come to the light because their works are euill But it will be obiected of the contemners I loue the word the sweet things of Christes doctrine are pleasant vnto me But the preachers they are verye harshe and collericke others are too too Melancholick vrging heauinesse mourning and solitarines beeing too precise they will abide no pastime c. tell vs of pleasaunt things of wine c. Isai 30.10 Micah 2.7 Surely I aunswere them as before are not the Lord his wordes good to him that walketh vprightly but you are risen vp against the Lorde he that walketh in the spirite would prophesy of new wine he shal be a prophet for this people Thus these men wold separate the word from the ministry and preaching of it or else would haue the worde limitted by their owne affections and liking to serue their owne turne and their filthy lustes But wee speake as we are taught of God 1. Iohn 4.6 Hee that knoweth God heareth vs hee that is not of God beareth vs not Also he that despiseth the ministers of God despiseth God that sent vs As for our partes we haue the euidence of our owne conscience to stand for vs that we seeke to do nothing against the truethe but with the trueth we haue the Lorde also to witnes on the one side yea our labours and the poure of our doctrine speak for vs in the hearts of those that are conuerted nay euen the conscience of the wicked themselues do afford vs som euidence insomuch as they tremble at the worde though they spurne against it being disobedient So that we stand confidentlye perswaded in oure selues through the Lord that our ministery is the ministery of the spirit of God the sweete words of Christe Iesus euen then whē we do by thretning iudgments seek to conuert the wicked to repentaunce as also to further and increase the same already begun in the godly for we are a swéet sauour of Christ vnto God in thē which are saued and in them that perish 2. Cor. 2.15 So that they which will seeme to count of the worde in it selfe as they imagine and yet contemne it and parbreake it vp as a bitter or loathsom thing when it is preached certainly they neuer tasted in truethe of the worde but remayne deadly diseased in their soules of spirituall Hellishe and damnable agues Well after this woorthye description of her Louer the Spouse vauntingly tryumpheth saying He is wholy delectable this is my beeloued this is my loue O daughters of Ierusalem This emphaticall repetition poyntinge him oute so often is forcible to mooue those whome shee talked with to the liking and allowing of her Louer Thus shee concludeth in one worde that her loue was wholye delectable wanting nothing to comlinesse and perfection For not being able by any figures metaphors or similies to discribe him fully shee in a worde shutteth vp al that hee is altogether amiable When she calleth him her welbeloued she noteth that as her Sutor bore good will to her so she also helde him as her dereling and best beloued on whome onelye shee coulde finde in her hearte to bestowe her whole loue in calling him louer Solomon noteth that Christe loued his Churche and Spouse first so as in louing of him wee shall loue suche a one as loued vs first In this conferrence of the Spouse with them of Ierusalem Solomon woulde insinuate vnto vs howe the Faythfull should often be talking of their loue Christ Iesus confessinge his Inestimable kindnesse towardes them to allure others It is one cheefe effect or token of a true calling when a man syncerely delighteth in Wisedome to bee talking of the woorde to commende the Loue of God in Christe as Dauid saythe My mouth shall bee alwayes telling of the louinge kindenesse of the Lorde and I will also tell of thy greatnesse So also the Woman of Samaria Ioh. 4. After shee was wonne by Christes Sermon contented not her selfe to bee acquaynted with Christ her selfe alone but leauing her Water pot and other necessaryes in all haste made report of the Messiah to her Neighboures to toule on them also And certaynlye when a man is truelye called his desire is kindled to make others partakers of those ioyes of the worde which himselfe dothe feele He is also greeued and sorrowfull when hee seeth it to bee contemned of men Especiallye suche couet to acquaynte theire Wife Children Seruauntes and Neyghboures or those which haue beene partners with them in the dayes of their vanities with that Heauenlye message of life For wee shoulde bee careful that whomsoeuer wee haue offended or hurte by oure example afore or they with whome wee haue had fellowshippe in euill mighte by our meanes bee broughte to a taste of Christe that wee commending the grace of God in Christe to them might by some meanes draw them if it may bee from their vanities to Christe Saying Oh that you felte the good that I feele by the woorde for where I loued sinne before now I hate that and Christ Iesus is my loue Yea let euerye one say to other it pityeth my soule and I am couered with shame blushing to thinke how I haue before times liued in vanitie when I knew not Christ aright But now Oh happy I I see the loue of Christe towardes me in his worde and I can not but loue him againe Thus we should be reporting the good that we haue by Christe seeke to make others partners with vs. If it be a duety of one Christian to another much more shoulde ministers towle on their people the husbands their wiues the parentes their children the masters their seruants c. Then who soeuer delight not to talke of God in his worde but rather enuie the forwardnes of others it is a manifest taken that they belong not to Christe What shall we saye then of them which wil not commend Christ to their people nor draw them on but rather discourage and pull back how can they haue any true loue to Christ them selues when they are afrayde men should come too neare him Thus Solomon hath allegorically set before our eyes a description of Christe Iesus Sith then we haue presented before our eyes so honorable a state so gracious a personage so peereles a Prince so worthy a Moschel wise and rich in al pretious iewels as Solomon victorious as Dauid finally who is all in all why shoulde we not highly account of him honorably entertaine him and with all submission subiect our selues vnto him as our onely head and guid who shineth in passing beauty surpasseth in al victorious courage in princely dignity in perfect purenes his habite is most seemly his comely lookes most gracious and amiable in the eies of his saints his face wholy glorious of perfect hue sweete with heauenly perfumes odoriferous with spirituall spice and ointment his garments and attire most costly and orderly man garments of vnspotted righteousnesse and most perfect holinesse whereby he
latter daye hauing assuraunce that we shal dye happely and well yea that we may haue the eyes of faith to looke into our saluation so farre as wee maye saye with Simeon Lorde now lettest thou thy seruaunt depart in peace according to thy worde â—uk 2.29.30 for myne eyes haue seene thy saluation Also that we may with Iob stand perswaded through saith that our redeemer lyueth and that we shall See God not with other but with these same eyes â—ob 19.25.27 In the meane time let vs labour to glorifie oure God by oure obedience fayth loue and newnesse of life that we maye shewe how we are one with Christe by this that he maye liue in vs and we maye dye so our selues that so we may in this lyfe bee sure of saluation afterwarde For what myserye is it to lyue and in the ende not to bee sure of saluation To this purpose Iohn in his first Epistle chapiter 3. verse 2. sheweth that the loue of God is great in that he hath admitted vs to be his sons after he addeth That we are euen now the sonnes of God but it doth not appeare what we shal be that is we see not now fully what glory the Lord hath layd vp for vs. But we are assured that we shal be like to the sonne of God So then the faithfull haue their comfort and assuraunce in this lyfe of obtayning life after Also Paule affirmeth vnto Timothy 2. Tim. â— That he was sure from hence forth there was layd vp for him the crowne of righteousnesse which the lord the righteous iudge should giue him at the last day And because we shoulde not make exception and saye yea Paule was a notable instrument of God I easly beléeue he might be sure of life but