man is so perfect as can be in this sinfull life put all these together and it is as if S. Paul should say Quench not the spirit by dispising of prophesying neither dispise prophesying because all do not preach alike but rather when you heare some preach one way and some another way doe you trye their doctrines by the Scriptures as the men of Berea did and then chuse that which is best and soundest and truest hauing alwayes such an eye to the truth that thou abstaine from all appearance of error so zealous the holy Ghost would haue vs of our fayth that wee set no atticle vppon our religion but that which is an vndoubted truth The spirit is quenched as our zeale our faith and our loue are quenched with sinne euery vaine thought euery vaine word and euery wicked deed is like so many droppes to quench the spirit of God some quench it with the busines of this world some quench it with the lusts of the flesh some quench it with the cares of the mind some quench it with long delayes that is not applying the motion when it commeth but crossing the good thoughts with bad thoughts and doing a thing when the spirit saith doe it not some-time a man shall feele himselfe stirred to a good worke as though hee were led to it by the hand and againe he shal be frighted from some euill thing as though he were reprooued in his eare then if he resist he shall streight seele the spirit going out of him and heare as it were a voice pronouncing him guilty and shall hardly recouer his peace againe therefore Saint Paul saith grieue not the spirit shewing that the spirit is often grieued before it bee quenched and that when a man begins to grieue and checke and persecute it that is vntill hee seeme to haue no spirit at all but walketh like a temple of flesh It is ment by the spirit the gifts and graces of the spirit the spirit of God is the spirit of wisdome and the spirit of truth No man saith Paul can say that Iesus is the Lord but by the holy ghost Againe the spirit helpeth our infirmities the same spirit beareth witnesse with our spirit that wee are the children of God it is hee that leadeth vs into all truth and openeth our hearts to vnderstand and guideth our feete into the way of peace O dispise not the wisdome of the spirit refuse not his helpe but seeke it that you may be strengthned Comfort your selues in his testimony of your adoption quench not the light he hath kindled in your hearts disdaine not his leading abuse not his mercy Abuse not the time of your visitation let not so great mercy of God bestowed on you be in vaine fulfill not your owne wils Abstaine from fleshly iusts walke in the spirit defire the best gifts and let euery man as hee hath receiued the gift so minister the same to another as good disposers of the manifold graces of God Dispise not prophecying THis admonition is as it were the keeper of the former for by prophecying the spirit is kindled and without prophecying the spirit is quenched and therefore after Quench not the spirit saith Paul shewing that as our sinne doth quench the spirit so prophecying doth kindle it this you may see in the disciples that went to Emaus of whom it is said when Christ preached vnto them out of the law and the Prophets the spirit was so kindled with his preaching that their hearts waxed hot within them This is no maruell that the spirit of man should be so kindled and reuiued and refreshed with the word of God for the word is called the food of the soule take away the word from the soule and it hath no food to eate as if you should take food from the body the body would pine therefore Salomon saith without preaching the people perish therefore hee which loueth his soule had no need to dispise prophecying for then hee famisheth his owne soule and is guilty of her death Prophecying is the preaching and expounding the word of God and hee is called a Prophet and doth prophecy that openeth vnto vs the will of God dispise not therefore to heare the word of God preached turne not away thine eare from vnderstanding God giues power to his word that it may worke according to his good pleasure it will let thee see the weaknesse of thine error and settle thee in the way wherein thou shouldest walke if it had beene dangerous for thee to heare the prophecying of the Gospel he would not haue sent his disciples into the world to preach it if Lidia should not haue liked to heare Paul preach how might she haue known God if those great numbers which heard Peter and were conuerted had dispised prophecying and would not haue heard him declare the grace of the gospell vnto them they had neuer considered the great mercy of God nor sought to bee instructed in their saluation faith commeth by hearing saith the Apostle This hath beene the meanes by which Christ hath giuen knowledge to Kings and Princes and all nations it hath pleased God saith Paul by foolishnesse of preaching to saue them that beleeue 1 Cor. 1. dispise not then to come to the Church of God to pray with the congregation of the faithful to heare the Scriptures of God read and expounded it is the blessing of God offered vnto thee he that dispiseth it shal be dispised of the Lord and he shal be left in darkenesse thus much for the negatiue parts which we must not doe It followeth to try all things and keepe that which is good AFter dispise not prophecying it followeth trie all things as if hee should say but for all that trie prophecying least thou beleeue errour for truth for as amongst Rulers there bee bad Rulers so among Preachers there bee false Preachers this made Christ warne his disciples to bee ware of the leauen of the Pharisies that is of their false doctrine this made Iohn say trie the Spirits therefore wee reade in the Acts 17.11 How the men of Berea would not receiue Pauls doctrine before they had tried it and how did they trie it It is said they searched the Scriptures this is the way which Paul would teach you to trie other whereby he was tried himselfe thereby you may see that if you vse to read the Scriptures you shal be able to trie all doctrines for the word of God is the touchstone of euery doubt like the light which God made to behold all his creatures so is the Scriptures to decide all questions euery doubt must come to the word and all controuersies must be ended at this tribunall the Scripture must speak which is right and which is wrong which is truth and which is error and all tongues must keepe silence to heare it A man trieth his friend before he trust him and shall not wee trie our faith which must saue vs Saint Paul saith Let euery
