that she will not come downe like those rebels Corath Dathan Abiram which would not obey but answered Moses saying Num. 16.12 We will not come vp Yet when God comes vnto her as hee did to the builders of the Tower of Babel or vnto Sodome and Gomor Hee will set her downe with a vengeance For it is written Deu. 32.35 Vengeance is mine and I will recompence saith the Lord. Then shall she hode that it is fearfull thing to â—all into the hands of the liuing God For the Lord out God is euen a consuming fire and this is he that saith here in my text to the spirit of Pride Thou shalt be brought downe Thus wee see it is God that threatneth Now behold the truth of his word and whether we may beleeue him And this we shall see by â—â—s infallible assurednesse of his word firme for euer more The word of the Lord endureth for euer And because this point is so neare of affinitie with the former next before I will briefly strengthen this pesition with the testimonie of the hoâ—y scripture to assure you of the truth and so proceed further Our Sauiour Christ saith Heauen and earth shall passe but my word shall not passe And God saith by his Prophet My word shall stand That which God promised to Ahab and his house to Nabuchadnezzar and proud Balthasar and many other came vpon them truly Because thus saiâ—th the Lord Dominus locutus est the Lord hath spoken it And will hee not be as good as his word to them that are proud Of them the Lord saith by the Prophet Isay I will visit the fruite of the proud heart of the King of Assur 1. Synacharib and his glorious and proud lookes And so hee did and slew him by the hands of his owne sonnes Againe The high lookes of man shall bee humbled and the loftinesse of men shall be abased And againe The day of the Lord of Hoasts is vpon all the proud and haughtie and vpon all that is exalted and it shall be made lowe euen the eyes of the proud shall be humbled And Christ saith He that exalteth himselfe shall bee brought lowe And Salomon saith The pride of man shall bring him lowe Preprio gladio iugulabitur Her owne sword shall cut her throate as Iudith did Olifernes with his owne Will you haue any more then woe to the crowne of Pride Woe is a kinde of threatning against sinne whereby the holy Prophets Iustum dei iudicium exprimunt quod omnes manet qui idem faciunt do expresse the iust iudgement of God wherof all shall bee partakers that continue in sinne And an other saith by woe woe Ingentes calamitates indicantur Horrible calamities are foretold Gual in Haba 2. Hom. 7. Vae autem malorum condemnationem proprie manifestat Woe threatned dooth properly assure the wicked of their condemnation vnto which Corozin Bethsaida and Capernaum are come against whom Christ denounced woe to bee to the Corozin c. Thus we see that fearefull are the threatnings and strong are the testimonies of holy scriptures which denounce destruction to them that be proud and yet there be more Dauid saith Ps 59.12 Iob. 20.6.7 Let them be taken in their pride They shall perish for euer like their owne dung though their excellencie mount vp to heauen and their head reach vp to the cloudes Iob. 24.24 Againe They are exalted for a lule but they are gone and are brought lowe as all ethers they are destroyed and cut off as the top of an eare of corne Isa 3.16 for the Lord hath spoken it And by the Prophet Ezechiel Ezech. 12 25.28 God saith I am the Lord I will speake and that thing that I shall speake shall come to passe it shall no more bee prolonged Ier. 1.12 For I will hasten my word to performe it And further also do you not know that God said Let there be light Gen. 1.14 15. and it was so The lawes of the Medes and Persians alter not and shall Gods truth faile Beloued be not deceiued you see what God saith against Pride Ecech 17.9 Euen I the Lord haue spoken it shall it then prosper No no deare bretheren And yet I feare men doo not beleeue these holy scriptures c. for if they did they could not seeke sinne and follow after it with that greedinesse as they doo But ô Lord turne their hearts and then shall they be turned Breake thou the power of the vngodly and malicious take away his vngodlinesse and thou shalt finde none And thus now I end with that note which is giuen and approued vpon these words of our Sauiour Christ Math. 7.26 Hee that heareth of me these sayings and dooth them not shall be likened vnto a foolish man that built his house vpon the sands c. That is hee that practiseth not Gods word which hee hath heard giueth a plaine testimonie of himselfe that he dooth not beleeue nor credit the word And now for to end this point let me exhort you to pluck down your plumes of Pride as the Peacock casteth downe his traine beholding his blacke feete Come home with the prodigall sonne saying Luk. 15.21 Father I haue sinned against heauen and against thee I am no more worthy to be called thy sonne Be ashamed of your sinne as Adam was of his nakednesse And as Ioel teacheth Turne vnto the Lord with all your hearts Ioel. 2. He careth not fot a peece rent your hearts and not your garments for they be too much hacked alreadie because you will bee contrarie to the most high God Lament as Niniuie did let euery man turn from his euill way and from the wickednesse that is in their hands Then shall your light breake foorth as the morning and your iust dealing as the noone-day and God will put away