and worke in the same the contrary grace of thy holy Spirit namely true Humilitie whereby wee may acknowledge our owne nothing and may vtterly renounce and deny ourselues and learne onely and wholy to relye and depend vpon the blessed merit of Christ in matter of our saluation ascribing the whole worke and glory thereof to him alone and to no other thing And because all that are in Christ are new creatures and walke not according to the flesh but according to the spirit wee beseech thee to renue vs in the spirits of our mindes and in the affections of our hearts enlightening vs more and more with true knowledge and vnderstanding in spirituall things and sanctifying our hearts to the loue and obedience thereof that wee may walke worthy of thee please thee in all things fructifie in euery good worke and increase in the knowledge of thy holy will Aboue all things set before vs thy holy feare imprint this grace of thine deepely in our hearts perswade vs effectually of thy presence wheresoeuer we doe become in secret or open place that wee may learne to make conscience of sinne and of euery euill way endeuoring to please and obey thee in all thy Commandements and euermore to preserue pure and vnblameable consciences before thee and before all men and that to the end of our dayes And because wee are at continuall warre against Sathan this wicked world and our owne damnable and fleshly lusts Lord help vs in this spirituall combate in all temptations when wee are most weake be thou most strong in vs together with the temptation grant an issue and an euasion teach vs to watch ouer our owne hearts and to keepe them with all diligent obseruation that wee be not any more circumuented of the wiles of Sathan or seduced through the deceitfulnesse of sinne Help our infirmities giue strength against our particular corruptions that in the very act of temptation wee may be able to resist and to ouercome that wee may haue as iust cause to praise thy name in our victories as wee haue had cause to be humbled and cast downe in our foyles And because it is the lot of thy Children in this world to be tryed sundry wayes Lord prepare vs to the dayes of tryall arme vs with spirituall patience to beare thy hand that wee may meekely and contentedly submit our wils to thy good will and pleasure howsoeuer it shall please thee to deale with vs onely teach vs to profit vnder thy rods of correction grant that we may learne hereby to deny our selues to forsake this world pleasures profits preferments of it to make vile and base account of them in respect of heauenly things to loue thy kingdome and thy righteousnesse desiring to be dissolued and to be with Christ that sinne and the corruption thereof might be abolished and we might haue neere coniunction with thy Maiestie in thine owne kingdome Neuerthelesse so long as thou pleasest to hold vs here in this earthly tabernacle dissolue in our hearts the cursed workes of the Diuell confound the power and tyranny of sin daily more and more increase the Graces of thy holy Spirit namely Faith and repentance thy feare and thy loue humilitie and a good conscience with all other graces wherby thy own image may be renued in vs daily that the longer we liue in this world the nearer we may draw to thy Kingdome the greater strength we may haue against our owne sins the greater will and abilitie to serue and please thee in righteousnesse and new obedience Blesse with vs thy whole Church and euery member thereof be good and gratious to these Churches in England and Ireland giue thy Gospell a free passage euery where with all good meanes whereby it may be further published and maintained remouing all lets and impediments wherby the course and proceedings thereof are hindered and stayed for this cause be good vnto our gracious King the principall member therof blesse him with life honor confirme his heart in the truth of this holy Religion hee hath a long time professed and maintained against all the aduersaries thereof increasing his loue and zeale thereunto and his constancie therein and adding vnto his yeeres many dayes that he may be an ancient Father in this Church of thine a Patron an vpholder of thy pure and true Religion against all them that oppose themselues against it Blesse our gratious Queene the Prince and the residue of that Royall Progenie Be mercifull to the Honourable Priuie Counsell and the inferiour Magistrates of this Land blessing them with the wisedome of thy spirit from aboue that they may take counsell with thy word in all their enterprises and deliberations so as first they may conclude of those things which make most for the aduancement of thy Kingdome and Gospell and then for the peaceable and religious gouernment both of Church and Common-weale Blesse the Ministers of thy word and Sacraments increase the number of those that