The Way to True Peace and Rest, Title page – Table of contents
THE WAY TO TRVE PEACE AND REST. DELIVERED AT EDINBOROVGH In XVI. Sermons: on the Lords Supper: Hezechiahs Sicknesse: and other select Scriptures. By that reuerend & faithfull Preacher of Gods word: Mr. ROBERT BRVCE, for the present, Minister of the Word in Scotland.
Dulcia non meruit, qui non gustauit amara.
IOHN 10.27.28.
My sheepe heare my voyce, and I know them, & they follow me. And I giuegive vntounto them eternall life, and they shall neuer perish, neither shall any man plucke them out of my hand.
LONDON. Printed by R. Field for Thomas Man and Ionas Man, dwelling in Pater-noster row at the signe of the Talbot. 1617.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVL MAISTER ADRIAN MOORE Esquire, &c. And to the no lesse religious and vertuous Gentlewoman Mistresse MARIE MOORE, his Wife, Patrones of Piety, all peace and happiness in both Worlds.
RIght Worshipfull, It must not seeme strange vntounto you that a new occasion hath made also a new change of stile; since occasion daily sheweth so many changes in the world. Amongst all which alterations, I must beg of you still to continue your countenance vntounto these few plaine homely Sermons: In token that no change (I hope so long as I liue) shall keepe me from manifesting vntounto the world (as all occasions shall serue) how much in dutie I am bound to your true vnfeined louelove and vndeserued fauours to me the vnworthiest of all. For which I can but wish you to be euer attended with those two faithfull companions of the Saints: peace of conscience and ioy in the holie Ghost: and at the last to hauehave a speedie hearing when your Spirits shall faile, to transport them into Abrahams bosome; there to enioy eternall and vnspeakeable rest, for euer and euer.
Yours in all dutie much and euer bound, I. H.
TO THE READER.
GEntle Reader: The Author of these Sermons not being present at their going to the presse againe, to reuiew and correct them: I doubted whether in these learned and curious dayes, such homely lines as these might not be distastfull amongst such multitudes of learned ones eueryevery where swarming in the presse; so much the rather, since their Author hath euer thought so meanly of himselfe, that no worke of his could be worthie of the presse. Notwithstanding since the importunitie of many did long since (as it were) wring and extort these few Sermons from him, in the beginning of his ministerie before things could be so well, ripely, and methodically digested, as possibly he could hauehave wished if now they were to do: I hauehave made bold also once againe to send them vntounto thy view: chiefly to the hungrie: Because (as Salomon speaketh) he who is full despiseth an honie combe; but to the afflicted soule eueryevery soure thing is sweete. The first fiue on the Lords Supper, were englished by a late Gentleman of worthie memorie, M. S. Mitchell, who was gathered to his fathers before he could see them at the presse; the rest were perused and englished by another friend. All the care and paines taken hath bene for Gods glorie and thy good. If it please thee now therefore to vse Philips counsell to Nathaniel, and see whether any good things come out of Nazareth, it may be thou shalt not thinke thy paines and time lost; which that thou mayest the sooner do, I ceasse to trouble thee, remaining
Thine in the Lord Iesus: I. H.
The Contents and substance of the Sermons following.
SERMON I. Out of 1. Cor. 11.28. Intreating of preparation to the Lords Supper:
Sheweth that a man must make this triall in his conscience. The Definition of conscience: the causes why conscience was by God left in vsus: The way how to keepe a good conscience. In what things we must chiefly examine our consciences: how to trie our peace with God and louelove with our neighbours: of mans first miserie and recouerie, and so how faith is wrought in the heart, how it is nourished in vsus.
SERM. II. Out of 1. Cor. 11.28. Intreating of Preparation to the Lords Supper:
Sheweth how a sincere faith is knowne: that he who for Christ can renounce himselfe, cannot be disappointed of his expectation. That faith is the free gift of God: Certaine effects whereby we may know if we hauehave faith: That because it is ioyned with doubting, it must be nourished. That faith and doubting may lodge in one soule. That a faith mingled and maistered with much doubting, is yet a true faith. That faith smothered, yet is not extinguished. A sure rest in the most dangerous tentations. The definition of louelove, what our louelove vntounto God and our neighbour is.
