haue so filled themselues before with their grosse diet at home as they can eate nothing nor take any pleasure in this banquet when they come Our stomackes are so charged and full of worldly thoughts as we haue almost no roome for any heauenly cogitation Dauid setteth vs out in our colours Psalme 62. and hitteth our vaine right whenas he saith that we are deceitful on the wayghts For from this deceit proceedeth this wrong iudgemēt that we haue of the word when we set the world before it The scales are false and deceiueable two waies First whenas those things that are put into them are weighed hastily and time is not giuen to see the ful weight of thē Or els whenas one part of the ballance or weight is heauier then another we put Gods lawes and our lustes together in the ballance of our foule and we are too hasty and rash a great deale in taking the world to be of more weight and substance then the word Again one part of the ballance is too heauy the heauinesse of the world weighing vs downe and weigheth more with vs then the treasure of Gods spirite Iohn 18. we preferre Barrabas before Christ sinfulnes before dutifulnes gaine before godlinesse If we would discreetly with mature aduice consider of them both not define of them with forestalled affections but heare what God and the world can say indifferently thy voice no doubt will passe on Gods side and this treasure shall be more esteemed of thee then all the treasure that the worlde giueth thee We fight therfore as Paul with the beasts at Ephesus 1. Cor. 25. after the maner of men whilst we dispute the case with those who set all their hope vpon the things of this life and place them before those of the life that is to come For what is the nature condition of beasts but to looke vpon the ground whose whole care is to satisfie their bellies and to couch in the holes and caues of the earth Such mens case is extreamely miserable Num. 16. and they are in the taking of Dathan and Abyron Psal 106. whom the earth deuoured For doth not the earth deuoure vp him whose whole cogitations are fixed vpon earth whose desires onely are of earthly things whose eies doe looke neuer aboue the earth who hath no feare of God no hopes of his promises no beleef of the soules immortality and no expectation of any future felicitie Surely faith Origen wheresoeuer thou seest such tell them flatly to their faces that the earth hath deuoured them CHAP. IX That God and the world cannot goe together THE practise of this Merchant concludeth this point whom I should not hold wise for doing away the world for the purchase of heauen if heauen and this world might be enioyed together By selling therefore one for the buying of the other it is insinuated that he was not able to keepe them both together There be many states and gouernements vpholden ordered by sundry constitutiōs differing each from other yet are they not so contrary but a man may haue his freedome in diuers of them together but God lawes and mans lawes the lustes of the flesh and the desires of the spirit the Ark of the Lord and the Philistines Dagon God and Mammon 1. Sam. 5 Math. 6 2. Cor. 6 Christ and Belial light and darknes are at such enmity and deadly food between them as no composition or conclusion of peace is to be looked for between them For the nature of things disclaimeth it our ciuill course of life gainsaith it and the Scriptures euery where flatly are against it What motions and commotions are in the ayre between lightning and thundring heat and cold without reconcilement euer to be had experience often sheweth vs. Light succeedeth darknes Math. 9 and darknes light and they two will neuer be consorted and matched together Old wine and new vessells cannot agree the patching of new cloth with old can not be sutable There were laws and statutes in this behalf enacted that cattell shuld not be permitted to ingender with those of diuers kinds that our fields should not be sowed with sundry kinds of seed Leuit. 19 and that a garment of Linsie wolsie which is of two substances that are contrary should not be worne of vs. A weake Oxe and a strong 1. Cor. 6 cannot draw equal yokes Iacobs voice and Esaus garment are easily distinguished the kingdom of God cannot go in fellowship with the kingdom of this world 1. Cor. 10 we cannot be partakers of the table of the Lord and the table of the diuel The Scriptures do make that report of the Samaritanes 2. King 17 which we admire and laugh at that with the worship of God they adored and worshipped their prophane idolls Is not this the bias and fashion of the world it will seeme holy and professe both a knowledge and seruice of God but they will not leaue couetousnes which is worshipping of images they prostrate themselues before the idol of this world This kind of people doth take two crosse and contrary waies and do go out of the way and their labour is in vaine A similitude For what voyage can he make who intending one way goeth another pointeth at heauen and looketh to the earth Et manu committit solaecismum erreth with his finger with such doth Elias expostulate the case thus censureth their folly 1. King 18. How long will ye halte between two opinions if God be God worship him but if Baal be God follow after him The Lords iealousie burneth like fire against such deceitful people vtterly to consume them who wil be vnited and wil marry themselues vnto these two contrary commāding husbands hauing espoused vs to Christ before who is our only husband For thus he breaketh out into this deep protestation I wil cut off the remnant of that place Soph. ◠that sweare by the Lord and sweare by Malcham Whenas Pharao could permit the Hebrew people to sacrifice to the Lord so as they would sacrifice out of the land of Aegypt Ho there saith Moses Exod. ◠this may not be indured to sacrifice vnto God the abhominations of the Aegyptians Superstition cannot possibly stand with true religion The lawes of God may not be lincked with the lusts of this world The Philistines tooke great paines hereabouts to couple their Dagon 1. Sam. 8 with the Arke of the couenant but it could not be effected For Dagon fell groueling to the ground before the Arke and could not stand before it The Israelites neuer knew what heauenly Manna meant Exod. 16 before all their meale which they carried from Aegypt was vtterly spent vntill thou hast consumed the worldly affections looke not to be partaker of Gods heauenly blessings The stomack that is distmpered with diseases A similitude and surcharged with euill humors relliseth and tasteth not the sweetnes of his meat The
Israelites were so glutted with the garlicke of Aegypt as they had no fancie to a finer foode Let vs be purged of these hurtfull euil humors and so shal our souls be fulfilled with Gods word Whenas Christ vppon his entrance into the temple chaced away such with a whip of cords Iohn 2 who chopped and changed and made their worldly bargaines and matches in the Temple what doth this his zealous fact conclude els but that the impure negotiations of this world cannot be intermedled with the exercise of his word He cannot away with such paltry doings when as his holy misteries which are of such moment are needful to be handled What Courtier would not think himselfe greatly iniured A similitus who whilst he is busie in talk with his prince about his great sutes a country pesant with his irksome clamour should interrupt his businesse It is a grand dodge that the soule so excellent a creature sustaineth who whilst her sutes should be put vp to God it is disturbed and cut off by the vntimely importunat molestation of the world God neuer presented himselfe vnto Moses so long as he was a Courtier in Egypt Exod. 25 and liued in pleasure daintily dandled in Pharaoes daughters hands and dieted delitiously with the princes iunkets but hee was first espied of Moses in the middst of a bramble or bush of thornes to insinuate thus much that he is not to be found in a pleasurable life but in a state that is pricked and wounded with the briars and thorns of persecution And at that time God straitly charged Moses to put off his shooes before he came