Sermons on Three Chapters of Song of Songs, Sermon 20

Sermons on Three Chapters of Song of Songs · Sermon 20

p. 257THE TWENTITH SERMON. Our help be in the name of God &c. It is written as followeth in the ſecond Chapter of the Canticle of Canticles, the 11.12. and 13. verſes.

11 For behold the winter is paſſed, the rain is chaunged, it is gone awaie.

12 The flowers appeare in the earth, the time of ſinging (of the Birds) is come, the voice of the Turtle hath beene hearde in our countrie.

13 The figge tree hath brought foorth his young figs, & the vines with their grapes hauehave caſt forth their ſauour.

1 How the harmony of the heauens & the elementes, was put out of tune in the elementarie part of the woorld, by the ſin of man.

2 The ſpirituall worlde, which is the Church, hath her foure ſeaſons alſo, according as the ſunne draweth neare, or is farther off, but conducted by a ſecret direction of a ſpeciall prouidence of God.

3 Example of theſe ſeaſons.

4 After what ſort the bridegroome hauing driuen awaie the parching of the ſommer, and the rigor and ſharpneſſe of the winter, inuiteth & leadeth his ſpouſe vntounto the ſpring-time.

5 A deſcription of this ſpring-time.

6 What the fair flowers of the church are in their ſeaſon.

7 The Lord planteth with theſe flowers the ground-plat of his Church, by his holy gardiners.

8 A compariſon of theſe goodly flowers with the falſe gloſſe of the falſe Church.

9 A complaint touching the ſterilitie & ſcarcitie of theſe flowers in al estates of Christians in our daies.

10 The ſonnets and ſongs which ring in the true Church oppoſed to worldly poems, and vnchaſt and filthy ballades.

11 The ſong of the Bridegroome inuiting his ſpouſe.

12 The ſong of the ſpouſe aunſwering her Bridegroome.

13 Together with the flowers are found likewiſe most pleaſant fruits in the garden of the true ſpouſe.

14 A difference betweene the fruite of this garden, husbanded and trimmed by the bridegroome, and thoſe vertues which men call morall.

p. 25815 The garden of the Church is not replanted a newe after the winter is past, but hath beene & doth remaine planted from the beginning: and how greatly they are abuſed who take that which is old for new, and that which is new for old.

16 The young figges, must become perfect figges: and the young ſower grapes, muſt ripen and become good raiſins.

17 An exhortation vponupon all that which went before, grounded vponupon the fig-tree which was curſed by the bridegroome.

IF our firſt Parent had not gon beyond and tranſgreſted the commandement of his Creatour and maker, the temperature & mutual harmonie of the heauens and the elementes had remained and continued in ſuch compaſſe and meaſure, that in this life, which the Apoſtle Saint Paul, 1. Cor. 15.45. maketh to conſiſt of a liuing ſoul, man had receiued, neither hurt, nor chaunge, but had beene maintained and continued therein ſo long as it had pleaſed God. But man hauing ſo wretchedlie and careleſly offended God, did moſt iuſtlie enthrall and make himſelfe ſubiect vntounto death, Rom. 5.12. and thereupon hauehave entred all the diſorders and confuſions, by which death hath beene cauſed, aſwel within men, as without: among the which wee are to account among the principal cauſes, the chaunging of the ſeaſons through which there happen theſe coldes and heates, moiſtures and droughs, which are as it were ſo manie preachers of the ſinnes of man, and ſo manie executioners of the iuſt condemnation of him. This notwithſtanding, it is a marueilous, naie an infinite grace & fauor that the Lord hath ſo ruled this vnrulineſſe, & ſo ordered this diſorder, ſignified by Moſes, where hee ſaith, that God beeing prouoked by the ſinne of man, curſed the earth, Gen. 3.17. that for all this, the woorld is maintained and continued by a reciprocal and enterchangeable ſucceſsion of foure ſeaſons: which is reckoned vp for a ſpeciall fauour vntounto mankind after the deluge Gen. 8.22. the ſharpnes of the winter, being bounded with the ſweete and gracious ſpring-time, as if death were chaſed away by life: & the parching heat deaded p. 259by the tēperature of the autumn-time, according as the ſunne accompanied with light and with heat, commeth near, or goeth farther from vsus, a work of God maruailouſlie, nay infinitly admirable.

