God may haue the glory and Gods people the benefit For such purposes this and the like Chappels are built and consecrated not to be cages for idolatry or chanteries for superstition in an vnknowne tongue or theaters for will-worship to any Saints or Angells or conventicles for factions or Receptacles to vent our spleene or display our follies or shelters for our hypocrisie but for the perpetuall celebrating of Gods great Name who delighteth to dwell among those that dedicate themselues vnto him and serue him in truth and syncerity not as humane wisdome prescribeth but as he himselfe commandeth Grant therefore O most gracious God that our negligence in frequenting them or our pride in slighting them or our coldnesse in vsing them or prophanenesse in abusing them or our sacriledge in robbing them or our contentions in troubling thē or our errours in tainting thē or our barbarousnes in polluting them be not an hinderance to the fructifying of thy Word and Sacraments the propagating of thy Gospell and the hearing of our faithfull prayers and hearty devotions in them Let thine eyes bee alwaies open on this place to take notice in it of our wants thine Eares to receiue our supplications thy hands to relieue all our necessities Blesse him and his that founded it thy Reverend Servant that hath now consecrated it vs and all our successors in the continuall and happy injoying it through the merits and mediation of thy Sonne CHRIST IESUS To whom with thee the HOLY GHOST be all honour and glory both now and ever AMEN IOHN 6.14 Then these men when they had seene the miracle that IESVS did Said This is of a truth that Prophet that should come into the world MY Text sorts with the time wherein we celebrate the Advent of the Prophet which the people here proclaymed was come into the world and the course of the Gospells appointed to be yearely read on Sundaies in our Church Liturgie The 25. Sunday after Trinity is closed with the very same words of the comming of this Prophet The miracle of feeding fiue thousand men besides women and children in a desart place with fiue barly loues only and two little Fishes which drew from the people this acknowledgment of the comming of this Prophet is registred by the three other Evangelists Math. 14. Marke 6. Luke 9. with some little variation of some circumstances But this notable confession and profession of the multitude was reserued as it should seeme by the holy Ghost for that Evangelists relation who had discouered before from his Masters bosome Iohn 1.14 That the word was made flesh and dwelt among vs and we beheld his glory as the glory of the only begotten Sonne of the Father full of grace and truth In a dispute in the former Chapter with the Iewes of Ierusalem who tooke vpon them to be extraordinary zealous for their Sabbaths and Moses Law with what invincible arguments doth our Saviour make good That he was HEE that should come and that they were not to looke for any other Hee proues it by the testimony of his Father proclayming it from heauen in his Baptisme and his manifest joynt working with him He proues it by Iohn Baptist whom they held for a Prophet and to whom they had sent to knowe and what could bee fuller then Iohn Baptists testimony He that comes after me is before mee And behold the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world Hee proues it by the Scriptures their owne grounds and those he vrgeth them to search and see whether they did not testifie of him or no. Hee further addeth Moses to proue it in whom they trusted and if yee beleeued him saith he you would haue beleeued me for he wrote of me Last of all besides all this if an vnquestionable miracle might be more prevalent such a miracle they had also in the cure of the man at the poole of Bethesda who had layne there for remedy eight and thirty yeares But that will satisfie perverse praejudice and obdurate malice Professors of religigion for their owne glory and gaine will hardly be brought to yeeld though never so plainly convinced For how can yee beleeue saith our Saviour ver 44. which receaue honour one of another and seeke not the honour that commeth from God onely Chap. 12.43 That loue the praise of men more then the praise of God This was the rot that had then infected the Iewish Synagogue and happy had it beene for Christians if it had there stayed Let a miracle of our Saviours be never so important they wil persecute and seeke to slay him because hee did it on the Sabbath day Chap. 5. v. 16. One calumny or other they must needes finde out to set a colour vpon their owne proceedings cast aspersions vpon his actions and doctrine But must Christ then haue no Church because some of those chiefest Church-men were opposite to him It appeares here to bee otherwise Him whom those leaders forsake in pollicy the Inferiours in simplicity follow Math. 14. They follow him from the Townes and Villages striuing who should be the formost they follow him with their wiues and children little regarding the incumbrances They follow him into a desart place not thinking what wants and hazards they might meet with Mark 6. and this they finde at the hands of the bountifull Master they followed He compassionats them as Sheepe without a Sheapheard teaching them many things makes them a miraculous feast to send them away with content beyond all exception or expectation