blood then haue they not the faith remooue that effect and the cause is remooued If they will not abhor so wicked a speech but affirm indeed that the reprobate doe eate the flesh of Christ so many of them as haue the liuely faith then let thē see how they ouerthrow also the whole force of the argumēt of Christ by which he proueth that the Manna was not the bread of life but that he himself is the bread of life Your fathers saith he did eat Māna in the wildernesse and are dead If any man eat of this bread he shal liue for euer How standeth his argument consider of it I pray you Your fathers did eat Manna in the wildernesse and yet are dead in their sinnes they are dead in the spirituall and eternall death for of that death hee speaketh seeing they also which eat the flesh of Christ doe die the naturall death therefore Manna was not the bread of life that commeth downe from heauen For that which some did eat of and yet did die eternallie is not by any meanes the bread of life And how doth hee prooue that hee himselfe is the bread of life I am the breade which came downe from heauen if any man eate of this bread he shall liue for euer Thus standeth his reason Whosoeuer eateth the flesh of Christ he shal liue for euer therefore the flesh of Christ is the bread of life If they shall now say some of the fathers in the wildernes did eate the Manna and yet died in their sinnes it cannot be denied and thereupon Christ doth affirme that Manna was not the bread of life that commeth downe from heauen and then adde their owne saying which is this some doe eate the flesh of Christ and yet do die in their sinnes what will then followe if this reason do stand in force Your fathers did eat Manna in the wildernes and are dead therefore Manna was not the bread of life Then shall not this also follow Many doe eat the flesh of Christ and yet are damned therefore the flesh of Christ is not the bread of life Thus it is euident that such as do affirme that any of the reprobate haue the liuelie faith doe gainsay Christ and ouerthrow the force of his argument To proceede what can be more firme to proue that the reprobate cannot haue the true liuely and iustifying faith then that which Saint Paul hath written Where this ground is first to bee laide that whosoeuer he is that hath the true iustifying faith he hath the spirite of sanctification the spirite of adoption for thus the Apostle conioyneth them wherein also after that yee beleeued yee were sealed with the holy spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance vnto the redemption of the purchased possession vnto the praise of his glorie Ephes 1. ver 13.14 Is there any so absurd as to hold that a man is a liuely member of Iesus Christ as euery one is that hath the liuelie iustifying faith and yet hath not that holy spirite of promise that spirite of adoption that seale and that pledge If they will say that the faith which the reprobate doe attaine vnto is without this spirite of adoption or without this seale or pledge then doe wee holde with them and then doth it follow that the faith of the reprobate is not the true iustifying and sanctifying saith which purgeth the heart Act. 15. But if they shall say that the reprobate are for a time partakers of the spirit of sanctification euen of that spirit of adoption then will there diuers right wicked consequences follow which are to be banished far frō christian religiō For first touching the spirit of adoption see what the Apostle saith As manie as are led by the spirit of god they are the sons of God For ye haue not receiued the spirit of bōdage again to fear but ye haue receiued the spirit of Adoption whereby we crie Abba Father That same spirite beareth witnesse vnto our spirit that we are the sonnes of God Rom. 8.14 15 16. If anie of the reprobate be led by the spirit of God or be at anie time sanctified then hath not S. Paule here said true that as manie as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sonnes of God Some of the reprobate indeed doe taste of the heauenly power but they are not led with the spirit of God they be not sanctified they walke not after the spirit Moreouer the spirit of adoption the sanctifying spirit which is in al that haue the true liuely and iustifying faith beareth witnes with and to the spirit of the beleeuers that they be the children of God This is the liuely faith when a man beleeueth that the Lorde God is his father and that he is the sonne of God And this faith is not separated from the spirit of adoption for it is vpon his testimonie that they do beleeue and by him they crie Abba Father Is not this spirit a true spirit and is not his witnes most firme and true If it be as those men say that the reprobate are partakers of the spirit of adoption then is not his testimonie firme and true For then that spirit of adoption teacheth some man to call God Father and witnesseth to his spirit that he is the sonne of God when as he is the childe of the diuell for hauing that faith and that testimonie of the spirit in him to day to morrow he doth by their saying vtterly and finally lose that faith and that spirit What an opinion is this to say that a man hath the true faith that is to say beleeueth by the testimony of the holy Ghost that God is his father and yet he is indeed the child of the diuell And moreouer doth not the Apostle say that after they beleeued they were sealed with the holie spirit of promise This is more then the bare testimonie of the spirit if I may so speake that hee sealeth Can this seale be disanulled or broken or made frustrate Is this seale vntrue If it bee euer set vpon the reprobate it is deceiueable If their opinion be true no man can then say thus God hath sealed me with his spirit therfore I doe belong to God For a reprobate hath that seale and it faileth him then who can say that it is a seale which is true and infallible Saint Iohn shewing vpon what testimonies faith in Christ is grounded saith There be three that bear record in heauen the Father the Word and the holie Spirit and these three are one And there bee three that bear record in earth the spirit water blood and these three agree in one If we receiue the testimony of men the testimonie of God is greater For this is the witnes which hee testifieth of his sonne Hee that beleeueth in the sonne of God hath the witnesse in himselfe 1. Ioh. 5. vers 7.8.9.10 Why are all these witnesses but to giue asrance of faith
well therefore I thinke good not to disquiet them Heere is now woonderfull patience these are verie godly and charitable persons yea euen a treacherie towards God and men For is there anie of them which being slandered with some foule crime wherby they shuld receiue great iniurie or be spitefully rayled vpon if some of their neere friendes sit by and hold their tougues when they know they be iniuried that cannot by and by feele say this was colde friendship that they could not haue dealt so vnlouinglie towardes their friendes by whomsoeeuer they should haue heard them so abused they could not haue helde their tonges Then belike God nor his truth are none of their deare friends that they can put vp such iniurie done towardes him There is plentie of this patience in all places but godlinesse cannot be suffered to come neere for hee is a breake peace and a verie vnpleasant fellowe hee is ouer rough and precise and ouer captious there was good neighbourhood and friendship before he came they could bee merie together and bee in vnitie without any iarre had it not beene better to vse gentlenesse and patience then to haue this broyle for there is nothing better then loue where that is not there is nothing good O miserable dayes this is the good loue now among men that they cannot loue one another but they must hate God to haue peace and concord with men to be at oddes with God for mens sake to put vp the dishonoring of his name not to continue in patience vnles godlines be wanting The vngodlie world and leud nature that is in men taketh occasion to accuse godlie zeale vnder this pretence and to finde fault with the preaching of the word because say they it setteth men at strife But wee must learne in this place to ioyne godlines with our patience for otherwise we shall bee found to bee nothing els but irreligious and prophane dogs although we pretend loue neuer so much The time will not suffer to handle the rest which remaineth in this Text. Let vs rememeber that which hath beene said and giue all diligence to pursue these excellent vertues that so wee may approoue our selues to be right Christians and look for the blessed hope promised in Iesu Christ THE THIRD SERMON 7 And with godlinesse brotherlie kindnesse and with brotherlie kindnesse loue 8 For if these things be with you and abound they will make you that ye shall not bee idle nor vnfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ 9 For he that hath not these things is blind and seeth not a farre off and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sinnes ANd with godlinesse brotherlie kindnesse c. We haue heard alreadie that with our faith must be ioyned vertue or godly deedes which it cannot bee without if it bee a true faith with vertue wee are commaunded to ioyne knowledge which may bee a guide thereunto our knowledge must goe with temperance with this must come patience and thereunto must be ioyned godlinesse There remaine yet two branches of these speciall vertues about which wee are to trauell the first of these is brotherlie loue or kindnesse which must be yoked with godlinesse as I said that this godlinesse hee speaketh of is referred to the first Table of the Lawe respecting God and his religion that we be sound and zealous in the same and not as those which are for all all times and all religions and therefore care not what bee said against religion being very bellie-gods and Atheistes so this is referred to the second table shewing what we owe vnto men This is verie fitlie and necessarily added for as there bee manie which regarding men onely how to please and not to grieue or offend them altogether forgetting their dutie towardes the Lord God and wholie shutting him out as though their chiefe care should be of men let passe godlinesse so there bee some that offende on the other side which looking alwaies so high as to haue respect to the Lord and his trueth to bee earnest and fierie in that ouerlooke men forgetting the duties which they owe vnto them the holie Apostle meeteth with this mischiefe and telleth vs that we must so loue God that we also loue men ioyne saith he to your godlines brotherly kindnesse For vnlesse this bee ioyned and goe with our zeale of Gods worde it is no true godlines although we bee neuer so sound in iudgement and seem to be as hot as Moses or Elias yea euen to bee swallowed vp with burning zeale for it doth not proceed from Gods spirit who doth also work the loue towards men whersoeuer he goeth but it doeth proceed of some corrupt cause as of vaine glorie or selfe-loue and such like and deserueth not indeed to bee called godlie deuotion no more than the true faith can bee without vertue or deserueth to bee called ought saue a shadowe or image of faith if it bee without good workes but it is a bitternesse which resembleth the true zeale which doth euermore carrie with it a loue and care towards men True it is that to be zealous in spirit is a singular and speciall gift of God they which be without it are but brutish and sencelesse creatures not knowing God nor how precious his glorie is yet this must bee looked vnto in euerie one of vs whether we beare a louing affection toward our brethren or no for if we loue God we must needs loue men which beare his image If we delight in the word of God this is one chief point of doctrin that is taught in it that we be louing kind vnto men Therfore as S. Paul 1. Cor. 13. sheweth that verie excellent gifts doe not profit without loue so likewise in this place we be taught that if wee would seeme to bee godlie and haue not loue it is nothing woorth Let euery man therefore lay this doctrine to his heart that he must be earnest in the causes of the Lord zealous in religion preferring God and his truth before all men whosoeuer and whatsoeuer they be but yet withall that hee must look downe vnto men rendring vnto them their due also this doing hee may bee bolde he is in the right way Vnto this brotherlie loue we be charged to ioyne loue It may bee heere demaunded againe what maner of speech this is which the Apostle doth vse for is not brotherlie kindnes or brotherly loue as the word doth signifie and loue all one Wee must bee farre from thinking Saint Peter to deale with so little heede as to will vs to ioine the very same thing to the same we must therefore seeke a difference betweene these two Wee may take this difference either that the first of these doth expresse what we owe towardes the godly who bee chieflie called the brethren and the latter what wee owe vnto all both good and bad or els the former doth signifie the inward affection of loue and the
