to his posteritie if he wrought then he did worse and if it be said that he was religiously occupied in the seruice of God then it followeth that he fell the day before whereupon Christ was promised and to be adored the next sabaoth Againe if Adam fel not the same day of his creation then Cain was begotten in innocencie for it must needs be granted acording to the institution and quality of nature that day or the next night Adam knew Eue his wife in which he was conceiued The euening sacrifice in the law of Moses had perfect relation to the coole of the day or euening in which Adam transgressed The sixt day in which Christ was crucified and about the euening-tide pointed plainly to the day and to the verie time in the which Adam fel the course of storie the words of our Lord and the graunt and proofe of his enemies inforceth men of modestie to beleeue it and to thinke their humours strange that dare crosse the old and new Greeks protestants and Romists to this day the differing runne into more absurditie than a large volume wold containe and they who yeeld not to the most auntient and vniuersall vnlesse they bring a reason that all must embrace shew neither skill in learning nor any reuerence to Christianitie Seth Was the third sonne of Adam begotten in the likenesse of his father when he was 130 yeare old all the world is bound to take instruction of him thereby to be setled in Christ the rocke All places of scripture that dōth import faith and constancie may be reduced vnto this Enos Was verie zealous and therfore sorrowfull when he saw the corruption of religion and good maners which was like to ensue vpon the marriage of the sonnes of God with the daughters of men who regard beautie and worldly preferment rather than the promises of life euerlasting by continuing in true religion To this you may referre the zeale of Moses Elias Paule Iohn c. who wept for the sinnes of the people and desired rather to be rased out of the booke of life euerlasting than that so many thousands should perish To this you may referre all vnordinate and vnequall marriages Kenan Had sorrowfulnesse and withall godly repentance furnished with a godly care of amendment To this you may reduce all sorrowfull and penitent sinners Mahalaleell Had a name very answerable to that acceptable sacrifice which the creator imposed vpon his creation according to the signification of his owne name To this you may reduce all places of thanksgiuing and praysing God So Leah named hir fourth sonne Iudah signifying Praise the Lord this ought to be imitated of all men throughout the course of religion and trade of life the reason why is shewed Psal 19 47 105 120. Iared Had the vertues of his forefathers which induced him to great humilitie and lowlinesse To this you may reduce al such places how God exalteth the lowly and meeke Henoch Walked with God in holines he was a man dedicated to the Lord by his name and trade of life and therefore taken vp into heauen he is the seuenth from Adam his yeares are agreeable with the number of the sabaoth putting all men in mind of the six daies creation the seuenth daies redemption Seuen is an holy and an infinite number importing grace and peace by Iesus Christ The number of Seuen is taken many times for a time certaine and ceasing but in euill part as Nabucadnezer was a beast Seuen yeres and no longer The tabernacle was a building Seuen moneths and no longer Seuen somtimes is taken in good part and for a certaine time ceasing as the land of Canaan was Seuen yeres in conquering Al notable actions were done in equall number of Seuen as from Moses to Christs death by seuen seuens Seuen fifties for the glorie of Iosephs house seuen seuenties for the house of Iudah seuen tennes for the captiuitie seuen seuenties to Christ The holy seruants of God as a rare marke to behold were borne in the equall number of seuen as Henoch The 7. from Adam Heber Henoch Isaac Heber Moses Abraham Iosua Ephraim Ioram Dauid Methuselah Hauing all the vertues and blessednesse of his forefathers after his death shal haue life aeternall which his name did teach him by the signification therof As Adam liued 743 yeares to instruct him so he liued with Sem 98. yeares Apply this to the faithful as a reward of their labours in Christ to which all such like places may be reduced His age was an exact number or rule of the floud The waters could not drowne the world while he liued The like may be said of Lot that fire could not fall vpon Sodome and Gomorah vntill he was in Zoar. Lamech He was outwardly afflicted by men and inwardly afflicted in conscience by the Deuill he was a prophet for he spake of things many hundred yeares past and of the comfort to come by Noah To this you may reduce the tribulations