The day of hearing: or, six lectvres vpon the latter part of the thirde chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrewes of the time and meanes that God hath appointed for man to come to the knowledge of his truth, that they may be saved from his wrath. The summary pointes of every one of which lectures are set downe immediately after the Epistle dedicatory. Herevnto is adioyned a sermon against fleshly lusts, & against certaine mischevious May-games which are the fruit thereof. By H.R. Master of Artes, and now, minister of the word.

THE DAY OF HEARING : Or , SIX LECTVRES VPON THE latter part of the thirde Chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrewes : of the time and meanes that God hath appointed for men to come to the knowledge of his truth , that they may be saved from his wrath .

The summary pointes of every one of which Lectures are set downe immediatly after the Epistle dedicatory .

Herevnto is adioyned a Sermon against fleshly lusts , & against certaine mischievous May-games which are the fruit thereof .

By H. R. Master of Artes , and now Minister of the word .

Ioh. 3 19.

This is the condemnation , that light is come into the world , and men loved darkenesse rather then light , because their deedes were evill .

Printed at Oxford by Ioseph Barnes , and are to be sold in Paules church-yard , at the signe of the Bible . 1600.

TO THE RIGHT HONOVrable , SIR THOMAS EGERTON , Knig●● , Lord Keeper of the great seale of England , & one of her Ma●esties most Honourable pr●v●● counsell , my especiall benefactor , the increase and co●tinuance of all spiritual blessings , with that true honor which is from God , & lasteth for evermore .

DVTY binding me ( Right ●onourable ) to shew some testimonie of a thankfull mind towards you , I haue presumed so farre as to offer to your good Lordship this small exercise of mine , such as it is , which I haue taught and written according to the ability that God hath given me , & as the charge committed to me required .

The Apostle Paule instructeth his scholer Timotheus , and in him all ministers that haue the charge of teaching , to shew themselues approved vnto God , 〈◊〉 . Tim. 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 as workemen that neede not to be ashamed , dividing the word of truth aright . For in so dividing of the word consisteth the life & force of the ministery , that all men , what age or condition soever they be of , which wil be fed to liue everlastingly , may haue their portion of meate given them out of that word , & that in season , or conueniently , that it may be savoury & pleasant as the venifon of Iacob was vnto his father Isaac , and not vnsavoury as the sonnes of Elie made the offering of the Lord to be abhorred .

But such is the vntowardnes of this age , which , in respect of the time , should haue abounded with all knowledge necessary to salvation , that not only countrey people ( specially where the worde hath seldome beene divided aright ) but also the inhabitants of townes & cities , in too many places of this lande , haue neede to be taught the first principles of the word of God . For now in the latter daies , on the one side , the pride of life , Atheisme , & the custom of sin hath so bewitched the world , that the heartes of most men are become fat , & their eares are dul of hearing , that the word which they hear doth not profit them : neither do the manifolde tokens of Gods anger revealed against the impiety & vnrighteousnes of this age , ( as the pestilence , the late dearth , sundry new & strang sicknesses ) nor the present troubles of wars , beside other innumurable examples of Gods displeasure daily seene among vs , any thing moue secure worldlings , and such as are hardened in vngodlines , to turne from their own waies , & to obey the gospell of God while it is yet called To day . And on the other side , the poison of the whorish church of Rome hath so spred it selfe over the worlde , that as certaine wilde beastes , of which Cicero writeth , Den●l . deor . lib. 2. when they be hunted , are wont with an intollerable filthy sent to driue from them the hunters ; so the leaven of Antichrist , though he be now hunted to his place , hath infected all that way where hee hath gon , that the vnholesome savor there of cannot yet be purged with the bright fire of Gods word : no not in those places where the word hath of a long season beene divided aright , not withstanding the continual diligence of faithful Pastours in their ministery , the vnreproueablenes of their conversation , and the godly writings of many learned and zealous men .

For mine owne part ( being one of the least & last among my brethren in this so weighty a calling ) as afflictions are the assigned portion of a Christian , I haue beene weakned with Gods visitation of sicknesse , & chastened with the adversities of this life , that little was the good that could be done by such as I am . I rejoice of mine infirmities , knowing ( as * * Mar●i● 〈…〉 h●r . one , that was sufficiently tried with afflictions , hath written for the confort of others ) that experience & practise in bearing the crosse is that which maketh a right divine , & a true Christion indeede . Howbeit , having , now aboue a yeare since , at several times , according to that measure of grace that I received , exercised vpon the latter part of the 3. Chap. of the ●ipist to the Hebrewes , & supposing that setipture to bee most fit to bee handled in these daies , and among those people whom I was to instruct , I thought it my duty , and the rather being requested , to publish the same to the benefite of others , specially of such as hunger after good things , & accept of that portion of meat which curious & ful stomackes haue no lust to . I haue added thereto a sermon , the matter whereof & the cause of annexing it to these Lectures is briefly specified in the preface to the reader . if profane writings , as histories of profane mens liues , bookes of lustful loue , invented fables , & tricks of vaine mens wits , which helpe to builde the Babel of pride , & to fortifie the Egypt of sin , be so favourably received & studied on in the world , much more is Christian doctrine to bee regarded of Christian men . And whereas greate clerkes and graue divines do out of the treasure of their many yeares studies bring their gold and blew silke to the building of the Lordes sanctuary , let goates haire be accepted at the handes of younger and Poorer men , so it bee fit for the building , and be offered of a willing heart , as the Lord requireth . It 〈◊〉 ●55 skilleth not what prowde and envious men iudge of our enterprise , so long as we haue the testimony of a pure conscience . The world is alwaies like it selfe , ful of scorpion like scoffers . And it is no new thing to see the common evil of envie so to reigne in most men , that they haue other mens doings in obloquje , & ●●eke to depratie them . And this they do , as the Poet saith : ( ducunt ; Vel quia nil rectum , nisi quod placuit sibi , 〈…〉〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . Vel quia turpe putant parere minoribus . either because they count nothing well done , but that which pleaseth their humo● : or else because they thinke it a foule disgrace that their inferiours should ; go before them .

But that I bee not tedious vnto your honour ; as I haue founde vndeserved favour at your handes , so , being not otherwise able to testifie my loue to you , I am bolde to present vnto your Lordship this litle fruite of my labour , hoping that of your wonted clemencie & favour , you wil accept of it , as a mite of a willing minde , and vnfained good will . And in that I haue therein alleadged other authors beside the holyscriptures , I did it of care to haue every truth confirmed in the mouth of approved witnesses .

I neede not heere speake of your Lordships good desertes . I know that a vertuous man loueth not to heare his owne praise : for it is better to be a good man indeede , then in mens opinion to bee so accompted . Wherefore as GOD hath exalted you to honour and dignitie , and ( as a learned young man hath lately written to you ) hath made you a keeper of many vines , and , as we see , hath wrought in you a notable care vnder her Maiestie to provide for the well-fare of his Church ; so I beseech him that is Lord of Lordes long to preserue your honour in al safety , and to increase in you his giftes of grace , to the setting forth of his glory , to the continual good of his church , & finally to your owne eternal comfort , through the merits of his sonne Christ Iesus . And wheras the world is in danger of eternal perdition , as great part through irreligiousnes and atheisme without either knowledge or true feare of God , and a great part through affected ignorance and obstinate frowardnesse in Popish customes ; wee are to pray dayly that it may please God to wake men out of the sleepe of sinne and voluptuous living , and by the power of his holy word still to weaken the kingdome of sinne and of Antichrist , and to call those that are to bee called to the knowledge of his trueth while it is yet called To day .

Your Honours most bounden Oratour , HVGH ROBERTS .

THE CONTENTS , OR BRIEFE summe of the Lecture : vpon the latter part of the third Chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrewes , set downe in order , as followeth .

1 The first Lecture , vpon the 7. 8. 9. 10. and 11. verses ; of the authoritie of the word of God ; & of the speciall causes why this scripture , being part of one of the Psalmes of David , is alleadge● by the Apostl● writing to the Hebrewes .

2 The second Lecture , vpon the 12. and 13. verses ; of the fru●t of an evill heart ; of mutuall ex●●●tation ; and of the dectit fullnesse of sinne .

3 The third Lecture , vpon the 14. verse ; of faith ; and of the assurance of salvation , and ever lasting felicitie to the true beleevers .

4 The fourth Lecture , vpon the 15. verses of the necessitie of hearing the word of God ; how the bardening of the heart is to be vnderstood ; and of the errour of praying in the church ; specially in the time of publique 〈◊〉 , or of c●mmon pr●●ers .

5 The fifth Lecture , vpon the 16. and 17 verses ; of the wickednesse of m●ns nature ; all ●en are naturally bent to idolatrie ; we must imitate the faithfull ( though they be but few in number , or in one age ) whom God raiseth vp in all ages to confesse his name ; of Gods long sufferance & bountifulnes towards ( inners ; of sinne , and the fruit thereof .

6 The sixth and last Lecture , vpon the 18. and 19. versest of the punishment of the● that obey ●●t the Gospell , though for a time they be borne with , and liue in a flo●rishing states what the tokens of Gods iudg●ents , which befal in the world , and wherewith some men are visited , should profit vs ; the word of God is the iudge of men , which word is to be obeyed while the day of grace lasteth .

THE FIRST LECTVRE , VPON the wordes of the Prophet David , alleadged by the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews , cha. 3. ve. 7. 8. 9. 10. & 11. of the authority of the word of God : and of the speciall causes why this scripture of the Prophet is here alleadged : with the application thereof .

7 Wherfore , as the holy Ghost saith , to day if yee will heare his voice .

8 Harden not your hearts , as in the provocation , according to the day of temptation in the wilder●esse .

9 Where your fathers tempted mee , proved mee , and saw my workes for ●i● yeares long .

10 When fore I was grieved with that generation , and said they erre ever in their heart , neithe● haue they knowne my waie● .

11 Wherefore I sware in my wrat , if they shall enter into my rest .

IN the begining of this chapter ( men and brethren beloved in Christ ) the Apostle , that was the author of this epistle , exhorteth the Hebrewes , or Iewes , to whom he writeth , to consider Christ Iesus , the Apostle , & high Priest , as he faith , of our profession of Chrstianisme ; & he compareth him with that great and renowned Prophet of God , Moses ; because the lewes did magnisie the remebrance of Moses , by whom God had planted and established both the religion & civill government of the people of Israel : and therfore it is writen of him , there arose not a Prophet since in Israel like vnto Moses , who , the Lord knewe Deut. 34 10 face to face . And for this cause in the ninth of Iohn , the Iewes stand so precisely vpon the authoritie of Moses , and say , we be Moses diseiples . To 9. 28. 29. we know that God spake with Moses . Now to proue that Christ far excelleth Moses in honour and authoritie , the Apostle vseth two notable and familiar arguments . The one he draweth from a comparison betweene the builder & the house which he h●th builded : Ch●ist is the builder of his spirituall house , which is the church ; Moses was but one part of the building : therefore Christ is aboue Moses . The other from a comparison betweene the heire , or the naturall sonne , and the servant of his house : Christ is the sonne ; Moses was but a servant : therefore Christ is more honourable then Moses . Here vpon the Apostle inferreth th●t all the faithfull which professe Christian religion are the house of Christ , if they persevere and continue in his grace vnto the end .

But because without faith it is vnpossible Heb. 11. 6. Row . 10. 17 to ple●se God , and without the hearing of the word of God faith is not attained , and without a good heart there cometh no prosite Heb. 42. by hearing .

Therefore , that they which heare the word of God may be effectually ioined to this building of the house of God , and that they may be so prepared to heare this word , that it may be so prepared to heare this word , that it may not be vnto them a favour of death vnto death , but of life vnto life , the Apostle ●●leadgeth this scripture out of the Psalmes of David : the authoritie whereof Psal 95. he attributeth to the holy Ghost , who spake by the Prophets . And here we learne that the holy scriptures which we heare or read , thought they be named after that Prophet , that Apostle , or that Evangelist by whom they were ministred or written , are not with standing the liuely oracles of God , and the very words of the holy Ghost , who inspired the Prophets ●nd holy Ghost , who inspired the Prophets and holy men , and moved them to speake as they were taught and directed from aboue : according as the Apostle Peter 2. P●● . 1. 10. 21. witnesleth , know this , that no prophecie in the scripture is of any private 〈◊〉 : for the prophec , came not in olde time by the will of 〈◊〉 : but h●l●● 〈◊〉 of God spake as they were mooved by the holy Ghost . And likewise when of sinne , is by the faithfull pastour collected and preached out of the sacred scriptures , we are to teceyue the same , and to esteeme of it , as if God himselfe did speake vnto vs , who then sheweth his face vnto vs so far as we are able to abide it , but his glorious voice , our fraile nature cladde with sinne and transgression cannot endure to heare , without the ministerie of men , as it appeareth in the Israelits , who say to Moses , talke Exod. 20. 19. thou with vs , and we will heart : but i●t not God talke with vs least we die .

And yet , when we are taught by Gods ministers , it is the holy Ghost that teacheth vs , Of whose wysedome the Apostle saith , wee haue this treasure in earthen vesselles : 2. Cor. 4. 7. even heauenly treasure , pure and vndesiled . for , as we see the water of a fountaine when it is put into the earthen vesselles , doeth not chaung his nature and qualitie that it had before : And the light of the sun , though it shine through a window into a darke place , doth neverthelesse retaine that vertue & operation which it hath from the body of the sun ; so the ministery of men , which are the organes or instruments of the holy Ghost , altereth not the nature and propertie , neither diminisheth the authoritie of those thinges which they , minister . Wee must beware therefore that wee giue not the lesse credue to the wisedome of the holye Ghost because wee heare it at the mouth of men . For , it is written , God 2. Cor. 4. ● that commaunded the light to shine out of darkenesse , is hee which hath shined in the heartes of his Ministers to giue the light of the knowledge of the glorie of GOD in the face of IESUS CHRIST . And therefore whosoever beleeveth not men , teaching as they are taughte of GOD , the same beleeveth not the spirite of GOD who hath made them able Ministers of his holye will revealed in his woorde . For CHRIST hath given that commission to his true Ministers , that hee sayeth of them , hee that heareth you , heareth Luke 10. 1● mee , and hee that despiseth you despiseth mee

Nowe seeing that the Canonicall scriptures are the sayings of the holy Ghost , who yet speaketh to vs , 〈◊〉 oft as we heare them ministred and taughte , shall wee not giue greate heede to so great a Doctour , that his woordes maye perswade and take place in our heartes to the winninge of the soule ? for this cause this scripture with the rest of that Psalme of Dauid was vsually song among the lewes , vppon the sabbath dayes , when the church came together , that it might stirre them vp to a more attentiue hearing of the law and the Prophetes . And so likwise this psalme is wont to be read , or song in our chruches in these dayes , before the common praires and diuine exercise of the other scriptures , as a preparatiue to the estectuall hearing of Gode voice ; And not to giue place to evill thoughtes , and worldly cogitations which are wont to harden mens heartes , and to cause manie to depart out of the church , as wyse , and with as litle knowledge , as they came to it .

To omitte now the particulare handling of these words of the Prophet : for they are afterwardes repeated and applied by the Apostle , as we shal see in the handling therof : let vs here consider three especiall causes why this scripture is here alledged : wherof the first is , that the Hebrewes might haue no I cause to glorie of their farhers and progenitours after the ●lesh . For those their fathers which , as they boast of , had eaten Manna●●● Ioh. 6. 31. the wildernesse , tempted God , faith the Prophet ; and therefore he exhorteth their posteritie , and all that heare the same worde of saluation , which was preached vnto those fathers by Moses , not to harden their heart ●s as they did .

There is nothinge so common in the mouth of vanie and superstitious men , as the prayse of their fo●efathers , and of the dayes that are past ; as if it were inough for vs , if we could but follow the example of our fathers ; neuer examining how they beleeued , ●r how they heard the word of God , or whether they haue heard it at all . And wee thinke that our sins sh●l not come into iudgment yf wee haue learned them of our fathers . But doe we not heare that God faith in the seconde commaundement , that he is is a ie●ouse God , visiting the sinns of Exod 20. 5. the fathers , vpon the children , vppon the third generation , and vppon the fourth of them that hate him ? that is , as a worthie teacher expoundeth Bullinger vpon the second commandement . it , yf the children walke in the crooked stepps of their fathers , and thinke that their iniqu●tie ●hall not be punished , because they haue learned it of● their fathers , yet God will ●harplye reuenge it in the children , although he touched not their fathers when they committed the same iniquitie . The people that were left from the captivitie of Babilon obiect against the Prophet Ieremiah that when they , and their fathers did burne incense vnto the Queene of Ier. 44. 17. 18. heaven , and powre out drincke offeringes vnto her , they had plentie of victuals , and all was well with them . But when they left of that service , wee haue had , say they , scarcenesse of all thinges , and haue beene consumed by the sworde and by the famine . The Prophete replyeth , that because they and their fathers with their Kinges and Princes h●dde doone such thinges , therefore the LORDE coulde no longer forbeare Ier. 44. 20. 21. 22. it , but broughte those plagues vpon them .

And thus doe the frowarde people of our dayes , which wincke at the lighte , deceiue themselues , obiecting that our fathers , ( which as they saie , were of the olde religion ) had plentie of all thinges , and felte no want . And because they are touched with the evilles of these dayes , ( which notwithstandinge are nothing so greate as the obstinacie and willfull ignoraunce of this age hath deserved ) they run into that note of follie , why is it that the Eccle. 〈◊〉 . 12. former daies were better then these ?

This hath beene the olde complainte of all ages . The heathen * * Ovid fastlib . I. laudamus veteres , sed nostri● vtimut annis . Poet saith laudamus veteres , wee are wonte to praise the yeares of our forefathers . This commeth from the darkenesse of our nature , that we iudge foolishlie of those thinges whereof wee bee ignoraunte , according to this saying of a learned teacher : because wee Bishop lewell . feele not our fathers evilles , therefore wee imagine they had no evil at al. But though it were true that our fathers haue had the peace , and posperitie of this worlde , yet if wee will looke into that age , wherein they lived , wee shall finde nothing whereof wee may glorie . For indeede it was the Egypte of superstition and spirituall darkenesse , and therefore as * * Deering vpon the epistle to the Hebr. lect. 24. one hath lefte in writing vpon this Epistle to the Hebrewes , if wee goe after Baalims which our fathers haue taught vs , wee shall bee fedde with the wormwoode which our fathers haue leaten . Yea let vs assure our selues wee shall bee beaten with more stripes then our fathers , if wee will wittinglie treade in their steppe● . For as Bulliuger saith , if thy forefathers Bulliuget vpon th● Apoc. set . 35. bad had the like opportunitie which then neglectest , what a space would they haue runne afore thee .

And therefore , as it shall bee easier for Tyr●● Luke . 10. 14. and S●lon at the day of iudgemente then for them that heard Christ , and saw his miracles , and were not the better therefore : so , I may say , it shall be easier for our forefathers at that day , then for them , which bring forth no good fruite , nor make profession of the trueth ( beeing preached and made knowne vnto them ) which hath not beene so revealed to our fathers , as it is now to the people of our daies .

The seconde cause why the Apostle reciteth 2 this scripture of David , is , that with the example , and punishmente of them that tempted and hardened their heartes in the dese●te , hee mighte terrifie the Hebrewes , and make them more carefull to receiue the wordes of exhortation , and to obey the voice of Christ the mediatour of the new testament , whose voice ; as he is greater then Moses , so shall they draw vpon them great erpunishment which neglect to heare it .

The children of Israell , of whom mention is heere made , after they were delivered out of Egypt by Moses , for al that they had seene the works of God , & his miracles which he wrought for them in Egypt , & at the redde sea , yet they tempted him in the wildernesse , and doubted of his ●goodnesse and providence towardes them , and said , is the Lord among vs or no ? because they had not Exod. 17. 7. water at their pleasure . This was the provocation which is here mentioned , wherewith the Lorde God was tempted , in the wildernes , of his own people , after that he had delivered them out of the hands of their enemies .

