branded or stigmatized with a note of infamy describing their folly Prov. 2.13 in that they decline the streight wayes of righteousnesse to walke in the by paths of darknesse and errour Latet anguis in herba mertem species fallere saepe solet which I wish were well considered of many in our times who looke not upon errour in the notion of sin and therefore slight it with some poore evasion as not guilty of censure by our selves or others Christ is the way the truth and the life by whom alone we must go to the Father therefore they that have no interest in Jesus Christ are out of the way of life and salvation the excellencie of his wayes are set forth unto us Prov. 3.17 Quod malum in se est non potest esse modaliter bonum as wayes of pleasure and paths of prosperity which caused the godly to bee ever solicitous of walking sincerely in that sacred way Mistakes in our way are the originall of errours and the leading cause of our many aberrations and therefore the godly have frequently inculcated their desires herein by various expressions somtimes by option breathing their devotions Psal 11â— 4 O that my wayes were direct say in the Psalmist somtimes by question in a case of such concernment wherewith shall a young man clense his way Psal 119 9. Psal 119.30 somtime declaring their constant resolution I have chosen the way of truth sayth holy David as most eligible 〈◊〉 petitioning divine direction to be taught the way where he should walke Psal 142.8 somtime professing his provident caution Psal 39.1 I sayd I will take heed to my wayes somtime affirming by a positive conclusion they doe no iniquity that walke in his wayes Psal 119.3 for the way of the just is like the shining light which shineth more and more unto the perfect day Prov. 4.18 Have wee not cause then to use all endeavour to be rightly informed concerning our way Ier. 6.16 fith the Lord himselfe by his Prophet commands us to aske and enquire for the old and good way Porro non mirum est tantam errorum ac superstitionum caliginem in mundo grassari ubi tam pauci in Christum aspiciant Cal. in Ioh. The immortall soule created for felicity by her naturall instinct seekes the sovereign good but having by sin lost her pristine way shee wanders like a vagrant till rectified by grace for Adam lost by his sinfull defection the way of his comfortable created excellence a Christian standing with a flaming sword to keep the way of the tree of life but now Christ hath paved us a fresh and living way to the Throne of Grace through the vaile which is his flesh and hath left us his Word and Spirit to direct us in a perfect way to the heavenly Canaan Scianus erga quum lucis obtinendae ratio nobis in Christo ostenditur but every errour is a crooked way diametrially opposite to the rectitude of verity which neither declines to the right hand or left but as a rule of righteousnesse still shews us our way Immortale odium nunquam fanabile vulnus Iuven. Satyr Much is the trouble which at this time the Church grones under concerning a way which though Satans malice and mans miserable at axie hath ministred the matter of uncomfortable contests for what can be more grievous to godly souls then to see faithfull brethren fall out by the way Difficilimum est eos reconciliare qui ex arctissima familiarita te in mutuum odium venerint when they that are one in fundamentall truths shall yet be divided in circumstantiall differences this is not to contend for the precious faith delivered to the Saints in the sacred Scriptures â—o it rather a deviation by unnecessary bitternesse from walking in the wayes both of truth and peace which makes the hearts of the righteous sad and strengthens the wicked in their pride and prophanesse who tell it in Gath to disgrace the Gospel Operarius iniquitatis in mala gaudet Haeresia-machia instar sagittarum ipsorum corda vulnerant and publish it in Ashkelon to reproach our Religion The fruit which grows on this tree of contention hath a noxious quality and of dangerous consequence and may be resembled to those poysonous plants whose shadow proves deadly to those that sleepe under them so dissentions have ushered in pernicious errours which haue slain and wounded many sleeping souls Error magistri tentatio discipuli rendring them obnoxious to those secret pitfalls into which they are plunged tâ—aâ— erre from their way And as errour is a maze wherein we lose our way so is it darknesse which involves us in danger Arius in Alexandria seintilla una fuit sed quia non statim oppressa totum orbem ejus flamma populata est 2 Thess 2.11 Haeret lateri lethalis arundo by the first we are transported from the path of precious truth by the latter entangled in the trains of errour for those strong delusions have prevailing influence especially on them who believe not the truth and the Word doth witnesse they are sent of God as judgements to punish their impious aberrations O then beware of rejecting verity and slighting Christs voyce in his lively Oracles lest indulging a lye thou be made an example of his justice in punishing one sin with another There is nothing more contrary then light and darknesse Hieronymus Augustino graâ—â—lans illi quod haereticorum