Coniecture to me by the familiar spirit and bring me vp whom I shall name vnto thee An obdurate heart can giue way to any thing Notwithstanding the peremptory edict of Saul there are still Witches in Israel Neither good lawes nor carefull executions can purge the Church from Malefactors There will still be some that will ieopard their heads vpon the grossest sins No garden can bee so curiously tended that there should not be one weed left in it Yet so farre can good statutes and due inflictions of punishment vpon offenders preuaile that mischeeuous persons are glad to pull in their heads and dare not doe ill but in disguise and darknesse It is no small aduantage of Iustice that it affrights sin if it cannot be expelled As contrarily wofull is the condition of that place where is a publique profession of wickednesse This Witch was no lesse crafty then wicked she had before as is like bribed Officers to escape inditement lurke in secrecy and now shee will not worke her feats without security her suspition proiects the worst Wherefore seekest thou to take me in a snare to cause me to dye Oh vaine Sorceresse that could bee wary to auoyd the punishment of Saul carelesse to auoyd the judgement of God Could wee fore-thinke what our sinne would cost vs we durst not but bee innocent This is a good and seasonable answer for vs to make vnto Satan when he sollicites vs to euill Wherefore seekest thou to take me in a snare to cause me to dye Nothing is more sure then this intention in the tempter then this euent in the issue Oh that we could but so much feare the eternall paines as wee doe the temporary and bee but so carefull to saue our soules from torment as our bodies No sooner hath Saul sworne her safety then shee addresseth her to her sorcery Hope of impunity drawes on sinne with boldnesse were it not for the delusions of false promises Satan should haue no Clients Could Saul be so ignorant as to thinke that Magick had power ouer Gods deceased Saints to raise them vp yea to call them downe from their rest Time was when Saul was among the Prophets And yet now that he is in the impure lodg of Diuels how sencelesse he is to say Bring me vp Samuel It is no rare thing to lose euen our wit and judgement together with graces How justly are they giuen ouer to sottishnesse that haue giuen themselues ouer to sin The Sorceresse it seemes exercising her coniurations in a roome apart is informed by her Familiar who it was that set her on worke shee can therefore finde time in the midst of her exorcismes to binde the assurance of her owne safety by expostulation Shee cryed with a loud voyce Why hast thou deceiued mee for thou art Saul The very name of Saul was an accusation Yet is hee so far from striking his brest that doubting lest this feare of the Witch should interrupt the desired worke hee encourages her whom he should haue condemned Be not afraid He that had more cause to feare for his owne sake in an expectation of just judgement cheeres vp her that feared nothing but himselfe How ill doth it become vs to giue that counsell to others whereof wee haue more need and vse in our owne persons As one that had more care to satisfie his curiosity then her suspicion he asks What sawest thou Who would not haue looked that Sauls haire should haue stared on his head to heare of a spirit raised His sinne hath so hardened him that hee rather pleases himselfe in it which hath nothing in it but horror So far is Satan content to descend to the seruice of his seruants that he will approue his fained obedience to their very outward sences What forme is so glorious that hee either cannot or dare not vndertake Here Gods ascend out of the earth Elsewhere Satan transformes him into an Angell of light What wonder is it that his wicked Instruments appeare like Saints in their hypocriticall dissimulation If wec will bee iudging by the appearance we shall be sure to erre No eie could distinguish betwixt the true Samuel and a false spirit Saul who was well worthy to bee deceiued seeing those gray haires and that mantle inclines himselfe to the ground and bowes himselfe Hee that would not worship God in Samuel aliue now worships Samuel in Satan and no meruel Satan was now become his refuge in stead of God his Vrim was darknesse his Prophet a Ghost Euery one that consults with Satan worships him though hee bow not neither doth that euill spirit desire any other reuerence then to bee sought to How cunningly doth Satan resemble not onely the habit and gesture but the language of Samuel Wherefore hast thou disquieted me and wherefore doest thou aske of mee seeing the Lord is gone from thee and is thine enemy Nothin is more pleasing to that euill one then to be solicited yet in the person of Samuel hee can say Why hast thou disquieted mee Had not the Lord beene gone from Saul he had neuer comne to the diuellish Oracle of Endor and yet the counterfetting spirit can say Why dost thou aske of mee seeing the Lord is gone from thee Satan cares not how little he is knowne to bee himselfe hee loues to passe vnder any forme rather then his owne The more holy the person is the more carefully doth Satan act him that by his stale he may ensnare vs. In euery motion it is good to try the spirits whether they bee of God Good words are no meanes to distinguish a Prophet from a Deuill Samuel himselfe whiles hee was aliue could not haue spoken more grauely more seuerely more