owne Macedonians Constantine the great vnhappily ended his empire He pursued the good Bishop Athanasius He brought home the Heritike Arrius and became an Apostata Mauritius of a long time gouerned happily but afterwards he became so cruell so couetous so violent that he was hated of his owne subiects and slaine by Phocas There be many such examples but there is one before our eies the wisest Prince that euer was a long time gouerning religiously and vertuously but in his old daies falling in most grosse and beastly manner Of whom it may be said as it was said of Origen Vbi bene nemo melius vbi male nemo peius where he did well none did better where he did euill none did worse I meane in respect of his vnbrideled and filthy lust seeing therefore that the best and the wisest Princes are subiect to the temptations of Sathan to the allurements of the world flesh and sinne and may decline and fall away from good beginnings and proceedings let all good Christians and good subiects pray hartily and continually to God not onely to make their Princes good but also to hold keepe continue and encrease them in goodnes And seeing that all of vs are subiect to the like temptations let vs all be carefull not onely to begin well but also to holde on and continue to the end remembring that fearefull sentence of God saying If the righteous turne away from his righteousnes and committeth iniquitie and doe according to all the abhominations that the wicked man doth shall hee liue all his righteousnes which hee hath done shall not be mentioned but in his transgression which hee hath committed and in the sinne that hee hath sinned in them shall he die And let vs neuer forget that excellent counsell of Salomons The way of the righteous shineth as the light that shineth more and more vntill the perfect day His meaning is that as the light in the morning when it once appeareth encreaseth more and more till it be perfect day so good men they growe daily in knowledge grace and goodnes Againe he saith age is a crowne of glory if it be found in the way of righteousnes Happie is that young man that hath liued well but more happie is that old man that hat liued well It is not sufficient that we haue bene good except we continue so still the righteous saith Dauid shall flourish like a palme tree and shall growe like a Cedar in Libanon Such as be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the Courts of our God they shall bring forth fruit in their age Young men must remember their Creator in their youth the powers of their body and minde is then fittest for the seruice of God They are subiect to death as well as others they must giue their best time and first fruites of their age to God They cannot tell how soone they may die and they must come to iudgement as well as others and the pietie of their young age will be a comfort and a credit to them in their old age and therefore let them be carefull of religion and holy conuersation in their tender yeares and let old men and women take heed of vices and doe nothing that is vnseemely to their age And in very deed the beautie and ornament of the elder sort is the true knowledge of God and heauenly wisedome and an vnblamable life they may set that no age is free from danger If the diuell cannot deceiue vs in our youth he will not leaue vs but will deceiue vs in our age if he can some in this age are guiltie of Salomons sinnes both of vncleannes and Idolatrie Some are ignorant some prophane some vniust some ouercome with lying some with drunkennes and the most in their olde age are subiect to impatience and couetousnes and are vnwilling to die and leaue this sinfull world but let them of all other be examples of wisedome vertue let them flie from the lusts of youth follow after righteousnes faith loue peace with thē that call on the Lord with a pure heart Let the elder men be sober honest discreet sound in the faith in loue and in patience the elder women likewise that they bee of snch behauiour as becommeth holines not false accusers not giuen to much wine but teachers of honest things Oh how pleasant a thing is it when gray-headed men minister iudgement and when the elders can giue good counsell Oh how comely a thing is wisedome to aged men and vnderstanding and prudence to men of honour The crowne of olde men is to haue much experience and the feare of God is their glory They are to giue themselues to continuall prayer and deuotion to reading and hearing of the word to the meditation of the shortnes of their life and of the happinesse and eternity of the life to come Worthy is the example of Barzillai the Giliadite who went to conduct King Dauid ouer Iorden and King Dauid sayd vnto him Come ouer with me and I will feede thee with me in Ierusalem I am this day foure score yeere olde sayth hee and can I discerne betweene good or euill hath thy seruant any taste in that I eate or that I drink can I heare any more the singing voyce of men or women wherefore then should thy seruant be any more a burthen thy seruant will goe a little way ouer with thee I pray thee let thy seruant turne backe againe that I may die in my owne City and bee buried in the graue of my father and of my mother His meaning is that the pleasures of the Courte was not fit for him though he was a man of great account substance yet being old his minde was of death of his graue and buriall Happy is he that hath so liued both in young and olde age that hee can say with good Ambrose seeing his friendes weeping about him at his death I haue not so liued that I am ashamed to liue still amongst you neither am I afrayde to die because we haue a gracious good Lord. Now let young old and all sorts of men and women especially Princes and great persons let all I say take heede of these two vices where with Solomon is touched namely vnbridled lust Idolatrie God is a holy and pure spirit hee hath ordeyned mariage as a bridle and remedie against vnclearle and vnlawfull lust and wee are to liue chastelie in virginitie and single life which is the first degree of chastitie or else to liue in mariage the ordinance of GOD which is the second degree of chastitie But the Deuill he is a foule filthie and vncleane spirit an enemie to mariage to chastitie and honestie and therefore from the beginning hee hath sought to defile and pollute that holy institution of GOD by multitude of wiues by fornication whoredome adulterie and other wandering wanton and vagabonde lustes These are against the law of nature