omnium moruit odium quod quidem gaudet sibi cum illo esse commune nor any thing more opposite then truth and errour now for falsehood to put on the shape of verity needs the cunning contrivement of some great Archimaga and therefore Satan that subtile Sophister comes in with his fallacies to circumvent us and pretending new light so wraps us in darknesse as we cannot discover our approaching danger His stratagems are many and of direfull consâ—quence Laqueos posuit in verbo in opere in omni via nostra ad capiendas animas nostras all tending to the eversion of our spirituall comfort not enduring the sway of Christs sacred Scepter the Word of truth to direct and guide us and therefore as he blindes the wicked and prophane with the filthy foggs of all grosse abominations so he darkens light to delude the simple that errour embraced may render them lost One engine which he useth to advance his enterprizes Venit tentator tenebrosus non defuit locus non defuit tempus Exit quidem aliqâ—â— splendoris specieâ— fed fulgori simâ—lâ— quae nihil quà m oculos praestringat Cal. in Ioh. cap. 3. Diversa Daemonum genera sunt qui nihil aliud die noctuque operantur Gen. 3.5 hath a double edge to circumvent and slay us turning two wayes both besmearing the truth and painting out errour in a borowed beauty for one of his methods into cast
finding out many marvellous qualities in mettals mineralls stones and plants they communicated by writing what they collected by experience to the benefit of present and future generations and although many of them have missed the mark not propounding right ends in their curious speculations yet their practicall proficiencie may convince those of negligence who will not contemplate the visible creatures Praeclara saepe latent The knowledge of the creation makes it usefull toâ—us In Aegypto omnes esse medicos accessit huc ciborum abstinentia succorum herbarumque non incuriosa cognitio in the species of its naturall and artificiall influence as herbs collected and fitly compounded make precious Physick to evacuate ill humors the paths we walke in presenting us with plenty of wholsome plants for our cure and comfort in which are wrapt up such sovereign antidotes and profitable preservatives as our bodies are in need of and therefore we should learn in a rationall way Vbi desinit Philosophus ibi incipit Medicus to know both their vertues and noxious qualities that we may prudently provide fit supplies and gather them in season that nothing be lost It is not in our power or purpose to insist Cur terra producit fructos suos nisi ut alimenta hominibus supperant hominem ergo non posuit Deus in terra ut sit tanquaÌ„ in theatro otiosus operum suorum spectator sed ut in ejus obsequium homines adducant either on the names or nature of the creatures which are so numerous and various in quality as our life is too short for a worke of that length our intentionall ayme being only to excite both our selves and others by a view of some creatures to consider them all as emblems of his excellencie whose bounty confers them to relieve our necessity for though there be many whose venemous natures render them odious in our ordinary esteem yet they carry with them a present remedy against the poyson of their stings and teeth neither is there any in all the Universe from the greatest to the least but is some way profitable either by removing things hurtfull from us or by bringing in good to supply severall wants The Silk-worme doth furnish us with those materials Quotidie videmus Deum pro immensa sua indulgentia plus largiri hominibus quam postulat corum necessitas non tantuÌ„ quo reficiant vires sed quo etiam corda sua exhilerant Cal. Hiaciâ—thus quem ab Appollâ—ne in storem conâ—eâ—sum Poetae fabulantur prudentiae ac sapientiae symbolum est Iohan. Piâ—rii vol. lib. 2. cap. 31. which serve abundantly for use and ornament the Indian Nut hath severall properties to cloath us feed us and quench our thirst the little Emmet is instrumentally usefull for food to some creatures and for Physick to others her eyes being a banquet to the delicate Partrich but ill used a purgative of violent operation So many creatures which have only vegation for a little moment and then quickly perish have a double use in affording us refreshment and in giving a memento of our mortall condition but we have no need of Egyptian hierogliphicks to informe our judgements in such necessary knowledge though they may be somtimes of laudable use and significant to those who want better instruction in them there is truly many things observable yet little that makes for our present purpose Confusum est quicquid in pulverem sectum est In rerum natura quae spectissima florent celerrimè marcescunt veluti rosae lilia violae cum alia dureÌ„t in hominum vita quae florentissima sunt citissimè vertuÌ„turin diversum Non decidunt folia Myrto perpetua fron de pubenti Plinius Contra serpentem scorpionem ictus tripolia valere Longè convenientius divinae literae per Bovem eos intelligunt qui justitiae jugum trahunt frugalibus operibus laborem suum intendunt Bovillo capite labores sive res fortiter gestas ostentantibus Ante alia autem tam ovis quam agnus