and peace to the Iewe first and also to the Gentile for 11 there is no respecte of persons with God Wherefore let vs hearken vnto Saynt Peter who biddeth vs to ioyne godlines with patience and the other vertues yea God no accepter of persons Leuit. 11. 1 Pet. 2. 11 let vs hearken vnto God himselfe who biddeth vs bee holy as hee is holie let vs eschewe euill and doe good let vs seeke peace and follow after it Let vs not bee dismaied with the multitudes of the vngodly for there are some Reuelat. 22 11. which are vniust and wil bee vniust still some filthy and will be filthy stil but let him that is righteous bee righteous still and let him that is holye bee holy still for beholde I come shortly saith Christ and my rewarde is with mee to giue to euerye 12 man as his worke shall be Blessed are they that doe his commaundements 14. mentes that their right may bee in the tree of life and that they may enter in through 15. the gates into the Cittie for without shall bee dogges and inchaunters and whoremongers and murtherers and Idolaters and whosoeuer loueth or maketh lyes A Prayer for godlines O Good and gracious God most louing merciful Father seeing thou hast not onely created mee after thine owne image but also redeemed mee being lost that I might bee thy child by adoption grace I most humbly beseech thee so to assist me with thy holy sanctifying spirite that I may lead my life in a holy christian godly conuersation as behoueth me professing thy name that I may be holy as thou O Father art holy that I may bee partaker of thy Godly nature in fleeing the corruption which is in the worlde through lust that I may dayly offer vp vnto thee my soule body as a holy and acceptable seruice that I may cast of the old man the whole body of sinne bee renewed in the spirit of my mind put on the new man which after thy likenes is created in righteousnes and true holmes that seeing Christ Iesus is made vnto me wisedome righteousnes sanctification and redemption I may by vertue of his resurrection die dayly vnto sinne and liue vnto thee in godlines newnes of life during mine abode here in this world that in the world to come I may haue life euerlasting through the same Christ Iesus our Lord and Sauiour Amen Of Brotherly kindnesse Chap. 7. THe Apostle Saint Peter hauing furnished sixe linkes of his Chaine the vertue vse whereof doe especially profite and appertaine to ech particular person that is indued with them as euery particular man and woman must be saued by his owne faith euery one must haue vertue to addorne and beautifie his faith euery one must haue true knowledge to leade him the way vnto vertue euery one must labour by temperaunce and sobrietie to keepe his owne bodie in subiection to his spirite according as his knowledge out of Gods worde doth teach him euery one hath need of patience to endure the sundry trials and temptations of this life and of godlinesse which is the maintayner and supporter of christian patience Thus I say euery one of these vertues do in a special peculiar mānerprofite themselues that are endued with them But because man is not borne alone for himselfe as heathen men also haue taught and therefore must not onely haue vertues to benefite himselfe but also such as wherewith hee may doo good to others Therefore Saint Peter biddeth vs to ioyne with the other forenamed vertues first brotherly kindnes which is a most feruent 2. Pet 1. 7. What brotherly kindnes is loue and kinde affection that all the children of God do beare one vnto the other and therefore rightlye called of the Apostle brotherly kindnes as wee are brethren in Christe by grace of redemption then bids vs last of al to ioyne with our brotherly kindnes loue or charity which extendeth it selfe farther then brotherly kindnes doth not onely to the saints and children of God but vnto all men in generall euen vnto our verie mortall and deadly enemies For this cause then is it that Saint Peter doth not bring loue and brotherly kindnes together within the compasse of one linke but speaketh of them seuerally distinctly yet lincketh them one in the other because there can bee no brotherlie kindnes where there is no loue nor any true loue where there is not brotherlie kindnesse Whereupon it must needs follow that none but the children of God can haue either loue or brotherly kindnes Obiection First then to intreat of brotherly kindnes which is not so generall as loue is seeing that none but the faithfull are endued with it a question maye heere bee mooued what kind of loue affection that is which is shewed by one man to another euen of them that are not christians but heathen people and infidels yea and also many of them which beare the names of christians shewe great kindnes one to the other not because they are christians of the household of faith for that is the least thing they account of but for some other cause and in some other respecte Answere I answere that this kind of loue and affection may also in a sort bee called brotherly kindnes to wit as we are brothers by creation But to make a distinction between the one the other seeing the holy ghost doth call that kindnes of affection which christians beare one to the other brotherly kindnes let vs call this other kindnesse and