how a man may know certainely that he hath faith and Repentance An. If he can say in true féeling The good that I would doo that I doo not Rom. 7 19. and the euill that I would not doo that I doo with Paule in the 7. to the Romans Math. 5. and mourne vnder the burden of his sinne If he delite in the lawe of God in the inner man Rom. 8 16. If he be led by the spirit of God Rom. 8 14. If he haue crucified the flesh with the affections of the flesh Galat. 5 24. If he walke according to the rule of a new creature Galat. 6 15. be a new creature peace shal be vpō him mercie as saith the Apostle If he can say with the Apostle 2. Cor. 1 12. This is my reioycing the testimonie of my cōsciēce that in simplicitie godly purenes and not in fleshly wisedome but by the grace of God I haue had my conuersation in the world If hée haue true loue towardes the brethren euen to be gréeued in their griefes and ioyfull in their good and carefull to helpe them in christian compassion by easing their gréeues and furthering their good it is a true marke of the child of God And thereby saith Iohn we know that we are of the truth 1. Iohn 3.19 and shall before him that is God assure our harts And in 1. Iohn 4. he saith Herby we know that he dwelleth in vs and we in him because he hath giuen vs of his spirit that is the fruits of his spirit Roman 8. And if any haue not the fruits of the spirit the same is none of his The fruits of the spirit are as appeareth in Galathians 5. loue ioy peace Galat. 5 22. long suffering gentlenes goodnes faith meeknes c. If a mā by these notes examine himselfe he may iudge of his repentāce If any man haue not repented he is diligently to attend vpon the holy ministry of the law the gospel that he may be called in Gods good time Qu. How may Gods people know a faithfull man An. By 3. marks specially First by his professing frequenting of the publike worship of God when it may be had As in Romans 10. Rom. 10 9. For if thou shalt cōfesse with thy mouth the Lord Iesus beleeue with thy hart that God raised him from the dead thou shalt be saued And in 1. Peter 3. 1. Pet. 3.15 Be redie alwaies to giue an answer to euery mā that asketh you a reason of that hope that is in you Our sauiour Christ saith in Iohn 8. He that is of God heareth Gods word Iohn 8 47. Secondly by his honest godly conuersation amōg men for Paule saith 2. Tim. 2. The Lord knoweth who are his ℣ se 15 let euery one that nameth the name of Chrst departe from iniquitie Shew me saith Iames in the second of his Epistle thy faith by thy works Iames. 2 18. and I will shewe thee my faith by my workes Where he plainely sheweth that if good works be away Matth. 7. there is no faith Yee shall know them saith Christ by their fruit verse 16 20. for a good tree bringeth foorth good fruit c. Thirdly by true Christian loue Iohn 13 35. Hereby saith Christ in the 13. of Iohn shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye haue loue one to an other These are thrée sure markes to know a faithfull man by so farre as man may iudge Hypocrites God will either display in this world in time by bringing their sinnes abroad to the view of all men as he did Symon Magus his sinnes Iudas Saules and many others or else when the secrets of all mens harts shal be disclosed he will throwe those tares into vnquenchable fier with others prepared to condemnation Qu How may a mā know an vnfaithfull man and an infidell An. By his life vnreformed continuance in his wickednes after he is rebuked heareth how he ought to walke Luke 6. verse 43 44. It is not a good tree saith Christ in the sixt of Luke which bringeth foorth euill fruit neither an euil tree that bringeth forth good fruite Againe Iohn saith in his first epistle and third chapiter 1 Iohn 3 10. In this are the children of God knowne and the children of the deuill whosoeuer doth not righteousnesse is not of God And againe He that committeth sinne is of the deuill Prouerbes 29. Hee that hardeneth his necke when he is rebuked Prou. 29 1. shall sodainly be destroied and cannot bee cured Psalme 68. Surely God will wound the head of his enemies Psal 68 21. and the hairy pate of him that walketh in his sinne Qu. Now shew what ioyes are prepafor true Christians An. Such as saith the Apostle in the second chapiter of the former Epistle to the Corinthians The eye hath not seene 1 Cor 2 9. neither the eare heard neyther the heart of man conceiued prepared by God for them that loue him Peter in the fift of his first Epistle tearmeth those ioyes the incorruptible crowne of glory In the 21. of the Reuelation 1 Peter 5 4. Reuel 21 ℣ 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25. this ioy is described in the description of newe Ierusalem buylded of gold pretious stones and pearles c. where by most excellent earthly things is sette foorth the excellencie of those thinges which passe and excéede mans capacitie Wherfore let none of vs be a prophane person as was Esau Hebr. 12 16. to sell our birth-right for a messe of pottage and for the pleasures of the doonghill of this world which endure but for a season to loose the ioyes and dainties of heauen which are eternall Which thing God graunt vnto vs for his Christ his sake to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost thrée persons one onely God King of kinges and Lorde of lordes who onelie hath immortalitie and dwelleth in the light that no man can attaine vnto whom neuer man sawe neyther can sée be honour and power euerlastingly Amen The ende of the Catechisme To the Christian Reader BEcause this Catechisme is verye short I thought it needfull to adde and adioyne vnto the ende thereof good Reader certeine duties requyred by God at the handes of his people to be performed vnder payne of damnation and the testimonies of Scripture which proue the same For surely this naughtye age in performance of dutie is verie remisse vntoward perswaded as it seemeth that a meere profession of Religion with the lippe is Christianity inough And what is the speeches of the most part of men in these dayes when they are blamed for their vngodly life but these such like VVhy God is merciful men cannot be saints and angels you are ouer precise pure Luke 1 ℣ se 74 75. As if it were not
