Eight Sermons at the University of Oxford, Sermon 4

Eight Sermons at the University of Oxford · Sermon 4

p. 58FIVE SERMONS ON THE EPISTLE OF S^t IAMES, CHAP. 4. VERS. 10. Caſt downe your ſelues before the Lord, and he will lift you vp.

CVrious questions, and vaine ſpeculations how like they are to plumes of feathers, each of vsus in part may iudge; for that many very earneſtly, and others nothing at all, are deſirous to be ſeene in them. The time was, when Paule reproved ſuch, as had their heads troubled withaa1. Tim. 1.4. Tit. 3.9.1 Tim 1:4Titus 3:9 Genealogies: were he now liuing, to ſee, how men and women of our daies, buſie their heads about as vaine queſtions, tracing dangerouſly vponupon the pinacles, while they might ſafely walke vponupon the pauement, could he, (thinke you) bee ſilent? It is a world to ſee, how many at this day are much more deſirous to learne where Hell is, then to bee inſtructed any way how they may eſcape Hell. much more ready to heare what God did purpoſe before the world began, then to learne, what hee will doe, whē the world is ended: much more willing to vnderſtand, whether they ſhall knowe one another hereafter in Heaven, then to know now whether themſelues belong to Heaven, or not. Vnwiſe, though worldlings: ſo ready are they to ſearch myſteries, before they knowe principles: ſo preſume theybbRom. 12.3.Rom 12:3 to vnderſtand, aboue that which is meet; not much vnlike thecc1. Sam. 6.191 Sam 6:19 Bethſhemites, who were not content with the ſight only of the Arke, but they would alſo prie into it, and finger it.

p. 59TheddMat. 2.9.Matt 2:9 ſtarre when it came to the place, wh… Chriſt was, ſtood ſtill, and went no further: We likewiſe when we are come to the knowledge of Chriſt, ſhould ſtand ſtill, & goe no further. Are we better then S^t Paule? he was content to ee1. Cor. 2.21 Cor 2:2know… nothing ſaue Chriſt Ieſus, and him crucified. For he knew well, how impoſſible it was for mans wit, to found the deapth of Gods ſecrets. And farther; what ſhall it availe a mā, ſubtilly to diſpute about the TRINITIE, if through his want of Humilitie, hee diſpleaſe the TRINITIE? How can it profit thee, to hauehave the whole booke of God at thy fingers end, if through thy want of Charitie God withdraw his favour from thee? it cannot benefit me, ſchollerlike to define what ſinne is, if beaſtlike wallowing in my ſinnes, I provoke Gods wrath againſt my ſelfe.

It is an item for vsus al: To him, that knoweth how to doe well, & doth it not, to him it is ſinne. Howſoever in our age leſſe, knowing is not, yet more doing beyond all queſtion is required. It hath pleaſed God to bleſſe many among vsus with great, and each of vsus with ſome, meaſure of knowledge; this place is plē tifull in witneſſing as much. But how ſmale fruit ariſeth from this knowledge, our careleſſe kind of living maketh to plaine a declaration. So that I may fitly ſeeme of theſe our daies, to make that cōplaint, which Ieremie made of his, cha. 12.11. The whole land lyeth wast, becauſe no man ſetteth his mind on it. Becauſe no man regardeth Gods word, no man conſidereth the plagues which he hath ſent vponupon the land, therefore are the deſtroyers come vponupon all the high places; therefore the Lords ſword devoureth all the land from one end thereof vntounto the other: therfore no fleſh may look for peace. And why may I not vſe that which he hath added in the 13. verſe? For ſee wee not Gods Miniſters painefull, and labour ſome in ſowing of wheat? Yet behold, the badneſſe of the ground is ſuch, that they can reap nothing but thornes. Are they not even ſtoke with lamenting ſinfull ſoules? Yet, where is their profit? They are, and that worthily, (becauſe worthily they may be) aſhamed of ſuch a peoples fruits, which inſteed of amendment groweth worſe and worſe.

p. 60Doe I ſpeake this for a faſhion only? or doe not Gods heavy iudgements teſtifie the truth hereof? doth not his fierce wrath ſpeake as much? O then, let vsus humble our ſelues vnderunder the Almightie hands of this revenging God, that ſo once againe his face may ſhine vntounto vsus. Away for a time with your ſubtile queſtions, & attend you the amendment of your liues, for, if not ſo; Gods anger may not bee appeaſed. And that you may in part know what belongeth to the amendment of your liues, let not your hearts be ſhut againſt S^t Iames his counſell, as it is in the firſt words of my text: Caſt downe your ſelues before the LORD. And how can you diſobey this counſel, if you doe but think of the reaſon vſed by him for perſwaſions ſake, in the words following? And he will lift you vp.

In his counſell, we obſerue 3. notes.

1 (Not lift vp, but) caſt downe.

2 Caſt downe (not others, but) your ſelues.

3 Cast down your ſelues (not before mē, but) before the Lord.

And in delivering this third note, I may bee fitly occaſioned to ſpeake ſomewhat of the reaſon brought to perſwade vsus to the obedience of this counſell; for we muſt caſt downe our ſelues before the LORD, who, as he is moſt liberall to vsus, moſt preſent with vsus, moſt able to helpe vsus, when we ſtand in need, is alſo moſt willing at all times to worke our eaſe; and therefore hath our Apoſtle added, and he will lift you vp. Caſt downe your ſelues before the LORD, and he will lift you vp.