2 Now if this viſible woorlde and which tendeth vntounto his ende and terme, bee ſubiect to ſuch varieties of years, ſeaſons, moneths and daies, the other worlde which is ſpirituall, albeit it tend vntounto immortality, is yet more turning & wheeling, not on two ſtars, which the Aſtronomers call Poles, but vponupon the wheele of Gods prouidence conducting this other woorld by the ſprings of a motion altogether ſecret and vnknowen vntounto vsus, except it be ſo far as it pleaſe God to make vsus more particularlie to knowe and perceiue them. I vnderſtand by this other world him, whoſe ſinnes are taken awaie by the Lambe, Ioh. 1.29. him, for whom the father gaue his ſonne, Ioh. 3.16. and who is oppoſed vntounto him, for whom Ieſus Chriſt ſaith that hee praieth not, Ioh. 17.9. and, from whom alſo wee are ſeuered, Ioh. 17.16. In a worde it is the Church that is here ſpoken of, and which hath, ſo long as it continueth here belowe, her ſpring-time, and her ſommer, her autumne & her winter, not ruled by the courſe of the ſtarres, but, as I hauehave ſaid, by a ſpeciall motion of him, who hath made the heauens and the earth, to beginne and ende, where, and how far, and in what ſort it pleaſeth God. Neither is it therefore to bee ſaid that the Church, beeing compoſed of men, paſſeth not through the colde and heat of this lower and elementarie world, and by the effectes which follow thereof, as are barrennes, famines, plagues, and other inconueniences, nay that ſometimes it ſuffereth not in theſe things more then others, as this argument is handled at large, Pſ. 73. yet notwithſtanding, this naturall diſpoſition of ſeaſons is not it whereby wee muſt iudge the ſeaſons of the Church, becauſe her ſpring time is often in the greateſt and ſharpeſt winter of others: and contrariwiſe that which is the ſpring-time to others, is vntounto her the moſt rough and tempeſtuous winter. For ſhee hath her ſunne by her ſelfe, the approching whereof with a milde and quickning heate, not parching or ſcorching, bringeth her alwaies p. 260a moſt pleaſant ſpring-time for her better ſowing, budding, & floriſhing: & afterward a tēperat ſūmer for the bringing forth of her fruit: after that a goodlie autumn to gather it in his ripeneſſe: & finally a good winter for the enioying thereof, and preparing of another ſeede. Contrariwiſe when this ſunne withdraweth it ſelfe, or diſtributeth not the influence of his light and heate, as the neceſſities require, there are no good times of ſowing, or of harueſt, or of vintage, but a general barrainnes and mortal famine; in a word, a perpetual winter, that a man cannot ſee ſo much as one greene leafe, though all the woorlde beſides bee in great good health and tranquillitie, with plentie and abundance of al dainties and delicacies. This ſunne is this Bridegroome: that ſunne of righteouſneſſe, who carrieth health vponupon his wings, Malac. 4.2. that braunch of light or daieſpring from on high, Zach. 3.8. Luke. 1.78. lightenning them whom hee found in the ſhadow of death, Eſai. 9.2. and ſhining on his Ieruſalem, Eſaie. 60.1.2. And becauſe that this is by the order which he hath eſtabliſhed, that this world of his is gouerned, I meane by the ſincere preaching of his word and the adminiſtration of his ſacramentes, accompanied with the efficacie of his holie ſpirite, according as the ſunne drawing neare or going farther off, appeareth vntounto the worlde, we muſt neceſſarilie conclude, that according as this holie miniſterie hath his force, or is depriued of it (whether it be for a time eclypſed, or whether it caſt forth his beams mightily, but mē louelove darknes ſtil more then this light, in ſuch ſort that litle effect thereof appeareth) it is vponupon this diuerſitie and difference wee muſt iudge of the good and faire weather, or of the il and hard time of the Church, & not according vntounto the outward either proſperitie, or aduerſitie of this worlde belowe. Notwithſtanding when it ſo pleaſeth God, the ſunne of the Church, and the ſunne of this world meet, to cheriſh it in al kind of ſortes: as ſometimes on the contrarie, both of them are withdrawen together, to bring on it a marueilous rough and as it were a deadlie winter.

