it is an excellent Comforting nature and also repercussiue Vnder this odoriferous Nard I mystically vnderstand first the sacrifice of a faithfull penitent heart whose sighes and confessions petitions and praises are as Noahs oblations in Gen 8.21 called the odours of the Saints Reue. 8.4 and secondly they be these sauourie almes which the faithfull minister to the Saints termed by the Apostle an odour that smelleth sweete a sacrifice acceptable and pleasant vnto God Philip. 4.18 The first of these doe specially respect God the second our Neighbour For as in Church-Communion God and Man are considered at one and in Christ made one so no soule can manifest it selfe to be of this fellowship that first persumeth not Christs head then secondly his members with this aromatike odour Christes head is the Father and his body is the church 1. Cor. 11.2 12.27 To the Father of heauen are all deuotions of the heart to be offered vpon the golden altar of Messiahs obedience for onely this Angell of the East Reuel 8.1 c. whose starre appeared in the East hath a golden censor for censing the prayers of the Saints As for the oblations of the hand the contribution of the faithfull they appertaine to the faithfull needy-ones Do good we must vnto all but specially to the houshold of faith Galat. 6.10 And this specialtie appeareth when as the speciall almes termed the Collection for the saints 1. Cor. 16.1 and sundry times called a Grace in 2. Corinthi 8. and 9. they be appropriated to the vse of the sanctified of the Gracious Not that we are to contribute onely to the visible Gratious for as God without respect to mans worke dooth good to the verie wicked so are we but specially we are to tender the gracious as God by a Speciall grace hath regarded them beyond others In both we are to be like vnto God and both of them be vnto him as the Morning and Euenings incense Thus Christ as a King feasteth with his church and the church againe feasteth with him in sauourie words and workes but made sauourie onely by his spirit Iudas Iscariot will finde fault with the effusion of this oyle not because he loueth the poore but for that he hath the bagge and studieth how to robbe the poore Let not Mary cease to offer her Deuotions to God and her Almes to Messiahs members for howsoeuer Iudas thinke all but oyle spilt vpon the ground our Iesus will say No let her alone against the day of burying she kept it There be a number of Dogges now that neither will themselves doe good to the poore nor can bee contented that others do them Good With Iudas they thinke all lost that is spent vpon Christ and his members and herevpon it is that our Ages Atheists doe robbe the Church intending with Iscariot the paunching of themselues Let them in time repent and in time make restitution lest God in his iustice do leaue them with theefe Iudas to the halter or at least to haue their portion with Hypocrites and Foxes The Brownist which now teacheth them to robbe the Church will then be farre enough from defending the play or helping Sacri-legists out of Hels-mouth that gapeth to receiue them as they gape to swallowe vp the Churches inheritance Let Iesus and his members feast together while they may for after the feast there wil be a fast a day of Crucifixion a darke and gloomie day While the Bridegroome is with vs let vs publikely bestow our odours on God and Man when the gospels sunne shall be eclipsed and Christ haue yeelded vp the ghost then with the Centurion let vs knocke our breast moorne and lament for that darkenesse is ouer all our Earth Lect. XIIII HAuing thus praised her Loue for that was past shee now commeth to that praise which toucheth the present time whereas she first compareth him to a bundle of Myrrhe secondly of Copher For Myrrhe it is an Indian tree and in taste very bitter and of the second degree hote and drie and of preseruing nature for which cause Nicodemus in Iohn 19.39 doth mix Myrrhe with Aloes for embalming the body of Iesus That Christ is to the church a nosegay of Myrrhe what meaneth it but that he doth by his Spirits heate exiccate or dry vppe the superfluitie of our degenerate nature wherby body and soule is preserued to eternall life For as it is the office of Messiahs spirite to kill or mortifie sinne in vs so likewise to viuifie and quicken vp in vs the spirit of true life The first is done by the bitternesse of the Law the second is done by the redolent doctrine of Faith or Gospel And as the church hath in the present a sense thereof so shee couenanteth for future time that this Messiah shall as a bundle of Myrrhe be couched betweene her breasts and that no doubt for these purposes first for manifesting how deare Christ crucified is vnto her with all his bitter agonies secondly for keeping her rebellious sprowting lusts vnder all her life That the bitter crosse of Christ is of great esteeme in the harts of the faithfull consider not onely in this that they desire with Paul onely to know Christ and him crucified 1. Cor. 2.2 but also are baptized into his death and so with the Apostle doe die dayly 1. Cor. 17.29 30. For such as walke on in wickednesse lâ—bouring their owne particular these are not common-wealâ—s-men but common-illes-men and as Paul termeth them Enemies vnto the Crosse of Christ Philip. 3.18 so farre are they from exulting with the Apostles in bitter sufferings and sharpe temptations This bundle is no Nosegay for their bosoms That the church placeth it betweene her breasts for the subduing of deceitfull lusts which are euer ready to spring out of the heart it also appeareth in this that the faithfull mâ—ditating the death and agonies of Iesus they thereby are drawne to remember their owne sinnes which lashed him goared him killed him the remembrance whereof wil easily proue a cooling carde for Philautus able to kill self-loue and to cause a loathing of fleeting deceiuable pleasures To which purpose our Lordes Supper setting forth his death till he come it is a soueraigne medicine For as the meditation of the world causeth Demas to runne backe and embrace the world euen so the meditation of Christ crucified it causeth Mary Magdalen to leaue carnall couch arise earely to repayre vnto his sepulchre And vpon this ground was builded but through a blinde zeale the ancient Monasticke solitarie life estranged from the communion of the church fitter for a Timon of Athens an hater of Mankinde then for a common-wealths man or one of christian fraternitie seeing we are not called to seeke only our selues but the common vtilitie of his church in a mortified conuersation It was prettily but vnfitly saide of Hierome to Vigilantius Ego cùmfugero non vinco in â—o quod fugio sed fugio ne vincar I in flying the societie
his wayes are past finding out For if the Creature could swallow vp all the reason of the Creator God should be finite and God no God The most learned reason the most plaine and readie reason the soberest reason of God his electing reprobating or acting whatsoeuer is this God so willeth or it is because God so wil. An answer soone learned and as readily made and being put in practise it shall stay much babling and vaine iangling that destroies but the hearers As God did choose vs and freely seale vs vp in Christ the rock of our saluation before all time so in time he calls vs and comfortably speaketh vnto vs. Not entitling vs according to that we are in ourselues but as we are in him In our selues a serpentine brood but in him Doues by litle climing towards our head as doues by steps and staires do ascend the Rocke Lect. VII SHew me thy face Hauing awaked his Loue he now exhorteth to shewe her face vnto him or more neere to the hebrue shew thy countenance vnto me Quid eniim per faciem nisi fidem qua à deo cognoscimur what can we vnderstand by the face but faith seeing by it wee are knowne of God Shew me thy Faith saith GOD shew mee thy faith by workes saith man God taketh knowledge of vs face to face when we apprehend Messiah by Faith And for this cause Saint Paul teacheth iustification freely by faith seeing by that we haue peace with God Rom. 5.1 Man taketh knowledge of vs by workes and therefore Saint Iames who was but a man saith Shew me thy faith by workes The first we call internall the second externall iustification the first iustification with God the second with man If thou wouldst be iustified with man first labour thy iustification with God So