are faithfull and painefull double thy spirit and graces vpon them that they may goe in and out before thy people not onely in the light of pure doctrine but of holy and vnblameable conuersation that by this meanes many may be wonne to the knowledge and obedience of thy truth Be mercifull to the people of this Land confirme them that are called and strengthen them that they may continue stedfast in the sinceere profession and practise of true religion vnto the end those that yet wander and goe astray through sinne and wickednesse call them home in thy owne good time that they with vs and we with them may haue both hearts and mouthes enlarged to glorifie thy holy name Touch all our hearts with true Repentance from the highest to the lowest that thy iudgements present and imminent may be remoued preuented thy mercies still procured vnto vs and the posteritie after vs especially in the continuance of thy word and Gospell among vs for euer Lord be mercifull to all thine afflicted whether they be sicke vpon their beds or distressed in conscience for sinne or persecuted for thy name and truth or pinched with pouerty wanting those outward things which thou hast in great abundance delt out vnto vs relieue them according to their seuerall necessities strengthen them in their weaknesse comfort them in their distresse mitigate their sorrowes and extremities put an end vnto them in thine owne good time and turne them to their humiliation and in the end to their eternall comfort and saluation by Christ Be mercifull to our friends in the flesh and acquaintance in the spirit parents brethren sisters children seruants and all other for whom we are bound by any dutie to pray granting vnto them a supply of all graces needfull for their present state and calling and the finall saluation of their soules Haue mercie on vs now calling on thy name forgiue our sinnes and manifold defects in this holy dutie and accept at our hands this weake and imperfect obedience in Christ and giue vs thankfull hearts for all mercies receiued from thy bountifull hand that thou hast loued vs in Iesus Christ with an euerlasting loue before the world was and from loue hast chosen vs to life and glory called vs in time to the certaine knowledge of this our Election iustified and redeemed vs by Iesus Christ his death and resurrection sanctified vs in the inner man by his holy spirit that thou hast giuen vs Faith in thy promises and hope of a better life feare of thy Name loue of thy Maiestie zeale of thy glory loue and tender affection towards our brethren yea towards our enemies and those that hate vs patience vnder the Crosse strength against our particular temptations and corruptious Humilitie gentlenesse meeknes with many other gifts and graces of regeneration all which we acknowledge haue proceeded of thy meere mercy and goodnesse towards vs wee beseech thee to increase them daily more and more in vs and â—et vs not be negligent in the vse of all good meanes whereby they may grow in vs daily We doe also with all thankfulnes remember all temporall blessings concerning this life and the preseruation thereof our health libertie peace prosperitie and all outward things wee doe enioy this gratious gouernment with all blessings accompanying the same We thanke thee that thou hast sustained vs in great weakenesse relieued vs in much necessitie comforted vs in much distresse resolued vs in many doubts deliuered vs from many and great dangers and when wee were falling into them hast rescued vs with thine owne hand and preserued vs from many grieuous sinnes into which through the corruptions of our natures and Sathans temptations wee might haue fallen Make vs â—nfaignedly thankfull and teach vs to walke worthy of them and to testifie thankfulnes therefore not in word onely but by a conscionable walking with thee in all duty and obedience vnto the end Blesse vs this night keepe vs and all ours from all dangers grant vnto vs if it be thy holy and good will such a portion of rest and sleepe that thereby body and senses being refreshed we may rise vp in the morning cheerfully to glorifie thy name in the duties of Christianitie and in the works of our particular callings as thou shalt seuerally dispose of vs and giue vs strength and opportunitie and that by Iesus Christ In whose name we conclude our prayers as he himselfe hath taught vs saying Our Father which art c. FINIS