afflictions and sorrowes of the church Noah Found grace and fauour with God to whom almightie God vouchsafed to speake next vnto Adam and to establish the couenant with him his houshold as a small remnant left in the Arke is an aequall proportion of the smalnesse of the church in respect of the wicked multitude The Doue bringing an oliue leafe signifieth peace and plentie you may reduce it to the holy Ghost bringing glad tidings and eternall ioy to the church He was the tenth from Adam The signification of their names being well linked together makes vp a christian sacrifice the whole summe of religion or the liuely image and portrature of Christ Goe backeward or forward with their names by the signification or Aetymologie thereof he that hath one vertue hath all he that misseth of one vertue misseth of all they cannot be seperated Forward thus He that is setled in Christ as was Seth is sorrowfull for sin as Enos He that is sorrowfull for sinne hath godly repentance with Kenan He that hath godly repentance praiseth God in pouertie and in plentie with Mahalaleel He that praiseth God is lowly in all estates as was Iared He that is lowly sanctifieth the sabaoth as did Henoch He that sanctifieth the sabaoth hath long life with Methuselah He that hath these former vertues shal be heartely wounded in this world as was Lamech but in the world to come he shall haue ioy and comfort with Noah Backward thus He that hath not ioy and comfort in Christ with Noah is not heartily wounded with the afflictions of this life as was Lamech He that is not heartily wounded hath no hope of long life with Methuselah He that hopeth not for long life keepeth not the sabaoth with Henoch He that keepeth not the sabaoth is not lowly with Iared He that is not lowly praiseth not God with Mahalaell He that praiseth not God hath not godly repentance with Kenan He that hath not godly repentance is not sorrowfull for sinne
by S Luke at Rome and dedicated to one Theophilus This booke is an abridgment or a chronicle of all famous worthy acts of Christ of his disciples and Apostles herein is annexed the sermons of the Apostles touching faith maners the open persecution of the truth the victorie thereof in the end The Argument of the Romanes THe Romanes were Iews and Gentiles embracing Christ in Rome among whom were many false teachers which moued S. Paule to write this Epistle by his secretarie Tertius exhorting them to take heed therof and to encrease in the knowledge of Christ The dignitie of works of faith of grace and iustification of the law and the vse thereof from Corinth Acts 20. Rom. 16. some few daies before he went to Ierusalem The Argument of the first to the Corinthians THe Corinthians had their originall of Corinthus who built that citie in it was the temple dedicated to the Goddesse Venus There was that great notorius whore Lais spoken of ouer all the world and there was many other abhominatiōs yet in this city God had his church S. Paule staied there almost three yeares but when he departed into Siria manie false teachers entred in who taught that whoredome riot drunkennesse c. was lawfull they denied marriage and the resurrection vpon which occasion S. Paule wrote this Epistle to withdraw them from all those euils Act. 19. 1 Cor. 16. and with exhortations to remaine in the doctrine which he had taught From Ephesus 4 The Argument of the second to the Corinthians HEre he excuseth his long absence by diuerse troubles which hindered him he willeth to excōmunicate him that was taken in adulterie he cleareth himselfe of all blame towards them Acts 20. he sheweth a difference betwixt one spirite and another the agreement of the old testament with the new From Philippi 6 The Argument of the Gallathians THe Gallathians were a people of Asia after S. Paules departure thence many false teachers entred in and taught That the ceremonies of the law were to be kept and they taught euill things against the Apostles thereby to deface their doctrine which moued him to write vnto them discharging himselfe for the credit of his calling and confirming of his doctrine with the ouerthrow of the contrarie From Rome 13 The Argument of the Ephesians THis citie of Ephesus was famous by the sea side of Ionius where was a temple dedicated to the false Goddesse Diana S. Paule at his first comming staied little there but at the second time he continued three yeares perceauing that God had many soules there to be saued euen among witches sorcerers c. whereby the mercie of God appeared more aboundantly at his departure he left among them elders and Timothie as their Bishop This Argument agreeth neerly with the Romanes and Gallathians Sent from Rome 11. The Argument of the Philippians PHilip Macedon was the originall of