This book made available by the Internet Archive.

r^ H fij '

_.f^^^^^^'^-.

iC-'Z

7^

^ /rz^^^^fiC^^/^^^-^ ^^y^/-/<c. ■

1-z^

TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL,

FRANCIS NICOLLS

E S Q^V I R E,

Qne of His Majefties luftice of

TPeace and QuorHm, for the

County o£3\(j)rth^

hampon.

IR,

It was the dcfirc of this Reverend Author, when that * furious mcflengcrofdeathfirftfcizedup- * A^man on his fpirits,giving him no more '*^'^* intcrmiflion, than what would lervc for fome feeble preparations againfl: a Nerf Snetnnur.i^TX I would in cafe he died, ( which afterwards lamentably fell out) frame an Epi-^Icto this Workc which hee had then made ready for ' " "a the

Thh Epistle

the Prcflc ; and dedicate it ( in his name) to yoitr

>(■ rufiice'Ni' felfe , as a pledge of his avowed thankcfulnefle for

colls, as grave thofe many favours hce received from that Religious

andkarneda, and Renowned * J v d g e , his Noble Patron : and

^^ingdTJeel ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ ' ^^^ immediate heirc and fuccef-

jO]/edin the age lOUr.

it held hint. This requeft from him (that would deny me nothing)

I knew not how to vvithftand,though 1 vvr'ong'd my fclfe in the acceptance; as to draw a /i^e in that VVorke,froin which fo rare aWorke-man bad taken off his le irncd and eloquent pen. ButyetanecefTiry lay upon mc; for he de-fired in his fickneffe, that by this Dedication it might ap-peare to the world how mu.h hee honoured your fclfe and family^ whichfirft preferred him.

It was no fmall joy to his heart to fee that fpcech of God himfelfe fulfilled upon your H&njg , Thefe that he-

X Sam. 2.30. fiour Ttfe I wili honour. It is fit the world fliould know (that it may blufli and mend) to what cminency of place

* Q^ipecunia the meerc merits of/»/?/c^ T^colls in that fhort race of & l.ii-^itioni- Yiis life raisM him unto. Called hce was by the Writ of faTerdTtr& ^r'^"* E LI Z A3 ST H tohz Serjeant at La^ : He inagiftiacus was by King lAMES made SerjeAnt at Law to ambmnt, his Prince H8N RT Hiseldel^ Sonne : luigeoi theCom-poeaa dcporta- mon Pleas,and Chancellour to our (now) Gracious Sove-nonis eft prs- j-ajg^e ^ when hce was Prineeoi Pf^ales, But that which

deam^im. " truly ennobles his memory , and makes me call to mindc Jttflice of Vjhzx. our Fleta reportcth was the honour ok Judges a-FeaieaniqttO' bout King ETf fV 4RT> the the firft'x dayes : Hee had Tum , luftice and held all thefe places 7^c prece. nee * prech, neepra-r^rmLT^ «i<?. I am not afraid to engliOi it, for I well know the Knhh of the ^^"'^ 0^ it: He ntithsr begged them^ nor bought them , nor shire, Wgh gave fo much as a Nerv-ye arcs-gift for them, sheriffe of the The like I can truly fpeake of your fclfe; Thofe dig-

County. nities which have beenc caft upon you in your ownc

* Honor fugi- ^Q^j^j^py /^,^^^ [,g was taken to glory) which arc neither tur,feq8:mcm ^^^ nor meaue : they came to you; you lued not for fugit. them j*vou fought them not: Nay, you degraded your

fclfe

Dedicatory.

felfc of one of them(a thing not uruall)by making carncfl; fuit to be out of the Cominiffion o^Oyer and Terminer , after youbad a while indur'd it.

From hence (" as 1 have good ground to coftceive } would this worthy Authour have mounted you up on Eagles wings to the Throne oftheHighcft,who hath if3y40.31. done thefe and greater things for you, and have preft upon you large and high performances. Jf ever there were a time for Righteons Men that are in authority to fliewthemfelves, the time is now come. MeaneChri-ftians , their very pcrfons and adions arc by the abounding of finne become a very P Arable of Reproach ; A com-pany of Blocke-heads, as a melancholy 'Divinecih them. If thofe therefore that are in place fhould now be filent , k is pitic but their breaths flaould bee ftopt for ever. I have obfcrved it long, and not without wonder, (looking Dcoenercs an-upon former times) that inthefe dayes fuch a fpirirof imostimoi feare and faintneflc hath poflcded the hearts of holy arguit. Men, that they darcBotbeccouragiousinthecaufc of rral. 145.5,4, God. It is noftrangetbinpforamantobeefearefulliii ^"i^.^^'^^'^^" theD^r^ : But when fuch a light (liines upon us from aut e(feV"fii»-^ heaven, as that our eyes are even'dazcUed in the behold- mas, (i ad hoc ing of it ; now to be timerous, now to be faint-hearted vcntum eft, ut in a good caufc for fcarc of mei;, or any fuch ignoble re- pe'ditorum fped : is monftrom cowariiz^. What is there in the """^^ at.^j in-face of man, made of the fame mould, toffed to and fro mcfcamus. with the fame vanity, refoluble into the fame Clay ; that cip Lib. i. wefhould feare it? What is outward preferment, to £/>//?. 5. «J the loflc, or ce rtaine hazard of a good confciencc ? for, ^^""^ they are rarely kept together: what are mockings, rcvi- j^'^l^'j"'3Ablings, reproaches, imprifonment, ^c. to godly men } but ,Ti,iitcs chri-deeper imprcffions of ftridtcr holineflc, and the very fti:utiionmi-marks of the Lordleftu, ns terrcaot,

The name of ChriftUn is a name both of Hon^ftr and "^c ciudatus Valour^ and begets better fpiritsthan either R^manor ^^^ncam" Grecian ; let OlfachiaveS and other Atheifis fay what ^yl] i^ j] they will: which of their ftories ever made mention of cap. 6.

a 2 fo

T H B E P I

S T L E

£xod. i8.

* Or,able men, in the laft nun j7atiori.

9,18.

fo valiant an army, as that Nohle Army of Martyrs, mentioned in the eleventh Chapterto the Hehrewes > How can they want fpirit that derive their courage from no lelTe Author than the Lion of the Tribe oflnda. Nay, it were no hard matter to prove, ( might I recede from an Epiftlcjto purfuc a Common place) That no man can be truly valorous; but he that is truly religious.

Asthis Courage ought to be in all that feare God : fo fpecially in thofe that arc Magiftratcs , and fit in the feats of Jufticc, the very Tribunals of God hiinfelfe : for them to be daCtardly and fcarefuU, is to fliamc their Ma-fter. Give rate therefore leave, by fome warrant from the Author, in yourpcrfon (whom I cannot but commend in this particular) to preffc this vertucupon all that beare rule in their Countrey. It is part of the Sjfence of a Infiice ofTeacc , to be a man of Courage. The coun-fell of lethro to Mefes, was, to make onety fuch to bee Magiftrates ,as were men of-*' courage , fearing God, <^c. Wherein the Spirit of God preferre's the daughter before the mother, and Fortitudf before the Feare ef g 0 D ,oi which it is the effedl, becaufe it is more confpicuou* in the eyes of men : For the feare of God is a thing hidden in the heart, but that which drawes it forth and makes it iiIuftrious,is that valjur and high rcfo'ution of fpirit by which it worketh. Almighty God makes this good bv an example of his owne choice. For when hec had appointed lo/fttia to fucceed c^o/<r/,and had mightily fnpportcd his mind with arguments of his owne afli-ftancc and prefence with him, he requires nothing clfe of Jiim, but to be firo^g ind of a good courage , with many iterations of the fame thing in fuch phrafes as thefe, 'Be firong And tf A food courage , he very couragistu , be net a~ fraid^ he not difmaid: And, as if there were no other ver-tuedefireable in a Magiftrate, the people (in accepting him for their Captaine) require of him no other condition but this, Onely beftrong , and of a good courage. And the Law of this Land* wMch in this, a^ in tnoO; other

things,

Dedicatory,^ _

things, is parallcll with the Law of Cod, ( as I couW flicw) would onely ha\ c tbofc Infiices cj 'I'eaee , which arc the iroft * valiant men of the County. *Stat,i^.E.z»

I fpcakc not this to exclude all thofc requifites of wif- ^^^^'^Jj ^^J dome that ought to bee in the holicft and mcft valiant ^ "^ men. I may fay in thefc tinr.es as the ApoRle faid of another vcrtuc yThere u great recdsfwijdcme. The children Heb. xo. jtf. of God ever have bccrc , ftill arc, and ever may bee the wife ft men upon earth. Let an unwifc world thinke what it lift. I meane not that wifdome (falfly fo called) whereby a generation of men to fave their skmncs, handle a good caufc like a Venice'gtap , loath they are to doc any thing that may offend great pcrfons with whom tfcey would con~)ply ; or expofc themfelves to any danger or lo0e. ( The very wifdome which caufed Frartcid Sfira to defpairc.) This is rather cunning or craft: or,to lirke them together in the language of the Apoftlc, ^ A chunitig crsftiKep, it is not wifdome. Truewif- b Eph. <|. 14. dome in the morall Schooles of Philofophy, and in the purer Schooles of Divinity, is that Queene of virtues, which, like the foulcin the body,givcthlife and' infor- c Anima eft mat ion to all the reft, commands all the affedions , regu- tota m toto,8c lates all the aftions of mans life,ard adds an aftive quick- ^°*^'" 1"^^*" ning power, to every virtue, to every faculty in man, ^^*P^"^* dirc^ing them to a blefl'ed i0uc. So that a wife man is a valUnt man, 2jufi man, a tetuperate man, an khmble man, &c. But hec that i$ addid^ed to any vice, a fcr-vant to any luft ; frohd^ angry , arf'^iticw yfearefn//, cove- <j ArlfictU 6, teus , ^€. is in all found Morality and Divinity a very Ethic foole : Solu6 z'ir boKUs ( faith that great ^ Phylofopher ) Et folus pru-revera efi prttdens , Ctte/y agccdman ^ at^ife mafi. Am den^ revcra eft King Sa/officn tr.zkcsthisPhi/ofcf>hys,ood7)hir>ity,Pre, ^'J floSi&"" 34. Verf. 4. fVifdcftfe is tec high for afoole : by whom impiudentcs throughout the Freverbes hee meanes a wicked man, funtmali. Therc^isaconncxioninthe virtues, the way to bee »»/^, Keck-fjf ^-is to hege^d , and the way to be cohragictu , is to be »«/>. ^^^'^^ i^^- ^-f*?* A Wife mzn f^ftrctigi ttndA wan ef k*>t>i»ledge ffaith Sale- |^^^ JJ^ j^

a 3 «f^»}

mon) encreafeth P;rength, From all which it is cafic to concluic, and hard to be gain-faid, that a cowardly per-ion , let him AvcU never io big, let him ca ric his creft never fo high , is neither wife nox gooi. The wicked flee Prov. tS. I. Tvhen no ntAn ptirfneth,but the righteous are bold04 a, Lyon, The kitidly venting of thole two afFcclions of Anger and Lov^hath made meclong 'wwX-iss argument, and rani now bee ray excafe. That of Anger , at tlie prefent degeneration of mens mtndcs from t!?at noblencfTeof-fpiric that was wont to bee 'w\ the fcrvants of G o d : the other of love to you, in encouraging you to as high refolutions as ever j though hee bee tAksn aivaj that was to you as LMofes to lo/i^nah, your tutoar in your youth , your fingular inflrn^or by his powerfull Miniftcry in your after-yeares : and ever your friend till hce went hence, and was feene no more. Amongft thofe many fpceches of his , which in his ordmary conference palTcd from him by weight, and not by number j I will re-fume one ill your hearing moft fitting my purpofe : /»«<;-eencj and independency (faidhe) make the bravefi fpirits. And it cannot be otherwife : for, that mans heart which is upright with God, and depends upon him alone , is of invincible courage, and becomes like the fpirit of Martin Ltt^her , who, when ncwcs was brought to him that both the Empcrour and the Pope threatned his In vita Lu- ruine , anfwered thus in fliorc , bu- very ftoutly , 'thcri. Contfmptns eJi a me Romanm faror c^ fervor , Ifcorne

Pfal. ii8. ^. ^fjg ^^^^ ^^^ cp^^g can doe : like that of Tf'avid, The Lord is en my ftde, I will notfeare wh^t man can doe unto mee. ^\ ,..

What you heard him fpcakc, you fawhim praflicc. ladg. 8.2 1, pqj. ^ I may fay of him as was faid ofgideon , Sf*ch at the mm if ^feis huftrength: hee was one of a thoufand for jfiety and courage , which were fo excellently mixed with Tvifedome , that they who imagined mifchicfe a-gainft his Miniftcry (for, no other occafion could they

ever

Dedicatory.

ever finde againft him than touching the law of his Go d)

were never able by all thdr plotting to doc him any Dan. 6. j.

more hurt, than onely to (hew their * teeth.

And although hec bee now gathered to his Fathers, ^P(al. 37.1t. yet he ftill fpeakes to youinthlsexce/IeKt Treatife, of which hee died in travel!; encouraging you thereby ftill to doe worthilj m Ephratah , and to hold on in thofe good Ruth 4. 11. wayes of piety which you have ever loved. The very Heathens could fay that a good man i^as n puhlike good : x?"^^'^ *''*'<' but a good Magiftratc is much more; for, hee hatha g^y«'<=''*>*-price in his hand to doc good, and is armed with power and authority to bring it to paflc. Thefe times have need of fuch ; up therefore and bee doing : put on righieofijtte^e , and let it clothe you, and let J v s t i c e Job ip. 14,&c. bee to you as a robe and a diademe ; to breakc the /awes of the wicked, and to pluckc the prey out of Regiumeft their teeth. And although tbcfe kindc of ircn will for cum bene'fecc-this very thing piirfue you with envy , hatred , re- ^"^ "^J^J * proachcs, &c. You need not care; for, their teeth are broken , and they cannot hurt you. Envj doth ever attend goodnefe ; though not as a companion, yet as a thing which deggs it at the heeles. / confidered f faith Ecd. 4. 4. Salomon) fvery right rvorke , that for this a man is en-vjed of his neighbour. This is your comfort ( and it is a great one) a Goi> and the ^ K i n g fhall honour ^pfalme 91. you for well-doing : Hee that ioveth pftrenejfe of heart , 14, 1 f, &c / (though for this he be fcofFed and jeer'd at in the world ) ^iUfct him en yet (faith Salomon) for the crace of his Zips the Kinjr Jhall ^^.^ \ ^^'^'"^ ieehis c friends/ & J r ■ I J kehathr^no^ne

■' my name, Crff.

/ will deliver him and honour him , <S!'c h Prov. 21, 11. c I hold a good lu/lice of Peace in his Countrcy to doe Met as good ferviee^tu hee that waits upon Mee in My Prity Chamber, and as reu y wi/l 1 hee to reward him: For, I account him at capable of any honour,of-fee or frejerment about My Perfon, as well as any Courtier that U neere about Mee. King Iamb'x Speech in Starre-Chamberjune 20.1 616,

Tub Epistle

I will hinder you no longer from reading this excellent Trgatife which propcily belongs to you , bci )g the ground-workc of two Sermons preached before you ; the one at the Funeralls of that worthy J v d g i your Unkle, mv moft dearc Father in lavV , fivho ii I honour in the dufl) the other in the timo of your Shire valtry : I will therefore 'nd all in the prayer of this Authour, and the laft words that ever he fpakc to you in this world • The blefsings ef Abraham , IJaac , and Jacob be Hpon the heads of ToH ijoHr fVife and j^htUren for ever^

Middle-Temple^

Tour loving hrotber I 4nd very friend ,

B*D9FARD BAGSHAfTt.

TO THE READER,

Ehold here a Poft-humus: a Child brought ir^to the '^orli after the Ownc Father '^as taken out of the '9Porld. A Fofter.Father is thereupon required for it ; but certainly more for cufiome^than need. Such "SffJts the Owne-^Father-^ as it is commendA" tion enough for th^ Child to fay ^1 his is rhe child offuch a Fsithcr. Andfucb is the Child,as for its ownefake it mil find good entertainment j^hough the Father of it '99ere unknowne^

A diftinSl narration ofthe life and death of the Author you baye truly and punctually (as becum* mechfuchan^rration) premifed.

All his Works doe/hew that he was full in what beundertooke: fo fully as he leases fcarceany thing (if any thing at all ) for another Author to addyvmre than he hai hdone^to what he hath done, Hee hadarvery fearching and dicing gift : T^hereby he ypos able to anatomize andlay open tbefeyerall parts and neryes of the points ^hich be handled^ and to fetom pertinent Jignes:^rulesy meanes , and motinues thereabout.

His exprefsion of bis mind bj fit ypords and

pbrajes

The Life and Death

phrafes "Soas anf'Soerablctohis tn*vnetion. Both rvery c opioids , ful} of^vmety.

Take for inftance this enfuing TreAtife : the mainefcopeyif hereof is tofurnijha Chriflian a* gainUthe eruiilday.

Ihereinyou may obfer<vef how yonthe one fide hedifco'vers thefalfe means yphich mofl ufe ; and how , on the other fide he ren^eakth the true mcanes that are offingular ufe to the end inu «-ded lyea.andhoyp he inforceth the fame mth rea-fon upon reafon, the better to demo^ftrate the equity of the point-^ hov? alfo he inferres all forts of Vfes thereupon) as Reprehenfion, Exhortation, Dircdionj^^^Confolation 5 and finally , ho"^ hee takes occafion from thence of an eX' ceeding large difcourfe upo the fourc laft things, which (to life his oypneyvords) have been ever h olden very material! and of fpeciall moment to make us (by Gods bleiling) more humblejUnworldly^provident and prepared for the evill day. Thofe foure heads are^ Death,

IVDGEMENT, HeLL,HeaVEN.

To add more to what hee hathfet cut there a* bouts , '^ere to powre ^ater into the fea, Firfl readyt ben judge • andthe Lordadd his blefsing.

W.G.

THE

LIFE AND DEATH

O F

5^^^^.^^^Hat one age may tell ano-

ther , that the memori-all of the jufl: Ihall bee ever blefled , when the perfons and names of thofe that are other-wife minded Ihall rot and vanilh away^ It hath beene the pious cuftome of ancient and later times, to commend to pofterity the eminent graces of the Saints departed. Famous arc thofe Panegyricke O-rations made at the fombes of the Martyrs in the Primiuvc times; when as their perfecuting Emperoursjpriding them felves in their .lamentable Deaths, have left no o-

The LifeandT>eath

ther noyfe behind them, than the loud and long continued cries of/pilling their innocent bloud.

Memorable alfb are the Funerall Orations of the two Gregories , Nyffen and Na^i-an9:jsn on ^afil the Great : And in later times, to give a few inftanccs, ( for the number in this kinde is infinite ) M.elan6thon and Came" rarms wrote the life of Martin Luther j luni-tis the life of Vrfine i Ben^^a the life of Calyin ; Antonms Faiifs the life of Be:^a j lofas Simler the life oiPeterMmyri2Xi6. DMumphrey the life of our nioft renowned Jewed,

This manner of honouring the Saints is warranted by Gods ownc example^ who (for ought is revealed to us) tooke order for Mofes buriall, digged his grave , covered him with molds ^ and made for him that excellent Funerall Sermon exprefled in the firft Chapter of IoJhuab» And that all-wife God who fwectely difpofcth all things, thinkes it needfull thus to grace his owne people, that hce may hereby uphold their fpirits amid thofe many preffures, fcornes, teptQSichcs,crueBimckini;s^zndmn\xmcrMc

of Viy. Bolton. ?

other miferics which rhey endure of the world, meerely for his fervice j bee they o-therwifc never fo wife ,juft, mcekc, peaceable, and unrebukeable amongft men: Wir-neffe thofe many terrible perrecutions(men-tioned in Ecclefiafticall Stories) againftthe ff«/^' h^/-Chridians, though harmleflJe and innocent 5 ' "^ ^' though they prayed for their Empcrours, and God did miracles in their armies by * their prayers,* yer for this onelycaufe, that they honoured Christ, and called them* felves Chriftians, (fo odious was that precious name untothciradvcrfarics) they were put to the extrcmcft tortures that the utmoft inventions of cruelty and rage could devifc againft them, as lu^in Martyr and TertuBian in their learned and eloquent Apologies for them doc amply dcmonflrate: this caufed Adrian the Emperor to ordaine,that thence- Eueb. nn ^.: forth none of them Ihould be appeached ^*^'^* barely for that name jUnlcffe they tranfgrcf-fedtheLawcs,

According to thcfc examples^and for the very fame caufes, I have adventured to publifli to the world, the life and death of

this

The Life and Veath

this man of God , the Authour of this Workc J now a Saint in heaven.I confcffe his worth & pares deferved rarhcr an advancement by fome fuch eloquent Orators as I mencioncd before, thaa a dcpreffion by my pen i but yet a pearlc may bee (hewed forth as well by a weake hand, as by the arme of a gyant, Ilhall doe no more. And let his ownc worth and workcs praife him in the gates, ( knew him from the beginning of my youth, being my firfl: Tutourin the Vniverfitie of Oxford, and my felfc one of his firfl: Schollers, and from that time tothc day of his death, being abovefevcnand twenty yeares, none knew him better, or loved him more5 our familiarity was fuch, that ( alluding to tbatbetweene P^/and Timo-

zTim. I. 4. fij'^lmay fay, 1 knew his dodrine, manner of life, faith,charity, patience ^ and now vvil only relate what I have heard and feenc, wherin I will not exceed the bounds of mo-defty or truth, A^ To begin with his birth. \ obfervc that

HUbirth. throughout thefacred Bible, and writings on theperfonsof holy men, their places of

birth

birth arc ever remembred ; G o d loves the very ground his fervants tread on: Ithe Lord fbaU count (fay cs David ) when bee p^^j^ g^. ^^ numbmb up the people, that this mm ypas^ borne there i whereas of other men there Iball b^e no remembrance of them , they fliall have none to lament or bury them, but (hall bccaftforthas dung on the face of the earth; fo that I may fay of them^ as was faid of Pope Boniface the eight, famous for nothing but his wickedncffc^ intraw Vulpes , regnaw Leo , exiipit Canis y the Prophet Da'vid renders it thus in plaine Englifli. They fpendtheir dayes in mirth^andfuddenlygos do'Sfne into beS,

Hee was borne at Blacborne a towne of -good note in Lanc^/Ijire on Whitfunday, cam. Britpag. Anno Domini i'j7i. His parents being not of ^^** any great mcanes, yet fiading in him a great towardlineffc for learning, deftinatedhim to bee aSchoUer, and ftrugled with their cftate tofurnilh him with neccflaries in that kind, apprehending the advantage of a fin-gular Schoole-Mafter that was then in the Mr.Yate$= Townc, Hee plied his booke fo well, that in

{hort

The LifeandT)eatb

ftiort time he became the bcft fchollcr in the fchoolc : and no marvcll j for, hec had thofe fix properties of a fcholler noted by Ifocrates and others , which concurring in one, thruft up learning to a very high elevation,

1. He was (Evjuiif) ofexcellcnt parts and abilities of mind^and of a found conflitucion of body.

2. Hee was (^tw/z^r) of a very ftrong me** mory i 1 meanc fuch a memory as was notably aduated by his ready and quicke un-dcrftanding. For, (as Phylofophers ob-fcrve) that memory which tends to admiration, being of a quite differing temperature from the underftanding, inclines rather to folly 3 and becomes the ground of that Pro-verbe, The greateftCUrkesarenQtal'VPayes the mfefi men,

J. He was ( zMk^^ ) a moovcr of doubts and queftions j this was ever an evident lhVci. 46. fignc of learning i by this our bleffed Saviour approoYcd His learning amongft the Do(flours in hearing them and asking them (jueftions: So did the Queenc of 5*^^410

King

cyTOii.

King Salomon, A dunce feldome makes doubts i but (as Salomon faith of a foolej al-waies boaftcth and is confident.

4. He was ( <P'^ouA^r,i j a fpcciall lover of learningjit was alwaies his delight to cxer-cife himfclfe in fludies, and would not endure any avcrfions from them, as fliall bee hereafter (hewed.

5. He was (>'^5:tcw) a. very laborious painfull ftudent,as (hall be more largely ilie wed, for it is worthy imitation.

6, He was ( ?'^"J'-^°« ) a great liftner after the fayings and Speeches ai others, and haih been often obierved to beonly ahearer^and to fit filei t himfelfc, unleffc hec was urged with fomc importunity 5 and the things hee heard , hee fuffered them not to bee loft (if they were of worth) but alwayes put them downe in a booke which he particular y kept for that purpofe.

He continued long at Schoole^and came 6» nottotheVniverfitytillaboutthet'ventieth uuiiuHesin yeare 01 his age. Hee was placed at Oxford leige. in Lincolne Colledge under the tuition of Mr, Randall^ a man ofno great note then, buc

b after-

afterward became a learneol Divine and godly Preacher at London. In that Colledgc heefellclofe to the ftudies of Logickc and Philofophie, and by reafon of that groundwork of learning he got at fchoolcand maturity of yearcs, hec quickly got the ftartaf thofcof hisownetime, and grew into fame in that ifoufc. In the middcft of thefc his ftudieshis Father died,and then his meanes failed, for all his Fathers lands fell to his el* dcr brother now living : but thiscrofleby Gods providence prooved a great advantage to him for his growth in learning, though it put him to monftrous paines of body and mind; for now wanting meanes to buy him bookcs, he borrowed of his Tu-tour and others the bed writers on Naturall and Moral! Philofophy,andthe Politickes, and read them all over, and abridged them all in his note books, which arc now to bee feene, and then returned the books to their owners. Nay j fuch a defire bee had to at-taineaperfe^ioninthethings hee i1:udied> that though hee was very well skilled in the Greeke tongue^ yet chat hee might attaine an

cxad-

exaulncffe in ir^ he did with intolerable pains write out with his owne hand all Homer , (or H^(?^lamfure)forihaverecneii (though long fincc) in a fairc Grccke cbarader 5 for hec wrote that language better than hce did cither Englilh or Latine^ and asking him the reafon of his paines, hee told mc,it was only that he might accent perfcdly J his brought him to iuch a readineflcj that hce could with as much facility dijcourfe in the publike Schoolcs (for he was a famous difputant) in the Greeks tongue, as in the Latine or Eng-lifli; ana in them all, hec wrote and (pake Stiloimptrati rio^ as Lipfins cals it, <vi:^ a high and lofty ftile, which was (o familiar to h im, as that he could not avoid it in ordinary con-* fcrcncc.

From Lincolne CoQedgehce rcmooved to y, Brafen-Nofei For, by the Pounders of that ^n brafen-rfft Houfe moft of the Fcllowfliips therein were °'' ^^' ordained for Lancafl?irc and Ckefi?ire men,but commingiothat Colkdge, havingbutfcw friends, hce ftaycd long without: aFellow-(hip; about which time (that I may not bury in filciicc the charitable 9i&$ of fuch fnen b 2 whom

whom their learning and piety have made eminent) it pleafed M. D. Bret , knowing; hisdeferts, and perceiving him to languifh for want of meanes, moft bountifully to contribute for his reliefe 3 and by his an do-A man of fin- thcrs bouHt ie, with fome /mall ftipends hee for learning and had fot his Lcdiuresin that Houfe, hee was ^*"'^" upheld until] he had got a Fellowlhip,which

fell out about the thirtieth y eare of his age, at which time hee commenced Mafter of Arts 5 and then by the Fxcrcifes hee performed in the Houfe and abroad , being Regent Maftcr he grew into fame, and was ftill fucceffivelv chofento b^ Reader of the Le-duresof Logicke.and MoralljandNacurall Philofophy,(as by the Statutes of the Houfe they were appointed to bee read) which hee: performed (b ftridly, and with fuch exa^t-neffe, as that hee got credit and applaufe with the beft, but fome envy with his fuccef-fours, that by his example were now provoked to a more frequent and painfull reading of them, which were feldome and fleightly performed before. And fuch was his e-fteemc in the Vniveyfitic for his publike dif-

putaiionsi

putations, which hcc ever performed with fuch readinefTe and acutenefle of fpeech and wit, and fuch profoundneffe of learning, that when hee wasaMaftcrofArtsbutof. fmali {landing, hee was chofen by the now Lord Arch'BiJhop of Canter hurie , Vice^ChanceU lor at King Iames Hi^ firft comming to that Vniverfity,to bee one of the difputants before the King 5 andtoreade in Naturall Philofophy in the publikeSchooIes.Bcfides his knowledge in Logicke and Philofophy, wherein be excelled, he was alfo well ftudy-cdintheMetaphyficks and Mathematicks, and in all Schoole-Divinitie , efpecially in Thomas Aquinas^ which he had read over once or twice, and had exadly noted him throughout,as raay appeare in his notes.

But all this while (or for the moft part) 8. though he was * very Icarnedjyet he was not ^ ^ ^^^ good 5 hee was a very meane fchoUer in the ^^Ay •/to,<w fchoole ofChrifiihe drew no religious breath irenseus. That from the foylc he came,& his matter like an nSs ©mni-ill feeds, man fowed the tares of Popery ia ;'^^'^°fp^^^^^^ moft of his fchoJlcrs: this manner of cduca- ^q^-tio made him more apt to tread in any path

b J than

than that which was holy 5 hee loved Stage-

playesjm'^f anddiceyhe '^as a horrihlefwearer and Sahbatb-breakeri and boone- companion 3 and was ever §!ad (as 1 have heard him fay) of CbriUmas-holj'dayes ^znd marvellous mclan-cholie when they were ended, hee loved not goodnefle nor good men, and of all forts of people could not abide their companie " that were of a ftri6i: and holy converfation , fuchhce would fetch within the compaffe oi Buritans^ thinking that by tbatlawleffe name he had deprived the ipjo faBo both of learning and good religion. Such agenerall fcorne hath this degenerate age put upon the wayes of G o d, that the name of P«-n^^» which is truly and properly the name ^Eufei.HijfL of the 'proud hcrcfic of No'vatus ^ or ui^:^. r. els of the " vile fed of the AnabaptiUs , is for \!^:Z l\^' want of feekiag redreffe by our Ecckfiafticali EA2IAIK0N x^^^^j, become the honorable nickname of the bcft and holieft men. This wretched humour Mr. Bo/fo« further difcovercd at Cam* bridge , for being thereat a Commencementy and meerely carried with the fame of Mr, Perkinsy went to heare him preach, whofc

plaine but very found and fubftantiall preaching meeting at once in him with a curious palate and unfandified heart»quite turned his ftomacke againft that good many thathethoughthim (tofpcakcinhisownc phiafc ) a barren empty feHoyo , and apafsing meane fchoEer. I have heard many of late (much of Mr. Bohons temper in goodneflc at that time, but inferior in learning) fpeakc the like of Mr,Perkins j but the eminent learning of that man (fanaou* ' abroad as l.'^^^'^f well as at home ) is lo farre above their ^^ipmus theo. reach i that to traduce his worth is to quc" ^|/'pS'.i. fjfiv« their owne. And that late learned ' Bi- ^dD^/jbhotm fliop of Salisbury in the defence of his Jji^repiytoBi-bookeagainlhhe cavils of Dr. Bi/hop^ hath in many places amply commended his learning* So that the precious name of Mr. Perkins fhall like an ointment powred forth , fill all the quarters ofthis land with a frelh and fragrant fweetneffe^ when nothing (hall furvive of his Detra6iors , but their unfavou-ry and unlearned fpight againft fo holy a mani And Mr. Bohon himfelfe when God • changed his heart ( which I will next write

b4 of)

of) hcc changed his opinion of Mr. Perkins ^

and thought him as learned and godly a

Divine as ourGhurch hath formany ycarcs

e Hems but enioved in fo^ young a mao : But 1 pro-

Iictle above *o ' ' </ v» £-

yearesoldwhe Ceeci*

he did. ^j^g^ ^^^ ^^g ofBrafen-NofeCoIledgeM

Hiiconver[m. had familiar acquaintance wiihonc W.An-dertonh\s Countrey-man,and (braetime his Schoole f cUo w, a very good Scholler 5 but a flrong Papifl, and now a Popifli Prieft, and 'f He was for oncofthe* Icamedeft amoHgft them* This ^'ii J G"Sr ^^^ ^^'^ knowing the good parts that were mmthed An- in Mr.B(?to»,and perccivingthat hcc wasin ' tt^2^hlt^ fomeoutward wants^ tooke this advantage, and ufed many arguments to perfwade him to be reconciled to the Church of Rome and to go over with him to the Englilh Seminary ,telling him hec fliould be furnifhed with all neceflaries^and (hould have gold enough ( one of the befl arguments to allure an unliable mindeto Popery) Mr. 5o/w» being atthattimcpooreinmindeand Purfe, accepted of the motion j and a day, and place was appointed in Lancai^hre^ where they fhould meet 5 and from thence take (hipping

Schollcr.

ping and be gone. W.^olton met at the day and place, but Mr. Anderton came not, and {o hee efcaped that fnare^and foone after returned to Brafen'Nofe^vjhete falling into the acquaintance of one Mr. Feacocke Fellow of that Houfe, a learned and godly man, itplcafed God by his acquaintance to frame upon his foule that admirable workcman-fliip of his repentance and convcrfionto etcrnall life, but by fuch away of working as the Lord feldomeufeth but upon fuch ftrong veffcls which in his fingular wifdome hee intendeth afterward for ftrong in-counters, and rare imployments. The firftneweshee heard of God was not by a-ny foft and ftill voyce, but in terrible tern-pefts and thunder, the Lord running upon him as a Gyant, taking him by the necke andlhakinghim topecces, as hee did lob; beating him to the very ground > as hee did Pauly by laying before him the ougly vifagc of his finnes which lay fo heavy upon him, as hee roared for griefe of heart, and fo affrighted him, as Ihaveheardhimfay ,hee rofc out of his bed in the night for

very

lob if^.ver.ii, ij. 14.

J 6 • The Life and Veath

very angui(h offpirit. And to augment his fpirituall tnifery, face was exercifcd with fowlc temptations, horribilia de Deo , terribi^ iia dcfide^ which Luther called Colaphum Sat a-, n<Q > for as he was parallel! with Luther in ma^ ny things ,as i fhalllhew anon^: fo was he in thefc fpirituall temptations which were fo vehement upon Luther ^ that the very ve-nome ofihetn drankc up hisfpiriis, and his w MdSd bodyfeemcd dead,* VtneccalorynecfangiiiSy nee fenfi^ , nee ^ox fupcreffet, th^z neither fpecch/enfcjbloud or heat appealed in him, as lufias Jonas that was by and faw it,report-ethofhim: but this Iharpc fit of Luthers lafted but for one day, but Mr. Boltons continued for many raoneths, but yet G o d gave him at length a bleflcd iffuc, and thefe grievous pangs in his fpirituall birth produced two admirable cfFcds-in him (as well as in Luther ) which many times enfue upon fuch hard labour^ an invincible courage andrefo-lution for the caufeof God, in the which he feared no colours,nor the face or force of any; fecondly, a Angular dexterity in comforting affli^ed and wounded fpirits, as

" (hall

(hall bee likewife further (hewed.

Vpon this hee refol ved to enter into the i o, • AIinifl:ery,and about the thirty fiftycare of ^^-^l"'" his age was ordained Minifter, after which he wholly applyedhimfelfetothcworkc of the Miniftery, and improoved all his learning and time to that excdlcnt end : A little while after he was in the Miniftry^he was by meanes madeknowne to Mr. luflicsNlcollsy at that x\mQ Serjeant at Lan> , who obferving thecomelineflcofhisperfonand the ftufFe that was in him , had it alwayes in his thoughts to advance him , and about the thirty feventh yeare of Mc. Boltons age, the pcrfonage oCBrou^btonia Northampton-fhire falling void, hee did by my hand fendfoir him from the Vniverfity to his chamber at Serjeants Inne^ and prefentedhim to that living, at which time Dr:,K.ing late Bifliop of Lo«^(?» being then by accident at the ludgcs chamber, thanked him for Mailer Boltotty but told him withal!, that hee had deprived the Vniverfity of a fingular Ornament; Then did hee put out his firftbookc.co.ntai-nlngAdifcourJioftruehappmJp^ which hee

dcdica=»

dedicated to Serjeant Nicolls his Patrctti* which for thegodiincffcof the matter, and eloquence ofthe ftile therein contained,was' univcrfaily bought up, and divers have con-feffed, that at firft bought it out of curiofity, forfomefweet reh(h in the Phrafe, tobke C H R1 ST to boote and thereby tooke the firfl: beginning of their heavenly taft, lU About the fortieth yeareofhisage^for the

belter fetlingof himfelfein houfe-keeping upon his Perfonage, heerefolved upon ma-riage, and tooke to VA^ife Mrs. Jnrie BqyfesL Gentlewoman of an ancient houfe and wor-(hipfuU family in Kenf j towhofeearehcc conamittedihe ordering of his outward e-ftatc , hce himfelfeoncly minding the ftu-dies and weighty affaires of his heavenly calling, in the which for the (pace of twenty yeares and more, hee was fo diligent and laborious, that twice every Lords day hee Preached, and Catechized in the After-noone, in which Catechifme he expounded the Creed and ten Commandements in a very exad Planner i And upon every Holy-day, and on every Friday before the Sacrament

ment hee expounded fomc Chapter, by which nieanes he went over the greater por-tion of the Hiftoricall part ofthcOldand NewTeftament. And in them alias was well obferved by a learned and grave * Divine ^M.Eftwick that preached at his Funcrall, hee prepared ^^/JmeZuT nothing for his people but what might have ferved a very learned Auditoryjand in all his preachings, hee ftill aimed next to the glory of God atiheconverfionoffouleSjthevery crowneand glory of a good Minifter at the appearing of that great day : and herein G CD wonderfully honoured his Miniftery in making him an aged Father in C H RI ST, and to beget many fonnes and daughters unto righteoufneffe; for I may truly fay^ma-ny hundreds were either abfoluiely converted , or mightily confirmed , or Angularly comforted in their grievous agonies by his Miniftery: for he had fuch an art in this kind of relieving afflided confcienccs , which hee acquired, partly by great paines and iuduftry in fearchinginto that skill,but chiefly by that manifold experience hee had inhimfelfe and others ^ that he wasfought to

farre

farrc and nccre,and divers from beyond the Seasdcfircdhisrefolutionin divers cafes of Confcience, which was the oncly caufc that made him put forth that lad learned and godly Trcatife of his, which hee ftiled; /«-fir unions/or a right comforting affiled conjci-ences, 12, And though in his manner of preaching

hcewzsa Some oi thunder ^ yet unto bruifed recdsandthofc that mourned in fpirit J hec wasasfweetabonncot Confolarion as ever I heard, and with a very tender and pitifuli heart powred the oylc of mercy into their bleeding wounds, Hec (as was faidof Ltt-ther ) was a mighty oppofire to the Divcls kingdome, and had a Angular skill to dif-cernc his fleights and that cunning crafti-ncflc whereby hee lies in wait to deceive. He ever thought thar there was no fuch way to caft downe the lirong holds of Sathan, and to batter his kingdome, than (after the fteps ofiobn the BaptiU ) to lay the axe clofe totherootof finne, and to (ct it on with fuch power, as that the Divell and all his a-gents were not able to reflft it« By this means

he

of M^.Bokon* zi

hcgotgroundofSatan and wafted his king-dome ^ mi ^here'S^ere^aily added to his Mm-flerylmh whofe hearts x&erefjftned thereby.liviA in all his SermonSjhee everufedto difcover thcfiJtbineflcof (innc, and to prcQe rery powerfully upon the confcience the duties of Sandification.in expreflion whercofthree things were remarkable in him,

I Such courage and refolution of fpirit as is fcarcely to bee found in anyc 1 am per-fwadedthatinthecaulcof God hee could have bcene contented with Martin Luther ^ totiits mmdi odium tf impetum fu^irtere ^ to ha^e undergone the hatred and ryiolence of the Tiohoieworld, v^hcrcby hee gave fuch vigour unto the truth hee delivered, that it pierced betweene the very joynts and the marrow.

2. Impartiality j he would fparenone in iheirfinneseithergreatorrmalljhcknewhc was to deliver his Mafters will, with whom was no refped: of perfons.

J, His wifdome^ as he was of high courage , fo was it excellently tempered with vvifdome^defcried in thefe foure things.t Jn

■■*A>

^^ The Life and Death

all his denunciations againft finne, he nevec perfonated any nian whereby to put him to ihame, unleffe his own inward guihines cau-fedhira to apply it to himfclfe. 2, He would never prcffe upon the confcience the guilti-nefle of finne 5 or other ftri*5t point, but hce wouldfortifieitby Scripture, by the ancient Fathers, (in which hce was ripe and ready ) and the concurrence of the beft Orthodoxe Writers, to ftop the mouth of all flanderers thatlhouldaccufehisdodrinejCithcrofno-vekic^oroftoomuch precifeneffe, % When hce had fearch'dtheconfciencetoihevery quicke ( as hee would doc) hee ever offered Christ in all his beauty and fweetneffc, and powred it forth upon the confcience v\ith fuch a torrent of Eloquence as would have melted the hearts of any, but thofe which obftinatcly rctufed the voice of that power-full charmer. 4 He would alwaiesprotcfi: unto his people,that it was a f rouble & grief to him to preach againft their finsjhe delighted not to vex any of their cofciences, he (hould be glad the cafe was (b with them, that hee might only preach the riches of the mercies

in Christ all his day cs^ But he knew no other way to pull them out of the fnarc of Satan and ftate ofdarkenefTethen the way hec tooke,without drawing the horrible fin of Bloud-guiltineffe upon his foule.

But that which made his preaching more illuftrious, was that burning & (hining light which appeared in his life and convcrfation in tbefe five particulars.

1. HisPiety,whercinIneednotfaymuch,«Euerteca forthatfccondbookeofhis concerning ^i-fuVhoSm regions for '%>alkwz with God, were framed ^"^"^""^ <ti3"» oucof the pious Meditations of his owne chufti^no-hcart^as a guide for himfeUe for the ordering femp«"mm of his ftep^s in the waves of riohteourncffe,^-;:^,. which hee fo ftridly obftrved tbrouehout ['^'^^^'"'jjf^ 3. the courlcof hisiiic that (aliowingtohim deMcraic his frailties and * infirmities, which the ho- ^^^^.64!^' licfl men while their fiefh is upon them (hall ^f"^°;"n

r vitam inveniri

not be freed from) hee could not bee juftly p°^« <i'""^»^s

J, ^ ,, Aft finccriminc;

taxed by anyjno not his very enemies (if hee fine pccwto had any fuch ) of any groffe and ' fcan- J^verTcx^f! dalousfinnes fincchisfirftconverConfrora'^'^'^T^'* -

agit lit Pcccatu

them. And no marvell if hee attained to^onhabeat, fuch a height of holincffc when he was lifted non"acdpiat"'

c up "^

up thither by the wings of prayer. His con-fiant courfc was to pray fixe times a day, twice by himfelfc in private, twice in pub-lique with his family, and twice with his wife. Befides 5 many dayes of private humiliation and prayer ever before the receiving of the Communion, and many dayes befides, for the miferies of the Churches in France and Germany^ ^c^ which hce perfor-Trja faciunt nacd with fuch ardency of fpirit ^ that as was ora^o?mTdi- hid o{ MoTm Lufher ^ HseufedfuchhHmility as in the prefime of almighty G o jy^bu^fuchfer^

tAtio, tenta-tio. Luther

Thii Author ruency and faith ^ as if bee had beem talking 'S»ith tn tbcm au. bis friend. And God heard his prayers* for, to the comfort of his foule, a little beforehis ^ wiki he deaih^he heard of the * mighty vi<5tories ob-tun filly and jaincd bv the King of S-^peden a^ainft the

finely called / \ n *n /-hi

Magaaii'aDii. Empcrour, to theaitonilhment of all thc world 3 that thofe eyes which now behold it with joyjdo fcarce believe themfel ves in thc fruition of it. When the Lord (faith thc

pfai.iafi. I. Pfalmift) turnedagaine the captivity of Zion^ -^ee rpere like them that dreame. So indefatigable were the paincs of thi^ godly man in his private devotions and pubUke prcachingji

that

that being advifcd by Phyfrrians for his healths fake, to breake offthe ftrong intcn-tionsofhisftudies, heercjcdedtheir coun-fell, accounting it greater riches to enjoy Christ by thofe fervent intentions of his mindejthen to rcmitthem for the fafcguard ofhis health .* Much like the fpcechef that famoufy learned Dr, Reynolds to the Dodc rs of Oxford, comming roviiitbiminhislad: fickcne{re(conira(9:ed mecrcly by his exceeding paines in ftudie, by which he brought his withered body to a very <r^-'.^M>y ) who carncftly perfwading him the t he would not ptrdcre fubjlantiamprcptcr accidentL'^i, e. toloje bis lifeJorkarning^ he with a fwcet fmile finely anfwered out of the Poet, Nee propter rvi' ^"^"''*'-pam *viyendi perdere c^ufas^

Nor jet for bye of life lo/e that dare 7, Which is the caufe lli^e ^myinduftry, 2. For bis Gravity5he was of a very come- GrivUy. lyprcfence, hee had a countenance fo finely tempered with gravitic and aufteritic , that hcc in a manner commanded refpcd fromothcrs) in fb much that many forbarc to fpcakc or z& unfeemcly things in his prc-

C2 fence,

fence,that would not have bccn^ fo modcft in other company : Such a Majcftie doth grace imprint upon the eouDtenances of holy men , that they draw refped: from the greateft; this made thofe perfecuting Emperors to feare the very faces of thofe poorc Chriftians that appeared before them; And this caufed Conflantme the Great fo to

socTAtet lib. I. honor the countenance of Old Paphnutius ,

^•^» though disfigured by the lofle of his eye,

that hec did often for his dehght kifle the hallow of that eye which was loft for the caufe of Christ. So true is that of Salo-mon-i wifdomecaufcth the face to fhine, and the rigour of the countenance to bee changed.

zcaie. J. Hce was very Zealous for G o d , not

onely by the power of his Miniftery in converting many, wherein God had wonderfully bleiTcd him, but in any publike or private good that tended to the booour of G o d, to whofe glory he wholly facrificed himfclfe &

A trut ^T7u. all his ftudies, which I can the more fafcly ■fou^hfnlt ^'' affirmc, in that I know tee hath divers times

himin"^^ refufed preferment from fome of rheNobi^

lity

e>/M^ Bolton. ly

lity and Prelates of thisKirgdome, and for no other caufe in the world, but that hcc might not be divorced from ihatCountrey where his Miniftery was fo much embraced and wrought fo good effects. 4. But zcalcis oft of fuch violent motioB, wi/hme. that as the ancicmPhilofophers fuppofed of ihcprmmn mobile, that if the motion thereof u^erc not finely cooled and allayedby the coelumCbriftallinum next to it, it would [tt all theOrbs on fire j and therefore the zeale of this Reverend man was alwayes tempered with fingular Wifdome anddifcretion , for though in all his Sermons he preft mightily upon the confcienceof his hearers,who many times like babes childifhly wrangled at the breads which (hould nourifh them, yet were they never able to rcfift the authority by which hee fpake, fo that fofthe fpace of zz yeares, being the whole time that his Lamp of light ihined in Northampton Shire, his dodrine was never drawne into queftion either for error or fchifmc: fo ftudious was hee ever of the unity and peace of the Church of England which hee dcarely c J Joved,

loved that none could juftly quarrell with him^butPapiftsand other Sewlaries, as alfo others that were corrupted with error or evilUife. clarity, 5- Laftly for his Charity5hee was ever u-

nivcrfaliy bountifull 5 butefpecia-lly hce exceeded in thofe publikc diftrcffcs of Germany > France , Bohemia^ i^fc, and to thofe that flood in true neede: for the enabHng of him-felfe hereunto, I have heard him often fay ( & he made it evident to me) that ever fince he was Minifter of Bm^^/;/^?;;, he fpent every yeare all the rcvenewes of his Perfonagc (which was of good vale w J in the maintenance of his family and av^s of hofpitality& charity 5 And that the eftate wherewith God hath bleffed him otherwife,was meerely rai-fed by that temporall eftate he had at firft.Lct them therfore of his own coatefrom henceforth ceafe to traduce himjwhom they never did nor dare to imitate.I am fare theTowne of Broughton will ever have caufe to bleffc God for his charity; for when that lamentable fire was among them , September 21. Anno Domini 1626, befidesthe many pounds

hee

hee fpcnt out of his ownc pttrfca hee was a chief e mcanesihat by the only fupply of the Country without any Letters Patents from above their houfcs which were burnt downe unto the ground were all new buihjand their outward cftatcs liberally fuftained and upheld. Nay fuch was his charity, that though Tome of his owne towne had not onely flan-dcred his Miniftry, but wronged him in his tithes, yet hee put it up, and never called them to quertion as hee might, nor ever had any fuite with them all bis day es. SothatI may for conclufion fumme up all this in that wittie commendation of N^^/<^«^^« on Bafil the Greatf Hee thundredinhisDoCtrine•, and ^'I'l^l^'J^'^'' lightnedinhis con^verfation, M'^'^-

Thisineftimablcireafureitpleafcd God . M« to put in an earthen veflell, and about the «»^ iw!*/ beginning of ^^^f^wfor Iaft,bcgan to brcakc it by vifiting him with a §}Ufirtan ague • a dit cafe which brought C^Z-rm to his end, and by the judgement of the beft Phyfitians, by rcafon of the long and grievous paroxy fmes whereby itafflids, is ever deemed mortall unto old men; and fo it appeared to him,

c 4 for

lo The Life andT>eat/:)

for perceiving after two or three fits that it maftered his ftrength, hee patiently fubmit-tcdtoindure, what by ftrugling hee could not overcomcj And called for his Will which hee had made long before, andperfeding fome things in it^hcc caufed it to be laid up, and afterwards wholly retired into himfelfe quitting the world, and folacing his foule, with the meditation of the joyes of heaven, which he had provided to preach to his people, for having compiled an elaborate di(^ courfc, dequatuor Noyifsimis, of the foure laft things, Death, Ivdgement, Hell and Heaven, an argument that fome Ic-fuites & Friars have bungled in, and having finilhed the three former, told them that the next day he would treat of Heaven ^ But the day before being Saturday hecwasvifited with ficknefle 5 and never preached after. God thenpreparinghimfor the fruition of thofe inexplicable joyes which hee had provided for his people in contemplation.

His fickeneffe though it was long and fharpc, yet hee bare it with admirable patience, for he (aw Him that is inyifibk^ and his

whole

whole delight was to bee with Him, often

breathing out fuch fpeeches as ihefe whiles

the violence and frequencie of his fits gave

himanyintertniffion. Oh ^hen mQ this good

houre comes when JhaU I bee difjohed^ when

(had I bee mth Christ? Being told that

it was indeed better for him to bee dif-

folved, but theChurchof G o d could not

roiffc hin) nor the benefit of his Miniftry.To

which he thus fwectly reply ed withD^i'i^; ^-Sim. ly.

Jfi (haUfinde favour in the eyes of the Lord bee * ^' ^ *

ypillbring mee agme and/hen^ mee both it and his

habitation , but ifother'9Pife , loe here lam , let

him doe '^hatfeemeth good in his eyes, &eing

asked by another, whether hee could not be

content to live if G o d would grant him

life, hec thus anfweredj I grant ths life

is a great bkfsing of God, neither y^ill I y^e-

gleB any meanes that may prefer<ve it, and doe vuam Uhuu

heartily dejiretofubmit fo G o d s '^illi But of ZoTeTln'deji^

the two J infinitely defre to bee dijfoli^d and to '^^"'^'

be'SPitb CHRIST.

In the time of his fickeneflfe there x^^ came many to vifit him , but bee admitted none but his intimate friends^ ufiig a

fpecch

;i The Life and Death

V —' ■ ■ ■ —

firme^ecem'' ^P^^^^ ^^* SzititAugufiwe , wHo dcfircd ten quim cxiret ^ daycs bcforc hcc died, none might come to bis p°oft5avk him, that hce in that time might the better r^SeVo. fit himfclfc for God. But to thofe that came ingicdeietur, (q \^[^ ^^ p^yg yg^y podlv aod wifc cxhotta-

nifi ijs tantum ^ O J O J

horis qubus tionsfuting to their callings and conditions,

medici adjn*/ •! ii*t i nt<i

fpiciendumin- lotalthoughhisDody waswauedwithcon-

c"mci mfl tinuall fits towards the Clofeof his life, yet

retmrefeaio, ^[5 undcrftandingand memory wereasa-

vatiim ac f - ^ivQ and quickc as in the time of his health.

omlTiuioteai. Hcc cncoutagcd thc Minifters that came to

llllhluPok ^^^ i ^® t)ce diligent and couragious in the

fid.devit. vvorkeoftheLoRD, and not to let their fpi-

^^^ ' rits faint or droope for any afflid^ioh that

(hould arifc thereupon. To all that came to

him J he bad them makefure ofChriftjbefore

they came to die, and to lookc upon the

world as a lump of vanitvi He thanked God,

for his wonderfull mercy to him in pulling

him out of hell, in fealing his Miniftry with

the converfion of manyfoules^ which hcc

wholly afcribed to his glory.

ly. About a wecke before he died, when his

filver cord began to loofen, and his golden

bouletobreake; Hee called for his wifcj^and

dcfi-

of M^. Bolton^ 5j

defiredhertobearehisdiffolution , which was now athandjwithaChriftian fortitude, a thing which he had prepared her for by the fpacc of twenty ycares, telling her that his approaching death was decreed upon him from all eternity^and that the counfell of the Lord muft (land, and bad her make no if.y^^. doubt but Ihee fliould meete him againe in Heaven; And turning toward his * children * He had five told them, that they (hould notexped hec f,]t!lZifom, fhould now fay any thing to them, neither d^^^i^ten, would his ability of body and breath give him leave, hee had told them enough in the time of his fickneflc and before, and hoped they would remember itjand verily believed that none of them durft think to m eete him at that great Tribunal! in an mregenerateftate. About twodayes after, divers of his Parilh com-ming to watch with him,he was mooved by a friend that as hee had difcover*d to them by his Do(5trine, the exceeding comforts that wereinCHRisTjheewould now tell them whatheefekinhisfoule. Alas{{zx^hc)doe they lookefor that ofmee now that '^ant breath and power to fpeake^ 1 ha ue told them enough in

my

my Miniftry : But yet t'^gi'Veyou fatisfaction , lam by the '9oonderfull mercies of God asfu3 of comfort as my heart can hold^mdftek nothing inmyfoule but Q'yiKisr ypithxohom I heartily defireto bee .^ And then looking upon fomc thait^Jvcrcv^ceipm^^tsiidiOhyf^hat a deale adoe there is before one cm die! i3^ The night before hee diedj when the

doorcs without began to bee (hut, and the daughters of Muficke to bee brought low, and hee lying very low with hi3 head, ex-peding eyery moment when the wheele ihould be broken at the Ciflernc, yet being told that fomeofhisdeare friends were then about him to take their laft farewell^He cau-fed himfelfe to be lifted up,and then like old Jacobboyipinghimfelfeon his beds-head, after a *Aiuiiiceoj f^w gafpings for breath, hee fpakeinthis Teact in m anner. lamn&'9p draw in f^ on apace to my dif-

Noitlihamp n i r r t1

ton Slue, folution , andam jujf in the Caje of * Sir lohn "^eto^TclT " Pickering, Holdout Faith and Patience.your hul fc^"'"' ** ^^^^^ mllfpeedily be at an end: And xhen/ba-phrafe ofth cc j^jy^g (/;^^ all by the hands^prayed heartily ^and world vvas not '< particuUrlj for them, and dcfired them to ^orta/ofhim. « ^^/j^yj^^ 0^/;^^^^^ ^ ^^^ ^q beareinmindc

" « yphat

o/M^.BoJtom 55

•^ ■9phat; he bad formerly told them in his Minifle-'« ry , protefting to them , that the doBrine Tiphich *« he had preached to them for thefpace of twenty ^^yeates^'^af the truth ofG o Dj as, hejbouldan^ ^^fiver it at the T^ribunS of Chkist^ hifire « "Schom hee fjould(Jjortly appeare. This hec ipaie when the very pangs of death were upon him. Whereupon a very dearefriend ofhistakinghim by the hand, and asking him if he felt not much painc, Truly no (faid hce) the great eft ifeele is your eoMband^ AnA then fpeaking to bee laid dowse againcjhce fpakeno more umill the next morning wlien he tookc his laft kaveaf his Wife rnidChiU dren, prayed for them and bleflcd them all, and that day in the afternoons aboutfirc of the cIocke> being Saturday the 17 day ofD^-cembery Anno Dom^ 1 6 5 ?i, it^the LX'*^* yearc ofhisageyeeldeduphisfpiritto God that gave it, and according to his owne ipeech celebrated thertpnfuingSabbathin thjE:King-dome oi Heaven, Thus in the fpace of fif-teene weekcs wasthefirftand raoft glorious lightput out mBrot^hon.thsLt ercihattowne injoycd or tiiat many ages w(il tcJidcr againe

And

?^

The Life and Death

And thus have you Cgood Reader) the Life and death of this very learned and godly man trucly fet forth : If any man (hall contradid any thing that I have written of him i I (hall not bee carcfull to anf wcr him: For,ifhebegoodjand well knew ,Vr. Balcony hcewill not have the face to objed : if hec bee * bad, 1 hold him not worth anfwering: Khallonelyfay to him in the language of Tacitt^Sydidicit tile mdedicere^iff ego contemnere^ He hath taught his tongue to (peakeiH and I have learned to contcmne it.

There is onelyoneobjcif^ion which I will anfwer and no more) which began to bee muttered in his life time, and is now likely to make a lowder noife,if it bee not put to fi-lencc.

rhis preaching twice a Sabboth is more than needsjhalfe of it is hut prating: And Mi-niftersundertheGofpell may take more li-bertic, and arcnottiedtofuchprecifenefle and feverityoflifeas he ufed.

Iwillnotgracethisobjedionfomuchas to bee long in anfwering it : The former part of this obje&ion this learned Author

* Contri Sy- -cophama: morfv^rn noti eft remedium. Sea,

20*

ObjeB.

Anfmr.

of M^. Bolton* ^y

in his Book« of Walking yoith God, and in bis Epiftle to his laft Booke dedicated to that religious noble Knight^Sir Ri^ben Carre^ both by reafons and the conftant pradice an dprcceprs of the ancient F^^/?irrx, preaching twice a day, fometimes every day, hath abundantly and unanfwerably confuted, I will onely add two examples of later times, ihcone, of renowned Cal'^in (the glory of fn vha catv, Jiisage) who F^reached or Leisured almoft S'^ c^>/ea. every day, and fome dayes twice , which ^'^^' Preachingswcrefoexcellentjthat they were the matter of thofe laborious and learned Cowfw^^r^nVjof his upon the Bible, which occafioned Dr. R^w^/^i aptly and truely to call him do^ifsimus ilf fidelijstmus Scripture interpresy the moft learned and faithfull expounder of Scripture. The other, of our moft precious leweU^ who was a very frequent and conftant Preacher, and haftned his own death this way: for^riding to preach at Lacock in Wilt Ihire^ a gentleman that met him perccivingthc fecbleneffc of his body, (which hce had wafted out in inch ^pintuall labours) advifed him for hii hcaltls lake to

rciu^e

:58 The Life and Death

rcturne home againc. To whom this godly Bithop by way of allufion to that brare {pccch oi^Fefpaiianxhe Emperor thus excellently rci^\ycdjOporte$epffcopum concionantem * oportet im-wj^ri, which in the * ftorieof his life is thus ftnmc°m moti. cnghfticd,if bsc0mmeth befiaBiPjopto dieprea-

♦z).HM«/)fcreyfgntly after the Sermon heewas by reafon B,'/we//. of fickncffc forced to his Bed, from whence hee never came off, till his tranfladon to Glory.