And then these men when they had seene the Miracle that JESVS did said This is of a truth that Prophet that should come into the World 2. The words then are an Acknowledgement of the multitude that the promised Prophet was come into the world and that IESVS who did that miracle was He. Wherein may it please you to take notice of these two Generals 1. Due observation Then those men when they had seene the miracle that Iesus did said 2. True inference This is of a truth that Prophet that should come into the world To inferre without precedent observation is rashnesse and to obserue and make nothing of it Idle speculation Many are very curious and censorious in the first who fall short in the latter and others are so precipitant in the latter that they conclude often times without the praemisses of the first The practice therefore of these simple people herein appeareth more rationall then the hastinesse of many greater Schollers These would see before they said would not lay of a truth before they were throughly assured that there could bee no falshood in it Which falleth vpon the first part the due observation and in that order as the Text leadeth commeth first to be discussed 3. Then these men when they had seene the miracle that Iesus did Said In this observation we may well take notice of 1. The Observers These men 2. The
that offences come for our Saviour hath spoken it but woe be vnto the man by whom the offence commeth Let every one therefore of vs bee religious and carefull to amend one that by this amendment of the particulars the whole may be right Psal 15. Lord who shall dwell in thy tabernacle and who shall rest vpon thy holy hill Not those that will set vp Prelates to depose Princes or those that maintaine a faction to plucke downe Prelates but he that leadeth an vncorrupt life and doth the thing that is right and speaketh the truth from his heart He that vseth no deceipt in his tongue or doth no evill to his neighbour and hath no slaundered his neighbour much lesse spoken evill of the rulers of his people And now B. if our equalls and inferiours are not to be ill spoken of what apologies can these silly dreamers pretend they are the words of Saint Iude that despise dominions V. 8. and speake evill of Dignities If Michael the Archangell durst not bring against the Divell himselfe in a disputation a railing accusation darest thou as it were in cold blood to vpbraid Rulers not Rulers only of others Baruch 1.11 but Rulers of thy people Last of all if Nebuchodonozor must be prayed for and Balshasar his sonne who as we all know heavily oppressed the people of God 1. Tim. 3.1 what supplications and prayers intercessions and giuing of thankes that I may end with our Apostles exhortation as I began with his precept are to be rendred to God from vs of this Land that our most gratious Ruler of his people his Royall Queene their hopefull Progeny and all that be in authority vnder him may liue a quiet and peaceable life in all Godlinesse and Honesty to the punishment of wickednesse and vice and to the maintenance of Gods true religion and vertue as long as the Sunne and Moone in dureth This grant O King of Kings for thy Sonne Christ Iesus sake to whom with thee and the holy Ghost bee all honour and glory world without end Amen THE DRAVGHT OF THE BROOKE A SERMON PREACHED AT THE COVRT BY IOHN PRIDEAVX Rector of Exceter Colledge His MAIESTIE'S Professor in Divinity in the Vniversity of OXFORD OXFORD Imprinted by LEONARD LICHFIELD Anno Salutis 1636. PSALME 110.7 Hee shall drinke of the brooke in the way therefore shall he lift vp the Head THe author of this Psalme is David as the title sheweth but the subiect Christ as appeareth by the application in the new Testament where eight times at least we finde it repeated 1. To proue our Saviour more then a man and greater then David Matth. 22. Mar. 12. and Luk. 20.2 To confirme the excellency of his nature and place to surmount the Angells and his Priesthood Aarons Heb. 1.7.8 cap. 3. To iustify his resurrection and ascention Act. 2.4 And last of all to assure vs of his absolute conquest and everlasting dominion 1. Cor. 15. Vpon these grounds the Auncients by Cassiodorus collection terme it the summe of our faith the looking-glasse of heauenly secrets the treasure of holy writ verbis brevis sensu infinitus saith Augustine short in words but in sense infinite Theodoret notes how it is connected with the Psalme going before which is not vsual There saith he we haue his crosse and sufferings here his conquest and trophyes For first he cometh forth as the heire apparent of the Almighty the brightnesse of his glory and the expresse Image of his person graced with title 1. My Lord 2. Place Sit thou on my right hand 3. Power vntill I make thyne enemies thy foot-stoole v. first The second vers limiteth out the beginning of his kingdome Sion The extent the midst of his enemies Amongst whom his Propheticall office shall worke such an alteration that as the drops of dew are numberlesse which pearle from the wombe of the teeming morning So his volunteers shall be that at the striking vp of the Gospells alarum shall repaire to the ensignes of his holy worship vers 3. Those his Priestly office warrantable for calling firme for continuance free from succession shall expiate refine and offer vp as acceptable sacrifices to God the Father v. 