Commentary on 2 Peter, Commentary on 2 Peter volume 2 · Chapter 3 · Verse 1
VER. I.
This ſecond Epiſtle (Beloved) I now write unto you, in both which I ſtirre up your pure mindes, by way of remembrance.
THE whole Scripture, ſaith Saint Ambroſe, Offic. lib. 1. cap. 32.is convivium Sapientiae, the Banket of Wiſedome; and ſinguli libri ſingula ſunt fercula, the ſeverall Bookes are ſeverall Diſhes. Or an Apothecaries ſhoppe,Baſil. wherein is found ſufficiencie of holy Drugges, to cure all our ſpirituall diſeaſes. Or a bleſſed Treaſurie of heavenly Riches, to ſupply any indigence of our ſoules. An infallible Rule, to keepe us within compaſſe, both for civill and religious allegiance. There bee two ſorts of men that flye out, and ramble from the right way of godlineſſe: the miſ-beleevers, and miſ-livers. To informe the one, and reforme the other, is the great undertaking of the Holy-Ghoſt in this place, and the maine ſcope of his Secretarie, the bleſſed Apoſtle Saint Peter.
Reading this firſt Verſe, wee may well thinke of a Father ſending a Token of love to his children. The Father, is an Apostle: the Token, an Epiſtle: the deare children, thoſe elected and diſperſed Iewes; to whom hee wrote both theſe Letters.
To joyne the ſpirituall Father and his children together in our meditation, as nature hath knit them in relation, Saint Peter commends his love to the Church of the Iewes: for the Church of the Iewes was never caſt away, onelyonly theaRom. 11.17. unbeleevers were broken off. Putata eſt oliva, non amputata: the Body, and ſome of the branches remaine; and wee are graffed into them, not they into us. Wee bring nothing to the Iewes, but wee receive all from them: not onelyonlybRom. 3.2. the oracles of God, but even the Goſpell;cIoh. 4.22. for ſalvation is of the Iewes. The Gentiles doe not make a ſeverall Church by themſelves, for there is but … Church: but they are called to be members of the Church …f the …wes.dIoh. 10.16. … ſheepe I have, that is, the elect Gentile… Them I muſt bring to …hi… fol… that is … Church of the Iewes▪ … doe not ma… …nother fold, nor carry thi… … but bring the Gentiles to the Iewes, th… …ere may be one fold, … then the C…u…ch of Rome, but the Church of the Iewes … Church: and we are not children of the Pope, we find no ſuch adoption; but the ſeed of Abraham, not naturall, but by inſition. The ſame Roote beares us both, the ſame fatneſſe nouriſheth us both: there is no difference betweene the way of ſalvation in the Old Teſtament, and the New, but this: they were the naturall b…an…hes, wee are ingraffed. In gra…fing, there is clay uſed, and bi…ing abo… the Iew is …ound about with a red ligament in regard of circumciſion: wee wi… a white, in reſpect of Baptiſme; at which the Primitive times did put on white garments.
The unbeleeving Iewes indeed are fearefully curſed.eRom. 11.9.10. Let their Table bee made a ſnare, &c. This was their juſt recompence: they were ſtill like ſnares and traps to ſtumble Chriſt; therefore let their Table be made a ſnare, and a trappe, and a ſtumbling blocke unto them. They blinded his eyes, and then ſmote him; theirs are ſmitten with blindneſſe for it. They called him downe from the Croſſe, in mockery: in earneſt the greateſt croſſe is come downe upon them for it. They accuſed him that he would deſtroy the Temple, therefore was their Temple deſtroyed. They charged him to be an enemy to Ceſar their King, now therefore they have neither King nor Ceſar. They bowed his backe with the Croſſe, now their owne backes are alwayes bowed downe: not onelyonly like ſlaves, their bodies are ſubjected to burdens, but like beaſts, they have groveling minds, alwaies on their moneys; as they are indeed the greateſt Vſurers. O curvae in terris animae, & coeleſtium n…nes! Thus isf1 Theſſ. 2.16. the wrath come upon them to the uttermoſt. Yet God had his choſen among them in their greateſt apoſtacie: and it is probable, that the blood of Chriſt did clenſe ſome of thoſe ſoules, that had the aſperſion of his blood on their guilty hands. Still Saint Peter calls them his Beloved; and there is no name of any nation under heaven ſo honourable as the name of a Iew.gRom. 11.18. Boaſt not againſt the branches: for if thou boaſt, thou beareſt not the root, but the root thee. Let us not reproach them, but bleſſe that God who hath now honored us above them.hRom. 9.2. Saint Paul is not more moved with indignation againſt them, as malefactors; than with compaſſion of them, as miſerable wretches.
Beloved.] The thriving of the ſheepe is the glory of the ſhepheard; and Pl…s Paſtor in vulnere gregis ſui vulneratur. The loſſe of a graceleſſe child cannot but grieve the father,Cypr. Ser. de lapſis. though the father, himſelfe were in danger of miſchiefe by that childe: as David mourned for Abſalom, that would have cut his throate. We would have you alſo proſper in this world; but our ſpeciall care and prayer is, that you may thrive in ſpirituall graces, and grow rich in the favour of God.iLuk. 15.22. f As that father rejoyned when his ſonne came home a convert, though he had not a ragge to hang on his backe. To delight in mens ſinnes, is the ſport of devills: recovery from thoſe ſinnes, is the joy of good men and Angels. If wee ſee a man deadly wounded, fetching deepe grones and drawing his laſt breath, wee are moved with pitie. How then ſhould rebellious ſinners, procuring the deſtruction of their own ſoules, wring from us teares of bloud? Wee lament the death of thoſe bodies that ſhall be raiſed in glory: how much more the ruine of thoſe ſoules that ſinke downe to infelicitie? It is poſſible that our griefe for mens offences, may worke a griefe in the offenders: as the ſight of others falling heartily to their meate, brings on our ſtomachs. In ſtead of a ſmile, let us afford all ſinne a teare: our teares may move them to repentance, whom our ſmiles encourage in lewdneſſe.
