beasts the Arke ready to rush on rockes and mountaines So the Children of God shall bee saved yet through many tribulations Apoc. 7.14 Wee must looke to be tossed with the waves of many afflictions before we come to the kingdome of heaven but let us bee of good comfort in the middest of them all The Arke was hoysed but not drowned so though we be afflicted yet we shall not perish God kept the Arke by the hand of his providence and so will he us too Hee that hath loved us will love us to the end and will keepe us to his everlasting kingdome the gates of hell may availe but shall never prevaile against the Church GOD in all extremities prepareth for his Children Gen. 19.30 he prepared a place in Aegypt for his Church in the time of famine he prepared Pharaohs daughter and drew her to the river to save Moses from drowning he prepared a Whale to receive Ionah as soone as he was cast out of the ship and caused him within three dayes to set him safe on the dry land hee prepared Pella for the Iewes unto which they fled and escaped the fury of the Romans he prepared an Arke by the hands of Noah for the saving of him and his house-hold Let us be thankfull unto him and depend on him There be many things that condemne a thiefe The Iudge condemnes him hee gives sentence against him the evidence condemnes him and the witnesses condemne him but the chiefest of all is his owne sinne the theft which he hath committed So many concurre in the condemnation of a wicked man God condemnes him as a just Iudge his conscience brings in evidence against him and condemnes him the holy and righteous men that have shined as Starres among them condemne them but the greatest of all is their owne sin The Queene of the South shall condemne the Israelites She came from the uttermost parts of the earth to heare the wisedome of Solomon They had Solomon at home and regarded not the hearing of him The Ninevites shall condemne them they repented at the preaching of one Ionah The Iewes repented not at the preaching of many Ionahs The Scripture shall condemne us there is one that judgeth you even Moses in whom yee trust The plentifull preaching of the Gospell and the small reckoning that is made of it shall condemne us Noah condemned the world and our Noahs shall condemne us if wee regard them not We for our parts had rather save you then condemne you Therefore receive with meekenesse the engraffed Word that by it yee may be saved in the life to come The good actions of godly men that were as reall Sermons to preach to the wicked shall condemne them at the latter day The holy and unspotted life of Lot that vexed his righteous soule in Sodom shall condemne the Sodomites The Synagogue set up by the Centurion shall condemne those miserable wretches that will give nothing to good uses the continuall praying of Annah them that never pray The garments that Dorcas made for poore widdowes them that except Law compell them will give nothing to the poore the diligence of a good Scholler shall condemne all the loytering Schollers in the Schoole Therefore let us profit by these examples let them be as spurs to pricke us forward to the practise of those good things which we see in them especially in the Preachers of the word such as Noah was If we contemne their preaching it shall rise up in condemnation against us in the world to come Faith as yee see makes us heyres not of silver and gold houses and lands mannours and Lordships but of the righteousnesse of Christ by whom wee have a right to all things 1 Cor. 3.22 Wee thinke highly of one that is heyre to a great Gentleman a Knight a Lord c. There comes such a Noblemans heyre I but poore Lazarus that believes in Christ is in better estate than he if he want faith Therefore let us pray to God for faith that may assure us of the inheritance of the kingdome of heaven which surpasseth all the inheritances in the world And what manner of faith is it that makes us heyres of this kingdome not a verball faith that hath nothing but faire words and a glorious profession like the figge tree but a working faith such a faith as worketh by love that is full of good workes as Dorcas was All these that be in this Catalogue had workes for the expression of their faith Abel had his sacrifice Enoch walked with God Noah had the building of the Arke Abraham the offering of his Sonne Moses the leaving of Aegypt Rahab the preservation of the spies None of them but had workes Therfore if we say we have faith and have not workes wee deceive our selves Let us shew our faith by our workes make up our calling and election sure by them then we are heyres of the blessed inheritance reserved for the Saints in the life to come VERSE 8. WE have had the faithfull before the floud Now to them after the floud before the possession of the land of Canaan and after The first is Abraham who because he was the Father of the faithfull entreating of faith he is more plentifull in him Here are three things for the celebration of his faith concerning himselfe his Wife and his Sonne 1. His obedience to GOD calling him out of his owne Country 2. His patient abode in a strange Country whereunto hee was called Or 1. His egresse out of a Country which he knew 2. His progresse to a Country which he knew not The vulgar translation hath it hee that is called Abraham which before was Abram At the first hee was called Ab ram Pater excelsus now Abraham Ab rab gnam the Father of many Nations That dreadfull name of GOD Iehovah hath two Hehs in it GOD say some gave Abraham a letter of his owne name because GOD was to come of his loines for our SAVIOUR CHRIST who is GOD above all blessed for ever was of the seed of Abraham that is somewhat too curious The change of his name did signifie that hee was a great man highly esteemed of GOD and worthy to bee honoured of men The Iewes boasted of him as of their Father therefore above all others hee propoundeth him as an example of faith that they his Children might tread in his steps He was of great fame among the heathen as Iosephus writeth many ancient Historiographers make an honourable mention of him Berosus Damascenus c. He went not of his own head upon an idle and phantasticall brain he had a calling so to doe whereof Gen. 12.1 that was his warrant his passeport and licence to travell withall If all travellours had this calling they might be secure in their journeys Some goe into strange countries in a male contended minde because many things crosse them at home Some because they cannot live at home some to see fashions for the satisfying of
Sea insomuch as the Psalmist exclameth how great is thy goodnes ô Lord which thou even then preparedst for the sons of men He prepares for us the foules of heaven fishes of the Sea beasts of the field to be our nourishment but of all preparations this is the greatest he prepared for us a City a most glorious Citty All the Cities in the world are not worthy to be named the same day with this thieves may breake into these Citties so cannot they into that These may be sacked by enemies so cannot that These Citties shall be burnt at the day of Iudgment this abides ever these need the Sun by day and Moone by night this needes none of them for it is enlightned with the glory of the Lamb. In these there is good and bad there none but good the spirits of just and perfect men In these there is sometimes dancing sometimes weeping there is no weeping at all but continuall singing to GOD Almighty these Cities may be famished so cannot that we shall eate of the hidden Manna and of the tree of life in the Paradise of God for ever Here our fellow Cittizens are men and sinfull men there we shall be Cittizens with the Angels here Cittizens have their Gownes whereby they are knowne which at length are moath eaten and come to nothing there wee shall be cloathed with the white robe of immortality that lasteth for ever In these Citties some are rulers some ruled there wee shall all be Kings and reigne with CHRIST for ever These Citties are made by Carpenters and Masons this by God O admirable City Let our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bee in it in this life that we may be taken up