Sermons on Three Chapters of Song of Songs, Sermon 21
THE XXI SERMON. Our helpe be in the name of God, &c. It is written as followeth in the ſecond Chapter of the Canticle of Canticles, the 13. and 14. verſes.
13 Ariſe my LoueLove, my faire one, and come awaie.
14 My Doue which keepeſt thy ſelfe in the clefts of the rocke, in the ſecret places of the aſcent thereof, ſhew me thy face, let me heare thy voice: for thy voice is ſweete, and thy face is comelie.
1 The Bridegroomes calling to awaken his ſpouſe, ſo often reiterated, declareth what naturall heauines and drouſineſſe is in the best ſort, which can be corrected by no other meanes, then by the voice of the Bridegroome onelyonly, who maketh himſelfe to be heard.
2 The ſpouſe is ſomtimes made ſo wild and ſo hared, that ſhee is forced to giuegive place vntounto her perſecutors: but yet remaineth a Doue ſtill in her holie puritie.
3 Examples of this vnderunder the olde couenant.
4 Examples of the ſame vnderunder the newe couenaunt, beginning from Ieſus Chriſt himſelfe.
5 The Romiſh puttock hath skared the Doue out of the plaine: but the Bridegrome hath begun in our time to reclaim her.
6 The ſpouſe, the Doue thus skared, inſteed of ſtooping, skirreth aloft, where ſhe findeth her ſure rock to foote on.
7 The ſpouſe beeing brought downe from the rock, where for a time ſhee was hid and remained dumbe, muſt make her ſelfe to be clearlie ſeene and heard of her Bridegrome.
8 An exhortation to put this doctrin throughlie in practiſe.
9 A reprehenſion of the negligence of ſome, and the vnthankefulnes of others in this behalfe.
THE reſidue of this thirteenth verſe which wee hauehave read vntounto you hath beene before expounded, in the tenth verſe. But it is not without cauſe here reiterated. For beſides that by this recitall againe of the ſame thing, we are aduertiſed, more neerely to conſider of, and more often to wey the contentes and meaning thereof, for the excellency of the comfort and conſolation therein compriſed: ordinarie and dayly experience might be able to teach vsus, how by nature, yea and that after our regeneration, we are heauie and ſleepy, and alwaies drowſie and lazie, ſome of vsus ſtanding ſtocke ſtill in the waie we began to take, others trayling the wing, inſteede of flying on, others turning taile and going backward. And therefore it is more then neceſſarie that we bee daily warned and pricked forward, the Lord, by whoſe only voice and merciemercy we are awakened, ſhewing herein as in all the reſt, his more then admirable patience in this, that he ceaſeth not to crie continuallie in our eares, to draw vsus vntounto himſelfe, as it is ſaid, not without great reproch vntounto them, that hee bare forty yeares with the maners and conditions of his people, Act. 13.18. and Pſal. 95.10. as the Lord alſo complaineth in Ezechiel 22.30. and is declared vntounto vsus at large vnderunder the ſimilitude of the vineyard, Mat. 21.33. And what ſhal we neede to goe farre for examples? What hath the Lord done for the ſpace of theſe threeſcore yeares ſince he began as it were a newe to open his mouth among vsus? And what doth he ſtil euerie daie, but cry, vp ariſe, vp ariſe, vp ariſe, Eph. 5.14. but who is he that giueth eare vntounto him? Who is he that awaketh? Where is hee that putteth himſelfe in the waie? Nay contrariwiſe ſee wee not that the moſt part make a mockerie of it? Some to ſaie, hold thy peace, others to ſeek by all meanes of cruelty and ſubtill treacherie to ſtop the Lordes mouth? See we not what ſwarmes of Couetous men, Ambitious, Adulterers, Gluttons, Diſſolute? In a word, who is hee that anſwereth not, let me alone, I hauehave ſomewhat elſe to do? GiueGive mee leaue to take a reckoning of my monie, to ſeeke after my gain, eaſe, & preferment, to be merry & paſſe away the time, as others doe: briefly to ſay, let me be damned, what need you to care, you ſhal not anſwere for me? And if anie man happily anſwere, Lord I goe my waies thither, is it not for the moſt part to doe as he did, of whom it is ſpoken, Mat. 21.30. And what wil follow of this in the end? Mary euen that which is ſaid in the ſame Pſalme 95.11. I hauehave ſworne in my anger, if they ſhall euer enter into my reſt, and that which is ſaid, Sopho. 