The Marks of the Children of God and their Comforts in Affliction, Chapter 12

The Marks of the Children of God and their Comforts in Affliction · Chapter 12

p. 101An exhortation to perſeuere conſtantly in the truth of the Goſpell in the time of perſecution, not to feare death, to keepe vsus from apoſtacie and diſſimulation, to vſe the holy Miniſterie, to walke in the feare of God, and to pray to him.

CHAP. 12.

BY this that is ſaid aboue, it appeareth that it is ſo far off, that we hauehave anie matter to complaine or to be offended at our afflictions, that rather wee hauehave iuſt argument to reioyce, & to comfort our ſelues.1. Cor. 9. To perſeuer conſtātly in the doctrine of the truth, with conſtancie and hope vnderunder the croſſe, for the aſſurance of of the felicitie & honour of it. 1. Tim. 6.12 1. Cor. 9.1 Cor 91 Tim 6:12 And indeed, behold the coū ſel of God, who hath ordained that ſuch ſhould be the way which leadeth vsus to glorie. When anie runne in a race, all runne, but hee onelyonly beareth away the prize, which ſhal runne beſt. They then runne vncertainly, but wee runne with aſſurance to obtaine the prize, although other runne better than we: onelie let vsus runne conſtantly vntounto the ende. Likewiſe we ſtriue, not in doubt as thoſe that beate the aire, but it is with the good fight of faith, aſſured of the victorie, & by the victory of a crowne, not of leaues that fade in three daies, but incorruptible for euer. And we be not as they that are mad or ſuperſtitious, ſuffering at all aduenture without knowing wherfore. Wee knowe that it is for the truth, wee know that this truth appertaineth vntounto vsus, we know that God hath created and lightened vsus, to maintaine this truth and grace of God to his glorie. How manie Martyrs hath there been in olde times paſt, that had not ſo much knowledge as wee. If wee goe backe, they ſhall be p. 102our Iudges: their zeale and conſtancie ſhall condemne our careles knowledge, and vnthankfulneſſe vntounto God. God hath not called vsus to fight and to ſuffer, leauing vsus wandring without a captain: Ieſus Chriſt himſelfe is our head, Captaine & guide, bearing his croſſe before vsus & crying, He that loueth me, let him followe me. Himſelfe hath not refuſed this condition, but hath beaten & made the way, to draw & lift vp his owne into his kingdome. All the Prophets, Apoſtles, Martyrs, and bleſſed ſeruaunts and children of GOD are gone thether before vsus. The worke it ſelfe of our ſaluation calleth vsus thether, and the glorie of God requireth it. Ought we to diſpute, whether we ought to obey? Shuld we doubt whether we will be faſhioned like his Image, and weare the liuerie of the children of God? Let vsus boldly enter into this ſtreight waye, at the ende whereof we ſhall finde the gate of heauen. Let vsus giuegive our neckes to Ieſus Chriſt to receiue his yoake, and the honour of his order.

How manie great Lords of the world trauaile all their life to come to this honour, to be Knights of the Order of any Prince? And hauing attained to it, they accompt themſelues happie men. And what bee the enſignes or ſuch Orders? The one ſhall hauehave a Fleece, the other a Garter: and the enſigne of the Order of Chriſt, is priſon, banniſhment, loſſe of goods, reproaches, beatings, death. This is the Order that Saint Paule receiued, and whereof he gloried, ſaying, I beare in my bodie the markes of Ieſus Chriſt.Gal. 6.17.Gal 6:17 Now although that a Fleece & a Garter, are in themſelfes vile or baſe things, yet are they honorable and to be deſired in the world, becauſe princes take them for the enſigne of their Order, acknowledging and calling them brethren that weare thē. The enſigne then that Chriſt the King of kings hath taken for his order, ſhall not it be honourable? Shal we not accompt our ſelues happie to attain vntounto it. Let vsus folow cheerfully this glorious troupe marching before vsus with triumph; honoured with this Order of the Prince of Glorie, IESVS Chriſt.

