their life time subiect vnto bondage Heb. 2.14 Well therefore say the learned Marl. ex Pet. Mart in 1. Cor. 15.17 Ipse bellum nostrum pugnauit nos victoriae illius per fidem redditi sumus perticipes Hee hath fought our battaile and through faith wee are made partakers of his conquest So that we may say and not vse the Apostles words much amisse Wee know that hee which hath raised vp the Lord Iesus shall raise vs vp also 2. Cor. 4.14 Euen when Christ which is our head shall appeare then shall we appeare with him in glory Collos 3.4 Then Sciant fideles se ex mundo migrare Calu. in 1. Thess 4. vt tandem colligantur in regnum dei The faithfull doo know that they depart out of the world that at the last they may bee receiued into the kingdome of God And then God shall wipe away all teares from our eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow neither crying neither shall there be any more paine for the first things are passed Reue. 21.4 So that euen in this world Insultare morti licet Seb. Mai. in 1. Co. 15. tanquam subactae quia Christi victoria nostra est Wee may triumph ouer death as conquered because the victorie of Christ is ours Then to end this thankes bee vnto God which hath giuen vs victorie through our Lord lesus Christ Therefore my deare brethren be ye stadfast and vnmooueable and alwaies rich in the workes of the Lord. Why shuld you tremble at the remembrance of death Further there may be added a sift consideration which may make death comfortable vnto vs and though it be here last in order yet see thou too it as to one of the first chiefe which must goe before the rest And this is in thy whole life time carefully to expresse the truth and soundnesse of thy faith by thy good workes Iam. 2.20 Which GOD hath ordained that wee should walke in them Ephe. 2.10 because the bloud of Christ hath purged our conscience from dead workes to serue the liuing God Heb. 9.14 Which seruice of good workes must be done not as causes but as fruites that follow iustification Quia opera bona ex ipsius iustificatione operamur Aug. de Gram. Nobi Test ad Honorat ca. 30. Aug. ad Simpl. li. 1. Quest. 2. because our good workes doo spring from our iustification as light from the sunne And whatsoeuer is not of faith is sinne And without faith it is impossible to please God But if thou haue this oyle in thy Lamps of faith and keepe not thy conuersation in the lusts of thy flesh fulfilling the will of the flesh and of the mind thou shalt be redaie for the Bridegroome with the fiue wise Virgins and death can doo thee no harme Nisi peccatum habueris non est quod mortem timeas Stella in Luk. 12. Tom. 2. fol. 73. c. except thou haue sinne thou needest not feare death but when thou doost transgresse the commaundement of the Lord then doest thou arme death and make it able and strong to fight against thy selfe Stella in Luk. 12. Tom. 2. fol. 37. But Mors sinullum adsit peccatū imbecillis inarmis venit Death where sinne is absent comes weake and vnarmed as I hope the Spaniard will if we haue no Traytors at home Well Amb. de bono mort cap. 5. Qui vicerit non laedetur a morte secunda He that ouercommeth to wit by the blood of the Lambe shall not be hurt of the second death Therefore Quod eam timeamus quae animae nocere non scleat Why should we be afraid of her that vseth not to hurt such a soule Feare ye not them saith Christ that kill the bodie but are not able to kill the soule Can the Bee hurt thee haue lost her sting And can death wound thy soule without thine owne sin The sting of death is sinne Resist the diuel and he will flie from thee and keepe death from thine owne sword of sinne and she shall not hurt thee The fire flameth and fumeth like a tyrant whilest it hath matter and the Diuell hath great wrath knowing that he hath but a short time But as God hath set the sea boundes which it cannot passe though it rage and swell horribly and as the strong winde may shake off the leaues from the greatest Oake but the stocke standeth firme euen so death the diuel and the world may a little trouble nature experience heerein hath taught me something but they cannot beate downe faith As examples of many doo teach Of holie Iob Sydrach Misach and Abednego Daniel the Prophet the Apostles and holie Martyrs Therefore saith the Apostle Paul I am perswaded Rom. 8.38.39 that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor thinges present nor thinges to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to seperate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lorde But flie thou from sinne as from a Serpent the matter of this sire the baite of the Diuel and the sting of death by which thy soule is so wonnded that without the mighty worke of God thou canst not be saued Then cease to doo