BEcause I haue but one houre to teach you all that you must learn of me , I haue chosen a text which is like Iacobs ladder , that shewes you the way to heauen . This is all that you would know , and it may please God to open your eyes , that you may know it before ye depart . Heare to practise , hinder not the spirit , but let it worke without resistance : recorde when you are gone , and you shall see the great power of God , what he is able to doe for you by one sentence of this booke , if ye digest it well . So runne , &c. Then wee must see first how we should runne : Secondly , what we shall obtaine : Thirdly , what will hinder vs : that is , we must see the way , the lettes , and the ende . Foure thinges marke in the way , first , begin betime , secondly , make hast : thirdly , keepe the way : fourthly , continue to the end , & thou shalt obtaine heauen , whither Christ by these steppes , is gone before thee . When I haue set you in the way , I will point at all the lettes , stops , rubbes , and blockes which are before you , behinde you , beside you , the temptations of prosperitie , the temptations of aduersitie , the temptations of heresie , which stand in the streetes , like the fierie sworde to stop the way to Paradice . Then I will leade you to the mount , as God did Moses , and shew you a far off the blessed land the countrie aboue , that you may see where heauen is , what is the way to it , and what glory and happines is there . When I haue shewed you the way , the lettes , and the end , I will commit you to the race , and end as I began : So runne that ye may obtaine . So often as I haue read or considered these words which you heare , they seeme ( me thinks ) to put vs in mind that we are out of the way , and that there is another way , ( if wee seeke it ) nearer yet to the kingdome of heauen , then that which wee take , therefore the holy Apostle doth wa●●e euery man to ponder his steps , ( that running ) wee may obtaine that which we runne for , which is the worthiest price that euer , was giuen , and neuer was giuen , but to him which kept this way that I will shewe you . The Apostle sayth , that you must runne . It is not an easie , nor a short iourney , which a drone , a dreamer , a snaile , or any carelesse man may performe , and take his ease , set forth when hee will stay at his pleasure , goe againe at his leasure : but he must alwaies runne , from the first day he setteth sorth , till he come to his iorneyes end : for the glorious heauen is farre from the darke earth , & much adoe to aspire the top of Mount Ston , but much more adou to aspire the top of Mount Heauen . The violent take it from the slothfull , and the wicked runne to hell , with more paines which they take to doe euill , than the righteous need to take for heauen . The Apostle putteth the word so , before runne , to teach vs to looke to our way before wee runne farre : So runne , &c , as if he should say , moe runne than come home , as moe shoote than hit the marke . The heathen Philosophers , Plato , Socrates , Aristides , Phocion , Pericles , Solon , in their way did runne faster than we : Constancie , Temperance , Patience , justice , humilitie , simplicitie , integritie , contempt of death , contempt of the world , seeme to be buried with them , and hid in the graue , before this Iron age was borne : yet because they ranne without Christ , they did not obtaine , but lost their labour , like a man which makes hast out of his way , takes more paines than if he kept the way , and yet neuer comes whither hee would . The blinde generation which knowe not God , in their way runne faster than wee : Aske the Marchants which haue seene their life and our liues , or looke in histories and they will tell you , that our Religion is not like their superstition , our knowledge not like their ignorance , our faith not like their feare , our worship not like their seruice , our christianitie not like their Idolatrie : yet because they runne to the creature , for the creator , and followe vncertaine dreames , before the worde which came from heauen ; they runne in vaine : for their Religion , deuotion , and seruice , is to them that cannot requite it . Many of our aduersaries , Papists , Anabaptists , Donatists , and the grossest heretikes , in their way runne fasten than wee . They watch , they pray , they fast , and distribute more than we , yet because they runne to traditions , to Angels , to Saints , to Grosses , to Images to Reliques , inste●d of Christ , and challenge merite of all that they doe , and would bee canonized beside , that all posteritie might honour them as they doe Saints : therefore as the Pharisies had their rewarde when men praised them , so haue they when one doth worship another . If many runne and do not obtaine , how easie is it to runne in vaine , and how happie is he which obtaineth that , that all men wish : when so many misse it for nothing but for this , because they runne out of the way . You haue heard , read , and done much , and more would doe , to obtaine eternall life with the Angels in heauen , for this ye pray and fast , and watch , and obey the lawes of God , and come together euery Sabboth to heare , to pray , to praise and serue him which giueth . How many prayers , how many fastes , how manie watches , how many works , how many houres in reading the word , in hearing the word , in receiuing the sacraments , in examining your hearts , in chastising your flesh , were spent & lost if you shuld run in vaine ? as Esau hunted for a blessing & went without it . Therfore the holy Ghost doth say nothing , but it is like a marke in our way , to shew vs when we are in , & when we are out : for God would not haue vs lose our labour like Laban , which could find in his hart after Iacob had serued him twentie yeeres to send him away emptie : but he would haue you to seeke and finde , to aske and receiue , to runne and obtaine , therefore hee saith , so runne that ye may obtaine . As there is a heauen , so there is a way to heauen : one way Adam came from Paradise , and by another way hee must returne to Paradise : the passage is not so stopt , but there is a way , though a straight way , and a doore though it be a narrow doore , and therefore few doe finde it , onely they which are like Iacob , doe see a Ladder before them , as Iacob