THE fastening Nayle of the chiefe Master of the Assemblies , the great Shepheards Pegge , driuing home , and making sure , all his former counsels , chosen as as a farewell cloze , making and leauing a deepe impression of all his deedes and sayings , as the last strong and loud knole of a Bell , that ends all the Peales going before : A Text that puts life into all other Texts , vrging the life of them , which is the practice of them , and is therefore aptly and duly pronounced by many at the end of their Sermons : A Sermon , vpon which Text , the world hath as much neede of , as of any one yet extant ; the multitude of them , as Statutes and Proclamations wanting yet one to enforce the obseruation of the rest . The necessity of doing , was the scope of our Lords last solemne and vncouth action , of girding himselfe with a Towell , rising from his Magisteriall Seate , washing and wiping his Disciples feete . Hee had indeede two other by-ends one mysticall , intimated in his Dialogue with Peter , typifying the great end of his descent from heauen , and begirting himselfe with our flesh , viz. that hee might totally wash our soules in the Bath of Iustification once for all , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . and partially in the Lauer of Regeneration so often , as wee soile our feete in the mire of this world by dayly sinnes of infirmity . The other Morall , to set his Disciples a patterne of humility and loue , stooping to the meanest Offices of mutuall seruice , without emulation or affectation of priority , which hee foresaw , would else bee the bane of their sacred function . But his third and most principall ayme , was by this his both verball and reall strange kind of lesson , to learne them not so much what they knew not , as the vse of doing that they knew , else would words onely haue serued the turne , and not so much adoe haue needed , but he first does the things , and then expresses his intent , These things if you doe , &c. In this conditionall benediction obserue , first , the obiect , on which Happinesse is conferred , and to which it is confined . These things : Secondly , the 2. acts required hereto ; If you know : If you do : chiefely , the chiefe of them is , If you do : to which happinesse is foreannexed specially : Happy are you , if you doe .

These things . ] The knowledge and practice of these things onely , blesseth , these maine Arch-mysteries of Faith , and these diuine & cardinal vertues of loue and humility , symbolized in their ablution , and not the doing or knowing of all the naturall , morall , or manuall Sciences in the world besides .

If one knew all the Circle of learning , and knew , as was said of Beringarius , all that was knowable , all the rules of Policy , secrets of State , mysteries of trading , & could execute them all ; yet in his such knowing and doing he might not blesse himselfe , were not happy , nor so to bee reputed of Christians . The right placing or misplacing of Happinesse , is the Rudder of a mans life , the Fountain of his well or ill doing ; according to which , men take their markes , and shoote right or wrong , all the actions of their liues . He that admireth in his heart , and blesseth with his mouth , any other Idol of Good , in stead of this only true good , must needs misse of his end , & be a miserable man , grosly mistaking his markes , as silly country people , that oftentimes giue termes of Honours and Maiesties to meane persons . So doe most people , when they transferre this transcendent word , and stately thing , Happinesse , vnto any shadow of skill , saue of these things , to which it is perpetually restrained in Scriptures , Psalme 1. Luke 11. Iames the 1. Insomuch that Christ himselfe was displeased when they bestowed it on the Paps & Wombe of his Mother , in comparison of hearing and keeping his Fathers will : Heere then , and heere only is to bee found the lost Iewell of Happinesse , which well may we likened to a Stake set vp in the middest of a Field , which blinded men groape after , to make the beholders sport at their wandrings .

Augustine tels of a Mountebank , that vndertooke in a City of great trading , to tell euery man his wish , which was in his fallible coniecture , to buy cheape , and sell deare . But here , he who hath made , and knoweth the hearts of all , tels euery man the end of his desire ; and that which is more , shewes him the way of attaining them . Those things if you know , and if you doe them , happy are you .