affection naturall kindnesse for so indeede it is a naturall vertue giuen vnto mankinde in his first creation but sithens greatlye corrupted and defaced by sinne as all other giftes of nature are Now for as much as naturall kindenes was before brotherly kindnes and because brotherly kindnes wherevnto Saint Peter exhorteth vs doth not take a way naturall kindnes but rather seeketh to repaire nature thorough grace therefore I thinke it not amisse in this chapter to speake first of naturall kindnes and how wee do degenerate heerein contrary to our kinde and nature and then to come to this christian brotherlie kindnes that Saint Peter speaketh of which doth excell and exceede the other by many degrees shewing withall the want of this brotherlie kindnes which doth too much bewray it selfe euen among those countryes and nations which are professed christians First then concerning naturall kindenes wee maye consider the greate and wonderful wisedome of almightie GOD as in all thinges so especiallye in this one thing forming in numerable sortes of creatures wherwith the whole world is replenished Gen 1 24 Nature hath taught all beasts to loue theyr kind infused into eache creature this secrete force of nature that euerie one shoulde loue and liue together with such as were best like the one vnto the other The birdes of the aire by themselues the beastes of the fielde by themselues
saluation therefore none but Gods elect do beleeue Here further we learne that faith is not giuen vs in respect of any righteousnes merite Faith is not giuen for our owne worthines or desert that is in vs but of God his free mercy as well to the Iewes as to the gentils to the Grecian and to the Barbarian to the bond and to the free to male and female wheresouer throughout the whole world dispersed as many as be elected vnto saluation Now although man knoweth not the time No time set when wee shal be called when yet certaine it is that euery one of the elect shal be called one time or other according as God in his diuine prouidence hath appointed For as he chooseth whom he wil so those whome hee hath chosen hee calleth vnto faith by the ministerie of his word and effectual working of his holy spirit when it pleaseth him vnlesse by his secret worke according to his euerlasting counsel and election hee call them in their infancie to himselfe out of this world before they come to yeeres of discretion Heereuppon it is that he calleth some in their youth some in their middle age and some not before olde age some at the dauning of the daie some at the Math. 20. 3 4 5 6 third houre some at the sixt houre some at the eleuenth houre so long as the time of this present life indureth and this light of grace continueth so long the time lasteth of the heauenly calling Let no man or woman therfore despaire Let none despaire of their calling for he that is not called to day may be to morow or doubt of their saluation that are not yet effectually called for they knowe not howe soone they may be only let euerie one praie that when God doth call we may bee ready to yeelde our obedience especially let not the preachers and ministers of Gods word be discouraged though in a long time they see little fruit or their labors for faith many times which is planted by their preaching Faith many times couered as fire in the ashes doeth lie close hidde and couered as the fire in the ashes one daie when God will it shall breake out into flames of charitye and godlynes at least wise if the Gospell which we preach bee hidde it is hid to 2. Cor. 4. 3 them that perish as many as are ordained vnto saluation shall at one time or other yeeld their obedience and so eternally bee saued But because it falleth out often A comfort for weaklings times that manye of the deare children of GOD are verye much grieued yea almost plunged in the pitte of desperation when they heare that none but such as haue faith shall bee saued because they themselues doo not feele the heate of faith so effectuallie as they desire Therefore I haue thought it verye necessarye before I conclude brieflie to shewe that there are diuerse measures of faith some He that hath the least measure of true faith shal be faued greater and some lesser and that the least measure of faith if it bee true fayth sufficeth vnto saluation so shall none of Gods children I hope bee discouraged when sathan shall cast into their mindes the littlenes of their faith First euerie christian must holde for certaine that which Saint Paul teacheth in the fourth to the Ephesians namely that there is one Lord and one fayth next Ephe. 4. 