1.12. At that time I wil ſearch euerie corner in Ieruſalem with candels, and wil viſit thoſe men which are frozen in their dregs and ſaie, the eternall doth neither good nor harm. O wretched caſe, O miſerable eſtate! And therefore for the honour of God, my brethren, let vsus bee more carefull for our ſaluation. Let vsus content vsus with that which is paſt, 1. Pet. 4.3. and let vsus not heap vponupon our heads the anger of God, againſt the day of wrath, Rom. 2.5. but ſeeing he ſaith againe, vp ariſe, let vsus doe as our father Abraham did, who roſe and departed out of his owne land aſſoone as the Lorde had ſaid vntounto him. Get thee out of thy countrie, Heb. 11.8. & Gen 12.1. and as Matthew the publican, who being at the receit of cuſtom, ſo ſoone as the Lord had ſaid vntounto him, follow me, ſtaied not to make vp his bookes and to tel his monie, but left al and followed him, Mat. 9.9. Moreouer the onelie excellencie, nay more then excellencie of this ſpeech of the Bridegroomes, ſhoulde it not ſuffice to make the drouſieſt of vsus al to awake, to ſpeak, to run? For what a thing is it, to be called the louelove or beloued of this great ſonne of God, who hath loued vsus more then himſelfe, by giuing his own life for vsus to ranſome & redeem vsus from death, Ioh. 10.15. & 1. Pet. 1.19. yea to make vsus coheirs with him, Rom. 8.17. and what beuty is comparable vntounto this glorie which waiteth for vsus, 2. Cor. 4.17. and 1. Cor. 2.9. of which we hauehave alreadie the pledges, 2. Cor. 5.15. namely the knowledge of the deep things of God, 1. Cor. 2.10. & the worke of ſanctification which he hath begunne in vsus, & which hee will continue in vsus vntounto the end by his holy grace, 1. Ioh. 3.10. Fie therefore on the world, from out of which wee are ſeparated: fy on this ſoup of Eſau for which he quitted and gaue ouer the bleſſing, which hee coulde neuer recouer afterwarde, Gen. 26.32. and. Heb. 12.15. Fie vponupon this vaine appearance which paſſeth away as a dreame, and cooſineth vsus ſo eaſily as this ſame Salomon hath at large taught vsus in his booke of the Preacher, & as the Apoſtle ſheweth vsus, 1. Cor. 7.31. And whither wil he that we ſhould go? Ʋnto him, vntounto him, that is to ſay, vntounto this light of glorie, 1. Pet. 2.9. vntounto this incorruptible inheritance, 1. Pet. 1.4. vntounto this kingdome which he hath prepared for vsus ſince the foundation of the worlde, Mat. 25.34. And who is then ſo wretched & vnhappy as to deſire to be ſtil creeping here below, & who wil not rather ſay with Dauid, O how long & how tedious is this my abode vntounto me, with theſe inhabitantes of Kedar and of Meſech? Pſalm. 120.5. and with Saint Paul, I deſire to bee diſſolued, and to bee with Chriſt, Philip. 1.23. and, O miſerable man that I am, who ſhall deliuer mee from this bodie of death? Rom. 7.24. Neither ought wee to excuſe our ſelues hereupon that we are deaffe by nature, and cannot heare. For as hee calleth vsus, ſo hee preſenteth vsus eares to heare: and bidding vsus to come vntounto him he offereth vsus feete, and commaunding vsus to looke on him, he giueth vsus eies, Pſal. 40.7. and 146.8. And this is the cauſe why hee beginneth heere, with ſo gracious and ſweete woordes, my welbeloued, to ſhewe vsus that all, namelie to will and to doe, proceedeth from him, and whatſoeuer elſe he demandeth of vsus commeth from his mere and free good wil towardes vsus, who were his enemies. But as our firſt Parent then, when as yet hee was not corrupted but moſt ſound and entire in that nature, which he receiued from his Creator, did voluntarily depriue and ſpoil himſelfe of that light he had of vnderſtanding and vprightnes of wil, ſo his poſterity for the moſt part, through naturall wickednes which is now in them, refuſeth, both the Phiſition who offereth himſelfe and the phiſick.
