THE FIRST SERMON . Of Evils incident to man , as he is man ; and of the Righteous man . PSAL. 34. VER. 19.

Many are the evills of the righteous : but the LORD delivereth him out of them all .

I. ALl men are subiect to many evills :

II. Kings , Princes , great men ,

III. As well as other men .

IV. David ascribeth to the righteous man mo evills than to other men .

V. If the righteous man be examined according to the rules of the Law , there is none righteous .

VI. If in Gods mercifull acceptation of the will for the deed , all true Christians are righteous .

VII . Description of the righteous , negatively and affirmatively .

VIII . He that is righteous and holy , may call himselfe so :

IX . Although hypocrites and wicked men claime that name to themselves .

X. The true characters of wicked men .

XI . Their best workes are great sinnes .

XII . The Church is the Congregation of righteous men , and is assaulted with many evills .

XIII . Exhortation to righteousnesse .

I IF wee take but a slight view of man , who in his own pride and loftinesse of minde , hath taken to himselfe the glorious title of the Little world , if wee consider him in his person & in his state ; wee shall finde , that he is but a cage of rottennesse , a sinke of filth , and a world of wretchednesse .

The seed wherof he comes , is a stinking excrement ; and the ground wherein he is sowen , is a quagmire of dirt , a sinke of uncleanenesse , a strait and darke pit of loathsome and pestilent putrefaction , from whence he doth not escape , but is thrust out as a noisom & troublesome guest , who neyther can be kept longer , nor set at libertie without unspeakeable torments , both to the mother who hath conceiued , borne and nourished him so long in her wombe ; and to himselfe , and oftentimes without death to both .

When he is thus cast forth with sorrow and paines , if he had the use of understanding , to know the miseries whereunto he is borne ; and of speech , to utter what he thinketh of them , he would make his moane , with Ieremy , a a Ierem. 20. vers. 18. That he came forth out of the wombe , to see labour and sorrow : and , b b Iob 3. ver. 2. cursing the day wherein hee was borne , would wish , with Iob , c c Iob 10. ver. 19. to have beene carried from the wombe to the grave . For he doth no sooner open his nostrils , to breathe & suck up the refreshing moysture of the ayre , but he is encountred and beset on all sides with unavoidable dangers : he is borne in teares , he liueth in miserie , and dyeth in griefe : hunger and thirst , cold and heate , nakednesse and weakenesse , labour and wearinesse , greasinesse & sweat , waking and sleeping , feavers and consumptions are the first deputies , who at his first entry into the world goe meete and welcome him , to make the first solemnities of this palace of vanitie and mourning ; wherein hee hath seant set the first foote , when ignorance and forgetfulnesse , vaine hope and trembling feare , senslesnesse and despaire , joy and sadnesse , despite and cholor , burning lust and cold disdaine , a thousand combersome passions , ten thousand pricking cares , troupe together , and joine themselves to the first band , to conduct & leade him by certaine journies and stations , incht to some longer , to some shorter , to the king of terrours , to the mannor of darkenesse , to the land of the shadow of death , where d d Iob 17.14 . he shall say to the grave , Thou art my father : and to the worme , Thou art my mother , and my sister .

II. Whom can you name to me , that hath spent the short dayes of this life , and hath not walked upon the bryers , wherwith it is strewed ; nor felt their pricks ? Kings are the first amongst men ; but they are men . And ye shall sooner finde the sea without billowes , the aire without moving , the bramble without prickles , than man without evils : for what is mans life but an Ocean of miseries , wherein there is no drop of true delight and happinesse ?