holy booke of God be our ground let it bee brought foorth to cut downe all controuersies and let men if they looke for any part of the blessing here promised yeeld all honour and glorie vnto this sacred word yea let no man stand vpon his owne honour or reputation if he haue maintained any thing awry but so soone as euer hee espieth the truth in any matter yeeld thereunto let the trueth of God goe before and lead vs the way For this is the onely way to grow into this holy vnitie And let such as walke a wrie forsake their euill waies embrace the heauenly truth and follow the rules thereof if they will be accounted studious of peace and concord Ioyning thus vnto the truth both in faith and godlines of life wee shall be ioyned togither in the Lord and it shall be saide Behold how good and how comely a thing it is for brethren also to dwell at vnitie It shall bee like that precious ointment vpon the head of Aaron c. The heauenly graces gifts of the holy ghost shall come downe vpon vs plenteously and flow vnto euerie member wee shall bring foorth fruite vnto God watered with heauenly dewes wee shall haue that great and high blessing of God almightie vnto eternall life Therefore if it bee not too late that the sinnes of this land haue prouoked the Lorde to displeasure let all men lift vp their hearts and crie vnto the Lord that he will bestow this precious iewell vpon vs that wee may bee at vnitie not in all manner of wicked vices nor in errours but in the Lord. And now who shall seeke this vnitie who shall studie to aduance it This may be in question I answer euen all states and degrees of men priuat persons rulers and teachers euen all and euery one that wil looke for any part of gods blessing must aduance it Euery man I say must looke vnto the heauenly truth of the holy religion and embrace the same with all loue and heartie affection Euery man ought to be zealous in spirit for the glorie of Christ For if a man haue not the zeale of religion hee can not be a good man whether hee be ruler or priuate man though hee seeme to be neuer so peaceable but as the Lord saith to the Angell of the Church of Laodicea Reu. 3. Because thou art neither hot nor colde I vvill spewe thee out of my mouth God doth reiect all such dull and drowsie Atheistes and irreligious persons which are so earthly minded as that they regard not the heauenly graces which are offered in the Gospell Let all men therefore stirre vp their heartes to be feruent in Gods truth and let not godly zeale be quenched Then further as I haue also shewed before wee must ioyne the practise of this holy word as the Apostle S. Iames willeth Be doers of the worde and not hearers onely deceiuing your selues Iam. 2.19 for the great disturbāce of peace the grieuous breaches of vnity all bitter dissentions do chiefly arise from hence that all sorts degrees of men walke not in the rules which God hath prescribed vnto them in his word Wee must therefore enter more particularly into this matter that we may see how ech mā is to further this blessed vnitie I begin with the priuat person for whome there are rules prescribed in Gods word for him to obserue if he wil be a true member of the Church a seeker preseruer of this vnitie so a partaker of Gods blessing vnto life euerlasting One rule is touching subiection reuerence vnto gouernors both ciuill and ecclesiasticall for God hath commanded to honor obey them Submit your selues vnto all manner ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether it be vnto the king as vnto the superiour or vnto gouernors as vnto them that are sent of him for the punishment of euill doers and for the praise of them that doe well 1. Pet. 2. v. 13 14. Also of this obedience and subiection for conscience sake of this reuerence and honour to be rendred S. Paul writeth Rom. 13. v. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. Likewise obey them that haue the ouersight of you and submit your selues for they watch for your soules as they that must giue accounts c. Heb. 13.17 The neglect and breach of this rule euen the denying of obedience reuerence and honour vnto the rulers gouernours and teachers disturbeth and ouerthroweth the vnitie which is here praised If then a man will not make conscience to performe this dutie in obeying the holy doctrine of the Lord what is he other then an enemy vnto the true concord a dissoluer of vnitie peace But what if rulers offend pastors and gouernors faile and come short in some duties and therby seeme vnworthy to be regarded I say if they do they shall answer before God for it but yet priuate men are not set at libertie they are not discharged from this obedience and rendring honor vnto them for it is vnto the authoritie and vnto Gods ordinance that they doe it and not in respect of man God hath not prescribed the duties of men which are to be done vnto others vnder this condition if they perfourme all that which they ought to doe on their parts or if they be such maner of men as they ought to be But he hath prescribed euery mans duty absolutely If an other faile in his hee shall answer as I said for it before God thou hast no warrant hereby to depart from the rule which God hath set vnto thee For thou art tied in conscience vnto God to obey his will not in regard of man or of thine owne benefit to doe this or that for by the doctrine of the blessed Apostle wee see that Christian subiects and faithfull seruants are commanded euen for conscience to giue honour vnto heathen princes and infidell masters Rom. 13.1 Tim. 6.1 wee must then from this expresse worde of God obserue that when gouernours doe amisse men haue not their tongues set at libertie to reuile and to reproch them or to dishonour them with euil speech seeing it is also written Thou shalt not curse the ruler of the people Exod. 22. v. 28. But contrariwise praiers and supplications are to be made vnto God for rulers and teachers of the Lords people When they offend it is with great hurt to the Church and therefore men are to lament and mourne for it and not to make themselues merrie with iestes and reproches Let all euill speeches of disgrace then be turned into praiers and the laughter into teares for this shall be more pleasing vnto God Let no man beare himselfe in hād that he is not guilty of the breach of holy concord when he obserueth not the rules of this doctrine of submission of reuerence and honour to be giuen vnto gouernours Another rule is giuen by the Apostle in these words That ye studie to be quiet and to meddle with your
only a sound and a confused humming without any perseuerance of the things vttered or els when they heare any perfect sentence or a few sentences they know not why they bee vttered because they heard not that which went before Such as are not so drowsie headed being wakefull he seeketh stil to conuey some thoughts into their minds whereabouts they may be occupied and their vnderstanding drawne away the mind of a man being light and inconstant if hee can put in but one motion it oftentimes draweth with it so many linkes as make vp a whole chaine in the meane time the Preacher goeth on and he vnderstandeth not what was said and so when his mind returneth he can haue no sound knowledge of the things vttered but a confused opinion into these by thoughtes men are oftentimes brought euen by occasion of some word or sentence which they heard vttered and are carried so far that they cannot of long time recouer their mind to bring it again to the matter Seeing this great dāger we ought when we come to hear Gods word taught to make account that wee goe about a verie hard worke that we go to encounter with Sathan hand to hand who seeketh then most busilie to steale away our heart that he may make that word fruitlesse in vs and cause vs to sinne grieuously against God There is no one man which maketh conscience of hearing the word rightly which setting these thinges togither the reuerence we owe vnto it the stedinesse of our minde which should be vpon it and the care to keepe it but will easilie grant that it is as hard and painfull a trauell to doe this as for the man that worketh in the sorest bodilie labor Heer is therfore a lesson for euery man to apply to himself when he is going to heare the word to think I am now going about a gret work I shall be too weak if the Lord God do not mightilie assist me for I am not to sit downe there at ease but to wrastle and struggle with the Diuell and with all the corruptions of mine owne flesh and hardnesse of my heart that my mind may bee kept stedfast vpon the worde that I may receiue it with al reuerence feare as the word of the great glorious God not to iudge of it at mine own pleasure but to craue wisedome from the Lord not to heare it and to let it goe but to keep it as a most precious iewell locked vp in my heart that I may guide my selfe thereby And wee shall be a great deale the rather mooued to this diligence if we consider what a companion wee carie about with vs and what a guest wee lodge withall when we be such as heare the word and doe not keep it For Christ telleth vs that it is the Diuell which doth this which as a greedy Fowle deuoureth the seed which was sowne in our heart if any make none account to haue him possessing their mind hardening their hearts against the word then let them continue in their sloth to heare with drowsie minds to heare and not to vnderstand to regard the holy word but as the word of a man to make little account to keep it But if he thinke it a most miserable thing to haue so filthy a beast so soule a spirit to lodge in his breast if he thinke it to be a most vile slauery to be vanquished and ouercome of so horrible an enemie to bee led captiue