The Amendment of Life, Book 4 · Chapter 5
The fift cauſe of amendment, drawen from theſe tytles, wonderfull, a Counſailor, the ſtrong and mightie God, the Prince of peace, the Father of eternity, attributed to Ieſus Chriſt. Chap. 5.
THere be three eſpeciall things that procure the ſubiectes to louelove their Prince, and louing him, voluntarely to yeeld vntounto him all obedience and fidelitie: Firſt, if he be wiſe to gouerne thē with wiſedome and diſcretion: Secondly, if he ſeek their proſperity: Thirdly, if he be able to defend them againſt the endeuours of their enemies, and to effect whatſoeuer may be requiſite for the ſafety and good of his ſubiectes. Theſe three pointes and many more, ſhall we finde in theſe titles, attributed by the Prophet Eſay to our Lord Ieſus Chriſt: for in calling him Counſailor,Eſay 9. the Prophet declareth that he is repleniſhed with all wiſdome, wherwith to giuegive aſſured counſail in all trouble and perplexitie: but chiefely in matter concerning the acceptable ſeruice of God and the hope of our ſaluation. Secondly, he calleth him the ſtrong and mightye God, thereby to aſſure vsus that he is of infinite ſtrength and power to execute and fulfill his will, whether in defending vsus againſt the endeuours of our enemies, in puniſhing ſuch as diſobey him, or in making thoſe that are ſubiect and obedient to him, partakers of his graces and benefites. Thirdly, hee nameth him the Prince of peace, becauſe he is the author and fountaine of all proſperity and felicitie both bodily and ghoſtly, ſignified by the worde Peace: he doth moueouer terme him alſo wonderfull, to the end to giuegive vsus to vnderſtand, that from Ieſus Chriſt we are to expect thinges more high and excellent then any that we can diſcerne in the ordinary courſe of the worlde: alſo that in him are hidden the ineſtimable treaſures of wonderfull thinges ſurpaſsing mans expectation and capacitie: whether to the blyſſe of ſuch as feare and obey him, or to the puniſhment of vnbeleeuers and diſobedient perſons. To conclude, the Prophet alſo doth entytle him the father of eternitie, therein teaching vsus that Ieſus Chriſt is the author and ground worke of the eternity of the Church, preſeruing it vponupon the earth with a continuall protection, and guiding it to heauen, there to remaine eternally in the poſſeſsion of perdurable ioy and glory for euer.
2 Beholde therfore who and what maner of one he is that commaundeth vsus to amend, by louing him, and fearing to offend him: and by our willing obedience vntounto him. And indeed, is not ſuch a King or Prince moſt worthy the louelove, honor, feare and obedience of his ſubiects? Firſt, if he be Gods counſailor, he is of neceſsitie repleniſhed with the ſpirite of wiſedome and vnderſtanding, as Eſay more at large doth declare, ſaying: The ſpirite of the Lord ſhall rest vponupon him, Eſay 11.2.the ſpirite of wiſedome and vnderſtanding, the ſpirite of counſaile and ſtrength, the ſpirite of knowledge, and of the feare of the Lord: yet S. Paul goeth further,Col. 2.3. ſaying: All the treaſures of wiſedome and knowledge are hidden in him. This Counſailor beeing thus repleniſhed with all wiſedome, knowledge, and vnderſtanding: are not we to beleeue that whatſoeuer he commaundeth vsus is holy, good, righteous and neceſſary for the ſeruing of him according to his will? muſt we not in our ſelues finde that it is meere folly to ſeeke after the counſaile of man in matter cōcerning the ſeruice of God, and the hope or path to ſaluation, and to liſten vntounto the wiſedome of our owne fleſh, that ſeeketh to turne vsus from the wiſedome of that great counſailor? or to thinke it any wiſedome to reiect his counſaile or documents? To be ſhort, as al the members of the body doe ſuffer themſelues to be ledde by the ſence and vnderſtanding that is in the head: euen ſo the members of the Church muſt follow no other ſenſe, thē ſuch as is in their head Ieſus Chriſt: neither hearken to any other counſailers but him, and this alſo doth our heauenly father commaund vsus, ſaying:Mat. 17.5. This is my well beloued ſonne, in whom I am well pleaſed, heare him. So often therefore as the world, the fleſh, or the deuill ſhall ſolicite vsus to louelove, or to doe any thing condemned by this counſailor Ieſus Chriſt, let this title giuē to Ieſus Chriſt waken vsus, and cauſe vsus immediatly to reſolue to deny them, and not to admit any other counſel thē the ſame of Ieſus Chriſt, who by the ordināce of God doth bear the name coūſailor.
