This is not to be vnderstood of offence onely giuen to the Ministers of the Church but to signifie that a woman throwing off the vaile of modestie and token of subiection to her husband doth make euen the Angels of heauen witnesses of her dissolute contumacie The Angels are present with thee when all men on the earth are absent from thee I aske thee when thou pollutest the marriage bed attemptest an homicide plottest a treason forgest a vvriting wouldest thou then haue the Angels present with thee or absent from thee If thou desirest them present why dost thou offend them by thy turpitudes If absent thy protectors are gone and the diuels would easily confound thee Nonfacias coram Angelis Dei yea coram Deo Angelorum Do not that thing before the Angels of God yea before the GOD of Angels vvhich thou wouldest shame to doe in the sight and presence of an earthly man Yet let vs marke here by the way that albeit the Angels deserue our reuerence yet they desire not our adoration Indeed the euill Angels request it it was a speciall boone which the Diuell begd of Christ to fall downe worship him But the good refuse it See thou doe it not for I am thy fellow seruant saith the Angell to kneeling Iohn As we vsually come too short in our due reuerence to the Angels so the Papists goe too farre in vndue adoration They haue a set prayer for it Angele Dei Custos mei me tibi commissum lege superâ—…a semper rege custodi guberna This sacrilegious honour those holy spirits refuse they take no charge of such superstitious soules Accipiunt commissum non arripiâ—…nt inconcessum Honorandi non adorandi sunt Angeli Let them be honored but not adored Loue and reuerence the Angels onely worship God and Iesus Christ. 3. This declares to vs the excellent company that is in heauen Were the place lesse noble and maiesticall yet the company it affords is able to make the soule right blessed We are loth to leaue this earth for the societie of some friends in whom we delight yet wee are all subiect to mutuall dislikes Besides the meeting of those good friends againe in heauen there be also glorious Angels There is nothing in them but is amiable admirable nothing in possibilitie of changing our pleasures There thou shalt see and conuerse with those ancient Worthies Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Martyrs Confessors Fathers of the Primitiue times all of them out-shining the starres where our loue shall be as eternall as is our glory There wee shall liue familiarly in the sight of those Angels whom now we receiue good from and see not Yea there is the fountaine of all felicity that Sauiour of ours whose grace onely brings vs to the blessed vision of the whole Trinitie Neither can there be a higher happinesse then the eternall fruition of Iesus Christ. Let this teach vs all to blesse our God that hath thus aduanced vs. Man is corporeall dust O that this clay of ours should come to dwel with those incorporeal spirits We shal be as the Angels of God in heauen Sicut non ipsi like Angels though not Angels in nature Communicatione spei non speciei we haue now a communion of hope with them hereafter of glory To this place O thou Creator of men Angels bring vs through Iesus Christ. To the generall assembly and Church of the first borne which are written in Heauen Our Apostle hath spoken of the Churches glory typically and topically now he describes it materially First the Essence of it what it is The Church Secondly the Propertie of it what kind of Church it is Generall or Catholike Thirdly what are the parts of it of whom it consists Of the first borne written in Heauen The Church This word is taken in diuerse significations For the materiall Temple 1. Cor. 11. 18. When ye come together in the Church I heare there are diuisions among you For the faithfull domestikes of one Familie 1. Cor. 16. 19. Aquila and Priscilla salute you vvith the Church that is in their house For the professors of one Prouince The Church of Corinth of Ephesus c. For some famous company of Beleeuers gathered together in one place 1. Cor. 14. 4. He that prophecieth edifies the Church For an Ecclesiasticall Senate or Synode Mat. 18. 17. If he shall neglect to heare them Dic Ecclesiae tell it vnto the Church For the whole number of the Elect. Mat. 16. 18. Vpon this Rocke I will build my Church Acts 5. 11. Great feare came vpon all the Church 1. Tim. 3. 15. Which is the Church of the liuing GOD the pillar and ground of truth Here first let me premise three circumstances concerning the Church 1. Though it be a Generall Assembly yet it is but one There be threescore Queenes and fourescore Concubines and Virgins without number but my Doue my vndefiled is but one shee is the onely one of her Mother Indeed there be two parts of this One Church Triumphant in Heauen and Militant on Earth The Triumphant part is a company of Iustified spirits triumphing ouer the flesh vvorld and diuell spirits I say for bodies are not yet ascended They haue two happy priuiledges 1. To reioyce in the conquest ouer sinne and death the most righteous man liuing is in praelio in a continuall warfare But so are the other for Saint Iohn saith There was warre in Heauen This must be vnderstood of heauen on earth vvhere there is no truce with Satan Pax cum Deo bellum cum diabolo We haue peace with God but on this condition that warre with the diuell Therefore so runne the promises Uincenti dabitur To him that ouercomes shall be giuen Palmes to shew that they had been warriours are now conquerours 1. To praise God continually and to sing Amen Blessing and glory thankesgiuing and honour be vnto God for euer and euer The militant part is a company of men liuing vnder the crosse and desiring to be with Christ. They suffer and this is their way to glory through much tribulation entring into the kingdome of God They desire dissolution being willing rather to be absent from the body and to bee present with the Lord not simply and absolutely desiring death but first that they might leaue sinning and so cease to displease God and then to come neerer to their blessed Sauiour whose loue hath rauished their hearts Now this militant Church may haue many parts as the Ocean sea is but one yet distinguished according to the Regions vpon which it lies So there is the Spanish Ocean the English Ocean the German Ocean There is a Church in England a Church in France a Church in Germany yet there is but one militant Church Multa Ecclesiae vna Ecclesia saith S. Augustine One Sunne many beames one Kingdome many shires one tree many branches 2. We must note that Christ is the alone head of his
shall weepe Satan is a killing master his wages is hell fire But all in grace is liuing and enliuing Idols are dead and neuer were aliue men are aliue but shall bee dead pleasures are neyther aliue nor dead Deuils are both aliue and dead for they shall liue a dying life and dye a liuing death Onely the liuing God giues euerlasting life Ierusalem This is the appellation of the Citie As Canaan was a figure of heauen either of them called the Land of Promise so locall Ierusalem is a type of this mysticall Citie There are many conceits concerning the denomination of Ierusalem Hierom thinks that the former part of the word comes from the Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Holy because Ierusalem is called the holy Citie But then there should bee a mixture of two seuerall languages Greek and Hebrew to the making vp of the word The Hebrewes deriue it better they say Sem called it Salem Peace and Abraham Iireh The place where he attempted the sacrifice of his sonne he called Iehouah-Iireh The Lord will see Thus put together it is Ierusalem visiopacis This is more probable then from the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Ierom or from Iebus as Pererius This is euident from the 76. Psalme ver 2. In Salem is his Tabernacle and his dwelling place in Sion So that Salem Sion were both in one place The Iewes haue a Tradition that in one and the same place Cain and Abel offred in the same place Noah comming out of the Arke sacrificed in the same place Abraham offered Isaac in the same place stood Areunah's threshing floore which Dauid bought in the same place Melchisedek the Priest dwelt in the same place Salomon built the Temple and our Lord Iesus Christ was crucified But to let goe ambiguities Ierusalem is a City of Peace This is plaine Melchisedek was King of Salem that is King of Peace Gods Church is a Church of peace That of Plato ouer his dore is worth our remembrance Nemo nisi veritatis et pacis studiosus â—…trabit Let none enter but such as loue peace and truth Saint Paul is bold to his Galathians I would to God they were euen cut off that trouble you Contra rationem nemo sobrius contra Scripturas nemo Christianus contra Ecclesiam nemo pacificus senserit No sober man speakes against reason no Christian against the Scriptures no peaceable man against the Church Hee that is not a man of peace is not a man of GOD. Peace is the effect of patience if men would beare iniuries and offer