Sermons, Part 7
TWO SERMONS VPONUPON ACTS 9.31.
Then had the Churches rest through all Iudea, and Galilie, and Samaria, and were edified, and walking in the feare of the Lord and the comfort of the holy Ghost, were multiplied.
HAuing in ſome of the former Sermons taught that Chriſtiās ſhould paſſe the whole time of their dwelling heere in holy feare of offending God, and namely,The opening of the text. that part of their life which is paſſed in outward peace and proſperity, (which bleſſing of God the moſt part doe greatly abuſe;) I thought it both verie pertinent, and alſo profitable, to ſhew and ſet downe ſome examples of ſuch as hauehave done ſo; and examples not of one man, two or three, but of whole particular Churches, who may be paternes of well vſing outward peace, and reſt from perſecution, and trouble to the worlds end. Here therfore, in this text I meane, (to lay out the meaning thereof,) you may ſee people of no long continuance (for the moſt of them) in the profeſſion of the Goſpell, who as they had been hardly holden vnderunder of trouble and perſecution, in all the three places of Iudea, Samaria and Galily, and yet reuolted not from their religion, neither fainted in their hope; ſo now, when God gaue them a breathing time (as it were) of outward peace and reſt from their former perſecution, they neglected not the occaſion offered them, but tooke the opportunitie to benefit themſelues in the practiſe of godlineſſe, to their high commendation, and to the example of all poſteritie that ſhould come after them. For they vſed all good meanes both in communion and meeting together publikely and priuately, by hearing the Apoſtles doctrine, and conference of the ſame, and eueryevery one by himſelfe in reading and prayer, to ſet themſelues forward therein.
And by theſe and ſuch like meanes they builded vp themſelues in ſauing and effectuall knowledge, in faith, hope, patience, louelove, and other graces of God, and reſted not there, but alſo ſhewed the ſame forth in their liues before men, with great ioy of heart to themſelues. Neither was this their holy and heauenly courſe without fruit, for the Lord bleſſed it abundantly to the praiſe of his name in the conuerſion of many. For ſo it is ſaid in the text, that they were multiplied, that is, the number of them who were beleeuers in Chriſt, was encreaſed; the Lord adding vntounto them, that is, to the Church, through the good example which they gaue; many, euen of the bad ſort, which liued among them. And ſo the word (multiplied) is to be vnderſtood, as in the originall tongue moſt clearely may appeare; and not as it is taken in ſome tranſlations, that is to ſay, that they were multiplied by the comfort of the holy Ghost: for that altereth the ſenſe of the place, which is this, as I hauehave ſaid; that the faithfull were multiplied, encreaſed in number; other who had been vnbeleeuers before, being brought to the faith; and not as the tranſlaters take it, that the comfort of the faithfull was multiplied. Thus much be ſaid for the coherence of this text with the former, and for the laying out of the meaning of it.
The parts of it, two.Now follow the parts of it, and they are generally two. The one is the ſetting downe of the ſtate of theſe Churches, of Iudea, Samaria and Galilie at that time, namely, that they were not vnderunder perſecution, as a while before they had been; but they had reſt from it. The other part is the vſe that was made of it amongſt them. The vſe of this peace or reſt from perſecution, was made by two ſorts of people· the one was the faithfull and beleeuers: the other, thoſe which beleeued not. The vſe that the faithfull made of it, was threefold; the one, that they for their owne parts grew in grace and in the gifts of God. For it is ſaid, they were edified, that is, builded vp: if ye aske wherein? the anſwere is, in faith and the fruits of it; as Iude in his Epiſtle wrote to the Churches,Iude 19. that they ſhould be builded vp in their moſt holy faith. The ſecond vſe they made of their peace, was, that they did ſhew foorth the ſame grace and faith in their liues before men: for ſo it is ſaid, they walked (through the courſe of their liues) in the feare of the Lord. The third was, they did by both prouide and procure to themſelues a ſweete and a ſound comfort in their liues, (which few heere enioy:) for ſo it is ſaid, they were comforted by the holy Ghost. The vſe the bad ſort and vnbeleeuers made of it, was this, that they learned by the examples of the other, to embrace the Goſpell, and to be good in that time of reſt from perſecution, and became followers of the Churches; for they would not hauehave been multiplied, if the other had not been added to them.
But to begin; before I ſpeake of outward peace and reſt from perſecution, firſt let it be marked,First, the ſtate of the Churches. 1. VnderUnder the croſſe. that thoſe Churches were before this, vnderunder perſecution: to teach vsus, that although God louelove his people dearely, and can afford them his good benefits of all ſorts in this life, as he beſtowed the beſt vponupon theſe; yet he ſeeth it good, to exerciſe them with ſundrie afflictions, as he ſaith, whom I louelove, I correct. Reuelat. 3.19.And ſeeing Saint Peter ſaith, he doth not this,Hebr. 12.5 1. Pet. 1.6. but when need is (for hee doth nothing needleſſely, nor without cauſe) therefore wee muſt know, that it is needfull, that it ſhould be ſo: yea and that alſo, though they be ſharpe and fierie. The Lord knoweth what is beſt for eueryevery one of vsus. And it is meet, that wee ſhould be well perſwaded hereof alſo; both becauſe we doe ſo ſoone ſhrinke backe, at the very hearing, that any croſſes are comming towards vsus, and alſo for that we muſt enter into the kingdome of heauen by bearing our part in them.
