o

. Tr>i

^

PRINCETON, N. J.

Collection of Puritan Literature.

Division *s*>^/tei— ^ ^-Z*^

Section

Number

CHRISTS

COVNSELL FOR

ENDING LAW

CASES.

AS IT HATH BEENE DELI- VERED IN TWO SERMONS

vpon the fiue and twentieth verfe of

tht fifth of CMatthetv. 4

BylpHN Pr id EAvx>Dodor of

Divinity, Regius Profeffor^ and Re&or • of Exeter Ce Hedge.

M att H.J.p.

"Blefied are the Peace-makers.

OXF ORDt Imprinted by Leonard Lichfield AnnoSalutis, 16 $ 6.

I

TO THE

WORSHIPFVLL

MY VERY WORTHY

KinfmanEDMVND Prideavx

£fquireyCotinfellor at Law,

&Mris Maby Pride avx

his vertuom and relp*

gidHS Wife.

H E many kindneffes I haue heretofore receiued from you bothjjaue long fit hence requi- red a fuller acknowledgement^ then yet I could ever meete with opportunity to exprejj'e, howfoever I much deftred it. In which rejpecl being over- intreatedby fome friends, to publijh thefe sermons, J made bold to pafjethem vnderyoumames^a(fured by former inc our agements^ of your lotting acceptance, They were my fir [I afTaics in this kinde 5 which riper iudgements willfoonedifcern^bothinfundry defers, andfitperflnities. But my defire to doe good to the meancft, [hall in part (I tru(l)excufe me to all. For we are all debtors (with blejfed S.Paul) both to the wife, and vnwife. And as it mufibeour wif- dome especially jlo winne foules, fo it behooueth all ! John Gods children to receive from vs with meekneiTe,

A 2 his

Rom, 1. 14. Pfov.11.30.

1. IX,

-.:

Dcut.4- 6,

ThcEpiftk Dedicatory.

his Statutes and judgements. For this is your wif- dome,andyourvnderftanding,in the fight of the nations, which fhallheare all thefe ftatutcs, and fay, furely this is a wife and vnderftanding peo- ple. Tour exemplary practice herein* ( which your Neighbours and Country can well tcsltfj)myfelfe t$ my great comfort \Jbaue often o£ferved,ioth in pri- vate prayers, dstdy continued in your well-ordered family, and pub like efteeme of the Word, and its true ProfefTors. Tewhichifthufma/lMitc of mine may aide the leaji life^or 'increafej hatte attained my purj>ofe-fi* which IreH

From Exeter Colledge in Oxford.O<5toberi2.

Yours ever in Chriittobedifpofed,

IoiinPridbavx

GHRISTS GOVN.

SELL FOR ENDING LAW CASES.

M

AT TH. 5. 2^

Agree with thine adverfary quickly , while ft thou art in the way with him ; left thine Adversary deli- ver thee to the ladge 5 and the Judge deliuer thee to the Sergeant \andthou be c aft into prifon.

Hefe words ( Worfhip- full and Beloued ) are a part of that large and heavenly Sermon , which our Saviour made in the CMount to his Difciples , and a great multitude , as appeareth in the firft verfe of this Chapter. A learned man calls it,the key oft he whole Bible 5 becaufe by it is opened the fummeofthe old and New Teftament- and in that fenfc my Text may be tearmed ,the chiefeft ward of this key ; as being that which firft difclo- feth the corrupt Gloftes of the Pharifees , and wherevpon our Saviour especially infifteth: Who having fhewed before 5 that the Jixth Commandc* A3 menty

Perkins in his

expofition of Cbrifis Ser- mon in thi

Mount,

Qhrifts Counfeil

Verf. zz.

wra^not onely forbiddeth alluall murder , ( as the I Pharifees would groffely haue it ) but alfo raj ling \

Mupi p*K$ > words, difcontented geHures^ rafh anger 5 ( as the fe jgpf/fs*®- vcrall punifliments declare , to which theft

W Annet.ib*

Ver.z^.

a4,

Jnhunc hctu

Vid. Tboma team-.

In jMath,

,i

things are liable ) inferreth therevpon aneffetfu- tall exhottation,to concord^ loue^nd charttie , and I * firft with their Brethren , in the two verfes going immediatly before, if then thou bring thy gift vn- i to the altar ^and there remembreftjhat thy brother j hath ought againH thec-Jeaue there thine offering be- fore the altar 7andgoe thy way , fir si bee reconciled to thy brother. And fecondly with their Adverfa- \ *7w,which is a higher fteppe to perfe&ion , in the words I haue read vnto you : Agree with thine ad- verfary quickly , whilesi thou art in the way with him &c.

2 The Learned leeme not to agree altogether about the fenfe and fcopc of thefe words. Saint Chryfoftome takes only the letter5and extends it a- ■ lone to fuch contentions , as happen betweene party and party , here in this world , before a civill UMagiftrate^m&oi lh\s minde alio are Theophy- lac7jin& Euthymius,.* imong the ancient ; Brentiusy Pellican^nd Kemmti us, vmh fome others, among: the latter writers. But Cyprian , Hilar iey Ambrofe3 Hierome , and Augufline , with the reft of the Fa- thers and iV/W/etfJ^expound parabolically , the wayjhis life, the Judge, 0ms~tf he Sergeant, the An- gels , the prifon^ Hell. Both fenfes are true (faith Abulenfis) but the latter more principal! ; whofe opinion I the rather embrace, becaufe it tendeth to agrecmentjfor which I labour. To omit there.

fore

for ending LawQafes.

fore the curious difculfing of the point , how, and by what reafons,both interpretations may ftand, as fitter for the fchooles,then this place : 1 take the words to be vttered by way of a fimilitude,whofe fubflance,oi latter part,commonIy called *r-Mtti*t is her e omitted,as eafie to be gathered 5 by the fha- do\v9veh*atyov former part expreffed^ it being v- fuall in Scripture5and common talke $ and in this particular enlarged ,may carry this fenialfa credi- ditor ofthintjo whom thou artfalne in band,fhould thereupon put thee infuittfhe law is open, the Judge mufi doe right ,the penalty is imprifenment : were it not wifdome, therefore for thee to haft en , and agree, iefore it come to a triallfhatfo by drawing the Court thou might ft withdraw thy felfefrom danger f The like is thy cafe here in this world , for brotherly re- conciliation^ whether thou be wronged,or haue wron- ged^ feeke peace, and enfue it^and that now^ in the ac ceptable time speedily without demur res. For thou art way- laid by death, and know eft not how foone thou jhalt bee arefted. If thou come out of charity before Cods tribunallfeat-fhe Angels are his Sergeants, hell huprifon^ Biuels his hangmen 5 fire and bnmjlone his racke^ iudgement must pafe , and execution fhalL follow, and thento defirea compofitio willbetooUte. So that here you fee( Beloued) what both opini- ons yeeld, to furthered perfwade thisGhriftian- like agreement: the fir ft from the words, in regard oitempor all damage^ xhzfecond from the meanings to avoid eternallvnJoing.

-> Thefumme is an earn eft motiue to Brotherly rcconciliationwith all men*

and

Chrifts counfeU

I i.A Precept. Agree with thine dd- aud confifteth verfary quickly , whilft thou art in as it plainciy the way with htm. appeareth ,ofJ2. A reafon thereof \ in the words thefe two parts :

The Precept (whereof only atthisprefent,by God$af- fiftance & yourChriftia^ patience I intende to en- treat ) containeth in it thefe foure circumftances, the

enfuing,/*# thine adverfary deliuer thee to theludge,and the Iudge deli- ver thee to the Sergeant, ^c.

ri Matter whereof. Agree.

2 Party with whom. Thine adverfary.

3 Time when. Quick- ly.

4 The place where. Whiles thou art in the way with him.

Agree with thine adverfary quickly wbilefi thow art in the way with him*

Agree, as becommetha manywith thine Adver- fary5as it behooucth zChriflian, Quickly >io fhewe thy willingnes,&&hilejl thou art in the way, to ex- prefle thy careful! providence. For by Agreeing, thou imitated thy Saviour , with thine adverfarie, thou excelled the Scribes and Phari fees y quickly y thou out-ftrippefl: the fluggard , and while [ft thou art in the way , thou prevented the danger that is to come. And therefore giue me lcaue once more to inculcate , atid repeate againe Agree , to faue thy felfe,whb thy Adverfary, to winne thy brother^ quickly y to redeeme the t tmt y , andwhilefl thou art in the way , to fpeed the better at thy jourmes titli

4. Agree

for ending Law cafes,

a Agree; Thcoviginall hath it in two words idtjuwfr' Which traitflatiK contend, whofhould cxprefle mod: fignihcantly. The vulgar Latine*\- vcth it this fenfe. a Confent or thinkc the fame things with thine adverfary. Erafmus , b Bear -e him good will. CaJlalionf Ccmfotwd.Vatablus* See thou come to an agreement. The Syriack , e Bee defirous of his fciendflnp. An old Tranflation which Saint- Att- gu/line feemeth to approuc , f accord, compound, or make a full atonement: which is alio liked by Be\a , and in cffc<5t is the fame with his : S bee friends, let there be a per fell reconciliation , fee there be an end of all brabbles betwixt you. For wee arenotonely j advifed (faith ht)to wifh well to our adverfary^ and | . there let it reft 5 but to goe to him , talke with him^ conclude with him,md as Saint Luke hath it , Cha- 1 pter 12.58. Deliuer our felues from any thing hee hath again ft vs. All which is included in this one word y4g;Y<?,andyeeldeththis maine doctrine be- fides many other.

That it is a necefary duty for every true Chrifiian tofeeke reconciliation:

A nccefary dutie (I fay) of every true Chrifiian, not onely coldly to admit , or to bee content it fhouldbefo:butalfoearneftly to feeke , faithfully to bring about, and joyfully to embrace an abfo- liuc,heartv,and brotherly reconciliation.

5 The proofes whereof are lb many,and preg- nant throughout all the Bookc of God 5 that whatfoever is there written , may feme for a tcftimonie. All the long Art or Btvinitie , is compnfed iathrs one Jhort word, Lone . As the A- t ' poftie

« Efto confen- tiens.

b Habeto be- nevolent; am. c Compove. dFac conve- nts.

i Efto edeors. g Efto amicus. T^ec momt ta- turn <v t anim ice J velimm adverfario, fidijtcumeo tranfigamus

Luk. 11.58.

lO

Qkrifls counfeU

Ioh.17. ii. Ioh. 14.17. IohaijjJ,

Ephef.4,Ycr.

Ib.verf t%

Chap. 2 5. 1.

Gal,s.t4. J poftle obfcrueth,Gal.5 .i^.Loue the Lordthy God, \is the fir fl and great commandement ; and hue thy J neighbour 3is thefecondlikevnto this-jvpo which two hang the whole Law and the Prophets, Mat, 22. 40. In regard whereof ,the chiefe fubiett of our Savi- ours prayerjNzsvnity ,Ioh.i7 . 21 ^hischiefeft Le- gacy, peace,Ioh. 14.27, And by this (ball all men knowe(hkh he)thatyottaremy Dffciples,ifyouloue oneanother. Ioh. 13.35. For as there is one body, one fair it, one Lord, one faith, one baptifme ,one God and Father of all, mho is aboue all, and through all, and in you all: fo it behooueth the members of this body, the guided by this fpirit 5 the fervants of this Lord ,the partakers of this faith and Baptifme, the worfinppers of this God , and children of this Fat her , wit h 4// humblenefe ofminde, & meeknefe, and longfuffering ( as the Apoftle exhorteth j f 0 fupport one another through loue,endeuoring to keepe the vnity oft he fpirit in the band of peace. Three things (faith the xviCefonofSyrach)reioycemc,and by them, am I beautified be fore God and men : the v- nity of Brethren, the loue of Neighbours, and a man an&his wife, that agree together. And therefore c- ver will be remembred that good minde of faithr full Abraham , Gen. 13. 8. who to cut offall <&- bate betwixt his heardmen and Lots ; difdained not togoe,the*/dfcrto the younger, the Vnclc to the Nephew, the worthier to the inferior , in this kindeft mznevs Lett her e be no flrife , I pray thee , betweene thee and me, neither betweene mine heardmen, and thy heardmen,for we are brethren. The like was Io-

fephs co\mkltohisdepartingbrethren,Gen.45 .24

Fall

Gen.ij.S,

Gen. 45. 24, Aa.4.32.

for ending Law cafes.

li

Ser.i.

cordis, or is, & operisjno/iba' bet, Chriftid' nxsdici non

potefi, (pc.

Fall not out by the way. And the multitude of the firft Cbri[liansfi&.^.$ 2 .are faid tobe of one heart, and one fou le , in regard of the faithfull agreement) which was betweene them. Wherevpon the Art. thor of the Sermons adfratres in Eremofiicketh not to inknc jThat he that in heart and \vord,and worke, contendcth not for this agreement , cannot be called a Chrtttian.He that reflet h not on this foundation fet - teth hti life and foot in flipper y places , fay let h in a tempest 5 rvalketh in aruinom cliff e , fovoeth on the fand.xhx: ntrv lerufalem being not a place for qu*r- rellers(ns S.Bafll grauely obferucthjbut an inheri- tance and reward for gentle natures.

6 A kffonf Beloued)fonhQfe contentious times, and dog-daies of ours3to remember vs5 what wee j arc, whom wee feme y what isexpe&ed of vs, and how little we performe. The mercileffe debt our in the Goffell , fhouldbeeapatternevnto vsall: Who for taking his brother by the throat , and ex- acting ( as it fhould feeme ) no more , but his ownc5receaucdthisdoomeof his Maftcr, Oevi/l fervant^lforgaue thee all the debt becattfe thoupray- j Mat- 1 8-32- edit me: fiouldst not thou alfo haue had-compafton on thy fellow ferv ant, even as I had pitt'y on thee ? But wee are fo farre , either from fearing fuch Judge- ments , or imitating this pitty 5 that like ifimael Gen I(5 , (alraoft,) wee are become Wild men^ his handa-\ gawfl every man,and every mans handagainfi him. So farre from fee king this brotherly reconciliation, that being fought vnto,wee will fcarceheare of it.- Butalas(felfe-wiIdandinconfideratemen! ) little doft thou marke the ftcps thou treadeft , or the

downe-

12-

Chrifls counfell

Gcn.43.?

Setm. i>*cd fratres in E I remo.

i.Tim.2.8. Iain. 1. ax.

Mat.it. ix. 1.C01.13.

downcfall of "this way , wherein thou pofteft. Shall thy God bee called the Author of peace, and wilt thou continue zmaintainer of distention ? {hall he receaue thee, who reje&cft thy Brother ? or fuppofe thou wilt agree with him , who quar- rellett with his^nd thine owne fellow members ? No,no, ( Beloued ) heehath taught vs otherwife.

0 ur trefpafles are forgiuen vs , but with this con- dition^ weeforgiue them tfjatsrejpajfeagainftvs. Where is thine adverfary ( faith hee ) whofe inju- ries like the blood of Abel cry vnto mee for ven- geance? never looke mee in the face,except your brother bee with you. So true is that which Pel- lican hath on this place obferued : Nonexperieris Deum tibipropitiu,nifi proximus fentiet tefibi pla- catum: Thou fhalt not finde that God is pleafed with thee, before thy neighbour pert ewe , thou art reconcu ledvnto him. For <ts thefpirit of man ( it is an old

1 Authors CimWitude) neuer quicknethtbofe members

\ that are cut af under or broken, v mill they be ioynted\ \*g#M9 and fet together: fo thefpiritojGodneuer J giueth life to vs ^except wee be bound together in the L bond 'of peace. This prcparcth vs to prayer .which I muft be without wrath ^11 fitteth vs to hearc, which muft be with all meekne/fe , it pronideth vs for the Lords Supper 3 who acccpteth noghejl without this Wedding garment. Though thoufpeakew/>A the tongues of men & Ange Is, \ud the gift of prophe- fie ,knowe(l lall fecrePs jxntt remoue mcutaines ,giueft thy goods to the poor^^andthy body to bee burned j all this is but founding brafe , and tinkling Cymbals. Vaunt of no fuch offerings at the Lords Altar,

before

for ending Law cafes,

n

\ before thou go, arid be reconciled** thy brother. Go j ( I fayjnot expert when he will come vnto thcc,nor ! tarry tilt thou happen to meet him; but feekc ! him out of purpofc, enquire for him 3 commune with him. And where thy prefence cannot , thy defire of peace ( faith Gregory) mud performe that j office. Satisfie him in thought, whom thy thoughts hauc wronged- in words make amends, for thy injurious fpeeches 5 as alio for thy deeds, let thy deeds rccompcnce. For why fhould our ftubbornneffefofarre overmaster vs, as to make our bed fervices vnacceptable to our King and Matter? S * &yt$i-ml&i O the admirable benignity, j and vnfpeakable goodnefle of God ^faith that | golden-mouthed Father Chryfoflome on this j place!,) Hee defpifeth his ownc worjhip, to main- tain thy chanty, he will not be found of thee, till thou haft fought this reconciliation. Never pray, come not atSermons,wor(hipme not at all ("faith our Lord God)rvhat haue 1 1$ doe with your ap- pointed fea&s^andfolcmne ajfemblies? my foulc ha- ! teth the oblations of fuch as fofter , or bring with | them hatred in their foules. Wherefore (Belo- , ^brethren) let vsftudy to agree, that wee may : be'beloucd, and feeke peace here, that wee may ' cnioyit in heaven.The very grafhoppers can goe forth quietly altogether by bands ( as the wifemtrn telleth vs) and the hngdorne of Satan is not de- videdagainflitfelfe. Now, if you will farther know the party with whom wee are thus to agree,, itfolloweth.- Thy adverfary'] which is the fecond wcumjtante I before propofed,

and

Vialogt,*.

Prou. 30. 17.

H

Qhrifls counfell

gat.c.j.

V'ulBuccafen. Enarrat-in.

Beuxam.

Harmon.E-

uang.T.om.,1.

pag.zo.z.Lib,

i.deferm.

TJom.m mont.

cap. xi.

and commcth here in order to bee likewife hand-

led.

7 Agreewith thine Adverfary."} The word

! di7ij\t)t& in the originall is not fo largely taken, as adverftrius in the Latine, which may fignify any kinde of enemy: but rather as wee terme in Eng- lijh in our Law matters, the plaint if e, in regard of the defendant^ or the defendant , in refpeft of the plaintife^o bee^an adverfary. Adverfarim litis (faith ie/^m/^inapaffagevpon this place ) non iniurUiixi Adverfary, not fo much for an injury I offered, as in a triall to be had; and therefore may ! not "fo properly bee expounded an enemy ^ as a friend or neighbour of ours,with whom wee haue a cafe in controverfy. What is anfwerable to this in the fimilitude, divers are of divers opini- ons. Some would haue this Adverfary to bee the Dwells Origen, Euthymius^ TheophylaB , with whom weareto agree, (as S.Hierome expounds it) by renouncing him wholy, as our promifc was in baptifme, and fo fhaking him off, that hereafter before the Iudge of heauen, hee may haue no adli- onagainflvs. But Calvtn confutes thismainely: following herein Saint Augustine^ whofe argu- ment is from the Grceke word Imvwv> be friends 3 ox z well wilier: butbetweene the Devill and vs there fhould be no fuch commerce, or familiari- ty. Others by adverfary vnderftand the flefb. This alfolikcthnotSaint^/^//y?//^, neither Saint Hie- m^whothinkeithard, that the fpirit fhould a- ,grcc with the flefh , whichever lufteth, and re- belleth againft it. Saint Ambrofe would haue

this

for ending Law cafes.

this adverfaryto bcc finnc. But what peace or compofitionfhouldbewith that, which wee are bound by all mcanes,to root out, andcxtinguifh? Others therefore come neerer the truth, as Atha- nafiu*, Augufline^Gregory, and Beda, who would hauethisadverfarytobe either God, or his law^ or ourowne conferences .And furely thebeft way k isforvs to curry favour withthefe; whiles op. portunity and time is granted vs. Yet I take the expofition of Hilar y,Anfelme, and Saint Hierome, to bee more naturall for this place ; who goe no farther then thclettcr,but by Adverfary vnderftand Dominu litu^quodeft commune nomenvtrique parti litigant i^(a<s Tremelius notes on the Syriack wordj any man that hath ought againft vs, or we againft him ^ importing no other thing, butthatthe of. fender fhould feekc, and the offended embrace, any 'Chriftianlike agreement , without running to extremities. Wherevpon I ground this gene- rail do&rine;

That the going to Uwe of Chrifiians, where a good* end in private may be hoped for, or had^is contrary to that courfe of proceeding, which our Saviour here prefcribes in lu die id 11 caufes.

8 A dodrine depending on the former, but yet in fuch a fort, that whereas there I infilled in gcnerall,vpon the matter to be fought, here I de- clare in particular, the manner howtofinde it : e- fpccially in fuch cafes,as breed the greateft jarres. Wherein I would not bemiftaken, as though I went about to taxe fuch courfes, or vocations, as our Common- wealth allowethj or held all pub.

like

*5

Chrifls counfeU

Luk.ij.ii. Prov.1.14,

1, -Cor. 6. 7,

Mat.^.^o.

bom. it.

Gen. 39. xz.

like trials before a civili Magiftratc,vnncceffary. No, my text cieape dafheth fuch AnabxptifiicaR conceipts , wherein I Rndcaaac-cufer^ ludge , a .SVr- ^4^, a Frifon^ and &B approved. My purpofe is therefore onij^mew, what mutuall moderati- on (hould bepra&ifed of vs all , in our private differences, and affaires. For as not to agree in fuch,diffolueththe bands of charity: fo in wick- edneifetoconfentwithany, is felony, treafon , or confpiracy . So Herod & Pilate were ma.de/riends, Luke 23. 1 2. but yet continued enemies to our S<<- viour .Cutpurfes cenfent,Prov. i.i^.buutisto doe xmifchiefe^imd fuch cordes never holdlonger,then I the strangling of their makers. But our caufes fhould be lawtull, in which wee fhould agree, and perfonall^whkh wrong not eftates, and of that na- ture,which need not fo tedious a traverfing. Of whichthe Apoftlefpeaketh5i.Or.6.7.iVi?m there- for ej here is vtterly a fault among you, hecaufe you goe to law one with another: why rather fuffer you not I tvrong'.tvhy fuftaine you not harmef See how ear- neftly he preiTcth that, which our Saviour before , had preached,ii/4/. 5. qo.lfany man will [tie thee at \the lawp and takeaway thy coate, let him hauethy cloake alfo. That is, rather then fceke private re- venge,which belongeth vnto the Lord, and not to thee, bee content to lofe a garment, or more of thy rem porall goods: foT he eafily contcmneth fuch {faith Cbryfoftome) who hopeth for eternall trcafures in heaven. Hec willleauc his garment with /^/^in the hand of his mijlrejfe , to cfcape vnfpotted with the vaile of honefty. And if wee

muft

for ending Law cafes

muft forgoe fuch neceflaries, ( faith Saint a Augu- st ine) as coat or cUke^ or the like for quietnefTe fake: how much more fhould we contemne things of letter value, efpecially at the command of fuch a Lord and Maflcr, who will.ccrtainely fee we fhall be no lofers by it?

p This is counfe II (bdoued) of the Great Law- giverynot varying with the times, but as a law of the CMedes and Per [tans ,that aitereth not. Which if we could be content to follow, by curbing and overtopping our impatient affe&ions, would faue vs much travell, great charges , hot bicke- rings, infinite difcontents, and ever end our caufes to our trueft advantage. Wee read in Plutarch in the life of Pyrrhus, of one Cyneas , a man of great imployment about that King, whovndcr

ftanding

that at the Tar entities entreatie , the

17

zSide tztef- faftjs impe* ratam eft, fianto magU fuperflua con- temner? con* uenit f Ser.T>om,in mont.l.u

Heft. 1. 1 9.

King his mafter was refolucd to make war on the Romans , tooke occafiontodifcourfewithhim in this fort: It is reported (OKing) (faith hee) that vhc Romans yzvc great Warners, and haue lar^ command of puiffant nations 5 put cafe wee over- come them , what benefit fliall wee get thereby ? PjUT/^anfwercdj Thatisaqueftion, which few wife men would aske:why then,all//4/y & Greece are ftraight at our command. Cyneas pawfing a while, replied: But when wee hnue Italy and Greece,\\hat (hall wee doe then r Fyrrhus not finding his mcaning^/V;/) (faith he) thou know- eft is hard adjoyningto vs, and very well may be our next conqucft. But hauing that (quoth Cyneas) fhall our warres be ended? That were a

._ B Icft

Plutarch, in Vyrrh.

If

Qhrifts Counfell

Ffcov. 13. 10,

Ttiftordiafi- lia inanis glo- ria, Gng. Mor.lik.iS'C.

id. 24447. art, 2. Eph. 4.16.

jeftfquoth Pyrrhut )£ot who would not thento Af- fricke^nd foto Carthagei the paffageis not dange- rous,theviftory allured. True indeed (faith Cyne- 4*) but when we haue all in our hands, what (hall wee doe in the end? Then Pyrrhm breakes out a laughing. We will then,good Cyneas (quoth hec) be quiet ,and take our eafe>andmakefeafts every day, and be as merry one with another as wee can poftbly* Then Cyneas hzuing that hee would, thus clofeth with him, and what letteth vs now (my Lord) to be \ merry tand quiet together, fith wee entoy that pre-\ fent without farther travelled* trouble0which we are j mvfi a fee king with fuch bloudjhed and danger ■• and I yet we knew not whether ever wee flail attaine vnto it, after that wee hauefuffered9and caused others to frjfer infinite forrowes and calamities? The appli- cation is fo manifeft, that I need not ftand vpon it. For aske but ou r contentious wranglers what they aimcat by their going to Law., and their vexing one another: their anfwerecan bee no other but to right themfelnes y that at length they may Hue quietly. Hut quiet thy bofome-euemics at home (whofoeverthou art^ andthycaufcfhall bee en- ded, beforethe action bee entred. For through pride man makethcotentionsfixov. 13.10. Couldft thou but once take order with this malitious af- fe&ion, 'twere eafy to compound with thy grea~ teftadverfaryr* But thou canft not bee fo bafe as to yeeld vnto him; and yet wilt thou befo bafe as to-yeeld vnto -the Divellf Harken to the bleffed Apofik\ Let; not thefnnnegot downe vpon thy wrath, Eph.4..2.ftjandit immediatly followeth, Neither I

giue]

I —

for ending Law Qafes.

