A Young Mans Inquisition, Text (3 of 3)

A Young Mans Inquisition · Text (3 of 3)

p. 186Secondly, according to the rule of Gods word, let eueryevery yong man take heed vntounto the way of his manners, to redresse the same in a godly and comely forme, reuerencing & honouring, first, his superiours any way, and elders: secondly, his equalls: and thirdly, his inferiours. Concerning the honouring of our p. 187superiours & elders, according to Gods word; the first precept of our dutie towards our neighbour, in Gods Law, commandeth all yong men, Honour thy father and thy mother, where not onelyonly our naturall parents, but our superiours, as Magistrates, Pastours, &c. and our Elders are vnderstood also, Leuit. 19. 32. Thou shalt rise vp before the hoare-head, and honour the person of the olde man, and feare thy God, I am the Lord: likewise, 1. Tim. 5. 1. & 17. where the Apostle cōmandeth yong Timothie, to exhort elders as fathers, and elder women as mothers, & saith, that Elders which rule well, are worthy of double honour: Examples of this, wee hauehave many in the holy & sacred scripture also: The prophane Hittites, did know & acknowledge this dutie to olde Abraham, Gen. 23. 6. Iacob to his elder brother Esau, Gen. 33. 3. when he bowed himselfe 7. times to the ground, till he came neere his brother; Hannah to old Eli, 1. Sā. 1. 15. p. 188The children of the Prophets to Elisha, 2. King. 2. 15. with many such: the precept also of the Ethnicks was, Seniores reuerere: for if our Superiours and elders bee not honoured and duely reuerenced by youth, they shall not be regarded, if not regarded, not obeyed, if not obeyed, wicked libertie, rebellion and oppression shall arise, as the Prophet sheweth, Isai 3. 5. The people shall be oppressed one of another, and eueryevery one by his neighbour, the children shall presume against the ancient, and the vile against the honourable; and so, all shal come vntounto miserable confusion, and at last to lamentable destruction. Concerning the mutuall honouring of our equals, let vsus take heed thereto, according to Gods word. Rom. 12. 10. The Apostle of Iesus Christ saith, Be affectionated to louelove one another with brotherly louelove: In giuing honour, goe one before another; so that honour amongst equals, is as the daughter of louelove, and likewise the mother that begetteth & nourisheth p. 189louelove amongst neighbours, whereof, some examples there are also, and experience sufficiently proueth the same, & truely, where there is not such mutuall honour and louing salutations amongst equals and friends, by this rudenesse (as of beastes) there proceedeth mistrust and suspicion, from suspicion dislike, from dislike hatred, from hatred, vnchristian breaking forth in open dissention vponupon the least occasion offred, and so the bond of peace and christian louelove, which is the life of Religion, is altogether broken, and cast off, liuing so, not as Christians, but as rude, sauage, and cruel wild beasts, maligning, detracting, despising, and seeking the mutual destruction of one another, which all Christians should abhorre and studie to preuent. And lastly, of the honor and reuerence wee owe also to our inferiours, according to Gods word; the Apostle Peter in his 1. Epistle 2. 17. commandeth vsus to honour p. 190all men, for in the meanest man that is, the Image of God is represented before our eyes, yea, oftentimes the true Image of Iesus Christ, which is holinesse and sanctification, is most seene in such, which with all reuerence, louelove and humilitie, we should honour in thē, and in others also, knowing that we honour God chiefely in so doing, as by contemning such, wee contemne and despise God and his image, with the humble and low estate of Iesus Christ in them, and are a discouragement and scandall vntounto such, mouing God thereby to despise and refuse vsus likewise, because we contemne so his best mē bers, whom the world fauoureth not, because hee hath selected and separate them from the world, and the condemnation therof, abiding it. Let all yong men therefore, so humbly and courteously behaue themselues to all persons, and of al conditions or estates, hie or low, that in taking heed so vntounto their p. 191wayes according to Gods worde, they may first purchase and obtain Gods fauour and louelove, who resisteth the proud, and giueth grace vntounto the humble, who are vile in their owne sight, as also they may gayne the louelove and good will of all men, of meane or great condition whatsoeuer, whom they in humilitie and dutie so reuerence and honour, and so they may grow in grace and fauour (as Christ did) with God and man. In conference, gesture, &c. let eueryevery yong man also take heed vntounto his way of manners, to redresse the same according to Gods word: In conference, 1. speake aduisedly, and that very sparingly, as Salomon teacheth, Pro. 17. 27. Hee that hath knowledge, spareth bis words: and as the Ethnicks command was, foreign: Audito multa, loquere pauca; Heare many things, but speake few. God hath giuen two eares, as receiuers in; but one tongue onelyonly, to dispence moderately out againe, and by much babling, a foole bewrayeth p. 192and betrayeth himselfe. 2. Speake not commonly, (chiefly amongst thy betters or elders) except thou bee asked or spoken to, for Salomon saith,Iob. 32. 7.Job 32:7 Pro. 17. 28. that euen a foole, when hee holdeth his peace, is counted wise, and he that stoppeth his lips prudent: therefore the wise man of this age is pictured with a padlock vponupon his lips, for as of an arrow vnshot, so of a word vnspoken (as wee say) proceeded neuer harme. 3. Speake not before thy elders or betters, but patiently wait, without interruption or carping at their speech, till they hauehave fully spoken, according to the example of Elihu, Iob. 32. 46. (now Elihu had waited till Iob had spoken, for they were more ancient in yeeres then he.) Therefore Elihu the sonne of Barachel, the Buzite answered, and said, I am yong in yeeres, and yee are ancient, therefore I doubted and was afraid to shew you mine opinion, (suspecting and fearing his owne wisedome, in humilitie, and giuing place vntounto his Elders, as all p. 193yong men should) for I said, the daies shall speake, and the multitude of yeeres shall teach wisedome. The contempt of this, when young men would take vponupon them to giuegive better coū sell to Rehoboam, being wise in their owne conceit, then the old beaten counsellers of Salomon, 1. Kin. 12. and the forsaking of the experienced wisedome of these ancient and graue men, for the rash vnexperienced foolishnesse of these young giddy heads, that were brought vp with him, made him to loose the kingdome of Israel to him and his posteritie thereafter. Not excluding, but sometimes more wisedome may bee learned from the mouth of a yong man, then of the most ancient, as it pleaseth God to distribute his gifts, extraordinarily, or in greater mesure; as he did to yong Dauid, Salomon, Daniel, &c. and sometimes, according to the Prouerbe, Qui plus menti, non etiam plus mentis habet; hee that hath the whitest beard, hath not euer the ripest p. 194wit, nor soundest iudgement, alwaies let none that is ancient, bee therefore despised, nor none that is yong, so presume. 4. Speake, as moderately, so modestly, and bee not hastie or sudden therein, for of them that bee hasty, Salomon saith, Pro. 29. 20. that there is m…re hope of a foole then of such; and as the wise man hath commaunded, foreign. ne lingua pracurrat menti, let not thy tongue runne before thy minde, seeing it should be the minds interpreter onelyonly, and the mind should speake inwardly to an ende, before the voyce expresse outwardly the sense & meaning thereof, not setting the cart before the horses, or the plough to runne before the oxen. Periculosa temeritas, rashnesse or hastinesse in word or deed is perilous. And in all thy speech or conference take heed, according to Gods word, to speake the trueth onelyonly, abhorring from lying, as from Sathan the father thereof: to speake euill p. 195of no man, albeit thou mayst truely, and to abstaine not onelyonly from euill words, which corrupteth good manners, as the Apostle saith, but also from ieasting, which is not comely, and all idle words, of eueryevery one whereof, wee must render account at the day of Iudgement as Christ the trueth testifyeth: speake all to edification in knowledge or godlinesse; giuegive to none the least offence iustly by thy speech, and desire to profite all men thereby, and so as eueryevery one is knowne to be such a Countrie man or of such a Kingdome, by his tongue or speech, so by thy good speech and language thou shalt be knowne to belong to God the wel-spring of goodnesse, and to the kingdome of Heauen, the land and countrie of that spirituall Canaan. To this effect desire God by his holy Spirit, to purge and sanctifie thy heart first, which is the root, and out of the abundance whereof the mouth speaketh, and then with the Prophet Dauid, to set a p. 196watch before thy lips, and a barre before thy tongue: that as wel in thy speech as actions, his will may bee done in earth, as it is in heauen. In thy gesture also take heed to behaue thy selfe dutifully & comely towards al mē, according to Gods word, without all rudenesse on the one part, or curious affectation of apish noueltie on the other part, rather to bee contemned, then any way imitated by any ingenious young man or person whatsoeuer. 1. As thou art commanded. Leuit. 19. 32. thou shalt rise vp before the hoare-head, and honour the person of the old man, not rudely sitting, or not giuing place to them whom God hath blessed with many and good yeeres, but so doing to them, and honouring such, as thou wouldst be of thy yongers, if God so long prolong thy life, and respecting their infirmitie by weak old age, with consideration of thy better abilitie in thy yong & strōg yeeres, who may better stand then they, as also before thy betters p. 197thou shalt rise, or them, to whom thou art bound in dutie, according to Salomons example, 1. King. 2. 19. 2. Stand, where thy beters sit, according to the example of Abraham, Gen. 18. 8. And he tooke butter and milke and the calfe which he had prepared, & set before them, and stood himselfe by them, vnderunder the tree while they did eate.; where, notwithstanding, i… he had pleased, hee might hauehave commanded a seat for himselfe.