and kept thrall vnder such a tyrant then let him thinke also how miserable a thing it is to bee such a kind of ground as doth receiue the seede by the way side For vndoubtedly how soeuer men seeme to defie the deuill and curse him as though he should not come nigh them yet seeing it is no mortall man but the Lord Iesus Christ himselfe who telleth vs heer that the diuell is not only nigh but in these kind of hearers euen hardening their heartes and blinding their eies wee ought most constantlie to beleeue it Hee that shall deeply weigh the estate of our Church at this day will soone be brought to confesse that there be many of this first sort of hearers they shall perceiue it right wil by this that they are not able in any wise to iudge or put difference betweene sound syncere preaching and vaine pratling they know not whē the preacher doth minister vnto them wholsome food and when there is nothing but chaffe and wind ye shal heare them highly commende some Sermon as a matter worthy to be written in letters of gold when as in deed it deserueth not so much as to be noted with a coale I speake not of those silly wretches which were neuer as yet acquainted with preaching for it is no great maruel though they bee not able to discerne chalke from cheese or being blind for to iudge of colours but to such as of long time haue been hearers and yet neuer the wiser because they are not able to iudge when sound and necessary conclusions are drawne out of the word but all is one with them whether the reason that is made be good or bad strong or weake yea further ye shall perceiue that euē a litle shew of a reason although neuer so doltish being against true godlines doth more preuaile with thē then a multitude of infallible proofs although they be neuer so sure and that which is so grosse and absurd that a child may laugh at seemeth to them a very strong piller to leane to There needeth no more when a man preacheth vnto them but a glorious shew of learning a sweet ringing voice and matters so strange and strangely handeled that they may be brought into a woondermēt of that they know not And Satan hath many chaplaines fit for this turne to serue the vaine humor of such people and to set foorth themselues after a pompous sort more seeking their owne vaine glory then the glorie of the Gospel in the conuersion of the people The seconde kind of ground are they which receiue the seede vpon the hard rock where there is some entrance and the word hath a shallow root in them for as it were the top of their heart is soft after a sort and there it is couered a little and it groweth vp quicklie and springeth fresh they seeme to be stout and excellent professours they brag of great zeale a man would take them to be syncere and so they take themselues but when the Sun ariseth that is the fiery triall or parching heate of persecution they stumble and fall away and because the word had no deep root in them it withereth and bringeth forth no fruite these also are not profited by the word of grace but are stil castawayes damned creatures In this kind of ground or in these hearers if we note well we shall see that which is strange and woonderfull when Christ saith and testifieth of them that they receiue the word with ioy these
giue credit to our heauenly teacher who hath heere opened his holie mouth to instruct vs so plainely and before hand to warne vs of the great danger that we may stir vp ourselues and be quickened in our dull spirits with all humble submission and bowing downe our neckes to receiue the doctrine of our Lord to open our hearts in such sort that he may digge in them and thrust in his spade to the bottome for otherwise it cannot go wel with vs. If this were practised among vs wee should not haue so many old rusty Protestants which if a man talk with them from morning to night they are able to continue speech in reciting stories and places of Scripture and will vtter matter against the doctrine of the Pope but let a man vrge them with the doctrine of regeneration and stand vpon the necessitie of sincere repentance shewing them that they must be truly humbled vnder the burthē of their sinnes that they must mortifie and subdue their carnall lustes this is too hard a crust for their old teeth This matter doth marre all this doth rob them of their glorie and therefore they can not wilinglie abide to heare of it Let vs come now to the third kind of ground which receiueth the seed among the thornes here is depth enough of earth so that as the second sort of hearers seemed to goe far beyond the first so these seeme to goe far beyond them and to come nigher to eternall life for heere the worde doth grow hath root so deep that it springeth foorth so farre that Christ faith it groweth vp and the thornes growe vp with it the stalke doth shoot foorth the eare and lacketh but riping For this may bee prooued by Saint Luke who saith that they bee not Telesphorountes that is such as beare ripe and timely fruit for these professors doe manie good workes and seeme to bring foorth the fruites of the Gospel and that in such wise that men cannot alwayes discerne them but thinke their deeds to be notable but Christ Iesus doth shew that their workes before God who only cannot bee deceiued are as corne which lacketh riping which being ouershadowed with bushes withereth in the eare and commeth to naught this is a dangerous case if wee looke not to it That a man may heare the Gospell preached carie it away be moued thereby to doe many good workes and yet be damned Hee is a thousand folde mad therefore which doth not looke to himselfe in this point to trie what soundnesse there is in the fruites of his faith and how sincerely hee doth imbrace Gods worde As before I saide that some would obiect say this will destroy the faith so am I sure that heer it will be said much more because this seemeth to take away the surest tryall of faith if a man may not by and by say I haue good works therfore I haue the true and liuely faith I answere that whosoeuer hath any good worke in him the same hath the true faith which hath brought foorth that good worke because it is impossible without faith to do any good thing or to haue any good motion or intent but withall I say that it is one thing to seem good before men and another thing for to be good indeed before God In outward appearance there is little differēce between the good deeds of thē which feare god sincerely the vntimely fruite of worldlings but God whose eie doth not look vpon the outward shew but the inward affection seeth which proceedeth of faith and which doth proceed of vaine glorie or some other sinister respect and putteth as great differēce between thē as he did between the sacrifices of Caine and Abel Wee must take heed then that the fruits of our faith be ripe timely otherwise they be good but in shew We must come then to see first what these thornes are in S. Matt. they are called the cares of this world the deceitfulnes of riches in S. Luk. the cares of riches pleasures of this life And in very deed these thornes do growe togither For were it not for the pleasures of this life there would bee no cares of riches hee which doth seek greedily for welth it is either because he would be able to haue wherwithal to fill the lustes of the flesh and to pamper his body delicately or els to setforth himself in pride to climb ambitiously vnto honour For so long as a man doth take pleasure in any of these so long he is couetous raketh together so much that as the common saiing is he raketh vp the diuel all What must we do then Our hearts are as a ground that is rank bringeth forth many weedes we are set a work as God speaks by his prophet Ieremy chap 4.4 Plow vp your fallow sow not among the thorns we must put al diligēce care that our hearts may be rid of such noisom weeds as wil choke the word of God make that it shall not bring foorth fruit in vs. So long as we suffer any of these in vs either to loue dainty delicate feeding of our flesh to fil our selues with the lusts therof or to be gallant in the eies of mē hautily to lift vp our selues in our vain glorious minds for the maintenāce of these delightes bend our care to the world so long shall we be vnprofitable schollers in the school of christ Alas poor men which wold fain come to God yet are glued to the worlde they offer one hand to Christ the other to the diuel they can talk of the spirit and yet are led by the flesh the gospel is in their mouth and couetousnesse lodgeth in their hearts their works glister are green before men are withered before God they seem to be faithful are faithlesse to be heires of glory yet are the childrē of cōfusion there are gret plēty of these hearers specially in such places where there is welth honors how many fal away choked with the world and yet we are not afraid of ourselues to take heede that we stand fast A great mercy of God it is that we haue not only the doctrine laide before vs but also fearefull examples so that we may buy our wit with other mens cost For when wee see the world with delightes and pleasures with couetousnesse and ambition to carrie away those which professe the Gospell is not our owne matter in hand are not we made of the same mettall they are doth not the world assault vs as it doth them Yes and we shall be ouercome also if the Lord haue not mercie vpon vs. The hardnes of this worke ought not to discourage or make vs slack but hearing what Christ saith whome wee ought to beleeue the more harde the more we are to stirre vp our selues vnles we make small reckoning of the saluation of our soules Hee that shall yeeld
And if these witnesses doe testifie vnto a man that he is the childe of God and shall be saued for euery one that hath the true liuelie faith hath it vpon the testimony of all these witnesses and yet hee is a reprobate then is not the witnesse of God greater then the witnesse of men Then also to what end should he mention all these foresaid witnesses They giue an absolute testimonie that euery one that beleeueth hath life euerlasting By these places it is manifest that the reprobate cannot be partakers of the sanctifying faith they be not led at any time by the spirit of adoption they be not sealed vp with the holy spirit of promise they haue not the witnesse of God within them whosoeuer therefore hath these thinges let him be assured he shall neuer perish but if he be sanctified he is iustified hee shall bee glorified Rom. 8. ver 32. And this is it which the holie Scripture in many places proclameth that whosoeuer beleeueth in the sonne of God he shal neuer be confounded But what if the reprobate neuer haue the true faith nor the spirit of adoption yet doe not the elect so fall and sinne sometimes that there is no sparke of true faith left in them for the time This is the great cunning of the diuell to roote vp as it were the stablenesse and foundation of the truth But the word of God meeteth with it and teacheth that whosoeuer is regenerate and borne of God in the new spirituall birth as euery one is that hath the liuely faith seeing whosoeuer is in Christ he is a new creature the same man cannot so fall that this new birth should be extinguished in him For this wee haue the testimonie vttered by Saint Iohn in these words Whosoeuer is born of god sinneth not for his seed remaineth in him neither can he sinne because hee is borne