so many as were made partakers of the knowledge thereof Which parties remayne now together with the doctrine conteined in the historie of them to be considered of that we may learne out of the same such doctrine as may serue for our edification comfort the place of Scripture therefore that we may procéede according to our ordinarie maner offereth the doings of thrée sorts of people to our consideration 1. The shéepeherds 2. The people that heard of it 3. Marie In the doings of the shéepeherds the holy ghost setteth downe their conference their iorney to the place where it was told that Iesus was and the fruite or euent of their iorney In the conference there is set downe the time when it was and the thing it selfe The maner of their iorney is set downe to be in haste the fruite or euent that came of it is thréefold first that they found Marie and Ioseph and the child secondly published those things that they had heard thirdly which is in the last verse of all they returned glorifieng and praysing God The second sort is the multitude that wondered at the thing The third is Marie y ◠kept al these things and pondered them in her heart These be the braunches of the matter conteined in this text And it came to passe that when c. The first braunch that is to be considered of is the time when these shéepeherds conferred to wit presently vpon the departure of the Angells that is as soone as euer the Angells had made an ende of speaking and were gone from them they began to consider with themselues that the matter was of great importance and therefore not to be deferred that it was a thing most necessary and therefore not to be neglected but further to be enquired after Out of which we haue to learne for our instruction two profitable doctrines First that we may not linger or prolong the time in the performance of those things that God enioyneth vnto vs we may not deferre the matter vntil hereafter but presently vpon the hearing of his worde by his ministers we must obey it the reason whereof is most apparant for when God speaketh then doth he offer the thing whereof he speaketh If he threaten his iudgements for sinne his word speaking the same his hand is ready to powre downe the thing if he teach vs any point of doctrine for the confirmation of our faith then is he ready with his spirite to seale the same in our hearts if he exhort vs vnto amendment of life with promise of reward then doth he mercifully bind him selfe to the performance of the same so that we may surely settle our faith vpon an vndoubted expectation of it the which doctrine is notably vrged in the epistle to the Hebrewes out of the saying of Dauid to day if ye will heare his voice harden not your hearts Where the holy ghost doth tell vs that whensoeuer the worde of God is preached vnto vs euen at that instant doth Almighty God offer his mercie and maketh this vse of it that then we should not harden our harts with contempt or carelesse harkening therevnto and to imprint it the déeper in our hearts the Lord by the mouth of Salomon hath vttered this fearefull threatning because I haue called sayth he and ye refused I haue stretched out myne hand none woulde regard but ye haue despised all my counsell and would none of my correction I will also laugh at your destruction c. then shall they call vpon me but I will not answere they shall séeke me earely but they shall not finde me because they hated knowledge and did not choose the feare of the Lord wherevnto that of the Prophet accordeth beholde the dayes come sayth the Lorde God that I will send a famine in the land not a famine of bread nor a thirst for water but of hearing the word of the Lord and they shall wander from sea to sea and from the north euen vnto the east shal they runne to and fro to séeke the word of the Lord and shall not finde it We haue a moste terrible example of Gods iustice herein in that profane person Esau who despising the blessing of god in the birth right sold it away for a portion of meate of whome it is sayd that he found no place to repentance though he sought the blessing with teares We sée then both the necessitie of present imbracing Gods word with faith and amendment of life and also the terrible threatnings that God denoūceth to powre vpon the heads of the contemners the which we ought to apply most diligently vnto our selues for if God estéeme so greatly of his word and punisheth so sharpely the neglect thereof we haue great cause to searche our owne consciences how faithfull obedience we haue yéelded therevnto for we haue heard his word longe we haue professed the same and doe professe it to the sight of the world Nowe if by triall we can finde thorough the testimonie of gods spirite in our hearts and examination of our liues that we haue not heard in vaine but haue increased both in knowledge of the gospell and also reformation of life according to the same our owne consciences may minister vnto vs matter of vnfeined consolation but contrariwise if we haue long time bene hearers of the worde and haue neither profited in knowledge of god nor obedience to his lawes surely our estate is most lamentable howsoeuer we flatter our selues in our owne imagination and therfore let vs search our owne consciences whether we finde that ready mind in our selues that we sée to be in these shéepeherds to make present profit of gods word when we haue heard it The second thing that we haue to marke out of this point is that we sée the word of god was effectuall in them and made them carefull to séeke further to be informed in the matter of the birth of Christ that they hauing the whole knowledge of the thing in euery point might not lacke the vse of it any way because they did know that the thing both being straung and also comming from God must néedes be most necessary for them to know The lesson that is to be gathered out of the same for our instruction is this that those who be truely called vnto the faith in Iesus Christ and haue the vnfeined earnest of Gods spirit within them doe perswade themselues that Gods word in euery point is to be knowne of them and also euery way to be practised which is a doctrine most néedefull to be learned for Satan hath so inueigled the hearts of a number yea euen of them that take themselues to be gospellers that they thinke the most part of Gods worde not to appertaine vnto them that the knowledge thereof is néedelesse the comfort of it fruitlesse and the particular obedience therevnto more precise than necessarie insomuch that they settle themselues in these and such
