The Ethiopian Eunuchs Conversion, Commentary on Acts 8 · Verse 29
VERSE 29. Then the Spirit ſaid to Philip, Tex….goe neare and ioyne thy ſelfe to this Chariot.
HEre wee hauehave Philips commiſſion to goe and inſtruct the Eunuch. Where wee are to note firſt of all, the circumſtance of time, when he went, Then, that is, when the Eunuch was thus religiouſly imployed in reading of the Scriptures, and vſing the meanes to worſhip God aright, and to know him, …hen is Philip ſent to inſtruct him, and to preach Chriſt Ieſus vntounto him, to the ſaluation of his ſoule. Note hence,
That God vſually dealeth with his children, Doct. God will …e found in the ….as with this Eunuch and poore heathen man; hee read and ſearched the Scriptures, conſcionably imploying himſelfe in thoſe weak meanes, for the attaining of grace and knowledge; he was well imployed, and now God takes pity vponupon him, and ſends Philip vntounto him to reueale Chriſt Ieſus vntounto him, to ſaue his ſoule.
Thus, euen thus, the Lord vſually takes pity on men, and reueales Chriſt Ieſus vntounto them, and beſtowes mercy on them when they ſeeke it in the meanes he hath appointed, ſuch as are the hearing of the word, prayer, reading, meditation, and the like.
And thus when Iſaac was meditating and praying,Gen … God ſent him a gracious wife. When Daniel was in his prayer,Dan. 9.20.21.27. God ſent his Angell vntounto him, to acquaint him that the end of the Churches captiuity was at hand.Luk. 1.8. Whilſt Zachary was executing his office in praying & ſacrificing in the Temple; the Lord ſent an Angell with glad tidings vntounto him, that Elizabeth his wife ſhould beare him a ſonne.Luk 2.250 Simeon being in the Temple ſeruing of God, the Lord reueales his ſonne Chriſt vntounto him. And ſo is Peter ſent vntounto Cornelius when he is faſting and praying.Act. 10. The point is cleare.
Reaſ. 1 The Lord to this end hath appointed the meanes, ſuch as are the word, Sacraments, prayer, &c. Theſe are giuen to ſome end, and to what, but to meet with God.
Reaſ. 2 The ſecond reaſon is, in regard of the Lords owne promiſe, who hath promiſed to bee found of them that ſeeke him in th… conſcionable vſe of the meanes hee hath appointed, ſaying,Mat 7.7. Aske and yee ſhall hauehave, &c. And, call vponupon me in the time of trouble, Pſa. 50.15.and I will heare thee, and deliuer thee.
Seeing that God is thus found of thoſe that ſeeke him in the meanes he hath appointed; Vſe 1 This ſhould bring religion and Chriſtianity into requeſt amongſt vsus, and ſet men diligently on work about holy duties, ſeeing there is ſuch a promiſe of recompence, and of reward, made thereunto; hee is faithfull that hath promiſed. Such whoſe hearts deſire is to be ſaued, that hunger and thirſt after Gods fauour and louelove in Ieſus Chriſt in the pardon of their ſinnes, God will take pity on ſuch, and their hope ſhall not faile; Aske and yee ſhall hauehave, Mat. ….7.ſeeke and yee ſhall ſind, &c. And as for thoſe that would faine come to heauen, and yet turne back vponupon the meanes, will deceiue themſelues in the end.
Vſe 2 Secondly, ſeeing the Lord takes pity vponupon his children, when they ſeeke him in the vſe of the meanes he hath appointed, hence ariſeth comfort for poore diſtreſſed ſoules, that goe with this Eunuch to Ieruſalem, there to worſhip God, faine they would ſee his face in glory, faine they would finde comfort, and get aſſurance of their reconciliation with God, but yet they cannot finde Chriſt, no… obtaine the thing they ſo much long for. Well, notwithſtanding this, aske ſtill, ſeeke ſtill, knock ſtill, humble thy ſelfe in prayer, and be earneſt with God in ſupplications, heare the word diligently, read it conſtantly, receiue the Sacrament preparedly, for nothing is more certaine then to finde comfort, and to meet with God in the conſcionable vſe of the meanes he hath appointed, Deliuerance will come, ſaith Mordecai to Heſter, and it may bee at that time when wee thinke leaſt thereof, and then moſt welcome.