4. Their opposites whether Kings or heads of Nations shall feele the waight of his strokes and dynt of his sword to their vtter overthrow and confusion v. 5.6 And yet notwithstanding all this this Prophet this Priest this King he to whom so vnspeakable honour assigned so many trophies fore-prophecied so may triumphes decreed must be content to travell before he sit at ease suffer before hee enioy obey before hee rule stoop and bend bow to drinke of the troubled brooke of this worlds calamities before he lift vp his head to take possession of the crowne of glory 2 He shall drinke of the brooke in the way therefore shall he lift vp the head When the two disciples vpon the way to Emmaus intimated to our Saviour then to them vnknowne that the condemnation and crucifying of Iesus of Nazareth which they had seene him vndergoe with much disgrace and perplexity had beaten them from the conceit that he should be the Messias whom they expected should be an other-gates man they receiue this sharpe reply to settle their wauering rouse vp their dulnesse Luk. 24. O fooles and slow of heart to beleeue all that the Prophets haue spoken ought not Christ to suffer those things and so enter into his glory That he ought so long before our Prophet could here haue informed them sufficiently Herod may bee troubled at his birth as ominous to his vsurped title His disciples dreame of a temporall Monarchy and Zebedee's wife for her children plot for preferment in it but the decree proclamation went ever that this Kingdome should not be of this world This King must here find rebellion this Prophet and Priest opposition this Conquerour after much travell and sweat incounters and hazards attaine the crown of victory No other way to this victory but by a brooke no passage at this brooke without drinking Be the water never so turbulēt muddy no turning aside to search for better for better in so durty away there may not be expected And this was to be foretold saith Remigius ne subitò veniens horreretur sed creditum expectaretur Least comming on a sudden it should affright and not be expected as a thing formerly beleeued The words then you see Beloued containe as it were the Iornall or gestes of our Lord and Saviour in his progresse through this vale of misery where We meete with his 1 Humiliation he shall drinke of the brooke in the way 2 Exaltation Therefore shall he lift vp the head The first is in his temporall passage vpon the way the second at his perpetuall residence at his standing house That head which in the second place shall be lifted vp to raigne in the first with all submission must be bowed downe to drinke This was began in
iubetur Diabolus recedere vt Reliquiae sanctorum introducantur Beltar V.S. For my owne part I may professe it goeth beyond my Logicke But the prettiest exposition of all followeth that by the knocking of the Bishop as you haue heard at the Church doore the Divell is dislodged and as it were by a Writ De Eiectione Firmi forced to giue possession to the Saints Reliques a Vincent l. 23. c. 26. Gaguinus de gestis Francorum l. 3. Cranzius in Saxonia l. 1. c. 22. Fulgosus lib. 1. c. 6. which then are to make an entry Now who would ever haue suspected that the Divell had possessed all such places before Consecration more then any other except these men had told vs of it who perhaps are better acquainted with him then our poore Ministers are You haue the substance of their Doctrine Beloued which yet to make passable with those that must not examine it they haue Legends of Miracles to confirme They tell vs that divers of their Churches haue beene consecrated by Christ himselfe and his Apostles b Fanum virginis Mariae An. 948. Sep. 13. in Vigiliam Exaltationis S. crucis Another by Saint Michael the Archangell of a third at whose consecration was seene a c Gregorius Turonen sis de gloria confessorum cap. 20. Globe of fire that filled all the Oratory with a brightnesse terrifying the beholders They would make vs beleeue that at such times d Sigebertus in Chronico wicked spirits haue beene heard to howle complaine that they haue beene forcibly dispossessed of their Tenements e Greg. Dialog lib. 3. c. 7. citat Bellarm. and that the Divell hath beene seene in such cases to flye from the Church or Chappell in the shape of a filthy Sow f Vid. Hosp de Templ l. 4. What should I speake of our Saint Dunstane who when water wanted for the like solemnity stroke the ground with his Episcopall Staffe and presently there spouted forth a Spring The same good Father at another time being to dedicate a Church which stood not just East and West made no more adoe but set his shoulders to the building and presently it was rectified as hee would haue it Last of all when a Church built to Saint Peters honour was to bee consecrated by Melito I thinke Bishop of London the good Saint came the night before and prevented the Bishop whereof hee sent him word by an honest Fisher-man and withall an extraordinary Fish caught at that time in the Thames miraculously by the same poore man with divers others that the Bishop should not take it vnkindly Where Surius who relates the story assures vs further De vitis sanctorum ex Ealredo Anglo Abbate Rhieuallensi that when the Bishop the next day came to view the Church he found the two Alphabets drawne crosse wise vpon the pauement the Reliques of 12 lamps