Two sermons preached the one at Paules Crosse the eight of Ianuarie 1580. The other, at Christes Churche in London the same day in the after noone: by Iames Bisse maister of Art, and fellowe of Magdalen Colledge in Oxenford.

TWO SERMONS preached , the one at Paules Crosse the eight of Ianuarie 1580. The other , at Christes Churche in London the same day in the after noone : By Iames Bisse maister of Art , and fellowe of Magdalen ●●lledge in Oxenford .

¶ Imprinted at London , by Thomas Woodcocke . 1581.

To the right worshipfull Syr Iohn Horner , and Syr George Rogers knightes ; Iames Bisse wisheth grace , mercy , and peace from GOD our father , and from our Lorde Iesus Christe .

WHen I had preached these two sermons ( right worshipfull ) diuers of my friendes requested a Copie of them : the which they craued earnestly , & at the last I graunted hardly . I had small leasure to pen my Sermons for them , and thought it lesse honestie , and as little curtesie to denie them . But when through importunitie they had gotten the vpper hande , and receiued my Sermons at my handes , they went presently after a viewe taken of them , vnto the Printer to haue them published . They vsed many reasons to persuade me to yeeld therevnto , but but when they coulde by no reason moue me to agree to their attempt , they protested that my Sermons shoulde bee printed , though I were neuer so vnwilling , they hauing the copies in their handes : in the ende , when I could nothing preuaile with them , but perforce was constrained to yeelde to the publishing of these my Sermons . I Purposed , as duetie moued mee , to commend and commit them vnto your worships , to whom I doe acknowledge my selfe diuers wayes much bounden : and the rather was I mooued to hide them vnder the winges of your worships protection , because your fauour in mainteining the Gospell , your zeale to Gods worde , the regard that you haue of Gods Ministers , is knowne , not to mee only , who haue often times perceiued it , but to all them , which although they know not you , yet both know & do acknowledge your good deedes . The Lorde powre downe his spirite plentifully vpon you , kindle more & more in you the true zeale that alredy burneth , increase the loue and good affection which you haue toward the gospel , that you being pillers in the Church of Christ militant , may also bee pillers in his Church triumphant . And thus , desiring your worships to accept this my simple and rude worke , with my humble commendations to you , and to the vertuous Ladies your wiues , I bid you hartily fare well , from London this xix . of Ianuarie . 1580.

Your worships to comma●nd● in the Lord , Iames Bisse .

Iohn . 6. 27. Labour not for the meat ▪ which perisheth , but for the meat that endureth vnto euerlasting life . Which the Son●● of man shall giue vnto you , for him hath God the Father sealed .

DAuid a King and a Prophet : Rom. 1 . a man after Gods owne heart , the first liuely branche of the roote of Iesse , of whose seed Christ was made according to the flesh , & vpon whose throne , he doeth and shal sit for euer : although he were a worme and no man , the outcast of the people , a Pellicane in the wildernesse , an owle in the desert , a sparowe without her mate , alone vpon the house top : yet as the heart desireth the water brookes , Psal. 102. so longed his soule after the meate whiche endureth vnto euerlasting life , being more precious vnto him than thousandes of gold and siluer , sweeter than hony vnto his mouth , and the honycombe vnto his throte . Psal. 119. For though the plowers had so plowed vpon his backe , and made long furrows : though the Lord so had troden downe his soule vpon the earth , and layd his honour in the dust : though his God had so exalted the horne of his enimies , making them to ryde ouer his back , that he , as it were entring into the kingdome of desperation , did cry : then haue I clensed my hearte in vaine , in vaine haue I washed my handes in innocencie : and againe will the Lord absent himselfe for euer , Psa. 73. & wil he be no more intreted ? is his mercie cleane gone for euer , Psal. 77. and is his promise come vtterly to an ende for euermore ? What , will he now forget to bee gratious , and shutte vp his louing kindenesse in displeasure . Yet notwithstanding , when hee had beene in the sanctuary of the Lord , and so knewe the ende of his enemies , and the causes of those thinges , he was filled with marow and fatnes , his head was annointed with fresh oile , his cup was ful , because he had dronken plentifully of the water of life , and eaten abundantly of the bread of heauen . Reuel. 10. For as Iohn did eate , not a leafe only , Ezech. 3. but the whole booke & as Ezechiel did eate , not a peece , but the whole role , the which booke and role were sweet as honie in their mouthes . But the booke made Iohns bellie bitter , and the role brought heauinesse to Ezechiels spirite , that is , the word brought vnto them both , peace to the conscience from the Lorde , but warre to the bodie from the world . So Dauids whole delight was in the law of the Lord his God , to muse and meditate thereon , too exercise , and practise himselfe therein , both day and night , all dayes & nightes of his life . Whose good and godly example wee must followe in labouring for meate , if wee will haue the crowne of life , if wee will eate of the tree of life , if we will eate of manna , that is hid , Reuel . 2. & . 3. if we will haue that whitestone , & in the stone a new name written , which no man knoweth , but he that receiueth it , if wee will stande in the middest of the paradise of GOD , if wee will bee cloathed in white aray , if wee will haue our names in the booke of life , if we will be a piller in the temple of God , and neuer goe out , if we wil haue written vpon vs the name of God , Heb. 12. and the name of Ierusalem , if wee will come to mount Syon , to the citie of the liuing God , to the coelestiall Ierusalem , to the companie of innumerable angelles , to the assembly and congregation of the first borne , which are written in heauen , to God the iudge of al , to the spirits of iust and perfect men , to Iesus the mediatour of the new tastament , & to the blood of sprinckling that speaketh better thinges then the blood of Abel . For all other meates perish , they with vs , and we with them , O then labour not for them : only this meate , the foode of the soule doth endure vnto euerlasting life , it with vs , and wee with it : O then , let vs all labour for it . The children of Israel did eate Manna in the wildernesse , Exod. 16. but they are al dead : Iosu. 5. Manna was not to bee founde on the sabboth dayes , Manna was full of wormes , and stanke : Manna ceased , when they had eaten of the corne in Canaan : Manna was kept in a pot , for the posteritie . 2. Chro. 5. But is was no where to bee founde in the dayes of Solomon . But they that are fedde with this bread , shall neuer dye : it is to be founde at al times , it neuer putrifieth , it neuer ceaseth , for it doeth endure , not to death , but to life , and that to euerlasting life , Hee that drinketh of the water of Iacobs well , shall thirst againe : Iohn . 4. but he that drinketh of the water , whiche the sonne of man shall giue vnto him , ( whome God the father to this purpose hath sealed ) shall neuer thirst agayne , but the water in him shal be a well of water , springing vpp vnto euerlasting life : Iohn . 7. yea , out of his belly shall flowe riuers of water of life . Wherefore : 1. Chro. 11. as Eleasar and his two companions did breake thorowe the mighty hoste of the Philistines , and brought water out of Bethlehem for Dauid , euen thorowe the hoste backe againe , Dauid longing after that water : right so , let vs boldely and couragiously , breake thorowe the middes of all our enemies , both temporal and spirituall to get this water , Mat. 11. and this bread of the soule , of heauen , and of life , that it may bee sayde of vs , as our Sauiour spake of the Iewes in the beginning of the gospel : the kingdome of heauen suffereth violence , and the violent take it by force . So zealous were they ( O I wold to God ) so zealous were wee ) too receiue Gods mercy so freely offered , so greedie were they , ( O I would to God so greedy were we ) to imbrace , to loue , to obey , to follow Gods word so purely preached . For as the pewter pot , which the fire melteth is not so soone consumed , beeing full of licour : as the glasse , which euery knock breaketh , is not so lightly dasht in peeces beeing full of water : so we , ( though wee consume as the fat of lambes before the presence of the Lord , and be as drie stubble , the Lorde a consuming fire : though we be more brickle then glasse , for glasse being safely lockt vp , endureth long , but we , kepe we our selues neuer so daintily , neuer so warily , neuer so safely , come to an end as a tale that is told . So wee I say , being full fed with this foode , shal bee able to abide all blowes , al knocks , & shall quench all the fyrie darts of the wicked , & shall stand fast in the euil day , & so stand , that all the gates of hell , shal not once be able to preuayle against vs . What better reason can I geue then this ? for it endureth vnto euerlasting life .

But alas , as Eue was content to aduenture the losse of Paradise , for an apple : as Esau was content to loose his birthright , & his fathers blessing for a messe of pottage : as the children of Israel did loath Manna , ( Angels foode ) & in their hearts turned back to the flesh pottes of Egypt : as the Iewes at this time did seek Christ , not for his doctrine , not for his miracles , but chiefly for meate , because hee had fedde them , and so fedde them , that they had more store left , when they had done , then when they beganne to eate : So because the dayes of Noe are come , because the dayes of Lot are come , because the dayes of the Sonne of man are at hande , wee are weerie of the meate that endureth vnto euerlasting life , and doe labour for the meate whiche perisheth to serue the bellie , Luke . 17. the fleshe , sinne , the worlde , and all is to serue the Diuell .

For as it was in the dayes of Noah , so shall it bee in the dayes of the sonne of man , they ate , they dranke , they maried , and gaue in mariage , vnto the day that Noah went into the Arke , and the flood came and drowned them all : lyke as it was in the dayes of Lot , they ate , they drank , they bought , they solde , they planted , they builte , they married , but in the day that Lot went out of Sodom , the lord rayned fire & brimstone from heauen & consumed them all . There was neuer more eating and drinking , I meane neuer more surfetting and drunkennesse : neuer more buying and selling . I say , neuer more deceyt in buying and selling : neuer more planting , I might truely say , neuer more supplanting one of another : neuer more marying , I woulde to God I might not iustly say , neuer more whoring , to conclude neuer more building , I meane not building of Colledges , of almes houses , of schooles . there was neuer lesse : I pray you mistake me not , I say , neuer more building of priuate houses , which wee thinke shall continue for eeuer , and call our houses and our landes after our owne names . So that wee may iustly bewayle the madnesse and miserie of this age , as Chrysostome did the folly and fondnesse of his tyme . Homil. 42. in Iohan. Si secularibus abstinere iubemur , quae miseria , quae amentia est , ea a domino postulare quae habita , abiicienda : desiderare , in quibus nullam omnino curam adhibendam praecipit ? That is : if wee are commanded to abstayne from worldly thinges , what a misery , what a madnesse is it , to begge those thinges at the Lordes hands , which when we haue , wee must cast away : and to desire those things , wherein the Lord commaundeth vs to put no care at all . Tit. 2. Wherefore seeing it may well be sayde of vs Englishmen , as Paule sayde of the Cretians , euil beastes , slowe bellyes : and seeing I may now truly speake with Paule : many walke , of whome I haue told you often , Phillip. 3. and nowe tell you weeping , that they are enemies to the crosse of Christ , whose ende is damnation , whose God is their belly , whose glory is to their shame , whiche minde earthly thinges : and seeing vppon good occasion , Rom. 16. I may exhorte you with Paule : nowe I beseeche you ( brethren ) marke them diligently , whiche make diuision , & offences contrary to the doctrine which you haue learned and auoyde them : for they that are such , serue not the Lord Iesus , but their owne bellies , & with fayre speech , & flattering , deceiue the hearts of the people : this doctrine is as needfull & necessary , nowe as it was in the time of our Sauiour Christ , when he thus taught the people , Labour not &c. Not onely to disswade you from laboring for the meate which perisheth , but to perswade you to labour for that meat which doth endure vnto euerlasting life , The which wordes conteine in them , The diuision . first a disswasion , a dehortation , a proposition negatiue : Secondly , a perswasion , an exhortation , or conclusion positiue . Whervnto is annexed , first , a reason taken from the person that geueth , & the certainty of the thing geuen : which the Sonne of man shal giue vnto you : Secondly , a confirmation , drawen from the office and function of our Messias and Sauiour . For him hath the Father sealed , that is , appoynted and consecrated him to geue life vnto all them that labour for this meate .

IT had been sufficient for our Sauiour : onely to haue vsed the exhortation , labour for &c , had he not perceiued them , as we nowe see the worlde , to hunt & labour for bellie cheere , as dogges doe for carion , swine for draugh , horses for prouender : too bee wrapped and tyed in these earthly thinges , ( as the men of this age are ) like the fishe in the hooke , the bird in the net , the conie in the hay : therfore he beginneth with the dehortation . Labour not , &c. And bicause a litle before mention was made of meat , he speaketh figuratiuely , vsing the Metaphore of meate , whereas hee might plainely haue saide , care not for the bodie to fulfill the lustes of it , but care for your soules , to possesse the kingdome of heauen . And if he had onely vsed the affirmatiue , exhorting them to labour for meate , they might haue been as grosse in vnderstanding him , as his Disciples were , who , when he spake of the leauen of the Pharesies , Mat. 16. thought hee had spoken of the leauen of breade : as carnal as Nicodemus , who when Christe tolde him a man muste bee borne agayne , thought a manne should goe into his mothers wombe againe : Iohn . 3. as rude as the woman of Samaria , who , Iohn . 4. when Christ spake of the water of life , thought he had spoken of the water of Iacobs well . Therfore , as hee vseth a metaphore beeing plaine , so to make it more plaine , so to shew whereunto their nature was bent , so to declare what they should labour for , hee vseth both the affirmatiue & the negatiue : but hee beginneth with the negatiue , labor not , &c. As if he should haue sayd : Wilt thou come vpp into my holy hill ? put of thy shoes . Wilt thou come into my congregation ? cut of the foreskin of thy flesh , or rather of thy heart . Wilt thou haue my durable coate made of skinnes ? O sonne of Adam , cast of thy breeches made of figge leaues . Wilt thou bee clad with my garment ? cast of thy ragged cloake with blind Bartimeus . Wilt thou haue a salue for thy wound ? cut of thy rotten fleshe . Wilte thou haue a medicine for thy diseases , purge thy body . Wilt thou build ? plucke downe thy ruinous walles . Wilte thou sow ? pluck out the weedes of thine heart . Wilt thou put on a cleane shirte ? put of the foule . I will not put my newe Wine into olde bottelles : I will not put a peece of my new cloth , vpon the moth eaten garmentes : my coate is without seame from the top to the skirtes , I geue all , or none . Wilt thou entertaine me Zacheus ? come downe from the wild figge tree . Wilt thou doe good ? decline from euill . Wilt thou put on the armour of light ? cast of the workes of darkenesse . You cannot serue God and Mammon , Christ and riches , you cannot labour for the meate which perisheth , and for the meate that endureth vnto euerlasting life . Were not a garment of linnen and wollen : eate not with sweete bread , and sower leauen : sow not two sorts of grain in one fielde : goe not too plowe with an oxe and an asse in one yoke : for they that doe so , looke backe from the plough , & are not fit for the kingdome of God . For what felowship hath righteousnesse , and vnrighteousnes , what communion hath light with darknesse , 1. Cor. 6. what concord hath Christe with Belial ? what parte hath the beleeuer with the infidel ? what agreement hath the temple of God with Diuelles ? GOd and Mammon , meate which perisheth , and meate which endureth vnto euerlasting life , cannot stande together . But let vs labour a little I pray you , for this meate , a little is to be borne with . What , know you not , that leauen , and a little leauen , doth leauen the whole lump ? that a breache , and a little breache doeth marre the sale of a whole cloth ? that a scarre and a little scarre , doeth disfigure the whole face ? that poyson , and a little poyson , doth poyson the whole bodie ? that Coloquintida , and a little Coloquintida , doth infect the whole pot of pottage ? that a hole , and a little hole in a vessell , will let out al the licour ? that fire , and a litle fire , is able to burne a whole Citie ? Kisse the Sonne , Psal. 2. ( saith the Prophet ) least he be angry , and so perish from the right way , if his wrath be kinndled , yea but a little , Blessed are all they that put their trust in him . Make no pax of the worlde , and haue no pax with the worlde , but kisse the sonne , make a pax of him , and haue peace with him ▪ Feare his wrath , if it be kindled , yea but a litle , O blessed are all they that put their trust in him . But alas , Math. 13. we are so far from labouring for this meate , that whereas like good husbandmen we should labour & dig in the field , and sell al that we haue , to buy that field . Whereas like wise Merchant men , wee shoulde labour and seeke for good pearles , Math 7. and sell all that we haue , to buy that pearle of great price : We , like dogs refuse holy things offered , we turn about and teare them that doe offer them : we like swine , tread pearles vnder our feete , and doe accounte this pearle , this holie thing , the word of life , to bee vnto vs as a ring of golde in a swines snoute . For doeth the people delight to heare Gods word ? Behold yet they are like the deafe adder , which stoppeth her eares , at the voyce of the charmer , charme hee neuer so wisely . Or if they with delight doe heare it , doe they vnderstand it ? behold yet , they are like horse and mule , which haue no understanding , or if they heare it , & vnderstand it , do they obey it ? behold yet , they are vntamed colts , & vnweaned heyfers . Or if they doe all these three , heare , vnderstand , obey , can they abyde to be rebuked to their faces of their sins ? Beholde yet they are like Herode , who performed the 3 first , Mark . 6. but could not abide the fourth . Doe they loue the bringers of this woorde ? beholde yet there is in England an Adders broode , a generation of Vipers . Doe they abide and stand fast to their profession ? Beholde yet they are starting aside like a broken bowe , they are yet like the children of Ephraim , who beyng harnessed , and carrying bowes , did turne themselues back in the day of battel . Nay doe the bishops and ministers so goe in , and so goe out , before the people of God , that the people seeyng them goe before , doe follow after them , whereby our father in heauen is glorified ? Behold yet many of them are like the eye , which seeth all thinges and cannot see it selfe : like the whetstone which maketh the yron sharpe , but dull it selfe : like the yron and flint , which make fire in the tynder but are colde themselues . I pray GOD they bee not like those foolishe Carpenters in the dayes of Noah , who buylded the Arke for Noah ▪ but they themselues were drowned . Or if the Ministers and people doe seeme to liue as they teach and are taught , doe they liue so sincerely , purely , and truely ? I pray God we be not found to bee stage players , to be painted sepulchers , Wels without water , and cloudes without rayne . For so rype is the hypocrisie of men in these dayes , that they which beare the fayrest shew of godlinesse , doe most deny the power thereof . For euen they , these holy men , or rather holow trees ( I would they were holie trees , which are alwayes greene , ) are like the faire redd morning , which bringeth rayne at noone : Like the calme water , which is most deepe : like the greene grasse , where the venemous snake lieth , and the filthy curre maketh his vrine . For they serue their bellies , their flesh , the world , and in heart doe labor for that meat only , which perisheth . We care not for our liues , our soules , our selues , we are inferiour to bruite beastes . Heare o heauens , & harken o earth : ( saith the Lord ) the oxe knoweth his owner , Isay ▪ 1. & the Asse his Miasters cribbe , Ierom. 8. but my people doth not know me , & again , the stork in the ayre doeth knowe her appointed times , the tutele , the crane , the swallow , obserue the time of their comming , but my people knoweth not the iudgement of the Lord . But why doth the oxe know his owner , & the Asse his maisters cribb ? why doe the storke , the turtle , the crane , the swallowe , obserue the time of their comming ? is it not for meate , for their bodies , and for their liues ? shoulde they labour for their liues , & not we for ours ? For well saide Tullie to Caesar : Non est haec tua vita dicenda , Orati . per M. Marc. quae corpore & spiritu continetur : illa , inquam , illa , est vita tua Caesar , quae vigebit memoria saeculornm omnium . &c. This is not to be called thy life , which doth consist of bodie and soule : that , I say that , O Caesar is thy life , which shal endure thorow out all ages . &c. And well saide Africanus to Scipio : Nou tu is es , In somnio Scipionis . quem fama ista declarat : sed mens cuiusque is est quisque , non ea figura quae digito demonstrari potest . Thou art not he , Scipio , whom this form and proportion of bodie doth shew thee to be : and eche mans minde is the man , not that figure and shape of bodie , which may bee demonstrated , and poynted at with the finger . We then in labouring for this corruptible meate , doe neither labour to mainteine our liues , nor yet too susteine our selues . For this is not our life : & wee are not they , whom these shapes and formes of our doe shew vs to be . Our soules are our selues , & our selues , are our soules : let vs then labour for our selues , that is , for our soules .