Lift not vp, but caſt downe] It hath beene obſerved, that the Peacocke, as proud as hee is of his gallant feathers, as ſoone as he beholdeth his foule feete, abateth himſelfe, and is humbled. Here might we learne ſo much wit, as by the feeling, ſight, & apprehenſiō, of many our foule feet, of our corrupt, & perverſe paſſions, which rule, and raigne in vsus, to humble our ſelues, & to abate our pride ingendred but of a few feathers, and thoſe indeed very blacke, howſoever they cary an appearance of beautie. But the prince of darknes, that ſubtile ſerpent, whichffLuk. 10.18.Luke 10:18 fell from Heaven like the lightning, not content with that rule, which he hath over the children of vnbeleefe, hath ſoe buſied p. 61himſelfe to obſcure even thoſe, which ſhould ſhine as lights in this world; that (although the ggEſai. 24.23.Isa 24:23Moone ſhall bee abaſhed, and the Son aſhamed, when the Lord of Hoſts ſhall raigne in Mount Syon and in Ieruſalem, yet) wee, duſt and aſhes, cloathed in iniquitie, and repleniſhed with the loathſome infection of ſinne, are bold to lift vp our heads in the preſence of Gods Maieſtie, nothing aſhamed of our ſelues, and that at this time, when in our Syon, and Ieruſalem he raigneth gloriouſly. For examine we our ſelues, and we ſhall ſcarſe finde one, that can indure to caſt downe, that ſtriueth not, with all his might to lift vp himſelfe.

Some are never contented with their preſent eſtate, but would faine be higher; & theſe do ambitiouſly lift vp thēſelues. Others, pretend glory, & praiſe in thoſe gifts & graces, which they hauehave received from the Lord; and theſe do proudly lift vp themſelues. Ambitious men, and proud men, both are lifters vp, fowle ſinnes, and infectious: moſt of you know them to be ſuch. Notwithſtanding that we may the better ſee into them, and by ſeeing into them more willingly endeavour to avoide them, let not a ſeverall examination of each of them, ſeeme tedious vntounto you.

The firſt is Ambition, an evill deeply rooted in mans hart;Ambitio ſubtile malum, ſecretum virus, peſtis occu…ta, doli artifex, mater hypocriſis. Livoris parens, vitiorum origo, criminū ſomes, virtutum ae…ugo tinea ſanctitatis, excoecatrix cordium, ex remedus morbos creans, generant ex meditina languorem. an evill, that maketh man evermore diſcontented with his preſent eſtate: a ſecret poiſon, a hidden ſin, a forger of fraud, a mother of hypocriſie, a ſpring of envie, the fewell of all vice, a moath to holineſſe, a blinding of the heart; it converts remedies into diſeaſes, and medicines into languiſhing; ſo ſaith S. Bernard, Serm. 6. in Pſal. 91. Here might we wonder, how it can be poſſible, that man, ſo excellent a workmāſhip favoured ſo highly, and adorned ſo ſingularly with all celeſtiall gifts, & that by the higheſt God, ſhould ſuffer ſo fowle a mōſter to neſtle with in his breaſt! Yet ſo it is; man hath a long time foſtered, & yet is not weary of making much of his ſweet Ambition.

A long time it hath beene foſtered; the beginning of al ages witneſſeth as much. Eue would be as a Goddeſs, Gen. 3.5. The builders of Babel would vp to Heaven, Gen. 11.4. Miriam and p. 62Aaron would ſpeake for the Lord, as well as Moſes, Num. 12.2. Looke we to ſucceeding ages, and they wil ſpeake the ſame. Did not Ionathan ſay vntounto David, Thou ſhalt reigne, and I will be next to thee? 1. Sam. 23.17. Did not Zebedees wife make ſuit to Chriſt, that her children might ſit in his kingdome, the one one his right hand, and the other on his left? Mat. 20.20. Did not Chriſts diſciples among themſelues contend, who ſhould bee the greateſt? Mark. 9.34. Yeeld we then, that a long time Ambition hath beene foſtered, and yet behold we are not weary of making much of it.

The Church and Common wealth both do find it to be ſo. The Church, ſhee groaneth, for that ſhee is almoſt eaten vp. The Cōmon wealth hath cauſe to lament too; for (albeit ſhee yeeldeth to every one ſufficient for his vocation, yet) no man is contented with that he hath. Both in Church and Common wealth everie one is ſet to lift vp himſelfe.