\jt

giue place vnto the DeviU. But thine adverfary pro- vokes thee to Jlrife, and thou canft not endure it? But thy Saviour commands thee to agree, and wilt not obey him? But fliould 1 lofe mine owne,to buy his favour? But wouldft thou wreake thy anger 5to lofe a Kingdome? Louefuffereth all things^ it belee- ueth all things \it hopeth all things , it endureth all things \H feeketh not its otvne but the things that are of God. If thy caufe be good5and thy conscience vn- fpotted,thou haft an Advocate with the Father, Ie- fa Chrift the right ecu s.Jhis was the Kings At tor - /*j,that Davidretainedjleadthou my caufe(OLord) with them that flriue with me , and fight thou againft them that fight against me. But wee muft haue writ vpon8>r/Y,and^7/>«vpon Affion, to vndoe our feJues,thatwcmay vex our brethren: Efeck, and Maf[ahy & Meribahjhc waters ef ' fir ife and conten- tion,arethofewedelighttodrinke of, the gentle Shiloah runneth too foftly for our turbulent hu- mours: whofe counfell doe we follow in this (Be- Ioved)but his,who was a liar and a murtherer from the very beginning? Are we Sheepe of the Lords pa- fturejmd yet like Dogs,and Switie will be barking and biting one another? and fliall that fervaunt fpeed well at his matters comming, who is taken molefting zndfmiting his fcllorv-fervants? Hence therefore let Tale-bearers 5 and thole Attournies lcarne,whofet neighbours together by the eares, and egge them onward to contentions, whofe Ap- paritours and Agents they bee. For if blefled bee the Peace-makersfoithey /ball be called the children of God then curfedbe fuchBrawle-makcrs^ for they

B 2 fliall

i.Cor.xj7,

r John. i.i,!, Plains, jf.i.

Gen. 16.10, Exod.17.*. Efa%8.6.

Palm, x so. Mit.i4.x^. Luk.11.4j.

Ma&5.9«

20

Mac, 5. 9.

Prov.17.l4.

i.Cor.6,5.

TW

z Cor. 6, 2.

Cbritts counfell

fliall be called the Children of the Divett. Bat of I you (deare Chriftian brethren,) I am perfwaded better things ; you haue learned of the Wife man, Prov. 17. i^.tbat the beginning of ftrife u as the opening of waters, which will quickely drowne, if they bee not flopped. Take vp therefore iuch contentions, as now , or at any time (hall arifc a- mongftyou^conferre together, layafide ail ma- lice, vfe the helpe of your neighbours, and all o- ther goodlawfull meanes. What ? is it fo , that there is not a wife man among jou? No not one that caniudgebetweene his brethren? But a brother goeth to law with a brother (as the Apofllc complaineth of 'the Corinthians:) and Imayadde, mod com- monly for a matter of fmall moment, Rather make a friendoi thy adverfary, to ioyne with thee in league againft thy fpirituall enemies, and that ejfe. crudity 5and that quickly, without any farther pro- longing;which is th€ third circuwftance I obferved in the precept, & will quickly here,by Gods grace, &your Chriftia paticnce,indevour to run it over. I© Agree with thine adverfary quickly~\Matur}, faith Caflalion: cito, fay the other interpreters : all comethto one,feafon-ably, or prefently, the prcfent being ever moft feafonable. Becaufe in actions of this nature ,the contrary to our common proverbe is found moft true, the more baft, the better fieed: whence I gather,that delay in any Chriftian duty is alvcaies dagerottsJXo die well(faics onc)is a long art of a Jh or t life, and ajpeedy beginning, is the jlorteft cut to this longeft art. Behold (faith the blcffcd A- $oftle)now isthe^ccepediimejbeholdnowthcday of

falvation,

for ending Law cafes.

falvAtion}znd to day ifyee will be Arc his voice , har- den not your be Arts , but exhort one Another d At ly^ while it is tailed to ^,Hcb.3 .13. There is a oium&f' or a rOV to dAy , or now , in all the mandats almoft of the King of heaven. So the Prophet Efitiah's feArchJLfai.5t5.6.oux$AvioursWAtch.Mzz.i$.$']. xhzWifemAns memento , Ecclefiaft. 12. 1. con- taine no other thing , then that wife fonne of Sy- rach fo much bcateh vpon, Ecclefiaft. 5 q.CMake no longtArryingtoturnevntothc Lord , and put it not off' from day to dAy ; All excufes are refufals , and delay es are denialsyWhcn our Saviour faith vn- to vs,Come and follow mee. For though his mercy afford vs of ten-times many yceres to repent ; yet his/«y?/Vrpermitsvsnotone houretoj/*. Peccan- ticraflinurnnon promt /if (faith Gregory:) hepromi- feth not to morrow to the offender , who is al- waies ready to forgiue the penitent. And there- fore Matthew was no fooner called, Mat.9.9. but prcfently hee arofe and followed. Hafiily came Za- t/;<r/#downe from the T>Y£ , zndreceAuedom Sa- viour toy fully , when notice was oncegiuen,that hee would bee his gheft that day : and no foonet had he looked backe vpon Peter 5 Matthew 2^.75, but hee went out ( faith the Text ) and wept bit- terly.

1 1 I will not ftand longer, for the proofe of a point fo evident , but come to apply it to our felues. Thefe things Arewrittenforourinflruttion, to admonifli vs to be\varc,how wee deferre our re- pentance. It is ftrange to obferue our fhifts here- in, how cunningly wee can cozen our felues ,and B 3 abufe

Hcb.Mj.

Mar. 13.37 Ecdus.j.7.

Mar.9.^.

Luk. 19.6.

M.it. 2,6. 7 f,

12

Qkrifls CounfeO

Frov z.i 7,

abuie Gods longfuffering, for our longer finning. But had wee but the grace to conlider what true convcrfion is , and the manifold difficulties that alwaies croffe it ; moft evidently it would ap- peare, that all thefe are augmented , and ftieng. thened by delay ,and that by this deceit, more doc peri(h,thenby all the guiles and fubtiltics of Sa- tan befides. For better confidereth that old Ser- pent,thcnwedoe,howthat0#*/?;w* draweth on a- not her 3how he that u not fit to day, will be lefj'efit to morrow ,how that cuflomegroweth into nature , and old difeafes are hardly cured. He knoweth, the lon- ger we perfift in finne,the more God pluckcth his graceand afliftance from vs. Our good inclinati- ons are the weaker 3 our vnderftandingthe more darkned,our will the more perverted , our appe- tite the more difordercd , all our inferiour parts and paffions , the more ftrengthened, and ftirrcd vpagainftthe rule of rcafon- whereby his footing is the ftrongcr , and our cafe the mo: e defpe- rate. Laftofall,hee isprivieto the vncertainetie\ and ^w/.? ofour life, to the dangers that may be- fall vsy to the impediments that will alwaies croflc vs: io that if once he winne vs to delay a little , hee doubteth not but to £**>?£ our whole time from vs, Now nail we/tYthis net) and yet bee entangled t Kno we this guile of this old writhing ferpcnr5 and yetneuer endeauour to prevent it i Moft com- monly there is no man io yron-hearted, but hee hath % purpofe in time to amend his life. And when hee {ceth another toliue religioufly, and hcaietii the commendation of the Saints of God ;

he

for ending LavQafes.

he rvsjhet bin his heart he werealfo luch a onc,and groneth oft-times in conference, that hee hath ne- ver endeauou red fo to bee. Bat alas ( my good Chriftian brother ) what letteth at this inftant, thatthiscourfe fhould not bee taken f What in- convenience would follow, if prefently this were pra&ifcd, which for euer fhould doe vsgoodc Thoufliouldeftpteuenttljem//^/, which fud- denly may over* take thee ithou fliouldeft haue thy lamp ready ,whenfoeuer theUridegromepa/Jeth by thee: thou ftm\\\&t{ibQfurnifhedo£3.x9cdiinggar^ ment^ when the M after oi xhefeaft commethto take notice of thee. The outward pleafures which thou feemeft here to abridge, fhould bee recom- penced in this life, with the peace of confeience, and hereafter with eternall felicitie. And if for the prcfent by fuch meanes , thy gaine bee negle- <5lcd , thou flialt furely findethe increafe another where. Now, can there bee awaightier matter then thy faluation? Seefl thou not by others rti- ines^ the vnccrtaintie of thine owne eftate ? And arc not thefe things true, which out of Gods fa- ded Word I haueproued vntoyour* Whatfenfe- Icfneffeisitthcnforvs (Beloued) to make that the taske of our old age , which fhould bee the practice of all our life , and to fettle our cuerla- Jltngtowx cnly^ourfuretimaking or marring, vpon fo tottering, and finking, and fandy a foundati- on f We fee, and knoweby expcrience,thatayi//>, the longer it leaketh, the harder it is to be emptied: ahoufe , the longer it goeth to decay, the worfe it is to repaire : or a nayle , the farther it is driuenin,

B 4 the

Num. xj.xo.

H

Cbrifls counfeU

tIoh.ii.?,

the harder it is to plucke out ngaine. And can wee perfwade our felues, that the trembling ioynts, the daaeled eyes, the fainting heart , thckyling legs , of vnweildy , drouping , and indifciplinable old age , may empty , rcpayre , plucke out the leakes, and mines, and nayles of fo many yecres, flowing,hyling5and fattening? Butfuppofe wee came to that age, (whi^h is an extraordinary blef- fingof God , and not granted to many ) and re- taineinitthat vigour, which happeneth to very few,and enjoy that grace of God, which now and heretofore wee fooften haue defpifed: Imagine (I fay) the beft that may bee hoped for, that thou mayefthaue time hereafter to- repent , and ability to viethix time ,nn&defireiovk that ability 5 and grace to yxofytxthdtde fire: whereby thoumayeft vzncpxtfh Satan at the ftrongeft y when thou thy felfe art at the weakeft- yet eonfider herein thy foolifhneffe 5 which in matters of leffc moment, thou wouldeft bee loath to commit • each day thou knittcfi knots y\Mhioh once thou mud vndoe a- gainejthou heapeft that together, which once thou muft */$«•/£ againej -thou eat eft and drinkefl that hourely, which oncethou mud vomit vp againe^ to omit thy vngratefull dealing with thy Lord and Matter Chriftlefns , whom thou ferueft thus at length with the Divels leauings y and then ( for footfyweewillturneto bee religious, whentime will fcarce permit vs to bee wicked any longer. We fee therefore (beioued brethren) the waight, and importance o$ this one word quickly. Though there be twelve houtes in the day y wherein men way

ivalke

for ending Law cafes.

\ *

rvalke,no wifdomcicis for vs,to port oucr our re- pentance to the laftcaft. Nonfempermanet in foro fAter families (faith Saint Augustine: ) The Lord of the vineyard is not alwaics in the Market, to let thee4-iwr/^:andnomaruaile (faith Saint Grego- ry) \£ tttbe last gafpe he forget bimfetfe ,who in all his life neglected to remember God. Let vs attend therefore to of en , when it pleafeth him to knocke. And not (as Felix did Paul ) fo anfvver his mcflen- gcrs- Goethy way for this time >and when I haue con- venient time, 1 will call for thee againe : but rather with David to be ready, when hee faith, C<?;#<?,pre- fcntly to reply yLo,I come. When he faith, Seek my face, to eccho immediatly agairte,T/^ face ( Lord) [ willwe[eeke. 54w«^anf\veremtift beeoiirsatthc firft call, Speake,Lordyforthy fervant heareth : and that not onely quickly^ but alfo when we are in the ! i^5which is my fourth and laft circumfiance \ be- fore obferued , andcommeth now briefly in the conclufiontobeconfidered.

12 y^fgrce with thine Adverfary quickly"] ia>< or**™ fn*3&wt W) which all tranflate } whiles thou art in the way with him. Alluding perchance, to countrymen ( [itixhl/lyricu* ) who came fome difbneefor judgement, from their houfes into the city , in which they had fit opportunity bc- twecne themfclues to difcuffe and take vp all matters. But citizens ( in my opinion ) haue no IcfTe, they dwell ncere together, and may more conveniently meete , and daics of heaving come not fo faft,. but fpace , and place may bee had [ lo compofe in good fort fuch bufineile. but figivra- tiucly

Ser.i tfis.

defan-

A&. 14,16.

Pfalm.40.7.

IPfiim.17.8.

lS.mvj.io.

%6

Pfcim.23.3

Gen,6.n.

Pfalm.i.6.

Iolh.23.14-

I.

Qbrifts counfeil

. w

tiuely in Scripture, this word Tfr^ hath three efpe

ciall fignifications. Firft , it is taken for dodlrine,

asPfalm.2j.3.^w me thy waiesyO Lord,andteach

me thy paths. Which Hebraifrae the Schoolemen

haue taken from the Arabians , when they put

viam Tbom£yot viam Scott , for Thomas 5 or icetus\

do&rine* Secondly, it fignifieth the manner of|

liuingfounfels behaviour \ or endeavours of men: fo

GetL&x2. All fie jb had corrupted his way : that is,

their manners : and the Lord knoweth the way oft he

righteous,Vidlm.i.6. that is, the counsels ,affions3

oiendevours of the righteous 5or wicked. Laftly,it

istakenforaw^w/zY^asIofhua 25.14. This day l

enter into the way of all the worlds and fo in this

ptectjvhilesthou art in the way with him : that is,

in the day es of this thy pilgrimage , whiles thou

art aline. Which dire&eth vs cfpecially to this

conclufion,that

After this life there remaineth no place for repen- tance }or reconciliation.

1 2 For alia eft (faith CMufculus on this place)

pr£fentis,aliafutur£vit<e conditio. The condition of

J this ///^andthe ncx^arenot both alike. Here there

may bee had a compofition 5 but there the Iudge

will proceed according to law - as the next words

following my text doe fufficicntly confirme , thou

(halt bee aft into prifon 5 and thou foalt not come out,

vnt ill thou haH paid the v <t mo H far thing, .Here is no

mention at all of pardon^ but all of payment 5 pay,

or ftay: infinite hath beene thy offence, and fo

muft be thy punifhment : not a dogge tolicke a fere y

not the ttp of a finger dipt in water to coolcatonguc,

can

for ending Law cafes

*7

can be there obtained with an Ocean of teares : How much kik Indulgences^ pardons ,or tMaf- fes7ov Pilgrimages ,or any Inter cefiion of the lining canakerthe eftatc of the dead* But of this here- after in the rcafon, when we come to fpeake of the prifon which the Papists imagine to bee their Pur. gatory. Now a word or two by the way , Reap- plying this do&rine taken from the rvay men- tioned in my Text , and fo I will commit you to God.

15 This may ferue ( Beloued ) to haften that fyccdyconverfion, which in the point before I fb carncftly vrged. For if this life bee the appointed place and no other, wherein this quicke reconcilia- tion is to be fought, and wrought * then all exciu fes are cut off, whatfoeuer the Divels fophiftry, or mans backfliding tergiverfations can ima- gine. Othcrwiie,fomepeeuifh conceit might hu- mour it fclfe with fuch an idle contemplation. There is a great fpace betweene Heauen and Earth -Gods judgement feat , and the place wee goc from ; and can this bee palled in a moment * Bciides? who can tell, whether my judgement (ball bee immediate vpon my departing f May not others bee firft examined 1 May not I bee re- pnued5tillthelaftday of judgement, and hauing thatrefpitto bee rcconciled3 fo fue out a pardon? rBut our Saviour meeteth with all fuch humane fancies5andearthly cogitations. No, ( faith hee ) this agreement muft not only bee quickly in regard of the //^fjbutalfo in ^ ///!?, while? thou art in the nay find thy adverfary mth f&ef 5both together,

in

28

7)ecad. 5<M

Chrifts counfeU

Gen. 19.9.

in refrctt of the place. Iuft as that noble Rom. in t Popiliu4 dealt in his ambaffage with King An. tiochtu (the hiftory is recorded by Liuie ) hee ma- keth a circle with his rod , and pafle wee muft not the compajfe thereof,till wehaue Fully refolued on anablolute anfwere. Such n circle wee are all in at thisprefentCBeloued; and behold an vrgent am- 1 baflage from the King of Kings. Peace or warrc, life ox death, \\&\ or heauen , are tobee determined on of \rs , in this inltant and place , and therefore let vsbethioke vs (I befeech you ) what to doe. Wee finde here no certaine habitation, But onely (as my Text intimatethj a way to pafle : this paf- fagehath all the dangers ,and more then can bee imagined : The Divellzs a theefey the world like a bawdfhzflejh like zfalfe brother, to ajfault 3 entrap vs,and leade vs into vtter darknefle : every brea- thing we make,is the jhortning of our life5& euery flep we goeais the haftning to our graue. Sands of the Sea, or Gnats in Summer , or leaues in Au tumm&it not more innumerable,then the heapes, and fwarmes,& mountaines of calamities , which are every moment ready to fall vpon vs. And yet welikethofeoutragious^^w/^/,Gen.ip.p.wil not fuffer our brethren to £0/ quietly byvs, but will hauethem out, to quarrell,and dcale worfe with them , though fire and brimHone fall on vs the next day after. Good Lord , that mirn fhould fo hardly be brought to confidcr himfelfe, and re- member thee! and yet fo qui<?kly to joynewith hisenemy ,and maligne his brother • to forget, whofe he is?whence he is,wherc he is \ and which way

for ending Law cafes.

29

way hctendeth. Wee account him an idle-headed fellow, that will be building in every I/me , where he may not dwell: a fooliTh Pilote, that will bee anchorirtgWiCSQiy creeke^ where his bufincffc lies not: and a mod defperate , and impudent thiefe, that will ftabbe when hee pafleth along, from the prifontohis triall. Our pra&ife is the like 5 but wee will not thinke of it. Wee build where wee may not inhabite,anchor where wee may not har~ bour5quarrelland fall out in that very way 3 nay in the very prefence of that greateft Lord chiefe lujisce, who bath bound vs. to the peace 5 both with our brethren, and adverfaries* And now coniider, I befecch you ( Beloued) would true men fall out in that way amongft themfelues , where from every hujh they may expect a thicfe* or fouldieis bee tumultuous in fuch a garrifon5 where they ever ftand in danger of their mortall enemies? That bee farre from vs who march vn- dctthe banner of ihtKingo? peace. Let it be the infamy of Cain, to rifeagainft hk brother: and the curfeof thtMidiavites, to fheath every man his fvord in his neighbours fide: and ajuft imputation laid on A-h&b , that hee and hi* fathers houfe had troubled ifraeL But let vs f beloued) accordingto our Captain es command ,and precept, lone one ano- ther^* he hath louedvs. We areall children of the fame heauenly Father, children mud dwell togc- thcY'^members of the fame body , members mud grow together; Jheepe of the lame pajlure , Jhecpe mutt feede together; fouldiers of the fame army, fouldiers muft march together, Seeft thou thcre- ) fore

Gen. 4. 8.

.King.i8,

\-Jl

Qbrifts counfeU

fore a brut fed reed? breake it not: or fmoaiing fiaxe? quench it not: or a fainting fouled thruft it not : or one that is falne i trample him not. Reioyce not at anothers croffes, but feare what thouhaftdfcferued, and what may befall thyfelfe. Heareft thou of a Saul's overthrow? bewaile him with David: though perchance hee hated thee, and fought thy vtter vndoing. Hath a Lyon kil- led a difobedient Prophet? afford him in com- panion,^/^, my brother, brethren, and children, and beloued, and babes^nd friends, are the moft frequent titles we are called by in Scripture. O let vs curbe our (welling affe&ions, and ende- vourtobeeanfwerableto fuch excellent appella- tions. Archtdamus ( as wee reade in Plutarch) being chofen an empire to reconcile two parties, who hadfworne folemnely to ftand to his award, gets them into Minema's groue , and there en- ioynesthem, that they fhould never depart thence, till they hid reconciled themfelues. O that my intreaty now, might bee as his policie then, to bring you all here prefentto the like,exi- gent,that this moment might bee the quickelj^ and this Temple the very way, out ofwhica you might neuer paffe, without a full ref olution for this Chriftianlike agreement. But this is his on- ly to eflfecft, who hath commanded it fhould bee fo. Paulmixy plant, and Apollos may water, but it is thou (O LordJ thatmuft°iue the tncreaje. O thou therefore that art the Author ofpeace^andlo- ver of concord^who givest vnto thy fern) ants that peace which the world cannot giue , Incline ( wee be-

feech

for ending Law cafes.

feechthecjourftubborne, and carnall affe&ions,

fo to louc one another 3 as thou haft taught vs.-

that thy etemaUpeace, which pajfeth all vnderftan-

ding, may keepe our hearts and minds in the know-

ledge and lone of thee ^ and thyfonne left* ChriB our

Lord: that the blefing of Cod Almighty 3 the

FatherjheSonne^andtbe holy Gheftjnaf

be amongft vs > and remaine with

is now and evermore:

Amen,

n

CHRISTS COVNU

SELL FOR ENDING

LAW CASES.

THE SECOND SERMON.

M A T T M. 5« 25.

Leap thine Adverfary de titter thee to the Judge , and the hedge deliver thee to the Sergeant, and the* becafiintoprifon,

Vch is the fervile difpofiti- on of the fonnes of Adam, that in the ordinary para- ges of this life , feare more availcth then loue, to worke a confederation of their owne L cftates: according to that of the Prophet, Pfalm. 119. Before I was troubled, I went wrong, hut now haue I keft thy Word. The reafon I take to bee, the fliarpenejje of our fenfes, and dulneffe of our vn- derftanding ; this being more apprehenfiuc of hitter jhen that of fweete. In regard whereof, an iniury moregalleth,thenai<r#<?jfr contenteth, and

C we

Ver.67.

34

Boaio.

Leviuo.5.

Mark. 1 3.3 6.

Rom.n.ii.

Chrilis counfell

ioh.9.4.

we remember to revenge the one, when wee forget to bee thankfull for the other. SofickncfTe more then health , croffes more then curtefies , im- prifonment,more then liberty, make adecpe i'm- preflion. And feare ( as the Schooles obferue ) is one of the foure principal! pa f ions, that vfually o- verfwayeth all our deliberations. Wheicvpon the/wty{7^y?,thedeepeft fearclier^ and experrdft applyer,inallouraffe&ions, imperfections, infe- ctions, and defe&ions, annexeth a penalty to his chiefeft mandates. Eate not, leaftyee dye, Gen. 3.3. Commit not Idolatry Jeaft thou be cut 0^,Leuit,2o.5 . Watchjeaft hefndcyouJleeping^MaA. 13.36. Take heedjeafthe ftarenot /^,Rom.i 1 . 2 1 . It is his or- dinary ftile^torouze our fecurity^ and is here the burden of this fong oiiudgement. Agree with thine Adverfary quickly, rv hi left thou art in the way with him Jeaft thine Adverfary deliuer thee to the Iudge, andthe Iudge deliuer thee to the Sergeant , and thou becaftintoprifon.

2 In the vnfolding of the former part of this Text, it may be cafi-ly recalled, that it was divided iato a Precept ,and the reafon thereof. The Precept was there enlarged/ according to theie foure C/r- cumftances. The matter whereof, Agree"] the party withtvhom ^thine Adverfary }the time when^qutckly] thzfUve where jvhilcft thou art in the way with him. The reafon now followes to bee farther followed, carrying with it (as it were) threats, and whips, to fecurge onward rhe affent 5- as though in more \vords our Saviour had thus viged it: / baste advi- fidycHqukklyto Agree \ whiles Jpace itnd place u

granted.

for ending Lav cafes.

tf

granted^ to take order in the day ^before the night ap~ preach, and nottofuffer your brabbles to come to a foaming after this life: but if yourfrowardnefj'e bee fuchyO* to admit nogoodcounfell^fee what mill be the iffut. Appearance without delay ? iudgement, without partialttyjmprtfonrnent without bailefvillbe Strict- ly exatted and inflilled. Adverfary % fudge, Serge- ant^Prifon^no way tobefiiftedy or efcaped, twice de- liner edjhenc aft, never tobeerepriued, or tafed. Thinke vponthefe damages Jbef or e the action bee en- tredjor allthti will befall y if agreement prevent it not. And this I take to bee the drift of our Smi- our, in the words I haue read vnto you: The fumme whereofis

A declaration of the exceeding danger , which at- tendeth the neglect of reconciliation.

C i Adverfary : in thefe

And is here exempli- 1 words; left thine Adverfary

fied by three circumA deliuertheetothe Judge.

fiances, dra vvnc from^ 2 Iudge; And the Judge

the rigorous procee-l deliver thee to the Sergeant

ding of the 3 Sergeant: andthou be

leaf into Prifon.

Least thine Adverfary deliver thee to,&c. The firfl

includcth an 4^/if /^exhibited by the Adverfa.

ry.Thefecond, a condemnation , pronounced by

The Judge. The thirds an Execution performed by

the Sergeant. Facilis defcenfa Averni. Hee tum-

bleth with a witnes,whom the Lord forfaketh, and

chc Divell driuetb.Ftom Adverfary to Judge,ho\r\

Jndge to Sergeant ,from Sergeant to Trtfon: /o one

in the nccke of another; that the fir ft may checke

C 2 our

?rf

Qbrifts Counfell

Chap. 7. 36. Mark. 3.I7. Mat.1l.x7* Aft.*.**.

In v. if

Lib.i.eap.j,

our impatience , for abufing our neighbour^ the fe- €ond our arrogance^m prcitiming on GW- the third, ouxfecuritie, for not confidering what may fol- low^all our dulneffe, coldnefie, and benuml Vdne fie , in matters of the waightieft importance , that ever may concerne flefh and blond. Giue mee leaue therefore (Right worfh/pfu/l,and beloved) to fum- monour ftartling meditations, totake fome view before-handjOf thefe fearefull Afiifes^ where wee know not how quickly wee all are to haue a triall. It is Syracides goodcounfell,Eeclef.7.3 6. Remem- ber the end^and thou Jhtdt never doeamife. Some- times Boanerges jhe fins of thunder ( who preach judgement^muftas well be heard- as Bar-iona, or Barnabas the fonne of a D oue, or confilation. . Let vs take therefore a copie of the Declaration, that our defence may beethedirc&er and firft of the firft,which is the rigorous proceeding of the Adver- fiiry^m thefe words, leasl thy Adversary deliver thee to the Iudge.~]

I About the firfl: particle in my text y which in the originall ispiWn, fome fcruplcarifeth, both for the reading, and meaning. The vulgar ten- drethit,by nefortc,vjh\ch the RhemiHs retaine, in their, kajl per haps. P referring fuch broken cifternes, before the Fountaines themfelucs. But this i§ well corrected by Erafmus ( faith BeZa ) both here, and in divers other places : the word figni- fying properly ,ne quando,ka(\: at any time ("as our laflTranflatoursexprefl'eit, and our former vn- derftood it ) without any forte 's, or pradven- tures?(oz which Saint Augufline firft ccnfurcth himfelfe,

for ending Law cafes.

