Sermons on Three Chapters of Song of Songs, Sermon 27

Sermons on Three Chapters of Song of Songs · Sermon 27

p. 359THE XXVII SERMON. Our help be in the name of God &c. It is written as followeth in the third Chapter of the Canticle of Canticles, the 9. and 10. verſes.

9 King Salomon made himſelfe a Coch of the wood of Libanon.

10 Hee made the pillers thereof of ſiluer, and the bottome of goolde, and the couering of purple, and the in-ſide was adorned with the dilections of the Daughters of Ieruſalem.

1 The Coch which is here adioined vntounto Salomons bed ſignifieth vntounto vsus, howe the Church hath neuer had anie place of certaine reſidencie and aboade on earth, there to be tied without exception.

2 The King himſelfe hath built this Coch aſwel vnderunder the olde as the new couenant by thoſe choſen woorkmen of his, without being euer lawfull for men to ad thereto, or chaunge anie thing, or elſe to take awaie anie thing in reſpect of the bodie of this Coch, which is the doctrine.

3 Neither in reſpect of the charges thereunto belonging, neither in regarde of the manner of guiding and conducting it.

4 A more ample declaration, that God neuer gaue ouer the vniuerſall gouernement of this Coch to anie one certaine place, no not to Ieruſalem it ſelfe without exception.

5 The tyrannie of the falſe Church of Rome ouer al Christendome.

6 The Cedar wherewith this Coch is built repreſenteth the ſure continuance thereof against al the stormes and tempeſtes of the world.

7 The Prophets and Apoſtles are the pillers of ſiluer of this Coch maintained and preſerued by the faithfull Doctors and Paſtors their ſucceſſors, and in what ſenſe this woord of foundation is attributed vntounto them.

8 Ieſus Chriſt is the bottom of gold of this Coch, bearing vp and ſuſtaining the pillers themſelues.

9 The couering of purple of this Coch, is the heauenlie power of God, who couereth it and defendeth it from aboue.

10 A reprehenſion of them who hauehave their recourſe to any thing beſides.

11 The teſtimonies of Gods louelove and dilection contained in the ſacred hiſtories are the ornamentes and picture tables of the in-ſide of this Coch on euerie ſide.

p. 260OF the bed of the Bridegroome we hauehave already ſpoken, nowe there is heere made a moſt magnificent deſcription of his Coch, according vntounto the whole frame and building thereof: whereas concerning the bed there is no ſpeech but in generall, and of the gard about it. The reaſon thereof is, becauſe that to ſay the truth that repoſe & reſt which is figured vntounto vsus by that bed, in which the Bridegroome doth yet ſtay for & expect his ſpouſe, there to reſt with him for euer in perpetual bliſſe & felicity, 1 Theſſ. 4.17. is yet vnknowen vntounto vsus, naie is incomprehenſible, hauing receiued nothing yet but the pledges thereof: but the Coch repreſenting vntounto vsus the holy miniſtery of the word of truth and of life, ought to be perfectly knowen vntounto vsus, that it may bee ſet vp and vſed among vsus. Moreouer in that the Coch is added vntounto the bed, it ſheweth vsus, if we conſider of the ancient couenant, that the bridegrome had in ſuch ſort erected and ſet vp his bed in that Temple, and the ſeat of his kingdome in Ieruſalem, where he ſaid he made his dwelling place, Pſal. 132.13.14. that notwithſtanding hee woulde make, as it were, his progreſſe throughout the whole country, for which cauſe not onelyonly the Citties of the Prieſtes, but the families alſo of the Leuites, were diſperſed heere and there throughout the whole country, as the ſacred hiſtory ſheweth vsus. But it was indeed eſpecially vnderunder the new couenant ratified by the comming of the Bridegroome, that he indeed walked and made his progreſſe▪ firſt in perſon throughout the whole countrie, ceaſing neither daie nor night, preaching vntounto the woorld the ioyful tidinges of the perfourmance and accompliſhment of the promiſes, Act. 10.38. and the true yeare of Iubilee to be put in the poſſeſſion of our true heritage, Eſai, 61. and ſending after his aſcending aboue the heauens his Apoſtles, and after them Paſtors and Doctors for the gathering togither of his elect from all the foure corners of the world, Eph. 4.11. But this miniſtery being in ſuch ſort polluted by litle and litle p. 361for many hundreds of yeares, that in the end this Coch of the Bridegrome was made the throne of the whore which ſitteth vponupon the ſeuen hils, the Bridegroome hath in our time after ſo long an interruption reſtored it againe & hauing harniſhed it anew & ioyned his horſes vntounto it, hath trauerſed a great part of the world in it, to enlighten the eies of the blind, as the Poets faine that the ſunne guiding his chariot from Eaſt to weſt giueth his ſhining light vntounto the worlde. Such is then this Coch, the deſcription whereof, we are more nearly, and more particularly to conſider of.