When yee cast your eyes upon Kings and Princes , heed not the precious Crowne which glittereth upon their heads , nor the shining Purple which covereth their nakednesse , nor the legionaries and squadrons of souldiers which guard them , nor the Nobility which hedgeth them on all sides , nor the glorie of their servants , nor the magnificence of their fare , nor the excellencie of their palaces , nor the gorgeous pomp of their Court. Pierce further in , thrust your eyes within the centre of their hearts ; consider their deeds and carriage , and you shal see at one sight a head crowned with gold , & a heart scorched with griefe : The flower of Purple , the brightnesse of Scarlet , the glistering plate-laces of Gold , the twinkling lewels , dazeling the eyes of the beholders ; and pensivenesse , blacking the soule of him that beareth them : Men invironed with guards without , and besieged with feares and terrours within , ever laying some new plot , and manie times crossed in their designes ; notwithstanding their great power , not able to doe all that they would , and often constrained to do what they would not ; making a faire shew to those whom they hate , mistrusting those in whom they must needs trust ; suspecting now their wives , now their children , fearing all those that feare them , c c TIBERIUS , Timeo incustoditos aditus , timeo & ipsos cufiodes . dreading all entries which are not kept , yea , and dreading also their own keepers ; passing the dayes in painefull labours , in trouble of minde , in many dangers betweene shamelesse flatterers , craftie calumniators , and aposted assasms ; and seeking , in the darkenesse of the night , the rest which a remorsefull remembrance of things past , a gnawing feare of things to come , & a thousand other perplexities pull away violently from their eye-lids . f f Pro. 14.13 . Even in laughter their heart is sorrowfull : and the end of their mirth is heavinesse . They drinke Wormewood in a cup of Gold ; the Sugar of their delights is embittered with the Gall of discontent , and when they glut themselves with voluptuous pleasures , and swallow downe the most rare and costly dainties , as Behemoth draweth up Iordan into his throat , either feare death , as if they had the sharp point of a naked sword hanging by a haire above their heads ; or long for it , to make a dolefull end of the huge heape of their manifold and wofull miseries , which extract from them now and then a vehement disdain of their royall Robes , with this true exclamation , g g O nobilem magis quàm felicem pannum , &c. O cloth more glorious than happy ! the lowziest beggar of the countrey would not stoop downeward to lift thee from the ground , if hee knew with how many cares , frights , and vexations of spirit thou art lyned .

All the Tragedies , though fabulously written , are made of the true miseries and strange calamities of Kings , Princes , and other great men of the world . Runne thorow the stories of Heathen men : of so manie Kings , how few shall yee finde , whom a drie and peaceable death hath sent to the grave , where now the worme feedeth sweetly on them ! In the Scriptures ye see Saul , possessed with the Divel , murthering the Lords Priests , smiting with the edge of the sword the whole Citie of Nob , men and women , children and sucklings , Oxen , Asses and Sheepe , seeking to kill his owne sonne and heyre , and finally imbruing his unmercifull and pittilesse hands with his owne blood . There ye see Ishbosheth slaine by his owne Captaines , in whom he had speciall affiance . There yee see the good and godly King David no sooner unpestered of one warre , but he is entangled into another : ye see him overwhelmed with domesticall calamities , constrained to behold and suffer the incests , parricides , rebellions revolts of his owne children , and to be upon his guard against them who should have guarded him . There ye see Salomon , the wisest , but not the best of the sonnes of men , after hee had taken a deepe draught in the crystaline cup of worldly prosperities , and given his heart to seeke and search out by wise-dome all things that are done under heaven , upbraiding them all with this true saying ; h h Eccles. 1.14 . Behold , all is vanity and vexation of spirit . The life of all the Kings of luda was nothing else but as a web woven ; as a baudrick interlaced with evills : what was the state of the Kings of Israel , but an hideous spectacle of most horrible calamities ? Neyther shall ye finde any amongst the Politicians and Statesmen , living amongst the wearisome turmoile of imploiments , who once in his life findeth not whereupon to sing to his perplexed soule Salomons complaint , which Gilimer the last King of the Vandales harped with a mourning and sorrow-full tune , to the Emperour Iustinian , whose prisoner he then was , i i Eccles. 1.2 . Vanity of vanities , Vanity of vanities , all is vanity .

III. If such be the condition of Kings , of Princes , of Courtiers , of Statesmen who have their portion in this life , and seeme to be in a safe harbour against all kindes of stormes , and in all weathers ; who is able to relate all the troubles which disquiet the mindes of other men , and steepe the few drams of worldly comforts , which they taste but seldome in their lives , with a quintall of gall ? One bewaileth the death of his only sonne : another curseth the day wherin he was made the father of a man childe : this man complaineth of his wives disloyaltie : that man conveyeth his wife to the sepulchre , with sadnesse and teares . He who lived in ease , is ashamed to see himselfe stript of all that he had ; and he who spoyled him , is amazed when he is also spoyled by another stronger than himselfe . One amongst an hundred , mourneth for the death of his friend , who was to him more faithfull and steadable than a brother ; but manie fret and are much moved , when they see their familiar friends , in whom they trusted , and in whose bosome they did lay all their secrets , lift up their heeles against them .