OBEDIENCE TO the Gospell TWO SERMONS CONTEINING FRVTEFVL MATTER both of doctrine and exhortation very needefull to be knowne and practised in these our dayes vpon the words of the holy ghost written by the Euangelist S. Luke chapter 2. verses 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20 conteining the effect of the birth of Christ reuealed by the Angell of God in the sheepeherds and others that heard of it GATHERED OVT OF THE SERmons of IOHN VDALL Preacher of the worde of God at Kingston vpon Thames and published at the request of some of them that heard them preached ROM 10. 16. But they haue not all obeyed the Gospell for Esa◅ sayth Lord who hath beleeued our report AT LONDON Imprinted for T. Man W. B. and N.L. 1584. TO THE CONGREGATION OF CHRISTES PEOPLE IMBRACING THE TRVTH OF THE GOspel by a liuely faith and obedience to the same the ordinarie hearers of the worde of God at Kingston vpon Thames IOHN VDALL wisheth increase of knowledge faith reformation of life Zeale all other vertues of true godlines and holines in this world and the rewarde of the same thorough the mercie of God in Iesus Christ in the world to come SEEING it hath pleased the Lord of his great mercie and goodnes to vouchsafe vnto vs that inestimable treasure of his holy word the preciousnes whereof surmounteth all things vnder the sunne wherein he doth offer euen his owne selfe vnto vs and teacheth vs the way whereby we may come vnto him it behoueth vs with all reuerence and feare to imbrace the same preferring it before any thing that we can desire vpon the earth And forasmuch as it hath pleased him to put that precious treasure in these earthly vessells subiect vnto corruption and mortality which by the natural disposition that they are of will striue to infect all the fruite of that precious treasure with the stenche of sinnefull and vngodly desires we are diligently to watch and contend that we see that these fleshly and inordinate motions that seeke so greatly to extinguish euery good thing may be dayly more and more kept vnder that the word of God may by the working of his holy spirit get the victorie in our harts and sit there as a Prince to rule the cogitations therof captiuing them daily vnto the kingdom of Iesus Christ thorough obedience to his most blessed will The which forsomuch as it is done especially by the ministery of the word wherein the Lord hath printed such force that it throweth downe all munitions reared against it and vnto the worke of the same hath appointed me among you of many other most vnable to do that which he commaundeth and my duety requireth at my hands it standeth both me and you in hand to be most heedefull that we be not carelesse in these great and weighty matters which doe concerne the glory of Almightie God and the eternall saluation both of our soules and bodies and so much the rather because Satan fearing the continuance of the world to be short and therefore that which he doeth for the aduancement of his owne kingdome he must doe it quickly laboureth by his instruments with tooth and naile to extinguish the light of the glorious Gospell that it should not shine with open face vnto Gods people for we see daily what mischieuous practises he broacheth what errors he spreadeth what slaunders he inuenteth what lyes he disperseth and all to discredite the course of religion the truth whereof we doe feele and see in our owne experience for you knowe what enimitie the establishment of the Gospell amongst you had by your enuious foes that would haue kept you still in palpable ignorance with themselues howe many pullbacks and hinderances were deuised and be daily inuented to stay the course thereof all which for so much as thorough the mercie of God to vs-ward they haue not had that successe which the authors hoped for they labour now and haue done continually to imagine slaūderous lyes and most wicked forgeries which they doe daily spread abroad to the ende to defame the religion which we professe so that there is not almost any sinne that can be committed but it is fathered vpon some of vs which deuillish dealing albeit we know that it shall turne to their eternall destruction vnlesse the Lorde in mercie giue them grace to repent yet notwithstāding we may learne a very good lesson out of the same and make a profitable vse of it vnto our selues let me therefore intreate you to marke with diligence this which I shall write vnto you as you are wont to doe when I doe speake The greatest accusation you knowe in generall that your foes the aduersaries of the Gospell doe charge you with is that you professe one thing and practise another that you say well and doe naughtily that you reprehēd others you your selues being worse which in deede is a most heinous accusation and such a thing as your owne selues can witnesse I neuer haue winked at but most carefully reproued and such a thing as our religion neither teacheth nor permitteth for it is of that force where it entreth that it will reforme all these things in measure in those that haue it within them This slaunder goeth yet further for our profession is accused to be seditious contentious and troublesome vnto the state and enemie to good order and gouernment we our selues accounted malicious proude finding rather fault with others than amending our selues seeking rather for singularitie than loue and charitie You are not ignorant of the sleights of Satan and therfore knowing that he was from the beginning an accuser and lyar may the better by the mercie of God haue vse of your knowledge to comfort you in these temptations But marke how the Lord maketh Satan his imps to be as spurs and pricks to driue the godly forward though they be very grosse and dull in the beholding of their owne faults for Satan casteth a myste ouer their eyes when they should see them yet they be very quicke eyed to prye into the doings of others especially the godly and are able if our foote doe but slip to find it out and haue it as a reason to discredit our profession which aboue all things we labour to keepe vnspotted Therefore it behooueth you to looke diligently vnto your selues to watch your owne soules to attend and looke vnto euery worde that you speake euery thought that you thinke and euery action that you commit to examine it diligently by the line of Gods word which is the touchstone that wil either approue it or disproue it and if you find by the vndoubted warrant thereof that it is lawfull and that you ought to doe it then let neither slaunder speach of people deuill nor hell staye you from the practise thereof but if thorough the remnants of old Adam you be at any time allured to doe or speake any thing that either is forbidden or hath no warrant from the word of God
