his goods and children and great dolours which he constantly endured in his body then the paines trauailes and great patience which Iosua had to discomfort the 32. Kings of the Cananites Let vs then conclude that the patience which Faith bringeth vnto vs and produceth in vs is a very excellent and laudable vertue and which maketh vs not onely Inuincible against the temptations and sleights vsed against vs by our enemies but also victorious so that wee may say that the wicked in their rage are matter for God to jllustrate and magnifie his glory in the faithfull who surmount them in their patience and magnanimitie ¶ The Seauenth effect of Faith Humilitie FAith also produceth from the faithfull Humilitie which is the Queene of vertues and that which God doth most accompt of in vs. For it is also the principall and without the which all the others are reputed as nothing before him And as sayth S. Augustine It is of no lesse importance in Pietie and Religion then the pronountiation in Rethorick And as Demosthenes beeing demanded what was the principall part thereof answered that it was the good grace and comlynesse which men had well to prononce and expresse the conceits of their mindes also that good father sayd to this purpose that if any one demanded him what was the first vertue of Christians he answered that it was humilitie by the which men descending into themselues hauing well and diligently examined themselues come to know themselues and the great jmperfections which are in them as ignorance the disordinate affections the passions the desires that inclination to vice which is in them that contrarietie which is in their nature to the will of God to all his ordinances which causeth that humbling themselues before God they remit themselues holy to him jmploring his mercy and seeking in his goodnesse that which wanteth in their nature The which they would neuer doe of themselues for naturally we are all jnclyned to presume of our selues and to esteeme of our selues a great deale more then wee are worth and wee hold that of our first parents and of the Diuell whose pride was the cause of their ruine the which could neuer haue been repayred but by the contrarie that is to say by the humility of our Saviour Iesus Christ Phil. 2. who beeing in the forme of God thought it no robberie to bee equall with God But hee made himselfe of no reputation and tooke on him the forme of a seruant and was made like vnto men and was found in shape as a man he humbled himselfe and became obedient vnto death and to the death of the crosse The which was the cause of blotting out the presumption of our first parents and the onely remedie to heale the wound which they had giuen themselues and all there posteritie Now wee must be very curious to purchase this humilitie for without it we cannot please God who looketh on the humble both in heauen in earth as sayth the Prophet Psalm 113. Who is like vnto the Lord our God that hath his dwelling on high who abaseth himselfe to behold things in Heauen and Earth he rayseth the needy out of dust and lifteth vp the poore out of the dung That he may set him with the Princes and with the Princes of his people And also Psal 146. The Lord giueth sight to the blind the Lord raiseth vp the crooked the Lord loueth the righteous And in an other place Psal 147. He hath no pleasure in the strength of a Horse neither delighteth he in the legs of man But the Lord delighteth in theÌ„ that feare him and attend vpon his mercy It is marvaile that men who are so wretched and miserable The original of man that there is no creature in the world that surmounts them in this poynt neverthelesse they thinke they surmount them all in sufficiency glory and felicity wherein they shew the height of their miseries For as S. Augustine sayth in his booke of Confessions There is nothing more miserable then hee that hath not pittie of himselfe and of his owne miserie Wee are environed with sinne and with all the evils and miseries that it draggeth after it and â—otwithstanding we neither know nor â—eele it As the Apostle confesseth of â—imselfe Rom. 7. that in the time of his jgnoâ—ance he did not know that the concuâ—iscence that is to say the great and horrible corruptioÌ„ which is in mans naâ—ure was sinne if by the law it had not beene taught him It is that which causeth that wee desire alwayes to glorifie â—ur selues in our selues and never to acâ—nowledge that in God consisteth all â—ur glory as Dauid confesseth Psal 3. But thou Lord art a buckler for me my glory and â—he lifter vp of my head Psalm 44. I doe not trust â—n my bow nor can my sword saue me But â—hou hast saued vs from our aduersaries and hast put them to confusion that hate â—s Therefore will wee praise God continually and will confesse thy name for euer It is that which the Apostle teacheth vs 1. Cor. 4. saying What hast thou that thou hast