SERM. III. Out of 1. Cor. 11.23. Intreating of the Sacraments in generall:
Sheweth the definition and diuerse acceptions of the word Sacrament, what the signes in the Sacrament are, why they are called signes, what the thing signified in the Sacrament is. The necessitie of the application thereof. How the signe and the thing signified are ioyned together. The Illustration of this Coniunction: what considerations are needefull, when the Signe and the thing signified are giuen and receiued. The other part of a Sacrament, which is the word. To what vses the Sacrament serueth vsus more then the word. Faults which peruert the Sacrament, &c.
SERM. IIII. Out of 1. Cor. 11.23. Intreating of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper:
Sheweth the diuerse Names both in the Scriptures and by the Ancients giuen vntounto this Sacrament of the Lords Supper. The ends why this Sacrament was instituted. The things both outward and inward contained in this Sacrament. That the things signified in both Sacraments are one, but the signes are not one: why in Baptisme there is but one signe, and in the Lords Supper two? What power and perpetuity the bread hath to be a signe. How the Signes & the thing signified are conioyned in the Sacrament? How the Signe and the thing signified is receiued. What inconueniences are cast in by the Papists against this spirituall receiuing of Christ in the Sacrament. How the soule is said to eate the body and drink the blood of Christ. Faith is that which coupleth vsus to Christ. A similitude explaining the same.
SERM. V. Out of the 1. Cor. 11.23. Intreating of the Sacrament of the Lord Supper:
Sheweth our vnion with Christ by vertue of communion of the same Spirit. The definition of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper. Why this Sacrament is called a seale: Why a holy seale. Why the seale is said to be annexed to the Couenant. Why the Sacrament should be administred publikely. Why this seale must be ministred according to Christs institution. That the word and element must concurre in the institution of a Sacrament. What we meane by the word, in a Sacrament: what the Papists vnderstand by the word, in this action, and our differences from them. How the outward Elements are sanctified. How the Papists sanctifie these Elements. The refutatiō of Transubstantiatiō by diuerse arguments. The reasons why the Papists cannot thinke Christs body present in the Sacrament vnlesse it be really and substantially present. The Diuers opinions concerning the presence of Christs body in the Sacrament. How a thing is said to be absent and present. How the body of Christ is present. Our difference with the Papists, to whom the words ought to be directed, &c.
SERM. VI. Out of Isaiah 38. Intreating of Hezechiahs Sickenesse, v. 1.2.3:
Sheweth that the greatest are not exempt from great and sore trials. That Hezechiahs disease was (though not in the greatest extremity) that which we by an emphasis call the Sickenesse. Why God thus visiteth his children. The time when the King fell into this disease. What is our duty in the like case of distresse, from the Prophets plaine dealing with the King. That the Prophet (as appeareth) was not too rigorous in his denuntiation, in adding affliction vponupon affliction to the King. The Kings excellent behauiour in this Sicknesse: His gesture in the same expressing the signes of a good conscience. His recourse (in extremitie) to the same great power which now did smite him & seeme to be his enemy: our lesson from thence.
SERM. VII. On Isa. 38.4.5.6. Intreating of Hezechiahs Sicknesse, sheweth
The speedy issue and hearing of the Kings prayer: our lessons from thence: It is a mercy to be visited at home, as this King was. The author of the Kings comfort was God, vsing the meanes of his minister and word. Why mention is made of Dauid in this comfort the King receiued. Why Dauid is called the Kings Father. Our lessons from this preface. That the Lord is neare the prayers of his children. That as this King receiued more then he asked from God: so for the most part do all the Saints.
SERM. VIII. On Isaiah 38.7.8.9.10.11. Intreating of Hezechiahs sicknesse,
Sheweth why the King sought a signe, how some refuse signes. How the signe was shewed. Why the Signe was wrought in the Diall. Why in the bodie of the Sunne. What profit is to be gathered of signes. By whose power this signe was wrought. The force of prayer. The Kings thankfulnesse for the benefit receiued. A short summe of the Kings life. Our lesson from thence. The Kings song, shewing first when he was troubled. The diuersitie of the feare of death in the godly and wicked. The way to eschue the feare of death. The reasons why death seemes now so grieuous to the King. A censure of these his reasons.
SERM. IX. Out of Isaiah 38.12.13.14. Intreating of Hezechiahs sicknesse.