Then the ſpirit ſaid to Philip.
That is, either the holy Ghoſt or elſe the Angell bad him goe to the Chariot. Wee heard before how the Angell commanded Philip to goe towards the South, but acquainted him not to what end, yet he declaring his ready obedience, meets with this Eunuch. And now he meets with him, he ſpeaks not till hee was commanded.
He will firſt hauehave his calling and commiſſion to the worke, before he proceeds to deale with the Eunuch, and herein will teach all men that are called to the worke of the Miniſtery, this neceſſary duty;
That they enter not vponupon this Calling without a calling, Doct. 2 Miniſters muſt ſtill hauehave a calling for that they doe.nor to proceed further therein, then they receiue warrant from God. Thus Moſes the Lords Captaine of his people Iſrael, together with all Iſrael, were content to bee directed by the cloud,Exod. 40.36.37. both for their going forward, and their ſtanding ſtill.
When Samuel was ſent to an oint one of the ſonnes of Ieſſe, when Eliah came that was the eldeſt ſonne, and ſo the ſecond and the third, yet layed he his hand on none of them, till the Lord commanded him. So Philip here, hee will firſt receiue his charge from God, before he will preſume to ſpeake to this man. Thus did Dauid ſtill aske counſell of God in any notable enterpriſe that he tooke in hand.2. Sam. 2.1. The Miniſters of Chriſt muſt not runne before they be ſent, but ſtay til they a hauehave calling from God, till he ſet them on worke, and put them into his ſeruice, till he bids them go, and furniſhes them with gifts & graces, will and skill to do the worke of the Lord; and then they muſt readily put the ſame in execution. None of all the Prophets, Iſaiah, Ieremy, Amos, &c. None of all the Apoſtles, no not Chriſt himſelfe, durſt take this calling before they were called thereunto by God, and then they did moſt readily and willingly put the ſame in execution.
And the reaſons are, Reaſ. 1 Firſt when this is wanting,…am. 6 7 Num. 16.9 men are but intruders, as Vzza was, and that God which ouertooke him in that ſinne, will not ſuffer ſuch men to eſcape vnpuniſhed.
Reaſ. 2 Secondly, ſuch doe ſeldome or neuer any good by their Miniſtry, and hence it is that the Lord threatned this iudgement vponupon falſe Prophets amongſt the reſt, I ſent them not, Let 23.32nor commanded them, therefore they ſhall not profit this people at all.
Vſe 1 This ſerues to reproue ſuch as enter vponupon this calling without a calling, as the Lord complaineth by his Prophet: They ranne, but I ſent them not, neither hauehave they preached my ordinance. Such are they that will vſurpe this publike and ſacred function without a lawfull calling. And within the compaſſe of this reprehenſion are ſuch Midwiues as preſume to baptize Infants, hauing no calling thereunto; I would commend vntounto ſuch, the example of the men of Bethſhemiſh, who prying into the Arke without a calling,1. Sa… 6.19. the Lord ſmote of them 50070. men.
So Corah, Dathan, and Abiram, taking vponupon them the Prieſthood without a calling,Num. 16.9 the Lord deſtroyed them and their companie, by cauſing the earth to open her mouth and to ſwallow them. So is Azariah ſtricken with a leproſie to his death,2. Kin. 15.5 and that becauſe not content with his kingly office, hee would take vponupon him the Prieſts office likewiſe, to burn incenſe vntounto the Lord.
Now then if theſe vſurpers and prophaners of Gods ordinances in the time of the Law did not eſcape Gods vengeance, how much leſſe now in the time of the Goſpell? And although God doe not now execute iudgement from heauen as before, yet the ſinne is no whit leſſened, nor Gods hand ſhortened,Nah. 1.2. but the greater will be their iudgement in the day of the Lords account.
