practise that which wee heare And this faith will appeare by working 1 Thes. 2.13 it will worke a change and alteration in your whole man VERSE 3. ON the other side it profits us that believe for we enter into his rest He doth not say shall but doe He that believeth in me hath eternall life he doth not see it a farre off as Moses upon the top of Pisgah viewed the earthly Canaan but enters not into the boyling lead of Purgatory but into spirituall and everlasting rest As infidelity is the bar to keep out unbeleevers So fidelity is the gate or doore whereby we may enter into heaven Act. 16.31 Rom. 3.28 This may seeme to bee unfitly alleadged By consequent it prooves that believers enter in for if unbelievers doe not then by the law of contraries believers doe And if the former words be included in a parenthesis these doe fitly follow as a confirmation of that which was in the latter end of the former verse it profited them not because it was not mingled with faith How prove you that As he said c. thus it doth excellently well agree Hitherto the dehortation hath beene propounded Now hee comes to prevent an objection that the Iewes might make which was indeed the only shelter they had to flye unto This rest that David speaketh of is the land of Canaan which some of our fathers missed of because they would not believe God What is that to us We believe in him and are at this day of a long time seated in the land of Canaan therefore we are none of those unbelievers thou needest not to be so fearefull of us To that he answers nay this rest is a spirituall and an heavenly rest and that he prooves by two divine testimonies one out of Genesis about Gods Sabbath the other out of the Psalme before cited The rest of that Sabbath he introduceth by a narration of the cause why God kept it It is perobscurus locus as Beza well observeth a defective speech something must be supplyed And verily 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is particula asseverantis as well as adversantis the workes being finished from the foundation of the world this rest that we speake of was fore-signified Here we may behold the end for the which God Himselfe kept a Sabbath namely that we might perpetually commemorate the Creation of the world The Lord might if it had pleased Him have made the world in a moment yet he took sixe dayes to the making of it that we might deliberately consider of his wonderfull workemanship and then rested the seaventh day making it a type of our eternall rest with him in heaven But here a question may be moved whether all Gods workes were finished at the beginning of the world whether all were made within the compasse of these sixe dayes or not 1. What say you to the soules of men Is there not a dayly creation of them they come not ex traduce they are not traduced and conveyed unto us by the seede of our Parents for they are only the fathers of our bodies not of our soules and the spirit returneth to God that gave it God makes soules every day therefore all his workes were not finished from the foundation of the world The answer is easie They were in specie from the beginning though numero they bee augmented every day They were not all created at the first in heaven and put dayly into bodies according unto Gods discretion and appointment but God maketh them continually yet the same species the same kinde of creature was from the beginning 2. What shall wee say to Mules It was a long time many hundred yeeres before they came into the world Gen. 36.24 1. The Hebr. word is ambiguous Iemim of Iam the Sea Hee found waters standing pooles in the wildernesse like to Seas above the expectation of men 2. Let it be translated Mules yet the meaning may be hee was the first that found them in that countrie whereas they might be in the world before 3. Though they were invented by this man yet the matter of them was made by God in the beginning Thirdly what shall we say to those creatures that ryse of putrefaction they were materialiter potentialiter though not actualiter from the beginning All things were either in materia or in specie from the beginning of the world There were no houses no ships no Townes nor Cities at the first yet the matter whereof they be framed was prepared to mans hand by God and he gave man wisedome for the framing of them VERSE 4. HOw doth that appeare For He that is God He is not curious in the naming of the place it was well knowne to the Hebrewes being daily exercised in the Scriptures Now by that was prefigured that rest when we shall rest with God in his kingdome As God for our capacity laboured in the creation of the world rested afterwards delighting himselfe in the contemplation of the workes that he had made So when this life is ended we shall rest from all our labours and enjoy eternall quietnesse with him Therefore this shewes that it is not a carnall but a spirituall not a temporall but an eternall rest that is here entreated of Did God rest from all his workes How is it then that our Saviour saith my father worketh hitherto There be the workes of preservation and of creation The high and eternall God is not idle since he made the world His eyes are over all the ends of it beholding the evill and the good He is the Rector of the Vniversity of the whole world nothing comes to passe without him A Sparrow fals not to the ground without his will He disposeth still of all things and doth whatsoever he will in heaven and earth and in all deepe places but as for the workes of creation he hath rested from them all nothing now is created new Then all things throughout the wide compasse of the world are the workmanship of God He spread the heavens above our heads as a Curtaine he laid the foundation of the earth he made the roaring sea the birds that flie in the ayre the beasts that walke on the earth the fish that play in the Sea the Angels in heaven and men on the earth are his creatures O how wonderfully am I made sayes the Psalmist Therefore let us all glorifie our Creator in whom we have our life breath being and moving We especially that are Lords over GODS creatures let us magnifie him above them all Neverthelesse a lamentable thing to consider we dishonour him above all the Birds of the ayre the Beasts of the field the Sunne Moone and Stars are more dutifull in their kinde than we be O the unthankfulnesse of sinfull Man This place againe which we have in hand doth intimate so much unto us VERSE 6. WHich he proveth first by the event verse 6. Some must enter in because of Gods promise 2 Cor.
hath borne the sinnes of us all therefore let us not feare death 2. It is but a sleepe Lord if hee sleepe then shall hee doe well enough Men are refreshed after sleepe so we after death Apoc. 3.14 13. There bee two benefits which wee shall receive by death 1. Wee shall rest from our labours Here wee are like Noahs Dove wee can finde no rest either day or night wee shall rest from the workes of our calling Now indeed wee are early up in the morning sit up late at night and eate the bread of carefulnesse all the day long but then wee shall rest from that toiling and moiling wee shall rest from the workes of piety and Religion All that wee shall doe then will bee to sing Hallelujahs to our blessed redeemer Wee shall rest from sinne wee shall no longer cry out like tyred Porters Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver mee from this body of death We shall rest from all miseries and sicknesses cry out no more my head my head nor complaine of troubles in our selves Wives Children or servants Wee shall rest from weaknesses and infirmities Now wee eate drinke sleepe c. but then wee shall eate of the tree of life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God and never hunger or thirst any more 2. Their workes follow them our labour is not in vaine in the Lord. The almes of Cornelius the garments of Dorcas the Centurions Synagogue a Cup of cold water given in CHRIST 's name shall be rewarded so that we may sing like a Swanne before our death as St. Paul did 2 Tim. 4.8 henceforth there is layd up for mee a Crowne of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall give mee at that day and not to me only but unto them also that love his appearing 4. Comfort against death is a glorious resurrection Iob 19.25 26.27 Phil. 3. Christ's glorious body Our bodies putrifie in the earth yet there is not an end of them We have praeludia in the Old and New Testament the Widow of Sareptas Son raysed up by Elias the Sonne of the Shunamitish Woman by Elisha In the New Testament Christ raised up three the one in domo Iairus daughter the other in feretro on the Beare the Widdowes Sonne of Naim the third in Sepulchro that was Lazarus which had lyen foure dayes and began to stincke all which are pledges of our resurrection The same God that raised them up will raise us up at the last day Death goes not alone there is one that followes her and that is judgement Iudgement either of absolution for the godly come yee blessed of my Father or of condemnation for the wicked goe yee cursed into c. If there were no judgement after death the godly of all others were most miserable and if no judgement the ungodly were the happiest men But let us know that after death comes a judgement one way or other salvation or damnation We must all appeare before the judgment seate of Christ c. The drunkard must give an account of his drunkennesse the covetous man how he hath imployed his riches we must give an account of our oppressions thefts secret or open of our negligent comming to Church and contempt of the Word of God Let this cause us with a narrow eye to looke into our lives let us judge our selves in this world that wee bee not condemned hereafter Yet there bee a number in the Church that thinke it a scare Crow and make a mocke at this judgement as the Athenians did at the resurrection Acts 17.32 they will believe the Assizes at Bury and in other places but count this a tale of a tub Felix though a wicked man trembled at it Let us all tremble at the naming of this judgement Let it be a meanes to pull us from sin and to make our peace with God in this world that we may stand without trembling before the Sonne of man Iudgment followes upon the neck of death either come thou blessed or goe thou cursed The good thiefe the same day he dyed was with Christ in Paradise that was his judgment the rich man the same day he dyed was in hell in torments that was his judgement Wherefore whilest wee have time let us repent while God giveth us a breathing time on the face of the earth for when death commeth it is too late then there is no mercy but judgement to be expected While we be alive Christ knocketh at the doore of our hearts with the hammer of his Word if we will open to him he will sup with us and we shall sup with him in the kingdome of glory but if now we shut him out and will not suffer him to enter he will shut us out and though we cry Lord Lord with the foolish Virgins he will not open to us VERSE 28. AT the which offering he dyed To take away not existentiam peccati but reatum dominium paenam Of many Matth. 26.28 he dyed for all sufficienter What is CHRIST dead and gone then wee shall never see him againe Yes he shall appeare in the heavens with his mighty Angels Without sinne Why the first time he appeared without sinne for He knew no sinne I but then hee came with his fraile body to offer up for sinne Verse 26. Now he shall appeare with no more sacrifice for sinne Then he came as a Lamb to be slaine for sin now as a King and a Lion Then he came as a Priest with a sacrifice to offer now as a Iudge to sit on the Throne To the salvation of the godly but to the damnation of wicked and reprobate men Here is another argument against the Masse Men may as well dye often ordinarily as Christ be offered up often As this is an unmoveable truth that a man ordinarily dies but once So this is a firme position in Divinity that CHRIST can be but once offered properly But to whom shall the day of Iudgement be comfortable to them that are weary of the loade of sin and looke for their deliverer Phil. 3.20 Tit. 2.13 2 Pet. 3.12 The mother of Sisera looked out at a window for the comming of her Sonne So we the spirituall mother brethren and sisters of Christ must looke out at the window of our hearts for him A Woman lookes for her Husband and we look to our money our Sheepe and Oxen but we looke not for Christ. It is to be feared if he were a comming we would entreat him to tarry still and say with the devills why art thou come to torment us before the time hee is our deliverer let us looke for him as faithfull servants for their masters and say come LORD IESU come quickly The second comming of CHRIST is here notably described 1. He shall come potenter because it is said he shall appeare 2. Innocenter without sinne 3. Finaliter to them that looke for him 4. Vtiliter to salvation He
and the continuance in it Here are many excellent instructions Love is laborious If thou lovest a man thou wilt labour for him thou wilt runne and ride for him thou wilt relieve him in his wants according to that ability wherewith God hath blessed thee Love not in word and tongue only 1 Ioh. 3.18 I will not give any thing for such love as hath nothing but words Shew mee thy love by thy deeds and labour Art thou ready to doe what thou canst for thy brother art thou willing to part with thy mony thy meat and drinke for the relieving of him then thou lovest him hic labor hoc opus est this is the true labour of love indeed doest thou visit him if he be in prison for righteousnesse sake doest thou goe to him and comfort him if he be sicke never prate of love unlesse I may see the labour of thy love Iacob loved Rachel therefore he laboured for her For the glorifying of his name Here we have the end of a good worke which makes it a good work indeed when it is done for the name of Christ. The Pharisees gave almes yet because it was to procure a name to themselves it was not a good worke they have their reward amongst men they shall have none at the hands of God If thou givest to the poore because the statute compells thee or because thou shalt be hardly thought of if thou givest not or that thou mayest bee counted a liberall man and that the world may talke of thee and commend thee it looseth the title of a good worke whatsoever we doe let us doe all to the glory of God and he will recompense us Why what was this work of theirs they ministred to the Saints One speciall good worke is to minister to the Saints There were certaine women that ministred to Christ of their owne substance the woman of Shunem ministred to Elisha prepared a chamber and other necessaries for him Onesiphorus ministred to St. Paul which oft refreshed him and was not ashamed of his chaine Dorcas ministred to the poore widdowes in clothing them Doe good unto all especially to them who are of the household of faith If any Saints are in want minister to them In this sence we must all be Ministers this is a glorious service a worthy ministration in ministring to them wee minister to Christ in as much as yee have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren yee have done it unto mee and let it not grieve us to minister to Christ which hath ministred his own bloud to us The times are hard wherein we live all victualls are at an high rate many poore Saints fare hardly lye hardly goe hardly let us open the bowels of compassion and minister to them This worke