as a louing Father vouchsafeth to instruct vs his children not onely by his word but also by his owne example If Poets haue spared no labour to imitate their Homer Oratours their Demosthenes Philosophers their Aristotle that they might therby attaine to some perfection in their own professions we Christians may be abashed yea rather by them condemned if with all diligence we doe not imitate the moste excellent and perfect paterne of God himselfe * God is to be immitated three waies But since it is neither conueni ent nor possible that we the creatures should imitate euery waye God the creator who is (a) Eze. 10.5 Reuel 11 17 infinite and (b) Rom. 16.27 1. Tim. 1.17 incomprehensible it is to be obserued that in his worde hee proposeth himselfe three wayes to be imitated * 1. in him selfe First in himselfe So did God set forth his holinesse as a paterne of holinesse to be practised by his ancient people the Israelites when hee said (c) Leuit. 20.26 be ye holy vnto me for I Iehouah am holy haue seuered you frō other people that yee should be mine And Christ our Sauiour in his earnest perswasion which hee vseth with his disciples to drawe them to the perfect practise of brotherly loue which then we shewe when (d.) Mat. 5.44 wee loue our enimies blesse them that curse vs do good to them that hate vs and pray for them which hurt vs and persecute vs. (e) 48. setteth forth to their imitation the perfectnes of the loue of his heauenly Father to man-kinde which (f) 45. maketh his sunne to arise on the euil the good and sendeth rayne on the iust and vniust (a) 48. Yee shall therefore bee perfect saith Christ as your Father which is in heauen is perfect The like may be obserued concerning the (b) Ro. 34. truth of God which he practiseth in his promisses (c) Psa 86.5 his mercie which hee sheweth to his seruants His iustice (d) 145.17 which appeareth in all his waies (e) 86.15 Rom. 2.4 his longe sufferance whereby he prouoketh vs to repentance All the which are paterns of trueth of mercie of iustice and of patience by vs to bee vsed And thus doth God propose him-selfe in him selfe to bee imitated of vs as you haue heard * .2 in his sonne Secondly God setteth foorth himselfe to bee imitated by vs in hys sonne Christ Iesus Our heauenly Father doth knowe the rudenesse of vs his children who hardly can esteeme him imitable which by nature is a (f) Ioh. 4.24 Spirite inuisible Behold therefore his fatherly care to lead vs on in this holy imitation of him-selfe Hee hath giuen vs his sonne (g) Heb. 1.3 who is the brightenesse of his glory and the ingraued forme of his person which being by nature a Ioh. 17.5 God with the Father b Mat. 1.18 is become man with vs c Heb. 1.3 in whose inward and substantiall brightenesse d Ioh. 14.7 which we discerne by the effectes thereof in his visible manhead as it were in a glasse we may behold as it were handle the infinit almighty maiestie the infinite incomprehensible loue of God the Father vnto vs his children through grace that we might admire the one with all reuerence and imitate the other with all obedience e Ioh. 14.9 If we see Christ with the eyes of our faith then see we the Father f Heb. 1.3 whose liuely image he is Now g Num. 21.9 Ioh. 3.14.8.56 heb 11.13 as Christ is beholden by a true faith h Iam. 2.24 so this fayth is made manifest by workes i 1. Cor. 11 .1 and those workes must bee squared by the paterne of the workes of Christ in whō God setteth forth himselfe to be imitated * The workes of Christ of two sorts But because the workes of Christ are of two sortes some miraculous wrought in power k Ioh. 5.36.14.11 to declare his Godhead to confirme his doctrine and some morall wrought in obedience a Mat. 5.17 to shewe his Man-head and to fulfill the lawe wee must knowe that hee is to bee imitated in the last and not in the first * Miracles For seeing his Miracles were wrought to seale vp the trueth of his Doctrine that hee might bee beleeued b. Ioh. 14.11 for his workes sake and since hee hath sufficienlie confirmed his doctrine by the miracles wrought in his owne person by his absolute power and in the persons of his Apostles and Disciples in the c. Act. 3.16 power of his name it sauoureth of infidelitie The gift of woorking of miracles being long a goe ceassed to require of the Ministers of the Gospell by miracles to prooue their Doctrine and of presumption without speciall warrante from Gods spirite to attempte the working of anie miracle The faithfull seruants therefore of the Lorde may not say to the ragyng sea d Mat. 4 39. Peace bee thou still Nor to the sicke of the palsie e 9 6. Arise Nor to the blind f Luc 18 42 Receiue thy sight Nor to the leper (a) 8.3 Bee thou cleane Not to the buried in graue (b) 10.11.43 Come forth And if there bee anie other such speaches of Christ in the New Testament as therebee manie they can not assume them to themselues with-out presumption why so Forsooth as they were woordes which Christ vsed when he wrought his miracles so are they mirrours of his Maiestie not to bee spoken by vs in imitation but to bee reuerenced of vs in meditation And how perilous a thing it is to draw the miracles of Christ into imitation the great abuse of Lent in time of Popery doth sufficiently declare For to fast