Vſe 2 Secondly, this meets with thoſe likewiſe that will go beyond their commiſſion, as Saul that went to Gigal, as Samuel had appointed him, but becauſe that Samuel came not at the day appointed, therefore hee would preſume to offer ſacrifice So many will go to Gilgal, Gods houſe, the place of his worſhip and ſeruice; But if God anſwer not their expectation, they will do as Saul did, they will preuent the Lord, and helpe themſelues, this is to paſſe our calling.
And thus God calleth men daily to his Goſpell, which is the wedding of his Sonne; which he compareth vntounto a wedding, for the varietie of delicates that is offered in the ſame: Such as are remiſſion of ſinnes, Iuſtification, ſanctification, yea and gloricatition it ſelfe. Now to partake of theſe things, the Lord requires that men ſhould put on their wedding garments. Now how many be there that come, no way regarding whether they come fitted in faith, repentance, and obedience, with pure affections, in louelove to Gods ordinance, with an hungring and thirſtie appetite vntounto Gods word, with an hatred and loathing of their corruptions. Nay rather they come in their old garments, the garments of the old man, ſuch as are, ignorance, pride, couetouſneſſe, malitiouſneſſe, &c. and yet they will come to the wedding. Theſe men muſt know, they go beyond their commiſſion, for though God call men to the marriage, yet he calleth none ſuch; let ſuch feare the iudgement that followed,Mat. 22. to bee bound hand and foot, and east into vtter darkneſſe. Let all drunkards, ſwearers, adulterers, Sabbath breakets, and the like, take heed how they approach neare vntounto God, when they hauehave no ſuch warrant: for God will be ſanctified of all ſuch as appr…ch neare vntounto him, either in mercy to their ſaluation, or elſe in iudgement to their confuſion. Againe, becauſe God biddeth vsus come vntounto the table of his Sonne, that holy Communion, and tells vsus withall, how we ſhall be quali … …d made meet gueſts for the … …nd that by examming our … concerning our knowledge, faith, repentance, louelove, &c. Now when men ſhall preſume to come to this ſacred ordinance of God, without this due examination, ſuch eate and drink to their owne deſtruction, and go beyond their calling and commiſſion.
Vſe 3 And laſt of all, this may ſerue to comfort all Gods ſeruans, eſpecially in the Miniſtery, that if they finde they be called of God, and ſent by him, and that God hath put them into his ſeruice, they may go about their buſineſſe with comfort, and aſſure themſelues that God will bleſſe them, they need not feare any danger for they ſerue ſuch a maſter that will bee with them, and reprooue Kings for their ſakes; and he that hath ſet them on worke, will pay them their wages.
Ioyne thy ſelfe to this Chariot.
This was as much as if the Spirit, or the Angel, ſhould hauehave ſaid; Go to yonder poore man, inſtruct him, and teach him in the way of life and ſaluation, preach Ieſus Chriſt vntounto him, that his poore ſoule may be ſaued. O what happy newes was this to this poore heathen Pagan man, to hauehave Philip thus ſent vntounto him, to ſaue his ſoule.
This poore Ethnicke had trauelled far, and taken much paines to finde Chriſt, and to be inſtructed in the myſterie of his ſaluation; and behold now at laſt hee obtaines his deſire, here is ſuch a one ſent vntounto him that is able to informe his conſcience, and ſettle his iudgement in the way of life and ſaluation. Note we hence,
That the Lord ſetteth downe a time when hee will ſpeake vntounto his, Doct. God hath a ſeaſonable time to ſpeake vntounto his people, Ioh. 2.3.and when he will reueale himſelfe vntounto his people: My houre is not yet come, ſaith Chriſt vntounto his mother. So here Philip did not by & by ſpeake vntounto the Eunuch, no not after hee was come vntounto him, but hee ſtayed a time, and heard him reade. God gaue not his Law by Moſes vntounto the people by and by, but hee continued a good time firſt. Chriſt did not preach the Goſpell by and by, ſo ſoone as hee was able to preach, but he ſtayed a time. Neither did he forthwith cauſe his Goſpell to bee publiſhed through all the world by his Diſciples, but there were added daily to the Church.Ioh: 5 5.
