The Mystery of Mankind, Part 5
GOD PREACHED vntounto the Gentiles.
Explication.
THis Mystery of Godlines, you see, hath been Manifestedin the flesh, The fourth day of the weeke.Iustified in the Spirit, Seene of Angels, that is, It hath bin manifested vntounto vsus in the persō of Christ in the power of Christ, and in the knowledge seruice, and ministration of the blessed Angels of Christ. What can we then say for our selues? HaueHave not wee heard of this great mystery of godlines? Hath it bin hidde in a corner from vsus? or whispered in the eare, or beene knowne to a few, or published to a handful of people in some angle or corner of the world.
HaueHave the Iewes onelyonly had this made knowne vntounto thē? Assuredly God hath beene Preached. There is the promulgation or proclamation of this mysterie. God hath beene Preached to the Gentiles. There is the large extent of this promulgation God preached vntounto the Gentils. 1. Cor. 1.For it hath pleased God by that which the world calleth the foolishnesse of Preaching to make knowne vntounto the world his vnsearchable wisdome, and the riches of his glorious grace in Christ.
Preaching being the gift of the holy Ghost, the spirit of prophesie, the glad tydings of peace, of good things, and of saluation, caused Esayas an E…angelicall Prophet of the Lord, to say, That the very feet of them that brought this newes vntounto the world were beautifull.
Preaching being the embassage of our reconciliationwith God in Christ, the holy ordinance of God,2. Cor. 5. for the ordinary meanes of our sanctificatiō by grace in this world, and the cleeare publication of our assured glorification in the other world, caused Paul to say, Woe is me if I preach not the Gospell: so necessary it was for him and all beleeuers.
Preaching to youth is,Ezec. 16. as Ezechiel his cleane water to asswage the heate of their concupiscence, and to purge the old leauen of malitiousnesse.
It is as Solomon his wine to strengthen and glad the hartsCant: 1. of the ancient.
It is as Saint Peter his milke for children, to nourish and feede them vp to godlinesse.
It is as a soueraigne bath to heale all beleeuers, with what disease of sinne soeuer they be ill affected, and it is an antido…e, or counterpoyson against all the venome of our rottennes.
For Preaching is the cele…all chariot, wherein the gra…es, and gifts of the holy ghost …e continually conueyed …nto vsus.
So Christ testifieth when …e prayeth thus.
Sanctifie them O, Father …rough thy truth,Ioh. 17. thy Word is …uth. And that we may not …oubt what this Word is, Saint Peter preacheth it. That we are …orne againe, not of corruptible …eede,1. Pet. 1. but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liueth and …bideth for euer.
For all flesh is grasse, and all the glory of man is as the flower of the field, the grasse withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away, but the word of the Lord endureth for euer, and this is the word which by the Gospel is preached vntounto you.
Moreouer, this Mysterie of Godlinesse (God preached vntounto the Gentiles) Saint Peter had shewed vntounto him in his practise of preaching. For it is sayd, While Peter yet preached these words, Act. 10.the holy Ghost fell on all them that hard the Word. Obserue this saying:
The gift of the holy Ghost fell on the auditors, as Peter was a preaching.
Out of doubt preaching is the heauenly talent left vntounto the ministers of the Gospell by their Maister Christ,Mat. 26. where withall they must negotiate, and wherein they must imploy themselues vntill hee come againe vntounto his great audite in the end of the world. And the preaching of this mysterie is the power of our God, the glory of our Preachers, to the saluation both of Preachers and people. Preaching hath the power of edification through God in Christ, and worketh, …ightily in those that God …ath set apart and designedRom. 1. …o that businesse, for the buil…ing vp againe of those ruines which hath beene battered downe by sinne and Sa…han.
For the brused reede it must not breake, nor the smoking flaxe it must not quench if God in Christ direct it, but whereas knowledge puffeth vp,1. Cot. 13. this buildeth vp vntounto eternall life through Iesus Christ our Lord.
Preaching is the voyce of God, whereby hee preacheth, and publisheth his holy will, and last testament by men, vnthe sonnes of men.