fortie dayes fortie nightes not to hungre (c) Mat. 4.2 Luke 4.2 as Christ did so farre exceedeth the habilitie of man that without miracle it was neuer practised of anie And yet such was the presumption of the Romish Church that it proposed this miraculous and straunge woorke of Christ vndertaken by him for a preparitiue before hee begane to publish the Gospell as an example of imitation * 2. Conuersation The Newe Testament is the written recorde of the Doctrine and woorkes of Christ wherein with all diligence wee must meditate if wee will become followers of Christ in his Doctrine and life whatso euer we finde there written of his (a) Io. 3.17 zeale to promote Gods glorie of his (b) 6.43 cōstancie in mayntaynyng the trueth of his (c) 11.35 38. pittie towardes the afflicted of his (d) 1. Pet. ◠23 pacience in afflictions of his (e) Mat. 11.29 meekenes in his behauiour of his (f) Ioh. 6.9 sobrietie in his diete and of (g) ◠Pet. 2.22 his modestie in all his life that same is therefor written to sterre vs vp by his example to expresse the like
virtues in our conuersation Surelie since (h) Act. 11.26 Christians take their name of Christ it is very reasonable that wee should bee most diligente in learnyng his Doctrine that wee may knowe what to professe moste circumspect in obseruing his imitable woorkes that we may expresse our Religion by our life So shall wee bee (i) Iam. 1.22 doers of the worde and not hearers onelie so shall wee not deceiue our owneselues And that yee may knowe the as Christs Doctrine is to bee learned so his life is to bee imitated I beseach you call to minde that he persuaded his Disciples to bee a Mat 11 2â— meeke because hee was meeke and to b Ioh. 13.34 15.12 loue one an other because he had loued them saying c Mat. 11.29 learne of mee that I Am meeke and lowly in hearte and d Ioh. 13.14 15.12 loue ye one an other as I haue loued you If we compare age with age faulte with faulte we finde that ignorance and superstition were the blottes of the age past and that the blemishes of our age are carelesnesse as well in learning Gods will in his worde as in expressing the same in our life in some and dissimulation counterfeityng loue with men and zeale to God in others How farre these men are from the right imitation of Christ e Ioh. 2.17 which was eaten vp with the zeale of Gods house and f 1. Pet. 2.22 in whose mouth was found no guile God g Act. 1.24 which knoweth the secretes of the hearte doth knowe and their consciences wherein they are giftie doe beare them witnesse Hath God light vp the a Psal 119.105 candle of his worde in our age and doe wee contemne the benifite of the light Hath God deliuered vs in these daies many b Mat 25.15 talentes do wee deliuer him none backe with increase what then must we looke for Suerly c Mat 21.43 to haue his worde taken from vs and to bee giuen to a nation that will bring forth the fruites thereof and d 26.25 to be depriued of the talentes which shall bee deliuered to good and faithfull seruantes which will vse them with increase O then my brethren let vs striue to attaine that happinesse which Christ pronounceth to stande e Luc. 11.28 in hearing the worde of God and keeping it And hetherto how God may bee imitated by vs in his Sonne Christ Iesus our Lorde * 3. in his Saints Thirdelie God setteth forth him-selfe to bee imitated of vs f 1. Cor. 4 16 1. Thes 1.6 in his Sainctes And hereby our heauenly Father setteth forth vnto our vewe as in a glasse the power of the operation of his holie spirite in 2. Cor. 4.7 earthen vessels For when wee consider that the faithfull seruants of the Lord whose prayse is in the worde of God were (a) Iam. 5.17 subiect to the same infirmities that wee are and yet neuerthelesse shone in sundrie virtues thereby wee my learne that wee (b) Io. 15.5 which of our selues can do nothing yet abidyng in Christ by faith and Christ abidyng in vs by his Spirite may bring forth much fruite So the mistrust which might rise thorowe our owne weakenesse in ourselues is remoued by the consideration of the mightie operation of Gods Spirite in others For we must not thinke (c) Deut 10.17 2. Chro. 19.17 Iob. 34.19 Act. 10.34 Rom. 2.11 Gal. 2.6 Ephe. 6.9 Col. 3.21 1. Pet. 1.17 that God is an accepter of persons (d) Act. 10.35 The saints virtues to be imitated but that in euerie nation he that feareth him and woorketh righteousnes is accepted with him we must therfore diligentlie search forth the vertues of the seruaunts of God that we imitating their good workes may imitate God which setteth him selfe forth in them by vs to bee imitated So then we must learne righteousnesse of (e) Gen. 6.9 7.2 righteous Noe faith of (f) 15.6 rom 4.3 Gal. 3.6 Ia. 2.23 faithfull Abraham chastitie of (g) Gen. 39.8 chaste Ioseph meekenesse of (a) Num. 12 13. meeke Moses we must learne zeal of (b) 25.7 8. zealous Phines courrage of (c) 14.6.7.8.9 courrageous Iosua vncorruptenesse of (d) 1. Sam. 12.5 vncorrupte Samuell Wee must learne valiantenesse of (e) 17.45.46.47 valiante Dauid wisdome of (f) 1. King 3 12. wise Salomon patience of (g) Iob. 1.21 Iam. 5.11 patience Iob. I passe ouer many rare virtues which appeared in diuers of Gods seruantes mencioned both in the newe Testament and in the olde all which are examples