wrangling fellow should lay claime vnto thy land thou wouldest not in such a case and controuersie consult with an ignorant neighbour hee perhaps out of his weakenesse and want of skill might raise doubts and dangers where there were none and put thee into a greater fright but thou wouldest haue recourse to some learned at the Law who vnderstandingly searching and surueying thine Euidences and finding no flaw would put thee out of all feare When in time of temptation thou art terrified and affrighted with renewed scruples and distractions about thy spirituall well-being doe not in any wise aduise with carnall reason which is starke blinde in the mystery of Christ much lesse with that euill One who is a sworne enemy to thy soule and father of lyes They may tell thee thou hast no sence no feeling therefore all is naught but to the Word and to the Testimonie let thy trembling heart cleaue to the impregnable truth of those sweetest promises Matth. 11. 28. Reuel 21. 6. Ioh. 7. 37. Isa. 55. 1 c. and thou art safe for euer For a more full impression of this comfortable point I would haue you to refresh your memories with a reuise of those foure estates of faith which I haue heretofore distinguished vpon purpose for the weakest Christians sake and know that the reflexed act of the lowest degree and least measure then mentioned might vpon good ground if hee doe not wilfully and wickedly refuse to be comforted fill his fearefull spirit as full with vnspeakeable glorious ioy as the Sunne is of light and the sea of waters These things laid together and well weighed may confect a precious and soueraigne Antidote against the slauish terrours causelesse feares and heauy walking of many which are true of heart distressed in conscience about their spirituall state who while they labour and long with insatiable greedinesse and I blame them not for a sensible assurance and feeling apprehension of Gods fauour doe too much neglect and disregard that comfort which their faith might affoord them vpon good ground in that notwithstanding their present distracting amazements and perplexity of spirit they are able still to commit their soules vnto Christ as a faithfull Redeemer and their euerlasting strength In this point I haue let some passages fall by the way which may serue to discouer and dissolue the vanity and weakenesse of that Dilemma wherein Bellarmine playes the wilfull egregious Sophister it runs thus The Protestants teach saith he that a man is iustified by speciall faith whereby he perswadeth himselfe that he is iust Now then he reasoneth thus When I begin to beleeue that I am iust I am either iust or vniust If iust then I am not iustified by faith by which I beleeue my selfe to bee iust because this faith is after my iustification If vniust then this faith is false and so a man should be iustified by a lye To this horned Argument wee answer thus There are sundry acts of speciall faith for my purpose at this time take notice of two 1. A fiduciall assent resting vpon the merit of Christ an affiance dependance adherence reliance or if there bee any other word expressing that act of an humbled soule whereby it casteth and reposeth it selfe onely vpon Gods promise in Christ for the obtaining of remission of sinnes and euerlasting life In this act the poore soule illightened and affrighted with sight and sence of its sinne and misery and seeing an infinite impossibility of satisfying God for the one or freeing it selfe from the other by any meanes or merit in heauen or earth but onely by the propitiatory mediation of Iesus Christ it throwes it selfe into his armes grasping fast about him hides it selfe in the clifts of this Rocke from the stormes of Gods fiercest and fiery indignation apprehends in him plentifull redemption and all-sufficiencie of saluation and therefore plyes him with strong cryes and teares for mercy bespeakes him in all termes of confidence and affiance My Lord and my God my hope my fortresse my rocke my strength my saluation saue me or I sinke hold mee fast or I am lost for euer You may see sometimes a little infant vpon apprehension and approach of some sudden danger how heartily and hastily it runnes into the mothers armes for succour and safety euen so a truely wounded soule pursued by the terrours of the Law and frighted with the dreadfull sight of Gods frowning countenance flyes with speed into the bosome of its blessed Redeemer clings inseparably vnto his bleeding wounds for euerlasting protection and there rests vpon the freenesse of his Loue merit of his Passion and truth of his Promise as vpon a Rocke of Eternitie neuer to bee remooued not the concurrent rage of all the Deuils in hell or powers of darknesse being euer able to make a diuorce By this act wee are accepted for iust before the Throne of Grace for Christs sake and sufferings 2. An act of certification which quickned by the Spirit of Grace when God pleaseth for his own glory and good of his Child reflecteth vpon the soule with a comfortable assurance that we are already in the armes of Christ and His for euer The least glimpse whereof a true heart would not exchange for all the Kingdomes vpon earth The first act makes vs iust The second findes vs iust and so certifies truely not by a lye as lying companions and Satans Sophisters calumniate It is the saying of an excellent Diuine both for depth of learning and height of Holinesse To beleeue that my sinnes are now pardoned and that I am saued this is not the first act of faith but followes when now a man doth see himselfe to be iustified in Christ. 2. By a secret application of the promises of the Gospell in forme of an experimentall Syllogisme thus Whosoeuer beleeues and repents is the Child of God But I beleeue and repent therefore I am the Child of God The maior or first proposition is cleare and euident in the very letter and by the immediate sense of Scripture See Iohn 3. 36. Acts 10. 45. 13. 39 c. But how doe you know the minor or second proposition to be certainely so By the certainty of internall vision whereby we as clearely see our faith as our life will thought knowledge c. as appeares in the forecited place of Austin In his opinion I say Faith is as visible to the internall eye of a sanctified mind as is a mans life and will Nay we are woont to discerne with a more eager eye and obseruation a Stranger then an ordinary Domestick Our life and will are inbred faith is aduentitious By the testimony of a renewed conscience which is as a thousand witnesses Now had I a thousand honest witnesses at the barre before an vpright Iudge to prooue my cause and iustifie my right against the outfacings and periuries of a Knight of the Poast as they say well knowne to be an infamous stigmaticall
