sluggish our bodie being now vnfit for battell and enclining to ease and deliciousnes For so with little adooe hee wresteth out of our hand the sworde of the Spirite which is the Word of God as he preuailed against Euah She had the word of God if she had stickt vnto it she had not fallen But when Sathan saw that she was somthing careles in kéeping Gods word and that she turned the absolute commaundement of God into a conditionall peraduenture hee tooke the Word out of her heart And so soone as shee yéelded a little vnto him hee had the victorie Therefore Resist stedfast in the Faith Paul rehearseth the whole furniture of a Christian Soldiour all the parts thereof whē he saith Stand therfore Ephes 6.14.15.16 17.18 and your loynes girded about with Veritie and hauing on the Brest-plate of Righteousnes your feete shod with the preparation of the Gospell of peace Aboue all take the Shielde of Faith wherewith yee may quench all the fierie dartes of the wicked and take the helmet of saluatiō the sword of the spirit which is the word of God pray alwaies with all māner praier supplicatiō in the spirite The weapons of a Soldiour must partly defend partly offend and with both these the Apostle armeth the Soldiour of Christ Hee props girds vs vp with truth that we may stād For wtout Truth which is Christ himselfe all other Vertues fall Least our breast shuld be woūded we becom forgetfull of our dutie he gardes vs with Iustice that giues to euery one his owne our feete must be couered that is the whole race of our life must bee so ordered that we may rūne in the gospell of peace not following our affections but Gods word that bréedes trāquillitie of consciēce that wee may repell the darts of distrust concupiscence he armeth vs with the shield of Faith which expels distrust bridles concupiscence makes vs to leade a life worthie of our profession And that Sathan may not strike the head and trouble the reason of man he giues the helmet of saluation that is Iesus Christ the head of the Church and Sauiour of the whole bodie If anie say I haue not those weapons I am vnarmed Whence shall I get them Hee shewes that they are gotten by Prayer that God giues his giftes to them that pray for them So that Paul is larger in this point thē Peter 1. Ioh. 5.4 but the sense is one for Faith onely is our victorie against the world For all that is borne of God ouercommeth this world and this is that victory that hath ouercome this world euen our Faith as S. Iohn affirmes Marke that he vseth the time that is past saying that Faith hath ouercome this world to giue vs to vnderstand that though as yet we be in the battell yet questionles we shal be conquerors and we may assure our selues of the victorie For Faith is the instrument and as it were the meane and hand whereby we lay holde vpon him that hath indéede performed it euen Christ Iesus It is but to resist in Faith and immediatly the fielde is wonne as saint Iames witnesseth Resist the Diuell saith he and hee will flee from you If we flie he is a Lyon if we stand stoutly and manfully Iam. 4.7 He flées as a flie and why not for he is Beelzebub that is the God of Flies For if anie should say If Sathā thā be bound why doth hee preuaile so much It is true indéed that he preuaileth much but he dominieres but on the lukewarme and negligent and them that doe not feare God in truth Hée is tyed like a dogge bound in chaines he cā hurt none but him that securely comes too néere vnto him And how foolish is the man that is bitten of a dogge bound vp in chaines Ioyne not thy selfe to him by the pleasures and desires of the world Aug. serm 197. de tempore and then hee will not presume to approach vnto thée He may barke he may allure he can byte none but such as are willing For hee hurtes not by enforcing but by perswading and hee doth not extort a consent from vs but hee begges and dsires it He can doe much indéede but not without Gods sufferance If his power were not bounded Psal 141. hee would molest and destroy the whole worlde and not suffer one godly person to remaine aliue But hee that kéepeth Israell will neither slumber nor sléepe the Lorde himselfe is the kéeper of the godly so that the Sunne shall not burne them by day nor the moone by night the Lord shall preserue their going out and their cōming in for euermore Iob. cap. 1. 2. Sathan could not afflict Iob either in body or goods wtout leaue graunted him of God 1. King 22 hee could not seduce Ahabs prophets without leaue granted him of God he could not enter into the Heard of swine without Christs permission Mat. 8.31 Let vs therefore bee couragious for the haires of our head are numbred the Dragon that old Serpent is bound cast into the bottomles pit cannot come out Reu. 20. till the Lord appoint a time for his losing He is a busie tēpter indéed but fixe thy Faith on CHRIST Matth. 12 29. Col. 2.15 for he hath bound the strōg man spoyled his house hee hath spoyled the principalities powers hath made a shewe of them openly and hath Triumphed ouer them in the crosse hée is the Sonne of God that was made manifest for this purpose 1. Ioh. 3.8 that hee might destroy the workes of the Diuell And he not onely conquers himselfe but also hee imparts the conquest on them that beléeue in him 1. Ioh. 2.13.14 And therefore Iohn writes to the young men because they had ouercome that wicked one because they were strong and the Word of God abode in them whereby they ouercame that wicked one He is a walker and wanderer and compasser of all the Earth indéed but he walkes onely 2. Pet. 2.4 when God permits him to goe out of his Dungeon and prison for otherwise he cannot stirre being fast bound in chaines of darknes Hee is an accuser of the godly indéede but who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen It is God that iustifieth Rom. 8.1.33.34 who shall condemne It is Christ which is dead yea or rather which is risen againe who is also at the right hand of God and maketh request also for vs And there is no condemnation to them that are in CHRIST IESVS He is a deceiuer indeede but he cannot preuaile against Gods Elect. Mat. 7.24 The windes may blowe and the Rayne fall and the Floudes beate vpon the faithfull but their Faith is built on the sure ground and therefore it cannot be demolished The godlie may be afflicted Ioh. 16.21 but their sorrow shal be turned into ioy as the sorrow of
not stand in the Iudgement nor in the assemblie of the Righteous for their way shall vtterlie perish If an vnworthie seruant of Christ shall not be belieued yet belieue GOD himselfe who made this promise to the olde Israelites Exod. 34 24. I will cast our the Nations before thee â—â—d enlarge thy Coasts so that no man shall desire thy Land when thou shalt come vp to appeere before the Lord thy God thrise in the yâ—â—re The Israelites were to ascend thrise yearely out of all Iewry vnto the temple of Ieâ—uâ—alem leauing at home onely their wiues and small children and manie of the Tribes wâ—â—â— distant from the Temple the iourney of saâ—â—â—aâ—es God doth promise that by their ascending they should receiue no damage in their House-holde affaires and that no enemie or thiefe should spoyle their land or possessions in their absence This is a type for vs and written for our learning that we may know that GOD will haue care that we shall not be damaged in teÌ„porall things if we care to serue him and to labour for the bread that perisheth not At a word if an vnworthy seruant of Christ shall not be belieued yet belieue our Sauiour CHRIST himselfe who sayes here without any ambiguitie Seeke first the kingdome of God and his Righteousnes and all these things shall be ministred vnto you Finally if we must seeke first the kingdome of God and his Righteousnes those are to be reprehended that vndertake their daylie workes and businesses without commending their labours and endeuors to the blessed protection and benediction of God by prayer and supplication What can the most ingenious or industrious man performe of himselfe without the blessing of God Psal 127.1.2 Except the Lord build the house they labor in vaine that build it Except the Lord keepe the Citie the Keeper waketh in vaine It is in vaine to rise early and to lye downe late and to eate the bread of sorrow For it is the Lord that surely giueth rest to his beloued For that we depend not vpon God wee flée not to God wee pray not to God Am. 5.11 Zeph. 1.13 Agg. 1.6 Is not this the cause that many sowe much and reape little build houses other dwell in them plant Orchyards and eate not of the fruites eate but haue not enough drinke but are not filled cloath themselues but are not warme earne wages but lay it vp in a broken