may dwell in the Tents of Shem This is the summe of the Blessing to dwell in the Tents of Shem. 1. That is to be ioyned vnto the Iewes both in the true worship of God as also in the priuiledges thereof 2. What is the true worship of God This is described vnto vs 1. by the subiect Shem who was the Father of the Iewes fignifying thereby vnto vs that the religion of the Iewes for substance is the true worship How shall this appeare Surely by these circumstances First Shem was the eldest Sonne not onely by Nature but by Grace Hee first in his Fathers house called on the Name of God The Iewes of him were also the first-borne First in the temporall Election first in the set worship of God and so also in the spirituall election And therefore seeing the truth is most Ancient the olde way is the true way Therefore the religion of the Iewes is the true worship of God Secondly That which was commanded of God and performed both for the substance and manner is the true Religion Such was the religion of the Iew wholly commaunded of God both for matter and manner enformed from Gods owne mouth Exod 20. Directed by his owne finger euen to the square and building of the Tabernacle And therefore the Religion of the Iewe was the true Religion And so all will worship is a false religion that which God onely commaunds is the truth onely Pet 2. 1. 19. Colloss 2. 23. Thirdly That which procures saluation to the performer is the truth Such is the religion of the Iewe As not onely pointing at Christ to come But applyâ—â—g Christ as come alâ—eady though not in the Flesh yet in power and efficacie as being a Lamb slaine from the beginning of the world Fourthly True godlines is not onely available for the life to come but euen for this life also Such was the religion of the Iewe so long as they walked after this rule so long the Lord blessed them and aduanced theyr temporall estate maruellously as hee promised Deutron 2â— Leuit 6. and accordingly abased them as they failed therein Fifthly And is not that the truth to which all must yeeld by which all must be directed Must not they returne vnto vs and not we vnto them Ierem 15. 12. Shall not all nations take hold of the skirt of a Iewe and say we will goe with you because the Lord is with you Zach 8. Must not Iapheth dwell in the Tents of Shem not Shem in the Tents of Iapheth Sixthly And shall not the Truth abide for euer Shall not the remnant of Israel be saued Shall not the Iewes though for a time cast off yet bee brought in againe And so the promise of God certaine Gods couenant with the Iewe euerlasting And so the originall truth the euerlasting truth The Iewes religion as most ancient so most permanent and perpetuall Seuenthly Was not the Iewe an abomination to the Aegiptian Is not that the truth which is hated of the world Behold then the true notes of the true Church and worship of God and 1. Trye we our selues by these whether we be in the faith or no Knowe wee not that Iesus Christ dwelleth in vs except we be reprobates 2. Cor 13. 5. 2. Discerne we wisely our estate by these that it is not so well with vs as happily wee may flatter our selues Ioh 8. Hee is not a Iewe which is a Iewe outward onely Rom 2. It is not the circumcision of the Flesh but the circumcision of the heart which God accepteth Rent wee therefore our hearts and not our garments and turne to the Lord our God whose mercies are euerlasting who loueth Truth in the inward parts And though he correct vs with the roddes of men yet will not take his sure mercies from vs Iapheah shall dwell in the Tents of Shem. And is the Church of God the Tents of Shem Howsoeuer afterward glorious in Shems posteritie both for number and outward magnificence yet now meane and contemptible as abyding in Tents Now little and almost invisible as confined to one Familie and not containing all thereof consisting onely of eight persons whereof the one was a Cast-away Beholde wee heere then the condition of the Church of God and therein consider wee further these necessarie Adiuncts thereof First It is a little Flocke Luk. 22. 32. for whom it pleaseth our heauenly Father to prouide a Kingdome though many are called yet fewe are chosen Matth 22. though without number in it scife yet in comparison of the reprobate but a little flocke euen as the gleaning of grapes after the Vintage Matth. 7. 