p. 103Let vsus ſuffer our ſelues to be guided by him, who is infinitely wiſer than we, and loueth vsus better than wee louelove our ſelues. And let vsus receiue this fauour of GOD, that ſo ſeruing his glorie, our glorie may alſo be aduaunced. Let vsus not be troubled nor ſhaken with feare, whē we ſee the perſecutors come to the ende of their enterpriſes, and the children of GOD afflicted. That is to them (ſayth Saint Paule) a manifeſt token of deſtruction,Philip. 1.28Phil 1:28 and to vsus of ſaluation. There is no greater curſe (ſayth Saint Auguſtine) than the proſperitie and felicitie of the wicked, becauſe it is as a ſtrong wine to make them drunke in their iniquities, and to make a heape and treſure (as it were) of the wrath of GOD vponupon them. It ſeemeth to vsus that the worlde goeth to confuſion and diſorder, when the wicked triumph, and the children of God weepe. But on the contrarie, that is to vsus a manifeſt token of the iuſt iudgement of GOD, as Saint Paule ſayth,2. Theſſ. 1.52 Thess 1:5 That wee are alſo made worthy of the kingdome of GOD, for which alſo wee ſuffer. For it is a iuſt thing (ſaith hee) with God, to render affliction to thoſe that afflict vsus, and to vsus that are afflicted, deliueraunce; then, when the Lord Ieſus ſhall ſhewe himſelfe from heauen with the Angels of his power, and with the flame of fire to doo vengeance vponupon thoſe that did not know God, & obeyed not the Goſpell of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, the which ſhal be puniſhed with an euerlaſting puniſhmēt from the face of the Lord, and from the glorie of his power, when he ſhall come to be glorified in his Saints, & to be made wonderfull among all the faithfull. Wee are ſo impatient, ſo hot, or ſo fooliſh, that wee conſider nothing but the beginning of the workes of our God: but wee muſt ioyne them together, and conſider the accompliſhment of thē, as S. Iames teacheth vsus, Ye hauehave heard the patience of Iob, Ia. 5.11.and hauehave feene the ende which the Lord made, and that the Lord is verie mercifull and full of pitie. He that ſhall ſet himſelf to conſider in his minde how poore Ioſeph was handled, & ſold of his brethren, & how (refuſing to conſent to p. 104the ſhamefull and deteſtable requeſt of his Miſtres) he was caſt into priſon,Gen. 37.39.Gen 37:39 and kept there 2. yeres, ſurelie a man would take pitie on him, as on a miſerable perſon: but let vsus ſee the accompliſhment of the worke of God: let vsus cōſider him (by this meanes) exalted to the gouernment of al the Kingdome of Aegipt, & then we ſhall count him happie. Aboue all, if we behold Ieſus Chriſt, mocked, ſcourged, crowned with thornes, crucified between 2. theeues, who would not be offended, that the Prince of glorie & Sauior of the world ſhuld ſo be hādled? But let vsus behold him riſen againe, aſcē ded into heauen, & ſitting at the right hand of God, aboue al principalities & power, inioying a glory incomprehenſible, and we will admire and praiſe the worke of God. So if we behold his mē bers perſecuted, baniſht, mocked, ſpoiled, impriſoned, entering into the fire: what (will we ſay) is this a father, which handleth his childrē in this ſort? But if we ioyne to the croſſe the glorie, & the reſurrection to the death: to bee ſhort, if wee beholde them in that eſtate, wherein we ſhall be, when Ieſus Chriſt meeting vsus in his maieſtie & glory ſhal lift vsus vp aboue al the heauens, into the houſe of GOD his father, to liue with him euerlaſtingly, and that the Croſſe ſhall be to vsus as a ladder to go vp vponupon, to the inioying of ſuch a glory. Who is he then amōg vsus that would not ſhout out for ioy, ſeing this wonderful worke of God? Who is he that wold not count himſelf happie? Who is he that would hauehave bin more daintily hādied? Who is he that would not be rauiſhed with the bounty, wiſedome & louelove of God towards his children? He that neuer ſaw a harueſt, ſeeing the plowman taking ſo much paine to till the earth, to ſpread it with dung, and after to caſt faire wheat into the field ſo tilled, he would thinke that this man were mad, & that a childe were to be whipt that ſhould do ſuch a thing: but ſeeing after the harueſt that ſhould come of it, he woulde chaunge his minde, and acknowledge, that the husbandman had doone an excellent worke. Now, this is the time to til, to dung & to ſowe, the harueſt ſhal folow. p. 105Let not vsus change the courſe of the ſeaſons: neither yet let vsus ſeperate them the one from the other, but let vsus ioyne the time of the death with the day of the reſurrection: and let vsus aſſure our ſelues,Pſal. 126 6Ps 126:6 as it is written in the Pſalmes, that hauing ſowed with teares, wee ſhall reape with ioye. He that in old time had ſeene poore Lazarus full of ſores at the gate of the rich man,Luk. 16.19Luke 16:19 & the rich man at the table in all delights and pleaſure, he would not hauehave choſen to bee Lazarus, but the rich man. But if tarrying a while, he ſawe the ſoule of Lazarus carried ſtraight, by the Angels, into heauen, and the rich mans ſoule goe to the fire of hell, he would change his mind and would deſire to be Lazarus. Let vsus then deteſt the gliſtering ſtate of curſed riches, and let vsus compt, the poore and afflicted condition of the Lazaruſſes of our time, waighting to be