none all would be peace It is the greatest honour for a man to suffer himselfe conquered in that wherin he should yeeld Be of one mind liue in peace and the God of loue and peace be with you A iust reward if we haue one mind and liue in loue and peace the God of loue and peace shall be with vs. Heauenly This Citie is on earth but not of earth This is not terrestriall Ierusalem She is in bondage with her children She was not onely then vnder the Romane seruitude literally but according to Pauls meaning allegorically shee could not attaine the liberty of the Spirit but abideth vnder the wrath of God and horrour of conscience But this Ierusalem is heauenly I saw the holy City new Ierusalem comming downe from God out of heauen prepared as a Bride adorned for her husband Now it is called Heauenly in three respects Of Birth of Conuersation of Inheritance Ortus coelestis quoad originem progressus coelestis quoad conuersationem finis coelestis quoad translationem Here is all heauenly Ierusalem that is aboue is free the mother of vs all In hoc quòd dicitur sursum originis altitudo quòd Ierusalem pacis multitudo quòd libera libertatis magnitudo quòd mater faecunditatis amplitudo quòd nostrum omnium charitatis latitudo The Church in the Creede hath three properties Holy Catholike knit in a communion The word Aboue intimates she is Holy the word Mother that shee is knit in a communion the word Of all that she is Catholike Ierusalem is a type of the Catholike Church in Election Collection Dilection First for Election The Lord hath chosen Sion That out of all Cities this out of all Nations Ye are a chosen generation a peculiar people enclosed from the Commons of this world Gods owne appropriation 2. For Collection that was walled with stone this hedged in with grace God planted a vineyard in a very fruitfull hill and he fenced it It is well mounded and the Citizens of it linked together with the Bond of peace 3. For dilection Beautifull for situation the Palace of the great King the Sanctuary of his holy worship his Presence-chamber the pillar and ground of the truth There was the seate of Dauid here the Throne of the Sonne of Dauid that openeth and no man shutteth that shutteth and no man openeth A heauenly Citie 1. In respect of her Birth and beginning heauenly For the Lord of heauen hath begate her of immortall seed by the word of truth Art thou a Christian behold thy honourable birth and beginning Was it an honourable stile Troianus origine Caesar Then much more Coelestis origine sanctus Euery Saint is by his originall heauenly Beare thy selfe nobly thou hast a celestiall generation 2. In respect of growth and continuance heauenly Our conuersation is in heauen Wee liue on earth yet saith the Apostle our conuersation is expresly in heauen Our affections are so set on it that wee scarce looke vpon this world wee so runne to our treasure there that wee forget to be rich here but like the Saints cast our money at our feet Act. 4. Corpore ambulantes in terris corde habitantes in coelis Our bodies walke on earth our hearts dwell in heauen To the hating and despising world vvee answere Nil nobis cum Mundo nil vobis cum Coelo Wee haue small share in this world you haue lesse in the world to come 3. In respect of the End Ideo dicitur coelestis quia coelum sedes eius Our soules are neuer quiet till they come to their wished home Thus hath GOD blessed vs with all spirituall blessings in heauenly places The Church in her worst part is below in her best aboue Earth is Patria loci but heauen Patria iuris As Irishmen are dwellers in Ireland but Denisons of England We dwell in houses of clay vvhose foundation is in the dust but are ruled by the Lawes of that supernall Citie Father my will is that those thou hast giuen mee may be with mee where I am Amator mortuus est in corpore proprio viâ—…us in alieno A Louer is dead in his owne body aliue in anothers Animus velut pondere amore fertur quocunque fertur saith August Loue waighes and swayes the soule whither soeuer it be carried Exi
Church and can haue no other partner to share with him in this dignity Iesus Christ is the corner stone in whom all the building fitly framed together growes vnto an holy Temple in the Lord. Hee doth not onely by his authority gouerne it but also by his grace quicken it so that wee liue not but Christ liueth in vs. Let vs hold the head from which all the body by ioynts and bands hauing nourishment ministred increaseth with the increase of God He requires no deputy he needs none For wheresoeuer you are gathered together in my name I am in the middest of you Now euery Commission ceaseth in the presence of him that giues it It is therefore as great arrogancy in the Pope to call himselfe Caput Ecclesiae Head of the Church as for a subiect to keepe himselfe in commission in the presence of the King But they distinguish of heads there is a Principall and a Ministeriall Head Christ is not so weake in himselfe or so respectlesse of vs as to need any Ministeriall head Indeed there be Heads Materialiter who are no other then principall members So Saul was called Head of the Tribes Psal. 18. 43. Thou hast made me the head of the heathen 2. Sam. 23. 8. The Tachmonite head of the Captaines Nehem. 11. 16. Iozabad head of the Leuites The eldest was called head of the familie Exod. 6. 14. These bee the heads of their fathers houses But there is a Head Formaliter to giue sense motion vertue gouernance this none but onely Christ. 3. Wee must know that there is no saluation out of this Church such as neuer become members of it must eternally perish they that are true members shall be saued If they had beene of vs they would haue continued with vs but they went out from vs that it might be manifest they were not of vs. Without are dogs and scorners c. All out of the Arke perished in the waters The Lord added to the Church daily such as should bee saued First because there is no meanes of saluation out of it no word to teach no Sacraments to confirm And especially because out of the Church there is no Christ and out of Christ no saluation Who haue not the Church their Mother cannot haue God their Father This teacheth vs to honour our Mother and like little children to hang at her brests for our sustenance Sucke and bee satisfied with the brests of her consolations milke out and bee delighted with the abundance of her glory Run not to strange nurses for poyson when you may haue pure milke of your owne mother Desire like babes that sincere milke of the Gospell that yee may grow by it Qualis nutritio talis complexio The complexion of your manners the disposition of your liues will witnesse whose children they are The generall assembly this is the property of the Church Generall It is Catholike in three respects of Time of Persons of Place 1. Of Time because the Church had a beeing in all ages euer since the Promise was giuen to our first Parents in Paradise If there had beene a time when no Church had beene on earth the world should haue then perished for it stands for the Elects sake 2. Of persons for it consists of all degrees and sorts of men rich and poore Princes and subiects bond and free There is no order nor state excluded if they exclude not themselues Christ is the Propitiation for our sinnes He may be so indeed for the sinnes of Iohn and the Disciples but how appeares it for mine yes not for our sinnes onely but for the sinnes of the wholeworld euery condition of beleeuers 3. Of Place it is gathered from all parts of the earth especially vnder the new Testament Wheresoeuer this Gospell shall bee preached in the whole world When Christ gaue his Apostles their Commission hee gaue also the whole world for their Parish Goe teach all nations and baptize c. Thus we see the property of this Church Catholike or Generall It is one but not tyed to one time nor one place nor one person it is Catholike to all times to all places to all persons Augustine sayes that the Donatists in his dayes would haue tyed the Church to Cartenna in Africa as the Papists in our dayes to Rome in Italy How is it then a Generall assembly Thus that Antichristian rabble which haue almost nothing in their mouthes but the Church the Church yet doe mostly infringe the liberties of the Church and hedge it in All of them haue made the Catholike Church to be nothing else but the Romane Church and some of them the Romane Church to be nothing else but the Pope So in effect Papa virtualiter est â—…ota Ecclesia say they The Anabaptists imagined a Church like the Ticke all body and no head the Papists haue made a Church like the Toadstoole all head and no body What a monster is their Pope that will bee all in all eye and tongue body and head taile too As Caligula tooke off the head of Iupiter and set on another of his owne so they haue smitten off Christs head and set on the Pope Let them take their imaginary head say we onely to Christ Whom haue we in heauen but thee and on earth none besides thee Our dependance be for euer on our Head the Lord Iesus Before I leaue this point I desire