For the Church what ſhall we ſay? Siſac muſt be lifted vp; his wealth muſt be encreaſed; but how? even thus: He will ſpoile the Temple: he will take away the treaſures of the Lords houſe: Salomons golden ſhields, ſhall be turned in Rehoboams ſhields of braſſe, 1. King. 14.26. Dionyſius his religion is not forgotten: if Iupiters coate be rich, it muſt be had away: it is too colde for winter, and too heavy, or to hot for ſummer: It is a ſhame the ſon ſhould hauehave a beard, ſith the father had none; and thus wittily (they think) they cary away the golden beard. In that old Arke of the teſtament overlaid round about with gold, were theſe three things, Manna, Aarons rod, and the tables of the teſtamēt; for ſo may we read, Heb. 9.4. Our Arke had theſe ſometimes; but thoſe times are gone. Many Siſackes, and many of Dionyſius his ſchollers, hauehave fatted themſelues with a great part of our Manna; that little which remaineth they ſnatch at too; and would willingly feed thereon, could they but pul downe Aarons rode; and ſo would they leaue vsus nothing but the two tables, nothing but poore ſchollers bookes to liue by. So common a thing it is to ruſh into Gods treaſury, and to rob his ſanctuarie.

p. 63It may be, they are perſwaded, that herein they doe God no wrong. If they be ſo perſwaded, the ſurely they remember not, or they care not for,Dan. 5.5.Dan 5:5 that writing hand which appeared to Belſhazzar, while he was drinking in the place, which his father had taken from the Temple in Ieruſalem: for ſome of them hauehave done ſo, and more: and then ſurely they remember not, or they care not for, the word of the Lord, who hath ſaid, yee hauehave ſpoiled me, by deteining your tithes and offerings, Mal. 3.8. for many of them hauehave done ſo, and more: and then ſurely they remember not, or care not for, the dreadfull iudgement, which befell Ananias, Act. 5.5. & 10.Acts 5:5Acts 5:10and his wife for keeping backe part of the price of their owne poſſeſſion, which they ſold to the vſe of the Church; for all of them hauehave done (ſhall I ſay ſo? I may not; for neither their ancetors hauehave ever brought ſo much as one ſtone to the foundation, nor themſelues ſo much as one tile to cover the roofe of the church) but, I muſt ſay al of them hauehave done much more and more wickedly.

And yet they are not without all excuſe; for were there no buyers, there could be no ſellers; would no man giuegive them the liuelyhood of the Church, they could not take it: Ambitious Paſtors do make their Patrons rich. Thus while the ſeller defends himſelfe by the buyer, the taker by the giver, the patrone by the hireling, and each by the other, they are all become like to Samſons foxes, Iud. 15.4. in their tailes they are vnited, they are knit togither in miſchiefe, & they hauehave their firebrāds too, to burne vp the commodities of the CHVRCH.

Silveſter 2. gaue himſelfe to the Devill, that hee might attaine to the papacie, ſo writeth Platina in the life of Silveſter. Silvester hath left many ſons behinde him, as deſirous of preferment as himſelfe: I forge it not, neither ſuck I it out of mine owne fingers ends: the decayed maintenance of ſome of our Biſhoprickes, Deaneries, Probends, Perſonages, and Ʋicarages cries out, and tels you it is ſo.

I meddle not with particulars, being very willing with Sem, and Iaphet to cloake, and cover our fathers nakedneſſe. For I perſwade my ſelfe, I may not reveale all their ſins, leſt the vncircumciſed p. 64reioice: yet know I withall, that I may not cover ſome of their ſinnes, ieſt the vncircumciſed encreaſe. One ſaide, if ſome mens drunkenneſſe were not reproved, they would bee drunken ſtill, and make a common wealth of drunkards: let me change the ſpeech, I ſay, if Simonie were not reproved in ſome, they would vſe Simonie ſtill, and fill the Church with other like themſelues. To what end ſerue thoſe warnings, reproofes, excommunications, and corrections which Chriſt hath appointed, if every mans nakedneſſe ſhould be covered? We may, and muſt be content to cover the firſt nakedneſſe, if they will repēt and do no more ſo.

But now, when in the hardneſſe of their hearts, that cannot repent, they ſay they ſtumble not, although every man may ſee them lie groueling on the ground, ſhall we follow them, like a blind mans boy, to ſtay them ſo oft as they fall? Shall wee ſay, all our Biſhoprickes are as good as ever they were? ſhall we ſaie, none of our Deaneries are impaired? ſhall we ſay all come freely to their Prebends, their Parſonages, their Vicarages? ſhall we thus cover their nakedneſſe? So ſhould we indeede make a cloake for their Simony, but it were a cloake of flattery, not of reverence, and therefore not worth the having. Wolues are not the Lambes fathers, but the Lambes butchers; ſhepheards learning findes that to be true. The maintenance of the Church, the liuelyhood of the yong Lambes, the Lambes not yet borne, is even conſumed, by the greedineſſe of the Wolues. How can we cal them Fathers, ſince they are our Butchers? Let them ſpeake to their own children to cover them: let the dead bury the dead; the wicked are fitteſt to cover the wiked. We hauehave a rule, and this it is: Them that ſinne openly, reproue openly, that the reſt may feare, 1. Tim. 5.20.

