wicked plowe deepe furrowes vpon her back who notwithstanding as Hillarie saith doeth vincere cum leditur emergere cum premitur Psa 129.3 De Trinit lib. 7. exaltari cum humiliatur Shall not Gods souldiers march on maugre the malice of men proceed with S. Paul by honor dishonor 2. Co. 6.8 by euill report and good report c. sith the dearest Iewels be farthest fetcht the purest mettals haue deepest mynes difficilia quae pulchra For as custome though otherwise ofteÌ„ the broker of falshod hath fitly drawen the Poets verse into a prouerb of proofe Commoditus omnis sua fert incoÌ„moda secum Euen so aduisedly truely said Diodorus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Diodorus And verilie aged is that sawe seasoned with long experience Quaenocent docent For schola crucis schola lucis S. Augustine writing of the constancie of Martirs in the grieuous persecutions of the church De Ciuit. dei li. 22. ca. 6. Ligabantur includebantur caedebantur saith he yea trucidabantur torquebantur lauiebantur But quenching all this crueltie in a word Multiplicabantur quoth he noÌ„ pugnantes pro salute fed salutem contemnentes pro seruatore The cause standing thus perdie the pilgrime that will walke to heauenward must put on the minde to ouerstride manie a stumbling blocke in the way and vndertaking his course nec temere nec timide must heedefullie passe the straightes per saxa per ignes euen through purgatorie it self curragiouslie mainteyning the race from the houre of his first breath vntill the last periode of his mortall life Where as one saieth Lachrimae prius nobis deerunt quam causa dolendi â—encea De â—it bre And no maruaile at all for he that wil be crowned must not grudg to be crossed sith no conflict no conquest no conquest no victorie nay the fiercer th' encounter the more glorious the triumph to him that holdeth out to the end Otherwise to begin with courage and to faile in the course is to loose the Bravium th'apostle proposeth to the runners And to fight for a while faint in the liftes is to gaine the opprobrium wherewith the Romanes vpbroyd the Carthagiman Captaine â— Cor. 9.24 vincerescis Hanniball vti victoria nescis As for me I assure your good L. I neuer abounded with that humour nor euer yet lahoured of their disease whore fingers tickle Prurigine scribendi For albeit manie a time before this day I haue beene beset with request of sundrie both in profession and vocation of the best yet could I neuer be induced to dinul gate my studies in writing for causes needles here to repeate though otherwise Gods Church be my witnes I neuer was nice to hide or withhold the dimitalent committed to my trust when or wheresoeuer it might doe good Howbeit after I had vpon speciall request preached this sermon and was eftsones laboured with assiduall entreatie in zeale of Gods glorie I dare saie to gather and penne the same that vnworthie tho it might become imprinted and imparted with mani Importunitie at last ouercame me to condiscend and extorted my promise to set it downe which as memorie would serue I haue precisely here performed as the learned of my coate with the other godly auditors of that presence where it was deliuered I thinke will auerre But yet with condition endorsed that your L. graue censure first confirming it to the prefle or commaunding it to sylence I would accordingly answere expectation with yea or naye Lo reuerend father how bluntly this my Rudis indigestaque moles presseth now vpon your charitable patience whose grauitie trial assureth mee is nothing delighted with the emptie soundes of hollowe eloquence but better contented with the frutefull forme of the wholesome documents Wherein how soeuer my iarrie stile go lymping lame and vnpleasant the matter I hope is both profitable and currant And that sufficeth me if the Lord shall sanctifie my sillie labour to some vse or other though to serue in the vtmost courtes of the temple For the poore widdowes mite where God is made vmpire shall alwayes ouer-ballance the superfluities of that sort who stande vpon their painted shea the to drawe a leaden dagger out of an Iverie scabberd Mar. 12.44 Luk. 21.2 And good father Latimers Newe yeares gyft to King Henrie the eight who when other Bishops sent rare and riche Iewels of golde and plate presented a faire newe Testament with a Hand-karcher wrought about the borders with this inscription and poesie Fornicatores adulteros iudicabit Deus â—eb 13.4 was for waight worth more valued in Gods accompt than those other rufling treasures that abounded in the Court. To conclude if in this my discourse hetherto subiect to the eare alone not the soundest witnesse among the sences but nowe to be stript to the eye it selfe the subtilest searcher of all the rest I haue erred in matter humanum est errare my L. but my amisse once discouered by the kenne of the learned Peccaui shall be my plea for hereticum esse nolo If otherwise by friuolous digression I haue vndiscreetly ranged without the ring of my compasse