the citie they had domesticall troubles and many lost for the trueths sake and therefore he exhorteth them to patience and watchfulnesse Sent from Rome 8. The Argument of the Colossians THe Colossians were a people of that great citie Collossa S. Paule was neuer with them they were taught by Epaphras Onesimus Tychichus S. Paule heard that they were troubled with the Iewes about ceremonies and with the gentils about subtill questions and wordes of philosophie wherefore he wrote vnto them to confirme them in that they had learned concerning Christ and to confute the contrarie Sent from Roome 9 The Argument of the first to the Thessalonians THessalonica was a famous citie of Macedonia whence the people had their names he was among them but three Sabaoths by reason of the Iews He sent Timothie vnto them by whom he vnderstood of their conscience and that they should consider well of the resurrection Acts 17 He sent it from Athens The Argument of the second to the Thessalonians HE excuseth his long absence shewing them the manner of the resurrection and the comming of Christ he dehorteth from curious questions Sent from Athens 2 The Argument of the first to Timothie HIs father was a Graecian his mother a Iew which was the cause he was not circūcised in his infancie according to the law His mother Eunice and his grandmother Loida were godly wherein they brought him vp S. Paule his maister sent him on the Lords busines to diuerse places in the end he was left at Ephesus as their bishop to whom he wrote this Epistle about the choise of Pastours in the church At Laodicea 3 The Argument of the second to Timothie HE mourned greatly after S. Paule therefore Paule did write to cōfort him and withall to shew him how he was held in prison which was the cause that he came not to Ephesus according to his promise Sent from Rome 12 The Argument of Titus HE was a Graecian borne Paule was his maister who left him at Creete to constitute ministers in euerie parish and to refourme their manners Titus was a yong man therefore his maister wrote this Epistle that he should do nothing rashlie What kinde of Pastours should be allowed and what not From Nicapolis in Macedonia Acts 20. 5 The Argument of Philemon HE was Collocentia a rich man and a godly liberall man he had a seruant named Onesimus who departed from him by stealth when he heard S. Paule preach he beleeued in Iesus Christ and confessed his fault wherevpon S. Paule wrote this Epistle to his maister exhorting him to forgiue his seruant Sent from Rome 10 The Argument of the Hebrues THe truth is by the opinion of the most and best learned that S. Paule wrote this Epistle the Grecians did so allow of it and the same was confirmed in the councell of Nicen. Nicephorus saith that it was written in Hebrue by S. Paule and translated into Greeke by S. Luke who altered S. Pauls stile and method of writing Iraeneus who was Policarpus scholler said the same the trueth being receiued from S. Iohn who was Policarpus maister such was the obstinacie of the Iewes resisting the doctrine of Christ which gaue occasion to S. Paule to write exhorting them from the hardnes of their hearts Herein he magnifieth Christ aboue the prophets Moses and Aaron Leui and all other offices and officers who fulfilled the prophesies accomplshed the law and offred a farre more perfect sacrifice than they all Sent by Timothie from Italie The Argument of Iames. IN the tenth of Mathew mention is made of two Iames one the sonne of Zebedeus the other the sonne of Alpheus which Iames was the Author of this Epistle he is called Lebbeus and Thaddeus and he is called the brother of Iude Gal. 1 19. and the brother of our Lord. Here he instructeth al men to liue wel and to beleeue well he sets out the conuersation of those that are regenerated the excellencie of faith of works of patience c. The Argument of the first of Peter THis Peter
the sting or the life of death the life of sinne is the law now take away the law take away sin take away sinne then death is dead death is gon and vtterly destroyed d Luke 7 and to conclude your husband sweete Lady is aliue he is not dead but liueth he was a knight on earth he is now a e Gal. 5 Re. 1 6. Cant. 5 1. king in heauen And since his chance was to make such an exchange good Madame be merrie though his companie was your comfort yet be not against his preferment and know this to be a common and a commendable saying Past cure past care Out of remedie out of remēbrance f 1. Sam. 12 20.21.22.23 Dauid whilst his sonne was aliue fasted and wept bitterly but when he was dead he was merrie and reioysed greatly As it is sure whilst your husband was aliue you did the one so now seing he is dead let it be surely seene for good example that you doe the