1. Yea as signes and wonders so are they in the worlde 1. So is the good pleasure of our God who will haue mercie on whom hee will haue mercie 2. So narrow is the gate that fewe enter therein 3. So hard a saying it is to Flesh to hate it selfe to be borne againe to take vp the Crosse to become Fooles that we may be wise that no maruell if the wisedome of our Flesh be Enmitie against God that the most forsake Christ it will necessarily followe Ioh 6. Who will belieue our report which is so vnlikely so distastfull to corrupt reason And if not many Mightie many Noble c are chosen It is no wonder Because they will not with Marie choose the better part which shall not be taken away from them First Oh how vaine then is theyr conceit that dreame all shall be saued How fearfull is their course that so liue as vnlesse all bee saued it is impossible but that they must bee condemned Is it safe following the multitude seeing fewe shall be saued Will the example of great ones deliuer from Hell howsoeuer they may shelter vs from bodilie punishment Why then doe we make them our warrants to runne the broade way Why then doe wee aduance them aboue all that is called God as if theyr Lawes were absolute theyr authoritie vncontroulable Is it not better to obey God then man Must wee needes runne to Hell for companie Is it not enough to yeelde our bodies and goods which they gaue vs not Who so is wise let him consider these things First Let him feare him that can kill both body and soule 2. Let him not freat at the prosperitie of the wicked and yet giue vnto Caesar the thing which are Caesare 3. Let him be little in his owne eyes that so he may be contented with his portion though it be the Crppe of Affliction So it bee a proseruatiue from sinne a Badge of his Maister Christ a Pledge of his louing Father a spurre to perfection a procurer of an vncorruptible crowne 4. Let it not grieue him to be salsely charged with singularitie that hee is an odde-Fellow that he walkes alone that he is more nyce then needes that he is no good-Fellow No Friend to Caesar seditious pestilent This was the portion of the Saints This
for the present that so many combats so many conquests so many conquests so many crownes to establish vs for the time to come Oh what a comfort is here vnto the Saints of GOD that though they haue pitched their Tents yet still they dwell in Tents the place of their war-fare is the place of their safetie The Church exposeth to the combate and prouideth means for the conquest being their retyring place in their falles resting place for their refreshing Their Armorie to serue them with weapons and their forge also to whet and sharpen them to the battell Shee that presseth them to the warre-fare teacheth their hands to fight and bindeth vp their wounds and giueth rest vnto their soules The Church is the safegard and shelter of the Elect. No saluation without it though no carnall rest within no true happinesse but from it though to bee of it is of all men if our hope were onely in this life most wretched and miserable Here is no rest to corruption that incorruption may bee obtained Heere is all peace in CHRST IESVS though in the world wee must looke for nothing but afflictions from the world yet the Church is in the world and therefore shall haue Kings and Queenes to bee her Nursing Fathers and Foster Mothers that the Elect may be gathered and the reprobate conuinced Heere shee sleepes with her beloued and findes his yoke easie here shee is refreshed with his Flaggons and rauished with his perfumes heere shee delights in his presence and is Loue-sicke with his beauty What shall I say the Church is Gods House yea the gate of Heauen and can there bee greater safetie where GOD is the Owner Can there be happier securitie where heauen is the purchase The Church is Christs spouse his beloued his vndefiled And can there be danger where sinne is not imputed Is there any lacke or losse in Loue shall not all the worlde be forsaken to cleaue to the wife of our bosome to giue her rest and contentment to delight in her beautie to giue her honour as the weaker vessell to prouide aboundantly for her to spread the wing of the garment ouer her for protection to dwell for euer with her to reioyce in her loue continually Is not the Church the Lordes portion and inheritance giuen by God the Father to his sonne Iesus Christ by him to be preserued vnto perfection and glory Psal 2. Ioh 17. Is it not the bed of Salomon wherein the Christian soule takes his sweete and sure repose as being garded with the Lord worthies his blessed Angells to put off all daungers and preuent disquietnes 3. Cant 7. Psal 34. Is it not the mountaine of the Lorde euen as Mount Syon the place of his Holines that shall neuer be remoued Psal 125 1. 2. Is it not the pillar of truth 1. Tim 3. 57. contenting and establishing it followers therein Psal 2. 6. 3. 