2 Firſt therefore it is ſaid that Salomon himſelfe made himſelfe this Coche, to teach vsus, that whether wee conſider the doctrine of truth, for the publiſhing & making knowen whereof this Coche was made: or whether we regarde the whole furniture and direction thereof, it is he that muſt ſet downe the order, and as I may ſay the Carpenterſhip: he muſt pinne it and fit it throughout, and he muſt after teach the Cochemen the manner and order how he will hauehave it ruled and gouerned. Wherein there is a double fault cōmitted. The firſt is in them, who will build & frame this Coche after their owne fancie and appetite, keeping themſelues no farther then liketh them vntounto the ordinaunces and preſcriptions of the bridegrome: the other is in them, who confeſſe indeede that as for the manner and faſhion of this Coche in generall conſidered, there muſt be nothing but that which is correſpondent vntounto the patterne which the bridegrome himſelfe hath left vsus, not in chalk onelyonly, but in liuely picture and pourtraite in his holy ſcriptures. But for the direction of this Coche, ſome are of opinion that they muſt followe the ancient cuſtomes of the fathers, taking away onlie ſuch abuſes as afterwardes came in: others thinke that becauſe of the contrarietie of circumſtances of places, times, and perſons, God hath left it in the power and libertie of the Churches to appoint and ordaine the whole ordering, according as they iudge it to be expedient: prouided alwaies they tend vntounto the right end and marke they ought. And the grounde of all this is that God doth it as it were by himſelfe p. 362which he doth by the miniſterie of them whom he ſetteth a worke in his name, whether they be Paſtors, or chriſtian Magiſtrates. I allow well of this ground, for otherwiſe what ſhall be ſaide of the auncient Church which went before the comming of the Bridegrome in perſon, and of the Church, which followed the aſcenſion of the Lord into heauen, & which ſhal continue vntounto his ſecond comming in perſon? And he that would gainſay, & contradict this, ſhould find himſelfe conuinced by the whole ſcripture: but I deny the cōſequēces which are drawen from hence. Now to aunſwer diſtinctly of both theſe points, I meane, that of doctrine, and afterward that concerning the gouernement of the Church: I ſay touching the firſt, that being a thing moſt notorious that fleſh and bloud, Mat. 16.17. (that is to ſay, the ſpirite of man ſuch as it commeth into this world, as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh, 1. Cor. 2.4.) cannot reuaile or comprehend that which is the onelyonly and true foundation of the doctrine of ſaluation, that is to ſay, of that which is neceſſarily, & abſolutely neceſſarie vntounto the ſaluation of all ſuch as are of yeares of diſcretion, as the Creede of Athanaſius doth witnes, and the articles alſo of our Creede called the Apoſtles Creede, becauſe it is the ſummarie abridgement of the whole doctrine taught by the Apoſtles: it followeth that we muſt draw all this truth from the mouth of the Lord himſelf, who hauing ſpoken vntounto the fathers in a certain meaſure, Heb. 1.1. hath finally declared vntounto the whole world whatſoeuer is requiſite vntounto our ſaluatiō, Ioh. 15.15. Firſt by the preaching of his Apoſtles, who were moſt faithfully & perfectly taught, yea extraordinarily, & who hauehave with like faithfulnes executed their charge, not onelyonly in ſpeaking, but alſo in writing, in ſuch ſort that it is a mere phreaſy to imagin that they hauehave omitted to preach by mouth, or to ſet down in writing any one point of the doctrin of ſaluation. Our aduerſaries reply at this day hereupon & ſay, that though happily the Apoſtles hauehave taught al, yet hauehave they not written all. But when we demaund them what the pointes then are of doctrine which they hauehave omitted in their writings, they ſtick faſt as a man would ſay in the glue-pot. For p. 363either nothing of that which they alleage appertaineth vntounto doctrin & the articles of faith: or els it is ſuch as maybe proued to hauehave been forged by this man or by that man, being a thing eaſie to quote the inuenters thereof & the beginning: or els it ſhalbe found to agree no better with the articles of our faith which are the extract of the whole eſſentiall doctrine of the Apoſtles, then light with darknes, falſhood with truth. I know they are too wiſe to confeſſe thus much. But beſides that theſe thinges hauehave beene ſo often diſputed and clearly proued, that we may ſay with ſaint Paul, 2. Cor. 4.3. that if they be obſcure and hidden, it is vntounto them who will not heare them ſpoken of, or whoſe eies the prince of this worlde hath blinded: we hauehave alwaies offered and doe ſtill offer to ſhewe and proue them to the eie before a true and Chriſtian councell.