to expresse two things one for distinction the other for instruction First for distinction betwixt this Generall assembly and particular Churches then for instruction to shew who bee true members of this Catholike Church 1. The maine difference betweene them consists in this that the Catholike Church is alwaies inuisible the members thereof only knowne to God particular Churches are sometimes inuisible and lying hid other times manifest in the open profession of Christs name As the Moone is eft-soones ecclipsed or clouded and often shineth in the full 1. It lies hid through want of the word preached and publike administration of the Sacraments So it was in the dayes of Elias when hee wished to die I onely am left Strange Apostacie when so notable a Prophet could not discerne the Church yet vers 18. I haue left seuen thousand that neuer bowed their knees to Baal So it was in the raigne of Asa For a long season Israel hath bene without the true God without a teaching Priest and without the Law The Papists demand where our Church was before the daies of Luther we answer that an vniuersall Apostacie was ouer the face of the world the true Church was not then visible but the graine of trueth lay hid vnder a great heape of popish chaffe But this inuisibility doth not proue a nullitie They cannot impugne the antiquity of our Church vnlesse they conuince themselues For the Church of England holds no other doctrin then that the Church of Rome primarily did hold and that
Others will haue something demonstrated to the vnderstanding nothing to the senses Some will haue a demonstration to the senses nothing to the vnderstanding some partly to both others expound it This body then it is thus This body is my body others say it is indiuiduum vagum But Quod multipliciter exponitur communiter ignoratur That which is so variously expounded is generally vnknowne The most iudicious among them cannot explicate it Corpore de Christi lis est de sanguine lis est Deque modo lis est non habitura modum What damnable cruelty then was it in them to burne silly women for not vnderstanding this their inexplicable mysterie Those gunpowder diuines condemned others to the fire for not knowing that which they neuer knew themselues Wee teach such erring soules bee corrected that they may bee conuerted not bee confounded Excommunicated for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may be saued in the day of the Lord Iesus 2. Whether a separation may bee iustly made from our Church for some errors or corruptions of life I know that diuers who were once among vs neuer of vs haue put out their owne lights indeed excommunicated themselues What 's their plea that our assemblies are full of enormities I answer that the defects and corruptions of a Church must be distinguished they are eyther in doctrine or in manners For doctrine some errors are Citra fundamentum some Circa fundamentum others Contra fundamentum Errors beside the foundation trouble errors about the foundation shake errors against the foundation ouerturne all So long then as no foundation is harmed it is not lawfull depart vntill the Church separates from Christ we must not separate from it In two cases there is warrant of separation First when the substance of Gods worship is quite corrupted What agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols when this is ver 17. Come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord when Ieroboam had set vp Idols in Israel the Priests and the Leuites left their suburbs and possession and came to Iudah and Ierusalem Secondly when the substance of doctrine is quite corrupted If any man consent not to the words of our Lord Iesus Christ and to the doctrine which is according to godlinesse c. From such vers 5. withdraw thy selfe Paul in the Synagogue at Ephesus preached for the space of three moneths together But when diuers were hardned and beleeued not but spake euill of that way he departed from them and separated the Disciples In these two cases lawfull not else For corruption in manners they make not Nullam Ecclesiam sed malam ecclesiam not no Church but a bad Church Wicked Scribes sitting in Moses chaire and teaching the things he wrote must be heard Whatsoeuer they bid you obserue that obserue and doe but doe not after their workes Separate from their priuate society not from the publike assembly But they charge vs that we deny Christ. I answere Deniall of Christ is double eyther in iudgement or in fact Deniall of Christ in iudgement makes a Christian no Christian denyall in fact the iudgement being sound makes him not no Christian but an euill Christian. When the Iewes had crucified the Lord of life they remained still a Church if there were any on the face of the earth and Ierusalem was still called the Holy City To them belonged the promise and to their children To them pertaineth the adoption and the glory and the couenants I would to God this bloudy issue were stanched but what age hath not complained it This mischiefe is intestine Amara persecutio in cruore martyrum amarior in pugna haereticorum amarissima in malis moribus domesticorum The persecution of Tyrants was bitter the poyson of heretikes more bitter but the euill liues of Christians most bitter of all Many walke of whom I haue told you often and now tell you weeping that they are enemies of the crosse of Christ. Whereupon saith Augustine How comes that great Champion to fall a weeping Could he endure stripes aboue measure prisons frequent shipwrackes perils by sea and land among enemies among false brethren hunger thirst cold wearinesse painfulnesse Did he fight with beasts after the manner of men was he rap'd vp among the Angels Did hee beare all these miseries was hee honoured with all these mercies and now does he weepe Yes sinne and sensuality was crept into the Church and this made that vndanted spirit fall a weeping Pax a Paganis Pax ab Hâ—…reticis nulla pax a falsis filijs We haue quiet from the Pagans quiet from heretikes but no quiet from wicked and exorbitant professors Our greatest enemies are they of our owne house Lord Iesus heale this plague Now wee haue proued and approued the truth of our owne Church at home let vs examine whether the Church of Rome be also a true member of this Catholike Assembly Errors that annihilate a Church are of two sorts some weakening others destroying the foundation Weakening error is the building of hay and stubble on the foundation the stubble burnt their soules may be saued A man breakes downe the windowes of his house the house stands though defaced he puls downe the lead or tiles the house stands though vncouered he beats downe the wals the house stands though deformed he plucks vp the foundation the house falls and ceaseth to be an house Those which destroy the foundation are the ouerthrowing errors by them a Church ceaseth to bee a Church Yet if an error be against the foundation we are to consider the persons whether they erre of malice or of weaknesse If of malice like Iannes and Iambres that withstood Moses resisting the truth it is no longer a Church But if of weakenesse wee must not so peremptorily conclude for Paul writes to the Galatians as a Church of God though they were peruerted to another doctrine embracing a fundamentall error of Iustification by works The Church of Rome doth wilfully obstinately destroy the foundation therfore may be concluded for no Church If they wil be iustified by the works of the law they are faln from Grace Let vs heare how they quit themselues First they would doe it by retorting all this backe vpon vs they tell vs flatly that we are no Church and thus they prooue it They say we haue no Bishops so no Ministers so no Sacraments therefore no Church Here they clappe their wings and crow Victory Victory As Manasseh against Ephraim and Ephraim against Manasseh and both against Iudah So they haue set our brothers against vs vs against our brothers Papists against vs all Behold the exigent we are in the Papists say we haue no Ministers because they are not made by Bishops the Puritans say we haue no Ministers because they are made by Bishops Which of these speake true Neither First to answer the Puritan Bishops may make