euer obserued him diligent in his studie wittie in discourse apprehensiue of truth deepe in knowledge powerfull in preaching vigilant in practising and a perfect patterne of grauitie and sobrietie in the whole course of his life and conuersation And if the spirit of that iudicious Mr. Perkins might be found in any Diuine I thinke it appeared in him It is the Art of Arts to preach well to diuide the word and to saue soules hee excelled in this Art and that he might grow in this knowledge he tooke such paines that like vnto a seruiceable candle in giuing light to you he consumed himselfe Though there be too many Bookes in this scribling age and the paper is worth more then the things that are written in them as Socrates once said when he would write nothing yet of some mens Labours there are too few For though they should write but that which before hath beene written yet by reason of their credit in the Church the soundnesse of their iudgement the vprightnesse of their life their experience in cases of controuersie and conscience and that loue which their auditors haue had to them and their doctrine they might by writing doe much good Wee reade not indeede that our Sauiour Christ committed of himselfe any thing to writing yet his Apostles hee made as his Hand and Secretaries to commend the New Testament to the Church of God Our aduersaries the Papists daily doe assault the Church with deadly weapons the poyson of Aspes is vnder their pennes if these Fooles were not answered to their Folly they would be too proud Our Aduersary the Diuell casteth daily new deuised darts into the minds and Consciences of people if he should not be resisted by the Sling of Dauid hee would soone triumph ouer the Israel of God True it is indeede that by the mouth of the Preacher wee receiue much good and the liuely voyce giues much life to discourse but when after hearing wee may with our eyes peruse that which our eare hath heard wee shall the better ponder and know and remember and affect that which otherwise we might vtterly forget and make our hearts as rich in grace as our Bookes are full of goodnesse To this end that which was preached vnto the eare in the assembly of many learned Diuines and by name before that Reuerend Doctor Redman late Bishop of your Diocesse I am bold to publish to your view that by the finger of this Herculean labourer you may know what the whole man was And the same I am bold to dedicate to your Worship as a testimonie of your long loue to me and my desire to be thankfull to you When I liued in your Parish a painfull Preacher I found seeming fauor at the hands of some curious but substantiall fauour of diuers courteous and true meaning people How in the first yeere of my comming I was entertained by that graue Senator Mr. Francis Rugge then the third time Maior of that happy Citie I cannot forget whose house was vnto me rather an habitation then an Inne How euer after I was welcome to you and continually was fed at your table I must not forget vnlesse I would be thought an vnthankfull man I acknowledge all with much thanks both to God for such a friend and to you for such friendship and desire that when both you and I shall haue gone the way of all flesh the kindnesse which you haue shewed to me may of all into whose hands this little Booke shall come he had in remembrance I am now at an end I present vnto you this learned Sermon of the Iustification of a sinner before God with an excellent Prayer which Mr. New-house gaue me written with his owne hand I doubt not of your kinde acceptance of them both and I trust they will be a welcome New-yeeres gift to the whole Citie who I hope will euer obey them that haue the ouer-sight of them Hebr. 13. and submit themselues to them for they watch for their soules euen as they that must giue accounts that they may doe it with ioy and not with griefe for that is vnprofitable for them Now I pray that as the true feare of God hath so encreased your happy dayes vpon earth that you haue attained to the age of fourescore yeeres and for aboue fortie yeeres past haue liued a worthy Senator of a most worthy Citie so it would please God when your glasse is runne and Death shall call for you you may with old Simeon depart in peace with faithfull Samuel be lamented for and after receiue the end of your Faith which is the saluation of your Soule Thus crauing pardon recommending you your vertuous Wife M ris Anne Layer with that bountifull and godly Widdow M ris Anne Rugge to the protection of the Almighty I humbly take my leaue From Mr. Andrew Curwaynes house in Salisburie-rents at S. Martins in the Fields Decemb. 3. 