nature doth dayly allure vs to sinne Now iâ— we consent to those his wicked motions whether we performe them outwardly in act or no before God we haue committed the sinne according to that of Iohn Hee that hateth his 1. Ioh. â— 1â— brother is a man slayer because in will in wish and in desire hee hath already slaine him although hee doth not bring it into outward act either for feare of the law of man in that case or for want of iust and fit opportunity for the effecting thereof Yea the sinne of thought the sinne conceiued in the heart of man is not onely a sinne but it is the roote and beginning Mat. 15. 1â— of all sinnes whatsoeuer for it is not that which goeth into man that defileth him but that which commeth out of him that is that which proceedeth from the heart of man The diuell first suggesteth after The Ladder of sin suggestion commeth cogitation after cogitation followeth affection after affection followeth delectation after delectation followeth consent how is the sinne of thought fully committed after consent followeth operation after operation followeth â—â—stome after custome followeth desperation after desperation followeth defending of sinnes committed after defending of sins committed followeth vaunting boasting and glorying in sinne which is next to damnation it selfe Thus the heart is the fountaine from whence springeth all sin whatsoeuer Yet haue wee not many wicked ones in this world that think the sin of heart to bee no sin at all or else but a small sin that shall neuer be brought in question at the day of account But let all these know that as of euery idle word so of euery wicked and sinfull thought conceiued and nourished within the heart of man hath full consent to the performance of the same for there is no sinne that can be coÌ„mitted without consent had men yea all men must giue an account I giue all men therefore to the good of their soules this good counsell of Salomon Keepe thine heart Prou. 4. 23 with all diligence for there out commeth life If thou keepest it not diligently and waâ—â—ly thereout will proceed death I meane sinne whose Rom. 6. â—3 wages is death The heart is a Mill alwayes grinding either good corne or bad either good thoughts or bad therefore keepe it diligently for thy soules sake let it meditate in the Law of God day and night abandon all wicked motions that at the day of iudgement thou maist be pure bread and fine manchet for the Bread of Life Christ Iesus his Table in heauen The Lord grant this to mee the Writer thee the Reader and to euery Hearer of it 2 Wee must giue an account of our words Of euery idle word that men shall Word speake c. Diuers of the learned Writers haue diuersly commented of this idle word what it should be one affirming one thing another another thing Therefore I will in a word set downe the opinions of some of them not incongruent neither disagreeable to the holy Scripture Gregory saith that Verbum otiosum Gregory est quod â—â—sta necessitate pia vtilitate caret That is saith he an idle word which is spoken either without iust necessitie or godly profit Ierome saith that VerbuÌ„ otiosum est Ierome quod sine vtilitate loquentis vel audientiâ— proâ—ertur That is saith he an idle word which is spoken either without edification of the Hearer or Speaker Basil Omne verbum quod non conduâ—it Basil ad propositam vtilitatem vanum est otiosum that is euery word which belongeth not to an intended profit is a vaine and an idle word Master Iohn Caluin saith that Caluin Sermo otiosus pro inutili sumitur qui nihil aedificationis vel fructus assert id est An idle word is taken for a word vnprofitable for a word that bringeth with it no fruitfull edification So that from these descriptions of holy men I doe describe an idle word on this maner Verbum otiosum est quod ad bonam rem non pertinet quod non facit ad gloriaâ— Dei vnseâ—tis quod mutâ—le est infrugâ— ferum quod nec loquâ—ntem nec audientem â—diâ—icat id est An idle word is that which doth not appertaine to a proposed profit which tendeth not to the glory of the euer-liuing God which is vnprofitable and vnfruitfull which edâ—â—ieth neither the Hearer nor the Speaker If then good breforen in Christ Iesus so great account must be giuen of euery idle vain and fruitlesse word what account thinke yée shall bee giuen for swearing cursing banning and blaspheming What account shall the swearer giue that hath not one word in his mouth but it is guarded with an execrable oath How common alas this sinne of swearing is who knoweth not for the small infants and tender children in our streets haue cursed oaths ad unguem at their fingers end yea at their tongues end too What account shall the cursing and banning tongue â—â—ue that Cruelly Disdainefully and Psal 31. 1â— Despightfully speaketh against his neighbour What account shall the blasphemous person giue that speaketh contemptuousâ—y of GOD and saith that Christ did cast out diuels through the name of Beelzebub If 1. Pet. 4. 1â— the Iust shall scarce bee saued where shall the sinner appeare If account must bee made of euery idle word Lord what account shall they make that rap and vomit out blasphemies against the terrible Iudge of heauen and earth As men think and fondly imagine that the sinne of thought vnlesse it proceed into outward act is but a small sinne so likewise doe they imagine of idle words that they are but small sinnes and a small account for them shall be giuen But let all the world know that no sin can be said to be small in respect of it own nature for the least sinne that can bee committed in the world is so weighty as without repentance had it will sinke the sinner downe to the bottomelesse pit of hell Yet notwithstanding an idle word in respect of other sinnes may be said to bee a small sinne yet as small as it is it is able to damne the soule foreuer Well therefore saith Petrus Damianus Petrâ—â— sermone secundo de vitio linguae Audiat lingua vaniloqua audiat otiosa lingua audiat pauescat intelligat perhorrescat sententiam horribilem extremique Iâ—diâ—ij terrorem c. that is Heare O vaine babbling tongue heare O idle tongue heare and tremble vnderstand and quake at the hearing of the terrible day of Iudgement He that hath hands to slay hath he not cares to heare Hee saith that of euery idle word that men shall speake they shall giue an account thereof at the day of Iudgement Although an idle word bee a small sinne in respect of greater sins yet neuerthelesse an innumerable company of idle words congested accumulated and heaped vp together they will make a mighty sin Quid