hierogliphicum est innocentiae Hinc illud apud Cyprianum sapientissimè scriptum meminisse debemus ut innocentia Christi ana ovibus aequetur Saepe summa ingenia in occulto latent laborantem Deus adjuvat Doctor Bright Vias peculiares scrutantur qui industrio sunt ingenio inertis ergo est nescire quod liceat sibi Epich their learning leading them in another way superstitiously to adore even the basest creatures Neither shall we treat of those oecult qualities mentioned by them that write of that subject which are either in beasts plants mettals or minerals because we dare not aver them for truth Yet doe we not any way disparage those Authors or question the verity of what they affirm but rather take such testimonies as our daily experience affords us for probation of what we intend Divine providence ordaining for our comfort that wee are not infested with those cruell creatures as Tygres Beares Wolves or Panthers which are very frequent in other Climates neither doth our land bring forth Lions or Elephants but as they are brought us from other Countreys but instead of these we abound with many more usefull and profitable to supply our necessity of which for a taste I only name two as serving to relieve us with severall benefits The laborious Oxe first treadeth out the corne which fits us with provision both for hunger and thirst and after hee hath spent and exhausted his strength goes then to the stall and the shambles for our use so the sheep an emblem of harmlesse innocence both feeds us with its milke and clothes us with its wooll and as I designed by divine bounty to be amply beneficiall to our necessitous condition it satisfies us with its flesh which is never unseasonable but is always both fit and covenient nourishment But ayming at brevity in my weake meditations I omit the mentioning of many creatures though I reverence their memories who have positively concluded that our enjoyments therein are abundantly various and one whose learning hath rendred him eminent and his zeal and piety worthy all honour maintains in a Tractate the able sufficiencie of English drugs for cure of all diseases for which cause it is requisite by rationall observation to acquire some experience of their nature and vertues sith the very bruits by infused instinct can relieve themselves with them in their frequent necessity and therefore man who enjoyed by creation such an ample excellencie of universall knowledge should labour by industry to re-assume a moity of his pristine intelligence concerning the creatures Multasque haec herba curatione similes vires habet ut de illa tradunt Medici Iris halitus pravum odorem corrigit gratamque suavem reddit spiritum venena repellit Iohan. Pierii in Hierog Nolite contemnere peccata quia minima sed tim te quia plura timenda ruina multitudinis etsi non magnitudinis nonne bestrae
open confession and undaunted resolution wee stand up to mayntain it both with tongue and pen which was the work of those famous Worthies the godly Fathers in contesting with Hereticks whose divine dexterity in defending the truth is admirable and imitable to succeeding generations So resisting unto bloud in Christs cause and quarrell was graspt of many Martyrs embracing opportunity who accounted it their glory by innocent suffering to passe to the palace of heavenly felicity these vindicated truth and redeemed time improving and augmenting their betrusted treasure and are entred already through the strait and narrow gate into the immortall inheritance which they lookt and long'd for In brief the pious and prudentiall practice of all religious and morall actions Convenientibus laboribus vendunt nobis omnia bona divi quâ nil est melius nec utilius mortalibus Euripid are a profitable employment of our precious tâ—me whereby it is redeemed from losse and detriment and therefore sedulity and constant diligence is of great necessity while our day continueth because the night commeth when no man can worke which should alway excite us that time be not lost And as we must be carefull that neither the creatures nor time be lost for lack of fit improvement so in the next place our regard must be expressed that our gifts become subservient to our Lord and Master for we consider those endowments spirituall and temporall conferred upon us by divine bounty as betrusted talents wherewith we must negotiate in the affairs of his Kingdom that nothing be lost Spirituall endowments are radicall graces TantuÌ„ scimus quantum immemoria tenemus Gal. 5.22 23. Grande profundum est homo euius caâ—illos tu Domine numeratos habes tamen capilli eius magis numirabiles sunt quà m affectus motus cordis Aug. seated in the soule as their proper subject as faith love patience humility and many like vertues called fruits of the spirit of which should I treat in taking any of them as a Theam propounded to my serious Meditations I should but even light a candle to the Sunne and expressing my weaknesse illustrate others worth For the Lord hath abundantly extended his favour in stirring up the spirits of his many zealous servants by their learned labours to limbe out the beauty and expresse the effigies of those sacred excellencies Wherefore I