5. Is it not as a cup of poyson and as coales of fire to confound and deuoure all the enemies thereof Zach 12. Is it not as an heape of stones to breake in pieces whomsoeuer shall oppose thereto 1. Pet 3. Is it not the Arke to preserue the true belieuer in amidst all the Tempests and ouerslowings of sinne and sorrowes Is it not the Market-place that affords the childrens food euen milke for babes and strong meate for men Hebr 5◠Is it not the priuie Chamber of Iesus Christ wherein he communicates that ioy vnto his Elect that the world hnowes not of which is vnspeakable and glorious passing all vnderstanding Cantic 1. 3. 1. Pet 1. 8. Is the Church otherwise blacke but that shee is also comely and acceptable in the eyes of our Sauiour Doth shee remaine in the Tents of Kedar any otherwise but that still there is light all safety in the land of Goshen though all Aegipt be filled and consumed with the Arrows of Gods vengance Is not Peter a sleep sweetly euen in the prison laden with bolts Act 12. Do not the Apostles reioyce in Tribulation Doe they not gaine and thriue in theyr greatest troubles Act 5. Doe they not liue though they die daily Possesse they not all things though they haue nothing in comparison Doe not the weake gaine by theyr sufferings to speake more boldly Are not the wicked confounded by their meruellous protections and deliuerances Is not Heauen sealed vp vnto them by theyr Heauenly and gracious conuersation by theyr mighty preseruation in and out of all ther troubles And is not the Church the bodie of Christ Is not hee our head and wee his members And did euer any hate his owne flesh Will not Christ preserue and cherish this mysticall bodie that to redeeme and purge the same spared not his naturall bodie but gaue it euen to the death euen the cursed death of the Crosse that hee might sanctifie and wash vs to present vs as a pure Virgine vnto himselfe to make vs glorious perfect without spot or wrinkle 1. Why are wee then fearfull Oh wee of little Faith why awake wee this beloued with our contentions and outcryes seeing our Husband hath deeepely charged his beloued should not be awaked Why seeke we not our peace in the peace of Syon why hasten wee not the confusion of Antichrist why doe wee not labour the peace of Iesusalem and well-fare of Syon Why dream we of carnall peace seeing our beauty is within why plot we for the flesh which is an enemie to our peace whose peace is perdition contentmēt confusion Shuld we not ioyn together against the common enemie Oh let our vnitie bee in the spirit to maintaine the true bond of peace Surely if wee could pray vnfainedly for the peace of Ierusalem and take these little Foxes that destroy the vineyards If we shall cast out those whippes of scorpions that haue made the breach giue way vnto the power of the word which is the onely procurer of this peace Setting vp the Lord and his ordinance onely to raigne ouer vs and subiecting and compelling man by holy discipline to the obedience therof maintaining continuall warre against sinne corruption and making glad the hart that God hath cōforted If wee would ease the Church of all vnnecessary eye-soares and pray for such Nursing-fathers as God hath raised vp for the maintenance of it peace If the messengers of this peace be had in due estimation for theyr workes sake And the friends of the Church be nourished aduāced This is the way to procure peace to the Church thus shall the prosperitie of Sion be maintained And then if we we liue by faith we shall delight in these Tents howsoeuer moueable fraile to a carnall eye It shall be our comfort that Gods power shal be seene in weaknes his wisdome in humane infirmitie that God may haue the glorie and we further informed so to rest in these Tents as still to
the Iew must come in and Antichrist must be destroyed And then let vs lift vp our heads Because our saluation draweth nigh Euen so hasten thy Worke O God for the glory of thy great Name Thus shall the Iew bee gathered to the Gentile and so they shall bee one sheepe-fold and one Shepheard Thus shall Shem be restored that Iapheth may dwell in his Tents so though the Church consists of Iew Gentile yet shal both dwel in the same tents contentions shal cease the partition wall shal now surely downe that both Iew and Gentile may serue God in one pure language and worship their God with one shoulder Behold now the Churches VNITIE and consent though differing in the fleâ—h yet still agreeing in Spirit though diuided for a time yet at length againe so compact and knit together as that as one man it shall be ready to meet their Sauiour and for euer to be with him This the God of Vnitie in his good time shall accomplish and that by one Baptisme to vnite them by one Word to engâ—affe them againe by one spirit to incline them by one