To be short , there is no tongue that can fully ex presse all the evils that are incident to man in his person and state ; neither is there any man , who feeleth not , with paine , the portion of those evils which is shared unto him . As they that sayle in shallow waters , amongst rocks and shelves of sand , are not voyde of danger and of feare ; so they that hoyse up sayles amongst the waves and surges of the tempestuous sea of this life , are not freed from annoyes and discontentments : all their pleasures are like the Locusts , whereof mention is made in the Revelation , which k k Revel. 9 ▪ 8 , 10. had hayre as the hayre of women , to entice with goodly shewes ; and tayles like unto Scorpions , to sting with mortall discontent . They shall leave off to be mortall men , when evill shall leave off to pursue them : and teares shal not be wipt from their eyes , untill death hath closed their eye lids ; l l Iob 5.7 . For man is borne unto trouble , as the sparkes rise up to flye , and m m Psal. 90.10 . the strength of his dayes is labour and sorrow .

IV. But amongst and above all men , many are the evils of the righteous man , as David said when hee was forced , through feare , 1. Sam. 21.13 . to change his behaviour before Abimelech King of Gath , and faining himselfe madde , escaped his enemies indignation , for he feareth not to call himselfe righteous : and calling to memorie the great number of evills , which hee had endured from the first day of his anointing till then , he pronounceth , that many are the evils of the righteous . Which he speaketh so of himselfe , that he extendeth it to all those who can claime the title of righteous men to themselves . And because this saying is confirmed by the experience of all ages , and therefore it may seeme very strange , that a righteous man should be so storm-beaten with afflictions , he mitigateth the bitternesse of this averred sentence , with the sweetnesse of this no lesse experimented conclusion ; But the Lord delivereth him out of them all .

So the Text taketh you by the hand , and pointeth out to you , first , a righteous man , and his manifold afflictions ; secondly , the LORD and his deliveries : whereunto if ye adde a question , which is implyed in the first part , why the LORD permitteth the righteous man to be so roughly used ; ye shal have in these parts the matter of sundry Sermons : the first , of the righteous man , and of the characters whereby he is known . The second and third , of the evils wherewith the righteous man is on all sides thunder-stricken . The fourth and fift , of the causes wherefore Almighty GOD , and his loving father , suffereth him to be pushed and tossed to and fro with so manie evils . The rest shall be of the Lords deliverances . Let us then begin at the first part ; and our beginning and helpe be in the Name of the Lord , who hath made heaven and earth . Amen .

V. If ye define and describe exactly the righteous man , by the rules of the Law , which ascribeth this glorious and most excellent title to those onely , whose persons are ( from the womb ) without spot , whose actions are without sinne , and in whose lives Gods all-seeing eyes can perceive no blemish ; let Papists say what they will , we will truly say with David in the Old Testament , n n Psal 14.10 . There is none that doth good , no not one : and with S. Paul in the New Testament , o o Rom. 3.10 . There is none righteous , no not one .

For if Papists speake of such men as are by S. Iude called p p Iude ver. 19. sensuall , not having the spirit , and say , That they may keepe the Law of God , if they will : the holy and true Apostle giveth them the lye , saying in the New Testament , that q q 1. Cor. 2.14 . The naturall man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God , for they are foolishnesse unto him : neyther can he know them , because they are spiritually discerned . Now if he cannot know them , what ability can he have to doe them ? And therefore Eliphaz sayth of such a man , in the Old Testament , that r r Iob 15.16 . he is abominable and filthy , drinking iniquity like water : for he is flesh , he is nothing but flesh , nothing but corruption and sinne . and s s Rom. 8.7 . the affection of the flesh , is enmitie against God : for it is not subiect to the Law of God , neyther indeed can be . If then we fit to these carnal men , the words which Ieremy spake to his auditors ; asking of them , t t Ier. 13.23 . r Can the Ethiopian change his skin ? or the Leopard his spots ? then may you also do good , that are accustomed to do evill ; wee shall convert them to their owne use : because that v v Tit. 1.15 . being infidels , their minde and conscience is defiled , and , w w Rom. 8.5 . being after the flesh , they minde the things of the flesh ,

