vnderstand how it is to be sought for let let it be that we both agree it is to bee sought and also doe séeke for it yet if we séeke not the right way we are neuer the better for seeking First then knowe this that there are two sortes of vnity and agreement the one is in God being in the truth in the spirite in true holines and sanctification The other is in error and sin and not in the Lord. Now indeede it is the holy vnitie in the Lord which is praised in this Psalme and which wee must seeke after vpon which the blessing of God shal come This may ye sée by that exhortation of S. Paul Ephesi 4. When hee saith studying to keepe the vnity of the spirite in the band of peace for he addeth as the reason there is one body and one spirit as ye are called in one hope of your calling one Lord one faith one baptisme one God and father of all c. For like as all the members of the naturall body are coupled together by one soule and make but one body so by one spirite of the Lord all the faithfull are vnited and become all one misticall body of Iesus Christ by one faith and by one baptisme they are all in one Lord and in one God The foūdation of this vnity is in the truth and by it men growe vp together in God and for this cause it is sayd in the first verse of the Psalme Brethren also to dwell in vnitie He sayth also because as there is a reconciliation wrought by Christ betweene God and man and so a mā is come into vnitie with God he must also growe into vnity with those which are together reconciled to the Lord with him seeke this vnity to be vnited with our brethrē vnto God otherwise all shall bee dissolued and scattered againe in confusion Touching that other concorde which is in errour and wickednes they which possesse it who are of diuers sortes doo commend it and much complaine of the disturbaunce and breach thereof As first of all the Papistes make a great exclamation against vs which professe the glorious Gospell and haue forsaken them that like wicked Scismatickes wee haue disturbed and broken this holy vnitye by rendinge our selues from the true Church and so from the faith and from Christs misticall body this is a gréeuous and a sore accusation if their vnity which they glory of were in the truth But séeing it is most euident that they haue forsaken the truth of God blaspheme and condemne it and set vp abhominable errours and cursed Idolatrye all their agreementes all their holy league as they terme it is no more but a most wicked and cursed conspiracie against God and his people What is their vnity more then that which is described by the Prophet Dauid Psalme 2. Why doe the Gentiles rage and the people meditate that which is vaine The Kings of the earth stand vp and the Princes take counsaile together against the Lord and against his Christ Here is a great vnity nay a conspiracy of wicked traitors against Christ This perplexitie is fulfilled by them And we haue the commaundement of God by the voyce of the Angel Come out frō among them my people and seperate your selues so that all their cry is nothing against vs we haue not dissolued this blessed vnity here commended but haue forsaken their cursed conspiracy which the néerer a man is ioyned vnto the further of he is from God Let no man therefore be troubled or disquieted by their great wordes but forsaking them imbrace the holy faith and be vnited thereby together with the Prophetes and Apostles and all holy men vnto Iesus Christ Yee shall here many other sortes of men complaine that there is not fellowship and vnitye kepte with them When indéede as they walk after their wicked and vncleane lustes in all abhominable sinnes as in contempte of Gods word in drunkennesse whoredome pride ambition couetousnes vsurie extortion bribery oppression enuy and many such like The holy ghost saith vnto vs haue no fellowship with the vnfruitefull workes of darknesse but rather reprooue them Ephes 5. ver 11. We can not ioyne Christ and Belial we can not be vnited to the Lord and haue fellowship in wicked sins If we say we haue fellowship with him saith S. Iohn walkein darkenesse we lie c. 1. Iohn ver 6. Ephes 5.11 He that crieth out for peace and dooth walk in vngodly wayes straying from the truth and from sanctificatiō whatsoeuer he will séeme to be he is naught else but a disturber and breaker of all holy vnitye For who can take parte with him in those thinges but he shall seperate him selfe as I haue shewed from trueth and Godlines without which there can be no blessed vnity S. Peter calleth our Lord Iesus Christ a liuing stone vnto whom all the faithfull comming as liuing stones are built vp and become a spirituall house 1. Pet. 2. If stones be not squared and made smoothe to sitte and ioyne togeather howe shall they growe into one buylding If men bee not framed in fayth and godlines how shall they be vnited in the Lord In déede there bee imperfections both in doctrine and maners all the best hewen stones haue some ruggednes