and bottomlesse Bagge Say not I cannot come to the church to praier euery day before I goe forth to my labour I am not learned it is for clergie men to be so diligent in prayers Although thou canst not come to the church yet hast thou not a priuate deuotion and prayers to powre foorth in thy house and on the way in the field and in thy labour Although thou be vnlearned yet art thou not able to vtter the Lords praier and in a word or two to beg mercy of God Althogh thou be no clerke yet art thou not subiect to manifold temptations aswell as clergie men They that trauell through vnwholsom countreys and infectious aires take preseruatiues to be safe from hurte those that know their enemies lie in wayt for them in euery corner carry still some weapon to defend themselues And shall not a Christian arme himselfe with the Armor of praier and defend himselfe with the preseruatiue of godly meditations since Sathan séekes by the venome of sinne to infect all our actions and layes a bayt to entrap vs in our meate in our drinke and in our garments and in our spéeches and in all our dooings Wherefore whatsoeuer we shall doe in word or déede Col. 3.17 let vs do all in the Name of the Lorde IESVS praying heartily to GOD the Father for the obtaining of his holy Spirit mercifull protection 1. Tim. 4.5 that all his Creatures may be sanctified vnto vs by his word praier and that whatsoeuer wee shall enterprise or attempt may redound to the glory of God the profite of our Neighbours and our owne saluation How comfortable is the promise Aske and it shall be giuen you seeke Matth. 7.7.8 and yee shall finde knocke and it shall be opened vnto you For whosoeuer asketh receiueth and hee that seeketh findeth to him that knocketh it shal be opened How gratious is God Psal 145.8 Isay 65.24 to heare the requests of all those that call vpon him faithfully for he hath saide Yea before they call I wil answere and while they speake I will heare How can it be that the prayer of the Righteous should not preuaile much Rom. 8.26 and pierce the cloudes since Christ maketh intercession for vs at the right hand of God and thogh we know not what to pray as we ought yet the Spirite it selfe maketh request for vs Luk. 18.1 1 Tim. 2.8 with sighs which cannot be expressed O then let vs pray alwayes not wax faint O then let vs lift vp pure haÌ„ds euery where without wrath vr doubting O then let Prayer be the salte to season all our actions and the Doue to bring vs the oliue leafe that is the messenger to fetch down from Heauen the fauour and louing mercie of God vpon vs Gen. 8.11 and whither we goe foorth of our houses let vs pray and whither we returne home let vs pray Hieron in Epist Nec priùs corpuscalum requiescat quà m animam pascat and let not our body rest before it féede the soule with this celestiall foode To conclude and to binde vp all as it were in one little bundle let vs often and seriously consider the vanitie and fléeting mutabilitie of this life and of all the Pride and Pompe thereof and the vnspeakeable ioyes and perpetuitie of the Kingdome of God and then this exhortation and precept of our Lord and Maister CHRIST IESVS which containes the whole summe of a Christian mans dutie and may be in stead of a thousand Sermons will neuer slip out of our hearts wherein hée sayes But seeke yee first the Kingdome of God and his Righteousnes and all these things shall be ministred vnto you A WHIP FOR LOYTERERS Matth. 20.6 And hee went about the eleuenth houre and found others standing idle and saide vnto them Why stand yee heere all the day idle IN that none receiued the penny in the euening but such as laboured longer or lesse time in the vineyard we are taught that none of discretion age yéeres shall receiue the recoÌ„pence of the reward the ioyes of Heauen but such as in this present worlde labour diligently in their calling and endeuor to bring forth the fruits of such good workes as are commanded in the word of God procéed from a true Faith and serue for the honoring and glorifying of Gods holy name But as none shall be crowned in the kingdom of glory that hath not finished his course in the Kingdome of grace that is in the vineyard
a woman vanisheth away wheÌ„ a child is borne The billowes and surging Seas may dash against Christs Church Matt. 16.18 but for that it is stablished and setled on CHIST the Rocke the gates of Hell shall not preuaile against it For as Physitians vse Serpents Vipers in Triacle for the help of men so God vseth Sathan in tentation for the profite of his childreÌ„ and for this purpose so ordereth his tentations that as he should blind the hearts of the disobedient and at last punish them eternally so he should only trie make knowne the Faith Hope Patience and Constancie of the godly that Gods Grace may be sufficient for them and that after they haue bin tryed for a while they may receiue the crowne of glorie that neuer withereth Therefore if hee would friendly insinuate himself pretending to do vs good that he may the sooner drawe vs out of the narrow way let vs oppose the expresse will and commandement of God against him not depart therefrom either to the right hand or to the lefte hand If he go about to rip vp our conscience with the knife of the Law to daunt vs with the vglinesse and haynousnes of our sinnes Gen. 4. Matt. 27. 1. Ioh. 1.9 as hee dealt with Cayne and Iudas let vs remember that if wée faithfully and penitently acknowledge our sinnes God is faithfull and iust to forgiue our sinnes and the blood of IESVS CHRIST his Sonne clenseth vs from all vnrighteousnes And to the beléeuer God hath twise thundred this most comfortable voyce froÌ„ heauen Mat. 3. 17. This is my beloued sonne in whom I am well pleased If he perswade vs to murmure in dearths or be discontent with the flourishing state of some vngodly persons as he threw this stuÌ„bling block before Dauid Psal 33. 73. Iob. 27.7 Ierem. 12. and before Iob before Ieremias let vs submit our selues vnder Gods mighty hand and cast all our care vpon him for he cares for vs all and not feare because it is our Fathers pleasure to giue vs a Kingdome If he would puffe vs wâ—th pride for well doing and make our hearts swell with prosperitie let vs consider that when we haue done all we are vnprofitable seruants and that we are but stewards of Gods gifts and shall one day be called to an account for our stewardship If when he is expulsed once or twise yet he returne againe Exod. 14. for as Pharaoh stird vehemently to bring backe the Israelites when they were departed out of Egypt and as the spirit raged and fomed mightily when he was expelled out of him whom he had possessed from his infancie Matt. 9.20.21 so the Pharaoh that tyrannized ouer the soules of sinners if he léese his praie he vncessantly attempts to winne it againe and generally as our Sauiour witnesseth Matt. 12.43.44.45 when the vncleane spirit is gone out of a man he walketh throughout drie place séeking rest and finding none he saith I will returne into mine house from whence I came and if he finde the roome emptie swept and garnished he taketh seauen other spirits worse then himselfe and they enter in and dwell there and the end of that man is worse then the beginning therefore to escape that lamentable pernition if Sathan returne after his expulsion let vs betake our selues to earnest prayer and then as the Lyon feares at the sight of a Cocke and flies at the crowing of a Cocke so this roaring and ramping Lyon feares at the sight of a faithfull person and flies at his prayer For as some remedies against poyson are hoate and some cold so the remedies against tentations and troubles are either the mildnes and coldnes of patience or the vehemencie and ardentnes of prayer What if thou canst not still vse long and set prayer and vttered with tongue either for that thou art vnlearned or for that thy busines hinders and stops it or for that the time and place forbid it Yet pray continually in heart and pray earnestly in minde and pray zealously in spirit August ad ProbaÌ„ as it is reported that the Christians in Egypt were accustomed to vse often yet short prayers and to vtter them forcibly yet spéedily least the intention and heedfulnes which is requisite for him that praieth per productiones moras euanescat hebitetur should vanish away and become dull by long staie doe this and thou shalt trie vndoubtedly that such prayer though bréefe yet it is an ayde to the soule a sacrifice to God a scourge to Sathan For though while our life is in this pilgrimage it cannot be without sinne and tentation for our profiting is knowne by tentation neither doth any knowe himselfe except he be tried neither can any be