into it and remaine in it for ever in the life to come Yet this City is little regarded If Yorke Norwich London were ours we would thinke our selves happy men yet we count the preparation of this City nothing Ye talke of a City to come I would I were Lord of one Towne here take thou that City Many a prophane Esau is ready to say so but let us be thankefull to God for this City Hebrewes 11.17.18 19. WE have here a Catalogue of famous Christians in the Old Testament wherof some were before the floud others after as Abraham with whom having begun now he addes and concludes of him in these Verses Wherein we have a tragedy and a comedy a tragedie in a fathers oblation of his Sonne a comedie in the unexpected restitution of his Son to him 19. a sorrowfull tragedie in his going a joyfull comedy in his teturning Touching the former 1. An admirable worke performed by Abraham 2. The motive that set him on worke his stedfast faith in the resurrection Verse 19. In the work the author of it and the exquutioner of it VERSE 17. THe author of it was God that tried him Man tryes the Devill tries and God tries homo tentat ut cognoseat man tries to know what is in another Tentare à teneo wee try that we may quasi manu tenere hold as it were with the hand and have a certaine knowledge of him whom we try As the Queene of Shebah hearing of the fame of Salomon went to try him with hard questions 1 Reg. 10.1 Diabolus tentat ut decipiat to coozen us and to destroy us So the Serpent tempted our great Grandmother Eve and beguiled her Deus tentat ut quis sit homo hominibus innotescat that what is in man may be made manifest unto men hee tryed Abraham 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 St. Chrysost. not to learne more than he knew before but to demonstrate the excellent graces that were in Abraham the world how he preferred God before all things even before his onely Sonne Thus CHRIST tempted Philip about the loaves Ioh. 6.6 God knew what was in Abraham but hee tryed him to make others know whereas Gen. 22.12 he speakes it after the manner of men When a man hath tryed the fidelity of his friend he sayes now I know thou lovest me so God applying himselfe to our capacity having tryed Abraham sayes now I know yet no accesse of knowledge to GOD hee knew what was in him before An admirable tryall a wind that might shake the strongest Cedar in Lebanon yee may take a view of it Gen. 22.2 Every word is very emphaticall 1. He doth not say send him by another but take him thy selfe carry this innocent Lamb to the slaughter house thy selfe 2. Not five or sixe yeeres hence but now presently without delay 3. Not thy servant but thy Sonne Tully tooke heavily the death of his servant how might Abraham take the death of his Sonne 4. Not one of many but thine only Sonne though thou hast no more but he take him kill him 5. Hee names him I doe not meane Ismael though thou art loath to part with him but Isaac 6. Whom thou lovest so deerely so tenderly all thy love is contracted into him thou hast no other to love 7. To the land of Moriah which is a great way off three dayes journey Oh what thoughts did trouble him all that while 8. When he comes there he doth not say hang him on a tree drowne him which had beene intollerable for a father to doe but burne him which is the sharpest death of all offer him up for a burnt offering to me 9. Consider the conference that was betweene him and Isaac in the way which might strike Abraham to the heart Father here is fire and the wood but where is the Lamb for the burnt offering alas my Son said Abraham in his heart though hee spake it not with his tongue thou must bee the burnt offering no doubt but the teares went trickling downe his cheekes Oh how wonderfully was he tryed all these were as so many daggers held at his heart 10. Besides all these the Hebrewes report that the Devill appeared to him in the shape of a good Angell and disswaded him from the offering of his Son telling him it was a most monstrous and unnaturall fact greatly displeasing to GOD Almighty No doubt but the Devill was busie with him to withdraw him from Obedience to GOD but that of his apparition is a feyned fable That we see how this holy man was tryed he was tryed indeed to the utmost a wonder he did proceed to the action Thus it pleaseth God to trye his Children A Gold-Smith tries his gold by casting it into the fire and Saint Peter calls it the fiery tryall A Captaine tryes his Souldiers before he brings them into the field One friend tryes another and God in love and wisedome tries us all how we are affected to him he sent false Prophets and dreamers of dreames to try the Israelites whether they would cleave to him with all their hearts and soules or not Deut. 13.3 hee tryed David by Shimei that rayled on him and hurled stones at him being a King A great indignity for a King to beare he tryed Ioseph with sore
rejoycing and brings home the sheaves of heavenly comfort with him Gods dealing with his Children is contrary to Ezekiels scrowle it was sweete in his mouth and bitter in his belly God begins bitterly but ends sweetely as hee did with Abraham Yee remember the patience of Iob and what end the Lord made So remember the tryall of Abraham and what end the Lord made The beginning was sorrow the end was joy Let us beare with patience the bitter beginning that we may be partakers of the sweete ending He that will save his life shall loose it but hee that looseth it for my sake shall finde it hee that will save his goods by the denyall of Christ shall loose them he that will save his Children by dishonouring of God shall loose them as Eli did he cockered his Children and lost them they were both slaine in a day Abraham is content to loose his Child for God's sake and he findes his Child there is nothing lost by obeying God we shall be gainers by it Contemne divitias eris locuples contemne gloriam eris gloriosus contemne filium habebis filium We shall have fathers and mothers Children as it were in this world and in the world to come life everlasting Let this encourage us to submit our selves in all obedience to God in all things as Abraham did VERSE 20. WE have had the Chapter of death here followes that of faith wherein we have an Ilias of examples 1. Of the Grand-father then of the Sonne lastly of the Grand-child Isaac was in a manner dead yet he lives still many a yeere and at his going out of the world blesseth his two Sonnes which was a demonstration of his faith he lived and dyed in faith as Abraham had done But it seemeth the Holy Ghost might have made choyse of other workes of Isaacs serving better for the expressing of his faith then this he was a devout and religious man much given to prayer and heavenly meditation he went into the field to pray or meditate he continued praying twenty yeeres together for a Child and would not give over hee was obedient to God and followed him from place to place why doth not the Apostle make mention of these but of his blessing 1. These were common to others together with him 2. This blessing did most of all argue that he had lively faith in the promises of God made to him and Abraham when as hee doth bestow the things promised with as great assurance as if they were accomplished already This blessing is a fulfilling of all the promises therefore most fit to declare his faith and to publish it to all the world In this blessing there are three things 1. The instrumentall cause whereby it was done 2. The persons blessed 3. The things whereabout they were blessed For the instrument it was by faith Was it so he was coozened in it by Rebeccah and Iacob and he was induced to it against his will and purpose for he was determined to have blessed Esau. 1. Distinguish between the action and the infirmities in it Nature lead him one way and grace another yet for all that all things were governed by GODS providence as Exod. 1.20 and this blessing was an execution of Gods will decree and counsell and in some fort issued from faith in him Some infirmities of a man cannot marre the action of God as a sicke man is a man so a weake faith is a faith 2. His constant resolution after the blessing was