And for theſe cauſes, and for that they are layed on vsus by him who doth all things well, and for the good of his; therefore we muſt both ſtoope to them willingly, and looke vp to him who hath ſmitten vsus, that he may heale vsus.Rom. 8.2…. And the Lord ſheweth vsus many other reaſons, why he leaueth vsus thus to be ſubiect to many tribulations, though hee be not bound to ſhew vsus any: euen for that we be not fit to vſe proſperity well a…y long time together, and therefore that we may not bee poiſoned therewith, and ſo periſh with the world thereby, he weaneth vsus from the baites thereof by afflictions. The vſe of this is of two ſorts. Vſe 1 The one that we ſhould prepare for them before,Iohn 6.33. as Chriſts doctrine teacheth when he foretelleth that in the world we ſhall hauehave tribulation; and as Iobs example incourageth,Iob. who in the middeſt of his proſperity, did looke for his change. Vſe 2 The other vſe is, that we ſhould take vp our croſſe daily, Luk. 9.23.and that with a willing and ready minde, as in Luk. 9.23. we are taught▪ and pray, that we may doe ſo, to the end our ioy may be all, Iam. 1.2.as S. Iames promiſeth it ſhal be, if wee receiue them in that manner. And this for the firſt point.
Secondly, in proſperitie.As we hauehave heard that theſe Churches had been vnderunder perſecution, ſo yet, now it appeareth that they had reſt from it, at this time here mentioned. Whereby God would hauehave vsus learne,Hoſ. 6.2. Pſal. 30.5. Pſal. 125.3. that he doth not afflict long, but as Hoſea ſpeaketh, after three dayes, that is after a ſhort time, he wil returne and deliuer: and ſo though heauines indure for a night, yet ioy ſhal come in the morning. For he will not ſuffer the rod of the wicked, to lye alwaies vponupon the lott of the righteous, leſt they ſhould reach forth their hand to iniquity: But further he bleſſeth them oft and ſundrie wayes, more then is eaſily perceiued; both that it may be ſeene that godlineſſe is not without reward, no, not in this life, and alſo that God can afford good things vntounto his ſeruants, though he ſometime afflict them.
And to come to particulars, he giueth freedome from perſecution, and ſendeth outward peace, whereby we may liue ſafely, 1. King. 4.25.vnderunder our vine, and vnderunder our figtree, as it was in the dayes of Salomon. Which benefit if we hauehave ſo long enioyed, and yet cannot price it in any ſort, according to the value of it, but count it common; wee may aske of them who are or hauehave been in the heate of perſecution, who can readily tell, how much this peace and reſt from perſecution is worth,The benefit of proſperitie and peace. how many precious liberties it holdeth from vsus, and how many good things it depriueth vsus of: All which we partake, who hauehave freedome from that perſecution, and enioy this outward peace which I ſpeake of. Among the which, theſe are none of the ſmalleſt, that as wee enioy our habitation peaceably thereby; ſo wee hauehave the benefit of the vtterance of our commodities, and the exchange of our wares, and ſafe trauelling from place to place; all which bring freedome from feare, and other vnquietnes. And, which maketh all theſe to be ſauourie, and to be enioyed with more ſweetnes by this freedome from perſecution, where wee liue vnderunder a Magiſtrate, that is a maintainer and defender of true religion; we enioy alſo the benefite of the Goſpell truly preached, which is the pearle ſo highly prized by our Sauiour.Math. 13.45. Whereas in domeſtical at home, and forraine warre abroad, as alſo in perſecution, all theſe commodities are wanting. In the booke of Iudges wee reade, that when there was no King in Iſrael, eueryevery man did what ſeemed good in his owne eyes. Iudg. 17.6.In the daies of Iael the high waies were vnoccupied, Iudg. 5.7.and the trauellers walked in by-waies, for feare of the enemies, the townes were not inhabited. And in the deſolation of Ieruſalem, as we reade in the Lamentations, ſhe was left ſolitarie, Iudah was carried away captiue: the waies of Zion lamented, Lam. 1.1.4.becauſe no man came to the ſolemne feaſts, Pſal. 42.4.as they had been wont to come vp with mirth and ioy, all her perſecuters tooke her in the ſtreights. By which it may be ſeene what a benefit, peace and freedome from perſecution is: which ſhould cauſe vsus when we may enioy them, to ſtudie to doe all the good that wee may poſſibly, in them; which only is to make the right vſe of them. And ſo did the Churches here, when they had them but a while.
But what hauehave we done in the golden dayes of our peace, for theſe fifty full yeares inioyed? It may truly be ſaid, it hath bin worſe with the moſt part, then if they had bin wanting. For then ſhould there neuer hauehave ſuch foule and horrible ſinnes bin committed, as through and by meanes of peace and proſperity, al places well nigh hauehave been tainted with. Beſides many hauehave neuer the more peace with God, Note. for all the peace that hath been in the land, neither once looke after it: no, nor with men, ſaue in euill; otherwiſe at warre: no, nor in their owne houſes, but are at ſtrife and contention, in brawling and railing euen betwixt man and wife: nor with themſelues, which is moſt diuelliſh. What quietnes hauehave many, but when they hauehave what they would, and while their luſts be ſatisfied (which peace forſaketh them in eueryevery blaſt of affliction) elſe, they are euer vnquiet, and vexed within themſelues, for eueryevery thing that goeth againſt them. But ſeeing the vſes of outward peace are ſet downe in the text, I wil follow that, in the laying out of them.