most holy man so long as he liueth therfore men must continue repentance so long as they liue It is written in Genesis the 8. For the imagination of mans hart is euill euen from his youth Gen. 8 21. And in Iames the 3. Iames. 3 2. In many things wee sinne all And in the 5. to the Galathians The flesh lusteth against the spirit Galat. 5 17. the spirit against the flesh and these are contrarye one to the other so that ye cannot do the same things ye would Wée are commaunded to pray continually by Christ Matth. 6. Forgiue vs our trespasses as wee forgiue them that trespasse c. Qu. Do you hold it for a certaine truth that men are iustified onely by Christ and that the works of sanctification and newnesse of life begun in vs doo merit nothing concerning the worke of our saluation An. I hold it for an vndoubted truth that the whole worke of our saluation is wrought in the person of Christ without vs and without all respect of our works either before or after repētance whatsoeuer the Papists prate But yet there are many places of Scripture which doo séeme to giue something to works to the obteining of saluation As the 15. Psalme Psal 15. ℣ se 1 2 3. Lord who shall rest vpon thy holy mountaine He that walketh vprightly and worketh righteousnesse and speaketh the truth in his hart Againe the 24. Psalme Who shall ascend into the mountaine of the Lord and who shall stand in his holy place Psal 24. ℣ se 3 4. Euen hee that hath innocent handes and a pure hart c. Againe Esay the 33. Who among vs shal dwell with the deuouring fier Esay 33. ℣ se 14 15. who amōg vs shal dwell with the euerlasting burnings he that walketh in iustice speaketh righteous things refusing gaine of oppressiō c. Psalm 50 23 Againe Psalme 50. And to him that disposeth his way aright will I shew the saluation of God Math. 7. ℣ se 21 22. Again Math. 7. Not euery one that saith vnto me Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdome of heauen but he that doth the will of my father which is in heauen Againe Iohn 5. Iohn 5. ℣ se 28 29. For the howre shal come in the which al that are in the graues shal heare his voice they shall come forth they that haue done good vnto the resurrection of life but they that haue done euil vnto the resurrectiō of condemnation Mat. 25. ℣ se 34 35. Againe Math. 25. Come ye blessed of my father inherite ye the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world for I was an hungred and ye gaue me meat I thirsted ye gaue me drinke I was a stranger and ye lodged me I was naked ye clothed me I was sicke ye visited me I was in prison ye came vnto me And there be many such like I answer vnto these places al such like in the scripture which answer if it be marked of the simple may be a keie vnto them to open much of the Scripture and may inable them to stop the Papists mouths that these places doo not set downe expresse the causes of saluation and of eternall life but describe point out who they be that shal be saued by the effects that follow faith repentance The Apostle termeth good works the fruits not the causes of righteousnes in the 1. to the Philippiās Philip. 1 11. wher be praieth that they may be filled with the fruits of righteousnes The end of good workes the glory of God which are by Iesus Christ to the glory of God But whē the Scripture setteth downe the causes of saluation why men are saued obteine eternall life it giueth all to Christ Iesus As by these places following and many such like none to the contrary appeareth Acts 4. Acts. 4. ℣ se 11 12. This is the stone cast aside of you builders which is the head of the corner neither is the saluation in any other for among men there is giuē none other name vnder heauen wherby we must be saued Hebr. the 7. Hebr. 7 25. But this man meaning Christ because he endureth euer hath an euerlasting priesthood Wherefore he is able perfectly to saue them that come vnto God by him seeing he euer liueth to make intercession for vs. Hebrews the 10. Hebr. 10 14. For with one offring hath he cōsecrated for euer thē that are sanctified Hebrews the 9. Hebr. 9.28 So Christ was once offered to take away the sinnes of many and vnto them that looke for him shall he appeare the second time without sinne vnto saluation Romans 3 Rom. 3. To him that worketh the wages is not imputed of fauour but of debt but to him that worketh not but beleeueth in him that iustifieth the vngodly his faith is counted for righteousnes Ephes 2. ℣ se 8 9. Ephesians the 2. For by grace are ye saued through faith that not of your selues it is the gift of God not of works that mē may boast Philippiās 3. Paul saith Philipp 3. Touching the righteousnesse that is in the lawes I was vnrebukeable ℣ se 6 But the things that were vantage vnto me ℣ se 7 ℣ se 8 the same I counted losse for Christs sake ℣ se 9 yea doubtles I think all things but losse ℣ se 10 for the excellent knowledge sake of Christ Iesus my Lord for whom I haue counted all things losse and do iudge them to be but dunge that I might win Christ and might be found in him that is not hauing mine owne righteousnes which is by the law but that which is through the faith of Christ euē the righteousnes which is of God through faith c. And the Scriptures are almost infinit that make to this purpose Qu. What meaneth this phrase of speach so much vsed in Scripture we are iustified by faith An. It meaneth nothing else but that God accompteth and acknowledgeth vs for righteous and holy in Christ in whome as the Apostle saith in the first of the second Epistle to the Corinthians all the promises of God are yea and Amen whom we lay hold on by faith and applie vnto our soules against all terrors of sinne death and damnation Roman 5. and so haue peace with God ℣ se 1 2. who hath said from heauen that in him he is well pleased Matth. 3.17 Qu. Now seing there is such aboundance of saluation in Christ why do not all lay hold of it An. No man saith Christ commeth vnto mee except my father draw him Iohn 6 44. Iohn 6 37. And againe he saith in the tenth of Iohn But yee beleeue not Iohn 10 26 for yee are not of my sheepe Qu. Now seing none can be saued but those that haue repētance towards God and faith towards our Lord Iesus Christ tell me