This first , If , prouidently premixed , and cautelously presupposed by Christ , intimates , that knowledge must be the Pilote , Guide and Vsher of Practice , else superstitious deedes done by roat and randome , the blind Whelpes of ignorant deuotion , God regards not . Good workes , the fruits of faith , & children of a Beleeuer that knowes what he does , such are only pleasing in his sight . Christ diuinely foresaw the diuelish policy of subtill worldlings , that would cry vp practice , to cry downe knowledge , as cunning Papists wil extol S. Iames , to disparage Saint Paul , praise good meanings , & works , with an euill eye to hearing Sermons , and reading good bookes , and carnall Protestants be euer commending reading , to disgrace preaching ; and another sort euer talking of a good heart , a good meaning , and the power of Religion , euer disliking all shew and profession of it ; which , if well obserued , are the least and worst doers in a Conntry . Which Satanicall Sophisme , Saint Iames deepely preuents ; who , though the chiefe aime of his Epistle , was , to vrge Hypocrites to bee Doers , and vaine boasters of iustifying faith , to iustifie their Faith by their workes : yet forelaid this Caueat , Be swift to heare ; Needfull euen in these hearing and knowing times , wherein though knowledge couer the earth , as waters the Sea , yet may the Lord haue iustly a controuersie with the Land , or a great number at least in it , like dry Rocks in the middest of this Sea , who haue not a dramme of sauing , and well grounded knowledge . But this is but a pre-requisite to the maine thing heere required , which happinesse is intendedly fore-placed , knowledge ▪ being but a step to this turret of Happinesse : Happy are you , if you doe them .

Here 's the labour , here is the difficultie , here is the happinesse , in the coniunction of doing with knowing , to practise that wee know ; to performe the duties prescribed in the Gospell ; to beleeue the things to bee beleeued , and to doe the things to be done ; the summe of Faith and Loue , sweetly coupled in this significant ablution of his Disciples feete .

Three noble ends Diuinitie propounds to her followers : the first and greatest , Gods Glory ; the second next to that , mans owne content heere , and saluation hereafter : the last like to the former , the edification , and conuersion of our neighbours . In the attainment of these , is a Christians perfection , and happinesse , none whereof , bare Theorie shall euer more then come neere . All three , practice ioyned thereto , fully apprehends .

Of these three that must needs be the noblest , which God primarily intended in the Reuelation of his will to mankinde , and Moses oft tels vs is , that wee might obserue to doe them : For if ( as Wolphius reasoneth by a distribution ) hee had giuen vs his Lawes to preserue onely , he safelier might haue committed them to iron Coffers , and Marble Pillars ; if onely to talke and prate of them better to Geese and Parrats ; if onely for Contemplation to Owles in Iuywoods , or to Monks in Cloisters , and not to all sorts of people . His scope sure was not to make triall of the wits of men , who could sharpeliest conceiue ; nor of their memories , who could faithfulliest retaine ; of their eloquence , who could roundliest discourse ; but of their wils , who would most obediently doe them . This being his chiefe honour to haue his Throne and command not in the Head , and Braines , but in the strong holds of their hearts ▪ and liues . For what shall God reward thee , O man , but for that which men praise God for in thee ? Now for admirable gifts of Science and Learning , men may admire thee , but they giue God thankes onely for the good they receiue from thee . The Sunne it selfe if it did not shine & giue warmth vnto the creatures , were the glorious hiew of it ten times more then it is none would halfe so much blesse God for it . The men for whom our heauenly Father is glorified , are such whose workes shine afore men , who warme the loynes of the poore , and with their knowledge are an eye to the blinde . I can hardly beleeue , that God euer made any creature only to behold , neither Starre , Pearle , Flower , or feathered fowle , onely to shew their glorious outsides ; but to haue influence , vertues , and qualities , beneficiall to mankinde : much lesse a man to know onely , or an Art onely to bee knowne , but all to his glory , and mans seruice : which to effect , is all the glory of men , and Arts. Some Sciences , I know , in comparison of others more operatiue , are tearmed speculatiue : but not one of these , whose speculation tends and ends not in some operation , by which man is profited , and God honoured ; specially Diuinitie , which makes vs his workmanship , not to knowledge , but to good workes , to the praise of his grace . Who commends a Schoolemaster , whose Schollers can say and vnderstand their Rules , but speake not , and write not any good stiles by them ? A Captaine , whose Souldiers can skill of Militarie termes and orders , vnlesse their Acts and exploits of Warre be sutable ? Who praiseth an horse that feedes well , but is not deedy for the race , or trauell ; speed , or length . Little saies the Scripture of the learning of the Apostles , but much of their Acts. These are the richest , and vsuall stiles of commendation in Scripture . Moses a man mighty in words and deeds : Cornelius , a man fearing God , and giuing much almes : the Centurion , worthy of fauour , for hee hath built vs a Synagogue : Dorcas made thus many coats for the poore : Gaius the Host of the Church , &c. such benefactors their workes shall follow them , and praise them in the gates heere , yea at the great Day obtaine that Come you blessed of my Father : for I was naked , and you cloathed mee : For such men God is blessed of men , and such men shall bee blessed of God in their deeds : and as the more knowing without doing shall procure the more stripes , because God for them is the more blasphemed : So the more doing with knowing , shall haue double honour , because God was doubly honoured in them . Behold , I come quickly , and my reward is in mine hand , to giue euery man according to his deedes . Blessed are they that doe my commandements . If you know them , and doe not , miserable are you ; but these things if you know , and doe them , you are the happiest men liuing .