The booke of Gods Prescience which he calls the Blacke booke wherin are registred onely the Reprobate But this latter booke hath no warrant in the Scriptures it is true that as there is a certaine number to be saued so the Lord knoweth them that are ordained to destruction but the Scripture giues onely a name of booke to the first not to the worst Non quòd scribuntur in aliquo libro sed quòd non scribuntur in illo libro Let them be blotted out of the booke of the liuing let them not be written among the righteous Whose names are not written in the Booke of Life from the foundation of the World Not that they are written in any other booke but that they are not written in that booke Indeed God may be said to haue diuerse Bookes 1. Liber Prouidentiae the booke of his Prouidence wherein God seeth and disposeth all things that are done by himselfe in the World Thine eyes did see my substance yet being vnperfect and in thy booke were all my members written when as yet there was none of them Not a sparrow falls from the house not a haire from our heads without the record of this booke 2. Liber Memoriâ—… the booke of Gods memorie wherein all things done by men whether good or euill are registred A booke of remembrance was written before GOD for them that feared the Lord and thought vpon his Name The bookes were opened and another booke was opened which is the booke of Life Hence it is plaine that there are other bookes besides the booke of Life This is that which manifesteth all secrets whether mentall orall or actuall Whereby GOD shall bring euery vvorke into iudgement with euery secret thing be it good or euill This Booke shal be opened in that day vvhen God shall iudge the secrets of all hearts by Iesus Christ. 3. Liber Conscientiae the booke of euery mans conscience this is a booke of Record or testimony not so much of Iudicature as of witnesse If our heart condemne vs God is greater then our heart and knoweth all things There is Conscientiae perâ—…rsa that doth wholly condemne there is Conscientiae dubia that doth neither condemne nor acquit there is Conscientiae bâ—…e ordinata such a one had Paul I say the truth in Christ I lye not my conscience also bearing me witnesse in the holy Ghost Euery mans conscience beareth witnesse but vbi cogitatio non habet quòd accuset where the thought hath no matter of accusation against a man that conscience doth beare vvitnesse in the holy Ghost Looke well to thy life for thou bearest about thee a booke of Testimonie that shall speake either with or against thee 4. Liber monumentorum a booke of Monuments which containes the acts of the Saints for the memorie of times to come Of this nature were the Chronicles the Acts of the Apostles that martyrologie or golden Legend of the Saints in the Chapter preceding my Text. God threatens the false prophets that they shall not bee written in the writing of the house of Israel 5. Liber veritatis the booke of Truth this may also be called the booke of Life because it containes those rules that lead and direct vs to life eternall As that is called a booke of vvarfare wherein the precepts of the Military Art are written Search the Scriptures for therein yee haue eternall life All these things are the booke of the Couenant of the most high God 6. Liber Vitae the booke of Life it selfe wherein onely are written the names of the Elect whom GOD hath ordained to saluation for euer This is to be written in hâ—…uen Into that holy City shall enter nothing that defileth but only they which are written in the Lambes booke of Life Paul speakes of his fellow labourers vvhose names are in the booke of Life When the Disciples returned said Lord euen the diuells are subiect to vs through thy Name true saith Christ I saw Satan as lightning fall from Heauen Notwithstanding in this reioyce not that the spirits are subiect vnto you but rather reioyce because your names are written in Heauen This is a borrowed speech Sicut nos ea literis consignamus As we coÌ„mit that to writing the memory whereof we would haue kept So doth God not that he needes any booke of remembrance but because all things are present with him as if they were written in a booke They among men which are chosen to any speciall place or seruice are written in a booke so the Romane Senators were called Patres conscripti and it is called the Muster-booke wherein stand the names of the Souldiers pressed to the warres To conclude this writing in heauen is the booke of Election wherein all that shall be saued are registred Here vnauoydably wee come to the maine question that may seeme to infringe this happy priuiledge of the Church Whether to be written in Heauen be an infallible assurance of saluation or whether any there registred may come to be blotted out The truth is that none written in heauen can euer be lost yet they obiect against it Psal. 69. 28. Let them be blotted out of the booke of the liuing and let them not be written among the righteous Hence they inferre that some names once there recorded are afterwards put out But this opinion casteth a double aspersion vpon God himselfe Either it makes him ignorant of future things as if he foresaw not the end of elect and reprobate and so were deceiued in decreeing some to be saued that shal not be saued Or that his decree is mutable in excluding those vpon their sinnes vvhom he hath formerly chosen From both these weakenesses S. Paul vindicates him 2. Tim. 2. 19. The foundation of GOD standeth sure hauing the seale The Lord knoweth them that are his First the Lord knowes them that are his this were not true if Gods Prescience could be deluded Then his foundation stands sure but that were no sure foundation if those hee hath decreed to be his should afterward fall out not to bee his The very Conclusion of truth is this Impossibilis est deletio they vvhich are vvritten in heauen can neuer come into hell To cleare this from the opposed doubt among many I will cull out three proper distinctions 1. One may be said to be written in heauen simpliciter and secundum quid Hee that is simply written there In quantum praedestinatus ad vitam because elected to life can neuer be blotted out Hee that is but written after a sort may for hee is written Non secundum Dei praescientiam sed secundum praesentem iustitiam not according to Gods former decree but according to their present righteousnesse So they are said to be blotted out not in respect of Gods knowledge for hee knowes they were neuer written there but according to their present condition apostating from grace to sinne Lyran. 2. Some
be so invisible but the fruites of a good life will declare it Thus by degrees you see what is the right sauing faith As a Lapidary that shewes the buyer an orient pearle and hauing a little fed his eye with that outpleaseth him with a Saphyre yet out-values that with some Ruby or Chrysolite wherwith rauished he doth lastly amaze him with a sparkling Diamond transcending all Or as Drapers shew diuers cloathes of excellent colours yet at last for a Master-piece exceed all wiâ—…h a piece of Scarlet So there are diuers vertues like Iewels but the most precious Iewell of all is Faith And there are diuers degrees of faith as diuers coloured cloathes but the sauing faith is arrayed in the Scarlet robe hath dipped and died her selfe in the bloud of her Sauiour Iesus yet is she white pure white as the snow of Lebanon so are all that be washed in that red fountaine They haue washed their robes and made them white in the bloud of the Lambe Thy Faith This is the property of that faith that healed him his owne faith But how could Christ call it His faith when as faith is Gods gift It is indeed Datum so well as mandatum Commanded This is his Commandement that we should beleeue on the name of his Sonne Iesus Christ. So also giuen To you it is giuen in the behalfe of Christ to beleeue on him And This is the worke so well as the will of God that ye belieue on him whom he hath sent But this is not giuen without meanes as the woman of Tekoah said to Dauid GOD doth deuise meanes What 's that Faith comes by hearing Now when God hath giuen a man Faith he calls it his Thy faith for what is freer then gift So the Prophet calls it their own mercy They that wait on lying vanities for sake their owne mercy As the water in the Cesterne is said to be the Cesternes though it haue it from the fountaine But yet how doth Christ call it his faith had he a faith by himselfe There is one faith therefore not more his then others In regard of the Obiect vpon whom our faith reflects there is but one faith in regard of the subiect wherein faith resides euery one must haue his owne faith There is no saluation by a common faith but as all true beleeuers haue one and the same faith so euery true beleeuer hath a singular and indiuiduall faith of his owne Thy faith thine for two reasons to distinguish his Person from common men Faith from common Faiths 1. To distinguish his person from others the Nine had not this Faith They beleeued not but thou beleeuest Thy faith this declares him to be out of the common road Thoushalt not follow a multitude to doe euill that Bâ—…llua multorum capitum must not lead thee Some were deuoted to Christ but they could not come nigh him for the prease It was the multitude that rebuked the blind mans prayers As a riuer leades a man through sweet medowes greene woods fertile pastures fruit-loden fields by glorious buildings strong Forts famous Cities yet at last brings him to the salt Sea So the streame of this world carries along through rich commodities voluptuous delights stately dignities all possible content to flesh and bloud but after all this brings a man to death after death to iudgement after iudgement to hell Heare one of the Romists authenticall pleas for their Church falls to the ground vniuersality They pleade Antiquity so a homicide may deriue his murder from Cain