ended doth shew it came from faith I have blessed thy brother already and he shall be blessed The voice of faith For the persons Iacob is set first because the birth-right was his his brother having sold it to him and he was the man whom God loved and in whom the promises were continued Esau was a prophane person yet he had some blessings Therefore both are included in the blessing though diversly Concerning what did hee blesse them not things present but to come temporall and eternall in this life and that to come which was an evident declaration of his faith For faith is a ground of things hoped for he pronounced of things to come as certainely as if they were already and they fell out as he had said Neither were the things to come temporall blessings alone but especially spirituall shadowed out by earthly things In the blessing hee said to Iacob Genesis 27.29 Be thou thy brothers Lord yet Iacob was faine to crouch to Esau hee was his Lord but this was accomplished in CHRIST that should come of Iacob All Nations were subject to him In this blessing Iacob saw CHRIST though it were afarre off therefore no mervaile though it bee adscribed to faith The blessing of Parents is highly to be regarded Praerogativa parentum disciplina filiorum Though there be a difference betweene our blessing of our Children and of the Patriarkes Our benedictio is but bona dictio or bona precatio their 's was an actuall and a reall bestowing of things on them yet the curse or blessing of Parents in all ages is to bee respected whom they curse justly God curseth â—nd whom they blesse God blesseth Therefore let Children so behave themselves that they may have their Parents blessing especially at their departure out of the world These temporall blessings are blessings Wealth health honour prosperity these GOD bestoweth on the reprobate these had Ismael and Esau hee was a jolly hunter and abounded in pleasure hee flourished in worldly prosperity more than Iacob So may the wicked doe Psal. 73.4 Dives But let us be content rather to lye with Lazarus then to frye with Dives to be plaine and simple men as Iacob was then to have their felicity here and misery hereafter 2 Sam. 19.30 Faith sees things to come Isaac now was blind yet he saw things to come The eye of faith is the best eye Let us entreat the Lord to make the eye of our faith brighter and brighter to our dying day VERSE 21. TOuching Iacob there bee two facts to be considered which are illustrated by the instrumentall cause and the circumstance of time when they were performed The facts are the blessing of Iosephs two Sonnes and his worshipping of GOD described by the manner how the instrumentall cause faith the time when when he was a dying By faith for without the eye of faith hee could not see the things that should happen to his Childrens Children conteyned in the blessing Which was more than the blessing of his owne Sonnes all fathers will doe that when hee was about to dye when death did approach 1. He adopted them into his family that they might be members of the Church as well as his owne Sons 2. He preferred the younger before the elder Ephraim is put for the tenne tribes Hos. 5. they were both Children Ephraim had no more in him then Manasseh 3. Being a stranger in Aegypt he gave them portions in the land
things Abraham gave tithe of all things to Melchizedec so ought yee to doe howsoever you flatter your selves to the contrary Our best workes are too often defiled with sinne many strange by-thoughts creepe into our minds while we are a praying we pray not with sighes and groanes of the spirit as wee ought to doe we preach not with such wisedome love zeale and power as we should we give not our almes so sincerely as becommeth us we receive not the Communion so penitently and thankfully as we should we heare not the word with such reverence and attention as becommeth us every one of us may knocke on our breasts after the best action we have done with the Publican and say Oh God be mercifull to mee a sinner I have no righteousnesse of mine owne to appeare before thee withall cloath us with the righteousnesse of thy deere Sonne the King of righteousnesse that wee may bee found in him to the everlasting joy and comfort of us all Let the Papists trust to the broken staffe of their inherent righteousnesse scoffing at the imputed righteousnesse of Christ but let us desire this righteousnesse By nature there is Warre betweene GOD and us hee is our enemie and wee his the flagge of defiance is displayed betweene us both Then in what a wofull case are we are we able to encounter with the GOD of heaven and earth that hath all creatures at his becke we must needs goe by the worst he can arme heaven earth and hell against us but here is our comfort IESUS CHRIST is our peace hee hath set at peace by the bloud of his crosse all things in heaven and earth This is the true peace indeed without the which wee can have no sound comfort there is no peace saith God to the wicked What peace said Iehu to Iehoram when as the adulteries of thy mother Iesabel are yet in great number Though a man have the world at will faire houses large lands ample possessions great bagges of silver and gold yet if his adulteries oppressions and other sinnes lye as an heavy loade on his conscience alas what peace can hee have hee is as the raging Sea that cannot bee quiet Achitophel had wealth enough yet because he was not at peace with God by Christ tooke a rope and hanged himselfe Iudas had money enough being the purse bearer and having lately received â—hirtie pieces of silver from the Scribes and Pharisees but alas his sinne vexing his conscience he could have no rest but became his owne butcher Therefore let us all desire God to give us an assurance in our hearts and consciences that wee are subjects appertaining to the King of peace and that Christ Iesus is our Peace It is a singular blessing to have outward peace to sit quietly under our vines and figtrees to have no leading into Captivity no complaining in our streets God hath beene wonderfull gracious to England these many yeares together and that for the admirable peace which it enjoyed we are to praise God that there be no tumults insurrections nor massacres that there is no sword of the enemies to devoure in the land but if in the meane season wee bee not at peace with God by Christ we are most miserable Therefore let us pray especially for this peace that we may be perswaded of the remission of all our sinnes in the bloud of Christ. This is most livelily represented to us in the Lords Supper The breaking of the bread sets before our eyes the breaking of Christs body for our sins the powring out of the Wine represents to us the gushing out of the bloud of Christ out of his Holy side for our iniquities therefore let us come to this heavenly banquet with broken hearts and contrite spirits with a true and lively faith in Christ Iesus the true King of peace that wee may be assured that Christ is ours so that whensoever death shall come we may say with Simeon Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seene thy salvation This is that peace which passeth all understanding the God of peace give it to us all VERSE 3. THe thing concealed by Moses is the eternity of Melchizedec not in deed but in respect of Moses History Hee is introduced by him on the suddaine as if he came then presently from heaven and returned thither againe for Moses never spake of him before nor after His father and mother were not onely not knowne but they were not at all namely in the History of the bible Cujus neque pater neque mater scribuntur in generationibus Syr. otherwise he could not have beene a fit type of our Saviour Christ. He doth not say of yeeres but not so much as of dayes dayes goe before yeeres Melchizedec was without beginning of dayes quia hoc scriptum non est Christus quia non habet initium Chrys. Theoph. Nor end of life Not that he was translated as Enoch but because his end is not mentioned So Christ had no father in respect of his humanity no mother in respect of his deity He had kindred according to the flesh but not as God without beginning and ending as God Ioh. 12.34 This he applyeth Likened they are not the same but the one like to the other As the picture of the King is like the King so Melchizedec was as a picture of our Saviour Christ. Not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nothing can overthrow it An immoveable Priest-hood a permanent Priest so was not Aaron and his posteritie Some have affirmed from hence that Melchizedec was not a man but something greater then a man Origen as Ierome testifieth of him Epist. 