diuinely then this euill Ghost For the Lord will rent thy Kingdome out of thy hand and giue it thy neighbour Dauid because thou obeyedst not the voyce of the Lord nor executedst his fierce wrath vpon the Amalekites therefore hath the Lord done this vnto thee this day When the Diuell himselfe puts on grauity and religion who can maruell at the hypocrisie of men Well may lewd men bee good Preachers when Satan himselfe can play the Prophet Where are those Ignorants that thinke charitably of charmes and spels because they finde nothing in them but good words What Prophet could speake better words then this Diuell in Samuels mantle Neither is there at any time so much danger of that wicked spirit as when hee speakes best I could wonder to heare Satan preach thus prophetically if I did not know that as he was once a good Angell so hee can still act what hee was Whiles Saul was in consultation of sparing Agag we shall neuer finde that Satan would lay any block in his way Yea then he was a prompt Orator to induce him into that sin now that it is past gone he can lade Saul with fearfull denunciations of judgment Till wee haue sinn'd Satan is a Parasite when wee haue sinn'd hee is a Tyrant What cares
If his mother could say when her blessed cozen the Virgin Mary came to visit her Whence is this to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me how much more might hee say so when the diuine Son of that mother came to call for a fauor from him I haue neede to bee baptized of thee and commest thou to me O holy Baptist if there were not a greater borne of women then thou yet thou couldest not be borne of a woman and not neede to be baptized of thy Sauiour Hee baptized with fire thou with water Little would thy water haue auailed thee without his fire If he had not baptized thee how wert thou sanctified from the wombe There can be no flesh without filthinesse neither thy supernaturall conception nor thy austere life could exempt thee from the need of baptisme Euen those that haue not liued to sin after the similitude of Adam yet are they so tainted with Adam that vnlesse the second Adam clense them by his baptisme they are hopelesse There is no lesse vse of baptisme vnto all then there is certainty of the need of baptisme Iohn baptized without Christ within The more holy a man is the more sensible he is of his vnholinesse No carnall man could haue said I haue need to be baptized of thee neither can he finde what he is the better for a little Font-water The sence of our wretchednes and the valuation of our spirituall helps is the best tryall of our regeneration Our Sauiour doth not deny that either Iohn hath need to be baptized of him or that it is strange that he should come to be baptized of Iohn but he will needs thus far both honor Iohn and disparage himselfe to be baptized of his Messenger he that would take flesh of the Virgin education from his Parents sustenance from his creatures will take baptisme from Iohn It is the prayse of his mer cy that hee will stoope so low as to bee beholden to his creatures which from him receiue their being and power both to take and giue Yet not so much respect to Iohn as obedience to his Father drew him to this poynt of humiliation Thus it behooues vs to fulfill all righteousnesse The counsels and appoyntments of God are righteousnesse it selfe There needs no other motiue either to the seruant or the Son then the knowledge of those righteous purposes This was enough to lead a faithfull man thorow all difficulties and inconueniences neither will it admit of any reply or any demurre Iohn yeeldeth to this honour which his Sauiour puts vpon him in giuing baptisme to the Authour of it Hee baptized others to the remission of their sinnes now hee baptizes him by them they are remitted both to the Baptizer and to others No sooner is Christ baptized then hee comes forth of the water The element is of force but during the vse It turnes common when that is past neither is the water sooner powred on his head then the Heauens are opened and the Holy Ghost descendeth vpon that head which was baptized The Heauens are neuer shut whiles either of the Sacraments is duely administred and receiued neither doe the Heauens euer thus open without the descent of the Holy Ghost But now that the God of Heauen is baptized they open vnto him which are opened to all the faithfull by him and that Holy Ghost which proceeded from him together with the Father ioynes with the Father in a sensible testimony of him that now the world might see what interest hee had in the Heauens in the Father in the Holy Spirit and might expect nothing but diuine from the enttance of such a Mediator CHRIST tempted NO sooner is Christ comne out of the water of Baptisme then he enters into the fire of Tentation No sooner is the Holy Spirit descended vpon his head in the forme of a Doue then hee is led by the spirit to be tempted No sooner doth God say This is my Son then Satan sayes If thou bee the Son of God It is not in the power either of the gtft or seales of Grace to deliuer vs from the assaults of Satan they may haue the force to repell euill suggestions they haue none to preuent them yea the more we are ingaged vnto God by our publique vowes and his pledges of fauour so much more busie and violent is the rage of that euill one to encounter vs Wee are no sooner stept forth into the field of God then hee labours to wrest our weapons