A Preparative to Contention, Book · Chapter 26
CHAP. XXVI.
VVee ought to confeſſe and ſubmit our ſelues to the power, merciemercy, and will of God: to eſchew contention, to retaine contentation, and to pray for ſtrength and opportunitie, to perfoome our duties.
THat wee may therefore walke ſafely through the troubleſome Sea of this mortal life, it is right neceſſarie,The beſt way to walke in, without danger. that we acknowledge not only that god is, but alſo that God is moſt ſtrong, ſufficiēt, omnipotent, and euerlaſting, to whom onelyonly, and that iuſtly, is aſcribed all power, all riches, all wiſedome, all ſtrength, all honour, all glorie, all praiſe. Next, it is neceſſarie that we beleeue and confeſſe, that the ſame God for the ſake of his ſonne, is good to Iſrael: that is, to vsus his faithfull and elect children: in the ſenſe whereof, we are right worthily occaſioned to louelove him with Abraham, Dauid, Iohn, Marie, and other his Saints, with all our heart, with all our ſoule, with all our mind, with all our ſtrength, & to ſing in good harmonie with thoſe heauenly ſouldiours foreign. Glorie be to God on high. Thirdly,Luke 2.14. it is neceſſarie that wee humbly ſubmit and yeeld our ſelues wholy to the power, will, and merciemercy of this our God, to permitte and ſuffer him moſt gladly to guide vsus, to gouerne vsus, and all our affaires, to deale for vsus, to vſe vsus and our miniſterie and labours in all things, and in all ſort, as it ſhall beſt pleaſe his heauenly grace at all times and ſeaſons: knowing right well, that hee will in merciemercy ſo prouide in the diſpoſition of his graces towardes vsus, that all things ſhall work tog…ther for our good, if we louelove him, feare him, and depend on his mercy. And ſurely howſoeuer the maligne world ſhall iudge or imagine of the waies or workes of God we that are thus taught of God,The beſt wiſedome. do know moſt aſſuredly, that this is the beſt wiſdome in the world, to ſhrowde our ſelues vnderunder the wings of his prouidence and protection, againſt the fraile & chaungeable things of this vaine life, therein to reſt contented with that lot, which it ſhall pleaſe God to appoint for vsus in the ſame: and to expect through faithfull hope, a a bleſſed ende of our louelove and labour, euen in the middeſt of the horrible confuſions of this world, in the which no man liuing wanteth his croſſe: and through the which, the godlie take vp their croſſe and follow Chriſt, with patient minds, towards the goale of eternall life.
2 They that hauehave ſo learned this wiſdome that they vſe to make proofe thereof, liue not in loath of their owne ſtates and conditions of life, nor do they intrude on the vocations of others: they doo not affect the Seas, whoſe calling is, to liue on the land: but be well pleaſed with that lot and life, which the Lord hath called them vntounto in his feare.The gratefull men of the golden age. 4. Eſd. 9.19▪ They in good ſort reſemble thoſe auntient gratefull men of the golden world, who being ſchooled by Iuſtice, and not acquainted with pernicious brawles, contentions, ſeditions, and thoſe common maladies of the copper age (as the Poets call it) did (vnderunder the rule of Iuſtice) liue contented with that which they had. Of them thus writeth Aratus:
Men ſimplie liu'd content, remou'dforeign &c. Aret ſolen. 63
from hurtes of raging Seas:
They brought not ſpoiles from far in ſhips,
but beſt themſelues did pleaſe.
VVith Oxen toyle, to till the ſoyle,
for worthie Iuſtice then,
Did miniſter aboundantlie,
to theſe right gratefull men.