proceed not to any definition or quaint description of those divine qualifications but intentionally aym to shew that we are responsible for all our endowments both of grace and nature not that any simply shall become an accountant for the happy fruition of such transcending treasures but for the use and improvement of them which shall cleerly manifest their true proprietaries for where the sincerity and truth of these graces are infused by the spirit into the soule of man Nunquam enim in eodem statu manent sed saepe obumbrari pollunt they cannot totally or finally perish though their acts and operations be not always apparent It must then be received and retained as a principle that spirituall endowments are of two sorts either saving graces in their reall verity Ambigua splendens nos fallit imagine forma veri specie nos lâ—dit opinio falsa or common gifts in their reputed excellencie sith both of these proceed from the spirit being given to edifie the Church of Christ and although they be various in their divers operations yet are they concurrent as effects of one cause Inanis est sermo docentis nisi intus sit quâ— docet the former to build up our selves in the faith and saving knowledge of our Lord and Saviour the latter for the use and instruction of others who are to be united to the mysticall body Now because there be shadows and pictures of graces which much resemble their reall habits we should daily be trying the truth of our endowments Officium est fidei vâ—ritati Dei subscribere quoties quicquid quocunque modo loquitur that we be not cheated with counterfeit pearls for there may be such an eminence of common gifts where saving grace is not truly radicated as may possibly deceive both our selves and others with the meer dead shadow and image of faith Obumbrari potest gratia quia non est Deus extingui non potest quia est à Deo divinae voluntatis do num est non humanae â—â—agilitatis meritum Again we may passe an uncomfortable censure upon our selves in desertions or afflictions as if we were bereft of those spirituall endowments and totally devested of all saving grace which misery befalls us when Satans malice and our own incredulity conspire to betray us assailing and battering the fort of our faith by falsly affirming that our graces are lost It will therefore be usefull in the houre of tentation to know that our graces be right and reall our faith being built on no sandy foundation but fixed on the rock whose strength is our confidence and because we know there will come a time wherein our gifts must abide a triall let us prove and examine the truth of them all Nunquam desperat Satan perditionem nâ—stram nos de salute nostrâ saepiùs desperamus Chrysost in hom 34. in Matth. Non credit in Deum qui non in eo solo collocat totius foeli citatis suae fiduciam Zach. 28.1 Ier. 17.9 Iames 1.5 Si sola est fides qui purificat hominum corda restitutionem Dei imaginis in nobis per Christum declarat by that rule of life the light of Gods word for this is that pure and transparent glasse which shews us the spots and defects of our endowments even the weaknesse of our faith the scantnesse of our love the coldnesse of our zeale and poornesse of our patience and as it manifests the blots and blemishes which obscure the beauty of our brightest graces so it shews us the pure aed most precious fountain which stands open to purge away sin and uncleannesse and sith it is impossible that naturall sagacity should fathome the depth of our deceitfull hearts the Word directs us to aske wisdome of God to discover our unsoundnesse and spirituall deficiencie that driven from the props of all carnall confidence in the seeming excellencie of our best endowments we may lay all our weight by a holy dependance on Jesus Christ our all-sufficient Saviour for it is not the merit or worth of our faith which justifies our persons in Gods sacred presence but the object apprehended even the Lord our righteousnesse who renders us lovely which else had been lost This innocent pure and immaculate Lambe hath sacrificed himselfe the price of our redemption and discharged the debt wherein we stood obliged Fides impetrat gratiam qua lex impletur to answer the exactnesse of inflexible justice freeing us thereby from those infernall sorrows which guilty souls must eternally suffer and giving us the earnest of an
sibi ultimum exitium accerserent And therefore it is the more sad and deplorable that men who have been called by the preaching of the Word should renounce or contemne that sacred ordinance which they found efficacious in the work of their conversion is the Lords hand shortned that it cannot save or is his arme weakned in the power of the Gospell hath the sword of the spirit now lost its edge Heb. 6.7 or the armour of God is that grown unusefull no surely the Word like the rain that descendeth Matth. 