You hauehave heard the groaning of the Church; conſider now what cauſe the Common wealth hath of lamentation. Her members will be no longer members; they muſt be exalted too. But how? How they care not, ſo they be exalted. Athaliah woulde be ſole governour and Queene, and that made her deſtroy all the Kings ſeed, 2. King. 11.1. It was a kingdom that Sellum looked p. 65for, and therfore Zacharie muſt be done to death, 2. Kings 15.10. Abimelech will not ſticke to murther his 70 brethren, if ſo thereby he may attaine to a ſoveraignety, Iud. 9.5. And what ſhall I ſay more? For the time would be too ſhort for me to tel of Abſolon, and of Scheba, and of Adoniah, and of Zimrie, alſo of Aſſuerus, Schebna, and many others, which through a deſire of lifting vp themſelues, hauehave wrought wickedneſſe, cō ſpired againſt their maſters, rebelled againſt their rulers, not ſpared their owne fathers; hauehave packt craftely, and got of the beſt offices into their own hands, ever aſpiring to the higheſt; hauehave made feaſts onelyonly to ſhew forth their riches, their glory, and the honour of their maieſtie: hauehave beene full of wrath, becauſe others hauehave not bowed the knees vntounto them: whom the world was well wearie of, becauſe they wearied all, but themſelues. And can we now looke for a milder flame, when the fewel of all vice is heaped vp vponupon the fire?

Honour is the marke we ſhoote at; and honourable we cannot be, except we be rich; for that is againſt the faſhion of the world. Well, if that be all, we will be rich. Deceit, briberie, oppreſſion, rapine, and vſurie, all are our helpers. Tell mee, doth not the country gentleman encloſe his commons? doth not the landlord racke his tenants? doth not the ſeller then thinke his gaines beſt, when he deceaues the buyer? Conceaue you of the reſt. For a general deluge of wickednes is gone over the whole world. Now may Amos ſay iuſtly of vsus, as ſometimes hee ſaid of the Iewes. Chap. 2.6. They ſell the righteous for ſilver, and the poore for ſhooes.

Thus you ſee, the Church hath her ſore, & the Commonwealth her gall; both ſo feſtered that they may not abide long ſpurring. And therefore it is high time that wee endeavour to cure them. One ſalue may ſerue for both; and the receit thereof is preſcribed by S^f Paule, 1. Tim. 6.6. Godlineſſe, ſaith hee, is great gaine, if a man be content with that he hath. The necke of ambition both in Church, and Cōmonwealth will ſoone be broken, if men be content, with that they hauehave. Eſther. 5.13. & 7.10.Esth 5:13Esth 7:10Had Haman beene contented, when Mordekai refuſed to doe him like honour, as others p. 66did, hee might hauehave enioyed his honour longer then hee did.2. Sam. 17.7. Verſ 23.2 Sam 17:7 Had Achitophel contented himſelfe, when the counſell of Chuſhai the Arachite was preferred before his, he would not for deſpite hauehave hanged himſelfe. And could this contentment but once poſſeſſe vsus, the number of our ravening Harpyes, our cruell Tigers, and our devouring Cannibals, which drawe the skinnes of the poore from their fleſh, and the fleſh from their bones, to the very dividing of their ioints and marrow, would ſoone be leſſened.

Neuer was Barzillai ſo happy, as when he would not be exalted, 2. Sam. 19.34. Never had the Shunamite ſuch quiet as when ſhe cared not for preferment, 2. Kings 4.13. Never did the Diſciples ſeeme ſo rich, as when they were willing to leaue all, Luk. 5.11.

Art thou poore? ſo were the Smyrnians, bee content as they were;Revel. 2.9.Rev 2:9 and then what God ſaid to them, ſhall bee ſaid to thee, I knowe thy povertie, but thou are rich. Art thou afflicted? ſo were the Apoſtles:Rom. 12.12.Rom 12:12 be content as they were, and then ſhalt thou reioice in thy tribulations. Art thou ſpoiled by theeues? hath fire conſumed all thy goods? or is it worſe with thee? ſuch was Iobs lot: be content as he was, and even then ſhalt thou ſay, bleſſed be the name of the LORD.Iob 1.1….Job 1:1

Thus is contentation like the waters of Iordan, wherein Naaman was waſhed, 2. Kings 5.14. For as his fleſh, which before was leaprous, became faire, and cleane after his waſhing; ſo after we are once bathed in the rivers of contentment, proceeding from ſo ſweet a fountaine as Godlineſſe is, all our tedious and irkſome leproſies ſhall be cleanſed, all our actions, and labours, and afflictions ſhall become ioyous, and pleaſant, & comfortable. It is like that tree, which Moſes caſt into the ſpring to ſeaſon the bitterneſſe of the waters, Exod. 15.25. or that ſalt, which Eliſha caſt into the noyſome waters to make them wholeſome, 2. King. 2.21. or that meale, which the ſame man of God put into the bitter pottage to make it ſweet, 2. Kings 4.41. For come anguiſh, come ſickneſſe, come iniuries, come loſſes, come famine, come baniſhment, come death, and worſe then death, if p. 67worſe may come, all ſhall be ſweet to the contented ſoule.

This did Abrahams grandchild knowe well, and therefore for worldly matters, he deſired no more of God, but bread to eate, & cloaths to put on, Gen. 28.20. And Agur knew it well: & therefore his prayer was not for riches, but to be fed only with food convenient, Prov. 30.8. And Paul knew it wel too: wherevpon his counſell is; when we hauehave food and raiment, let vsus bee therewith contented, 1. Tim. 6.8. Neither doth hee herein counſell vsus to that which himſelfe had not vndergone, for hee had learned in whatſoever ſtate hee was, to bee content therewith, as appeareth, Philip. 4.11. And that you may in ſome meaſure learne the ſame, take with you theſe three notes.