did Zacheus when he said Behold Lord and so did Isaiah when standing forth with his children he cried Behold and so did the poore man in the gospel when he cried Lord I beleeue If thou canst shew thy countenance boldly to God then neuer feare the face of man And how can we shew our face to God by first being quickened in Christ and at vnion with him by faith for hee it is alone in whome the Father is well pleased Heare him shew thy face to him and he will comfortably shew vs the father for none comes to the father but by him And did we but know the benefiâ—e ensuing our standing bâ—fore his face he should not neede twise to say vnto vs Shâ—w me thy face We cannot shew our face to him but wee shall see the face of him And that which is more while we behold the Glory of Messiah with open face wee are changed into the same Image from glory to glory as by the spirit of the Lord 2. Cor. 3.18 that is whilst by the eye of faith we contemplate Messiah we are turned not into Messiah but into his glorious Image And this conuersion not by any naturall hand but by the operation of the Lords spirit But here this question may be propounded Seeing the Elect are alwayes seene of Christ how comes it that here he craues their sight I answer He desires not her sight in regard of Election bxt of Iustification which is alone by faith as afore For though Paul was elect before time yet had he not faith but in time And that time of his iustification by faith did appeare together with the Ghospels spring-time The Church of the Gentiles had her election euer sealed vp in Christ but shee had not euer faith in Christ. He therefore here desireth his loue to shew her countenance which sometimes appeared not that is to shew the precious effect of faith which alwayes was hers in posse in regard of Gods dâ—cree but not in Esse in present habite or possession Cause me to heare thy voyce What voyce is this which he so desireth to heare Is it the voyce of blasphemie of taking God his name in vaine the voyce of vncleanenesse of haeresie of cursing No Messiah delights not in that voyce Whâ—t then is it euen that voyce which is effected in her by his owne holy spirit As the voyce of preaching his glorious workes the voice of singâ—ng Psalmes hymnes and spirituall songs But speciallie the voyce of sad-glad prayer like to the ioyous swâ—et mourning note of the Doue in the presâ—nce of her mate Sinneâ—addes â—addes this voyce but Faith glads it Sinnâ— drawes his notes downe and sin is the burden of this Song but fâ—ith in Christ carries vp the notes aloft piercing the eare of the highest With this Douelike voyce Messiah is so affected as he entreats his Church to cause him to heare her voyce quasidicat Though I should sâ—eme not to heare thee at the first or second or moe times yeâ— cease not to pray pray continually and pray feruently like to the poore widdow that stil importuned the Iudge the more we pray the more we may and the more he would like to a father who seemeth not to heare his childe because he would much heare the Child seeming to eye another thing when he will indeed not heare any other thing nor eie any other thing with delectation The reason of the one and the other followeth For thy voyce is sweet and thy countenance comely First for the voyce it must needes delight because it is sweet melodious delightsome and piercing Nor maruell seeing all such voyce is the effect of the Holy-ghost the very spirit of Messiah and there must needes be sweet and pleasant to Messiah Would the Lord haue put Dauid so much to prayer had not prayer beene sweet to the Lord Would the heauenly Father haue put his owne Sonne so much to prayer had not his prayer beene as sweet odours continually ascending And would the Holy-ghost haue taught vs Continually to pray to watch in prayer in all things to giue thanks but he knew that the Father and Son did sweetly affect prayer And as the voice of prayer so the voice of reading singing and speaking as the words of God they be all as before hath beene cleared sacrifices of sweet sauour vnto God Chrysostome hauing praised spirituall song he addeth This I speake not to the end that you should onely praise spirituall Songs but to the end you should teach your children and wiues to sing such songs not only in knitting or doing of other worke but specially at the table And of the whole Clemens Alexandrinus writes thus Vniversa eius vita speaking de homine cognit praedito est quidam celebris ac sanctus dies festus Atque ei quidem sacrificia sunt ipsae precâ—s laudes quae ante cibum fiunt scripturarum lectiones psalmi autem hymni dum cibus sumitur antequam eatur cubitum quinetiam noctu rursus orationes A man indued with knowledge his whole life is a certaine honourable and holy festiuall day His sacrifices are very prayers and
praises together with the scriptures read before meate psalmes and himnes in the time of meat before he goe to bedde as also pouring out prayers againe in the night season Neuer sung the Doue so sweete a song to her mate as the Church singeth to Messiah when her voyce at all times is so soundâ—ng Thy countenance or Aspect is comly Faith being as afore the cause of the churches countenance the countenance of the faithfull must needes be gloâ—ious for as the cause is such is the effect The wisedome of a man saith Salomon dooth make his face to shine and the strength of his face shall thereby be changed This is specially spoken of heauens-wisedome which causeth the soules face or countenance to shine causing a right strong heart to change the complexion from euil to good of deformed becomming comely Nor is this wisedome otherwise in mysterie to be vnderstoode then of the Sonne who is the wisedome of our heauenly father That Son of heauen causeth our face to shine and this onely as we become one with him by the apprehension of Faith Faith purifieth the heart causeth a change of the soule inuests vs with Messiahs righteousnesse as Iaakob was cloathed with his elder brothers garment One graine of faith remooueth mountaines of difficulties Faith apprehending Christ truly putteth away the olde corrupt man and putteth on a newe countenance euen the image of God which maketh the church to Christ right comely Christ exacted of Iairus Faith onely for curing his daughter and to him only that belieueth all things are possible Marke 9.23 Which true effectuall faith beeing in the Church only it causeth her alone to be described of Saint Iohn in forme of a Woman clothed with the Sunne all beauteous and comely Abben-ezra vnderstanding as other Iewes doe this of their olde Church comming out of Aegipt hee there inferreth that the Church then shewed her countenance to God when she belieued applying thereto that clause They belieued in the Lord. The Psalmist long after that Exode or outgate from Aegypt prophecieth of a departure forth of another Aegypt Ps. 68.31 comparing there in Vers. 13. the Church to a Doue that had lodged amongst pots or as the word Shephatheim may seeme rather to imply Killes or Furnaces and therewith blacked but then annects this promise yet shalt thou be as The wings of a Doue that is couered with siluer and whose feathers be yellow golde This comming forth of Aegypt was the Gentiles comming forth of horrible Idolatrie wherin all Nations had lodged and blacked themselues Who comming forth by obedience to Christs voyce called the obedience of Faith were therewithall not onely washed from deformitie but also couered with comelinesse compared to a Doues wings al siluerie and gâ—lded And that this is the proper point here intended by Salomon Idolatrers and Idolls lodged so in holes of Rocks in Isa. 1.20 21. as vnâ—ble to abide the glorious Law-giuer I would rather conclude if the church would think it to be more direct then the former For as the word Rocke is sometimes applied to Christ in whom the church liueth so it importeth sometimes the mansion of Idâ—latrers But let the Mansion of this Church-doue bee considered in Christ according to Election or in woods groues monkish cells secret holes in regard of her passed idolâ—trie beauteous and comely she is not made till she come forth and manifest her faith true working faith For faith is the girdle that tyeth her to Christ and all the glorious shine of Christ to her Is our voice sweete praise him is our aspect comely thanke him for as the Earth was vncomly till he said Let it budde forth