In a word, Preaching is the Manna from heauen to feede our soules, the dewe of Hermon to water our barrennesse, the lampe and light of God in the darkenesse of this world for our direction, the sword of truth to cut asunder the Gordian knots of heresie, schisme, and controuersie for our satisfaction, the wall of fire by Gods promise to encompas vsus from enraged beasts, for our protectiō, the reuelatiō of the rock of our faith to build vponupon, for thetestification of our ful assurance in Christ, the touchstone of our cōuersatiō, for our tryalls in all cases of conscience, the key that openeth heauen to the …eleeuers, and shutteth heauen to impenitents, by Gods dispensation.
It is the Dauids harpe, the musicke thereof so delighteth the soule, that it doth not faint, neither is altogether wearyed with the tediousnes of our banishment in this world: It is the pricelesse antidote; more pretious then Nepente, or Mol…, so much famoused by the ancient, for … expels by the power of …e spirit which accom…nyeth it, all euills and … diuells.
It followeth next to whom his Mystery was preached,Preached vntounto the Gentiles. …uen to the very heathen Gen…les, Preached vntounto the Gen…iles.
Now it comes to be consi…ered, that the time was, when …he dewe of heauen fell onelyonlyIud. 6, …on the fleece of Gideon, and …he earth round about it was …rye: that is, The …ime was when the world consisted of Iewes, Rom. 3.that onelyonly had Gods blessed fauours,Eph. 3. and the Gentiles which were without God.
The Iewes were Gods peculiar to whom he cōmitted his sacred oracles of trust,Rom. 2. they were Israelites as preuayling with God more then any other nation. To whom onelyonly were granted the priuiledges of Priesthood, and the arke of the couenant. Of whom came the Patriarkes, the Prophets, and Iesus Christ our Lord according to the flesh.Rom. 9.
Concerning the priuiledges of those people, Moses challengeth the whole earth besides, and saith, What nation is so great? who hath the Lord so nigh vntounto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that wee call vponupon him for?
And Dauid concludeth it saying: God sheweth his word vntounto Iacob, and his iudgements vntounto Israel. Hee hath not dealt so with any nation, neither hath the heathen, that is the Gentiles, knowledge of his iudgements. That the Sonne of God should be preached vntounto the Iewes thus priuiledged, and esteemed with God is no great mysterie, or maruell, but that he should bee preached vntounto the Gentiles, and that Gide…ns …eece should be dry, and all … ground round about itThe Iewes reiected. …et, that indeed is the Great …ysterie of Godlinesse, and the …nspeakeable riches of Gods …ercie, and the exuberance of …is goodnesse, and the glory …f the treasure, of his grace …owards vsus Gentiles. For the Gentiles were Atheists, A…hrists, strangers from the …ommon wealth of Israell, a…ants from the promise of God, and without hope in the world. They were Idolaters …n the woful alienation from God. For they made thē Gods of the hosts of heauen of sinfull man, like vntounto themselues of mens qualities, as Iustice, and Prudence and the like, of mens perturbations as of Feare, and LoueLove, of mens defects (for they had theirMuta de…. dumbe Goddesse, their Bacchus for their Drunkards, their Venus for their gallants. yea euen for their very limi… of their grounds, they ha… their Terminus, and that whic… is vnseemely to bee spoken their very Iaxe house mu… hauehave a patronesse Cloacina.
The word of God tellet… vsus sufficiently of Astora… Melchom, Chemosh, Beelze bub, and other such like Idolatrous rable among the gentiles, & how that eueryevery nati… made them gods of their owne.
The men of Babylon, made Succoth Benoth, and the men of Cuth, made Nergall, and the men of Hameth made Ashim… and the Anites made Nibhaz▪ and Tirt…cke, and Adrammelech, and Anammalech were the gods of Sepharuaim.
These indeede were those dogges the Scripture mentioneth, & therefore holy things were forbidden to bee giuen to such dogges.
These were those hogges, …efore whom the pearles of …eaching must not bee cast, …ea these were those Cymme…an wretches against whom … mandate was enioyned … the Apostles. That they …ould not so much as goe into the …ay of the Gentiles, nor once en…er into the citie of the Samari…ns who were Gentiles.
