the Church of GOD shall stand for euer And when all the glory of the world shall vanish quite away like a flash of fire and when all her desperate malicious and irreconciliable enemies shall vtterly be destroyed then shall she shine as the Sunne and obtaine her perfect glory and liue for euer with the Lord in all ease and happinesse free from all sinfull and earthly miseries whatsoeuer Fourthly wheras all other fields and houses are materiall outward and earthly this field and this house is mysticall celestiall and spirituall and may bee so called in all these regards ensuing First because the Spirit of God doth husband her and dwell in her Secondly because her whole frame is spirituall her chiefest ornameÌ„ts are inward and inuisible The kings daughter is all glorious within saith the Psalm Thirdly the meanes which God vseth for her building repairing trimming flourishing and câ—â—tinuing are not earthly but spirituall and of a nature far differing from worldly helps and humane inuentions Fourthly the seruice and worship which ought to be performed in her is spirituall And lastly all the good workes which she doth are spirituall All the good workes which we or any of her faithfull members do performe are meerely good so far forth as they do proceed from the Spirit of God who is goodnesse it selfe and the author of all our goodnesse And the euill which is in them commeth from our owne home-bred corruptition which is not in this life cleansed cleane away vnlesse it be because it is forgiuen vs and not imputed to vs. And to conclude the Church is said to be a field an house not fields and houses For the Church is but one body one perfect house and one entire and absolute field She hath but one Lord one Architect one Redeemer one absolute Husbandman and Inhabitant one common saluation one religion one Head one Husband one way to heauen according to that of S Paul There is one body one Spirit one faith one Lord one baptisme one God and father And this hath also been the doctrine of former ages Theodoretus saith quest 44. in Num. As the Vnicorne hath one horne so the people truly religious adoreth one onely God And for the vnity of her head Gregory saith that The whole holy vniuersal Church is on Body set vnder Christ Iesus as her Head For Christ with his whole Church both militant triumphant is one person Nazianzene saith There is one Christ one head of the Church Thirdly concerning the vnity of the Spirit Gregory saith that As there is one soule which doth quicken the diuerse members of the body so one Holy Spirit doth quicken and illustrate the whole Church Fourthly for the vnity of faith and outward confession Eucherius saith that As a bundle is bound with bands so all the company of the Saints are bound together with one and the same faith hope and charity compassed with one muniment of diuine protection And as Leo teacheth there is one orison and one confession of the whole Church Finally touching the vnity of Baptisme There is one faith saith Hierome one Baptisme And so withall for the vnitie of her God Iustinus saith There is one true God of all which is acknowledged in the Father Sonne and holy Spirit Our faith saith Cyril receiueth no number of Gods but there is one God the Father and to the same vnitie pertaineth the Sonne and the Holy Ghost Hauing now opened the words and giuen the sense let vs see what lessons we may learne out of them CHAP. 2. The Church of God is Gods house and husbandry Doct. 1 THESE wordes do naturally without wresting affoord vs two notable doctrins The former is that the true church of God which is the coÌ„pany of Beleeuers is Gods House and Husbandry This is plaine by the text as also by other like places of Scripture Know ye not saith Paul that ye are the Temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you And speaking to Timothy he saith These things I write that thou maist know how to behaue thy sefe in Gods House which is the Church of the liuing God And plaine reason sheweth as much For it is not her owne she is not the Lady of her selfe Ye are not your owne saith Paul for ye are bought for a price Neither is the Church a tenement or possession belonging to any Angell or to any Man excepting onely the man Christ who is the Angell of the couenant and her only Lord Head She is not the field of the sluggard which Salomon speaks of She is not the house of wickednesse and sinne For Christ gaue himselfe for her that hee might make her holy and purge her from her sinnes with his bloud Therefore he saith vnto her Thou art all faire my loue and there is no spot in thee Neither is shee the house and field of the Diuell For Christ hath purchased her vnto himselfe Therefore she saith My welbeloued meaning Christ is mine and I am his I am my welbeloueds and his desire is towards me And Christ speaking vnto her cals her his loue his sister his spouse therefore