above all others shall be recompensed at the day of Iudgement when I was hungry yee fed mee c. Therefore let us occupy our selves in this ministration But what doe they content themselves with their former ministring doe they set downe their staffe there No and yet Minister It is not sufficient to doe well for a time but we must continue in well doing Many soothe up themselves in their former good workes they vaunt of them such and such a thing did I. O how bountifull were we to our Preachers How kind have we beene to them O I but are you kinde still have yee ministred and yet do yee minister have yee beene zealous and yet are yee zealous have yee beene diligent hearers of the Word and yet are yee diligent have yee beene liberall to the poore and yet are yee liberall That is a worthie commendation then are yee good Christians indeed In earthly blessings wee cannot away with was or had hath any great list to bragge I was Rich I had land I had my health wee had rather say an hundred times I am rich I have my health I was good is not so much but I am yet good I am more and more good that is an excellent thing Yet there bee many that have beene good in the praeterperfecttence that are not in the present They were sober they would looke at no Ale-house but now they are common drunkards they were chaste but now are adulterers they were wont to keepe their Church well they would never misse a Sermon but now come seldome to Church every trifle will keepe them from a Sermon they were liberall but now are covetous that is a miserable thing a dolefull tune Let us so behave our selves that it may be affirmed of us we are yet good yet zealous yet religious and let not this yet be given over so long as we live This is an excellent place as any in all the bible to encourage us to good workes God will never forget them As hee puts our teares into his bottle so he puts our good workes into his booke and keepes a register of them all Men may forget the good turnes to them they wryte their injuries in steele and their benefits in water many will not acknowledge them that have beene their benefactors Pharaohs butler quickly forgate Ioseph though he foretold him of his delivery Men are forgetfull but God is not hee neither forgets us nor our workes Can a woman forget her sucking Child that shee should not have compassion on the Sonne of her wombe yea they may forget yet I will not forget thee God remembred the prayer and teares of Hezekiah 2 Reg. 20.5 The almes deeds of Cornelius went up into remembrance before God Acts 10.4 God remembers our prayers our fastings our joyfull hearing of his Word he remembers what money we have given to the poore the Cloath wherewith we have clothed them the kindnesse we have shewed to his Ministers if wee have given but a cup of cold water hee remembers it and will reward it Mat. 10.42 This should make us all zealous of good workes Now a dayes by our preaching faith in CHRIST we have through the corruption of the people preached good workes out of the Church the people nourish this conceit in their hearts we cannot merit heaven by our workes therefore it is not a pins matter though wee doe none I but God will not forget your good workes he will reward them both in this life and in the life to come he will give heaven to your workes as they are the fruits of faith though he give it not for the worthinesse and dignity of your workes therefore be full of them Good workes are not the meritorious causes of heaven yet they are the way to heaven and yee cannot goe to heaven but by the way of good workes therefore make your calling and election sure by them Blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord for they rest from their labours and their workes follow them Your houses and land silver and gold tarry behind when yee bee dead but your workes follow you God will not forget them but
the Church are Christs afflictions 500. who afflicteth and the use of afflâ—ctions 548 549. the difference of afflictions and punishments 549. we must not onely take but endure afflictions 550 two reasons to incite us to endure afflictions ibid c. the benefits of afflictions 555. the sharpenesse sweetnes of afflictions 556. the after-reward 557 afflictions not to be imputed to Planets dog-Dogge-dayes or secondary causes 559 Age old age is to be reverenced Almes It is a singular worke above others 18 19. an excellent example in Nazianzens mother 19 20 Alone the evills of being alone 537 Ambrose Theodosius praise of him for being the onely Bishop 573 Amen what it signifieth 46 Anchor or ancre hope and an ancre compared 243. our angre is in heaven 245 Angels they are inferiour to Christ in divers respects 62 63 65. compared to fire 65. their nature and offices 75 76. God used much their ministery 80. why Christ tooke not on him the nature of Angels but of Man 110. their number order wisedome power and office 574 575 c. whether every one of Gods elect have a particular Angel 577.578 Anger wee must not continue in it 27 28. It should be but like the sting of a Bee but not like the sting of a Serpent 28. who doe provoke God to anger 140 Annointing divers good observations from Christs being annointed 67 68. vid. Oyle or Oyntment Apostacie Wee must beware of it 435 Application It is the propertie of faith to apply God to our selves 11 Arke it is a representation of the Church 334 451 Ashamed We must not be ashamed of our Religion 410. not of our heavenly Father 470.471 Assurance assurance of salvation how had 581 B. BAbes how wee should be babes and wherein strong men 204 Baptismes why the word is used in the plurall number 209. The red-sea and baptismes paraleld 511 512. Bastards many brands of infamie laid on them 551 Beauty it is a good blessing but not too much to be doted on 492 493 c. It is the inward beauty that God accepts of 493 Birth Birth-right Its appurtenances and why so called 564 Blessing it is double 1 proper 2 improper 270. the Papists ascribe too much to the Ministers blessing ibid the Parents blessing is highly to be regarded 483. children should so behave themselves as to obtaine it ibid. Bloud Christs bloud is the price of our Redemption 352. what it teacheth us 353. a double benefit by the bloud of Christ. 356 the bloud sprinkled on the people significant 364. of resisting unto bloud 546. how Christs bloud speaketh better things than the bloud of Abel 588. how wee should prize it 624 Body how our bodies are tabernacles 310 311. so is Christs 349. the bodies of the Saints are holy things 39â— with them we must draw neere to God also 408. the body not to be neglected 637 Boldness Minâ—sters may be bold in the execution of their office 20. the boldnesse of Christians through Christ. 403 Bondmen two kindes of them 599 of what kinde of bondmen we must be mindfull ibid. Booke All the Scriptures make but one booke 392. Christ is to be found onely in that booke 393. excesse of bookes condemned 680 Borne first-borne the Church so called 500. the many dignities of the first borne ibid. Bowels what is meant by the bowels of the Saints 18. a good lessen from them 28. the bowels of Gods Saints are refreshed divers wayes 40 Brother all the faithfull are brethren 4. three duties to wit of love accord and support implied in the word brother 4 5. Donatists were angry with Saint Augustine for calling them brethren â—0 a brother is more than a servant 33 34. the spirituall brotherhood is to be preferred before the naturall 34. Christ hath many brethren and that in a manifold respect 102 103. wee should doe nothing that might shame this brotherhood of Christs 103 Buriall we must not be too curious about our burialls 490 Burthen sinne is a heavie burthen 61 C. CAlling it is most requisite in all things 197. examples of Popes that came into their Popedomes without a calling ibid our calling is 1. of God 2. of the Church ibid. none must praech without a calling 280. a twofold calling 361 Censer the golden censer what it signifieth 330 331 Censure Censurers Wee must beware of rash censuring 517 Ceremony All true Churches agree in substance of Religion though not in ceremony 327 Changing In the world there is nothing but changing 278 Cherefulnesse God loves it in all our doings 30 Cherubins their signification and what they are 335 Child Children All the faithfull are Christs children 105. and so the Preachers that convert them ibid. the use of it 106. God hath a care of his children when they are dead 441. A multitude of children a blessing of God 463. how deare they are to their parents 478. examples ibid. we must take heede of doting on them ibid of their education and wherein it consists 668 Children their education in what it stands 668. they must be catechised ibid c. they must be taught manners 669 Christ described three wayes 1. a dignitate 2. a charitate 3. a Sanctitate 9. All things were made In For By Christ. 58. how he resembles the person of the Father 59. The comforts comming to us by his sitting at the right-hand of God 62.63 six arguments to prove Christ to be above the Angels 63. the proofe of it 62 63. his Throne and Scepter 66 67. Christ is a builder heaven and earth is his workemanship 71. Christs similitude and dissimilitude with a garment 72 73. hee is without change 73. Christ is Lord Iehovah 87 88. his death sufficient to all but efficient onely to beleevers 94. why Christ tasted of death for us 95. he is our onely Sanctifier 100. his Incarnation described and applied 106 107. c. the difference betweene his and our nature 107. how he was like unto us in all things 111. Christ-masse how it is now kept 112. he is our friend in the court of heaven 114. Christ is our Prophet with foure reasons why we should attend his prophesie 114 115. how Christ is denied 673. Christ two inducements to attend to Christ. 116 117. wherein Christ was both alik and unlik above Moses 117 118. the difference betweene Christ and Moses 120. Christs entrance into rest is an assurance of ours 153. how Christ descendeth to the lowest of his brethren 188. an excellent example to great ones to doe like wise 189. hee suffereth with his ibid. how Christ ruleth 252 he is our peace ibid. Christ in his Priesthood excelleth all Priests 274. Christ prefigured by Melchizedec in many circumstances 275. his Priesthood is above all others 276. the use of Christs being called the Lord Christ 282. Christ a Priest after the similitude of Melchizedec how 283 284. Christ is our suretie in the covenant betwixt God and us 294. Christ how hee maketh intercession for us 298
299. our comfort thereby 299 Christs body a Tabernacle so is ours 310 311. Christ is the sole Mediatour 361. so long as Christ appeares in heaven for us our sinnes cannot appeare 369. Christs second comming notably described 376. Christs flesh called a vaile why 404. Christ more manifest to us than to those of old with the use of it 534 535 Christ his death a cruell death in three respects 541. hee suffered foure kinde of wayes ibid. None so spoken against as he 543 Christians All Christian souldiers especially Christian Ministers 6 7. Reasons why one Christian should be deare to another 28. how and wherein wee are Christs fellowes 67 wee are called Christians of Christ. 68. a Christians dignity 92 93. they should not feare death 95. they are the house of God 121 122. their dignitie 138 139. their dutie ibid. Christians must be simple not subtill 30â— cunning cruell Christians are like dogges that will bite before they barke 30â— they must be undefiled 302 303. as soone as we become Christians we must looke for afflictions 428. Christians must not be cowards 430 Church how a house or household may be called a Church 7.8.119 All true Churches agree in substance of Religion though not in ceremonie 328. the Arke a lively representation of the Church 334. the Churches protectors and protection how shaddowed out 335. the uses of it 335 336. the Church is Gods house 406. the Ministers are in some sort over it ibid. Vniversalitie no necessary note of the Church 451 452. the Church is compared to a mountaine 572. to a city 573. the Churches universality dignity and stabilily well handled 579 580 c. City the Church compared to a citie 573. Heaven is a city which how we have already see 574 Cloud Its properties applied to the faithfull 536 Comming Christs second comming notably described 376. the joy conceived by Christs comming 390 the differences of Christs commings ibid. the comming of Christs day is fearefull to the sinfull joyfull to the Saints 419 Compasse there are two compassers 539 Condemnation many things condemne a man 452 Conscience It is the soules register to keepe a note of all our sinnes 344. what can secure our consciences ibid. no outward thing can purge the conscience 345. the sting of conscience is grievous 356. there is a conscience in every man what it doth with its divers kindes 385 386. Ministers ought to have a good conscience 635 what a good consciencâ— is 635 636. divers definitions of the word 636. Wherein a Minister should examine his conscience 637. a good life is the meate of the conscience 644 Consideration the greatnesse of the word 116. it must goe before provocation 411 Constancie Christians must be constant 622 675. Foure impediments to constancie 677 678 Covetousnesse all a mans doings smell something of it 915 reasons against it 616 remedies against it ibid. a covetous man is never contented 7â—4 Countrey how sweete a mans owne country is to him 455 Abrahams forsaking it was a great triall ibid. we must not forsake it without a calling ibid 456. the world is not the Saints countrey 469 Creatures All Creatures are servants to Gods children 510 Cow a red cow in the sacrifice what it signifieth 354 a tipe of Christ. 355 D. DAy how the word to Day is taken 127. Festivall dayes warrantable 333 Dead Dead things and dead workes compared 357 Death good Christians should not feare death 95. there are three that have the power of death 1. God 2. Man 3. the Devill 108 Death is a Serpent without a sting 110. Death common to all men 372. 37â— the use of it ibi why the godly should die seeing Christ died for them 373. death is a bitter cuppe but sugared by Christ 374. two benefits come by death 374. after death comes judgement 375. an instance of sudden death 377. they are oft deepest in Gods bookes that are soonest taken away an instance of it 443. Death cannot hurt the godly it rather benefitteth them 4.65 yet the thought of it is bitter to some 469 happy they are that die in the faith 466 a patterne of our behaviour in death 486 487. Death a pretty story against the feare of death 574 Debts they are to be paid before we be too forward in the charges of sacrificing 37. there is little quiet in the honest debter ibid. wee must be marvellous carefull how wee come in debt for others ibid. what debt wee owe to our Ministers 38 Deceive Deceivers there are many 137. sinne deceiveth us many wayes ibid. Deliverance what it is and whom Christ delivereth 109. God doth deliver three wayes 434 Desperation we must beware of it 517 518 Despise Christ is despised two wayes 590 Devill why God suffers the devill to walke up and downe like a Lyon 109 Diligence wee cannot goe to heaven without diligence 231. to diligence we must adde perseverance 232 Diotrephes his name interpreted with the use of giving of names 997 998 Doctrine we must not looke for any mint of new doctrine 55 Doubt Christians must keepe a meane betweene doubting of their salvation and presuming 139 Draw Draw neere the vertues whereby we must draw neere to God 381. what this drawing neere is and how we must doe it 407. Christians must be no with-drawers except it be from the wicked 435 Drunkennesse it pulls on fornication 565 Dulnesse the causes of Dulnesse in hearing 203 E EArth man compared to earth 220 Education wherein childrens Education doth consist 668 Elect Election God hath his chosen among all 25 Enoch of his person and translation to heaven with many cirstances thereof 441 44â— c. Esau his Acts especially that of selling his 〈◊〉 right 564. his punishment 566 Erre Errours how Israel Erred 131 Evidence Faith is our Evidence and we must make much of it 431 Evill it is soone imitated 706 what we must doe that are compassed about with Evill men ibid. c. Examples they are more avayleable than precepts 17. we must make use of the Examples of old 134. if good then to be followed 179. Patternes how prevailent 233. wee must follow our Patterne in goodnesse 314. even in all good ibid. three Reasons of the prevailencie of Examples 536 537 Excommunication its definition 705. to be excommunicated is a fearefull condition ibid. Exhort we should mutually Exhort one another 136. Exhor if it be timely taken it will awaken us out of sinne 136 F FAlling whether every falling away be a sin against the Holy Ghost 215 216. the conditions of that falling away 216 Fame of both good and bad with their feete and wings 134. it is compared to a Shippe receiving all passengers 688 Father our Fathers must not bee a Rule for us alwayes to follow 127. foure speciall duties wee owe to our spirituall Fathers 629 630 Faith it is its property to apply God to our selves 11. A justifying Faith cannot be without love 15. unto Faith must bee annexed Hope 122. we must