of God 1. Ioh. 3. ver 9. Also we know that whosoeuer is borne of God sinneth not but he that is begotten of God keepeth himselfe and that wicked one doth not touch him chap. 5. vers 18. In the former of these two sayings there be two members and vnto either of them there is annexed a reason to confirme the same As whosoeuer is borne of God sinneth not for his seede this is the reason remaineth in him And then the second member Neither can hee sinne the reason because hee is borne of God Now see if they doe not directlie gainsay the holie Ghost which holde that a man regenerate may loose the faith be vtterly voide of the spirit of sanctification For first whereas S. Iohn saith that whosoeuer is born of God he sinneth not They say a man hath his faith vtterlie quenched and is wholie depriued of the spirit of adoption What sin then is it that he sinneth not He that falleth in such sort as that he becommeth void of the true faith and of the sanctifying grace of God what is he other but as an infidell for the time and what sinne is it that he committeth not Shall it be said of such a man he sinneth not It may be this poore cauill will be vsed Hee that is borne of God sinneth not so long as he continueth in that estate so long as he continueth borne of God A vaine and most foolish speech for if a man that is vnregenerate and borne of GOD through a true and liuelie faith do so fal it is sinne that casteth him downe then he doth sinne while he is in that state For doth hee first cast away his faith and the grace of the sanctifying spirit and then commit sinne and not before What greater sinne then the falling from the faith and casting forth vtterlie the grace of sanctification But see how Saint Iohn meeteth with all cauilles in the reason which he annexeth to confirme that first member Why doth not any one that is borne of God sinne For saith hee his seede remaineth in him What is the seed of God which remaineth in all that are borne of God The word of God is called the incorruptible seed by which God doth beget his children 1 Pet. 1.23 That word is but an instrument the holie Ghost is the worker of the new birth and therfore our Sauiour teacheth except a man bee borne againe of water and of the spirit hee cannot enter into the kingdome of God Ioh. 3. vers 5. The seed of God then is the graces of the sanctifying spirit the liuely word Those men that say a man may lose his faith and the spirit of sanctification doe in flat speech contrarie that which the holie Apostle heere speaketh The seed of God saith Saint Iohn remaineth in all those which are borne of God and therfore they doe not sinne that is to say they do not sinne that deadly sinne of falling from God or of being separated from Christ which is not true if their saying bee true for there remaineth no seed of God in those that doe wholy lose their faith and in whome the sanctifying graces are vtterly extinguished It may be they wil here again adde their vaine cauill that the seed of God remaineth in them so long as they bee borne of God and hold the faith and stand in grace As if Saint Iohn should say thus the seede of God remaineth in them so long as the seede of God remaineth in them Is not this a very wise speech to be ascribed to the holy ghost He speaketh absolutely that whosoeuer is borne of God the seed of God euer after doth remaine in him therefore he sinneth not Let them go with their ridiculous distinction the seed of God remaineth in them so long as it remaineth in them for that speech they must be forced to vtter vnlesse they will confesse that when he saith his seede remaineth in them we must take it remaineth in them for euer If the seede of God remaine for euer in the regenerate then doth faith and the sanctifiing spirit remaine in them for euer For will they separate these But to put all out of doubt and to minister sound comfort or as the holy ghost speaketh strong consolation to all that haue the true and liuely faith euen to let them knowe indeed and vnderstand for certainty that they can not perish that they cannot be ouercome by Satan in the battel he addeth Neither can he sinne confirming it with this reason because he is born of God What can they say vnto this How will they auoide this Will they say that Saint Iohn meant heere some other matter Is it not clearer then the Sunne that the regenerate cannot wholy bee depriued of faith nor of the spirit of sanctification when he saith they can not sinne Can they wholie loose their faith and all the sanctifying grace and yet can they not sin O how happie and blessed is the state and condition of that man which hath attained to the true liuelie faith who hath the spirit of
glory vpon some and to appoint other some vnto eternal ignominie torments which they shall endure iustly for their sinnes For if any iudgementes of God bee vnsearcheable or any where it is in predestination It may bee rightlie said that if the counsels and wayes and iudgements of God be not vnsearchable in that eternal decree then is there no iudgmēt of god vnsearchable which is to denie not only the saying of the Apostle and of the Prophet but also after a sort to denie God for he that will make his iudgmentes to be searchable maketh also God himselfe to be searchable Wilt thou measure and comprehend the counsels the decrees and the iudgementes of God by reason Then measure and comprehend God himselfe euen that eternall and infinit maiestie with thy reason Nowe if it bee so that God hath chosen some for this cause that he did foresee that of their owne wil and power they would be faithfull do good works continue to the ende And on the other side that hee did foresee who would be vnfaithfull wicked and rebellious euen to their death and those in his foreknowledge he saw to be iustly damned Here is nothing incomprehensible in these iudgmentes For thy reason doth find out and thy vnderstanding doth comprehend all causes and thou canst shew a reason how God hath done euery thing and yet is iust yea all the causes of his counselles he open vnto thee if it bee so Why then did Saint Paule crie out How vnsearchable are his iudgments Why saith the Prophet also That they be a great deepe The Prophet was dull of conceipt it seemeth and so was Paule for thou hast entred into this great deepe and hast with the light of thy reason searched out all things and whatsoeuer is not agreeable to the same thy reason thou doubtest not to dash it out of Gods decrees Thou wilt haue nothing to stand higher then thy reason can reach vnto and comprehende Thou saiest that whatsoeuer is contrarie vnto reason is absurde Well but take heede that thou doest not extoll reason too much It doth indeed comprehend the principles of logicke but that it will from thence rise vp to comprehend God and his eternall decree it is extreame folly If wee looke a little in particulars we shall find it to bee so VVe do beleeue and confesse that the Lord God by his eternall power infinit wisedom created heauen earth al things which are in thē both visible inuisible Of the inuisible creatures in heauen the Angels some sinned fel whom he hath condēned vnto eternall fire they be now diuels Others whom the holie Apostle calleth the elect Angels neuer sinned neither shall euer any of them sinne as they bee well assured but shall remaine verie glorious and blessed for euer Tell me nowe were not all these the creatures of God and created in the same estate and conditiō How commeth it that some of them stand others do fall Will ye not say that of his infinite goodnesse and loue hee had decreed to stay vp the one parte so that they should neuer sinne nor be in danger of falling and that he had also decreed to leaue those other to their owne will and power why did he not shew the same goodnesse and loue towards all whie did he set so glorious creatures in such estate as that they should fal from the heauenlie glory into diuels torments was he not able to support them and to retaine them in glory with the rest He created man in great dignitie euen after his owne image whie did he not keepe him in that estate why did hee suffer the diuell to enter in vnto the woman and to tempt her why did hee not forewarn the man and the woman that such an enemie woulde set vpon them or why did he not giue thē strength to get the victorie in that tēptation O wilt thou say God did only suffer those thinges to bee done by the diuell hee did not ordaine that any such matter should fall out for that cannot stand with equity or iustice it agreeth not with mercy Wel thou hast a childe and when it is in thy power to let yet thou wittinglie doest suffer a terrible Lyon to enter in vnto him and to deuour him who will say that this is a sufficient excuse to cleer thee from crueltie to say that thou didst not decree it but onlie suffer it to come so to passe If this bee no excuse to defend thee how foolish art thou in vsing it to defende the iustice and mercie of God VVilt thou thus call the iustice of God and his mercie vnder the account of thy reason that thou maist by thine owne wit comprehend it or els it cannot bee iustice O howe much better is it that thou shouldest crie out with the Apostle How vnsearchable are his iudgmentes And where thou canst not comprehend by reason howe God shoulde in iustice either decree or suffer the fall of Angels and men yet to rest in this that howsoeuer wee cannot comprehende those thinges yet we are sure that there can be no vnrighteousnes with God but whatsoeuer he decreeth it is most holie and iust for his will is the perfect rule of all righteousnesse To proceede when man was fallen and had cast himselfe and all his posterity into endlesse miserie a redeemer is promised All are loste alike there be none which are in themselues better or more worthy than other why then is not the redeemer sent vnto all If any shall replie and say hee was sent vnto all that is vntrue for God chose the seede of Abraham the nation of the Iewes he separated them from al other nations of the world he gaue them his lawes and ordinances euen the liuelie Oracles for to teach them The other nations he left in the darke to walke in the vanities of their owne minde subiect to the manifold illusions and sleightes of diuelles and that for manie ages together among whome there were so manie famous wise men Philosophers Poets and Orators Yea there were among them infinit thousand thousands which could neuer hear of Christ of infants dying and perishing in their natiue corruption that is in originall sinne Who can search out and comprehend the iudgmentes of God in this were they not the worke of his handes Yet there is no hope offred vnto them But at the length Christ Iesus the only light and saluation of the worlde is preached to the Gentiles Why did hee not now open the eies of all whie did he not giue that effectuall grace of his spirit vnto all as to beleeue in his son vnto saluation VVhen hee opened the heart of Lydia why did he not also open the heartes of the rest that heard Paule preach Some will say they would not Yea but hee of those that were most vnwilling made willing where it pleased him As we haue a perfect example in Saint Paule who was a cruell persecuter