If they speake of those of whom the Apostle saith , that they are after the spirit , and mind the things of the spirit , and affirm of them , that if they would , they might keepe the law ; seeing they keepe it not , and that the holiest man that ever was , could not say truly , x x Pro. 20.9 I have made my heart cleane , I am pure from my sinne : then according to this saying , good men are ill men , honest men are knaves , upright men are malicious men : for y y Iam. 4.17 . to him that knoweth to doe good , and doth it not , to him it is sinne . And never did any , but a despitefull wicked man , say , I might do good if I would ; but I will not doe it : whereas much otherwise , the godly & honest hearted man sayes , a a Rom. 7.18 , 19. The will is present with me : but how to perform that which is good , I find not . For the good that I would , I doe not : but the evill which I would not , that I doe . Whereof the Apostle rendreth this reason , writing to the Galathians ; b b Gal. 5.17 . for the flesh lusteth against the Spirit , and the Spirit against the flesh : and these are contrary the one to the other ; so that yee cannot doe the things that yee would . teaching most cleerely , that the sinnes of the spirituall man come from his weakenesse , and not from his will : otherwise they should be sinnes of malice , and not of infirmitie . I conclude then , that if mans righteousnesse be strictly examined in the balance of the Law , there never was , and c c Eccles. 7.20 . there is not a iust man upon earth , that doth good , and sinneth not , saving our Lord Iesus Christ , who through the prerogative of his immaculate conception , by the wonderfull operation of the holy Spirit , was d d Rom. 8.3 . in the likenesse of sinfull flesh , e e Heb. 7.26 . holy , harmelesse , undefiled , & separate from sinners : and for that cause is called f f Act. 3.14 . the Righteous ; that title belonging only to him in that respect . 1. Ioh. 2.1 .

VI. But what godly men cannot claime to themselves in the rigorous strictnesse of the Law , that they finde in Gods mercifull acceptation , and in the modification of his blessed Gospel , wherein he entitleth his beloved children , with this honourable name of Righteous men : judging of them , not by the imperfect perfection of their righteousnesses , g g Esa. 64.6 . which are as filthy ragges ; but by their affection and earnest endevour to be such as they should , and which they strive with might and maine to be , h h Phil. 3.7 , 13 , 14. forgetting those things which are behinde , and reaching forth to those things which are before , and so pressing toward the marke , for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus . For God , who sheweth himselfe in the Law clothed with the majestuous and inexorable severitie of a Iudge ; representeth himselfe in the Gospel as a Father , arrayed with meekenesse and mercy : regarding the willingnesse of his children , rather than anie perfection which may besought , but shall not be found in their obedidience , so long as they are in the way to their home .

For in the faithfull and true Christian , there are two men : i i Ephes. 4.22 , 24. The old man , which we carry with us from our mothers womb , when we are first borne ; and the new man , which is given to us when wee are borne againe . That man is Satans worke , and the bitter fruit of the rebellion of the first Adam . This man is the worke of Gods Spirit , and the sweet fruit of the obedience of the second Adam . That man is corrupt by deceitfull lusts , and therefore is ever busied in drawing us away from goodnesse , and entising us to evill . This man is created after God in righteousnesse and true holinesse , and is ever thrusting us forward from evill to good . That man is strong and mightie : This man is feeble , and withstandeth with great difficultie . That man , though very powerfull & hard to be overcome , waxeth old and decayeth from day to day , untill he be altogether destroyed : This man increaseth every day in might and vigour ; and like the people of Israel , when they were upon their journey , ascending to appeare before God in Sion , goeth k k Psal. 84.7 . from strength to strength , till he come l l Ephes. 4.13 . unto a perfect man , unto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ . So that man is at the last subdued , overthrowne and killed by this man , as the monstrous Gyant Goliah was by little David . That man , where he reigneth , bringeth forth for fruit m m Rom. 6.21 , 22. shame , and his end is death : This man hath his fruit in holinesse , and his end is everlasting life .

From hence it is , that God , when he is to speake and make us know what account he maketh of his servants , considereth them not according unto those relickes of the old man , whose strength is weakened , and whose life decayeth and dyeth every day , to call them Sinners and wicked ones : but for his n n Phil. 1.6 . owne good workes sake , which he hath begun in them , and will performe untill the day of Iesus Christ , calleth them Saints , Righteous , Perfect . For the Divels worke in us , is not so considerable to defame us publikely with the disgracefull name of Sinners and wicked men , as Gods worke is to grace us with the honourable title of Saints and Righteous men : namely , seeing the Lord maintaineth , setteth forward , & performeth his own good work , & at length destroyeth Satans work in us , as I have said . What wonder then if he qualifieth us with titles of honour , according as we are already , & shall be hereafter for ever and ever , through his power and grace ; and not according as Satan hath made us , and as wee shall not be alwayes , & for evermore ? For this cause it is written , that o o Numb. 23.21 . He hath not beheld iniquity in Iacob , neyther hath he seene perversenesse in Israel . Not that there is none , but because p p Mich. 7.18 he pardoneth iniquity , and passeth by the transgression of the remnant if his heritage ; covering it with the precious robe of the righteousnesse of his deare Son , q q Col. 1.22 . in whom he hath made us holy , unblameable , unreproveable , and r r Coloss. 2.10 . complete in his own fight : And therefore righteous and perfect in Christ , of unrighteous and uncomplete in our selves .