vnto vs that wee followyng them may be founde (h) Ephes 5.1 followers of God as becommeth deare children Let vs therefore brethren diligently reade the word of God that there finding the godly life of the Saints described wee may vse it as a paterne of Christian imitation Neither let vs mistrust the merciful assistance of Gods holy spirit (i) Psal 145.18 which is neare vnto all that call vpon him truly in faith * The Sainctes must be followed with a caution in two pointes But because (k) Ia. 3.2 the Sainctes of God haue alwaies had their imperfections and blemishes Such is the fraylenesse of mans nature they are not so perfect paternes that wee may without exception imitate them Therefore Paule addeth this Caution a 1. Cor. 11.1 Euen as I am of Christ teachyng vs thereby that the Sainctes are so farre forth to bee followed as they followe Christ and no further neither in life nor in doctrine * 1 in life So then Noes b Gen. 9.21 drunkennesse the Patriarches c Gen. 4.19.16.3.29.23 polygamie Iosephs d 44 5. dissimulation is no warrante that wee may be dronke or at one time haue manie wiues or dissemble This caution obserued wee may not imitate Moses e Num. 20.11 mistrust of God nor Dauids f 2 Sam. 11.4.12.9 adulterie and murther nor Manasses g 2. Chro. 33.2 idolatrye So farre must wee bee from imitatyng the faults of the Seruants of God that wee maye not with h Mat. 26.70 Mar. 14.68 Lu. 22.57 Io. 18 17 27 Peter denie Christ nor with i 20 25 Thomas doubte of his resurrection nor with k Act 15 39 Paule and Barnabas fall out among our-selues And yet these with many like bee examples of the Fathers not of the reprobate but of the elect not to bee imitated l Gal 5 22 as the fruites of the Spirite but to be auoyded m 19 as the woorkes of the fleshe * 2. in Doctrine And as this limitation So as the godlie followe Christ is to bee obserued in maners so is it in doctrine But the Doctrine which Christ taught was such as hee confirmed by the written worde of God whereby a Mat 4 4 7.10 Lu 4 4 8 8 2 1 hee confounded Satan b 18 21 confirmed
incense and burnt Sacrifices the Apostle sheweth that b Esa 53 10 the deuise of the Lorde prospered in the hand of Christ That is to say that c Gen 3 15 Christ the seed of the woman hath troaden downe the head of the Serpent That d Heb 10 14 christ our high priest with this his one offering hath consecrated vs for euer vnto God whiche are sanctified That Gal 3.13 Christ hath redeemed vs from the curse of the lawe f Deu 21 23 being him selfe made a curse for vs That g Heb 10 16 the Lord in the bloud of his son hath made with vs his elect his new couenaunt that he will put his lawes in our heartes and write them in our mindes 17 And that hee will remember no more our sinnes and iniquities And this is the mightie effect of the gracious reconciliation mercifully vndertaken wonderfully accomplished by Christ our Lord. I shewed before that the oblations and Sacrifices of the old lawe were all figures of the Sacrifice of Christ and their Priest-hood a sine of his priest-hood Then must it proportionably follow The acceptatiō of christs sacrifice figured in the approbation of the oblations sacrifices of the Fathers that the acceptation of their sacrifices before god was also a figure of the allowance of the sacrifice of Christ a Gen 4.4 So had the Lorde in ancient time respect vnto Habell and vnto his oblation b Heb. 11 4 insomuch that god himself testified of his giftes c Gen. 8.21 So did the Lord smell a sweete fauour from the vvhole burnt offering of Noah after the floud offered vpon the alter d Leu. 9.24 2. Chro. 7 1. So did the Lorde eftsoones send down fire from heauen which consumed the burnt offeringes and the sacrifices whiche in his lawe he had appointed to be offered to him What shall wee thinke Doth the Lord delight in bulles flesh and in the bloud of goates e Psal 5 8 9.10.11 12.13 No But the Lord our god by accepting these sacrifices prefigureth the allowance before hys maiesty of the sacrifice of Iesus christ whereof these were shadowes and figures as before I sayde Thus was a Heb. i9 28 Christ once offred to take away the sins of many 24 is entred into the very heauens to appeare novv in the sight of god for vs * 26. vvho by the sacrifice of himselfe hath put avvaye sinne b Psal 110.4 Heb. 5.6 remaining a priest for euer after the order of Melchisedech and is set dovvn at the right hand of god the Father in povver and glorie c Psal 110.1 Mat. 22.44 vntill his enemies be made hys foot-stoole And this much concerning the last point of our redemption The conclusion exhortatory Seeing threfore brethren that I may conclude the whole with the wordes of holy scripture that by the bloud of Iesus vve may be bold to enter into the holy place Heb. 10.19 By the nevv and liuing vvay 20. vvhich he hath prepared for vs through the vayle that is his fleshe And seeing vve haue an high Priest vvhich is ouer the house of god 21 let vs dravv neere vvith a true heart 22 in assurance of fayth our hearts being pure from an euill conscience 23. And vvashed in our bodies vvith pure vvater let vs keep the profession of our hope vvithout vvauering for he is faythfull that promised And let vs consider one an other 24. to prouoke vnto loue and to good vvorkes .. Not forsaking the fellovvship 25 that vve haue among our selues as the manner of some is but let vs exhort one an other so much the more because ye see that the day draweth neer So shal we be followers of god as deere children and walk in loue euen as Christ hath loued vs * Eph. 5.1.2 and giuen him self for vs to be an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet smelling sauour to god which the Father of heauen and the god of all mercy worke in our hearts for Iesus christes sake by the operation of his holy spirit vnto whom father son and holy ghost three persons and one true omnipotent gracious glorious and eternal god be al honour and glory prayse power and dominion for euer Amen ¶ FINIS