did , he had many dreames before and did not see it , at last he dreamed , and beholde a Ladder which reached from earth to Heauen , and all the Angels descended and ascended by it , to shew that no man ascendeth to Heauen , but by that Ladder : this Ladder is Christ , which saith , I am the way , and therefore he biddeth vs to follow him . If we must follow Christ his steps , let vs see how hee went to Heauen , hee begunne betime , for at twelue yeares of age hee saide , I must goe about my Fathers busines : hee made speede , for Iohn saith , That hee spake and did moe good thinges in three and thirtie yeeres than could be written : he kept the right way , for when he said , who can accuse me of sinne ? none would accuse him of any , though they watched him for that purpose : Hee continued well , for hee dyed like a Lambe , and prayed to his Father , and forgaue his enemies . Therefore we will call the steps of this Ladder , Maturè , properè , rectè , constanter , that is , begin betime , make hast , keepe the way , and holde to the end , and thou shalt goe after thy master . Touching the first , beginne betime , God requiring the first borne for his offering , and the first fruites for his seruice , requireth the f●●st labours of his seruants , and ( as I may say ) the maidenhead of euery man , because the best season to seeke God , is to seeke him early , and therefore Wisdome saith , They which seeke mee early shall find : but to them which deferre she saith , Pro. 8. 17. Ye shall seeke me , but ye shall not find me . Wee haue long purposed to serue God , and euery man thinketh Pro. 1. 28. that he should be serued , but wee cannot accord of the time when to beginne . One saith , when I am rich , another saith , when I am free , another saith , when I am setled , another saith , when I am old , then I shall be fit to fast and pray . Thus because wee are giuen to set the best last , that we may haue a longer time for our sinnes and pleasures , like the Iewes in the first of Agge , which said alway , The time was not Agge 1. 2. yet come , when they should build the Temple . Therefore the holy Ghost crieth so often , This is the acceptable 2. Cor. 6. 2. time , this is the day of saluation , to day heare his voice , like Rebeccah which taught her sonne the neerest way to get the blessing . So soone as man was created , a law was giuen him , to shew that he should liue vnder obedience from the day that he is borne : so soone as he is borne , he is baptized in the name of God , to shew that when we cannot runne to Christ , we shuld creepe vnto him , and serue him as wee can in youth and age : so soone as hee beginneth to pray he saith , thy name be hallowed , thy kingdome come , thy will be done , before he aske his dayly bread , to shew that we should seeke the will of God before the food that we liue by , much more before the sinnes & pleasures which we perish by . So soone as the Lord distributed Mat. 25. 15. Luk. 19. 13. the talents , he inioyned his seruants to vse them : who is so young that hath not receiued some talent or other ? Therefore youth cannot excuse him , because the talent requires to be vsed of euery one that hath it : so soone Gen. 1. as God created the man & the woman , he commanded them to encrease & multiplie : shall we encrease and multiply in the flesh , before we encrease & multiplie in the spirit ? the first thing that God did after he created heauen & earth , he did separate light from darkenes , Gen. 1. 14. shewing vs how wee should separate our good from euill , before our good become euill . The first lesson that Iohn taught was , Repent for the kingdome of heauen is at hand . The first lessons that the Disciples Mat. 3. 2. taught was , Repent too , for the kingdome of heauen is at hand . And the first lesson that Christ taught Mat. 10. was , Repent , for the kingdome of heauen is at hand . To teach what we should doe first , Repent , was the first Mat 4. 10. lesson to young and olde . Therefore Dauid prayed , Teach me O Lord to number my dayes , not my yeares , Psal. 90. 12. nor my months , nor my weekes , but my daies ; shewing that wee shall answere for dayes , as well as for yeares , for today as well as tomorrowe , and for our youth , as straightly as for our age , euen as the little 2 King . 2. 23. children were deuoured with Beares , for mocking the Prophet : which made Dauid to crie , Remember Psal. 25. 7. not the sinnes of my youth : which hee would not haue spoken if God did not marke the sinnes of youth , as well as of age . Therefore the Fathers were charged Deut. 6. 7. to teach their children the same law which they had themselues . Therefore Christ rebuked the Disciples Mat. 19. 14. which forbad the little children to bee brought vnto him For , should children honour their Father , & not honour God ? it was a sweet consorte when the children went before Christ to his Temple , & sang their Hosanna , to make their fathers ashamed which did not know the Messias when he came , when their little children knewe him ? It is written , when Christ heard a young man answere that hee had kept the Commaundements from his youth , Christ began to loue him : which shewes how Christ loues these timely beginnings , when wee make him our nurse , and draw our first milke from his brests . There is not one confession for olde men , and another for young men : In the Creede the olde man saith not , I did beleeue in God , and the young man sayth not , I will beleeue in God , but both saye , I doe beleeue in God : for he which is called I am , loueth I am , and careth not for Exod. 3. I was , nor I will be . When Christ asketh Peter Louest Ioh. 21. 15. thou me ? he looketh that he should answere him , Yea Lord I loue thee , and not driue off as Felix did Paul , I will heare thee , I will loue thee when I haue a conuenient Act. 24. 