3 Examples hereof are ſowen throughout the ſacred hiſtories, p. 261and appeare yet moſt clearly in our time: but I wil content my ſelfe with the allegation of a few notable examples, vntounto the which Salomon himſelfe might ſeem to hauehave had an eſpeciall regard. I ſay then, that if euer the Church enioyed a goodly and faire time of weather, it was vnderunder Ioſua and the gouernours of that time, the people beeing planted together with the ſeruice of God, moſt triumphantly in the land of promiſe, as appeareth by that which is written in Ioſu. 24.35. Afterwarde, for al the time of the Iudges vntill Samuel, if it had one faire day, it had an whole yeare of ſtormy weather and tempeſtes. And what a witnter was that time, in the which the Arke of the couenant was taken captiue, Silo ruined, briefly all brought into an vtter confuſion? God draue away afterwarde this ſtorme of fowle weather, by his Samuel, who alſo reformed the ſchooles of the Prophets. But this ſun-ſhine was ſcarcely appeared, when horrible darckeneſſe was brought in by Saul, the Prieſts themſelues beeing maſſacred, ſorcerers and ſouthſaiers ſet vp and reſtored, and the people expoſed to ignominie among their enimies, beeing as a body without an head, vntill that Dauid, not without grieuous rough ſtormes, being made king by the Lord, the goodly clear fair wether indeed began to ariſe, which continued as it were vntounto his full noone, vnderunder Salomon, who furniſhed the houſe of the Lorde both within and without, with a moſt triumphant magnificencie, at which time God graunted ſo long a peace vntounto his Church with aboundance and plenty of all temporall bleſſinges: and it may be that the Bridegroome ſetteth before the eies of his ſpouſe, that happy change of the time, inuiting & bidding her to awake to hauehave the fruition thereof. As much may we and ought we to ſay, to hauehave come to paſſe in the time begunne, about theſe threeſcore yeares ſince, the lord hauing of his infinite bountie and mercy driuen away out of a great part of Chriſtendome, the horrible and deadly darckeneſſe of that Idolatry brought in by the falſe whore with ſuch an efficacie of the ſpirite of error, that the greateſt part of them who attribute vntounto themſelues the name of great Catholickes and p. 262Chriſtians, are yet therewith vntounto this day enchanted and bewitched. This ſpring-time therfore was ſent by the Lord from heauen, who raiſed vp in our time theſe great and famous perſonages in the holy miniſterie of his woorde, and on the other ſide placed in the ſeates of magiſtrates, his Ezechiaſſes and Ioſiaſſes, who mightily deſtroyed the newe Baalimes and Aſtarothes.

4 And what did they els but call and inuite this ſpouſe, being awaked, to come vntounto her Bridegroome, and to accompany him into thoſe goodly gardens of true delights wherof the Prophet maketh mention, Pſal. 22.36? And we which are ſucceeded after them, what other thing doe we but crie in your eares, in the name of this Bridegroome, Ariſe, come, the winter is paſt, the goodly weather is come, the acceptable time, the day of Saluation, 2. Cor. 6.2. But alas, what ſhall I ſay? EueryEvery one playeth the deafe mā, eueryevery one is aſleep, eueryevery one is ſhrowded & neſtled, in I know not what retchles ſecuritie: againſt the which though we hauehave long cried, yet we crie ſtill in vaine, ſo that the end is, wee are likely to be ſhortlie awaked, by other maner of meſſengers. In the meane time let vsus take a viewe of the excellent deſcription of this goodly ſeaſon, whereof mention is made by Dauid, Pſal. 118.24. to the end that they who hauehave eares may heare what the Bridegroome here ſaith, and reioyce in this merry good morowe of his.

5 The winter, ſaith the Bridegroome, is paſt, the raine is paſt, it is gone away. We know that the winter is nothing els but the death as it were of the woorld, beſides that the ſtormie colde and the obſcuritie and darkneſſe of the ayre couered throughout with thicke cloudes, depriue men of the vſe both of the heat as alſo of the light of the ſunne. The Church on the contrarie ſide is the kingdome of light, Ioh. 5.6. and 1. Theſſ. 5.5. And becauſe that Ieſus Chriſt is the life, Ioh. 11.25. nay hath life in himſelfe, Ioh 5.26. it followeth that the church only is in life, as the worlde is in death: and therefore is ſhe alſo compared vntounto a forreſt of trees not dead, and ſuch as are ready to be cut down, and caſt into the fire, Mat. 3.10. but alwaies greene, p. 263floriſhing, and laden with fruite, Pſalm. 1.3. yea and that when they are extreme old, Pſal. 92.14. The reaſon is added in that place, becauſe they are planted by the riuers of running waters; and of what waters? Certainly of thoſe which flowe forth vntounto eternal life, Ioh. 4.14. not of that which is in ditches and welles, riſing from out of the bowels of the earth, but of the water, ſaith this Bridegroome, which I giuegive, which iſſueth from aboue, not which this ſun draweth vp from the earth, but ſendeth down into the earth, as flowing & proceeding from him, as it is ſaid, Pſal. 110.3. that the Church is borne of the dew of this morning: and Matth. 5.45. beeing borne anew by the water which is from aboue, which is the ſpirit of God, Ioh. 3.15. much leſſe that water, which is drawne out of ſome ſtanding poole, or ceſtern: but that which is moſt pure, and moſt cleane Ier. 2.13. namely, not the water which men hauehave digged in the earth, but which himſelfe ſendeth from heauen, and whereunto hee calleth and inuiteth all thoſe who are his, Eſay. 55.1. Theſe things being well conſidered, teach vsus to know the true Church, from the falſe, I meane the liuing Church from the dead, Apoc. 5.1. the true woord of God, powred from heauen vponupon the Prophets and Apoſtles, to carry abroade and diſperſe it through the whole woorld, Eſay. 2.20. Apoc. 22.2. from the falſe proceeding from the earth, and out of mens braines, Eſay. 29.13. and Coloſſ. 2.22. and conſequently the true chriſtian, from the ſuperſtitious and from the hypocrite.