Sheweth the similitudes whereby the King amplified his present lamentation. Why the Patriarks conuersed in tents. Our vses thence. The extremitie of the Kings disease. Why God suffereth his children to fall into such extremities. Our lessons thence. By what meanes the King in this extremitie seeketh vntounto God. Why the King sought the prorogation of his dayes. In what respect it is lawfull to seeke the prolonging of our dayes. That faith and doubting may remaine in one soule. If Christ in his agonie had contrarie voyces, no maruell this King had also. How this King teacheth vsus to pray in extremitie.
SERM. X. On Isaiah 38.15.16. Intreating of Hezechiahs sicknesse,
Sheweth the Kings thankefulnesse in three things. That a good conscience giueth thankes for eueryevery thing receiued. How the King expresseth the greatnesse of the mercy receiued. What effects this mercy did breede in him. How the sweetnesse of this mercy did make him burst forth in praise of the word. How a man shall know if the Spirit of life be begun in him. How the Spirit is sai… to be nourished in vsus, and how banished, &c.
SERM. XI. On Isaiah 38.16. to the end of the chapter, Intreating of Hezechias sicknesse,
Sheweth, how from the other effects of the word, the King continueth to extoll the same. The time when this King did thus fall sicke. The manner of the Kings deliuery. That sin is the onelie thing punished in the wicked, and purged in the godly. That remission of sinnes cureth all diseases. That when God forgiueth sinnes, he also forgetteth them. That God onelyonly forgiueth sinnes. The cause and reasons, why God did forgiue this King his sinnes. Doctrine from thence, why the Lord worketh by meanes and secondary causes.
SERM. XII. Out of Psalme 76, From 1. to the 8. ver. Intreating of the great deliuery in 88. from the Spanish tyranny:
Sheweth the purpose of the Prophet in this Psalme: what is meant by the name of God. That the true knowledge and praises of God accompany each other. The profite which cometh to vsus by thankesgiuing. That it is a mercy to hauehave God neare vsus, and to dwell with vsus. The place of this ouerthrow. What that is, which driueth God from any place. How this victory was obtained. How the Lord is said to rebuke. Gods former dealing with his Church. To what end the Lord appointeth enemies vntounto his Church. How of Gods great mercyes followeth admiration.
SERM. XIII. On Psalme 76.8.9.10.11.12. Intreating of the former subiect,
Sheweth, that God onelyonly did this great worke. The effects that this great work brought forth. One lesson from thence. The time of this great iudgment. The times of Gods sitting and rising To what end God commonly riseth. An obiection of the Church preuented. Exhortation to thankefulnesse. That we should vponupon extraordinary mercyes chiefly stirre vp our selues to the same.
SERM. XIIII. On Psalme 40. preached in a publike fast enioyned by authority.
The parts of this Psalme. In the 1. part, from Dauids experience diuerse obseruations. How Hope differeth from Faith. The life of hope. Hope and mourning may stand together. How to obtaine patience in trouble. How to know when God heareth our prayer, though he grant not instantly our sute. How constant mourning in trouble vntounto God, argueth certaine deliuerance. Why the Lord delayeth to helpe his seruants. The end why our prayers are heard. Two sorts of abusing the grace of God.
SERM. XV. Out of 2. Tim. 2.22. preached at the publike Repentance of the Earle Bothwell, in the Church of Edinborough.
Sheweth the summe and meaning of the words: what these things be, which all yong men should flie. What is meant by the lusts of youth. Whence the restraint of sinne doth come. By what meanes the Lord restraineth sinne in vsus. What things yong men should seeke after. The definition and sorts of Repentance. In what respects wordly sorrow is called a blind terror. What godly sorrow is. A caution to be obserued in Repentance. What the greatest sinne a a man can commit is. The effects of godly sorrow. The manner of Repentance: Why some parts of Repentance, hauehave the name of Mortification and Viuification. That in the worke of Repentance, the diuell stayeth nothing more then our sincere confession of Sinnes. A caution to beware of Presumption. That there be two sortes of Repentance, &c.
SERM. XVI. Out of 2. Tim. 2.13. In way of an Exhortation to a Prouinciall Assembly,
Sheweth at whose hands the Pastor ought chiefly to seeke approbation. How to obtaine true approbation. The weight of ministeriall function. The groundworke of the ministery. Whereupon it consisteth. What it is to rule in the Lord. &c.