carried vp into euerlaſting glorie, happie. The wicked hauehave nothing in heauen, nor we in the world.Pſal. 94.12.Ps 94:12 Bleſſed is the man (ſaith Dauid) whom the Lord inſtructeth by the power of his ſpirit, and by the doctrine of his lawe, to hauehave contentment and reſt in the time of aduerſitie, while the graue is digged for the vngodlie, for an end of his felicitie. Yea, if we were called to ſuffer death for the name of Ieſus Chriſt.2. Not to feare death. What other thing is this death, but (after a long conflict) the day of victorie, the birth of a bleſſed ſoule after a great trauaile, the hauen deſired after ſo furious tempeſts, the end of a dangerous and troubleſome voyage, the healing of all wounds and ſicknes, the deliuerance from all feare and terrour, the accompliſhment of our ſanctification, the gate of heauen, the entrance into paradiſe, the taking poſſeſsion of the inheritance of the father, the day of our mariage with the Lambe, the inioying of our deſires? Who is it then among vsus, who feeling with S. Paule the bondage of ſinne, would not crie out with him: Alas wretched man that I am,Rom. 7.24.Rom 7:24 who ſhall deliuer me from this bodie of death? And feeling the good that p. 106death bringeth vntounto vsus, will not alſo ſay with him, I deſire to be diſſolued,Phil. 1.23.Phil 1:23 and to be with Chriſt. If death wherewith God threatned our firſt parents is a feeling of the wrath of God in the ſoule, & in the body becauſe of ſinne.Gen. 2.17.Gen 2:17 Wee may well ſay that death and life are two twinnes vnited and knit together, vntill the ſeparation of the ſoule and the bodie: and this ſeparation, which is cōmonlie called death, is rather the deadlie ſtroke of death, the bodie beeing then exempt from paine, and the ſoule from vice & corruption, waighting vntill the reſt of death bee ſwallowed vp in victorie at the day of the reſurrection. It is then an abuſe to call life a continual death, and to call that, death, which is the end of a thouſand deaths, and the beginning of the true life. It is then alſo againſt reaſon, that wee hauehave horrour of that which we ought to deſire, and deſire the continuance of that, the onlie end whereof bringeth vsus to eternall felicitie And to this end Saint Chriſostome ſaith verie well, that it, which is called life and death, hauehave deceaueable viſours. Life deformed, and accompanied with manie miſeries & calamities, hath a faire pleaſant viſour which maketh it to bee deſired: and Death, ſo faire, happie, and to be deſired, hath one deformed and fearefull. Let vsus put off then, ſaith he, theſe viſours, & we will change our minds, when wee ſhall finde vnderunder the faire viſour of life, nothing but matter of heauines and diſpleaſure, and vnderunder the ſoule & hideous viſour of death, ſuch a beautie and felicitie, as we ſhall incontinently be taken with her louelove. So long as we liue we hauehave cruell enemies, which neuer ceaſe making warre with vsus, whome wee can neuer vanquiſh, but by death. And indeed wee cannot make the world to die in vsus except we die our ſelues. Sinne which is in vsus, liueth in vsus, and fighteth againſt vsus, vntill wee, dying, it alſo die with vsus. And by death alone, the deadlie aſſaults of Satan our chiefe enemie, die foorthwith. But yet why ſhould we feare it, which cannot come p. 107vntounto vsus, but by the will of him who is our heauenlie father, yea and at ſuch a time as he appoynteth? As Dauid ſaid: Lord my times, that is to ſay,Pſal. 31.16Ps 31:16 all the minutes of my life are in thy hands. There is no creature more enemie to man, nor more able to hurt, than the diuell. And indeed he is called, the enemie, the murtherer,Mat. 13.39 Iho. 8.44. 1. Pet. 5.8. Iob 1. & 2.Matt 13:391 Pet 5:8Job 1 and the roaring Lyon ſeeking whome he may deuour. But the hiſtorie of Iob ſheweth plainlie, that GOD holdeth him brideled, ſo as hee can attempt nothing, nor goe either forward or backward, more than GOD will permit him. And this which is more, he hath not power to enter ſo much as into the ſwine,Luk. 8.32Luke 8:32 without the leaue of Chriſt. What is this then that wee ſhould feare men? Are not they alſo vnderunder the prouidence, power and gouernment of our GOD? It is GOD, ſaith Hannah the mother of Samuel, 1. Sam. 2.…1 Sam 2who weigheth their enterpriſes, ſo as they cannot paſſe one ounce of the waight ordained of GOD. It is he that ſlaieth and maketh aliue againe:1. Sam. 2.6.1 Sam 2:6 which bringeth downe to the pit, and lifteth vp againe: he maketh poore, and maketh rich: he abaſeth and exalteth. To bee ſhort, It is he alone, as Dauid ſaith,Pſal. 115.3.Ps 115:3 which doth whatſoeuer he will. Now, wee doubt not, but he will do that which he hath promiſed vsus, and wee knowe that he hath promiſed vsus, yea and that he hath taken vponupon him to make vsus happie. If then, the doctrine of the prouidence of God importeth, that he hath not onlie ordained in his eternall counſell the end and iſſue of his worke (which is his glorie, and the ſaluation of his elect) but alſo the fit meanes, according to his infinite wiſedome, and requiſite for the execution and accompliſhment of it: let vsus be aſſured that there is no creature that can let or alter his wil, as Saint Paule ſaith: If God be for vsus, who ſhall bee againſt vsus. Let