your wickednesse out of his remembrance as he hath promised by his holy Prophet But if you will not then will hee come against you Gen. 18.21 as he did against Sodome and see whether you haue done altogether according to that cry which is come vp vnto him If you haue then will hee call and muster his Hoasts together encouraging and hastning them to the slaughter crying against Pride as the childreÌ„ of Edom did in the day of Ierusalem Downe with it downe with it Ps 137.7 euen to the ground Then his souldiers will answere comming to destroy as it is written of Christ comming for to saue Loe I am come to doo thy will ô God Heb. 10.7 And they shall go forth in the strength of the Lord God and in the power of his might and come vnto all that are proud as Dauid did against Goliah in the name of the Lord of Hoasts whom men haue despised and blasphemed And they will not bee carelesse in destroying as Saul was to destroy some and saue some aliue but they will away with all that they are commaunded
better to conuey it vnto a Presbytery The Officers thereof and their number and what their office should be in an established Common-wealth cannot be prooued by any scripture neither can our new reformers tell themselues For they chaunge their opinions as the Camelion doth his colours Or as the wise man saith Like a foole that chaungeth as the Moone (e) Eccl. 27 11. And their writings as wel as their words declare what these men haue in their heart (f) Eccl. 27.6 Now name Pride harnessed with discontentment and thou hast found the souldiers that fight their battles and their scoldings are grieuous for to heare c. (g) Eccl. 27 15. Furthermore you know that Haman could not be contented with all his promotion being preserred by King Ahasuerus to be the chiefe man vnder him in all the Prouinces of his dominion but he obtained a Commission to kill all the Iewes onely of spight vnderserued of any but by Gods prouidence they were deliuered and Hamans discontented Pride was discharged by his owne gallowes (h) Ester 3. 7. This made Ahab he could not be quiet without Naboth his vineyard (i) 1. Reg. 21.15.16 Pride is neuer contented like her sister Conetousnesse I would our coat were without this stain But with Balaam I am afraid many follow the reward of iniquitie May wee not pray that the Fullers sope might get this spot out of theyr cloath If they could silkes and veluets would not be in so great request nor the Countrie cloyed with so many singlesolde gentlefolke carrying more vpon their backes needlesse at once then would comfort the poore at theyr boordes a whole moneth And thinke you that you bee none of these schismatickes of Martins crew If they were well looked vnto it may bee you should finde theyr tables in theyr Farme-houses as mouldie as many Pulpets are full of copwebbes for want of vsing Dooth not this keepe mens pittie from the poore â—ow they lament I will not speake but I would from God exhort the rich â—n time for to take compassion on them (k) Gal. 6.10 And though of many their hearts â—re hardned yet because the crye of â—he poore is knowne to her Maiestie â—nd to the wisedome of her Maiesties honourable Councell doubt not beloued but that speedie remedie and helpe is appointed Onely this I say that whole Countries and Nations by this sinne of minde malecontent rise one against an other fewe content with their owne Patrimony only our dread soueraigne and most gracious Queene dooth hold the garland from them all God saue her life for euer Amen What needs further proofe where experience is plaine She ioyeth more most renowmed Queene in sauing one drop of her subiects blood then in winning of a whole Kingdome and therefore shee is content with her owne long ô Lord let her enioy it to the great example of all other O pray for the peace of Ierusalem euen litle England Christ saith Learne of me and if any would learne of her Maiestie what need either ioyning of house to house or laying of field to field till there be no place for the poore that ye may bee placed by your selues on the middest of the earth (l) Esa 5.8 Why should there bee such racking of rents such colde hospitalitie dearth of corn and all other things since there is plentie But it is easie to shewe that where Pride once setteth her foote vpon discontentment or ingrafteth this feather into her wing there God is forgotten and fewe contented with that which is Aequum iustum nor with their owne then away with equitie yea and equalitie too euery churle must be a gentleman Pride will be like God These be foure sicke feathers in Prides wings vnder which who so shrowdeth himselfe is couered from the fauour of God Away from him all ye workers of iniquitie Goliah said I defie the hoast of Israel this day (m) 1. Sam. 17.10 But God doth defie the house of Pride for euer that will not turne For it is written Hee that hath high lookes and a proud stomacke doth his soule abhorre And wise Salomon saith These sixe things doth the Lord hate yea his soule abhorreth seuen the haughtie eyes a lying tongue c. Loe Pride is the first as captaine of the rest (n) Pro. 6.16.17 And thus much of this matter But peraduenture it may be thought that I haue a grudge to some of you as Salomon had to Shimei (o) 1. Reg. 2.36 c because I tell you the truth so boldly and plainly Now beware you grudge not me as as Saul did Dauid (p) 1. Sam. 18.9 I can