6 it is behoofefull for vs to knowe that this one faith is giuen to the faithful in diuers sundrye measures according as Saint Paule saith in the twelfth to the Romanes That Rom. 12.3 euerie one must vnderstande according to sobrietie according as God hath dealt to euerie man the measure of faith to some a greater measure is giuen to some a lesser Also the fruites of faith are not in all The fruites of faith are not alike in all the faithfull the faithfull a like as namely one fayth full man and woman hath and may haue more knowledge more loue more feare of God more hope more patience more brotherlie kindenes and so foorth then another hath according as hee hath receiued a greater measure of faith but yet the measure of faith by the good prouidence of God is so distributed and deuided that there are none of Gods elect to whome is giuen lesse then may suffice vnto saluation for the measure of faith doth contayne this in it selfe that there is a sufficient portion to euerie one hee that hath the lesser measure shall haue saluation with him that hath the greater And doubtlesse it is done by the speciall counsell and prouidence of God that one hath a greater measure of fayth then another for God hath so moderated all those thinges by his wisedome that to those whom hee hath appointed to endure many great battels hee hath giuen a larger portion of faith As to Ahraham Isaack To those whom God wil try most hee giueth most faith Iacob Moses Dauid and the like whom when hee would try by many trybulations and temptations he vouchsafed to bestow vppon them a greater measure of faith not that therby they should attaine vnto saluation rather then other that haue lesser gifts of faith but that they should serue to the furthering of Gods glory and that they might bee examples to those that are more infirme and weaker Now if any would knowe what the least measure of faith is that any man or woman can haue surely it is this when a man of an What the least measure of faith is humble spirit by reason of the litlenes of his faith doth not yet feele the assurance of the forgiuenes of his sinnes and yet is perswaded that they are pardonable and with his heart prayeth God that hee would pardon and forgiue them Now that such a one hath faith it is perceiued by the good desires Esa 57.17 and prayers which he maketh because such prayers and desires are testimonies of the spirit of God whose property is to stirre vp a longing and a lusting after heauenly Good praiers a token of true faith Rom. 8.26 thinges with sighes and groanes for Gods fauour and mercy in Iesus Christ and where the spirite of Christe is there is Christ dwelling and where Christ dwelleth 2. Cor 13.5 there is true faith howe weake so euer it be Moreouer faith though it bee but lyttle is the gifte and working of God proued by this saying of the Apostle Saint Paule that it is God that worketh both Phil. 2.13 the will and the deede therefore whosoeuer hath this good will and desire in him it is certaine that there is the presence and working of Gods holie spirite Nowe wee must not iudge of the grace of God by the absolute perfection or quantitie of faith but onely by the foundation whereuppon it resteth which foundation is the merites the obedience satisfaction and righteousnesse of the sonne of God imputed vnto
Nature giueth vnto age estimation and authoritie but meekenesse of heart is the glorie of youth and age and giueth vnto them both dignitie and honour That may rightly be called genterie that is begun continued and ended in true humilitie according to our english prouerbe A gentleman hath gentle conditions It is the saying of a sage man that the higher any one is in authority so much the more gentle and lowly should he behaue himselfe and that nothing is more seemly or commendable for a prince or noble man thē the vertue of gentlenesse meekenes and humilitie For the gentle and lowly minded man cannot lightly be hated Vertue specially learning Humility maketh a man beloued with humility hath aduanced many men vnto great honor dignitie agreeable to that saying of Salomon Before honour goeth humilitie and againe The reward of humility is life riches and glory Man is in nothing Prou. 15.33 22 4. more like vnto God then in gentlenesse humilitie The vertue of humilitie saith one encourageth to attayne truely the Law of God and maketh apte vessels to receiue the spirit of God according to this saying of Dauid Them that be meek wil God guide Psal 25.9 in iudgemente and teach the humble his way Therefore the prophet Dauid knowing the great vertue of humilitie maketh this protestation of himself in one of his Psalms Psal 131. Lorde saith hee I am not highe minded I haue no proude lookes but on the contrary my soule saith hee is euen as a wayned childe meaning that hee was humble in heart as a child And surely the example of a childe is We must learne humilitie of children very forcible to teach vs humilitie therefore Christ himselfe vsed the same example vnto his Apostles when in pride of hart they demanded who shoulde bee greatest in the kindome of heauen Then Iesus called a little childe and set him in the middest of his disciples and saide vnto them Verely I Mat. 18.1.2 say vnto you except ye bee conuerted and become as little children ye shall not enter into the kingdome of heauen but contrariwise Whosoeuer shall humble himselfe as this little childe the same is the greatest in the kingdome of heauen See then what a precious vertue humilitie is and to what great honour it preferreth vs euen to be the greatest in the kingdome of heauen Humility preferreth vs to the greatest honour Galat. 