arise and goe towards the South vnto the way that goeth down from Ierusalem to Gaza which is desert 27 And he arose and went and behold a man of Ethiopia an Eunuch of great authority vnder Candace Queene of the Ethiopians who had charge of all her treasure came to Ierusalem to worship 28 And sitting in his Chariot he read Esayas the Prophet 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip goe neere and ioyne thy selfe to this Chariot 30 And Philip ran thither to him and heard him reade Esayas the Prophet and said vnderstandest thou what thou readest 31 And hee said how can I without a guide and hee desired Philip that be would come vp and sit with him 32 The place of Scripture that he read was this He was led as a Sheepe to the slaughter and like a Lamb dumb before the Shearer so opened he not his mouth 33 In his humiliation his iudgement was taken away and who shall declare his generation for his life is taken from the earth 34 And the Eunuch answered Philip and sayd I pray thee of whom speaketh the Prophet this of himselfe or of some other man 35 And Philip opened his mouth and began at the same Scripture and preached vnto him Iesus 36 And as they went on their way they came vnto a certaine water And the Eunuch said see here is water What doth hinder me to be baptized 37 And Philip said if thou beleeuest with all thy heart thou maist And he answered and sayd I beleeue that Iesus is the Sonne of God 38 And hee commanded the Chariot to stand still and they went downe into the water both Philip and the Eunuch and hee Baptized him 39 And when they were come out of the water the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip and the Eunuch saw him no more and hee went on his way reioycing IN these words now read to the end of this Chapter is set forth the History of a certaine Ethiopian that came to Ierusalem to worship and therein how God in mercy did conuey the knowledge of the Gospell and so of Iesus Christ vnto the Gentiles and that by the ministery of Philip. And the first fruits of the same is this Eunuch or great Noble man being Lord Treasurer to the great Queene Candace Queene of the Ethiopians The History hath in it 1 The Preface or Introduction into the History 2 The History it selfe The Preface hath in it 1 The Angels message or command vnto Philip v. 26. 2 Philips obedience v. 27. The History it selfe describeth vnto vs 1 The Ethiopian with his adiuncts 2. Philip with his Ministery and the effects thereof The Ethiopian described 1 By his person Eunuch 2 Country Ethiopian 3 Office Lord Treasurer 4 Religion came to Ierusalem to worship Whose religion or religious disposition is further commended 1 By his diligence in reading the Scriptures losing no time therein but euen in his Chariot he read the same v. 28. 2 By desiring Philip further to instruct him in the knowledge of Christ v. 31. Philip his Ministery described 1 By asking him a question and Catechising him v. 30. 2 By preaching and expounding the same Scripture v. 35. 3 By Baptizing him v. 38. 4 By the effects of his Ministery Conuersion and ioy v. 39. VERSE 26. And the Angell of the Lord spake vnto Philip saying Arise and goe toward the South c THe circumstance of time is first to be considered when the Angell giues this charge to Philip. It was in the time of the Churches great persecution and trouble as it appeareth in the first verse of this Chapter Verse 1. And at that time there was great persecution against the Church which was at Ierusalem c. And verse the third Saul made hauocke of the Church Verse 3. Caiphas the high Priest and the Pharisies bending all their power to suppresse the truth who at this time stoned Stephen when they could not resist the Spirit by the which he spake So as now Philip might bee in great danger and hazard to preach the Gospell hee saw before his eyes Stephen stoned and Sauls rage great against the truth yet now will the Angell of the Lord haue Philip to goe and preach the word to this man And thus in all ages and from time to time hath the Lord employed his seruants in most dangerous times Ex. 3.9 Moses must to Pharaoh Elias to Ahab and denounce Gods iudgement against him 1 Reg. 18.14 euen at that time when Ahab sought his life And thus the Lord sent Esay the Prophet to the Iewes when their Princes were as the Sodomites for wickednesse Esay 1.10 And thus is Ezekiel sent vnto a stif-necked people and Amos at that time when the people pressed the Lord with their sinnes Amos 2.14 as a Cart that is pressed with sheaues And thus hee sent forth his Disciples Mat. 10.16 Behold I send you forth as Lambs amongst Wolues to be a gazing-stocke to the world to Angels and to men 1 Cor. 4 5â— as it is at this day We are taught then that the Ministers of Christ must discharge their duties Doct. 1 Ministers must discharge their duty notwiâ—hstanding all appearance of danger notwithstanding all appearance of danger Though in the conscionable performance of the same they are to meete with troubles and dangers yet they are carefully to discharge the duties of their sacred calling Amos doth his duty though complaint be made to the Prince Amos 7.10 that the land is not able to beare his words Zedechiah striketh Ieremy Passur causeth him to be put into prison What of all this Ieremy must doe his duty as the Lord had commanded Feare not their faces Ier. 1.17 but speake all that I command thee lest I destroy thee So Paul 1 Cor. 9.16 necessity is laid vpon mee and woe to me if I preach not the Gospell Again when the same Apostle was foretold by Agabus of the great troubles he should meet withall at IerusaleÌ„ which when the Church heard of they besought him not to goe vp thither Behold we his godly resolution Then Paul answered Act. 21.13 what meane ye to weepe and to breake my heart for I am ready not to bee bound onely but also to dye at Ierusalem for the name of the Lord Iesus And there is reason for it First Reas 1 they are the Ambassadors of Christ and therefore must deliuer their message truely and faithfully Ier. 33.7 They are the Lords Watchmen and therefore must acquaint the people with the danger comming Reas 2 Secondly the Lord hath promised to recompence the labours of his seruants and this was it that comforted Esay ouer all his sorrowes Esay My reward is with the Lord and my recompence with my God Reas 3 Thirdly the good of Gods Church requireth it for if it haue vnfaithful vnconscionable Teachers sit ouer it that feede not the flocke it cannot be but many of the sheepe
spirit of meeknesse for hee must apply the plaster according to the wound Hee can be no compleat Surgion that hath but one salue and that for some greene wound only to clense and heale it What if he meete with an old festere soare that is cauterized and must haue corsiues to eate out the dead flesh if this be not had doth he not through his ignorance vnskilfulnesse kil the man doubtlesse such Ministers are neuer able to acquite themselues of the blood of such mens souls in the last day And preached vnto him Iesus By his text wee may iudge of his Doctrine the text of Scripture being a cleare prophecy of Christs humiliation and of Christs exaltation no doubt the scope of Philips Sermon tended principally to conuince the iudgement of this Eunuch in the truth of both of them how that euery part and particle of that prophecy had it determination and period in the Lord Iesus Christ And herein will teach vs That Christ Doct. Christ the subiect matter of true preaching is the subiect matter of the Gospel yea the subiect matter of al true preaching Christ and him crucified is the whole scope of the whole Scripture Yea the Doctrine of the law it selfe is but a Scholemaster to leade vs to Christ For the more clearly the law hath conuinced the conscience of sinne the more ready shal we be to go out of our selues and to seeke Saluation in Christ The matter then of true preaching is Iesus Christ. We preach Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God 1 Cor. 2. And hence it is that the Gospel is called the Gospell of Iesus Christ Mar. 1.1 and the World of Christ againe whom we preach Col. 3. saith the