sticked to so many crosses the wals in so many places anointed with holy Oyle and all the place wet as it were with the fresh sprinkling of Holy water just in the same manner as now the Popish Pontificalls say it should be 10 These things haue I related the more largely Beloued in regard that such occasions as these seldome fall out to acquaint the younger sort with these Romish mysteries the notice whereof may giue you a taste how inclinable the Italian humours are alwaies to play the Mountebankes and how blessed our case is who so fairely are freed from them As our Founders disclaime all merit so our Reverend Bishops as you see pretend no Miracles to credit their Consecrations Such devices we leaue to them who haue no better warrant to justify their actions It sufficeth vs that all things be done 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. Cor. 14.40 and tend to edification without superstition as the Apostle in such cases hath directed vs. Surius himselfe out of that great Legendary Metaphrastes relates that Auxibius S. Mark 's Disciple when he dedicated a Church as our Chappell is at this present vsed no other ceremonies but a devout forme of prayer the pith whereof is set downe in these words Benigne Clemens Deus c. Most bountifull and mercifull God send thy holy spirit to inhabit in this sacred House which is built to the worship of thy Holy Name and confirme and establish it to be vnalterable for the profession of thy pure doctrine even vnto the end of the world And haue we not this ground from the Apostle himselfe That every creature is sanctified by the word of God and Prayer 1. Tim. 3.5 And what is Sanctification but that in generall which Consecration is in speciall a severing of Places Persons and Things from common vse by deputing them through convenient rites to Gods peculiar worship and service This procured heretofore respect to the Things reverence to the Persons and an awfull regard in mens behaviours as often as they entred into such sanctified places But all this is much decayed in the loosenesse of these latter times Impudency pleads prescription for greater presumption more commonly in such Houses and Assemblies then would bee tolerated before a Chaire of State or a common Court of Iustice Nay that Pupill or servant who in a Colledge quadrangle will honour his Master at least with a Cap. in a Church at Sermon time will make bold to affront him covered howsoeuer he stand bare to deliuer Gods message This irreverence would aske a rougher hand beloued then this time affords mee to lay on it What are wee worse men in the Church or Pulpit then we are abroad Or doth Gods House or Service detract that from vs herein which otherwise is acknowledged due and commonly performed without gain-saying Exod. 3.5 Ioshua 5.13 Moses and Ioshua must off with their shooes because the ground is holy whereon they trod Women must be seemely covered in such places 1. Cor. 11.10 Math. 18.23 because of the Angels and is not our Saviour himselfe by promise in the midst of them where two or three are gathered together in his name and especially in such consecrated places Take heed therefore as the Preacher catechizeth thee not only to thy foote but to thy Head Hands and Heart Eccles 5.1 when thou entrest into the House of God and be more ready to heare then to offer the sacrifice of fooles Bellar. de cult fanct l. 3. c. 5. Not for the inherent sanctity of the place which our Adversaries presse too farre but through the obiectiue Holinesse adherent to it by Christ's promises sacred meetings vnited devotion ioynt participating of the Word and Sacraments liuely incitements through others examples In such a consecrated place 1. Sam. 3. Samuel faithfully ministring became a great Prophet David a King preferred the Portership before the most pleasant Tents of Worldlings Psal 84.10 Luk. 2.28 Psal 65.4 old Simeon had the honour to get Christ into his armes Blessed is the
Merchandise of you Secondly Presumptuous and selfe-willed detractours that despise government Ib. 10.12 are not afraid to speake ill of Dignities and as naturall brute beasts made to be taken and destroyed speake evill of the things they vnderstand not Thirdly sensuall Epicures that count it pleasure to riot Ib 13.14 hauing eyes full of Adultery that cannot cease from sinne Fourthly false-hearted vndertakers like Balaam the sonne of Bosor who loued the wages of vnrighteousnesse tampering much Ib. 15. and performing nothing not so wise as the Asse he rode vpon and this whole messe we haue in the former chapter But the fift sort followes in this more desperate then any of the former for these are Scoffers and Atheists 3.3 that mocke at Religion and bend all their learning and wit to dispute against it Tell them of the end of the world the resurrection of the dead or the comming of Christ to Iudgement these will reply for ought they can perceiue V. 6. things stand as they did at the beginning and so are like ever to continue For since the Fathers fell asleepe the sonnes haue followed in the same trace and in the revolution of so many thousand yeares there hath appeared in that behalfe no great shew of change Now against such miscreants our Apostle binds his maine forces and stirreth vp his dispersed countrymen to sticke close to the holy Prophets and Apostles For assure your selues saith hee that as the