1611. Your Worships euer in the Lord ROBERT HILL A SERMON PREACHED AT Great S. Maries in Cambridge 2 COR. 5.21 For he made him which knew no sinne to be sinne for vs that we should be made the righteousnesse of God in him FRom the ninth verse of this Chapter to the eighteenth the Apostle commendeth his faithfulnesse and sinceritie in the execution of his function Apostolicall From the eighteenth verse vnto the end hee commendeth the doctrine of the Gospell and that by a double argument the former whereof is taken from the Authour or efficient cause who is GOD himselfe the latter from the effect to wit reconciliation betweene God and man and therefore it is called the Ministerie of reconciliation Further this effect is enlarged by sundry arguments first from the Authour who is also God himselfe secondly from the subiect viz. the World by a Metonimie of the subiect men liuing in the world and by a Synecdoche of the whole for the part the Elect in the world thirdly from the forme viz. the not imputing of sinne fourthly from the adiuuant causes that is the Ministers of the word to whom the dispensation of this heauenly ambassage is committed verse 19. and 20. fiftly from the meritorious impulsiue cause which is the worke of Christs Mediatorshippe in vndertaking the discharge of mans sinne before God verse 21. Wherein three things more particularly are to be considered First our Sauiour Christ the Redeemer and reconciler of the world is described by his adioynt or propertie which is puritie of nature and immunitie from sinne in these words Which knew no sinne Secondly his worke is propounded whereby hee merited and procured at the hands of his Father attonement and reconciliation between God and man in these words became sinne for vs. Thirdly this work is amplified from the vse and end of it which is the iustification of a sinner before God in the last words that we might be made the righteousnesse of GOD in him Thus much shall suffice to haue spoken of the coherence order and
resolution of these wordes Now to descend to a more particular examination of them let vs first of all search the true and proper meaning of the wordes and then proceede to the vse of doctrine and edification which they shall naturally afford First therefore whereas the Apostle saith he made him the meaning is God the Father in his eternall and vnchangeable counsell decreed and appointed him which knew no sinne to become sinne for vs and answerably in fulnesse of time sent his Sonne to take vpon him flesh that is mans nature that in the same he might worke and suffer whatsoeuer was to be done and suffered for the accomplishment of mans redemption This appeareth to be so both because the outward and external works of God stretch themselues not onely to the diuels themselues but to the executions thereof as also because this worke of Redemption and Reconciliation betweene God and man as it was begun in the decree of God so it was continued in the incarnation of Christ and then finished and accomplished when all our sinne and guilt was laid vpon him and he paid the ransome for them all And least this should seeme strange and hard to any that Christ being very God should be any way subiect or subordinate vnto the decree of God the Scripture is plaine and pregnant in this point 1 Pet. 1.20 He was fore-appointed or fore-ordained from the beginning of the world viz. to this worke of mediation And our Sauiour Christ himselfe speaketh plainely Iohn 6.27 Him hath the Father sealed that is signed and singled by setting as it were a stamp and marke vpon him thereby separating him vnto this worke This we shall the better conceiue if wee doe but remember this distinction Christ is to be considered of vs two wayes first absolutely as he is God in which respect being equall with the Father and the holy Ghost he decreeth determineth together with them all things that are or come to passe in heauen or in earth secondly with limitation or addition viz. as hee is God incarnate God manifested in the flesh the mediator and reconciler of the world in which respect hee may be truly said to be vnder the decree of God though not in respect of his Nature yet in respect of his Office Which knew no sin The meaning is not that our Sauiour Christ was ignorant of the nature qualitie and force of sinne all our sinnes being laid vpon him but he knew no sin to wit experimentally eyther inherent in his person or practised in his life in a word he was no sinner at al eyther by the guilt of Adams first transgression or by the corruption of nature proceeding thence or by any actual offence committed in all his life The Scripture is cleere and euident in this point And first for original sin that is the guilt and corruption of nature Lu. 1.35 The Angell Gabriel in his salutation to the Virgine Marie saith that that which shall be borne of her shall be holy that is pure and free from all staine and contagion of originall sinne Hebre. 