6 That which the Bridegroome addeth of flowers with which the earth is tapiſtred, is referred vntounto the ſame that that before, beeing meant hereby the efficacie and working of the holie ghoſt in the Church, when it pleaſeth God to bleſſe the labour of his miniſters and ſeruants, in ſuch ſort that the whole ground of the Lord is throughout platted with flowers, which caſt a ſweet ſmel euen vntounto heauen, being moſt pleaſing vntounto the Lord, I meane, in Ieſus Chriſt, ſaith the Apoſtle, 2. Cor. 2.15. and not in themſelues, that men forge not vntounto themſelues merites out of the qualities of the faireſt and ſweeteſt flowers, which our garden can bring, though it be bleſſed from aboue: p. 264ſo far is it that that ground, on which the peſtilent and contagious windes which come forth of the holownes of the earth doe blow, can produce theſe flowers which are heere mentioned: how euer they ſmel ſweete vntounto men, who beare themſelues in hand, that the filth of their inuentions, ſauour of musk before Lorde. Theſe flowers then are ſuch as God ſoweth in his ground, 1. Cor. 3.9. namelie by the miniſterie of ſuch as hee hath ordained to plant and to water, 1. Cor. 3.16. for which cauſe the Apoſtle calleth the Philippians his ioie and crowne, Philip. 4.1.

7 For who elſe ſoweth theſe flowers but the Lorde, who ſendeth them from an high, by his moſt precious woorde, diſpenſed and adminiſtred by the order which hee hath eſtabliſhed? Eſai. 5.2. namelie vnderunder the Lawe, in that magnificent temple togither with all his furniture and prouiſion, & by that ſo wel ordered armie of the Prieſtes and Leuites, in that magnificencie, which is particularlie painted out vntounto vsus, in the firſt of the Kings & the firſt of the Chronicles, wherunto we muſt adioine the wiſedom of Salomō, which gaue his ſhining brightnes vntounto the ends of the world, accōpanied with al other bleſſings of God, by which his people became admirable & wōderful to al the natiōs of the earth. But yet were al theſe flowers nothing in compariſon of the miniſtery of the goſpel, committed firſt vntounto the Apoſtles & Euangeliſts his moſt excellent and diligent planters and ſowers, 1. Cor. 3.9. by whom the garden-plat as it were of this woorlde beeing turned vp a new, & transformed into a new terreſtrial paradiſe was afterwardes in his time not onelie ſimplie checked and enameled with flowers, but alſo enriched with the moſt precious treaſures of that which is aboue the heauens, powred downe firſt in al aboundance and perfection vponupon the head of this Bridegroome, who afterward made an admirable and infinit larges thereof on the daie of Pentecoſt, as the Apoſtle maketh that goodly reckoning of them, 1. Cor. 2. and eſpecially Epheſ. 4.11. ſpeaking of the vocations trulie eccleſiaſticall, which are the true beutie and ornament of the Church, not accompanied p. 265with ſuch temporal bleſſings, as was the Temple & kingdom of Salomon, but altogether ſpirituall and incomprehenſible, and hath the croſſe it ſelfe for her garland, and as it were an eſpecial marke that ſhe is not of this world, but hated and perſecuted of the woorlde, as was her head, Ioh. 17.14.16. vntounto whom we muſt by this means be made conforma…le in death, to bee alſo one daie in life and in glorie, Rom. 8.28. and 2. Tim. 2.1.