Christ saith No man commeth vnto me except the father which sent me draw him Ioh. 6. VVhy did hee not drawe Herode and Pilate and the high Priestes as well as Paule VVee see in these latter dayes that there be great Nations as the west Indies which had neuer hearde of Christ vntill of late time and then by a most cruell and idolatrous people which haue murthered them most wickedlie so that they haue been made to stumble and to bee further from Christ VVho is able to comprehend the depth of these iudgementes Shall not wee lay downe the pride of our owne vnderstanding and say with the Apostle Hath not the Potter power ouer the claie of the same lumpe to make one vessell vnto honour and an other vnto dishonour Or shall the thing formed say to him that formed it Whie hast thou made me thus O beloued let vs lay aside all such vaine and curious presumptions and let vs as the holie Scripture directeth vs make our singular comfort of that eternall decree of God Thus wee are with it to fortifie our selues against the Diuell God of his owne good will hath chosen in his sonne Iesus Christ euen before the foundations of the worlde were laide those whome he will saue as the heires of eternall glorie Hee hath in his prefixed time redeemed them not with golde or precious stones as Saint Peter saith but with the blood of his sonne as of a Lambe immaculate and without spot He doth also call them hee doth sanctifie them This decree of God is vnchangeable it is vnpossible that any of his elect should perish VVho can plucke them out of the handes of Christ Then in the next place wee are to bee assured that none can haue the true faith but the chosen of God Not any doe receiue the spirit of adoption which witnesseth to their spirit that they be the children of God but the elect The elect are onlie regenerate and borne of God and sealed with the holie spirit of promise Then come downe to thy selfe If thou canst trulie say I haue the liuelie faith I haue receiued the spirit of adoption which doth witnesse with my spirit that I am the childe of God I am regenerate I haue the true repentance I am sanctified Satan doth tempt mee stronglie manie wayes but I am sure though he often as it were soile mee and cause me to goe awrie that hee shall neuer get the victorie ouer mee Is not this a singular comfort to a man If anie that hath the spirit of adoption may lose him then where is the stedfastnesse of faith which Saint Peter heere requireth in resisting the Diuel If it come once to lie in our selues wee cannot bee vndoubtedlie sure and stedfast wee may well waner and doubt but when we knowe that we are kept by the power of God as it is written 1. Pet. 1. Then haue wee a rocke whereon to rest then doe we stand stedfast armed with the power of God This faith may be tried and seeme oftentimes to be sore shaken but it can neuer bee ouercome Yea will some man say but euery man cannot come to knowe that hee hath receiued the true and liuely faith or the spirit of adoption we see many goe farre in the profession of the gospel and thinke that they haue the true faith and the sanctifying spirit which yet fall quite away It is true that there bee manie which imbrace the gospell and professe it with such feeling that they suppose God hath called them as his children there is for the time such a touch such a moouing in their heartes and yet in time they manifest themselues not to be of God One occasion or other driueth them awrie so that some of them become heretickes some of thē although they fall not into heresies yet they fall into vices and become so irreligious that all the former graces which they had tasted of doe vanish and are lost And this is the cause we are willed by Saint Peter to make our calling and election sure For seeing the reprobate receiue a kinde of faith and zeale which yet is not the true and liuely faith we are willed to be diligent and carefull to see that we rest not in that faith VVe must labour to attain to that testimonie of the spirit of adoption we must seek to bee confirmed and euen sealed with the holie spirit of promise and so come to that full assurance of faith and hope which neuer confoundeth And that is it which Saint Peter teacheth the way to come vnto in the place before alleadged where he willeth vs to ioine vertue with our faith with vertue knowledge c. For if we follow that rule which hee there prescribeth we shall be sure neuer to fall we shall then with a stedfast faith resist our aduersarie the diuell and get the victorie ouer him It is a matter of great importance I pray and beseech you as you tender the happy estate of your owne soules looke vnto it Set your hearts vpon the liuelie Oracles of God and seeke day and night after the knowledge of holie thinges and howe to please the Lord your God Then shall you bee blessed for euermore Amen FINIS Foure Sermons vpon the seuen chiese vertues or principall effectes of faith and the doctrine of election wherein euery man may learne whether hee bee Gods child or no. 2. Pet. chap. 1. 1 Simon Peter a seruant and an Apostle of Iesus Christ to you which haue obtained like precious faith with vs by the righteousnesse of our God and sauiour Iesus Christ 2 Grace peace be multiplied to you through the acknowledging of God and of our Lord Iesus 3 According as his diuine power hath giuen vnto vs al thinges that pertaine vnto life and godlines through the acknowledging of him that hath called vs vnto glory and vertue 4 Whereby most great and precious promises are given vnto vs that by them ye should be partakers of the diuine nature in that ye flee the corruption which is in the world through last BEfore we begin to handle or to intreat of the wordes of this text it shall not bee amisse to note to whom and when this Epistle was written Concerning the first of these it appeareth by the 3. chap. and 1. verse that it was written vnto the same that the former epistle was For thus hee speaketh This second Epistle I write vnto you beloued in which I stir vp your sincere mind by putting you in remembrance now these were the Iewes which were scattred abroad in the dispersion through diuers countries as it is expressed in the first chapter of the former Epistle for the Iewes were specially his charge as the care of the Gentiles was committed vnto Paul Galat. 2.7.8 The words are these When they saw that the gospell of the vncircumcision was cōmitted to me as the gospel ouer the circumcision was vnto Peter for hee that was mightie by Peter in the Apostleship ouer the
tempteth hee any man but euerie one is tempted when hee is drawne away by his own concupiscence and is entised then lust when it hath conceiued bringeth forth sinne and sinne when it is finished bringeth foorth death The first thing we haue heere to note in this doctrine is this that all corruption is of our selues not comming from any outward cause It is true that Satan is an instrument and as it were the bellowes to stirre and kindle in vs the lustes of sinne and beareth a verie great stroke in the matter but if it were not for this concupiscence that is in vs hee could not bring his matters to passe the prouocations and allurementes of wicked men are so manie meanes to driue vs and drawe vs into sinne but yet the cause is in our selues A chiefe point to bee obserued that we may lerne to condemne our selues when wee haue done amisse and not after the maner of men which looke when they haue faulted howe they may disburthen themselues and bee discharged of the blame and therefore they will either crie out of the diuel as though he as they say ought them a shame or els they will say woe woorth such or such that euer I knew them if it had not been for them I should not haue done thus The Prophet Dauid when he had committed murther and adulterie being reprooued by Nathan although he knewe right well that the Diuell was a greate furtherer in the matter likewise he might haue thought vpon the fonde dealing of the woman which so vndiscreetlie washed her selfe in such a place as others might see her yet he letteth these go and to the end he may wholy and fullie condemne himselfe hee looketh home to the welspring of all this foule and beastlie sinne saith Behold I was borne in wickednes and in sinne hath my mother conceiued mee as if he should say O Lord I cannot seeke any way to be excused for all this rebellion against thee is conceiued and bred in mine owne corrupt breast I brought the roote of it from my mothers wombe This is a good lesson for vs to learne for so long as we do not know it but like partiall and corrupt iudges go about to excuse our selues to rid our hands of that we haue committed we shall neuer come to any sincere repentance Further wee are heere to obserue in this place that all corruption comming from this lust if we will repent indeed wee must begin heere For if they be changed only in their outwarde deedes and wordes and this inward sickenes not healed they haue gained nothing no more then a man which would destroy a tree and doth no more then lop and shred off certain boughes and twigs leauing the stumpe and roote behinde for so long as this doeth liue in them they may well seeme in the eies of men to be very great conuertes if they of ignorant idiotes are become such as haue gotten some skill and knowledge from drunkards ruffians adulterers and such like they become sober modest and of good behauiour as this may be done before men and yet the heart nothing altered before God for there be many causes which may mooue men to seeme outwardly to bee godlie when the heart within is fraught with lothsome lustes and ful of rotten corruptions which make men still altogether abominable before God To bee short therefore a man shall neuer rightly iudge of himselfe whether hee haue repented vnlesse hee looke to the bottome of this sore that it may bee healed The greatest multitude of men being as blind as Beetles in this point imagine that repentance is a verie light and easie thing which they can haue when they list when a man of wisedome saith this that here lieth so deepe a matter that heere bee rootes which are hard to bee pulled vp hee is mooued to bee the more carefull least hee deceiue himselfe Looke therefore euery man to his thoughts for by them is the triall made if the thoughtes bee chaunged and the inward desires altered so that of prophane and worldlie they are become holie and heauenly then hee may boldlie say I haue a newe heart and there is a right spirit renued in me I haue repented I haue not playd the hypocrite I feele an vpright heart toward God I feele the corrupt fountaine stopped so that the filthy matter and stincking mudde doeth not boile foorth as it did It may also bee demaunded heere whether this lust be not a sinne or a corruption of it selfe because Saint Peter saith that corruption resteth in it The place which I alleadged out of the 51. Psalme doth prooue it to be a sinne also it may bee prooued out of the fift to the Romans where Saint Paule prooueth that infantes haue sinne because they are subiect to death which is the rewarde of sinne although as hee saith they sinne not after the similitude of the transgression of Adam Therefore if wee had none other but this it were enough to condemne vs and vtterly to cast vs away Let vs neuer cease therefore vntill we feele a chāge in our selues euen in this secret infection for otherwise wee shall neuer be able to flie the corruptions which are in the world or as Saint Iames speaketh in the first chapter of his Epistle to keepe our selues vnspotted of the worlde so long as we carie the corrupt world in our breast neither shall our religion bee pure for thus it is faide If any man among you seemeth religious and refraineth not his tongue but deceiueth his owne heart this mans religion is vaine Pure religion and vndefiled before God euen the father is this to visit the fatherlesse and widowes in their distresse and to keepe himselfe vnspotted of the world The second Sermon vpon the 5.6 and 7. verses 5 Therefore giue euen all diligence thereunto ioine moreouer vertue with your faith and with vertue knowledge 6 And with knowledge temperance and with temperance patience and with patience godlinesse 7 And with godlinesse brotherlie kindnesse and with brotherlie kindnesse loue ANd hereunto giue all diligence c. He hath declared in the former verses among other chiefe matters this one especiallie to how great holinesse and purenesse through sanctification we be called which was chieflie expressed in these wordes that by them yee may bee made partakers of the diuine nature in that yee flie the corruption which is in the worlde through lust vnto this now he ioyneth an exhortation requiring at their handes not onlie to put to their diligence but also as he saith euen all diligence For as it is the greatest and chiefest thing which we are to looke after so there is required at our handes to giue our principall care and studie thereunto this equitie must easilie be graunted that if we cannot obtaine or get the thinges of this life which are small in comparison vnlesse wee put to our diligence for God will haue it to be so that then of good right
