Sermons Upon Divers Texts, Sermon 1
A SERMON VPONUPON THE PArable of the Sower.
Matth. 13.
1 IN that day Ieſus went out of the houſe & ſate by the ſea ſide.
2 And there was gathered vntounto him a multitude, ſo that he entred into a ſhip, and ſate downe, and the whole multitude ſtood on the ſhoare.
3 And he ſpake many things vntounto them by parables, ſaying: Behold a Sower went forth to ſowe.
4 And as he ſowed, ſome ſeeds fell by the way ſide: and the foules came and eat them vp.
5 Other fell vponupon ſtony ground, where they had not much earth, and by & by they ſprang vp, becauſe they had not depth of earth.
6 And when the ſun roſe they were parched, and becauſe they had no root they withered.
7 Other fell among thornes, and the thornes grewe vp and choked it.
8 Other fell into good ground, and brought foorth fruit, one ſeed an hundred fold, another ſixtie, another thirty.
9 He that hath eares to heare, let him heare.
ALthough the Iewes, at ſuch time as our Sauiour Chriſt came into the worlde, had the word of God among them: and had alſo the Temple and Synagogues where they heard the ſame read & expounded: yet their ſtate was very miſerable, for Chriſt ſaith, they were as ſheep without a ſhepheard: becauſe their teachers, the Scribes and Phariſies, being choaked with couetouſnes, and puffed vp with vaine glory, were become ſtark naught, corrupt in maners, & corrupting the word with their fond gloſes: their teaching alſo was ſo cold, and with ſo little power euen in that which they taught truly, that the people had no great liſt to heare them. But when Iohn Baptiſt the forerunner of Chriſt, was raiſed vp to publiſh the beginning of the Goſpell, and to prepare the way for the Lord, hee like a ſounding and ſhrill Trumpet, with the power of his word ſhooke their hearts, and rowſed their drowſineſſe, ſo that from his time the kingdome of heauen ſuffered violence. When Chriſt Ieſus himſelfe vttered his voice in preaching, and his diuine power in working woonders, there appeared ſuch a woonderfull maieſtie in his perſon, as did amaze the hearers: wherupon his fame was noyſed far and neer, ſo that they came running out of al quarters of the land by heaps, for to ſee and hear him: they ſeemed to forget themſelues and their ſtate, in leauing all worldly affaires, as the husbandmen their plough, the Artificers their craftes and ſciences, following him into the wilderneſſe with their wiues and their children laggering at their heeles, ſo great was their zeale. So that, as before almoſt all did periſh in the miſerable ſtate they were in: nowe it ſeemed that the greateſt part, or at leaſt an innumerable multitude did with ſuch care imbrace the heauenly doctrine, as that they ſhould be moſt happy and come to eternal life: but this was otherwiſe, for our Sauiour Chriſt ſheweth heere, that of this great heap and rablement of people, that were ſo zealous, and trauelled ſo far to heare him, there were three partes which did not profite by his doctrine, but continued ſtill damned and forlorne creatures, only one part of foure, are true ſchollers. And becauſe we be rank hypocrits, prone & ready to deceiue our ſelues, Chriſt Ieſus layeth open the matter ſo plainlie, & in ſo familiar a kind of teaching, that vnles we wilfully blind our ſelues we can not but ſee how the caſe ſtādeth in eueryevery of vsus, ech man in himſelfe: for he taketh a ſimilitude from a Sower of corn, which going & caſting his ſeed abroad, it lighteth vponupon ſundry kindes of ground, ſome falleth by the way ſide, where the path is trā pled & beaten ſmooth & hard by mens feet, and is made like a pauement, & there it lyeth aboue the ground altogether vncouered, the Fouls come by & by & pick it vp. Some falleth into ſtony ground or rocky, or as S. Luke ſaith, vponupon a rock: where there is a litle thin cruſt of earth in the top, & ſome moiſture in which the ſeed is a little couered: and becauſe the earth which doth couer it is but ſhallow, it ſpringeth vp quicklie and brancheth, and is freſh and greene, and being ſo good, ſeemeth to be forward corne, and ſuch as would yeeld to the husbandmen a plentifull harueſt: but becauſe the root cannot ſpread it ſelfe deepe ynough, to ſuck iuice out of the ground for the nouriſhment of the blade, when the parching heate of the Sun lighteth vponupon it, then it is dryed vp, and ſcorched, and dyeth, & neuer bringeth forth fruit. Some other doth fall among thornes: there is depth of earth for the feed to grow, ſo that it ſpringeth vp, and not onelyonly a blade, but alſo a ſtalke, and commeth ſo far as to hauehave the eare: but the thornes grow vp with it, ouerſhadow and choak it, in ſo much that the corne in the eare, cannot hauehave the benefite of the Sun to make it ripe: therefore the fruite that it ſeemeth to bring forth commeth to naught. Some other ſeeds fall into good ground, and grow vp, & bring forth ſeaſonable fruit, one kernell an hundreth, another ſixty, another thirtie. This is the Parable. Now for the meaning of it, we are not to ſeek far, neither to goe by coniectures, for Chriſt himſelfe doth expound and interpret eueryevery part of it a little after in this chapter: I neede not but to lay open his expoſition.