As the Lord did carie the Iewes , so doeth hee offer too carie vs vppon Eagles winges , Exod. 19. what whereas the deade carcase is , we like young Eagles may resort , but wee will not bee carried . As Christ did clocke for the Iewes , so he doth for vs to come vnder his wings , Mat. 23. but wee will not come . Psalm. 19. We are like Esops cocke , who estemed more of one barley corne , than of al the precious stones in the world . The heauens doe declare the glory of God , the firmament sheweth his handy worke , the Elements obserue their order , the sun doth reioyce to run his course : onely the foundations of mans hearte , are out of course , Ios. 10. only man doth disobey gods wil. The sun once abode in the mids of heauen for the space of a whole day , 2. Reg. 20. but it was at the prayer of Ioshua the sunne once went backe tenne degrees , but it was at the request of Ezechias : but flesh and blood doth stil stand in the way of sinners , still walke in the counsell of the vngodly , sit stil in the chayre of pestilence , and still goe backe from the streight way , & streight path of the Lord . if this foode were cleane taken from vs , and were not to be found , as it hath byn , wee might then seeme to haue some reason to labour for the other meate . For as Hanum king of Ammon , Chro. 19. tooke Dauids seruants , shaued their beards halfe of , & cut of their garments by the halfe : so those shauers and shauelinges , those barbours and Barbarians of Rome , tooke away half the Lords Supper from the people , they might haue no drink . And took the woorde of God from them , they had not their meate . But now as Mary sate in her owne house quietly , & hearde Iesus preach : as in the dayes of Solomon , euery man vnder his figge tree , & vnder his vine tree , heard the lawe peaceably , euen from Dan to Beersheba : so nowe euery man in his owne house may reade with quietnesse , and euery one vnder his figge tree and vine tree with cheerefulnes and ioyfulnes may heare the glorious gospel of Iesus Christ , euen from the mount to Barwicke , from Douer to S. Dauies , the Lord be thanked for it , the Lorde continue it , the Lord grant we be not vnthankfull , & that we may labour for this meate which endureth vnto euerlasting life . But that my speech may more edifie , that it may be mighty in operation , that it may pearce and enter thorow , euen to the deuiding asunder of the soules and spirites , of your ioynts & marrow : that you may be pricked at the hearte , in hearing this my sermon , Act. 2. as the Iewes were at Peters sermon , 2. Chron. 34. when they cried : Alas men and brethren , what shall we doe ? as Iosiah was hearing the lawe read by Shaphan , Iohn . 3. when ye tare his clothes . As the King of Niniuie was , Iud. 3. when he hearde the woord by Ionas , & as Eglon king of Moab , when he heard the word by Ehud : who rose vp from their thrones & cast of their Kingly robes : that my talke may so be powdred with salt , that it may giue sauour vnto al : to conclude , that my sermon may be like that precious oyntment , which was on Arons head , ranne downe on his beard , & to the very lower skirts of his clothing : That it may touch head & foote , king & subiect , hie & lowe , rich & poore , young & old , bond , and free , man and woman : Let vs first see what this meat is : secondly , why we should not labour for it : thirdly let vs examine our selues , and this our age , whether wee labour for this meate or no.

By meate is meant : not onely food for the belly , What meate is here ment . which the erth bringeth forth , as greene hearbe for the seruice of men , wine to make glad the heart of man , oile to make him a cheerefull countenance , & bread to strengthen mans heart : not onely cloth for the back , & furniture for bedding , which by Gods appoyntment we receiue of dumbe creatures , as wooll of sheep , lether of oxen , fethers of foules , silk of wormes : but also honour , promotion , fauour , dignitie , woorship , countenance , iolity , pride , ambition , auarice , riches , surfetting , drunkennesse , and whatsoeuer else is carnall , whatsoeuer is fleshly , whatsoeuer is worldly , whatsoeuer is temporal , whatsoeuer is not eternal , is called meat which perisheth . The which Epithetan is added both as a reason to with draw vs from labouring for this meate , because it doth perishe , and also to declare a difference betweene the bodie & the soule , & the meates of them both . Lyra maketh this difference : Lyra in Ioh. Cibus corporalis perit , non spiritualis : Si enim cibus corporalis maneat in propria forma , non nutrit , sed nocet cerpori : sedsi nutriat , oportet quod a propria natura pereat , & conuertatur in membra : econuerso cibus spiritualis manet & Conuertit in seipsum sumentem . That is : the meate of the bodie doth perish , but not the meate of the soule : for if the meate of the body should abide in it proper forme , it could not nourish , but hurte the bodie : but if it nourisheth , it must loose it proper nature , and bee turned into the partes and members of him that taketh it : whereas contrariwise the meate of the soule doeth abide in it owne nature , and turneth him that taketh it into it selfe according to that saying of Augustine speaking as it were , August . in the person of this meate : Non me mutabis in te , sed tu mutaheris in me . Thou shalte not chaunge mee into thee , but thou shalte bee chaunged intoo mee , and another difference the same Lyra maketh in this sort : Panis vitae non solum vitam conseruat , Lira in Iohan. sed etiam dat ipsam de no ▪ uo panis corporalis , vitam corporalem preexistentem tantummodo conseruat . The bread of life , doeth not onely preserue life , but geueth life anew : but the meate of the bodie onely preserueth the life , which is in the bodie : and let these serue for two reasons , to proue my second part . That we ought not to labour for meate which doth perish , wherevnto , nowe I come . In the beginning the Lorde God tooke the man , & put him into the garden of Eden , that he might keepe it and dresse it : We ought not to labour for this meat . wherevpon as Peter Lombard noteth , that man was made out of Paradise , and afterwarde put into it , both to signifie that he should not long continue there , Gen. 2. and also that Paradise was assigned vnto him by grace , and not by nature : so haue we to learne , that God doeth so detest and abhorre idlenesse , that though then there was no neede of labour , Lib. 2. dist. 17. yet hee woulde haue Adam there , not onely a keeper , but a dresser of the garden .