I am nothing to Paule c. therefore he addeth That crowne is not layd vp onely for me but for al them also that loue his comming or appearing For sure it is God hath committed vs to the custody of him that wil neuer see vs perish and he againe moste carefully committeth vs to his father Ouerlooke I pray you with all diligence that heauenly prayer of our Sauiour Iesus Christe in the 17. Chapiter of Iohn especially from the sixth verse to the ende Which is full of moste Heauenlye and wonderful comfort if the Lorde giue vs eyes and hearts to see and vnderstand it aright Christe there noteth these qualities chiefly in his saints After the fountayn of their election discouered which issueth out of the free loue of God he saith of them that they kéep his worde 2. They acknowledge all good thinges to come from God thorough Christ receiuing them thankfully as from him also they receiue his wordes and are assured that hee came from God And because he was to leaue his Disciples and to departe concerning his corporal presence hee therfore committeth them in this sort to his father saying Verse 11. I am now no more in the worlde these are in the world and I come to thee O holy father keepe them in thy name euen them whom thou hast giuen me that they may be one as we are This vnitie he prayeth for in al that shold after beleeue that they may be one in God and Christ as be and his Father was one O wonderfull care of so gracious a Patron In these wordes Christe sheweth that as the father and the somâ— are one so as they can not be seuered so also they which are in Christ in whome these foresayde effectes are to bee founde in trueth in some measure are one with God and Christ so as nothing can deuide nor seperate them asuÌ„der Which is a wonderful comfort to the Saints of God that their happy life and eternal being is necessarilye after a sorte ioined with the life and eternal being of God and Christe He meaneth not that the saints are so one with God as he shoulde bee hominified with man and man deified with God For this foolish and doltishe blasphemye of the Family of loue is so absurd as it were a folly to spende any speech in the confutation thereof But as the godly are in Christe and so sure of saluation so they must not loyter in hope and neglect their calling now because men are subiect to this sliding our Sauioure Christ in that 17. of Ioh. Iohn 17. ver 15. prayeth that his father woulde keepe them from euil sanctifying them in his trueth which is his worde For that is the ordinary means and instrument whereby God vpholdeth his children and we abide in him and hee in vs so long as we abide in his doctrin 2. Iohn 9. which is easily seene in this that Sathan séeketh nothing more then to weaken our fayth in the worde raysing vp so many opinions sects and heresies therefore this should stirre vs vp to watchfulnesse Thus we see the Spouse might lawfully conclude of the certaintie of her vnity and perseuerance with her husbande Yea al of vs by her example should labour to haue the like perswasion of our selues affiancing our selues also vnto Christ praying for the fruits of the spirit of adoption in vs that we being careful to keepe the word to beleeue and receiue it that being assured that Christ was sent of God a sauiour vnto vs maye imbrace him heartely with al his heauenly riches stryuing to ouerstride al lets that might hinder vs from coÌ„ming to him being zealous of his glory truth stirring vp others by our example professing his name boldly exercising all godly exercises hearing his word praying oft heartly vnto him ioyning in the company of the godly beeing humbly thankfull vnto God for his greate mercyes in Christe so as euery one of vs may be bolde in truth and feeling to say I am Christs and Christ is mine O let vs indeuour our selues my deare brethren that we may haue a liuely tast assurance of this heauenly and spirituall communion vnity coniunction society and felowship with Christ Iesus that we may stande perswaded of his eternal loue towards vs and of our owne saluation in him For alas it maketh me tremble to think what a miserable state the doubtful vnbeléeuers which labour not to haue any assuraunce of life shall come vnto Who as they neuer were in Christ nor tasted not in truth of the effects before mentioned so shall they be without christ in eternal paine banished from the presence of God of his glorious angels without the fauor of God without life it selfe But let not those be dismaied which doubting sometime yet in the middest of their doubt desire to be sure of Gods fauour for the vnbeleeuing doubters haue no suche desire in truth resting vpon the word and waiting for further grace and assurance I know our nature wil neuer make an end of replying against the certainty of our saluation because of the imperfections and infirmities of the Children of God beeing ful of distrust many times For when we consider
CERTAINE VErie worthie godly and profitable Sermons vpon the fifth Chapiter of the Songs of SOLOMON Preached by BARTIMEVS ANDREAS Minister of the word of God Published at the earnest and long request of sundrie well minded Christians ESAY 62.6.7 I haue set watchmen on thy walles O Ierusalem which all the day and all the night continually shall not cease yee that are mindfull of the Lord keepe not silence And giue him no rest till he repayre and vntill he set vp Ierusalem the praise of the worlde 2. TIM 2.19 But the foundation of God remayneth sure and hath this zeale The Lord knoweth who are his and let euery one that calleth on the name of Christ depart from iniquitie AT LONDON Printed by Robert Walde-graue for Thomas man 1583. TO THE RIGHT honorable and my very good Lorde Henrie Earle of Huntington Lorde Hastings Hungerforde Botreaux Mullens Moyles of the most honorable order of the garter Knight Lord president of the Queenes Maiesties councel established in the North parts Bartimeus Andrewes wisheth increase of all true honour and the fruition of all those blessed promises which concerne this life and the life to come Amen BEING at the last ouercome right honorable by the long and earnest request of diuers Godly and wel disposed christians to yeeld my consent to the publishing of this to homly and simple a worke I forthwith was resolued in my selfe to dedicate the first fruits of my labour in this kinde of wryting vnto your honour as to a most worthy MECOENAS and conuenient Patron both of all learning and good causes And albeit at the first blush it may seeme some what straunge vnto your honour that I should presume to present you with so simple a gift being vnworthy the view of so honorable a personage and wise Yet because I do it not as one expecting anye temporall benefite or preferment at your hand as the maner of the worlde for the most part in such matters is But as a token rather of my speciall good will and duety towards you and an argument of thankfulnesse vnto God for his graces in you as also to minister some occasion of increase and going forwarde with constancy and Heroicall spirite in so good gracious and Godly wayes as you haue turned your feete to steppe in already I perswade my selfe therefore of your facile and curteous nature and good will in accepting of the same And euen this small duety of wryting is one point of the honouring and gratifying of our betters and those to whom we stand charged from the Lorde to perfourme duties of reuerence and honour Especially when we see the Image of God by the seconde creation to shine in them as it doth breake forth in your honourable and vertuous brest by many worthy and commendable graces and vertues with the plausible approbation fame and report both of the wise and Godly I speake not this as one that would fill the trompe of flattery with the winde of vaine-glorious praise to seeme to speake for your honour to the worlde for that is not my maner sith your vertuous religious and Godlye wayes speake for them selues to your great commendation and your euerlasting praise in Christe Iesus But I speake of the worke of God in you right honorable that God might haue his iust glory in his owne worke and your selfe might also be incouraged with comfort to proceede and increase in that good course so as the worke of God which is begun might be perfited in you For sure