come out then they murmure against God despaire of his providence and are ready to exclaime against God This was the Israelites fault and thus often times they tempted God in the wildernesse If they wanted water to quench their thirst withall then they must needs dye God was not able to provide them water If they wanted bread So they did likewise and in a pelting chafe were ready to stone Moses and Aaron Then they would back againe to Aegypt then they wished themselves dead as if the same God that had miraculously beyond the expectation of men provided for them heretofore was not able to doe so still So when some told them of the walled townes that were in the land of Canaan of the mighty Gyants that were in the Country in comparison of whom they were but Grasse-hoppers then they brake forth into this exclamation God is not able to bring us into this land wee and our Children shall perish in this wildernesse They had seene with what a strong hand God had brought them out of Aegypt how miraculously he divided the red Sea that the waters stood as a wall on both sides till they safely passed over yet for all that when they were in any difficulty then God was no body of no power or willingnesse to doe for them This was a vile tempting of God which highly displeased him But there is no reason why we should thus tempt God casting off the hope and confidence we have in him He is subject to no changes yesterday and to day the same for ever Men may change but God changes not a man may be strong to day and weake to morrow whole to day and sick to morrow rich now and poore afterwards alive now and dead a while after a man may love us this houre and hate us the next as Amnon did his sister therefore we may make a question of the helpe of man But God is one and the same continually not a shadow of turning in him his arme is never shortned the welspring of his mercy and goodnesse is never dryed up Therefore in all distresses let us trust in him though all worldly meanes fayle us in sicknesse and health in poverty and wealth in death and life let him be our pillar to leane upon The Prince that would not believe the plenty that GOD had promised was troden to death 2 Reg. 7.17 and the carkasses of these men that thus tempted God fell in the wildernesse therefore let us beware of incredultie As Faith is the best vertue so infidelitie is the greatest vice CHRIST could doe nothing among his owne kinsfolke because of their unbeliefe Shall any thing bee impossible with God Indeed that which he wills not that he cannot doe it is his will that CHRIST in respect of his humanity should be in heaven till the day of judgement therefore he cannot doe this make his body to be here on the earth The Papists set Gods omnipotency on the tainters and stretch it too farre as some bad clothiers deale with cloath But if God have once given us his faithfull promise to doe this or that let us believe it though all the world say nay to it God had promised to bring them into the land of Canaan though there were never so many blockes in the way they should have depended on this promise So God hath promised us the kingdome of heaven feare not little flocke it is your Fathers pleasure to give you the kingdome Luke 12.32 though now and then through weakenesse we fall into sinne though Satan and his instruments rage though we be sicke dye be buryed our bodyes consumed to dust and ashes yet let us certainely know wee shall have this kingdome This is amplified by an excellent meanes which they had to pull them out of this infidelity which was a continuall view and contemplation of the wonderfull workes of God although they saw my workes in the Hebr. they saw the Aegyptians drowned in the red Sea and themselves safely walking through it they saw the cloudy pillar conducting them day and night water gushing out of a stonie rocke Manna descending from heaven that the clothes on their backes and shooes on their feet did not waxe old many yeares together they might have felt with their hands the power and goodnesse of GOD protecting them yet they would not believe in him whereas the sight of Gods former workes should strengthen our faith in all future calamities That use did David make of the workes of GOD. The LORD delivered mee from the clawes of the Beare and pawes of the Lion therefore hee will deliver mee from this Philistim GOD was gracious to mee in such a sicknesse therefore hee will be in this GOD provided for mee when I was a child and could not shift for my selfe therefore hee will provide for me being a man growne GOD preserved mee in such a plague and pestilence therefore I will depend on him still when I was in such an extremity GOD helped me therefore he will helpe me still God delivered England in the yeare one thousand five hundred eightie eight therefore if England serve him hee will deliver it still When Queene Elizabeth the mirrour of the world was taken away we looked for a wofull day yet God gave us a joyfull day after it therefore alwayes let us trust to him let the sight of his wonderfull workes dayly before our eyes be as oyle to nourish the lampe of our faith that it never dye The last circumstance appertaining to this sinne is the time how long it continued they tempted and proved him 40. yeares though they saw his workes These words in the Hebr. are coupled with that which followeth 40. yeares was I grieved with that generation Yet there is no jarre betweene Paul and David for these two are convertible and depend the one on the other They be both true they tempted God 40. yeares and he was grieved with them 40. yeares If they tempted him 40. yeares then he must needs be grieved with them and if God was grieved with them 40. yeares then they tempted him so long so that the one cannot be separated from the other They dwelt in this sinne a long time and would not bee plucked out of it VERSE 10. THe punishment of the sinne Gods wrath was kindled against them In the end after hee had borne the burden of their sinnes many yeares together his wrath did breake out against them for it They were irksome and tedious to me I could beare them no longer after that I had striven with them fortie yeares when there was no remedy I cast them off God is grieved similitudinariè That rebellious that obstinate generation Hee was not grieved with their Children but with them The Children doe not smart for the fathers faults if they make not their fathers sins their own sinnes Their Children went into the land of Canaan though they did not Least it should seeme to be a griefe or anger without reason
to come VERSE 10. ALL interpreters with one consent expound this of all the faithfull for hee that believeth in Christ hath eternall life he is already in this rest from all his workes wherein hee was occupied and busied in this life as God did from all his workes of Creation after he made the world I will not deny but that this is the scope of the place yet not the direct meaning and exposition of it 1. The illative conjunction argues that this is a reason for the confirmation of the former conclusion which this doth not 2. In some greeke copies there is the pronoune 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 poynting out some particular man therefore it is better to expound it first and principally of our Saviour Christ then secondarily of all true Christians He that is Iesus Christ our true Ioshua that conducteth us into the Celestiall Canaan as he did the Israelites into the earthly He that is now entred into his rest from his hungring and thirsting from his working in the trade of his supposed father from his travelling up and downe from towne to towne in the preaching of the Gospell from his sweating of bloud from the paines that he susteined on the Crosse he hath ceased from all these workes as God did from his and where the body is thither shall the Eagles be gathered where the husband is there shall the wife be where the head is there shall the members be Christ his entrance into this rest is a certaine pledge of our entrance into it The name of rest is cheerefull to us all especially to those that have travelled sore all the day long Al men desire to live in rest Hence it is that the Kingdome of Heaven is set forth to us by it Blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord for they rest from their labours And we say among our selves when a man is dead he is at rest O sweet and comfortable rest The tongue of Men and Angels is not able sufficiently to expresse it 1 We shall rest from the labours of our calling wherewith we are turmoiled The Husbandman shall follow the Plough no longer the Weaver shall sit no longer in the cold in his Loome the Clothier not ride up and downe in the raine frost and snow about his wooll and cloth the Preacher shall no longer be turning over bookes and taking paines in his study and pulpit we shall ride no more to market to buy corne to make provision for our houses we shall no longer take thought for our selves our wives and children we shall have all things provided to our hands and eat of the hidden Manna and of the Tree of Life in the Paradise of God for ever 2 We shall rest even from the workes of Religion which are now Charrets to carry us to Heaven We shall no longer be turning over the Bible in our Houses catechizing and instructing of our Families no more go many a mile in the dirt and wind to the Church shall no more be praying with cries sighs and teares thanksgiving shall remaine in Heaven It shall be all our worke to be praising of God but petitions shall then cease no need of the Ship when wee be in the Haven 3 We shall rest from the workes of sin here in many things we sin all Noah is sometime overtaken with wine David fals into adultery and murther Peter into the deniall of Christ Paul and Barnabas are at jarres betweene themselves The good that we would doe that doe we not and the evill we would not that doe we Sin makes us to cry out like tired Porters O miserable men that we are c. Then wee shall rest from all sinne and be like the Angels in Heaven for ever 4 We shall rest from all the crosses and calamities of this life There shall bee no banishment no imprisonment no hunger nor thirst neither any leading in captivity or complaining in the streets no sword of the enemy to feare no railing and slandrous tongues to grieve us no discontents in our children and servants no sicknesses diseases nor head-atch tooth-atch agues dropsies gowts c. All ease in all parts and members of the body all joy and comfort in our soules Then the Devill that roaring Lion that walkes about continually seeking how to devoure us shall be utterly cast out he shall have nothing to do with us any more 5 We shall rest from death It is a worke to dye it is a maine enemie with whom we struggle But then this last enemy shall be put under our feet death shall be swallowed up into victory O what an excellent rest is this This world is like Noahs Dove which could finde no rest to the sole of her foot Gen. 8.9 It may be we may have here a rest for a time a man may be free from sicknesse a yeere or two but there we shall have rest for ever Here is some wormewood in our sweetest honey some coliquintida in the pot of our mirth but there shall be joy without sorrow happinesse without misery Let us all long after this rest let us not only wish with Balaam that we had it but let us take the way that leadeth to it and that is a straight and narrow way The broad way of pleasure and delight leads us to hell where the rich man lay in infinite torments The narrow way that leadeth to rest where Lazarus is in Abrahams bosome Let us therefore mortifie sin subdue our stubborne lusts and rebellious affections let us if need be suffer afflictions for the name of Christ that we may one day enter into this rest where all teares shall be wiped from our eyes for ever Now he stirs us up to take a course for the obtaining of that rest It is a folly to know that there is a fine and delicate Countrey unlesse we our selves may goe into that Countrey So it is to small purpose to know that there is an Heaven unlesse we may be partakers of it Where 1. A commendation of an heavenly study to us 2. Certaine spurs to prick us forward to this study The spurs are three strong and forcible arguments 1. Is taken from a fearefull example 2. From the Ladder whereby we climbe up to this rest which is the Word of God 3. From the omniscience of God that sees whether we study it aright or not VERSE 11. THE studie is commended to us in these words He doth not say goe to heaven thinke on this rest now and then at leasure talke of it but let us study labour c. He doth not say study ye but us S. Paul himselfe must be a Student in this businesse Not loiter but study and labour not to take a view of this rest but to enter Not simply say into any rest but into that rest that noble worthy famous and renowned rest spoken of before where we shall rest with God his Angels and Saints for ever There be rests in this world
