Fruitful Instructions and Necessary Doctrines, Part 240 – Part 249
240 Chriſt is the Apoſtle and high Prieſt of our profeſsion.
IF we be Chriſtians we muſt learn to profeſſe no other teacher, nor no other Sauiour but Ieſus Chriſt onelyonly.1. Cor. 1.30. We muſt beleeue and alſo ſpeake, that Chriſt is both our wiſedome and our iuſtification: that his worde is ours, his doctrine is ours: his wiſdome is ours: and that wee profeſſe not one iot, or one title wherof he hath not beene an Apoſtle, vntounto vsus: and whoſoeuer hee bee, that teacheth vsus other thinges then what Chriſt hath taught vsus al, he is not of our profeſſiō, nor of our brotherhood: and more then this, wee are ſure hee teacheth nothing but vaine illuſions & imaginations of men: for all treaſures of wiſedome and true knowledge are hid in Chriſt.Col. 2.3. Heb. 3.1. 2. cor. 4 4. Col. 1.15. And ſeeing it hath pleaſed him to be our Apoſtle, who is ye ſon of God, the brightnes of his glorie, the ingrauen forme of his perſon, the heire of all thinges, the maker of heauen & earth, far greater then Angels: how vnthankful be we, if his doctrine be not our profeſſion, and howe vnwiſe be we, if wee will change him eyther for any other, or elſe for all other. Whatſoeuer glorious names they bring of Fathers, Doctors, Counſelles and ſuch like boſting wordes, wee neither knowe them,Eſay. 52.7 Mat. 7.23. nor their names: if they bee miniſters of Chriſt vntounto vsus, their feete are beautifull, and their names are honorable: if they be their owne miniſters, we knowe them not, nor all their glorie: if they ſaye, they be teachers, wee may well ſay againe, they are but Phariſeis that will be called Rabby. Mat. 23.8.We hauehave no teachers but one, and that is Chriſt, and he is the Apoſtle of our profeſſion.
241 The feare of God is true wiſedome.
IF wee deſire to fulfill the will of God duely and in ſuch ſort as our life may be agreeable vntounto God: we muſt beare him all reuerence, and ſeeke to be vnderunder his hande,Deu. 6.13 &. 10.12. vnderunder his guide and direction: wee muſt ſeeke to doe him homage as our ſoueraigne King,Ioſhua. 24 14. we muſt ſeeke to dedicate our ſelues vntounto him as our creator, wee muſt ſeeke to honour him as our Father. When this affection and deſire ſhall be in vsus, then hauehave we the beginning of the whole lawe, and of all righteouſneſſe: and that is the cauſe why it is ſayde,Pro. 1.7. that the true wiſedome is the feare of God. And when we will knowe whether we hauehave profited in the worde of God, we muſt examine our heartes to make the tryall thereof, to feele if we hauehave ſuch a zeale and deſire, that God bee honoured and glorified of vsus. For if there bee ſuch a feare in the heart, the fruites thereof will appeare, both in our handes, and in our feete, and in all the partes and members of our bodie. So that they which boaſt themſelues of the feare of God, when their life is looſed to all wickedneſſe, their owne tongues tell them they lye, and they ſhewe full well, howe impudent and paſt ſhame they are, when they vaunt ſo much of the feare of God. To ſerue God aright, it behooueth that our heartes he wholy giuen ouer to him, it ſufficeth not that in outwarde appearance, wee hauehave all the vertue that a man might imagine, except ſuch an affection, and inwarde deſire of the heart goe before. The feare of God is no hidden and idle thing, although it be in the heart of men, yet muſt it appeare and ſhewe it ſelfe in their life. For it is the heart, whiche gouerneth both the handes, and the feete, and all the other partes and members of our bodie. Wee muſt therefore learne to ſhew by effect and experience, that we feare God, by ordering our whole life, according to his will.
