vnchangeably indiuisibly inconfusedly and substantially vnited in the person of Christ the only Mediatour betweene God and Man perfectly obedient both in action and in passion in action q Matth. 3.15 fulfilling all righteousnesse to r Iohn 4 34. doe the will of him that sent him and to finish his worke in passion both of soule Å¿ Matth. 26.38 heauy through sorrow for Gods wrath due for mans sinnes vnto the death and of bodie sustayning many torments both in his life time by t Matth. 8.20 Luke 8.1 pouertie and u Luke 13. â—1 Iohn 7.32 c. persecutions and at x Vid. Math. 27 Ioh. 18. 19 his death by mocking buffeting whipping stretching nayling and piercing his sweet side with a sharp Speare vpon the y Gal 3.13 cursed Tree or Crosse then turned to be a blessed Engine of mans true happines in that z Colos 1.21.22 we that were sometimes alienated and enemies in our minde by wicked workes now hath hee reconciled in the bodie of his flesh through death to present vs holy and vnblameable and vnreprooueable in his sight Now this his formall inherent perfection is in himselfe as hee is alone God and Man the only Mediatour betweene God and Man and not that which here wee seeke it being only proper to himselfe who only a Esay 63.3 trod the Wine-presse and none of the people with him Wherefore we must briefly consider of that perfection of Christ which we call effectiue and communicable to wit that which is communicated vnto vs by his working in vs through his holy Spirit that wee b Rom. 8.29 may bee conformed to his Image in which after c Ephes 4.23 God we are new men created in righteousnesse and true holinesse A perfection distinguished according to those degrees which we make in it For as after our fall wee cannot rise of our selues but Christ d Ephes 2.5 must quicken vs so when we are reuiued by a new Birth we cannot attaine to the height of perfection at one leape but as e Gene. 28.18 IAACOBS Ladder had certaine degrees and steppes by which the Angels of God did ascend and descend so this course of perfection wherein we are to ascend vnto GOD hath certaine degrees of holinesse and righteousnesse through which we must passe before we can attaine to the height of our happinesse as the Apostle saith In f Rom. 1.17 the Gospell is the righteousnesse of God reuealed from faith to faith by which g 2. Cor. 3.18 we all with open face beholding as in a Glasse the glorie of the Lord are changed into the same Image from glory to glorie euen as by the Spirit of the Lord. Learned Diuines h Hemingius Syntagm Gloss 4. cap. 4. Aret. Probl. 163. Polanus syâ—tag then out of their good experience obseruing the graduall proceedings of Christians vnto perfection out of the holy Scripture set downe this perfection to bee two-fold First Perfectio viae The perfection of the way Secondly Perfectio vitae The perfection of life that is the course wherein wee must runne this is the Crowne which we shall obtaine i 1. Cor. 9.25 So runne that ye may obtaine The perfection of the way is a blamelesse course of vpright walking only in this life of which the Psalmist thus pronounceth k Psal 119.1 Blessed are the vndefiled in the way who walke in the Law of the Lord and it is found to be two-fold Legall or Euangelicall Legall perfection is that when a man according to the tenour of the Law fufilleth all the Commandements of God as it is required by Moses saying l Deut. 10.12.13 And now Israel what doth the Lord thy God require of thee but to feare the Lord thy God to walke in all his wayes and to loue him and to serue the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soule to keepe the Commandements of the Lord and his Statutes which I command thee this day for thy good Euangelicall perfection is a carefull endeuour of a faithfull man vnto the true obedience of Gods holy will reuealed in his Word fully setled for all his life time that hee may still grow in grace vnto glorie as Saint PAVL m Philip. 