The poore man that lay at the poole of Betheſda thirty and eight yeares, could hauehave none to thruſt him into the water to cure him; Yet at laſt Chriſt wrought the cure vponupon him. Euen ſo the poore woman in the Goſpell, that had the bloudy iſſue twelue yeares, ſhe had her time wherein ſhe met with deliuerance. Thus was it with Chriſts Spouſe, his Church in the Canticles, Can. 3 4.there was a time wherein ſhee ſought Chriſt, but could not finde him. There was a time againe wherein ſhee found him whom her ſoule loued. Howſoeuer the Lord may for a tim… frowne vponupon his people, and not by and by anſwer them in the deſires of their ſoules, hungring and thirſting after comfort, yet in a due time Deliuerance will come, There being nothing in the whole world more ſure and certaine, then comfort and deliuerance vntounto the godly after their miſeries and troubles. The poore ſhall not alwayes be forgotten: Pſal. 9.18.The hope of the afflicted ſhall not periſh in the end. And it muſt needs be ſo.
Reaſ. 1 Firſt, in regard of his owne promiſe made vntounto his people; Call vponupon mee in the time of trouble, Pſal. 50.15and I will heare thee and deliuer thee; and againe, Aske and ye ſhall hauehave, ſeek and ye ſhall finde, &c Now God could not be true in his word, nor faithfull in his promiſes, if he ſhould not, at one time or another, be found of his people that ſeeke him in truth of heart.
Reaſ. 2 Secondly, it is againſt the nature and diſpoſition of the Almighty, not to tender and compaſſionate his people in their miſerie, eſpecially in the time of their ſpirituall miſerie and diſtreſſe, when they ſhall ſet themſelues to ſeeke his face: Becauſe of the deepe ſighing of the poore, Pſal. 12.5.I will vp, ſaith the Lord.
Thirdly, if the Lord reſpect his owne glory, he can do no leſſe at one time or other, thē heare his people, and anſwer the deſires of their ſoules, vnfainedly ſeeking him. Hee hath not deſpiſed the poore, nor hid his face from him: My praiſe ſhall bee of thee in the great Congregation.
This teacheth vsus then to waite vponupon God in the Miniſtry of his word; Vſe. for though he ſpeake not vntounto vsus now, yet hee hath a time, wherein he will ſpeake comfortably vntounto vsus, if wee with patience and chearfulneſſe hold out; if with Dauid we can pant after the word of God, he will ſatisfie our hungry ſoules with good things. After two dayes he will reuiue vsus, Hoſ. 6.2.in the third day he will raiſe vsus vp, and we ſhall liue in his ſight. As he hath promiſed to feede our hungry ſoules, and heale our wounded conſciences, ſo hee will performe his promiſe, and powre in the ſweet oyle of the Goſpell into them.
Poore men, if they heare of a doale, they will waite all the day for it. Wee then knowing the truth of Gods promiſes, that hee will certainly heare and anſwer vsus, ought we not with patience ſtay his leiſure, till he make good his promiſe?
Go neare and ioyne thy ſelfe to this Chariot.Text.
This being the meanes whereby the Lord would inſtruct this poore man in the knowledge of Chriſt, and myſtery of his ſaluation; and ſo in conſequence to bring him to eternall life: We are further taught,
What a wonderfull mercy, Doct. A great mercy of God to ſend a faithfull Miniſter vntounto a people.and high fauour of Almighty God it is to ſend a Philip to any people, towne, or periſh, to any houſe or family, for hereby Chriſt is preached and made knowne, in whoſe name alone, ſaluation is to be had.
Such are euer meſſengers of glad tidings of the newes of pardon and remiſſion of ſinnes, of grace and mercy to them that truely repent, and are the meſſengers of peace, giuing men an admittance into the euerlaſting kingdome of his deare Sonne.