3 Let vsus alſo beware of ſeeking after witches, forcerers, or coniurers, and other like miniſters of Satan, for any reuelation or coū ſaile, and to that purpoſe remember the prohibition of the Lord,Deut. 18.9. ſaying: When thou art come into the land that the Lord thy God ſhall giuegive thee, thou ſhalt not learne to doe according to the abhominations of thoſe nations. There ſhall not be among you any witch that vſeth witchcraft, any obſeruer of times, any prognoſticator of ſeaſons, any ſorcerer, or enchanter, or that counſaileth with ſpirits, or ſoothſayer, or that asketh counſail of the dead. For al that do ſuch things are abhomination vntounto the Lord, and becauſe of thoſe abhominations the Lord thy God doth cast them forth before thee. And leaſt the people ſhould reply and ſay, Why ſhall we be in worſe eſtate then theſe nations? Shall we hauehave no meanes to aske counſaile? The Lord anſwereth, The Lord thy God ſhall raiſe thee vp a Prophet from among thy brethren, like vntounto me: him ſhal ye heare. The Prophet here promiſed is this counſellor Ieſus Chriſt, as S. Peter affirmeth, ſaying: as Moſes had foreſhewed, that whoſoeuer heareth him not, ſhalbe rooted out. Acts 3.22.If any man replyeth, ſaying: True, but Ieſus Chriſt is not now vponupon the earth, to be fought vntounto, as he was in the time of the Apoſtles: neither are we in the dayes of Abraham, Dauid, Moſes, and others, to whome God made anſwere when they craued his counſaile: but our anſwere is, he hath in his worde recorded in the olde and newe teſtament, ſufficiently declared his counſaile, as well concerning that which wee are to doe in obeying his will, as alſo in regarde of all that wee are to beleeue for our ſaluation. And to this purpoſe doth Eſay the Prophet very well ſaye, when they ſaie vntounto you, Enquire at them that hauehave a ſpirite of diuination, and at the ſoothſayers, which whiſper and murmure, anſwere thus. Eſay. 8.19.Should not a people enquire at their God? from the liuing to the dead? To the lawe and to the teſtimony? If they ſpeak not according to his word, it is becauſe there is no light in them: that is to ſay, no proſperity for thē, likewiſe whē the rich man praied Abraham to ſend Lazarus to exhort his brethren to amendmēt, leaſt they ſhuld ſal into the torments that he felt: Abraham anſwered, They hauehave Moſes & the prophets, let thē heare thē. And vponupon his reply, that if any ſhould come from the dead, they would amend: he ſaide againe, If they heare not Moſes and the Prophets, Luke 16.27.neither will they beleeue though one ſhould come from the dead.
5 Likewiſe, as Ieſus Chriſt proteſteth that he hath deliuered to his Apoſtles,Iohn 15.4. euen al that he had from his father, and hath appointed them to be witneſſes and embaſſadors: ſo hauehave they faithfully diſcharged their offices.Acts 20.27. Firſt in their owne perſons, as S. Paul proteſteth of his perſon, that to the Epheſians that came to Milet hee had preached the whole counſaile of God: next they hauehave ſo layed it downe in writing, that now we need not to ſeeke after any counſell, or looke for any reuelation from elſe where: but euen from this counſailor, who anſwereth vsus in the holye ſcriptures, in caſe we liſt to pray him by his ſpirite to open our wits, that we may vnderſtand him,Luke 24.45. as he did for the Apoſtles. If therefore we deſire to know the will and counſail of God, we muſt hauehave recourſe to his worde, recorded by the Prophets and Apoſtles, and ſo aske at the mouth of the Lorde, and carefullye practiſe the ſame that Dauid that ſo excellent Prophet ſpeaketh of himſelfe,Pſal. 119.24. ſaying: Thy teſtimonies, O Lord, are my delight, and counſellors. And if it come to paſſe that in time of trouble and ſorrowe, and in ſuch affaires as breede perplexity, we know not how to reſolue of our duties: let this title, Counſailor, be vntounto vsus an aduertiſement, by prayer and ſupplications to require at the mouth of the Lord, with full aſſurance, that he will giuegive vsus to vnderſtand his will and wiſe counſel, to his glory, and our ſaluation.