V

himfclfe , in his Retractations. Howfocucrthis difference may fcevwc exceeding nice, yctvponit, are grounded two levcvaWinterpretations. Sic tern- peravit, (faith the ordinary gloffe^ which Hugo and Lyra follow ) fuch a moderation is intimated , by this panicle f orte , that the penitent may hope for an aft erremifii on ^ ejr ideo dicit forte (faith Gorram) quia potefi fieri quod non. Auendano wheeles on the Came bi a* ,\viih Thomas , and the reft of that fide except the learned Abulevfis 5 who mainely ftops it. This forte (faithhe) is not put by way of doubting^ but as that in the third oiGenefts ; ne forte moria* /#«r,or the like: inthefeuenth of Matthew, £aft not pearles before fxvine , ne fort}e conculcent e& r. where there could be no doubt of confequence,but that man fhould dy eyznd (wine would trample fuch treafures. I fhould bee loath , by playing too much the Critick on thefe particles , to be thought to read Grammar LeHure. The reconciling fin my vnderftandingjis very evident, if wee take the expofition of the firft, with Chryfoflome, Thcophi- UcJ-^nd Euthymius 5 in the literallfenfe , and of the latter , with Cyprian , Hilary , Ambrofe , Hie- rome, and tugufiine , with the reft of the Fathers, and Schoolemen , in the parabolical!. For in the procefes of this life,friends may interpofe > or m6- ny prevaile, or pitie fometimes hinder a juftpro- Iccution- and therefore in regard of men, a per. haps may hauc his place: but in reference to that greateft , and laft account , Ne forte 5 is as much as alias jnhich \z in the Hebrew^and tf ^Vi in the $y- riack tranflation, may very wellalfo beare ; as , C 3 though

Inhunc locu.

In textum.

Verfj. Vcrf.6.

j!_1

Qhrifts Counfell

Vid.Buccafen &Beauxam. a Horn. 3$. in Lucam. blncap.n.

c Lib- defer/n. tDem. in mon- te Bellar.l.i* de purgat. cap -7-

Vbi fupra,

In hunc beam

&H>

Ecclus.iJ.it

though the whole had beene thus connected : Agree with thine Adverfary quickly ± whiles thou art in the way with him : other wife , or if thou neg- lect to doe it, thy Adverfary will deliuer thee to the Iudgey&c. Secondly , by Adverfary I vnderftand, not the divel with Tertullian , a Origen , and b The- <rphylac7-i nor thzflejl with others mentioned by Saint c Auguftine^ nor confeience , with At ham fi- ns ; nor Sinne with Saint Ambrofc 5 nor the Holy I G^#5with Chromatins • nor God, ox his Law, \ with Gregorie , Augusline , and Beda : although all I thefe ( as Buccafenns at large declares ) may haue a j good meaning • But ( as I tooke it in the precept ) \ with Hilary, Anfeme, and Saint Hierome,\\S*i^y^:. 'Dominnmlitis,tVi\\ti party contending, plaintiff e, \ or defendant. But here Saint Augufline obiedteth, ' I fee not by what meanes one man fhould deli- j ver another to that Iudge, before whom all are culpable rbefides , put queftion I killmy Adver- ! fry, can I then agree with him whiles wee are in thtway , whom by fuch meanes I haue made out of the way; ? Theanfweereof Ahulenfis ,and Mai- j ^^4^fufficiently cleareththe firft; Left thine ad-\ verfary deliuer thee, that is , left hee bee the occafi- : on thou be deliuered.Non reprtfentativeifiiith Buc* \ cafenns ) as though hee perfonally there fhould j piefent thee with a Corpus capias , fed occafiona- \ liter , which is Hugoes word , bee the occafion j why drift fhould paffe fentence vpon thee. For j doe not the tear es oft run down the widdowes cheeks \ > Eccleiiaftieus 35. 15. and from thence goevp into htauent Solohn 5.45. UMofesis hidtoacevfe : |

and

for ending Law Qafes.

19

Hilar.

and Saint Hi Uric on this place 5 CManens incafi. mult at is ira arguet. The hatred fb all accufe that re- mains vnpacifed. W h ichif the cafe fo ftand that thou canft not perfonallyappeafe,byreafon of his death with whom thou (houldeft 4gr*f • true repen- tance ( hiih Abulenjis) may obtaine fomuch of God,whoacceptcth,in fuch ncceflitics , the mil for the performance. Which anfwereth fully Saint Augufltnes latter objedion , and giueth cleere pad fage to this doclrinall proportion, that the breaking of Gods Law, by any finnewbatfoeuer, maketh vs lia- ble to et email damnation.

4 For if the la ft jarre with our Adverfary will bearefuchanadtion, what breach of Gods Com- mandement can bee exempted P Marke but the na- ture of the mod petty fault that ever was commit- ted, and wee (hall finde it high treafon againft an infinite Majeftie. For whether fmne bee a word, or decd^ov thought againft the et email Law, as Saint va\A\ Augufline\ or a revolting from our alleagiance z4'71% to Godsedift, is Saint Ambrofe^ or zftraggling j from a prefcribed courfe to a due end, againfi nature, reafon^ov gods Wordyis Thomas 5 and the Schooles define it it; ever it includeth a rebellious contempt, which by breaking the lead commandement , fet- tcth vp fas it were J a Flagge of defiance againft the Commander himfelfe. Faile but in one point of the Law, lam. 2. 1 o. and thou an guilty of all. Though non quoad converfionem ad creatures , ( as the Schoolemen reftrainc it) yet quoad averftonem a rib^kedlmpt. T)eo>, (as Zanchius helpes them out ) qui tarn con- Ub.ucap. %.ad temnitur in vno prtccpto , quam in ceteris omnibus. Th^z-

C 4 Where I

uiiui. ar.6.

A<{uin t.z.q

4<>

.Pfal.91.6.

Chritts counfell

Wherefore rhe wrat h of God is revested from Hea- ven again fi all vngodlwefie , Rom. 1.18 .bee aufie finch a one hath Hi 'etched out his band again ft God, and made htmfielfie flrong again ft the Almighties. lob. 15.25. This will further appeare, by con- ferring but the backe farts of Gods CMaicfiie, with mans vnworthinefise , and the feveritic ot the Iudge, with the rejpecllefife prefiumption of the of- fender . For feeing that, every, fuine is to bee c- fteemed , according. to the worth of the panic againft whom it is committed , ( as the fame injurie offered to a pefant and a Prince ftan- deth not in the fame degree ) hence it follow- etb, that the difobeying of an infinite Comman- der , is an infinite offence , and confequcntly de- ferueth a cprrefpondent puniihment. And how- foeuer , an, vnwifie man doth not well consider this, and a/00// doth not vnderflandit: yetcer- taiaely that is moft true, which is obferued by one, out of. Saint Augufiine , that in every finne weecommit, as alio in all othqr elections , there is ballanccd ( as it were ) in the fcales of our rea- fon5 here , an Omnipotent Lord , commanding , for our et email good, and there a deadly enemic, aljuring to our vtter defirucJion. Where notwith- . fending.* fuch is our damnable ingratitude, and n;<ajlicjoii$ flupidity> wee will fully reject the Lord ofilifie^nd preferre a murderer, Hauejee no regard, all ye that pajfie this way y behold and fee 5 whom yced.ayiy picrce,and then tell mee, what difgracc mry bee.vilej: then this , or puniflimcnt tooiieavy for fuch a contempt. Theincomprehenfible Anci- ent

for ending Law cafes

\ 4t

ent of dates ^ Almighty lehovah , who made all things. of nothing , by his Word , and by the fame can reduce them to rvorfe then nothing againe : whofe looke drieth vp the Decpes, and whofe wrath,, maketh the Mountaines to melt 3 the Earth to tremble ,the Rocks to r^/;3 the Heavens to flitter, Divels and Angels to ^W^ before him. Before whom all A7/*gi- are as Grafhoppers , all Monarchs^ as Molehils^ all beauty , baft, allftrength3 feeble, all knowlcdge,vaine5 all light, dimme, allgood- neiTe,impcrfc& ; in fuch a cafe , with fuch an oppo- fitejoy fuch a creature , as man is 3 fo extraordina- rily £w^/ by him, to bee weighed as B el fla^Jar, in the ballance, and found too light. This is that, which vrgeth his awrj , andkindleth his Roy alt indignation^ Sometimes ( as it were ) paffionately to export u late , What tniqwtie haue your Fathers found in me ? Or haue I beene a wilder neffe vnto if rad > or a land of darknefe? Then to exclaime, Heare^O heauensyand hearken yO earth \ for the Lord hathfaid, I haue brought vp children-, and they haue rebelled againjl me. And goe to the lies ofchittim^ and behold, and (end to Kedar^hath any nation chan- ged their gods , which yet are no Gods i But my peo- ple hath changed their glory^for that which hath no profit. Laft of all , if a man will not turne^hce will rvhet his [word rnhVI 3*\r\ S^ftCas Ezchielmge- minateth) A fa or d, a fword,both jharp^&c four bi fled. and the firings of his Bow make ready againft the face of the rebellious. Thus faith the LordGodot HoftSjthe mighty one of ifrael^Ah, /will eafe me of

ImineadverfarieSyfjr avenge me of mine enemies, All which

Dan. 5.17,

Ier.1.31.

Efay.1.2. Ter.z.to.i 1.

Ch.1p.xi 9. Pfal.2i.xi. E.aiah.1.14,

42

Qhrifts counfeB

pfai.5.1.4. Mat.10.30.

which doth iujtifie god in his faying , and clear e him when Keu iudged. For as his Providence numbreth cur hairesfo doth his luftice our Jinnes s whereof as none is fo waighty, (without hnzllimpenitency) that may not beforgiuen: So none CoJlighty (if hee once enter into judgement ) that waigheth not downetohell.

5 This may beacaveat for vs,(Bekued)fir{i to beware of the leauen of the Romijh Synagogue^who frame indulgences for gods Uwfii come wit hpeace^ peace ,when death it in the pot. Which that we may the more vnderftandingly deeme of, itfhall not be amifife to touch a little on the poftt ions, of their chkkft patrons* In which I intend to bee excee- ding breefe,as ay ming rather atourowne reconci- ling with God, then quarrelling with fuch obflU nate adverfaries. Bellarmine de amifiione grati<ey & slatu peccati, be fides othQifoure divisions of fin, which hee there relateth , hath this for the fifth,

qu<e nonnihil impediunt curfiim ad fDeum>nont^+ menabeo a- *vertunt,& facili negptio expiantu?,

Lib.i.de A-~ mijjton.grat. Cr jfatu pec-

Ubi.c.i.L£-

tbalia4we ho minem planS avertmt d

Veo. venialia | which hee onely ftandeth vpon throughout that wholebooke.0///w( faith hee) fomc are deadly , and divert a man rvholy ft om God ^ others , venially which hinder him onely a little ; and thofe hee tear- methnotfo , abeventu^ {With Saint Ambrofe, and Augustine) becaufeit pleafcth God in mercy, vpon repentance th rough chrifi , to pardon them (as Wicklijfe^Luther & Calvin moft ftrongly ever maintained againft the Sc hoolemen: ) buiexna- turafua & ratione peccati ,bcing fuch ., as crofTc not charity foin their natuve^vtfvellet Bens non con- donare, (histhe very vpfhot of the booke before cited) thatifGodrvoAldnotptrdonthem, but (as it

were)

for ending Law cafes.

werej iniufticcdochis word, hcc could punifh them no further, then with temporal afflictions, They ftand with perfect charity, iaith a Scot us: Re- mitted they may be without any infufion of grace, asGregorius deValentia the Iefuite peremptorily defineth}they make vs not fpotty^or odious, in the ;fight of God , according to the gentle c cenfureof the Divines ofCollaine,Sc therefore deferuc not he I but Purgatory tf& Aquinas may be beleeued. And to make it yet more plaine, how bold they can bee with Cods lufiice ! Wee need not repent for them, faith Andradius,whh Bonaventurefm his fife book oft he defence of the Councel of Trent ; neither fay to God, Forgiuevs our trejpajjes , as the Rhemijts would father on Saint AuguHine , at the 8. verfe of the y.chapter of the Epiftle of Saint Paulto the Romans. When God had giuen a Command to Adam,Gen.2.ij.OftheTree0f knowledge of good ejr evill, thou fib alt not eat e: for in the day thou eatefl thereof, thou [halt die the death • the Serpent comes with a coiitermand}Yeejhal2 not dye at allizs though Gods meaning, and his words , had becne cleane contradictory. And is not this the dealing of our Adverfaries in this prefent controverfic ? For if every one be accurfed, that fu [fillet knot all the Commandements,L,cvk. 26. 14, all his ordinances, Deut. 28. i^whatfoeuer iswritten^al. 3. io.ifhee violate the fir ft , and gre*te(l Commandcment , Mac. 2 2.3 7. wholouethnot God ,with all his heart, and wit hall his foule ^and with all his minde. And a Afj&iiA \wna.?oiH&> i. Ioh. 3.4. every ,the moft tn- fenfible flaggering , (as Calvine foundly vrgeth ) commeth

41

Pxno.72 tem~ poralemtan- tumynon aw tem fempiter-

ranexigzrt pojfit. a In 4 fent, di{t.i7- ( b row.4.

j ccenfura Co-

j d In quartum

Cap.j.4

44

I.Kings 12.6

Lib. i.de A- mijf.grat.tsr flam pec cat. cap. x i.

Chrijlscounfell

Quamvisptc- cata venialia fi cum morta liba'confe- rantur.non funt perfefte peccata>abfo- lute tamen peccata nomi- naripojfunt, <vt in facris Uteri* nomi- nantur: ltki.de A- mijfgrat* &

tftatu peccat. cap. 1 1.

commeth within the compaffe of one of thefe circumftances 5 what prefumption is it then in a- ny Baa/amite, to be hired to tlejfe-,\vhetc the Lord hath cur fed, and to lay with Ahabs Prophets , Goe vp and pro/per , when Gods Word hath told vs, wee jW/ furely fail f But Bellarmine hath de vifed certaine fhifts5to delude all thefe evident places, as firft properlyy and of themfelues. Thefe arenot mandates ( faith hee) but degrees of the fame Com- mandement. Secondly Jhchplaces are not to bee irh terpreted of venial! finnes, but of morta/lonelj, where finding in his owne confeience , thefe Fig- leaues too narrow to cbuer fuch apparent naked- nefle- he addeth thirdly,ihzt we muft not foftritf- /y vrge whatfoeuer the Law hath ena<3ed again/i veniallfws,becaute (Which is his fourth extratlion out of the Schoolelimbiques ) thefe are not againft, but be fides the law .-and left all this fhould faile,hee ftrikesit dead atthelaft, with fuch a qualification.- Though thefe veniall faults may bee abfolutely called finnesjmd arefo tearmedin helyfcriptureyct perfetlly they are not fo , being conferred with mortallfwneS) ejr idclrco exfolts iflis vocibus^dere- btu ipftsnonejl pronunciandum. Andthereforervee mufi not Jpeake of fuch matters , as the Word of God direcls w;but attend (as it fhould feeme) fuch cir- cumftances as the ConfiHoryofRome fhall prefcribe vs. But can fuch huskts fatisfie any one that hath { a father to goe vnto ? The Iewes CMaJforeth are thought too faucy,f or difliking fome words in the old Tcftament , as offenfiueto modeft eares , and their corre&ions in the

adding

marsent

ZS

though!

for ending Law cafes.

though the holy Choft had not knownc how to exprcflc his minde. But thefe are pidling criti- afmestothc Cardinals animadver [ions . With him, mandates muft.be degrees of mandates, znd contra^ /hall bzfr&ter^ hee will hauc amildercenfurc for vcniallfmnes^ oxthttextft\d\\ftretcb for it. God faith plainly jm : he faies exprefly no. Butiffuch chaffthoIdoutwaightinthcfo/Awr* of the San- c7uaryy what proofes may Scripture yeeld to con- vince heretiques? or heretiques not pervert, to maintaine their owne fancies? The Arke and Dagon, Chrijl and Belial^ Bethel and Beth&ven may bee fo vnited together. Antiquity ( I am fu re ) was little acquainted with fuch fubtilities. Tiolov dfulfTHfxA fux&f TvktirioH 77* UaAm who dares to tearmeffmh a Bafil)any fault little: & v* vniverfe noftr* iujlitiafaith b S.Auguftine) woe to our beft works^ox right eonfnefe, iirvithout Gods mercy , thej come to a fanning. Every ojfencef according to Gre- gory Na^ian^fnjis the death of the foule,3cc\ippcth it (in the LatineGregories opinionjfrom foaring a- loft. And howfoevcr Bellarmmes former fhifc may winde from thefealfo : yet his own men in reafon fhould fit neerer to him. Gerfon de vita /pirituali Anim.Letf.i*oippoiQth himfelfe purpofely againft thisabfurddiftia&ionof the Schoolemen. Richar- dus feconds him: Almaine think es no otherrvife- Rojfenfts ioynes with them both : Durand fo pro- ueth, that every finne in his owne nature, is not only beftd&jbutagainft Gods Law: that Caietane is faine to come with this old Catholicon^fmpliciter^ and fecundum quid, to hclpe out Thomas his Ma- i ftcr,

45

a Regul. Bre- vity ad In- terrog. 4.

c# 7»<fotp0£pi <i$f df/apm-

til ^^y.««. Ibid- Inter*

b Conjejf.lib. y.cvlt.

i.Sent.dift. +14.6.

Caietan. in /17.1a. it. <{.

88. art. 1.

Chrifls counfell

Chap.2^.6.

Pfal.ijo.3,

Iudc. 6.

Gcn.3y24.

Gen.19,24.

i. King. 15.

i9.

1. King. 1 6,

1 i.

j.King, to.

11.

fter,ia.2£.#,88.*r. i.andyetallwillnotferuc.To haften to a more profitable vfc,Michael Bains ; not long fithence/w/e/^r of Divinity in Lovaine, ac- knowledgcth juft fo xnuch,that every finne is mot- tall tn its orvne nature ,as we contend for. And all the world may fee, that thefe Taske-majlers can fliew no other warrant, for gathering this -Bubble of ve- nial! finnes, in the fenfe they vrge it,but only from the Romane Pharatb, to make bricke in Purgatory. But this availes not in Gods Court (Beloued) and therefore ouxpleamuft be cleane altered. For his thoughts are M our thoughts , nor ^/i waies our waies: Efay. 55.8. Behold (faith Bildad in the Booke of /<?£) the Uiioone hath no light, and the Starres are vncleane in his fight: and will a voorme, or 4 lhadow,d bottle in the fmvake, ftand vp to try titles with him m)\xd%tmtmilfthou^Lord, wilt be extreameyto marke what k doneamijje}0 Lovd,who may abide it? That which vineger is to the teeth, fmoake 10 the e)es,7icarca(fe-fme/l vnto the nofe,a naked dagger to the hemimorcisthcfmallejl faul- ting of mortall man to the infinite iuflice of Al- mighty G^.Nevercan there be the like antipathie, or: deadly feud, betwixt the mod hoftile creatures thatever were created,as betwixt the Author of all goodnefe,z.r\d this Divels brat, finne. IrcroflTeth his very nature,and he muft needs crufli it- itcontem- nethhisprerogatiue, and therefore may not be to- lerated. It threw the Angels outof heauen, Adam out of Paradtfe^bumcd Sodom, difinheritcd Sauls pofterity, plagued David, rooted our the whole families of leroboam,Eaafha^nd Ahab, plucked at length

for ending Law cafes.

47

length the mod beloued Son outof the bofome of his Fat her , to dye ignominioufly in the habit of a fervant. And yet fuch is our fenfles ftapidiry ^and vngratcfull pcrverfnes: we drinke iniquity like wa- ter, anddiftaftc ic riotjacknowlcdgc Gods-heauy .indignation againft it, and regard it not; fcethc dungeon ready toreceiuevs, thefcourges to tor- ment vs3 the plagues to befall vs * and yet by any manner of repentance fhunne them. not. Who prefumcthnot on Gods mercy, as though hee were not juft? and. is not bolder to offend this King of Kings y then the meaneft neighbour or friend he hath^what examples terrify vs., or ter- rouis effetft, or effe<3sdeclare,that wee incline not :to the pofition of Davids foolc^vho tmhfaidin his heart', t hut there is no God'. After fo long teaching and often hearing, many threats, and often punifh- ments by famine jeftilence^tk waters, remaine there not Chams amongft vs, who difhonour their fa. rents', ifmaels that mocke,8z Efaus that vow revenge againft their fellow members, and natuiall bre- tbxej^TodlfsjLQ kijfe, and Hab^Abfolons, to fatter, & rcbcll^ rharifees for cut/ides y6cS adduces for bcliefe^ that rate at a p/£j/jofy0^*£,theirhcauenly birth- right?Iudasoncc fold his Matter for thirty peeces of JiTver .-but wc oft en partw Khhmi, and commonly forhalfethe mony. What fophifticaticnsvkweQ not togildovcr3and extenuate finnes: not only to poyfonourfeliies^butalfo to draw on others? To hedrunke^ and frequent lewd company ;s now to be foci able and /ovial-. fwearing^a note of refclutiw: gulling^ of a good wit: ■cheating, of a tried expe- rience:

Pfalm.i,

Qhrifls cottnfeQ

Mat.ix.44'

Jrt Mattb. Homil. 5 5- Vid.Auguft. in Johan, naff. ii.

rience: extorting couetoufneflfe of a carefull pro vidence^and damnable difimulation of a notable headed politttian.How many of our grecneryeares affe<ft not rather the name of a good fellow , then ofagoodChriftianc'comeatS(?rw^jasatf/4W,to ^>^re,rather then to pr4#//*;and take vp all new fajhionsjnothingarb and complement, except that newneffe of life, which our S^z/z^rcommendeth. But I tellthee(my good Chriftian brother) thefe leakes are not fo little, but thev may quicklyy/#££ thee^thc very touch of this pick isfumcientto de- fileiand thou tread but on the egges of this wily coc- katricc, thou {halt prefently perceiue that there lurketh aferpent. Were the Angels punifhed eter- nally for finning once, and thinkeft thou to Hand out iniudgement witi fo many tranfgreflions? muft our thoughts be fcaned,& (hall our words efcape ? or our words bee condemned, and yet our ani- ons pardoned? Bee not deceiued, God is not mocked. Inclinations, motions, intentions , our moft fe- cret, and lighted finnes, are as Elis (onnes , the/ will hreake our neckes, if wee breake not off them . GodslVord is a two edged ftvord, which muft kill our/a«/fj,orvs;anditwe (tumble and dafh againft the Corner ftonejt will fall vpon vs, and grinde vs to powder. For as one fparke of fire may burne a whole City, and one naked place in an armed man (faith S. Chryfoflomc) giue way to a deadly wound : fo the lead graine of finne vnrepented, may draw fuch mountaincs of miferies vpon vs, which all that wee can doc,or fay, ( without Gods infinite mercy) fhallnever bceabletoremoue. O

that

for ending Law Qcifes.

that we would therefore deale with thefe vanities, as lofeph did with his Miftris, and breake out at the firftaftault, into this or the like contemplation: Thttsand thtu hath the Lord done for me^ he brought me into this World,to overcome this world, that by contemning this, I might enioy abetter. Doe not all creatures ferue me, that ijhouldferue him? and haue I ought of mine otvne, but only by his bounty? how thenjhouldldoeany wickednejfe, and finne againjl him, rvho beholdeth my leafi back fli dings , and will furely punijh them? Bewared not the naturall bran, ches, and jhall 1 haue an indulgence? hath his Sonne fufferedtoredeeme his enemies, and jh all his enemies efcapethat contemne his Sonne? No certainely (Be- loued) hceis juft? as well as mercifull : if thou turnefrom his/?4//^/5thou fhalt bee overturned. Inadaythatthou loo keji not for , and in an heure that thou art not aware of, the fnares of death jhall overtake thee, and paines of Hell (hall compaffe thee round about. Thine A dv erj ary (hall not one- ly deliver thee to the Judge , but the Judge deliver thee to the Sergeant: which is the fecond circum- flancelbdore propofcd,& followeth to lead fur- thcr your judicious confederations.

7 The Judge jhall dcliuer thee to the Sergeant. This Iudge all confent vpon to bee Chrtft , to whom the father hath committed all Judgement. roh. 5 .22. For though the Apofiles are faid alfo to iudge, Luk.22.30.and x\\z men oi N inivehJAith. 12.4 i. yet this is but by way of ajfefion, or appro- bation, as the Schoolemen expound the former < or exemplar ily, as produced to convince others, who

D haue

4?

Math.14. Pfal.x8.

*o.

Jquin. fiip- plem.q.Sy,- art. I. Lomb.hb.7, C.I8.

JO

Jn u.Mat.

Luk. ii. 58.

VilBelUib.

l.dePurg.s.

7.

ivi

i Inhumlocu-

j. Cor.Xf.ii.