is a great plenty of men but there is a great scarcity of good men These wayes seeme pleasant to be walked in yet Nouissima illarum mors est The end of these wayes is death for the diuel like a subtill fisher sheweth the bait but hideth the hooke sheweth the vnprofitable profit and vnpleasant pleasure of sin but h 〈…〉 th the hooke from mens eyes which is death according to that of S. Paul Stipendium 〈…〉 mors est The wages of sinne is death here hell and damnation hereafter Sinne seemeth at thâ— first to fawne vpon a man but yet in the end it will with Caines dogge Gen. 4. plucke out the very throats of our soules In these main rodes the more is the pitty doth the greatest part of mankind run headlong to perdition without any checke of conscience remorse for their sinnes or any reclamâ—tion in the world Sinne neuer more then in these our dayes of the Gospell abounded the diuell hath more followers then Christ the whole multitude â—â—â—ed Crucifie him Crucifie him bâ—â— Mar. â—â— 1â— there was but one and thâ—t a â—â—lly woman that laboured to set him â—râ—e The saying of Paul to the Romans is verified in thâ—se our dayes of sin There is none righteous no not one Rom. 3. 10. 11. 12. There is none that vnderstandeth there is none that seeketh God all haue gone out of the way all are altogether vnprofitable there is none that doth good no not one Pride Whoredome Gal. â— 19. â—â— â—â— Adultery Fornication Vncleannesse Wantonnesse Idolatry Witch-craft Hatred Debate Emulation Wrath Contention Sedition Heresie Couetousnesse Drunkennesse Swearing Forswearing Blasphemy Prophanenesse coÌ„tempt of the Word despising of Gods Messengers and the like abominations are raigning in euery angle of this our Iland yea our Land is become a sinke of sin a pit of pollution and a place of abomination defiled with iniquity A vertice capitis vsque ad plantam pedis id est from toppe to toe hauing no sound part throughout it yea our whole Land is out of course And it is the great Lam. 3 2â— mercy of God that wee are not consumed Yea these last dayes of the world are like to the daies of Israels prouocation of the Lord in the wildernesse wherein wee preferre the slauery of Egypt aboue the sweete Manna of heauenly blisse Yea that saying of the Prophet is verified of the most part of mankind That the Children gather stickes the Ierem. 7. 8. Fathers make the fire and the women bake cakes for the Queene of Heauen That is they offered sacrifice to the Sun and Moone and Planets which they called the Queene of Heauen So the beast of Rome with his Antichristian crue doth sacrifice to Mary making her an idoll and calling her as in their Salue Regina and Regina Coeli laetare doth appeare the Queene of Heauen They make Ignorance the mother of their Deuotion Sir Iohn Lacke-latine and Sir Anthony Ignorance are their chiefest Clarkes and best Masse-mongers Yea the world is growne to that height of reprobation that that which is written in Iob is verified of many They say to Goâ— Depart â—rom vs Iob. 21 14. 15. â—or we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes who is the Almighty that wee should serue him Full little thinking that the Lord shall answer them with the like Disâ—â—â—â—â—e Depart from me yee Math 7. 2â— workers of iniquity Thus we â—ée how the worldlings run in the race of iniquity the broad way to the lake vnquenchable some in the race of Atheisme some in Papisme some in Mahumetisme some in Paganisme but few there are that run in the race of Christianisâ—â—â— But thou that wouldest be saued thou that wouldest so runne that thou maist obtaine run not in any of these wayes but flye from sin as from a stinging Serpent and a biting Cockaâ—riâ—â— For they that doe such things shall not â—al â— â—â— inherite the Kingdome of God The right way therefore wherein Hâ—c 〈…〉 we must runne is the way of Godlinesse the way of Christianity the way of the Word of God framing all our thoughts words and operations according to the precise and strict rule of the same For Factores legis iustificabuntur id est The doers of the â—aw shall be iustified saued and glorified This way of Godlinesse is a blessed way to walke in It is sweeter than Psal â—â— Mat. 11. 3â— the hony or the hony combe Iugum Christi sâ—â—ue est onus suum leue id est The yoke of Christ is easie and his burthen light Mandata â—â—â—s graâ—ia â—on 1. Ioh. 5. 3. sunt id est His Commandements are not grieuous and his Commandements Psal 119. are exceeding large Her wayes are wayes of pleasure and her pathes Prou. 3. 17 â—sâ—l 119. â—â—5 prosperity It is a lanthorne to our feet and a lâ—ght vnto our pathes It is a pillar of fire to carry vs thorow the wildernesse of this world to the Celestiall Canaan It is the power of God Rom. 1. 1â— to saluation to euery Beleeuer both lew and Grecian It is able to saue our Iam. 1. 2â— soules it is able to make vs wise to saluation is is profitable to teach to improue 2. Tim. â— 15 1â— 17. to correct to instruct in righteousnesse and to make vs perfect in all good works It is comfortable in all cases and parts of our life both in prosperity and aduersity both in life and death If we fight it is a sword if we hunger it is meate if wee thirst it is drinke if wee be naked it is a garment if we be in darknes it is light yea in a word the Word of God is The high-way to Heauen Enter therfore Mat. 7. 13. in at the straight gate of amendment and run in the same from faith to faith from grace to grace from vertue to vertue from strength to strength till thou beest a perfect man in Christ Iesus Cast away the workes of darknesse Rom 13. 12 13 14 and put on the armour of light walke honestly as in the day not in gluttonie and drunkennesse neither in chambering and wantonnesse nor in strife and enuying but put on the Lord Iesus Christ and take no thought for the flesh to fulfill the lusts of it Bee Mat. 10. 16 wise as the Serpent be innocent as the Doue Amongst diuers points of wisedome to bee found in the Serpent this is one namely Shee casteth her coat and so renouateth her age as Aristotle saith These three beasts Arist de nat Aâ— mal lib. 8 cap. 17. Stellio Tum Vere tum Autumno both in the Spring as also in Autumne doe cast their skinnes viz. the beast like a Lizzard called in Latine Stellio Quia habet maculas quasi stellas collo infixas Because hee hath spots in his necke like starres Lacertus the Lizzard and Lacertus Serpens the Serpent And to doe this
and bodies may be kept blamelesse to the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ Amen From Hempsted in Essex Ianuary 10. 1629. Your Worships alwaies ready to be commanded in the LORD Henry Greenwood To the CHRISTIAN Reader CHristian Reader I commend to thy charitable view this terrible and lamentable description of Hell a subiect most necessarie in these dayes wherein Iniquity hath gotten the vpper hand the greatest part of mankinde laboureth of this dangerous disease namely hardnesse of heart and contempt of all grace I therefore for the remouing of this damnable euill haue prepared this Tormenting Corrasiue Blame me not if I be too bitter in denouncing Gods Iudgements against sinne the presumption of the time compels me this only is the ayme of my intention herein that many may be saued from the damnation hereof Thus commending this Tractate to thy Christian consideration and thy selfe to Gods most blessed protection I rest Thine euer-louing and wel-willing brother in the Lord Henry Greenwood Tormenting TOPHET Or A terrible description of Hell able to breake the hardest heart and cause it quake and tremble Esay 30. 