2 But let vsus hearken vntounto the reſidue of the Bridegroomes ſpeach, ſeeking after this ſpouſe: My doue, ſaith he, which keepeſt thy ſelf in the cleftes of the rocke, and in the ſecret places of the aſcent therof. And what are the great ſecrets which are compriſed in theſe words? Let vsus pray vntounto God he wil vouchſafe to teach them vsus throughly. We hauehave ſaid before, that the ſpouſe, the Church, is brought in in this place and repreſented vntounto vsus, aſſiſted by her Bridegroom in ſuch ſort, that ſometimes ſhe languiſheth after him, ſometimes ſhe obtaineth as it were the fianſailes, ſometimes ſhe ſeemeth to be as it were a far off, ſometimes as it were ſomwhat nearer, ſometimes ſhe is ſeeking as it were after him, ſometimes ſhee ſeemeth to be ſought after: which thing we are neceſſarily to vnderſtand & diligently to conſider, that we take heed the better of the mask of the falſe Church, which many paint foorth and ſhape out vntounto themſelues in their owne braine, perſwading themſelues, that the Catholique Church continueth always in her apparant gloſſe and bewty: contrary vntounto that which is deliuered throughout the whole ſacred hiſtorie, and the experience wee hauehave ſince had, and hauehave vntill this day, thereof: wherein theſe ſo wretchedly abuſed reſemble the Butterflie which flieth into the candle and burneth himſelfe, and thoſe ſimple ſeely birdes which fly into the fire thinking they are in the warm ſun. This is then a falſe opinion in which many do gladly pleaſe themſelues, becauſe they would hauehave a goſpel of eaſe and a Church all of veluet: whereas, it is in the croſſe, that the Bridegroome triumpheth, and hee was crowned with a crowne of thornes, and there is no reaſon the ſpouſe be put in a better liuery then her Bridegroome. Wee hauehave therefore heard aboue in the 11. verſe, how the Bridegroome made mention of the winter, bringing tidinges vntounto his ſpouſe of the ſweete and pleaſaunt ſpring-time. Hee ſpeaketh therefore now vntounto her, as if ſhee were frighted and skared as ſometimes Pigeons are and driuen from the doue houſe, and therfore flowen to hide herſelfe in ſome chinckes and creuiſes of a rocke, to hauehave there ſome place of retire and reſt. Where we are to note that it is properlie in theſe and ſuch like occurrences, that the faithfull ſhewe themſelues like Doues, not countermining deceit by deceit, but withſtanding and fighting againſt the ſleights and craftes of the world by their meeknes and ſimplicity, Luk. 16.18. and leaue not, for al the hote aſſaultes that are giuen them, to keep their conſcience pure ſtil and vndefiled, as Dauid ſo often both in woord and deed profeſſeth, which is the cauſe alſo why the Lord ſpareth them, when the rod of the wicked is vponupon them. Pſal. 125.3. and 1. Cor. 10.13. but yeelding vntounto the furie of their perſecutors ſo much as they maie, their only refuge they hauehave is, to endure in ſilence, & patience, Luk. 21.19. It is this ſpouſe therefore who beeing forced to ſhroud and to hide herſelfe in the clefts and holes of the rocks, is now inuited by her Bridegrome to come downe againe into the plaine, the foul weather being ouerpaſſed and gone.