right hand Which may for euer with sweetest peace and freedome from slauish trembling assure vs of our rootednesse in Christ constancie in grace and euerlasting abode with him in the other World Hee that will rent vs from Christs mysticall Body being once implanted into Him by a liuely fruitfull Faith and blessedly knit vnto Him by His Spirit as fast as the sinewes of His precious Body are knit vnto His bones His flesh to his sinewes and his skinne to His flesh must pull Him out of heauen and remoue Him from the right hand of His Father What so furious or infernall power can or dare lay a finger on vs in this kinde Hee hath taken the poisoning power out of euery thing that should hurt vs or hale vs backe to hell He hath conquered captiuated carried in triumph and chained vp for euer all the enemies of our soules and enuiers of our saluation They may exercise vs in the meane time for our good but they shall neuer be able to execute their malicious wils or any mortall hurt vpon vs either heere or in the next life 3. The irreuocable obsignation of the blessed Spirit Eph. 1. 13 14. 4. 30. And who or what can or dare reuerse the Deede or breake vp the Seale of the holy Ghost Heere then as you see the blessed Trinity is the vnmooueable ground of our going on in grace 4. The lasting and immortall power of the Word once rooted in a good and honest heart Luke 8. 15. 1. Pet. 1. â—…3 5. The certainety and sweetnesse of promises to this purpose Ier. 32. 39 40. Zech. 10. 12. Ioh. 8. 12. 2. Sam. 7. 14 15. Psal. 89. 31 c. 6. The force and might of Faith 1. Pet. 1. 2 3 4 5. 7. The efficacie of Christs Prayer Luk. 22. 32. Ioh. 17. 15 20. Rom. 8. 34. 8. The durable vigour of sauing graces Ioh. 4. 14. Rom. 11. 29. 9. The inabilitie nay impossibilitie of all causes or creatures to plucke out of Gods hand Ioh. 10. 29. or to draw any of His to a totall or finall falling away 1. It is not the Diuell himselfe can doe it 1. Iohn 5. 18. 2. It is not the world 1. Ioh. 5. 4. Ioh. 16. 33. 3. It is not the concurrent fury and vnited forces of all the powers of darknesse Math. 16. 18. 4. It is not sinne 2. Sam. 7. 14 15. Psal. 89. 31 c. 5. It is not weakenesse of Faith and other graces Mat. 12. 20. Esa. 42. 3. 6. It is not the imposture of false prophets Matth. 24. 24. 7. It is no creature or created power Rom. 8. 38 39. Vses 1. This Point thus confirmed doth confound that forlorne Tenent of the Popish Doctors which tels vs that a iustified and sanctified Man may fall finally and totally from grace In which I haue heretofore vpon other occasion in your-hearing punctually refuted those which I conceiued Bellarmines best Arguments I wil not then trouble you now with his Sophistry againe 2. This sweet and precious Truth may crowne the hearts of all those that are truly Christs with ioy vnspeakeable and glorious Let new Conuerts and Babes in Christ who are woont to bee very fearefull and much troubled lest they should not hold out because vpon their first entrance into the wayes of Christianitie they are cunningly and concurrently encountred with so many oppositions From the Deuill which then rageth extraordinarily From the World which then tendereth moe and more alluring baites From the Flesh which naturally is very impatient of any spirituall snaffle From carnall Friends who cannot endure their forwardnesse From their old Companions who cry out They are turning Puritanes From the Times which lowre and looke fowre vpon their zeale Sometimes from the Father which begat them from the Mother which gaue them suck from the Wife which lies in their bosome from a world of enemies to grace I say in such a case let them graspe in the armes of their Faith the proofes and promises in the present Point and ride on because of the Word of Truth Let them sweetly with full assurance and vnconquerable resolution repose vpon that euerlasting encouragement for the finishing of their spirituall building which Zerubbabel receiued from the mouth of God Himselfe for successe of the materiall a Type of this Not by might and power but by my Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts Who art thou O great mountaine before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plaine and hee shall bring foorth the head stone thereof with shoutings crying Grace grace vnto it And that they may more comfortably and constantly go on let them cast their eyes betime vpon these and the like cautions at their very first giuing their names vnto Christ. 1. Propose such interrogatories as these to thine owne heart Art thou content to abandon thy bosome sinne the sensuall froth of former pleasures hereafter to delight in God as thy chiefest ioy Canst thou take vp thy crosse and follow Christ His Truth and holy tracke amidst the many by-paths that leade to hell and different opinions of multitudes of men Art thou willing to suffer aduersitie disgrace and discountenance with the righteous and contemned godly Ones Canst thou endure to haue things laid vnto thy charge thou neuer didst thoughtst or dreamdst on To become the Drunkards song a By-word to those that are vilâ—…r then the earth musicke at the feasts of those that sit in the gate c In a word for Christs sake to deny thy selfe thy worldly wisdome naturall wit carnall friends old companions pleasures profits preferments ease excellency of learning acceptation with the world outward state liberty life or what else thou canst name dearest vnto flesh and blood If thine heart answere not affirmatiuely I meane out of the resolution of a well-aduised regenerate iudgement for I know the flesh will grumble and reclaime thou wilt certainly fâ—…ll away or end in formality 2. Looke to thy repentance that it be sincere vniuersall constant from the heart-roote for all knowne sinnes to thy dying day 1. If some worldly crosse be the continued principall motiue 2. Or the humour of melancholy 3. If it bee confusedly onely for sinne and in generall 4. Or for some one speciall notorious sinne onely 5. Or for some lesser sinnes with neglect of greater as for tything Mint c. 6. If it be onely legall 7. But for some sinnes of what kinde soeuer leauing but so much as one knowne sinne not taken to heart 8. Or but for a time All will come to naught A foundation of godly sorrow leasurely aduisedly and sincerely laid at first will be for euer after a comfortable encouragement to Faith spirituall ioy well-doing and walking with God 3. Take the touch-stone of fruitfull powerfull and speciall markes to discerne and difference iustifying sauing Faith from all false and insufficient faiths For a temporarie may goe farre 4. Let knowledge and affection like two indiuiduall twins grow vp together in thee and mutually
conscience thorow all eternitie If euer the sword of the Spirit shall cleaue it from thy bosome which is infinitely to bee desired and strike thorow thy sensuall heart with true remorse it will cost thee the bitterest teares most sighes and deepest groanes 6. It is that which thou art lothest and wouldst least be acknowne of If it were possible thou couldest be well content that no Iohn Baptist should euer heare of thy Herodias And therefore thou bearest thy braines and improouest thy wit to deuise if it be capable of dawbing distinctions euasions excuses extenuations whole cart-loades of fig-leaues to colour and cloke this soule Fiend though fauourite to thy bewitched soule 7. That which thou art in a bodily feare the Minister will meddle and meete with when thou art going towards a conscionable and searching Sermon For thou thinkest with thy selfe If this day he disclose my bosome I shall both be disgraced amongst my neighbours that know it and cast also into dumps and melancholy by his denouncing of terrour against it 8. Thoughts plots and proiects about it a thousand to one ordinarily seize vpon thine heart with first and most acceptable entertainement at thy very first waking if they haue not broken off thy sleepe and troubled thee in thy dreames 9. The cares pleasures and appurtenances of it are woont to thrust and throng vpon thee on the Lords Day with extraordinary eagernesse importunitie and vnresistablenesse For the Deuill that desires to haue thy mind most distracted vpon that Day makes choyse of the fittest and pleasingest baites to draw away and detaine thy heart and the most alluring obiects for diuersion 10. In the darkenesse and discomforts of the night if thou beest suddēly awakened with some dreadfull