crowned except he ouercome neither can any ouercome except he striue neither can any striue except he haue an enemie and trials though then the Sea can no more be without tempests then the world without tentations yet we must valiantly by vehement praier resist the assault and batterie and when the surge of triall flowes vpon vs we must call and crie with the Apostles when the ship was couered with waues Maister saue vs Matt. 8.25 we perish and then we shall sée that the windes and stormes will cease and that he doth nâ—â— sléepe that séemed to sléepe for a little season And aboue all things we must take héede that we resist Sathans suggestions and allurements in the beginning for he could not preuaile ouer vs vnles we did encrease his strength by our vices and did giue him roome to enter in and dominiere in vs by our iniquities For this cause the Apostle speaking of anger saith Ephes 4.26 that the Sunne must not go downe vpon our wrath and that we must not giue place to the Diuell As if he said that anger or any other sinne will growe past cure like a wound that by delaie waxes incurable if it be not repressed spéedily and because continuance in sinne makes an entrance for Sathan who hauing entered vpon our hearts doth péece-meale at last wholy possesse them therefore we must betimes shut the doores against so hurtfull a guest For as a Serpent easily conuaies in the rest of his body if he get an entrance for his head so Sathan that subtile and slippery serpent if we permit one sinne to créepe into vs and giue consent thereunto he insinuates his whole traine and he drawes vs from consent to practise from practise to delight from delight to custome from custome to boasting in sinne from boasting in sinne to obdurate hearts Hier. in epist Dum paruus est hostis interfice vt nequitia elidatur in semine kill the Enemie of the soule while he is but little that vngodlines may be crusht in the séede as the Cockatrice is most safely slaine in the shell before he be hatcht and brought forth Suppose that we had séene Adam in his tentation when thoughts arose
it is cut downe and withereth the time of our life is threescore yeeres ten and if they be of strength fourscore yeeres yet their streÌ„gth is but labour sorrow for it is cut off quickly we flee away Note what the great Apostle doctor of the GeÌ„â—iles Paul saith Ephes 6.12.13 We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against Principalities against powers and against the worldly gouernours the Princes of the darknes of this world against spirituall wickednesses which are the high places And therefore he addes presently For this cause take vnto you the whole armor of God that yee may be able to resist in the euill day and hauing finished all things stand fast Euen so doth Peter in this present place declaring vnto vs the couÌ„terwaites of Sathan and exhorting vs diligently to beware take héed of them And therefore he saith Besober and watch for yuur aduersarie c. In which words the holy Apostle doth thrée things first he exhortes vs vnto a continuall care for our saluation which care consisteth in Sobrietie vigilancie or watchfulnes in these words Be sober watch secoÌ„dly he addes a reason of his exhortation and therein is contained a description of our grand-enemie Sathan in these words For your aduersarie the Diuell as a roaring Lyon walketh about seeking whoÌ„ he may deuoure Thirdly he shewes what we must doe in this case in these wordes Whom resist stedfast in the faith 1. We must continually care for our saluation First then the Apostle commends vnto vs a perpetual care and studie for the sauing and health of our soules And because he hath an eye and respect to warfare he vseth a double metaphore borrowed spéech from the things that are requisite and necessarie in Earth Warfare and Militarie discipline The first borrowed phrase is this Be sober that is vse temperaÌ„cie in all your actioÌ„s For as surfeting druÌ„kennes makes the body vnapt for worldly busines So they that drowne their soules in the sinke of earthly delights pleasures they caÌ„not desire follow the kingdome of heauen And as the worldly souldior that stuffes crains himselfe too full with meate and drinke cannot readily nimbly resist his bodily enemie So CHRISTS souldior that liues intemperately cannot withstand the enemies of his soule as he ought to doe And therefore the Apostle sayes Be sober When Peter saith Be sober hee saith no other then that which Christ saith Take heede to your selues Luk. 21.34.35.39 least at any time your hearts be oppressed with surfetting drunkennes and cares of this life least that day come on you at vnawares For as a Snare shall it come on all them that dwel on the face of the whole earth watch therefore pray continually that yee may bee counted worthie to escape all these things that shal come to passe that yee may stand before the Sonne of man When Pâ—ter saith be sober he saith no other theÌ„ that which Paul saith It is now time that wee should arise froÌ„ sleepe for now is our saluation neerer theÌ„ when wee belieued it the night is past Rom 13 11.12.1â— the day is at hand let vs therefore cast away the works of darknes let vs put on the armor of light so that we walke honestly as in the day not in gluttony druÌ„kennes neither in chaÌ„bering wantonnes nor in strife and enuie WheÌ„ Peter saith 1. Thess 5.5.9.7.8 Be sober it is no other then that which Paul saith againe Yee are all the childreÌ„ of light the childreÌ„ of the day we are not of the night neither of darknes therefore let vs not sleepe as doe other but let vs watch and be sober for they that sleepe sleepe in the night they that be druÌ„ken are druÌ„ken in the night but let vs which are of the dai be sober WheÌ„ Peter saith Ephes 4.22.23.24 be sober it is no other theÌ„ that which Paul saith againe cast off concerning the coÌ„uersation in time past that old maÌ„ which is corrupt through the deceiuable lusts be renued in the spirite of your minde put on the new man which after God is created vnto righteousnes true holines And what is teÌ„peraÌ„cie or sobrietie It is a vertue that moderates the desires of meat drink that we may neither by excesse hinder meditation prayer the labors of our calling nor yet on the other side hurte our bodily health by too much abstineÌ„ce Therefore else-where our Apostle saith Be sober watching in praier For what atteÌ„tion â— Pet. 4.7 or intention caÌ„ druÌ„kards vse in praier how caÌ„ they muse thinke deuoutly of God godly things S Basil saith truely DrunkeÌ„nes chaseth away the gifts of the no yâ— Spirit smoke driueth away Bees druÌ„kennes driuet away the gifts of the holy Ghost And the Hathenish Poet saith well Corpus onustum Hesternis vitijs animum quoque praegnauat vnà Horat. ser l. 2. sat 2. Atque affigit humi diuinae particulam aurae When the body is surcharged with excessiue diet it burdens the minde also and fasteneth to the earth that portion of the diuine breath Drunkennesse saith Austin is a flattering Diuell a sweet poyson a pleasant sinne In sermons quod which whosoeuer hath hath nor himselfe which whosoeuer commits not so much commits sinne as is altogheter made sinne Drunkennesse is the bewitching Circe that metamorphoseth turneth men into Swine Dogs and Lyons Apes discouering and setting on fire the vices that were before secret and drawing foorth into the light of the Sunne those qualities of the minde which were lurking in close caues and cabbines Then the vnchast professeth and publisheth his disease then the wanton refraines Sen. ep 8 nor tongue nor hand then appeares the pride of the insolent the crueltie of the vnmercifull the enuie of the malignant Omne vitium grassatur prodit Euery vâ—ce then rageth and rusheth foorth And who becomes not a Beast in his Drunkennesse when he knowes not himselfe nor others hée cannot speake plainely intelligiblie he speakes to no purpose hee rowles his eyes he staggars and réeles hee vtters and vomits his owne secrets and shame hée féeles the swimming of the head he imagineth one candle to be two and that the very house whirleth round about him he findes that of the Poet verified in himself â—agnuÌ„ hec vitium est vinc Plautus in Pseudolo Pedes captat primuâ— luctator dolosus est That the great faulte of immoderatie drinking of wine is this that like a craftie wrestler it first seekes to trippe vp the héeles Drunkennesse makes men worse then beasts For beasts will not by compulsion take more meate or drinke then their neede craueth And therefore Drunkards those that enforce others to drinke excessiuely are in this respect to be iudged worse then Asses and worse then Dogs saith S. Chrysostome Hom. 58.