other As Dauid said of his sonne I shall goe to him but he shall not come to me so say you good worshipfull Lady I shall goe to my husband my husband shal not returne to me Beare you the crosse valiantly which you haue taken vp zealously no manner of discōtentment is ioyous for the present time but grieuous neuerthelesse afterwards it bringeth quiet rest As fine Gold is wrought in flaming fire and white siluer in blacke pitch euen so glorie is to be gotten with the depth of danger and pleasure with the price of paine As the roots of a tree are bitter and the fruits sweete euen so of bitter annoy comes pleasant ioy and of an heauie sute happy successe That it may be a parcell of your ioy in heauē to see him which was your ioy in earth remēber the instruction he gaue you whilst he was liuing remēber the councell he gaue you whilst he was dying remember to keepe in practise seriously and sinceerely among your houshold the studie and the excercise of true religion according to the doctrine of Iesus Christ To whose holy tuition and mercifull prouidence I leaue your Ladiship with so many good desires for your godly deserts as miles hath seuered S. Iulian and S. Leonard Yours in the Lord Edw Vaughan Sir William Herberd knight his particulars vpon the tenth story to weet from the birth of Christ to the worlds end COnsider the times from the birth of Christ to the end of the world which by the doctrin of Elias amounteth to 2000 yeares the whole time may be deuided into seuen successiue ages according to the Seuen Churches Reuel 1 4. Seales 5 1. Trumpets 8 6. The two first are ascribed to the church of Ephesus and Smyrma which accomplished the first 300 yeares for it is manifest that the things spoken to those churches concerne the first 300 yeares after Christ that is to say The examination of false Apostles the hating of the Nicolaitans heresies the induring of the extreame malice of the Iews Reu. 2 10. and of the ten persecutions with patience and constancie is called the tribulation of ten daies The third deuision belongeth to the church of Pergamus to which as to each that follow we attribute 340 yeares which reacheth from the yeare of our Lord till the 640. That age is cōmended for constancie in the truth and because there were then some that doted vpon images and had ordained dedication to the Idols temple to the martyrs and vigils in their honour which was a spirituall fornication practised of the Nicolaitans this age was therefore thus reprooued I haue a few things to say to thee because thou hast maintained the doctrine of Balaam which taught Balac to put a stumbling blocke before the children of Israel and that they should eat things sacrificed to Idols and to commit fornication Reu. 2 14. The fourth deuision or age is appropriated to the church of Thiatira extending from the yeare 640 to the yeare 980. The church in this age is commended for hir great deuotion but because it permitted the church of Rome to vsurpe authoritie and to be another Iesabel in Samaria drawing people to Idolatrie it is therefore reproued the plagues that God would bring vpon the church of Rome are declared and the children of the true church exhorted to continue in the antient faith which they haue already receiued The fift deuision or age is the church of Sardic which beginneth at the yere 980 continued till the yeare 1332. In this age the spirit of Iesabel was growne so strong and hir Achab so wicked that the visible church bare onely the name of a church the doctrine generally corrupted and things reduced touching the publicke worshipping of the Almightie vnto that miserable estare that they resembled the raigne of Achab and Iesabel wherein Elias had so greatly complained yet God had then his secreat elect expressed in these wordes I know thy workes and where thou dwellest Reu. 2 13. euen where Sathans throne is thou keepest my name and hast not denied the faith The sixt deuision appertaineth to the church of Philodelphia which containes the times that we liue and all the yeares from 1320 till the yeare of our Lord 1660. In this age of the church the truth of the doctrine is replenished and the truth of the Gospell florished notwithstanding all indeuours against it the faithfull are endued with spirituall strength thus I haue set before thee an open doore and no man can shut it for thou hast a little strength and hast kept my works Reu. 3 8. and hast not denied my name The seuenth deuision or age is attributed to the yeare 2000 this age forgetting the mercie of God wil proue to be carelesse of heauenly things being neither hote nor cold Therefore God will loath and abhorre this age manifest in these wordes I know thy workes and tribulation and pouertie but thou art ritch and I know the