ChriSls counfell

hauelcfle profited by greater meanes (as Beza and Fifcator intimate of the, latter ) none hauing ab- solute authority , but, he to \yhom all power ve us given Math, 2 8.1 8 .Next,what this word vv*fas fhould fignify (Tor which, Saint Luke hath ^**wp, theS^- r iack^wz^ the Remi ft s and our \d& Tranflacion, Officer, D. Fuike, Minifitx^ome old tranilations, Doomcfmanyand we here Sergeant) there is fome fraall difference. S.Ambrofe & S.Auguftine would haueit to be the good Angels , becaufe thcte are faid, to minifter to our Saviour, in the former Chap. at the 1 1 . verfe-f 0 come with him ^chap.i 6.2j.toga- therthetareSyChap.13.30. But Chryfo ftom e, Grego- ry i Theophylaci , Hugo ^.nd Abulenfis, together with the Or dinar yglofie, doethinkq it rather the Divels office. For thefeare the curfed lay lers of the dam- nedy which mull: accompany them eternally in ever lofting fire 7Math.25.41. Both opinions are probable (faith Eellarmine.) Fifcator joynesthem together: and Buccajen^s (hewes the rcafon. The Goates (faith he) are delivered to the good Angels^ to be fepar4ted 'from the fheepe 5 and from thence to the evi II, to bee tortured forever. Whence I gather in ftead of many, this one gencr.all obfer- vatton:.

That t her ejhall be a Judgement hereafter ^herein every man jhallreceiue according to hisworkes.

8. 1 need not to bscurious in prouing this point; which isreceiuedas a principle , in the Articles ofourfaith.ThatSadduce, which denies it, de- nies alfo G^andfljallfooner ^ek it , then haue time to prevent it. In a moment 9 in the, twinkling

of

for ending Law cafes

V

Math. 14. j<

Rev.ii.f.

t.Pet.$,«o.

of an eye, at the terrible found of the lafi Trumpet, the fonne ofmanjhall come in the clouds of heauen, with all his holy Angels in power and great glory: when thcSunne (hall be blacke as fackcloth oj chaire^ the Moonelikcbloud^hc Starres fall vntothe^r/£3 asafigtreecajletbherle4uesy thcieauens depart as afcrollroled, and every mount aine and tit moue out of their places^ when the earth melteth , the /£* roarethy the elements diffoluc, nations howle, all the world flafheth with the terrible and all-con- fuming/dw^, mentioned by the blefTed Apoftle S./Vrerjthen (hdWweall appear e before the Judge- ment feat of ChriJiyRom.i^.io.thzt every ma may receiue according at be hath done,z.Cov. 5 .10. And here (beloued) in a matter of fo fcrious impor- tance^ (hould be idle for me, to breake out into the mazes, and vagariesofthe Schoole-men: as to determine with the majler of the Sentences , that this lajl firefhall, as thefirslfoud^iCc iuft fifteene cubits aboue the tops o\ the highest mount aines; or with Nicholas de Orbellis,that the materiall Crojfe, whereon our Saviour was crucified, fhould bee car- ried fas a Mace) before him, when lice cometh to Judgement, or with Aquinasani the reft of that fide, that the place of this Judgement (hall bee in the ayre, right againft mount Oliuet, over the valley of Iehofhaphat. Wcllfai>h Artemidorus in his Onei ?ocrit:qucs,No dreames oj a private manmay haue a pub/ike interpretation. For what fhould wefpeake in fuch obfeuntics, that the Lord putteth not into our mouthes? That which Lombard hath of the 4«f^m^of^^/;inthisbufineffc, Puto hoc non. Him^m

D z 4rte\

^.SentMft.

JnfuppUm.q 88.4174-

Qbrifts Counfell

Vbi/upra ([* 8 8.«rf. 5.

ante fciri^quam videatur. I thinkc it cannot bcc knownejottorc it be feene, or at lead revealed- and Sl Augufline fomewhere otoriginall finne^ Never be fo inqttifitiue, how thou hadftit from thy pa- rents Jout labour to be cleared of it by the merits of thy Saviour • may feme vs heere , to curbe our J curiofity. Let it not bee thy care to conceiuej where and when ,znd with what circumstances , this judgement is to be holden, but there, and then^ and by good afurances 5 to bee deliuered from the horrible dammages thereof. Two kindes of Judgements the Scripture mentioncth 5 on which wee may fafely build. The firft a particular , the fecond a generall. This for the foule alone , at every mans feverall departure, as that of Dives and Lazarus Jj&e.i 6. 22. 23-Thatforthe foule & body, and all men together ,2tthc la ft day y after the vniverfall refurreclio , Heb.p. 2 7. The firft refpc&- eth vs ("faith Aquinas )as private perfonsfhc fecond as parts of mankind: neither fhallthat be recalled,, or mitigated in the fecond, which was determi- ned in the firft: but rather puilijhed, what there was j privately pafled , and what was in the particular begun , in the generall fhall bee confummated, by reuniting the foule and body everlaftingly to- gether.

$> In both which, could we but thinkc of with deliberation>themoftftrid, and fevere proceed- ing of Gods vnmoveable iutficey it would coole our courages, and take downe the preemption, that now iolauimly runs on in the fcore of Gods mercy. For though in this life, his cares bee open

to

for ending Law cafes.

to the petitions of the penitent , yet hereafter when hereturnethto execute Judgement, hec acknow- ledged that be is a hard man, reaping where hee ne- ver fowed,& gathering joker e he hr owed not. Who for offending a little one , will inflift a heauier pu- nifliment vpon the guilty , then the cafling him in. to the fea,\vitha mil/tone about his neck, and for de- fc<5i alone of a wedding garment 5vvil adjudge an in- vited ^/^tox'/ttr^^j. And now [my bel^^^ brethren) was Adam fo hardly cenfured , C as it is thought)for one Apple f The Angels torzthought: Mofes and Aaron for once doubting rail ffraelfor Achans taking one wedge of Gold : the whole Tribe of Eeniaminfov forcing of one woman : & fliall wee thinl<c5in that terrible Day of the Lord, a day of darkneffe and dimnefieji day ofclotvdes, ,andJtormes before fo iusl aladgejo many a-ccufersjoxio hay- now voluntary , znd continued crimes , it is poffiblc for vs to cfcape vnpuniftied < Fcelix trembled when Paul preached of iudgement : and Lemnius reports of a young man of the Emperour Charles his Court , who for horrour of the execution hee was the next day to fuffer 5 in one night became white5bothinhis^u/and£w</. But could wee but refh-ainc a little our thoughts 5 to the medi- tation of thefe fearcfull A fifes , it would ft6p our lewd courfes (as the light from heauen did Saules) and make vs to cry out with him, Lord , what wilt thou that we doe * For alas, how will all our Gal- lants and Swaggerers bchaue themfclucs in that perplexity < all our hypocrites & extortioners 1 all our drunkards and Adulterers 3 when thcludge

D 3 fhall

55

Mat ii.it. Math.i8.6.

Math.it. i J

Lib^, de com- plex, cap. io.

Atf.?A

f4

ffirifts Counfell

Ezech.21^1

Mattv.5.41

M§ 5-

fliall come in this terrible majeftie 5 this to /i#;?<?, thisto purge y this to fepar ate the corne from the chaff e, the wheat from the tares , the £/**/* from the Goates , Without pit ty , pardon , or partiality ? which way will they beturne themfelues * What Apologies will they make? whofe hclpe and coun- fell can they vfe , in fo defperateand fuddainean extremity I who ? where f what thing can yeeld confolation ? when the Lord once bloweth againft them f as the Prophet fpeakcth ) with the fire of his wrath * Abme them ( as Anfelme defcribesitjan angry ludge , ready to condemnc them, beneath 9 a gaping Chaos.withgxidyf re 2nd brimfione 3 eter- nally to ingulfe them • on the right hand , their jf^^^/accufing ; on the fr/9 hand 3 vgly fiends to draggethem to execution; within , a gnawing con- science^ without, Icalhjome companions , the rwrW burnings all creatures am a^cd , the laftfentence thundredoutin this drcadfull manner : Goeyee curbed of my Father, into, everlafting fire ^prepared for the Divel ejr his angels. Vpon the pronouncing of which, what imagination can ccnccaue ? or tongue of men and Angels expreffe theruthfull and difmall departing of the damned reprobates ? Parents , from their Children , Husbands from their Wiucs , Brothers and Sifters from each othcr^fo to be fundred , that ncuer pitty ; or com- fort may afterward be expe&edtthis is that which ihould fticke clofer to the brawny hearts of our careJefliworldlings^thenB/Wi^g^did to fat Eglons: and awake them to Iooke- about, whiles fpace, and place is granted, O my deare Chri-

ftian

for ending Law Qafes.

i ft -•■]

ftian Brother, then thou -{halt truly findc, that this L is no Bugbeare, wherewith weearethreatnedatj thisprefent : one cup of cold water giuen , one plea fure abandoned 5 one injury endured here in this ] world forC/^//?^jQ^^butefpecia!ly xhetreafurc of anvnjpottedconfcience 5 fliall giue thee at that in- ftant greater comfort , then all the dignities and delights of a thoufand worlds. But thou fuppo- feft this farre off, and therefore the leiTe regarded: it. ScnfelelTe,and inconfiderate as wee are / haue wcebecnefo often deluded 5 and yet difcerne not this laft,and deadlieft bait of that old Serpent the Divell < It is not for vs ( I confefle ) to knowe the times indfeafons, which the Father hath put in his owne power : and therefore to particularize with fome, that the a Turkifh CMonarchy fliall haue its period, juft 8 i. yeeres hence, and the Papacy 71. or with b others in like curiofity , that the ^of tlm^e/i the world (hall fall, within the compaife of thofe j mH'M Tureici doo^en yeeres betvveene 1688. and 1700. is more then my Algorithme findes demonstration for : yet if by a cloudy wee may conjecture of a Horme , and bythe budding of a figge-tree , that Summer is neereat hand , warrantable it is to teach atthis prefent,whichthe Apoflle S.John did 15 00. yeeres Cwhznce^xhzxthefe are the cUjl times , which how much longertheyare to la(l 5 neither the d Angels, 'jMar.24.36 nor any creature can cxadtly ajjure vs. Tonashad for the Ninivites , c yet forty dayes : but for ought we know^ithin/irty ^0//rw,this time may come5whcn time fha/l be no more. For wlut Jignes thereof are mentioned in Scripture, which are not ' D 4 already 1 |

Aft.i.7.

a Brigbtman inc.g.Apoc.

tar

'A

nominu. bNapierprop. 14.C.116. Alftei. pr*c. Theol.cap. 16 vbi vid.plura define Mundi pag.12.6.

c i.Ioh.z.i8.

cCip.j.4.

5<*

aJhelU.8.

in \i\ca$* ad , in BjtiMi i a*

Chritts counfell

already fulfilled , or what fummons haue beene omitted to warne vs to provide? Talfe€hrifis were to come , and they haue beene difcoucred . perfections to arife ?_and they haue beene endured* Antichrifl to bee revealed, and behold, heeis con- fpicuous,with his-Z^^andfollowers : warres, and rumours to trouble allthe world ,Kand they haue btznzfelt , and heard ; pejlUence, and famine, earth-quakes ,and s~t range prodigies ± falfe Prophets^ and falfe brethren Jncreafe of iniquity , and frozen- neffe of charity , what man fo fimple that fpcakes not of, and daily almoft complaines not? Two fignes.onely remaine which can bee doubted of; The preaching of the Gofpel throughout the world, and the Converfion of the /ewes to Christianities But the firft ( according to moft Writers ) was ac- complished in the Apoftles time. For went not their found out through alt the earthy rjr their words z-nto the ends oft he world i Rom . i o. 1 8 .cr at leaft now is5 as fo. Frederick ( in a prculiar tract ) hath iTiewed, by fpreading the G ojp ell amonoft. the Eaft Indians ^and Americans. And for the latter ^though Ckryfostome^Hilarie, Ambrofe^ H.ieromc , and Atu guflmc,whh diuers of our new Writers , very pro- bablyxaik#,that before the end , there fliall bee a generallcwverfiw of 'the Iewes : yztC*l>'vin,Buceri a^CSslufcaUis. , with divers others of good note, Qx^oii^lthvxt Ifrael of God jliom.i i.25.(thc onely pi4cathar.ir)tiinatcs fuch a matter ) either allegori- tally,r ohtycfaulfu/I , or.of fomc p.erfons., to bee converted'in all ages of the leivift; Nation-: All fal- ling at length on Origens vnccrtainty in this poinr.

Quit

for ending Law cafes

57

gnis autem fit iftc omnis lfrael : what all that Ifra~ I el is,that (hall be faucd,Hee only knoweth^and his Sonne that faucth them. Small hope may there- fore be grounded on fuch ambiguities. To thcic if wee further adde the Prophcfie of Rabbi Elias, notdifliked by moft of the Ancients , and the Ca- balaofXabbilfaaconthc{\xft.vcYfe of Genefts , re- lated by Genebrard,Chronol Jib. 19, which aLdriue at the period of. ooo yeares. By the Septuagints^ Iofephu^ ^Eu fehimyAugu fines ^lftdores^.x\^Alphon- if us. the Aftronomers account 5 this date is out al- j ready* And according to the truer flipputation I ofthofe that folLovve the Hebrew text, not far from | finifhing^thc times for the E lefts fake being to bee ! fhortned. What is left therefore (BJ for vs, but to rvatcb^ and be ready ( as our Saviour counfellcth, ) left our M after come, and the Bridcgroome paJJ'e , & this day ad a jh.ee fe overtake vs,\\hcic wee are leaft prouided of it ? S. Hierome profefieth , that rvtje- ther he eate or drinke , or did any other thing , this voice did alwaics ftcmc to trumpet in his eares, Siagite mortui,& venite ad iudicii^ an ft you dead^ and come to judgement. And nothing can better vsmore, then the remembrance of this likefcn- tenceDvttercd by our Saviour : Come , giue an ac> count of thy •Stewardjhipfor thou mayeU be no longer Steward. Certainely there can be£ in this cafe but two kindes of- deliuerings^.thc fir ft -ft om our finnesy to a better eflate^ the fecondfor cur ftnnes , to an iri- cenfed Iudge. If the firft befall thec5nohappr- neffc can be greater then thine; but ifthefecond, without rcdrefle thou fhalt bee- caff into prifon:

which

58

Chrifls counfell

which is thelaft circumftance I before propofed, and will haften by reafon of the time briefly to conclude.

Andthoube caft into prifon. KVOK )Ma,

i

10

faith the $yriack7domum vin^forum^to wit, by the Sergeant 9to whom the ludge deliuered thee. That which breeds here a fcruple, is what this word prifon {hould fignifie. Convenient fimiliter omnes (faith Belhrmine lib.i JePurgatorioycapq .) All In- terpreters concurre in this , that by this prifonis meant hell : and thus farre he fpeaketh ingenioujly,. But marke the poorefhifts of fo great afcholler, to fetvp his Dagonagainz, that hath fo often faine, before the ^fo0/(W$hee is faine to rake Hell it felfe , to finde out Purgatory . For this hee goeth onward , In quo tamen mult^funt manfionjes • aliJl pro damnatts,alt£pro hts quipurgantur. In this hell notwithftanding are many manfions, fomefo'r the I damned,othevs for them which are to bee purged. I But a more ample mappe of this place , wee haue in \ his fecondbooke of Purgatory ,and Chap. 6. where I hauingreje&ed j. opinions 3 concerning thisfub- j terranean Geography, the eighth he borro weth fro \theScho$lemen,zndlQcmcth to approuc, that this J infer mm, or hell, is a place within the bofome , or ! bowels of 'the ear /^divided ( as the higher regions) into foure parts , whereof the lovveft finke , or coale-houfe is ^//- nextaboue that, Purgatory ,then Limbm infantum , where children goe , that dye vnbapttzed', aboue all, Limbm Patrum , where the Patriarkes were faine to lodge 5 before ChriHs Papon \ but then were remoued , and the place

left

for ending Law cafes.

59

lcit empty. This fcamling of time will not per- mit mccro examine all particulars, how our ad - vcrfarics could come to fo peifeft notice of all thefe places, as alfo fo di(linc7ly to vndcrftand,' what perfws are there to bee purged, and for what ! finnes • how vrieuotu the punilhment is there in- , fli&cd, by */*<?//, in a corporall pre , now long it ^^r<l. fliall endure ,whatfuffr ages , MaJ[es,ot indulgences \ willajfwagc ix^oi remoue it, that the foules cannei- ; ther merit ^nox demerit in fuch a cafe , that they are | a/ivaies certainc of their eternal! filiation t and this to be fiimcly beleeuedzsan article of faith -^ It will aske ( I fay, ) more time , then your patience can allow e mee : I will ftrike therefore at the rootc, and fo patfe along. To make all this good vnto vs, Bellarmine produceth tenne places out of the old Tcftament ,- and fo many more out of the New. To all which in generall I anfwere : Firft, out of Bellarmine himfelfe in the laft Chapter of his firftbooke of Purgatory : Where being vrged by Peter cJW^ty;', and our men, that Purgatory, is is not found in Scripture, and therefore can bee no matter of Faith ; hath nothing to fay but this, Adprimum ergo refpondeo, Non eft neceff'e vt Scrip, turavbifyomniadtcat. It is not nee eftary that the Scripture jl)0u Id every where mention all things , e- fpcrially where itmay be patched vp with Apofto- licalltraditions. On which when Bellarmine alfo. rclycrh, for the proofe of this Ignis Fatuiu . what dorh hee , but in effeft ( as Junius well notes agninft him ) ouerthrowe his Scripture forces i Sith Traditions take no place , but whereScripture

faileth.

In eunJem cum.

Ic-

6o

Lib. 4. de ver- bo Dei non ftripto. lib.i.Epifi. Libro 1 1. "Deipnofbp. Conuenit inter nos & aduer- farios ex fblo literati fenfu peti debet e arpumenta

isacia, BeUar.Li.de verb.7)ei,c, 3 . Lib, i. depur- g*ttc7.

Qhrifts counfell

Ffai.no. i. Mat. 1.25.

failethjby his owne do&rine in his firfi generall Controverfie. But as that lunaticke Thrafylaus mentioned by Horace,and\^4tben<eus , thought all the /hips tobcchls-ewHe > that arriued in the Ha- venae Athens : fo wherefoeuer there is fire doubt- fully mentioned of in Scripture, our Adverfaries ftraightconvey it , to heate Purgatory kit chin. Se- condly , I anfvvere in particular , to the words of my Text 3which he efpecially buildeth vpon. Firft, that they zxtfymbolicall ( as himfelfe confefleth ) and therefore according to Aquinas and their owne Schooles^proue nothing. Secondly , whereas this particlet«^or vntill , may feeme to enforce a deliuerance from this prifon , and fo by fome flie w of confequence,f^w Purgatory , the argument be- ing thus framed: Thou Jhalt not come out, vntill thou haft paid t he vttermoB farthing -^therefore, af- terward thou may si come out. Saint Auguftine ( as he acknowledged) inftanceth againft this, both by that place of the Pfalmift , Sit thou on my right hand,vntill I makethine enemies thy foot -floole^as alfo in that of the Evangelijljofeph knerve not Ma- ryyvntill jbee had brought forth her frft begotten. Where the firft implyeth not , that after ChriHs enemies were fubdued , hce fliould fit on Gods right hand no longer -nor the latter helpeth thc/*- ference of Heluidius, thataf cctbrir Saviours l>irth# lofepbknewe his wife. Saint Auguftine therefore concludcth, that Aonec in this place fignrfieth >non fnem poena fed continuationem mi feria : not an end of paine^hwt the continuance of mifery ; Semper foL ues (faith Hugo out o^Remigius ) ejr nunquamper- folucs.

for ending Law cafes.

f blues. Thoufiuh ever bepayingy yet never fat if fie. Which expofition Calvin^ and Bucer , and CMufcultu doe not only embrace: but Anfelme, and Beda, Thomas, and Gorram, Ammonia* , and Avendano^Maldonate, and lanfcnim^ with I know not how many of their owne conforts. Bnt Bel- larmtne vrgeth this f arther,and therefore we mud farther follow him. ExemplaB. Auguftini non fa- tisfaciunt(Cahh hee )S.Auguftines examples, or in. (lances farisfy not . Tor in the fifft; Sit thou on my right handy vntill I make thy enemies thy faotHooley although I cannot inferre , therefore afterward Chrift fliall not fit on Gods right hand; yet this is anecefiary confequence y therefore there fliall a time come, when Chritts enemies fliall bee made hisfootftoole. So inthefecondy he knew her not, vntillfhe had brought forth. Though I cannot ga- ther, therefore he knew her afterward, yet this I may argue, therefore (he was to bring forth. And no other is the confequent in this place, thou Jhalt not come out, vntill thou haft paid the vtmost far- thing. Therefore there jhalt be a time, when the ut- most farthing (hall bee paid. But to this vtmofl RraineotBellar mines fophiftrie3ameane Logician maycafily anfwer; that all this concludcth but a a necefity of the thing to be done, not a pofibility of the party to be able to doe it. oftendtt debitum fohendum(\v\\\ch\tdke to be the meaning of Pif- catorsanCwer) non debitore folvendo: If it argue the debt to bepaid-itinrichethnot the debtor to bee able to pay it. So that by equipollency it fallcth to be [ucha conncxiuc proportion: if thou pay the vt-

vioft

it

Vfifupra,

cap.Mitb.

6z

CbriJlscounfeO

4*setitJift. 4f-

Lib.de peccat. Merit, et Re- rnitf- cap. *8.

ftd.Tabutam Mercat. vni- verf.

moH farthing, then thou maifi be deliuered-^which I deny any man can ever pay (hairing, by offending an infinite (?0*/,deferved an infinite punifbmentyand therefore muftalwaiesly by it. For if fome fames may fatisfie Gods Iuftice in Purgatory, for a fmall offence- fliouid not greater paines proportiona- bly in k//,doe the like for a greater offence, andfo by confequence,theafei//7j' themfelues ( which was 0r/gmr errour)in time might be freedf The Fa- thers father not (howfoever Re liar mine mat (hall them)this£ lowing 7 and locall Purgatory-, but right- ly vnderftood,are as farre from k as it from truth. For they make it not a hot-houfe for the foules of theeleft, farmed by the Pope to the Devill at a yeerely racke rent.- but abditaquadam rice pt acuta fas Lombdrd hath rightly delivered out of ancient karning)cQvmne vnknotvnc places of rtpofe, where purged at their dijjblutionfrom the bedy^ by vertue of Chriftspaftonfhzy reft from their labours in ex- pedance of the complement of that joy, which they ftiall receiue together with the body, at the reuniting againe, in the general! refurreEiion\\ wherefore Saint Augujline concludeth, Nonefi\ vllus vlli locus medim,vt poffit effe nifi cum diabo- lo,quinoneB cumChrifto. Iuft therefore as forr- Geographers, for proouingof a blacke rocke ma- ny hundred miles about , diredly vnder the North pole yCcndvs to Gyraldus Cambrenfis^ hee to zPrieflol Norway^ the Prieflto an Oxford ^Ma- gician, who was carried thitherto ice it by the Z>^///,ifwee will beleeuethe narration; So the beftproofes of our adruerfaries for their Subterra- nean

for ending Law cafes.

i *

nean Purgatory, come by many deductions, from the fame Author-, as k appeareth by the divers ap- paritions they fo confidently alleage for ir. Bar we taking parabolically this prifan, for no better place then Hell, mayrefolue without difficulty- on -this pofition,

That the wicked flail be turned vnto Hell, and all the people that forget God.

1 1 I take it in the words of the Prop/set, PfaL

7. 1 9, to cut off all occafion of farther proofe. The

vfe is a terrour to caielefle worldlings, that runne

the tread way fpokcnof by our Saviour ,and never

markenvhere itleadcth.Comc on therefore, thon

inconsiderate and retchlcffe Cbriftian, and looke

before thou leapeft, . and if thou wilt needs to this

prifon5fecthy entertainment. Horrible (out of

doubt) was that flow* of fre and brim f one t

which confumed Sodome, and the Citries of the

Plaine. And fearefullwas that feventh- plague of

Egypt , Thunder, and Haile,, and Lightning run-

w?£vponthe ground. And inferiour to neither,

was that prodigious death of Corah , Dathan^ and

Abi ram, when the earth opened her iawes, and

fwallowed them aliue into the pit with all their

\ goods and families; butthefe are but a preface , a

! (parke, a drop, a nothing to the everlafting tor-

tures of Gods extremeft vengeance. Never eye

hath feene, nor eare bath heard, nor heart of man

hath conceiued the infinite bitterneffe of thefe

lafl vials of wrath.. A bott.omleffe dungeon , a lake

of Gods wrath ^xpoole of fre and brim (lone fi gaftly

V\*W *c/W> (l<p&y-m?-nti®-, pitchy mi fl s , deadly fogges

• hideous

Gen.Tplj.

Exod^.ij,

Num.16.

] H

Qbrifis counfell

hideous confufion, chaines of vtter darknejfe. Tophet prepared of old^deepe, and Urge, burning tvithfire^and much woodland the breath of the Lord kindling it as a river of brimtfone. Thefe very names of this Prifon 7 mentioned in Scripture, fhould daunt, and amazethe moft prefumptuous wotldlingjthat by altering of his courfe of life, hee might avoide the thing it felfe. Of which, fhould I but farther relate the fearefull defcriptions, fre- quent in Fathers, zndScboolemen, ( wherein all notwithftanding come too fhort)I fhould notfo much racke your patience with horrour, by rea- fonof mine owne infu/ficiency , as abufe it with frolixitie, by going beyond my time. O God I to depart from thee, to accompany the Devill and his angels ,to bee excluded from heauen^ into everlafting fire , aUvaies (torched , and never confumed-everdying,anc rever difTolved- fink- ing eternally ,and never cone vnto the bottome^ weeping, gnafhing, freezing, frying, without the leaft drop of hope, or hope of pity ; I quake, and ftop,anddaretogo no farther. O indignation oft he Almighty Jail not <vpon vsifor ourflejh trem- bieth for fear e of thee ^ rvc are afraid of thy terrible iudgements.Wee acknowledge our light eft offences, to defer ue thy et er nail anger ^and this prifon to be due for our day ly tranfgrefions: but fyarevs^good Lord, for thy Sonne^rvhojpared'ft not thy Sonne for vs: let not the thought of our laft end be fo the laB end of our thought^ that by forgetting thy iufticc^rve neglctt thy fervice^dr prefume in the least finnes , to offend thy infnite Maiefty . Hearc vs, good Lord5 for thy _____ Church,

for ending Law Qafes.

Church, and thy Church for thy Sonne, and

thy Sonne, for both • to whom with thee,

and the holy Ghoft, three perfons and

one God,beafcribed all honour,

power,and dominion, both

now and evermore.