242 The faithfull are more contented with a little, then the vngodly with their aboundance.
THe holy Ghoſte by the mouth of Salomon willing to leade vsus to ſobrietie, contentation, ſoftneſſe and goodneſſe, to reuerence and obedience towardes God, vntounto peace,Pro. 16.8. vnitie and amitie, towardes our neighbours, teacheth vsus that a little is better with quietneſſe then great reuenewes without equitie. Wherein hee agreeth with the ſaying of the Prophet Dauid.Pſ. 37.16. A ſmall thing (ſayeth he) that the righteous hath, is better then great riches of the vngodly. Abraham being in the lande of Canaan as a ſtranger, was not after outwarde appearaunce to be compared in worldly wealth with the Kinges and Princes of the earth: but the little hee had in reſpect of them, was better then their great aboundance: for he was contented and had ynough, and poſſeſſed in a ſounde conſcience, (without doing any wronge to any man) that which he had, and finally obteyned the great heauenly riches, which he looked for.Heb. 11.10 Contrarily the great men of the earth aſpiring continually vntounto greater riches, hauing neither contentation nor ynough, but hauing committed much wrong and violence, and beeing at continuall ſtrife,Ge. 18.20. & 16.24. Eze. 16.49 Heb. 11.24 1. Kin. 17.10. in the ende periſhed moſt miſerablye. Sodome is a fearefull example thereof. Moyſes did ſo vnderſtande it, when he denied to bee the ſonne of Pharoes daughter. Eliſha and the widowe which nouriſhed him prooue it true. For the reproouing and condemning of wicked riches, we may bring examples out of Saint Luke.Luke. 12. & 16. And for the time preſent, wee may ſee, if wee hauehave eyes, that the poore which are contented with a little, liue more at their eaſe, then they which aſpire vntounto greater riches. For the poore worldlings and carnall minded men which thinke they ſerue for nothinge but to heape vp riches, are in a moſt miſerable ſtate: becauſe that firſt of all they are neuer contented, but doe murmure and grudge, euen againſt God, who ſeeketh to kill them, as they imagine in their fantaſie, and as by impaciencie they dare ſpue out. Secondly they liue in an euill cōſcience: for being diſcōtented with their pouertie, they perſwade themſelues that riches are common, and that they may take them where they finde them: and in deede where they are not ſeene, they pill, poule and ſteale what ſo euer they can meete withall.Luk. 12.15 Mat. 6.19. 2. Cor. 8.7. & 9.6. Wherefore let vsus followe our Lorde take heede, and beware of couetouſneſſe: lette vsus not laye our treaſures vppon earth, but make our treaſures in heauen: And as S. Paule teacheth vsus,Heb. 13.5 let vsus help the neceſſity of the poore, and let our conuerſation be without couetouſnes &c. Thus doing, wee ſhall poſſeſſe our goods in righteouſneſſe, the which as concerning our preſent purpoſe, conſiſteth in this, that we put our truſt in the prouidence of God, and that wee be good and faithfull ſtewardes of the riches that hee hath committed vntounto vsus. In this manner whē we ſhal hauehave but a litle after the feeling of the fleſh it ſhall better profit, then if we did otherwiſe poſſeſſe great wealth. For they that are rich without righteouſneſſe and equitye,Mar. 10.22.23. ſhall periſhe with their goodes.
243 Three marks of a chriſtian ſouldier.
IT is eſpecially required of a chriſtian ſouldier, to reioice in the mercy of God: to be feruent in prayer, & to geue thanks to God in all things: the heathens which hauehave no part in the kingdome of Chriſt, are thankful for their life and liberty, wealth, glorye and worldly proſperity: But Chriſtians ought to be thankfull in perſecution, in thraldome, in aduerſity, in ſhame, in miſery, and death it ſelfe. Who would think that a Lyon, which by nature is fierce and cruell ſhoulde yeeld forth hony?Iud. 14.8. yet Sampſon found honye in the bodye of a Lyon: Ionas was ſwallowed vp of a whale & yet not hurt.Ro. 8.28. We knowe (ſaith the Apoſtle) that al things worke together for the beſt vntounto them that louelove God. The Apoſt. reioiced in their perſecution that they were counted worthy to ſuffer rebuke for Chriſts ſake. And P ſpeaking of this perfection in ye godly ſaith, we reioice vnderunder the hope of ye glory of God:Ro. 5.2.3. Neither that onelyonly, but alſo we reioyce in tribulation &c who hath not heard of the pacience of Iob his cattel were driuen away: his houſes conſumed with fire:Iob. 1.21. his children ſlaine, his body ſtriken with a ſcurffe his wife loathed him, and his freinds forſooke him And yet in all theſe miſeries he fretted not, but pacientlye ſuſteining his aduerſity, The Lorde (ſaid he) hath geuen, & the Lord hath taken it bleſſed be the name of ye lord. And again,Iob. 13. i5 though he ſlay me, yet wil I truſt in him. What are wee then that are neither thankfull for riches, nor for health, nor for our pleaſures, nor in the aboundance of all thinges? which abuſe the good giftes of God, to diſhonor him who hath geuen them vntounto vsus. The earth is the Lords, and all that therein is: the worlde and they that dwell therein. He openeth his hande and filleth all thinges liuing with his bleſſing.Pſa. 89.11 Pſ. 145.16. Ia. 1.17. Col. 2.3. Let vsus looke vp into the heauens, There is GOD the Father of lights, from whom eueryevery good and perfect gift commeth.