The Lord promiſed this as a bleſſing vntounto his people, I will giuegive them Paſtors after my owne heart. Ier. 3.15.And herein indeed did Chriſt manifeſt his great care and louelove to his Church, both before and after his aſcention, in leauing behinde him a ſupply of Apoſtles, Euangeliſts,Eph. 4. Paſtors and Teachers, to continue herein, euen vntill his comming againe.
What a bleſſing was this vntounto the Church of Corinth, that Paul ſhould be ſent vntounto them, and to continue there a yeare and a halfe; ſee the bleſſed fruit thereof, God had much people in that place. Acts 18.10 Acts 16.14What a bleſſing was this vntounto Lydia, that Paul is ſent to her, by which meanes her conuerſion is wrought, God opening her heart? How happy was it with the Iaylor to hauehave ſuch priſoners as Paul and Sylas were,Acts 16.26 by which means he became a beleeuer? How happy was Zacheus to get a ſight of Chriſt, by which meanes,Luke 19. ſaluation came to his houſe?
When Chriſt had preached the Word in Samaria, the Text ſaith, Many beleeued in him, and there was great ioy in all that City. By all which teſtimonies and examples, we may clearely ſee what a ſingular fauour of God it is to ſuch perſons and places, to whom the Lord is pleaſed to ſend a faithfull Philip, and painefull Miniſter.
And this truth will the more clearely appeare by the contrary. How that it is a fearefull iudgement of God vponupon that people that want a Philip: when Paul and Timothy had gone through Phrygia and Galatia, they were forbidden by the holy Ghoſt to preach the Word in Aſia, and were ſhewed in a viſion that the Lord had called them to preach the Word in Macedonia:Acts 16.6.9. which direction of the Spirit, reſtraining the Apoſtle from ſome places, and appointing him to otherſome, ſhewes plainely the ſingular fauour of God to the one, and Gods heauy wrath on the other. This truth is further cleared by that of the Prophet Amos, where the Lord threatneth this as the moſt fearefull iudgement vponupon the people for their ſinnes, Behold (ſaith the Lord) The dayes come,Amos 8.11 that I will ſend a famine into the Land, not a famine of bread, or thirſt of water, but of hearing of the Word of the Lord. The like is that of Salomon, Where prophecying failes, the people periſh. Pro. 29.18.Neither let this ſeeme ſtrange to any, that it is ſo ſingular a fauour and mercy of God to any, to hauehave a painefull and conſcionable Miniſter, and that the contrary is ſo fearefull a curſe: for conſider but
Reaſ. 1 Firſt, how that the miniſtery of the Word is the onelyonly meanes ordinarily that God hath ſanctified and ſet apart to worke ſauing grace in the hearts of the elect: ſo Peter, Being borne againe, 1 Pet. 1.23not by corruptible ſeed, but of incorruptible, 1 Cor. 1.12the word of God which liueth and abideth for ever. And againe, it pleaſeth God by the fooliſhneſſe of preaching, to ſaue them that beleeue.
Reaſ. 2 Secondly, it is the ordinary meanes to beget and to confirme faith in the heart of eueryevery true beleeuer, by which alone, as by a hand, we apprehend Chriſt, a…d apply him with his merits vntounto ſaluation; for in the preaching of the Word, Chriſt is both offered vntounto vsus, and we, through faith, enabled to receiue him, and is therefore called The word of faith.Rom 10.8
Ʋſe 1 Then what ſhall we thinke of thoſe wretched men, & prophane beaſts, who thinke themſelues beſt at eaſe, when they hauehave none to inſtruct them, no Philip to preach Ieſus Chriſt vntounto them, none to tell them of their ſinnes, yea, they are weary of the company of ſuch, they cannot be quiet till they be rid of them? Oh the caſe of ſuch is to be lamented, it is a ſigne that God hath giuen ſuch vp to their owne hearts luſt, and that ſuch ſhall lye and rot in their ſinnes, vntill the Lord finde them out in the ſearching day of his account. And yet alas, ſuch is the miſerable condition of many a one, that cannot abide the preſence of Philip, but hate him in their heart, wiſh him out of their company, as one that marrs their mirth, and they cannot be merry whilſt he is amongſt them.