3.13 14. forgetting those things which are behinde and reaching forth to those things which are before pressed towards the marke for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus and this perfection is wrought by the Holy Ghost First in the nature and substance of a regenerate man Secondly in his actions In his nature and substance this perfection is wrought when after the remission of our sinnes and the imputation of Christs Righteousnesse for our free and full â—ustification by a liuely faith that inbred corruption arising from the blot of originall sinne is lessened in vs and Gods grace so restored as that by it we grow still better and better for n 2. Tim. 3.13 as sinne maketh the wicked waxe worse and worse so Grace draweth the godly on in perfection to o Psal 84.7 walke from strength to strength till they appeare before God in Zion So that looke how farre sinne hath defiled the natural man by the issues of corruption throughout all the parts and powers of soule and bodie euen so farre doth and shall the Grace of Gods Spirit worke a restitution in the man regenerate that p 1. Thes 5.23 his whole Spirit Soule and Bodie may be preserued blamelesse vnto the Comming of our Lord Iesus Christ. For shall not Iaacob supplant ESAV Shall not the Spirit subdue the flesh Shall mans sinne eneruate or hinder Gods Grace No in no wise if God send his holy Spirit which q Iohn 3.8 bloweth where hee listeth And therefore this perfection of mans nature reformed spreadeth it selfe into many faire branches First in the minde by a quicke perceiuing and a sound iudgement of heauenly things not only for the knowledge of the principles and grounds of GODS Religion but also for the gathering of such good conclusions as may both strengthen and increase faith since r 1. Iohn 2.20 hee hath the anoynting from the Holy One and knoweth all things Secondly in the will by most ready inclinations and settled resolutions for the right performance of all holy Duties prescribed by God for holinesse righteousnesse and sobrietie since thereto are wee Å¿ Tit. 2.12.14 taught therefore are we purged to be a peculiar people vnto himselfe zealous of good works Thirdly in the conscience both t 1. Iohn 3.18 by boldnesse towards God vpon the full assurance of the remission of our sinnes and by an honest care of liuing vprightly in the feare of God without scarre of scandall giuen or taken to his owne true quietnesse and the profitable edifying of other men since the high way u Prou. 16.17 of the vpright is to depart from euill he that keepeth his way preserueth
directed to discerne them and your wils by Gods Spirit are preserued to auoide them Reade Scriptures aske Grace know them keepe this and although the imminent dangers bee great by the approch of the last time and raigning of most vile Men Antichrist and Heretikes yet shall it neuer equalize or match the great benefit of most comfortable Deliuerances procurable to you two wayes first in respect of Antichrist and his followers by their plaine discouerie vpon their Apostasie secondly in regard of our good estate who shall know all things necessarie for our Saluation by the most soueraigne Vnction the working of the Holy Ghost as it now remaineth to bee declared from the words following in the two next Verses of my Text. But the handling of the Remnant as behoofefull to bee spoken of as what hath beene said The Conclusion of all recapitulating the chiefe head or points before deliuered because through present plentie I could not attempt I leaue to be performed either by some other more perfect Scribe or else by my selfe if by Gods prouidence at any time hereafter I shall bee called againe vnto this High and fearefull Place now in the meane time most humbly beseeching your Honours further patience for the briefe recognizing in these few Propositiōs what now you haue heard spoken rudely but yet truely in trigono per tetragonum as Geometricians talke in a triplicitie of Quaternions first concerning the end of the World secondly touching that Great Antichrist thirdly of the deduction and continuall propagation of Heresie from that Antichrist Concerning the end of the World wee deliuered these foure things First that the World shall end Partis primae Propositio 1. and that by fire although we know not how it shall end so Secondly that it shall end quickly since all the signes are almost fully complete Thirdly that therefore we must bee sober both in opinion especially concerning the time of the last Day and in life by well getting and right vsing of these worldly goods Fourthly that together with this sobrietie we must be most watchfull in the settled course of an holy life 2. Partis Touching that Great Antichrist you Propositio 1 haue heard First what is Antichrist defined by his causes efficient materiall formall and finall only as they are expressed in seuerall Texts of holy Scripture Propositio 2 Secondly Who this Antichrist