and then it was presently couered with Bâ—auties carpet euen so it is the word of fâ—ith preached whereby our Owlish Idolatrous hoing was turned into a sweete Douish voyce and our Aegyptian-like blackenesse into a Douish comelinâ—sse Messiah praising this voyce for sweet and this countenance for comly for how should his gifts and graces in his owne members be otherwise it controlleth them who say in the faithfull and regenerate there is no good thing instead of saying In their flesh or vnregenerate part There is no good thing For where Isaiahs people cry out We haue all beene as an vncleâ—ne thing and all our righteousnesses haue beene as filâ—hy clâ—uts they speake first of the time past when they lay drowned in sinne secondly they censure onely the actions of their owne vnregeneâ—ate nature for somewhat in body and soule is euer heere vnrâ—generate they bring not the actions of the spirit in them vnder that iudgement not to vrge the Hebrew turned of some as a â—estmeâ—t of shreds for as the Holy ghost is such are his fruites Thirdly they censuâ—ing themselues not for vncleane but as vncleane it may import some respect had to the worke of God in them which otherwise was shadowed with the vncleane clouds of nature But much more Messiahs praise of his churches face and voyce may controll such aâ— vpon Faiths weakenesse shall conclude faith therefore filthy that because the graces of God in the regâ—nerate are weake therefore vncleane not onely a plaine error but also a blaspheming or euill speaking of the graces and heauenly effects of God his holy spirit Not to seuer the workes of the flesh and spirit that is of the regenerate and vnregenerate part it is to builde a Babel or Confusion contrary to the Apostles proceeding in Galat. 5.16 17 19 20 21 22 23. Where the Apostle maketh the fruâ—tes opposite each to other The vnregeneration of our nature soule and body for the body is acted by the soule it is vncleane and as a polluted Carrion but it can no more dâ—file the giftes and operations of the Holy-ghost in a new-man then a stinking carrion can defile the glorious rayes or beames of the Sun shining theron Dauid somtimes complained of GOD his absence not because he was indeed absent but because he felt him not present namely in mercie So the Elect regenerate sometimes cry out as all naught not because it is so indeede but because they for that present haue no feeling of the good worke of God in them As for spirituall by-standers they see God neere them and goodnesse then in them It followeth Lect. VIII 15 Take vs the Foxes the little foxes destroying the vines for our vines haue small grapes HErein the Church repeateth a speach of Messiah which concerneth his care ouer the faithful in their first manifestation of Christian obedience The parts are these two First a commaundement for apprehending the aduersarie Great and Final laid downe vnder the terme of Foxes Secondly a reason thereof And this drawne first from the nature of these foxe-like aduersaries in that they destroy vines then from the time of vines weakenesse when it is saide Our vines haue small grapes As by Foxes vnderstanding aduersaries so by vines vnderstanding the faithfull labouring to bring
to whom these mysteries are vttered That the faithfull are not to sit downe vpon the enioy of meaner gifts but thus pray and practise after the best they are not only taught of the worldlings but also of the Apostle 1. Cor. 12.31 chap. 14.1 c. Yea all are by the Queene of Sheba stirred vp to spare neither labor nor charges for seeing and hearing the wisedome of Him that is greater then Salomon 2. Chron. 9.1 Math. 12.42 For if they were happy that stood before Salomon the shadow ten thousand times more happy must they be that stand in the presence of Messiah the Substance And if we desire to enter into this Rest to stand in the chambers of this great King let vs with Moses and Ioshuah loose and put off our shooes I meane carnall and beastly sense and affection thereby figured Exod. 3.5 Iosh. 5.15 If with * Bathsheba the daughter of seauen wee will in the seauen ages of the Church haue assurance to sitte on our Salomons right hand on the seate of his appointment then let vs spiritually trauaile of Him and bring him forth absolute in all our workes If with the Leuites we would lodge with Aaron our high-priest in the chambers of the Temple then let vs mount by Ezekiels seauen and eight steps singing our seauen and eight Psalmes of degrees as stepping vp from Babylon for ascending to Ierushalem the seate of the great King In a world let vs pray draw vs and draw vs from the Diuel World and Flesh after thee that so wee may togither with thee enter into the Bride-chamber there to heare and see these things that naturall eare and eie can neither heare nor see So much of the fruite ensuing her feruent prayer Touching her protestation lying in these words We will exult and be glad in thee we wil remember thy Loues more then wine Righteousnesses do loue thee or haue louéd thee Itâ— containeth an enumeration of hir Faculties disposition towards her beloued And this is done first by setting downe particulars then secondly by putting downe the whole The particulars are two lying in the first two branches the first expressing her Will or affections We will reioyce and be glad in thee the second marking out the sincerity of her Mind or Senses one Sense namely the Memorie put for all We will remember c. The Whole where-vnder the partes are contained it lieth in the last words Righteousnesses that is â— whatsoeuer is right or rectified in vs it hath and doth loue thee for so thy Loue constraineth vs. For the better vnderstanding hereof it is to be remembred that the soule of Man is distinguished into three faculties which for learning sake otherwise a simple essence or substance admits no parts may be termed 3. partes The first is termed Minde vnder which are contained all the interiour senses as Imagination Memorie c. and this is seated properly in the bodies head The second is termed Will vnder the which is contained the affections single and mixt as Loue Hatred Zeale c. And this is seated properly in the hart From both these proceed an actiue power or working property which we terme mind wils Agent or Factor The Church in this her protestation beginneth with the second Facultie namely Will when as she saith Wee will reioyce c. euen as the holy-ghost in the Prophets as also the Apostle in bidding the Ephesians put on Righteousnes true Holines do place the duties of the second Table before them of the first As it is an easier thing to find Religion without fruits of righteousnes faith without works so is it an easier thing to find the mind illuminated then the wil sanctified to Do according to the minds light For this cause she begins with the wil and signifies how her affections stand deuoted to her beloued saying Wee will exult and reioyce in thee hereby teaching vs first to preferre sanctification before illumination because illumination may be without sanctification as in Balaam Iudas Iscariot c but Sanctification not without illumination seing none are realy sanctified for we must distinguish betwixt holines real and that which is but by imputation but so soone at least their mindes are lightned with the Gospel of Christ Iesus secondly we are hereby taught to dedicate all our affections Loue Hatred Zeale c. vnto the glorie of our Beloued euen vnto him that bringeth vs to his House-threshold yea into his Cellers Galleries and chambers of secret presence And as other affections so specially our mery and reioycing affections This the Apostle remembreth saying Reioice in the Lord alway and againe I say reioice Philip 4.4 And the Psalmist protests in this elegant phrase All my springs are in thee as if he should say what speake I of singers and players of instruments in a word all the affections that flow from me manifested in pronunciation and action they are all in thee and for thee Such were the affections of Dauid causing him to spring before the Arke but comming home and such were affections springing vpon the gospels comming home by the ministerie of our Elisha But as it befell Israel after the continuance of Manna so vs after the Gospe's coutinuaunce the multitude lothe wish them in the Romish Aegypt by their flesh-pots againe stinking onions and garlike relice better with them than milke and hony of Canaan