There is our redeemer Ieſus Chriſt in whome are hid all the treaſures of wiſedome and knowledge. When we ſee how mercifully and aboundantlye the Lorde hath dealt with vsus in thinges concerning this life: Let vsus conſider with our ſelues, howe many good men and faithfull ſeruaunts of GOD lacke the ſame, and hauehave not receaued theſe bleſſings in ſuch meaſure, as wee: In all theſe thinges GOD ſpeaketh vntounto vsus, and ſheweth that hee is the giuer, and that we hauehave them at his handes, and therefore that we vſe them well, and not be vnthankfull.
244 We muſt not hide our talent in the grounde.
WHen we ſhall attaine vntounto the light of the trueth through the might of Gods ſpirit, in any acceptable meaſure: we muſt not holde faſt this treaſure (as it were) lockt vp in a cheſt: But we muſt communicat the graces of God vntounto others: & doe the beſt we can to draw on the miſerable ignorant people, to the ſeruice of god: and to cary about with vsus the doctrin to publiſh it to all men, when as it is cōmitted vntounto vsus as a treaſure, & to beſtow the gift which we hauehave receaued, vponupon our neighbours, according to that meaſure of faith which GOD hath geuen vsus.1. Pe. 4. i0 Pſal. 119.171.172. Wee muſt not neglect thoſe whom we might winne, but we muſt gather as much company to the Lord as we can. For we ſhal not need to feare that our bleſſing ſhalbe diminiſhed (as the caſe ſtādeth in an earthly inheritaunce,Ro. 14.29 the which when it is deuided into many partes, eueryevery one hath but a little:) For as for the heauenly inheritaunce, we are very well aſſured that we loſe nothing, neither diminiſh any part of our right, when we draw many of our neighbors, yea an infinite multitude, they al do encreaſe our glory and ioy. When God calleth vsus vntounto him, he goeth not to worke by portions, as things either encreaſe or decreaſe in this worlde: but we ſhall hauehave ſo much, that (as I ſaid before) our ſaluation ſhall bee ſo much the more encreaſed, and our glory augmented, when we hauehave gathered a multitude to our God,
245 How Sathan hath bewitched the Papiſts.
THe Diuell hath bene no leſſe enuious, and hath no leſſe preuailed in theſe latter daies, then hee hath done in times paſt. For now alſo hath he made many men to ſet forth the imaginations of their owne heartes, and hath bewitched many to followe their damnable waies, whereby the way of truth is blaſphemed, and for their owne traditions, he hath made the word of the Lorde Ieſus to be of none effect, this work hath he wroght (as we may ſee) among the Papiſtes. For whereas Chriſt hath taught vsus to worſhippe in ſpirit and trueth, to drinke the wine in the ſacrament of his body and bloude,Io. 4.23 Ma. 26.27 1. Cor. 14.19. 1. Cor. 10 27. Heb. 13.3 to praye in a knowne tongue, to eate of any meats without ſcruple of conſcience, to vſe holy matrimony in all eſtates, as a remedy againſt ſinne: yet as though Chriſt were no prophet vntounto vsus, they hauehave abrogated theſe his lawes, and made other contrary of their owne.