126. said hee was an Angell others that hee was the HOLY GHOST others that he was the great power of GOD yea greater then Christ because Christ is said to bee a Priest after his order Epiphan l. 2. cont haereses haeresi 55. Aug. de haeresibus c. 34. The same did Theodotus the Heretike avouch and that hee was the mediatour of the Angels praying for them as CHRIST doth for men Tertul. de praescrip adversus haereticos in fine Some have taken upon them to set downe his fathers and mothers name that his fathers name was Eracla his mothers name Astareth or Asteria Vide Epiphanium All these are confuted by the text 1. Hee is said to bee likened to the Sonne of God but nullum simile est idem 2. Hee is said to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not because hee had no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stocke or kinred but because there is no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no mention no commemoration of his kinred in the Scripture from whence ariseth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Verse 6. So Horace lib. 2. Satyr 5. sayes of one that he was sine gente because his nation was not knowne qui quamvis perjurus erat sine
at the first springing up of the custome was but worth a Groate is now worth tenne shillings and yet will yee against all reason hold that custome still 2. The Iewes had a custome upon small occasion to put away their Wives derived from Moses yet CHRIST brake the necke of that custome saying ab initio non fuit sic Moses permitted that for the hardnesse of your hearts because hee had to deale with a stubborne and stiffe-necked people but from the beginning it was not so So say I the law for the hardnesse of your hearts permits this custome as it doth eight in the hundred but looke backe to the originall and yee shall finde that from the beginning it was not so It is an Axiome in the law nullum tempus occurit regi The King never looses his right for discontinuance of time And shall the King of Kings be debarred of his right because of a new upstarte custome Flatter not your selves in your customes they are but broken reeds for you to leane upon St. Paul sayes If any man list to bee contentious we have no such custome nor the Churches of God So say I to you if any list to rob God and his Ministers of their right we have no such custome nor the Churches of God It is a wonderfull delusion that the Devill hath bewitched many withall stollen waters are sweete and all is good that we may take from the Ministers He that robbeth a Minister robbeth God Mal. 3.8 and is it no sinne to rob God he that stealeth from a common Christian is a thiefe but hee that stealeth from a Minister is a Church-robber the one is theft the other is sacriledge the one breakes the second table the other the first table Therefore take heed of this grievous sinne Tithes are the LORDS hee hath given them to us therefore take you good heede how yee take them away from us least you bee found fighters against God as wise Gamaleel said to the Councell Take away maintenance from any calling and it will quickly fall to the ground who would be a Merchant if hee must be a beggar all the dayes of his life Who would be a Clothier if he get no gaine by it Who would put his Sonne to the Vniversity there be at charges with him seven or eight yeares afterwards to be a Minister and to have no comfortable maintenance in his calling it is a matter of greater importance then we are aware of the denying of the Ministers right is the overthrow of the Ministery and so consequently of the Word of God whereby wee must bee saved in the life to come therefore let us not have a finger in it You thinke to waxe rich by defrauding of the Ministers but that is the high-way to poverty and beggery too Such money is put into a bottomlesse bagge it will never prosper Consider what the Lord saith Mal. 3.10 Prove me c. pay your tithes conscionably in truth and sincerity as you ought to doe and Gods blessing shall bee on you and yours steale from the Ministers of God and thy wealth one way or other shall melt away as the waxe before the fire Therefore in the feare of God let us all looke to it let us as God hath given tithes to them for their livelyhood so give them cheerefully for God loveth a chearefull giver let us deale bountifully with GOD and his Ambassadours in this present life that he may deale bountifully with us and give us his owne kingdome in the life to come The second argument whereby the Apostle proves Melchizedec to bee greater than Abraham is laid downe in the last words of this sixth verse Hee that blesseth is greater than he that is blessed but Melchizedec blessed Abraham ergo he is greater than Abraham whom he blessed Hee doth not say him that had so many merits Abraham the Father of the faithfull had no merits whereof he might glory before God Hee was not justified in the sight of God by any of his workes but only by believing the promises this is our righteousnesse to believe the promises of God We are to make a precious account of Gods promises they be the most excellent jewells that wee can have hee doth not say hee blessed him that had silver and gold Sheepe and Oxen but the promises Abraham was a mervailous rich man God had blessed him exceedingly hee had at this time above three hundred uprising and down-lying in his house yet the Holy Ghost doth not say he blessed him that was such a wealthy man that had such large lands possessions but hee blessed him that had the promises The promises of GOD are the greatest riches that a man can have our silver and gold may bee taken from us but Gods promises shall abide with us for ever Now Abraham had not the promises for himselfe alone but for all the Children that believe as he did Acts 2.39 as hee had the promises so have wee and let us make much of them they must be our comfort in all calamities yea in death it selfe heaven and earth shall passe away but not a tittle of my word shall passe unfulfilled therefore let us highly esteeme of the promises of God they be the strongest pillars we have to leane upon VERSE 7. THe major proposition of the argument is proved by the confession of all and without all contradiction the lesse is blessed of the greater that which is of lesser account and reckoning the thing being put for the person I but is the lesse blessed of the greater Iacob blessed Pharaoh Gen. 47.10 and 1 Reg. 8.66 the people blessed the King yet they were not greater than Salomon we blesse God yet we are not greater than God 2 Cor. 1.3 There is a double blessing the one improper the other proper Improperly to speake to blesse is to wish well as to pray for one 1 Cor. 14.16 So the poore blessed Iob. Iob 31.20 So inferiours may blesse their superiours that is pray to God for them So the Child may blesse the father the people the Minister the subjects the Prince but properly to speake blessing is a pronouncing and an actuall bestowing of happinesse on them that are blessed Thus God Almighty doth blesse us all thus CHRIST blessed his Church at his Ascension into heaven hee left an actuall blessing with them and in them with us all thus the Priests in the name of God blessed the people and so doe we that be the Ministers of the Gospell at this day we as Gods Ambassadours and in CHRIST 's stead 2 Cor. 5. doe not only pronounce a blessing on the People but by the gracious operation of Gods Spirit wee are as Gods hands to powre downe a blessing on them In this respect we sustaine Gods person and are greater than the people whom we blesse The Papists ascribe too much to the blessing of the Ministers and we give too little to it they say that a Bishops