it is my very good Lord that the enemy of mankind seeketh to beset as all men so specially those whome the Lorde beginneth to frame to him selfe but chieflyest those that are as it were ouer frayghted with the aboundaunce of the troublesome affayres of this present life by reason of their great calling For they whom God calleth to so great honour riches and dignity are as one wisely wryteth set vpon the mayne sea of occasions in daunger to bee drenched and swallowed vp of the tempestuous rages and surging waues of diuers temptations if the Lorde doe not mightely by his grace support and vnderstay them But when God standeth by them and frameth their heartes to the loue of his truth then doth he reape great honour and glory at their handes VVhich he highly priseth and reckoneth off insomuch that he hath honorably spoken of such by his Prophetes that they shoulde bring much glory to his Church Esay 49.23 60.16 and be nursing fathers and nursing mothers therevnto yea the glory of LEBANON euen of great personages shal come togeather to beautify the place of my sunctuary saith the Lorde for I will glorify the place of my feete Esay 60.13 For the seruice which such shoulde doe to his Church was not a seruile condition but a beautifying of his Church as it is there called and a glory euen vnto him selfe And vndoubtedly blessed are those Princes Nobles honourable and worshipfull who them selues imbracing and obeying the truth sincerely become presidentes and examples in their owne persons to allure others to the fellowship of the church to the loue of the worde and true religion For the fall or vprising of many after a sort dependeth vpon the publique persons whom God hath lift vp in high places ouer others Insomuch as the eyes of the multitude are bene vpon the examples of publique persons Furthermore wee see from time to time howe the Church of God not without great cause accounted highly of such personages as those by whom they receiued speciall blessings from the Lorde So the church of Israel Psal 21.6 made precious account of DAVID that worthy Prince as one that was set of God as blessings for euer Meaning as a benefite and testimony of Gods fauour vpon his people EZEKIAH NEHEMIAH Neh. 1. 2. Hag. 1.14 Ier. 40. 2. Chr. 35.25 ZERVBBABEL GEDALIAH c. were great blessings to the Church who greatly lamented the losse of thē Also IOSIAH his death was lamented with a doleful lamentation of al the church of IVDA And sure it is that our Church hath great cause to magnifie the mercies of God towards vs in trusting vs with so gracious a IOSIAH as our Soueraigne Princesse ELIZABETH as by whose gouerment the church hath receiued many blessings The losse of whome if our sinns should procure which the Lord keep far from vs would yeeld no lesse occasion for vs to complayne and say then the Churche of IVDA had Lamen 5.20 at the death of IOSIAH when they sayd Our life the breath of our nostrels the annoynted of the Lorde vvas taken in their nets of vvhome we sayd vnder his shadow vve shall be preserued aliue among the heathen Herevnto god hath added further matter of ioy and thankfulnes vnto his Churche in that many nobles worthy personages of this land both learned Godly and wise among whom your honour hath not the least roome are faythfull Patrons of the cause of
Religion And therefore if the church reuerenced highly accounted of such if the godly teachers of the church commended such and gratifyed them by wryting of some such duety as the Apostle IOHN did the elect Lady and HIEROM 2. Ioh. 1. that vertuous Lady LETA GAVDENTIA to incourage them in the truth to shew their thankfulnes for them vnto God why may not we in our times likewise gratify our noble worthy personages with some such duty to shew forth our thankfulnes and reuerence towardes them as also to minister occasion by such means as we can of further proceeding in all religious and godly wayes with zeal to aduance gods glory in his church For we should all step out for the defence and aduancement of Gods gospell glory For the true honor of al men standeth in this chiefly that they imbrace the word which is the wisdome of God sith without religion there is no true honour Therfore Prou. 8 VVisdome layeth claime to all the honor kingdom of princes Pro. 8.15.16.18 as without whom they wanted al true honor Yea she challengeth to her selfe al true wisdome councel vnderstanding strength and honour c. Also els where SOLOMON a prince of greatest honoâ—â— wisdome setteth down plainly Pro 4.8 ver 14. that they which imbrace wisdome shal haue great honor they which exalt her shal be exalted theÌ„ selues For God crowneth them with honour which honour his word But strippeth al such naked of honor renoum before him which do not honor his word Therefore the gouernours of Israel were charged to be alwayes conuersant in the booke of the law day night that they might learne to feare the lord their God Deu. 17.19 adding a great reason that by such meanes they should prouide for their own safety and for the good estate of their posteritie Verse 20. Yea it was promised to DAVID as a speciall prerogatiue that so long as hee helde the Lord to be his Father and made him his God by trusting in him and imbracing the testimonies of his word Psa 89.26 ver 28.29 that the Lorde would not fayle him but establishe his couenaunt with him yea and with his seede for euermore So that such as set their delight in the word of God carry with them store of blessinges from the Lord both for them selues and for their posterity And we see that the Lorde doth not otherwise promise to prosper the affayres of men then as they are carefull to know his will in his word Hereof it was that the Lorde promised the lyke successe vnto IOSHVA For after he had incouraged him to obey his worde Iosh 1.7 ver 8. shewing that therein stoode all true prosperity he addeth this exhortation Let not this booke of the Lawe depart out of thy mouth but meditate therein day and night that thou mayest obserue and doe according to all that is wrytten therin then shalt thou make thy way prosperous and then shalt thou haue good successe For the Lorde knew that sith IOSHVA stood in great perill of temptation euery way by the reason of the waightynesse of his calling and dignity therefore also he sheweth that hee had greatest neede of the meanes to vnderstay himselfe and to be acquainted with the Lordes priuy Councell reuealed in his worde to direct him in all his actions So DAVID made the worde of God his Councellers Psa 119.24 without whom he woulde doe nothing For he knew that it behoueth such to imploy their honour glory estimation riches and credite as handmaydes to further Gods glory And then no doubt they are to expect greate blessinges from the Lorde with immortall prayse and euerlasting honour with Christ Iesus I doubt not therefore right honourable but all these blessinges shall be accomplished vpon you as also vpon your posterity sith you loue and imbrace the religion of the true God and the truth of his worde who will not see you want that honour that he hath promised to his most excellent Saintes And now here I present vnto your Honour this poore Tallent of myne which may it please you to accept at my hand as of one that wisheth all happynesse vnto you and yours in the Lorde humbly crauing that your fauourable wisedome would supply the wants of this thing and that this so simple a gift as it is may be accepted of you rather for my good meaning in the thing and the ende wherefore I doe it then for the vallue of the thing it selfe Doing your honour to vnderstande that you are not to expect any flourishing speeches garnished with Rhetoricall flowers and figures or any cunning sleightes of mans wisedome or paynted eloquence with affected wordes but hauing an eye to the matter and not to the maner to expect a simple and plaine handling of that which is intreated off For my desire is not to be seen in the heighth and intricate questions of mans wisedome but in the basenesse and simplycity of the Gospell that it may appeare in the power thereof Thus right honourable surceasing from adding any further wordes of discourse and remayning ready to vndergoe all lawfull duetyes towardes your honour which God any maner of wayes shall inable me to doe I humbly commit