doctrine of Poperie is that God doth make choise conditionally respecting the good deedes which he did foresee in them and so the election should depend vpon the worthines of the men we are to answere that this place hath nothing in it which is contrarie to that free choise which God maketh without respect of any thing that is in vs for hee could finde nothing in vs that might any way moue him neither doth it serue at all for to proue that election is condition all because Saint Peter doth not handle in this place whereupon electiō is founded or what moued God to make choise nor to shew wherein the certaintie and stablenesse of election doth stand but his meaning is to teach vs how wee shall attaine to this incomparable treasure to bee out of doubt and surely resolued in our selues not by fantasied opinions but by sure and substantiall proofe that we bee chosen of God and therefore cannot perish If wee respect the vnchangeable counsell of GOD therein doth rest alone the sure foundation of election because GOD which cannot bee deceiued nor cannot repent or chaunge hath made the choise therefore those whom hee hath chosen can neuer perish but if we regard the way and meanes by which we may come to know this fauour of God to bee toward vs the Lord by his Apostle telleth vs that this is the way euen to giue all diligence and studie to bee richly decked with his graces or those forenamed vertues for by these wee shall vndoubtedly knowe because if wee haue them if they abound in vs if we walke in them we shall as he saith neuer fall Let vs learne therefore first this that election in it selfe resteth vpon the vnchangeable purpose and counsell of God Then secondly that wee are not to setch the certaintie of it in our selues frō some reuelation neither are wee to clime vp into heauen to search in the counsels of GOD whether our names bee in the booke of life But we are to fetch our warrant from within our selues and that from the fruites of the spirit which indeede although it bee out of our selues yet because it is not of our selues is certaine and infallible If ye will vnderstand this more plainly first I say it is out of our selues or from within our selues because we must take the trial whether those things be in vs which are giuen to all those whom God doth chuse then I say it is not of our selues for if it were it should bee altogether vncertaine But of the seale of God wherewith hee hath sealed vs which is the spirit of sanctification now marke well I pray you If you doe saith S. Peter these things you shall neuer fall and why is it because our doings are so perfect sure or that we are so constant of our selues no not so but by these vertues we know that wee are sealed with Gods spirit whose worke we feele in vs we know also that as many as are led by the spirit of GOD are the sonnes of GOD. Rom. 8. From hence it commeth that looke how much more a man feeleth in himselfe the increase of knowledge the increase of vertues and heauenly desires so much more sure he is that he is the child of God and as the one increaseth so increaseth also the other Contrariwise when a man feeleth within himselfe an euill conscience feeleth that he is darkened in his vnderstanding ledde by the lustes of sinne hee shall in spite of his teeth within himselfe sing this dolefull song I know not whether I shall be saued or not and looke how the other may say I knowe I shall be saued because God hath sealed me with his spirit so may this say I am sure to bee damned continuing in this case because I haue not faith but only a wauering doubtfull opinion We may see by this how beneficiall they are and mercifull to their owne soules which with all their power day and night giue vp themselues to seeke after the knowledge and obedience of the Lordes will for not giuing ouer nor waxing wearie they shall in continuance of time if they ply it hard finde such a blessing from the Lorde in the increase of faith and vertue that will cause them to say wee haue not lost our labor On the other side we may see how vnkind and cruell they are to themselues which through idlenes and sloth in seeking after God with their daily and continuall sinnes doe euen as it were cut the throat of their faith seeing they can not haue trust in him whome they doe so much disobey This place is as a mightie engine to ouerthrowe the vanitie of sundrie opinions which doe reigne in men As first of all in those which crie out against this doctrine as a thing which will make men carelesse and idle in the seruice of God and stoppe the course of good works I beseech you marke how wel these great wise men haue profited in Gods schoole see how they agree with the holy Apostle he saith we are to giue all our studie diligence in good works to come to the sure and vndoubted knowledge that wee be chosen vnto life they say quite contrarie if ye will haue men carefull of well doing away with the doctrine of election for it will marre all thus the wisdome of flesh doth proudly lift vp it selfe euen against God but how foolishly a verie childe may see Doeth that thing which wee can not come to the knowledge of without exceeding care of godlines abundance of vertue and plentie of all good workes destroy in men the study and care of good workes But proude flesh is worthily blind Some other although not thus brutishly blinded yet greatly ouerseene when they thinke on this doctrine which is set vp vnto vs as the mark for vs to aime at in all our doings and the triall whether wee haue done well or not I meane the triall in this respect and when a man hath done many good deeds he shall know he hath not done them wel if he yet doubt whether he be one of Gods chosen for howsoeuer he passeth it ouer yet his conscience which doeth in some sort know that hee hath not dealt but for vaineglorie or some other sinister respect will not suffer him to haue this faith For God doth not worke so darkely by his spirit in men but that they may learne to knowe whether it be of him if they would make a due triall because wee must not rest in the outward doing of good things but in the right doing Let him therefore which giueth himselfe to doe good workes and yet feeleth not this which S. Peter saith wee shall suspect that his doings are mis-shapen and be carefull to fashion them after the rules of the word A third sort of men there be which with might and maine will defend this doctrine that men ought to be sure of saluation that we can not more honour God then to giue full credit
the manner of those men which called it saith when as in very deede it is none but onely a certaine resemblance and shadowe thereof Thus much for this enterance and state of his disputation now follow his reasons by which hee doth prooue that this kinde of faith cannot auaile or profit a man for hee doth prcoue it very strongly and pithelie The first of them is taken from a comparison or similitude which hee setteth downe thus If a brother or a sister bee naked and destitute of daily foode and one of you say vnto them Depart in peace warme your selues and sill your bellies notwithstanding ye giue them not those things which are needfull to the booie what helpeth it This is the summe of the matter There commeth vnto you a poore man or a poore woman which lacketh clothes and sustenance you giue them gentle and faire words God helpe ye God succour ye and send yee releefe but yee giue them nothing can this helpe the poore man or the poore woman Shall they not for all your louing words sterue for cold and dye for hunger if euery man should serue them so and giue them no other almes Why doe ye not see then that as this almes and liberalitie to the poore which is but in faire speeches is colde and doth not helpe so in like manner the faith which is but in words and outward profession of speech although it be with neuer so great bragges is dead and then further why doe ye not vnderstand that a thing which is weake and dead in it selfe can by no meanes haue power to giue life and to saue But obserue it a little better thus the comparison standeth if that liberalitie which is onely in words bee cold or dead and doth not profite the poore nor make him a liberall man which vseth it then it followeth also that that faith which is onely in speech is dead and therefore cannot saue or profite him which hath it if words onely could profite or cause it to be faith why should not words also profit the poore man or woman which is destitute If words onely can make a faithful man why shuld not words make a liberall man If for a man to say he hath faith be of that power to do the greatest things as namely to couple vs to Christ to raise the soule frō death to life to put the diuell to flight to ouercome the world should it not be able to do the lesser that is to say so far to preuaile with vs to haue such power in vs as to bring forth good works Deere brethrē know that if it be aliue do the former it must needs do this if it do not this latter thē surely it is dead and can doe nothing to saue vs. This is a most plaine and forcible reason to proue that the faith of a carnall and worldly Gospeller is but a dead shew of faith and therefore he is not iustified nor saued neither can be iustified nor saued thereby seeing it hath no life in it selfe to worke and to bring foorth fruites it cannot giue life vnto him for how should it bring that which it hath not To set it foorth more plainly thus the Apostle addeth but some man might say thou hast the faith and I haue workes shew mee thy faith by thy works and I will shew thee my faith by my workes He sheweth here how euerie simple man which is a true Christian may be able to deale against the greatest and most skilfull Doctor that is to prooue that hee hath no faith if he haue not good works for when he saith