euill learne to doo well Proue your owne workes take the brest-plate of righteousnesse the shield of faith and helmet of saluation c. and fight a good fight None is crowned except hee striue lawfully Non datur Nobilitati palma sed cursui There is no respect of persons with God he seeth not as man seeth Therefore so runne that ye may obtaine do well and haue well For God rewardeth euerie man according to his workes not of due debt but of his louing and free mercie This is briefe One droppe of the Sea dooth taste the saultnesse of the whole and by this thou maiest sauour the truth Which beeing not to be withstood what maner of men ought we to be in holie conuersation and righteousnesse Why do we not shewe forth our faith by our good works Ambr. li. de Nab. Iezr cap. 14. Qui dines est in misericordia diues est in deo He that is rich in the workes of mercy is rich in God and this sacrifice pleaseth him But he that hath this worlds goods and seeth his brother haue neede and shutteth vp his compassion from him as the mysers of the world doo that will not abate one penny in a bushell of corne to helpe the poore how dwelleth the loue of God in them Euen as Christ abode among the Gargesens he departed out of their coastes Therefore let not your Religion be in words as of most it is but in deeds as of all it should For pure Religion and vndefiled before God euen the Father is this to visite the fatherlesse and the widow in their aduersitie and to keep himselfe vnspotted of the world This beloued is Comes defunctorum Ambrose A
is wrought by the holy Ghost (t) Isay 26.12 Without me saith Christ ye can do nothing Paratur enim voluntas a domino For mans will is prepared of the Lord (v) Most excelleÌ„t saith Aug. Epist 105. Tom. 2 per tota to euery good worke And now for the warre betwixt the Papists and vs about this poynt this peace I proclaime as Embassador from the Lord That faith is a supernaturall knowledge wrought by the holy Ghost in a regenerate man by which hee is assured of eternall saluation through Christ (w) Ephe. 1.17.18.19 and good works do approue this knowledge to be sound and true (x) Iam. 2.17.20.22 If the tree bee good so is the fruite also and the tree is knowne by his fruite (y) Math. 12.33 And thus as faith and workes cannot be seperated by the sun and his light fire and heate so ô Lord vnite the Papists and all other Heretickes to vs and thy true Church militant that we may all worship thee in one spirit and truth If this beame of Pride were once plucked out of mens eyes the bright sun-light of the truth of Religion would clearely appeare and all men would walke as in the day time Fourthly hee is proud that is furious like a mad man or doteth like a foole for so the Greeke word signifieth about questions and strife of words not being content with the doctrine of the Gospell If any man teach otherwaies saith the blessed Apostle hauing exhorted vnto obedience Tetuphotai he is proud knowing nothing Alla noson but furiously doating about questions and strife of words whereof commeth enuy strife raylings euill surmisings vaine disputations of men of corrupt mindes c. (z) 1. Timo. 6.3.4 Insani vocantur tales questionarij vt qui sibi de quibuslibet rebus etiam de lana caprina discertare per animi morbos conflictari indulgeant (a) Marl. ex Iodo Vilich in 1. Timot. 6. Such bee called mad doating or busie questionists or disputors as giue themselues to contend about euery matter euen of smal moment as of the Moone shining in the water or wearing of a comely Surples and through Pride so to trouble themselues As many doo about the orders of our Church established neither for superstition nor Idolatry nor for the maintenance of any accident adioyning vnto them â—ut to keepe comelinesse vniformitie and order in the Church this satisfieth my conscience and what should I seeke â—o alter the decree of a whole Parliament I know wherein to obey God rather then man and I know how to obey God by man and I know how to obey God and man and it is not for euery priuate man to know all the reasons why such and such things bee ordained for policie and order in a Common-wealth Now then if no offence bee iustly giuen if thy vnbrideled and vntamed spirite whatsoeuer thou art vniustly take any what is that to the Church looke thou to that as the Iews said to Iudas to his maister and Lord as traiterous (b) Mat. 26 as you to your Princes good orders are malicious and to her Maiestie how true iudge your selues as Paul saith to the Communicants (c) 2. Cor. 13.5 I iudge no man I doo commaund from the Lord that you Giue vnto Caesar that which is Caesars If you say our blood is not too deare a sacrifice to be offered in her Maiesties quarell no more then Isaac was to his father (d) Gen. 22 1.10.11 I