And trulie, if we Engliſh men were ſo well learned in this wiſedome, as we ought to be, we would not groane for innouations,Indeed, the faults which be, are of the negligence and corruption of them that ſhould execute the Lawes, and not in the lawes which are prouided in our land. & the alteration of the religion, ſtate, gouernment, and lawes conſtituted, prouided and eſtabliſhed within this Realme. The which we cannot but acknowledge for good, godly and profitable in all equal cenſure & reaſon, howſoeuer it be, that fraile men through their imperfections and infirmities doo faile and offend in the due execution and right performance of the ſame. Neither is it meete, that the negligence, defects and offences of thoſe men ſhuld occaſiō the things which of themſelues are ſo good, honeſt, and profitable, to be condemned and contemned for naught and vngodlie: as neither the tranſgreſſions, negligences, ſinnes, defects and offences of men, againſt the diuine lawes of the Lord, ſhould cauſe them to be cō demned and reiected: for though there was neuer any man which yet fulfilled that lawe (Chriſt onelyonly exceped) and the executioners thereof hauehave failed beyond all meaſure in that which of them was required, yet may we not ſay that the lawe of God is therfore imperfect, or vniuſt, ſeeing that the default is not found in the lawe: but in them onelyonly, that ſhould either obſerue the ſame, or puniſh the tranſgreſſours thereof after their deſerts.Solomon could not amend al faults in the commō wealth, a cauſe of his complaint Eccleſ. 3.16. and 4.1. And indeede heereof Salomon complained, but healpe it he could not, albeit he was the chief Magiſtrate ouer the cō mon-wealth of Iſrael: namely, that Impietie could not be fully corrected, nor all things which were a miſſe could be reformed and amēded by the Iudges. The Lawes were godlie, and officers were appointed to execute thē accordingly: howbeit, ſinne increaſed daylie, neither was there founde a ſufficient remedie againſt the ſame. Therefore, that onelie which might be done, he did: yt which was incurable, he was forced to leaue, & cōmit vntounto the lord, to be corrected and amēded after his diuine wil, & not as a man would.
Good counſaile to be followed: Be content with the ſtate and ſeeke not an alteration.3 Wel then, let vsus learne wiſedome of King Salomon in this point, let vsus not deſire thraldome in the leath of our libertie, nor pull that miſerie on our heads againe through our owne murmure and diſcontentation, out of the which it hath pleaſed God (not of our deſerts, but of his merciemercy in Chriſt) to deliuer vsus: but rather, let vsus vſe our libertie in contentation, and obſerue thoſe good things, as the bleſſing of God with thankes-giuing, leaſt that through our diſcontentation and vnthankfulneſſe we be depriued of them, and brought into the bondage of Egipt again, where vnderunder the heauie hands of cruell taſke-maiſters, wee ſhall be conſtrained to ſighe and groane without any comfort or eaſe: that thereby, we may at length learn to know & diſcerne the right difference between the ſeruice of the Lord who in merciemercy ſaueth vsus, & the thraldome of worldlie Tyrants, which ſeeke to captiue and deſtroy vsus, without all merciemercy or compaſsion. And this beeing ſpoken, I would gladly intreate the right Chriſtians, and true Subiects to the Lords Annointed (without all diſdaine) not onelyonly to record, or at the leaſt, once againe to remember what things they hauehave eyther read or heard in this diſcource, and ſuch like bookes of inſtruction, admonitiō and cōfort: but alſo wold eueryevery day before they ſleepe or take reſt, call their owne waies into remembrance, and duly examine their owne actions, their owne words,VVhat men ſhould eueryevery day thinke on and performe their owne thoughts. In the which, if they hauehave doone well, and as it beſt became them, they may both reioyce, and continue therein with thankfulneſſe to ye Lord, that hath giuen them the abilitie and opportunitie ſuch things to effect: but if they hauehave faulted, tranſgreſſed, or neglected dutie therein, to the diſhonor of God, to the hurt of their neighbors, to their own diſcredit and ſhame, they may then be ſorie, repent, and endeuour without delay, to correct, amend and recompence that, wherein they hauehave faulted & offended. To this purpoſe,Pith. claud. Mino. in Alcuat. Emb. 17. I gladly remember (as we ſhould not refuſe that which is good) and that golden counſaile and wholſome inſtruction of Pithagoras to his ſcholers, conteyned in theſe verſes.