3. When thou commest to appeare before thy betters or elders, in a comely fashion shew the reuerence of thy heart towards them, by bowing the knee of thy bodie before them, according to the example of sundry in the Scripture, as Abraham, Genes. 18. 2. when hee saw the Angels a farre off, he came to them, and bowed himselfe to the ground: also Gen. 23. 7. & 12. And he bowed himselfe before the people of the land of the Hittites: so Lot to the two Angels, Gen. 19. 1. Iacob to Esau, Gen. 33. 3. Iosephs brethren to him, p. 198Gen. 42. 6. Salomon to his mother, 1. King. 2. 19. with many others, but ch…efly, that example of the yong man, who came to Christ, Mark. 10. 17. And when …ee was gone out on the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I doe, that I may possesse eternall life? shewing so the honour of his heart to Christ, by this outward gesture of his body, and reuerent speech of his mouth, in calling him Good Master. 4. Set not thy selfe downe in the chiefest place any where, but rather take the lowest roome, that those that hauehave authoritie, may rather set thee vp with honour, and thou be called humble, then displace and set thee downe with dishonour and shame, and thou bee called proud: according to the Parable of Christ, to the guestes in the Pharises house, Luke 14. 8. When thou sha…t be …idden of any man to a wedding, set not thy selfe downe in the chiefest place, &c. But when thou art bidden, goe and sit downe p. 199in the lowest roome, &c. for whosoeuer exalteth himselfe shal be brought low, and he that humbleh himselfe shall be exalted. Fiftly and lastly, as for the vncouering of the head, and all other points of good manners in Christian and ciuill societie, according to the rule of the Apostle generally; Let all things be do… decently, in louelove, without dissimulation: being as the spring, from whence our reuerence and honouring one of another should proceede; and the end likewise to bee louelove out of a pure heart, 1. Tim. 1. 5.1 Tim 1:5and of good conscience, and of faith vnfa…ed. Thirdly and last of all, let euerie young man, according to the prescript rule of Gods worde, take heede vntounto his way of godlinesse and religion, to redresse & cleanse the same, which indeed is the most profitable vocation of all others: for as the Apostle saith; Godlinesse is great gaine, 1. Tim. 4 8.1 Tim 4:8and for bodily exercise it profiteth little: but godlinesse is profitable vntounto all things, which hath the promise of the life present, and of that that is to come. p. 200Salomon also, Prou. 14. 27. saith; that The feare of the Lord is a well-spring of life, to auoid all the snares of death: it is a most precious jewell, the comfort, glory, and value whereof, surpasseth all vnderstanding: the straight way whereof, albeit displeasant & hard to the flesh for a time, yet it is most delectable & pleasant to the spirit and soule for euer. It is a tree hauing (albeit gall in the roote) yet hony in the top, whose fruit endureth for euer.Prou. 14. 26.Prov 14:26 And in the feare of the Lord is an assured strength. Therefore, seing it is more amply spokē of before, I cease now with this exhortation only of th' Apostle to al yong men,Tit. 2. 12, 13.Titus 2:12Titus 2:13 concerning the same; Let eueryevery one embrace the grace of God, that bringeth saluation vntounto all men, which hath appeared, and teacheth vsus that wee should denie vngodlinesse and worldly lusts, and that we should liue soberly and righteously, and godly in this present world, looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the mighty God, and of our Sauiour Iesus Christ, who gaue himselfe for p. 201vsus, that he might redeeme vsus from all iniquitie, and purge vsus, to be a peculiar people vntounto himselfe, zealous of good workes, forgetting that which is behinde,Phil 3.Phil 3 and endeuouring our selues to that which is before, and following hard toward the marke, for the price of the hie calling of God in Christ Iesus, hauing our conuersation in heauen continually, from whence wee looke for the Sauiour, euen the Lord Iesus Christ: counting all thinges dung that wee may win him, and may bee found in him, endeuouring onelyonly that wee may know him, and the vertue of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his afflictions, and bee made conformable to his death, that at last we may be fashioned likewise vntounto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able, euen to subdue all things vntounto himselfe. In the meane time, whatsoeuer things are true, Phil. 4. ….Phil 4whatsoeuer things are honest, whatsoeuer things are iust, whatsoeuer things are pure, whatsoeuer things pertaine to louelove, whatsoeuer things are of good report, if there bee any vertue, or if there be any praise, let vsus thinke on these things to doe the same, and the God of p. 202peace shall be with vsus: here by grace, and wee with him for euer hereafter in glory.

We must redres our waies the Prophet saith here, In taking heede thereto according to Gods word. We must not then read, heare, or know onelyonly the word of God, but practise & do the same, in purging & taking heed to our waies according thereunto. It is that good seed that Christ speakes of, which must not only be receiued with ioy, but must be retained and laid vp in a good and honest heart, to bring forth good fruite, according to the measure of Gods grace. We must doe as Israel did, Exo. 19. 7, 8. and 24. 3. when Moses proposed Gods Commandements, vntounto them, they answered, All that the Lord hath commanded wee will doe: not heare or know them onelyonly: So Moses commandement and exhortation to the people, Deut. 4. 6. Behold I hauehave taught you ordinances and lawes, as the Lord my God hath commanded me, that yee should doe euen so, within the p. 203land whither yee goe to possesse it: keepe them therefore and do… them, for that is your wisedome, &c. The peoples desire to Moses againe was, chap. 5. 27. Goe thou neare, and …eare all that the Lord our God saith: and declare thou vntounto vsus all that the Lord our God saith vntounto thee, and wee will heare it and doe it. The condition also that God maketh by Moses, that hee will exalt & blesse them is, chap. 28. 1. If thou shalt obey diligently the voyce of the Lord thy God, and obserue and doe all his Commandements which I command thee, then the Lord thy God will set thee on high, and all these blessings shall come vntounto thee, &c. So 19. 9. Keepe therefore the wordes of this couenant, and doe them, that yee may prosper in all other thinges that yee shall doe. So 30. 14. The word is very neare vntounto thee, euen in thy mouth, and in thy heart, for to doe it. Iohn the Baptist, Matth. 3. 8. said vntounto the Pharisies that which all men shoulde doe; Bring forth fruits therefore worthy of amendement of life. And now also is the axe put to the roote of the trees, therefore p. 204eueryevery tree which bringeth not foorth good fruite, is hewe… downe and cast into the fire. And Christ our Sauiour saith, Matt. 7. 17. EueryEvery tree is knowne by his fruites, for eueryevery good tree bringeth forth good fruit: and a corrupt tree bringeth forth euill fruits. A good tree cannot bring forth euill fruit: neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For doe men gather grapes of thornes, or figges of thistles? Therefore, so let our light shine before men, Matth. 6.Matt 6that they may see our good workes, and glorifie God our heauenly father. For as in Morall Philosophie it is said; Omnis virtus in actione consistit; all vertue consisteth in action: so truely in diuine and true Philosophie, it may be likewise said, that all Religion and Christian vertues consisteth in practise, and not in pratling of them onelyonly. The figge-tree that Christ accursed, had a faire shew by his leaues a farre off, that he was like to hauehave fruit also, but because he had none, therefore by Christs curse hee withered presently. It is not a faire shew likewise p. 205or pretence, and profession of religion that God doth accept; but wee must with our outward shew, hauehave the inward substance and life of Religion, good workes proceeding of true faith and louelove. Wee must not onelyonly professe in word, but in deede and action also, imitating not onelyonly Christs sayings, but his holy life and doings. Luke, 6. 46. hee saith, But why call you mee Master, Master, and doe not these thinges which I speake. A seruant not onelyonly acknowledgeth his Maister in word, but must also in deede; hee must not onelyonly heare and know his Masters will, but except hee doe it also, hee shall be beaten with many stripes. Luk. 12. Mat. 7. 21. Not eueryevery one that saith vntounto me Lord, Lord, (saith our Sauiour) shall enter into the Kingdome of heauen, but hee that doth my Fathers will which is in heauen. Many will say vntounto me in that day, Lord, Lord, hauehave we not by thy name prophesied? and by thy name cast out diuells? and by thy name done many great workes? And then p. 206will I professe to them I neuer knew you: depart from mee yee that worke iniquitie. Whosoeuer then heareth my words, and doth the same, is like the wise man that buildeth his house vponupon a rocke, &c. Seeing God soweth the seede of his word in our hearts, hee looketh for a ripe haruest of good works: if he hath planted vsus as vines in his vine… yard, or oliue branches in the stock Christ, he looketh that in him wee should bring forth sweete grapes, and shew that wee liue in him, by bringing forth good and pleasant fruit in him. Gal. 5. 25. If we liue in the spirit, let vsus walke also in the spirit. Wee must not like that barren and vnprofitable fig-tree, Luk. 13. 7. delay to giuegive fruite to our Maister from yeare to yeare, lest we be cut down and throwne ouer the hedge for euer, in his fierce wrath; but in our youth and tender age, we must bud and bring forth sweete & pleasant fruits, such as he expecteth. Christ Iesus abolished the curse of the Law by his comming; but hee came p. 207not to take away the Law it selfe, and the Prophets, but to fulfill them. As hee therefore perfitly obeyed Gods Lawe, so that there was no sinne at all found in him: so must his members here on earth, striue in some measure to obey Gods Lawe, and to come to that perfection that is here permitted by Gods Spirit to the elect to attaine vntounto, and that there be no sin found raigning in them. For there is none, no not one man in this world, but sinne is found in him: neither was there euer any other waies, (except Iesus Christ, God and man) but wee must striue and endeuour, by the powerfull operation of Gods sanctifying Spirit assisting vsus, eueryevery one of vsus, that if sinne abide in vsus, and the law of sin bee in our flesh, yet that it beare not dominion or ouer-rule ouer vsus, but that in the spirit wee may hauehave the law of righteousnesse subiugating and weakening the other daily more and more, till at the last by grace, both soule and body bee p. 208captiuated vntounto Christs obedience, and take on his yoake, that both likewise hereafter may bee in and with Christ, victorious and triumphant in glory. Amongst Pastours, Whosoeuer shall obserue and teach Gods Commandements, Mat. 5. 19.Matt 5:19their reward shall be great, they shall be called great in the kingdome of heauen: so amongst the hearers and flocke,Luke, 11 28. Blessed are they that heare the word of God and keepe it. The true Pastour maketh his voice sound like Arons bells, before his flocke: And the sheepe heare his voyce, and hee calleth his owne sheepe by name, Ihon, 10.and leadeth them out. And when hee hath sent forth his owne sheepe, hee goeth before them, and the sheepe follow him, for they know his voyce. Where, to see the necessity of good works, & doing of Gods word therin, we may consider the dutie both of the true Pastours of Christ, and of the true sheepe of Christ, with both their markes, whereby so they may bee easily knowne; the one not to bee Woolues in Lambs skins, theeues, p. 209robbers, and hirelings, the other not to bee sheepe of another Pastour or pasture. True Pastours here then must goe before their sheepe: first, by an incorrupt doctrine or voyce: and secondly, by the footesteps of an incorrupt conuersation and life.