For although at the first God made euery plant of the fielde , Gen. 2. before it was in the earth , and euery herbe of the fielde , it grewe : ( for the Lord had not caused it to rayne vppon the earth , neyther was there a man founde to till the grounde ) yet afterward God would haue the man to keepe , labour , dresse and trimme the garden , not in the sweate of his face , not in paine , not in sorrowe , but in mirth , ioy , pleasure , and peace . Where ydle liuers , loytring vacabundes , wilde rogues , begging Friers , loose libertines , carnall Anabaptistes , snatchers from other mens trenchers , they that liue in no vocation , no arte , no trade , no science , cannot make this a shroude for their sinne , or a cloake for their knauerie : saying , we are heare forbidden to labour : for this sentence of God pronounced against man , Gen. 3. in the sweate of thy face thou shalt eate thy breade , was not onely a curse , but a commaundement . That euery man should labour in some vocation : that , as Paule sayth : he that woulde not woorke might not eate . 2. Thessa . 3. For wee heare , sayth he , that there are some which walke among you inordinately , and woorke not at all , but are busie bodies : therefore them that are such , wee warne and exhort by our Lorde Iesus Christ , that they woorke with quietnes , and eate their owne breade . For this commandement , giuen to the Iewes from God by Moses : there shal be no begger among you , was a commaundement , not only to moue them to pitie , to mercy to liberalitie : but also to take away , & roote out al loyterers , al shifters , al vagabunds , all busie bodies , all that liue in no vocation , from the common wealth of Israel . The slouthfull will not plow , Pro. 20. because of winter , Luk. 16. ( sayth Solomon ) therefore shall he begge in sommer , but haue nothing . But you will say , I will neyther plow nor begge , I will shift with the vniust steward ( whom Christ commended ) and say : dig I cannot , Pro. 20 . and to begge I am ashamed : The breade of deceite ( sayth Solomon ) is sweete to a man , but afterwarde his mouth shal be filled with grauell . Wherfore we are not heere simplie forbidden to labour , but this is forbidden both to labour too carefully as the heathen doe , or to labour for the meate of the bodie , and care not for the meate of the soule as the Athistes doe , which saye in their heartes , there is no God . The Lord God knowing the nature of man , aboue al other vices , would be prone to gluttonie and belly cheere , did first before al other commandement , consecrate & proclaime an iniunction of temperancy , & fasting thou shalt not eate of the tree of knowledge of good & euil . The breach of the which commaundement did iustly and differently not onely thrust Adam and Euah out of Paradise , Gen. 3. but caused the Cherubins to be heat , and the blade of a sword shaken , Reuel. 3. to keepe the way of the tree of life , Reuel. 20. for euer to keepe vs from it , had not he which hath the keyes of the bottomless who openeth , & no man shutteth , shutteth & no man openeth : he who deuided the red sea , that we might escape from the Egyptians : he who deuided the rock that might haue water in the wildernesse , hee who duided Iordan , that we might pas in to the land of promise : : he who deuided the earth that we might rise againe , he who diuided the cloudes and the heauens with his bodye that wee might might followe after him : he who onely giueth to eate of the tree of life : had not he I say , taken away the Cherubins , and remooued the blade of a swoorde , too make vs a plaine , direct , open , and safe way to enter againe into Paradise , and to taste of the fruite of the tree of life . But what caused Euah to eate of it ? that which doeth cause vs all too labour for that meate which perisheth . Nitimur in vetitum . We must desire that , which we are forbidden to doe : it was a fruite too get knowledge , a proude mynde : a fruite pleasant to looke on , a wanton eye : a fruite good for meate , a lickerishe tooth of the woman . But that we may the better vnderstande , howe God is grieued , when men labour for this belley meate , let vs call to remenbrance the times of olde , and thinke vppon the daies of late , how the Lord hath executed his terrible iudgementes and horrible vengeence , how he hath abundantly poured out of the violl of his wrath , when men haue bin in the middest of their mirth , of their feasting and banquetting . The people sate downe to eate and drinke and rose vp againe to play : Exod. 32 let me alone sayth the Lorde to Moses , that my wrath may wax hote against them , Num. 11. for I will consume them . And although God hearde the prayer of Moses , yet Moses slewe of those belly Gods . 3000. men : agayne the people lusted for meate , saying : who shall giue vs fleshe to eate , wee remember the fishe that we had in Egypt for naught , the cucumbers , the pepons , the leekes , the onyons and garlike . But nowe our soule is dried away , wee can see nothing but this Manna : as now sayth the Papists where is our plentie of victuall ? our feasting , our singing , our ringing , our pyping , our dauncing ? we see nothing , but the bare Testament , nothing but this manna sayde the Iewes , nothing but this Gospell saye the Papistes , beholde while the fleshe was betweene their teeth , before it was chewed , the wrath of the Lorde was kindled , there was an exceeding plague among them , that the place was called Kibroth Hattanah , the graues of lust . When fel downe the house vppon the Lordes of the Philistines ? at a banquette . When fell downe the house vpon Iobs children ? at a feast . Yea at the time of our & banquetting , the diuel is more busy with vs , & hath eftsones more power ouer vs : at a diner did the diuel moue Herode to behed Iohn Baptist ▪ & at a supper did Satan perswade Iudas to betray his maister , But what sayth Paul to vs of these things ? 1. Cor. 10. these things are our examples , to the intent we should not lust after euil things , as they lusted : & al these things came vnto them for examples , & ar written to admonish vs , vpon whom the ends of the world are fallen . But haue we had no examples of late ? whom did the Lord smite down in that terrible plague in Oxford , not mockers of Gods seruantes , as were the Philistines , not Idolaters , and murmurers , as were the Iewes , but the most religious , zealous , the godliest , the strongest , the best learned , amongst vs , iudges , sherif , knight , esquier , iustice , gentleman , scholler , & for zeale , for godlines & learning , I may truly say , for the most of them , as Dauid said of Israel , the Lord smot down the chosen men that were in Oxford . But when was this done ? euen when the meat was in our mouths at our acte and proceeding a time of mirth , of feasting & banquetting . I meane not that scholers made the feasts but their frends then assembled , I come a litle nearer to your remembrance , was there not a great feaste and a greate assemblie in this Citie , not of Herode and his courtiours , but of many right noble personages , when the Lord of late shooke not London , not Englande onely , but the most part of Europe with a terrible earthquake ? the earth at that time did shake , and we for a time did quake , the Lord shake the heartes of al englishmen : What shall I say of these : they are ( no doubt ) examples for vs , that in the middest of our feasting , we set not our minds on our bellies , but remember our God & think on that meate , which endureth vnto euerlasting life . If we so doe them shal we come to the marriage of the greate kinges sonne : the Lord graunt wee may leaue our farmes , forsake our oxen , and not suffer our wiues to make vs say I can not come . Then shall we be partakers of that feast with the prodigall sonne : the Lorde turne vs home from feeding of swine and in hearte to cry for our sinnes father I haue sinned agaynst heauen , and against thee , & I am no more worthy to be called thy sonne . Then shall we enter with the .5 . wise virgines into the bridegromes chamber , the Lord graunt that we haue lamps , that our lamps may haue oyle , and that our oyle may burne . Man beefore his fall , De ieiunio . might onely eate of the fruit of trees , ( as Tertullian noteth ) afterwarde the vse of corne was lawefull for him , conditionem consciencie , ipso situ corporis approbante , the bodie allowing the state and condition of the consience . For mans concience being right and vpright he looked vp towarde heauen , and pluck the fruite of trees : but when the conscience of man was by sinne cast downe , man turned his eyes toward , the ground and made the graine of corne to bee his meate , and so after the floode , not onely fruite , not onely corne , but fleshe was also lawfull . The Lorde did alwayes prouide according to the times and seasons and ages of mankind , sufficient and conuenient foode , Nay beholde the Lorde feedeth the young rauens that call on him : the foules of the heauen sowe not , reape not , nor gather into ther barnes , yet they are fed , Psal. 147. and by our heauenly father they are fedde . Math. 6. The Lillies of the fielde labour not , spinne not , yet Solomon in all his royaltie was not clothed like one of them . Thus then will I reason : hath God care for beastes too feede them , and for flowers too cloth them , and will he not much more feede and cloth vs ? are they fedd and clothed without sowing , without reaping , without carying , without spinning and labouring , and shall not wee bee clothed and fed , if wee sowe , reape , cary , spinne , and labour ? Will God care for my rayment ? then much more for my body , will he care for my bodie ? then muche more for my life . For the life is more woorth then meate , and the bodie more woorth then rayment . I will then care neither for cloth , nor foode , nor bodie , nor life , but I will first seeke the kingdom of God , and the righteousnes thereof , and then I am fully assured , that all these thinges shal be ministred vnto me , thou shalt not ( saith the law ) mussel the mouth of the Oxe that treadeth out the corne . And again : if thou wilt finde a birds nest & the dam sitting theron , thou shalt not take the dam with the yong . Deut. 22. Doth God take care for oxen ? is God so mercifull to birdes ? & will he not take more care for vs ? will he not be more merciful vnto vs . In the Cedars of Libanus ( saith the Prophet ) the byrdes make their nestes , and the Fir trees are a dwelling for the Storcke : the hie hils are a refuge for the wilde Goates , 1. Cor. 10. and so are the stony rocks for the conies : Psal. 104. the Lyons roring after their pray , doe seeke their meat at God . In the Sea are thinges creeping innumerable , both smal and great beastes , there goe the shippes , and there is that Leuiathan , whom thou hast made to take his pastime therein . These waite all vppon thee , that thou maist giue them meat in due season . Let not vs therefore labour for this meate , let vs with prayer seeke our meat at God , Psa. 104. let vs waite vpon him , and he will giue vs meate in due season . For our God , which layeth the beames of his chamber in the waters , which maketh the cloudes his chariot , and walketh vpon the winges of the winde , is so mercifull , that he suffereth his rayne to fall vpon bad and good , his sunne to shine vpon iust and vniust . For it is hee , that appoynteth the Moone for certain seasons , and by him the sunne knoweth his going downe . Hee couereth the heauen with clowdes , he prepareth rain for the earth , he maketh the grasse to grow vpon the mountaines , and greene hearb for the seruice of men . He doth command the clowdes aboue , and open the dores of heauen . Hee doeth send the first and latter raine , his clowdes droppe fatnes , hee onely maketh the vallies so full of corne , that they laugh and sing . If wee aske bread of our earthly father , will he giue vs a stone ? if we aske fish , will hee giue vs a serpent ? if we aske an egge , wil he giue vs a Scorpion ? Luk. 11. Much more will our heauenvly father giue good things vnto vs , if we labour for the meate that endureth vnto euerlasting life . Homil. 42. in Iohan. Chrisostom woondreth , that men will presume so much , to begge corruptible meate at Gods handes , seeing that among seauen petitions in the Lordes prayer , sixe are for the spirit and soule , and but one ( and not that altogether ) for the bodie . For the first three : hallowed bee thy name : thy kingdome come , thy will be done : are for the spirit and soule , the three last , forgiue vs our trespasses , leade vs not into temptation , deliuer vs from euill : are also for the spirit and soule . Onely this giue vs this day our dayly breade , is for the bodie , and not for foode of bodie onely , but for meate of the soule . Ceres the goddesse of corne and bread : is placed in the lowest roome of the heathen Gods and Goddesses , and her daughter Proserpina , was married to Pluto king of hel . Let Ceres , bread , bellie , and bellie cheere be last and least accounted of vs . As for her daughters , they are not virgines to be married to the great kinges sonne , but harlots to be married to Belzebub king of hell . Tertullian saith , that although God after the flood did permit the vse of flesh , yet to his people hee inhibited the vse of certaine meates : Li. 20. aduersus Marcinnē . consilium exercendae continentiae , a counsell & practise to exercise their continencie . vii . sonnes with their mother , were by that horselech & bludsucker Antiochus most cruelly put to death , 2. Mach. 7. because they would not eate swines fleshe agaynst the commaundement of the Lord . Moses refused to be called the sonne of Pharaos daughter , Heb. 11. and chose rather to suffer aduersitie with the people of God , then to enioy the pleasures of sinne for a season : esteeming the rebuke of Christ , Daniel . 10. greater riches then the treasures of Egypt . Daniel woulde not defile him selfe with the portion of the kinges meate , nor with the wine that he dranke : he would haue nothing but pulse to eate , and water too drinke . O yee adulterers and adulteresses ( sayth Iames ) knowe yee not that the frendship of this worlde is enmitie with God , Iam. 4. & Iohn sayth : if any man loue this worlde , 1. Iohn . 2. the loue of the father is not in him . Lay not vp your treasures therfore on earth , where the moth fretteth , the rust kankereth , the theefe breaketh thorowe and steale : but lay vp your treasures in heauen . where there is no moth to fret , no rust to kanker , no theefe too breake thorow and steale . For is it not a great folly to lay thy tresure in an Inne doubtfully , when thou maist lay it in thine own house safely ? folly to lay it in an house , which together with thy treasure thou shalt leaue behind thee certainly , & not in that house whither thou shalt go , find thy treasure assuredly , and abyde therin perpetually ? the fashion of this worlde passeth away , the heauens and the earth waxe olde , as doth a garment : O let vs then get that which endureth vnto euerlasting life . The heauens shal passe away with a noise , 2. Pet. 3. the elements shal melt with heate , the earth and 〈◊〉 works therin shal be burnt vp , o let vs then labour for that which the fire cannot consume , & which wil saue oursoules from euerlasting fire , If we would thinke vpon our name that we are christians , we would , vnles we should prooue our selues to be reprobates , not so much labour for this bellie meat . First let vs remember , that in our baptisme , we forsake the world , the flesh , & the ●iuel , for baptisme signifieth not only the death and resurrection of Christ , Rom. 6. b●● that we must dye to sin , and liue in newnes of life . How shal we ( saith Paul ) that are dead to sin , liue yet therin , Knowye not that al we which haue bin baptized into Iesus Christ , haue bin baptized into his death ? we are buried then with him by baptisme into his death , that like as Christ was raised from the dead , to the glory of the father , so wee should walke in newnes of life . Secondly , as thou art a christian , remember the estate of thy lord & maister here on erth . Doest thou brag of thy blood , thy progenitors , thy house & stock ? thy maister came as of a pure , so of a poore virgine espoused to a poore carpenter , who for lack of mony could haue no roome in the Inne , who did offer to the Lorde a paire of Pigeons , because he was not able to buy a lamb . Ierome noteth , that only poore & sinfull women are named by S. Math. in the genelogie of Christ , as Ruth a poore Moabitis , Ierom. & pore Mary the carpenters wife , to signifie howe Christ did vouchsafe to come of poore women , & came into the world to redeēe pore sinful persons , doest thou brag of the countrye Adam was made out of Paradice , and Euah in Paradice , yet the Diuell hadde more power ouer her then ouer him : they had both one name Adam , Gen. 5. reed earth : for this name , Adam was not giuen by God only to the man , but also to the woman . Thy maister was not borne in Ierusalem , whither the wise men came , but in little Bethlehem , as it was prophesied . Doest thou glory in thy houses , buildings , courtes , pallaces ? Thy maister was borne in a manger , the foxes haue holes , and the birdes haue nestes , but the sonne of man thy Lorde had no where to rest his heade on . Doest thou boast of thy bagges , thy coffers , thy welth ? When thy maister woulde haue payed tribute , Iudas bagge was emptie , Peter must run and fetch a peece of monie in the mouth of a fishe . Doest thou desire to be well spoken of , to haue the good will of the world ? There were generally iii. diuerse opinions of Christ : one , which flesh and blood could not reueale that he was Christ the sonne of God , an other of ignorance , that he was Elias , Ieremie , Iohn Baptist , or one of the prophets : the third was of mallice , that hee was a glutton , a drunkard , a bon companion , a friend to Publicans and sinners a coniurer , a woorker by Diuels . But what sayth he ? Woe bee vnto you when all men speake well of you , Luk 6. Why ? For so did their fathers to the false Prophets . But reioyce when they speake euil of you for so did they to the true Prophets , reioyce , and great shal be your rewarde in heauen . Finally , if you be a christian remember the resurrection of thy mayster Iesus Christ : Colloss. 3. and what of that ? if you be risen with Christ ( sayth Peter ) seeke those thinges that are aboue , where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God , I would to God we were as prouident and carefull to prouide foode for our soules , as brute beastes are vigilant and paynefull , to lay vp foode for theyr bodies . The Emmot doeth lay vp in sommer , foode for winter . Adelp . Istuc est sapere ( sayth Syrus in Terence ) non quod ante pedes modo est , videre : sed etiam illa quae futura sunt . This is wisedome , not to see those things only which lye before our feete , but to fore see thinges that are to come . Arist. hist. animall . 40. But as the fishe called Vrlica feedeth alwayes on a stone , and being taken from the stone , dyeth presently : so we doe so cleaue vnto to stones vntoo earthly thinges that wee account life lost , if they bee taken from vs , or wee from them . Nay I woulde to GOD wee did not thinke these corruptible thinges , to bee meete meate , Luk. 12. and sufficient food for our soules : and say with the rich mans soule , thou hast much goodes layde vppe for many yeeres , liue at ease , eate , drinke , and take thy pastime . But hearken , O foole this night perhaps thy soule shal be taken from thee . O foole , thou heapest vp riches , and canst not tell who shal be thine heire . O foole , 2. Chro. 12. Solomon made shields of gold , but Rehoboam his sonne , Iob. 10. made them of brasse O foole , in one day the Arabians tooke away Iobs oxen and his Asses , the fire of God burnt vp his sheepe & his seruants : the Caldeans tooke away his cammelles and slew his men . O foole it is more easie for a cammell to goe thorowe the eye of a needle , then for one that trusteth in his riches to come to heauen : O foole what shall it profit thee to win the whole world , & loose thine owne soule ? O foole what recompence canst thou make to redresse thy soule ? o foole , thou art not assured whether thou shall liue one houre O foole , where thy treasure is , there will thy heart be also . Iames. 5. Goe to nowe yee riche men ( sayth S. Iames ) weepe and houle for the miseries , that shall come vppon , you , your riches are corrupt , your garments are motheaten , your gold and siluer is cancred , and the rust of them shal be a witnes against you , & shall eate your flesh as it were fire , you haue heaped vpp treasures for the last dayes . Take heede O yee rich and mighty , you see your calling , howe that not many wise men after the flesh , 1. Cor. 1 not many mighty , not many noble are called , but God hath chosen the foolish of this world to ouerthrow the wise , the weake too confounde the stronger . Why ? that no flesh should reioyce in his presence . What then ? that he that reioyceth , should reioyce in the Lord . Whom did the Lord choose for a captaine ? No expert souldiour . but Gedeon a thresher : whom made he ruler ouer Pharaos house ? none of the nobles , but Ioseph a bonde seruant , whom made hee the first king of Iuda ? not any of a great house , but Saule of the little tribe of Gemini , and of the least familie in the tribe . Whom made hee to rule his people after Saule ? no Prince , but Dauid a shephearde : whom had he to be his Prophet ? None of their Doctors , but Amos an heardman . Whom had Christ to his disciples ? No scribes , but simple fishers . Many widowes were in Israel in the dayes of Elias , to none of them was he sent , but to a poore widowe in Sarepta . To whom was the newes of Christ his birth first brought ? not to Herode , not to Pilate , not Annas or Caiphas but to shepheardes , yea , and very poore shepheards , for they kept their sheepe in the field all night . God woulde not haue his Altar made in a kinges court , but in poore Oruan his threshing flowre : the Lorde would not haue his temple in Euphrata , a plentiful soyle but in the wood , a barren wildernesse . This was done that God might haue al the glory . Of Sara being barren came Isaack : of Annah , whose wombe was dead , came Samuel : of Elizabeth , with whom it had ceased to be after the maner of women , came Iohn Baptist . And this was done , that GOD might haue all the glory . The Lorde gate victories for his people , with an Oxe goade , with pitchers , with Rammes hornes , with a iawe bone of an asse , with one sword , with a stone out of a sling , and this was done that GOD might haue all the glorie . Diseases were healed by spittle , by touching the hemme of a garment , by a napkin , by a shadow , and this was doone that GOD might haue all the glorie .

For there was no vertue in Shamgars oxe goade , nor in Ionathans sworde , nor in Sampsons Iawe bone , nor in Dauids stone , wherewith they ouercame the Philistines : no vertue in Gedeons pitchers , wherewith he ouercame Oreb and Zeb: no power in the Trumpets of Rammes hornes , wherewith the walles of Iericho fell downe : there was no vertue eyther in the hem of Christes garment , or in his spittle or in Paules napkin , or in Peters shadowe , wherewith diseases were cured : no vertue in Aarons rod , wherewith the dust of Egypt was turned into lice : no power in Moses hand , wherewith the red sea was deuided : no vertue in the Priests feete or Elias his mantle , wherewith Iordane was deuided : yet all these thinges were done by such bare , base , weake , & simple meanes , that no man should trust in the arme of flesh , that no man should seeke for any meate , that perisheth , and that God in all things might only haue the glory . Let vs now call to mind those excellent names and titles , wherwith the holy Ghost in the holy bible doth name vs : the remembrance and consideration whereof will somwhat withdrawe vs from labouring for that meate , which perisheth . Wee are called Angelles and Saintes , Priestes , and a kingely priesthoode . Kinges , and a royall nation : seruauntes of GOD , friendes of God , sonnes of God , heyres of GOD , and fellowe heyres with Iesus Christ : are wee Angelles and Saintes ? let vs then seeke the thinges that are aboue . Are we Priestes , and a kingly Priesthoode ? let vs then offer vp our bodyes , a liuely sacrifice , and not labour for the meat thereof . Are we kinges , and a royall nation ? let vs then lift vp our eyes to heauen , and not cast our faces down to the earth : lyke abiectes and bondeslaues . Are we seruantes of God ? wee cannot serue God and riches . Are wee friendes of God ? the friendshippe of this worlde , is enmitie with God . Are we sonnes of God , heires of God , and fellowe heires with Iesus Christ ? let vs then with our brother the prodigal son come home from feeding of swine , that we may haue the best robe on our back , a ring on our finger , shooes on our feet , the fatte calfe killed for vs , to eate and drinke , to singe , daunce , and be merye with our elder brother Iesus Christe , who sitteth in that house , which hath many mansions , preparing roome for vs . We were chaf , but now we are wheat : we were drosse , but now we are golde : we were rauens , but now we are doues : wee were goates , but now we are sheep : we were thornes , now we are grapes : we were thistels , now we are lillies : we were straungers , nowe are we citizens : wee were harlots , now are we virgins ? hell was our inheritaunce , nowe heauen is our possession : we were the children of wrath , we are the sons of mercie : Finally we were bondslaues to Satan , but nowe we are heires of God , and coheires with Iesus Christ .