They plead vnity so Pharises Sadduces Herodians combined against Christ. They plead vniuersality yet of the ten Lepers but one was thankfull The way to hell hath the greatest store of passengers Company is good but it is better to goe the right way alone then the broad with multitudes It is thought probably that at this day Mahometisme hath more vnder it then Christianity though wee put Protestant and Papist and Puritan and Separatist and Arminian and all in the scale to boote and that meere Paganisme is larger then both Where many ioyne in the Truth there is the Church not for the many's sake but for the Truths sake Saint Augustine teacheth vs to take Religion not by tale but by waight Numbers make not a thing good but the waight of truth Some are so manerly that they will not goe one steppe before a great man no not to heauen Many say with Hushai Whom the people and all the men of Israel chuse his will I be But they leaue out one principall thing which Hushai there put in as the prime ingredient Whom the Lord chuseth they leaue out the Lord. But Ioshua was of another minde Chuse youwhat gods soeuer you will serue I and my house will serue the Lord. The Inferiour Orbes haue a motion of their owne contrary to the greater good men are moued by Gods Spirit not by the Planetary motions of popular greatnesse Let vs prize righteousnes highly because it is seldom found The pebles of the world are common but the pearles of graces rare The vulgar streame will bring no vessell to the land of peace 2. To distinguish his faith from the common faith Thine another kinde then the Pharises faith To belieue the Word but traditions withal vera fides non pura fides is a true but not a pure faith To beleeue the Maior of the Gospell not the Minor Vera non sana fides is a true not a sound faith To belieue a mans own saluation how debauchedly soeuer he liues nec vera pura sana nec omnino fides is neyther a true pure sound faith nor indeed a faith at all but a dangerous presumption To belieue thy owne reconciliation by the merits of Christ and to strengthen this by a desire of pleasing God is a true found sauing faith and this is Fides tua Thy Faith Whosoeuer vvill goe to heauen must haue a faith of his owne In Gedeons Campe euery souldier had his own pitcher among Salomons men of valour euery one wore his owne sword and these were they that got the victories The fiue wise Virgins had euery one oyle in her owne lampe and onely these enter in with the Bridegroome Anothers eating of dainty meate makes thee neuer the fatter Indeed many haue sped the better for other mens faith so the Centurions seruant was healed for his masters sake As thou hast beleeued so be it done vnto thee But for the saluation of the reprobates Though Moses and Samuel stood before me saith the Lord yet my minde could not be toward such people Though Noah Daniel and Iob interceded yet they should deliuer but their owne soules by their righteousnesse Pious mens faith may often saue others from temporall calamities but it must be their own faith that saues them from eternall vengeance Lutâ—… was wont to say There is great Diuinity in Pronounes Thy faith One
made thee whole Faith in respect of the Obiect is called in Scripture The faith of Iesus Christ in respect of the subiect vvherein it is inherent it is my faith and thy faith Thy faith hath made thee whole Hath saued thee made whole not thy body only that 's but part the worst part but thy soule also Totum te thy whole selfe saued thee The other nine had whole bodies this tenth was made whole in soule too saued The richest Iewell Christ left to his Church is Saluation My heâ—…rts desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saued Not their opulencie not their dignitie not their prosperitie was Saint Pauls wish but their Saluation If the deuils would confesse to vs the truth they would sâ—…y The best thing of all is to be saued That rich man would faine send this newes out of hell Let Lazarus testisiâ—… to my brethren lest they also come into this place of torment The teâ—…timony of saluation was blessed newes from the mouth of him that giues Saluation Iesus Christ. The vessell of mans soule is continually in a Tempest vntill Christ enter the Shippe and then follovves the calme of peace It is remarkeable that God giues the best gifts at last Christ gaue this Leper health bonum this was good For Vita non est viuere sed valere It is more comfortable to die quickly then to liue sickly He gaue him a good name that he returned to giue glory to God melius this was better But now lastly he giues him saluation Thy faith hath saued thee Optimum this is best of all Vltima optima Hath God giuen thee wealth blesse him for it hath hee giuen to thee health blesse him for it hath hee giuen thee good reputation blesse him for it hath he giuen thee children friends peaceable dayes blesse him for all these But hath hee giuen thee Faith especially blesse him for this hee hath giuen thee vvith it what we beseech his mercy to giue vs all Saluation in Iesus Christ. I conclude there is a faith powerfull to iustifie the soule by the righteousnesse of Iesus Christ but it neuer dwelt in a bosome that lodgeth with it lust and dissolutenesse If while we seeke to be iustified by Christ we our selues are found sinners is therefore Christ the Minister of sinne God forbid Which verse may not vnfitly bee distinguished into foure particulars Quòd sit Si sit An sit Absit There is a Concession a Supposition a Question a Detestation 1. The Concession Quòd sit that is so he takes it granted that all true Christians seeke their onely Iustification by Christ. 2. The Supposition Si sit if it bee so that in the meane time wee are found sinners 3. The Question or discussion An sit is it so is Christ therefore the Minister of sinne 4. The Detestation Absit God forbid Where let vs behold what the Gospell acquireth for vs and requireth of vs. It brings vs liberty the Law gendereth to bondage and that saith Aquinas Quantum ad Affectum and Quantum ad Effectum 1. The Law begets an affection of feare the Gospell of Loue. Ye haue not receiued the spirit of bondage againe to feare but the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba Father Breuissima apertissima duâ—…rum Testamentâ—…rum differentia Tiâ—…or Amor. There is a short and easie difference betwixt the olde Testament and the new Feare and Loue. 2. The Law brought forth onely seruants the Gospell sonnes Ierusalem aboue is free which is the mother of vs all Libera quòd liberata free because shee is freed For if the Sonne make you free you shall be free indeed This it brings to vs it also challengeth something of vs that wee vse not our liberty for an occasion to the flesh but by loue serue one another All things are free to vs by faith yet all things seruiceable by charity Vt simul stet seruitus libertatis libertas seruitutis that the seruice of liberty and liberty of seruice might stand together A Christian for his Faith is Lord of all for his loue seruant to all That therefore we might not abuse our freedome nor turne the grace of God into wantonnesse the Apostle after the reines giuen puls vs in with the Curbe though iustified by Christ take heed that wee bee not found sinners a checke to ouer-iocund loosenesse a correctiue not so much libertatis as liberatorum of our freedome as of our selues being freed In vaine wee pleade that Christ hath made vs Saints if our owne euill liues proue vs sinners Indeed as God couenants by the Gospell to remit our sinnes so wee must condition by the law to amend our liues For that faith to which the promise of Iustification and eternall life is made is a faith that can neuer be separated from charity Wheresoeuer it is there is loue ioyned with it bringing forth the fruits of righteousnesse which are by Iesus Christ vnto the glory and praise of God This is that faith to which all the promises of God are yea and Amen in Christ to the glory of God by vs. The Lord that hath made them Yea and Amen in his neuer-failing mercies make them also Yea and Amen in our euer-beleeuing hearts through our blessed Sauiour Iesus Christ. Amen THE SAINTS MEETING OR Progresse to Glory Ephes. 4. 13. Till we all meete in the vnitie of the faith and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God vnto a perfect man vnto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ. THe first word of the Text is a gate to let in our considerations to contemplate this goodly citie which indeed is like Ierusalem a citie of 〈…〉 of the Lord vnto the 〈…〉 to giue thankes vnto the name of the Lord. And when we are in let vs number and ponder the towers powers of it for euery pinne and pinnacle shall afford vs comfort But we must first passe by this Portall Vntill and this very entrance will giue vs two obseruations 1. Teacheth vs that God hath ordained the Ministery of the Gospell to last to the end of the world Christ hath giuen Apostles Prophets Euangelistes Teachers To perfect the Saints and to edifie his bodie to continue Till we all meete in the vnitie of faith c. So was his promise after his Charge Math. 28. His charge Goe teach all nations his promise Loe I am with you alway vnto the end of the world God will send Shepheardes till euerie lost sheepe be brought to the folds of peace The Ministers voyce shall sound till it bee ouertaken by the Archangels Trumpe The ministration of the Law had an end but there is none to the ministration of the Gospell before the end of the world Hereof may be giuen a double excellency to the Gospell and prelation aboue the Law It is more Gratious Glorious 1. The Gospell is more