VII . The man whom God calleth righteous in this sense , is pourtrayed by the holy Spirit , as well negatively as affirmatively . David saith of him negatively , that s s Psal. 1.1 . he walketh not in the counsaile of the ungodly , nor standeth in the way of sinners , nor sitteth in the seate of the scornefull , and , t t Psal. 119 3. doth no iniquitie . S. Iohn saith , that v v 1. Ioh. 3.6 , 9. bee sinneth not , or , as he explaineth himselfe , doth not commit sinne , that is to say , he sinneth not with pleasure and content . Whereof the holy Apostle rendreth two reasons : for the first he saith , that he that committeth sinne , is of the Divell ; he is Satans bond slave , for the Divell sinneth from the beginning : he hath ever beene , is , and shall be busied in ill doing .

Therefore whosoever sinneth as he doth , is his , and not Gods . But the righteous man is delivered out of his clawes , through our Lord Iesus Christ the Sonne of God , x x Vers. 8. who for this purpose was manifested , that he might destroy the workes of the Divell . His second reason is this ; y y Vers. 9. Whosoever is borne of God , doth not commit sinne : for his seed , the seed of his predestination and of his Spirit remaineth in him : and he cannot sinne , because he is borne of God . a a Bern. de natu●â & digai . tat . amo● . c. 6. Piccatum patitur potius quàm facit , quiex Deo natur est . Bernard saith , That he rather suffereth sinne , than committeth it : According to that saying of the Apostle ; b b Rom. 7.20 . If I doe that I would not , it is no more I that doe it , but sinne that dwelleth in me . Neither can he persevere and abide in sinne , because the law of his mind , warring against the law of his members , finally overmastereth in him the law of sinne . And therefore all his sinne come either from ignorance , or from infirmitie , and lye so heavie upon his wearied soule that he cannot choofe but desire death to be freed of them ; crying , as the Apostle did in the like case , c c Rom. 7.24 . O wretched man that I am , who shall deliver me from this body of death ?

David describeth this man affirmatively , by all his inward and outward parts . By his heart ; d d Psal. 1.2 . His delight is in the Law of the LORD , and in his Law doth he meditate day and night . By his tongue ; e e Psal. 119.13 , 46. He declareth with his lips all the iudgements of his mouth : he speaketh of his testimonies before Kings , and is not ashamed . By his hands ; f f Psal. 26.6 . He washeth his hands in innocency , g g Psal. 37.21 . he sheweth mercy , and giveth . By his feet ; h h Psal. 119.32 . He runneth the way of Gods commandements , &c.

Therefore his Righteousnesse is not only a religious abstinence , and refraining from evill ; but also a carefull and conscionabe imployment in all things which are good : for i i 1. Ioh. 3.7 . he that doth righteousnesse , is righteous . As Iob was k k Iob 1.8 . a perfect and an upright man , fearing God , and eschuing evill : and such as Zacharias and Elizabeth were , to whom the Scripture beareth witnesse , that l l Luk. 1.6 . they were both righteous before God , walking in all the commandements and ordinances of the Lord blamelesse .

VIII . David challengeth and taketh upon him this title of a Righteous man : for , as I have said , hee speaketh not only of others ; but also and principally of himselfe . He spake thus truely , and he spake thus inspired by the Holy Ghost : Then this speech was no bragging ; for the Spirit of God is neither lyer nor boaster . When Hezekiah brayed unto the LORD , that m m Isa. 38.3 . he would remember how he had walked before him in truth , and with a perfect heart : shall we say , that like the Peacock ( who , in the height of his pride , covers himselfe all over with his taste ) he tooke pleasure to display his righteousnesse before God , and to glasse himselfe vain-gloriously in his owne workes , as the n n Luk. 18.12 . Pharisee gloried in his ordinary fasting , and liberall giving of tythes of all that he possessed ?

Surely Papists , when they nick-name us with their owne titles of pride and presumption , because we call our selves Righteous men , will not stand ( me thinks ) to print the same stampe upon these godly mens foreheads : and seeing , in their opinion , it is great presumption and high pride to anie man living , to call himselfe a Righteous and holy man ; they must needs have a very bad conceit of themselves , and confesse that they are unrighteous , unholy , and wicked men . whereupon they may take time to advise .