1 See, that in worldly things you propound not to high an eſtate to your ſelues. You are compared in the Scriptures,Pſal. 44.11.22. Rom. 8.36.Ps 44:11Ps 44:22Rom 8:36 not to Lyons or Horſes, ſuch proud creatures, but to ſheepe; to put you in mind of the modeſty, and ſimplicitie, which is required of you: and you are likened not to the high oake, or tall Cedar, but to the low creeping vine; to remember you of humilitie.

2 Take heed that at no time yee deny, or leſſen the benefits of God, but labour yee rather to ſeeke them al, & acknowledge them to be ſo great as they are, that ſo in reſpect of them you may confeſſe your eſtate to be ſo good as it is. It will bee imputed to you for great ingratitude, if being fed even withaaPſal. 78.25.Ps 78:25 Angels food, as you are; yee ſpeak of it contemptuouſly as the Iſraelites did, and ſay, there is nothing but this Manna.

3 Perſwade your ſelues of Gods fatherly providence watching over you continually for your good. Hee hath given his ſonne Chriſt Ieſus vntounto you, will hee not with him giuegive you all things needfull for you? Hee hath provided a kingdome for you in Heaven, will he then be wanting vntounto you on Earth? he wil not. For rather then ſo, the raven ſhall bee ready tobb1. King 17.61 Kgs 17:6 feed Elias; theccIoh 1.17.John 1:17 fiſh to ſaue Ionas; theddIud. 15.19.Judg 15:19 Aſſes tooth to yeeld water to Sampſon for his reliefe: and ſince our gluttons will not, oureeLuk. 16.21.Luke 16:21 dogges ſhall pittie poore Lazarus.

O could our hearts once become fleſhy, and take the impreſſion of theſe few leſſons, then would we not ſtriue for this p. 68world, as we do, Lawyer againſt lawyer, neighbor againſt neighbour, brother againſt brother, as if we were a company of beggars thruſting at a dole: then would there be noff1. King. 21.41 Kgs 21:4 Achabs, to be ſicke for Naboths vineyard: then ſhould we, like Chriſts diſciples, want nothing, though we hauehave nothing and then ſhould we hauehave a poore widdowes mite for others, how little ſoever we hauehave for our ſelues: then ſhould we hauehave contented minds waited vponupon with a thouſand bleſſings: we ſhould hauehave in readineſſe for the curing of every wound, a Chirurgion; for the preventing of every diſeaſe, a Phyſician; for the ending of everie ſtrife, a lawyer; for the ſatisfying of every doubt, a preacher; for aſſwaging of every griefe, a comforter; and all this within our ſelues: ſo ſhould we, like Daniel, Dan. 1.12. thriue with water, and pulſe, as well as others do with their wine, and iunkets. And ſo I come to the ſecond ſort of lifters vp, which in the pride of their hearts, doe pretend a glory, and praiſe in thoſe gifts, and graces which they hauehave received from the Lord.

A little wormewoode is of force ſufficient to make bitter a great veſſell; and a little leaven maketh ſowre the whole lump. As is this wormewood, or this leaven, ſo is pride. A little of it is of force enough to corrupt, and depraue even an Angels life. For, be he what he may be, that arrogateth any thing to himſelfe, he cannot chooſe, but put ſome truſt therein; & his trust therein, be it never ſo little, muſt needs breed in him ſome diſtruſt in God, whom thereby he ſhall alien, and eſtrange from himſelfe: and when once the fountaine of all goodneſſe, of light, of life it ſelfe is departed from him, how can that man bee but wretched, but wicked, but accurſed?

If a marchant, and a friend of yours, after his long travail to the fartheſt parts either of the Eaſt or Weſt Indies, returning home with great riches, ſhould in his owne country haven before your eies ſuffer ſhipwracke, & looſe al, I know you would pity his eſtate. Meditate here a while, and thinke whether you hauehave not as great cauſe to pity your ſelues. You your ſelues hauehave been travailers a long time in a ſtrange country, farre from your home, much farther then either of the Indies, and manie of p. 69you hauehave laden your ſelues (I doubt it not) with great riches, with the precious riches, of knowledge, of honeſty, and of Godlie living, and you ſeeme to be cloathed with ſincerity, integrity, and purity, of faith, louelove, and other affections, as if all were pure white about you; and are even ready to enter the haven of the celeſtiall Ieruſalem: now if any of you thus furniſhed with the abundance of Gods bleſſings, ſhall thereby exalt, and lift vp himſelfe, and thinke in his heart, with the prowd Phariſee, that he is not,ggLuk. 18.11.Luke 18:11 as other men are, I may boldly ſay, that, that mā hath made ſhipwracke of all, and is now as much to be pitied himſelfe, as erſt himſelfe would hauehave pitied that marchant.