vnto him teaching vs thereby to put off our worldly mindes before we presume to prease to the presence of the Lord. When the prophet Elias sawe Gods glory and maiesty passing by before him he couered blinded his eies with his mantle whosoeuer will be partaker of Gods glorie hee must close vp the eies of his earthly affectiōs and must not behold the vanity of the world Psalme 89. He will not dwell in the stincking cage of our bodies of whom it is written Righteousnes and iudgement is the habitation of his seate If thou hast a vessel that thou wouldest fil with any liquor A similitude and that standeth full of another already is it possible to put them both together or to put in the one without emptying the other Thou arte to bee filled with the liquor of life with the sweete balme and oyle of the grace of God thy glasse viall euen thy heart is full already of bitter water of wormewoode of the brackish and salt water of the sea of this world therefore powre this out first and rince thy vessell cleane that it neyther may keepe out or infect that pleasant confection and restauratiue that is to be putt into it And embrace the sweete counsaile of saint Augustine in this case in this sorte directing vs Ex inani quod implendum est bono implendus es funde malum quia melle vult te implere Deus August si aceto plenus es vbi mel pones Empty that which is to be filled Thou art to be filled with the goodnes of thy God powre out thy wickednes God wil fill thy belly with hony but if that be ful of vinegar before where shal he find roome in thee for his hony As hee that will graffe a wilde oliue tree A similitude vnfruitfull by nature first loppeth and cutteth off his riotous branches and graffeth in that stocke in the roome of them the braunches of a fruitfull and fertile three so such as wil be planted in the Lordes house Psalme 92. and will florish in the courts of the house of our God and bee graffed into the stocke and body of Christ hee must first prune and toppe his worldly inclinations the shrubbes of sinne and the armes of vngodlines must be broken off and the loue of God the estimation of his word and the braunches of holinesse and righteousnes of life must bee graffed in their place Psalme 137 Howe shall wee sing the Lordes song in a strange land sayth the kingly Prophet The world and heauen are as strange as may be and therefore so long as we are giuen to the world we cannot sing vnto the Lord in our hearts If wee therefore cannot sing Oh let vs sigh to be deliuered from it that wee may in heauen make that cheerefull noyse of Haleluya to the Lorde and in the meane while trebble with one harpe vpon Dauids dumpe weeping and mourning for the remembrāce of Syon Sarah was first past her youthfull yeeres Genes 1◠and was dead to the world before shee conceiued and brought foorth Isaac which was his fathers ioy We must first subdue and ouercome the worlde and be dead vnto it or else we shall neuer bring forth the effects and fruites of true ioy which is of Gods Spirite Euery beast was to be killd before it could be sacrificed Leuitie 1. so first our beastly worldly lusts must be killed before we can be a sacrifice to God Iacob was called Iacob Genes 25. which signifieth a supplanter before he was called Israel which is Gen. 32 Seeing God to teach vs that wee must first treade the world vnder feete before wee can see this presence of the Lord. As Daniel first destroyed the Idol Bel Dan. 14. and then hee buckeled with the Dragon well enough so destroy thou this dumbe idoll of the world and thou shalt griple with the deuill the olde dragon well enough It is dangerous to ride on an vntamed colt that laboureth to cast thee A similitude this worlde is thy vnruly lade assaying alwayes in thy voyage to Ierusalem to throw downe thy spirit The spirite and the world are as a paire of balaunces and scales A similitude when the one of them mounteth vp the other is weighed downe when the Spirite is eleuated and cast vppe to heauen our worldly affections are throwne downe to the earth Or they are like an houre Glasse A similitude which emptieth one parte to fill another the soule when it is ful of the spirite of God emptieth it selfe of the lusts of the world Abraham receiued not the couenaunt of circumcision before he went from Vr Gen. 18 which was his worldely possession before about receiuest Gods couenant in thy mouth and professest his religion it is looked that thou shouldest as thou arte called of God giue vp and renounce thy too worldly disposition As the tree leaneth so it falleth A similitude when the axe is put vnto it if the body and braunches weigh to the left side it wil fal on the left side If al thy life time thou leanest to the left side namely to the world neuer looke when thou diest that thou shalt fall on the right hand of his glory and felicitie If thou wilt liue to God the worlde must not sunder
thee but thou must be so vnited and knit vnto him as the soule to the bodie the beames to the Sunne the braunches and armes to the body of the tree The glasse that is obscured and dimmed with dust A similitude presenteth not aright our counterfeit vnto vs If the soule be ouer-layde with the dust of this worlde the image of God after which we were created which is our right face is not to be seene in vs. Such horses as are put to grinde in the mil A similitude haue their eies blinded that they might fitly execute that office we must blind our worldly eies that we may the readier dispatch such dueties which the Lord shall lay vpon vs. In a gentlemans great horse A similitude it is the best grace and quality that commendeth him that he is ruled by the bridle and keepeth his circles lists and roundes that the rider wil putte him to there is nothing that graceth vs more than to liue in the compas and streight course of Gods commandements to suffer gods word to be a bridle to our lusts and a bitte to keepe vs from the race of our sinnes Herod was first dead Math. 2 before that Christ woulde returne out of Egypt into the land of Iudea we must first die to the world and sin before Christ Iesus wil enter into our soules There was a certayne Musitian who of such schollers who were initiated and taught by others before required double the summ of mony which he tooke of others who were informed but by himselfe alone and his reason was because he considered that double the labour must be taken with them first in rooting out their former balld fashions after which they had bin taught and then in planting and fixing in their mindes his owne ordinary compendious course quite contrary to the other by which they might exactly and perfectly be taught So if we will be trained vp in the schoole of Christ and will professe our selues his scholers Christ must needes take double paines with vs Hee must first make vs to forget our olde lessons which our former badde Schoolemaisters the worlde the flesh and the diuell had before taught vs and then to take out new which his holie spirite shall put into our hearts which tacheth vs all wisedome Augustus taking vppon him to beautifie his Empire and to leaue Rome made of marble which he found made of brick acquainted one Apollonius Thyanaeus with his purpose and asked his direction for his better proceeding the Philosopher thus answered him that if hee would happily atchieue that which hee professed he must set before his eyes the course that memorable Musician did take with his sonne whom he would not instruct himselfe but sent vnto an vnlearned Musician to be taught who gaue him this caueat and memento onely to carry away with him and he should speede wel enough to marke wel the fingring lessons of his maister and doe cleane contrary for they were exceeding naught So to beautifie and adorne our soules and to be perfect schollers in Gods worde it is meete for vs to be taught of the world to marke but the worlds fashions and to doe the contrary and wee shall make a good profession forasmuch as the word with this present euill world can neuer be lincked and combined together The condition of mans minde is like his estate A similitude whose middle part of his body is taken with a