And againe when they should haue gone out of the wildernesse into the land of Canaan to possesse it , and to dwell therein , where they should haue had rest , peace , and prosperity , yet they beleeved not the worde of God , * * The chil-dren of Israel are commanded to goe vp and possesse the land which God had said before them : but they say they will sende men to search out the land , Deur . I. 21. 22. and therefore the Lord , s●●ll , bearing with them , biddeth them len , Num. 1● . ●3 . how be it the event and issue of their sending , declareth that it came from the people● disobedience to the word of God : for the years , in which they did b●●r● their iniquity in the wildernesse , are measured with the number or the daies , in the which they had searched out the land of C●naan , Num. 13. 14. 33. 34. but sent twelue men , a man out of every tribe of the children of Israell to search the land to know what maner of land it was , and whether they might obtaine it or no ; as if the living God , and Lorde of the whole earth , which had done so many thinges for them , shoulde not nowe bee able to subdue their enemies , and to giue them the land according to his promise . And when the twelue men returned , after fortie daies , from searching of the lande , and brought with them of the fruite thereof to shewe to all the congregation of the children of Israell , tenne of the twelue brought vp an evil report & slander vpon the land , & to these ten men , the whole assembly gaue credite , and their words to them seemed to bee true . And therefore they murmured against Moses and Aaron , and would haue made a Num. 14. new captaine to bring them againe vnto Egypt ; but Ioshua and Caleb ( two of the twelue that had searched the land ) al the multitude would haue stoned with stones , for the truth sake which these two men reported of the land , & because they perswaded the people not to rebel against the Lord .

Thus the Israelites that came out of Egypt tempted the Lord in the wildernesse and provoked him to anger by following the counsels of their owne harts , & therefore the Lord saith of them , as it is in this text , they erre ●ver in their hearts , and what was then their punishments ? as I liue , saith the Lord , I wil surely do vnto you , even as ye haue spoken in mine ears ; Num. 14. 28. 2● . your carkases shall sal in this wildernesse &c. And so it came to passe : for of the sixe hundreth thousand , which came out of Egypt● , and were able to discerne betweene good and evil , none but two men , Caleb the sonne of Iephiumeth , and Ioshua the sonne of Nun , which constantly , as the scripture saith , followed Num. 32. 12 the Lord , did enter into the land of Canaan to inhabite it ; all the rest were consumed in the terrible wildernesse according to the worde of the Lord , for Moses saith , and the Lord was Num. 32. 13 very angry with Israell , and made them wander in the wildernesse fourty yeares , vntill all the generation that had done evill in the sighte of the Lorde were consumed . And here the text saith , therefore I sware in my wrath if they shoulde enter into my rest .

Where it is said , in my wrath , we are to vnderstand that God , who is a spirite immortal , infinite , and incomprehensible , with whome is 1am . 1. 17. no variablenesse , neither shadow by turning , is not subiect to any of these passions which the scriptures seeme to attribute vnto him , as wrath , ielousie , greefe , repentance , and the like . But these things are figuratiuely applyed to God after the manner of men for our vnderstandinge sake , which are not able to conceiue of heavenly things , without metaphors , allegories , ●arables and similit●●es , borrowed from earthlie and naturall things , which are therefore so much vsed in holy scriptures for ou●● learning . And heere by the name of wrath , or anger , is set foorth the determinate sentence of Gods eternall iustice against sin and disobedience .

And when it is said , that he sware , it teacheth vs feare , and confirmeth to vs that Gods threatnings fall not to the grounde without Augustine in Psal 95. full effect . For as Aurelius Augustine saith vpon this place , iurantem hominem debes timere , thou oughtest to feare when a man sweareth , least for his oths sake he should do that which is * * As Herod did Mar. 6. 26. when he caused Iohn Bapsist to be beheaded . against his will ; howe much more , saith he , oughtest thou to feare when God sweareth , who can sware nothing rashlie ? his oath is a sure confirmation . Wheras in deed , as another father saith , everie word of God ought to be taken for anoth . And this phrase , of they shall outer , doeth aggravate the threatning . For here is an 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , that is , a concealing of that that would bee vttered , after the maner of men , when one through indignation , or anger , or otherwise moved with some passion of the minde , vttereth not out his meaning to a full and perfect serce . And the meaning of this is , if they shall enter into my rest , my word is of no force , or I am not to be beleeved when I speake . Our saviou● Christ , mourning for the Pharises because of the hardnesse of their heartes , vseth the same phrase of speech in the gospell by Marke , saying● , verilie I sa●● vnto you , if a signe Mar. 8. 12 shall be given to this nation ; as if he should saie , if a signe bee given them there is no truth in me , or let me be a deceiver .

Thus as M. Beza● wri●eth , when God sweareth by himselfe , he suffereth his truth , In Mar. ca. 8. ver. 12. and his glory to bee iudged of according ! to the words which he affirmeth .

And what doe these things teach vs ? forsooth they confirme Gods iust iudgementes to overtake them which harden their hearts and obey not his voice , that we therby might be taught to feare , & brought to obedience . For to vs is now preached the same Christian verity , and religion , that the Apostle preached to the Hebrewes in this Epistle . Seeing therefore how fearefully the children of Israell were punished for their provoking , and disobeying the word which was brought vnto them by the servant of God , Moses , how great then shall their punishment bee which harden their hearts , & set light by that word of grace which was brought into the worlde by the sonne of God himselfe ? surely as one faith , we , if we harden our heartes , shall be Eralmu● . so much the more greeuously punished , by how much the greater he is that hath vouch safed to speake vnto vs in his owne person .

Seeing therfore that Christ the mediatour of the newe testament , who by his owne testimony is greater then lonas greater then Salomon , and greater then all the Prophets that went before him , hath vttered his voice ; vnto vs with his owne mouth , and yet the same voice is heard in our eares ; howe then shall we escape if we neglect so great salutation ?

Lastly the rest mentioned in this scripture The thirde cause why this scrip-ture is a●leadged of the Apostle in this text to the He-brewes . doth notably expresse the rest and promise of God set forth in the new testament , as a figure most agreeable to the thing figured . For the external rest wheronto the children of Israel were to be brought , was the land of Canaan . The rest of the gospel is the celestiall Ierusalem , the citie of the huinge GOD described in the twentieth and one of the Reuelation , into the which none vncleane thing shall enter . And now as the murmuring Israelites were depriued of entering into the land of Canaan : because they beleeued those tenn men , which brought avile slander vppon the land , and would giue no credite to the other two , Caleb and Ioshua , which stood for the truth ; so we , if we go after Baals Prophets , false teachers , and deceiuers which are mo in number then Elyab , or Caleb and Ioshua , and so follow the multitude and decline from the truth , shall be excluded from the rest euerlasting ; and shall haue our portion with the multitude of Hyppocrites and vnbeleeuers .

The Papistes that are against vs , do bragg of the multitude of people : and nations , which haue followed the church of Rome , and receyued their traditions : but this proueth not the truth to be of their side , but rather the contrarie . For Christ calleth his church a little flocke . And he saith , that wide Luk. 12. 32. Mat. 7. 13. is the gate , and broad is the way that leadesh to destruction . So the whole world in the dayes of Noah consented togeither in vngodlinesse confirmed by the custome of many ages : but Noah and his familie is all the Gen. 7. 1. flocke that was CHRISTES , and that hadde not consented to the vngodlinesse and custome of those evill daies . And L●● alone is founde righteous in a whole cittie of wicked people . Caleb and Ioshua , even Gen. 19. two men are found faithfull and constant in all that greate multitude of Gods owne people which came out of Egipt . And in the reuelation , the Lord calleth his seruants , my two witnesses ; as yf they were the fewest in Revel. 11. 3. number of all other .

Now here are two wayes set before thee . Yf thou wilt go to hell ; Follow the multitude and thou art neuer out of the way . But if thou wil● enter into life ; follow the example of good men though they be but one or Luke 13. 24. two amoug many thousand : for Christ faith to thee striue ; because the gate is so straight that it is hard and most difficult to enter in there at . Yet harden not thine heart , neither regard what thy forefathers haue done before thee ; but regard and obey the Lords voice , and walke not after the flesh , but after the spirite : and thou arte in the way to that gloriouse rest which remayneth to the people of God , purchased with the blood of the mediatour of the newe testament , to whom be praise in the church throughout all generations for ever .

The second Lecture , vpon the 12. and 13. verses ; of the fruit of an evill heart ; of mutuall exhortation ; and of the deceitfulnesse of sinne .

12 Take heede brethren , least at any time their be in any of you an evill heart , and vnfaithfull , to depart away from the living God .

13 But exhort one another daily , while it is called to day , least any of you be hardened through the deceitfulnesse of sinne .

THese wordes , my brethren , haue a relation to that scripture which continueth from the seventh v●●se of this chapter to this twelfth verse of the same , taken out of the Psalme of David , as an excellent sermon of the holy Ghost , and so applied by the Apostle to declare , as you haue heard , that the authority of men , and examples of fathers can be no ground , nor stay of faith , or religion to any man ; because the best of them haue erred ; as al those fathers of the Hebrews , who after they had seene the glory of God , and were delivered out of Egipt with signes and wonders , even the whole company of them ( two or three men excepted ) provoked God in he wildernesse , and would not beleeue the worde which was preached vnto them . Where we haue also learned that if Moses the servant of the house , and the lawe given by him could not bee despised without punishment : for they which obeyed not were deprived of the promised rest , and overthrowen in the wildernesse ; much more shal they bee punished which will not heare the sonne , of whom Moses did beare witnesse , and whose voice inviteth to a more glorious rest then the earthly rest of the lande of Canaan

These thinges being so alleadged , by the Author of this Epistle , to warne the Hebrews , and in them all other people , to whom the same gospel is revealed , to the end that they might heereby receiue instruction to bee the more careful to heare the voice of Christ the prince of all the Prophets , and the end of the law to every one that beleeveth .

Now he proceedeth to applie the exhortation of the Prophet more particularlie , according as the time of Godes calling requireth . And by this word , brethren , he declareth his tender affection toward them , and the earnest desire that he hath to winne them to Christ . Where we are to know in what sense they are called , brethran . Not according to nature , as Iacob and Esau were 4 So●tes of brethren . brethren ; nor ●or consanguinitie sake , as all the lewes were brethren ; neither are they called brethren by imitation , or for their agreement in evill , as Simon and Leui are Gen. 49. 5. called brethren in euill , because they hadde consented to slaie a man ; and in this sense malefactours and wicked menne imitating one another , and consenting to doe evil , are brethren .

But according to trueth the Hebrewes are ●heere called , brethren : for all the faithfull are brethren by grace . It appeareth in many places of this Epistle , that much people of the Iewes were converted to the Christian faith , and had received the doctrine of the Gospell , and acknowledged CHRIST IESVS for their Messias .

And also it is recorded in the Actes of the Apostles that manye thousande Iewes Act. 21. 20. did beleeue . Yet the chiefest of them , and for the more part the whole nation were obstinate and persisted in the blindnesse of their owne hearts ; and also those that beleeved were all zealous of the lawe of Moses , retaining with the gospel , the Circumcision , the sabbath day , the purification ; and other ceremonies of the lawe . And therefore as the doctrine of the holy Ghost , in this scripture , is most forcible to perswade the vnbelieuing to receiue the grace of God in Christ ; so is it most necessarie to keepe and strengthen the weake members in the sinceritie of the Gospell , and to teach them to forsake the ceremonies and earthly rudiments now abrogated and taken away by the death of the Messias . Thus we vnderstand that , as brethren by grace , and indued with Christian faith , he exherteth them to be ware of an evill heart of vnbeliefe .

There is no defection or falling ; away from the liui●g God where there is not an evill heart . And therfore where the Prophet speaketh of the prouoking and apostasie of their fathers in the wildernesse , it is added with all , they erre ever in their heart . There Psal 95. 10. Hebr. 3. 10 is the roote of evill and insidelitie , euen the heart . The holy Prophet saith , the heart is deceitfull and wicked aboue all thinges ; who can Ier. 17. 9. know it ? Heere we see that naturally in the heart of man there is nothinge but wickednesse and obduration : and this is the cause that the children of men are accustomed to do evill and to delight in sinne . For such as the tree is , so is the fruit thereof . And so long as this obduration possesseth mans heart , his voluntarie religion is nothinge but Hypocrisie , his outwarde shewe of obedience is but dissimulation , when hee offereth his praiers and intercessions , it is but lippe labour , like the people which drew neere vnto Christ with their mouth , and honoured him with their but their hearte , faith he , is farre from 〈◊〉 : and therefore they worshipped him it vaine .

Simon the Sorcerer , as it is in the Actes Act. 8. 11. of the Apostles , beleeued and was baptised : but he was not therefore the better : for , Peter said to him thine hart is not right in the sight of the Lorde . Wherefore if you wil loue the Lorde your God , you must loue him with loue out of a pure heart . For that is the ende 1. Tim. 15. of his commaundement . For the Lord iudgeth not as men doe after the outwarde appearance , but as it is written , the Lord be holdeth 1. Sam. 16. 7. the heart . If the heart be not purged by grace , all outwarde holynesse is but as painted sepulchers faire without and foule within , or as greene grasse , and faire flowres vnder the which lyeth a venimous snake that will sting you to death . Christ telleth you that out of the hearte come those things that defile the whole man , as , evill thoughtes , murthers , Mat. 15. 19. 20. adulteries , fornications , theftes , false testimonies , slaunders , and the like . And for this cause his Apostle faith , purge your heartes yee lam 48. wavering minded . For while the heart is not purged , there is nothing in man but a wavering minde ; and as the same Apostle faith , awavering minded man is vnstable in all his waies . He is carried from one vanitie to another , he selleth himselfe to sinne , from miquitie to iniquity . Hee is content with Iudas to sell Christ and Christian religion for the gaine of this world , and for the pleasures of sinne , this is the fruite of an evill heart and vnfaithful , which hateth to be reformed , and will not obey the voice of the almighty .

The Prophet Zachariah crieth out against the people , that would not , heare the law of their God , and saith , they made their hearts , as Z●c . 7. 12. an ada●an●● stone least they shoulde heare the l●we , &c. Their hearts were so farre from beleeving the word of the Lorde , that for the hardnesse therof , he compareth them to the adamant stone . Plin. nat. ●ist . lib. 37. cap. 4.

The adamant as the historiographers doe obserue , is the hardest of all other stones . It is so hard that no toole can breake it , no fire can heate it ; yea nothing can overcome the hardnesse of this stone , or soften it & breake it , but only the warme blood of the he Goat : And surelie the hearts of the children of this world are rightly compared with the harde adamant , which naturally are so hardened in sinne , that without the dew of grace , and the vertue of the bloode of Christ make them soft , and renew them , all our preaching , all our exhorting , and dehorting , though we had the tongues of men and angels cannot soften , nor turne the heart . For as it is written , that which is crooked can ●o Eccle. 1. 15. man make straight . Wee see that the gracious , and most powerfull wordes of Christ himselfe did nothing prevaile to winne tho hard hearted Iewes , but ratheri hardened them in their contumacie , and made them more perverse than they were before , because the vaile of vnbeliefe was laide over their hearts .

Beholde how great a roote of wickednes is the obduration and frowardnesse of the heart , whence commeth the forsaking of life and health , vttered in that desperate sentence against the counsell of the almighty , departe from vs ▪ for wee desire not the Iob. 2● . ●4 . knowledge of thy waies . Neverthelesse , although most men haue not the heartes of brethren , yet this doctrine must be preached to al , take heede brethren , least at any time there bee in anie of you an evil hart , and vnfaithful , to depart awaie from the living God .

He is called the living God in two respects : the one is for difference sake put betweene him and the Idols of the Gentiles , which were the worke of mens handes , and had no life , and yet were they called Gods . But he is more properlie and truely called the liuing God for excellency sake , because he ever liveth , and is the well spring of life , which giveth to all things life and being . To fall away therefore through the evill of thine owne heart , from him , which is to thee all in all thinges , is a desperate evill case .

Here we learne that it profiteth vs nothing to haue beleeued the word of life , & to haue begunne in the spirite if afterwarde we falle by the way , and seeke to be made per●ect by the flesh . For , as the Prophet saith , whensoeuer the righteous man turneth away from his Ezech. 18. 〈◊〉 . righteousnesse , and committeth iniquitie , he shall even die for the same . Many haue begun wel , and haue afterwarde fainted in the midst of their race , & departed from the living God . Ioash king of Iudah began to doe well , and did that which was acceptable in the sighte 2 Chro. 24. of the Lord , so lō as Ieho●ada the priest lived ; but afterward he fel to idolarry , & departed away from the living God . So Amaziab his 2. Chio. 25. sonne , at the beginning of his taigne , did vprightly in the eie● of the Lorde , but not with a perfect heart . For he was weary of wel doing . And therefore hee was slaine and ●reason was wrought against him , when he turned away from the Lord . The Galathians Gal. 3. 3. Gal. 5. 7. began in the spirite , & did runne well for a time ; but afterwardes they turned away from the truth to the weake rudiments of the world , and would be made perfect by the flesh . Gal. 3. 3.

And among other examples of this Apostasie , or falling away from grace , not able is that of Iulian the Emperour , who for his revolting is called , Apostata . In his youth he was brought vp in the colledge of clergy men , and profited so well in Christian learning Greg. Naz. in Iusiansi or at . 1. that hee became a publique reader of the holy scriptures ; but afterward he sufrered himselfe to be deceived of heathen Philosophers , and then renouncing Christianity , he gaue himselfe to Paganisme , in the raigne of the Emperour Constantius . He was taken for a sound Christian ; and for his sucsesse in warre , for his learning , his gentlenes and many other laudable giftes that he had , he was highlie renouned . But when he was promoted to the empire , and had full authoritie , then hee shewed himselfe an Apostaia . Hee was wont contunieliouslye to call Christ our sauiour , Galileus , the man of Gablee , and by all craftie meanes to seeke the dishonour of the Christians , aduancing the Paganes , and such as woulde forsake Christ and his religion , to honour and offices , and so , in despite of Christianisme , he licensed and ayded the Iews to build the temple at Ierusalem . Greg. Naz. in lusianā oral . 2. But when they laid the foundations thereof , the earth claue asunder with a great earth quake & a mightie storme of wind arose , that their whole worke was overthrowne , & many of the Iews slain , many of them burnt & maimed in their principal members , with lightnings and fire from heauen . Other tokens of Gods wrath were seene among them , as also in the hoast of lulian . And so the lewes were made to desist from their wicked enterprise . And lulian , when he had reigned a yeare and seuen monthes , or there abouts , hauing receyued his deathes wound in battell against the Persians , tooke his hand ful of blood and threw it into the aire , saying , vicists tandem Galiae , thou man of Galilee , meaning Christ Iesus , when all is done thou hast the victory . With this blasphemie vttered in despaire , and in a feeling of woe , he perished . Here is a notable paterne of an evill heart and vnfaithfull .

Many in al ages haue after this maner fallen away from the liuing God , and haue gone from Christ to Antichrist , though not so famous as Indian .

It can not be vnknowne to them , which by reading & exercise seeke the ground of true religion , how many in this land , which seemed to be professors of the word of God in the reigne of the last king Edward , haue fallen away againe in the dayes of Queene Mary , and like the wethercocke haue turnd from the Gospel to the Masse , and from the seruants of Christ became the seruants of the Pope , rather then they would forsake either wife , children , lands , houses , or other earthly commodities for Christ & the Gospels sake .

Againe , which is more to bee lamented , not fewe within these forty yeares , being brought vppe in this their natiue country in schooles and vniversities of learning , when they shoulde haue done good in the church of God , haue contrariewyse runne beyond the seas to commite fornication with that painted harlot the false church of Rome : & then haue become rebells agaynst God and his eternal word , against their lawful prince and their natural countrey . They haue imitated lulian in apostasie . And it is come vnto them according to the saying of the holy Ghost , the doggees returned to his vomit , and the 2. Pet. 2. 22. sowe that was washed to the wallowing in the ●●re & to leaue these men to him to whom they fall ; there are now abiding in this land too many , that are infected with the leauen of them , which haue drunke of the poysoned cup of Rome , and doe wilfully withdrawe themselues from the true church , and refuse ●o heare the doctrine of the Gospell , least they should be converted thereby , and least the savior of the world should heale them . An evil heart therfore hath deceived these people . And this is the iust iudgement of God , to sende them strong delusion , as the scripture 2. Thess. 〈◊〉 . 11. 12. faith , that they shoulde beleeuel●●s , that all they might bee damned which beleeued not the trueth , but bad pleasure in vnrighteousnesse . Nowe the remedie which the Apostle prescribeth against the custome of sinne , against apostasie , and falling away from GOD , is , exhort one another daily , while it is called to day , least any of you bee hardened through the deceitnesse of sinne .