If you ſhould be ſet vponupon a pinnacle, or vponupon the ridge of an houſe, and then would not looke to your footing, could you be thought leſſe then deſperate? Such is your eſtate: it hath pleaſed God many waies to bleſſe you all; all of you muſt needes confeſſe as much. Such his bleſſings are vntounto you, as ſo manie ridges of houſes, or tops of pinnacles, whereon he hath ſet you to walke, though ſpiritually: but your immodeſt, and prowd vſage of thē, argueth your careleſſe looking to your footings. For could you but enter the examination of your owne harts, it would eaſily be graunted me, that the Magiſtrate taketh a pride in his authority, the Gentleman in his parentage, the Rich man in his wealth, the ſtrong man in his ſtrength, the learned in his knowledge, the preacher in his preaching, yea and every man in every good thing he hath, or doth.

So ready are wee ſacrilegiouſly to attribute to our ſelues the praiſe of Gods bleſſings due to him alone, imitating herein thoſe Angels, which, for ſo doing, were caſt downe frō Heaven, and are now reſerved in everlaſting chaines vnderunder darknes vntounto the iudgement of that great day, Iude, 1.6. and Nebuchadnezzar, who for ſo doing was expelled his palace, and made to eate graſſe with the beaſts of the forreſt, Dan. 4.32. and Pharaoh, who for ſo doing, was brought out of his kingdome, and lodged in the red ſea among the fiſhes, Exod. 14.28.

No ſinne hath pulled downe ſo many as this which promiſeth to ſet vsus vp. The firſt ſinne that conquered man, will be the p. 70laſt, and worſt ſinne for vsus to conquer. Were it not for this the Phariſees would hauehave received Christ, as meekely as the diſciples did: our mighty ones would come to church, as well as the people do; our elders would abide reproofe, as well as their inferiours do: our yong ones, and ancients too of our owne coate would leaue ſwearing as well as any doe: then would our men content themſelues to go like Abraham, and our women like Sarah; then would they not make this their worke (as one hath lately and too truely ſaid) ſo ſoone as they riſe in the morning to put a pedlars ſhop vponupon their backs, and colour their faces, & pricke their ruffes, and friſle their haire, (and then, ſaith he their daies work is done) as though their office were to paint a faire image every morning, and at night to blot it out againe.

Hence it is, that fleſh & blood putteth ſuch confidence in it ſelfe. Naked we are, yet vaunt we our ſelues, as though we were gorgeouſly apparelled: weak we are, yet think we with Nimrod to build a tower to Heaven: ready are we to renounce Chriſt, yea dayly in deed we do renounce him, yet ſtoutly we proteſt withhhMat 26.35.Matt 26:35 Peter, that we wil die with him, rather then forſake him. Thus whilſt every one ſpeaketh pleaſing words vntounto himſelf, & ſaith I will reigne, or I ſhall not be removed, or who ſhall aſcend aboue me? yea though he ſpeake nothing, but in his heart receiveth the applauſe of the people, as ſurely as he liveth, hee ſhall bee caſt downe to the ground. The Alarum hath ſounded vntounto him already from aboue: though thou ſhouldeſt make thy neſt as high as the eagle, I will bring thee downe from thence; ſaith the LORD, Ier. 49.16. He caſteth downe the prowd, and exalteth the humble, and meeke: this one ſentence is obſerved to be repeated at the leaſt 19. times in the old and new Teſtaments, and all to teach vsus, how deteſtable a thing pride is in the ſight of God.

Abſalom ſlue his brother Amnon, and did many more things wickedly, and all that while was he ſpared; but when once in the pride of his heart he ſought to be king, God reſiſted him; & hanged him on a tree, 2. Sam. 18.9. Shebna had his purpoſes to betray the Church, and to provide for himſelfe againſt al dangers, & all that while was he ſpared; but whē once in the pride p. 71of his heart he built a ſepulcher for his memoriall, God reſiſted him, and made him to be buried in another country, Eſ. 22.18. Herod, he killed Iames, impriſoned Peter, and much more did he as wickedly, and all that while was he ſpared; but whē once in the pride of heart, he accepted the immoderate applauſe of the people, ſhouting out, and ſaying, the voice of God, and not of man, God reſiſted him, & made the vile wormes to bee his murderers, Act. 12.23.

God reſiſteth the prowd, and giveth grace vntounto the hūble. Flatter not your ſelues: whoſoever profeſſeth of himſelfe, that hee is not, as other men are, that he is no extortioner, no adulterer, no ſinner; his profeſſion is as the profeſſiō of that Phariſee, Luk. 18.11. & God wil reſiſt him: but learne yee of him, who in humility of ſpirit hath ſaid, LORD,iiLuk. 18.13.Luke 18:13 be mercifull to me a ſinner, and you ſhalbe exalted. Whoſoever ſpeaketh pleaſingly to himſelf, and ſaith, Is not this great BABEL, which I hauehave built for the houſe of MY kingdome, and honour of MY Maieſtie? HaueHave I not done thus, or thus wel, by the might of mine owne power? his words are as the words of Nebuchadnezzar, Dan. 4.26. and God wil reſiſt him: but learne yee of him, who in humility hath ſaid,kkIoh. 5.30.John 5:30 I can do nothing of my ſelfe; and you ſhall be exalted. Whoſoever thinketh with himſelfe, I will aſcend into Heaven, and exalt my throne aboue beſides the ſtarres of God, and will be like the moſt high; his heart is as the heart of Lucifer, Eſay. 14.13. and God will reſiſt him: but learne yee of him, who in humility of ſpiritellPſal. 110.7.Ps 110:7 dranke of the brooke in the way, and became for vsus ammPhilip. 2.7.Phil 2:7 ſervant; and you ſhall be exalted.