grace this woman would haue the courtiers and seruants of Salomon to coÌ„fesse that blessing which she had found in hauing so wise a gouerner and teacher Seuenthly she reioyceth and blesseth God for Salomons instructions so that is the dutie of good hearers as to be thankefull to the men and meanes of their conuersion so much more to God the author and giuer of all good as Dauid blessed Abâ—gaâ—l so first of all he blessed God for her counsell And the same Dauid saith to the Lord I will praise thee with an vpright heart when I shall learne the iudgeâ—ments of thy righteousnes And againe seauen times a day doe I praise thee because of thy righteous iudgements And in another place he exhorteth Ierusalem to praise God as for peace and plentie so chiefely for that he had shewed his word to Iacob his statutes and iudgements to Israel he hath not dealt so with euery nation saith he neither haue they knowne his iudgements praise ye the Lord. Our Sauiour himselfe reioyceth in his spirit and giueth thankes to his heauenly Father for the good successe of the Gospell when Phillip preached in Samaria with great power profit there was great ioy in that Citie the Infidel being conuerted by the preaching of the word blesseth God Eightly good hearers after this royall example are to be bountifull and thankefull to their teachers she giues vnto Salomon abundance of gold sweet odours exceeding much as you may see in the next verse following this our text It may be some will say that Salomoâ— had no need of such gifts hauing such abundance of wealth and riches It is true yet he doth accept it and requiteth her kindnes with precious presents and gaue her whatsoeuer she asked so that she went home richer then she came richer I am sure in grace and diuine wisedome yet in giuing Salomon such precious gifts she shewed her thankefulnes thinking nothing too deare for such a teacher And though the ministers be not able to requite the kindnesses and liberalities of men yet God is able to doe it and he hath promised to blesse and reward all true friends and benefactors to his seruants And yet the people must knowe that they receiue from good ministers more gaine and profit then they doe from them the ministers they offer and deliuer heauenly misteries the Iewells and treasures of the word the spirituall foode of the soule which is more precious then thousands of gold and siluer they receiue from the people onely earthly and outward maintenance prouision and substance for this bodie and life and therefore the people haue no cause to grudge the maintenance of good ministers seeing if they make their accounts aright the gaine is theirs The Apostle saith Such as labour in word and doctrine are worthie of double honor That is of reuerence and munificence And againe Let him that is taught in the word make him that hath taught him partaker of all his goods they that sowe spirituall things are worthie to reape temporall things And the Lord hath ordained that they that preach the Gospell should liue of the Gospell It is the law of nature equitie and thankfulnes that such should be maintained being spirituall pastors fathers and souldiers and spending themselues as a candle for the common good The good Shunamite is kinde and liberall to Elisha the Prophet not suffring him to want either foode or lodging Holie women in the Gospell ministred vnto Christ and maintained him of their owne substance Cornelius kindly entertaineth Peter Lâ—dea euen constrained Paul and his companie to come to her house And the Iaylor conuerted refresheth Paule and Silaâ— his prisoners And thus you may plainly see in this worthie example eight notes and markes of good hearers Some before this Texte some in this text and some after and these notes doe containe and comprehend the whole storie of this worthie Queene And now because this whole text is a praise and commendation of Salomon let vs learne from hence that vertue and wisedome is to be commended in whom soeuer we finde it A man saith Salomonâ— shal be commended for his wisedome and not only great personages but the poorest are to be commended for vertue Better is a poore nise childe saith Salomon then an olde and foolish King which will no more be admonished And againe Better is Wisedome then strength Yet the wisedome of the poore is despised And in an other place Better is the poore that walketh in his vprightnes then he that peruerteth his wayes though hee be rich Saint Iames reprooueth this parcialitie in men who esteeme highlie and magnifie rich men bee they neuer so wicked and despise poore men such as are chosen of God rich in Faith and heyreâ— of the Kingdome Those that honor mee shall be honoured saith the Lorde and those that despise mee shall be despised God himselfe commendeth and praiseth such He saith of Iob that he was an vpright and iust man one that feared GOD and eschued euill Christ commendeth Iohn the Baptist saying There was not a greater Prophet amongst womens children Zacharie the Priest and his wife Elizabeth are said both by the holie