Although this dutie of exhorting doeth chieflie belong to the Ministers and teachere of the worde of GOD , as Paule teacheth 2. Tim. 4. 2 preach the wordo : , bee instant , in season and out of season 〈…〉 prooue , rebuke , exhorte with all long suffering and doctrine , yet here the holie GHOST , speaking by the Authour of this Epistle , wil haue all men , which professe true religion , to exhort one another , and that daylie or every day ; for asmuch as there is no day , nor houre of our life without temptations of infidelitie , and without the snares of death laid in our waies . And therefore wee are taught in diuerse places of holy scriptures to haue a care of our brethren , and to instruct them ; so Paule saith to the Thessalonians , exhorte one another , and edifie one 1 Thesse . 5. 11. another even as ye doe . And because he deserueth not the name of a Christian , whosoever is ignorant of the ground of faith , and religion contained in the sacred scriptures , and is not able to edifie another , nor to speake as the word of God . Therefore the same Apostle writeth to the Romanes , I am perswaded of you my brethren , that yee also are full of goodnesse and filled with Rom. 15. 14 all knoweledge , and are able to admonish one another . The doctrine of the holy GHOST delivered by the Apostles , as it appeareth in their writings , is full of such exhortations , as , edi●ie one another , exhorte one another , be fulfilled with the spirite .

But Satan the enemy of all trueth hath alwaies too many of his side , which are against this doctrine ; yea and in these dai●● some that haue the name to bee preachers , ( I pray God they bee not for Baal ) whose vo●ce soundeth , let not artificers , husbandmen , and menne without learning , busie themselues with holy scriptures , and with matters of faith and religion , let them not goe aboute to tell other men what they shoulde doe , and to admonish other men of their errors , tracte●● fabri●●a fabri , let them meddle with those things they haue to doe ; and take no care of other men though they bee in an errour . This is the wisedome of the flesh , and here we see how contrary it is to the wisedome which is from aboue , and teacheth vs to exhort , to edifie , and to admonish one another , what calling , what trade of life , or what condition soever we be of . For God hath alwaies required this duetie of mutuall exhortation of them that professe his name , as it is written , thou shalt not hate thy brother in Levit , 19. 17 thine heart , but thou shalt plainly rebuke thy neighbour , and suffer him not to sinne : For this cause Augustine saith , that every Christian hath the August . do verb. domini serm. 16. keies in his hande to binde and to loose his brother vpon earth : for when he giveth him warning and admonition , if he heare him , he hath won him , but if he despise him , he hath bound● him : because the wordes of exhortation , taken out ▪ of the doctrine of Christ and his holy scriptures are a favour either to life or to death , by whomsoever they bee spoken or delivered . For we haue learned , that not only the minister of the word , but also all Christians without exception are commanded to instruct , and exhorte their brethren , & the greater that every one is in respect of his place , or calling , the greateri● his charge herein , and the more cause hee hath to covet with that faithfull servaunt of the LORDE , Moses , that all the Num. 11. 29. Lordes people were Prophetes , and that the Lorde woulde put his spirite vppon them , that so they might be able to teach one another , that none might perish for lacke of knowledge . For the Lord complaineth that his people is go●e into captiuitie , because they had Isa. 5. 13. no knowledge . If there be no knowledge , there can be no exhortation , & then no setting free from the captiuitie of s●nne .

The time to exhort , and likwise to learne , is , while it is called , to day . It must not be deferred , or put over till to morrow : for the scripture saith , yee cannot tell what shall be to morrow . Iam. 4. 14. By the date in this place is not meant the whole course of our life , as some haue taught vpon this text . But the daie is taken for the acceptable time of grace , in which the wisedome of God vttereth her voice among vs , & inviteth vs to the marriage of the kings son . For not withstanding that no time , while we liue vpon the earth , is to late to amendment of life , yet the Gospell of Christ , which is the light of the world that teachceth vs faith and repentaunce , may bee taken from vs , and then it is night , and no daie , even as it is this day with the Turkes , ●he Papistes , and all other nations of the earth , to whom the Lord hath not giuen the light of his holy worde , thought they haue the naturall daie , yet haue they not the daie of grace , but they walke in the night of ignorance & superstition , in which they goe out of the waie and perish . We haue had this day almost this fortye yeares ; and yet so farre are we from beeing able to exhort one another that the most part of our elder men and women haue not yet learned the meaning of their baptisme , oh , how lamentably haue these people beene hardned through the deceitfulnesse of sinne And will you stil walke in this feareful darknesse , & not come into the light of ●he day ? now let the sunne of right cousnesse shine in your hearts For even this day it is called to day , and we know not how long this day wil last ; but when it is past it will not be redeemed though wee would seeke it with teares , Heb. 12 17. as Esau sought the blessing ; and yet was reiected , because the day was past .

Now that which hardeneth vs , is , the deceitfulnesse of sinne . If sinne were not deceitfull , it could not overcome , nor prevaile against so many men , and all sortes of people , and all ages , as it doeth . It prevaileth against old men , which in respect of time ought to be teachers , and deceiveth them , that notwithstanding they be come to that age , that their strength is but labour and sorrow , yet wil they not giue over the loue of this world : for it is with them as Cicero saith , there is none Cicero lib. de s●nectu●e . so olde , which doeth not thinke himselfe able to liue one yeare . And so deferring from yeare to yeare , and from day to day , the hoare head is childishly deceiued , and al his experience cannot draw him out of the snares of sinne . It deceyueth youth and middle age , and telleth them , it is time inough to serue God , and to be religiouse when old age shall approch ; and being deceyued they will not heare veritie , which saith , remember now thy creator in the dayes of thy youth . For when age Eccle. 1. 12. cometh then are the evill dayes , and the yeares wherin thou shalt say , I haue no pleasure in them .

Sinne is so cra●tie and deceitfull that it deceyueth euen the wyse and the prudent of this world ; it is obserued in the little beast Chameleon , that it can change it selfe into all coloures that it si●teth vpon , except white . But there is no colour or ●hew of vertue which sinne cannot chaunge itselfe into . For therby it deceyueth and hardeneth all sinners . It cometh to the coneteouse man , hauing the colour and name of good husbandrie , and not of coueteousnes , and so hardeneth him . It cometh to the drunkard , not vnder the ●ame of drunkenes , but of good felowshippe , and hardeneth him so , that he is nothing ashamed of his sinne .

The sinne of whoredome cometh to the leacherous , and to the wanton naminge it selfe , sweete loue , or , a tricke of youth , and then it is receiued as a delectable guest , and not as sinne which stayeth ●he soule .

Pride in apparel deceiveth the prowd , & vaine glorious soule , vnder the title of cleanlines , and decencte : because , if it come vnder the name of pride , it is more odiouse , and is knowne to be sinne . Neither is there any sinne so soule or detestable , which is not smoothed with some faire name , and title to cloake it with all . For herein is the deceitfollnesse of sinne and here with are men deceyued and hardened that they sinne as with cart ropes , and drinke vp iniquitie like water . But woe vnto them , saith the Prophet , that speake good of euil , and euill of good , which put Isa. 5. 10. darknesse for light , and light for darkensse , that put bitter for sweete , and sweete for s●wre . Now , if you haue not an evill heart of vnbeliefe , call vpon the name of the Lord , seeke the Lorde while he may be found , seeke the knowledge of his waies , while it is called to daie , that so you may be able to exhorte and instruct one another , and to avoide the deceitfulnesse of sinne , before you bee hardened and blinded through the craftinesse thereof , let vs nowe ●o●e togither and pray .

The thirde Lecture , vpon the 14. verse ; of faith ; and of the assurance of salvation , and ●verlasting felicitie to the true beleevers .

14 For we are made partakers of Christ ●f we keep sure vnto the ende , the beginning wherewith we are vpholden .

THE Apostle having already prooued by plaine and strong argumentes that Christ is the sonne of God , and the Messias that should redeeme Israell , and hauing exhorted the Hebrewes to beware of infidelity , and disobedience , which wa● the cause that their forefathers perished in the wildernesse , whose example he layeth before them in the scripture of the Psalmist before alledged : now he declareth howe and by what means we are made true members of Christ , and fellow heires with him of the celestiall inheritance .

We are made partakers of Christ , saith he , if ws keepe sure vnto the ●nd the beginning , wherewith we are vpholden . These words lead vs to speak of faith , and iustification by faith .

In the 6. of Iohn it is recorded that when the people which had seene the miracles of Christ , asked what they shoulde doe , that they Io. 6. 28. might worke the works of God : Christ telleth them , this is the work of God , that ye● cleeue in him whom ver. 29. he hath sent . And in the 2. of the Actes , those Iewes , which had heard the sermon of Peter , being p●icked in their hearts , said to the Apostles , men and brethren what shall we do ? To whom Act 2. 37. the Apostle Peter answereth , amend your liues , ver. 38. & be baptised every one of you in the name of Iesus Christ for the remission of sins . And in the 16. of the Acts , to the lay●er , or keeper of the prison , Act. 16. 30. demanding what he must do to be saued , Paule ver. 31. & Sylas say , beleeue in the Lord Iesus Christ .

These & the like place● of scriptures , my brethren , do teach vs principally two things , the one is , that there is a feare of deat● eternall , and of Gods iudgements , naturally remaining in the hearts of all men , according as it is written , that for feare of death , men are Heb. 2. 15. all their life time subiect to bondage .

And that is , because of sinne and the testimony of a guilty conscience : which , as wee see vpon any occasion of feare , bewraveth that sinne lyeth at the dore . The other thing which wee doe heere learne , is , where the remedie against the strength of sinne , & the sting of death is to be found , namely in the Lord Iesus Christ by beleeuinge in him : for among in in there as giuen no●e other name vnder heauen , wherby we must be saued , but by the Act. 〈◊〉 . 11. name of Christ Iesus , who was deliuered to death for our sinnes , and is risen againe for our instification . Rom. 4. 25.

As in the time of Moses there was no remedie , not cure that could helpe them , that were stung with the firie and venemous serpents in the wildernesse but onely the be holding of the braslen serpent , which Moses had set vp , made the poyson harmelesle , Num 21. 9. and saued from death them that were bitten ; so is there no mediatour , nor aduocate in heauen , nor in earth , nor any oblation , or offering of man , that can deliuer from the death of the soule , and breake the force of the poyson of sinne , but onely true faith , which is the eie of the soule , wherby we behold him that was figured in the brassen serpent , and is lifted vpon the tree of the crosse for the health and saluation of all that beleeue . This is the wedding garmente , which whosoeuer hath not put on , is in danger to be cast into vtter darkenesse , where shall be weeping and guashing of teeth . This is the faith wherby Mat. 22. 12. 13 the iust do liue . This is the begining where with wee are vpholde , which we must keepe sure vnto the end . In the text it is called , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 the beginning of the substaunce . And some translate it , the foundation of the assurance : which foundation is the sounde doctrine of the Gospell of CHRIST apprehended by faith : or according to Chrisostomes exposition , faith it selfe . For that is the organe or instrumente whereby we are made partakers of Christ . Wee finde in an other place of this Epistle that the Apostle vseth the same word , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , in the Heb. 11. 1. definition of faith . By this phrase therefore , the beginning of the substance vnto the ende , is meant nothing else but continuance , or perseverance in the faith of Christ , according to that to the Coloss. 1. 23. If yee continue grounded Col. 1. 23. and established in the faith . These , and the like places in the scriptures , which speake with this condition , if , ought not to be ; so vnderstood , as if any of the faithful , that are elected to life eternal , could perish or fall away from grace ; but they do effectually exhort vs to be the more strengthened in the spirit , against the weaknes of the flesh , & the continual al temptations of this life that would guēch our faith . For there are many imperfections in the faith of the godly so long as they liue vpon the earth . And the narrownes of our harts is such , that we cannot comprehend , as wee ought to doe , what God will doe for vs , but yet the gates of hell , and the stormes of this life , that neuer put out the candel of Gods elect , which is their faith . This faith therfore is here called , the substance , or vnholding , or sure standing , by a the vse of building : for as no building canne stand without a sure substance , or foundation to stande vpon , so no man can stande or walke in the way of life without ; faith , which is the thing that quickeneth evene true Christian , and is vnto him a rising againe from death vnto life through Christ the saviour . For even as the body is dead without the soule , so the soule is dead without faith ; and therefore Augustine writeth , Super 10. tract. 49. auima ●u● anima si●es est , faith is the life of thy soule . And againe where the Apostle faith , that Christ may dwell in your heartes by Eph. 3. 17 faith . How should Christ dwell in my heart ? hee answereth , thy faith in Christ is Christ dwelling in thine heart .

And nowe speaking of this faith that iustifieth the elect of God , we must note that it differeth from other giftes of the spirite , which in the scriptures haue the name of ●aith , that so we may the better vnderstand what that faith is whereby we are said to be iustified , and made the sonns of God .

There is therefore an illumination , or inlightning 4 Kindes of faith . of some mens mindes , to consent to the doctrine of the Gospell , and to receiue it for the infallible truth of God : for in the gospel they that ar on the stones , which Mat. 13. 20. 21. Mat. 4. 16. 17. Luk. 8. 13. receiue the word with ioy , but haue no root , are said to beleeue for a tune , but in the time of temptation they fall away . This beleefe , or faith for a time is commonly called , temporary faith , because it is not permanent , nor effectuall to iustification , but it is a faith that reprobates haue that are yet in the state of condemnation . There is also a gift of doinge Miracles , which an vngodlie or reprobate man may haue : and this is called , the faith of miracles : of the which 1. Cor. 13. 2. the Apostle speaketh , if I bade all faith , so that I could remoue mountaines , and had not loue I were nothinge . This faith , or gifte , maketh no man partaker of Christ . Thirdlie there is a generall kind of acknowledging the word of God and the historie of the Gospell to be true , and that Christ is such a sauiour of men as the scriptures do report of him , and yet he that so beleeueth cannot apply the grace of Christ , nor the comfort of GODS promises , confirmed in CHRIST , to himselfe . He cannot beleeue the remission of sinnes to belong to himselfe for CHRISTES sake . This is called , faith historicall , and is common both to the devilles and to reprobate men . And of this kinde of faith , the Apostle Iames faith , thou beleevest that there is one God : thou doest well : the devilles also beleeue it , and tre●ble . Iam. 2. 19. Lastly , the faith which the Apostle speaketh of in this text , and which is proper to Gods children only , is called a pastifying faith , because it apprehendeth , and layeth hold on the iustification which is in CHRISTIE-SVS .

Some learned devines make of these 4. sorts of faith , but two , wherof the one ( as they cal it ) is a faith of Christ , and this is such as the de vils & false Christians haue the other a faith in Christ , such as true Christians haue . Yet for difference betweene the faith of repiobate men , and the saith that devils are said to haue , the former kind of faith , to wit , a faith of Christ , is devided of others , as we haue hard , into a temporary faith , a 〈…〉 h of miracles , and a faith historicall .

Nowe the faith in CHRIST , which none but the godly areindued with , is defined in the 11. chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrewes , Heb. 11. 1. to bee the substaunce of thinges which are hoped for , and the demonstration of thinges which are not seene . It is called the substance , or grounde , or the state of the soule : for that we liue by it . I liue , faith the Apostle , yes not ! I Gal. 2. 20. now , but Christ liveth in me : and in that I now liue in the flesh , I liue by the faith in the sonne of God .

When the scripture faith that wee are iustified by faith , it signifieth as much , as that we are set free from the penaltie of the law , and acquitted from the sentence of condemnation . For this word , iustification , is the contrary to condemnation : and without Christ it is manifest that all men are in the state of condemnation , as it is written , like wise then as by the offence of one , the fault came Rom. 5. 18. on all men to condemnation , so by the iustifying if ●ne , the benefite abounded towarde all men to the iustification of life . This is the free gifte of GOD , to bee iustified by faith , and counted righteous in the sighte of GOD through the imputation of CHRISTES righteousnesse . Wee conclude , faith the Apostle , Rom. 3. 28. that a man is iustified by faith without the workes of the law . And againe , being iustified by faith , wee haue peace toward God through Rom. 5. 1. our Lord Iesus Christ . And to the same effect againe , being now iustified by his blood , we shall be saued from wrath through him . Thus we see Rom. 5. 9. how the faith that iustifieth differeth from other faithes , which reprobate men , and devils are said to haue . We see also the vertue and propertie of this faith , and what it is to be iustified by it .

But , in that we are said to be made partakers of Christ by a right faith , we are further to note two thinges in the vertue and quality of this faith that iustifieth . I he one is the assurance of our saluation , because our sinns are for giuen vs . The other is the assurance of our glorification with Christ in life eternall : for where remission of sinnes is , there is also life everlasting .

Touching the assurance of our saluation , we are sure to be saued , because we beleeue , and are surely Perswaded that the price of our redemption is * * Christ hath in his owne person sustere whatsoever was due to our sins , & hath therby fully ●reed vs from the ire of God , & the curse of the law . Of his sufferings I haue else where spoken more at large , which , iflets were not , should haue beene published . fully and sufficiently paid . For the holy Ghost witnesseth , God so loued the world , that he hath giuen his only begotten son , that whosoeuer beleeueth in him , should not perish , but haue euerlasting life . 10. 3. 16. & again he beareth witnesse , saying , the sonne of man came . Wherfore ? to giue his life for the ransome of many ; or as the word , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , is interpreted of the best translatours , for the price of the redemption Mar. 10. 45. of many . This assureth vs of full satisfaction made for our sinnes . For to ransome , or to redeeme , is properly vsed to signifie the desiverance of captiues , when man for man , or life for life is redeemed .

So Christ , being the good shepheard , did giue his own life for the life of his sheepe . And 10. 10. 11. Gal. 3. 13. thereby hath redeemed vs from the curse of the law , when he was made a curse for vs .

For the plainer understanding of this so great a misterie , marke a familiar similitude . There is a king , whose lawes are iust and good , and by the law al his enemies which haue rebelled , and are founde guilty of high treason ought to suffer death : and the sentence of condemnation is already denounced against them , and there is no hope of life remaining . Yet the king hath no pleasure in the death of these rebelles , but the law , which declareth that he is a most iust king , must be fulfilled : and therefore the kings owne sonne doth offer himselfe to die , to satisfie the law , to the end that these men may be acquitted from the iudgment that hath passed against them ; and now these condemned persons are ransomed , and set at liberty , but the price of their redemption was paide by the kings owne sonne , and it cost him his life . Thus was the cause with al the children of Adam . We had al rebelled against the king of heaven , and earth , and there was founde none that kept his lawe , none that was righteous , 〈◊〉 not one . And therefore death was gone over Rom. 3. 10 ail men : for asmuch as all men had sinned ; and Rom. 5. 12. now the sonne of God Christ Iesus taketh our nature vpon him , and beeing made like vnto one of vs ( sinne only excepted ) he suffereth the cursed death of the crosse for our rede●●tion . Here appeareth the loue of God to vs ward , and herein standeth the assurance of our salvation , that Gods son , the king of kings , was wounded for our transgressions , and broken for our iniquities : that the chastisment Is● . 53. 5. of our peace was vpon him , & that with his stripes we are healed . And that we might be sure that he hath paid our debts to the vttermost farthing by susteining the infinite wrath that was due to vs , the same Prophet saith , that he was plagued and smitten of GOD , and that hee powred out his souls vnto death , and all this for our transgrestion . Isa 53. 4. 8 12.

And therefore thou that art a Christian , and beleevest without waveringe that CHRIST hath suffered these thinges for thee , and for thy deliveraunce out of the handes of thine enemies , havinge that feeling of thy sinnes that thou feele thy selfe to stande in neede of every droppe of that precious bloode which was shedde vpon the tree of the crosse for the redemption of mankinde : thou that hast this faith , if thou holde if faste vnto the ende , art made partaker of CHRIST . And now it is vnpossible that thou shouldest bee damned . For there is no condemnation to them , Rom. 8. 1. that are in CHRIST IESUS . Yea ( as a Godly Doctor faith Christ the redeemer Martin Luther . must bee damned before the elect man can be damned , for whom he delivered him selfe to death . And another faithfull teacher Bradford the Martyr in his ser. of repentance . saith , if the sufferings of Christihad not bin inough , he would yet once more come again , yea God the father , if the death of his son incarnate would not serue , would himselfe & the holy Ghost also become incarnate & die for vs . Hereof then is that assurance which the elect haue of their health and salvation through the grace of GOD in CHRIST IESVS ; accordinge to that notable testimony of the Apostle , I am perswaded that neither death , nor life ; nor Angels , nor Rom. 8. 38. 39. principalities , nor powers , nor thinges present , not thinges to come , nor beight , nor depth , nor anie other crea●ure shal be able to seperate vs from the loue of God , which is in Christ Iesus .

If this bee not true , why doest thou say in thy creed , I beleeue the forgiuenes of sinnes ? For to beleeue & to doubt , or to be vncertaine , can never go togither .