25. time : nay when thou hast no conuenient time , for if this be the conuenient time , after this , the time conuenient is past . Manna was gathered in the morning , because when the Sunne rose it did melt away : So virtue must bee gathered betime , for if wee stay till busines and pleasures come vpon vs , they will melt it faster then wee can gather it : therefore in the fourth of Prouerbes , Wisdome is called the Beginning , to teach vs to seeke wisdome in the beginning , as a man taketh the best first . If Eliah would be serued before the widdow , when shee had not enough to serue her selfe : will God be serued after thee ? nay after the slesh , and after the diuell ? what canst thou owe him to morrow , which thou art not indebted to day ? yea , doth not God require Morning sacrifice as well as Euening sacrifice ? It is an olde saying , repentance is neuer too late : but it is a true saying , repentance is neuer too soone , for so soone as we sinne , we had neede to aske forgiuenes : beside , repentance is a gift , and therefore must be taken when it is offered . For if Iudas could haue repented when he listed , hee would neuer haue hanged himselfe . The time past is gone , and thou canst not recall that to repent in : the time to come is vncertaine , and thou canst not assure that to repent in : the present time is onely thine , and thou maiest repent in that , but anon that will bee gone too . Therefore when Christ wept ouer Ierusalem hee sayd , O if thou hadst knowne in this thy day : calling none their day , but this day : if none can bee called thy day but this day , then this is thy day of repentance , or els thou hast none at al. Therfore one resembleth the mercy of God to the Poole in Iurie , where the sicke and leprous lay , for at one time of the day an Angell came and stirred the water , and Iohn 5. 2. then he which stept in first was healed of his disease , he which stept in first was healed , none but he which stept in first , so he which taketh time is sure , but hee which foresloweth time , oftener faileth than speedeth : for , when golden opportunitie is past , no time will fit for it : yet , as when Christ went about to cast out Mat. 8. 29. diuels , they sayd that hee tormented them before the time : so whensoeuer thou goest about to dismisse thy sinnes and pleasures , though thou stay till thou beest sicke and old , and readie to dye , yet they will say still that thou dismissest them before the time : but then is the time when the diuell saith , the time is not yet , for the diuell is a lyar , and knoweth that what licour our vessels be seasoned with at the first , they will tast of the same euer after . Therefore linger not with Lot , for if the Angell had not snatched him away , he had perished with Sodom for his delay . They were not wise virgins , but foolish virgins , which sought not for oyle , before the Bridegroome came : Samuell began to serue God in his minoritie , Timothie read the 2. Tim. 3. 15 Scriptures in his childhood , Iohn grewe in spirite , as he ripened in yeares : so whether thou be old or yong , thy repentance cannot bee too soone , because thy sinne is gone before . If thou lackest a spurre to make thee runne , see howe euery day runneth away with thy life : youth commeth vpon childhood , age commeth vpon youth , death commeth vpon age with such a swift sayle , that if our minutes were spent in mortifying our selues , yet our glasse would be runne out , before wee had purged halfe our corruptions . Thus much of the first step . The second step in your 2. Step. iourney , is to keepe the way , as God taught the Israelites a way to Canaan , sending a fierie pillar before them , which they did follow wheresoeuer it went , so when he ordained a heauen for men , hee appointed a way to come vnto it , which way he that misseth shal neuer come to the end . As Herod sought Christ ouer all Iurie , but none founde him but those which followed the starre : so there is something still that leadeth men to Christ , which we must follow or els we cannot come where hee is . There bee many wrong waies , as there be many errors , but there is but one right way , as there is but one trueth . And therefore Iacob did not see many , but one Ladder , which reached to heauen : and Iohn Baptist is sayd not to prepare the waies of the Lorde , but the way : shewing that there is but one right way in this life , which Salomon vnderstandeth for the meane , and therefore he saith , Turne not to the right hand nor to the left , implying that wee may erre aswell of the right hand as of the left , as if hee should say , some are too hotte , as other are too cold ; some are too superstitious , as other are too careles ; some are too fearefull , as other are too confident : there is as zeale without knowledge , a loue without singlenes , a prayer without faith , and a faith without fruites . Therefore the Apostle doth warne vs to examine whether we be in the faith , not whether we haue a kind of faith , but whether we be in the faith ? that is , the true faith . Therefore Paule saith , Runne so : it is not enough to runne , but wee must know how we runne : it is not enough to heare , but we must care how to heare : it is not enough to beleeue , but we must care how we beleeue : it is not enough to pray , but we must care how we pray : it is not enough to worke , but wee must care how wee worke : for we cannot doe good , vnlesse wee doe it well , as wee may see in this example . Cain offered , and God abhorred , because he cared not for the manner , God cared not for his offering . Simon Magus beleeued , Herod listened , Foelix feared , Saul obeyed , Iesabell fasted , the Pharisees prayed , but because they did not beleeue so , heare so , feare so , obey so , fast so , & pray so , as he which saith , Learne of me : when they say that they haue fasted , & prayed , and obeied , Christ he will answer them as hee doth in Mathew , I know you not . Therefore if ye aske like the scribe , how ye shal come to heauen , the right way to heauen is the word , which came from heauen . But here some will say , the word indeed doth containe the right way , but many cannot finde that way without a guide . Therefore I haue picked out of the worde that way which God calleth the right way : the way which the word doth set thee in to heauen , is to doe vnto other as thou wouldest haue other doe vnto thee , to exercise good workes , and yet beleeue that Christs works shal saue thee : to pray without doubting , and yet be content that thy prayer be not graunted : to keepe within thy calling , and doe nothing by contention : to bring thy will vnto Gods will , and suffer for Christ , because he hath suffered for thee : to repent not onely for thine open and grosse faultes , but for to count euery sinne great , to apply all things to the glory of God , and of euery thing to make some vse .