The trumperies of Iebusiticall and Secular poperie the iugling tricks alias Aequiuocations of the two frogges Iannes and Iambres Secular-priest and Iesuite are vnto a number of base Atheists of faâ—re more excellent repute then the naked sinceritie of the Gospel Wel If we turne our reioycements from Messiah his Euangell and sweete word will turne from vs. If wee will reioice and be glad in him he will neuer loathe vs. But seeing our reioycement in euill encreaseth and our exultation in the wayes of Messiah decreaseth I know not what to expect but that the Lord by some notable iudgement should declare to all nations he loathes vs as much as euer he loued vs. Touching the next clause we wil remember thy Loues more than wine the faithfull of the Church declare therein that as the affections so the Senses are consecrated to Iesus yea more consecrate to his loue then vnto wine that delighter of Nature as if shee should say Looke how the Mind of a wordling is ready to remember wine or any delight of this body euen so and much more then so will we remember thy loues From whence we are taught first to dedicate all our senses more specially the memorie for excogitating and recordating the Loue of Christ Iesus His Loue yea his Loues that is his particular Loues not committing any of them vnto Obliuion As for example we should remember that he hath First giuen vs Being of no being Secondly created vs reasonable creatures Thirdly giuen vs to be borne vnder the light of the Gospel Fourthly giuen vs many giftes of Nature
it is naturall irrationall creatures desire both these for by theâ— they labour the conseruation of Nature but to couet so to eate and so to rest after meate as the Church doth heere it is not naturall but spirituall not an act of Nature but of Grace from aboue not from the earth For the first she coueteth to know where Christ feedeth What where he feeds himselfe alone Nay where hee feedeth with his little flocke opposed to his companions flockes after yet she speaketh of him so singularly as if he were alone because HE and the sheepe of his Pasture are One to be distinguished not seuered For God and Man in Christ are vnited and made one and therefore euery member of this body desirous to feed with this Head where this carcase Christ-crucified is thither these Eagles resort Math. 24.28 Yea to the ende they may finde this foode for themselues and their yoong-ones they make their abode vpon the toppe of the Rocke though in the earth their cogitation is aboue and from high discerne and thence repaire for soules nuriture Iob. 39.30.31 c. Besides by introducing him as a shepheard and her selfe as a sheepe an allusion ancient and in scripture frequent psal 23.1 95 7. Ezek 34.31 c. she thereby would testifie not only her place of subiection but also her readines euen euery soules readines to aberre to wander out of the way without this great shepheards direction Moses was no sooner in the mount for a few daies resiant but Israel staied in the Wildernesse Christ was no sooner brought before the Rulers but Peter looseth him himselfe and had not the Lorde by his vnder-shepheard Nathan sought vppe Dauid Dauid had starued in the pit O Lord for thy Sons sake leaue not the sheepe of thy English pasture to their owne heartes for then we should wander and loose ourselues for euer But let thy sauing grace preuent vs in our euils and glorifie thy mercies vpon vs. For Rest after soules repast she vttereth that in the next branch coueting to know where he caused his flocke to couch in the heat of the day Teaching hereby first that after the soule hath beene well fedde specially in the blessed word and sacraments it coueteth a place of rest wherein it may ruminate and chaw the cud by spirituall meditation Such Animals as vnder the Lawe did chaw the Cudde and did part the hoose Leuiticus 11.3 c. they were counted cleane but if they only chawed the cudde not parting the hoofe or parting the hoofe chawed not the cudde these were accounted pollution and vnholy As for the sheâ—pe he lacked neither This was a resemblance of the Gentiles soule-pollution till Messiah tooke away the partition wall and cleansed them by the faith of the Gospel Act. 11.4 5 6 c. with 15.7 8 9. And such is the state of euery soule as first ruminates not on spirituall gifts or ruminating thereon doe not after that parte the foote that is put a difference betweene spirit and spirite doctrine and doctrine one action and another For not to part the things which God hath parted is but to mingle and confound Christ with Belial to ioyne yron and clay togither which can neuer bee made one and yet vaine-men how many now be there among vs that sweat and fret for concluding such mongrell religion bastardly deuotion As the Lords minister would be well accepted of GOD hee must take the precious from the vile Ierem. 5.19 and as euery soule would be taken for a sheepe of Christes Pasture he must try the Spirits and trying al things by the touchstone of iudgement diuine he must retaine that is good and flie that is euill 1. Iohn 4.1.1 Thess. 5.21 22. Such meditation such partition is in some measure in euery true Christian. By the first there is a partaking with the nature diuine by the second a declaration of diuine discretion and in both for the one can no more be without the other then faith without works there is pictured forth God sitting in that Conscience as a Pilote at the shippes helme steering all to the hauen of Heauen And that she couets this ruminating place in the time of daies heate it teacheth vs not only to expect affliction and persecution as an vnseparable companion with the Gospel 2. Tim. 3.12 Reue. 7.14 figured by the Sunnes heate in Math. 13.6 21. but also to deale with God before hand by prayer that wee may in such day of tentation in peace and patience possesse our soules howsoeuer the body be conuayed through fire to heauen as Elias by the burning Chariot Such rest of soule we must in the dayes of peace and plenty labour for pray for feruently and then no doubt our eyes shall see rest and our soules finde comfort vnder the shadow of the Highest But that she saith where thou causest to lie downe it putteth vs in minde of our Natures backewardnes for couching vnder Gods wing in the day of fiery trial Shadows of our owne seeme best and safest vnto vs as it was with Demas yea with Peter but such a shadow shelters onely the body not the soule and therefore Peter can in that finde no true rest out he must of that place and weepe bitterly for hauing not couched in the right place Vnwilling wee are to lie downe with Christ pray we therefore that he may cause vs to goe where hee woulde haue vs to goe that he may cause vs to lie downe where he himselfe lieth downe that as a shepheard he would direct vs with his eye make vs subiect to his voyce specially in the day of tentation to feede and comfort vs for I thinke a day of tentation is not farre off The Reason of this Petition followeth For why should I be as she that couertly turnes her selfe to the flocks of thy companions as if she should say There is no reason why Where shee might haue affirmed plainly that there was no cause why shee shoulde turne from her Beloued to other Riuals she rather chooseth to speake by Interrogation for the more patheticall expressement first of her Beloueds desert for he deserued all her loue secondly of her owne soules sinceritie towards him in that shee concludes it an vnreasonable thing to diuert from the Substance and Truth to shadowes and falshoode From whence we may further obserue first what the nature of a Schismaticall soule is secondly what larues and vniust titles all false Christs and pseudo-prophets doe assume to themselues for procuring them flocks For Schismatikes their nature it is this not to forsake Catholike vnitie without some pretext and colour as the Church speaketh here Couering themselues As they were before but hypocrites in the churches bosome so in their departure or as Iohn cals it going out they striue to hypocrise more that is to maske their faces to couer themselues with some such attire as they may not be deemed rending wolues but simple hearted sheepe Our Sauiour in Matth. 7.15
