The Christians Freedom, Section 3 – Section 6
SECT. III.
of Hearing and reading the Scriptures.
THis hearing, whereof I speake consisteth a1 Tim. 3. 16.in the reading of Gods sacred word contained in the Books of the old and new Testament, and hearing it from preachers: For the whole Scripture is foreign, giuen by inspiration of God and is profitable to teach to improoue, to correct, and to instruct in righteousnes that the man of God may be made perfect in all good works. The Scriptures are diuided into the old and new Testament:b… the first is called the the old because it was reuealed in the former time, the other New because it was reuealed in the latter time.
The difference betweene the old andcAug. Tom. 3 d… Spirit. & l…t. cap. …. new Testament is onelyonly in certaine accidents Ceremonies and dispensation of things, in externall forme, and difference of time, but in substance all one and tending to one effect in vertue and efficacy.
In the old, the new is figured and shadowed: in the new, is the declaration and manifestation of the old.
By Moses was the old Testament reuealed and the law giuen, being holy, iust and goodeAug. Tom. 3. ad Marcel. cap. 20. seruing rather to bring vsus to knowledge of our owne insufficiency to fulfill the same, then for laying vponupon the corrupted sonnes of Adam, that which they were not able to vndergoe. The new Testament was reuealed by Christ, when hee was manifested in the flesh in whom did appeare the righteousnesse of God, or the goodnesse that comes from God to vsus, witnessed by the Law and Prophers.
In the Euangelicall dispensation of the Gospell is the deliuerance of Gods people, not from an earthly,Vincentiy Lyrinensis, but from a spirituall bondage of sinne and Sathan.
Here is a triumph ouer the suppressed enemy not Pharaoh, but Sathan himselfe.
Here is an introduction to possesse not earthly Canaan but heauenly Ierusalem.
Here is a Law giuen not in Sinai, but in Sion; not by Angelicall ministery but by the presence of the Lord himselfe; not after a fearefull sort, but with wonderfull lenity and gentlenesse; not grauen in stony tables, but effectually printed in the hearts of the elect.
In the old testament was bondage & feare; in the new, liberty & glad tidings, the ministry not of death, but of life; not a rigorous exacter, but a mercifull Sauiour; not the Sacraments of circumcision and the passeouer (the administration whereof was blood) but baptisme, and the Lords supper, both foreign, vnbloudy.
In the new testament is a preisthood, not Aaronicall not externall, not tyed to any one nation Family or tribe, but spirituall and common to all the faithfull throughout the world.
In it is a sacrifice and that bloudy, but not of beasts but the sweet smelling sacrifice of the pretious bloud of our Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus; not iterated but finished once for all vponupon the Crosse.
In the new testament are ceremonies few and easie, to wit, the word, Sacraments and prayers.
(In one word) in the old testament were figures, shadowes, and promises; in the new, the fulfilling and accomplishment of all: this new couenant of grace shall continue to the worlds end, and shall giuegive place to no other, but to the eternall fruition of the Kingdome of heauen.
Hereby the excellency of the new testament is manifest and that both the old and new, differing in accidents and circumstances, are in substance and truth all one, and that the one is contained in the other, making vp an absolute bodyfTertull. lib. de prescript. ad…ers. Heret. containing perfect sufficiency to saluation and whereto wee must neither adde nor diminish, neither seeke for Christ and saluation else where; for this cause wee are commanded to search the Scriptures.
Therfore wouldest thou know what sinne is, and the punishment thereof by the law?aGen. 50. Exod. 19. Le…it. 29. Deut. 26. The …iue bookes of Moses shall teach thee the historicall parts of these:bIosua. 29. Iud. 21. 1. 2 Sam. 55. 1. 2 King. 57. 1. 2 Chron. 6. 5. Es…a. 10. Nch. 13. Ester. 10. Iob. 42. the bookes of the Prophets, Prouerbs of Salomon and Ecclesiastes, will let you see the reward of the godly, and punishment of the wicked, and furnish you with a rich store-house of goulden sentences, and diuine morall precepts.