belike the man lost his waie ere he wist for that course was farre from my purpose and neuer in my custome as the best acquainted with my fashion can best tell But if anie thing here in be well or in any measure commen dable let the praise he the Lords the paine the authors and the profit the Readers that God which is all in all may haue all the glorie It only remaineth then that your good L. according to your wonted curresie woulde accept this at my hande as an infallible pledge of my obsequious minde and eftsones vouchsafe my feeble pilgrime to take vp his crutch and to wander as a stranger in the worlde vnder the couerture of your fauourable protection that so he may finde some harbor against the sturdie blastes and scornefull spite of malice malignitie The God of mercie and all consolation blesse your L. in your godlie cares for the Church and enlarge his graces vpon your heart chearing vp your aged daies with the gladsome presence of his blessed spirit to the aduauncement of his glorie and the auaile of his Zion Your L. much bounden in the Lorde to commaund Rob. Humston A Godlie Sermon preached at Reyfham Habakkuk Cap. 3. vers 3. God commeth from Teman and the holie one from mount Paran Selah His glorie couereth the Heauens and the earth is full of his praise THe Lord vouchsafing a long and most louing visitation to the people of Iuda and Ierusalem men and brethron in the Lord beloued and therein a franke gratious tender of mercie and sauing health by the mynisterie of the Prophets Such notwithstanding was their ingratitude and stubbornes that no Caueat coulde warne nor admonition pearse them no lenitie could bende nor seueritie breake them But wretchedly they would enter into opposicion against their
vpon their seuerall charge 2. Ti. 4.2 the flocke purchased with the bloud of the Lambe as men mindfull to auoide the Apostles Vae and vengeance Ioh. 1.29 Wo be to me if I preach not the Ghospell 1. Co. 9.16 But withall to bethinke them how it is further required in the Stewards that they be found faithfull full of affections pastoral care and zeale 1. Co. 4.2 especially towardes that people and stocke committed to their charge Ezech. 33 6â— whose bloud shall be required at their hands So Moses preferred the safetie of his people before his owne welfare Exo. 32.32 when in heate of spirite he cryed vnto the Lorde Forgiue them or raze me out of the booke of life Ier. 9.1 So Ieremie wished for water to his heart and a fountaine of teares to his eyes that day and night he might wéepe for the slaine of the daughters of Iuda Ro. 9.3 So Paul desired Anatheman esse and to be separated from God if thereby he might reconcile the Hebrewes his kinsmen after the flesh And verily this is the graund charge fuller of affection than repiticion which the prince of Pastors vrged with vehemencie vpon Peter Ioh. 21.15 Féede féede féede Giuing first a dreadfull checke vnto such as sit at ease in Sion Amos. 6.1 sleepe in the lappe of the Church and praye vppon the spoyle of soules and couertly implying a needefull Caueat to all preachers of the worde before their diuinitie exercises diligently and with due reuerence to put in practise all the helpes of reading studie meditation and conference makinge prayer their keye to open the doore of the morning from prayer to studie from studie to the Pulpit from the Pulpit to prayer and thus by a due reuolution againe to the studie lest while by ouerspeaking wee presume and pretende to auoide the first wee fall vnwares into to a seconde woe denounced against all such as dare take in hande the Lordes worke negligently and yet when wee haue done what wee can Ier. 48.10 except God giue winde to our sayles wee shall neuer runne the poynt aright but may saye with Peter Wee haue laboured all night and taken iust nothing Luk. 5.5 The Lorde make vs more carefull in our calling and double his spirite vpon his seruauntes by whose mynisterie the people are to bee reduced to the obedience of Faith and increase the number of true labourers for the haruest is great Mat. 9.37 Againe in the course of the Prophet Maiestrates may also learne to whet their affectious to become more zealous and truely religious carefull to benefite the Church and to further the course of the Gospell They may not in imitation of king Hamon deface the mynisterie 2 Sam. 10. nor curtall the liuings of the Clergie the messengers not of Dauid but of Dauids Lorde They may not stretch the arme with Ieroboam against the Prophet I. Re. 13.4 nor yet become like Iulyan the Apostata as Caterpillers cleauing to the fruites of the Church but putting on the bowels of affection and loue they must change their cheare with her happie or hard estate to sorrow when shee mourneth and to sing when shee reioyceth Nehem. 