Concerning the first, Christs charge to Peter is; Louest thou me? t…en feede my flocke. So that Pastours louelove to Christ, is approued before God, to their owne conscience, and before men, by feeding only his flocke, the woe of the contrary whereof is set downe plainely. Ezek. 24. 2. Wo …ee to the shepheards of Israel that feede themselues; should not the sheepheards feed the flockes? Also 2. Tim. 4. 1. Pauls charge to Timothie, I charge thee therefore before God, and before the Lord Iesus Christ, which shall iudge the quicke and the dead at his appearing, and in his kingdome; Preac… the word, be instant in season and out of season, improue▪ rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering & doctrine. So here is Christs charge, and the p. 210Apostle of Christs charge, the one to Peter, the other to Timothy, and so to all Ministers, that they should make their flockes heare their voice, and sound the same before them. For as Iohn was a voice in the wildernesse to prepare the way of the Lord at his first comming in humilitie: so they must bee now voices, crying in the desart of this world, to prepare the way against the Lords second comming in glorie, by Repent, bringing low euerie high vnhumbled hill; and by Beleeue, exalting and comforting againe eueryevery low valley and humbled soule in Gods presence: so they must loose and binde, open and shut, set life and death before eueryevery one: and, W…e bee to them if they preach not the Gospell: Iohn, 12.or therein louelove their owne glory and praise of men, more then the glory of God: seeing the King hath sent them out to call all men to his banquet, to eate of the fat calfe. God hath made them Angells to cry before that last day; Rise dead p. 211folke in sinne, prepare to come to Iudgement, cast off the corruption of the lustes of the flesh, put on renouation of the spirit, & be sanctified in body and soule, that in both hereafter you may be also glorified, they hauehave concredit to them the trumpet of Gods voice, at whose sound the high and proud walles of the Iericho of eueryevery mans heart must fall, and therefore must compasse them, & blow the trumpets diligently and often.Isa. 61. 2.Isa 61:2 They are sent that they should preach the Gospell to the poore, heale the …roken hearted, preach deliuerance to the captiues, and recouering of sight to the blind: that they should set at libertie them that are bruised, and that they should preach the acceptable yeare of the Lord. This then is the voyce that they should vtter, and this is the voyce the true sheepe should follow and know.

Concerning the second marke of true Pastours, to wit, their going also before their flocke in good example and holy life, according p. 212to their owne voyce, doing the same. Christs charge likewise to his Apostles is, Matt. 5. 16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good workes, and glorifie your Father which is in heauen. The neglect and transgression whereof, hee sheweth in the Scribes and Pharisies, (whose righteousnesse except theirs exceeded,Mat. 5. 20.Matt 5:20 hee telleth his Disciples they should neuer enter in the kingdome of heauen) Matt. 23. 2. in these wordes, saying; The Scrbes and Pharisies sit in Moses seate: and therefore whatsoeuer they bid you obserue, that obserue and do…, but after their workes doe not, for they say, and doe not, (as alas, too many such in these our daies doe.) The Apostlte Paul also, Rom. 2. 21. to this effect, saith; Thou therefore that teachest another, teachest thou not thy selfe? thou that preachest a man should not steale, doest thou steale? Thou that saiest a man should not commit adultery, doest thou commit adulterie? thou that abhorrest idols, committest thou sacriledge? And therefore in his p. 213charge to Timothy he saith; But thou O man of God flee from these thinges, (meaning pride, auarice, &c.) and follow after righteousnesse, godlines, faith, louelove, patience, and meekenes, &c. Which many men preaching onelyonly to others, may, and hath become notwithstāding reprobates thēselues: but the Apostle hauing in his own life, first practised his own doctrine to others, and like a Cocke, wakened and raised himselfe, first by his voyce; sheweth the like dutie to all other Pastours, in a holy li…e to goe before their sheepe, when he saith; Be ye followers of mee: and in another place adding, as I am of Christ. For as Aaron had vponupon his breast, Vrim & Thumim, that is, knowledge and holinesse: so must eueryevery true Minister hauehave the same in his breast and heart, the one to preach well, and goe before in voyce; the other to liue well, and goe before in good example: For I will be sanctified (saith God) in them that beare mee. And if they that p. 214should be the light of their flocke, be darknes, how great is that darknes? For as Am…rose in Psalm. 119. saith, Vita bona sine doctrina …abet gratiam, sed doctrina sine vita integritatē non …abet. And as Christ sheweth, if that seruāt, that knoweth not his Masters will, and doeth not the same, shall bee beaten with fewe stripes; what shall be to him, who knoweth not his Masters will, and yet in some measure doeth the same? But he that knoweth it, yea, teacheth others to know it,Rom. 2. 19.Rom 2:19 and persuadeth himselfe that hee is a guide to the blind, a light of them that are in darkenes, an instructer of them that lacke discretion, a teacher of the vnlearned, &c. and yet doth not the same himself, but wilfully runnes into the pit, truely hee is worthie and shall be beaten with many & grieuous stripes one day: Lorde graunt, many in this age may preuent them. Iudas preached Christ, yet sold him through couetousnesse, and was a child of perdition. Balam said, All what the Lord p. 215shall command, that will I speake, yet was a false couetous Prophet, and likewise perished. Yea, the Diuell himselfe could crie out, that hee knew he was that Iesus the sonne of God, and so gaue publike testimonie of Christ, yet he persecuted him, and now is condemned. Many in that last day, with their true preaching, shall plead miracles also, yet because they wrought iniquitie, they shall heare that fearefull Away from mee, I know you not. Therefore let all true Pastors goe before the flocke in good and godly example also, in life & doctrine, so shining as bright lampes and starres in Christs right hand or familie, saying and doing according to the counsell of the same Ambrose ibid. Nec. vita sit sine doctrina, nec doctrina sine vita, sed vna adstipuletu… alteri: and this is the second marke, whereby true Pastors are knowne by, Matth. 7. 17. For by their f…u…tes (saith Christ) you shall know them, for as from Vrim or knowledge must p. 216proceed the ringing of the bels of Gods word before the people to heare; so from Thumim or holines, must proceed the pomegranates, pleasant & sauory fruits of good works to be seene and imitated of Gods people, that as they are followers of Christ, so they may be followers of them againe (as the Apostle saith of himselfe.) The Lorde of the haruest, increase the number of such painefull & godly labourers, who may not onelyonly bee diligent in preaching, but beeing zealous of good works also, may shine in a good life, before the flocke concredit to their charge, and by these two markes, bee knowne so to bee true Pastours, & in his owne time, remoue these rauening woolues, clothed in lambes skinnes, who vsurpe like lords, ouer the Lords inheritance▪ seeking to feede themselues and not the flocke, no waies considering, that if Labans sheepe were kept by Iacob so carefully in the frost of the night without p. 172sleepe, and in the burning heate of the day; that much more the sheepe of Iesus Christ, bought by his owne heart-blood, should bee with a carefull eye ouer-seene and fed, tithing the mint & cumming seed, but omitting weightier matters; stealing, killing and deuouring Christs flocke, & beating out their fellow seruants: their separation with hypocrites is at hand; the Lord graunt they may speedily preuent it.