Apostle speaking of Christ Paul calls the Galatians Folish Galatians for not obeying the truth Gal. 3.1 Before whose eyes saith hee Iesus Christ hath beene euidently set foorth and crucified amongst you And hence is it that the same Apostle placeth all his happinesse in Christ and Christ alone God forbid saith hee that I should reioyce in any thing but in our Lord Iesus Christ He is the only King Priest Prophet of his Church And all true happinesse and felicitie consisteth in the true knowledge of him This is life eternall to know thee to be the true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent Ioh. 17.3 Now the grounds of this are First Reas 1 because life and Saluation come from him hee is our Suretie Sauiour by whom through whom we come to stand iustified in Gods sight according to that of the Apostle Paul Christ is made vnto vs wisdom and righteousnesse sanctification and redemption 1 Cor. 1.30.31 and all to this end that hee that glorieth might glory in him Reas 2 Secondly because without him we could haue no full or perfect reconciliation with God his Father It pleased the Father that in him all fulnesse should dwell Col. 1.19.20.21 and hauing made peace through the blood of his Crosse by him to reconcile all things to him whether they be things on earth or things in heaven Thirdly by his death hee hath destroyed death Reas 3 and triumphed ouer death O Death I will bee thy death O Death where is thy sting and againe Thanks be to God who hath giuen vs victory through our Lord Iesus Christ 1 Cor. 15.55.57 Vse 1 This serues then to informe all the Lords watchmen how to preach and what to preach euen Iesus Christ and him crucified and to apply the same close to the conscience of euery man in such wise as some change and reformation may follow Pitie it is to see how many Teachers now a dayes doe chuse out hard texts of Scripture and make learned discourses theron shew much reading for Fathers and humanity of whom it may truely bee sayd that they preach many of them themselues and not Christ is preaching Gods ordinance was it ordained then my Brethren to please the eare or to prick the hart Neuer let a Preacher think that he hath preached Christ as hee should vnlesse by his preaching hee bring men to Christ For as all lines doe meete in the point of the Center so must it bee the end and scope of a Ministers function to bring men Christ Vse 2 And as Ministers are thus regulated for their preaching so people are likewise taught what doctrine to desire to heare and to rest satisfied in Euen such kinde of preaching as serues most clearly to set out Christ I know not how it is come to passe in this old age of the world Men haue got them Athenian cares To preach Christ and him crucified is too homely a thing men delight in nouelties and must haue their preacher sore alofte in sublimitie of doctrine or else hee is not worth the hearing these are wanton Christians that now begin to play with the word as little children with their bread O let vs labour with our owne harts herein and learne to prize that ministery wherein we may se and discerne the true estate of our soules And withall let vs labour that wee may bee cast into the mould of the Gospell That our Iudgments wils affections may stoupe to the Scepter of the Lord Iesus for without this wee preach but in vaine and you heare but in vaine yea the word shall become at last the wofull sauour of death vnto death vnto you Vse 3 And last of all since that Christ is all in al to be preached heard to life and saluation this serues iustly to taske the Church of Rome and may giue vs to know whether they or we are in the safest condition touching Saluation Let it bee duely thought vpon and considered whether they or we rest most on Christ magnifie Christ and the allufficiency of his sufferings Doe we looke to merit by our owne works doe wee mingle his blood with the blood of martyrs in way of satisfaction for sin doe we ioine with the intercession of Iesus Christ the Intercession of Angels or Saints or doe we not rather rest wholly vpon him Surely this is not the least argument to assure vs of the truth of our Religion against the Church of Rome that wee can rest wholly and totally vpon Christ VERSE 36. And as they went on their way they came to a certaine water and the Eunuch said See here is water what doth hinder me to bee Baptized PHilip hauing thus preached Iesus Christ vnto him and that through him alone we must looke for life saluation through faith in his name And hauing likewise preached vnto him the necessitie of being Baptised into Iesus Christ that thereby wee put on Christ are ingrafted into him and admitted into his Church For howsoeuer euery thing is not here recited that Philip preached vnto this man yet considering the Text of Scripture Philip had in hand and the question of the Eunuch here it is our of all question that Philip had
Reas 2 Secondly it is cleare in the order of our faith and Creed nothing that is lesse then God can be beleeued in there must be a difference betweene the Creator and the creature No creature is to be beleeued in We beleeue in God and in Iesus Christ c. But when we come to the Church wee say We beleeue the Catholick Church not in the Catholike Church The communion of Saints not in the communion of Saints For Christ is the proper obiect of true faith it euer looks vnto him Vse 1 This serues first of all to condemne that dangerous and damnable Doctrine of the Church of Rome that teach That by faith we are iustified indeed But how Not in regard that Christ is the obiect thereof but in regard of those excellent motions it produceth in the heart such as are The feare of hell Loue of God Desire of saluation c. and so fitteth and prepareth vs that Ex congruo wee receiue grace and saluation Then the which what can bee more derogatory to the all-sufficiencie that is in Christ For faith and works in the matters of Iustification are opposite and cannot stand together Vse 2 Seeing then that sauing faith hath Christ for the obiect of it this then may serue to admonish those that looke to be iustified in Gods sight that they learne to renounce all things in themselues and to rest wholly vpon Christ for if all our actions shall finde acceptation with God so farre forth as they are done in faith Heb. 11.6 for without faith it is impossible to please God And seeing againe that faith it selfe doth not iustifie any further then it hath Christ to be the obiect there What then can our best actions do in the matter of Iustification But indeed euery man is a Papist naturally which is no small argument to shew that their Religion cannot bee good Faine we would haue some thing in our selues to commend vnto God in liew of his mercy towards vs. O the pride that is in mans heart by nature Is not all fulnesse in Christ 1. Cor. 1.30 Is not he made of God vnto vs wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption We must then learne to go out of our selues that we may be found in him renouncing all confidence in our owne righteousnesse and merits that wee may partake of Christs who is our Righteousnesse VERSE 38. And he commanded the Chariot to to stand still And they went downe both into the water both Philip and the Eunuch and he baptised him PHilip hauing shewed the necessitie of sauing faith to the due participation of the Sacraments of the Church and hauing receiued good satisfaction by the Eunuch his confession that hee was rightly qualified for the same Now he comes to the celebration of this holy ordinance it selfe He commanded the Chariot to stand still c. Doct. Men rightly qualified must not be denied the Sacrament Note we hence first of all That the Seale doth of right belong to such as haue the Euidence Where men are rightly qualified for this holy ordinance they may not be denyed to participate of the same The Minister is not to neglect it When Peter had preached to Cornelius and his company whereby they were brought to beleeue Can any man forbid water saith hee that these should not bee Baptised Act 10.47 that haue receiued the holy Ghost aswell as we meaning that it shold be an iniury vnto