4.15 Hee was tempted in all things like vnto vs yet without sinne And though this were a sufficient reason to exempt our Sauiour Christ from all actuall sinne yet the Scripture is not wanting in this point also Ioh. 8.46 he cleareth himselfe from all actuall transgression when hee saith Which of you can conuince or rebuke me of sinne And for them both 1 Pet. 3.18 Christ suffered the iust for the vniust iust in nature iust in actions Heb. 7.26 Such an high Priest it became vs to haue as is holy vndefiled innocent and separate from sinners And the reason is rendred in the wordes following because hee must not be like to the high Priests of the Law who being sinners themselues first offered sacrifice for themselues and then for the people but hee must be an absolute and perfect high Priest that he may be in all points an absolute and a perfect Sauiour The ground of all this is the extraordinarie and miraculous sanctification of our Sauiour Christ in the womb of the Virgin wherof there be two parts the first is the stay stoppage of the guilt of Adams first transgression with the corruption of nature proceeding thence which was done on this manner God in the beginning tooke this order touching man that whatsoeuer good he had he should haue it for himself and his posteritie and whatsoeuer euill or hurt he brought vpon himselfe that hee should deriue it to euery one of his posterity descending from him insomuch as euery father is in stead of Adam to conuey vnto his childe not onely nature and substance but the guilt also and corruption of nature now that this euill might be preuented in Christ God in great wisdome appointed that he should be immediately conceiued by the holy Ghost in the wombe of the Virgin without any manner generation by man insomuch as hee tooke substance from Marie without the guilt and corruption of nature Obiect If it shall be obiected as the spirit of errour hath found one only cauill against this cleere truth that all that are in Adam haue sinned in him but our Sauiour Christ was in Adam ergo An. The proposition is not true vnlesse it be thus expounded All that are in Adam haue sinned in him sobeit they descend from him by ordinary generation Rom. 5.12 the holy Ghost saith by one man sinne entered into the world he doth not say from one man signifying that Adam conueyeth the corruption of nature to no more then he doth beget for the Assumption it must be distinguished our Sauiour Christ was in Adam not simply as other men are but in part onely that is in regard of substance which hee tooke from Adam but not in regard of the propagation of nature by ordinarie generation All other men are from Adam and by Adam but hee is from him onely and not by him as by a begetter and procreant cause The second part is the infusion of holinesse into the manhoode of Christ so farre forth as is meet for the person and office of a Mediator Became sinne for vs. These words at the first sight may seeme to imply a contradiction but being rightly expounded all difficultie will easily be remoued Some expound Sinne a sacrifice for sinne by a Metonimie of the subiect Sinne being the obiect of sacrifice specially of the propitiatory sacrifice which was conuersant about the expiation of sinne this exposition is Orthodoxe agreeable to the Analogie of Faith the tenure of Scripture and the vse of the word which often in the Scripture admitteth this trope as might be shewed in many places of the old Testament if neede were Neuerthelesse it seemeth not to be so fit and sutable vnto this place that for two reasons principally first because of the Antithesis here vsed by the Apostle wherein if by one member viz. Sinne wee vnderstand a sacrifice for sinne and no more so as
A LEARNED AND FRVITFVLL SERMON Preached in Christs Church in Norwich BY Mr. NEVVHOVSE late Preacher of Gods Word there 1 PETER 3.18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sinnes the iust for the vniust that he might bring vs to God LONDON Printed for Ionas Man and are to be solde at the signe of the Talbot in Paternoster-row 1612. TO THE RIGHT VVORSHIPFVLL Mr. Thomas Layer an ancient Senator and a iust Iustice of Peace in the Citie of Norwich Grace and Peace RIGHT Worshipfull though the Word of God be the Bread of life yet the Ministers of Gods word are his Stewards to deuide it and though the same Word be the Water of Life yet they are his Conduits to conuey it If the Bread in a loafe be not cut out vnto the hungry an Infant that is hungry may dye with a whole loafe in his hands and if the Water in a fountaine be not drawne out to the thirsty a childe may perish with a bottle in his armes How necessary it is that the one should be cut out to the hungry soule and the other drawne out to the thirstie spirit they know best that haue the care of their owne family and how necessary it is that both the bread and water of life should be carued and filled out to all such as hunger and thirst after righteousnesse they know well who haue any care of Gods Family We that liue in this Kingdome haue good experience of Gods fauour towards vs in this respect We haue many a faithfull Ahimelech amongst vs who rather then Dauid should perish for hunger will giue vnto him the Shew-bread of the Sanctuary We haue many a worthy Minister amongst vs who rather then Dauid should dye for thirst will with the hazard of their liues giue vnto him