2.3 as careful Nouree-fathers and tender Nourses consecrated by the Lorde himselfe to feede his people in Iacob Ro. 12.15 and his inheritance in Israel Esai 49.23 So good King coulde neuer take rest till hee had founde an habitation for the God of Iacob Psa 78.71 and hauing first prepared a place for the Arke Psa 132 4 most ioyfully in sweete consort of Musicke daunceth before the same 2. Sa. 6.16 23. Which the nice and sornful Quéene Michol disdayning is plagued perpetua sterilitate to her graue So Iosiah raigned religiously Iehosaphat carefully Ezechias zealously S. Ambrose graceth Theodosius the Emperour with rare commendations in this especially that vpon his death-bed and to his last breath his chiefe care was spent for the peace and good estate of the Church Among the worthie vertues of King Edgar registred to his renowme his godly care and good affection towarde the Church is especially obserued in the storie of his deedes who hauing resigned his life cast off his Crowne and princely arraye a learned man of that time lest his fame should perish clad his bodie with an honorable Epitath and fit for the herse of a King wherein I finde thus much for the present purpose Templa Deo Templis Monachos Monachis dedit agros Nequitie lapsum Iusticieque locum First he was a builder of Churches but so be verie fewe Secondly he was a carefull Patrone to implant good ministers call them Monkes if ye will in these Churches but so do not manie Thirdly he was a liberall geuer of landes and possessions to mainteine these ministers but so do not anie The Tombs of our time are faire adorned with verses flags ennobled with Armes and Crest but a man may seeke all the dayes of his life and search al the graues of the deade and yet faile to finde a like president of pietie Well let all people of what sort or sexe soeuer learne in these so honorable examples to hallowe their firste thoughtes and to dedicate their last care to the Church and for religions sake as esteeming setting a dearer price vpon heauenly than earthly eternall than temporall things So shall all grubbing Patrons of benefices with their sacrilegious brokers whatsoeuer learne at last except they be shameles and past grace to reforme their griedie affections wherin they haue swallowed a great parte of the Churches patrimonie and begin in time to yelde her at last her owne againe A thing in trueth rather to be wished than expected Sith not the vulgus alone but men of greatest authoritie by your leaue men of great sinceritie as they will seeme haue their hande in the spoils and are found guiltie of this trespas Wee onely strike the eare with a vanishing voyce it is the Lord that must touch the heart with an effectuall feeling 2. Cor. 3.6 else we may sit still hopeles in this behalfe For Cathedram habet in Coelo qui corda docet in terra The heart teacher sitteth on high Concerning the second obseruation to wite the Prophets confidence c. True it is Psa 34.19 manie and manifolde be the troubles of the righteous but the Lord deliuereth ouf of all Where euerie penitent sinner may learne by our Habacuk in publique or perticuler affliction to take heart of grace in confidence and boldnes For Constans contraria spernit and Faith is like the Palme the more it is pressed Heb. 10 2â— the more it sprâ—adeth and ariseth against all temptation To drawe neare in assurance of faith and to approche the mercie seat in the alone merite and mediation of Christ the Messias harted on in the chearefull promises of the Gospel and that without all doubt or wauering for
because the Edomites or Idumaeans Icr. 49.20 and namely the inhabitantes of Taeman did sollicite and surge the Babylonians to warre against the Iewes who therefore praye against them Remember the children of Edom O Lord Psa 137.9 in the daie of Ierusalem c. Or else as spoken by waye of allusion to the lande of Canaan which in respect of mount Sinay lay South For so Tremaellius translateth it and others from the Hebrewe phrase do seeme to insinuate And as touching Paran whether you take it as it is described for a wast and large Wildernes extended from Egypt vnto mount Sinay and so towarde Canaan eyther else properly for a promontorie and hill in this desert taking denomination of the same and adiacent vnto Sinay where the Lawe was giuen which by the text and the place of Moses cited before seemeth moste probable Or whether you will thus interprete it God Elohah commeth from Taeman with a reuenging hande hauing inkindled a fire in Teman which shall deuoure the Pallaces of Bosrha and God Sanctus commeth from mount Paran with a releeuing and holye hande to deliuer a holye Lawe and to a holye people Sancti estote quoniam sanctus sum For holinesse best becommeth his house and people for euer Howe so euer I saye you list to vnderstande it For I list not to bee curious in scanning of places or describing their scituations This I take to be the Prophets meaning namely to extoll the tender mercies of the Lord so mightily deliuering and so mercifully releeuing his people in their so long and tedious iourneys through the desart where hee fedd them from heauen watred them from the rockes bare them in his armes as a father doth his sonne