wash my hands in innocencie and cleare my selfe of this matter Innocentia est vbi non est nocendi voluntas (q) Amb. li. de bono Mor. ca. 1 That is innocencie which is without desire to hurt Augustine saith Duo sunt genera persecutorum vituperantium adulantium Nam plus persequitur lingua adulatoris quà m manus persequentis (r) Aug. in Ps 69. There are two kindes of hurting or persecuting enemies that is backbyters and flatterers for the tongue of the flatterer woundeth or hurteth more then the hand of a sworne enemie for so the meaning is Againe hee saith Nemo peritorum aut prudentium putet c. There is no man of vnderstanding and wisedome but seeth more danger or harme to be by a lying and flattering rongue then by the hands of a murtherer (Å¿) Aug. ad Casul 4. ad Demet. Ep. 14â— For Dauid still fled from Saul when he came to kill him and so was saued (t) 1. Sam. 18.11 But Absolom by flattery caught his brother Ammon and slew him (v) 2. Sam. 13.28 29 So Ioab murthered Abner and Amasa (w) 2. Sam. 3.27 Againe Augustine saieth that Flatterie makes men colde in Religion (x) Aug. in Ps 69. Therefore Iesus Christ saith Feare not them that kill the body (y) Math. 10.28 And the Prophet Isay saith Feare not crye aloud spare not lift vp thy voyce like a Trumpet and shewe my people their transgression (z) Isay 43.1 51.1 And the holy Apostle S. Paul saieth Rebuke not an Elder but exhort him as a father and the younger men as bretheren (a) 1. Timot. 5.1 Put both together and this lesson may be learned not to doo the worke of the Lord negligently (b) Ier. 48.10 and yet patiently to rebuke and to be instant in season and out of season but yet in loue (c) 2. Timot. 4.2 That wee may bee blamelesse and pure as the sonnes of God without rebuke in the middest of a noughtie and crooked Nation in the which we shine as lights in the world holding foorth the word of life c. (d) Phil. 2.15.16 Therefore I know what to doo I tell you the truth why doo you not beleeue me I cannot speake with glosing words of mans wisedome (e) 1.
Iren. Euse Iustino And when he liued hee said himselfe that he was some great man (g) Act. 8 9. But his end mard al as we shewed before Like wise whē Herod had made an oratiō before the people they cried Vox dei non hominis It 〈◊〉 the voice of God not of man (h) Act. 12.22 And hee was most proud of it We find also that one Hanno of Carthage sometime brought vp birdes and taught them to whistle Deus est Hanno Hanno is God and so let them flye (i) Text. Offic. And euen much after this maner came Mahomet the Turkes God into his first fauour and credite Manes the heretike preached that hee himselfe was borne of a Virgin Deitatisque numen sibi vindicabat and challenged vnto himselfe the maiestie of a God (k) Charl. Step. Text. Euseb Menecrates a Phisitian would take nothing for his cures but desired of his Patients Vt eius seruos esse fateātur eumque Iouem dicerent (l) Text. Ibid. That they would acknowledge themselues to bee his seruants and call him their Iupiter or God And the heretike Manicheus called himselfe the holy Ghost I might shewe you how the Emperours yet tyrants haue called themselues Gods as diuers other but I will stay at the Pope who is not behinde any of them Some haue called him an earthly God Some disdaining that haue called him God without an Epitheton Some our Lord God the Pope Others being besotted with the spirit of Pride are so wrapt that they cannot tell what to make of him and do affirme that hee is neither God nor man It may bee these cunningly intend to inuest vpon him The man of sinne (m) 2. Thes 2.3 as hee is indeed But to be briefe come to our owne dayes and their late Champion D. Stapleton in the Preface to his booke called Principiorum sidei doctrinalium demonstratio besides many false and blasphemous titles there giuen to the Pope to grease his haughtie humour the more easily to flie into his fauour as many do by bribes when their hearts are farre peraduenture behinde hee calles him Basim fiundamentum columnam firmamentum totius orthodoxae religionis The root and foundation the pillar and chiefe stay of all right and true Religion Omnium Ecclesiarum caput The head of all Churches Supremum in terris numen The highest godhead vpon earth And M. Harding doth allow him to be in some certaine sence as he saith Terrenum quendam deum A certaine earthly God And we know their cloakes of Heads and Foundations and Gods not absolute but Ministring to couer their blasphemies as a playster doth a sore from the odious sight of men But put the Popes person his blasphemous titles or names his life or practises against the members of Christ Iesus his bodie mysticall in a bundle together laie them to the touchstone of Gods truth and sacred word and they are of so much force to confirme or approue their follie 1. Reg. 18.26 Psal 82.1.6 as the crying of Baals priests preuailed to obtaine fire of their Idoll And yet we know what gouernors are righteous Gods vpon earth that is euen such as are noursing fathers and noursing mothers in the Church of Christ like the Queene of England But as one saith God neuer called the Popes gods his godhead is base borne and yet for all that because the Popes Deitie should not be thought to bee without power as they haue fained him a false name so they doo counterfait him as true authoritie least hee should bee without credite as those which say and doo not are without honestie Therefore they say but all vntrue that Christus beato Petro c. commisit Clem. li. 2. de appel pastor distinct 32. Christ hath committed to blessed Peter the key-bearer of eternall life Iura c. the right or authoritie both of the earthly heauenly Empire-dome and so they say Papa totius orbis obtinet principium the Pope hold the Princedome of the whole world 1. Sam. 18 11. 