33. Tophet is prepared of old it is euen prepared for the King hee hath made it deepe and large the burning thereof is fire and much wood the breath of the Lord like a Riuer of Brimstone doth kindle it ALbeit the LORD in the beginning created man in glorious manner omnino ad imaginem sui ratione sapientem vita innocentem dominio potentem altogether after his owne most glorious Image in purity and in perfection of holinesse both in soule and body yet withall he gaue him naturam flexibilem a mutable and changeable nature creating him in potestate standi seu posse cadendi in power of standing and in possibility of falling power of standing that he had from God his Creator possibility of falling that he had from himselfe being a creature A reason whereof S. Augustine giueth Augustine in his booke of Confessions Because the Lord created man ex nihilo of nothing therefore he left in man possibility to returne in nihilum into nothing if he obeyed not the will of his Maker And as Basil saith Si Deus dedisset Basil Adae naturam immutabilem deos potius quà m homines condidisset id est If God had giuen Adam an immutable and vnchangeable nature he had created a God not a man for this is a maine truth in Diuinity immutabiliter esse bonum proprium solius est Dei id est to bee immutably and vnchangeably good only proper to God Adam therfore being thus created that he might either stand or fall by the Diuels subtill suggestion and by the abuse of his owne frée will receiued a double downe-fall the fall of sinne by disobedience and the fall of death by sinne the last fall being the wages of the first fall as ye may read Rom 6. last verse The wages of sinne Rom. 6. 23. is death The Lord therefore hauing pitty vpon this his miserable estate vouchsafed in his Sonne to shew mercy vpon some by election to saluation as to shew iustice vpon other some by reprobation to damnation According to which irreuocable decrée the LORD hath prepared euen from the foundation of the earth answerable places a glorious habitation for the one and a terrible dungeon for the other Which generall truth is confirmed in the words of my Text hauing particular reference to the reprobat Assyrians For as the Lord in his mercy doth promise in this Chapter to his people repenting them of their sins manifold blessings spirituall and corporall temporall and eternall so doth he threaten in his iustice terrible vengeance to their enemies the Idolatrous Babylonians and Assyrians not only temporall but also eternall not to the meane subiect alone but to the King himselfe saying Tophet is prepared of old it is euen prepared for the King c. Not to insist therefore too long vpon introductions lest it should be said to me as once a flowting Cynick sayd to the Citizens of Myndus a little City with great gates Shut your gates lest your City run out I come to the Text it selfe which containeth in it a terrible and lamentable description of Hell prepared of old for the tormenting of all vngodly people of the world of what estate or condition soeuer they be euen for the King For Tophet is prepared of old it is euen prepared for the King c. In which terrible Description of Hell I obserue so many seuerals as the Beast had heads in the Reu. 13. 1. Reuelation that must be tormented in her First the certainty of this place of torment Tophet is prepared of old Secondly the parties for whom for all vngodly wretches yea euen for the King It is euen prepared for the King Thirdly the impossibility of getting out once in He hath made it deepe Fourthly the great number that shall be tormented in her expressed in this word Large Fiftly the extremity and bitternes of the torments of Tophet the burning thereof is fire Sixtly the eternity and euerlastingnesse of the torments of Tophet much wood so much as shall neuer be wasted Seuenthly the Authour or inflictor of these fearefull tortures and that is the Lord offended in these words The breath of the Lord like a Riuer of brimstone doth kindle it wherein I note the seuerity of God against sinne and sinners The certainty of this place of torment The first part is here described by thrée by the Name by the Act by the Antiquity First by the Name Tophet Secondly by the Act is prepared Thirdly by the Antiquity of old Tophet is prepared of old This Tophet was a valley neere Tophet vnto Ierusalem iuxta piscinam fullonis agrum Acheldema ad austrum Sion that is Neere to the Fullers poole and the field Acheldema on the South side of Sion Called also Gehinnom the valley or dale of Hinnom Quia locus iste in praedio erat viri cuiusdam Hinnom Aretius dicti Because this place was in the possession of a certaine man called Hinnom as saith Aretius In which place the Iewes following the cursed example of the Ammoniâ—es did sacrifice their children in the fire to the Idoll Moloch Quem pro Mercurio colebant whom they worshipped for Mercury as saith Montanus or rather pro Saturnâ— Montan. in Esay colebant for Saturne as saith Scultetus Quem Poetae proprios fingunt Scultet in Esay deuorasse filios whom the Poets fained to haue deuoured his owne Children This Moloch was Idolumaereum Scultet in Esay concauum passis brachijs ad excipiendos infantes sacro nefario destinatos subiectis prunis torrendos that is A brazen Idol hollow within his hands spred abroad to receiue Infants that were through their cursed Idolatry tortured in the fire and sacrificed to him as writeth Scultetus Snepfsius describeth this Snepfsius in Esay Idoll on this manner Idoli statua erat cuprea sic enim
GREENVVOODS VVORKES Contayned IN Fiue SEVERAL TRACTATES 1. Of the Day of Iudgement 2. Of the Lords Prayer 3. Of the Race to Saluation 4. Of the Torment of Tophet 5. Of the Baptisme of Christ The ninth Impression corrected and amended London printed for Henry Bell and are to be sold by Iohn Clarke at his Shop vnder S. Peters Church in Corn-hill 1620. A TREATISE Of the GREAT GENERAL Day of IVDGEMENT Necessary for euery Christian that wisheth good successe to his soule at that Great and Terrible day The ninth Impression corrected and amended MATH 12. 36. But I say vnto you that of euery idle word that men shall speake they shall giue an account thereof at the day of Iudgement London printed for Henry Bell and are to be sold by Iohn Clarke at his Shop vnder S. Peters Church in Corn-hill 1620. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVL AND my very good friends Sr. LESTRAVNGE MORDAVNT of Massingham Hall in the County of Norfolke Knight Baronet And to the Vertuous LADY the LADY FRAVNCIS MORDAVNT his louing Bedfellow Eternall wel-fare and euerlasting happinesse in Christ Iesus our Lord and Sauiour BEing earnestly requested and often intreated Right Worshipfull by many of my good friends to put in print this small Treatise of the Generall day of Doome which I lately preached and in publike place deliuered I haue being ouercome with their perswasions condescended to their earnest demaund although very vnapt and exceedingly vnworthy for the penning of so worthy a matter Wherfore I haue made choyse crauing pardon for my presumption herein of your wel-disposed Worships at this time being the Alpha of my tender and slender indeuours to sound in your sacred eares this last and generall Trumpe and to Dedicate to your Worships the same both in regard of the demonstration of my true vnfeined and lasting thankfulnesse to your benigne Worships for sayth Seneca Beneficium hominem gratum semper delectat ingratum semel id est A thankefull man will alwayes remember a benefite but an vnthankefull person will soone forget it for your extraordinary kindnesse bestowed vpon mee Absque vllo commerito without any desert in the World as also in regard of the great affection good deuotion and thrice welcome entertainment you beare to Diuine and Spirituall Tractates which appertaine to the euerlasting blisse of the Soule accounting them blessed which bring glad tidings of saluation I desire therefore idque more humillimo in most submissiue manner this one thing at your Worships hands that you would pardoning my boldnesse vouchsafe aequi bonique consulere to take in good worth this simple and slender gift Which thing if your Worships shal vouch safe to doe it shall not onely bee an incouragement to my future proceedings but also it shall bee Vinculum indissolubile an inuincible bond to tye mee in all duety and in all loue to your Worships Dum memor ipse mei dum spiritus hos regit artus so long as life shall last Thus humbly taking my leaue of your good Worships nothing doubting of the goodnesse of your natures in the acceptance of these my first presented fruits I commit you with yours to the safe protection of the Almighty alwayes begging before the Throne of his most Glorious Maiesty that he would in this life infuse his Holy Spirit with all his Graces into your hearts aboundantly and in the World to come crowne you with the Crowne of immortall Glory And that for CHRIST IESVS his sake our LORD and onely SAVIOVR Amen From Hempsted in Essex Ian. 10. 