Ghost to bee iust before God and to walke in all the commandements of God without reproofe And Simeon is saide to bee a iust man fearing God and wayting for the consolation of Israel And Christ writing to the seuen Churches Though hee hath something against most of them worthie of blame and reproofe yet hee commendeth anie good thing in them Yea he especially commendeth the church of Smyrna though in persecution and pouertie accounting it rich in grace and spirituall treasures So that it is lawfull and it is our dutie to commend and praise vertue and goodnes in anie the behauiour of good men is such as deserueth draweth loue and praise And this doth incourage them to go forward in goodnes and doth prouoke others to follow their example as the shadow doth follow the bodie so Honor and praise doth follow vertue sometime the wicked doe praise their vertues and are forced to commend them and though they doe it not yet righteous men commonly will praise them and the more godly wise that men are the more praise they deserue and we must take heed that our praise be moderate iust and without flatterie aboue all things we must take heed that we praise not without cause and desert that we neuer iustifie nor commeÌ„d the wicked remembring that there is a fearefull woe pronounced against them that speake good of euill euill of good The vse of this doctrine is for the reproofe of many as of those that are so blind and senseles that they cannot see and discerne the grace of God in men others are so dumbe and vnthankfull that though they be partakers of many graces from others which they must needs see
art thou bee thou neuer so Riche or Honourable If thou wilt see what thou art looke vpon a man not aliue but deade what hee is such were his predecessors and what they are thou shalt be the same hereafter If thou looke well vpon thy selfe thou shalt finde in thee sufficient matter to contemne thy selfe What art thou in respect of thy bodie but a vessell of corruption That bodie which thou so tenderly louest it shall rotte and come to nothing What is more noysome then a deade bodie What is more miserable then mans life and most of all miserable in respect of his soule being without grace an heire and childe of perdition This knowledge of our selues the first part of true wisedome will cut downe all Pride Ambition and Impatience and from this proceedeth the knowledge of God and from the knowledge of our selues knowe GOD to be most iust most mercifull most wise most good and most powerfull And if thou wouldst knowe what GOD is see what thou art to him and what hee is to thee And if thou wilt rightly knowe GOD cast off the loue and wisedome of the world This double knowledge of GOD and thy selfe is necessarie to saluation because as from the knowledge of thy selfe there commeth into thee the feare of God and also from the knowledge of God there proceedeth the loue of God So on the contrary from the ignorance of thy selfe proceedeth Pride and from the ignorance of GOD commeth Desperation Thou hast found true wisedome if thou wilt amend the sinnes of thy former life If thou desire with all thy heart Eternall blessednes thou hast found wisedome If thou taste and sauour all these things as they are that thy sinne bee bitter to thee and abhorred that the thinges of the worlde bee as Transitorie and contemptible that the perfect good things bee with thy whole desires affected In these three things thy mouth doth slowe with Wisedome If in thy mouth there bee confession of thy sinnes the voyce of praise and of Thankes-giung and the word of edification The wise man accuseth himselfe glorifieth God edifieth his neighbour therefore in the Philosophers there could be found no true wisedome because some thought that all things might be knowne these were not wise others thought nothing could be knowne these also were not wise the one because they giue too much to man the other because they gaue too little this then is wisedome not to thinke thou knowest all things which is proper to God nor yet to knowe nothing which is proper to beasts knowledge in man is ioyned with ignorance knowledge in vs is from the soule which is from heauen ignorance is from the body which is from the earth so that we haue some communitie both with God and with beastes with God in respect of knowledge with beastes in respect of ignorance The more wee excell in diuine knowledge the nearer and the more liker we are to God himselfe who is not onely the fountaine and giuer of wisedome but very wisedome it selfe But here may an obiection be propounded How is there any true happines seeing both in the getting holding and enioying of wisedome there is much care labour sorrowe and vexation of minde This Salomon himselfe confesseth when he saith I gaue mine heart to knowe wisedome knowledge madnes and foolishnes and I knowe also that this is a vexation of the spirit for in the multitude of wisedome is much griefe and he that encreaseth knowledge encreaseth sorrow this is true indeed that in al trades callings sciences there is great griefe and labour The Philosophers no doubt tooke great paines in finding out naturall things yet in many things they were blinde deceiued in gouernment either of common-wealth or families there is much care and labour in inuenting of counsell and griefe when our counsells are hindred and haue not good effect and sometimes we erre in gouerning and the wisest men are not alwaies so wise as they should be and the best wisedome of man cannot foresee all dangers which follow nor preuent them with all their cunning In Mechanicall trades and handicrafts what care and labour to learne them to exercise them and to encrease daily in skill and knowledge of them and in diuine wisedome there must be great care