loosenesse of the flesh Pro. 28 14. Blessed is the man that feareth alway but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into euill Gen. 39. 9. There is no man greater in this house then I neither hath he kept any thing from me but onely thee because thou art his wife how then can I do this great wickednesse and so sinne against God Lid. But alas I see Satan foyles me in many sins instruct me I pray you with some rules against them Say I be angrie vnaduisedly or desire to reuenge wrongs done vnto me how may I remedie this my sinne Paul Against vniust anger or priuate desire of reuenge Here meditate 1. iniuries they happen vnto vs by the Lords appointment for our good 2. Sam. 16. 10. 2. God of his great goodnesse forgiueth vs farre more sinnes then it is possible for vs to forgiue men 3. It is the dutie of Christian loue to forgiue others 4. We must not desire to destroy them whom Christ hath redeemed by his precious bloud 5. We our selues are in daunger of the wrath of God if we suffer our wrath to burne against our brother Forgiue saith he and it shall be forgiuen 6. We know not the circumstances of the facts what the mind was and purpose of them against whom we swell Bridles or externall remedies are these 1. in this we shall imitate the clemencie of the Lord who for a very great season doth often tolerate the wicked Learne of me for I am humble and meeke 2. There must be a pausing and time of delay betwixt our anger and the execution of the same Athenoâ—â—rus counselled Augustus that he being angrie