such to whom God had giuen grace to beleeue not to haue the Sacrament which is the Seale for the Confirmation of the same Vse 1 This teacheth Ministers not to bee too sparing in the administration of this ordinance of God what though we haue Dogs and Swine amongst vs to whom holy things are not to bee giuen as our Sauiour saith giue not that which is holy vnto Dogs neither cast ye your pearles before Swine c doth this hinder but that the children should haue their portion For their sakes only wee must often administer this Sacrament Though wicked men abuse it as they doe all things else to their perdition yet God will haue his children regarded for whose sakes he hath betrusted his Church with this neerest and dearest pledge of his loue Vse 2 And this serues likewise for singular comfort and consolation vnto the godly that haue grace to repent and beleeue The seales of Gods couenant are not to bee denied vnto such Neither is this all to haue an interest into the priuiledges of the Church but such shall not misse to haue the same ratified vnto them by the inward worke of Gods owne Spirit And they went both downe But had not the Eunuch men enough to fetch the water vp to him No doubt he had yet heerein is his humilitie and obedience seene that hee can so readily and willingly stoupe to Gods ordinance to leaue his chariot and to goe downe with Philip into the water Our lesson is That there is no degree or calling whatsoeuer but must yeeld obedience to Gods ordinance Doct. All must stoup to Gods ordinance This Noble man must out of his chariot and he must into the water How base and simple soeuer the ordinances of God may seeme vnto men the greatest amongst the sons of men must stoupe vnto them We may see this in Abraham a great Prince yet was Circumcised hee and all his house And in those noble and Religious Kings of Iuda and Israel whose greatest honour was that they stood for religion were zelous for Gods glory and were frequent in the exercise of holy duties but of this before And this shewes indeed by what spirit his holinesse of Rome Vse is led by that professeth himselfe to be the Successor of Peter but is better acquainted with the Sword then the word preaching is too meane and base a thing for his greatnesse to bee exercised in Peters kayes haue vnlockt vnto him such treasures that hee hath left off the feeding of Christs flock Wher are those Gregories Damasens and other faithfull Bishops of that Sea whose paines in preaching and writing proued them Faithfull in Gods house Surely their pride and pompe in these later dayes hath deuoted them wholy to their pleasures and ease and made them forget the seruice of the Church And they went downe into the water Some question may hence arise both concerning the time and the place of the Baptising of the Eunuch It might seeme strange that Philip giues way thus to the Eunuch that he must thus suddenly be Baptised by the way side was it so dangerous to haue put it off any longer as that the Eunuch might haue hazarded his own saluation I answere no it is not the want of Baptisme when it cannot conueniently be had that is so dangerous or damnable but it is the contempt of it Which may bee noted against that vaine and vncharitable opinion of those that thinke if an Infant dye vnbaptised it cannot bee saued and so conceiue that there
are set forth and represented vnto vs. First of all The diuers mysteries represented in baptisme our washing and clensing by the bloud of Christ according to that of the Apostle Christ loued his Church and gaue himselfe for it Eph 〈…〉 2â— that he might sanctifie it and clense it with the washing of water by the word According to his mercy hee saued vs by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost And againe Such were ye but ye are washed ye are iustified ye are sanctified Not simply by water but by the holy Ghost and the Spirit of our God Secondly our Mortification for so saith the Apostle Rom. 6 3. Know ye not that so many of vs as are baptised into Iesus Christ were baptised into his death And againe Being buried with him in Baptisme Col. 2 â— wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the dead That euen as the body being once dead hath in it no motion at all euer after to sin euen so such as are baptised into Christs death become as dead men in respect of sinne Thirdly herein is represented vnto vs our spirituall resurrection to newnesse of life â—ol 2 1â— We are risen with him And againe Rom. 6.4 We are buâ—ried with him by Baptisme into his death that like as Christ was raised vp from the dead by the glory of the Father euen so we also should walke in newnesse of liâ—â— For as Christs death is powerfull in all his members to their mortification of sinne So is his resurrection no lesse effectuall to their viuification and quickening to righteousnesse Fourthly herein and hereby our repentance is set forth for Baptisme is a Symbole of our regeneration for sinne and newnesse of life He came into all the countrey about Iordane Luk. â— 3 preaching the baptisme of repentance for remission of sinnes they were baptised of him in Iordane Mat. 3.6 confessing their sinnes And it is the counsell of the Apostle Peter that hee gaue vnto the Iewes Act. 2.38 Repent saith he and be baptised euery one of you in the Name of the Lord Iesus for the remission of siâ—nes And last of all through our Baptisme our vnion and communion is â—erein signified and represented vnto vs 1 Cor. 12 13. For by one Spirit we are all baptised into one body So that we must now grow vp together with Christ in holinesse So Peter 1. Pet. 3.21 The like figure whereunto euen Baptisme doth also now saue vs not the putting away the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of Iesus Christ Not with water but our consciences being sprinkled with the bloud of Christ So that in Baptisme is represented 1. Our sanctification 2. Our mortification 3. Our first resurrection 4. Our repentance from sinne 5. Our vnion and communion with Christ Which manifold fruits and benefits which accrue vnto euery true beleeuer through the reuerent vse of this sacred ordinance should teach vs to desire it and to prise the same at a high rate as the dearest pledge of Gods loue vnto his Church But doth Baptisme of it selfe conferre all these excellent gifts and graces to such as are baptised Quest No corporall thing properly can worke vpon a spirituall Answ The water in baptisme cleanseth not the pollution of sinne without the Spirit of Christ which in baptisme regenerateth the true beleeuer So that indeed all the worke of inward grace in and through this Sacrament of Baptisme comes properly from the holy Ghost For so saith the Apostle According to his mercy he saued vs by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the holy Ghost So that vnlesse the Spirit of God cooperate and worke together with the outward washing in water in Baptisme the soule remaines still polluted and the conscience defiled and the Sacrament profiteth not at all â— Cor. 12 1 By one spirit saith the Apostle we are all baptised into one body So that it is not water alone but the Spirit accompanying the outward washing that sets vs into the body of Christ by Baptisme The true materiall cause of all our good is the bloud of Christ the holy Ghost applying the same to the soule and conscience of euery true beleeuer VERSE 39. And as soone as they were come out of the water the spirit of the Lord caught away Philip And the Eunuch saw him no more and he went on his way reioycing WE haue in this Verse the happie fruite and effect that followed the ministery of Philip wherein are obseruable two things 1. That miraculous transportation of Philip. 