As for us , we may learne by this example of David , and manie mo which are to be found in the Scripture , that o o August . de verb. Domini , Serm. 28. Non ergohic arrogantia est , sed fides : predicare quod acceperis , non est superbia , sed devotio . to preach what thou hast received , is not arrogancy , but faith : is not pride , but devotion ; as Augustin saith wisely : this caveat being kept , That thou seeke not in it thy owneglory , as the Pharisee did ; but the glory of p p I am . 1.17 . the father of lights , of whom commeth from above every good and perfect gift , as David , and Hezekiah did , and as the holy Apostles did , when they feared not to say , that q q 2. Cor. 5.14 . the love of Christ constrained them : and to speake manie good things of themselves , not through loftinesse of minde , that they might be praised ; but through free and true humilitie , that the gift of Christ might be knowne of all men , and thankes rendred to him : as Ambrose observeth wel upon that place . If we were taught to glory in the perfection of our workes , merites , and superogations , as Papists are , then every one should repulse that false doctrine of pride , and say with Ambrose , r r Ambros . de Iacobo , & vuâ b●a●â . lib. 1. cap. 6. I have no good workes wherein I should glory : I have no thing whereof I may bragge , and therefore I will glory in Christ : I will not glory because I am righteous ; but I will glory because I am redeemed : I will glory , not because I am voyd of sinne , but because my sinne are forgiven me : I will not glory because any man hath beene profitable to me , or I to any man , but because Christ is an Advocate with the Father for me , but because the blood of Christ was shed for me . But when we are taught to confesse , that when we were like wandring sheep , the Lord sought us : when we were lost , he did finde us : when we were sick , hee healed us : when we were stinking and filthy , he made us cleane : when we were captives , he delivered us : when wee were sold under sin , he redeemed us : when we were dead , he gave us life : when were unrighteous and prone to all evill , he made us righteous , and inclined our hearts to his service : when we were the Divels Stewes , he made us his own Temple : when we were damned , he saved us : If any say that such teachers set us upon the pinacle of pride , & leade us not into the Temple of humilitie ; they must confesse that they never had a lively feeling of any saving grace of God in themselves , or that they have never learned what it is to give thankes unto God : for how shall I give thankes to God for those gifts , which through humilitie , as they say , I must deny to have received ?

If we should say , that the Sunne shineth at midday ; though it be most true , Papists will not beleeve it , except we bring some old Father with us , to witnesse that it is so . Let them therefore heed the speech of s s August . in Psal. 85.2 . S. Augustin , who explaining this prayer of David in the beginning of the 85. Psalme , which in Hebrew and in our translation , is the 86. Preserve my soule , because I am holy : after that hee hath shewen , that it is true in Christ , who forgiveth all sinnes , and never committed anie ; asketh , Dare I also say , For I am holy ? answereth thus : If holy as sanctifying , Peccatorum omnium non commissor , sed demissor . and not having need of any to sanctifie me , I am a proud man and a lyer : But if holy , as being sanctified ( i. made holy ) according to that which is written , 1. Pet. 1. Be ye holy , for I am holy . Let also the body of Christ , ys a let the man that cryeth from the ends of the earth , say with his head and under his head , I am holy : for he hath received the grace of holinesse , the grace of baptisme , and of forgivenesse of sinne . And such were some of you , saith the Apostle , 1. Cor. 6. reckoning many fins , light and heavy , usuall and horrible : And such were some of you ; but ye are washed , but ye are sanctified . If then he say that they are sanctified , let every beleever say , I am holy . This is not pride of one that is haughty , Non est ista superb●●●●●● , sed confessio non ingrat● . but a confession of one that is not unthankefull : for if thou say that thou art holy of thy selfe ; thou art proude : Againe , beleeving in Christ , and being a member of Christ , if thou say not that thou art holy , thou art unthankefull . For the Apostle reproving pride , saith not , Thou hast not , but he saith , 1. Cor. 4. What hast thou that thou didst not receive ? Thou wast not reproved , for saying that thou hadst that which thou hadst not , but because thou wouldest have of thy selfe that which thou hadst : yea acknowledge both that thou hadst , and that thou hast nothing of thy selfe , to the end that thou be neither proud nor unthankefull . Dic Deo tuoe Sanctus sum , quia sanctifieastime : quia accepi , non quia habu● : quia in dedist , non quia ego meru● . Say to thy God , I am holy , because thou hast sanctified me : because I have received it not , because I had it : because thou hast given it , not because I have deserved it . For on the other part , thou beginnest to offer an iniury to our Lord Iesus Christ himselfe : For if all Christians , and beleevers , and all that are baptized in him have put him on , as the Apostle saith , Gal. 3. As many of you as have beene baptized into Christ , have put on Christ : if they be made members of his body , and say that they are not holy , they offer a wrong to the head it selfe , whose members are holy . Looke now where thou art , and take dignitie from thy head . For ye were sometimes darkenesse , but now are ye light in the Lord , Ephes. 5. He saith , Yee were sometimes darknesse : but have ye remained darknesse ? He that enlightneth , is he come , that yee should remaine darkenesse , or that ye should be light in him ? Let therefore every Christian say , yea let the whole body of Christ say , Let him that suffereth tribulations , diverse tentations , and innumerable scandals , cry and say , Preserve my soule , because I am holy .