many soft pillowes feather-beds and beds of dowlne to rest our selves upon many pleasant Orchards and Gardens faire and beautifull houses wherein we may rest but nothing comparable to that rest the bosome of Abraham where the soule of Lazarus resteth We must not thinke to goe to heaven without study bare wishing will not serve the turne It is not enough to say with Baalam O that my soule might dye the death of the righteous and my last end be like his Num. 23.10 We must first studie to live the life of the righteous It is not sufficient to say oh that I were in heaven but we must study to goe to heaven Now in all studying these things must concurre 1 There must be the party that studieth and that is every Christian high and lowe rich and poore of what estate or condition so ever The King and the subject the Ministers and their people the Master and the servant the Father and the childe the Husband and the Wife the Merchant and the clothyer the Gentleman and the Yeoman the Divines Lawyers Physitians Husbandmen c. all must study to enter into this rest 2 There must be a closet or a place to study in that is the chamber of our owne hearts Enter into thy closet sayes CHRIST We must goe often into the chamber of our owne hearts call our selves to an account examine what sinnes we have what courses wee take whether wee bee in regia via or not that leadeth to heaven 3 There must bee a booke to study on every Student must have his bookes There can be no workeman without his tooles nor no Scholler without a library Now the LORD will not trouble us with many bookes as CHRIST sayd one thing is necessary So one booke is necessary the booke of bookes the sacred booke of holy Scriptures Let us study that throughly and learne the way to heaven 4 There must bee a light to study by no man can study in the darke either he must have day light or candle light The light whereby wee study is the light of GODS Spirit who must enlighten our eyes that we may see the wonders of GODS Lawes and direct us to this heavenly rest Let us therefore pray to GOD that His Spirit may be with us in all our study as Acts 8.31 Lord take not thy Holy Spirit from mee let him accompany mee continually 5 There must bee diligence in study every Student must be diligent Learning is not gotten without paines The students in the Vniversity study day and night So doe the Lawyers at Innes of Court if they aspire to any fame in the Law So we that be Christians must bee diligent and painefull in our study 2 Pet. 1.10 use all diligence We must not study by fits a start and away but we must lie at it if by any meanes we may come to this rest 6 There must be a time to study in Now this time is the terme of our life from infancy to old age from the cradle to the grave so farre as is possible Remember thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth Wherewithall shall a young man clense his wayes Psalm 119.9 A young man said of the tenne Commandements all these have I kept from my youth upwards Mark 10. Young men may die in the flower of their yeeres as Absalom did therefore let young men even in the flourishing time of youth study to enter into this rest And let old men likewise study it In matters concerning the world there bee emeriti milites a man at sixtie yeares of age is exempted from warfare aptissima arma senectutis artes exercitationesque virtutum The Levits were priviledged from the service of the Temple at fifty and some Schollers are so old that they can studie no longer not so here wee must all studie so long as we live yea in the time of old age hic opus est animo magis quà m corpore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cato learned Greeke when he was eighty yeeres old 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Solon So though we be fifty sixty eighty a hundred yeeres old yet we must alwayes be studying to enter into this rest And it is worth our studie 1. We shall rest from sinne here we sinne daily the best of us all the just man falls seven times a day Sinne makes the godly to cry out like tyred porters ô miserable men that we are who shall ease us of this burden Then we shall be like the Angels in heaven and sin no more 2. Wee shall rest from the workes of our calling The Merchant shall bee no more tossed upon the Sea the clothier bee no more riding up and downe for Wooll nor in the sale of clothes The magistrate shall be no longer molested with hearing of causes from morning to night as Moses was The Father no more caring for his Children c. we shall have all things without care and labour O happy rest let us study for it 3. Wee shall rest from all griefe paine and misery No more sicknesse crying and weeping all teares shall then bee wiped from our eyes Oh blessed rest who would not study for it Notwithstanding it is a wonder to see how this study is neglected We study to get money to hoord up gold and silver to buy houses and purchase lands Some will studie to get to great preferment how to climbe to this or that office but the maine studie of all is set aside What advantageth it a man to winne the whole world and loose his owne soule therefore especially study to enter into this rest where our soules and bodies shall remaine in happines for ever One Pamb was studying the first Verse of the thirtie ninth Psal. 19. yeeres and yet studied it not enough We must be studying this lesson to enter into this blessed rest the terme of our whole life and yet all little enough we must studie as they that feare to bee deprived of a thing Verse 1. If you are afraid to be deprived of your house and land by some false pretended title you will study hard to defend your selves even so doe you study for heaven that yee be not defeated of this rest Let us study earnestly to enter into his rest that when the few and evill dayes of our Pilgrimage bee ended wee may rest with Christ in the world to come 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sayes Chrys. and without wee cannot be saved yet that alone is not sufficient 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If they could not get earth without much diligence how shall we heaven Especially 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 indifferenter ac socorditer 1. Reason or spurre to prick us on to this heavenly and earnest study and meditation is taken from a terrible example as good men as we in outward appearance have fallen from this rest therefore let us take heede that the like happen not to us If you fall as they did you shall sinke into the same bottomlesse pitt that they
Crowne them with the Crowne of eternall glory therefore let us be plentifull in good workes Now he doth earnestly wish their increase and continuance in all goodnesse These verses containe an heavenly prayer that Saint Paul hath for the Hebrewes wherein hee desires two things for them 1. The vertue of diligence 2. A removall of the vice of slothfulnesse opposite to it ver 12. The former is amplified 1. By the persons to whom it is wished 2. By the manner how it is wished shewed 3. By the qualitie of it the same 4. By the fruit 5. By the perseverance of it VERSE 11. WEE as labourers together with God desire the same we wish it with all our hart at the hands of God Prayer is nothing else save a fervent desire of the heart we lift up our hearts and our hands to thee Lam. 3.41 All men have their desires a covetous man desires silver and gold houses and lands an adulterer desires a faire Dinah and a beautifull Bathshebah in a corner to sport himselfe with all a malicious man desires the fall of him whom he takes to be his enemie as Esau the dayes of my fathers mourning are at hand and then will I slay my brother Iacob Gen. 27.41 The ambitious man desires honour as Absalom but a godly man desires the spirituall good of himselfe and others Oh that I were dissolved and were with CHRIST and here Saint Paul desires the continuance of the Hebrewes in all good things let the like desire be in us all He doth not pray for some alone but for every one A father wishes well to all his Children a good Shepheard would not have one sheepe in his flocke to perish I would to God that all that heare mee this day were as I am said Paul we desire the salvation of every one of you yea of our enemies if we have any It is the joy of the Ministers to see the people continue in well doing my Crowne and my joy they desire this above all earthly profit and preferment and they pray heartily to God for it He doth not desire that they might have the same diligence but that they doe shew the same diligence openly abroad that men may point at it with the finger and ye may be ensamples to others Matth. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they seeing your good workes may glorifie your Father in heaven 2 Cor. 8.21 providing for honest things not onely in the sight of the Lord but in the sight of men Wee must not only bee godly but shew our selves godly wee must not only have faith but shew it as Dorcas did shew me thy faith by thy workes we must not only have zeale but shew it as Phinees did we must not only have patience but shew it let your patient mind be knowne to all men we must not only have love to the Saints but shew it Yet we know that there is an outward shewing without an inward an outward shew and an inward too both must concurre Some are all in shew nothing in truth some in shew and truth too The Pharisees made a shew of Religion fasted prayed gave almes c. but it was nothing but a shew When they fasted they looked sowre when they gave almes a trumpet was sounded at their gate they prayed in the corners of the streets Our shew must be outward and inward too as the outside of the cup and platter is cleane so must the inside too we must be Nathaniels within and without too wee must walke before God with Zacharie and Elizabet as well as be just before men thus let us shew dayly the graces that be in us I desire that yee goe not backeward but bee as diligent as ever yee were yea if possible that yee may excell your selves and be better He wishes the same diligence in quality though he would have it to exceede in quantity We will be diligent in our trades and callings The Merchant in his the Clothyer in his c. We will be diligent in them for the trash of this world The hand of the diligent it maketh rich but we use small diligence in heavenly matters Give all diligence sayes Saint Peter 2 Pet. 1.10 Wee cannot goe to heaven without diligence A Scholler must be diligent before he can get learning and wee must be diligent Schollers in the Schoole of Christ before wee can learne him as we ought to doe and reigne with him in the life to come Therefore let us be diligent if by any meanes we may attaine to the resurrection of the dead and let us not be diligent to day and negligent to morrow but let us use the same diligence It was Socrates commendation that he was Semper idem Let us not be semper idem in evill things but in good things semper idem Let us rather mend then pare and let our last workes be more than our first This vertue of diligence is amplified by the fruit and continuance of it That yee may be fully assured in your hearts and consciences of that kingdome which yee hope for Some men may be assured of their good estate St. Paul is so sure of it that he sings a triumph over all his enemies Ro. 8.33 34 c. Neither is it his song alone but the song of all the faithfull I am sure my Redeemer liveth Iob 19.25 2 Cor. 5.1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternall in the heavens How come we by this assurance not by revelation from heaven but by good workes practised by us here on the earth 2 Pet. 1.10 When Saint Paul was ready to depart out of the world he was sure of the Crowne of life how not by revelation but by the godly life which he had lead 2 Tim. 4.8 2 Tim. 2.19 depart from sin bee full of good workes as Dorcas was and thou mayest have a full assurance of the kingdome of heaven It is not a bare and naked faith that can assure thee of heaven but such as worketh by love Men in this age flatter themselves in a supposed faith and cast away the care of good workes Wee cannot merit heaven by our worke therefore wee will not worke at all as if good workes served to no end but to merit They are as pledges of eternall life by them we may know whether our names are written in heaven or not wee must know that not à priori for who at any time was Gods counsellour but à posteriori hast thou workes then thou hast faith are there fruits then there is a roote hast thou faith then thou hast Christ hast thou Christ then thou hast the kingdome of heaven Therfore let us all be abundant in good works let us excell in good works Tit. 2.8 These are good and profitable to men there is a necessary use of them they are infallible tokens
and not in his heart It hath beene an ancient custome in the Church of Rome to sweare by Saints and by their relikes But consuetudo sine veritate erroris est vetustas Cypr. l. 2. ep 3. The laying on of the hand on a Bible or a testament when we sweare This may bee excused for properly to speake wee doe not sweare by the Bible it is only an obtestation as the words of this bible are most true so is that which I sweare and it is an outward token whereby wee declare to the world that wee sweare by him which is the authour of the Bible or because in this booke are contained the promises and threatnings of the LORD to them that sweare truly and against them that sweare falsely so among the heathen they touched the altar when they swore yet they swore by him whom they worshipped on that altar for they would lift up their hands to heaven when they swore denoting by that bodily gesture of theirs that they did sweare by God alone who made the heavens We may sweare by God primariò principaliter but we may sweare by the creatures Secundariò This is but a meere shift and fond evasion Zephan 1.5 for they sware by the Lord primarily by malchum secondarily yet God was offended with them Besides there is none greater than man but God The Angels are creatures as well as we they are our fellow-servants and one fellow-servant must not sweare by another therefore we that be creatures must sweare only by the Creatour 3. Here wee see what a reverent estimation wee are to have of an oath it must be the end of contradiction after men have sworne wee should be as mute as fishes not have a word to say An oath was sacred among the heathen 1 Sam. 30.15 Abimelech and Phicol his Captaine were satisfied when they had Isacks oath Gen. 21.22 but with us small credit is to be given to oathes the oath of a Christian is no sure foundation to build upon Iesabel had false witnesses at her elbow to condemne Naboth withall the Pharisees had two false witnesses in a readinesse to sweare against our SAVIOUR CHRIST And now a dayes such is the corruption among Christians that small credit is to be given to many mens oathes for they say it is an easie matter in London and I would to God it were not in the country to procure men to sweare to what they will So that now a dayes an oath is rather the beginning then the end of controversies whereupon so many perjuries are found in the land a manifest argument that Atheisme growes among us The foole that is the wicked man sayes in his heart there is no God and I thinke many sweare by God if there be a God but all false swearers shall one day know to the terrour of their conscience that there is a God who will be avenged on them for abusing his name Let an oath be such an holy thing with us that there may be no more controversie after we have sworne Then why should we doubt of our salvation God hath bound himselfe by oath and promise to bring us to his kingdome and shal wee bee as reeds wavering with the winde I for our salvation dependeth in some sort on our workes pendet ex certitudine operum quae conjectu ralis atque imperfecta certitudo est It dependeth on works not as causes but as inseparable effects of faith not upon their dignity or perfection but upon their being with faith Be faithfull to the end and I will give thee the crowne of life I but who can tell whether he shall persevere to the end or