thunder lightning or terrible tempest the guilt and accusations of thy beloued sinne is wont to come into thy minde in the first place and with greatest terrour Thirdly a man may be deceiued in conceiuing that hee is vtterly diuorced and quite deliuered from his bosome sinne and yet it bee but a meere exchange or some other mistake This grosse affected selfe-imposture may be seene in such cases as these 1. He may change onely the outward and visible forme of it For instance Whereas the same sinne of couetousnesse doth vtter and expresse it selfe by vsury simony sacriledge bribery grinding poore mens faces crushing and vnmercifully keeping vnder the poorer of the same trade stealing ouer-reaching by tricks of wit all manner of wrong-doing all kinds of oppression detaining ill-gotten goods without restitution c. he may insensibly glide out of one gulph of griping crueltie into another he may fall from one of these being a more notorious cursed trade of hoarding to some other of them lesse obserued and odious in the world yet still abide in the chambers of death and vnder the tyranny of a reigning sinne The soule sinne of vncleannesse doth actuate it selfe by fornication adultery selfe-pollution brutish and immoderate abuse of marriage and such other abborred impurities Now hee may passe from one of these pollutions more crying and abominable to some other of them not affrighting the conscience with such grislinesse horror and yet still lye in the impenitent and damnable shares of lust 2. He may surcease and refraine from the outward grosse acts of such hatefull villanies and yet his inward parts bee still defiled with insatiable sensual hankerings after them delightfull reuoluing them in his mind contemplatiue commission of them For instance He may hold his hand both from the crying violence of oppressions and wrong and the closer conueiances of cunning and fraud and yet couetousnesse may still reigne in him by the earthly exercise of the heart He may forbeare the externall acts of vncleannesse and ye◅ lie and languish abominably in speculatiue wantonnesse and adulteries of the thought the visible executions of reuenge and yet nourish in his distempered affections the hellish Vipers of heart-burning hatred and spite all indirect ambitious climing into high roomes and yet be passingly proud and ouer greedie of precedencie 3. Nay he may change the kinde of his bosome sinne in respect of matter forme obiect euery way and yet vpon the matter it is but the exchange of one foule fiend for another For instance wantonnesse may bee his sweete sinne in youth and worldlinesse in old age reuelling in his yonger yeeres downe-right drunkennesse in his declining time prodigalitie may sway in some part of his life pinching in some other Hypocrisie may raigne at one time Apostacie at another furious zeale for one while prophane irreligiousnesse for another 4. When the blasting frosts and feeblenesse of old age haue with a sott◅sh deadnesse and listlesnesse emasculated and wasted the ambitious vigour of his minde and the boisterous heate of his affections haue dried and drunke vp the milke in his brests and marrow in his bones his darling sin may then at length bid him adieu without any penitent discharge and he may say vnto it I haue no more pleasure in thee Whereupon hee may falsly conclude a mortification and finall conquest ouer it a secure deliuerance from the guilt and curse of it 5. He may vnsoundly please himselfe with an vnuoluntary and enforced cessation from it when there is no want of good will as they say but onely of matter meanes opportunitie entisement company prouocation or something for the full and free acting and enioyment of it So want of money may restraine a man but full sore against his will from strange apparell gaming Ale-house haunting buying of Benefices Offices high roomes c. 6. Hee may for a time pull his necke out of this strongest yoke of Satan onely out of melancholicke pang of slauish terrour serious fore-thought of death and lying euerlastingly in Hell true apprehension of the impossibilitie of being saued without abandoning it vpon some desperate horrour of bringing againe his beloued sinne in his bosome to the Communion after so many causefull prouocations of Diuine Iustice obseruation of some remarkeable vengeance seized vpon his fellow-delinquents or sensible smart of some terrible blow from Gods visiting hand in one kinde or other I say vpon some such occasion he may for a time forbeare his bloudy oathes vsury drunkennesse gaming Play-house haunting selfe-polluting walking in the blacke and darke night after the strange Woman or what other sinne soeuer doth reigne in him and retaine him strongliest in the deuils slauerie But because it is not the worke of the Word humbling him soundly vnder Gods mighty hand planting faith and infusing mortifying power he is not able to hold out long but the vncleane spirit returnes and rules in him againe farre more imperiously and sensually out of indignation of its discontinuance and proportionally to the parties new-collected strength and eagernesse to recommit it after his extraordinary and impatient forbearance I know it is not impossible but that a man after his conuersion by the sudden surprizall of some violent temptation
contempt would better become a great spirit an effeminate facilitie to bee mooued and toucht with euery trifle A spot or wrinkle vpon their garment a dish misplaced vpon their table some errour in their dressing a Bird a Dogge a Glasse c. or some lesser toy will turne some kinde of people quite out of tune and put them out of their humour into a pelting chafe as they say Great mindes and victorious ouer this furious Arch-Rebell are not moued but with great matters It is a speciall point of manly wisedome to passe by many petty prouocations to wrath without notice or acknowledgement without wound or passion and to digest many times the brawlings and indiscretions of hasty men with the same patience that Surgeons do the iniuries and blowes of mad men when they let them blood 4. Credulitie lightnesse in beleeuing whatsoeuer comes first to the eare That is the high way to hold choler still in combustion For so the tongues of slanderers Tale-bearers Whisperers Pick-thanks will prooue as so many Bellowes blowne by the Deuill himselfe to keepe this fire in height and fulnesse of flame 5. Curiositie an itching humour and needlesse inquisitiuenesse to know euery thing that is done or said If a man will needs bee so meddling he shall finde matter inough to fill his gall Some men out of this humour are eager to know what is said against them in such and such company listen to heare what their seruants talke concerning them and if a letter fall into their hands wherein they thinke themselues to bee mentioned they will make no bones against the lawes of humanitie to breake it open Busie-bodies in this kind neuer want wrath and woe Antigonus as it is said of him was wise to abandon this vanitie For when he heard two of his subiects speaking ill of him in the night neere his Tent willed them to goe further off lest the King should heare them 6. Couetousnesse the Cut-throate of Grace and canker of the soule like an eating insatiable Wolfe will either still feede vpon gaine or else gnaw vpon the heart with fretting and therefore the very losse of a penny sometimes the omission of a good bargaine the miscarriage of some domesticall trifle the death of a beast c. will presently put a couetous man into choler for his eyes are so earthly that they looke onely vpon the secondary not vpon