The ſeed is the word of God: the ſower of it is the Preacher and publiſher of the ſame: for as the Sower doth fil his hand and ſo caſteth it abroad vponupon the ground, not ſetting it ſeed by ſeed, or chooſing a place for eueryevery ſeed, but where it lighteth: euen ſo the preacher doth caſt foorth the worde among the people, and look how the ground is into which it falleth, ſo doth it proſper; for your hearts are the ground vponupon which it is caſt: you that are the hearers & among whom the ſeed is ſown, hauehave eueryevery one a hart which is one of theſe four ſorts of groūd, vponupon which the ſeed falleth: and becauſe the ſeede hath beene and is ſtill daylie ſowne among yee, I thinke this parcell of ſcripture is vey fit and agreeable, euen as a touchſtone for eueryevery one to try him ſelfe withall, whether hee hauehave rightlie embraced the Goſpell, and to his ſaluation: for what a ſottiſhnes were this, when we hauehave ſo iuſt and plaine a rule, not to meaſure our ſelues with it? But going on, on, nothing conſider whether we be not one of thoſe three euill ſorts of ground, which receiue the ſeed, but bring forth no fruite, thinking we be wel if we profeſſe the Goſpel or heare it, after any ſort. Let vsus go forward: thoſe which receiue the ſeede by the way ſide, are they which heare the worde and doe not vnderſtand it, then commeth the euill one, or as S. Luke ſaith, the Diuell, and taketh it away from their heart. In theſe firſt kind of hearers, we hauehave to obſerue, how that their heartes being hard and ſmooth like a path that is trampled and beatē with mens feet, the word hath no entrance, but lieth aboue vncouered: for like as when a man caſteth an handfull of corne vponupon a very harde and ſmooth path, it is all one as if it were caſt vponupon a pauement: ſo alſo through the cuſtome and deceitfulneſſe of ſinning, the Diuell hath made the hearts of theſe vnmeete to receiue the heauenly ſeed of the word: and looke how ye ſee Crowes & other Fowles followe the heeles of the Sower, to picke vp and deuoure ſuch kernels as do lie vncouered; in like maner do the diuels come like greedy foules into the aſſemblies, where the word of God is preached, to take it away from the harts of the people, that it may not growe there. This peraduenture will ſeeme ſtrange to ſome, that Sathan ſhould hauehave any entrance into the Church among Gods people, eſpecially when they bee about the beſt and moſt holy exerciſes of hearing the word & of praier. How ſtrange ſoeuer it may ſeeme, and how many ſoeuer hauehave been, or bee of that fond and doltiſh opinion, to think that the diuell hath nothing to do with them, or commeth not neere them, when they bee about theſe holie things: we are to beleeue Chriſt who telleth vsus the contrary: and we are wiſely to conſider, that when we are nigheſt that which ſhoulde doe our ſoules good, then is this enemie readieſt at hand, & doth moſt buſilie beſtirre him. If this were not vttered by our Sauiour Chriſt himſelfe, we might woonder, & for mine own part I would not ceaſe wondring to ſee many hearers which cary away almoſt nothing, which is to any purpoſe: let a man tell a long ſtorie in a worldly matter, they hauehave wit inough to recite it in order again, & to keep it in remēbrance a long time after: but let ye preacher ſpeak neuer ſo plain, although they ſit & look him in yt face, yet if ye enquire of thē ſo ſoon as they be out at the church doors, ye ſhal eaſily perceiue that (as the cōmon ſaying is) it went in at the one eare, and out at the other. They will ſay peraduenture, after this maner, it was a good ſermon, I wold we could follow it, he ſaid very wel: he is a perfect ready man in the pulpit. But ask, what doctrine did he handle. Then are they at a pauſe, and ſet at a dead lift. They will make this anſwere: we are not able to carrie away ſo much as other can; neuertheles we hope that we be as good toward God, as they that carie away moſt. They will alſo confeſſe that the worde of God is good, and that wee ſhould be ruled by it. Let vsus therefore dearly beloued (if we deſire not to be of the number of theſe) marke well the ſubtill ſleights and pollicie of the diuell, how he handleth and conueyeth the matter with this kind of people. There is no doubt of this, but that if he can he will drawe away the minde from comming to the Sermon, one pelting let or other muſt come in the way: if there be no worldly buſineſſe to be done, then a paire of cards, or tables, or ſome honeſt recreation, it ſhould be nowe no good ciuility to part companie when friends are met togither, this is the ſureſt way if it may