The ſecond part. What vſe the godly made of their peace. 1. They were edified.To begin with them therefore, it is ſaid firſt, that they did edifie and build vp themſelues. In what? It muſt needes be, that the holy Ghoſt meant in ſuch inward grace, as inabled them to ſhew it foorth outwardly in their liues before men, as the feare of God, knowledge, faith, hope, care to pleaſe God, and ſuch like; in which, it is ſaid after, they walked amongſt men. And therefore outward duties cannot bee meant thereby, ſeeing the performing of them was another vſe of their peace, ſpoken of afterward ſeuerally by it ſelfe. And how did they build vp themſelues thus in grace? It was by vſing all holy meanes for that purpoſe, both publike and priuate, as the hearing of the Apoſtles doctrine, praying, and vſing other godly fellowſhip together. So that this is as much as if it were ſaid, that they vſed all diligence, and armed themſelues now while God gaue them this little breathing from perſecution; that ſo by their confidence, pure heart, good conſcience, louelove, and patience, and other grace, they might be fit to leade a godly life in the world with eaſe, and ſtrengthen themſelues againſt falles, and the baits of ſin on eueryevery ſide. And it is manifeſt to all of vsus who can iudge, that by ſuch meanes, and a ſound miniſterie, watching, praying, and the like; the Church of God can grow in grace, and no otherwiſe. And that they did thus it is apparent, by that which we reade in the ſecond of the Acts,Acts 2 43. where it is ſaid, that they were daily in the temple, and continued in the Apoſtles doctrine, and fellowſhip, and in breaking of bread, and prayer.
And this vſe ſhould all true particular Churches and people of God make of their libertie of peace, and of liuing free from perſecution. From the which God hath a long time freed many of his good ſeruants in this age, howſoeuer ſome are much and oft vnderunder the croſſe, yea and that right heauie and ſharpe; ſuch therefore ſhould glorifie God by bringing forth fruit, not in a common ſort, yea al poſſible good ſhould be done of them, and not omitted. For as for priuate lets, and thoſe which are vſuall; may more eaſily be ouercome (either inward corruptions, or outward ill examples, or other diſcouragements) as long as the word of God may hauehave free paſſage to be ſincerely preached.
But if outward peace alone be counted ſo great a benefit, and ſuch holy and fruitfull vſe made of it, Note. then how much more ſhould we thinke ſo, when that one is accompanied with abundance of other good things? when health, wealth, friends, and fauour of the godly ſhall go herewith, and meet altogether in one perſon, what manner of people ought ſuch to be in all godlineſſe? And how God looketh for it that it ſhould be ſo, that place of Deuteronomie doth liuely ſhew: Where Moſes ſaith,Deut. 28.47. that we must ſerue the Lord with all ioyfulneſſe and a good heart, for the abundance of all good things. The meditations of ſuch mens harts ſhould be acceptable to God,Pſalme 19.14. and to follow the metaphor of building vſed heere, a little; the people that is ſo bleſſed of God, ſhould do as builders are wont: that is, to pull downe the ruinous corners, & ſet vp new frames in their roomes: ſo ſhould Gods ſeruants plucke downe the old ruines, and breaches of their corrupt hearts, as anger, wrath, impatience, bitterneſſe, and ſuch like vncleane luſts, and ſet vp merciemercy, tenderheartedneſſe, louelove, zeale, faith and ſuch like.
Yea and more particularly,How all ſorts ſhould be occupied in the time of their peace. according to the diuers ages of Gods children, they ſhould exerciſe themſelues: that is to ſay, the tender conſciences and yong beginners ſhould hauehave their thoughts and meditations about the fauour of God, deſiring aboue all things to be aſſured of it: the middle aged Chriſtians, and ſuch as are ſomewhat ſtayed in faith and the feare of God, ſhould chiefely be occupied in ſtriuing againſt their luſts, and fighting with them: the ancient and experienced, who hauehave done both theſe; ſhould much be taken vp in calling to mind, what they hauehave heard of Gods manner of dealing in guiding his Church, and the fruit thereof, and in declaring to other, and what they hauehave ſeene and found themſelues worth the reporting, to be in the ſeruing of God, that thereby they may be encouraged to walke fruitfully and circumſpectly ſtill, as they did long before, and not to be led away from their ſtedfastnes in their Chriſtian courſe,2. Pet. 3.17. by the error of the wicked, as hauing found that courſe by long proofe, to hauehave been the moſt gainfull of all other vntounto them. Theſe vſes and the like, all ſorts and ages of Gods people, ought to make of Gods bleſſings towards them, and of freedome from trouble.
The right vſe of peace little looked after.But do the people of this age thus? (for that were a kind vſe of peace, and his other benefits, and would well become them). No, for in this land theſe fiftie yeeres now fully paſſed, what knowledge might hauehave been? ſo that one might hauehave been able to teach another, and there might hauehave been that grace of the ſpirit, which might hauehave ſeaſoned Chriſtians hearts no leſſe ſenſiblie then the dew doth moiſten the mountaines. So that our Church might hauehave been a paterne to others, as the Theſſalonians were examples to all that beleeued in Macedonia and Achaia, 1. Theſſ. 1.7.and it might now hauehave been verified, if euer in any age ſince the Apoſtles time, that out of the bellies of beleeuers might hauehave flowed riuers of waters of life;Iohn 7.38. whereas (except ſome perſons heere and there) there is great ignorance, vnfaithfulneſſe, hollowneſſe, ſecuritie, vncharitableneſſe, maliciouſneſſe, and what not of that kind? I ſpeake not of the diſorders of life (for they are more fitly to be reprooued in the next vſe, which the Churches made of their peace) but of the groſſe diſtemperatures of the heart: for although theſe times of proſperitie and peace, hauehave been the fitteſt ſeaſons for men to encreaſe in goodnes and grace; euen as the harueſt is to gather in the corne: yet whether we enquire into particular Churches or perſons, we ſhall find nothing more true then this; that peace and plentie hauehave poiſoned (for the moſt part) the enioyers of them.