the supreme cause 7. A conceit of being contemned by others in word deed countenance Many are so weake this way that if they spy but any secret smiling two whispering together in the company or any talking especially with their eyes now and then cast towards them they presently thinke that themselues certainely are their aime and obiect of their scornefull obseruation and so grow sowre out of tune and vnfit for company all the while after Such as these are extremely troubled and take on to themselues if they haue not the chiefe place and vpper hand at meetings respect and resalutation from those that they salute exact obseruance and obeisance from their inferiours the wall from all commers if they be not begun vnto in matters of complement and seruices of humanitie c. A riddance and restraint of these and the like maladies of the minde will bee a notable meanes to preuent and hinder the assaults and surpriz all of this furious and foule fiend 2. But if at any time thou feele this Viper to receiue heate in thy bosome and that occasions of choler are offered then say they 1. Containe thy bodie in quiet and tongue in silence The stirring and agitation of thy bodie by stamping or flinging about inflames the blood and humours and the walking of thy tongue keepes both the passionate heate in thine owne heart and many times sets on fire those that thou art angry with The barking of one Dogge sets all the curres in a towne a bawling Thy breaking forth into raging termes may raise the spirit of rauing in others And therefore silence is a singular cooler to this cholericke distemper If the swelling and boisterous waues rebound from the soft and euen sands there is no great adoe but if they encounter a Rocke they returne with great turbulencie and turne into foame Silence or a soft answer stops the ouer-flowing of the gall on both sides but if fury be set vpon with rage they grow both almost starke mad for the time 2. Giue reason leaue to interpose and resolue It was good counsell which was giuen to Augustus That when the obiect and occasions of choler were in his eye hee should not bee moued before hee had pronounced ouer the letters of the Alphabet It is as absurd for a passion to vsurpe and domineere ouer iudgement as for an intemperate Scold to iustle a reuerend Iudge out of his place and there to take on in her talkatiue and scurrill manner If thou giue the swinge and reines vnto it at the first rising it will presently quite banish reason and iudgement and bee like a man that puts the Master out of the house and sets it on fire and burnes himselfe aliue within or like a Ship that hath neither Sterne nor Pilot nor Sailes nor Oares exposed to the mercy of the waues windes and tempest in the midst of a furious Sea 3. Diuert to some other businesse company place pleasant imployment thoughts of content c. These are notable coolers and very conuenient to flake this passionate fire when it first begins to burne in thy bosome 3. Habituate thy heart and keepe it exercised and seasoned with considerations 1. Not onely of melancholy a ferall passion and other bodily distempers which it naturally breeds by stirring choler heating the bloud and the vitall spirits but also euen of the brutish deformities and vgly distortions with which this rage disfigures those which are transported with it as the fierinesse of the eyes inflamation of the face furiousnesse of the lookes extraordinary panting of the heart beating of the pulse swelling of the veines stammering of the tongue gnashing of the teeth a very harsh and hatefull intention of the voice many other extremely impotent and vnmanly behauiours Hence it was that angry men were anciently counselled in the heate of their fit to looke themselues in a Glasse The monstrous representations of that deformed Fury were able for euer to fright them out of their cholericke humour 2. Of the sweete louelinesse and amiable acceptation of a milde vnpassionate spirit It is the sinew as it were and cyment of all delightfull society the flower of humanity the very sweetenesse of ciuill conuersation As it is a singular preseruatiue to keepe a mans owne heart in much calmnesse and quiet so it s also an attractiue Load-stone to draw vnto him the hearts and loues of others 3. Of the aime and aspirations of morall wisedome which labours to draw a mans heart to that vnshaken constant and comfortable temper that beautifull and noble disposition which
of the faithfull For that which the Deuill putting on the glory of an Angell of light puts vpon his followers in this kinde falsely and groundlessely That the blessed Spirit performes to those who are true of heart truely and vpon good ground For it is not the vniuersalitie and excellencie of all naturall ciuill meerely morall politicke and learned endowments and sufficiencies but aboue and besides all these a supernaturall heauenly and speciall worke of the Spirit sanctifying thē all for Gods glorious seruice It is not a bare taske of holy duties religious exercises presence at the ordinances outwardly performed but the soule as it were of sauing grace animating and informing them with spirituall life reuerent heartinesse and fruitful improouement It is not the glistering blaze of a visible forward profession of Religion but the power of godlinesse and sincere practise of workes of iustice mercy and truth It is not a generall participation of the Spirit the Spirit onely of illumination or largest speculatiue cōprehensions of sacred knowledge but an humble fruitfull experimental skill and dexterity in the mystery of Christ and of walking humbly with our God which doth soundly comfort the heart of a man spiritually wise about assurance of his happy estate to Godward And therefore the true Christian when he would refresh his spirits with the sweet contemplation of his spirituall safety and comfortable being in a gracious state causeth his sincere conscience to answer in truth to such like interrogatories as those which I haue proposed for triall in such a case in my Discourse of true happinesse pag. 85. c. Reuiew the place and ponder well vpon them He ordinarily hath recourse vnto and runs ouer in his mind with an humble rauishing commemoration the heauenly footsteps and mighty works of the holy Ghost in his conuersion speciall watchfulnesse ouer his wayes sincere-heartednesse holy strictnesse and sanctified singularities in his conuersation which as they are peculiar to Gods people so are the mysteries and strange things to the best vnregenerate man and that thus or in the like manner Blessed be God saith hee within himselfe that euer it was so yet so it was The holy Ministery of the Word sanctified and guided particularly for that purpose by the finger of God happily seized vpon mee while I did yet abide in the armes of darkenesse and the Deuils snares a most polluted carnall abominable wretch and effectually exercised its sauing power vpon my soule both by the workings of the Law and of the Gospell It was first as an hammer to my heart and broke it in pieces By a terrible cutting piercing power it strooke a shaking and trembling into the very center of my soule by this double effect 1. It first opened the booke of my conscience wherein I read with a most heauy heart ready to fall asunder euen like drops of water for horror of the sight the execrable abominations of my youth the innumerable swarmes of lewd and lawlesse thoughts that all my life long had stained mine inward parts with strange pollutions the continuall wicked walking of my tongue the cursed prophanation of Gods blessed Sabbaths