and labour to get it to hold it to increase in it it will not be gotten by ease and carelesnes but with great studie and diligence and much sorrow is ioyned with it Good men are grieued because they cannot so soone and so easily learn and vnderstand as manie other can Wee reade heare many things which do cause much griefe vnto vs as our owne sinnes and the sinnes of others and the fearful iudgments of God which haue fallē vpon men for sin and the more knowledge we haue if we cōtinue in sin without Repentance the more wee heape and multiplie the wrath of God vpon vs to our greater griefe and sorrow and the more learning and knowledge that men haue the lesse ease and rest For many seeke vnto them and they are ready and willing to instruct others as much as they can which cannot be done without studie and labour The calling of the Magistrate and of the Minister though excellent diuine callings yet subiect to much vexation sorrow and danger and exceeding paines The Apostle saith Who is sufficient for these things And indeed they be heauie and intollerable burdens for anie mortall man to beare without the speciall helpe and grace of God Besides the wiser that a man is the more he searcheth desireth and seeketh for wisedome still the more he sees his own ignorance and this is griefe and vexation of minde There is no perfection of wisdome in this life we see here but in part the best and holiest and wisest haue their wants infirmities ignorances Therfore the wise man hauing feeling and sense of this though he did excell in vertue and knowledge Yet he saith thus of himselfe Surely I am more foolish then anie man haue not the vnderstāding of man I haue not learned wisdome nor attained to the knowledge of holy things who hath ascended vp to Heauen and descended who hath gathered the wind in his fist who hath bound the waters in a garment who hath established all the ends of the world what is his Name and what is his Sonnes Name if thou canst tell The greatest wisedome in man is like a smoking Toarch if it bee compared to the beams of the Sunne to the height of Gods wisedome which is vnspeakable and admirable The best men are wost humble and confesse their ignorance when as the foolish proude people thinke they knowe all things when as they knowe nothing as they ought to knowe Our ignoronce is much in the things of this life euen in common and vulgar matters we doe not so much as knowe the names of many tooles and wares which are to be had seene and fold in many occupiers
my affections and thoughts are not seldome but often in a day vpon thy word The blessed man his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law doth meditate day night But Dauid proceedeth and sheweth what profit and fruite he got by the reading hearing meditation such other exercises of the word he was not a simple senselesse vnprofitable and vnfruitefull hearer as many are which heare much and are neuer the better but he protesteth that by his exercise in the word he had gotten and learned wisedome yea more wisedome then his enemies more then all his teachers more then the ancient and that by the power of the word he refrained his feete from euery euill way and hated all the waies of falshood and that his chiefe care and desire was to keepe and practise the word but yet he confesseth that hâ— could not doe this of himselfe but that it was God that did inwardly teach him by his spirit and so tasting the sweetnes of Gods grace in him he found the word and promise of God more sweet to his mouth then honie it selfe You see what account and estimation Dauid had of true wisedome esteeming it his chiefest and greatest felicitie happie then are the true schollers and followers of wisedome And if this woman thus pronounce and account the hearers of Salomon to be so happie how happie are they which doe dayly heare the wisedome of Iesus Christ in the preaching and ministrie of the Gospell Blessed are your eyes for they see and your eares for they heare sayth our Sauiour Christ to his disciples and followers For verily I say vnto you that many Prophets and righteous men haue desired to see those things which you see and haue not seene them and to heare those things which you heare and haue not heard them Now in the ministrie of the Gospel wee heare and see Christ himselfe He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me sayth Christ of his Apostles and of all his faithfull ministers We beseech you as embassadors in Christs stead that you may be reconciled to God sayeth S. Paul And in another place he sayeth That Christ was described and pictured before their eyes by the preaching of the word It was not the outward hearing of Christ himselfe or the sight of his person that made meÌ„ blessed for the Iewes saw him Iudas and other enemies to Christ heard him and saw him often But blessed are they that haue not seene and yet haue beleeued Christ is heard and seene in the publike ministrie of the Gospell Wisedome hath sent forth her maidens and messengers to call and inuite vs to her feast and banquet happie are her guests happie are her disciples and followers to haue such messengers is a speciall and rare blessing of God In Iob it is accounted by Elihu as a speciall comfort in the greatest distresse and danger to haue a messenger an interpreter one of a thousand to declare vnto man his righteousnes then will God haue mercie vpon him and say Deliuer him that he goe not downe into the pit for I haue receiued a reconciliation By the which words we are taught that it is a sure token of Gods fauour and blessing towards sinners when he causeth his word to be preached to them This God promiseth to his people as a speciall mercie and he saith I will giue you Pastors according to my heart which shall feede you