1620. Your Worships in all duety for euer to command HENRY GREENWOOD To the Reader GEntle Reader if in these following Tractates the Quotations of Latine other tongues do offend thee let them bee vnto thee as Country Stiles stepping ouer them thou losest not thy way by them for their Expositions follow them A Treatise of the Great and Generall Day of Iudgement necessary for euery Christian that wisheth good successe to his soule at that Great and Terrible day MATH 12. 36. But I say vnto you that of euery idle word that men shall speake they shall giue an account thereof at the day of Iudgement MAn in regard of the corruption of his Nature through the fall of his great Grand-father Adam who was the foyle of Man-kind the Parent of sinne and the author of death to all his posterity for asmuch as wee were all in â—umbiâ— Adami in his loines as hee is subiect to all sinnes whatsoeuer so is hee specially addicted to the sinne of security and carelesnesse Therefore as Adam sléeping securely in his transgression and hiding himselfe from the presence of the Lord behinde the bush had great need of that Watch-bel from God to rouze him from the sleepe of sinne and call him againe vnto God Adam vbies Adam where art thou So as Gen. 3. 9. necessary for euery sinfull Adamite to raise him from the sleepe of sinne wherein he was borne is this notable Memento this worthy rehearsall of the great and terrible day of Doome But I say vnto you c. Which words of our Sauiour Christ spoken to the Scribes and Pharises who would not beléeue that he wrought these miracles by the powerfull Spirit of God but slanderously and contumeliously Mat. 12. 24 told him to his face that he did cast out diuels through Beelzebubs name are as much in effect as if hee had said on this manner If account must be rendred at the day of Iudgement of euery idle word that men shall speake then much more of blasphemous words But I say vnto you that of euery idle word that men shall speake they shall giue account thereof at the generall day of Iudgement Ergo much more of blasphemous words as yours are in saying that I cast out diuels through the name of Beelzebub So that these words of our Sauior are nothing else but a true proposition and sound argument drawne a minore ad maiâ—s whereby Christ doth proue the greatnesse of punishment that should befall the blasphemous Pharises in regard of the greatnesse of their sinne In which portion of Scripture foure things necessarily must be considered 1. The persons that must giue an account who they be 2. Of what things these persons must giue an account 3. To whom this account must be giuen 4. When this account must bée giuen 1 The persons that must giue an The first part account they are expressed in this text in generall to be men That men shall speake Men yea all men must giue an account as wee may read in the Epistle of S. Paul to the Corinthians We must all appeare before the Tribunall â— Cor. 5. 10. seat of Christ that euery man may receiue according to his workes All men none excepted of euery age of euery sexe and of euery Nation rich and poore Princes common people noble and ignoble all that haue béene from the beginning of the world and shall be to the end of the
yeeres in the sight of God that is in respect of the eternity euerlastingnesse of God are as a day It is therfore spoken on this maner to expresse the eternity of God as if hee should say A thousand yeeres with mâ—n in respect of the eternity of God aâ—â— but as a day for as many as are haue bin and euer shall be the dayes of man so many thousand yea so 〈…〉 thâ—n sand thousands yeeres is the Câ—â—â—nitie of God He is Alpha and Omega the First and the Laâ—â— before all beginnings and shall neuer haue ending Againe they alleage that place of Genesis In that day that thou eatest Gen. 2. 17. thereof namely of the forbidden fruit thou shalt dye the death Now saith the Heretique that Ob day they dyed not but liued many hundrd yeeres after Therfore by a day is vnderstood many hundred yeeres Ans But I answer that that day wherin ADAM did eate of the forbidden fruit euen that day did hee dye that is that day by sin he was separated from God then the which separation no death is greater for Vt vâ—â—a corporis est anima 〈◊〉 vâ—â—a 〈◊〉 est Deus Augustine tolle animam 〈◊〉 corpus tolle Dâ—â—â—â— mâ—ritur animaâ—â—d est As the soule is the life of the body so God is 〈◊〉 of the soule take away the soule the body dieth take away God the Soule 〈…〉 So Adam that day dyed in Soule â—eing separated from the Lord yea that day Adam was made subiect to death in this life and in the life to come that day hee had the beginnings of death seazing vpon him for hee was presently cast out of Paradise into the ragged world he was cursed and all his posterity yea hee should haue gone to hell had not the second Adam broken the head of the subtill serpent that inticed him to sinne Yea the Thiefe vpon the Crosse had Paradise that day in his soule in which he suffered in body although hee had it not in so full measure as hee shall at the generall day when his Soule shall take vnto it the body againe Hodie to day thy soule with my soule shall be in Paradise that is in my Fathers Kingdome Where is now the Heretique that confoundeth particular iudgement Where is now the Epicure that thinketh there is no iudgement at all Where is now the ignorant Papist that dreameth of â—uâ—gaâ—ory and he that â—ondly thinketh that there is Limbus Patrum and Limbus Puerorum and where are those that imagin of a place of aboad betwéene Heauen and Hell I turne them altogether to the Hebrewes for wisedome in this Heb. 9. 27. point where they shall find that after death the soule of man is iudged Would Paul haue so earnestly desired Phil. 1. 23. to haue béen dissolued if he should not presently haue been with Christ He saith That in this world we see in 1 Cor. 13. 12. a glasse darkely Wée sée but Gods back-part as Moses did that is but a little of the fauor of God But then Ex. 33. 23. that is after this life ended wee shall see God face to face that is wée shall haue the full fruition of him Wée reade of Diues and Lazarus Luk. 19. 22 that after death the one was iudged to heauen the other to hell which is a Parable to signifie the truth of this particular iudgement And to conclude this point wée Eccl. 12. 