Ʋſe 2 Secondly, if God ſend you then a Philip amongſt you, a painefull and faithfull Miniſter, to inſtruct you, to preach Ieſus Chriſt to you, to ſaue your ſoules: Oh then acknowledge this a ſingular fauour of God, that hee meanes your good, euen the ſaluation of your ſoules, and be thankefull vntounto him for it, receiue not the grace of God in vaine, but lay hold vponupon the Lords tender of grace offered, imbrace the Goſpell, let Gods Miniſters be deare vntounto you, and bleſſe God for them; and if you want a Philip, a faithfull Paſtor, O pray to God for ſuch a one, that God would ſhew this mercy vntounto you, the fruition whereof is a ſingular mercy, as the want wherof is a fearefull iudgement.
And laſt of all, this may prouoke the people of this Land, to thankefulneſſe, inaſmuch as hee hath beene pleaſed to ſend many Philips amongſt vsus, and hath opened vntounto vsus his chiefeſt treaſure. The Lord hath put the bars into the Rings of the Arke, whereby his glory is carried throughout our Land,Pſal. 44. vlt. The Lord hath not dealt ſo with eueryevery Nation.
And let vsus know, that where much is giuen, much ſhall be required; and ſuch a people whom the Lord hath thus honoured aboue others, to enioy this bleſſing, the Lord lookes for the fruits of the Goſpell at their hands aboue others.
To this Chariot.
It ſeemed that this Nobleman, for all his zeale and forwardneſſe, was much addicted to his eaſe and pleaſure, in that he would ride in his Chariot. The Prophet Amos ſaith,Amos 6.1. Woe to them that are at eaſe in Sion: That lye vponupon their beds of Iuory, and ſtretch themſelues vponupon their couches▪ Verſe 4.That drinke wine in bowles, and annoynt themſelues with the chiefe oyntments. What then? was this his ſinne? ſurely no; for then doth the creature ſerue to the true end and right vſe thereof, when the ſame doth further a man in Gods ſeruice. We ſee his wealth and abundance did nothing hinder him from religion, or any religious duty; neither doth the ſpirit of God finde fault with him for this, or refuſed to ſend Philip vntounto him, but ſaid notwithſtanding, Goe ioyne thy ſelfe to this Chariot.
We are taught hence, Doct. God giues things not onelyonly for neceſſitie, but also fordelight. Pſal. 104.14.15.that it is not onelyonly lawfull to hauehave things for our neceſſitie, but for our repaſt and delight alſo. So Dauid, He cauſeth the graſſe to grow for the Cattell, and greene herbe for the ſeruice of men; he giueth wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oyle to make him a chearfull countenance. Mat. 11.8.They that weare ſoft rayment (ſaith our Sauiour) are in Kings houſes; wherein our Sauiour ſheweth, that ſoft cloathing is lawfull, not onelyonly for neceſſitie onelyonly, but for delight and ornament alſo. So Dauid, Pſal. 23.5.Thou deckſt my table, thou anoynteſt my head with oyle, and my cup runneth ouer. And thus we reade of Earings, Iewels, and Bracelets, wherwith Rebecca and other godly matrons in the Scripture were adorned withall, whereby it doth clearely appeare, that God giueth his creatures, not onelyonly for neceſſary vſe, but alſo for ornament and delight, and it muſt needs be ſo; for,
Reaſ. 1 Wherefore elſe hath God made ſuch variety of his creatures, wherof many of them ſerue more for delight, then neceſſitie; as the Hawke to flye, the Hound to hunt, the Birds to ſing, hearbs, and flowers of diuers colours; all theſe are giuen to ſome end, then to what end, if not this? The like may be ſaid of many ſweet perſumes to delight the ſenſe, and many excellent creatures to delight the ſight; for God which is onelyonly wiſe, doth create nothing in vaine.