visite his temple Dauid by the beautie of the Lorde in this place meaneth neth nothing else but the hearing of Gods holy word praiers praises thanksgiuing the vse of other Gods ceremonies for that ministration appointed For a day in thy courts is better then a thousand other where Psal 84 10. I had rather be a doore kéeper in the house of my God then to dwell in the tabernacle of wickednes 4 That al must heare receiue Gods worde REceiue with méekenes the word that is grafted in you Iames 1 21. which is able to saue your soules As newe borne babes desire the sincere milke of the worde 1 Pet 1 2. that you may growe thereby He that is of God heareth Gods word Iohn 8 47. ye therefore heare them not because yee are not of God Hee that turneth away his eare from hearing the lawe Prou. 28 9. euen his praier shal be abhominable Despise not prophesiyng 1 Thes 5 20 Prou. 13 13. He that despiseth the word shall be destroyed 5 That Gods worde is effectuall and full of power to conuert men and to alter their mindes and cleanse their hartes THe lawe of the Lorde is perfect Psal 19 7. conuerting the soule Now are ye cleane through the worde which I haue spoken vnto you Iohn 15 3. Sanctifie them with thy truth Iohn 17 17. Thy word is truth For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ Rom. 1 16. for it is the power of God vnto saluation to euerie one that beléeueth For the word of God is liuely Heb. 4 12. mightie in operation sharper then anie two edged sword entreth through euen vnto the diuiding a sunder of the soule the spirite of the ioints and the marrowe and is a discerner of the thoughtes and the intents of the hart Neuerthelesse though wee walke in the flesh 2 Cor. 10. ℣ 5 6 7. yet we war not after the flesh For the weapons of our warfare are not carnall but mightie through God to cast downe holdes casting downe the imaginations and euerie high thing that is exalted aboue the glorie of God bringing into captiuitie euery thought to the obedience of Christ And hauing readie the vengeance against al disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled Is not my worde euen like a fier saith the Lord Ierem 23 29 and like an hammer that breaketh the stone Surely as the raine commeth downe and the snowe from the heauen Esay 55. ℣ 10 11. and returneth not thither but watereth the earth and maketh it to bring foorth and bud that it may giue séede to the sower and bread vnto him that eateth So shall my word be that goeth out of my mouth it shal not returne vnto me voide but it shall accomplish that which I will and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it 1 Cor. 14. vers 24 25. But if all prophesie and there come in one that beléeueth not or one vnlearned he is rebuked of all and is iudged of all and so are the secretes of his heart made manifest and so he wil fal downe on his face and worship God and say plainely that God is in you indéede These places then considered it will appeare that they which neglect and despise the hearing of the worde preached cannot be saued though they trust neuer so much to secret reuelations they shall shall assoone come to heauen as hee to Fraunce that will passe the sea without a shippe 6 That for euerie thing that a Christian man doth hee ought to aske councell at the worde of God and make that the rule of al his doings TAke héede therefore that yée doo as the Lord your God hath commanded you Deut 5 32. turne not aside to the right hande nor to the left Whatsoeuer is not of faith that is of knowledge from the word is sinne Rom. 14 verse 23. And when they shall say vnto you enquire at them that haue a spirit of diuination Esay 8. verse 19 20. at the southsayers which whisper and murmur Should not a people enquire at their God From the liuing to the deade to the lawe and to the testimony if they speake not according to this word it is because there is no light in them Wo to the rebellious children saith the Lord that take councell but not of mée Esay 30 ℣ se 1 2 couer with a couering but not by my spirit the they may lay sin vpon sin which walke foorth to goe downe into Egypt haue not asked at my mouth Examples of Dauid Thy word is a lanterne vnto my féet Psa 119 105 and a light vnto my path Also thy testimonies are my delight Psal 119 24 my councellers 7 That the worde of God conteineth all things necessary vnto saluation THe Law of the Lorde is perfect Psal 19 7. conuerting the soule And that thou hast knowne the holie scriptures of a child 2. Tim 3. ℣ 15 16 17. which are able to make thée wise vnto saluatiō through the faith which is in Christ Iesus For the whole scripture is giuen by inspiratiō of God is profitable to teach to improue to correct to instruct in righteousnesse That the man of God may bee absolute being made perfect vnto all good woorks Receiue with méekenes the word that is grafted in you Iames 1 21. which is able to saue your soules Search the scriptures Iohn 5 39. for in them yee thinke to haue eternall life Then if eternal life saluation of our soules bee obteined by the scripures and doctrine of the worde conteined therein much good doe the Papistes with the rest which they get more by the meanes of traditions and vnwritten verities 8 Of Magistrates and first what men are to be chosen MOreouer prouide thou among al the people men of courage Exod. 18.21 fearing God men dealing truly men hating couetousnes appoint such ouer thē to be rulers ouer thousāds rulers ouer hundreds c. 9 That Magistrates are to execute Iustice vprightly towards all ANd I charged your iudges that same time saying Deut. 1 16. Heare the causes of brethren and iudge righteously betwene euery man and his brother the stranger that is with him ye shal haue no respect of persons but shall heare the small aswell as the great ye shal not feare the face of man for the iudgment is Gods Ye shal not do vniustly in iudgement Deuitie 19. verse 15 thou shalt not fanour the person of the poore nor honour the person of the mighty but thou shalt iudge thy neighbor iustly Thou shalt not estéeme a poore man in his cause Exod 23.3 Iudges officers shalt thou make thée c. and they shall iudge the people with righteous iudgement Deut. 17 18. 10. That Iudges and magistrates must take no rewardes nor bribes nor wrest the Lawe ANd he set