out of our hands or to turne them against vs. The voyce from Heauen acknowledged Christ to bee the Son of God this diuine Testimony did not allay the malice of Satan but exasperate it Now that venomous Serpent swels with inward poyson and hastes to assayle him whom God hath honored from Heauen O God how should I looke to escape the suggestious of that wicked one when the Son of thy loue cannot bee free when euen grace it selfe drawes on enmity That Enemy that spared not to strike at the head will he forbeare the weakest and remotest lim Arme thou mee therefore with an expectation of that euill I cannot auoyd Make thou me as strong as he is malicious Say to my soule also Thou art my Son and let Satan doe his worst All the time of our Sauiours obscurity I doe not finde him set vpon Now that hee looks forth to the publique execution of his diuine Office Satan bends his forces against him Our priuacy perhaps may sit down in peace but neuer man did endeauour a common good without opposition It is a signe that both the work is holy the Agent faithfull when wee meet with strong affronts We haue reason to bee comforted with nothing so much as with resistance If we were not in a way to do good we should finde no rubs Satan hath no cause to molest his owne and that whiles they goe about his owne seruice Hee desires nothing more then to make vs smooth paths to sin but when we would turne our feet to holinesse hee blocks vp the way with tentations Who can wonder enough at the sawcines of that bold Spirit that dares to set vpon the Son of the euerliuing God who can wonder enough at thy meeknes patience ô Sauiour that wouldst be tempted He wanted not malice and presumption to assault thee thou wantedst not humility to endure those assaults I should stand amazed at this voluntary dispensation of thine but that I see the susception of our humane nature layes thee open to this condition It is necessarily incident to manhood to be liable to tentations Thou wouldest not haue put no flesh if thou hadst meant vtterly to put off this consequence of our infirmity If the state of innocence could haue beene any defence against euill motions the first Adam had not been tempted much lesse the second It is not the presenting of tentation that can hurt vs but their entertainment Ill counsell is the fault of
and is now payed with the bloud of his son how shall I hope to speede better but he opens his doores with a bold cheerefulnesse and notwithstanding all those terrors bids God welcome Nothing can make God not amiable to his owne Euen his very Iustice is louely Holy men know how to reioyce in the Lord with trembling and can feare without discouragement The God of Heauen will not receiue any thing from men on free cost hee will pay liberally for his lodging a plentifull blessing vpon Obed-Edom and all his houshold It was an honour to that zealous Gittite that the Arke would come vnder his roofe yet God rewards that honour with benediction Neuer man was a loser by true godlinesse The house of Obed-Edom cannot this while want obseruation the eyes of Dauid and all Israel are neuer off from it to see how it fared with this entertainment And now when they finde nothing but a gracious acceptation and sensible blessing the good King of Israel takes new heart and hastens to fetch the Arke into his royall City The view of Gods fauours vpon the godly is no small encouragement to confidence and obedience Doubtlesse Obed-Edom was not free from some weaknesses If the Lord should haue taken the aduantage of judgement against him what Israelites had not been dishartned from attending the Arke Now Dauid Israel was not more affrighted with the vengeance vpon Vzzah then encouraged by the blessing of Obed-Edom The wise God doth so order his iust and mercifull proceedings that the awefulnesse of men may be tempered with loue Now the sweet singer of Israel reuiues his holy Musicke and addes both more spirit and more pompe to so deuout a businesse I did not before heare of trumpets nor dancing nor shouting nor sacrifices nor the linnen Ephod The sense of Gods passed displeasure doubles our care to please him and our ioy in his recouered approbation wee neuer make so much of our health as after sicknesse nor neuer are so officious to our frend as after an vnkindnesse In the first setting out of the Ark Dauids feare was at least an equall match to his ioy therefore after the first sixe paces hee offred a sacrifice both to pacifie God and thank him but now when they saw no signe of dislike they did more freely let themselues loose to a fearelesse ioy and the body stroue to expresse the holy affection of the Soule there was no limme no part that did not professe their mirth by motion no noyse of voyce or instrument wanted to assist their spirituall iollity Dauid led the way dauncing with all his might in his linnen Ephod Vzzah was still in his eye he durst not vsurpe vpon a garment of Priests but hee will borrow their colour to grace the solemnity though he dare not the fashion White was euer the colour of ioy and linnen was light for vse therfore he couers his Princely robes with white linnin and meanes to honor himselfe by his conformity to Gods ministers Those that thinke there is disgrace in the Ephod are farre from the Spirit of the man after Gods owne hart Neither can there bee a greater argument of a foule Soule then a dislike of the glorious calling of God