Thus the worde goeth before vs like the fierie pillar , and shewes vs when we are in , and when we are out , or else the broad way would seeme the best way , and therefore all which care not for the word , go like blinde men to hell for heauen : looke but to the Papists , which haue the word in an vnknowne tongue , some clamber to heauen with merites , some by Angels , some by penance , and some by pardons , and euery man hath a way by himselfe , and all out of the way : As Naaman answered Elisha when he was commaunded to wash himselfe in Iorden , are not Abanah and Pharpar riuers of Damascus better then Iorden ? may I not wash there and be healed ? so they say , are not pardons as good as works ? are not pilgrimages as good as prayers ? is not sacrifice as good as obedience ? is not reading as good as preaching ? may I not goe to heauen this way and that way , as well as by the word ? No , as no water but Iorden could clense Naamans leprosie , so no way but the word can bring to heauen . For which cause the lawes of God are called the waies of God , and the word of God is called the word of life , to shew that there is no way to life , but the worde which is called the way and the life . Therefore now ye see the way , I conclude with Esay , This is the way , walke in it : Thus much of your second step to heauen , which is , keepe the way .

Now when yee are in the way , it is good to make speed , therfore the next step in your iourney is , Make hast . For this cause Paul saith Runne , which is the 1. Step. swiftest pace of man , as though he should go faster to heauen than to any place else in the world . His meaning is this , that as a man doth watch , and runne , and labour to bee rich quickly , so hee should heare , and pray , and studie , and vse al meanes to be wise quickly . This the Apostle vnderstandeth when hee biddeth vs to adde , as if he should say , when thou are in the way and knowest good from euill , euery day kill some vice , and euery weeke sowe some virtue , and make thy two talents fiue talents , thy fiue talents ten talents , and euer be doing , and at last it shall be opened , because thou hast knocked . Christ saith . The kingdome of heauen is got by violence , therefore a man must be earnest and zealous in the religion that hee professeth , or else it maketh no matter of what religion he is , for if he be but luke warme , God threatneth to spew him out of his mouth : euery man hath a kind of religion , and the religion of most is to bee like one another , as mercifull as other , as humble as other , as deuout as other , but God saith , Bee holy as I am , not as other are : for Christ saith , Except your righteousnes exceed the righteousnes of the Pharisees , although they were holier than other , yee shall not enter into heauen . That is , except ye bee more than statute Protestants , which goe to the Church and heare an homilie , and receiue once a yeare , but will not offend any person , nor leaue any custome , nor beare any charge , nor suffer any trouble for the glory of God , yee shall come to heauen , when the Pharisees come out of hell . As loue deligheth men , so zeale pleaseth God : for zeale is the loue of God . Therefore euery sacrifice was offered with fire , to shewe with what zeale they should burne , which come to offer prayer or praise , or thanks vnto the Lord . Therefore the holy Ghost descended in fire , to shew the seruencie of them vpon whom the holy Ghost resteth . Therefore the Cherubins were portraited with wings before the people , to shew that they should bee as earnest and quicke about the Lordes busines , as the Cherubins . Therefore God would not take a lame , nor a halting sacrifice , to shew how hee abhorreth slacknes in all our dueties . Therefore Saint Iames saith , Bee swift to heare : we must bee swift to pray , swift to obey , swift to doe good , for hee is not cursed onely which doth not the Lordes busines , but hee which doth it negligently : that is , hee which doth any thing before it , like him that would bid his friends fare well , and follow Christ after . The hound which runnes but for the hare , runnes as fast as possibly she can : the Hauke which slyeth but for the partridge , slyeth as fast as possibly she can : and shall hee which runnes for heauen , creepe more slowly than the dyall ? Who hath so much faith as the Apostles ? yet howe often doth Christ say , O ye of little faith . Complaining that their faith was too little , and therefore when Peter answered him that he loued him , as though hee loued him not enough ; Christ asked him againe , whether hee loued him ; and as though he loued him not enough yet , hee asked him againe , Louest thou mee ? for hee would haue vs loue him as he loued vs when his hart bloud was shed for vs : therefore when hee demaunded his loue , he measured it by the heart saying , Thou shalt loue God with all thy heart , with all thy strength , with all thy mind . Thrise he repeateth all lest we shuld keepe any thing from him . Our Sauiour saith not , that his Father is glorified that we bring forth fruite , but in that we bring forth much fruite : is it not better to be vessels of gold than vessels of brasse ? Doe ye not see how Christ rejected him which said hee kept many commaundements , because hee would not doe one commandement , for one worke which he would not doe , our Sauiour made no reckoning of all that hee had done . It was good for the Apostles that they left all and followed Christ presently , but this should not be written but to teach vs with what speed we shuld follow Christ , watching the slarre so soone as it riseth , and the pillar so soone as it neinoueth . In this ●●riue and goe one before another , as Peter and Iohn strone who should come first to the sepulchre . For if Agrippa could be saued when he was almost a Christian , Paul would not haue laboured to make him altogether a Christian. Therefore though puritie bee counted heresie , yet remember that Christ saith , None Mathew 5. can see God but the pure in heart : and know , that there is no dealing with these mockers , but to answer them as Dauid answered Michol , when shee scorned him for his humblenes , hee said , I will be more humble yet : so when they mocke thee for thy zeale , spight them with more zeale , for euill is not ouercome but with good . Thus we haue passed the third step vnto heauen . 