See, that thine heauie eyes, to ſleepe,
at night be not afourded:
Vntill the deedes of all that day,
three times, thou haſt recorded.Three very profitable queſtions for eueryevery man to aſke of himſelfe.
VVhat hauehave I done, not as I ſhould?
Or what, which ſhould not bee?
Or, what neglected I, to day,
which well pertain'd to mee?
4 But now, becauſe that (whiles we bee in this world) through our owne praue affections, and wicked imaginations, which wee hauehave brought with vsus from the wombe of her that conceiued vsus in ſinne (whereon the enemie of our Soules prayeth greedilie, and ſeeketh to drowne vsus in deſtruction) we cannot doo that which is good, and that which the Lord requireth of vsus: but that all our ſufficiency commeth to vsus from the Lord God, who onelyonly maketh Saincts of them which were conceiued in ſin and borne in vncleanneſſe▪ and maketh true Chriſtians of them which were ſometimes as ſheepe going aſtray, by the vertue of his ſpirit, regenerating them in the bloude of his Sonne our Sauiour, in whoſe name onelyonly hee willeth vsus to call and come vntounto him in all our afflictions: it is both good and neceſſarie that we inuocate his holy name, Inuocation and prayer neceſſarie for all men.and pray vntounto him (through our Mediatour Chriſt) that hee will vouchſafe to graunt and giuegive vntounto vsus, all thoſe healps (in the performance of our duties) which by nature we cannot hauehave. This is an exerciſe which the Lord himſelfe commanded, which Chriſt & his Apoſtles and Martyrs hauehave vſed and commended vntounto vsus, and which hath many firme promiſes of conſolation and ioyfull effectes in the word of God.
This is that, which is a ſacrifice to God, and to him a pleaſure. A plague to the diuell, and to him a paine. An healpe to man, and to him a comfort. This is that, which is a preſeruatiue againſt all tēptations: a comfortatiue to confirme our heartes: an inkindling of our zeale to godlineſſe: a rauiſhing of our minds with the louelove of celeſtiall things. This is a defence for vsus againſt them that ſeeke to ſeduce vsus: a ſtay for our faith: a way to come by that which we want: a keye to open the locke that ſhutteth vp eueryevery good bleſſing: this is the vp ſhotte of that complete Armour of proofe, wherewith the Apoſtle would, that the right Chriſtian ſouldiour (and ſo the prophet proteſtant) ſhould be furniſhed. Epheſ. 6.18. Therefore, al ye that be fathers, traine vp your children in this holie exerciſe: ye that bee maiſters, doo the like vntounto your ſeruants. All ye that be Chriſtians (of what eſtate, condition or degree ſoeuer ye bee) be ye occupied in this ſeruice.
5. There ſhould no place keepe you from this ſeruice of God: there ſhould be no ſocieties,The place of prayer. Pſal. 50.15. Baruc. 6.5. nor companies, that ſhould hinder you (for not onelie in word, but alſo in a godlie wel-wiſhing prayeth the godlie, and their ſighes, groanes and thoughts are heard vntounto the Lord well inough) whether we be in the temple with Hanna, or in the houſe with Cornelius, or on the toppe of the houſe with Peter, or in the denne with Daniell, or in the dungeon with Ieremie, or in the ſea with Ionas, or in the place of execution with Stephan, or in the garden with Chriſt, or in the way with Abrahams ſeruant, either priuately alone, or publiquelie with others, lette vsus not omitte this holy worke: for this is good and acceptable to the Lord: ſo it be done in faith. And as we muſt bee thus exerciſed eueryevery where, ſo alſo at all time and times, both night and day, with that bleſſed man, Pſal. 1.2. not onelyonly in aduerſitie, when we hauehave ſorrow, neede ſickneſſe, affliction, trouble and miſerie:The time, 1 Tim. 28. but alſo in proſperitie, whē we be in health, wealth, ſafetie, peace, hearts-eaſe and felicitie. Not onelyonly in age when we ſhalbe creeping towardes the graue,In age. and poaſting to our long-home, and ſo moued to record our wretched peregrinatiō through this vale of miſerie in wofulneſſe: but alſo in youth and luſtie age,In youth. when we hauehave yet the flowers of our life greene and cheerefull in our hands, and are crowned with roſe-buddes and freſh garlandes on our heads, whatſoeuer our eſtate and condition bee in this world. This is the meaning of Salomon where he ſaith:Eccles. 12.1. Epheſ 6. Remember thy maker in the daies of thy youth: and th' entent of Paule, when he biddeth vsus to pray alwaies.