2. Sam. 15.2 Yet by their leaue it is but in wil it is neither indeed nor right though lie haue as bad a mind to it as Saul had to kill Dauid or Abso lō to depose his father And yet with the Papists who but the Pope Card. Cusau ad Boh. Epist 2. Epist 3. One of their Cardinals saith Veritas aahaeret Cathedrae Petri. And again the same man saith Dico nulla esse Christi praecepta nisiquae per Ecclesiā pro talibus accepta sūt The truth cleaues to Peters chaire then burn the chaire and where is their truth Nay I say quoth he there is no commaundement of Christ he meanes of force except it be allowed so go for currāt by the Church of Rome An other saith A doctrina Romanae Ecclesiae Syl prier cōtra Luthe Dan. 3.16.18 Romani Pontificis sacra scriptura robur authoritatem trahit The sacred scripture hath her truth or strength and authoritie of the church and Pope of Rome Ah blasphemous liers But who beleeue them surely none that tries them And the scriptures of God may cry to the Pope Who made thee a Iudge and Ruler ouer vs we will not obey thee as the three children said to Nabuchadnezzar yet to blinde the world and to keepe them from trying of spirits whether they be of God or no they thunderout (t) Consil Ro. cap. 3.5.12 Praesul summus non iudicabitur a quopiam The highest Prelate 1. The Pope must not be iudged of any body perhaps least the Pope be found a woman againe Hee is like vnto Pharao that said Who is the Lord that I should heare his voyce (v) Exod. 5.2 And beloued this is the cloud that darkens all their light Forsoothe the Pope cannot erre And their fortresse to withstand all gun-shot is In matters of faith and yet in the chiefe point thereof which is Iustification they erre heretically and are infinitely ouercome by the holy scriptures though they would ouercome them and writings of the auntient and learned Fathers Yet to keepe their standing some of them are not ashamed to tell the world and to accuse those that reprooue the heresie and tyrannie of the Hope of blasphemy and sinning against the holy Ghost (w) R. Bristo in his Repl. to Ful. art 35. part 2. fol. 9. Hard. to Iewel 4. part fol. 438. Printed 1571. But let God be true and euery man a lyer and hee that is filthy let him be filthy still if Gods iudgement be such Thus we see into what height of wickednesse Pride driues men euen because they would get them a name like the builders of the Tower of Babell (x) Gen. 11 4. Now to come to our selues I know not who would tread in this styrrope and mount except it be such as in their owne conceit do say Touch mee not I am holyer then thou
to pull downe both man and wife sonnes and daughters sheepe oxen and asses and all things else as Iosuae dealt with Acan. And yet if you will not beleeue let vs see what experience hath taught and by what meanes God hath brought many downe And his arme is not shortned but his hand is stretched out still And for shortnesse sake I will speake but of six braunches which he hath vsed to hang the wicked and abhominable vpon 2. Sam. 18.9 as truly as Absolon vpon the oake CHAP. II. How God ouerthroweth or subdueth the proud 1. FIrst heere to omit the godly lawes of this our land made to suppresse Pride in euerie degree I doo lament the palpable contempt of Gods most sacred word by which Pride and all sinne should be brought downe and humbled Act. 16.29.30 and afraid to remember in what case they keepe men as the Iaylor was to keepe Paul and Silas And men should seeing their sinnes with those in the 2. of the Acts being pricked in their hearts cry out Men and bretheren what shall we do But seeing they will not be learned nor vnderstand let theÌ„ know Reue. 19.13.15 that the word of God is a sharpe sword which seperateth betweene the marrow the bone yea it doth either seperate sin from vs or vs from the presence and fauour of God so mightie it is in operation All the beasts of the Forrest do tremble and quake at the roaring of the Lyon but the voyce of the Lyon of the Tribe of Iuda is not regarded of the beasts of Pride and silthy sin Well then seeing the matter is so indeed see what the holy Ghost saith most fearfull to be remembred 2. Thes 2.10 Those that shall perish receiue not the word of truth that they might be saued To such Gods word is a sauour of death vnto death spoken by his messengers Mark 8.38 2. Thes 1.7.8 Which who so despiseth shall be despised and confounded For it is written The Lord Iesus shall shewe himselfe from heauen with his mighty Angels in flaming fire rendring vengeance vnto theÌ„ that do not know God and which obey not the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ Whoso liketh this Let him that is filthy be filthy still and thus the Lord God wil bring thee downe Ps 68.1.2 2. God bringeth downe otherwaies the Pride of men euen by confounding their enterprises making their deuises as the Psalmist saith to bee of none effect And this he doth sometimes after one means sometimes after an other 