A SERMON Preached the 26. day of May. 1584. in S. Maries Church in Shrewesbury Before the right honorable the Earle of Leicester accompanied with the Earle of Essex the Lorde North diuers Knightes Gentle-men of worshypfull callyng the worshipfull Bayliues Aldermen and Burgesses of the towne of Salop. By Iohn Tomkys publick preacher of Gods word there Now first published by the authour Iam. 3.2 In many thynges we offend all Seen perused and allowed accordyng to her Maiesties Iniunctions AT LONDON Printed by Robert Walde-graue for William Ponsonby Anno. 1586. ¶ To the right honourable the Lord ROBERT DVDLEY Earle of Leycester c. one of her highnes most honourable priuy Counsayle and Chancellor of the Vniuersitie of Oxford grace mercy and peace in Christ Iesus be multiplied I Haue bene requested right honourable by one whose motion in honest causes is vnto me as a commandement to bestowe vpon him that simple Sermon which by Gods assistaunce I made before your Lordsâ—ip in S. Maryes Church 〈◊〉 â—â—ewesbury the 26. of May â—584 Although my maner haue bene hetherto for the most part rather to delyuer vnto the Church through my laborious translations the learning of other then in this learned age to offer to publique viewe myne own poore trauels yet because the aucthority of the requester then one of my hearers was so great and his wisedom so graue that it stoode with dutifull modestie rather to yeeld than to deny I foorthwith called my selfe to remembraunce what I had vttered as God vouchsafed to inhable me and committed the same to writing as leisure did serue me My trauayle again by me perused seemed in mine eies so seelie that casting it aside as an vntimely bearthe hitherto I haue detracted the performaunce of my promise But nowe considering that a promise aduisedly made may not rashly be broken I find myselfe in duety forced to do that which in Christianitie I was then required And acknowledging it my duetie to vse my tongue and my penne rather to the benefit of my country then the winning of credite I haue boldly resolued so to keep promise that the good of my sermon by the benefite of the print may become common to al the godly Although the matter therein contained be warraÌ„ted by Gods word and the doctrine therin taught be necessarie for the tyme yet because the maner of the deliuerie there-of is homely and base it is altogether vnworthy in your L. name to be published who worthely are become a patron of the workes of the best learned Neuerthelesse since your Lordship in this my labour hath the best interest because except you had vouchsafed that time to haue heard me I had not that daye spoken being no ordinary day of my weekly exercise and that it pleased you of your singular humanitie to prooue my dutifull indeuour I make bolde in humblenesse to offer that nowe to your eyes which in dutifulnesse I sounded then in your eares If I were able to deliuer vnto you a more worthy monument of my duetifull thankfulnesse for the manifold benefites by me vndeserued which vpon me you haue largely bestowed verely I would be inferiour to none of your debters in will which haue them all my superiours in habilitie And therefore I hope your H. wil accept that which I can seeing I cannot that which I would Our memory cannot commit to obliuion how curteously you accepted that meane and yet wel meant intertainmenr which the towne of Shrewsburie in dutie gaue vnto you L. And the posteritie no doubt shall heare of your thankefull accepting of many wel-comes your cheerful hearing of many orations your circumspect view of the situation and buildings of the towne your graue conference with the Magistrates in the gouernment there of your comfortable going into the free Grammer schoole to experience the towardlinesse of the youth there your Christian presence in the Church at the Sermon your painefull trauell in arbitrating controuersies your large giftes vnto maister Bayliffes officers your liberall rewardes vnto the scholemaisters your charitable almes vnto the poore all the whiche vertues did then shine in you as in a moste cleare mirrour of true nobilitie Neither did you forget in that your progresse that you with the rest of Gods children in earth are strangers and passengers in this world (a) Gen 47.9 as our fathers were (b) Heb. 13.14 which haue not here a continuing citie but seeke one to come Therefore as a prouident peregrine you carefully tooke your spirituall repast in euery of your mansions in feeding vpon the worde of God preached before you for the better