Beloved.] Love is the ornament of the Church, the ciment of Chriſtianitie.kPſal. 133.1. How good and pleaſant a thing it is, for … together in …? But quam malum & miſerandum, Patr… & filios …? Wh… there is either a defect of paternall office in providing ſpirituall food for the f…ily, or of filiall duty in granting temporall food to … Fathers how miſer…le are the whole houſhold? Love deſcends; it is not poſſible the P…ſtors love ſhould faile to his people … it do… not aſcend ſo certainely; for wee ſee univerſally, that the p…ples lov… …oth …a…le to their Paſtor. It … a que…on, whether naturall Parents …to beloved above the ſpirituall▪ we know that Chriſt preferred his ſpirituall … of thi… fle… ▪ and major eſt …exi… ….Beza. Why … them more that brought us into this ſinnefull and miſerable … thoſe that bring us into a better world, where is neither ſinne nor …ery? Why them, that live with us on earth but awhile, equall to them that ſhall live with us in heaven for ever? Wee muſt cleare this by a diſtinction: O…r ſpirituall parents are more to be loved Aeſti…tive: our naturall, more in…ſ…e: thoſe … Bene…lentia, theſe …re Beneficenti…. A man may not give all his goods to a …ernitie, and leave his parents deſtitute of reliefe, as the Capuc… doe: for God eſteemes merciemercy above ſacrifice. We are to love our nature … …ll; but the moſt bonds of nature require a greater degree of love. Nature …cheth this, and Grace perfecteth Nature. Chriſt firſt preached at Nazareth, … requite the place of his education. Still the nearer in blood, the dearer in good. But they that will not allow their ſpirituall Fathers ſo much, as they doe their carnall flatterers; that ſpend more upon their Lawyer, than upon their Preacher; they are baſtards; none of his children; Impoſtumes, rather than members of the Church.
From what roote growes all this Sacriledge, this robbing of the Church under the name of cuſtome, but from this, the want of Love? The love of cuſtome …th quite eaten out the cuſtome of love. It will bee found in a higher Court, where not a Lawyer ſhall be heard, that it was a damnable cuſtome for children to robbe their parents. The world is full of clamour, the Law is full of favour, for cuſtomes: all cry out for their Diana, but eſpecially Demetrius; it toucheth …is copy hold: men thinke they are undone, if they give God his right. Not onelyonlylAct. 19.27. our craft ſhall be deſpiſed, but even the Temple of Diana, whom all Aſia and the …rld …orſhippeth. How cunningly this Orator pleades; more for his goddeſſe, than for his gaine: but if it had not beene for his gaine, his goddeſſe might goe whiſtle. Thus lowd Orators will Demetrius and Tertullus bee, pleading againſt Paul, before Iudges like themſelves: but when Chriſt ſhall bee the Iudge, they will have nothing to ſay; like the poore intruder, that was mMat. 22.12.even ſpeechleſſe. Some have haply gheſſed this man to be a Lawyer, whoſe tongue had beene nimble enough; but this awfull preſence daunted him; hee had ſpoken ſo much before that now he was ſpeechleſſe.
To conclude; If we doe not feed you with the Word, you are not our Beloved: if you doe not render us our dues, wee are not your Beloved. So here is no love loſt, but Gods; who hath loved us (as it were) on this condition, that wee …ould love one another. W… …ve he…rd much of the Pylades and Pythians, a…d …ch inviolable friends▪ but it would bee miraculous now if any ſhould die f…r love. I d…e ſay, there was never more love in the world, never leſſe: never … in po…ation, … leſſe in demonſtration. Chriſt will come when f…th ſhall bee feare found upon earth; but if hee had threatned to come when c…rity … bee found wee might … for him to day. Except you be … ▪ and except wee bee your Beloved, you are not ſ…e of hea…n. Heartily … doe we love you, doe you as ſincerely love …, that Ieſus Chriſt … love … all.
I come now to the Token of his love, which is ſet forth by The
Nature of it, ….
…mber … the former.
Ten… of i…, or con…s … ſtirre up their minds.
O…er of it, o… … of … excitation, …y way of ….
For the former; It pleaſed God to re…eale his will to us by …; and th… both the Law and the Goſ…ell. The Law was w…itten with his owne h…d: Prophecies and Evangelicall diſcourſes he hath written by othe… … did he write any thing himſelfe but the Tables of the Law: the hand … …tone, t… Law were all His. That which he dictated to his ſervants, the P…ph…, … chalenge iuſt honour from us: how much more doth that deſer…e …, which he wrote immediately with his owne hand▪ The more pre…ious the Record was the greater was the fault of defacing it: no king holds it …ſſe than … bellion, to blemiſh his ſeale and teare his writing. Yet Moſes did it, and … forgave it. Hee that was the meekeſt man upon earth, abandons that in a ſu… indignation, which in cold blood hee would have hold faſter th… hi… life. Iſrael had fallen into idolatry; and Moſes forgets the Law written, when … broken. Not onelyonly the Decalogue was written, but the Propheticall Teſt… nies, and all called the Law. So God thought meet to conſecrate and hal… for ever this outward forme of revelation.Calv. Praefa in Iſai. Some conjecture, that the Prophet… did write the ſumme and abridgement of their errands, and faſten th… … Temple-doores: which after ſome daies view, were taken downe, and lai… …p in the Treaſurie for a ſecond monument. The Poet ſaid, but hee appeale … fame for the Author of the device; Phoenices primi (famae ſi creditur) …ſi, M…ſ… rudibus vocem ſignare figuris. But certainly writing began with Moſes.
It was the diſcipline of Gods owne houſe, for two thouſand yeeres, to feed his eldeſt ſonnes onelyonly with tradition. This is a great argument with the Po…i… cians. But by their leaves, the diverſe reſtitutions and reformations of Gods true worſhip, argue that thoſe times were not ſo generally fortunate for religion. And ſuppoſe that in one or two families, when men were at the feweſt, thei… hearts at the pureſt, and their lives at the longeſt, Religion were ſo retained: yet was it not onelyonly by Tradition, but by Viſions, Oracles, and other Rudiments, which might be to them in ſtead of writing. But when the number of men was encreaſed, and their yeares ſhortned, and their hearts more corrupted; the conveniencie of writing was taken up, both for the ſpreading abroad, and bet… learning at home, the will of God. Thus Moſes, Samuel, Eſdras, were not onelyonly for their owne times, Gods holy Orators; but for the perpetuall benefit of a…e… ages, his full Secretaries. We are told of the Druid…s, certaine Pagan Prieſts of France, that in their Rules abhorred writing: But now where are thoſe Rules? What Print remaines of their Precepts? Their very names had been unknowne, but for writing.
The Goſpel alſo is written: Whatſoever may cauſe our joy to be full, w… ſoever may perfect us for every good worke, whatſoever may make us wiſe … ſalvation, all this is written. Let no man preſ…e to be wiſe; above that which is … ten; eſpecially, not to be wiſe againſt that which is written. Theſe holy M… ſcripts were highly prized by our fore-fathers … the old woman that ſold Bookes to Tarquin, did ſet ſuch a price on them, to might h…ve made a Tarq… ranſome. Printing hath yet more advanced this benefit; that it is a queſtion, whether ever Learning ſo farre excelled ignorance, … Scholers h…e by … helpe exceeded Scholers.nRom. 10.18. Their … into … the earth, and thei… … the ends of the world. Their ſound, yea now if … …ill their L…e: and for th… words, their Writings. His arcana … terra … for…r. That Gods Will is neere as well knowne as his Workes; and the Booke of Grace is now become like the Booke of Heaven. There was nothing wherein Iſrael out-ſtripped all …e world, more than in this priviledge; the Pledge of Gods holy Cove…, the Law written with his owne finger▪ oPſal. 1….He hath not dealt ſo with other ….