The other property of faith that iustifieth , is , to be assured , not only of forgiuenesse of sinnes , and deliverance from death , but also of eternall life , and that we shall be communicants with our redeemer Christ in the glory that shall bee revealed . For , if we bee iustified by faith , & ingraffed into his misticall body , according to the meaning of our baptisme , we are not onely acquitted from the iudgement of condemnation , and saved from wrath , but we are also made partakers of all the merits of Christ , and they are as surely sealed to be ours , as if wee our selues had wrought them . For now the kingdome of heaven , and the inheritaunce of the blessed life is due vnto vs , as to heires annexed with Rom. 8. 17. Christ . And whereas of our selues wee are without vnderstanding , full of iniquity , vnholy and lost sheepe . The holy Ghost saith , that Christ is made vnto vs wisedome , and righteousnes , 1. Cor. 1. 30. & sanctification , & redemption . For , ( as the same Apostle speaketh in an otherplace ) if God spared not his owne son but gaue him for Rom. 8. 32. vs all to death , how shall bee not with him giue vs all things also ? This is most true , as it may be illustrated by example , the spouse , after shee be once marryed to her husband , is not only called after his name , but is also made partaker of all things that her husband hath right to ; his honour is her honour , his wealth is her wealth , what estimation , what dignity , and what deserts soever the husbande hath , the spouse his wife , is made partaker of the same ; because they two are made one flesh , as Mat. 19. 5. saith the scripture : even so the faithful soule , which is iustified by faith , and married to the bridegrome Christ Iesus , is fully beautified withall the graces of Christ , with his righteousnesse , with his innocency , with his holynesse , with his honour , & with his glory : yea the faithfull are so honored that they shal sit Luk. 22. 30. on seats , and iudge not only men but also the Angels themselues . Know yee not that wee shall 1. Cor. 6. 3. iudge the Angels ? how much more thinges pertaining to this life ? such is the honour that they haue in whose hearts Christ dwelleth by true iustifying faith . And thus are they made partakers of Christ .

But let none of them that are hardened in sinne , and which delight and take pleasure in the workes of the flesh , thinke that they a● made partakers of this g●ace . For without that sure faith , wherof you haue heard , there is no saluation , and where no workes of the spirite , nor any token of regeneration appeareth , there can be no sound faith : and therfore where the Apostle saith , that there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus , Rom 8. 1. he addeth , and sheweth , who they are , which waelke not after the flesh , but a●●er the spirit .

These three things are proper to a sauing faith : that thou stedfasthe beleeue in th●●● heart ; that thou make consession of thy faith to the worlde be confessing Christ before Mat. 10. 32. Col. 1. 10. m 〈…〉 , and that thou be fruitfull in all good workes , adorning thy faith , with workes worthy amendments of life . Walke according Mat. 3. 8. to this rule and persenere in it to the end , and thou art ●●d● partaker of Christ . And it his appearing thou shalt receyue an incorruptible crowne of glory . Let vs humble our selues in prayer .

The fourth Lecture , vpon the 15. verse ; of the necessitie of hearing the word of God ; how the hardening of the heart is to be vnderstood ; and of th● errour of praying in the church ; specially in the time of publ●ke teaching , or of common praiers .

15 Sol●●g as it is said , to day , of ye hear his voice , barden not your hearts as in the p●ovocation .

OF the word , to day , I haue a●●eady shewed that it is applied vnto the time of grace , that is , so long as the word of GOD which is the light of the world is made manifest vnto vs . And here againe we may obserue , that when the Apostle saith , to day , hee giveth vs to vnderstand that the spirit of God did speake by the mouth of the holy Prophets , not only for the learning & instruction of the people that liued in the daies of the Prophets , but also for the learning of all men in all times and ages to the ende of the world .

For the Prophet David to instruct the people of his time saith , to day , Psalm . 95. 7. and the Apostle , almost eleven hundreth yeares after Dauid , teaching the Hebrewes , saith , to day if yee heare his voice harden not your ●eartes , Whereby he would haue them to vnderstand that the same scripture did then call them to the obedience of the Gospell , which to the same effect was preached to their father ▪ so long ago by the Prophet● Dauid . & so at this present time , you are called of God to the spirituall marriage of his sonne , that you may receyue forgiuenesse of your sins , and inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in him , here is no more required of you but obedience and attentiuenesse to heare , so long as it is called to day . For now we haue the word neere vnto vs even in our mouth , and in our heartes , as the scripture Rom. 10. 8. saith : And no man is commanded to go beyond the sea to heare it . For it is not to be heard at the mouth of the Priests of Egipt ; nor of the Philosophers of Greece ; nor of the Rabbins of the Iewes : to whom men in times past were wont to trauaile for to heare wisdome , as the Queene of Sheba came from the furthest partes of the earth to Ierusalem . 1. King 10. 1 Mat. 12. 42. To what end ? to heare the wysdome of Selomon . Wee may easilie gather that such a iorney coulde not be perfourmed without great charges and many danger 〈…〉 and therfore , as Christ witnesseth , shee shall rise in Iudgement , and shall condemne those that are carlesse to heare the wysdome of Christ , the true Sal●mon , which he hath now , ( blessed be his name for it ) sent out of Ierusalem , And out of the land of Iudea , even into this land ; and hath dispersed it over the same , so that wee neede not trauaile farre for to heare it .

For now it is called , to day , with vs , and now we may heare it if we will , and by hearing it we may liue . the houre shall come , saith Christ , and now is , when the dead shall heare Io. 5. 2● . the voice of the son of God , and they that heare it shall liue . Loe heare it appeareth that we are spiritually dead , and are estranged from God through sinne , and therfore oppressed with eternall destruction without hope of life , except we be quickened by hearing of Christes voice . The Prophet Dauid had experience of this in himselfe , which made him say , I will neuer forget thy precepts : Psal. 119. 93 for by them thou hast quickened mee . As if he should say , before the time that I heard and obeyed thy voice , I was dead , but now the Gospell of thy sauing health hath restored mee to life .

Consider therfore the necessitie of hearing and let that mooue you to put away hardnesse of heart . It is manifest that without Io. 3. 36. faith none can be saved from the second death , nor from the day of Gods wrath : and faith , as witnesseth the holy Ghost , commeth by hearing . Neither hath God appointed any other Rom. 1● . 17. meanes , then the hearing of his vo●ce for the attaining of faith , and by faith salvation : as it is most evident by that one and notable example of the rich man , who because hee had not regarded the day of grace , was after his bodily death tormented in hel ; Luke . 16. and desiring to haue Lazarus sent to preach vnto his brethren , least they also shoulde come into that place of ●orment , receiveth this answere from Abraha●● , they haue Moses and the Prophetes ; let them heare the● . But ●er . 29. when hee was yet more instant to haue one sent vnto them from the dead , Abraham , replyeth againe , If they heare not Moses and the Prophetes , neither will they b●e perswaded ver. 31. though one rise from the deade againe . This may su●●ice any man , that will vnderstande , that God will haue no other way , nor means for man to come to the knowledge of his wil , and to be saved from the wrath to come , but by hearing his voice revealed in the scriptures . Wherefore , so long as the time of grace lasteth , let no man harden his hearte from hearing , let no man looke the gate of heaven against his owne soule , not become the minister of his owne death , let no man , ( as the maner of most men is ) be like the vaine Athenians , more desi●●us , either to tell Act. 17. 21. or to heare some newes of other men , or that concerneth some worldly commodities , then to heare the wisedome of God , which yet cryeth openly , & vttereth her voice in the stre●●● . Pro. 1. 20. For the voice of this wisedome , if thee bee heard and receiued with meekenesse , saith the Iam 1. 21. scripture , is able to saue mens soules : and is the power of God vnto salvation to every one that beleeveth . Rom. 1. 16. Herein the wisedome of God excelleth the wisedome of this world . For all the counsell of the wise men , and lawyers of the world , al the learning of the Philosophers and s●●oolemen , and al the cloquence of the readiest oratours & advocats , though a man heare them never so attentiuely , cannot make him wise vnto salvation ; neither is it in them to bring the glad tidings of peace to a troubled soule disquieted with the feare of death & the terror of hel : for only the voice of Christ hath that p●e●ogatiue ; & therfore al men are commanded not to harden their hearts , if they wil heare it . But is it in the power of man not to harden his heart , sith the scripture saith , I will harden Pharachs heart ; and in an other Exod. 〈◊〉 . 3. Revel. 〈◊〉 : 〈◊〉 . place , hee shutteth and no man openeth ? Here we must vnderstand that there is two manner of hardening of the heart , to wit , a divine hardening , and a humane hardening , or the hardening of God , and the the hardening of man , and yet the one of these doeth not harden without the other : for God hardeneth not Pharaohs heart , but that Pharaohs owne will is the cause of it , & his hardening proceedeth not from any other , but from himselfe . And therefore the scripture saith , that Pharaoh harde●ed his heart . Neither for al that E●od 9. 34. doeth Pharaoh harden his owne heart , but God doeth it iudicially , or according to his secret iudgements : for the kings heart is in the hand of the ●ord . Pro. 21. 1. But when it is said that God hardeneth the heart ; we must not so vnderstand it , as if God should make that hard , which before was softe and tender , or of it selfe was not hard . For the truth is , that all men are borne with a hard heart and darke vnderstanding , even with a heart of stone like the Adamant , of the which wee haue heard already . And for this cause the Lord saith by his Prophet , I will take away the sto●●● 〈◊〉 . 36. 26. heart o●● of your bodie , and I will giue you an heart of flesh . God therefore is saide to harden the heart , when as he denieth his grace , and the fire of his holy spirite to mol●●fie and soften that which is naturally hard , even as when the heat of the fire is denied to the softening of the hard and vntempered waxe . This is called of some , a pr●vatiue hardening ; because God detaineth his grace from men for iust causes which are not knowne to vs .

Beside this God hardeneth after an other manner , when he doeth not only suffer the heart to remaine in that hardnesle and obduration which it hath by nature , but doeth also externally harden it more and more by his ministers . For , as we may see in 〈◊〉 , Pharaoh was made more obstinate & hard-hearted by the ministery of Moses and Aaron , then he was before hee had heard ●hese men . And in these daies we haue too much expetience hereof by seeing vngodly men to become the more froward and malicious , the more that they heare Gods worde and are taught by his ministers . This is Gods iudicial hardening of the heart , whereby in his iust iudgementes hee punisheth the former sinnes of men : and for this purpose he commandeth his ministers as it is written , Make the heart of this people ●at , make their eares heavie , Isa. 10. & shut their eies , least they see with their eies , and heare with their eares , and vnderstande with their hearts , and convert that I might heale them . Here we see how , and wherefore , God hardeneth the heart .

Now the humane hardening , or the hardening attributed to man himselfe , is that , which the text that we handle warneth vs to beware of , if yee heare his voice harden not your hearts . This hardening of the hart is nothing else but a voluntary purpose and intent of man to continue in sinne , and not to follow nor obey the doctrine of Gods everlasting trueth howsoeuer it be preached vnto him ; as hereof we haue examples in king Saule , in Iudas , in Iuhan the Aposta●● , and others ' ; but specially in Pharach , whom the scriptures do set before vs as a notable paterne of a disobedient and hard-hearted man . After this maner thhrefore the Israelies in the wildernesle hardened their heartes , by grudging and bitter strining against Moses when they wanted water , notwithstanding they had the word of the Lord among them . This is it Exod. 17. which the Apostle putteth vs in minde of , when he saith , harden not your hearts as in the p●ov●●ation . And this is the hardening wherewith man hardeneth his heart ; even his own perverse will , and purpose of sinning wherin he persisteth , and so becommeth the minister of death & perdition to his own soule . Now the cause of all hardening of the heart is sin and the custome of sinning . For Moses saith , Phiraoh sinned againe and hardened his hearte . Exod. 9. 34. There Pharaohs sinne goeth before the hardening of his heart . Wherefore consider how fearefull and dangerous the custome of sinne is : it bringeth hardnesse of hearte which denyeth obedience to the worde of God , and despiseth his holy ministery , and so groweth to fulnesse of sinne , the wages whereof is death eternall . Let the consideration Rom. 6. 23. of these thinges cause you with feare & reverence to hear the Gospel of your salvation ; and before you come to heare it , bee careful , as the Apostle exhorteth , to cast away euery thing that presseth downe , and the sinne that Heb. 12. 1. hangeth so fast on , that when the Lord speaketh by the mouth of his mess●gers , you may haue cares to hear , & hearts to vnderstand , & be in a readmes to heare his voice , & to say with Samuel , speake Lord for thy servant heareth . Here 1. Sam. 3. 10 we see that as there was a voice hard , so there was a readines to hear it . Here ●od did speak & here man was prepared to heare him .

But this example of obedience & preparation to heare the Gospell , which is more glorious , & speaketh better thinges then the law , is too rare in our age . For most men and women , though they resort to church , and to Christian congregations , are yet in the time of divine exercise of the word of God more ready to speake then to heare . They are more ready to pray by themselues , and to offer vp a sacrifice of their owne superstition , then either to heare reading or preaching of the holy scriptures ; or to consent with one mind to the common praters of the whole church , if the time so require : yea and some are not content to be thus farre superstitious , but wil also giue themselues to read on some praier booke , when God speaketh to them out of his booke of life . Such blinde devotion of men , and private repeating of words , out of due time and place , must needes be a sacrifice , not accepted , but reiected of God For it cannot be the fruit of faith , because you haue not so learned Christ : and whatsoever , saith the Apostle , is not of faith is sinne . Rom. 14. 13

Marke a speciall doctrine of that famous preacher Salomon touching this point , take heede to thy foote when thou enterest into the house Eccl. 4. 7. of God , and be wore neere to heare then to giue the sacrifice of fooles : for they know not that they d●● evill . If they know not that they do evil , then they do it of ignorance . But it is evil saith he ; and we are taught that Christians must abstaine , not onely from evill it selfe , but , from al appe●●●nce of evill . Yet because nothing is so 1. Thess. 5. 22. evill , but if it be commonly vsed , seemeth to be good , and men will needs defend it so to be , as in this case some are wont to say , that when they giue themselues to pray privatly in the church , they doe it that they may be the better prepared to serue God . But , as the Apostle saith to the Corinthians , which came disorderedly to the receiving of the Lordes supper , haue yee not houses to eate and to drincke 1. Cor. 11. 22. in ? So I may say to such men , if you wil pray alone , and pray privatly , haue yee not houses and privat places to pray in ? ought yee not at home , and before yee come from home to prepare your selues , & to remember that , going to church , you go to appeare before the Lorde to heare his voice for the attaining of faith , and to praise him with the congregation . And for this cause , as a learned & painfull teacher in these daies hath written , ought M. Perki●s vpon the fourth commandement . wee on the Sabboth day to arise early in the morning , that wee may prepare our selues to the better sanctifying of that day . And this preparation , as he saith , consisteth in private prayers and taking account of our severall sinnes . but no man can be ignorant that privat prayers must be referred to privat places , and time convenient . For , as Salomon saith , to all thinges there is an appointed t 〈…〉 . Eccle. 3. 1.

But if you thinke that the temple or materiall house , where we assemble our selues for diuine exercise , can make your prayers more holy , then your heartes from whence they proceed can make them , yee are then indeede super 〈…〉 . For the Lord of heaven and earth dwelleth not in temples built Act. 17. 24. with h●●ds . Neither is one place of the earth ( in respect of the place it selfe ) more acceptable to him then an other . For now , the temple at Ierusalem , which was called , the house of prayer , hath an end . And , as the scriptures affirme , you your selues ( if yee be true Christians ) are the temple of the liuing god . 2. Cor. 6. 16 1. Cor. 6. 19 No place therefore , as one father saith , doeth sanctifie or make holy the man that is in it , but rather the man the place .

yet for the defence of this evill custome of praying in preposterous maner , some say , it is a decent order for men when they come into the church to kneele downe and pray . The contrary is rather true : for it is an affected disorder , and betokeneth what of reuerence to the word of God & his ordinance , for some men to be at their own praiers , when the whole assembly doth either heare the word , or pray otherwise with one accord . This is not according to the rule o● the Apostle , with one mind , and with one ●onth to prayse God , except they Rom. 15. 6. that wil pray by themselues , when time and place serue not therevnto , haue another God beside the father of our Lord ●esus Christ .

Where Luke writeth how the Apostles recemed the holy Ghost vpon the day of Pentecost , he saith that then they were all with one Act. 2 1. accord in one place . And for this cause hath Christ promised to be in the midst of them that Mat. 18. 20. are gathered together in his name , assuring vs of his spirituall presence to be with vs , if ther be vnitie of faith , & Christian concord in our assemblies . And this vnitie is , when , as the Apostle exhorteth , all speake one thinge , & are knit together in one minde and in one iudgment without distentions . But for al this , some men , 1. Cor. 1. 10 because they will not seeme to do otherwise then they haue bene accustomed , can cavill & say , that , because praier is good , it is good to pray alwaies : & therfore they wil repeate their praiers when they may be seene of men , and when other men pray not . These are like the Heretickes which were called Euchites , Euchits or Psalliapist●s . for that they were wont to spend much time in praying , and to repeate their praiers as it is recorded of them ) so hastely , and with swi●tnes of tongue , as if God had beene to be serued with lippe labour . This is contrarie to the rule of the Apostle Iames , which saith , let ever●e man be swifte to heare , slow to Iam. 1. 19. speake . And the sonne of Sirach saith to the same effect , ●e swift to heare good thinges . For Eccl. 5. 1● . shall the naturall men of this world be swift & ready to hear the counsel of a lawyer or advocate in some earthly matter , & shall not Christians be more careful & ready to he are the counsell of God , which is able to make them wise vnto salvation ?

Yet some will say that when they pray , they are carefull to serue GOD , and they meane well , and therefore they will do it at church , and regard no time . But as one hath truely said , a good meaning doth not excuse an evill act , and this we may see to bee most true , if wee remember the punishment of V●zah , who , without doubt , meant well in that he put his hand to the arke of God , and helde 2 Sam. 6. 6. it , because the oxen which drew it did shake it . But because he had no warrant from God so to do , the Lord smote him that he died in that . place . And it is probable that Saul meant well , in his owne opinion , when he spared the fat beasts , and the best of the sheepe , and of 〈…〉 . 15. 〈◊〉 the oxen of the Amalekites , because he would sacrifice them vnto the Lord . But what saith the oracle of God to him ? hath the Lorde as ver. 22. great pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices , as when the voice of the Lord is obeyed ? behold , to obey is better then sacrifice , and to harken is better then the fat of Rammes .

Beholde here how acceptable a sacrifice it is to harken to the voice of the Lord . And contrariwise learne of Salomon , how abhominable the praier of them is , which will pray , and wil not heare the law of the Lord , he that Pro. 28. 9. turneth away his ●are from hearing the law , even his praier shal be abominable . Let no man therfore harden his heart , and preferre superstition before truth , that his praier be not abominable but acceptable , beeing offered in due season , and proceeding from faith & knowledge , which is by hearing , and hearing by the Rom. 10 17. word of God . As the ministery of the newe testament is principally divided into the ministration Act. 6. 4. of the word , and praier , so in the time of teaching the minister is the mouth of God vnto the people : and in the time of publicke praiers , he is the mouth of the people to offer their sacrifice to God● and he that despiseth , or regardeth not these things , despiseth not man , but God . For these very words of the text , if yee heare his voice harden not your harts , declare vnto vs that when we heare that doctrine wih●h teacheth vs faith in the son of God , and repentance from dead workes , it is God that speaketh vnto vs by the mo●th of men : and he requireth at our handes that s●l●ng as it is sa●a to day , that is so long as we may heare the voice of the new couenant of grace , we be more neere to heare it , then to giue the sacrifice of fooles . For ought not Christians so to profite by hearing & learning that they may be able ( as it is required in these places of scriptures . Col. 3. 16. Rom. 15. 14. Heb. 3. 13. 1. Thess 4. 18. & 5. 11. ) to teach , to edifie , to admonish and to comfort one another with the word of God ? but if the knowledge of these thinges had any place in the heart● of vaine men , they would abhorre to be at their prayers , or to speake their owne wordes , when they should be intentine to heare the word of faith . Let vs beware therfore , as Origen saith , least there bee a vaile laide over our heartes , not onely when Moses is read Super Exod. ho●il . 12. but also when Paul is read . And without doubt , if we be negligent in hearing , and set not our mind to learne , and to understand , not onely the scriptures of the law and the Prophets , but also the scriptures of the Apostles and Evangelists are covered with a vaile that we shall not vnderstand them . Thus saith O●●gen . And surely , as the Iews reiected the Gospell of the new testament , and boasted that they were the see 〈…〉 Abraham , and 〈…〉〈…〉 2. C●● . 〈◊〉 . 14. 15. the disciples of M●ses , when is in the reading of Moses , their ●●nds wer● h●●d 〈…〉 , & the vaile of vnbe●ie●e was la●d over th 〈…〉〈…〉 es that they did not vnderstand the old testament : so do ●ost ●en in these d●●es , being content with the b●te name of 〈…〉 , & with the blinde customes receiued from their fathers harden their hearts in sin , & stop their ea●es against the same Gospel of grace . But wo be to the security of these men .