not receaued and if thou hast receaued all that is laudable in thee why doest thou boast as if thou haddest not receaued it And elsewhere Rom. 3. Thy glory is shut vp by the Law of Faith which teacheth that what thou art thou art by the only grace and mercy of God Rom. 4. And wherefore do we call our selues vessels of mercy if it bee not to giue vs to vnderstand that we are filled with the mercy of God to couer our miserie Why are wee also called chosen to honour 2. Tim. 2. if it be not to teach vs that God hath filled vs with his glory for to cover our jgnorance and shame Let vs then say with Dauid Psal 40. Blessed is the man that maketh the Lord his trust and regardeth not the prowd nor such as turne aside to lyes Let vs againe say with him Psal 131. Lord mine heart is not hawty neither are mine eyes loftie neither haue I walked in great matters and hid from me Luc. 19. And let vs call to our remembrance that which Iesus Christ sayd that that which is great before men is abhominable before God Ioh. 12. and that the great men of this world ordinarily loue better the glory of men then that of God which is the cause that few among theÌ„ beleiue in Iesus Christ as he himselfe witnesseth in S. Iohn that the principall sayd among them selues there is none but these poore jdiots that follow him is there any of the principall that haue beleeued in him For as hee saith It is impossible that those that desire the glory of men can belieue in God as he also sayth in S. Mathew That the poore Mat. 11. that is to say Ioh. 5. those that know and feele their pouerty and their miserie are onely those that are
bee a refuge for the poore a refuge in due time euen in affliction And they that know thy name will trust in thee for thou Lord hast not failed them that seeke thee Wherevppon must be obserued Vse of the knowledg of God that the Prophet presupposeth that wee should know God that is to say his power his goodnesse his promises and his truth before wee can be capable to put all our trust and assurance in him and to relye in all our affaires vpon his prouideÌ„ce And wherfore is it said that Iesus Christ is the light of the wolrd Iohn 9 which lighteneth all men If it be not to giue vs to vnderstand that we cannot haue any faith nor hope for life thereby if first we be not illuminated in a true knowledge of his word the which for this reason calleth himselfe the light of life and science of saluation Why also sayth the Apostle that the sensuall man hath no knowledge of Gods matters Luc. 2. and that of him selfe he cannot know them at all if it be not to giue vs to vnderstand that wee must be illuminated and regenerated by the spirit of God To the end that beeing made spirituall and faithfull we may bee capable to receaue the life which by Faith is administred vnto vs and by the spirit of God The faithfull people exhort one an other to go vp into the mountaine of the Lord to learne his wayes and to walke in them giuing there by to vnderstand that to edifie our selues in the Faith loue obedience and feare of God It was required to heare his word preached and expounded in the middest of the assemblie Which Dauid knowing very well How necessarie this knowledge is and that the frequentation of Christian assemblies was a meanes the fittest that could be choseÌ„ to entertaine himselfe in the faith â—nd feare of God sayd Psal 122. I reioyced when â—hey sayd to me wee will goe into the house â—f the Lord Our feete shall stand in thy Gates O Ierusalem Ierusalem is builded as a Cittie that is compact together â—n it felfe And also Psal 84. O Lord of Hosts how amyable are thy Tabernacles My soule longeth yea and fainteth for the courts of the Lord for myne heart and my flesh reioyce in the liuing God And in the 42. Psalme As the Hart brayeth for the riuers of water so panteth my soule after thee O God My soule thirsteth for God euen for the liuing God When shall I come and appeare before the presence of God And in the 95. Psalme reproaching to the people their obstinacy jncredulitie and jgnorance he sayd Forty yeares haue I contended with this generation and said they are a people that erre in heart for they haue not known my ways Wherefore I sweare in my wrath saying surely they shall not enter into my rest WhervpoÌ„ it euideÌ„tly appeareth From whence proceedes the confusion of the world that the people is jncredulous consequently daÌ„nable before God wheÌ„ he jgnores his waies and is negligent to heare read and meditate his word in the meditation whereof we ought to passe our daies and nights to exercise our selues and by consequent to increase and profit in Faith which is the meanes for justice and life Iesus Christ speaking to the Samaritane to jnstruct her in the faith Iohn 4. and to bring her to the knowledge of her saluation sayd one thing to her which ought to be well marked You worship that which you know not wee worship