The two like markes of Christs true Sh…pe and Sheepefolde, are, First, they heare and know their Pastors voyce: and Secondly, as hee goeth before them in an holy life, so they follow him; then as hee is not dumbe to speake, so they are not deafe to heare, they heare then his voyce▪ they know it, and will not follow the voyce of a stranger; so that God giueth them knowledge and discretion, not ignorance, to bee a mother of their deuotion, no… fearefull simplicitie, p. 218to be led eueryevery where: if the scriptures be hid, they are not to them, but to those that perish: they search the Scriptures, their chiefe Pastors voice, which testifieth of himselfe, they trie the spirits, if they bee of God or no; and if an Angell from heauen should lay any other foundation, except that which is layd. Iesus Christ the Lambe; or should teach any other doctrine, then that which the holy Apostles hauehave taught, they should hold him accursed: they are as liuely stones in Sion, builded onelyonly vponupon the foundation and doctrine of the holy Apostles: they doe follow precisely and onelyonly the voyce and written word of Iesus Christ, their chiefe Pastor, and Shepheard of their soules, which soundeth daily in the middest of his Church and family, accounting all other voyces to bee of theeues, hirelings, and dissembling woolues: they are in Christ, who is the light of the world, and in whom is no darknes,Io. 8. 12.John 8:12 and according p. 219to the Apostles commaund, they striue to grow in grace…, Pet. 3. 18.and in the knowledge of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ: so true sheepe must heare the Pastors voyce, receiuing the seed that is sowen; they must know his voyce, discerning if it be good seed or no, wheate or popel that is sowed. And thirdly, (which is the second marke also of the true sheepe) they must bring forth good fruite thereby, according to the measure of Gods grace in them. The Pastor soundeth his voyce, and they heare and know it, and he goeth before them, and this must be their following of him, by hearing, commeth their faith, so by their faith and from the same, as the fruit and effect, (if it bee liuely and true) proceedeth, and must proceed, this imitation of good workes, they must follow their Pastor, as he is a follower of Christ, but if hee bee not, according to Christs counsell and command, what he biddeth obserue, that obserue p. 220and doe, but after his workes doe not, (if hee say and doe not) then follow the chiefe Pastor Iesus Christ onelyonly, who hath gone before vsus, in a most perfect and holy example of life,; as for him, hee riseth or falleth to his owne Master, and is to be left to God, whose seruant he is: For, that the hearing and knowledge onelyonly of Gods voyce and word, is improfitable to our saluation, without the practising of the same in an holy life and conuersation by a true faith in Christ, the Apostle Paul testifieth, Rom. 2. 13. For the hearers of the law (saith hee) are not righteous before God, but the doers of the law shall bee iustified. And the Apostle Saint. Iames 1. 22. giueth an expresse cō mandement to all Christians, saying, Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers onelyonly, deceiuing your owne selues: so that we deceiue our selues greatly, when we thinke that we hauehave done our dutie, when we hauehave heard and knowne Gods word, no, the diuell p. 221and reprobates doe so also, but to vsus, who looke to bee saued, by Christs blood & passion, the word of God must bee powerfull to saluation, God working with it in our hearts, begetting and increasing a liuely and true faith in vsus, which must shew it selfe by the fruite of charitie and good workes: when God speaketh vntounto vsus, & vttereth his voyce by our ordinary Pastors, we must take heed, if we hauehave that inward feeling, which the Apostles confessed they had at the hearing of Christ, Luke 24. 32. (for the same spirit which wrought in them then, worketh so now also in the hearts of the Elect) And they sayd betweene themselues, did not our hearts burne within vsus, while hee talked with vsus by the way, and when hee opened to vsus the Scriptures? Let vsus consider if we hauehave this fire of the mouing and quickning spirit of God,Mark. 13.Mark 13 who worketh together with his word in our hearts; let vsus examine, if by this powerfull operation of hearing p. 222Gods word, faith and repentance bee begotten or encreased in our hearts. Let vsus try againe, if this repentance bee true, by abstaining (by Gods grace) euer thereafter from sinne, that it raigne not in vsus; and if our faith bee liuely (by not onelyonly abstaining and abhorring so from euil) but also doing good and godly workes, according to our power, & the measure of our faith, and Gods grace in vsus, following the example of the poore widow, albeit we hauehave but little, yet thereof to impart somewhat to Christs members, laying it vp so in his treasurie, & then we are the truesheep; for the Pastour maye preach, and we duely heare his voyce; but except he goe before in a holy life, and we follow after in a sanctified conuersation, talke that wee hauehave faith, as wee will, yea that thereby wee could remooue mountaines, cast out Diuells, and worke many miracles (as many reprobates shall pleade at that day) in p. 223Christs name, wee are notwithstanding, but as tinckling cimballs, if wee hauehave not charitie and good workes, and shal receiue that fearefull, Away from mee, I know you not. Christ is offered to vsus in his word, we must not onelyonly take him in our mouth, by hearing, but by a liuely and true faith, wee must chew and eate him, by vnfained louelove & charitie digest him, and by our good workes & holy conuersation, shew that we are renewed, ingrafted, and growne in him: so that hee may be not onelyonly ours, but vsus, and wee not only his, but him: he is that fruitfull vine, if we be then in him, we must bee fruitfull branches: the fig-tree was commanded to be cut downe, because it did beare no fruit: the naturall Oliues were reiected, because they lost their fatnesse; if they had beene the sonnes of Abraham, they had done the workes of Abraham; if we be the sonnes of God by adoption, and true members of Christ, wee must learne of him, for p. 224hee was humble and meeke, wee must be holy as he is holy, else wee hauehave no parte in him. It is not enough to heare the Kings seruants message, but without excuse wee must come to his supper and eate of the fat killed calfe, in the white wedding garment of holinesse and a godly life. Hee that saith that hee loueth God, and yet hateth his neighbour, he is a lyar: and he that saith that hee loueth God, and keepeth not his Commandements, is a lyar also; the reason is giuen by the Apostle plainely, 1. Iohn, 5. 3. For this is the louelove of God, that we keepe his Commandements, and his Command…ments are not greeuous. And also, In this wee know that wee louelove the children of God, when wee louelove God and keepe his Commandements. The thing that Iesus Christ (the first & the last) sheweth that hee tooke notice and knowledge of in the seuen Churches, to whom he writes in the Reuelation, (and vnderunder their name to his whole Church militant to the end) is, I p. 225know thy workes. Reuel. 2. 2, 9, 13. 19. and 3. 1, 8, 15. Also when that glorious Iudge of all flesh shall come, and all his holy Angells with him, and shall sit vponupon the throne of his glorie, there to iudge and reward all the Nations of the earth, that shall be gathered before him; hee shall iudge eueryevery one according to his workes: for in that great and last day, he shall say vntounto the sheep at his right hand; Come yee blessed of my Father, inherit y…e the kingdome prepared for you from the foundations of the world: the reason, For I was hungred, and ye gaue me meate; I thirsted, and yee gaue me drinke; I wa… a stranger, and you lodged me; I was naked, and you clothed me; I was sicke, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me. And the contrary shall hee say to the reprobate goates at his left hand, who did not the same, and must depart into euerlasting paine. For albeit it be most true, that faith onelyonly iustifieth before God, & whosoeuer beleeueth that Christ is the Sonne p. 226of God shall bee saued; because God he seeth the heart, and searcheth the most inward & deepest cogitations thereof; and many hath beleeued with the theefe at the last houre, and in Gods mercy hauehave beene saued so, onelyonly by faith. Yet, as the Apostle saith, Iam. 2. 24. Wee see, that of workes a man is iustified, and not of faith onelyonly: because wee cannot enter into the heart, to perceiue and behold the inward faith: but by the fruits wee see it onelyonly, and that a man by such a fruitfull, true, & liuely faith, is iustified: for good workes (which alas in these daies are rare, as faith & louelove their roote is colde, and almost none left vponupon the earth) are the way wherein wee must walke, to iustification, albeit not the matter or cause thereof: they are not the euidence of our faith, as saith the Apostle, Iames, 2. 18. Shew me thy faith out of thy workes, and I will shew thee my faith by my workes. There is their nature & vse, they are the assurance to vsus of our p. 227election, and the makers sure of the same, and whosoeuer hath time, meanes, and opportunitie (as few are but hath in some measure) to doe good workes, (whereby their election may be confirmed to their owne conscience, their faith in Christ shewed and testified before the world, God their heauenly Father thereby glorified, and his children their brethren therby strengthened) and yet notwithstanding doth not: verily, howsoeuer they say that they hauehave faith, Gods Spirit & word testifieth the contrarie, and that it is a dead faith they brag of, (which Sathan himselfe hath, and trembleth, verse, 19.) which being dead in it selfe, can neuer apprehend nor apply that true life of the soule, Iesus Christ and his righteousnesse, the godlies onelyonly comfort; for faith worket… with, & by works, (as the fire doth by heate) & through workes is faith made perfit; as the Apostle testifieth, and as hee reasoneth, Iames, 2. 14. What au…leth it my brethren, p. 228though a man saith hee hath faith, when he hath no workes; can the faith saue him? For if a brother or a sister be naked, and destitute of daily foode, and one of you say vntounto them; depart in peace, warme your selues, and f…ll your bellies, notwithstanding you giuegive them not those thinges which are needefull to the body, what helpeth it? Euen so the faith, if it hauehave no workes, is dead in it selfe. And after confirmation of this by the example of Abraham & Rachab, he concludeth; For as the body without the spirit is dead, euen so the faith without workes is dead. Wee see then, that as workes without faith iustifieth not, (For whatsoeuer is done without faith is sinne) euen so faith without workes, (being dead) iustifieth no mā before God, and that it is neither sufficient to Pastour to preach and know Gods word, except in practising it he go before his flocke by good workes, nor that it is sufficient to the people or sheepe, who would bee accounted of Christs sheep-folde, to heare or know Gods voyce, except p. 229they also follow and practise the same by good workes, following the holy and vnspotted life of Iesus Christ the Lambe, in whom they hope to bee saued. Let therefore Pastor and people, old and yong, from the highest to the lowest; striue by a holy life, and fruitfull, of good workes, to shew themselues to bee true branches in Iesus Christ the vine, and liuely members of his blessed body, and as he who hath called vsus is holy, so let vsus be holy, in all manner of conuersation, as becommeth the Gospel of Christ, 1. Pet. 1. 15.1 Pet 1:15zealous of good workes: Phil. 1. 27.Phil 1:27Not hearing or knowing our Masters will onelyonly, but in taking heed to our wayes, to redresse the same according to his word, and will reuealed therein, executing and doing the same, and when we hauehave done all that we can doe, confessing and acknowledging our selues to be vnprofitable seruants, so shall we be assured in our owne consciences, by Gods spirit, that we are sheepe of his pasture, p. 230and children of his inheritance, so shall wee bee knowne by the world, by our confession and profession of Christ in an holy and christian life, to be members of his Church and Kingdome also, and so at last, we shall be found worthy in Christ, to walk with the Lambe, when he, who gaue his life for vsus here, shall giuegive vsus eternall life with himselfe for euer hereafter.