palsie by reason whereof his ioynts being dissolued that part is so benummed as it is made insensible but the other part that is not strooken with it but is sound and healthfull is nimble and pliable vnto any outward action It fareth thus with the soule and mind of man for when it should apply it self to holy exercises it is snatched away with a worldly palsie which maketh vs senslesse in these kinds of duties but a remainder of it that is not touched is very full of life rauished and transported with the loue of earthly things The pleasures of this world are the diuells baits that he layeth for our soules and this is the poyson which the whore of Babylon tempereth and seasoneth in sauory meate and in her cup of gold As the Moon neuer suffreth an eclips A similitude but when it is at the ful so is thy soul neuer darkned and eclipsed but when it is glutted and fulfilled with the world Moreouer A similitude as the Moone in hir fulnesse is most distant and remooued from the Sune so our saturity and fulnesse of this world as it was with Sodome we forget God that made vs and the strong God of our saluation and are furthest off from the son of righteousnes Christ Iesus our Lord and the light of our saluation Augustine by an elegant and dainty similitude shaddoweth and setteth foorth the nature of the world an extream and irreconcileable enemy vnto God A similitude He likeneth the loue of the world vnto bird-lime which so fast hangeth and cleaueth to the soule as it holdeth it below and suffereth it not to climb to higher motions that it might be saued These are his words Amor rerum terrenarum viscus est spiritualium pennarum August The loue of earthly thinges is the bird-lime to our spirituall wings Now how we are fettered and entangled with this lime he sheweth vs saying Si concupiuisti haesisti If thou couet thou art catched of it It is impossible but that the world shuld be euery way like it selfe and follow his own nature It is incident to the flesh to fight against the spirit and it is the trick of the world to be at ods with God riches and righteousnes wil hardly be combined A vessell cannot but retaine the sauour of that liquor that is in it A similitude If into a glasse that is full of vinegar thou shalt drop a little honny the sweeter substance being nothing in quantity to the contrary sower subiect it vanisheth away and is consumed of it In our bodies are vessells full of sower affections the little sweet honny of the word of God thorough the redundance of the other is easily ouercome as often as it shall be distilled therevnto He that will loue God A similitude and will not loath the world but thinkes he may haue gold and godlinesse together and chace away sinne and not chace away his sinfull worldly couetousnes is like him that desirous to driue away a dog doth cast a bone or crust of bread vnto him The god of this world is at enmity with God they are two contrary imperious maisters that will not bee serued together He that loueth the world 1. Iohn 2 the loue of the father is not in him Is it possible to performe true allegiance to thy prince A similitude and be in league and pay with his greatest enemy Gal. 5 If we liue in the flesh we shall die But if we shall kill the
scaling the territory of our heart seating himselfe in it prouideth with sleight and cunning enough that the casements portalles and eies of our soules and our eares should be stopped and throughly closed vp that the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ Hebrewes 1 the character image and brightnesse of his father might not shine into our harts to our eternall comfort The cluish disposition of these the diuellâ— darlings the kingly Prophet hath narrowly obserued thus portraying and desciphering it oriently in colours Psalme 38 They are like vnto deafeâ—â— Adders stopping their eares refusing to heare the voyce of the charmer charme he neuer so wiselyâ—â— for as the Aspe setting one eare to the grouÌ„d and with his taile couering the other A similitude is deafeâ—â— and sensles at the voice of any charme so menâ—â— thus madly minded their cogitations partely being fixed vppon earth and the taile of the red dragon of the other part hiding them the voyce of the Preacher is not heard of them A huntsman chasing pursuing a deere 〈◊〉 laboureth not so much A similitude to take him with his handes as to wound him with his arrowes whereby he is sure of him the diuel this cursed Nimrod and huntsman of our soules driueth at this onely that our hearts being dinâ—ed with his deadly darts our inward man strucke downe vnto the ground hee finding vs there groueling he may gripe vs as he list and snatch vs away with him Psal 91. The Lord deliuer vs from the snare of this hunter and from his noysome pestilence But his schoole is very great his mischiefe horrible and the occasions hereof are many Hypocrites The Pharises and glorious hypocrites of our age a viperous generation painted and spotted brauely without like to vipers skins but inward like vipers full of rancke corruption do derrogate much from the dignitie of the word and debase the Pearle and Treasure ouermuch A similitude whilest like the Smiths boy that doth nothing but blow their workes are nothing answerable to their wordes The enemies of the trueth doe scandalize and blaspheme the blessed worde of God viewing and considering their corrupt and sinfull liues The Saduces Epicures Polititians Num. 22. and Politicall Naâ—als whose god is their gold whose pleasure is their treasure who sauour nothing but the things of this earth 1. Sam. 3. are blind with Balaam with their eies open and so dimme eyed with â—dely as they can not see the cleere lampe of God burning in the Temple Rom. 1 whilest they seeme wise they become fooles and fall away with the deceit of Balaams wages Iude. vers 11 and perish in the gain-saying of Chore. These are those that make a mocke of Gods worde and haue the Preachers of it in exceeding great contempt accounting themselues Cedars and the other the briars and thistles of Lebanon The wisedome of these men fancieth not so much that wisedome of the spirite it is thought but simple in comparison of theirs They suppose themselues able with the rowling of an eie and as it were with a breath to attain to a sufficiencie of knowledge thereof Once reading cursorilie of the Bible is enough with them and by a part they coniecture of the whole and therefore they seeke after another Schoole-master and a deeper wisedome then the wisedome of Gods spirite But little do these know what a librarie of learning store of al wisedome is to be had out of the blessed Bible nay how many sundry points both of Doctrine Maners are couched and contained vnder one period and sentence of the Scripture As those that are Wine-drawers A similitude by one draught of wine into a siluer bowle doe present vnto the buyer an experiment of the whole so the new wine of the worde being â—ut into new vessells hath bin tried what it is by a smacke and small taste out of one place of Scripture that hath bin drawn out vnto vs. This I dare avouch that no booke of humane eloquence hath euer beene so pathetically and perfitly penned so garnished with ornaments and figures of Rhetorick of such a subtile wisedome of perswading as I may so say of such a grace in setting forth one thing such sundrie kinds of waies There is none who hath sufficiently bin taught out of this book or hath learned Christ enough That which is there contained we know but in part many things the spirite hath reserued to himselfe and kept shut from vs that we might be his schollers vnto the end of the world The earth is not clothed with such sundry sortes of plantes fruites and sweete hearbs as the Lordes Eden and garden of Scripture is adorned and set forth with most comfortable constructions In sorting and matching mans â—earning with this it is to compare the barren mountains of Belboa with the fruitfullest Paradise of the whole world 2. Sam. 1. A Pearle is not knowne of what valew it is A similitude but of Lapidaries and craftes-men of that trade who haue iudgement in it Oh that we had iudgement to consider