Ambh,

«J

, ^itftyKmygpy j^g^ a^qg^ gtp^ tftggy^ *<gyo y<^»C

d&5

CHRISTIAN S

FREE-WILL

OFFERING.

AS IT WAS DELIVERED

IN A SERMON ON

Chriftmaffc day , at Chrift- Church in Oxford.

Byl&HN P r id e Avx>Dodor of

Divinity, Regius Pro feffor, and Re<3or ot Exeter CoUedge.

OXF O RDy

Imprinted by Leonard Lichfield Anno SalutU, 163 6.

CHRISTIANS

FREE-WILL

OFFERING,

AS IT WAS DELIVERED

IN A SERMON ON

Chriftmaflc day , at Chrift- Church in Oxford.

PsALMB HO.ji

In the day of thy Power fha/l the people offer thee free-will Offerings with an holy worfiip; the dew of thy birth is of the wombe of the Morning.

His Pfalme is an evident pro- phecy of our Saviour Chrift, our Sauiourhimfelfefo inter- preting it, Mat. 22, Marke 12. and Luke 20. Some Ievves would make it to bee Eliezers gratulation for his matter Abrahams vi&ory a- gainft the fiue Kings, Gen. 14. Others, Davids thankefgiuing for his efcapingS4///,& fetling in the kingdome.Butthewifer Rabbins referreit no o- therwife then we doe,to the Me fiat alone, fas Lyra

H 2 on

« ■■ I ■ ■ — • — "

A Chrift tans free-will offering.

on this Pfalme noteth:) and that Calvin ever went about to wreft,or apply it to David, is a malicious Dander of Hunniut and Gefner9 as Tar em fheweth at large , in his fecond booke Calvini orthodoxi, cap. 4 i* Now this Prophecy fore-defcribeth, firft, th&callingoixhz Chief im to the office of the Mediatorfhip, both Kingly and Prieftly , in thefoute firft verfes: and fecondly , the admini- ftration of his K ingly officein the three following verfes to theend of the Pfalme. His calling to this Kingly office, is folemnized firft by a €em- ^//j?/'^: Secondly j by a promt fe. The Commifion graceth him firft with 'Title, my Lord- fecondly, with Peace, Sit thou on my right band. The Pro- wife affiireth Him firft of the crufhing and trampling of his enemies vnderfoot in the refi- due ofthe.firft verfe.Then,of thegenerall fpread- ing of the Gofpellfrom whence, and among whom; verfe 2. Laftly, of thecondition of the beleeuers^who fhould be wi/Iingm their ojfrings, holy in their worjhip, innumerable for their mul- titude,\ak^. The Prieftly Office fucceedeth, confirmed, firft, by an oath , The Lord hath frvorne: and farther illuftrated by the type of <JHelcbifedech,vcvk 4, on which the Author to the Rdre-ves at large commentcth, chap. 7. To this the adminiftration of his Kingly office is annexed, and farther amplified, firft, by the fuc. ceffcfull onfet, The Lord fhall wound Kings^ iudge the Beathtn&XYf laces with dead bodies, font e in [under the ketds o£ divers Countries-^ verfe 5. 6. Then by his triumphant victory in lifting vp the

Head

A Cbriftians free-ti>iH offer ihg.

Head to raigne,after he had pafled the brooke of all tribulations and crojfes, with refolute expedition. according to his Fathers appointment, verfdthe laft. Thus we haue the generall view of the whole Pfalme,which (according to fafiiodore) istheab- folutzfumme and comprifall of the Mefiias doings 8cfuffrings,manik&ed at large in the Old & New Teftamentjfo that this third verfefallethouttobe a particular toucbtf. the Beleeuers application ; the former exhibiting the Kings Duejhis the Subiecls Duty:

Ohhc time, ) In the day ofthj P(fwer.

I. Devotion,"] The people (hall offer 2. of the

In which may . it pleafe you 1 toobferuethe

circumftan ces*

Perfons ] amplified* by their

thee -free-mil offerings with an holy Worjhip.

2. Hidden increafe and innumerable mul- titude , The dew of thy Birth is of the Wombe of the Morning. Thcfirfl: may bee referred to thefolemnity of this Time .• the lecond may minde vs of our du ties in celebrating this Tims folemnttj. The third may reft as a comfort to the affli&ed Church 3 whofe lot though it fometimes fall as a Lilly among Thornes , or as a Lodge ma Garden of Cucumbers , or zsz befieged City : Yet it will prooue at length to bee a goodly heritage, through the good will of hirtuhat <&?*// in the Bufb, who fhall water her Furrowes with the dew Hj ofl

Totum hie fummatim di- citur, fuic- quid invtro£ Tefismento continetur .

Efay i.t.

A Ckriflians free-will offering.

of hcauen , & lead her forth by the rivers of com- fort.

The points therefore I amtofUndvpon, may be reduced

The lnc&Wrtionef ChriSL

to thefe three heads,

T)r Giiwin the Reverend tDeant of

Cbrifi-

CbuHhc

I 2. JhcdutyofCkriftians.*

1

I 5. Thzhiddfhartd fruit fad pro- pagation of the Church cfChr/Jl. Which may bee connefted thus for our better memory rand more ready pra&ice. The Sonne of God ( as vpon this day of his Power ) manifefted himfelfeinourJ?<#for our Redemption .• there- fore let vs ofter vnto him freewill-offerings with an holy worfhip 5 that foamongftvs the multitude ofrhc fait hfu /I may increafc, as the numberlefte droppesoidew from the mornings wombe. Of which high myftcries if my difcourfe come fhort (as needsit muft)of your expectation ,1 truft , my knownediftra&ions in another kinde, and fmaJl time allotted for a bufinefle of thisconfequence maybeinfteadofanapologie. That which (hall be now defeftiuc in mee, may be made vp hereaf- ter ( when Godihallgiue leaue ) by *him whofe ftfjwinacafeofneceffityl now fupply. For the prefent, I {hall bee forced from my wonted me- thod of Doffrines and Vfesj.opropofc what Ihauc to fay by way of explication and applieation^which experience will reach a man to bee the readied courfe , though both in effed come to one. Firft then 5 of the Jficarnation of Chrift manifefted to

the

A Qbrittians free-mi offering.

the world ,ef penally vpon this djj , and here fore- told ingcnerail imhefc words of my Text , In the day of thy power ^

2. The exception that may here bee taken to the reading ( which is according to the moft common Tranflation of our Church Socket , ) will prooue vponfeanning to bee nothing material!. The original 1 indeed hath it in this order, as our UJlTranJlationfetsit : Thy people fhaUbee willing in the day efthy Power. But no man CI truft) wil be foCriticall, to put any great difference betwixt, In the day of thy power [hall thy people offer thee free will offrings ; and The people jhall bee willing in the day of thy Power. In the day of 'thy ftrength, faith the vulgar: of thy force and valour , fay Tremellius and Junius : O f the Afemblies , fty they o( Gene- va: of the Armies ( faith UMunfier^ ) atfuch times as thou (halt bring thy bands and joy ne battell, as Vatablus^CaftaliOy and the Chaldy Paraphrafe haue it. All which the originall *|^h UWamay beare without any ftrayning. Now the better to ga- ther the meaning , wee are to confider , that • Divines doe mention a fourcfold camming of ChnB: the firft in the flc (h • And the Word was made fltfh,Iobn.i . 1 4.The fecond , into the hearts ofthefaithfull ; Behold , I ft and at the door e and knocke j if any heare my voice and open the do ore , / will come in to him andfuppe with him, Revel. 3.20 The third , at the houre of every mans death : Watch yeetherefore^foryce know not when the Ma. fter oft he houfe comcthNw* 13.35. The fourth, Qt the vniverfall and dreadfull day of ludgement: For _____ H 4 then

In die virtu-

ttSy foftitlldt-

nit^xtrcitu:.

ml Pclbart. Rot. Theolop. lib.;. Altenftaig. ver. Advitn?. Hofpinianum debrigTefior rum chriffi*. /><*.!$ 1.

A CbYiftians free-will offering.

Legendaaurea inprincipio

1 1 hen Jhallyee fee the Sonne of man come in a cloud,

e*n m4- !■% *\ ***** mm. * mm J mm. mm M m 4- *m I Stmt ml T ■ i 1, <% V mm a* T f ^ VoiaoDn •"• *1

The Church read it for one of the Pfalms appointed for Evening prat- er for tbiiday

i.$etf*d.i.

with power and great glory 5Luk.2i. 2 7. In reference tot;hefefourecommings of Chrift $thcC/;//n;£by a laudable cuftome, hath anciently celebrated the foure Sunday es , immediatly going before the fcaft of the Nativity ^by the name of Advent Sun- day cs^ that prepared beforehand , with the due meditation of fo ineftimable abenefit , wee might folemnize the Nativity -.with the greater triumph. Which here to bee meant certainely ( though not cwely) by the day ofptlwer^ may be eafily gathered by the former verfe : For when began the root of Jejfe apparantly to fprout b prthe rod of power to hefent from S/^arriong the middeft of the Ge&. tiles ^fihrifls enemies \ but-at-the breaking dovvne of the partition wall ^ publifhed firft in Ierufaiemy and from thereto all the world, by the Apofiles preaching f All which notwithftanding ( faith Lumbar d) had grounde and beginning from the. comming of our Saviour in the flefh. Whence wee are to conceauefome what more to bee meant hyjJke day tfchrifls power, then by power in it felfe^confidered without this ad jun<3 of day. His power- indeed from the beginning was ever fqffi-

a Gen J4,'

*Dcut.i8]

flofh.5.13.

e Chap. 7, /Chap. j. <pDar>8.i 7.

aendy manifefted by the Croatian of the world, prsfervingof the Churchy converging with the Pat/iAtfa} 5 entring into league with Abraham andjfi^ wreftling with la\cob^ leading his people thresh the Wilderncfle , ( hee being a Mouses h gKSLLJPr*pbit,c loftta's Captain of the Hoft of the Idprd^Ub\s A ^tfa5 eEfayes Immanuel, * Zacharie's lofbuafiBtnid: Eafaoni .ps here Davids win to

whom

A Cbri SHans free -will 0 firing.

whom all the Types and Sacrifices of the Law had reference 5 and therefore in lury muft needs be wcl knowne, vvhofe name was fo great in Ifrael : ) Yet to vs, to vs (I fay) the gentiles that fate in darke- nefle,and in the fhadowe ot death, the manifefta- rion of this power never appeared , before this fulnefjeoi time, this acceptable yeere , this day of Cbritts power fpringing from on high had vifi- ted vs,as it is fully.,though fhortly here fet downe (hithCajjiodore)in the do&rine of the Incarna- tion*

5. Jn which, for the farther enlarging of our meditations, as this time occafioneth, wee may obferue firft,the conception, fecondly , the nativity of our Saviour^ his conception fhewes him to bee the Sonne oi God ; his Nativity the Sonne of man 5 another manner of concerning could not haue beenevoydoffinne, another kinde of birth had called his Manhood in queftion. In this con- ception wee fhallmoft profitably enquire, Firft, tt^fltooke our nature vpon him: Secondly, how ■: Thirdly , by rvJxit efficient it was immediately brought to pafTe. Who I the fecond perfon in the Trintty, lohn. 1. 14. The Word was made fiejh and iwtlt among vs. That the Incarnation was moft agreeable to the fecond perfon in the Trinity , the ^Schoolemen labour to (hew : Fiift,outofthe/f0- perties attributed to> him in Scripture 5( and if I may fo tranflatc their terme appropriata^ Second- ly, out of his approprieties. The properties ate foure. Firft, heeis called the £mmk .-andwhofo fit as the Heir.t to fetch home the loft Prodigals,

and

Pleni & he- vitir delncar- natiojie.

hln 1. sent. 4.1.

I

■ ,11 — I — — ■ J

A Cbriftians freewill offering.

Heb. i.

Turre^rema. Vom.i.Ad-

\ and make them coheires with him, Secondly,hei$ termed the Word , as readied at all aflayes to de- clare his Fathers will3preach his Law,Pfalm. *.& raanifeft his name: Ioh.17. Thirdly , in that hee is the exprefeimageot his Fat hen perfon^who could more conveniently reftore the image of God which was decayed in vs. Laftly,theMediatour- fhip, beft forted with the middle perfon in the Trinity , to take our nature , and to become a mcane for reconciling vs with God. The Approprieties which arc alfo foure , Wifedome, Stre»gthyE<juality>PulchritudeJlobkrued by Saint KAuguftine and Hilary to bee attributed to the Sonne,) doe further cleare the conveniency of his Incarnation. Ihe Wifedome ot God was fit- ted to reftore the things that were made in Wife- <&***, Pfalm. 104. Theftrengthofhisarme, to triumph over Hell and Death: True Equality , to redhfie them who ambitioufly had lofl them- feluesby affe&ingtobee as Gods : and beauty to couer their deformities , whofegayeft flouri/n is but as a menfiruous garment* The Father could not fo conveniently haue affumed mans nature, by reafon of his internall attribute oiinnafcibility: and leaft there fhouid haue beene two Sonnes in the Trinitie. Neither could this haue becne perfor- med by the Holy Ghoft , without the communi- cating of the name of the Sonne ( faith Lumbar d) to moe perfons then one. Thus the Schoolemen had leafuretocontraft that which the Fathers by fubtill fearch in this point had hammered out a- gainfttheoldJ/^f/j/w, who now beginning to

reviue

A Qbriftians free-wiD offering.

vigilid

mint.

reviucagaine in our new Arrians and Samofatcni* am , it ftands vs vpon to bee catechized mthefe (otherwife necdktte)fubtilties , that fome may al- wayes ftand in the gappe , and the truth bee not wronged by our flight and negligent maintaining of it*

4* It appeareth by that which hath beenc briefly touched , who tooke our nature vpon him. It will be harder to exprefie that which f olloweth, the manner , how ? for who fhall declare his gene* ration ( Efay jj. In the ajptmption of ourikfh u^ (faith Bernard) three mixtures , the omnipotent Natalu t>o- Ma jeftie of God made fo Admirably fingular , and Angularly admirable , that the like were neuer done, or ever (hall bee vpon the earth. For there wercmarried,asit were ,and linked together Dew & homo 5 Virgo & LMdter , Fides & cor humanum? God and Man ; a Mayde and a Mother ; Faith and mans heart: every word in this point invol- ving amyftery >• and noveltte , or mi (placing of a /^r*/nnthejcaloufieofcarefnll Amicfuitie^ hath beene cenfured for an here fie. For they ever wa- rily affirmed the humane nature to be ajj'xmcd, but the Divine to bee vnited. They conftantly main- tained the diftin&ion and integrity of both na- tures againft Eutyches confxfton •, vnited notwith- standing in one and the fame perfon , againft Nejloriwdiftrafiion. This perfon the Schoolemen more nicely pronounce to bee one , not by that in- comprehenfible vnitie which excludeth all mul- titude or multiflicitie : for that belongeth onely to the perfins irAhc Deity :butby an vnionwhieh requires

AlcxabHa-

les*Sum.Tbe-

ro.uarr.t.

ta

A Qhriftiansfree-mU Ojfring,

*Lib,&ca> 10.

in i.sentj. *. vequires a compofitionpot twins ex his, (as Durand Mfpeaketh) but huius ad hoc ^ not a framing of a third thing out of divers parts vnited ; for fo the GodhetdandzhzmM hood muft not bee faid to con- cern as parts for the making vp of this per fen , but fuchan adjoyning of the things vnited the one vnto the other , that the natures remayning & ftinff(as* Agatho rightly teacheth) and all their properties and operations , thtfubfiflencc notwith. (landing is but one, and in this cafe ( according to Athanafiu*)ovie9notbytheconverfion of the God- head into fiefh , but by taking the manhood into God. The Fathers haue much laboured to ex-' preflethis popularly. h luftinecMartyr and CA. thanajius bring the fimilitude of the Soule and body.Szint^Augu(line and cScotus of two acci. dent all formes in one fubieii^ as of the fame man, who is both a Lawyer and Phyfitian. * Origen , g Baftl^nd hDamajcene of a piece of glowing Iron to which the fire is incorporated : and this is beft approued by Brentius&vA Kemnitim. l Damafcene againe and k Bernard compare the myftery of the Incarnation with that of the Trinitie ; that as there webeleeue three perfons in one nature : fo here we fhould acknowledge three natures , of ■flejh , Soule , and Deitie (as Saint * Augufline fpea. kcth) in one perfon. But the moft expreflme is that of a tree and a Siens ingraffed to it , which becommeth one with the ftocke , yet rctaineth it's owne nature andfruite. Thus « Aquinas, Bo. naventure ,and with them moft of our orthodox^ writers: all which notwithftanding ( as BeHarminc

in

blib.de ntfa fidei Confejf. c In Symbol.

dEf.99>

tjnijin.i.\.

iFeriAnbon.

lib. a. cap. 6.

%0 rat. in Na-

twit,

h Ortho.fid.

lib.$. cap. u.

ilbidl.l>c.$,

k In vigil.

Natal- (emit

WeTrinitat. t.tl.cap*i7-

mlni.fent, dift.u Lib.i.detn- c»Mt. cap.%.

A Chriftians free-will offering*

u

in this point truly fhewcth) come fliort of thei thing. Wherein our Lutherans arefarheft out,1' by grounding the hypoftaticall Vnion on the transfujionof improprieties from one nature into mother 5 and notf as they ought to doe) on the communication of ihtfubfifttnce from the Deity to the CM anhood. This only is Sufficient to make good thcfe harder fpeeches in appearance. God hath purchased the Church with his ctvne bloody ! A<3s2o.2i. And where the Sonne of man being: vpon earth, is affirmed to be in Heaven, Ioh.3. 13 , \ for fubie&s of a loofer composition afford in a j manner the like Synechdochicatl predications in the ; concrete(to fpeake with Logicians)not the abstract m\ So a Philosopher dyeth (faith Saint Augufline) but not PhiUfepfr)} in his 89. Epiftle, The jv/^ Chrift is every where, but not the manhood-, and with theft generalities wee reft informed of the manner of this conception. The efficient fucceed- eth, which is the Holy Glwfl^ Matthew 1.20. Muchremainethtobefpoken, and the time wear- eth: I can but touch therefore^ matters 5 and fo away. The action of the Incarnation being ^^/w!^fr^,orexternall5belongeth(as you know by a receiued rule in Divinity) to all the three pertains in the Trinity, though it bee terminatiuely in the Sonne fas the Schooles fpeake) and appropri- *ta/hcretotheHoly Ghofix To the Holy Ghost (faith Saint Augufline)by reafon he is the convei- er anddiftributer ofalltheboundleffc graces and mercies, that flow to vs from the Deity , among "which^a greater then this of the Incarnation can- not

Vid.Tuw- cremjn <vigtf. Nat. T>ou.

12

A Cbriflians free-will offering.

Luke<i.3f,

i Sim.6.

lib.i-t&rt.i

Aftiones/Unt (uppofirorum, non natures rum*

notbe concerned. Some haue laboured to opea this more plainely by this obvious companion: Three fiftcrs(hy they) concurre to the weauing of one fetmlejfe coat , which the Second onely weareth, and the third immediatly fetteth on: So mans nature was aflumed onely by the Sonne, vnited by the Holy G hofl> though wrought by all three. But in fuch profundities it is dangerous ventring farther then the text inlightens vs. This1 we haueexpreffed by an ^^//concerning the fe- cret of this conception: The Holy Ghoft (hall come vponthee^ as for aworkethat goeth beyond all fubftitutionof any created Excellency. * And the power oft he mo ft high flail ovcrfhadotp thee"] either as a (belter to free the facred Embrio^ from origi- nal! infedion, to which Adam's fleili was liable, and a ffuate itinthewombe by an vnconceiveablc operation^ or as a cloud to 0^r/Ww it from our ambitious prying (as Calvin and Stella take it) who negle&jng and loathing rhat wee are bound to learne, will endanger our felues with the Bethjhe^ i mites to looke too farreinto the Arke.

5 Thus f arre of the Conception of our Savi- our, being the dawning 'fas it were,) of the day of his/wnw,which hath brought vs to the Nativity, wherein this Sunne of Righteoufnejfe appeares a- bouethei/^m^.Herethenatiuity muft bee faid to be (with Damafcene and Aquinas) ofthepcrfon, and not of the humane nature, as fome will fpcake vnadvifedly. For the humane nature is onely the termeof thisaftion , the Perfon the fubicB : who was borne of a Virginfkax yet ever remained

a Fir.

A QkriSlians free-will offering.

a rirgin, (howfoevcr Helvidius dream't the con- trary-,) and that by opening the wombe, not v- tero Jaufo, as the Papifts imagine, to make way for their poeticall tran/ubfiantiation: ( for not the bea- r/^ofachilde3but the knowing before of a man is oppofite onely to virginity) as true philofophy and fence might teach them. Now in this blefled Nativity of this Virgins fonne, wee are briefly to take notice ofthefe toure circ umjtances- the time theplace, the manner j the manifefiation. For the time we need not trouble our felues with the dif- ferences ofCbronologers, Hebrew and Greek fireeke and Latine^oldandnerv, wherein, two fcarce meet in ooey^koning, either for the yeere or moneth, mu^^Hb for the day , as divers haue laborioufly flievvR^DUt reft our felues on the gcnerall cer- tainties which the Scripture affords vs. When the Scepter therefore was departed from ludah ("according to Iacobs prophecie, Gen. 49.) when thefrji Templewas deftroyed and the Jeoond was yetftanding,foretoldby ZacharienvidAggai, vn- der the loft Monarchy in the laft of Daniel's weeker, which fome would haue to end precifely at Chrijlspafiwi others, at the overthrow of Ierufa- lcm by Titus and Fejpafian-, Origen^ Driedo^ lanfe- ntus^nd Melantthon^ at his Nativity ^when the Romanes out of their Sy bills, Herod fro the lewes, the lewes out of their Prophets jhzEaftcrlings from Balaam' stoxrCiVseiQ fopoflefled with expectati- on of fucli a King to be borne, that it was not the qucftion of the lewes alone, but theinquifition a|- moftofall the world, JF^m^/*/* Art thott E-

liat?

Mart a virgo ante par rum, inpartu,pofi partum crat portaclaufa. Aupu.cx £-

Turrecrem. in

vigil, nat.

Vid.steidan. de 4 Imper* lib, 1. --Gene" brard.l.i. Chronology

Hig.1.7.

Vid.mUit in '■Darfiel pag. 295. lohn.x.

H

A Qbriftians free-will offering.

Gai.4.4.

Mich.f. ^^

Hieronym. in

i.Matth.

Lukeic

PfaUi.6.

/*W? Art thou that Prophet? Art thou, het that fhonldcome, or doe wee looke for another? Then in this fulneffe of time appeared the morning of the day of His power , wherein the feede of the Woman advanced forward to breake the ferpents head. The place which Hee honoured with His birth, was not ruling Rome, or glorious lerufalem , but little BethLem> little mcomparifon of many thou, fandsofludab. There was another BethleminGa- like ,neere Nazareth, where lofeph and the BlefTed Virgin great with childe then dwelt, but all the world muftbee taxed by Auguftus that ruled all, to occafion a removall of this holy couple, that fo prophecies might be accomplished by Ga^ fecrct hand, that guideth the proie&s of the gppiteft, and Statesmen vnwittingly bring to pafle wnat he had before determined. Thztwhkhpolitique Au- 1 gufius and cruell Herod never dreamt of, and the proud Scribes and Pharifees would haue held madnefle to haue noted poore lofeph and Nary for, KingD^/Wforefawinthc Spirit, and trucly gaue notice ofit:Pfal. 133. Loe , we hiueheard of it at Ephrata, and found it in the fields of the wood. And where could this bread of life bee more con- veniently borne (faith Gregory) then at Bethlem^ which is by interpretation thchoufe of bread? in a little to wne and hovelljLQ flie w the vanity o f po m- pous and luxurious buildings : as a pilgrim in an /#;*£ and #*£/£, to miodevs of our condition in this lifc,from whence hecame to reduce vs to the many mansions of his Father. Thirdly, the manner of his birth was fomcanej that the Scripture . might

A Qbri&ians free-will offering.

*5

might be fulfilled, that from the bottome of hu- mility, hee might the moreglorioufly afcend to the top of power •• that the great ones of this world may bee hence leflbned not to frvell in fuch outward vanities , and difdaine their poore bre- thren. That the difference might bee the more confpicuous and apparent betwixt his Firjl and his Second comvcun^zvid to teach vs to expecfi our portions and dividends ,not here, where he had no- thing, but hereafter, where in all abundance hee hathprovidedforvs.Laftofall, the manifeftation oft his glortoufly-meane Nativity, was fo difpofed of by the Fathers providence, that though the moft negledted it, all notwithftanding had that notice, which might leaue them vnexcufable. The Shepheardsinthe fields, and the wife- men of the Eafi, lews and Gentiles, Herod and all Ierufalem were troubled at ir, King and Subiects ; Bethlem and all thofe coafts were filled by the relation of the Shepheards,7owneand fiuntreyln the Temple aged Simeon and Anna fpake to all that looked for redemption in lerufdem , men and women. And it is worth the noting, to confider how it pleafedGodto vary the manner of this manife- ftation, and to fit it according to mens divers conditions and capacities. The Eajlerne Atfro- nomcrs fhall haue dire&ions from a Starre, Herod a fir anger from grangers, the Priefls and Scribes from the Prophets wherein they were beft ftudied, holy Simeon and Anna in the middeft of their devotions, h^Az Revelation from the holy GhoH, which beft fitted them. But the ruder shepbards

I had

Luke 2.

A Ckriftiansfree-mR offering*

had .the plained meffage both by word and to- kens, as being vnfitteft to belecue\ or to bee bs- ktvecl without vncontroleable evidence.