1. By frustrating their counsel and pretence as for example The builders of the Tower of Babel Gen. 11.7 would build to preuent Gods vengeance but he brought them downe by confusion of languages Thus that which they thought should haue bene for their good was vnto them an occasion of falling Synacharib King of Assur thought with the proud Spaniard by an innumerable band of men to ouerthrowe and lay waste the Lords vineyard 2. Reg. 19.35.37.28 35. c. but his strength was ouerthrowne by an Angell and himselfe slaine by his owne children and thus came his Pride downe And wee know how lately the Lord God of heauen tooke the Spaniard and did shake his sword at vs and held vp his rodde against vs to winne vs from sinne And when hee had done so because God knew the Spaniards dwelling his going out and comming in and furie against him and because hee raged and his Pride came vp into his eares like the Pride of Synacharib therefore God put his hooke into his nosthrills and his bridle into his lippes and drew him backe out of our sight and suffered him not to doo vs any harme but God cast them out as the dust before the winde the Angell of the Lord scattered them and their Pride was spoyled in the sea Ps 35.5 Math. 8.32 2. Sam. 17 14.23 as the diuels drowned the heard of swine Againe God confounded the wicked counsell of Achitophel by the good aduise and wisedome of Hushai See the place And when Achitophel did perceiue that his counsell was not regarded hee went home and hanged himselfe And his friends might be glad he had no worse an end Absolon in the Pride of his heart made warre against his father Dauid and thought to haue slaine him and so to haue got his kingdome 2. Sam. 18.6.17 But in the wood of Ephraim where the battell was fought as hee rid vnder an oake there God hanged him by his owne haire see to what vse God puts mans loÌ„g haire and yet some of you will weare it in a brauerie then Ioab came and thrust him through with a dart and the souldiers threw him into a pit and how could it be otherwise but that his guttes were pressed out with that great heape of stones which they cast in vpon him What Pride of any man dooth euer meane to haue such an ende But to be briefe how damnable and daungerous as diuillish and yet in vaine haue beene the counsels and enterprises of the Pope and Spanyard against the ioy of our peace and light of our daies and most ioyfull happines of our time Elizabeth our noble Queene dâ—ead fouâ—raigne Yet they alwayes confounded in the craftie wylinesse they haue imagined the only mightie prouidence of GOD preseruing her gracious Maâ—estie vnder the couering of his winges because they rebell against him Psal 105.15 Psal 107.22 50.14 Psal 9.11 who onely saith Touch not mine annointed Therefore shall not wee offer vnto the Lorde the sacâ—ifice of praise and tell out his workes with gladnesse Oh beloued for this cause specially as all other generally Sing praise vnto the Lorde which dwelleth in Sion and tell the people of his doings Let vs declare his louing kindnesse earely in the morning Psal 92.2 and his trueth in the night season and pray that her dayes may be as the dayes of heauen peace within the walles of her Domimon and plenteousnes within her Pallaces the mightie God her only fortresse and shee next vnder him our chiefe happinesse Amen But to proceed the booke of God and histories of many ages doo shewe vnto vs how vilde and yet without effect the pretences of man hath beene against the Church of God from time to time Who is it that desireth not to be ignorant but knoweth the same And therefore let neither the whore of Babylon Gog and Magog of Rome and Spaine nor Synacharib the Turke that vncircumcised Philistine nor wicked Achitophels of Englands counsell nor any domesticall and traiterous Absosolons thinke to preuaile against God and his annointed neither like wilde Boores out of the wood to roote vp nor like wilde beastes out of the forrest of the diuel to spoyle and laie waste the Lordes vineyard whilest it doth yeeld him good fruites of encrease For thogh you goe too and fro in the euening of your blindnesse and barke like Dogges and goe about the Citie of Gods people
first and also of the Gretian Reue. 2.9 O the fearefull trembling that these and such like truthes of Gods holy word doo bring to a desperate soule at the remembrance of death Of which in their life time though they haue no feeling yet at the day of death they may bring a wofull griping Thirdly I omit to speake of the vnsatiable care worldly men haue to get their greedie desire to keepe and their loathsomenesse to depart from theyr Mamonisme worldly wealth and pleasure All which doth make them sorrie to see death and quake to thinke vpon it Ecclesi 41.1 Mat. 19.21 The worldling in the Gospell was loth and sorrowfull yea more he would not leaue his worldly pelfe to walk with Iesus Christ though hee was promised treasure in heauen And how wil those that be such grieue when they see they must in spight of their teeth goe with death of whome they are perswaded it neuer bringeth good vnto them but euil 1. Reg. 21.8 as Ahab was by the holie Prophet or messenger of the Lord Fourthly I would if any of my paines could preuaile with you to wring sinne from you shewe what reare God may strike into the hearts of wicked men at the remembrance of death when they call to mind 1. how they haue caused many to blaspheme Rom. 2.24 Mat. 18.7 and to commit sinne by their euil example And 2. do know that therefore their punishment shall be the greater As 3. to consider that the fathers wicked life shall be cast in their childrens teeth as Rom. 18.8 what was thy father but an Vsurer Extortionerâ—â— Drunkard Eccle. 