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A03268
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The abridgement of the gospell: or The order and course of mans saluation as it is set foorth by Zacharie the father of Iohn Baptist, Luke 1. 67. &c. and further opened in ten sermons thereupon: by Sam. Hieron.
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Hieron, Samuel, 1576?-1617.
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1609
(1609)
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STC 13386; ESTC S118877
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96,426
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126
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THE ABRIDGEMENT of the Gospell Or THE ORDER AND COVRSE oâ—â—ans saluation as it is set foorth by ZACHARIE the father of IOHN BAPTIST Luke 1.67 c. and further opened in ten Sermons thereupon By SAM HIERON 1. TIM 3.16 Without controuersie great is the mysterie of godlinesse LONDON Printed by M. Bradwood for Samuel Macham and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Bull-head ANNO 1609. TO THE READER I Continue still Christian Reader to impart vnto thee some of my Sermon-notes not so much to supply thy want God hauing so abundantly blessed this age with better helps as to manifest my desire of doing my vtmost good in Gods Church Thou hast here such Obseruations as it pleased God to inable me to deliuer in the place where I liue vpon the song of Zacharie In which in my poore vnderstanding the order and course of mans saluation is as effectually set forth as in any other part of holy Writ The fountaine of it is Gods mercie the ground Christ Iesus the substance of the thing it selfe Redemption from the bondage of spirituall enimies it was anciently promised to the Fathers and reported by the Prophets in all ages Knowledge of it is now giuen vnto vs by the Ministerie of man and the end is to leade vs by the cheerefull practise of Holinesse and Righteousnesse to the comfortable fruition of eternall Peace Some other points of good vse are occasionally handled in these Lectures but these be the principall The ordinarie vse of this Scripture in the Church hath moued me besides the particular excellency thereof it being indeed the very Abridgement of the Gospell to cull it out from among my other Readings vpon Luke and to commend it to thy view So praying God to blesse my labour to thy vse I commend thee heartilie to his Grace Modbury in Deuon Thine in the Lord SAM HIERON THE ABRIDGEMENT of the Gospell THE FIRST SERMON LVKE 1.67 c. Then his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost and prophesied saying Blessed be the Lord God of Israel c. IN this passage of speech The generall diuision of the whole place in which the Hymne of Zacharie is reported two things are to be considered 1. The Preface to it 2. The Hymne it selfe In the Preface againe there are two points obserued 1. The speciall enabling of Zacharie to this businesse 2. The generall nature of the thing performed The enabling of Zacharie is in these words He was filled with the Holy Ghost By the Holy Ghost we must not heere vnderstand the very Essence and Deity of the third person in Trinity but the gifts and graces of the Holie Ghost according as the word is often so taken in the Scripture a Ioh. 3.34 Ioh. 7 39. Rom. 8.9 By being filled with the Holy Ghost we must not imagine that Zacharie till this time was destitute of the graces of the spirit but this is the meaning that at this time and vpon this occasion a more large and plentifull measure of the graces of Gods spirit appeared in him In this we may obserue that Zacharie afflicted formerly with the dumbnesse of many moneths hath not onely the libertie of his speech restored but being endowed with a fuller portion of Gods graces his toong is made the instrument of the Holie Ghost in vttering a matter of extraordinarie consequence From whence wee may collect this doctrine The 1. Doctrine That the comforts which GOD heapeth vpon his afflicted seruants doe come in with a kinde of aduantage there is not onely a remoouing of the affliction but a bestowing withall of some speciall kindnesse Zacharie is not onely now not dumbe but which is more is enabled by an extraordinarie measure of spirituall gifts euen in an admirable maner to set foorth the whole mysterie of the redemption of mankind Wee meet with like examples in holie writ Great was the affliction of Ioseph He was sold for a slaue they held his feet in the stocks and he was laid in yrons b Psal 105.17.18 But when the Lord had thorowly tried him as siluer is tried in the furnace of a long grieuous affliction he was not barely enlarged but withall aduanced to a place of great respect The king made him Lord of his house c. c vers 21. Moses his triall is at large set downe in the storie d Ex. 2.14 c. his feare his flight and his long seruice in Midian but when Gods appointed time came he not onely restored him to the fellowship of his owne countreymen but made