then reason thus with your selues this is not agreeable to my profession this is contrary to that I haue learned this will procure the name of God to be dishonoured my religion to be defamed and my selfe to be discredited therefore though it might be gainefull delightfull or any other way pleasure me I may not doe it this you had neede to marke very well for I tell you you haue many lookers on that would laugh to see your fall you dwell in a country where the Gospell is very litle preached insomuch that your ignorant neighbours make them selues sport to mocke at you that will be so foolish as to suffer your selues to be seduced by the Scriptures you haue godlesse and profane men that doe deride you Libertines and freewill men that doe despise you worldlings and bellygods that doe carpe at you insomuch that you haue very great neede to walke warily that it standeth you vpon to behaue your selues circumspectly therefore doe thus be diligent in publike hearing and as it may stand with your calling priuate reading of the worde of God for that is the onely schoolemaister to teach you all truth vsing daily and hartie prayer vnto God for the presence of his holy spirite to teach you the true meaning thereof looke what you finde therein required of euery Christian be carefull to doe it in your dealing with others deale faithfully without facing out of ill matters without swearing or lying reproue others with the spirite of mildnes that doe amisse in your presence shewe your selues obedient vnto all authoritie that is appointed of God and that for conscience sake Bring vp your children and seruants in the feare of God instructing them in the principles of religion detract no man secretly but tell them plainely of their faults to conclude shewe your selues approued vnto the Lord in the testimonie of a good conscience being alwaies carefull to seeke the glorie of God and benefit of your brethren be alwaies in worde and deede that which according to the Scriptures ye professe and then let Satan broach his lyes let the wicked carry them abroad let godlesse persons hate you as long as they may it shall turne to their shame at the length as to our great comfort we see it doth daily and being a triall of your patience to your greater glorie in the kingdome of heauen and let not the glory of this world bewitch you for ye are not of this world let not the successe of godlesse persons dismay you for the world loueth his owne and is liberall vnto them let not the slaunders of the wicked discourage you for because you runne not on into the same excesse of riot with them therefore they speake euill of you let not the multitude of your aduersaries feare you for God is strōger then all men let not the threatnings of great ones daunt you for their heartes are in the handes of the Lord to be guided at his pleasure let not the pronenesse of your owne nature seduce you for he that liueth after the flesh shall die let not the crosses that accompanye the Gospell wearie you for they bring the ioyfull fruite of righteousnesse to all that are exercised thereby so shall the name of God be glorified by you so shall your foes be put to flight your profession known to be the truth of the eternall God that liueth for euer Now to come to speake of these present sermons which I haue dedicated chiefly vnto you partly for that by that calling which the Lorde hath layd vpon me I am at this instant bound by all lawfull meanes to doe you good partly because it is the earnest sute of some of you to haue them penned partly for that they contain in them sundrye pointes of religion which you doe professe and for which you are of the world condemned that euery man may see thereby the impudencie of Satan that dare note Gods owne word with the marke of infamie onely let me craue this at your hands as a recompence for my trauaile that you woulde expresse the doctrine in your liues that I haue expressed though simply yet truly therein that I may once see in you all that zeale which the example of these sheepeherds may teach you then shal I thinke my labour well bestowed when the beames of righteousnesse doe breake forth as the sun at noone day which the Lord for his mercie graunt in his Sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ to whome with the father and the holy ghost be all honor and glorie both now and for euer Amen Your seruant for Iesus Christes sake his vnworthy messenger IOHN VDALL The table The birth of Christ reuealed by the Angells did worke effectually in the sheepeherds in whome are to be considered these things their conference the time when it was 1. the maner of it 2. their iorney in going with haste vnto the place where the childe was 3. the fruite of the conference and iorney 1. founde the child 4. 2. published it abroad 5. returned praysing God 6. the people who wondered at the thinges which they had heard 7. Marye who kept all these things 8. pondred them in her hart 9. Two sermons of obedience to the Gospell Luke 2. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. Verse 15. AND it came to passe when the Angels were gone away from them into heauen that the sheepeherds sayd one to another let vs goe then vnto Beth-leem and see this thing that is come to passe which the Lord hath shewed vnto vs. 16 So they came with haste and found both Marie and Ioseph and the babe layde in the cratch 17 And when they had seene it they published abroad the thing which was tolde them of that child 18 And all that heard it wondered at the things which were told them of the sheepeherds 19 But Marie kept all those things and pondered them in her heart 20 And the sheepeherds returned glorifieng and praising God for all that they had heard and seene as it was spoken vnto them WHEN the birth of our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ was made manifest vnto the shéepeherds that were kéeping their shéepe by night it wrought effectually as you haue heard first in the Angels of God that they were moued to praise and glorifie God saying glorie to God in the highe heauens and peace in earth towards men good will Whereby they both declared that all praise honor and glorie was due to God for the work of Christs incarnation and also made knowne the blessing of god y e was shewed vpon mankind thereby to wit that here on earth they should féele themselues at peace in conscience because of the full perswasion of the remission of their sinnes and also should be tyed together one to another in a true league of spirituall vnitie all which floweth neither from mans will nor desert but onely from the frée fauour and good will of God our heauenlye father Secondly it wrought most effectually in mankind generally
conuince themselues so be excuseles or else to find their owne wickednsse so become more diligent and attentiue to y e word of the Lord. Lastly this doth notably declare vnto vs the cause that so fewe do shew forth that care in obeying the Lord as they should euen because they make so small reckoning of Gods word perswading themselues that either the knowledge thereof is not néedfull at al or if any whit yet they goe about it as though they had no stomacke to it but sillie soules if they did either know the necessitie or comfort of it they would not estéeme it so base the necessity that it should be our continuall counsel for the directiō of our affaires that it should be as a lanterne to our féet light vnto our paths that we are naturaly in darknesse it must be the candle to directe vs or else we cannot choose but fall into spiritual dangers y ◠comfort that among the diuers troubles of this miserable world the waywardnesse of our owne nature and the manifold temptations of Sathan it is not possible that we should stand or haue any hope of consolation but only in the promises of God which be there set downe whereon the soules of al holy men haue euer sed and bene stayed and therefore Dauid who was a kinge indued with wisdome strength and riches yet sayeth he plainelye that that it was his comforte in his trouble and except the law of God had béene his delight he had perished in his afflictions and therfore let vs not flatter our selues who are manie and infinite waies inferiour and more vnable to stand than he was but let vs continually craue at Gods handes that wée may be dailie more and more rauished with the loue of his word and may haue the right vse of it and then we shall sée that of al things in this worlde it is the thing that wée should most desire So they came in haste The second generall branch of the effect is this that when they had one stirred vp another and being earnest in enquiring out the matter and also knowing by the direction of the Angel both the place where vnto they should go also the thing where of they would be certified do now in all haste without anie further delay go to the place to sée the thing wherein wée may beholde the true worke of Gods word that it not onelie instructeth them to conferre and talke of the thing but also to do it indéed The maiestie of Gods word as we shall sée hereafter getteth an assent ' vnto it almost of all men insomuch that all nowadaies are contented to professe wel and to make a shew they are willing to crie Lord Lord and carrie the countenaunce of Gospellers but to bring foorth the fruit of it in their conuersation this is the thing that they straine curtesie at but we are to learne by the example of these shéepherds that if we wil be indéed that which we wold be accompted to be then must we be as carefull to practise Gods commaundements in our life as to speake of them in our months for religion standeth not in profession onelie the seruice of God standeth not in wordes alone he is not straightway a Christian that carieth the countenaunce of one but he onelie who is careful both of profession and also true obedience For as it is most true that without professing of the Gospel we can not be the members of Christs Church héere vpon earth so is it as true that without the fruit of that which we make shew of we cannot perswade our selues to be neither in déede are we the seruants of God For whom God teacheth by his word he indoweth with his spirit where the spirit of God is there be the fruites of the spirit and the body is dead because of sinne but the spirit is life for righteousnesse sake Let euery one of vs therefore lay this vnto our owne consciences and labour to make profit of it vnto our selues Againe we sée in these shéepheardes that as they make the motion one to another that they may goe so they leaue not there and so let it rest but they goe forward also a notable example for our instruction When men that haue more ciuill honestie and moderation of themselues then the common sorte haue doe méete togither often they haue vp whole common wealthes in their talke euer saying this is not wel and that mighte be amended it were wel if such a thing were so but you shal neuer heare more They content themselues with it should be neuer put to their hands to further it euen like to them that being reproued for swearing saie indéede I am to blame and I confesse it is a fault or being exhorted to this or that godly course answere indéede it should be so hearing a minister teach any pointe of religion say he said very well he is a very good man I would we could followe him but neuer striue to amend neuer labour nor indeuour to doe so but couer all vnder this cloke flesh is fraile we are all sinners and so thinke that to be excuse sufficient to kepe themselues still in the state they be or else waxe worse and worse Euen so deale these men they moue or approue any good motion and neuer striue to stirre vp others that it may be practised and these people be com monly such as either beare offices or are some way assistantes in corporations where they be gouerned by the cōsultation of man and therefore you here presēt may haue good vse of this doctrine when you haue anie publique matters in hand especially