We were once fet home , from going astray , let vs not agayne returne to the wildernesse : the candel was once lighted for vs , let vs not againe fall into darke holes : wine & oyle were once powred into our woundes , let vs not by wandring , fal again into hands of theeues . We were once founde : let vs not agayne loose our selues . Wee were once made aliue , let vs not againe kil our selues . Christ was once crucified for vs , Heb. 13. that we should onely reioyce in the crosse of Iesus Christ , whereby the worlde is crucified to vs , and we to the world , let vs not crucifie to our selues again the sonne of God , & make a mock of him . The bodies of those beasts , whose blood was brought into the holy place by the hie prieste for sinne , were burnt without the campe : therefore euen Iesus , that he might sanctifie the people with his owne blood , suffered without the gate . What is this to vs ? let vs therefore ( saith the Apostle ) goe forth to him out of the campe , for here haue we no continuyng citie , but we looke for one to come . Wilt thou ( O man ) go forth out of the camp ? Labour not so much to prouide meat for the campe . The workes of the fleshe are manifest : Gal. 5. as gluttony , dronkennesse , &c. They that doe such thinges , shall neuer inherit the kingdome of God . The fruite of the spirite is temperancie , and such like , against such there is no lawe : For they that are Christes , haue crucified the fleshe , with the affections , and the lustes : if wee liue in the spirite , let vs also walke in the spirit . Woe be to you , ( saieth Esay ) that ryse , to followe after dronkennesse , and are strong to drinke wine . Esai . 5. Wilt thou resist the diuell ? be sober , 1 Pet. 5. and watch , saieth Peter : beware , take heed ( saieth our Sauiour ) least your harts be ouerloaden with surfaiting and droukennesse , and that ayde come on you vnawares . Let vs then remember the time that we are in , and the consideration hereof shall call vs from labouring for this meate . 1. Thes. 5. Wee are not children of the night , nor of the darknes , that that day should come on vs , as a thiefe : wee are children of the day , and of the light : therefore let vs not sleepe , as other doe : but let vs watch , and be sober . For they that sleepe , sleepe in the night , and they that bee dronken , are dronken in the night : but let vs , which are of the day be sober , considering the season , it is nowe time that wee shoulde arise from sleepe : for now is our saluation neerer , than when we beleued it : the night is past , and the day is come , Rom. 13. let vs therfore cast away the works of darkenes , & put on vs the armour of light : so that we walk honestly , as in the day , not in gluttony and drunkennesse , not in chambering and wantonnesse , not in strife and enuiing , but put on the Lorde Iesus Christ , and take no thought for the flesh , to fulfill the lusts of it . Consider the time , for the deuill knoweth his time to be short , the yeares of his lease are now almoste expired , therfore now he will make hauocke . Consider the time : for the day of the Lorde is at hand , let vs waite for his comming . Consider the time , we haue had the Gospel these xxii . ful yeres : by reason now we should be able to be taken for tutors , to teach and gouern our selues . The sunne stoode still in the middest of heauen for a whole day , in the dayes of Iosua : neuer such a daye of light , as was in the dayes of Iosua . The sonne of God hath holden his sunn ouer this Realm a long time , neuer such a time of light , as hath beene in the dayes of Elizabeth . Many haue desired to see that we see , and could not see them : & to heare those thinges that we heare , but could not heare them . But yet beholde , the Niniuites , shall rise , and shal be able to condemne vs : for they repented at three dayes preaching . If such preaching had beene in Tyrus and Sydon , in Sodoma , & Gomorrha , in the new found landes , as hath beene in England , they woulde haue brought forth more fruite of repentaunce , then we haue done . Let vs therefore ( for it is time ) with weeping and fasting turne to the Lord our God . The Iewes in token of contrition and true repentaunce , did sometimes were sackloth , sometime tumbled in ashes , sontime did lye on the ground , rent their cloths , shaued their heds , & powred out water before the Lord , signifying that they were like vnto water , which being powred out , is troden vnder foote , runneth away , and is dryed vp .

Let vs rente our heartes , 1. Sam. 7. and not our garmentes , put on sobrietie , and not sackloth , tumble in heauines , and not in ashes , lye in mourning , and not on the ground : cut of the foreskin of our harts , and not shaue the hayre of our heades : powre teares out of our eies , and not water out of buckets : let vs weepe , as Ezechias wept , who turned his face to the wall , and wept heauily : as Mary , who fell downe behinde Iesus , and wept pitifully : as Peter , who remembring the wordes of Christ , went out and wepte bitterly . Wee are not commaunded to fast , eyther fortie dayes , as Moses before the law , as Elyas vnder the law , as Christ after the lawe , or superstitiously , or hipocritically , as the Papistes doe : but that euery man may truly say with Paule : 1. Cor. 9 I chastise my body , & bring it vnder subiection least when I haue preached to others , I my selfe become a castaway . The Lorde will prouide for them that seeke him . Marc. 8. The multitud was with Christ three dayes , and had nothing to eate , yet they were not hungry : bee strong then , O Sampson , a dry iaw bone shall giue thee water , before thou perish : Faint not O Israel , the Lord shall turne the hard rock into a standing water , and the flinte into a springing well , before thou perish : dispayre not , Elyas , the Angelles of heauen , the Rauens of the ayre shall feede thee , before thou perish . Die not , O Daniel , if none in Babilon wil pitie thee . Abacucke shal be brought out of Iewrie to bring thee meate , before thou perish : You cannot adde one cubit to your stature , after this meat the Gentles labour ▪ a sparrowe doeth not fall downe to the ground , without Gods prouidence , all the hayres of your head are numbred . I haue beene young , and now I am olde , ( sayeth Dauid ) yet I neuer sawe the righteous forsaken , nor his seede to begge their bread . O care not then for to morowe , the morowe shall care for it selfe : 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 The day hath enough with his owne griefe Let vs now examine our selues , Whether we labor for this meat , or noe . whether we labour for this meate , or noe . And so I come to my third part .

If we consider the great and gratious benefits , wherewith God hath blessed England : as peace , wealth , health , libertie , plentie , victorie , the Gospell , Preachers , Gouernours , so noble and wise counsaylours , so godly and so zealous a Princes : England hath receiued much : therefore of England much shal be required . England is not able to render ( I appeale to euery mans conscience ) one for a thousand , therfore is England very much indebtted . O London , daughter of England , thy siluer is become drosse , thy wheate , chaffe , thy gold , yron , thy wine water , thy grapes , thorns , thy figs , thistels : yet thou art taught the will of thy father more then other thy sisters of England : therfore , O London , with many stripes ( vnlesse the Lord turne to thee , & thou to him ) and that shortely , thou must needes be punished . For we al doe so draw iniquitie , with cordes of vanitie , and sinne , as with cart ropes , we so staine our selues with our own works and goe a whoring with our owne inuentions : as Iob in body , so we in soule are so sicke from the soule of the foote , to the crowne of the head , that ( had not the Lorde reserued a remnant amongst vs , had not oftentimes Aaron & Moses , Phinehes and Hester stoode in the gap ) England should haue beene , not like a cottage in a vinyard , not like a lodge in a garden of coucumbers , but should haue beene as Sodom , and like vnto Gomorrha . The Lorde may nowe iustly say to England , as hee somtimes spake vnto Babylon . Isay . 47. Come downe , and sit in the dust , O daughter Englande , thou shalt no more be called tender , and delicate , take the milstones , & grind meale , loose thy lockes , make bare thy feete , vncouer thy legs and thighs , passe through the floodes , thy filthinesse shal be discouered , thy shame shal be seene , I will take vengeaunce , and will not meete thee as a man : for God hath not dealt so with any nation , neither hath Asia , Africa , America , and the most parte of Europa such knowledge and preaching of his lawes . England hath not drunken at the hand of the Lord , the cup of his wrath , the dregs of trembling , as France , Flanders , and other her sisters haue done : Yet beholde Engelande doeth still heape vp vengeaunce against the day of vengeaunce ▪ and doth not consider , that the long suffering of the Lord doth lead herevnto repentance . If England would repent , the Lord wold continue to blesse her , to giue her victories ouer her enemies , that neither open enemies abrode , nor priuy conspirators at home , shal be able to doe her violence . Sisera by Deborah , a woman , shall haue a nayle knockt into his skull . Holofernes by Iudith , a woman , shal haue his head cut off . Abimelech by a woman , shall haue a peece of a milstone breake his brainepan . By Elizabeth , a woman , the Goates of Italy . The wolues of Spaine , the cormorantes of Rome . The Irish coltes , and the Foxes of England , that are now in Ireland , and all other her enemies shall so bee brought to shame , that as Abimilech cryed : O kill mee my page , that it bee not sayde , Iudg. 9. a woman hath slaine Abimelech : so shall they cry , O kill vs , earth deuoure vs , hilles couer vs , Sea swallowe vs vp , that it be not sayd , a woman hath thus triumphed ouer vs . Let praise & giuinges thankes , as a sweet odorifferous sauour assend into the nostrelles of the Lord of hostes , for the victorie that lately hee hath giuen to vs in Ireland . Goe tell them , ( if they haue any friende heere ) that those Goates , Wolues , cormorantes , Coltes , Foxes , shal be so hunted and bayted by an English Gray , that not one of them shall be left to pisse against a wall . And wee saye , that Christ spake of Herod , goe tell that Foxe , that lyeth hidden , wee preach to day , yesterday , to morow , and will preache , vntill the house of the Lorde bee made perfect . God graunt we may so doe . This is our hope , that though the Kinges of the earth stand vp together against the Lorde , and his annoynted seruaunt Elizabeth , though they rore like Lions , and stampe like fatte bulles of Bashan : yet the Lorde shall bruse them with a rodde of yron , and breake them in peeces , like a potters vessel . They shall bee like water that runneth a pace , like a snaile , like the vntimely fruite of a woman , lyke a tottering wal , like a broken hedge : the lord shal awake out of sleep , as a giant refreshed with wine , & shal put them to a perpetual shame . Ieroboam shal not be able to pul in his hand : Iezabel shal be hurled out at a windowe : Ahab shal be a portion for dogs : The Lord shal so fight for England , ( if we repent ) that his sword shal surfeite with flesh , & his arrowes shal be drunken with blood . Wherefore ( O England ) I woulde to God all England hearde my voyce ( & I would my voyce might sinke into your hearts , as it doth found in your eares ) It is time to leaue of labouring for worldly pelfe , and to take the bread and water of affliction with Michaiah : 2. Reg. 22. to mingle thy breade with ashes , and thy drinke with weeping , with Dauid : & to eate the bread of Barley and beanes with Ezechiel . Ezech. 4. As our Sauiour spake to the Iewes of the Scribes and Pharisies , so say I to you of the Papistes . Vnlesse your righteousnesse exceede the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharisies , I meane Papistes and Romanistes . You shall neuer enter into the kingdome of GOD . But alas for pitie , alas for shame , are not many that beare the name of Protestantes , and Gospellers , inferiour too them ? We vse our libertie as a cloake of loosenesse , wee turne the grace of God into wantonnesse , and the glorious gospell of Iesus Christ into lewdnesse . Are not wee come from the excesse , to the defect ? from blinde zeale , to wilfull vngodlinesse ? from ignoraunce in darknesse , to wickednesse in knoweledge ? from many Gods , to noe God ? from papisme , to Athisme ? from superstition , to irreligion ? they did fast often , we seldome : they came to the Church in the night , we scarse in the day : they gaue almes , we liue to our selues . I condemne not al , I speake of many . Did the Papstes these things for merit , for desert , for satisfaction , & should not we doe them of dutie , of pittie , of pietie and charitie ? They did bona , but not bene : good things , but to an ill ende . We now know what is bene , let vs doe bona . Did they these things in darknes ? should not wee doe them in light ? they in the night , & not we in the day ? they in blindnes , not we in knoweledge ? they in superstition , & not we in religion ? they to an ill end , & not we to a good end ? they at the commaundement of man , of the Pope : not wee at the commaundement of God , of Christe ? Nay , this is the saying of the worlde : Doeth he frequent the Church ? he is an hypocrite : doeth he fast ? he wil be saued by his workes . Doth he giue almes ? he is a Papist . O miserable worlde , wherein prayer is counted hypocrisie : zeale is counted folly : fasting and almes deedes are counted poperie . But what is the cause of this ? because we all labour for that meate which perisheth . Do not the Papists call vs loose libertines , carnall Gospellers , wanton Epicures ? doe not they in their motions make this an argument , to proue that they haue the true Church ? because they fast , praye , giue almes more then wee : because by Papists , colledges haue beene founded , churches erected , scholes builded , and almes houses set vp , and maintained : O happy were we ( for great should our rewarde be in heauen ) if for the name of Christ onely we were euil spoken of : but if we contemne prayer , despise fasting , abhorre almes deedes , pull from churches , defraud the ministers , throw down almes houses , gape after colledge lands , pluck at their formes ( as it is too true in many Englishmen at this day ) then I must say , O miserable wretches . Propter nos male audit nomen Dei inter Gentes , inter Papistas . By reason of vs the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles , among the Papistes . Let our Sauiour Iesus counsaile vs : make you bags , which waxe not olde , a treasure that can neuer fayle in heauen : let Paule giue you reasons . First , godlynes is great gaine , if a man be content with that hee hath . Secondly , wee brought nothing into this worlde , neither shall wee cary any thing out . Luk. 12 Thirdly , they that wil be rich , fal into temptation , 1. Tim. 6. & snares , & into many foolish & noisome lusts , which drown men in perdition & destruction . 4. the desire of mony is the roote of al euil , which while some lusted after , they erred from the faith , and pearced themselues thorough with many sorowes . But I heare you say , we labour for the meate of the soule : we heare the word , we loue the Gospel , we imbrace the preachers thereof , we haue forsaken the Popes yoke , and cast of the whores marke . I woulde to God many did not so : euen for the meate that perisheth , to keep their lands , houses , liuings , libertie , countenance ? the Gospell hath peace , quietnes , fruition of goodes ▪ and lands , I wil therfore be a Gospeller . Satan was deceiued in Iob. I fear , that if I shuld say , as he saide , I should not altogether erre , I wold , I might ▪ lord , doth this people feare thee for nought ? hast not thou made an hedge about them , made their house , made their substance to increase in the land ? but stretch forth thine hand and trouble that they haue , & they will curse thee to thy face . A man , & so God may haue many friends in time of peace & prosperitie : but in time of aduersitie & persecution , them is a friend tried . Wheat & chaff wil go together , vntil they come to the flayle : golde and drosse will goe together , vntill they come to the fire : rust and yron will goe together , vntill they come to the scourer : but then farewell wheate , and farewel chaffe : farewel gold , and farewel drosse : farewell rust , and farewell yron . Actes . 19. Are not now many zealous for the Gospell , as Demetrius the siluer smith was hot in mainteining Diana ? was he so zealous , because hee loued Diana , or her religion ? No , no : but because ( as he confessed ) he had his liuing by making of shrines for the goddesse . The young man wil folow Christ , vntill he come to this , fell thy goodes : then farewell Christ : take vp your crosses ( saieth Christ ) lay down your purses , and folow me . Why were the Priests of Babilon ( marke whether this bee not true in the priests of Rome ) so furious against Daniell , speaking against Bell ? was it for loue and zeale they bare to Bell ? no , no : there was spent vpon Bell euery night 108. gallons of fine flowre , 40. sheepe , and 60. gallons of wine . The Priestes should haue lost this , if Bell had gone down . This was the cause of their fury zeale . They serued God Bell in the day , but God belly in the night : wee serue God belly day and night : they sayde : great art thou , O Bell , and with thee there is no deceite : We cry , great art thou O belly , and with thee there is no deceite , thou eatest vp all . Philopenus is nowe euery where , who desired hee might haue a necke as long as a Cranes necke . But where is Peter , Andrew , Iames , Iohn , Mathew , who forsooke all , and followed Christ ? Yea , but Zacheus gaue but halfe his goods to the poore : De Zacheo . why did he not geue al ? Because ( as Chrisostome noteth ) the other halfe he reserued , to render foure folde , if hee had defrauded any man , as hee himselfe promised . Nay Christ shal bee welcome among the Gergesens , Math. 8. but if they loose an hogge , I pray you sir departe , your roome is better than your companie . Great was the loue and zeale of Ornam , who gaue bullockes to Dauid , and made fire with his threshing instruments . ● . Chro. 21. Great was the loue and zeale of Elizeus , who , when Elias called him , ● . Reg. 19. slewe oxen , & did seeth them , with the instrumentes of the oxen . But we must doe more then this , if our right hand , or eye offend vs , we must cut them off , and pull them out .