And now that wee may the better apply our ſelues to this humility of spirit, let vsus here alſo take two notes with vsus.

1 Let vsus enter into a due conſideration of our eſtate, as it is by nature: which ſhall eaſily appeare vntounto vsus what it is, if we do but call to minde the metall whereof wee are made; the ſhortneſſe of our liues, and the miſeries to which wee are ſubiect.

Conſider we the metall whereof we are made. You know, it is no better then clay, no better then mire, no better then the p. 72very ſlime of the earth. And therefore it beſt and moſt naturally agreeth with vsus, if we be beaten as ſmall as the duſt, and troden vnderunder foot as the mire in the ſtreets. This was well knowne (that I may omit the reſt) to Abraham, Iob, and Paule; for our bodies, in Abrahams iudgement, are duſt, and aſhes, Gen. 18.27 very ready with every b…aſt of wind to be ſcatered. And in Iobs iudgement they are houſes of clay, Iob. 4.19. very eaſie to bee broken. And in Pauls iudgement, they are earthly tabernacles, 2. Cor. 5.1 certainely, and within ſhort time to bee deſtroyed. The cogitation hereof made Moſes to ſay, who am I, that I ſhould goe to Pharaoh? Exod. 3.11. & it made David to cry out, and ſay, I am a worme and no man, Pſ. 22.7. and it made Ieremy to ſay, I cannot speake, Ier. 1.6. And could the like cogitation but touch our hearts, it would crop, yea more then ſo, it would pull off, and conſume all our figge leaues of vanitie. Hee that hath a heart to conſider, let him conſider of what mettall hee is made; and then be he proud if he can.

And conſider we the ſhortneſſe of our liues. All fleſh is graſſe, and the glory thereof is as the flower of the field; the graſſe withereth and the flower fadeth, a voice bad Eſay crie ſo, Eſay 40.6. Wiſdome in the 5. chapter of that booke verſe 9. telleth you, that all things are paſſed away like a ſhadow, and as a poſt that haſteth by. A ſhip paſſeth over the waues of the water; but when it is once gone, the trace thereof cannot be found, neither the path of it in the floods: a bird flyeth through the aire, yet no man ſeeth any token of her paſſage: an arrow is ſhot at a marke, it parteth the aire, but immediatly the aire commeth together againe, and then cannot you knowe where it went through. As is this ſhadow, this poſt, this ſhip, this bird, this arrow; ſo are our liues, in great haſt, and ſpeedely flying away: we are no ſooner borne, but we beginne to draw to our end.

All things (ſaith S^t Chryſoſtome, homil. 19. ad Eutropium) are but a night, and a dreame; the day commeth, and they vaniſh away. Smoake was, but that is diſſolued; bubbles were vponupon the water, but they are broken; Spiders webbes hauehave beene in our windowes, but we hauehave ſwept them downe. Here we hauehave patternes p. 73of our liues. We that are met here together at this preſent doe liue together; but we ſhall be diſſolued, and therein are we like ſmoke; but we ſhall be broken, and therein are we as bubbles vponupon the water; but we ſhall bee ſwept downe with the beſome of death, and therein doe we reſemble spiders webs.

Now would yee vſe ſome accompt to finde out of what length your liues are? So may yee follow either Iacobs, or Davids, or the Hebrewes, or the Fathers account. Would you follow Iacobs account? then muſt you not reckon yeares; for whē Pharaoh asked him, how old he was? he made this anſwer: few and evill hauehave my daies beene, Gen. 47.9. and Moſes prayer to the Lord, was, to bee taught to number his daies, Pſalm. 90.20. thereby ſhewing how ſmall wiſdome is ſeene in reckoning after either yeares, or monthes, or weekes. Would you vſe Davids accompt? then may your hand ſerue you for a meaſure; for ſo your life will be found to be but a ſpanne long, Pſa. 39.5. Would you reckon like the Hebrewes? Then thus doe yee: firſt deduct your time of ſleepe, ſo, that if your yeares bee threeſcore and tenne, as it is, Pſalm. 90.20. fiue and thirtie of thoſe at once muſt be daſhed out: then take away the time of your youth, for it is not ſo worthy to be called life, as vanitie, ſaith Eccleſiaſtes chap. 11.10. and laſt of all abate yee the time of your ſorrow, wherein you had rather die then liue. This reckoning once made what a ſmall remnant will there be for your liues? But would yee make choice of the Fathers account? then thus proceed yee: firſt caſt away the time paſt; for it is not: then account not of the time to come, for it is vncertaine: and thus ſhall you leaue nothing for your liues, but the time preſent; nothing but a moment: and what is a moment to your expectation? What is a moment to eternitie? He that hath a heart to conſider, let him conſider how ſhort his life is, and be he proud if he can.