ashes of that ashes a certaine water was to be made which being sprinckled on them that were uncleane by the touching of a dead body c. it did sanctifie them and made them capable of the Tabernacle being purified by that water they might goe with the rest of the people into the place of Gods worship This Cow was a type of Christ. 1. As shee was Red So was hee dyed red in his owne bloud 2. As she was without spot or scab or any disease So Christ was without the spot of sin 3. As shee was never used to the yoke no more was Christ to the yoke and servitude of sin 4. As she dyed so Christ. Therefore if the water made of her ashes was precious much more the bloud of Christ sprinckled on our consciences In the proofe of this hee doth not insist because it was confessed by the Iewes So I thinke holy water may sanctifie touching the purity of the flesh If a man have dirt on his face when he is about to enter into the Church their holy water may take it away but it cannot helpe for any spirituall thing to scare away Devills or to put away veniall sins VERSE 14. THerefore he proceeds to the Apodosis Where 1. The sacrifice of Christ. 2. The end of it Not equally but much more Then the bloud of a beast The which he illustrateth by diverse circumstances 1. By the Person that offered this bloud he was Sacerdos victima 2. By the Party or power by the which he offered it Some by the eternall Spirit understand the Holy Ghost as by him he was conceived in the Virgins wombe by him lead into the wildernesse to bee tempted Mat. 4.1 So through his assistance he offered up himselfe but by the eternall Spirit is rather meant the eternall deity of our Saviour Christ 1 Pet. 3.18 19. As hee was man consisting of flesh and bloud So he was also God an eternall and incomprehensible spirit From this his infinite and unspeakeable deity the bloud of CHRIST received a power to make satisfaction for our sinnes Whereupon it is called the bloud of God Acts 20.28 The bloud of none that was a meere man could doe it if CHRIST 's bloud had not beene offered up by his eternall spirit it could not have purchased our redemption The bloud of Martyrs was offered up by the assistance of the HOLY GHOST yet it was not meritorious it was not that but the power of the deity that made Christ's bloud meritorious 3. By the thing offered not any brute Creature not a man an Angell but Himselfe 4. By the quality of the thing offered even in respect of his humanity and for that cause his bloud was more forcible 5. To whom to God As a full satisfaction for the sins of the world Then he comes to the efficacy of the bloud of Christ deduced out of the former the bloud of Goats and Bulls did purge the flesh and outward man this the conscience and inward man In some Greeke copies it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our consciences All stand in need of purging We have a double benefit by the bloud of Christ justification and sanctification from dead workes that is sins Now from these dead workes that lay as an heavy loade on our consciences the bloud of Christ purgeth us Sinnes are called dead workes 1. Because they come from dead men 1 Tim. 5. Verse 6. Eph. 2. Verse 1. 2. Because they engender death Rom. 6. ult The bloud of CHRIST purgeth our consciences from all sinnes so as our consciences cannot accuse and condemne us for sinne because it is washed away in the bloud of CHRIST Hebr. 10.2 Rom. 8.1 The second fruit issuing from the former is our sanctification that being thus justified wee may be sanctified in soule and body to serve the living God Luk. 1.74 He is stiled the living God 1. Because he lives of himselfe and that for ever 2. Because hee makes us by his spirit to live a spirituall life in this world 3. Because hee will raise us up from a corporall death at the latter day and cause us to live with him for ever in the world to come 1. Grievous is the sting of Conscience This chest worme gnaweth sore this made Iudas to cry out I have sinned in betraying innocent bloud This made Iosephs brethren to condemne themselves when no man laid any thing to their charge verily wee have sinned in that wee saw the anguish of his soule when hee besought us and wee would not heare This made those Iohn 8. that seemed holy men to the eye of the world to depart out of the Temple one by one being convicted of their owne consciences This was truly said to be mille testes Now how shall wee stoppe the mouth of these thousand witnesses We are all miserable sinners our consciences accuse us of innumerable sinnes but here is our comfort the bloud of Christ sprinkled on our consciences purgeth us from all sinne being justified by faith wee have peace with God Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God 's Elect it is CHRIST that hath dyed yea rather that is risen againe that with his owne bloud hath entred into the holy place and hath made an eternall expiation of our sinnes Let us all entreat the Lord to apply the force of this bloud to our consciences dayly more and more 2. There bee living workes a reverent using of the name of GOD a cheerefull and reverent hearing of his word temperance chastitie sobriety liberality c. these come from us when wee live by faith in the Sonne of GOD there bee also dead workes blasphemie swearing lying covetousnesse pride oppression envie hatred malice and these are to bee abhorred of us all 1. Dead things stincke If wee meete with a dead carkasse by the way wee hold our noses even so sinnes blasphemie prophanations pride envie hatred malice covetousnesse these stincke in the nostrills of God Almighty therefore let them be detested by us 2. Dead men are forgotten I am as a dead man out of minde So let not our mindes run on these dead workes on the profits of the world the pleasures of the flesh let these dead things bee no more remembred 3. That which is dead must be buryed give me a place to bury my dead out of my sight as Abraham said to the sons of Heth Gen. 23.4 Idolatry blasphemy all sins are dead things therefore let them be buryed 4. Dead things are abhorred of us We shun dead things by the way we will not come neere them so let these dead workes be abhorred of us Wee decline those things that bee deadly wee will drinke no poyson because it will kill us we will not goe where the plague is least wee dye All sins are deadly they will bring us to everlasting death therefore beware of them If wee meet with a dead body by the way wee decline it yet the savour that comes from it can but
Vehagnalithihu 3 His daughter did lament her Virginity alone after she heard of it whereas if she should have beene put to death she would have lamented her life above that 4. At her returne it is not said that her Father sacrificed her but did to her according to his vow Verse 39. which is there expounded hee consecrated her as a perpetuall Virgine to the Lord that she never knew man 5. It is said Verse 40. that the daughters of Israel went yeere by yeere not to lament her but as the Hebrew signifies to talke with the daughter of Iephte Therefore she was still alive It can hardly be imagined that so excellent a man so highly extolled by the Holy Ghost should for his vow sake doe such an abhominable fact yet for all that he is not wholly to be excused It was rashly done of him to vow the first thing that met him as an holy thing to the Lord. What if a dog which is a fauning creature had first met him hee might not have consecrated that to the Lord. This Iephte was an Harlots Sonne loathed and disdained of his brethren thrust out of the house and compelled to live as a banished man yet he hath faith The name of a bastard is contemptible and that justly God hath set many brands of infamy upon them they might beare no office in Israel for many generations Sometimes God bereaves them of their wits and senses they sustaine many reproches in the world yet for all that they may be in the number of Gods Elect and Heires of his Kingdome in the world to come From Iudges he proceeds to Kings where he names but one yet such a one as may be instar omnium a famous and worthy King as ever was Saul was the first King of Israel but David was the best King in Israel