According to thy word, that is, making thy holy word, O Lord, the rule and square, according vntounto the which, we may take heed vntounto our wayes, and redresse the same. We see then here, first, the excellencie and great vertue and vse of the word of God; It is a rule, according vntounto the which, wee may and should redresse, purge and rectifie our sinfull, vncleane and erronious wayes: It is that breath of God, which breatheth life in the face of the soule of man, as by the word of God in the first creation, was man raysed out of the earth and placed p. 231in the garden of Paradise, so by this word of God, (which is neere vsus in our mouth and heart) is the new creation and regeneration of the heart of man, whereby his soule is raysed from earthly and carnall affections, and placed in the pleasant garden of Christs church, to eate of the tree of life, and liue with him for euer. It is the voyce of God, that is dayly heard in the garden of his Church, not onelyonly asking eueryevery Adamite and sinner, but shewing him also, where and in what estate he is by sinne and Sathan, calling him not to a curse for sinne, but a blessing, and inuiting him to come to the seed of the woman, to that tree of life, and second Adam, Father and Sauiour of our spirits. Gods word is a Lampe, that shineth euer in the candlesticke of his true Church, to direct our footsteps in the path to life euerlasting, with himselfe. It is that two-edged Sword, that powerfully proceedeth out of his owne mouth, which p. 232pierceth thorow the inward cogitations of the heart, to redresse the same, and diuideth the marrow of the bones, to giuegive fatnesse to the soule. It is that seed, which beeing sowed and layd vp in a good and honest heart, maketh eueryevery Christian to bring foorth acceptable fruit vntounto Gods glory, and their owne soules comfort. It is the Power of God to saluation, to all them who beleeue the same. It is that Instrument or Spade, which diggeth about the rootes of our hearts, to make vsus sweet and fruitfull to our long suffering and patient Master, lest we should be pulled vp by the rootes, ere the axe of Gods wrath should bee put to our rootes, and wee be cut downe and throwen ouer the hedge of the vineyard into vnquenchable fire. Gods word is that Snedding knife, which cutteth away the rancke leaues of sinne, which with their darkenesse doe ouer-shadow our soules, and keepe away that comfortable p. 233ripening sunne of Gods fauour, to shine vponupon vsus; that our sowre grapes may become sweet. It is a Hammer, to beat downe eueryevery high exalted hill,Iere. 23. 29.Jer 23:29 or proud cogitation of the heart, that as Gyants would rebell and fight against God: It exalteth euer the low valley, or humbled dejected soule, euen to the throne of God in confidence & boldnesse. It is that s…ngstone of the sonne of Dauid, whereby euerie Christian and souldier of Israel must kill that mighty Gyant, the reuiler of God, and enemie of his seruants, who seeketh not to giuegive their bodies to the fowles of the ayre, but their precious soules to the hell-crowes of sinne, and the deuouring vultures of eternall torments. It is the knife whereby the fore-skin of eueryevery Christians heart is circumcised and cut away, before hee can be in the new couenant of grace, or be counted a true Israelite in spirit: it is the gladdest tidings that euer came to the soule, p. 234and the true testimony or witnesse-bearer of Iesus Christ; search the Scriptures, for they testifie of him: it is a Christians life; My words are life (saith light and life) and without the comfort of the same, our life is death, and our light Cimerian darknesse. Gods word is a looking-glasse, wherein we may see all our spots, from the greatest to the least, where they are, and how they may bee wiped away, with the blood of Iesus Christ, and teares of true repentance. It is the sweet Manna and foode of our soules; Milke to the weaker; and stronger meat for those who are more confirmed. A Directer in prosperity; an vpholder in aduersitie; and aboundant comfort in both. It is a Fire,Ier. 23. 2….Jer 23:2 to purge our wayes, to burne vp the earthly, or rather hellish drosse of sinne and stubble of iniquitie, & to refine vsus as pure gold, to bee vessells of honour in Gods house, before our heauenly Father. It is that Raine or Dew that descended p. 235from Heauen, and neuer returneth vndone that, for which it was sent; it fructifieth eyther the heart, to bring forth pleasant fruit, and softneth it to repentance; or as water cast vponupon Iron or Steele, hardeneth the same; so it indureth the obstinate and reprobate hearts of them, who are inflamed and burned in their owne sinfull lusts. Our soules and hearts are made sauoury Sacrifices, with all that proceedeth therefrom, to present before the nosthrills of God our heauenly Father, by this preseruing Salt of his word, whereby no stincking corruption of the flesh and of sinne, taketh hold vponupon vsus; but thereby we are made sauourie meat, to bee presented and accepted before our heauenly Father, such as he euer loueth. It is that Water of life, wherof, whosoeuer drinketh, in his belly shall spring riuers thereof aboundantly. It is a Cloud, to refresh vsus in our iourney in the day, & a firie Pillar in the night time, to direct p. 236our wayes by the light thereof, in the darke desart of this world, and to consume all our enemies, to thē it shall bee darkenesse, but light to the hoste of Israel: it shall bee hid, and is so onelyonly, to them that perish. It is that bright Light, that shall euer shine in the little G…shan of Gods Church, when all the Egypt beside of this world, with the Pharao thereof shall be ouerwhelmed with thicke darkenesse. It is the Rudder of our Ship, which must direct vsus aright thorow the raging beating waues of worldly persecutions; and our Compasse, to keepe our course by, vntill wee come to the hauen of heauen, and port of that new Ierusalem. It is that Rod, which must diuide the redde sea of temptations, thorow which narrowly we must passe, to the spirituall land of Canaan, when in them we shall see the worldlings & wicked ouerwhelmed, and altogether drowned. It is the Arke and couenāt of God, at which we only must p. 237aske counsell, and it must diuide the Iorden of death to vsus, making a way, whereby wee must follow our Ioshua Iesus, to the land of rest, and our promised inheritance. It is true Riches, and seuen times more pure then the refined gold of Ophir; It cannot corrupt, for heauen and earth shall perish, before one iotte of Gods worde perish. It is the Keyes of the kingdome of Heauen, whereby the gates thereof are opened to eueryevery penitent and beleeuing soule, and shut to eueryevery obstinate and indured wicked heart. It is the Sauour of life, vntounto all those that are appointed for life, and hath the life of Iesus Christ to righteousnesse in them. It is the chiefe Shepheards Hooke, that pulleth backe our straying soules in the by-wayes of iniquitie, and bringeth vsus in the right way again, subjecting vsus to the obedience and light yoake of Iesus Christ, in the sheepefold of his Church. By it wee are fished and drawne out of p. 238the salt and stincking sea of this world, to Iesus Christ. It is the Sword, wherewith wee must fight valiantly the Lordes battels: A Trumpet, to encourage vsus thereto, at whose sound, the walls of eueryevery proud Iericho shall fall, and which subdueth powers and scepters to it selfe. It is our Pilgrims staffe, which must vphold and defend vsus in our iourney. It is a most bright Starre, which leadeth not onelyonly wise men, but fooles also to Christ, where now he lyeth, not in a kribbe, but sitteth on a Throne, and happy are those starres or Ministers, whom Christ holdeth in his right hand, whose onelyonly care is, by preaching and practising this Star, to shine before the flocke. And finally, the Word of God is the sound of that Trumpet, blowen by the Angels of his Church, which giueth vertue and power, quickening, and resurrection, to eueryevery dead soule in sinne, to rise out of the graue of securitie, & put on a p. 239sanctified bodie, that in bodie and soule at the last resurrection of all flesh to iudgement, they may passe with Christ to eternall glory. It is that Finger, which pointeth out the Lambe of God, which taketh away the sinnes of the world: and as Andrew, brought Simon his brother; & Philip, Nathaniel; to Christ: so the word of God bringeth and leadeth vsus by the hand, to him on earth, and shall bring vsus to eternal glory with him in heauen for euer, if we beleeue the same, and according thereunto, take heede to redresse our wayes.