vsus alſo bee aſſured,Rom. 8.30.Rom 8:30 that whatſoeuer happen vntounto vsus, is the way whereby he hath ordained to leade vsus to life p. 108and euerlaſting glorie. Saint Paule, ſpeaking of Ieſus Chriſt, ſaith,Col. 1.16.Col 1:16 that all creatures are of him, ſtand by him, and are for him. As alſo he ſaith in an other place, that of him, and by him, and for him all things are. Wherefore then doo wee feare our enemies,Ro. 12.36.Rom 12:36 ſeeing euen this, that they are, is by the power and will of him, who is our head and ſauiour; for aſmuch as they can neither enterpriſe, nor conſult, neither yet bee aliue one moment without the will of Chriſt? And beſides this, ſeeing their life and being, is for him, and for his ſeruice, that they might be to his members, as fire to purifie them, a rod to correct thē, medicines to heale them, a bridge for them to paſſe vponupon ouer the deſert of this world, into the land of promiſe, ladders to helpe them to aſcend into heauen, inſtruments to glorifie them, & as a knife that cutteth the cords by which we are held in the earth, & hindered to go vntounto God, & to be where Ieſus Chriſt our head is? Alſo, what threatning can the moſt mightie of the world threaten vsus with more horrible, to make vsus turne from the ſeruice of God, than thoſe wherewith God threatneth all thoſe that turne away from him?Mat. 10.28 Luk. 12.24Matt 10:28Luke 12:24 Feare not, ſaith Ieſus Chriſt, thoſe that can kill the bodie (and yet ſo, and when GOD will, and the bodie, which within a verie little after muſt needes die) and can doo nothing more: but feare him, who after hee hath killed the bodie, hath power to throwe both ſoule and bodie into euerlaſting hell fire: him I ſay vntounto you, feare indeede. In like maner, what promiſes can the world make vsus greater, or more certaine, to draw vsus vntounto it, than thoſe which our God hath made vsus, to keepe vsus in his ſeruice, and in his houſe, promiſing vsus euerlaſting life? Now, the Church is his houſe, and this good GOD hath called you (my brethren) thither, and hath receiued you. He hath nouriſhed you in it ſometime. He hath there giuen you the ſeale of your adoption. He hath begun to clothe you with the liuerie of his children, and hath p. 109faſhioned you like to the image of Ieſus Chriſt. A great part of your way is paſt. In this your trauaile of childhood you hauehave paſſed manie torments. If the greateſt tormēts come, the happie deliuerance approacheth. He that ſhall continue vntounto the end,Mat. 14.13Matt 14:13 ſhall be ſaued. They that are reuolted, and doo reuolt, make you to feele in their vnhappines, how happie you are, to be the children of God elected to eternall life.3. To keep our ſelues from apoſtacie and diſsimulation. For it is vponupon this election, and ſo, vppon the good pleaſure of God, that your perſeuerance doth depend. Acknowledge in it both his infinite merciemercy, ſupporting you, and pardoning you daylie ſo manie faults and ſinnes, and alſo his incomprehenſible goodnes leading you, as it were by the hand, to the inioying of eternall life. Abhorre you and deteſt that miſerable, yea curſed and vnhappie ſtate of theſe Apoſtates, that ye may alſo hate and deteſt the ambition and the pride, the euill conſcience, the deſpiſing and abuſe of the gifts of GOD, the louelove of the world and thoſe other vices, which threwe them headlong into ruine. And on the contrarie, louelove, ſearch and follow all that which God hath ordained to nouriſh godlines, faith, charitie, humilitie in vsus, and other gifts and graces which proceed from the election, and are meanes ordained by the prouidence of GOD, to guide vsus to the happines promiſed to thoſe which ſhall continue vntounto the end. Keepe your ſelues hereafter from theſe falſe Nicodemites, who to auoid the croſſe, will abandon (by a ſacrilege vntollerable) their bodies to idolatrie, and ſo conſequentlie to the diuell, in reſeruing, as they ſay, their hearts vntounto God. Will the moſt careles husband among them, content himſelfe, if his wife, giuing ouer her bodie to whoredome, ſhould ſay vntounto him, that ſhe keepeth neuertheleſſe her heart vntounto him?1. Cor. 6.191 Cor 6:19 Ye are not your owne, ſaith S. Paule, yee are bought with a price: Then glorifie God in your body and in your ſpirit, which both appertaine vntounto God Againe,2. Cor. 7.12 Cor 7:1 Clenſe your ſelues p. 110from all filthines both of bodie and ſpirit, finiſhing your ſanctification in the feare of God. Perſeuer conſtantlie in the Church, which is your mother,4. To vſe the holie miniſterie. that you may bee the heires of the father. It ſufficeth not to keepe your ſoules from poyſon, ye muſt nouriſh them, that they may liue. Rather than we will ſuffer our bodies to die of hū ger, wee will ſell all to get bread: and wee would runne through the fire in ſuch a caſe to ſaue it. At the leaſt, let vsus followe thoſe that in the time of famine, forſake their Countries to finde foode. The ſoule is more precious than the bodie.Ioh. 6.27.John 6:27 And therefore muſt wee labour more to hauehave the bread abiding vntounto eternall life, than for it that periſheth. Alwaies thinke with your ſelues our ſoules muſt liue, and it is to tempt GOD to deſire to liue without foode. Therefore wee muſt ſeeke foode, that wee maye liue.