thou turne her away from thee And to this end the Church hath vsed such scriptures as doe exhort to tendernesse to compassion and readinesse of forgiuing one another propounding also the Lords practise in Ier. 3.1 where the Lord propoundeth the state of his people generally to be no better then hers who hath played the harlot with many louers and yet notwithstanding hee offereth a renuall of his husbandlike loue vpon their penitencie and returning And what better president can we haue of our loue and tendernes one towards another then of God his loue and tendeâ—nesse towards vs For Apolúô vsed in Math. 5.32 19.8 signifieth at least somuch as the simple Lúô in 1. Cor. 7.27 which is to loose or vnbinde So that it is to be turned properly thus Who so vnlooseth his Wife except c euen as in the other place art thou loosed from a Wife The Latine word Soluo not Dimitto doth expresse it aptly That Apolú◠doth signifie an absolute loosing or vntying of a thing see further in Luke 2.29 Nún apolúeis tòn doúlón Now thou loosest thy seruant namelie by death and the vse of Luô in Math. 21.2 Mark 11.2.4 Luke 19.30 31 33 where the Disciples loose the colt As also in Iohn 11.44 where Lazarus is loosed not to point to other places ¶ Touching absolute Diuorce it is not deemed here expedient to discourse For the Ministers of the Church they may be assimilated to Doues not onely for the simplicitie and continencie of naturall and spirituall eyes wherein they are called to goe betweene others as also because they should be freer from gall and fretting bitternesse as Doues be rather then other birdes but further for that with the Syrian and Aegyptian doues they bee called to hold out and carrie forth the letters of God his written word all being as the Epistles which Christ by S. Iohn did send to the churches of Asia-minor betweene church and church for premonishing dangers for directing the Saintes in all businesses during the conflict they haue here with the Deuil the worlde and Flesh. But as it befalleth the poore Doue in her flight that sometimes for the letters sake is aymed at of the enemie and somtimes shot thorow euen so it bendeth these church-doues which Christ sends foorth with his word Not only be they continually aymed at but also by the dartes of wicked men smitte thorowe not so much because they hate the men as their mâ—nâ—stration the message of God committed vnto them Buâ— this must not be wondred at seeing so they dealt with the Lord of life before vs. So much for the commendations giuen by Christ. Now foloweth the praise which the church returneth Lect. XVI My welbeloued behold thou art faire and pleasant THE Church herein laboureth to expresse the conceit she hath of her Messiahs feature And this she doth first by returning backe the word Iapheh faire vnto him as if shee should say I am Iaphah but that falleth out because thou first art Iapheh my fairenesse springs out of thee who art indeed the fountaine of spirituall beautie Thus Christ commendeth his grace in her and she praiseth him for the cause of that grace Such are the amiable speeches that intervene betwixt Christ and the faithful But here the church stayeth not for she addeth another Epithete of loue saying Thou art Nagnim turned of the Greekes hôraios which implieth the very Spring or flowre of beauty a terme farre beyond the former Whereby appeareth that there is in him a greater measure of beautie then is powred vpon the church And this falleth out because he hath receued the spirit beyond measure we in measure he is God infinite we mankind finite And all in Him must bee considered for surpassing beauteous as a flowre in the spring or budding is of more repute then in the full ripe-time For in the first is an expectation of beauties-growth but in the second of beauties consumption or Autumne But because we should be so neerely couered with his beauteous shine as may be his God-head hath assumed our Manhood and to it he hath wedded himselfe for euer Whether our vessell receiue more or lesse of his diuine beames of his budding beautie springing feature wee are Christs and Christ is Gods things present and thinges to come they are all ours God make vs thankfull Eyther of them hauing praised each other in seuerall speeches in the next place they ioyne heart and hand and with one voyce ioyntly they thus shutte vp the first section of their diuine Song singing Yea our Bedis greene The beams of our houses be Cedars our Galleries of Fyrre GRegorius Magnus doth so distinguish the sentences and respecting the matter I cannot disallowe it This ioynt-speach containes a glorious report first of the place of spiritual conception secondly of spirituall education The place of conception lieth in these words Our Bed is greene wherin by Bed the place of conception affirmed to be Greene is intended the churches fruitfulnes by conuersing with the spirit of Iesus by whose ouer-shadowing a spirituall seed is begotten Alluding herein to a greene florishing tree which either hath fruit vpon it or at least ministreth hope of fruit in due season bicause such greenenesse is a testimony of a vegetatiâ—e spirit or life within it In the first Psalme a blessed man is therfore compared to a tree whose lease is greene and whose fruit appeareth in due season but here the fruite is not so much the liuelines of faith for bringing forth good workes as the fertilitie of children that is of spirituall sons and daughters arising from the wombe of the Church specially of the Gentiles The Euangelicall prophet seeing this it causeth him to crie out The desolate hath moe children then the married wife adding because of the multitude Enlarge the place of thy tents let them spread out the curtaines of thy habitations And in another place after he crieth by way of admiration who hath heard such a thing who hath seene such things Shall the earth be brought forth in one day Or shall a nation be borne at once For so soone as Zion trauailed shee brought forth her children that is the Sinagogue brought forth the Church For this lumpe followeth the naturall birth of the first fruites Iesus vpon the blessed virgine whereof the Prophet spoke in the next verse before saying Before shee trauailed shee brought forth and before her paine came she was deliuered of a man childe This spirituall encrease of faithfull it is not in the virgin-church without the holy-ghost ouershadow and for that it is here said not My Bed but Our Bed that is the vnion of Christ and his Church is cause of such perpetuall greenenesse and fâ—uitefulnesse Christ by his Spirit is Agent the Church in her senses and affections is Patient he soweth the Seede of his word she as ground receiueth the word into the middest of her heart Thus betweene them both spirituall sonnes
the ayre resembling mens words and works Pithagoras yea Abbot Tritemius and Bartholomeus Glanduile could declare what was done a farre off so the same word and deede were not aged aboue 24. houres But if knowledge be held miraculous in the Prophet Eliseus bewraying the King of Aram his councell 2. King 6.8 c. then cannot I but beleeue there is no such naturall knowledge That Frier Bartholmew teacheth how by certaine artificiall glasses there might be caused abroad very shapes of bodies which simple beholders would imagine to be ghostes or spirits I will easily beleeue the Frier in that for it may be he had learned it of his Church-priests who by such deceiuable shewes made people beleeue that mens soules walked who well paied for their paines could coniure these shadows at their pleasure Let Edmonds the Iesuite with his Priests make that cleare who haue caused people to belieue themselues to bee possessed with Diuels specially after they had giuen them Potions and Brimstony fumigations able to traunce an horse Which Brimstony-Diuel they could dispossesse by ceasing to possesse their bodies any longer with such Hors-drinkes and Helhsh smoakings But let al such sorts of shadows very effects of Aegyptian darknes go by and let vs come to the shadow of our Appletree and what is that in mysterie The Psalmist thus answereth He that dwelleth in the secret of the most high shal abide in the shadow of the Almightie which at large after is expounded by termes of protection euen as an Henne vnder her wings protecteth her yong-ones This comfortable shadow this shield of protection in the times of Suns heate and Sins heat in the time of bodies persecution and soules persecution this shadow the faithfull desire crying Hide â—ee from the conspiracie of the wicked and from the rage of the workers of iniquitie Hither they flie as doues