faith to confirme them that so they may bee one body though consisting of many members seruing one God and Father of al through the gift of IESVS CHRIST their alone and all sufficient Sauiour And threfore though outward Vnitie can be no certaine note of a true visible Church where in there must be heresies that the faithfull may be tryed wherein there must be hypocrites to prouoke to soundnesse and sinceritie especially where veritie is excluded or miserably corrupted As it falleth out in the Romish Synagogue which must necessarily therefore fayle as wanting this pillar of Trueth as being a kingdome fearefully diuided against it selfe Yet when the Lord in mercy shall ioyne both Iew and Gentile together by one bond of Truth euen to kisse the blessed Sonne of righteousnesse then shall they bee also of one minde and heart consenting happily together in the pure worship of the Lord and so waiting very wisely their Masters second comming to Iudgement euen as they sweetly continued together in the Apostles Doctrine and Fellowship in breaking of Bread and Prayer to confirme their holy entertainement of the Lord IESVS first comming in mercie So faithfull is the Lord to performe hereby his promise that the gates of hell shall not preuaile against this little flocke so wise to confirme our Faith in the accomplishment of this promise to waite vpon the Lord for the performance of all the promises that are reuealed in the word that so we might bee made meete for the inioying of them and by the power of Faith lay hold of eternall life THE SECOND PART THE SVBIECTION OF CANAAN And let Canaan be his seruant WELL thus haue wee heard the nature and properties of the True visible and militant Church Thus haue wee also discerned the Priuiledges thereof Now let vs consider further of the Church malignant It followeth And let Canaan be his seruant That is Seeing Canaan is the sonne of the bond-woman and therefore must haue no inheritance with the sonne of the free woman howsoeuer he may for a time abide in the familie and enjoy both outward communion and priuiledges with the sons of Adoption Yet let Canaan bee seruant to Iapheth and to his posteritie the malignant Church shall be in subiection to the true though for a time the hypocrite may prouoke and insult ouer the true member yet shall this both serue for the good of his Saints to purge out their drosse and prouoke them to perfection and when their war-fare is accomplished all their enemies shal be brought in subiection Psal 72. So then first it appeareth that there is as well a Cham to mocke and curse that he may be accursed as a Shem to blesse that he may be blessed as well a Cain to murther that hee may heape vp damnation to himselfe as there is an Abel to offer vp an acceptable sacrifice and so bee made a sacrifice that he may be freed from corruption that he may be so crowned with incorruption and eternall glorie not the Familie of our Sauiour CHRIST himselfe shal be free from a Iudas â—tray or to betray his master that he may offer vp his soule a sacrifice for sinne and performe a plentifull redemption for his mysticall body A malignant Church there hath bene and must be to the worlds end It is the decree of the mightie God that some shall be on the left hand euerlastingly appointed to bee vessels of wrath And therefore the fall of man is also determined and so disposed that the malignant Church may bee left in that estate which it hath willingly chosen and may be ripened thereunto by refusing or abusing the meanes of saluation And therefore vaine is that dreame that al shal be saued vainer their conceit that though in their daily practises they are hastening to destruction yet still they are confident their estate is as good as any their hearts are good they meane well they are but flesh and blood the Lord is mercifull And will the Lord be mercifull to presumptuous sinners If the heart be good will not the fruit be according can we gather grapes of thornes or figs of thistles Surely no They are of their father the deuil because they doe his works they are led captiue at his will into all maner of wickednes And therefore his seruants they are to whom they obey he will pay them their wages euen the wages of sin the second death And therefore if thou wilt know that thou art not of this accursed race diue not into the secrets of God say If thou art damned thou canst not do withal It is in vaine to striue against Gods will in vaine to wash thy hands in innocency But in the Name of God goe to the reuealed word and therein discerning what thou art by nature labour by the power thereof to feele this thy woâ—ull condition yea to feele it a burden that thou