6 In the title of Strong and mighty God attributed to Ieſus Chriſt, we are to conſider of two pointes: Firſt, what his ſtrength and power is: Secondly, what be the fruites and argumentes of amendement of life that doe thereof proceede. For the firſt, we are to acknowledg & apprehend in him ſuch a ſtrength & power, that as at his onelyonly word he created heauen and earth, and al this beautifull frame of the worlde: ſo by his onelyonly will did hee worke all that he willed:Iohn 11.43. Luke 4 39. Pſal. 14….8. Pſal 115.3. conſidering that his worde is no other but a declaration of his will. And this did plainely appeare in this, that when hee directed his wordes to dead Lazarus that heard not, and to the feauer of S. Peters mother in law, that vnderſtoode him not, with other inſenſible and vnreaſonable creatures: yet was all that he ſaid or commaunded, done. Our God, ſaith Dauid, is in heauen: he doth what he pleaſe: howbeit to the end the better to repreſent this power of Ieſus Chriſt, the holy Ghoſt doth many times call him the God of hoaſtes, thereby to ſignifie vntounto vsus, not onelyonly that hee hath the leading of the armies of men, and giueth the victorie where he will: but eſpecially that he hath mighty armies both in heauen and in earth, ready to obey him. Firſt Dauid ſaith, That his Angels mighty in power, doe fulfill his commaundement and obey the voice of his worde. Of them there are great numbers, as Daniel alſo ſaith, that a thouſand millions doe miniſter vntounto him,Pſal. 103.20. and ten thouſand millions do ſtand in his preſence. They be mighty armies, as S. Luke calleth them, ſaying:Dan. 7.10. Luke 2.13. When the Angel had declared the natiuity of Ieſus Chriſt to the Shepheards, there was a multitude of heauēly armies praiſing God. And Dauid ſpeaking of the Angels ſaith:Pſal. 68.17. The charets of God are twenty thouſand thouſand angels. And Ieſus Chriſt, ſaying that at his requeſt hee ſhould hauehave 12 legions of angels ready to defend him, doth ſhew that all theſe ſo mighty armies of Angels,Mat. 26.53. by thouſands of millions are at his commandement ready to obey him. If one Angel in one night ſlewe all the firſt borne of Egipt, and in the Campe of Senacherib one hundred foureſcore and fiue thouſand men in one night, what exploytes may this ſtrong and mighty God Ieſus Chriſt performe,Exod. 12.29. Eſay 27.36. 2. King. 19.25 2. King. 6.17. who hath at his commandement whole armies of Angels by thouſands of millions? we ſee them not no more then did the ſeruant of Elizeus, but we ſhould ſee them if it might pleaſe God but to open our eyes, as hee opened the eyes of the ſaide ſeruant at the praier of his Prophet, whereby he ſaw a whole mountaine of horſes and fiery chariots round about him.
7 Moreouer, he hath the heauens and all that is in them, the aire,Deut. 28. Leuit 26. the cloudes, the windes, the ſea, the earth, the beaſtes and all other cretures, which are euen ſo many mighty armies, redy to obey him, either to fauour ſuch as amend their liues, or to puniſh the rebellious and obſtinate:…xod 7.8.9:10. hath he not ſtill in his power the like armies as he employed in olde time againſt Pharaoh? can hee not conuert, not riuers onelyonly, but euen all the waters in the worlde into bloud? and make them to bring, forth ſuch abundance of bring, that they ſhall couer all the face of the earth: to conuert all the …uſt in the worlde into Fleas? to ſend a medly of beails able to … and houſes? to ſtay both men and beaſtes with peſtinence? to torment them with botches and bl…nes? to waſte the fruites of the earth with hayle and Graſhoppers? to change the light into pa…pable and continuall darkeneſſe? with other like ſtrange and de…dly armyes? If this mighty God Ieſu… Chriſt,I…hn 18.6. Pſal. 2.5. ſpeaking meekly to thoſe that came to apprehend him, oue…threw them, what ſhall hee d…e when hee ſhall come to ſpeake in his wrath, holding in his hand an iron rod to bruſe his enemies as a potters veſſell.