Barren Mical hath too many Sons that scorne the holy habit and exercises shee lookes through her window and seeing the attyre and gestures of her deuout husband despiseth him in her hart neither can shee conceale her contempt but like Sauls daughter cast it proudly in his face Oh how glorious was the King of Israel this day which was vncouered to day in the eyes of the Maidens of his seruants as a foole vncouereth himselfe Worldly harts can see nothing in actions of zeale but folly and madnesse Piety hath no relish to their palate but distastfull Dauids hart did neuer swell so much at any reproch as this of his wife his loue was for the time lost in his anger and as a man impatient of no affront so much as in the way of his deuotion hee returnes a bitter checke to his Micall It was before the Lord which chose me rather then thy Father all his house c. Had not Mical twitted her husband with the shame of his zeale she had not heard of the shamefull reiection of her Father now since shee will be forrgetting whose wife she was she shall be put in minde whose daughter she was Contumelyes that are cast vpon vs in the causes of God may safely bee repayed If we be meal-mouthed in the scornes of religion wee are not patient but zeale-lesse Heere we may not forbeare her that lies in our bosome If Dauid had not loued Mical dearely he had neuer stood vpon those points with Abner Hee knew that if Abner came to him the Kingdome of Israel would accompany him and yet he sends him the charge of not seeing his face except he brought Mical Sauls daughter with him as if he would not regard the Crowne of Israel whiles hee wanted that wife of his Yet heere hee takes her vp roundly as if she had bene an enimy not a partener of his bed All relations are a loofe off in comparison of that betwixt God and the Soule He that loues Father or Mother or wife or childe better then me saith our Sauiour is not worthy of me Euen the highest delights of our harts must be trampled vpon when they will stand out in riuality with God Oh happy resolution of the royall Prophet and propheticall King of Israel I will bee yet more vile then thus and will bee low in mine owne sight he knew this very abasement heroycall and that the only way to true glory is not to be ashamed of our lowest humiliation vnto God Well might he promise himselfe honor from those whose contempt shee had threatned The hearts of men are not their owne hee that made them ouer-rules them and inclines them to an honorable conceit of those that honor their maker So as holy men haue oft-times inward reuerence euen where they haue outward indignities Dauid came to blesse his house Mical brings a curse vpon her selfe Her scornes shall make her childelesse to the day of her death Barrennesse was held in those times none of the least iudgements God doth so reuenge Dauids quarrell vpon Mical that her sudden disgrace shall bee recompenced with perpetuall Shee shall not bee held worthy to beare a Sonne to him whom she vniustly contemned How iust is it with God to prouide whips for the back scorners It is no maruell if those that mocke at goodnesse bee plagued with continuall fruitlesnesse Mephibosheth and Ziba SO soone as euer Dauid can but breathe himselfe from the publique cares hee casts backe his thoughts to the deare remembrance of his Ionathan Sauls seruant is likely to giue him the best intelligence of Sauls sons The question is therfore moued to Ziba Remaineth there yet none of the house of Saul and lest suspition might conceale the remainders of
said if he had suddenly leapt forth into the cleare light of the world The Sunne would dazle all eyes if hee should breake forth at his first rising into his full strength now he hath both the day-star to goe before him and to bid men looke for that glorious body and the liuely colours of the day to publish his approch the eye is comforted not hurt by his appearance The Parents of Christ went vp yearely to Ierusalem at the feast of the Passouer the law was onely for the males I doe not finde the blessed virgin bound to this voyage the weaker sexe receiued indulgence from God yet shee knowing the spirituall profit of that iourney takes paines voluntarily to measure that long way euery yeare Piety regards not any distinction of sexes or degrees nether yet doth Gods acceptation rather doth it please the mercy of the highest more to reward that seruice which though he like in all yet out of fauour he will not impose vpon all It could not be but that she whom the holy ghost ouershadowed should bee zealous of Gods seruice those that will go no further then they are dragged in their religious exercises are no whit of kinne to her whom all generations shall call blessed The childe Iesus in the minority of his age went vp with his Parents to the holy solemnity not this yeare onely but in all likelyhood others also hee in the power of whose God-head and by the motion of whose Spirit all others ascended thither would not himselfe stay at home In al his examples he meant our Instruction this pious act of his nonage intended to lead our first yeares into timely deuotion The first liquor seasons the vessell for a long time after It is euery way good for a man to beare Gods yoke euen from his Infancy it is the policie of the deuill to discourage early holynes hee that goes out betimes in the morning is more like to dispatch his iourney then he that lingers till the