the first godly King a man after Gods owns heart his faith was wonderfully tryed by many strong and fearefull temptations without and within too before he came to the crowne and after Hee was hunted up and downe by Saul as a partridge on the mountaines he could never be quiet for him he went continually in danger of his life and could never get the peace of him After he came to the Crowne he was molested by the house of Saul sundry yeeres together his owne sonne had like to have justled him out of his kingdome the pestilence in his time was sore in Israel many inward conflicts had he in his soule as appeareth by his Psalmes Why art thou disquieted in me O my Soule hath God forgotten to bee mercifull He fought with hell and damnation yet by faith he was a glorious Conquerour over them all therefore no marvell though hee be in the catalogue of faithfull men The last that is named is Samuel He was both a judge and a Prophet therefore he is put betweene them both Shamang ael audivit Deus His mother cryed for him hee was dedicated to God before he was borne an upright wise and religious Iudge he challenged all the people for the execution of his office whose Asse have I taken to whom have I done wrong they all gave him their approbation and cleared him before the Lords annointed Last of all in generall he names the Prophets Luk. 13.28 Elias Elisha Isaiah Ieremiah and the rest all these were famous for their faith nec in caeteris contrarium est videre which is wont to be the conclusion of all inductions Therefore all are justified and goe to heaven by faith none flyes thither but by the wing of faith All these that bee here cited had their blemishes never a one of these Roses but had their Prickes Gideon besides many Wives had a Concubine he made an Ephod that was an occasion of Idolatry and made Israel to sin Barac was a faint hearted Souldier Samson defiled himselfe with many strumpets Iephte was very rash and inconsiderate David was tainted with two horrible sins Samuel as it seemeth was somewhat negligent in looking to his Children no Prophet but had some weakenesse being all as St. Iames speaketh of Elias subject to the same infirmities that we are yet they were faithfull men greatly honoured by God Almighty There is not the best man or woman on the face of the earth but it is an easie matter to spie an hole in their coate Shew mee a Garden without weeds and a man or woman without imperfections If ye will have perfect men yee must goe to heaven for them there be the spirits of just and perfect men there be none to be found on the earth St. Peter St. Paul Saint Thomas all the Apostles had their imperfections Yet some prophane wretches there be like Cham if they find never so small a slip in a godly man as Noah was they are ready to laugh at it scatent ipsi vulneribus obijciunt illis cicatrices They themselves are common drunkards beastly adulterers the footesteps of whose uncleane life may be traced in every corner yet if they heare of never so small a thing in a Noah and a David that is their table talke meat and drinke to them whereas in many things we slip all and there is not the best man but treadeth his shooe awry we should rather weepe than rejoyce at it VERSE 33. NOw to the efficacy of their faith 1. Of men then of women which is declared 1. By their actions some are generall in all as the three former some speciall in some 1. The good things they did by faith they subdued kingdomes wrought righteousnesse obtained the promises 2. The evils they overcame by faith 1. From unreasonable creatures as wild beasts 2. From insensible as the elements 3. From corruptions in themselves 4. From reasonable men 5. From death it selfe 1. Yet not without fighting and wrastling they met with many Antagonists to encounter withall by it Iosua subdued the thirty one kingdomes of the Canaanites Ios. 12. ver 24. by it David subdued the Syrians Moabites and Amorites by it Gideon the Madianites If wee had faith wee should subdue the Turke the Pope and all the enemies of the Gospell but undoubtedly by faith wee shall subdue the kingdome of Satan which is stronger than all earthly kingdomes 1 Ioh. 5.4 Not by their martiall skill and prowesse by weapons and engins of war though they used them too the principall meanes to subdue them was faith 2 There is a civill and morall kinde of righteousnesse doing no wrong but good to all defending the innocent punishing the nocent c. 1 Sam. 12.3 and 15.33 1 Reg. 3.27 Acts 10.35 Marke 10.20 There is also a Christian righteousnesse to glorifie GOD. Vnregenerate men may doe the former as Aristides Cato c. and Luk. 18.4 in them it may be called a morall good worke but no Christian good worke unlesse it come from faith This is a property of faith to worke righteousnesse Righteousnesse cannot bee separated from faith A faithfull man is alwayes a
Righteous man a true dealing man So some as Zacheus had faith he wrought righteousnesse the one halfe of his goods he gave to the poore and restored foure fold where he had done wrong but now men make profession of faith but have no righteousnesse The first table hath eaten up the second Men will not sweare not commit adultery in some sort they will keepe the Lords day they will come to Church heare Sermons talke of religion but come to the duties of the second table they make no conscience of them they will lye cozen flatter dissemble oppresse the fatherlesse deale unkindly and unmercifully with widdowes grinde the faces of the poore wring from their neerest and deerest by hooke and crooke a manifest argument they have no faith Luk. 1.6 for a faithfull man is alwayes a righteous man and he that loves God will love his brethren else he is a lyar and all his religion is in vaine The very Turkes and heathen that never heard of Christ are more full of the workes of righteousnesse then we There is more upright and mercyfull dealing among them then among Christians therefore they shall rise up in judgement against us at the latter day wherfore let us ad vertue to our faith that as we are faithfull so we may be righteous in our dealings 3 They obtained the promises that is some particular promises made to them As the Israelites had the possesion of the Land of Canaan promised to them Caleb had a speciall portion in it Ios. 14.13 David obteyned the Kingdome promised to him Abraham a Son when he was an hundred yeers old but that generall promise concerning Christ and eternall happinesse in soule and body in heaven together they obteyned not yet they were faine to waite a long time for these promises and endured much in the meane season There is a Kingdome promised to us Luk. 12.32 By faith we shall obtaine this promise if we can be content by many tribulations as God hath appointed to enter into it 4. They stopped the mouthes of Lions Samson Iudg. 14.6 not with his cloake but by faith David 1 Sam. 17.36 Benaiah 2 Sam. 23.20 Dan. 6.23 we also by faith shal stop the mouth of that roaring Lion VERSE 34. THe violence of fire that is the force or power Dan. 3.27 If wee have faith no creature shall hurt us The mouthes of the Swords Swords have mouthes as the mouth devoureth so doth the edge of the Sword The Sword devoureth one as well as another sayd David The Israelites escaped the swords of the Aegyptians that were at their heeles ready to thrust them through if the red Sea had not made a passage for them David often declined the Speare of Saul wherewith he was purposed to fasten him to the wall Elias escaped the sword of Iesabel who had threatned to take away his life wee escaped the swords of the Spanyards in eighty eight If they had landed there had beene no mercy with them they would have put all to the sword For God put valour into them they were made strong for their weakenesse Isa. 38.9 Psal. 38.3 and 10. Was it not valiantly done of Abraham with the servants of his owne house to encounter with five Kings was it not valiantly done of little David a young stripling never acquainted with warre to fight with that huge Gyant Goliah that had beene a man of warre from his youth up did not our English men fight valiantly with their little ships against the huge