of the waters of Bethlehem When I enter into a serious meditation of the Maiestie of Gods Word and withall consider that all is as nothing without application methinkes I doe say here is salue but where is the hand that must lay it on the soare Here is Balme where is the finger that must poure it into the wound Here is Physicke where is the Physitian And here is the Poole of Bethesdah where is the friend that will help vs in Doe we looke for an hand the hand of Gods Minister will lay on the salue Doe we desire a finger The finger of Gods Minister will poure in this oyle Would we send for a Physitian the Art of Gods Minister will administer this Physicke And if at the descent of the Angell we would faine be put into the Poole of Bethesdah who will sooner doe it then this Man of God I cannot deny but that by reading of Gods word a man may receiue much comfort nay I am perswaded that by the same he may be excellently prepared to get sauing knowledge yet preaching is that alone ordinary meanes which God hath sanctified for the saluation of his Children and to make them wise vnto that saluation By preaching the Minde of the ignorant is enlightned the Memorie of the forgetfull is strengthened the Heart of the obstinate is mollified the Affections of the vntoward are reduced the Will of the peruerse is restrained and the Life of the vngodly so changed that at the voyce of a simple and sinfull man he cryeth out with the Iewes in the Acts Men and brethren what shall I doe to be saued This made Dauid to say I am the man Saul to say I haue sinned and euery priuate conuert to say God is in these men indeed Were it not for preaching of the Word where were the vnderstanding of it where were the consolation by it where were direction from it Without it how should hard places be made plaine plaine be applyed repugnances in it be reconciled or oppugners of it be confuted Take away Preaching and then downe with our Schooles of learning our Houses of prayer our Obedience to Superiours our Loue to equals and our right to heauen I am now in a Labirinth I cannot well come out The Preaching of the Gospell is the power of God vnto saluation the Pillar of God in our iourney to Canaan the Angell of God to bring vs out of Sodome the Messenger of God to prepare his way the Trumpet of God to cry downe Iericho and the Hammer of God to driue in the nayle of piety and to breake out the braines of profanenesse How much we are beholding to the Preachers of the Gospell we shall then know when the Lord shall send such a Famine of this Bread that though we goe from East to West we shall not finde it or such a Drought of this water of life that we shall runne from Citie to Citie and shall not get it But blessed be God we are now full and I wish it may neuer be said vnto vs Woe be vnto you that are full Amongst many Cities in this famous Kingdome beholding vnto God for the Ministery of the Word you in your Citie are not the least beholding Euery Sabbath day in many of your Churches is the Word preached and almost euery day in the weeke the preaching of the same is painfully continued And surely when I consider the paines required of your Citie preachers the vncertaine allowance prouided for them the meane estate they must euer needs liue in and that sound Learning which hath beene and is now in many of them I beginne to thinke that it is eyther the sweetenesse of the ayre or the ciuilitie of your people or the contentednesse of their mindes or their desire to doe good or the special blessing of almighty God that continues thus amongst you the great meanes of saluation But howsoeuer the Arke of Gods Couenant be beautifully set vp in your seuerall Temples yet to you of S. Andrewes hath God appeared in exceeding beauty How many hungry soules in that Citie are almost daily fed at your table How many thirstie spirits doe drinke ordinarily of your Cisternes And I doubt whether any one Parish in the Kingdome hath been so successiuely blessed with learned and laborious Ministers as you haue beene for almost threescore yeeres If you forget that faithfull Seruant of Christ Mr. More who for twentie yeeres together preached amongst you almost euery day in the weeke besides his priuate conferences in your seuerall families surely then I feare me there is a state risen vp amongst you like vnto that of the Egyptians whose King knew not Ioseph But I know you remember both him and his And can you then forget this worthy man who for the space of foureteene yeeres past liued partly a Preacher and partly a Pastor in your Congregation Concerning whom I might say much and if a learned Father doth not deceiue me it is pietie to commend the dead but I must not make an Epistle larger then the booke I liued with him in a famous Colledge I laboured with him in your holy Citie for the space of fiue yeeres and more and I