is euen the Bishop or Pope of Rome as wee prooued both largely and truely First by a true demonstration drawne from the former causal definition of Antichrist in all points sitted vnto the Pope and then by a cloud of Witnesses not only prophesying as the Ancient Fathers did but also pronouncing that the Pope was that Antichrist as the Iury of the Kings Bishops and Monkes gaue open Verdict Thirdly in what captiuitie and slauery all Papists especially in England are implunged by their Prison their Irons their Dyet their Iaylors by all which they are become neither true Christians nor good subiects Fourthly that the libertie which wee the faithfull of England enioy by the free vse of the double Sword Spirituall and Temporall is so great in all due respects both inward and outward that none of vs should any way either pittie them in heart or helpe them in action whiles they continue so stubborne and peruerse 3. Partis as we dayly find them Of the deduction and continuall propagation of Heresie from that Propositio 1 Antichrist it was declared First that Heresie must continue in the World from the first vntill the second Propositio 2 Comming of Christ Secondly that therefore the Separatist Brownist hath no ground at all for his Propositio 3 wicked Schisme from vs Thirdly that all Heresies whatsoeuer depend vpon that Great Antichrist either in his rising or at his height or in his declining Fourthly that therefore they are all to be cut off by Propositio 4 the right vse both of Spirituall and Temporall Sword vnder one Christ by one King commanding that and handling this for the onely true good both of Church and Common-wealth to the glory of God Lord we beseech thee make haste to an end Oratio conclusiua that thou mayst abolish Antichrist for thy Churches full deliuerance and the perfect restoring of all thy creatures vnto the glorious libertie of the Sonnes of God through our onely Lord and blessed Sauiour Iesus Christ to whom one only wise powerfull and mercifull God with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory now and for euermore Amen AMEN Lord Iesu come quickly AMEN FINIS THE TRIAL OF GVIDES By the touchstone of teachers JESVS CHRIST In a Sermon Preached vpon the fourth SVNDAY after TRINITIE By THOMAS THOMSON Bachelor in Diuinitie ROM 2.21 Thou which teachest another teachest thou not thy selfe AMBROS lib. de dignit Sacerd. cap. 6. Ipsum magis credunt homines esse laudabile quicquid Episcopus habuerit delectabile Men beleeue that thing to bee more praise-worthie what a Bishop reputeth delightfull LONDON Printed by William Stansby for RICHARD MEIGHEN and are to be sold at his Shop at Saint Clements Church ouer-against Essex House and at Westminster Hall 1618. TO THE RIGHT REVEREND FATHER In God RICHARD by Gods most gracious prouidence Lord Bishop of Saint Asaph mine Honourable Patrone and Diocessan Grace Mercie and Peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Sauiour Iesus CHRIST HOw necessarie it is my Honourable good Lord for a true Christian Congregation to haue set ouer them a fit man of God who by his learned tongue may minister a word in due season to the wearie and by his good example of life guide the wandring and wilfull Sinners vpon their true Repentance into the way of Peace I neede not demonstrate since daily experience hath well approoued that where no Prophesie is the people perish or as some a Pagnine Arias Montanus in 29. Pr. 18 well learned men interpret the Originall the people are idle spending the Lords Day and other good times vainly if not villanously in idle sports of fleshly lusts which fight against the soule like the olde Gentiles carryed vnto dumbe Idols euen as they were led For like people like priests they must needs bee lost sheepe when their Shepheards in the times before caused them to erre and goe astray by turning them away vpon the Mountaines either to wander like b Math. 12.44 the dispossessed restlesse spirit from the Church or if they come neere it to worship what they know not But albeit the murdering and the lying Deuill in his oldworne hatred against mans soule seeketh still to deuoure and darken all vision and knowledge of God by the stoppage or hinderance of the seasonable settling of powerfull Preachers of Gods most holy Word amongst Gods people euen c Zach. 3.2 as Satan stood at Ioshuah his right hand to resist him from building the Temple yet God in his mercy so visiteth his holy Ones that they at their