of the worth and worthinesse of this Pearle that we knew that it were such a treasure as it is I counsaile therefore our vnwisely wise men A similitude to blincke with cunning gunners with the one eie of carnal wisedome that the eie of the spirit may better hit the marke that we should all shoote at and obtain the price that is set before vs. The third sort of people The Papists who like vnto swine treade this Pearle vnder foote are our Popish Centaures who would haue Gods candle hidden vnder a bushell and not to be set vpon a candlesticke on high to shew light round about Math. 5. Math. 6. who haue made the whole word of God of none effect with their lewd traditions who are growne past grace with the common harlot that permitteth euery knaue to haue accesse vnto her going a whoring after euery balde inuention which is to play the harlot with those whom Hierome the Prophet taxeth vnder euery green tree Hier. 2. Iude vers 12. These are trees without fruite twice dead and plucked vp by the roots for as the open strumpet who without any difference admitteth all companions alike that come vnto her is alwaies barren and without fruite of womb So the Romish strumpet admitting into the lappâ— and bosome of the Church a confused chaos of very rascall rudiments no maruaile it is that they are barren of grace and the immortall seede of Gods most holy word cannot regenerate and better their affections The fourth and last enemie Tyrants but not the least is the Cyclopicall Tyrant of this worlde 2 Reg. 9 whose marching is like the marching of Iehu the son of Nimshi who marched furiously who aduance their cruelty aboue the starres Ierem. 3. and offer villany and defiaunce to the throne of Gods maiesty men of whoorish foreheades
sicke A similitude we despaire not of recouery so long as he hath help and benefite by phisicke but if phisicke faileth him Isay 1 he is a dead man and there is no hope of him our head is sick Isa 1. and our whole body is heauy there is nothing whole within vs yet there is good hope so long as we are comforted by this heauenly phisick of our health and saluation but want this and want altogither there is no help and recouery to be had Be the handy-crafts man and artificer very beggarly A similitude yet so long as he is not driuen to sel away his tooles but keepeth them by him he may be able to prouide for his liuing but if he palter away the instruments of his trade he may take him to his heels for it is impossible he shold hold vp his estate Let the world â—â—owne vppon vs as much as it will we are well enough so long as the old and new instrument of the word is preserued among vs but if that be once gone Psalm 109 we shall all like runâ—agates continue in security and be driuen to â—â—ke our trade in desolate places But of the 〈◊〉 further dignitie and necessitie hereof he sequeale shall entreate CHAP. II. That the word of God is all kinde of Treasure AS Iob saith of wisedome Iob 28 so it may be saide of the word of God the wisedome of the spirite It is not tâ— be valewed with the wedge of gold oâ— Ophyr nor with the precious Onyx nor the Saphire The Gold nor the Cristall is not equall vnto it it shall not be exchaunged for plate of fin gold No mention shall be made of the Corrall oâ— of the gabish for it is more precious then pearles The Topaz of Aethiopia shal not be equall vntâ— it neither shall it be valewed with the wedge oâ— pure gold The name of a treasure containeth vndeâ— it whatsoeuer is to be named and when wâ— haue named all in comparison of the word 〈◊〉 is like a candle set before the Sunne which vanisheth before it and like a stope of water to the huge Ocean sea which is nothing vntâ— it The place wherin this Treasure is is heauen so that our conuersation must be heauenâ—â— as the Apostle teacheth vs if we will attainâ— vnto it The Lord high Treasurer is the spâ—â—rit of God and his Vnder-treasurers whâ— haue also keyes thereof are his able ministers of the new Testament 2. Cor. 4. that carry about this Treasure in their earthen vessells Men for their outward persons that are base 1. Cor. 4 the very abiects and excrements of the world such as the Prophets Apostles were before them vulgar and meane men as shepheards fishermen Publicanes and such like But the indignitie of our persons derrogateth nothing from the dignitie of the word There is none so vnwise as to forsake a Treasure for the basenesse of the bringer gold is gold from whose hands soeuer it come If the King should send a general pardon A similitude to all condemned captiues in his kingdome by some pittious poore person the pouertie of the Purseuant disgraceth nothing the gratiousnesse of the pardon it is of as ful power and no doubt should be as welcom as if one of the Nobles of the Court should haue â—rought it The facultie of this gift and riches of this Treasure is from God alone neither dependeth it vppon the person of a man wherefore respect ye not what we are but what we bring vnto you and what it will make you if you esteeme it as you ought To him that faithfully runneth his race 2. Tim. 4. finisheth his course keepeâ—â— the faith we doe not here propound an Oâ—â—â—e braunch an Oaken garland a Lawrell bough as monuments of his stout stratagems and actiuitie we set not vp for his memorial marble siluer or golden pillers But we teach him that his name is written in heauen Hebr. 12. that he shall haue an inheritance among the faithfull that he shall be free denison of his heauenly Ierusalem that he shall haue true and euerlasting Treasure and finaly be made the deere child of God in his deere sonne Christ A Treasure properlie is a store of al prouision seruing not only as a supplie for present wants but for al future haps and necessities whatsoeuer The word is this Treasure is respect of Christ the obiect subiect and argument of the word Col. 2 In whom all treasures of wisedome and knowledge of his father are hidden Col. 1. In whom the fulnesse of the Godhead bodily doth dwell who is made to vs of God his Father 1. Cor. 1. wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption The bread of life Iohn 6. whom whosoeuer eateth he shall hunger no more Iohn 4. The water of life which doth away the thirst of our drie and droughtie soules Iohn 8. The light of the world which whosoeuer followeth shall neuer walke in darknesse The doore by which we haue passage Iohn 10. and possession of the kingdome of heauen He hath also prepared a table for vs and seats of estate therevpon of sit as Iudges vpon the twelue tribes of Israel He is therefore a true treasure surmounting all other kinds of treasure whatsoeuer so as hauing this we haue our generall quietus est and neede not looke after the gold of Ophyr or the mines of India But with gladsome hearts may take vp this Antheme and dittie of Dauid Psalme 23. The Lord is my Shepheard therefore I can want nothing He shal bring me to the green pasturs and leade me forth to the waters of comfort And breake out with the Apostle into this sentence of thankesgiuing Ephes 1 Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ who hath blessed vs with all spirituall blessings in Iesu Christ Let God do so more to me for I willingly sweare so deepely in so deuout a cause if from heÌ„ce as from a fountain from a root Ruth 1. 1. Sam. 3. from a treasure al needful graces temporal spiritual lawfully to be wished or conceiued of vs do not stream spring come vnto vs. There are many I doubt not that beleeue not this report and but few to whom the arm of â—he Lord is reuealed yet be perswaded Isay 53. but to make experience of it to come to his word with reuerence and religious deuotion rather like a Bee to gather sweete hony then a Spider to sucke deadly poison out of it and thou shalt find thy selfe framed in a new mowld metamorphosed and moulted into an other forme Acts 2. we shall be led to confesse as it is indeed that as the holyghost filled the house so this is a treasure that filleth the heart that it is of that working that the water of that well was of which Christ did speake vnto the woman of Samaria Iohn 4. He that drinkes of this