7. read in Salomon That the dust returneth to the earth from whence it came and the Spirit to God that gaue it So that wée may learne from hence the vncertainty of the day of Iudgement The vse hereof Bernard Well saith Bernard Nihil certius morte hora mortis nihil â—â—certius that is Nothing is more certaine then death and there is nothing more vncertaine then the houre of death Let euery Christian therefore that wisheth the saluation of his Soule at the day of death and Iudgement beware of security and carelesse liuing let no man deferre repentance and amendment of life lest death come when hee looketh not for it and so being vnprepared he be cast into hell fire The old world had 120. yeeres to Gen 6. 3. Ionas 1 â— Psa 9. 5 1â— repent in Niniâ—e had 40. dayes to repent in Israel had 40 yéeres to repent in but thou O man knowest not how long thou hast to liue thou hast no lease of thy life thou art here to day gone to morrow when the houres of thy life bee ended and the glasse out-runne thou must away death waiteth for thee in euery place and at all times therefore wâ—ite thou for it playing the fiue wise Virgins that had the candle of saith burning in the lamps of their hearts nourished with Mat. 25. 4. the oyle of loue and workes Ierusalem because she could not be brought to repentance shee was destroyed many hundred thousands of her children were â—amisht to death and many hundred thousands taken captiue by Titus Vespatian the Roman 〈…〉 Emperour many cast to wilde beasts and deuoured The children of Israel because they were a stiffe-necked people and a froward generation and would not be brought to Repentance how many thousands of men lay slaine in the Wildernesse 600000. Males except Ioshua and Caleb The old world because they would Gen. 7. â—â— take no warning and could not bee brought to amendment of life the sâ—oud drowned them all except faithfull Noah and his godly family And except thou repentest thou likewise shalt perish according to that of Luke Except yee repent yee shall all likewise Luk 13 3 perish Beware therefore and repent betimes Fâ—lix quem â—â—ciunt aliena pericula cautum Happy is hee whom other mens harmes doe make to beware Refuse no good motions knocking at the dore of thy heart but entertaine them willingly according to the counsell of Augustine If hee offereth Augustine thee grace to day saith hee take it make much of it for thou knowest not whether hee will offer the same to morrow Make no long tarrying to turne to the Lord and put not off from day to day the longer thou remainest in thy sinne the hâ—râ—er it is for thee to repent for Qui 〈…〉 craâ— Poet. minus aptus â—rit If thou bâ—â—â—l not fit for amendment to day thou wilt bee lesse fit to morrow Therefore while the Lord speaketh to thee make him answere while he calleth vnto thee let there be an eccho in thiâ—e heart as was in the heart of Dauid Seeke ye my Psal â—7 â— face thy face Lord will I seeke And while it is said to day harden not your hearts in no case deserve repentance for the day of death and iudgement is vncertaine as saith Chrysostome Poenitenti veniam spospondit sed viuendi in crastinum non spospondit that is The Lord hath promised pardon to him that repenteth but to liue till to morrow he hath not promised Obiect But some there
bee in the world that will say the more it is to bee lamented I am young I will liue a while after my hearts desire and in my old age I will repent mee of my sinnes for God hath promised who will be as good as his word At what Eze. 18. 2â— â—2 time soeuer a sinner doth repent him of his sinnes from the bottome of his heart I will put all his wickednesse out of my remembrance saith the Lord. And will pray to the Lord for forgiuenesse of their sinnes as Augustine Augustine said before his conuersionâ— Ignosce pater ignosce mihi at noli modò Forgiue mee my sinnes but not now let mee sinne in my youth and pardon me in mine age Thus they would desire to dye the death of the righteous but they would not liue the life of the righteous but let these gracelesse persons that thus defer repentance beware of two things 1 Let them beware of suddaine death let them take héed lest they be cut off in the middest of their sins as Iobs Children in the middest of their Iob 1. 18 banquetting and ryoting were suddainly slain by the fall of a house and as the Floud came vnlooked for and drowned the old world Liuie reporteth a fearefull example 〈…〉 of suddaine death saith hee There were two old men that frequented two Harlots and presently vpon the fact committed they both suddainely dyed the one was thrust thorow with a dagger the other dyed suddainly of an Apoplexy which is a disease ingendred of abundance of grosse humors which doe fill those vessels and receptories of the head from whence commeth feeling and mouing of the bodie as saith Galen and therefore 〈…〉 they that haue this disease are depriued of all sence feeling and moouing Let euery lusty Younkeâ— and desperate russian set this fearefull example before his eyes Againe the young man dyeth as soone as the old the Lambs skin is brought to the Market as well as the old Crones true is the saying of Augustine Vita dum crescit decrescit vita Augustine mortalis mors vitalis id est Life while it increaseth decreaseth life is dying and death is liuing â— Let all men that refuse the mercy of God and deferre their repentance know that repentance is not theirs at command but it is the great mercy of God and it is to bee â—â—ared that they that haue refused it offered when they would haue it they shall go without according to that country Prouerbe If you will not when you may when you will you shall haue â—ay And it is commonly seene that Qu 〈…〉 a â—â—â—â—s ita as a man liueth commonly hee dyeth Hee that will liue without repentance must look to dye without repentance 〈◊〉 God spared the Thiefe at the laâ—â— gaspe yet let no man presume of that for that was a medicine against desperation and not a matter of imitation saith one God spared one that no man might despaire hee spared but one that no man might presume Let euery man therefore in the feare of God without all delay seeke for amendment of life let them as Gregory wisheth Plangere plangenda Bewayle their sinnes that ought to bee lamented and as they haue giuen Rom. 6. 13 their members as weapons of vnrighteousnesse to iniquitie so let them now giue them as weapons of righteousnesse to holinesse Repent deare brethren betimes Viâ—e Deo gratus toti mundo tumulatus Poet. Crimine muÌ„datus semper transire paratus That is Liue vnto God a thankefull wight And to the world dye Cleanse thy selfe from wickednesse Alwayes ready hence to flye Play the wise Steward lay vp treasures in heauen for thy soule imitate the Pismire which gathers in Summer whereby shee may liue in Winter Damascene reporteth an excellent Damascene History touching this purpose saith he There was a country where they chose their King of the poorest and basest sort of the people and vpon any dislikement taken they would depose him from his Throne and exile him into an Iland where hee should bee staâ—ued to death Now one wise fellow considering hereof sent money before into that Iland into which hee should be banished and when he was banished he was receiued into the Iland with great triumph So against thou be banished by death from this world without penny or farthing for naked thou camest and naked thou must goe thou must prouide wâ—â—le thou art in this life whereby thou