2. The wonderfull ioy that followed First it is said that the spirit of the Lord tooke away Philip. After what manner were curiositie to enquire For as one faith well why should we with danger determine that that without danger we may be ignorant of It is sufficient for vs to know that the Lord hauing effected what was the good pleasure of his owne will in the Eunuchs conuersion he remoued his seruant to another place euen to Azotus to preach the word to another people as we haue it in the last verse of this Chapter Now it came not to passe but by the good prouidence of God that Philip in this strange and miraculous manner should be taken away at this time for herein and hereby the Lord would confirme this Nobleman in the truth that Philip had preached vnto him when he should now consider that he was sent from heauen by a diuine prouidence to instruct him in regard of that his strange and miraculous departure from him Wherein we may take notice Doct. of the wonderfull loue of God towards his people The Lord would haue his seruants setle in the truth that he would not haue them wauer or bee doubtfull in the weightie matter of their saluation but he would haue them to bee grounded and stableshed in the truth and hence is it that the Lord would haue this Eunuch setled in the faith by this miracle that hee wrought Thus he was pleased to confirme his Gospell at the first by miracles from heauen that men might see that it was not from men but from God as our Sauiour saith The works that I do beare witnesse of me And with those signes and wonders we ought to rest satisfied and not to looke for new ones daily as the Church of Rome doth to confirme so cleare a truth For thus to doe were but to calâ— the truth againe into question and to require signes from heauen as the Iewes did We will bee content that the Popish Imposture should bragge and boast of their Miracles as their Straw miracle at Garneis death not worth a straw the miracles daily done by the reliques of some of their he Saints and she Saints this they bragge and boast of this they make a Marke of the true Church
they might for a few houres of that pretious time wee so wastfully mis-spend My brethren there is no prodigalitie in the whole world like vnto this of mis-spending of time If a man waste his estate and mis-spend his inheritance it is possible to recouer it againe But time precious time once lost can neuer be recouered They came to a certaine water See here through the especiall prouidence and goodnes of God how happily euery thing comes to hand to set forward this mans saluation If the Lord doe but giue him once an heart to seeke him and to serue him here is a Ierusalem to go to to worship God For the further building of him vp in the knowledge of Christ here are the Scriptures to be read doth hee sticke at them as being beyond his vnderstanding Here is a Philip ready to teach and instruct him and to interpret the Scriptures vnto him Doth Philip tell him how necessary a thing it is to be baptised see here They came to a certaine water Whatsoeuer his wants and necessities are the Lord stil makes supply thereunto Thus thus dealeth the Lord with his seruants he neuer wanteth meanes to bring his own purpose to passe Our Instruction then is this That God neuer wanteth means for the good of his children Doct. God wanteth not means for the good of his seruants what soeuer the wants and necessities of his seruants are God neuer wanteth meanes for the supply thereof whether wee consider their corporall necessities or spirituall wants he is God all-sufficient for them both Let the Israelites his owne people be in misery and distresse the Lord can supply their wants with Manna from heauen If there bee a time of famine and dearth in the Land hee can cause the widowes oyle to increase and not to diminish vntill the Lord send plenty in the Land rather then Ionas shall perish the Whale shall attend his seruice rather then Elias shall perish for want of food the Rauens shall feede him And as for the spirituall miseries of his seruants hee is able to send comfort and deliuerance many wayes Act. 9. Paul being a chosen vessell the Lord can bring him home many wayes at his pleasure as by that sound from heauen and afterwards to send him to Ananias Let Cornelius with an vpright heart seeke the Lord with fasting and prayer hee shall not want a Peter to instruct and comfort him in the waies of God Act. 10.30 Let Peter be cast into prison he shall haue the ministery of an Angell at hand for his deliuery Act. 12. And this Eunuch that trauelled farre to worship God and to know Iesus Christ and him crucified rather then his expectation shall faile and his labour shall be in vaine in the Lord the Lord will raise vp a Philip by whose ministery hee shall be brought to beleeue And why should any wonder at this Is he not the Lord of Hosts Reas hath he not all creatures in heauen and earth ar a becke and command for to execute his will Let Daniel be cast into the Lions den hee can muzell the mouthes of those cruell beasts Dan. 3. Let the three Children bee cast into the fierie fornace the fire shall haue no power at all against them It skills not what the miseries of Gods seruants are so the Lord bee with them Vse 1 This then serues to reprooue those who in their fits and Feuers of affliction thinke the Lord hath forsaken his people and left off to be gracious vnto his inheritance We are proue to looke too much to the meanes an arme of flesh a bow of steele not considering that the Lord is in heauen and doth whatsoeuer it pleaseth him This was Dauids case Hath God forgotten to be gratious and hath hee shut vp his louing kindnesse in displeasure This was Ionas case Ion. 2. I said I am for euer cast out of thy sight Whereas indeed God doth neuer forsake his people He hath said Heb. 13. Hee will neuer leaue them nor forsake them Vse 2 Secondly this may serue to teach vs in all our miseries and necessities still to waite on him Thou art compassed about with many miseries know that God wants not meanes of deliuerance when he is pleased to helpe Thou art kept vnder many corruptions and infirmities which cleaue vnto thee here which faine thou wouldest shake off and be rid of Know thou for thy comfort that God is able to tread downe Sathan vnder thy feet with whom all things are possible Here is water what doth let me Philip hauing no doubt instructed him in the vse of the Sacraments that by Baptisme he was to be admitted into the Church and that it was the badge and cognizance of a Christian See we now his ready disposition to put on this Christian profession the Liuery of such a Lord and Master See here is water what doth let me Q. d. Is Baptisme a signe of our profession and is it a symbole of our putting on of Christ Here is water what lets but that according to thy Doctrine I bee now baptised See here with what readinesse and cheerfulnesse we should put the Lords will in execution Doct. Gods will being once made knowne we ought readily to put the same in exacution being once made knowne vnto vs. Is Baptisme so needfull and so necessary well fare a good heart it will not omit any opportunitie offered but takes the benefit of the first water he met withall in his iourney to be baptised Men should make haste to be in couenant with God and Christ like the sonnes of Zebedeus would leaue all to be entertained into his seruice All our actions will finde acceptation with God so farre forth as they sauour of chearfulnesse For that which Saint Paul speakes of giuing is true of all other duties God loueth a chearfull giuer God loueth a chearefull hearer God loueth a chearefull receiuer chearfulnesse is all in all in the doing of good duties And hence is it that this is obserued to the great commendations of Abraham that when the Lord had commanded him to sacrifice his sonne Isaac Gen. 22. Abraham arose vp early in the morning to do it But of this before What doth let me to be baptised The Eunuch hauing readily and willingly entertained the word in his heart doth now in Baptisme desire to put on the outward profession of Religion also to testifie vnto the world the â—â—uth of his profession And herein will teach vs That he that hath truly put on Christ Doct. Heaâ—tie Christians must bee heartie pâ—ofessors Ro. 10.10 will be ready to make profession of the name of Christ With the heart man beleeueth to righteousnesse and with the mouth confession is made knowne vnto saluation For this publicke profession of the truths sake Daniel was cast into the denne The three Children into the fiery fornace The Apostles being charged to hold their peace and to preach no more in the name