… how great a favour is done to that Nation, where he beſtowes hi… G…ſpel? Th… … a killing Letter, this is the power of God to ſalvation. H…ce is God th…ghly diſp…e…ſed with any peopl… where that com…ds. Sui…rs …h…t … love to Virgins, when upon juſt cauſe they fall off, call for their … againe. So when God begi… once perfectly to diſlike, the f…ſt … withdrawes, is his Goſpel. If our fore-father… had but …old … ſome … its concerning the worſhip of God, …ny whole cou…ies (that … day without God in the world) might well have envied our happi…. … we take not what we take, upon truſt of mens report: for mee have … written Word, and may ſurvey at the full that great myſterie of god…e, which not onelyonly Kings and Princes, but even Saints and Angels have … to behold. If this meditation did throughly ſinke into our affections, if our …ections were truly moved, they would call upon us for thankefulneſſe, and … thankefulneſſe would appeare in our carefull obedience: yea, this …ve would ſet all able Pennes on worke, to write the praiſes of God. Not t…t I deſire, that thoſe who travaile onelyonly with the winde, ſhould be delivered of th…r emptineſſe: there be too many foaming Braines in the world, that ſoile … Virgin-Paper with their unchaſt ſcurri…ities: ſuch weedes, being dunged … carnall humours, grow too faſt of themſelves. So the Farme of Antichriſt commands many Ploughes in Europe, Seminaries of hereticall Seedes, to make a Harveſt for the Devill. They violate the workes of all writers with the clipping-ſheeres of their Expurgations: which dealing is as cruell to the dead, as their Spaniſh Inquiſition is to the living. As that Gyant did proportion the bodies of all his gueſts to the Bed of his Harlot: ſo doth the Pope o…t and faſhion all writers to the Bed of the Whore of Babylon. Againſt him, if wee imploy not our tongues and Pennes, according to our ſeverall abilities, they are both worthy to loſe their cunning. Here both let our tongues be like the Pennes of readie writers, and our Pennes like the tongues of readie ſpeakers.
To conclude: What ſhall wee render to the Lord for his merciemercy, in writing th…ſe bleſſed Covenants? Wee can give nothing but the Tables, it is Hee that … write on them. Our hearts are but a bare Board, till God by his finger i…ave his Law in them. Yea more; wee are a rough Quarrey, and it is Hee … muſt hew us out, and ſquare us fit for himſelfe to write upon. God com…ted the Law to Moſes his hands; his hands were whole, but the Tables were broken. God hath intruſted his Goſpel to our hearts; if wee abuſe it, the Goſpel ſhall remaine whole, but our hearts ſhall be broken. Hee is more reſolute than Pilate; What I have written, I have written. It is our woe, if wee …ke that bleſſed Writing, which is a Covenant of merciemercy for us: for then t…t other hand-writing, the Law of Wrath, ſhall ſtand in force againſt us. Let us beſeech him, that hath written theſe things to be read with our eyes, alſo to write them in our hearts; that ſo wee may finde our names written in the …ooke of Life.
The Number followes: it is a ſecond Epistle. Abundans cautela non nocet; eſpecially where the matter is of conſequence, and the danger of ſuch deſpe…ſſe, as concernes the ſaving or loſing of the ſoule: which if a man have … loſt, he hath nothing elſe to loſe. This ſecond; not ſo much fearing the miſ…ri…ge of the firſt, as hoping to worke better confirmation by the next. Some will come at the firſt call, as Matthew did: ſome tarrie to the third, as Samuel …: ſome ſtay it out to the laſt houre of the day but one, as thoſepMat. 20.6. labourers did. God calls at any time, Preachers muſt call at all times: the ſecond exhortation may ſpeed better than the firſt: one Sermon may have happier ſucceſſe than all the reſt.q… 4.45. The faithfull ſervant, whom his Lord hath made rule… over his houſehold, gives them their meate in due ſeaſon. Firſt, it muſt be good meate, for wholeſomeneſſe: fancies of their owne …r…ines, will but fill them full of wi…de. Secondly, it muſt be ſeaſonable: comforts to the obſtinate, and thunders to the deſpe…, are Diſhes quite out of ſeaſon. Thirdly, it muſt … …iv… them: … may not … till they call for it; their ſoules commonly are not … to be hungry. Fourthly, it is not enough to purvey well, and ſtocke our … head, but w…e muſt diſpenſe it to their hearts. There may be a whole M…g… of knowledge, and the people never the fatter for it, unleſſe it … impaired. Fifthly, it muſt bee given by way of distribution: it is not ſufficient to ſe… it before them in groſſe, but in the retaile of particular application … the Chirurgian not onelyonly makes the Plaiſter, but layes it on too. In vaine doth the rich man diſcourſe of Bread to the emptie; or the Phyſician reade a Lecture on the Patients diſeaſe, and ſo leave him. Sixthly, all this muſt be frequent: we muſt doe as we pray, Give them their daily Bread.rPſal. 62.11. God hath ſp…en mee, twice, ha…e I heard it: yea,ſIob 33.29. twice and thrice, oftentimes, ſaith Elihu. Sinne is not ſo eaſily killed, that we ſhould ſay of it as Abiſhai ſaid oft1 Sam. 26.8. Saul▪ L…t we ſmite him to the earth at once, and I will not ſmite him a ſecond time. It were a happie riddance of ſo micſhievous an enemie, if wee could hit him as cunningly, asu2 Sam. 20.10. Ioab did Amaſa trecherouſly; who ſmote him in the fifth ribbe, and ſtrucke him not againe. But this Hagar will abide many blowes, before ſhe be… ned quite out of doores.