ships of the Spanyards ours being but molehils to their mountaines This valour was of GOD who taught their fingers to fight and hands to warre Weaknesse is twofold in body and soule Hezekiah was brought to great weakenesse when lying on his death bed as he thought hee turned his face to the wall and wept taking his leave of the world yet God made him strong againe David was weake in soule and faint hearted when hee brake forth into this lamentable speech one day shall I perish by the hand of Saul but God made him strong againe Let us entreate him to strengthen the weakenesse of us all When we are sicke what doe we some which is monstrouse to speake send to the Divell for helpe to witches sorcerers c. but to speake the fairest then their is posting to the physitian pils potions all kinde of medicines must be received That is not amisse so as they come in the second place and wee trust not in the Physitians as Ala did The Physitian wee should seeke to in the time of weakenesse and sicknesse should be God Almighty with the eye of faith wee should looke up to him When all earthly Physitians have given us over hee can set us on our legs againe Faith is the best medicine for the recovery of health and strength Tents It is a metonymie put for armies As Gideon with his three hundred men vanquished the Midianites As Ionathan David Asa Iehosaphat c. did their enemies they were not able to stand before them When there be rumours of wars mustering preparing of Horses c. Let not our hearts be troubled faith is the best weapon if you have a strong and valiant faith one shall chase a thousand and tenne shall put ten thousands to flight Let us intreat the Lord to make our faith stronger to our dying day As the Psalmist speaketh of the Church Wonderfull things are spoken of thee thou Citie of GOD So wonderfull things are recorded of faith By that men remove mountaines cast out devils subdue kingdomes nothing is too hard for him that beleeveth All of us by faith shall subdue the kingdome of Satan which is stronger than all earthly kingdomes By faith we shall tread the devill under our feet therefore GOD strengthen the faith of us all Before we had their actions now follow their Passions 1. An enumeration of them 2. An amplification The enumeration is first generall then speciall generall some concerne name body Vers. 36. life 37. The speciall is their flight An amplification 1. By a commendation of the men 38. 2. By a commemoration of the events of their faith 1. Affirmative 39. Negative as the reason Vers. 40. VERSE 35. WOmen received their dead 1 Reg 17.18.23 2 Reg. 4.18.36 Their passions are of three sorts 1. the suffering of those things that goe before death and might provoke us to a defection from God 35.36 2 The kindes of death which they suffered 3. A miserable flying and hiding of themselves The miseries going before death are greater as racking lesser some appertaine to the name some to the body The first going before death is racking as many were under Antiochus in the time of the Maccabees Timpanum was an Instrument like our Rack whereunto the parties were straight tyed the nerves of their hands and feet stretched out their bodies also cruelly beaten even to death thus was Eleazar tormented 2 Mac. 6.30 The which is amplified by their Constancy not receiving deliverance
house and Temple Remember that our God is a God of peace let us be peaceable Wee have had the Title now to the effect the raising up of Christ from the dead elementia in collatione pacis potentia in suscitatione filij The party raised is set forth 1. By his Sovereignty 2. By his Name 3. By his Office For his Sovereignty He is our Lord. Ye call me Master and Lord. Not every one that sayeth to me Lord c. He created us He redeemed us He hath marryed us to Himselfe therefore we are to call Him Lord as Sarah did Abraham For His Name it is IESUS the onely SAVIOUR of the world There is no other name whereby wee can be saved but by the Name of IESUS Moses was the giver of the Law yet not he but Iosuah brought the people into Canaan So they be not the workes of the Law but Christ alone that carryes us into heaven the celestiall Canaan For His Office Hee is the Shepheard of the sheepe Cyrus my Shepheard 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Where observe 1. What manner of Shepheard he is 2. How hee comes to bee our Shepheard If ye will know what manner of Shepheard he is he is a great one There be little Shepheards as the Rectours Curates of every Congregation but Hee is the great Shepheard 1. Great in the extent of the flocke the universall Shepheard of the whole Church throughout the world the Shepheard of Iewes and Gentiles so is none but he 2 Great in authority The sheepe are His Hee ownes them Simon feede my sheepe feede my lambes Peter as other Pastors feede them but the sheepe are Christs Iob had 7000. sheepe he had many Shepheards that kept them yet the sheepe were Iobs So Christ hath many thousands of sheepe in Christendome in the world Sundry Shepheards he places over them yet the sheepe are Christs not ours 3 Great in the charge which hee hath taken on him hee is the Shepheard of soule and body too the great Shepheard of our soules 1 Pet. 2. ult He hath care of body and soule too 4 Great in humility the King of Kings yet hee abased himselfe to be a Shepheard 5 Great in knowledge Iohn 10.3 6 Great in love and kindenesse Hee gave Himselfe for the sheepe 7 Great in power none can take them out of his hands All the Divells in hell all the wicked men on the earth cannot cozen him of one sheepe Be thankefull to God for this great Shepheard Of whom of the sheepe that is the righteous They are most fitly resembled to sheepe 1 Sheepe are humble Learne of Me I am humble and meeke 2 Sheepe are harmelesse be as innocent as Doves as harmelesse as sheepe 3 Sheepe are profitable for backe and belly 4 They are ruled by their Shepheard So whatsoever thou commandest us we will doe 5 Sheepe are lead into pastures and folds 6 They are obnoxious to many dangers to Wolves Briers Theives Dogges So many are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord delivers them out of all Happy are the sheepe that have such a Shepheard But how came He to be Shepheard Sayd the chiefe Captaine with a great summe of money obteined I this burgeship But it cost Christ a greater summe even His bloud whereby the everlasting covenant is confirmed Acts 20.28 The wine in the Lords Supper is a lively representation of this bloud The wine is red So was the bloud of CHRIST the wine is powred out into the cup So the bloud of CHRIST was powred forth for our sinnes The grapes are pressed before there is any wine So was CHRIST Wine comforts a man hee hath given him wine to make him a glad heart So the consideration of the bloud of Christ that was shed for the remission of our sins is a singular comfort to the soules of Christians By this bloud He came to be the Shepheard of the Church and this is that bloud that ratifies GODS everlasting Covenant The Covenant I am thy GOD and the GOD of thy seede is an everlasting Covenant Such as the man is such is his bond and word It is good dealing with honest men A man may be bold to build on their word And such as GOD is such is His Covenant an everlasting GOD and an everlasting Covenant of His Kingdome there shall bee no end and of His Covenant there shall be no end As He is our GOD now So he will be for ever Let this stay us up when we are ready to faint in all distresses This is that great Shepheard of the sheepe which GOD hath brought againe from the dead But was hee not able to bring himselfe from the dead Yes verily He raised up this Temple Himselfe He presented Himselfe alive Acts 1.3 Yet in respect of His humanity GOD is sayd to have brought Him from the dead which He did after a glorious manner the Angels waiting on the Sepulcher the earth trembling the graves opening sundry of the Saints rising with Him and appearing to many Our Saviour truely dyed on the Crosse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All the breath went out of His body it was wrapt up in linnen cloathes layed in the Sepulcher there it continued three