The kingly Psalmes of Dauid shall plentifully admi…ister vntounto you heauenly phisicke for all spirituall diseases.cPsal. 150. Pro. 31. Eccles. 12. Esai. 66. Iere. 2. 52. La…. 5. Eze. 48. Dam. 11. Hosea. 14. Ioel. 3. Amos. 9. O…d 1. … 4. M…th 5. Nahum. 3. Abacu…. 3. …pha. 3. H…gar. 2. …. 14. M l. 4. d… Luk. 24. Iohn 2….The foure Euangelists shall teach you the life and doctrine, and death of our Sauiour.
eActs 28.The Acts of the Apostles shall acquaint you with the practise of Christs doctrine in the Primitiue Church.
fRom. 16. 1. 2. Co…nth. 29. Gal. 6. Ephes 6. Phi. 4 Col. 4. 1. 1 … 1. 2 Tim. 10. … 3. Pla…l. 1. Heb. 13. Iames. 51. 2. Pet. … 5. Iu…. 1. Reu. 22.The Epistles of the Apostles shall traine you vp particularly in Christ his Schoole. Make vse of the rest of the books called*3 Esd. 4. Esd…a. Tob. …ud. Ester. … The history of …. 1. Marc 2 … Apocrypha so far as they agree with the Scripture and no farther. Read the …crip…ures with a sanctified & chast heart: for vnlesse they be read by the inspiration of Gods spirit by the which they were written, with humility, & desire to know, they remaine as a dead letter in the efficacy thereof (as I did aduise you before). Admire reuerently such obscure places, as by your weake capacity you cannot vnderstand, neuer going farther in the curious search of diuine misteries, then either by conferring some other place of Scripture, or by conference with some learned Diuine you may bee informed: so hauehave they that easinesse, and plainenesse, that the simple may be comforted & taught,
They are that admirable Riuers (both shallow and deepe) wherein as the Lambe may wade, the Elephant may swimme; and it is only the dulnesse of our capacity, that makes them hard to vsus, and the vaile of our hearts that cannot bee remoued, except by him that hath the Key of Dauid that opens where no man shuts, and shuts where no man opens.
Delight most in such places of Scriptures,Rom. 10. … as serue best for your instructions in your owne calling; for many men are too busie in others callings and negl… c…ers of their owne.
The hearing of Gods word by the Scriptures and by Pastors, and the practise there of will giuegive you knowledge, worke holinesse if you breake downe your naturall corruptions, and fill you with strength against all assaults.
SECT. IV.
of Prayer with the fruits thereof.
Prayer is a simple, vnfaigned, humble and ardent opening of the heart before God wherein we either aske things needfull for our selues and others, or giuegive thanks for benefits receiued: it is either Publique in the congregation of the faithfull; or priuate, when wee pray alone.
There bee foure chiefe reasons that ought to induce vsus to prayer: first the commandement of God: Secondly our sinnes, which driue vsus of necessity to God for life, succour, & helpe; Thirdly, our weake nature, (being of it selfe …nable to subsist) requires prayer to strengthen it, as a house pillars to vphold it.
Lastly the subtilety of the enemy (who euer attendeth to ouerthrow vsus, euen in those things wee thinke to bee best done) ought to stirre vsus vp vehemently to prayer.
The excellency of prayer is manifest by the dignity of the commander and the admirable effects that follow it. The commander is God Lord of heauen and earth, of our life and death, the fountaine of all goodnesse: the effects ther of are such that (prayer proceeding from a faithfull soule, and squared by Gods word) will stay, the Sunne to end our victories, the falling of the raine from heauen, and at our desire againe, send downe plenty of it to increase the fruits of the Earth for our comfort, it will pierce the heauens for mercy, and pardon for our sinnes, stay the wrath of God against vsus for the same, and obtaine whatsoeuer good thing is needfull for vsus in this life, or in the life to come.
Let our prayers bee daily without intermission: for de…otion that is deferred vponupon conceit of present vnfitnes or worldly respects, at last groweth irkesome and altogether neglected: suffer not your heart to entertaine the least thought of lothnesse in the taske of deuotion, but violently breake through such motions, with a deepe check to your selfe for your backwardnesse.
And because holinesse doth not (like aIon. 3 6. 7.Ionas Gourd) grow vp in a day, it is better to go on safe and sure, then for a hasty …it, (as many doe) runne out of wind, and then stand still. Goe to prayer, as you would goe to the water to swim, goe not hot in, but take a time to coole your selfe by meditation,b…. feeling that your words touch the very depth of your soule.
cAn. bros. l…b.Frame not your prayers (as some Hipocritically do… (according to the phā tasies of your owne braine; neither (as others superstitiously) thinke to mooue God by iterations and babling, neither with the proud Pharisee presuming vponupon your owne worth, but (like the poore Publi…ane▪ humbly with all reue…ence, (throwingdExod. 3. 5. Aug. de Ci…t. Der. off the shooes of all your corrupt affections) prostrate your selfe at the footstoole of Gods throne of Grace, demaunding nothing that is repugnant to his will (lest you tempt him) who out of his insearchable wisedome knoweth besteMat. 6. …. what is good for you.