Euen Gods children are ouer taken with this ſinne.But if the people of God, whom I teach now to make this vſe of his bleſſings, were not wound in by the diuels cunning ſleights among the reſt of the world, it were the leſſe maruel: but euen they cannot be ſholed out from them, but hauehave their teeth ſet on edge with their courſes by liuing among them, and beholding how they runne headlong into all exceſſe, by meanes of their proſperitie; ſo that euen they forget their couenant made with God, that is, that they ſhould endeuour to vſe ſoberly in this preſent world, all their lawfull liberties, till with ſhame and ſorrow afterward, they are faine to returne againe to repentance. And thus many euen of them not holding gouernment ouer their hearts, breake out into offenſiue life, and become eye-ſores to their brethren, who will not be pent in, to keepe the bounds of vnoffenſiue walking, till experience conſtraine them to wiſh they had been wiſer, and before their ſtraying out ſo far, to hauehave kept themſelues well, while they were well. And this teacheth vsus, that Moſes ſaw good cauſe to giuegive this warning to Gods people, when they were to go to the land flowing in abundance of Gods bleſſings, out of the barren wilderneſſe, ſaying, When the Lord hath brought you into that land, Deut. 6.10.with great and goodly cities which ye builded not, and houſes full of all manner of goods, which ye filled not; and welles digged which ye digged not, and vineyards and oliue trees, which ye planted not; and when ye hauehave eaten and are full; beware lest you forget the Lord which brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the houſe of bondage.
Now to make vſe of this in few words,Miniſters faultie herein. both we of the Miniſterie firſt, and then you the people; conſider how little the like admonition hath preuailed with many of vsus. For to ſpeak of our ſelues firſt, how many, when they were ſchollers in the Vniuerſities, hauehave taught themſelues and others, (as I hauehave heard it from ſome of them, my ſelfe being then a ſcholler in the Colledge) that a ſtudent hauing a bed, a table, 2. King. 4.10.a ſtoole, and a candlesticke to furniſh his chamber, meaning neceſſarie implements and prouiſion, ſhould attend diligently to his booke, and to the duties of his calling, as hauing ſo good encouragement. And ſo hauehave many done there, verie commendablie to the good example of others, and the benefit and comfort of many; who (yet) when they hauehave afterward been conueniently placed in the countrie, with large prouiſion, and good allowance, entring vponupon liuings, which they neuer toiled themſelues, nor paied for, (I ſpeake of ſuch, for elſe their ſinne is double) when (I ſay) they hauehave bin thus bountifully prouided for, they hauehave not made their ſtudie and care of preaching for the peoples ſaluation, their geateſt delight, (which yet if I know any thing, or if they taught well in their Colledges) ſhould hauehave been: the Apoſtle teaching ſuch,1. Tim. 4.13. that they ſhould attend to reading, that ſo they may the better attend to exhortation and doctrine.
But they hauehave, as commoditie hath come in, and waxen ſweet, as faſt laid aſide their dutie of labour, and care taking in their Miniſterie, and hauehave embraced the world with Demas, 2. Tim. 4.10.they ſoon became vnfit to draw others out of the world, who lay drowned in it themſelues, but rather by their example, held them faſter in it, and ſo hauehave decayed in their feruent zeale and louelove of preaching, and in other gifts of God, that they rightly verified the Scripture,Luke 8.18. which ſaith, from him that hath not, that is, who vſeth not well the gifts which he hath, ſhall be taken away, euen that which he hath; at leaſt, that which it ſeemeth he hath. And this without ſtanding long vponupon it, proueth that many of vsus Miniſters, hauehave not made this firſt vſe of our many bleſſings of God, which the Churches heere mentioned made of their peace and freedome from perſecution.
People alſo iuſtly reproued.Now to ſay ſomewhat of the people who feare God, what vſe they hauehave made of proſperitie and the bleſſings of God, what great commendation thinke we, may be made of it? For excepting ſome few,Pſalme. who may truely be called Gods remembrancers, who as Moſes; ſtand in the gap, to hold the wrath of God from breaking in more furiouſly vponupon vsus, by their daily and feruent prayers, & care that they hauehave, for the peace & welfare of Sion (the number of whom God vouchſafe to multiplie among vsus): beſides thoſe few (I ſay) what great matter can be ſaid of the reſt? For euen the moſt of them, who hauehave the Goſpell preached among them both purely and painfully, what heartie louelove hauehave they to it? what power hath it ouer their affections? how few are caſt into the mould of it, to be made humble, lowly, vpright, innocent, zealous, mercifull, kind; and on the contrarie to caſt vp the vnſauourie gorge of their rebellious corruptions?
Oh how few of them hauehave plied the meanes with ſuch reuerence and diligence, that they may teſtifie that they hauehave growne in knowledge, faith and other grace, but hauehave rather employed themſelues wholly about the flitting & vaniſhing profits and pleaſures of this preſent life, as though they had not been borne to farre more excellent ends and purpoſes? Oh how doe many forget themſelues, when they thus lie drowned therein, till God do by ſome great afflictions draw them out of them to true repentance, and thus trifle out a deale of precious time, which ſhould hauehave been redeemed to farre better and more precious vſes.
And thus it appeareth how far both Miniſters & people are from making this vſe that the Churches did, of their peace, although they hauehave many other bleſſings withal. And yet as little as it troubleth them, it may eaſily be ſeene what a great ſinne it is, as many other wayes, ſo this one eſpecially, that the diuell himſelfe affirmeth, that it is no maruell though ſuch feare God more then others, who liue in proſperitie, and are free from ſore afflictions: for thus he ſaith, (when God commended Iob, as a man that feared God and departed from euill Doth Iob feare God for nought? Hast thou not been a bulwarke to him? thou hast bleſſed the worke of his hand, Iob 1.9.and his ſubstance is encreaſed in the land: whereby we may ſee, that they hauehave much to come againſt them, who in their proſperitie ſerue not God. And this be ſaid of the firſt vſe of peace and freedom from perſecution, and what we ought to learne thereby.