…ā it be imagined by the wit …f the wisest man, that these …hould euer hauehave a redeemer: …hat they should hauehave a GodMat. 10. …o be good vntounto them. For neither Iupiter Optimus Max…mus, Iupiter Hammon, Iupiter Capitolinus, nor Apollo the O…acle of wise dome (for his …mouth was stopped) nor great Pan (for a voyce was heard, Pan is dead) nor the Hecatombes of Caesar, no nor Pluto himselfe, albeit he might harrow hell, as some speake, could help or doe these Cymmerian wretches any good But with our Lord Iesus Christ there is plenteous redemption.
He Prophesieth this blessings vntounto them, he performes it. He prophesieth it long before by Esayas his Euangelicall Prophet:Es. 2. 2. But in the last dayes, it shall come to passe, that the mountaine of the house of the Lord shall bee established in the top of the mountaines, and it shal be exalted aboue the hils, and the people shall stowe vntounto it, and many nations shall come and say. Come let vsus goe vp vntounto the mountaine of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Iacob, and he will teach vsus of his wayes, and we will walke in his pathes. For the Law of God shall goe foorth of Sion, and the word of the Lord from Ierusalem.
And againe, I am sought of them that asked not for me, Es, 5. 5.and I am sound of them that sought me not. I sayde, Beholde mee, Esa. 65.Behold mee vntounto a nation that was not called by name.
And yet againe, God sayth vntounto his Son, Aske of me and I will giuegive thee the …eathen for thine inheritance, Psal. 2.and the vtmost parts of the earth for thy possessiō. Did God promise this, and did hee not performe? Performed this was in Melchisedecke king of Salem; in Abimilech, in Ruth the Moabitish, in Rhahab the Cananite, in the Queene of Sheba, in Hiram King of Tyre, in Naaman the Assirian, in Iob the Easterling, and in the King of Niniute the Sprians chiefe Cittie, as in the first fruites of the Messias purchased by his bloud vntounto God the Father.
This redemption of the Gentiles was also Prophesied in the New Testament, to wit,
That they should come from the East and West, and sit downe with Abraham, Isaack, and Iacob in the kingdome of heauen, and that the Gospel should bee preached to all the world.
This was performed,Mat 2: as in the first fruits thereof in the wise men that came to adore;Mat. 9. in the Centurion, in the designement of Saint Paule toAct. 9. be the minister, and doctor of the Gentiles; and in Peters vision wherein hee was taughtAct. 10. to call nothing common, or vncleane that God had cleansed, at what time hee was sent to preach this mysterie vntounto Cornelius, and to his friendes being Gentiles.
Yet men and brethren behold & see with amazement,Application how vile Preaching & Preachers are esteemed with many miscreants.
For to a Iewish spirit preaching is a scandall, to a Greek Phylosopher it is folly, to an Atheist babling, to a Papist praching, to an Infidell intol…erable tediousnesse, to the desperately damned a scarre-Crow, and to the worldling, and hypocrite a cloake of dishonestie.
And as the Preaching of the Gospell is thus vilified, so Preachers also are contemned.
But vouchsafe (Blessed in the Lord) to cast downe your eyes vponupon the Preachers, and consider well, that albeit their high Commission is from the Lord, yet obserue their contemptible, despicable, and meane condition among the sonnes of men.
By office, Preachers are the Angels of God, and the Angels of the Church appoyntedMal. 2. interpreters of God to his people,Apoc. 2. & of the people to God.
Of God to the people in the explication, and application of his reuealed will, wherein the Preacher is the mouth of God vntounto the people. He is also the peoples remembrancer to their God, when he confesseth for them, and when hee prayeth for them, and herein hee is the mouth of the people to their God.
The end of his Ambassage is to deliuer himselfe, and his hearers from hell.
God indeede hath sayde, to the Artizan, Build man an house: To the Phisition, heale this man: To the Souldiour, …ight for man: To the King, Gouerne thy subiects: To the Maister, Defend and …rouide for thy family.
But to which of the sonnes of men hath God sayd, Deli…er thy brother from hell?
Surely to none but to the Preacher, and that this is the Preachers high Commission …t playnly appeareth.
For Iob sayth,Iob. 33. If there bee a messenger with him, an inpreter one among thousands to shew vntounto man his vprightnesse, then hee is gratious vntounto him, and sayth, Deliuer him from going downe to the pit, I hauehave receiued a ransome.