lyes And are not drunkards that depriue themselues of reason and common sense that abuse the good creatures of God that deâ—â— their soules and bodies with vices and prepare themselues to be as spunges to receiue all iniquitie are they not comprehended vnder the name of vncleane persons and dogs If any say that these are but probabilities and collections then behold those most cléere places where the holy Ghost saith by the mouth of the Apostle 1. Cor. 6.10 Gal. 5.21 that drunkards shall not inherite the kingdom of God and that drunkennes and gluttonie are manifest workes of the flesh and that they which do such things shall not inherite the kingdome of God The second Metaphor borrowed spéech which the Apostle vseth in his exhortation is likewise taken from earthly souldiers and warfare when he saith and watch If the souldiour that lieth in field against his enemie be not watchfull but careles and sléepie how soone may his foes preuent and circumuent him so if they that are enrolled souldiours in Christs band to fight his battels vnder his banner be remisse drousie and negligent the enemies of their soules may soone ouerthrowe and destroy them It is necessarie therefore for vs to watch And why must we watch We must watch for the comming of Christ our Lord and Maister for so he commaunds saying Watch therefore for ye know not what houre your Maister will come If this be sure that if the good man of the house knew Matt. 24.42.43.44 at what watch the theefe would come he would surely watch not suffer his house to be digged through therfore be ye also readie for in the houre that ye thinke not will the Sonne of man come And againe Let your loynes be girded about Luk. 12. â—5 36 and your lights burning and ye your selues like vnto men that waite for their Maister when he will returne from the wedding that when he commeth knocketh they may open vnto him immediately And why must we watch for Christs comming because it will be suddaine for the day of the Lord shall come euen as a theefe in the night 1. Thess 5.2.3 for when they shall say peace and safetie then shall come vpon them sudden destruction as the trauell vpon a woman with childe they shall not escape And whereto must we watch we must watch to righteousnes godlines vertue good works for so the Apostle S. Paul doth admonish vs saying awake to liue righteously sinne not 1. Cor. 15.34 As if he had said sin is like the Aspe for as that Serpent when it stings any it brings them into a drousines and they die sléeping so they that are hurt with the sting of sinne fall into a drousie forgetfulnes of God godlines and except the Lord touch their hearts with repentance they senselesly sléepe vp into the second death Ephes 5.14 Awake therefore thou that sleepest and stand vp from the death of sinne and Christ shall giue thee light And why must we watch we must watch least Sathan sowe tares among the good séede of Gods word and take it away out of our hearts and choake it with the thornes of cares and voluptuous liuing Matt. 13.34.25 For Christ saith expressely That the kingdome of God is like vnto a man which sowed good seede in his field but while man slept there came his enemie and sowed tares among the wheate and went his way Briefly wherein must we watch we must watch in praier for so our Sauiour taught his disciples Matt. 26.41 Luk. 21.36 saying Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation And again Watch therefore and pray continually that ye may be counted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to passe and that ye may stand before the sonne of man And so Saint Paul commaunds continue saith he in prayer Col. 4.2 and watch in the same with thanksgiuing And iustly might he commaund vs to pray continually for what else is praier to the soule but that which the kéele is to the ship the foundation to the house and the moisture to the tree and the sinewes and ioynts to the body Take the kéele away and the ship is dissolued take the ground-worke away and the edifice falles take the moisture from the trée and there comes no fruit take away the sinewes and cut the ioynts of the bodie and the members will not hange together and take away prayer from the soule and it is exposed as a preie to euery Enemie Praier to the Christian is as a sword to the traueller that chaseth away the théefe and the bowe of the hunter that kils the sauage beast and the fortresse and bulwarke that defends the cittie and castle for the wicked spirits are put to flight when they see our soules armed with supplication and the enemies that as gréedie beasts would deuoure our soules are driuen off by the spirituall arrowes of zealous praier and the castle of the soule is protected by praier and thereby made inexpugnable Chrys de diuersis and therefore if praier be taken from the soule perinde est ac si piscem ex aqua traxeris vt illi vita aqua ita anima preccs it is as though a fish were drawne out of the water As water is life to the fish so prayer is life to the soule Art thou in tranquillitie pray to God that thy tranquillitie may be permanent Dost thou sée a gréeuous storme comming pray to God that he would auert it and turne it into calmenes Art thou heard thanke God for hearing thée Art thou not heard perseuere that thou maiest be heard For although God defer for a little space yet he doth it not of hatred towards thée neither for that he reiects thée but by deferring he keepes thee the longer by him Chrys de profectu euangelij as fathers are woont not to grant presentlâ— to their children whoÌ„ they loue entirely â—he things which they desire but to put them off with some delay that they may tarrie the longer with them and desire it the more feruently and estéeme it the more regardfully when it is graunted Wherefore since prayer is so profitable and necessarie for vs let none passe away the time ordained for prayer in sléepe and trifling and in worldly cares and musings or in vttering the words of prayer coldly and negligently and with a roauing and wandring minde onely vsing his lips but let vs powre foorth our praiers before the Lord with attentiue mindes and carefull hearts Cyprian saith well Let the minde muse on nothing else then that which it praieth for And againe How canst thou desire to be heard of God when thou hearest not thy selfe Vis esse deum memorem tui cum tu ipse memor tui non sis Wilt thou haue God to remember thee when thou remembrest not thy selfe Bernard also hath a memorable sentence I offer saith he great iniurie to God when I pray
in his heart and when he was straitned betwéene the commaundement of his Creator and the request of his yoke-fellowe should we not haue cried out and said vnto him ô thou wretch Bernard inser om sanct take heede to thy selfe see thou doe it not the woman is seduced beleeue not her entisements Should this haue béene our perswasion to Adam that he should looke to himselfe and shal we not perswade our selues after the same manner when we are compassed thronged with the like tentations As the dogge that stands by the table Chrys hom 3. de Laz. if he that eateth cast some bone or crust vnto him he tarrieth and waites still for more but if nothing be giuen him at length he departs and waites for sustenance no longer so Sathan that gréedie and biting dogge standing about our life if he receiue from vs some vngodly spéeches or wicked doings he remaines and expects longer but if we nourish him not by word nor déede he forsakes vs and séekes after another preie Therefore if we will subdue Sathan we must quickly flée all appearance of euill 1. Thess 5.22 we must spéedily flée the time the place the opportunitie to commit sinne we must by and by feare the baite suspecting that it couers the hooke and we must neuer forget that the fowler carries himselfe most guilefully when he calls and allures most pleasantly And this is the adiuration and coniuration that repels Sathan namely a true and stedfast faith that knowes the mercies of God towards mankinde reuealed in Gods word and that assureth and perswadeth vs of those mercies towards our selues also and that depends and relies wholly vpon those mercies and that is not barren idle or dead but abounding with good workes The summe of all is this we must liue soberly and watchfully and wâ—y because we haue an Aduersarie to witt the Diuell that as a roaring Lyon doth walke about seeking whom he may deuoure But we must be of good courage and coÌ„stantly beléeue on Christ the séede of the woman that hath bruised the Serpents head and hath not onely vanquished the infernall powers but also is our grand-captaine in these spirituall wars and hath promised victorie to those that fight valiantly vnder his banner Ioh. 16.33 and hath willed vs to be of good heart because he hath ouercome the world and commaunds his holy Angels to pitch a campe round about the godly and to put those wicked spirits to flight We reade 2. King 6.14 that when the king of Aram had sent horses and charets and a mightie hoast and they came and compassed the citie Dothan by night where the Prophet Elizâ—us lay and when the seruant of the man of God arose early to goe out saw the citie coÌ„passed