3 Such was the ſtate and condition of the Church manie times vnderunder the Iudges, and eſpecially in Helies time, as when the arcke was taken, there followed an horrible confuſion. In the time of Samuel it had as it were ſome ſmall refreſhing vnderunder the beginning of Saules raigne. But by and by after, and eſpecially during the time of the perſecution raiſed againſt Dauid, the maſſacring of the Prieſts, the diſcomfiting of Saul, the ciuil war betweene Dauid, & Iphiboſeth, whither ſhal we ſay the ſmall number of the true faithful were brought, ſo long as god exerciſed his iuſt iudgements vponupon the whole country? In what eſtate was then this doue-houſe, that is to ſay, the tabernacle & the whole ſeruice of God, Silo being deſtroied, & the Arcke placed in a priuate mans houſe, to wit, Abinadabs, 1. Sa. 6.22. ſeparated from the tabernacle which was in Nob, 1. Sam. 21.1. & from thence was brought vntounto Gibeon, 2. Chro. 1.3. And this ſeparation of the Arke from the tabernacle dured vntill the time of Salomon, who (beeing a figure of this bridegroome) ſet vp that goodly temple as it were a doue-houſe, whither he inuiteth this doue in this place: whereunto it is no doubt, but this text ought to bee referred, eſpecially the ſame being twiſe ſpecified in the hiſtorie, 1. Sam. 7.1. &. 2. Sam. 6.3. namely that the houſe of Abinadab from whence the Ark was brought by Dauid vntounto Hieruſalem, was ſeated within an hill: which it may bee Salomon meant expreſſely to note vntounto vsus, making mention of the cleftes of the rocke, whither this ſpouſe retired herſelfe during this tempeſt. But there is nothing letteth but that we may extend this yet farther. For during the kingdome of Salomon himſelfe, was ſhe not in part as it were driuen from her doue-houſe by the Idols which Salomon ſet vp? And what was ſhe afterward? So that the condition of the Church is here repreſented vntounto vsus, not as it is once, or fiue, or ſixe, or moe times, but as beeing an ordinary and cuſtomary thing vntounto this ſpouſe, whom notwithſtanding her Bridegroome in his good time calleth downe againe into the plaine. So then after Salomon, by the diuiſion of the ten tribes, how many doue-houſes, I meane ſynagogues, were ruined & plucked downe, to lodge Ieroboams calfes in? Whither was then the reſort and repaire of Leui, flying as it were in flockes with as many as feared the Lord into the rocke of the temple of Hieruſalem? 2. Chron. 11.14. But alas what was this neſt, vnderunder the greateſt part of the kings of Iuda, from Roboam vntounto Zedechias? A neſt prophaned vilanouſly polluted with the doung of Idols, as the ſtorie witneſſeth, and is eſpecially moſt amply declared in Ezech. 16. What could thē the poor childrē of God do but ſigh & mourne like vntounto poore pigeons in their ſmal holes? Such was the flight of the prophets into waſt & deſert places of Iſrael vnderunder Elias and Elizeus, 2. Kings 4.38. And yet was this poore culuer-houſe ſorer ſhaken, and as it were vtterly ouerturned by Ieſabel, inſomuch that an hundered of the Prophets were hidden by a good man in two caues, and fedde with bread and water, 1. King. 18.13. Behold alſo Elias himſelfe brought vntounto that extremity, that he was faine to bee fedde in an hideous deſert by two rauens, 1. King. 17.16, & by the miniſtery of an Angel, 1. King. 19.5.6. And during the captiuity this poore doue beeing driuen thriſe away by that horrible northerne wind which razed at length the doue-houſe & the Citty, did ſhee not neſt, and as it were hide her head in ſecret holes? For ſo is it ſaid, Eſay. 26.20. and vnderunder the horrible perſecution of Antiochus, whither retired ſhe herſelfe with Mattathias? 1. Macab. 2.17.
4 But what? Beginning with Ieſus Chriſt himſelfe the Bridgroom which is here ſpoken of, was he not himſelfe from the time of his natiuity driuen as it were out of the world? For in what place was he born in? In a ſtable, the lodging of beaſts, for there was no other roome for his mother, Luk. 2.17. from thence muſt he not fly into the deſerts of Aegypt? Math. 2.14. Where was he brought vp and nouriſhed? In a poore Carpenters houſe, Mar. 6.3. in the cittie of Nazareth built alſo vponupon a rock, Luk. 4.29. a cittie of ſo ſmall reckoning and account, that it is demaunded whether any good thing can come from thence, Ioh. 1.4. driuen thence whither muſt hee retire himſelfe? VntoUnto the rocke of Capernaum, Luk. 4.31. and 10.15. not hauing a place where to reſt his heade, Luk. 9.58. finally whither was he caried to be crucified? VntoUnto the mount of ſculs, otherwiſe called Caluarie. And where was hee laid after his death? In a caue hewen out of a rocke, Luk. 23.53. Thus you ſee how the Bridegroome himſelfe, during the time of his life here belowe did nothing els, but fly as a man would ſay from rocke to rocke, vntill he were flowne againe into heauen. This is alſo the way which all the Apoſtles hauehave walked, and the whole Church truely Apoſtolicke, being in this world as wayfarers and wanderers hither and thither, 2. Cor. 6.5. and Heb. 11.38. the ſame being foretold, euen vntounto the laſt time, Apoc. 12.14.