taught him the maine Principle sof our faith and mystery of our saluation through Christ Such as were Christs Incarnation Christs humiliation and those great things he suffered for our sakes His Resurrection and exaltation on high at the right hand of his Father together with the vse of the Sacraments of the Church Baptisme and Christs Last Supper That these things were taught vnto the Eunuch this Text doth make it cleare by his desiring of Philip so soone as they came to the water to baptise him And as they went on their way Text. they came to a certaine water c. Here we see the fruit and effect of Philips Ministery in another particular first we haue heard before that he is brought to be a beleeuer here againe to put on Christ by the badge and liuery of his profession Baptisme It teacheth vs then What is the true end of preaching the Gospell Doct. The end of true preaching is to bring men to Christ namely to bring men to Christ See the truth of this in the scope and drift of Pauls Ministery Vnto the Iewes I became a Iew that I might gaine the Iewes 1. Cor. 9.20 2â— 22. To them that are vnder the Law as vnder the Law To what end That I might saue them that are vnder the Law To the weake I became as weake that I might gaine the weake I became all things to all men that I might by all meanes saue some And this I do for the Gospels sake Ver. 23 See wee the truth of this in the commission Christ gaue vnto his Disciples Go ye into all the world and preach the word to euery Nation Mar. 16.16 hee that beleeueth and is baptised shall bee saued So that saluation is the end of preaching So Paul I am not ashamed of the Gospell of Christ Rom. 16.17 because it is the power of God to saluation For therein is the righteousnesse of God reuealed from faith to faith begetting faith in vs and is therefore called 1. Tim. 4.6 The word of faith because it begetteth faith in the hearts of Gods seruants This is the maine end of the preaching of the word and so of the Gospell of Iesus Christ See the exhortation of Paul to Timothy Instruct them with meeknesse which be contrary minded 2. Tim. 2.25 prouing if at any time God will giue them repentance vnto saluation This is the true end that the Minister of the word must ayme at namely to bring men out of darknesse into his maruellous light Thus Paul and Sylas willeth the Iaylor to be leeue in the Lord Iesus Act. 16. and hee should be saued All true preaching aymes at this as the true end thereof Vse 1 Seeing then that this is the end of the Ministery of the word to bring men to Christ Euery faithfull Minister of Christ must then propound vnto himselfe Gods end in euery Ministeriall duty whether he preach the Doctrine of the Law or the Doctrine of the Gospell all his exhortations reprehensions and instructions must still ayme at this and tend to this And indeed the true glory of a Minister consists in the number of those that by his Ministery are gained to Christ Such are his crowne and glory the Seales of his Ministery And comfortable will the reckoning and account of such one day be when they shall say Here come I Father with those thou hast giuen me Vse 2 And as Ministers are taught their duties what ought to be the end of their Ministery So are hearers likewise to be admonished to stoupe vnto Gods ordinance in their Ministery that so they may be brought to Christ If we neglect or contemne this meanes no creature in heauen or earth can do vs any good fast pray afflict thy soule yea giue thy body that it burne be thou neuer so rich in the workes of charity and mercy if in the meane time thou turne thy backe vpon the word this ordinance of God Ion. 2. Thou forsakest thy owne mercy For the word preached is the word of faith and it is faith that brings vs to Christ Vse 3 And last of all this may serue for matter of triall whether or no wee haue profited aright by the hearing of the word For then indeed haue we beene fruitfull hearers and then and not till then haue we heard the word sauingly when our Iudgements haue beene thereby informed and our liues reformed and wee brought to Christ Now indeed there be but few that haue thus heard the word The Drunkard Swearer prophane and beastly liuer hath not yet profited aright by the preaching of the word All the husbandry bestowed vpon such a one is not worth the labour Such ground is neare to cursing and burning for so saith the Apostle The earth that drinketh in the raine that cometh often vpon it 1. Cor. 3. Heb. 6.7 and bringeth forth fruit meet for them by whom it is dressed receiueth the blessing from God But that which beareth thornes and bryers is neare vnto cursing whose end is to be burned Let vs then at last my brethren be awakened out of our securitie and whilest it is called To day not to harden our hearts but answer the Lords call lest we come at last to be hardened through the deceitfulnesse of sinne and by our wilfull rebellion and contempt of grace offered shut vp at last the gate of grace against our selues And as they went on their way It seemeth then that Philip preached in his trauell sitting in the Chariot and as they iournied Certainly great was the zeale and pietie of this man in the improuing of his time so well He would either reade himselfe or heare Philip preach euen in their trauels and in their iourney Now inasmuch as the Spirit of God is so carefull in setting down this diligence of his in euery circumstance thereof it teacheth vs Doct. Time is to be well spent That the carefull improuing of our time is a thing well pleasing vnto God and that delighteth him and hence it is that wee are exhorted to redeeme the time And our Sauiour tells vs Eph. 5. That for euery idle word that men shall speake Mat. 12.36 they shall giue an account in the day of Iudgement Our Sauiour reproued this in those husbandmen in the Gospell Why stand yee here all the day idle Mat. 20. Time pretious time is one of those Talents for the which we are one day to giue vp account vnto God Which shews indeed the greatnesse of their sinne Vse that make no reckoning or account of time as if it were their owne to spend it they list Many men set their wits on worke how to spend time and to driue it away as they say as if time were so slow footed as that it stood in need to bee driuen Surely there are many thousands now in hell that shall there suffer the reward of the damned for euermore that would giue a thousand worlds if
of Iesus Answered boldly before the Councell Whether it bee right in the sight of God Act. 5.29 Act. â—1 11.12 1. Tim. 6.12.13 to obey you rather then God iudge ye For we cannot but speake the things that we haue seene and heard How resolute was the Apostle Paul this way when Agabus had told him the things that should befall him at Ierusalem and his friends went about to disswade him from going vp thither what doe ye weeping breaking my heart I am ready not only to be bound but also to dye at Ierusalem for the testimony of the Lord Iesus And in this doth our Sauiour comfort his Disciples against all the miseries and afflictions of this life Luk. 22.28 Ye are they which haue bene with me in my temptations therefore I appoint vnto you a Kingdom The point is cleare and plaine That such as by faith haue put on the Lord Iesus will not bee ashamed to make confession and profession of his name Euery man must be at the least a Confessor if not a Martyr that would raigne with Christ in glory And there is Reason for it Reas 1 First because it is one of the most proper fruites of Faith to make an open confession profession of the name of Christ Because wee haue the same spirit of Faith according as it is written I beleeued 2 Cor. 4.13 and therefore haue I spoken we also beleeue and therefore speake No better testimony of true Faith then heartily to confesse Christ whereas he that is afraid to confesse Christ hath no Faith Reas 2 Secondly there is made a speciall promise vnto such as make profession of his name Mat. 10.32 Hee that shall confesse me before men him wil I confesse before my Father which is