with horses and charets he said vnto Elizans alas Maister how shall we doe his Maister answered feare not for they that be with vs are moe then they that be with them Then Elizeus prayed and sad Lord I beseech thee open his eyes that he may see and the Lord opened the eyes of the seruant and he looked and behold the mountaine was full of horses and charets of fire round about Elizeus Euen so forasmuch as we are weake of our selues and vnable to defend our selues and we haue a great companie of spirituall foes which inuent a thousand waies to entrap vs and to bring vs to euerlasting shame and lay waite to ensnare vs both in wealth and pouertie both in pleasure and affliction both in our words and in our workes and are vigilant when we are negligent let vs beseech our mightie and mercifull God to haue mercie on vs and to encrease our faith that being harnessed in compleate Armor we may doe valiantly and tread downe Sathan our Arch-enemie vnder our feete and we may haue the eyes of our minds opened to behold the inuincible charets and spirituall horsemen that are on our side and that being strengthened through the power of his might we may be able to resist and stand against all the assaults of that wicked one and that holding the faith and finishing our course and fighting a good fight we may in the end triumph eternally with our Sauiour Christ Iesus in the kingdome of Heauen Amen PRACTISE MVST ACCOMPAnie profession Tit. 3. 8. This is a true saying and these things I will thou shouldest affirme that they which haue beleeued God might be carefull to shew forth good workes These things are good and profitable vnto men AS he caÌ„not rightly be called a good Citizen or commonwealths man that doth not obserue the lawes of the cittie or common-wealth so he cannot be truely called a Christian that followes not the direction of the Christian faith and of the Church of God And that we may followe this it is necessarie that we knowe what it is What it is the Apostle declares a little before Verse 3.4.5.6.7 saying We our selues also were in times past vnwise disobedient deceiued seruing the lustes and diuerse pleasures liuing in maliciousnes and enuie hatefull and hating one another but when that bountifulnes and that loue of God our Sauiour toward man appeared not by the worke of righteousnes which we had done but according to his mercie he saued vs by the washing of the new birth and the renuing of the holy ghost which he shed on vs abundantly through Iesus Christ our Sauiour that we being iustified by his grace should be made heires according to the hope of eternall life In which words the holy Apostle shewes first what we are by nature namely vnwise disobedient deceiued seruing lustes and diuerse pleasures liuing in malitiousnes spight and hatred Secondly he shewes the cause of our saluation namely the bountifulnes and loue of God our Sauiour by which two namely our owne vildenes and Gods mercy he excludes vtterly in the matter of saluation our righteousnes and our merites Thirdly he shewes the manner how we are saued namely by regeneration and the renuing of the holy ghost and in Christ we haue aswell the one as other Out of all which this may be gathered that this is the summe of our saluation that God so loued the world Ioh. 3.16 that he hath giuen his onely begotten sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life And therefore whosoeuer haue not this faith they are destitute of the spirit of God For heereby shall we know the spirit of God 1. Ioh. 4.2.3 euery spirit which confesseth that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God and euery spirit that confesseth not that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God but this is the spirit of Antichrist But because in this summe of the Christian faith either distrust and doubling or carnall securitie and the libertie of the flesh doe assaile vs S. Paul preuents and stops both those when he saith This is a true saying and these things I will thou shouldest affirme
make a statue thereof as good as the matter would permit so saith he a wise man and why not a Christian endued with vertue will shew it in riches if he be rich in pouertie if he be poore in authoritie if he be a Magistrate in health or sicknes according to his place quamcunque fortunam acceperit aliquid ex ca memorabile efficiet in whatsoeuer state he liue he will doe some praiseworthy thing therein On the other side as good workes are good and profitable so euill workes are dangerous and vnprofitable Psal 5.6 Rom. 2.25 2. Tim. 2.6 Eph. 4.30 For euill déedes are displeasing to God that hates all the workes of iniquitie Euill déedes disgrace our profession and Gods glory what lies in vs. Euill deedes make vs the slaues and vassals of Sathan and by them he dominéers ouer vs. Euill deedes hinder all spirituall exercises Deut. 28. for by them faith faints the conscience is hurt praier ceases and the holy spirit of God is greeued Euill déedes doe procure and pull on vs punishments both publike and priuate as warres famines pestilence and the like At a word euill deeds do merite eternall torments after this life For they that doe commit euill works haue no parte in Christs Kingdome Gal. 5.21 1. Cor. 6.10 neither shall possesse it And is it so Is death the stipend and wages of iniquitie What exhortation then is fitter then that of the holie Apostle Let not sinne therefore raigne in our mortall bodie that we should obey it in the lusts thereof That is Rom. 6.23 let vs not fréeze in the dregges of vngodlinesse Let vs not wallow welter in the puddle of wickednes Rom. 6 1â— Let vs compare and examine our liues and doings by the rule line of Gods lawes and statutes and where we finde our faultines and imperfection and who will be able to say My heart is cleane Since the righteous falles seuen times in a day therefore let vs hartily repent for the same and beséech God the Father to forgiue our offenses for the merites and Passion of his dearely beloued Sonne CHRIST IESVS Let the swearer and blasphemous person forsake his Oathes and vaine prophaning of Gods sacred name Let the abuser of the Sabbath and neglecter of Prayer and Sermons and Sacraments reclaime himselfe sanctifie the Lords Sabbath Let the enuious and malicious person lay aside his hatred and spitefulnes Let the couetous and gréedie mizer forsake his inordinate loue of money which is the roote of all euill Let the drunkard abstaine from drunkennes the fornicator from vncleannes and the hypocrite from counterfeiting and the lyer from slaunderous vncharitable reports and the brawler conteÌ„der from strife and dâ—ssention To be short let the ignorant of the mysteries of their saluatioÌ„ seeke to be filled with the knowledge of Christ spiritual vnderstaÌ„ding And let the breaker offender of Gods Lawes perswade himselfe that it is sufficient to haue speÌ„t the time past in waÌ„tonnes lusts concupiscences abhominable traÌ„sgressions and let him not suffer sinne to raigne swaye longer in his mortall bodie CHRIST our high Priest Heb. 7.26 that offered a full perfect sufficient sacrifice for our Redemption was holie innoceÌ„t vndefiled separate froÌ„ sinners higher then the HeaueÌ„s And this our holie high Priest hath saÌ„ctified vs by his Sacrifice that we should also be holy innocent vndefiled For Heb. 2.11 He that saÌ„ctifieth they which are saÌ„ctified are all of one And CHRIST gaue himselfe for vs that he might redeeme vs from all iniquitie Tit. 2.14 purge vs to bee a peculiar people vnto himselfe zealous of good workes Therefore we ought also as being sanctified by Christ our redeemer as being members of so worthy an head as being made conformable to so excellent an Image wée ought also to loath detest and abhorre sinne iniquitie Fâ—â—e from siâ—ne as froÌ„ a serpent for if thou coÌ„mest too néere it it wil bite thee Ecclus 21.2.3 the teeth thereof are as the teeth of a Lyon to slay the soules of men All iniquity is as a two edged sword the woundes therefore cannot bee healed saith the Wise man Consider how pestilentiall how horrible how fowle a thing sinne is and tell whether it bee a fit guest to be harbored lodged of vs or not What is it that makes a separation betwéene God and our sillie soules but sinne Hearken what the Lord saith by his holy Prophet Beholde Isai 59.1.2 the Lords hand is not shortned that it caÌ„not saue neither is his Eare heaâ—e â—hat it cannot heare but your iniquities haue separated betweene you your God and your sinnes hauâ— hid his Face from you that hee will not heare And how vn speakeable a losse is it to be separated and diuorced from GOD As almost euery one offers wrong to a Widowe because shee wants a protector So euery vncleane spirite and euery creature riseth vp against the soule that is a widow Psal 70.10.11 that is depriued of the GRACE OF GOD And the spirituall Foes that seeke such a soule take counsell together and say God hath forsaken that Soule Persecute and take it for there is none to deliuer it The Shippe that hath lost her Mast and Rudder and Gouernor yeeldes to the flawes and flouds is driuen hither and thither and tossed by euery Tempest and at last is dashed