And Saint Paule sheweth, that to Preachers God hath delegated the Mysterie,2. Cor. 5. & Ministerie of our reconciliation, with God in Christ, and committed vntounto them the word of attonement, to be as his Ambassadors to pray, and beseech men in Christ steede, that they would be reconciled to God, whereby they might be saued.
Well for all this, let their Commission be what it will, their Ambassage neuer so diuine, neuer so Euangelicall, neuer so Angelicall; I am sure their condition of all other mens is oft times most miserable, most lamentable. Pitifull experience sheweth it to view of the whole Christian world, that none interessed in that businesse bee qualified how they will, can please.
For Esay is too long, Obediah is too short, Daniel too hard, Amos too playne, Micheah too milde, Hoshea too sharpe, and Ieremie too querulous. This was the condition of the Prophets.
Peter is reputed a drunkard, Paule a Sectary and a mad man, all the residue of the Apostles esteemed the riffe raffe of the world, and the ofscowring of all things vntounto this day.
This was the condition of the Apostles.
Hence the holy ones of God became complaynants. Ieremie sayth, The word of the Lord was made a reproach and derision vntounto him dayly, and therefore through the anguish of his soule, though vnaduisedly, he cursed the day of his birth, Ier. 20.and the partie that brought his father the tydings where he was borne, and bewayleth, that his mother bare him a man of strife, and contention to the whole world. For hauing neither lent nor borrowed vppon vsury: yet eueryevery one did curse him.
Paule also laments the case, that God had set foorth the Apostles last, as it were appointed to death: For we are made, saith he, a spectacle to the world, and to Angels, and to men. Wee are fooles for Christs sake; but yee are wise: we are weake, but yee are strong, ye are honourable but we are despised, being reuiled, we blesse,1, Cor. 4. being persecuted, wee suffer it, being defamed, wee entreate, wee are made as the filth of the world, and are the off cowring of all things vntounto this day.
In all this thinke not much of it (blessed Brethren) for it is the verie case and condition of them that now liue, who are the sincere preachers of the Gospell of Iesus Christ, and liue conformable to the Church wherein they were bred.
For what betweene the common aduersary the Papist, the diuels mouth the Atheist, and the intestine firebrand the Separist, the poore Conformitant doth ofttimes more suffer then euer did any fugitiue Seminarie in Wisbich Castle.
But Christ was crucified betweene malefactors, and orthodoxe Christians hauehave euer beene tortured betweene the spirits of extremes.
The Iewes obtruded to the Lord of life, (when they had nothing else to say) his meane parentage. Is not this the carpenters son? Are not such and such his sisters?
The obiecting then either of basenesse of birth, or pouertie of estate vntounto the preachers of the Gospell, is the spirit of Iudaisme, and let men be ware in this case, lest the Iewish plagues befall them.
And the challenging of singularitie, is the spirite of Iesuitisme, and let men take heed of the spirites of errors and darknes of diuels, for the diuel can transport himselfe into an Angell of light, and such men might proue light Angels.
But the sonnes of true wisdome know, that the most abiect, and meanest things of the world, if God take them into his handes may worke rare and wonderfull effects.
Salt beeing taken into the hand of God maketh the bitter waters of Iericho to become sweete. In humane reason the salt should make the waters more brackish, but behold,2. Reg. 2. comming through Gods hand, as being Gods ordinance, it causeth sweetenesse.
The washing in the ordinary riuer of Iordan at Gods command cureth the Syrian Captaine of Leprosie, which the famoused waters of Abanah and Pharphar would not doe.
What is more vaine then a dreame? yet Pharoah, Nebuchadnezar, and Gideon, had great strength, and potent directions by dreames presented vntounto them by God? What is more meane, and and more vnlikely then clay? especially to cleere ones eyes,Ioh. 9. yet this being taken into the hand of Christ maketh blinde eyes see playnly?
What more vnlikely to heale then touching? yet the beleeuing woman touched but the hemme of Christs garment, and was cured?
What more vnlikely to worke miracles then a voyce? yet the vncleane spirits were cast out by the voice of Christ and his Apostles, yea with a voyce the very dead wereIoh. 11. raised to life.
What more vanishing then a shadow? yet the shadow of Peter had effectuall power of doing wonders.Act. 5.