For the latter part of the Objedion touching that prccifenes of life that was in him and which ought to bee in the Miniflers of God, Let him that objcdeth but well read and minde thofe ftrid precepts of the Apo--I Tim. 5. ftlc PauhoTimothy and Titus^ the examples of primitive times and thofe precife injun-dions for the Clergy that arc difperfed ,, „ throughout the whole body of the Canon cbrietucqux LaWjand to comcneererhomcm the Fro-defbr, vinciall Conftitutions of Canterbury , But ef-TiSri pccially in thofe excellent reformed Ecclefi-

O ClCUCl L J

"^ ? afticall Lawes compiled by the two and thir-suph. M ctn-ty CommiUioners (whofe names I have "'•"""• fccnc

corum mam omnes omnino abftincant vigilantci

c/M*Boiton* ^^

under * J[?"»g Edward the fixchi owne ^^^ g. s*. tandappoincedbyhim for the purgatron Ro^ cotton. of that toulc body of the Cannon Law) deformitas in and I doubt not but hcthat/ocbjeaeth r'Xm't will cither be afliamcd of bis ill t^npue, or "pf^^ff^^^^-

hisilMlfe, ^^'^^^ hone.

Thefc laft Laws were by Royall Autho- cu/Smifcet rity printed in the Moneth of April! /mm cdSLm Di^»ii»M57uand are ar this Day fforoueht '"»*^"'^f<io IknowjAuthenticke rules and Canons a- iatorib«s.item mongft the Clergy: Oneof ihcfe Lawes glfdiemio^nlg touching Miniflers, I will recite in the !L"^i°emTdT. proper words of the La^, Islon fitit ccmto^ !"f ^ "^»^'«« tores^nonaleatoresy nonauctipes^ncnrvcnatoresy 'fdem inteicf. nonfycophanu, nonotiofi^ autfupimjcdjacra- q'fot'nqueT. rumtiterarumUud'ijSy^prddicationi rverki5f Ticndo^^und or^tiofiibus pro Ecdefiaad Dom invm dili- ^^odM ^ ^e genUrintumbent^ReforJegum EccLBS»r/^. Tinu^j.ujh dc EccLEs.t'* MtniJl.Cap, /\,Fol. 48.

Nay thatCouncell or rather Con^irac) of /«^e5 ^;,of. Trent, ^sBi/hopIe-^eUczUhM^hkh I may 3"^;^^,er.

%,as was faid oikhacitps. that the hatred ""-"^'^^J 7'-' ' neat coiifpaa-

of the Prijcillian hereue was all the virtue ^'°"<^'" '^tam he had: So all thegoodneffe ofthisCoiin- iium"^", j^."'* cell chiefly confided in the reformation

of the badneffe of the Clergy, flearefaow precifely it fpeakes in it owne Language, Nihil eft qudd alios magU adpietatem tf Dei cultumajfidutinftrMt^quameorumyita bfex^ emplum qui fe diyino minifterio dedicarunty isfc;, €}uapropterJic decet omninb clericos tnfortem Domini yocatos Vttam worefque [msomnes eom-ponere^ ut habitu^geftu^ ineejiujfermone alijfque omnibus rebtis nilnijigra'pejmoderatum^isf reli^ gione plenumpriC feferant : leyia etiam deliBa^ qua in ip^s maxima effentyeffugiant^ut eorum <i-hiones cunRis afferanpofemrationem^ i^c% Sta-* tuitfanSia Synodus^ut qu<e alias afttmmU Pon-tijicibiisisf kfacrisConciiijsde Clericorum*vh-pay boneftateycultu doBrina^ retinendiy acjimul deluxUyComeffationibtfSy cmtreifyaleiSj aequi" » vetcres bufcun^crminibtfSy necnon */ecularibtfs nc ftoTc'rumdirm g^^^ /«^^>«^^ ^opiofc ac falubtiur fancita epifcopum, c^ui fucfunts eadcm inpofterum iifdemposniSyrvel ma-lem mag.fti:t. jonbtfSy orbitrio Ordmaftf mponendis objer-Xamfuna?- "VMUTI Yiec appeUatio executioHembanc qu^ad Jt'^'fentTb ^^^^^ correkionempminet fu^endoPy Cone. ofEctofum.no. Ttiden.feff izXapA. ^4l\if\\l^* If any man have any more Objefti-ons againft this reverend and gracious A u-

ihor>

o/M»Bolton.

¥

tbor, F will give him no other anfwer than our Saviour did to that cm\o\x% §lueflieni[ly Luk.10.3r* G$eibu and do kkemfe^And f make no doubc but that al thefe Cavils againft hi(n(for they can be no other)\\ ill by a fweet and facred exchange be rcfolved into earned contentions after that happineflTe which he now en-joyes at his right hand where is> Fulnefe of jojandpkafuresfouyermore»

f 5j

ftefd Rctder,

IS other-Works «f this incomparaWe jixtthcttr.hxYz their fcalc/o in fpccial this Fo/^-i-tfwiw.hislaftand hf&w&tk oaTkejaure la/f tlfmgs. Nofooncrwss it put to publicke view, but prefently icwa«takca up,and r«*d with imich contcat. \ AippoJc ihafurc thatmuchwiong would be done bot"h to the de-ccafed Authori^ni alfo to futvivmg iica<fcrf jtf impreflion (hould not beaddedto iinpieflion,{oIongasitisfomuch defired. In this third imprcflion I have taken the belt care I could, to have the whole Woik revicwedmet for alteration of any part of the juihort matter or Method (For who dares offer to alter tliat which fuch an Ape/ks hatii begun and finifhed) but for a more ready finding out both of the pnncipall points appertaining to themainc fcopcof thisTre*! ft/e,and alfo of other very ufefull and profitable paflages which arc here and there, even every where on fundry by-occafions, infcrted. For the Author vyi\$ j'«!/of matter. He was well furniftcd for any peintjthat on the maine or on the bicfas we fpeak)fell out: and an-fwerably he tooke occafion to vtnt himfelfc, and at large to handle what he obfervcd to bemoft needful! and ufcfuUjInftancchis Trca-tifc of iif<jrrfa^c,pag.46,47,Sccofhcarealy and earthly/fly,pag. f^. acc.Of/ai/^,pag.64,&c. and of fundry other points, whereupon he &ls,Now that none of his precious pearles may be loft, but rather c-very profitable point be diftinftly obfervcd-by the Reader,thc Heads of them are pointed out in thcMargm;and that what ercry one <noft defireth to rcad,!nay be more readily foijnd out,an MbhAUticaU Index is herunto ai>n-:xcd.Thetis alfo in thised.tion added, more then inl the focnie r, a pious & powerful 5'erwJ9i» preached at theFnnerall of this Worthy ^4Uthor^ which drewabiindancc of ceaics Jjom the eyes of the then prefent >^«i/tf«rf,and may yet fiuther worf c on the Readers thereof, I commend all(good Reader)to thy courteous ac-<eptancc,and to G o D s gracious bkfiing.

G. M.

M. B O L T O N S

FOVRE LAST

DEATH, IVDGEMENT,

HELL, HEAVEN.

ISA. XXVL

Jff tha day Jba/I thts Jong he fung in the land of '^^ ludah^ &c.

E have here in this Chapter, rheSimme Firft, k ConfiUtton (ox oftheChap^ Gods people in the time of ^^;.^ their captivity. The Summe whereof is this: Though all things feeme to threaten ru-ine, and tend towards confu-fion; yet the ifTue will be,that God will moft mercifully refcue and relieve His owne 5 who afterwards, will not onely themfelvcs acknowledge

B and

PREPARATION

and magnifie His miraculous hand in their prefcr-vationandfuppoit, butalfoflirre up others to rely wholly upon that mighty Lord, that never did, or ever will faile orforfake any that put their The Parts of truft in Him. In the fcven firft Verfcs. the Chapcr Secondly, An Infimtion^or Injiru Bion^ How the godly fhould carrie themfelves in the time of crof-fesandchaftifementsj and what difference there r is betweenethem and the gracelefTe in fuch Cafes. From Ver.y. to the end.

In the firft Part we may take notice, and into our confiderationthefe three Points.

I. Provifion of a comfortable Seng for the people to carrie withthem5asit were into Captivity, and the fiery Triall 3 that in themidft of their prcfTuresthey might beeafedand refrefli'd with a conccipt, that the Day would come, wherein they fhould joyfully fiiig the fong of enlargement and falvationjVer.i. Though when they fate dervne if the rivers of Bahjlon, their hearts would not (erve thcmtoiingany Songofzion^ but fellafun-der in their brcfts like drops of water, yet aflTured-Hmforrvttts ly, all Go D s faithfull Ones, who believed His are (weetned. prophet and Promifes, would in the meane time fecrctly fwceten their forrowes and fuflfcrings,with a patient expedation of this happy Day, and heavenly mirth.

2. TheSoDgitfelfe,Ver.i,2>3. Wherein wee

may confider, i. The Time, when the Song fhall

The ciuTcUs be fung; I» that Day ] which w-e may underftand,

^'y I. Hiftorically, literally, typically, of the Ifrae-

lites deliverance out of Baby lon,and the miferable

flavery

BEFORE DEATH.

flavery thereof. 2. Anti-typically, of thcblef-fed enlargement of G o d s E le<9: out of the fnarc and bondage of the Divell. 3. And myftically alfo, (as fome Divines thinke)of the joyfiill corn-mi ng ofChriftians out of fpirituall Babylon, Rev. 17.5. and from under the tyranny, of Ancichrift. 4. Complementally, of gathering the Saints out ofthis vale ofteares^and from the eager purfuit of thatgreat red Dragon,and the powers of darknefle, into lerttfdem which is above, where they fliall joyfully fing triumphant Hallelujahs in the higheft heaven foreverandever,(7/i/.4.2 5. 2. The Matter of the Song • which is. Salvation^ Ver. i. Peace, Vcr. 3. Holy Compar^y ,Ver. 2. Pure pleafurc, comfort, found contentment,^^.

3. An Exhortation, or exhortatory Apoftro- inheemeHu h phctotruftin/^W^^. And there is added, for ''"JJ/^'>» Jeho-ever-^ left upon Gods delay,andrefpitingreliefe, ^^ * we iliould dcfpaire or have recourfe unto the arme offlefh, Rcafons to enforce this exhortation are three, i. In Him is ^^ch^f^x ru^esfecalorum, c-verlafting ftrength,Ver.^ Arockofeiermty^upon which we may for ever fwectly and fafely reft and rcpofe our felves,amidft the many furious ftormes and boifterous waves of this troublefome world. 2. He is able to tame, take downe, and trample irl the mire, the in^folency and pride of the moft raging perfecutors, Ver f. 5. Andtoraife His, though never fo low and languifliing, tofctthem upon a Rockeoffafetyand falvation for ever, and to give them the ncckes of their enemies to tread upon, Vcrfe 6. 3. Hee yveig^js and ^watches over

B 2 ' the

the waycs ofthcj»/?, Verfey. See Uremie 17.7.

Now whereas the Prophet in the firft place doth fumifh the people of Go d before-hand with a ftrong counter-comfort and cordiall againft their faintirgs in the fornace ofaffli(flion,we may thence beinftruded,that, PTdvijiQn to be Do cr, Jtis an holy wifdom!', andha^fy thingyU male a^ain/t trcafureupccmfcrtahlefrovifionagainfitheDdy

theeviUday. ofcaLimty.

' It is good counfelly md aklejfed csurfe, tofioreuf comfort agofnfl the evtllDay. He thatgathereth in Summer, (faith Salomon) k 4 fonneof under fan dng : But he thatfleefeth in Har-, n/efiis a fonne of confufim, Trov. 10.5. If not by an immediate fcrnre,yet by a warrantable analogy and good confequent this Place will beare this Paraph rafe. M'lfcVtt^t ofCe- That man which now in this fliire and feafonabic ^uy tn quiet. Sun-fhineof his gracious vifitation is lull'dafleepc with the Syren-fongs of thefe fenfuall times upon the lap of pleafure; fwims downe the temporizing torrent of thefe laft and lewdeft dayes with full faileofprofperityandeafe, againftthefecret wafts and counter-blafts (as it were) of a reclaiming confcience, as thoufands doe, to their utter un. doing for ever; mif-pends his golden time, and many goodly opportunities of gathering fpirituall M^tnnay ingrafping gold, gathering wealth, growing great, greatning his pofterity, clafping about thearmeoffleih, fatisfying the appetite, and fer-ving himfelfe: In a word, he that while it is called Today,x\xm^s not on Gods fide^ and by forward-

ncfTc

neflcand friiitfak^ire in-bij^^bl^lTed'^^yeisi'trtf^ fures up comfort and grace dgairift his eftdin^ houre, Hiall m6ft certainly tijyqn'Risb^d ofd«#h, and ilUiminationof c'onfeicne^,'find ttothiftg M horrible con&fidn ai^d fckrtf,; tiaireanfef^ ^^tt&di and infuppoitable bcivineSe oirMstti'hh foiife maH prefently downc intx) the; kin^dome ofdari-ncflc, and bottomc of the burnifi^Iake, ttefdto Ke everlaftingly in terttpeftuoui" and ffcf^/'tjdfc mcnts, the (ling and ftrength.wheirdof doth ilbS oncly furpafTe th6 pens and t6ngues of Men ;Jnd Angels, but the very conccipcofthofethatruffej^ them, which if amanknevv, he would not indurS one houre for all the f>leafares often thoufand worlds: His body (the pleafing and pampering whereof hath plunged him kiro fhch a fea<i^f calamity and woe ) mull dcfcend into the houfe of death, nn habitAtion ofblaekflelTe and^i'iii^lHli !i6 downein a bed (rf'a6^&ndi'(^teiiddle^^^^Wi:^^ wormes^ guarded and kept fiili fdre by tfifcPrince and powers of darkcnefic tf^iro theiudgememiffhe great Dd) /sand then the whole manmurtbecotne the wof^ll obje^^fthe ektr(*ttii^^ahddveiiaft^' ingnefle of that fferd^ft ind un«^uenchab]e wrath, which (like infinite rivers ofbrimftortc) will feed upon hisfoulc and fiefh, without rem(^clie, e^e,

Bm tfet feftpp/'ftiaflj'WHiefr r^ fijnY- Bemjhtof^et^

mers day of his miferable and mortall life,gathers t^&£<^ *^ grace with an holy grecdineflfe, plies the noble Z****^*^ tradeof Chriftianity with refolution andundaont-cdncffe of fpirit, againft theboiftcrous current and

B 3 cor-

corwjption^ c^f the tiinesj^ groW$ in gojdlinelFe^' Gods favour, andfruitsofgoodlifc; purchafes and pTcfervcs (though with the lolTe of all earthly delights) peace of confcience, one of the richeft ticafures and tareft^jcwcls that ever illighcned and made lightfQme the heart of man in this world : I fay chat man, though never fo contemptible in th c eyes of the worldly-wife, though never fo fcoror fully trod upon,and overflowne by the tyranny and'^fwelling pride of thofe ambitious felf-flatte-ring Gyants, who, like mighty winds, when they have bluftered a while, breathe out into nai^ht, fhall moll: certainly upon his dying-bed meet with a glorious troupe of bleflrc4 Angels; ready and re-joycingto guard and condocfl his departing Soule into his Majlersjoy . His body fhall be prefervcdin thegrave by theall-powerfull providence^ as in a Cabinet of reft and fweeteft,neepeA pcrfumediiy the buriall pfour bleffed 5sa Viohvji:^ until!the glorhM4 apf earing efthe gnat Q^o p^ Andthen^af-ter their.Joyful left re-union, they flball both be filled^and (liine thorow all eternity ,'w4^h fuch glory and bliffe, which in fweetenefte aijd excellency doch infinitely exceed the poflfibility of all.hur *^*J'J|8'^'[>raaneorAngelicall *conceipt. u&nT^czllr't Thus you fec in fhort, what a deale of confufi-fnfficit ilia fu- on that miferable man heapes up for his precious ITs'^anu'fmt ^^^^ ^^*^"^ "^^^ Day of wr^th, which: fpcpds

{audia ; An-

{clorura choris intereflc, cum bsatiflimis fpiritibus gloriae cpnditeris afliftcre,

prxfencctn Dei yultinn ccrnere, iucircumfciiptuna lanvp yidcrc, nullo

Biorcjs metu aiBci, incorruptionis perpe(ux munere Istari^ ^$. Grt^^r. Hom.iJ.

hEvmiT*

the

l&mOA'&^iii^tH.

thefpan of his traftfitory life after the waies ofhis owne heart:andhow truly he is a fonne ofunder* (landing, who in the few and cvill daiesoffhort abode upon earth, trcafures up grace and fpirir tuall riches againft the -dreadfull winter night of .death.

For I would have you underftand, that by ^om- jf^at pfviji^

•/•/Lands, livings, or large'polTeflions; I meane , RiiUt, •Hot weahh or riches: Alas ! Thefe mil not profit in -^

the My of wrath, Pro v. 11.4. They certainely make themfil'vts wingsy and in our grcatefl: need, wiil/r^ <0svdj as an Eagle toward heaven^ Prov .23.5. - I meane not filver or go Id: they fliall not he able te deliver in the day of the Lords wrath, Zefh. i. 18. Will he cfteemc thy richest no not gold, nor all fthe.forces ofiftrength57i'^,36.ip.

-' : I meane not top of honour, or height of Place t x houutu <this'(.'without religion) ferves onely to make the downfall more deiperate and remarkable. They arerais'donhigh (faith the very Poet) thattheir ruine may be more irrecoverable. But what do I meddle with the Poet < the Prophet is plaineand ^peremptory againft the pride of ambition: Thy tcrrihlenefe hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart : O thou that dwellejliij' the clefts of the rocke, that houldeft. the height of the hill: Though thoufhotdd-eft wake thy neft as high as the Eagle^ I will hr ing thee downef-om thence,faith the Lordjcr.^g ,16, .

I meane not the arnie of flefh, or Princely fa- 3 favour19f vours. Afluredly, that man which gratifies great '"^* Ones to the wounding of his coftfcicncc by the

B 4 formal]

?^ ~ il^MPARATIQN

formallilavcrypfbafeiieflfeandinfinuation, or0-ny ill, pfficc^ oF ambitiovis: fcrvitude in -fcates of irreligious poli!?yi injuijicc, cruelty, turning Turk _3ij«l, itiiai|tor ^O; th<^ fhattrufted !bim,&e, fhalKitc iaft reci^iycncvo^Ker rccompienceof fuch abliorred villany, when divine vengeance begins to take hini in hapd, than that which juftly fell upon/c^^ (in the extremity of hi^sanguifh and forrow) ftcm the dhi^cfriefisandsUmi (^4^^^.27.41 'If ever great men, or earthly Potentates did take their Mattering flaves outof thehandsof G o d at that higi^e^ ^ribunall, or were able to free a guilty foule froip eternall flaiiies> it were fomethingco grow:rich, and rife by yile accommodations, and (crying their turnc in the meane time. But fuch a man (hall ccrtaincly ( is the day of his laft ahd greatcft need) beecaft with horrible confufion of rpirit, and iji^curable griefc of heart, upon WoL fui rufull complaint* and cry out wh^n it)isto6 late: Had I beenc 4s carefuf tofirve the G on of he a-*veH, as my greaf (J^dJierm e4rth 'j he had never lefi fnet in f»y gray hdres. Favours ofgteatncflfe may follow a man in faire weather, and fhinc upon his face with goodly hopes and cxpecStation of great things; butrnftipwracks even of worldly things, where allfinke$, but the forrow to fave them 5 or cfpecially upon the very firfttempeft offpirituall diftrcffe, they fteere away before the Sea and Wind, leaving bim tofinic orfwim; without all poflibility of helpe pr i^fcue, eVeojto the rage of a wounded confcience,' ^nd gulfe (many times) of that defpcratc madnelfe, which the Prophet de-

fcribes

fcribcsj /J4.8.21,2 2, He paUjret hjmfelfe, and curfe bisKmg and his God, md looke upward, t^ndhe Jhail loch unto the earth : and hchold trouble ofrd ddrkmfiejdimnejfe ofAngmjhj and hejhalLbedrwen te darknefc^ . .

By comfortablcProvijion therefore, I mean trea-furcs of a more high, lafting, and noble nature.* irhat ^rovifi-:.T;hc bleflings of a better life, comforts of godli- Z.^jf'*"^ 'JQCjffe,. graces of falvation, favour ^nd acceptation with the higheft Majefty,&c. They arc the riches of heaven onely which we fhould fo hoard up, md will ever hold out in the times of trouble, and Day'bfthe L o r i) a wri&h.. Amongft which,a found faith, and aclcare confcience are thcmoft pecrclefic and unvaluable jewels 5 able by their native puifTanec, «and infufed vigour, to pull the very heart.(as it were) cut of Hell, and with cormdencc and conqueil: to looke even Death and the Divell in the face. T here is no darkeneflfc fo defolate, no croffe fo cutting, but the fplen-dorofthcfc is able to illighten, their fwcetncfTc to mollifie. " i Ml ;

So thatthebleffed counfcll of C h r 1 s t, iAUt. mu.6. 1 9,t«» ^.ip,2o. doth concurre with, and confirmethis fxpounJed, Point: Lay not up fir yourfelvestreafures upon earth, when nwth 4ndr»ftdi>th corruft 'j and where thecves Ifreaketherorv and fieaU, Bui lay up for yourfehes Sreafures i» hennjen, v>here neither moth nor ruji doth corrupt, and where theeves do not hreake thororv^ nor

By moth and ruji thofc two greedy and great devourers of gay clothes, and ghftering trcafures,

two

.10 PREPARATION

^** ^"""i? *^ *^^ capitall vanities upon which worldlings ^tbingt!^ ^ dote, and two greateft inchauntcrs of mortal! men, are infinuated and fignified unto us all thoTe iron teeth, znd devouring inftrumentsof mortality, by which corruption eaccs into the heart of all earthly glory, waftes infenfibly the bowels of the greateft bravery, and ever at length confumes into duft the ftrongefl finewes of the moft ImpcriallSoveraignty, under the Sun. The Lord of Heaven, hath put a fraile and mortal! naturCi, a weake and dying difpofition into all worldly things. They fpring andiflourifh, and ent? ui ^^^' Even the greateft and goodlieft Politique aeTaita fccuii Bodles that ever the earth bore, though animated corrimat, puU with the fcatchittg fpirit of profoundeft Policy; unt^ NamTum ftfcngthencd with the refol'ution and valourofihe ftaieinhisflo- Hioft conquering commanders, fighted with Ha-ribusriiumun. glc eyes oflargcft depth, fore-fights and comprc-rcpentina foi- henhons of State, crowned with never lo many tuna turbatur: warlicke profpcritics, triumphs, and vidorious aut feftina, & atchievemcnts, yet (like the naturall Bodyofa

omnia deem , 11/. 1 • -, r 1

bantc morce man) thcy had (as it were) their Inrancy, youth-conduditai. fullftrength, mansftate, old age, and atlaft, their SgJIfi g'^ave. We may fee (D^.2.35.) thegloryand cu!i, quxqua- power of the mightieft Momirchies that ever the blandiumur- ^""^^^^ fliadowcd by Nebuchodnc^^^rs greatI-fed" amator'es magejfink iuto the duft, and become like ^^(f cbAfe fucg, cito of tie Summers tbrefhfftgfloores, uvonzwindy day*

trapfeundode-

cipiunt. Greg.in t.RegCap.ix.

Vnto aU'Dojttinions God hath ftt their periods : tvho, though }:e hath ^iventa man the f^nowleJge tjthofi wiyesiy which ({ingdomes rife andfali tyet hath left himfubjeSl ttnto the ajfe£ltont r^hich drait> on thefe fatai (banget in their times appointed^ Sr Walter Rawleigh.P.i.Lib.y.Ctp.j.Seft.if.

Heare

Heare a wife and noble writer fpeaking to this pur-pofc, though for another purpofe : Who hath not ^^^^*,"; §hfervedy what labour , what pra^ice,feri HyhlBnd-fhed, d/td cruelty, the Kings And Princes of the world have undergone, exercifedytaken onthem,and committed-^ to make themfelnjes and their ifues M afters oft he world ? ''^'^ .""*J^ •(,'*' %^nd yet hath Babylon, Perfia, Egypt, Syria, Ma- f* ^I'He worii cedon, Caithage, Rome, and the reft, no fruit, fort'jhmss tbt flower, grafe or leafe, f^nngr^g ufon the face of the f£'lZ'J tarth, ofthofe feeds: No, their very roots and ruines do hardly remaine, ^Uthat the hand of man can make^ if either over-turned hy the hand of man 5 or at length kyftanding and continuing confumed, Whattruft then or true comfort in thearmeofflcfh, humans grcatncfle, or eanhly treafares-^ Whatftrengih or flay in fuch broken ftaves of reed ^ Inthetime of need, the Worme of vanity will waft and wither theihall, Yiktlonahsgourd-^ and leave our naked foiUcs to the open rage of wind and weather -y to the fcouiges and Scorpions of guikineflc and feare. Ittranfcendsthe Sphere oftheira(9:ivity,as they (ay, and'paffeth their power to fatisfiean im-mortall foule, to comfort thorow the length of e-ternity; either to corrupt or conquer any fpirituall adverfaries. For couldft thou purchafe unto thy felfe a Monopoly of all the wealth in the world 5 wcrt thou able to empty the Wefterne parts of gold; and the Eaft of all her fpices and precious things; fbouldeft thou inclofe the whole face of thecarthfromone end ofheaven to another, and fill this wide worlds circumference with golden heapes and hoards of pcarle; diddeft chou in the

mcane-

la PREPARATION

mcane time fit atthc ftemc, and hold the reincs in thine hand of all earthly kingdomes, nay, exdlt thyfelfi at the Eagle, 4tt(i fet thy nefi among the flats ; nay, Vikcthc Juftofthe.msrmng advance thy Throm even above the flanres o/God • yctallthefe, and whatfocverdfc thou c^nft imagine, to make diy tbtgZif^T worldly happincflfe compleat and matchlcfle, gMd ut the would not be worth a button unto thee upon thy /^"'^ bed of death, nor do thee a halfe-pcnny-worth of

good in thehon'ourof that dreadfull time. Where did that man dwell, or of what cloth was his coat made, that was ever comforted by his goods, greatneffe, or great men, in that laft and (brcft conflid i In his wraftlings with the accufadons of confcience, terrors of death, and oppofitibns of heU i No, no: It is matter of a more heavenly metall, treafures of an higher temper, riches of* nobler nature, that muft hold out and heipe in the diftrdfes of foule, in the anguifli of confcience, in the houre of death, againft the flings offinnc, wrath of G o d, and lafl: Tribunall. Do you think that ever any glorified foule did gaze with delight upon the w^edge of gold, that tramples mdterfoot the Sun,and lookes All-mighty God intheface^ ^htlefouit No, no: It is the focicty of holy Angels, and blefled Saints, the fweet communion with its dca-reft Spoufe, that unapproachable light which crownes Gods facred Throne, the beauty and brightncfleof that moft glorious Place, the fiii-ning Body of the Sonn e of God, die beatificall fruition of the Deity it fclfc, the depth of Eternity, and the like evcrlafting Fountaincs of ffirituali

ravifliment

ravi{hmentand joy, which orcly can feed and fill the reftlcfle and infinite appetite of that immortaJl Thing with fullncffe of contentment, andfrclh pleafiires,world without end.

Thrice blefled and fweet then is the advice of ^^^ .»«'»'^ '* our Lord and Maftcr J e s v $ C h r i s t> who tlilgTbeimtl would have us to turne the eye of our delight, and things above, eagerneffe of affedion, from the fading gloffe and painted glory of earthly treafures; wherein naturally the worme of corruption and vanity ever breeds,and many times the worme of an cvill con-fcience attends; the one of which cats out their heart when wee expe(5t an harveft j The other feizes upon the Soule in the time of forrow, and finks it into the loweft hell: And as Men of Gc d, and Sonnesof Wifdome, to mount our thoughts, and raife our fpirits, and bend our affedions to things above'j which are as faire from diminution and decay, as the vSoule from death; and can bee no more corrupted or (liaken, than the Seat and Omnipotcncy of G o i> furprifcd. For, befides TUferme u-that, they infinitely furpafie in eminency ofworth ^^^xt things andAveetneifeofpleafure, the comprehenfion oi^'^''^^''^''''' the largeft heart, and expreiTion of any Angels tongue; they alfo out-laft the daycs of heaven, and runparallell with the life of God, and line of Eternity. As we fee the Fount aine of all material! light to powre out his beames, and fhining abundantly every day upon the world withoutweari-ncire5emptinefle, or end; fo, and incomparably more doth joy and peace, glory snd bliflc, fpring and plentifully flow every moment with frcfh

ftreamcs

ftreames from the face of the Father of Lights upon all His holy ones in heavenjand that evcrlaftingly. O blelTed then (hall we be upon our beds of death, if (following the counfell of our deareft Lord, who ihed the moft precious and warmeft bloud in His heart to bring our foules out of hell) wee treafure up now in the meane time, heavenly-hoards which will ever happily holdout, aftock ofgrace,which never flirinks in the wetting, but a-bidesthetriall of the Spirit, andtouch-ftone of the Word in all times of danger, and Day of the Heavenly trea- Lord: even that accurate,circumfpe<5l, and prc-jurt, q\£q walking,prefled upon us by the Apoftle, Eph,

5.15. Though peftilently perfecuted and plagued by the enemies of G o d in all ages: And that purity which Saint lohn makes a property of every true-hearted ProfefTour, ilohn^.-^. So much op-pofed and bitterly oppreftby theworldj and yet without which none of us (hall ever fee the face of God with comfort. If while it is called To Day^ we make our peace with His heavenly Highneflfe, by an humble continued exercife of repentance: byftanding valiantly on His fide; by holding an holy acquaintance at His mercifull Throne with a mighty importunity of prayer, and godly conver-fation above'; by ever offering up unto Him in the armesof our Faith (when he is angry) the bleeding Body of His owne crucified Sonne, never giving Him over, or any reft, untill He beplcafed to regifter and r enroll the remiffion of our finnes in the Booke of Life, with the bloudy lines of Ch R I s T s Soulc-favingfuffcrings, and golden

charaders

chara(^crs of His owne ctcrnall love. If now, before we appeare at the dreadfull Tribunal! of the ever-living God, (and little know wewhofc tui'ne is next) we make oui- friends in the Court of Heaven: the blejfed K^ngels, in procuring their joy andlove^ by avifible conftancy in the fruits, tearcs^and truth of a found converfion. The Sfi-tit 9f comfort by a ready and reverent entertainment of His holy <jM9tions and infpirations of grace: the Sonm And Heire of the King of glory, the Foundation and Fountaine ofallourBliflejin this world and the world to come: from whole meritorious bloud-fhed and blefTed mediation a-rifeall thofe flouds of mercy and favour, which fcfrcfhourfoules in this vale of teares ; and alfo thofe unknown bottomleiTefeas of pleafure, peace and all unfpeakable delights, which will fuper-aboundand.overflow with new and frefli fweet-neffefov ever and ever in the Paradifeof God. Blelfed are they, that ever they were borne, who ^f'^, *f»c/' have already got him their Advocate at the right chrT/t^o hand of His Father. For, be/ides many other Mvocate. glorious priviledges thereby, in all their exigents and extremities, they may be everwelcometo the Seat of mercy ^^l\dhc[urctofipccd. If a man had a fuit unto the King, itwereaconifoitable and happy thing to find a friend in Court. But if the \ Kings fpeciall and choifeft Favourite 5 nay. His owne only Son wci*e his Interceflbur 5 how confi ) dent would he be to prevaile and profper, to conquer his oppofites aiw crowne his defircs ^ Why then Ihould any poorc Chriftian be difcomfoncd

and>

our

andcaftdowae: nay, why diould he not be'extraordinarily raifed and ravifhed in- fpirit with much joy full hope, and fwcecaflurance, when he throwes himfeife downe at the Throne of grace j iich thed-earefl: Sonne of the eternal! G o d, the Hcire of heaven and earth, the Mediator of the great Covenant of endlefle falvation is his Advocate at the hand of His Almighty Father in the moft high and glorious Couit of Heaven ft Wherefore when an humbled foule, and trenp-bling fpirit is fore troubled, and almoft turned backefrom hispurpofe of prayer, and proftration at the foot of heavenly Majefty* by entertaining before-hand a feeling apprehenfion of his owne abhorred vilenefTe, and the holy purity of Gods all-feeing and fearching eye, tvhuh cannot looke on iniquity ; let this confideration comfort and breed confidence, that Jesvs Christ the Sonne of Q o d s love doth follicite and tender the fuit, who out of His owne fenfe and fympathy of fuch like troubles aind temptations, dothdeale for us with a true, anaturall, and a fenfible touch of j^ J compailionateneffe and mercy. Shall thatbleffed Lukc*23.34. Saviourof ours call and cry for a pardon to His Father, for thofe which put Him to Death; who were fb farre from feeking unto Him, that they fought and fuck'd His bloud; and fhall He fhut His cares againft the groanes of thy grieved fpirit, and heavy fighs of thy bleeding foule, who values one drop of His bloud at an higher price, thanihe worth of many world^f It cannot be.

Thus that faying of Sdomonj and this counfell

of

ofC H n I s T makes good the truth of the PoIrCj which jnay furthef appearc by thcfe Reafons. I. Taking this counfell berime, and hoarding' "Rm/o»^ /or

up heavenly things in this harvcft time of grac€, llt^^uftlHioi, mightily helps to alTwage the fmart, mollifie the ut aUaies the bitterneflc, and illighten the darkncfTe of the cvill ^"^'^ '^ '^'^'' Day. It is foveraigne, and ferves to take the vc-nime,fting and teeth out of any croflc, calamity, ordiftrefTe; and fo preferves the heart from that raging hopclefTe forrow, which, like a devouring Harpie^drics up^dilTolves, and dcftroyes thcbloud, fpirits,and life of all thofe who are deftitute of fuch a divine Anti'dote. What vaft difference may wee difcerne betweene lob and Itf^as ; Bazid and K^chitofhel, wthedayes ofevill't The two men of G o D being forma*ly enriched with his favour andfamiliarity,fo behaved themfelves, the one in the fhip-wracke of his worldly happineife, the o-ther in the hazard of his Kingdome, as though they had not bcenc troubled at all: The Lord Jot.i. . gave , and the Lokd hath taken away, faith lob, when al 1 was ^oncbleffed be the n^ne of the Lord. ifl flail find favour in the eyes of the Lord, faith j^sam. ij. if. DavrdyHe will bring mee a^aine, andfhew me both it, i^.

and His habitation, ButifHeethusfay-,lharve no delight in thee: behold, here am 7, let Him doe to mee, at fecmethgcodunto Htm, But the fpirits of the other two falfeand rotten-hearted fellowes in the time of trouble were fo overtaken, nay, over-whelmed withgricfe, that they both hanged thcm-felves.

3. This holy providence before hand may l^Vr'""' C happily

^ PREPARATION

happily prevcnr agrear dcale of rcfUeiTe impaticn-CV; reprobate fear^.torlomediftraaions of fpirir, h\"ir.g to the caves, crying to the mountaines, boodelTe rclymg upon :he arme of flelTi ; Curfmg thar Kmgajtdtkcir G o DjdfidI^k:figup:rj/-J,\:oai' in^ou-v.ith h'vfco'.s sroanes; Who amon^ ia jhall ^5i-'^- d^i:-x::i :''?■: ai-.-^rmr fire f Whe among us JhMl drc^eH xpuhth: tverijifiinghitrning? drc. All which defperire rerrours and rumultuations of confci-cncearewontto furprize and feize upon unholy and unprepared hearts, en>ecially when Gods hand is fin.-.^!v :-,r.i:nn?!2Cj.b'v uDonthem. ^:.'^- ',:ry 3. And wee rinll heereby excellently honour

t.fz tX^t. 2^ 4 advance the glory of ProfelTion; when it iliall appeare :o the v.'orld, and even the contrary-minded are enforced to confctTe; that there is a fecret heavenly vigour, undaantednefTe of fpirit, ■and noblenelTe of courage which mighnly upholds the hearts of holy men in thofe times of coafuhDn and feare, when theirs melt away within :h e .T. like v." ^: e r. 2 n i ^c -t^' the he:irt of a rvsmm tn hir f.i^'£f. WorlaLnss v.'onder and gnalli the teeth heeiea:: When they fee,as Chn fcftemexxuly fels us, :he Clirifrian to ditfer from them in this; tha: hebesresall crofTes couragioully; and v;i:h the v/ings' as it v.-ere )of faith, out-fores the height of ail hjr.ane miferies. He is like aRocke, iocorporated into J e s v s Christ, the Rocke .$f etCTTury, ftill erect, inexpugnable, unihaken, though moft fjrioufly afTaolted with the tcmpc-ftuous waves of any worldly woe, or concurrcflt rage of all itifemall powers. But all the imaginary

man-

man-hood of graccIcfTe men doth ever in the day ofdiftrsffc cither vanifh into nothing, or diflblve intodefpaire.

4. Expreflion of fpirituall ftrengtli in the time ^.uan iucou^ oftrouble from former heavenly ftore, is a nota- ragemcntto ble meanes to move others to enter into the fame °[ ^"' good way, and grow greedy after grace; to draw and allure them,to the entertainement and exercife of thofc ordinances, and that one necefary things v;hichonely can make them bold and unmovea- ' ble like Mount Zlon in the day of adverfity. I have knowne fome, the firft occafion of whole conver-fion, was, the obfervation of their ftoutnelTe and ' patience under opprelfions and wrongs, whom they have purpoiely perfecuted with extremefl malice and hate. So bleffed many times is the brave, refolute, and undaunted behaviour of Gods people in the time of triall, and amidft their foreftfufFerings,that it breeds in the hearts of beholders, thoughts even of admiration and love, nay a defire of imitation, and turning on the other fide. When they reprefent to the eye of the world their ability ropaffe thorow the raging flames of fieiy tongues untouched, to portcfle their foulcs in peace amidft fcorpions , thorncs, and rebels, to pafTe by bafeft indignities from bafeft men without wound or paifion, to hold up their heads above water in the moft boifterous tempefts, and deepeft feas of danger, to triumph over all adverfary power in the evill day 5 I fay, by G o D s blefling, this may make many come in and glorific G o d > marvelling and enquiring, G 2 whence

whence fuch invincible foititude, and bravcneffc of fpiiit fhould fpring; concluding with iV/t^tf-chad^e/^r: Surely, Thefervants of the mofi high God. And fo at length their affcdions may be fo fet on edge after the excellencie and amiablencfTc of J Esvs Christ, who being The mighty G o D, zndThcLyonoftheTrik of Indah, doth a-lone-infpire all His with fuch a Lion-like courage^ that they may ferioufly and favingly fcek His face and favour; faying with thofe, Cam,$.p. What is thy Beloved more than another Beloved, O thoi* fairefi among women f — That wee may feeke Him with thee. Whcntheybehold fuch a deale of Majefty and mirth to fhlne in his face whom they make the marke of all their fpitefull rage and revenge 3 their teeth with which they could have torneliim inpeeces, may water; and they induftrioufly de-(iretoknow, what that is, which makes fuch a man fo merry in all eftates. The folly of y^j^ j^ This may fervc to awakcn and rc-

ticm that take ■' n 1 r n "^ 1 1 rr

BO thougbtfor* prov€ all thole lecure and carelcfle companions, tbedayofrecfio- who, if they may enjoy prcfcnt contentment, and ""'^' partake in the meane time of the profperity and

pleafurcs of the times, wherein they tumble them-felves with infolency, luxury, and eafe; take no thought, make no provision at all againft a day of reckoning, provide no food againft a foule day, treafure up no comfort againft the Lords com-ming, prepare no armour or aid for that hft and' drcadfullconfli6^ upon their beds of death. Alas poorefoulcs! Did they know and feelingly apprehend what a deale of horrour, aftoniftiment

and

and anguilli dogs them continually at the heclcs, ready and eager after a few dales of filthy end fugitive plcafures, to fcizc upon them like travailc upon a woman with child, fuddenly, unavoidably, apdin greateft extremity, and that fointollerable, that they lliall never be able either to decline or endure, the verywcakeft biting of the never-dying worme, or the Icaft fparkle of thofe everlalt-ing flames; they would thinke all the dales of their life few enow to gather fplrituall ftrength againft that fearefuU houre. Nay, fome are fuch cruell Heapm of caitifs zn^Cannihals to their owne fo'ules, andfo Jj^'lyTf'"^ accurfedly blinded by the Prince of darkneffcthat rft<nh. inftead of comfortable provifion, they heape up wrath againft the day of wrath 3 Inftead of grace, Gods fivour and a good confclencc, peace, joy,andrefrefliingy^^w;/;if frefeme of the L o r d, they lay upfcourges, and Scorpions for their nailed foules and guilty confclences againft the time andterrourofthe Lords vifitation. For, let them be moft affured; allthelr lies, oathcs, rotten and railing fpeeches ; all their covetous, luftfull, ambitious and malicious thoughts 5 all their fwaggering and furious combinations againft Gods people, fenfuall revellings, jovlall mee-tings^&c. \mh:i\\,TVhe^ theirfeare commeth asdefo-Ution , and their desirui^hon commeth as a whirle-windjYiVQ fo many envenimed ftings, run into their finfull foules, and pierce them thorow with evei-laftlng forrow. Alas! What will the fonnes and daughters of pleafure do then ^ And all thofe fplrituall beggcrs and bankerupts who have greedily

C 3 hunted.

hunted, all their life long after thcfe mortall things of this life, as if their foules had beenc therein immortall; and utterly neglected thofc The terms »f things which areimmoitall, asiftheir felves after prepare7}er'^^ the wotld had becnsbut nfiorcall c What doc you thar account, think will betheir thoughts upoi th* very firft approach of the Pore of death , to which in the meane time all winds drive thefiif Fall fad, and heavie thoughts (Lor d thou knowcft) then at leifurg enough to reflect feverely upon their former folly, though formerly beaten from them by their health and outward happineffe, and will pay themtotheutcermoftforall the pleafing pafTages oftheir life part. Othentheyfliill lie upon their lafl: beds like Wt Id Bids in a net ^ full of the furj of the Deu,i8. d7. I^ o R D ; And in the morning thej jhJi fay^woM God it were even, and at even thejjl)a.llfaji would God it were mornings for the feare of their heart nvherewith thej jh all feare, and for the fight of their ejesy which they fjdll fee. Then (though too late ) will they lamentably cry out and complaine: What hath f ride profited m ? Or what good hath r:ches rvith our vaunting brotight us ? t^Uthof things are faffed arvay like afiadowj and as a Fofle that hafieth by. ^nd as a [hip thatpafth over the waves of the water, and when it is gone by , the trace thereof cannot ht found: neither the ^a^h-w ay of the keele irt the^ fpdves. Or as when a bird hath flow ne thorow the air e, there is no token of her way to befo^md, but the light Aire being beaten with the froke of her wings andpar^ ted with the violent nelfe, and motion of them, ispajfed thorow, and therein afterwards noftgnt where fhc went

is

BEFORE DEATH. %z

u to hcefdimd. Or Uke as whm marrow Is jlwtat a marke, itpdrteth the aire, rvhtch tTWnediattly commeth together dgdne 3 fo that a. mm cannot know where it weni thorotv: E'yenfo we tn Uke manner ajfoorte as wee were borneMg^^ to draw to our end^andhadm jigne of vert tie to (Jjew : but we cortfumed in our owne wicked, neffe. For the ho^e of the ungodly u like dufi, that is klewneawaj With the windy like a thin froth that u driven away with the (lor me: like as the f?make which iS differfedhere an^ there with a tempejly and fafeth Awa'j as the remembrance of 4g»e]l that tarrieth but a day. ]f a Minifter who labours induftiioufly all ^.%'-^\f^^ his life long, to workc upon fuch as fit under him {"I iMr^auh-every Sabbath 5 Of which fome all the while pre- juii Minijiw. ferreromcbafe luft before the LordJesvs: other^will not out of their formality to the for-wardnefTe of the Saints, do what hcc can, or prefTe hcthcmneverfopun^uallyand upon purpofe; I fay, if i: were pomble, that he might talke with a-ny of them, fome two houres after they had becnc in hell: Oh ! How fliould hce find the cafe altered with them •: How would they then roare, becaufe they had dif-regardedhisMiniftery:' What would they not give to have a grant-from G o d, to try them in hearing but one Sermon more < How would they tcarc their haire, gnafli the teeth, and bite their naiks, that they had not liftened more ferioufly, and taken more feniibly to heart thofc many heavenly inftrudions, fpirituall difcoveries, fecret (but well underftoodj intimations, thac their ftate to G o D-ward was ftarkc naught, by which hee fought; with much earneftnefTe *and

C 4 zealc,

H PREPARATION

zcalcjcvcn to the wafting of his bloud and life, to favcthc bloud of their foulest And yet for all 'Dejpi^en of ^^is you Will not be warned in time, charme the their miHi{iers chormers ft^.ver fimfcly : Butfomeofyou fit here iefcrtbed. before US fiom day to day, as fenflclTc of thofc things which moft deeply and dearely concerne the etcrnall ruine, or welfare of your precious foulcs, as thefeates upon which you fie,the pillars youlcane unto ; nay, the dead bodies you tread .upon: others looking towards heaven a farre off and profeffitig a littlcT^if before us as though they were right and truly religious; md they heare our Izck.jj. 51, rvordsjhitt they will not doe them: For with their mouth J** theyjherv much love , but their heart goeth after their

covetoufieffe. Andloe^ wee are unto themy as a very lovely fong of one that hath a pleafant voice, andean flay well on an inftrummt: For they heare our words y but thej do them not. They arc friends to the better fide, may go farre, and even fuffer fometimes in good caufes,&c. But let us once touch them in point of commodity, about their inclofures, immoderate plungings into worldly affaires^ detaining Church-dues , ufury, and other difhoneft gaine, and bafe niggardifc; If out of griefe of heart for their fliaming Religion , expofing the Gofpellof J isvsChrist toblafphemy,and hardening others againft Profeffion, wee meddle with their fafhions, their pride , their worldly-mindednefle, and conforming to the world almoft in every thing, favc oncly fomc religious formes; Ifwecprefiethem more particularly upon danger of damnaiion to more holy ftri(ancirc, prccifeneffe

and

and zeale, knowing too well, by long obfeivation and acquaintance, that they never yet pafTed the peifedions of formall ProfefTours, and fbolifh Virgins: Alas / Wee then find by too much wo- ^ormaii Pro-full experience; ifchcy politicJcly bite it not in, ^^^'"^^' that this faithfuU deahng doth marvcloufly dif-content them, and thefe frcciotts Balmes do breakc their heads with a witneffe, and make the bloud runne about theireares; whereupon they arc wont to fall upon usmorefoule, ( fuehtruc Pharifes are they) than would either the drunkard or good-fellow,the Publicans and harlots do in fuch cafes: they prefently fwelling with much palTionate heat, proud indignation, difdaineand impatiencytobe reform'd, haverecourfe to fuch wcakc and carnall cavils, contradi(5tions^ exceptions, excufes,and raving ; that in nothing more doe they difcover to e-very judicious man of G o D,or any who doth not flatter them, or whom they doe not blinde with therr entertaincments and bounty, or delude with painted pretences, and art of fceming, their formality, and falfc heartcdnefTc. K^ndyet, as they are charaderiz'd, Tfi.^y,!. They feeke the Lord dMly J and delight to know his wayes y as a nation that did righteoufnejfe^ and forfioke not the ordnance af their God; they aske of Htm the ordinances of jufice: they take delight in approaching to Go ni They may have divine Ordinances on foote in their families, cntertaine Go d s people at their Table s,/i/? and afflifi their fotiles upon daies of humiliation, as appeares in the fore-cited Chapter Vcrfe 3. Beare the word gladly, with Her&d-y and

with

with muchrefpecfland acceptation oh[€Yve\}ci^m^^' fengcr, &c. But they will nor ftirre an inch further from the World, or nearer to G o d, fay what he will, let him preach out his heart, as they fay. They will not abate one jot of their over-eager purfuitafterthe things of this life, or wagge one footoLiroftheunzealous plodding courfeoffor-mall Chriftianity 5 no, nor for the Sermons, perhaps of twenty yearcs, and that from him who hath all the while laboured faithfully fo farr to il-lightenthem, as that they might not dcpait this life with hope of heaven; and then with the fool/fh Virgmsjhll (utterlyagainft all expe<5^ation, both ofthemfelves and othersj into the bottomIcfTe pit of hell. O qttkmmulti eumhac ffend ^nrncs labores, dx bdUdtfcendunt [ How many (faith one) goe to hell with a vaine hope of heaven ; whofe chiefcft caufe of damnation is their falle perfwafion, and groundlefTeprefumptionoffalvation ! Well, be it cithertheone,orthe other-, the befotted fenfua-lift, orfelfe-deludingformalift, could wee fpeakc with them upon their beds of death (their confci-- ences awaked) or the day after they were damned in hell 5 wee fliould find them then, though in the meane time they fuffer many fowre apprthcnfi-ons to arife in their hearts againft US;, in a much altered tune and temper. Then would they with much amazedncffe and terrible fearc, yell out thofe now too late hideous complaint^: Wee poles count edhii lifemadne/e, (^c,wee we arte dour felves in the way ofwickednefeanddejlrnthoni (^'C. What hath fride profited us, ^c. Then would they curfe all

dawbcrs

dawbers, and juftifie all downc-right dealers; con- ^['J^^^'f^lT tempt of whole coimrdl, would now ciit in peeces their very heart-ftrings with reftleffe anguifli and horrour, and mightily flrengthen the never-dying wormc; whereby the enraged foule will thruft itsownchands>asit were into its owne bowells, and teare open the very foiintaine of life and fenfe to feed upon it felfe. For, the worme of confci- irhat is the cnce (fay Divines) is onely a continuall remoife ^j'^^ojcon^ and furious reflexion of the foule upon its owne ^'^'^'^^' wilfull folly;and thereby the wofull mifery it hath brought upon it fclfe.

2. This may ferve fo ftirre up all the fonnes The benefit»/ and daughters of wifdomc to hoard up with all ho- ^^^^y^"^ '''^' lygreedinefTeJnftead of earthly pelfe, tranfitory toyes and fliining clay, the rich and lafting trea-fures of divine wealth and immortall graces. For, thefe heavenly jewels purchafed with'C h r i s t s bloud, and planted in the heart by the omnipcrcnc hand of the Holy Ghost, will (iuno comfortably upon our foulcs with beames of bleflfednefle and peace? ?.n:iid all the miferies and confufions, the darlcnelTe and moft defperate dangers of this prefent life; nay, in the very va//ey offfjc Jlhtdow of ^(C'.W/, their fplendour and fpirituali glory will not onely diffolve, and difpell all mifts of horrour which can poiTibly arifefrom theapprehenfionof hell,the grave, thofc laft dreadfull par^s, or any other terrible thing; but alfo illighten, conduct and carie us triumphantly thorow the abhorred confines of the King of feAre upon the wings of )oy, aad in the armes of Angels, to umffroachdle light,

unknovvnc.

unknowne plcafurcs, and cndlefTe blifle. It may

^^^°aj '* ^'^ ^^^' ^^ y^^' ^^^^ ftandeft upright without any *^^' ' ' changes , unftir'd in thy ftate by any adverfc

ftorme/uppofing thy mountaine ^ojhong,t\\dz thou flidt never bee moved. Thus long perhaps the Almighty hdth beene voith thee : His cmdle hath finned upon thy he<ui, and His patient providence reftcd with all favour and fuccciTe upon thy Taber-nacle-j fothat hitherto thou had: fceneno daycs of forrow -J but even wafliedthj fleps with buttery and the rccke hathforvredthee out rivers ofoylej^c. Yet forallthis, the day may come, before thou die, that thou mayeft be ftript of all, and become as pooreas/^^, as they fay, by fire, robbery, fureti-fliip, fliip-wracke, thcdeftroyingfwordjdefolati-D" lion m ^"^ of war, or by the hand of G o d in fome other mentum^ ever- kind; Even, A day, an honre, a moment (faith one ) tendis domi- is enough to over-turn' the things thatfeemedto har- c_j fiat°q''x ^adi^ ^^^^^Joundedand rcotedin adamant: Labour there-maminis ere- fore induftrioufly before-hand fo to furnifh and abu^"cff'-T'^'' ^<^rfi^^^hine heart with patience, nobleneffe of Lix, ^cafaub.' fpint, Chriftian fortitude*, the mightineffe of lobs faith, C^^. 15.15. And his man fold integrities, Cap,^i. That iffuch an eviil day fliould come upon thee (and who can looke for exemption when he lookes uponlobs affliction ) thou maift with an unrepining fubmifllon to Gods good providence and pleafure, take up his fweeteft refolution Jub. 1.11. and repofe: Naked came lot^t oftny mothers rvombc, and naked fhall I returne thither : the Lo -r t> gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blejfed bee the name 9fthe Lord. Though, as yet, by a miracle of

rareft

BEf ORE ' DE ATH. ^

rareft mercy, calmenefTe and fcrenity reft upon the firmament of our ftate 5 yet who knowcs how foone, efpccially, fith many of Go d s dearelt fervants beyond the feas have lyen fo long m teares and blond, fome difmaU cloud and tempe-ftuousftormemayaiifeoutofthe hellifh foggs of our many hainous finnes and crying abominations, and breake out upon us,andthat with greater terrour, and farre more horribly, by leafon of the unexpedednelTeandour prefent defperate fecuri-ty: Though the Sun of the Gofpell, and glory of a matchlefft Miniftry fhineyet full faire among us in the Meridian of our peace and profperous daies, yet little know wee, how foone and fuddenly it may decline and fct in a fea of confufion, calamity and woe: And therefore hoard up greedily in the meane time, and while the Sun ihines,arich trca-fury of faving knowledge, grace and good life; thatifneedrequire,thoumayftthen refolutely reply with bleffed Paul againft all contradidions and temptations to the contrary: / am ready not to h:e Aflsai.ij. hound onelj, hut alfo to £efor the name of the Lord J E s V s: Though at this prefent thou doeft perhaps with much fweet contentment enjoy thy God comfortably, and His pleafed fice; many heavenly dewes of fpirituali }oy, glorious re-frefhings, and aboundance of fpirituali delights fall upon thy foule from the Throne of mercy every time thou con^meft neare Him; Thou canft fay unto thy Deareft out of thy prefent feeling, / am can.6.ij. my Belovedsy and mj Bdoved is mine, and in fonK good mcafurc kccpc a part with the Saints of old,

so PREPAjRATION

in fuch vicfkorious and triumphant Songs as thefe: lob. 1^ 2j,»4, Q^ f^^f ^y words were now written, ohthdt they were frinted in a booke ! That they were graven mth an iron^enAndleadtn the rock for ever. For, I know pril.46. »,>, that my Redeemer liveth, (^c. Wee will net fearer though the earth be removed: and though the moun^ tMnes bee carriedinto the middefl of the fea: though the waters thereof roare^ and be troubled, though the mountaines Ihake with the f veiling thereof Selah. /. 1.0m. s 3 8. amferfwadedthat neither death nor Ufe^ nor K^ngels , nor frncifalitiej nor powers, cjrc^ Yet for all this that oncly wife God of thine may hereafter for fome caufe feeming good to Himfelfe, and for thy good, with-draw from thee the light of His countenance, and fenfeof His love, and leave thee for a time to the darken effe of thine one fpirit, and Sa-Meanei for fif tans foreft temptations, &c. Ply therefore in this teufer^"'^ ^* profpcrity of thy foule all bleffed meanes s the Mi-'"■'^ * niftry, Sacraments, Prayer, Conference, Medita-.

tions, humiliation-dayes, holineffc of Hfe, cleare-nefle of confcience^ watching over thy heart, walking with God, fan6lified ufc of affiidions, experimental! obfervation of Gods dealings with thee from time to time, workes of juftice, mercy and truth, &c. Thereby fo to quicken, fordfie and fteele thy faith, that in the bittereft ex-^ tremity ofthy fpirituall diftreffe, thou maift bee a-blc to fay with lob, Though He flay me, yet will I truji in Him, lob, 13.15 • A thoufand croffes moe, calamities, and troubles may over-take thee before thou takcft thy leave of this vale of teares: It wiH bee thy wifdomc therefore now in this calme to

provide

provide for a ft orme j trcafurc up out of G o d s Booke many mollifying medicines and fove-raigneantidotes againft all flavifli and vexing fore- gJTz)^" tw^-thought of them in the meane time, and their bit- eth hu. ternelTe when they fliall come upon thee. Thou Jn^b^ '^' maiftbeairiiredjifthoubeea fonne^thy heavenly ifals.^^^&c^' Father will ever corrcdthee 51.' Never kfore 'ir^ 27.7*8. there be need-: and alw ayes in 2, ^ Pf'/fdomc^. :^^^'^^^^'^\}^' 5. *^ (Jiieajure, 4. ** Lovc^ ma tendermjjc^. i.Cor. 10. ij. 5. For * a moment onely. 6. To *" try thee-^ what "*i'rov.j.i2. droffe of corruption, and what found metall of RevT^^^9!'fra. grace is in thee. 7. To s purge out finne. 8> To 6i.9.'Vh.ioi. *» refine thee, and make the vercues of Christ in Ji^-'-Hof.ii. thee more fliining and illuftrious. 9. To * ftirre A'nd^'l^j'/ii.' up, quicken and increafe all faving graces in thy iT.Ands4.11. foule. Of which fee my Expo/ition upon the 26. V2kuo^'< sc Chapter of7/i. Amongft all the reft, Faith ever lo^V.&uj. becomes moft famous by afflivftions. Witneftc ^^^^^O'-^'-thatcloudofwitncfrcSj^^^. ir. 10. To ^ make And/7.16.' theeblefled. 11. To'favethec. 12. And Hee icr.j.n.Mic " will be ever with thee in trouble. 13. He "will ^'^f' ^ deliver thee. 14. Nay, and never was Gold- pfiime.66.10. Smith more curious and precife to watch the very Proverb. 17.3. firft feafon, when his gold is thorowly refined and [i^" | f''* fitted for ufe, that hee may take it out of the for- « id. iis.And nace^'than ourgratious Go j> ^ waits in fuch ca- p; And 27.9. fcs with an holy longing, that Hee may have mer- pr^uT^^ej. cy upon thee and deliver thee. But howfoever, or '■Dan.u.jf. whatfoeverbefals thee in this life,thou muft upon f ^^'^^^lach.

■' r 1J.9. I. Pet. I.

6,7. * Ioh.iM.Rom5,Ja4,f.ira.z6.j>. Iam.i.2,?. ''Iob.j.17. lam.x. tz.And f. rt.Pfal* 94.1a, * I. Cor. 11.51. t.Cor.4 17. •ir.i 41.10,1 1. And 4J.2 - Pfal.91.1j, "lob.j-i?.i9,PfaIj4.i7,iS,ip And jo.15. Andpi.i j. *Ifa go.18,

necefllty

S2 PREPARATION

ncceffity ere itbe long,lic gafping/or breath upon-thy dying bcd,an(i there graple hand to hand with the utmoft and concurrent rage of all the poweys ^ of darkntfle, and that king of feare attended with his terrours: and therefore let the whole courfe Hmv to prepare of thy life be a confcionable preparative to die aiainfi death, comfoixably: Suppofe every Day thy laft , and thereupon fo behave thy fclfc both in thy generall and particular calling, as though thou fhouldcft be called to an exa(5t account at night for all things done in the flelh, before that laft and higheft Tri-bunall; In'all thy thoughts, words, avftionsand undertakings in any kinci, fay thus unto thy felfe: would I doe thus and thus, ifl cerrenly knew the next houretobe my laft: In a word, fo live, thafi upon good ground thou maift bring D^ids un'a daunttdboldneftetothy bed of death : Though I walke through the valley of the jhadow of de^hj IwiH feare no evilL speciau prtpa- Here, upon this fcafonable occafion, give mee tames. leave to commend and tender unto youforae fpe-

ciall preparatives, rules, motives and meanes to furnifti before hand, andtofortifie your fpirits a-gainft all future evils, and terrible things that are towards. t.Preparative. j, Treafurcup Hchly and abundantly before Get iatience. ^^^^ ^^^ precepts, pradicc and experimental! rhe benefits 9f fweetneifeofpatiencc^thatmoft ufefull and precis ji4tience. ^^^ vertue, which may fervc (whentime ferves) as a fovcraigne antidote, to abate, and abolifti the fting and venimeof all croJnrcs,affli(aions5 and mor-tall naifcries j and as a comfortable cordiall to

fupport

fupport and hold up thy heait in the bicterneflc and extremity of the foreft.