not We may be good to day and bad to morrow Noah David Peter fell Yes we may be comfortably sure of our perseverance for hee that hath begun a worke in us will finish it to the day of Christ and though we fall yet we shall rise againe for the Lord putteth to his hand whom he once loveth hee loveth to the end and never forsakes them till hee have brought them to his kingdome Onely let us not bee rocked a sleepe in the cradle of security but work out our salvation with feare and trembling VERSE 17. Ἐφ ' ῷ̔ wherein in the which thing or in the which oath or for the which cause God did it willingly not by constraint none could enforce him to it More abundantly then was necessary for his bare word had beene enough save that the weakenesse of man required it See here GODS dealing with us after the manner of men To shew that is to make a lively and evident demonstration Vnto the heyres of promise not to Abraham alone but to all the faithfull The immutability which cannot be transposed or altered Not of his promise but counsell arguing that it was no sudden or fickle promise but such as proceeded from wise and deliberate counsell and the counsell or decree of God standeth for ever That of Hezekiahs and the Ninevites had a secret condition unlesse he had prayed earnestly for life and the others repented Ier. 18.7 8. or it was rather a commination then the pronuntiation of a decree or counsell Interposuit se as if CHRIST the Mediatour had made this oath and interposed himselfe in it betweene the father and us for the greater ratifying of it Oecumen Annexed to his promise Here we have the dignity of the godly they are heyres not of a Knight of a Lord a Duke c. but of God and the promises that is of the joyes of heaven which GOD hath promised to them in his word The kingdome of heaven belongs to Children not to servants the faithfull are the Children of God and joynt heires with Christ so that the inheritance of the celestiall Canaan pertaines to them how then dare you despise the lest of the heyres of promise 2. This may comfort us against the crosses of this life Art thou a poore man hast no money in thy purse to relieve thy selfe and thy family withall as Peter and Iohn had not hast thou not a bed to rest thy weary body on nor an house to hide thine head in as Christ had not the foxes have holes and the birds of the ayre have nests but the Sonne of man hath not whereon to lay his head yet faint not neither be discouraged for thou art an heyre of promise and shalt one day have a full fruition of the heavenly inheritance prepared from before the foundations of the world were laid The heyre of a Gentleman is kept under Tutors and Governours in the time of his nonage but as soone as that is expired he is at liberty and free from all so though we be the heyres of God yet in the time of our minority and nonage in this world we are kept under many austere masters yet the day of our redemption drawes nigh when as all teares shall be wiped from our eyes and we shall have full
hundred thousand thousand Angels is with us Wheresoever we be let us be as bold as Lyons Neh. 6.11 No King so guarded as we are 2. Having such holy attendants as the Angels be let us doe nothing that may grieve them and make them weary of their service Let the women bee covered because of the Angels so let not us that be Christians sit quaffing and swilling because of the Angels Let us not be together by the eares because of the Angels Let us not commit filthinesse with Whores and harlots in secret corners because of the Angels as our keepers be holy so let us be holy 3. Let us bee thankefull to God Almighty that hath given us his Angels to overshadow us Let us live in the feare of the living God in this world that we may sing praise to him with his Angels in the world to come Sundry other things there were about the tabernacle the narration whereof might have delighted the reader But Saint Paul here jogs himselfe by the elbow and is a Moderatour to himselfe you are desirous to heare more but it is expedient to cut them off Wherein he may be a president to all teachers Though the discussing of curious and intricate questions would more delight the auditory yet we must not feede their humour that way Let us give them but a taste of them and a whole mouthfull of sound and wholesome foode The Child would take pleasure in a knife with a golden haft but it shall bee the wisedome of the nurse to keepe it from the Child so the people as wayward Children are much carryed away with the golden shew of wittie conceits but let us that bee their nurses give them that milke which is most requisite for them Some peradventure in this place would have said O Paul why doest thou so sleightly handle the things belonging to the tabernacle repeat I pray thee every particular to us it doth us good to heare of them yet he doth not satisfie their itching eares in that I but St. Paul hath more necessary matter Let us especially be desirous to heare of Christ our High-Priest and Bishop of our soules of repentance of faith in him of making our calling sure by good workes of the true Sanctuary of heaven then of those earthly things these are more profitable for us Some at this day would have us to discusse these questions in the pulpit tell us on what day Adam fell on what day the Angels were created what diversity there is among them how originall sin is conveyed to us speake of the diversity of glory in the life to come as for Christ faith good workes these be stale things But wee must not satisfie them therein curious matters must not bee stood upon when more weighty and proffitable things are to bee propounded The Spirit of God passeth over sundry other things about the Tabernacle because hee had more substantiall points in hand tending to our salvation by Christ. VERSE 6. THe typicall actions were either common to all the Priests Verse 7. or proper to the High Priests Ver. 8. Now when these things were thus ordained that is all the parts of the Tabernacle being framed and all instruments set in their place In the actions belonging to all the Priests there are these circumstances 1. The place where they did minister to that they were tyed and might goe no further 2. The time when they did minister 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at every time when it came to their courses Some or other were alwayes to be implyed in the first Tabernacle 3. The manner of their ministery they accomplished the services of Religion and of divine worship which the Lord had appointed to them they trimmed the lights looked to the Table and shew bread that was on it offered up sacrifices and prayers for the people for there was a morning and an evening sacrifice every day All these things did the Priests in the first Tabernacle and they did them not by halves but finished and accomplished them As they did their duties so must wee that be the Ministers of the Gospell doe ours Wee must give our selves to the Word of God and prayer we must be instant in season and out of season feeding the flock committed to our charge we must administer the Sacraments for the strengthning of the faith of the people that when the great Shepheard shall appeare we may appeare with him in glory The killing of the beasts the preparing of the wood the kindling of the fire the offering up of the sacrifices to the Lord the sprinckling of the people the instructing of them in the Law of God this was the service of God in the Old Testament Now the publike prayers of the Church the reading of Scripture in the congregation the administration of the Sacraments the Preaching of the Word these are the service of God in the New Testament And will you be sitting in the Church yard when Gods service is exercised in the Church doe yee make no more account of the service of God It is a singular honour to be Gods servant Nebuchadnezar my servant It is no disparagement to the greatest Prince in the world to be Gods servant The Angels glory in this that they are Gods servants I am thy fellow servant Christ Himselfe tooke on him the forme of a servant he came into the world to serve There is no fishing to the Sea no service to the King Let us serve the King of Kings with all cheerefulnesse in this world that we may raigne with him in the world to come VERSE 7. THe second part of the typicall service was performed by the common Priest the other typicall action or service is peculiar to the High-Priest wherein wee have these circumstances 1. The place where he served it was the Holy of Holies 2. How he served there he had none of the inferiour Priests with him nor any of his men to attend on him neither Wife Childe servant nor friend might goe with him hee went into it alone wherein he was a famous figure of our SAVIOUR CHRIST who himselfe alone without the Virgin Mary his mother Peter Thomas or any of the Apostles made a propitiation for our sinnes As the High-Priest did offer up bloud alone for the sin of the people in the second Tabernacle So CHRIST alone hath satisfied for our sins 1 Pet. 2.24 When hee went to the Crosse to bee offered up for our sins all his Disciples left him he was faine to be crucified Himselfe alone for us therefore wee are beholden to him alone for the wonderfull worke of our redemption 3. The time when he went not once a day but once a yeere A straight charge was given concerning it Levit. 16.2 Why did he goe into it but once a yeere 1. That this sacrifice offered once a yeere by the High-Priest might bee more solemne and the better regarded by the people those things that are done dayly are lesse esteemed that
are sanctified by the Holy Ghost as the worker of sanctification but we are sanctified by the offring up of the body of Christ as the meritorious cause of our sanctification The bodies of the Saints are holy things being the members of the Holy Ghost The bodies of the Martyrs are precious things whereby the truth of the Gospell was sealed yet by these we cannot be sanctified in the sight of God because there was sinne in them Hearing of Sermons prayers and almes deeds are all of them testimonies of our sanctification and by them we make our calling and election sure We have an inherent sanctification in us after we bee regenerate but that is lame and imperfect there is nothing that can perfectly sanctifie us that we may appeare without blame before God save the offering up of the body of the Lord Iesus Hee is made to us wisedome righteousnesse sanctification Therefore let us entreat the Lord to give us a true and lively faith whereby we may apply Christ and his merits to our selves that being sanctified by him and made cleane through his bloud we may enter into the holy Hierusalem in the life to come VERSE 11. FOr there were many of them of what sort and condition so ever Standeth as a Servitour at the Altar For some thing or other was done every day there was the morning and evening sacrifice For the publike good of the people being the Minister of them all One time would not serve the turne as it doth with Christ. The sacrifices in speciall were Bulls Goates Sheepe c. yet often iterated Never no hope of it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fully and utterly as they ought to be so as they never trouble the consciences of men againe they were a recordation of sin but no a motion of sin No Priest was exempted from service In the Church of Rome peradventure the inferiour Priests the Parish Priests take some paines among the people But the Pope the High-Priest the Cardinalls and those that are called Majores sacerdotes live at ease some of them they are minstred unto but wee must all minister in those places wherein God hath set us that we may enter into the joy of our Master in the life to come The Angels are ministring spirits and shall we thinke scorne to minister 2. We must no day bee idle but dayly serve God in our severall functions whether wee bee Ministers or people passe the dayes of your dwelling here in feare As wee aske our daily bread at Gods hands so wee must daily performe service to God Daniel prayed three times a day Anna served God in prayers day and night The Bereans turned over the Bible daily every day let us doe something whereby God may be glorified 3. As the Priests in the time of the Law offered up the same sacrifices So let us the same sacrifice of prayer of preaching of praise and thankesgiving of almes deeds and the workes of mercy So long as wee tarrie in the world let us alwayes be offering up these spirituall sacrifices though they bee the same yet they are acceptable to God No more can any thing that wee can doe now CHRIST IESUS alone is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world VERSE 12. BVt He that is Iesus Christ our Priest hee being but one is opposed to them that were many He could doe more than all they put together Not many as they did one specie and numero too For the expiation of sins which those sacrifices could not take away There be foure things that commend this sacrifice 1. Sufficientia quoad precium 2. Efficacia contra peccatum 3. Gloria quoad praemium 4. Victoria quoad adversarium Hee doth not stand as they did Stare est famulorum sedere dominorum Not at the Altar here on earth but at the right hand of God in heaven Not for a time as those Priests continued their time and then went away but for ever Some joyne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to that which goeth before after he had offered one sacrifice for sinnes for ever the vertue whereof lasteth for ever God hath no right hand nor left but as Kings cause them that bee neerest and deerest unto them to sit at their right hand so Christ He is in equall Majesty with his father After the offering up of this one sacrifice he offers no more as a Priest but reignes as a King for ever There must be no iteration of this sacrifice The Papists alleadge that the sacrifice of the Masse is the same with that on the Crosse. Suppose it were yet it must bee but once offered Those in the Law were often offered but this must be but once offered otherwise the whole disputation of the HOLY GHOST in this Epistle is overthrowne What doth he now he doth not now play the Carpenter he takes no more paines in preaching in suffering as he did here but he sits quietly in all joy and happinesse at the right hand of God Acts 7.55 Christ appeared to Stephen standing but that was for the strengthning and encouraging of him against the rage of his enemies He stood up ready to take him out of their clawes into the kingdome of heaven otherwise for the most part the Scripture introduces Christ sitting as it were in his regall throne at the right hand of God next in glory power and Majesty to God the Father yea equall with him in all things 1. This may bee a comfort to us against all our adversaries The King and Protectour of the Church sitteth at the right hand of God in heaven The Vniversities chuse them to be their Chancellours which are in greatest favour with the King and most gracious in the Court so doe incorporations chuse the like to be their high stewards that may stand them instead in the time of need He that hath the protection of us is a great man in the Court of heaven He sits at the right hand of God hee hath all power in heaven and earth Therfore let not us feare that are under his wings he will not suffer us to want the thing that is good 2. As CHRIST now sitteth in heaven after all the miseries crosses and afflictions which hee sustained on the earth so when this wretched life is ended we shall be in heaven with Christ Ep. 2.6 Let this encourage us to a patient suffering of all calamities in this world Wee may have a tragedy here but a comedie hereafter worme-wood here and honey there Blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord they rest from their labours and shall remaine in heaven with Christ for ever VERSE 13. IT might be interpreted and expecteth the remnant As he himselfe the head of the Church is in heaven so he expecteth the comming of his members to him Or from henceforth waiteth that is the accomplishment of the number of his elect which God the Father hath given to him He comes down no more into the earth to