refreshing of the soule In this your christian pertaking of the heauenly foode it pleased GOD of his gracious prouidence aboue myne expectation to vouchsafe that I did twise serue at his spiritual table once in the countie of Stafford where I was borne and once in Shrewsburie where I haue my charge The dishes whiche I offered to the gestes were not dainty I do coÌ„fesse yet because they were wholesome and sauorie being well seasoned with the salte of Gods word I make bold vnder your honourable protection to offer the one of them to the taste of the godly that by this meanes the feast may be still continued I doubt not but they will take it in good part which haue learned that God (a) 1. King 19.6 which fed ELIAS with bread and water (a) Ioh. 6.11 and refreshed hys people with barly loues and small fishes will that wee craue at hys handes not dayntie (b) Mat. 6.13 Luc. 11.3 but dayly bread contenting our selues with homely yet wholesome foode From others if there be any as I doubt there be manie whose taste is so curious that they will not or stomacke so lothing that they cannot find any sweetnesse in the word of God (c) Deut. 8.3 Mat. 4.4 Luc. 4.4 whiche is the foode of the soule I expect no suche thing but referring them to the Lord I humbly desire him of his mercy if it be his will so to purifie their heartes by the operation of his spirite (d) Psal 34.9 that they may taste and see how good the Lordis (e) Luc. 14.15 So shall wee be blessed eating our bread in the kingdome of God God long preserue your honour and so guide you with his holy spirite that you may more and more set foorth his glory benefite hys Churche and profit your Country Salop the 24. of October 1585. Your honours moste duetifull bound in the Lord. IOHN TOMKYS A Sermon preached in Shrewesburie before the Earle of Leicester by Iohn Tomkys the 26. of May 1584. Ephesians 5.1.2 (a) Eph. 5.1.2 Be ye therefore followers of GOD as deare children And walke in loue euen as Christ hath loued vs to be an offering and a sacrifice of a sweete smelling sauour to God * The care of God for his people OVr heauenly father is so carefull for our spirituall sustenaunce right honorable worshypfull and
dearely beloued in the Lord that hee giueth vs not onely his blessed worde to become (a) Deu. 8.3 Mat. 4.4 Luc. 4.4 the foode of the soule but also (b) Mat. 22. faythfull Ministers to breake vnto vs the same Hee sent vnto his auncient people descended from Abraham the Patriarche according to the fleshe his holy Prophetes (a) Esa 1.1 Ier. 1.1 Ezech. 1.1 Ose 1.1 Amos. 1.1 Abdi 1.1 Hab. 1.1 Ag. 1.1 Zach. 1.1 Mal. 1.1 * The suÌ„me of the Prophetes doctrine Ier. 7.21.22 to expounde the lawe to them (b) Esa 5.11 to denounce his curses to the obstinate (c) Psal 1.1 to publishe his blessinges to the penitent and (d) Ier. 31.31 to foreshewe the newe couenaunt betweene God and Man in Christe the Messias then to come (e) Esa 8.1 Hab. 2.2 And the same Prophets by the instinct of Gods holy spirite committed to writing for the instruction of the posteritie the summe of the deuine Sermons which they preached to the people Hee hath sent vnto his newe people (f) Io. 11.16 Rom. 3.29 gathered to geather of the beleeuing Iewes and beleeuing Gentiles thorowe faith in Christ his Son his blessed Apostles * The suÌ„me of the Apostles doctrine (g) Mat. 28.19.20 Mar. 16.15 Act. 2.38 to preach repentaunce for the remission of sinnes (h) Rom. 6.1 c. to teache newnes of life to the glory of God (i) Heb. 4.12 and to testifie the performance of the new couenant between God and Man in Christ the Messias in their time exhibited And least the Church of God (k) Num. 12.17 1. Cor. 4.1 which is his houshoulde should want the least crumbe of his heauenly foode the same holie spirite hath mooued the Apostles and Disciples of Christ (a) Io. 20.31 Reuel 1.19 to recorde in writing the historie doctrine and prophesies of the newe couenaunt Soe bountiful a Father is our God which giueth vs plentie of heauenly foode so prouident a Lord is he whiche sendeth vs from age to age faithfull disposers thereof * The suÌ„me of Gods word The summe of the whole word of God so gratiously giuen so faithfully taught and so necessarilie written is contained in two pointes true fayth and godly life * The methode of the Epistle to the Ephesians The Apostle Paule hath exactlie obserued this methode in this his heauenly Epistle written to the Christians of Ephesus For in the first three chapters hee prooueth that we are (b) Rom. 3.20 28. iustified not by our workes (c) Lu. 17.5 but by faith which is the (d) Ephe. 2.8 Gift of God And in the three last chapters he sheweth that works be necessary because they are the (e) Gal. 5.22 fruites of faith (f) Iam. 2.18 whereby our profession is adorned (g) Mat. 5.16 and God glorified O that this lesson were as well practised as it may easely be learned then should we be (a) Ia. 1.22 not onely hearers of the worde but doers of the same The Apostle hauyng taught this doctrine to the Ephesians and that most plentifully for the space of (b) Act. 20.31 three yeares and being therefore become (c) Ephes 3.1 a prisoner in Rome committeth to writing the summe of his doctrine for the confirmation of the faith of the Ephesians the instruction of