41.7 Wisd 4 6. a whoremaster or such like Of which saith the wise man The Children complaine of an vngodly father because they be reproached for his sake Will not these thinke you with a thousand the like cogitations driue terrour and feare into wicked mens hearts at the sight of death Fift and lastly when such wicked men doo call to minde how they haue seen the poore to be afflicted many and sundry wayes and haue not comforted them but haue rather sought diuersly to vexe them and so haue brought the curse of the people vpon them And herewithall remember how the poore shall be comforted Luc. 16.25 Pro. 10.7 Psal 37.2.9.10 and themselues tormented and that their name shall rotte and their remembrance shall be cleane put out And also do perswade themselues that they be of the number of them of whom it is said Woe be to you that are full for ye shall hunger Woe be to you that now laugh for you shall waile and mourne Luk. 6.25 Then they may turne their faces to the wall with Hezechias but looke for small comfort and say What hath our Pride profited vs or what profit hath the pompe of our riches brought vs We sometimes haue had many in dirision and in a parable of reproach We fooles we counted their life madnesse and thought their ende would be without honour But they are reckoned among the children of God Wisd 5.3.4.5.8 and shall haue their portion among the Saints But with vs it is not so 1. Psal 1.5.6 Wisd 4.14 we are like the chaffe which the wind driueth away from the face of the earth therefore we shall not be able to stand in the iudgements neither in the congregation of the righteous O the consideratioÌ„ of these things to a distressed soule plunged in distrust is iust cause to sorrow and mourne Of such it may truly be said Nasci miseria viuere paena mori angustia est To be borne is miserie to liue is a plague and for to die is anguish and woe And thus much to shewe you some causes why death is a terror vnto the wicked people of the world CHAP. XII Who feare not death NOw there is an other sort of men vnto whom death is neuer terrible but most heartily welcome And these are those spirituall minded men the number whereof is but small Math. 7.14 which haue the seale of the liuing God in their foreheads Reue. 7.3 Whose names are written in the Lambes booke of life Which haue made their long robes white in the bloud of the Lambe These haue the spirit of the liuing God by which they are sealed vnto the day of redemption and are not in the flesh but in the spirit because the spirit of God dwelleth in them Which spirit beareth witnesse vnto our spirits Rom. 8.9.16 that wee are the children of God and heires annexed with Christ if so bee that wee suffer with him that we may also be glorified with him or else not For after death there is a seperation of the soule from God into hell onely Math. 7.23 Which the learned doo call the death of the soule and the Euangelist Iohn Luk. 16.26 The second death Quam omnes patiuntur qui periculorum metu fidem abnegant mundo sese conformes reddunt Gualt in Hos 14. Hom. 44. Mat. 10. 1. Ioh. 2.15 Which all soules do fuffer that for feare of daungers doo denie the faith and fashion themselues like vnto the worlde But the Saints of God are free being iustified by faith and are at peace with God through Iesus Christ our Lorde And they do shewe forth their faith by their workes being borne anew not of mortall seed but of immortall by the word of God who liueth and endureth for euer And these beeing strong in the Lorde and in the power of his might doo cast away the workes of darknesse and put vpon them the armor of light euen the whole armour of God by which they are able to resist in the euill day and hauing finished all things they stand fast For their heart as the Prophet saith beleeueth in the Lord and they are not afraid to meete with their enemie in the gate Therefore if death come or the diuel or whatsoeuer they feare not For who shall laie any thing to the charge of Gods elect Rom. 8.33 It is God that iustifieth who shall condemne And so these are as willing to welcome death Luk. 2.25.28 Colloss 1.21 Psal 120.5 as Simeon was ioyfull to imbrace Christ because death is to them aduantage Therefore the Princely Prophet Dauid said Woe is me that I am constrained to dwell with Meshech and to abide among the tents of Kedar And againe Bring my soule out of prison Ps 142.7 1. Reg. 2.2 And a little before his death quietly hee said I goe the way of all the earth that is I know death is at hand Iob. 6.8.9 Ien. 4.3 This holie Iob wished for and Ionas praied O Lord take I beseech thee my life from me for it is better for me to die then to liue Paul knowing the same Rom. 7.24 saide O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer mee from the bodie of this death And writing to the Philippians hee saith Phil. 1.23.24 To abide in the flesh was needfull for them but