thee art thou my sonne my sonnes giue me their hearts and by this they know that I am their father if I dwell in their hearts for the heart is the temple of God therefore if thou be his fonne thou wilt giue him thy heart because thy Father defireth it thy Maker desireth it thy Redeemer desireth it thy Sauiour desireth it thy Lord and King and thy Maister desireth it which hath giuen his sonne for a ransome his spirit for a pledge his word for a guide the world for a walke and reserueth a kingdome for thine inheritance Now if wee would consider the right way whereby we may giue our hearts vnto God the counsell of him whoe speaketh nothing but the very truth and he himselfe is the truth that is our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ which saith where your treasure is there will be your hearts also therefore let our conuersation be in heauen and vpon heauenly thinges that wee may thereby make our trasure there and so wee shall haue our heartes there placed where our enemies cannot take it from vs thus much for this note as hath beene said now it followeth in the next Now if wee haue not remembred our Lord and Creator in the daies of our youth and withall haue not giuen our hearts vnto him whereby we might become religious and to increase in vs renewed hearts and mindes for the better vnderstanding and finding out the right path-way which leadeth vnto eternall happinesse therefore I say if wee haue not prepared our selues and done this already as hath beene declared in this second part it is then now high time to begin to remember God and to giue our hearts vnto him in age or else to forget him for euermore for the gray-head which looketh euery day for his last Sabaoth when hee shall rest in the graue had neede to pray twice asmuch heare twice as much do twice as much to prepare sacrifice of his body and soule ready and acceptable vnto GOD because the night is at hand when he cannot pray nor heare nor repent any more It is said the Diuell is very busie because his time is short but an ould mans is shorter therefore if youth had neede of legges age had neede of winges therefore in the next consequence it is further to bee obserued what further duties wee are to proceede in as followeth Moyses in the 90. Psalme vers 12 saith teach vs to number our daies that we may apply our hearts vnto wisdome this Psalme was compiled by Moyses as may appeare by the title At what time the spies returned from the land of Canaan and God for the murmuring of them pronounced that all which were aboue twenty yeares ould should die in the wildernesse except Caleb and Iosua that encouraged their bretheren to goe into Canaan Now when Moyses heard the sentence of death pronounced against him-selfe and all the Iewes which came out of Egypt except onely two That all should die before they came to the land which they sought for he prayeth thus for himselfe and the rest Teach vs O LORD to number our daies that wee may giue our hearts vnto wisdome that is seeing wee must needs dye and that our dayes are short teach vs therefore to thinke vpon death that wee may dye in thy feare O Lord and so to liue againe for euermore this sheweth vs that the consideration of our mortality will make vs apply our hearts to godlinesse therefore Moyses thinking of his death runneth to wisdome as a remedy against death Therefore wee must come to some Schoolemaister which is like Saint Iohn Baptist what shall wee doe that wee may growe in knowledge as wee grow in yeares Teach mee saith Moyses to number my dayes that I may apply my heart to wisdome whereby Moyses telleth vs that this was one of his helps which made him profit in the knowledge of God To remember his daies as a man which hath a set time for his taxe listneth to the clock counteth his houres So wee haue a set time to serue God worke while it is day Iohn 9.4 saith Christ what hee doth meane by this day the Apostle sheweth vs saying This is the day of saluation that is This life is the day wherein wee should worke our saluation this is a long taxe therefore wee had need to remember our dayes and loose not a minuit least we be be-nighted before our work be done As God hath numbered our dayes so we must learne to remember our dayes or else it seemes we cannot apply our hearts to wisdom that is vnlesse wee thinke vpon death wee cannot fashion our selues to a godly life though we were aswell instructed as Moyses was This we find dayly in our selues that the forgetfulnes of death maketh vs to apply our hearts vnto folly and pleasure and all voluptuousnesse that contrary to his aduice worke your saluation we worke our damnation therefore this is the fruite which commeth to a man by numbring or remembring his dayes God teacheth man to apply his heart to wisdome and that is his lesson which he giueth for that purpose Remember thy dayes that is thinke that wisdom is a long study and that thou hast but a short time to get it and this will make thee get ground of vertue Therefore fiue things are to be noted in these words first that death is the heauen of euery man whether hee sit in the throne or kept in a cottage at last hee must knock at deaths doore The second is That mans life is decreed and his bounds appointed which he cannot passe Thirdly that our dayes are few as though wee were sent into this world but to see it Fourthly the aptnesse of man to forget death rather then any thing else Lastly to remember how short a time wee haue to liue will make vs to apply our hearts to that which is good For the first poynt is that as euery man had a day to come into this world so hee shall haue a day to goe out of this world we are not lodged in a Castle but in an Inne where we are but guests therfore S. Peter calleth vs Pilgrims and strangers we are not citizens of the Earth but citizens of Heauen And therfore the Apostle saith We haue here no abiding citty but we looke for one to come as Christ saith My Kingdome is not of this world so we may say my dwelling is not of this world but the soule soreth vp-ward whence it came and the body stoopeth downeward whence it came euery man is but a tennant at will and there is nothing sure but death In Paradice we might liue or die euery thing and euery day suffers some eclips and nothing standeth at a stay but our Creator calleth to another let vs leaue this world our fathers summoned vs and we shall summon our children to the graue So in an houre wee are and are not wee may well bee called earthen vessells for we are soone changed what