your honourable Lordship with the right honourable that vertuous Lady the Countesse your wyfe euen to our good and mercifull God who euermore preserue you and yours in al blessed safety both of body and soule be present with you gouerne and guyde you by his gratious spirite and heape vpon you all heauenly blessings and shew forth the riches of his grace vppon you that you may holde out with all constancy in his truth vnto the ende so as you glorifying him in this lyfe may be receiued vnto eternal glory and felicity with him in the lyfe to come through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Your honors humble to command in the Lord Bartimaeus Andrewes To the Christian Reader IT was not in vaine Christian reader that the ancient fathers of the Church worthy and Godly wryters vsed alwayes preuentions in some preface or Epistle before their workes to reclaime their writinges from suspition and reproch in so much as the Church of God neuer wanted enuious malicious and captious aduersaries who with their slaunderous tongues and dispightfull lawes sought to teare in pieces or by Zoylous vpbraydings to blemishe or by reprochfull speeches and lyspings to cancell the credite of whatsoeuer was godly wisely carefully and to good purpose penned downe by them These times yeelde occasion of no lesse suspition of like intertainment to be giuen to good thinges written for the comfort and help of the simple and ignorant especially wheÌ„ they are to proceede from so vnworthy an instrument and so vnskilfull an indictor as my selfe when the writings and workes of so famous godly men haue gone before as great torchelights or as the Sunne at noone dayes and I to come after in so
the voyce of my beloued knocking c. We should thus learne to rouze vp our selues from worldly sleepes by musing of that which we haue heard out of the word and when sathan would bring vs a sléep in these sweete pleasures of this life and profites we shoulde thus make vse of this doctrine and reply vpon all temptations saying Oh I heare the voice of my beloued Christ Iesus by the preaching of his worde calling out vpon me that I should beware of such sleepes I may not be wooed from him In euery tentation a man maye make vse of this reply Let not sathan or sinne or the world so soone whisper in our ears to allure vs to any vncleannes but let vs straight way answere Oh I heare the voice of Christe calling me another way I must waight vppon him and obey his word c. But I cannot go forward with this matter any further at this time because the time cutteth me off you shal heare the rest of the suite and reasons in the after noone by the grace of God And the Lord our God giue vs al the true vse of this doctrin that we may make gaine of it in our hearts to the Lord so as these reasons of our heauenly suter Christe Iesus may mooue vs in truth that we seeing his greate riches and spirituall treasures with the eyes of faith and also hauing the offer of them made vnto vs by the preaching of his word may cast off al lets and incumbraÌ„ces what so euer and willingly imbrace Christ with all his riches that we may communicate with him and may be fruitfull in all obedience towardes him all our life Which grace God graunt for Iesus Christe his sake both to vs and to all Nations and his whole church c. Amen To the which Christ with the Father and the holye Ghost be all honor glory maiesty dominion and power now and for euer Amen Let vs pray c. The second Sermon After Prayer as is before mentioned following thus IN the former part of this day beloued in the Lorde we haue hearde of two reasons which were vsed of the husband to mooue his spouse to participate with him in his riches and to imbrace him The one drawne from his excellent dignitie and eternall riches and possessions which he had already receiued The other taken of his kindnesse and liberall offers to participate the same his riches to his Spouse which as I sayde included in it a part of the suite it selfe Also we haue hearde of one circumstaunce of the second part of the chapiter concerning the maner of the spouses comming on and namely of the lets in her selfe which somewhat tyed her at the firste Yet so as she stirreth vp her selfe notwithstanding with the meditation of the suite and voyce of her husband or sutor All these circumstances with the vse of them we haue already handled Now it followeth in the 2. verse wherein the suit is stil continued Open vnto me my sister my loue my doue my vndefiled c. This second suite as it were is noted by Solomon to be mentioned by the spouse her selfe making report of the exceding loue of her sutor Christ Iesus who spak to her so amiably gratiously honorably ye so carefully as he was loath for her owne good to lose his labor Therfore christ is brought in as one renuing his suite again again and continuing it as hee doth euen to this day by the preachers of his word Yea he hath long come a wooing vnto vs. Wherefore I pray you my brethren let him now come a speeding open your heartes vnto him enlarge your bowels towardes him imbrace and hugge him thorough faith yea set your whole loue on him The like speeche of knocking and opening we haue in other places as namely in the 3. chapter of the Reuelation verse 20. Behold I stand at the doore and knocke if any man heare my voyce and open the doore I wil come in vnto him and wil sup with him c. Which speeches import the Christ is alwayes calling vpon meÌ„ and vouchsafeth to come to them by the preaching of his word crauing entertainment God â—â—ocketh diuers wayes Yea he knocketh aloud at euery mans hearte and that sundry wayes First by his word First by his word as by an ordinary meanes to awaken men And howe long hath the Lorde continued knocking to vs by his word And yet alas few open vnto him None can deny but the Lordes voyce hath shaken euen the foundation of their heartes ye euen the most vngodly ones though they refuse to heare the voyce of the charmer charme hee neuer so wisely So he knocked earely and late to the people of Israel by his Prophetes but because they refused to heare his voice the Lord forsooke them gaue them ouer in the end to be a dispersed people Secondly Secondly by his spirite the lord knocketh by his spirit for meÌ„ caÌ„not deny but many instincts motions of Gods spirite haue knocked at their heartes though they haue rebounded again men haue queÌ„ched the spirit so as the Lord hath punished them with the spirite of slumber that they shoulde haue eares to heare and should not vnderstand eyes to see and not perceiue hearts to know should not beleeue least they shold be conuerted I should heal them saith Christ Math. 13.15 Thirdly Thirdly by his iudgementes Christ knocketh by his iudgements works by signes in the heauens aboue tokens in th earth beneath The constellations of the heauens threaten strange alterations exchaÌ„ges great calamities the strange wonders haue their lowd voices as vntimely thuÌ„ders fiery appearances vnknown commets Also beneath vniuersal earthquaks practised conspiracies reports of warrs the Romish Antichrist seeking to subuert the trueth dangers at home daÌ„gers abroad Which al are forewarnings knocking 's for our good to waken vs cause vs to trim vp our selues for our bridegroms comming to entertaine him in our hearts here below that we may be entertained with him at his comming into the heaueÌ„s Fourthly Fourthly by his mercies he knocketh by his mercies benefits as a most gentle and friendly knocking so that the heauens the earth sonne moone starres foules beasts fishes fruits the daily kindnes of God are arguments of his suite to mooue vs to open vnto Christ But of al these the knocking of his word is vehement and mighty for our good if wee can sée it or had hearts to open vnto it Open vnto me c. When such speeches exhortatioÌ„s ar vsed in the scripture that is not left to the power wil of maÌ„ to open as els where 2. Tim. 2.21 If any man purge him self froÌ„ these he shal be a vessel of the Lorde vnto honor sanctified and prepared to euery good worke So Heb. 4.7 To day if you wil hear his voice c. Also Io. 3.3 He that hath this hope in himselfe purgeth himselfe euen