surely the Liuell hath no interest in her and no title to her The conclusion then remaineth firme that as the Temple of Ierusalem was dedicated to be an house vnto the Lord alone euen so the Church is built and consecrated vnto him only that she may be his House to dwel in as a field to husband dispose of as he in his wisedome seeth most conuenient Thus much for the doctrine let vs now se how we may apply it for our benefite and edification CHAP. 3. Sundry vses are made of the consideration of these two titles together THe vses which we ought to make of the former doctrine are of two sorts Some arise from the consideration of these 2 titles giueÌ„ to the Church together some froÌ„ them being coÌ„sidered apart by themselues Of the former company are these that follow First we haue here one of the roialties and royall priuiledges of the faithfull For they and they onely to speake properly are Gods house husbandry For the Father hath elected them only the Son hath redeemed them onely the holy Ghost doth regenerate them onely God the Father Sonne and holy Ghost doth dwell in them onely in regard of the presence of his speciall grace and efficatious operation vnto eternall life For as concerning the Reprobates they are the very sinks of sin the dennes of the Diuell and the quagmyres of iniquity predestinated to eternall distruction Some of them I confesse may thinke themselues to be of Gods house and to belong vnto his field but their imagination is like the fond and false conceipt of some Melancholique persons that haue thought their bodies to haue beene made of glasse and that euery faire house was theirs which they passed
within vs. The Lord will be in his temple for euer Now what a singular comfort should this be to vs alway in that we haue the great God of heauen and earth residing in vs What an honour is it to vs that the king of kings should keepe his court continually in vs Let vs be thankfull to him for this fauour Be not like the thanklesse swine that swallowes downe the fruit but lookes not to the treee from whence it fell And so much for the first doctrine CHAP. 6. Men may be Gods House Husbandry though they be not so holy as is meet Doct. 2 SEcondly in that the Apostle cals the Corinthians who were factious fleshly litigious and somthing too disorderly Gods field building I cōclude that mē professing Christ as they did must not for some enormities be by by reputed abiects or men that are not in grace with God or as men that are fallen from God and cut off from Christ Dauid Salomon Hezekiah and Peter sinned grieuously but yet they were neuer wholly forsaken of God nor voyde of true grace though for a time it was cast as it were into a swoone and lay obscure as fire in ashes or as the act of reason in a man that is starke drunke or fast asleepe Though thou fauour of the smoake of sin and be vp to the wayst in iniquitie yet if thou labor to come forth and dost purge thy selfe by penitency thy case is not desperate it is not damnable If thou beest weake and fleshly as these Corinthiant were yet if thou wilt warre with thy flesh and contend against thy weaknesse if thou doest labour constantly to subdue thy lusts and doest truly repent of thy sinne so soone as thou dost espie it then despaire not but assure thy selfe that thou art in Gods fauour and that thou art one of his plants a liuing stone of his spirituall building and enioying his fauor in this life thou shalt also see his face to the solace of thy soule in the life to come Amen Morning prayer for the Family O Eternal Lord God who art great and fearefull and shewest mercy to them that loue thee and keep thy commandements we haue committed iniquity and haue done wickedly before thine eyes we haue rebelled against thy Maiesty haue transgressed against thy lawes we haue bin vnmindful of thy mercies do continually sin against thee so that to vs appertaineth open shame and confusion of face for euer yet compassion and forgiuenes is in thee there is mercy with thee that thou maist be feared Haue mercy therfore vpon vs we humbly pray thee and according to the multitude of thy compassions put away our transgressions Encline thine eare O Lord and heare Looke vpon vs in thy Sonne Christ Iesus and in him be reconciled to vs. Giue vs the feeling of thy grace and an assurance of thy princely pardon Put thy Spirit into our hearts wee beseech thee and cause vs to walke in thy waies Breake our marble hearts asunder take away their stoninesse and mollify them with the oile of thy grace Cause vs to hate leaue our sinnes and to warre with all our lusts Draw vs and we will run after thee conuert vs we shall be conuerted Incline our hearts vnto thy testimonies and keepe vs in thy feare Teach vs O Lord to number our daies that we may apply our hearts vnto wisedom Thou art our creatour forsake not the worke of thine hands Cause the light of thy countenance