world had a beginning and once perished by water so hereafter it shall haue an end V. 6. and whatsoever these mockers prate be consumed with fire Neither thinke you this time long a comming V. 7. for though it seeme so to vs it is otherwise with God to whom one day is as a thousand yeares and a thousand yeares V. 8. are as one day It is his long suffering as it were that puts backe the clocke that we might take the opportunity to repent and be the better provided But come it shall and that suddenly as a thiefe in the night V. 9. Appeare it shall and that most terrible V. 10. when the Heavens shall passe away with a great noise the elements melt with fervent heat this earth and all the stately buildings and workes therein shall be vtterly burnt But howsoever this vniversall combustion shall ruine the fabricke of this world and involue those desperate wretches in it that set their hearts vpon it yet you it shall not touch at all to procure you the least trouble Let the foundations of the earth sinke away vnder our feete our habitations totter about our eares the aire faile our nostrills the Heavens aboue to cover vs or to giue vs light Neverthelesse we shall not be vnprovided of a better habitation For wee according to his promise looke for a new Heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousnesse 2 My Text therefore sets forth the helpes and hopes that every good Christian may depend vpon when all this world failes him In which may it please you to obserue 1. His Exemption in these words Neverthelesse we 2. His Evidence he hath to shew for this Exemption Gods promise According to his promise 3. The Tenure or Manner of holding this his evidence it is not in possession but expectation Wee looke for 4 The contents of this Tenure New Heavens a New earth 5. The excellency of those Contents wherein dwelleth Righteousnesse What can the heart of every true Beleeuer more desire then here is put home vnto it What can be more firme assurance then here is laid before vs The Horrors of the last Assises be they never so terrible thy vnquestionable Evidences shall quit thee Let this worlds vncertainties be never so dangerous thou canst not be put by thy Expectation for future possession This Possession is no lesse then the perpetuall inheritance of New Heauens and a New Earth not liable to quarrelling or Law suites which this world is full of because in that dwells righteousnesse without shadow of change or interruption Of these Particulars as they lye as God shall assist me and your Christian patience with the time giue scope And first of the first which is the true Christians Exemption included in these words Neverthelesse we 3 The particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Originall for which we haue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Syriacke is not here so much continuatiue as adversatiue opposed to the dangers before mentioned Notwithstanding though all the world be in Combustion and the wicked in the vtmost despaire cry to the mountaines to fall vpon them and the Hills to cover them yet with the followers of the Lambe it shall goe well they shall then be exempted both from troubles and terrours which sheweth the vnspeakable priviledge of Gods servants aboue all the world besides Iust as in the hideous storme of fire and Brimstone vpon Sodome and the cities of the Plaine God remembred Abraham saith the text and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow So in this vniversall and finall destruction the children of God shall be remembred As Daniel in the Lions denne they shall be rescued not a haire of their heads shall bee sindged nor smell of fire passe vpon them as happened to the children in the Babylonish fornace David in the 91. Psalme triumphantly sings out this Priviledge Who so dwells vnder the defence of the most highest shall abide vnder the shadow of the Almighty His wings shall protect him his feathers shall cover him his faithfulnesse and truth shall be his shield and Buckler The snare of the Hunter the noysome Pestilence the Noone Divell as both the 72. and the vulgar giue it or as the Chalday Paraphrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Daemon Meridianus the whole company of Divels when thousands shall fall besides him and ten thousands at his right hand shall not come neare him Lions and Adders and Dragons shall be securely trampled vnder his feete For he shall giue his Angels charge over them to keepe them in all their waies And howsoever worldlings thinke and speake contemptuously of this sort of people yet the Apostle giues them their due that they are a chosen Generation a Royall Priest-hood a holy Nation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. Pet. 2.9 a purchased company by no lesse then the dearest bloud of our Lord and Saviour Christ Iesus If these mourne they shall be comforted when they weepe Math. 5. God will wipe off their teares Rev. 7. They startle not or shrinke at any evill tidings Though they walke in the valley and shadow of death Psal 112. Psal 23. there is a rod and a staffe that frees them from disasters when all worldly protection and supersedeas'es proue out of date Titles of all civill honour haue their period Lawes and statutes of men may no longer priviledge then this Exemptio clericorum will bee of perpetuall force and retaine his full power strength