be obtained: but what if he faile heerin? They come to the place where the ſeed ſhal be ſowne, ſit down, and mind to heare: then the next way is to come with them, and to attend at their elbowe, ſeeking how to depriue them of the word. Now his beſt way is to bring them aſleepe becauſe they were then as good bee abſent: or into a ſlumber, that they may heare only a ſound and a confuſed humming, without any perſeuerance of the things vttered: or els when they heare any perfect ſentence, or a few ſentences, they know not why they bee vttered, becauſe they heard not that which went before. Such as are not ſo drowſie headed, being wakefull, he ſeeketh ſtil to conuey ſome thoughts into their minds, whereabouts they may be occupied, and their vnderſtanding drawne away: the mind of a man being light and inconſtant, if hee can put in but one motion, it oftentimes draweth with it ſo many linkes as make vp a whole chaine, in the meane time the Preacher goeth on, and he vnderſtandeth not what was ſaid, and ſo when his mind returneth he can hauehave no ſound knowledge of the things vttered, but a confuſed opinion: into theſe by thoughtes men are oftentimes brought, euen by occaſion of ſome word or ſentence which they heard vttered, and are carried ſo far, that they cannot of long time recouer their mind to bring it again to the matter. Seeing this great dāger, we ought when we come to hear Gods word taught, to make account that wee goe about a verie hard worke, that we go to encounter with Sathan hand to hand, who ſeeketh then moſt buſilie to ſteale away our heart, that he may make that word fruitleſſe in vsus, and cauſe vsus to ſinne grieuouſly againſt God. There is no one man which maketh conſcience of hearing the word rightly, which ſetting theſe thinges togither, the reuerence we owe vntounto it, the ſtedineſſe of our minde, which ſhould be vponupon it, and the care to keepe it, but will eaſilie grant that it is as hard and painfull a trauell to doe this, as for the man that worketh in the ſoreſt bodilie labor. Heer is therfore a leſſon for eueryevery man to apply to himſelf when he is going to heare the word, to think I am now going about a gret work I ſhall be too weak if the Lord God do not mightilie aſſiſt me: for I am not to ſit downe there at eaſe, but to wraſtle and ſtruggle with the Diuell, and with all the corruptions of mine owne fleſh, and hardneſſe of my heart: that my mind may bee kept ſtedfaſt vponupon the worde, that I may receiue it with al reuerence & feare, as the word of the great & glorious God: not to iudge of it at mine own pleaſure, but to craue wiſedome from the Lord: not to heare it and to let it goe, but to keep it as a moſt precious iewell locked vp in my heart, that I may guide my ſelfe thereby. And wee ſhall be a great deale the rather mooued to this diligence, if we conſider what a companion wee carie about with vsus, and what a gueſt wee lodge withall, when we be ſuch as heare the word, and doe not keep it. For Chriſt telleth vsus that it is the Diuell which doth this: which as a greedy Fowle deuoureth the ſeed which was ſowne in our heart: if any make none account to hauehave him poſſeſſing their mind, & hardening their hearts againſt the word: then let them continue in their ſloth to heare with drowſie minds, to heare and not to vnderſtand: to regard the holy word, but as the word of a man: to make little account to keep it. But if he thinke it a moſt miſerable thing, to hauehave ſo filthy a beaſt, & ſo ſoule a ſpirit to lodge in his breaſt: if he thinke it to be a moſt vile ſlauery, to be vanquiſhed and ouercome of ſo horrible an enemie, to bee led captiue and kept thrall vnderunder ſuch a tyrant: then let him thinke alſo how miſerable a thing it is to bee ſuch a kind of ground as doth receiue the ſeede by the way ſide. For vndoubtedly, how ſoeuer men ſeeme to defie the deuill, and curſe him, as though he ſhould not come nigh them, yet ſeeing it is no mortall man, but the Lord Ieſus Chriſt himſelfe, who telleth vsus heer that the diuell is not only nigh but in theſe kind of hearers, euen hardening their heartes, and blinding their eies, wee ought moſt conſtantlie to beleeue it. Hee that ſhall deeply weigh the eſtate of our Church at this day, will ſoone be brought to confeſſe, that there be many of this firſt ſort of hearers, they ſhall perceiue it right wil by this, that they are not able in any wiſe to iudge or put difference betweene ſound & ſyncere preaching and vaine pratling: they know not whē the preacher doth miniſter vntounto them wholſome food, and when there is nothing but chaffe and wind: ye ſhal