3 I ſay the ſame touching the whole eſtate of the houſe of the bridegrome, namely, that by theſe ſame Apoſtles he hath fully ſet vp & appointed both the vocations & charges thereto belonging, as alſo the exerciſe of them in that which concerneth the ſubſtaunce of the gouernement of his family: in ſuch ſort that it is more lawfull to change, diminiſh, or ad any thing in theſe vocations then in the doctrine, the application & execution onelyonly of the ſaide charges and vocations, being onelyonly left free, according vntounto the circumſtaunce of places, times & perſons, which cānot be ordered alwaies after one faſhiō, becauſe of the neceſſary diuerſity of them. So did Moſes order himſelf as a faithfull ſeruant in the houſe of God, hauing done nothing but according to the patterne which he had ſeene in the mount, Heb. 3.2. & 8.5. In which afterward nothing was chaunged or taken away by the true Prophets, but when it pleaſed god to erect his tēple, & to ſet vp the whole building & ordering of the eccleſiaſticall charges thereof: which was ordained by the Lord by the mouth of Dauid & effected by Salomon, & yet this eſtate was not to endure, but vntill the cōming of the Lord & maſter of the houſe, Heb. 3.6. who afterward by his holy ſpirit ledde his Apoſtles into al truth, Ioh. 16.7. who withhold & hid nothing thereof, but hauehave declared and opened all the counſell of God, Act. 20.27. p. 364yea left in writing to continew vntounto the end and conſummation of the world. Whereupon it followeth, that that which is cuſtomarily, and commonly alleadged, to wit, that the maſter holdeth it for done, which is done by his workemen, cannot hauehave any place in this matter, I meane, neither in the doctrine, nor in the generall, and fundamentall eſtate of the houſe of God, to attribute thereby vntounto the ſucceſſors of the Apoſtles, any power and aucthoritie, of chaunging, adding vntounto, or diminiſhing any thing, either in the one, or in the other. The reaſon is, becauſe the Apoſtles hauehave left nothing to be ſet vp by their ſucceſſours, but hauehave themſelues taught and eſtabliſhed all things, hauing left nothing to the Paſtors, Doctors, Elders, Deacons, but to gouerne them-ſelues, and their flockes, according vntounto this rule and foundation, 1. Cor. 3.11. without adding to any new thing, or clipping therefrom, or changing ought, the Coche, God be thanked, of this bridegrome being of an other building then is ſaint Peters Church at Rome, a true figure of falſe religion, in which there is alwaies ſome thing to be amended, added, or chaunged. And therefore they who began firſt not to content themſelues with ſuch ordinaunces, as were truely Apoſtolicall, witneſſed by their writings, what end thereof ſo euer they had, and what occaſion ſo euer they pretended, opened the gap to all that confuſion & deſolation, whereunto the Church of God was by little & little moſt pitifully brought. So thē to cōclude this point, it is the bridegrome himſelf, & our only & true Salomon, who hath diuiſed & built this Coch by his truſty & faithful Cochwrights, & Carpenters.