The building of the Church goes ſlowly forward: it were an injurious ce… ſure, to taxe Salomon of ſlackneſſe in founding the Houſe of God. Great Bodies muſt have but ſlow motions. Much time is required to the preparing of the Materials: albeit David had layd a great part of the Timber and Metals; yet many a Tree muſt be felled and ſquared, many a Stone hewen and poliſhed, ere this foundation be layed. Neither could thoſe large Cedars be cut, ſawen, ſeaſoned in one yeare. Though hee had an hundred and fiftie thouſand Labourers imployed in bearing burdens, and hewing Stones; beſides their three thouſand and three hundred Overſeers: ſo did the maine ſtreſſe of the Worke lye upon Proſelytes. Though hee raiſed a Tribute for the Worke, of the Nations; not of money, but of men: though thirtie thouſand Iſraelites were levied for this ſervice; yet foure whole yeares are ſpent in ſo vaſt a preparation. Chriſt hath many Builders, for the perfecting of his Church: thouſands of Preachers have ſpent their dayes and labours upon it; yet ſtill it needes more: Still let us pray him for more Labourers, and for the redoubling of their paines. Our ſoules be ſuch knottie Trees, and our hearts ſuch rough and hard Quarries; that without the mightie paines of many hands, wee will hardly lye right and fit in our deſigned places. Line muſt be added to Line, and Letter to Letter; a ſecond Epiſtle to the former. It may be, we anſwere at firſt with Peter; xAct. 10.14. ver. 15.Not ſo, Lord: yet after a ſecond or third motion, we grow better adviſed. It may be, we paſſe the firſt and ſecond yeare without a ſpirituall tillage: we have heard this holy Doctrine once and againe, but it bred no cogitations in us, except ſuch asaEſa. 37.30. grow of themſelves; naturall, worldly, corrupt: yet the third time we may be wonne with theſe heavenly comforts, and bring forth the fruits of obedience.
Yet let us beware of protracting our converſion: when wee repell or neglect one good motion, we are not ſure of a ſecond: yea, he is juſtly hardned againſt the ſecond, that hath reſiſted the firſt. Sinne hath a ſhrewd Title, when it can plead preſcription: and Satan thinkes his evidence as good as eleven points at Law, when he hath once got poſſeſſion. Let him be ſure of thy youth, and he will be confident of thy age. There was an Abbot of this Land, that deſired a piece of ground which lay conveniently for him: the owner refuſed to ſell it: yet with much perſwaſion, was contented to let it. The Abbot hired it for his Rent, and covenanted to farme it onelyonly for one Croppe. Hee had it, and few it with Ac…r…es; a Croppe that laſted three hundred yeares. Satan begges but the firſt Croppe: let him ſowe thy youth with Acornes, they will grow up with thy yeares to ſturdie Okes; ſo bigge-bulked, and deepe-rooted, that they ſhall laſt all thy life. Let us take the firſt opportunitie of Gods gracious motions and monitions; or if we have omitted the firſt, let us apprehend the ſecond: or if (as it is too true) many have paſs'd unanſwer'd by us, let us embrace the preſent invitation; and even now with faith and repentance turne to our Saviour, that he may never loſe a ſecond labour.
The Tenour followes; which is, to ſtirre up our mindes. Wee uſe not to ſtirre up cold aſhes, but embers that be warme, to re-kindle the live coales that are hid under them. The Apoſtle does not profeſſe to teach them new Leſſons, but to heare them ſay over their Parts: not to catechiſe them in the foundation and Principles; but rather to rub up their memories, with a recollection of their former Notes, as it were a repetition of his Sermons. It argues ſome miſtruſt in the Maſter, of non-proficiencie in the Scholer, when he turnes him backe to the beginning of his Booke, and appoſeth him in his firſt Leſſon. Saint Peter will not ſo diſcourage his Diſciples, but rather takes it as granted, that they knew; and more needed excitation, than information: as if he meant not to preſſe the Doctrine, but the Vſe. When we lay on greene wood, we blow the fire, not ſtirre it: when drie, we ſtirre the fire, and need not blow it. Proſelytes ſtand in need of kindling: well improved Chriſtians require but ſtirring. There is mettle in many a good Horſe, which he will not ſhew, till you give him the Spurre: put him to it, and he anſweres your deſire. Samſon ſleepes, till he heares, The Philistines be upon thee: then he rowſeth up himſelfe, to their bane. How many a good deed had beene loſt, if the doer had not beene ſeaſonably ſtirred up.
Why are thebEccl. 12.11. words of the wiſe compared to Goades; but to ſhew, that the beſt in Gods Teame need pricking forward? An eaſie rhetoricke drawes us to evill: yea, it is hard not to runne downe the hill. The proneſſe to ſinne is ſo much ſtronger in our nature, than to good; that every leaſt motion prevailes for the one, ſcarce any inſtigation for the other. Our warre againſt ſinne and Satan is perpetuall: other hoſtilities admit ſome truce, ours is not determined but with our lives. Leſt therefore wee ſhould take a dangerous and unkindly reſt, God hath ſet his Miniſters, like Trumpets and Drummes, to call us to our Armes, to ſtirre up our ſtrengths, that we be not ſurprized unawares. Let our weapons be alwayes in readineſſe: as Seneca ſaid of Caeſar; That he did quickly ſheathe the ſword, but he never layd it off. The ſight of a weapon diſcourageth a theefe: while wee keepe our javelins in our hands, wee ſcape many aſſaults. It is our Office to give you the Alarme, and to ſtirre you up: be it your care to maintaine the battaile. And as the end of all warre is peace, ſo your militant conflicts ſhall be crowned with victorie, and your ſoules received into the everlaſting peace of Ieſus Chriſt.
The Order is laſt, By way of remembrance. This is a juſt order and method, firſt to teach the way of the Lord, then to remember men of walking in it. We are not onelyonly called Teachers, butcEſa. 62.6. Remembrancers. And as this Epiſtle ſeemes to be called after a ſort by the Author, a rehearſall-Epiſtle: ſo all our Sermons are but rehearſall Sermons; preſſing the Doctrine you have alreadie learned, by way of remembrance. There is reaſonable good ſtrength in our judgements, but a great decay in our memories.dIoh. 13.17. If ye know theſe things, happie are ye if ye doe them. …ecauſe you heare theſe things, you have happie eares: becauſe you ſee theſe ſacred myſteries, you have happie eyes: becauſe you tread in Gods Courts, you have happie feet: if you remember theſe things, you have happie memories: theſe things if you purpoſe to doe, you have happie reſolutions: but theſe things if you practiſe, if you doe indeed, you have happie ſoules: and the Lord make us all thus happie.
Your pure minds.] This is the object of his excitation. There is Purit… …, an outward profeſſion of puritie, an inward corruption of hypocriſie. All the care of hypocrites, is to ſeeme pure; a ſtrange kind of Atheiſme: …s if they thought, that their thought was not knowne to God. Not an oath comes from them in a monethmonth; that's well: but ſcarce a true word in a twelve-monethmonth, and that's very ill.eAct. 5.8. Saphira will not ſticke to lye unto Peter, that durſt lye to the holy Ghoſt. Hypocriſie is a lye unto God, as diſſimulation is to man. Such mens actions are but reall equivocations. They are not onelyonly Lupi in …vili, but Lupi in …villâ; Wolves in a Sheepe-Cote, yea Wolves in a Sheepes Coat. Like the fruit that undid us all, which was Pulcher in viſu, in tactu mollis, dulcis in g…ſt…, mortifer in effectu. There be many that have pure-ſhining skins, glorious ſhewes, but blacke inſides.fExod. 34.30. Moſes perceiving that the people durſt not looke upon the Sunne of his face, clouds it with a veile; and would rather chuſe to hide the worke of God in himſelfe, than want opportunitie of revealing Gods will to the people. He does not ſtand upon tearmes of reputation: If there be glorie in my skinne, God did put it there; he would not have ſet it in my face, if hee had meant it ſhould be hid: rather doe you hide your faces, that are blemiſhed with your ſinnes; and doe not looke, that in favour of your weakeneſſe, I ſhould wrong God and my ſelfe, in ſeeming leſſe happie than hee hath made me. But without all ſelfe-reſpects, hee rather modeſtly hides his glorified countenance from them, that by this meanes he might deliver Gods meſſage to them. Hidden puritie is more gracious and acceptable to God, than that which is openly boaſted. Such a happie Talent is beſt improved, by being layd up: as Moſes had more glorie by his vaile, than by his face.