heare them highly commende ſome Sermon, as a matter worthy to be written in letters of gold, when as in deed it deſerueth not ſo much as to be noted with a coale. I ſpeake not of thoſe ſilly wretches, which were neuer as yet acquainted with preaching, for it is no great maruel, though they bee not able to diſcerne chalke from cheeſe: or being blind for to iudge of colours, but to ſuch as of long time hauehave been hearers, and yet neuer the wiſer, becauſe they are not able to iudge when ſound and neceſſary concluſions are drawne out of the word; but all is one with them, whether the reaſon that is made be good or bad, ſtrong or weake: yea, further ye ſhall perceiue that euē a litle ſhew of a reaſon although neuer ſo doltiſh, being againſt true godlines, doth more preuaile with thē, then a multitude of infallible proofs although they be neuer ſo ſure: and that which is ſo groſſe and abſurd that a child may laugh at, ſeemeth to them a very ſtrong piller to leane to. There needeth no more when a man preacheth vntounto them, but a glorious ſhew of learning, a ſweet ringing voice, and matters ſo ſtrange and ſtrangely handeled, that they may be brought into a woondermēt of that they know not. And Satan hath many chaplaines fit for this turne, to ſerue the vaine humor of ſuch people, and to ſet foorth themſelues after a pompous ſort: more ſeeking their owne vaine glory, then the glorie of the Goſpel, in the conuerſion of the people. The ſeconde kind of ground are they which receiue the ſeede vponupon the hard rock, where there is ſome entrance, and the word hath a ſhallow root in them, for as it were the top of their heart is ſoft after a ſort, and there it is couered a little, and it groweth vp quicklie, and ſpringeth freſh, they ſeeme to be ſtout and excellent profeſſours, they brag of great zeale: a man would take them to be ſyncere, and ſo they take themſelues: but when the Sun ariſeth that is, the fiery triall or parching heate of perſecution, they ſtumble and fall away and becauſe the word had no deep root in them, it withereth and bringeth forth no fruite: theſe alſo are not profited by the word of grace, but are ſtil caſtawayes & damned creatures. In this kind of ground, or in theſe hearers, if we note well, we ſhall ſee that which is ſtrange and woonderfull: when Chriſt ſaith and teſtifieth of them, that they receiue the word with ioy: theſe be not blaſphemers or perſecutors of the word: they be not contemners which regard not at all to heare it: they come not vnderunder a ſhewe or pretence as to a thing which otherwiſe they hauehave no care nor feeling of, or which they delight not for to heare, but how? They receiue it with ioy, and take ſuch pleaſure therin, that returning they can ſay, ſurely this was a very notable peece of worke, and wel handeled, I am glad that I heard it, it doth me euen as much good as my meate, I would goe a mile to heare the like againe. Is not this then marueilous and fearfull, that a man may goe thus far & yet be a caſtaway, and a forlorne wretch? It is not a thing to be woondered at, when the holie ſcriptures giuegive ſentence againſt thoſe traiterous villaines, which ſet themſelues againſt God, and tread downe his lawes; but when God vttereth this ſharpe ſentence againſt this zealous kind of mē, if it cauſe vsus not to wōder, yet it may make vsus to tremble, when we ſee that a man may proceed thus far in religion and yet be damned. Whē we vnderſtand that a man may bee zealous, and ready to heare preaching, vnderſtandeth, carieth away, letteth it grow in his heart, hath ſome ioy in it, and yet neuer the better, abiding ſtill vnderunder the curſe. But there be ſome which will obiect againſt me and ſay, this is no good manner of teaching, for the vſe of true teaching, is to builde vp and edifie the faith: but this ſeemeth to take away the certainty of faith from all, ſo that no man can tell whether he ſhall be ſaued: For by what means can a man make a better triall and proofe of his faith then this, that he giueth eare to Gods word, vnderſtandeth it, carieth it away, and ioyeth in it? If ſuch a man may be damned, who may not diſpaire? I anſwere with S. Paul, 1. Cor. 10.12. He that thinketh he ſtandeth, let him take heed he do not fall. If the admonition were neceſſary to the Corinthes, it is neceſſarie for vsus all. One of the principall endes and vſes of preaching, is to giuegive men warning that they do not deceiue thēſelues with eueryevery kind of faith or ioy in the word: but to looke for good and ſound triall in themſelues: which is not the way to bring men to deſpaire, but to bring them to true godlineſſe: to cauſe them to ſhake off ſecuritie and looſneſſe in the ſeruice of God: to beware leaſt their heartes bee hard ſtill within: it cauſeth men to trie themſelues leaſt they ſhould be deceiued by a vaine ſhadowe of a dead and fruitleſſe faith: for Chriſt ſaith, that theſe beleeue (for ſo it is expreſſed by S. Luke the 8.13.) and ioy in the worde, and yet are damned. Then let vsus come to the particular applying of this point: to ſee howe wee are to deale with our ſelues, when ye receiue the word take heed that ye giuegive it depth of earth enough, look that your hart be not ſoft & pliable enough a little aboue, and a hard rocke of ſtone within, but ſee that it bee digged and ſoftened to the bottome, that the worde may take deep roote enough. Alas, what a miſerable thing is it, when Chriſt hath giuen vsus warning here ſo plainly, for a man to be a zealous goſpeller, not only willing to heare, but hath an earneſt deſire, & trauelleth to heare, taketh pleaſure & delight when he heareth, yet neuertheles, becauſe he taketh no heede thereto, his heart within is ſo ſtonie, that he heareth but to his further increaſe of damnation. Manie thinke it goeth wel with them when as they receiue this teſtimonie frō men: he is a ſound Proteſtant he fauoureth and delighteth in the truth, theſe indeed be great tokens of the fear of God, but yet we are not to reſt in thē: our chief dealing is between God & our hart, & that in this thing whether our heart bee not hard and rockie. Thoſe are a thouſande times happy, which feele melting heartes and ſoft affections, ſo that Gods word doth pearce into them, & cauſeth them to tremble at the maieſty & power of the fame: their tender heart doth ſigh and mourn for their iniquitie. As on the contrary part, they which make no conſcience of ſin, but are hardened in their affections, although they ſeem to be in good caſe, yet are they curſed & miſerable. Let eueryevery man therefore that goeth from the ſermon, carie this with him: I heare by Chriſts owne words, that there is a ſtonie ground where the ſeed falleth, where it groweth, but not deep enough, it ſpringeth vp, but doth not bring forth fruit, this is a wofull caſe, if I ſhould be in the number of theſe, for then al my labor is loſt which I beſtow in frequēting Sermōs, yea it were much better that I had neuer heard: I feele that I ioy in it, I would not for any thing but I had heard it: but Chriſt ſaith that the reprobate ſome of them do heare the word with ioy, ſo that if I looke not narrowly to mine owne heart, I may for all this be damned: therefore I muſt not ſatisfie my ſelfe with this, but ſee that I couer the word deep enough, that my heart be ſoftened in ſuch ſort, that I feele the roote goeth deepe, yea ſo deepe, that it can neuer be rooted out: And therefore let him continuallie crie vntounto God and ſay: O Lord make ſoft my harde and ſtony heart, let it bee a melting heart, that thy holie worde may growe in it for euer. I would to God this doctrine of our Sauiour Chriſt might make euerie of vsus to tremble & ſhake (as indeed if it were well weighed, it is ſo fearfull, that it might cauſe the haire of our heads to ſtand vp,) for then would we not ſo looſely & ſecurely walk in the hardneſſe of our heartes, there would not be ſo many backſliders in time of perſecution: there would not be ſo many braue boaſters and praters of Religion, who are readie to pull in their hornes, and to hide their heades, ſo ſoone as there is anie feare of daunger, or likelihood of perſecution: neither would men bear themſelues in hand, that they be iolly profeſſours when they hauehave but a little taſted of the word, & are no more but empty barrelles, which giuegive a great ſound. Heere then wee be ſet a worke with great toyle, to hauehave this ſame hard ſtonie ground made ſofte, and fit to receiue this heauenly ſeed. And hee which is not carefull in this point, to take paines, yee ſhall ſee him waxe ſo hard, that euen as a continuall raine dropping vponupon a rocke of ſtone maketh it neuer the ſofter, ſo nothing can make his heart to relent. This may teach vsus then to ceaſe marueiling, when wee ſee ſo manie which willinglie giuegive themſelues to be taught, & hauehave ſtill little remorſe of ſinne. The Lorde for his merciemercy ſake make vsus wiſe and ſharpe ſighted to iudge of our ſelues: not to be lead on forward in a carnall profeſſion, but to giuegive credit to our heauenly teacher, who hath heere opened his holie mouth to inſtruct vsus ſo plainely, and before hand to warne vsus of the great danger: that we may ſtir vp ourſelues, and be quickened in our dull ſpirits, with