in heauen Mar. 8.38 Whereas the contrarie is threatned with a fearefull curse Whosoeuer shall deny me before men him will I deny before my Father which is in heauen Reas 3 Besides God hath not giuen to any the light of his heauenly grace and the knowledge of his Sonne Christ to the end that the same be buried in the earth hid in wants not meanes of deliuerance when he is pleased to helpe Thou art kept vnder many corruptions and infirmities which cleaue vnto thee here which faine thou wouldest shake off and be rid of Know thou for thy comfort that God is able to tread downe Sathan vnder thy feet with whom all things are possible Here is water what doth let me Philip hauing no doubt instructed him in the vse of the Sacraments that by Baptisme he was to be admitted into the Church and that it was the badge and cognizance of a Christian See we now his ready disposition to put on this christian profession the Liuery of such a Lord and Master See here is water what doth let me Q. d. Is Baptisme a signe of our profession and is it a symbole of our putting on of Christ Here is water what lets but that according to thy Doctrine I bee now baptised See here with what readinesse and cheerfulnesse we should put the Lords will in execution Doct. Gods will being once made knowne we ought readily to put the same in execution being once made knowne vnto vs. Is Baptisme so needfull and so necessary well fare a good heart it will not omit any opportunitie offered but takes the benefit of the first water he met withal in his iourney to be baptised Men should make haste to be in couenant with God and Christ like the sonnes of Zebedeus would leue all to be entertained into his seruice All our actions will finde acceptation with God so farre forth as they sauour of chearfulnesse For that which Saint Paul speakes of giuing is true of all other duties God loueth a chearfull giuer God loueth a chearefull hearer God loueth a chearefull receiuer chearfulnesse is all in all in the doing of good duties And hence is it that this is obserued to the great commendations of Abrabam that when the Lord had commanded him to sacrifice his sonne Isaac Gen. 22. Abraham arose vp early in the morning to do it But of this before What doth let me to be baptised The Eunuch hauing readily and willingly entertained the word in his heart doth now in Baptisme desire to put on the outward profession of Religion also to testifie vnto the world the tâ—uth of his profession And herein will teach vs That he that hath truly put on Christ Doct. Heaâ—tie Christians must bee heartie professors Ro. 10.10 will be ready to make profession of the name of Christ With the heart man beleeueth to righteousnesse and with the mouth confession is made knowne vnto saluation For this publicke profession of the truths sake Daniel was cast into the denne The three Children into the fiery fornace The Apostles being charged to hold their peace and to preach no more in the name of Iesus Answered boldly before the Councell Whether it bee right in the sight of God Act. 5.29 Act. 21.11.12 1. Tim. 6.12.13 to obey you rather then God iudge ye For we cannot but speake the things that we haue seene and heard How resolute was the Apostle Paul this way when Agabus had told him the things that should befall him at Ierusalem and his friends went about to disswade him from going vp thither what doe ye weeping breaking my heart I am ready not only to be bound but also to dye at Ierusalem for the testimony of the Lord Iesus And in this doth our Sauiour comfort his Disciples against all the miseries and afflictions of this life Luk. 22.28 Ye are they which haue bene with me in my temptations therefore I appoint vnto you a Kingdom The point is cleare and plaine That such as by faith haue put on the Lord Iesus will not bee ashamed to make confession and profession of his name Euery man must be at the least a Confessor if not a Martyr that would raigne with Christ in glory And there is Reason for it Reas 1 First because it is one of the most proper fruites of Faith to make an open confession profession of the name of Christ Because wee haue the same spirit of Faith according as it is written I beleeued 2 Cor. 4.13 and therefore haue I spoken we also beleeue and therefore speake No better testimony of true Faith then heartily to confesse Christ whereas he that is afraid to confesse Christ hath no Faith Reas 2 Secondly there is made a speciall promise vnto such as make profession of his name Mat. 10.32 Hee that shall confesse me before men him wil I confesse before my Father which is in heauen Mar. 8.38 Whereas the contrarie is threatned with a fearefull curse whosoeuer shall deny me before men him will I deny before my Father which is in heauen Reas 3 Besides God hath not giuen to any the light of his heauenly grace and the knowledge of his Sonne Christ
to the end that the same be buried in the earth hid in a Napkin or put vnder a Bushel but that the same should shine foorth to the praise of his owne grace to lighten others Let your light so shine before men Mat. 5.15 that they may se your good workes and glorifie your Father which is in heaven Let vs heare the vses Vse 1 This meets then first of all with the Nichodemites of our time which can keep their Faith Religion to thēselues are afraid to make open profession of the same vnto others It is thought to be a deepe point of policy amongst many so to cary themselues in points of Religion as that they may change with the times without any great disparagment and hence it is that a man may liue many yeares amongst many and yet not know what religion they are of making themselues ready for euery change and alteration like the wether-cock that turneth with euery blast of winde I wold comend vnto such these places of Scripture to meditate on Then should I yet haue comfort yea I would harden my selfe in sorrow Iob 6.10 let him not spare for I haue not concealed the words of the holy one The Iust shall liue by Faith Heb. 10.38 but if any man withdrawe himselfe my soule shall haue no pleasure in him The fearefull and vnbeleeuing shall haue their portion in the lake which burneth with fire and brimston Reu. 21.8 Whosoeuer shall be ashamed of me before men Mar. 8.38 of him shall the Sonne of Man be asham'd when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy Angels It is lamentable to see the passe that many men are at in the company of zelous Protestants they will bee Protestants in the company of Papists they will bee Papists wee haue of these amongst vs. Let not such men deceiue them selues and their owne soules for whilest they will be thus of all religions they remaine indeed and in truth of no religion yea euery simple man and little child can discouer such to be no better then Atheists Was Religion my Brethren ordained to serue mens humors and to be fitted as mens garments are to fashions and times Surely God will make this poor Ethinck man a swifte witnesse in iudgement one day against such who albeit he were in some danger heerein to the hazarding of his place and office to loose the fauour of the Queene his Mistresse now that hee shall forsake her in her idolatrous seruice Yet being now by the Ministery of Philip brought to the knowledge of Christ hee is content to run all the hazards that may come will be baptised and therein take vpon him the open badg and cognisance of his Master and professe openly vnto the world the truth of his religion Vse 2 Secondly within the compasse of the reprehension come those who will go beyond the former and in peacable times sunshine of the Gospel will bee content to take vpon them the name of professors and will be diligent to frequent Sermons But if a storme be vp so as they are like to suffer for Christ if it bee but a little disgrace reproach trouble losse of libertie wealth or the like begin most shamfully to pull in their heades and shrinke away Many such colde Professors hath religion now adayes Now if these men startle so at a little shame or disgrace what would these men do if they were called to the stake to seale their profession with their blood O what a shame is