THE SECOND SERMON VPONUPON THE SAME TEXT.
The ſecond vſe of their peace. They walked in the feare of God.TO proceed now, the ſecond vſe which theſe Churches made of their peace, followeth; and it is this: that they approued themſelues to men outwardly by walking in the feare of God, as they were before commended for growing in grace inwardly before God: they profeſſed that they feared God, by liuing godly through the whole courſe of their liues. The feare of God is an excellent gift of God, and a ſtrong bridle to hold from ſinne: I meane not that terrible feare, which the ſpirit of bondage worketh,Rom. 8.15. but that child-like feare that Salomon ſpeaketh of,Prou. 28.13. ſaying, Bleſſed is the man that feareth alwaies. This feare to preuent ſinne to come, and trembling for ſinne paſt, are as the two eye-lids to the eyes, to keepe away danger from the ſoule.Prou. 15. And this feare is the beginning of wiſedome, and the continuance of it is the continuance of wiſedome;Deut. 5.29. and if this be wanting, all grace is wanting alſo.
To walke in the feare of God, what.But to walke in this feare of God, is a further thing. For that is a ſhewing before men that we hauehave it, and a reaching out of the fruit of it, and a declaring of the beautie and excellencie of it, in the ſight of men. For it muſt not onelyonly be in vsus, but profeſſed of vsus, that we are not aſhamed to teſtifie to all, that we feare to offend, how little conſcience ſoeuer others make of dutie, and that we are content to heare of it, if any can conuict vsus of the contrarie: which I ſay not, as though we ſhould ſeeke to ſeeme better then we are, (which hypocriſie God abhorreth) but yet that we ſhould be lights vntounto others,2. Cor. 12.6. Matth. 5.16. Act. 23.1. as we are commanded; and as Paul profeſſed of himſelfe, ſaying, among thoſe who had accuſed him: I hauehave in all good conſcience ſerued God vntill this day.
And in this feare of God Ioſeph declareth that he walked as throughout his life, ſo at thoſe times when he had ſore tentations to the contrary; one, when his whoriſh miſtreſſe did ſo vehemently allure him to wickednes, whom he reſiſted by the helpe hereof, ſaying,Gen. 39 9. how can I doe this great euill and ſo ſinne againſt God? The other when his brethren after their fathers death feared that he would be reuenged vponupon them, to whom he anſwered, am not I vnderunder God? Gen. 50.19.or doe not I feare God? as if he ſhould hauehave ſaied, dare I by any ſuch doings prouoke God? So that by all this which hath bin ſaid, it may eaſily be gathered, that we are not to reſt contented with the well ordering of our hartes alone, but we muſt alſo teſtifie it, by the gouernment of our liues.
And this is the ſecond vſe that theſe Churches made of their peace, and reſt from perſecution, which is commended by the holy Ghoſt to all true Chriſtians to follow them in, and to teach them, that when God enlargeth their liberties, and multiplieth his bleſſings vponupon them, they ſhould not, as the men of the world doe, eate and drinke, and ſleep, and play, as though they ſhould neuer be called to their account for the miſpending of their time, and the ill vſing of his benefits: but rather they ſhould know, firſt that all Gods good bleſſings are talents committed to them of their heauenly father, and therefore that they ſhould occupy them carefully and faithfully, till he come to demand how they hauehave vſed them, and what good they hauehave done with them. And ſecondly, that they ſhould conſider, that it is the very end why God hath freed them from many great calamities, and ſet them at more liberty then ſundry others of their brethren, to the end that they may thus honour him with a godly and a fruitefull life, which they that want them, can hardly doe. So that although he is not a Chriſtian, who is onelyonly one in outward ſhew, as Paul ſpeaketh of the Iew:Rom. 2.28. yet whatſoeuer inward grace men hauehave, it muſt be teſtified by forſaking all ſinne outward, and by a godly life, both in their word and deed.
This did that noble gouernour Ioſua with high commendation regard, and this vſe he made of Gods fauours, that as in godly zeale and other grace inward he excelled others, ſo he profeſſed boldely, that whatſoeuer others did, in and about their religion;Ioſ. 24.15. he and his houſe would ſerue the Lord. And the example of Dauid was whiles he liued, of great force, and to this day an example worthy to be followed. Who when he ſaw,2. Sam. 7.2. that God had giuen him reſt from his enemies on eueryevery ſide, he could not tell how he might ſufficiently reſt and content himſelfe in ſhewing himſelfe thankefull, and therefore reſolued to builde an houſe euen a temple to the Lord, for all the people to worſhip him in. And al ſuch as hauehave duely conſidered, and throughly weighed Gods louing, kindnes to them, hauehave euer thought it their duty to conſecrate themſelues wholly both ſoule and body, (as the Apoſtle alſo wiſheth, and earneſtly exhorteth,Rom. 12.1.) vntounto the Lord.
Which practiſe in men, as it is the moſt beautifull ſight to behold, (as Balaam was conſtrayned to ſay of Gods people, how goodly are thy tents, Num. 24.9.O Iacob, and thine habitations, O Iſrael, ſo it is bleſſed to themſelues who are ſuch, and to thoſe who wiſh well to them, according to another of his prophecies, where he ſayeth, bleſſed is he that bleſſeth thee and curſed is hee that curſeth thee.