Now seeing that to pray , or to be otherwise exercised in the congregation then the time and place requireth , when men come into the church , is not the least 〈◊〉 , which argueth ( if men will pe●sist in it being admonished ) that they harden their hearts in ignoraunce and will not bee ready to come to Christ when hee calleth : take heede that you giue not the lesse credite to this , or any other doctrine confirmed with the trueth , because you heare it from young men , or from your inferiours in the estimati● of the world . For hee that despiseth the preceptes of life ministred by men , despiseth not man but God , 1. Thess. 4. 8 saith the Apostle . Satan is a most subtill adversarie , and goeth about by all meanes to keepe you vnder the vaile of darkenesse , & naturall ignorance . if other meanes faile him he can work by perswading you to measure your faith to the word of God , with the fame and estimation of the minister , and so either to receiue or reiect his doctrine according as the world iudgeth of the man . Hereof we haue a manifest example in the ninth of Iohn ; where , when the man that was borne Io. 9. 30. 31. 32. 33. blinde began to preach vnto the Iewes of Christ , known by his diuine power in opening his eies , the Iewes shew their pride , and disdaine to learne of such a one , and say vnto him , thou art altogether borne in sinnes , and ver. 34. doest thou teach vs ? saith an ancient Christian doctor vpon these wordes , it is seene that Cy●ill . greater men do commonly disdaine to learne of their inferiours ▪ this proceedeth from the dangerous disease of pride , whereby man perswadeth himselfe in his owne conceite , that he hath sufficient knowledge , when he is ignorant ; and he is ashamed ▪ to learne of them that are of lesse reputation , in the iudgement of men , then himselfe , least he should seeme to be ignorant , or to haue lesse learning then that man hath of whome he is taught . But , if our minde were indued with true humility . we should not be ashamed to learne , a quovis puerulo , of any child , saith he , that could teach vs the thing which we knowe not . For the truth is to be embraced , & heard of whomsoeuer it may be learned . These at the words of a worthy teacher .

And of this humilitie which ought to be in all Christians to learne , we haue a notable example in Apollos , a man eloquent , and mightie Act. 18. ●4 . 25. 26. in the scriptures , and yet humble to be further instructed of Aquila & Priscill● , a poore tent-maker and his wife . here euerie one , that wil be the seruant of Christ , may learne humilitie , and be prepared , like the men of Berea , with all readinesse to receiue the word , Act. 17. 11. which is able to saue his soule , and of the seruant of sinne to make him the seruant of righteousenesse . It is yet called to day . And yet we may heare the voice of the bridegrome Christ Iesus . And is there is one day of seuen appointed for men to rest , And to heare his voice : and as there is a time of that day for men to heare , and not to be otherwise occupied then in hearing ; let no man abuse that time ; let no man them speake his owne words . Art thou dull of hearing , and canst hardly setle thy minde to learne● yet be carefull to heare from the beginning to the end , and thou canst not goe away without some good leslon laide vp in thine heart . Hast thou a good memory , and a●t thou apt to learne ? then spend all the time of hearing in hearing , & thy knowledge shal be the more increased . Wi●● thou be iustified by ●aith , & be made partaker of Christ ? thou hast heard that saith commeth by hearing ; and Rom. 10 17. now thou m●ist heare ; now is the day of hearing , so long 〈◊〉 the Lord calleth . Hereafter wil be the daie of reiecting , for them that would not hear when they were called . In that day men cannot learne though they would : for wisdome warneth them which sleepe out the time of grace , when learning is offered vnto them , when affliction and anguish shall come vppon P●o. 1. 27. 28. you : then shal they cal vpon me but I wil not answer : they shall see●e me early , but they shall not find me . the reason is added , why wisdome wil not be found of m● at their pleasure : because they h●ted knowledg , & did not chuse the fear of the Lord .

If therfore thou wilt not in this day of his g 〈…〉 hea●● his voice to thy salvation , thou shalt hereafter in the day of his wrath heare it to thy condemnation : & if now in the day of his calling , his voice cannot awake thee out of the sleepe of sin & security , it shal hereafter in the day of his iudgment awake thee to thine eternal confusion , though thou sleepe in the earth , & though thou be returned into dust , doubt not of this : for the ●ord speaketh it , the houre sh●l● come in the which all that 10. 5 28. 29. are in the graues shall heare his voice . And they shal come forth , that haue done good vnto theresurrection of life : but they that haue done evil , vnto there surrection of condemnation . In that day shall every scripture , every sermon , & every word of exhortation , which thou hast heard , or read , be a witnesse against thee how thou hast hardened thine heart , & wouldst not obey his voice when he offered thee his grace . Consider therfore that this is the daie where , in he calleth thee , and speaketh to thee , saying , behold now the accepted time , beholde now the 2. Cor. 6. 2. daie of salvation .

This time , & this day , wherein he proclaimeth peace , is but short , and v 〈…〉 e : redeeme it therfore with all readines of mind , that thou maist be at peace with God for all eternity .

You that are diligent husband-men are carefull to redeeme the time of faire weather in haruest , because you know not how soo●e it wil raine , And man , whose life is compared to a vapour that appeareth for a little time , and after warde vanisheth awa●● , if hee liue to Iam. 4. 14. day , knoweth not whether he shall liue to morowe . And if it be permitted him to liue , yet knoweth he not how soone the Lord will send a famine of hearing his holy word ; and send a darke night of ignorance , in the which no man can worke , no man can heare the glad tidings of the Gospell , nor beleeue it , though he woulde . Let vs pray that our hearts may be mollified , & prepared as good ground to receiue the seede of the worde , while it is yet called , to day .

The fifth Lecture , vpon the 16. and 17. verses ▪ of the wickednesse of mans nature ; all men are naturally bent to idolatrie ; wee must imitate the faithfull ( though they bee but few in number , or ●n one age ) whom God raiseth vp in al ages to confesse his name ; of Gods long sufferance , & bountifulnes towarde sinners : of sinne , and the fruit thereof .

16 For some when they heard , provoked him to anger : howbeit , not all that came out of Egypt by Moses .

17 But with whom was he displeased forty yeares ? was he not displeased with them that sinned , whose carkeses fell in the wildernesse ?

THe Apostle , which was the Authour of this Epistles , applying the exhortation of the Prophet before alleadged , seemeth here to allude to that desperate provoking , and disobedience of the children of Israel mentioned in the 14 of Num. When they beleeued those ten men that brought vp a vile slander vpon the land of promise , and murmured against Moses and A●r●● , and would haue stoned Ioshua and Caleb , because they stood for the truth , as it appeareth more 〈◊〉 large in the 14. of Num. this is therefore as if 〈◊〉 Apostle should say , the whole assembly of them that came out of Egypt , to the number of sixe handieth thousande men of vnderstanding , even all of them without ex●●●tion heard the word of the LORD , and his promise concerning the lande of Canaan , but some of them , yea the greatest some , the ●●h●le assemblie saieth the scripture , and againe , all the mul●●tua● ( notwithstanding 〈◊〉 4. 2. 〈◊〉 some are excepted ) when they heard , did not beleeue , but provoked the ●o●d● to anger with their meredulous 〈…〉ing and 〈◊〉 bellion .

And it is worthy to be noted that he saith , when they ●●●rd they provoked him , or hearing they provoked him● . For as hee that is of God , 10. 8 47. heareth GODS wordes ; so they that are c 〈…〉 lly minded , and haue their vnderstanding darkened , doe neuer provoke the LORDE so much as when his word , and his counsell 〈◊〉 p●e●ched vnto them ; which because it is contrary to the wisdome of the 〈…〉 h , ●●st●●eth vppe the naturall man ●o●e●ll , and to oppose himselfe against the wisedome of the holy GHOST , accordinge as it is written , the wisedome of Rom. 8 7. the flesh is enimitie against GOD . And againe , the naturall manne perceiveth not the 1. Cor. 2 14. thinges of the spirite of GOD : for they are foolishnesse vnto him : neither canne hee knowe them , because they are spiritually discerned . For Satan , who worketh in the children of disobedience , will rather su●●er them to consent to any thing , then to that doctrine which ostereth vnto them the peace and favour of God .

And for this cause our Saviour CHRIST saieth , that hee came not to sende peace into Mat. 10 34. the earth : but the sworde . A sworde , as we knowe , cutteth asunder and maketh a separation . And CHRIST , although hee bee the very authour of our peace , yet when his peace is preached vnto the world , the wicked and disobedient , which before seemed to bee quiet and calme , doe nowe shewe foorth their bitternesse and corruption of nature , by contending against this peace , and against the messengers and professours of the same .

And so CHRIST by their malice is made the occassion of t●multe and discorde .

They provoke him not before they hear him , for the wickednesse of mans nature is like fire that lyeth hid in quicke lime , which never boyleth , nor sheweth his heate vntil you put water to it ; which , being of a contrary nature and quality , causeth it to burne and cost out heate . It is also like to the vapours of the earth , which appeare not so long as the vertue and heate of the sunne is not on the earth , but when the sunne ariseth then they arise and ascend , not from the sun , but from the earth .

Thus is the case with the vnregenerate & earthly minded man . If there be no worde of faith preached , there is no provoking : but if the word bee ministred to exhorte , to improue , and to rebuke , then the wisedome of the flesh which is enimitie against God , beginneth to bee vnquiet and to provoke . The high Priest of Ierusalem , and the Scribes never provoked so furiously , as when they heard the wordes of Christ , saying , hereafter shall yee see Mat. 26. 64. the sonne of man sitting on the right hande of the heaven . Then the high Priest rent his cloathes . ver 65. Act. 7. 54. And againe , The stiffe-necked among the Iewes provoked never so madly , as when they were sharpely rebuked of the holy Ghost by the mouth of Stephen : for then , as Luke saith , their hearts did cleane for anger , and they guashed at him with their teeth . So king Ahab provoked most of all , when he heard the Prophet Michaiah , 1 King . 2● . 17. 18. at what time he told him the trueth from the Lord , & signified the event of the warre , which Ahab waged against the king of Syria , to goe against him . And the remnant of the Iewes which were left from the captivity of Babilon , although they had protested Ier. 42. 5. 6. vnto Ieremiah that they woulde obey the voice of the Lorde whatsoever woulde come of it ; yet when the same Prophet told them from the Lord , that if they did set their Ier. 17. faces to enter into Egypt to dwell there , they should die by the sword , by the famine , and by the pestilence , and none of them should remaine nor escape from the plague , which the Lord would bring vpon them . At the hearing of these things they disobey , and say that Ieremtah speaketh Ier. 43. 2. falsely , and they will goe into Egypt whether he wil or no. So the multitude in the wildernesse , of whom the Apostle speaketh here , provoked then most desperately , when Caleb and Ioshua rebuked them that they shoulde not rebell against the Lord , neither feare the people Num. 14. 6. 7. 8. 9. of the land of Canaan who should bee but bread for them , knowing that the Lorde , whose word is a sure rocke , would giue them the land according to his promise . These thinge ▪ when they hearde they so proucked that they woulde haue stoned Caleb and ver. 10. I●s 〈…〉

By these examples we may learne how contrarie , and repugnant the wisedome of flesh and blood is to the wisedome of the holie Ghost : for it is not subiect , as saieth the Apostle , Rom. 8. 7. to the law of God , neither indeed can be . And for this cause the Lord saith , as the heauens are Isa. 55 9. higher then the earth , so are my waies higher then your waies , and my thoughts aboue your thoughts . This is it therefore why the nations of the worlde , and the most part of men in all ages haue affected , & sought after false , & counterfeit religions , as most agreeable with the corruption of mans nature , at the hearinge whereof no man might be displeased , nor made to prouoke . Such were the inuentions of the Heathen , they were content to receiue & subscribe to any religion , or rather idolatrie , except the religion of the true & euerliuing God .

The Egiptians , as it is recorded of them , worshipped so many fayned Godes , that their seuerall sacrifices and ceremonies are said to haue beene more then sixe hundreth & sixtie in number . The Grecians imitated them . The old Romans in processe of time exceeded them in the number of superstitious religions . But for all that , the Romans woulde neuer consente to worshippe the GOD of Israel , nor to receiue the religion of that people : because they knew that hee must bee worshipped accordinge to his commaundemente , and not as they would .

The religion of Mahomet , which now the Turkes doe mainetaine , was patched togither of the inventions of Mahomet , and of the devises of certaine prophane and wicked men , in such wise that the ignoraunt multitude might haue no cause to dislike of the same , that so they might drawe the more people to ●ome with them in their sect : But the doctrine of CHRIST , and his Apostles they sought by all meanes to slaunder , and treade vnder foote ; and they doe still provoke as oft as they heare it , because it is the doctrine of truth .

We cannot deny that our forefathers , withal the adherentes of the false church of Rome haue most fearefully provoked the Lord , for the space of fiue hundreth yeares at the least , by consentinge to suppresse the holye scriptures , that they shoulde not bee published to the vnderstanding of the common people , and by persecuting and killing the little flocke of Christ , which professed to be saued by faith alone in Christ Iesus , and not by the law , nor by workes . It is too well knowne that such hath beene the fruit of Antichrist ; making ignorance the mother of deuotiò , & devising so many new Gods , or dead men to be called vpon , & praied vnto for help , that in number the Gods of the heathen haue not exceeded them . With these & the like impreties , that sonne of perdition the bishop of Rome hath of long time provoked the God of truth , and mightely bewitched the vnthankefull world . For ( as it is written in the Popes owne * * Gratian as distinct. 44. si papa . law ) he hath not onely bee●e remisse and negligent of his owne , and his brethrens salvation , but perversitas Papa 〈…〉 m● . rabiles populos catervatim secum duxit ad gehe●nam , the Popes maliciousnes hath drawne with him to hell innumerable people by heapes .

And what shall we say of the provoking of these daies ? in which ( the people of this land being brought out of the Popes Egypt of darke ignorance , and superstition , and having heard the doctrin of Moses , of the Prophets , of Christ , and his Apostles , now fortie yeares long , even so many yeares as the children of Israel heard the same doctrine of faith in the wildernesse ( yet Atheisme , superstition , and contempt of the truth are so rife every where , that Caleb and Ioshua , the messengers of the truth , cannot perswade men to forget Egypt , and to set their minde vpon the land of promise . Surely this must be the greater condemnation of the world , that Io. 3. 19. light is come into the world , and men loued darkenesse more then light .

Here we see that all men are naturally inclined to superstition and idolatrie . And therfore no man that continueth in sinne , and neglecteth the calling of God , shall be excused because so many ages and so many people , our fathers , and our forefathers haue so liued ; yea & haue so prouoked the Lord , and walked in the broad way that leadeth to destruction : all such examples of disobedience , if we wil sinne after them , shal , as hath beene already said , aggravate our punishment : because the Lorde hath caused them to come to our knowledge for our admonition . For whosoever shall follow the wicked fact of Caine to shed innocent bloode , shal be punished seaven folde more then Caine was , because Gen. 4. 15. he is warned by Caines example to abstaine from murther . And all those plagues which happened vnto the Israelits in the wildernesse for their infidelitie & mur●u●ing , came for examples sake , & ar● written , saith Paul , to a●monish vs , vpon whom the ends of the 1. Cor. 10. ●1. worlde are come . And f●r this ●●use the Lord would h●●e his dreadfull iudgments , which haue bene executed against the sinnes of former times to be in al ages tould and preached vnto the worlde , that men might be warned thereby to amend their liues , as we may see by those messengers which came to Iob , one a●ter another , to tell him of Gods iudgmentes shewed vpon his ca●●ell , his servantes & his children . Everie one of these messengers saith , I onely a● escaped alone . To Iob 1. 15 16 17. 19. what end ? or wherefore are they escaped ? it followeth , to tell thee . And to the same effect the Lord saith by Eze●●el , I will leaue a litle Eze. 12. 16. number of them from the sworde , & from the famine , & from the pestilence . To what end ? that they may declare , saith he , all these abominations among the heathen where they come .

We are then sufficiently admonished , by the examples of former ages , what will be the punishment of euill ▪ & are taught what examples we must follow , to wit , the examples of good men , wherof we haue some in all ages of the world . The Apostle saith here that not all which came out of ●gypt by Moses provoked . Wee must looke on them that provoked not , but obeyed the word of the Lord , though they be but few among many thousandes of disobedient and vnfaithfull people . It seemeth that the younger forte which were vnder twentie yeares olde , among Num. 14. ●9 the children of Israel , provoked not the Lord , or if they did , yet , by the testimony of the Apostle here , there was a remnant left among those murmuring people which obeyed the word of the LORDE , as Moses and Aaron , Caleb and Ioshua : vnto those few we must haue an e●e , and not vnto the multitude of sinners . For the LORDE saith , thou shalt not followe a multitude to doe evill , Exod. 23. 2. neither agree in a controversie to decline after manie and overth●owe the trueth . And therefore wicked is that common saying which hath beene alleadged of the Papistes , communis error facit 〈…〉 s , a common errour , or consent in evill standeth for a law .

Notwithstanding that at all times , and in all places , the more parte of men , which are evill , giue euill examples to drawe others vnto sinne , which is the cause that Christ saith , woe bee vnto the worlde because of offences : for it must needes be that offences shall Mat. 18. 7. come &c. Yet , as the Apostle speaketh , we are Heb. 12. 1. compassed about with a great cloud of witnesses , or goode examples which we must imitate so long as we liue in the wildernesse of this world .

We haue the Patriarchs , the Prophetes , and the Saintes of the old testament . Wee haue Christ himselfe the authour and finisher of nor saith . we haue the Apostles , Confessours , and martyrs in the time of the new testament , for an example to suffer persecution for righteousnesse sake , and in all thinges to obey the will of God .

And within the period of these last fiue hundreth yeeres , euen in the florishing time of Antichrist , we haue those faithfull co●ses●ours ( though they were but few in number that we haue heard of ) which haue resisted Antichristian iniquitie euen vnto blood : we haue them , I say , for an example of loue and long patience , witnessing , vnto vs , that in those dayes of desolation , and popish tyrannie , all did not prouoke the Lord , nor fall away from the right saith .

For as in the dayes of El●ah , when that 1. King . 19. 10. wicked woman Iezebel hade persecuted the Lordes Prophetes , and when the true worship of God seemed to bee vtterlie abolished o●t of the land , seuen thousand were reserued ( though none of them was knowne ver. 18. to El●ah ) which had not consented to idolatrie , so in the dayes of our forefathers , many thousandes did obey the Gospell of saluation , & did not defile their garments with Popish idolatrie ; and of them the Lord hath made some to bee knowne to the worlde , and their memoriall to rema●ne as monumentes of his grace for our comfort and example .

And to come to examples neerer to our time , & to our selues . I haue heard it credibli reported , that , when here in England , within these * * When this was preached , i● was the yeare 1598. fiue & fourtie yeeres , many of the Saintes and true beleeuers did constantly suffer martyrdome for the testimonie of the word of God , ther were here in Sussex whole parishes of men and women , which for all the heat of that greeuous persecution in the The constancy of su●●ex people in the prosession of the Gospell . dayes of Queen Mary , came not at the false church , not bowed the knee to the idole of the Masse ; beside those that were martyi● , which with their blood haue sealed the confession of their faith .

And ( as it is best knowne to them that professe religion , & haue long knowne this countrie ) there were also diuers which testified their loue & obedience to the Gospell by assembling together at conuement times in woodes and ●●li●a●ie places , where they had the word of saith pu●elie taught , & the sacramentes administered ; The Lord protecting them from the cruelty of those daies .

These are as cloudes of witnesses for our example , that we should follow their faith & obedience to the word of God .

And now in our dayes , notwithstanding that the love & zeale of many doeth waxe colde , and that the d●rnell and wilde oates do● over-growe the good corne . that , for the most parte , wee canne see nothing but the multitude of luke-warme and irreligions people , yet are there many faithfull witnesses , & sincere professoures of the Gospel of God among vs . But alas , as the world is alwayes like it selfe , we are so far from following the saith & example of the Saintes , that while they liue among vs , we cease not to speake euil of them , & to persecute them .