remaining and men must beare one with an other in much for charity must couer the multitude of sinnes 1. Pet. 4. while the Temple of God is in the world the stones are not perfectly set together but the work is still in hand this temple is still in buylding we must beware of the down fall on that side also Then séeing this blessed vnity must bee in God in the truth in the spirit to be built vp in Christ Iesus in true sanctification for he that is in Christ is a new creature and seeing all concorde without this foundation shall fall downe as a rotten building let the holy booke of God be our ground let it be brought foorth to cut downe all controuersies and let men if they looke for any part of the blessing here promised yéelde all honor and glorie vnto this sacred worde Yea let no man stand vpon his owne honour or reputation If he haue maintained any thing awrie but so soone as euer he esspieth the trueth in any matter yeelde thereunto let the truth of God goe before and lead vs the way For this is the onlie way to growe into this holy vnitie And let such as walke awrie forsake their euill wayes imbrace the heauenly trueth and followe the rules thereof if they will be accounted studious of peace and concorde Ioyning thus vnto the trueth both in faith and godlines of life we shall be ioyned together in the Lord and it shal be said beholde howe good and how comely a thing it is for brethren also to dwell at vnity It shal be like that precious ointment vpon the head of Aaron c. The heauenly graces and giftes of the holy ghost shall
A Sermon preached at Pauls Crosse the thirtie day of May. 1591. By M. George Giffard Preacher of the worde of God at Maldon in Essex AT LONDON Printed by I. Windet for Tobie Cooke at the Tigers head in Paules Churchyard 1591. To the worshipfull Maister William Rider Alderman and elect Sheriefe of London SIr this Sermon was preached at Paules Crosse the 30. of Maye laste at the which ther were some that gathered the same in writing so neere as they could their coppies being conferred and laid together were neuerthelesse found very imperfect so that the Preacher was requested to perfecte the same so neere as his memorie would suffer him the which hauing doone and the coppie comminge to my handes J haue by publicke authoritie printed it I hope to the good of manie And findinge my selfe greatlie indebted to your worshippe and yours for many curtesies J was bolde to present it vnto you as a testimonie of my thankeful minde hoping that you will accept the same in as good part as I meant it And so beseechinge God to blesse your worshippe to the fulfillinge of that hope which many conceiue of you in time to come I humblye take my leaue this 7. of August 1591. Your worships humbly affectionate to commaund T. C. Psalme 133. Beholde how good and how c. THe holy Prophet King Dauid was the composer and writer of this Psalme as the Title thereof dooth expresly mention It is called a songe of degrées as there bee 14. other besides this here set together of the same title but in what sence the learned interpreters are of diuers iudgementes I will followe that which is most probable by the holy Scriptures The word Magnaloth which the Prophet heere vseth dooth properlie signifie steps or staires by which we assend into higher places But by Metaphor as I take it to be here vsed it signifieth high estate high degrée excellencie or dignitie For proofe heereof wee reade 1. Chro. 17. vers 17. where Dauid speaking vnto God sayth thou hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degrée vsing the same worde that is here So then if wee consider the phrase of the Hebrewe tongue which to expresse the superlatiue degrée vseth the plurall number a song of degrées that is a song of excellencies or a song of dignities is as much as to say a most excellent or a most worthy song The holy ghost in giuing this title dooth as it were set a marke in the forehead of the Psalme to giue notice vnto vs that there is a treasure of most excellent doctrine most fitte for our instruction contained in it that we may with the greater diligence attentiō giue eare vnto it The Argument or the matter here handled is all but one For the holy ghost with a very high and singuler praise through the whole Psalme dooth seth foorth and commend the vnitie and concord of brethren The brethren which he speaketh of and which are to kéepe this holie agréement are all the faithfull children of the Church fellow members of Christes misticall body and true worshippers of God among whom is the spirituall brother-hoode The vertue it selfe which is here commended is that same which S. Paul dooth so earnestlye exhorte and perswade all Christian men vnto to kéepe the vnity of the spirite in the bonde of peace Ephes 4. ver 3. The Primitiue Church is commended for the practise thereof in which wee haue a liuely example set before vs for it is written that the multitude of them that beléeued were of one hart