carried them on Egles wings most swiftly and safely from all perill and daunger and that which more is and most excellent aboue al vouchsafing them in this place the Decalogue and Lawe of Commaundements to be their wisedome direction and sanctification euen all the dayes of their life And here of purpose I will passe by the matter and manner of Gods mercies in the deliuerance of this people For why should I insist vpon the point which is the verie ground of my song and foundation of all my building this daye and will take occasion rather to speake somewhat of the place of Gods presence to his people of the place of his worship of preaching hearing praying communicating of administration of Sacraments and participation of the rites of holie Church Where first of all I must freely confesse and most true it is that euery Christian hath a Temple within him Euerie Temple hath an Altar Euerie Altar hath a Sacrifice Euerie place in dedicate to Gods seruice Euerie beléeuer is a Priest to offer and for euery sort of men lifting vp pure hands without wrath and contention This is the doctrine of the Holye ghost scattered throughout Gods booke herein blessed be God we are farre frō Donatisme and tying of the worship of God to place or person And yet for all that the holye assemblies congregatiōs of Christians to preaching praier and publique celebracion of the seruice of God and that in the Temple sacred and dedicated to this vse is a thing by so often repetition cōmanded and commended of God himselfe in holye Scripture as his own ordinance Leuit. 3.3 that it may be vrged by an argument a necessitate mandati Ioel. 1.14 euen vpon our allegeance Esaie speaking of the Temple the vse thereof in the person of God Esai 56.7 I will bring them saith he to my holye mountaine and I will make them glad in my house of prayer their burnt offerings will I there accept and it shall be called the house of prayer for all men Ezechiels oracle fitteth vs also in this rase Eze. 43.7 where speaking of the presence of Gods grace not for the Temple but for the peoples sake he calleth it the place of Gods throne and the place of the soales of his feete where he will dwell in the middest of his people And Michea calleth Ierusalem the tower of the flocke where the watchman of Israel doeth warde and garde his folke most safely from day to day Mich. 4.8 So that this point might againe be inforced by an argumēt a praemils But what shoulde I speake of the sweete varietie and riche plentie of those plants and flowers in this heauenly Paradize odor vitae ad vitam watered by the dewe of Heauen flowing with streames of comfort to the wounded conscience Co. 2.16 by meanes of the worte and Sacramentes where the prayers of the Congregation are compared by an auncient father Murmuri maris to the violence and noyes of the Seas that pearce the eares of Iehouah and with force burst into his presence euer-bearing all impedimentes Why shoulde I straine my voice to excite and stirre you vp to the religious and diligent frequenting of these heli◠assemblies where Christ hath promised hi◠presence to two or three gathered in his name Whither you are daily tolled to holy exercise of pietie and deuocion for the better increase of your knowledge and growing vp in the feare and nurture of the Lorde Mat. 18.20 When in this case anye shall be silent and men waxe mute let the Sermon bell sounde shame to the sluggar be with a woe to the crue of worldlings that wallowe vppon their beddes of Iuorie make cheare in bowles Amos 6.4 and spende their dayes in vanitie retchlesly neglecting the tyme of their visitation And heere I doe reiect the franticke and scismaticall opinions of the Anabaptisticall seet commonly called Brownisses who haue wilfully deuided and rent themselues from oure congregations denye vs to haue any Church contempne our Sacramentes and condemne our Religion as Antichristian The interim betaking themselues to priuate meetings and seerete conuenticles in corners Oh how farre be these vermines from King Dauids spirit and ioye One thing haue I desired Psa 17.4 and that saith he I will require euen that I may dwell in the Lordes house all the dayes of my life to beholde the beautie of the Lorde and to visite his Temple Againe Leratus sum in his Psa 12◠c. It did him good at his heart when they saide Let vs goe into the house of the Lorde yea and againe Quam dilecta c. Oh howe amiable are thy dwellings thou Lorde of hostes Psa 84.12 my soule hath a longing thereunto O howe farre he these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from Theodosius the Emperour his spirite and sorrowe who being excommunicate for his of fence at the great mutanie in Thessalia by Ambrose Bishop of Millayne An. Dom. 391 and so by the Churches censure cut off from the Communion of the faithfull ceaseth not in brackish teares to bewayle his wretched estate and daye by daye to daunce attendance in humilitie and penitencie to craue restitution till at last he was againe