4 But why is this houſe which is ſo ſtrong and ſtable, that it preuaileth againſt hel-gates it ſelfe, Math. 16.18. compared here vntounto a Coche which is made to go frō place to place? We hauehave already yeelded the reaſon therof, to which ye ſhall adde this which I will farther tell you. It is to ſhewe vsus how ſhamefully and wittingly they abuſe them-ſelues, who dreame that God hath tied his truth vntounto one ſole place, or See, which men in our time hauehave perſwaded thēſelues to be the See of Rome: in ſo much that ſome are become ſo blockiſh blind as to think p. 365that the Catholicke & Apoſtolicke Church, & the Romane Church is all one, adding this word vntounto the Apoſtles & Nicene Creed: a thing as improper & abſurd, what reply ſoeuer be made to the cōtrarie, as if a mā ſhould ſay, that the head of a mā, & a mā were al one: though we ſhould grant thē that the See of Rome, ſuch as it is at this day, were not only the true Church, but which is more, the head of al particular Churches. Let vsus therefore note that this true Coche is there found, where this Bridegroome is purely preached, both in reſpect of his perſon, and in regard of his office: without matching him or ouer-matching him with a companion either ſuperior, as they do who pray the virgine Mary to command her ſonne: or collateral, as they doe who cal the ſame virgine their aide and their hope: or elſe inferiour, as they doe who call vponupon the Saintes abſent, or vponupon the deade. But ſome man will ſay, Is there then no certaine viſible place, on which the Chriſtians ought to depend & ſtay themſelues, to ſay, we muſt beleeue and do that which is taught and commaunded in ſuch a place? Ieſus Chriſt beeing asked the ſame queſtion, anſwereth not, that it is Rome,, or any other place. But, ſaith he, where the dead body is, there the eagles gather themſelues together, Luk. 17.37. And what is this dead body? It is ſaith Saint Paul, Ieſus Chriſt, & he crucified, beſides which I wil knowe nothing, vnderſtanding by the name of Chriſt the perſon, and by the word of crucified, all that which he hath doone for vsus, euen vntounto that laſt cry of his which ſhaked both the heauen and the earth, ſaying, All is finiſhed. And thus much touching the Doctrine. As for the outward ſeruice, himſelfe ſpeaking to that womā of Samaria, which demanded of him, whether they ſhould worſhippe in the Temple of the Samaritanes or of the Iewes, confeſſed indeed, that for a time, it was the Temple of Ieruſalem and no other which God had choſen there to be worſhipped. But ſaith he, the time is come that men ſhall worſhip neither in this mountaine, nor in Ieruſalem, but the true worſhippers ſhal worſhip in ſpirit & in truth, Ioh. 4.21.24. that is to ſay, without diſtinction of place, they ſhall ſerue God with a pure ſpirituall ſeruice, not with aultar or ſacrifice, but with a contrite and humble heart, Pſal. 51.19. and with the fruits of righteouſneſſe, p. 366Pſa. 50.23. Ro. 12.1. & with the calues of their lips, Oſe. 14.3. Moreouer if we reſpect the former time, we ſhal find that it is true indeed that the couenant was reſidēt, firſt in the houſe of Abrahā, thē in the houſe of Iſaack, afterward in the houſe of Iacob. But how was this houſe walked & caried vp & downe? Go we farther, we ſhal find, that trauerſing the deſert it made 42. ſtations, Nu. 33. being come into the land of Canaā the tabernacle vntounto which the lord had as it were tied the ſeat of his couenāt, both in reſpect of the doctrine & the outward ſeruice changed frō place to place, & was in the end ſeparated frō his Arke being taken priſoner among the Philiſtines, on whō hauing wreked herſelfe, ſhe reunited not herſelf vntounto the tabernacle where the ordinary ſeruice was kept. Finally behold the temple built as a permanent & ſtanding place, & Ieruſalē the capital city both of the realme, & of the prieſthoode. But how many breaches & interruptiōs were there, in ſuch ſort that the temple was ſhut vp, & finally razed, afterwards repaired, after that moſt vilanouſly polluted & defiled? I demaund therefore, where was then this catholick See, yea & whileſt it ſtood were we to conclude as they do at this day who cal themſelues Catholick Romanes, the high-Prieſt is the ſucceſſor of Aaron, & therefore he cānoter, & we muſt beleeue & do whatſoeuer is taught & cōmaunded by the catholicke church of Ieruſalem? I report me vntounto al the Prophets, whether they either made or taught others to make ſuch a concluſion? Nay did not contrariwiſe cry out, both againſt the Prieſts, & againſt the temple it ſelfe for thoſe abuſes which were by thē & there committed? And indeed where, & by whom was Ieſus Chriſt iudged worthy of death, as being a blaſphemer againſt God & againſt the temple? Where, & by whom was his doctrine condemned of impiety? Where, & by whom were the Apoſtles forbidden to preach the goſpel? Where, by whō, & for what cauſe was Steuen accuſed, & ſtoned to death? It is then a meere bewitchedneſſe & phrenſie to tie the holy ghoſt vntounto one place whatſoeuer it be, or to any certaine eſtate of men to ground on them the rule of a mans faith without exception: ſeeing that vnderunder p. 367the ancient people themſelues, among whom Ieruſalē was the place which the Lord had choſen for his houſe & habitation, there were none more deceiued then they, who without anie exception or limitatiō reſted & grounded themſelues on that temple, & on the perſonall ſucceſſion of Aaron, Ieruſalem being often the ſeate and See not of Truth, but of Murdering of the Preachers of the Trueth, & the neſt of the Baalims.