In all this did not Iob offend nor charge God foolishly And thus much for the down-fall of Pride CHAP. XV. A briefe note of Hell NOw to her destruction to the sides of the â—it that is euerlasting death and damnation Not that I counsell you to goe thither but that I feare many wil and I would forewarne you of that place of torments The God of heauen giue vs grace to be warned whilest we haue time for it will be too late to seeke for helpe as Diues did when the gate of geace shall be shut against vs. The proud heart of Nabuchadnezzar perswaded it selfe to get aboue the cloudes as the Spaniard spiteth vs and to be like the most high God that is he determined to take Ierusalem which the Lord had chosen to be an habitation for himselfe and of Pride hee ment to tread downe the people of God vnder his feet as the Pope did the Emperour But he is brought downe and so shall I trust the Spaniard if our Pride and sin hold him not vp to the graue euen to the sides of the pit By which is ment that Pride shall haue the greatest torments and chiefest roome in hel of all other sinnes because on earth she hath bene the foremost chiefe ringleader of all other Musc in Isai 14.15 Qui similis esse volebas deo pro coelo demersus es in tenebras inferni Thou which wouldest be like vnto God in stead of heauen thou art drowned or plunged in the darknesse of hell It is euen the same iudgement which the sonne of God Christ Iesus denounced against proud Capernaum saying And thou Capernaum which art exalted to heauen shalt be thrust downe to hell Luk. 10.15 Hell is a place without the heauen prepared of God with vnspeakeable most horrible confused euerlasting torments for the damned Of which though the extreame and full horror thereof cannot of man bee expressed no not if a damned soule were permitted to expresse what it could of the paine it is not able to describe that which it most wofully feeleth yet the holy scriptures of God do speak plainly and sufficiently thereof for our learning and instruction most wonderfull to behold Whereof many men haue written learnedly the chiefe substance whereof thou shalt finde collected by Parsons in his Resolution the ninth Chapter vnto which for this time I will send you 1. Because of the truth of the argument and the plaine easie maner of handling it 2. As also I must confesse I cannot much amend it neither now stay to speake that which I would of it 3. Because honour is to be giuen to whom honour is due The Idollators rob God of his honour and he that taketh an other mans workes without his name is like a theefe that stealeth an other mans goods to enrich himselfe As many do in these dayes that cause the poore to smart as vsurers extortioners oppressors theeues and the couetous c. for whom is reserued the myst of darknesse for euer without repentance And thus for this time I haue finished that which I determined for the Lord beeing but able to rough-hewe my timber and so leaue it the more readie for a better builder God graunt we may all build together the worke of the Lord to the humble and perfect finishing of our faith through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen The Lord liueth and blessed be my strong helper and praised be the God of my saluation Psal 18.47 Amen FINIS Si malè quid dictuÌ„ est hominem dixisse memento Si bene quid dixi gloria Christe tua est Is ought here past my penne humane that same is due to mee But what is right and true O God that same I haue of thee And thee do praise for all thy grace and knowledge of thy word O Father Sonne and holy Ghost one God and mightie Lord. Let vs pray O Holy and eternall God most mightie Lord and mercifull Father whose truth reacheth vnto the heauens righteousnesse vnto the ends of the world which haste now taught vs that those which exalt themselues shall be brought downe to the graue to the sides of the pit euen to hell giue vs grace that we by thy power may subdue the flesh vnto the spirit that wee may be the habitation of thine owne holinesse and the place which thou hast chosen to put thy name there So shall wee be safe vnder thy protection and our hearts shall be filled with ioy as the Temple was with the glory of the Lord. And then as Symeon reioyced to embrace Christ so shall wee to receiue death without trembling through faith being assured of deliuerance from thy wrath Heare vs ô Lord for Iesus Christs sake our onely Mediator and Aduocate To whom with the Father and the holy Ghost be all thankes and praise and honour and power and glory and maiestie ascribed now and for euer Amen FINIS
is wrought by the holy Ghost (t) Isay 26.12 Without me saith Christ ye can do nothing Paratur enim voluntas a domino For mans will is prepared of the Lord (v) Most excelleÌ„t saith Aug. Epist 105. Tom. 2 per tota to euery good worke And now for the warre betwixt the Papists and vs about this poynt this peace I proclaime as Embassador from the Lord That faith is a supernaturall knowledge wrought by the holy Ghost in a regenerate man by which hee is assured of eternall saluation through Christ (w) Ephe. 1.17.18.19 and good works do approue this knowledge to be sound and true (x) Iam. 2.17.20.22 If the tree bee good so is the fruite also and the tree is knowne by his fruite (y) Math. 12.33 And thus as faith and workes cannot be seperated by the sun and his light fire and heate so ô Lord vnite the Papists and all other Heretickes to vs and thy true Church militant that we may all worship thee in one spirit and truth If this beame of Pride were once plucked out