vnto their culuer-house as the Childe into Mothers lappe To Idols to the shadow of Iothams bramble or any other creature they fly not and why All power in heauen and in earth is giuen to Christ and he will not giue his Glorie to another Call vppon him in the day of affliction and he will heare thee come vnto him and hee will ease thee And because hee woulde haue thee finde him euen when thou dost not seeke him loe he cast himselfe into the forest where the site most fitte for him is paradise Though he be remooued in his body he is present in the spirite present in his word present in his sacraments Whole Christ though not the whole of Christ is euery where Rudely though he be handled in his ordinance yet present he is If his word if his disciple be hardly entreated he counts himselfe persecuted and when Satan woulde dart them through with fierie darts of sinne he takes the shot into his owne wings his protection as a shadow reviues and comforts them There is no saluation saith Peter Act. 4.12 in any other for amongst men there is giuen none other name vnder heauen whereby we must be saued Hic ergo requiescamus ruminemus let vs therefore solely repose our comfort in his shadow for euer The second comfort deriued from him to all that rest vnder him it is his fruite for thereof the Church thus speaketh his fruite was pleasant to my palate What fruites be these In one worde his words and workes For his words Dauid thus pathetically cries out How sweete are thy speeches to my palate beyond hony vnto my mouth Let the Iews pursiuants deliuer their iudgement heerein Neuer say they Did man speake after this maner As for Simon Peter he cryeth out Thou hast the wordes of eternall life to whom should we goe As if he should say it is not for any man to seeke for words that bring eternall life in any one but thee therfore wee will not depart from thee for running after any other This caused Gregorie to conclude well Ipse est quippe lignum vitae c. For he is the tree of that life which he giueth to vs. If in other mens words we finde any refreshment wee receiue it not as theirs but as that which is Christs because whatsoeuer is in them besides God without doubt we finde to be poyson for vs. Ouer against which words the Ancient Annotatour puts in the Margine Salutis verbum in solo Christo inuenitur the word of saluation is onely to be found in Christ. Then of the other side followeth for a soule to build his faith on the meere word of man howsoeuer it carry with it a name of the Churches decree it is to build not on the Rocke but on a sandie foundation For his works what one action can be remembred that is not delectable His worke of incarnation taking our nature vppon him his worke of warfare in our nature to the killing of sinne vpon the crosse and his conquest of death by an happy resurrection his glorious ascention in our nature leading captiuitie captiue and giuing spirituall gifts vnto men his sitting at the right hand of maiestie in our nature making continuall intercession for his people and from thence sending foorth the Angels for ministring vnto the good of the heires of saluation His affoording word and sacraments for our dayly instruction his gift of naturall life with all necessary temporaries accompanying his people His protections in time of calamitie his spirits delightfull presence amiddest persecution his sweete care of vs in life and in death No one particular action can be remembred that is not pleasant and pleasure it selfe Eate of these apples in Faith digest them with Meditation and thou findes in them another maner of delight then carnall Israel did in Manna That quickly did rot this neuer felt corruption Tagnamû vrèaû kj tóbh Iehóuah Taste ye and see ye how good the Lord is psal 34.8 Euery action an apple of life and not a leafe of this tree but it serueth to heale the nations with Reuel 22.2 Lect. IIII. Verse 4. He brought me into the house of wine and Loue was his banner ouer me Verse 5. Stay me with Flagons and comfort me with apples for I am sicke of Loue. THE Church continueth her speach and in these two verses she vâ—ters two things first a Narration of Messiahs loue vnto her secondly a petition offered vp vnto her soules Phisition For the Narration it vttâ—reth Christes loue in two glorious fauours first in conuaying his spousesse into a banquetting house termed by reason of a speciall adiunct the house of wine secondly in spreading his banner ouer her termed from the effect Dilection or Loue. First of this narration then after to her Petition In the verse before she sate in Messiahs comfortable shadow and ate of his pleasant fruite Nowe the welbeloued bâ—ingeth her into his house of wine that there she might be further cheared and quickened vp vnto spirituall duties Wine as I obserued in the first chapter bringeth a delight
is in the Catholike Church so compared in Matt. 13.38 for that the Children of the newe Kingdome are no more bounded vp in Canaan but growing in all nations And these kinde of Ministers haue commission to preach to these nations Who in one word are the Apostles and all such as the Lord vseth in that glorious ministration These are they who stand witnesses of the sacred othes ecclesiasticall and ciuil which by the Gentiles haue bin administred vnto the Iewish nation attending amongst them whether baptized or vnbaptized and that for their peaceable demeanor towards Christ and his church till it please him otherwise to awake for their general calling But ere I come to compare them with the Roe and Hinde let me dissolue one doubt May any Ministers after the first Apostles Euangelists and Prophets be saide to succeed them in that Ministery Many say no but I say yea For the approbation whereof let vs first consider what their Ministerie was secondly whether in the iudgement of ancient and Moderne Writers any haue succeeded in that ministerie And the rather because the blind Doctor of Brownisme doth terme such Ministers Iudes wandring starres like as they in print haue affirmed Mr. H. I. to haue a Seared conscience both which are termes only of finall reprobation I wonder what reuelation they haue had of our reprobation finall The ministerie of the Apostles Euangelists and Prophets were different in respect of forme in outward calling for Apostles had their calling immediatly from Christ. Euangelists immediately from the Apostles to whom they were Deacons in English Ministers the Prophets or new Testaments interpreters they had their calling immediately from the Church of Christ wherein they had receiued the faith But in the substance of their ministerie they were one and the same All of them were ordinarily employed in preaching Christ in gathering and planting the Churches As for the working of myracles necessarie the first preaching of Christ they all were endued therewith when so the spirit of Iesus deemed it necessarie The guift of myracles was not alwayes in their power as the guift of preaching was but only vpon extraordinarie occasion accompanied their preaching All these three Apostle Euangelist Prophet do differ in respect of some accident in their calling but for their worke they wrought gathering vnto Christ they accord all of them preaching and planting the faith they preached Apostles principall because their calling was immediately as Paul speaketh in Galat. 