deceiuers So if you would apply your harts as throughly to knowledge and goodnes you might then become like the Apostle which teacheth you therefore when Salomon sheweth men the way how to come by wisdome he speaketh often of the heart As giue thy heart to wisdome Let wisdome enter into thine heart get wisedome keep wisdome embrace wisdome Thus we haue learned how to apply our harts to knowlede that it may doe vs good that we may say with the Virgin Mary My heart doth magnifie the Lord and then the heart will apply it to the eare and the tongue as Chrict saith out of the aboundance of the heart the mouth speaketh The second note to be obserued is that remembrance of death maketh vs to apply our hearts to wisedome as many benefits come vnto vs by death so many benefits come vnto vs by the remembrance of death And this is one that maketh a man to apyly his heart vnto wisdome for when he considereth that he hath but a short time to liue he is carefull to spend it wel like Moses of whom it is written that when he considered hee had but a short season to liue hee chose rather to suffer affliction with the children of God then to enioy the pleasures of sinne for a season This wisdome the fathers called the wisdome of the crosse which we call the best wisdome because it is dearest bought it is hard to thinke of a short life and to thinke euill or to thinke of a long liâ—e and thinke well Therefore when Ieremy had numbred all the calamities and sinnes of the Iewes at the last he imputed all to this she remembred not her end Lam. 1.9 So it may be iudged why natural men care for nothing but their pompe why great men care for nothing but their honour and dignity why couetous worldlings care for nothing but their gaine why voluptuous Epicures care for nothing but their pleasures that it may be said with Ieremie they remembred not their endes Seeing then that so much fruit groweth of one stalke which is the numbring of our dayes Let vs therefore consider what an haruest we haue lost which happily before this day haue neuer prayed with Moses that the Lord would teach vs to remember our dayes but also how many dayes haue we spent and yet neuer thought why any dayes were giuen vs. It may be that thou hast but twenty yeares to serue God wilt thou not liue twenty yeares like a Christian that thou maist liue many thousand yeares like an Angel It may bee that thou hast but tenne yeares to serue God wilt thou not serue ten for Heauen which wouldst serue twenty yeares for a farme If thou be a man halfe thy time is spent already if thou be an old man then thou art drawing to thine Inne and thy race is but a breath for this cause God would not haue men know when they should dye because they should make ready at all times hauing no more certainty of one hower then an other Thus you see that death is the last vpon earth and that the time of man is set and that his race is short and that he thinkes not on it and that if he did remember it it would make him apply his mind to good as he doth to euill And thus I end as I began the Lord our God teach vs to remember our dayes that we may apply our heartes vnto Wisedome Amen Amen The Pilgrims iourney towards Heauen These two parts going before are chapters of preparatiues wherein euery Christian ought to prepare himselfe to become truly religious that he may learne to know the way to walke before God whereby he may attaine to eternall happinesse which way is manifestly declared vnto vs by the word of God And for asmuch as there can be no sound Deuine or learned Gramarian but he must first come to it by degrees in learning as appeareth in schooles of learning so is it with the Church of God for our Sauiour Christ sayth plainely that None can come vnto him but he must be drawn of the father Iohn 6.44 aleadging the scriptures how we are drawne saying it is written in the prophets And they shall all be taught of God euery man therefore that hath heard and learned of the father commeth vnto me Isaie 54 13. Iere 31.33 Therefore we are to apply our selues to those meanes which God hath ordained for that purpose that is the preaching of his word and meditations thereof for the holy Ghost is giuen for the working of the same in euery Christian therefore it is written in the Book called Eccl. 6 33. saying My son if thou wilt take heed thou shalt be taught and if thou wilt apply thy mind thou shalt bee wise if thou wilt bow downe thine eare thou shalt receiue doctrine and if thou delight in hearing thou shalt be witâ—y Againe Salomon saith O giue eare vnto good counsel and be content to be reformed that thou mayest be wise in thy latter dayes Pro. It is also written in the 22. of the Pro. saying Bow downe thine earer and heare the wordes of the Wise apply thy mind vnto my doctrine for it is a pleasant thing if thou keepe them in thine hart and order them in thy lippes that thou maist put thy trust in the Lord. Therefore sayth the Prophet Dauid The mouth of the righteous wil speake of wisdome and his tongue wil talk of iudgement for the law of his God is in his heart his lips shall not slide Psa 37. Therefore sayth Salomon get wisedome and get vnderstang forsake her not and she shal preserue thee loue her and she shall keepe thee for the cheefe poynt of Wisdome is to possesse wisdome and before all thy gooods get vnderstanding make much of her and she wil promote thee yea if thou embrace her she shal bring thee vnto honor she shall beautifie thy head with manifold graces and garnish thee with a Crowne of glory Pro. 4.5.6.7 Whosoeuer therefore findeth Wisdome findeth life and shal obtaine fauour of the Lord. Pro. 8. Now this Wisdome is called the wisdome of the word of God which proceedeth from God himselfe and all to teach vs to walke in holy obedience and conuersation all our dayes and therein to find saluation and eternall happines For in matters concerning the trueth of our walking we must profes with Dauid Thy word is a Lanthorne vnto my feet and a light vnto my pathes for whatsoeuer therefore doth not fully consent with the word of God in matters of truth and saluation mast euer be suspected For the wisedome of man when it wandreth without the pales of holy scriptures is meere foolishnes which wil euer be confounded and brought to nought 1. Cor. 1. Therefore wee must attribute nothing vnto naturall reason when it is not grounded by some consequent vppon the word of God So that we are there by aught that God hath ordayned the meanes so wee must prepare our selues to these meanes