blasphemie of those which say they are Iews and are not Reu. 2.8.9 but are the synagogue of Sathan Besides these mysteries of the seuen churches let vs receiue farther instruction in the opening of the seuen seales concerning those things from the birth of our sauiour vnto the end of the world THe first seale being opened is discouered the preaching of the Gospell and the victories of Christ in subduing multitudes to his truth I beheld and loe there was a while horse and he that sate on him had a bow and a crowne was giuen vnto him Reu. 6 1.2 and he went out conquering that he might ouercome Hereof speakes that princely prophet Dauid Psal 45. Good lucke haue thou with thine honour ride on because of the word of truth of meekenesse and righteousnesse thine arrowes are verie sharpe and the people shal be subdued vnto thee euen in the middest among the kings enemies thy seal O God endureth for euer the scepter of thy kingdome is a right scepter 1.
The second seale being opened the bloudie persecutions of the Idolaters Romane Emperors and in Gods iustice these cruell warres and bloudie deaths are prefigured in these words And there went out another horse that was red and power was giuen vnto him that sate thereon to take peace from the earth 3. and there was giuen vnto him a great sword The third seale being opened the darkenesse ignorance and heresies the famine both spirituall and temporall was discouered that horrible persecutions and warres should bring into the world in these wordes I beheld and loe a blacke horse and he that sate thereon had a balance in his hand saying A measure of wheat for a penny and a measure of barlie for a penny and oyle and wine thou shalt not hurt 5.6 Notwithstanding all the persecutions heresies and scarsitie both of true teachers and of true doctrine in the church yet the spirituall wine and oyle being the old and new testament the law and the Gospell were preserued and vncorrupt as you heare this is the wine and oyle that the good Samaritane poured into the wound which he thereby both clensed and cured this wine of the law searcheth our infirmities and this oyle of the gospell is the oyle of gladnesse wherewith we be annointed that be the true members of Christ It is the oyle that in the lamp of our soules kindleth and continueth the light of our faith This oyle the fiue wise virgins were furnished with and the fiue foolish wanted and it is the oile and the vnction that supplies our vnderstanding 1. Ioh. 2.20 27. The fourth seale manifested the Romish Iesabel and the persecuting church of Rome by palenesse pretending whitenesse by hypocrisie pretending pietie spreading his authoritie ouer the earth and destroying many some with the sword others with spirituall hunger others with spirituall death c. expressed by these wordes And behold a pale horse and his name that sate thereon was death and hell followed after him and power was giuen vnto him ouer the fourth part of the earth to kill with the sword Reu. 6 8. with hunger and with death The fift seale being opened appeared the soules of them that were killed for the testimonie of the truth requiring iustice at the hands of God for their bloud but it was said vnto them that they should rest a little while vntill their fellow seruantes were also killed The sixt seale being opened the iudgement of God vpon the persecutors of his chuch the horror of their conscience and the anguish of their mindes was declared in these wordes And the kings of the earth and the great men hid themselues in dens and among the rocks saying Rocks fal on vs and hide vs from the presence of him that sitteth vpon the throne 12.13.14.15.16.17 The seuenth seale being opened prefigured the beginning of aeternall rest Now marke what the holy Ghost discouereth vpon the sound of the seuen trumpets Reu. 8 it makes plaine all that was betweene the birth of Christ and the end of the world THe first and second trumpet hath relation and sit cohaerence to the church of Ephesus and the church of Smirma and to the opening of the first and second seale that is to say to the first 300 yeares after Christ The euent demonstrated is first the persecution of the church by the Romane Emperours whose cruelties were so sharpe bloudie that they are represented by the tearmes of haile and fire mingled with bloud this storme of persecution fell vpon Christs husbandrie so that the third part of the trees that is to say the third part of the people and all the greene grasse meaning the ministers bedued with spirituall grace yeelding plentie of food vnto their flocke were burnt vp and consumed The iustice of God vpon these persecutors in afflicting them with horrible warres which like a great mountaine burning like fire was cast into the