all humble ſubmiſſion, and bowing downe our neckes, to receiue the doctrine of our Lord, & to open our hearts in ſuch ſort, that he may digge in them, and thruſt in his ſpade to the bottome: for otherwiſe, it cannot go wel with vsus. If this were practiſed among vsus, wee ſhould not hauehave ſo many old ruſty Proteſtants: which if a man talk with them from morning to night, they are able to continue ſpeech in reciting ſtories and places of Scripture, and will vtter matter againſt the doctrine of the Pope: but let a man vrge them with the doctrine of regeneration, and ſtand vponupon the neceſſitie of ſincere repentance, ſhewing them that they muſt be truly humbled vnderunder the burthē of their ſinnes, that they muſt mortifie and ſubdue their carnall luſtes: this is too hard a cruſt for their old teeth. This matter doth marre all: this doth rob them of their glorie: and therefore they can not wilinglie abide to heare of it. Let vsus come now to the third kind of ground, which receiueth the ſeed among the thornes: here is depth enough of earth: ſo that as the ſecond ſort of hearers ſeemed to goe far beyond the firſt, ſo theſe ſeeme to goe far beyond them, and to come nigher to eternall life, for heere the worde doth grow & hath root ſo deep, that it ſpringeth foorth ſo farre that Chriſt faith, it groweth vp, and the thornes growe vp with it, the ſtalke doth ſhoot foorth the eare, and lacketh but riping. For this may bee prooued by Saint Luke, who ſaith that they bee not (Teleſphorountes) that is, ſuch as beare ripe and timely fruit: for theſe profeſſors doe manie good workes, and ſeeme to bring foorth the fruites of the Goſpel, and that in ſuch wiſe that men cannot alwayes diſcerne them, but thinke their deeds to be notable: but Chriſt Ieſus doth ſhew that their workes before God, (who only cannot bee deceiued) are as corne which lacketh riping, which being ouerſhadowed with buſhes, withereth in the eare and commeth to naught: this is a dangerous caſe if wee looke not to it: That a man may heare the Goſpell preached, carie it away, be moued thereby to doe many good workes, and yet be damned. Hee is a thouſand folde mad therefore, which doth not looke to himſelfe in this point: to trie what ſoundneſſe there is in the fruites of his faith, and how ſincerely hee doth imbrace Gods worde. As before I ſaide, that ſome would obiect & ſay, this will deſtroy the faith, ſo am I ſure that heer it will be ſaid much more: becauſe this ſeemeth to take away the ſureſt tryall of faith: if a man may not by and by ſay, I hauehave good works, therfore I hauehave the true and liuely faith: I anſwere, that whoſoeuer hath any good worke in him, the ſame hath the true faith, which hath brought foorth that good worke, becauſe it is impoſſible without faith to do any good thing, or to hauehave any good motion or intent: but withall I ſay, that it is one thing to ſeem good before men: and another thing for to be good indeed before God. In outward appearance, there is little differēce between the good deeds of thē which feare god ſincerely, & the vntimely fruite of worldlings: but God whoſe eie doth not look vponupon the outward ſhew but the inward affection, ſeeth which proceedeth of faith, and which doth proceed of vaine glorie, or ſome other ſiniſter reſpect, and putteth as great differēce between thē, as he did between the ſacrifices of Caine and Abel. Wee muſt take heed then, that the fruits of our faith be ripe & timely, otherwiſe they be good but in ſhew. We muſt come then to ſee firſt what theſe thornes are: in S. Matt. they are called, the cares of this world, & the deceitfulnes of riches: in S. Luk. the cares of riches, & pleaſures of this life. And in very deed theſe thornes do growe togither. For were it not for the pleaſures of this life, there would bee no cares of riches: hee which doth ſeek greedily for welth, it is either becauſe he would be able to hauehave wherwithal to fill the luſtes of the fleſh, and to pamper his body delicately: or els to ſetforth himſelf in pride, & to climb ambitiouſly vntounto honour. For ſo long as a man doth take pleaſure in any of theſe, ſo long he is couetous, & raketh together ſo much, that as the common ſaiing is, he raketh vp the diuel & all. What muſt we do then? Our hearts are as a ground that is rank, & bringeth forth many weedes: we are ſet a work as God ſpeaks by his prophet Ieremy, chap 4.4. Plow vp your fallow, & ſow not among the thorns: we muſt put al diligēce & care that our hearts may be rid of ſuch noiſom weeds as wil choke the word of God, & make that it ſhall not bring foorth fruit in vsus. So long