canst no way endure and so hunger thou after Iesus Christ to be eased thereof apply him by faith for the acceptance of thy person into the fauour of thy God and put him on by faith that so thou mayst be renued in the spirit of thy minde towalke worthy of so great saluation yet stil labor how to be found in him not hauing thine owne righteousnesse that so renuing thy repentance dayly for former failings thou mayst receiue continuall vertue from this fonntain to the daily cleansing of thy polluted nature to enable thee daily to more constant obedience that so thou mayst grow vp in him which is the head into all holines in the feare of God when thou hast finished all things yet standing fast in him that thou mayst with patience expect the recompence of the reward patience may bring forth the perfect worke in the tryal of thy Faith that so thou maist
if we consider in the second place the meanes of true Connersion Namely the Word of God assisted by the blessed Spirit which in that it consists of two partes to wit the Lawe and the Gospell Howsoeuer by the Law we are brought to a sight of sinne and so thereby prepared to Conuersion and as it were entred therein as beeing cast out of our selues and cast vpon IESVS CHRIST yet by the sweete promises of the Gospell wee are allured and perswaded to beleeue in the Lord IESVS which is the very worke and perfection of our true Conuersion So are our hearts more and more suppled and broken through the loue of CHRIST shead abroad in our hearts So are we bound vnto our GOD with the cords of loue as that we attaine a most glorious libertie of the sonnes of God So are wee led captiue vnder sinne that in the inward man we delight in the law of God So are we subiect to Afflictions as that wee are more then Conquerours ouer them So is Death the end of our sinne and entrance to our glorious libertie Thus doth the Word discouer the estate of our conuersion thus doth it allure and satisfie vs in the whole processe and consummation thereof And doth not the manner of our Conuersion auouch as much that it is by perswading and mollifying of our hearts Doth not the Lorde himselfe allure and inuite vs to embrace these meanes proffering vs wares with money wooing of vs to open vnto him by testimonie of his patience and pledges of his loue stretching out his hands vnto vs all the day long And those not emptie but dropping downe myrthe and tendering most invaluable riches the rather to allure vnto him Doth not wisedome invite vs to a Feast and allure vs with her delicates Doth not the Lord preuent vs with his grace that we may be plentifull in good works Doth he not allure vs to holinesse when he imputes the righteousnesse of his Sonne vnto vs and not onely accounts that ours which hee freely giues but accepts that to be his which by our corruption is defiled Doth not the Lord offer parley Come let vs reason together Hath hee bene a wildernes vnto vs Nay what could hee haue done vnto vs which he hath not done Thus doth the Lord perswade and allure our Conuersion And are not his Ministers led by the same spirit Doe they come vnto vs with a rod or not rather with the spirite of meekenes Are they not his Embassadors to treat with vs Nay his Orators to beseech vs to be reconciled vnto God Are they not ready so to wooe vs that they not only are contented to deliuer the Gospell vnto vs but euen theyr owne soules so deare are we vnto them so little deare is their life vnto them in regarde of preaching the Gospell that we may be saued Are they not our fathers to beget vs in all loue and compassion to be the children of God Are they not our Noursing-mothers to dandle and suckle vs as new-borne babes with the milke of the Gospell that wee may growe vp thereby Are they not our shepheards to leade vs into the greene pastures to dresse and tenderly looke to vs as the tender lambes of Iesus Christ Are they not Gods fisher men to allure vs as with a bayte thereby not to constraine vs by force but to catch vs with a wile And doe they not in all this perswade vs reasonable men by most reasonable and tractable meanes to a matter most reasonable euen to returne vnto God For to proceede now to the substance of our conuersion and thence to proue this manner of our Calling by Alluring as also the equitie thereof Is our Conuersion any other then a restoring vs to that estate which heretofore we enioyed in Adam and lost by the malice of Sathan And ought there to bee any thing more acceptable vnto vs then to come foorth of Darknes into a maruellous light to be deliuered from bondage yea from bondage of Sathan vnto the glorious libertie of the Sonnes of God to be pluckt out of the horrible pit