Secondly, seeing the excellencie of Gods Word, is such of it selfe, wee may learne what great estimation and value it should bee of, with eueryevery Christian, as we see the value thereof in it selfe, so our estimation should bee corespondent, wee should desire nothing so much, esteeme nothing so much, louelove nothing so much, nor hunger or thirst after nothing so much. p. 240This estimation we may see in Dauid to hauehave been great, and his louelove …eruent,Psal. 119. 14. 24. 40. 72. 93. 97. 103.Ps 119:14Ps 119:24Ps 119:40Ps 119:72Ps 119:93Ps 119:97Ps 119:103 he saith; I hauehave had as great delight in the way of thy testimonies, as in all riches. Also thy testimonies are my delight and my counsellers. Behold, how I desire thy command…ments. The law of thy …uth is better to me, th… thousands of gold and siluer. I will neuer forget thy precepts, for by them thou hast quickned me. O how I louelove thy law? it is my meditatiō continually How sweet are thy promises vntounto my mouth? yea, more then honie vntounto my mouth. The Marchant in the Gospell, when he had found the Iewell in the field, he went and sold all that he had, that hee might buy that piece of ground, wherein that Iewell was. Of all Iewels that euer man could thinke vponupon, this of Gods word, is the most precious; in it, is eternall light, euerlasting life, continuall ioy, comfortable contentment, & infinite true riches: Let vsus therefore follow the example of this wise Marchant, so that we may hauehave it, and enioy the p. 241comfort therein contayned, care not what wee loose, if wee hauehave it, we hauehave all things; if wee hauehave all things, and want it, wee hauehave nothing. It is not like other Iewels, for cōmonly a man that possesseth them not, can oftentimes know the value of thē better then they who possesse them, but with this Iewell it is not so; the Marchant was neuer in louelove with it, vntill hee found it; wee can neuer, nor will euer know the estimation of it, vntil we hauehave it in our hearts. Peter, when Christ before his last Supper, came to him to wash his feet, he refused; no, Lord, thou shalt neuer wash my feet: but whē Christ told him, that otherwise, he shold hauehave no portion with him, and had washed his feet, then Peter, who refused before, now beggeth, Lord, not onelyonly my feet, but my head and hands also: so it is with vsus, before wee taste of the sweetnesse and refreshment of Gods word, to our wearied soules, and the ioy thereof to our wounded p. 242and sorrowful consciences, we esteeme of it, as Aesops Cocke did of the Iewell, hee found in the doung-hill, wee had rather hauehave a grayne of Barley, or any thing that testeth to the flesh, or is agreeable to please our affections. Gods word, is as it were pearles, cast before swine, wee are rather ready to turne backe, and teare them in pieces that offered them vntounto vsus, then to giuegive them any thanks: we refuse then with Peter, the water of life, but as soone as it hath touched our hearts, and our soules hauehave found the refreshing sweetnesse thereof, then wee will begge and importunately intreat, Lord, not onelyonly this measure, but a greater dayly of the knowledge and comfort of thy word, fill my whole soule with the power thereof, and stuffe all the corners of my heart, with the aboundance of the same, let it not onelyonly be in my head, to talke of it, but in my hands to doe it, and in my feet also, in thy way to walke p. 243according thereunto. This should bee our desire and estimation of Gods word: for if wee be sicke to death (as it were) wee would esteeme much of that Doctour, that could tell and shew vsus, what, and from what cause our sicknes came, and could giuegive vsus a present remedy to restore vsus, to the perfect health of our bodies, that wee should liue long; but wee hauehave the infectious and deadly sicknesse of sinne, eueryevery one of vsus, in our soules. Gods holy Word doth shew vsus, what our sicknesse is, and by what way or meanes we came by it, it offereth to vsus present remedie, not to restore the bodie to a kind of health, that it may liue a miserable momentaneall life, for a while, but to restore the soule to perfect and true health, that it may liue a blessed, ioyfull, and eternall ioy in heauen, with God and his blessed Angels, how then should we esteeme of this Physition & Physicke? To such a Physition of the body, wee p. 244would thinke that we did owe our life, who restored vsus to the same: to such a Physition of the soule then, how much more do we owe this tē poral miserable life for the defence thereof? and how can we sufficiently value or louelove the same; we wold account of him much, who would giuegive vsus such a right, whereby we should possesse the whole kingdoms of the earth peaceably, yea, or to be heire to any one kingdom: but so it is, that Gods word, if wee beleeue the same, maketh vsus heires to the eternall Kingdome of Heauen, and giueth vsus sufficient right and title, that wee shal bee peaceable possessours thereof, in euerlasting Ioy, and Glory infinite. In a darke perilous way, wee esteeme much of a Lanterne; such is Gods word, to our wayes of this life: in a dange…ous long iourney, wee would esteeme much of a faithfull skilfull, vnburdenable and sufficient guide, readie to ouercome and encounter all perils or enemies of p. 245ours; such is Gods word, in the long, wearisome, and dangerous iourney of this life, where, when we meet with any temptatiō, if we answere, It is written, and firmely beleeue the same, in so resisting Sathan, we shal ouercome his temptations, and at last make him depart, at least for a while, from vsus, by the strength of this our Guide. In a great and doubtfull matter, knowing our owne simplicitie and foolishnesse, we would much esteeme of a faithfull and wise counseller: two wayes are set before our eyes, one leading to death, another to life, to the wrong we more naturally encline, then to the other: therefore in this great matter of life and death eternall, and the doubtfulnesse of these two waies, at one of which enter wee must, wee hauehave most great neede of this wise and faithfull Counseller, whom wee should much esteeme and follow in all things. Moses sheweth Israel, what the value of this worde of p. 246God is, & what value they should esteeme it of, when hee saith, It is your life and your wisedome, whereby you excel all other Nations; therefore hee exhorteth them, neuer to let it depart out of their mouh nor heart, but continually to talk of it, going in, and comming out, at home and in the fields, night and day to meditate thereon, to make it a signet vpō their finger, a frontlet betweene their eyes, and to esteeme nothing neere vntounto it▪ nothing equiualent to it, nor nothing aboue it. Of the great estimation of the word and trueth of God, we hauehave one notable example in the Scripture▪ of the good and godly king Iosiah, 2. King. 24.2 Kgs 24who, when the booke of the Law of God, being found by Hilkiah the Priest, and presented to the King by Shaphan the Chanceller, hee hauing heard the words thereof, rent his clothes, and went to the house of God, with all the people of Iudah & Ierusalem, small and great, the Priests and Leuites, p. 247and there, in audience of the whole people, did reade the law himselfe in their eares, shewing what estimation and reuerence eueryevery King and people shold hauehave to the word of God, we must heare and reade it with great reuerence, as becommeth the word of the King of all kings, and Lord of all lords to bee heard, with the hand of faith wee must receyue it, and with all estimation, wee must lay it vp in the chest and coffer of our hearts, to bring forth the fruit of obedience thereunto, as becommeth good subjects, naturall children, & faithfull seruants, in our life and conuersation. It is the most precious Iewell that a yong man can weare; the greatest riches that he can possesse; a chayne of gold about his necke; true wisedome to his heart; the faithfullest tutor to direct and gouerne him; and the most delightfull pleasure & greatest profit that euer he could wish; for godlines is profitable vntounto all things, and p. 248hath a promise of this life, and of the life to come. It is to the aged, their greatest honour, their truest wisedome and grauitie, when sicknesse and age oppresseth them: it is a comfortable salue to their soules, and the best company they can seeke to, or desire: it is the skilfulest Doctor, that can best ease thē; and it is the strong hand, that bringeth them safe and sound thorow all griefe, dolours, temptations, sicknesses, and the passeouer of death it selfe, vntounto the kingdom of God, & the eternal ioyes of heauen. Therefore let yong and old esteeme of it greatly, and of the bearers thereof highly, as of the ambassage & ambassadours of the Prince of all Princes, and Lord eternall, ouer all Lordes and Potentates in this temporall and momentaneall world, that receiuing it, and them, with reuerent and dutifull estimation, laying it vp in their hearts, & practising the same in their life and conuersation, by redressing their p. 249wais according therunto; they may be crowned immortall and glorious Kings in the world to come, and raigne with Christ Iesus eternally, world without end. For who esteemeth of it, esteemeth of God, (his worde and himselfe being all one) as who contemneth it to heare or doe the same, contemneth God to heare or obey him: who receiueth it and the Preachers thereof, receiueth Christ, as himselfe testifieth: and who reiecteth it or them, reiecteth Iesus Christ, and the mercy, benefites and louelove of the Father offered in him, willingly and wilfully giuing ouer themselues to darkenes, to the Prince of darknes, and to the condemnation of, and with, the Prince of darkenesse for euer.