Mighty and miraculous was theworke of this iobspatieHe<.\ glorious grace in blelTed loL By its heavenly -'.nd invincible influence upon his humble foule, it did not onely utterly extinguifh (which was a very admirable and extraordinary thing) all that defpe-rate anguifli and flaviih gricfe, which fuch variety and extremity of greateft miferies, that ever befell any mortal I man, would have naturally bred in the hopelefTc hearts of impatient worldlings 5 * Quanta ad-leall of which is many times enough to drive verfus eum ja-them to dcfpaii-e and fclfe-deftrudion; but alfo ^"^^ ""'^^^ • * enabled him with the fweeteft calmnefTe of a Si'tT wrmen-wcll-compofed and unfhaken fpirit, even to blefTe ta? jaaura re* the L o R D his God for taking from him thefe fl'^jf ^''numer tranfitory things, of which he was the true Pro- rone"'^foboii/ prietary, and which in much undeferved mercy orbitis irroga-He had lent unto him fo long. The Lord gave, cenfJi^Domi! C faid he) and the Lord hdih taken arvay ykle^fed be nusj & in hbe-the nam of the Lord. "^ ^^'" *^'"-

■^ or: Ncc Do-

minus repent^, ncc Pater eft. Accedit vulncru n va'ftitas,& tabefcentes,ac defluenies artus rermium vjuoq^ edaxpctna con/uniit,ci;*c. Nectamen /o& giavibus & denfis conflidatiombusfrangitur,quo mTnus inter illasanguftias & preffurasfuas Dei bene-diftio viiflricc patientia prsEdicetur. Cyprian.ie bono Pa kntU,

Nihil in Dotno remanferat, omnii in uno idii peiieruntj quibns opulentus pauIo ante videbatur, Subito mendicus in ftcrcore fedet, a capite ufqj ad pedes vermibus fcatens. Quid ifti miferia miferius? Quid intcrioiefoelicitatcfcelicius ? Perdideiat omnia illaqux dcdcrat DBVs/ed habcbat Ipfum qui omniadedcrat DEVM*»-»Ccr-tc pauper eft, certc nihil habet. Si nihil rcmanfit,de quo thefamo iftar gemmae laudis Dei profcruntur?—O virum piitrem, & integrumjO ^oedum & pulchium; O vulnc-ratnm & fanumjO inftercoref. dentem3& in coelo rcgnantcml j4ug.de TeTap.Ser.io<}.

With what infinite, implacable indignation, 2)*'^''*/^ aild bloudy rage would ^/'^»^Af railing have rent

D in

PREPARATION

Elies patience.

in peeces the heart of many a gracelcffe King! And yet Davf^ by the helpe of this holy vertue, pafTcd on along patiently without woundjOrpalTion.

That heavy newes which was fo horrible, that it made both theeares of every one that heard it, tingle, brought by Samuel to £// immediately from Gods ownc mouth, might have made many an carth-worme to have run mad with the very fore-thought of fo much mifery to come: But good old patient Eli;whcn he had heard it all, fweetly ejaculates : It u the Lo kd: Let htm doc i.Sam.3.18. vphatfeemeth him good.

The taking away of two fonncs at once by a fudden and violent death, with vifible vengeance from heaven, and in the middeft of amoft horrible finne, is naturally matter of forrow which cannot be expreft, and extreme/!: griefc: yet KyiAYon in fuch a cafe having learned conformity of his ownc will to the divine pleafure of the oncly wife Go d ; when il/^y^-^ told him that the Lord VDOuld he fantfifed in them that come nigh Bimy and before all the people He vpouldheeglorifed -^ He held his peace: K^nd Aaron held his feace. So quieting his heart becaufe God would have it fo. See further for this purpofe, 2.Sam,^.i'^yi6, jfa.S9'^'^c.

By thefc few precedents you may eafily perceive what fingular and foveraigne power patience hath to pull the fting, and extrad the poyfon out of the moft grievous calamities and grcatcft troubles.

But now on the contrary: Impatiency andun-

pleafcdneile

Lcvit, 10.3.

Jmpatkncy worfetkenany (rofe.

pleafednefTe with Gods providence in fending *j^lll'^^l\i

both good and nil, ( yet evcrinlove,andforour "^^ropomon^St

good 5 For ^ what foane ish:-, whom the Father cha- ^uji expeff as

fiemhmt? ) doth more affii(ft us than all oar affli- ^/f^f^l^

dions. Theftormcof Go d s wrathbreakesout god. what?

fometimes upon the outward ftate offome greedy (^^j^^ iob)axil\

fretting mammonift, andhejuftly fmiteshimfor go'u^d aT^t'hc

his wicked covetoufneflfe and diOioneft gainc, per- iiand of Go o,

haps in the height andhotgleame ofhisprofperi- ^"^ ^ccdyH*

ty andthriving, by fome fudden vifible confump- vili^cap.i. 10.

tion, or fecret waftingcurfe : He (as fuchcove- ''.^^^s* ^'^^'c

tous wretches are wont) takes on extremely, farrc nuiuT,"ut pi"-

beyond the rage of the maddeft bedlam. Hee vis mtmiatio-

ftainpesand ftares (as they fay) roaresand raves, "^|^'" ^°<^ ^^'

gnafheth his teeth, teare; his haire, bites his nailes, q'jia g dT r s

almoft like a damned foulc,that hath new loft hca- fligeiht om.

ven ; untill at length the DivcU lead him to lay ^;^^ ^f^;^^

violent hands upon himfelfe. Now, are notthefe (ins dubio que

felfe-vcxing tortures farre more terrible than the "^" fl^gdiat,

taking away of histranfitories c' Is not the cutting ^^^ deTemp

of hisownc throat incomparably worfe than the senn.io^.

croffe i A bird that is intangkd amon^ft lime- * '^''}> '"'^'S"

o D u.irisr Querela

twigs, the more fhe ftirres and ftruggles, the more & indignauo ihe is made furc, and doubles her danger: A ^re- n»iai>udquam piningreludation, and angry ftriving (as it were) fu^t^^^niMl* to get out of Go D s hands, doth everenvcnime mm tamexaf-and exafperate the wound, and m akes us t en times P^";^^ fervorem worfe, and more mift?rable, than if we fairely and fercndlimpati-

entia. Omnis indignatfo in tormentum fnHm proficit. Sie InqucoS fcra dum jadat, aftiitvgit; fie aves vifcnm, dam trepidantts excutiimt, plumis omnibus illmunt: nullum tarn arftum eft jugum,quod non minus laidit ducentem, qu.\m rcpugnantem. Uniim eft Icvamen. tuna jnalomm ingentium etiam pati, & neceflicatibus fuis obfequi. Quid igitur mar-bo corporis, animi morbum addcre ju/at, teqj mifeiiorem faccre muimurandoj&c,

D 2 patiently

S^ PREPARATION

patiently fubmitted to his omnipotent and moft

merciful! will. Neither doth want of patience only

iir.patiency em- mightily enrage a crofTc, but italfo embitters aU

titnn aHcom- our Comforts. Thcbarcomifldonofa meerecom-

fmf, plcment in Mordecai did not only fill Hamms proud

heart with many raging diftempers of hatred, ma-

liccrevenge, foolifli indignation and much furious

difcontenrment; but alfo turned all the pleafurc,

and kindly relifh in his counly pleafures, riches,

honours, offices, extraordinary advancements and

royallfavours, into gall and worme-wood, ^nd

Heflcr. ?. 11. Haman told them of the glory of his riches jandthe muL

*'' ^' titude of his children y and all th things wherein thc:^

King had promoted him^and how he had advanced him

' above the Prin ces andfcrvants oft he King, Haman faid

moreover^yeaEjlher the ^ueenedtdlet no mm come in

With the King unto the Banquet that fJ?e had prepared,

but m) felfe, and to morrow am J invited unto her alfo

with the King, Tet all this availeth me nothingyfo long

as I fee (J\^lcrdecai the lew fitting at the Kings gatz^ .

Whereas novjDavidy a King, as I told you before,

by the benefit of this blefTed grace, did not fuifer

his Princely fpirit to be un-calmed at all,no nor by

the traiterous and moft inrollerable reviling of a

dead dog, and hisbafeft vaffall.

^Preparation. 2. Keepe offchy heart from the world, in the

wlX. "^^^ greatet affluence ofwealth and worldly profperi-

Mifchiefes of ty. Earthly-mindedneflfc ever fharpentth and

*!2i*''*' keenes thefting inail diftreflfes. It gives teeth to

the crofTc to eat Ou^t the very heart of the affli<5led.

Had not Job beene able to have profefTed, that in

the height of his happinefTe he was thus affeded :

^/

jflhave made ge^ldmy hope, or have [did to the fine I^.ii.a4. goldy Thou art my confdence : iflrejoyced kcaufemy wealth fvof great, and kcaufe wy hand had gotten fMtch: [_Herc "fky Divines, fomcthing is under- •Hicfubaudi©. ftood,as^/?'^^4W,£henl€tnieperi{h, orthclike] dy"^P^-^*"i*°v //b / heheldthe Sun when ttjhfncd, or the Moone rvalk- ^^^^g^jn he ing in hrtghtneffe: ^nd my heart hath hcenefecretly ^ lob.j i .i<s. enttced, or my mouth hath ktp^ my hand: -^^-Thcn [^^'^TxpofuT-pjould / have dented the God that ts ahovt. If 1 rant, quafi lo-grew proud, puft up, or pleafed my felfe with the ^"^ P'^i?^"*^-

^••/i . 1-1 .^ r 111 1 1 '^'Jr, fc Solem

ghftermg brighrneae of my earthly abundance, let & i^^^^^^ ^^^ it be {o and fo with me: I fay, except M^ heart adora{rc:quia had beenc thus «weaned fi-om the world, when as '^XiJ yaSe yet he wallowed in wealth 5 hee had never becne uiicata erat, ableto hold out in thecvill day^and tohavc borne prsrertim in ib bravely theruinc offorich aftate without re- ferdfenfusv?-pining. But now churliih Nabai, whofc affe<5tions rus quidem cd, were notorioufly nail'd to the earth; though per- ^^^^^fnenioco haps once or twice ayeare he made a joviall and convenit:/.?^! frolicke feaft, as other cunning worldlings are hk voiuit niii wont to their good-fellow companions, upon pur- ['{'"& "^"jcm pofe to procure and preferve a Pharifaicall reputa- juxta fcrmo-tlon of bounty with fome flittering dependants, "^""^ i"^'" and for acloaketo colour their covctoufncffe and {f^™ ^o "q'^S

profcflus cii/c nulla fuperbia & arrogantia liBoralTc, &c. Calvin in loc. *Si laetarus fum. intuit, mulcts mih» affluentibos undiqj divitijS, Ij recond:di nurum in puivercm, fi fpem in pretiofis lapidtbus habui, Hxc ille. Propteie.i nee quum ercpta quidena omnia fubitb eflcnt, turbatus eft ; quippe qui p sfentibus non deleftantur, &c, —-Qtjas omnfs ob res mecumipffi plerurrK^; admiaiifoleo, quare in montem Dia-bcilo vcfiic, cxercitationcs iftiBS iion ignorantu tot tantofq, advcifusipCumcpgitafle JaboKs. Cor igitur ilii vcnjt infT^wntcm-? TiuciiLentflunaxieiite beftia nunqitao* Tolct defperarc nftoriamj qaod ad rondemnationetn noftram fpe^at: nam illc nun-quam, utdixi, noftram «lefperat ptrdicionem : nos defalnte noftra fxj^^iiis defpcra-»u$. ChyfHam.iJ^inMai.

D 3 cruelty

cmelty 5 yet he ivas of a flinty bosome in fefpe(S^

of doggcdneffe and extreme niggardife, tfpecially

towards Gods people, and his hean by excefllvc

< looting there, was turned wholly into earth ; and

therefore in the evill day, ft diedwUhn him, and he

mTl^l ^^^^i hecame as ajlone. To keepe off the world in a fit

may eiicptof. ^-^j^j^^^^ that it do thec no deadly hnrt, and un-

M tUngs he doc thee quitc^ keepe ftill frefh and ftrong in thy

lowarevaniiy, thoughts atine eftimate and right conceiptofthc

rcs^ifm Ji"? ^ mutability of all things here below, and thine

Cinis, puivisj owne mortahty. In their beft condition and high-

fumus,iimbr3, eft conflutnce, they are but i^Vmity : Wefhall

flos/omnkim,' ^^"^^^ ^^^^ ^ ^^^^ ^^Y folidity 5 or that good-or

fabuia,ventus*, coHifort which we ftill with much eager purfuit

hilTml T' ^"^ ^^^^^ exped ard'labour in vainc to extra<a

au-rens, & fi fromthcm: butupon triallandtruft in them, they

quid iftis infc will ever prove empty clouds, broken ftavesof

'JT^EpY'^ad *'^^^> *Applesof Sodom, Wells without water.

Heh Horn 9. And wheu.wegrafpe them moft greedily, wcem-

inquiramus, fi bracc Hotliing but fmoke, which wrings teares

Fun^Via prlT. iiop-,iqur cycs, VX'^ .vaiufticth^into nothing.

fcntis'vitae prg- -,; •n- 7 •': • • T-fi^iTr^T hfn -n.-.or/'f ^ i' 1

clara? Divitis, gloila,p6(entj3, m?gnum exiftimari abhominibi'S ? Stdtidcbis nihil illis cffe inceitius.-—Et ficut videii ncju t in roti, quae ccntiriiovcfptuv, aliqua pars ejus, eo qwcd crebra ciicumferentia, fempcr fumma fiunt ima, & ima fumma: ita & noftiaruni icium impetusdum continue vcituntiir fumma facit iifima ,Kt vidcrc licet in divitijs, potentijs,& alijs. Nnnquam enim in eodcm ftatu manentjftd ftjtiper inftabilcSjHuminum fluxusimitantur. JdemHcm.de Nomine Jbram.

• PomaGomorrhxapulchraquidcmfimt, fed cum franguntur, inyagum pulvercm fatifcunt.

>* things be- ^, Vexation of fpirit. Bcfidestheemptineflfcand BtkHtJ-^iriT abfcncc of that imaginary felicity which we hunt after in them 5 there is alfo the preferce and plenty of much mifcry and hearts griefe, which the

(laves

fliwes of pleafure, atid lovers of the world little lookc for, wheel they at firft refolve to fell their t Anacreon foulesforfuchtranfitorytraOi. Divmasinvmijil? f^'^^^^^'f^'; ( faith one) Reqiuem perdldtfli. Had thou found nnus,ciim per riches ^ Thiu haft loft thy reft. A man that will dms nofte. be rich, takes no more reft, thanoneuponaracke, PJ°Set;red-orbedofthornes; like ^ o//?*«<^''^^» vvith his five didit ea, inqui-Talents, ftili diftraa:ed with worldly thoughts, cns;nontanti

1 . II -1 -1 J r „ efle quanta ip-

and concinually prickt with cares and teares. foiu.m nomine 3. They cannot fadsfie the foule. Gold can no cura (aborarct. more fill the fpiritof aman, than grace hispurfe. ^fi'^^s^'l^^ Betweene heaven and earth, fpirits and bodies, camet fimft foules and filver, there is no proportion. And tUfouie. therefore no earthly excellencies, nocarnall plea-fures, no worldly treafures are fit matter, or a full objed^, for fuch an immateriall, immortall and heavenly borne-being to feed upon with any proper delight, true comfort, or found contentment. Not all this great materiall world, or greateft mafle of gold canpolTibly fill the mighty capacity and immeafarable appetite of this little fparkeof heaven breathed into us by the infinite power of an Almighty hand. A man may as well fill a bag with wiiedome, as the foule with the world; a cheft with vertues, as the mind with wealth. 4. They cannot helpe in the evill day. Tkir Mor hsipe w. Moud (faith the Prophet) (hall ke poivred 014^ as the evill day. dttfl^ and their flelh as thz dmg : neither their ^=P'^'^'»7,i^ filver nor their gold fh^tH hee able to deliver them in the daj of the Lords vorath. Put a man into a pang of any painefull maladie, and bodily toiture i as into a fit of the Stone, Strangury,

D 4 8 dcepc

8 Mo torture of 6 dccpc Mclarichoty, Gout, ChoHcke, or the like: boJy like unto It Jet fomc incurablc devouring Ulcer, Canker, Ele-Z/ttTilu. phanti3fis,the Wolfe^the ^ pltca, &c. take hold up-

1 iri BulSyalfeare-^^^fiefs fi/Jpicianii, difcotitetitsare fwaUo^vedup (3*ilroTci>nedtnthWBmi-p.is,r^/i Irijb iea^ibii Oeenvt ^^mifery^MJo a^apyfninH hroof{S.Thu u theiiuintejieceofhu--mam Uiherfnj/- all other difeafesrvhatfoe'vcr are hiitfiea bningsto Melanehoy in extent, Ty the pith a] them all. ^ndamelanch9l)/ min h that true i^to<ni:tUQi\sivbiihulfou/idto C^azh:'Cus,thctrtie Thius^rthefeboisDel! arejiilby a l^ulter devoured^as Poets feigner and fo doth Linus Gir ildiis interpret it,tf anxietifs,an.LthofegrJpi»g cares In all other jnata-diesrvhatfoe.er ive'eel^far h^lp: If die/ or an arm d^c /' rouih any d^/Ieperntureor ttou U or that we b.^^e atty ordinary difea/eydbaiie all things xvhatfoever^ree defire help ^health aprefcnt recovery,if by aty meanespojftb'y it may be procured. IVe will freely fart rviih all our other fuhfiance, endure any mifery^drinli bitter potions, ; wallow tho,e di/iafljuil pills ^ [uffer ourjoynts to be feared^ to he cut off-, any thing for future health ; fofiveet,/o deare,fo precioM above all other things in the tvorldU lije:hut to a melamhtlicfi man^nothingfo tedi-o:ii'-,nothtng ft odtouA; that which tkeyfo carefully fee 1^ topreferve^be abhors M alom.fj int$» lerable are Jba politer: Barton ©f Melan.pag. 27 4. ^^ mofi loatbfome and horrible .Hfeufe in the haire Unheard of in former times ,ai lVlorbiisGalIicus,cr Sudor An^hcuSibred by m9' dern luxury '^exceft.:it feiicthJpcgaUy upon wonteniandby reafon of a vi/coas venimoiu lu.nauryglues together (as it were) the haire oj the headwith a prodigiouii ugly iafpHcation and intan'ilement:(<)Metim€S tailing rhe forme ofagreat fhal^ej/bmetimes of many lijtlefer-fents:fuUofnafiineJfe,vv'mi: taidnoyfhmefmell: ^nd that which it mofi to be a^imiredy ar.dnexer eyifaw before ^pricked wifh aneedle, theyyeeldbloudy drops. And at the ^r^ ^reading oj thit dre 'dfuU difeafe in Foland^all that cut off this horrible and fi^aliie-b^irt, lofi their eyes,or the humor falling dctwnnpon other parts ofthebody,tortttr'dtbemextre)ne-ly. Heare my Author, that learned aadJamoM Profeffour of Phyficl^ in I'A^ur, Hcrcnlct Sixoniiinhit ownwords'. Plic3,cttagjkitinatio,veljnvilcatio4u«(iam piloium ex hu-mido, vilcido, lento .ic glutinsfo Nuncpiimuin per uiiivcrram fere Poloni^ragraira-ti:r ; imo veto per qnafdartj Gcimanixpartes divagatiir.— Msxhriam pai?cm foerni.. nas invadit Eos eciamqui p&rriginem capitis^quam Tulgus tineam vocat, medicamcn-tis repercutientiisus repreflaant; Prjecerca foeminas, quae menfttuis ternporibus non fatis purgantur.-—Quisnon novum, mirabilc, & horridum putet cipillos ex propria natura phnos, demiffbs ac fimplices, momento tcmporjsfpontefuafubcceloadro-dum frigidoincrifpari, pauIo poll ehgi, involvi, atq;indi{rolubilitcrcon)nngi, varias fccipere figuras, qnandoq; maximicujufdamanguis, aliquandopluruim & minoruin fcrpentum, undiq; vermcSjfpurcitiemfoetorcmq; redolcre : QuoJq; omniumraiaxi-mumeft, & .ifeculoinauditum, acu pcrpuiKftot.vcl transfixes fanguincm cftundere. — Expertumcft, qui talcs fafciculos impUc.Korum pcratflc inter fe crmiumderaferinr,, cos oculis capi, aut defluxibus ad alias partes corporis graviffimc torqueri. /t began firfi not manyyeares 4go in Poland. It is now entredinto many parts of Germany, ^nd methinlis, eur r/ionflroiu Fafljioni/ls, both rnaleandfemale i the one'.or nourifbifg their horrid bufhes of vanity; the other for their mofi unnaturalland cur fed cutting their haire, fbould every home feare and trembleflefi tley fhwldbrin^ it upon their ew-ne heads^ and Armngfi us in this Kjn^dome. On

on any part of his Body; and let him tell m,ethen, what accouBt he would make of all thelmperiali Crowncs upon earth, attended with the height and utmoft of humane felicities:' Or wha* comfort could he take in the riches, glory and plea-fures of the whole world < Or whateafe andre-frefhing can large poflTcfirnns, fumptuous build-ings,pleafanr walkes, princely favours^dainty fare, choifcft delights, or any thing under the S un, afford in fuch a cafe <: The very pricke of a needle, or painc of a tooth for the time, will take away the tafte ofall carn:ll contentments, and pleafurc of the worlds Monarchy. If the Lord fhould let loofe the cord of thy confcience, and fct His juft anddefcrved wrath a worke to enkindle flames of horrour in thy heart, what helpe couldeft thou have in heapes of gold, or hoards of wealth < Re-Hiembcr Sfira» They would be fo farre from healing the wound, or allaying the fmarr, that they would yet more horribly affiid thy already enraged fpirit, and turnc them even into fiery Scorpions for thy further torment. Let thylaft ficknelTe feize upon thee^ and then fay ( forthe houre of death, as they fay, is the houre of truth ) whether all the gold and goods in the world can any more deliver thee from the Arrefl: of that inexorable Serjeant, than can an handfull of duft •: Nay, whether then the extremity of thy fpirituall sffiidlion, and anguifli of foule, will not be an-fwerable to the former cxcefle of thine inordinate affcdion to earthly things, and delights of icnfe,i Or fuppcfcthou fliouldeft befurprifed

]:>REPARATION

^ by that laft and great dav,whicli the Lo r d in mercy hafl:en;tiow vile thou then refcue thy free-hold, when the whole Frame oFche world is on fire *? Thingi hu^ ^^ ^}^ cannot pofllbly lead us beyond this ttirnity. lite, or exceud to eternity. If we lee a iervant rol-

low two gentlemen, we know not whofe man he isjbut their parting will difcover to whether he belongs; When death fliall fever the owner from the world, then will riches and rcvenevves, orEces and honours,ftately buildings,andall outward bravery cleave to the world, and leave him to the world to come as poore a vvorme and wretch, as when he firft came into this worldrand therefore they are all the worlds Heire-loomes,and none of his: Even as Abfeloms mule went away, when his head was faft in the great Oake,and fo left him h mging between heaven &earth,as awofullfpedacleof mifery and fhame to all beholders: So will all their wealth and worldly felicities deale with their moft greedy ingrofTers, and deareft minions upon their dy-Proy.23.5-. ingbeds. Thejwillthenmoficertenly{2i^Sdom9n faith) wake thetnfelves wings, and flie away as an Bo-gle toward heaven: And leave their now forlornc former favourites to the fury of a guilty confci-I«r.t.ij. cncefor their Ci\rCc(\ forfikm^ the Fount iune of living waters y all their life long, and hewing them out fuch cifiemesybroken cifiernes that could hold no water-^ norhelp indieevill day. Weall ftand atthedoorc of eternity jif death but once open it naturally or violently, or by any of his thoufand thoufand waies, we are prefently ftript of all, and immediately enter upon it, either that of cvcrlaftingplcafurcs, or

the

I

theotherofcverlaftinepaines.Andthcrfoieitwill f<»'«f'^'e»'#r/J

be our wildome in tilt I ncr.n time to value worldly ^^rice.

vanities at no more than their c\vn pricey and indu-

ftrioufly to ply all meanes which may enrich us

with heavenly treafures of that divine ftampeand

lafting tc mper, which may attend us rhorow all e-

tcrnity. And as all thefe things here below are thus ^••**''» ^fonaiitjf

mutable and fugitive, fo thy felfeart mortalland

fraile. A creature as it were but of one daies lading, j j^^ ^^ ^^^

like that • Flower and Bird which (as naturalifts re- meiocaiii's,cu!

porr)receivethcir being and birth in the mornings jus vua & pui.

but wither and die at night. Thy abode upon earth '^.^scd &X

is like a vanifliing^vifion of the night, a flying luais ad H.p-

drcame, thevery dreameofafliadowj&c. This pan™fluvium

•^ •' clt,ncnicrovi-

os difta, quae Bon ultra diem vivitj fed czdcm cmnino luce, qua Uicem inchoat, finit, moncntiqjSoli comrHoritur : codem d.e, pucu, juvcnis, fenisatatem expciia mane nafcitur, mciidie & viget, vcfpcri coBfcncfcic & moritur. Animalculohuic /iniillimaeft huniana vua. Ad fluviiim ilia eft f-cipcti.6 fliientis tcmpciis, fed & voiucris dt magis quam avisulla, ycl lagitta,& l^pc omnisfuz pompse dicmuni» cum', terminum habttj fKpchoram, fsepc paulopiodudiius momemum. Quid evg6 annos medjtnmur & faecula, fjepc' bicvicris Xvi ciusm flcrcs ant floium uirbiaj aut fi quid umbra v^niuSj bievius. e/£rcrnif.Prodr€.Pag-\o. ^ Optimc lobm : Et qui eum, inquit, vidcrantj diccnt ubi eft ? Vclut fomniiiin avolans non invcnieturj (^fomniarc mamfiimum, vobrc ctlenimvim) tranfjct {icut vifio codurna. Vita quid eft ? FloscftjfuniVJStftjUnibn cf,& umbra: iimbia,Bulla, ruIvis,Spuma,Ros,Stil-lajGlacics tft.- Jiidis arcus dcficicns ccreus, furculus pertu!us/u:onola domus,cinis do* lofuSj dies vernuSj Aprilis cor.ftant filmiss, unicus tcfiiidinis tinnitus eft ; Hydriafra-6^a,fontisiotaj ijraneraum tela, maris omtula^vihs ft puin, folftitialis herb2,brevi$fa-billajvcliicus, fcmtilla^triftis nebula, vcfica vento plcnajtutulansad folem columbula: YJia, vitrnm lencrriinum, folium Icvrfi mum, filum fiibtilifllmum, pomum auicum eft, (ed intus putridum, &.'c. Si njhil eft i-mbra, die quid umbrje fomnium ? Sex-ccnta milk talia de tita humsna rc6fc pronunci.irtur. Mibi omnium. rcftifTmevi-denturdixiflc, qurvitam \ocznt Somniumtimbrxlre'vijfmiim. C ompendior«nd> caaius; vita tft . . r . Scmnuf-BuHa^ f^itrumyGlacief,Fl'js,Fahvla,F($f}um,

Vitaprasfcns figura «.ft & dectpiio, ficaf' mnijs ml u i.iffert; Ergo mens ca eftpueri-lis, quae ad umbra*fpc^at, defomnijS fupcibit, &iebus fliixis alhgatur. Chryf.in

fwift

. fwift tide of mans life, after it once turncth and de-clineth, ever runneth with a perpctuallebbc and falling ftreame, but never floweth againe : Our leafe once fallen/pringcth no more 5 neither doth the Sun or the Summer beautifie us againe with the garments of new leaves and flowers, or ever after revive or renew us with frefhneile of youth, and former ftrength. Not onely ^rf/<?«?w (Ecclef, I, ) makes us in this refpedmore miferable than the Sun and other foule-lefTe creatures 5 but even the Poet alfo by the light of natural I reafon (whom I urge onely to make Chnftians, mindlciTc of their owne mortality, afliamcd, who have thoughts of heaven and eanh, as though eternity were upon earth, and time onely in heaven) tels us

CdTuitui. that. Soles occidcre ^ redtre fojfunt: Thus in Englifli 5

The Sun maf fet and rife: But we contrartrv'fcj Sleepe After onejhort light, An everUftmg night. Which we muft onely undcrftand of returning 3-ny more to lifeand light in this world. Nay, in a word, lay thy (cI^q loaden with the utmoft of all earthly excellencies and felicities in the one fcale of the ballance,and vanity in theother, and vanity will weigh thee downe. Take heed therefore of trufting to the world in the meane time,left it torture thee extremely in the time of trouble.

^.Preparative, $- Take heed of weakening in the meanc

ffreaiienmtthy ^jme, and unnccdTarily over-wearying thy

^*^' fpirit:

X. By

1. By calking forc-thotght of future evils, *^ttvghtsof which forty to one may never fall our. Many men ^T^en'^tke lamperfwaded, (fuch is the naturall vanity of our ^?'^'f. minds) do morevexc themfelvcs withfearcand fore-conceipt of imaginary evils, which never befall 5 then they have juft caufe, to take on and trouble their hearts for all Other true, reall,a(5luall troubles, which fall upon them. Thus many times do men torture themfclves vainly with immoderate feare of forreine invafion, home-bred confufion, change of religion, the fiery triall, burning at a ftake, diftradion of mind, furprize by the Plague, Small Poxe, Purples, Spotted Fever, diftrcffe and going backward in their outward ftate, lofTe of fome child they love beft, deftrudi-on of their goods by fire, robbery, fliip-wracke, the frownesof greatntfle, hurt and revenge from thofc that hate them, hardneffe of heart, failing of their faith, fpirituall defertion, overthrow by temptation, defpaire of G o D s mercies, fudden death, difcomfortablc carriage in their laft fick-neflc, the ^.t/^ of ftare himfclfci what (hall become of their children, when they are gonc,&c. By thcfc and millions mocof fuch caufelcfTe and carking fore-imaginations, the very flower and vigour of mens fpirics may be much emafculatcd, and wafled wofully. A godly care to prevent them by repentance and prayer ^ and a careful! preparation by mortifying meditations, and Chnflian magnanimity to beare them padently, if we be pl.t unto it, is commendable ard comfortable : but in the mcanetimc to unfpirit and macerate

PREPARATION

i.Selfe-creatsd crojfes we4^c» tbe ^irit.

Vniuemoti'^ts re mariage'

rate our felves with much diftruflfull mifery and needleflfe torture about them, to our hindrance, diftraflion ani difcomforcin any budnefTes of cither of our callings, or any wayes, unchearefuU walking; by flivi(h pre-conceipcs to doubleand multiply their flings, and to fuflPerthem fo often before they feize upon us, is both un-nobleand un-necefTary : moft unworchy the morall refolu-tion of a meerenaturall man, and the generous fpi-rit of an honeft Heathen; much more- the invincible fortitude of any of Christ s favourites, and heires of heaven.

Of, 2. Selfe-creatcd crofTes, that I may fo call them. For fo it often is, that many maried couples, governours of families (to inftance there) having the world at will (as they fay ) and wanting nothing that heart can wifh from Gods hand for outward things: and yet (I know not how ) by rcafon of pafliDn, covctoufneflfe, pride, waiward-nefTe, frowardneffp, or fomething, they mutually embitter their lives one unto another'with much uncomfortablenelTe, difcontentment and jarring. I would advife all fuch (and there are many and many fuch abroad in the world) pundually and impartially to examine their confciences; whether fuch fccrct fins as thefe,of which they take no notice, may not be the caufes of it.

I. Matching, as being notmooved principally and predominantly with poitioUiparentagcperfo-nage, beauty, luft, riches,lands, flattery, friend-(hip^greatneffe of family, forced perfwaiions y Parents

rents covaous importunity, or fome bafeand irreligious by refpecfi and gracelefTe grounds. This the Apoftle C3\\€ihw4rrjfrfgff9 the Lor d ; that is, fornoby-icfpc^l, butinthefcareof G o d, 1 .Cor, J»39* Without which all matches arcmilerable, though they fliould be made up with hoards of wealth and heapes of gold as high as heaven, crowned with honours tranfccndcnt to the ftarres. The bafeneffe^folly and iniquity ofthefe times is not more vifible and eminent in any thing, than in making, or rather marring of marriages. How often may we fee by ordinary obfervationa little golden glue to joyne faft in the deareft bonds, pearlcs and clay < And filken fooles to carle away fufficiencies above their woithlc/re weight in richeft jewels ^ The world is ftarke mad in this Point. But they are rightly ferved ; noble miferies and golden fetters are fit enough for fuch couples. For from this bitter root of a covetous, Mifchiefes «f carnall, ambitious, orany wayes unconfcionable ""^"^^^ "^^<^^" choice, fprings a world ofmifery and mifchiefe^ overthrow and ruine of great houfcs, fcandalous divorces, unlawful! feparations, diflionour^ diftur-bance, jealoufies, adulteries, baftardife, braw-lings, mutuall exprobration of each others infirmities, deformity, portion, parentage, or fomeo-ther cutting and netting matter of difcontent • fin-full diforders in families, ill education of children, &c. And, without repentance, ofterafewand wretched daycs tedioufly worne out with much irkfomneffe and heaits-breake, lyingtogethere-vcrlaflinglyinthelakeoffire, there banning each

other

other with much defperatc hoitour, and many bitter defpairefull gnatogs of teeth, that ever they entred into that eftate. carnaHUvein 2. Predominancy ofcarnall love. Which may vttrtage. ' ^^ juftly pumflied with many fits offrowardnefTc and falling out, from fuch fmall occafions and light grounds^ that the Parties may well perceive, that the correding hand of G o d is in it leading thera thereby to the fight and notice, to remoric and reformation of the brutiih fenfuality and fin-fiilnefle of their matrimoniall affci^ion ; which fliould ever be re;5tified by reafon, and fpiritua-liz'd with grace. Manage is rather a fellowfliip of deareft amity, then disordered love. And love and amity are as different as the burning fickc heat of a fever from the naturall kindly heat of a healthfull body. immt^eftahufi 3. Immodeft or immoderate abufe ofthcma-«jmartage, jiage. Which, though it lie without the walkc of - humane lawes, yet divine jufticcdoth many times defervedly chaftife it with variety of vifitations upon themfelves, families, outward ftate, good name: with mifcarriages, barrennefle, bad children, giving them over to unnecefTary diftempers and ftrangeneffc in their carriage one unto another, and other fuch like difcomforts and crolTes. WhichCthough they may alfo befall Gods children for other ends, yet) let all guilty couples in fuch cafes conceive, that they fall upon them for fuch fecret fenfuall cxorbitancies and

HegkHofholy CXCCflc.

t'i'iS*' 4- Want of a comfortable communion in

prayer.

prayer, godly ccnfeience, mutuall coBpmunica-

tion of their fpirituallcftate, and how they (land

to G c D wardjdaiesofhiimillstion, helping one

another towards Heaven, and that joyiull forc-

rhoi ght of moft ccitaine meeting together m the

everlafting manfions of glory, joy, and blifle

above. Such divine fellowfliip would incredibly

fweeten thatdcarcft indilTolublc knot, and make

that ftate a very earthly Paradifc to thofc fcvr -

black Swannes,that love forw€etly?.ndgiacioiiny

together.

% Ignoi'lnce, orncg*Jgencein the right un- Nciie^^fm*-derftandirg and pradifing both of the com- J?^**'"'** '**' mon and fevorall duties pertinent and proper to that eftafc. In all other Aits, Profcffi-ons, and Trades of life, the Pra(^irioners de-fire and endeavour to be ready in, and ruled by the precepts and direiflions thereof; but as concerning this great myftery of man:iging the ma-risgc-liate with wifdome, confciencc and comfort, the moft are ns ignorant in thofc Treatifes which teach their Duties (of which there are many excellent ones extant) as they ai« bafely in-folcnt in clownifh frowardneflc, or imperious tyranny, to create agrcatdeale of needlcflfe difcon-tcnt and mifery, both to themfelvcs ^nd their yoke-fcllcv/cs.

4. Hclpe alfo wee may have for the Point 4 Frcp:irative. in hand, even from the wifer Heathen. Who ^^'^!ic^'' GiX of the very light of nature and grounds, of reafon, did learne and labour to moliifie and affwage the flinging fore-thoughts of ill to come •,

H and

»ridcnt«r')m. aid to ' pr^pircfor a more cafic and patient paf-gr'^v.orT""''' ^^g^ thorow thciti, by cntcrfaining a rcfolution —Pr^cmedita. beforc handto lookc for 35 no uncouth thing, any lio futuiorum calaM/jCrofTcor cafjalcy, incident to mortality, Toi^n'^zdltn- ^"^ ^^^ condition of man5 an^ if they efcap'd'

tu.Tu/f ^xfi.

Hi.f. Qiioniim multiiti poteft prorifio animi,& pratpintio ad minuenduTTj dof orctn fiiat femper omnta homini hum.\na meditaca. Hx: eft ilia praiftjns & difim f»pien-*'*• —Nihil ad in jraci Ctim accident: Nmil,antscjmna cveiurat, noa e/cnirc pofle iihiixzti./JeuIhid.

Nam qui hxc audita a dofto meminiflfc/n viro,

Futurasmecum comtncntabar mifcriis:

Am mortem 8cerbara,autcxilij moeftam fagam,

Aut fcmpcr aliquat/ molcm meditabac mail :

lU fi qua invc<aa diritas cafu fot cr,

Ne mc imparatam cuiaUceraret tcpcns. Earlp'J

Quimobrem omncs^cutn fecundat funtmaicirnc, turn maxim^

Mcditiri recumGportet,quo pafto advcrfara arrumnim fcrant:

rencl.n,damna,cxilia pcregrcrtdicns femper cogitet:

Aut filfj peccntum,aut ui^oris mortemjaut morbum filiz ;

Coir.munia cfle harc,fieri poflTe : ut nc quid ammo fit novu n ;

Q£icqiiid prxter fpcm eveniat ctnne id dcputare eflc in lucro Terent.

"Divines alfo boU thit premutation and preparation butnp$n better grounJi,an Ihy tie rule: ofgracCt very power'^uU t9 enable us topajfe more patiently tlorov crofes rvien they come. ■ ' ' /.'

IVHncveroita prxmcdkatiiscxcrcitirusq; fucrat, ut ad omnia ingcnti an mo per-fliterit; ad totius fub(lanta;-,& tarn multaram reram lafioram, ad filiorum amanfli-mum obitum,ad iJxoris-afi"cftum,ad acctbi coiporis ulcer3,ad in}uft,i amiccrum oppro-biia, ad ancillatuii conteipptunratq; fcrvorum. Clryj in Mat Horn j*.

Nu!lu'> fit cafuSjqurrT\nonrriCditatiotua pcrvcniat.: rullus fit c fas qnitc imps-rA*umnremat: Pioponc nihil effe quod tibiacciderc non pofljr. Bern tk interiori 'DcnCapA'i.

Mens folicitax'itcqu^m agere qund libct inc'piat, omnes fibi, qms pati poteft contLnr.clias propanat; qu^tenus Redcmptoris fui probra cogitmi, ad advcrfa fe piafparer. Qjx nimirum vcnicnti-itanto fortius excipitj quantole cjutiuscx piarfci-tntu aimavit. Quicnim improvidus ab advcrfitate deprelicnditur, quafi .ib hoilc tiormlcfls invcnitur, cumq; cinitt inimicus necu, quia non repugnant m pcrforat. Nam qui mala imminentiaper folicitudinem pcrnot^tj hoftiics incurfuJ quafi in iiv. <:d jj yigilans expcftans: &indead viftoiiam valentir accingitur, nndc ncfcicns tleT.ehcndiputabatur. Solcrter ergo animus ante aftienis fuse primoidia, cunAa debet advcrfa mcdirad . ut fcmpcr hxc cogitani, fcmpcr contra base thorace paticntix munitus. & qviioquid accidcrit. providus fupcrct; & qnirquid oon a(;feCcrit, lucrum patct Grel.^forM^ ycap It.

them>

B^Ft).RE D EATH. jx

tlicm,roho!dit ag£ne and advantage, and as it were, an exemption from ordinary frailrie, and common mifcrie of mankind. If they fell upon them, thcbitrcrncflc would bee much abated b/ their former preparcdneffe and expc(5lation. BiM: wcwhoprofcfTeChriftianity, and to whom the chrt/iiaHsiave Bookeof God belongs, have farre more fove- ^X^^%^^'^^;Z raigne antidotes to allay the fmart, more facrcd {heMc$aidb4^^ and furer meanes to mitigate and take off the fury of feared future evils ^cvcnthe7*'r^Ww^s^ of Go B, many ^xceedihg great dndfredous frMtifist con- , firmed with the oath of the Almighty, 2^d fealed with the bloud of His Son. Every one of them is farre more worth (though the worldling thinkes not fo) than all the wealth and fwcetncfft of both the JHdics. God ufi^thfttHjwhomHnotfuferysff to he tempted above th4t yoc* are ahU: hut wtil with the temptatioff alfo make a way t9 efcapejthatjemay be <e-hle t9 beare it, i Cor,i 0.13. ike Offerings efthxfre-fcfit time are ji$t worthy to bee tompared with theghry whifh fhdllbercvealedi/fs^fRem.S.iS^t^lltmpgs worke together fir go$d to than that love G 0 d , Vcrfc 28. He that (^ared not his owne Soit, but delivered Him tfp for m all. How (hall He not with Himalfifiee-ly ^ive U4 all things ? - Verfe 3 •». Wk€» thou fajfeB through the waters y I will be; with thee 5 and through the rivers y the) jhall not'overflow thee: when thou walk eft though tbefre^ thou fhalt mt be bmrnt-^ neither fhall the flame kindle upon thee,J fa. 43.2 ^drc If thou truly fcare Go d, feare nothing that fhall hereafter fall upon thee J temptation, triall, difgrace, diftrcflc in outward things^ the face of man, fiery

E 2 times.

U iPK^Pk^^^lUH

tittit^,(Tangcr ftorh ttieri Sr 'TMycfs, t)tzt\n Ik fclFc, or whatfocvcr cap bfe inugincd moft formidable to flefli and MoutJ.For aflRiitdly.Hc that is dffl/cf^d mth the in all thy afflf^ms, will ever fortifie thcc with faifidentfirength before-hand, uphold thee with His all-powcrfull preTencein the middeft of them,and at length moft glorioufly deliver thee ia dcfplteof.^1 hell, and tlic whole world. f frtforativt. ' 5. Jcis, corafottablc to confi Jet; that God G07>wii^f^' ftcvci'puts His fcrvantsto fuffer, but He furnifli-nijb thee ivith eth them with fpifituall fufficiency to go thorow. Xrin^ub^t^'' IfHei*neanetob4-ngthce to theft-lice, He will un-"^^ *' dovfctediy'giveffiee ao'J/^^r/jT/ftrength. IcisHis fwecte'ft method and mercy, firft to fit His children With divine ability and anfwerable endow-nients,and then fbtft them on wor1<e ro do or fufFer any .thing for His fake. He fufFcrs fbme to become extraordinary objects, and the fpeciall aime of ex-trfemeftmalicejrpitefull railings,and al thekeeneft iri-ow^es of lewdeft'tongnes;^ when Hec hath fird htrti fii*ft whh fo mtrch .Chrrftran magnanimity and' nbbleh^e of fpiric, that he-is able to pafTc by thcmoft fcurrill gybe of the impureft drunkard, ortliedifdainflill frowne of the pro-iddft Hainan^ without wouttd or palllon; and doth refolvedly "and bravely x:bntemne all contumelies andcon-temptsfor his confcicncc: taking them as Grdvones and con firmationsofhis conformity to th(i Lo^d C H R I i T: othcristo.'be afflic^d with variety of worldly croffes, whofe heart Hec hath already happily crowned with comempt of the world: ^ foracto be excrci$'d with ficrc<:ft 3ffault5,and Sa-*' ■^'V' tans

tan$ ficricft d<ns, li^ving bccnc formeriy bro^bt upinthcScho®leoftcroptatip,n$: others to b|teK? pofcd to the fury of Popifli flames, when He hsttk lb inflaRJcd their hearts with the love of the Lor d J E fi V ?, that they dare undauntedly look the blou-dicft perfecutorin thcface. The prudent Com- ' mandcr makes not choice of frcfli-water or white-livered fouldiers (as they fay) for any hot fer\'icc or high attempts but of Vetcrai>s, an<} thofe of greatcft experience and mod spproovedvalour: A difcreet Schoole-Maftcr gives not the longtfl ieflbns and hardefttasketo dullards and blocke-heads,but fuch asiire of prcgnantpft wits? j»nd b^ft capacity: the und^rtoding f rmourer tries )f>pt common An?itics with Musk«"-6x)r, but thmc pf Proofe. TheskilfuII Lapidary doth npc trie the render Chryftall or fofter fioi^s by tb? ftiddy ^nd hamtr^^rj but the Adajp^Jnt, whicbis readier to brmrctbGh^deftironoT Oeelc- tb^q^fcMH^JS-bandwan threficth »et thcftdei mth 4 th^-fhi^gtn'" iQ.zS.t7. ffr,H7>*P^ \ neither twmth a cm-^M( (4^}^ th Ci^JWh-min : But bcAts cut th fides xvith dfi^e^4nd the cummin wh4red. Ffirhis God (faick the Pro^ fhcx.)d9th injimiihimt9difcret:0n^ and dothtedch i^/^^.Now if the L o k p ^fUofs^v/hpi^ vKmderfi^l in cottjifelLAndexcellent in vf$rkin^y give this difene-tionandwifdometofraile man* Himfelft is infinitely iTiorc mercifully wife, toproportion and fit His trials to the ftace and ftrcngth of His Patience; fingling out His valianreft fouldiers for the ftrong-eft encounters • His bcft fchollersj for the largeft IdTons; His cboifeft Armour^ fpr the hjghcft

B 5 Proofe;

Proofc; His hardeft Adamants, far the moft fteclyAnvill; the raofl couragious Chriftians," fortheforefl:confli<5l5: His abled Followers for ^bXlnaif^'^ excraordinary fcrvtce and Tuiferings. K^braham the Father of the faithfull, and FrienJ of G o » • Joh,i\\^ juftctl !Tiia upon earth j Bavid.x man ifter Gods 'ownc heart; P/<'</,abounding in the riches of grace,snd the rareftrevdations: I iliy, thefe e-mitient Champions thus highly favoured, and heroically lilted, were put to it indeed, as appeares in divine Story. The Lord in mercy did firft infufe an invincible mightineffe of fpirit and much Hm Athana ^^^^1^0 ^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ of thofe threc Chri-fiiis woifumi- fti^f^ Worthies, ^thanaftm, Chr^foflomt^^ and ^'i i/*/^tfr; before H;^imployed them in Hisfoglori-

per^ex'*Jnn^ ous fcrvice, and expo fed them to the rage of fo vaiie affliatis, ^ many implacable perfecutions in their fcvcrall

d'em'tum""' ^S^^' ^^^ ^'^^^ ^ ^^^ atfwords point (I mcane the totum "oiieii- Sword of the Spirit) with the whole world: The tis loipeduin wholexvorld aga'nfl: K^thandJl^tSy ^r\6i AthA^dft'^ a.

fcusquoqj ad imreftig.nnduoi cum conduiSisquxrerctorj dclituit. Tahtas moUj •rit C H a, I s T I confodcre fsrvum ; vu omnis Impcrij vis advetfus unii h homineaa; «iui DiuM habebat defcnlbiemcommoverctur. Pi-oduus tanncn per ancili iTiiquaB ciminiftribat, exdominorim fuoritii jiilTaj-qui \mc\)xa% AtbaMfio pr3ep--raveiant,di-vino admonitus Spintu,ca nofte qua cum coajprehenderevcnicbanc miniftrijauftigic, J«>2(ra«a ^rc H R t s T I J4?. " .^v^ . ■^' • -

Currcrear Cirj/^/^'j/TW/iappcilare MartyrCfnquitotin)iiri}s,tot contimelijS, tot affliftionibiis, nee ad trnp.ttiehtiam pcrpclli, ncc a propaganda Chrifliani pictate depelli potint. Non pcccul'uscft ficmijfed calucnnijs onni fecuri acutioribus ndn fcrncl iiluj eft. Hoc pixmi) yir optimus pro tarn prsscUris in Eccltfiam merit s retu-lir p.ii- E'Jifeopos Oithoioxosj & Tub ImperAt.oie.Chiiflrta'no. In vita Chryfttfi.pe* Era'in Hhoierocl ■'".''"".. ' " "' •

Quisnon pu-a(retttffJer«>j|iO tanto cnnftaruni oduj,'Sc invidia, cui totus "pcuf mundiH tu{id[i3bita;-,ecijmilk cujiis p^idibiis Itn^K'rMoret olun co^cl/armir ccmccs fubjicrrcnon ;iid,Una,J'tes Q;:cubitarii.n ? Sec. BrightMi)iCap,$'A^c

ry; UAlfeanhundrcd_y€/tresfpefitindoubtfulltridl, ub ^-^agJ^. which of the ttvo in the end ivould frevoiUy thejidc^ which had all) or els the Part which hadnefrtend^ bui G. o D and D eat h: the 0»e, aD cfendeur ojhts im0-cenc) 5 the other,thefimjher of all his troubles. After thcChurchof G o d, (hunted likea Partridge on the mountaines by the Airian Bifliops) wofully wafted and wearied, had laid downe her head in the boforae of this blc£ed man ready to breathe out her laft, he had never quiet day. Heare ray Author: Bythefpacccffxear?dfortyyeares,fiomthe "jf^S.^'i^ time of his ccnfecraiiert, to fuccced Alexander K^vch- % > . 3ifiep dfAlexandria.till the lafthoureofhis life in this world:t hey nCoerfujftrd him to enjoy the c$mfort of a feaceahkday. The fecond was a n:iighty Thunder- Wow chrfT*. cragiirfl the corruptions ofthe times 5 feared not ^Xl*^** ^*''"' the race of the greateft. woman in the world, arm-td. as well with might, as enraged with malice, (I .'mcp.v\<:EKdoxia the EmpreiTeO but told her undauntedly of her raging, "dancing;, perfecuting " i^annes pe« :cruelty,&c. Bcfidcsaworld of wicked oppofiti- [.'ij^condo-ons, infidiations and envy -, (for by downe-right ncm in eccI«-dealino in his Minifteiy, he had di^wne upon him ^^"^ '^"'"" thehai^redof« all forts, Court and Clergy,&c.) ot'ci.um "eft": Hewas divers times filencedjdeprived and banifli- Herodias ^iced. But he was fo much honoured of Gods peo- 7'' }'^fi'"''^' ple every where, that when became imoTauro- ^ai ;. demi

faltare pcrgit:

dcruo caput Joh^iinis in difco acciperc tjUisrit. Secrat. Ulfi. Eccl-l,b.6. cap. i6.

• Pcccats t.intJ feverit.-'.te aroucbat, ac (i ipfc ctiam per injuiiam lae^us cil^t: & om-

niurr ord nnm deli6ta magna dicendi libertatc taxab.K : ita ^uidem, at ctiam Du-

'cu^:\(^EJttrop'ij & Gaim) imbipfiuslmptratoris errata reprelicnderet. —-Omnespro-

pcmodum orJiiicsin fe concitavit. Llerici & Auiici occulte fuas & ipfi operas

adjangebi^nt. Ofta.ndHifi.Eecl.cent.ylib. i .cap 6,

E 4 filfCtA,

» ubi auccm ^uodancc of Chfiftians, weeping and wailing mc^ppa^ia moftbictcrly for his banifhinent, ^nd faid, PT^dt provmciam vc- jfj. hadhccft/yctter thot the ^anhadkene def rived of fSlu'iTFa! htrlfght, mddlher ^^Ur) turmdinto dxrkentif^, irum diori.-. th^n that the motith <7/Cbryrofto:ns fhould he floft maruTi ^iwcs from fredthing. In the laft banifhin :;nr, by reafon cffimdentjum , of the b:irbarou5 ufagc andimmanitics of the foiil-*aentiuQo,co ijicrs that Icd him aloHg, ^ hired for tha?- purpofe, r nos ^tt He fwealy and bldTcdly breath'd out his laft. But cfci yidebmtj howbrxvely he bore,and with what invincible di-jlicebanq; to- -^ refolution hc paflTed thorow thefe indignities, fe,SiSoirAdi. oppreikorts, and cixiell wrongs, we may well pcr-c$ fu3s retrax- ceivcby hisownc words to another baniflied Bi-filquat^!'^" ft^op I'Whenlw^ driven from the Cit^i.nmeofthcfs

OS IdhamHi ta-

cnit Epifi.t^ f Militos ^aefcfti pisetorij, qui illnw dcducfbanr, non Jifiimiilabant fibi promifla primia magnificaj {i /ohannes m itinere moirretur. Icaq, Rj€«fibns rrL bus pcrimbres^pcr atHus, fine uUa tctriger'tione coipiifculi dunfliiTiUfMiiCf pertuUt. I.rafm.inviti Chryfofiy f Etenimcgociima civitate fu^.-.iei-j nihil hoium curabam, fed dtoebaai intramcmctipfum : Si'quidcm vulc Regina me exiiJetr, agat inexili-Um. DoiiiNi eft UrtA (s"pieMni^ey-a Etfi v»\lt {ccarc, fecct.Idcm pflus e(l4: Mptiai Si vultin pcla^us mitterej/on* rccordibor : Si villc in caminum injifcrc, idem paffi Turn tret illi pun. Si me fcris vylc objiccrr, obji.iat: DinieUs in 1 cun Iconi-bui0b;e<ih record; bor. Si mc lapid^.rs vult,lap;det me: Sephsnum b^bco primum Martyrem focium. Si & capet tollcic viilr, tollat: Ivabco focium Johannera BiptU ft Am. Si &fubflantiaTnanfenc,aiiferat Hui'jA exivi de utcro matru>KuJui eiiamabtii. h\t idmonzt jtpqftgliu^Er^txtbwhunitnibjnplMtrtm,ftr-ui C h R i s t i s/r^ m«n a^'iiH. Armat me & Z)<iv»*f,«ii*:ens Loqatbar nraai Regihtitf ^ itan confunJebst. Khil-ca ^mdcmadveifiis nrc confinx-eiuntj & dixcrunt, quod ad ccmmum©ncni non |e-;uuos rcccpcrim. Ei fi quidcm hoc firci, enpungatur nomcn mcnm ex Albo Epiftopo-ram, & noarchbaturin Libro Orthodoxae Fidci: Quoniam cccc fi talc c^iUd admifi, abjiciat mc eriatnC k a i s t v s e Regno fuo. Si ameni pergant hoc mihi objicere Sc e«nrcnd«rc,Dcponant Si Favlnmy qui poftquim ceenavit, totamdomum Iwptizavit. Df ponant &Cwsi stum Ipfum, ^ai poftqoarn ccriiatum eft, Apollolis Comm-o* t>i©ncm dedit. Duunr quoi c»m mulifre dormiycrim : Exmrc me,& invcnictis mem-fcf«r«m VD'iOTxim mortificatiowtm. Scdh^c omnia per nvidiamexcog.triuBt. lotan' nt: efcaljCjrUco Epiftepi txuli- Tom.^. Bpift.^,

things

^lutme mV. ylet her ham^j wf; The earth is the Lords ^ Vnhi^i, and thefullncflethereof: JfJhemlljLet her faw me nfuffder :\{mh fuffertd thefimejffl:e mUJet her cafi memtd the feaj I wllrcwcmbsr Joriiih. iffhe wUt, let her cafi me into a burningpcry fornace-^er amcKgft wild ieajis • the three Children 4;?^ Daniel rvere fo denU Withjffle mlljtet herJi one me or cut offtmne head 3 I have then S.5?f^/^^«andtheBaptift m-j hlejfedcom-fanions.IfJJje mlljlet her take awaj all my fHbfiar.ce: Naked came I out of my mothers wombe, and naked fliould Iretumethither. The Apfile telsme^lfCzi i.io. I yetplcafed men, Ifhould notbcthcfervantof Chris T,i^ndYy^n6.ev<mragethme, faying: I it^H ffeahtofthy tejiirmnits alfo he fire Kings,md will ^^"''*" ^ ^* ftot hee ap?amed. The third is the thiixl i^/jr.i^ of How Liuiicr later times, I meapebleffed Luther: Who by the ^*'^'"^^"^ invincible might ot his hcroicall fpirit, and one of the grcatcft courages that ever dwelt in humane brcaft,didfuftaineand fubdue the hcllifli rage of that Man of Sinnc, and allhisbloudy Emiilaries and Agents 5 ftooduprightandiinfliaken, likean unmooveable Rocke> againft all the tempcftuous ftormes and fwelling feas of the moft furious per-fccutions that ever were rais'd by the powers of hell againft mortall man: and did fo iliakc th€ '

kingdomc of Antichrift, that fincc that tinK, the moft glorious light of the Gofpell,and rcfurre-iftion of Saving Tmth hath broken out upon, and bleffed th« face of Chrift^i>d©nie, that did ever fhine upon earth, or was feenc amongfl: the fonnes ^ mcn.Hc3xin was hcc like unto K^PhmitBm.ks

he

' invitisjiabd' hcoppofcdthcvv/m^/^^/o X«if/'^rthc wholc jifft$~ ^bL pI'Iz/Ta" ^^^il^^^^ world 5 and they both in defplte ofall ad-tiunaims V vcrfary malice, both from Man and Divell, ^gavc uithtius.mbi- up blcfTedly their happy foules in peace into the ^piUcU^^^mi^^' boforac of J E s u $ C H RI s T J whom they had for-Morte (X hac merly fei ved fo faithfully,and for whofe fake they H^^ahfio!^'- ^^^ glorioufly fuffcred fo much. Thus ypu fee, ^thaJafmsp^A wheii Go d fingles outand defignesany of His foe muiupiiciac^r- fomc fpcclall fervices, and extraordinary fuffer-v'rrihLTEc- i"§S' Heeverfurniflieth them before-hand with dcfr* Doao- fingularity of gifts, and fufficiency offpirituall a-rmi fufiinuiflc biUtic to go thorow, and ftand to it to death. But tili'ma mme HOW on the Other {ide,He will never hnakeAbm-ex hac vita ex- fedreedynox. qf*€»ch[moktfig flAxejlfti,a[2.T^.h\Mv^\\\ ceffit: civil ab ^yjQi^gather the Lambs with his arme^and carrie them finem (iii Epif. '^ hii bofomc,andgcntlj had thofe that are wtthymn^y copatus Alex- /jQ.4o.ii.Imakcnodoubt,butthatinQueencii/4-fii'^^P^cEfumbt '■^^^ ^^^^s He mercifully hid many a good foulc qaidragint.i from the implacablc fury of thofe Popifh ?r,eymng icx annis: ad jYnlves: who, thoush thev wcrg in afavin^ ftate,

vcriusqucm to * , / / t t • f ^ t^r ^

ti;s penc oibis ^^o.iovedthe LoYiH j-Bsus f^JiJiice/(ty,£pfjeJ.6.2/^, eonfpimvit. yet thcywanted ftrength to ftand in the faceof tlie DaLr^eS) fi^^'y f^'^pcfts ofthofc times.

eum violcnta niorte ex hoc mundo exturb.ue potuic. Ofisnd H't/l Etsl ccnt.^ I % c.i6,

> 6,?reparativc. s. BcwJire left sny earthly contentment cn-^digbt la/^'up 'croachupon,cmpaire, and eat up thy delight in thj> delight, in hcavenly things. But let thy fpirituall joy ever ut-hcaveniy tbtrgi rcrly over-wtigh all humane mifcries, and overtop incomparably all worldly pleafurcs. And 'Diference he- ^^crc is good rcafon for it : In refpcd. Of the tyvtxt ihc ob- I. ObjeA. The matter, whereupon earthly joy i'f/ %ZtZ ^"^^^ feed,isbafe and vile, filth and fafliions, ga-deiight. ' ' ming

ming ond good fcllowfliip, reijellin^^ and in our daics, even roaring, luft and luxury,&c.and otiicr fuch froth and fooleries, the very garbage of hell; at the beft corne, wine,oYle,eold, ^rcarne(re, offi- * Nch.s.io.Bs CCS, honours, high roomts, Prmceiy nvonrs,&c. jcyijthe l-ri> as tranficory as an hafty head long torrent, ^Jhadom^ ayturptniih. a lhipy2 b:rd, an dtrorv , a Poft thathafieth by^ or if you ^^l'^,^ \.a^ti can nanrte any thing of fwiftcr wir.g, and fooner in Heaven but gone. But the objc<5t about which fpirituall joy is ^h^'e^^^'fdtkerc exercifed, is "^Jehovah bleffed for ever, " His eartb^'tha"^^^ free and everlaftinglovc,/'the light of His countc- ^(fire kfides nance,His r fweet name, ^ That ournamesare writ- ^^f^.'Hoi. 14. ten tnheavert,mQ *Son of his L or<?,His Perlon,vvhoie thei.ijrceiyj^T, glory,beauty,amiablcnciTe, fweetneflc and excel- i ^-i^ihave lo. lency is fomething fhadowed (but infinitely ihort) 11 e-veri^\w by outward beauties, C^^/. 5.10. "^ The preciouf- /o-te. mul^o^ ncfTcof His meritorious bloud, ^ exceeding great I'./I^^H*" and precious Promifes, •* pardon of finnes, y Exod.^4'V • Christs glorious ima^e (liining in our foules, ^^^ Lo ri>, ' eternity or unconceiveable joycs. q^^ „^j^,_

^ fuU and gracious,(s'c.^'Lvk. 10 1-:^,~- But rather rejoycghtfaufeyour names are rvnt-ttninbeave».*Co\.i.ii.Cioi'ii^<tyet'7rni<ni'n. " Zach ij.i. In ih.it day thireJh.iS te afoiintaineopened,Cfe^ 2. Pet 1-4. d lu 40. 1,1. Comjortyeuorr/jertye,<(sr'c — Her iniqtitry irpardoned.' Eph.4.24. 7'^f «fw man after G o xy is created in r'.^hteiufneffk 0nd true httittejfe *Pfil 16.11. Intiyprefenceisfuiimjtttf joy^at thy right kiKd there 4rt ^Ica/iires for evermore

2. Of continuance. Eaithly joyisHke t^c^ Tyfercn^^ he. tracklin^ of themes und:r a f^t,^ fudden blaze with itnuance ' of fomeHoife, butfoone extindl, and comes to no- (^^rtiy a^d. thing. The triumphing »fthe wicked is jhcrt, md]oy of ^^^^^'^{>'>5 "'• thehjfomtebut forAm9inmtJohi6.%.'^\\i{'^\x\x.\\'^\ joy is likcthe/r^ upon the ah or 5 it hath ever fewell to feed upon, though wcdo not ever feclc it. ^ The " ^^ -^^ '4-^7.