8 The marks therefore of the true Chriſtian Church are neither ſteeples, nor towers, nor other ſumpteous & coſtly buildings, nether croſſes, nor miters of gold or of ſiluer, nor clothes of gold, or precious ſtones, which had their place in the auncient tēple to ſerue for the rudiments & principles of the world, & to be the figure of that whereof Ieſus Chriſt is the body, Col. 2.8.17. and Heb. 10.1. So that now all this pelfe and traſh is the ornament and decking of the whore, Apoc. 17.4. but the Churches true ornament and ſetting forth is, in reſpect of the Lord, the order of his holy miniſterie & ſeruice ſet vp & eſtabliſhed: & in reſpect of herſelfe, the certainty of vnderſtanding and aſſured knowledge ſhe hath of the ſecret of our ſaluation, Col. 2.2. and the fruites of the ſpirit, recited by the Apoſtle, Gal. 5.22. flowers truly pleaſant and liking the Lorde through his grace.

9 But alas, as we hauehave great occaſion to magnifie our good God and father for that which proceedeth from him: ſo what exceeding cauſe hauehave we to humble and condemne our ſelues before his face? For where ſhall theſe flowers be found among vsus? And if there be any, as the word of the Lord, is neuer without ſome effect, Eſa. 55.11. ſhal we yet be able to find ſo many as may ſuffice to make a noſegay, to preſent our Bridegroome withall? I dare not ſay it ſtanding here in the chaire of truth, ſhall we find any of theſe flowers in the marchantes ſhoppes? No, for there is nothing ſmelleth ſweete vntounto them but gaine. What? In the courtes and tribunals of iuſtice diſperſed heere and there through Chriſtendome as it is called? Alas, not to ſpeake of the negligence there committed, which diſpleaſeth p. 266God ſo highly, and the acception of perſons, a thing ſo ſtinking before him, is it poſſible to find any ſweete ſmelling violet in the deſert of extortion, of falſhood, of conſciences ſet to ſale, of deſire of reuenge, of making a trade and liuing in ſetting al the woorld a pleading? Goe we to men of occupation, and what ſhall we finde? Deceit and cooſinage in ſome, idlenes in others, yea in ſuch as liue by their daies iourney, and eſpecially in the beſt woorkmen. I report me to the places hereaboutes ſo much vſed and haunted with their playing at keils both within & without the cittie. I report me to the tauerners accounts, who liue by the idlenes of ſuch people: to the teares and moning… of wiues, who carry the marks of their idle and dronken husbands: and to their litle children pining and languiſhing away, and ready to die with hunger. But peraduenture you ſhal find ſome ſweet flower among theſe great ones who liue by their …ent. Nothing leſſe. But, what will will you giuegive mee is the firſt entrance vntounto your ſute. I am content you hauehave it keapes aloofe. Wade you farther in it, you find nothing but double dealing and vnſatiable couetouſnes: If you meane to renue your leaſe, ſpeake to my dame, for ſhee rules the houſe. And yet you muſt ſay grand-mercy, I thank you ſir to the butcher that hath cut the purſe, though the poore ſheepe can bleede no longer. It may bee the wemen who make ſo much of garlandes and noſegaies, wil furniſh vsus with ſome of theſe flowers. Not a whit: for they are well agreed in this poynt, and Madam is as good as Mounſieur, and Mounſieur as Madam, maiſter as miſtres, and miſtres as maiſter: nay heere it is and among theſe you ſhall finde all ſtinking vanities and ſuperfluities from the head to the feete, what euer lawes the magiſtrates make to the contrary, what warnings ſo euer we make them in the name of God, what viſitation ſo euer the Lord lay vponupon them. For what can all this do or profit?

10 The Bridegroom addeth, that the time of the muſike of the birdes is come, & that the turtle hath been heard. But what muſike is this? And what are theſe ſonges? Not theſe vnchaſt and filthie poemes which men bring vsus euen hither, ſo ſtinking that p. 267neuer came greater infection out of the dungeons of the moſt infamous brothel-houſes that euer were: not ſuch ſoundes as are caſt into the ayre in a toung vnknowne, both to the fingers themſelues, and to ſuch as heare them ſing. 1. Cor. 14.15. Not theſe infamous hymnes or proſes full of Idolatry, which the Idolaters houle foorth vntounto their dumbe Idoles, 1. King. 18.16. Not theſe cantels & morſels of ſcriptures warbled, quauered and, crochetted to giuegive pleaſure vntounto the eares: not theſe vaine and ſottiſh ſongs and ballades which the fildes ring of al harueſt and vintage time: but thoſe, thoſe ſongs, I ſay, which God teacheth vntounto the heart, & putteth in the mouth of thoſe who are his, Pſal. 40.4. Of which ſort we hauehave a great nomber made and vttered by the holie ghoſt. With this harmony therefore the Bridegroome tuneth his ſong, and inuiteth his ſpouſe to keepe therein like time and accord with him.