his soule and the x Prou. 19.23 feare of the Lord tendeth to life hee that hath it shall abide satisfied Fourthly in the outward behauiour of body by diligent watching ouer all the whole body and euery part thereof y Rom. 6.13 to giue it vnto God as a weapon of righteousnesse and not as a weapon of vnrighteousnesse vnto sinne since the z 1. Cor. 6.19 body is the Temple of the holy Ghost which is in vs. And so is this New-man a Iames 1.4 perfect and intire lacking nothing if his actions bee answerable to these in-wrought good habits of body and soule Now all the actions of true perfection Euangelicall are reduceable or to be drawne vnto one generall head which is Repentance consisting of b Vid. Rollocum de Vocat efficaci cap. 36. two speciall parts the one called properly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a sorrow after sinne the other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a true reformation after that sorrow The former is esteemed an action of Euangelicall perfection not as it is a sorrow arising from feare of punishment denounced in the Law against impenitent sinners for that c Rom. 8.15 sorrow is wrought by the spirit of bondage and may bee in Reprobates as in d Gene. 4.7 Cain and e Act. 24 25. Foelix but as it is godly sorrow wrought in our hearts by the f Rom. 8.15 Spirit of adoption onely because God is so dishonoured by our sinnes and so displeased at vs sinners as Dauid g Psal 51.4 lamented saying Against thee thee onely haue I sinned and done this euill in thy sight For h Act. 2.37 this pricking of the heart this i Esa 35.14 chattering this k Matth. 5.5 mourning tendeth to perfection two manner of waies first as it teareth asunder our hardned hearts for our sore-past sinnes that so they may become the l Psal 5.18 Sacrifices of God m Heb. 9.14 purged from dead works to serue the liuing God because God onely looketh n Esay 66.2 on him that is poore and of a contrite heart and trembleth at his Word Secondly as it maketh a man alwaies suspect himselfe vpon the conscience of his owne infirmities which minister seede vnto his sinnes as o Iob. 1.5 Iob did his sonnes and Dauid himselfe saying Haue p Psal 6.2 mercy vpon me O Lord for I am weake for thus hee casteth off the confidence of the q Ierem. 17.5 fleshly arme and trusteth in the Lord his helper and so he seeing his owne spots and staines by the cleere Glasse of Gods Law daily endeuoureth by a liuely faith to wash all white in r Reuel 7.14 the bloud of the Lambe But all this cannot perfect vs without a further proceeding euen vnto the latter part of repentance viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is an action of perfection onely as it is a change first in the minde from ſ 2. Thes 2.11 the beleeuing of errors to the knowledge of the Truth secondly in the will from euill to good t Iude 23. hating that inclining to this thirdly in the whole man who before being u Tit. 1.16 disobedient and to euery good worke reprobate now yeeldeth himselfe vnto all due obedience and seruice of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wholly both in body and in Spirit glorifying x 1. Cor. 6.20 God for they are Gods in all points whiles y Psal 119.8 that hee hath respect vnto all Gods Commandements for euer in that hee desireth but one z Psal 27.4 thing of the Lord which he will seeke after that he may dwell in the House of the Lord all the dayes of his life to behold the faire beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his Temple For although the flesh allure him with subtill baits yet a Gal. 5.24 by crucifying the flesh with the affections and the lusts hee auoydeth the danger of those inticements although the world set blocks in his way yet God maketh b Psal 143.8 his way plaine by induing him c Luke 21.19 with patience to possesse his owne soule and to d Psal 18.29 leap ouer such lets yea albeit the raging Deuill spiting at this perfect man mustereth all his forces of hard temptations either to oppresse him or incumber his way yet e Prou. 15.24 his way is on high to auoid from hell beneath he easily defeateth them all f Ephes 6.14 by the putting on of the Armour of light and the discreete vsing of the same against the brunt of euery temptation according to their seuerall kinds For g Prou. 18.10 the Name of the Lord is a strong Tower the righteous runne into it and is safe hee is called a h Act. 11.25 Christian and in