with knowledge and vnderstanding It is â—ESVS CHRIST the wisedome of all wisedoms that hath ascended and giuen giftes vnto men and hath ordained Pastors and Teachers for the gathering and building of his Church What is your Felicitie saith S. Paul to the Galathians For I beare you record that if it had ben possible you would haue pluckt out your owne eyes and haue giuen them mee And before he saieth That they receiued him as an Angell of God he commendeth them faithfull in Galatia because they esteemed it the greatest happines vnder Heauen to enioy the ministrie of such an Apostle and Preacher and faithfull messenger of wisdome And is it not a happy thing to haue the eyes of our soules opened to be turned from darknes to light and from the power of Sathan to God that so we may receiue forgiuenes of sinnes and inheritaÌ„ce among them which are sanctified And is it not true happines to haue our soules borne begotten by the immortall seede of Gods word and as Babes and children in CHRIST to be fed and nourished with the sweete and pure milke of eternall life and this is donâ— by the ministrie of wisedome And is not this Felicitie to haue sinnes reproued to be instructed in the right way to haue errors corrected to be comforted in all distresse and danger outward or inward and finallie to bee made wise to saluation and all this is done by the ministrie of wisedome And what happier thing can wee haue in this life then to know the Lordes minde then to haue his priuie counsell reuealed to vs and to bee made wise to Saluation through Faith which is in Christ Iesus Nay Is it not eternall life to know GOD and his Sonne IESVS CHRIST and all this we receiue if we be gratious hearers froÌ„ the messengers of wisedome And will not all confesse that this is the greatest good and the happiest thing in the world to haue the wrath of God pacified to bee in his fauour so that hee is become our Friend and Father and we are taken and accounted as friends to him And there is a true reconciliation betwixt vs so that we need neuer doubt of the saluation of our soules Now this comfort and assurance we haue by the ministrie of wisdome being the very word of the Kingdome the word of grace the word of reconciliation and saluation the word of life yea of eternall life And finally Is it not true Felicity to haue that good part which shall neuer be taken from vs That one thing needfull yea so needfull indeed that wee had better want all other things in this life then be without it And is it not true happines to haue that happines restored and encreased which Adam had in Paradise and lost by his Fall to haue that Image of GOD wherein hee was first created to bee restored vnto vs and in some some sorte to be made like to GOD himselfe in true holines and Righteousnes And is not all this true happinesse and the way to that Eternall and perfect blessednes which wee shall enioy in the Heaâ—ens whereof wee haue spoken largely before And thus we conclude from the premises as from infallible reasons taken from the necessity excellencie power and fruite of Wisedome that this position and doctrine which heere is holden and collected by the wordes of this Woman is most true and sound Namely that the way to make a people happie is to heare receiue and imbrace this
or if they come to the Sermon their mindes are at home they are like Idols that haue eares and heare not eyes and see not they doe not consider and marke nor beleeue those things which are spoken of the contempt of this world against couetousnesse oppression and deceit If they be somewhat neerely touched they gruntle like Swine they barke like Dogges such as are learned and haue knowledge beeing delicate and dainetie they thinke the plaine and simple stile of preaching agreeing to the Scripture to haue small sweetnesse or delight in it they stand vpon eloquence and mans wisedome it is grieuous to them to heare a plaine simple Preacher though he speake with power of the spirit Great persons men of state and countenance which are scarcely accounted men but halfe Gods they thinke it a discredit to heare many sermons I am afraid saith a Father that the Queene of the South comming froÌ„ the farthest part of the world to heare the wisedome of Salomon that she shall iudge men of this age and the men of Niniuie repenting at the preaching of Ionas shall condemne those which despise a greater then Ionas so many among the people shall condemne many Ministers in the Church withdrawing themselues from their Ecclesiasticall dutie and doing those things which doe not beseemeâ— a Minister yea they doe not beseeme a simple Christian An other complaineth both of Ministers and people saying Woâ— be vnto you Scribes and Pharises hypocrites which shut the kingdome of heauen before men By these words the Lord will shew that the Priests of the Iewes did all things for couetousnes and who knew by the scriptures that Christ was come and they considered because Christ was beleeued and receiued that the custome of sacraficing and offering would cease and that the sacrifice of righteousnes would preuaile but they did shut the doore of truth when they decreed that if any should say he was the sonne of God he should be shut out of the Synagogue so now hereticall ministers they doe shut the doore of truth for they know if the truth be made manifest the Church would leaue them and they should be cast downe from their places What then is the ignorant people to be excused No for if thou wouldst buy thee garments thou seekest to sundry Chapmen and where thou maist haue the best garments and the easiest price those thou takest and therefore thou must seeke and search for teachers and enquire where truth is and where is error It is not forbidden to know the confessions of all men