Kin'q-chms

*lfa.5f.i».

*PfaI ji.ii.

'Earthfy jcy em himred.

Xarfhlyjfj ti»-fn for hiyfy dn-tisu

iiemembrance 9f corn all jvy

PREPARATION

Conn All joy mixed rpitb /trrtvp.

Ha carnalljsy

Kmgdcvae of Go d if righmufneffe^ Mtdfeace, out jej mtffc Ho t Y Ghost.* 7%e ranfemed^tht Lord jhall retiirneAndcimetd Zienwithfmgiid»d ev'CrUsHng jej ufonthetr heads : theyJhMUif*a;^ejey andgUdntjfej and f&'row andfigking jhdl Jiie dwdj, k Begl/idtn the hcviv,afjdreJ0yceye righteous : dftd fh$utf9r jtf dlyee thst are ufrtghf i» heart

5. Sincerity. Earthly joy is cruelly embittered with many flavifh, dinging and invcnimcd mixtures and marrc-mirths: but Go v gives joy to tijc uprigtit heart,and no fonow with it.

4.Efte(fls.CarnaIl joy utterly unfits fey all holy imploymcms; but rpiriti,ull joy is to the faculties of the foulc, a$ oyle to the joynts cii the body 5 k makes quicke, adive, and excellent for the dif-chai'gc of any divine duty.

5, Calling to mimd, carnalljoy ib the cvill day torments extremely, and turnes it into gall and worme-wood: but remembrance of thoic fwcc-tefl: glimpfcSjand heavenly deawes of fpiriruall joy which were wont to fliine into, and rcficfli our humbled fouleswhen we were confcionabiy bu^ ed in the waies and work of the Lor D,will fervc as a precious cordiall, to rc-comfoit our fpirits m fadder times, and furcft pledge of their moft ccr-taine returne in due time.

6. Spirituall joy isniany times much enlarged intitacs of tribulation: But the heart of the wicke4 is forrovvfuU in laughter,and troubled with melancholy amidft their greatcfl: miah.

7,Spirituall joy is ordinarily moft free, full, and at the highcfi: in folitarineile, foliloquies, and the

moft

"moft retired exercifes of the fouler but carnall joy and"want of company are forthc moft pare incompatible. And it is kept in that poore little Ay-inglife it hath, by good-fellowfliipj and Icnfuail itnployments.

■ ^S.Cainall joy ever ends in bitiemefTe, fpirituall ffllfj^^i^^'^^ in blelTednclTe. As the rivers of frefli water run their courfe with an hafty cuiTcnt to fall in the fak Sea^fothepofting Son of all worldly pleafures aftera fliott g4earae,and vainc gliftering/cts in the Ocean of endreiTc forrovv.

7. Make thy peace with Go d upon sood y'^^epamhe. •ground in the meane time, and ^racioully walkc -^ub gq^. with him by a rule and daily diredion. Watch o-ver thineheaiT with extraordinary induftry. Mor^ tifie thy members which ale upon earth; pride, choler, covetoufnefTe, felfe-love, hankering after thefalhions,&c. Strangle thy lufts, ftand at the Swords Point with thy moft beloved finne. Beare ■thy yoke fiom thyymth^dxid 'exercife thy fpirituall ' ^"^^ "^^^ armes every day; Get a habit of heavenly-mind- fu,n"^er«lt* cdnefle and holy familiarity with God afore- £]uomod6 aiu feand; and then lliall we holdup our hi^nds and ^^"'^ ^". "'^"■ our hearts with boldneffe and undauntedneffe of tnt^sc '"c!u-p'! fpirit in the evill day. The firongefi andfiduteft crea- (-"^is? Quis un-turcs (faith a godly Divme, preflfing thisPoint) .^orabTniT.

te addtfcentiji i«i Palxfira corrc^oratuspotuit inOlympicii, excclfo, .icmagnoanimo adycjfaiium aggreJil' An nonopottct cpotidie luJtari atqj currcic? Nonne videtls eoi quos quina, ><ertarainum athlctas appelbntjqtiBmnuUumfottc rehifbtorem rcpcreiint,ad faccuai arena plenutti, vtrcs fuasexcitare—-Hcs imitari ftude-—funtcnim muhaqns ad H«n«sr-»t>>cmincic3nt, muha qu^e concupifcciuiae flammam inccnduBt. Infuigc igitur contra paflione*, vinCiS ammi labores, at corporis quoq*, I.iborcspoflisperfeirc,

4rc

>, PREPARATION

Aft AJTMdef thofe things whieh art cOfftrary to thir ndttrcsj wh'ch other creatures mver fs weake, feare not, hetng of the [mm nature. No more fearefall crea-. ture thai^afjlh flying at the fhaJow of a man., yet it fiares not the Ocean Sea^ becaufe of its oxvne nature and acquaintance : which Liens, and thepo.'ttefi creatffrct feare — A p:eef efeares not hisJhepheard, by rcafon of ac(\fimnianceyVchomyet the heart andthe wolfefcan: Whatfoevcr isflrangc ardunacquaimed^ts futreftdl.lf we acquaint oar fives v&ith G o n, and walke with Him (vs His friends,-^ve j]jall have th:r»orehold»(S)vitk Hiffij when wc have moft rccrd of Him. In a word,

Tit.iit, be wciy temper a'ey honejiyholj. For, thcmoiccon* fcionable thou haft formerly been, the IcfTc power will the crofiTehave when it comes. It was the faying of a reverend man, where finnc lies heavy, the erode lies light; and conrr.irily, that heart is like to be tnoft 1 ightfome in a ftormc,which hath beea theholieft in a calme,

n.FreparaTive, 3^ PofTcfle thv mind betime of many mortify*

Bee Jilted Tfitb • • ^ j j- • /i i •

meditariw: a- ^% motivesand meditationsto maltcr tlie immo-

f^inji: death, derate feavc of death, ihtkingpfterrourj and then

thou wilt be able with f^tre more patience and rc-

folution todigeft all petty troubles and miferies in

the meanetime. For which purpofe pondei upon

az,i-nfi death. I- There IS almoftno man, but he hath fuffer'd morcpainein his life, than ordinarily he (hall paflc >»'d "'"J"^'' thorow in death. The pangs cf death (faith M.^W) in^ cat .pig. ^goften leffethanofthe toeth-ache.

2. The covenant of G o d is of force with us, as we lie inthc duft of the earth, c^4r.22.31>32.

5. Our union with Christ holds ftill,Ci//. r. iS.AsthcHypoftaticall cIid,whcnC h r i s t Jay in the grave.

4. Death is but a/?<rr/f, iThjf.2,1^. l^c7s j, €0,

5.'"Chri$ts death hath taken away the moirc mono-fting, and fwcet ned it to al 1 His, Heh. 2.15. b jt, Gre^or in

6. It is but a fturdy Poitcr, opening the Dooie * ^^^ ^"^ "' of Eternity,and letting us into Heaven: A rougher paiTageto cternall plcafurcs.

7. lushutViVc thefa^efatv'jeAt cerneints thcjt griund^ dftd dyingi that it maj l}rlngup afterrvards more gloriou fly. , loh. 12.24.

8. It is but a Departing e/tt cfthu world unto the T4ther,Ioh,^,^i,

p. It is called in the Old Teftameot,!-// gather^ ingte their Fathers,

• I o./4^^^ made nothing of it. Jnd ifraelfaid uff^ to Jofeph: BeholdjdieyGen.^Z. 2 r. And when Jacob had wade an end of commanding hufonsj he gathered nf h PS feet into the hcd.andyeeldedupthe ghoji yond rvai gathered unto his people,

9. Let us trim our lamps betime, I raeanc 9-^^*^*'*'^' try our fpirituall ftates: for there are many fooliHi [j^/j^^jj''" virgins; and many thoufands, who for want of a truerouch-ftone and found trial 1 this way, find the

pitof deftrudtton to have fhuc her mouth upon them irrevocably and for ever, before they will acknowledge themfelves to be wide of the right way to heaven. I have beene often upon thisar- m^ j ■ j^umcnt, atthistimeldefirc oncly todifcovcrthe about fluh!^ dclufion of ifac grcatcft part by an imaginaiy

Vaithy

f:iith, and of undcrftanc^'ngand worldly-wifc men by a temporary faith, and that in fliorr. )^Jan(i of Por the firft fort; thcfc fourc Dcmaunds may the begimiing ef cafily difcovcr and dcftioy the vanity of their fpi-f}}eir jaiih. xku^ll fclfc-coufcnagcand foule-deceic.

I. Aske them how they came by their faith, when they begun to believe, 5:c. and their ordinary anfvvcr will be this,or the like: fVs cannot tell .■ we arenoj; fuch K^tlnijls or ft fr of hunt y hut rveehave Relieved ever fince rve fvere borne^j : wee have ev:r trujledin C h r i s t > nitd made account sfHtm ou eur ^naphatleare S4viour : WenevtY dottked, but that He which m^tde js a people of ^y " ^^l^ hav€ mtrcj on us, (Ire. But now rhcfc no undeiflan- poorc deluded ignorants arc in the mcane time Hc^twlrmadc ^^^^r^ ftrangers to any vvorke of the fpirit of bon-rhcm,wiU n'A dagc, andpangsof the new-biith, which would have mercy on have taught them with awitncffc to have rakjeti tkir * formed notice wh'at a mighty worke and admirable thcdi , will changethc glorious Sun of faving faith is wont to STr^'^i? "° ^'^"^^ wherefoever it comes. They could never I. ■ "' ' ycifcnCibly and hcmi\y cry, Wee are unckane, wee are uncleane ; we a.rcjtcke, we are hfl, we are hea^ vy laden^ we arc undone, we 6\c, we aredamn'd; cxccpiyj^ dnn\zc of the wa^er of Irfej wafh in that Fomta^n^ openedfsrfinne andfr nncUannejfe-, and have a blciTed part in the Paffion and purity of rii hhth ani^ Esvs Christ, Src. Whereas hdw the mi}kk-£e. ^^^^ believer can tell you readily and experimentally, that he was fird enlightncd, convinced :Mid terrified with lighr, fenfe, and forrow for Hr^n -:, aixl fo on, a--' you (hall End it T.^firuct. for comfort, afjii^.Confc.fa^.yi^. &feq. But cfpe-

cially

cially faire fall one good token: ever when jufti-fying fakh is infurcd, there is athorow-fale of all finne. The Fear! e of great f rice will never bee had, except all be fold; which is a matter fo remarka-blc,and makes fuch a miraculous change in a man, that it cannot chufe but be ftrongly remembred, and withgreateftaflonifliment, and that even for ever, both in this world and ^the world to come, Senfuall pleafures and bofome (innes arc notori-oufly nail'd and glued to a carnall heart; they arc asneereanddcareuntoit, as the moft dainty and delicious meat to the paktc, Wickedr*effe iS^ixth. Zophar) is fweetinhis n2outh, hec hides it under hii Job ie.it, tongue-^ heff ares it yondfdrfakes itmt -, hut keefts it fiill in his mouth : not onely as ordinary garments, but as the moft coftly jewels, and richeft chaine; Pride (faith Vai-idycomfajfeth them abttit ds rfal.75 ^^* achaine-^ n^olence covereth them as Agarmtnt: as the verylimbesofthc Body. M&rtife therefore^ (^^dkh. Paid)pur members tvhich are uf en earth: for- C0I.3.S. nicatien, imcleaneneffe, i nerd: nate affect on ^evi II cm-cttpfcence, covetoufneffe : nay, and as the moft ne-ceflary and noble parts, the right eje, and ther/^^/ hand', If thy right eye offers dtheeifidth C h n i s t) flucheitouty and cafinfrom thee: — \^ndif thy \j4t.j.i9,j right hand offend thee, cut it offhand e aft it from thee: yea dearer then very life it fclfeto fleiband bloud: For -wee may obferve and fee too often fuch fonnes of pleafure>andikves of luftto have no joy-in this life, after they have loft the joy of this life. Hence itis, that many times the wretched worldling being robbed one way or other of the very

F life

9.

life of his life, his wedge of gold and hoards of wealth, makcsancndof hi'-nfclfe: that the wanton mining of his luflfu!! aim r and mxh defircd choife, fiadsno plealurc iithis iik; but cuts off himfelf by a violent and uncimjly death:that Achi-tofhel being difgraced and ovotop'din a Point of Policy, the crovvne and pride of his worldly hap-pineflc, put his houQiold in order, and hang'd himfclfe. Well then, if it bee thus, that parting from carnallpleafures be aspaincfull and vexing, as if a man fliould pull the meat from our mouth, the chaine from our necke, clothes from our baclcc,thelimbes from our body, the right arme from our (houlder, the eyes out of our head, and astheloffc ofour life; that happy foule which bids adjeu cverlaftingly to all earthly delights, muft needs take extraordinary notice, and be able for ever to give a ready and mofl: fenfible account of fuch a mighty change and marvellous worke. a. 7>cc*it. 1, Askc them, how they keepe their faith: and

hlut%fpiJ' ^^^y ^^^^ ^^^^ y^"' ^^^y ^^^^^ G o d, they are not faith troubled about it. They finde no fuch fcruples,

doubts, diftrufts, fcarcs, jcaloufies, tcrrours, temptations, dcfcrtions, wantSjWeakeneflTcs.c^f. as fomc precifcr fcllowcs, whoftand fo much upon their profeflion, ftridneffe, conference, and o-ther fingularities above ordinary, fo much talkc of, and take to heart. They fee no fuch neccfldty of running after Sermons, fo much reading, prayer, poring upon precife bookes, rccourfc to Puri-tan-Minifters, Humiliation-daies,c^r. They can Wicvc quietly, follow their bufincffe, and goc to

Hcavca

Heaven without fomuchacW. Nay, they arc fo farre from being troubled in any of ihefe kinds, ibatifany?.morgft tbtni betroiblcd in mindjSnd extraordinarily vifited with fpiritaall diftrcfTej the portion many times of G o p s dearcft children 5 they prefently plcale and applaud themfelves,that they are free 3 and conceive and pcrenipcorijy conclude that thesffliificd is an hypociitc, hath beenca rrcrehaincus (inner then others, ormed-led too much with Scripioire-bufinefTcs and d'

with miuchadoe, difhculty and * doubtirgs. He is ■^ ^«' -^^ as care full and covetous (if it kc pcfiibkjtoprc- fTau'^lvcr ferveardfave thisPearle, as the worldling his f^row,it is

^old. For this purpofc, he paflTcth tborow many *ti"uii'thLc Jbieard bitter ccntTds with the fieiceft alTauJts ieiievingcbn-and fieritftdartsoftheDivcll^ (for hee knowes /''^"'^^'iff'' full well, thst that is the arme and power of Gob fliH^dlw' unto us, for all lound comfort and fpirituall well- trarinife tu beine, ard therefore he is mofl furious to weaken ^^"^f/jf^'^'g US there) wuhinnnite game-layings and temptati- hehaibafittng onsofcur inbred infidelity, native ignorance, dif- /-*''* J ^^ff^i fidence,wifdomeoftheflefh, ourownc fenfeand 7/nothiig^' feeling, and aw^orldofoppofitions continually. Hm,iut/e(-He is driven many and many atimc to the Throne C^''""'^'.*".

- _ -1 in « Down Chnft.

of Grace with prayers, teares, and Arorgeft warfcap4z. wraftlings for auxiliaiy forces, and renewed flrength. O how often doth he refort with extrc-meft thiift, and dcarcfl longings to all the blef^ fed Fountaines, that feed his faith 5 the pcrfon of C H & I s T,His meritorious bloud,thc Promifcs,

F 2 Gods

w

fecftte

<$8 PREPARATION

G ® .& s frccft love. His fwecteft nam?; the covenant oFgracc,all th^ Ordinances, thofe 0»es tf 4 tJ79nfaiidj who arc able to difcovcrboth the depths oftheDivell, and the myftcries of Evangelicall mercy^ti^i:. and forallthis is glad many times to fay urjro his G 0 d ; Though 'Thrt jldj ms^ jet mil I

jT)b I J. I J. frufi in 7htt : Lord,/ heUeve^ helpe Thou mine nn-

M«:k. j,.,4. ygi^^f^^^^^ The difference then ftandsthiis: They hDldit the eaficft thing^of athoufand; biit hee finds it the hardcft matter in the world, 77? he-leeve,

5. TJeeeit. 5, Aske thcm,what it hath wrought uponthem:

5^;^'""'" ef and they cam or give an account of any alteration toany piarpofe^orfandification at alL Imaginary Faith ii but an idle/^.fi, a naked Notion, a meerc fancy, a groundleffe prefumpcion and true drearaej and therefore it is not adive or produdiivc of any reall effeiflSjOr true religioufneffe. But now faving

iTuits «if With faith doth ever beget a bledcd change inthe whole man,body,foule,rplrit,cal]ing, company, conver-

iCor.5.17, fation,&c.//4/'?7 manbein Qmn tr/hseis anew creature: old things arepaffed away,Beheld all things are new. It is ever attended with thofe three great workes of grace.

i,vniver/a.u j An univerfall repentance and returnc frona epefttanfe. ^nfj^s: ftona groffeones in praftice and action; and^from the moft unavoidable infirmities at leaft in allowance and affcdion.

i.vniverfaa 2. An univcrfall fan6fcification in all the parts and

sansipatm. powers of body and foule^ though not in height of ^ . ^- dee;ree,yet without exception of pirts.

QbtdieitcL 3. An untvcrfall obedience toall G o d s com-

mands ;

marids; though not to pcrfc<5tion, yet infinccrity

and truth; and with an heavenly train e of glorious

graces: lo'ue-hofeyverttieJkyiCwled^ejUmferanceifdti- »P«- »• J j^-

fneejgcdlinejfe,brotherly kindnejjcj charity , j>)i, pace^ ^'^^^ 5• **a*^

long-[uffering,gentlemffe,goodneffe,m€ehiijje,^Q. . /^,

And even in the ioweft cbbe and greateft weak- weaiie/ffiitb. nefle, it is ever wont to difcoveritfelfe at leaft by poverty offpirir, hungring and thirfting after righ-leoufnefle, ftriving againft doubting, bitter complaints for want of former feelings, induftrious feekingto be fetled in belceving,earneft and greedy longing after grace, highly prizing the L o k d J E s V s, and preferring Him infinitely before all theplcafarcs, profits and felicities of this life, rc-folving rather to die tentboHfand deaths, than to returnc any more to folly 3 felfe-deniall, contempt of the world, care to fearch out the finne that may poflibly hinder comfort, and be rid of it, continu^ll watchful Incflc and holy jealoufie, left we fhould be deceived,and faithful] labouring to fubdue corruption. ^ 2)^^?/?.

4. Fourthly^ askc them. How they prize the L{zhte)eeme ob)e<Sithcy apprehend imaginarily 5 for it is no fj^lJ''^''^^'' better: and iris but thus r If you were afelc to aif-fure them o( w^allowing in all worldly pleafures with conftant health, and immortality upon earth: they would with all their hearts,part with all their hopeof heaven hereafter: For they are yet buc carnall, though felfe-confident. But now the di-vineneffc and excellency of fpirituall delights which juftifying Faith doth extra^a from fHc Objects about which itisexercis'd, doth fo*aflt<5i arid

F 5 ravifb

JO PILEPARATION

tavifli the heaift of the trueBdiever; that wdf adi-vifcd, incoldbloud^ and out of temptation, hcc hold« all the corpoiiU felicities of ten thoufanci worldsjCven world without end,.in compoi'ifon ^ thcm>.but as droile, and dungf and duft in thebaic knee. Our pa^it in the perfon of C h n i s t, with the purehafes of His dearcft bloud, and poUeiHon eft he Deity bleflcd for ever by His meancs, dot more than infinitely cranfcend the utmoft of ail earthly contentments-, ms'd above the highell poflibility, by the moft invcmive and ftrongeft i-Hiagination^ and to be enjoyed thorow athoufand eternities* Knffsm a Tlic fecond fort,> which are a generation of jr«^9Mry/dwi n^oreundcrftandingmert;. flsand thus for cheirfpi-idkuallftatc, andchiisfcarefuHycourentlieirownc fouksy and come flioit of falvation: They- aflfay indeed to be religious, give up their nampcs to Pro-ife(fiofl> and wouW goc to; heaven with all their beam, (b farre as the way holds, with enjoy*-mentof temporall happinefTe: and therefbre,tbc)r

ni-fl^thcnifclves with an artifieiall habit of t;dking well; take part in>all companies with* the better fidtfj follow »nd frequent Seimons^ withfgood foiwardneflcj kt up prayer and other rdigiout exereifesin their families 5 put thcmfelvcs upoa daies of humiliation; Icavenaany {innes> do many 1^ things, hold aounivcrfell outwacd conformity toi

?'' aUthc ordinances ^divine Duties at theinftancc

ofthe. Mniftery. And if chcy be of ability, countenance godly Pfeachcrsjftand for them, and cntw-

tainc

Kiiac them ioK>tI*eir -houfes wkh itmcb ^t^&iQh iwrcncfTe and bomity^ efpeciAlly fuchas(ipcrliaps) by rcafon of too raMchi^barky, utwcquaii^tededfe withtbtirwivf ;$, iQthficfTc to bcc 3ccoBii^.toO prOvgmaticall and rough, oi- fomething comply with them in afalfc concept.of their rpirituaft yfc\lhcmg,&c. Bm ppcflcthem further, o^ fJ^"'fJ^,T andbcfid^s alkhis, to thcheart and life^^eli- «tfnw8«»M^ gion^^o the power and pith of ^odlinefTc, crticify-ing of their Gorrijptions^ftrangling their kfts, mc-itcringtheirpalfioHs, pamRgwithaUfinnc,uftfa-ihioniBg them -to ^hc times, abandoning for-ever their darlii^g plejifurc,t!ci?iall of themfelves^coj^. tempt of the worlds liailywalkingiwith G o D.^dc-light ia the. w^ rf^dint^e, an holy .kecpifig'<rf-rfic ic^ 51. L o « D s day,fruitfulneflTe in alLg^od woi4c4S>}i» ving,byfaith> an uncowardly opjXDfekm ^totht iniquities, of the ^xcfcnt^jc^. which^(th*dy *^^H know)\f ill be nccelfarity acGonipaniedwi^i J^fun-kdrds j&f*^, caiUag;s ofibc ijafeft^ ^ifeoimwnanec from uiigpd ly^greatneflfc, .thc:D<torI«k^cadlteft-ciw mi^ ^jotkmgj^mfiffi ^tumf oi*3i«iHr,-fec. .^ theft, aai 18.11. you u tike them A^Mkc dead on the neft^ «s ihty fey. Thefcare haid lpc«^c% v€tj haifft, gr^iftg gind ungeatcfull to tliek cares, atid-jgoc ^to th^Tir very hearts: ^n^tberefbrc^l^llf^dtms^as^t^ preifif\g more preeifenefc you may as-well i»e-mooyeamounraineof brafifc with yourlittlefin-gcr, as ftirre them an inch. Say what you will, and preach out your heart, (astheyfay) they will no further. Thus farre as they goc already, fhall cither fcrvc their tarnc for falvation, or they will

F 4 venture

venture their foiilcs with thoufahds that are worfe than thcaifclvcs. They pitch upon a fafe, wife, moderate and difcrcet temper of religion, as they conceive and call it, and neither dcfire, or endeavour to goe any further, or grow any better. Abire day mends them nor (as they fay) and a foule day. paires them not. As they are peremptorily confident, the Pearle will be had at their price; fo they are conftantly peremptory never to become more precifc. And if it fall out fometimes, that they meet with fprne faithfuU man of God, who hits right upon their humour; difcovering the infuffici-cncy of their prefent fpirituall ftate, for future happinefle; and perfwading them upon anc-ceflity of falvation, to an univerfall refignati-onofthemfelveswith unrefervedneffe and zealc Co all the world, and will and waies of Go dj they arc wont to put it off thus, or in the like manner: Tf^e man is dgotdmAn, and of good farts, §ntwhom I love welly butdlittle too hot, too hoijhrotu undroughy and fmckes too much uf4nf redfenejfeand farUculariz.mg mem (pirituall ftates 3 that is all his fault .\ Imufi confeffe. Jam offuch a natureanddif-fofition, that I jhall he more moved with milder Ser-mofts, and calmer cariage in the Pulpit: I doe not fee hm this iMinifteriall feverity and roi$ghnef[Lj,

*JharfneJ]i

^ Jhnrpnepdfrefresfej and (uchfearchingms^andfe- * '^riiya iit remporycenfitringmensfiateto Go i^-ward^ddthfo i^^^^t {^J^^l vtuchgoodf^C* cL'TOT^i&i.

My whole JDifcourfe ofirueHapfineJfe is a touch- jf^!"".'' ^ ■, ftoneand looking glafTcfor a trial 1 and difcoviery fh'ip?y,Vwe^ oftheunfoundncfreandfpiricuall felf-dcccic: and {y^cutiirgij/iof ^ therefore thither I reniit them. ^"?Socfa

wicdiciis, qui bill vuU mcdcrijamaris ucuiir pharmacis, ita obdurari, praefra^ij-stq-, contumaces ho-mints duris & fcvens verbis arguendi funt: malo enmi nodo malusquarcndus eft cw'-'itvis, Megander in loc

Ut caro qux callo obdwruit non facile accipit vibices plagarum,nifi impiobis & crc-bris iftibus: ita animus .iflattus pcccatis, non commovctur correftionc njfi fevcra & acii,/</e«J ihii.

Hasc vchementia & fevcWtas, quam hic^ TauM in Paftorc reqmntjnon vac.it omni irl! quem &Chri stum mvafiflc Evangchfh tcttis cik^Mart. 3 5.

Haecautem juftaeftj& piaira.quam Scripturaj vocant ZelHm DeIjCUiti fitiracundia aijioic Dei & pictatisexcitata; qualis Christvm invafir cum ncootiatoies ex-pulite DomoPatrisrui /oj.z.ij.

Hec loco non alicnos dicit/cd domcflicos i^tcoMgucnAoiThesphylaUAnLdc

Neqj alienos folum hictaxat Fauliciy fed eos nominatini' qui C h r i s t o no-men dcderant Cahin.inCap.i odTit,

Tor ofadothrtythofe wbicbgive their names it religion,and are unfeundat the heart-, root:tf>ho many times alfo moji jcarefully andfcandilouflyjhame their Frojejfion, (^ eaufh thegoodrvay to be eviUfpolien tfihy their worldUnes,pride,fa/hions,ili tonguednes.pajftis, upiry,detaining Church duesycowardline/fe in good caufes, impaticncy of Minijletiall re-froofe,rfit cro/e the Inthcir comodityrfirangenes ofappareB, ixtimate correfpondece tvith thepTophanejSccirreli^ioufnes »j theirfervants andfoSowersySccare to he fearchedtho-roiftlyyandmofi feverely cenjuredithat they may befaved at the length,truly humbled Cbri" fiiansindeed^and not onely in their 6wn cenceipt,andfucbas Govsvtuldhavetkem.

10. A ferious and fruitfull meditation upon ^° P^epara^ thefoHrelaftthings> hath becneeverholden very Me%ta!e o't on matcriall,and of ^eciall moment, to make us (by the foun\afi Gods blciTing) morehumbIe,un-worldly,pro- '*^"^^* vident and prepared for the evil] Day. Give me leave therefore, to fclc(5l and propofefome profitable Confiderations thereabouts, and Conclufi-onsthcnec, which may fervetp mortifie our aflfe. .

dions

iaionsto-thcwarid, ^takcioff the -edge and wgcr-flcfTcin purfuic after catrhly tbings 5 wollific, mi. make Ht our hearts for a more cafie .cnttaf»C!<::, and cfll^uail cnterramcnient ofalliaving iimprctllons, and morions of t he Word and Spirit, for our fpii i-tuallgood; tbatmti.ncsofterronr, weinay ftand lilce ij^ioum ZfOf*, ruamoovcable and magmni-mous.

«>M»Vfa^eT^ff About D a A T H, Confidcr ;

**'^' I. Thatallthc plcafures, trcafures, and cora-

forts of this life, wife, children, goods, gv>ld,

great friends,.lands, livings, poflelRons, offiecs,

honoui's, high roomcs, brave firuations, fure pro-

fpe(5is, fumptuous buiIdings, plcafant walkes, and

even the world itfelfe, upon which-thou haft loft

fo much labour, time, care, thoughifullnclTe, and

^ doted fo long, holding a divorce, as death itfelfe,

cos a/tcTanI ™^ft ^^^ uponthe ftroke of death, * which not

Toca 5 p<»<iaiy- hcavcoand earth, or any created power, can .any

iEfcuiri. waycs polllbly prevent, divert, or adjoume, be

HippoCTa. fuddcrtiy, utterly, and for ever left, never mcvrc to

& Gaicaos beiiaindcd,medl'dwith,t>r enjoyed in this world

ce^rjubeV nen OT thcwotld to come. Whm vur breath gmh forth^

hi onanei vel

boruhrw ann stu s apponcot^ultra quam veUtDEvr f-JbarmacojioIia exIwutisSjiuvmn 3c.ua)QncS gUni^sut yiram extemli-Sjtimen tciminos^i^iii prjetcun iion prQtcn3nt,noa promciyebfs Caurus Cs5qiiaiinim'veVig, yiti&pcnctila <»mni»<fecli»»e3<morhart>.T» pumci-pi]i obllcs,,num?ruui.n.-cr»ljwB ru>t>angeUs. pprcSjVQTcjUjjroges, njhil^gjs \ wta? tuac termini jamconUitutifunt^ncc unqiusn, (;]uicqiu4reOftiis) piJtxcxiti potcmnt- —'■Qi-boiu:Tj libi prxAanriflimotam copiaGt8c fcle^« j viTiiflQrctD'b<ba«5.iiumqiiaMilabo-rcs nifi ad fanitatcm j tantoin ftjmnt caj»ias,miat»tum^Lexi/irchiatrtKiim,S'ra.t»9.r»-letudinis pofcit,Adnn;ncrm«<arieas-& algeas^ 'nibiIormiriwS^~n>9r»aliseris$.&>ubi vtUB tuc mctam conrigeiiSjage, r^Ieiic rebus nu!Dani$,& ad rctioaeoi teddKidaal tc para : Tribunal tc vocat.

4md

tios nas

tes

and met retttrrNrtB mr rarih^ aM. ou^thoitghu fcrffh .• Even rhr thoughts'of the gitcatrft Ptinces, and! mightieft Moirardis- upon eaith, who happiljr Hiay haveinthrir heads wh^le common-wealths^ and the afTaiies^of many kingdoracs. r»t mtyaur mtfttn Princes (S^aih King Dav/d) nor in th:finn& Pral.i46.j,4. efman^ inwhomthenis m helfe, H if breath g^ith firth^ f)eere>uynnht^hiseardxyin that very day hif-thmghisprijh. And thet'cfoTe Ictirbcc chy wif- ^f« leaned dome, to rent and weane thine affedions fromthr i'^'^Q^^^^^^l^ wodd with an holy refblure violence in the meanc vivcns, <jux rime: ^DifdaineandTcornctorct thincheart up- P^[J^ moucm on thofc things hcre> which thou canfb noc, diou) p^tes. Diffial" nuift not have in. the fecond life. And there is: f^.i^'O impof-goodreafonforit. For they are all (as Ifaidbe- ^^ P;^; fere) at the bed, and in the height: i.Butr^w- fmacur boms,, ty. And 2. Vexatiin of f^;ru. ?. They can- j^/""'''^^ J i^* not farisfie the foule. 4. 7hey will net frofit in jii,'c^^'„^,aucm the day of revenge, 5. They reach notroeccinity. i^'^cat, uc de. ^. There is no man foairured ofhis honourjWealrh ^-1'^^ jp[,*'|"^" crany worldly thing, burhe maybe deprived of utm unT^&i. them, the very next moment. 7. Thou needs to ^". caelooio,i-i^arenowant: ThereUn$maK^M\C^Tiisr)that Tr'ZTrV)' hMhlephmfeiOrbrethren^crfifierSyCrfathers, ormt- on'Dom ca^. ther, or w fey er children^ or lands for rfkj fake and the ^^ Gefpeh ; Bat he [hall receive an hundred fold mw in this tlmeyhufcs-andbrethrcn^ andfifiersy and mothers,. 4fid childreniondla^, mthferfectttfons-, aid in the ivorldttr come eterfjall (ife. Ofeternalllife, thepoinr is ciccre: But how fliall they helb manifoldly remunerated in thig life :• fc^ v.J^ I. Iathcfkmekind^,rometimes> andxstrrtTTfVSc le^e'f^war'd

* 25 arergpforde^L

Mar. 10.2 i., 3 p.

"n6 OF DEATH.

\ ■ _

as they fay,\^haham,^t God s command, left: his comtreyJiindrediandfathersheufe:2LVid hewas af^ terwards (as you know) crowned wirh riches and honour abundantly,and became agreat and mighty Prince: Job for the glorifying of G o d, and confounding of Satan, bore patiently sand blefled. God for the lofTe of all; and how richly was he after repayed with a large and fingular addition, and excellency of goods and children. "*" Valen-timdn the Emperour was put from his place of *Fcrtur luiia- command in the armVjbv/«to, and baniiliedfor

mm cum turn. c r^ ■ x. c j

mam impciij the prorcmon or C h r i s t : but arterward was Romam adm:- called backe from banifhment, and with much ho-; vJentinim, Hourand applaufe advanced to thc height of the

qui piaefcdus

cohortis erat, ex Albomiljtum qui in cxercitu Joviniani vocab.mtiir, GJCcmiiTe. & perpenio addixifle exiho: fimnlationc qiiidcm c^ub>l rnilites fibi fubjeftos, cum" contra hof^es pugnandumefiec, paruira comraod ^ inftiuxeratj fed rcvcra bine indu-duseft, Ciim lulianu/i adhucin Gillia, qux a<] occidentcm foletii vergit, xtatcm ageiet, adqnoddam delubtum ivitfacrificatum : fimulq; cum eo fuk ZfalentiniatHti, Nam Romanis vctuscrar mos, iit prxfcdi militumjqui Joviniani & Hcrculianivoca-bantur Impcratoicm proximo a tcego pra;Iidij causa fequcrentar. Valentinianus autem cumenetlimen dclivbri tranfgrcfliirus, &faccrdosritu Gcntilftio viridcsoliva: iimufculos rr.adtfaclos manu tcnens, incrocuntes illos afpcigcret, gutta in fuam ve-ilcmdehpsa, segic admodum &gravitcr tiilir. Chnftianus enim crac, & proptcrea fjcerdotccn, qui ipfun aqiu afperfcrat, & convicijs adoritiir. Aiunt prctcrca ^€um etiam Imperatore luliano infpeftante tantum veftis fur cum ipfa gutta excidif-fe, abjccifleqj quantum gutta madcfccerat. Unde luViania ci admodum incenfus, iiacufqj non multopoft Gondcmnavitcxilio, utnimiium Melitinam, uibem Arme-RJceperpetuo incolcrer, causa quidcm (Jmulata, quoi milttes (Jbi (ubjcdos ncgl:-genter admodum gubernaffec. Noluic cnim vidcri propter rcligionem ullo cum af-ficere incommodo, nc indc ant martyris, aur confeflbris honosilli tribucretirr ; fi-quidem luc dccaufaalij? etiam Chnftianis peperccrat, quia videret cosex pcriculo- . rum ftifccptionc (uti i'upra demonftratumicft) turn gloriam fibi confequi, turn reli-gionem ac fidem C H a. i s x i vehcmenter confirmarc. Ac fimul ut impcriuni Romamim Joviano delatam eft,rfte t^alentinianui ab exilio Hldeam rcvocatus, mor-tuojam foi tc /uliano, &confilioab extrcitu & his qui turn primes magiflratus gc-rcbant, inito, omnium fufHagijs Impecitor deligitur, StxofnJiifiQrjEccUfiift.Lib.S. Cap,6,

• \ , Impcdalf ^

— ' '■ -'

Irapcriall dignity. The ApolH es forfakirg ail for C H R I $ T s fake,had afterwards for one ^ poore cottage, the houfcs of all the faithfull Chriftians in ihc world, to which they were far more welcome, than everatiy7/4W4» was to his proudeft palace; and fo all godlv Miniftcrs in all ages ever Rnd heartier entertainment, amongft the HmtfJ-jmldefFrnth, (truly fo called) than ever any natural! father,?no-thei-.^{ifter or brother could poilibly affoordj be-caufe, as yet they can fee no beauty in the image of Christ in others, oi* in their feet who bring The benefit ef glad tidiPgs.nor love fpimuully. ^. 'r^^u,,

. 2. Or in equivalence; by ** contentment, which po%iim dc-doth incomparably both in fweetncife and worth mi rehqu flint furpafle & ova-weigh all worldly wealth.Witnes fiJeii'o' dTmu" that worthy reply of the moft famous Italian Mar- eiant apcrtx, qucffc,GaleacfMCaracc!oluf (having left the rich ^ailX c"nr andplcafant MarquefdomeofVico,allImpcriall hjbeiet domll Popifh, Princely, Courtly favours, and other pro- "^s- omnefqj portionable felicities attending upon fuch humane poftoiVfuot-

fuHm fruftum & ncccfTariaferebaRtjUt rede Paulm fcripfeiit,iCor.6. lo. Ap'jftolos cfle tanquam nihil kabtntes,^ tamen omniapoJJUentes S c ubi oaurn patiem.uiiam ma« tremjpAiiculos fracres, & fororcs icliquerunt, alibi centum fidelcsinvencrunt,,q(ii pa-tcrnOjmateino,& fraterno animo eos profecutifunt. fiiTnton Evanr.Ca^. i j i.

•> Ctntuplaigitiir ifta, hoceftmulto plura animus rccipit, non centupio modo^ fed infiaitOjiriajore turn voliiptatc utens raodicis illtj, quxcunq j ad v.'tam prxfentcm in perfccutione D o m i M v s dcdent, quantilibettribulationibiis circunditus, quam ante cognituni Ev.ingeliuraj ufus fwcrat ijs, qua: rtliquit, Bucer.in Cap ig. Mattb. Interim fuas exhilarat Deus, ut illis pluris fit, longrq; fuAvius t^intJUim boni quo fiuentuv, qaam fi extra Christym illis affluercs immcnfa bonorum copia. Calvin, /bid' CentuplicialKaTcyraTiheio-ia'ct. i e. Qnae centics tanti flntjnem-pe quod ad rcium ufum, Sccoramoda hujus ttiam vitx attinct: fi ^nodoilla non ex copijs & cupiditate noftra fed ex D e i naftri voIuQtate, (qu3B una eft ccrti<]]ma bonorum Rcgulp) metiimur; adco ar fideles inmeuia ttiam e^tftate hu us pr mif-fronis evcntumfentiant. Itaq; pcrndiculus erat lnliar>ut iHc Apoftata <^.mvn Ivmc locum cxagitanS5qujercrcni centum ctiani uxoics habiniri elkni rhiiftiani, BifO-in €a^ lo.Marci,

great-

greatneffc for the Gofpcls falcc)to a wicked Jcfuitc templing him with a great fumme of gold, to re-« Tie nfc of tui ne out of Ziori to Sodomcfiom Geneva into Italy ; ^,'^'of^"* ^t ^ Lettheir money ferjh with thef9t,r9h9efieep:eallthe 'rnkkmrt^uefe ^^^^in the world, mrth one daies feckty with Jisiis of Vico in tU Chris t, and His Ho l y Sp i r i t. I make no ^^kTcaLz doubt but to any of our learned and holy men, exiles for Christ in Quccne Mdries time, of whom many after returned, and received an hundred fold according to the later of the Tcxr^h-owne head and the Gfjj>eirm Gcvm^nyy.duv\ngt\\sth[ou' Lofeofiepirais dy five yeares, were irfinitclv more fweet and Tecm>pcnce.i ^^^^ ^^^^ g|} ^^^ Bifliopricks of En o L A N D with

with a.iinasnce i r ■ » /» • i

9' fpirifuaUi. Stwjcfiftjon totbe ftxc i^rticles.

d Foredidt.ut 5^ £ven in ''an overflowing and tranfcendent

inn-ecJi)setiam • /r t 1 i_ j j

pcrfecution:- manner,m a prefiea and heaped, and even over-m-bus cf.ntuplj larged meafure by fpirituall joy, peace of confci-fi.it fceiiciorcs, ence,contentment of foulc, m.ore fimiliaritv with

<ju:m unquam ^ . . , -r r^ "^' cr

antd, qui Go D, nearer communion With Jesus Christ, Chbistvm fuller aflfurance of His love, and our portion in rxcommodTs Him,more fenfibk experience ofHis all fufficien-antepofuennt cy, extraordinary cxercifc of faith, fwccter cafte

Idem Ibid

Ecce quiieliqueiit purcm,& clcgcritfibi fatrcm BiTMjitTsoei p!us,qiiani ccnta-pluniconftitrcccp»flc.?i;'<:— Qji tcliqirciitfratretn, ut habeat Chkistvm fratrtm, nonnc mclior crit ci c^u-m centum frtifs ?-—Si dimirtir fubftintMin, ab omn bus diligitur, ab ornmbushonoratur, ;i quibufdati autem& timetur. Nam icfc Devs cui fetndidit, d'it (i gr^tiam coi im omnibus : Nonnc mdiRsefiei hoc, qiiam u'uvirfa ten:'} incertus Author in Mat.Horn j ?.

Ne quis fnfp ceturqaod diftjm eft folis cosgrucrc Difcipulis: di'at.K promiflioncm ad omncs qui fimiha fnciunt; Hibebunt cnim pro crmlibus cognmSjfamiliar'r.'tcm & fratcrnitueir. cum Deo; pro agris Paradifomi& pro Upideis xdibus fupcrnjm Hic-rur<:lem,8fc Tbeophytaif in Cap. i g.Mat,

Q^^Tivis pios feiTiper )n iiocn-.undo pcrfccutioncsmaneant, & quafi eorumtergo crux adliafrcatjtam dulcc timcneft condimcntiim gratia Dit, quae jpfosc^fl^'leratjUt illorutn conditio rcgijiadellcijs optabilior Qi.Cslv Ihid.

in

-in the Promifes, clofer cleaving to the Word,cIea-rer fight of divine excellencies, 'heartier longing for heavenly joyeSjC^ir.One drop of which fpiriru-all rcfrefliing dcawcs diftilling upon the foule even ingreate'^ outward diftreffe; one gHmpfe of fuch glorious inward joyes Hiining from the face of the Sun of falvation into the faddeft heart in the dar-keft dungeon^doth incredibly furpaflc ail the comfort which wife, children, wealth, or (in a word) worldly good, or raortall greacnefTe can pofHbly yeeld.

4. Or in pofterity 3 by a very remarkable,if not thir^po^cri/y

miraculous providence and care for them. Confi- rvho loje arji

dcr for this purpofc, that G o t-fcaring Prophet^ '*^«<^>''Goi>-

2 Ktngs 4. who upon the matter, and in the taic

meaning, denied himfelfe, and forfooke all for

Gods f'ikc. (^ For he doth fo alfo,who preferres • Rei mjucrc 3.

the glory of G o ©, the Gofpell, the caufc of '"i" "^ propter

Chr i^T,andkeepingof agoodconfcicnce,bc- ,"Tr7fiv^p"oju

fore any, or alleaithly things 5 holding faft un- ter' ch ri.

fainedly arcfolution, if he be put to it, and times tJ^^ ' ^^

require really and adually to leave all for p^ponc'/oL^,

Christ.) Thisgood man might have'"applied n.bus, scfupa-

himfelfe to the prefcnt, ferved the times, fought "'^"^ira^'^cfl^'

the Court, and f-.teat lejaifels Table with her o- charum pc(ftol

ther temporizing trencher-chaplaires. But it is " "<^^i''o, ut .1.

faid in the Text, that he feared tkLcn d, and fo ^^ ^^^^^

difdained, and abhor'd to gainc by humouring rua rdm^jue-

grcatncffe, to grow rich and rife by bafenefle and, 'f qu^ntumvis

O c? J chara, quajnoi

alliciunt,aut ctiam cogunt.ut aliquiJ faciamnsj quod tit contra ejaJ gloriam Afufc.

' Colligemus ex hac panpertatc viriim lUum fuiife confbntcro in vera & fana rtli^i-oac : quiali dcficcre voluiffct.ad cultu-n /eiabclu^Sc im^ijvco-.s^xi^tui & julls facui-tatef ei ns>a dcfuiil'ent- Fet.Martjn he,

fiatter}^

flattery .And therforc did chufe rather to die a beg-ger,to leave hi«ftvifcin dtbc&expyfehis children to the bondage of cmell creditouis,rhanany waics to make fhip-wrackc of a good confcience^or con-fent and concurrctothe adulterating of Go d « fm-cere and purer worfliip. But innrk what followes: rather than the wife and children of fuch a man, who preferred Gods glory before his owncpre-ferment,fliall fuifer wantj rhcy muft be relieved by a miraculous fupply, as appearcs in the ftory.

^ l«al name y~. • j „ /• / • ^r

give^for lofe 5« Or m good s fJ4me 5 which ts rather ti ofgood^, &c. het chofcn than grzat riches, faith Sdomen, For InTrS/V^ inftance, compare together Bradford zxi6, Bonner, name)kar jhill The nameof thatbldfed man fhall bee of moft not bee cut of. dcarc and glorious memory to all that love sur pJol.ii.i, Lord Jns Us Christ wfi:?ccrity-,\\m\\\}r{\s ■• tisare CiUin fccond comming: and it is like we (hall looke up-

hifa, be ore his . ^^ . . ■ i i i r

commetary up- tyrsmQueene Manesume^ with thoughts or ex-on the fir/i to traordinary fweetneiTeand lovein thc next world Ecfi ^ neqi tu thorow all ctemity. But now the remembrance piaufum ihe- of that Other fellow, who (like a blood-thtrfty no'tcib ^D e"J '^yS^'^) made fuch horrible havockc of the Lambs contentas neqi of Chr I sT,{liaIlbe had in amoftabhortedj exe-mihi propDti. crable, and everlaflin^ deteflation. The name of Ts 'Irrarc! ^^^^ fore-named noblc MarquefTe, ^ who left and

C^od tamcn

cognitu utile eflac ffu^u'rfum,non ptorfus celandifimt LE<florcs. Homi««m primaria familia natum, honore & oplbusflorcntera j nobiliffima & cafti^i nn t?) ore, numc-ros.-i fujole, domeft.'ca c^u ete & con cord la, totcq; vitx ft'tu bc.umn, aln6,utia C H R I s T I c.iftra aiigraret patni (efliflc : D.tioacm feailcia & a(rcpn:.m,lautum Paciimonium, cotnmodim non miniiS, quam voluptuofam h-bitationem neglexiiflcj Exmff: fplenJorcnidomeiUcum ; Patrc,conjuge„hbeiiSjCognatis,?.fSnibusCefc pri-vaflc.^tf.

loft

OF DEATH.

8i

and loft all with a witneflTc for the Gofpcls fake,

{hall be infiaitly more honored of all honeft men,

fo long as any one heavenly beame of G o d s e*

ternall truth (hall fliine upon earth, than his uncles

P4f//the fourth, orall that Rope of Popes from the

firft rifing to the finall mine of that Man of finne.

Nay,thcirs (hall rot cverlaftingly; but his fhall re-

flourifli with fweetncffe, and frcfli admiration to

the worlds end.

2. That,todye,is but to be once done; and if wee MencUthm

crrcinthatonea(5tion, we are undoneevcrlafting- '"'^^'

ly. And therefore have thine end ever in thine eye.

* Let all our abilities,bufineffes, & whole being in ^ in cima«

this life^lct all our thoughts,words5a(ftions,rcferrc ^"''^l™ ^'^''"5

tothisonething,which(asitfhallbewellorillen- "^" ^^^^ '

ded) is attended cither with endlcfTc plagues, or pleafurcs; with eternity of flames or felicity.

providentia; in. ustamenmai* ime,qu3B am-plius quaoi fc» mel fieri nc»

cftfeunt. ubicunq; p€skpfu3fuerit,aAum«ft : uniis error multatrahit crrotum mil-

lia. HjBcruio mortis eft J unicus in ea error, infiaitos trahet eirorci; Hlc remeler-

Mflf-'jactermim eft peniffc.

Lamachos Centwri'^, admiflt empris increpabat militcm, qui ut culpam dilaeref,

dfinceps nil talc admiffiirumfepromifir. Cui Csntucio: In bvllo, inquit, Boae vir,

nonlicetbispeccare. fltitarchiriLacont

In mort€,eheu, nee vel femcl quidem peccare licet. Nam hoc talc peccatum eft ir-.

rcYOcabile. Semel niortuus cs, fsmper mortuus es. femel male mortuus cs, femptr

damnacus es. Hanc moitctn corrigcie,hanc danaaationem cxcutcre, per omnetn «t€r-

nitatem aon poteiis.

3: That thoumaift looks upon thy laft bed, Tmmtf to be full fotcly terribly alfaulted by the king of '^**^** fcare, accompanied with all his abhorred hor-rours,and flinging dread; by the fearefull fight of allthyformerfinnes, arrayed and armed in their griflicft formes, and with their ficrccH flings;

G with

with the utmoft craft and cruelty of all the powers

of darkcncflc, and the very powder-plot of the

prince of Hell, that roaring Lyon, who hath indu-

ftrioufly laboured to devoure thy foule all thy life

long -y with the terrour of that juft and laft Tribu-

nall to which thou art ready to pafTe to reckon

preciicly with Almighty God for all things

done in the flcfli. What manner of man ought

thou to be then in the meane time: in all holy

* Cavcamus ^^^.^ fore-caft and cafting about to give up thine

T>ferre.Quoi account With comtoit at that dreadtull houre <i Be

hominum rail {q f^^rc from "^ deferring repentance in this Day of

nar^ob"cau- vifitation, and putting off till that time5 (For

Cimmaie fini- how cauft thou poflibly attend fogfcat 3 bufinefle,

«u:.t, quiA di- when thou art befet with fuch a world of wofull

mfcTffeiTnda! workc, and hcllifli ra^c:') That thou fliouldeft

Quid crafti. in this day, like a fonne of wifdome,. con-

ren'dmvTi.iiua ^^^^^Y P^Y ^^^ improove all opportunities, occa-

tu2 deft nas ? fions, offers, every moment, Miniftery, mercy,

Cnihnus dks motions ofthe Spirit, checks of confciencc, cor-

Hodiemus'fft! tedtions, temptations, drc, to .ftorc thy felfc

Hodie quaefo, richly with fpirituall ftrength againft that laft en-

^r^^^'^'d'a^'" counter, and of higheft confequence, either

Scft.crTs^ for cternall happineife, or unconcciveable hor-

aut perendie rour.

nl'*:^I, 4- That thy body, when the foule is gone. death made Will be an horrour to all that behold it; a moft foathfome, loathfome and abhorred fpeclacle. Thofe that loved it moft, cannot now find in their hearts to looke on't, by reafon of the griefly deformedneffe which death will put upon it. Downe it muft into a pit of carions and confufton, covered with

wormes

W3rmes,noi: able to w ig fo mich. as a little fiig?r, to remoDvethevernlns chit feed and gaiw upon its flefli; and fo moulder away in:o rottennefTcand duft. An i therefore let us never for the temporary, trandcory eafe, pleafure, and pampering of a rui-nous,and rotten carkafle, bring everhfting mifery upon our imniortall foules. Let us never,f)r a little fenfualUiliDrt and vaainiingdelight flowing from the th ee filthy puddles of the /«/? of the fie jh, the lu^ofthee^CyandthefrjJeofUfe, drowneboth our bodiesand foules in a dungeon,(hall I fay, nay ina * ^.^. . boy ling '^fea of fire and brimftone, where we can difcamusVi'^ fee no banks,nor feele no bottome. cuia vidna'nof-

fc, quae faciJlc

caveCjqui prs.

Yidet. Non pji'Lim intcreft c tena fpc»5les naufragium paffi njntj& irrcpirabile, quot-

quat ad orcu n p.^cipitati luat j nee in portiim unquam pcivenicnt. iEtcrnicatis ivx*

neuna mare,caceer xcemus hos aauhragos jam fcpeliyit.

5. That when the foule departs this \[£c, it ^l}^^^ "^^P^^-

1 • • t -^ 1 ,,<-. '^* carte! no-

carries nothing away with it, but grace, Gods thin, but grace

favour, and a good confcience. The Sunne of all with tt. worldly greatnefTe, profperity, and joy then fets for ever: Even Crownes, Kingdom^s, Lands, Livings, and all earthly PofTcflions are ever-

laftir^ly kft. And "^ what will an immortall *si confc/cntia

foule, deftitute of divine grace, doe then:' Then fit inqumata,

wdl that now newly-feparated foule, finding no '"^'^. "^^'^"^

fpirituall (lore or proviiion laid up in this life a condirL,necm

gainft the evill day, with anirkfome and furious condcorefoU-

tii eft leperire:

Omnia acerba,

Fellea omnia : Et quo profugias ? Ad Djiim? Hoftis eft. Ad confciemiam ? Carnifex

eft.Ad coelites r- Often'i fun:. Ad focios? Augebunt ci'uciatus. Ad delitias Si. volupcates?

Confcientiam magis inquinabunt,&c.