The second branch of happinesse , wherein doing hath the aduantage of knowing , is in the personall benefit , consisting in the present sweetnesse , and future gaine accrewing thereby : some luscious delight , yea , a kinde of rauishing doucenesse there is in studying good Bookes , ruminating on good notions , not vnlike that which is in tasting and swallowing sweet meates , which made the Epicure in Aelian , wish his throate as long as the Cranes , but all the benefit is in the strength , and nourishment , it breedeth after concoction , when thoughts breed workes , and studies turne into manners ; when the fatte pasture is seene in the flesh and fleece of the sheepe . One Apple of the Tree of Life hath more sweet rellish , then ten of the Tree of Knowledge of good and euill ; which yet we fondly preferre in our longing , euer since our first Parents teeth were set on edge therewithall . For instance , thou findest thine eare tickled with an elaborate discourse of temperance , but try the practice of it , and tell mee if it bring thee not in sundry reall commodities to body and minde , beyond a poore auricular transient titillation . Were it not for the different energie , and efficacie in the heart and life , there might be well-neere as much pleasure in reading the witty commendations of folly , or pride , as in the sound Tractate of wisedome , and humilitie , I had almost said in the language of fooles , in the reading of Sir Philip , as Saint Peter .

All discourses of Faith , and Hope , are but dry things , in comparison of the acts and practice of them , which are delicate aboue the Hony and the Hony-combe , sweeter then the taste of any Nectar . Some say , the study of the Law is cragged , that if the gaine of practice did not sweeten it , few would plot vpon Ployden . But I beleeue , few would study Saint Paul , and preach as Saint Paul did , instantly in season , out of season , ( quaintly and rarely they might for credit and preferment ) but painfully , and profitably , I hardly beleeue they would ; feruently and feelingly they cannot , except the sweetnesse of their practice driue and constraine them . Of all men I hold them fooles , that bend their studies to Diuinitie , not intending to bee Doers , as well as Students , and Preachers ; not much wiser , such as will be professors of Religion , and not practicioners . The Parables in the Talmud fits their folly well , resembling them to such as plowe , and sow all the yeere , and neuer reape ; to the Grashopper that sings all the Summer , and wants in the Winter : to women euer conceiuing , and euer making abortion , neuer comming to the birth ; and best of all , to that of Christ distinguishing Hearers into foolish , that build on the Sand of Hearing , and professing , blowne downe with euery puffe of Trouble ; and the wise , that build on the Rocke of Doing , vnshakeable . Search all the Scripture , and see , if any Couenants , or Grants , were made to Knowing , and not all to Doing . Is not the ancient tenour of the Law , Doe this , and Liue ? and the Gospell , Beleeue , and liue : which implies an act to be done ; and that act implying sundry consequents & fruits of it . Hee that doth my Fathers will , hee is my Brother and Sister : Not euery one that saith , Lord , Lord ; but hee that the doth my Fathers will . To him that doth ill , shall be tribulation and anguish to euery soule , of Iew and Grecian : to him that doth well , shall bee honour and peace , vpon all the Israel of God . Vnto whom shall that Euge be giuen at that great Day , but to the doer ? and in what forme ? but , Well done , thou good Seruant , that hast not buried thy Talent in a Napkin . Hee himselfe expresseth the manner : Behold , I come quickly , my reward is in my hand , to giue euery man according to his workes . Blessed is euery one that doth my Commandements , that hee may eate of the Tree of Life , and enter thorow the gates into the City . In all which , happinesse in this life , and that to come , is conferred vpon the liuing acts and exercises , not vpon the dead habits of any grace whatsoeuer . In all labour there is aboundance , but in the conceits of the braine , and talke of the lippes , nothing but emptinesse and misery . If one could doe as much as Master Stoughton prints , and many credible witnesses report of the young Gentlewoman of nine yeeres old , that can say euery sillable of the new Testament by heart , and vpon triall , not faile in returning a line without the right Chapter & verse , & yet practice neuer a iot nor tittle of it , happy were such if they had neuer heard word of Gods Word . If one should take paines to get together a great number of songs , curiously set , artificially composed , yea , and knew how to sing or play them , and yet neuer heard them sung or plaid , what pleasure had hee of them ? The practice and vse of all operatiue Arts is all in all , in Diuinity , the chiefe of all : which else is as the Vine , excellent only in the sweet iuice of it , otherwise fit not so much as Pin or Pegge .