IX . It is no matter what many men , which are not righteous , thinke and speake of themselves : every foole is a wise man in his owne eyes . Many beggers have kings hearts , and will bragge much of their antiquitie , and worthinesse of their kindred , and of the glory of their riches . At Athens there was a certaine man , called s s Athenae . lib. 12. Thrasylaus , who ( detained with a pleasant madnesse ) deemed that all the ships which arrived there , were his ; and in this same towne there is a foole , who thinketh verily that he is King of great Britanne : If a foole think that he is wise , shall a wise man call himselfe a foole ? If a begger say that he is rich , shall a rich man say of himselfe that he is poore ? If a man , troubled in his hypochondres , imagineth that hee is King of this Island , shall the King mistake himselfe , and put in question whether he be King or no ? If an hypocrite or a wicked man crack much of his owne righteousnesse , shall he whom God hath mercifully clothed with this wedding garment , denie what he hath received , and say to his benefactor who hath bought him , Thou art not my father ?

X. We must not weigh such men in the deceiving weights of their owne imaginations , but take the true balances of Gods word , and weigh them therein . There you shal reade of them , that which was said to Belschatsar King of Babylon : t t Dan. 5.27 . Thou art weighed in the balances , and art found wanting . There you shall finde them set out in very darke , smoakie , and hellish colours , both in their inside and outside . v v Psal 59. Their inward part is very wickednesse . There is no faithfulnesse in their mouth : their throat is an open sepulchre , they flatter with their tongue : x x 2 Pet. 2.14 . Their eyes are full of adultery : y y Ier. 5 8. They are as fed horses , when they rise in the morning ; every one neigheth after his neighbours wife : a a Psal. 144.8 . Their right hand is a right hand of falshood : b b Esa. 59.7 , 8. Their feet runne to evill , and they make haste to shed innocent blood : Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity , wasting and destruction are in their paths : The way of peace they know not , and there is no iudgement in their goings . With all this , having in themselves c c Deut. 29.18 , 19. a root bearing gall and wormewood , they adde drunkennesse to thirst , hardnesse of heart & contempt of God , to sinne . d d Iob 21.14 , 15. They say unto God , Depart from us : for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes : What is the Almighty , that we should serve him ? and what profite should we have , if wee pray unto him ? The cause of all is , e e Psal. 36.1 , 2 , 3 , 4. The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart , There is no feare of God before his eyes . For he flattereth himselfe in his owne eyes , when his iniquity is found to be hated . The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit : he hath left off to be wise , and to doe good . He deviseth mischiefe upon his bed , he setteth himselfe in a way that is not good , he abhors not evill . For this cause , such men are called f f Psal. 14.4 . workers of iniquity ; God judging of them , & qualifying them , not according to the ill which they do , but according to the ill which they are willing to do . For as righteous men doe not the good which they would doe , and do the evill which they would not do : so they contrariwise do often the good which they would not doe , and doe not all the evill which they would doe .

XI . For being servile and base minded , often thorough a slavish feare of punishment , they abstaine from evill , and now and then through a mercenary hope of reward , they doe some good ; like unto the Scribes and Pharisees , whom Christ cursed with many woes for their manifold sinnes : and namely , because g g Matt. 23.25 . they made cleane the outside of the cup , and of the platter , but within they were full of extortion and excesse . Such mens works , which have a goodly shew , what are they else , but , as one of the ancient Doctors of the Latin Church called them , h h Splendida peccata . Glorious and glistering sinnes ? Therefore Christ said to his Disciples , i i Mat. 5.20 . that except their righteousnesse should exceed the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharisees , they should in no case enter into the Kingdome of heaven . Neverthelesse , both hypocrites , who abstaine from ill-doing through feare , and i i Matt. 23.5 . doe all their workes to be seene of men ; having a k k 2. Tim. 3.5 . shew of godlinesse , but denying the power thereof : and profane men , who make no scruple of ill-doing , live in prosperitie , and l l Psal. 10.3 . boast of their hearts desire . But ,

Many are the Evils of the Righteous .