that which wee know for the saluation is of the Iewes Wherein he sheweth manifestly that the knowledge of the word of God is necessary to trust in him and to call vpon him 1. Cor. 14. Of the vse of preaching the word of God And the Prophesie that is to say the true interpretation of the scripture why is it preferred by the Apostle before all other spirituall guifts If it bee not because that by it wee are led and advanced to the knowledge of the word and promises of God by the which our Faith is nourished and entertained increaseth and profiteth more and more Ephe. 4. Wherfore also did Iesus Christ established in his Church Prophets Apostles Evangelists Pastors and Doctours If not for the assembling of Saints for the worke of the ministrie for the edifying of the body of Christ vntill we all meet in the perfect man by the measure of the perfect stature of Christ that we be no more wauering children and led hither and thither to all windes of doctrine by the deceite of men and by their comming in cantulous seducing CoÌ„clusion it is not without cause that the Apostle sayth Rom. 10. That Faith is by hearing and hearing by the word of God Of whom we ought to learne If then wee will goe on in Faith wee must be curious to heare the word of God not of euery person indifferently for there are some that tauerne it and and make traffique of it but of those that are called and appointed to preach it purely and publikely to the people still for to edifie them more and more and to encrease them in the knowledge and feare of God And the ordinarie people must not abuse themselues trusting vnto that which Papists say vnto them that in their jgnorance they may be saued prouided that they rely vpon the Faith of their Pastors witâ—out seeking any farthar after that which is contained in the Scripture which is a damnable and pernicious errour For all the world of what qualitie and condition soeuer they be must vnderstand his saluation and the things wherevppon it is grounded which is the cause that the Apostle sayth in the Epistle to the Hebrues Heb. 2. For if the word spoken by Angels was stedfast and euery transgression and disobedience receaued a just recompence of reward How shall wee escape if wee neglect so great saluation which at the first beganne to be preached of the Lord and was confirmed vnto vs ward by them that heard it and from thence hee draweth a notable exhortation therefore as sayth the holy Ghost Psal 95. To day if you will heare his voyce harden not your hearts as in Meribath and as in the day of Massah in the wildernesse where your Fathers tempted mee prooued mee though they had seene my workes Fortie yeares haue I contended with this generation and sayd they are a people that erre in heart for they haue not knowne my wayes wherefore I sware in my wrath saying Surely they shall not enter into my rest Also Heb. 4. Let vs feare therefore Least at any time by forsaking the promise of entring into his rest any of you should seeme to be defrauded for vnto vs was the Gospell preached as well as vnto them but the word they heard did not profit them not being coupled with Faith to them that heard It is the reason for the which Moises in his canticle exhorteth with such a grauitie of wordes
a barke vpon the Sea without being able to rest in any place beeing tossed hither and thither with euery winde of Doctrine by the jugling of men Ephe. 4. as sayth the Apostle and by their slight and cautelous seducing Which is nothing answerable to Faith by the which being justified wee haue peace with God through Iesus Christ wee are like vnto the prudent man who hath builded his house vppon a rocke Rom. 5. then the raine fell and the stormes came and the windes blew Mat. 7. and did beate against that house but it did not fall for it was grounded vppon a Rock But whosoeuer heareth these words that I speake The nature of Faith and doth not put there in practise shall be like vnto the man that builded his house vpon the sand when the raine fell and the stormes rose and the winds blew and beate against this house it fell and the ruine thereof is great Dauid also speaking of the faithfull man and of his assurance said They that trust in the Lord Psal 121. shall bee as mount Syon which cannot be remooued but remaineth for euer Saint Paul condemnes those scrupulous people Inconstancie in Religion very dangerous who haue always their consciences troubled with vaine feares and doubts which hinder them from rest and from setling themselues firmely vppon the promises of God saying If you are dead with Christ as concerning the rudiments of the world Coloss 2. why are you charged with ordinances as if you liued in the world To wit eate not taste not touch not All which things ordained by the commaundements and doctrine of men perish with the vse the which haue neuerthelesse some kind of sapience in voluntarie deuotion and