Some man will say it is as much as if he had sayd any man may say thou hast faith that is thou makest thy boast that thou hast faith shewe it by thy workes because faith is an holy thing wrought by Gods spirite and a liuely and mightie thing therefore it cannot be without holy and good actions For as a man is knowne to bee dead when he doth not breathe cannot stirre see heare and such like and contrariwise when hee doth any of these he is knowne to bee aliue euen so is it with faith if it can or do bring foorth no good works then is it dead on the contrary part the actions and stirring thereof doe shew it to be aliue This is a strong place against all those which doe not onely vaunt themselues of a vaine and dead beleefe but also would leaue no mark to know who are of God and who are of the diuell Let a man take them tardie in any foule vice wherein they wallow and say vnto them ye are out of the way ye haue not the true beleefe in God ye are couetous ye are a worldling ye are a drunkard and an adulterer or such like their answere is readie Who made you able to iudge can you tell how I beleeue will you take vpon you to see what is in my heart whatsoeuer you say I haue as good a beleefe as your selfe Marke well now I pray ye for here ye may learne how to answere such sellowes say thus vnto them Faith indeed of it selfe is a secret thing in the heart but yet because it can no more be without good deedes then fire can be without heat the Lord doth bid vs by his Apostle to say vnto you shewe mee your faith by your workes and when your tongue is foule and your deedes are wicked most certain it is that the heart is vncleane there is no right faith for that doth purge the heart as S. Peter saith Act. 15. Looke but vpon mens words and outward brags of their beleefe and ye would thinke there were such plentie of faith that there could be almost no more euery man doth so strongly beleeue in Christ But come to this touchstone and triall which is here giuen vs shew thy faith by thy workes and it shall by and by carrie vs so farre on the other side when wee see such flouds of all horrible and beastly sinnes that it will cause vs to thinke vpon this saying When the sonne of man commeth shall he finde faith vpon the earth For if this be true as it is most true because God himselfe hath set it downe that the faith which is without good workes is dead and those are Infidels which like bruit beasts care not but for the things of this world and make no conscience of committing all kinde of euill workes Doe ye suppose that if the sonne of man should now come that he should finde any great store of faith Alas alas how many are the sinfull deedes of the most men which shew that they haue no faith How few are the good workes and how weake euen in the small remnant of the godlie which doth declare how poore and slender their faith is But wee must yet proceede further in this matter and as it were strike it a little deeper As men are wilie to deceiue themselues so they will here
departed Doeth not this improoue the faith of those which for the religion of GOD are so farre off from hazarding their liues and goods that they dare not be seene when neuer so little danger doth arise wherein are those like vnto Rahab which will turne with euery winde and a man can not tell what religion they be of they will be sure to row with the tide and neuer to striue against the streame doe such now iustifie them selues like Rahab haue they such a faith as shee had No dearely beloued they are as yet verie infidels and loue them selues and the worlde more then they loue GOD and his truth this thing then is most euident that the true beleefe doth make all those that haue it ready and willing to lose their liues and their goods for the Gospell this must not seeme to be a strange doctrine when as our Sauiour telleth vs in sundry places that hee that doth not forsake all and take vp his crosse and follow him can not be his disciple Well wee must therefore be so hote and zealous in the profession of true religion that it cause vs to forget our owne state and commoditie we must haue so burning a loue to Gods trueth that nothing may be able to quench the same Wee must not stagger and varie because wee shall endure trouble Let vs conclude this point wherein it is proued that they erre and are deceiued which do not make account of keeping religion pure of louing it before all other things and so of giuing to God his due honour Remember that from hence ye are to fetch the first part of the true description of a godly man and the triall of the iustifying faith which is but one and therefore worketh alike in all which are partakers of it though not in the like measure and withall marke how farre the holy ghost doth differ in setting forth a righteous man from the common manner of worldlings whereas he taketh it to be the chiefe worke which respecteth God himselfe his truth they passe ouer that and count it no matter though a man be an idolater or superstitious or a swearer which doeth not reuerence the name of God so that hee be a friendly man to his friend and such like how great an enemie he be to the worde of God it skilleth not these are bruit beasts without vnderstanding verie Atheistes which will say plainly they can see no difference betweene the papists and the professours of the gospell both because they are not able to iudge of doctrine and also that they look but vnto men Now let vs come to the second thing wherein they erre and which this text doth confute sharply they suppose as I told ye that men are to haue no further regard but to this not to hurt passing by all those duties wherein they are to doe good vnto their brethren not duly considering how the lawe of God doth not only bind vs to abstaine from hurting our neighbour but also doth most straigtly tie vs to doe all good deeds vnto them so that he is guilty before God not only which committeth that which the lawe forbiddeth but also which leaueth the thing vndone which the law inioyneth Now then because the true faith bringeth vs to haue care to obey God wholly Saint lames requireth that a man should shewe his faith not onely by leauing that which is euill but also by the perfourmance of that which is good for thus he saith Shew me thy faith by thy deeds and that faith which is without workes is dead Here by the way obserue by comparison how farre off are those from grace which swarme full of vncleane vices and their whole race is nothing but a continuall sinning whereas this is euidently here prooued that such men as carrie a great shewe of vprightnes in refraining from sundrie vices are still without testimonie of true beleefe because their holy deeds doe not appeare for when as the holy scriptures doe testifie that the heart is purified by faith that those are borne againe in the new and spirituall birth that they are new creatures and haue a new heart and a right spirit created and renued in them it must needs be that they are prepared vnto euery good worke they haue not only put off the olde man with his corrupt lustes but haue also put on the new man which is created in righteousnes true holines as they haue walked in darkenes so now they walke in the light There is one step yet further in this matter I trust that as yee will confesse this That if those doe not beleeue well which haue no good workes to shewe although they bee in some things vpright and much more the foule filthy liuers which dishonour God and his truth so ye will also be brought to see that those miserable men are yet further off which barke against this holy doctrine and can not abide that a man should say to the wicked and vngodly thou art in the way to hell thou shalt die the death if thou returne not from these euils They may thunder and raile against men and say they vtter damnation but let them looke if they can quench the light which the holy ghost hath giuen in this text Let vs returne to the former matter againe Wee must not only abstaine frō euil but also do good there be many likewise deceiued in their doing good restraining it to the baser and lesser part they looke but vnto the bodies of their brethren and suppose they are to haue no further regard but of them to relieue and ease the miseries of the flesh let the soule be neuer so blind neuer so sick in neuer so great danger of eternall destruction they haue no pitie of that which doeth bewray that they see no further then this life they haue no true loue nor pitie in them for then would they loue the soules of men which are so precious they would pitie the wofull miserie that they be in For how absurd a thing is this that one should be carefull to case the calamitie which lasteth but for a day and not respect that which is eternall I must therfore here againe admonish ye that such as will haue proofe of their faith by good workes must exercise the same as well to the soules as to the bodies of men and because therin doth stand the greatest loue of all other they are therein to shew themselues most earnest There is no more excellent note of faith and of the true feare and loue of God then when a man is grieued and mourneth to see men out of the way to life running headlong in their sinnes vnto destruction and when as he doth in loue and pitie admonish them and seeke by instruction to draw them out of the snares of the deuill On the contrary side hee can neuer say he hath any droppe of grace which delighteth and sporteth himselfe at the lewde and wanton behauiour
They were indeede all the sonnes of Iaacob and professed the God of Abraham whom they should with one mouth haue worshipped and glorified as Saint Paul saith Rom. 15. vers 6. but they were diuided and rent asunder for there was bloudie warre and long time continued among the Tribes 2. Sam. 2. and 3 Brethren with deadly hatred and enmitie pursuing their brethren seeking the bloud each of other It could not bee but that great calamities in this time of discorde did ouerspread the whole land they might by experience then and did behold how euill and how mischieuous a thing it is for brethren to be at variance The cutting down of so great an euill taking away all occasion is a very great good Therefore when Abner and Ishebosheth were slaine all Israell came together and set vp Dauid Then there grew a reconciliation of Tribe vnto Tribe and they which were before rent asunder became againe one body brethren imbraced each other with loue the bitter hatred before among them was cut downe and extinguished The worship of God was now set vp the blessings of GOD were powred downe from heauen vpon them in great plentie the whole land did reioyce with ioy and gladnes Therefore hee willeth them now to beholde how good and how comely a thing it is for brethren to dwell also at vnitie Thus were they taught by their owne experience on both sides For they had found the greeuous annoyances of discorde and enmitie on the one part and the benefite of peace on the other and this is it hee willeth them to beholde Beholde how good and how comelie a thing it is which doth cutte downe so great euill and beholde how good and how comelie a thing it is which bringeth with it such great blessings of GOD thus much for the first worde Then to the praise it selfe the first Epithite is how good which containeth the great fruite that ariseth thereof and is afterward set forth by the second