6 I need to hold you no longer in the point of the Incarnation, fo wonderfully foretold^ fo prc- cifely ejfe&edfo plainely manifefled in this day of the Lords power ^ which here our Prophet fpeak- eth of: the application now fliould follow of all thexircumftances5if I thought your godly me- ditations in this behalfe had not prevented mec And yet (I know not how) Knowledge and Be. uotion are fometimes {o farre fundred and eftran- ged, that the farther wee wade in the one ( with- out the efpeciall operation of Gods Spirit ) the leflewee refped; the other. A man would haue thought the Iewes had had faire warnings e- ; nough of this day of this power 3 to haue daunted. | them at leaft from fuch violent cppofitions , and \ pcrfecuu&js- and we are hot vpon tkz Scribes and ; Phanfes , as they were vpon their Anceftours, [Math. 23. If wee had beene in their daies , and J cafe? we would haue haftened with the- Sbepbeards, j fallowed the Starre with the Wife-men 3 beene at l.Retblem ^ fient our dearest bloud , to convey the I Cbilde with his Mother from Herods tyranny- I told the Scribes and Priefts to their teeth , that i they were Serpents and Vtpers. Thus wee crae- [| kle what wee would haue done, in a wandring kindc of [peculation 5 but from performing at home what wc fliould doe, the very hmetempt.u

hindrcth vs , which then

,-eigled ,

and overthrew the Strikes and Pkarifes. Sl Augu-

jltnt

A Chriftians free-will offering.

flint, in his tench booke de Civitate Dei, and ig. chapter, indevouring to exprefle the caufe why Porfhyne and the reft of the Platoniques , fhould be foaverfe from Christianity, feeing they belee- ved in their owne Philofiophy , things of as great impefiibdity , falleth at length vpon this ifluc; Huic <veritati vt pofiis acquiefictre, humilitate opus erat^quAcervici vefira difficilime perfiuaderipoteft. For the receiuing of the Chrijlian Truthy humility ?nufi be apreparatiue; but that you hold a yoake too vneafy for your neekes. Vpon which hee preffeth them farther : You can beleeue ( feith he J Porphyrie in his booke dt regreffu anim&; and Plato fhallhaue credit in his affertions, that the WorU,andSunnc, and Moone art lining creatures, and haucfiules: but when Chriftians tell you of a Refurrtftton, you ftraight forget your felnes , and your owne Tenents. But what is the caufe of this diverfity? No other furely fo apparent as this; Christ u* humilitate venit,& vosfuperbi efiis: Chrift came humbly into the World, and you art proud. This wasalfo the very Jlumbling blocke of the /ewes: They were fofaftned to the earth, and to thcconceitofanmmW/ Monarchy here below, that it could never bee beaten into their braines but their Me fit as fhould bee an earthly Conquer our, who fhould advance his followers to bee Magni- fico's^and Rule coverall the earth. This conceite feemed alfoto haue poflTeffed Zebedees children, and therefore their mother muft put in for a pro- mtfe of places liketo bee about our Saviour in his 'c.v/>fc7^temporall Kingdomc^ and the Dificiples

1 2 after!

if

i.e.

A Chriftians free-will offering.

after the Rqfurreftion ., were cafting about fome fuch matter: Lord, wilt thou at this time rejlorc the Kingdome to 1 'fruit, So naturall a thing it is for flefnandbloudto-plot for fomewhat, efpccially ^owto.bccome^re^.hetCjhowfoevcr k.lofe by the bargaine hereafter. Thus we can obferue, f B.J and rcproo.ue in others, but yet goc oaro pradiifc it our felues,as though our eftate and cafe were of a different nature; .otherwise why cannot a little content vs., who fhew our felues in the managing of that wikwf, to be worthy of nothing* or why fliould a meane eftate bee thelubieft.of fecrne, fithenceourS*iww choyce hath thus graced it in the day of his power, hut that (as Saint Augustine hath it) He was humble^ but we art proud I Should knot make vs tremble, to cloath our ■felues with the Fleece^ and not feed the F locket make it dainty to trouble our felues with winning foulcs, which Chrifthath purchafed with his deareft blond .^ plot more for a poore preferment here, then for a Kingdome hereafter? take the purple robe vpon vs, iutrturne off the GrofTe, to be vndergone by any Zimtno£Cyrensywhom wee happen vpon in the P4#i but tbati&s S.Aufiin hath hit the right veine) our pidde looks afcue vpon our M afters humility i It is xivt} fl ate line ffe that makes vs vnlike our Saviour ^ and a>L his true Difciples, that haue followed hini^andgone before vs. For to fpeake nothing of the Fatfcrs^ and thofemen (as it were) of ano- ther \vprld> whatisthe reafon wee come fo farrc ihoxtitiharnwgjgifts^znA %eale of our Reformers, and Matters y\\"no haue gone (as it were; butyc-

fterday

A Qkrittians free-will offering.

fter day before? Why is there fuch a [en fib I e de- cay of Doftrine, and Difciplmc 5 among the beft5 but for that we vye , who fhould beegr^<r/?,and not who fhould bee holicfl y ayme more at the efteemeoimen , then the pratfe of God y and ftill forget this leflbn of our Saviours humility. Hee was humble in the dayofhu power ^ wee account our (dues difgraced, if wee bee told fully of our faults. The remedy for all this is the direction which followeth. Thy people (hill offer theej9a>- willoffriffgs with an holy worfhip . which is the du- ty of the taithfull , and fecond member of my text, that folioweth now in order briefely to becconfi- dered.

7 Thy pcople^T^y, impiyetha/>^r/<tfy3 Peo- ple ,& Congregation, at leaft a multitude : except the people be Gods , in vaine a holy rvorjbip isexpeft- ed,and lingular $ty in xhis thing is not fo accept a- ble, or fit, zsxhzvnited devotions of a Congregate wi,or people. This people/7W/ offer ] Here is their ext email fonvardneffe, exemplarie, to drawe on o- thers. They (hall offer t& Thee'] Notto others, Saints > Angells, much leiTc their jhrines. Our Prophet feemes not to bee acquainted with any fuch do&rine. They fhall offer thee free-mil offrings] This is thcinward ground which Heeef- pecially here refpedeth, that giueth to will and to doe , and onely fearcheth the hearts and reynes. With a holy rvor/^Jcompofcd of imvardfynceri- tie and outward decency , according to the frft and fecond Commandement. Thus I paraphrafe the words as they lye in my tranflation. Thofe

1 3 that

*?

%o

In bunt cum.

to*-

A Chrittiansfree-mU Offring.

that read it otherwtfe , may frame fbme other de- dutticns , but in lubftance not much different. The vulgar Latine is here wholly wide from the original! \ in rcndring it Tecum principum, which the Scboolc-boyes or Dotvay (for their chil- difhtranflation out of the Latine 5 credits them no further ) conftrue ^Withthce y the beginning. Theerrour (as it fhould feemej of the Greekegaue fome way to this ,^ Q* n lw> which divers of the Ancients afterward tooke for a ground to proue the Eternitieof the Sonne of God : but by a mcerc miftake5both in the pointing ot the Hebrew , and then reading yap rvitbtbee~\ for yay thy people-'] and next^m , which may fignifie , principality, notbeginning (as the vulgar ) for f1*y*i , devotio- num^faithPagnine , and Mont anus \ffontanearum volmt 4f /^according to Ze<? luda^Muntter & Va. tablus. Ingenuitatum , addeth ftftMtar , and the reft diflent not, which is futficiently exprefled in both our English tr an flat ions: Thy people jhali bee ml- lingyox offer thee free-will offrtngs. It may bee (as UMolleronmy Text conjectures <) that the vulgar miflooken forh letters much alike5andfo came in the difference. Zte&rawwwouldfainejnftifie that reading,by chopping and changing points and let- ters at his pkafure , but his own men concurre not with him. Such Crit.icifmes (I knowej arc harfli in a Sermon, but the Text muff bee cleared , that the ground bee fure. That which fbllowes with an holyrvorjbip'] fome read, inornatibusfanclu, refe ring it to the Priefis Robes, or garments- fo tMoU l<r andPifeator. Others in decoribus^ or dec oris

locis

r--

A Cbriftians free-will offering,

21

locis Santtuarij , in relation to Jerufalem , and the Temple jus Bucer Junius, and Calvin. Saint Ieromc feemes to miftake i for •> , and therefore in ftead oftrn? vvyiV^des tm>? *>YVi:i inthemoun- taines of holineffe , all which our laft tranflation very well comprifeth , In the beauties of holineffe. To faften then vpon fomc certaintie : Two thing* may be hence gathered , as the graces and lufler of all chriflian tvorfiifrChearefulncfJeivi the vnderta- kingj&fyncenty in the performance. Both which, as they concerne a fetled Chunk or congregation^ muft be fet forth vnto the world in regard of the place,the 7V;w/>/* appointed for that purpofe,for the more folemmty. In refpeft of the admimfira- tion^xn veflures or gejlures, ox fome tnarke of dijfe- rence^hlch fhall be thought fitteft, for decency & edification,betweenethe Prieft and people. There may be a holineffe without external! bcautie\ and there is extemallpotnpe enough, not grounded vp- on inward holineffe. But fiich vnlawfull divorces Ihould notdifmay vs,from a ready, and voluntary ftriuing,for regaining, and maintaining, this blef- Ced match of beauty and holinefe. This was Gods owne precept,three times repeated in one chapter, Deut. 1 2 .'The free-will off rings , and the reft of that nature , muft not bee huddled vp in private^but brought to the place, which the Lord had cho- fcn,and there muft they eate before the Lord , and they muft reioycein all that they put their handvn- to f hey, and their houjholds, verf.7. which is againe repeated to the like purpof e,verf. 1 2 . And y ct fhal! retoyce before the Lord your Cod, you, and y our fons, I 4 and

%z . \ A Ch'riftians free-will .offering.

land y our daughters , and your men fcrvants , and \yowxvci&j&fervants , and the Levite that is within your gates. « And the third time at the 1 8 . verfe3 andthou [halt reioyce before the Lord^m all that thou puttefithy hand vnto. Surely , dulnejje, oxmurmn* ringyOX coldneffe^ox externall formalities aiming ra- 1 ther ;to plcafe the world, or flop v&z&scmfuringsA then proceeding oiinward willingnefe , is fo farre from acceptation^ the hands of God, that hee pronounceth it worthy of all reproch and pum fo- ment. What a vo/ley of cvrfes are there ,.: hundred I forth, Deut. 28. but when or for,what offences^1 are they especially inflUted vpon Ifratl? The caufeisplaineinthe47. verfe, Becaufethouferuefi not thy Lord with ioyfulnefe and gUdnefe of heart for the abundance of all things r Agreeable tothis> was dying D avids exhortation to his heire appa- rent $al#mon,i. Chron.2$*9*> And thou , Salomon myfonne^know thou the Godofthy Fat hers, & fertte him with a per feci heart 9 and with a willing minde. The reafon he addeth,is prefTiue,!7^ theLcrdfear- shethall hearts ,and vnderjlwdeih all the imagina- tions.of the thouglrts££ thou feekhim,be will be fovd oft heehv&if thou for fake him 5 hccwillcajl thee off fepjeuer. And what need wee in this point-goefur- tfcqr, then thi$ our kingly Prophets royallprac- ti;cef Good Cod,ho\v extaticall in this kind are the flafyescihis devotions? Sometimes,in cheating vp his ovync djilwfcJVhy artfo, vexed, O my fouleyand why arifod^fqujetedinnu * Sometimes, in exci- ting othcjrs^O cUpyour hands together, blow vp the trumpet in tfa new wc one, in ourfolemne ajfembliesy

bring

A Chriftians free -mil offering.

bring hither the lute and ha? pe. The Church could never meet with the like invitations as his, O come let vs fing vnto the Lord 5 let vs heartily reioyce in theflrength ofourfaluaiion : Let vs come before his pre fence with thankfgiuing.and fhew our [elites glad in him with Pfalmes. And, O bee ioyfullin the L&rdt all yee lands, feme the Lord with gladnefle , and come before his prefence with a fong. In the virgin purity of the Primitiue Churches devotion, ( when plaine Honejlje was held the befi policie , and formalitie without fmceritjy as borrowed too fcandaloufly from theyfy^was denied institution and induction into the Church. of Godjthen thefe things were as re- ligioufly applied y as now they are often repeated. But the world is altred , though Cod^ Heauen, and the way to it 5 remaine continually the fame. The more too blame are thofe humorous fchifmatiques } that fnarle at this 3 andthelike/<f/?/Wj , and are come now at length to that lewifh nicenejfe9 as to deny thedrefing of meat vpon the Sabbath day • 1 fay no more 5,.from fuch the poare may expeft poore Chrifimafes. Another fort runne in oppo- fition • to take vp all fuch times with gourmandu %ing,and gambols , in Read of ihek free-will Offe- rings in the beauty ofHolinefe^ but neither of thefe are worthy to bee further mentioned. Our courfe muftbeeinthc meane , according. to NehemUhs dirccflion,Chap.8.verfe io. Who whenthe^pk that returned from the captivitie 5 tf^atthe rea- ding of theLaw which they had fo carekfly tranf- greffed: Coeyour way ( faith hee) eat of the fat, and drwke the fweet , and fend portions vnto them for

whom

*5

H

A Qbrifiiam free-will offering.

whom nothing is prepared. And his reafon is remar- kable: For this day is holy vnto our Lordy neither be yeeforry , for the toy of the Lord is your (Irength* This courfe if we tooke,on/if A, and the like Holy • ddyes ythe fruit would appeare at length , in the/*- cretincreafe oft he Faithfully which I hauefignifi- ed to be meant in that which followes.

8 . The deatv of the birth is of the Wombe of the morning.'] The exa& vnfolding of which words, may yeeld matter enough for another Sermon : butlprefumenotfo farre to trefpaffe vponyour patience , and therefore will oncly touch them, and fo conclude. The differences that at the firft entriedoe herearife, are firft, concerning the rea. dings, then^hefenfe. In the reading , there growes adiverfity both in the pointing, and words. For fome would haue the kingly accent Athnach (which is here vnder the word *\fWD the mor- ning)tofupply ( as vfually it doth ) the place of a colon^x middle diftinBion : and then the reading may be(as our laft tranflation hath it,with Iunius) In the beauties of 'holinefe , from the Wombe of the morning, and there flop. Others takeir,asanoteof tiitfentenceon&y inverted ': fo PifcatortCMunfier^ <MoHer , and the moft that I haue feene. And Gefner giues inftances of this reading, w hich \fol- /*w without prejudice to the other. The vulgar here againe is ftrangely befides the Text. For in ftead of \From the Wombe of the morning^ thou hall thedeaw of thy birth • it hath it, ( as the Bow ay ren- ders it ) From the wombe before the day-Starre I jbegate thee. No colour is for it, but from the

Greeke.

A'Qkrifiians free-will Ojfring.

*5

Greeke. I cannot (lay to fift the ground of this mif" take. Read but onely Fpiphamw in his 2d booke, the 65. Herefie^ againft Paul™ Samofatenus , and you fliall fee the inconvenience , of depending too much vpon other mens references 3 and taking vp things at the fecond hand.- lhat good Father in that place , conferring all the Greeke copies , of Aquila^jmrnachnSy Theodotion 5 the fr ft and fixt edition fiihtt falls vpon the originall, which hefets downcin Greeke letters with his owne interpreta- tion,\vord for word, but his Hebrew is fuch that I thinkefew Iewes would ever vndcrftand, or ac- knowledge. For infteed of ^ftvafromthe womb] he hath pi w- for ViWS the morning , or from the morning. ] ^iwu^p for b\3 *f? *o thee the dearv. ] ***7^] One word, which hce fetsdowneas Hebrew fordeaw. And hit of all for ^mV^ thy birth 3 hec hath put TiK*AxA*l> a word never heard of. Which I mention nor for any difgrace to that learned Fa- thery who hath fo well defcrued of the Church.- but that it may appearc, how much wee are behol- ding to thofe Linguist , that haue fpent their la- bours.,to make thefe fountaines moreclearc for vs. For vpon thefe diversities of readings grewdiuers ^v/><?//>/?/,fome5referring it to the per fin of Chrift, others,tohis/w*/w£*/\f. In regard of the perfon of ChriR,TertulIianznd tuftine Martyr^ vnderftand it of his Incarnations if by themomb of the mornings were meant the Firginswomb therein Chrift was Gonceiued without the helpe of man , and borne in the night before the rifing of the day~Jlarre. M'e- lan&hon and Gualter miflike notthis r but deduce

it

Lib.^.adverf Marriott.

Ttialog.cum Tripbon,

VtiMMa.

z6

VarUx.q. it- art, i. at ft.

A Chrifthns free-will offering.

it in another manner. Atbanafitu, Hilary^Ambrofe, | Augufline^ with moftof the Ancients who follow them,interpret this onely of Chrifts etematt gene- rationed BeUarmine with Gefner , ftriues to make it available againft the old Heretiques. In which cafe I fay no more , butweehauenoneedtode-j pend vpon fach deductions , but that Aquino his rule is good(which Calvin of fotne hath been tax- ed for following ) Cum qui* ad probandam fdem Chrijlianamadducit rationes qu& nonjunt cogemrs> ceditin irriftonem infdelium^credunt enim quod huiufmodi rationibm innitamur^ & propter eas ere dimm. Such arguments therefore are better fpa red , inachoyce of divers more vrgent. In re I gard whereof , I take this, with the current of our later writers, to bee rather vnderftood ofthe/w- pagation ofthe C bur ebby the feede of the Word. Ofwhich /t*>0 things ,2xt here intimated, firft,their fecretincreafe , as the Cblomingdcarv , which is found vponthe grafTe -though no vapour or cloud appeares from whence it hath difcended 5 andy?- condly , their multitude , which as the morning drops, ineueryagemoremultiply,thcn man can take notice of. TheSpiiit of God therefore ne- ver ceafeth from the propagating C hriHs Church, though men negleft their duties^ and all the world ■eppofe it. And here I might takeoccafion to dif- courfe how the Church is fometimes invi[ibley andy etever fruitfull: fometimes, perfomted by Hypocrites , and yet fpringing ftill as the Come a- mongthe Weeds, in perfecution flouri(hing,in<r.v/7* from one place , entertayned ever in another,

knowne

A Qbriftians free-will offering.

knownc ftill to bee by her members, but onely knovvne to God, how many the members be. But Ipcrceiuethe time hath prevented me. The ap- plication of the whole is: This is the day of Chrifls power, wherein we are to tender our free- will offerings, prayer strafe, & thankefgiuing, vn to the Lord of Hoftes5 in the beauties of halineffe, now he comcth downevntovs (as our Prophet fpcak- eth) likethcraineintoa fleece of woollyevenasthe droppes that water the earth. Let vs conclude there- fore with the end of that fame 27.Pfalme , Blefied bee the Lord our Cody even theGodoflfrael, which only doth wondrous things : And hie fed bee the name of his Maiefly for.ev errand let all the earth be filed with his Maiejly. Amen, Amen.

1*7

iStf iJkt A Za&2 ^ssbJ Sag

iSC3£^£

i

Higgaion & Selab:

FOR THE DIS

GOVERY OF THE

POWDER-PLOT.

A SERMON PREACHED

AT S'Mar ies IN OXFORD,

the f ft of November,

ByloHN Prideavxs Do&or of Divinity, Regius rrofejjbr, and Re&or of Exeter Colledge.

OXFO RD.

Imprinted by Leonard Lichfield Anno Salutisy i 6 36".

1

i

2$8&* 2&b$2$fei *$&* ?&?: ?^2& t$£*l ?€3$ 2^i '?$& ?^£; ?&i ?^S <£><&ot)fe 3$& £t>fe ftT^fe £$fe e7$fc &&5 ^^tf^&fe^^cTfe

HIGGAION

ET SELAH.

Ps-AlMIi p. l5.

TheLordisknowneby the ludgement which hee exccuteth: thewickedis friar ed in the worke of his owne hands. Biggaion.SeUh.

Here is no man that com- pares the words of my text with the occafion of this dayes afTembly D but will ftraight-way acknowledge the fitnefle of this acknow- ledgement, as at all times never to bee forgotten, fo efpecially vpon this day and occafion ? with an Higgaion and Selah to be remembrcd , The Lord is knowne by the iudgement which hee executeth, the wicked tsfnared in the worke of his owne hands. This perchance will rcceiue the more life, when it fnall appearePthat David in this whole Pfalme may well bee made our fpokef-man, ascompofing it i for a celebration of fome extraordinary cMttrt* ' ranee, and leauing it to the church as a patterne

for

Higgaion iff Selah:

a In hunc locum.

for imitation. And fo much may bee collected from the title it felfe.that in the originall is nn^ \& tYtt&y* which ourlafl: Tranjlators (as you may fee) frame to the chief cMufician, and hisin- ftrumcnt- Iunius 7to the tune oi treble, or counter^ tenor^n excellent applying offuch/^a/^/^which now moft commonly wcabufed. But others either by difioyntzngihcwords^or Jlraining the poynts, br taking v&rtagcofinverfion of letters ^nd divers fignif cations ofthe fame rooters * M oiler and Lo- rinusix large informe ) bring it about eithet to beathankefgiuingfor Pharaoh* s deft rudion , and thejirjl bor ne of Egypt, or Goliah's overthrow, or Nabals fall, or Hanun's difcomfiture, for abufing Davids mefengers^ or according to Saint Hie- rome^wd Jqutn<ts, expveffcd'm the vulgar editi- 0* out ofthe Septuagintjroeccultis fljj, for the difcouering and punifliing of the fecret plots of A bfalom his fonne. For thole that expound it of Ckrift s Vittory over death and Satan , miftake an application, for an interpretation, ( as Burgenfis well taxcth Lyra:) And others obferue not the difference in the genders , that would make hv \zb JWE to fignify the Florijhing eftate of the Church Juventute candidam ,& fo gratify their mo* ther by a broken title. Out of all which differences^ this consequent may be picked for our purpofe,that for any notable deliuerance, either from tyrants, as Pharao^ or terrible invaders jls Goliah^ or Chur- lifh neighbours^ Nabal, or open truce-breakers ,as Hanun,ot bofom tray torsos Abfalom^ the Church is to exprclfe her ioy and thankefulneffe in an ex-

tra-

difcouery of the Tender -plot

traordinary manner, as receiutng herein an ear- ned, that the time at length (hall come /wherein the overthrow of Antichrist by the Lambe , fliall be celebrated in heaven, with everlafting ffalle. luiatis. Th is the P^z/jthemfelues cannot com- plaine to be wrefted: for whereas we translate ( ac- cording to the Originally thelaftver/e of this Pfalmc-Ptff theminfeare, O Lordy that the he** thenar nations , may know thtmfelues to be butmen^ they fay according to the vulgar , out of the fe- venty Interpreter /, which* Bellarniine takes vpon him to make good; Appoint (Lord) a Law. gitter over them. And this Law-giver, their Dow ay Di- vines with the Inter lineary glofl'e , acknowledged to be Antichrifl^the heathen, to be men of heat he- nijh conditions : Gentilitlr vinentts (faith the Glofle.) So that to make,by way of application the Pope, this tyrannical f law -giuer, the G entiles ,hisfe- dncea Ufiafenat es, this deliver acejhz powder -plot jx atreafonoithclikenature/is but to take the hint, thatthcythemfclues haue giuen, and the infix- ing on a notorious inflame, included in the gene- ral!. It would fet an edge on our devotions, and excellently direft our meditations, but to take a view in the paffagc, of our Prophets carriage in the whole frame of this thankefgimng , how heartily hebeginsto vow prayfes, and reioycing, andflnging^and every kinde of fetting forth Gods marvelous workes in this behalfe^how fyncerely he acknowlcdgeth his inflict, his vprightnefle, his \ care of hischofen, his curbing of the adveifary. \ For when he afcendcth his throne, to make inqui- I o fit ion

UnhunclO'

cum.

4

Higgaion & Selabyfor the

fit ion for bloud, out-goe the names of the wicked, their deftruiiions haac a period, downe they finke into the pit, turned they are into hell, their owne Law-giuer (hall play the tyrant, to fet them on- ward with a mifchiefe, fo that vvofull experience at length fhall teach them, to know t hem f dues to be but men, whereas the innocent on the otherfide, fhall be wonderfully deliuered, to fhcw forth all Gods pray fes in the gates of the daughter of sion^ and reioyce in hxsfalvation. Of ail which my text is (as it were,) the morally comprizing the pith of all: The Lord is knowneby the iudgement which hee executeth^the wicked is fnared in the workcs of his owne hands; Higgaion Selah.

z The words include in them without fox- cing, three parties, The Lord,thc wicked, and the godly, with their feverall attributes , Execution, pumfbment, and triumphing. Which conncfted together as they ly , yeelde vnto vs three points, efpecially at this time to be flood vpon:

Thc<

i. Iudgement of God.

2. Succefieoftraytors.

3 . Churches applaufe, both for the one vand the other.

The lodgement, knovme, thtfucce(fe, fit, the ap- plaufe, tuned to the higheH key. So that in the fix&yVizhmtGods Iuttice,'mxhe fecond, his Wif- dome-fmthc third, his CMercy, prcfented to our considerations in a moft heavenly order. All which > ifitplealeto haue in one word, and conceitas an arra'tgnement, the awe of the Indge, will commaund attention , who firft takes

his

difcouery of the Powder -plot

his place to execute his authority, in thefe words :

3 jheLordisinowne by the iudgement which heexecuteth^The wonderfull events which thcig- norant attribute to fortune , the faperftitiou* , to Saints and /doles, the politicians, to their plots, fomey to their orvne worth ^mojl ytotht meanesy and the extraordinary concurrence of fecond caufet, the Penmen of the Holy Ghojl afcribe ever vnto* the Lord: they held it the beft Analytiques , to refolue all fucheffc&s into their frtf principle. In defcribingof the like matters among other wri- ters, you (hall finde Alexander did this , or Ca- /irthusbchauedhimfelfe, Nejlorg^c this coun- fell, and fuch effe&s enfued vpon it.- But when CMofes and Iofhuah handle their weapons more valiantly , then any of thefe i Abiah and his fonne Afay overthrew greater forces , then ever any of the feincountred : Chufai, for counfell, and Salomon for wifedomey had never their paralels among any of the nations; The text mod com- monly thus expreffeth it: The Lord delivered Sihon and Og into the hands of ifrael. ifrael overcame, becaufe the Lord fought for Jfracl.The Lord fmote that huge army of a thou find thoufand Ethiopians, before Ifrael and Iudah. And howfoever Chu^ai playd his part, yet the Lord is faydto defeat the counfell of Achitophel: and Salomons famous decifion betweene the two harlots, is faid to be the rvtfdome of God. Such prevention is vfed againft felfe-conceit, and vaine-glorj, and fimplicity , in referring honour to it's proper obied: , that wee

02

fhould

Deuci. z, and 3. I0lh.xo.4a. j

*.Chro.i4.