5 Such was the condition of the ancient Church, & namely of that of Rome, vntil the time of Sylueſter vnderunder Conſtantine the Great, ſince which time this doue, which kept herſelfe before vntil this time in holes and corners, finding afterwarde the ſpring of the meddowe, ſo pleaſant and ſweete, and ſo falling there aſleepe, the rauening and vnclean birds are come & neſtled in her place, and diſguiſing themſelues at firſt into Doues and pigeons, hauehave ſo flattered and enchaunted the Romane Eagle, that finally the great puttocke of Rome hath ſeaſed on the Eagles crowne, and charged himſelfe with three, decking himſelfe with the Eagles feathers, and namely with the capitall citty of the Empire, ſo that at this day the reſt muſt doe homage vntounto this beaſt. And this is the reaſon why this Image of the Romane Empire (which is the whore ſitting vponupon the ſeuen hilles of Rome) ſucceeding this beaſt whoſe Image ſhe is called, being of the ſame nature, tendeth vntounto the ſame end: vſing ſtil the ſame trade of ruining the doue-houſes and driuing away the poore feareful doues of the Lorde with fire & ſword, yea thruſting the fire into their ſmal culuer holes, as ſhee hath alwaies doone, and yet doth vntounto this day. But what? The Lord hath limited the ſeaſons of the winter, as wee ſee he hath doone, by continual experience, yea breaketh off ſuddenly the courſe of the ſtormes and tempeſtes as it is ſaide, Pſal. 65.8. and as he practiſed the ſame ſenſiblie, Matth. 8.26. I ſpeake this eſpecially for vsus in this place, which a man maie truely call a ſmall neſt placed in theſe cragges and mountains, which hath ſerued and yet ſerueth for an harbour of poore fugitiue doues, which hath beene by a ſinguler and more then admirable goodnes and mercy of God preſerued, and that by euident & apparant miracles, againſt al the enterpriſes which ſatan and his complices could hitherto deuiſe: for which ſo great a benefit of his, God giuegive vsus grace to be thankefull, both in word and deede.
6 But to goe on let vsus note that this Bridegrome ſaith not that this Doue is retired into the holes of the rocks, but of the rocke, as of a certaine rocke and no other. For it is for them of this woorld to retire themſelues heere and there at euerie iut they hauehave in time of aduerſity, keeping neither waie, nor foot-path, as we ſee how the ſuperſtitious hauehave eueryevery one his ſaint, and euerie one his deuotion apart: but the children of God hauehave but one rock and refuge, to which they wholie betake themſelues, according vntounto the ſtile which Dauid cuſtomarily vſeth in his Pſalmes, and therefore faile not at anie time to bee in ſafety. Contrarie the vnfaithful ones and enemies of God find themſelues deceiued of their imagined helps, when the iudgement of God falleth on them and purſueth them, and therefore cry in the daie of wrath vntounto the hils and ſaie, Fall vponupon vsus, and hide vsus from the face of him which ſitteth vponupon the throne, Apocal. 6.15. So did the fiue kings of Canaā hide themſelues in a caue, but it was to hauehave their reward which they deſerued, Ioſua. 10.16. the Lord therefore who is on high in the heauens is the refuge & hiding place of his: & this ſpouſe euen here below on earth where ſhe is yet a pilgrime & wanderer, findeth alwaies ſome place of retire & harbor in the hardeſt times, in the aſſembly of ſaints wherſoeuer they keep, though they be but two or three, Mat. 18.20. Luk. 17. & 37. & how euer men ſeek to bring her low, yet ſhee alwaies lifteth vp her head on high, not of pride, as did the Phariſee, Luk. 18.14 but of an aſſuraunce which is giuen her, by the meanes of that grace which is ſhewed her, whereby ſhee taketh courage and defieth all her aduerſaries, and whatſoeuer incomberaunces are laid before her, Rom. 8.30. and Heb 4 16. naie which is more, ſhee taketh occaſion by thoſe aſſaultes which are giuen her, to raiſe her ſelfe vp vntounto God & to make her profit by them, Rom. 5.3. which the Bridegroomes wordes doe alſo ſhew vsus, when he ſaith, that his Doue keepeth her ſelfe in the corners, not of the deſcent, but of the aſcent and ſtaires of the rocke, although that in diuerſe reſpectes the ſide of a mountaine hath his pitchings mounting and deſcending.