This our eies hauehave ſeene, and our eares hauehave heard, and whether they wil or no, they muſt needes confeſſe it: Yet notwithſtanding they flatter themſelues in a maruelous madneſſe, and doing all thing contrary to the Lord Ieſu, they ſay ſtill they cannot erre: but they ſhall one day ſee and know, that Chriſt is the onelyonly Prophet of the newe teſtament: and bleſſed be the Lorde, who hath made vsus this day to beleeue it: and while yet the day of health and acceptable time is, to hearken onelye vntounto him, and refuſe all the vaine inuentions of men.
246 The doctrine of the Papiſtes repugnant to the ſcriptures.
WE are taught by the Scriptures that Chriſt is aſcended into heauen, and ſitteth on the right hand of GOD the father, and from thence and no place els,Col, 3.1 he ſhall come to iudge the quick and the dead: yet contrary to this article of our faith, and contrary to the nature of Chriſts humanity, if we beeleeue not that Chriſt euen in his fleſhe, is ſtill in earth with vsus, yea and that in a thouſand places at once, the church of Rome wil pronounce vsus deteſtable heretickes. The ſcripture teacheth that we hauehave redemptiō and iuſtification by faith in Chriſts bloud onelyonly, without the helpe of our owne vertues and good workes. For S. Paule ſaith:Ro. 3.18 Therefore wee gather that a man is iuſtified by faithe without the deeds of the Law. And to the Ep. Ye are iuſtified by grace,Eph, 2.8.9 and that not of your ſelues, it is the gifte of God: not of woorkes leaſte any man ſhould boſt. And yet if we beleue not that our workes do help vsus to our iuſtification and remiſsion of ſins, the papiſts wil condemne vsus as heretiks The Scriptures ſayth, Thou ſhalt make thee no grauen image,Ex. 20.4. neither ſhalt thou bow downe to worſhip it. The church of Rome ſaith it is godly to hauehave the church ful of images, and to kneele downe before them, to ſette vp candels vntounto them, and with incenſe to honor them. The ſcriptures teach vsus that Chriſt by once offering himſelfe on the croſſe, made perfecte for euer all them that be ſanctified:He. i0. i4 & yet by the Church of Roome are they horrible heritickes, that ſay there is not dayly ſacrifice propitiatory for our ſinnes in their Maſſe. The ſcripture ſaith in the vſe of the Lords ſupper,Ma. 26.27 Drinke yee all of this. The Papiſts ſay it is hereſie to affirme that the laye people ſhoulde drinke of the Lords cuppe. Moreouer our Sauiour Chriſt inſtituted a ſacramente of thankeſgiuing (as he ſaieth) doe this in remembraunce of me. They make it a ſacrifice propitiatorye for the quicke and the dead, hauing not one ſillable of Gods word for the ſame.
Chriſte gaue breade, they ſay there is no breade. Chriſt gaue wyne, they ſaye, the ſubſtance of the wine is cleane vaniſhed away.
Chriſt ſayd when he gaue bread, this is my body, and when he gaue wine this is my bloud: they ſay when the one or the other is giuen, that it is both the bodie & bloud. I omit their mixing of diuerſe corrupt doctrines, their vnfruitefull and dangerous ceremonies. I omit yt they hauehave made it a common marchandice, to buy… ſoules out of purgatorie, and how… they hauehave made of this heauenly myſterie, a perpetuall matter of idolatrie, by leading the people in their eleuations, to worſhip the creature, in ſteede of the creator. For if it ſhould be throughly declared how they hauehave wreſted and wroung the wordes of Chriſtes inſtitution, it might ſeeme to al men that hauehave the feare of God, very maruelous: but this which hath beene ſpoken may ſuffice.
247 The keyes of the kingdome of heauen are all one with the power of binding and looſing, of remitting and reteining ſinnes.