8 Now let vsus proceede to the fruites and arguments of amendment of life, which come of the apprehenſion of the ſtrength and might of Ieſus Chriſt, of theſe there be two eſpeciall. Firſt, feare to offend him: Secondly, aſſurance againſt all our enemies that ſeeke to diuerte vsus from our obedience towardes him. Concerning the firſt, if we apprehend this incomprehenſible power and ſtrength of Ieſus Chriſt, who commandeth vsus to amend, how ſhould not we be reſolued and encouraged to yeeld vntounto him due obedience? how ſhould we not feare to diſpleaſe him that hath ſuch armies at his commandement, ready to roote out thoſe that diſobey him? how daie we tread vponupon the earth that is ready to open and to ſwallow vsus vp,Num. 16.31. Pſal. 106.17. as in olde time it did Chorah, Dathan, and Abiron? how can we without feare think vponupon the Sea, which at his commandement is ready to break forth to drowne vsus, as in olde time it drowned al the rebellious and diſobedient worlde?Deut. 11 6. Gen 7. how dare we draw breath which he can infect to ſlay vsus with peſtilence and other diſeaſes? how daie we go into the fieldes,Leuit. 26.22 when we remember that there be euen armies of wilde beaſtes ready to deuoure vsus, according to his threatninges in his lawe, or as hee ſent Beares to deuoure the children that mocked his Prophet Elizeus?2. King. 1… 4. how dare we diſpenſe with our ſelues to deſpiſe his commandement to amend, conſidering he hath al Kings and nations in the world ready to obey when be commandeth them to deſtroy vsus, as in old time he but whiſtled for the armye of Nabuchadnezzer,Eſ… … 26. and …. and it came againſt his people …el? how can we but feare by our ſinnes to prouoke to wrath the mighty God, that threatneth to turne the heauen into braſſe, and the earth into iron, and to commaund the cloudes that they ſhal not ſame,Leu…t. 26. D…t 28. Gen …. who alſo can ſend ſcarcity of ſeauen yeeres, as he did into Egipt: yea euen to depriue vsus of all ſuſtenance, that we may periſh for want of foode? how daie we diſobey him in whome we are, we liue, we moue: who ſuddenly can ſend a palſey into all our mēbers, take away our liues, and vtterly root vsus out? but eſpecially, how is it that we take no heed of diſpleaſing him, that hath readye whole armies of deuils, ſo mighty and terrible enemies, that waite not for his commandement, but euen for leaue to deſtroy vsus, as the hiſtory of Iob doth euidently declare? naturally we feare to diſpleaſe him that hath moſt power to be reuenged and to puniſh vsus,Iob. 1. and in that ſence we are more affeard to offend a King, then a ſubiect: a man, thē a child. We ought therfore greatly to fear to offend God, that hath ſuch power to puniſh thoſe that wil not amend their liues:Luke 12.4. to which purpoſe Ieſus Chriſt alſo ſaith: Feare him who when hee hath killed the body, can alſo caſt the ſoule into hel fire. Behold therfore how the apprehenſion of the power of Ieſus Chriſt ſhould moue vsus to feare to diſpleaſe him, and conſequently, to amend our liues.
9 As touching the ſecond fruit, which concerneth our aſſurance againſt the aſſaults of our enemies, we are to note two points: Firſt, that we are ſubiect to many and grieuous afflictions and aſſaultes: Secondly, that the aſſurance of the power and ſtrength of Ieſus Chriſt ſhould confirme our conſtancy in that obedience which we owe vntounto him: for the firſt, S. Paul ſaith,2. Tim. 3.12. that ſuch as wil liue faithfully in the feare of God in Ieſus Chriſt, are ſubiect to perſecutions: alſo that the more we labour to put of the world and ſinne, the more ſharply we are aſſailed by the worlde and ſinners.Iohn 13.19. If ye were of the world, ſaith Ieſus Chriſt, the world would louelove her own, but now becauſe you hauehave forſaken the worlde, the worlde hateth you. This doth S. Auguſtin very aptly note ſaying: The world muſt neceſſarily hate vsus: becauſe we hate the things that the world loueth. Likewiſe,Aug. Sent. by Proſper. 35.3. becauſe Ieſus Chriſt hath freed vsus from the tiranny of Satan, he being an enemy to the glory of God and the ſaluation of man, doth labour the more to ouerthrow and deſtroy vsus: as alſo S. Iohn ſaith, that the great dragon, the old ſerpent called the deuil, ſeeing himſelfe caſt forth with his angels,Apoc. 12. being moued becauſe hee could not ſwallow vp either the whole body or the head of the Church, leuied war againſt the reſt that keep the commandements of God, and hauehave the teſtimony of Ieſus Chriſt.