What shall I say ? the end of the world must needs be at hand , because that men doe so loue themselues . To heare of warres ( saith our Sauiour ) to haue pestilence , Math. 24. famine , earthquakes , these are but the beginnings of sorowe , but when besides these , iniquitie shal haue the vpper hand , and the loue of men shall fayle , then behold he is at the doores . In that the preachers of gods word are so neglected , and so litle prouided for , 2. Reg. 18. doth proue that the Lord is at hand , and wil shortly take vengeance . I would all Magistrates , and Patrones of benefices would folow the example of good king Ezechias , who in the first yeeare , yea , the first moneth of his reigne , did command the people to giue a part to the Priestes & Leuites , that they might be encouraged in the lawe of the Lorde . Liuinges are not geuen , they are solde as common as oysters at Byllingesgate . This is the cause that Ministers are not , nor cannot be so liberal , as their predecessors haue been : yea , this is the cause why doltes , ignorant Asses , idle , & idole Shepheardes haue the liuinges . I call them Idols : I wil proue it . They haue eyes and see not , eares and heare not , handes and minister not , tongues and speake not : I was about to say , they haue mouthes & eate not , but then I shoulde haue slaundered them : In this I confesse they are not Idols . A good scholer , and an honest godlie minister , will rather beg , then buy your liuinges , O yee robbe Churches , whose portion shal be fire and brimstone too drinke : for you are the causes , why many thousands of soules haue perished : of you , O the benefice mongers , shall be required , not hand , for hand , or eye for eye : but blood for blood , life for life , and soule for soule . You make the ministers your seruing men , you make them iourney men , they haue the name , you haue the profite , they the straw , but you haue the corne , nay you haue some straw also . I could somwhat beare this , if here by , they for whom Christ died , were not famished : therefore in bitternesse of spirite , in griefe of hearte , in vexation of conscience , and in torment of my soule , I speake it : that euen nowe I doe see as it were , Pharaoh king of Egypt rising vppe to condemne you . Who when hee solde all the lande of Egypt , gaue straight commaundement , that no one foote of the Priestes landes shoulde bee solde . Gen. 47. Reade the hystorie . Hadd hee suche care for Idolatrous Priestes , and haue you no more care for the Ministers of Iesus Christ ? Are you Protestantes , you Gospellers , you Christians ? You are Athistes , Epicures , that say in your hearts there is no God . But perhaps fewe are heere of whom I speake : let me vtter a few words to you merchant men , whom I see present , and so I will end . Although Mercurie , ( who was supposed to bee the God of merchants , ) had winges on his feet , and had alwayes a cocke by his side , to signifie that merchantes shoulde be swift in their businesse , should be vigilant as the cock , or rise at the cocke crowing : yet labour not to greedily , to carefully for this meat for as the good hath in one hand a scepter to giue kingdoms , wealth , & riches : so he is pictured to haue in his other hand a rod wrapt in snaks , to giue poyson , ruine and death : beware , least while you gape for the scepter , you receiue snakes . And although your GOD is saide to haue kylled Argos , who had a hundred eies : least Argos shoulde perceiue the vniust dealying of the Merchauntes , yet the Lorde your GOD lyueth , who searcheth the corners , seeth the bottome , heareth the motions , and vnderstandeth the thoughtes of your heartes . But what sayeth the Prophet ? All men shoulde prayse the Lorde , but aboue all other , merchantes are bound to performe the same . For ( sayeth hee ) they that goe downe to the Sea in ships , Psal. 107. and occupie their businesse in greate waters , these men see the woorkes of the Lord , and his woonders in the deepe . And when there hee hath fully described the woonders and woorkes of the Lorde that they see , hee thus concludeth with a vehement exhortation : O that men woulde therefore prayse the Lorde for his goodnesse , and declare the woonders that hee hath done for the sonnes of men . Twoo thinges are required of you ( O yee Merchauntes ) to prayse the Lorde , and too declare his woonders , that you haue seene . vnto others . Forsake not the Lorde by goyng too your shippes : Remember the shippe that Ionas was in . Beware howe you haue felowshippe with heathen men , with Infidels , Athistes , and Papistes : because Iehosophat king of Iuda , 2. Chro. 20. ioyned with Ahaziah king of Israel , to sende shippes too Tarshish for gold , he was reprehended by Eliezer , and his shippes were broken . Take Christe into your shippes : when Christ was not in the shippe with his Disciples , the shippe was almost drowned . If Christ be in your shippe , let him not sleepe there : when he slept , the shipp had almost perished . Keepe him waking with prayer : singing with melodie in your heartes too the Lorde . To conclude , labour not for the meate which perisheth : for then you shall perish , but labour for that meate which doth endure vnto euerlasting life : for then the sonne of man shall geue you euerlasting life : for hee is a Lambe , and hee is a Lion : hee is a friend , and hee is a foe : hee is a Iesus , hee is a iudge , he is a Redeemer , hee is a confounder : hee will not bruise a broken reede hee will bruise with a rodde of yron : hee hath water , hee hath fire : hee hath heauen , hee hath hell : hee hath Angels , he hath diuels : he hath a scepter , he hath a sword : hee hath Vae woe : hee hath Euge , go too : he hath Benedicti , Blessed , he hath Maledicti , Cursed : he hath Venite , come , hee hath ite , goe : hee hath a right hand , hee hath a left hand : he hath ioy , he hath sorrowe : hee hath mercy , hee hath vengeance : he doth geue euerlasting death , and euerlasting life , to him therefore with the Father and the holie Ghost be geuen all honor glory , &c. Amen .

An ende of the first Sermon .

The ii . Sermon . LAbour not for the meat that perisheth . &c.

FOrasmuche as I haue shewed you the braod way , where you shulde not walke , & the wide gate , where you should not enter : it is reason that I declare the narrowe way , where you should tread , and the straight gate , where wee all desire to passe thorow . Behold I haue opened vnto you the woorkes of darknesse , which you must ca●● of , nowe I will geue you the armour of light , which you must put on . I haue dehorted you , and I hope thorowly dissuaded you from labouring for the meate that perisheth : Nowe in the tender mercie of God , in the bowels , blood and wounds of Iesus Christ , I exhort you , and I trust , I shal thorowly perswade you too labour for that meate which endureth vnto euerlasting life . Wherefore as our Sauiour reprehended Martha , Luke . 10. beeing carefull about many things , in preparing the dinner , not simply reprehending eyther her labour , as her hospitalitie , but reprehended her because she did not consider the time , wher in Christ taught Mary , and offered too teach her , and because shee preferred the dressing of the dinner , to the hearing of Gods woord , and afterwarde exhorted her too followe the example of her sister Mary , who had chosen the better parte , which neuer should bee taken from her . So after that I haue proued that we shuld not labour for the meat which perisheth , and that wee all are too carefull for many thinges , not considering the t●me , wherin our Sauiour doth so mercifully offer to teach vs : I must exhort you to choose the better parte , which neuer shall bee taken from you , that is , to labour for that meat which endureth vnto euerlasting life . For although the Lord did raine flesh as thick as dust , Exod. 16. feathered foules as the sande of the sea , and Manna as the hoare frost : yet he would haue euery man to labour , and gather it , one house might not gather it for an other , one man might not sell it , or giue it to another : euen so euery man must labour for this meate , gather it for himselfe be it neuer so plentie , being farre better then Manna : for Manna melted when the sun did shine , but this Manna , though heauen and earth should be on fire , and burne to ashes , continueth euer , endureth vnto euerlasting life . 2. Sam. 6. Although we need not go seeke the arke of GOD , 2. Reg. 22. as Dauid did , nor the booke of the law , as Iosias did : nor goe vp to Ierusalem to worship , as the Iewes did , nor desire that one might come from the dead , and teach vs , as the glutton did : we cannot say the law is in the mount with Moses , who shall goe vp , and fet it ? wee cannot say ( as in the dayes of Queene Mary wee might ) it is beyond the seas , who shal goe ouer and bring it vnto vs ? yet we must not be idle , negligent and carelesse , we must labour for it , although the worde be very neere vnto vs , euen in our mouths & our harts for to doe it , Deut. 30. as Moses spak to the Iewes : though the Lord hath put his lawes in our mindes , and in our hearts hath written them , he our God , and we his people : euery man doeth not ( or should not neede ) teach his neighbour , nor euery man his brother , saying : know the Lord : but all knowe him , from the least to the greatest , as Ieremy prophecied : Iere. 31. yet must we labour for this meate . Though Elyas cannot now say , I am left alone , 1. Reg. 19. Achab cannot say , there is but one Michiah besides my 400. Prophets : 1 ▪ Reg. 22 . though Elyas haue not onely Elizeus for his scholler : nor Elizeus onely Esay : nor Esay onely Ieremy : nor Ieremy onely Daniell : nor Daniell onely Aggeus , and Zacharias , nor the Lorde onely xii . Prophets that haue written , nor Christ onely eleuen good Disciples , but the Lord hath giuen the worde , and great is the company of the preachers : yet we must labour for this meat . Although the Ministers are not scattered abroade , as Iohn in Asia , Peter in Samaria , Phillip in Alexandria , Thomas in Aethiopia , Bartholomewe in India , Andrew in Scythia , Simon in Persia , Iudas in Mesopotamia , Marcus in Colonia , Nathanaell in Fraunce , 1. Theodoret. Ioseph of Aramithia in Scotland , and Paule in England : but the vniuersities , and other places are full of them : yet must wee labour for this meate . Exo. 2. Although the Midwiues neede not feare the kinge of Aegypt to hide Moses three monethes , Iosh. 2. and afterwarde to cast him out . Rahab need not to feare the king of Ierico , to hyde the spies vnder stalkes of flaxe , and let them downe at her window . 1. Sam. 19. Michael need not feare her father Saule , to let her husband Dauid downe at a windowe , and to lay an Image in his bead . 1. Reg. 18 . Obadiah need not feare Queene Iezabell , to hide a hundred Prophets in a caue . Act. 9. The Disciples need not feare the hye Priestes to let downe Paule thorowe the wall , by a rope , in a basket . Moses need not feare Pharao , Exod , 4 . and saye , I haue a stutting tongue : Iere. 1. Ieremy need not feare the Iewes , and saye , I am a childe . Io. 1. Ionas need not feare the King of Niniuie , and so for to runne away both from him , & from the Lord : but all the Ministers of the Lorde are mainteined , and preserued : may vtter the message of their master , boldly with out feare , and freely without daunger : yet wee must labour for this meate , although the Lorde hath broken the bowe , and knapped the speare in sunder , broken our swordes into mattocks , and our speares into sithes : blessed vs with the crowne of peace , and crowned vs with mercie and louing kindnes : yet must wee labour for this meate , Gene. 42. if it were a time of derth , of scarcitie , of penurie , them we might haue some pretence to labour for belly meate , as Iacob did send into Aegypt for corne : 1. Sam. 25. as Dauid did send to Naball for victuall : then we might seeme to haue some coulour of cause to doubt . and to be ouer carefull , Num. 11. as Moses was , when he sayde : shall the sheepe & thebeeues be slaine for them , or shal al the fishe of the sea bee gathered for them , and suffise them ? as King Iehorams seruaunte , who mocked the Prophet , prophecying the plentie of corne to bee the next day ? and sayde , though the Lorde woulde make windowes in the heauen , 2. Reg. 7. could this come to passe ? As Saint Andrew , who sayde , there is a little boy heere , which hath fiue barly loaues , and two fishes , but what are they amongst so many ? Io. 6. If I say , we were brought into such extremitie , as they were , fleshe and bloud woulde be ready to doubt . But seeing God hath blessed the fruite of our cattell , the increase of our kine , the flockes of our sheepe , our basket , our dough , seeing al his blessings are come vpon vs , and ouertaken vs , Deut. 28. as hee promysed to them that feare him : why should wee labour to fulfill the lustes of the fleshe , and take no care to prouide victuall for our soules ? I pray God those things be not the fall of England , which were the vtter ruine of Sodome . They were iiii . sinnes : Ezech. 16. pride , pride aboundeth in England : fulnesse of bread , gluttony triumpheth in England : idlenesse : idlenesse is succoured in Englande : contempt of the poore , & beholde this sin , hath , as a Queene gotten the vpper hand in England . Aboue all other vices . The way to heauen is a narrow way , the gate is a straight gate : then wee must striue and labour to enter in . The kingdome of heauen is a treasure hid in the ground , it is a pearle of great price in a far country : then must we take our spade & dig : then must we enter into ship , and passe ouer the seas . We are in the Lords Vinyarde , not they that sleepe and are idle shall haue their penny at night : but they that worke and labour . Thou art promised to haue , but thou must aske , and haue : thou shalt finde , but thou must seeke and finde : it shal be opened vnto thee , but thou must first knocke , and then it shal be opened . Knocke like the woman of Canaan , Mat. 15 . who continued knocking , although shee was three times repelled , and the gate of mercie was shut against her , not that she should not enter in : but that with more earnestnes , desire , and vehemencie shee myght knocke , and euen prye thorowe the chinkes of the gate : so must wee labour by prayer for our meate , and though we haue not our petitions at the first , second , and third knocking , yet we must knocke : Act. 12. as Peter continued knocking at the dore , before hee coulde come in . Labour to see Christ , Luk. 19. as Zacheus , who , being a man of worship , in the middes of a citie , did climb vpon a wild Fig tree , like a boy to see Christ , because he was a man of lowe statute , and coulde not see Christ for the prease .

Let vs labour by fayth , as did the sick of the palsey , to come to Christ , who seeing hee could not goe in at the dore , for the multitude , was let down thorow the roof of the house , which they vncouered . Mar. 2. Let vs labor by faith to touch the very hem of Christes garment , as did the woman , who had an issue of blood twelue yeares , and had spente all her money on Phisitians . Mat. 9. If wee thus labour , saluation wil come into Zacheus house , the dropsie shall bee cured , the issue of blood shal be stopped . Remember what a iorny the queen of Saba tooke to come to heare the wisedome of Solomon : 1. Reg. 10. Remember the trauell of the Eunuche of Ethiopia , Candaces the Queene of the Ethiopians chiefe gouernour , who had the rule of al her treasure , and came to Hierusalem to worship : Act. 8. Remember the long iourney of the wisemen who came from the farthest parte of the East to see Christ . The Iewes went vp euery yeere to Hierusalem , Mat. 2. the Papistes trauaile farre and wide on Pilgrimage , to see reliques , dead mens bones , monuments , images , monasteries , and such like trumperie , and they thinke theyr labour well bestowed .

All these shall ryse when the trumpet shall sound , and shal be able to condemne vs , if we will take no paines , suffer no labour , moue scarse a foote , to heare the word of God , to receiue the euerlasting Nectar , and the heauenly Ambrosia , to refresh , to nourish , to cherish , yea to preserue our soules vnto euerlasting life . But what is meate in this place ? whatsoeuer pertaineth to the renuing and amendment of this life , or to The chiefest part wherof , is that , which is hid from the wise and mightie of the worlde , that which is receiued of the poore and simple , that which is the power of God vnto saluation , to euery one that beleeueth the glorious Gospel of Iesus Christ : and because meat doth not nourish a dead carcasse , we must labour for fayth , the life of the soule : and because this meate cannot bee digested in our soules , without the effectuall operation of Gods spirit , we must thirdly labour for the holy Ghost : who is promised to be giuen to all them that in a right and true prayer shall aske for him of the Father in the name of the sonne , although hee descend not like a doue , Mat. 3. as vpon our Sauiour , nor in the forme of clouen and fierie tongues , Act. 2. as vpon the Apostles . He is now to be sent not to be seen of our bodily eies : but into our harts , where he cryeth , Abba , Father , as the Apostle saith : because we are sonnes , Gala. 4. God hath sent forth the spirite of his sonne , into our heartes , which cryeth , Abba , father . It is a true saying , Bona magis carendo , Cicero . quam fruendo sentimus . We better perceiue and feele the commoditie of a thing , when we lacke it , then when we haue it . For who doth better consider the benefit of the warm fire , then he that is frosen with colde ? who doeth better thinke on the commoditie of libertie , then the prysoner ? who doeth better remember the vse of apparell , then he which is naked ? who doeth more esteeme of meate , then hee that is almost famished ? for after a long colde winter , a little sun shining is fayre weather : after great sorowe , one dayes pleasure is a paradise : after a long bloody warre , a little peace is a merye world : and after long hunger , browne bread is good cheare .

Now if wee could eyther thinke on their extreame miserie , who like the woman of Canaan , like hungry dogs would gladly picke vp the crummes , that fall from our table , and can haue no more of them , then the prodigall sonne had of the swines huskes : or at least woulde call to minde our owne miserable famine , when like poore Lazarus , wee lay begging at the rich mans gate , dogges hauing more mercy then men , and wee no more satisfied then Tantalus with his apples . We would no doubt labour to obtaine by Christ , Mat. 8. not houses , or liuings as that Scribe : Mat. 20. not to bee Lordes and Dukes , as Iames and Iohn : not to haue belly cheare , as in this place the Iewes did : but for the meate of the soule , which endureth vnto euerlasting lyfe . But what was our famine , how were we vsed , or rather abused ? Sower leauen was put to our sweete bread : Coloquintida was cast into our potage : chaf thrown among our wheate : sand mingled with our dough : amongst our gold there was drosse : wee had water for wine : brasse for siluer : the cuppe of the whore , for the cup of the Lord : wormewoode , for hony : gall for Manna : the legende , for the Gospell : wolues , for shepheards : the inuentions of man , for the commaundementes of God : man for God : Antichrist , for Christ : the son of perdition , for the sonne of GOD .