G 2 reflvifiion ,

84 OF DEATH._^

reflexion, lookcbaeke upon all its time fpent in the fiefli; and beholding there, nothing but abo-uninations, gwkinelk- and finne; Prefently awakes the nevev-oyirig worme which having formerly had its uicvith flopt with carnall delights, and mufl'd rp with outward mirth, willnowfeedup-jvhat t}.c{md- on it with bonoi'f, angui{b, and dcfperate rage, iie{peciai/io Wcr!d v^ithout end. O then, kt thefc precious, ion^ ajer. ^^^arc, evetkfting things breath'd into our bodies for a (hort abode in this Vale of teares, by the AH powcrfull God, fcornc with infinite difl dainc, to feed r.pon Earth, or any earthly things j which ?.rc no proportionable obje<5l, either fox di-vinencfTe, or c^uration, for fo noble a nature to neftle upon. But let them ply and fat themfelves all the dayes of their appointed time, with their proper,native,and celeftiall food : i^t thatgre^ Suffer made by a King at the marriage of a Kings Sonne, X?^^'^ 14.1(5. (jyfatth.2 2.2, And therefore nauft needs be moft magnificent and admirable: At that FeaH of fat things y that Feafl of wines on the lees ; of fat things fidUf pMrrorv^, of wines on the lees rvellrefinedylfa.2^.6. The founder and furniflier whereof is the Lord of Hofts. He that made Heaven and Earth, makes it, and therefore it muft needs bee matchleffe and incomparable : At the Well-head ofWifdomes richeft Bounty^ who hath kilied her heajls, mingled her wine, and fitrnifheAhtr table, Prov.9.2. In and by thefe and the royalleft feaftthat can be imagined, are fha-dowed, but infinitely fliort, and reprefented unto us^ but nothing to the life, all thofe inexplicable

divine

OF DEATH. 85

divine dainties,delicates, fwectnefTes 5 thofe gracious quicknings, rejoycings and raviflimentsof fpi-rit5 which God iniiKrcy is wontrocommunicate and convey thorow all the ordinances and meanes of grace to truly humbled foules, for a mighty incieafe of fpirituall (Irength and invincible comfort,

O how delicioufly may a heavenly hungry heart feed and fill it felfe; i. In the powerful] Mi-niftry unfolding all the facred fcnfc and rich mines of G o D s own meaning in his blelTed Book. 2.In the precious promlfes of life, by the applications and exercife of Faith. ^.In the Lords Supper, by making the L 0 r d J e s v s furer to our foules every time 5 and every time by feafting afrefli upon his body and blood fpiritually,with exultations of deareft joy, and fweeteft glimpfes (as it were) of eternallglory. 4. InfruitfuU conferences and mutuall communications of gifts, graces^ prayers, duties with Gods people, which the Lord doth ufually and gracioufly water with the deawes of many fweet and glorious refrefliings and quick-ning, muchincreafe of Chriftian courage, and an holycontentationin the^Wjv^y. 5. In meditations upon the my ftery of C h r i s t , the miracles of mercy upon us for our good all our lifelong, and the eternity of joyes and blilTe above. 6, Upon the Lor D s Day, when fliowers of fpirituall blef-fings are accuftomed to fall from the Throne of gcac^ all the day long, upon thofe who fincerely endeavour to confecrate it as glorious unto him. 7. Upon thofe foule-fatting dales of humiliation 5

S6 O F PEAT H^

and^^mw which who ever tried ^cither fecrctly, private!^ n^any tiio,.' ot puWikely 5 either by himfelfe alone, with hisc ^'nds of cha- yoke-fellow, in his family or congregation, and

, rprkvcr""d- ^^^^^^^^ ^° ^ extraordinary, according to the mirabie, gioii- extraordinarinefTe of the exercifc :'

ouSjind extraordinary

ihings ; Ofpublikc thusfpeakcs a learned Dodor. To Gods gUiy^ mdtotht /lopping of our adverfaries mouthes,the Papifls (whoy^noTv nor rvhat the trueexercife of fafting ineanethjit is to be achjierelcdgcd. that hetvfueverive have not bcenefo frequent ta thU exercife, aiwere to be ivifhed, yet notnpith/andifig, upon diverfe fublihj occajions there have beenepubli\e Tafts ohferved and lo'.emni\edamong tu with good and happy juccejj'e: ^i fir example i/tt tie time of the f^reatFlaguct Anno 156J. After theenat £arth-qua\e, i\nno I'i 7^. After intelligence bad of the Spanijh /nvaJioH, Anno i^SS./n

. the time of the great Famine, Anno 15 9 6. & 15 9 7- ^nd notv of late in thU time of the Fefiilence Anno 1603 Befidet he private and fecretjaftingofthefaithfuHi tiit bath fleafed Gov to move them^either by private,or publil^e occafiom. D.Downam now Bifliop in Ireland, The Chr;Hians banduary.Scfl. 54,032.54,

Nay^Hcare King Charles Hlmfclfe giacioufly acknowledging G o d « extraordinary goodneflcin hearing ourprayeis in publikc Fafts blcflcdly appointed by His owne royall Command : ^ni whereai thegreite/l confidence men have in God arifeth, not onelyfrem HiiTromifey hut from their experience Uf^eivife ofHisGoodnefTe you mu/i notfaile often to re-call tc the memoiy of the people tvith thanl^efuffneffe, the late ffreat experience ree have hadoj Hugoodnejfe towards ta: For,the three great and u/uag judgements which Me darts downs upon difobcdientondunthanf^efuUpeople,are Pt/lilenct Famine and the Swtrd.The Fe/lilenee did never rage more in thii l^ingdme then of late * And God »asgraciou/7y pleafedin mercy to beare tie prayers, which rvere made tmtl aim 5 and the ceafingofthe /udgement nvtn little lejfe than a miracle The famine threat-ned nt thii prefentyeareyand it mufi have foUotvedy had God rained detpneHii anger I little Itnger upon the fruits of the earth. But upon our prayers ibejfayed that judgement

' andfent utablejfedfeaf»n,and a moflplentifuUHarvefi^^c, luftruftr^nj dueafd from 8he Kings moft. excellent Ma)eftie,^c.pag penult.

About

About the laft JvdgembnT, Confider, The terrour »f

I. How * cuttingly, and how cold the very Cheists cs^ Er^CightohhcSo/tofmancofnmingffi the clouds <?/S"fc/'' ' ^ BeAvenrvithpower And great glory, will ftrike imto *Notaqa3 thine heart, who haft refufed to tume on His fide, p^^^^onnTJ and take His part all the time of thy gracious vifi- ant ^imp^obl ration. Then wilt thou begin with exrremeft ^c obfiinau griefc and bitternelTc of fpirit to figh and fay gi"nam',neU within thy felfc: Oh! He that I now fee fitting pe non pri,^$ downe upon yonder flamine white and ^lorious '^"^I" ^f^I^

-^t -IT r-P ^t ■ t perlcquun fu.

Throne, IS that J E s V s C H R I S t, ^/-^^ mighty erinr, ac tum

G o D, thePr/W<?(?/P^^f^, that fweeteft Lambe, quidemcogcn-

whofe precious bloud was powred out as water ^""^ ^"'^ ^''.'^"^

uponthe earth, to Jave ha -people jrom thcrfinnes, one maxima

And He it was who fb fairely invited and wooed &^uporcj &

me (as it were) by His faithfullefl McficngerSjand confciencix m!

intreatcd mcwithtermes of dearcftlove, all my tffabiii, cum

lifelong, but even to leave my lufts, and bid the cem^Hbi ^"'^''

Divell adieu ; and He, even He, would become ftimi eum, qui

my all-fufficient and everlafting Husband; and ^'^'^. in^iignis

now asatthistimehave fct animmortall crowne rnnf^.n^'^^'^r

of blifle and gloiy upon my Head with His owne ifta. Nemo efl,

all-mighty hand. 'But I alas! (like a wilfull defpe fi^ "''J'i'^ ^^-

rate wretch) did not onely neglect fogreat/ahafio^^ quem ^[ntct-fe-

firfake mine owne mercyy'2Lnd fo judge jny Jelfe unwor '^'f> cum inbc-

thypfeverlafting life: but lalfo (abloudybutcher ""ctu^^o/iocu

to mine owne foule) all my few and evil! dayes, Johm cap.s.

bafcly and bitterly oppos'd His blefTed kingdome; "^'''^P^g J ^ »• the purity, power, and holy precifenefle thereof, as quite contrary to my carnall heart, and that current of pleafures and worldly contentments

C 4 into

into which I had dcfpcratly caft my felfe: I indeed

wretchedly and cruelly againft mine owne foule,

perfecuted all the meanes which fliould have fan-

(ftified me,and all tlic men which iliould have favM

me. Happy therefore were I now, if I could increat

the greateft Rock to fall upon me,or be beholding

»Rev.6.i 6. to fome mighty mountaine to cover me; there to

lie hid everlaftingly ^ fiom the face of him thatJltteth

en the Throne^ andfi^om the wrath of the Lamb, O that

I now might be turned into a beaftjOr bird,or ftone,

or tree,or aire, or any other thing I BlefTcd were I,

that ever I was borne, if I could now be unborne :

That I might become nothing & in the ftate I was,

before I had any being ! Ah that my immortall

infern^akTTu' ^^^^ '^^^'^ "^^ mottall, that I might "^ die in hell,

ilincbit uhi eft and not lie eternally in thofe fiery torments,which

flctus&ftndnr I fliallnever be able either to avoid, orabide! Let

ufuUtm jamf- us then betime in the name and feare of God, kifTe

tatio& Voeni- the Son left he be angry at that Day; and fo wee

tcntiafineuiio perifh evetlaftinply.

ijCmedio; ubi * ' ' '. mu -

cfl v'Cimis illej^uinon raoritm',5c ignis<{ui nuncj^uartrcxtinguitti^uhitnorscjiixutar, &noninvenitu'. Quire in inferno mors qwxntur&iioninvcnitnr ^ C^i.aquibiis iii hoc feculo vi:a ofFertU!,& noluntacciperc,in infernoqujeriint niorcem,.&non poteriint inrsnue. U'ni critnox line die, amaiituda fiuedulce^ine, oblcuritasfiac lamine,&c, u4iigufl:JeTemSeTm i-^-i-. .

Hotp t9 ad' Let US now,while the day of ourvifitation lafts, ^dtitTchrifi hdoxctheSunhefet upon the Prophets, addreflfe our felves unto him: i .With hearts burdened and broken with fight of fin,aiid {cr\k of divine wrath,3//?^. 11.28. 2. Prize him infinitely and above all tfre world,M4f. I:? .45.3 .Sell all,part with all fin,/^/af. Out of Egypt quite,leave not an hoofe behind,^;if. 10.25. 4.Take him as our husband & Lord,wher-

by

by we hecome the fins ofGod,loti,i,ii.y.Ti(hhisyoh

nfon usy andk/irnetobe meeke and lowly,Mat,1^.2%::*

6.Enter into the n^^j,which is caiedtk ivay ofhoU.

fjefejfi.^^iS' y.And.thcreconutiueProfcfTorsbf

the Truth> and of thepbwer of the Trnthj and of

the power of the Truth in truth.:' (for otherwife>

thou mayefl: be a Profefibr, and perifh eternaii^:)

That Chri ST mayownethee,at^th5tDa^vMafiy

profefle the Truth,dud not tlie power0^rfiiaertfthi

fome profcfTe both) the' Tpotkam'th tj)m;Ci^bfib,

but are falfe hearted. Where thenMthe m>n-pi^ The/irisac-

fcflbur appeare < Nay thePerfccutcr o-i-yhts^-. count of tUiafi

tfhichisjfokm/^nwfiemer^luthti^ip^-i^^]i4V^rroI day,

.,^vThattHdn,mufl^refeflriy^pa(ffertocfttiifip2^

fhi^jthehighefl &laft Tribunal,which c^nmv^t deniy, cUaniy,

be.appeal'dfrom,6i:rep-eal''dtt1ifefr(t>giveahekai0 'l"fadfj^P''%

acDountvofalithingsdonein-stbe fli^flr,^ VJ^^ dy^i^^jt "^fargj J^"^

thoil^^tofi^teeJicasjr^-.rvWpt^fbf^^tfeyti^ (xtrasrdwarie

every gtaJndfc'ofthineicy^,. 'cvcrpi^mitm i^^lhy ^^'atrj^ thiiejieyeryQniifliQofaaylioly dut^jorgoddde^d, t^cat me; ^ everyadionthcuhaftEindertakeii/^ith'a'ihStedr- ^

^»^}-e

^titc enitii Of iVstnt t'eftibus txtc'tnh) {uoo«{tiua,tt onVncm I'tiam yi^OiW-.-ldcmiiidm

tem,vcl bonavel mnlaomnitusievel.intur.H/Va/1/»J 2)d;;,7. ' '; *f ■ - ■•

. <^3edainigrtuc yss ttftlntettigtnlia,tfPwHtf jTjlfel^^ft''ttbieit-f^-'cf^iljfuai vtF^dna^ yel oiaLi-aiactaiamcmoniam^fevoc^Jittiv^ ei:iff&Ms iftniitii'tniri'celeVffate eeriisiittir: ucaccufet,vcl excufetfcicntiacunfcientiaiTi: atqjita fimulCfomncs 6c?^fi«»QU j^icem tVT.y^u^36Ci'vk.7}etltk^o.Cap.i4. - ■-- - ' '''- ' --■> i'--i c-i-- < ■ • ■-- Ncceffeigiturnon enCJUt^nanife^at(ofi«(v0cefenGbili icF>umalhii';^ftd fetis crir^fi menticepexifeijtctii*,^itiiniffftetar*. Bugo^f^lfdrftHLjb. i xleaniwa-tap.Vi'i -, •' ■ "''' -::i<t'horf judidp Set^jpektib libr»ftim, fc.tfotifde'titiartjni/Gliibiis feeritd'8i<fehlciiti imiverfotuRrfibi i^Gs& <J2temiahotefc*fft,facientc koc ritWtflHihs JLibH Vrt^vevbi rcincarnatr.BoWiBrevi/o.U/J I. _ ' - . \

' i ' cumfcanccs

cumftances thereof^ every office thou haft borne, andthcdifchargcofit ia every point and particular: every COinpany thou haft come into, and all thy:behavi(5ur there : every Sermon thou haft heirdjcvery Sabbath thou haft fpentjcvery motion ofthe fpirit which hath bin made unto thyroul,(^r. Take account of Let US then,while it is called fo day,call our felves ^hlfd.'^^^^^^^' ^oaccount,examine, fcarchandtry thorowly our heait$,lives,and callings,our thofights,words, and deeds; let us arrHgne,accufc,judge, caft and con-dcmne our felves: and proftrated before Gods Merc J'Seat y with broken and bleeding affedions, lowlineflc of fpirit, and humbleft adoration of His free grace', upon tlic fame ground with the y^ra. mitesy I Kin.2 0.51 .Wehave heard that the kings ofthe koufe oflfrael are menifullKmgs: let us I pray thee,puf fack^cloih on ojir loins, androfes on our heads,and go cut /#; the King of Ifratl-^feradventure he wiUfunje thy life, ^fPA&^^ 'Let US therefore give our mercifull G o d no

• Hinc fide rcft, untiU we hayje fued out our pardon by the in-^'"'^ d^bu'^ terccffion ofthe Lord J e 's v s,c^f. And then fn " fudicjum! we fhall §nde the reckonings made up to our hand, quum enim in and' all matters fuIly anfwcfed before-hand. And ifthac vita pel- (^hich isa Poiut of unconceivcablc comfoft) He

lententiara ju- \ . u » i r i

ftificationiste- that was our ^ Advocate upon earth, and pur-

Aafunt & ab >>>.»» li .

lataj & ultiinum illud judiciufn c6in%ina«'f)€ri$j & rnanifcftatio ejufdem fcntcntiae j

non fffet confenianeum, ut ialuccaswfcnuo tum tempotis pioferamur. ^mef.Mfdul.

rheoltib.i.Cap.ii.Sea.ii.

* Qui raodo eft Advoeatus nofter,ipfe tunc erit Judex noftcr. • Si habcres cau-

famapud aliqaem judiccm agendam, & inftrueres Advecatum efle, fufccptus ab Advocate, agcret caufamtuamficutpoffct; & fi non illam finiflfct, & audircs ilium in

judicio fcntur«m,qttantum gaudcres,quja Ipfe potuit efle Judex tuus,qui fuit paulo an-ti Advoeatus tuus?——Quia Adyocatum praemifinms,fecuri Judicem vcnturumfpc-xGm\xs. AugufiMTemp.Ser,iig.

J chafed

chafed the 'pardon with His ownc hcarts-bloud, ihallthenbcour Judge; . ^J^J"^^

3. That all the bcaftly ana jjr.pure abominati- day ojjudge. 6ViS of thine heart 5 all thy fecret finnts and do- '"/"^•, fet-villanics, that no eye ever looked rpon, 'but tim«TajSdi that which is ten thoufand times brighter than the ommbus. ipfe Sun 5 fliall all then be ^ difclofed and laid open be- \^^^^^^^^ , '^ fore Angels,Mcn,and Divels;. and thou ilialtthen i"Ccto!p!o! and there be horribly,univerfally, and cverlafling- ced's, videds: ly alhamed.Thou now ads perhaps fecurcly fbme ^"^^^.1'^^":* hatefuU and abhorred worke of darkneffe, and videtteV Lu-wickedneffenottobenam'd, in thine owne heart, •'^^'"^ cxtiinfta oroncwayorotherinfccret, which thou wouldft (ublifYmtis" not for the whole world, were knownc to the vidette.incorl world, or to any but thy felfe, or one or two of ^^'^'^'"*y^*" thy curfed companions curbed by their obnoxi- nmeriiiumcd pufncfle: butbewellalTuredin thatDay, at that cma eft, ut vi-grcataffize, thouihaltin the hct .of heaven and ti"endo oftui

pcccare vis,quaei:e ubi tc non videat, & fac quod vis. Hein de Verb VDomSerm. 16.

** Ini'jmtates tua: omnibus populis nudabuntur, & ciin^tis agminibus patebunt uni» verfa fcclera tua, nen foliim afluumiVeium cogitatioiium, & iocutionum, Multa veio tunc vcnieht ex improvifo, quafi ex rafidijs, quse, mod© non vidts, & forfitan pluia & ter?ibiliora bis (ju:e vides. Undiq; erunt tibi angufliae, hinc ci;unt accufantia peccataj trcmenda juftitia, fubtus patens hoiridum chaos, defupcr iratus Judex, intus vermis confcientia', foris ardensmundus. Bern.de confc-ad fin. Scioqucd anima tam ama-ram, non aequc fcrt mcmoviam, fed cogamus eam,& conflringamus. Melius eft nunc cam ipfa morderimemotiajquam per illud tempus,fupplicio. Si nunc peccatoium fis mcmor^ & ea continue proferas. &pro ipfis depreceiis, cacit^ delcbis: fi nunc vera fucris oblitus, tune & inyitus coram cmm mundo commonefies: ipfis in mcd:iim fe fe-rcntibusySccoram oftcntantibu$,& amicis,&inimicis,& An^dis.Clr)i/:adPop Jntioch. Horn, 41. Cumhosrclinquatj&captosAngeli quidam invitos trahantj flclachrymis perfufos,& dcorfum taccntcs in gchcnna: flammas, pniis coram toto termrum orbe ad dcdccus produ&os 3 quantum dolorem ^S^ puc?s? JderaHom.j^^. de trcmendo Judic^ die.

Penfant fanfti viri quanta fit ilU vcrecundia ineonfpcftu tunc humani generis. An* gclorwn omnivm Archangelorum^j confundi.

earth

.OF'JUDGEMENT.

earth,: be laid out wiithy colours to thine eternall confufion. Never thcrforego about, or encourage thy felfbto commit any fin, becaufe it-is mid-night or thatthe doores are lockt upon thee 5 becaufe thou art alone, and no mortali eye feeth thee, nei-dierisiitpoffiblc tobc^deveal'di (And yet Imuft tell thee by the way ,fecret villanies have and may bedifcoVered, i.In fleepe. 2. Out of horrour of confcienoe.orintimeofdiftraifiiion.) Foivfuppofe -itbeconceakd,and ly;e hid in as great darkneflcjas ;it was coramittedjuntill the laftand great Day: yet then fhallit out with a witnefTcand be as legible in thy forc-Jiead,as if it were writ with the brighteft ftarres, ortlie raoft gliJlcFiag Sun-beame upon a

The terrdr of

Met.z5.41. expounded. ^ Though the

wallofChriftall.

- . 4. In what awofull cafe thy heavy heart will be,and with what ftrangeterrour, tremblBrtg, and defperate rage, it muft needs be poflfeft, and rdnt in pceces, when thou fhalt heare that dreadfull fen-tencc of damnation to eternall torments ^nd horrour, pronounced over thine head: Bepdrt fentenctbepro- fiomme ^thou curfed wretch into everlafting frey nouHceJ gcHe- ^f^^^edfir the Divell and his angels:. Every word reprfbatem/i breathes out nothing but fire and brimftone, ven-ta^eittohim^ geauceand woe, bites deeper, and terrifies more

[elfe with inp- ^ *

niteanguifljoj^pint bypdrticulAr application. Qu^citlsafcholaflicis, utrumufta gcnc-rali fentcatia, & eledi tccipiendi fint in coelutn, & reprobi conjicieAdi ingehennam. Sane fievidetur, quia non nifi genecalis a Mattheo fentfntia adfertur. Tatnen dixerit aliquiSjOpus effe,utfm {ingulisfenTentia dicatur,quia & prsemiorum & poenaium certi emat gradus.Ad hoc pleriq, refpoadent, fcnfibili quidem voce pronunciatijm iii fen-tentiamgcaeiolein: fedeaoijquia.pirticulatiai omnflsf<:iant',quanmm'prJCmium,quan-tavc pcjeaa maneat ipfos, id cujufq; menti cfT; repicsfcmandum, ita ut ejufqe mahifefta-tionis non minus j^erta altjsfiituca func judicicc/quarn fi fingulij fua dkerctur fcntcn-

than

than ten thoufand Scorpions ftings. To ^/eparP from that glorious prcicncc were hell enough: but thou muft alfo goe with a cur/e : not onciy [o, but intojf^"^ .• and that muft be evcrUfitngj fed continually with infinite rivers of brimllone.r.nd kept ftill in flame and fiercenefle, by the unquenchable wrath of the moft juft God, thorow all eternity. And in that horrible dungeon and fiery lake, tliou fhalt never have other company or comforters but wicked Divcis, and they infulting over thee ever-laftingly with much heUifli fpite, and ftinging ex-probrations, for negleding fo great falvation all thy life long; and lofing Heaven, for fomc bafc luft, and! believing their lies. If the drowning of the old world, fwallowing up oi Korah and his compliees> burning up of Sodome with brimftone, were attended with fuch terrours, and hideous cait^cri^s: How infinitly tranfcendenr to all pof-fibility of conceipt, exprelfion, or bcliefe,will the confuiioHs and tremblings of that Day be; when fomany millions of menfljall be dragg'd downc withailltheDivels of Hell, to torments without end, and paft imagination. There was horrible fcryking,when thofe five filthy cities firft felt fire and biimftonc drop downc upon their heads; whenthofc rebels iaw the ground cleai/e 4finder ; ^nAthemfelves arfdall theirs gee down qui eke into the fit'j when all the fonnes and daughters o^^dnrrt found the floud rifing and ready to over-flow themall at once: But the moft horrid ciy that e-v^rwas heardjoreverftiallbein Heaven or Earth, iBthis worldyOithe Worldtoconie,willbc then,

wh«n

, 94 OFJUDG EMENT. ^

^Bcid caeiitji ..Vii^rn ill th^ forloms coidefliird rcprobitcs, up-noiico^uoa oar^a:-ri:eg->M,}iill b^ violeitly and unrcfifta-fci njc puci- biy h.ilcrJ dj.vi:: to H.41, and palled prcfently ta.i icTtpc-r fr^T^ rh:^ DTcf^acenoc oaelvof themoft glorious adu lau -nif^- OoD^t'ic LoRD JE sVs,A.figds,anaalltnebleiled racioa^in He Oa^s, buc alCj of their Fathers, Mothers, Wives, tcTL^t Husbands, Children, Sifters, Brothers, Lovers, tu- jud. cun FnendsAcq.iaintaice;'^ who (hall then juftly and videanc vindN dcfervcdly abandon them with all deteftation & fua^iIvoMmtTn dcrifioi: andfjrgettingallnsareneflcand dearcft fa't^uine pec:a obligations oF nacurc, ndghbour-hood, alliance, mam Miiini g j^y thin^,rei,iyce in the execution of divine tuftice Deuj omacOj; in thcit cvcrlaftng Condemnation. So that no eye bom habibuu of G o D otman (hall pitty them;neichci'fball any ims''' "qudci teares, prayers,proiiiires, fuits, cries, yellings, cal-pietate u.ibcac ling upon tocks and mountaines, wifhcs never to dciJacieiipoe- havcbcene, ornow tobemadcnothing,&c. bcc ^'^feim Isim- then heard or prevaile in their behalfc, or any ono iuui.ca.p*z in Heaven or Earth be found to mediate or fpeake urn s"!naos^fc- for them; to reverfeor ftay that feai'cfali doome ipfos, om lefcj; of etemall woe: but without mercy, without ftay, fcelerij fjcios with3Utany fatcwell, they (hill be immediately tionibus dc^/o- ^^^ irrecoverably caft downe into the bottome-vcbant paren- lefTepitjofeafelefTe, endlslTe, and remedileflfe tor-tcTi fii us, him n^ents, which then fliall finally (hut her mouth up-filia, banc ma- onthem. Oh! What then will be the gnawin^s ter execrabi. pf the never-dying worme; what rag-of guilty tx dTcT"* confcienccs; what furious defpairej whathorrour nofq; & ipfa n of miud; what diftraitions and feares; what bitter ^^"^"^ Th^''^^' ^^^^^"S backe upon their mif-fpent tine in this miedi<ais°on?- Wv:)rld 5 what '^ banning oftheir brethren in iniqui-rabit.; ty • what cutfing the day of their birth 5 and even

blaf-

OF HELL^ 95_

blafpheraingofG o d Himfdfe blefTed for ever; what tearing their hairc and gnafliing of teeth 5 what wailing and wringing of hands 5 what defpe-rate roaring; what hideous yeHing, filling heaven, sndeaiThjandhelld"^. No tongue can tell, no heart can thinke! Be fore-warned then ,in a word. To thirftjlong and labour infinitely more to have Jesvs Christ intheraeanctime,fayinthe Miniftery to thy truly humbled foule; lam thyfal-njAtion ; than to be Poffeflour (if it were pofrible)of all the riches,glory and pleafures of moc worlds, than there are ftarres in heaven.

About Hell, Confider,

I. ThePaine oflolfe. Privation of Go PS glo ^fL^^^l'J rious prefence, and eternall fcparation from thofe cverlafting joyes, felicities and blifTe above, is the

more '^^ horrible part of hell, as Divines affirme. ^ Pana damnt.

There are two parts (fay they)of hellifli torments; ^^u dhin^ vi-

I. F^»e ofkffi 5 and 2. Pai„e offenfe .■ but a fcnilbk ttuC^nl

and ferious contemplation ofthatineftimable and fuppi,aorum

unrecoverable lofife, doth incomparably more af f"'""'"'" f^^

fli^anunderftanding foule indeed, thrn all thofe ZTmm punire punifhmcnts, tortures, and cxtr em eft fufferings of poteft.Narauu

ff^t^ff^ vUere Dciim,

^^"^^' jplifiima bca-

titiido eft. Ita,

Dcum vUere nonpojfe, maxima damn.itorum poena eft, c qua incxplicabiiis in eorum

voluntate nafcitur triftitia.

• Inter fnpplicia omnia hoc foturum eftfiimmiim, mriximurnqj a Conditoiis afpeftu

veil brcvi morula detineri.Si jam ab eodeni exclufus (is xteraum. Hoc tibi tormentum

crit infandum prorfus & inexplicabile.

It is the conftant and concurrent judgement oi^^^2t)b<^fhe

the torment in led.

♦ A Deo aba. thc antiGilt'^ Facha's, that thc tormcnts and oaife. lieaan ac fepi- rics of luayhels, coiHJ farrc ni3rt,arenoch!ng,to ""'^°^^'^"^* th-nlKit:ing out everbftingly from the kingdoinc vmicii; firut of heaven,and unhappy banifliaient from the bea-oaiiojuce.eii tificall vifion ofchc moft foveraigne,only,& chic-ik! &tnimat f^ft Good, the thrice-glorious lehvah, blefTcd for viti privjtii ever. For, by how rauch the degrees of infinite ^fi^Afct ^^' %^^^ ^^^ happincs in Go d, exceed the finite wic-z!mhiplgzu kednefie and mifcry of men: by fo much greater

incoLribiiis is the forrow and griefe,(being rightly conceived) aul'c^r'ta^ for the iolTe of that, than for the fenfe of this. Af-mca licet quis furc thcnthy fclfe before-hand, though thou little innumeraspo. thinkcfoin the mcane time, the IolTe but of the "le ml Xet, 1^^^ ^ayc of that Sun-like refplendcnt Body, wc quale lUa foeii- fhould havc in Heaven; but of a tafte of thofe o-na^^a'chnft^ vcr-flowing rivcrs of pleafure, and un-uttcrable odio hab"n° bliflfe of that happy foule which Ihould dwell ia Audire, mrcio fuch a Body; but of one foot-breadth of the '^Antitlh^Hin p^vcmcnt ofthe Empyrean Heaven, to which the ^7'miki9oiii9 Starry Firmament is but aPorch> or out-houfc;

^omnia vcr5 b^^j q^q hourcs Company with all the crowned piicu"fupe"al Saints, and glorious inhabitants of that happy bit,Dcum non placcj but of onc glauncc upon the glorified Body ^^^ ofjE sv sChri sTibutofoHcglimpfeofthat in potcftatc unapproachablc Light,and lehfivahs face in gloryj

habuifti obti-

nerc. Beru.deinter, 'Domo.Cap.iB.

Videtur unatantummodo poena cfle,combuii. Si vcro aliqais diligcntcrexpendat, duplex hoc inveniteflefupplicium. Qih cnim ingehcnnauritur & cGclorum regnum prorfus amittic: quae cercc poena majoc eft, quatnciusiatuSiUcflammaram. (Inyfdfi, iuMat. Horn 14^

Intolcrabilis quidem res eft etiam gehenna: Quis nefciat.flc fupplicium illud hor-libilc } famen fi mille aliquis poni.it gehennas, nihil tale diftmus eft, quiUc eft a bea.. tat illius gloria bonoic repelli, exoTumq; effe Chrifto, & audice ab illtt: sen nori voi.lW//.

I

OF HELL p7

I fay, the lofle but of any one of thefe would be a far dearer and more unvaluable lofle, than that of ten thoufand worlds, were they all composed of pureftgold, and brim-full with richeft jewels. What will it be then (thinke you) to lofe all thefe, nay, the full and abfolute fruition of all heavenly excellencies,beauties,glories,'pleafure$ and perfe-dions,and that eternallyrl know full well that car-nail conceipts and worldly-wife men will wonder atthis 3 for, having no fight but by fcnfuall eyes, they cannot poifibly apprehend, or will by any meanes acknowledge any fuch thing. Eagle-ey'd they arc, and fharpe-fighted enough into things of earth; yet blinder than a mole (as they lay) in beholding any fpirituall or celeftiall beauty. But had Vfchut thccycs of Aufiwj Bajllj C/jry/oflome, and fome other holyFathers,Cand why fliould not ours be clearer and brighter, confidering the greater fplendour and illuftrioufnes of divine knowledge inthefetimesOwefhouldeafily confeflfe that the farre greateft, and (indeed) moft unconceiveablc griefe would be, to be fevered for ever from the higheft and fupreme Good: and that a thoufand thoufand'rentings of the foule from the body, were infinitely lefTe than one of the foule from God. Nicofif^atus in JEli/m,hin-\M£c being a cunning arti-fan, finding a curious pcece of worke, and being wondred at by one, andask'd, whatpleafurc hec could take, to ftand as he did, ftill gazing on the pidure, anfwered •: Hadft thou mine eyes, my friend, thou wouldeft not wonder, but] rather bee ravilhcd, as lara, at the inimitable art of this rare

H and

*si vcro id non ^qJ ad mire d pcece. '^^ It is propoitionably fo in the

S^7mon(tr.i'- prcfcntPoint.OrwcrewevouchfafcdbutOHCmore, nihil eft ment o^Patds heavenly raptui'e, that we might fee omnino mi- |^^^ ^ gUmpfe of that infinite glory, and drinke but cnim noviinus one drop ot tholc cver-lpringing Fountames of illoium Bcati- joy; tiienfliouldwefrcely acknowledge and fcclc

mfoZ^urin." ^1^^ ^^'^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^ ^^y^ ^"^^ ^^^-t all I fay comesfar foelicicit'em (liort of what wc {hall find.

quoq; de eotu

atniUionefcire pofltmus.Cxtenim PuH/^,qui ift.icompant, certiffimc novItjCjuoniam cxcidere a D:i gratia omnium fit profedo mifenimum. Nos autem hoc tunc abfquc dubio difcemus, cum expcrimento ccepenmus doceii. Sedilhid ut ne pariamur faxis 6 bcnioneFili Dci,ncqjexpctiamuiintolei-abileilluil, hortcnduinqj fupplicium, quam grandefit: Namqaammalumiltoium bonorum portioneprivarij aperce qiudem cx-primfnon potcft, Chry[. ibi.L

Loofenot kfi- If it be fo then, that the loflTe of the prefencc of laiJFdlA. God, and endlefle pleafures be fo painfull,irrecoverable and ineftimable; and that it hath beenc many times made manifeft unto you by Scriptures, Fathers, reafons, convincing,familiar, eafie refem-blances; and the fame alfo appearcs, and may be clearely concluded by the third exhortation before the Sacrament in the Common-Prayer Book; to wit,that living and lying wittingly and willingly in any one finne agalnft confcience, robs us of all thefe infinite cver-during, unutterable joyes, and beatificallvifion, and fruition of Go n himfelfefor ever: I fay,fith it is both thus and thus: Let every one of us in the name & feare of G o d ,as wc would not for a few bitter-fwcet pleafures, nay, fome-timcs one vileluft in this vale of teares for an inch oftime,lofe unknowne delights thorow all eternity in another world, with an unihaken invincible rcfolution oppofc all forts and ^Skiis of fin, with

aU

OF HELL. 99_

all motions, enticements, and temptations there- •stfimultige-unto: Let us hold with holy Chryfepmc,'^ That n is nXum'" n.-worfeand a, more wofall thing to offend Christ, than premnm atquc to k vexed with the miferies of hell. Let us profefTe "l^i'^up"^^'"-* with Anfelme: ^ Thatifwejhouldfeethehatefallrjes of ccnfeo,'(icaflL fm on the one fide jandthe horror of hell on the other, and '^"^ p^^dicabo, muft necejfardj fall into the one, we would rather choofe dTc^^ cbTftum he II than fin. «It is reported alfo o^Edmundhis fuc- offedcic, quam ccfTor 5 that he was wont to fay: J will rat her leape S^i^^"^^ ^^'^^

t r t 1 t 1 t z'' vexari, 2 dan in

into the per J lakej than knowingly commit anjftnne a- Mat. tim zj. gain (I G o D c Let us refolve with another of the An- ^^ h- . . . tieiits; Rather to be tome in peeces with wild horfes^ "S''""^>»"i"'c than Wittingly and wilitngly commit ayiyjm. Sec for clorem,& illmc this purpofe twenty curbing Ccnfiderations to keep "I'^^eminfer-froni Cin.Inftr.fir comf.afflttf. Confcpag, i o 8 nectS'^lfi

illorum habc-rem immGrgi,priu» me ininfernum mcrgcrcm,quim peccatiiaiinmcimmittcrem.Mal-icm eniai piirus'a pjccato & innocons gchcnnam intrare, quamfcccati fordc pollatus coelmumlegna tenerc. Anfelm.ilefinHituJ.cap. ij>a

,* Potuis,ajcba4:, in aidentcm rogam inIilu;rOj(juan ulluai peccatuin in Dcutn com* mifcro. Jn marg,

' 2. ThePaineoffenfe. Theexri'emity,exquisite- ^f^etommstH neffe and eternity whereof, no tongue can poflibly cxprcfre,or heart conceive.Confider before-hand, what an unfpeakeable raifery it would be (and yet it would not be fo much as a flea-biting to this) to lye everlaftingly in a red hot fcorching fire, deprived of all poflibility of dying, or being ever confum'd 1 I have fomewhere read of the korrid execution ofaTraitour in this manner: being na-kedjhe was chained faft to a chaire of brafTe or fom other fuch mettall,that would burne moft furioufl ly, being fil'd with fiery heat; about which was

H 2 made

loo OF HELL.

* T rannis ^^^^^^^^ ^ "eighty fire, thatby Utcle and little caufed prifca vfx ac^r- the chairc to be red and raging hot, fo t latthe mi-biorcs cruciA. ferablc man ^ roared htdeoufly many houres for ih, tuin'^^vt extremeft angiiifli, and fo expired. « But what ati vum flA-ninis horrlblc thing had itbintohaveUeninthvatdread-tradcrc, icnte £yjj tormcnt cteraallv: and yet all this is nothing.

Ignis fuppliciorutn ultitnumj graviffimun, Sed 6 mitctn gehennam, 6 ccmpcritW flammasjvclmillicsvivumcombuii 1 Feralishajc fentcmia: millc haras colcraic flam-mas, captivis iafei-oaim longcclemencior videretur, quam fircojamjan pledtcndo vitae fiat gratia.

« Tormentam hortibilc proifas, nee verbis cfFabilc, homiiicm ignc cminus ac lente admato tribushoris toircci vivum. QiKjdnam igUur tormcntum,6 DavSj^uim infan-d»iin,quamincomprehcnruna, nondudSjtrefve hcias, nonunumalccrumqj'diem, non anaum,antiofq«e mille,fcd astemitate tota (-|ua2 tamen nanquam tota erit) & corphs &animamuii,nccunquamcotnbuci 1 Hic vox & veibadeficiunt.

rire of heU For^iftheblackfireof hell be truly cofporall and ^tiertrT ^""^ ^^^^ properly jasfome of the Fathers fuppofe^yec i Ignis in- it is fuch (fay they) that as far pafleth our ordinary fernaiis & no- ^o^teft firc, as ours cxceeds the ^ fire painted up-qiuntum"**dif- o^ the Wall. And it muft be fo, I meane, as farre ferunt, &pri- furpaflfe-our moft Euious ordinary fire, immcafu-mbquiicm u- ^^[^ unconceivably in decrees of heat, and Noft«i- ignis nerccnclicor burning.. For,thc one was created Augufiino ^•' forcomfortj the Other purpofely to torment; the ftriiu^nitcr one is made by the hand of man 5 the other tem-verus. Difcri- pctcd by the angry arme of almighty God, with '"^" • tifrfi- ^^^ ^crrib^c 2^^ torturing ingredients, to make in mUitlldovcra:', moft fierce and raging, and afitinftrumentfor fo ac piaa: flam- great and mighty a God to torment evcrlaftingly "ouicquidhk fuch igipcnitent reprobate rebels. It is faMtobc leurit, fabuia frefandy'cHatth,2'y.£^i, //i.30.33. as if the all-

cf, jocuscft:

quicquid hicpatetis, metiflTimus ludxis eft: igniiim umbra fimt igncs noftri ad ilia inferorumincendia; pcenas quas hk depcndimaS- idici* (iiw, ad ilia nunquam dc* gtiura tormcma.

powcrfull

OF HELL. loi

powcrfull wifdomcdid ddibcntte, and (as it were) nt downc and devifc moft tormenting temper for that moft formidable fire: the one is blowne by an zicry breath; tht other by the angry breath of the great God, which burnes farre hotter then ten thouftind rivers of brimftone: T^e pfU thereof i^^^ ,^j, ( faith the Prophet) isfremdmuchweody tit breath tfthe Lord, hkcA flreame ofbrtmflene, doth kindle it. What (oule doth not quake and melt with thought of this fire,at which the very di\ els trembled There if heit-fire Ue is HO proportion betweene the heat of our breath, ^Hf^^^^i^*' and the fire that it blowcs. What a fcarefull fire s**Dice^m qui-then is that which is blowne by a breath diifolved ^'-"^ ^"^ ^"^^^^ into brimftone ^ which a greJt torrent of burning f "fjiduis^^^ brimftone doth ever mightily blow ^ Niti conveni-

If it be g metaphoricall, as K^ufiin feemcs fome !"^^'' '■^^p°""

*■ J J d(.ji cernercm,

talem fuiffe illam flammam, qB-iIe$ oculi quos Icv^vit, ^Layirurn viHit, qualis lingua cu'i humorem cxiguom defiJeravit inhindi, qualis digitus La^ariy de quo id fibj fieri poftuiavit, nbi nmcn crant (Inc corponbus anims. jipg lie Civil', Dei. Lib. 21.10.

Metaphonce loquitur dc exitio rcproborum, quod fatis aiioqtii complcdi non poffumus, qHcm itlmodum nee beatam, Scimmortalem vitani pereipimus, nifi luh fi» guris quibjfdaTi ingemo noftro accon^modatis adnmbrctur : inde apparct quamin-cpti & ndiculi lint Sophiftae, qui de iiiiuJ: igrws natuia 8t sjualitatc fubtilias difle-runt,atq; in eo cxplicando varic fe torquent. Explodcndz funt craflz hajufmodi i-maginationeSjCumfigurat^ Prophctamljqui ihtelligamuSj&c. Cat.in/fa c.io.vuh

Quodigni ciucundos dicit miper metaphoiicam cffe locutionem admonui : idq; ex membio adjundaapeiti liquet. Neq; cnim fingendifunt e terra & vermes, qaiin. fidelium ccrda arrodant, /Jem in Cap (>6.v ult.

Qni asternum lUum igncm, mataialcm & elcmcntarcm fingunt;'n^turse fnferi-©liSj &fiiperioris 5 tcmpuns.& sRcernitatis modumconfundunt. Cum enim nihil materintum & ph. (icHm capax (it proprietatum hypcrphyficaruirij fieri non poteft, ut corporeusiinis, qucm Pontificij Schobfticorum au<ftorit?.tc freti, (nam Patrcs hie dubitant.'r loquuntui ) in tartaioflatuuntj ^ternitat s (it capax—Ad liafc, cum idem ignis fit par.itus Diabolo & hominibus impijs, Mat.aj 41. Ignis aurcm corporeus non pofUt agereinfpiritum ; planu.n (it, ianis imagine fpiritualefiipplicium adum-brari.-.-Porr6 nulla omnino caufa eft, cur ibi ftatuatur i^nis corporeus, cum vermis morfus^ quo mentis asfluna fijuraii d )ccnt Scholaftici, ignis iiftioneoi longc cxuperetp «ipfor«nafentcntia. TiLadbucOrthodoxSyntag^Pagt.Cap.('^-

H 3 where

^ -I,

where to intimate, and fbmc modcrnc Dirincs are of mind: and as the goU^ ffearles^ndfreciom ftones o£ the waM Jlreets and gates of the heavenly Jerufalem {Eev.ii,) were mctaphoricall 5 folike-wife it fhould fecmcthat the fire of hell fhould alfo

* Sdend ^ figurative: And if it be fo; it is yet fomething Scriptutam res ^^s, that is much more terrible and intolerable, fitiiri focBii t For as the Spirit of G o d, to (hadow unto us "rfymK; the glory of heaven, doth name the moftpretious, & imaginibus excellent and glorious things in this life, which adumbrate fo- notwithftanding come infinitely fhoit 5 fo doth ad^durcS! ^^ intimate unto us the inexplicable paines of hell, Icftia gaudia, by things moft terrible and tormenting in this rerumpix iian- vvorld,fire,brimftonc, ^r. which yet are nothina; jucundiflima- to hcllifh toiturcs. Whether therefore It be W4-rumtypisjita terUU ot mtUfhorically I purpofenothere'todif■ «^^a?^""?e• P"^^' ^^ ?^^ ^howt to determine: neither is it much lum triftiffi- material! for my purpofe. For, be it whether it "'Tffi * ^" ^^^^' ^^ is infinitely horrible and infp.fferablcber mibracuiisT Y^"^ ^^^ compaffc of conceipt,and above the rejch vermc,igne/e. either ofhumaneorAngcHcall thoughts. It doth nebrisjftridorc ^^^ onely cxceed with an incomparable difpro-ni& caiiginis, portion all pcflibility ot patience and reiiltance; ftagno fuiphu- but alfo evcnability to beare it 5 and yet notwith-hs*2^P*ing"re" landing, it muft upon ncccffity bc bome fo long as

Uem. ibilem. G O D is G O D.

* Curioforuni imo furioforum igncm Iiunc contcntionis gFadio, ultri quam fas

eft,fodere. Nos, aciilcatis fubtilium qujcftionum tricis, apinifqj tanqa'.m i^gyp-tijspedicdis in Sophiftarum finurelidis, in banc potjus curaoij toto peSore iRCum-bere decetjUt ignem ilium fidci fciuo ertinguaraus j. nc qiialis fit^tandem expeiiatMir. idemlhU.Thep.^i.

Aittortura /o- j^^q |j^ ^ word.all tha^ I intend to tell you in the

ftthsp not com- j ^ ^',^^

OF HELL. io3_

•oint at this time. ^ If the fcverall paines of all the ^, *! ^°^^ J** difeales and maladies mcidcnt to our nature, as of tare, quiquii the ftone, gout, colickc, fh'angury, or what other unquam iii«-youcanname,moftafflia:ingthebody:nay>andadd fum,'cnldST, befides all the moftexquifiteand unheard of tor- miferandam [ tures, (and if you will, even thofe ofthe Spa».'fi In- ^^^^^^^ ""'f^ ^m^tiotf)-which ever were or fhall be infli(5lcd upon qJd 'ib Vtbc miferablc men, by the ' bloudicft executioqers of condito f«va thegreateft tyrants, as that of him in the brafen cTuJJSt^'^ex. chaire mentionedbeForcc^r. and colled them all cogitayit^quic-into one extreameftanguilh^and yet it were nothing ^"id ad ufque to the torment which fhall for ever pofTcffe and Sm fiviffimo, plague the * leaft part of a damned body .'. And i^m Hominun as for the foule: let all the griefcs, horrours and vTnTe""" '"" defpaircs that ever rent in peeces any heavy heart; hoc autcm om. andvexcdconfciencej asof//i!<i//#f,^/>/n<,&c. And "*^ ^ veiw ia let them all bee heaped together into one ex- tJ^'^cum xtl^ tremeft horrour, and yet it would come infi- nitate damna-nitely ihort to that dcfperate rage and reftleflc '°'^"™ compo. anguifli, which ftalleternally torture the leaft and ch^f^}'mopw. loweft faculty ofthe foule ! What then doeyou ci.imabit:H2c

.' omnia qux hie

patii«ur,merus ludus ac rifus Innt, fi cum illis fupplicijs in. contentionem veniant.

Pone, fi libet, igncm, fcrrum, & beftias, & fi quid his difficilius; attamen *ncc umbra quidcm fum iiKc ad ilia toimencs..—Nonne videmuj tcrrenos militcs princi-pibiisf;rvienres, quomodbligant, quomodb fli^ellant, quomodo per/odiunt coftas q-iomodo faces tormentis adhibcnf: fed hxc omnia Indicia, & rifus ad fupplicia! Chyfoft ad Psp. Aatioch.Hom. 40. rr* •

» (.anjideT here aUtbs horrible torturer ia/filfeJupon Chrifiians in the Primithe timet: That man in the braien chme, RaviUa 5 torments ; Frenchflory^ pa^ 1194. AU the monfiroca cruelties thirove the Turli'Jh Story: the fiery andbbudy mrferies fxecutedupan our blejfed Martyrs i 1 Qt^eene ^\^\ ics time : the barbarous and prodigious dutcheriet •/ the *!panijb Inquifition^rfhich lie Poet brings in as the fourth Ftiry.

'^Becaufe all the mer'jhers of the h.ly and powers of the fjule have beenemeapons of

»»ri^hteou/::e/re,r^anfbjUhep!azuedin all the parts of the body,andJaculties of the foule by that horrible inflrwnent ofhelHfh torment j called h^ C h r i s t. Fire prepared for the Divell and his angelsj Mar.i?.

thinkwilbcthetorment of the whole body^ What wil be the terrourofthe whole fouled Here both invention of words would failc the ableft Oratour upon eatthjor the highcft Angell in heaven. A m^iMfe Mt Ah then, is it not a madncffe above admiration, '»*« "••^^'^ and which may juftly amaze both heaven and ^'^' earth, and be a prodigious aftonifhrrent to all creatures, .that being realonable creatures, having un-dcrftanding like the Angels of G o i,, eyes in your heads to fore-fee the approaching wrath, hearts in your bodies that can tremble for trouble of mind, as the leaves of the forreft that are flnken with the wind,confciences capable of unfpeakable horrour, bodies and foulcs that can burne forever in hell5 and may (by taking leflTepaines in the right w iy, then a drunkard, worldling, or other wicked men in the wayes of death and going to hell) efcape evcrlafting paines; yet will fit hcere ftill in the faceof theMiniftry with dead countenances, dull earcs, and hard hearts, as fenfleffe and unmooved, as the featcs you fit on, the pillai-s yoa ieancto, and the dead bodies you tread on, andne-verbcfaid, (as they fay) never warn'd, untillthe fire of that infernall lake flame about your cares ! O monftrous madneffe and mercilcffc cruelty to your owne foules! Let the Angels blufh, heaven and earth bee amaz'd, and all the creatures (land aftonifhed at it. TU angutfif of 3. When fentcnce is once irrevocably paft by w'/Srlie'^ that high and everlafting Judge, and the mouth TmepfffJse! of the bottomlefle pit hath (hut it felfe upon thee winhthat infinite anguifli and enraged indignation,

tho«

OF HELL^ lof

tl^ilt takeon, tearc thy hairc, bite thy nailcs, nJiqufd.f^^, gna(h thetceth, dig furioufly into the very roun- tu fcmper o«j-taineof life, and (ifit were poiribIe)fpit out thy ^^J^^ bowels : bccaufe having by a miracle ot mercy luc, ,am lue bccneblcfTcdallthy " life long in this glonoufly najuims. En illightencd Golhe-r^ with the faireft noone-tidc of "^^^^^ the Gofpell that ever the Sun fa^v, ana either did- cum tamen is-deft, or mighteft have heard many and many a s^J^j^J^'^^^'^ powcrfuU and fearching Sermon; anyonepaf- '^J'''^^^^^ faecwherof(ifthouhaddeftnot wickedly andwil- vitjs. Enpcr-fuTlyforfakenthineownmeixy and fufoed Satan d^^^^^^^^^^ inabafeandbeaftly manner to blindtold and baffle p^rdadifti rcg-thee) might have beene unto thee the beginning mmi:Potiiiircs ofthc ncw-birth,and everlaftingblilTe: yetthou^n fl^^d^vo: that refpe(a a moft accurfcd wretch, diddeftpaflc luiflis:breviac over all that long day of thy gracious vifitation, ^^^ like afiff^e rr ^au^ker ofconfufm^w ithout any pier- ,,^,,,^ ^.^i pacing or profitat all; and palTedby all thofe goodly ra0cs mojd ooffl-rs and opportunities, with an inexpiable neg- J°lX'c,p^ro

camis vo'uptatula, piofpuic3, Smomemnnca obkaatiuncoU immenfag fendidjfti voluptatcj.NimirCm tua tibi earo.q i.im coelum charior erat Sentis lam quas dclicias fcftatus fucris ? Predixi,monui,vcliicavi. Scd adum cgi, nihil profeci oleum & ope-rarti perdidi. Nunc vindico, nunc fpcs & res abs tc fcgregant^Tcd ma folmsculpa En i..npunmme ut deleaatiunculasp-'uxillo temponsretuures, perdidifti omnia. Piocul nunc .^ tc honores, thefauri, voliiptates beaterum ; ad qii?.s orams tibi via mterccpu eft. Wxc tibi tormenta libidincs tnaj pararnnt, in hos igncs tua te praiapuavitincontinentia ; tinmillam hilarcm/ed bievem jnfaniam, nuRcluisXterno luau. Ddpera-tflorasParadiG gaudijspiivntum ? Tu ipfe tepnvaftl. Acac.rbiffimc do cspcren-ne ccrUftc epulum negle^um ? Tu ncglcxifti. -. Diftlrendo & negligendohiic fpon-tc inuilti coe-us & amcns, hie nunqu.^.m exituruj ampiins. Nulla hic lihertas, nulla falus. Defpcra ccntics, fex centics, dcfpera miUies, artcrn^.tn defperaturus, ctcrnum momurus/& ad morcetn nullisfieculis proventurus< * Here lactvabit cor damnato-rum quod graciam millies oblatam itcufarunt milHcs. Inde in fupfos furenter exar-dcfcent ni-fcri, & affiduo fibi ipfis iH^nbrcm hanc cantilcnam occincn:; o tempus rerum omnium preriofiffimum I 6 dies 6 hora? plufquam aurex, quo cvanuiflis ^tei-numnonredimtael Noscceci &cxcordes, obftcuais cculis & aunbus Iibidme ti«c. bamus, & mutuis nofmet cxemplis trahtbamus ad intciituir.

JJ^°J\^^""/_le(aand hornblc ingratitude; and To now lieft fccaninwcfal drowned and damn'd in that dreadfull lake of gitabit, quia britTiftonc and fire, which thou mighteft havefo fimS'^fp'a'i^: eafily and often cfcaped. p This irkfome and fu-tcmpoiis non fious rcflcdion cf thy foulc upon its ownewilfull ia?o*& S ^^^^y' whei-by it hath fo unneceilarily and fottiflily biiihis Ton^i loftcverlaftingjoy, and muft now live inendlefle privari nosin- woc, wiU vcxe andtorrtute more then thou canft ctl>7«3far pofrxblyiniagine^continuallygnaw upon thy heart H9SI.77, "With remedilefle and unconceivable griefe; and Eft qui dc- in a word, even make an hell it fclfe.

eS miliia Phi-lippcorum zC-

fcqui potiiilTet adeanda h^rcditatc, fed illc ignaviffimus caufx Cnx indormijtj itaq-hxrcditatcm tarn opttlentam neglcxitj jamq; talibus ferae poenitenti« furijs agitatur, ut ipfe fibi itnmincat, velut ipfum difcerptmiis. Et nontiunquam mors inde violent* fequitur. Haud aliterdamnatorumquilibetfeipfumficallatrat: Potuiflem ; auxilia non decrant, vocabat, PotaiflemjEhu ! Potuiflem j fed nolui. A fummo bono cxclu-itffimus fura in omnc aemmj& ufq; in xrernum non videbo lumen, qaia nolui vidcre, Scntirc tamo fc bono privatum effe, & qtiidem fua culpa inexplicabilis, infandus erit ilolor mcerorqj

tb^^'da ^ tff^ ^ ^^^"' having y cf zfricein thine hand, to get w'tf.

fface. ^ dom^yX.o go to heaven,lay it out with all holy grec-dinefle, while it is called T«>^jf, for the fpirituall and eternall good of thy foule ! Improve to the ut-moft, for that purpofe, the moft powerfuU Mini-ftry, holicft company, beftbookes, all motions of Gods Spirit,all faving meaneSjcJ*^. Spend every day,pa{fc every Sabbath, make every prayer,heare every Sermon, thinke every thought, fpeake every word, do every adion^e^c. As though when that were done, thou wert prefently after to pafTe to Tudgement, and to eive up an exad account for it, and whatfbever els done in theflejh,

nm-mmnt a Thatthe cooceiptof the eTerlaflingneJnfeof

tnilefc. ^ ^\^^

the torments, when they are riow already kii'd . ^

upon the foiile, and hopelefncfie of ever ccm- Ke^graauJ ming outof hell, will be yet another hell. Ifthou aftiucie lupre* once come there, ^ and there mo ft certainely muft ^^^ ^^Idi^^-thou be this night, if thou dkft this day in thy na- hcie "mo & turail ftare, andnctnew-borneslfay then (fotcr- pl"mis vos ribly would the confideration of eternity toiturc forJifan' m"! thee) that thou wouldcft hold thy felfe a right gendi flam-. ' happy man, if thou mighteftendure thofc horri- "^^^'• ble paincs, and cxtremcft horrours no moe milli- faicem conce! onsofyeares, then there be fands on thefeafhore, dereturuc are. haires upon thine head, ftarres inthe firmament, "®^"* ^"'^P^*

rr -1 i_ J t . , . ' am tnons ex*

grafle piles upon the ground, and creatures both in toiierctur am-heaven and earth. For, thou wouldeftftill com- pfitudinc ter-fort thy felfc incredibly with this thoight.-c^^ f^ft-gSuS mifery mil once hanje mend. But alas I This word amngcns, ex ^ Never will ever rent thine heait in pceces with ^"°* P°p""" much rage and hideous roaring; and give ftill ^n^^^^ SJo-new life to tbofe infufferable forrowes, which in- l^ns avkub finitely exceed all cxprelfion or imagination. Let a°f/°^°"/'J"* us fuppofe this great body of the eaith upon eftdecimJS which wetread to be turned into fand, and moun- "« arenuia? cainesof fand to be added dill, untill they reach ^oft dtaum unto the Empyrean Heaven, fo that this whole centum anno-mighry creation were nothing but a Tandy moun- r""» "^'He, aii-

^ ' ^ "^ am arcnulas

unhif deci-mam part cm,& pari modoaliamatqjaliam, ita«t Tpatio dccies centum railliuman-noiurn, tantum unicum arenulas unuis granum de monte illo anenofo miniieretur .• qup.m Ixti, quam abcrcs ciTcrxiui, quod poft ultimano faltcm mentis totiusablatio-nem, d.imnationis noHrx finem aliquem habetemus.

*" Ab, vcl mufcae, vel culicis punftiunciila, fi tamcn fit aetcrna, quam incxplicabilia cruciatus pronunciabitur ? Quis igitur horror cxercebit damnatos, vel ob unam hancj fed affiduam cogitationem) Hie ignij «t€rnJim fetendus, hicululatiisatcr-aumaudicndus, hichoxrorfempiternus.

taine:

fainc: let us then further imagine a h"ttlc wrento camebut every hundred choufandth y^are,and ca-' Damnati Hc away but the tentii pare of one graine of that ^on "^'^"1"'" imnicafui-able heape of fand; what an innumcra-Sdccem^mul blc number ofycircs would be fpcnt, bcfoj-ethac libus anno- World of fiind wcrc all Co fetcht away ^ and yet rial, adjiciea- y^^^ andalas that ever thou waft borne I Wht^n

tur centum i , « i- r • i z' • »▼ i*cn

itiillia,pofth«c thou haft hen lo many yeares m that fiery lake, as centummiiha, all thcywould amount to, ''thou art no nearer myriadcf'T commidgout, than the vcry firft houFc thou cntcr-

milliones quot ■''

iftfirmamentoruntftcUje, &inlittaie marisarenae. Poft qua?lonoiffima annonim fpatia, quafi nihil depoenis noftris accifum cflet, fie itcrCim ab initio piti tormenta incipiemas; atqj ita fine interruptioae, fine fine^ fine modo, volvctur affidue noftro-rum tormentorucn rota.

Ex quo poll flint jjerf c3f, Totus orbii animantcs,

Aude numero compledi Aer atomos volantes,

Stellas czlijftrllaj roris, Pilosfcr3B,pecus villos,

llndaiaqueifluoris. Vertex horainum capillos:

Guttas imbris pluvialis, Addelittoiis arenas,

Floccofvelieris nivalis Addc graminis verbenajj

Qupt funt vere novo flores, Tormyiiadcs annotutn

Quot odoreS,quot colorcs, Quot ntomenta faeculorumi

Qupt vinaccos AutiHTinus Hcusadhuc A:crntas

Poma legit & vicrtumnus; Foituj fugit k damnatis.

Quoj jam grana tuUt sftiis, Frondes hicmis tcmpcftas. Metirefcmel, iteriim f«pius: poft decern annorum milliones, pofl:ccntuns millemy» riadum annoruai, polt decics centies millena millia milloramai>n©rum; nccduHS finem, necdum medium, imenonduma^rtr/ji/tf^ttprincipiumdefign^fti.' jungead ilia omncs hominum & Angdoium cogitaiiones, omnes motus & mutatiOHes qua-rumvis rerum creatarum: addc his arenulas, quotnon poflcnt miUenanimteirarum vaftifllino finucontineri : coUigc deniqj in uaiin) omncs numcros Arithmctirx quadtatos, cubicos quofvis: nunc imple his num^ris volumma chartarum hincad fuprcmoscoe!-?su{que,non^um e/£^^er«fV(if« durationem menfusej, tar turn abcft, ut fiseme.nrus, Quamdiu igituv durable ®^rtrwi/<«j Semper. Quando finietiir ? Nun-quam Quamdiu coelura erit caelum j Q^amdiu jnferi erunt inferi; Qaimdiii De v* crit DeVs, tamdiu durab.t ^teinitas .• tamdiu coc'um bcabit Sanftos ; tanjd lU im-piobostorcjusbantinfcii. Nequasfo, moleftior fis quxrendo : Apprcbendcfaltemjfi contbrehc^dercnon potei.

cdft in. Now, fuppofe thou fliouldcft licbut one night gricvoufly abided with a raging & of the ftone, collicke, ftrangury, tooth-ache, pangs of travailcc^^. T hough thou haddeft to hcipe and cafe thee a foft bed to lie on, friends about thee to ^Sumamus comfort thee,Phyritian.s to. cure thee, all cordiall "3°^'!;^^'": and comfortable things to affwage the paine 5 yet cmis, aii)fvJ how tedious and painfull, how terrible and intole- fodicamibus rable would that onenight fceme untothee^ How Smn°cm aut wouldcft thou toffe, and tumble, and turne from quam • ink-one fide to another, counting the clock, telling the ^^"^-^ cakuio, hourcs, efteemmg every minute a " moneth, and gra, tocmuiu thyprefentmifery matchleffeand uniupportable ^ busaut dend-» What will it be then (thinkefl chou) to lie in fire Tj^tvle;'!

tibus, rurba.» tam exigiraus.Qulm haec talis nox longa,& Inftat hebdom3dis,aut menfis cfl! Q_uid G anno toto fie inter doloies jacendum,quid fi annis ccntum,quid fi Hiillcannis,fi fex aut decern tnilUbusannorum ? Quid fi atternum & fine fine ?