XII . What is the Church of God , but the Congregation of righteous men ? Wicked men are in the Church , but they are not of the Church : as Lice , Fleas , Wormes are in the body , and are ingendred of the corruption thereof , but are no part of the body : therefore the Church is called m m Deu. 33.5 . IESURUN , that is , the Righteous , or the Vpright , when it is said of Moses , that he was a king in Iesurun . i. amongst the upright . n n Ier. 8.22 . Is there no balme in Gilead ? is there no Physician there ? If there be none there , where shall ye seek them ? If there be no righteous men in the Church , where shall ye finde them ? It is true , that it may be often excepted against the Church , considered by great and in the multitude , that o o Deut. 32.15 . IESURUN , the upright waxed fat and kicked ; that when he was growne big , fat , and thicke , he forsooke God which made him , and lightly esteemed the Rocke of his salvation : p p Matt. 20.15 . for many be called , but few be chosen . And these which are chosen , have their owne moles and blemishes : they are q q Isa. 48.8 . all transgressours from the wombe . But if they be compared with other men , they are terrestriall Angels , and celestiall men , as Chrysostome called Paul : And we may say in that respect with the Prophet Habakkuk , that r r Habak. 1.13 . the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than hee .

Notwithstanding that , the congregation of righteous men , the Church of God , the deare spouse of our Lord Iesus Christ , is so vexed and turmoiled with evils , that her God & husband nameth her by them , as if they were her christned name ; calling upon her , and saying . s s Esa. 54.11 . Oh thou afflicted , tossed with tempest , and not comforted : So that not only this or that righteous man , but the whole companie of the righteous , if they were to make choice of a Liverie , might take for their device the Gules or red colour ; or , as wee use here in England , the red Crosse , which is the right badge whereby Christ will have his followers to be known , saying unto them , and of them , t t Matt. 16.24 . If any man will come after me , let him deny himselfe , and take up his crosse , and follow me . And if they were to seeke a word to their device , amongst thousands which may be found , they shall finde none fitter , or at least truer than this , Many are the afflictions of the Righteous .

XIII . What then ? were it not better to send a bill of divorce to righteousnesse , and bid it farewell , that wee may be eased of these many evils ? for to the righteous the Lord hath said , v v Ioh. 16.20 . Ye shall weepe and lament : but of the wicked he saith , The world shall reioyce . Is not rejoycing better than weeping ? Is it not better to feast with Herod , and to dance with Herodias daughter , than to fast , to lye in prison , and to lose the head for righteousnesse sake , with Iohn Baptist ? The world doth so , because the world judgeth so .

But yee , welbeloved , know , both by your fathers and your owne experience , that x x Psal. 58.11 . verily there is fruit for the righteous : he hath his reward within himselfe , a ful pleasure and delight in the peace of an upright conscience , y y Pro. 15.15 . which is a continuall feast : hee liveth in this present World , a a Tit. 2.12 . godly towards God ; who is the most excellent object that his minde can chuse , and most worthie to be loved , praised , and served in heart , words and deeds : Righteously towards his neighbour , who is his owne flesh , and to the purchasing of whose good he is bound by the bands of nature , and inward suggestion of his owne conscience : Soberly in his owne person , to whom he oweth a decent and respectuous care , that he never do anie thing misbecoming a man , unbeseeming a Christian , and unworthy of the ranke wherein God hath placed him . For whom shall he not neglect , if hee neglect his owne honestie ? and whom shall he respect , if he respect not his owne honour ? Living so , he hath b b 1. Tim. 6.6 . godlinesse with contentment , which is great gaine : for c c Esa. 32.17 . the worke of righteousnesse , shall be peace ; and the effect of righteousnesse , quietnesse and assurance for ever . But d d Esa. 57.21 . there is no peace to the wicked , saith my God .

And in the end of the world , when the Lord Iesus shall come e e Mat. 3.12 . with his Fanne in his hand , and throughly purge his floore , then he will gather his Wheat into the Garner ; but will burne up the chaffe with unquenchable fire . f f Matt. 25.32 . &c. Then , in his most righteous judgement , he will sunder the good from the lewd , the upright from the froward , the righteous from the wicked . Then he shall set the righteous on his right hand , and the wicked on the left . Then , then , by the power of the unchangeable sentence of his most righteous mouth , all the wicked shall depart from him , into everlasting fire ; and all the righteous shall goe into eternall life : The wicked to burne eternally with the Divell ; the righteous to reigne for ever and ever with their Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ . Therefore g g Hos. 10.12 . sow to your selves in righteousnesse , and ye shall reape in mercy , contentment , peace , joy , eternall life , through the merites of our Lord Iesus Christ ; to whom with the Father & the holy Ghost , be all power , honour and glory world without end . Amen .