and aduanced to the highest Heauens to be made Lords of all who before were vassalls vnto all To be at peace with all who before had all against vs. Such is our conuersion Is there any thing more reasonable Is it not most reasonable and equall that God should haue his will who hath decreed our conuersion that he should enioy the seruice of his creature which is obtained by conuersion that he should be loued of his children that are so made by conuersion Is it not meet conuenient that we should be holie as our God is holie that to eternall happines wee should be made meete by perfect holines Ought not members of the body to haue the like 〈◊〉 Ought not citizens of the same heauenly Ierusalem to be of one minde Nay ought not fellow-heirs of the same kingdom be of the same nature of the like beautie and glorie Such are we with Iesus Christ and such are wee made by conuersion And is it not most equall that the Lord Iesus should haue what hee hath purchased at so deere a rate 1. Pet 1. 1. Cor 6. Lastly what true marke is there of our cōuersion which doth not owne this truth that we were not compelled but perswaded allured therunto Haue wee peace of conscience and so are at peace with God who could haue procured this vnles God had giuē it how could wee haue receiued this vnlesse the minde had bene allured and nourished with the loue of God no entertainment of Gods loue but by ouercomming the heart with loue No true euidence of Gods loue vnto vs but by out loue vnto him againe No sound euidence of our loue vnto our God but by our readinesse to forsake all for his sake but by our delight in the excellent inlarged heart towards them not by constraint but of a ready minde 1 Pet 5. 3. 4. So much we loue our God as we desire his continuall presence and perpetuall fruition of his blessed society By this do we know that we are of God that we come boldly to begge or rather chalenge his promise that we will not be saide nay but are answered in our chiefe desires Thus God freely promiseth and offereth meanes to vs not deseruing it that so we may not be discouraged but rather inuited to embrace the same And because Gods loue is free therefore it preuailes vpon the most vnlikely deliuering the captiue giuing sight to the blinde swallowing vp dispaire in mercie and crowning corruption in glorie And because he maketh vs partakers of y e diuine nature therfore also he enables vs freely to loue him and cheerfully to obey him to runne the way of his Commandements after hee hath set our hearts at libertie yea he maketh our feet like Harts feet so that by the helpe of our God we leape ouer a wall yea hee giueth
bee found vpon them Oh blessed is that Seruant whome his Maister findeth so doing Shall he not giue him a crowne of righteousnes that hath thus happily finished his course And shall not the glorious Lorde make good his word Will he not giue vs constancie that requires it at our hands Will he not perfite the worke that hee hath begunne in vs Yea surely Iapheth shall dwell in the Tents of Shem The Elect shall abide for euer in the sinceritie of Religion Hee cannot fall finally though hee fall grieuously for a time Hee cannot fall whollie for hee delighteth in the Law of God in the inward man the euill which he doeth hee would not doe and therefore it is not hee but sinne that dwelleth in him It is God that iustifieth who then shall condemne CHRIST IESVS hath died for him nay hee 's risen againe and seeing he is gone vp shall he not draw all after him And what then shall separate vs frō the loue of God What may hinder the constancie of the Belieuer Doe not all things yea his very sinnes turne to his good Doe not his Afflictions plucke out corruption and so prepare him to glorie Is hee not more then conquerour through CHRIST that loueth him Although the Lord shuld kill him yet doth not he still trustin him Reioyce not then against mee oh mine enemie For though I fall I shall rise againe And why art thou in heauinesse oh my soule why art thou cast downe and disquieted within me Seeing if thou trust in God which raiseth from the dead Though thou art dead in sinne yet shalt thou be raised vp againe If sinne doe not raigne in thee it shall neuer Triumph ouer thee Onely be wise in the feare of God to discerne the causes of these thy falls that so thou mayest comfortablie recouer againe 1. Hast thou bene exalted aboue measure and pufft vp with spirituall pride of those graces that thy God hath bestowed on thee and hast thou hence growne secure and carelesse of welldoing and yet presumptuous of Gods mercies spending on th◠former stocke as if thou haddest no further neede of Christ Iesus or wert so full of him that