and to choose that which is best according to the saying of the Apostle Proue all things and hold that which is good If for worldly busines thou wouldest goe to a place thou knowest not thou dost not cease from thy purpose because thou knowest not the way but thou doest trie this and that way thou dost aske seek and enquire and so findest the right way If thou wilt enter into the truth of the scriptures sometimes pray sometimes search the scriptures sometimes seeke by good workes sometimes enquire of this minister sometimes of that that so thou maist see who they be that haue the keyes of knowledge If these things be not done it is because the word of God is not beleeued nor the promise of blessednes desired nor the last iudgement feared Where is this care of searching and the truth to be found where is that diligence of inquiring Men are readie to heare receiue and beleeue any thing like children they are carried away with any kinde of doctrine they are still ignorant and fall into many errors because with this woman they will not diligently and carefully seeke for the truth where it may be found All others are carefull and painefull to learne and seeke the true knowledge and skill as much as they can of their trades and sciences onely Christians are idle careles and ignorant in their profession Harken I pray you saith the same father is it not an absurd thing that the Physition the Shoomaker and Weauer and generally all workemen striue for the profession of their Arts but a Christian cannot bring a reason of his religion those Artes being neglected are but the losse of money the contempt of religion is the losse of the soule and yet we are so madde that we imploy all our care and thoughts that way and we make no account of the necessarie defence of our soule for this cause the heathen knowe not their error but take offence and mocke vs for they being in error doe all things for the defence of their errors We being professors of the truth can say nothing for defence of it and for this cause the very heathen doe condemne our doctrine of weakenes they suspect in vs some fraude and foolishnes and so they speake euill of Christ as of a liar we are the cause of this blasphemie Saint Peeter commandeth vs to be readie to giue a reason of the faith that is in vs to euery man that asketh And S. Paul doth exhâ—rt vs That the word of God may dwell plentifully in vs. But what say the foolish people to this they say blessed is the simple soule and he that walketh simplie walketh boldly this is the cause of all euill that many cannot rightly and truly applie the scriptures for by the simple is not meant the foole but he that is honestly and vprightly minded for if it were so vnderstood in vaine were the saying of Christ Be wise as serpents and innocent as doues Let vs blush and be ashamed that the Samaritan woman was so carefull in learning that her worldly busines could not hinder her from the doctrine of Christ We enquire nothing in the knowledge of heauenly things but are carelesse and neglect all things Which of vs I pray you when we come home doth any thing worthy of a Christian who doth search repeate or remember the scriptures The scriptures are giuen not onely that you should haue them in your bookes but also in your hearts I doe not forbid to get you bookes nay I doe admonish you and entreate you that you get them yet so that you doe oftentimes repeat both the letters and the sense in your minde that by it that may be made pure For if in whatsoeuer house the Gospell of Christ is the diuell dare not enter how much lesse shall the diuel ore sinne touch that soule which is familiar with the diligent reading of it therefore sanctifie thy soule and sanctifie thy body this shall come to passe if thou haue alwaies in thy minde and tongue the Gospell of Christ Seeing therefore there is such ignorance impenitencie prophanenes disobedience and vnthankfulnes amongst vs not onely the former examples but many others shall rise vp in iudgement against vs in the last day The Gâ—ecians shall condemne vs in that day for they reuerently esteemed and heard their Philosophers disputing doubtfully of vice and vertue but wee
writing bookes in diuine instructions and meditations should in his latter dayes fall so grossely into such monstrous wickednesse Who would belieue this or thinke it possible but that it is written and recorded by the holy Ghost the spirit of truth The remembraÌ„ce the reading hearing or thinking of such a fowle fall in such a man it may trouble vs and make our hearts to quake and tremble O Sathan subtile serpent cruell dragon mighty and roaring Lyon the aduersary of mans saluation great is they power thy subtilty and boldnesse that couldest preuaile so far with such a man But what wilt not thou or what canst thou not doe if the Lord let thee loose who didst seduce Adam in Paradise and wast not afraide to tempt our SAVIGVR CHRIST in the wildernesse though thou couldst not preuaile against him but all thy desire endeuour labour is to destroy the soules and bodies of sinfull mortall men But the Lord reproue thee ô Sathan and stay thy infatiable rage and furie O the corruption and sinfulnes of mans nature what are wee the best of vs all if the Lord leaue vs to our selues Into what monstrous and beastly sinnes doe wee fall O Salomon how art thou degenerated how hast thou forgotten thy selfe who hath bewitched thee In thy young time all admired thee sought to thee commended and magnified thee for thy wisedome now all may admire and scoffe thy follie and madnes The enemies of God the Heathen may say Is this the great wise man whome all the world admired Thou hast bene a ioy to all good men they reioyced at thy prosperitie wisedome and pietie Now they figh they are greeued