that herafter we may meete in glory I am a companion of all them that feare thee and keepe thy precepts Death may breake off for a while this gratious meeting but our glorious second meeting shall triumph ouer death it shall be Generall it shall be eternall Wherin In the vnitie A perfect vnitie is not to be expected in this life it is enough to enioy it in heauen Indeed the Church is euer but one There are threescore Queenes and fourescore concubines and virgins without number My doue my vndefiled is but one shee is the onely one of her mother Though a kingdome haue in it many shires more Citties and innumerable Townes yet is it selfe but one because one King gouernes it by one law So the Church though vniuersally dispersed is one kingdome because it is ruled by one Christ and professeth one faith There is one bodie one spirit one Lord one faith So much Vnitie now But that vnitie which is on earth may be offended in regard of the partes subiectuall to it What familie hath not complained of distraction What fraternitie not of dissention What man hath euer beene at one with himselfe There must be diuisions sayth Paul are and must be by a kind of necessitie But there is a twofolde necessitie One absolute and simple God must be iust a necessitie of infallibilitie The other exhypothesi or of consequence as this there must be heresies Satan will be an aduersarie man will be proued a necessitie vpon presupposition of Satans malice mans wickednesse But woe vnto them by whom offences come we know not the hurt we bring by our diuisions Thus sayth the Lord of Hostes. Zach. 8. Loue the truth and peace Some loue peace well but they care not for truth These are secure worldlings let them alone in their sinnes and you would not wish quieter men Pacem quaerunt Pietatem fugiunt they seeke peace but they flie righteousnesse as if they would disvnite those things which God hath ioyned together righteousnesse and peace Righteousnesse and peace shall kisse each other Others loue truth well but not peace Let them fabricke a Church out of their own braines or rather a discipline to manage it and they will keepe within verges of the maine truth They cannot be content to haue good milke but they must chuse their spoone to eate it with They are wanton children and worthy the rod of correction let them be whipt onely discipline may mend them I would our eyes could see what hurt the breach of vnitie doth vs. Scilurus his arrowes taken singly out of the sheafe are broken with the least finger the whole vnseuered bundle feares no stresse We haue made our selues weaker by dispersing our forces Euen the encouraged Atheist walkes to Church in the lane of our diuisions and is still no lesse an Atheist then the deuill was a deuill when he stood among the sonnes of God It is the nature of our controuersies to fight peremptorily at both ends whiles truth and pietie is left in the middle and neglected Whiles men haue contended about the body of Religion some haue thought it quite dead as no doubt Moses body was when the Archangell disputed with the Deuill about it As one sayd of his Donatists Betwixt our Licet and your Non licet many soules stagger and excuse their irresolution by our want of peace Indeed this is euentually one good effect of many controuerted poynts the way is cleansed for others though not for themselues Theeues falling out true men come by their goods Two flints beaten together sparkles out fire and by the wrastling of two poisons the health is preserued So are some vnited to the truth by these diuisions of peace But others are more vnsetled they condemne all for the dissension of some our comfort is God doth not so The diuisions of a few and that about the huske of Religion Ceremonie cannot redound to the condemnation of a whole Church In Gods iudgement it shall not we must care little if in theirs Doe not we know that Satan by his good will would allowe vs neither Truth nor Peace but if we must haue one will he not labour to detaine the other If he can keepe vs from Truth he cares not much to allow vs peace The wicked haue securitie the deuill lets them alone What fowler sets his ginnes for tame birds that will come gently to his hand But if we embrace the truth then haue at our peace Shall the Prince of darknesse bee quiet when his Captiues breake loose from him The good are soonest tempted Inuidia fertur in magnos It was the king of Syria his command to his 32. captaines Fight neither with small nor great saue only with the King of Israell It is the Deuils charge to his souldiers fight against none but the godly that fight against mee Dauid was safe among his sheepe and Moses leading a priuate life No man layes snares for his owne birds nor the Deuil for such as are taken captiue by him at his will But pax conscientiae is bellum Satanae and this iust warre is better then an vniust peace Let all this giue condemnation to peace-haters and commendation to peace-louers There are some quite gone not diuerse but aduerse to vs with these warre and no peace for they haue no peace with Christ. Sinewes cut in sunder can neuer be knitte nor can there be Integralis vnitas in solutione continui They will be gone let them goe I would we were as well ridde of all those whose soules hate vnitie The Christians of of the first age were nether Albinians nor Nigrians the report of faction was scarce heard Athanasius on whose shoulder our mother the Church leaned in her sharpest persecution to take her rest reioyced that though the aduersary hate was violent the loue of brethren was sound Peter was commanded to put vp his sword euen when Christ was at his elbow to heale the greatest wound he could make why doe we smite and hurt that haue not such meanes of cure King Richard the holy warriour hauing taken a Bishop in coate-armour in the field was requested by the Pope calling him his Sonne to release him The King sent not him but his coate to the Pope and asked him An haec esset Filij sui tunica whether this was his sonnes coate alluding to the coate of Ioseph which his brethren brought to their Father The ashamed Pope answers Nec his Sonnes vndertakes wit conscience prepares scrupâ—… and Peace suffers And now 〈◊〉 â—…hey 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vnum but 〈◊〉 not to 〈◊〉 out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…ake their malice on but to dissolue and vndoe the vnited strength of all â—…her the sceâ—…r must stoope to the miter or no peace Betweene the rootes of Iudah and Leui by Moses law the separations and distances were 〈◊〉 â—…de that neither need to crosse anothers walke nor 〈◊〉 â—…clipse anothers dignitie The rod of Moseâ—… was
is no Contention so violent and raging as that is enflamed by erroneous Religion Cyprian writes of Nouatus that he would not so much as allow his owne Father bread whiles hee liued nor vouchsafe him buriall being dead that he spurned his owne wife and killed his owne childe within her bodie O the vnmatchable crueltie that some mens religion if I may so call it hath embloudied them to What treasons conspiracies massacres did or durst euer shew their blacke faces in the light of the Sunne like to those of Papists all vizarded vnder pretended Religion The Pope hath a Canon called Nos sanctorum Predecessorum c. Wee obseruing the statutes of our holy Predecessors doe absolue those that are bound by fidelity and oath to persons excommunicated from their oathes and doe forbid them to keepe their fealtie towards them Quousque ipsi ad satisfactionem veniant till they come to yeeld satisfaction What malicious stratagems against suspended Princes haue not beene kindled from this fire Against what nation hath not this Canon shot the furie Yea the more to embolden subiects to such pernicious attempts the Pope makes them beleeue that the very Apostles take their partes For so it is manifest by the forme of Gregories sentence that he commandeth S. Peter and S Paul as if they were his bailifs errant to execute the writtes of his pontificall and priuatiue authoritie Malice in humour is like fire in straw quickly vp and quickly out but taking hold of conscience like fire in steele Quod tardè acquisiuit diù retinet what was long in getting will be longer in keeping Religion is the greatest enemie to religion the false to the true Fauos etiam vespae faciunt waspes also make combes though in stead of honey wee find gun-powder Of dissension among professours of the Gospell Christ is not authour he neuer