10 Now to come to the ſecond point: If we feare God, & ſeek to amend our liues, we ſhal not need to feare man, nor deuils, nor any other enemies that labour to turn vsus from our duties, but may perſeuere conſtantly, with aſſurance that this ſtrong and mighty God will keep vsus, and in the end deſtroy them, and conuert all their endeuours to our good and ſaluation: & to this purpoſe let vsus remember how Balak king of Moab enterpriſed to deſtroy the people of God, by procuring Balaam to curſe them, and how God oppoſed himſelfe, and conuerted his wicked deſire to curſe them into bleſſings: Balaam declareth what Balak had commaunded him, ſaying: Come and curſe Iacob for my ſake, come I ſay and curſe Iſrael. But the Lord compelled him to ſay, How can I curſe them? Num. 23.The mightie God hath not curſed them: or how ſhall I detest them? The Lord hath not detested them. Againe, The mighty God cannot lie, neither is he as the ſonne of man, to repent: He hath spoken, and ſhal he not performe? he hath ſayde, and ſhall hee not confirme it? Beholde I hauehave receiued his worde to ble…ſe, and ſeeing hee hath bleſſed them, I may not reuoke it. This is the foundation of this ſafegard and protection. He perceiued no iniquitie in Iacob, neither did hee ſee any frowardnes in Iſrael: the Lord his …des with him and the Kings triumph in him. To conclude, of the peo…e of God, he ſaith: He that bleſſeth thee ſhalbe bleſsed, and he that curſ…th thee ſhalbe curſed. This aſſurance hauehave they that ſeeke to amend their liues vnderunder the protection of this ſtrong and mighty God.
11 And indeed, albeit when we walke in ſimplicity, plainnes and truth, and ſo labour to amend our liues, if the whole world ſhould life againſt vsus to moleſt and deſtroy vsus, yet hath this ſtrong and mighty God euen whole armies of Angels to keepe vsus, as in olde time he had for Elizeus: he hath Seas to ſwallow vp the Pharaohs of our time,2. King. 6.3. Dan. 6. and all that perſecute the children of God. If we be conſtant in the ſeruice of God, he is yet able to ſtoppe the throat, and to tye vp the pawes of the hungry Lyons, that we ſhall not be rent or deuoured, as in olde time hee preſerued Daniel that was caſt into the Lyons denne. If in purpoſe to amend we will not fall downe before idols, albeit men take vponupon them to burne vsus quick yet let vsus ſay with the three Hebrew Princes, Our God is able to deliuer vsus, and with them proteſt that we will worſhip no Idols: and remember that God is able to deliuer vsus out of the ſiery furnace, yea euen to preſerue eueryevery haire of our heads from burning,Dan. 3. as he preſerued thoſe three Hebrew Princes. To be ſhort, that all creatures are euen ſo many mighty armies at the commaundement of the creator, ready to be imployed to our good and ſaluation, either to preſerue vsus from the aſſaults of our enemies, ſo long as we perſeuere in well doing, either to chaſtice vsus and ſo to bring vsus to amendment, either to puniſh the diſobedient and obſtinate. Let vsus therfore apprehend this ſoueraigne power of this mighty God Ieſus Chriſt, that fearing to offend him, and ſo amending our liues, we need not to feare the endeuors of our enemies: let vsus vndoubtedly beleeue that as he is almighty, and hath ſo many and ſuch ſtrong armyes at his commaundement, ſo hee hath power to preſerue thoſe that ſhall amend their liues, and to deſtroye and roote out all ſuch as ſhall rebell againſt him, or ſeeke to hurt his faithfull and obedient ſubiects and ſeruants.Luke 2 14. Iohn 14.27. Eph. 2.17.