dayes and nights yet God brought Him againe from the dead Hee was seene of His Apostles and others fourty dayes together they beheld the print of the nailes in His hands and feet they eat and dranke with Him and looked on Him when Hee went into Heaven Even so the same God shall bring us againe from the dead The Head is risen therefore the members shall rise the first fruits are in the barne of Heaven therefore we that are the second fruits shall be gathered thither The husband is in Heaven therefore the wife shall be in Heaven Where I am they also that believe in mee shall bee there Hee brought CHRIST from the dead the third day there was an extraordinary reason in that because His Sacred body might see no corruption Our bodies corrupted with sinne must lye putrifying in the earth till the day of Iudgement Adventus Domini clavis resurrectionis then wee shall meete CHRIST in the ayre and bee translated with Him into His Kingdome of glory Christs resurrection is a pledge of ours VERSE 21. WEE have heard of the person to whom he prayes now to the thing for which he prayes It is perfection in all good workes the which is first set downe then amplified It is comprised in these words make you perfect c. Hee doth not say in faith but in workes workes are a demonstration of faith shew me thy faith by thy workes Except your righteousnesse exceede the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharisees ye shall not enter into the Kingdome of heaven Their righteousnesse was to say not to doe Matth. 23.3 ours must be to say and doe too else wee shall not set a foote into the Kingdome of heaven Not every one that sayeth unto mee Lord Lord c. Therefore
Gods glory Let your light so shine before men that they seeing your good workes they may glorifie your father which is in heaven so we shall doe all faithfully as Gajus did The persons to whom his well doing extended were the brethren and strangers Some interpret brethren the faithfull And indeede they were honoured with that title in the Primitive Church Strangers those that be not yet called but are strangers from the common wealth of Israel Rather by brethren are meant Iewes For my brethren the Iewes By strangers Gentiles converted to Christ as appeares by the opposition verse 7. Hospitality is in speciall manner commended to us in the Scripture Love ye the strangers for yee your selves were once strangers We in England were strangers in Queen Maries dayes Some faine to flee into France some into Germany some to Frankford some to Emden Therefore let us have pitty on strangers Be given to hospitalâ—ty 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pursuing it as the hunters doe the Deere we must not invite them summis labijs saith Hierom coldly for fashion sake but toto mentis ardore with a fervent affection and desire to have them We must pull them to our houses as Abraham did Origen observeth of Lot We read of no good workes of his that are registred in Genesis save onely hospitalitie for this alone evadit incendia he escapes burning when all Sodome was burnt hospitalem domum ingressi sunt Angeli The Angels entred into the house of hospitality Clausas hospitibus domus ignis ingressus est the fire entred those houses that were shut up against hospitality Audite hoc qui hospitem velut hostem vitatis Heare ye this O ye covetous misers that shun a stranger as ye would do an enemie whereas indeed ye should make your selves friends of this unrighteous Mammon Iulian writing to the high Priest of Galatia excites all to hospitality by a saying out of Homer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All strangers poore folke are sent to us by God himselfe peradventure to try us with all Let us be courteous even to strangers as Gajus was In entertaining of them we entertaine Christ and he will reward us at the latter day Mat. 25. VERSE 6. I But how knowest thou Iohn that I am so full of charity Many have related it to me Who both brethren and strangers they have borne witnesse of thy charity comming from thee to me It was religiously and gratefully done of them For we must all acknowledge our benefactours Of what charitie did they beare witnesse Non habitus sed actus saith Aquinas non affectus sed effectus Not of the habite of the charitie which can not be seene but of the act of charity which all the world might see not that thou haddest a good affection to doe good but of the fruits and effects of thy charity that is poore charity goe in peace warme your selves fill your bellies and give them not a crumme to fill them withall Christ shewed no such charity to the people in the wildernesse hee fed them with loaves and fishes Dorcas did not say to the widdowes warme your selves but shee made them coats to warme them withall Such was Gajus his charity he lodged them in his house they sate at his fire he fed them at his table Such must be the charity of us all wee are full of excuses to keepe us from charitable workes which S. Basil most pithily meeteth with all 1. I have not to give no saith he looke upon the rings that be upon thy fingers tell thy tongue that thou lyest if thou canst not give Zacheus gift give the widdowes gift Diversa dederunt sed ad unum pervenerunt quoniam non diversa amaverunt they gave diverse gifts yet they came both to one and the same Kingdome because they both loved one and the same thing which was God It is not the Coffer but the heart which God respecteth Habet semper unde det cui plenum est pectus charitatis hee that hath a heart full of love to Christ and his members shall ever have something to give that fountaine will never be dried up Coronat Deus voluntatem ubi non invenit facultatem God crownes the will where he findes inability of doing 2. I have children to provide for 1. Sayes S. Basil didst thou say when thou prayedst for children Give me children that might keepe me from the Kingdome of heaven 2. As thou hast children on earth so thou hast a brother in heaven which is Christ reckon him among thy children He that loveth Father or mother wife or children more than me is not worthy of me 3. How knowest thou whether thy children shall live or no death may sweepe them all away and that with one beesome too as it did Iobs 4. If they live art thou sure thy goods shall come to thy children strangers may eate them up they may come to thine enemies as Sauls Kingdome did to David 5. Take not too much thought for thy children he that feedes the young ravens will feede thy young children the rather if thou honourest him with thy goods and lettest him to have a portion among thy children The third excuse I will give by will after my death to that S. Basil answeres 1. Thy breath may be stopped on the suddaine that thou shalt have no time to make a will as Valentinian the Emperour was 2. If thou dost a dash with a pen may invert thy meaning and overthrow thy will 3. Then we may thanke death for the good thou dost if thou couldest have lived ever thou wouldst never have done good like a rotten tree that doth no good till it be cut downe 4. Were it not better for thee to have the praise of a liberall man when thou walkest on the ground than when thou art put into the ground 5. No dead creature was brought to the Altar God requires a living sacrifice 6. Thy life is the time of working not death Remember that thou in thy life time receivedst thy goods wee must doe good with them in our life not in our death 7. Wilt thou commit thy good workes to Inke and Paper rather than to the disposing of thine owne hands 8. If thou didst receive a Noble man into thy house wouldst thou set the reliques of thy table before him and wilt thou serve God with the reliques of thy life while we have time let us doe good to all We are fallen into those dayes whereof our Saviour Prophesied The love of many shall waxe cold now not the charity of many but in a manner of all is not onely cold but starke dead few or none can witnesse of our charity wee are more wedded to our wealth than to our wives many a one can be content to part more readily with his wife then with his money to good uses yet they be called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