* lt.wuldpr<>ove an extreme mifery (oi itfecmes) to lie etemalfy upright, and never fiirre-i^venuponabetiofro/es: whatrpouUit betbeit^ to fit for ever in that fiery chaire meHtioned hejore? Bat then above aUdegrees of comparifon,ivbat wiUtt he to roare ever-laflinglyinhcUifbflamesIHeatemy AuthortMtmim raclegeie^nec fiaeadmitatione/u-iJBTc hominemjqui ^teinitatemanimo fie pcrfpcxciit: Quis mortalium eft^aiebat ipfe fecum,qui quidem fanx mentis fit & ratione utatui-, qui regnum Gallia»,HifpaaiaJjPo-lDnia:,regna fa»c opulentiUIma fibi vendieet ea padionCjUt qgadraginta conrinaos an-nos inlcSulo rofis ftrato,coq; molliffitno refapinus jaccat? Et licet foifannondefutu-Tos fitjqui ad banc conditionem defccndat j is tamcn non totum tricnnium (res cetta) fie dccumbet, quin abrumpat & dicit: finite, fiirgam; malo carere regnis, non dicAOi wibuSjfed omnibus, quam fie continue, licet moliiflime jacere, vd decern tantiim an-nisjnccduaifiginti^aut triginta, vel uti paiSio g€bat,annis quadraginta.Itane res (e ha-bentjUt nemo fanus repcriatur, qui uttriplici regno donetur, triainm vel quadraginta annis didVa legg decumbere velit ? (^\tn ergo coeca^quam funofa dt infania^ob lacerum Kj!«,obtrc$aviculas,obcrepundiaviliflimaj illud petulanttr fubirc periculum, &tale dcfignare facinus,ob quod in candentecrate, in ferctro flanameOjnoft. iolis quadraginta, non quadringintis,nec quatuor raillibus,Ced nee quater ccntcnis millibus, fed ostcr-mim torquearij fiirijSj k mortaIes,intemperatiflimis agimur,nin jam mature,& in rem noftiamfapimus. In molliffirao ledo jacere,fed fempei* jacei-c,& xtecHa.'n jacere, fup-plieium foret inexplicable. Quii jam omuium apadinicr^j fupplioiorurn erit cumulus ac congeries f«rau4abili£[ima ?.

and

fiRiLbniw"^ and brimftone, kept in highcft flame, by the un-

cm om.eTtQ, quenchable wrath of Gqd,. world without end >:

pcrpctiai audi whcrc thou (halt have nothing about thee but

retotcenteno j^-ij-kneflTe and horrour, wailing and wrinpina of

rum millium , , - ^ ... W n p o '-'*

harribihiHmos hands, y dclperatqyellings and gnafliing of teeth :

mugitus, plan, thinc old Companions in vanity and fin to ban and

penndrif men ^^^^^ ^^ce with much bittcrnciTe and rage; wicked

boves aifentur Divcls to infult over thee with hellidi cruelty and

ym, am lira fcome; ths ncvcr-dying worme to feed upon thy

pidi canes catc- ^ , i n n c ir ^ ^ ^ . •'

nas rumpeie foule and fleth tor cvcr and tor ever. ^ O Eternity 1 luftmtur, ncc Eternity!, Etcmity-l

poifirit. Fiiiga-

miis quofcunqj

auiiumauciitus,clamorcshominum,latratus canum,1upor«m ii!u!atiis,rnuoitus boum,

rugitus leonum, aUaru;>i beftiaruai fremitus, frjgorcs nub.uni, dffjcdusaqeiarnm, &

quicquidinamoemimaufibus fingi poceft i ah quam id r-inac nihil eft aJ Orcim nx

plebisdcfpcratiffiiTium HctUin, ciijus aiiiflaiium eft ft idoi' dciniiirn.

* O ccecitas humans gentis nullis fat lachrymisdcplorand-i I Ex omnibus tcmplo-rum Pulpitis clamatur, ^ternitas, ^ternitas, ^rernitas. Nos nihil ominus praffenti ducimur voluptate. Adco pciirc fu.ive eft.

Q£!S exprinaatquid (ic jetcinJtas ? Quis concipint quid fit /Eccrnitas ? Eft'tlrruai pcrpttuuni Sam, quod prjeccriro caret & futuro.Eftcirculus, cujusccntmm femp^ijCir-cumfcientianunquam.Cogito mille annos, cogito tot annoiun millii quot funt mo-menta/eupunfta in tototempore acondito munioufq; ad ejus coarumm3tionem'j& dc artermtate nihil habeo O e/fccrnitas I Quis potent parefle ®/£:ternicati in tormcn-tis ? Etfumus tormcntiipforum afcendct in fxcuU/^culorumi^poc i^^.Q^ia eft in [^ecula feculorum i Volodicerc,& nefcio diccre, lUud tantilm fcioid ipfurn cfle,qood D E v s {"olu* fya la^iiitaie ami>it & complcflitur,

Benotwearied Sithit isthus then, that Upon the little inch of v/dfefff '" *" ^'^^^ ^^ ^^^5 life,depends the length and bredth,the height and depth of immortality in the world to come: even two eternities; the one infinitely ac-curfed,theotherinfinitly comfortable- lofTeofe-verlaftingjoyes, and lying in eternall flames; fith never ending pleafures orpainesdoe unavoidably foUowthc well or mif-fpending of this fliort moment

ment upon earth; with what unwearied care and

watchfulnefTe ought we to zncndth^tOffe/^eceJfary

thinx all the d^es of our appointed time, till our change

jhaucome? How ought we as fir angers and pilgrims

to ahfiainefromflefijly lufis ? What manner offerfins

mght we to be in all holy conquer fatten and godlinejfe ?

How thriftily and induftrioufly to husband the

poore remainder oFour few and evil! daies for the

making our Calling and Election fare: In a word,with

whatrefolution and zeale to do orfuffer any thing

for ]esvs Christ:' "^With whatinduftryand ^Q^,idagis

deareneffe to ply this monient,and prize that cter- mifcr, penre

-jj.^ I vis :" F.icillimo

""y ' jftudimpendio

fier : horula unajimo vcl unlca partt horulsc j iino momcnto vel anico per iram vel libidiiiem pa-.tras,qiiod asternum Jolcas.

Hie ferio cogitandum : Itanc homines eruiiti, & humano fenfu fanfli accufantur, judicantufjdamnnntur ? Qiiid mini fitt mifcro ? ^rgo animutn quantis poffiim in^* duftriis cuiabo.Alii fe/uamq; ciiticulam curcnt ccrernitatis obliti,vigeanr,f1orcant,cia3 forfan cini> & faviUa.Hos ego mores nihil mororjbanceooYiam non ingrcdior,nam & alium vise terminum (\\\xxo.

Concerning the joycs of Heaven,

Let n:iee tell you before hand, that the excel- 3"^^ excc/Zacy lency, glory, andfweetnefTethereof, nomortall mterAbk."^ heart, finite braine, created underftanding can pofTibly conceive and comprehend to the life. For,

I. PWtelsus, I Or.2.p. Ih2it neither eye hath feenCj ver eare heard, neither heart of man cmceived the incomprehenfible fublimity and glorious my-fteries of that heavenly wifdome, and inexplicable divine fweetnefle revealed in the Gofpell: (For I take that: to bee his naturall immediate

• meaning)

meaning;) How tranfcendently (then) unutterable and unconcciveable isthe complement, perfection, the reall a<5luall, and full fruition of all thofe Evangclicallmyfterious revelations, accomplifli-ed to the height in the higheft heavens thorow all eternity^ ,Where we lliall enjoy the face and bea-tificall prefence of the moft glorious and all-fuffi-cienc Go d, as an objecfl. wherein all the powers of our fouler will be latisfied with everlafting delight.

The eye of maa hath feene admirable things:~ Coafts of Pearle, Cryftall mountaines, rockesof ^MaufiUu.'n. diamond, Golden mines. Spicy Ilands^^^r. (fo Maufaii regis Travailerstalke, and Geographers Write.) * Mati-Carix fepuU j0lmTomb€,I>iames Temple, the Egypt an ^ Pyrami-teraTa' ux^re ^^■y>2ind all tlicwondersof the World, extruaum^tan. The earckfeath heard the moft delicious, exqui-nifi°r^tu'"T fite, and ravifhing melody. Such as made even intei- feptem Alexander the Great tranfported with an irrefi-©tbis miracuh ftablc pang of a pleafing rage as it were, and de-nim!'"'^"'' lightfull' dancing of his fpirits, that I may fo »» Maximae {■pQ3,'kc,'^ Bxtl/reeconvhiOyScc.

hujus generis

in Agypto fuifle memorantur circa Mcmphim ftrufturx ex quidcatis lapidibus admi-

tandx/aftigiatae ultra omncm excclfitatcm,qnr manu fieri poflet,&c.

' Spiiitus qui in corde agitanc,trcmulum, & fubfultantcm recipiimt aerem inpedus & indeexcitanmr: A fpintu mufculi movemur,&c, StaligExercit.20 z,

* Cardan. SuitilM 13.

Mans heart can imagine miraculous admirabi-lities, rareft pecces, worlds of comforts and ftrangc felicities. In conceipt it can convert all the ftones upon earth into pcarlcs, every giafTc pile into m vnvaluablc jcwcil, the dufl into filvcr,

the

OF HEAUEN. n^

the Tea into liquidgold, the aire into'cryftall. Ic can clothe the earth with farre more beauty and' rweetnefTe^than ever the Sun fawit. It can make every Starre a Sun, and all-thofe Suns ten thoufrind times bigger and brighter then it is,yhr... f. , -j.. And yet the height and happinefle of Bvangdi-call wifdome doth farre furpafle the utraoft which the eare,eye, or heart of man hath heard, . feene, or can poifibly apprehend. And this fo excellent h'ghtupon earth difcovering theiheftin mable treafurcs of hidden wifdome in Ch r i s t,,-is but as agraine, to the richefl: golden mine, a' drop to the Ocean, a liitleglimpfe totheglory of ; the Sun; in refpe^ of that fullnefle of joy herea^ ' -: ter,andeverlaftingpleafuresabove: with what a vaft difproportion then doth the inimaginablc excellency of heavenly blifTe'furpalTetjjpl tranfcend the moft enlarged created capacity ^ Infinitely^in-

2. Our gracious Go d in his holy anfcarcha- ojh^aveniast blc wifdome doth referve and detaine from the atfuurevealed eye of ourunderftandingsafullcomprehcndonof. thatmoftgloriousftate above 5 toexercifeinrhe meane time our faith^ love, obedience, patience, ^^. As afatherfhewesfometimes, and reprefents to the eye of his child, aglimpfe and fparkle (as it were) offomcrich orient Jewell, to make him love, long, pray and cry for a full fight of it, and grafpingofitinhis ownehand: So our heavenly Father in this cafe. If celeftiall excellencies, and thofe furpafling joyes, arifing principally froin the vifible apprehenfion of the purity, glory and

beauty of G o d, were ckirely fccns aad fully

knowne, even by fpeculation, it would bcc no

ftrange thing, or tiiankfworthy for the naoft Iior-

aard'^uichr?- ^i^le Beliall, "*■ to become prcfently thcholieil

tu^cT Juftitir', Saint, the worlds greatcft minion, the aioft moiti-

tanta jucundt- fiddoi^n. But Inthis valc of tcaies we muft live by

tas lucis scter- r;^;^l, ^

commutabilis

veritatis, acq; fajsientias;, ut^tt.xmfi nan licei'ct amp\iu3 inea.manerc, qiiam«nius

dicimora, prepteiliocfelum innimerabilesannihujusvitx pleni dclic^jS & circciiTi-

fluentia tcmnocaltum bonorumreft6,rnmt6] j contemnercrjr. Au^flAt Lib. Arb,

L'-b-S-Capult.

How fmiU ca^ 5. It IS a fruit of our fall with K^dam, and the ^I'Smijau!^ condition of this unglorificd morLall ftatchcrc upon earth, tokmw but in fart: From which our knowledge above fliall diiFer.,as the knowledge of a child frqptthat of a perfed man: as knowledge '^°induci in t^y'^l3ffc>lforaappTeheniionofthe reallobfjejft: nubes,pcnetra- askuowledgc ofa plaine fpccch, from that which >einplenitudi- |s ariddie-f-f/^./^^^^^^(faith"^ or\Q)iHthefieart;Uy ?rrum ^z^'TZ M'eSytomoummtothe clmds, to.fitrcethtsfitlnejfe.ef ritatis abyflbs, Itghty^oSreoke mf^this 'hoPtomcUffe defpkof^^kry,orH &lucem habi- ^^^eitm that tmapfroachahk brightmft: This isnc-biletn^ncrtem- firvedto theUfi Day ; whfi Christ J e s v s poris eft hujus jhaIlprefentU'$.glvmu4AndfuretoHuFnthermthfiitt

nee corporis Id .0,^^ QV wrmUc.

tibi in noviili- u ,

mis refer vatur,

cum te mihiexhibucro|;lorit)rum non'habeatcjnmacHlamautrujgana, aut aliqiiid'im-

jufmodi. Bern SufiT Cant.Strmi^.

Tbegioryofhea :,' 4. 0'urii?id^rftand»ngs upon necelfity muft bee imTdwUhout fupef-nktural'ly irradiated and illightcned withex-fupernaturau traordifiary enlargement anddivincnefTe, before

iUumnation. . -..^

OF HEAUEN. uj

we canpolfibty comprehend the glorious bright-ncfTe of heavenly joycs and full fwcctnefife of cter-nall bliffc. It is irapoiTibk in this life for any mortall braine to conceive them to the life, as to compare the heaven with a fpan, or containe the mighty Ocean in a nut-fhcU. The Pfnhf§fher could fay ^ that as the eyes of an Owle arc to the light of the Sun, fo is the Iharpeft eye of the moft pregnant wit to the myfteries of nature. How ftrangely then would it beedazeled and ftmcke ftarkebhndwith the exceffive incomprehcnfiblc glory and greatnefTeof celeftiall fecrcts, and im-mortall light ^

But although wee cannot comprehend the whole, yet wee may confider part. Though wee cannot take a full draught of that over-flowing fountaincof endlcfle blifTe above, jwt wee may tafle 5 though we cannot yet enjoy the whole har-veft, yet we take afurveyof the firft fruits. For, the Scriptures to this end fliadow unto us a glimpfe, by the moft excellent, precious and de-fireable things of this life.

Thus much premised •, let us (for my prcfenc purpofe) about the joyes of Heaven, confider 5

I. ThePhce,where God andallHisblefTcd ^^ePiateof ones inhabite eternally. eremaugury.

But how can an infinite God bee faidto dwell in a created heaven ^

God from all eternity when there was f^**^°^ ^^ nothing, to which Hee might maoifeft and make knownc Himfelfe is not faid to dwell

^ ^f^or the * ^y where, eitherto have beene out of Himielfe, pace ofGoD or in any thir^, bm onely in Himfelfe, He was before the yporu therefore an heaven to Himfelfe. But when Hee 'ntt7wifdmeo- pleafcd He created the world; that in fo large and m&rta// men goodlv a Theater He might declare and conveigh rli^uSr His power, goodneffe and bounty, fome^vay or can it limit the Other, to ^11 creaturcs. Efpecially, Heepi^pared /eattf infviite ^-^is glorious heavcn wee fpeake of, not that it ^tbarZfZl niightenclofe or enlarge His happinefle: But that power it(cff can Hec. Hlight uufpcakably beautifie and irradiate it HffSe«"/» ^^^^ unconceiveable fplendour of His Majefty Himfelfe,tPho»i and Glory ^ and fo communicate Himfelfe beati-no rnainituk fically to all the ElccH:, Saints and Angels, even for laim^.'^^SAV. cvet and cver. I faid, not that it might enclofe, RawieghLib. conci'ude and confine Him: For, He is'as truly ^'^j^'^\ J withoutthehcavens,asHeisin them: And Hee

Noneftqiiod . , , . ..,..,. _, ^» "^ ix^.^

<]iixras ultra, IS whercno«fiing IS With Hmi, He was when nd-ubi erat ante- thing vvas, and then Hc vvas,vvhere nothing vvas fi^pTr'iter bcfide Himfelfe. ^f/^^(??^^ Creatto?, there rvas ^ro-ipfuoi nihil e- perly,»^/><^^ when nor where, hut onely an incom-lat, ergo m fe- ■prehcnfihUperfection ofmdivifible immenfity mdeter-le ^conM Lib.\ ^^0*' ^^^^^^^ wouldftHl bee the fame y though neither cap.6, heaven nor earthy nor any thing in them fhonld any

f.ccm dTH ^^^^^^' "^ ^^^ ^^ ^^y ^^^fi f lace Him mthoHt the

calum & ter-

raoi, ubi liabi J ~ ■':.| ';-

:ai)at :* In Se habitabat, apvii SeVabitabat, & apuJ Seeft Dev«, Aug. in Pfal,iii,

Ante omnia Dbvs crat folusip^e Sibi & muitdus, &• locus, & omni>i. Sclus atitem ; quia nihil extnnfecu5 przterlUum. Tertuliajvcr^ut Praxean, nonpraculab initio.

* Eft De vs itaubiquPjiunon tnntnin omnes hujusunivcffi partes permeet, fed ctiamimmenraillafpatiaquaj furttfupracoelbs (quje/t natuvas infinicate) penctret: nonrameh cxittimes D E y m ibi^de, tinquarnin loco poiitivorcpjetivrjfcd.tantum per immcnfitatepi eflentis. Sitjlachiiis 2)e D £ o. q,<5.

Heavens^

Heavcnsy^to death Himmth any imAgrnarj ffaceyor give the check to His trnmenfity by any far ale II difiance localt He is faid to be without the heavens, in as miichas His infinite ^//^w^ cannot be "^ contained heamn/th intheiT.jbut nectffarily containcs them. Heeisfo heaven of bea-without them^ $r (if ^o»wtU) hepndthcmj that albeit '^'^'^^ <^'^«"»^

1 r 1 11 1 1 1 -r^ ■ 11 ccntaiKeThec-

d ihoujditdmoe veorlds were heapeditp by Hts aU-porver' j |^„^a 3

full hand each above 0ther,andall above thL<tlIejhculd ^ . „ byvertueef Histnfimte Eiicnce, not by jree choice of jixi miferPSed will cr mutation of ft ace J be 4^ intimately cosxiflcntto ubinoneft? ever^ part of them, as He now is to an-i part of this ha- /^'^'°/ ^^ *^'^' ven and earth we mjoy, Inalober lenle, * Bernard fundior, lat.oc faith true 5 Nufquamefityttbi^ eft: He is no wh^r^ ^^r'-a, man dif-becauTe no place, whether reall or imaginary eai^ qVam'eft, &"it comprehend or containc Him: He is every whereby biquc cfl-^Quii bcc^ufe nobody, nofpace or fplrituall fubftance "^'^ ^^.^^ "^^'' can exclude His preience, or avoid the f^eaetration tur loco. Berm (if I may fo fpeake)of His Effence, mihUoi 36j,

This glorious Empyrean Hea^ven (where no- ru ghty »/ thing btit light and blejfed immortality J tJo f})adotv of thehigheftUoj,-matter for t cares, difcontentmentSy griefs, and up-cfmfortablepafions to worke upon, bf^t4ll]0.f, tran^ml-lity andpea^e, even fur ever and ever doth divefl) is featcd * above all the vifible Orbs, and Starry Firmament. SccI>eut./^,S9^^ iQ.i^JoJh.2.ii,Prov,

* There ii a place beyond that flaming HiU, * From vple/ice the ft arret their thin appearance Jhe J,

A place beyond a't place,yvherc never ili Noiimpure thoughtrfofiever larh^vrsd: Eut Saintly H€t$cs are for ci erfaid T^ l^epe an ev(r'ft/iiifg Sabbaths re/f. Stilt w#'>^ ilatyofith^ tbey are/iiS p9£e^^ Enjoying but one joy,hut $ne ofa&joyes befi. Flftchcr C H R I » T s Viaory,p3g.2.StA

13 af.j:

VCH.

i.^.dr 7,69* ^p^^f^'io, 2 Cor.12,r, where it is called the third heaven, rbt tiree hear I. The firft is that whole fpace from the earth WW. to the Sphere of the Moone i where the birds flie 5

whence raine,fnovv,haiIe, and other Meteors de-fcend, See6'^;?.7.ii. Pfal.H.S, Ma^^.S.^o.Deut, 2 S .12. C^Ut»6,26. where they are called ri 'TnrwA

2. Thefecond confiftsofall thevifible Orbs. See GenA.i£^.^i'^, where he calls the whole m fifitiiMt,Expaftfio^y Firmament, Heaven. And in this Hee placeth the Sun, Moone, and other Starres, Df»M 7.3. Within this fecond Expanjlonv/c comprehend three other Orbs, reprefcnted to our knowledge by their motion. Of which fee * Etf-ni.'qJiaero:/''^*'*'Tabic, atpag,p4.

pinio eft decern tantum

effc ccelos mobiles! nempe fcptcm cotlos Plinctaram, Cotlum Stellaium, Ceeltttn iw Chriftallinum, Scprimummobile. Vcmm mihi valdeprobibilisvifi cftrcccntioiurn -M^ithcmaticorum fentcmia, undccim effc coelos mobiles ita ut inter firmanientu-H, & primum mobile, pro unico CoeloChriftaliinOjduplcx coelumconftituatur Nam-quepro unicomom trepidationis,qui Coelo Chriftallino ttibuebatur, qucra adr.itti non poflc demonftrant: ponunt dupliccm motuii libratioHis; altcrum abOrtu ad Occafum, & e contra, qaemtribuuntneaa: fphcrai. Alteram a Septcntrionc ad'Au-ftiumj& e contra, quern dccimacSpbcraJ aflignant. His additur undecima Sphxra, feu primum Mobile Deniqj Theologi prxtcr Coelo$ mobiles, admittuiu luprcnmai Coelum immobile, quod Empyreum appellant, quod fit fedcj Bcatorum, 2)« CceU*

3. The third is that, where G o d is faid fpecially to: dwell; whither Christ afcen-dcd, and where all the blcffcd Ones ihall bee for cycr.

No

No * natutall knowledge can poflibly be had of j"*« H^ffl^ ibis Heaven: neither any heipe by hvmane arts, r/^" **'* Geon^erry, Aiithnieticke, opticks, Hypcthcfcs, *Ncqjcxfenfu, Philofcphy;^<r. To iljighten us thercur.to. For, ne'^-?^"^^,"^'*'' it is nciiberaipc(5lable nor moveable. Hence it is an?'"d,Bn&a that JrijlfitIg^thc moft eagVeyed into the miyftc- ^I'^ja". Ted ex ries of nature of all Philoibphcrs, and whom they 5°np!2*' ^" call NaturesSecretdry j yet faid, that beyond the vdationc no-n^OGveablc Heavens, there was neither body,/r^r bi$.aaott«c. * time,nor f lace, nervdcuitm. But Gods Booke »ovj^^-nW, affiires us ofthis heaven of happinelVe, and Houfc «cA' xiviv, ik of G o D, above all the afpci^abk mooving Orbs, '^'l''^^'' ^"^

And it is the biggcil: and moft beautiful f Body P9-ofthe whole creation, incorruptible, unmoovca- lf\i!i^%lh$ ble, unalterable: wholly (hining with the moft fewv**. . exquifite glory and brightneffe of pureft hght: whcrein,as in a confluence of all poffiblc felicities, Je hovah,God bleflcd forever, doth familiarly and freely communicate Himfelfe to be beati-fically feene, and fully enjoyed face to face of all the elc(^, humane and Angelicall fpirits for ever. Where the glorified Body of J esvsChrist fliines with unconceiveablc fplendour above tlic brightneflc of the Sun,^r.

This place moft excellent replenlfhcd with tifiofe unknown pleafures which attend everlafting happineircjwhere God, blefTed forever, is fccnc face to face, is made admirable ad illuftrious by its bigneife and beauty.

Gueffe the inimcafurablc magnitude, and beau-tifiillfignes of it, .T 5 I 4 1.B7

Heavenagteut ,i. By itS * dcfCTPptkm, ^ifT^.^t. It !S tdlcd

^'^"^* Statum Vcif.io. by an excellerKry, 7/Mi grea- Cy, ^c, Rcdcfix comi- Which if it bc immediately meant (as many learn-nuuTi a fuo ed andliolv Divines wotild have it)ofthc2lorv of

tempore luom- , ^, \ , . . 117°"^,

nem ufc]^, xtcr- the Chui'ch hereO'l earth, wheii both Jewrs 2nd nitatem de- Genttles flull be happily tinircd inro one Chriftian mfL^f^o- Body and Brother-hood, before C h m s ts fe. phctae icfiias cond comming, it is no leffe pregnant to proove, & Eiechid^ ^j^^j. j|^g Hcaven of Heavens is a place moft glori-cuTnSi^oivnix oiis above allcomparrfon and conccipt. For, if iRx v.nicinin. thevcbeluch goodlinefiTe, amplitude, beauty and cUit^vd^de majcrfty in this Militant Church; how infinitely foio'coeio, fed wiU this bsauty bc yet more beautified, and all de utrov, ii- thisgloryglodfied with incredible additions in Toffi-u!"«t dl- the Church Triumphant ^ If there befuch excel-bcjnt I vciu 11 lency upon earth,what may -we expeft in the Hea-^^^^-^'^ ^°'^'^-vcnof Heavens^

ratione. Nc^uc

enmi omnia ^

' qux dc EccUTu funtjCa-etiahixle calointelligi poflianttNeque'nciffi*! omnia, qu« dc CcelojCa ad Ecciefiam accomaindari qi'.eunt.

Butye are too^ferve, that it irnot the purpofe of the Holy Ghost to fet forth tie juji andfuScdmpaJfc of the Heaven'y lem/slem : ( For it is intneafur^bk to our ca-facity) hut by tbi!great msafure, Htgi-^ah-m.-i^it tpere^ firm to/ieic] thcUrgene^ thereof. GyfJkdiTponRev.Cap. z\.

1h heaven many 2. "By thofe many ^ fjifd-ifio^s prepared for tnhahit^nn^^^^^ many thoufand thoufands of glorified Bodies after ones funt m the laft Day,/<?^?; 14.2. Brfides the numberlcl^cj coeiis,qua:fuf- numbefsof blciffcd Angels; the prefent inUabi^ frinf'ci>ants<>f thofe heavenly Palaces.

picndis : Tirft

vii'tus eft in afcenfvona C H n i s t i,ad pratpanndum loat^Ti irifinitisctiam mundis, aediim omnibus homimbusqu: in lioc uno mundo iilnt. Sad cJadfaelft wi hominibus jpfis qui defimt fibi, nequc ctedunt la illutn fanguinam ^lO prxparatuur^nGtbis ilia aa ccx:\\s\oc:i. RaltsteM lohanXap I^,

O F HEAVEN. m

5. By the incredible djftancc from the earthto '/V^fi^i ^^ theStarry Firmamcor. Ifllhould here tell you ^eV^ the fevcrall "^computations of AOronomcrs in * Mathcmatid this kind, the fliinmcs would feeme to exceed all caiSX^ poflibilityof beliefe. And yet befidcs, the late Cm fiimamenf learnedll of them place above the eiglu Sphere, " 'r.cuentcs, wherein allthofe glorious lamps {hine fo bright, is^^T^e^miU * three moving Orbs more. Now the Empyre- luna Gcrma-an Heaven comprehends all thefe, howincom- ^'"^i, j/„'^ ^ prehenfiblethen muftits compaflTe andgreamejOfc Kofetu* nun-.e-EccelTarily be ^ rat 65457 500.

A^c jgitiiri

^antum dtcis

jlflr(Aoge^ctKtro tenx^ ad ccelmn o^avum, fat frmamtntum vulp appeL'aiUfa^ M-

(icnii&m. <»

Vuljjb inteivalliim dicitnrcoHriacri'Diatpirttos terra: IOC40"

Terras vcro Dfnmttro tiibuuntur parres mo, Unicuig; parci mrlliaii 6i. Qux

duftaintoti:m Diamcrrum conficiuiu fummam milliaiioium 7440 Qnj numeriis

muUipUcatus per 10040 ". ^^i^cndit (iiflantiim teirae ab orbe oftavo, n<:mpe

7470^ 180. milliaiiorum. bes Cafinan.Ouranogra.

Beit jo, that the adventure of Mathematicians intlis Toint b(etQ$ auhciotu andfe-remptdiy:<incithattbejubUmity,andhDTivjnanymksitfidijianty camot be certainely l^oronc :yttyou mujl needsbetif rty Autkorc mind: Dubitannon porelt magnarn efle Expanf) cttlellisintercapcd'jiem &c alticudinem ; Jicjuidem, id teftadir cum vifusipfe, turn paflim facia Scriptura: Idh i f.S. dtcunciucoeli altifitmi , ivico^j^iaiuitas coru.n cftimpervcftigabiliSjSc alticudo hominiinfcwwhUis. idem ibi.i,

* Maginus tfos the m^^mhy h-.s adn^ir.aiile mt pf.latter times added a te^th move-able Redveri: fi that^m-fffjhere 4r'i three moveable Beaverisabove the Firttuinent,aieur Mdfters i«/itdr/)r<>fejJJc«i<eji!tfcct« "beeiMagmiisHiiJS rhcor»c^ues. Euftachius foilowc* hMii,DlcMuado & CcelQj-pag,^^,/^. , ..^'-^ '. o -'

4. Bycon{jderitig,whataIargcExpan{ion and ^^^ mmenfify knmenfity the mighty L o r d of Heaven and li^vM.^^ earth is like to chufc for revealing His glory inthe highcft and moft tranfcendent manner to all His nobleftcreatures; infinitely cndear'd unto Him by the bloudy death of His deai'eft Sonne, even

the

\i22 OF HEAVEN.

the Sonne ofhU love, thorow 5II eternity. Who

doth all things like Himfclfc: if He love, it is

with a free, infinite, and crernall love: if Hcc

worke. He makes a world : If Hego out with our

Holh, the^«;>{hall/^;><^^/Y/if need bee, and the

Storm mn{xfighi: if Hecomeagaiift a people. He

will make His fword dcvoureflejjj, and His arroivcs

dr'inke yioud: ifHe be angry with the world, He

brings a floud over ihe whole face of the earth. If

HefctHis atfedion upon amortall worme, that

trembles at His Word, and is weary of iinne 5 He

will make him a King,give Mm aParadife,crownc

him with eternity: ifHe builds a houfe for all His

holy Ones; it muft needs be a None-fuch-^ moft

magnificent, ftately and glorious, farrcabove the

reach of the thoughts of men.

^h'b"'l%f ^* W^'^^ afpacious and fpecious inheritance;

%gH. '*" what a rich, fuper-eminent and fumptuous Pur-

chs^fc and Palace do you thinkc was the precious

bloud ofche Son of G o d by its inelHmable price

and merit, able to procure at the hands of His Fa-

therjfor His Redtemed^

r/?k^4'^^' Let us herealfo lay hold upon foitie confidcra-

iteavca. tioHs, whereby wee may behold (at leaft) fomc

little glimpfes of the admirable glory of its light.

"^ ^^'^'^f"''^"' I. To fay nothing of that glorious projedion

^y?jo p.i dp. 2^(jtf3n5fy(|gri of ^chereall Iighc,both oftheSun

ut in mil- and of thc Starres, of the fix magnitudes, which

' p^^,rur'""t by Aftrologicali computation, conftitute * three

V>;ncris, aut

Mercurij fyJcra, nee computcmus ftellas novc«n,qu2s obfcuras, aur <^uin<jucj qius ru-fc:5s appcll.intjvel ncbuiofas; nullo ctiam aumcro Uabeamus inGnitis alas^quos Text* oi^mer»nc arunoies.

hundred

hundred Suns at the leaft, (whence arifcth a mafTe of {hining beauty) upward into the Empyrean Heaven; which Patriciti^ endeavours induftri- "Nihil te-oufly toproove; I fay, topalfe ir byasaeround- "l?*-' ''**^ ^'^i

, rr ^ -1 \ r f • alkvciaie, vcl

Icfle » conceipt 5 let us take a Icantlingjas it were, , .ficun dcbeo. andeftimateof the incomparable brightncfle and Njvi interim, fplendourof the higheft heaven; by that which ^^T;^ ^^^ OrthodoxeDivines foberly tell from Pev.21 . and iua, fup.emum other places; to wit, that it is verm oxu//.^of, whol- ^«'"'" /^^F'"-}y light, not like the Starry Firmament, be- n!um"fubnm. fpangl'd here and there with glittering fpots; but g nc novae alias itwerc,onc ^greatSttn, From every Point ^•f'«/«>'»''-powringoutabundantly whole rivers, as it were, Dicuur; uon. of pureft heavenly light,^<:. Hence with allufion ^gt^ so'.e ^ to brightcft things below; it is faid to have a wall ^;;,^^;'; ^^'^

ghr'iA T>ii il-luflrat f4.w; (^ Lucernaejmefi ^^ntis. Quid Fiinc riMPptiici :> Dc fentcntia lohanitii: ^UliaKi ij/^e lucemcxleflUglorU ; aliamSolh d^' LunxiNonopui cjfeSile (ait) ^ Z,M»(i.'N.*.gat jo eft fydcrcje liicis Opponitur ci affirmatiodiv.nas lucis &.gIonolx, qu3E progufcitur a D I I gloria & Agno Filio Dei. /bid.

Neg^urbsifiaegerSole, O'c,^ Nonnegat, qiiinScl & Linain firriamentofiium rctcntura funt iHtncnjrrd .nitfupremuni lUud coelun,long' piaelbntiori liicefplcndcie, ncc opu» habere tali Sole & Luna. Gloria inquit Dei if^Ticitttv-rh, Difcrimcn facie inter JTo^cti'gloiiam Dei, & inter (pai quoipfaurbsilluftratur, Gloria Dsi majcUas eft Dei, hixq; ilia, Deitas iplius, quam inhabitarc Dbus dicitur. Ea omnibus eft iinacccffa3& corporcisoculisinvifibilis. Abhacmajcftare veto pro bencplacito voluntatis Dbt, lumen creatum proficifcitur, quo tota urbs fplendct: & quo eledis ctiam communicatOjcflSc.t DEVS,ut ipfum plene,& quafi facie ad facicm cognofcant 2an(b» deCee!obeat».Cap ^.

* Goelum Beatorum eft imprimis lucidiflimum, coq; vcrns oKvfji.'Troi : Hoc eft to-»«m &omBi ex parte luminofumaclplendjdum. Non enim eft l)>;ut firmamentum rarijs ornatum ftellis, eoqj ahbi lucidum : alibi veto non ira lucidum, (cd totum eft ji[€ljacidum. Eft enim perinde atqj fi totum fit quidcm Sol. maximus^ & omnia fuo ambitu corapleftcns.Ncq: lux ilia eft fimilis luci ftellarum,neq} etiamejufdem gene-R«. Sed eft lux vere divina, licet areata; idcirco quia lux eft alterius generis, & lux eft glorir, noa penetrat hue ad nos ufq;: oculistamcn cwporeis faturo fecWo a ncbw vidcbitw. Idem /hid.

of

*

o^Tdfper, hiv.ldingofgoUya^£oundmon ofpracfOfii. i!ico:r>|n- Jto.^ssjand gates otp^arles. Being clearc as Cr/flaili cftclmasx-er! fl^i^i^g^^k^ wwto gUffc'^ tranfparcrtt mbrightndTe na: ubi viao- 35 a molten looking ^W*^- ^* ^^^y be> thofc places ria,ubivcnr.i3, may alf® ill latitude of fenfe intimate and include ubi faaS' ^^^s glorious vifible light I fpeake of, CoUJf. 1.12. ubi VIM, libi PfaL^6,p, iTim.6,16.

xteinitas. 7): AncientDivines alfo cipprehcndcd this glorious ohhoyv brave, bcauty and brightnefTe in the blefTcd heaven. hoTv bcauT'fuU, The etemdl City (faith * i^uBm) is tttcomparahly \Z imertg, bright andbeauttfull I whcrethert wvictarjy-verify, hotff ^gorgeo-ji', digmtyyft^fCHtyJife, eternity.

havv a tmrrable

a City i! thi^ .' For,iftltgite; he of p?arlc, and the flrtets of gull ; lien Tvhatare tie inner roome; ? IVhat are the diiing chambers-, Andrvhat are the lodgirgroomei I O horv tinfpeah^able is tie glory of this iity,that Kings jba.Ut\)rfa> dotvm tter Cranvmsjinii Scepters before it^counting all their pomp and glory but a* dufl in refpeU of it > jSnd the raaznificence ani pompc ofaUthe Potentates of the earthfl)aU here be Hi I dotvne. ^nd albeit none of the iQr^s andMobks of the Gentiles ni'if^t be adnvtedinkojheold Jem-. C\\cixi,yet aft the Gentiles that believe Jhallbe admitted into ibis wew Jeiufaltm," <J»^ made fi'ee'Deni/ons thereof for e^'er. Dzntv'pcinthcKcv.

J might tei'lyou bereofmany other probable Jtngularities about this celejliaJl palate, 'land that from the hand offomegodiyand learned Divines : To wit, [That tins tbirJ Heaven is notpenetnblc by any creature, whereas the other two arc paffable by ihc gvofTeft Bodies, fo that it is laid to open to the very Angels, Job, i ^i Who, though they b? able t^ penetrate all things under it, yet are they no mote able to enter that Body, than they are topafl'c into oneanothcrsnatufcs. Hence it comes to pafTc, tha,t the third H:aven gires vvay to Ans^els, foules and bodies of men to enter in by ntiira-c\z : God making way by his power, where nature yeeJds no padage. For,it is without povcr,and cannot poflibly extend or contraft it fclfe into alarje or ftraiter com-piflTc. That, TernuTj hoc & fiimmum cteUm, in medro non cfi coipus fol.dum : fed incftauraalicjriisca-leftisqnx fupplet defcftum aeris corporibits glerificatis : In qjia' crfi port nonfnntjjn nobis tamen pori cmnt, in quibuserit hxc natura caeleftiori.qna: criTTi aeris viccm Tuppiebit ad fermoaenn. Jn coelo cnim ufuri fumus Hcbi sea lingua: I. Nim natura ibi redibir,quae primitius hanclinguam tenu't. 2. Confufio Ingua-rijm !Tnl;di(5tio fuit. And this aura cotlcftis (fay they)JbaU in:iintaine Vfs ettrnaUyj, a>^d ie anfaterablc to our con^ittition, even at this ayre is,(3'c'\ But at I would ny fclfe by itameanesconfidentlyentertaine, fowiil I never ebtrudeupon oihcrsany thirginthis or avy other divine point t hut that »hly which iigronnded (cither direUly and immediately, «rbjrooJandfiiWidconfeiU£iice)upQn Gods fure Word.

if the ft vehtch kcofiiiemrJed {faith Sajil) be CAHinto fitter darknejfe -^ it is evident that thofe which walked fverthy cf Gob, h^ve their reft wfuftrcele Hi nil light.

2. Bcfides the fupcrcxccllency of its native Ju- ^h highnefe {lre,that I may fo fpeak,this blefTcd heaven wil yet gifrifcMy* •be made infinitely more illuftrious and lefplen-

dent by all the moft admirable and amiable (hining glory of that deareft ravifhing objecfi:, to a glorified eye^theglorified Body of J e s v s C h r i s r.In refpe(5t of the beauty and brightnelTe -whereof, all fyderiall lightisbuta darkfome mote^and blackeft mid-night. See A/4?. 17.2.

3. Adde hereunto the incredible and unfpeaka- ^.^^ fpjendour bleTplendour of many millions of glorified Saints, ums! whofe bodies alfo will out-fhine the Swn.Stc Mat, i^.^^.Phil.S'2i. I>an.i2»^. Who arefaid tofhine

as the hrightnejfe sfthe Tirmnment^ as the Stars .pan, 12.^. Js the Sun^Mat,i^./\.^. To be like Christ Himfelfe,r<?^;? 3.2 .Andto appeare with ff/minglo-ry.Cd.s.^.

Now, what a mighty and immeafurablemvifle of moft glorious light will refulc and arifc from that moft admirable illuftrious concurrence, and mutuall ftiining reflexionsof the Empyrean Heaven more bright and beautifull than the Sun m his ftrength,the Sun of that facred Pallace, and all the blcffed Inhabitants^ All which every glorified eyefhallbefupernaturally inlarged, enabled, and ennobl'd to behold and enjoy in a kindly and comfortable manner with ineffable delight and ever-laftingneffe! ruhrighnefe

4. If the porch and firft carry be fo ftately and '/gods pe-

glorious, ^"^^-

glorious, gariiiihed and bcfpangl'd with fomany bright ihitiing Lights and beautifull Starres ; What workitianfliip and rare peeces, what majc-ftyand incomprehcnfible excellencies may wee cxped in the Palace of the great King, and the heavenly habitations of the Saints and Angels ^ * How full of beauty and glory are the chiefe roomesand Prefence-Chnmberof the great and royall Monarch of Heaven and Earth <! Meditate oh ^ ^^^^^ ^^^'^^^ infinite fweeteft delight may eve-tbegi9ry&fhei. ry ttuly gtacious foule, bathe it fclfc before-hand, ^m even in this vale of teares, in the delicious and ra-

vifliing contemplation of this moftglorious Place, wherein he hath an eternall blisfull mvinfion moft ccrtainely purchafed and prepared for him already, by thebloud ofjEsvs Christ! Let us therefore (as an holy Divine would have us) fpend many thoughts upon it ; Let us enter into deepe meditd-tiom oft he inefitmahle glory of it: Let us long untillwt come to the fingering and foffepon of it: even as thc^ heiri longethfor his inheritance, — Let mfirinjeand flraine to get intothU golden Cities where Jlreets, walls and gates, and allis gold J all is f Carle : nay, where fearle is bnt as mi remand dirt, and nothing worth, o whMfooles are they, who deprive themfelves wiOingly efthisendleffegkryfirafew (linking luHs I o what madmenarethey, who hereavethemfelvesofaroomein this Cttte ofPearle,for a few carnallpleafires ! o whaP bedlams and hurnane heafs are they ; who Jhut them -felves out ofthefe everlafiing habitations, for a Uttle tranfitory pelfe! 0 what intolerable fits and fenfeleffh wretches are all fich, who wilfully barrc them/elves

out

mi^fthis VMce effi^finke^leafurejferthejhortfiumon ofivorldlprafh andtrifles?

2. In afecond place, let us take notice of fome ted"beIveH^ names, titles <md epithets attributed to heavenly joyes, etemailgbry, which may yet further re-prefent to our relifh their incomparable fweetnefTc and excellency. They arc called,

1. AK(f7gdome.Maf.2^,2/^,Lukej2,^2. Now ^^^K^ngdome a Kiiigly Throneis holden the top and crowne of

all earthly happineffes; the higheft aime of the tuoH eagerand reftlefle afpirations and ambitions ^f^^j, j^^^ ,j^^ <)f men. A confluence it is of riches, pleafures, ohferved rvkxt glory, all royall bravery, or what mans heart can ^'^'^^^^yp^^/^^^r wifhfor outward welfare and fehcity. "^ What findjmeit^%l teres aad ftratagems, what murders and. mif- K'>g,f (^Pnn-chiefes, what mining and c-ounter-mining, what ZulmL^lom, snyileri©ii5 >plQts and machiviiian depths, what exercife.iytai^^ •fttaoge-^ventures ande£ifions fometimeseven ^^{themo'com'. of bloudyifeas, no catch a Growne <: WitneflTe ilemfeive"and LanuficrBViJ^T,erk€,nSiYVi\\ habitable parts of the their ij/Ues Ma-^ixh, which from time to time have become i%"{l^i°[!^ !blou^ cook-pitsiin this kind.

2. AnBeavedyKirfgd9me,MaLj.2i.Andi^,^. ^Kt^^dl'm'^'^ toiintimateithat itfurpaueth in glory and cxcellen- ^

cy all earthly kit5gdoa3es,.asfarre as heaven tran-foendethearth^ndxunconceiveablv more.

3. rJie Kmgdome cf Got,, U^s 14. 2 ^ A ^ go'^J'^'^'''' Kingdomeof G o d s ownc making, beautifying andi)ileiGLng; who doth all things like Himfelfe,

-asi faidbdfQite: repleniibed and (Inning with Ma-jeftyy.pkafures and ineffabk felicifti^^^bcfeeming theigioiious .'Rcfidencc of the King of Kings.

4. An

4, An inherit 4, ^w Inheritance^ (^dh 20.^2. Notatene-^'*'"^' mentatvvill, to bzc polTdfeJ or left at the Land-

lords pleafure: but an inheritance fetled upon us, and fealeduncousby tlie deareft and higheft price that ever was payed^which will be as orient, precious and acceptable, after as many millions of yeares, as you can thinke,as it was the very firft day it was po wred out and payed. 4. ^gimm 5* k rich md gionofis inheritance^ 'Efhef,\,\%^ inberitance. pit fot the Majefty and mercy of Almighty G o n tobeftow; the unvaluable bloud of His Sonne to purchafe, and the dearely Beloved of His Sode to enjoy. 6. Thtitihed' 6. Kw Inheritance of the Saints h light^ Cohjf, tance of saints, i. jj. Every Word founds a world of fwect-

neffe. 7'jd»iHcorrup' 7. knlnheritanccincorrupible^andundejiled^and ttbie inherit ace. that fkdeth not arvay^ I Pet.i,/\.. There can never poflibly be the leaft diminution, much lelTe any aboliflimentofthe ie-aft glimple of heavenly glory. But all bliffe above willbeasfrefh and full innumerable yeares hence,as at our fift entrance, and fo thorow all eternity. 8. A crome. ^ • <-^ Crovme of right eoufne(fe^ 2 Tm,^. 8 .Fairly come by, and full dearely bought. A Crorvneof life^ lam. i. 12. A Crowne of glory .^ 1 Pet. 5.4. Glory itfelfe,iJ(7»^.9.2^. Nay, an exceeding ex^:eedtnge-ierna^ waight of glory ^ 2 Corinth, ^.ij. Which Crownes, Kingdomes, Pearles, Jewels Feafts, 4i*c. do but weakely fhadow out unto us. Afoper-Uttvetranfcendent Phrafe (Qiith one) fach as is not to he found in all the Khetoricke of the Heathens ^hecaufe

they

_———^ . ^ . — . J ' _ _ _ ' ■ ■ ■ iw n.

they never m^t^offuch^thewe^ner whhfuehdfpmt^

9. Fuineffcofjop everUfiin^ fk^fires^Pfalie, ?• ^»^«/e •/ 11. o^ fivfft fimmg river ^j^tmevf ^f)^e4fr9%s^ ■^^* pJal.^^^X yi^ycty Jfijsif.Q,^^^^ Ma-.

:?. In'atliircIplacc^Uetiis .confide the l'>€auty gienfiedhd^et, and blcflcdncflTc o^gloiified Bodies. .Cu^CuZ Z'

I doe not here cunouily Gng.mre with w cipiat quiT^u^ ScJ^oalc-men 5 whether t^e.^lpry of the body "'"^"'•^^jj doth fpring originally out.oTxav-blcflTcdiaeffe ^ud bdTinTuvcn' bcawtifull excellency ofthe jrpu.Ie,a;id fo redounds tatc,-tiamG u. aponxhe body^by ^<:ommQd cpiiftant in^uence, "j^^^VSt as {^qtiiffasthmiis^ <)d",.(\vbichIa;^therfoHow) habum-iK, -fi chat thofc.exccUcat endowments ^nd heavenly ante eft d^fan-fplendours are on|^nally aad di%ofitively im- ^(rf/.o^JLjl! planted by Go p s hand in the reformed body, ti.caf^.i^. or.clyperfc^^edand gfluated .(as it were) by-tlW . "^'"^ *"* Glorious loule;, ^5 ^QAmmturc i!.ipp,aicxh. 5>.ure I ^c^nicmnt ef-am in general!, they fhall be made U^z ihegloriatu ^-j «iam fccuU WvefC H K I, ^,m>t.i,ri. AnatlMtishappi. tT'hotf„t nelle and honour enoughs inexplicable, tupe^cmi- j-ivemutetn./-nent. •'fw '*^^-

Bcfides their freedorac from all defers ajcid im^ oiuie*^ "11m ptrfc(Slions, Qifeafcs and difterapers, infirmities n^-g^' corpo-and deforn[iities, "^ raaimedneffc and monflrous 'liTS fuwi

cr.iiir, vcl futuri eiant ia juvenili attatc. li^m IhUC4pi6,

Qliibus omnibus pro noltro modulo con^deiatis & tia«5tatisjh3cc fumma coniicitur, ut in rcfurrctftione jcarnis in xternum eas menfuras habeat c jrporum magnitude,quas babcbatjpcificicndxlivepcifefte, cujufcunqjiadit.icorpouratio )avcmutis,in mein-broium quoqi ©mnium modulis congruo dccoic ferramr. {biiLCap 20.

^U the bo.Ue! of the Ele^fhillarife in thatpcrfci^ion of nature^ vheremti they ff^taU hare attained ky their mimaii temper aniconfiitution^ if no impediment bad hindered : tMil in that vi;:our of 0,?^e,t}:at aperjeH man is at about three and thirty yeares oUl^acb in their proper fexe. 5o Cml^ feme worthy Divine^ wliofc nam? 1 forgot to note when X ♦poke his Saying.

K fliapes 5

fhapcs,'infancy, ot Becrtpitneffe of ftature^ ^c. From want of mcatc, drinke, manage: tfor wcc fliall hcL'kethe Angels of Go d in hcave/J, CHatth. 22.30. ^c^AlhunxiJ'rto mfre, neither thirfi any ptdrejRev.j.16. of (Iccpcj for there fliallbccno wearying of the body, or tyring the fpintsj for, • Aftrnerc wc flnll Uvcby theall-fufficient Spiiit of <S o d, licet fanitatcm ^j^jch ncvcr nccds refrcfliing: of phyfickcj for, Tigae^&im- wefliallcnjoy * perpetuall impregnable health: fnutabiiem, ac aglorificdbodycannotpodibly bc diftempcrcd; fbrr/utfncffa- cithcrby inward contrariety of elementary qua-biii quadam lities 5 or any outward contagion, orhurtfull im-duiccdine fua- pj^cfllon: of aire; to cooleour heat, or keepe us b^inem^'^K- ftom ftifling : of clothes; for, we fliall be clothed pleat, &omne pfjfh long vfhtte robes of immortality, Revq,g, ?n°fc vuS- w^^c^ ^^^ never bee wornc out 3 bat fliall be fo dinis, mutabi- bcautifull and glorious \ that like the Sun, we fliall litatisjtut lac- bebcft adorned,whcn we have no other covering, nem^^u^^^^^^ butourownc rcfplendcntMajefticallbrightneirc: re queat, pro- of Sun^ for the glory of Go D P)dl illigken that cul arccat, atq; fjg^^gftl^ city^mt\ thc LamBefball be the light thereof, feht "e/w?/i- Rev.21,2^. Of any thing; for, G o n/W/ beunti tvdiCaf 54- m K^ll inAll^iCor.i'y.2^,

, \ fay, bcfides an cverlafling exemption, and

fhe ivt^ilut- pririlcdgcfrom all ils,paincs,miferies 3 our bodies

vM. fliall be glorioufly crowned with many pofltive

prerogatives, raaiYellous excellencies, high and

heavenly endowments.

uimmmaiity. ^' J^^^f^rtalitjy i Or. 15. 54. Glorified bodies

can never pofTibly die. They fliall laft as long as

Goi> Himfclfe, and run parallel! with the loj-

gcft line of eternity. In which rcfpcd alfo, our

condition

condition is a tboufrrd times more hsppy and gloricusjthanif wcbad {\ocd f^ill with K^dam in his innoccncy and felicity. If fo, he could but i Js^TJ^" have convcjghed unto us bodies immortall *fitcr.- quadiifaxiam ; ua Hfnmme^iif (XHyfcthji^ zsihcy fay5 that is, ^^® endowed onely with power of rot dying, if fo tia'' Tom'Sl and fo: but now they fhall be immoitall impcte»- abfoluta, sc tikmoricndi, thatis.fhinc for ever in the hieheft T.*"'*: ^'*'.'*' licavens with impoflibuity or ever p^riliiing. mortaiitatcm

faakct, I Tiai. 6. 16.

2. Impotcntia moricndi cxgrati^i cmtioais: 6c AngcU & anitn* bumsox Sknt ii-nmoLtaks.

J Impotcntia rroriendi ex gratia donis fie ««Inm neviim, terra nova^ corpora kcaterum immortal,tatem liabebunt

4, potcntianon moncndiexalitjaa Hypothcfi, licet in fefit mortak. Sic ko«»o ante p^^catamcrat immortaliscoipotejCX Hypstbefi oaionis ewaaasma sriginalncr pcifeda, imraort-Ii.

2. jHcnrupibUnefey i drinth. 15. 44. 54. »'f«*<w''«5*'*'*° For, every glorified body (hall for ever bee ut- **-^*' tcrly impafliblc, and urviraprefllonable with any corruptive quality, a^ion, or alteration. Whether, i. By the power of fomc peculiar glorifying endowment implanted in the body, or redounding from the foulc upon the body for that purpofe: Or, 2. From an ex-quifite temper and harmony of the Elementary qualities freed everlaftingly from allpofli-bility of any angry contrariety and combatc : Or, 3. Which fccmeth moft probable and approovcd by the learned'ft Schoole-men, from an exadt fubicdion of tlic body to the foule, as of the foulc to G od : I fay, whjs-

K 2 ther

thcr foor fo, T dot* not hett ertqnirc Gt Contend ; butlcavc.all alterations in this kinde to the curious difquifitions of fuch idle and ill-cxcr-cWd Divirfc^. The* tcftimony of Go d s^ nc-vctverringSpitit' (in xtc cited place)- is more thaft infinitely, fafficient to aflTurc every Chriftian hearc^ rhat our railed bodies, reformed by the* All-mighty giofiou^ hand if Go b? fltallnever morcbe expofed'to violence or hurt from any cxtcrnall agent: or obnoxious to the leaftdifpofi-tion cowards any inward decay, putrcfadion or difTolution., i ,

5i?ff/c»«r* 3*. Po^c^cy, I Cm'ftth.i^./^^, Our foules

are in nature, fubftanee, and immateriality like the Angels of God; One of which killed ia one night an hundred fourefcore and five ihoufand, 2Kings ig.^^. And therefore little ' know wee, • thougii the edges, ex<sfflleacy. and excGutions iiiay be dul'd and drown'd in,ouf h^avy, frailc, finflill bodies, of what, might and power they may be originally. But then, when to the foules native flrengch?, there is an addition ofgliorifyiflg vigbur, and Go us- mighty Spirit* more plcntifull inhabitation 5. and it fhaii aJfo^ put oa-abody, which brings with it, beiidcs- it^ owHc peculiar inherent power, an exa<9r ferviccablencfFe and fufliciency aptcd. and apportioned to tkc'foules hig^hcft abilities^

and

and executions ^ "^ how incredibly powerfull and .^ * i" fmuro mighty may we fuppofe a Saint in heaven Ihali be^ prSav"^u^

&ficjuftusor-tus crit, ut etiani fi velit, teiram commovere poffit. Anfelm ie fmilitu.l Cap. 5 2.

Vcriim prxftabunt vinbiis, quicunq; fupernis vinbus airocianciircivibus, intan-tutn, lit nuUatenns iHis quifqinm oblifteie valeat, vel {i moveudo quid, aut ever* tendo volueiit, aluo ftatu qiiin lilico cedar. Ncc in co quod dicimus majori labo-rabunt conntu, quain ncs modoin oculoium noftrciummctu. Ne qu^fo fimili-tudo ilia Angclorum noftro cxcidat ab animo qaam adcpturi fumus in futuro ^ quJteniisfiinhacfoititudine, autin hisqua: diduri rumusad excmpiumnon oceur-rit, vel ipfa per qmm Angelis adcquabimiir, ad ca comprobanda profit. Si igituc inqiiibus Angeios valcre conft.-'.t^ nolh-a nh lominus fortitude valeat: nemincm autism quidiibicet puto cxiftere, Angclos cnqu3E volunt fungi forritudine. Cum igi-tur Iimiles eis fuenmuy, nunquan iMibeciUiores ilisciimiis. Scd fortaflis qusic-retnliquis, quid nobis tunc illi fortitudo piKil.^bit, curn (ingulis tamconvenienter, lit con veil cntius nequcant ubiq; difpofitis nihil immutandum, nihil evcrtendum, niliil ftatucndiim lit. in quo vires fuas exerccre poftic ^ QjU' hoc dicit, paucis nobif-cuni quid in hujiifniodi habeat ufus humanus aiter.datj & vidcbit qtiianonfemper tmnibusqua; hnbemus, & quae nos habere non paruin gaudemusactu utimur. Sicuc verbi gr.uja, ipfo vfu potcibte aliqua nonnuUaiiim kicnria rerum, & multis in hunc moduni : fie & tuncde qua agituifortitudinc erit. Sola namqj poflcflio nobis grata ent, &ey.ulftio grandis : licet in actu ncquaquam fit ncccflaria nobis cuntfliSj ut didum eft, in fuoftntu convenient rlocaris. Hxc cadcm quxftio, Aaut tie velccttatc, autde aliqua bcatitudinis partium movctur, hac foUtionc, finonap-tiorem Icftor invcneric.Colvatur ihld.

4. Sfirimdlncfe^ i Cor. 15.4 4. N Ot that our b o 4. Spiwualnef. dies fhall be turned into fpirits, but imployed fpi-

ritually, Ormore fully thus: ^^. . * Corp«

I. Becaufe theyihall be fully poflefled with the gioriofum per-

"^ Spirit, which dwellincr primarily and above '^^'"^^ movcbi-

^ , ^^^ Spiritu

Dei •• ficutmoveturab anirna : non quod animatunc fit cefiacuvamovere autagere : fed quod ipfi quoq-, plena fpiiituali luce, & pcrfedione corpus fpiritualitcr tuac mo-vebit,ut cibojpotn, ',e[litu,aerc,calorc nulloindigeat amplius. Par.

Excitatur corpus JpirituJ,k ] H oc eft vitam & Effe fuum non tarn habcns ab anima ifta cjulqj ficultaribus naturalibiis : (Q^^n^^iJ^^ etiain turn eadcm hscc anima noftra coiijTingctur cum eodcm ipfo coipo'C noftro, & per cam etiam ram vircmus) tainen corpus quod excitibitisr, non tam habtbit vitam Sc Ede fuum ab ca quam a SpirimiUo C H R I s T I, quia ita ut fie loqunr, ani:.nabic &, animarn iftam & corpus jftudjUttotus homojloriofusinlbar ipfius C H R i s T i confpiciendus fit Kalloc in loh.inCap.s.

K 3 meafure

meafure in C h r i s t our head, is communicated from Him to us His members 5 Co that then we fliall no more live by our animall faculty, nor need for prefervation of life, mcate,drinkc, ifleepe, clothing, phy/icke, or the former naturallhelpes. In which refped they ceafe to be naturall bodies, being freed from thofe animall faculties of nou-rifliing, increafing, and multiplying by generation. They {hall no more live byvertue of food and nourifliment thrice concodled : firft, in the ftomach, &c. but fhal 1 be fpirituall and heavenly, living without all thefe helpes, as the Angels in heaven do*

2. Bccaufe they fliall in all things become fub-.„-l'miVrvi- je^tothe Spirit of God; and be wholly, per-cnsnon incon- fccftly, and willingly guided by him, with a fpiri-gvue carnaiis, tuall,Angelicall,moft abfolute,and free oSedirnce. tui fervrens^'rel ^^ thefpritferving theflejl) may not unfitly he called fte appelLuur carnall-fethebodyobediemtothcfifdeiSiiih. "^ Jujlm) fpintualis:non ^^^My termdfpiritudl.

quia m Ipjritu o y Ji

convertetui-jficut nonrmlli piitant j eo quod fcriptum eft : Scminaiur corpM anmale,Te-furgtt corpM fpiriluak : Sedquia fpiiitui (umma & mirabili o'otemperandi facilitate lubdetui-j ufq; nd implendam immortalitatis indiflblublis feciinffimam voluncatcm oinni molcflir fcnfu, omni corruptibilitate Si taiduKG dciraifta. Non folum cnirn nonerittale, quale mmc'tft in optima valetudinc; fedncc tale quidem qu.ilefuitm priniis hominibus ante peccatum. Qui licet nioiitiiri non eficnt^nifi pcccaflentjnlitrcn-ris tamen nt homines utebaniur, non rpiiituihaj fed adhue animalia corpoia gcilan-tes. ©cCJ W.Dei Lib.i^.Capio.