Sacraments and all the meanes of saluation I euer meddled with In a word all the hels sinkes and Sodoms of lusts and sinne of vanities and villanies I had remorselesly wallowed in euer since I was borne I say I looked vpon all these engrauen by Gods angry hand vpon the face of my conscience in bloody and burning lines 2. Whereupon in a second place it opened vpon mee the Armory of Gods flaming wrath and fiery indignations nay and the very mouth of hell ready to empty themselues and execute their vtmost vpon mine amazed and guilty soule In these restlesse and raging perplexities wherewith my poore soule was extremely scorched and parched with penitent paine His wrath who is a consuming fire wringing my very heart-strings with vnspeakeable anguish Iesus Christ blessed for euer was lifted vp vnto me in the Gospell as an Antitype to the erecting of the brazen Serpent in the Wildernesse In whom dying and bleeding vpon the Crosse I beheld an infinite treasurie of mercy and loue a boundlesse and bottomelesse sea of tender-heartednesse and pitie a whole heauen of sweetnesse peace and spirituall pleasures Whereupon there sprung vp and was inkindled in mine heart an extreme thirst ardent desires vehement longings after that soueraigne sauing blood which alone could ease my grieued soule and turne my foulest sinnes into the whitest snow So that in the case I then was had I had in full taste and sole command the pleasures profits ioyes and glory of many worlds willingly would I haue parted with them all and had I had a thousand liues freely would I haue layd them all downe nay with all mine heart would I haue beene content to haue lyen for a season in the very flames of Hell to haue had the present horrour of my confounded spirit comforted from heauen and my spirituall thirst allayed and a little cooled but with one drop of Christs precious blood the darknesse desolations of my wofull heart refresht and reuiued but with the least glimpse of Gods fauourable countenance The edge eagernesse of which inflamed affections made me cast about with infinite care how to compasse so deare a comfort Then came into my minde the holy Spirit being my mercifull Remembrancer those many melting compassionate inuitations more warming and welcome to my heauy heart then many golden worlds more delicious then delight it selfe Matth. 11. 28. Reu. 21. 6. Ioh. 7. 37. Isa. 55. 1. 57. 15 16. Ezek. 18. 30 31 32. 33. 11. So that at last O blessed worke of faith staying my selfe and resting my sinking soule vpon the Rocke of eternity and the impregnable truth of these sweetest promises sealed with the blood of the Lord Iesus and as sure as God himselfe I threw my selfe into the mercifull and meritorious armes of my crucified Lord with this resolution and reply to all terrors and temptations to the contrary that if I must needs be cast away they shall teare and rent me from the tender bowels of Gods dearest compassions vpon which I haue cast my selfe If they will haue me to hell they shall pull and hale me from the bleeding wounds of my blessed Redeemer to which my soule is fled Whereupon I found and felt and I blesse God infinitely and will through all eternity that euer it was so conueied and deriued vpon me from my blessed Iesus the welspring of immortality and life a quickening influence of his mighty Spirit and heauenly vigour of sauing grace wherby I became a new man quite changed new created By this vitall moouing and incubation as it were of the Spirit of Christ vpon the face of my soule all things became new mine heart affections thoughts words actions delights desires sorrowes society c. Old things passed away behold all things become new And I am sure my change is sound
molestations vnnecessarily causelesly For so might yee roote vp your Rose-trees because a worme sometimes breeds in the sweetest bud So might yee extinguish Monarchies from the face of the earth because they sometimes degenerate into tyrannies So might yee conceiue ill of Peter and the rest of the Apostles because Iudas prooued naught c. 2. Sometime hee suffers him to fall into some grosse sinne in the face of the World and before the watchfull eye of scornefull enemies the infamy and scandall whereof being once on wing flye abroad as swift as the Eagles of the Heauens ouer a whole Countrey ouer a Kingdome the Deuils and their drunken trumpetters are speedy Dromedaries to carry such newes and this concurrent cry resounds from all places with much wicked triumph and insultation You see now what these professors are One so famous for his forwardnesse is fallen into such a grosse sinne and so notoriously They are euen all alike c. Which by accident and in the euent redounds too often to the inexpiable disgrace of our holy profession the strengthening of the stubborne the staggering of the strong the stunting of those which are comming on the hindering of the weake the hardning of the wicked the chaining of the scorner farre faster to his chaire of pestilence Woe vnto him by whom such offence doth come except by a remarkeable repentance and recouery after blessed Dauids example hee reestablish himselfe in the hearts of Gods people and stop the mouthes of the aduersaries who are equally guilty of impenitency as of farre perhaps grosser impieties Austin doth excellently expresse and to the life the wylinesse of the wicked and humour of the world vpon such vnhappie occasions There was as it seemes some such scandalous accident befell in his family Whereupon hee writes an Epistle to the Ministers Seniours and whole Citie of Hippo and heartily intreates them all that themselues would not therefore either faint in that Christian course and holy profession or fall foule with suspicions and censures vpon all for the faults of a few for there is no societie so happy which is not stained with some villany Although saith he discipline be exercised in my family with a watchfull eye yet I am a man and liue amongst men and therefore cannot presume that mine house should bee better then the Arke of Noah then the house of Abraham then the house of Isaac then the house of Iacob then the house of Dauid c. In all which some were naught nay then the family of Iesus Christ in which there was a traitour and a thiefe Lastly then Heauen it selfe from which the Angels fell But that which I would principally haue you take notice of in that Epistle and for which I specially mention it is Austins emphaticall elegant and effectuall expressing the eager itching ambitious humour of the wicked to father and fasten the faults of some vpon the whole generation of the iust Instant saith he Satagunt ambiunt I cannot expresse their full significancy in English but part of his meaning is They euery way and infinitely labour that when some professors of holinesse haue foulely fallen indeed or be only so slandered the World would beleeue That they are all such Doe you not thinke in his time the World did thus insult and exclaime or in the like manner vpon Lots fall Here now you see Puritan Lot who could not indure the good fellowship of the Sodomites he is now himselfe seized vpon by Incest They are all such I will awarrant you In Dauids time What Dauid a man so precise that he professeth a lyer shall not tarry in his sight Psa. 101. Hath he taken away another mans wife You see now what they all are c. Proportionably in these times and it will be the humour of those that hate to be reformed to the worlds end so to calumniate if any who haue giuen their names vnto Christ be detected nay or suspected of any notorious scandalous crime it is a sufficient warrant