5 But can it be ſhewen by the Scripture or by any teſtimony woorthy of credit that Ieſus Chriſt hath eſtabliſhed in the world one certaine place or catholick See, that is to ſay, where an head ſhuld be ſeated hauing autority ouer al the particular churches of the world? And if it were lawful for men to conſtitute & appoint themſelues one, why ſhould Rome rather be choſen then Ieruſalem the firſt & the ancient of al the Churches? Called of the Prophets the Citty of God? From whence the word of God ſhould go forth into al the world? And founded notoriouſly by S. Peter & the reſt of the Apoſtles? Or rather then Antioch where were named the firſt chriſtiās? & where it is notorious that S. Pet. & S. Paul liued? But in ſūme, what reaſonable man cā be ignorāt what is to be iudged of the See of Rome, ſeeing that Daniel ſpeaking clearly & plainly of that God on earth calleth him by his name the God Maozzim: which is as much to ſay in the languange of the Prophet, as the God of Rome, or the God of the Romanes, Dan. 11.38. For it is euident that this word of Rome, in the greek toung, which was thē vſed in that country where this city was firſt built & named, ſignifieth as much as the Hebrew worde which the Prophet vſeth. And S. Paul ſpeaking of him which raigned in his time, I mean the Emperor of Rome, ſaith expreſly that of the deſtruction of him ſhould be borne che child of perdition, 2. Theſſ. 2.7. and when Saint Iohn nameth expreſly the Citie of ſeauen hils, Apoc. 17.9. In a woorde therefore as it is the Lorde which hath of his great grace built his Coche where it pleaſeth him, neuer vſing the helpe of any for the inuenting the plat and model thereof, but vſing indeede the miniſtery of certaine his faithful ſeruants, al of them immediately choſen, as was Moſes, & after him the Apoſtles, for the ſetting p. 368vp of it according vntounto the forme and pattern which himſelfe & no other hath deuiſed: & giuing the name of Coch vntounto this eccleſiaſtical gouernment, he hath declared that hee woulde not make it abiding for euer in one place, but hath vſed and doth vſe, & ſhal vſe it vntounto the end of the world, tranſporting it according vntounto his good and holy wil & pleaſure, 1. Cor. 12.