day bee spent This blessed Family came not to looke at the feast be gone but they duely stayd out all the appointed dayes of vnleauened bread they and the rest of Israel could not want houshold businesses at home those secular affaires could not either keepe them from repayring to Ierusalem or send them away immaturely Worldly cares must giue place to the sacred Except wee will depart vnblessed we must attend Gods seruices till wee may receiue his dismission It was the fashion of those times and places that they went vp and so returned by troupes to those set meetings of their holy festiuals The whole parish of Nazareth went and came together Good-fellowship doth no way so well as in the passage to Heauen much comfort is added by society to that iourney which is of it selfe pleasant It is an happy word Come let vs go vp to the house of the Lord Mutual incouragement is none of the least benefits of our holy assemblies Many sticks layd together make a good fire which if they lye single lose both their light and heat The feast ended what should they do but return to Nazareth Gods seruices may not bee so attended as that wee should neglect our particular callings Himselfe cals vs from his owne house to ours and takes pleasure to see a painfull Client They are fouly mistaken that thinke God cares for no other trade but deuotion Piety diligence must keep meet changes with each other neither doth God lesse acept of our returne to Nazareth then our going vp to Ierusalem I cannot thinke that the blessed Virgin or good Ioseph could be so negligent of their diuine charge as not to call the childe Iesus to their setting forth from Ierusalem But their backe was no sooner turned vpon the Temple then his face was towards it hee had businesse in that place when theirs was ended there hee was both worshipped and represented hee in whom the God-head dwelt bodily could do nothing without God his true father led him away from his supposed Sometimes the affaires of our ordinary vocation may not grudge to yeeld vnto spirituall occasions The Parents of Christ knew him well to be of a disposition not strange nor sullen and stoycall but sweet and sociable and therfore they supposed he had spent the time and the way in the company of their frends and neighbours They doe not suspect him wandred into the solitary fields but when euening came they go to seeke him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance If hee had not wonted to conuerse formerly with them hee had not now beene sought amongst them Neither as God nor man doth he take pleasure in a sterne froward austerity and wilde retirednesse but in a milde affablenesse and amiable conuersasation But ô blessed Virgin who can expresse the sorrowes of thy perplexed soule when all that euening-search could affoord thee no newes of thy Son Iesus Was not this one of those swords of Simeon which should pierce thorow thy tender brest How didst thou chide thy credulous neglect in not obseruing so precious a charge and blame thine eyes for once looking beside this obiect of thy loue How didst thou with thy carefull husband spend that restlesse night in mutuall expostulations and bemonings of your losse How many suspicious imaginations did that while racke thy greeued spirit Perhaps thou mightst doubt lest they which layd for him by Herods command at his birth had now by the secret instigation of Archelaus surprized him in his child-hood or it may be thou thoughtst thy diuine Son had now withdrawne himselfe from the earth and returned to his heauenly glory without warning or peraduenture thou studyedst with thy selfe whether any careles on thy behalfe had not giuen occasion to this absence Oh deare Sauiour who can misse and not mourne for thee Neuer any soule conceiued thee by faith that was lesse afflicted with the sense of thy dissertion then comforted with the ioy of thy presence Iust is that sorrow and those teares seasonable that are bestowed vpon thy losse What comfort are we capable of whiles we want thee What relish is there in these earthly delights without thee What is there to mitigate our passionate discomforts if not from thee Let thy selfe loose ô my soule to the fulnesse of sorrow when thou findest thy selfe bereeued of him in whose presence is the fulnesse of ioy and deny to receiue comfort from any thing saue from his returne In vaine is Christ sought among his kinred according to the flesh So far are they still from giuing vs their ayd to find the true Messias that they lead vs from him Backe againe therefore are Ioseph and Mary gone to seeke him at Hierusalem Shee goes about in the City by the streets and by the open places and seekes him whom her soule loueth She sought him for the time and found him not Doe we thinke she spared her search the euening of her returne shee hastes to the Inne where she last left