1.1 12. not of man but of God Euangelists in the neâ—t place because called immediately by the most excellent men of God namely the Apostles Such were Luke Marke Timothie Titus c. attending the Apostles as largely appeareth in their Acts and some of Pauls Epistles Prophets were the most inferiour of the three because their calling was immediately deriued from others of the churches lesse excellent than the former Of this number were diuers in the church of Antiochia in Act. 13. â— Of which sundry after were promooued to an higher degree as Barâ—abas and Saul seperated by the spirit of Christ to the Apostleship vers 2 3. And Iudas and Silas to attend the Apostles Act. 15 27.3â— The Apostle Paul in â—â—â—es 4. layeth downe the worke of Christes ministery to be this â— For the gathering together of the Saints for the worke of the ministerie thâ—t is for the building vp of â—he body of Christ. The worke of the ministâ—â—â—e so standeth in these two things first in Gathering the Church secondly in Building it so gathered For these two purposes he hath giuen two sorts of Ministers first Apostles prophets and Euangelists Secondly Pastors and Doctors The three first for gathering the latter for building the Gathered Which causeth Maâ—ster Beza well to say that pastors and Doctors properly doe not build but properly do proceed in a Church already builded by building vnderstanding Planting or Estâ—blishing and by proceeding he meaneth edifying or building forward the worke whose ground worke is already laide In planting or establishing the Church which Maister Beza termeth Building The Apostles were Maister-builders or planters 1. Cor. 3.6.9 10. The Euangelists and Prophets helped as seruants For Pastors and Doctors they had their calling to particular Churches already plantâ—d wherto they were tied for building vppon the foundation there alreadie layde which well may be termed a proceeding in the worke The first three ufnctions might performe the duties of the latter because they were greater but the latter could not meddle with the work of the former three For the lesser offices are contained in the greater as particulars in the vniuersall but not the Greater in the lesser no more than a Generall in a speciall And hereupon it is that the Apostles the greatest function did euer in the first place execute all the inferiour duties euen of collecting and distributing the almes appertaining to the Deacon Who when they had sufficiently enformed the châ—rches of all things did ordaine vnto them Presbyters and Deacons for proceeding in the house of God already planted This distinction of Gathering and Building or of Building and Proceeding in the worke-builded it well remembred how easie then shall it be in the next place to finde foorth a ministerie which succeedeth the Apostles Euangelists and Prophets A ministerie one with them and not for seperable accidents which consisted in extraordinary reuelations and operations but for the Essence and Substance of their ministrie What was the substance of their ministrie but a Gathering of the elect by preaching of the scriptures sealing them vp in the Sacraments which word and sacraments they incommended to the Churches in their peculiar standing-ministrie The ministrie of Pastors and Doctors oâ— of Priests and Deacons is the same for substance with that of Peter Iames Iohn the Apostles of Marke Luke Timothie Euangelists of Iudas and Silas the Prophets Onely they differ in this that the one sorte are tied to no one particular people for that they are Gatherers the other are tied to a particular worke already to their hand gathered If we finde some ministry who besides the Gospel and Sacraments administration shall with the Apostles be vntied to any one particular Church yea that besides are found Gaâ—herers of people out of Babels mixture into Ierushalems vnitie and order shall wee not truely say they succeedâ— the Apostles But first let vs see whether the scriptures teach that such a ministrie should sâ—cceede the former secondly whether experience prooue that such a ministrie hath succeeded In the fourth of the Ephes. when in the eleuenth verse is repeated the ministers which Christ vseth and in the twelfth verse the worke of gathering and building wherein they should be vsed then in the thirteâ—ne verse is laide downe the time How long they shall be so vsed in these words Tâ—ll wee all meete together in the vnitie of faith c. that is to say in plainer and fuller speach That ministrie is to be vsed for gathering and
the middle ages But heere I will content my selfe with that ancient distinction because thereto I may adde their application of the 6. ages to the sixe dayes and the rather for brideling such as thinke such kinde of doctrine to be but of yesterday nothing at all white headed In the first age of the world say they man was made and was in Paradise tanquam lux shining as the Light In which age God diuided the Sonnes of God vnder the name of light from the Sonnes of men as from darkenesse itselfe and the euening of this day was the flood In the second age fell out as it were a firmament betweene water and water when as the Arke did swimme betweene the Raine and the Seas and the euening of this age was the confusion of tongs The third age fell out when God separated his people from the Gentiles by Abraham seuering them like as hee did the drie land from the inferiour waters And heerewith was brought forth the branch or budde of herbs and trees that is this age brought forth the Saints and the fruite of holy Scriptures The euening of this age was the sinne of wicked Saul setled in euiâ—l The fourth age begunne with Dauid whenas God established lights in the firmament of heauen that is the splendor of his Kingdome as the Sunnes excellencie the Synagogue and his Princes as Moone and Starres obaying therto The euening of this age consisted in the sinnes of the king whereby that people deserued to be carried captiue into Babilon In the fift age that is in the captiuitie of Babilon there appeare as it were animalia in aquis volatilia câ—li fishes in the waters and birds in the ayre because the Iewes then begun to liue amongst the Gentiles as in a Sea nor had they any stable or set place more than flickering birds The euening of this day was the multiplication of sinnes in the Iewish people who became so blinde as they could not know the Lord Iesus Now the sixt age begunne with the Aduent of our Lord Iesus Christ. For as in the sixt day the first man Adam was of the slime of the earth formed vnto the image of God so in the sixt age of the world the second Adam that is Christ in the flesh is borne of the Virgine Mary he in a liuing soule this in a quickening spirit And as in that day a liuing soule was made so in this age they desire eternall life And as in that sixt day the earth brought forth the kinds of creeping creatures and beasts so in this sixt age of the world the Church brought forth the Gentiles appetiting eternall life The which in sense was manifested to Peter in Act. 10. by a sheete of creatures And as in that day man and woman were created so in this age of the world Christ and his Church is manifested And as Man in that day was set ouer the Beastes creeping creatures and birds of the aire so Christ in this age was set ouer the Gentiles people and Nations that they might be gouerned of him who were as Beastes giuen to carnall concupiscence or as serpents obscured with earthly curiositie or as birds lift vp with pride And as in that day man and beasts with him are fedde with the herbe that seedeth and the wood that bringeth fruite and greene grasse so in this age the spirituall man which is the good minister of Iesus Christ hee with the people are fedde with the nourishment of the holy scriptures and with the diuine Law as with seeding herbs for conceiuing reason and speach fertily partly for the vtilitie of maners and conuersation beseeming mankind as resemblanced by trees bearing fruit partly for the vigor of faith hope and charitie vnto eternall life as it were with greene hearbs which wither not with any heat of tribulation c. And I could wish that the Lord might not finde vs as it were in the euening of this age The euening of this age is thus spoken of by our Lord Thinkest thou that when the Sonne of man shall come he shall finde faith on the earth After this euening shal be a morning namely when our Lord shall come in his glorie Then the Saints shall rest from all their works or businesses with Christ. As the workes of the sixe dayes were thus sealed vp with a seauenth dayes rest so the Ancients not to touch any moderne writers could apply all to the worlds sixe distinct ages finishing them with the glorious Sabaoth of Sabaoths the rest of rests And this was clearely insinuated by the Holy-ghost to the Hebrewes writ to this effect If Ioshuah had giuen Israel rest then would not Dauid after that day haue spoken of another Rest But Dauid hath spoken of another Rest Therefore there remaineth another rest to the people of God for he that is entred into His rest hath also ceased from his owne works as God did from his From which scripture as also from others of like validitie hath analogically beene well concluded how the sixe dayes did resemble typically the sixe ages of the world aswel as the seauenth day did represent eternitie hereafter wherein the sonnes and daughters of God should rest from all their labours no more troubled with worlds