say againe And will you not then spare one affection to obey her One saith out of Gregory Probatio dilectionis est exhibitio operis The triall of thy loue is the shewing of thy deed or to shew it by thy deeds (e) Ser. de temp 100. And Christ saith If ye loue me keepe my commaundements (f) Ioh. 14.15 How can you loue your holy Prince do not her will If you deny to do that which is least who may trust you in that which is most Seruants obey their Maisters (g) Mal. 1.6 the Oxe knoweth his owner (h) Isay 1.3 and subiects should their Prince (i) Ro. 13.1 Faith without good workes is dead in it selfe (k) Iam. 2.20 And Iudas his haile Maister with his kisse was treason against the sonne of God Math. 26. And as Dauid saith Good words in the mouth and warre in the heart is nothing better then plaine hypocrisie Therefore Christ called the flattering Disciples of the Pharisies and the HerodiaÌ„s hipocrites (l) Mat. 22 18. which are a people or generation pure in their owne conceit (m) Prou. 30.12 and it is a mightie Pride for one to coÌ„ceiue well of himself where fewe or none else doth and the worse where there is no cause Well Christ saith Hee that gathereth not with vs scattereth abroad (n) Math. 12.30 S. Aug. saith Non est particeps diuinae charitatis qui hostis est vnitatis (o) Aug. Epist. 50. He is not beloued of God which is an enemy to the vnitie of the Church The braunch beareth not fruite except it abide in the vine (p) Ioh. 15.4 and what life is in the body beeing torne asunder If I were now to come to the Papist Puritane I wote what to say but others are before me whose shooes I am not worthy to beare then heere will I stay A foule puddle the more it is stirred the more it stinketh Onely this I could wish that our busie-bodies would cease to licke vp the vomit which others haue cast washed from them as also to meddle with Callings who why and how such and such men haue their calling lawfull and as for my brethren of my owne calling to meddle with matters of state my poore wisedome and learning garded with humilitie councelleth and teacheth me to behold and learne of King Dauid the man after Gods owne heart wiser then the most peeuish schismaticke or opinionaries who saith Lord I do not exercise my selfe in great matters which are too high for me but I refraine my soule and keepe it lowe (q) Ps 131. And to what end should a Countrie Pulpit meddle with matters of gouernment in Malam partem except it were to teach the people to tread vpon the Princes lawful Scepter and tread the Crowne vnder their feete What they haue intended God hath preuented and because this their counsell or worke is of men it comes to nought as Gamaliel told the men of Israel theirs should if it were against God (r) Act. 5.34 38. Admit some things might be amisse the best way to amend them is there to speake of them where mends may be had and not to keepe a wrangling among such as cannot helpe No no my deare brethren if wee looke well about vs wee shall finde no time wherin to omit speaking of the matters of faith for men will not beleeue and to smite at sinne corruption among Officers at this
first and also of the Gretian Reue. 2.9 O the fearefull trembling that these and such like truthes of Gods holy word doo bring to a desperate soule at the remembrance of death Of which in their life time though they haue no feeling yet at the day of death they may bring a wofull griping Thirdly I omit to speake of the vnsatiable care worldly men haue to get their greedie desire to keepe and their loathsomenesse to depart from theyr Mamonisme worldly wealth and pleasure All which doth make them sorrie to see death and quake to thinke vpon it Ecclesi 41.1 Mat. 19.21 The worldling in the Gospell was loth and sorrowfull yea more he would not leaue his worldly pelfe to walk with Iesus Christ though hee was promised treasure in heauen And how wil those that be such grieue when they see they must in spight of their teeth goe with death of whome they are perswaded it neuer bringeth good vnto them but euil 1. Reg. 21.8 as Ahab was by the holie Prophet or messenger of the Lord Fourthly I would if any of my paines could preuaile with you to wring sinne from you shewe what reare God may strike into the hearts of wicked men at the remembrance of death when they call to mind 1. how they haue caused many to blaspheme Rom. 2.24 Mat. 18.7 and to commit sinne by their euil example And 2. do know that therefore their punishment shall be the greater As 3. to consider that the fathers wicked life shall be cast in their childrens teeth as Rom. 18.8 what was thy father but an Vsurer Extortionerâ—â— Drunkard Eccle. 