Next to Gods glory , and a mans owne good , a Christian placeth much happinesse in winning and edifying others : to which purpose , a speechlesse life hath more life in it , then a liueles speech . In 1. Cor. 1. 10 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . I rrisistable is the Suada of a good life , aboue a faire profession . Chrysostome calls good works , vnanswerable Syllogismes , inuincible Demonstrations , to confute and conuert Pagans : withall , tells vs they haue a louder language then the Sunne and Moone , whose sound yet goes ouer all the world , publishing Gods glory , not in Hebrew , Greeke , or Latine , which many barbarous Nations vnderstand not , but in an oratory they can better skill of . An Archer puts not more force into an Arrow he shoots , then the life of the speaker into his speech : whence it comes , that one and the same Sermon , or counsell , in seuerall mens mouthes differ , as much as a shaft out of a Gyants , or Childs shooting . Miracles ( sayes hee ) are now ceased , good conuersation comes in their place : the Apostles might haue preached long enough without audience or acceptance , had not their miracles , as Bells , towled to their Sermons , and as Harbengers , made way into mens hearts for their doctrine : by such weapons they conquered the world , as Gedeons souldiers , Theodo . in Iud. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Midianites carrying in one hand the burning Lampe of a good life , and in the other , the loud shrill Trumpets of preaching : otherwise plaine men will answere as Iouinian , to the orthodox and Arrian Bishops , contending about the faith : Of your learning and subtill disputations I cannot so well iudge , but I can well marke and obserue , which of your behauiours is most peaceable and fruitfull , and as one Moses , renowned for piety to Lucius , reputed an Arrian Bishop , tendring the confession of his faith to cleere himselfe : Ruffinus eccles. hist. lib. 2. c. 10. Tush , sayes he , What telst thou mee of the faith of the eares ? Let me haue the faith of the hands : I will rather goe without my installment , then take it of hands imbrued in bloud , bribery , and iniustice , as all know , and report thine to be . Arguments are darke , and perswasions dull things , to liues and actions , and most people are like Sheepe , easilier following example , then led or driuen by preceps and rules . Let any man make proofe of both . Let a Gentleman or Minister perswade Parishioners to contribute liberally to a Briefe , and set a niggardly example , and see how much lesse will come of it , then if hee said lesse , and gaue more . What else mooued Christ , and the Prophets so frequently to vse that potent figure , which Rhetoricians , from the speciall vsefulnesse of it call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , that is , when the Orator seconds and enliues his speech with some action : as Christ , when heere in my Text , hee girts himselfe with a Towell ; and elswhere , when hee tooke the Child , and set him in the middest of the Apostles ; the Prophet , when hee tooke Pauls Girdle ; and the old Diuine in Dorotheus , that bad his Auditor pluck at a great old Tree , which hee could not stir , and at a young Sprout easily pluckt vp ; to shew the difficulty of rooting out an old habit , in comparison of the beginnings .