neuer throughly vnderstand it O what a benefit had Salomon lost if he had lost his wisdom which God gaue him euen as great a benefit doest thou loose if thou loose the knowledge of Gods will Wilt thou know what this renuing is It is the repairing of the Image of God vntill wee be like Adam when hee dwelt in Paradice As there is a whole old man so there must bee a whole new man The old man must change properties with the new man that is wisdome for wisdome loue for loue feare for feare his worldly wisdome for heauenly wisdome his carnall loue for spirituall loue hsi seruile feare for Christian feare his idle thoughts for holy thoughts his vaine words for wholsome words his fleshly workes for sanctified workes Thus much of our regeneration and new birth which may bee called the Christian mans practise because it concerneth euery Christian to seeke for that foode which belongeth to the renued man according to the saying of Saint Peter 1.2.2 As new borne babes desire the sincere Milke of the word that yee may grow thereby The nourishment and food for there generate man 9. NOw followeth to bee obserued for the benefit and duty of the renued man that hee may proceed and grow on and dayly increase more and more in faith and feare of Iesus Christ whereby wee receiue all our growth and increase in God And therefore hee hath giuen vs speciall meanes that is the meditation and liuely preaching of the word of truth Therefore the Apostle by a figuratiue and borrowed speach earnestly presseth them to thrist and to long for the word of God euen for the foood of their soules for there are two births mentioned in the Scriptures the one fleshly and naturally by propagation from the first Adam whereby original and our birth sinne as it were a Serpents poyson passeth and transfuseth it selfe into vs the other is heauenly and spirituall by renouation from the second Adam which is Christ whereby grace and holinesse is deriued and brought vnto vs. In this latter and better birth God is our father to beget vs the Church his spouse our Mother to conceiue vs the seed whereby wee are bred and borne againe is the word of God the Nurse to feed and cherish vs are the Ministers of the Gospell and the food whereby wee are nourished and held in life is the Milke of the word Therefore in as much as children which are new borne cannot increase in growth and stature but must needs dye and come to dissolution vnlesse they bee continually fed and nourished with wholsome food It behooueth therfore all the faithfull and godly who are quickned and reuiued in the life of God as new borne babes to desire the sincere Milke of the word that they may grow by it Let vs now therefore come to the perticuler parts which issue and spring from the seuerall branches of this scripture First here is noted a preparation if wee will be bettered and increase by the word we must be as new borne babes Secondly our affection and duty when we are new borne we must desire Thirdly the matter and obiect of our desire is the Milke of the word Fourthly the quality of the milke that must be sincere lastly the vse and end for which we desire it that wee may grow thereby Now for the first poynt we must be as new borne babes for Children we know are principally commended for simplicity and harmlesnes And therefore all those which will profit in the schoole of Christ and receiue light and comfort by the preaching and meditation of the word are heere taught to become as babes to lay aside all maliciousnes and to bring holy and sanctified heartes to the hearing of it For we are neuer fit to heare and learne of Christ til we be reformed and newly renewed and changed againe for the secrets of the Lord as Dauid sayth is with them that feare him Psal 25.14 God wil not admit no sinfull soules into his secrets for wisedome wil not rest in the defiled soule nor in a body that is subiect to sin Therefore if we wil haue the Lord to blesse our hearing and reading we must wash and rence out the dregges of sinne that are frozen in vs that is wee must purge the leuen of maliciousnes that soureth our soules we must cast vp our couetousnesse and pride and our flothfulnes and for this is the cause why there are so many sinfull and non proficient hearers of the word because there are so many sinful hearers Wherfore to shut vp this poynt we must be as babes because Christ reueileth knowledge and wisedome to none but to babes And yet we must not be babes only but new borne babes which haue new soules a new life new members new affections imparted vnto them for we must be changed and new fashioned in euery part And therefore they which are implanted into Christ are called new Creatures because neither the old heart nor the old man nor the old eare nor the old eye wil serue the turne but all must be changed and new framed againe for whatsoeuer is borne of the flesh is flesh If we wil haue it spirit that is fit for Gods worship who is a spirit and wil be worshipped in spirit and truth we must be borne againe of the spirit the sence heereof made the prophet Dauid crye out create in me a cleane heart O God and renew a right spirit in me So let vs neuer rest seasoning our soules til all bee sanctified for then we are fit to vnderstand euery part of Gods will when wee bee in euery part new borne againe Wee may see the Apostle maketh no other accompt of the vnregenerat then of a dead man and therefore that they must be quickned and new borne againe before they can practise or performe any vitall action in the life of God Christ is resembled to a vine and wee to the branckes for that al iuyce and sap whereby the branches spring and liue issueth ariseth from the roote of the vine So all graces and goodnes that is in vs droppeth and distilleth from the riches of the person of Iesus Christ so vntil God blesse our hearts they be wicked and fruitlesse Therfore as an vncleane fountaine cannot send forth sweet water nor a bad tree bring forth good fruit no more can the corrupt and wicked heart of the vnregenerate bud and bring forth any good and vertuous actions Thus much of our condition and preparation whereby wee haue learned with how holy and with how sanctified affections we ought to repayre the hearing of the word of God Now it followeth our duty and affections when we are new borne we must not be children in wauering and inconstancie because the Apostle sayth that God hath furnished his church with pastors and teachers that we be noe more children wauering and carried about with euery wind of doctrine nor we must not bee children in vnderstanding and knowledge because