AS God to teach Pharao what he would doe in Egypt by 7. yeeres of plentie, & 7. yeeres of famine, did vſe two ſundry dreames, of kine, and eares of corne, ye ſurer to reſolue him of his purpoſe in the ſame: ſo Chriſt, to teach vsus what he doth for mankind in ordeyning the miniſterie of the worde and Sacramentes, vſeth two ſimilitudes, the one of keies, the other of binding and looſing, that we may knowe the better the fruite and force of it. Touching the keyes: he ſpeaketh of heauen as of a houſe, whereinto there is no entraunce for men, vnleſſe the doore be opened.Mat. 16.19. Nowe we (all of Adams race) are ſhut out of heauen, as Adam our progenitor was out of Paradice, through our offences and ſinnes. For no vncleane thing ſhall enter into it.Reu. 21.27. Io. 3.16. But God of his louelove and fauour towardes vsus, hath giuen vsus his Sonne, his onelyonly begotten Sonne, that whoſoeuer beleeueth in him, ſhould not periſh but hauehave eternall life, which is the inheritance reſerued in heauē for vsus.1. Pet. 1.4. Ro. 10.14 We cannot beleeue vnleſſe wee heare his word. We heare not his word vnleſſe it be preached. Wherefore when God the father ſent his ſonne Chriſt, and Chriſt ſent his Apoſtles,Luk. 4.18. Eſay. 61.1 Mar. 16.15 Lu. 24.27. as his father ſent him, to preach his worde to men, that they who repented and beleeued in Chriſt, ſhould hauehave their ſinnes forgiuen them: the faithleſſe and vnrepentant ſhould not be forgiuen: then he gaue authoritie (as it were) to open heauen to the faithfull, and to ſhutte it, againſt the wicked. Which office (to ſhut and open) becauſe in mens houſes it is exerciſed by keyes:2. Kin. 18.18. Eſa. 22.22. & the ſtewarde of the houſe is ſaid to hauehave the keye of it, to open it & to ſhut it: therefore Chriſt ye principall ſteward of Gods houſe, is ſaid to hauehave the keye of Dauid:Reu. 3.7. & he gaue his Apoſtles the keyes (as it were) of the kingdom of heauē, when he made thē his ſtewardes to ſhut out & to let in.1. Co. 4.1. Ro. 5.12. Ro. 6.23. Pro. 5.22. The other ſimilitude of binding & looſing is to like effect. For we are al by nature ye children of ſin, & therfore of death. Nowe ſins are in a manner the ſame to the ſoule, that cordes to ye bodie: & the endleſſe paynes of death, (that is,2. Pet. 2.4 1. Pet. 3.19. the wages of ſinne) are like to chaines wherewith the wicked are bound in hell, as in priſon. Frō theſe cordes of ſin, & chaynes of death eternal, mē are looſed by chriſt, whē their ſins be remitted: their ſins are remitted, if they beleeue in him. If they beleue not, their ſins are reteined: whoſe ſins are reteined, they cōtinue bound. For, he that beleeueth not ſhalbe condemned:Io. 3.18. he that beleeueth ſhalbe ſaued. None ſhalbe cōdemned but they whoſe ſins are reteined, to bind them with the chaynes of darknes: none ſaued but they whoſe ſins are remitted, and the cordes vnloſed by which they were holden.2. Co. 2.16 Wherefore ſith the goſpell is preached to this end, a ſauour of life to life vntounto beleeuers:Eſay. 61.1 vntounto the vnbeleeuers, a ſauor of death to doth as we reade of Chriſt, that the Lord ſent him to preach deliuerance to the captiues, and opening of priſon to them that are bounde: in like ſort his miniſters whom he ſent to preach it, are ſaide to binde and looſe,Mat. 16.19 & 18.18. Io. 20.23. to retain and remit ſinnes. So that both theſe kinds of ſpeech, import the ſame that is ſignified by keyes. For to bind and to reteyne ſinnes, is to ſhut: to looſe, and to remit ſinnes, is to open the kingdome of heauen.