either of sicknesse pouerty reproch losse of friends losse of goods crosses in wise in Children in families in affaires hauing enemies stirred vp againste vs and such like that his worde and admonitions might sincke the more deepely into our heartes Which fruite Dauid felt by afflictions when he sayd Before I was afflicted I went wrong but nowe I keepe thy word Psal 119.67 So then the Lorde is fayne to vrge vs to obey often times Furthermore some sinnes which wee see not a long time in oure selues by the worde yet thorough our owne blindenesse the Lorde by some rod traceth out in vs and haleth vs foorth before his iudgement seat causing vs to bring in euidence againste our selues that conuicted in our owne conscience at the bar of his iudgement seat we might confesse our selues and humbly sue for pardon And this fruit we haue not simply by the affliction it self in so much as the wicked also are afflicted oftentimes and yet profit not by it but being taught the vse of it by the word the doctrine of the word sincketh the deeper when some triall is annexed as the souls that are truly humbled can beare good witnesse with me by their owne experience but if wee are still blockish and sullen that wee murmure and bristle vp oure affections against Gods corrections secretly in our hearts though our mouthes are silent and so not stirred vp to profite in repentaunce by them then wée loose the vse of them But the Spouse she trembled at the Lordes hande and rose to open It is a good signe when with reuerence men tremble at the word ioining with that fear a purpose to keepe the woorde and obey it in our heart Otherwise the wicked are forced spite of their teeth sometime to tremble at the worde as Foelix did Act. 24.25 but they seeke shiftes to cast of the handes of the Lords obedience without purposing to obey But as I saide this place may be vnderstood of the louing iesture of Christ who by his worde allureth the godly so as the spouse testifieth she was affectioned towardes him For this effect the worde worketh in the faythfull that their heartes doe melt at Gods threates 2. Kin. 22.11 19. repenting them of their backwardnesse as Iosiah did and ioy in the sweete comfort of his worde and promises reckoning of them aboue all riches and pleasures as Dauid did Psal 119.111 and else where Other some vnderstand this place as though Christ left off knocking and departed when hee had receiued so churlish an aunswere of his Spouse whereby her hearte was smitten with sorrowe repenting her of her slacknesse which may well agree to that which followeth where shee findeth her loue departed when shee had opened The Doctrine of which sense wee shall haue fitter occasion to note afterwarde verse 5. I rose vp to open to my welbeloued and my handes did drop down myrrh and my fingers pure myrrh vppon the handles of the barre Here the spouse beginneth somewhat to rowze vp her selfe seeking at the call of Christe to be reconciled vnto him And first shee sheweth that all her purest naturalities or ciuil sobernes which she highly thought of at the first or her good workes or whatsoeuer shee coulde present Christe with all of her owne were nothing to procure his fauour or draw his loue towardes her For he is not to be founde by them neither needeth he oure Myrrh to annointe him withall So then we must not come in our owne garmentes but away with al beauty of nature and flesh and blood and on with a pure fayth and a good conscience in which Christe hath delight The Romish Church therefore and al the iustitiaries they preparing themselues with their owne workes annoyntinge and trimming themselues with their owne ciuility naturalities and morall coniectures are but as painted Harlottes that driue Christe farre from them though they seeme to carry him in their bosomes But he wil not be takē in their beauty for it is but as a menstruous cloth vnto him It may also be that the Myrrb may be vnderstood of the blessing sweet sauour of the gospel which Christ powreth by the preaching therof into the harts of the faythfull so as they are annointed with it and made swéete yea are also brought to repentance and to seck after God in his word As the spouse heere perfumed with the sweet odours and moistened with the smelling ointment which is spiritually to bee vnderstood of the graces of Gods spirite which her loue had left behinde him she ariseth to open and séeke after him ver 6. I opened to my beloued but hee was gone and past my heart was gone when he did speake I sought him but I coulde not finde him I called but be aunswered mee not Secondly lets without Here the spouse beginneth to complaine of the lets she founde without and first the absence of her husbande whereby after she found some discommoditie in that others afflicted her vers 7. For she sheweth that shee got some courage and gathered vp her spirites so as she openeth vnto him desyring to imbrace him yet she found le ts abroade also which partly dismayed her as the absence of her louer and partly tyed or hindred her though in the end she preuayleth For finding her loue slipt aside shee fainted and hearing his voyce which so affected her and wroght vpon her that she swounded for sorrow and her heart failed her Which yet caused her to seeke the more earnestly after him but he wōld not be found nor answere So that Solomon inferreth Christ taking displeasure that he was not graunted vnto at the first and therfore turneth a side also the faithful mourning after him and repenting that they imbraced him not at the first Wherin we sée the state of a fainting soule that longeth sore after Christe such a one as Dauid bewrayeth in him selfe Psalm 42.1 whose heart thirsted after God as the weary and chased heart doth after the water brooks And after he sayth verse 6. Why hast thou forgotten me Why go I mourning so heauily c. For the thirstie soule that longeth after Christe Iesus in trueth and would fayne yeelde obedience vnto him and haue assuraunce and full pledge of his loue making haste to Christe inquyring after him in his worde groning sighing and calling after him by Prayer Sathan the enuious and malicious man enemie of our soules seeketh to stirre vp our incredulity to steppe betweene vs and Christe presenting to our eies oure sinnes past oure present infirmites our sinnes before oure calling and since our calling oure wantes lacke of zeale our litle profiting by the woord and a thousande other bye thoughtes that wee should seeme not to bee neere Christe but as though hee had turned his backe vppon vs had cast vs of agayne and helde scorne of vs and as though all our former beginnings had beene in vayne So we wee beginne to languish the Lorde also sometime leaueth vs in oure
properties or diuers kindes of them it is called of som Berillus which stone was in times past moste vsed in ringes of loue or marriage rings because of the effect that was thought to be in it for the coupling of the loue of louers and married folkes the six square forme thereof the kindes and qualities I leaue to the Physiologists to inquire out It meaneth that he aboundeth with al pretious and excellent things His belly like white Iuory couered with Saphires The belly or intralls is set downe for the body by Synecdochen and she sayth it hath the brightnesse of Iuory and it is ouerlayd or beset with Saphires that is moste comely and moste conueniently arayed Hauing all pure affections As for the Iuory it is known for the purenes whitenes and vertues of it The Saphire is a moste pretious stone of all others so as it is called the gemme of gemmes Al which costly gemmes rich Iewels beseemly the Princes of most worthy renowne are to note the inestmable riches treasures spirituall and heauenly which Christe doth possesse farre surpassing and amounting in price all the riches in the worlde or a thousand worldes vers 15. His legs as pillers of marble fastned on sockets of fine gold Apec 1. His feete are compared to fine brasse most pretious yea more accounted of then Golde it was made of salt Peter a certaine stone as Pliny reporteth lib. 24. chap. 2. calling it a kind of brasse which is digged out of the veynes of the earth in times past had in great price Some thinke it to be the same which is called Hasmal Ezek. 1. a present remedye againste poysons for if poyson intoxicate bee put in a Goblet made thereof it will hisse whereby the poyson is detected But here the Spouse