Christ at the end hee i Rom. 8.37 shall bee more then Conquerour when the k Rom. 16.20 God of peace shall tread downe Sathan vnder his feete shortly It may bee that he is stayed awhile from following his course by the heate and height of violent temptations as were l Iudg. 16.21 Samson m 2. Sam. 11.2 Dauid n Math. 26.76 Peter and others of the blessed Martyrs and Confessors as o Niceph. lib. 5. cap. 33. Origen p Platina in Marcellin Marcellinus and that true seruant of Christ q Fox Act. Monum p. 1710 Thomas Cranmer by weaknesse of the flesh yeelding somewhat to sinne but yet he falleth not finally from the faith r 1. Iohn 3.9 the seed of God remayning in him to hold him vp that in the act he should not runne too farre and in the issue he should not be slacke to get himselfe out recompencing his stay by a swifter course afterward with a greater detestation and loathing of sinne and a zeale more inflamed to follow after righteousnesse as we find it true in the foresaid Saints what was promised by ſ Esay 40.27 the Prophet They that wait vpon the Lord shall renue their strength they shall mount vp with wings as Eagles they shall runne and not be weary they shall walke and not be faint For saith the t Psal 6◠13 Vid. ibid. Mollerum c. Lyram c. Psalmist to all the Church militant Though yee haue layne amongst the pots subiect to much danger in darke obscuritie yet for issue out of trouble yee shall bee as the wings of a Doue couered ouer with siluer and her feathers with gold For their wings are their prayers by which they escape especially being both qualified with the meekenesse of a Doue and sinceritie shining like purest siluer and grounded vpon a liuely faith which as feathers flye into the golden estate of glory And thus we see fully what is that which they call perfectionem viae the perfection of the way Now for the second which is perfectio vitae the perfection of life it is that estate of perfect happinesse which the faithfull shall
one of Pride the other of Securitie of Pride when they thinke to doe Workes t Interim August vbi supra aboue commandement whereas the Law u Psal 19 8. of God is so perfect that if it x Esay 8.20 be not answerable to the Law what wee doe there is no light in vs yea y Matth. 15.9 we worship God in vaine teaching for Doctrines mens Precepts of Securitie when they would haue one so to depend vpon another as vpon his Mediatour when Scripture telleth them plainely That z Psal 49.7 no man can by any meanes redeeme his Brother or giue to God a ransome for him and that when we haue a Luke 17.10 done all that is commanded vs we must say Wee are vnprofitable seruants wee haue done that which was our dutie to doe Ob. For where b Cassander Consultat vbi supra some would cloke this blasphemie vnder the colour of the communion of Saints in which the weaker members are sustained by the stronger as ABRAHAMS c Gene. 20.7 Prayer healed ABIMELECHS Household and Hierusalem d 1. Reg. 15.4 was often saued for DAVIDS sake Sol. They vtterly mistake the question or wilfully abuse the simple ignorāt by casting this mist before their eyes which being cleered by the light of the Gospell may well perceiue their false colloguing if it be but in this since the communion of Saints betweene our selues consisteth not in ministring to others necessities out of our superfluities or Workes as they call them of supererogation but in the vse of graces giuen vs for the benefit of others those graces being only such as whereby one of vs may edifie another alreadie planted in the House of God and not meritorious to procure eternall life for others as they thinke instancing therefore most idly both in ABRAHAMS Prayers which profited ABIMELECHS House in bodie not in soule not by ABRAHAMS communication but vpon Gods only fauour and in DAVID whose merits were not the cause of sauing Hierusalem out of the hands of their bodily enemies but only Gods mercie remembring the Couenant made with DAVID before As therefore the wise e Matth. 