But doe we make this vſe of our peace and other fauours of God which we inioy? to profeſſe our ſelues ſuch as indeuour to walke vnoffenſiuely and without reproofe, in the middeſt of a froward generation which hateth to be reformed? And they who go indeed for beleeuing Chriſtians, and are ſo counted, doe they glory in nothing more then in glorifying God?1 Tim. 4.12. Then ſhould their innocency breake forth as the light, and their vprightnes ſhine as the noone tyde. Then ſhould ſuch be examples in communication and conuerſation, to the ſhame of their enemies and accuſers. As God be thanked ſome doe, and yet acknowledge themſelues in humility to be farre frō that they ought to be, that is, vnprofitable ſeruants. But howſoeuer they who beleeue in Chriſt, are careful to doe good workes as occaſion ſhall be offered, yet if they ſhould not be commended, till the ignorant and profane ſhould doe it, they were not only like to go away with little allowance, but euen with great diſgrace and reproch: ſeeing they count the beſt, the worſt, and hauehave no other cauſe to ſpeake il of them then this, that they be ſo vnlike themſelues in euill, As S. Peter ſayeth; therefore they ſpeake euill of ſuch, 1. Pet. 4.4.becauſe they walke not after the ſame exceſſe of riot, that they doe. But (to ſay no more of this) it may appeare, that they which make right vſe of their peace, and other ſweet benefits, which God beſtoweth vponupon them, are herein commendable, that they not onelyonly hauehave the feare of God in their hearts, but they are as carefull to walke in it, through the whole courſe of their liues.
It followeth in the next words,The third vſe. The comfort they found, as a fruit of the two former. that as they walked in the feare of the Lord, ſo did they alſo In the comfort of the holy Ghoſt. For ſo are the words to be red, as I hauehave ſaied before, not as in ſome tranſlation they are ſet downe, namely thus: (And were multiplied by the comfort of the holy Ghoſt) but they ought not ſo to be taken, neither is this reading according to the Greeke coppy. Therefore to follow the firſt tranſlation, the third vſe that they made of their peace is ſet downe, namely that they paſſed their dayes, and walked through them comfortably, and in ioy and gladnes of heart. And in theſe words note two things. The one is the vſe they made of their peace, namely that they liued comfortably. The other; how or by what meanes they did ſo: for we know that all ſuch as liue in peace, and hauehave reſt from perſecution, do not for all that, liue comfortably.Two things to be obſerued here. The meanes whereby they obteined it was their godly life, for they building vp themſelues in grace, and walking in the feare of the Lord, did thereby obteine this alſo, to liue comfortably.
By the firſt of theſe two, we all,The firſt, that they liued a comfortable life. who profeſſe the feare of God, are taught to make this vſe of our freedome from great affliction and trouble; to liue ioyfully, and to delight our ſelues in the Lord, and in his al ſufficiency. Which thing one would thinke, is more then God would affoord vsus. For there is no greater bleſſing inioyed in our life, then to reioyce aright, and to liue comfortably, we ſee how greedily al earthly, delight and pleaſure is laied for, and imbraced: and yet it is all but a ſhadow of this that I ſpeake of, euen as this holy and heauenly ioy is but a glimpſe and taſte of that which is eternall. And but that the Lord hath giuen this liberty, nay commandement, to ſeeke this ioy, we might eaſily be perſwaded, that it is aboue our reach, and not to be inioyed of vsus in this vale of miſery wherein we liue. And yet as great a gift, and as precious as it is, he is forced to hire vsus to it by promiſes and incouragements,Pſal. 37.4. as in the Pſalme, ſaying: delight thy ſelfe in the Lord, and he will giuegive thee thine heartes deſire: As though he would ſhew, that of our ſelues, we haſted not after it,Phil. 4.4. but held backe from it. Alſo Saint Paul to the Philippians thus writeth, ſo that men be willing to reioyce in the Lord, and ſo to imbrace the true ioy, they may hold it as long as they will, euen alwayes without looſing. The which two Scriptures if they be duely conſidered, doe ſhew, that although the people of this world preferre the vaine pleaſures of this life before the beſt things, yet of Gods ſeruants this ſpirituall and holy reioycing is principally to be regarded, and cared for. And that doth ſo much the more commend the examples and practiſe of theſe Churches, for yt in the time of their peace, they ſo laboured this point, namely, to ſeeke for the ioy which the holie Ghoſt worketh, inſomuch that their commendation is ſet downe vntounto all poſterity. And to ſay the truth, what ſhould more be regarded of vsus, then to follow their example, and to prouide, whiles we may liue in outward peace in the world, that we may be comforted in God and make our dayes, which otherwiſe are euill, to be pleaſant and ſweet, by abiding in his louelove, which maketh all things ſauoury and ſweet, which we goe about, or take in hand?Ioh. 15.10.12.
Men neglect the ſweet liberty that God offereth for that which is worſe then nothing.And if we neglected ſo weighty commandements as this is, that we ſhould reioyce in the Lord, If (I ſay) we neglected this for greater and weightier cauſes, it were another matter, but what is of like weight vntounto it? or what is to be ſo much deſired, as that we may liue in ſound comfort from day to day? whereas yet, we who loſe our part therein, (which with Gods good allowance and liking we might inioy,) wee caſt it away and reiect it for moone ſhine in the water, as they ſay, euen for nothing, nay for leſſe then nothing, euen for the pleaſing of our ſelues in that, which is not a ſhadow of pleaſure to him that can iudge, and thereby make our ſelues as ridiculous as Eſau, who for his belly, loſt the greateſt benefit,Gen. 25.33.34. Heb. 12.16. and for a meſſe of pottage, the kingdome of heauen. For if we duely conſider it, what is it that men preferre before this precious iewell of ſound ioy,Heb. 11.24. but the pleaſures of ſinne which yet laſt but for a ſeaſon? as whoriſhnes, deceiuing, and oppreſſing, enuy, reuenge, &c. which are properly ſo called: the dreaming of the painted felicity of this world, and drowning themſelues in it, till they be meerely beſides themſelues by it, though I ſay not for all this, that dealings in the world, be in their owne nature, euill.