Chriſtian modeſtie teacheth a wiſe man, not to expoſe himſelfe to the faireſt ſhew, and to live at the utmoſt pitch of his ſtrength. There is many a rich Stone layd up in the bowels of the earth; many a faire Pearle layd up in the boſome of the Sea; that never was ſeene, nor ever ſhall be. The Stones which were layd in the foundation of the Temple, were not rude and rugged, but hewne and poliſhed. Albeit they lay buried in the earth, from the eyes of men, they were of equall value with the reſt: though leſſe conſpicuous, no leſſe precious. No ſmall number of the noble graces of Gods ſervants lye hidden and undiſcerned; which are not leſſe acceptable to him, becauſe leſſe notable to others. Hypocrites are all for ſhew, God is all for truth: even the grace concealed, ſhall be crowned. There is many a goodly ſtarre, which becauſe of the height, comes not within our account. The Lord Ieſus himſelfe did hide the glory of his Deitie under the veile of his fleſh, Majeſtie under vileneſſe; and did ſhut up his great and divine Miracles with, See you tell no man. Not that I would have graces unprofitably bu…ied, but I would not have them proudly boaſted. Let us be Puri, not Puritani. Thoſe hearts be fouleſt, that care onelyonly to ſeeme the pureſt. The world makes no account of unknowne riches; whereas malo me divitem eſſe, quàm haberi. To what end ſhould we dazle mens eyes with admiration, when God and our ſelves are conſcious of our ſecret corruption? Why ſhould wee ſeeke to be above thoſe in ſhew, to whom we are inferior in worth? Moſes his face was fairer than his veile, his heart fairer than his face: too many have their veile fairer than their face, their face fairer than their heart. Modeſt vertues ſhall ſhine through their veiles, when the vain-glorious ſhall be wray their ſhame through their coverings. How contrary are hypocrites to that faithfull ſervant of God, Moſes? He ſpake to God bare-faced, to the people veiled: he ſhewed his worſt to men, his beſt to God: but they ſhew their beſt to men, to God their worſt. But God ſees both their skinne and their heart: and I know not whether he more hates, their skinne of diſſimulation, or their heart of corruption.
There is Puritas mentis, a pure mind, without which all other puritie is but uncleaneneſſe. There is Puritas legalis, that is, of nature; irrecoverably loſt in Ad…. gIob 14.4.Who can bring a cleane thing out of an uncleane? Blacke Moores will ſooner breed white children. There is Puritas Evangelica, that is, of Grace; which all muſt have that ſhall be ſaved. Who ſhall aſcend into the Hill of the Lord?hPſal. 24 4. He that hath cleane hands, and a pure heart. This Pureneſſe is either Impu…ius, whereby the pureneſſe of that immaculate Lambe is made ours:iRev. 7.14. They h…ve waſhed their garments, and made them white in the bloud of the Lambe. Or Inc…tiva, inherent pureneſſe:k1 Ioh. 3.3. Every man that hath hope in Chriſt, purifieth himſelfe, … he i… pure. For there muſt be aliquid noſtrum, in nobis, though not à nobis. After that the Sunne hath given his light to the ſtarres, they ſhine: principally, by that borrowed light; acceſſorily, by a light of their owne. Quicquid Christus operatur pro nobis, hoc operatur in nobis. Whatſoever Chriſt hath wrought for us, that hee hath wrought in us. Or it is Comparativa, in regard of others: ſo the godly are Myrtles, but in a field of Nettles; Lilies, but in a forreſt of Thornes; Wheat, becauſe there is much Chaffe by them. Wooll may be pure white in reſpect of Pitch, but compare it with the Lilie: the Lilie is pure white in reſpect of Wooll, but compare it with the driven Snow: there is no pureneſſe of man that dare ſtand the judgement of God.lIob 25.5. & 15.15. & 4.18. The ſtarres are not pure in his ſight, nor the heavens, nor the Angels. The right Puritan, that ſaithm1 Ioh. 1.8. he hath no ſinne, is convinced ex ore proprio, out of his owne mouth: even therefore hee hath ſinne, becauſe hee ſayes that he hath no ſinne: that very ſpeech is a ſinne. In non peccando puritas Dei, in peccata non imputando puritas hominis. The Scripture propounds many examples of puritie; yet they all had their blemiſhes: the brighteſt day was not without ſome cloud.nZech. 11.2. Howle ye Firre-trees, for the Cedar is fallen: if the gallants be foiled, what ſhall the underlings doe? That is a wofull puritie, which does not onelyonly chuſe to ſtand in the ſight of merciemercy. For perfect puritie; Optandum eſt, conandum eſt, petendum eſt, confidendum non eſt.