envy them that be adorned with better gifts then we nor to contemne them that have lesser to checke them by their wants and infirmities to prie into them with a curious eye but to the whetting and sharpening one of another to be as spurs and whetstones one to another To love the badge of Christians Gal. 5.6 And to good workes It is no love that hath no good workes 1 Ioh. 3.18 This stirring up of our brethren must not be done rashly or unadvisedly but with due advice and wise consideration therefore sayes he consider one another First wee must consider then provoke we must diligently consider when we come to the performance of this duty Wee must consider in what case our brother is touching his soule whether hee lye in ignorance or not Whether hee goe forward or backeward whether hee bee cold in his profession or not As we finde his wants so we must make supply by a godly provoking of him Wee will consider one anothers wealth how many faire houses hee hath how much land hee purchaseth how many cloathes he makes and if hee bee before us in the world wee envy him We will consider one another to doe our neighbour a mischiefe if we can to sit on his skirts at one time or another as Saul had an eye to David and the Pharisees watched our Saviour Christ. But we will not consider one another to further them towards the kingdome of heaven The end of our consideration must bee to provoke to goodnesse First to love as the fountaine then to good workes as the streames flowing from it Faith that worketh by love no love no faith If yee be my Disciples love one another he that hateth is a man-slayer We must say you are members of the same body whereof Christ is the head therefore love you one another Abraham said to Lot I pray thee let there be no strife betweene us for we be brethren So let one neighbour say to another let no strife be among us for we are brethren in the LORD IESUS We have one faith baptisme SAVIOUR one inheritance one Father therefore let us love one another If this were practised by us there would not bee such heart burning betweene neighbour and neighbour such uncharitable suspicions such brawlings and contentions even about trifling matters as there be Many are so farre from provoking to love as that they kindle the fire of contention and sow the seed of discord and variance where they dwell Now love is not without good workes No good workes no love 1 Ioh. 3.18 Let us not love in word neither in tongue only but in deed and in truth We must provoke one another to be pittifull to the poore to be liberall to all good uses to adorne the Gospell by good workes The woman of Samaria said to her townesmen come goe with mee and I will shew you the Messiah So must wee goe to our neighbours and say come let us goe to Church and heare Divine Service and Sermon Let us carry our servants with us Let us goe together about the towne Let us see in what estate the poore bee who wants bread meate cloathes lodging c. Let us goe to the Alehouses and other suspected places and see what disorders there be there Let us reproove drunkennesse let us compell them that bee idle to fall to worke and to get their bread with the sweat of their browes Let us see harlots and adulterers punished that are a disgrace to the towne Come let us not be so glewed to our mony let us give cheerefully to the preaching of the word and to all good uses Oh that this were practised by us that we had some sounding bels and trumpets in the parish to toll on one another to the kingdome of heaven especially if the chiefe men and women in a towne which are the bell-weathers of the flocke if they would shew themselves to be good fore-horses what a number might they draw after them Monica Augustins mother said volemus in coelos ô that wee were like her yron sharpeneth yron so doth man sharpen the face of his friend Let us sharpen one another to good workes that wee may say at the day of judgement here am I and the neighbours thou hast given me But I would to God there were not some that draw backwards that pull their neighbours from love and good workes Wilt thou give to the Preacher wilt thou bee so forward in towne matters thou shalt get nothing by it These are wretched men and are to answer for the spoyling of themselves and others at the day of judgment Strengthen thy brethren said Christ to St. Peter Luke 22.32 So we must comfort and exhort our brethren Rom. 16.3 They were no Ministers yet St. Paul calls them his fellow helpers because they did helpe on their brethren they helped on Apollos Act. 18.26 The thiefe on the Crosse would have provoked his fellow to love and good workes Fearest thou not God and shall we be worse than he Let us stirre up one another hast thou no feare of God no love to religion They that convert many shall shine as the Sunne in the kingdome of heaven not minister only but all others that are the meanes of the conversion of any It belongs to all to save soules Iac. 5. ult Wee are not borne for our selves alone as the heathen could say it was the bad speech of wicked Cain am I my brothers keeper I verily thou art thy brothers keeper and if he perish through thy default thou shalt answer for him at the latter day Therefore let us provoke one another to all good duties in this present world that we may al one with another live with CHRIST our blessed Saviour in the world to come VERSE 25. THe gathering together unto that is to Iesus Christ 2 Thes. 2.1 We must not shut up selves in Cloysters with monkes nor with Diogenes in a tunne Wee must love the company of the Saints All our delight must be in them Especially we must beware how wee forsake the publike assemblies where is the word and Sacraments with the joynt prayers of the Church Some did it in the Primitive Church for feare of the enemies loath to joyne with them for feare of loosing their goods honours life liberty And now some forsake them in pride and in an high conceit of themselves depart from us we are holyer than you As it is some mens custome A bad custome yet hee names them not Call one to another And by so much the rather as yee see that day drawing neere We have not a long time to exhort in therefore let us exhort That day which in Scripture is called the day of the Lord when wee shall bee rewarded for our well doing and they punished that contemne our exhortations Luk. 21.34 Yee see with your owne eyes by plaine and evident tokens it is neere at hand The meetings of Christians are private or publike
of prosperity we will not bestow any of our goods on the poore on the Church on the maintenance of the Word of God unlesse it be extorted by Law then how will we suffer with joy the losse of all in the time of adversity Let us not be so glewed to our riches let us use them now as if we used them not that if the time of tryall should come wee may joyfully forgoe Christ's sake VERSE 35. NOw hee prepareth them to persist with boldnesse in it by confirming and strengthning of them in the profession of the Gospell 1. Hee commends to them an heavenly courage and invincible boldnes then he points out two props or pillars for it to leane upon 1. The admonition 2. The reason of it Cast not away as faint hearted Souldiers are wont to doe their weapons cast it not away but keepe it still Eph. 6.13 he bade us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our spirituall armour Here he would not have us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wee are wont to cast away those things that be hurtfull and cumbersome to us This heavenly weapon of confidence and boldnesse is very necessary and commodious for us therefore let us not cast it away Will a traveller cast away his staffe whereon he leaneth and sustaines himselfe in his journey The confidence wee have in God by Iesus Christ is the staffe whereon we leane therefore let us not cast it away for so much as yee know yee have within your selves a better enduring substance in heaven although yee loose all these earthly goods Therefore cast not away that confidence Let it cause you couragiously to passe through all afflictions whatsoever The word doth import not only an inward boldnes but an open profession of it before all the world 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when men are not afraid to speak all and deliver their whole minde As ye have begun to fight valiantly under Christ's banner even to the spoyling of all your goods so let nothing quayle your courage continue fighting to the end Why what shall they get by it this your bold and confident fighting shall be rewarded and that greatly too therefore persist in it Hee doth not say it shall have but it hath already namely fide spe not a small but a great recompense of reward We shall not only have a reward but a great reward Psal. 19.11 Matth. 5.12 It is great in many respects 1. For earthly goods which wee loose we shall have treasures in heaven that abide for ever and is not that a great reward for chips to have gold 2. For our afflictions that are finite wee shall have infinite and eternall happinesse Here we suffer for a time there we shall reigne forever What a great reward is this Barzillai said to David why will the King recompence it with such a reward much more may wee say why will the King of Kings recompence our afflictions with such a great reward as this is Let the consideration of this reward put life and courage into us all It would grieve a Souldier to fight when he shall get nothing but blowes but if he be sure of a rich spoyle when the battell is ended that will make him fight couragiously we shal be amply rewarded therefore let us fight Our labour is not in vaine in the Lord 1 Cor. 15. ult all our good workes shall bee rewarded yet thereupon it doth not follow that they are meritorious Wheresoever the Papists finde fire in the Scripture that is the fire of purgatory and where they finde a reward thereupon they conclude a merit Indeed opus merces are relatives but not merces meritum A reward doth presuppose a worke but not a merit All that laboured in the Vineyard were rewarded but not according to their merits for then they that laboured but one houre should not have beene equall with them that bore the heate and burden of the day but they were rewarded according to the promise of the Lord of the Vineyard so shall wee bee Therefore it is said Verse 36. that we shall receive the promise But this is most certaine that all our workes whatsoever issuing from faith shall be rewarded Our comming to Church our hearing of Sermons if with feare and conscience our feeding of the hungerie cloathing of the naked our prayers almes deeds c. yea a cup of cold water given with a sincere heart shall not loose his reward Moses looked to the recompence of the reward so let us doe with the eye of faith It is not in vaine to serve God as the wicked complaine in Malachie we shall have great recompense of reward for our service Let this encourage us all in the profession of the Gospell VERSE 36. THe first pillar is patience Where 1. The necessity of patience 2. A remedy against impatiencie 1. The necessity of patience is intimated 2. Vrged by a forcible reason He doth not say it were well yee had patience it were a convenient thing that yee had patience yee cannot be without it A Souldier hath need of weapons a man of meat and drinke and yee of patience Why the reason is taken from the necessary use of it without patience yee cannot have heaven promised to you therefore yee have need of it That after yee have done the will of God that is suffered according to his will It is Gods will we should passe to heaven through afflictions 1 Pet. 4. ult in that respect let us beare them patiently and let us say with Paul Act. 21.13 I am ready not to be bound only but to dye for the name of the Lord Iesus The promise that is rem promissam Multa cadunt inter promissum rem promissam Patience is a noble vertue nobile vincendi genus est patientia 1. Sapientem demonstrat David shewed himselfe a wise man when he bore patiently the railing of Shimei So did Hezekias when he answered not Rabshakeh The world counts them fooles that put up reviling speeches yet they be the true wise men 2. Fortitudinem superat aerek Aphaijm Septuag 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is counted cowardlinesse not to resist yet it is the best valour in the world 3. Sine ictu de hoste triumphat Wee give our enemie never a blow and yet we overcome him not feriendo but ferendo we triumph over them all It is a victory gotten not only without bloudshed but without the stryking of a stroake 4. In morte vitam conservat As the Salamander lives in the fire so patience makes us to live in the fire of afflictions 5. De regno securitatem praestat Matth. 5.10 Blessed are they that suffer persecution for righteousnesse sake for theirs is the kingdome of heaven therefore let this excellent vertue be imbraced by us all In patience possese your soules Wee can have no quiet possession of our soules without patience Wee have neede of patience at all times and seasons in