turbulent sea of their tumultuous estate so that the third part of their dominions was replenished with bloud-shead the third part of their subiects slaine and the third part of their prouinces cities and gouernments which are resembled to shippes sayling vpon the sea of that Empire was destroyed The third Trumpet is answerable to the church of Pergamus and to the opening of the third seale representing the time from 300 yeares after Christ till the yeares 640. Superstition and idolatrie the doctrine of Balaam and scandalous endeuours of Balac the blacke horse of darkenesse ignorance and famine of Gods word began then to take roote And before the end of those yeares as this trumpet declareth a great starre no lesse than the Bishop of Rome fel from heauen burning like a torch and it fell into the third part of the riuers that is into the third part of the doctrine of the church and into the fountaine of waters that is into the principall points of religion And the name of the starre is called Wormewood or Corruption and the third part of the waters became as wormewood that is corrupt and false doctrine The fourth trumpet according to the times of the church of Thiatira and the opening of the fourth seale that is from the yeare of our Lord 640 to the yeare 980. In this time the Romish Iesabel had taken heart and deceiued the children of God and made them commit spirituall fornication In these times the pale horse of the hypocritical church of Rome was farre onward on his race carrying Death vpon his back and haling hell after him hauing power ouer the fourth part of the earth and killing with the sword with famine and with death no maruell then if this trumpet telleth vs In those daies the third part of the sun that is the Euangelicall light and the third part of the moone that is of the church which receiueth all her light of Gods word and the third part of the starres that is of the pastours and ministers were darkned and the day was smitten that is the doctrine both of the gospel and of the law was so darkened and so corrupted that they wanted the light wherewith they should haue illuminated their mindes Reu. 9 1.2.3 The fift trumpet agreeth with the times and state of the church of Sardie and with the opening of the fift seale In the ending of the period of yeares of the church of Sardie at the which Antechrist was growne to his full greatnesse and had set vp by publicke order the adoration of the sacrament and thereby brought in an idoll to be worshipped as God which was decreed at the councell of Laterane the yeare of our Lord 1315 and within seuen or eight yeares after no doubt generally receiued in the churches of Christendome we see the wordes of Daniell perfourmed taking his daies for yeares and from the time that the daily sacrifice shal be taken away which was abolished at Christs passion the idoll or desolation set vp there shall be 1290 daies which pointeth to the
their wealth to suppresse the truth and by long delaies so to impouerish their aduersary as they should neuer be able to bring the cause to hearing haue in the bitternesse of their heart and in the heat of their furie vttered these words I will not leaue him worth a great I will make him daunce the beggers galliard before I haue done with him with such other cruell and vnchristian speeches And these and such like minded men for the better effecting of this their wicked intention labor and endeuour to seeke vnto themselues such lawyers as will sit their humors wherevpon if God for the hardening of their hearts doe send them vnto to such a one then they haue their desire if otherwise they light vpon such a lawyer that will not fauour nor further that their extreame bitternesse and cruelty then they themselues partly by wrong informations giuen to their lawyer and partly by other subtill and secret practises find out the means to delay lengthen their suits and to hold detaine and keepe both themselues and their aduersaries in long and tedious actions to the poore mens great decay and impouerishment if not to their vtter vndoing By means whereof the law is euill spoken of and the lawyers are slaundered whereas indeed the law it selfe is good and holy and may be well vsed and so is by a great many of the professours thereof and when it is otherwise administred the fault is not in the law but in the practisers thereof that are defectiue either in learning or conscience but most commonly in the clients themselues Parishioner As you thought me to speake ill of Lawyers vpon spleene onely by reason of some grieuance receiued by or from some of them so I thinke that you speake well of Lawyers by reason of some fauour or good done vnto you by some Lawyer as partly it appears by the dedication of your booke