for the wicked to raise a generall cry and to proclaime euery where They are all alike And good fellowes as they call them will thinke themselues wronged if the World thereupon doe not conceiue the onely difference betweene them and forward Professours to be that these carry things more cunningly and haue an art in concealing their miscarriages We say they are plaine-dealing men and appeare as we are we are flesh and bloud and must haue our pleasures and therefore refresh our selues at many merry and Iouiall meetings we sweare sometimes and drinke and game and to tell you true doe a great deale worse but without hypocrisie whereas these demure holy Ones beare themselues more reseruedly weare a vizor in their visible conuersation but assure your selues sinne in secret as well as we Iust as Austin saith in the forecited place The wicked watch and obserue and if they spie any of the betrer side to fall they would presently haue the World to thinke That the rest are all such onely they are not euer discouered Now the Lord rebuke thee Satan who so infatuatest the iudgements and blindes the vnderstandings of men otherwise of good parts and very worldly wise whom thou wofully hoodwinkest and hardnest to their endlesse ouerthrow 1. That they should wickedly and absurdly condemne all for some whereby they barre themselues euerlastingly from the loue of the Brotherhood 2. That they should erect Tribunals in other mens consciences which is Gods Royall prerogatiue and so miscensure their hearts to their own hardening 3. That they should not be able to discerne betweene being haled and hurried as it were into some sinne against the generall purpose of a mans heart and practise of his life by the violence of some temptation passion or impetuous sudden insnarement which hee after heartily bewailes with much bitternesse of spirit and exemplary repentance willing if God were so pleased to redeeme the scandall of his fall with the shedding of his blood taking occasion thereupon to walke more warily and to doe more nobly in the seruice of his God all the dayes of his life and a resolued delightfull wallowing in variety of lusts pleasures and grosse sinnes without any repentance or reformation at all I conclude the whole point and a good part of my meaning in the words of an excellent Writer not much altered I not onely hold it lawfull to reioyce in those good things wherwith God hath blessed vs in any kind whatsoeuer especially the sauing gifts of the holy Ghost but a note of much vnthankefulnesse to entertaine them with a sullen and vnfeeling disposition Yet all humane affections and endowments wherein due reuerence to God is wanting are no better then obscure clouds hindring the influence of that blessed Light which clarifies the soule of man and predisposeth it vnto the brightnesse of eternall felicitie So that insolent ioy and ouerweening which a man in the pride of his vaine imagination conceiueth of
graue Gods strict Tribunall the last Iudgement and endlesse miseries of the other world the sting poyson and terrors of which he shall neuer be able either to auoide or abide I say Shall such a fellow fleere in the face And shall not a true hearted Nathanael to whom Iesus Christ hath bequeathed a legacy of peace whom the Spirit of God bids reioyce euermore and who which way soeuer he lookes if he open his eye of faith shall see nothing but matter of sweetest contemplation infinite cause of truest ioy and spirituall rauishment If he looke backward vpon the time whilest he yet lay vnder the â—…yranny of the Diuell and dominion of the first death hee shall see the Catalogue of all his former sinnes should it be as blacke as hell as soule as Sodom as red as scarlet fairely and for euer washed away in that fountaine opened for sinne and for vncleannesse euen the precious blood of that immaculate Lambe Iesus Christ the Holy and the righteous If hee looke vpon his present state he shall finde himselfe preserued as a Iewell most safe in the precious Cabinet of Gods dearest prouidence enuironed with a glorious guard of mighty Angels kept by the power of God through faith vnto saluation ready to be reuealed in the last time If hee looke forward hee shall see death indeed but the stâ—…g taken out of it by the death of Christ the graue perfumed to his hand by his Sauiours blessed Buriall wherein hee may lye downe as in a bed of Downe fenced with the omnipotent arme of God for the glory of the Resurrection the Throne of grace in Heauen standing vpon pillars of mercy and loue where Iesus Christ sits as Iudge who shed his hearts bloud for him and is his Aduocate while he yet abides in this vale of teares the bosome of Abraham the armes of God Almighty wide open and stretched out to receiue him at the end of his Pilgrimage into his Masters ioy I say shall such a happy soule not haue an Heauen in his heart but be heauy-hearted Shall a vassall of the Diuell laugh and an hâ—…ire of Heauen looke heauy Monstrous absurditie 2. Euery Christian after his new creation hath euer incomparably more matter of mirth theÌ„ mourning infinitely greater cause to bee rauished with spirituall ioy then to bee deiected by griefe Though this may seeme a paradox to the clearest eye and best apprehension of worldly wisedome yet in truth it is a true principle in the mysterie of Christ. I doe thus manifest it and make it good to the saddest mourner in Sion if hee doe not giue more care to the lying malicious dictates of the Diuell and distrusts of his owne heart then to the well-grounded counsell of the Prophets and impregnable truth of Gods blessed Word In the right estimate and valuation all the afflictions and sufferings of this life whether of soule bodie outward state or any way are but dust in the ballance in respect of that exceeding excessiue eternall weight of glory purchased and prepared for him by the bloud of his dearest Lord. In the originall it is as a worthy Diuine sayes well a superlatiue transcendent phrase of speech which farre passeth the height of all humane Oratory and all the Râ—…toricke of the most eloquent Heathens because they neuer treated vpon such a Theame they were not inspired with such a spirit Whereupon saith the Apostle in another place Ireckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall bee reuealed in vs. Whence it followeth that a very fore-imagination of that most vnconceiueable happinesse to bee had hereafter to wit the shining splendour and sun-like glory of our bodies the vnspeakeable perfections and excellencies of our soules the admirable beauty of the place the glorious comfort of our heauenly company the beatificall fruition of the most blessed Trinity c. and that which crownes our blisse with impossibility of further addition endlesnesse of all these I say a serious preconceit hereof illightened and strengthened by saith is able to hold vp the Christians heart with infinite strength and to refresh it with a secret vnutterable gladnesse euen amidst varietie and extremiâ—…ie of all worldly troubles and doth minister as farre more matter of reioycing then these of mourning as that forementioned exceeding excessiue euerlasting weight of glory is to bee preferred before a little momentany light affliction Hence it is that the holy Martyrs of Iesus were so merry and sweetly contented in the middest of all their outward miseries pressures persecutions and Martyrdome it selfe I was in prison saith one of them till I goe into prison I feele no more paine saith another in the fire then if I were in a bed of Downe it is as sweet to me as a bed of Roses I beleeue