IX.

i.Sam.i7#

14.

1. Kings j.

18,

Higgaiontf S dab, for the

(houldnotaffumcto our felues, that which be- longstohim that madevs, but in all fuch blef- fings, and favours , endeavour with, all alacrity, that the Lord may ever be knowne to bee the firft mouer5andpfmcipalfeffe£tor. Now as the Lord is knownctobe omnipotent by hu tvorkes oj creatiw. mercifuliva our redemption, inflnit e, wife, and pro- vident , in compofing and difpofing all to his owne glory,andthegoodof his Church; So his Iuflice can be never more eonfpicuous, then by the iudgement that he executeth^ Men may be ofte wronged by their carelejfe fecurity , or preven- ted by ceUrity \\ or miftaken in xhi carriage ^ox overtaken through ignorance j^x (educed^ by flatte- ry y ox deludedyby equivocation, or perchance abti- fed^by credulity^ or outfaced^by bravery, or terrU fyed^forfeareofawovie inconvenience: But when the Lord arjfeth to execute ludg ement, and when hh glory fhall appeared he fierceneffeofman Jla/l tnrne to his prayfe, and the flercenejfe of them ft all be re- fiayne. The drowning of the old world, the bur- ning of Sodom, the rooting out of fo many nati- m&£§ plant his chofen IJrael, Efficiently makes fc^the execution, that many things which efcape, in thi^Ufe.ymans controule 5 finde at length a Iudge, tb-at v^mIU bee knowne* in their puni/hment.If Ph^MVilllinot know the Lordy at the mouth of his fev vasts, hee fhall feele him atlengthto his cpiUiubcbattome of the rvater.znd if Herod fo forger yp\%:Cpitwtpo*^ as to rob God of his ho- nour9.£uchdn lodgement may prefently feife on him, as, u> jxiajce hjsr chiefeft flatterers to loath fi him.

difcoloery oft he Towder-plot.

him.Alltheworldalmoftisa mat>pe of inftances in this kinde ; it were but following ofa common place to repeat them, and to cloy your Chuftian attention with that you know.

4. Bonaventnrt diftinguifheth oftwd forts of judgements, the firft,in this World, which hee calls indicium P(pnitentid,in&i£ted efpecially to drawe all to repentance : the fecond , in that to come, from which there is no declining. My Text dea- leth onely with the frfi , not as it properly figni- fieth the diftinS? apprehenftbn of an obiett^ or a true ttw/tfy/^fromcertainepremifes* or a defnitiue fentence according to law , ortheauthoriticof the Judge to determine , or power , to execute , or the caufe> that comes in queftion , or a cujtomey that hath gathered ftrength by long acceptance, or the Text of Scripture , that giueth dire&iort how to judge.- vpon which diuers fignifications, Scotvs and llliricHs plentifully inlargethemfelues$ but by a metonymie fovthepunifhmentythatisinfli- <3ed vpon juft grounds. For herein iheexecution manifefteth the iudgement , and by this iudgement efpecially,/^ Lord is knowne. The caufes of it, are ftnh the fubie ^notorious offenders ^theeffe&.s^ gc- nexaWy ^amazement Specially, comfort to the inno- cent, and horrour to their adversaries. This the Z^takethvponhimfelfeto execute y as often as his Minifters>either for want of power y or courage, or information^ are driucn to a ftandrand for thefe purpofes efpecially , thatthe church might hauea breathing in her continuall combates, and her per. fecutours, a tafte of the anger that is to come. Ac- 1 O 3 cording

7

x.SentJ.i$.

s

Higgaion isf Selab^for the

Rev. i8„

carding to the fentencc of this Iudgement, Corah's confpiracie was plagued by the earths opening, Absalom hanged by the hayre, Senacherib had a hookeput into his noftrills 5 Jeroboam's , Ahab's, and Baafia's families , were grubbed vpby the rootes, for their treafons ,and idolatrie. And as old Babylon's ttztdy Palaces were turned to dif- confoIatehabitations5forZ#w and Ohim: fo new Babylon's redoubled abominations muft lookc for no better iffue: For though fhee haue a long timerayfed mifts, to dazle the eyes of her fol- lowers , the Scriptures haue beene lockt vp in an vnknowne t onguc>ldo Is ,and heathenifh ceremonies, obtruded inftead oi preaching, implicite faith, for playne catechising, Princes, terrified with the bug-beares of briefes ,and bulls and excommunica- tions , tray tours , honoured with martyr dome , all viUanies juftified , vnder the maske of zeale, and ignorance commended, as the mother of devotion: Yet the Lord will ever be knowneby theiudgements which he executeth, when Jhee commeth in remem- brance be fort God> togiue her the cup of the wine of theferceneJJ'eofhis wrath*, as a miUflone throwne into the hot tome of the fe a, fo /ball (heejinke downe int^ the pit of deflfuBion. ]n an houre (hall her Judgement come vpon her, the Kings of the earth., and <Jtferchants,(ha\l take notice ofit> with way- hng 'and alaffe , and theSaints with a double Halle- luiah^ whiles her fmokt arifeth vp for ever and ever.

5. This do&rineof Godsiudgements , foplain- ly deliuered in his Word, fo cffe&uallyvrged:

and

difcovery oft he 'Towder-pht.

and fo often rcpeated,vpon any notable occafion, as it fhould ft r ike a t err our into the wicked , not to kicke againft prickesfo fhould it animate the god- ly in all extremities , with the allured depen- dence vpon a happy iflue. But alaffe (Beloucd; thefe things ftickc with vs mod commonly , no longer then they are in a&ing. Three impediments maybeobferuedaboue the reft, which fruftrate in diuersthe good vfe of this do&rine , Contempt, negktt , and mif interpretation by foothing our felues in our owne courfes , and turning the ftreame of Godsiudgements another way. Of the firft humour arc thofe, which our Prophet defcri- beth in the next Pfal.TA* ungodly tsfo proud, that he caret h not for Godjietheris Gob in alhis thoughts, Htsrvaiesare alrvaies grievous , thy judgements are far above out of bis fight \& therefore he pujfes at all his enemies tf y ou vrge vnto him the like iudgmets, executed vpon others for the fame offences, his contemptuous anfweris ready ,Thus ijhallnever be caft dorvneytherefhall no harme happen vnto mee. This is the refolution of Antichrift and his fol- lowers, as moft Interpreters with Saint Jerome, and Saint Auguftine note vpon that place. Iudge^ wm/ never foknowne, Executions never fo evi- dent 5 (hall no way deterrethem from their dam- nable proje&s. But this is the gvcateRiudgtment ofall,(as Saint Cyprian well obferueth ) Non in- telligere delifta,ne fequatur poenitentia^not to take notice of our faults 9 left repentance Jltouldtherevpon follow. Secondly, the neglecl of Gods judgements appeareth in thole men , whoaretruelyaffe&ed O 4 ^^ at

Epifi.11.

TO

Higgawn £? Selahjbr the

*De CiutiJDeii

f

at the/?r/, but, as a pang ,'tis quickly paft oucr, and as nerves, it foone growes out of date. Pharaoh was no fooner quitted from one plague , but pre- fentiy his heart was hardned^o drawe on another: and the Ifrae lites that were fo much affrighted at the horrible end oi Corah, D at ban, and AbiranK even the morrow after fell vpon CMofes and Aa- ron,?*, vpbrayded them for killing oft he people of GW;fuch fmall imprepon is left on vs by the fir ipes of others. Birds and other brute beafts 3 moft commonly avoid that place where they are fenfi- blebya token that their fellowcs haue mifcarrL ed: but we looke on others iudgements, as f urnifti- ed with a fuperfedeas from all arrefis , and argue from their punishments how well they haue de- ferued, without the leaftreflexe vpon our ownc mutable condition. A third fort play with fuch examples ^ and fliift off the application from themielues.Thefe will rather afcribe Noahs flood, to an extraordinary afpe& or concourfe of watry />/4/^.f,or the drowning of Pharaoh's ho/}, to the inconfiderate venturing vpon an high tide , ra- ther then to Gods wrath for finne, who fendeth fuch iudgements on fome , to make all the reft a- frayde.So our Italianated ]fugitiue$ paffe ouer the powder-plot , by terming it onely the rajk attempt of a few ^ooxtvnfortunate Gentlemen>hy meanes whereof, their profeljtes are hardened to the like courfes^ whereas fuch terrible iudgements fhould teach them to knowe the Lord: and executions make them Jenfible, how defperately they are fe- duced. But perdidifiis vttlitatem calamitatu ( as

Saint

difcouery of the powder -plot.

u

Saint Augufline juftly vpbraydcth the Pagans) mifertfacli ettis , ejr pefiimi permanfiftis . Where- fore fhou Id yce be fmitten any more f The whole headisficke, and the heart is faint. Thofc that con- tendc fo much for a Iudge of the controverfies bctvveene them and vs^why obferue they not out of Gods iudgements , which fide the Lordh- vouieth? Haue any of their damnable projeds by Summeruile 3 Parry 5 Babington, and his com- plices, Lope^and his abettours , Campian, Parfons, and rhcir adherents, taken any expected fuccefle? Haue the Popes Bulls and curfes wrought any ftrange cffe&s < Haue Watfon and the Powder- miners attained to the ende they fought after i If God then haue euer defeated fuch malicious defignes ,and fhewed by his Judgements vpon the adours3how much heedetefteth fuch practices 5 they might well gather , that their courfes are not warrantable, or that (asfome of them in indig- nation haue blundred out) the Iudge ofallthe World is become a Lutbtrane. For what vertue haue they ever found in their Agnus Dei's, Medals or fuperjiitious reliques , to make their plots fuc- ccuefull? or truth, in the promifes of their ghoftly Fathers i May they not eafily perceaue them- fdues to bee made the miferable inflruments of Antichrists ambition,v*ho/e/j xhefetiles ofmen,to buy himfelfe reputation i If we are luch damnable her ett quests they would makevs, how comes it about that the Lord To takes our part? Isitpoffi- ble,theirdo<5irine,thatis foCatholique , orthofe Catholiqucs , that are guided by an infallible head,

fliould

Apoc.^.

II

'

*.;>: ;

•;-- "

HiggMiK tf SeU'hfor the

:re,anc Co litde ? pro-

fd£ioch/^^*£fj(,andbefo often deceatfed? If mci wete ax drunke with the wine otSodeme 3 or nuned wirfathc blctdoi Dragons , or fteeped in the gdoibitttrzeffc, fuch piip^bie tokens of Gods tnunts fo directly againft their proceedings, | fo mainly in favour of their oppofites,might breed j at kafi a Ihfpitioa that fomething is amifle , and retuine them to a ierious examination , to knowe where thofaulrrcfteih. But Leonards change not xhekgots^Uafe Adders hcare no charming. Trum- pets may be founded out agvnfi them , and viails po w red out vpon them, yet their Idols Cm:. %OtUftfX>iKht\xfor*erusj hefts, ox former: ions a- bandoned. Being fcorcbed with the Sonne- fl of G* <& #W, in ftead of repentance, they turne to blafphtme: and when Egyptian darknef no-

terioufly invironed xhefeat of the £**/?, they will rather £/*<!» t bar tongues for paine , then acknow- ledge Gods arreft that ieizeth vpon their Abaddon. hehcld>alLjeetkatkindU a fire { faith the Lord ^e Prophet Ifaiab) fr that compajjeyturfelues about with frarkesi rvalke in the light ofjou tnthefparkestbat yeehaue kindled-. bi\i t b isjh all jee h&ueofmj hand^iee fhafl lye dawne in for r on : fnarethat yeelaid for others, (ball intrappe your felues, which is the fucceffe of the wicked, and comes in the next place to be confide* ed.

6. The wicked ufnaredtn the rvorkes of his cwne hands.'] As before,the /«/?/*£ of God appeared in rheexeciirioriofhis tudgements^ (ohisJVifedame | here may bee obferued in the manner of punish- ment.

difcouery of the Ttrvder-; . -

n

: . The wicked 3 not firaplv it&*m . r ST"

■£q: £^r ?:z\Lypeccd?tr afixrcr or an r - c vulg* rtbnt J W " *fw* J**pr*1nv, i t*sy trsgm - ^11 will be

vngddi's Jiwdsnrbaltnt 5 wsuaing , irrtiigitm to- war^ n c i s > wflgftfc in the

-imoo- wealthy v*/ Sjch »

runnesir the I :4-p?e:ers a-

ri§h::::/. .:, Be :.::: pre

rfelfeis Mm i .v: --.;.- : : , fa : h ey are plagued , fo they ::c:i;

~>. Arc:: 5 a a r/^aw^;.

a mdtter cip&wc , and chtrgt , and ;wr vato

:-5notbegi:- tedbyoi ::.-.-

mmthmds. A fee-

mentofGodtoinr ,';:>•

doir.ecifpc:

the n-A- c : them i n £b , and

make others

^U«jucv.C: ,::5 :: :::::£-:

plaid the PthttiM.:? z **;>

Duzzin^: : andfe, K

ic iw#j/. Soic the Scripcme Aicnihiztk confeflcth , ftm 2*rf &ittu ,**£

1 thumbts mut :>:■::* p H 'f^, r

nfrr PtjuHk-z m : I arc «-/•:.- . \k*tbf((f*:tcd?n, der farther

Higgaion & Selahfor the

and was requited at length with the death ot his •jirji-borne. Hamans ga/lowes fetvp to hang l^f^- dk^feruedfor his owne ftrangling. Herod itew the infants oiBethlem, and was punifhed in the end,by murdering of his owne children, When Hildebrand had fuborned a villaine to provide a great ftone,to let fall on the head of the Emperour Frederkke,z$hecamc to doe his devotions, ac- cording to his accuftomed manner in the Church of Saint xJMaryoi mount Aventine, the fellowe making more hafte ,then good Jpeed, tumbled down with the ftonehimfelfe^ and there was broken in pieces by the fameengine, wherewith he rreache- 1 roufly would hauecruihed his Soveraigne. The| ftory is diftin&ly fet downe by Benno the Cardinal in the life of Gregory the feventh. And who reads not , how Alexander the fixt was poyfoned with the fame liquor hce had prouided to make a- way fomeofhisCW/W/ ? This meafurehad A- 1-Sam.15.13. gagby Samuel^ As thy frvord hath macie women J childlejfe,fo(hallthy mother be childleffe among wo- Pfal.137. J w^.Itwaswifliedtoold Babylon, Happy jh all he\ bee that rewardeth thee as thou haflferuedvs : And muRbcfzllthc new^Reward her as Jhee hath rewar- ded you, and double vnto her double 5 ace of ding to her works : in the cupthat jhc hath filled^fillto her double. How much jhe hath glorified her felfe and li-

orrow giue her. ainer termes%

veddelitiouflyjomuch torment and fori

This cannot bee exprcfled in plai

then our Prophet hath it in the jy.Pfalme: The

vngedly hath drawne out the fword , and bent their

bowjocaft down the poor e and needy, andtojlayfuch

as

difco~t>ery oftheTowder-plot.

»5

as be of a right conver fat ion. But their fword [hall got thorowthetr otvne heartland their bow Jha/l be bro- ken. Which before, more dire&ly to our pur- pofe , wee may finde fet downe in the feuenth Pialme, Thevngodly hath graven and digged a ptt9 and is fa I ne into the deft ruff ion that he made for o- ther. for hu travel! [hall come vpon his otvne head^ and his wickednef e fhall fall vpon his otvne pate. And did not this fhowrc of fnares, to the amazement of themielues, and their adherents , by the iuft iudgement of God ftrangely accompany the workc oi oux powder-plotters! VVho knowes not Catef by ,Rookwoodyo.nd Grant^Cthe principall aftors in that hcllifh defignej as they were drying pow- der at Holbeck in JfV£*/?*r- //>/>*, were diffigured, and maimed, by the firing of the fame powder? and not long after,how the fame Catesby, and Per- cy defperatly wereflaine atone jhotte, proceeding itompo-wderi So iuftly they were fnared in the workeof their ovpne hands ^ that themfelues vpon their knees were forced to confeffe it. This is regiftred by the hand of a King9 whohadbeft mcanesto know it ,. and greateft reafon to relate it, to thetertour and fhamc of all fuch divellsjh A/fafi nates. Now let their Apologifts returne from beyond the fcdsygrin like a dog^nd put on the im- pudency to -Another ic,

7 They will-tell vsthat thutCatholique Doft- rine in nofortcountenancethit; and the faults of lomcmalecontentSy are ever to bee diftinguiftKfd from :he equity of the cauje. But this is but a gil- ded pill, compounded onely for thofe of their

owne

i6

?ag.il9.

Higgaion iff Selabfor the

Apboriftverbo CUricwi.

lnfiit.tit.il. 5. ii.

Z>e summo pont-lib.1'

cap.7>

Devifib.mo-

nar.l.i.capA.

owne comple&ion, a fophifme, afhift, an after- reckonings which is as foone difcouered, as their bookes are opened. We are not fuch dafUrds (faith Gretfer in his vejpertilio haretico-politicus) that we feare openly to afjirme, that the Pope of Rome may (if necefity (0 require) free ht* Catholique fubietts fro their oath of fidelity ^if their Soveraigne handle the tyrannically:8c farther he adsjf it be donedtfereet- ly and warily jx. is a meritorious ivorkeJbut fay now, that /«£/*#/ fhould proceed to execution , vpon fuch way made by the Pope, fhould they not (thinkeyou) therefore be iuftly punifredas tray- tours? No5 faith Emanuel Sa, efpecially if they be of the Clergy : for the rebellion of a Clarke againft a Kingjs no treafonjn as much as he ts notjubieff vn- to him .Then perchance the Laity is left only to the flake, as hauing no fuch warrant to exempt them from King-killing. Simancha will helpe that too: Asfoone as a ChrtfliaKing becomes heretic all, forth. \ with his fubieffs are freed from his government over themJThis is fhort worke indeed. But may heenot then be left to Gods Judgement, vntill it fhal! pleafe him in mercy to free the people from that yoaker* No fure ('faith Beflarmine)c{pcc\al\y it he goe about to infett hisfubieBs\ Then they arc bound ( ads San- ders) as fooneas may be, to fet another in his place. They ought to expellhim (faith Philopater)a$ thee- nemy ofchriftjrom hauing authority over Chriftian ^/>/s.Andthisheaffirmesto bee the vndoubted do6lrine among the learned^ and agreeable to Apo- folic all truth. Here is Apoftolicall truth \v\xh a wit- nefle. But fuppofe the Popes Apoftolicatl tranfeen- dency

difcovery oft be Powder-plot.

17

dene j, either in pitty, or policic, hold fuch a King fit for a pie to be fpared 5 1 truft then, good Cat ho- liqueSubiecfs may not venture to ftirre. Yes but they may ( faith Bannes ) Etiamfi Pontifex tolera- ret Regem Apoflatam^tame RefpubmChriftianapofit illupellere e regno, quonia Pontifex fine ratione per- mitt it ilium impumtum. Though the Pope himfelfe fhould be never fo indulgent yt he people ^ if they lijly may vnMngbim, becaufethe Ptye vnreafonably is jlacke in his office. Well then, no remedy is left a- mong thefe m e for Proteflat Kings Jout down they muft. If their holy i^/^rmakefcrupletocorreft thc,thcir own vajfals may take them in hand. Per- chance this will work with the to be reconciled to the Church,& the it is likely they (hall be reftorcd to their eftates . Simancha will tell them alfo in that cafc.,whcreunto they (hall truft: Nee ins hoc recupe- rabut ('faith he Jquavis pofleareconcilietur Ecelefta. Once gone,& t or ever discarded. Nay their childre, though innocet or ^Wlt'ijtiiuft bepunifhed for their fathers errours, & be excluded for ever from fucccfTionjio giue way to whom the Pope pleafeth. 8 I haue gleaned thefe kwfeatterings by the way,(Beloued) to make it appeare tothofe that would willingly be better perfwaded of their do- drinc, thatthe^c?r/»^it felfcdirecJly warrantcth treafon,ktthc tray tours be what they will, and that none can bee an abfolute Papifl, but (if hee throughly vnderftand himfelfe, and liue vnder a Chriftian Prince that hath renounced the Popes \duthoritj) muft needs, being put vnto it, bee an abfolute ttaytour. The Popes infallibility hee

aflii-

lnfccuntkm fecund*, 1*1.

i8

Higgaionisf Selah->for the

peiufia thorite

411-

aflumeth tomzVzhcretiques, and punifhthemby 1 vertueofhis Sup remade: The exemption of his Clergy , to a<5fc chcir owne defignes; the inter- esting thcpeople, in the right of making of a King (whom they define, with Apoftate William Rei- n olds, in fcorne, H be but a creature of mans ere at to) howcanitftandwith loy all obedience, that God and nature haueprefcribedr* And now (Beloued) ifthefe were fpeculations only in their fchoolcs, or fome few w^overla(hing,in an emulation to vphold their owne hierarchies orfome doubt full deductions , onely taken by ourmenattheworft, their doctrine were the more excu fable, and their followers more to be borne without when practice fhall follow vpon fuch divelifh />0jfr/<wj3 and apo-\ logics be published to the world to maintaine that practice*, then curfed be they as Mercz , curfed bitterlybeallfuchfubie&s, and inhabitants that take not the Lords part againft fuch mifcreants. For what eares would not tingle to heare, that PopeS/'.vf/#,thefift,intheconfiftorieof his Car- dinals, fhould paralell the murder of Henry the third > King of France, by that defperate vil- laine lames Clement , with the fadt of lit Jit h9 and conclude it to be a little leflfemyftery then Chrifts Incarnations For defending of the fame fad, though lohn Guiniard a Iefuite were executed: yet Richeome in his apology excufeth him- CUrus Bonarfcius in hisT heat rum ho nor is ,extolls him to the skies. Such tokens rheie Ignatians leaue to Princes, of their fabmiffion and fidelity. What fhould I fpeake of Francis Verona Conftantintu,

who

difcovery of tie Towder-plot.

19

who wrote an apology for lohn Caftile , to jufti- fy his (tabbing, and hurting of Henry the Great f Wherein hce concludes , that notw'nh- \ ft and 1 tig the decree of the C ounce 11 o/Conftance, it is ! law fall for any private man to murder Kings and Princes ^ condemned of herefy and tyranny. And to come home neerer vnto our fclues: Stanlies trea- cherous giving vp of Deventrey, had knot Cardi- nall A lien to defend it? Had not Oneile before, and Tyrone afterwards the determination of the Vniveifityof Salamancha to animate them on. ward in their rebellion? What marvell is it then that Garnet^ and the powder trcafon, had Eud&- mon- Johannes his apologyiClaudiw Aquavivas ap- probation, Be/larminesexcnk, Hamond the Iefii- itcsabfolutionyas Barrier in France had thclefuitc Varrad's^ to confirme him in his purpofe > to pre- vent Ravilliac? Nobetter fruit is to be looked for vpon fuch wild figtrees, who care not what they fay or doe, and turne offall fuch prodigies with afleight or fcornc. Bccaufe the Scythians (lew their King Scyle, for favouring the ft range rites of Eacchus^Simancha infers that I ure and Mcr it ojuch Princes arc to be made away, as rcceiue any kind of dodrine differing from the papisltca/l. Mariana accounts it a moderate courfe, to poyfona chayre or garment for the killing of a King : but marke hiswaighty rcafonforit; Becanfe (iaith he) / yzW the Kings of the Moores haue often v fed it . Wherc- vpon Hojf'e us the Iefuite was wont to (ay (a%Hafen- mullcry wholiucdamongft them reports it) that they dragg'd any Luther an they could find,ftraight-

P way

AnnO.ltfj,

Inft.Catb.i}, fer.n.i}.

T>e reg.inftit. lib. 1. cap, j.

Hi/tor. lefuit. ccp.6.

20

Higgaion <&Selah>for the

way to the fire, vt fiicanima eius in curru igneo ad infe, osferatur^ that fo his foule in a fiery chariot might bee hurried to hell. Worfe then all this.- they -hold it a cafie of Confidence ^ not to (pare their ownc fide, to doe ours a mifchiefe. Garnet the Pro- vinc sail being queftioned by Catesby ,\vhcther with afafe confidence^ they might proceed in their pow- der»proie£i, feeing in the blowing vp of the King^ and Proteflants , divers alfo of the Papifts muft neceffarilygoethe fame way/* replies very pro- foundly,that no doubt it might well be done, fee- ingitfhould redoundetothe good of the Cstho- lique Church. And this Eudtmon defends with great earncftnefle. Which puts mee inminde ofa ftory related by Flatina in the life of John the foureand twentieth, when one F acinus Cams was hired by the Gibellines^ to fuppreffe their contrary fadions of the Gwclphes^ in the city of Papia^ and thecovenant was, that hee fhouid haue the goods of the Gxvelphes for his pay. Hee obtaining the vi&ory, falls a rifling ofthe Gibellines alio, with- out diftindion: and being accufed therefore, as notftandingtohispromife, replies. That them- felues indeed were Gibellines ,and fhouid be fafe^ but thik goods were Gxvelphes y and muft goe to wrack, as well asthofeof their ad verfaries. So nfTure your felues ( Beloued) if Italians and Spaniards fhouid once come, (which God of his infinite mercy forbid,) to compofe the differences be- tweenevs^our home-bred Recufants , howfoeuer our Wo**/ fhouid pay forit, yet their efiates might perhaps be confifcated, as infe&ed by our herefiy.

Garnets

difcovery of the ^Powder-plot

Garnets dccifion would be of force-, fuch matters muft notbe flood vpon, when the good of the Ca- t holt que czuk is thereby advanced. Othat religi- on fhouldeverbemadeadoakefor fuch atbeifti- ca/lpraclifesl What hard meafure had beene offe- red by our King and State , that thefe traytours fhould bee fo cxafperared? Were they hurried to the^rr,as in Queene Maries daies? or was there a new Inquifition ereScd, in imitation of that of Spaine, with tortures and racks to re<3ify them/* Nay, were they not tolerated at a fmall rate , or none at all, to enioy their pofefiions and liberty , graced with titles of Honour , admitted to be about His CMaieflyjmA haue the protection of his lawes, without any violence offered? From whence then came theporvder-plot,but from thedevi/lhim- felfe3& the malice of the whore of Babylon fuhich delighteth to caroufe in blood? But God hath fnared the wicked in the worke of his owne hands, the fnar eis broken ^& we are delivered. Come down therefore & fit in the duft, fit on the ground , fit fi- lentj) daughter of*Babylon.Is not thy nakedncs vn- covered,thyfhamefeener'art thou not taken in the crafty rvilineffe that thou haft imaginedK) that our poore befotted recufants would but be brought to an ingenuous examination of thefe things, whe- ther it were likely/^ would lead them to heauen, whodevifeand allow of fuch foxvder.slratagems from Hell? Whether true Religion hath beene euer advanced by fuch blondj and treacherous fnares and engines ?Then would they furely afford their Higgaion & Selah to celebrate with vs this day,

P 2 this

21

ifaih.47.

tz

Higgaionkf Selah^forihe

Verf.vlc.