mayst liue in Heauen hereafter Let nothing therefore make thée 〈…〉 erre thy amendment but whilesâ— Christ calleth thee runne vnto him Put on Ieromes resolution who said If my Mother were hanging Ierome about my necke if my brethren were on euery side howling and crying and if my Father were on his bare knees kneeling before mee to detaine mee in their wicked and sinfull course of life what would I doe I would shake off my Mother to the ground I would despise and hate all my kindred and kins-folkes and I would tread and trample my Father vnder my feete thereby to flye to CHRIST when hee calleth mee So shouldest thou resolue the amendment of life The Lord of heauen for his swéet Sonne Christ Iesus his sake grant to thée deare Reader and mee to both of vs his holy Spirit that wee may stand vnblameable before the Iudge at that great and generall day that we being â—lâ—athed with the long white robes of righteousnesse may bee in the number of those to whom it shall be said then Come yee blessed Children of my Father inherit the Kingdome which was prepared for you from the beginning of the world Grant this deare Father for thy deare Sonnes sake Christ Iesus our only Lord and Sauiour to whom with thee and the holy Spirit wee ascribe all Power Glory and Dominion and sing Halleluiah to thee O blessed Trinity for euer and euer Amen A True and Comfortable Exposition of the Lords PRAYER FOrasmuch as Prayer to the Soule is as necessarie as the â—eele to the Ship the Foundation to the House the moisture to the Tree and the sinewes and ioints to the body and forasmuch also as wee can haue neither grace to beleeue nor grace to obey without feruent and faithfull prayer I haue thought good as briefly as I can for the helping of the Ignorant in the performance of this Christian duety to expound the Prayer of our Lord being the perfect ground of all our prayers that so we praying in wisedome may pray with comfort for alacke thousands it is to be feared that haue this prayer Ad vnguem at their fingers ends are altogether ignorant of the worthy contents of the same Concerning which prayer I obserue these foure things First the occasion hereof and that â— was vpon the complaint and suite of the Disciples who being weake in this gift entreated Christs help saying Master teach vs to pray as Iohn Luk. â—â— â— â— also taught his Disciples And hee said
feare spoken of in the Gospell of Matthew Feare him that is able to destroy Mat. 10. 28 both body and soule in hell This terrible report should strike vs into a threefold feare Feare to be depriued of the grace of God Feare to be excluded the louing presence of God Feare to be tormented in the Lake vnquenchable It was the practice of an holy man Exemplum who saith I feare him that is able to damne both body and soule I tremble at Hell I tremble at the Iudges countenance which is able to make all the Angels and powers of Heauen to tremble I tremble at the voyce of the Archangell I tremble at the roaring deuils I am afraid of the gnawing worne the smoke the vapour the brimstone the darknesse the burning Ah wo is me that am the sonne of bitternesse indignation and eternall wéeping This made Paul indeuour to keepe Act. 24. 16. a cleare conscience both towards God and man This made Ierome afraid to offend Whether I eate or drink saith he or whatsoeuer I do else me thinks I heare this saying sounding in mine eares Arise yee dead and come to Iudgement Arise yee dead and come to Iudgement Which when I consider it makes mee quake and shake and not dare to commit sinne which otherwise I should haue committed And what is the cause I pray that wicked wretches runne into all excesse and ryot of sinne as they doe Is it not because they lay not to heart this tormenting Tophet witnesse else the Prophet Amos who saith that they Amos 6 3. put off from them the euill day and boldly approch to the seates of iniquity If putting off the remembrance of the vengeance to come wil make men dissolute and wretchlesse then surely laying to heart the inutterable torments of Tophet will bee a notable meane to reclaime men from all vngodlinesse But if men wil harden their harts aboue the hardnesse of an Adamant and wil not be moued neither by mercies nor iudgement let all such know that Tophet groneth for them where they shall howle and yell in fiery torments for euermore Thus much in a word for the word Tophet The second obseruable for the certainty of this place of torment is the Act or thing done in these words Is Is prepared prepared Parata Tophet non paranda It is not sayd That Tophet shall bee hereafter prepared or it is now preparing but it is already prepared Tophet is prepared The malicious diuell laboureth nothing more then to perswade men that there is no such place of torment that so the more easily hée may leade them thither as the thiefe is led to execution Simile with a vayle before his eyes But for the truth hereof let these things following duely be obserued As a princely magnificence requireth Simile that a King haue a beautifull Palace for the best sort of men and a dismall prison for the rebellious So the King of kings hath a glorious Palace wherein are many mansions for his Saints and a dark and loathsome dungeon for the Diuell and his Angels The law of nations requireth that Malefactors for their offences bée banished for euer so the Lord doth banish from his gracious presence all the vngodly of the earth into the fearfull Iland of hell The Cicilian Aetna called at this Aetna day Gibello Monte where roarings are heard and flames of fire are séene the flashing of Vesuuius the cracking as it were of fire in a Furnace in the Marine Rocke of Barry what doe all these presage but assure all these that feare the Lord besides his counsell reuealed in his word that Tophet is already prepared Againe in all things naturall and supernaturall there is an opposition there is a contrariety there is good there is euill there is light there is darknes there is ioy there is sorrow there is a Heauen and therefore there must be a Hell into which the soules of the reprobate shall bee carried when they dye by the black grifly angels Againe the Scripture speaketh euery where of this place of torment Whosoeuer shall say Foole shall bee Mat. 5. 22. worthy to be punished with hell fire Againe It is better for thee to goe Mar. 9. 43. 35. 47. into the Kingdome of God with one foot with one hand with one eye then hauing two feet two hands and two eyes to be cast into Hell fire But that of the 25. of Mathew is very pregnant for this purpose where the word it selfe is vsed Goe from me Math. 25. yee cursed into euerlasting fire which is prepared for the Diuell and his Angels This doctrine meeteth with all Atheists that say There is no heauen Refut Atheist Psal 14. 1. no hell no God no Diuell As that noted foole that said in his heart There is no God With all Epicures that think there Epicure is neither time nor place either of heauen or hell after death that sung that Esa 22. 