25.5 Virgins could not spare any of their Oyle to the Foolish lest they should haue wanted for themselues so the best of GODS Saints cannot spare any whit of grace to others which themselues may haue neede of seeing that as Saint Augustine giueth the f August lib. 83. quaest q. 59. reason Euery man shall giue an account for himselfe neither is any man holpen by anothers testimonie with God to whom the secrets of the heart are manifest and scarsly is any man sufficient to himselfe that his owne conscience may beare witnesse with himselfe Howsoeuer it bee it is an Axiome in PETER t Lombard lib. 1. dist 48. cap. 6. LOMBARD Nullius passione redempti sumus nisi Christi Wee are redeemed by no mans suffering but by Christs But let these second sorts of proud Perfectists now passe for this present Thirdly Swenckfeldians Anabaptists and our English Separatists now soiourning at Amsterdam who u Vid Osiand f. in Enchir. 3. par cap. 6. q. 1. M. Barnards second Booke pag. 93. presume so very much of their owne perfection that they hold two grosse points concerning the visible parts of the Church Militant as first in generall That the true Church must be without Sinners or Hypocrites remayning therein the second in particular that their Churches or Assemblies are such But the falshood of the former is many wayes apparant in holy Scripture first by parable Sol. x Matth. 13.32.38 c. in the field sowne with tares the Draw-net bringing fish vp great and small good and bad in the y Math. 20.10 Kings guests at supper whereof one wanted a wedding garment and in a z 2. Tim. 2.20 great house contayning vessells not onely of gold and of siluer but of wood and of earth some to honour and some to dishonour For all these demonstrate that in a visible Church militant are not onely faithfull children but hypocriticall professors also Secondly by plaine termes as where the Prophet a Esay 29.14 said what our b Matth. 15.8 Sauiour seconded This people draweth nigh vnto me with their mouth and honoureth mee with their lips but their heart is farre from me these are Hypocrites and where the Apostle c Gal. 2.5 signified what we shall still find true that false brethren brought in vnawares came in priuily to spye out our libertie which wee haue in Christ Iesus that they might bring vs into bondage and these were glosing Heretikes for d 1. Cor. 11.19 there must be Heretikes amongst you that they which are approoued may be made manifest among you Thirdly by necessary consequence in reason for if the parts be not sound the body is not whole and intire the Church is the bodie whereof all true Professors are members But the best of these members are crazed by corruption as was Dauid e 2. Sam. 11.2 by Adulterie Peter by dissembling f Gal. 2.15 euen after the great descent of Gods Spirit and so the best men that haue in them flesh How then can the Church bee so intire as they would make it As the g Cantic 2.2 Lillie amongst the Thornes so is my loue amongst the daughters pricked and pained by manifold h Matth. 18.7 offences which must needs come while shee is in this world where the i Reuel 12.12 Ephes 2.2 Deuill so rageth and raigneth by open persecutions or secret seductions Fourthly by Histories of all times For in Adams House which was the first Church there was a k Gene. 4.1 Cain in Noahs a l Gene. 9.24 cursed Canaan in Abrahams a m Gene. 21.6 mocking Ismael in Isaacks a n Heb. 12.17 prophane Esau in Iacobs a o Gene 49.3.4.5 rude Reuben and Simeon and Leui brethren in euill but what should I instance further The Church of Israel in the best dayes thereof neuer wanted corruptions or corrupt caitifes as false prophets filthy priests wicked rulers and worse people if we may beleeue the good Prophets bitterly inueighing so many times against them Nay in the Church of Christ what Age wanted Heretikes or what faithfull company was euer void of Hypocrites The Apostles had a p Iohn 6.70 Iudas the seuen Deacons had a q Act. 6.2 Nicholas the Samaritanes a r Act. 8.21 Simon Magus but I neede goe no further since the continuall reformation which is to be sought for in all true Churches doth intimate corruptions therein to be hatched I know the Church is ſ Cantic 1.4 faire Ob. and t Ephes 5.26 made glorious without spot But first it is so by Christ not of it selfe Secondly this beautie is perfected in glory not in grace Sol. I know Ob. we are commanded to separate our selues u 2. Cor. 6.14 Ephes