came from heauen as Saint Peter affirmeth saying All Scriptures are giuen by inspiration of God and is profitable to doctrine to reprocue to correction to instruction which is in righteousnesse that the man of God may bee perfectly instructed vnto all good workes 2. Tim. 3.16 And againe it is said The Scriptures came not by man neither by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were mooued by the holy Ghost And therefore this word of truth must alwaies goe before vs like the fierie pillar to shew vs when wee are in the way and when wee are not or else the broad way would seeme the best way Therefore all they which care not for the word goe like blind men to hell for heauen for the Papist deuiseth many wayes to come to heauen not beeing grounded vpon the word of God therefore they are blind leaders of the blind Therefore the Apostle doth warne vs to examine our selues whether wee bee in the faith that is in the true faith therefore it is not enough to beleeue but wee must care how to beleeue It is not enough to pray but wee must care how wee pray It is not enough to heare but wee must care how wee heare It is not enough to worke but wee must care how wee worke for wee cannot doe good vnlesse wee doe it well Now wee come to the knowledge of the perfect truth which leadeth all true Christians vnto eternall happinesse THerefore GOD hath prepared the right way wherein euery true Christian may learne to trauell towards Heauen and to walke truly and euermore to know the true way from the false and is manifestly and truly declared by the word of God And therefore Saint Paul hath layd downe the true foundation of this way which is Iesus Christ alone and as hee himselfe testifeth saying I am the wâ—y the truth and the life that is the true way to euerlasting life Iohn 14. Therfore learne Christ and learne the true and petfect way to heauen for to learne Christ truly is as much as is needfull to be learned in all the whole scriptures for all the scriptures runne vppon Christ and Christ is vnto the faithfull al in al for our saluation and that no man sayth the Apostle can lay any other foundation that can stand he exhorteth therefore to take heed how hee buildeth for the iudgement of the scriptures shall trye euery mans worke that is euery mans preaching euery mans fayth euery mans life And if any man build vppon this foundation layd by Paul I meane Iesus Christ buildeth surely to stand fast for euer because he is Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end of our saluation therefore he is figured in the law fortold in the Prophets and fulfilled in the Gospel some places poynt to his diulnity some to his humanity some to his kingdome some to his priesthood some to his prophesie soem to his conception some to his birth some to his life some to his miracles some to his passion some to his resurrection some to his ascention some to his glorification All poynt to our Sauiour therefore learne Christ and learne all that wee may the better learne we must be taught how we should heare how we should pray how we should loue how we should beleeue and how we should follow Christ that we may know when we haue learned him therefore the Apostle in the 13. to the Rom. sayth put ye on the Lord Iesus Christ as though this word did containe al our duties vnto Christ to put him on which seemes to be the leuel of this phrase if you mark how it commeth in for before S. Paul sayth Cast away the works of darknesse and put on the armour of light then he nameth the workes which he should put off that is Gluttony Drunkennesse Strife Enuy Chambering wantonnesse After he nameth the armour of light which hee should put on and calleth it by the name of the giuer the Lord Iesus Christ he doth not apply vertue against vice as one would thinke when he had sayd cast off Gluttony he should haue sayd put on sobriety Also when he said cast off wantonnes he should haue sayd put on continency when he sayd cast off enuie he should haue sayd put on loue but in stead of al vertues he commendeth the ensample of Christ for euery vertue and opposeth it against euery vice for his ensample wil teach him what he should doe and what he should fly better then all the precepts in the world Therfore studdy what this meaneth To put on Christ this phrase is read in none but S. Paul which hath written most of iustification by Christ and therefore hee vseth all fitte phrases to expresse how wee should apply Christ vnto vs. And in no termes hee hath shewed it more liuely then in this phrase for it signifyeth that Christ doth couer vs like a Garment and defend vs safely like an armour hee hideth our vnrighteousnesse with his righteousnesse hee couereth our disobedience with his obedience hee shadoweth our death with his death that the wrath of God cannot finde vs iudgement cannot spye vs the curse cannot see vs but Christ is not our head and saue-gard vnlesse wee bee his members Christ is not our Garment vnlesse wee put him on As Christ did put on our Garment when hee clothed himselfe with our flesh and tooke our infirmities and bare our curse So wee must put on his Garment that is his righteousnesse his merits and his death which is as strange a vesture to vs as our flesh was to him And much a doe wee haue to put it on and when it is on there is great cunning to weare it cleanly and comely from foyling and renting it least such a precious Garment bee not taken from vs againe Therefore many seeme to weare this Garment which should bee thrust from the banket because they weare it not as those which will say when the Lord shall come to Iudgement Wee haue seene thee in our streetes wee haue heard thee in our Synagogues and Prophecied in thy name wee haue cast out Diuils in thy name Then CHRIST will say vnto them I know yee not there is their reward you weare not my liuery you beare not my cognizance for all your shewes therefore depart from mee so hee put them off because they had not put him on for they had no faith to apply his merits his mercies his death and his righteousnesse vnto themselues without which no man can put on CHRIST nor weare him for faith is the hand which putteth him on saith first taketh his righteousnesse and couereth her vnrighteousnesse then shee taketh his obedience and couereth her disobedience then shee taketh his patience and couereth her impatience and so taketh one vertue after another and tricketh her selfe vntill she haue put on IESVS CHRIST that is vntill shee appeare in the sight of Almighty GOD like IESVS CHRIST cloathed with his merites and graces that GOD hath no
man be able to giue a reason of his faith is this a reason of our faith to say I beleeue so because Rome beleeueth so or not rather because the word of God doth teach me so it will not answere for them that die in heresie to say the Papists taught vs so for God saith bee not deeeiued neither by Serpent nor by Prophet nor by Angels God doth giue vnto his children the spirit of discretion and of iudgment to be wise and know what is that good and acceptable will of God be not therfore deceiued with words of mens wisdome let not the basenesse or simplicitie of any cause you resuse the message which he brings and carry not your selues to liking of al that what so euer shal be told you of such as beare a great shew and countenance this was it that deceiued the people of God they gaue eare to false teachers which led them to worship the workes of their owne hands The Scribes and Pharises seemed so graue and wise that the people thought nothing good but what they allowed they were altogether aplyable to beleeue to doe to speake and to thinke whatsoeuer the Pharises willed them Christ saith bewane of false Prophets which come to you in sheepes clothing but inwardly they