against a Rocke and is broken in pieces and the Citie that is besieged of most cruell enemies hauing no Walles nor Bulwarkes to defend it and no Garrison nor strength of Soldiours to protect it but the Citizens that are in it are in hostilitie and ciuile discord this cittie must néeds be sacked and ransacked Euen so the wretched soule destitute of the loue and fauour of God it is exposed to innumerable flouds of teÌ„ptations and is néere to shipwrack it is as a prey readie to bee torne and rent by her enemies Sathan the world and the Flesh and it is cast foorth by the very bodie that it quickeneth to vncleane spirites to be deuoured When the King remooues his Court all the Kings houshold and all the Courtiers depart with him and we say that the Court is remoued Ezek. 18.14 So when God departs from the soule all the Angels that are Gardians to the soule celestiall Courtiers depart also from it and the very good works which were formerly done are forgotten and doe léese their reward For so saith the Prophet If the righteous man turne away from his righteousnes and commit iniquitie and doe according to all the abhominations that the wicked man doth shall he liue all his righteousnesse that he hath done shall not be mentioned but in his transgression that he hath committed and in his sinne that he hath sinned in them shall he die Of the departing of this heauenly Court Saint Basin thus saies In Psa 33 Like as smoke driues away Bees and
reiection of the Iewes the destruction of erusaâ—em and the like demonstrations of the last Iudgement And are not daily calamities both publique priuate and the death of the bodie are not these representations Images of the last iudgement Wherefore since it is so certain that the day of iudgement shal come at the time prescribed of God and since that day shall be so searefull and terrible Let vs watch and pray continually that we may be counted worthie to escape all these things that shall come to passe and that we may stand before the Sonne of man Secondly we must note The day of iudgemeÌ„t not known and why that the day and houre of the day of Iudgement is vncertaine and vnknowne For this our Sauiour teacheth most euideÌ„tly For wheÌ„ the disciples asked what signe there should be of his coÌ„ming and of the end of the world Christ did not answere when his comming should be but after what manner it should be He declareth the fashion of it but he concealeth the season of it If any shall say that the approaching of it may be discerned by the signes and tokens which our Sauiour himselfe hath set downe and that therewithall the time of it may be somewhat coniectured It may be answered that the prognostications and signes of the day of iudgement are of two sorts some are precedent anâ— going before it and some are conioyned and going with it And of the foregoing tokens some goe long before it and some goe not long before it The signes that goe long before the day of iudgement Matt. 24 24.3â—.38 are these First the preaching of the Gospell throughout the whole world and among all nations secondly that strange securitie and gluttonie such as was in the daies of Noah before the flood thirdly a departure from sound doctrine of which Paul speakes 1. Tim. 4.1 when he saith That the spirit speaketh euidently that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith and shall giue heede vnto spirits of error and doctrines of Diuels fourthly a wonderfull disorder and corruption in manners for in the last daies saith the scripture shall come perillous times 2. Tim. 3.1.2.3.4 for men shall be louers of themselues couetous boasters proud cursed speakers disobedient to Parents vnthankefull vnholy without naturall affection truce-breakers false accusers intemperate fierce no louers at all of them which are good traitours headie hie-minded louers of pleasures more then louers of God fiftly the reuealing of that notable Antichrist for the Apostle saith 2. Thess 2.3 That no man must deceiue vs by any meanes For that day shall not come except there come a departing first and that that man of sinne be disclosed euen the sonne of perdition sixtly Luk. 2â— 12 Matt. 24.10 Matt. 24.11 the persecution of the godly and betraying of them for the name of Christ seuenthly publike and notorious scandales and offences eightly many false Christs false Prophets saying I am Christ that is vsing the name of Christ or faining that they are sent of Christ or that they are that which Christ is shewing forth signes and wonders to deceiue the very elect if it were possible ninthly neglect of loue and charitie and a falling from the faith The signes going néerely before the day yet such as the day shall not presently follow are these First in heauen Mar. 13.17.24 the sunne shall be darkened that is there shall be eclipses of the Sunne the Moone shall loose her light the Starres shall fall from heauen that is shall séeme to fall the powers of heauen shall be shaken Secondly in the earth there shall be great earthquakes sturs and tumults nation shall rise against nation and kingdome against kingdome Luk. 11.9.10.15 Mar. 13.7.8 Luk. 21.23 no place shall be frée from wars pestilences famines persecutions and vexations 3. In the sea there shall be fearefull roaring sounding and flowing 4. In the aire there shall be dreadfull and terrible tempests In a word the heauen earth and all Elements shall expresse the face of an angrie Iudge that sinners may be warned to repent Super. Matt. 24. except they will perish suddenly And therefore Saint Chrysostome saies When the good man of the house dieth the familie lamenteth apparelleth it selfe with blacke garments so when mankind drawes to an end the powers of heauen which were made for mankind doe mourne and putting aside beautie are ouerwhelmed with darkenes When the king of heauen ariseth to iudge the quicke and dead the Angelicall powers shall be moued and the terrible seruants shall goe before the terrible Lord. Vnto these foregoing signes may be added the conuersion or gathering of Israel to the faith that is of the whole Iewish nation to the Church of Christ Luk. 21.24 Isai 59. Rom. 11. when the fuâ—â—s of the gentiles is come in of which conuersion both the Prophet and the Apostle maketh mention and the which how and when it shall be none knowes but God These are the signes that goe before the second comming of Christ The tokens conioyned and going with the day of iudgement are the wayling of the kinreds of the earth Matt. 24.30 and the signe of the Sonne of man which shall be seene in the heauen when the Lord shall come in the cloudes which some take for the signe of the Crosse and some take for the excellent glory and Maiestie which shall giue witnes that Christ is come to iudge the whole world Now by the accomplishing of the foregoing signes which we haue scene and doe see daily performed we may gather the néere approaching of the day of iudgement but of the signe that shall goe with it the time is vncertaine and therefore our Sauiour saith Matt. 24.33 When ye see all these things knowe that the kingdome of God is neere euen at the doores and he addes presently but as the daies of Noah were Verse 37.38.39 so likewise shall the comming of the Sonne of man be for as in the daies before the flood they did eate and drinke marrie and giue in marriage vnto the day that Noah entered into the Arke and they knewe nothing till the flood came and tooke them all away so shall also the comming of the Sonne of man be And he ads withall of this be sure Verse 43.44 that if the goodman of the house knewe at what watch the theefe wold come he would surely watch not suffer his house to be digged through therefore be ye also readie for in the houre that ye thinke not will the Sonne of man come 2. Pet. 3.10 This Peter learned of his Maister Christ when he said That the day of the Lord will come as a theefe in the night And likewise Paul Thess 5.2.3 when he said That the day of the Lord shall come euen as a theefe in the night for when they shall say peace and safetie then shall come vpon them sudden destruction as