him the guide and captaine of his people so that hee neuer wrought greater things by the hand of any meere man than he did by the hand of Moses Notorious is the Historie of Iob how he was tormented in person and wasted in estate but when the Lord turned his captiuitie hee gaue him twice so much as he had before e Iob 42.10 and blessed his last daies more than the first f vers 12. To this agreeth that of Dauid who saith that the Lord did not onely bring him out of the horrible pit but also set his feet vpon a rocke and ordered his goings g Psal â—0 2 And that of the afflicted people is of like nature After two daies say they he will reuiue vs that is not all but in the third day he will raise vs vp and we shall liue in his sight h Hos 6.2 He would not only pull backe his hand and forbeare to smite which yet had beene much but he would come as a skilfull and tender hearted Surgeon to lappe vp their sores to powre oyle into their wounds to giue them beautie for ashes the garment of gladnesse for the spirit of heauinesse i Isa 61.3 neither would he alone in some little measure reuiue and quicken them but he would giue that large measure of strength that they should liue in his sight They which went weeping do not only returne with ioy but they do ouer and aboue bring their sheaues with them k Psal 126. â— The reason of the Lords so dealing proceeds first from his mercie He knoweth whereof we be made saith Dauid he remembreth that wee are but dust l Psal 103.14 therefore lest his afflicted seruants should bee swallowed vp with heauinesse and euen ouercome with discouragement he doth not onely withdraw his hand of chastisement but hee addeth some speciall mercy to the end that they mâ—y be comfortablie assured that whatsoeuer was done was done to prepare them for a greater kindnesse Secondlie it proceedeth from his Wisedome hee knoweth that none doe value his kindnesses more or are fitter to imploy them to their owne good and the good of others than those that haue beene most humbled by afflictions according as no ground is so fit to receiue seed euen with a full hand as that which hath beene most torne with the plough and beaten
Light of doctrine They goe they know not whither they beleeue they know not what downe they will be in the pit before they are aware But wil some say will you make vs so blinde and so simple that wee cannot see the way to heauen without you I answer with the words of Christ to the Pharisies Now yee say we see therefore your sinne remaineth n Ioh. 9.41 You which thinke your selues so cunning there is none so blinde no bodies case is more desperate The third vse is taught by the Apostle in these words The 3. Vse Walke as the children of Light o Eph. 5.8 That is Christ is come into the world to enlighten his word is preached to conuey the light of grace into our harts this is no smal priuilege behaue your selues therefore agreeably to this mercy liue as becommeth those whom God hath called into Light This same thing the same Apostle vrgeth elsewhere The night is past the time of ignorāce is blown ouer the day is come the Light of grace knowledge hath appeared put on therefore the armour of Light p Rom. 13.12 Wee may thus vnderstand it Men that by occasion goe abroad in the night are not so curious about their attire thinking that whatsoeuer is amisse will bee shrouded vnder the mantle of the night But he who goeth foorth at noone day will be more carefull that nothing may bee seene contrarie to modestie contrarie to ciuilitie So saith the Apostle in the daies of your ignorance happily you might doe such or such things and because you knew no other they might in some sort be borne withall but now the case is otherwise Light hath shined grace hath appeared knowledge is preached vnto you therefore other things are now expected if you now liue as in times past your fact cannot be hid your fault cannot be excused We see in generall what the Apostle perswades That we may more fully conceiue what this is to Walke in the Light let vs heare him opening the same vnto vs It comprehends vnder it three things 1. To approoue that which is pleasing to the Lord q Eph. 5.10 which is reuealed in the Scripture and is more and more made knowen vnto vs by Preaching 2. To beware of the vnfruitfull works of darknesse r vers 11. such as gluttony drunkennesse chambering wantonnesse strife enuying ſ Rom. 13.3 filthinesse foolish talking c t Eph. 5.4 3. To Reprooue them that is to carie our selues in that holy and blamelesse maner that our verie liues though we hold our tongues may be sufficient to lay open and condemne the leaud fashions of the vngodly This is to walke as the children of Light This is straitly required of those which enioy the Light but alas full slightly it is performed How common how shamelesse and how presumptuous are these vnfruitfull works of darknesse securitie contempt of goodnesse scorne of Religion Pride Whoredome and such like do these agree with that Light which God hath giuen vs Thinke we that God hath a part in vs when