to shine vpon vs and let thy tender mercies come vnto vs. Direct our steps in thy word stay vs and we shall be safe Leaue vs not vnto our selues but susteine vs by thy grace Prosper the works of our hands and giue successe vnto our labours Let our going out and coming in be blessed and cause thine Angels to protect vs. Thou art our Father prouide thou for vs and preserue vs. Thou hast wedded vs vnto thy selfe as an Husband suffer vs not to goe an whoring from thee Thou hast bene beneficial to vs thou hast giuen vs thy Gospell thou hast sent vs thy Prophets thou hast honored vs with peace and prosperity and hast giuen vs great deliuerances our health our friends our liberty all our being and well being all that we haue euen all is of thee thou giuest vs our rest in the night thou makest vs sleepe in safety and renewest thy mercies to vs in the morning infinite is thy loue innumerable are thy fauours toward vs we beseech thee therefore O Lord giue vs thankfull hearts vnto thy Maiesty Open thou our lips that our mouths may shew forth thy praise grant vs grace to dedicate our selues vnto thee Blesse we pray thee thy holy Church and be good vnto thy people Giue not the soule of thy Turtle done vnto the Beast Be fauourable vnto Sion and build the wals of Ierusalem Increase thy kingdome destroy thine enimes Blesse thy seruant Iames our noble king find out his enimies set thy selfe against them and make his crowne to flourish on his head Be mercifull we beseech thee to all other States amongst vs giue eare to the cry of thy Saints not to the cry of our sins Grant O Lord that we may all of vs serue thee in the vnity of faith with vnanimity of spirit that so glorifying thy name in this world we may be glorified of thee for euer in the world to come Heare vs O Lord we beseech thee and grant vs these our requests for the merits of Iesus Christ alone vnto whom with thee and the holy Ghost be rendred all honour praise and power this day and for euer Euening prayer for the Family GRatious God and mercifull Father in Iesus Christ we do here bow downe the knees of our soules and bodies in thy presence offering vp this our Euening sacrifice of praise praier vnto thee giuing thee vnfeigned thanks for all thy fauours towards vs for electing vs vnto eternall life for creating vs according to thine image for redeeming vs by the bloud of thy Son for sanctifying vs by thine holy Spirit for our health peace and liberty for clothing and feeding vs for protecting and prospering of vs this present day and for that great and admirable deliuerance vouchsafed to this whole State and kingdom from that barbarous and bloudy confusion plotted almost performed by the wicked the children of Babel thy name O Lord be praised for these and all other thy mercies Forgiue vs we beseech thee our great vnthankfulnesse and all the rest of our sins our ignorances wilfulnesses negligences presumptions all other our transgressions rebellions O Lord forgiue them all vnto vs for Iesus Christ his sake Wash them al away in his bloud naile them fast vnto his crosse bury thē in his graue Cloth vs we pray thee with his robes and honour vs with thy Spirit Worke in vs godly sorrow and remorsefull spirits Mortify our sinfull lusts and adorne vs
of the Prophets is not regarded the raine of their exhortations runs by vs and is not receiued And although we be continually dressed daily pruned by the word of God as by a sprittle or pruning knife yet are we full of superfluous branches our fruit is rotten sowre vnwholesome vnpleasant What may we now expect of God if he shall deale with vs as we haue dealt with him but that he should pull downe his hedge breake downe his wal and lay this vineyard waste and bestow his paines vpon a people that will bring forth better fruites Let vs therefore repent before it bee too late let vs labour against our barrennesse vnto good against our vnfruitfull fruitfulnesse in that which is euill Shall we labour that our soile may be good and fertile and shall we with patience see our soules sterile vnfruitfull Can we not endure our gardens to be ouergrowne with weedes and shall we suffer our heartes to be defaced with sin which is more stinking and infestant then any weed is or can be Shall we desire God to giue vs the first and the latter raine to water our grounds and shall we not pray him also to water the dry ground of our hearts with the sweet shewers of his graces and to moisten and soke vs with the water of his Spirit Shal we desire God to shew kindnesse vnto vs in giuing vs the timely fruites of the yeare and shall we be vnkind vnto him in keeping froÌ„ him the timely fruits of our hearts Do we dislike slerility in our groundes barrennesse in our sheep and kine shall we not as wel dislike the barrennesse of our hearts and the spirituall sterility of our soules If we would shew our selues to be indeed the field of God