and of one soule Act. 4. ver 32. For as one body consisting of many members hath but one hart and one soule by which all the members are vnited and loue each other so the multitude were vnited in iudgement and affection as if there were but one hart and one soule in them all The commendation and praise by which the holy ghost setteth foorth the excellent worthines of this vertue is vnder two Epithites which are these good and comelie For he saith beholde howe good and howe comely a thing it is for brethren also to dwell in vnitie These two Epithites hee afterward openeth and amplifieth by two similitudes the one is taken from the annointing of Aaron with the precious ointment to declare chéefelye the swéete and pleasant comelines of this vnitie the other is taken from the dewe of Hermon which commeth downe vpon the mountaines of Sion to expresse the fruit and good that cōmeth thereof And finallie hee concludeth from the highest cause euen the Lord God who hath commaunded the blessing of life eternall to bee vpon this vnitie This is bréefelie the summe of the Psalme or of this praise which is giuen Now come to to the exposition By the first word behold the Prophete dooth stirre vp the minds of the Israelites euen of all the Tribes to take viewe how blessed a thing vnity and concorde is euen by their owne experience which they had partlie by the former times and partlie by the time then present For in former daies they had felt with much sorrow the great calamities harmes and annoyaunces of discorde at this time now present when this Psalme was giuen they saw the blessings and benefites of vnity and peace For their former experience in the dayes of King Saule when hee persecuted Dauid which had done none euill the worship of God was neglected good men were oppressed euill men florished with much gréefe of minde vnto many then was there discord so far as men durst speake When Saule was taken away and Dauid was annointed King in Hebron Abner the sonne of Ner Captaine of Saules armie tooke Ishbosheth Saules sonne and sette him vp for King the discorde then grewe much greater for then one part of the Tribes claue vnto Dauid the other vnto the house of Saule They were indéede all the sonnes of Iaacob and professed the God of Abraham whome they should with one mouth haue worshipped and glorified as S. Paul saith Rom. 15. ver 6. but they were deuided and rent a sunder for there was bloudy warre and long time continued among the Tribes 2. Sa. 2. 3. brethren with deadly hatred and enmitie pursuing their brethren séeking the bloud eache of other It could not bee but that great calamities in this time of discord did ouerspred the whole land they might by experience then and did beholde how euill and how mischéeuous a thing it is for brethren to be at variance The cutting down of so great an euill and taking away all occasion is a verye great good Therefore when Abner Ishebosheth were slaine all Israell came togeather and set vp Dauid Then there grewe a reconciliation of Tribe vnto Tribe and they which were before rente a sunder became againe one body brethren imbraced eache other with loue the bitter hatred before among them was cutte downe and extinguished The worship of God was now set vp the blessinges of God were
powred downe from heauen vpon them in great plentye the whole land did reioyce with ioy and gladnes Therfore he willeth them now to behold how good and howe comelie a thing it is for brethren to dwell also at vnitie Thus were they taught by their owne experience on both sides For they had found the gréeuous annoyances of discorde and enmity on the one part and the benefite of peace on the other and this is it he willeth them to behold Behold how good and how comelie a thing it is which dooth cutte downe so great euill and behold how good and how comelie a thing it is which bringeth with it such great blessinges of God thus much for the first word Then to the praise it selfe the first Epithite is howe good which containeth the great fruit that ariseth thereof and is afterward set forth by the seconde comparison that is of the the dewe of Hermon for that is a thing fruitefull and good The other is how comelie the word is Magnim which signifieth beautifull swéete comelie or pleasaunt as in Psal 16. Where he speaketh of the resurrection and exaltation of our sauiour Christ saying Thou wilte shewe me the path of life the fulnes of ioye is in thy presence at thy right hande comely pleasures for euermore This comelie pleasant swéetnes of concord is resembled and shadowed foorth by the former similitude that is of Aarons annointing for that was a verie comelie and a swéet thing and had a misticall signification To vnderstande the better what is here meant first ye may reade of this precious oyntment both whereof the Lord commaunded it shoulde be made and how Aaron and his Sonnes should bee annointed therewith vnto the préests office in Exod. 30. Then further we are taught in