There were many better men and greater in account more likely to gratifie you than a Lawyer Pastor Esa 15 20.21 As he that iustifieth the wicked is subiect to woe so he that condemneth the godly is subiect to woe as it is a sinne to arrogate for him that deserueth ill so it is a sinne to derogate from him that deserueth well you can not denie but all that I haue said concerning the law and the professours generally is true And whereas you seeme to charge me with some benefit past which makes me partiall I confesse that euen he was the pleader and that by his learning and paines yea without fee he deliuered me from a greedy Informer who through his subtiltie and my simplicitie had condemned me in a hundred marks more than I was worth to which worshipful Lawyer I dedicate this my labour thinking it a sufficient gratification in that it pleaseth him to patronize the same and me also who as a poore Doue among Kites Crowes am throwne into the world into many dangers and hard aduentures whose loue and faithfull friendship towards me I assure my selfe is sealed and deliuered whose readinesse likewise to helpe all such as are helplesse if it be desired and whose vprightnesse in his profession towards all hath many yeares appeared And shall I suffer this man to be obscure no no I will not no he is not no if I you and 1000 more with vs both tooke in hand to dimme that he hath done the saincts in earth would praise him and the angels in heauen would pray for him that God might regard and reward him Carpturum alios immaculatum esse oportet Parishioner For my question I rest satisfied Now therefore I pray you what is your opinion and iudgement of Phisitions they robbe men of their liuings and spoile men of their liues vnder the pretence of doing good they heale few and kil many Pastor PHisicke is a preseruer of health Hipocrates De arte and the repulser of sicknesses Phisicke is a putting too and a taking from that is to say It doth adde encrease strengthen and augment good blood where it is decaied by age by imperfection of nature by surfait or by any other means howsoeuer and it doth take away cut off kill destroy purge or by some such way it doth discharge the body of that which is ouer aboue nature as of chollor rheume corrupt blood impostumes c. The body of man is subiect to infinite diseases and therefore through the corruption therof it is likened by the holy Ghost Esa 6 4. to a filthie clout or the cloath of a menstruous woman Exo 9.9.17 2. King 1 2. 2. Cron. 11 14. It is subiect to the leprosie to the pluresie to the dropsie to the frensie to the palsie to the botch to the canker and to other infinit diseases which will soone infect ouerrunne and destroy the body if it be not aided maintained supported and defended by Phisicke whence our sauiour Christ said The whole haue no need of the Phisition as well to confound the opinion of those that trusted in their owne righteousnes as also to shew that it was a matter necessarie requisite Mat. 9 22. that he which was sicke should seeke to the Phisition Answerable to this Eccle. 38 1. c. Iesus the grandfather and Iesus the nephew gaue in commaundement highly to esteeme and reuerently to account of the Phisition with this great word Honor which indeed is a word of great dignitie and commonly yeelded to Lords of nobilitie Honor saith he the Phisition with that honor which is due vnto him which is as much to say He deserueth to be honored it doth pertaine vnto him it is his right and his duetie to be had in aestimation and to be reuerenced not because it doth any way good vnto him not that he hath any vse of thy honour reuerence or seruice but in respect of thy owne necessitie for thine owne need thou shalt haue continuall occasion to vse him Honor therefore the Phisition because of necessitie And for another reason he is to be honored because the Lord hath created him the Lord hath ordained and constituted him forthy sake and for thy good as thou wilt not be found to neglect the good gifts the good ordinances of almightie God Honor the Phisition A third reason enforceth this honor to weet his studie his calling and his profession which commeth of God his maiestie hath created it he it is that hath instituted and ordained it If Phisicke be not the ordinance of Almightie God I would faine know what vse haue we of diuerse roots hearbs flowers trees plants licours and many other things in beasts in foules in fish and creeping creatures whose effects are verie strange and wonderfull all working the health and preseruation of mans bodie or were they created in vaine we haue in our knowledge no other vse of the Rose than the sight the sappe and the sauour yet it hath many other excellent vses and effects simple or compounded What shal