6 It remaineth we conſider by peece-meale the building of this Coch, according as the peeces thereof are ſet downe vntounto vsus in this place. This diſcription therefore beginneth firſt with the matter wherewith the bodie of the Coch is built, namely of the wood of Liban, that is to ſaie of Cedar, this tree hauing this property, that it is as a man would ſay incorruptible. This is it which I hauehave alreadie declared vponupon the laſt verſe of the firſt Chapter, to witte, that thereby thus much is declared vntounto vsus, that this holy and ſacred gouernement is inuincible, both in reſpect of time and of men. The reaſon is if wee conſider the generalitie of the Church, becauſe the kingdome of this Bridegrome is euerlaſting, as the father promiſed him, Dan. 7.14. and Luk. 1.33. reaching it ſelfe and as it were walking from one end of the world vntounto the other, Pſ. 2.8. & lifting it ſelfe vp in the end aboue the heauens, Ioh. 14.2. As alſo if we conſider of euerie member of the church, which are as it were ſo many perſons placed and conducted in this Coch, not one of thē can periſh, Ioh. 6.39. & 18.9. What do you then ſhall I ſay men or diuels, who ſeek to ouerturn this Coch? Who indeuor to hinder it in his courſe? Nay, who deuiſe by al meanes to pull it in peeces? Alas poore caitifes, it is of the wood of Liban, which reſiſteth al aſſaults. You doe nothing but runne your heads againſt the mountaine, and are no wiſer then your predeceſſors, who are daſhed in peeces, and yet the mountain continueth ſtill firme and ſtable. This Coche reſiſteth iron, and therefore wil turne the edge of your ſwordes. The fire cannot conſume it, but purgeth it and maketh it more bright and glittering. This Coch floteth vponupon the water, and neuer goeth ſo vnderunder but that it commeth vp againe vponupon the water. Neither can death or time ſet-tooth in it, and howe can the earth conſume p. 369vsus, ſeeing the graue doth nothing elſe but refine our bodies, to bee afterwarde clad with incorruption, 1. Cor. 15.42. Where ſhal then our place of refuge be in a time of ſo great & ſo rough ſtormes? In this Coch, my breethren, in this Coche vnderunder the wing and protection of the mightieſt of mighties, and no where elſe.

7 The ſpouſe hauing ſpoken of the matter of this Coche, commeth vntounto the Pillers which he ſaith, are of ſiluer, and made by this King Salomō. And what are theſe Pillers els but ſuch as God hath choſen and giuen to be the principal peeces of the Coche, and whoſe miniſtery he vſeth for maintaining and preſeruing of it, as the Pillars vnderunder-prop and ſtay vp the building? I mean the Prophets and Apoſtles as the principall maſter-builders, and as it were the hande of this king to put this Coche in readineſſe: as the Paſtours and Doctors finding it ready made, as we hauehave aboue declared, are put in truſt to maintaine and keepe it whole in al his parts and peeces, 1. Cor. 12.28. Ephe. 41. And this is the cauſe why the Apoſtle ſaith, that the Church is foundded vponupon the Prophets and Apoſtles, Ephe. 2.20. becauſe the Apoſtles receiued this grace to hauehave ended that which the Prophets had as it were hewed out and ſquared: as it is ſaide, that the wall of the City deſcending from heauen had twelue foundations, and in them the names of the twelue Apoſtles, Apoc. 21.14. & how is this, but that yet at this day the true Church hath no other obiect of her faith then the doctrine taught by the faithfull Apoſtles of the Lord? Epheſ. 3.12. But, ſome man wil ſay, is there then any more then one foundation of the church and the gouernment thereof? No truely. But there are moe laiers of the foundation, but there is but one foundation only. If we reſpect then the worke of eueryevery foundation-laier, we ſhal finde, that there are ſo many foundations, that is to ſay, ſo many foundation works as there are foundation-laiers, one working here, & an other there: as in the reſtauration and building vp againe of the Cittie of the terreſtriall Ieruſalem, euerie one wrought in his quarter but al was one and the ſame wall vponupon the olde foundation, Nehem. 2. and 3. Here we hauehave then the definition p. 370of the truely Catholicke Church, namely that it is it for the building whereof eueryevery Apoſtle hath built for his part, by one & the ſame doctrine founded vponupon one ſole foundation, one and the ſame Church: none of the builders beeing maſter aboue his felowe-builder, although Nehemiah as Lieutenant of the king gouerned the whole, as a faithfull magiſtrate ought to procure aboue al things, that God raigne and beare rule in the midſt of the people whom he hath cōmitted vntounto his charge. And therefore here was no principality which men hauehave falſly attributed & giuen vntounto S. Pet. but he wrought mightily as the others did in his charge and quarter. In this ſenſe therefore it is that we muſt vnderſtand theſe twelue foundations, and foundatiō-layers: only we muſt take heed how we ſay that S. Paul, who notwithſtanding built more thē any other, 1. Cor. 15.10. & Barnabas were forgotten in the viſion of S. Iohn. For the whole book of the Apocalypſe declareth that the forms there of ſpeaking are applied & fitted to the manner of the Iudaical common-weale: in which becauſe there were 12. tribes, mention is made of 12. gates, and 12. foundation-laiers only.