when you do méete togither for the election of your Magistrates I am sure you will all saie and wish in generall termes that a sufficient man may haue this and that office but surely it falleth out that euerie man almost is led by his priuate affection in the particular wishing either the preferment and benefite of him selfe or his friend neuer regarding how able hée is to discharge it And hence it is that as Salomon saith we may sée a great euil vnder the sunne as an errour that procéedeth from the face of him that ruleth follie is set in great excellencie and the rich in al manner of wisedom set in the law place I haue séene seruants on horses and Princes walking as seruants on the ground wherevpon foloweth all disorder because the gouernours either can not or dare not or wil not execute their office aright We may moreouer sée in these shéepherds a note of great zeale that their mindes being rauished with desire of the thing they went in haste striuing as it were to go one before an other and they had great reason for it for being taught that the sonne of God the sauiour of mankinde their redéemer was to be séene in Bethlehem who can blame them if they ran one ouer an
to denie my selfe wholly but this I will doe I will take vpon me the profession of Iesus Christ and giue him some intertainement in my heart but not wholly I will not trust him too farre but take him in the one hand and the world in the other that if at any time I be troubled for the one I may cleaue with honesty to the other and say I neuer meant any lesse Thus doe a number in these dayes as their déeds doe most euidently declare but what get they by it Surely the Lord in his iust iudgement doth so bridle them because they would not trust him wholly to be their gouernour that they doe neuer féele the swéetnesse of Religion in so much that in time of persecution they vanish away and in the dayes of trouble they knowe not which way to turne because they would gladly retaine Christ and yet feeling no comfort by his worde dare not cleaue wholly vnto him But let vs beware of parting stakes betwéene God and the world let vs not come limping vnto the Lord but with our whole wils hearts and minds haue affiance in him that by his mercy we may reape the benefit of Iesus Christs obedience for our full contentment in this world and glorification in the world to come And wheÌ„ they had seen it they published abroade that which was tolde them of the Childe Nowe followeth the second fruit of their trauaile to wit that they séeing the truth of God in his promise and perceiuing that God had some greater work to doe in him they dispersed it abroade and told it to others as they coulde get conuenient occasion so that this being the meaning of the wordes let vs obserue those things that are to be learned out of the same for our instruction first let vs consider the time wheÌ„ they published it euen when they did sée and perceiue plainely that it was so indéed as they were told of the Angell so that there could be no deniall of it any way Which teacheth vs this lesson that religioÌ„ must first be knowen before it be vttered for how can a man reueale a thing vnto an other whereof he is still ignorant himselfe How can a blind man sée to directe an other in the way and therfore the first thing that is required at our handes in the seruice of God is that we seeke thoroughly to knowe his will to the end that we may haue a most certain ground both how to directe our owne wayes and also to make our lightes shine to others which al men do desire to do or at least to be so accounted but because they haue not that care to be directed by certaine knowledge both their own wayes that séeme good in their own eyes yea thoughe they be workes in themselues good are odious in the sight of God as being fruits that procéede not from faith and also their profession or outward shewe is espied faultie euen in the world and they accounted hypocrites so that if we enter duely into the coÌ„sideration of the estate of such persons we shall sée it to be of all others most desperate for in the sight of God their doings are abhominable insomuch as they haue not learned by the knowledge of his word to do them in faith and in the iudgement of men they are also reiected for both the godly to whom the Lord hath giuen the spirit of discretion to discerne those thinges that differre do sée their course to be only in outward appearance and therefore ioyne not with them and also the wicked who cannot discerne otherwise then by the fruites do sée that they make a shewe of one thing and practise an other and therefore doe euen of all other detest them most so that they being neither beloued of God nor man must néedes of all other be in the worst case Therefore they that intend to take a right cause where with they may both please God â—… bring comfort vnto their owne soules and also stoppe the mouthes of their aduersaries as they be desirous to doe those thinges that may be approued before men so let them first beginne with this that they may learne of the worde how they may haue warrant from him and be sure that they doe his will and not to take vpon them for any priuate occasion either of gaine credit or pleasing others to make shewe of that which neither they know nor yet haue any féeling of so shall they in any extremitie haue the testimony of a good conscience the comfort whereof ouercom meth all those euils that the godly are continually thorough the malice of Satan haunted withall Moreouer as wée sée that these shéepheards begunne with knowledge and were first instructed thoroughly in the thing themselues so we see that as soone as they had sure intelligence of the matter they published it and made it knowen to others wherein they make knowen both their thankfull heartes to God and also their louing affections to their bretheren their thankfull heartes that hauing reciued such a benefit from the hand of God thinke it their duetye to make knowen vnto others what a bountifull God he is Their louing affections to their brethren that are desirous to haue them partakers of those notable benefits of God in the birth of his Sonne Iesus Christ whereby we may learne a most notable point of our duety that our thankefulnesse to God and loue to our brethren must moue vs by al lawfull meanes to