4. step . The fourth step in this happy iourney is , Perseuer to the end . For if you begin betime , and goe aright , and make hast , and continue not vnto the end , your reward is with them of whom Paul saith , Their end is worse than their beginning . There is nothing in our life which suffereth so many eclipses and changes , as our deuotion , hot and cold , in and out , of and on , not in one moode so long as the Sparrow fittes vpon the ground , but longing like the Chamelion to the colour of it which we see : if we see good , it puts vs in a good thought : if wee see or heare euill , it turnes vs from good to euill againe : thus man is rolled vpon a wheele that neuer stands still , but turnes continually about , as though hee were giddie and treading of amaze . Hee is vpon the side of a hill , where it is easie to slide , and hard to get vp the slesh : therefore the Apostle moued with pittie , seeing man stand vpon such a slipperie ground , as it were in a ship readie to sincke , or a house bending to fall , hee crieth to them that stand surest , Take heede left yee full , that is , when thou hast put on the armour of light , and art in the spirituall field to fight the Lords battailes against the worlde , the flesh , and the diuell : turne not backe like Demas , but remember the comfort of Elisha , that there bee more with thee than against thee , and that the tempter can ouercome none but them which yeeld . Other seruants change their masters for better masters , but all that serue God are like the seruant which receiued a print in his eare , after the manner of the Iewes , in token that he would serue his master for euer , like the vestures which bare their owners marke . Therefore the holy Ghost crieth so often , Be faithfull euen vnto the death : Be not wearie of well doing : Take heede lest ye fall , for when thou art weary of thy goodnes , God doth not count thee good , but wearie of goodnes : and when thou declinest from righteousnes , GOD doth not count thee righteous , but reuolted from righteousnes : therefore Paul sayth , Pray continually , as though prayer were nothing without continuance : Iacob did not ouercome God so soone as hee began to wrestle with him , but when hee had wrestled with him al night . And it is said that Christ tooke pittie of them that stayed with him . I will not leaue thee saith Elisha to Eliah : so wee should not leaue God : some came into the vineyeard in the morning , and some at noone , but none receiued any rewarde but they which stayde vntill night . As Gods mercie indureth for euer , so our righteousnes should indure for euer . Euery thought , and word , and deede of a faithfull man is a step towards heauen , in euery place he meeteth Christ , euery thing puts him in minde of God , he seekes him to find him , and when hee hath found him he seekes him still , hee is not satisfied , because at euery touch there comes some virtue from him . Iacob serued seuen yeares for Rachel , and after them he serued seuen more , and yet hee was content to serue seuen more , and when hee had serued so many yeares they seemed vnto him as nothing , because he loued : hee which serued so long for Rachel , serued all his life for heauen : and if he had liued till this day , he would haue serued God still , and thought it nothing because be loued him : to haue the Arke but a while , doth more hurte to the Philistins than benefite them , so to serue God but a while , dooth more damage vs then helpe vs , for happier is the Childe which neuer began than Iudas , whose end was worse than his beginning . What a lamentable thing is it to heare this plainte of him which was once the strongest in the worlde , Sampson hath lost his strength for Dalilah , for the loue of Dalilah that doth not loue him : to shew what a shame it is to end worse than we begin . Christ shewes what a reproach it was vnto him , which began to builde and coulde not set vp the roofe , the passingers by poynted with their fingers and saide , this man began a foundation , but hee could not couer it : so they will say , this man thought to bee holy , but hee could not keepe promise . What shal I say saith Iosnuah , when Israel turneth the back , when Israel turnes the backe , this astonished him , and this makes the whole Temple shake when the pillars tremble ? What an offence is it to the Church to see Peter to denye Christ , which saide euen now that hee would neuer forsake him ? To see Lot committe incest with his daughters in the mount , which striued so to preserue them chaste in Sodome , to see Solomon worship Idols which erected the Temple for the worship of God , to see Noah mocked of his sonne for drunkennes , for whose righteousnes his sonne escaped , as if the starres should fall from Heauen , and light goe from the sunne . Wisdome is angrie with him which leaueth his righteousnes , to become worse , the Vine would not forsake her grapes , Iudg. 9. 9. the Oliue would not forsake his fatues , the figge tree would not leaue his sweetenes , but the bramble did , hee is not the Vine , nor the Oliue , nor the Figgetree , but hee was a bramble made for the fire , which leaueth the ioyes , let the dogge turne to the vomit , and the swine to the wallowe , but you like Abraham holde on thy sacrifice vnto the euening , in the euening of thy life , and a full measure shall be measured vnto thee . This is a long sleppe , and man is like a horse which loueth short iourneyes , therfore how can hee hold out so farre : when one tolde Socrates , that hee would very faine goe to Olympus , but hee feared that he should not be able to endure the paynes , Socrates answered him , I know that thou vsest to walke euery day betweene thy meales , which walke continue forward in thy way to Olympus , and within fiue or sixe dayes thou shalt come thither : how easie this was , and yet he sawe it not , so is the way to Heauen , if men doe bende themselues asmuch to doe good , as they beate their braines to doe euill , they might goe to Heauen with lesse trouble than they goe to hell . Our idle houres are enough to get wisdome , & knowledge and faith , till we were like saints among men : if thou looke onely to the stoppes , & tell all the thornes which he in thy way , thou shalt goe fearefully , wearilie , and vnwillingly , euery thing shal turne thee aside , and euery snaile shall step before thee , and take thy crowne from thee : but then lift vp thine eyes from the earth and looke to Christ calling , the spirite assisting , the Father blessing , the Angels comforting , the word directing , the crowne inuiting , and thy fetters shal fall from thee , & thou shalt rise like the Sunne & maruaile how the thing could seeme so hard , and bee so easie , when ye doe well remember that ye change not for the worse , and doe , as ye doe then , and ye shal continue to the ende . Now I haue encouraged you like souldiers , and taken away your feare , I will bring you to the sight of your enemies , and will set them before your face , not to weaken you , for that were want of charitie , but to make you wary , which is true loue indeede . To number them surely I cannot , they are so many : and exactlie to describe them , it is beyond my skill , they are so subtill . Howbeit , to giue you a little taste : I may say as Elisha saide to his seruant , and you shall see it , if you haue your eyes open : seare not , for they that be with vs are more than they that be with them , and he that is on our side is stronger then all . But if you will heare what the holy Apostle saith touching them , I can tell you . Hee affirmeth , and that by the very spirite of God : we wrestle not against flesh and blood onely , but against principalities , powers , worldlie gouernours , the Princes of the darkenes of this worlde , euen spirituall wickednesses in the high places . And S. Iohn saith , they are the lustes of the flesh , the lust of the eyes , & the pride of life , let other men thinke of them what they list : they that heare them thus described , and haue felt the force of them in their owne soules , could not chuse but confesse , that they haue been many in number , mightie in power , subtill in practise , and what not : who knoweth not this , that the more enemies wee haue , the more need we haue , both of force outwardlie , and of care inwardly : as againe , the more powerfull they are , and the more weake wee are , the more we should seeke for helpe else where . In outward and bodilie foes and forces , wee confesse the truth of this , and doe all what we can to shew our selues wise , circumspecte , and couragious : Howe much more had wee need here , to expresse all these things , where the conflict is more hard , though the conquest obtained be more glorious : and where againe our foes and their forces , be more mightie and many , though their ouerthrow once performed , giueth them the fooles foile . But whom shall we looke to herein ? Other men are as weake as our selues , if not worse , for all men , lay them vpon a ballance , they are altogether lighter than vanitie it selfe . And if wee feare and distrust our selues , how dare wee , or howe can wee put considence in others ? specially sith God saith , Cursed is euery one that maketh flesh and bloud his arme . To looke vp to the holy and elected Angels , will doe vs little good , because they goe not but being sent , and alwaies waite for a word and warrant from the Lords owne mouth for all their actions : besides that , their owne oyle and force is little enough for their owne supportation . To God therefore , that is the God of our strength , wee must needes come , yea and to him alone , or else wee are vtterly ouerthrowne and cast away . And if wee cannot say and do too as Dauid did , Lord whom haue I in heauen but thee , & I haue desired none in earthwith thee , we are in a wofull taking , and vtterly lost . For feare without , and fire within , Satans malice also , mens mischiefe , and our corruption , will carrie and harrie vs , as it were a violent tempest or whirlewind . Amongst the heathen they had many odde conceits , to chase away bodily and spirituall enemies , as those that haue written their histories and actions , haue plainely set forth : sometimes fire , sometimes water , sometimes bloud , and sometimes one thing , and sometimes an other , as mans braine is a bountifull ship to forge such deuises in . The Papists differ not much from them , who thinke that whippinges and scourgings , will tame and subdue the corrupt affections of the heart , and that the casting of a little holy water ( as they call it , ) or the making of a crosse in the face , forehead , breast , or any other place , will chase away Satan , & al his hellish powers . Of al which actions & ceremonies either heathenish or popish , were they better than they be , ( but indeed they are slarke naught as they vse them ) we may say as the Apostle saith : Bodily exercise profiteth little , but godlines is profitable vnto all things . And had Satans malice , and mans presumption stayed here , and gone no further in grosse imaginations , concerning this and other matters , it had bin the lesse euill . But in our light and libertie of the Gospell , some suppose , that the very saying of Lord haue mercy vpon vs , and that without saith or feeling , many times , is all in all : and the pronouncing of this petition , Leade vs not into temptation , and that without sense or vnderstanding of it , is sufficient to sunder Satan , and our owne corruption as farre from vs , as the East is from the West . Vpon them their spirituall enemies preuailed , by grosse ignorance , and superstitious conceits : vpon vs by carelesse presumption , and presumptuous carelesnesse , neither the one of vs , nor the other , vnderstanding rightly as wee should , either our foes forces , or our owne weakenes . And that is the cause why they and we in former time and of late , ioyned with them , and sundred from them , haue receiued very fearefull falles and ouerthrowes : For all is one with Satan , so he catch and snatch men , and haue them in possession , he eateth not by what meanes . But wilt thou not escape danger onely , but ouercome also ? I will shew thee O man , what thou shalt doe , at any hand go out of thy selfe and other creatures whatsoeuer , for if thou sticke to them though neuer so little , thou doest disaduantage thy selfe at the least , if not ouerthrow thy selfe . The wicked spirits are as strong to effect euill , as the elect are to doe good : and so much the more powerfull that way , by howe much they attempt it with commission from