saith a third there is not a 〈◊〉 heart in the world at this instant then mine it To One obiecting to a fourth Christs agâ—…ny and sadnesse to his cheâ—…refulnesse Yea saith he Christ was sad that I might be merry He had my sinnes and I haue his merit and righteousnesse But specially let vs looke vpon Paul a blessed and precious patterne for vs to imitate in this point He was troubled on euery side Without were fightings within were feares He was in stripes aboue measure in prisons more frequent in deaths â—…t Of the Iewes fiue times receiued he forty stripes saue one Thrice was hee beaten with rods Once was hee stoned Thrice hee suffered Shipwracke A night and a day was hee in the deepe In iourneying often in perils of water in pâ—…ils of robbers in perill by his owne countrymâ—…n in perils by the heathen in perils in the Citie in perils in the Wildernessâ—… in perils in the Sea in perils amongst false brethren In wearinesse and painefulnesse in watchings often in hunger and thirst in fastings often in cold and nakednesse He was called a pestilent fellow He was accounted as thâ—… filth of thâ—… world and off scouring of all things And yet for all this he professeth of himselfe that hee tooke pleasure iâ—… infirmities in reproches in necessities in persecutions in distresses for Christs sake Nay which is more and more punctuall for my purpose hee saith in another place That he was filled with comfort and exceeding ioyfull in all his tribulation Now euery sincere-hearted Professor is bound to ouer-abound exceedingly in this ioy as well as Paul Not so saith the weake Christian for Paul had a stronger faith then I and more grace It is true but yet thy faith is as true as his And it is not so much the muchnesse as the truth of faith which giues right and interest to a Crowne of life comfort in all afflictions and euerlasting lightsomenesse Therefore well said a worthy witnesse to the truth Paul and Peter were more honorable members of Christ then I but I am a
originall corruption and by reason of his vnauoideable frailties and imperfections but yet comely as the curtaines of Salomon by the glory of his new creation and gracious beames that shine vpon his soule from the face of Christ. 3. The further the Moone is remoued from the Sunne the fairer she is and fuller of light The more an humble soule vpon sight of that holy Maiestie and purest eye ten thousand times brighter then the Sun which cannot look on iniquitie doth retire with lowliest thoughts into himselfe to abhorre himselfe in dust and ashes as most vile and farre worthier to be throwne into the lowest dungeon of the kingdome of darknesse then to bee honoured with the loue and light of his countenance is more beautifull and amiable in the eyes of God Fure as the Sunne The Moone shadowes out inherent fairenesse the Sunne resembles and represents our imputed puritie So that this Royall Robe the Sunne of righteousnesse the vnspotted Iustice of Iesus Christ doth glorifie the soule 1. With an entire vnstained beautie our inherent holinesse hath some spots and staines of imperfection like the Moone but that imputed for our iustification is much more spotlesse and orient then the Sunne 2 Vniuersally Wee are washed as it were from top to toe in the blood of Christ and couered wholly with his perfect righteousnesse 3. Constantly The exercise of spirituall graces and sence of inward comfort may sometimes ebbe and waâ—…e for a time but the Robe of Christs Royall Iustice once put on by the hand of Faith is sure and the same for euer Terrible as an armie with banners Besides this rich and royall attire all this abundance of spirituall fairenesse and beauty wee are to put on also leâ—…t hellish Harpies that I may so speake snatch away our delicious and diuine dainties that glistering Armour thicke seâ—… with heauenly Pearles described Ephes. 6. The glorious splendour whereof is able to dazle the deuils eyes to daunt his courage and driue him out of the field For hee well knowes it to bee tryed and of proofe worne by our Captaine Christ Iesus who foild him by the sword of the Spirit in that great combate in the Wildernesse Mat. 4. And it is that by which the weakest Christians shall shortly by the blessing of the God of Peace bruise Satan vnder their feet The summe is The heauenly attire of a sanctified soule is farre fairer and more amiable then the exquisite concurrence of all earthly beauties and visible glory Were the light of all the starres aboue collected into Sunnes which Astronomers say would make many and added vnto that great bright Body the Prince of all the lampes in heauen nay if besides there were an accession of all the orient splendour of all the Pearles and Iewels of all the Crystall and glistering things in this lower world and all compacted into one beautifull body it would be but as a lumpe of darknesse to the glory and fairenesse of a sanctified soule For the beauty and amiablenesse of an holy soule inflames the heart and affections of the Sonne of God with an extraordinarie pang of spirituall feruent loue Cant. 4. 9. whereas not all the glory of the world though represented to his eye with the fairest lustre and in the most refined forme could moue him euer a whit Matth 4. 8 9 10. Plato was wont to say if morall vertues could be seene with the outward eye they would stirre vp in the heart extraordinary flames of admiration and loue what vnspeakeable rauishments then would Christian graces enkindle were they visible to the carnall eyes They would be able to make Persecutors Professors to turne euen Drunkards into Puritans as they call them the most sensuall Epicure into a mortified Saint For the second Let thy spirituall appetite seed merrily vpon that sweetest place Isa. 25 6. And in this mountaine shall the Lord of Hosts c. Heere is prouided as wee may see a magnificent and glorious feast composed all of marrow and fatnesse of most refined and purified wines which shadow vnto vs spirituall delicacies those golden dainties digd out of the rich myne of the mysterie of Christ by the hand of Faith in the Word Sacraments Prayer Communion of Saints solemne humiliations sweet Soliloquies solitary conferences with our God feeling forethought of infinite ioyes thorow eternity c. Euery circumstance breathes out nothing but sweetnesse In this mountaine It is dressed in Mount Zion The perfection of beautie The ioy of the whole earth The glory of all Lands which represents vnto vs by way of shadow and type the ouerflowing glory of the Christian Church the very Heauen of all humane societies our onely Sunne in this inferiour world which though so much maligned yet were it remooued there would bee a little hell vpon earth and nothing left but a darke Midnight of villany and horror for incarnate Deuils to domineere in A feast of fat things a feast of wines on the lees of fat things full of marrow of wines on the lees well refined Hereby is intimated the matter of the Feast and Royall prouision amplified with extraordinary Emphasis of words elegancy of phrase and iteration of the same sence with variety of expression which also argues its excellency It is not enough to haue said of fat things but there is added of fat things full of marrow and so proportionably of the wines to intimate the most exquisite refined flower of all delicacies and dainties The marrow of the fatnesse as if a man should say the spirit of the quintessence the Diamond of the Ring the sparkle of the Diamond c. And yet all this comes infinitely short of what the holy Ghost would shadow and shew vnto vs by the most sumptuous materials of earthly Feasts But aboue all that which makes the Feast most matchlesse is the Feast-maker Iehouah is the founder and furnisher of it The maker of heauen and earth makes it The Poets describing men of most ambitious appetites after choisest dainties say that they rob all the Elements to please their palates The Master of this Feast the euer-blessed Iehoua tells vs of his store and treasuries this way Psal. 50. 