the ages to come Herein he imitateth the auncient Prophetes whose maner was briefly (d) Esa 8.1 Abac. 2.2 to put in writing that whiche largely they taught Such loue bare Paul to the flocke of Christ so perfect a paterne is hee of a godly pastor Now for somuch as it is so necessarie to learne to beleue aright (e) Act. 13.39 Rom 3.28 that thereby we may be iustified and to liue a right (f) Mat. 5.16 that thereby God may be glorified I esteemed this text very fitte for this auditorie because therein the Apostle briefly coÌ„prehendeth both those pointes although in an altered order * The distribution of the text first speaking of life and then of fayth If the profession of Christians were nothing els but an idle speculation then were it somewhat to be able to talke 〈◊〉 Religion although wee liued not religiously But Christ the authour of truth and the wisedome of his heauenly father hath taught vs that (a) Mat. 7.21.22.23 â—â—ayn we call him our Lord except 〈…〉 wil of his father reuealed vnto 〈◊〉 his word Iames as a faithfull doâ—â—r in the schole of Christ exhorteth vs to (b) Iam. 1.22 be doers of the word not hearers onely deceiuyng our selues what greater care theÌ„ ought Christians to haue than by their godly liues to make their holy conuersation to shine in the world to the glorye of God the edifying of his Churche to the testimonie in their owne consciences that they be his children * The vse of Gods lawe And lest wee should wander out of the way of righteousnes by framing vnto our selues a fayth according to our foolishe fantasies or a life agreable to our curious imaginatioÌ„s God hath giuen vs his lawe (c) Psal 1.2 to meditate therein both day and night Yea and that we may bee effectually stirred vp to serue our heauenly Father without feare a Luc. 1.74.75 in holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the dayes of our life hee dealeth with vs in his word diuersly For sometimes hee b Deu. 11.27 promiseth his blessinges to vs if we obey his statutes Sometimes he c 28. threatneth his curses if we transgresse his ordinaunces sometimes he d Esa 1.2 prouoketh vs with the remembraunce of his benefites bestowed vpoÌ„ vs Sometimes he e Pro. 3.11 Heb. 12.5 c. Imitation chasteneth vs with his fatherly correction for our ameÌ„dement Vnto these and many other meanes of our instruction set forth vnto vs in Gods word S. Paule in this place addeth the very example of God himselfe to be imitated by vs exhorting vs to be f Eph. 5.1 followers of God as deare children Herein appeareth the godly discretioÌ„ of the Apostle who wel considering that we are as childreÌ„ not able to practise the preceptes of obedience except we haue a paterne to imitate layd before vs nurtereth vs by this meanes in the way of righteousnesse * Now that we erre not in this imitatioÌ„ taught by the Apostle * Foure things are to be obserued in this imitation we must carefully obserue foure thinges The first Who is to be imitated The second Why he that is to be followed is to be imitated The third Wherein he is to be imitated The fourth Of what maner that thyng is wherein hee is to be imitated * 1. God is to be imitated Paule meaning to teache vs by imitation to leade a Christian life proposeth God himselfe to be imitated by vs Saying a Ephes 5.1 Be ye imitators of God Herein we haue a mirror of Gods mercy towardes vs which
his callyng c Io 10 34 confuted his aduersaries d Luc 24 27 instructed his Disciples And if wee diligently reade his Sermones and Epistles of the Apostles recorded in the booke of the Newe Testament we shall finde that what they taught e Rom 4 6 they confirmed by the holie Scriptures For they knewe f Io 5 39 that in the Scriptures is eternall life and that they are they which testifie of Christ They knewe g 2 Tim 3 15 that the holie Scriptures are able to make men wise vnto saluation through the faith which is in Christ Iesus They knewe that h 16 the whole Scripture is giuen by inspiration of God and is profitable to teach to conuince to correct and to instruct in righteousnesse i 17 That the man of God may bee absolute being made perfect vnto all good workes They knewe k 2 Pet 1 20 that no prophecie of the Scripture is of anie priuate interpretation (a) 21. and that the prophecie came not in olde time by the will of man but that holie men of god spake as they were mooued by the holy ghost And if this rule No further to followe Men then they followe Christ had bine precisely followed from the time of the Apostles vntill our age Poperie had neuer bene so vniuersally receiued in Christendome as to the losse of many soules it hath For what is Popery Poperie discribed but an hypocriticall Religion brought in by the doctryne of Men with-out the warrant of the worde of god And this much concernyng the imitation of god in his Sainctes * 2. God is to bee imitated of vs because wee are his deare children Now it followeth to shew the cause which is the second principal point why God wil that we immitate him Paule yeeldeth the cause heereof adding (b) Eph. 5.1 As deare childreÌ„ And in these wordes the Apostle vseth a most vehement persuasion whether wee way them by naturall reason or in them call to minde the great benefite which god hath bestowed vpoÌ„ vs. For it staÌ„deth