11 And what is this voice of the ſpouſe but his holy worde which hath tong in the world, & hath in moſt diuine ſort charmed his Church, firſt of all by his prophets, afterwardes in his time by himſelfe in perſon, then by his Apoſtles, and yet in our daies by his faithfull Paſtors and Doctors? I am thy God, and the God of thy poſteritie, ſang hee to Abraham, Gen. 17.7. and in thy ſeede ſhall all the nations of the earth be bleſſed, Gen. 26.4. which daie of the Lord he ſawe and reioyced therein, Ioh. 8.56. Vp, ariſe, hath he ſaide to Ieruſalem by Eſay, be bright, for thy light is come, and the glory of the euerliuing is riſen vponupon thee, Eſay. 60.1. we bring you tidings of great ioy, which ſhalbe vntounto al people, ſaid the Angels vntounto the ſheepeheardes, Luk. 2.10. filling and repleniſhing the ayre afterwardes with this diuine Canticle and ſong, Glory bee vntounto God in the higheſt heauens, & peace in earth towards men, Luk. 2.14. and his ſong or charge what is it? Come vntounto mee all yee that are heauy laden and oppreſſed, and I will eaſe you, Math. 11.28. And what is that of the Apoſtle? Reioyce alwaies, ſaith he, and againe I ſay vntounto you reioyce, Philip. 4.4. And to the end we ſhould not think, that the croſſe which is an inſeparable companion of the goſpell, hindreth any whit at all this ioy, In asmuch, ſaith he by the mouth of Saint Peter, as you are partakers of Chriſtes p. 268ſufferinges reioyce yee, 1. Pet. 4.13. which leſſon himſelfe had learned of his maiſter, Math. 5.12.

12 Behold then the time whereof the Bridegroome heere ſpeaketh, beholde the ſongs of this turtle which calleth her mate vntounto her, which faileth not to anſwere her with the like, as we ſee the examples thereof in the ſonges and Canticles of the Saintes: whereunto the yong birdes alſo inuite vsus, knowing the time of their chaſt mating & coupling: for which cauſe we are to our great reproch & that iuſtly ſent back vntounto them by the Prophet, to learne our duty, Ierem. 8.7. And let vsus note that when wee ſpeake of ſongs which ought to ring in the Church, the queſtion is not ſo much of the voice, albeit the mouth muſt confeſſe that which the heart beleeueth, Rom. 10.10. but the heart within and the mouth without muſt accord, that we be not touched with that reproch, This people honoreth mee with their lyps, but their heart is far from me. Eſay. 29.13. And in an other place, what haſt thou to do to recite my ordinaunces, and to make mention of my Law within thy mouth? Pſal. 50.16. And therefore the Prophet ſaith not onlie that we muſt praiſe God, but that his praiſes are ſitting vntounto them who walke vprightly, Pſal. 33.1. Secōdly the true faithful mā is compoſed altogether of mouthes and of tonges, neither thinking, nor ſaying, nor doing anie thing, nor in a word hauing ought in himſelfe, but that which declareth & teſtifieth the glory of him, whoſe newe creature hee is, created for his glorie, Ephe. 1.12. and 1. Cor. 10 13. otherwiſe wee know not what this ſpring-time meaneth. For how euer it be, the land of the Lord is of ſongs and thankeſgiuings, Pſalm. 118.15.

13 And this is cauſe why the ſpouſe addeth for other marks of the ſpring-time, that the figg-tree hath yeelded foorth her yong figges, & that the vines are ſhooting out their young grapes, to ſhew vsus that in the Church of God grace is giuen vsus, not onelie to will which is as it were the flower, but alſo to do, which is the fruit, to wit, the effect of our will, Philip. 2.13. Eph. 2.2.

14 And let vsus note that he ſpeaketh of two kinds of fruit, the moſt delicate that bee, to ſhew vsus the difference, which is p. 269betweene the appearaunces of vertues, ordinarilie called Morall vertues, (ſuch as they are) which a man may meet withall in them who are not regenerat, in whom god doth in ſome ſort repreſſe that naturall wickednes which is in all, whoſe woorkes notwithſtanding, are without either taſt or ſauour, (according vntounto that which is ſaide, that whatſoeuer is without faith is ſinne, Rom. 14.23. and that without Ieſus Chriſt there is nothing which can pleaſe God vntounto ſaluation) and the works of the children of God gouerned by the spirit of regeneration Rom. 8.9. For which cauſe it is alſo ſaide that faith which is without workes is but a dead thing. Iames. 2.26.