are rauening wolues Mathew 7. Saint Iohn therefore saith Deerely beloued beleeue not euery spirit but trie the spirits whether they are of God for many false Prophets are gone out into the world Iohn 11.4 and further declareth vnto vs how wee should trie them herein shall yee know the spirit of God euery spirit that confesseth that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is of GOD. Againe heereby you may trie them whosoeuer transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God hee that continueth in the doctrine of Christ he hath both the father and the sonne if there come any vnto you bringing not this doctrine receiue him not into your houses neither bid him God speed hereby Saint Paul requireth the Galathians to trie betweene him and their false Apostles if any man saith hee preach vnto you otherwise then that you haue receiued let him be accursed Gala. 1. Paul putteth Tymothie in minde wherefore he left him at Ephesus that is to command some that they teach no other doctrine and to warne both the teachers and the hearers that they giue no heed to fables and genealogies which are endlesse which breed questions rather then godly edifying which is by faith Thus are the people of God called to trie the truth to iudge betweene light and darkenesse God hath made them the promise of the spirit and hath left vnto them his word they of Borea when they heard the preaching of Saint Paul searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so as hee taught them and many of them beloeued so doe you giue heed to instructions and yet receiue not all things without proofe and triall that they bee not contrary to the wholsome doctrine of the word of God Keepe that which is good VVHen you haue tried and found the truth be constant and setled in it A wauering minded-man is vnstable in all his waies follow the truth and bee not carried about with euery wind of doctrine The diuell will come in the name of God and change himselfe into an Angel of light let him not take away the loue of the truth from you let him not remoue you from faith a good conscience Returne not like Swine vnto your mire God hath purged your hearts and made them cleane and except they be preserued and kept occupied the vncleane spirit will returne and enter in and dwell in you so the last estate of you shal be worse then the first Wee haue great cause to hearken diligentlie to the Apostle to keepe that is good for wee see dailie great confusion in all places Sathan would faine intangle vs againe with the error of the wicked and seeketh to draw vs from our stead-fastnesse Now is the time wherein God maketh some trial of his seruants now iniquity seekes to haue the vpper hand they seduce people and say heere is Christ there is Christ heere is the Church there is the Church GOD giue vs his holy spirit to guide vs in iudgement that wee may discerne the truth from falshood and know the blessed and gracious will of GOD that wee may walke in his waies and serue him in reuerence and feare al the daies of our liues for as their are many seeke Christ with an vnfained heart so their are many that seeke Antichrist and as their bee many true professors of the truth of God so are their many dispisers of the same this may wee see heere at home within this Realme wee may see it and mourne for it in our hearts Their practises are opened they haue broken out into open rebellion to the breach of the peace both of God and man they say with their lippes GOD saue King IAMES yet they hold vp their swords against him alas what hath hee deserued at their hands hath hee not dealt mercifully without crueltie without shedding of bloud GOD preserue him that hee may long reigne ouer vs and bring all his enemies to confusion What pretence make they for this their doing that heereby they seeke to haue religion reformed thankes bee to God religion is reformed far better then euer our fathers knew of these many hundred yeeres for if those that liued before vs might haue seene and heard as wee see and heare they would haue reioyced and thought themselues happy But they would haue the Masse what finde they or see they in it wherefore they should so desire it Trie all things saith Paul therefore examine and trie the Masse what wee doe learne by it what doctrine what godlinesse in life what comfort of saluation it is dumbe and deadly seruice it is the very key of their religion the people are bound to bee present at it yet they neither receiue any thing nor eate nor heare nor vnderstand any thing you are wise you haue reason you are the children of God be you Iudges herein and iudge vprightly for it is Gods cause wil they call this the Lords supper Is this the Sacrament of our redemption is this that which Paul receiued of the Lord and deliuered vnto the Church is this the shewing forth of the Lords death till hee come They paint their banner with the Crosse and fiue wounds why bring they these Armes against vs Doe not wee beleeue the Crosse of Christ doe not we reioyce and comfort our heartes by the remembrance of his woundes do not we read and shew forth to the people the story of the passion God knoweth it and the world can witnesse it and they themselues cannot denye it but that we make this worke of our redemption wrought by the passion of our sauiour Christ the cheefe and principall rock and foundation of our faith therefore say we with the Apostle God forbid
that we should reioyce in any thing but in the crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ nay rather they are become our enemies because we beleeue in Iesus Christ crucified because we say as Gods word teacheth that Iesus Christ is the only aduocate to the father for our sinnes and that he hath with one suffering consecrated for euer them that are sanctified and that the blood of Iesus Christ his sonne clenseth vs from all sinne for this cause are they become our enemies Let vs nothing feare their trecheries and attempts let vs keepe that is good and hould it fast vntill death now that we haue tasted of the good word of God and haue receiued the comsort of the Gospell Let vs not despise it nor be weary of it let vs pray to God that he wil establish the loue of his truth in vs and that he wil open the eyes of their harts bring them to be partakers of those mercies which yet through ignorance they haue despised Now when we haue tryed by the word which is truth and which is error what shall we them doe keep that which is best that is to say as the truth we must keepe and hold the truth that is defend it with thy tongue maintaine it with thy purse further it with thy labour in danger and trouble losse and displeasure come life come death thinke to doe as Christ did seale the truth with his blood so thou must seale it with thy blood or else thou