compareth his legges to Marble pillers his feete to sockettes of fine brasse noting his perfect constancy soundnesse strength and duraunce for of all other stones the Marble is moste sound strong smooth durable and profitable So then shee commendeth her loue as most comely through out and personable His countenaunce as Lebanon excellent as the Cedars Noting the stature talenesse and boldnesse of his countenaunce Thus shee commendeth the personne of her beloued by tâ—e seuerall members shewing by these figuratiue speeches the excellencie of his personne And all these are by Solomon applied to figure as I sayd the spirituall beauty of Christ Nowe haue ye seene the lettes without which the Spouse founde in others which smote and hindred her Also the recouerie of her zeale notwithstanding lets in inquiring more bustlye after Christe and charging others to further her whereby others were stirred also to conferre with her about her louer whereupon she taketh occasion as you see to describe him moste liuelye and worthilye hitherto first his complexion then his personne as concerning his manner of speeche followeth and remayneth to be handled which we shall consider of with others thinges that followe the next reading The Lorde giue vs all grace that no lets maye hinder vs from following of the call of God and that wee maye not alone professe him when others doe but euen when others steppe harke and in the time of trial Labouring to stirre vp others by our zeale conferring one with another that wee may bee able to make report to others of the excellency of Christ Iesus our eternal louer euen as the Spouse doth here of her loue That we may be alwayes commending his goodnesse to all ages that so we may bring much glory to Christ Iesus to God his Father by our obedience sanctimony holinesse and care to professe his loue mercy truth and kindnesse which grace God grant vs and his whol Church c. Amen Let vs pray c. The 4. Sermon or lecture IN the former verses you haue hearde beloued how the Spouse hath described her louer First from his excellent colour and complexion Secondly from his person and the parts and members therof Now it remayneth in the third place to consider the description of him from the maner of his speech verse 16. His mouth is as sweete thinges And he is wholy delectable this is my welbeloued and this is my louer O daughters of Ierusalem His mouth she vseth metonymically for his speech and wordes which are sull of sweet gracious and comfortable doctrine replenished with heauenly pleasures for to the saintes of God which are seasoned with his spirit the words and doctrine of Christ Iesus are most sweet and delectable Dauid reporteth the law was more sweet vnto his tast then hony and the hony combe Psa 19.10 This effect of sweetnes and pleasantnes is ascribed vnto the word Therefore it is sayde of the preacher Eccle. 12.10 That he sought to find out pleasant words and an vpright writing Eccl. 12 10. euen the words of truth For the wisdome and doctrine of Christ Iesus bringeth life sweetnesse to the soule so as the faithfull feele a most blessed effect of the worde of Christ and his heauenly doctrine in their hearts which forced Peter to answere to his master asking of his disciples if they would start from him as the other which saw not the vse of his doctrine Ioh. 6.68 To whom shal we come but to thee for thou hast the wordes of eternal life This is that beloued Sonne of God the Father whom he hath authorised and replenished with al heauenly wisedome charging vs that we shold heare him The like spéech is of Solomon being a figure tipe of Christ that his speech was gracious as psa 45.2 Thou art fayrer then the sonnes of men ful of grace are thy lips because God hath blessed thee for euer In which the excellency of the Gospel whereof Christ was a Minister is noted which is full of grace and sweetnes in so much that the Ministers therof are sayd 2. Cor. 5. 15 2. Cor. 5.15 To be a sweet sauour of Christ vnto God in them that are saued and in them which perish For the gospel in the own nature alwaies breatheth forth a comfortable sauour of life but because malice rebellion and treason lye hid in the hearts of men against it therefore it is deadly to the wicked and vnbeleeuers thorough their owne corruption Wherefore there followeth in that 45. Psalme after mention of the gratious wisedome of Christ that he should be gyrded with a swoord and sufficiently armed against all his enemies and the contemners So then sith most sweet pleasant and amiable speeches proceede out of the mouth of Christe Iesus let vs willingly and cheerefully imbrace and obey them least we be compelled to vse his sword against vs Apoc. 1.16 for a two edged swoorde commeth out of his mouth most sharp and cutting hauing two effects either to defend comfort and maintaine the obedient or els to confound ouerthrow and destroy the disobedient and vnbeléeuers The wise man sayth Pro. 12.14.18 Pro. 13.14 14.3 A man shal be sociate
with others would easily shew their nature against the people of God if they had oportunitie and yet they are hatched oh pitiful danger and nouâ—ished euen in the lap of the church Thus many Cankers breede in the bowels of the church heresies fonde opinions familists Brounists and such other Thus by such meanes as lamentable it is to see the graft of godlinesse and zeale is hindred And through the neglect of officers magistrates rather then laws these beastes swarme in our Church Also drunkards swearers whores adulterers proude pecockes raylers contemners of God and his word prophanations of the Sabboth and an innumerable kindes both of sinners and sinnes which ouergrow the church as a wildernesse which because magistrates doe not laboure to roote out so carefully as they ought the Lord doth strangely consume som sinners by the fire of his wrath froÌ„ heauen Which al shold be cut off by discipline or at least way bee forced to some reformation Can it be that the Lord wil trust vs any longer with a Lease of his garden we abusing him in such maner so as we greeue the Lords soul with our vnfaithfulnes and cause his soule to hate vs. Esay 1.14 Who bestoweth such cost on vs we prosper so little as hee can gather very few Lillies amongst vs he wanteth the fruit of our hearts and lippes as faith loue feare obedience charity thankesgiuing prayse inuocation hearing his word professing his name c. But some perhaps wil say why it is in as good case as we found it the same discipline laws and doctrine are stil which was in the beginning of her maiesties raign so the Lords garden and church is not impaired and it shal bee left in as good case as it was found and better then heretofore Sure the Lorde doth not plaÌ„t a vineyard let it out to stand or be kept alwaies at a stay but to bee tilled and dressed that it maye grow and prosper to bring foorth more fruite For hee requireth that men bestowe their care labour wisedome and trauail vpon it that hee maye haue it more furnished and fenced For hee tataketh payne him selfe aboute his Churche to that ende that sinne may bee suppressed and Godlinesse aduanced But the Lorde make vs truely thankfull in Christ Iesus for those beginninges and proceedinges of his church which we haue that he hath planted his worde true religion amongst vs countenancing the same his truth with the authoritye and sworde of our gratious Princesse Elizabeth as also with many worthy learned godly and noble Councellers as also other learned Patrons of his Church without whom we should find to our great misery and the spoyle of religion howe hardly the Lordes garden should be at al kept without them But our sinnes yea our contempt and neglect of the word of God and his glory doe hinder the Lorde from blessing vs with that encrease which otherwise wee mighte enioy yea our sinnes betraye the state of our Churche and lande and deserue the losse of so Princely a Deborah and other woorthye personnages wherewith our Church is inriched yea that the Lorde shoulde take away all the walles and defences of our church and land giue vs ouer to the spoile Let vs therefore if we beare any good will to our Church or Countrye labour to purge oure selues from al corruption and to repent vs of oure sinnes that we may bring foorth good fruits such as the