as we ſuffer any of theſe in vsus, either to louelove dainty & delicate feeding of our fleſh, & to fil our ſelues with the luſts therof, or to be gallant in the eies of mē, & hautily to lift vp our ſelues in our vain glorious minds, & for the maintenāce of theſe delightes bend our care to the world: ſo long ſhall we be vnprofitable ſchollers in the ſchool of chriſt Alas poor men which wold fain come to God, & yet are glued to the worlde they offer one hand to Chriſt, & the other to the diuel: they can talk of the ſpirit, and yet are led by the fleſh: the goſpel is in their mouth, and couetouſneſſe lodgeth in their hearts: their works gliſter & are green before men & are withered before God: they ſeem to be faithful & are faithleſſe: to be heires of glory, & yet are the childrē of cōfuſion: there are gret plēty of theſe hearers, & ſpecially in ſuch places, where there is welth & honors: how many fal away choked with the world? and yet we are not afraid of ourſelues to take heede that we ſtand faſt. A great mercy of God it is that we hauehave not only the doctrine laide before vsus, but alſo fearefull examples: ſo that we may buy our wit with other mens coſt. For when wee ſee the world with delightes and pleaſures, with couetouſneſſe and ambition, to carrie away thoſe which profeſſe the Goſpell, is not our owne matter in hand, are not we made of the ſame mettall they are, doth not the world aſſault vsus as it doth them? Yes, and we ſhall be ouercome alſo, if the Lord hauehave not merciemercy vponupon vsus. The hardnes of this worke, ought not to diſcourage or make vsus ſlack, but hearing what Chriſt ſaith, whome wee ought to beleeue, the more harde, the more we are to ſtirre vp our ſelues, vnles we make ſmall reckoning of the ſaluation of our ſoules. Hee that ſhall yeeld & giuegive ouer the digging vp of theſe thornes, becauſe hee perceiueth they grow deepe in his heart, and ſpring as faſt as he can cut them: is not worthie to enter into life: he which will not continually till and weede this ground, may well hauehave the Goſpell in ſome ſorte for to grow in him, but not to ſaue him Dearely beloued we muſt be ſurely perſwaded of this, that as there be many godly men, ſo they hauehave attained it with great labour and toile, yea, they are ſtill ſet a worke & cannot come to an ende, becauſe theſe thornes cannot be vtterly rooted out.
Thoſe are greatly ouerſeene which thinke it to be an eaſie thing to profeſſe Chriſt vntounto ſaluation: and make no further account but to bee Goſpellers, at eaſe: if they can vanquiſh in diſputation, to thinke they hauehave wonne the fielde: no, no, they hauehave a heart, which is harde to ouercome: they hauehave thornes which will not eaſely be deſtroyed: here lieth the victorie and getting of the ſpurs: this man ſhall be crowned becauſe hee hath willingly giuen vp himſelfe to the power of Gods grace to purge his heart, and to make roome for the holy worde, that it may grow there alone, and not bee ouerſhadowed and choaked.
Now let vsus marke well that which is ſaide here, both of the ſtonie and alſo of the thornie grounde; how farre they proceede in profeſſing Chriſt, and imbracing his Goſpell: and we ſhall plainely ſee, how greatly thoſe carnall Goſpellers which will not hauehave Faith to be tryed by the fruites, are deceiued: Faith, faith, (ſay they) is that which doth iuſtifie, it is true indeede, but not a fruitleſſe faith: whoſoeuer beleeueth ſhall be ſaued: it is euen ſo, but not after eueryevery kinde of beleefe: for then why ſhould not theſe two ſorts of hearers be ſaued? It is marueilons when the Scripture is ſo euident, and our Sauiour Chriſt ſpeaketh ſo plainely, that this groſſe and doltiſh error ſhould poſſeſſe the minds of ſo many. But indeede it is a ſweete doctrine, when a man may let looſe the raines to all the luſts of the fleſh, at the leaſt thus farre, not to vexe and torment himſelfe in ſubduing them, and yet by faith to be ſaued. When Heauen and Hell meete together, and God and the diuell be reconciled, then ſhal theſe fleſh lie Epicures, and vaine proude men come to their happineſſe. When Chriſt ſhall denye that which hee hath here vttered, then ſhall theſe be true beleeuers.
Let men therfore take heed that they be not deceiued, nor made ſlacke in looking to the fruites of their faith and mortification of vaine fleſhly luſts, through the prophane pratling of ſuch worldly belly Gods: beleeue not thē, but beleeue Ieſus Chriſt, who telleth you that it is not enough to heare the word, & to receiue it with ioy, & to let it grow in vsus, vnles it bring forth reaſonable & timely fruit in vsus.