Let Preachers then bee but Salt, yet they are the Salt of the earth, but ordinarie water, yet as Apostles they may water your drye hearts,Mat. 10. and make them fruitfull to God, but a Dreame, yet they may awake you from the slumber of sinne, and present vntounto you truth, and puri…ie, but dust, and clay, to bee trodde vnderunder your feete, so that they make you see they care not, but a voyce in the wildernesse of this world, yet they are the forerunners of the great iudgement, but shadowes, yet will they haunt your ghosts vntill they hauehave preuayled with you, if you belong vntounto God.
And this is not of their owne worth, & strength, but (as I said) because God vouchsafeth to take them into his hands, whereby hee worketh out this great worke of our saluation, as appeareth in the vision to Saint Iohn, where it is sayd,Apoc. 1, That God held seuen stars in his right hand; and in the last verse of that Chapter these seuen stars are expounded to be seuen Ministers of the Churches of Asia. Therefore Preachers God holdeth in his hand, and so their labours become powerfull.
But cursed Cauillers, like Iannes and Iambres, who withstood Moses, stand vp, and obiect.
Wee confesse (say they) this is most true, if God take this businesse into his hand: But alas, we see this practise of preaching is in the hand, & handling of many a sinnefull man, such as are oft times more enormious, and exorbitant in their conuersations, then those that are no Preachers.
Well, what then? The word preached eyther by a good or bad man remayneth the Word of God still. For if the wordes of the scripture reade, or Preached bee but a meere and deade letter, why is it called the Spirite of God?
And when wee preach, if it bee but the sound of a mans voyce onelyonly, why doth God vpbraid the world That Prou. 6.hee hath called (when men hauehave but preached) and yet ye hauehave refused, and why doe the Prophets when they preached, in…ulcate so often in all their writings. Thus sayeth the Lord of Hosts, when notwithstanding the Prophets onelyonly in the voyces of men, spake, and preached vntounto the people.
Yea, but sayth a second: If it were Gods worke, it would not bee fruitlesse, and vneffectuall in the issue therof. As if that were not as good seed which fel among thorns as that which fell on good ground? and as if Paul did not testifie, That to some Preaching is the oder of Life, vntounto life, and vntounto some the sauour of death vntounto death?
And Euangelicall Esay tels you, That as the raine commeth downe, and the snow from Heauen, and returneth not thither, Es. 55.but watereth the earth, and maketh it to bring forth and budde, that it may giuegive seede to the sower, and breade to him that eateth. So shall my Word bee, that goeth out of my mouth, it shall not returne vntounto me voyde, but it shall accomplish that which I will, and it shall prosper in the thing, whereto▪ I sent it, sayeth the Lord God almighty. Neither is this all, for a third puts in his obiection, and sayeth: If indeed Paul and Peter did preach, there were no doubt to be made of the happie issue thereof. I answere,
Yet we know that some say d… to Paul, and Peter his Master, euen Christ Iesus, when hee preached vntounto thē thus,Iohn. 8. Thou hast a Diuel, At what time hae rebuked them of sinne, but these were crucifiers. And Peter they sayde was drunkē whē he spake out of the plenty of Gods spirite,Act. 2. which he had lately receyued; but they that sayde so, were Infidels;Act. 26. and Paul was accoū ted mad when hee preached of righteousnesse, of temperance, and of iudgement to come, but he that so esteemed him was but a Pagan.
Therefore wee may see, that all such cauils as these, are but the suggestions of flesh, and bloud; and the delusions of the Diuell of hell.
…agans shall condemne such …espisers in the iudgement. For the people of Lystra and …erbe, Cities of Lycaonia re…eyued Paul and Barnabas, as …f they had been Gods from Heauen, calling the one Iupiter, and the other Mercurius. But beleeuing soules entertain these Messengers of saluation, as Angelles sent from God. So did the beleeuing Galathians receiue Saint Paul, albeit he preached among them in great infirmity (as he himselfe confesseth) yet had not the Law of God, and nature for bad them, they would hauehave pulled out theyr own eyes to hauehave pleasured Paul. Oh what is becom of the kind acceptance of the former ages that left all the endowments now visibly to bee seene in the Christian world, for the continuance and propagation of Religious preaching for the seruice, and ordinance of God, for the proclamation of this mystery, and for the dissemination of the blessed seede of godlinesse into all the world.