Finally to conclude, seeing the excellencie of Gods word is such, and the estimation thereof and reuerence in our hearts should bee such, wee may perceiue the great iniquity and fearefull offence of all p. 250those who keepe the same secret, and hide from Gods people, lest they finding this iewel with the wise merchant, should onelyonly cleaue vntounto it, and hide it vp in their hearts and soules: it is life, therefore they from whom it is hid, walke in the shadow of death: it is light, therefore they to whom it shineth not, walke in feareful darknesse: it is the foode & phisicke of the sicke soule of a sinner onelyonly, therefore they who know it not, nor wil not know it, must starue and die eternally: it is our directer and counseller, to whom then it is hid, they wander astray in the paths of foolishnesse. Except this seede be sowen, how can we bring forth good fruit in a true faith, to a ioyfull haruest? it is the power of God to saluation to all them who beleeue; and by faith wee are made members of Iesus Christ: but how can wee beleeue, except wee heare, (for faith commeth by hearing; and how can we heare it except it bee preached. p. 251Therefore, who taketh away diligent preaching, they take away carefull hearing, and who taketh away hearing, they take away the faith, in so farre as in them lieth, and so sheweth themselues plainely to bee enemies of Iesus Christ, and of his crosse. By it, wee are digged about the rootes, planted and watered, and made fruitfull vines, and sweete fig-trees in Gods garden and vineyard; therefore, who taketh away the same, maketh God in his wrath to put to the axe to the roote of the tree, to cut it down, and cast it (being barren and vnfruitfull) into eternall fire: being so slow and backward, when wee are often inuited to come to Gods house & banquet, how much slower shall wee be without the hearing of the inuitation of Gods worde? Wee are too barren ground euen when that raine and dew falleth vponupon our soules: but how much barrenner shall wee be, and lesse fructifie, when it doeth not fall? p. 252Happy for euer is that Kingdome or Citie, that retaineth the same in the pure sinceritie thereof, without addition, diminution, mixture, or amission, as thrise woful is the same that retaineth not the same so. The most fearefull threatning wherewith Christ Iesus, that Alpha and Omega, threatneth any of the seauen Churches, is that of the Church of Ephesus: I will come against thee shortly, and will remooue thy Candlesticke out of Reu. 2.Rev 2his place, except thou amend. The most fearefull famine that euer came vponupon any Land, Kingdome, Citie, or soule, is the famine of the word of God, when the staffe of the heauenly bread thereof is broken. This plague or the report thereof, may make eueryevery eare to tingle: for where it is, it is neuer alone, but with it, is the infectious plague of the pestilence of sinne, suffocating eueryevery soule vntounto death eternall, not taking men out of worldly miserie to eternall ioy, as the bodily plague doth many: but from their temporall p. 253ioy in sinne, vntounto eternall miserie of punishment. And euer with it, or after also followeth the sharp and seuere deuouring sworde of Gods fierce wrath, and consuming hoat displeasure. It is a fearefull thing, when the watch or watchman of Gods word in the head of the Tower is dumbe, when there is no barking about the sheepe, how can the sheepe be safe. It is a wofull thing to see godly Samuel remoued from Saul, that he dares not speake Gods word plainely, but must tarie at home all his life, and mourne onelyonly for Saul and his doings, when hee is compelled to answere God, how can I goe? for if Saul heare, he will kill me. It is wofull to see Ieroboam the King, put out his hand and bid, take holde of the Prophet of God, because at the commandement of the Lord, hee cried against the Altar of Bethel. It is fearefull to heare that the Lords true Prophets must be hid in caues, and feede on bread and water, being dumbe, p. 254when Eliah knoweth none but himselfe left alone, to plead Gods cause boldly, and must bee faine to flee from place to place, in great necessitie, from the presence of Ahab and his false Prophets, because he spake Gods word truely, therefore hee must bee called a troubler of Israel and the estate. It is lamentable to see, that Michaiah, for not speaking of pleasant things, as the false Prophets of Ahab did, shall bee beaten by Zidkiiah, a false, deceiuing, and flattering spirit, and sent to the prison house by the King to eate and drinke the bread and water of affliction: to see bloody Iehoram send for the head of Elisha in his wrath: or Herod for the head of Iohn the Baptist, for speaking the word of God freely: because Vriiah prophecied the trueth in the name of the Lord, to be sent for by I…hoiakim the King, and beheaded likewise: Ieremiah for speaking of that, whereof God commanded him not to keepe a word backe, to bee apprehended p. 255by the Priests and people, and to be censured worthy to die the death: to see Daniel cast in the Lions den: and the three children in the fierie furnace, for professing the seruice of the Lord their God: is it not a woful thing to see Iesus Christ persecuted daily for proclaiming the will of his Father, and that ioyfull yeare of Iubile for the freedome of mens soules? to see Steuen stoned to death for the testimony of Iesus: Peter and Iohn imprisoned, for the preaching of the Gospel freely, and with threatning, commanded that they preach no more? to see the Apostles beaten, and oftentimes incarcerated: Paul stoned, smitten, apprehended, bound? &c. The beloued Apostle of Iesus Christ exiled, to an Ile Patmos, and Gods seruants the bearers of this glorious iewell of his word, by manifolde waies to be troubled, onelyonly for the testimonie of the trueth and of a good conscience, which the itching eares of these last times cannot abide to p. 256heare, albeit they shoulde most desire the same: For where Gods word is not preached, the people perisheth; as testifieth the Preacher. And the chiefe cause, that Gods word is so restrained in many places, the mouths of Gods seruants so shut vp, and the veritie repressed and bound as it were, is, Alexander the Coppersmiths profite will cease, if Paul preach; where Gods Arke commeth in place, Dagon must fall: and if Iesus Christ in such humilitie be suffered to bee acknowledged the Sauiour, the Hie Priests honour, iurisdiction, and profit must cease: if Daniel be suffered, hee will discouer the Priests knaueries; and Elias will shew that Baal is no God, nor heareth not: when Moses commeth with the Tables of the Law from the mount, the golden calfe must downe: if when Michaiah commeth to speake the truth freely, he beleeued: Zidkiiah & the falsflattering Prophets, with their hornes of yron, should be put out of credit, fauour, p. 257and authoritie: if Iohn the Baptist should be obeyed, then Herod must put away his Herodias. And where Gods sincere and pure word only getteh place and libertie, downe must goe idolatrie, and not a relict or hoofe thereof remaine: tyrannicall authoritie of these, who with Diotrephes, loueth the preheminence, and to rule as lords ouer the Lords inheritance, must bee trod downe vnderunder the humble feete of Iesus Christ, and of his word; who pratleth against Gods true seruants with malitious words; & not therewith content, neither they themselues receiue the brethren, but forbiddeth them that would, and thusteth them out of the Church. The triple crowne must yeelde to the crown of thornes, & al popish, ethnish, & apish ceremonies, must fall downe before this Arke of Gods pure worde: where the worde of Christ, who came to serue, getteth right place, gracious Lord, must cease; Caeser must hauehave that which p. 258belongeth to him: and all pastours with Paul, must graunt themselues to bee seruants onelyonly to Christs flocke for his cause: their right title is the most honorable that they can hauehave, euen the title which Iesus Christ is called by; to bee Sheepheards of soules: where Gods word shineth, their shining before the flock must not be in gold & silkes, but in good workes: where Gods word ruleth, their rule and gouernement must be onelyonly by Gods word; their scepter, that scepter which subiects scepters to it selfe; their crowne, their flocke: you are my crowne, saith Paul: their sword, not temporal, nor Caesars, but that two-edged sword that is in Christs mouth, Gods; and all their authority from Christs commission onelyonly, As my Father sent me; so I send you: where Gods sacred Law commeth, there they must not worship the golden calfe of profit onelyonly: neither can Alexanders Diana bee so fat vntounto him, but with Moses they must looke onelyonly for the reward p. 259of God: Christs kingdome is not of this worlde, in it then they must not looke for any recompēce: Paul saith, I hauehave fought a good fight, &c. from henceforth is laid vp for me a crowne, &c. there is the reward hee looked for. I goe (saith Christ) to my Father to prepare a place for you: this is Christs promise; For in the world you shall hauehave affliction: and if you were of the world, the world should louelove you, but because you are not, as I am not, therefore it hateth you. In it then, nor of it, Pastours must not thinke their reward to bee: and if in the world, & of the same, they hauehave here their reward, it is to bee feard that they shal neuer hauehave any other; but as the world loueth thē, & they the world again, that their cō demnation is like to bee with the world also. Therfore, where Christs word taketh place, worldly profite and full bagges must depart: and albeit the Minister must liue of the Altar, to supply necessitie, yet Christ, for Christ, and his glorie onelyonly, must bee preached, pride in p. 260the hie Priests; and auarice in Iudas, was the first betraier of Christ: pride and auarice now is, and euer shall be, the only betraier of Christ and his cause, and they know little the power of Christ in their heart or soule, as they preach his name with their mouth, who with Zebedeus