dost not keepe it but let it goe Well did Paul put trie before chuse for he which tryeth may chuse the best but hee which chuseth before he trye taketh oft the worst before the best Now it followeth in this last admonition Abstaine from all appearance of euill AFter trye all things and keepe the best followeth abstaine from all appearance of euill as if he should say that is like to bee best which is so far from euill that it hath not the appearāce of euil that is like to be truth which is farre from error that it hath not the shew of error whereby sheweth that nothing should be brought into the Church or added to our religion but that which is vndoubted truth without suspition of error it is not enough to be perswaded of our faith but we must be assured of it for religion is not built vppon doubts but vpon knowledge Heere we may maruell why Paul biddeth vs abstaine from all appearance of euil because sin and heresie and superstition are hippocrisie that sinne hath the appearance of vertue and heresie hath the appearance of truth and superstition hath the appearance of religion but this the Apostle doth note that there is no sinne nor heresie nor superstition but if the Visor be taken away from it it will appeare to be sinne and heresie and superstition though at the first sight the Visor doe make it seeme none because it couereth the euill like a painted sepulcher vppon wormes and rotten bones Therefore keep your selues not only from doing those things which are euill but also from all appearance of euill offend not the conscience of thy brother that he may haue no occasion to thinke euil of thee commit not adultery and withdraw thy selfe from the company of such vnthrifty light and suspected persons be not like to them that are such lay not out thy money to vsury nor doe any thing whereby others may thinke euill of thee beware of vncharitable conueyance of thy money be no Idolater and leaue of to do any thing that may bring you into suspition of Idolatry giue not thy honour unto any creature which is proper vnto God haue no fellowship with their workes beare no shew no appearance of liking their euill goe not as they goe liue not as they liue Saint Paul reprooueth the Galathians saying yee obserue dayes and monethes and times and yeares I am in feare of you least I haue bestowed on you labour in vaine Gal. 4. so doth he the Collossians 2. If ye bee dead with Christ from the ordinance of the world why as though yee liue in the world are yee burthened with traditions as touch not tast not handle not so doe the Idolaters you should not be like vnto them they are the children of darknesse you are the children of light they will not be like you and forsake their false Gods why should you then become like vnto them forsake the God that made the heauens the earth you cannot make them ashamed of their errors and to embrace the truth why then should you betray the truth and be partakers with them in error The King Antiochus sent to Ierusalem and to the Citties of Iuda that they should follow the strange lawes of the country many of them chose rather to die then to be defiled with vncleane things and so to breake the holy couenant which God gaue them Machab. 1. Therefore abstaine from all appearance of euill be not like the wicked of this world you are the salt of the earth you should not bee partners of their corruptions but powder and season them You are the light of the world you may not be partakers of their darknesse but lighten and guide them dessemble not but serue God in the simplicity of your hearts and in the sight of the world let it bee written in your foreheads what you thinke in your harts why should any man be ashamed of Gods truth Thus wee haue heard the care of the Apostle in teaching the Thessolonians three principall duties of a Christian that is to reioyce to pray and to giue thankes as hath beene declared more at large and withall for the confirmation thereof in the verses following foure admonitions which are as fortresses to hould vp those duties that is 1. quench not the spirit 2. dispise not prophecying 3. trie and examine all things and so hold fast that which is good the last is abstaine from all appearance of euill which hath also beene declared Now when the Apostle had taught them these lessons and set them forward in the race of true Godlinesse like a good Pastor which hath care ouer his flocke he doth not thus leaue them but withall giues them a friendly farwell in the next verse saying Now the very God of peace sanctifie you throughout and I pray God that your whole spirit and soule and body may bee kept blamelesse vnto the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ 1. Thessalonians 5. verse 23. That is as if the Apostle should say our God is the God of peace hee giueth peace and quietnesse to his Church he doth mussell the Lion maze the Tyrant make blunt the Sword and quench the Fire prepared against his seruants hee giueth his Sonnes peace and quietnesse among them-selues hee abhorreth discord and malice betweene bretheren God is loue saith Iohn and hee that dwelleth in loue dwelleth in God and God in him hee that loueth not his brother abideth in death God hath made vs all members
one bewray the lightnes of the other what thing in the world is soe massie and soe weightie as the truth Therefore as the prophet saith If ye will heare the voyce of God harden not your hearts as they did in the prouocation and as in the day of temptation in the wildernes it is noe sinne to yeilde vnto God it is noe shame to lay apart all affections and to change our mindes to the deniall of all vngodlynes and imbracinge of true holinesse It is the part of a good Christian and a wise man to know himselfe and to know the nature of his flesh which hee beareth about him which fighteth alwayes so mightily against the spirit and to know the waywardnesse and crookednesse of his heart and the weaknesse and vanity of his mind Many are so farre from this they thinke all their ability is of themselues I haue saith one iudgement I haue the light of reason I haue sence I haue vnderstanding and Counsell and the ordering of mine owne way thus say they that neither know God nor themselues The will and power to doe well is of God and not of our selues therefore we must humble our selues vnder the mighty hand of God and acknowledge that we are nothing we must confesse with S. Paul I know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good Ro. 7. Againe it is not in him that willeth not in him that runneth but in God that sheweth mercy Ro. 9. Our Sauiour Christ sayth that which is borne of the flesh is flesh and that is borne of the spirit is spirit Iohn â— And God sayth the immagination of man heart is euill from his youth Gene 8. this is his saying and his