Aegypt greater in glory and perpetuity The reason is rendred Hee did not looke on their present but future estate Genesis 15. Verse 1. They should be greatly rewarded in the life to come therefore he would be one of them Mockes and taunts banishment imprisonment losse of goods burning at the stake for the name of Christ these are greater riches than all the treasures in the world without Christ and so let them bee esteemed of us al after these follows heaven and at the taile of them comes hell in that respect it is the greater 2 Cor. 4.17 for this light affliction which is but for a moment causeth unto us an eternall weight of glory The councell of Trent Bellar. Stapleton and our English Iesuites in their annotations on this place doe falsely father this assertion on us that wee teach it to bee unlawfull benè operari intuitu mercedis whereas wee hold no such opinion It is a meere slander of theirs We confesse there is a reward layd up for the godly and wee may lawfully looke up to it yet in that our looking two things are to be observed 1. We must not respect that Solùm nor praecipuè it must neither be the only thing nor the chiefe thing that sets us on worke The principall motives to good workes must be Gods glory and the love of Christ. GOD hath created all for his owne glory our light must so shine before men that they seeing our good workes may glorifie our Father in heaven I will abstaine from sinne because it dishonours GOD. I will adorne the Gospell with good workes because they glorifie God 2. The love of Christ must constraine us thereunto As he hath dyed for my sins so I will dye to sinne 3 The consideration of our owne duty must presse us to it All that wee can doe is a debt which wee owe unto our GOD therefore wee must alwayes bee paying our debt to our lives end The 4th is that rich and ample reward reserved for us which is as a bell to toll us to good workes this we may respect but it is not the chiefest thing propounded to us in well doing The Philosophers could say that nuda virtus is to be desired so God is to bee loved and served for himselfe alone without any other by-consideration They that doe good workes only for the reward are mercenary as a labourer will not doe a dayes worke unlesse hee may have a shilling and they that have no respect to the reward that regard it not at all are unthankefull to God who hath prepared a reward for us Let us looke to the reward by the which he allures us as a father doth his Children to well doing but let that neither bee the sole nor principall marke wee ayme at but the glorifying of our heavenly father for whose glory we were created and redeemed 2. Let us expect a reward for our well doing yet not upon merit but upon promise Paul being ready to dye looked at the reward from henceforth there is layd up for mee a Crowne of righteousnesse But what Crowne not which hee had merited but which GOD had promised and for his promise sake would give to him This is the surmise of some Papists that merces meritum bee relatives though promissum merces are relatives yet merces meritum are not Wee looke for a reward because God hath promised it not because wee have merited it for when we have done all that we can we are unprofitable servants Otherwise let us be bold to cast up our eyes to the reward Christ himselfe had respect to the recompense of the reward Hebr. 12.2 and we that be Christians may imitate him in that Though a child have a poore man to his Father that is not able to leave him a Groate yet he is bound to honour him but much more if hee be a rich man and willing to leave him a fayre inheritance Our father is rich hee will reward us with a kingdome therefore let us the rather serve and honour him great is your reward in heaven behold I come and my reward is with me Here wee meete with many crosses in our mindes bodies goods name in our Wives Children Cattell here are many occasions of weeping but let us cheerefully endure them all One day we shall be taken up into that place where all teares shall bee wiped away from our eyes for ever Let us looke to this recompense of reward VERSE 27. THe second notable thing in Moses is a necessary crosse imposed on him which is amplified by a corrumpent and a conservant cause of it The corrumpent was the fiercenesse of the King which he feared not the conservant was the sight of God standing by him The greatest part of Interpreters expound it of Moses departing out of Aeyypt when hee carryed the people with him then and in the dispatchall of his message and office he feared not the fiercenesse of the King but contemned it That is true yet it seemes not to be the proper meaning of the place 1. Then the Apostle should invert the order which hitherto he hath not done nor hereafter doth in this Chapter hee should set the departure out of Aegypt before the Institution of the Passeover 2. This departure out of Aegypt is included Verse 29. it should be now unseasonable to speake of it 3. Then Moses did not forsake Aegypt but hee went as a Conquerour out of Aegypt They that forsake a Country leave it for some cause in regard whereof they cannot safely tarry in the Country Therfore it is rather to be referred to the flight of Moses when after the killing of the Aegyptian he left Aegypt and fled into the land of Midian This might seeme to have proceeded from infidelity yet the power of faith is to be seene in it Moses perceiving that now the King being incensed against him and the Israelites as yet not acknowledging him for their deliverer there was no convenient time to prosecute his office therefore he flieth for a season committing himselfe to the providence of GOD and expecting a better opportunity for the delivering of the Israelites in the meane season by faith he forsaketh Aegypt for a time There is one only thing that opposeth itselfe to this Interpretation Here it is said that he feared not the fiercenesse of the King yet Exod. 2.14 it is as cleere as the noone day that he feared it and fled upon it 1. The participle may be rendred in the praeterpluperfect-tense as Verse 31. by faith Moses forsooke Aegypt having not feared the fiercenesse of the King namely in killing the Aegyptian according to his commission received from God not that he feared it not afterwards 2. Though hee feared a little at the first yet that feare was allayed afterwards in a couragious magnanimity he forsook Aegypt and feared not the fiercenesse of the King in pursuing after him It may be this fierce Lion will sent messengers after me
of Iericho Ioshua was a type of our Saviour Christ. Iericho hath her name of Iareach the Moone Now the Moone in Scripture represents the world As Ioshua made Iericho to fall by trumpets of Rams hornes So Christ our spirituall Ioshua subdued the world by twelve men as by twelve trumpets but that is farre fetched even beyond the Moone The Apostle maketh choyse of this because Iericho stood in the entrance of the Land of Canaan now we may ex ungue leonem As their first victory came of faith so did all the rest by faith at the length they conquered the whole Land of Canaan Heere we have many instructions 1 Faith is the best weapon to goe to warre withall not Bils Bowes and Guns Swords and Daggers Muskets Pistols Cannons and Demi-Cannons strong Iron Engins to undermine and scall wals withall As Christ sayd of Mint Cummin and Annis these ought yee to have done but not to leave the weightier matters of the Law undone So these externall weapons are to be provided but the greatest of all is faith All these without faith can doe little good faith without all these can doe much good By faith Gideon with three thousand men overcame the Midianites by faith little David and unarmed too slew great Goliah that was well armed by faith Iehosaphat put three Nations to flight an exceeding great multitude that came against him by faith Ionathan and his Armourâ—bearer discomfited the Philistims and by faith the walls of Iericho fell downe What got us the victory in the yeere 88. when the invincible Navy of the Spanyards were on the Sea Their ships were as mountaines to our Molehils they in number exceeding us Surely it was the faith of diverse that made us so gloriously to triumph over them By faith one shall chase a thousand and an hundred put ten thousand to flight Therefore it were to be wished that when we are to fight in battell choyse might be made of honest Souldiers When a muster is made we chuse stout and valiant men expert Souldiers such as can handle a Sword or a Gunne well they bee good but Souldiers indued with faith are the best warriers As the heathen man sayd he had rather have one Vlysses then ten Aiaces so it were better for us to have one faithfull honest godly man in a Camp then ten Souldiers that can quaffe and swill sweare and swagger yea though they bee lusty men of body Why was Elias called the Charets and horsemen of Israel for his faith and prayers that hee made for Israel not in regard of any bodily strength If wee will be conquerers over our enemies let us pray to God for faith this will cast downe walls subvert Citties overthrow towers and make us famous conquerers 2 How meane soever the meanes be let us by faith depend on GOD. What were Rams hornes to blow downe the walls of Iericho withall what were pitchers and three hundred men to vanquish the Midianites what was a stone in it selfe against a great mighty Gyant that was armed from top to toe what was clay and spittle to open a blind mans eyes withall The power of God is seene in weakenesse Though the instruments bee weake Hee is strong that worketh by them What is Preaching if we looke on it with a carnall eye to cast downe the holds of sin to overthrow Satan to bring men to the kingdome of Heaven yea the foolishnesse of preaching too as the Apostle calleth it If our Preachers were flaunting oratours if their Sermons were such eloquent orations as Demosthenes's and Tullies it were something but shall a rude kinde of speaking accompanyed with the power of GODS Spirit save soules I verily because GOD hath appointed it and it pleaseth him to worke by it The breath of CHRISTS mouth overthrowes Antichrist and wee though silly weake men shall overcome immortall Divels wee shall bee more then Conquerers through Him that loved us 3 Walls as yee see are no strong munitions An horse sayes the Psalmist is a vaine thing so an high and mighty wall is a vaine thing unlesse GOD be the keeper of the wall The townes of the Canaanites were walled up to the Heavens yet they were made even with the earth The tower of Siloam fell Ierusalem as Iosephus writeth was compassed about with three walls A threefold thred is not easily broken much more a threefold wall Yet all these three walls were rased to the ground the Citty taken and the Iewes miserably slaine There bee some that make gold their hope and the wedge of gold their confidence and there be some that make walls their hope but they bee weake pillars to leane upon There bee two walls which wee may be bold to trust unto a good conscience and God Almighty hic murus aheneus esto nil conscire sibi They whose consciences doe not pricke them for sin may bee bold in the middest of all dangers even as bold as Lions as Salomon speakes and they that have bad consciences shall be afraid of their owne shadowes The other wall is God Almighty I will be unto thee sayes Hee to Ieremiah as a brazen wall against all thine enemies and the Lord as it is in Zechary will be as a wall of fire round about Ierusalem Let us not provoke GOD by our sinnes and wee shall bee safe within paper walls Let us exasperate him by our sinnes and walls of stone nay walls of Iron shall not defend us from our enemies The proverbe is that hunger breaketh through a stone wall but I am sure sin will breake through any wall As the moth eats the garment So sinne will eate through the strongest wall that is and call in our enemies after it Therefore if we will be secure in our houses Towns Citties and Castles let us be at peace with GOD and serve Him in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of our lives It is sayd that Iericho was compassed about seven dayes Now one of those seven must be the Sabbath therefore some works might be done on their Sabbath day and so on the Lords day now Here we are to distinguish some are our own workes and some Gods works our owne workes are the workes of our calling and the workes of our Nature which are sinnes both these must cease on the Sabbath day wee may not goe to plow and Cart on that day much lesse may wee kill steale commit adultery bee drunken on that day But as for GODS workes they may bee done on that day and they are either extraordinary and immediately commanded by GODS owne voyce as this was the compassing of Iericho on the seventh day or mediately and ordinarily prescribed and set downe in the Word and they bee the workes of mercy Christ healed on the Iewes Sabbath day Hee defended His Disciples for rubbing the eares of Corne on that Sabbath day An Oxe or an Asse might be plucked out of a ditch on the Sabbath day Wee may visite the sicke
tamen possunt probare quod dicant let them speake that can speake yet so as they prove that which they speake Ego me istaec ignorare confiteor I confesse I am ignorant of these things Let the like humility bee imitated of us all Let no man presume to understand above that which is written The Scripture makes mention of Arch-Angels Michael the Arch-Angel disputed with the Devill about the body of Moses An Arch-Angell shall sound a Trumpet at the last day 1 Thes. 4.16 Some interpret it of a created Angell that hath the title and office of an Arch-Angell onely for a time for the accomplishment of some weighty and extraordinary worke no perpetuall superiority above the rest Cornelius à lapide saies it is Gabriel who as hee did foretell CHRIST 's first comming to the Virgin so hee shall publish his second comming to the world Saint Ambrose and Aquinas are of that opinion Yet that Arch-Angell rather is CHRIST who is termed Michael our Prince Daniel 10. ult The name is sutable to him and to no other Micha ael Who is like to God Almightie none so like him as his Sonne the ingraven forme and character of the Father 3. For their wisedome and knowledge it is admirable The devils know much 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 much more doe the good Angels they have matutinam vespertinam scientiam as Augustine speakes their morning and evening knowledge their morning knowledge they have by creation and a continuall contemplation of GOD their evening knowledge they have by observation from the creatures and a diligent inspection into the Church They bee no fooles they be wise guides that have the custody of us 4. For their power it is wonderfull surpassing the power of evill Angels for it is very probable that as the rest of their gifts so their power is weakened since their fall 5. For their office it is to serve God and the Lambs wife the Church they performe many fruitfull offices to us As Souldiers they pitch their Tents about us defending us from the devill and his Angels Isai. 5. I have hedged in my Vineyard that is Custodia Angelorum Gainas sent a great multitude in the night to burne the Emperors Pallace at Constantinople a multitude of Angels met them in the forme of armed men of a great stature they supposing them to bee magnum strenuum exercitum ranne away As nurses they hold us in their armes Psalm 91.12 that wee dash not our foote against a stone Some interpret it to bee Christ the stone of offence but it is to bee extended to all dangers whatsoever They comfort us in our griefes sorrowes and calamities though we bee not able to discerne it An Angell was sent to comfort our Saviour Christ when he was in his agony in the Garden Luk. 22.43 There was one Theodorus a young man that was cast into a scalding lead an Angell in the similitude of a man stood by him with a napkin in his hand that wiped the drops of sweat that trickled downe his body insomuch as it seemed to him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a pleasure rather than a conflict as he himselfe after reported to Ruffinus They observe our doings and behaviour 1 Cor. 11.10 they grieve if we doe ill and rejoyce in our well-doing Luc. 15.10 They make us rhetoricall nitor eloquii per bonos Angelos ministratur the glory brightnesse of eloquence is conveighed unto us by the good Angels They keepe us carefully while we be alive and at our dying-day they take our soules and carry them up into Abrahams-bosome as they did the soule of Lazarus and Greg. in his Dialogues names many holy men whose soules were seene after a visible manner to be carried by the Angels into heaven The Angels sung at the funerall of the Virgin Mary Nicephor lib. 15. cap. 14. They be apparitores Dei as Lactant. calleth them Gods Apparitors for Mat. 24.31 They gather the elect together from the windes and bring them to God at the last day I but you bring us into a fooles Paradise We see none of these things performed by the Angels What then we must walke by faith not by sight Thou seest not GOD yet thou beleevest there is a God thou seest not thine owne soule yet beleevest thou hast a soule