In your prayers hauehave a speciall care that you keepe euer as a patterne before youfMat. 6. …. that prayer set downe by the mercy-Master, Christ Iesus, called the Lords prayer. It is the pure fountaine from whence the riuers of life must flow.
SECT. V.
of Medit…tion.
MEditation is a carefull consideration or a deuour calling to mind, and examination both of our spirituall and temporall estate, by a serious contemplation of Gods goodnesse towards vsus what duty hee requireth of vsus towards him; & for his sake to our neighbour, and how we hauehave performed the same, what reward remayneth for the godly, and punishment for the wicked that wee hauehave an account to render not onelyonly of eueryevery mispent-day, but of eueryevery word, in what estate either spirituall or temporall we stand for the present.
This holy meditation stirreth vsus vp to a thankefulnesse for Gods goodnesse, to sorrow, and repentance for our bypast offences, and to a setled resolution of amendement of our liues in the time to come.gPsal. 49. 3. Ciel. Rod. lib. 25. Meditation is the most soueraigne cure of the soule: in it keepe this course; retire your selfe eueryevery day (at some …it time)hMat. 6. 6. to your chamber, study, feild, or some secret place; and hauing prayed to God for a recalled mind, enter into a consideration of your sinfull estate,iCor. 11. 28. Examine your selfe, take notise of your passions, disposition and inclination whereby you may come to the knowledge of your selfe and by calling for helpe from God, resoluekAmbrose. to conquerre your selfe as a walled citty.
Call to mind if any vnkindnesse hath passed betwixt you andlRom. 3. 10. Mat. 5. 22. your neighbour, or any other; and if you remember any remnant, or the least coale of enuy or malice (lurking vnderunder the ashes of your peruerse natures) wipe away and extinguish them bymEphes. 4. 26. not-letting the Sunne goe downe vponupon your wrath; for he that craueth pardon and will not forgiueMat. 6. 14. 15., is like to him that breaketh downe a bridge, that hee must passe ouer himselfe.
In your meditation, inquire dilligentlynAug. de Mott. after the day of your death by setting it before your Eyes, by examining your selues whether you bee prepared,oCor. 5. 54. and ready, and by incouraging your cowardly soule, to looke death in the face, flying euer in this point to thy Sauiour for helpe.
Conclude thy meditation, with thinking vponupon thy wordly estate: if it prosper, lay vp humility in thy heart;1 Psal. 11…. If poore, pray for supply, and thinke vponupon some lawfull and honest meanes.
SECT. VI.
The performance of a godly life.
THe Fourth and most necessary part (belonging to a Christian) is doing, being the life of all; for it is nothing (and yet vsuall to Hipocrites) to bee religious in Ceremonies: ioyne therefore (as indiuidui con…ites) the liuely faith of Paul with S. Iames, good works: Faith without workes, makes but a carnall Gospeller, and works without Faith, a Pharasaicall Hipocrite.
Euer in doing, beware of doing against thy Conscience: for the treasure of a good consc…ence is the best store you can prouide, for a quiet life here, and a blessed hereafter, when a dram of it shall serue you to better vse then innumerable millio…s of Gold.
Omit neither time, place, nor person, if thou canst do good; remēber Christs last iudgement wherein he sheweth that the best good in the world is compassion on, almes, and comforting in distresse, as in sicknesse, pouerty, and imprisonment, or banishment; for although God accepteth of good thoughts, yet towards man they are little better then good dreames: exercise therefore thy charitable office, (as Gods Steward) vponupon thy brethren. Remember it is now the time,ySen. de mort. thy life is short, thy dayes zHeb. 9. 17.euill, thy death certaine, thyaMat. 25. 9. account most certaine; thy ioyes vnspeakable, if thou doest well: for this cause labour to husband the talent that God hath put into thy hands, that thou mayst returne thy soule better then thou didst receiue it. If thatbMat. 25. 30. seruant was condemned as euill, that did giuegive his Master no more but his owne? What will become of him that robs God of his owne?