13 8. hath its fructifying effect upon the good ground 1 Cor. 1.21 and the foolishnesse of preaching so deeply undervalued shall have its operation on them that beleeve Woe then to all them that betray the trust of those poore blinde souls which lean so much upon them Pelle ovina contegi vis ut si fieri potest prius te vulpis mordentem sentiat quam praesentiat veni ntem Iohn 10.27 by leading them aside from the streams of living waters to those broken cisterns which can hold no comfort how can they dispense with their consciences that tell them that Christ is contemned in the person of his ministers sith he taketh the affront as done unto himselfe which is cast upon them by erroneous spirits Cant. 1.3 Christs sheep heare his voice and will follow him rejoycing to find him in the odour of his oyntments and dare not turn their backs on the preaching of the Word Psal 63.5 but are satisfied with it as with marrow and fatnesse Christ sayth to the Jews who rejected his Word Christus non venit ut seliberaret qui sub servitute non erat sed nos de servitute peccati redimeret Et si non vultis venire ad me ut vitam habeatis iterum exprobrat nihil illis praeter malitiam obstare quominus vitam in scripturis oblataÌ„ percipiant nam quum eos nolle dicit ignorantiae coecitatis cansam pravitati contumaciae assignat Cal. in Ioh. cap. 5.40 Iohn 6.44 Prov. 8.34 Yee will not come unto me that yee might have life a patheticall expression to shew the perversnesse of gainsaying spirits which refuse precious means for though no man can come to Christ of himselfe unlesse the Father internally draw him yet have we externall and rationall power to go to the place where his Word is dispensed and in doing this with sincere affection may expect the blessing which wisdome pronounceth to those which daily wait at her gates and give attendance at the posts of her doors for so we shall prove what our gracious God will vouchsafe to effect by his sacred Ordinance which is no lesse powerfull to quicken dead souls then his voyce to raise Lazarus who lay in the grave and sure this will one day aggravate their judgement who neglecting means have refused mercie and following blinde guides were misled in darknesse and absorpt in those errours which render them lost The Apostle puts a Quere to the seduced Gâ—lathians Maneat moralis benevolâ—ntiae inter discordes sententia concerning the way of their receiving the spirâ—t whether it were dispensed in the works of the Law or communicated to them by the hearing of faith and the like let a weake one by his holy example be bold to propound to our seduced brethren was the publike ministry the means of your conversion or the private meetings wherein t is cryed down Lingua vocata chaatâ—er mentis I mean not thâ—t sweet and christian society wherein frequently the godly speake one to another Mal. 3.16 17. Ventus est validus mirabilia efficit arbores evellit saxa toâ—quet insublimo aediâ—â—cia dejicit sic spiritus sanctus efficacissâ—mus in verbo est quia divina potentia operatur ex cordibus lapideis facit carnea ex mortuis vivos by holy conference and mutuall assistance to build up themselves both in faith and love for this is accepted and approved by the Lord who registers such things in the booke of his remembrance yea will own these and lay them up as precious jewels to be spared as a man spares his son that serves him for no doubt there be many who assemble in private to repeat what was delivered in the publike ministry and to crave a blessing for internall efficacie on the outward means to themselves and others These doe not calumniate with reproachfull revilings the message or messengers of Christ in the Gospel but doe willingly subscribe to this undoubted truth that the preaching of the Word is powerfull to conversion Therefore to these I propound not the question but to them that meet in another way to erect a Babel or fabrick of confusion to overtop or undermine the most faithfull ministry Was it not I say the preaching of the Word whereby ye were called out of natures darknesse to enjoy the revelation of those sacred mysteries which made known unto you the counsell of God How is it then that ye loath the brest out of which yee have sucked such sacred refreshment and refuse the benefit of that sincere milke by vertue whereof yee are grown to maturity This plainly shewed the rock from whence ye were hewen even the wofull estate whereunto Adam brought us Non hic tempus timendi sed clamandi ô peccata nostra nunquam satis deslen da O misericordia tua Domine nuÌ„quam satis praedicanda O pâ—enitentia nunquam magis necessaria O gratia tua Domine humillimè jugiter implâ—randâ— then made you partakers by divine dispensation of those inestimable treasures are layd up in Christ if you can any where finde food more preciouâ— then those divine delicacies the ministry affords us I should not blame you although ye did travell even from East to West to finde soule satisfaction but sith the Manna falls about our tents Gods bounty vouchsafing it even at the door let not our plenty now make us grow insolent to contemne the blessing which we cannot value no let it be our care to expresse true gratefulness in embracing and obeying the voyce of the Word that its active operation may reduce us from errour and dispell all the darknesse in which we were lost In the last place we may lose ourselves by refusing a guide which might lead us in safety even the holy Scriptures wherein are revealed all necessary truths for our comfort and instruction for in these are contained those sacred precepts and precious promises we formerly mentioned Veritas est per quam immutata qua sunt quae fuerant quae futura sunt dicuntur with those divine observations which we also collected for the ample benefit of our selves and others but my intentionall brevity admits me not to touch what any have written in commendation of Scripture nor to fall upon that argument by way of common place which my weaknesse prohibiteâ—h as too high and transcending This only I desire for my selfe