Non potcflas, fed egeftas cdcndi ac bibcndi talibus corporibiis auferetur. Vrdc & fpiritalia erunt, non q uia corpora ellc dcfifttnt, fed quia fpiritu vivificantc fub(iftent. iJenKl&idCap.iz.

^crufs'an- 3- ^y ^'^^^^" of their ^ aaiveneffe, nimblcncffe, aom rcfurget agility : whereby they fhall be able to moove from

fpiritale, quiii

velocitate^levitate^pcifpicuitatefjjuiwbuseiit i^q\\i\c.ldemTom.9p.z.Mihipa£ 1084.

place

*

tus carm

place to place with * incredible rvviftnefTe and * ^^""^ ^^^a

fpeed; not being at all hindrcd by their weight. muragi'iia,''"It

K^n heavy Itimfe ef had, thatfii^kes now to the hot. Sol, peifpicua.

tome, beim ivire-drawm as it werehy the workman tn ^T^^'" *^'^° ^

1 r '^ r 1 11 r /r • i n- \ niin niincam-

to the forme of a boatj wUl jwimmej (laitii <^tiftin: ) mus ab Oricn, And jhdll no: God give that ability to mtr bodies, ^^ '^ Ocdden-vohich the Artificer hth to the lead ? &c. nT perven"°i

tamcitOj tunc illud coipus illuc pervcnire poteiit. Ibid,

Sed vclocitas cjua; pulchiitudme non rainuJ amatar tanta nos comitabftur, utip-fis Angelis D e i squj celerss fimus, quia coelo ad tenas & cconrcrfo dido cit/iis dilabuntur. —<.Hu;Us ':]Uoq; vclocitatis exeinplum in r^idio SoIjs licet intuen, qui ftatim oiroSole in pl.ig;i (Dricuc-li pertin j t iifq; ad ultima plagse Gccidcntahs, uc in CO perpenda.inis non tfli impofiibile, qiiod dc noilra dicimus futura velocitate: prxfcitVn cum rebus uiimatis foleat .-ncHc: major velocitas, qu;\m jnammatis, Huic ctiaai Radio Solis llmiie cxcmploni velocitatis liabemus in nobis. Radius quippco-culonirn noftj-ornm i;i fublevationc palpebraru n ufq; ad ccflum pcrtingit, & ifius earum totusm (emccac integer ledic. Anjelra defitailitud Cap. 5 1.

Here fome of the Schoolemen moove an G^orifedbodies .idle unnecefUny qiieftion : to wit; Whether '^nyplLesatltl glorified Bodies moove from -place to place in an in- tnfiatit, ftanr ?

For they may well know out of the Principles in Philofophy, and Rules of found reafon, that it is utterly impolfible^ and implies contradidi-on:

That a body fhould in an infiant be in many places at cnc<Lj.

But if a glorified body moove from place to place in an inftant: it will necelTarily follow that the fame body is in an inftant. In termjro a qm, locis intcrmedijs ^termino ad qt^cm fimtd ; in the beginning, middle, and end of the ipace, thorow which it pafTcth at once ^ which is more than utterly

K 4 impoflible.

impoltlble, and quite deftroyesthe nature of a true Body.

I would rather interpret thofe words of o/»-

fitn 5 [_Certe ubt volet ffirit m^ibi prot/nus erit corpus >

the body will prefently be there where the foulc

would have it] of extraordinary fpeed, andincre-

* Corpus diblyfliorttime; o^^//?/?.^ cals it * impercepible.

Yeiu ° iTtTm- So that I doubt not, but that a glorified Saint ^c^^

pore, fed im- ring to be in fuchor fuchaplaceathoufand miles

P^'^"^"''b[evi- <^^t)^ft^^* ^^"^^ very firft bent of his will that way,

V^crnsuppim would be there in an "^ incredible lefle time, than

3 pagA^-'^^^' thou wouldeft imagine.

* But mt in an inftantxOi Aquinas hU argument demon/lrates unanjrcerahly thus.'Jn mom locali fpa-tium & motiis &tempus iimul diviJuntur, ut deinnnftiativ.- prubauii in 6 Phyd'c. Sed fpatium quod tranfit corpus gloriofum perfuum rnotum, cftdivifibilc : Ergo & motHsdivifibiliseft, & tempus divifibile, inftansautena nondividitur. Ergo&tnotus illc non eric in inftanti. Ibid. Sedcontra]

Bellarmine thn errs in hU Aft ojWeU- dying travJI^itei into Englijjj hyO E pag.i i f. faying: The Saints having the gift of agility can in a moment pafle ftom place to place — from Eaft to Weft,&c. {if hefpeakeproperly )

^.Thegioryof 5, Glory, 1 Corimh,i$.^^, The bodies of the bodiesinbesv?^ Saints in heavenfhall be palTingly beautiful!, fhi-

ning,andaimiable. *omnis cor- Two things (according to "^Auftin) concurreto Sn Xti- *^ conft«ution of beauty':

urn congruen-

tia, cum quadam coloris fuavitate. —Proindc nulla erit deformitas, quam fecit incongrucntia partium: nbi & qux prava funt cotrigentur : & quod minus ett quam decet, undc Creator novit, inde fupplcbitur: & quod plus eft qii.\m dccct, materiae fervata integritatc, dctrahctur. Coloris ponbfiuvicasijuantaciit, ubi jufti fulgcbunt ficut Sol in regno Patris fui ? Z)c Civif De i Cap 19.

I ExceHentpro' i. A dueand comely proportion-, an apt and ^nbeavfn. congruent fymmctry and mutuall correfponden-

cy

cy of all the parts of the body: or in a word, well-favouredneffe.

2. AmiablenelTe of coloiir3a pleafing mixture tPerfen colour, of thofe two lively colours, of white and red.I add

a third.

3. A chearefull,lively,lightfome afped. When sMveiyajpe^. thetwo former materials (as it werej are pleaiant-

ly enliv'd and. actuated by a lively qricknefTe and modeft merinefle of counrenance. Wheretfoft, (f;iith the Moralift) it U not the red and white, which giveththelifcandprfcBion cf beautj: hut c?rtain€^ j^arklmg notes.and touches cf at?:'ab!e ci.ecrfulnejje ac~ comfanjing the fame. In hcau^y (flith another) that of favour is mere than that ofcolcur-^andthat of decent ^ ■pleafingmot'on-,morcthan that cffavour.T^hat is the hef-part of beauty ywhrch a piiJure cannot exfreffe^ ^c. Allthefeconcurre in eminency and excellency . ,

inglorihed bodies. ofexceilcnms

1. An exquifit feature and ftatute, beau-j?^'<"''i^^''^^ tified by Gods owne blelTed all-mighty hand,

with the utmofi: of created comlinefTe, and match-lefTe proportion.

2. Not onely fweeteft mixture of livelieft colours, but alfoa bright fliining fplendour of cele-ftiall glory.

^. And both thefe aduated to the life, prefer-ved in perpetuall freflmefle and oriency, and quickened ftill with new fupply of heavenly a,5tivenefre and amiablenefle by a more glorious foule j (for, if the brightnefle of the body fliall match the light oftheSunj what, doe you thinke, will bee the glory of the foule ^ ) and by an

infinitly

*ytaninia infinitely more ^lorious foirit, which fhallplenti-

iftadum cxei- r 11 j*. j n • i t f r ^

cet fiinaioncs fuUy ^ dwell m them both tor cvcr.

fnasin corpore

impertitei colotCin & totam banc cxtera.itn corporis gloiaim • Ita turn cum D E v « eric omnia itiomaibuSjSpiiitus Oh risti in nobis [labitanSjinduet corpora noftia glorioSlfi na, quibuftji qualitatibus, RoUocin/jhr^in. Cap 5.

Amplification AmpUfie the glory of our bodies in heaven hoTcitfeave. from fuch placesasthcfe : Da^.n^i. OiUt.is.^5'

Phil ^,20j2i.Coly^,^.

From which the ancient Fathers alfo thus collcifl

and affirme ; micant'bisl^. ^/ rvc JhouU Compare ( faith ^ chrifoftome ) ourfu^ lisradijs futu- ture bddks evcn with the mof gliflering kames of the ranobiscorpo- Sun-^wc j})aII yet U^j mth'm^^ totheexpnf^mofthc^

ra contuleri ,, r 1 ■ n ■ 1 £ J ' J '"—^

mus, nihil ta- excellcmj of their jhmtng glory.

men pro illius

fpfendoxisdignitatcexplicabimus. Sermdeml/ericordid.

* In iiid fi- Thebeautj ofthejufl in the other life (laith "^ o/;?-"^"uin do''^ )^/?»? ^^ullbeeqmlltothegloryofthcSHn, thoughfe-faftorum Solis *venfildbrighter then now it is.

putchritudini ,

qui feptemplicitcr, quam modo fit, fplcndidior eiit, adsequ.ibitur. Vnde fcriptutn

eftjFul^cbiinc jiidi, ficut Sol in confpc(Su Dei . 2?e fimlhui Cap.so.

* Hujiis j-^jg J*- hrtghtncffe ofaglorifcd body doth a^farre ex-m claritas ran- ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^i ^ ^^e Sun oHr mortdl bddy .

turn Solem ex-

cellit, quantum Sol in claritate noftrun corpus praecellit. jlpui Auffijl Tom.^.p.z.

Mihipa^.ioS^.

-: Then fliall the righteous fhine forth as the

Sunne, in the Kingdome of their Father]

Not

Not ( faith "^ Chnfoficir.e) bccauje they ft:all no^ fir- * ^««c /«/-pafet/je brightnepof the Stm ; but^ becaufc that be- %ut\d in betngthe mofi ghttenngthnginthe %vcrlcl.j lee fakes a rigm fatru refemblafjce thence towards the exfrepng cf their in- ^Z^^^^i^f^^^^

COmf arable glory. amfplcndorem

ron fupera-bunt ; ka quntido nihil fclgen'.ius Sole vidernus, proptcrea re apcitiflima nobis ad cxprimcnJurn ufiis eit. In liSat.Homi^ /)-6/

But hov/ can th-re be fo mi;ch beauty afid de- ^'orifedejes lightFull amiable nfpfd: in fuch intenfive and ex- ^^'^^^-^^ ^' traordinary biightnefTe c' Or what plcafure can we take in beholding fuch extremely bright and Ihining bodies ! Sith wc find by experience, that there is fane more content and delight in looking upon a well-proportioned objecfi:, beautified with a pleafant mixture of colours, than in feeing the Sun, though it fhould not fo dazle, and olfend the eyes.

For fatisfa(5lion herein, wemuftknow, that the * glorified c3^c fhall become impalfible, elevated *Neq,ineo farre above all mortall poilibility, and fortified by '°^°^i^"^cnd' an heavenly Vigour, to apprehend and enjoy all ce- forte a nimio lelftiall light and glory with much ravifhing con-^^P'^"'''°^^ ^^' tentment and inexplicable delight. &'^-"Jj ** "."Jj]

beati erunr, ac per hoc impafl;bilcs & immortales ; qui cnim luminc glor/ar confortabit oculos. mentis," nc vidcntcs Devm facie ad facicm^ opprimantui a gloria, jdem etiam date imp-.iTibiluatiS confortabic ocalos co;pons, nt Gne laefione cernant non Solem unuaij fed innumcrabilcs.

Secondly : that omnipotent mercifull hand of "'^^ hrigiMms God, which will raife our bodies out of the duff, >^^ ^«^^'^*-^^-and refcrm.e them anew, can caufe light and colour

to

to concurre and confift in excellency, in glori Red bodies.

Thofe things which according to nature can confift togithcrj the one or both htrngmgradu remijfo, ( as they fay ) abated afthar height, can by divine powerconfift togi:ther/>^r4^« imenfipmo fux fpecieijin their excellencj : but it is fb with light and colour according to nature : ergo^ ^c. as

W ^^.^'^' * Durandu'S one of the acuteft Schoolemen makes * Corporis good by arguments. Whether (hall colour or

gloria natu- lightbefeene:' "*■ Why notbothin amoftdelici-

ram non tol j • i t

let fedpcrfici" ous admirable mixtute cf

per ct: unde color

qui debetui* corpori ex natura fuanim parcium, remanebit in eo, fed ftipcraddetur claritas ex gloria animx. Si(?ut etiam videmus corpora colorat.i ex natuia fui, Sol:s fplendore reluccrcj vclcx aliqua alia caufa excrinfcca, feu intrinfeca. ^quin. Sup-

In noftifucis fimul ftant color &lux, upapparct ad fcnfum, & (ic videcur qiiod virtute divina corpora gloriofi poflunt limulefle coloiaca & luccntia. 'Din.Lib ^ Z)//?.44.i; 8.

Theexercifesof Hccrc the Sccolemcn according to their wont the fenfes in do curioufly inquire, difcufTe and determine the eaven. manner of the a(5ts5exercife and obje(5ls of all the

fenfes. They fay not only 3 i. That the eye fliall delightfully contemplate C h r i s t 3 glorious body, the fhining bodies of the Saints, the beauty of the Empyrean Heaven, &c. 2. The eare di'inkeup with infinite delight, the vocall harmony of Halelu-jahs, Sec. But alfo audacioufly undertake to define without any good ground or found warrant, many particulars about the other fenfes, not without m.uch abfurdity, andunfpiri-tualneffe. But let it be fuificientforus, without

fearching

fcarchingbeyond the bounds of fobricty^ro know * i" '^^.^ t""-

for a cercaine that every fenfe fhall be filled with datioquxdani

its fcvcrall {insularity and excellency of all pofli mtfiahiiis bo-

blc *- pleafure,and pcrfedion. & mcftnr Jii!

Jiilccdmc fm" totof CDS Jnenarrab;li abandantia fatiabit. Quid dixi totoi ? Oculi, aures, aareSj os, manus,guttar,corjiCCur,pKlmo,o{ra, medullar, cxtact;ata ipfa, & ciinCta figtihtini fingulaq; membra eoium, incoiHir.unitam mirabiii delciTc. honis & uulccjinis fenfa replebimcur, ut ver.^ torus homotorrente voluptatis'DSi potcttir, &ab ubcrtatc do« mwxijiis inebrittur. ytMjclnt de fimiiitnd.Cap. 57.

4» In a fourth pi acc> let us take a glance of the TheSou'tsh-unutterable happineflc of the Soule.

I {liould be infinite and endlefle, if I did undertake to purfue the feverall glories, felicities, and excelleRcics of every faculty of the foulc; and when I had done, ended with the utmoft of all both Angelicall and humane underftanding and eloquence, conie infinitely fliort of exprelfing them to the life 3 I will at this time butgive you at'tafte onely, in the anderihading Patt r

And that fliall be extraordinarily and fupernatu- j^"'^ '^"^-rally enlarged and irradiated with the higheftil- ^ ^^ luininations, largeft comprehenfions, and urmoft cxTctit of all poifiblc comfortable knowledge, of which fuch a creature is capable.

r. Humane knowledge of Ait9j Nature, erea- ^.*^«'^<^^«'^ ted things, is delicious and much defircd; Wit- *^ """^ * ^^' iJeflTc,

1. ThewifeftHeathens,3ndbcfl:Philofopher£, who were fo ravifhed but even with a dimme glimpfe of this knowledge, that in comparifon tllcreofthey have contemned all the riches, plea-fercsjand f^ermenf s of the world.

2. That

2. That wife faying : k^ learned mAn dsth as farn excell an tlliterdte^ as a re^fonMe creaiure 4.

brute,

3. The extraordinarily exulting and triumphant cry of the famous Mathematician, hitting after long and laborious difqaifition upon fomc

* I'tpw*, abftrufc excellency of his Ait; * ihaveJoHndttj f li;/^*. havefiundit,

4. That palTage in an Epiftlc of &mas Silviut * Cuius fi. to Sigtfm. D. ofLyfuJlrJa : "^ if the face of humAne

««=*» ^ y ^<=';* learning could befeene^ tt is fairer and more beautifull or ^^^^^^ayAmtfj'^'^^h^^ormngandEvemngStarre. Liicfcr , & 5. Ferthcfleajure and delight 0f knowledge And ^*'*'^Mv.tnce' ^^^^^^^ (faith *anothcr) itfarre furpaffethalltther m^nt of Learn in nature: for jhall thefleafures of the affUHons fo ex-L'*.i.p.j^.t+. ceedthefenpSy as much as the ok dining of defire and victory exceedeth afing or dinner? i^ndm:*fi not (of confeeiuence) the flenjures of the intelle6i or under flan-ding txceedthefleafuresoflhe affeihom? We fee in all other fie afures, then is afatietj-, and after they bez^ ufed,their verdour departeth ; which fheweth well,they be but deceifts offleafure^ and not fle^fures ; and that it vpds the novelty rvhichpleafed, and not the efudtty, f^nd therefore wcjee,that voluptuo.is man turne Fri-(rs ; And ambitious Vrincet turne melancholy. But of knoxvUdgcthere u nofaUety : Bttt fansfatfion Ahdap' petite are pcrpeiUAUy interchan^^eable ; and therefore^ Appear eth t§ be goo din itfelfejtmply , without fallacy or accident.

Now this learning ihall then be fully perfcdcd, and raifcdto the higheft pitch : fo that the leaft and loweft of the Saints in Heaven (hall farrc

furpafle

furpaflc: inclearc contemplation of the caufcs of all naturall things, and conclufions of Art, the decpcft Philofophers, greateft Artifts, andlcar-nedft Linguifts that ever lived upon earth.

There arc many difficulties and doubts in all kinds of humane learning, which havcfromtimc totimcexcrcifedthcbraveft wits; but by rcafon of the native dimncfTe of our underftanding, never received cleare lefolution and infallible affent. As^

Whether the Elementary formes bee in mixt '^i^cuitkiin Bodies J Y.Corruped. 2. Remittedoncly^^.Or,Ert. J-„^^'"''*'" tire? Whether thcceleftiall Orbs be moved by K^n^els or intemail.formes ? Whether there bee three diftini^ foules in a man ; i. Vegetative, 2. Senfitive. 5. Rati$nall: Or one onely in fub-ftance, containing vertually the other two :* How » pecuhat • all the "^ (fauviiiiv<t,Afpearances in the iEthereall Hea- th apud' aI ven, may bee trulieft, and with leaft exception ^^roJogo* w' maintained: whether by Mxcentricks and Epcydes: auut?!quac a'^ or onely by Ccncemricks: or the Eaiths motion: pirent'm cee-or the motion of the Starres in the heavens 5 as fifh ^°- •^''*'* move in the fea, and birds in the aire < dec. So the beft ^vits are incxtiicably pufl'd alfo, about the Sympathy and Antifathy of things> Alchymte, caufe ofCriticall daies.^

The myfts about thefe and many things moe, ^11 be difpcrd out of our mindSjby a cleare funnc of a new and excellent knowledge: fo that wee fhal be exa^ly acquainted with t he caufes,natures, beginnings, of-fprings, and ends of all creatures, and created things.

2. We

£rroT{ and j, \y^ (\^^\\ clesrcly fee add comprehend the

riruhr^ re, olveJ . , rrrnrT -iii a

in hcsvcu 'VaHity and rottenneilc or all Hereticall cavils, An-tichriftian depths5popini trupoftiu c, the very botr tome of tha5:Mioft wicked m4 abhoned Myfi^rit-i tlict.rue, full, and fvvieftt meaning (of:aIl ,<i.o d s 'l>le:(ieid Boake s >viiet,ticr I^k ,wile bid her hvisi)^nrf iblefle.or .curfc Go p-: '^\\tih<ix,Ieff)t<ih facrific'd his daughter^ or onely cQ^fecrared her to virginity <: whether JSI^Aman was a ti ue, or unfound convert: what is the meaning of that pl«ce,i Cot/mh.ii,%o,.

©ec/>e myjf.e^ ^.Wcfball with\Wondcrfull-ravil1-amcntofipirit, ries iinswnc in {^nd fpirittialljjoy, be admitted to the;fight of tiipf^ heaven. facr^d iecrct? and glorious ;fny(leiues: i .Of the ko

)ty T^rl^kyi into which fomc piv4ncs mg.y audaqi-.oufly di^ye^but.flial never be able to explicate; 2. Of ihc^nion ofC H-R i s t s hqmanitytQtjrie divine joaturej and of the fairhfuU to Christ: 3. Ofrhe caufesofGp d s ctcrnall counfellin Elei^i^nand Reprobation: 4. Qf the Angels fail: 5. Ofthp panner of the Creation of the'>vorld,&c. K.nt)ii>ud^,e ef 4- Wc iliall knowonc anothCfr: JFor, MtamthriH j, AUcomfortable knowlcdgcfhall befof*^frc from being aboliflied/that it will be inlarge^, iar cre?;fed^and perfcdcd:

But to know one another is a ,coHafortabl? Itnowledge,

Therefore we (liall know one another. Our knowledge fliall be perfcdcd : VoYyWf.fhdS^ k»9VPas^eare knorvne, i Cor.1^,17, Which is fet out by comparifon of the lelle: That our knowledge then, fliall diifcr from that now, as the

knowledge

heaven.

knowledge of a child (torn that of a ftrfeci inan : by a^/4//^, from feeing xht thing it felfe: that of a fUnfieech, from a rMle. Why then ihould we doubt of knowing one another ^ cfpecially, fith oar Saviour C h r i $ t fetteth forth the ftatc of th e bleffed by the knowledge one of another, Af<<^. 17. And as the knowledge is perfc^ft, fo the memory. In nothing rauft out knowledge be empair'd butbettei'd.

2. Wefhall then enjoy every good thing, mi comfortable gift,which may any way incrcafcand inlarge our joy and felicity ;

But meeting there, knowing then, andeonver-Cn? forever with our old deare Chriftian friends, ana all the glorious Inhabitants of thofc facred Palaces, will mightily pleafc and rcfrcfh us with fwceteft delight.

Therefore we fliall know one jrnother. ^rti *'

Society is not comfortable, without familiar pjaj^nw et^ acquaintance: Be affurcd then, it (hall not bee *ther. wanting in the height aAd perfedion of all glory, blifle, and joy. Nay,our minds being abundantly and beatifically illuminated with all wifdome and knowledge, wefhall be inabled to know, not only thofe of former holy acquaintance 5 but alfo ftran-gers, and fuch as we never knew before 5 even all the faithful!, which ever were, are, or fhall be. We fhall be able to fay, this was Father i^hrd-ham, this King David, this Saint Tml: this was Luther, Cdvin, BradfordJkc. this niy Father, this my Sonne, this my Wife, this my Paftour^thisthc occafioHcr oi my cpnvcrfion, c^r. as may bee

L gathered

tft'-etUt u g^^^^^'^^ ^y proportion out of Go d s Bookc. heaven'we Jbai !• If * oV^'WC beforc the fall had that mcafufc k^ox» one ant- of illumination, that hcc knew Eve, and from '*'*Rcftrhinc whence (hecame, at thcfirft fight: much more coiii^itur no$ ftiall out kflowledgc in heaven, and highefthappi-in vita xtcrna, ^^^^ \^q cnUrged in this kind.

Ribus ignoran-

tiae & ccecitatis ncbulis ctiam not invicetn, & omncs Santos qtioi nunquAoi vidi-Biusagnicurot.. Si cnim Aiamus virtuteimagiAi$divinaBconcrcatz£v<(^decorp»re fuo fuinptatn, cam c fomno cvigilaflctjiUico igiiovis: Quomodo non ctiaiijfccundum candctn imagincm tianfnuutati dc gloriain glanam, a D o m t n i SpiricUjSandoj fit bcatoscjufdem corporis membra agaofccramusr I(^erHnit.Hariti,Evsag.Cap.Sj,

Suntne bsmines in viti ttternife mutua agnituri i

Utiq; qui plcni futuri fimt SpiRiTrSANCTO& fap'catiajficut jitUmzn^ lapfutB adhttc rctincri injcgritatcm imaginis D i i, E-ua-Tijqj'jam nunqiiam viderat. It ■ade;ume£«c^ncmiac dicentc,agnoyit,Ge;i.i.i3,0tfc<MiX«f J9.

^rm» ^ 2. If the Apoftles accompanying C m r i s t m TaruTvukntl's His transfiguration, and vouchfafcd but a taftcand Mofener Eli- glimpfc(as it wcrc) of glorificarion, were *ablc ^mingima^c- thereby to know CMofesznd fliasy whom they licet prius iilos had ncvcr fcenc: how much more fhalJ we, being Hunquam ri- fullyiHuminited, and pcrfedly glorified inhea-rerfi;oc>Non vcn, knowcxa^ly all the blcflcd ones, though nc--tferte ex imagi- vei acquointcd with thcm upon earth 't

aibus& flatu-

is, quibus uti Juilxisnen fwcconceflurn: nccex notitijs nacmalibas, quae in rcbns calefiibus pcnicus funtcoecx : {j^d ex folagratia Di i, quae incredibilcui bancra<« vientrae & cogntuonis lucem animis Apofiolorum infadit.

Ut erg6^4/Stte/ex D 11 infpiratione j'tw/e^isagnovitnunqaaaiantc^ viTutn^i Sam. •.17. Etquemadmodum/elrdnffri'in utero intra alvum B.Virginis, Ciiiii«ttm Doininum fuum agnovit: ita S p i R i t r s S A n c r 1 radijt bnium etiim nacncet Inerunt illuftratae, JQcmHiUoc/Upra cit.

Fetrta in montcia mortali corpore Mofem & tliawi quos nunquam videiat^cvcL^ lione iiucroa cogoovit,Mac.i 1.34. Juc4s/«(/1f/>r« ci/.

^. Cm »i JT t€lsthcJcwc$>it«i^#i5.2S.Thflt

they

xhcypd/lfce K^hrahdw, MHilfaacandUcob, ttnddd the Prophets in the kingdcme ^' G o d , and thcreforc know them : * And D/t^w is faid ro know K^hrA- * ^«»' ^""o* hAm-mdi LAzarus info great adiftancc, Luke 16, ^^//'^/w*^ Whence I argue thus: i^ the darned know thofc fuppuetoagnej-who arc faved, though they have never feenthemj ^^^' ^' "I"™ much more (hall the glorified Saints, now plcnti- ^arupt mimme fully endued with ill knowledge, and fupernatu- recogaoviflec, rally iUightcned by the H o l y G a o s t . d. v"T'" t

tormentiJ po-fitumjdc tia/ifadacjus contmiont loqucretHr,tliccnj, <ju6d maU icccpcrit in vita fua, El fi mall malos non recognoiccicnt, ncquaquam Djrcs in tormcntis pofitus, ftatrum fuorum etum sbl'cntium racrniniflcr. Quomodo cnhn praefentcs son poG-ftt agacftcjc, qui etiam pro abfcntium mcmoria curarit cxorirc ? Qua- in re illud <|i!oq; oftendituf '^lod ncqua(jium ipfe reqoililti : Quia & boni malos, & mail cognofciiiu bones. Nam Dives ab ^-^ir^j^jw cognofcitur, eft diviti cognitiu, qucm muri prtcatur ex nom.ncjdicen^: Mittc La^tf^ww, ut inttngat cxtrcmum digiti fuiia aquam, &rcfrigcictlin§uam meam. In q«A videlicet cognitionc utriufq; pattis ci> miiUis retiibutionis cxcrcfcit: ut & bom amplius gaudeantj qwi fccum cos lattari confpicianc quos amaverHnt; &maltdum cumcis tovqucntur, quo« in hoc mundOj defpcAo Deo, dilcxtiunt, eosuonfoliim fua, fed ctiam eorom p«na confunnat.

Many of the ancient Fathers arc of the fame ^b fejiimo-mind: (Whofe authority J never urge forneccffi- Irl pdtJuccd^ ty of proofe; Gods blcflcd Word is evermore than infinitely all-fufficicnt and fuper-abundant for any fuch purpofe: but onely, either, i.Som-times in fome fingular Points to (hew confcnt: or 2. Incur controverfiesagainft the Antichriftians, Antinomifts, Neopelsgians, &c. Or, ^. When fome honeft pafTagc of fandification, or fcafona-bleoppofition to the corruption of the times, is falfely charged with novelty, fingularity, and too xnuchprecifcaeflc.) •

La i» There

I. There was a Widow in t^uflim time, who craved very importunately both by word and ; V writing, fomc confolations from him, to fupport her under chat incomparable croflTe of her husbands lofTe and widow-hood :and,as it may fcera, fhc defired to know whether ihe fliould know him inthefecondlife. For the firft, he hits upon the i fwectcft, mightieft, and moli foveraigne comfort ! f "la^m ^' Ire ^^^^^could pofTibly be imagined. * Tmcan hy n» ji dcbes,"cum7ii ^f^^^tftcs (faith he) tf^nke yourfelfe dsfoUte 5 wh en- * intenore ho- j$y fke frefei$ce and pofTeiJion ^/JbsusChrist JJiifcntem^'^' i»theinm6flclofetofymrkartbyfaith. About the c H E11TYM other, he anfwers peremptorily : * This thy hui-p«r fidcm in ^4^^^^ y^ rvhfi(kcedfe thou art called a widow, JbaU p!/f 6.<ii//a£ Bemoftknowneunto thee» And tels her further, thst tarn. there jhall be nofiroHger in huveri,^c,

* Hie .lutcm

Ic conjux tuus, cujus abfceflTu fidua diceris, tibi netiflimus crft. .-^Cum ytntrit Do M I M V «, & illatninareiit abfcondita tencbrarum,& manifcrtaverit cogitatio-R€s cordi$,tunc nihil latebit proxJmum ia proximo i iiecerit, quodfuis quifc^ue ape-riat,abfcoHdat alieais.ubinuliuseric alienus. Ibid,

■ *t\t\T^^\l ^' ^f^* f^^S^^^H^^^^^^^'^othcr) there is fometkng

?af^^miraSi ff^c AdmiraHe', hecmfethey doe not o»ely acknow

us, quia non Udgc thefc whom they ktfew in this wofld t, hutalfojOf

^^^tl^r ul^ »^f^fif^»eAndkn$wn€, they knerv the g^dywJmn they

inhac vl\i nc mver fdW, verant j fed ^c-

lut vjfos tifos ac cognitos, rcfognofifunt bonos 6[uoi nan^u3«i yideiunt. Greg lot, fipTii cit.

* ibi a fin- 3* There {(^th"^ Jnfelme) allmenJJjdUheknfimne galis omncs, »fevery feverdlmAnt dndevcry fevirdl man fhdl bt

cegnofGentar; Nee cj«emqitam oarnlBo lajebit, qai patriajquagentc^qua ftirpe^ui* tditus fueritjvtl quid cciam ia rita lua fccerit. jinfclmMSimlitad.Cap. J^-

Againcfe

i

Againe, * Conceive tfth» c^f^, hm tmhr- * P«rp<«de, taiilt th'At kmixledge mU bee^ b^ wmch, as thm grat^ f,t (^^ sf aU oihers, [9 aU others fhd/i bee kntv^ne oftkegin cntia ifts, qua

■^j I r . , , . ta ficat abona*

thAtLfe. ...-. u. ...^ mbw. ikom-

Yct let me tell you before I paflTe out of the ne» a tc cx>j^ Point; thai this for themoft part is the curious ""^"'jT^^^J ^^/e of carnal 1 people- who feeding falfly their ^^^*<sj' prcfumpmous conceipts with golden drcames,and a joUy to ex-vainchopesof many future imaginary felicities in ^Jl^^fy^'X the world to come, whereas in the mcane time andmtttiKiik they have no care at all, ufe no mcanes, take no j"^^^*^^*^ paines to enter Jnto the holy path, which leades unto that blefled place. It is even as if one fhould bufie himfclfe much> and boaft what he will da in New-England when heecomes thither; andycc (pooreman) he hath neither iliip nor m£>ney, noj? meanes, nor knowledge of the way, nor provifiofl before- hand for his comfortable planting.therc. ^tf,^, ^„^ ^y?

To coole and confiont fuch lazie, idle, and ^n<n*ittige vaine curiofities; take notice, that wee (halt not ^^^^A^^ *j^", know our old acquaintance by former feature,. thcrT feature, favour: fovaft adiftance and difference will there be betwecnearaoitall and gloriffed body: nei»tha'in a worldly manner. In which re-fpc^ faith PauI, : Cor. 5. 16. Hencefonh kn6» v^eem tnAn After the fiefh: yea though wee have kfion>tge C H R 1ST after thfjlefbyyet nffiv henceforth kne» wt Htm no mere. Our mutuall knowledge one of another in heaven fhall not be in outward and worldly refpcds, but divine and fpiriruall, as wee know them- in C H R I s t, by the illumination of the Spirit.

L3 jr.Wc

trejhasi^Hm ^. Wcc fliill ktiow the fpirituall fubftances,

teve"^^^^^'* ^-^^<^5» orders, excellencies of the Angels: the

• Sapientia Hiturc, imn^ortalicy, operitions and originall of

^im omnes QUr OWnefouleS,(:J'^. In a word, all things* know-in hac vrti non ^U!^ Mtilitcr aiaant, *^*C» tama in futura

Tita bonis cnt, ut eoram qn* fcirc volueriitt, nihil fit quod ijnorcnt. Bonuj enim perfcfti quae Dbu» eft fapientia rcplebitur, earnq, face ad ficicm imucbitur, «|aatndurn ita perfpexcrit, creatara? totius naturam vidcbit, qis in D E a mch* AS quam in feipfa conduit. Tunc ctemin juUi cunifla faciit quat D t v s fecit (ci-«ncla,tam caquas pixteriw, quani ca qu« poS.-Bodam fuac fiwura. jinfelm, de fi' militud.Cap.^i.

Cumclediamiqiiospatrcsinillaaiterna hzrcdftitc viierint, eisincognftf pervifi-onem non erunt, quos ia opcre femper novenint. Quia cnim illic omncs communi claritate Db v M confpiciunt j quid eft, quod ibi nefcianc, uU fcientetn omniafci-unt !> Greg/DialtgLib.^.Cap.is-

Neqjfola vilio Dfi i fanfiis hominibus in ccelo promittitur, f€detiam omnium Krum,quas fecit Devi. Hie quidem in terrisccrnimus per I'enfun videndi, folem, &lunam, &ftelias, & terras,& maria, Scfluaiina, & ani-nanna, &aibarc$, &; me-talla. Scdmens noftra nihil oiwuinbcernit ; i e. nullam fubftintiam crcitam peiftftj novit, non differencia$ elfentiales, non proprietatcs, non vires, ac ne animam quident fuam homo videtjfed more coecorum palpindo tffeCta, 8c difcurreudo per rationem aliquidcognitioaisacquirit. Quale ergogaudiumerit. cum mtelligsntia noftrarcvc-latafacie manifcftevidebitnaturas ommum reium, difF^rentias^ proprietates, virej? Et cum quanta exultationc obftupefcer, cum viJebit exercitum Angelorum innume-rabilem, auorsm nuUus cum alio m fpecic conveiiit, & diftcrenuas omnium & fin^n-loium pcrlpicHcintaebitur ? 7)e ittern Fxlicit Vh ? Cap.*.

Whem»efbufli^titrt G o & m beaven,i»e fijaUin Hiial^naw the manner of theworli e^ Creation, the myjferiei »ftbe vxtrl^e oj owt KeJemption : jfea,fo muth f^o»leJge as a creature canpo^ibly conceive andeoinprehmdofthe Creator andHu worths, P.P.

HoTvGovfbaa ^, Wc fl^ii be bcatifically illightned with a ^eaven.'^^ *'* clcare and glorious fight of G o d Himfclfcwhich

About which the Schoolcmcn audacioufly dif-courfing,fall upon ditfcring conccipts.

I. Son^iefay, God lliall then be knowncby a 5/>^r/^rcprclcnting the divine EiTcnce: and by a

Light dfglcry clev sting the iinderftanding by afu-pcrn-ituiall ftrergth.

2. Others, 1 hat the divine Eflenccfhall be re-picfcnted to the glorified undcrftanding, not by a-ny 5/'^rw,bi;t immediately by itSelfe; yet they alfo require light ofghry to elevate and fortifie the underftandirg by rcafon of its weakenefTc, and infinite difproportion and diftance from the incona-prehenfible Deity.

J, Others hold, that to the clearc vifion of ^"^SS^a. God, there is not requiredai'^tf^/<?j reprefenting j.i. the divine EfTcnce, asthefirft fort fuppofe; nor any created light elevating the imderftanding, as the fecond fort think: but onely a change of the Baturall order of knowing. It is fuificient (fay they) that the divine Effence be immediately rc-prefcnted to a created undcrftanding. Which, thorgh it cannot be done according to the order of nature,as experience tels us: (For, we fo conceive things; firft having pafled the fcnfe and imagination.) Yet it may be done according to the order of divine gracc,^^.

But it is fufficient for a fober man to kn©w, that k heaven wc (hall fee Jim fact to jasc.

L4 FUNE-

FV :^C S%ALL 3\(^ 0 TES

Upon my Patron, Sir Augustine

'/l/LD h^iil N 1 c o L L s Knighr, Judge of

i^kwio^' tke C6mm$» Pleas,

*hZ^^J' ^7 ^^^ ^^^^ ^ y°"^ ^^^^ leaves, I will bee bold mdtrlte!^ ^' ^* rrwke benefit of the inftant occafion, becaufe it is very (eafanably coincident with the Point'; And pj-cflfc frona that the praif^iceof this lart mortifying motive. Thcfcartificiall formes of fadnede, and complementall reprefentations of forrow in blacks, and mourning weeds, arc nothing for my purpofe: neitherdoldcfire to ftirucup or renew m my man thoughts of heavineffe, or griefe of heart, which hce might conceive and liourifli by reafon of fome particular intereft in the bounty, love, perfon, and worthy parts of the departed: mwy times men arctoo forwatd and overflowing in thofe tender offices, and laft demonftrations of naturall affe(aion. And therefore my counfell in fuch cafes is; that wee fhould fhevv our felves Chriftiansr.and bythefacred rules of Religion ever prevent that unfeafonablcncffc and exceflfe, which many times with a fruitleffe torture doth tyrannize over thchopcleifc hearts of mcere naturall men. Ptthiikciofe; ThcPointthatl would principally prcfTc, and tobeiaidto' pcrfwadc unto, is a Chri(Han and compafllionatc harr. takirg to heart,the publike lofle,that every one of

ns may upon thac ©ccafion bee truly humbled in

himfclfe.

himftUe.and bctte. cd in his own foulc. And I tell you truejefpccially inthcfc timcs,this loiTc is great *

He was a reverend and learned Judge, a Prince, /u/^he Nicoib andagreatMan inlfrael: nay arGod upon earth, p^aff- . for fo are Judges ftiled by the Spirit of G o D,Pfal. a'e/fiom'' % S 2.^. Though he be departed this life like a man, o-wne cename and fallen as one of the Princes. J;;;;/*' ^^

Butthele are nothing y they arc but bare titles in /imoiy ahevz refptdofany true worth. excepthn. t

He was really remarkable, afid renowned for ^^^oii^ich/ very fpeciall judiciary endowments,and fufficien- th-ni^eminmy cies; and thofe sided and attended with many wor- '^J^^'J""^^'/ ^'^ thy additions of morality, and fubordinate abili- ofhupoj'ejjiom.

lies. Asfirft, Itmayb^eafe-

1. Such calmneffc in his afFcdions, and modera- ^f; J^^^'^;^* tionof his pa{fions(as I never faw)cven in his ordi- things fomz-narycariagc. He might have been amirrour(mc *^^"g p^jfio-thinks)in this point even amongft the exadeft Mo- ^uZTtbe i^e!^ ralifts. And they fay,that appeared moft eminent- Mediramn m ly in his publikepafTages and executions ofjuftice. ^'^■^"'^ And how needfull a virtue this is to a Judiciall PlacCjthofc may bcft conceive, who either feele,

or but confider what a cruell and intolerable thing it is for an ingenuous man to ftand before a ]udgc> who is pre>udicately and paflionatelytran{ported with anger, malice, or hatred againft the party to befcntcnccd. p^,^.

2. Patience to hearethe bafcft, both parties > all hzlring caujip, diey could fay. And unwillingneflfe to lend his care

to the one,without the o^ers prcfcncc.

5. A greatand happy memory. tisppy mmsty.:

4* Singular fagacity in fearching and diving in- ^^i<i^'iy»

to

Tunerd. Notes

tothc feeretcft and utmoft circumftancesCfofar « was poiUble) of the caiifes thj?t came before him, th.1t he might give the more righteous judgemenc TitifvinefeiH 5« A mai-vcllous tendcrneire, and pitifull cx-thvciu/e of adnefle in his inquifitions after bloud. Holding, "" ontheonefide, the hfe of a man very precious:

and ycr, on the other fide, perfvvaded of the truth and tcrrour of that place, Numb,^ 5^3 3. For hlotid, that de filet h the land,and the land cannot be clean fed of the blotuithat isjhed therein, hut hy the bloudof him that fj}edit. But yet allthcfe, \vhatfoevcr you apprehend, in my conceipt had not beene much worth, tliough good in their owne nature; neither (to tell you true) fliould I have fo much as nam'd them, had they not beene aided (as it were) and managed with three other moft noble and nc-ceflary vertues, efpecially in thcfc times, which adimcd them (as it were) and gave them their life and luftre. Love of inte- I. A lovc to integrity, the right and truth in all grity. hisjudiciallcourfes,which (foranythingi know,

or could ever heare) no man living upon juft ground can or will contradi(5l. •Deteffatmof 2. Withaconftant and refolutc hcart-rifing a-hrHieTy gainft bribery and corruption; the curfed banc of

all goodneffe, honefty, and good confcience, wherefoe'er it comes. And to this, that high place he worthily held about the Prince, can give royall atteftation: where hec qualified fees to his owne lofTe; and protefted his refolution, and all pofifible oppofition to all offers for offices, with thisreafon; hee would have them come in clcarc-

han-

handcdjthatthcy might deale honcftly in their places. And his owne followers, to whom hce gave a chai ge at his firft entrance to a j udiciall place^that they fliould not meddle, nor make any motions to him,that hemight be fecur'd from all appearance of corruption. And,asl am credibly inform'd,his ordinary reading of great letters, and rejc(5tion of gratuities after judgement given.

3. With a noble and unfhaken refolution, and op^ofnbn a-mighty oppofitionof Popery: and that without iZthfr^lT^ rcfpe^ or feare of any greatnefTe, as wee have evi- iuptms, dent demonftration. Now of this wee need no further teftimony (though there be very pregnant and plentiful! befides) than the prefcnt triumph of thePapifts; and barbarous infultaticns of that /, y . bloudy andmarderousgeneradon. Andefpecial- ou^^^^-^^--^^' ly in yonder Countrey of Lancafliire, and thofe Northerne Parts; where hee fliooke the pillars of Popery more vaUantly and fuccefTefully^ than any thcfe many yeares. Officers in thofe Parts ob-ferv'd, that in his two orthree yeares, hce convi-^ed, confin'd, and cdnform'd moc Papifts thc^^n were in twenty yeares before. And that laft charge he gave at Lancafier in his laft Circuit but one,(for I meddle not with the laft of all) for law-learning, earntftnefTc and excellency againft Popery, prophanenefte, non-refidcncy, and other corruptions of the times, and for the extraordinary heaitning and encouraging all good men and Eneouraging godly Minifterswasfuch, that lam perfwacled, go^'yMmi/im, it will beremembred with dcarencfte and love, while any honcft man that heard i c or heard of it,^

is

is alive in thofe Parts. To go no further then: and this I now fay, I fpcakc of him as he was grovvne in his htter time j and ouc of hope he would have continued: and Ifpcake it alfo in compailion of mincownecountrcy; which I know by coo good cxperiencchow piiitiiUy ithes bleeding undcrthe infolency of Papifts, and multitude of Priefts: and then I fay, the redemption of the life of fuch a Judge;in fuch times as we livc,for the good of fuch a country,if we go no fuirher, if that had confi ■ cd with Gods pleafure, had becne worth a Kings ranfonie. ^

""S^'°"^"* ^ ^^y ^^^ things thus together upon purpofc " '^'^ ' to aggravate the lo&, that a compailionate confi-

deration ofthegreatneffe thereof in thofe refpcdts Ihavetoldyou, may be as powerful I in begetting a godly and profitable forrow and taking ic to h^'ait in all truly religious and loyall hearts: as-I know rcjoycing in his fall will create in the in-folcnt fpirits of the enemies to God and the King, (I mcane the Papifts) barbarous infultations and triumph. I am pcrfwaded, if we getasmuch* humiliation out of the fenfe of a true lofle, as the Papiftshardning and obduration by apprehenfioa of their imaginary gaiae, we (Irall make a good ufc of his death. lam a little more earneft, becaufcl perceive the Papifts begin already to calumniate and (lander, Lo/e 0/ txcd' Here is yet another Point of profitable confidc-knt men apre- vationfrom the prefent occafion. When any wor* jtSilera.'"^ thy man in a S rate, efpecial ly who tikes a faithfull difchargeof his place, and the publike good to

heart.

heart, is cut off by the hand of G o d ; itis in a Chriftian jcaloufie, and out of fpirituall wifdomc to beholden as a prcfage of fome more fcarefull gcncrall judgement to fuccccd. I have my ground, //i.3. i,2,3,&c. And therefore my counfell is, and intheprefent cafe for one, when any good Patriot which in fome high place like a ftrong . Pillar oppofes the corruptions and Popery of the -times: or any faitl^ifull Paftour, which by his prayers (like zc^ofes) ftands in the gap againft the indignation of G o D, is taken away 5 that we take it to heaiT, as a CMemento, to make our felves ready againft an evill day. And to tell you ray mind, I am much afraid fome heavy thing is preparing for us, our finnes are growne to fuch a height. I am no Prophet, northc.fonne of a Prophet ^ yet out of a comparative contemplation of G o d s proceeding with his owne people in all former ages, I cannot but concurre with the judgement of a great Dodor delivered in an high place: The /^^^>^pag*«> finncs of this Land arc come to that elevationjthat nJjinne'svf there is fcarcc left any roome for the mercy of tha lani God tohelpc us.They are even full ripe for His revenging Hand. Tohisfoure reafons I add two moye: his arc taken, i. From the greatnefTc and crying of the ftnncs, which are very horrible 5 Athcifmc,whoredome, Sodomy, bloud-flied, op-preffion, fuyes he; I add pride, drunkennelfe, u-fury,5dc. 2. From the generality of them. AH* forts arc wrapt in them. 3. From their impu-dency 5 with brazen browes, and whorifli foreheads they out-face the Suru 4. From their i:n-

paticncy

l$s

Funerall Nctes

WonhiiS tA^ea cseeay.

theymni Lord Haaiiigcon.

patiency of admonition and reformation : they growfo upon us, that all the Pulpits in England cannot beat them downe. Adda 5^ from 2 Cfjre;t. 36.1 f'. And a 6^ from ifi-S-1,2,^. &feq. I meanethe dropping away of many worthy men; and few take it to heart, or confidcr that they arc taken away from the evill to come. Wc have loft many a godly man within this few yearcs. The Princes Court was not many yeares fincc dif-rob'd and bereft of one of the nobleft men that c-vcr trod upon Engl iill mould, be (Ides other noble ornaments, his eminency of grace made him fo. For, Chriftian Nobility is beft and trueft, where God Himfelfe is topofthckin, and Religion the root; in regard whereof all the refl (I meane that of riches,birth,lcarning, or morality) are but (ha-dowcs andfliapcsof nobleneflc. And the other yeare, a very worthy'Doctor, and triumphant Champion againft the Giants of Rowe. Againfl: whom they have fincc fentout an illiterate libell, cal'd^Whitc dy'd Black; fit for the foule and black mouthes of fuch railing R/tb(ljAk:hs, And now of luJge Nicollj, late, to fay no more, of a Chanccllour of rare and remarkable integrity in his Place. I have not yec done,and yet the time is done: onely a' word or two therefore, and fo I'lc make an end.

And yet let no man think, that lam come hither;

Either iofinooth andmollificany faults or

FauHs mt to he [mothered.

I.

frailties; any fils or infirmities; any perfonall finnesor imperfe(5tions that might be in this great Man. I dare not go about to cover them 3 that's

noc

H^on ludgt Nicolls.

X5P

not my office i I kave that to the precious bloiid of the Son of Go d, and tender-hearted mercies of our gracious Father. I would rather in this point- -advifeo-rcat men to walkc warily. For,their great-• ncfle makes their fins greatcr,and their mightinefTc will make them mightily tormented, except they ftand conftantly on G o d s fide. Height of Place ever adds two wings unto fin : Example and Scan-dall s whereby itfoares higher,and flies much further.^ Ifthc Sun bcecclips'dandobfcur'd; athou-fand cyesgaze upon it: a Icfo Starre may be dark-ned,and no -.nan take notice.

2. Ortofaftenuponhimanyfalfepraifesina lf/X%, flattering funeralIPanegyrick. I darcnot dawbc nt^^^anyj foraworidofgold. Himfelfeabhor'dthatj And not long before his laftfickneffe complained much acainft flattery, as a j^ricvous iniquity of the times. ^3. Grtomakeafolemneand foimall narration ^r.'^J^r of all his noble commendable parts. When I un- t\>% iivi»g. dcitookc this bufinelTe firft, I ftudied onely, and bethought my fclfe,how I might fpcake m.oft pro-fitakly, and make the beft ufe ofthe prefcnt occa-fion to my living Auditors. And had I not found pregnant matter for th^t purpofe, I had not beene here this day. And therefore for conclufion, and as the laft and beft fervicc I can now doe unto hira> to whom I owed as much as any man alive: I will labour from the occafion to workc fomc heavenly good (if Go D fo pleafe) upon the hearts, prc-fcntcd here this day as n felecf^cd and choice number of his worthieft and dearcft friends. And to this end give mc leave to fingle out, and propofc

x^o

Funerall Notes

mte^r'tty in difpofing EC-clefiafiualiU-vinis.

Keftiitttion to the Ckurcb.

for imitation^ fome worthy and noble parts of hisr and only tliofe which I conceive may be moft fea-fonable and fucablc ro the exigency of my Auditory. Ajid I mud alfo crave the aid of your loves unro him,& thofe foftned thoughts of mortality which are wont to attend thefe timesjthat I may convcigh and commend them to your liking and pradice-with more fucceffc and ftronger imprellion. And the firft I fliall commend unto you,is, I. His {ingiilar integrity and honourable pur-pofe in difpofing thofc Ecclefiafticall Livings he hadin his power. And in this Point I my iclfc C2X\ fay more than any, who tafted decplieft of his worthy dealing this way. When I never fought after, asitis famouflyknowne, nor thought upon any fuchthing, hefcnt fbi'me, andbcftowed that which I prefently enjoy moft freely. Which, though every Patron ought proportionably to doe, yet the horrible corruptions abroad m' the world in fuch cafes, doe (asit were) by akind of Antipeiiftafis make a duty atranfccndent vercue. And this was. not all. Though incrochments iip-on the Church belike the breathes of the fef5 a thoufand to one never retume: yet did he reftore to a farthing all that which had a long time beenc dctain'd from the Church 5 and parted with- it raoft freely; though hee had as much wit and .power as any other to have continued it fo, if, he had plcas'd. And I faid Ecclcfiafticall Livings, though I inftance but in ones bccaufe I partly knew hispurpofe for the reft. For, he gave mc hiiufclfe this mcflage to as worthy and reverend a

man^

man, as I know unprefcr'd in this Land 5 that if he would come unto him, he would give him the firftthat fell; and for no other reafon in the world,but bccaufe he heard he was a reverend and worthy man. Now lay thefe things to the pra- smonieaS^ra^ dice ofthe times, wherein there is fuch finfull and ^^fi^' Simonicall packing together, compacfling, fecret covenanting with the party or friends for prefenc money, orafer gratifications: fome part of the tithes, or hisowne muft be referv'd to the Patron, or he muft be the Farmer at his owne price 5 or pin a wife upon the fleeve of the Parfon, as they contemptuoudy Fpeake, (a bafe alfo and unworthy refpecf^) or the like fuch wretched combinations to helpe one another towards Hell: my difac-quaintance muft cxcufe my ignorance in the tcarmes: andthentellme if this was not a noble part in him worthy the imitation of the beft. J am perfwaded in this Poinr,he might be a patterne not onelytoallhereprefcntwhomit might concerne, (though ] look uponthe faces of fome who have d^" alfo very nobly this way) but to all the Pa-troR inEHGLAND. Be pleas'd then you that ^^«'«;^'c/« lov'd him to tread in his fteps herein 5 and the ra- "■'' ther becaufeyour unconfcionablenefle in fo high and important a point forthe glory of G o d, and the good of the Church, may not only bring upon your owne heads, your houfesand pofterity, the curfeof G o n in the mcane time: but alfo a company of poorc foules caft away by reafon of your corruption, againftyou at that laftand great day: who will then cry o!ic upon yoy before the

M face

j^j FunerallJ^etes

face of God, Angels and men; that you were the men who for a httle bloudy gaine pur upon them an ignorant, idle difToIuce, non-rcfidenr^ or fome way unfaithfull Minifter; (For, it is too common, that thofe who enter corruptly , deaJc iincon-fcionably in their places) whereby they mufl now perifh everlaftingly j whereas if you had been honed and uncorrupt, there had been hope they might have liv'd in the endltfTc joyes of Heaven. And what a vexing cry in the cares of all facrilegious Church-robbers'iVill that be of a damned wretch in hell; when he fhall complaine everlaftingly, that his foule had been fav'd,if fuch a man had not been SymoniacalL ^JavdkVth 2- Wis forbearing fravell upon the Sabbath in i^R D 4 day. his Circuit. Whereby he wan a great dealc of ho-iK)ur to his name over all this Kingdome 3 prevailed in the fame with others of his owne reverend ranke; and by his example (as hath bccRc ob-ferv*d) wan much encouragemcntjincreafe and regard to Religion in thofe Countries thorow which he paft. I would I might fo much prevail^irh you, as that upon this occafion you would b^on-tenttotakcneerer to heart a more holy and hca-cw/cietice in vcnly fpcndiflg of the Lo R D s Day. Not onc-^L^'Xfd!^' ly in forbearing fin, the workes of your calling, idlcncllcjvaincfports; this k but onely flying c-vill, and privative good; butalfoto ply with con-fcicncc and reverence all G o d s holy Ordinances > prayer, reading, finging of Pfalmes publike^ ly and privately; the Word preached fpccially, <onfer€nce, meditation)and the like: and to feed

and

and fatisfie your prepared and hungry foulcs with all that fweetnefre,comfort5and fpirituall ftrength; which they arc wont to convcigh into humble hearts upon Go d $ holy Days ^his alfois doing of good and pofitive pictie. For, a thoufand to one, a conftant keeper of the Sabbath is found-hearted towards G ^ d : and as great odds, a common Sabbath-breaker (howfoever he may deceive his owne heart) is intruth and triall a ftran' ger to the power of grace, and life ofgodli-neffe.

3. His patient yeelding, and fubmififion to pri- suimifmto vateadmonition. A vertue, ordinarily as farre out ^]IJ^^' '"^**' with great menjas flattery is familiar. Yet in him foasltell you. Something there was, to which hisprivateaffc;5tion was very much endear'd; and his reputation thereabout in the refpc^ of the world was alfo entangled in forae more publike engagement. And yet when I in zeale ^nd love to his foule and falvation, prefl upon him in private as a Miniftcr of G o d , and in the humbleft manner I c<|jid, tendering myreafons againfl his refoluti-on 5 after he had well thought upon*t, it never went further, all was dafht for ever. Yet let me tell you, he had formerly given me encourage-menthereuntoi intreating me once in private, to deale plainly with him. And now I am griev*d at heart, I did not more in this kind. Now I would toGoD, you would imitate him in this alfo j cfpecially you that are great ones. Alas! You'lc give the Phyfitian leave to tell yon* the difeafes of your body 5 the Lawyer to (liew you any flaw

M 2 that

^^ VfOfimyV^ttotL

" that is in your ftate: your Horfc keeper to tcU

you the furfits of your horfc: ray, your Huntf-manthe furranccs of your dogs: and fliall onely the Miniftcr of G o d not tell you your foules are bleeding to everlafting death i Now God forbid. H'.uflrym ^. Histakinghlshighplacctoheart. Imeanc

Sr^r'^''"^"' his extraordinary induftry and indefatigableneffe in his judiciary imployments. His paiaefulncfle this way waswondcrfullcve-^ after his lal\ ficke-neffe had feaz'd upon him. If I fhould report unto you the particulars from eye witneflfes, you wouldn)arvell. And I rathernamcand commend this unto you, becaufe the contrary is caufc of great mifery in a Common-wealth. Oh it is lamentable, when men mount into high roomes only in a bravery, and vanity, and defire to be ad-or'd above others: or follow the execution of . r their places, and adminiftration of juftice, only l^u^n[b-^h as a Trade, withan unquenchable and unconfcio-^i^esforgaine nablethirft of gainc; which juilifies the common refemblance ofrhc Courts of Juftice to the B|^ij whereunto, while the fheep flyes for defence in weather, he is fure to lofe part of his fleece: when cunning heads hunt after greatneffe and promoti-■ on, purpofely to execute the lufts of their owne hearts, and attaine their own. ends. Oh! this is the curfe and cut-throat ot worthy States: the bane and breake-ncck of all honeft government. Formalities ofjuftice without a reall care and con-fciencetO'fearch the truth, and deale uprightly, dobutfervetofmotherinnocency and right: and

that

that which was neceffarily ordain'd for the common good, is through fhamcfuU abufc made the caufe of common mHery. J would all the Magi-ftrites in the Countrey were my hearers in this Point; I would hence intreatthem with all ear-neftncflc and contention of Spirit, as they love cither G o D or their Countrey; that they would with all noblcnefTe of a free fpirir, and clearehefle ©fagoodconfcicnce, take their Places of Juflice tohcrait; be adive, confcionablc, rcfolute^ not onely formall and cyphers; hunters after praift and plaufiblenclTej that they would abominate even all appearance of bribery and partiality to the pit of hell: that they would not be angry with us when we preflc and perfwade theiji to found courfes againft the Papifts, and dejection of Ale-houfes )Upon which point His royall Majefty, lan^ the worthy Judges fo much beat 5 and when all's *

faid, are the finkes and fources of all villanyj&c. otherwife, howfoevcr they may pleafc thcm-felves with the common applaufc : it were better the Common-wealth had never kn®wnc them. '

5. His refoluteftelTc againft rifingby corrupti- Mvaneement on and bribery. Whereupon (a$ I have heard) nfUhm bribery when he was firft prefented to that place of honour about the Prince, it pleafed our gracious So-veraigne toftilehim the Judge which would give no money. A bleffed thing it were, were this heart in all. Then {hould we not have vines, olive-trees, and figge trees wkhcr away ia ol^fcurity, and brambles brave it abroad in the worlds We

M 3 fhould

«- I

i66 Fu/teraU Nttfs,(i'c,

ihouldnothavefcrvancsby infinuation and bribery clioic onHorfe-backjWhcn Princes like fervants "walkc upon theground. And this worthy Part ia H' m, was a very convenient Companion, and nc-ceiTary Confcquent as that was of the former. For He never belecve,that a man which purpofes from his H[eartto.be fuchfjll in a publicke Charge^will ever be very forward inan ambitious purfuic of it. The illiminationof Nature taught the heathens Co; and thcifore they coademne it by a law Je ambitu. Hunting after one hie roome evea morally is moft unworthy a Maa of honour and worth, and Hec cannot better exprefTe His infufficiency,and weak-neflfc of Spirit, who is tranfported with an impotent and impatient Humour this way. But now if to this ambitious bafeneflc there bee an addition of bribery, it makes the matter a great dealc more * vile, and difhonourable.Of thishatcfuU Merchan-

dizing,befides other infamies and iniquitics,which mingle with it,it is commonly faid,That He which liveth in grofle/cUeth by retailc. And therefore if a Man would continue truly Noble and Worthy, comfortable in His confcience,and faithful! in His Place, if Hcbcadvanc't, ht him either rife fairely, orctfethankeGo D,and be content with His prcfent ftation. t^fjuhlr4> 6. An cafinefTe of acceflfc, affableneflTe of car-%iiy, riagc: A faire,,loving, kind deportment towards

all. J never faw a man of fuch worth and great-neflc lookc more mildly upon a raeane Man in my life. And yet with fo grave a prefencejthat ncithcf the wchori^ of his Perfon^ nor due attributions

to His Place rccciv'd any difparagcment or diminution. I omit not even this, becaife even in this alfo He might have beene a notable Precedent to talcc downe the haughty imperious carriage of many a^ broad in the world of tarre more inferiowr Worth and Ignoble birth. For amongft all the degenera- g^c «<»):/ •% tions of our gentility \ (I fpeakc not of all, we have ad £acm* many truly fo called and woithy Gentkmcn)from that true NoblcnciTe and Ancient Worth, which dwelt formerly in the Gentle brefts of Englifh Nobles, this is not the leaft; That they thinke to beare downe all before them with an artificiall ^f-fcded impetuoufneffe, as it were of Countenance j a difdainefuU negled and contemptuoufncs in their Carriage, with a kind of outbraving and brow-beating of their Bretheren, As though brave Apparell andabiglooke were demonftrations of a Noble Spirit, whereas very often they only guild over a worthlcfle, weake and gracelcs Infide. As amongft Profeffors of Religion, Hee's the bcft Chriftian, which is moft humble: fo in the Schoole of Morality hec hath beene holden the trueft Gentleman, which is moft courteous.