So though we see not the Angels ministring to us yet let us believe it It is divinely and elegantly set forth by Bernard Quid si non videmus obsequium cùm experiamur auxilium what though we see not their service when we have experience of their aid quid si non mereamur aspectum cum sentiamus effectum What though we behold not their ministration with our eyes when we feele the fruit and effect of it in our lives This is the Lords doing and it ought to be marvellous in our eyes What am I O Lord said David and what is my fathers house that thou hast brought me hitherto What are we miserable sinners wormes-meat dust and ashes that the high and holy Angels should wait on us This is Gods unspeakable goodnesse his Name be blessed and magnified for it The last question remaineth whether every one of GOD's elect have a particular Angell or not The greatest part of the Fathers affirme that we have Among the Greeke Basil Naz. Theod. Chrys. Theoph. Among the Latin Origen Ierome Aug. Greg. Yet there is some discrepance betweene them Greg. sayes that we have two a good one ad nostri custodiam for our preservation an evill one ad nostri exercitium for the exercising of us Yet the greater sort contend but for one and there is a controversie about that one whether he be assigned to us à nativitate or à baptismo from our birth or from our baptisme Origen disputes it in utramque partem Zanchius a late Divine thinks that both may wel be conjoyned together Extraordinarily as the Lord sees it meet and expedient we have many Angels for our protection yet ordinarily every one of Gods elect hath a particular Angell appointed to him from his cradle to his grave The principall places whereon they build are these 1. Gen. 48.16 The Angell which hath delivered me from all evill blesse the children In the Hebrew it is not Maloac but ham maloac 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ille Angelus that Angell 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ Iesus the Prince of Angels which oftentimes appeared to Iacob and delivered him and especially at Bethel insomuch as he stiles him selfe The God of Bethel Gen. 31.11.13 This Angell is expresly called GOD Vers. 15. The God that hath fed me all my life long to this day blesse thee he that fed him sayes Chrys. and he that delivered him is all one 2. Mat. 18.10 Cajetan the Cardinall hath a remarkable annotation on that place bene nota note it well Non dixit singuli Angeli eorum sed Angeli eorum not
no good with it you make your riches your enemies they will condemne you at the latter day If yee doe good with them you make them your friends and these good workes of yours will follow you at your dying day Yet some are so farre from doing of good that they doe hurt by secret counsell and perswasion Many are like rotten trees that doe no good till they dye they yeeld nor fruit while they stand when they bee cut downe they make a good fire to warme many withall So it may be there is good cheere at a rich mans buryall a dole then to refresh the poore withall that did little good while hee was alive Let us remember this Lesson to doe good and to distribute God is well pleased with such Sacrifices hee is so well pleased with them that hee will give us a Kingdome for them in the life to come Come yee blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdome c. when I was hungry c. Therefore inherit the Kingdome prepared for you VERSE 17. AS they must doe good to all so especially to the Ministers that have the spirituall rule and government of them 1. How they must behave themselves to all in generall 2. what they must doe for him in speciall In the former the duties prescribed and certaine reasons for the enforcing of them The duties are Obedience and Submission It cannot bee denyed but that all of what condition soever must submit themselves to the ministerie of the word yea Kings Princes and Emperours because it is Gods Ordinance and in so doing they submit themselves to GOD which is no disparagement to the greatest of them all Yet touching matters of externall politie in the Church and Common-wealth all on the other side must bee subject to Kings and Princes they may prescribe constitutions even of Religion agreeable to the Law of GOD to Ministers and they must obey them Let every Soule bee subject to the Higher Powers Yet in the Essentiall points of the ministery all must subject themselves to the Rulers of the Church For a more full unfolding of the matter the duties we owe to these Spirituall Fathers are foure 1. Reverence in regard of their Office Alexander reverenced Iaddus Herod Iohn the Baptist. Obadiah called Elias Lord. My father said Iohash to Elisha If wee reverence them not the Word will not have so free a passage among us They that use their Pastours unreverently sin against God 2. Love Have them in exceeding love for their workes sake It is the best worke in the world the Saving of your Soules therefore love them for it You love the Fathers of your bodies that brought you into the world and will yee not love them that beget you with the Word of truth and bring you to a Kingdome Obad. ult 3. Obedience to their doctrine exhortations and admonitions Herod observed Iohn Baptist and did many things You will obey the prescript of the Physition for the health of your bodies though it be a bitter potion you take it well at his hands and will you not obey them that give you counsell for your soules though their reproofes be bitter their rebukes sharpe Tit. 1.13 as the qualitie of the sin requires yet accept of it if they tell you and that in love of your covetousnesse drunkennesse pride malice obey them in the reformation of those vices 4. Is Maintenance All Rulers must be maintained The King hath maintenance due from the people and so must the Minister You receive spirituall things from them and is it much if ye give them carnall They that served at the Altar lived on the Altar and shall not they that preach the Gospell live on the Gospell If the Preachers would preach to us and take nothing wee would like them well but wee grudge at their maintenance an Argument that wee feele not the sweetnesse of the Word of GOD. The Galathians would have plucked out their eyes to doe Paul good withall Wee thinke much to pull money out of our purses to doe him good withall In the feare of GOD if yee be good and religious people discharge the duties that GOD requireth to them that have the Spirituall government and oversight of you Why there bee two reasons to excite us to it the one taken from the matter of their worke the other from the manner of their working They are your watchmen therefore submit your selves to them love them regard them Not over your goods and bodies as the Magistrate is but over your Soules which are more precious not as the fowler watcheth for the bird to catch it and kill it but they watch for the preservation and eternall Salvation of your soules therefore submit your selves to them All Ministers have Curam Animarum none can bee a Minister without that charge Your Soules are subject to many enemies there bee innumerable devils that seeke to carry away your Soules As the henne watches for the chickens against the kite so doe they for you against the devill There be sundry Heretiques that go about to infect your Soules with the poyson of false doctrine Papists Anabaptists Schismatiques Priests and Iesuites Arrians Nestorians c. The Ministers watch for you against them There be sectaries that for small matters would draw you from the Church there be many dangerous sinnes that are ready to cut the throate of your Soules covetousnesse pride ignorance c. they keepe a watch over you and labour to bring you out of those sinnes Therefore esteeme highly of them make much of these watchmen This is illustrated by a spurre that pricks them to this watching they know they must be countable for your Soules therefore they watch over them Iacob gave account to Laban of every sheepe he had if any were lost or torne by the wild beasts hee required it at his hands hee made it good so wee must give an account to IESUS CHRIST the great Shepheard of every sheepe in our fold This makes us to watch carefully over your Soules Some are to give a single account We must all give account of our Stewardship as private persons for themselves alone some a double accompt as Magistrates Masters Fathers Ministers therefore wee had neede to looke to it to cast over our Bookes betimes in this life that our accompts may be joyfull in the life to come That wee may say Here am I and the children that thou hast given mee Here am I Lord IESU and the sheepe that thou hast given mee Suffer us to meddle with you to reprehend that which is amisse in you for we must give an accompt for you Therefore we cannot let you alone wee cannot nay wee must not permit you to sleepe in your sinnes wee must lift up our voices as trumpets to waken you because wee are to give accompt for you The second Reason is taken from the manner of their working they would gladly doe their worke with joy they would watch over you with
let us annexe workes to our faith The Lord makes us perfect in workes that our election may be sure He doth not pray to GOD to make them perfect in some good workes but in all As he sayd homo sum humani nihil à me alienum puto So let us say Christianus sum nullum Christianum opus à me alienum puto Herod did many things but because hee did not all he was not saved Heere some trees bring forth Peares some Plumbes some Apples some Almonds There is no tree that bringeth forth all fruit But every Christian must be as a tree planted by the rivers of waters that bringeth forth all fruit We must be ready for every good worke wee must have prayers and almes deedes zeale meekenesse humility patience we must abound in every good worke 3 He doth not say the Lord cause you to begin in every good worke but God perfect you c. We must labour to aspire to perfection daily more and more as Iac. 1.4 So let zeale patience c. Let every grace have his perfect worke Vsus promptos facit use makes perfectnesse scribendo disces scribere use thy selfe to writing and in the end thou shalt write well use legs and have legs so use thy selfe to good workes and be perfect in good workes Milo by using to carry a Calfe when it was young did beare it when it was old So let us exercise ourselves in good workes from our youth as the young man sayes at the length it will bee easie to attaine such a perfection as is acceptable to God Let us use our selves to pray as Daniel did morning and evening Let us use our selves to reading of the Scripture as the Bereans to Preaching as Christ to fasting as Anna to give to the poore and needy as Dorcas and Cornelius At length we shall attaine to some perfection in them c. This is amplified 1. By the rule whereby our workes must bee framed that is the will of God Christ sayd not my will but thine be done So must every Christian say our will is to live at ease to wallow in pleasures to take the Tabret and Harpe to eate the Calves out of the middest of the stall to rejoyce with the instruments of Musicke Our will is never to taste of any misery to have no losses crosses sicknesse if possible not to have our finger ake But let us entreat the Lord that wee may doe His will to say with them Acts 21.14 The will of the Lord be done 1 Thes. 4. The will of God is your sanctification The Lord so perfect us to every good worke that we may possesse our vessels in holinesse and honour that we may serve Him in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of our life 2 It is amplified by the manner of our working That which is well pleasing in his sight not for any worthinesse of ours but through Iesus Christ in whom God is well pleased with us for without him we can please God in nothing Cain and Abel both offered Sacrifices yet God was pleased with Abel not with Cain The Pharisee and Publican both praied in the Temple yet the one was heard and the other was not Why because one was in Christ not the other Let us desire the Lord to accept of our poore and imperfect workes for the worthinesse of Christ in whose name they are presented to him He concludes with a doxologie a song of praise and thankesgiving to Christ the great Shepheard which is God above all blessed for ever to him be glory for ever and ever He it is in whom wee were chosen before the foundation of the world in whom is our life breath and being He it is that in unspeakable love came downe from the pallace of heaven into the dunghill of the earth for our sakes that vouchsafed to take flesh of a woman for us to be borne in a Stable layd in a cratch to endure the speaking against of sinners to be called Beelzebub a bibber of wine a friend of Publicanes and sinners to be blindfolded buffetted spit upon cruelly whipped to be pittifully nailed hand and foote to the Crosse to susteine the wrath of his Father to dye to be buried to rise againe to ascend into heaven there making intercession for us therefore to him be praise for ever and ever He it is that though he bee absent in body yet hath not left us Orphanes poore fatherlesse children he hath given us his spirit to be a father to us to guide us into all truth an heavenly Comforter to comfort us in all distresses to seale us up to the kingdome of heaven He hath left us His Word the foode of our soules the sword of the Spirit to defend us from all enemies of our salvation Hee hath given us the Sacrament of His blessed Supper as a perpetuall memory of him wherein we may daily see him the bread and wine are as pledges of his body and bloud that we may eate him spiritually be one with him and he with us He it is that hath given us his Angels to pitch their tents about us to take our soules at our dying day and to carry them into the kingdome of heaven Therfore let us say with cheerefull hearts to him be praise worthy is the Lord Iesus the great Shepheard of the sheepe to receive all honour and glory prayse power and might now and for ever Amen VERSE 22. 1 AN admonition Suffer the word of exhortation 2. The reason which is taken from the brevity In admonitions I have beene briefe hee spent but three Chapters in them therefore take them the more patiently Such is the pride and perversenesse of our nature we cannot abide to be told of our faults like gauled horses wee are ready to winch and kicke at it Therefore this caveat is very needfull Suffer your selves meekely and quietly to bee reprooved for your sinnes Suffer the Preacher to tell you of your covetousnesse your pride malice c. of your drunkennesse fornication and adultery of your negligence in comming to Church of the little care that is had for the good of the Towne every man is for himselfe none for the Towne Suffer your selves to be admonished of these things it is good for you Ye suffer fooles gladly sayes Saint Paul yee suffer stage players to tell you of your faults and ye laugh at it and will ye not suffer Preachers ye suffer the Physition to give you sowre potions yee send for him and reward him for it and will yee not suffer the Physition of your soules to bee sharpe with you for your salvation Ye suffer Chirurgions to cut you and will yee not suffer us to lanch the soares of your sins that the corrupt matter may issue out Suffer the words of exhortation and magnifie God for them Blessed be thou and blessed be thy counsell sayd David to Abigail So when the Preacher tels us of that which is amisse and exhorts us to