Agayne , the worde was deliuered vnto vs in a straunge tongue : that neither we could tel how to daunce , when they blewe the pipe , nor how to behaue our selues in battaile , when they did sound the trumpet : 1. Cor. 14. neither the vnderstanding was bettered , nor the congregation edified , nor the vnlearned , at the giuing of thanks , coulde say Amen : but they were Barbarians to vs , and we Barbarians to them .

Furthermore , the common people might not reade the worde , they might not once taste of that heauenly foode , vnlesse the Priestes had first chewed it in their own mouths : whose mouths were full of bitternesse , whose throates were open sepulchres , whose teeth were venomous , whose tongues were ful of deceite , vnder whose lippes was the poyson of aspes : who did eate vp the Lords people as bread , whose feete were swift to shedde the blood of Saints , but right deare in the sight of the Lorde is the death of his Saintes .

But why might not the people reade the word , taste this meate ? they ( forsooth ) gathered damnable errours , and sucked out thence deadly poyson . Because our Sauiour sayde : Mat. 13. it is giuen to you to know the secreetes of the kingdome of heauen , but to them it is not giuen . Mat. 7. Because hee sayd again : giue not that which is holy to dogges , neither cast ye your pearls before swine .

First , 1. Chron. 13. I aunswere , that Vzza for putting forth his hande to holde the arke , when the oxen did shake it , 2. Chron. 26. died before the Lorde : that Vzziah burned incense , and was therefore stroken with a leprosie , because they vsurped the offices of the Priestes and Leuites , contrary to the expresse commaundement of God . But if this was spoken to all , Io. 5. and be the dutie of all Christians , searche the scriptures . I do not only say wo vnto them , because they shut vp the kingdome of heauen before men , they themselues will not goe in , nor suffer them to goe , that would enter : but I exhorte them to remember the blinde zeale of Christes Disciples , in forbiddinge children to come vnto him , rebuked : suffer little children to come to mee , and forbidde them not : Mat. 19. the blinde zeale of Ioshua requesting Moses to forbid Elead and Medad to prophecie , Mat. 19. reprehended : Num. 11. I would to God that all the Lords people were Prophets .

The blinde zeale of Iohn , willing Christ to forbidde one to cast out deuils in his name , Luke . 9 misliked , suffer him , hee that is not against me , is with me . The blind zeale of Nadab and Abihu , because they offered straunge fire , condemned : who because they offered not that fire , which came from heauen , but straunge fire , were deuoured of fire . An euerlasting fire is reserued for those , Leuit. 10. which haue troaden vnder foote the doctrin that came from heauen , & haue brought in straung doctrine , which neuer was in heauen . As that fire , so this meate came from heauen : in this they differ , that fire endured onely to the captiuitie of Babylon : but this meat endureth vnto euerlasting life . Wherfore , though Peter , or Paule : though Gabriel , Gala. 10. or Michael , Cherubim , or Seraphim , teach any other thing , than that we haue receiued of the Lord , who came downe from heauen , and brought this meate from heauen , let him be accursed : as I said before , so I say again : if any of these bring any thing besides that , which we haue receiued of the Lord , let them , and euery one of them , be accursed . Secondly , I answer , that though the spider doe gather poyson , where the Bee doth suck hony , yet there is no poison in the sweet flower , but the corrupt humour that is in the spyder , doth turne the sweet iuyce into poison : so there are no errours , nor heresies in the word of god , but the corrupt & venomous nature of man , doth turn the comfortable sap of Gods word into deadly poyson . Now , if the spyder gather poyson , let not therfore the Bee be driuen from the flowers : though the sons of Satan , doe gather errours , and suck that which vnto them is poison : yet let not therfore the children of GOD , be forbidden to sucke mylke , which shall saue their soules . Christ is put both for the fall , and also for the rysing , agayne of many in Israell : Luke . 2. he is a rock to buylde on , 2. Cor. 4. and hee is a stone that will grind to powder : Mat. 21. if the Gospell be hid , it is hid to them that are lost , it is vnto some the sauour of death , Rom. 9. vnto death , to other some the sauour of life vnto lyfe . It is not giuen to them to knowe the misteries : Mat. 13. who are they , to whom it is not giuen ? it followeth , that people , whose heart is waxed fat , whose eares are dull of hearing , who winke with their eies , least with their eies they shoulde see , and heare with their eares , and vnderstand with their heartes , and should returne , that I might heale them . The Gospell ( saieth Paule ) is the misterie hid since the world began , and from all ages , but nowe is made manifest to the Saintes of God , to whom GOD would make knowne what is the riches of his glorious misterie among the gentiles . Dogs must not haue that which is holy . There is a dogge , which turneth about , and teareth them that doe offer holy thinges . Let not this dogge receiue that holy thing . There is a dogge , that cryeth with the woeman of Canaan , trueth Lord , I confesse , that I am a dog , yet the whelps may gather vp the crums that fal from the childrens table : Christ wil haue that holy thing to be giuen to this dog . Cast not pearls before swin . Truth , if they bee foule , and treade them vnder their feete , or if they bee washt , and returne backe too their wallowing in the myre . But if wee which were swine , are by the blood of Christe washed , and by the water of regeneration sanctified , & of swine are made lambes , let vs haue that pearl , we wil not tread it vnder our feete . One Gospell , yet diuersly it worketh in diuers mens heartes . Water wil harden yron , and soften the earth . The Sunne drieth clay , and melteth waxe : the seede in good ground , bringeth forth increase : but sowed among stones or thornes , it bringeth foorth no fruit . The fault is not in the seede , but in the soyle : the Sunne to vs that haue cleare sight is comfortable : to the man that is poreblinde , it is hurtfull . Blame not the Sunne but the foole that will turne his eyes towardes the Sunne . Suger to vs that bee in health is sweete : to the sicke of an Ague it is bitter : the Suger is not bitter , his tast is naught . Daintie meates to some stomackes are wholesome , to others they are fulsome , the fault is not in the meate , but in the stomacke . Euen so Christe crucified , is to the Iewe a stumbling blocke , 1. Cor. 1. to the Grecian folishnesse : but to them that are called , he is the power of God , and the wisedome of God : bee they Iew or Grecian , bond or free , male or female . Wherefore , thirdly I answere : though drunkardes and tosse pottes abuse wine , yet wine is profitable : though vsurers and couetous men abuse money , yet money is necessary : though cutters and swinge-bucklers abuse weapons , yet weapons are needfull . Right so , though the word of God by Heretikes , and Athistes bee abused , yet it is not to be forbidden . Because it giueth wisedome euen vnto the simple : Psal. 119. because it hath milke for babes , and strong meate for men : because it is a lanterne to our feet , and a light to our pathes : because it doth lighten vs that sit in darknesse , and in the shadow of death and doth guide our feet into the way of peace . Otho Cardinalis . Let them with Otho reason thus absurdly : the title set ouer Christs head by pilat was written in Hebrew , Greek , and Latine : therefore the worde muste be read in one of these tongues , wee thus affirme : Gen. 19. that God , who did confounde the tongues of all men at the building of Babell , they before hauing all one language : that God I say at the beginning of the building of his church did giue to his Apostles and seruantes , not onely the knowledge of Hebrew , Greeke , and Latine , but of all languages in the worlde : that all tongues vnder heauen , all nations vnder the Sunne might , reade , heare , and pray , in their owne language , in their owne mother tongue . Cyprian . Wee therefore say with Cyprian Non videndum est , quid aliqui ante nos fecerunt , sed quid ille , qui ante omnes est , faciendum mandarit . We must not care , what they haue doone which were before vs : but what hee doeth commaund to be doone , which was before all . Let vs then remember our miserable estate , howe wee sate downe and wept , to remember Syon : howe we sought the word in strange Countries , howe the Gospel was mingled with vanities : how it was in a strange language how it was hid from the common people . O let vs nowe then bee thankefull vnto the Lorde , and that the world may knowe that wee are thankefull , let vs labour for that meate whiche indureth vnto euerlasting life . Iud. 16. As the Philistines coulde not preuaile against Sampson , although his heyfer had betraied him , and his hayre cut of , vntill they had pluckt out his eies : so the Papistes could by no means so sone get the vpper hand , as by pulling out the eyes of the people , by taking from them their light , sight , knowledge , and vnderstanding , making them blinde , Marke . 8. not as whelpes , whiche see after ix . dayes , not as the blinde man , who sawe men as trees : not as Paule whose eies were open , yet sawe nothing by reason of his scales : but as blinde as Moles , Gen. 19. as blinde as beetles , as blinde as the men of Sodome , who coulde not finde Lots doore : as blinde as the king of Arams seruantes , 2. Reg. 6. who came to bring Elizeus to their maister , but were by him , not seeing whither they wente , brought into Samaria . But as the Lorde opened the eyes of Hagar , that she sawe the well of water : as he opened the eies of Elizeus his man , that hee sawe the mountaines full of Chariots and horses of fier : as hee opened the eies of Paule , that the scales fell from his eies : so hath hee nowe opened our eies , that wee see the wonderous thinges of his lawe , the light of his truth , the brightnesse of his woorde , the shining beames of his glorious Gospell . Noah reioyced when hee sawe the Doue come in with a leafe in her mouth , wherby he knew the waters were abated : Ioshua reioyced when hee sawe the Sun stand still for a whole day , whereby hee knewe his enimies shoulde bee discomfited : Israell reioyced , when hee sawe the clowde , or the piller of fier whereby hee knewe that by the Lord he was guided . Elias reioyced when he saw the clowde no bigger then an hande , whereby hee knewe the earth should be watered : Ezechias reioyced when hee sawe the shadowe goe backe x. degrees , whereby hee knewe his dayes were prolonged : the wise men reioyced when they sawe the starre , whereby they knew that to Iesus they should be conducted . The wise men reioyced when they sawe Christe in the manger : the shepheardes when they harde the newes . Simeon , when he imbraced him in his swadling clowtes : Thomas , when hee felte his woundes : Steuen , when he saw the heauens open . Euen so iust cause haue wee to lift vp our heartes and reioyce . For many kinges , wise men , prophetes , fathers , haue desired to heare those things which wee heare , and coulde not heare them , and to see those dayes which wee see , but coulde not see them . The Lorde graunt , that as wee haue eies and see , taste and feele this meate . So we may haue mindes to desire it , and willes to labour for it . Againe , remember , 1. Sam. 13. as the Philistines left neuer a whetstone , no speare , onely two swordes , no smith in all the lande of Israell , least said they , the Hebrwes make them swordes and speares , and so preuaile against vs : so the vncircumcised Romanes , the Popish shauelings , the superstitious , Egyptians , Chirstians without , & none within , Iewes in the flesh , & not in the heart , Israelites in the letter , and not in the spirit , who sought praise of men , but none of God , left very fewe whetstones , few swordes , that is , very few Testamentes and Bibles , left fewe Smithes , that is fewe builders in Gods Churche among vs , least the Protestantes , said they , make them swordes and speares , and so preuaile against vs . O let vs reioyce and be thankful . For as Ionathan with one swoorde ouercame the Philistines : so Gods ministers by one swoorde , the sworde of spirite , the worde of GOD , haue pulled downe the power & kingdome of Antichrist . God graunt he neuer rise again in England . As waxe melteth at the Sunne , as the fat of lambes consumeth before the fier : as the heate dryeth vp the clowdes : as the Lion goeth into his denne , when man goeth foorth to his worke , as the Owle flieth to his hole , when the day starre appeareth : as Dagon fell downe before the arke of the Lord : as Bell & the Dragon were destroied before the face of Daniell , so the mists of Egypt vanished , the Lions of Babilon were vanquished , the owles of Rome departed , the fat gre●e of Antichriste melted , the Gods of that Sunne of perdition were with vs in Englande all destroyed , they al come to nothing , when it pleased the Lorde too sende his fier , his heat , his sonne , his day starre , his ark and his Daniell , that is , his worde and ministers amongst vs . Let vs then remember howe cruelly we were handeled , and reioyce in the Lorde that wee are so mercifully deliuered : but I would to God that many were not sory for the departure of this whoore out of England : loke you to your selues , chiefly O ye merchants . For you may seeme to haue most cause to lament for the fall of that great strumpet , For thus sayth the Angell : Apoca. 18. The kinges of the earth shal bewaile her , and lament for her , which haue committed fornication with her : they shall cry , Alas , alas , the great citie Babilon , that mightie citie : but why shall they so lament ? because , saith hee , they liued in pleasure with her : yea chiefly the merchantes of the earth ( saith the Angel ) shall weepe and waile ouer her : yea , euery ship maister , and all the people that occupie shippes , and shipmen , and whosoeuer trafficke on the Sea , shal stande a farre of and crye : Alas , alas , that great citie . But why shal merchants and all shipmen crie so ? Because no man buyeth their ware any more : and by that whore ( saith hee ) were made rich al that had shippes on the Sea , by her costlinesse . Bee not sory for her : marke what the Angell saith in that place : O heauen , reioyce of her , and the holy Apostles and Prophetes , and pray vnto the Lorde that she neuer returne hyther againe . 1. Sam. 5. When Dagon fel downe before the arke of the Lord : the first time , hee was not broken : hee was set vp the second time , but then the head of Dagon and his handes were broken of . That whore of Babylon fell downe once in the dayes of king Edward , and was set vp again in the dayes of Queene Mary . But nowe in the glorious raigne of our Souereigne Elizabeth , shee is fallen downe the seconde time , not only her head , and her handes are broken of , but wee hope that all her body is grounde to powder : a curse come to him that shall goe about to set her vppe againe . Cursed bee that man ( saith Ioshua ) before the Lorde , that ryseth vp and buildeth this Citie Ierico : Iosh. 6. yet Hiell did builde Ierico , 1. Reg. 16. but a curse came to his whole stocke and house for it . So cursed be that man before the Lorde , that shall beginne to builde that towre of Babell , that seate of Antichriste in Englande againe . But as the Lorde commaunded Ierusalem to be distroied , and all the Iewes , though Iulian the Emperour did with all his power aide them , were not able to build it : so the Lord hath throwne downe this whore : and we trust that all the kings of the earth all Popes , all Priestes , all Monkes , all Friers , all Nunnes shall not bee able to lift her vp againe . She was in England a glorious whore , & a gorgeous whore , therefore her desolation is more shamefull : she was in England an high whore , and an heauie whore . Therefore her fal is the greater , 3. Reg. 9. as Iezabell was hurld out at a windowe , eaten vp of dogges , only her skull , the palmes of her hands , & her feete remaining , the which the seruants of Iehu buried : so wee thanke our God , who hath throwne downe this great Iezabell , and we pray that if any thing of her be left , it shal be buried . O let vs then loue & embrace the Gospel : followe and obey the Gospell , and continue in our profession to our liues end . I say , 1. Cor. 16. continue , abide , endure , stand fast , be stronge , quiet your selues like men . You haue put your hands to the plough looke not back , least you be iudged vnfit for the kingdome of God . For not euery one that runneth , but he that runneth to the goale , hath the garland : not euery one that entreth into a ship , but hee that goeth ouer the Seas , bringeth home treasures : not euery one that worketh in the vineyarde , but he that continueth working vnto night hath the peny : not euery one that fighteth , but hee that ouercometh shall haue the crowne : To conclude , not euery one that beginneth well , but that endureth vnto the ende , shal be saued . Nowe you follow the Gospell : but I feare many are like the snaile , who pulleth in her hornes , if any man goe againste her : Nowe you laboure for the meate of the soule : but you are in your houses , like the snaile , rather than you will loose your houses , I feare many will fall from their standing : I loue the Gospell saith the worldly man , but as long as I am in my house , that is , as long as I haue peace , and quietnesse : but if persecution come , as lice forsake the head when the man is dying : as rattes forsake a house that is ruinous , or hath no victuall , so will I leaue the Gospell , if it bring a swoorde , or warre , or take away my goods . Marke . 14. All the Apostles forsooke Christe in time of danger , 2. Tim. 4. and Demas did forsake Paule , and imbraced this present worlde . But remember this O man , Hee that loueth landes , liuings , or life , more then the Gospell , ( it is as true as the Gospell , for it is in the Gospell ) hee shall neuer come to heauen , Marke . 8. bring hee neuer so manye keyes from Rome in his hande : Matth. 19. but hee that shall loose life , or liuing for the Gospell ( it is as true as the Gospell , for it is in the Gospell ) shall haue for his liuing a kingdome , for his life , a blessed , immortall , euerlasting life in heauen . Satan goeth about to winowe you as wheate : stande fast in the faith , a lawe in your members , rebelleth against the lawe of your mindes , stande fast in the faith : the fleshe fighteth against the spirite , stand fast in the faith : the worlde plucketh you by the sleeue to looke backe , stande fast in the faith . Athistes and Papistes , and other heretikes are tripping at your heeles , stande fast in the faith , it is worth the noting : that our Sauiour in the seconde and thirde of the Reuelation , Reue. 2. & . 3. doeth seuen times at the least vtter these wordes , hee that ouercommeth &c. There is life , and all blessinges promised onely vnto him that ouercommeth .