iudges in the land through out all the strong Cities of Iuda 2. Chron. 19 verse 5 6 7. citie by citie And said to the Iudges take héed what ye doe For ye execute not the iudgements of man but of the Lord he wil be with you in the cause and iudgement Wherefore nowe let the feare of the Lord be vpon you take héed and doe it for there is no iniquitie with the Lord neither respecte of persons nor receiuing of reward Heare this I pray you ye heads of the house of Iacob princes of the house of Israell Mich. 3. verse 10 11. they abhor iudgement and peruert al equitie they build vp Zion with bloud and Ierusalem with iniquitie the heads therof iudge for rewards c therfore shal Zion for your sakes be plowed as a field To make good for the euill of their hands the prince asked Mich. 7. vers 3 4. the iudge iudgeth for a reward Therefore the great man speaketh out of the corruption of his hart and so they wrap it vp the best of them is like a brier the most righteous is sharper then a thorne hedge Thou shalt take no gift Exod. 23 8. for the gift blindeth the wise and peruerteth the words of the righteous Wrest not thou the lawe Deut. 16 19. neither respect any person neither take reward for the reward blindeth the eies of the wise peruerteth the words of the iust Their rulers loue to say with shame bring yée Osea 4 18. Woe vnto them whiche iustifieth the wicked for a reward Esay 5 23. and taketh away the righteousnesse of the righteous from him Read the 82. Psalme 11. That magistrates must punish the wicked or else they shall prouoke Gods wrath against themselues and be a cause to increase sinne A Wise king scattereth the wicked Prou. 20 26 causeth the whéele to turne ouer them For Princes are not to be feared for good workes Rom 13. ℣ se 3 4. but for euill wilt thou bée without feare of the power doo well so shalt thou haue praise of the same for he is the minister of God for thy welth but if thou do euill feare for he beareth not the sword for nought for he is the mininister of God to take vengeance on him that dooth euill Because sentence against an euill worke is not executed spéedily Eccles 8 10. therefore the hart of the children of men is fully set in them to do euill Neither will I be with you any more except ye destroy the excōmunicate from among you Iosu◠7 12. Examples I put on iustice Iob 29. verse 14 15. and it couered me my iudgement was as a robe a crowne I was the eies of the blind and I was the féet to the lame I was a father vnto the poore and when I knew not the cause I sought it out diligently I brake also the iawes of the vnrighteous and plucked the pray out of his téeth Betimes will I destroy al the wicked of the land Psal 101 ◠that I may cut of al the workers of iniquitie from the citie of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord 1. Kings 20. ℣ se 42. because thou Ahab hast let go out of thine hands a man that is Benhadad king of Aram whom I appointed to die thy life shall go for his life and thy people for his people A worthie example to be noted of all magistrates that they may not spare foolishly pittie Idolaters and vile sinners whom God in his law commaundeth to be slaine 12. That princes magistrates and men in authoritie ought to be religious mainteiners and nursers of religion and take especiall delight in those that feare God BE wise now therefore yée kings Psal 10. ℣ se 11 12. be learned ye iudges of the earth serue the Lord in feare and reioyce in trembling Kisse the sonne least he be angrie ye perish in the way when his wrath shall suddenly burne And when he that is the king shal sit vpon the throne of his kingdome Deut. 17. ℣ se 18 19. then shall he write him this law repeated in a booke by the priests of the Leuits and it shal be with him and he shall read therin all the daies of his life that he may learne to feare the Lord his God and to kéepe all the wordes of this law these ordinances for to do them That his hart be not lifted vp aboue his brethren and that he turne not from the commaundement to the right hand or to the left but that he may prolong his daies in his kingdome he his sonnes in the midst of Israell Let not this booke the Lords words to Iosua in his person to all magistrates of this law depart out of thy mouth but meditate therin day and night Iosua 1 8. that thou maist obserue do according to all that is written therein For then shalt thou make thy way prosperous then shalt thou haue good successe Thou that is the Church shall sucke the milke of the Gentiles Esay 60 16. shalt sucke the brests of Kings thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy sauiour Kings shal be Esay 49 ℣ se 23 24. thy that is the churches nursing fathers and quéenes thy nurses they shall worship thée with their faces towards the earth and licke vp the dust of thy féet and thou shalt knowe that I am the Lord. In the Reuelation it is written Reue. 21 24 That the kings of the earth shall bring their glorie honour vnto the new Ierusalē Example of Dauid O my soule Psalm 16.2 thou hast said vnto the Lord thou art my Lord my well doing extendeth not to thée but to the Saints that are in the earth to the excellent all my delight is in them I am a cōpanion of al them that feare thée and kéepe thy precepts Psal 119 63 Mine eies shal be vnto the faithfull of the land that they may dwell with me Psal 101 6. he that walketh in a perfect way he shal serue me When I remembred these things I powred out my very hart Psal 42 4. because I had gone with the multitude led them into the house of God 13. That all subiects are to obey their princes and those that are appointed vnder them that is inferior magistrats in all things not contrarie to the commandements of God to pay them tributes LEt euery soule be subiect vnto the higher powers Rom. 13. ℣ se 1 2 3. for there is no power but of God whosoeuer therfore resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God and they that resist shall receiue to themselues iudgement For princes are not to be feared for good workes but for euill wilt thou then be without feare of the power do well so shalt thou haue praise of the same c. wherefore ye must be subiect not because of