and others that we looke on Scripture as a continent of comfort Sacrascriptura in se continet sola perfectè totam veritateÌ„ communicabilem ergo est instrumentum sacrum de veritate ad salutem necessaria per Prophetas Apostolos tanquam Dei amanuâ—nses fideliter perfecte in libris canonicis perscriptum Trelcatius because it hath a treasure contained in it which cannot be exhausted unto all eâ—ernity and therefore though heaven and earth passe away no tittle or jot of the Scripture shall fail but its precepts promises and propheticall predictions either of mercie or judgement shall be permanent for ever for though Christ put a period to the legall ceremonies which were types and shadows of good things to come yet the law was not annihilated in respect of its morality but stands in force as a rule for direction Himselfe was the substance prefigured in those shadows and the reall Antitype of their signification yea he came to fulfill the Law in full perfâ—ction which shews it is a myrrour of perpetuall purity Looke we then on the Scriptures as our safest guide Hinc immediate Decalogum suo digito Deus inscripsit tabulis Objectum est fidei adequatum omne vâ—rbum Dei in genere Fides est cognitio Dei veritatis fiducia eademque certismâ— terum sperandatum to lead us through the difficulties of every condition consulting with them when reason is nonplust and can finde no footing to direct us in our way which was the practice of David and Heman of Job Jehoshaphat and many other wor hies what time they were oppressed even beyond humane strength repairing to the Word they found full consolation The Scripture is a cleere and transparent fountain in which we may view our spirituall deâ—ormity and understand the originall of all our misery Non pendet reconciliatio ex dignitate paenae ut scholastici somniant Deut. 27.26 to be the depravation of our nature by sin and that guilt bound us over to eternall punishment for the due satisfaction of divine justice being chained to the curse as a miserable consequent of our wofull defection the bitter root of all Sic voluit Deus ruinam vasis fragilis reformare ut nec peccatum hominis di nutterit impunitum quia iustus est nec insanabile quia misericors Aug. Gâ—n 4.8 The Scripture declares that the Gospel was preached to man immediately after his fall That the seed of the woman should breake the serpents head and conquer the power of infernall darknesse This was glad tydings to the humble soule dejected in the sence of its sin and misery that it might not sinke into the pit of despair but embracing the promise might never be lost The gathering of the Church was first in Adams family wherein were a time both the godly and the wicked Cain slaying Abel his innocent brother Mergitur interdum sed non submergitur unquam salvificum Christi servans Ecclesia verbum Protomartyr and emblem of the Church its persecution after it was gathered into an Arke to save it from drowning in the universall deluge when only Noah and them of his family enjoyed the benefit of lifes preservation These passages of providence were not only recorded by Historicall narration in the sacred Scripture Scriptum est creationem mundi simulachrum esse invisi ilium Dei but were also significant setting forth unto us the state of the Church in her militant condition for which cause a collection of some passages of providence were presented in the view of our weake observations serving to illustrate the love of our God extended to his people that they might not be lost Perspicuitatem scriptura consideramus utroque modo tum natura sua quatenus à Deo inspirata est tum ratione nostri quatenus inspitamur à Deo ad perceptione illius Rom. 7.13 A single eye is one of those requisites which in viewing the Scriptures will be usefull unto us that the Lord may be lookt on as most wise and holy and our selves as indigent sinfull and miserable for in viewing the vast and inconceiveable distance twixt his glorious greatnesse and our miserable basenesse wee may see the necessity of such a Mediator as might make an infinite meritorious satisfaction This shews the grievous nature of sinne so deservedly odious to the divine Majesty as all the creatures in heaven and earth could make no answer to his absolute justice Wherefore Christ is the sum or divine subject which the Scriptures treat of as their highest argument Est spirituale os interioris hominis quod nutritur recipiens verbum vitae quod verbum est panis qui descendit è Coelo Quid enim est oraculum nempe voluntas divina hominis ore enuntiara Quid enim est humilitatis fructus ubi detrimentum est veritatis Rom. 1.17 for which cause they are styled by a learned Father