doth so her Son and Sauiour is her monitor out of his diuine loue reforming her naturall How is â—t that ye sought me Knew ye not â—hat I must goe about my Fathers businesse Immediately before the blessed virgin had said thy father and I sought thee with heauy hearts Wherein both according to the supposition of the world she called Ioseph the father of Christ and according to the fashion of a dutifull wife shee names her Ioseph before her selfe She well knew that Ioseph had nothing but a name in this busines she knew how God had dignified her beyond him yet she saies Thy father and I soughâ— thee The Sonne of God stand not vpon contradiction to hiâ— mother but leading he thoughts from his supposed father to his true from earth tâ— heauen he answers Knew ye noâ— that I must goe about my Fatherâ— businesse It was honor enough to her that hee had vouchsafed to take flesh of her It was his eternall honor that hee waâ— God of God the euerlasting Son of the heauenly Father good reason therefore was it that the respects to flesh should giue place to the God of Spirits How well contented was holy Mary with so iust an answer how doth she now again in her hart renew her answer to the Angell Behold the seruant of the Lord be it according to thy word We are all the sonnes of God in another kinde Nature and the world thinkes wee should attend them we are not worthy to say we haue a Father in heauen if we cannot steale away from these earthly distractions and imploy our selues in the seruices of our God Christs Baptisme IOHN did euery way fore-runne Christ not so much in the time of his birth as in his office nether was there more vnlikenesse in their disposition and carriage then similitude in their function both did preach and baptise only Iohn baptised by himselfe our Sauiour by his disciples our Sauiour wrought miracles by himselfe by his disciples Iohn wrought none by either Wherein Christ meant to shew himselfe a Lord and Iohn a seruant and Iohn meant to approue himselfe a true seruant to him whose harbinger he was hee that leapt in the wombe of his mother when his Sauiour then newly conceiued came in presence bestirred himselfe when hee was brought forth into the light of the Church to the honor and seruice of his Sauiour he did the same before Christ which Christ charged his disciples to doe after him preach and baptise The Gospell ran alwayes in one tenor and was neuer but like it selfe So it became the word of him in whom there is no shadow by turning and whose word it is I am Iehoua I change not It was fit that hee which had the Prophets the starre the Angels to foretell his comming into the world should haue his Vsher to goe before him when he would notifie himselfe to the world Iohn was the voyce of a Cryer Christ was the word of his Father it was fit this voyce should make a noyse to the world ere the word of the Father should speake to it Iohns note was still repentance the axe to the root the fan to the flowre the chaffe to the fire as his rayment was rough so was his tongue and if his food were wilde hony his speech was stinging locusts Thus must the way be made for Christ in euery hart Plausibility is no fit preface to regeneration if the hart of man had continued vpright God might haue beene intertained without contradiction but now violence must be offered to our corruption ere we can haue roome for grace if the great way-maker doe not cast downe hills and rayse vp vallyes in the bosomes of men there is no passage for Christ neuer will Christ come into that soule where the herald of repentance hath not beene before him That Sauiour of ours who from eternity lay hid in the counsell of God who in the fulnes of time so came that hee lay hid in the wombe of his mother for the space of forty weekes after hee was come thought fit to lye hid in Nazareth for the space of thirty yeares now at last begins to shew himselfe to the world and comes from Galile to Iordan He that was God alwayes and might haue beene perfect man in an instant would by degrees rise to the perfection both of his manhood and execution of his mediator-ship to teach vs the necessity of leasure in spirituall proceedings that many suns and successions of seasons and meanes must be stayd for ere we can attaine our maturity and that when we are ripe for the imployments of God wee should no lesse willingly leaue our obscurity then wee tooke the benefit of it for our preparation He that was formerly circumcised would now bee baptised what is baptisme but an Euangelicall circumcision What was circumcision but a legall baptisme One both supplyed and succeeded the other yet the author of both will vndergoe both He would be circumcised to satisfie his Church that was and baptised to sanctifie his Church that should bee that so in both Testaments hee might open away into heauen There was in him neither filthines nor fore-skin of corruption that should need either knife or water He came not to be a Sauiour for himselfe but for vs we are all vncleanenesse and vncircumcision he would therefore haue that done to his most pure body which should be of force to cleare our impure soules thus making himselfe sinne for vs that we might be made the righteousnes of God in him His baptisme giues vertue to ours His last action or rather passion was his baptising with blood his first was his baptization with water both of them wash the world from their sins Yea this latter did not only wash the soules of men but washeth that very water by which wee are washed from hence is that made both cleane and holy and can both cleanse and hallow vs And if the very hadkerchiefe which touched his Apostles had power of cure how much more that Water which the sacred body of Christ touched Christ comes far to seeke his baptisme to teach vs for whose sake he was baptised to wait vpon the ordinances of God and to sue for the fauour of spirituall blessings They are worthlesse commodities that are not worth seeking for it is rarely scene that God is found of any man vnsought for that desire which only makes vs capable of good things cannot stand with neglect Iohn durst not baptize vnbidden his Master sent him to doe this seruice and behold the Master comes to his seruant to call for the participation of that priuiledge which he himselfe had instituted and enioyned how willingly should wee come to our spirituall Superiors for our part in those mysteries which God hath left in their keeping yâ—â— how gladly should wee come to that Christ who giues vs these blessings who is giuen to vs in them This seemed too great an honour for the modesty of Iohn to receiue