Now, true it is, that to reade and meditate the worde of GOD in the houſe, and to keepe there the familie, is a holie exerciſe, and very profitable for the noriture of the ſoule.Col. 3.16 Pſa. 1.2. Act. 17.11 Deut. 6 Pſa. 119 Act. 2.42Col 3:16Ps 1:2Acts 17:11Deut 6Ps 119Acts 2:42 It is cō maunded of GOD, and ſuch as are negligent in this duetie, ſhewe that they hauehave no care of the life of their ſoules: yet this doth not ſuffice. Wee muſt confeſſe the name of God, and call vponupon him in the aſſemblie: Wee muſt heare the ſermons,1. Tim. 3.151 Tim 3:15 and communicate at the holie Sacraments: wee muſt ioyne and keepe our ſelues vnited with the Church, which is the piller and ſure ground of trueth, and the mother of the children of God. This onelie title of mother giuen to the Church,Gal. 4.26Gal 4:26 teacheth vsus, that there is no entrance into the life that Iaſteth euer, except wee bee conceiued in the wombe of this mother, that ſhe beare vsus, and bring vsus forth, & giuegive vsus ſucke of her breaſtes: finallie, except ſhee hold and keepe vsus vnderunder her conduct and gouernment, vntill (being vnclothed of this mortall fleſh) we be made like vntounto the Angels.Act. 11.26Acts 11:26 In ancient time the faithfull were called diſciples. For the Church is alſo called the ſchoole p. 111of Chriſtians, wherein (according to the infirmitie that is in vsus) we muſt be the diſciples of Chriſt all the daies of our life. This Church is alſo often ſignified by a Temple: and the holie miniſterie is ordained of GOD to build it. Therefore whoſoeuer deſpiſeth it,2. Cor. 3.62 Cor 3:6 cannot be builded in this Temple to be there a liuing ſtone.1. Tim. 3 15 Heb. 3.6 Ephe. 2.19 2. Cor. 3.81 Tim 3:15Heb 3:6Eph 2:192 Cor 3:8 This Church is the houſe of God: the faithfull, his houſehold ſeruants & children. Therfore whoſoeuer doth not enter, and abide in the Church, cannot call himſelfe the child or houſehold ſeruant of God. The preaching of the Goſpel is the miniſterie of the holie ghoſt, of life & of glory: whoſoeuer refuſeth to heare it, hath not the ſpirit of Chriſt, and conſequentlie pertaineth not vntounto him,Rom. 8.9Rom 8:9 & ſo abideth in death and euerlaſting ſhame. See how ye muſt thinke in your ſelues of the benefite, vtilitie, yea and the neceſsitie of the holie miniſterie, to ſay with Dauid: Pſal. 84.2Ps 84:2O Lord of hoſts how amiable are thy tabernacles? My ſoule deſireth greatly, yea and longeth after the courts of the Lord. My heart and my fleſh reioyce in the liuing God. Bleſſed are they which dwell in thy houſe, and praiſe thee continuallie. Let the taſt and need of this ſpirituall food cauſe thoſe that are now depriued of it, to ſay with Dauid: Like as the Hart deſireth the water brookes, ſo longeth my ſoule after thee O God: My ſoule is a thirſt for God,Pſal. 42.1.Ps 42:1 yea euen for the liuing God, ſaying: Alas when ſhall I come to appeare before the preſence of God? When we ſhalbe depriued of our countrie, wife, husband, traffick, goods, dignities, and other thinges pleaſant to the fleſh: let all theſe bee nothing to vsus: but let vsus ſay with Dauid, I hauehave asked one thing of the Lord, which I will ſtill require, that I may dwell in the houſe of the Lord all the daies of my life,Pſal. 27.Ps 27 to behold the faire beautie of the Lord, and carefullie to viſite his temple. If Dauid, a man excellent in faith and all vertue, a prophet, and as an Angell amongſt men, confeſſeth ſo roundlie, and ſo often, the neede that himſelfe had to bee in p. 112the Temple of the Lord, feeling himſelfe as it were rauiſhed with a moſt feruent deſire of this benefite, what ought wee to feele in our ſelues, who are yet ſo ignorant, ſo weake, ſo corrupt, in the middeſt of ſo manie dangers? Say then from the heart with the ſame Dauid: Pſal. 26.8.Ps 26:8O Lord I louelove the habitation of thy houſe, & the place where thine honour dwelleth: And that good God and almightie father, who hath care to nouriſh our bodies, yea and prouideth for the nouriſhment of the little birds, will without doubt heare your deſire, and wil prouide for the nouriſhment of your ſoules.