thy cuppe runnes ouer not with sound ioy in the heart proceeding from the fulnes of thy SAVIOVR but with a froathie and carnall ioy in the face proceeding from the sence of thine owne worthines No maruell now if the Lorde confound this thy vaine confidence by withdrawing the light of his countenance from thee whereby now walking only by thine own light thou findest nothing but darknes either inwardly in thy conscience speaking fearful things against thee or outwardly in thy life being tainted with some grosse sinne occasioned through thy vaine presumption carnall securitie which increasing inwardly the horror of thy soule charging it afresh with the guilt of renued actuall sinne If now the lawes of Hell beginne to gape vpon thee If thou art ouerwhelmed with the terrours of the deepe obserue herein thy iust desert that hast thus tempted thy God and magnifie the mercies of thy God that will not tempt thee aboue thy strength For behold heere Light more gloriously shining out of Darknesse when thou art throughly abased and emptied of carnall confidence Then shalt thou most feruently desire to be easied of thy Sauiour the more thou feelest thy sinnes a burthen which thou canst not beare And if thou lookest vp vnto thy God when all helpe on earth doth faile thy God will heare thee though crying out of the deepe yea out of the bellie of Hell Thy dead heart shall arise and thou which dwellest in the dust shalt awake and sing when the Lord shall returne with his countenance vpon thee and restore vnto thee the ioy of his saluation Hast thou bene carelesse of the meanes which should haue vpheld thee in the power of holines Namely the powerfull preaching of the word and conscionable administration of the Sacraments Hast thou neglected thy ordinarie spirituall sword and so growne fainte in thy calling Hast thou growne indifferent in the vse of the meanes admitting any so it vphold a forme of godlines and so neglecting to trie the spirites thou hast grieued Gods spirit in thee whereby thou hast bin humbled through the withdrawing of it assistance Hast thou hereby bene lest to thy selfe so fallen into some apparant and grosse wickednes to the reproach of thy profession and wounding of thy conscience Hast thou lyen herein without repentance for want of conscionable dealing No Nathan hath reproued thee yea let no man reproue because the Priests are like vnto the people the blinde would leade the blinde in securitie to destruction Oh remember the wisedome of thy GOD herein who would haue thee certain of thy state euē in this thy fall because it came by such a meanes as must necessarily befall thee seeing it hath befallen the most excellent no tētation otherwise hath here ouertaken thee then what hath or may befall the deerest childe of God Haddest thou fallen in thy calling and thy conscionable vse of the meanes hadst thou growne fainte when there was foode aboundantly and vnprofitable in the wholsome word of life thy case had beene more singular and so then the more doubtfull But if Dauid being without meanes of preseruation giue way to tentation and so is ensnared therewith Though he fall grieuously yet he shall rise againe and his rising being effected by the true and liuely meanes Namely the reproofe o◠Nathan and his obedience therevnto shall both giue euidence that his Fall was recouerable as being through neglect of the meanes and that his recouerie is sound and effectuall as being wrought by the true meanes Indeede I confesse the Lorde may worke extraordinarilie in some particulars As that Iob may fall for his tryall and yet vse the meanes conscionably stand faithfully in his calling yet seeing the end of Gods triall was so to iustifie the soundnes of his standing as yet to discouer some imperfection therein that so by this triall he might be led forward to perfection may wee not chalenge Iob of imperfection and so of failing in the measure of his calling which though the Lord did not principally intend to chastise in this his gracious triall but rather to trie the soundnes and truth thereof Yet did he by this exercise both preuent Apostasie and also most happily further to perfection And might not Iob be subiect to spiruall wickednes as spirituall pride discouered by his Impatiencie censurings c howsoeuer he could not be charged with grosse open crimes Which being farre more dangerous then any outward euill was therefore more necessarily though not to be punished of God as an enemie yet to be purged out of the Lorde as a gracious Father and that with a sharpe medicicine answerable to such a disease Surely though the holy man reached at an higher matter yet did he not vnwillingly acknowledge Gods