vnkinde vsage neuer any for the disparagement of it selfe and intreaties of humility Simon could not deuise how to hold Christ faster then by thus suing to him to be gone then by thus pleading his vnworthinesse O my soule be not weary of complaining of thine owne wretchednesse disgrace thy selfe to him that knowes thy vilenes be astonished at those mercies which haue shamed thine ill deseruings Thy Sauiour hath no power to goe away from a prostrate hart Hee that resists the proud hartens the lowly Feare not for I will make thee hence-forth a fisher of men Lo this humility is rewarded with an Apostleship What had the earth euer more glorious then a legacy from heauen He that bad Christ goe from him shall haue the honor to goe first on this happy errand This was a trade that Simon had no skill of it could not but be enough to him that Christ said I will make thee the miracle shewd him able to make good his word hee that hath power to command the fishes to be taken can easily enable the hands to take them What is this diuine trade of ours then but a spirituall piscation The world is a sea soules like fishes swim at liberty in this deep the nets of wholsome doctrine draw vp some to the shore of grace and glory How much skill and toyle and patience is requisite in this art Who is sufficient for these things This sea these nets the fishers the fish the vessels are all thine ô God doe what thou wilt in vs and by vs Giue vs ability and grace to take giue men will and grace to bee taken and take thou glory by that which thou hast giuen The marriage in Cana. WAS this then thy first miracle ô Sauiour that thou wroughts in Cana of Galile And could there be a greater miracle then this that hauing bene thirty yeares vpon earth thou didst no miracle till now That thy diuinity did hide it selfe thus long in flesh that so long thou wouldst lye obscure in a corner of Galile vnknowne to that world thou camest to redeeme That so long thou wouldst strayne the patient expectation of those who euer since thy Star waited vpon the reuelation of a Messias Wee silly wretches if wee haue but a dram of vertue are ready to set it out to the best show thou who receiuedst not the Spirit by measure wouldst content thy selfe with a willing obscurity and concealedst that power that made the world in the roofe of an humane brest in a cottage of Nazareth O Sauiour none of thy miracles is more worthy of astonishment then thy not doing of miracles What thou didst in priuate thy wisdome thought fit for secrecy but if thy blessed mother had not beene acquainted with some domesticall wonders she had not now expected a miracle abroad The starres are not seene by day the Sun it selfe is not seene by night As it is no small art to hide Art so is it no small glory to conceale glory Thy first publique miracle graceth a marriage It is an ancient and laudable institution that the rites of matrimony should not want a solemne celebration When are feasts in season if not at the recouery of our lost ribbe If not at this maine change of our estate wherein the ioy of obtaining meets with the hope of further comforts The Son of the Virgin and the Mother of that Son are both at a wedding It was in all likelyhood some of their kindred to whose nuptiall feast they were inuited so farre yet was it more the honor of the act then of the person that Christ intended He that made the first marriage in Paradise bestowes his first miracle vpon a Galilean marriage Hee that was the author of matrimony and sanctified it doth by his holy presence honest the resemblance of his eternall vnion with his Church How boldly may we spit in the faces of all the impure aduersaries of wedlocke when the Sonne of God pleases to honor it The glorious bride-groome of the Church knew well how ready men would bee to place shame euen in the most lawfull coniunctions and therfore his first worke shall be to countenance his own ordinance Happy is that wedding where Christ is a guest O Sauiour those that marry in thee cannot marry without thee There is no holy marriage whereat thou art not how euer inuisible yet truely present by thy Spirit by thy gracious benediction Thou makest marriages in heauen thou blessest them from heauen Oh thou that hast betrothed vs to thy selfe in truth and righteousnesse doe thou consummate that happy marriage of ours in the highest heauens It was no rich or sumptuous Bridall to which Christ with his Mother Disciples vouchsafed to come from the further parts of Galile I finde him not at the magnificent feasts or triumphs of the great the proud pompe of the world did not agree with the state of a seruant This poore needy bride-groom wants drinke for his guests The blessed virgin though a stranger to the house out of a charitable compassion and a frendly desire to