iudgement of vs this we find true for our will is froward and our vnderstanding blind therefore sayth the Prophet O Lord I know that the way of man is not in himselfe neither is it in man to walke and direct his steppes Iere 12. Againe the steppes of man are ruled by the Lord. How can a man then vnderstand his owne way Behold as the clay is in the Potters hand so are you in my hand O Israell I mould you and frame you to my glory sayth the Lord. Iere. 18. When the Apostle putteth the Corinthians in mind of that good successe which God gaue vnto his ministers among them hee sayth such trust haue we through Christ to God not that wee are sufficient of our selues but our sufficiency is of God Cor. 3. Christ sheweth this to his disciples saying ' I am the Vine you are the branches he that abideth in mee and I in him bringeth forth much fruit for without mee yee can do nothing Iohn 15. To the Collossians Paul saith It is God that worketh in you both the will and the deed euen of his good pleasure Colloss 2. It is God that disposeth our goings and turneth our hearts as seemeth him best hee is able to make of the stones in the Streetes children vnto Abraham hee is able to take away our stony heartes and giue vs heartes of flesh The Consideration heereof leadeth vs to seeke help and comfort by prayer at the hand of God and because wee stand in need of continuall help either to giue vs somthing that is good or to deliuer vs from that is euill the Apostle biddeth vs pray continually for the eares of the Lord are open to the righteous therfore saith Christ aske and it shall be giuen you seeke and yee shall find knoek and it shal be opened vnto you Math. 7. Let vs therefore go boldly to the throne of grace that we may receiue mercy and find grace to help in time of need Dauid a man according to Gods own heart prayed diuersly Open thou mine eyes lighten my darkenesse direct my feete into the way of peace incline my heart O Lord vnto thy testimonies establish O God that which thou hast wrought in vs take not thy holy spirit from vs bee thou our helper in trouble O forsake vs not veterly Dauid beeing a great prophet of GOD found no way to attaine vnto knowledge of the will of God vnlesse God would open his vnderstanding and endue him with his spirit faith is the gift of GOD or else was the Apostles praier in vaine therefore without the grace and mercy of GOD wee can doe nothing to the setting forth of his glory and to the attayning vnto our saluation The Apostle saith vnto the faithfull Let your conuersation bee in heauen from whence you looke for the Sauiour euen the Lord Iesus Christ Yee were once darkenesse but now yee are light in the LORD walke as children of the light approouing that which is pleasing to the Lord. The great day of the Lord shal be dreadful and come sodainely vpon the wicked but to you it shall not seeme sodaine which feare the LORD and put your trust in him and take all care to bee in readinesse against his comming Arme your selues therefore strongly the enemy is the diuell with all his force your strength standeth not in your owne prowesse or man-hood but in the mighty power of God put on therefore the brest-plate of faith and loue hee that beleeueth shal be saued hee that abideth in loue abideth in God and whosoeuer putteth his trust in him shall neuer be confounded For the grace of God that bringeth saluation vnto all men hath appeared saith the Apostle and teacheth vs to deny vngodlinesse and worldly lusts and that wee should liue soberly righteously and godly in this present world looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Sauiour Iesus Christ which gaue himselfe for vs that hee might redeeme vs from all vnrighteousnesse and purge vs a peculiar people vnto himselfe zealous giuen to good workes Titus 2.11.12 Therefore wee must not alwaies be children but grow vp and increase and profit more and more for wee must neuer rest walking till wee come to God if we haue faith wee must proceede from faith to faith if wee haue loue wee must abide and increase in loue if wee haue zeale wee must endeauour to bee consumed with zeale if wee bee liberall to the Saints distressed wee must double our liberallity and that with cheerefulnesse if wee read the Scriptures wee must goe on and continue in praier so wee must still increase till wee come to perfection Let vs bee led forward saith the Apostle vnto perfection Hebr. 6.1 As God hath ordained a heauen for all true faithful Pilgrims so hath he appointed a way to come to it which way hee that trauaileth not shall neuer come to the end of his race for there be many wrong waies as there are many errors but there is but one right way as there is but one truth To knit vp this part with that warning and exhortation of the Apostle saying Let vs drawe neere with a true heart in assurance of faith sprinckled in our hearts from an euill conscience and washed in bodie with pure water let vs hold the possession of the hope without wauering for hee is faithfull that promised for if wee sinne willingly after that wee haue receiued the knowledge of the truth there remaineth no more sacrifice for sinnes but a fearefull looking for iudgement and violent fire which shall deuoure the aduersaries Hebr. 10.22.23.26 So it cannot be that they which were lightened and haue tasted of the heauenly gift and were become pertakers of the holy ghost and haue tasted of the good word of God and the powers of the world to come and they fall away should be renued againe into repentance crucifying to themselues the sonne of God a fresh Heb 6.4.5.6 The Apostle therfore admonisheth the faithfull to haue discretion in their walking saying Take heed that yâ—e walke circumspectly not as vnwise but as wise redeeming the time because the daies are euill Wherefore bee yee not vnwise but vnderstanding what the will of the Lord is Speaking vnto your selues in psalmes and hyms and spirituall songs singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts Giuing thankes alwaies for all things vnto God the Father in the name of the Lord Iesus Christ Now as al these parts of Scriptures going before in this Booke are needfull special means to teach all true Christians to walke the right way towards heauen whereby we may bee able not only to walke aright but also to make a right and sound reason of our religion agreeable to the word of God a sound reason of our faith and a sound reason of our saluation agreeable to the same word of truth and so to continue to the end of our race then shall wee bee made happy for euermore and be procured happy in the great day of our Lord by our Lord and you blessed of my Father inherite the Kingdome of heauen which is prepapared for you from the beginning which kingdom grant vs Lord for Christ Iesus sake Amen FINIS