41.7 Wisd 4 6. a whoremaster or such like Of which saith the wise man The Children complaine of an vngodly father because they be reproached for his sake Will not these thinke you with a thousand the like cogitations driue terrour and feare into wicked mens hearts at the sight of death Fift and lastly when such wicked men doo call to minde how they haue seen the poore to be afflicted many and sundry wayes and haue not comforted them but haue rather sought diuersly to vexe them and so haue brought the curse of the people vpon them And herewithall remember how the poore shall be comforted Luc. 16.25 Pro. 10.7 Psal 37.2.9.10 and themselues tormented and that their name shall rotte and their remembrance shall be cleane put out And also do perswade themselues that they be of the number of them of whom it is said Woe be to you that are full for ye shall hunger Woe be to you that now laugh for you shall waile and mourne Luk. 6.25 Then they may turne their faces to the wall with Hezechias but looke for small comfort and say What hath our Pride profited vs or what profit hath the pompe of our riches brought vs We sometimes haue had many in dirision and in a parable of reproach We fooles we counted their life madnesse and thought their ende would be without honour But they are reckoned among the children of God Wisd 5.3.4.5.8 and shall haue their portion among the Saints But with vs it is not so 1. Psal 1.5.6 Wisd 4.14 we are like the chaffe which the wind driueth away from the face of the earth therefore we shall not be able to stand in the iudgements neither in the congregation of the righteous O the consideratioÌ„ of these things to a distressed soule plunged in distrust is iust cause to sorrow and mourne Of such it may truly be said Nasci miseria viuere paena mori angustia est To be borne is miserie to liue is a plague and for to die is anguish and woe And thus much to shewe you some causes why death is a terror vnto the wicked people of the world CHAP. XII Who feare not death NOw there is an other sort of men vnto whom death is neuer terrible but most heartily welcome And these are those spirituall minded men the number whereof is but small Math. 7.14 which haue the seale of the liuing God in their foreheads Reue. 7.3 Whose names are written in the Lambes booke of life Which haue made their long robes white in the bloud of the Lambe These haue the spirit of the liuing God by which they are sealed vnto the day of redemption and are not in the flesh but in the spirit because the spirit of God dwelleth in them Which spirit beareth witnesse vnto our spirits Rom. 8.9.16 that wee are the children of God and heires annexed with Christ if so bee that wee suffer with him that we may also be glorified with him or else not For after death there is a seperation of the soule from God into hell onely Math. 7.23 Which the learned doo call the death of the soule and the Euangelist Iohn Luk. 16.26 The second death Quam omnes patiuntur qui periculorum metu fidem abnegant mundo sese conformes reddunt Gualt in Hos 14. Hom. 44. Mat. 10. 1. Ioh. 2.15 Which all soules do fuffer that for feare of daungers doo denie the faith and fashion themselues like vnto the worlde But the Saints of God are free being iustified by faith and are at peace with God through Iesus Christ our Lorde And they do shewe forth their faith by their workes being borne anew not of mortall seed but of immortall by the word of God who liueth and endureth for euer And these beeing strong in the Lorde and in the power of his might doo cast away the workes of darknesse and put vpon them the armor of light euen the whole armour of God by which they are able to resist in the euill day and hauing finished all things they stand fast For their heart as the Prophet saith beleeueth in the Lord and they are not afraid to meete with their enemie in the gate Therefore if death come or the diuel or whatsoeuer they feare not For who shall laie any thing to the charge of Gods elect Rom. 8.33 It is God that iustifieth who shall condemne And so these are as willing to welcome death Luk. 2.25.28 Colloss 1.21 Psal 120.5 as Simeon was ioyfull to imbrace Christ because death is to them aduantage Therefore the Princely Prophet Dauid said Woe is me that I am constrained to dwell with Meshech and to abide among the tents of Kedar And againe Bring my soule out of prison Ps 142.7 1. Reg. 2.2 And a little before his death quietly hee said I goe the way of all the earth that is I know death is at hand Iob. 6.8.9 Ien. 4.3 This holie Iob wished for and Ionas praied O Lord take I beseech thee my life from me for it is better for me to die then to liue Paul knowing the same Rom. 7.24 saide O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer mee from the bodie of this death And writing to the Philippians hee saith Phil. 1.23.24 To abide in the flesh was needfull for them but