maintaine the decency of an hospital intertainment inquires into the wants of her host pittyes them bemones them where there was power of redresse When the wine failed the the mother of Iesus said vnto him They haue no wine How well doth it beseeme the eyes of piety and christian loue to looke into the necessities of others She that conceiued the God of mercies both in her heart and in her wombe doth not fixe her eyes vpon her owne trencher but searcheth into the penury of a poore Israelite and feeles those wants whereof he complaines not They are made for themselues whose thoughts are only taken vp with their owne store or indigence There was wine enough for a meale though not for a feast and if there were not wine enough there was enough water yet the holy virgin complaines of the want of wine and is troubled with the very lacke of superfluity The bounty of our God reaches not to our life only but to our contentment neither hath hee thought good to allow vs only the bread of sufficiency but somtimes of pleasure One while that is but necessary which some other time were superfluous It is a scrupulous iniustice to scant our selues where God hath bene liberall To whom should wee complaine of any want but to the maker and giuer of all things The blessed virgin knew to whom she sued She had good reason to know the diuine nature and power of her Sonne Perhaps the Bride-groome was not so needy but if not by his purse yet by his credit he might haue supplyed that want or it were hard if some of the neighbour-guests had they bene duly solicited might not haue furnished him with so much wine as might suffice for the last seruice of a dinner but blessed Mary knew a nearer way she did not thinke best to lade at the shallow channell but runs rather to the well-head where she may dip and
is not more the shame of Israel then the glory of the Centurion that our Sauiour sayes I haue not found so great faith in Israel Had Israel yeelded any equal faith it could not haue beene vnespyed of those all-seeing eyes yet were their helps so much greater then their faith was lesse and God neuer giues more then hee requires Where we haue laid our tillage and compost and seed who would not looke for a crop but if the vncultured fallow yeeld more how iustly is that vnanswerable ground neer to a curse Our Sauiour did not mutter this censorious testimony to himselfe nor whisper it to his Disciples but he turned him about to the people and spake it in their eares that hee might at once worke their shame and emulation In all other things except spirituall our selfe-love makes vs impatient of equals much lesse can we indure to bee out-stripped by those who are our professed inferiours It is well if any thing can kindle in vs holy ambitions Dull and base are the spirits of that man that can abide to see another ouertake him in the way and out-run him to Heauen Hee that both wrought this faith and wondred at it doth now reward it Goe thy wayes and as thou hast beleeued so bee it vnto thee Neuer was any faith vnseene of Christ neuer was any seene without allowance neuer was any allowed without remuneration The measure of our receits in the matter of fauour is the proportion of our beleefe The infinite mercy of God which is euer like it selfe followes but one rule in his gifts to vs the faith that he giues vs Giue vs ô God to beleeue and bee it to vs as thou wilt it shall bee to vs aboue that we will The Centurion sues for his seruant and Christ sayes So bee it vnto thee The seruants health is the benefit of the Master and the Masters faith is the health of the seruant And if the prayers of an earthly master preuailed so much with the Sonne of God for the recouery of a seruant how shall the intercession of the Son of God preuaile with his Father in Heauen for vs that are his impotent children and seruants vpon earth What can we want ô Sauiour whiles thou suest for vs Hee that hath giuen thee for vs can deny thee nothing for vs can deny vs nothing for thee In thee we are happy and shall be glorious To thee ô thou mighty Redeemer of Israel with thine eternall Father together with thy blessed Spirit one God infinite and incomprehensible be giuen all praise honour and glory for euer and euer AMEN FINIS Errata PAg. 6. lin 7 for where read when pag. 14. lin 3. for the read he p 29. l. 16. for of r. or p. 30. l. 16 for vertue r. wealth p. 32. l. for foe r. foyle p. 42. l. 9. for desection r. deiection p. 44. l. 15. for with r. without p. 74. l. 6. for to r. then to p. 75. l. 5. for not him r. not to him p. 78. l. 9. for destroyer r. disease p. 147. l. penult for cessatum r. cessation p. 150. l. 7. for vnto r. into p. 196. l. 2. for we r. he p. 205. l 5. for gentliest r. goodliest p. 234. l. 2. for estate r. state p. 234. l. 11. for wore r. more p. 302. l. 5. for whom r. who p 341. l. penult for carelesse r. carelesnesse p 342. l. 5. for dissertion r. desertion p. 349. l. vlt. for contents r. contents himselfe p. 363. l. 17. for satisfie r. sanctifie p. 371. l. 7. for by them r. by whom p. 378. l. 4. for no r. on p. 380. l. 5 for Diuell r. Duell p. 382. l. 1. for can but r conflict p. 402. l. 11. for vnchaste r. uncleane p. 410. l. for not to beare r. to beare p. 419. l. vlt. for collection r. collation p. 425. l. 2. for creature r. crowne p. 443. l. 4. for againe r. gaine p 443 l. 10. for he r. we p. 467. l. 17. for out r. ought p. 481. l. 9. for light r. life