God , and finde fit matter in men to worke vpon . And what then ? fixe the eye of thy faith fast vpon God in Christ , and thou shalt neuer miscarrie . For hee that cannot lye hath sayd it , I will not faile thee , nor forsake thee for euer : and in the new Testament Christ hath tolde vs , which is also a word of as sure a promise , The gates of hell shall not preuaile against this faith . Nay , I will say more in the strength and power of this perswasion , thou shalt be made more than a conquerour , thorow him that hath loued thee , and washed thee in his owne hart blood . I know and confesse there are many lets and hinderances , to the perswasion and practise of this truth : but heare and beleeue onely , and I will shewe you yet a more perfect and assured waye , by which you shall bee made to walke safe , either in the day of death , or in the time of temptation , or in any other course or crosse , that may betide you in this life . See that you haue not onely the two side postes , and the vpper doore postes of your houses , stricken ouer with the bloud of the Lambe , but your harts purged through faith in his bloud , from the power of dead works ; and then the destroyer that ouerthroweth others , shall passe ouer thee , and bring thee in good time to the full fruition of the heauenly Canaan . But thou wilt say as the slothfull person doth in the Prouerbs , There is a lyon , yea many lyons in the way : I answere : reckon them vp , and bring them forth : they shall all by Gods grace be easily remoued . All sorts of afflictions are bitter , I confesse it , and so are many thinges in meate , drinke , and phisicke , and yet wee refuse them not , but vse them rather , because of the good we know or hope , they will effect in vs . And why say wee not , as the Apostle by the spirite doth : Nochastisement for the present seemeth to bee ioyous , but grieuous ? Howbeit afterward it bringeth forth the quiet fruite of righteousnesse , vnto them which are thereby exercised . Death also is dreadfull : what then ? but to whom I pray thee ? euen to the man that hath his trust in his riches , or hath no hope of a better life : but to him that beleeueth in Christ , it is become through the power of the death and obedience of Christ , a speedie passage to eternall life . We endure many dreadfull and dangerous thinges , and runne through fire & water , and alfor a corruptible crowne : And why should wee not with patience and prayer passe through this , which is the very high way to heauen ? Besides , hell is horrible Neither will I deny that : but still I demaund to whom it is so ? surely to the diuell and his Angels , and all manner of wicked ones , for whom it hath beene prepared of old : but as for the godly and elect , it cannot come nigh them . For Christ the very way , truth , and life it selfe hath tolde vs , and therefore we ought to credit it : He that heareth my words , and beleeueth in him that sent mee , hath euerlasting life , and shall not come into condemnation , but hath passed from death vnto life . Lastly , is not sinne a shrewd and sore enemie to encounter with ? I confesse it : but to whome tell mee I beseech you ? euen to them in whose mortall bodies it raigneth , to fulfill the concupiscences thereof . To other , in whom the ●oo●e of it is dead , it is not so , whether we respect this life , or that which is to come : for here the reliques of sinne , are but as pricks in our sides , to prouoke vs to better things , and to stirre vs vp to hunger and thirst after righteousnes : and for the life to come , we shall be vtterly freed from the same , and haue all teares wiped from our eyes . To bring all into a summe : I say let all obiected be as true , as any thing may bee : yet all these and a thousand more such like , are nothing to him that is in Christ . For the Apostle sayth , There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus : and it is hee alone that hath destroyed death , and became sinne for vs , that wee in him might bee made the righteousnes of God . And surely such a one may in some good measure of comfort , ioyfully say to the defiance euen of death it selfe , and all other ghostly enemies whatsoeuer : O death where is thy sting ! O graue where is they victorie ! The sting of death is sinne , and the strength of sinne is the lawe : but thankes bee vnto GOD which hath giuen vs victorie , through our Lord Iesus Christ . Yea hee may say , as the Saints and Martyrs haue sayd in the middest of fierie flames , I am perswaded that neither death , nor life , nor Angels , nor principalities , nor powers , nor things present , nor things to come , nor height , nor depth , nor any other creature , shall bee able to separate me from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord . Oh but death is terrible still ! I answer : in such a cloud of witnesses , and euidence of truth , may I not in some sort and sense say , O faithlesse generation , how long shall I bee with you ? how long now shall I suffer you ? Is it fearefull to any , but to a naturall man , and to him that hath his felicitie here , and in the things of this life ? Surely it is nothing terrible to him , that is made a comfortable partaker of the fruits of the death of Christ , who dyed and rose againe , to the ende hee might destroy death , and him that had the power of death , euen the diuell himselfe . But hel is horrible . True : but yet to them , for whom it is prepared : but thou art in Christ exempted from it . For why did he himselfe suffer hellish torments both in body & soule ? to leaue the 〈…〉 to make it terrible or horrible to thee ? no , but to free thee and all his from the feare of hell , & the feeling of euerlasting condemnation . Oh but what shall I say touching my sin that is great and grieuous , & the peculiar wages of it , is death eternall . That is true in the nature of sin , & the iustice of God : but with the Lord there is mercie , that he may be feared . Stand still a while , and you shall beholde the great workes of God : & be not faithlesse but faithfull , and beleeue the truth of the word . What is more cleere then this ? where sinne hath abounded , there grace hath abounded much more . And though it be in a Prophet , yet where haue we a more plaine , plentifull , or euangelicall promise then this ? Though your sinnes were as crimson , they shall be made white as show : though they were red as skarlet , they shal be as woll . If we haue the hand or writing of an honest man , we think our selues bound to giue credit therto how much more shuld we beleeue the most true & vnchangeable word of the eternal ? To which , not for any want in himself , but by reason of the weakenes of our faith , he hath bin willing , the more aboundantly to shew vnto the heires of promise , the stablenes of his councel , to adioyne & binde himselfe with an oath , saying , As I liue , I wil not the death of a sinner , yea I wil be merciful to their vnrighteousnes , and I wil remember their sinnes and iniquities no more : that so by two immutable things , that is , his inuiolable oath , & assured promise ( wherein it is vnpossible that God should lye ) we might haue strong consolation . And as for these obiections , or any the like , what are they else , but in trueth and substance , the very euil reports , that the spyes brought vpon the promised land ? And yet there was a very true testimonie , giuen by Ioshua and Caleb : yea the palpable proofes they had by the cluster of grapes , and other things which they brought from thence , were irrefragate witnesses . Will you beleeue then because they are many ? that is flat poperie : & besides , God forbiddeth vs to cleaue to a multitude to doe euill . Will you feare them , because they are mightie ? That is to distrust God , who is greater then al : and to make them omnipotent , which is blasphemie . Wil you doubt because they double their assaults ? That is no end of temptation , but this rather , to ad an edg vnto our prayers , that so through them we may heare in our hearts that cofortable speech . My grace is sufficient for thee , & my strength shal be perfected through weaknes . And when we shall haue all our senses satisfied , in the contrarie truth , yea so farre forth , as that our eyes may see , our eares may heare , our hands may handle the good things of God ( ouer and besides the faith , we haue in him concerning them ) it is not grosse onely , but impious , not to beleeue . But here in this life are many pleasures and certaine delights lawfull , as houses , friends , wiues , children , goods , honor , and almost infinite such like . That is very true : but with this honie , God inter●ingleth some gall , least the soules of his seruants might run not to sin . And who is he that can be ignorant of the vncertaine estate of al & euery one of them ? Our friends fall away , as a fruite that is ripe before his time , or as the morning dewe . Our houses are ouerthrowne , and are like the ruines of a defaced hold , not one stone of them being left vpon another . Our wiues may be lewde in their lippes , loose in their liues , and wicked as was Iobs , and wish vs to curse God & die . Our children , not riotous only and disobedient , but vnnatural also , and rising vp against vs , as Absalon . The goods we possesse , are not vnfitly by Salomon resembled to the Egle , that taketh her to her wings , & flieth aloft into the ayre : as for our honor , which we make as it were some deitie vpon earth , it is turned into shame , in the twinckling of an eye , or else forgotten , as it had neuer been : And wee , that in our owne imaginations , are Lords of all , are as the dust or chaste of the earth caried from all . And what reason is there then , that these or any such like , should hinder vs in our race towards heauen ? He that hath an inheritance or land in the world , will not be hindred from taking the possession or enioying of it , when it falleth vnto him , by the teares of his wife , the intreatie of his children , the heape of his riches , or any such like thinges : And why should we suffer these simple conceits , to steale away our hearts from the hope and hauing of heauen ? Besides , who knoweth not , that as in respect of the life to come , all these heaped vp in the greatest measure that possible can bee in this world , are not so much as a shadow of the good things that shall be reuealed . Hath the spirit said in vaine , that which the eie hath not seene , neither the care heard , neither euer yet entred into mans heart , hath GOD prepared for them that loue him ? Or shall wee thinke it a lye ? or that GOD ment to dissemble and dallie with vs ? Oh bee it farre from vs to thinke or speake so . Is that glorious description of that holy and heauenly Ierusalem , mentioned in the reuelations , but a fiction or forgerie ? It were blasphemie for any mans heart to imagine so : wee are rather to thinke , that God by that which is knowen , and can bee comprehended , expresseth that which yet is hidden from vs , and shall in good measure bee comprehended of vs also , we knowing then , euen as wee are knowne now . Wherefore let vs not feare all or any of our aduersaries , or pulbacks , for true loue expelleth feare : neither let vs bee saint hearted in our selues , but labour rather to lift vp our handes which hang downe , and to strengthen our weak knees , for faithfull is he that hath promised , who will also performe it . Bee faithfull vnto the death , and I will giue thee the crowne of life . He that so runneth shall bee sure to obtaine , and haue his portion with the Saints , in the heauenly inheritance , of a crowne that neuer fadeth nor falleth away . But hee that careth not for this course , must haue his portion with hypocrites , in the lake of fire and brimstone , that burneth for euermore , and be shut out of the kingdome with the fearfull , vnbeleeuing , abhominable , murtherers , whoremongers , sorcerers , idolaters and such like . Wherefore as you loue life , and loth death , runne well I beseech you : yea euen as our text was at the beginning , so say I at the ending , So runne that ye may obtaine : which I doe not onely propound vnto you by exhortation , but commend and commit by supplication to God for my selfe and you , that euery one of vs , and I my selfe especially , may in feeling and faith say : I am now readie to bee offered , and the time of my departing is at hand , I haue fought a good fight , and haue finished my course , I haue kept the faith , from hence is layd vp for mee the crowne of righteousnes , which the Lord the righteous iudge , shall giue me at that day , & not to me onely , but vnto them also that loue his appearing .