●hus we see that the Lord leaueth no time ( no not when it seemeth that the professors of his name are rooted out of the earth ) without worthy witnesses of his trueth , whose steppes wee must tread in , vnlesse we will runne in the broad waye that leadeth to destruction .

It followeth : but with whome was hee displeased fourtie yeeres ? was hee not displeased with them that sinned , whose carke●ses fell in the , wildernesse ? Heere commeth the long suffering , and bountifulnesse of God to be considered , who neuer destroyeth any people , nor any childe of man for their wickednesse , before they be sufficiently warned , and haue time to repent , and to turne from their evill waies if they will . Before hee brought a stoode of waters to drowne the olde worlde , hee gaue them , that then had sinned , the space , not of fortie , but of three times fortie yeares ●or ●epentance . Hee Ge● . 6. 3. burned not the cities of S●dom and Gomorah with fire and brimstone from heauen , Ge● . 19. 24. 25. 〈◊〉 . Pet. 2. 8. before hee had giuen them time to amend , and warning from day to daie by righteous Lot .

And of that vngodlie woman Iezabell , the Lord saith , I haue giuen her space . To what end ? to repent of her fo●nication , & shee repented not . so Rev. 2. 20. 21. here , the holy Ghost saith , that forty yeares he was displeased with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt . So long endured hee their maners and intollerable rebelling against his word in the wildernesse .

Here we may learne , as the Apostle warneth vs , to walke circumspectly , & to ●edeeme Eph. 5. 15. 16. the time , remembring also what hee saith of them that abuse the time of repentance , despises● thou the riches of Gods bountifulnesse , and Rom. 2. 4. patience , and long sufferance , not knowing that the bountifulnesse of God le●●eth thee to repentance .

●et a Christian therefore be careful to vse wel the time wherein he liuet● , considering that , while he is in this world , he is in a wildernesse of innumerable dangers and temptations , whe●e it behooveth him to watch and to be circumspect , or els he is in a desperate case , & heapeth vnto himselfe wrath against the day of wrath , whosoeuer he be that despiseth Gods long patience .

Fortie yeares . This number fortie is oftentimes vsed in the holy scriptures , and is commonly applied to the time of repentance● , of abolishing of sinne , and stablishing of righteousnes . And it teacheth vs that the works of God are perfect , and that , when he beginneth , he maketh an end . As here , fortie yeares he was displeased with the Israelites in the wildernesse , according to the number of the Num. 14. 33. 34. daies in the which they had searched out the land of promise . In which fortie yeares he overthrew them , and made an end of them with their sinnes . Fortie daies and fortie nightes was the raine vpon the earth when all the inhabitants Gen. 7. 12. of the old world ( except Noah and his family ) were drowned . In those fortie daies , and fortie nights the Lord wiped away all wickednesse and crueltie wherewith the earth was corrupted .

Forty daies are limited to the people of Ni●eveh for repentaunce . And in that space they repented : for they beleeved God , as it is in Ionah , and proclaimed a fast , and put on sacke-cloath Ion. 3. 4. 5. from the greatest of them even to the least of them .

And to speake according to naturall observation , it is noted in mankinde generally that an * * Plin. nat. hist. lib. 7. in pro●m . infant doth seldome or never laugh before he be fortie daies old . Here we may see that man ●ath iust cause to bee alwaies sorie , and to mourne for his sinnes which are the cause of all the miseries of this life .

When God establisheth perfect righteousnes vpon earth , forty of daies and nightes are spoken of : as when Moses was called from the sight of the people , he was with the Lord in mount Sinai forty daies and forty nights Exod. 24 18 & 34. 28. in which he fasted miraculously , that so the law of God , which hee was to deliuer vnto the Isra●lites , might receiue the more honor and authority . And againe , fortie daies and 1. King . ●9 . 〈◊〉 fortie 〈◊〉 E 〈…〉 h , at the calling of the Lord continued ●●s●ing , because hee was the minister that should restore the law to the former perfection thereof .

And our saviour Christ is said to haue fasted Ma●. 4. 2. ●uke 4 2. 〈…〉 , and fourtie mightes , before hee beganne his publique life , and preaching . The end of which fast , o● 〈…〉 le , as * * Vpon the harmony of the ●●angell . Mat. 4. 〈◊〉 . M. C●lv● doeth well obsetue , was that it should bee a seale to the doctrine of the Gospell ; which as it is more glorious then the lawe of Moses , so was it to bee adorned with miracles , and rate signes . And after he had suffered his passion , and was ●●sen againe , hee was seene of his Apostles by the spice of forty daies . Act. 1. 3. In which fortie daies he confirmed vnto them the verity of his ●u●●ection .

Thus we see where vnto this number forty is vsually applyed in holy scriptures . For as te●●e is a perfect and absolute number , and all supe 〈…〉 numbers doe arise either by adding vnto te●●e , o● els by multiplying of ten , so the multiplying of ten in this number forty , declareth vnto vs the louing kindnesse , and mercy of God , who giueth vnto men such space of daies , or of yeares , either to see the confirmation of his truth , and his workes , or to amend and turne vnto him before they bee destroied for their sins and transgressions .

And here we may learne that our departing from iniquity , our faith , and obedience to the worde of GOD must bee effectuall , earnest and vnsamed , and wee must persevere in the same , not for one day , but fortie dayes , or fortie yeares , that is , so long as the LORDE will haue vs to remayne in the wildernesse of this world .

Nowe the cause why the LORDE was displeased with his people fortie yeares , was sinne . For the Apostle sayeth , was hee not displeased with them that sinned , whose car●●●ses fell in the wildernesse ? The roote and beginning of all sinne is the naturall corruption , or originall sinne wherein all menne are wrapped from their mothers wombe , and wherewith mankinde hath beene infected euer since the fall of Adam .

This corruption bringeth foorth fruite vnto death , by transgressing the law of God We sinne three maner of waie● . three maner of waies , that is , in thought , worde , and deede , according to the wordes of our saviour Christ affirming that those thinges , which defile a man , come from the heart . For out of the hearte , saith hee , come Mat. 15. 19. evi●● thoughts . These are sinnes , and defile th● whole man . Murthers , adulteries , fornications , theftes . These are sinnes in deed . False testimonies , slaunders . These are sinnes committed in word .

And now all these transgressions , and every one of them , as they are committed of men , are called actuall sinnes . And they are Three sorts of actuall sinnes . of three sortes . One is counted a sinne of infirmitie , into the which the godly , and regenerate men of God , doe commonly fall through the weakenesse of the flesh . Of this kinde of sinne speaketh Paule , when he saith , the evill which I would not , that do I. And Rom 7. 19. 1. 〈◊〉 . 1. 8. of this Saint Iohn saith , If we saie that wee haue no sinne , we deceiue our selues , and the truth is not in vs .

The second is a sinne of ignorance , committed through lacke of knowledge , when hee that sinneth knoweth not that he doeth evill . Such was the sinne of Paule before his conversion , when hee liued a Pharis●● , and persecuted the Christians , notwithstanding he had zeale , and in his life was vnrebukeable , Phil. 3. 6. touching the righteousnesse of the law . And of this sinne , after he was conuerted , hee saith , I did it ignorantly through vnbeliefe . 1. Tim. 1. 13.

The third kind of sinne , is , a sinne of malice , or a sinne of disobedience to the trueth of God , when they that haue experience of Gods fauour , and goodnesse towards them , and know his word to be the rule of righteousnesse , will not for all that forsake their owne waies to followe it , and to obey it . Such was the sinne of Saul when he did not 1. Sam. 15 9 obey the wordes of Samuel , being commanded to destroy the Amalekites , and all that appertained vnto them .

This sinne of disobedience was the sinne of the children of Israell , for the which the Lord was displeased with them fortie yeares ; who knowing the goodnesse of God to bee more extended towardes them , then any other nation of the earth , did notwithstanding disobey his voice , and tempte him ●enne tymes , as the scripture witnesseth . Num. 14. ●2 And therefore they were reiected of the Lord that they should not enter into his rest , and were punished in the wildernesse with horrible plagues , where their carkeises fell for an example , and a terrour to all that should haue thereof .

This sinne of maliciouse frowardnes , & disobedience to the word of God , is of all other most fearefull , & is therefore called rebellion , 1. Sam. 15. 23. wickednes , & idolatrie , & compared with the sinne of witchcraft . And of this kind of sinne Iohn saith , hee that commiteth sin●s of 1. 10. 3. 8. 9. the deuill . And whosoeuer is borne of God sinneth not .

This is therefore the sinne that we must beware of . We see how fearefully it was punished in Gods chosen people . And their punishments , as Paule witnesseth , being written to admonish vs , might , if they were 1. Cor. 10. 〈◊〉 . well weyed , terrifie the stubborne , & froward generation of this age , and might moue those that preferre the darkenesse of their owne heartes before the light of the truth , to examine them selues what ground they stand vpon . For there shineth in many now-adayes a goodlie shewe of holines & equitie in their dealinges , and yet are they enemies to the Gospell , & glad if they can find occation to do hurt , & to slaunder the professours therof . But if this sinne of wicked frowardnes , & disobedience to the worde that wee heare , were farre from vs , then all other sinnes would soone be corrected , & reformed . Wherefore being compassed , as we haue with a cloud of many witnesses , whose example , if we consider them , leadeth vs to obedience to the will of God , we pray that everie one of you shew the like diligence to the resisting of sinne & euill examples of the worlde , & to grow to perfect knowledge in the word of God while it is yet called to day .

The sixth and last Lecture , vpon the 18. and 19. v●rses : of the punishment of them that obey not the Gospell , though for a time they bee borne with , and liue in a flowrishing state ; What the tokens of Gods iudgements , which befal ●n the world , 〈…〉 and wherewith so●e men are visited , should pro●ite vs ; the worde of God is the iu●ge of men : which word is to be obeyed , while the day of grace lasteth .

18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest , but vnto them that obeyed not ?

19 So wee see that they coulde not enter in , because of vnbeliefe .

WE haue already heard of them , which , when they heard the word of God from the mouth of his ministers , provoked him to anger with their rebelling and murmuring against him , where it was noted how great the corruption and wickednesse of mans nature is , which provoketh against the wisdome of the holy Ghost , & setteth more by superstitious vanities , then by the worde of eternall life . We haue also heard of sinne , and the effect thereof . The sinnes of the Israelites , whom God delivered from the bondage of Egypt , were the cause that within fortie yeares , in which they abused Gods long suffering , they were with diverse plagues destroyed and consumed in the wildernesse .

And now to declare a further punishment of sinne , and rebellion , then is the bodilie punishment , and the evils of this life , the scripture saith here , that God sware to them that obeyed not , that they shoulde not enter into his rest , By which wordes , repeated out of the scripture of the Prophet before alledged , the Apostle putteth the Hebrewes in mind , not of the rest of the land of Canaan , which their fathers through disobedience and vnbeliefe had lost , but of the rest of the heauenly 〈…〉 salem , the everlasting inheritaunce of the Saintes , whereof the earthly rest and peace in the land of Canaan , as also the rest of the seuenth day , was but a type or a shadow : & therefore he saith , If Iesus ( or Ioshua ) Heb. 4. 8. had giuen them rest , then would he not after this day haue spoken of an other . For the Prophet Dauid in his exhortation made long after the possessing of the land of Canaan , speaketh of the true and perfect rest , which the faithfull do enter into , & which God hath promised Heb. 4. 3. from the begining of the world to them that obey his voice .

To be excluded from this rest through vnbeliefe and hardnes of heart , is a wo●full case . It is to haue thy portion with dogges & Rev. 22. 15. enchanters , & whoremongers , and murtherers , & idolaters , and whosoever loueth or maketh lies .

The children of Israell , to whom the Lord made his power so manifestly knowne in Egypt , at the red sea , and in the wildernesse , were afterward , when they sinned , most fearfully punished , & destroied . And moreouer , as this scripture witnesseth , the Lorde swa●e that they should not enter into his rest . Here is the iust reward of sin , & disobedience , that is , to be deb●rred , & shut out for evermore from en 〈…〉ng into the ●ords rest . And this is heere declared in that he denyeth vnto those perverse people the signe or sacrament of his grace , signifiyng therby that the grace it selfe is denied vnto them : for the not admitting of those obstinate and vnfaithful Iews into the land of Canaan , sheweth that for then vnbeliefe they are not * * As no sacrament 〈◊〉 instituted of God without signification of an invisible grace , so the taking away of the sacramentes importeth a taking away of the grace that was signified thereby : howbeit not so but that God may , and doth extraordinarily saue some where the ordinary meanes of salvation and the sacraments cannot be had . admitted into the perfect and eternall rest figured in the earthly rest of that promised land : Which also in an other place , the Authour of this Epistle ( whom we vnderstand to dispute here , not of the shadow , but of the substance , not of the transitorie , but of the perpetual rest ) inferreth with these words , they to whom it was first preached , entered not therein for vnbeliefes sak● Heb. 4. 6. This passeth all the temporary plagues , & punishments which befall men for their sinnes in this present life . And yet this happened to them which in this world were reputed for Gods people , & for a time were partakers of all the signes & tokens of Gods favour .

Wherefore , that no man be deceiued in himselfe , and thinke that he standeth fast because he is in the church of God , when he is not of the church , here we see , that , as Paule saith , to be vnder the cloud , to passe through 1. Cor. 10. 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . 3. 4. the se● , to be baptized vnto Moses ( that is , to be partakers of Gods sacraments vnder their captaine Moses ) to eate man●a , & to drinke of the spirituall rocke . which , as he interpreteth it , was Christ , did nothing profite the children of Israel : for when they sinned , and would not obey , nor giue credite either to the comfortable promises , or to the fearfull threatnings of God , they were ouerthrown● in the wildernesse , & depriued of all hope of the rest promised to the faithfull seede of Abraham .

These things are written that we might learne & vnderstand that our baptisme ministred to vs in the name of the holy trinitie , our coming to church , our common prayers & our outward hearing of the word of God , our receiuing of the communion of the Lords supper , our names of Christians , and whatsoeuer outward signes and markes of Christian religion we haue , shall profite vs nothing to attaine eternall rest , so long as our hearts be not cleane from the hipocrisie , & superstion of the flesh , & so long as we do not crucifie the olde Adam which is wont to rebel against the word of God , because it reacheth vs things contrary to our owne wil.

Whosoeuer therfore doeth not suffer the words of exhortation , & doeth not in . sinceritie & trueth obey the voice of Christ , hath no part in the inheritance which is prepared for the sons of ●od , notwithstanding that for a time he he partaker of the earthly sacraments and signes of the same .

Moreouer let no man flatter himselfe , & thinke that he is safe from Gods iudgment● if he hath no● so tempted God as the Israelits did in the wilder●es , or if he hath not so murmured against his ministers as they did ; but let him rather consider whether his faith , and obedience hath bene so tried as the●●s was , & whether without murmuring & distrust , he hath gone through the fire & water of temptation which they were brought vnto for their triall , according as the scripture witnesseth , thou shalt remember all the way Deut. 8. 2. which the Lord thy God led thee this fourtie yeare in the wildernes ; for to humble thee , and to proue thee , to know what was in thine heart whether thou wouldest keepe his commandements or no. Here we see that the Lord exercised the Israelits with great daungers and many difficulties of the terrible wildernes , for to humble them , and to know whether with sound and faithfull heartes they would cleaue to him , & abide his triall .

If thou hast not then bene exercised with diuers temptations as they were , or if thou a●t not yet come into the day of triall , perswad not thy selfe that all is well with thee , because thou standest when none doth sight against thee . Say not like the church of the Revel. 3. 17 ●aodiceans , that thou art rich because thou knowest not thy wretchednes & pouertie , and that thou hast neede of nothing because thou seest not thy nakednes . It is an easie thing to ouercome where thei● is no battell , & to promise to thy selfe the victorie before thou a●t tried . That lesson of the King of Israel is worthy to be remembred , let not him ▪ 1. King . 10. 11. that g●rd●th his har●es , boast himselfe , as hee that putteth it of . And that , of the Apostle is a notable warming , let him that thinketh h●● 1. Co●. 10. 1● . standeth , take heede least he fall .

Thirdly & specially let vs here learne , that if such sinnes & iniquities , as are equal to the sinns of the Israelits in the wildernes , be not visited with the like plagues as theirs were , they shall not therfore escape vnpunished . For there is a iudgment to come , & the Lord hath sworne that the vnfaithfull & vnrighteouse , which disobey his word , shall not enter into his rest . This is a sure testimon●e that putteth away all doubt : for if anoath for Heb 6. 16. confirmation among men be an end of all strif● , as are the wordes of the Apostle , how much more doth it take away al occasion of doubting when the Lord almightie bindeth himselfe with an oath ?

The interrogation which the Apost●e vseth in these wordes , to whom sware hee that they should not enter into his rest ? doeth more significantly expresse the punishment of not obeying . And here is also vsed a figuratiue kind of speech , wherby lesse is said , than 〈◊〉 vnderstood , & wherby we gather that there are dreadfull punishments ordeined for all obstinate & vnbeleeuing sinners . For what ensueth from not entering into the rest of immortality but to haue thy parte & portion with them which are shut out of the citie of ●od ? & what part haue they ? the holy Ghost declareth in these wordes , the fearfull and vnbeleeuing , and the abominable & Revel. ●1. 8. murtherers , & wheremongers & sorcerers , and idolaters and all ●●ers shall haue their portion 〈◊〉 the lake , which burneth with fire and brimstone , which is the secon● death .

This is the wages of sin & disobedience ; & although the time of payment be deferred vntill the haruest of this world , yet this cuppe of vengeance is prepared for all the workers of iniquitie , which shall not enter into rest . And therefore , as one father saith , he that doeth euill ought to feare the more if he be not punished in this world : for then hee is to drinke the deeper of Gods wrath in the iudgment to come .

These things being most true , let it not greeue thee that art a true Christian , though sinners doe flourish for a time , and though thou see the vncleane conuersation of wicked and profane people to abound in the earth , and yet in the meane while thou thyselfe doest suffer affliction , and art tried with diuerse adue●sities . Remember for all this that God is good to Israel , and the damnation of his enemies sleepeth not .

It cannot be denied but that many of those sinnes , which God in former ages did so 〈…〉 ly punish for an example vnto the world , do now reigne in the worlde , and yet are 〈◊〉 visited with the like seueritie and puni●hment , because as we reade , God hath 〈…〉 a day , in the which he will iudge the Acts 1●●1 . world 〈◊〉 rightousnes . And therefore , as it is well obse●●ed of Chrysostome , many of those sinnes , for the which the world was drowned in the dayes of Noah , are day he committed in the world , & yet ●od bringeth not Ge● 7. ●1. 2● . 23. a ●lo●d to drowne the world , as he did then ; because there is a ●●ood of wrath ordeined for them in the world to come . Many of those sins for the which Sodom & Gomorrah were consumed with fire and brimstone from heauen , are still practised in the world , Gen. 19. 24. 25. and yet the Lo●d raineth not fire out of heaven to destroy them that do such thinges ▪ because he hath appoynted for them the ●i●e that ●hall neuer be quenched . Many are they which speake against Gods word , and persecute his church as Pharaoh did , & yet Exod. 14. 27. 28. are not choked with the sea water , as Pharaoh and his ●eruantes were ; because the bottomlesse sea of perdition is reserued for them . Many do murmur against heauen , & dislike of Gods ordinance as the Israelits did in the wildernes , and yet are not destroyed with firy serpents , & with other plagues , as Num. 21. 5. 6. they were : because the worme that neuer dieth shall hereafter torment them . Many there be which take bribes & giftes vnlawfully as Gehaz● did ; & yet they are not st●iken with the foule disease of leprosie , as he was ; 2 King . 5. 27. because they shall be plagued after this life where there shall bee weeping and gnashinge of teeth .

And againe many do lye & dissemble in matters of religion , as Ananias & Sapphira Act. 5. 5. 10. did , and yet are not punished with suden death , as they were : because death immortall , & euerlasting waiteth for them .

These thinges are thus applied of * Chrissostom . 1 Chrysost. in Act. Apo. c. 5. h●m. 12. & for this cause , when the Apostle Peter saith , that God spared not the angels , that had sinned , but east them downe into hell ; & that 2 Pet. 2. 4. 5 6. he spared not the old world : & that he turned the cit●es of Sodom & Gomorah into ashes ; hee doth not say that God did then with the like punishments cut of the false teachers , of whom he speaketh , & such as walk● like the Sodomits after the flesh , in the l●st of vncleannesse ; but he gathereth therby , that the Lord knoweth 2. P●t. 2. 9. how to reserue the vniust vnto the day of iudgment to be punished .