13. cursed Epitaph of Sardanapalus Ede bibe lude charum praesentibus exple Poet. Delitijâ— animum post mortem nulla voluptas Eate drinke and bee merry for after death there is no pleasure They say true for after death they shal find smal pleasure in Tophet This Doctrine conuinceth also all Heretike heretikes that deny both Resurrection and Iudgement nineteene seuerall sorts whereof are reckoned vp together all on a row by that learned writer Danaeus the Appellites Archontikes Danaeus Basilidians Bardesanists Caians Carpocratians Cerdonians Heraclites Hermaines Marcites Marcionites Ophites Proclians Symonians Saturninians Sethians Seuerians Selucians and Valentinians Vse 1 Seeing then that Hell is already prepared and standeth ready to receiue to torment all that worke iniquity séeing there is but a twine thred betwixt the soule of a sinner and this scorching flame O how should this prepare vs for the Kingdome of Heauen Paratis patet ianua imparatis clauditur that is sayd for Heauen The prepared Virgins enter in the imprepared not Imparatis patet ianua paratis clauditur and this is sayd for Hell The imprepared enter the prepared not But alas the presumptuous security of this our age men liue as though there were no Hell or if there be as though it were afarre off and yet notwithstanding it followes them as neere as the shadow doth the body Death and Hell both follow close the R 〈…〉 person of euery sinner Death to deuoure the body and Hell to swallow vp the soule Yet for all this the wicked will sport themselues in their sinnes and â—oniall be in their iniquities but mark the end Nouissima illarum est mors the end of these wayes is death as well noteth that iust and vpright man Iob Iob 21. 12 13. they reioyced in the sound of Organs and in a moment they goe downe into Tophet they say Peace peace when Tophet is prepared to take away their soules O that carelesse people would consider this
Christian helps much profitable to your soules and as he hath abundantly blessed you withoutward honors and dignities externall he would also euen fill your heares and spirits with the inestimable riches of his al-sufficient grace that hauing granted this two-fold blessing to you in this life you may haue the more assured hope of a third in the life to come which is his blessing of glory for all which forenamed blessings your Worships shall haue my best and most deuout prayers continued to the Lord to whose sweetest protection I betake you both with your hopefull sonne this present day and euermore From Hempsted in Essex Ianuary 10. 1620. Your Worships alwaies ready to be commanded in the LORD Henry Greenwood To the CHRISTIAN Reader A Religious and right vertuous Gentlewoman curteous and I. M. Christian Reader much importuning mee for a written Copie of this extant worke vpon good consideration proues the onely occasion of this printed Tractate for things written as they are more tedious so are they lesse profitable but printed Tractates lesse tedious and more profitable I am not borne alone to my selfe my particular friends I loue to satisfie but the generall good still shall be my ayme And that my penne thus happily should turned bee to Presse I am no whit vnwilling both because few haue written vpon this worthy subiect as also for that I see this heauenly Sacrament seldome made right vse of the most contenting themselues with the bare signe very few acquainting themselues with the blessed power of the signified That therefore our profession may not be as in many Antichristian parts of the world in superficiall signe and shew alone but in substance life and power I commend vnto thy view for the better information of thine head and reformation of thine heart this short yet I trust profitable Treatise of that blessed Baptisme of our blessed Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Here Christian friend mayst thou learne a double lesson to liue to dye to dye to that which otherwise must bee thy death to liue that Christian and happy life wherewith who-euer is not acquainted euerlastingly must dye The Lord God from my very soule I heartily desire blesse these my poore paines to the best good of thine owne Soule and worke in thine heart a death to all that is euill and a life to all grace and godlinesse that his glory more and more by thee may be aduanced and thine owne soule more more by him refreshed and that for his owne mercy sake to whose most happy protection I commend thee both in body and Soule in his deare Sonne Christ Iesus and rest Thine euer-louing in the Lord Henry Greenwood CHRISTS BAPTISME Math. 3. 16 17. And Iesus when he was baptised came straight out of the water And loe the heauens were opened vnto him and Iohn saw the Spirit of God descending like a Doue and lighting vpon him Verse 17. And loe a voyce came from heauen saying This is my beloued Sonne in whom I am well pleased AS by the disobedience of one man sinne entred Rom. 5. 12 into the World and by sinne death Rom. 5. 12. So by the obedience of one man righteousnesse entred into the world and by righteousnesse life Rom. 5. 18. Rom. 5. 18. For as Adams sinne hath bound vs all to a double misery guilt and punishment So Iesus Christ being made of God to vs Wisedome Righteousnesse 1. Cor. 1. 30. Sanctification and Redemption 1. Cor. 1. 30. hath deliuered vs both from guilt and punishment of all our transgressions The truth of which thrice-blessed report is not onely mentioned in the Gospell of God and therefore called EVAGGELION but confirmed also by sacramentall signes and seales in the first and last Testament In the first against sinnes guilt by circumcision against sinnes punishment by occasion the one a Sacrament cutting the other a Sacrament killing In the last against sinnes guilt the Sacrament of Baptisme against sinnes punishment the Sacrament of his Supper And as Adam sinned in his owne person So the second Adam for his recouery hath performed both the Sacraments and substance of the same in his owne person for hee was circumcised sacrificed baptized to take away the sinnes of the world Circumcised Luke 2. 21. Sacrificed Luk. 2. 21. Heb. 7. 27. Baptized in the words of my Text And when Iesus was baptized c. In which words for methode sake I note in generall thrée First Christs baptisme And when Iesus was baptized Secondly Christs immediate action after baptisme He streight came out of the water Thirdly Gods of Christs miraculous approbation Testified by two By Vision By Voyce By Vision two wayes 1. By the heauens apertion And loe the Heauens were opened vnto him 2. By the Spirits descension And Iohn saw the Spirit of God descending c. By Voice Behold a voyce came from heauen saying c. In which voyce I note also two 1. A double circumstance 2. A singular substance A double circumstance 1. Of the Person God the Father Behold a voyce 2. Of the place supercelestiall Came from Heauen A singular substance This is my beloued Son in whom I am well pleased In Christs Baptisme â— obserue thrée First the Baptist Secondly the Baptized Thirdly the element First the Baptist and that was Iohn as it appeareth in the precedent verses Not Iohn the Euangelist but Iohn the Sonne of Zachary the Priest A worthy instrument nomene numine a gracious name and a gracious person A gracious name whereof Saint Augustine in his second Tractate vpon Iohn sayth Magnum aliquidiste Iohannes ingens meritum magna gratia magna celsitudo A great name is this name of Iohn a name of great grace a name of great valuation Magnus exim erat Iohannes virtute magnus sanctitate magnus officio Great was Iohn in power great was Iohn in sanctity great was Iohns office A gracious person sanctified in his Luk. 1. 15. mothers wombe Luke 1. 15. that which was spoken of Ieremy the Prophet is verified of Iohn the Baptist Priusquam te formarem in vtero nouite antequam illinâ— exires sanctificaâ—i te Ieremy 1. 5. Before I formed thee in the wombe I knew thee and before thou camest out of the wombe I sanctified thee At one and the selfe-same time there was in Iohn the Baptist Spiritus vitae Spiritus gratiae the Spirit of Life and the Spirit of Grace as sayth Origen Whose sanctity you may reade at large commended by Iosephus lib. 18. Antiquitatum Yea Christ himselfe sayth thus much in commendation of him that inter natos mulierum mator Iohanne non surrexit Math. 11. 11. Among those that Mat. 11. 11. are borne of women a greater then Iohn arose there not Though Enoch was translated Gen. Gen. 5. 24. 5. 24. yet was hee not greater than Iohn Though Eliah was taken vp to Heauen 2. King 2. 11. yet was hee not greater than Iohn Moses a