Nowe the heauenly Manna is plentifull in Englande , let vs prouide for warre though it bee a time of peace , let vs take our cloake though the sunne doeth shine : let vs prouide for a deare yeere , though the victuall bee plentie : I say stande fast , and labour for this meate , it bringeth therewith well fed thereby , fatte and in good liking , you may stande fast in the euill day . Amos. 8. For wee haue deserued that plague , wherof the Prophete speaketh . I will turne your feastes into mourning , and your songes into lamentations , I will bring sackcloth on your loynes , and baldnes on your heades , I will bring a famine in to your land , not a famine of bread , or thirste for water , but a famine of the worde of God . Act , 13. For if Paule and Barnabas were heere , they might haue iust cause to speake against vs as they spake against the Iewes : seeing , you put the woorde of GOD from you , and iudge your selues vnworthie of euerlasting life Loe , we turne to the Gentiles . Christ may truly denounce these words against vs ( if he shoulde deale according to our desertes ) the kingdome of God shall bee taken from you and shall bee giuen to a nation , Matth. 21. whiche shall bring foorth the fruites thereof . Mathew . 21. Let vs amende , least Christe curse vs as he cursed the figtree , when hee came vnto it , being hungry , and found nothing thereon , but leaues onely , hee doeth hunger and thirst after our good workes , but beholde howe we deceiue him , Luke . 13. for fruite wee offer him leaues , a man came to the dresser of his vineyarde , and bid him cut downe his figge tree , because he had come three yeeres and founde no fruites thereon : cut it downe ( saith hee ) why keepeth it also the grounde barren ? The dresser answered : let it alone this yeere also , till I digge rounde about it , and doung it . The Lorde hath come to his fig tree of England : not three , but almost xxiii . yeeres , and beholde , yet he findeth litle fruite : and hee woulde no doubt cut it downe , had not the dresser of this figge tree , Iesus Christe entreated him to let it alone , that hee by his worde & his labourers , might digge round about it & doung it . Behold that hath been doone , and yet this figge tree bringeth foorth small fruite , wee are like trees that haue their heades in the grounde , and sucke all their iuice from the earth : wee are like bruite beastes , who turne their faces to the grounde : wee are not like men , who shoulde turne our countenances towardes heauen , thence to fet our meate , and all good thinges , which by promise we may haue for the asking . Wee are like the corne growing on the house top , which withereth before it bee plucked vp , whereof the mower filleth not his hand , nor he that bindeth vp the sheues , his bosome . Our Sauiour Iesus , if hee were heere , shoulde bee moued to weepe ouer England , as hee wept ouer Ierusalem , and say , O England , Luke . 19. England , if thou hadst euen knowne at the least in this thy day those thinges which belong vnto thy peace , but nowe are they hid from thine eyes . I speake of many , I meane not all . O England thou sayest , the naturall branches are broken of , that I might be graft in through vnbeliefe they were broken of , Rom. 11. and thou standest by faith : bee not high minded , but feare . For if God did not spare the natural branches , take heed least hee will not spare thee . O remember thou man , thou doest not beare the roote , but the roote doth bare thee By Satan thou didst fall , & by Christ thou art raised vp , & ingraffed into the right Oliuetree . Lombar . li. 2 Qui incitatorem habuit ad malum , Distinct. 21. reparatorem habuit ad bonum , sicut hominis peccatum , per alium habuit inuitium , ita per alium habuit remedium . Hee that had a tempter vnto euill , had a restorer vnto good : as the sinne of man had a beginning by an other , so it had also a remedie by an other . Ambrose in Rom. 11. For very wel ( saieth Ambrose ) Non sunt Iudei reprobati a Deo , vt gentes entrarent , sed seipsos reprobos fecerunt , spernentes donum dei : vnde occasionem dederunt gentibus ad salutem : quam extollentiam reperiri vult , vt magis saluti congaudeatur , non aegretudini insultetur . The Iewes were not reiected of GOD , that the Gentiles myght come in , but they made themselues reprobates , contemning the gift of God : wherby they gaue occasion to the Gentiles to saluation : the which hautines , the apostle wil haue to be beaten down , that they mighe the more reioyce at their own saluation , and not insulte ouer the Iewes destruction . Take heede , why were they cast off : spernentes donum Dei : because they despised the gifte to God . For if the word spoken by Angelles was stedfast , and euery transgression and disobedience receiued a iust recompence of rewarde , Heb. 2. how shall we escape , if we neglect so great saluation ? Propterea tantam adiecit , Theophil in 2. hab. quod & mortis destructio , & demonum interitus , & caelorum imperium , cuncta haec exprolatis a deo sermonibus nobis sunt parta . Therfore ( saith Theophilact , did the Apostle adde so great saluation , because the destruction of death , the death of deuilles , the kingdome of heauen , all these thinges are gotten for vs , by the worde , which came from GOD Brag not , boast not therefore . Pride made Herod to haue a fall from his pulpet , and to be eaten of wormes . Nay , beholde a greater fall : pride made Nabuchadnezzar to bee a beast : nay yet a greater fall : pryde did thrust Adam and Eue out of paradise . And yet behold , I will shew one greater fal , pryde did throwe Lucifer , and manye Angelles moe out of heauen .

What shall I say then ? If GOD did not spare his owne people the Iewes , if hee did not spare Adam and Eue in paradise : if he did not spare his bright Angelles in heauen , will he spare vs ? if iudgement beginne at the house of GOD , 1. Pet. 4 . what shall the ende of them be , that obay not the Gospell ? If the righteous scarcse be saued , where shall the vngodly and sinner appeare ? did the naturall braunches wither , and were cast into fire , what shall bee done to the vnnatural ? Did the green tree suffer , what shall be done of the dry ? Loe , I beginne to plague the Citie ( saieth the Lorde ) where my name is called vppon , Ierom. 25. and should you escape ? let vs then be humble , and feare . Let vs not despise this great gift of GOD . That fire onely was to be vsed in sacrifice , which came from heauen : Moses must make all things according to the patterne he sawe in the mounte : Exod. 25. GOD write the lawes with his owne finger , that wee should make nothing of our selues , our owne braines , our owne heades , our owne pollycies , our owne inuentions . Let vs then receiue this meate , which came from heauen : and put nothing into it , least while we with the young Prophets , thinke to gather good hearbes : we gather , and cast Coloquintida into the pot . No water euer so good , as that which came out of the rocke : 2. Reg. 4. no meate so delicate , as Manna , which came from heauen : no wine so wholsome , as that which Christ made of water : no oyle so precious , as that which the Samaritan had : no robe so coastly , as that whiche the father gaue to the prodigall sonne : no bread , no foode , no meate , so profitable , as this meate of the soule , which doeth endure , and bring vs vnto euerlasting life . O contemne not this meate he that despiseth Moses law , dieth without mercie , Heb. 10. vnder two or three witnesses : of how much sorer punishment , suppose ye shall he be worthy , which treadeth vnder foote the sonne of God , counteth the blood of the newe testament an vnholy thing , wherwith he was sanctified ? and doth despite the spirite of grace , These men crucifie to themselues again the sonne of GOD , and make a mock of him .

This meat is water to refreshe vs , and wine to cheare vs : it is bread to strengthen vs , & Manna to nourish vs : it is a treasure to enrich vs , and a pearle to adorne vs , it is a leauen to heate vs , and salt to powder vs it is a sword to defend vs , and fire to purge vs : it is a salue to heale vs , and a lantorne to guide vs : it is a trumpet to call vs , and wisdome to enstruct vs : a way to directe vs , and lyfe to reuiue vs . If wee haue this meat , this leuen , this bread , this Manna , wee shall haue no neede of Elizeus to encrease our oyle , to augment our loaues , we shall haue no neede of his meale , to sweeten our pottage : wee neede not to waite at the gluttons gate , or sende to churlish Nabal for foode . If wee haue this treasure , we neede not rob the Aegyptians : if we haue this pearle , we shal not neede the gold of Ophir : if we haue this water , we neede not to drawe water at Iacobs well . Naaman need not wash himselfe seuen tymes in Iorden : the sick neede not to goe to the poole Bethsida for helpe : we need not Elizeus salte , or Moses tree to heale the venomous water : if we haue this sword , Peter may put vp his sword into his sheth : if we haue this fire , we need not the fire of purgatorie : if we haue this lantern , we neede not the Lanterns of Gedeon , to ouercome the Midianites : to conclude , if we haue this trumpet , we shall haue no neede of the Priests trumpets made of Rams hornes , to pull downe the walles of Ierico . 2. Reg. 5. For by this meate we shall doe all thinges , for it doth endure , and will bring vs vnto euerlasting lyfe . O then labour for this meate , and I speake vnto you , as sometyme Naamans seruant spake vnto him , when he refused to wash himselfe seuen times in Iorden , as Elizeus willed him . Naaman thus sayde : are not Abanah , and Pharapar ryuers of Damascus better then all the waters of Israell ? May not I wash me in them , and be healed ? but this man sayde : if the Prophet had commaunded thee a great thing , wouldest thou not haue done it ? how much rather then , when he saith to thee , wash and be cleane ? you are bidden to come for the water of life , for the bread of heauen . Doe not many say , there are other meates at Rome , other waters at Rome , better then all the meate and water , that is now in England ? O but I say vnto you : if the Lord should commaund you to doe a great thing , ought ye not to doe it ? How much more then , when he sayth , labour for the meate , which endureth vnto euerlasting lyfe , which I the sonne of man will giue vnto you ? this is but aske , and haue : seek and finde : knock , and it shall be opened . Let vs aske , let vs seek , let vs knock , let vs labour for this meate . Labour for this meate , O you people , and pray vnto the Lord , that his Ministers put their candell on a candelsticke with cherefulnes , and not vnder a bushell : labour for this money , and pray vnto the Lorde , that his merchantes may occupy with aduauntage with faythfulnesse , and not to hyde it in the grounde : labour for this seede , and pray vnto the Lord , that his husbandmen may sowe it with painfulnesse , & not hoard it in their barnes : Labour for this meate , and pray vnto the Lord , that his Stewards may distribute it with bountifulnes , and not keepe it in their closets . Labour for this , that is , Mat. 3. be earnest , hot , zealous , firy . God the Father did appeare in fire , Act. 2. God the Sonne doth baptise with fire , God the holy Ghost came downe in forme of clouen and fiery tongues : Iere. 44. but alas , are not yet the people as they were in the time of Ieremy ? they sayde to him , the word thou hast spoken to vs , in the name of the Lord , we wil not heare it of thee : but we wil doe whatsoeuer thing goeth out of our mouth , as to burne incense to the Queene of heauen , and to purge out drink offrings vnto her , as we haue don , both we , and our fathers , our kings and our princes , for then had we plenty of victuall , and were well , and felt no euil . Are not these the sayings of the romanists , and Papists ? first to graunt , that we haue the word of GOD : secondly , to say , we will not so much as heare it : thirdly , to follow their own inuentions . Againe , are not these their arguments ? first of custome wee haue done so , and our fathers : secondly of a generalitie : not we onely , but our fathers , our Princes , and al haue done so ? thirdly of their belly , then we had plentie of victuall , and felt no euill ? and to whome would they offer their sacrifice ? not to God , but as the Papistes doe , to the Queene of heauen . Aske the Papistes , how they prooue their religion to be the trueth , and they will drawe their argumentes from antiquitie , from custome , from vniuersalitie , and from the belly , as did the Iewes in the dayes of Ieremy . Nay , hath not the deuill raysed vp Iehoiakim from the dead , to burne the wordes , that Baruch had out of the mouth of Ieremy , Iere. 36. and Antiochus , to burne the bookes of the law , 1. Mach. 1. and delectation , to know the bookes of the Prophets and Apostles . Euseb. li. 8. c. ● But beholde , I shewe you a better way , and whome you should folow . When Moses made the arke , euery man was commaunded to bring somthing , the people brought to much , and were bidden to bring no more . And that no man should think , he were exempted from Gods work , Exod. 3● . he that hath no gold to bring , might bring Goates hayre , or badgers skinnes : if a woman were not able to buy a Lambe , it was accepted of the Lord , if she brought a payre of turtle doues , or two young pigeons . Euery man cannot be a head in this mysticall body of Christ , to be a King . Euery man cannot be an eie , to be a byshop , euery man cannot be a leg , to be a piller in gods church : yet euery one may be a hand to giue somwhat to the building therof , euery one may be an eare to heare the word , a tongue to prayse the Lord , and a mouth to receiue this meat which endureth vnto euerlasting life . when the people came home from Babila , they buylded the temple of the Lorde , before they builded eyther their own houses , 1. Esdr. 3. or the walles of the citie , they builded with one hand , hauing weapons in the other . All the people followed Dauid , to seek the Arke of God , and all went with Solomon to builde a temple vnto the Lord . How did the Iewes desire and loue this meate , 2. Esdr. 8. when they heard Esdras read the law from morning to noone , and wept bitterly . How did the people of Antioch labour , when the rulers of the sinagogue ( an example for officers to folow ) came to Paule , Act. 13. and his companions , and said : Men and brethren , if ye haue any word of exhortation to the people , say on ? When they besought Paule to preache the same sermon the next sabboth day : the nexte sabboth daye , the whole citie came together to heare the worde of God .