The heathen man , as Iustine Martyr alledgeth , Iust. Mart. in h●de mo●●●chia . was not ignorant of this ●udgment , & of the reckoning to come : for he speaketh pl●●ly therof : S●●ustus et ●mp●us eadem conditione futu 〈…〉 , rape , ●urare , frauda , misce , if after this life there be no difference betweene the iust man & the wicked , then go to , catch what thou canst , steale , deceiue , make confusion of all thing● : s●derrarenol● , but be not deceyued : for , saith he , there is a●iudgment in hel beneath , which God that is Lord of al things will doe , whose name is so dreadfull that I d●re not name him . Th●● and much more he alledgeth out of Phil●mo● & other heathen writers , which by the light of nature did set forth , not onely the ommpotency of God & the immortalitie of mans soule , but also the reward of vertue , & the punishment of sin after this life ; & how that God ( which , as one of them saith , is the eye of equitie that seeth all thinges ) doeth beare with the euill deedes of men in this life for that they shall come into iudgment hereafter .

The doctrine of the holy Psalmist is of singular force to this purpose , who for the instruction of others , confesseth that his f●●t● were almost gone , & that his steppes had wel-nigh slypt , Psal. 73. ●3 . 〈◊〉 . 5. when he saw the prosperitie of the wicked , how they thriue in the world , and are not in trowble ver. 17. 18. 19. 20. as other men : but when the Lord opened his vnderstanding , he saw the ende of these men , namelie that they are se●● in slippery places , and are suddenlie destroyed , & horriblelio consumed , as a dreame when one awaketh . Iob Iob. 21. 17. 18. testifieth the like both of their momentary prosperitie , and of their sudden destruction .

The seruants of God haue here a singular comfort , that they may not be discouraged with tribulation , and aduersitie , and that they may not at anie time stumble at Gods long patience and benignitie toward reprobate and vniust men , seeing that he rewardeth everie man according as his deedes shal be , though Rom. 2. 6. Rev. 22. 12. he be not hasty in punishing , and though he doeth not in this life punish all mens sinnes alike .

Heere also secure worldlings , and such as are slow to beleeue the word of truth , may be moued to feare Gods iudgments , and by amendment of life to withdrawe themselues out of the s●are of the deuill , which , as the Apostle saith , are taken of him at his 2. Tim. 〈◊〉 . 26. will .

And now , if neither the promises of entering into eternall rest , nor the testimonies of Gods fearfull iudgments reuealed against sin and disobedience , can moue vs to repentance , let vs yet make vse of Gods visitations wherwith we heare , and see the iniquities of these our dayes to be visited ; as in all ages God sheweth diuers tokens of his displeasure and indignation against the vnrighteousnes and vnbeleefe of men . For euerie plague , ev 〈…〉 calamitie , sudden death , burning with fire 〈…〉 ther , strange sicknesses , famine , euerie stood of waters , ruine of buildings , vnseasonable weather : euerie one of these , and of the like aduersities , as oft as they happen in the world , are a sermon of repentance to all that see them , or heare therof For whensoeuer God punisheth some kind of sinns , or punisheth some men more seuerely then others that haue sinned , euen that his punishment is a warning & a memento to euery one of vs to looke to our selues , and to call to reremembrance our owne sinns , knowing that it is the same God that will take vengeance of eue●●e sinne , and transgression of men , & that he will strike with a more heauie hand , if his warning , and example of his iustice be not regarded .

Wherfore , to come to our selues . We see that beside the pestilence , and many other ●ignes of Gods anger where with this land of late yeares hath bene visited , the Lord hath now for the space of three yeares together sent scarsitie of bread , famine , and penurie among vs ▪ And shall we thinke that the poore , and the helplesse , who ( for the most-part ) suffer these thinges , are sinners aboue the rest that haue not yet tasted of this cup ? if we thinke so we vtterly deceiue our selues For we are otherwise taught of the Lordes Prophet in these words , when the land sinneth against me by committing a trespasse , then will I Eze● . 14 13 stretch out my hand vpon it , and will breake the staffe of the bread therof , and will send famine vpon it . We see that the Lords hand is after this maner stretched out , and that the staffe of bread is broken . We see , and must needes know that the sinnes of the land are great , and that the inhabitants therof from the greatest to the least haue not ob 〈…〉 the voice of the Lord to walke in all his waies ; and yet we see but some punished with the scourge of hunger and aduesitie . The rest , that are not yet touched , are so farre from repentance , & newnesse of life that , as the Prophet saith , they drinke wine in bowles and anoynt themselues Amos. 6. 6. with the che●●●e oyntments , but no man is sory for the afflections of Ioseph . Few do weepe , or haue that Christian-like affection to weepe with them that suffer affliction . And will you still continue in sinne and hardnes of heart ? shall not the afflictions of our brethren cause vs to feare , & to turne into the way of truth before that greater plagues be powred out vpon the land , euen vpon euery soule that doeth euill and continueth in sinne and disobedience ?

Euery man may gather that the calamities of other men do testifie , that the punishment of his owne sinns lyeth at the doore ; As to this effect , the heathen Poet speaketh . Et tua res agitur paries cum proximus ordet . Horatius .

When thou seest thy neighbours house set on fire thou hast warning to looke to thine owne And for this cause the Lord , sometimes , cutteth downe the greene tree , shewing therby what he will do to the vnfruitful fig tree that keepeth bar●en the ground of the vinyard , though he let it stand for awhile .

That no man therfore might sleepe in his sinns , or thinke himselfe to be the better man because he seeth other men punished , & himselfe not touched , Christ teacheth vs most plainely by the cruell slaughter of the Galileans made by Pilat , & by the fall of the Luk. 13. 2. 3. 4. 5. towre vpon the men ●n Siloa●● , that the worst men are not first punished , but that if God shew such tokens of his iudgments vpon some few , all other men ( except they amend ) shall nothing the rather escape his heauie hand for that they be borne with for a time .

When we see therfore that God handleth some men seuerelie , and in his iustice , we ought to feare & examine our selues what we haue deserued , & so to consider that the longer that God beareth with vs , the more terrible will be his reuengment if we abuse his benignitie & winke at the testimonies of his wrath shewed vpon others for our example .

Now , hauing such euident testimonies of Gods seuere iudgments in al ages reuealed against the vnrighteousenes and vnbeleefe of men : as the Apostle saith here of the vnbeleeuing Israelits , we see that they could not enter in because of vnbeliefe ; so we see , & declare vnto you by the same word of trueth , which we minister● , that all obstinate and vnbeleeuing sinners which will not obey the trueth , shall not enter in to the rest of life euerlasting , or haue any part in the feliciti● of the faithfull . Do we therfore iudge men ? no in no wise . The word which we minister is the iudge , and by it we denounce the iudgments of God against them which obey not this word , instructing them with meeknes , & prouing i● God at any time will giue them repent●nce that they may come to the knowledge of his truth : for this is the iudgment of the spirite of God , hee that obeyeth not the sonne , shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth ●o. 3 36. on him . and he that is in this vnbeliefe , though he fasi from mea●● , though he say many pra●ers , though he giue much to the poore , & though he build churches , and do many gloriouse workes , doeth yet nothing acceptable to God , while he beleeueth not in the sonne , & while hi● heart cleaveth not to the word of the Lord . For as it is written , without faith it is vnpossible to please God . and againe , Heb● 11. 6 Rom. 14 23 what soeuer is not of faith is sinne . So far is the carnal man , which is possessed with vnbeliefe , from pleasing of God , that all his workes , euen the best deedes that he doeth are nothing els but sinne .

Many there be , which doe many thinges that haue in deed , as the Apostle saith , a shew Col. 2. 23. of wisedome , in voluntary religion : but if you aske these people , from what faith their works do proceede , and vpon what promises of God contained in his word their faith is setled ; they will commonly say , that though they know not these things , yet hope they to bee saued as wel as your selfe . But be not deceiued : for this hope is no hope . It is not the auker of the soule both sure and stedfast . And your faith is no Heb. 6. 19. faith , so long as it be not built vpon the rocke of Gods worde , which is the iewell that you should desire more then gold : and finde to be sweeter then hony , and the hony combe . But while Psal. 19 19. you builde vpon the devises of your owne heart , your adversary , when the day of triall commeth , wil overthrow your whole building which is not grounded ▪ vpon the rocke but vpon the vnsure sand .

Wherfore if you wil enter into Gods rest , & dwel safely from the feare of evill , your heart must be purified by faith , and , as you heare dayly , faith is by hearing , & hearing by the word of God . Rom. 10. 17

If hitherto you haue beene dul of hearing , or slow of heart to beleeue this word , giue now the more diligence to heare , and to exercise your selues therin : least it be taken away from you for your former negligence & vnthankfullnes . For so the Lord threatneth by his Propher , bebould the daies come , saith the Lord God , that I will send a famine in the land , Amo● . 8. 11 12. not a famine of bread , nor a thrist for water , but of the hearing of the word of the Lord . And they shall wander from sea to sea , & from the North euen vnto the East shall they runne is & fro to seeke the word of the Lord , & shall not finde it . This is a famine more to be feared then any famine of materiall bread . For this falmine of hearing the word of God , is a token of reprobation , & a signe that God doth vtterly forsake , & cast away that people or nation where it is sent . For , when God taketh away the light of his word , what shall we find but hell●●h darkenesse , & the shadowe of death ? & this is the ●ust iudgment of God for the vnbeliefe of them that shall nos enter into his rest .

Beholde now , therfore the accepted time , behold 2. Cor. 6. 1. now the day of saluation . For yet it is called to day , & yet wisedome vttereth her voice in the Heb. 3. 13. Pro. 1. 20. streets , & open assemblies of our people , & promiseth that whosoeuer obeyeth her , shall ver. 33. dwel safely & be quiet from the fear of euil . Be hold now the Lord stadeth at the d●●re , & knockee●● , saying , if any man heare my voice & open the Rev. 3 20. doore , I will come in vnto him , and will supp● with him , & he with me .

To this Lord , that hath made his voice to be heard among vs now aboue fourty yeeres long , and yet continueth vnto vs the glorious day of his grace , be praise in the church throughout all generations for euer . Let vs humble our selues before the throne of grace and pray .

FINIS .

A GODLY AND NECESSARY SERMON against fleshly lustes ; and against certaine mischievous May-games , which are the fruite thereof . Preached vpon the first Sabbath day in Maie , in the yeere . 1598.

By H. R. Master of Artes , and now Minister of the word .

Gal. 5. 17.

The flesh lusteth against the spirite , and the spirit against the flesh : and these are contrarie one to the other .

Printed at Oxford by Joseph Barnes , and are to be sold in Paules church yard , at the signe of the Bible . 1600.

To the Reader .

THis sermon ( Christian Reader ) should haue bene published together with another of the sufferings & agon●es of our sauiour Christ , & of his victorie over death , but that some , which would be counted the soundest clarkes , and yet br●ach not the soundest doctrine to the world , want not their fauourers and meanes to stoppe the way of all such things as do not concord & say amen to whatsoeuer they haue sayd & fastened vpon the world for truth . Omitting therfore things that must be deferred , I haue here adioined to these six lectures ●ntitled , the day of hearing , a sermon vpon a text of the Apostle Peter exhorting to abstaine from fleshly lusts . For as the sonne of S●rach forbiddeth vs to keepe backe our counsell when Eccl. 4. 23. it may do good , so the afore named Apostle of Christ commanudeth vs , euerie man as he hath receiued the gift , to minister the same one to 1. Pet. 4. 10. another .

Wherfore ( as time & place required , & as God ●nabled me to be an instrument of his mercy ) I haue br●fly intreated of the perillous bondage and thraldo●e into the which we are brought through the lusts of our owne flesh , that , seeing our selues to be in a dangerous case , we may be the more s●irred vp to watch , & by Gods gar●● to haue victori● against such inuincible aduersaries .

And when I taught these things ( n●w more than a yeere and a halfe agone ) occasion was giuen that I could do no lesse then in their owne colour , as neere as I w●● able , set forth the manifold evills & incōvenience●● of certaine offensiue & vnlawful games , special●y of 〈◊〉 may poles . Which though it be a ▪ doctrine not acceptable nor welcome to the world , specially to such a● be louers of vaine pleasures more th●● louers of God , yet must we not for fear of men keepe backe those things which may do good . These poles s●t vp , & maintained to stand in ●co many places of this l●●d , are evident markes of contempt of the word of God , & true godlinesse . and therfore , ●s we haue alreadie by the late dearth & scarcitie of foode that hath b●ne , & by sundr●e plagnes , & strange sicknesses tasted of Gods anger against such contempt of his Gospel●● so ( except , as the Prophe● exhorteth ●s● . 55. 6. 〈◊〉 seeke the Lord while he may be sound , and call vpon him while he is neere ) it is to be s●ar●a that his wrath wil in greater measure be ●owred out vpon the inhabitants of this land to the perpetuall●●● of them that haue neglected & despise● the grat●ous time of Gods ●al●ng . For what can the end of the world which is so set on wickednesse lo●ke for , but bl●odie warres , sudden sorrowes , & deadly calam●●ies ? 〈◊〉 that we would iudge our selues that we ●ight not be iudged of the Lord . The magistrate & the minister , if they do the worke of the Lord either negligently or deceitfully must thinke that other mens blood shall be required at their handes .

Pray therfore that all which are in authoritie , & al that haue the charge of mens soules committed vnto them , may alwayes be found faithfull and vigilant to resist sinne and offences , not fearing nor fauouring the person of any mortall man whose breath is in his nostrelles . And pray that we all , what calling or condition soeuer we be of , may be alwayes mindfull of our vow made in our baptisme to sight against sinne , the world , & the flesh , till we become conquerors through Christ Iesus ; to who● be all prayse & dominion for euermore .

Against fleshly lustes . 1. Pet. 2. 11. Deerely beloved , I beseech you as strangers and Pilgrims , abstaine from fleshly lustes , which fight against the soule .

IN this parcel of scripture ( which you haue heard this morning , as it is vsually read in the church this day ) the Apostle Peter , as an excellent instrument of the holy Ghost , warneth the Christians of the Iewes of the imminent perill , not of theeues , nor of violent robbers , nor of wilde beasts , nor of forraine enemies , but of the lustes of their owne flesh , which are the more dangerous , and the more hard to be avoided , because they are inseparable companions of the flesh and nature of man .

In the former chapter of this epistle , exhorting them to holines & purity of living , he putteth them in Minde that they were not redeemed from their vaine conversation , as hee 1. Pet. 1. 18. 19. saith , with corruptible things , as silver and golde , but with the precious bloode of Christ as of a lambe vndefiled and without spot ▪ in the consideration wherof , they might more clearly see what they were before their calling , & what they are now being called & sanctified in Christ Iesus . They must walke therfore in their Christian race to withstand the continual●assaults of their spirituall enemies : among which the lusles of the flesh are not the least nor the casiest to be subdued , for that they fight against the soule , so long as this life lasteth , and bring forth fruite vnto eternall death .

Peter directeth this doctrine to them which beleeued of his owne nation the Iewes : notwithstanding it appertaineth to all Christians which haue obtained the like saith to become the true seede of Abraham . For as the beleeuing ●ewes , to whom hee writeth this Epistle , were at that time strangers scattered among the gentiles , & had lost the lande of Iudea , so , as they were Christians , they were also strangers vpon earth , and so are all the faithfull what nation of people soeuer they be of , albeit that they liue and dwell in their natiue countrie where they were borne and brought vp .

It behoueth them therfore , being strangers , to be more circumspect and carefull to resist their enemies ; these enemies are the lustes of the flesh , which fight against , the more excellent part of man , euen against the soule .

Here we may learne that man , as he hath a body of flesh wherein his soule dwellet● , is an enemie vnto himselfe . This may seeme to bee a strange Paradox , or a thing that most men ( because of the ignoraunce that is in them ) will not beleeue . But the true Christian , that walketh not after the flesh , but after the spirite , findeth and feeleth it to bee true , according as it is written , I see another lawe in my members Rom. 7. 23. 24. rebelling against the lawe of my minde , and leading me captiue vnto the lawe of sinne , which is in my members . O wretched man that I am , who shall deliuer me from the body of this death ?

And the heathen man by the lighte of Socrates . nature coulde finde out the true cause of mans wretchednesse ; whereof hee thus speaketh , the chiefe cause of all evilles that happen to man , is man himselfe : for hee through his greedy lustes and desires troubleth both himselfe and all other , creatures .

Chrysostome in a certaine treatise of his , N●●● l●d●tur nisi aseipso . doeth notablye prooue that no manne is hurt but of himselfe : for as he saith , hee that hurteth not himselfe can of none be hurt : as Kaine , sudas Iscartot , king Pharaoh , & such others , could not haue perished if the cause of their confusion , that is , the lusts of their own flesh , which prevailed against them , had not beene within them . And contrary wise , Iob , Ioseph , Daniell , the Apostle Paule , and al good men could not be hurt , though for a time they did suffer , and tooke in good worth the spoyling of their goods , slaunder , imprisonment , persecution , and al ●●●ury at the hands of them which did hurt , and yet did to them no hurt : because with patience they resisted , not giving place to the motions of fleshlie lustes . These lusts are those mighty enemies which overthrow the stoutest and the wisest among the sonnes of men . King David , and Salomon his son , with other godly men haue beene grievously wounded herewith . But the prowd man is overcome of them , as Nebuchadn 〈…〉 r was of his prowd lusts . The voluptuous man , the drunkard and the vaine glorious in Apparell is overthrowne of his owne lusts , as Dives was . The covetous man , as ●uda● was and the wanton fornicatour , As ( if that story be true ) the vniust Iudges were that condemned chast Susanna .

Seeing therfore that our flesh is as a strong castl : that defendeth so many lustes , which fight against the soule , as there be diversities of sinnes , we are well admonished of the Apostle , as strangers & pilgrims to looke to our selues and to abstaine from such enemies .

Strangers and pilgrims doe commonly stand in more feare of enemies than they that dwell in their knowne country and among their acquaintance , as it appeareth by Iacob howe Gen. 34. 3 〈…〉 he feared the Cananites when his sonnes had slaine Hamor and Sechem . He feared because he was a stranger in the land & few in ●●mber in comparison of his enemies .

So Lot is despised of the Sodomites , because Gen. 19. 〈◊〉 . he was a stranger , and one that had not been borne in that country ; therefore they regard not his praiers , nor his intreaty he made vnto them , but bid him bee pa●king as a stranger . This pride of insulting against strangers lyeth as poison within vs all , what nation soeuer we be of , and vpon any light occasion sheweth it selfe . It pleased God therefore , Acta . 10. 34. ( who is no accepter of persons ) to bridle such insolencie by his holy word , as it is written , loue the stranger . and againe , thou shalt loue the Deut. 10. 19 stranger as thy selfe . With a memento that wee haue iust cause so to do . For yee were strangers Levi. 19. 34. ●n the land of Egypt .

Io 〈…〉 hes brethren do behaue themselues in the lande of Egypt with greate humility , and a 〈…〉 nde at the rough wordes of Ioseph ▪ which they woulde not haue done but for that they were st●●gers in the land & few in number . And that is it that should cause al strangers and pilgri●s to looke to their owne wa●es , & to liue warily , because they are cōp●●led about with strange people of strange conditions , which are many in number , & they few .

Now the state of all true Christians here vpon earth is by the condition and nature of strangers most ●i●ly expressed . For in the sacred scriptures ●hey are called strangers . The Prophet speaking in the person of the faithfull confes●eth that they are so , saying , I am a Psal. 119. 19 Psal. 39. 12. stranger vpon earth . And againe , I am a stranger with thee , & a soiournor as all my fathers were , & in another place , where he confesseth his own , and his peoples vnworthines , he saith , we are strangers before thee , & so●ourners ●ike all our fathers : our dates are like the shadow vpon the earth , 1 〈◊〉 . 29. 15. and there is none abiding .

We see that this is true : for man so long as hee dwelleth in the tabetnacle of his flesh , dwelleth as a stranger among his spirituall enemies which are the lustes of his flesh , daily fighting against him , and wounding his soule more deadly than the multitude of any strange and barbarous people can wound or hurt his bodie when they are mooved to fight against him . Man can kill but the bodie , but fleshly lustes kill both the soule and bodie too . This the Apostle Paule sheweth , where hee saith , if yee liue after the Rom. 8. 13. flesh , yee shall die .