this that euery check euery taunt euery frowne of a mortall man that is but dust shold make vs stagger in the good way of righteousnes If we be ashamed of Christ before men what looseth he thereby But if he shall be ashamed of vs before his heauenly Father and before his holy Angels what shall then become of vs Vse 3 And yet wee haue a third sort that may as iustly be reproued by the rule of this Doctrine And they are those that are so far from making profession of Religion themselues as that they mocke at all zeale piety and holinesse they see in others because they will not run with them into the same excesse of riot When the Lord was pleased to restore the light of the Gospell amongst vs and brought this land out of the Romish Superstition and Idolatry how did our Adversaries the Papists gnash vpon vs with their teeth were ready to breake a sunder through enuie of that pure light of the Gospell that was risen amongst vs How did they set their wits a worke to reproach vs and our Religion branding Professors with the names of Puritans Precisians holy Brethren and the like Which contumelies and reproaches wee haue taken out of their mouthes and are ready to spit them in the face one of another It is high time my brethren to send these reproaches back againe to Rome from whence they came The Mother of all bitternesse and cruelty and not vpbraide any with his zeale but rather bee prouoked by their example to walke in their steps Vse 4 And last of all it may serue for matter of exhortatiō to perswade vs to bee stedfast and constant in the Truth and Faith of Christ in times of persecutions as in the times of peace and not to be ashamed of the Religion of Iesus Christ that wee haue taken vpon vs to professe It is wisdom when first wee take the profession of Religion vpon vs to cast vp our accompts what it will cost vs to be Christians indeede Wee must looke to haue Sunne Moone and Stars against vs. And indeed hee that is truly religious cannot but stand to the truth We cannot but speake the things that we haue heard and seene Act. 5.92 The hundred fourtie and foure thou sand had their Fathers name written in their fore-heads Reu. 14.1 to shew that they were not ashamed of their profession Though all men bee not honoured with the honour to bee Martyrs for Christ yet all men must at least bee Cofessors of Christ VERSE 37. And Philip sayd if thou beleevest with all they heart thou maist And he answered sayd I beleeue that Iesus Christ is the Sonne of God THis verse containes in it the answere of Philip vnto the former question made by the Eunuch Wherein we haue 1. The condition propounded If thou beleeuest 2. The Eunuchs Concession or allowance of the condition I beleeue that Iesus Christ is the Sonne of God And Philip said If thou beleeuest Howsoeuer the Eunuch desired greatly this Sacrament of Baptisme as a seale of the couenant and badge of his profession and howsoeuer here is water ready and at hand for the same purpose Philip notwithstanding doth not presently descend into the water but first of all doth tech and instruct him in the necessity of faith to the due participation of this sacred ordinance And herein will commend vnto euery faithfull Minister of Christ a most necessarie
duty Doct. Ministers must first instruct their people before they administer the Sacraments Namely that they must first teach and instruct their people in the nature of the Sacrament and the necessitie of sauing faith to the due participation thereof before they administer the same vnto them Euery one must throughly be instructed in the Sacraments before he come to participate of the same This was the charge the Lord gaue vnto the Leuites in the time of the Law before they came to the Passeouer Ye shall sanctifie your selues 2. Chron. 35.6 and prepare your brethren that they may do according to the word of the Lord. And thus doth Philip here instruct this Eunuch in the necessitie of sauing faith before he receiue this Sacrament of Baptisme Neither doth Paul presently baptise the Iaylor before such time that hee had preached the word vnto him and thereby made him fit to partake of the same This was that holy order that Christ himselfe commends vnto his Disciples Mat 28.19 Go teach all nations baptising them in the name of the Father c. And againe He that beleeueth and is baptised shall be saued Wherein we see that faith is most necessarie to precede Baptisme Men are first of all to be taught to beleeue before they receiue the Sacraments which are indeed The seales of the righteousnesse of faith And there is reason for it Reas 1 First in regard of their function and calling they are to watch for the peoples souls Heb. 13.17 as they that must giue vp an account thereof vnto God And therefore must warne them of the danger of vnworthy receiuing lest the people rush vpon holy things vnworthily and vnpreparedly and so incur Gods wrath and they themselues hereby become guiltie of their sinnes Reas 2 Secondly holy things are not to be giuen to dogges Mat. 7.6 nor pearles cast before swine it is requisite then that the Pastour should take away the precious from the vile and as much as in him lyeth Ier. 15.19 put the difference betwixt the one and the other Reas 3 Thirdly the doctrine that concerneth the right vse of the Sacraments is one part of the counsell of God which a Minister is to reueale vnto the people otherwise he cannot bee free from the peoples sinne This serues then for the iust reproofe of such Ministers as make no conscience at all of their duties in this kinde Vse to fit and prepare their people to the due participation of the Sacraments but promiscuously hand ouer head suffer all to partake of the same and so to defile these holy ordinances This was Eli's sinne for the which the Lord threatened to plague his house for euer That his sonnes made themselues vile 1. Sam. 3.13 and he restrained them not Surely it is not the least sinne whereof the Tribe of Leui stands guiltie of at this day that men are no more restrained and that herein wee deale not so faithfully with mens soules are we should And withall let this serue to admonish you that are our hearers that you suffer the word of exhortation and not to runne vpon the pikes of Gods displeasure where you may be taught your duties The Sacraments are the seales of Gods couenant Wherefore should wee require these things at Gods hands when our conditions are not obserued It is lamentable to see the generall neglect of this holy preparation amongst the most sort of men men almost disdaine to be admonished and instructed in their duties herein If thou beleeuest with all thy heart thou mayest Though the Eunuch desired neuer so much to be baptised yet Philip doth not by and by satisfie his desire therein but shewes him first the condition that is required on our part namely Doct. Faith necessarie to the due receiuing of the Sacraments that he must beleeue The Doctrine is That to the participation of the Sacraments of the Church faith is necessary The words are plaine If thou beleeuest thou mayest Q. d. there is more in it then so presently to be baptised now here is water ready This may be done and thou no whit the better nay it may be done to thy further condemnation If then thou wouldst haue true comfort by this Sacrament this is required of thee that thou beleeue The point is cleared by that of our Sauiour vnto his Disciples immediately before his ascention vp into heauen Mat. 16.15 16. And he said vnto them Go ye vnto all the world and preach the word to euery Nation he that beleeueth and is baptised shall be saued And hence is it that Philip doth instruct this Eunuch in the great necessitie of sauing faith to the due participation of this Sacrament So Paul Act. 16. the Iaylor before the would baptise him shews him the necessitie of faith And hence is it that the Sacraments are called The seales of the righteousnesse of faith Rom 4.11 Now it were absurde to set a seale to a thing that is not as to a blanke For a man to come to the Sacrament for a confirmation of his faith when he in the meane time vnderstandeth not what faith meaneth what an