Wherein then conſiſts this pureneſſe of mind? Not in any perfection, as if it could be ſo in the ſight of Gods juſtice: what is he living on earth that muſt not confeſſe,oPſal. 51.4. Againſt thee O Lord have I ſinned? But hee is ſaid to have a pure mind, that lives ſine ſcandalo, though not ſine peccato: or that takes no liberty to doe the leaſt evill: though he doth often admit ſinne, he does never intend ſinne. Pura mens nequit conſiſtere cum propoſito peccandi. Hee that hath reſolved to bee nocent, though he doe not the purpoſed act, before God is not innocent. The undertaking of treaſon, though the fact be hindred, is treaſon. Or he that is pure in the inner man;p1 Ioh. 3.9. He that is borne of God ſinneth not; In quantum ex Deo natus non peccat. If with any fighting; hee could get the victorie over fleſh and blood, hee would never ſinne. Or hee that indevours to bee pure; as having alwayes a reſpect to that eye, which hath alwaies an eye of reſpect to him:qGen. 17.1. Walke before me, and be thou perfect. The mind may be ſaid to bee pure in three reſpects:
1. Puritate fidei: faith apprehends the bloud of Chriſt, and this purifies it. So it is rather paſſive, than active: not ſo much Pure, as Purificata. The aire no ſooner receives the cleare aſpect of the Sunne, but it preſently becomes light. If Chriſt ſend forth the beams of his righteouſneſſe into the heart, it is made pure.rPſal. 32.2. Bleſſed is he whoſe ſinne is not imputed. That which makes us bleſſed, makes us pure, for none butſMat. 5.8. the pure in heart are bleſſed. This is the ſole perfection of a Chriſtian, the imputation of Chriſts pureneſſe, and the not imputation of his owne impureneſſe. It is in a manner all one, not to have committed ſinne in actu, and not to bee held culpable of that ſinne in reatu. A garment that is throughly waſhed, may be as cleane as though it never had beene ſtained.t1 Cor. 6.11. Such were ye, ſaith Paul: which implies, that ſuch they are not. If the Lord waſh us, ſhall we not be cleane?uPſal. 51.7. Purge me with hiſſope, and I ſhall be cleane: waſh me, and I ſhall be whiter than ſnow. It was a coſtly Bath, wherein we were waſhed before we could bee cleane: but if any thing could doe it, this muſt.x1 Ioh. 1.7. The blood of Ieſus Chriſt cl…ſeth us from all ſinne. He prayed till he groned, he groned till he wept, he wept till he ſwet, he ſwet till he bled, hee bled till hee died; and all to make us a warme Bu…, wherin our cold and foule ſoules might be waſhed pure and cleane. Never was anything waſhed at ſo high a rate as the Chriſtian ſoule. Naaman had an eaſie cure; Waſh in Iordan, aIoh. 5.7.a common and unforbidden river. The diſeaſed in B…theſde found ſome more difficultie; they muſt waite the moving of the water by an Angel, and bee waited on by an officious friend, or they were never the better. Some have waſhed their rotten carcaſes in the faireſt flowers of the garden, the choiſe delicacies of nature, the cleareſt fountaines. Hiſtories tell us, that the blood of Infants and Innocents hath been preſcribed for a Bath to Tyrants. But the Chriſtians Bath is the Bath royall, the precious blood of the King of all the world. This onelyonly can make us pure: It was the Iewes imprecation, and it proves their vengeance; His bloud be upon us, and upon our children. It may, in a good ſenſe, be our apprecation, and ſhall be our bleſſedneſſe, His bloud bee upon us, and upon our children after us.
2. Puritate poenitentiae: ſo the conſcience knowes no fouleneſſe by it ſelfe, which true repentance hath not ſorrowed, and which the merciemercy of God hath not pardoned. For God eſteemes ſinne indeed repented, as if it had never been indeed committed. This, though it finds not the heart Purum, yet leaves it Purificatum. The garment of our life gathers many ſpots, which God ſuffers us to waſh out with our penitent teares. This was Davids phyſicke and bath, whenſoever he had beene ſicke or fouled with ſinne.bPſal. 6.6. I make my bed to ſwimme, and I water my couch with my teares. Yea it ſeemes, they were his food alſo, even his meate and drinke: for meate, My teares were my meate day and night. And for drinke, I mingled my drinke with weeping: that was the ſpice of his cup.cIob 13.26. Thou writeſt bitter things againſt me; when thou makeſt me to remember the iniquities of my youth. Moſes his tenne fingers write bitter things againſt us, till the finger of Chriſt wipe them out. Saint Paul cals it adCol. 2.14. Handwriting against us: not that Gods Lawes, like Draco's, were writ in blood;eRom. 7.12. For the Law is holy, and the Commandement is holy, and juſt, and good. They were holy characters; but our ſinnes made them letters of blood againſt us. When wee commit a ſinne, wee write a bill of our hand againſt ourſelves; whereby we acknowledge our ſoules to ſtand indebted to Gods juſtice. Now unleſſe this debt be diſcharged, and the bond cancelled, to priſon wee muſt; and there lie till wee have ſatisfied the uttermoſt farthing: and that (God knowes) will bee long enough; for a farthing is more than wee are, or can bee worth. This blacke bill is cancelled by Chriſt onelyonly; whoſe blood hath ſo defaced and obliterated the reckoning of beleevers, that God doth not read our receits, nor call us to accounts. Unbeleevers onelyonly ſuffer the whole forfeiture to fall upon their neckes.
Now what Chriſt did with the blood of his body, that in ſome ſort wee muſt doe with the blood of our ſoules, our penitentiall teares; that we may bee diſcharged of our ſinnes for ever. One colour laid upon another, doth away the former, and remaines it ſelfe: as the cunning paintreſſe deales with her face; ſometimes ſhee blots out pale, and writes red. Our ſinnes are red as ſcarlet, our teares white as ſnow: let theſe latter fall upon the former, they ſhall not onelyonly blot them out, but ſtand in their roome: ſo wee beautifie our conſcience, by blotting out red, and writing white, pure innocence. Our ſinnes ſtand in Gods regiſter, till our ſorrowes come.fPſal. 56.8. Thou telleſt my wandrings; put my teares i…t… thy bottle: are they not in thy booke? The firſt give place to the laſt: our wandrings were written in that booke; but when our teares come, God blots out wickedneſſe, and writes repentance. And ſo wee have our acquittance, even a generall one, from the beginning of the world; Adams ſin and all, to the day of the date thereof; a full quietus est. Pharaoh and his hoſt were not ſurer drowned in the red ſea, than Satan and all our ſinnes are drowned in our teares. Theſe the Fathers call our ſecond Baptiſme: ſecunda Tabula poſt na…fragium. No ſoule ſo polluted, but repentance can waſh it cleane and pure, and preſent it blameleſſe to God through the faith of IESVS CHRIST.
3. Puritat… gratiae; ſanctified to a holy life, and devout obedience. Not that ſinne does not ſupereſſe, remaine; but it ſhall not ſuperare, reigne in us. It will be a Tenant, it may be a Tyrant; it ſhall have no dominion, or at leaſt no peaceable one. This Vſurper would faine be King of man, as the Devill writes himſelfe Prince of the world: but the pure minde will never acknowledge fealtie or allegiance to him. Sentit, non conſentit: ſhee feeles his aſſaults with griefe, but ſhee knowes it would be a worſe griefe to yeeld unto them. Shee will not buy her peace with her loſſe; being aſſured, that this trouble will not laſt ever: reſiſtance ſhall be crowned with victorie. From ſuddaine thoughts of ill, no man is free: but here is no deliberation, no conſent, no delight. There is Nativit… …eri, the conception of ſinne; and Nativitas ex utera, the birth or action of ſinne. None are pure from the former: the Sunne cannot be rid of clouds, but he labours to diſperſe them. Melius eſt nubere, quam urere: hee does not ſay, quàm c…leſ…eri. There is great difference betweene paſſive Fittes and Heats, and voluntarie Inflamings. The will of this purified mind in ſinning, is not properly voluntas, ſed velleitas; as it were a will againſt a mans will.Aquin. As the Mariner in a tempeſt doth caſt his goods into the water, his rich fraught over-board. Or the true man aſſaulted on the way, gives his Purſe to the theefe: yet neither of theſe with full conſent of will. If the regenerate bee over-borne to doe amiſſe, it is with reluctance before, and with repentance after: nec invadit ſine pugna, nec evadit ſine poenitentia: it got in with blowes, it is throwne out with teares.