such death and tribulations are not a reproach vnto them but a thing glorious in Gods sight and pleasing vnto him Rom. 5.3 Therefore the Apostle saieth That we reioyce in Tribulations That is we iudge afflictions to be a glorious thing which God will after chaunge into glorie and this is the peculiar wisdome of the Church which the world perceiueth not Lastly hee affirmeth that there remaines a life and iudgement after the death of the bodie For if the death of the godlie be not neglected of God but is pretious in his sight and on the contrarie * Mors impiorum pessima vulgata translatio ex Graeco Psal 6.8 If the death of the vngodly bee euill there must néedes remaine a iudgement wherein this shall bee made manifest to all Tyrants shall receiue punishment for their crueltie but the godly shall be â—dorned w th eternall glorie For if God number the teares of the faithfull and put them into a Bottell Ps 34.21 How can he suffer the blood that is shed for the confession of his diuine Name to perish and vanish away to nothing Doest thou quake and tremble at the remembrance of that horrible day 2. Pet. 3.10 in which the Heauens shall passe away with a noyse and the Elements shall melte with heate and the earth with the workes that are therein shal be burnt vp Bee of good comfort For thy Iudge is also thy Sauiour he is thy Brother he is thy head and thou a member of his bodie Hee loues thée most ardently hee is thy Iesus That is SAVIOVR Patrone Aduocate Redeemer Intercessor Hee layed downe his life for thée Ioh. 5.24 He hath sworne with an oath that if thou belieue in him thou shalt haue eternall life He maketh request for thée and who shall condemne thée He coÌ„meth to finish the troubles of the World and to auenge himselfe of his enemies and to deliuer the godly from the hands of sinners and he commeth not to condemne thée but to absolue thée and not to torture thée but to rid thée from all miserie and to make manifest thy full Redemption and to frée thy bodie also from all calamities to performe that promise of eternall life which so often he hath made vnto thée in his sacred word For he that heareth his word belieueth God that sent him hath euerlasting life shall not come into condemnation but hath passed froÌ„ death to life Therefore as Christ saith Surely Reu. 22.20 I come quickly So thou mayest say with the Euangelist Amen euen so come Lord Iesus It is for the wicked that haue no part in Christ to tremble and be dismaied at the very mention of the great day For what haue they to doe with it Amos. 5.18.19.10 the day of the Lord is as darknes and not light as if a man did flie from a Lyon a Beare met him or went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall and a Serpent bit him shall not the day of the Lord to the wicked be darknes not light euen darknes and no light in it Zach. 9.9 But the Prophet Zachariah bids the Daughter of Zyon to reioyce for the comming of her King And vpon good reason Isai 35.4 for as another Prophet testifieth The same day that brings wrath vengeance to the vngodlie brings a recompence and saluation to the godly For which cause the holie Apostle Paul sets this downe for a marke of the faithfull by which they may be knowne Namely 1. Cor. 1.7 2. Tim. 4.8 that they wayre for the appearing of CHRIST and loue his comming Therefore if we shall happeÌ„ to liue at such time as Christ shall come to Iudgement against the beholding of those ghastly signes which shall be ioyned with his CoÌ„ming we must coÌ„fort our selues with Christs promise that then our Redemption draweth neere that is that he will take vs to himselfe into heauen finally deliuer vs from all miseries In the meane time let vs belieue with the Apostle That there is layed vp for vs the crowne of righteousnes which the Lorde the righteous Iudge shall giue vs at that day not to vs only but vnto all them that loue that his appearing And when we sée the clowds of the Heauen let vs be admonished of these things For as when Christ Ascended Act. 1.11 a clowde tooke him out of sight and as Christ shall so come againe euen as he was takeÌ„ vp that is in the clowds 2. Thess 4.17 so the clowds shall as a Charret to lift vs vp to eternal glorie and we shal be rapt vp into the clowdes to meete the Lorde in the Aire Psal 20.3 c. When we heare the Thunder which is the terrible and mightie voice of God let vs suppose that we heare the lowde voice of the high Iudge pronouncing the Sentence both of the shéepe and goates When wee sée the swift and bright and sudden flashes and flakes of lightning Let them call to our mindes the sudden and vnexpected and * Epipháneian 2. Tim. 4.8 cleere and perspicuous comming and appearing of the supreme Iudge For as the lightening that lighteneth out of the one part vnder heauen shineth vnto the other part vnder Heauen so shall the Sonne of man be in his day Luk. 17.24 And since these things must be so For heauen and earth shall passe and be changed but the word of the Lorde abideth for euer what manner persons ought wee to be in holy conuersation godlines looking for and hasting vnto the coÌ„ming of that day of God by which the heauens being on fire 2. Pet. 3.11.12.13.14 shal be dissolued the Elements shall melte with heate But we looke for new Heauens and a newe Earth according to his promise wherein dwelleth righteousnes Wherefore seeing we looke for such things Let vs be diligent that wee may bee found of him in peace without spot and blameles Let vs take heed to our selues Luk. 21.34 least at any time our hearts be oppressed with surfetting and drunkennes and cares of this life and least that day come on vs at vnawares There are thrée Robes and Garments belonging to a true Christian The first is a Purple robe the second is a white robe the third is a golden robe If we will attaine to true happines and holines Iude. vers 23. wee must cast off our owne polluted rags and denie our selues and we must put on these rich pretious garments First we must be arraied in a purple garment dyed and dipped in the blood of the Sonne of God That is Gal. 3.27 wee must fréely receiue forgiuenes of sinnes and be reconciled to GOD through CHRIST and Faith in his blood and this is our Iustification Next Rom. 13.13 wee must be clothed with a white robe That is it becomes vs to be renued in the spirit of our mind and to serue God in holines and
must looke on them not when they are coÌ„ming towards vs but when they are departing from vs for they come with a smiling countenance and doues face but they leaue behind them sorrow and repentance as the scorpions taile So it may as well be said of afflictions that wee must not looke on them when they are comming but when they are departing For they come with a grim and sadde countenaÌ„ce but when they depart they cast ioye and gladnes on as manie as haue employed them as they ought to doe For what is Tribulation to the godly but a plough that rips and opens the soyle of their hearts that the seede of vertue godlines may take roote anâ— find nourishment that nociue wéedes of vices may be extirpated and abandoned Euen as the plough breakes the ground that wéedes may wither good séede be receiued into the bosome of the earth for the better tructifying thereof Chrysost Hom. 4. de Poâ—nit And an ancient and holie father calleth tribulation A spirituall marchaÌ„dize For as they that desire to gaine money and to traffique in worldly marchandize cannot augment their wealth except they endure many perils of Land and Sea For they must néedes willingly beare the counterwaites of Robbers and the assaults of Pirates and all other incumbraÌ„ces for the expectation of profite and they doe not make moane at the féeling of any inconueniences Euen so wee must reioyce and Triumph when wee consider the Inualuable riches of this Spirituall marchaundize and those vnconceiueable and Inuisible good things which shall succéede the transitorie troubles of this wretched world Ioh. 16.21 22. A Woman when shee trauaileth hath sorrow because her houre is come but assoone as shee is deliuered of the childe shée remembreth the anguish no more for ioye that a man is borne into the world And the godly in this life are in sorrow and heauines but by Faith Repentance and Prayer in which the Spirite of God helpeth their infirmities their sorrow shal be turned into ioy and their harts shall reioyce and no man shall take their ioye from them 2. Cor 4.17.18 And how can wee but reioyce in tribulation For our light Affliction which is but for a moment causeth vs a farre more excellent an eternall weight of glorie while we looke not on the things that are séene but on the things that are not seene for the things which are seene are temporall but the things which are not seene are eternall Indeed this ioy in Tribulation ariseth not in vs of our own nature which is corrupt still repineth against the correction of our heauenly Father Neither doth it arise from the nature of Tribulation it selfe which hath enforced euen the holy Patriarks and Saints that shined as glittering Lamps Starres in their ages Iob. 3.2.7.8.9.11.12 to groane vnder the burden of miserie Iob was the liuely picture of patience yet how bitterly did hee inueigh against the verie day of his Natiuitie and how earnestly desired he that the Holie one would destroy him and cut him off Dauid was inspired by the holie Ghost Psalm 6.3 32.4 102. 88. 58. 6â— 77.7.8 c. yet how doeth hee make his moane that his foes oppressed him and that hee seemed euen forsaken therefore exclaimeth on this sort Will the Lord absent himselfe for euer will he be no more entreated Is his mercie cleane gone for euer and is his promise come vtterly to an end for euer Hath God forgotten to be gratious and will hee shutte vp his louing kindnes in displeasure Eliah was a Prophet of such holines that he obtained the priuiledge of Enoch which was to be rapt vp into Heauen aliue not to be takeÌ„ hence after the ordinarie sort of other men yet when he fled from persecuting Iezabel 1. King 19.4 he sat downe vnder a Iuniper-tree desired that hee might die said It is now enough ô Lord take my soule for I am no better then my Fathers Ierem. 