Surely, the entertainement of our forefathers of the wodden Priests of Babylon (who were indeede but Balaytes) will rise vp and condemne the sonnes, of their irreligious profane, and base contempt of the cleare & earnest preachers▪ of this sacred Mystery.
But we will cease to vrge our owne case, and appeale from our condition among the sonnes of men, to our Master which is in Heauen, to whom we eyther stand or fall. Blessed bee his goodnesse for euer, and his inheritance shall neuer fayle, that we are assured of.
Oh the vnspeakable riches and bounty of Gods fa…our, that did thus reueale it …t self vntounto vsus miserable wret…hes that were Pagans.
And now that wee may …ot err…, or bee ignorant, we must vnderstād that we (we I say) of the English Nation among others were these Gentiles.
To vsus (to vsus I say) that inhabite the vtmost westerne Isles of the World is the dore of holy faith opened, and Christ the expectation of the Gentiles reuealed, our hearts being purified by faith, wee are now become the sheepe of Christs pasture, and hee is become the chiefe Bishoppe and Shephearde of our Soules.
Our English Nation being at the first deliuered from the blacknesse and darkenesse of Gentilisme by their preaching of this mystery of Godlines, eyther by Ioseph of Arimathia, or by Philip the Euangelist, or as some recorde by Priscilla and Aquila, or by all of these.
A remainder of that wretchednesse, wherein we were then plunged is continued, yet amidst our Nation: for the dayes of the weeke, (which our children name) retayne yet the brandes of infidelitie, wherwith our whole nation was then marked.
The Heathen Saxons (and such were we once) had gods for eueryevery day of the weeke. The Sunne for the Prime day of the weeke, and thereof called it Sonday. The second of the Moone, Moonday. The third of Tuisch, for so they called Mars, Tuisch day. Of Wooden, theyr Idoll, Woodensday. Of Thor, their Iupiter, or Thur, another Panim god, Thursday. Of Freer, Of Wooden that Heathen Idoll remayneth at this day in some shires of England, a …rench called VVansditchwhich was their Venus, Freersday, now Fryday. And the last day of the Weeke, they named of the slowest Planette, Satursnday, or after some Se…ersday, another Saxon Idoll.
From out of this Heathenish infidelity, and bottomlesse misery of blindenesse and impiety.
Loe the mercy of God hath deliuered vsus by this preaching of this mysterie of Godlinesse, the Gospell of Christ, and hath made vsus Citizens of the Saints, the family of Faith, and light in the Lord, from out of the bondage of sinne and sathan, from out the confusion of Idolatrie, and darknesse of of extreame ignorance.
That the promise of GOD made to Abraham, as Tertullian reasoneth might bee performed, which was, That in him all the Nations of the earth should be blessed; and the prophesie of Reb… caes twinnes might come to passe, of whom it was sayde: The elder should serue the younger; which was indeed fulfilled, (whereof Esau his seruice to Iacob was a figure) when the Iewes were reiected, and serued the Gentiles, their yonger brethren.
The vse of this Saint Paul doth largely exemplifie in the ninth to the Romanes. The Iewes were the true vine, we the Gentiles were the wilde branches of a wild Oliue. Are they eiected, that wee might bee receyued, are they broken off; that wee might be engraffed.
Then let vsus feare, for if God spared not his own true vine, questionlesse, he will not bee indulgent to vsus that are wild …liues. And let vsus know' … when the fulnesse of the …entiles is accōplished, God … againe receyue his owne …ople, and remoue the can…sticke, that both Iew and …entile that beleeue may bee …ued by the Lord Iesus …hrist, eueryevery one in his ac…ptable time.
Now is our time, now is … time of the Gentiles salua…on, now is the time that by his preaching of this Gospell …nd misterie of godlinesse, God will bee reuealed vntounto …s, that wee may beleeue and …e saued.
God therefore perswade Ia…heth to dwell in the tents of …em, Amen.