and would not shame his husbandmen let vs striue against our barrennesse let vs lay aside all the vnfruitfull works of darkenesse and let vs labour to bring forth fruits in aboundance beseeming repentance and those that professe themselues to be the field of the liuing God And thus much for the first title CHAP. 5. We ought to trim vp our selues We may be sure that God will keepe house within vs. THE vses which we ought to make of the consideration of the second title are especially two First considering that we are Gods house we are taught so to dresse vp our selues as that we may be pleasing to him and not offensiue To this end we must remoue those things which are displeasing and deck our selues with such things as he doth delight in We must therfore tune the disordered strings of our sinfull soules labour for a sweet concent in all our affections that they may be iointly fixed vpon good and not on euill that there may be as liâ—tle discord iarring in theÌ„ as is possible whiles we continue in these houses of clay We must yet proceed a little further labouring with all our power to cleanse our soules bodies of all filthinesse of sin We must kill the spiders of a poisonfull and rancorous spirit We must brush downe the cobwebs of proud and haughty imaginations which are mounted vp into the turrets of the head and cleaue as it were to the seeling of the braine We must by true repentance sweep out of our hearts the dust of wickednesse as couetousnesse worldly cares and such like and cleanse out all vncleanenesse of fornication and fleshly desires We must let out the smoake of iniquity and purge our selues of al our sins by true remorse by godly sorrow and vnfeigned mortification O Ierusalem wash thine heart from wickednesse that thou maist be saued How long shall thy wicked thoughts remaine within thee Wash you make you cleane saith the Lord take away the euill of your works from before mine eyes We must not make our selues who are Gods house to be the dennes of sins which like Theeues rob him of that honour which is due vnto him Therfore as good Iosiah tooke away all the abominations out of all his countries so let vs by true repentance remoue al our sins which are al abominable out of all the corners of our hearts And as the Priests and Leuits cleansed all the House of God and brought out all the vncleanenesse threw it into Kidron so let vs which are spirituall Priests in Gods spirituall Temple cleanse the houses of our hearts of all vncleanenesse of our sins and condemne and cast them into the pit of hell that sulphirie lake from whence they came that so the workes of the diuell being dissolued himselfe eiected he may be past all hope of future entrance and recouery of his former hold that howsoeuer he may looke in at the doore or peep in at the window by his tentations and dart in a wicked thought yet he may find no roome swept vp and furnished for him to rest in and make his mansion Neither is it sufficient for vs to clense our selues of that which doth defile vs but we must also decke and adorne our selues with those things which are neat and comly We should therfore strew our hearts with the fresh flowers of Gods graces We should decke our selues inwardly with the lowlinesse of mind We should hang our soules with the rich arras and costly tapestry of holinesse innocency and sinceritie We should perfume our hearts with coales of Iuniper and with the frankincense of Gods Spirit We should set open our windowes that the blessed Sunne of righteousnesse may shine into vs to warme and enlighten vs. We should set open the gates of our hearts that the king of glory may come in And finally we should present our selues vnto him as a liuing and holy sacrifice We should prepare the banquet of an honest heart and a good conscience for him And we should giue him the best entertainement that we are able in all respect And so doing we shall be pleasing to him and shall reape exceeding comfort to our selues And therfore al those are to be reproued which professe themselues to be the houses of the liuing God and yet wallow in their sins as hogges in the mire are full of the dust of wickednesse giuing themselues ouer to ignoraÌ„ce profanenes worldlinesse drunkennes epicurisme all vncleanenes These are not the Temples of the Spirit but the tents of the diuell These are not the houses of God but the tabernacles of wickednesse the sinks of sin the cabbins of vncleane spirits hauing not onely the fire of sin within them but beeing indeed also compassed about with the flames thereof on euery side And let them in time take heed and come forth For sin is a fire that burneth to destruction It worketh both a confusion in the soule the confusion of the soule The wages thereof is the eternall death both of soule and body Rom. 6 23. Secondly seeing we are GODS house we may assure our selues that he will reside and dwell