And conſider we alſo the miſeries, to which we are ſubiect. A long time would bee too ſhort for mee to recount them all. Let a general view of them ſuffice. TheooDictamnum herbam extrahendis ſagittis cervi monſtrave…e. Goates of Candie being ſhot in with a ſhaft or iavelin, doe forthwith ſeeke out the hearbe Dittanie, and eate it, by vertue whereof the arrowes or p. 74iavelins fall out, and their wounds are cured. If theppChelidoniam viſui ſaluberrimam hirundines monſtrauere vexatis pullorū oculis illâ medentes. young ſwallowes eies be ſore, the olde bird fetcheth the hearbe Celandine, and applyeth it to the yong ones eyes, & healeth them.qqVrſi cùm Mandragorae mala guſtavere formicas lambunt. Beares againſt the evill of mandrakes doe vſe the benefite of Emmets. Theſe, and many like examples hath Plini… ſet downe, lib. 8. cap. 27. Eraſmus hath added this concluſion, Nullum est animal, quod non intelligat ſua remedia; &c. There is no liuing creature but knoweth well how to remedy his owne diſeaſes. Man only, only man is of no vnderſtanding, hee knoweth not any remedy for any griefe, either of his body, or mind.

Man that is borne of a woman, ſaith Iob 14.1. is full of troubles. At land, or at ſea, by day, or by night troubles wait vponupon him. That which is vnſavorie, ſhall it be eaten without ſalt? or is there any taſt in the white of an egge? Languiſhing Iob maketh this queſtion, chap. 6.6. O then what delight can wee take to liue, ſince our griefes, and miſeries, were they well weighed, & laid together in the ballance, would bee heavier then the ſands of the Sea?Iob. 6.4.Job 6:4 The arrowes of the Almightie are in vsus, their venim hath even drunke vp our ſpirits. Miſerable men that ſuch ſhould bee our lot. And yet behold, much more miſerable are we, if we be not called to grace in this pilgrimage; for ſo, after this life wee ſhall bee nothing but prayes for Sathan, nothing but firebrands of Hell. He that hath a heart to conſider, let him conſider, how ſubiect he is to miſeries, and then be he proud if he can.

A ſecond note to moue vsus to Humilitie is this: even to conſider, whence we hauehave thoſe good things which we doe enioy. Meate to nouriſh vsus, we hauehave it from the Lord. Apparell to cloath vsus, we hauehave it from the Lord. The Sunne to comfort vsus, the Moone to pleaſure vsus, we hauehave them from the Lord. Life for our being, riches, honour, and whatſoever elſe for our well being, all commeth from the Lord. This is the reaſon which S^t Paule vſed to beate downe pride in the Corinthians: what haſt thou (ſaith he) that thou haſt not receaued? 1. Cor. 4.7. Art thou rich? it is not of thy ſelfe: the Lord giueth, ſaith Iob. 1.12. & hee can take away. Art thou in eſtimation in this world, it is not of thy ſelfe. The Lord ſetteth vp, ſaith Hannah, 1. Sam. 2.7. and hee p. 75can pull thee downe. Haſt thou cunning, or skill in any thing whatſoever? it is not of thy ſelfe: God teacheth handycraftſmen to worke: himſelfe ſaith ſo to Moſes, Exod. 31.3. and he cā againe make them vnskilfull. He can, and will take away thy riches, be they never ſo great; he can and will pull thee downe, be thou never ſo high; he can and will make thee vnskilfull, be thou never ſo cunning, or will doe vntounto thee more then ſo, if for any his gifts, and graces thou be puffed vp, & ſwell in pride. Art thou steward of much? little cauſe haſt thou to bee proud; thine account ſhall bee for much. If thou hauehave fiue talents, Mat. 25.20.Matt 25:20thy Lord will looke for the increaſe of fiue: if thou hauehave more riches then others, knowe, that they are beſtowed vponupon thee to relieue, and ſuccour thoſe that want; thou maiſt not lay them vp in ſtore for thy ſelfe for many yeares; Luk. 12.19.20Luke 12:19Luke 12:20For how knoweſt thou (ô foole) whether this night they will fetch away thy ſoule from thee? And thē whoſe ſhal thoſe things be, which thou haſt prouided?

And thus, whether we conſider our eſtate as it is by nature, or the fountaine, from which all good things, which we enioy, doe proceed, wee may in ſome meaſure bee moved to imbrace humilitie. For ſo ſhall we be taught, though we giuegive almes, yet not to blow a trumpet, though we faſt twice a weeke, yet to make no words of it: though we hauehave done many good deeds, yet to forget them all. Then ſhall wee bee able to make for our Lord borders of gold guilt with ſilver; that is, we ſhall be rich inwardly, howſoever our outward appearance is: then ſhall wee bee willing to ſtrow our beſt garments & our moſt flouriſhing branches at our Saviours feet: then ſhall we be ready ſpeedily to caſt downe our crownes, yea our very ſelues, before the Throne of the Lambe. And our Lord and Saviour, this Lambe of God, as he is able, will alſo be willing, & ready to lift vsus vp, and will giuegive vsus a reſting place, where no night ſhall be; there ſhall we need neither candle, nor light of Sunne, for hee will giuegive vsus light, & make vsus to raigne for evermore. Even ſo bee it, Lord Ieſus. To God the father, the ſonne, and the holy Ghoſt, bee all praiſe, power, Maieſtie, and dominion, for evermore.