Moreouer, (accompliſhing his promiſe made by Eſay, Eſay. 44.Isa 44of powring out of waters vponupon the drie ground) hee will make you to growe as the graſſe, and as the willowes by the riuer ſides, for the ioye and comfort wherof, one ſhall ſay, I am the Lords, another ſhall call himſelfe by the name of Iacob, an other ſhall ſubſcribe with his hande, I am the Lords, and ſhall call himſelfe by the name of Iſrael.5. To walk in the feare of God. But vnderſtād farther, that the Goſpel wherof ye make profeſsion, is a doctrine not to flie about in the vnderſtāding, but to take ſeate in the hart; not in the tongue to talk onlie, but in the life and holie works. Then be ye doers of the word, & not onlie hearers deceauing your ſelues. God hath adopted you for his children,Iam. 1.22Jas 1:22 but on this condition, that the image of Chriſt may ſhine in you. God hath choſen and called you to be his Temples, and to dwell in you by his holie ſpirit:1. Cor. 6.19 1. Cor. 3.161 Cor 6:191 Cor 3:16 Remember yee that the temple of God is holie, and that it is not lawfull to defile it, nor to put holie things to prophane vſes. God hath created you for his glorie, and Chriſt hath redeemed you, that ye might be his: Remember then that you muſt bee conſecrated and dedicated vntounto God, neither to thinke, ſay nor doo anie thing but to his glorie. Ye are dead to ſinne,Rom. 6.Rom 6 but liuing to GOD by Ieſus Chriſt: Applie not then your members to bee inſtruments of p. 113of iniquitie to ſinne, but applie you vntounto God, as being of dead, made aliue, and your members to be inſtrumēts of righteouſneſſe to God.Rom. 6.18Rom 6:18 Yee are made free from ſinne by Chriſt, but it is to bee ſeruants to righteouſnes. Remember that which S. Paul ſaith, that if ye liue according to the fleſh ye ſhal dy:Rom. 8.13.Rom 8:13 but if by the ſpirit ye mortefie the deeds of the fleſh, ye ſhal liue: they that are of chriſt,Gal. 5.24Gal 5:24 hauehave crucified the fleſh with the concupiſcē ces of it. If ye liue in the ſpirit, walke alſo in the ſpirite.Gal. 5.25Gal 5:25 As out of fire proceedeth inſeperablie heate and brightnes: in like manner if ye hauehave receiued Chriſt for iuſtification, ye muſt hauehave him alſo for ſanctification If yee hauehave hope to ſee Chriſt as hee is,1. Cor. 1.30 1. Iho. 3.2 3 Heb. 12.141 Cor 1:30Heb 12:14 purifie your ſelues as he is pure, following peace with al men, and holineſſe, without which none ſhall ſee God. Remember what the faithful ſoule ſaith, I hauehave waſhed my feete,Can. 5.3 how ſhall I file them againe.

The band betweene GOD and vsus is holineſſe, inaſmuch as it appertaineth to his glorie, that hee which is holie, hauehave no acquaintance with iniquitie and vncleannes.1. Pet. 1.15 2. Cor. 61 Pet 1:152 Cor 6 Be ye then holie, for I am holie ſaith the Lord. What participation is there, ſaith Saint Paule, of righteouſneſſe with vnrighteouſnes? what fellowſhip hath light with darkeneſſe? what agreement hath Chriſt with Belial, or what part hath the beleeuing with the infidel? or what agreement hath the Temple of GOD with Idolls? For yee are the Temple of the liuing God; wherefore depart from amongſt them, and ſeparate your ſelues, ſayth the Lorde, and touch not anie vncleane thing. The ende of our regeneration is, that there may appeare in our life, an holy melodie and conſent betweene the righteouſneſſe of GOD and our obedience. Yee hauehave vnderſtoode here before, that the deſire of the heart to conſecrate your ſelues to God, is a marke of your election and adoption. But ſee yee that this deſire may ſhew it ſelfe by the workes of godlines and charitie. If you make profeſsion that ye know Chriſt:Ephe. 4.20Eph 4:20 know ye according to the doctrine of S. Paul, that yee hauehave not knowne him as ye ought, if ye p. 114mortifie not the olde man,Col. 2.13Col 2:13 and put on the newe, walking in righteouſneſſe and true holineſſe. God hath drawne you out of the power of darkeneſſe, and hath tranſported you into the kingdom of his beloued Sonne. Walke ye then, as the children of light: Renounce this curſed boudage of Sathan: Shew that ye are faithfull and not traytours to Ieſus Chriſt: Be ye without reproch and ſingle harted. The children, I ſay,Phil. 2.15Phil 2:15 of God vnreproueable in the midſt of this crooked and peruerſe nation. Among whom ye ſhine as lightes in the worlde, which beare before you the worde of life.Tit. 2.11Titus 2:11 Shew your ſelues to feele the wholſome grace of God, which teacheth you to renounce all infidelitie and worldlie luſts, to liue ſoberly, iuſtly, and godly. Thinke in your ſelues, that