God let me aske thee this one thing why dost thou amplifie and enlarge this matter and giuest such letters of commendation vnto it No doubt thy answere is that treasure of much worth hath need to be wel kept and that pearles of cheefest price which are easily lost should be fast tied to ribbands and warily locked vp It is to much purpose that the word is sampled and patterned to a pearl and a manifold and comfortable vse we haue hereof and it liuely setteth forth the dignitie nature and excellencie of the word This Pearl is the omnipotent and eternal word of God properly so called for sundry good respects whether we consider the subiect matter or form manner and operation of the pearle For the matter of it Plinius it consisteth wholy of the dew of heauen which a certain shel-fish vsually at a set and certaine season of the yeere draweth to it self as natural philosophers and historians do report now how in this property it fitteth Christs nature the kingly Prophet sheweth vs directly in this wise Psalme 110 The fruit of the womb is of the dew of the morning Aug. Tom. 4. Quaest in Mat. quaestio 13. Ille ad margaritam iam ipsam peruenerat quae integumentis mortalitatis quasi ocncharum obstaculis inter profunda huius saecnli atque inter duritias saxeas Iudaeorum aliquando latuerat Christ now as saith Augustine grew vnto the very substance of a pearle inclosed and shut vp in virgins womb and mantle of mortalitie as it were in the shell and couerture of the fish lying hid a while in the depth of this world as it were in the sea and among the cragged rocks of the people of the Iewes The forme of the pearle is orient and glistering and exceeding beautifull wherein it hath a notable agreement with this word as the same father in the same place thus witnesseth Verbum Domini lucidum candore veritatis solidum firmitate aeternitatis vndique sui simile pulchritudine diuinitatis The word of God shineth through the brightnesse of the veritie it is firm and sound through the solidity of eternity and it is in al parts alike in the beautie of diuinitie The vertue and operation of the pearle is great and for diuers vses is exceeding medicinable among other to remedie the panting of the heart to quicken comfort and restore the vitall spirits to depell and driue away the giddinesse dizzinesse and swimming of the head Now how all these conspire in one in Christ and are compleate in him and are brought to passe in vs by feeling experience by the operation of the word it is as cleer and apparant as the Sunne This was that which was Dauids comfort and quickened him in the midst of his trouble Psalme 119 The want of this 1. Sam. 28. droue Saul into all perplexed and pittiful passions and most desperate designements whilest he rowled in his melancholy and mad moode and bethought himselfe how God was departed from him and aunsweared him no more either by Prophet or by dreame A similitude This is the comfortable electuarie of our soules made by the art of the best Phisitian and approoued by long experience as most excellent This is that aqua vitae which doth A similitude not only slack and alay our thirst but worketh within vs to the quickning of our life when it is dead in sinne Iohn 6 Therefore Peter calleth it the word of life saying Lord whither shall we goe thou hast the words of eternall life And Christ calleth it life This is life eternall Iohn 17 to know thee the true God and him whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ There is no sinner so swallowed vp of sinne so dead and buried in it whome the woorde can not quicken and rayse vp againe It cried out to the drie and dead bones in the field and loe they were knit together Ezech. 37 the flesh came vpon them and the skinne aboue couered them they breathed liued stoode vpon their feete and became a mightie armie Lazarus who had lien foure daies in his graue was quickned by this word Iohn 11 As the bodie liueth by his bodily food A similitude so doth the soule by his spiritual foode the food and diet of the soule is the word But herein this food exceedeth much the other that this is effectuall and liuely to the dead but the other is nourishable onely to the liuing Take thou heede therefore of the wretchles regard and loathsomnesse of the word since it is thy meate A similitude For as among the diseases of the body there is none more desperate then his whose stomacke either loatheth or retaineth not his meate the strength of his life without which the body dieth so he whose soule abhorreth this meate is in all extremitie and is brought according to the saying of the prophet Psaim 107. euen to deaths doore What man is so desperately and irrecouerably sicke A similitude who doth not gladly heare that Phisitian who doth but barely make him promise of his health albeit he be not able to performe it wherefore since Gods word is life of it selfe and healeth all infirmities suffereth vs not to be giddie in the spirit or wauer in the faith but giueth vs assurance of our eternal saluation ô deare and precious let this pearle be in our sight Let the Poets boast of Orpheus as they please who with musicke tamed sauage beasts of this we are most sure that Gods worde hath reclaymed and altered beastly minds Act. 9 and of Apostates hath made them Apostles of purloyners of Gods secrets and merchandizers of the word hath made them the faithfull dispensers of his mysteries Paul very expressely laieth out so much whenas portraying out our counterfeit as it was without Christ after whose glorious image we haue bin perfected and transformed he indigestly shadoweth vs out with a blacke coale in this mishappen manner We our selues also were in times past vnwise Titus 3. disobedient deceiued seruing the lustes and diuers pleasures liuing in maliciousnesse and enuy hatefull and hating one another Likewise leading vs along with a rehearsall of sundrie enormities which we rifely committed he inferreth therevpon that this was our estate but the case is altred with vs we are washed sanctified 1. Cor. 6. and iustified in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the spirit of God Be we neuer so profound and deeply wise in humane wisedome it may beseeme vs well to seeke after this wisedome as a Pearle of greater price and vertue than the other Solomon the wisest that euer was saw verie manifestly that wheresoeuer the vncreated wisedome of God spake Prouer. 〈◊〉 it spake of excellent things euen things seemely for Princes And although some places are shallow enough for the lambe to wade in yet there be some deep enough to drowne the very elephant of the which we may say with the
holy Apostle Oh the deepenesse of the counsailes and wisedome of God! Rom. 11. how vnsearchable are thy wayes and thy paths past finding out One Plato is woorth a thousand vulgar men the Scriptures surpasse all the writings in the world Loe thou that arte so highly conceited of thy selfe and thinkest thou canst see farre beyond the Moone imagining that a Preacher can speake nothing vnto thee but that thou knewest before or that he is not able to stirre thy affections 2. Sam. 11. 2. Sam. 12. I wish that Dauid might bee a president vnto thee to reforme thy iudgement who being mightily inspired with the Spirit yet for al his wisedome dwelt stil in the damnable ignorance of his sinne without remorce of conscience vntill the liuely voice of Nathan the Preacher pierced his heart opened the eyes of his vnderstanding and taught him knowledge Nabuchadnezzar hadde a vision of a tree Dan. 4. which was a figure of his fortune but all his wisards in court and country coulde not lay it open but he tormented himself with the hidden mysterie of it vntill Daniel did vnfolde it Paul was a choice man Actes 22. of very rare parts and induments of mind traded vp in learning at Gamaliels feet Actes 9. a doctor of the law mightily read and checked by his aduersaries openly for ouermuch studying of himselfe yet for al â—â—s priuiledge of his wisedome and learning â—â—e was sottish and senslesse vntill hee entred â—â—to Christ his schoole his learning was but a â—ead letter vnto him vntil the spirit quickned â—im and he was sent to Ananias who informed him what to do If the Spirit openeth not the doore of thy â—ppes thou speakest like a Parrot A similitude thou canst â—ot tell what as Caiphas who prophecied and â—reached of Christ but didde not know so much Trust mee there is no estate of life more miserable than to remaine in ignorance of the word and no estate happier than to haue the knowledge of it What say I of this Pearle â—hat it easeth panting hearts dizzie heads and theereth vitall spirits this word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is all in all vnto vs. If Saul be madde thorow melancholy 1. Sam. 16. if Dauid play these songs and ditties vppon the harpe his frensie leaueth him and his minde is againe quieted This charmed the very diuell and made him swell he did burst when he did set vpon our Sauiour putting him to shame Matth. 