wrath only but also for cōscience sake For this cause ye pay also tribute for they are Gods ministers applying themselues for the same thing Giue to all men therfore their dutie tribute to whom ye owe tribute custome to whom custome feare to whom feare honour to whom ye owe honour Put them in remembrance that they be subiect to the principalities powers Titus 3 1. and that they be obedient and readie to euery good worke Submit your selues vnto all maner ordinance of man for the Lords sake 1. Peter 2. ℣ se 13 14. whether it be to the king as vnto the superiour or vnto gouernours as vnto them that are sent of him for the punishment of euill doers and for the praise of them that do well Honour al men 1. Pet. 3.17 loue brotherly fellowship feare God honour the king Giue vnto Cesar Math. 22 21 the things whiche are Cesars and giue vnto GOD those things which are Gods And when they were come to Capernaum they the receiued polle money came to Peter said Math. 17. ℣ s 24 25 26 27. doth not your master pay tribute He said yes And when he was come into the house Jesus preuented him saying what thinkest thou Simon of whom doo the kings of the earth take tribute or polle money of their children or of strangers Peter said vnto him of strangers thē said Iesus vnto him then are the children frée Neuerthelesse least we should offend them go to the sea and cast in an angle and take the first fishe that commeth vp and when thou hast opened his mouth thou shalt find a péece of twentie pence that take and giue it to them for thée and mée And the king said to his sergeāts that stood about him 1. Sam. 22 1◠turne slay the priests of the Lord because their hand also is with Dauid and because they knew when he fled and shewed it not to mée But the seruants of the king would not moue their hand to fall vpon the priests of the Lord. And when they had brought them they set them before the Councel Acts. 4. verse 27 28 29. the chiefe priest asked them saying did not wée straightly cōmaund you that you should not teach in this manner c Then Peter the Apostles answered said wée ought rather to obey God then men 14. That none ought to curse or vse railing or euill speaches of magistrates CVrse not the king Eccles 10 20 no not in thy thought neither cursse the rich in thy bed chamber for the foule of heauen shal carrie the voice and that whiche hath wings shall declare the matter Thou shalt not raile vpon the iudges Exod. 22 28. neither speake euill of the ruler of the people Likewise notwithstanding the dreamers also defile the flesh Iud. 8. and dispise gouernment and speake euil of them that are in authoritie Yet Michaell the archangell c. Example of Paule I am not mad ô noble Festus Acts. 26 29. but I speake the words of truth and sobernes Yet none of these things do let why the ministers of Gods word shuld not after the example of Iohn Baptist to Herod Mark 6. 1. Kings 21. ℣ se 20. Elias to Ahab others of Gods seruants to other magistrats if néed require sharply reproue them when they swarue frō godlinesse and become wicked 15. That good princes and magistrats are taken away and an alteration of states often made because of the sinne and wickednes of the people FOr the transgression of a land there are many princes thereof Prou. 28. ◠but by a man of vnderstanding and knowledge a realme likewise endureth long For lo Esay 3 ℣ se ◠2 3 4. the Lord God of hosts will take away from Ierusalem and from Iudah the stay and the strength euen all the stay of bread and all the stay of water The strong man and the man of warre the iudge and the prophet the prudent and the aged the capteine of siftie and the honorable and the counceller and the cunning artificer and I will appoint children to be their princes and babes shall rule ouer them 16. That the ministers and pastors of the Church ought diligently to seede their flockes and teach their people vnder paine of damnation and that faithfully without chopping and changing ANd of Leui he said Deut. 33 10. let thy Thummin thy Vrin be with thy holy one c. They shall teach Iacob thy iudgements and Israell thy law they shall put incense before thy face And they that is the Leuites read in the booke of the law of GOD distinctly Nehem. 8.8 and gaue the sense and caused them that is the people is vnderstand the reading O Sonne of man I haue made thée a watchman vnto the house of Israell Ezech. 33. ℣ s 9. therefore thou shalt heare the word at my mouth and admonish them from me When I shall say vnto the wicked man O wicked man thou shalt die the death if thou doest not speake and admonish the wicked of his way the wicked man shall die for his iniquitie but his bloud will I require at thy hands Neuerthelosse if thou warne the wicked of his way to turne from it if he do not turne from his way he shall die for his iniquitie but thou hast deliuered thy soule Take héed vnto your selues and to all the flocke Acts 20 28. whereof the Holy ghost hath made you the ouerseers to féede the church of God which he hath purchased with his owne bloud I charge thée therfore before God 2. Timoth. 4 verse 1 2. and before the Lord Iesus Christ which shal iudge the quicke and the dead at his appearing and in his kingdome Preach the word be instant in season and out of season improue rebuke exhort with all long suffering and doctrine The Elders which are amongst you 1. Pet. 5. verse 1.2 I beséech which am also an Elder c. Féed the flocke of GOD that dependeth vpon you caring for it not by cōstraint but willingly not for filthie lucre but of a readie mind c. Let a man so thinke of vs as of the ministers of Christ 1. Cor. 4. ℣ 1 2. and disposers of the secrets of God and as for the rest it is required of the disposers that euery man be found faithfull The Prophet that hath a dreame let him tell a dreame Iere. 23 28. and he that hath my word let him speake my word faithfully for what is the chaffe to the wheat saith the Lord Therefore séeing wée haue receiued this ministration 2. Corint 4. ℣ se 1 2. as wée haue receiued mercie we saint not but haue east of the clokes of shame and walke not in craftinesse neither handle wée the word of God deceitfully but in declaration of the truth we approue our selues to euery mans conscience in the sight of God For we are