VVhat we ſhould aſke.6 When it ſhall pleaſe God to exerciſe vsus with trouble and affliction, let vsus pray vntounto him, that in patience we may be able to wade through the tediouſneſſe therof, without fainting. Againe, in proſperitie and peace, let vsus pray, that we grow not ſecure, and forget our maker, and that we looſe not all that, by flattering proſperitie, which hard aduerſitie is not able to take frō vsus, for ye aduerſarie of our ſoules, dealeth ſubtilly and ſuggeſteth mightilie: he dooth moue them to murmure,The ſubtiltie of Satan. whom the lord afflicteth: and he tempteth them with preſumptiō, whom the Lord enricheth with benifits. Thus did he aſſault Noah with drunkenneſſe,Noah. whome the great deluge could not drowne,Loth. and inflamed Loth, with the luſt of inceſt, whom the ſier of Sodome could not burne. And in this time, the number of them is not ſmall. that though when they ſuſteine trouble by ſea or by land, promiſe many things to bee performed vppon their deliuerie, do notwithſtanding that, when they arriue into the hauen of reſt & tranquility, forget al, and make ſhipwracke of greater treaſures then the wealth of this world. Moreouer, whē we be yong, let vsus pray, that our youth deceiue vsus not: & when we bee olde, that our elder yeares make vsus not to murmour againſt God, and ſo bee vnreadie to doo our dutie: for as Sathan is ſubtill, ſo letteth hee not to ſearch the inclination and diſpoſition of euerie man. If men be inclined to pleaſures, with pleaſures will he adulate them: if men be likely to be daunted with aduerſitie,How Sathan dealeth. then in aduerſitie will hee prooue them. If men be diſpoſed to preſumption, he will tempt them to preſume. If they be weake and fearefull, with feare and deſperation he will endeuour to deſtroy them. If they be niclined to couetouſneſſe, then with couetous deſires will he tempt them: if to malice, then with malice: if to wrath, then with wrath: if to pride, then with pride, and ſo forth, vntounto all the which motions the fleſh is ſubiect, & the enemy is ſtrōg to allure the minds of mē: inſomuch, that without faithfull praier, the good motions of the ſpirit wil be ſuppreſſed in them. Therefore let vsus pray in the ſpirit, and pray with vnderſtanding at all times, in all places, and ſo ſhall we expell him that is ready to harbor in our hearts to hurt our ſoules.
7 Leete vsus pray vntounto God for the ſafetie,For whome we muſt pray. health and proſperitie of our moſt gracious and ſoueraigne Princeſſe, and for the wealth of all them that bee put in authoritie vnderunder her as the Apoſtle exhorteth) that wee may leade a quiet and a peaceable life in all godlineſſe and honeſtie: for that is good and exceptable in the ſight of God our Sauiour. Let vsus alſo pray for the peace & godly proceedings of the Paſtours, and all the true profeſſours of Gods holy word: that vtteraunce may bee giuen vntounto them, that they may open their mouthes freelie to vtter the ſecrets of the Goſpel, that therin they may ſpeake freelie as they ought to ſpeake. Let vsus pray & make interceſſion and giuegive thanks for all ſaincts, and for all men. Let vsus pray for our ſelues, that wee may not be lead into temptation, but may be deliuered from that euill (I meane the diuell) that our faith fayle vsus not:foreign: That is, from the diuell. Mat. 6.13. and 13.19. but that it may bee increaſed, confirmed, fructified and fortified: that we beleeuing in Chriſt, may not be ouercome, but get the victorie, and be accounted worthie to eſcape al thoſe things that ſhall come, and may ſtand in great conſtancie before the ſonne of man.