How did Cornelius labour ? when he wayted for Peters comming , he called his friends and kinred into his house to heare him ? Act. 12. for we haue not done our dutie if we our selues onely eate of this meate , vnlesse we cause them also to eat that belong vnto vs : as Cornelius brought his friendes to heare Peter preach : Io. 1. as Andrew brought his brother Simon : as Philip brought Nathanael , as Iohn Baptist brought his Disciples to christ : I was glad , saith Dauid , when they said to me , we will goe into the house of the lord . If we thus labour , the lord God wil raise vp cunning workmen for his temple , painfull labourers in his vineyard , faithful pastors of his flock , & good teachers of his people , as when Moses made the Arke , Exod. 31. he called Bezaleel by name : and when Soloman built the temple , he raysed vp Hyram of Tyrus , whome he filled with his spirit , to work in timber , siluer , brasse and golde . But it is not vnknown to vs , how the Popes shauelings , and that fat Priest of Rome himselfe , Nehem. 4. do mocke vs while we are building , as Sauballat mocked the Iewes , saying : what doe these weake Iewes ? will they fortifie themselues ? will they sacrifice ? will they finish it in a day ? wil they make the stones whole again out of the heapes of dust , seing they are burnt ? some deride vs , as Tobiah the Ammonite , did mock them saying : although they builde , yet if a fox go vp , he wil break down the stony wal . Some come to vs , as the men of Samaria came to Zerubbabel : Ezra . 4. we wil build with you , for we seeke the Lord your God , as you do . But he answered , & so doe we , it is not for you , it is for vs to builde the house vnto our God . Ye hypocrites , you speake good wordes to the people , but as Absolon , to steale away the hartes of the people from Dauid his father : you will proclaime a fast : but , as Iezabell , to kill Nabot : you will worshippe Christ , but as Herod to murther him : you wil kisse Christ , but like Iudas , you will kill Christ . You are knowne to the worlde , O ye Gibeanits , Iosh. 9. which fain your selues Ambassadours to Ioshua : bringing old sacks vpon your Asses , old bottelles for wine , olde shooes and clouted on your feete , olde rayment , dryed and mouled bread . 1. Reg. 14 . Doe you not knowe , that for all their old stuf they were knowen at three dayes end . Ieroboams wife disguised her selfe , and went to Ahiiah for her sonne , she caried ten loaues , and cracknels , and a bottell of hony : though Ahiiah were blinde , yet he sayd , come in thou wife of Ieroboam . So you disguise your selues : you bring hony in your mouths , there is none so blind , but he can say , come in , or rather , come out thou sonne of Antichrist . Gen. 26. You vsed vs ( and so you hope to doe again ) as the Philistines vsed Isaac , when they stopped , and filled vp with earth all the welles , which Abraham his Fathers seruantes had digged for him . The water for a time with earth may be stopped : fire for a time with ashes may be couered : the sonne for a time with clowdes may be shadowed : but now ( the Lord be thanked ) the erth is remoued , and the water doeth runne : the ashes are consumed , and the fire doeth burne : the clowdes are dispersed , & the sun doth shine . Now that we may long enioy these benefits , the Lord continue , & encrease the zeale of our soureigne , that shee neuer set her minde on that meat , which perisheth , not on any erthly thing , as did good king Dauid , when hee numbred the people , as did good king Ezechias , when he bragged of his treasure to the Ambassadours of the king of Babell : 2. Sam. 24. but to continue in maintaining the Lordes cause , 2. Reg. 22. not like Ioash , who did well all the dayes of Iehoida the Priest , 2. Chron. 23. and afterwarde fell from the Lorde : 2. Chron. 26. nor like Vzziah , who sought God as long as Zachariah the Prophet liued , and afterward forsooke God : but that as her dayes may be as the dayes of heauen , so to her liues ende , shee may labour for to keep among vs this meat of our soules , for this meat hath no end , but endureth vnto euerlasting life . That she may still haue before her eies the example of Dauid , who before all thinges did seeke the Arke of the Lord , & would haue builte an house for his God , and though he were forbidden , because hee was a man of blood , yet hee prouided timber and stone , and commaunded Solomon his sonne to builde it . That Solomon may bee in her remembraunce , who builte the house of God , before he built his owne courte . 1. Reg. 6 The house of God was 7. yeeres in buylding , but his owne was thirteene yeeres : not that he bestowed more charges on his owne house , 2. Reg. 18. but with more hast and speede he did builde a temple vnto the Lord . That she neuer cease to follow Ezechias , who first of all brake the Images , cut downe the groues , and brake in peeces the brasen serpent , that Moses had set vp : that she thinke alwayes on Iosiah , who being a childe , beganne to seeke after the God of Dauid his father , 2. Chron. 34. and did purge Ierusalem and Iudah : that she may alwayes thinke on the commaundement of the Lorde : when the kinge shall sitte in the throne of his kingdome , Deut. 17. then he shall write him this lawe in a booke repeated by the priestes : it shal be with him , and he shall reade therein al the dayes of his life , that he may learn to feare the Lord , his god , & keep al the words of this law , and these ordinaunces for to doe them . Now , for as much as meat doeth not nourish , vnles it be receiued , & by fayth we receiue it : Fayth . it cannot cherish vs , vnlesse it be digested , and by the heate of fayth it is concocted : it cannot profit vs , vnlesse it be kept in our hearts , and by fayth we retaine it : it doth no good , vnlesse we haue life , and the iust shall liue by fayth . It is very necessarie , that we labour for fayth , whereby we may perfectly be nourished , and well fedde with this meate : there is nothing that the deuill desireth more , then to haue fayth out of our heartes : therefore hee planted vnbeliefe in the heartes of Adam and Eue : for vnbeliefe they were thruste out of paradise : vnbeliefe in the heartes of Moses and Aaron , for vnbeliefe they neuer came into the lande of promise : vnbeliefe in the heart of Zacharie , for vnbeliefe hee was dumbe , vntill the thing came to passe whereof hee doubted . Faith is the euidence of thinges , Heb. 11. whiche are not seene : vnto faith did Christ call Mary : when he saide to her , touche me not , for I am not yet ascended to my father , Barnard sup. Cum iam ascenderit ( saith Barnard ) tum tangi ab ea velit , Cant. ser. 28. aut possit ? & vtique poterit , sed affectu , non manu : voto , non ocu lo : fide , non sensibus : woulde he , or could he be touched of her , when hee was ascended ? truely he coulde : but with the hearte , not with the hande : with prayer , not with the eie : with faith , & not with senses . By faith we see him as the wise men : Ephe. 6. we imbrace him as Simeon : we heare him as Mary , we touche him as Thomas . Faith is the shield whereby we quenche all the fierie darts of the wicked : Iohn . 15. by faith our hartes are purified : 1. Peter . 5. by faith we resist the deuill : Rom. 9. by faith we are the children of Abraham : Io. 5. by faith we shall not come to condemnation , but shal passe from death to life . no vertue by Christ so much commended as faith : be it vnto thee according to thy faith : thy faith hath made thee whole , I haue not founde so great faith , no not in Israell : O woman great is thy faith , be it vnto thee euen as thou wilt : to faith nothing is vnpossible . Whatsoeuer is without faith is sinne , and without faith it is vnpossible to please GOD , on the contrary parte , nothing doeth more greeue the Maiestie of Almightie Iehoua ) then incredulitie and vnbeliefe , all the day long I haue stretched out my hande , Esay . 65. to an vnbelieuing people : Mat. 14. O thou of litle faith why dost thou doubt : Luk. 24. to them that went to Emaus , Mar. 9. hee saide : O fooles and slowe of heart to beleeue . Mat. 15. Againe , Heb. 2. O generation incredulous , how long shall I bee with you , how long shal I suffer you ? in his owne countrie , hee coulde not do many myracles for their vnbeliefe : the Iewes entred not into his rest : Why ? for vnbeliefe let vs therfore crie with the Apostles , Lorde increase our faith : Luk. 17. and as the father of the sicke childe cried with teares : Mark . 9. Lord , I beleeue , helpe my vnbeliefe , Now because faith is not reuealed vnto vs by fleshe and blood , The holy Ghost . but by the holy ghost : let vs labour for him also , that this meat by faith may worke effectually in vs : let vs vtter vnto the Lorde strong cryings , and deepe sighings for his spirite , that our prayer may bee in his sight as the incence , Iohn . 14. and the lifting vp of our handes , Luk. 12. an euening sacrifice . Ioh. 16. For hee is the spirite of trueth : Iohn . 15. the Maister and Teacher of the faithfull : 1. Col 17. the shewer of thinges to come : Rom. 8. the witnesse of Christ the distributer of all giftes : the spirite of adoption : 2. Cor. 1. the pleadge of our inheritance : 1. Cor. 12. hee beareth vs witnesse that we are the children of God : hee helpeth our infirmities , and maketh petition for vs . No man saith , that Iesus is the Lorde , but by the holy Ghost : did not the Diuelles ( saith Chrisostome ) name Christe . Chrisost. in eodem loco . Somtime they named Christ , saith he , for feare , not for loue : and somtime , that the people might giue eare to them , take them for professours of the gospel , & so they might bring the people through a colour of christianity into manifolde heresies , but of sinceritie , & heartie good will they neuer named him . So then no man can name Christ louingly , & sincerely , but by the holy Ghoste , we haue not receiued the spirite of bondage to feare againe , but the spirite of Adoption , wherby we crie abba , Rom. 8. father . Wherefore , this is the end of my exhortation , that you labour for all these three , meate , faith , the spirit , by heartie and earnest praier . I meane not to crie all day long as Baals Priestes did . O Baall heare vs : O Baal heare vs . Nor as the Ephesians cried for the space of two houres , great is Diana of the Ephesians . But in hearte feruently and strongly , as Moses , Phinehes , Manasses , Ionas , our Sauiour Iesus . Though our praiers be short , as was the prayer of the poore publicane : God be mercifull to me a sinner : of the prodigall sonne : father I haue sinned against heauen and against thee , & am no more worthie to bee called thy sonne . Of Steeuen , Lord Iesu receiue my soule . Of our Sauiour Christe , Father , into thy handes , I commit my spirite , nay though wee vtter neuer a worde , the Lord will heare vs : Moses spake neuer a woorde , when GOD saide vnto him , why doest thou cry vnto me Moses : Anna spake neuer a word when God heard her prayer , she only moued her lippes , 1. Sam. 1. and Ely the Prieste saide , she was dumbe . If we thus labour for the spirite . we shal obteine him and then our faith shall be fruitefull , them the meate in vs shal be effectuall . The word norisheth , faith reuiueth , the holy ghost quickeneth , the word saueth , faith iustifieth , the holy Ghost sanctifieth : the worde bringeth vs to heauen , faith openeth the dore , the holy Ghoste placeth vs among the holy Angels , to haue euerlasting life , which the sonne of man shal giue vnto vs . The reason . And this is the reason added to the exhortation , being drawne from the person that giueth , and the certaintie of the thing giuen . 1. Iohn . 1. Hee which is called the word of God : Col. 10. the image of God , 1. Cor. 1. the power and wisdome of God : the Creator of all thinges : Iohn . 1. the searcher of the heart : Mat. 9. the prince of life : the Lord of glory : Act. 3. the prince of saluation : the prince of faith : 1. Cor. 2. the brightnesse of the glory and the ingraued fourme of gods person : Heb. 2. the sonne of God , Heb. 12. doeth heere call himself the sonne of man , Heb. 1. he whom Peter confessed to be the sonne of God : Mat 3. hee whom the Angell named Iesus : hee of whom God the father witnessed : this is my beloued sonn , in whom I delight , heare him : hee when the very Diuelles could not choose but confesse him to bee the sonne of God : doeth heere call himselfe the sonne of man . Hee calleth himselfe the sonne of man , first , to testifie that he tooke a very , true , and substantiall nature of man , both body & soule , vpon him : fleshe of our fleshe , bone of our bone . Iohn . 1. Verbum caro factum est . the worde was made fleshe : heere some woulde proue that hee was not perfect man , because the worde was made flesh , that signifieth only the body : but these men know not that flesh in the scripture sometime signifieth the one part of man , as when Christ saide : Luk. 24. A spirite hath not flesh & bone as you see mee haue . Somtime carnall lustes and affections : Iohn . 3. as whatsoeuer is borne of fleshe , is fleshe , somtime it doth signifie the whole man body and soule : as all fleshe shall see the saluation of GOD , that is , mankinde : and againe , Esay . 40. I will powre out of my spirite vpon all fleshe , that is , men . And so in this place , Ioel. 2 the worde was made flesh , that is , man . Damnable therefore is the heresie of the Maniches , Manichai . who helde that Christes bodye was brought from heauen , and put into the virgins womb : damnable also is the heresie of the Arrians , Arriani . who saide that his body was made of nothing , and that he had not his flesh of the virgin : Athanasius willeth Epictetus Bishop of Corinth to ioyne these wordes of the Angel in Matthewes gospell , Matth. 1. that which is conceaued in her is of the holy Ghost , Athanasius . with these wordes of the Angell in Lukes Gospel , that holy thing that shal be born of thee , Luk. 1. shal be called the sonne of God : Christe was conceaued in her , therefore his body came not from heauen : Christe was borne of her , therfore his body was not made of nothing . Secondly , he doth cal himselfe the sonne of man , signifiyng that he was subiect to al infirmitity that happen to man , sin only excepted . For he was hungry , he was thirstie : he was werie , he sorowed , he wept , he did sweate water & blood , he suffered the most vile and approbrious death , the death of the crosse . Lastly , hee calleth himselfe the sonne of man , as though he were acounted the vilest man in the worlde . Beholde I who was borne in a stall , laide in a manger , poore , needy , contemned , whome they call the Carpenter , and the Carpenters sonne : beholde I the sonne of man , will giue euerlasting life vnto you .

Nowe if the sonne of man doth giue euerlasting life , howe is it that he made this answere to Iames and Iohn , Matth: 20. to sit at my right hande , and at my left hande is not mine to giue , but it shall bee giuen to them , for whom it is prepared of my father . Againe he shall say , Come ye blessed of my father , Matth. 25. inioy you the kindome of my father , He saith not my blessed , nor my kingdome , but blessed of my father , and the kingdome of my father , and in the fifth of Iohn , Io. 5. hee saide : I can doe nothing of my selfe . Wherfore if he cannot giue to sit at his right , or left hande , if the kingdome bee not his , if he can doe nothing of himselfe , how doth he heare promise euerlasting life ? he saieth blessed of my father , the kingdome of my Father , I can doe nothing of my selfe , because he woulde , as man giue to the father all the glory . My father hath appoynted these thinges to giue before the beginning of the world , I am not now to bestow them , they shal be giuen to them , for whom it is prepared of my father . Io. 1. But yet this is true : as many as receiued him , to them he gaue prerogatiue to be the sonnes of God , euen to them that beleeue in his name . We are sonnes by nature , so we are the sonnes of Adam : we are sonnes by discipline , so we are the sonnes of Christ , we are sonnes by adoption , and so we are brothers to Christ , and sonnes of God . Heare doe the Papists gather , that euerlasting life is due vnto vs by desert , because by labouring or working for the meate of the soule , we get euerlasting life . I purpose not to entreat of the controuersie : Christ doeth take away all doubt in these words following : when he saieth , Ephe. 2. that hee will giue this life : for whatsoeuer we haue of gift , that is not of merit . They are opposite , as Paule saieth . By grace you are saued through fayth , and that not of your selues , it is the gift of God : yea , by euill workes we deserue death , and by good workes we deserue life : according to the Maxima of the Logicians . But if I followe Paule , I must deny the argument : for the wages of sinne is death , Rom. 6. but the gift of God is euerlasting lyfe , through Iesus Christ our Lord . Moses did shewe vnto the Iewes the lande of promyse , but hee could not bring them into it , that was left for Ioshua : euen so the law is a scholemaister to bring vs to christ , it cannot purchase euerlasting lyfe , that is left for Iesus , whose office it is to giue euerlasting life : and therfore he was sealed of the Father : and this is the confirmation , taken from the office and function of Iesus christ : Confirmation he saith of himself . I came not into the world , to iudge the world , but to saue the world . He came not , Io. 12. as Herod thought , to put him out of his kingdome : not to giue Dukedomes and Lordshippes , as Iames and Iohn thought , not to restore the earthly kingdome to Israell , as his Disciples thought : not to be a King , as the Iewes would haue made him : not to call the righteous , as the phariseies thought , but sinners to repentaunce , as we all beleeue . For to this purpose hath his father giuen to him his seale , he hath sealed him .

Hereby wee are able to answere all obiections that the deuil & al the kingdome of hell is able to lay against vs : and say , if God be on our side , who can be against vs : it is christ that iustifieth , who shall condemne vs . Hee hath the broad seale of his father to this purpose , who can disanull it ? by this seale we are sealed also , as the Apostle saieth : grieue not the holy spirite of God , by whome ye are sealed vnto the day of redemption , by outward exercises we may doubt of others : Ephe. 4. but by this seale , the prynte whereof is in our hearts , we may assure our selues of euerlasting lyfe . Doest thou sacrifice , thou doest well : so did Abel , and so did Cain : doest thou prophecie ? so did Samuell , and so did Saul : art thou baptised ? so was christ : and so was Simon Magus : dost thou communicate ? so did Simon , and so did Iudas : dost thou pray in the temple ? so did the Publican , and so did the Pharisie ▪ therfore the holy Gost is a seale authentical in our own hearts , wherby we may examine , try , and proue our selues , whether we be the sonns of God , or reprobates . Caine had a marke to be known : Esau being rough , was known from Iacob being smoth : the Lord hath a mark for his enemies , and the Lord knoweth who are his . The Gileadite by Shibboleth , was knowne from the Ephraimite by Shibboleth : the 500. valiant men by lapping water like dogges , were known from the cowardes , who kneeled & lapped : as Rahab was knowe by binding a red corde about her window : as they were saued that had the letter tau on them , as the Angell passed from them , that had the blood sprinckled on their postes : Ezech. 9. as they were not hurt that had the seale of God in their foreheades , Reuel. 7. so we are known , so we are saued ▪ so the Angell doth passe from vs , so we are not hurt , which haue the seale of the holy Gost in our hearts , wherby we can boldly call Christ our brother , and God our Father . The foundation of God remayneth sure , and hath this seale : the Lord knoweth who are his , and let euery one that calleth on the name of Christ , depart from iniquitie . 2. Tim. 2. The Lord seale vs vnto the day of redemption : the Lord graunt we may alwayes labour for that meat , which endureth vnto euerlasting lyfe : that we may labour for the word , for fayth , and for the holy Ghost , that wee may be fully assured of euerlasting lyfe , because the sonne of man , and the son of God to that purpose is sealed , appointed , annointed , & consecrated of his father : to whom with the holy ghost , 3. persons , and one immortall God , be all honour , glory , praise , power , dominion , authoritie , worship and Maiestie , both now and euer . Amen .

FINIS .

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