10 11. Euery beast of the 〈◊〉 is mine and the cattell vpon a thousand hills I know all the fowles of the mountaines and the wild beasts of the field are mine But all these being but onely matter of corporall food are yet nothing to the spirituall sweetenesse of this heauenly Banqueâ—… The secret and sacred delight of those diuine dainties intended here by the holy Ghost being vnspeakable and glorious doth infinitely transcend the possibility of all creatures to contribute and the capacity of the largest naturall vnderstanding to conceiue So must be construed as a worthy Diuine sayes truly that Text 1 Cor. 2. Not of the ioyes of heauen which heere the spirituall man himselfe cannot tell what they shall bee but of the Gospels ioy of the Wine and
place of Dragons This alone stings desperately keepes mee from Christ and cuts mee off from all hope of Heauen I am afraid my wilfull wallowing in it heretofore hath so reprobated my mind seared my conscience and hardened my heart that I shall neuer be able to repent with any hope of pardon And why so Is this sinne of thine greater then Manassehs familiaritie with wicked spirits Then Pauls drinking vp the blood of Saints Then any of theirs in that blacke Bill 1. Cor. 6. 10. 11. who notwithstanding were afterward vpon repentance washed sanctified and iustified in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the Spirit of our God Then Eâ—…s transgression who opened the floodgate to al the sins which shall bee committed from the Creation to the end of the World and to all those torments which shall flame in Hell thorow all eternitie Then that horrible sin of killing Christ Iesus And yet the murderers of that Iust and holy One vpon their true compunction of heart were saued by that precious blood which they had cruelly spilt as water vpon the ground But be it what it will a scarlet sinne a crimsin sinne a crying sinne and adde vnto it Satans malicious aggrauations and all that horrour which the deiectednesse of thy present afflicted spirit and darkenesse of thy melancholike imagination can put vpon it yet Pauls precious Antidote Rom. 5. 20 holds triumphantly Soueraigne aswell against the hainousnesse of any one sinne as the confluence of many Where sinne abounded grace ouer-abounded It is indeed a very heauy case and to bee deplored euen with teares of blood that thou shouldest euer haue so highly dishonoured thy gracious God with such an horrible sinne in the dayes of thy vanitie and thou oughtest rather chuse to bee â—…orne in pieces with wilde Horses then commit it againe yet if thy heart now truely wounded with horrour and hate of it will but cleaue to the truth and tenderheartednesse of Iesus Christ in his promises and fall into his blessed and bleeding armes stretched out most louingly to â—…ase and refresh thee as the hainousnesse of it hath abounded heretofore His grace will now abound to the same proportion and much more Nay I will shew thee a Pearle In this case by accident Gods mercies shal be extraordinarily honoured in pardoning such a prodigious prouocation because they are thereby as it were put into it and their dearenesse sweetnesse and infinitenesse improoued to the greater height and excellency and the blood of Christ made as it were more orient and illustrious and the honour and preciousnesse of it aduanced by washing away such an hainous hellish spot If we bring broken beleeuing hearts towards his Mercy-seate it is the Lords Name to forgiue all sorts of offences iniquitie transgression and sinne Exod. 34. 7. It is His Couenant to sprinkle cleane water vpon vs that we may be cleane and to cleanse vs from all our filthinesse and from all our Idols Exek 36. 25. euen from Idolatry the highest villany against the Maiestie of Heauen So that a Papist vpon repentance may be saued It is His promise not onely to pardon ordinary sinnes but those also which be as scarlet and red like crimsin Isai. 1. 18. It is his free compassion to cast all our sinnes into the depths of the sea Mich. 7. 19. Now the sea by reason of his vastnesse can drowne as well Mountaines as Molehills the boundlesse Ocean of Gods mercies can swallow vp our mightiest sinnes much more It is his mercifull power to blot out our sinnes as a cloud Isai. 44. 22. Now the strength of the Summers Sunne is able to scatter the thickest Fog as well as the thinnest Mist nay to driue away the darkest midnight the vnresistable heate of Gods free loue shining thorow the Sun of Righteousnes vpon a penitent soule to dissolue to nothing the desperatest worke of darkenesse and most horrible sinne farre more easily But this mysterie of mercy and miracle of Gods free loue is a Iewell onely for truely humbled soules and the sealed Fountaine Let no stranger to the life of godlinesse meddle with it Let no Swine trample it vnder his feete FINIS a Haec iustorum simplicitas deridetur quia ab hâ—…ius mundi sapientibus puritatis virtus â—…atuitas câ—…editur Greg. in â—…ap 12. Iob cap. 16. b Et quid diuitiae perâ—…untes transitoriae facultates nisi 〈◊〉 aeter na diligentibus sunt â—… Greg. in 1 Reg. cap. 2. c Non debet pro magno habeâ—…i honor humanus quia nullius est ponderis fumus August de Ciâ—…it Dei lib. 5. cap. 17. d Cùm coeperit Deo quisque viâ—…ere mundum contemnere iniurias suas nolle vlcisci nolle hîc diultias non hîc quaerere foelicitatem terrenam contemnere omnia Dominum solùm cogitare viam Christi non deserere non solùm à Paganis dicitur insanus sed quod magis dolendum est quia intus multi dormiunt vigilare nolunt à suis à Christianis audiunt Dictum est de ipso Domino quod insaniret August in Psal. 84. e Nobilitas Heroica est eminentia quaedam notabilis c. per quam homo fiâ—… per adoptionem Filius Dei fit Sponsa Christi sit Templum Spiritus Sancti sine quâ nobilitates caetâ—…rae nihil sunt nhiil proficiunt Gers. Tractat. De nobilitate Psal. 11. 6. f Cùm coeperit homo Christianus cogitare proficere incipit pati linguas aduersaâ—…tium Quicunque illas nondum passus est nondum proficit quicunque illas non patitut nec conatur proficere August in Psal. 119. g Heb. 11. 36 38. h Isa. 6. 2 3. i Ezech. 16. 14. zech 13. 11. g Lib. 5. Sect. 1. Prou. 3. 17. a Câ—…los 1. 1â—… b Rom. 12. 11. c 1. Iob. 3. 3. d Phil. 3. 20. Colos. 3. 2. e Ephes. 5. 15. f Iob 30. 8 9. Psal. 35. 15 16. and 69. 12. I am verò illud quale quà m sanctum quòd si quis ex Nobilibus ad Deum conuerti coeperit statim hâ—…norem nobilitatis amittit aut quantus in Christiano populo honor Christi est vbi religio ignobilem facit Statim enim vt quis melior esse tentauerit de eâ—…ioris abiectione calcatur ac per hoc omnes quodammodo mali esse coguntur ne vises habeantur Ita seculum totum iniquitatibus plenum est vt aut mali sint qui sunt in illo aut qui boni sunt multotum persecutione crucientur Si honoratior quispiam religioni se applicueâ—…it illicò honoratus esse defistit Si fuerit splendidissimus fit vilissimus Si fuerit totus honoris fit totus iniuriae Si bonus est quispiam quasi malus spernitur Si est maluâ—… quasi bonus honoratur Nihil itaque mirum si deteriora quotidâ—…è patimur qui deteriores quotidiè fumus Saluianus De verâ—… iudicio prouidâ—… tia Dei Lib 4. pag. 128 129. g