Againe, let vsus marke how ſtrong and inuincible an Argument may be gathered out of this text againſt all contemners and deſpiſers of the word, ſuch as care not for hearing: theſe three ſortes of hearers are before them, and neerer to Chriſtianitie then they, & yet come ſhort: therefore it muſt needes follow, that ſuch ignorant Atheiſtes, as neither knowe, nor deſire to knowe any thing aboue this world, are very farre from God, although they would ſeeme with their mouth and lippes to draw neere vntounto him. For if this matter were well obſerued, men would not regard nor hauehave thoſe men in eſtimation to be good and honeſt, who are very dogs or ſwine, not regarding the precious pearle of the Goſpel, but ready to barke and bite at thoſe which bring it. Let a man inquire thus, not of a few, but of the greateſt part of men, how ſay ye to ſuch a man, what thinke ye of him? he is (ſay they) a very good man, a good natured man, a gentle perſon, truſty to his friend, ſure of his word, and doth keepe as good an houſe as any man of his calling in all this ſhire. But how is he affected vntounto Gods word: is he zealous in religion? Nay ſurely, I did neuer heare that he did deale that way, he is a very quiet man, no medler at all. O notable honeſt man, as deuout in the lawes of God as the horſe which hee rideth vponupon, as carefull to hauehave Gods glorie aduaunced, as the ſwine in the ſtie, a great deale behinde theſe vnprofitable hearers, which are caſtawaies: and yet forſooth being very bruit beaſtes before God (in the ſtate they bee in yet, vnleſſe the Lord call them to be zealous of his glorie) they muſt bee reputed for the beſt men. Our fieldes are full of ſuch cattell as theſe, & if the Lord doe not put to his helping hand, our caſe is very miſerable. If any of thoſe which were ſo zealous to heare, that they would to their hinderance in worldly matters leaue on their buſineſſe, & followe preaching, as theſe which flocked to heare Chriſt, were yet neuertheles reiected, becauſe they did not ſincerely as they ſhould: what ſhal we ſay of thoſe which will not ſtep out at their doores, euen when they hauehave nothing to doe, vnles it be to ſit at cards or tables? If ſuch a man may bee damned, as is moued with ſome delight, when he heareth the worde preached: what ſhall we iudge of thoſe woodden blockes & ſottiſh men, who feele no more ioy in it then a poſt, whē it is vttered vntounto them? If there be ſome goe to deſtruction, which conforme themſelues & hauehave a ſhew of fruite by the worde: where ſhall thoſe wretches appeare, whom the holie word of God cannot mooue one whit, to reforme their diſordered and beaſtly behauiours. Ineede not ſtand to inueigh out of this place againſt thoſe helliſh helhounds, which dare open their mouthes to reproch and ſlander the ſetting forth of the Goſpell. The Lord diminiſh the number of them.
The laſt kind of ground, are the good hearers, which do not onlie receiue the ſeed, but alſo bring foorth the fruites thereof. Although not eueryevery one alike or in the ſame meaſure, for ſome bring forth an hundreth folde, ſome ſixtie folde, ſome thirtie folde, according to the meaſure of Gods graces in them.
Although heer be great ods in bringing foorth the fruites yet they be all accepted and accounted for good ground, true Chriſtians, and ſincere profeſſors of Godlineſſe: now as we be taught heere that it is required of all to be doers, as Saint Iames ſaith, and not hearers only, chap. 1. ver. 22. ſo are we alſo taught, not to deſpiſe or raſhlie to condemne thoſe, which doe not bring foorth ſo great a meaſure of fruit as others do: True it is, as Chriſt ſaith, herein is my Father glorified, that yee bring foorth much fruit. Ioh. 15.8. But it is alſo as true which he ſaith in the ſeconde verſe of the ſame chapter, EueryEvery branch that bringeth foorth fruit, he purgeth, that it may bring foorth more fruite. Then to bring foorth moſt, is moſt of all to be deſired, that God may hauehave the greateſt glorie: to bring forth the leaſt is not to bee contemned, becauſe the Lord in time doth purge them, & make them more fruitfull. I need not to ſtand heere for to handle many things, or to make large expoſition, the matter is exceeding plain, there is no more but this, that all our care in hearing and profeſſing the Goſpell, bee to receiue it into good ground, & to bring forth the fruites thereof. What ſhould I ſtand to rip vp the ſhamefull abuſe in the contrarie, to vtter how manie euill fruits there be in manie which are Goſpellers. This ſhould be but as it were to light a candle in the cleare Sunſhine, for all men doe ſee them. I doe not ſpeake this, as though it ſhould not bee good to cry out againſt them: but becauſe the former things which I hauehave now vttered, doe fully diſcloſe them. And therefore I will heere ende, deſiring the Lord to write theſe things in our hearts, which wee hauehave heard with our outwarde eares, and to make vsus good ground, to receiue the heauenly ſeed, and to bring forth fruits of the ſame, that glorifying him in this world, we may be glorifyed of him in the world to come, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord, Amen.
FINIS.