the garments or swathing band of the babe Christ Jesus Our blessed Saviour himselfe was content to have his Doctrine examined by Scripture and to call in their testimony as a witnesse to the truth of those divine Oracles delivered by him and as it is observed by them that know the Tongues hee usually quoted the Septuagâ—nts Translation which refutes their errour who will not admit that ought is to bee used except the Originall So the holy Apostles use Scripture testimony to confirme the verity of their words and writings reciting Moses the Psalmes and the Prophets Hab. 2.4 in their Narrations Sermons and Exhortations Acts 13.17 2 Tim. 3.15 Acts 18.11 Vtinam omnes faceremus illud qâ—od scriptum est scâ—utamini scripturas Or. inciting their Auditors to the study of the Scriptures which young Timothy had traded in from his tender age yea it was the commendation of those noble Bereans that they searched the Scriptures to finde divine truth and were wee so wise by their godly example to try all Doctrines by the Touch-stone of Scripture wee should not wander for want of a guide misled in those errours which render us lost All Scripture is given by divine inspiration 2 Tim. 3.16 Omnis enim scientia veritatis est à prima veritate cuius scriptura instrumentale symbolum est Trel being profitable to teach and instruct in righteousnesse nor is it of private interpretation to be turned or twisted to the fancies of men for the godly penmen of the sacred Scriptures were acted or moved by the Holy Ghost whose divine dictates they faithfully delivered to direct the Church as a guide infallible It is called also a most sure word of Prophesie 2 Pet. 2.19 Non putomus scindendas Ecclesias esse propter ea quae nos ex se neque digniores neque indigniores coram Deo facere possunt Cyp. unto which the Saints doe well to give heed as unto a light that shineth in darknesse untill the day dawn and the day star arise It is
a comfort in this time of trouble that there is such a Judge to stint every strife for the word shall judge men in their ultimate triall though now they refuse to be guided by it The Scripture is reverently esteemed by the righteous as the sacred evidence of their heavenly inheritance giving them here while it guides them in the way a taste of the fruits of their promised Canaan Saera scriptura locum tenet ab autoritate negativè but the wâ—cked of the world contemne and despise it and relish it no more then the white of an egge as appears by those blasphemous and contemptible epithites which some in these times have given unto the Scriptures Grave praejudicium est quod non iudiciuÌ„ sâ—d malitiam habet no marvell though they rush into violent exorbitancies and ruine themselves on the rock of temerity when they dare adventure without this safe guide in the uncoucht wayes of erroneous darknesse The brightnesse of the Sun gives no light to the blinde Deus dicltur indurare quando non emollit nor can they rightly judge of the beauty of colours but the hearing eare and the seeing eye shall enjoy the benefit of the sacred Scripture Cautus auditor lector cito deprelâ—eÌ„deret in sidias cuniculos quibus veritas subvertitur revera aperte in luce demonstrabit nam cuÌ„ quaeque novitas ebullit statim cernitur frumentorum gravitas levitas palearum tunc sine magno molimme excutitur ab arca quod nullo pondere inter arcam tenebatur The Hereticks and Schismaticks in every age have perverted the Scriptures to their owne destruction abusing their authority to mayntain those false tenets which they flatly opposed in their genuine sence Thus did Arrius Donatus the Manichees and others against whom the godly made just opposition detecting their falshood and refuting their heresies which they sought to patronize by wrested Scripture These erring spirits refused a guide which occasioned the pâ—ogresse of their blinde illusions because the further they erred from light the more they were involved in the snares of darknesse and while they contemned pure Scripture truth they miserably doted on devised fables which drew them unawares into a labyrinth of errours in which circular maze they were miserably lost Clavis est scientia scripturarum per quam apetitur ianua veritatis Follow then the Scripture as an infallible guide which who so is led by shall never miscarry because it is a key which openeth the cabinet of Gods sacred counsell concerning all mysteries for the Scripture is the best expounder of it self where the text is dubious in our shallow apprehension the precedent and subsequent serving to illustrate the sence of Scripture in its true interpretation but men should not touch it with polluted hands defiled in the myre of sinfull prejudice but wash them in innocency like holy David what time he came neer to compasse Gods altar In sacra scriptura non solum bonitas est quod praecipitur foelicitas quod promittitur sed etiam veritas est quod dicitur humbly imploring divine assistance in viewing or meditating this divine subject that the spirit may lead us into every truth his sacred operation accompanying the Scriptures For if we consult with fraile flesh and bloud with carnall reason or meere humane knowledge wee may possibly lose