not as many which make marchandize of the word of God 2. Cor. 2.17 but as of sinceritie but as of God in the sight of God speake we in Christ O I would to God that all our ministers could thus in truth speake 17. That ministers and pastours ought to be examples to their flockes in holy conuersation and godly life otherwise they are a slander to the ministrie BE vnto them that beléeue an example in word 1. Tim. 4.12 in conuersation in loue inspirit in faith and in patience In all things shew thy selfe an example of good workes Titus 2 7. with vnedrrupt doctrine with grauitie and integritie and with the wholesome word which cannot be condemned that he which withstandeth may be ashamed hauing nothing conrerning you to speake euill of Féed the flocke of God 1. Pet. 5 3. c. That ye may be examples to the flocke Ye are witnesses and God also saith Paule how holily iustly 1. Thess 2. ℣ se 10. and vnblameablely wée behaued our selues among you that beléeue We giue none occasion of offence in any thing that our ministrie should not be reprehended 2. Cor. 4.6 Brethren be ye followers of me Philip. 3. ℣ se 17 18. and looke on them whiche walke so as you haue vs for an example For many walke of whom I haue told you often now tell you wéeping that they are the enimies of the crosse of Christ whose end is damnation whose God is their belly whose glorie is to their shame which mind earthly things 18. That the pastors and ministers of Gods word are to bee esteemed greatly of to be reuerenced and to be obeyed in their message otherwise reproch is offered to God LEt a man so thinke of vs 1. Cor. 4 1. as of the ministers of Christ and disposers of the secretes of God How bewtifull are the féete of them that bring glad tidings of peace Rom. 10 15 〈◊〉 bring glad tidings of good things Now we beséech you brethren that ye acknowledge them 1. Thes 5. verse 12 13. which labour amōg you and are ouer you in the Lord and admonish you that ye haue them in singular loue for their workes sake Obey them that haue the ouersight of you Hebr. 13 17 and submit your selues for they watch for your soules as they that must giue accompts that they may do it with ioy and not with griefe for that is vnprofitable for you Verely Iohn 13 20. verely I say vnto you if I sēd any he that receiueth him receiueth me and he that receiueth me receiueth him that sent me He that heareth you heareth me Luke 10 16. and he that dispiseth you dispiseth me and he that dispiseth me dispiseth him that sent me Example And the trial of one which was in my flesh ye dispised not neither abhored Gal. 4.14 but ye receiued me as an angell of God yea as Christ Iesus Receiue him therefore that is Epiphroditus in the Lord with all gladnes Philip 2 29. and make much of such 19. That the people or parishes which haue Gods word preached diligētly faithfully vnto thē are bound in conscience liberally to susteine and nourish those that preach vnto thē BEware that thou forsake not the Leuite Deut. 12 19. as long as thou liuest vpon the earth The Leuits were appointed to teach the people which came of Leui Iacobs son Deut. 33 10. And into whatsoeuer house ye enter first Luke 10 ver 5 6 7. say peace be to this house c. in the house tarrie still eating drinking such things as shal be set before you by them for the laborer is worthie of his wages My defēce to thē the examine me is this 1. Cor. 9. ver 3 4 5 6 7 11 12 13 14. haue we not power to lead about a wife being a sister as wel as the rest of the Apostles as brethren of the Lord and Cephas or I onely Barnabas haue not we power not to worke who goeth a warfare any time at his owne cost c. If we haue sowne vnto you spirituall things is it a great thing if we reape your carnal things Do ye not know that they which minister about the holy things eat of the things of the temples they which the altar so also hath the Lord ordeined that they which preach the gospell should liue of the gospell The elders that rule wel are worthy double honour 1. Timoth. 5. ℣ se 17 18. that is double reward specially they which labour in the word doctrine For the Scripture saith thou shalt not mosel the mouth of the are that treadeth out the corne the labourer is worthie of his wages Let him that is taught in the word Galath 6.7 make him that teacheth him partaker of all his goods be not deceiued God is not mocked 20. That the not hauing or to bee depriued of faithful Pastors Ministers is a signe of Gods wrath and displeasure against a people and to haue them is a signe of mercie SVrely I will no more spare those that dwell in the lande Zachar. 11 ℣ 6 15 16. saith the Lorde c. And the Lord said vnto mee take to thée yet the instrumentes of a foolish shepheard for loe I will raise vp a shephard in the land which shall not looke for the thing that is lost nor séeke the tender lambs nor heale that which is hurt nor féede that which standeth but he shal eat the flesh of the fat and teare their paws in pieces The daies of visitation are come Osei 9 v. 7. the daies of recompence are come Israell shall knowe it the prophet is a foole the spirituall man is mad for the multitude of thine iniquities therefore the hatred is great We sée not our signs Psal 74 9. there is not one Prophet more nor any with vs that knoweth how long Behold the daies come saith the Lord God Amos 8 11. that I will sende a famine in the lande not a famine of bread and a thirst for water but of hearing the word of the Lord. For loe Esay 3 v. 1 2 the Lorde God of hostes will take away frō Ierusalem c. The iudge the prophet the prudent and the aged Beholde Esay 24 ℣ s 1 2. the Lorde maketh the earth emptie and hée maketh it waste hée turneth it vpside downe and scatteresh abroad the inhabitants thereof and there shall be like people like Priest like seruant like maister Turne againe Ierem. 3. ℣ se 34 15. O ye disobedient children saith the Lorde for I am your Lorde and I wil take you one of a Citie and two of a tribe and will bring you to Zion And I will giue you Pastors according to mine heart which shall féede you with knowledge vnderstanding 21 That parents ought to instruct their children and bring them vp in the feare of the Lord
not men and knowe yee that whatsoeuer good thing any man doth the same hée shall receiue of the Lord whether he be bond or frée Seruants Collos 3. ℣ se 22 23 24 25. be obedient vnto them that are your maisters according to the flesh in all thinges not with eye seruice as men pleasers but in singlenes of heart fearing God and whatsoeuer ye doe doe it hartily as to the Lorde and not vnto men knowing that of the Lorde yée shall receiue the rewarde of the inheritance for ye serue the Lord Christ but hée that doth wrong shall receiue for the wrong that he hath done and there is no respect of persons Seruants 1 Pet. 2. ℣ se 18 19 20. 