of mens eyes the bright sun-light of the truth of Religion would clearely appeare and all men would walke as in the day time Fourthly hee is proud that is furious like a mad man or doteth like a foole for so the Greeke word signifieth about questions and strife of words not being content with the doctrine of the Gospell If any man teach otherwaies saith the blessed Apostle hauing exhorted vnto obedience Tetuphotai he is proud knowing nothing Alla noson but furiously doating about questions and strife of words whereof commeth enuy strife raylings euill surmisings vaine disputations of men of corrupt mindes c. (z) 1. Timo. 6.3.4 Insani vocantur tales questionarij vt qui sibi de quibuslibet rebus etiam de lana caprina discertare per animi morbos conflictari indulgeant (a) Marl. ex Iodo Vilich in 1. Timot. 6. Such bee called mad doating or busie questionists or disputors as giue themselues to contend about euery matter euen of smal moment as of the Moone shining in the water or wearing of a comely Surples and through Pride so to trouble themselues As many doo about the orders of our Church established neither for superstition nor Idolatry nor for the maintenance of any accident adioyning vnto them â—ut to keepe comelinesse vniformitie and order in the Church this satisfieth my conscience and what should I seeke â—o alter the decree of a whole Parliament I know wherein to obey God rather then man and I know how to obey God by man and I know how to obey God and man and it is not for euery priuate man to know all the reasons why such and such things bee ordained for policie and order in a Common-wealth Now then if no offence bee iustly giuen if thy vnbrideled and vntamed spirite whatsoeuer thou art vniustly take any what is that to the Church looke thou to that as the Iews said to Iudas to his maister and Lord as traiterous (b) Mat. 26 as you to your Princes good orders are malicious and to her Maiestie how true iudge your selues as Paul saith to the Communicants (c) 2. Cor. 13.5 I iudge no man I doo commaund from the Lord that you Giue vnto Caesar that which is Caesars If you say our blood is not too deare a sacrifice to be offered in her Maiesties quarell no more then Isaac was to his father (d) Gen. 22 1.10.11 I say againe And will you not then spare one affection to obey her One saith out of Gregory Probatio dilectionis est exhibitio operis The triall of thy loue is the shewing of thy deed or to shew it by thy deeds (e) Ser. de temp 100. And Christ saith If ye loue me keepe my commaundements (f) Ioh. 14.15 How can you loue your holy Prince do not her will If you deny to do that which is least who may trust you in that which is most Seruants obey their Maisters (g) Mal. 1.6 the Oxe knoweth his owner (h) Isay 1.3 and subiects should their Prince (i) Ro. 13.1 Faith without good workes is dead in it selfe (k) Iam. 2.20 And Iudas his haile Maister with his kisse was treason against the sonne of God Math. 26. And as Dauid saith Good words in the mouth and warre in the heart is nothing better then plaine hypocrisie Therefore Christ called the flattering Disciples of the Pharisies and the HerodiaÌ„s hipocrites (l) Mat. 22 18. which are a people or generation pure in their owne conceit (m) Prou. 30.12 and it is a mightie Pride for one to coÌ„ceiue well of himself where fewe or none else doth and the worse where there is no cause Well Christ saith Hee that gathereth not with vs scattereth abroad (n) Math. 12.30 S. Aug. saith Non est particeps diuinae charitatis qui hostis est vnitatis (o) Aug. Epist. 50. He is not beloued of God which is an enemy to the vnitie of the Church The braunch beareth not fruite except it abide in the vine (p) Ioh. 15.4 and what life is in the body beeing torne asunder If I were now to come to the Papist Puritane I wote what to say but others are before me whose shooes I am not worthy to beare then heere will I stay A foule puddle the more it is stirred the more it stinketh Onely this I could wish that our busie-bodies would cease to licke vp the vomit which others haue cast washed from them as also to meddle with Callings who why and how such and such men haue their calling lawfull and as for my brethren of my owne calling to meddle with matters of state my poore wisedome and learning garded with humilitie councelleth and teacheth me to behold and learne of King Dauid the man after Gods owne heart wiser then the most peeuish schismaticke or opinionaries who saith Lord I do not exercise my selfe in great matters which are too high for me but I refraine my soule and keepe it lowe (q) Ps 131. And to what end should a Countrie Pulpit meddle with matters of gouernment in Malam partem except it were to teach the people to tread vpon the Princes lawful Scepter and tread the Crowne vnder their feete What they haue intended God hath preuented and because this their counsell or worke is of men it comes to nought as Gamaliel told the men of Israel theirs should if it were against God (r) Act. 5.34 38. Admit some things might be amisse the best way to amend them is there to speake of them where mends may be had and not to keepe a wrangling among such as cannot helpe No no my deare brethren if wee looke well about vs wee shall finde no time wherin to omit speaking of the matters of faith for men will not beleeue and to smite at sinne corruption among Officers at this