sonnes here, seeketh onelyonly for their prefermēt, because they hauehave followed him: but they who truely follow him, must denie here, se suos, & sua, take vp their crosse and follow him. The same is his answere to all Ministers, as it was to Peter, who when hee asked what they should hauehave, because they followed him: he answered, that they should sit on twelue seates with him, and iudge the twelue Tribes of Israel: so he saith to eueryevery Minister, that followeth him truely as they did, not that hee shall be so or so powerfull in the world, for hee hath chosen the weake ones of the world; but that hee shall sit at his right hand with him in his kingdome, when he p. 261shall iudge all the Tribes and Nations of the world: they then who pertaine vntounto that kingdome, will desire that great reward & honour, only more then all the honour and kingdoms of the world, with their glory, esteeming all as dung to win Christ, & many soules vntounto Christ, to know the power of his death & resurrection in themselues, and see it in their flockes. But who pertain not to this kingdome, they wil preferre their owne profite before all things: & if the preaching of Gods word hinder or take away their profit, with Alexander; that Diana goe not downe, they will stirre vp kings, kingdoms, cities, rulers and people, against Paul and his preaching; and if thirtie pennies may be had, Christ Iesus shall be betrayed with a kisse: If this light and fire of Gods word should come in place, it would consume, like Moses rod or serpent, the serpentine and profitable fire of purgatorie: If it were preached plainely vntounto Gods p. 262people, and to the soules of men, that we must come onelyonly to Christ, who call…th and commandeth vsus; aske of the Father, who can denie vsus nothing through him, according to his will; and that the King, against whom wee commit the offence, onelyonly can forgiue the same. Where should the golden pardons of the Pope goe, or the profit of the confessors, if it bee preached, that Christ the Master, had not a hole to repose his head in, nor so much mony as could pay tribute for him and …or Peter? And if it be reported how Peter, Acts. 3. said, Siluer or golde hauehave I none; where shall the princely pallaces of the seruants goe, & the great treasured heapes of golde they lay vp? Paul soiourned in a poore Tanners house that dressed leather, and when hee sent for his cloake and his scrolles, he maketh no mention of any great treasure; but hee laid vp his treasure in heauen, where the moath, the canker, nor the theefe coulde not come, p. 263gaining and treasuring by his Talent, many soules to God. Peter got a great treasure, and conquesed much, when at his Sermon so many soules were conuerted to Christ, & ioyned to the Church. But these fat woolues, and dumbe dogges, they care not for such a treasure or conquest; woe be to them, for they doe not the worke of the Lorde at all, let it be negligently, woe be to thē, for they preach not the Gospell, they feede themselues and not the flocke. It is sufficient for them to hauehave a Lambes skinne, the name of a christian, although they neuer felt the power of Christ to bee called Bishop, or Pastour, albeit they neuer ouer-see, nor can ouer-see, not their flocke, but the flockes, the sheepe neuer heard nor knew their pastoral voice, but their thundering tyrannical iurisdiction; they call not, nor can they call their owne sheep by name, because they hauehave not any particular flock, they leade them not out to pasture, neither p. 264can their sheep follow thē, because they goe not before, except it be by wicked example, and giuing offence, they come not in at the doore, by Christ and his ordinarie lawfull calling, but climbes vp another way, by man…pleasing, briberie, simonie, honors, to theeue, and to rob, kil and destroy, like that wicked steward, drinking, eating, and glutting thēselues with worldly honours and riches, and with the blood of the sheepe, but beating out of Christs sheepfold and house, their painefull fellow seruants, that seeketh the life and feeding of the sheepe onelyonly: they will neither enter themselues, nor suffer others to enter; they will neither come nor bring to Christ, neither will they suffer others: many soules perish in their default; and great shal be their condemnation who doe so, in the worlde to come; they hauehave the sheep-hooke in their hand, but neuer applies it to bring them into Christs sheepfold; they hauehave the p. 265forme of clouen tongues vponupon their heads, but not the clouen tongue of Gods Spirit in their heads or hearts, to diuide the word aright, & distribute the same vntounto Gods people.

The world with the riches & glory thereof, which Sathan offered to Christ, is sufficient to make them fall downe and worship him, the world & the kingdome thereof, soundeth sweetly in their eares, because they are in louelove one with another, and their condemnation is all one; but the word of God, It is written, & the voyce of the kingdome of heauen, is as displeasant vntounto them, as the same It is written, was to Sathan: Sell all and follow me, was a hard saying to the rich yonug man: they beeing of the world, to bee selected from the world, is as bitter a saying to them, yea, more bitter to the worldly, thē that potion, which the world gaue to Christ on the Crosse, vineger and gall mixed together. Flint p. 266from flint may be sooner pulled asunder, & the hardest Adamant or Diamond diuided, then to diuide and diuorce them from their sweet Dalilah the world, and to doe that, Gods word shall neuer get place by them. These are the causes, that that bright Candle is put vnderunder a bushell by them; that that glorious Citie is placed in a low valley; that that precious …ewell is hid vnderunder the earth, lest it be found, and had onelyonly in estimation, to be hid in mens hearts: for if so bee that the stronger man enter, the vsurper shall be bound, & cast out straight; if light come, darkenesse shal depart, as the morning cloudes are driuen before the Sun: set vp Gods Kingdome and Lawes, and put downe their kingdome and lawes: God and Belial cannot be together: the aduancement of the Throne of Iesus Christ the Lambe, is the detruding of these goates out of their throne; the divulgating of his word, is the falsifying of theirs; p. 267therefore they striue to prolong the night, as long as they may, that the bright day-starre arise not, that Light that shineth in darkenesse, to discouer them and their workes. The cause also, why many men, chiefly yong men esteeme not, nor take such delight in Gods word, as they should; and care not much, albeit it were hid, that they neuer heard it much, is, because mans nature chiefly in youth, affecteth libertie of the flesh, which, it (being the word of the Spirit) fighteth against, and restraineth. It is the limits of that narrow way, which leadeth to life, and therefore will not suffer libertie, to wander astray in the wide & wilde fields of sinne to death: it is the knife that openeth the soare, and will hauehave strictnesse first, that ease may follow after: when we sinne, neuer so little, it will, like a good master, checke vsus, like a louing father, reproue vsus, and like a wise counseller, admonish vsus, which checking, reproofe p. 268or admonishing, yea, for great offences, youth can scarse abide. Iesus Christ commanded the young man in the Gospell, that he should leaue all, and follow him, if hee would hauehave eternall life; Iesus Christ now, commandeth also in his word, all yong men, that they leaue all their pleasures, lustes of youth, and vanities, and follow his strict and holy life, if they would hauehave eternall life, Knowing, that all tbat are baptized into Iesus Christ, Rom. 6. 3. 4▪Rom 6:3Rom 6:4are baptized in his death: and like as hee was raysed vp from the dead, by the glory of the Father, so wee also should walke in newnesse of life. His word commandeth vsus to flie from the luste: 2. Tim 2. 22.2 Tim 2:22of youth, and follow after righteousnesse, faith, louelove and peace, 1. Pet. 5. 5.1 Pet 5:5the yonger to submit themselues vntounto their elders, and eueryevery one to another, to decke themselues inwardly with lowlinesse of minde, without fornication, adulterie, drunkennes, whoredome, &c. knowing▪ that they who doe so,Eph. 5. 3 4. 1. Thess. 4. 7.Eph 5:31 Thess 4:7 shall neuer inherite the kingdome of heauen: Eschewing all filthinesse, (for God p. 269hath not called vsus vntounto vncleannesse, but vntounto holinesse) all foolish talking, neither mocking or ieasting, which are things vncomely, and giuing no place vntounto the diuel, putting away all bitternesse and anger, with euill speaking, and all maliciousnesse, being courteous one to another, and tender hearted, forgiuing one another, as God for Christs sake forgaue vsus, and iu all things being followers of God, as deare children, glorifying him in body and in spirit, for they are Gods. Which commandements of Gods word, are hard and vnpleasant vntounto youth, except it be seconded with grace. Therefore all young men should desire this assisting and renewing grace of God.Eph. 5. 16.Eph 5:16 Redeeming the time, for the dayes are euill. And that considering the season, Rom. 13. 11.Rom 13:11that it is now time, that we should arise frrom sleepe for now is our saluation neerer, then we beleeued it; the night is past, and the day is at hand; let vsus therefore cast away the workes of darkesnesse▪ and let vsus put on the armour of light. So that we walke honestly, as in the day: not in gluttony and drunkennesse p. 270neither in chambering and wantonnesse, nor in strife and eni…ying: 1. Thes. 4: 7.1 Thess 4:7but put on the Lord Iesus Christ, and take no thought for the flesh, to fulfill the lust, of it: and …, 2. Tim. 3. 21.2 Tim 3:21as he who despiseth these things, despiseth not man but God: So, if any man purge himselfe from thes… hee shall bee a vessell vntounto honour, sanctified & meete for the Lord, & prepared vntounto eueryevery good worke.

Amen.

End of the text · William Guild, A Young Mans Inquisition (1608)