12 Ieſus Chriſt is alſo called the Prince of peace, to repreſent vntounto vsus that it is he that is the author & giuer therof: This is witneſſed, in that at his birth euen millions of Angels ſung this ſong, Glory be to God on high, and in earth peace: as alſo himſelfe ſaide to his Apoſtles, I giuegive you my peace, and the ſame did he cauſe them to publiſh throughout the worlde in his name. As alſo S. Paule ſaith, that at his comming he preached the goſpel of peace to all that were neer hand or a farre off: this peace may be conſidered in two ſortes: Firſt, it ſignifieth peace and tranquility of conſcience, whereof S. Paul ſpeaketh, ſaying: that being iuſtified by faith, we hauehave peace toward God through Ieſus Chriſt. Secondly, this peace contayneth all bleſsinges both of body and ſoule. And as this Prince of peace, who commaundeth vsus to amend, is author both of the one and the other peace, ſo this title Prince of peace giuen to Ieſus Chriſt, ſhould be vntounto vsus a mighty argument, and a quick ſpurre to moue vsus to amendment of life. Laſtly, being by nature the children of wrath, and al our affections Gods enemies,Eph. 2.3. Rom. 8.7 and euen ſo many ſouldiers in the deuils pay to fight againſt God, and to incenſe him againſt vsus: this Prince of peace Ieſus Chriſt, vouchſafed to dye for vsus, to the end to make ſatisfaction for all our ſinnes, and ſo to appeaſe Gods wrath, and to take away the cauſe of this ſo mortall and wofull warre betweene him and vsus.Rom. 5.1. Phil. 4.7.
13 This is the groundworke of this ſo bleſſed a peace which the children of God doe enioy: for being iuſtified by faith in Ieſus Chriſt, we hauehave rest and peace of conſcience: as knowing that God is our father, that he aduoweth vsus to be his children, and loueth vsus in his welbeloued ſonne. And this peace paſſeth all vnderſtanding, as S. Paul ſaith, becauſe there is nothing ſo cōtrary to the ſence of man, as in our ſelues to feele this grace, that being ſinners, worthy Gods wrath, we ſhould neuertheleſſe be aſſured that we are righteous and welbeloued of God, whereby to hope well in the middeſt of diſpaire, to ſee great riches of heauenly and eternall goods in the gulfe of our pouertie, and in this our weaknes and infirmitie, euen indignity wherewith we are poſſeſſed, to be at quiet and in full aſſurance againſt the deuill, death, ſinne, hell, and all other our enemies. Now to ſhew that this peace is mightie and of force to make vsus to amend our liues, he addeth, that it will keepe our ſences and thoughtes in Ieſus Chriſt, togither with all our affections and deſires, ſignified by the hart: but from what? euen from diuerting from God, and from the obedience and duetye that we owe vntounto him: for finely if wee coulde feele what a comfort, peace, and conſolation there is in this peace of our ſoules before God, we would be loath to looſe ſuch a ſoueraigne felicitye by diſpleaſing him, and ſo in liewe of this peace, to bring vponupon our conſciences trouble, terrour and feare, through the apprehenſion and feeling of Gods wrath.