absurd thing were this And therefore the practise of the Primitiue Church herein was most commendable who had their Catechumeni a certaine sort of people that were well instructed in the principles of Religion and then were admitted to the Sacraments of Baptisme and the Eucharist being drawne to the Church from Heathenisme and Paganisme If faith bee so necessarie to the Quest due participation of the Sacraments of the Church How comes it then to passe that Infants are baptised that are not of yeares actually to beleeue This may be answered diuers wayes Answ First the common answer herein is good That the children of beleeuing parents haue a right to the Sacrament in regard of the couenant that God made with them and their seed And the faith of euery true beleeuer is so farre the Infants that it giues it an interest into the Sacrament for the beleeuing parent laies hold on the couenant not onely for himselfe but also for his seed As in the title of Lands at this day a man doth purchase lands to him and his heires after him And this is warranted by that of the Apostle 1. Cor. 7.14 If the root be holy so be the branches And in this sense may the children of beleeuers be said to be beleeuers Secondly it may be answered thus that Christ himselfe reckoneth Infants amongst the number of beleeuers Whosoeuer shall offend one of these little ones that beleeue in me c. Howsoeuer their faith be secret In infantibus qui adhuc per aetatem credere non possunt Spiritus sanctus in â—oâ—um cordibus fidei vices agit Pet. Mar. in Rom. 6. as their life it selfe is Though they know not that they do liue yet there is life in them So may the Lord in a maruellous manner giue them the seed and
is an absolute necessity of Baptisme to saluation Whereas Circumcision in the time of the law was to bee done on the eight day Now it is like that many Infants dyed before which to imagine must therefore needs be damned were an opinion most vncharitable most absurd And hence came in that practise of Baptizing of Infants by Midwiues because they heeld an absolute necessity of the same to saluation An opinion that first came from Rome who hold this Sacrament so necessary that they haue Baptised an Infant euen in the Mothers wombe as my selfe haue heard a deuout Papist affirme But now for the Eunuch it was expedient that hee should at this time be Baptised First in regard he had now the ministery of Philip which he was shortly to part withall and to see no more And none more fit for the administration of this sacred rite then he that by his ministery had so prepared the man therevnto Secondly in regard of his cuntry whereto he went which was Idolatrous and no whit acquainted with the seruice of the true God where hee could not expect the celebration of the same with the like frute and comfort as at this time And as for the place this might seem strange likewise that it shold be done by the way side had it not beene better that they had both repaired to some Synagogue or Temple or to some other consecrated place where the seruice and worship of God was now erected it might seem strange that Philip should thus giue way to his desire considering they were now on their iourney and had not a place that was appointed for the celebration of this so sacred an ordinance But this may likewise bee answerd thus That it was not the place that could either adde to or detract from the validitie of this Sacrament or make the same the more or lesse effectuall In regard that all Religious difference of places is taken away since the Death of our blessed Sauiour So as no one place is more holy then another So that the Instruction will bee this Doct. No place since the death of Christ more holy then another That howsoeuer before Christs death some places were more holy then others yet now all Religious difference is taken away It is true the time was when Ierusalem was the place of Gods worship and seruice whereof it was said My eyes shall bee open and my eares shall bee attentiue to the prayer made in this place 2 Cro. 7.15 And againe I haue chosen and Sanctified this place Verse 16 that my name may be there for euer and mine eyes my hart shall bee there perpetually And was therefore called the holy City Mat. 4. and the holy Temple Psal 5.8 Principally in regard of the Law and Testimonies that were there But now since the Death of Christ euery Citie is Ierusalem euery Church is the Temple yea the Lord is neere vnto all that call vpon him in Spirit and truth This is cleare by that of our Sauiour vnto the woman of Samaria Woman beleeue me Ioh. 4.21 the hour cometh when ye shall neither in this Mountaine Vers 23 nor yet at Ierusalem worship the Father But the houre cometh and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in truth Prayer is now auailable in one place as in another 1 Cor. 1 2. The Apostle describes the Faithfull to be such as in euery place call vpon the name of the Lord Iesus Euen so I will saith the Apostle That men pray euery where 1 Tim 2 8. lifting vp pure hands without wrath and doubting Yea our Sauiour wills vs To enter into our Chamber to pray in secret Maâ— 6.6 with this promise That our Father which seeth in secret will reward vs openly And the promise is where two or three bee gathered together in my Name Mat. 18.20 there am I in the middest of them Now the reasons will make it more cleare Reas 1 First Since Christs death all difference of persons is taken away There is neither Iew nor Grecian bond nor free male nor female for ye are all one in Christ and therefore all difference of places must needs be taken away Reas 2 Secondly because Ierusalem which was the place of Gods worship is now defaced the Temple destroyed according to that prophecie that went before I will make this place as Silo and this City a curse to all the Inhabitants of the earth â—er 26.9 Which thing so came to passe about fourty yeares after the death of our blessed Sauiour since which time there is no one place that hath had the same promises or the same priuiledges Reas 3 Thirdly what was it that made Ierusalem the holy City more then any other City but the word and Oracles of God which it is true they had amongst them these being for the sinnes of that Nation and people remoued the same word and institution of Christ can make any other place as holy â— Tâ—m 4 3. Aâ— things are sanctified by the word and prayer Vse 1 This shewes then the grosse superstition of the Church of Rome that are wonderfull superstitious in this in plâ—eing holinesse in some one place more then another In some Churches by reason of some reliques of some Saints there more then other as our Ladies Church of Loretto our Lady of Walsingam c. which to hold and to maintaine is grosse superstition nay more it is a flat deniall of Christ to be come in the flesh to hold one place to be more holy then another since his death Vse 2 Secondly this may teach vs to make a holy vse of our priuiledge through Christ herein by setting vp the seruice and worship of God in our particular familie that so the same may bee so many Churches to God We are not now in the time of the Gospell to trauell a long and tedious iourney as the Iewes to Ierusalem there to worship God neither are our seruices so costly as their sacrifices were in the time of the Law What manner of persons ought we then to be and how conuersant daily in holy duties that are thus priuiledged aboue them This was the great commendations of Nymphas Col. 4.15 Phil. 2. and Philemon that their seuerall houses were seuerall Churches vnto God How did the Lord blesse the house of Obed-Edom while the Arke of the Lord was in the same whilest such houses and families lye vnder Gods curse and are no better then cages of vncleane beasts that haue not the word nor prayer amongst them Ier. 10.25 Poure out thy fury O Lord vpon the heathen that haue not knowne thee and vpon those families that haue not called vpon thy Name And he baptised him The manner was as it seemeth in those dayes to dip the whole body in the water for so the word signifieth to drowne or to be put vnder the water Wherein indeed diuers excellent mysteries