the Scriptures that Aaron was a figure of Christ and that this anointing of his with that precious swéet oyntment did represent the spirituall and heauenly annoynting of Christ Iesus with the holy Ghost whose graces distill frō him the head vpon euery parte of his misticall bodie which is the Church Of him it is sayd the spirite of the Lorde is vpon mee because he hath annointed me c. Luke 4. vers 18. Marke further then wherein the comparison holdeth Thus powringe the precious oyntment vpō Aarons head running down vpō his heard and to the scirts of his clothing was pleasant to behold and cast forth a swéete sauor vnto all that stood round about Also in that it discendeth vpon his beard and so downeward vpon all parts euen to the scirtes of his clothing it resembleth the graces of the holye Ghost flowing downe frō the Lord Iesus Christ vpon all the members of his body knit togeather in an holy vnity When it went downe from Aarons head vpon his body vnited to the same it discendeth euen to the lowest part of his garmente because there is no rent nor seperation Euen so the Church vnited vnto Christ her head euery member of the same vnited vnto the rest in an holie vnion and making one bodie the heauenly graces of the holie Ghost farre swéeter then that precious oyntment flowe from him vpon them and all are partakers thereof euen the lowest and meanest member euen to the scirtes For where they are ioyned in this spirituall vnitie looke what graces soeuer God from his Sonne Christ dooth power vpon the highest members that is vpon Princes and Pastors they distill also vpon the other parts and members and so from each to other That which was seperate from the heade from the bodie and from the garmentes of Aaron receiued no droppe of that precious oyntment which discended from the head to a bodie vnited and to all partes of the garmentes wrought togeather In like manner the graces of the holy Ghost discende from Christ the heade vppon nothing that is seperate and deuided and rente from him but vppon all the members vnited in one bodie Wee may then briefelie set foorth what this similitude declareth in this wise The swéete oyntmente is powred vpon the head of Aaron it goeth down vpon his beard then vpon his shoulders and all partes of his bodie euen to the lowest border of his garmentes Iesus Christ the heade of the Church is annoynted with the holy Ghost and from him the swéete graces discend and come vpon all the bodie and vpon euery member of the bodie euen to the meanest this it is to be vnited to him and to his Church this is a thing most swéete and most comfortable In the other similitude hee resembleth this vnity vnto the dew of Hermō which commeth downe vpon the Mountaines of Sion the waters which fall vpon the high mountaine distill into the valleies but into those valleies which are ioyned therevnto at the foote thereof and make them plentiously fruitfull euen so the heauenly spirituall dewes that come downe from aboue vpon the Mountaines flowe vpon the vallies which are vnited therunto and there is great fruite and all good thinges springing from thence Thus much wee may consider in these similitudes which expresse how good and how comely a thing it is for brethren also to dwell at vnitie Now al this is from the most high God for he saith there that is to say vpon those which dwell together in this holy vnitie the Lord hath commaunded the blessinge and life for euermore It is Gods vnchangeable decrée that they shall haue the blessing that is the great great high blessing euen the blessing of all blessinges in euerlasting continuance This can neuer faile for God almightie is vnchangeable and what he hath decreede and commaunded shall stande for euer This may perswade much to dwell in vnitie for it is a goodly matter to bee vnder the blessing of almighty God and there that is vpon the vnity of brethren hee hath commended his blessing and no where else for this there is as much as to say there only Now we see the praise it selfe of vnity and concorde here set foorth vnto vs it remaineth that wee consider to what ende and purpose the holye Ghost giueth this great commendation This we all knowe that when a thing is dispraised it is to bring vs into a misliking and shunning of the same as a thing either vnpleasant or hurtfull And contrariwise praise especially where it is giuen by God who knoweth the worthines of euery thing is to drawe our liking and to make vs in loue with that which is praised This is then done heare that we may haue our harts inflamed and that we may bee in loue with vnitie and concorde and that wee maye studiouslie séeke after it and imbrace it as a most precious iewell and finallye by all meanes take héede that we do not any thing which may hinder and disturbe the same And doubtlesse if this can not mooue vs and kindle an earnest loue and zeale to be studious of Godly peace that it is so good so sweete and pleasant and that Gods blessing is vpon it