vs to follow them as t Matth. 5.14.15 Philip. 2.15 Candles in a candlesticke and Cities on a hill and lights now shining in the middest of a crooked and froward generation Few they are to the fulnesse of impietie but I feare me too many to be witnesses against vs for our turning backe in the day of battell Be yee followers of me u Philip. 3.17 saith the blessed Apostle and marke them which walke so as yee haue vs for an ensample Thirdly the quiet time wherein we sit securely euery man vnder x 1. Reg. 4.25 his Vine and vnder his Oliue tree from DAN to BEERSHEBA Ciuill warres beforetime much hindred Reformation Now let Peace breede pietie as well as Plentie that in our fulnesse we may bee more faithfull as y Reuel 3.11 hold that thou hast that no man take thy Crowne Fourthly the last day which is z Rom. 13.12 now neerer then when we first beleeued It will make all perfect in their owne periods let vs be fit to take it in affection a Philip. 1.23 desiring to be dissolued to be with Christ and in action stil hauing b Philip. 4.20.21 our conuersation in heauen whence we looke for the Sauiour the LORD IESVS Christ who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like vnto his glorious body according to the working whereby hee is able to subdue all things vnto himselfe Semper enim sanctis superest quo crescere possint Et perfectorum gloria principium est saith Prosper c Prosp Epig. 27 Aquitanicus whom thus I translate Alwayes to Saints something remaines By which they may increase And th' glory of the perfect is Th' beginning of their peace The conclusion repeating all in a short summe And thus Right Reuerend Right Worshipfull most dearely beloued in our Lord Christ Iesus you haue heard this Scripture opened at large in these foure points The first part First of proud Teachers being blind guides shewing that no man must take vpon him the Office of a Teacher vnlesse hee bee indued with some measure of Learning lest hee bee reputed but a bold Intruder such as wee manifested our Popish Priests The second part and prating Precisians Secondly of simple Hearers who teach vs that those who without due Tryall or Examination will stiffly depend vpon false teachers shall with those teachers fall into vncertaine Errours vnto most certaine and damnable dangers and therefore wee are both to take heed of and to try our Teachers notified by their markes of inward habits and outward acts Thirdly of the humble Seruant The third part who alwayes acknowledgeth the Soueraigntie of his Master whom wee prooued to be Christ only to the correction of the proud Pope caution to vs for the right vnderstanding of the Kings Title and consolation to all Christians depending vpon so good an Head Fourthly of a conformable Professor The fourth part such as we ought to be not like Pelagians Papists or Anabaptists dreaming of an absolute perfection on earth but as obedient Christians endeuouring our selues by grace to bee perfect here in the way that in the life to come wee may bee fully made perfect in endlesse Glorie through Iesus Christ in whom Lord as wee render vnto thy Maiestie all glory and thankes for thine inestimable blessings both spirituall and corporall so most humbly we beseech thee send vs good Teachers and make vs right Hearers of thy most sacred Will and Word that acknowledging Christ Iesus to be our only Master and Head wee may bee conformed vnto his Image lost by sinne recouered by Grace and fully to bee restored vnto vs in blessed Glory to which the Lord of Glory by his Spirit conduct vs through Iesus Christ to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost one Perfect Euer-liuing most Gracious God bee all Honour and Glory now and for euermore Amen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 FINIS A Prayer to be said at all times O Heauenly LORD and omnipotent Father the patterne of all goodnesse and Flowre of all vertues most stout ouer-thrower of all wickednesse and sharpest Rooter vp of vices mercifully behold our frailtie and pronenesse to euill helpe vs with thy supernall Power that wee may learne to despise all earthly pleasures and the vanities thereof and loue all Celestiall and heauenly things Make vs resist all sinne which stands betweene thy Maiestie and our weake spirits ready to ouerthrow vs if thy mercies were not assistant to our poore soules Make vs to withstand all temptations firmely to imbrace vertue to eschew all worldly honours and carnall delights and to bewaile our offences committed in thy sight We beseech thee refrain our vnbridled desires with thy louing hand whereby wee may abstaine from a lewde and loose life and accustome our selues with goodnesse to the end That by thy benefit and gift of Grace by the true worshipping and seruing of thy omnipotent Maiesty we may possesse the Crowne of euerlasting life in thy Kingdome prepared for thine Elect world without end AMEN