4. and to his heeles sodainly This curbled and so ratled the ruffians that were sent from the Scribes and hie Priests Iohn 7. to attach and arrest Christ as they had no power ouer him It exhorteth it threatneth it inciteth it reclaymeth it instructeth it conuinceth it singeth it mourneth it praieth it detesteth it commendeth it disalloweth it recounteth things past foretelleth things to come it singeth of mercy and discourseth of iudgement It bendeth euery way like to soft waxe to bend our stubborne consciences Paul in this especially commendeth his Timothie 2. Tim. 3. that he hadde spent his time in the study of the Scriptures from his tender age wherby he was able to shew himself a workman to cut the word aright to doe the worke of an Euangelist to be prompt and furnished to euery good worke Thrice happy was the state and gouernement of Israel Exod. 28. which by Vrim and Thummim asked counsaile of the Lord wee are nowe in blessed case who haue the light and lanterne of Gods word set vpon an hill set out in our pulpits as in a candlesticke by which wee haue Gods counsaile and direction for our doings so as hauing this Iewel and Pearle vpon our breasts voyde of all feare and trembling at the heart freed from al wauering and vnstable wayes and finaly reuiued in our vitall spirits wee take vp the songs and sayings of Gods saints As with diuine Dauid who merrily maketh this melody on his harpe and humble bandore Psal 27. The Lorde is my life and my saluation whome then shall I feare The Lorde is the strength of my life of whome then shall I be afraide What if hostes of men beset me Psalme 23. yet shal I not feare and though there rise vp war against me yet shall I put my trust in thee And with Daniels consortes shew our heroicall and inuincible stomackes with faithfull heartes saying Beholde the God whome we worship Dan. 3. he shall deliuer vs out of the fiery furnace And wyth peerelesse Paul commune the case and challenge all aduersary power into the field and expostulate thus with them Rom. 8. Who shal seperate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lorde And wyth hym when wee haue seene all that they can doe be of this courage and resolution with our selues that nothing shal be able to sunder and diuorse vs from the fauor of the Lord. But all this while heere is but one Pearle spoken of to which the word of the kingdom â—s compared And not without good cause For there is but one at one time ingendred in â—he fish and it seemeth that the name that is giuen vnto the Pearle which is called Vnio expresseth this his nature which signifieth One. In this it hath a fitte allusion vnto Christ who is our sole and alone mediator and hath no other either Angel or Saint to share and partake wyth hym 1. Tim. 2. There is but one Mediator betweene God and man the man Christ Iesus Neither is there saluation in any other else Actes 4. For there is no name vnder heauen whereby we must be saued Iohn 6. but the name of Iesus For whither elso shall we goe Lorde thou hast the wordes of eternall life As all the light and brightnes of the starres proceede from one Sunne A similitude so all our righteousnes proceedeth entirely from one Sonne of righteousnes Iesus Christ only As Pharao sayd to Ioseph which name in the Egyptian language is a Sauior I am Pharao Genesis 41. and without thee shal no man stirre his hand or his foote in all the land of Egypt So may it be sayde of Christ that wythout him wee are able to do nothing of our selues Math. 28. For all power is giuen by his father vnto him both in heauen and earth One sunne alone chaceth away the foggy darkenes of the night A similitude there are infinite other starres but all of them shining and glistering together and putting to their power are not able to dispell it I graunt that they are to vs as lampes and burning torches and minister great light but yet the blacknes of darknesse doth remayne and is not expelled by them The only sonne of God hath done away our night and hath turned the darkenesse of our grosse ignoraunce into the day-light of his glorious gospel shining into our hearts God hath also giuen vs many helpes besides
painted and varnished yet not fully finished they admire the passing perfection of it deeming that nothing can be added further to it but the Painter himselfe seeth well enough hauing a further worke conceiued to himselfe then others can desire how far it is distant from the hue and brauerie which he mindeth to giue vnto it before he hath done with it So thinke we as we will of the beautie of Gods house of the inestimable treasures and pleasures of his kingdome dispearse them and extend them as farre as we may by all imagination we are bleare eyde with Leah and we see with the blind man not yet fully cured Mark 8. men walking like trees things nothing answerable to that they are indeede Before the chiefe workeman hath put his last hand to his image and counterfeit it will shew it selfe wide and distant from our iudgement Some thinke that Coelum which is called heauen commeth of Coelo which is to engraue and so it may well for we see how it is carued graued and adorned round about with glistering and orient starres But I subscribe to them who thinke that Coelum is taken à coelo which is to couer hide and conceale because the treasure laide vp for vs in heauen is couered concealed 2. Cor. 12. and hidden from our knowlege For whenas Paul was snatched vp to the third heauen he vttered more with silence then he could with speech for he plainely saith he heard such wordes which cannot be spoken which are not possible for a man to vtter for indeed mans tongue in such kinds of cases stammereth and cleaueth to the roofe of his mouth so disable it is to vnfold diuine misteries So that our chiefest commendation of them is our silence of them Isai 24. And this vse did the Prophet make of them to himselfe who being ful of secret Reuelations kept them in a dutifull silence to himselfe saying My secretes are to my selfe God his wondrous workes so exceede all number measure and proportion as it is more commendable to conceale them with a godly admiration then to prie into them with a curious inquisition A similitude Set a round bowle or globe in any place which is of that quantitie that may fill the place and will that vast substance thinke you be dragged out of the narrow and strait passages of the doore of that place there is no reason so to thinke the spirituall ioyes of heauen are of that huge capacitie and substance Cui magno nihil est magnum â—eneca there being nothing great in comparisoÌ„ of this great as they cannot enter into the doores of our soules or be drawne through the portall and passage of our lippes The Queen of the South comming from farre to heare Salomons wisedome â— King 10 it perplexed and astonished her and tooke her spirit from her how much more shal the wisedom of the word farre greater then Salomons put vs to filence and amaze vs sodenly Christ informing Nicodemus but in the rudiments of religion Iohn 3 and beginning with him at the first element of our redemption pointing as it were with his finger at the fountaine and head thereof which is the loue of God to mankind he handleth it so as thereby we are not able to see the nature of it for saying thus of it so God loued the worlde that he