A man would thinke, that except people were bewitched,What need we hauehave of ſpirituall comfort. they meeting with ſo many calamities, as make their liues euen weariſome to thē, and bring thēſelues to their wits end, ſhould ſeeke out, if there were not ſome way to abate their ſorrowes and vexations, and if they know how and can finde any, then to eaſe themſelues ſpeedily without any ſtay. Alſo, whē they ſee, that they walke among many poyſoned allurements, which they cannot but be ſnared, and deceiued with; and yet ſting as the ſerpent and Cockatrice, when they hauehave their fill of them, who would thinke, but when by experience they had found it ſo, that they would be wiſe after, and beware of being in like manner carried to their accuſtomed baits, being their bane? but being ſtung, a man would thinke they would ſeeke to be healed; eſpecially knowing that there is ſuch a ſoueraigne medicine, as this heauēly comfort is, that I ſpeake of, to heale al anoyance whatſoeuer, yea and is it ſelfe able to giuegive them contentment aboue all other delights.
But when they ſhall not hauehave wiſdome to helpe themſelues againſt theſe two ſo ſore anoyances, namely; calamities, to moderate and aſſwage them, and vaine pleaſures, to renounce them, (as this one reioycing in God will do both,) what wilfulnes or rather madnes may it be accounted? And yet if it were the caſe of profeſſed euill men only to do thus, it might be the leſſe marueiled at; but when better then they, yea euen ſuch as deſire to be reckoned among the beſt, ſhall thus be beſotted, and thus diſguiſe themſelues, to thinke, that becauſe they liue among thē that do ſo, they muſt needs be like vntounto them: how can this be ſufficiently bewailed?
Now if we hauehave not this care and wiſdom, to prouide wel for our ſelues when we may, and to ſeeke to ſerue God with ioy and gladnes, (without the which our life is not ſo much as a ſhadow of a life, but the beſt that can be inioyed, is but a dainty miſery,) how are we like to care for others; our owne eſpecially, to the which (yet) we are ſtreightly bound by the commandement of God? But of this vſe of their peace, namely that they atteined thereby to a ſweet and comfortable life, and how we by their example ſhould make the like vſe of ours, thus much.
The ſecond …how and by what meanes they atteined to ſuch a comfortable lifeThe next point to be conſidered (as in the entring into this third vſe was mentioned) is, how and by what meanes they made this vſe of it. For all hauehave not this ſound comfort in their liues, who are free from perſecution, and hauehave outward peace in the world. And how this came to paſſe, is ſhewed in the text: namely, that they builded vp themſelues in grace, and walked in the feare of the Lord, and hereby were comforted by the holy Ghoſt, which, to ſet it downe more plainly, is thus much. They liued godly, and therefore they liued ſweetly and comfortably. This point though it be moſt cleare in it ſelfe; yet the blinde multitude are of a contrary iudgement, yea they fight, with tooth and naile, (as they ſay) againſt it; vpholding among them, that the pleaſant life hath no greater enemie then godlines, and therefore this muſt be well proued.The godly life is the onelyonly ſweetlife.
To this purpoſe, read that ſaying of Dauid to Salomon his ſonne a little before his death. His wordes are theſe. I goe the way of al the world, 2. King. 2.2.be ſtrong therfore and take heed to the charge of the Lord thy God, to walke in his wayes, and keep his ſtatutes, commandements and iudgements, and his teſtimonies, as it is written in the law of Moſes, that thou maieſt proſper in all that thou doeſt, and in eueryevery thing whereunto thou turneſt thee, what doth he here teach to be the direct way to proſper, but the looking to the charge which God giueth, that is, to liue godly? And what differs his ſpeech from the Lords owne word in Deuetronomie?Deut. 5.28.29. For thus he ſaith, this people hath ſaied well all that they hauehave ſaied. But oh that there were ſuch an heart in them, that they did feare me, and keepe all my commandements alwayes, that it might go well with them, and their children for euer. Loe, what is mens proſpering, ioy, or well liking in their liues, but that which riſeth from hence, that they reſolue to liue godly? Agreeing with that which Paul ſpeaketh; This is our reioycing, 2. Cor. 1.12.euen the testimonie of our conſcience, that in ſimplicitie and godly pureneſſe, we hauehave our conuerſation in the world.
By all which teſtimonies it is cleere, that the godly and Chriſtian life is the only ſweet and comfortable life, which is worthie to be marked to the ſhame of all ſuch, as barke againſt the innocent and holy ſeruants of God, Note. affirming that none are worſe then they, that I ſay no more. And ſecondly to the no leſſe ſhame of them, I note it, who patch vp and peece their comfort, they care not with what ſhreds and fragments of their owne vaine and fleſhly deſires, baniſhing away godlineſſe, as that which in no wiſe can ſtand with their delights. And thirdly, it might pleaſe all ſuch as maruell why ſome cannot bee content to ſerue God as others, euen the moſt do, to take anſwere from hence; that there being no ſound comfort but in godlines, they deſire to liue comfortablie; though it be to the little liking of ſuch as maruell at them.
And this comfort is ſo much the more precious by this, that it may continue, and cannot be taken from vsus; according to that which our Sauiour ſaith,Iohn 16.22. This ioy ſhal no man take from you. And further alſo, becauſe the godleſſe can hauehave no part in it, neither be partakers of it. For ſo ſaith Saint Iohn, Reuelat. 14.3.None knew what that ſong meant, but the hundred and foure and fortie thouſand which were redeemed from the earth. And ſo ſaith Salomon: The heart knoweth the bitterneſſe of his ſoule, Prou. 14.10.and the ſtranger ſhall not medale with his ioy. But this be ſaid of the third vſe which the Churches made of their peace; and conſequently of all the three vſes that the godly made thereof.