with naturall reason that the naturall childe imitate the naturall father in expressing not his vices but his vertues that he may be as well the mirror of his good maners as the glasse of his coÌ„tenauÌ„ce Ought we not then which are a Ioh. 1.12 the spirituall children of god b Heb. 12.9 the Father of spirites to folow him in all things wherein he hath set forth himselfe as a paterne to bee folowed that in our manners we may resemble him by bringing forth the fruites of the spirite whereof anone we will speake And least we should thinke that hee requireth impossible thinges at our hands Behold his fatherly dealing with vs hee requireth no workes of vs but such as himself his sonne and his saints haue done before vs for our example Now if the remeÌ„braunce of benefites receiued may stirre vs vp to duetifulnesse Paule would haue vs to knowe that since god hath vouchsafed to make c Ioh. 1.12 vs by grace his beloued children whiche d Ephe. 2.3 by nature were the children of wrath our duetie is with all readynesse to imitate him our louyng Father a 5.1 as becommeth deare children * Two thinges insinuated in the Greeke wordes But for so much as the Apostle by vsing chosen woordes in the greeke tongue wherein hee wrote this Epistle b Ephe. 5.1 Os tecna agapeta hath insinuated both the meane whereby we become the children of god and the fruite thereof I will briefly speake of those two pointes and so conclud this part * 1. The mean wherby we are made Gods children is a spirituall birth The meane whereby we become gods children is c Ioh. 1.13 a byrth not of bloud nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of god This birth Christ calleth d 3.3 5. a new birth which is wrought by gods holy spirite e Heb. 9.14 which clenseth our consciences from dead workes f Mat. 3.11 and inflameth our hartes with the loue of the truth And that we may know that this byrth is altogether spirituall Iames telleth vs that g Iam. 1.18 god of his own will begate vs with the word of truth And Peter teacheth vs that h 1. Pet. 1.23 we are borne a new not of mortall seede but of immortall by the worde of god who liueth and indureth for euer So theÌ„ since euery thing in this birth is most excellent a. Iam. 1.18 the father God b 1. Pet. 1.23 the seede his word c Ioh. 3.5 8. the worker his spirite d 1.12 the fruite his children the due remembrauÌ„ce of this gracious meanes wherby we receiue this priuilege to bee e 1.12 the sonnes of god ought to moue vs effectually to bee f Ephe. 5.1 folowers of god our Father as beseemeth deare children * 2 The fruit of this spirituall birth is our fauoure with God The fruite and commoditie which insueth vnto vs by the meanes of this spirituall birth is exceeding great For thereby we become g Ephe. 5.1 Agapetoi that is amiable diligible acceptable and pleasaunt in the sight of our god in whom hee taketh full delight as a father in his childreÌ„ And this is more then Agapoumenoi beloued For amoÌ„g men some time children are beloued of their parentes affectionately when their coÌ„dicioÌ„s deserue no loue at all h Gen. 27.6 as was Esau of Isaac But by meanes of this new birth there is cause why god loueth them whom he hath so regenerate For thereby we become the members of that holy body whereof a Ephe. 4.15 Iesus Christ is the head And theâ— caÌ„ it not otherwise be but as b Luk. 1.35 Chrisâ— the head is holy of it self so must truâ— Christians the members of that head c Rom. 6.5 1. Cor. 6.11 participate by grace the holynesse oâ— their head wherby they become acceâ—ptable amiable vnto God This moued Paul the Apostle to teach vs that d 1. Cor. 1.30 we are of god in Christ Iesus Who of god is made vnto vs wisedome and righteousnes and sanctificatioÌ„ and redeÌ„ption And as the whole body of AaroÌ„ became fragraÌ„t by the meanes of the precious e Exo. 30.30 ointement f Psal 133.2 which distilled from his head to the hemme of his garmentes as his whole body was glorious through his g Exod. 28.2 beautifull attire so is the whole body of Christ h 1. Cor. 6 15 whereof we be members sweete in the presence of god through the sanctification of his spirite glorious before him through the righteousnesse of his sonne For through Christ we as i 1. Pet. 2.5 liuely stones be made a spirituall house an holy Priesthode to offer vp spirituall sacrifices acceptable to god by Iesus Christ k 9 yea we are a chosen generation a
Sonnes This was a fit mediatour an apt reconcyler a conuenient daies-man betweene god and Man Christ being God hable to saue vs. For beeing a Mat. 1.23 god euen the b psal 2.7 Ioan. 3.16 Sonne of god hee durst presente him selfe before god his Father to intreat for Man c Phil. 2.6 as one vvhich thought it no robberie to bee equall vvith god * Christ beyng Man willyng to saue vs. And beeing d Matt. 1.18 Luc. 2.7 Man euen the Son of Marie the virgin was willing to reconcile Man vnto god e Heb. 4.15 as one which was touched with the feeling of our infirmities And so in the person of the atonement-maker was fulfilled the deuine prophecy of Esay saying f Esa 7.14 Mat. 1.23 Beholde a virgin shall bee with childe shall Beare a Son and they shall call his name Emanuell which is by interpretation god with vs. And this is hee which is the Sacrificer g Psal 2 7 