comparison that is of the dewe of Hermon for that is a thing fruitefull and good The other is how comelie the worde is Magnim which signifieth beautifull sweete comelie or pleasant as in Psalme 16. where hee speaketh of the resurrection and exaltation of our Sauiour Christ saying Thou wilt shewe me the path of life the fulnes of ioye is in thy presence at thy right hande comely pleasures for euermore This comely pleasant sweetnes of concorde is resembled and shadowed foorth by the former similitude that is of Aarons annointing for that was a very comelie and a sweete thing and had a mysticall signification To vnderstand the better what is here meant first ye may reade of this pretious oyntment both wherof the Lord commanded it should be made and how Aaron his sons should bee annointed therewith vnto the Priests office in Exod. 30. Then further we are taught in the Scriptures that Aaron was a figure of Christ and that this annointing of his with that precious sweete oyntment did represent the spirituall and heauenly annoynting of Christ Iesus with the holie Ghost whose graces distill from him the head vpon euery part of his mysticall bodie which is the Church Of him it is sayd The spirit of the Lord is vpon me because he hath annoynted me c. Luke 4. vers 18. Marke further then wherein the comparison holdeth Thus powring the precious oyntment vpon Aarons head running downe vpon his beard and to the skirts of his clothing was pleasant to behold and cast foorth a sweete sauour vnto all that stood round about Also in that it descendeth vpon his beard and so downeward vpon all parts euen to the skirts of his clothing it resembleth the graces of the holie Ghost flowing downe from the Lord Iesus Christ vpon all the members of his bodie knit together in an holie vnitie When it went downe from Aarons head vpon his bodie vnited to the same it descendeth euen to the lowest part of his garment because there is no rent nor separation Euen so the Church vnited vnto Christ her head and euery member of the same vnited vnto the rest in an holie vnion and making one bodie the heauenly graces of the holie Ghost farre sweeter then that precious oyntment flow from him vpon them and all are partakers thereof euen the lowest and meanest member euen to the skirts For where they are ioyned in this spirituall vnitie looke what graces soeuer God from his sonne Christ doth powre vpon the highest members that is vpon Princes and Pastors they distill also vpon the other parts and members and so from each to other That which was separate from the head from the bodie and from the garments of Aaron receiued no drop of that precious oyntment which descended from the head to a bodie vnited and to all parts of the garments wrought together In like manner the graces of the holy Ghost descend from Christ the head vpon nothing that is separate and deuided and rent from him but vpon all the members vnited in one bodie Wee may then briefly set foorth what this similitude declareth in this wise The sweete oyntment is powred vpon the head of Aaron it goeth down vpon his beard then vpon his shoulders and all parts of his bodie euen to the lowest border of his garments Iesus Christ the head of the Church is annoynted with the holie Ghost and from him the sweete graces descend and come vpon al the bodie and vpon euery member of the bodie euen to the meanest this it is to bee vnited to him and to his Church this is a thing most sweet and most comfortable In the other similitude he resembleth this vnitie vnto the dew of Hermon which commeth downe vpon the mountaines of Sion the waters which fall vpon the high mountaine distill into the valleies but into those valleies which are ioyned thereunto at the foote thereof and make them plentiously fruitfull euen so the heauenly spirituall dewes that come downe from aboue vpon the mountaines flow vpon the valleies which are vnited thereunto and there is great fruit and all good things springing from thence Thus much wee may consider in these similitudes which expresse how good and how comely a thing it is for brethren also to dwell at vnitie Now all this is from the most high God for he saith there that is to say vpon those which dwell together in this holy vnitie the Lord hath commaunded the blessing and life for euermore It is Gods vnchangeable decree that they shall haue the blessing that is the great great high blessing euen the blessing of all blessings in euerlasting continuance This can neuer faile for God almightie is vnchaungeable and what he hath decreed and commaunded shall stande for euer This may perswade much to dwell in vnitie for it is a goodly matter to bee vnder the blessing of almightie God and there that is vpon the vnitie of brethren he hath commended his blessing and no where els for this there is
God and if they be continued in without redresse who is able to shewe the punishments and calamities which in time will ensue and come vpon vs in this land The contempt of the Gospell and growing into Atheisme thereby will drawe downe infinite plagues and miseries For the righteous God will not alwaies suffer such abuse vnreuenged Then seeing vnitie is so good bringing so many blessings and discord so euill drawing such an heape of mischiefes with it the one as a nourisher of true life is to be sought for and maintained by all godly Christians and the other is to be eschued as a deadly pestilence and this is to be done of vs speedily because dissention is like the breaking out of waters the longer it continueth the wider is the breach made and so becommeth the more difficult to be recouered This being confessed of all for there is no man I thinke that will denie but that it is a most necessary thing in Gods Church and among brethren to eschewe discord and to seeke vnitie therefore let vs in the next place consider and vnderstand how it is to be sought for let it be that we both agree it is to be sought and also doe seeke for it yet if we seeke not the right way we are neuer the better for seeking First then knowe this that there are two sorts of vnitie and agreement the one is in God being in the truth in the spirite in true holinesse and sanctification The other is in error and sinne and not in the Lord. Now indeed it is the holy vnitie in the Lord which is praised in this Psalme and which we must seeke after vpon which the blessing of God shall come This may yee see by that exhortation of Saint Paul Ephes 4. When hee saith studying to keepe the vnitie of the spirit in the band of peace for hee addeth as the reason There is one bodie and one spirit as yee are all called in hope of your calling one Lord one faith one baptisme one God and father of all c. For like as all the members of the naturall bodie are coupled togither by one soule and make but one bodie so by one spirit of the Lord all the faithfull are vnited and become all one mysticall bodie of Iesus Christ by one faith and by one baptisme they are all in one Lord and in one God The foundation of this vnitie is in the truth and by it men grow vp togither in God and for this cause it is said in the first verse of the Psalme Brethren also to dwell in vnitie Hee saith also because as there is a reconciliation wrought by Christ betweene God and man and so a man is come into vnitie with God he must also growe into vnitie with those which are togither reconciled to the Lorde with him seeke this vnitie to bee vnited with our brethren vnto God otherwise all shall be dissolued and scattered againe in confusion Touching that other concorde which is in errour and wickednesse they which possesse it who are of diuers sorts do commend it and much complaine of the disturbance and breach thereof As first of all the Papists make a great exclamation against vs which professe the glorious Gospell and haue forsaken them that like wicked Schismaticks we haue disturbed and broken this holy vnitie by rending our selues from the true Church and so from the faith and from Christes mysticall bodie this is a grieuous and a sore accusation if their vnitie which they glorie of were in the truth But seeing it is most euident that they haue forsaken the truth of God blaspheme and condemne it and set vp abominable errours and cursed Idolatrie all their agreements all their holy league as they tearme it is no more but a most wicked and cursed conspiracie against God and his people What is their vnitie more then that which is described by the Prophet Dauid Psal 2. Why do the Gentils rage and the people meditate that which is vaine The kings of the earth stand vp and the Princes take counsell togither against the Lorde and against his Christ Here is a great vnitie nay a conspiracie of wicked traitors against Christ This perplexitie is fulfilled by them And wee haue the commandement of God by the voice of the Angel Come out from among them my people and separate your selues so that all their cry is nothing against vs wee haue not dissolued this blessed vnity here commended but haue forsaken their cursed conspiracy which the neerer a mā is ioyned vnto the further off he is from God Let no man therefore be troubled or disquieted by their great wordes but forsaking them imbrace the holy faith and be vnited thereby togither with the Prophets and Apostles and all holy men vnto Iesus Christ Ye shall heare many other sorts of men complaine that there is not fellowship and vnity kept with them When indeede as they walke after their wicked and vncleane lustes in all abominable sinnes as in contempt of gods word in drunkennesse whoredom pride ambition couetousnes vsury extortion briberie oppression enuie and many such like The holy ghost saith vnto vs Haue no fellowship with the vnfruitfull workes of darkenes but rather reprooue them Ephes 5.11 We can not ioyne Christ and Belial we can not be vnited to the Lord and haue fellowshippe in wicked sinnes If wee say wee haue fellowship with him saith S. Iohn and walke in darkenesse wee lie c. 1. Iohn vers 6. Ephes 5.11 Hee that crieth out for peace and doth walke in vngodly waies straying from the truth and from sanctification whatsoeuer he will seeme to be he is nothing els but a disturber and breaker of all holy vnitie For who can take part with him in those things but he shall separate himselfe as I haue shewed from truth and godlines without which there can be no blessed vnitie Saint Peter calleth our Lorde Iesus Christ a liuing stone vnto whome all the faithfull comming as liuing stones are built vp and become a spirituall house 1. Pet. 2. If stones be not squared and made smooth to fit ioyne togither how shall they grow into one building If men be not framed in faith and godlines how shall they be vnited in the Lord Indeede there be imperfections both in doctrine and manners all the best he wen stones haue some ruggednesse remaining and men must beare one with another in much for charitie must couer the multitude of sinnes 1. Pet. 4 while the Temple of God is in the world the stones are not perfectly set togither but the worke is still in hand this Temple is still in building wee must beware of the downefall on that side also Then seeing this blessed vnitie must be in God in the truth in the spirit to be built vp in Christ Iesus in true sanctification for hee that is in Christ is a new creature and seeing all concord without this foundation shall fall downe as a rotten building let the