7 But let vsus heare what the Bridegroome doth farther demaund. Shew me heere, ſaith he, thy face, and let me heare thy voice, that is to ſaie, let me heare thee and ſee thee. And what meaneth this? The Lorde who ſeeth all thinges, and knoweth the verie thoughtes and that before they are conceiued, and who heareth the wordes before they be pronounced, Pſal. 139.4. the onelyonly ſearcher of the heart, Ier. 10. and whoſe eies are specially vponupon this Doue, Pſal. 34.6 is hee abſent from her? No, in no wiſe: but the Lord doth as a good woorkeman, who hauing made ſome goodlie and curious peece of worke, although he that made it hath no neede to enquire of what, or how it is made, taketh a pleaſure notwithſtanding to viewe and contemplat, yea to praiſe and admire it. And therefore it is alſo ſaid in the hiſtorie of the creation of the woorld, that the Creatour tooke a viewe of his work, & finding it to be good, bleſſed it. Now is there a more goodlie peece of woorke heere below (after him who hath receiued the ſpirite without meaſure, and who is the head of his ſpouſe) then is the Church regenerated and reformed, and as it were faſhioned anew vponupon the patterne it ſelfe the ſonne of God, into which ſhee is incorporated to be altogether ſpiritual in him: not to be a peece of worke without ſenſe or motion, but Ieſus Chriſt putting into her heart that which ſhee ought to beleeue, and in her mouth that which ſhe ought to ſpeake, Phil. 1.19. Pſal. 40.4. Eſai. 57.19. and Pſal. 51.17. as this high myſterie is moſt amply declared vntounto vsus by the Apoſtle in his Epiſtles, and namely, Rom. 6. and 7. and 8. Epheſ. 5.30. Col. 3. and elſewhere.
8 EueryEvery faithful ſoule therefore in the perſon of the ſpouſe (by whom is vnderſtood al the company of the faithfull,) beeing yet here belowe, hauing receiued the power to will & to do, is heere inuited to ſhew himſelfe, & to speake vntounto his Bridegroome, that is to ſay, to make the effects of his grace, which hee hath receiued of his regenerator, to appear both within & without. This is that which was figured vnderunder the Lawe, by that commaundement of God, that eueryevery male childe ſhould preſent himſelfe before the Lord thriſe a year at the leaſt in the tabernacle, and afterwarde in the temple; as if God, who is euerie where and ſeeth all, had ſaid vntounto them, you are diſperſed here and there throughout the country and in your ſynagogues, & therefore are as it were abſent from me, who hauehave choſen this place, as it were for mine houſe and habitation. Now I would ſee you and heare you, and therefore you ſhall come and viſit me and doe me homage thriſe a year, to the end that you may reioice in my preſence, and I with you. And whom would not the conſideration of ſuch kindneſſe and bounty rauiſh & aſtoniſh, & cauſe him to ſay, O Lord, thou art not contēted to hauehave ſhewen me ſo great fauor, vntounto me I ſay altogether vnworthy thereof, nay worthy of thy curſe and malediction: but which more is, knowing my heauineſſe and lazineſſe, and that if by adding grace vponupon grace, thou ſhouldeſt not forme in mee a deſire and power to be thankfull vntounto thee therefore, and to honour thee, I would continue groueling ſtil on the ground & burie the memorie of thy benefits, thou prickeſt mee forward, and inuiteſt mee to preſent my ſelfe before thee, and to cauſe thee to ſee by effect what thou haſt wrought in me, voutſafeing of a third grace of thine, to like and accept of my woorkes, conſidering them not as they come from me, who am yet ſoiled with ſinne, but in aſmuch as thou acknowledgeſt in me thy worke and new creation. That then which the Bridegroome ſaith in this place is the ſame which is ſaid, Pſal. 50.23. And in deede, as Dauid ſaith, Pſal, 116.12. What can we render vntounto the Lord for ſo great benefits of his, but this reknowledgemēt, preſenting our ſelues before his face with the confeſſion of the mouth, ſpeaking of the abundance of the heart? Neither are we now to trot vp