Reaſ. 2 Secondly, becauſe his children may doe him the more ready and chearefull ſeruice, for the Lord loueth chearefulneſſe in his ſeruice, and hence is it that he is ſo bountifull a Maſter vntounto them.
Seeing then that the Lord giueth thus his children the comforts of this life, Vſe. not onelyonly for their preſent neceſſity, but for their ornament and delight alſo; Wee may hence then take notice of our chriſtian libertie, in meates and drinkes, in apparell, and other comforts, that theſe things may be vſed of vsus, not for meere neceſſitie alone, but for delight and pleaſure alſo. Yet euen herein we muſt keepe a meane, that we may alwaies keepe a good conſcience. And therefore Paul admoniſheth, that they that reioyce,1 Cor. 7.30 ſhould be as they that reioyced not, and they that buy, as though they poſſeſſed not, and that they vſe this world, as not abuſing it.
But this meane is very hard to be kept; ſome offend with too much ſtrictneſſe, becauſe they would bridle the great intemperance of nature, will vſe nothing but that which is meere for neceſſitie. This I confeſſe is well at ſome times, with ſome perſons, and vponupon ſome occaſions; but euer to keepe this courſe, is to lay vponupon themſelues, a ſtraighter bond then God hath done.
Some againe goe farther, as Crates Philoſophus, that caſt all his goods into the ſea, ſuppoſing, that vnleſſe he did caſt them away, he ſhould periſh by them. But were not Abraham, Dauid, Iob, &c. We may be rich and godly together, though I confeſſe it is a wonderfull hard thing ſo to be.
But the moſt dangerous errour is theirs, who vnderunder the pretence of their Chriſtian liberty, giuen vntounto them in the vſe of outward things, will let looſe the reine vntounto all manner of intemperancy, riot and exceſſe; that many times the peſant is as braue as the Prince; the Carter doth ruffle it out as doth the Courtier; the poore man that liueth by his labour all the weeke, to ſpend his money as liberally at the weekes end, as hee that payeth him his wages.
Now then to auoid theſe extremities, we muſt looke well vntounto our calling, whereunto God hath called vsus, and to keepe our ſelues within the bonds of the ſame, not paſſing our calling, places, or degrees. Such as God hath called to any eminent place, and betruſted with abundance of the things of this life, theſe may vſe their Chriſtian liberties in meates, drinkes, and apparell, and other bleſſings for their repaſt and delight. Solomon had his ſtately Throne, his princely robes; His Queene, Pharaohs daughter, had her garments of curious needle worke.
And it is fit that thoſe that hauehave a more ſpeciall and higher place of gouernement, ſhould by theſe outward things, maintaine the honour of their places & perſons; the want whereof many times cauſeth contempt to light on both.
But if thou be a poore man to whom God hath denyed ſuch abundance, thou muſt with patience beare this condition, and frame thy life according to it, and not murmure againſt God, becauſe hee hath not beſtowed a better portion vponupon thee, neither ſeeke by vnlawfull meanes to helpe thy ſelfe, but in that eſtate the Lord hath ſet thee in, therewith to be content.
But doth not the Apoſtle forbid Chriſtian women broydered haire, Object. 1. Tim. 2:9 1. Pet. 3.3:gold, or pearles, and coſtly aray, as things not becomming women profeſſing godlineſſe?
The Apoſtle doth not there condemne theſ… things as ſimply vnlawfull,Reſp. but the abuſe of them, when meane perſons doe take them vp, as in theſe dayes. Now the Apoſtle ſhewes the vnlawfulneſſe of them in ſuch a condition.
Beſides the Church of God at that time was vnderunder grieuous perſecution, and for ſuch as profeſſed Chriſtianitie, to giuegive themſelues at ſuch times to delights, and pleaſures, which God had appointed for a time of humiliation and mourning, was a great ſinne.