gaue fire to burne his Church Yet he hath his hand in it There must be heresies among you that they which are approued may be made manifest He drawes good out of euill and makes a good Shall of the euill must so raising a vertue from a necessitie From contentions begot by Sathan hee so sweetly workes that the profession of his but darkely glowing before shall be made to shine brightly In Q. Maries time when persecution wrung the Church Martyrdome gaue a manifest approbation of many vnknowne Saints The vertues of diuers had bin lesse noted if this fiery triall had not put them to it Gods glory and power are more perspicuous in strengthening his against their enemies then if they had none Christ came not to send this fire yet hee wisely tempers it to our good 2. There may be Dissention betwixt the wicked and the wicked and hereof also is Satan authour He sets his owne together by the eares like cockes of the game to make him sport Hereupon hee raised these great Heathen warres that in them millions of soules might goe downe to people his lower kingdome Hereupon hee drawes ruffian into the field against ruffian and then laughes at their vainely spilt bloud All the contentions quarrels whereby one euill neighbour vexeth another all slaunders scoldings reproches calumnies are his owne damned fires Thus sometimes the vngodly massacre the vngodly oppressours deuoure oppressours I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians and they shall fight euerie one against his brother and euerie one against his neighbour Citie against citie and kingdome against kingdome The Pharises against the Sadduces the Turke against the Pope the Transgressour against the transgressour Couetousnes shall be against prodigalitie basenes against pride temeritie against dastardie The drunkard spils the drunkard the theefe robbes the theefe Proditorisproditor the Traytour shal be betrayed and the cosener shall be cheated They shall eate euerie man the flesh of his owne arme Manasseh Ephraim and Ephraim Manasseh It is vnpossible that any true peace should be amongst the wicked whiles they want the soalder that should glew them together faith Agreement in euill is not peace but conspiracie Wicked mens combining themselues may be a faction no vnitie no amitie for they haue but metum noxam conscientia prosoedere terrour and guilt of conscience for their league But some may question doth not Satan in setting reprobates against reprobates ouerthrow his owne kingdome I answere 1. The Deuill is politicke and will not diuide his subiects when by their holding together hee may diuide the Church So the Pharises though they hate the Sadduces and the Herodians that despise them both shall all ioyne forces shake and take hands against Christ. Papists are enemies to Truth Schismaticks to Peace yet both the Church which suffers as her Sauiour did in medio iniâ—…orum in the midst of aduersaries not onely to her now but at other times also to themselues Herod and Pâ—…te were of enemies reconciled friends that their vnited rancours might meete against Iesus The Iewes and the Lystrians so diuersely religion'd the deuill can make agree to stone Paul Thus Satan holds them vnder colours and pay whiles they can doe him any seruice but when they can no longer vexe others hee falls to vexing of them and enrageth their thirst to one anothers bloud when they haue done quaffing the bloud of the Saints 2. The Deuill in raising seditions and tumults among his owne intends not the destruction but erection of his kingdome Perhaps his forces on earth are weakned but his Territories in hell are replenished wherein he takes himselfe to raigne most surely For Satan during a mans life knowes not certainely whether he belongs to God or to him Predestination is too mysticall and secret a booke for his condemned eyes to looke into and repentance hath often stepped in betwixt old age and death frustrating the hopes of Satan Therefore he hastens a wicked man with what speed he can to hell for till he came within those smoakie gates Satan is not sure of him he may start out of his clutches For this cause he precipitates witches with much suddennesse to their ends whom one would thinke hee should let liue that they might doe more mischiefe No such is his malicious policie he would be sure of some and rather take one soule in present then hazard all on the vaine hope of more gaines 3. There is a Dissention betweene the wicked and godly nor yet is Christ the proper and immediate cause of this For Rom. 12. If it be possible as much as lieth in you liue peaceably with all men 4. There is an Emnitie betwixt Grace and Wickednes a continuall combate betweene sanctitie and sin and this is the Fire that Christ came to send Hee is to some a liuing stone whereupon they are built to life to others a stone of offence whereat they stumble to death Now because the locall seate of holines on earth is in the hearts of the Saints of wickednes in the Deuill and his Iustruments therefore it followes that the
haue Crucem Coronatam pictured a Crosse with a Crowne on the top of it Tolle crucem si vis et babere coronam Their Hieroglyphicke taught men to attaine the Crowne by bearing the Crosse. Though the friends and factours of hell compasse vs round yet wee haue heauen within vs would we haue it within vs and without vs too that is only the priuiledge of glory Cannot Paul endure the thornes and buffets of Satan Let him quiet his heart with Gods encouragement My grace is sufficient for thee It is enough to haue the peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding though we lacke the ill condition'd peace of the world Murmure not that the world denies her wanton solaceâ—… to tickle thee with vaine pleasures thou hast the ioy of the holy Ghost God is thy portion Though the lot fall short in earthly meanes wealth and worship yet he is well for a part that hath God for his portion Content thy selfe this fire must goe with the Gospell and thou art vnworthy of the immortall gold of grace if thou wilt not endure it to be tryed in the Fire Your faith is much more precious then gold that perisheth though it be tried with fire and shall be found at last to praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Iesus Christ. 4. That we esteeme not the worse of our Profession but the better It is no small comfort that God thinkes thee worthy to suffer for his Name This was the Apostles ioy not that they were worthy but that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for Christ. He refused not to be our Sauiour for the shame he was put to hee brooked a purple robe to couer his white innocencie his face which is worshipped by the Angels in heauen to be spit on his soule in the midst of all his vnutterable pangs to be derided and iested at some wagging their heads others mouing their tongues to blasphemie and if the maner of death could adde to his ignominie hee suffered the most opprobrious yet sayth Paul for our sakes he endured the Crosse and despised the shame this all this shame that he might bring saluation to vs and vs to saluation And shall we be ashamed of his profession that was not ashamed of our protection If wee be wee haue read his iudgement Hee will be ashamed of vs before his Father in Heauen The King doth not cast away his Crowne though it be the occasion of many treasons Loose not thy hope and holde of a royall Inheritance because this Title hath many enemies Hee was neuer worthy to weare a wreath of victorie that coward-like ran out of the bloudie field The vnthriftie soule is iustly starued that will not reape and gather his corne because there be thistles amongst it He neuer knew how precious a mettall gold is that will rather throw away his oare then take paines at the fornace It is pitie that euer the water of Baptisme was spilt vpon his face that forsakes the Standard of Christ because hee hath many enemies Israel had neuer gotten that promised Canaan had they beene afraid of the sonnes of Anak It is honour enough to be a Christian though others that are contemptible doe cast contempt vpon it Our Sauiour hath armed vs with a sweet prediction These things haue I spoken vnto you that in mee you might haue peace in the world you shall haue tribulation but be of good cheare I haue ouercome the world 5. Seeing the fewell is our integritie and this they specially strike at let vs more constantly hold together confirming the Communion of Saints which they would dissolue Let vs more strongly fortifie our vnitie because they so fiercely assault it and cling faithfully to our Head from whom their sacrilegious hands would pull vs Lord whether shall we goe from thee thou hast the words of eternall life Where those words are found woe be to vs if we are not found Multitudo inimicorum corroboret vnitatem a micorum Let not brethren fight with themselues whiles they haue enough forraine enemies It is enough that foes strike vs let not vs strike our friends No nor yet part with our friends and Christs because some aduersaries are scattered among them What