wounded at their heart for thy follie wickednes Hast thou forgotten thine education or the good counsell of thy parents who taught thee and said vnto thee Let thy heart hold fast my words keepe my commaundements and thou shalt liue Thy louing Father gaue thee this counsell vpon his death bed saying I goe the way of all the earth bee strong therefore and shew thy selfe a man and take heede to the charge of the Lord thy God to walke in his wayes and keepe his statutes and his commaundements and his iudgements and his testimonies as it is written in the law of Moses that thou mayst prosper in all that thou doest and in euery thing whereunto thou turnest thee And hast thou forgotten those sweete words of thy father Thou Salomon my sonne know thou the God of thy father and serue him with a perfect heart with a willing minde For the Lord searcheth all hearts and vnderstandeth all the imaginations of thoughts If thou seeke him he will be found of thee But if thou forsake him he will cast thee off for euer And hast thou forgotten the sweet and louing counsell of thy mother the prophecie which she taught thee spoken to thee with a tender motherly affection What my sonne what the sonne of my wombe and what O son of my desires giue not thy strength to women nor thy wayes which is to destroy Kings And there shee describeth a wife forthee Not many wiues but one not a stranger or Idolater but a woman fearing God O Salomon hast thou forgotten the first institution of mariage wherein God made for one Adam one 〈◊〉 for one man one woman and they two saith he shall be one flesh And hast thou forgotten the expresse law of God forbidding the King to take him many wiues least his heart turne away from God And againe forbidding all compacts and mariages with Idolaters least they cause his people to turne away from him and serue other gods and so the wrath of the Lord waxe hotte against them and destroy them suddenly Of the truth of these words thou hast wofull experience in thy selfe And hast thou forgotten the words of God spoken to thy selfe promising to blesse thee if thou keep his statues and iudgements otherwise if thou and thy children turne away from me and will not keepe my commaundements and my statutes which I haue set before you but goe and serue other gods and worshippe them then will I cut off Israel from the land which I haue giuen them and the house which I haue hallowed for my Name will I cast out of my sight and Israel shall bee a prouerbe and a common talke among all people euen this high house shall be so Euery one that passeth by it shal be astonyed and shall hisse and they shall say Why hath the Lord done this vnto this land and to this house and they shall answere Because they forsooke the Lord their God which brought their Fathers out of the land of Aeâ—â—pt and haue taken holde vppon other Gods and haue worshipped them and serued them Therefore hath the Lorde brought vppon them all this euill And Oh Salomon hast thou forgotten thine owne counsell and doctrine inspired by the holy Ghost and deliuered to the instruction of others And may it not be said to thee Behold thou art called a lewe and restest in the law and gloriest in God and knowest his will and allowest the things that are excellent in that thou art instructed by the Law and perswadest thy selfe that thou art a guide of the blinde a light of them that are in darknes an instructer of them which lacke discretion a teacher of the vnlearned which hast the forme of knowledge and Truth in the lawe Thou therefore which teachest another teachest not thou thy selfe Thou that preachest a man should not steale Doest thou steale Thou that sayest a man should not commit adulterie Doest thou commit adultrie Thou that abhorrest Idolls coÌ„mittest thou Sacriledge Thou that gloriest in the Law through the breaking of the Law dishonorest thou God For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you as it is written Consider then how this thy bad example and filthy fall disagreeth with thy former doctrine and counsell Are not these thine owne words That the lips of a strange woman drop as an honie combe and her mouth is more softe then oyle but the ende of her is more bitter then worme-wood and sharpe as a two-edged sworde Her feete go downe to death and her steps take holde on Hell Keepe thy way farre from her and come not neere the doore of her house least thou giue they honors to others and thy yeares to the cruell And is not this thine owne sweete counsell that the commandement is a Lanthorne and Instruction and Light and Corrections for instructions and the way of life to keepe thee from the wicked woman and from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman desire not her beautie in thy heart neither let her not take thee with her Eye-liddes For because of the whorish woman a man is brought to a morsell of bread and a woman will hunt for the precious life of a man And doeâ—â— thou not describe and cunningly lay out the folly of