gaue his onely begotten Sonne this first word so putteth vs to a non plus For how did he loue it he loued it but so as cannot be expressed And he cannot speake otherwise because hee knoweth Gods loue to be vnspeakable The blessed Apostle entreating of the passion Heb. 12 not being able in particulars to extend it thus generally comprehendeth it Consider him who hath suffered such shame for you But Paul what was this shame why rippest thou not vp his stripes and his blowes his mockes and his mowes the crowne the nailes the speare the crosse because howsoeuer they were liuely and sensible yet were not sufficiently explicable and intelligible We will you likewise to consider of the word as of a Treasure and a Pearle of great price If further we would know the vttermost of his worth the spirit answereth here that it is hidden from vs it is more then any is able to declare The treasure of inward heauenly inspiration the pleasure of diuine celestiall consolation the crowne of glorie laide vp as a reward of our bitter persecution and finally God our father his most gracious compassion by the tongue of men or Angels cannot be spoken of they are hidden mysteries that are too deep for vs. This Treasure is hidden because it hath neede of spirituall Reuelation It is not so hidden but that whatsoeuer is needful to saluation is opened vnto vs. God dealeth not as Poets and Philosophers with the truth who with the darke clowdes of their fabulous inuentions haue so eclipsed and obscured the cleere light therof as the minds of the readers are confounded with them and can giue no iudgement of it Gods spirit hath not so mocked dallied with vs as to set actuaries and penne-men a worke to engrosse such books which being so perplexed can minister no instruction comfort vnto vs in this kind of vaine may Apollo please himselfe â— Pet. 1 God his worde is a light that shineth vnto vs out of a darke place This booke howsoeuer it is sealed vp by the Lion that is of the tribe of Iudah is broken open to vs. Howsoeuer heretofore Exod. 19 vpon the publication and giuing of the law the Lord ouershadowed all Mount Horeb with a clowde and with a thick clowd obscured the temple that was made by Salomon and couered the Arke of the couenant with a vaile 1. Reg. 10 Christ the image and brightnesse of his Father hath dispelled this darknesse chased away this cloud taken away the vaile So that as Elias when he went vp to heauen 2. Reg. 2 left his mantle to Elizeus behind him whereby he diuided the deep waters of Iordan so Christ going vp on high Ephes 4 left his wisedom and gifts among men whereby they might diuide the deepe misteries of the spirit contained in the scriptures If Pharao be nothing skilfull in his dream let him send for Ioseph who is able to interprete it If Nabuchad-nazzar his vision doth perplex him Gen. 41 if he calleth Dauiel he wil presently vnfold it Dan. 2. 4 Ananias will informe and acquaint Saul what he ought to do Actes 9. The Aethiopian Queenes Chamberlaine vnderstandeth what he readeth by the helpe of Phillip So Acts 8. if we find the Scriptures to be hidden let vs send for preachers who may lay them open for vs. But aboue all 1. Cor. 3. let vs pray for the assistance of the spirit of God knowing that it is neither Apollo in watring or Paul in planting that doth vs any good but God that giueth increase wee may haue
ioyned and vnited to another and as a sword that is right cannot be put into a scabberd that is crooked so the cold affections cannot be so neere conioyned as they ought to duties of deuotion and crooked consciences are not fit cases to hide and keep in them the sharp and two edged blade of Gods spirite If there were a lettice into which we might but peepe into the hidden heart of man we should soone perceiue how few of those many to whom this treasure of Gods grace is offered and who come vnto the word come in this good spirit to this good godly end to benefit themselues by it to hide it with this good Merchant in the secret closet of his heart Some come like Somners and hollow hearted Math. 22 Herodians to trippe and intangle the preacher in his words and if he can catch any thing that by his misconstruing it may but seeme offensiue to the present state he writes it in his tables and he runneth as Doeg the Edomite to Saul 2. Sam. 21. and maketh a great tale of it such a one is a diuell called in the Scriptures the accuser of our brethren A similitude Such hide the word indeed but only for a time and that part which maketh for them and they resemble brood hennes who pecke vp barley carnells with their beake but they keep them not but let them fal again to their yong chickens of their feather Othersome heare to please their itching eares and obserue only figures and colours of Rhetorike cōceited inuention histrionical discoursing a fine phrase or two that they carry with them Hoses 1◠Such are fedde as Ephraim with the wind with round periods square wordes without any substance or shew of any matter A similitude Plutarch compareth such vnto those who carry nose-gayes about them only for the smell and outward shew of them and not for any vertue that is hidden in them Others are new-fangled Actes 17. A similitude like vnto Athenians and doe listen after newes and if the Preacher be a like man to discourse of nouelties he is a lure vnto them Some come to scoffe others for their fancie A similitude others for a fashion for they do no good no more than yoong children whome wee leade with vs to church and carry home with vs for either their thoughtes are dispersed to and fro so as they are like the starlings and doues that flie about the Church or else they fall asleepe and are for a time like a dead corps without any motion They thinke as Samuel 1. Sim. ◠that it is not God that speaketh vnto them and therefore deuoutly they returne vnto their sleepe Thus our greatest sorte of hearers if we diuide them aright either haue no pitchers or else they leaue their pitchers behinde them or else if they bring them they are crackt and broken pitchers that will hold no water in them But the good sort of hearers as bees out of floures gather hony out of the flowers of the word A similitude and as skilfull A potecaries make many good confections for diuerse kinds of sick nesses of such simples as they gather so these out of the field and garden of Eden and such simples as that yeeldeth make such electuaries and phisicke for the soule as shal be restoratiue and shall cure the soule The godly heare the Preacher as the patient the physitian A similitude who aduiseth and remembreth his precepts giuen vnto him If we knew what rubs doe lie in our way to keepe vs from the heedefull hearing of the worde and the hiding and laying it vp as wee should what thornes what tares what tetters do spring vp to choake and stifle the towardly growth of the good seede of the worde in vnsetled heartes more then the necessitie of this point would be confirmed and apparant vnto vs. A similitude It is as impossible to winne all vnto the word as it is for the wood-reeue and wisest husbandman to alter the condition of euery wilde tree or for the Huntes-man to tame and keepe vnder euery wilde beast The brackish water of the sea though it be not good for drinker A similitude yet it serueth well for sundry other vses it is good for fishes that do liue in them and to transporte bring in our wares and necessities The worde of God is vnsauourie vnto many but to the godly man who liueth by it as the fish by that element findeth very wonderful reliefe by it The word of God that is preached in our eares is by the diuell taken out of our hearts Iudg 6. who destroyeth this good seede as the Madianites destroyed the corne groundes of Israel Mens hearts are like vnto the high way A similitude vpon which all the seede that is scattered is lost we see how a fruit tree that groweth by the way can not preserue her fruits till they be ripe for euery passenger hath a fling at them But such as are farre remooued from the eie and grow solitarily by themselues such do reserue their fruites to due season Wherefore depart from the high way of this world and