8 And to the end that this may more clearely appeare in this allegoricall deſcription, let vsus note that theſe Pillars hauehave two ends or extremes, the one belowe, the other aboue. The baſe or lower end is ſuſtained by the bottome of the Coche, the top or vpper end by the vaut of the couering. Theſe pillars therefore are not they properly which hold and beare vp the couering, but onelyonly becauſe themſelues hauehave their baſes, and are ſuſtained vponupon the bottom. And this is alſo the cauſe why it is ſaid, that they are of ſiluer: but the bottome is of gold. Firſt, becauſe Ieſus Chriſt is truely the only foundation ſtone, 1. Cor. 3.11. Eſa. 28.16. ſuſtaining and bearing vp the whole by his only force and power, and therefore moſt rightly compared to the moſt fair, precious, & firme mettall. Secondly becauſe it pleaſeth him of his good will, and not of any neede he hath of them to ſerue himſelfe with theſe pillers of ſiluer, in aſmuch as hee hath giuen an efficacie vntounto their miniſtery, and doth yet ſuſtaine at this day his Coche, I meane, the gathering together of his Saints by the p. 371vigor of his ſpirit which he laieth open in the heart of his, Eph. 4.11.12. their writings beeing preached in all theſe places, whither it pleaſeth him to guide and conduct his Coche, retaining alway this principle & maxima, that he which planteth, & he which watereth, (which are theſe pillers of ſiluer) are nothing, to wit, beſide the planting & watering, according vntounto the force which is giuen them to plant & to water: but he is all in all who giueth the increaſe, to wit, the bottome and ground of gold, to thoſe who are well planted and watered vponupon him, 1. Cor. 3.7.

9 The couering of this Coch, ſaith the ſpouſe, was made of purple by this King Salomon, which ſheweth vntounto vsus the proceeding & power of God, couering from his heauen & azured throne his poore children, expoſed otherwiſe vntounto al iniuries of weather, ſtormes and tempeſtes. And this is a leſſon infinite manie times repeated & reiterated in the Scripture: & namely, Pſ. 91.1. where it is ſaid, that, who ſo dwelleth in the ſecret of the moſt high, ſhal abide vnderunder the ſhadowe of the almightie. And Pſal. 34.15. The eies of the Lorde are vponupon the righteous, & his eares are attentiue vntounto their cry. And Pſal. 121.4. The gard and watch-man of Iſraell wil neuer ſlumber nor ſleepe. The ſunne ſhal not burne thee by day, nor the moone by night. Which thing the children of Iſrael did viſibly experience, being defended by day by the cloud in the ſcorching deſert, & by night by the piller of fire. And Pſal. 125.1. He that truſteth in the Lord, ſtandeth faſt and is for euer aſſured, as the mount Sion, which ſhaketh not. In a word the whole Scripture is full of ſuch ſentences. And beſides the Scriptures wee hauehave thereof continuall experience, ſeeing that euen thoſe whom a man would take to be vtterly forſaken are the firſt & the beſt prouided for & aſſured. But this couering is not ſeene but with the eies of faith, as it is ſaid of Moſes, that he ſaw him which was inuiſible, He. 11.27. Albeit theſe viſible heauens might ſerue vsus therunto, ſith their cōtinued ſtability & ſo wel ordered courſe are as it were engraued teſtimonies, of the infinit might & vnſpeakable aſſurāce of the lord, as it is ſaid, Pſ. 19.1. & 119.89.