11.5 15.10 20.14.15 Ieremiah was a man saÌ„ctified froÌ„ his mothers wombe yet he crieth out wo is me that my mother bare me Cursed be the day wherin I was borne Cursed be the maÌ„ that shewed my father saying Aman childe is borne vnto thee How did Ionah frette Ionah 3.3 for that the ruine of Niniuie did not accompanie his commination O Lord saith he take I beseech thee my life from me for it is better for me to die Iâ—n 4.9 then to liue And when he was inflamed with anger for that the vehement East wind had smitten his gourd and God had asked him whether he did well to be angrie for the gourd he answered I â—oe well to be angrie 2. Cor. 1.8 vnto the death And blessed Paul the chosen vessell of Christ complaineth that by his affliction in Asia he was pressed downe out of measure passing strength so that he altogether doubted euen of life Matt. 26.38 and 27.46 Yea how did Christ himselfe the head and generall Captaine of all beleeuers faint feare in the garden when he said that his soule was heauie euen to the death and how lamentable was his crye on the crosse My God my God why hast thou forsaken me If this were donne in the gréene trée what shall be donne in the drie If the hard séeme to shrinke what shall the members doe If the sonne himselfe be shaken how shall the seruant quake If those patternes of righteousnes were somewhat impatient discouraged euen almost drouped that they might sée their owne infirmitie and not trust in themselues but in the liuing God that doth raise the dead it must not dismay vs that are but Nouices young souldiours in Christs warres if now and then the weaknes of the flesh the vnperfectnes of our Regeneration doe seeme to eclipse this spirituall reioycing in Tribulation For as long as wee carrie about vs this fraile Tabernacle we know but in parte and see through a Glasse darkely and we thinke 1. Cor. 13.9 speake and vnderstand as children in heauenlie misteries and there is a continuall and vnappeaceable battell betwéene the spirit and the flesh Rom. 7.19 So that the good which wee would doe that wee doe not but the euill which we would not doe that we doe So that this spirituall ioy procéeds not from Musicke or from pleasant company or from respite and space of Timâ— which some affirme to cure asswage griefe or from our selues any way but it procâ—edes from the holy Spirit of the Lord. And that we may conceiue the matter more plainely we must ponder and remember 2. Cor. 4.16 that in the faithfull there is a double man to wit the outward man and the inward man And as there is a double maÌ„ so there is also a double iudgement a double will one of the spirite and another of the flesh Christ our Sauiour was not
the word are our brethren and men subiect to the like passions as we are and therefore in that respect we may say to them Physitians heale your selues yet they haue a treasure in an earthen vessell and to animate vs the more to embrace his will 2. Cor. 4.7 God speakes vnto vs by our owne flesh and blood and to declare his loue and fauour towards base men he exalts him to this dignitie to be a Trumpetter of his pleasure 1. Cor. 4.1 Ministers are called disposers of the secrets of God that we should giue eare vnto them as to them that are sent of Christ for this end and purpose that we might receiue as it were at their hands the treasure of saluation that is drawne out of the secrets of God They are called Ambassadors in the name of Christ because they haue the word of reconciliation betwéene God and vs and are Ministers therof praying the faithfull in Christs stéede as if God did pray in them 2. Cor. 5.20 Eph. 4.11 that they be reconciled to God They are called Pastors and féeders of soules teachers and instructors of the ignorant and planters of mindes in the Garden of Christianitie 1 Cor. 3.6 Reu. â— 20 and waterers of hearts with the showers of godly perswasions and Angels that is bringers and messengers of ioyfull tidings and Starres that hold foorth vnto vs the shining light lampe of the Gospel which shewes vnto vs how we should passe the time of our abiding héere and discouers vnto vs the will and pleasure of God both what God will haue vs to doe and how he will be woâ—shipped of vs and also what he will doe with vs and how he will saue vs. 1. Cor. 3 10.11.1â— They are called builders that must buiâ—d vpon the foundation that is layde which is Iesus Christ gold siluer and pretious stones 1. Pet. 2.5 that we should suffer our selues to be framed with the hammer of their doctrine as liuely stones and be made a spiritual houâ—â— an holy Priesthood to offer spirituall sacrifices acceptable to God by Iesus Christ They are called the salte of the earth and light of the world Matt. 5.13.14 that we should suffer our corrupt liues to be seasoned and purged with the salt of their wholesome words and our steps to be ordered by the brightnes of their exhortations that we may walke vnblamably and circumspectly in this present world that lyeth in wickednes Ezek. 33.7 Act. â—0 28 They are called watchmen and ouerseers that we should hearken to their warming when they foretell of the counterwaites and comming and danger of that old and subtile Serpent that studies nothing but for the destruction of the soules of men Luk 10.2 They are called labourers in the haruest that we should remember by their doctrine to bring foorth the fruit of good workes that may be gathered into the Lords garner and be euerlastingly rewarded They are called fishers of men Matt. 4.19 Luk. 5.10 that we should by their preaching of the glad tidings of saluation be caught in the net of eternall life They are called labourers together with God that is those that serue vnder him 1. Cor. 3.9 for the gathering together of the elect not as if they could do any thing of their owne streÌ„gth but by the grace of God that makes them able and all the encrease that procéedeth from their labour doth so come from God that no part of the praise is to be attributed to the vnder seruant Lastly Obad. v. 21. Rom. 11.14 1. Cor. 9.22 1. Tim. 4.16 Iam. 5.20 Isai 43.3 Act. 4.12 the Ministers of the word are called Sauiours and are said to saue others Yea but will some say is there contrarietie in the scripture It affirmes that there is no Sauiour besides the Lord and that there is none other name vnder heauen by which we must be saued but the name of Iesus What Sauiour then is the Minister The answere is that there is no discord nor repugnancie in the scripture for God is the alone author and worker of our saluation and we are saued onely by Christs merites and passion as touching the fountaine and originall substance of our saluation but the Minister is said to saue his hearers inasmuch as he is an instrument that by the doctrine and publishing of the Gospell applies the saluation vnto our soules For there are diuerse steps and degrées of our saluation we cannot haue saluation but we must be reconciled to God we cannot be reconciled to God without Christ wee cannot haue Christ without faith wee cannot haue faith without the preaching of the word Rom. 10.14.15.17 This is cléere by that saying of the Apostle How shall they call on him in whom they haue not beléeued and how shall they beléeue in him of whom they haue not heard and how shall they heare without a preacher and how shall they preach except they be sent Out of which he infers this conclusion then faith is by hearing and hearing by the word of God If then we haue such helpe by the Ministerie for the vnderstanding of the mysteries of saluation contained in the scriptures whosoeuer despise the preaching of the word of God which in respect of vs is the first step of saluation and contemne the preachers and publishers thereof doe despise their owne saluation Chrys and the meanes whereby they may be partakers of it séeing per ipsos Christum induimus per ipsos dei filio coniungimur per ipsos membra beati ipsius capitis efficimur by the helpe of the Ministerie we doe put on Christ we are conioyned to the sonne of God we are made members of him that is the blessed head of the Church That the word of God is the spirituall furniture and Armour that beates downe strong holdes and discomfites the Arch-enemie of our saluation Sathan Eph. 6.12.14.15.16.17 it is euident by Paul who reckoning vp the weapons that must defend vs against principalities against powers against worldly gouernours against the Princes of the darkenes of this world against spirituall wickednesses which are in the high places as the girdle of veritie the brest plate of righteousnes the leg harnesse of the Gospell of peace the shield of faith the helmet of saluation he names among the rest the sword of the spirit which is the word of God Saint Chrysostom doubts not to say Ser. 3. de Lazaro that the very sight of the Bible chaseth and driueth away the diuell For saith he euen as where there is armour of proofe laid vp in an house though none vse it yet it bréedes securitie and safetie to those that dwell in that roome inasmuch as no robber nor vnderminer of wals nor any other malefactor dares to assaile that house where such furniture is kept euen so wheresoeuer those heauenly bookes are from thence all Sathans force is expelled and the inhabiters want no consolation Heads the reason