21. be subiect to your maisters with all feare not only to the good curteous but also to the froward For this is thank worthy if a man for conscience toward God endure griefe suffering wrongfully For what praise is it if whē ye be buffeted for your faults ye take it patiently but and if when ye do wel ye suffer wrong and take it patiently this is acceptable to God For hereunto yee are called for Christ also suffered for vs leauing for vs an example that ye should follow his steppes Iacob an example of a faithfull seruant to Laban This twentie yeare haue I béen with thée Gen. 21 verse 38 39 40. thine ewes and thy goates haue not cast their young and the Rammes of thy flocke haue I not eaten Whatsoeuer was torne of beasts I brought it not vnto thée but made it good my selfe of mine hande diddest thou require it were yt stollen by day or stollen by night I was in the day consumed with heat and frost in the night and my sléepe departed from mine eies 26 That Maisters and Mistresses owe duties to their seruantes and what those duties are ANd ye Maisters Ephes 6 9. doe the same thing vnto them that is your seruants putting away threatning know that euen your maister also is in heauen neither is there respect of person with God Ye maisters Collos 4 1. do you vnto your seruāts that which is iust and equall knowing that ye also haue a maister in heauen A seruant will not bee chastened with words Prou. 29 19 though he vnderstand yet wil he not answere Such a seruant then when he is knowne must haue the scourge He that delicately bringeth vp his seruant from his youth Prou. 29 21 at length he wil bée euen as his sonne which is by maisters to be considered of Example of Iobs good dealing with his seruants farre from rigour IF I did condemn the iudgement of my seruant Iob 31 verse 13 14 15. and of my mayde whē they did contend with mee what then shall I doe when God standeth vp and when he shal visite me what shall I answere hée that hath made me in the wombe hath he not made him hath not hee alone fashioned vs in the wombe Hereby may those masters sée their wickednes which wil not heare their seruants speake but vppon a simple surmise and brainsicknes do euil intreat them by cruell stripes when indéede there is no iust cause Thou shalt not oppresse an hyred seruant Deut. 24 14 that is néedie poore neither of thy brethren nor straunger thou shalt giue him his hyre for his day 27 What the duties of husbands are vnto their wiues LIkewise yee husbandes 1 Pet 3 7. dwell with them that are your wiues as men of knowledge giuing honour vnto the woman as vnto the weaker vessell euen as they which are heires together of the grace of life that your praiers be not interrupted Let the husband giue vnto the wife due 1 Cor. 7 ◠beneuolence and likewise also the wife vnto the husband Husbands Collos 3 19 loue your wiues and be not bitter vnto them Husbandes Ephes 5. ℣ se 25 26 28. loue your wiues euen as Christ loued the Church and gaue himselfe for it that hee might sanctifie it c. so ought men to loue their wiues as their owne bodies Hee that loueth his wife loueth himselfe 28 What the duties of wiues bee vnto their husbands WIues Ephes 5.22 submit your selues vnto your husbands as vnto the Lord for the husband is the wiues head euen as Christ is the head of the Church the same is the sauiour of his body therefore as the church is in subiection to Christ euen so let the wiues be to their husbāds in all things The man is the womans head 1 Cor. 11 3. 1 Cor. 7 3. Let the wife giue vnto her husband due beneuolence Wiues Collos 3 18. submit your selues vnto your husbands as it is comely in the Lord. Likewise also the women 1. Tim. 2 9.10 11 12 13 that they array themselues in comely apparell with shamefastnes and modestie not with broidered haire or gold or pearles or costly apparel but as becommeth women that professe the feare of God with good workes Let the women learne in silence with all subiection I permit not a woman to teach neither to vsurpe authoritie ouer the man but to be in silēce for Adam was first formed then Eue Adam was not deceiued but the woman was deceiued and was in the transgression notwithstanding through bearing of children she shall be saued if they continue in faith and loue and holines with modestie Let the wife sée that she feare her husband Ephes 5 33. Vnto the woman hee saide that is the Lord I wil greatly increase thy sorow Gen. 3 16. thy conceptiōs in sorow shalt thou bring forth children thy desire shal be subiect to thy husband he shal rule ouer thée Let your women kéepe silence in the Churches 1 Cor. 14 ℣ 34 35. for it is not permitted vnto them to speake but they ought to be subiect as also the lawe saith if they will learn any thing let them aske their husbands at home for it is a shame for women to speake in the Church Likewise let the wiues bee subiect to their husbandes 1 Pet. 3 verse 1 2 3 4.5 16. that euen they which obey not the word may without the word be woon by the conuersatiō of the wiues While they behelde your pure conuersation which is with feare whose apparelling let it not be outwarde as with broidered haire and golde put about or in putting on of apparell But let the hid man of the heart bee vncorrupt with a méeke and quiet spirite which is before God a thing much sette by For euen after this manner in times past did the holie women which trusted in God attire themselues and were subiecte to their husbandes As Sara obeyed Abraham and called him Sir whose daughters yee are whilest yée doe well not béeing afrayd of any terrour Dutie of husband and wife The wife hath not the power of her owne bodie 1 Cor. 7 4.5 but the husband and lykewise
also the husband hath not power of his owne bodie but the wife Defraude not one another that is leaue not one anothers bed except it be with consente for a time that ye may giue your selues to fasting and praier and againe come together that Sathan tempt you not for your incontinencie 29 That one Christiā ought to instruct edifie and exhort another WHerefore exhorte one another s Thes 5 11 and edifie one another euen as ye do Take héede brethren Heb. 3 ver 13 14. least at any time there bée in any of you an euill hart and vnfaithfull to departe away from the lyuing God but exhort one another daily while it is called to day least any of you bée hardned through the deceitfulnesse of sinne And let vs consider one another to prouoke vnto loue Heb. 10 2. to good woorkes not forsaking the fellowship that wee haue among our selues as the manner of some is but let vs exhort one another that so much the more bicause you sée that the day draweth néere Then spake they that feared the Lord Mal◠.3 16 euerie one to his neighbour the Lorde harkened and heard it and a booke of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord. The righteous teacheth the house of the wicked Prou. 21 1 The lippes of the righteous féede manie Prou. 10 21 Let euerie man as hee hath receiued the gift 1 Pet 4 10. minister the same one to another as good disposers of the manifolde grace of God 30 That euerie Christian is bounde in conscience when his brother sinneth to rebuke him for his sinne THou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart Leuit. 