garboyles contrarie to the Chiliasts assertion who dreamed from a misvnderstanding of Reuel 20.7 c. that after the Saints had rested a thousand yeares Satan should anew assaile and trouble them And besides that the number of Sixe is made sacred sundry wayes in the old Testament we shall finde the new testaments Reuelation to make it a number of perfection to the Churches workes when as Reuel 10.7 the mightie Angel sweareth That in the dayes of the Seauenth Angel when he shall beginne to found the trumpet the mystery of God shall be finished as if he should say the sixe trumpets referred to the new testaments six ages shall found to the end of the Churches businesse for when the Seauenth beginneth to found euen then the mystery is at an end and finished But I will spare to speake more of this number here as also what I further thinke of the distinction of ages That which is spoken according to the Ancients their obseruance may serue to stop the mouths of such as crie for antiquity Which summarily I shut vp with that of Isidore Senarius namque qui partibus suis perfectus est perfectionem mundi quadam numeri sui significatione declarat Etymol l. 3. cap. 4. Lect. XIII Sabaoth of Dayes THe next chronologicall shadow shall be Seauen a number of Rest sanctified by God himselfe as was the number of Sixe The number Seauen in regard of his Rest is termed Sabbaticall and because in the great Sabaot of God they shal neither giue nor take in marriage Clemens Alexandrine saith Merito ergo numerum â—epâ—enarium existimant esse sine matre sine prole They worthily therefore doe thinke the number
the Christians Embleme A word and a worke A word and a worke or Faith and Fruiâ—es profession and practise Say well and Doe well what thy wordes sound let thy workes expound To make a noyse in wordes but to abolish deedes it is to weare a Bell without a pome-granat a breach of the Law Let the many graines couâ—hed vnder one pill put vs in minde of multifaria virtutum operatio vno Charitatis munimine of the manifold operation of vertues in one bond of Charitie Such wordes such workes concurring are as the fringe of a Christians garment not onely profitable to the Wearers but also to the Hearers And this briefely of the Robe Lect. XXIII THE second differencing garment is the Aephod an indument vpon the other stately for his colours and stuffe for it was made of beaten-gold blew-silke and purple and scarlet and fine twined linnen and such were the shoulders edges But on either shoulder should be a bosse of golde and in the same couched one Onix-stone wherein Israels names as before were grauen that so Aaron might carry the remembrance of Israel on his shoulders before Iehouah For the state-colours and stuffe I will meddle no more now than thus they represent in Christ Iesus nothing but that is excellent for a practike-rule it is in Diuinitie that heauenly things incomprehensible be expressed by such earthly things as are excellent and within our comprehension Only somwhat touching the Onix-gems on the shoulders The Onix in his colour is humani vnguis similitudine like to the naile of a mans finger that is whitely-red or ruddi-white the very colour of mankinds nature first fetched from the earth excellent in the first Adam but perfectly excellent in the second Adam who afterwards in this song cap. 5.10 is saide to be white and ruddy the cheifest of ten thousand And therfore in this pure earthlike gemme may well be shadowed all mankind supported by Christ Iesus for which the Apostle termeth him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Sauior of all men Atlas of Poets is said in respect of his great astrologicall skill to support the firmament on his shoulders prety and witty to their shadowing purpose but in typicall Aaron do here behold him that Sustaineth all things with his mighty word Hebru 1.3 But marke his cariage with his difference He caries all things chiefly all men but so as principally he sustaineth the Israel of God Which when the Apostle considereth vnto this The sauiour of all men he addeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 specially of belieuers 1. Tim. 4.10 euen as here in the shadowe he vpholdeth all man-kinde but specially Belieuers the Israel of God whose names are expresly engrauen on his shoulders as good as written in the palme of his hand by reason whereof their mysticall walls are euen in his sight Let heauens fall let earth moue yet God is good to Israell euen to the pure in heart Let the mother forget the childe yet will hee neuer forget his people To that end hath our Hie-priest vndertaken our flesh-like Onych nature that he might saue all such as come vnto the Father by him This briefly of the Aephod now next to his Breastplate After the differencing tires of Robe and Superhumerall wee are to consider the Rationall or Breast-plate of Iudgement For colour and stuffe it was like the Superhumerall or Aephod but in length and bredth only of an hand coopled at the corners with gold chaines fastned to rings Afterwards there were platted vpon it 12. pretious stones euery stone hauing grauen in it one of Israels sonnes names but within was secretly couched the Mysticall Vrim and Thummim And according to former proportion hereof so briefly as I may The colours and stuffe do still shadow forth that euery thing in Christ Iesus is glorious and excellent The Rationalls square forme with his 12 precious gemmes and names engrauen doth point vnto Reuel 22.14.15 where the new Ierushalem is foure-square and the foundation 12. pretious stones wherein the names of the Apostles were written As Beda by the 2. shoulders could vnderstand the Church first of Iewes secondly of Gentiles so by Aarons Pectorall we are well to vnderstand the antient church in Reuel 7.4 c. pointing at Saint Iohns Pectorall representing a large Church of the Gentiles And therfore where Aarons Breast-plate was but an hand-square Saint Iohn seeth a new pectorall thousands of cubits square But as Christ is the Rocke whereon the whole Church of Iewes and Gentiles is builded so all that is represented by Aharons Breast whereon this Rationall or reasonable people is placed Wherewith is to be obserued how euery faithfull soule is before God as a Gemme of much price though differing in colours for the same measure of glorification is not to all nor euery one of same operation for one and the same spirit ministreth diuersly yet all vertuous all gracious all members of Iesus For Vrim and Thummim we know as Nownes Common but not as Names proper Both of them are Nownes of the plurall number the first signifying Flames or Lights the other signifying Perfections or finishments For some Greekes and some Latines they haue vsed other version but I know not how to defend it As they were in this Breast-plate so were they names proper but so we know them not And this well shadowes out Messiah in whom are hid all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge who is to his members the same that Vrim and Thummim was to the Gemmes namely a reuealer of his fathers secret for where these are gathered together in his name there hee will by his spirit be amidst them for leading them into all truth And if it be lawfull for mee to guesse how this Vrim and Thummim did manifest Iehouahs secret I take it to be by illumining such a Gemme or Gemmes whom the case concerned in regard of such a tribe tribes or familie with perfect letters or writing for that present and so Vrim to haue his name in regard of that Light and Thummim to be so called in Respect of his perfect or absolute declaration finishing and putting an end to some scruple But howsoeuer two glorious hid creatures they were whereby as by instruments it pleased God to reueale some secret when Aharon consulted And as the father reueales nothing but by his sonne for he is that true light which lightneth euery man that is borne into the world so is there no comming vnto the Father but by him As for the Romanists who affirme that Romanus Pontifex iura omnia in scrinio pectoris sui clensetur habere the Roman Hie-priest is to be thought to haue all lawes in the closet of his breast they herein doe but labour to hoise vp a â—east into Christs place who onely is the Wisedome of his father For their Apostaticall Beast he is rather 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Out-law spoken of in 2. Thess. 2.8 figured by Antiochus Epiphanes in