15 Farther let vsus note that he ſpeaketh in this place of the Church, not as of a ground planted altogither newe, but as an ancient poſſeſſiō & heritage, which being for a time laid waſt or fallow, hath been husbanded anew and manured. For as for the true Church of God, ſhee ſhalbe alwaies found to be more old and auncient, then the falſe, ſeeing that truth is before lying, and that which is ſound and entire before that which is falſe and corrupted. So was Adam created after the Image of God, before he was deformed by ſinne: and after ſinne was entred, Adam and Eue beleeuing the promiſe of ſaluation (for otherwiſe there ſhould hauehave been no Church in the world) the Church which is the citty of God, had her beginning before the citty of Satan, which began from Caine & his. But ſeeing that men hauehave, time without mind, accuſtomed to ſet foorth and commend themſelues vnderunder the name of Antiquitie, eſpecially vntounto them who are ignorant, whoſe ignorance they abuſe who liue by this abuſe: behold how it commeth to paſſe that they which will not ſuffer themſelues to be better taught, take often times that which is newe for olde, and that which is olde for newe. Such are they of whome Saint Peter ſpeaketh, who ſaide of that time, when a man ſpake vntounto them of the ſecond comming of the ſonne of God to iudge the world, which wee yet wait for, that al things were, as they are now, ſince the firſt fathers: which thing is falſe ſaith hee. For they ſhould knowe that the world was not created in ſuch ſort in the beginning as now it is, p. 268duplicate page p. 269duplicate page p. 270and that God hath already executed an horrible iudgement on the corruption thereof. In this ſort after the captiuitie they reproched Ieremie, that he had marred all, and that then and before he mealed with preaching vntounto them, they and their fathers found themſelues in good caſe by calling vponupon the Queene of heauen and burning incenſe vntounto her, Ierem 44.17. nay which more is, when they heard Ieſus Chriſt himſelfe to ſpeake, they ſaide, What kinde of new doctrine is this? Mar. 1.27. But Ieſus Chriſt anſwered them, Search the ſcriptures for they ſpeak of mee, Ioh. 5.39. Now this Queen of heauen was the ſunne, as the phraſe of the Hebrue toung doth import, and in my time what other difference hath there been but this, that by the Queen of heauen, is ment not the ſunne but the Virgin Mary, as if there were a Queene mother in heauen? For it is certaine that there is a Queen, the ſpouſe of this Bridegroome which is already partly in heauen, and partlie yet languiſhing here on earth, to wit, the Church being coheire with Ieſus Chriſt, as ſhee is alſo called by this name of Queene. Pſal. 45.10. but this is not becauſe ſhee ſhould be adored. Not the whole church, I ſay, ſo farre is that the bleſſed virgin euer required, or yet requireth that which is properly belonging vntounto her ſonne, or that ſhe allowed of (to admit that ſhee coulde vnderſtand them) theſe titles ful of moſt horrible and moſt execrable blaſphemy, to be called a Mediatrix, mother of mercy, our life, our hope, hauing power to commaund her ſon. And yet to find fault with al this, were a point of greater impiety in the opiniō of them, who call themſelues chiefe Chriſtians, then if a man had denied God, an hundred thouſand times. For behold, ſay they, there was neuer yet any ſince Chriſtes time, that called not vponupon this Queene of heauen, & al the Saintes, yea who gaue not credit to al theſe thinges, which you cal miſerable abuſes: as neuer yet the time that there was not Maſſe ſaid, & a Pope to be gods vicar in earth. And what new goſpel thē I pray you is this of yours? Where was this newe Church of yours I praie you fifty yeares ago? Behold their common language. But we wil ſend them backe vntounto this text, and wil tell them with this Bridegroome, that this is that onelyonly vine which hee tranſported p. 271out of Aegypt, which hath beene a long time in the handes of wicked, not vineyarders but deſtroiers, from whom it is now taken, to be reſtored and husbanded. The wild beaſts hauehave brouſed it, but God hath made vp the hedge thereof againe, & ſet vp his wine preſſe in it, Pſal. 80.15. & Mat. 21.33. they are the ſame fig trees which were before, but beeing become barraine for want of careful trimming and looking too, they now beare litle figs, as the vine beginneth to ſhoote forth her tender grapes. Such was the condition of the Church after the ſtorms which fel in Saules time, which Dauid by all means ſought to remedy, but was not able notwithſtanding entirely to perfect the ſeruice ceremonial, nor the temple, which Salomon afterward hauing compaſſed, he compareth this newe reſtabliſhment & reformation vntounto a plat of ground where the fig trees are laden with young figs, and the vine beginneth to yeeld foorth her ſmal grapes, giuing great hope of a goodly vintage.