make that knowen vnto others which we our selues doe learne out of Gods worde the summe whereof standeth in these two pointes to reproue our bretheren offending and to instruct them when we sée them ignorant The carnall man that would not be reproued because he will not amende nor be instructed for that he despiseth knowledge will say that a minister must doe so but priuate persons are not to meddle in any such matter against whom if I shoulde aleadge no more but only the doings of these shéepheardes he were thoroughly answered but to make it more cleare by the Scriptures for reprouing sinne which is the first point The Lord sayth thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart but thou shalt plainely rebuke thy neighbour and suffer him not to sin Whereby we do most euidently sée both that we ought to reproue one another offending and also that if we doe it not we hate him and for instructing the second point Dauid saith restore to me O Lord the ioy of thy saluation and sta blish me with thy frée spirit then shall I teach thy wayes vnto the wicked and sinners shall be conuerted vnto thee So that it appeareth plainely hereby what is the duety of euery Christian which indéede causeth them that haue a care to kepe Gods commandementes to take this course where with all the godlesse are moste of all offended and are readye to offer them any violent iniury charging them to doe it not of
care ouer Gods glory nor loue to them but either to shew themselues buste in carping with others or else of an arrogant brauery for praise to be accounted religious persons whose accusation thoughe it may fall out to be true in some for we haue examples of both in the Scriptures Iudas was a buste body carping at the déede of Marie for spending the precious ointmeÌ„t vpon Christ that might haue bene sold and giuen to the poore and Simon Magus was an arrogant person who desired the gifts of the holy ghost for vaine glory sake rather then to doe good with them Yet it is no excuse for them for though a man reproue me of malice mistrust me of vaine glory yet that is only to him and not to me I must respecte the thing which is for my owne benefite and not the intent of the party which he shall answere for Therefore seeing the worlde cannot abide this and yet thou seest it inioyned vnto thée from the Lord be carefull that in thy owne conscience thou be not guiltie of any sinister minde in doing it and then let them storme neuer so much thou standest vpon a sure foundation and dischaâ—…â—…st thy duety so that his bloud shall be vpon his owne heade It is said here of them that they published abroad the thing which was tolde them of that child that is all that they had heard no more shewing their faithfulnesse for our instruction that as God hath giuen his word so would he haue it al published made known as he hath perfected it himselfe so is it hys wil that we should neither adde to it nor detract from it but leaue it as we find it a lesson that is very néedefull to be learned For the world doth commit high treason against God in this point on both sides some doe estéeme certaine pointes of doctrine too high misteryes and therfore would not haue them medled withall but buried in silence as namely the doctrine of Gods eternall predestination the very staffe vndoubted stay of our hope in Iesus Christ which is moste largely handeled in many places of the Scripturs at large and euen as it were discoursed vpon of purpose Especially by the holy apostle S. Paule in two seuerall places the which whosoeuer would haue vnknowen doth accuse God either of lacke of discretion to set y â— downe in his reuealed word that is not to be taught or of folly to trouble himselfe in reuealing it and man in séeking to know a néedelesse thing Others not hauing the right vse of Gods word doe in some thinges thinke it insufficient and therefore they must adde forsooth some deuise of their owne braine whereby the Scriptures might be made perfect and these do accuse the Lord of great carelesnesse ouer his Church that would giue them such an vnper fect lawe wherby all and euery cause and person in his Church cannot be directed and therefore letting them both goe let vs imbrace all Gods worde and nothing else let vs publish that all and nothing but it by the example of these shéepheardes We may yet further behold in them the victorie of the spirit against the flesh there were diuerse reasons to induce theÌ„ not to beléeue it as the basenesse of his birth the simplicitie of his mother and contemptiblenesse of his kindred for the stocke of Dauid in those dayes was most hated by the heathen kinges and gouenours There were also reasons to moue them though they did beléeue it yet not to publish it as that Herod would be his enimie because he shoulde be king of the Iewes and so they clapte in prison for spreading it abroade that the Phareseis and Scribes woulde be grieued wih it because they looked for a Messias comming in worldly pompe so would excomunicate these poore sheepheardes if they confessed this child to be Christ so that they might feare both the gouernours of the church and also of the comon wealth to be against them which must néeds bring vnto them great trouble and as for Christ he was but a child and his kindred being poore and therfore his partie weake they coulde haue no rescue at his handes from their violence but none of these considerations troubled them so as to feare them from publishing it why because they were fully perswaded that the saluation both of their soules and bodies rested only in that child and therefore it was their duty to vse al meanes that the glory of God might be aduaunced for it by whose example we may learne a moste necessary lesson Many thereby that take vpon them the profession of Christ who notwithstanding by the consideration either of his base estate or for feare of wordly losse or tribulatioÌ„ for his sake or by one temptation or other are driuen backe from that sincere course that once they did practise whose doinges are cleane contrary to the doinges of these shéepeheardes this then is the lesson for vs where the feare of God taketh roote religion is once truly sealed in the heart by Gods holy spirit the seale of y â— glory of God doth so possesse that man that al worldly considerations cease that agrée