14 And indeed there is no ſuch hell or anguiſh in this life, as a bad conſcience: it is a cruel and intollerable tormentor, if we hauehave a childe that by crying is grieuous vntounto vsus, we ſeek to appeaſe him either by threats or promiſes, by gifts or ſtripes, but if he will not be ſo ſtilled, either we can ſend him away from vsus, or our ſelues goe from him, that we may not be troubled with his crying: it is not ſo with a troubled minde deuoide of this bleſſed peace. The conſcience once feeling or apprehending the wrath of God euen but a little, will neuer ſuffer vsus to be quiet, promiſe, threaten, giuegive, ſtrike, what euer you doe, ſtill it cryeth lowder and lowder, and ſtil it tormenteth: yea when you ſeeke to ſend it away, it ſticketh cloſer vntounto you, neither can you departe from it, for being in you, it is alwaies at hand. How diligently therefore ought we to amend our liues? that ſo we may retaine in vsus this treaſure of peace, whereof Dauid ſpeaketh,Pſal. 16.11. ſaying: Thy preſence is the fulneſſe of ioy, and at thy right hand there are pleaſures for euermore. Againe, By lifting vp the light of thy countenance vponupon me, Pſal. 4.7.thou haſt giuen me more ioy of hart, thē they had when their wine and their wheat did abound. And in this ſence did S. Paul ſay, that the kingdome of God conſiſteth in this peace that proceedeth of the righteouſneſſe of faith, and begetteth in vsus ioy thorow the holy ghoſt: the miſerable eſtate of thoſe who by offending God, doe depriue themſelues of this peace, ought to make vsus to reſolue conſtantly in the feare of God: and the rather, becauſe this peace coſt ſo deare vntounto the prince of peace, who purchaſed it,Rom. 14.17. not with golde or ſiluer, or any other worldlye precyous thing, but by the ſhedding of his precious bloud, euen by ſuffering trouble, feare, terrour, and incomprehenſible aſtoniſhment, which our ſelues hauehave deſerued, and dayly doe deſerue, to the end to deliuer vsus from the ſame, and to giuegive vntounto vsus that bleſſed peace and quietneſſe. May it then poſsibly come to paſſe, that we meditating vponupon ſuch a price of this peace, ſhould ſuffer our ſelues to be drawen to ſinne, and to offend God, and thereby to looſe ſo excellent a treaſure, purchaſed ſo dearely! Truely ſo ſhall we ſeeme to thinke Ieſus Chriſt to bee a verye inconſiderate and vnaduiſed marchant, that would giuegive ſo excellent and incomparable a price for a benefite whereof we make ſo ſmall accompt, and which we are ſo ready to leaue by offending God, wherby we may pleaſe the world and the fleſh, our enemies.
15 Moreouer, Ieſus Chriſt being the Prince of peace, is the author of all bleſsinges both ſpirituall and carnall, aſſured vntounto thoſe that obeying his commaundement, doe amend their liues.1. Tim. 4.8. Godlyneſſe, ſaith Saint Paul, hath a promiſe both of this life, and of the life to come. As contrarywiſe, they whoſe heartes cannot repent and amende, doe heape togither the treaſures of Gods wrath, the fountayne of all wretchedneſſe. And indeede,Rom. 2. Leuit. 26. how many notable promiſes, euen in reſpect of this preſent life, doth the Lord make vntounto thoſe that walke in the feare and obedience of his commaundementes? and contrariwiſe, how many horrible and terrible threates doth hee vſe againſt ſuch as will not amend?Deut. 28. hauing threatned the wicked & diſobedient with great wounds, hee many tymes ſaith, that if by the firſte they will not amende, but remaine hardned, he will enforce them ſeauen times more, according vntounto the multitude of their ſinnes,Leuit. 26. and ſhall he not doe it iuſtly? for ſeeing that by offending this Prince of peace and author of all bleſsinges, wee prouoke him to wrath: what can wee attend, but in ſtead of his bleſsinges a whole burden of curſes? If a maiſter hath promiſed his man great goods, in caſe he ſerue him in all reuerence, obedience and fidelitye, can hee hope for thoſe goods at his maiſters hand, if forgetting and contemning this duetye, hee applye himſelfe to wrong him and doe him iniurye?