these things beare dominion ouer vs It is vnpossible If we say we haue fellowship with God and walke in darkenesse we lie and do not truely u 1. Ioh. 1.6 The conclusion is this Christ is our Light hee imparteth his beames vnto vs by his Word If we loue this Light let vs walke as the children of Light The works of darknesse will bring vs into his power who is the Prince of darknesse we cannot escape it The second part of the Benefit is To guide our feet into the way of peace Heere it must first be enquired what is the way of peace Secondly it must be prooued that we need a Guide Thirdly it must bee iustified that Christ is the Guide Lastly it must be shewed how he doth guide Of these briefly The 5. Doctrine The way of peace is the way which leadeth vnto eternall happinesse It is called Gods way x Psal 86.11 and the way of saluation y Act. 16.17 That we haue need of a guide it is plain The way of peace by nature we doe not know z Rom. 3.17 The way which seemeth right vnto vs the issues thereof are the waies of death a Pro. 14.12 It is a part of our miserie that we are turned euery one to his owne way b Isay 536. That Christ is the Guide his owne words prooue I saith he am the way c Ioh. 14.6 Hee goeth before his sheepe hee leadeth them out d Ioh. 10.3.4 Now he guideth euen as he giueth light By the Word and by his Spirit By his Word Thy word is a lanterne to my feete and a light vnto my paths e Ps 119.105 and the Interpreters of this word are called Guides f Act. 8.31 2. By his Spirit Thy eares shall heare a word behinde thee saying This is the way walke yee in it c g Isay 30.21 The Spirit of truth will lead you into all truth h Ioh. 16.13 Thus is that verified which Hannah spake in her song that the Lord keepeth the feet of his saints i 1. Sam. 2.9 and as Dauid saith doth teach them the way that they shall chuse k Psa 25.12 We see by this how soulely wee doe all erre by nature The 1. Vse how apt we be still in matters which concerne our soules to be mistaken how graciously God hath dealt with vs in prouiding vs a Guide What should we now learne hereby but this In all thankfulnesse and humilitie to yeeld our selues vnto his conduct Hee hath prepared for vs a way by his bloud l Heb. 10.20 hee hath troden out a path by his owne Example m Ioh. 13.15 hee hath left vs his Word and the Ministrie thereof to point out the finger to the right way and to shew vs what is good n Mic. 6.8 To the reuerent vse heereof hee hath promised the assistance and guidance of his spirit What should hee haue done more which hee hath not done o Isay 5.4 Shall wee now when all things are thus fitted for vs bee like those spoken of in the Prophet who when the way was laid out before them said plainly We will not walke therein p Ier. 6.16 God forbid And indeed we our selues if we doe consider it must needs condemne it that it should be so Why then is it so Christ calleth daily vpon vs in his word while we be trauelling in our owne waies Returne yee sonnes of Adam q Psal 90.3 Why will yee die O house of Israel Cause therefore one another to returne r Eze. 18.31.32 yet we turne the deafe eare saying in effect as they did of old The word spoken vnto vs in the name of the Lord we will not heare ſ Ier. 44.16 Thus euery one turneth to his race t Ier. 8.6 and the way of sinners u Psal 1.1 is preferred before the way of peace The word of God calleth vs one way and we will bee sure to goe the cleane contrarie If it were asked of vs whether we would refuse to follow Christ wee would all say with one voice God forbid we should refuse it but when hee offreth his directions to vs in his Word we will not follow them Hold wee this then Christ is the head Guide His Word and the preaching thereof is the staffe and instrument to conduct vs if wee refuse that guidance wee shall neuer finde the way which leadeth vnto peace The 2. Vse Secondly heere we haue a good direction in the diuersitie and multiplicitie of guides whom and what to follow The time-seruer followeth the State and the law The profane person the multitude The worldling his outward quietnesse The carnall wise man his owne conceit The superstitious his forefathers The papists the name of the Church He which would not be deceiued let him hearken to Christ His sheepe heare his voice x Ioh. 10.27 Christ speaketh in his word If we will needs follow men let it be according to that rule Be ye followers of me as I am of Christ y 1. Cor. 11.1 Looke who goeth with Christ that is who brings his word him let vs follow Let vs doe as souldiers do in their watch demand The Word Thou wilt say the diuell alleageth the word as he did to Christ Truth but he alleageth it falsly as he did in his reasoning with Christ Seeke thou the Lord in humilitie and in deniall of thy selfe he will giue thee a discerning spirit and thou shalt not finally or fundamentally bee deceiued If any man saith Christ will doe my Fathers will hee shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speake it of my selfe z Ioh. 7.17 * ⎠* Let God alone haue the glory