O Lord God,Inuocation. and most gr… tious Father in Iesus Christ, how wonderfull are thy workes in all the world: For out of the mouthes of Preachers, sometimes very babes and suck… lings thou hast ordained strength that thereby thou mightst make thy power the more to be knowne in suppressing the rage and fury of Sathan, the enemie of all mankind, by such weake and feeble instruments.
And this thou hast done O Lord of thine vnspeakable mercy in Christ, considering that we are but dust, and cannot endure the presence of an Angel to speak vntounto vsus, much lesse are wee able to behold thee in thy glorious brightnesse.
Nay O Lord, no man can see thee and liue: Eternally therefore blessed be thy goodnes, O God, for ordaining so sacred and so …afe a meanes, for our …nowledge, and acknowledge…ent of thee, and of him whome …hou hast sent, Christ Iesus our Lord: For it hath pleased thee … put thy word into the mouthes … men, to publish it vntounto vsus.
Thou hast clothed their hearts …ith thy righteousnesse, to fur…sh them with grace. Thou …ast added the power thereof, … thy sacred spirite to guide vsus to all truth, thou hast shew… the effects thereof in the san…itie of our liues & good works … thy great glory.
Thou hast giuen vsus the ioye …ereof in the songs of holy ones, … our sola…e, and the end there…, in the saluation of our sinfull …ules and bodies to our eternall …licitie in heauen,
O Lord, who can sufficiently …toll thy Maiesty for this thy …rpassing fauour towards vsus? …et vsus entreate thy goodnesse for Christ his sake to stirre vp, and …uicken …our dull hearts to a thankefull acceptance of this thy blessing. Make vsus to louelove the preaching of thy word, that sacred Ambassage from heauen, that wee may bee throughly reconciled vntounto thee. Make it the sauour of life vntounto vsus, and let i… in no wise bee the sauour of death vntounto vsus, or any of v….
Make vsus to thinke reuerently of these whom thou hast seperated, and sent to be the lighte… and guide of this world, cause vsus to esteeme of them preciously to louelove them heartily, to pray for them effectually, and to heare them with all possible respects fulnes, as people knowing that … that hearet… them, heareth thee, hee that receyueth them, receyueth thee, hee that regardeth them regardeth thee, and hee that doth for them, doth for thee, as people knowing it is thy Word they preach, thy holy will they teach, thy heauenly worshippe and diuine seruice they entreat …s to embrace, as people know…g that the glorie thereof is …ine, the good thereof is ours, …en to the sauing of our selues, …d children in both worlds.
O King of Heauen, giuegive vsus …ermore of this Manna, the …ngels foode, of this water of …, of this celestiall treasure, of …is fruite of life, of those songs … Sion, of this speech of Cana…, of this salt of the earth, of …is light of life, of this dew of …ermon, of this name of Iesus, … this eternall Gospell by the …eaching of thy holy will. As …e heare it O Lord, let it di…ill into our soules as thy holy …ction, Let it stirre our harts … thy power: Let it bowe our …ils to thy obedience, as thy …unsell: Let it sanctifie our … as thy ordinance, let it …epare vsus throughout for thee … Lord, and for the glory of thy …ace for euer.
Humble our hearts with the remembrance what wretches we were without this reuelation of thy Sonne. Say vntounto vsus, you were dogs and might not ea… the childrens breade, you were hogges, and might not hauehave these pretious pearls cast vntounto … you were as vncircumcised P… listines, as cursed Can…anit… as diuelish Samaritans, as He… theni…h Pagans, as Turkish I…dels: But I hauehave washed, purg… purified and sanctified you wi… my grace, I hauehave called you my name, and I will blesse yo… for euer.
O Lord God, Graunt th… wee may eate but the crum… vnderunder thy table, that wee … touch but the hemme of thy v… sture, that thou wilt but spea… the Word onelyonly, and we wretches shall liue, shall bee heale… shall bee happie to thy prayse … euer.
Say Lord vntounto our soules, am your saluation▪ So shall … … and bee gladde all our …, so shall wee study to set … thy honour, and will vow … sacrifices of thankefulnesse … of soule and body, in our … and children for euer.
O heare vsus King of Hea…, and grant these blessinges … thine to be continued vntounto vsus, … to our seed to al our generati… for the merites of thy deare …ne Christ Iesus our most …acious Redeemer, Amen.