haue no doings with it but hide such fruit as this tree of Life yeeldeth thee secretly from such as would robbe thee of it and thou shalt keepe iustice and righteous dealing faith and good conscience the fruits of a good christian vnto the very end There is also hard ground A similitude into which this immortall seede cannot enter hard and stony consciences which admit not wholsome doctrine and they are like such who hauing corrupt and putrified members their senses are so senslesse and benummed as the Surgeons Sawe or other yron instrument is not felt of them Psal 22 Therefore before wee can doe our selues good our heartes as Dauids must be like melting waxe or else it receiueth not the impression of the word But the thorne that pricketh and choaketh this good seede that it cannot abide and bee hiddē in our harts is the wealth of this world which wee will haue wee are so set vpon it though we pierce our selues through with innumerable sorrowes Like desperate lewde boies hat wil venture to go through a quick A similitude set of thornes briars and brambles to rob an orchard plot Moses seeth a burning bush Exod. 3 which consumeth not in burning so worldlings are in the midst of burning thornes and yet are not consumed wherefore vnlesse wee remooue these blockes that lay in our way and subdue these enemies and sinfull affections and haue our harts like to good ground capable of this seede and of vertue to retayne it all our preaching and your hearing is in vaine and this poeticall inuention fitteth vs. Quid facis Oenone quid arenae semina mandas Non profecturis littora bobus aras Take not in hand to sowe such land as is but sandy flore It quites not cost
it 's labour loft to plow vp Ocean shore The good ground are they Luke 8 by the testimony of Christ who with honest and good heartes heare the worde and keepe it make their hearts the bagge to carry this treasure The good mans hart is the arke of the couenant Hebr. 9. wherein not onely the tables of the olde Lawe but the Gospel of the new is hidden and locked vp It is a fooles heart that is like a broken pitcher that holdeth no water or like a spend-thriftes purse that holdeth no money of a giddy and changeable disposition as leaues of trees shaking euery way with eucry puffe of winde turning round about as the doore vpon the hinges and as a tennis ball that is tossed to and fro and not suffred to rest vpon the ground In the olde Canons such beasts as did not ruminate and chew the cudde as swine Leuitic 1◠Deuter. 14. and such like were defined to be vncleane by the Law of Moses as no doubt those soules are who do not ponder and lay vp in their hearts such precepts and commaundements as the Lord giueth them Therefore that you may not heare the word in vaine the best counsaile that may be giuen you is this to record and write in the tables of your hearts such lessons as you doe learne You must follow the Angels counsaile to Ezechiel Ezechiel 3 saying vnto him Sonne of man eate this rowle that I giue thee cause thy belly to eate and fill thy bowelles with this rowle The like charge did the Angell giue to Iohn that hee should eate and digest the booke Reuel 10. It is the fashion and guise of many to reade much but to eate little to deuoure a great deale but to digest and concoct nothing They returne from the sermon to their dinner and remember nothing no longer than their bodies are in the church as Siues that holde no water no longer than they are holden within the riuer These men labour of a daungerous disease A similitude that is next to deaths doore for theyr case is like vnto that sicke mans estate whose stomacke is so weake as it is not able to retayne and keepe such meate as is put into it but immediately dooth cast it vppe His life is in his nourishment which if hee cannot keepe how is it possible that he should keepe his life I therefore feare much their eternal death who loathe and leaue the diet of the soule which onely preserueth the life of the soule And the prophet Dauid seemeth to conclude so much and to make it an infallible and irrefragable consequence Psalme 107 Their soules faith hee abhorreth all kinde of meate And what followeth heerevppon They are next vnto deaths doore Is there possible any good to be had in the onely hearing and reading of the word without any further heede thereunto Can the henne hatch chickins of those egs A similitude which after shee hath a little sette vppon in the neast she immediately vtterly forsaketh them It is against all beleefe no more can wee bring foorth any good by the hearing of the word which as soone forgotten as it is heard of vs. There is nothing more forcible and effectuall then fire A similitude powerfull to consume but it must haue a time to take holde of his combustible subiect before it can shew his strēgth vpon it For if thou runnest swiftly through it be the fire neuer so quicke thou canst not be scorched or once singed with it A stay must be made that it may apprehend and claspe the fewell or else it is impossible that it should consume it Gods word is the fire of the spirite Luke 24. which inflameth all our heartes and maketh them to burne like a torch which burneth vppe al our sinnes like stubble But if we slubber it vp carelesly and haste away from it and make no stay at it that it may kindle the coales of zeale within them it shall neuer kindle or warme our colde consciences or giue them any comfort Wherefore be perswaded to followe this course which reason aduiseth thee and the practise and examples of the better sort at all times haue animated and incited thee vnto Christes Disciples were led by this rule Luke ◠whenas their thoughts did runne vppon his speech and brought them back again to ask the meaning of it The Virgin Mary is a woman twice or thrice noted for this Luke 12. that she pondered with herselfe the words of the Angell and what kind of salutation is should be and that she lodged such sayings as the heard secretly in hir heart The men of Berea are registred in the chronicles of the spirite for this Act. 17 that they caried home with them the Sermon of Saint Paul that they might trie and examin by the scriptures whether things were so or no. So Dauid vsed this for thus he speaketh of himselfe saying Psalme 119 I haue hidden thy commandement within my heart that I should not sinne against thee There is this marke of difference between Iacob and his sonnes when Ioseph discouered his dreame vnto them his brethren vouchsafed not to giue hi audience but the text saith Gen. 37 that Iacob noted the saying As spicery yeeldeth thee more forcible smell A similitude the more it is brayed and stamped in the morter so the word of God is of better sauour to vs the more it is beaten and bruised in our hearts Wherfore this our Marchant-Ieweller is wise who hideth his treasure assoone as he findeth it And he doth but that which is of common practise The Captain or Lieftenant A similitude to whom the generall Gouernour in the field shal commit a tower or a strong cittie to be kept not only fortifieth it with garrison and munition but foreseeth it to be so diked and fenced round about as it may be sure against intended inuasion If we shall be thus prouident for the safegard of this treasure which the enemy so subtily endeuoureth to haue from vs and keep that thus carefully which our generall commander the Lord of Hostes hath committed to our trust and of which he wil one day take a streight account of vs we shall like loyall subiects discharge our duties wel and shal be very highly rewarded of him for it Let the example of Ezechias be a fair warning to vs 2. Reg. 20 and let vs binde it as a signe vpon our hands who for opening that treasure vnto the ambassadors of Babylon which should haue bin priuatly kept to himselfe and hidden from them gaue occasion to the enemie afterward to rob his posteritie of it As those that do lay seige to any great place A similitude do stop such passages by which they may conceiue their enemie may be succoured so the diuell an old beaten souldiour to this craft intercepteth al the keyes and ports by which he knoweth the Lord conuayeth vnto vs