Verf.3.

this thrice-happy Deliverance . Which is the duty •left for vs in the laft place to conclude with.

9 Higgaion,Selah2 Few words, and obfeure; yet importing more matter, then could be well expreflfed in any other tongue. And therefore, las they arc omitted in the Greeke and. vulgar La- tine, asalfoin our Chftrch-booke transition, by •reafon of their obfeureneffe, and remocenefTe jfrom popular capacities5efpecially in a continuate reading without interpretation: lb are they faith- fully reftored by our laft Tranflatours, as inte- Igrall parts of the text , which are not to bee left [out, though the grcateft skill of the Learned may be ftagger'd at their meaning. Needelefle therefore was the exception of fome Cr it ikes , to parChurch-Booke, for not reading commonly! thofe words to the people, feeing they hauc them j otherwife in a more exad tranjlation , and refer- j ved to the expofition of a learned Preacher. Some there bethat (light both the words as interiedi- ons, expreffing only a ludden paflion , vnder an imperfed fenfe. But others diue deeper, whom we haue good reafon to follow. Higgaion is but twife, befides in this place5found in the Scripture^ and thatoncly in the Pfalmes^ once in the ip. PfalmeiLet the words of my mouth ejr *>^h> *( Yttn the meditation of my heart be alwaies acceptable in thy fight^O Lord, my flrength and my redeemer , And a- gaineinthep2. It is agoodthingto gi net hank es vntot/je Lord^andto fmgfrayfes to thy name^O thou mofihigh: To /hew forth thy louing kindnes in the mormngt&thy fait hfulnes every nighty "y^^-^y

V31

»w mnw.il

difccrperyofthe Towder-plot.

Va*05 fWSI *b? h&fr*bpS Vpon an instrument of tenne Brings , and vpon the P fait eric > vpon the Harpwithafolemne found. The word Seiah wee haue22.times,butH/&£<t/0/f and Selah together, onely in this place ^ which argueth more then an ordinary rejoycing,proportioncd to the Prophets deliuerance,which ( out of doubt ) was extraordi- narie. All that I read , deriue the word Higgaion from the root n^n, which fignifieth topublijb with the mouth ^o meditate with the hearty to rowze vp all the faculties , with the moft ferious intention. Agreeable to this is the word Selah y either from the root VVo ( as R . Kimchi would haue it ) to lifi- vpjo rayfeypvoipei\y a way to make it more pafla- ble,or H>0 to tread dorvnc,to mikcplaine. To the fame purpofe, Avcnariut fayes , thatin all the Commentaries of the Rabbines , he could obferue no certaincfignification of this word: and Bux- torfius is of the minde,that it fignifieth nothing but onely a tone peculiar to the tMufitians of thofe dayes. It were endleflfe to heapevpalli/4rto/>/3 which either word breedeth among the learned. Immm makes both joy ned in thisplace,tofignifie, rem meditandam fummh>2L matter to beeefpceially thought on. Vatablut, with the Rabbines 5 and the Chalday Paraphrafe extend it to an ever lading ^Meditation, They that reftraine it tofong, or in. flruments^ differ not in a manner from them vpon the point,for that which theformer obferue in the fttbief? jhey afford vsintbetune. All concurre in this3Thatthc grcateft deliuerances , arete bee cele- brated with the greateB thankfgiuing : no cheere- P 3 fullnefle

*5

24 \

Higgaion iff Se lab for the

f ulnefle muft be wanting,no laudable lolemnity of mufickq : aflembling , feafting , congratulation negle&ed 3 in performing fuch religious duties. Private5and daily, or ordinary bleflings may bee privately, anddaily, or ordinarily recounted,at leaft wkhafingle£*/^5a ftirring, orchearingvp of our particular devotions : but for fuch delive- rances as that of Eighty eightjand this publike and extraordinary 'freeing of the Chunk , the whole State?thx preferuation ofthcKwgiQueene^Prince, al! the Nobles ^\[ the Judges , the Reverend Clergy, and Lawyers5the Worthies of all our Country and Corporations, vpon the point to be blovvne vp ? and difmembred by the Divels engine 5 together with the vtter defoiation of fo flourishing aKingdome^ here a Higgaion &£*/.*/& muft be joy ncdtogether5 Halleluiah added vnto it; Trumpets andShalmes muft be winded aloud, Jfaptisandledtthun's muft fhew their skill ^new fongs^newcantica canticorum^ whole new fets of caticles^Micthamsfii Mifmor's^ Neginottis and Mahaloth's^Tehillah's andfephil. lah's muft be framed by the Learned. Let every thing that hath breath,praife the Lord.

10. And here if the matter it felfe rowze not your meditations ? little helpecan bee expe&ed from any vncompofed ftratnes. You that haue read of fo many heatheni(h tyrannies , and Turkijh cruelties^ you that haue had occafion to travell a- mongftapy barbarous nations 5 or fauage Cannibals-^ you that haue heard of the mod prodigious trea- sons and rnajfacres that euer were attempted , or thpught on vnder the Sunnc-, haue you ever re&d^

or

■ ■ ' m '

difcduery ofthepomder-plot.

I

oxfeeneyOx heard of any monftrous immanity ycom- parable to this of the Powder-Treafon ? Haueever Turkes^ov Tartars ^ay Nero'es or Caligula's made vfeofpoivder, orfuch engines of furie , toruinc whole States zx. one blow i Nay, to blow vp their orvne darlings, theirowne Patrons , theirowfle in- noeentkinred that never offended f hem ; butoncly the fe Jpuria vitulamina, thefe baflard imps of the H^ore of Babylon I If the ruine of your /#'*/*£ Country menludno way affe&ed you, what had the monuments of the deaddeferued , that fo many fepulchres of ancient Kings muft be laid on heapes, and vttei ly defaced < what fault was in the dumbe ftones^nd RatdyEdifees of your forefathers,that they fhould be left as fpe&acles of your merciles cruelties But now perchance they repent it, and areafhamedof the Adois , and their courfes. O no -that feat let Harlot hath not learned to bliifh. They are pi&ured for fonfejjours and Marty res, their z,eale is commended , the State condemned for punifbing their Ring-leaders vniuflly ,and their Profelytes here amongft vs ( which Igrieueto fpeake of) follow zhc fame doclrine that led them vntoit,andareanimatedtothelikeattempts,when ! theirabilityjha/l grow fuffcient. For marke but 1 thefe few words of Bannes a SpanifhSchooleman, (whom a man would take tobe none of the worft, efpecially in companion of the Iefuiles ) Angli (faith he; funt excufandiy quia nonfe eximunt a Su- periornm pdteHate 5 nee helium contra cos gerunt, \ quia non fuppetunt illis vires ad confequentiapericu- I la: In i.i.Aquin.q. i z.art. 2. The Englifh Catho-

V

likes

%6

Vtkes

_ . — , ,, — .

Higgaion tfSelabifor the

are tobeexcufed for not taking armes again/t their Superiours,becaufethey wantfufficient power to got through with the bufinejft. Tolerate them then but to grow to a headend to make their par- ty good3and their natural bond to Prince or Coun- try fl\o\i\d little difmay them5from venturing vp- on the like Powder-plots. Where be then our Hig- gaions ejr Sclah's (Beloued) for the flopping of this brood of vipers ,ihzt their force fhould not bee an- fvvcrable to their malice r As the Ifraelites had their Pafchaznd Purimjlolyddxcs fct apart for the acknowledgement of their grand deliuerance fro Pharaoh,znd Hamans treafbn: why fhould not this dayes folemnity bee continued witheverlafting thankfuInefTe,forthc miraculous difcouery of the Powder-plot< Let the people learne from our Put- pitsjwith what kinde of Salt-peter their C*tholi- r//«»eispowdred;letour children vnderfhnd in ouxftreets,the barbaroufnefie of theplot 5 the pro- fefton of the aftours 9 the danger that would haue falne on their innocent heads ^ If the Lord m Judge- ment to the enginers, and in mercy to vs , had not prevented it^znd fnared the wicked in the worke of their own hands. At the mentioning of our Church or Kingyat the beholding,or remembrance of our Parliaments y and chiefe places of Iuftice,let the villany of the Powder-proiecl bee never forgotten. In the celeb rating of the holy Bucharifi , let our th^nkfulneffe for this deliuerance bee an efpeciall part ofourSacrifice: Finally,letvs joyntly conclude as our Prophet here beginneth this Pfalme.- Wee mUfrayfcthcifi Lordjvith our whole heart ywe ml Jhew

difcoyery qftkeTowder-plot,

flew forth all thy xvonderons Workes. Wee will bee gladandreioyceinthee y rvee m/lftngprayfetothy Name,0 thou mo ft High. For our enemies are tur- ned back e, they haue falne and perifhed at thy f re- fence • for thou haft maintained our right and our eaufeythoufttteftinthe 7 krone judging right. Now to this God the Father,God the Sonne , and God the Holy Ghoft,three Perfons and one Lord,who isknowncbythe ludgement which he executeth, and hath fnarcd the wicked m the worke of his owne hands, bz afcribed with Hig- gaion and Se lab allpraifes>powery zndglory from this time forth for evermore. AMEN.

17

„ -~-

IOHN 6. 14.

Then theft men when they had feene the miracle thatl e s v s dtd^Said ,This is of a truth that Prophet that fhould come into the world.

Y Text forts with the time, wherein we celebrate xht^Ad- vent of the Prophet which the people here proclaymed, was come into the world , and the courfeofthe qofyells appoin- ted to be yearely read on Sun- daiesinour Church Liturgie, isclofcd with the very fame words of the com- ming of this Prophet. The miracle of feeding fiue thoufandmen, befides women and children in a defart place, with flue barlyloues only , and two little Fiflies,which drew from the peoplethis ac- knowlcdgment of thecomming of this Prophet, is regiftredby the three other Evangelifts, Math. 14. Marke 6. Luke 9 .with fome little variation of 'bmecircumftanccs: But this notable confeflion and profeflion of the multitude was referued ( as it fhouldfeemc by the holy GhoftJ for that Evange-

Z lifts \

The 1 ?. Sun- day after Tri- nity,

Iohn.1.14.

The great ^Prophets A dvent.

lifts relation,who had difcouered before from his Matters bofome, That the word was made fiejh, and dwelt among vs ,and we beheld his glory ,as the glory of the only begotten Sonne of the Father full of grace and truth. In a difpute in the former Chapter, with the Iewes of Ierufalem ( whotooke vpon them to be extraordinary zealous for their Sabbaths , and Mofes Law) with what invincible arguments doth our Saviour make good, That he was He e that fhould come,and that they were not to looke for any other? Hee proues it by the teftimony of his Father^ proclayming it fromheaucninhisBap- tifme, and his manifeft joynt working with him, He proues it by John Baptift, whom they held for aProphet,andtowhomthey had fent toknowc, and what could bee fuller then lohnBaptittstt&u mony? He that comes after me, is before mee.- And beholdtheLambeofGodthat taketh away the finnes of the world. Hee proues it by the Serif tures ,their ownegrounds5and thofehe vrgeth them to [ear ch^ and fee whether they did not tejlife of him or no. Hee further addcth CM ofes toproueit, in whom theytruftcd$andifyee beleeued him ( faith hej you would haue beleeuedmejiox he wrote of me. Laft of all befides all this , if an vnqueftionable miracle might be more prevalent-, fuch a miracle they had alfo,in the cure of the man at the poole of Be- the/da 5 who had lay ne there for remedy eight and thirty yeares. But what willfatisfie perverfe pra?- judice,and obdurate malice ? Profeflbrs of religi- gion for their owne glory and gaine , will hardly be brought toyeeld, though never fo plainly con- vinced,

The great Trophets Advent.

vinccd. For how canyee beleette(fakh our Saviour ver.44.) which receaue honour one of another , and feeke not the honour that commeth from Cjodonely. That loucthepraife of men^morc then the praifeo/ God. This was the rot that had then infcfted the le rvi/h Synagogue, and happy had it beene for Chri- ftians'tfit had there flayed. Let a miracle of our Saviours be never fo important, they wil perfecute and feeke tojlay him , becaufc hee did it on the Sab- bath day. One calumny or other they rauft needes findeout3tofet a colour vpon their owne procee- dings,& caft afperfions vpon his a&ions , and do- dirine. But rauft Chrift then haue no Church, be- caufc fome of thofe chiefeftChurch-men were op- pofitetohim? Itappeares hereto beeotherwife. Him whom thofe leaders forfake in pollicy , the Inferioursinfimplicky follow. They follow him from the Townes and Villages , ftriuing who fliould be the formoft,they follow him with their wiues and children , little regarding the incum- brances. They follow him into a defartplace,not thinking what wants and hazards they might meet with5and this they finde at the hands of the boun- tifull Maftei*they followed.Hc compaponats them cisShecpewithout a Sheapheard^ezchingthem ma- ny things,makes them a miraculous feaft to fend them away with content , beyond all exception or expectation. And then thefe men when they had feene the Miracle that] e s v s did^faid, This is of atruth that Prophet that Jhould come into thes Wcrld. 2. The words then are an Acknowledgement of\

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The great ^Prophets Ach>ent.

Wherein may it

the multitude that the promifed Prophet was come into theworld}and that I esvs who did that mira- I cle was He.

Due observation, Then thofe men when they hadfeene the pleafe you to take miracle that iefiis did, faid, notice of thefe two\ 2 . True inference a This 'is of a Generals^ truth that Prophet that

I jbould come into the world. To inferre without precedent obfervation is rafhnefle,and to obfeme and make nothing of it. Idle peculation. Vimy are very curious, and cenfo- 1 rious in the frfl,\u ho fall fhort in the latter ^ and o- thersare {q precipitant in the latter ^ that they con- clude often times without theprtmiffes ohhefrft. The practice therefore ofthclcfimple people, \iq.iq- inappeareth more rationall, then the haftineflc ofi many greater ScbtlUrs, Thefe would fee before ! they faid, & would not lay of a truth 5 before they j were throughly allured that there could bee no \ falflwod in it. Which falleth vpon the firft part ,the due obfervation, and in that order as the Text lea- ded} commeth firfttobedifcuiTed.

3>. Then thefe men when they had feene the mi- r&clethqt leftte did:$aid ;

1 .The Obfer vers, Thefe wen] 2. The manner of their oblcr-

vation5T/^p«;] j.The thing cblcrued, The miracle which iefus did. j What thefe men were it cafily appeares by that

In this obfervation* we may well take noticeof

which goes here before, and

the Collation of the three

The great ^Prophets Advent.

three other Evangeltfls. They were not Scribes and pkuifccs (for oughtthat we finde) nor of He- rods Court, much leiTe any of PiUts followers, for thofe ' it is likely) as Gallto in the A£ts,caredfir nofuch matter s^wt inferior per f on s7 that admired our Swiours do&rine5converfation, and miracles, fuchasliuedabroadinthetownes7andvillages5& were willingto heare & fee fomething? that might giue them further fatis faction. They knewe that by following Chrift , they were like to haue fmall countenance of the Scribes and Pharifees . They vnder flood that LohnBaptiftwzs butchered but a little before by Herod.and therefore from the He- rodims they had caufe to feare f ome danger. Nor could they be fo ignorant as to expeft any world- ly benefit from Chrift, who had not as much as a Foxjx Fowle-y a hole , or a nefl to put his head in, yet t bey with fome of their wiues and children, would needs venture to runne after him , into a defarr, and to paffe through thicke and thin (come of it what would ) fo they might enjoy his compa- ny. In charity a man would hence gather, that fome divine motion,more then ordinary befides a popular curiofity , wrought fo many to bee of one mindc. Otherwifc how could they haue beene fo refolutc.? Let vs fee now how our Saviour takes it,and entertaines them, He that fillet b the hungry wit b good t hings tzxi& fendeth away the rich empty 3 hath companion on their travell and wants,would notconfent to his Difciples advice, to difmiife them without fome re?ll and memorable token of his acccptance,and therefore examines them^vhat Z j provifion

A3. 18.17.

M3t.8.io.

a

The great <Tropbets Advent.

VerC*

/[Co Q-\oift&t

Cap.^.3^.40

provifion they had. Philip tells him,that two him- dred fenny worth of bread would not feruefo many, that euery one might haue a bit , and perchance they were not fo well ftored to haue two hundred fence in their ftocke: and if they had , there was no place to get fo much for the^r money. Andrew brought fome better newest that there was *uM- p»r jl Lit tie Lad whohad in rcadincffe fiue fart) loaues,znd mofma/lffhes 5 fmallthey muft needs be (as the word in the original fignifies) otherwife how could the little Boy hauetugg'd them thi- ther. But what (Taith he) are t he fe among fo many? Our Saviour heares them quietly , and ieplies not vpon their objections of inconvenience5&diftruft, forhehimfelfeknewewhathe could , and would doe. Make the people fit downe , faith he5 cv/^W np7ilnet)<&&ffiai <9&<ncl/ (faith S. tMarke) infeverall companies3vponfeuerall plots of ground ,am%7iS X**§<* x°flv,*s &c grecnegraffe would afford them Cufhions,here a hundred,md there $/ty,thatthere might be diflind paffages betweene them , and all might fee what was done. And all this being done as Chrifi prefcribed- Heeblefleth the Loaves, and /'//J^deliuersthemtothe Difciples , the Difti. pies tothe guefts , the^y?/ arcall fatisficd, and J twelue Baskets were filled with the fragments after \Ji uethouf&nd and more had eaten as much as they defired.

4 It would proue to fmall purpofe to inquire hercfarthcr,whctherthis company had any drinke to their we^? and where they had it ? 2. How this bread and fifh multiplied, and with whom>cither

the

The great Trophets Advent,

the givers or the takers* 3. With what conveni- ence every fingle Apoftle could minifterby com- putation of fome, to aboue eight hundred t 4. Whether every Apoftle had his feverall basket , for the fragments, and how thefe Baskets came there, with this and the like ttuffc , itisa peeceof nofmall learning with fome, to furbifh vp great volumes. But there is no great maftery in fuch mi- ft cries, which are more profitably dipt over, then mentioned. Yet to giue no vantage to the fcrupu- lous Sceptique or Scoptique, 1. For the drinke there needed not running to wells or neighbouring Rivers (as Salmeron tho. lefuite conietlttres) feeing the virtue that multiplied the food might make it feme both for drinke as well as me Ate. 2. The mult if lying is to be thought to haue begun, fir ft in the hands of oui Saviour (as S. Augufline notes with S. Hierome) then to hauecontinued vnder the! hands of the Affiles fas Chryfoftomc) and laftly to ! haue its complement in the hands and mouthes of the eaters, as S.Amb/ofe concludes with S. Hilary. 3. The order of their placing, made them the ea- Cicnobc ferved , neither the contrary appeares, but that one might helpe another in thediftribu- tion-4.What matterisit from whence thefe Baf kets came, feeing it is manifeft they were there,and rcccavedtheyr*£W£tf/j only, not whole loaues , to put it out of queftion that the foode there found wasmulttplyed^andnotcthQrjbifted in by crafty conveyance. Two things might be more profitably thought vpon of vs for our mftrudion. The fir ft taken from the quality, and aft ot thefc men. How

Z 4 ready

8

The great ^Prophets Advent,

Luke 13.18,

Math, j 1. ill

ready are thofe U aWpamo/, common people , not worthy the naming to follow our Saviour, rety- ring from them? Amongft vs thofe of better ranke fcarce giue him admittance, whenhee feekesthem out by his Ambaffadours, to doe them good*. The danger of the times could not keepe thefe backe, but many happy, fecure, and alluring invitations hardly bring vs on. Tfoele followed our Saviour into the defart, but what (hall I lay .• Wee fly from him coming home vnto vs in his word, Sacraments and benefits. Thefe things well thought vpon (B.) by the best, would make them better , and confide- red often by the (lacker make them afhamed of] theiringratitude.lt is a cutting fpeech o{ out Sa- viour to his rebellious countrimen , there fhall bee weeping andgnajhing of teeth, whenyee fhall fee A- braham, lfaac7andlacob,ancL all the Prophets in the Kingdomeof God, and you your felues thru ft out-^ and when Publicans and harlots ,and the meaneft of the people that beleene and are penitent, and follow Chnft, (hall be let at the right hand with the fheepe, and the G randy es of this world turn'd over to the left hand amongft the goates. Thisfhould put the greatefttoaprefent resolution, for altering their dangerous courfes, & for preventing the dager that is to come. Now to direct this refolution to the moft wifhed effect 5 here wc haue ( in the fecond place) our •S,^/0#r/ownepra<aice for a pati-erne. How teder a refped had he to thefe inferior people, that put them felues vpon him? ("though perchance the particular ends of moft of them were not to be approucd.^ How compafiionatly doth this good

fheap-

The great Tropbets Adverb.

\ 9

fieapheard take a view of thcfe Jlraglingjheepe* howcarefullheis to provide for them, and re- turne them to their homes without all dangers, and difcontent? O that all Superiours would but hence thinkevpon their charges, be they never Co meant, never fo wayward, n£ver fo ill ' deferring, to; be tender ouer them, and procure their good, by I this heauenly example/ Inthisgood way thefe«/i atefWTre/jthefepromifcuous obfervers, hzuc entred I vs. The manner of their obfervation followes now in the third place.

5 'Uhm< feeing , or when they had feene. It is almoft as good ( nay perchance better) to; fee nothing at all, then to be an idle jpetfator, and i learnc nothing. God hath giucn vs our outward Jenfes toinforme our understanding , our vnder- ftanding, to dire<3our will, our will to carry a | hand over our rebellious and fenfuall appetites, j | And if we make not this vfe of them, the divell: ' will quickly cut out worke : Nam quern Diaboltis j Greg.L7.ep. non invenit occupatumjpfe oceupat, (faith ^^there- fore it is very commendable in thcfe meaner and plainer people that they were not fo wanting to thcmfelucs, or difordereA in their fudden concourfe, but that they tookea^vir? to fee what was done. They faw the barrennefe of the place , the impofibi- \lityoif apply ^ the time paffed, their returne trou- I blefomc, and dangerous , the night drawing on: j And from the pooredifciples what could they ex- | pc<ft,who had fcaice provision for their owne ne- ceffrtics? They tooke notice (out of doubt) of the little Laddemxh his courfe, and poore pktance,of

their

5.5.

to

2. pet. 1.9.

Rev.3.18.

Mat. 6. xi.

2&? gr^* ^Prophets Advent.

their ovvne gr*^ number ,of our Saviours confe- rence with P^z//p and Andrew , of their vncom- fortable^^r^ofhisr^/i/r^e command to haue themfitdowne, ofthe<£#/tf# ordering their fit- ting that all might yk what was done, that the leaft fufpition might ttot remaine of any collufion. In all this Seeing , here were no ex>/7/ ^«, wan., dring *jf w5 wanton e^ w,envious 91 w, proud eyes, covetous eyes, flattering eyes,pva>m£ov7*< fand blind, hypocriticall winking eyes, ftaring one way , and fquinting another, or the like. And it were to be wiflied, and it is to bee religioufly endeavoured, that no fuch eyes may bee found amongft vs: He that opened fo many eyes of the blinde, invites vs to come to him for eye falut. I counfellthee to buy ofmeegoldtryedin the fire that thou maieft be tich,andwhite rayment that thou maislbe cloxthed, that the frame oft hynakednefe doe not appear e, and \ annoint thy eyes with eye falne that thou mat ft fee. \ Thereafonof this is giuen by the beft Oculift, | The light of the body is the eye. It therefore thy eye \ hefingle, thy whole body Jhal/ be full of light, but if j thine eye be evillythy body jhall bee fullofdarknefe. \ The eye therefore muft be conftantly dire&ed to J thefcopeweoughttoaimeat, it muft not glance j afidetobetoo^/^intothings that belong not ; to vs5 or with watermen to looke one way and row j another3for this will bring in the end darkne(fe,dif- j content ,8c confuiion.Thefe />/<«#£ menizsh lhould j feeme) regarded nottolookeaftcratthat timeany j other thing then was before them, but fixed their eyes wholy on that , and that was the Miracle

which

— ^^_ -.

The great Prophets Advent*

it

which Iefta did ^ the thing obfcrued in the third place.

6 Miracles are vnvfuall events wrought a- boue thecourfe of nature ('faith Salmeron.) To bring in all what the Schoolemen, and latter popifli writers haue heaped vpon this point, would be too tcdious,I fhall take therefore only that my text here occafioncth, and fopafle along. S. Auguftint puts a difference betwixt Miracula & CMiranda, Miracles and Wonders. Things that we wonder at, arc often performed by Mve/ls, Magicians y and />»^//tfrf,becaufc,notona fudden wee conceiue the caufes of them, and in true miracles there is a reafon giuen by Aquinas of their divers appellati- ons; they are termed Miracles in regard they ex- ceede the bounds of nature; Signes, becaufe fome- whatelfeisfignified,befideswhat is done- Prodi- gies for their excellency; Portenta for intimating fomewhat to come; T/Wtf w, becaufe Gods power is feene in them extraordinarily. This wee haue here is called ropou, a ftgne. Afigne to be feene, to rmnifctt the omnipotency of him that did it, and the truth of his teaching. Two other ends of fuch fignes are eminent in Scripture; The one to con- vtnee perverfe, and obdurate men with whom no reafon is prevalent:fo Mofes convinced hard-hear- ted Pharaoh with his Cftiagitians , and brought them at laft to tHs acknowledgement, 'This is the finger of God. Elia* drone the Baalites to the like confeflion: by obtaining fire from hcauen to con- fume not only the Sacrifice, and wood , but