lord may haue pleasure in that hee may haue a delight to abide among vs. For it is the sinnes of a land that causeth the Lordes wrath to smoke against the same but our land I suppose haue exceeded the old world Sodom and Gomorrha Israell Iehuda and al landes in straunge sinnes so that if in comparison Ezec. 16.51 Iudah and the inhabitants thereof iustified Sodom for that their sinnes exceeded the sinnes of the Sodomits Then we haue iustified al Nations in comparison of our sins and therefore are in daunger to al the feareful plagues that are mentioned in the booke of God vnlesse we speedely therfore repent I feare we shal tast of such iudgementes as that the stranger that shal come from a farre land Deut. 29.22 shal saye when they see the plagues of this land and the diseases therof wherwith the Lord shal smite it because it shal be fearefully destroyed except they repent Oh wherefore hath the Lorde done thus vnto this lande and ver 24. and ver 25. how feirce is this great wrath And it shal be answered because they haue forsaken the couenant of the Lord God of their Fathers and haue sinned againste the Lorde Let vs al then my deare brethren be humbled with Godly sorrow that may cause repentaunce vnto saluation not to be repented of Being offended with our selues that we haue not sooner and more earnestly inquyred after Christ praying the Lorde to beautifie his Garden and Churche of this land with such sweet flowers as he may please him selfe in vs and we may grow and prosper in al fruites of the spirit I can not finish this chapiter to daye because of time and the matter of the conclusion though in few words yet includeth very comfortable and heuenly matter which cannot in a few words be vttered I wil therfore defer it til to morrow when by Gods grace I shal finish the whole Now the Lord our good God sanctifie our hearts to conceiue the excellencye and féele the sweetnesse of the wordes of the mouth of Christ Iesus that we being our selues purged and sanctified by his word and truth may carefully labour that others with vs may truely be affected towards him that we may ioyn togeather in seeking of Christ so as in the ende finding him in his worde and Sacramentes and feeling of him by his spirite our soules and bodies may become cleane and well tilled Gardens beautified with al heaueÌ„ly fruits of his spirite as that Christ may haue pleasure to walke in vs to dwell and make his abode in vs vnto the ende and in the ende we also may be receiued with him into his heauenly Garden of eternal ioye to dwell continue and abide with him in the company of al the glorious Angels and fellowship of the heauenly saintes in the presence of God his Father for euer and euer Amen Let vs pray c. The fift Sermon or lecture YEsterday we heard beloued a part of the description of Christ concerning his spéech and swéet thing of his mouth with the excellency of his doctrine also the second question of the maydens concerning the place where he vsed with the aunswere betweene which was interlined what fruit came by this conference and how the Godly at Ierusalem were kyndled with loue to Christ by the example of the Spouse whereby she answereth to her companions making them priuy to the place of his abode shewing how the church is his Garden and that he delighteth to be conuersant there yea the soule of euerye
the assuraunce of the grace of perseueraunce or certaintie of saluation vnlesse we looke vpon the head spring of Gods mercyes in Christe Iesus with the eyes of faith and sobernesse also vnlesse we haue the testimony and earnest peny of the spirite of God whereby we are sealed against the day of redemption For if any man haue not the spirite of Christ he is not his Rom. 8 verse 9. Ephes 1.13.14 Rom. 8.14 Gal. 4.6 Of the other side They that are led by the spirite they are the sonnes of God sith God hath sent foorth the spirite of his sonne into their heartes which cryeth Abba Father Which as Paule sayth in the eight of the Romans beareth witnes with our spirit that we are the children of God Rom. 8.16 if we bee children then heirs also of God and annexed heirs with Christe Hitherto agreeth that sentence of Iohn in his first epistle chapter 4.13 1. Ioh. 4.13 Hereby we knowe that wee dwel in God and God in vs in that he hath giuen vs of his spirit Yet it may be some man wil reply how shal I know that I haue the spirite of God and Christ I aunswere that by the fruites of the spirite of sanctification wee may haue good comfort and perswasion that wee haue the spirite of God Paul in his Epistle to the Romans chap. 8. If Christ be in you the body is dead concerning sinn Rom. 8.10.11 but the spirite is life for righteousnes sake If the spirit of him that raysed vp Iesus from the dead dwelleth in you be that raysed vp Christ from the dead shal also quicken your mortal bodies for his spirite that dwelleâ—h in you Where the Apostle sheweth that Gods spirite worketh mortification in his saints renuing them to a new life purging dayly the corruptions of sinne and remnant of iniquity which by degrees diminish in the saints Whosoeuer therefore tasteth of true mortification and sanctification hating sinne in truth labouring to reforme the same desiring to growe in holinesse and a new life applying his heart to be gouerned by the worde in obedience though he taste of the remnauntes of sinne which wil neuer be fully purged in the saints til they are restored fully in the appearing of Christ Iesus in that person vndoubtedly the spirite of God beginneth to haue a worke and to incorporate that person into himselfe that he may be one with Christe and may put on Christ Many circumstaunces there are which time wil not suffer me to note vnto you concerning this matter But sure it is that these are generall and infallible notes which I haue mentioned whereby a man may be perswaded these being in him in trueth though vnperfect that hee shal neuer fal vtterly away labouring to shew forth the fruite of faith hope patience obedience loue to the worde towardes his brethren a care to keepe the worde beeing prepared or vnfainedly desiring to â—e prepared to be parteners with the saintes of God in affliction and in the confirmation of the Gospell â—â—m 8.17 suffering with Christ that we may also be glorified with him for these fruits caused Paule to affirme as I noted before that he was perswaded of the Phillipians that God woulde perfite that good worke that he had begun in them euen to the daye of Iesus Christe Now if this worke of perseuerance were our own we might iustly suspect that we could neuer be saued or if God hauing begun in vs should after leaue vs to our selues to finishe vp our owne saluation then wee might well doubt of lyfe But sith God which is a perfect workeman beginneth who leaueth nothing that he taketh in hand vnfinished to worke grace faith sanctification obedience loue and mortification in vs though they are not perfect and absolute in vs he can not but finish his owne worke and perfite his saints Hereof Dauid boldly confidently and comfortably insulting vpon and triumphing against all troubles and afflictions Psa 138.8 concludeth with full assurance That the Lord will performe his worke towards him Adding a reasoÌ„ because His mercies endured for euer And yet he ascribeth the worke of perseuerance vnto God ending with this suite O Lord forsake not the worke of thy handes Charging the Lorde that he was his worke in that he had framed him a new by his spirite therefore it could not stand with the Lordes mercy to cast him off Oh valiant faith in the seruant of God Thus God euer perfiteth his worke in anye one that belong vnto him but the time of his working and the mesure he reserueth to him selfe to appoint at his pleasure So that though we feele not his quickning grace when we desire it nay sometime it seemeth to be furthest off when we craue it and neede it most also though wee haue not that measure of his grace which we woulde haue yet let vs not faynt but waite on the Lorde with Patience and prayer for certainelye except the Lorde will deny him selfe I speake with reuerence of his glorious maiesty he can not but giue to him that hath â—â—th 13.12 and he shal haue aboundantly yet he can not but make an ende in his seruaunts when he hath once begun Not that God