humilitie of spirit and insomuch as they spare not the body but haue no regard to the satisfying thereof Remedie thereof Now euery faithfull man must take great heede least hee fall into such a vice which is one of the most dangerous and contrariest to faith that is to say when men are like vnto a spunge which drinketh vp all the lyquors presented therevnto 1. Iohn 4. And that they also lend the eare to all doctrines indifferently without vsing the prudence and counsell which is giuen them to trye their spirits whether they are of God and the doctrines likewise whether they bee conformable to the word of God and to the analogie of Faith Mat. 16. For as sayth Iesus Christ wee ought carefully to beware of the Pharisises leauen knowing that wee cannot mingle neuer so little of it with the good dowe but it will bee corrupted and if when wee will receeue a paiment of any thing that is due vnto vs we are attentyue to way it and to examine it by the sound and otherwises least wee should bee deceaued what ought we to do when it is done of our selues and of the things appertainning to our salvation Mat. 10. Ought wee then indiscreetly to trust all persons that shall speake to vs of it Let vs then bee prudent as Serpents and simple as Doues Of the obiect subiect of Faith It is now time to come to deduce what is the obiect and subiect of Faith that is to say the word of God the which as we haue shewed before being diuided into three parts of the law of the threatnings and of the promises of God The promises of God the promises are those wherevppon Faith principally relieth Because they set before vs the Grace of God his mercy and the remission of our sinnes which are the meanes by the which our consciences are assured and the troubles pacified wherewith they may be disturbed for the lawe of god requiring of vs a whole and perfit righteousnesse which is impossible for vs to obtaine whiles wee are in the world vice corruption and infirmitie withstanding which are in vs which hinder vs from being able to attaine to the of this perfection as also the threatnings propouÌ„ding nothing else vnto vs but the wrath and curse of God it is impossible that by them wee can resolue our selues of the grace and charitie of God who hateth wickednesse as it is written Psal 5. Thou art not a God that loueth wickednesse neither shall euill dwell with â—hee It remaines then to conclude that why Faith hath the promises of God for an obiect that which Faith regardeth is principally the promise of God who setteth his mercie before it and the remission of her sinnes which are the points wherwith Faith is vpheld Faith then regardeth not the traditions of men nor the decrees of Antichrist nor any doctrine other then that of Iesus Christ which was denounced vnto vs as well by himselfe as by his Prophetâ— and Apostles It is the reason for the which God by his Prophet sayd Esay 29. That for nothing and to no purpose the people endeauoured to serue him by the traditions and coÌ„mandements of men Which he cannot allow of considering that which he hath forbiddeÌ„ in his law not to adde nor diminish any thing but onely to obserue that which is there commaunded and contained Now that which is spoken of the commandement by thâ— which our obedieÌ„ce ought to be directed also is it vnderstood of the promise by the which our faith ought to be ruled And as we ought to do nothing but thaâ— which God hath commanded to obay him also ought we to beleeue nothing but what hee hath promised vs seeing the only word of God and that whicâ— is once come forth of his lips is firmâ— and resolute Psal 89. For all that the diuell caâ— say the father and author of lyes all thaâ— which also Antichrist can say and thâ— false Prophets her complices and adherents is nothing else but lying and vanitie wherevpon our Faith being grounded should bee no firmer nor surer then a building set vpon the sand the which being beaten with the winds and waues would presently bee ouerthrowne and cast to the ground The faithfull man must then meditate day and night vpon the word of God But let him principally settle himselfe vpon the thankfull promises of God vpon the which as vpon Pillars and Colloms he ought to stay assure his Faith The promises of God are I Amen in Iesus Christ And to the promises let him adde Iesus Christ who is their warrant and pledge without whome it is jmpossible that the Evangelical promises can be A men vnto him as saith the Apostle that is to say stable and certaine There is the reason why the Apostle sayth that Iesus Christ is the principall matter and subiect of the Gospell 1. Cor. 1. because that by him the opening of the prison is made vnto vs our ransome is payed our sicknesse healed the wrath of God appeased towards vs and his grace is purchased for vs and that in suÌ„m all that he hath done suffered for vs is to assure our faith For his righteousnes his