And finally we are moued to pittie kindnes and mercy towards other sinners seeing in many things we sinne all and such excellent and holy men Patriarkes Prophets and Apostles haue had their grieuous falles THE SIXT SERMON WE haue heard the reioycing and thanksgiuing of this woman for the Raigne of Salomon and specially because she sawe the loue of God both to Salomon and to Israel in placing such a King We haue heard the happines of Salomon the great and extraordinarie gifts of God bestowed vpon him and manifold signes of Gods fauour towards him and that God by his owne mouth and promise and by a speciall name giuen to Salomon professeth his loue towards him And therefore howsoeuer he fell most grieuously and therefore deserued no loue but rather hatred and to be cast off for euer yet no doubt but God did loue him still and in time brought him to repentance and saluation Now let vs from these words of this blessed woman seeing Gods loue in placing Salomon let vs I say learne and obserue from hence that a good King is a rare and a speciall gift of God and a token of his loue to the people For it is said here Because God loued Israel to establish it for euer therefore he made Salomon King ouer them When God meanes to blesse a land and to doe any good vnto it he giueth it good Princes when he meaneth to correct and punish a people he sendeth wicked men to Raigne ouer them So that it is God that giueth Kings sometimes in loue sometime in anger He threatneth to take away the Iudge and the Prophet the prudent and the aged and to appoynt children and babes to be Princes ouer them In his iustice he causeth the hypocrite to raigne Woe to thee ô land when thy King is a childe and thy Princes eate in the morning that is when they are without wisedome and counsell and are giuen to their lusts and pleasure But blessed art thou oh land when thy King is the sonne of nobles meaning when he is noble for verture and wisedome A good King is a great and worthy blessing of God Salomon saith He that findeth a good wife findeth a good thing and receiueth fauour of the Lord. And Bethsheba saith Who shall finde a vertuous woman her price is farre aboue the pearles How much more truly may this be said of a vertuous King Euery good thing is from God As good husbands good wiues good parents good children good maisters good seruants how much more a good King being publicum bonum that is a publike good bonum quo comunius â—o melius a good the more common it is the better it is The want of such is an occasion of sinne and ruine to the people It is said in the booke of the Iudges that when the iudge was dead they returned and did worse then their fathers in following other gods and in worshipping them And againe when Gideon was dead the children of Israel turned away and went a whoring after Balim and made Baall their God And this is set downe as a cause of Idolatrie and of all vilanie amongst that people In those daies there was no King in Israel but euery man did that which was good in his owne eies Miserable is the state of the people without a Prince like fishes deuouring one another like a body without a head like sheep without a Shepheard like souldiers without a Captaine like children without a mother a ship not safe without a gouernour nor a priuate house without a guide nor the common-wealth without gouernours This knew Moses who was carefull of his posteritie and to haue a gouernour for his place before he died and therefore said Let the Lord God of the spirits of all flesh appoynt a man ouer the congregation who may goe out and in before the people and leade them that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheepe which haue not a Shepheard Great are the commodities and comforts which we reape by good Kings Behold saith Esaiah A King shall raigne in iustice and the Princes shall rule in iudgement and that man shall be as a hiding place from the winde and as a refuge from the tempest As the riuers of waters in a drie place and as the shadowe of a great rocke in a wearie land And marke the happines of Salomons gouernment here commended His father Dauid prophecieth of him that true religion should be maintained in his kingdome that in his daies the righteous should flourish that he should be to such as comfortable as the deawe and shewers after the mowne grasse That in his time should be abundance of peace and plentie That he should iudge the poore with equitie and deliuer him when he cryeth and saue the children of the needie and subdue the oppressor redeeming their soules from deceite and violence and preseruing them from all wrong Behold then the happines the benefite and comfort of a good King He is a father a pastor a nurce to the Church and common-wealth He is as a wall and prop to stay vp the tender boughes of the vine He is like the shadow of a great tree refreshing his subiects He is as it were a common soule to the people whereby the body of the Church and common-wealth is stayed and vpholden And as the sunne is to the planets and the planets to the starres so is the King with his counsell iudges and magistrates to the common-wealth From thence it hath life comfort and light A good King is much more excellent and better then a good subiect His goodnes more large moreample profitable then the goodnes of others As much difference as there is betwixt a priuate familie and the common-wealth betwixt one house and a Citie betwixt a litle riuer and the sea so much difference there is betwixt a good subiect and the King He is like a spring or fountaine of water descending from the toppe of a high mountaine watring all the lower groundes cherishing and filling all the lower brookes The care the religion the wisedome the pittie the pietie the liberalitie iustice and temperance of a king profiteth all his subiects By his meanes religion peace iustice artes schooles families trades buildings Church and common-wealth flourisheth Therefore saith Salomon In the prosperitie of the righteous the Citie reioyceth and when the wicked perisheth there is ioy And by the blessing of the righteous the Citie is exalted Againe when the wicked rise vp men hide themselues but when they perish the righteous encrease when the righteous are in authoritie the people reioyce but when the wicked beareth rule the people sigh All good subiects reioyce at the raigne of good Princes because they enioy liues liberties their goods and the Gospell when the wicked rule there is a storme the iust are molested they flie as Dauid from Saul they hide themselues as the Prophets