We are not Sinnes voluntaries: at the moſt, but preſſed ſouldiers againſt our wills. As in a rebellion or tumult, a Drumme is beaten up, a Trumpet ſounded, to call a faction together. Some are glad of the occaſion, quickly up in armes, apt for mutiny, ready to doe miſchiefe: a loyall ſubject oppoſeth the conſpiracy, ſtrives againſt it, but cannot prevaile with the unruly multitude: yea hee is taken by force, compelled to joyne with them, and to draw his ſword againſt his awfull and lawfull Soveraigne. The ſubject thus drawne in, is in as much danger as the reſt: but a wiſe and gracious Prince doth here diſtinguiſh; and while he executeth due vengeance upon the mutiners, he gives this man his free pardon. In an ungracious ſoule, one paſſion is enraged, and preſently all the affections muſter up their forces, and joyne in the confederacy of ſinne. But in the faithfull there is a reſiſtance; the feare and love of God withſtands the hurly-burly: and though the throng of naturall luſts prevaile againſt grace, and overcome man to ſinne; yet the God of wiſdome and mercy will forgive him; when the other receives the reward of a rebell.
The pure minde abhorres diſſimulation: that man neither wrongs others with the ſinne of deceitfulneſſe, nor wrongs himſelfe with the deceitfulneſſe of ſin. In the one hee is Rectus corde, in the other mundus corde. His ſoule is like Canaan, Aug.a gDeut. 8.7.land of brookes and fountaines, that ſpring out of vallies and hills: there bee the ſprings of knowledge to guide his waies; and brookes of teares to mourne for his errours. His charity ſtands like thoſe fields of wheat and barley: vi…es, figtrees, verſ. 8.and pomegranates, are his fruitfull meditations and contentfull thoughts: oile and …ey are the grace of his lips.hDeut. 6.11. His underſtanding is full of good things; his whole life, welles and vineyards, to relieve and comfort himſelfe and others. His very rockes areiDeut. 8 9. iron, and his hils yield braſſe: his moſt barren workes have ſome profit. His whole ſelfe is like the Garden of Eden, wherein ſtands the Tree of life, Ieſus Chriſt. When hee dies, Tanquam Paradiſus ingreditur Paradiſum, one Paradiſe enters into another.
This is the bleſſedneſſe of a pure heaat: but in the world there is Heart enough, and good ſtore of pureneſſe; yet they have ill lucke, they cannot meet: it is rare to finde Puram mentem, a pure minde. It comes to my memory, what I have found obſerved of the word Conſcientia; that it ever had ill lucke in the Church, and could never bee found at once in full ſyllables. Conſcientia; altogether, hee cals Devotion: take away the firſt ſyllable, it is Scientia, Knowledge: cut off the next, it is Entia, Meanes or worldly maintenance. Firſt, in the times of profaneſſe, there was Sci, and Entia, learning and living, knowledge and maintenance: but Con was left out, Devotion was wanting; they were ungodly men. In the next age, there was Con, and Entia, Devotion and Exhibition; a rich and religious, yea a ſuperſtitious number: but Sci, Knowledge was failing; they were not the learned'ſt Clerkes. In the third age, Con, and Sci, Learning and Devotion were both loſt, and onelyonly Entia was left: they had the honours and mannors, the fat of the land. But now in this laſt age, it is come round: wee have Con and Sci, (let our thankfulneſſe bleſſe God for it) a learned and religious Clergy; onelyonly our Entia is taken from us: our livelyhood and ſubſiſtence is exhauſted by Sacriledge. The like fortune hath a pure heart in the world: pureneſſe goes one way, and the heart another way, and theſe two have much adoe to meet. There is no lacke of hearts, every man hath one, ſome have more than one: and for pureneſſe, it abounds: proud dames will have pure houſes, pure tables, pure floores: their ruffes of the pureſt linnen, their garments of the pureſt ſtuffe, their dyet of the pureſt meat, their chaines of the pureſt Gold: hypocrites will have pure eyes, pure tongues, pure habites, pure garbes and geſtures. The profane ſort are all for a brave heart, they make a piſh at pureneſſe: the diſſembling ſort are all for a ſhew of pureneſſe, no matter for the heart. This is the devils plot, to keepe pureneſse and the heart aſunder. Purity will doe well in nothing without the heart: the heart can be happy in nothing without purity. It is great pity, two ſuch ſweet compaions ſhould bee kept aſunder, the God of all grace and mercy bring them both together.
Travellers, when the wayes bee faire and pleaſant, make the longer journeys: a pure minde and an holy conſcience are ſuch ſweet and delightfull things, that I take leave to proſecute this argument a little farther, by way of application. We all deſire a cleane ſoule; where ſhall we have it?kPſal. 51.10. Create in me a cleane heart, O God; ſaith David. Neither Saint nor Angell ſtands in his way; hee troubles not them with his prayers. Abraham knowes us not, Iſrael cannot heare us: David loved and honoured the memory of Abraham and Iacob, his Fathers: yet hee does not preſent them his petitions. I touch it, with indignation at that ſuperſtitious prayer of the Romaniſts; Sancta Virgo Dorothea, tua nos virtute bea, cor in nobis novum crea. But let us know, none can create a cleane heart, but hee that made all hearts: he onelyonly thatlZech. 12.1. formed the ſpirit of man, can reforme the ſpirit in man. And to ſhew that a pure minde is ſo farre from being a common bleſſing, or eaſie attainment, it is called a point of Creation.
1. GOD made the world by his Word, and by his Word hee makes a pure heart within us. If hee give but his fiat, or his vol…, mundare, mMatth. 8.3.Bee thou cleane: our Leproſie is gone. Yea, this ſeemes to bee more difficult: for the world was created ex ſpiritu eris, by the word of his mouth; but the minde is purified ex ſanguine cordis, by the blood of his heart.