5.22 True humilitie and gentlenesse of minde is a cheefe fruit of the spirite of God The fruite of the spirte saith Saint Paul is loue ioy peace long suffering gentlenes meeknesse and so forth Therefore is it that the same Apostle doth so earnestly exhort vs Collos 3 12 13. vnto humilitie As the elect of God sayth hee holy and beloued put on tender mercy kindnesse humblenesse of mind meekenes long suffering Thus wee see how humilitie is both commanded commended vnto vs. Now let vs a little consider howe that as God in his iustice hath euermore throwne downe the proude so in his mercy hee hath exalted the humble and Examples how God hath exalted the humble Numb 12.3 meeke Moyses that man of God among all his vertues is commended for nothing more then for his humilitie and meekenes for he is saide to bee the meekest man vpon earth and see how hee was exalted of God When his father and mother had left him by the Exod. 2.3.4 5. riuers brinke among the bulrushes God caused him to bee taken vp aduanced him to the court of Pharao and after made him a prince and a gouernour ouer his owne people Little Dauid the sonne of Ishai because hee was little in his owne eyes and as wee haue heard before humble in heart as a wained Psal 78 70 71 childe therefore God did exalte him tooke him from following the Ewes great with yong and aduanced him to the kingly throne Neyther haue we onely examples of men but also of women as of Esther that of a poore captiue hauing nor father nor Ester 2 17. mother aliue onely a good kinseman Mordecay was by God aduanced to be the wife of a King What inould we speak of the humilitie low estate of the virgine Mary who notwithstanding was chosen by God himselfe to bee the mother of Christ This great working of God in throwing downe the proude and exalting the lowly doth that holy Virgine well note in her song of reioycing when she saith My soule doth magnifie the Lord and my spirite reioyceth in God my sauiour by Luk. 1.46 and by she sheweth the reason For he hath looked on the poore degree of his seruant scattered the imaginations of the proude He hath put downe the mightie from their seates and exalted them of lowe degree The verie same thing doth Hanna the mother of Samuel note in her prayer saying 1 Sam. 2.7 8. The Lord maketh poore and maketh riche bringeth lowe and exalteth hee rayseth the poore out of the dust lifteth vp the begger from the dunghill to set them among Princes and to make them inherite the seat of glorie Hence is it that Saint Paule faith though 1 Cor. 1 27 28. to another purpose that God hath chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weake things of this world to confound the mightie things vile things things which are despised hath God chosen things that are not to bring to nought things that are that no flesh should glory in his presence but according as it is written hee that glorieth let him glory in the Lord. Ierem 9.24 Thus we haue seene how God doth euermore exalt them that are humble and lowly in their owne eyes Let vs therefore make much of humilitie But yet to proceede a little further if we wil haue examples of humilitie then let vs come to the example of The chiefest example of humilitie all examples euen to the example of Christ Iesus the Sonne of God Which example Saint Paule doth propose vnto vs in the second to the Philippians saying Let the same Philip. 2.5 mind bee in you which was in Christ Iesus who being in the forme of God thought it no robberie to be equall with God but hee made himselfe of no reputation and tooke on him the forme of a seruant was made like vnto men and was found in his shape as a man he humbled himselfe and became obedient vnto the death euen the death of the Crosse wherefore God hath highly exalted him and so forth Now we must not only learne by the example of Christ to be humble and lowly in We must learne by the example of Christ to be humble both in prosperitie and aduersitie 1. Pet. 2.21 22.23 prosperitie but also in aduersitie when we shall suffer any thing for his sake for here in saith Saint Peter hath Christ left vs an example that we should follow his steps who
the inwarde as outwarde gouernance and is the vanquisher of iniuries the sure defence against the affectes passions of the soule retaining alwaies ioy gladnes in aduersitie and griefe for patience is best tryed in aduersitie Be constant and patient in aduersitie and in prosperitie humble lowly Be patient in tribulation giue no man cause to speake euill of thee Receiue patiently the wordes of correction though they seeme greeuous for a little season In suffering afflictions Patience is made strong Patience and perseuerance are two proper notes whereby Gods children are truely Patience perseueraÌ„ce in goodnes true marks of Gods children knowen from hipocrites counter feits dissemblers By patience sobrietie we passe ouer the troubles of this world more ioyfully Therefore S. Peter ioyneth them both together saying Ioyne with sobrietie or temperance Patience the one will teach thee to doe well in prosperitie the other to suffer well in aduersitie The feare of God Patience the nurse of all vertues faith prayer humilitie and other vertues do growe increase in vs through patience Euen as iron except it bee often scoured will soone corrupt and waxe rustie so except A similitude the sinfull hart of man and his flesh be often scoured with aduersitie they will soone be corrupted with the rust of filthines and sinne which aduersitie by patience is eyther ouercome or mitigated This gift of patience if God had not alwaies graunted vnto the faithfull in their aduersities they must needes haue fainted yea fallen to Patieâ—ce as a pillar doth support Gods children in aâ—uersity the ground vnder the burthen of their manifold troubles and calamities When our Sauiour Christ had told his disciples and Apostles what great troubles and afflictions they shoulde suffer in this life Luk. 21. 