and downe hither & thither as theſe holy pilgrimes of Ieruſalem, who go yet at this day to ſeeke after Ieſus Chriſt in his ſepulcher. For eueryevery land and country is now ſanctified vntounto him, 1. Cor. 10.26. and he is neere vntounto vsus in eueryevery place, and we muſt cauſe our ſelues to be ſeene and heard, lifting vp of pure hands, 1. Tim. 3.8. in al places, whereſoeuer it pleaſeth him to lift vp his banner. For the queſtion is heere of a publike appearance & inuocation, in reſpect whereof the Bridegrome leadeth his ſpouſe down from the rock, & out of the deſert into the plain, whē he wil hauehave the faire weather return againe: as hee hath ſpecially doone ſince about theſe threeſcore years ago. But what doe we all this while? The Lord hath proclaimed by ſo many trompets the yeare of acceptation, and our true Iubile, renewing and as it were ſending againe into the worlde that which is ſaid, Eſaie. 61.2. and Luk. 4.18. & euerie day he ſtill calleth vntounto vsus in this place, My doue come out of the deſert, ſhew me thy face, and let me heare thy voice, and I will take pleaſure in it:
9 But what? There was indeed at the beginning ſome zeale ſhewed, and many came running from farre to do their duty, as it is ſaid of thoſe which entered into Canaan with Ioſua, & the gouernours of that time, Ioſ. 24.3. But theſe are nowe departed in peace and ſeem to hauehave caried away all the zeale, & whatſoeuer good thing els was among vsus. The Bridegrome crieth by his ſeruants, Come & ſee me, and let me heare your voice. Yet for al this ſome hauehave no cares, others heare, but they hearken not vntounto it. Others, eſpecially on thoſe daies which are ſpecially ordained for this appearance and inuocation of the name of God, had rather be a walking, playing, tipling, gathering in their debtes, toying and ſporting in the ſtreetes, and before their doores. Others there are who will appeare in the place where the Lorde is, but is it to cauſe their voice to bee heard, that is, hauing diligently hearkened vntounto the voice of the Bridegroom, & the praier of their paſtour, to anſwere with heart & with mouth the Amē of Chriſtians, 1. Cor. 14.16. that is to ſay, to make a true and perpetuall acknowledgement towards God, by true amendment of life? Alas no. For were it ſo, the effects thereof would appeare: whereas nowe you ſhall hauehave ſome ſing the Pſalmes in deed, but their heart ſhall be far from that which they ſing, Eſay. 29.13. Others come to the Church to ſleep, others wil not voutſafe to open their mouth or eares. If any mā demaund how we know this, I anſwer that wee ſee part of it with our owne eies, the reſt is made knowen and diſcouered by all the fruites of the fleſh which are quoted & numbred vp, Gal. 5.19. And thither it is I muſt ſend you, you hypocrites & contēners, adding for the reward which is reſerued for you, if you change not your ſelues & become new mē, that which the eternal ſaith, Eſa. 57.12. I wil declare thy goodly righteouſnes & thy deeds which ſhal not help thee: & Pſ. 50.21. theſe things thou haſt don, & becauſe I made as if I heard not, thou thoughtſt that I was like vntounto thee. But I will reproue thee, & will ſet all theſe things before thine eies. ô what a terrible thing it is to fal into the hands of the liuing god whē he is angry! And therfore for the honor of god let eueryevery one amend himſelfe while it is time, let vsus conſider of this great and endleſſe bountie of our God, who hath retired and gathered together his poore doues out of the holes of the deſert, out of the powers of thoſe cruell beaſts, & out of the iawes of the rauening Lion, inuiting vsus ſtill at this day to preſent our ſelues before him with a true repentance, & that pleaſant acceptable ſacrifice vntounto him of a contrite hart and of thankeſgiuing, Pſal. 51.19. and 19.32, to the end that receiuing vsus to mercy and finding vsus fruitefull trees indeed in his houſe, he may heape on vsus his bleſſings, according vntounto his holy promiſes.