2. GOD made the world of no preexiſtent matter; for before it, there was nothing but Himſelfe, and Himſelfe cannot be parted. This was wonderfull, yet the creating of a pure heart in a greater wonder. For then, as there was nothing to exiſt, ſo nothing to reſiſt: hee made the Maſſe, and that was a paſſive matter, to be formed at his pleaſure. But here is a rebellious oppoſition, a ſtubborne will to be ſubdued. There God ſaid, Let it be ſo, and it was ſo: here he hath ſpoken an hundred times by his Word, Thus I would have it: and we retort, Thus wee will not have it.nMatth. 23.37. I would have gathered thee, at noluisti, but thou wouldeſt …ot. Thus he is more troubled to make a pure minde, than he was to create a world. How do they abuſe the opportunity of grace, and coozen their owne foules, that promiſe themſelves an eaſy converſion at their own pleaſure? God made the world in ſix daies, how many yeares hath he been in purifying our hearts, and yet it is not done.
3. GOD tooke ſixe diſtinct dayes in creating the world, and hee ſeemes to have ſixe diſtinct workes in the clenſing of our mindes. Firſt, in the firſt day he made the light, when darkneſſe was upon the face of the deepe: light and darkneſſe were not duo poſitiva: butoGen. 1.5. hee divided the light from the darkneſſe: and be called the light, Day and the darkneſſe, Night. Darkneſſe overwhelmes us by Nature, and Gods firſt worke is to enlighten our underſtandings by the knowledge of his will:p2 Cor. 4.6. Hee that commanded the light to ſhine out of darkneſſe, hath ſhined in our hearts, to give the light of the glory of God in the face of Ieſus Christ. Yet ſome darkneſſe ſtill remaines; and wee may call the light, knowledge; and the darkneſſe, ignorance. Secondly, in the ſecond day he made the Heavens, and ſet them a moving in their right courſes. His ſecond worke here,Gen. 1.7. is to frame in us an heavenly will, to rectifie our obedience; that wee might doe his will on earth, as it is done in Heaven. Hee divided the waters which were under the firmament, from the waters that were above the firmament. Our firmament is Terminus cognoſcibilium; ſchoole-trickes are waters above the firmament. Thirdly, in the third day hee ſeparated the ſea from the dry land: and Hee called the dry land, Earth; verſ. 10.and the gathering together of the waters, Seas. So here, hee cauſeth the deluge of naturall corruption to ſinke downe, that the firmeneſſe and beauty of this new heart might appeare: and hee calleth the dry land, Grace; and the confined waters, Nature. Fourthly, in the fourth day hee made the Sunne, Moone, and Starres,verſ. 14. all thoſe refulgent lights of heaven. So here hee createth in us faith, charity, joy, patience, and peace; thoſe lampes and ornaments, that give luſtre to a renewed ſoule. Hee made two great lights: the greater to rule the day, and the leſſe to rule the night. Our two great lights are Faith and Charity: one rules the day,verſ. 16. keepes our minde in a perpetuall light: the other governs the night, doth good in the darkeſt ſhadowes of neceſſity, of diſcomfort. The Sunne ſhines ſmilingly on thee in thy proſperity; the Moone, that is thy comfort in adverſity: but take heed of abuſing either; for ſo thy Sunne may bee darkned, and God will turne thy Moone into blood. Fifthly, in the fifth day hee repleniſhed the aire with fowles, the ſea with fiſhes, the earth with beaſts. So here,verſ. 22. he fils every corner of the heart with ſanctified affections. Wee are full, as the world then, reptilium, verſ. 24.volatilium: let us mount up to heaven by grace, though wee creepe upon the earth by nature. Now came that Creſcite & multiplicamini, the ſeeds were ſowne that ſhould ſoone multiply. The Lord ſowes in our hearts his holy Word, the ſeed of eternall life; let us bee fruitfull of good workes. Indeed bad doctrine is a ſeed too; but non vidit quòd bonum; God did not ſee it was good.
Laſtly, in the ſixth day, he made man: and here he re-malies him, creates him a new man in Chriſt Ieſus. You will ſay, hee is able to doe this in a moment, as hee wrought upon the malefactor on the croſſe at his laſt houre. So hee could have made the world in a day, in an houre, in a minute: but it pleaſeth his …ſedome to take longer time, both in that worke, and in this: that wee might …ke heed of fouling that heart, which he hath taken ſo much paines to make cleane. As exquiſitely and deliberately as the great world was made, as perfectly good as all things were; the ſinne of man ſoone corrupted all. After all Gods coſt and labour upon us, our mindes may bee quickly defiled. Now when God had diſpatched all his workes in ſixe dayes, he reſted the ſeventh: ſo if wee labour, with him, in the clenſing of our ſoules, all this weeke of working-dayes; wee ſhall then reſt with him in the Seventh, the heavenly and eternall Sabbath of the Saints.
To conclude; wee ſee how ſweet the condition of this pure minde is. Hugo ſaith of that man, Vtitur amico ad gratiam, inimico ad patientiam, ad benevolentiam cunctis, quibus potest ad beneficentiam. God doth not charge him with his owne ſinnes, as if hee had never done them; nor with the ſinnes of others, becauſe he did not approve them. Hee is compoſed in proſperous fortunes, with adverſe not dejected.Dan. 5.6. Set Belſhazzar in the midſt of his Princes; his cupbord of plate furniſhed with the ſacred bowles of Ieruſalem, the ſpoile of Gods holy Temple: and in contempt of their owner, ca…ouſing healths in them to his Miſtreſſes, and ſinging carols in the praiſe of his carved gods: yet becauſe there is a foule heart within him, this ſumptuous, this preſumptuous feaſt ſhall end in horror; and that ſuch an horror, as ſhall put the blood out of his face, the muſicke out of his head, the joy out of his heart for ever. But lay Lazarus at the gate of unmercifulneſſe, lay Iob on the very dunghill of miſerableneſſe, and give them mentem ſynceram, an honeſt and quiet heart: and Adam could not have been ſo happy in Paradiſe without it, as they were out of Paradiſe with it.
The man of a pure minde is alwayes of a cheerefull looke, becauſe there are no ſecret ſnibbings within him; he is not troubled with that they call Singultum …rdis: the good man may bee evermore the merrieſt man. The holy ſoule is the love of God, the joy of Angels: her eyes dare looke upon the glorious Iudge, whom ſhe knowes to be her Saviour. Her heart is couragious, ſhe dares ſtand the thunder; and when guilty mindes creepe into corners, ſhee is confident in him that will defend her. Shee challengeth the whole world to accuſe her of injuſtice, and feares not the ſubornation of falſe witneſſes, becauſe ſhee knowes the teſtimony of her owne conſcience. Her language is free and bold, without the guiltineſſe of broken ſtoppes. Her forehead is cleare and ſmooth, as the brow of heaven. Her knees are ever bent to the Throne of grace, her feet travelling toward Ieruſalem, her hands weaving the web of righteouſneſſe. Good men bleſſe her, good Angels guard her, the Son of God doth kiſſe her: and when all the world ſhall bee turned to a burning pile, ſhee ſhall bee brought ſafe to the mountaine of joy, and ſet in a Throne of bleſſedneſſe for ever.