19 17 but thou shalt plainly rebuke thy neighbour and suffer him not to sinne Let the righteous smite me Psal 141 5. for that it is a benefite and let him reprooue me it shall bee a pretious oyle that shall not break my head for within a while I shal euen pray in their miseries We desire you brethren admonish thē that are vnruly 1 Thes 5 14 comfort the féeble minded beare with the weake be patient towards all men 31 That priuate offences are to bee rebuked priuately or secretly IF thy brother trespasse against thée Math. 18 15 go and tell him his fault betwéene thée and him alone if he heare thée thou hast wonne thy brother 32. That open sinne must haue open rebuke THem that sinne rebuke openly 1. Tim. 5.20 that the rest also may feare And whē Peter was come to Antioch I withstood him openly Galat. 2 11. for he was worthie to be rebuked He that rebuketh a mā shall find more fauour at the length Prou. 28 23. then he that flattereth him with his lips why then should any man cast any of these doubts why then I shall loose his good will and I am afraid he will not take it well hauing his promise of God A reproofe entreth more into him that hath vnderstanding Prou. 17. then an hundreth stripes into a foole A scorner loueth not him that rebuketh him Prou. 15 12. neither will he go vnto the wise A wise sonne will obey the instruction of his father Prou. 13 1. but a scorner will heare no rebuke Better is it to heare the rebuke of wise men Prou. 7 7. then the song of fooles He that hardneth his necke when he is rebuked Prou. 29 1. shall suddenly be destroyed and cannot be cured 33. That no Christian ought to haue any felowship with any wicked mā who professing christianitie leadeth his life lewdly to the slander of the profession but to auoid such a one as filthines and dirt IF any that is called a brother that us to say a Christian man be a fornicatour 1. Cor. 5. or couetous or an idolater or a railer or a drunkard or an extortioner with such one eat not Haue no fellowship with the vnfruitfull workes of darkenesse Ephes 5.11 but euen reprooue them rather If any man obeye not our sayings 1. Thes 3. verse 14. note him by letter and haue no companie with him that he may be ashamed He that walketh with the wise shal be wise Prou. 13 20. but a companion of fooles shal be afflicted For Epes 5. verse 6.7 for such things cōmeth the wrath of God vpon the children of disobedience be not therefore companions with them They that forsake the law praise the wicked Prou. 28 4. but they that kéepe the law set themselues against them Lord who shall dwell in thy tabernacle Psal 15.1 4. c. He in whose eies a vile person is contemned but he honoureth them that feare the Lord. Example ℣ se 2 And Iehu the son of Hannani the Seer went to méet him that is Iehoshaphat who went to the war with Ahab king of Israell and said to king Iehoshaphat 2. Chron. 19. wouldest thou helpe the wicked and loue them that hate the Lord therefore for this thing the wrath of the Lord is vpon thée Yet after this did Iehoshaphat king of Iudah ioyne himselfe with Ahaziah king of Israell who was giuen to do euill 2. Chron. 20 ℣ s 35 36 37 and he ioyned with him to make ships to go to Tarshish they made the ships in Ezion Gaber then Eliezer the son of Dodauah of Meresha prophesied against Iehoshaphat saying because thou hast ioyned thy selfe with Ahaziah the Lord hath broken thy workes the ships were broken that they were not able to go to Tarshish 34. That all Christians ought to be full of good workes and to what end FOr wée are his workemanship created in Christ Iesus vnto good works Ephes 2 10. which God hath ordeined that we should walke in them This is a true saying Titus 3 8. these things I will thou shouldest affirme that they which haue beléeued God might be carefull to shew forth good works these are good and profitable to men Who gaue himselfe for vs Titus 2 14. to redéeme vs from all iniquitie and to purge vs a peculiar people vnto himselfe zealous of good workes Charge them that are rich in this world that they be not high minded 1. Tim. 6 17 that they trust not in vncertaine riches but in the liuing God which giueth vs aboundantly all things to enioy that they do good and be rich in good workes and ready to distribute and communicate End of good workes Let your light so shine before men Math. 5.16 that they may sée your good workes and glorifie your father which is in heauen And haue your conuersation honest among the Gentils 1. Pet. 2 12. that they which speake euill of you as of euill doers may by your good works which they shal sée glorifie God in the day of their visitation And this I pray that your loue may abound Philip. 1. ℣ se 9 10 11. yet more and more in knowledge and in all iudgement that ye may discerne things that differ one from another that ye may be pure and without offence vntill the day of Christ filled with the fruits of righteousnesse which are by Iesus Christ vnto the glorie and praise of God Ioine moreouer vertue with your faith 2 Pet. 1. ℣ se 5 6 7. and with vertue knowledge and with knowledge temperance and with temperance patience and with patience godlinesse and with godlinesse brotherly kindnesse and with brotherly kindnesse loue For if these things vs among you and abound they will make you that ye neither shal be idle nor vnfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ for he that hath not thess things is blind and cannot sée farre of and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sinnes And let ours learne to shewe foorth good works for necessarie vses Titus 3.14 that they be not vnfruitfull Now good Reader this being ended there remaineth nothing but thy diligēce carefully to practise that which thou shalt here find as thy calling shal require and bind thee which that thou maist do I shal not cease to pray And thus in Christ I bid thee farewell FINIS