the friendſhip of the world is enmity to God. And that ye cannot be friendes to the world,Iam. 4.4Jas 4:4 but that yee muſt needes be enemies to God.Eph. 5.11Eph 5:11 HaueHave no fellowſhip with the vnfruitful works of darknes, but rather reproue them, ſo as your holy conuerſation may ſerue for a reproofe and checke to ſuch as walk diſorderly.Iob. 28.28.Job 28:28 Remember what God ſaid to man, The feare of the Lord is true wiſdom,Eſay. 33.6Isa 33:6 & to depart from euil is vnderſtanding. Let the fauour of God be our treaſure: walke, as it were, before him,Gen. 17.1Gen 17:1 as he cōmanded Abraham. Think that ye are not your own, to liue for your ſelues according to your owne wiſdome & pleaſure, but that ye appertaine vntounto God, that ye might liue vntounto him, and according to his wiſdome and will reuealed vntounto vsus in his word. That man hath much profited, who knowing that he is not his owne, hath taken away from himſelfe, and his owne reaſon all lordſhip & dominion, to reſigne it to God, & to ſuffer himſelfe quietlie to be guided according to his pleaſure. There is no vice more common, more pernicious, or more hard to cure than the louelove of our ſelues: and therefore there is no leſſon more neceſſary than it, which Ieſus Chriſt taught his apoſtles: That to be of the nūber of his diſciples,Mat. 16.14Matt 16:14 we muſt renounce our ſelues. Renouncing then your ſelues, hate ye that which is euill, and cleaue vntounto that which is good, inclined p. 115by brotherly charity to louelove one another. Procure things that are good,Col. 3.12Col 3:12 not onelyonly before God, but alſo before men. If it be poſsible, ſo much as in you lieth, hauehave peace with al men. Be yee as the elect of God, holy and beloued, clad with the bowells of compaſsiō, of kindnes, of humility, of meeknes, of longſuffering, forbearing one another: and forgiuing one another, if any man hauehave a quarel with another, euē as Chriſt hath forgiuen you LoueLove one another,1. Ihon 10 as God hath loued you. For herein is the difference betwene the children of God, and the children of the deuil, & wherein ye may be knowne to be the true diſciples of Chriſt. Ye are al members of one body,Iho. 13.35. let there be no diuiſion or parts-taking among you,1. Cor. 12 251 Cor 12:25 but feele the afflictions of thoſe that weepe, to weepe with them, and to comfort them, & reioyce with thoſe that reioyce, to praiſe God with them. If yee be the Citizens of the City Ieruſalem, & wil hauehave a ſure dwelling in it, walke in integritie,Pſal. 15Ps 15 labour to deale iuſtly, ſpeake the truth from your harts, keepe you from ſlandering, couetouſnes, and all other corruption. Acknowledge in al men the image of God, whereunto you owe honor & louelove: and in your brethren acknowledge the renuing of this image,Gala. 6.10Gal 6:10 and the brotherly coniunction in Chriſt, in doing good to al men,1. Pet. 4.101 Pet 4:10 louelove, honor, and help eſpecially, thoſe that are of the houſhold of faith. Ye are debtors to your neighbors of all that ye hauehave,1. Pet. 4.81 Pet 4:8 or are able to do, to be diſpoſers of it with condition, that ye render to God an account.Iam. 1.19Jas 1:19 Honor the graces of God in your brethren, and couer their infirmities by charitie, be quicke to heare, but ſlowe to ſpeake, and ſlow to wrath. For the wrath of man worketh not that which is righteous in the ſight of God. Do not deſire, hope, or imagine any other means to proſper by, thā by the bleſsing of God. And do not looke, that hee ſtould aduaunce by the ayde of his bleſsing, that which he hath accurſed by his mouth. So go forward in the amendment of your liues, that this day may paſſe yeſterday. Seale to the puritie of the doctrine, with the holines of your life, that the ignorant ſeing your blameles conuerſatiō,1. Pet. 2.121 Pet 2:12 & eſteming p. 116you by your good workes, may glorifie God, and imbrace the goſpel with you,Luke 7.1.Luke 7:1 when it ſhall pleaſe GOD to call them. HaueHave mind of that great curſe pronoū ced by the high Iudge,2. Cor. 13 112 Cor 13:11 againſt ſuch as offend any of the very leaſt. Furthermore, reioyce in the Lord, indeuour to be perfect, be comforted, be of one conſent, liue in peace,Phil. 2.13Phil 2:13 and the God of louelove and peace ſhall be with you. But as it is God which worketh in vsus both to will, & in worke to accompliſh according to his good pleaſure.6. To pray to God. So aboue all thinges imploy your ſelues to pray feruently & continually. Prayer (ſaith Chryſoſtome) is the ſoule of our ſouls. For it alſo is the ſoule which quickneth al the actions