though the miscellane rabble of the prophane as the Brownists terme them be admitted among vs shall the lewdnes of these disanull Gods Couenant with his Yes say they this is their mercie Gods is more Hee still held Israel for his when not many in Israel held him for theirs The desert was a witnesse of their mutinous rebellion against God and his Minister yet the pillar of protection by day and night left them not Moses was so farre from reiecting them that he would not endure that God should reiect them though for his owne aduantage In all companies there will be euill intruders Sathan among the Angelles Saul among the Prophets Iudas among the Apostles Nicholas among the Deacons Demas among Professors Yet though Thiatira retaines a Iezebell the good are commanded but to holde their owne But wee reserue the ceremonies of a superstitious Church but we reserue no superstition in those ceremonies We haue both abridged their number and altered their nature As it was a paines not amisse vndertaken of late to reduce the feast of Christes natiuitie as neare to the right Quando and period of time as art and industrie could deuise by taking vp the loose minutes which in tract of time and multiplication of degrees had drawne out a wider distance by certaine dayes then was congruent to the first Calendar So hath our Church so neare as shee could abridged the ranke superfluities and excrescent corruptions which the Traditionall ceremonies and ceremoniall Traditions of Rome had brought in and thereby remooued her from that neerenes to her Sauiour which shee formerly enioyed striuing to reduce her selfe concerning Ceremonies for their number to paucitie for their nature to puritie for their vse to significancie Separate we not then from the Church because the Church cannot separate from all imperfection But keepe the Apostles rule Follow the truth in loue not onely the Truth but the truth in loue Diuerse follow the truth but not truely 1. Some there are that embrace the truth but not all the truth those are Heretickes 2. Some embrace the truth but not in vnitie and those are Separatists 3. Others embrace the truth in vnitie and veritie but not in heart and those are hypocrites Therefore the Apostle so often vrgeth it Be ye all of one minde haue the same affection As children of one house haue most vsually one and the same education so all Gods children must be like affected to God to Christ to the Church and one to another To God in obedience and pietie to Christ in faith and synceritie to the Church in peace and vnitie to their owne sinnes in hatred and enmitie to one another in loue and charitie Employing the graces
onely runne but so runne that you may obtaine Schismatickes runne but they runne out of the Church they loue the truth but not in peace Secure people runne but they run beside the church they loue peace but not in truth Others follow the truth in peace but not for the truth Dum quaerunt cam non quaerunt ipsam They saile in their Sic they misse this same Well Prosunt alijs sibi neutiquam They doe good to others but not well to themselues But wee haue almost lost both Bonum and Bene Good and Well It is an ill disiunction that our fathers had so good workes and wanted our faith and wee haue the true faith but want their workes This Well is the very forme of a good worke and Forma dat esse rei it can not be good without it Let mee take here iust cause to reproue two sorts of people 1. Some there are that trust God with their soules and destroy their owne bodies But God will take no charge of the soule but in well doing Those virgins that would kill themselues to preuent rauishments are reproued by iust censure Satius incertum adulterium in futuro quà m certum homicidium in praesenti Better an vncertaine adulterie to be endured then a certaine selfe-murther to be acted How can they hope for Gods hand of mercie that lay on themselues a hand of crueltie Rhasis in the Maccabees falling vpon his owne sword and throwing himselfe downe from the wall yet committed himselfe to Gods keeping calling vpon the Lord of life and spirit c. The Text sayes twice with little credite to the owne Iudgement that it was done Manfully But it was magnè potius quà m benè factum done with desperate valour with more venture then wisedome temeritie then honesty This was that the Deuill left out when he cited Scripture to Christ In all thy wayes he made that a parenthesis which was essentiall to the Text. This the originall testified Psal. 91. 11. Custodient in vijs tuis but this was none of his wayes downe from the pinacle to shew the people a tumbling tricke and to breake his necke So the Deuill labours to secure men of Gods prouidence generally though they be quite out of the way He bids men be confident that God will keepe their soules howsoeuer they walke so vnder colour of Gods protection he brings them to destruction Hee tels a man of predestination that he is sure of an eternall election to life therefore may liue at his owne pleasure so from Gods decree drawes encouragement to a secure life He tels him of Iustification that he is acquitted by the bloud of Christ so emboldens him on the backe of presumption to ride post to Hell whereas Predestination Iustification are onely made knowne to vs by well-doing 2. It is impossible for a man of an ill life to hope that God will keepe his soule Hee that liues ill and hopes well teacheth his ignorance to deceiue his wickednesse and them both to deceiue his soule Your iniquities haue separated betweene you and your God But separate your selues from the vncleane thing and I will receiue you Take away the barre your sinnes breake off the partition by repentance then I will keepe you saith God Commit your soules to the Lordes trust in well-doing or not at all If Christ had come downe from the pinacle headlong and not by the staires he had neglected the way and so beene out of the compasse of Gods promise to keepe him It is an ouer-bold presumption to charge God to keepe thy soule whilest thou doest wilfully loose it Wilt thou clippe the wings of thy soule and then bid it flie to God It is all one as if thou shouldest cut off a mans legge and then send him on an arrand Our presumption is able to tie vp Gods armes that he cannot helpe vs. Hee that will walke in prophanesse and commit his soule to God is like him that throwes himselfe into a deepe pit to trie whether God will helpe him out and saue him from drowning Man is timorous where he should bee bold and bold where he should be timorous God bids vs cast our care vpon him for this life Take no thought for your life what you shall eate or what you shall drinke or wherewith you shall be clothed your heauenly Father knowes yee haue need of all these things Yet wee dare not trust God without a pawne vnlesse wee haue bread we thinke wee shall starue Here we feare where wee ought not God tells vs the bread of heauen must feed our spirits more necessary to maintaine life in the soule then is bread to preserue life in the body we neuer hunger after this yet presume we haue sound soules and trust God to keepe them Here wee doe not feare where wee ought Wee are so sottish that wee dare trust God with the soule the more precious part without well doing the meanes to haue it saued yet dare not trust him with our bodyes vnlesse we can see our barnes full or at lest our cupbords But in vaine thou committest thy soule to God except thou obeyest God There is still a Commaundement with the promise if thou keepe not the precept thou hast no interest in the promise If thou wilt not performe thy part God is discharged of his part if thou refuse to doe well hee will not keepe thy Soule The protection of God extends not to vs in lewd courses we are then out of our way and the Deuill may take vs vp as Vagabonds If thou doe well shalt thou not be accepted if thou doe euill sinne lieth at the doore If thou doe euill Sinne is thy keeper not God There was a Temple called the Temple of Trust God will not be to them a Temple of Trust that had no trust in their Temples It is a good thing to haue God keepe the soule but the wicked cannot haue this hope He that hath money layes it vp in his coffers or if he sends it abroad like a sterne laylor he suffers it not to goe without a keeper sound bonds He that hath lands makes strong conueyances to his desired heires that they may bee kept If children he prouides to haue them safely kept He keepes his goods from the theefe his chickens from the kite his lambe from the wolfe his fawne from the hound his doue from the vermine yet he keeps not his soule from the Deuill O wretched man that must die and knowes not what shall become of his soule The world would haue it but hee knowes it must not himselfe would keepe it but hee knowes he cannot Sathan would haue it and he knowes not whether he shall he would haue God take it and he knowes not whether he will O miserable man that must part with his soule he knowes not whether We see what it is to lead an euill life and to bee a stranger to God He knowes his sheepe