16 Wee read that Hanun King of the Amonites, when hee had iniuried and prouoked Dauid by wronging his ſeruantes,2. Sam. 10. whom hee ſent to comforte him vponupon the death of his father, looked for warre, and prepared to wage Souldiers, and according to his expectation, Dauid came vponupon him and deſtroyed him. What then are we to looke for, when wee offend this Prince of peace, and doe euen leauye warre againſt him by ſuch thoughts, willes, woordes, and woorkes, as proceede from our fleſhe? what I ſay, are we to expect, either in liewe of peace, proſperitye, and bleſsings, to hauehave ſuch a warre as will redound to our eternall deſtruction and confuſion? Contrariwiſe, if wee endeuour according to his commaundment, to amend, let vsus be aſſured, that hee will bleſſe vsus, who is the fountayne and author of all bleſsing: for as there is no creature that can debarre the ſunne from ſhining, and the cloudes from dropping, at the creators will, ſo is there no creature that can diuert the bleſsing whereof this Prince of peace is author, ſo long as by amendment of life, wee doe cleaue vntounto him. And indeed the holy Apoſtle S. Paul ſaluting the Churches that hee writeth vntounto, doth vſually pray vntounto God to multiplye his grace and peace vponupon them through Ieſus Chriſt: by this conioyning of grace and peace, ſhewing that it is in vaine to looke for peace and proſperitye at the hands of Ieſus Chriſt, vnleſſe we alſo hauehave his grace: but hauing his fauour and grace, which reſteth vppon ſuch as amend their liues, we cannot doubt but he will poure forth his bleſsinges vponupon vsus,
17 We are alſo to thinke that this Prince of peace dying for vsus, hath with himſelfe crucified our olde man, that is to ſay, the corruptions and vices of our ſoules, to the end our thoughtes and affections which naturally are enemies vntounto God, ſhould no longer war againſt him: but remaining dead in his death, our ſelues might ſerue God in hart & minde, walking in newnes of life, and ſo amē ding our liues according to his commaundement. What madneſſe and ingratitude is it in vsus, to ſuffer this bodye to reuiue in ſin, that againe we may leauy warre againſt this Prince of peace, and prouoke him to wrath againſt vsus? doe we not hereby not onelyonly voluntarily depriue our ſelues of all the bleſsings whereof this Prince of peace is the fountaine and author, but alſo purchaſe vntounto vsus his curſes, by prouoking his wrath & indignatiō againſt vsus? let therfore this title of Prince of peace, binde and enforce vsus to harty amēdment, to the end that retaining this peace and quiet of conſcience in the ſight of God (which is an ineſtimable treaſure) we may alſo keep this ſpring of all bleſsinges alwaies open vntounto vsus, that ſo we may be bleſſed in this life, but eſpecially in the life to come.
18 Laſtly, let vsus acknowledge and apprehend theſe two titles, wonderfull, and Father of eternitye, that ſo we may aſſure our ſelues, Firſt, that in his wiſedome, power and goodneſſe, hee will ſo ſurmount whatſoeuer wiſedome, force, or bleſsing, that man can comprehend, that hee will alwaies ſhewe himſelfe, as the Prophet Eſay ſayth,Eſay. 28.29. Wonderfull in counſell and magnificent in woorkes: And this is to teach vsus truely to ſanctifie his name, and to aſſure vsus as the Apoſtle Saint Paul ſaith:Eph. 3.10. that hee is able more aboundantlye to poure his giftes vponupon vsus, then wee can aske or thinke: alſo to make vsus to hope in him beyond all hope, as knowing that if it were requiſite to alter the courſe of nature, and to worke miracles for our preſeruation againſt our enemyes, and to make vsus to feele the fruites of his promiſes, he would ſhewe himſelfe wonderfull to his glory and to our comfort and ſaluation. And heereof wee hauehave examples and aſſured pledges in his deliuery of his people,Exod. 14. whom he led dry foote through the ſea,Dan. 3. Dan. 6. in the three Hebrew Princes in the burning furnace, and in Daniel in the Lyons denne.
19 Finally he is called the Father of eternity, thereby to teach vsus, that it is he that poureth forth his bleſsings vponupon vsus all the dayes of our liues, and will continue vntounto vsus the fruition of the ſame with wonderfull encreaſe, eternally and infinitely in his kingdome and glory: and hereof to aſſure vsus,Mat. 28.20. 1. Theſ. 4.16. he hath promiſed to be with vsus euen vntounto the end of the worlde. And S. Paul ſaith, that he will then lift vsus vp into heauen into the houſe of God his father, there to abide with Ieſus Chriſt, the immortall King,2. Tim. 1.10. who through his Goſpel hath brought vsus to light, life and immortalitie. This eternitye of ioy and glory ſhould binde vsus greatly to louelove Ieſus Chriſt, to obey him, and to put our whole confidence in him, conſidering that it is he by whom we are, by whome we ſhall continue to be, and be for euer bleſſed. Let therefore theſe tytles, wonderfull, Counſailor, ſtrong and mighty God, Prince of peace, Father of eternity, be alwaies in our ſight, and in our mindes, to the end that as Ieſus Chriſt, to whome they be giuen, doth commaund vsus to amend, ſo we diligently amē ding our liues, may finally by a happy path, repleniſhed with all bleſsings proceeding from the wiſedome, power, and goodnes of Ieſus Chriſt, attaine to the fruition of the wonderfull and perpetually perdurable felicity, which this wonderfull and father of eternity ſhall giuegive vsus to enioy, continually and without end.