19. he addeth this presently for their comfort that they should possesse their soules in patience And S. Iames willeth vs to let patience to haue her perfect working in vs so shal we Iam. 1.4 be perfect lacking nothing Againe he saith Blessed is that man which patieÌ„tly suffereth temptations for when he is tryed hee shall receiue the crowne of life which God hath promised to them that loue him S. Paul saith Rom. 5.3 TribulatioÌ„ bringeth forth patience patience experience experience hope hope maketh not ashamed because the loue of God is shed abroad in our harts by his holy spirit which is giuen vnto vs. These exhortations vnto patience are very necessary because all troubles aduersities are very hard for our flesh blud to bear except we be vsed to passe vnder the rod of correction we will be All afflictions are greeuous to our fleshly nature like to vntamed heiffers or wild steeres that cannot abide their yokes before they haue a while submitted their neckes vnto them Therefore the holy Ghost saith no chastisement seemeth pleasante but is greeuous Heb. 12 11 for the present season though afterwarde it bringeth forth the quiet fruite of righteousnes to theÌ„ that are exercised therin And our sauiour Chirst saith Take my yoke vpoÌ„ you Mat. 11 29 vse your selue vnto it you shall finde rest vnto your soules for which cause Salomon saith My son despise not the chastning of the Lord neither saint wheÌ„ thou art rebuked of him for whoÌ„ the Lord loueth he chastiseth scourgeth euery sonne that he receaueth So that we see afflictions are not hurtful but good for vs and therefore ought to be borne Afflictions necessary for the children of God Afflictions sure tokens of Gods fauour towards his children patiently Again we may note here that wheÌ„ wee are chastened and corrected of God by sicknesses by pouertie by losse of goods by losse of friendes or so forth if we take the same patiently they are sure testimonies that we are the sons and children of God because those whom hee loueth he chasteneth oftentimes for their amendment but the wicked he suffereth to waxe proude in their sinnes and so fatteth them against the day of slaughter Therfore let not this thing greeue vs as it The wicked fatted against the day of slaughter Psal 37.35 Psal 73.3 18. did Dauid Ieremy to see the wicked florish for a time in this world I saw the wicked florish saith Dauid like a green Bay tree but I pasied bye lo they were gone at length saith he I vnderstood the end of these men how God doth set theÌ„ in slippery places suddenly Ierem. 12.1 they are destroyed cast downe and come to a fearful end This shal be the end of the vngodly that florish for a time But the children of God which are day lie tried here The children of God tried by tribulation as gold in the furnace with the fire of tribulation as the gold in the fornace are therby purified cleansed froÌ„ many sins are made meet temples for the holy Ghost to dwel in Let vs not therefore murmure at this working of God but with patieÌ„ce commit our selues vnto him as vnto a faithful creator Let vs know that health wealth children friends prosperitie and the When God giueth wee must be thankeful when he taketh let vs be patient like are but temporall blessings If God giue them vnto vs let vs be thankeful if he take them from vs againe let vs be patient knowing that he hath reserued greater thinges for vs in heauen If we should alwaies haue rest ease and tranquillitie of body and minde in this life then would we neuer care to aspire vnto that heauenly life where there is nothing els but ioy felicitie vnto which ioy we shal neuer attaine except we suffer patiently in this life afflictions miseries for Christ himself went not vp into ioy before Christ suffered paines before he entred into ioy he suffered paine nay he suffered more pains for vs ten thousande times then all the childreÌ„ of God can or haue suffred since the beginning of the world Therefore the scripture saith that the Prince of our saluation which is Christ was consecrate through afflictions because he should bring many children Heb. 2.10 vnto glory If therefore we wil be partakers with Christ in glorie we must also suffer patieÌ„tly here with him in misery The disciple is not aboue his maister if Christ our Mat. 10.24 mayster haue drunken deepely of this bitter cup of afflictions let vs not refuse to pledge him in that measure which God hath appointed for vs for by afflictions we are made conformable vnto the Son of God It 2. Cor. 4.11 2. Tim. 2. 11.12 Rom. 8. 17. If we suffer with Christ we shal raigne with him is a true saying saith S. Paule If we die with Christ we shal liue with Christ if we suffer with him wee shal raigne with him And againe the same Apostle saith That wee are heyres of God ioynt heyres with Christ if so be we suffer with him that we