16 But what? Theſe young figs, and theſe ſmal grapes may not remaine at one ſtaie, but the young figs muſt become fair and good figs, and the ſmal grapes muſt proue faire and goodlie raiſins. As the young child hangeth not alwaies at the mothers breſt to ſucke ſtill, but liueth and is nouriſhed with ſolid meat, after his ſucking time is paſt, 1. Cor. 3.2. In a word we are regenerat and borne a new in Ieſus Chriſt, to encreaſe in him by little and little, vntounto wee be come vntill his ful ſtature in vsus, Eph. 4.12. & we are entred the liſt, not to ſtand ſtil in the middeſt of our race, but to runne ſtil on, vntil wee ſeaſe vponupon the crowne of eternal life, 1. Tim. 6.12.

15 Behold, I ſaie, what our dutie is, that we be not that vnhappie fig tree which repreſented the miſerable nation of the Iewes, whoſe cutting off was near at hand, and whereof mention is made, Mat. 21.19. where it is ſaid that the Lord finding on it nothing but leaues, curſed it, though the ſeaſon did not ſerue for figgs. And why ſo? To ſhew the Iewes that the time of iudgement was come, becauſe they had let the time of grace and merciemercy to paſſe, as hee before declared vntounto them, Luk. 13.6. and therefore, ſaid he vntounto his Diſciples, As you know p. 272that the ſummer is neare when the fig tree ſhooteth foorth his leaues: ſo when you ſee the ſignes of my comming, knowe you that I am hard at the dore. And what ſhal we ſay hereupon, touching the time that wee are in? Truely happie if wee knew how to know the viſitation from on high, Luk. 1.68.78, but more then thriſe vnhappie, through the hardnes of heart, and rebellion of the world, Eſai. 5.24. For is it not in our time that the lord hath begunne to raiſe vp this vine which was laide waſt, and to dig vp the earth round about this fig-tree to mould it better? Is it not in our time that the fig trees hauehave brought forth their young figs, and the vine her ſmal grapes? Yea (I dare ſaie it, and God be praiſed for it) there hauehave beene faire and good figges growen, goodlie and pleaſant grapes yeelded. But alas, beſides that the winds which hauehave fel and the ſtormes of hail, which we hauehave brought vponupon vsus by our ſinnes, hauehave ſhaken the trees and the vine plantes, and conſtrained the Lorde of the vineyard to haſten his vintage, in what ſtate is this ground and heritage at this daie? Naie how manie fig trees and vine plantes ſee we plucked vp by the rootes? How manie young figs and ſmall grapes are fallen downe? And what hope doe the youth of our time yeeld vsus? Alas very litle, the time being rather come wherof mention is made Eſa. 5.2. the Lord complaining and ſaying, I looked for fruit of my vineyard, but it hath brought me nothing but wild grapes. What remaineth vsus then but that the withered braunches of the vine, and the dead bowes of the tree be cut off and caſt into the fire? Mat. 3.3.10. Ioh. 15.6. And indeed are we ſo blind as not to ſee that this is come to paſſe in the Eaſt, Weſt, North, and South: and ſo to continue more & more? Are we ſo deaf as not to heare the great blows of the hatchet & axe hewing downe the goodly carued ſeelings of the houſe of the Lord? Pſal. 74.5. Do we not heare the Lyon roare, and the waues of the Sea to make a noiſe? Eſai. 5.29. And if the Lord hauehave not ſpared the naturall braunches, will hee ſpare the ſmall abortiue ſuckers? Rom. 11.21. Let vsus therefore craue of our good God eares to heare, and praie him that he wil giuegive vsus the ſpirit of repentance and conuerſion, and preſerue and bleſſe the reſidue of this his vineyard, p. 273which hee expecteth in great patience, that wee ſhould bring forth fruites of righteouſneſſe and of charity, which may be pleaſing and acceptable vntounto him, vntounto his honor and glorie, and vntounto our ſoules health and ſaluation.

Almighty God &c.