248 There dwelleth no goodneſſe at all in our fleſh.
IT is the part of a good Chriſtian and a wiſe man, to know himſelfe: and to knowe the nature of this fleſh which we beare about with vsus, which fighteth alwayes ſo mightely againſt the ſpirite: to know the waywardnes of our heart, and the weakenes of our minde. But many (which neither knowe God nor thēſelues) are ſo far frō this, yt they thinke al their ability is of thēſelues, yt they hauehave iudgemēt, the light of reaſon, and the ordering of their owne ways, &c. But we muſt humble our ſelues vnderunder the mightie hande of God, and acknowledge that we are nothing.Ro. 7.18. We muſt confeſſe wt S. Paule, I knowe that in me, that is to ſay, in my fleſh dweleth no good. Our Sauiour Chriſt ſayth,Io. 3.6. yt which is borne of the fleſh, is fleſh: and that which is borne of the ſpirite,Gen. 8.21. is ſpirite. And God ſayth, The imaginatiō of mans hart is euill from his youth. He hath made vsus, & not we our ſelues he knoweth vsus, and not we our ſelues. This is his ſaying, and his iudgement of vsus, and this wee finde true. For our will is froward, and our vnderſtanding blinde. Therefore ſaith the Prophet, O Lorde, I know that the way of man is not in himſelf,Ier. 10.23. neither is it in man to walke and direct his ſteppes. Salomon alſo ſayeth, that the ſteppes of man are ruled by the Lord;Pro. 20.14 how can a man then vnderſtand his owne way? S. Paul confeſſeth to the Corinthians,2. Co. 3.5. that he is not ſufficient of himſelfe to thinke any thing as of himſelfe: but that his ſufficiencie is in God. Without mee (ſayth Chriſt) ye can do nothing.Io. 15.5. It is God that worketh in you both the will & the deede, euen of his good pleſure It is god ye diſpoſeth our goings & turneth our hearts,Phil. 2.13. as ſeemeth beſt vntounto him. He is able to make of the ſtones in the ſtreete children vntounto Abraham.Mat. 3.9. The conſideration whereof ought to leade vsus to ſeeke helpe and comfort by continuall prayer at the hande of God.Col. 4.2.
249 The fleſh luſteth contrary to the ſpirite and the ſpirite contrarie to the fleſh.
WHen the ſpirite ſeeketh wholy to obey God, the fleſh withall his might rebelieth againſt the ſame: in ſo much that the godly man, who onelyonly ſeeketh the glorie of God, is conſtrayned to abide manye aſſaults of the fleſh & the deuill. The fleſh flyeth the croſſe, and deſireth rather eaſe and pleaſure, and ſeeketh by all meanes to withdraw a man from the obedience of God The fleſhe (as Saint Paule ſayth) luſteth contrary to the ſpirite,Gal. 1.17. and the ſpirite contrary to the fleſh: theſe are contrary one to another, ſo that yee cannot doe what ye would. The fleſh ſayeth they that ſpeake the trueth ſhall hauehave many enemies: but they that can diſſemble ſhall eaſily enioy the fauour of men. But the ſpirite ſayth,Iam. 4.4. He that wilbe a friend of this worlde, is an enemie vntounto God. The fleſh ſaith, to confeſſe Chriſt before men is not wtout daunger. The ſpirit ſaith.Mat. 10.32 He that acknowledgeth me before men: him wil I acknowledge before my father which is in heauen. The fleſh ſaith, take heede how thou ſpeake of ye goſpel of Chriſt for if thou be caſt into priſon for the ſame, how canſt thou defēd thy cauſe? The ſpirite ſayth,Mat. 10.19 Mar. 13.11. Lu. 12.11. when they deliuer you vp take no thought, how or what ye ſhall ſpeake: for it ſhalbe giuen you in that houre, what ye ſhall ſay. The fleſhe ſayeth, it is a harde thinge to fall into ye hands of men: The ſpirit ſaith it is a horrible thing to fall into the hand of God.He. 10.31. The fleſh ſaith let a man looke well alwaies to himſelfe: The ſpirit ſaith, he wc loueth his life ſhal loſe it.Io. 12.25. The fleſh ſaith, it is pleaſant to enioy ye pleaſures of the world and luſtes of the heart, & it is paine to mortify and kill them: The ſpirit ſaith.Luc. 6.24. Wo be to you that are rich, for ye hauehave receaued your conſolation. Wo be to you that are ful, for ye ſhall hunger, Woe bee to you that nowe laugh, for yee ſhall waile and weepe. The fleſh ſaith, he is a wiſe man, and like to come to preferment, that will ſeeke to pleaſe God and man: The ſpirit ſaieth, No man can ſerue two Maiſters. And againe, If I ſhould pleaſe men,Mat. 6.24. Gal. 1.20. I were not the ſeruant of Chriſt. For if any man louelove this Worlde, the louelove of the Father,1. Io. 2.15. is not in him.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Frewen, Fruitful Instructions and Necessary Doctrines (1587)