Wee reade in an heathen writer that D 〈…〉 C 〈…〉 . de b●th Tre. lib. 4. the arrowes of Hercules had beene d●pt in the blood of the venimous monster Hidr● ; And therefore whosoeuer was shot of wounded with any of them perished and dyeil without recovery . The lustes of the flesh may be compared to such Arrowes : for the flesh of al men hath euer since the fal of Adam been infected with the vemme of ●lie old serpent the Deuill ; And therefore the lustes thereof ●lay the soule with endlesse death , of they be not refisted with great vigila●ty . For as Iames saith , when lust hath conceived , Iam. 1. 15. it bringeth forth sin : & sin when it is finished , bringeth foorth d●ath . Here is the wounde that lust giueth to the soule , to w●t , death which shall neuer haue an end . & againe the s●n●e Apostle saith , from whence are warres Iam. 4. 1. and contentions among you● are they not hence even of your lustes that sight in your members ? here note that he saith , your lustes , and in your members . For if they were not in our members & within our bodies , we might be safe from the danger of them , if they were in our garments , we might haue them washed out , or change and put on such as shoulde bee cleane . or if they were in some one kinde of meate , wee might abstaine from that and liue by other meate ; But the Prophet saith of them that had fasted from meate , your lust remaineth still . Isa. 58. 4. Or if they were as a plague in some towne or citie , or in some mens houses , the inhabitants there of might change their dwelling and so avoide them . Or if they were in some one countrey more then in another , men would be content to leaue that as a wildernesse rather then to die in it , even as Abraham forsooke Gen. 12. 10 Canaan , and went into Egypt in time of a famine . Nay if these lustes were but in some one outward member of the body , as in the hand , or the foote , some men would bee content to cut of that member to saue the rest of the body from infection or death . But the scripture saith , the heart is deceitfull and wicked Ier. 17. 9. aboue all thinges , who can know it ? here wee see that the principall part of the fleshis infected , even the heart ; and no man can make him a newe heart , no man can go out of his own flesh , nor change the dwelling place of his soule so long as this life lasteth .

Luther writeth of one that was grieued Martin Luther of one that intended to bee an Heremite . with himselfe for sinne , & weary with seeing & hearing the iniquities of the world ; which made him forsake the societie of men , & goe into a desert place thinking there to be safe from evill , & from all occasion of sinne . but herein he was greatly deceyued : for , being in the desert , he had with him an earthen vessell , to hold water in : this vessell with often falling downe from the place where he would haue had it to stand , did moue him to such anger● , that at the last it caused him to breake it in peeces . Then he beganne to consider what his nature was : & saw that he could haue no peace with himselfe though no man disquieted him . If this be true ( as most true it is that in mans flesh dwelleth no good thing ) Rom. 7. 18. what excellent thing do the Heremits , & such people as forsake the felowshipe of men vnder a pretense of religion , if they abstayne from offending when they want occasion to offende ? you know that the theese cannot steale so long as nothing is les●e in his way . If ther be no battell , there can be no victorie ; but we see that the Christians victorie is not gotten by alte●●ng the dwelling place of his body , o● by going out of the wo●ld , that is , out of the ●o●ie●●e of men , but it must be in the world by ●e●i●●ing his dayl●e aduersaries to keepe himselfe , as ●●mes s●●th vnspo●ted of the Iam 1 , 27. world . For Christ will not haue his disciples to be exemp●ed from the combates , & temptations of the world , least they should waxe de●●tie & slouthfull , or ●●●e vnprofitable to other men : and therfore he doth not pray to h●ue them taken out of the world , but hee Io● . 17. 15. prayeth to haue them kept from evill , that in the middest of dangers they may not be wounded to death , and that his power may be made perfect in weaknes . For it is manifest that in the holiest men of this world , the flesh is weake and lusteth after evill thinges . I know , saith the Apostle , that in me , that is 〈◊〉 Rom. 7. 18. my flesh dwelleth no good thing .

If the flesh were not corrupt & full of evill lustes , man should be free from all kinde of dangers : for the● Sa●han could haue no power ouer him , the world could not deceiue him , and the vanities of this life could not enti●e him . But the flesh , which euerie man heareth about with him , so long as he is a pilgrim vpon earth , is as a huge heape of all v 〈…〉 is like t● a puddle of water ful of 〈◊〉 & ●●t in the bottome , which , as sone a● it is s●●red , infecteth and fowleth all the water that it becommeth vnholesome both 〈◊〉 man and beast .

So ●●than , finding store of corruption and sinnefull lustes within mans body and flesh , st 〈…〉 th vp the same and kindleth them , evermore ministring occasion to commit on● sinn● or other that the soule may be de●iled , and be made lo●thsome i● the sight of God . 〈◊〉 is the roote of evill , and here is the puddle of deadly poyson , even the flesh which ever l●st●th against the 〈…〉 is . And for this cause the holy Ghost hath not concealed from vs what wil be the end if we suffer the flesh to haue the vpper hand . For he telleth vs plainly , if ye 〈◊〉 after the flesh ye 〈◊〉 . but if we wil Rom. 8. 13. escape th●● d●ath , hee warneth vs to play the Souldiers and to kill that wee our selues bee not killed hereafter , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , saith hee , Col. 3. 5. M●●tifie , or kill your members which are on the earth . What members ? fornication , vncl 〈…〉sse 〈…〉 te affection , evill conc●●●scence and c 〈…〉sse . But wee haue no members that are named with these names . Wee thinke so indeedes but the spirite of GOD see●● more then wee doe , and therfore signifieth vnto vs that sinne hath taken so deepe roote in vs that , for the most part , it ouer●uleth vs in so much that it calleth the affections of our flesh by the name of members . And therfore you cannot here an exhortation more necessarie for Christians then is , to mortifie , or to abstaine from the deedes of the flesh : and whosoeuer is adoer of this on lesson , is a profitable scholler i●● the schoole of Christ . but when should we abstaine from these lustes , and mortifie them ? there is no time , nor day of our life , not any hower in the day but some of them do fight against our soule : for they are so many in number ( as you heard before ) as there be diversi●●es of sinns ▪ ●f you will know them by name , the lust of pride is one , the lust of vncleanes is another , the lust of anger & wrath is another , the lust of couetousnes is another , the lust of back biting and slandering is another , the lust of enuy or euil wil to your neighbor is another , the lust of glu●●ony & drunkenne● is another , the lust of sweating , of slouthfulnes , & of filthy talking , with a number moe are the lusts that lie still in our flesh whithersoeuer we go , and euerie one of them when opportunitie serueth will shew it selfe an enemie to our soules . These are the children of ●abilon which lead the children ▪ of Israel captiue ; happy is he that taketh them and 〈…〉 th them against the stones . Beate them downe therefore while they be young : and put ye on the spiritual ●r●●ou● , & take to you the shield of faith that ye may be able to withstand them . You that wil be actiue & seek to excel one another at games & pla●es , you that thinke it a disgrace to put vp I●●uri● & to be abused at the handes of men , wh●e are ye faint hearted herein ? and wh●e will ye not see it when these enemies of your soules do abuse you and make you their slaues while yee serue them & a●e led by them to committe sinne ? many of them need not fight against you : for you ge●e place to them without resistance & do vtterly forget the vowe made in your baptisme , which is , to forsake them & not to be led by them .

It is seene that they which are the souldiers of earthly princes , when they come to the wa●res , can prepare themselues euery man in his place to sight , and none must bee idle , when his captaine putteth his life in hazard ; Because they are then to deale with their bodily enemies , at whose handes , if they be vanquished , nothing but death or bondage is to be looked for . And shall the souldiers of Christ sleepe when they should watch ? shall they play when they should fight ? & shall they be careles when they are beset with so many enemies which intend to bring the soule to destruction and bondage to the Deuill & his Angells ? Christian men are always in this danger ; and there is no hope of victorie against these aduersaries vnlesse we will with manly courage sight against them vnder the banner of our captaine Christ , according as we haue promised at the tyme of our baptisine : & his banner & example that he The meanes or the weapons whereby we must fight against fleshly lust● . left vnto vs , is sob●ie●●e , watching , earnest praiers , teares , abstinence , and abstaininge euen from all appearance of euill● . These things he , being free from sinne & all fleshly lusts , exercised in his life , that he might leaue vs an example with what weapons we must ouercome our enemies , & saue our selues from their lying in waite for our blood .

How then will they be counted Christians , or Christ his souldiers that neuer imitate him , nor exercise any of these meanes . This is the cause that so few obtaine the victorie to be crowned kinges , and so many dayly perish in their sinnes by imitating the world and obeyinge their owne lustes . For as one father saieth , wh●t LORDE or master would take it in good pait at the handes of his seruant that when 〈◊〉 himselfe did lacke and suffer hunger & did labour and watch , his seruant should then giue himselfe to eate and drinke , to sleepe and liue at ease ? the seruants of Christ haue no such priuiledge for the saith that the s 〈…〉 is not greater then his Lord , I● . 15. 20. Wherefore whosoeuer immitateth him not cannot be his seruant , but is a seruant of his owne lustes wherevnto hee yeeldeth and obeyeth : for so the Apostle witnesseth , k 〈…〉 not that you are his seruants to whom Rom. 6. 1 yee obey , whether it be of sinne vnto ●eath or of obedience vnto righteousnes ?

Consider therefore , brethren , whether ye be the souldiers and seruants of Christ , or whether yee serue your owne lustes , seeinge you are so farre from perfourming the vowe and promise made in your baptisme that you sell your selues to bee the authours of vanities and vaine pleasures , seruinge your owne lustes by vngodly pastimes and profane exercises .

Your want●n dauneing of men and women together in a most ●a●ciulous maner you will not yet l●aue .

That pestilent play at football vpon the Lordes day hath of late beene very fearfully punished among you ; even in a neighbour of your next parish , a spectacle sufficient to te●●●fie all , whose heartes are not hardened in sinne , in whom neyther the wordes not workes of God can haue any impression to draw them to the consideration of their owne wayes .

This your neighbour being ( as you know ) at play this day fortnight , with running against another man , brake his legg so l●mentably that ( as it is reported for truth ) the sight A notable example shewed vpon the abuse of the sabbeth day . therof made some of the beholders ready to faint . This wound could by no meanes bee cured , but his bodie pu 〈…〉ng therevpon , it brought him to his end , & to his graue this day senight , to the great discomfort & vndoing of his poore wife and six Children .

Behōld here the f●uit of good fellowship ( as they call it ) where their meetings are often times mingled with their owne blood , & one man murthered by another . Here is a lamentable act● . At whose handes shall this mans blood be required ? for when the Lord maketh inquisition for blood hee cannot but remember it . No doubte the magistrate cannot bee cleare therefrom , who ought carefully to haue foreseene the suppression of such meetings , to the preyēting of this and the like noysome inconveniences which may and do commonly fall out at such vnlawful assemblies .

Yet all this cannot warne vs to liue sobe●ly , and to leaue these abuses , but rather to ●●●e other vnto them as great , yea and more monst●ous .

Here I must change my voice and set before you some of your , desperate sinnes i● th●● owne collo●● and propertie : I meant your mischieuou● pole , your may-pole , or 〈◊〉 your madding-Pole . A manifeste make of your irreligious folly , and of all other ill sports most oftensiue to the church of God .

1 They that will haue such banners set vp are not much vnlike to the children of Israel which made a molten calfe in the wildernes , Exod. 3. 5. 6. and had their holy day for the dedicating of its whereupon they gaue themselues 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & 〈◊〉 , & to play 〈…〉 But you will answere that you do not say of your pole as the : 〈…〉 lit● did of their calfe , these be thy Gods . But ●er . 4. goe further and compare your fact with theirs : Touching their holy daie , the scripture doeth not say that when they committed that Idolatrie they proclaymed an holy daie of the calfe , but an holy daie of the ver. 5. Lord .

And the dauncers aboute May-pol●● say , that they com● to church , & for al their spo●●e they serue the Lorde as well as others . But GOD cannot bee served by your comming to church , and by taking his name and cove 〈…〉 in your month when your heart & minde is not with him , but with your past●●e and pleasure , which you take most delight in . And therefore , if you ●all on the ●●me of Christ , you must depart from 〈…〉 tie ▪ 1. Tim. 2. 19 or els you provoke the Lorde to greater anger and indignation against you by drawing neere vnto him with your lips , wheras you Psal. 50. 16. 17. hate to be reformed in your liues .

Moreover who● Paul rehearseth to the C 〈…〉 ans , what the Idolatry of the Israelit● was , he speaketh not of their 〈…〉 ten c 〈…〉 but saith , they were Idolaters . If we aske why ▪ or , wherein ? the people 〈◊〉 dow●● , saith h●● , ●o 1. Cor. 10 7 eate & drinke , & r●s● vp ●o 〈◊〉 . There is their Idolatry . And now whe●ein doth your ●a●uivious pastime differ from this ? the 〈…〉ing . Idolatry , so in yours : for in this sense the scripture calleth 〈…〉 tous●●s , Idolatry . Coll. 3. 5. no● that any man , were he neuer so covetous , v● se●h to worship his silver and golde , or to prey and m●ke petition vnto his worldly wealth ▪ but that the loue and liking thereof draweth away his heart , that God cannot be worshipped 〈◊〉 spir●●● and truth . In this sense therefore what pastime or pleasure soever carieth away mens heartes from the sincere worship of God , is Idolatry .

2 Some will aske , do you finde in the scripture that a May-pole is forbidd 〈…〉 aske also of these men , where they finde that the scripture forbiddeth men to be Papist●● : But Exod. 20. 4 , 1. Io. 5. 21. Gal. 1. 7. 8. the scriptures forbid Idolatry , and cond●n● false doctrine ▪

And you see and heare that the Pope and all Pap●stes do prac●●se the one of these ▪ a●● teach the other : And therefore to be a ●●●ist ▪ i● to be contrary to the word of God , 〈…〉 wis● the scripture do vtterly forbid christiā● 1. Cor. 14. 20. Rom. 12. 2. Eph. 5. 11. Rom. 13. 13 to be child● 〈…〉 vnderstanding , to 〈◊〉 themselues like vnto thi● world , to haue fellowship with the vn 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 ; And they plai●ly forbid 〈◊〉 & this scrip 〈…〉 a● you heare , exhorteth to abstaine from fleshly lusts . But your May-pole , & May-games are the fruit of ignorance , are after the fashion of the world , and are the workes of d●●knesse , proceeding from fleshly lusts . They are done in wa●tonnes , and are the cause of drunke●●es . Yea commonly they are the cause of strife & tumult ; & somtime of murther also . Are they not therefore forbidden in the holy scripture 〈…〉

3 There be others that are patrons & favourers of this goodly pageant , which alleadge antiquity , & custome for the defence of the same , & shy that it is a thing that hath beene vsed in the time of our forefathers , & before we were bothe , & at this day , such a towne , & such a parish hath it , & will haue it in despight of them that speake against it 〈…〉 Let these men remember in like maner that Idolatrie , rebellion , murther , & all other wickednesse hath bend practised in the world of old time & before we wer● borne ; & so Gods iust punishment hath beene declared against them that were doers of such things . They that wil therefore imitate men in their old sins , shall also be partakers with them of their old punishments . Ye● , & their punishment shal be so much the sharper , by how much their warn●g hath bene the more . And as for the example & custome of other places which nowe vphold & maintain● these banners , that cannot make them to be the lesse hurtfull , but rather it showeth that the whole world 〈…〉 th 〈◊〉〈…〉 1. Ioh. 5. 19. Exod. 23. 2. and we are commanded not to follow a multitude to do evill .

When Demetrius & the men of Ephesus saw that Pauls preaching wrought so effectuallie that their goddes D 〈…〉 was in hazard to be set at nought and reiected , they haue no better weapons to defend her then the shield of custome , & example of the multitude . A● A. Act. 19. 27. ●i● , say they , and the world worshippeth her .

We can be content when we come to church to here this and the like scriptures ; but we● thinke that the preacher is out of his text if he apply them to vs , or to the abuses 〈…〉ous time : for we haue gotten the name of Christians & therfore we thinke that whatsoeuer we do is f●r enough from idolatry . Thus ar● most men through the blindnes of the 〈…〉 hearts hardened in their sinnes .

There is no common-wealth so wel reformed but ( for the mos 〈…〉 ) in all place● t●● greatest number of me●●●e lovers of the wo●ld more than lovers of God ; & every tr●e 〈◊〉〈◊〉 stian hath iust cause to be greued to see that after fourtie yeares preaching of the Gospell in this land , men should still cary these and the like idolles in their heartes . For whereyee see these may-poles stand ▪ there shall you finde that either the word of God is cont●ned , or else it hath not as yet been powerfully taught among the people of that place .

It hath beene seene in some places of this land that men haue beene so desperatly dispose to maintaine their maytriumphes that they haue set vp with them the Queene● arms , intending by this colour to intrap such men as would speake against them , or go about to haue them downe , as if the Queenes maiesty had allowed her arme● to be set on may-pols . Lo here the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light . Oh that magistrates would looke better to these abuses .

4 Some men , that haue ●●●s to see , do yet winke at this matter , and say that the setting vp of a pole is no sinne , & that it cannot hurt if other abuses did not follow it . But they might see that the thing it selfe is an abuse , & that there is nothing in it which is not sin . For it is not of the nature of those things which God alloweth for the mainetaininge of mans life , as sleepe , meat , drinke , and appatrell . These thinges are necessarie , and without the vse of them we cannot liue ; and yet when we abuse them , or exceed in any of them , it is sin : but the setting vp of a pole , after the maner that we speake of , addeth one sinne to another , contrarie to the counsell of the sonne of S●rach , which forbiddeth to bind Eccl. 7. 8. two s 〈…〉 together .

First it is an abuse of Gods creatures : for God created not the trees of the woode to be cut downe and set vp againe for gazing stockes , to no other vse but to satisfie mens fleshly lustes . God crowneth the yeare with his blessings , and satisfieth every tree with moisture , making it to be greene and pleasaunt , and to bee fruitfull after his kinde . But vaine and gracelesse men destroy the most flourishing trees , and sette them vp to bee drye and vnfruitfull like themselues .

Secondly the deede done is an idle deed , and not only so , but also a deede of offence , and a stumbling blocke to drawe away many that are weake , & to cause them to speak● good of evil , and to take pleasure therein . But every idle deede is more then an idle word . And every idle word is sinne ( or else Christ would not haue said tha● men shal giue Mar. 12. 36. account thereof at the day of iudgement ) Therefore every idle deed is a greater sin . And every offence , which hindreth the faith of others , is such a sin that he saith , it were better for the author therof that a milstone were ha●god Mat. 18. 6. about his necke ; and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea .

Thirdly the May-polers are caterpillers to the common wealth : for they make destruction of the fairest young ●ree● , which , if they were suffred to grow , would in time be good timber for necessary vse● . Thus in the act it selfe , not speaking of the mischievous sequels thereof , we may see many sins bound togither , as the abuse of Gods creature , a deed vnprofitable , hurtful , & offensiue to others , and finally an hindrance to the common wealth , which is a breach of charity .

5 Who can tell whether the setting vp of these poles proceedeth not from the leaven of our adversaries the Pope & his seminari●●● for it is not vnknown to them that wheresoeuer such banners do stand there are many wavering & ignorant people , not yet instructed nor setled in religion , which , if they might haue their defite woulde quickly b●● perverted to go after Ba●l , and to like better of the Masse then of the Gospell .

6 To them that aske what recreation may be lawfull for them , and what exercise yong men shall haue , we canot appoint any , which the word of God doth not allow . Christians are commanded to abstaine from al appearance 1. Thess. 5. 22. of evill . Howbeit , according to mans wisdom ( which saith , of evils the lesse is to be chosen ) of bodily exercises , such may be vsed as are profitable to the common wealth , & not offensiue to religion : notwithstanding the chiefest exercise of Christian-men , whether they be young or old , should at all times bee in the law of the Lord . For therein the godly man , as David saith , doth exercise himselfe day & night . Psal. 1. 2. And that is the exercise wherewith the wisdome of God would haue a young 〈◊〉 to redresse his way ; like the young men of whom S. Psal. 119. 9. Iohn writeth , that they were strong , and that they had the word of God abiding in them , & 1. ●o. 2. 14. had overcome the wicked . But alas the contrary may be saide of most young men in these daies . Let them therefore consider what master they serve ; & let them shake of the voke of sinne , and abstaine from fleshly lustes , redressing their waies according to the word of God , that so they may become the servants of Christ to whom they haue made avowe in their baptisme . Let vs pray for the assistance of Gods holy spirite that we may subdue all fleshly lustes .

And pray we that magistrat● & such as ●re in authoritie may haue a greater care to reforme maners , & to see what ought to be reformed .

FINIS .