of the children of God. It was the lifting vp of Moſes hands to heauen,Exo. 17.11Exod 17:11 which ſtrengthned Ioſuah & his army, & gaue him victorie ouer the Amalckites. And in deede, without the grace of God, the which we obtaine by prayer, all that we do is but vanitie. Faith is the key that openeth the coffers of the treaſures of our God. Prayer is the hand to draw it out to inrich our ſelues. Prayer lifteth vp our hearts from earth to heauen; it renueth the memorie of the promiſes of God to confirme vsus; it aſſureth vsus againſt all that wee can feare, it obtaineth all that we can deſire. It giueth reſt and contentment to our ſoules. It keepeth and ſtrengtheneth the feare to offend God. It increaſeth the deſire to go vntounto him, whom in praying we feele to be the ſpring and heape of all good things. It ingendreth in vsus a ſtedfaſt deſpiſing of the world, and renouncing of the fleſh: it repreſenteth vntounto vsus the heauenly and euerlaſting felicitie, that we may aſpire to the inioying of them. There is nothing to bee more deſired, than to be conuerſant with him, without whome we can not be happy. But he that wil alwayes be with GOD, he muſt alwaies eyther pray or reade. For when we pray we talke with God: and when wee reade,Aug. in Pſal. 85.Ps 85 God talketh with vsus. The more we are exerciſed in prayer to God, the more we increaſe in godlines. Therefore alſo we may not be weary or faint-hearted in prayer, although the Lord deferre to make vsus feele the fruite p. 117of our prayers, For we hauehave a promiſe of him that can not lie, that whatſoeuer we aske of GOD in the name of Ieſus Chriſt, it ſhalbe giuen vsus. If he deferre, for ſome time, to make vsus feele the fruit of our praiers, it is for our greater benefite. Let vsus continue ſtill and waight, knowing aſſuredly, that he, who according to his fatherly louelove & bounty, deſireth our good, can (according to his infinite power) giuegive that which we aske of him, and according to his truth will hear vsus: he alſo according to his wiſdōe knoweth the fitteſt time, as is before ſaid, and the meanes moſt apt to make vsus feele the fruite of our praiers. When we aske of God (ſaith S. Bernard) euen thoſe thinges that concerne this preſent life: our praiers are not ſo ſoone gone out of our mouth, but they are written in his booke: and we ought (ſaith he) to be aſſured, that hee will either giuegive the thing it ſelfe which we hauehave asked, or other things which hee knoweth to bee more profitable for vsus. To conclude, Praier is the moſt mightie and fruitfull worke of charitie, ſeeing by it we helpe our neighbors preſent & abſent, knowen and vnknowen, great and little, and that both with ſpirituall and corporall good things, drawing by our praiers the bleſsing of God vponupon them. And in this confidence my very deare and worſhipfull Brethren, I will continue in this dutie and office of charitie, earneſtlie to pray to God for you, and particularlie I will water with my praiers to God this Exhortation, which I hauehave directed vntounto you, beſeeching him with all my heart, that beeing comforted and ſtrengthened thereby, in the doctrine of the truth, which yee hauehave receiued, yee may continue conſtantly in it, ſealing it by the works of godlineſſe and charitie, comforting your ſelues in the Lord, in that yee are his welbeloued Children in Ieſus Chriſt: and ſurmounting al temptations and aſſaults, to the ende, that by the power of the holy Ghoſt departing Conquerors out of all conflicts, ye may attaine at the laſt, to the crowne of glorie, which God hath prepared to all his childrē,1. Theſſ. 5.231 Thess 5:23 through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Now the GOD of peace ſanctifie you p. 118throughout, and preſerue your whole ſpirit, and ſoule, and bodie blameleſſe, vntill the comming of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. He that hath called you is faithfull, who alſo will doo it. I alſo beſeech you (my brethren) to imploy your ſeiues more and more in feruent and continuall praiers, for the preſeruation, proſperitie and aduauncement of his Church, ſo mightelie aſſailed on all ſides; and particularlie to bee mindfull of mee in your prayers, that it may pleaſe the Father of light, from whence all good gifts doo come, to continue his mercies towards mee, and to guide mee alwaies with his holie ſpirit, with the increaſe of his giftes and graces to accompliſh the reſt of my life, ſeruing faithfull and holilie to his glorie, & the aduauncement of the Kingdome of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. Amen.