Heb. 5.5 god with god and h Phil 2.7 Man with Man i Ion. 6.51 one Christ k Psal 2 7 the Sonne of god l Mat. 3 17. Mar. 1 11. the second person in the blessed Trinitie Nowe this much being spoken of the person and substaunce of the Sacrificer let vs nowe more neerely way who and how great hee is by the consideration of his Function and office * The Sacrificer by his function or Office is Christ so called for that he is 1 our Prophete 2 our Christ 3. our King None was found fit as yee haue heard to bee the Sacrificer to God for Man but the onely Sone of God who in respect of his function or office is called the Meshiah Christ the Annoynted This name the word of God attributeth a 1. Kin. 19.16 to Prophets b Leu 16 32 Num 3 3 Priests and c Iud. 9.8 1 Sam. 9 16 01 1 Kinges as well because they were annointed with materiall oyle in token of spirituall graces wherewith god had indued them for the executing of their offices as also for that they were figures of Christ then to come But this name agreeth properly to our redeemer whome god annointed not with materiall oyle but d Psal 45 8 89 21 with the oile of gladnesse aboue his fellows that is with the full measure of his spiritual graces that he being our great Prophet our high Priest and our mightie King might bee a fit Sacrificer to reconcile vs vnto god * 1 Christ our Prophet Necessarie it was that the Sacrificer should bee the Prophet of gods people that e Esa 1 16 1 Luc 4.18 the Spirite of the Lorde being vppon him hee might therefore annoynt him that hee should preache the Gospell to the poore hee might send him that he shold heal the broken harted that he shold Preach deliuerance to the Captiues and recouering of sight to the blinde that he should set at libertie them that are brused 19. And that hee shoulde preach the acceptable yeare of the Lord that hee knowing the will of his Father in our recōciliation a Heb 10 9 should do the same * 2 Christ our Priest Necessary it was that the Sacrificer should bee the Priest of gods people that since b Psal 40.7 Heb 10 6 god had no pleasure in burnt offrings 10 sin offrings he might offer his body in sacrifice to god the fathe◠so do his vvill 9 by the which we are sātified 10 4. And for that it was impossible that the blood of bulles and goates should take away sinnes c 1 Pet. 1 18 he might redeem vs with his precious blood 19 being a lambe vndefiled and vvithout spotte And finally d Heb 10 12 that after he had offered one sacrifice for sinnes he might sit for euer at the right hand of God 13 and from thence-foorth tarrie till his enimies should be made hys foot-stoole * 3 Christ our King Necessarie it was that the sacrificer should be the king of gods people e Io 16 33 to ouer-come the world f Luc 22 42 to subdue the flesh a Mat 4 1 c. Mar 1 12 c Luc 4 1 c to conquer Satan b Io 8 46 to vanquish sinne c Rom 5 2 to pacifie gods wrath d Ose 13 14 1 Co. 15 54 to plucke out the sting of deeth 55 to spoyle hell of her victorie e Psa 68 19 Eph 4 8 to leade captiuitie captiue to giue giftes vnto men f Psa 110 1 mat 22 44 and to triumph ouer all hys enimies g Io 10 4. yea to direct vs his people with his vvord h 10 22 to guide vs by his spirite i Psal 2 9 to defend vs by his povver k Luc 1 32 vnto vvhome god gaue the throne of his Father Dauid 33 that hee might raigne ouer the house of Iacob for euer that of his kingdome shoulde be none ende And thus ye haue heard my beloued the ordinance of God that whom the sacrificer should reconcile vnto God them should he instruct as their Prophet sanctifie as their Priest and guide as their King Iudge ye then whether the Papistes be not of the number of those false teachers whome Peter prophecied should come l 2 Pet. 2.1 vvhiche should denie the Lord that bought them which vndoubtedly they doe when by bringing in the traditions of men they denie the fulnesse of Christes prophecie by setting vp their sacrifice of the Masse they deny the fulnesse of Christes Priest-hood by mayntayning that the Bishop of Rome is Christes vicar generall vpon earth they deny the fulnesse of Christes kingdome But let them take heede and repent in time otherwise according to Peters commination a 2. Pet 2 1. they vvill hring vppon themselues svvift damnation And this much concerning the sacrificer * 2 Christ sacrificed voluntarily wilyngly of his owne ac Nowe commeth to bee considered the second circumstance of our redemption hovv and vvith vvhat mind this sacrificer sacrificed And that is hee sacrificed voluntarily vvillingly and of his ovvn accorde That this perswasion might bee setled in oure heartes Paule sayth not as truely hee might Christ redeemed vs or reconciled vs to God but when he hadde said b Eph 5 2 Christ loued vs to shew the wonderfull excellencie and incomprehensible measure of his loue towardes vs hee addeth c Eph 5.2 And gaue himselfe for vs. So was the prophecie of Dauid concerning Christes voluntary death fulfilled reported by the author of the Epistle to the Hebrues in this maner a Ps 4 7.8.9 Heb 10 15 Wherefore when Christ commeth into the world he sayth Sacrifice and offering thou wouldst not but a body hast thou ordayned me In burnt offringes 6 and sinne offrings thou hast had no pleasure 7 Then I sayd Loe I come in the beginning of