great Law-giuer and the Prophets great men yet were they not greater than Iohn Non enim ego Prophetas Prophetis andeo comparare I dare not compare Prophets with Prophets yet the Lord of him the Lord of them the Lord Iesus of vs all hath pronounced of him that inter natos mulierum among them that are born of women a greater than Iohn the Baptist arose there not hee doth not say inter natos virginum among them that are borne of Virgins for Christ Iesus himselfe was borne of a Virgin whose shooes latchet Iohn Mat. 3. 11 was not worthy to vnloose Math. 3. 11. great was Iohn but what to his Lord and Master Christ a rare preacher but what to that great Lawgiuer a baptizer with water but what to him that came to baptize with the Spirit and Fire This is he that héere baptized Christ yea he was the first that euer baptized with water to repentance yea his office was to baptize in remissionem peccatorum before Christ Luke 3. 3. to lead the people by water to him that baptized with the Spirit and fire As one saith of him that hée did praeire nasciturum nascendo praedicaturum praedicando baptizaturum bapti zando moriturum moriendo that in birth baptisme doctrine and death hee preceded IESVS the Reconciler of the world The place where hee baptized Christ was in the Riuer Iordane Fluuius eximiae dulcedinis qui in lacum Genezareth Gen. 13. deinde in mare mortuum funditur A delicate Riuer so called because it was composed of two Fountaines the one called Ior the other called Dan and therfore the Riuer hath this name Iordan In which Riuer Naaman was 2 King 5. 14. washed and cleansed from his Leprosie 2 King 5. 14. which Riuer Eliah and Elisha diuided with their Cloake 2. King 2. 8 13. In this Iordan did Iohn baptize our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Secondly The Baptized Iesus And when Iesus was baptized Iesus this word signifieth a Sauiour A name worthily giuen him from the Lord because hee came to saue his Mat. 1. 21. people from their sinnes Math. 1. 21. from the guilt of sinne by his imputatiue righteousnesse from the punishment of sin by his imputatiue death and passions the one properly resembled in Baptisme the other in his last Supper But whether did Christ purchase this great saluation for vs iure pacti or rigore iustitâ—e a great question in diuinity by a Couenant made twixt God the Father and him or in regard of worth for worth that is whether his merits did equalize the saluation of so many Saints Ans To satisfie this question giue mee leaue to vse a familiar comparison Suppose I should say to a Porter or some such fellow If thou wilt bring mee a burthen of an hundred weight a mile vpon thy backe I will giuâ— thee a thousand pound for thy paines the Porter doth it hee hath purchaset this summe ture pacti in regard of the couenant but not rigore iustitiae hiâ— paines were not answerable to thâ— gift for I could haue had it done so a crowne but suppose I should makâ— bold with a great man of worth in the like case he hath deseru'd this rewarâ— iure pacti rigore iustitiae O the dignity of Christs person makes his merit precious and thus became Chrisâ— our Iesus Obiect But it may be demanded why CHRIST should here by Iohn bâ— baptized that was sinlesse baptism being a remedy against originall sin For BAPTISMA of BAPTEIN sigri 〈…〉 a washing away resembling the washing away of sinne Ans It is true Christ in regard of himselfe had no néede of Baptisme wherefore Iohn forbade him saying I haue neede to be baptized of thee and commest thou to mee yet notwithstanding Christ vouchsafed to be baptized for eight especiall causes First because he was bound to fulfill the righteousnesse both of Law and Gospell in the behalfe of man as hee told Iohn Thus it becommeth vs to Mat â— fulfill all righteousnesse Math. 3. The Law inioined Circumcision therfore Christ must be circumcised the Gospel inioyned baptisme therefore Christ must be baptized for Christ came not to breake the Law but to fulfill it Secondly that hee might confirme the baptisme of Iohn to bee both reuerend and profitable lâ—st any should holde baptisme a vaine or friuolous thing Thirdly that hee might sanctifie the water to his mysticall end viz. to the washing away of sinne Hesych Christus ad sacrandas aquas baptismatis in Iordane baptizatus est that is Christ was baptized in Iordan to sanctifie the water of baptisme to the mysticall washing away of sinne Fourthly that hee might hereby shew his wonderfull humilitie for Phil. â— 6. though he were equall with God Phil. 2. 6. yet he makes himselfe of no reputation but comes euen among sinners to baptisme who notwithstanding knew no sinne Fiftly to teach vs that as he was baptized being the head so should wée his members to shew that baptisme is not lightly to be respected nor of any to be neglected therefore they that bring not their children to baptisme as much as lyes in them shut them out of the Kingdome of Heauen For Baptisme is necessary ad tollendam maledictionem as saith Pareus non vt pharmacum aut opus expiatorium sed vt sacramentum foederis obsignatorium non necessitate mediâ— sed mandatiâ— not as though outward baptisme either simply saued vs or without it no saluation could bee but because it is commanded It is therefore necessary â—ATATâ— propter mandatum Dei for the streight command of God but not praecise simpliciter absolute that as those that want it should bee damned for whom the blockish Papists haue deuised a Lymbus infantum Sixtly to testifie the blessed communion and fellowship that hee our head hath with vs his members to our vnspeakable consolation Seuenthly to signifie to all the world that hee came to bee baptized with the baptisme of death For baptisme doth reprensent dying to sinne so Christ dyed for sinne Luke 12. 50. Luk. 12. 50 I must be baptized with a baptisme and how am I grieued till it be ended Eightthly vt veritas typo respondeâ—et that the truth may answere in euery respect the type and figure for as the high Priest when hee was inaugurated they first washed his whole body with water Afterwards hauing put vpon him his priest-like garments and brought him to the open view of the people they sounded trumpets and powred oyle vpon his head Exod. 29. Exod. 29. 4 5. Num. 10. 3 4 5. Num. 10. 3. So Christ our Priest was washed by Iohn in Iordan in the open assembly of much people a voyce thundred from Heauen and with the spirit of grace hee was anointed with Psal 45. 7. the oyle of holinesse aboue his fellows Psal 45. 7. And thus yee see the reasons why our Sauiour would be baptized Oh how are wee bound to his maiesty that