Then moſt aſſuredly the Lord our God (for the louelove and merite of his Sonne) who hath both commaunded vsus, and taught vsus to pray, and promiſed to graunt the requeſts of his Saints (being vntounto him as moſt ſweete Odours powred out of golden vialles) will graunt vsus for,Apoc. 5.8. and towardes the performaunce of that which he requireth, his holy Spirit, the Spirite of wiſdome and vnderſtanding: the Spirit of Counſaile and ſtrength: the Spirit of knowledge, and of the feare of God: to our exceeding great Conſolation and Contentation in this World: and after this painefull Peregrination, when the happie day of Refreſhing commeth, at the ioyfull reſurrection of the Righteous, we ſhall bee contented with that eternall Societie and Sacietie of the Sonne of God our Sauiour, and higheſt Contentation.
The Epiphonêma and vſe of this Preparatiue.8 Lo! Theſe bee the ſoueraigne Simples wherof being thus collected and compounded, I hauehave confected this Preparatiue to Contentation. I doubt not, but that (by the good grace of God, the vertue thereof being well applied,This Preparatiue is to be applied. will ſomewhat allaie and abate the inſolencie and courage of thoſe diſcontented perſons, who (in their madde moods and ſtrange conceits and opinions) do yet ſtay without the doore of the houſe,1 To the diſcontented perſon Luk. 15.25. with that angry Elder Brother of whome Chriſt hath ſpoken in the Goſpell, and hauehave not bene willing, nor would be perſwaded to enter into the houſe of ioy and contentation, with the yonger Brother: but rather prepare themſelues in high diſpleaſure to fight againſt the Lord, againſt the Lords annointed, and againſt all charitable Chriſtians, as profeſſed enemies to all peace and Contentation.
Secondly, I truſt in the Lord God,2 To the true chriſtian proteſtant that the right Chriſtian Proteſtant, which contemneth the lewde world, and is ſtraunge in the Lord, and in the power of his might, will imbrace and apply this Preparatiue, whereby the ſooner he may be comforted, ſtrengthened, inſtructed and encouraged to ſtand faſt, to proceed well and proſper in his holy faith and profeſsion againſt the diuel, and againſt the bitter taunts and wicked practiſes of Sathans ieaſting fooles: I meane the vngodly deryders of religion, and contemners of holy diſcipline.
Thirdly, I perſwade,3 To the true ſubiect. that all the true hearted ſubiects will be the readier by the operation of this confection, to imbrace brotherly fellowſhip, to feare God and honour the Prince. Finally,4 To euerie Chriſtian. that eueryevery true Chriſtian (in his ſeuerall vocation and place) will hereby alſo the ſooner be moued to walk on wiſely, honeſtly, and worthily in the way of the Lord, towards that chiefe Good, and higheſt happineſſe, where the Lord Ieſus liueth and raigneth for euer with God the Father, and God the Holy Ghoſt, in perfect Contentation.
To the which three perſons and one moſt mightie God Iehouah, be worthily aſcribed, all bleſsing, all glorie, all wiſedome, all thanks, all honor, all power, and all Contentation for euermore. Amen.
FINIS.
Gen. 9.27.
God perſwade, or allure Iapheth, that he may dwell in the Tentes of Shem: and let Canaan be his ſeruant.