10 But alas behold for a certain our iudgement & condēnatiō, namely that the moſt part of vsus, who vaunt our ſelues to be p. 372the reformed Church, that is to ſay, receiued into and conducted by this Coche into paradiſe, beleeue not neither the pillars, nor the bottom, nor the couering thereof. For if it be true that the doctrine, which wee (who are choſen by the great merciemercy of the Lord for the doing of this) preach vntounto you, is the onelyonly & true obiect of faith, why are we not beleeued, either when we teach, or when we comfort, or when we reprehend? If we be beleeued, wherefore doth euerie one make vntounto himſelfe his particular ground & reſting ſtaffe? And how ſo wil ſome man ſay? For this were to play the parts of Idolaters and ſuperſtitious men. And are not you ſuch yee couetous mizers, who hauehave nothing before your eies but gaine? I ſpeake vntounto you merchaunts, who knowe ſo well to make your commodity by the riſing & falling of crowns to the loſſe of your poor neighbors▪ who knowe your cabala ſo well to make your profit rather by ſelling for time, then for ready mony, making 9. pecks of 1. buſhel. I ſpeak vntounto you vſurers & white wolues (though there be ſome who begin very young) who vnderunder coulour of aiding & helping your neighbor make it your trade to liue by, & to enrich your ſelues by the neceſſity of another. Out vponupon you caitiues, wil you be alwaies with vsus as it were in this Coch, to ouerturne not only the Coch, but your ſelues & vsus too? To ſay it in a word, ſo manie trickes of cloſe conueyance & deceit, ſo many left & ſiniſter means raigning & ſwaying in the middeſt of vsus, how loud ſo euer wee cry out againſt them in the pulpit, and what Lawes ſoeuer bee prouided and eſtabliſhed to the contrary, are ſufficient teſtimonies that we yet beleeue not neither bottome nor couering of this Coch: as if wee neuer had yet heard any ſpeech thereof. And what ſhal I ſaie of ſo many renegants & Apoſtates, ſome vponupon a iollity of minde, others vponupon feare, who hauehave finally hardned themſelues ſo far as to put out both their own and others eies? Let vsus here remember the net which gathereth the good and bad fiſh, Matth. 13.27. which appertaineth alſo vntounto this Coch: as alſo him who was found at the marriage feaſt without his marriage garment. The ſcandale is great, yet ſo it muſt bee, but curſed bee they who are guiltie thereof. Matth. p. 37311.8. There muſt alſo bee hereſies, that they which are currant may bee knowen, 1. Cor. 11.19. But let vsus preach God that we bee not of this number, being vpheld & ſtaied vpright by his mercy, and that looking down we ſtay our ſelues vponupon this bottom and ground of pure golde, which is our only foundation, and looking vp we muſt caſt our ancre on that throne where the ſame Lord and maſter of ours doth ſit diuerſly conſidered, I meane, as he ſuſtaineth vsus below to lift vsus vp togither vntounto himſelfe in euerlaſting life, and preſeruing from aboue that which is here below for a time.

11 There remaineth the ornament of the in-ſide of this Coch which the ſpouſe ſaith to bee adorned, that is as a man would ſaie, tapiſtred with the dilection of the Daughters of Ieruſalem: that is to ſaie with hiſtories painted, or rather engraued in the holy ſcriptures, which teſtify vntounto vsus the infinit dilection which this true Salomon bare vntounto his Ieruſalem. This allegorie is founded hereupon, that from all times great Lordes and Ladies are wont to adorne the hals of their houſe, and their coches and horſelitters with clothes of tapiſtry, or paintinges, or or carued hiſtories, as alſo their ſepulchers and monumentes. But eſpecially men are deſirous to hauehave and ſee the pourtraits of ſuch perſonages as they beare affection vntounto. After this ſort is that ſpiritual Coch of our Salomon the frind of Ieruſalem deſcribed in the Goſpel, in ſo much that he wept ouer it when he went thither there to be condemned and crucified, Luc. 19.41. And what ſhal we ſaie hereupon? And who is able to conceiue on the one ſide ſo manie the bounties of the Lord or acknowledge on the other ſide ſo many our ingratitudes? Let vsus therefore pray the Lord that hee will open and enlarge our vnderſtanding to conceiue at the leaſt in ſome meaſure both the one and the other, and giuegive vsus grace that adoring and magnifying the one, & abhorring and deteſting the other: we may be made worthy to conſider & vnderſtand the contents of theſe ſo goodly and liuely pictures, I meane the ſacred hiſtories, which are ſo many infallible teſtimonies, of thoſe more then infinite & incomprehenſible compaſſions p. 374of this Bridegrome towards his Ieruſalem, Epheſ. 3.19. & 5.25. namely towards the aſſembly of his elect, both before and during and after the terreſtriall Ieruſalem, tapiſtred I ſay, & carued in this Coche into which hee cauſeth vsus to aſcend & ſeateth vsus therein to contemplate it on all ſides, according vntounto the example of Dauid, Pſal. 27.4. as in the terreſtrial Ieruſalem this was figured by the precious ſeelings and other rich ornaments of the ſame, to the which God bee al honor and glory now and for euer, Amen.

Almighty God, &c.