not with it al alurements are lothsome that draw him from it and all afflictioÌ„s are swéete that come to him with it this is a most necessary meditation in these our dayes wherein men are so generally carried away with the pleasures delights and riches of this present world that there séemeth to be eueÌ„ such a reuolt as was in the time of our sauiour Christ when many of his disciples went backeward insomuch that Christ may say to a very small number that serue him truly now will you goe too whose stay and comfort is that beauenly aunswere of Peter to whom should we goe Seing Christ hath the wordes of eternall life whome we beléeue and knowe to come from God and to haue all the treasures of knowledge and wisdome hidden in him The Lord open our eyes that we may sée his waies truly walke in the same Let vs pray THE SECOND SERMON OF OBEDIENCE TO THE Gospell Luke 2. verse 18. And all that heard it wondered at the things that were told them of the sheepheardes NOWE followeth the second sort of people wher in this thing was effectuall for the third thing y â— is to be considered in the shéepheardes because the holy ghost hath set it last in the text I will also referre it vnto the latter ende for it is said when they heard of the shéep heardes both the thing that was come to passe and also the mean parties by whoÌ„ they wondered for euery point of religion is straunge to naturall men wherein we may sée y â— wonderful force of gods word which carrieth with it such a maiestye that it béeing sincerely deliuered shaketh the heartes euen of all estates of men Which we may also learne of the Lord himselfe by the
men with a worde and away neuer remembring him any more But we are to know that God will not be so serued he requireth continuall and heartie thankes at our handes which if we would rightly consider we shoulde not generally be so secure as we be For time which should teach vs experience of the loue of God towardes vs and so make vs more zealous doeth cleane weare out of our mindes the remembraunce of former benefites receiued so that you shall sée them that by special fauor that they haue found at Gods hands are for a season excéeding hote and forward in religion But it is with them according to the common Prouerb soone hote soone colde for they become afterward so faint and cold in their course begunne that it may be truly said of them as it was of the Church Ephesus that haue fallen from their first loue I wold to God that I had not iuste cause to make this complaint in this place for surely to speake generally I haue séene more zeale more loue and care vnto religion than nowe I can beholde the world doth so carie men awaie and they be so crammed with the word that now they be ready to surfet of it they be cloied with it séeme to loath it as the Israelites did that heauēly Manna but assure your selues that if the plentie thereof do make you estéeme it lesse precious God will send you that darth famine that he threatneth by the Prophet that yée shall séeke it from sea to sea and not finde it Moreouer in that these are saide to haue this wroght in them by the vnderstanding of the thing that they glorified and praised God we learne that where religion is truly imbraced where the word of God taketh root true holde it wil bring foorth the fruit conuenient agréeable to the same for of it selfe it is a most liuely séede is mightie in operation so when it méeteth with a heart that is pliant therevnto it is verie forcible and therefore let no man flatter deceiue himself by perswading his own hart that he is truly religious when in the meane while he is cold and carelesse in the fruits of it for Gods spirit accompanieth religion which is a spirite of heate and zeale making mans heart as it were to melt at those things y ◠are for the glorie of God encrease of true religion in the harts of Gods people which ought to be farre more glittering in vs than it was in the shéepeheards for wée haue greater cause the whole passion death glorificatiō of Christ is manifested vnto vs so that we lacke nothing to perfect our knowlege if we will receiue it therfore there must be no lingering in vs to shew forth al y ◠praises of god in most perfectiō which we do litle regard For al that they had heard and seene as it was spoken vnto them The third and last point of all which is the cause that mooued them to reioice and praise the Lord euen the things that they had heard and seene by whom we must learne the last but not the least duetie that we owe vnto God euen continually to recount ponder and consider the manifold blessings that the Lorde doeth multiplie vpon vs daily by the iust consideration whereof we cannot choose but burst out into admiration of his woonderfull loue and mercie towards vs miserable and wretched sinners and so to deuise with our selues howe wée may shewe our selues effectually thankefull so did the Prophet Dauid What shal I render vnto the Lord saith he for al his benefites towards me I wil receiue the cup of saluation and call vpon the name of the Lord I will pay my vowes vnto the Lord euen now in the presence of all his Saints Whose good and godlie example if we will reape benefite by we must doe as he did worship him truely according to his word and perfourme that dutie in obedience to his commaundements that he requireth at our hands As for the manner of his praise wée may also learne it by these shéepeheards that they did it as it was tolde them that is according as God had commaunded so must we do praise his holie name as he requireth at our hands and doe it as himselfe hath commaunded in his word and so shall it be acceptable in his sight Let vs therefore to conclude séeing we be hedged in on euerie side with y ◠great blessings of God séeing that by him wée liue and moue and haue our being séeing he sheweth himselfe most kinde and liberall both in things that concerne the soule and the bodie let vs I say studie and indeuour by all possible meanes that so long as we abide in this transitorie world we may shew foorth the glorie of his name according to his will then shal we be sure of his fauour vnto vs in this life and of eternall ioies in the world to come by the merites and bloodsheding of Iesus Christ our sauiour to whome with the father and the holie ghost be all glorie and honour now and