Now it followeth, to ſee how euen the bad ſort vſed it.The vſe that the bad made of peace. For the holy Ghoſt teaching that the Churches encreaſed and were multiplied, ſheweth that it was by this that they were added vntounto them, and brought into the way of ſaluation, who were before farre from it.They were conuerted to God, and ioyned to his people. As if he ſhould ſay, euen the bad, while the Churches had reſt, were mooued and drawne by the examples of the godly, to follow them and to do as they did: that is to ſay, they heard the word of God, and they ioyned themſelues in fellowſhip with them, and the Lord wrought thereby in ſuch wiſe, that they diſclaimed their former euill courſe, and were conuerted vntounto him.
This is a moſt famous and notable example, to teach euen the bad how they ſhould behaue themſelues in the dayes of peace, and what vſe God looketh, that euen they ſhould make of it. They hauehave not libertie to liue as they liſt, nor to trifle out their precious time as though neither any good were to be done in it, and as though they ſhould giuegive no account how they hauehave paſſed it. But that they ſhould look vponupon them whom God hath ſet as examples among them, to be moued thereby, to be out of louelove with their owne courſe, and to like the good which they ſee in them, and long to hauehave their part in it.
For to this end, doth the Lord raiſe vp many good examples in ſundrie places, and giues them ofttimes peace, to the end that when they hauehave both theſe, with the pure preaching of the Goſpell, they may hauehave nothing to complaine of, why they ſhould not embrace the Chriſtian courſe, as others do. And therefore the eſtate of all ſuch is dangerous in no common ſort, who neuer aske wherefore all theſe good examples ſerue, but rather ſcorne and diſlike them, or at leaſt hauehave no fellowſhip with them.
Encouragement to the bad to returne, and ſeeke after God.And againe, if any who as yet ſauour not the precious Goſpell, ſhould thinke that they ſhall neuer profit by it to come to faith and repentance; they are to know, that not only they may, but alſo that God looketh for it at their hands. For why did God giuegive Ahab great victories ouer his enemie Benhadad, but to the end hee ſhould know the Lord to be God, and acknowledge him, beleeue in him, louelove and feare him? And did God prouoke him, an Idolater and wicked man, to forſake his euill way, and will he reiect other who would draw nigh to him if they durſt? No, God is readie to receiue, yea he ſeeketh ſuch as flie from him, and which wander out of the right way, yea,2. Cor. 5.19.20. and beſeecheth them to be reconciled to him; ſo that none ſhall need to feare that God will turne from them, if their chiefe care be that they may turne to him.
And ſeeing I hauehave gone ſo farre in this matter,How they ſhould do it. I will proceed a little further, and put on the perſon of ſuch as are yet in darkneſſe, and would willingly ſee light. Such (I know) would aske, how they may come home, and be receiued into the fauour of God. To ſuch I anſwere: they muſt be mooued by the reports of them who are in Chriſt alreadie, and be perſwaded, what beautie is in the Goſpell, how precious it is, and how many, who hauehave been farre off, hauehave by the power and perſwaſion of it, come home to true repentance, as the Publicans and great ſinners, who heard our Sauiour preach to them.
Secondly, they muſt heare the word of God diligently, as Salomon willeth; that they who will be bleſſed,Prou. 8.33. ſhould watch daily at wiſdomes gates, and giuegive attendance at the postes of her doores; yea and further, they muſt with the good people of Berea, receiue the word with all readineſſe. Act. 17.11.They muſt alſo draw to good companie,Act. 9.27. as Paul cleaued to Barnabas at his conuerſion; and the people, both Iewes and Gentiles, who embraced the Goſpell, did, whereſoeuer he preached. And by theſe meanes God worketh ſo in thoſe whom he will ſaue, that he changeth their hearts and maketh them new perſons.
For though many people hauehave ſundrie kinds of lets to hinder them from beleeuing, yet they to whom God hath a fauour, he will draw them by ſome excellent thing that they heare, or by means of ſome doubt that troubleth them, of the which they deſire to be reſolued; that they ſhall not breake off their hearing, till they receiue that chiefe and moſt excellent light by preaching, which bringeth contentment, and reſolution of that which did moſt trouble them, and that is, faith vnfained. And this is that which ought moſt of al to occupy and take vp the minds of vnſtaied perſons, who hauehave no ſure hold of eternall life: and this is the vſe which they ought to make of their liuing in peace, and beholding the good example of thoſe who are better then themſelues: to waite in their hearings, and long for this, namely, that they may know they ſhal be ſaued. As for al other taking vp of their thoughts and deſires, the beſt of them are but deceiuable, that I ſay nothing of further miſchiefes which they bring vponupon themſelues.
But doe the common ſort of the ignorant and prophane make this vſe of their peaceable liuing among Gods ſeruants? Indeed, God be praiſed, ſome do, for how ſhould the number of penitent perſons otherwiſe grow greater daily? But for the moſt part euen where the Goſpel is purely preached, they looke after no ſuch thing, but as though they knew not to what end God hath ſet godly Chriſtians among them, they giuegive them leaue, euen they who are of the forwarder ſort of them, to walke alone, rather then to conuerſe and hauehave fellowſhip with them; but ſome thinke, other ſpeake euill of them; and (which is worſt of all) becauſe they are ſuch: which ſort of people for the moſt part grow hardened, and waxe worſe and worſe: ſo farre it is off, that they take good by them. And this be ſaid of this latter ſort who liued among the godly, what vſe they made thereof.
FINIS.