is tyed to vs at our commaundement But ipsemet sibi est necessitas He is a necessity to him selfe for his mercies are eternal But this I haue sufficiently prooued afore Yet in a worde note this that God hath tyed his power to his will and promise that whatsoeuer he willeth and promiseth in his worde hee can not chuse but doe it Whatsoeuer he hath denyed that he doth not In this sense God sayth Gen. 19.22 That be can doe nothing to Sodom before Lot was departed But to returne to the Spouse againe though shee doth not fully in this speech set downe the reasons that might perswade her of this certainty yet if we consider all the former circumstaunces of her comming on or obaying of her calling we shal finde worthye fruites which she felt in her selfe and expressed that might yeeld some argument of this certaine perswasion As this her heart lying after Christe in the beginning of her calling thogh many lets mette with her also the complayning of her vntowardnesse which bewrayed a sight of her wants Furthermore her trembling at his displeasure or fearing at his word being affectioned towardes him Finally her seeking and inquyring after him euen when daunger was her zeale in following him not onely when others forsooke her but euen when many sought to hinder and molest her Thus recouering her zeale she procured others by conferring of the excellency of Christ to be parteners with her in seeking after him Which al were worthy fruits of faith that might giue her comforte to conclude that shee was her welbeloueds Thus euery man must labour to come to some assuraunce of his future estate that we may not liue alwayes to doubt but that we may bee ready to passe in peace at our
our estate in our selues howe wee are short of all duties vnfitte to serue our God in al true obedience finding many treasons and rebellions in our selues being ignorant in his truth also when we profite not by the word by praier neyther preuayle as we would agaynst our imperfections infirmities and corruptions then we doubt of the Lordes loue towards vs suspecting of his work in vs fearing least al our former profession be in vain and can see nothing that should giue vs comfort of the fauour of God towardes vs. Thus we suppose the loue of God and his fauour to be inconstant measuring them by our infirme and weake faith or by the scant measure of our obedience But what shoulde such a one doubt of the grace of God who seeing his wants loathing his sinnes stryuing against them louing the word vnfaynedly desiring to haue a heart to pray without hypocrisie labouring for a new life beeing angry with him selfe for sinne and that he can no more profite by the worde in knowledge true zeale humility loue patience and desiring hartely that he may neuer start from the obedience of God and his word Can it be that when the Lorde loued vs before we were ye when we were his enemies before our calling of his free mercye that he wil now loath vs leaue and forsake vs vtterly when he hath begun his owne worke in vs Could he loue vs when we were in our sinnes without remorse of conscience and can he now hate vs when we indeuour to leaue our sinnes and are vexed that we can no more grow in godlinesse and obedience Could he loue vs when we were voyde of his grace and vnsanctified and can hee abhorre vs when hee hath begun sanctification in vs by his worde and spirite shall wee measure the loue of God by our infyrmities or shall wee thinke that his loue lasteth no longer then wee stande in full obedience In deede wee must continue grounded in the trueth and Paule after the mention of the constant estate of the faythfull prayeth still for the increase of grace because wee can not bee perfecte in this earth But God who beginneth and calleth vs is faythfull The. 5.24 Thes 3.3 which will also doe it yea hee is faythfull whiche will stablishe vs and keepe vs from euill Furthermore what moued the Lord to beginne any beginning of grace in vs did not his owne free mercie and loue and the same cause also mooueth the Lorde to continue and holde out his mercies begunne to his saintes vnto the ende So Gen. 18. Gen. 18.18 God reasoneth and taketh occasion from his owne mercies to bee still mercifull vnto Abraham So that God doth not measure his mercy by our faith or obedience but by his owne loue and nature that as his loue is eternall so his mercyes haue no ende Oh dâ—uinity vnspeakable Oh infinite loue Oh gracious mercye Oh the wonderfull goodnesse constancye truth and faithfulnesse of so louing and kynde a God towardes vs poore miserable vyle wretches and crauling Wormes But as for the contemners of grace and they which herevpon shal presume of their good estate without good testimonye of the Lordes worke in them not louing his worde not hearing nor obeying the same nor beeing carefull to mortifie seuerall sinnes in them not caring but neglecting to refourme them selues and their familyes by the worde nor exercising Prayer a necessarye fruite of faith c. Let suche bee assured that the Lorde hath not begunne his woorke in them yet nor made them priuye to his eternall and free loue But they are voyde of the earnest peny of the spirite of God and in danger to be damned from the presence of God For he shall come in flaming fire â— The. 1.8.9 rendring vengeaunce to them that know not God nor obey vnto the Gospel of our Lord Iesus Christ which shal be punished with euerlasting perdition from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his power This might make the contemners and neglecters of the word to tremble if their heartes were not closed vp to destruction Therefore if we want the effectes a fore say e or haue them but in a shew or in hipâ—â—â—â—sie let vs feare for the hypocrites may goe very far so as in outward apperaunce there appeareth no difference betwéen them and the children of God Let vs then beware that our harts deceiue vs not For hypocrites may confesse their sinnes and that to the seruants of God may also craue forgiuenesse desiring the prayers of the Godly but more for the escaping of the punishment of sin Exo. 10.16.17 Acts. 8.24 then the hatred of the sinne it felfe as Pharao did and Simon Magus Hypocrites may seeme to haue a great tast and ioy in the happy estate of the righteous and a desire to haue part of their felicity as Balaam Num. 23. â— 24.4.5 excelling in some gifts of knowledge yea they are forced to blesse and fauour the righteous but al this as men in a traunce 1. Kin. 21.2 27. They may repent after a sorte with Achab who yet was solde to do wickedly and as Iudas who hung himselfe For the repentance of hypocrites is not ioyned with a hatred of their sinne nor a desire of change and amendment neither yet with the hope of Gods fauour but either they are ouercharged altogether with the horror of the punishment of sinne but not of the sinne it selfe and so dispayre or else they harden their heartes agayne in their sinnes and so purpose not vnfeyned amendment of life therefore though they seeme to rerepent often yet are neuer the better But the godly as they tremble shook at the horror of the punishment of sinne so they also hate sinne it selfe desiring and longing for a new change in them selues and a through amendment panting thirsting breathing and vnfaynedly longing to taste more and more of the fauour of God Furthermore hypocrites maye striue for the defence of religion inferre scriptures for their purpose may finde fault with the ignorant and dumbe ministery maye boast them selues to be of God as Abilah did Chr. 13.4 vers 9.10 Yea they may be hot against papistry and idolatry and yet faint from the true faith in God and bee hurtfull and mercilesse towardes the saintes of God as Asâ— the king was Chr 15 9.6 16.10.2 Yea hypocrites may after a sort reuerence the ministers of God and doe good thinges whilest the preachers are with them furthering religion and countenancing after a sort good things for the time â— Chro. 24. â— 6 Mark 6.20 as Ioash did in the dayes of Iehoiada the priest And as Herod in the dayes of Iohn the Baptist And yet in the ende turne againe to idolatry and slea those that rebuke them as Ioash did 2. Chr. 24.21 Hipocrites may assemble with the saints of God to holy exercises and frequent the same as Achitophell did with Dauid Psa 55.13.14 They