our selves â— these woods by declining or deserting this absolute guide which is the cause that new minted errours are stampt for currant though counterfeit coyne and the basest bullion of exploded old heresies now passing for payment among men misguided but orthodox truths are accounted thred-bare Est natura hominis novitatis avida and like antike fashions are quite laid aside in the deep disesteem which men have of the Scriptures because their pure light detects each false way The Scriptures are sufficient to confirm every truth Spiritus sancti doctrina est quae canonicis literis prodita est ergo si ad divinae traditionis caput revertantur cessaterror humanus Cyp. ad Pam. revealed to Gods people for their comfort and instruction and also to refute the most impudent errours which are now gilded over to obscure their deformity for habituall aberrations are of great antiquity deriving their pedigree from Adams defection even to us who improving that wretched patrimony are prone to drink in the most poysonous errours especially wee of the weaker sex Haereses apud eos multum valent qui in fide non valent sed nihil valentes si in bene valentem fidem incurrant have hereditary evill from our grandmother Eve on whom the subtilty of the insinuating Serpent had a fatall influence to seduce and betray her and therefore the Apostle to humble us the more sayth the woman was deceived and was in the transgression placing her as principall in guilt and sin who was created subordinate by divine institution 1 Tim. 2.13 14. 1 Cor. 11 8 9. 2 Tim. 3.6 for which cause he inweighs against those seducers who lead away captive poor silly women who armed with abilities to understand the Scriptures become a prey to erroneous teachers Let me then in pity even petition our sisters that they submit to the guidance of the sacred Scriptures from which precious fountain flow those wholsome streams Psal 46.4 that refresh and make glad the city of our God his Church being the pillar which holds forth to our view 1 Tim. 3.15 the Imperiall Edicts of the highest majesty even the sacred Scriptures wherin is proclaimed his divine dictates for infallible direction Vâ— capiat piscâ—s piscatoâ— noâ—te laborat ut seâ—pâ—um servet surâ—â—â— nemo parat Let these be matter of sweetest meditation to satiate our souls with enduring comfort that we may not thirst for those puddle waters which instead of profit prove poyson unto us It resteth now that we carefully collect the scattered fragments of our dull meditations and take a view what wee have observed from the precept of our Saviour and his reason annexed in the first we considered his oecumenicall authority in designing to his servants this gathering employment and also their humility and dutifull obedience in submitting to his precept in the work imposed In collecting we considered temporall necessaries as the literall sence of this frugall precept and then by an argument from the lesse to the greater we inferred the necessity of spirituall provision first sacred precepts of piety and charity directing our active and passive obedience then promises purging pardoning and healing salves fit to cure each wound of the soul lastly wee gathered up sundry observations to view in them the condition of the godly in their many afflictions miraculous deliverances and various revolutions into different estates In the reason we considered how an absolute agent condescends to the weaknesse of our shallow capacity propounding our benefit as a speciall motive inducing to the obedience of his sacred precept sith every one sayth Who will shew us any good and laments the losse of what was but lent him which illustrates the usefulnesse of this frugall precept and annexed reason that nothing be lost Neyther of the creatures whose order is inverted by ignorance intemperance and base ingratitude nor yet of time which is wastfully devoured by idlenesse curiosity and wretched anxiety nor of our endowments spirituall and temporall which were weakly considered in their various kinds the donations of the spirit being of two sorts eyther saving graces or common gifts the temporals we briefly referred to these three mentall bodily and accessary endowments which of these be permanent which subject to decay wee formerly shewed to incite to their improvement because wee are accountants for the talent of our master wherewith we must trade that it may not be lost Lastly a caution was tendred unto us that we lose not our selves in the labyrinth of errour into which we fall when we wander from our way when wee walk in darknesse or are wrong misled and when we refuse that infallible guide the sacred Scriptures that might lead us safely we sodainly erre both from truth and peace and turn into by-ways which render us lost Our compassionate Saviour whose miraculous mercy hath been the matter of our poor Meditations vouchsafe us the assistance of his sanctifying spirit both to know and do what his word directs us that our judgments being informed by the light of his truth and our lives reformed from all sinfull obliquity we may gratefully consecrate all to his prayse Luke 19.10 who came to seeke and save us that were lost FINIS