for euer Amen Let vs pray O Eternall God in Iesus Christ our most louing and mercifull Father vvee render vnto thy Maiestie most humble and hartie thanks for all thy blessings and manifold benefites bestovved vpon vs namely for those inestimable graces of our election creation vocation iustification sanctification and redemption for this great treasure of thy holie vvord vvherein vve acknovvledge thy great loue tovvardes vs vile vvretches and miserable sinners And for as much O Lord as thou hast taught vs at this present hovve forcible and effectuall thy vvorde vvas vnto the Sheepeherdes vvorking in them such an ardent and burning loue to see thy sonne Iesus Christ vvhen he vvas manifested in the flesh such forvvardnesse and haste to satisfie that godlie desire vvhich thy holie spirit had vvrought in them finding that vvhich they soght for vvere carefull to publish it abroade that others might be partakers of that comfort and after returned vnto their vocation againe glorifying thy holie name vvith all obedience vnto thy blessed vvorde And moreouer bicause vve haue lerned from thee that the multitude that heard of it yet shevved not anie zeale or care to see the truth of it themselues but suffered the cogitation therof to vanish out of their mindes vvithout any profit vnto themselues but contrarivvise thy seruaunt Marie kept euerie thing in remembrance being carefull by continual pondering thereof in her heart to make vse of it for her comfort and further instruction VVe confesse good father that the example of these parties doth teach vs both the duetie that vve ovve vnto thee the obedience that thy vvorde requireth at our hands and the zeale vvhich vvee shoulde expresse in our liues to set foorth thy glory and also hovv to shun that carelesse course vvhich the greatest number doth follovve but O Lord vve acknovvlege against our selues that vvee are not able
to thinke a good thought much lesse to yeelde that obedience to thy vvorde that thou requirest nor to make anie fruit of it vnto the comfort of our soules vnlesse thou of thy mercie vvorke it in vs vvee therefore most humbly beseech thee mercifull father to graunt vs thy grace that euerie one of vs may be so truely persvvaded of the trueth of this doctrine novve deliuered vnto vs that thy holie spirite may imprint it in our hearts and vve may feele the comfort of it in our soules and consciences and labour diligently to bring foorth the fruit of it in our liues and conuersations most gratious Father vve pray thee subdue our affections and rule our desire by the gouernmēt of thy grace and holie spirite that the enticements of sinne doe not pull vs avvay from that seruice that vve ovve vnto thee that vvee neuer faint or vvaxe vvearie in the course of godlinesse that our zeale be neuer quenched by anie allurements of Sathan but that vvee may daily grovve and encrease in all the Vertues of Christianitie to the glorie of thy blessed name and consolations of our ovvne conscienences through Iesus Christ our Lord to vvhom vvith thee and the holie Ghost be all praise novve and euer Amen FINIS VVe may not put of from day to day Heb. 3. 7 c. Psal. 95. 8. Prou. 1. 24. Amos. 8. 1◅ Heb. 12. 6. Euery point of gods word is to be knowne of euery man Psal. 19. 7. Prou. 1. 4. Ephes. 4. 12. Acts. 20. 27. 1. Cor. 13. 12. Then we can not be too for ward as some say Esay 2. 3. We ought to stirre vp one another to religion 1 Thes. 5. 11. Heb. 3. 13. 19. VVe must cōferre of the word of God after that we haue heard it The wicked ause mans lawe to depraue the word of God Why God reuealeth oftner his word to the simple 1. Cor. 1. 29. No excuse must keepe the simplest from the knowlege of Gods word VVhere and how the truth is to be sought The cause that so fewe finde Christ Psal. 119. 24. 2 Pet. 1. 19. Psal. 119. 50. 92. We must not onelie professe Gods word but do italso Rom. 8. 9. 10. Galat. 5. 22. It should be so is not sufficiēt Ecclesiast 10. 5 Psal. 119. 98. VVe straine courtesie who should first be religious but who should first gaine riches Math 7. 2. 4. 11. 29. 16. 24. The truth of Gods worde Mat. 7. ◅ Rom. 12. 2. VVhy men do seeke and find not Iames 4. 3. To dispise the meanes in trusting of God is to tempte him Knowledge is the first pointe of gods seruice Hipocrites nether be loued of God or man Profession of religion standeth in reprouing and instruction Leuit 1◅ 17. Psal. 51. 12 13. The world cānot away with priuate rebuking and instruction Iohn 12. 5. Acts. ◅ 18. With what mind we must reproue others The vngodly either detract◅ from or ad to the worde of God Rom. 9. 11. to 24. Ephe. 1. 45. They that doe not knowe the vse of Gods word thinke it vnperfect The bataile of the flesh and the spirit◅ in the entrance to religion The spirit euer getteth victorie in the faithfull at length Iohn 6. 66. Col. 2. 3. Esay 55. 10. 2 Cor. 14. 15. 16 Gods word worketh in all that heare it preached How a man shal know whe ther the gospel do him any good or no. The markes of fruitlesse hearers Hearers for fashions sake Hearers that are mooued for the time present onelie Willing hearing without fruit argueth a guiltie conscience The sayings of the wicked when they heare one doctrine twice Matth. 12. 29. What the godlie thinke whē they heare that which they did heare before VVhat the wicked should thinke when they heare that doctrine which they haue despised before VVe may not boast of know ledge or any other vertue They bragge most that know least The godlier that a man is the humbler he will be 2. Cor. 11. 30. The right vse of knowledge VVe must bestoore vs in knowledge Math 25. 10. The world ought to giue place to religion Prou. 16. 4. Prou. 1. 20. The excuses of worldlings why they be not religious Psalm 10 3. 1 1 Thes. 4. 10. 11 2. Thes. 3. 10. 11 12 c. Luke 3. 10 c. 1. Cor. 7. 31. Foure sorts of people that abuse this world The first sort of people Ephes. 4. 28. Psal. 16. 1. Coll. 3. 22. Ephes. 68. 1. Tim. 6. 1. Gen. 18. 19. Psal. 101. 6. The second sort of people Acts 2. 44. Rom. 6. 23. The third sort of people The fourth sort of people Acts 19. 19. Acts 19. 24. See Doctour Wilson vppon Vsurie Bishop Iewel vpon the 1. Thess. c. Ezech. 18. 13. Psal. 15 5. Religion no enimie to lawfull gaine Matth. 6. 33. Matth. 4. 4. Leuit. 26. 26. Reuel 3. 4. Amos 8. 11. Psalm 12. 12.