7. Hishappineffcin having Religious Follow- ReUgiout m-^ crs. Follow Him alfo in this. Heetaftedthe f^i^'inu-fruit of it in his laft extremities; Forbeingcaftby Gods Providence upon that Place in the Country where He had not fuchmcanes, and oppomnities for thofc laft comfortable Spiritual! Afi'ftances, which a dying man would aefirc : They were both ablcand did pray with Him to the Occafion, and prcfent necdTities^whercwithhc fceaicd to be

M 4 much

muchaffcded,and fpoke feafonably unto Him out of the Bookc of G o D. Whereupon ] muft tell you 5 (Let as many prophanc fcorncfull Spirits gybeorgnaih the Teeth at it, aswill) Thofe Followers of His whofoever they vverc,call them Pu-ritanes,or what you will 5 Howfoever they might miffe in fome complcmcntall circumftances, by reafon of thofe amazements and griefc which fate fte/li upon their Heaits for the lofTe of their fo Noble a Lord,yet they did Him in thofe laft Agonies more true fervice and Honour then all the fwaggc-ring Good-fellow Serving men will doe their Mailers unto the worlds end: Let them follow you, as long as you will, tioveofpmer- ^' ^ right conceit and commendation of pro-fuupnathing, fitable and confcionable Sermons. He hath beene often heard of late times reply thus or in this fence to contradi<5lions: ] cannot tell, faies He, what you call Puritanicall Sermons 5 they come ncercft to my Confciencc, and doe Mee the moft good. This ofall the reft, I had purpos'd to have prcft moft upon you. If you were but thus aflfeded, ta fay theleaft; you would begin to looke towarils Heaven.But J have already trefpaft too much upon your Patience. And therefore I conclude this Point with that of PW, fhil./\ s 8. Fm^U'j , Ixt*

A SER-

'iJ'>vJ

V^

yj o'.-J mnr'

A

SER

PREACHED AT

LE3\(T' Assises^ ^Jnno Domm,MDCXXX.

At J\(9rthampton^ before Sir

RICHARD HVTTON And

Sir GEORGE CROOKE,

H« Majefiies luflkes of A^i[e,&c* TEXT. iCoii.Chap.I.Ver.25. Far Brethren, you feeyeur calling, hew not mAny wife men After thefleflh ftPf many mighty, not many noble are called,

H E blefTed Apoftle Saint rbc coimne*, Paul pcrceivingjthat his preaching, and plantation of the Gofpcllof C H R I s T received ftrong and mighty oppo-{itionintheCityofCm>?^/',d corinti itfctv-Ufancious Marc Towne, feared ^^^ bctwccnctwo Scas^thcifij^^^wand lmm,^A£o fit

for

lyo A SERMON.

for commerce with otha* Nations, full of wealth, knowledge, gloiy and the reft of caithly excellencies, labours in this Chapter to abafe, and di-(honour the pride, and vanity of all humane great-nelTe, and to advance the ncgle»^ed Myftery of his Heavenly Do<^rine,and the glorious power of downe-riehc preaching, which the great men a-mongft them efteemed fooliflineffe, yet indeed fuch as by which the Lord of Heaven and Earth favcth thofe thacbeleeve. And hee fo farrc acquaints them with the counfellofGo d in the point: that he gives them to underftand that upon the m atter,whereas thnoble, the mighty ^and wifi^ after the fie flu with all the bravery and fclfe-confi-dencc vanifh and pcrifli: Meaner men of lower ranke,and more contemptible are converted. In the words I read unto you hee appealcs to their owne experience in the point,and bids them lookc about,and view well, the workc of the Miniftcry araongft them, furvcy, and fearch throughly that

foodly flourifhingbody of the Church, which he ad there created, and colleded by his eightecne months prefence, and paines: and they fhall finde, that not many wife nfttr theflefh, nor mighty,nor m-hie, gave their names unto Christ, or became profeflbrs of the Gofpell. Butthe fbolifh, and weake things of the world carry all away in matter of falvation, and entertainemcnt of C H R I ST. He renders two Reafonsinthe Uer-fes following : i. That the wife men of the wo rid may be confounded: 2, And that God himfclfcblcffcdfor ever may have all the glory

The

The words then being plainer Npt tnany mfe mat

dfter theflefh , mt many mighty , mt m4Jiy mble arc^

sdUedy I build dirc(aiy, and naturally this point

«pon them: Fev;>greai mengoe to BtAven : Or "DoUr'tne,

thus. Gnat men are feldemt good, I here under- %"*^'^^l ^^''

ftand grcatncffe according to the world; In re- "^^'^

fpea I. Of exGcllent learning. 2.Worldly weakh ^^^^^'^'^^'"^'

and height of place. Both make mighty,nay many "

limes gold is the more powerfull commander.

5. Worldly honour and nobiUty, 4. Worldly

wifedome.

GreatncfTe in any of thefe kinds is rarely accompanied with goodnefle/ew fuch great men as thefe arc called,converted or ever come to heaven. J fay Few: for I find Divines, both Ancient, and Mo- ' i" Loc. dernc upon this Text, to make iV(?rw4»y, and Fet^ n^^'tpkuTs cquivolent: * PrimaJius,andxyif9felme,C4lvipj and damnantw .-

f>ifc4tOI^^ ita nee omnci,

•' qui e vul^o

fnnt.falvantur. Scd qui agnitionc fuar inrfignitatis humiliantur, reverentcrfc fubj'iciunt vcrbOjdcChnftummEvaugelioamplcauncur; Hi r<lwntur, five fint ex pnmoribus, five ex vulgi faecc.Sed lUud fieri in plunbiis ex vulgOain paiicioribus verb cxfapientibuil Chriftns af!irmat. *

For proofe of the point:

Firft by Scripture :Looke upon fuch places as thefe.

I. (^'tatth', 11.25, 16, i^t that time J e s v s '^^^ «»»m«. MMfvereJ, andfdd, I thanke thee o Father, Lord **^*"''*''' ofheaven and earthy hecaiifetho'A haft htd thefe tkngs ftim the mfe oftdfrtde: t, and haft revealedthem unto labes. Evenfr, Fathr,firfi ti ftemei'geod in thy fight- Christ who knew full well the bo-fome of his Father, calti i_^ Wis eye ferioufly upoa the condition of his followers, and fruit of his

Miniflery:

Miniftcry; and feeing the Scribes, Pharifecs, and great ones of the world,n6t onely not entcrtainc, and countenance, but out of their proud and pro-phane malice difdaine, and eontemne rheglorious Gofpell, and divine Meilages he brought from Heaven ; and a company ofpqore fifhcrmen, and fome few other neglcded underlings with an holy violence lay hold upon his Kingdome: He brake out into this thankful! acknowledgement and ad-niiration. Ithmkethee^ 0 Fat her, Lord of BeA-, vcn and earthy bee mfe thou hafi hidthefe thingsfrtm the wife and f rude Jit ^arid revealed them to babes: And then afccnds to the wdl-head, and firft moover of all his Dealings withj and differences amongft the Sons of men j the facredand unfearchable depth of this ivJhidct BerJeplacitum, the goodfleafure of his mil : Even fo Father, for fo it feemed good in thy fight. In an humble adoration of the infcrutable, and immutable courfes whereof we muft finally, and fully reft with infinite fatisfadion, filenccd from any further fearch,and carnall curiofities, by' that awful I checke, and countermaund of Paul .• Ilom.9.20. Nay but 0 C^ian^ vfho art thou that ref lief againfl GOD? Flefh and bloud hath in alj ages grumbled and repin'djkickt and cavil'd aboutthis point 5 but ever at length by meafuring.this deepcft Myfteric by the line of humane reafon, and labouring to fa* thomethisbottomeleflcfea by the pride of their owne wits, they have become wretched oppofers of the grace of G o d , We behold the Sun, and enjoy die light> as long as we look towards it but tenderly, and circumlpcdly : Wee warme our

fclvcs

felves fafely,while we ftand necre the fire.Butifwc fccke to outf ice the one, or enter into the other, we fonhwithbecome blinde, or burnt. It is propor-tionably in the prefent point.

Heere by the v^ay from our Saviours words Grumble not at wee may extiaa: a foveraigne Antidote againft ^^f^'J/^^^J^ thofe temptations, and difcontcnted leafonings which are wont to arife in our hearts fometimes, when we fee thofe great ones of the world, who looke fo big^and carrie their heads fo high, not onely to carry all before them, to wallow, and tumble themfelves with all bravery and ap-plaufe in the glory, wealth, andpleafurc of the world, to fwimme downe the current of the times with full faile, and profperous winde, though many times againft the fecret murmur, and counter-blafts even of their owneConfciences. In a word, inthefe worft times to have what they lift, and doe what they will: but alfo lay about them with the fift of wickcdneflfe, and fcourge of tongues, to trample if it were poflfible the Jambes of Christ even into the duft, with the feete of malice and pride, by a plaufibletyranny, and aide ofthe times iniquity to keepe them downe ftilJ, and ftill in difgrace: hunting them continually with cruelty and hate like a Partridge in the mountaines, as the Pharifecs did C h r i s t : I fay when we fee this, let us never be troubled and take offence: let us never be grieved or grow dif-content or out of heart. But pitty them, pray for them, and poflelTe our owne foules in patience, and peace. And after the preccdcncie of our bleffed l^J/''^''^'

Saviour,

A SERMON.

AdnireGods love to thee.

lohn 7^.47,48. expounded Zxttmple of ^reat ones dra»ei ma'y axvay

Mat.7.29w Luk.4. 38.

Saviour, goe in private, and fay: / thanke thec^ O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth j becaufe thou hafi revealed zhcWiydcrks of Christ, and fc-cretsofthe faving way to mc a poore wretch, and wormc, trodcn under foot as an object of fcorne, and contemptible out-cafl, and haft hi^i them from the rvrfe, and the noi/le^ and the mighty .♦ from the boy fterous Nimreds, and proud Giants of the world. Even fo Father,forfo it feemed good in thjfight. And there ftaying a while, ever magni-fie, admire and adore with lowlieft, humbleft and moft thankeflill thoughts that deareft and drcad-fuU Depth of G o D s free and incomprchenfibic love which made thee to dijfer. Which is as it were the firft ring of that golden chaine, Rom,S> 2p, 30. which reacheth from evcrlafting to cverlaftin'g, and gives being, life, and motion to all the mcanes that make us eternally blefled. Out of the rich, and boundleflctreafury whereof, came that inefti-mable Jewell Jesvs Christ bleffed for c-vcr, and by confequent, all thofe Heavenly happi-nefles which crowne the glorified Saints through all eternity. For Jo God loved the worldj thathc^ gave his onely begotten Sonne, that rvhofoevcr heleeveth in him Jhould not ferifl), bt4t have e^erlafitng lifc^y Toh.^, 16.

2. lohnj.^j,^^. Areyeealfodeceived^ hare any of the Rulers, or Pharifees belecvedon himf Here the chiefe Priefts and Pharifees boyling with much envie and indignation aeainft C H R I s T s preaching, ( for he prczchcd tvith fower^ Midmt ai the Scribes) And becaufe the people

pkfo flocked after him, (for there followed him ^^'^''^^' great multitudes of people) had Cent oi'ficers to apprehend him, and bring him before them. Who when they came to him, and heard him preach, they were fo ftrucke and aftonifhed with the moft piercing Majeftie of his Minifterie, that they had no power to lay hands or hold upon him at all. Upon their returne, thefe great men ga^ thcred together in counfell againft him; like fo many morning Wolves thirfting eagerly for his blood, calls haftily, and impatiently unto them, before their officers could fay any thing: W^j have^ecfiOtbrmghthim ? They doe not examine them about his dodrine, or inquire whether he be guilty or no: but like unjuft, and tyrannicall wretches they labour to lay hold upon him, though moft innocent, to ftop his mouth, and make him fure. But the officers anfvpered: Never wa»[pake Itke this maff» Whcrupon the fpirit of prophane malice being yet further enraged in them, they reply: K^reye alfe deceived ^^ What^ At e you turned Gofpellcrs too:* Will yec alfo gad with the giddy multitude after this new Ma-^Qt.&C': And then being frighted leaft they fliould fall from them, goes about to take them oS with a . veryfoolifliarguracBt, faith r^<f^^/74^ (though fil^f^hclfh the Minor would be true, and is thefincw of my proofe ) Have any of the Rulers or of the fhmfees he- fnit tiindeth leevedorthim? Alas' No. They arc fo blinded '*«»^'"'^-withanopinion of their devout, and deeper learning, fopuft up with the pride of their high places, fo fwolne with fclft-conccitcdnciTc of their

own

owne formes and falfe gloflfes, and fo poffeft with

prejudice againft the fpiricualland heavenly Dod^-

rineof C H r i s T.'tiiatthe very PuUicavs and Har-

Mat.2i. 31. lotsgoeimo the Kingdomz efGon before them: That

iswhentliey goe not. jie ivord And thus it is in all ages of the Church: There

mi'^''' is a Lea-jre I will fuppofe. To which many of the meaner fort efpecialiy, refort for fpirituall food, as to the Market for corporal!. Some of which happily wrought upon by the faving influence of that Miniftery, begins to blefTe God for the benefit, and magnifie his mercy for fuch meanes: but fome By-ftanders, like peftilent op-pofitesinterpofe; yea but which of the great men of the Countrey come to it, when do you fee any of the Nobles, Knights, or Gentlemen there i No, alas! They are afraid of hearing of their finncs, being made Melancholicke, and to be tormented before their time: and therefore they moft wretchedly ntglecifo great fdvatiort, forfake their owne mercies, and judge themfclves unworthy ofeverlaftinglife. Bosvling-greenes^ gaming-hou-fes, horfe-races, hunting-matches : Their curs, and their Kites: their cock pits, and their cove-toufncfTe, 01' fomething doe too often eat up and devoure thatblefTedfat, and marrow oftime, thofc golden, and goodly opportunities, which God in great mercy affords them in the Miniftery, to make thcii pe> ce with him before they goe into

Repmanc, too ^^? P^^' /"^ ^'^ ^^^^"^ '^^ J^^'-^' l^' O"^. ^ourc late. wncrcot-, to ncarc but one Sermon after the irreco-

vcrublc day of vifitation is pail and expired, they

would

would be content to live as prccifcij and morafi-cdlyascver man did upon earth (o long as the world lafts, but it fhall nor be granted. A rhoii-fand worlds will not purchafe it againe. And be-fidcs,when your foules fhall (ben furioufly rcflccfl upontheivownewilfull folly in this refpe<5^, and the woefull mifery they have brought upon them-fclves thereby: it will (harpen infinitely the bi-tings of the never-dying worme, and torment more horribly than ten thcufand Scorpions flings. Remember this (I pray you) all ye that forget God: before that wrath be kindled in hisbofome agaiaft you, which will burne unto the very bottome of Hell, and fet on fire the foundations of the moun-taincs: before Hee gird about Him thofe arrowes which will cirwke bhud^ and that/ivWwhich will eatfleP',md comeagaifffiyct*{?.sthc Prophet fpeaks) like a beare robbed of her rvhelpes, and rent the very caule ofyoi4rhearts-,mdtearejottinfeec€Sywhefi thereis ncm to helper,

^. Nehem, 3. 5. But their Nobles fut n$t their Heh<i.j.j.px-neckesto the werke of the ho k d. Others (as you pomded may fee in that place) were induftrioufly bufic in ^^ch^^fto building up the wals, and repairing the holy City, gochbingf. for the wonted worfhip and iprvice of their G o i>, but the Nobles would do juft nothing. And thus it hath beene in all times, - and is juft fo in our dayes. Meanc men many times contribute very liberally, andftrrc above their ability to the procurement and maintenance of a profitable and powerfull Miniftiy; but the rich, worldly-wife, and gentlemen thereabouts, will not part with a

N penny

penny for any fuch holy purpofe. Such great men asthcfe will by no meanes put their ncckes, their power, and their purfcs to any fuch blefTed worke of the Lord: though it be for the ere(5^ing of the KingdomeofJ esvsChrist amongftthem; for the illumination and refrefliing of a darke and barren place with the light of the GofpelI,and waters of life, where both their ownc foules, and many more about them are ftarving and bleeding to cternall death for want of heavenly Food and minifteri.all helpe. Nay, too many of them detaining the Churches Patrimony, will neither re-/lore it to the proper native ufe and end : nor (which is very lamentable) parr with a little portion of a large revencw in that kinde towards a competency. Before you receive encouragement to go on in this courfe with comfort, I pray you procure us (from your partakers,if there be any fuch) Anfwcrs Co thofe many learned Treatifes extant upon this argument, and(for any thing I know) utterly unanfwered : cfpecially, M^ Bepyiardsy D. Sclatersy and D* Fields. I know well fomc excellent fpirits of late meerely out of the gracious freenelTef of their truely noble difpofidons, to their great honour, and adorning profcflfion, have given backeto the Church for ever (I meane nothing about buying in Impropriations, oneof the moft glorious workesin that kinde(for any thing I know) that ever was undertaken in this King-dome) divcrfc Church-livings, fomean hundred pound fer amnm, fome fix or fevcn fcore, fome threcfcore,fomc morcj fomany as anaounc to the

value

value of above feven hundred pounds ycarcly. But I muft tell you alfo^thcy areonely.fuch as you mif^ call Puritan-gentlemen (for I neither heare nor know of any other that ftirs this way)and how few fuch are to be found in a Countrey, every ey e fpi-rirually illightened may clearely fee,and heartily bewail e. ForJ mcane none but fuch as are(in true fearch and cenfure) Gods bed fcrvants^^nd the Kings beftfubjeds.

I come in a fecond place to make the Point ap-peare yet further by reafons. And firft,fuch as are peculiar to the feverall forts of greatncfTeMlI which (once for all)I undeiftand Cuchfecuua'um mundum, fecundum hominemjecundum e^nsm,accorMng to the rvorldj^ccordingtewaniaccordingtotheflefli. i r rj

And firft for excellency of learning underftood ii^^^^^ ^^^^ ftill afta* the flcfli, implied alfo by the Apoflle in this place : as appeares by the former words : where is the S crikly? Where is the Di/puter of this mrld? Where are the learned Rabbins of the Jewe^^ Where are the profound Philofophers of the Gentiles 1 Let us takenoticc that learning of it felfe is ,a very lovely and illuftrious thing, which made Mnea4Silvim in his Epiftle to St^if 7?iUfjdDvi\iCof^uBri4y(zy,lftheface even ofhtt-mane learning could be feene^it is fairer and more heatt-tifuII then the UHorning or the Evening-fiarre. But notwithftanding bent the wrong way, and fpent upon private and pernicious ends, it becomes the fowleft fiend the DivcU hath upon earth, and his mightieftagcnt todoeaworldofmifchicfe. No Dcgencrado corruption is worfc tbafi of that which is beft ^p^^^'fA'"**

N 2 mif-

mif'imployed.-lt is of vvofullconfequence,proportionable to its native worth. And the longer and more profperoufly it is imployed as an inftrument of all,and in the fervice of Satan ever the more pe-ftilently, which is for my purpofe, doth it harden and enrage the heart againft nil means of graccthe Bafe endi in powet ofgodhnefTcjand poflibility ofconverfion. jieki.^ ham- Secondly, men ofthis world for the moft pare ^^' inthc atainemcnt and excrcife of learning and

knowledge propofe to themfelves, and finally reft upon many baftard, bafe, and degenerate ends: asjplcafureofcurioiity, quiet ofrefolution, refining and raifii>gthe fpirir^ability of difcourfe^vi (fiery of wit, gaine of pyofeflion, ornament, and reputation, inablementfor imploymcntandbufi-nefTe. The true ends of Thuswhereas variety and depth of know-leamrg. ledge fhould properly and principally ferve to prepare5fit,and fiirnifiithe foulewherein it is feat-ed: Firfi:, fora higher degree, and a greater mea-fureoffandification in it felfe; Secondly, to doe God more excellent and glorious fervice : Thirdly, ro doe more nobly in E^hratha^ and bee moreftmousin Bethlehem: I meane, by an edifying and charitable influence to illuminate and better all about them ,* The moft learned men havethefe worldly ends, and comply exadly with the world: hunting onely after by their knowledge, and afpiring towards (as their utmoft aimes)certainerecondprizes: asthoughthey laboured onely by their learning to finde (as one laics well:) amtch xvhereupntorefi, afearching

and

and a refllejfejftrit: or 4 tarrafifir a wandring and variable mind,to rvalks up an.d dorvne rvith afaire pro-jpeif: or a tower of ft ate, for a^roudrKitidto raife it kl/e nvomor a fort or commanding ground for ft rife and coritcntion : or a pop for profit or fale: and not a rich ftcre-hufc for the glory of the Creditor ^ and t he reliefc_j of mans esiatc. And fo by the abufe and mifapply-ing of it, they put theii great engine, very power-full cither for excellency of good,or excefic of ill, asittakes, into theDivels hands for the enlarging and advancement of hiskingdomc; andturnethe cdgeofittothe dangerous hurtoforhersrand fo by confequent and by accident, it prooves a mighty barre to kccpe Christ and His Kingdon>e out of their hearts.

Let me in a word by an inftance intimate unto you the traines and temptations to which they cx-pofe thcmfelves, the fn^res and cuifes which they incurre, who bend their abilities of learning, clo-fing with the corruptions of the time, to raife and enrich themfclves:thc two maine ends of the moft in thefe covetous and ambitiousdaies.

Firft, there is a plant in the nurceries of litera- ^"f^c^l^^^^f'^ turcofgreatexpetoionand hope: which being watered,and warmed at the well-heads of Academical! learning,and with the fruitfull heat of Polemical! cxcrcifes and agitations in the Schooles, wherein the true worth and excellency of a Schol-let confifts, growes lipe and becomes remarka-' He; fo that hee heares after him in the flreets a fe-cret murmuring: This is the wan: Dignum eft mon-ftrartcr cJ* dicier Hif elf: Now by this time he be-

N 3 gins

r$2 A SERMON.

gins to reflsifi with the eycof fclfe-lovc5and many vainc-glorious glaunces upon his perfonall worth and publikcapplanfe: and then cafts about what conrfcto take. Gods principle and path is: Jc is better to be good, than great 5 religious, than rich: And therefore He would have him imploy and improove all his naturall and acquired en-dowmcntsj all the powers and poflibilities of body and foule upon His glory and fervicethat gave thera, and where they are more thaa infinitely due. And that when the good hand of divine providence fhall bring him to any place for the exer-cifeofhis gifts and minifteriall imployment, hcc would there fpehd himfelfe(like a fhining and bur-ninglampe) in the illumination and falvation of Go n s people: and fo hercz^cv Jhinsas the bright-neffe of the firmament in the highcft heavens, and as thefiarresfor ever and ever .^zy, (faiesthe Divell) that's a rowre,ftriA,precire way : Jt is not meet, that fuch admired cminency of learned parts fhould bee confined to fuch obfcurity, that fuch rare gifts and depth of knowledge fhould bee loft upon high flioes, and amongft a number offudc, ignorant, and uncapable clownes: and therefore hce labours to raife his fpirit to higher hopes: and would have him plunge prcfently into the current of the times ,and become fomc body in the world. Hereupon (his heart already raviflitwiththeplea-fing apprehenfion of worldly glory and humane greaEnefre,rcprcfented by Satan in the moft alluring formes to his ambitious imagination) hcc rc-folvcs fcarcfuUy againfthisownc foulc, to follow

the

the ftreamc, to ply the prcfem,and plot all mcanes and waiesof preferment: after which ordinarily every ftep towards an high roomc, or to bee hafti-ly rich, is a fnare and curfc unto hinn: and therefore at the height, hcc muft needs bee holdcn fail in the clurchesof Saran. He now begins upon all £^',3^^^^^ ,r occaiions to difclaimc all things that tend to pre- hi^b alvanw circntflrc,and in his deportnient drawes nearer to »*»'• goodfellowfliip; he remits and interrupts his care and conftancy in ftudy, and ftudies how ro under-ilrand the world, negotiate for advancement, and humour the times: He merily derides 'DoEHnt^ and v[et as thc;^ fccffingly call it: all edifying plainenefTe zndfficltfhfieffe of preaching: and now he digs with much adoe perhaps a whole quarter ofayearcinrothe rottendung-hillsofPopifli Po-ftillcrs, and phantafticall Friers, and from thence patches together many gayiih and gaudy flircds of painted babies, and frothy conceits and tricks of . , . wit; and at length comes out with a fclfe-feeking semons. ^Sermon: juft hkc that difcourfc which King Jams s compares to a cor ne-field in harveft, pc-ftered with red and blew flowers; which choakc and eat up all the good graine.For,hc well knows this is the way to ingratiate himfelfc into the times and gntific thofc great ones who defire farre more to have their eares tickled, than their confciences toucht^ and would rather have pil-lowes fowed und«rtheir :*rmc-holes by fueh deceiving daw bcrs, that they may lie more fofrly upon the bed of fecurity 5 than the keenc arrowes of righteoufncffc and truth faftncd in their fides

N 4 by

by Gods faithfuU meflengers to drive them to finceriry: and yet after this, hee muft fcrve his time in ferving the times: and through many mi-feries of fecular martyrdome,as Teter Blefenfu cals it,and many fhipwracks of a good confcience, by bafcneiTejflatteringjattending, depending,and undoing his foule. At laft(ifhc die not in the purfuit, as many have done ) bcfides all thefe precedent miferable meanes,by prefent fimony, or fome o-ther vile fervices : hee comes into fome high place, or at leaft becomes a negligent non-refi-dent, orinfatiablepluralift. Which wicked] entrance being accompanied with G o d s curfe, his heart already fo hardened,his minifteriall ftrength and vetne of learning fo wafted and dried up by difcominuancc, defuetude, and worldly dealings ; having now attained his ends, hee drownes him-felfe over head and cares either in fecular bufi-nelTes or fenfuall plcafures to muffle up the mouthof his horribly guilty confcience : cries downe preaching, oppofcth the power of god-HncfTe and fo becomes rather a wolfe than a flbcp-heard. Kichenhaiie i In a fecoridplace.The rich Worldling alfo is in t e ivorcL. ^-wocRilIcafc this way,as appeares by Chris f s-6wncwords,cJW4f//>.ip.25>24. which is further confirmed by cafting our eyes upon Luke i6.i/^, and iTim.6.9» Luk.iSnig, ^^ndthe Pharifees whichwere covetom heard aH thefe thtn;^s, and derided him. And what heard they from Chri st ^ ThatitwasimpoflTibleto fervc Go d and Mam-mon.Sothat there are fome pafTagescvcr Tn a faith-full

full and fearching miniftcrie, which covetous worldlings dcridcjand will pot down with by any meancs^butrefolutely reject in their carnall wife-dome as veryfoolifb, unneceffary»p]jecife, and no waiestobe given way unto. E-fpecially fuch as thefe. I. That they muftrcftorewhatfoever they ^^ardnJt s<7. have any waies gotten, or.dctaine wrongfully and ^(?«f. wickedly. 2. That they niuft rathe?: themfelves ftarvc,and leave their children in be^ery> than put their hands to atiyunlawfull waycs or meanes ofgetring: fo much as to tell a lie, ^tf-. 5. That godllnejfeis greaf game, and that it is incomparably bettertobereligious than rich, good than great, 4. That there isa life of faith which will kcepe a manrin fweet contentment in any eftatc, fhoulcth?^.bee,never fo poore. 5. That 7^^ was truly richer with Christ alone^than wlien b^fom lie.was loaden with aboundance of thicke clay. 6, That riches arc nothing, Proverhes 2 3.5V Wihthoufet thine eyes ufon thaP whichis not^'j.'Xh.m. they rauft leaveall for C h r i s t.B. That if they part with all for him, they fliall bee recompen-ced an hundred fold in this lij?.. 9, That if they had no lecompence at all in this world, yet the reward that they fhall have in the world to come, willbcca fup'eraboundant recdrfi-p pence.

Notwithftanding thefe fatisfa<5lory^nd uncontrollable principles, they mil k rich in the Apo-ftles fenfe •, after they have gottert a golden heapc, will bccmorc rich ftill: and therefore are cSifily tcmptcdutito, and taken in the fnarc of that cxc-Az^-y-->6^>— crabte

crable ani moll abhorred crddfe of ufurf. ]n the rfmy taxed. ^^^^^i^ whcrcofthcy ftill negotiate with the Di-vell, and receive all their incrcafc at the Divclls bands: and therefore how is it poifiblc they ihouidturnfconGo D s fidc^ And that ufufers trade with the Divell,and have their ufurious mo-Haw. F#/t. ney from him. Heare the judgement of the mm,i7p^.u churchofEH g l a t^ d, to whieh ordinarily all Miniftersfubfcribe; rertly fi mmj m wcriAfi^ themfclves by ufurjy&c They Joavc thetrgctds if the Vivels gift. Heare alfo the judgement of the State even of the King, the Nobility, ^nd the whole Bpdy-of the Kmgdomein Parliamcntj and in that Stkute whence ufurers take very falfly fome encouragement, as though it were allowed; which is moft untrue. Thefe are the words in ihc Begm-» tyEiilcap.s. niilg of the Statute: Forjtfruch^AS u/t^fkm^ firhidden ky the Uw of Co i>iU dfme^AnddmJtA-

blc ^c, ^angtr^fbigh * VhirdIy,thoughanhighplaccbc holdeninthe

^ . falfeopinionofvainemen,the oncly heaven up--

on earth: yet in truth^and upon tiiall, by acci-' dent it prooves S5tans fureft hold to hamper ihern ln4iis ftrongeft and moft inextricable fnares,untill he tumble them hence with a more defperare and headlong downefall into the pit of hell. For, as thofe of trueft woith are ever timerous, and moft retiring in fuch cafes 5 lo the word men ordman-ly arc moil ambitious and afpiring. Gonfider for V the puipofc the usambitious modclty and mag-

^^"^^'' nanimityofthc olive-tree, fig-tree, and the vine:

butthe bafc and worthlcfrebrambk,adry,cmpty,

faplcuc

fapleffc kex and wce4i,apr and able only to fcratch, ccare,and vexc, nnuft needs be up and be hoi/cd into an high roome,and domihecre over othci's.Mcn of mod proftitutcd confciences arc for the moft partthemoft pragmaticall prowlcrsafter undefer-ved preferments-'and the only mentofervc ihem-{c\vcsvijs(jrwodff, (as they fay) into offices,honours, and places of advancement. For,thcy,want honeft wit to conceive and fore-fee the waig/it of thecharge,and confcience to difchargc it faithfully .Now then, where there is a concurrence of corrupt times,a wicked wit,a wide confcience, and a vaft gluttonous defire to domineerei What will not be done to attaine their ends f They will not fticketolie, difltmble, breake their words, for-f\veare, machiavellize, prai^ife any policy or counterpolicy to honeftie, rcafon, religion,to flatter, raife afadHon, humour the times, fupplam compeiitors, gratifiethe Divell, doe any thing. We may proportionably conceive the malignity of inferiour ambitions by the monftroufneffc of higher afpirations.' Ntixvwhc hath iHt ohferv^d (faith that learned Knight in his freface t$ the Hifiery, of the X90fld) x$hdt labour^ fracticeyfertB, hh»d-Jhed^ and cruelty the Kings and? tinees eft he Vf9rldhavt un^ dergene, extrdjed-, taken en them t$ make themjelves and their iffites mafterstfthe world? — oh bj what fUts.hy pfhasferfwearings^hetrxyingSyOffrepcns, im. prijonments, t^rtures^pcyfintngf,and under what rU^ fomofStAt€yandf9litickefmhtiky hofve thefe ftrt-na^ med Kings,(^c. By this time thcfe men by thcfc mcancsare mounted (I will (uppoie) on horfe-

back«^^

* • hackeufldhavTleftmany Brihccs "vfralking iis fcr-^ vants upon the earth : And folly is ict in great dignity. And what then c'Then do they begin fo to fwell with pride, untill they arc ready to burft sgaine with over weening of thcic owne worth, (elfc-opinionandfelfe-eftimation : and to toylc cxcreaftiely with revcngfull inward indignation a-gainft all good men: whofc hearts ( as they conceive) and their confcicnces tell them (there was juft caufc) did rife againft their growing great and ri(ing. Being -thus empoyfoncd at the firft entrance with pride, felfeconcciptednefTe, prejudice, revengcftjll jealoufies, and other exorbitant and bafc diftcmpers,they begin to confider and rep folve how to behave themfelvcs in their new pur-chafed place. Andwee muft know there is too Nemo 'iiru much truth in that principle of policy in Tacittu .•, •um^flaaTtF"'" ^^"^^^^j<^^^ ^^^^ hjghroome wrmifdly, a^td »/»-qux fitum b®- worthily: hut he excrcis'dhis^orver andauthortty wic-c*cu1"h7?'^" ^^^h^^^^'^i^fih' They therefore pitch pvefently "/>^.4i7.* ^ * uponfuch conclufions as thcfc; Wee will plea-fure our friends, though wee prey upon the pub-h'ke, or pinch fome peevifh precifc feliowes, whichcan well bearc it: we will plague our ene-miesjweemuftaboveall, manage matters with a fitcorrefpondency to accomplifh our owne ends 5 cfpeciallyto enrich our felves, raifc our kindred, make way to rife hi^cr5andgreaten our poficri-ty 3 wcmuft looke big, and fomctimes amaze the multitude with fome ads of awfulincfic and ter-rour,to procure and preferve fefpcd/eare, and all attribut ions proper to our place: and let mec xcU

you

A SERMON.

youby'thcvvay5 Beethatfufpedhthhisownewcrtb, or other mem opimsn^ thinking that lejje regard is had 9fhispcrfori, thdn hee belscves is due to his place, holds itgoodiobc'jtofpcnd all the force of his authority in furchdfr,:g the name of 4 fevere man. For^ the affelUd fo^rentffeofavaim feUorvdoth many times refemhlc^ the gravity of one th^t is wifcandihefeare v?herin they live which are fuhjecf to opprejstony carries a flierv of reverence to htm that does the rvrmgiat leaf it firves to dazzle the eyas of underlings, keeping them from prying into the wcaken^feofftfch as hAvejurisduHon over them-^ crc, Beiidcall this, menin great place arc liable and exposed daily to moc and Wronger temptations, th:m men of lower ranks.Honour>wealth, worldly reputation, earthly favours,c^'<^. are Sa-tansfnarestocntangleandtiethem fafter to their fooles paradife and admired folly; and as golden fetters, to chainethem unmoveably to their noble flavery.

Secondly,great men are for the moft part (and flattery danger it is oneoftheirgreateft miferies) foinclofed and bcleager'd wirh"flatterers>the bafeft of riavcs,with fycophants, falfe-hearted followers, felfe-feckersj c^r.that very hardly (ifatall)can any honcft man ox^mhMl Micaiah haveacccire,conic nearcthcm, or at any time bee heard with patience^ cfpccially either to tell them the truth,or wifely and humbly reprove them for their faults.

Thirdly ,thofe that are verft in ftory ihall findc many and many a time this property put upon men in high place; to bee throwne into the grave or from their grcatncffc, is both one to them. For

foft>

tCUA.

Great ones lilft t9faU.

Mallear cadcrc quatn Ioc» ce« dere.

ipn . ASERMON.

firftjthey fo delight in domineering, and dote upon their high roome as their deareft Idoll : And withall they know full well, that as in narurall privation there is no returnc to habit, fo it is very rarely feene in the privation politique,and point of prefermentithat they would even rather die, than DC dejeded.

Lay now thefct\vo points together: and count all the fnavcs from which poorer and private men byreafonoftheir meaner condition arc happily exempted: And no marvell though not many migh. ^jjcither in heapcs of wealth, or height of places, be converted jor goto heaven. wofUiy wife. In the fourth place: whataftrong hold for the dtmdangeroM powers ofhcll, and mighty barre to keepe out grace, worldly wifedorae is; may appeare by taking notice of the nature of it, and fo of its noto-rioufly peftilent properties. This wifdome of the flcfbfpringing from the principles of carnall rea-fon, and precepts of humane policy, and recei-ving continuall influence and inftigation from that old wily ferpent to go on ftill in his and the worlds wayes,dothwitha proud difdainfullnelTe and imperious contempt fcornc the great myfteries of godlincfTc, fooliflincffe of preaching, fimplicity of the Saints, and fociety of the brother-hood: croffcth diredly and contradid:s the counfell and commands of G o d s spirit, in all motions to good, and matters offalvation: accounts in good carnefthoIineflTc hypocrifie, fan(5^ification fingu-larity,profcflion and praiftice of finccrity precife-ndTcjthe great things of G o d s Law as a ft range

thing:

A SERMON.

191

thing

^

In all Its confultations concludes ever thingspleafingtoflefhandbloud, and ends atllaft with extremcftfolly and utter contufion. Wit-nefTe t^chttophdjwho was wife enough to fet his houfein order, and yet wanted wit to refcue his ©wnc life out of his ownc hands: he was curious to provide for his family after his death, and had no care at all to preferve himfelfefrom erernall death: was not this a madneffe even to m:r^.cle,zs Divines Amentia ufqj fpeake-f Hee got him home to his houfe, purhis ^^^ F°^'S "™-houfliold in order, and hanged himfelfej ^nd is tSamaz-^j. hanged up in chaines as a dreadful 1 fpeitacleto all pofterity,forallworldly-wifemento take wam^ ingbytothe worlds end. ^ ,

The Spirit 01G o d intimates unto iis the pe- ^ouniel flilencie of its properties, lames ^. 15, It is, Firft, Earthly, Secondly,Senfuall. Thirdly, Dl-'uellifb,

Dfveliijl): for, it imitateth the Divell in plotting and contriving mifchicfeandruine againltthe glory of i G o D s Majefly, and Miniftry of his Word. It tafts of his helhfli wilinelTe in clofe conveyances and fccret infidiations,for the undermining, ftipplanting, and confounding of the paf-fageoftheGofpell,and plantation of grace in the hearts of men. Satan (you know) is ever fierce and furious, when hefpiesbuttheleaftglimpfeof Gods truth, or fparke ofgracetopeepe out and breake forth at aoy time, or in any place. When the glorious fun-ftiineofthe Gofpell did in thcfe latrer times of the world (according to thePro-TphcdcinthcMe^eUtms) arifcouc of thed^rkc-

fomc-

IFcrWy w'tfei

-»fc_

fomc mght,and dangerous fogs of Popery ;,and begun gratioufly to inlightca many thoufand foulcs which lay indarkcacfe, and under the fliadow.of dcarh, with vrbat flrangc and prodigious rage did the great Dragon prcfently afcend out of his bot-tomk/rcpit. EfeRi ef the Sin€c that time what furious martyring of the ^V^lf/-^'^"' Saints, what horrible murthering ofKings, what ^j ''^"' bloody MafTacres, what invincible i^rmadoeSy what heliifli powder-plots, what devouring of Maityrs, by thatblood-thirfty monfter the 5pa-nifh Jnquificion, what hatefull imprifonings^what defpcrate confpiracies, whatadeale of hell hath vext and rent the face of ^/^r/j/c^, and fliaken the pillars ofthis part of the world; as though all the fiends in Hell, and whole armies of thole damned /pirits were broke loofe, to caft the Chriftian world into a new Chaos of darknefTccombuflion andconfufion.And ail this hath bcene the Divcls doings ofpurefpightand malice againft the light ofthe Gofpcll,& power of the Word .The Pope, Jefuites, and their wicked adherents have bcene indeed the inftruments and executioners of all thefe bloudy miferies,but Satan himfelfe was the piincipall agent. The curfed influence of all this wrath and rage was infpir'd from hira, and every particular and circumftance ofal! thefe mifchiefcs was firft plotted in hell,bcfore they were adlcd upon earth. pmy againft 2. In GUI' ownc Kingdome alfo his fpitc and %tlT^ ^ malice againftthclight of the GofpcU hathbecfle notorious and trai3ccndcnt fince the Word of

truth

The Gun^fftf.

truth hath grownc powcrfull amongft us. With whar ft range fury and malice hath Satan bcftlrrcd himfcUVWhat a deale of dcatc and innocent blou4 did that red Dragon drinke up in Q^enc ^Maries time i For five ycavcs fparcthc fire of pcrfccutioii did flame in thisland,and the facrcd bodies of out glorious blefifcd Miiiyrs were facrificed araidsthc mercilcfTc fury thereof: Afterward what a blackd andbloudy catalogue of moft hatefull and prodi-» giousconfpiraciesdid run paralell with that gol-» den time of Qjecnc Elizabeths Ufc,that (now) glorious Saint of dearcft racn:iory i But in all this* hcllifh rage the Divcll never played the Divell in. deed,untill he came to the Gun-powder-plot;thaC was fiich a piece of fervicc againft the light of the 4e7pkt> Gofpell,as the Sun neveV faw before; the fons of men never heard of,hell it fclfe never hatcht.Since Satan fell from heaven, aad a Church was firft planted upon the earth, there was never any thing in thatkinde which made the Divcls Malice more £amous,G o d s mercies more gloriousjthat Prieft Q^Kome and his bloudy fuperflirionmore odious; or that caft fuch a (hame and obloquie upon the in-nocency of Chriftian Religion. And all this was the Divels doing of pure fpite and malice againft the glory of the Goipell,the power of the Word, and the Saints of Go d .] fay he was the arch-plotter and firftmoover of all thefe mifchicfes. The Pope, and lefuits, and their curfcd confederates were indeed his inftruraents, executioners and a-gents, asweewellknow,andforae of the Prieft s themfelves confeflfe.J^r ^odL^.A^^^.fag. 199.

O Scarce

Scarce was that blcfTcd Quecnc and incompara-euzTbht?' l^le Lady warme in her Princely Throne; butSa-tanfetsonthePopcP?/^^«/W/^, hee fends from Msmetwo Popifh Priefts, miortort^nd Wehhe with a Bull of excomniunication^ whereby the fubjecSls and people of the Kingdome were in a Popifli fenfe difcharg'd and alToird from their allegiance, loyalty and obedience to her Majefty. They fol-licit the two rraiterous Earles of the North, Northumberland zxid WertmerUndi tobeethc executioners of this bloudy Bull, which indeed was the fountaine and foundation of all the fuccecding horrible plots and barbarous treacheries. See^ JSellst^rtatomy cfp6pij})tyramy, whisEfift.T>edic^ a little booke callea The executmer ofjujlice in JEngUndy^c. I pray God now at length turne thofe Popifli murderous hearts from whetting any moe fwords to ilied the bloud of the Lord s an-nointed: orreturnethefharpe fwords from tiie point with a cutting edge on both C\dcs, even up to th« very hilts into their owne hearts blond. (> Lor D 3 let the King flourifh with a crowne of glory upon his head, and a Scepter of triumph in his hand, and flill wafli his Princely fcerc in the bloud of his enemies. Rage cgdinft 3 'This fpitcfull rage & furious oppofition of Sa-the pmejfuu tan agaiuft the power of the word,appeares alfo by Mimfiay. jjjjjjy experience in thofetowns & parifhcs, where by the mercies of G o D,a confcionableMiniftcry is plantedibefore,while Satan ruled and raigned a-mongft them, by his wicked deputies, ignorance> prophancneSjPopifh fupcrAitions, finfull vanities,

lewd

lewd fportSj prop hanation of the Sabbath, filthi-ftefTcdrunkcnncfTcand fuch other accurfed Purfc-vams for Hell: Why then all was wcll,all was in quiet and in peace. O then that was a merry world| and as good a Towne for good-feHowfhip,as was in all the Countrey. And no marvelhwhcn a ft rong armed man kecpeth his Pallace,thc things that he poflTefTcth are in pcuce^Luh 11.21. WhileSatari fits in their hcarts> and rules in their confciencesj hee fuffcrs them to have their fwings in their furious vanities and wicked plcafurcs, without any great difhirbancc or contiudi<5lion. And com* monly hec never fets prophane people together by theearesandat odds, but when his owne King* dome may be more ftrengthenedjand their foule j more endanger'd by diffention, than by their partaking inprophaneneiTc, and brotherhood in iniquity. Let it not fcemc flrange then, whcii townesaad pariflics where confcionablc meancs are wanting, live merrily and pleafantly; for, they walkctogetherin the knot of good-fellow-ihip, through the broad way, they follow the courfe of their owne corruptions, and fwing of their corrupt ai!edions, and fwim dowoethe current ofthctimes^andareatSatansbeckto do him any defperateand notorious ferviceat all affaies, in all pafTages ofprophaneneiTe, and offices ofim^ piety and rebellion; but bring amongft fuch a powerful! Miniilcrie, which takes a right courfe forthcplantation of grace, andfalvation of their foules; and then marke how fpitefolJy and furi-oufly Satan begins to beftirre himfelfc 5 befides

O 2 his

his ownc malice and machinations, heeprcfcntly fets on foot and on fire too all that belong unto him in hisinftigation. They band and combine themfelvcs with gieat rage and indignation a-gainft the power of the Word, and the faithful! meflengers of G o d . They fret,and fume^picke unRecefiary quarrels, raile, flander, and indeed foame oii filthily their owne fliame, in difgracing thctruthof G o d without all truth or confcienee : and if Satan fpies any poore foule amongft them to bee pulled out of his clutches and kingdome of darkcnefTc by the preaching of the Word, he pre-fently fets all the reft upon him as fo many dogged curres, or rather furious wol ves(for fo our bleffed Saviour makes thecomparifon) upon a harmeleffe lambe 5 he whets (like fiiarpe razors) all the lying and lewd tongues in the towne, and tips them with the very fire of hell 5 fo that they pleade for ppo-phanenefrc,prophaning of the Sabbath, and many finfull fooleries and vanities in all places where they come. Hee makes thofe who have a little more wit, hisclofe fadors and under-hand-dealers: for that (lands not with Sacans policy, and the reputation of the worldly-wife, that rhem-fclveslhouldbeeopenadors in childifh vanities, and profes'd enemies to the Law of G o d : they do him fuflicient fervice by being fecrct patrons and protedors of impiety, counfellers and coun-tcnancers of the works of darkeneife: hee fils the siadttsa^ainfl mouthcs of the ignorant with flandcrous com-PM frw6 itg pijjj^fs and cries, that there was never good world fince there was fo much knowledge : that there

was

was never more preaching, but^ncvcr Icfle working : whereas (poore) foulcs they never yet knew what grace or good worke meant, or fcarce good word: but their naughty tongues, and hatred to bee reformed, are true caufes why both the world and places where they live, are farrc worfc. Thofe that are defperately and notorioufly naught,hcin-forces and images like mad dogSj Co that they impudently and openly barke at, and with their im-poyfoned fangs furioufly fnatch at their hurtlefTc hand which would healeaad binde up their bleeding foules: they arc like dogs barking at the Moone 5 for, Gods Minifters are ftarres in the righthandof Ch R I s T, ReveLi.i6, If they would doe them any deadly harmc, they muft plucke them thence 5 but let them take heed how they be bold and bufie that way, leaft at laft they take a beare by the tooth, and awake a flecp-ing lion.

Thus you fee what a ftirre the Divell keepcs wiysatm/o when hec is like to be driven from his hold by the /?w" <^g<iinfl power of the Word: and how he playes the Di- '*^ ^^^'^ veil indeed, when the light of the Gofpell begins tofhineina placewhichhimfelfe hath long kept in darkeneife and errour by thofe twofold fiends, ignorance and prophanencfTe. Perhaps at the very firftrifing of tha: glorious Sun of the Word of life unto a people that hath fat in darkneflfe and under the (hadow of death, it breeds onely aftonifli-ment and amazement, they are for a while onely dazcUed with the glory and beauty of fo rare and cxtraordiaaty alight, but when after fome little O5 fpace

-fpacetheybe thorowly heated, and it begin to burnc up their noyfomelufts. to gall their guilty confcitnces, to fling their carnall hearts, to vexe and difquiet their covetous alFcdions^then begins all the ftirre.and^atanto play his part: the fud-deninflidionofawound is not fo very painefull, and while it is greene it is not fo grievous, but after, when it comtsto be fearched in cold bloud,to have tents put into it, and corrofives applied, then i: goeth to the heart: When thefword of the Spirit fir A ilrikes the carnal! heart, it may perhaps beate away the blow reafonablc well; but if the Chyrurgion of the foule, I meane the Minifter of the Word follow his cure faithfully, and open the wound wider,as hefeesneed,applyfpirituall corrofives to eat away the rankenefle of the ficfh, and the poyfon of finne,then begins theprophane man (if the Lord give him notgracetofuifer his foule to bee faved) to rage and rave with the fmart of it and perhaps with malice and furieto flie into the face of his foules Phyfitian.

Seethe humour of prophane men againft the power of a confcionable Miniftery,/f?.44.i5,^f. o4'(J/ji3.8.andCap.i4.25c5"^.andVcrfeip. and Cap.i6.ip.and Cap.i7.5.and Ver. 32.and Cap. 19.2p.and 24.5. spiteagainfipi- This fpite and malicc of Satan againft fincerity etji injamtiies^ and grace is to be fecnealfo in private families; if the governours of the houfe, the children and fer-vants be all prophane(as it is very true of very many in moft places) then they are palling well met for matter of Religion > and were there nothing

amongft

amongft them to breed diffcf ence and difTerition, but Gods ferviccthey would never fail ouc^for they arc all content to heare no mGre^ormore often of the affaires of Heaven, judgements ix)r fin, thewaiesof G o Djand reformation of their life, than they mull needs: they arc all willing and forward to prophanethe Sabbath, inonekindeor o-ther; fomeby abfcnting themfelves from the houfeofGo D ^fome by worldly talke all the day long,fonTiCby idleneffe, fomeby finnefull fports, (^c. They arc well content to lie downe at night, like wilde beafts in their dens, without lifting up their hearts together utito that merciful! God which hath prcferved and profpered them all the day: torifeupalfo in the morning, prayerlefTe, or only with formall prayers. They all joyne in malice againft the Miniftery of the Word, in flan-derous lies againft the mcflengers of G o d, in bife and reviling fpeechesagainft the profeffours ofChriftianity. The reafonis, they are all pof-fcfTed with the fame fpiric of prophaneneffe, love of pleafures, hatred tobeereformedjand carnality of heart. But if it once pleafe the Lo r d to plane grace in the heart of the Mader of the family 5 (b <thathee begin to plant in his houfe reformation ^ houfholdinftru^tion, prayer, fandification of the Sabbath, and other holy orders, and godly exer-cifes3then prefently begins the DivcU to ftir in the hearts and tongues of their prophane fervantsj they begin to bee furioufly impatient of fuch' pre-cifeneife, ftridneffe, and reftraints (for fo they wickedly and wrongfully call the pleafures of

O 4 grace

»oo A SERMON.

grace and way to Heaven) they can by no mcancs digcftfuchnewfafliions; theyi not be troubled with giving account of Sermons ihcy hearc: thcyM have their recreation on the Sabbath, that ihey will: they'lnot be mew*d upat homejwhcn other mens fervants are at their fports abroad,&c# Nay perhaps even their owne children (except the L o R D fcafon them with the fame grace)may grow ftubborne and rcfradtory, and very rtbdli-ous and difobedient to the beft things; fo t hat in a holy fcnfe.C h r i s t s words may be there truly verified, c^/rfMo.34,35. Thus wasfzealous J>4a'/W troubled with the vanity of a fcornefull, proud, and propbane wife, i,S,Am. 5.20. K^hd with a bloudy brother. Gen. >f..8. Ucob with a profane £/4», Cen.ij,/^!. ifdac with a mocking Tjh. ptael : And many a gracious hean: in families where grace beares not fway, with the IcwdncfTe, malice, and ungodly oppofitions of thofe among whom they live. Mfiotu parets o r if it fo fall out that the power of grace feize %tZ'^'''' on the heart of a fervant or fonne, fo that he begin HtrMajiers to bee fenfible of the ignorance, diforders,pro-phanenefTe, and finfull confufions of the houfc where he dwcls : defiresto fpend the Sabbath as Chriftians ufe to do: then prefently begins Satan to put rage into the heart, and frownings into the face of the father or mafter of the family ; he then-takes on, tells him, that fuch prccifcneile is not for his profit, hee'l have no fuch inferiour fellow to be a reformer of his family s hec'l not be controlled and contradidcd in his owne houfc? hcc'l governed

vcrnc his people in the old fafhion as his father did before him^cf ^. fo that there is no longer biding for that new convert under fuch a crabbed mafler> without a very great dcalc of patience. All this, and a thoufand more mifchiefes are the blackc broods and bloody effeds of Satans malice a-gainfl the power of the Word, andtheplantatioft ofgrace.

God HimfelfeistheGo d ofpeace,CHRi jt Jrnpimperfm Jbsvs the Prince ofpeace,and the blelTed Spirit ''"'f'^^^^f'''^ is the fountaine of peace,that paflcth all underftan-dingjtheholy Word is the Gofpell of peace, the faithful! Miniftcrs are the MelTengers of reconciliation and peaces the Saints of G o d are the • children of peace: TheDivelland the rebellious corruptions of prophane men are in deed and truth the true caufes of all thefe ftirs and ftrong oppofi-tions, which are raifed any where, at anytime, any waies in the cafe and caufe of Religion. The fault Jconfeflc, and imputation of troublefomenefTc is laid upon Gods children by the lewd tongues of graceleflc men. See Jrr.i 5.10. utterly without caufe.I KfHgs 18. ij,K^^s 24. ^^drc butthefc and the like are lies hatch'd in Hell, and managed by the malice of camall men. And that was moft true, which the blcfl'ed Prophet of G o d Elijah^ 3nd the holy Apoflle Saint fatd anfwered in fuch cafes, X Kings 18.18. ^^Bs-i^, 13,14. and Co proportionably may all Chriftians anfwer all prophane wretches amongft whom they live: It is you and your prophane families, yoi'r proud ignorance, hatred to be rcformcd,malice againft the

Miniftcry*

A SERMON.

Miniftry,&c. -vvhkh*trouble7/5'4^/,'arefhd true! caufes 'of all DifTentions and difquictneflc, and bring upon ^us aU thefe plagues and judgemcncs which any way tialiCt us. A godly Miniftcr ftands at ftaves endwith all theworld, and harh the moft ^ ,..■ -a enemies of any man. He muft warre rtor only with have jsanj/ene- dcfpcrate Iwaggerers and notorious iinners,but al-nies, fo witliciviU honcft menjfoi mall profcfTors,coun-

terfeit Chriftians,unfound convcrcs^relapfcd creatures :d"<r, t^age again/} . 5 .Laflly,That particular perfon, whom it plea-piousper/om. ^^g the L o R D to fanaifie and fet apart for his fcr-vice, hath good experience of Satans fury and rage againft finceririe and grace; there is not a man thatpafTeth out of the powers of darkenefiTe and Satans bondage,by the power of the Word^buthe prefently purfues him farre more furioufly, than ever Pharaoh did the ifradnes, to recover and re-gaine him into his kingdome. See my difcourfe of Hafpnejfe,fag.6o, %mcus7unl • Thus I have given you a tafte of the Divells right hind. malicc and machinations againft the light of the Gofpelh the power of Gods truth, and the Miniftery of the Word ; now you muft under-ftandthat worldly wifdome is his very right hand, neareft counfcllor, and chiefeft champion in all thefe mifchievous plots and furious outrages a-gainft God and goodnefte. This hath bcene more than manifeft in all ages ofthc Church: In thofe great Politicians,the Scribes and Pharifeesj in the States-men of Rome : in our times, and a-niongft: us daily* worldly-wife menjth.it are only

guided

guided by cnrnall rcafon, they imploy theinwit, their power, their malice, their friends, their under-hand dealings, their policy snd their purfes tocunklTeihey be too covetous; to hixnder,ftop> difgrace^sndflander the palTage ofaconfcionable Miniftery and the Mcflcngers of Almighty G o d, of whom the Lo r d hathfaid, Touchnotmrnean- -nojnted^an^ de m^ Profhets mhdrme. Pfalme 105.15. They ever imitate and follow to a haires breadth their Father the Divell in malice and pradife a-gainft grace and good m.en; except fometimes they forbeare for a time for advantage, for reputation, orfuchotherby-refpedsand private ends: except naturally they bee extraordinarily ingenuous, and ofvery lovingandkind natural! dijpofi-tions; or bee reftray ned by feare of fome remarkable judgement, from perfecution of the Mini-jflers.

2. As worldly vvifedome is divelliili, as Saint f^or% »'(^' lames cals it, and ever mixed with a fpice of Hel- "'"^ '^ ^^^^ ^ lifh malice jsnd virulencyagainfttheKingdoraeof ■C H K -I s.T : fo it is alfo Ciirthly^ for it mindes onely earthly things,and though that cafls beyond the Moone for matters of the world, yet it hath not an inch of fore-caft for the Vv'orld to come: But though a man bee to palTe, per haps, the: next c]ay,.nay the next houre, nay the next moment, to thatdreadfullTribunallofGo d, and to an unavoidable cverlailing eftate in another world, either in the joycs of Heaven, or in the paines of Hell, yet it fo glues and nailes bis hopes, de'lir-es, projcds, andi:cfolutionsfo tranfitory pelfe, and

things

things of this life, as though both body and foule at their difTolution, fliould bee holy and everlaft-ingly rcfolved, and turned into earth, duft, or nothing.

To give you a taftc of this earthlinefle of worldly wifcdome, give mee a worldly-wife man and, if^atuungtpro' I. Put him into difcourfe of the affaires of the i^iyuTjhJi "^^^^^^ andthebufmeffcof his calling, and you Uofinbun^n^ fhall finde him profound and deepe in this argument, abletofpeakewellandtotheporpofe; ific were a whole day, and that with dexterity and checrflilnefle: But divert his difcourfe a littlcjand turne him intotalke of matters of Heaven, of the great myftcry ofgodlinefle, the fccrecs offandifi-cation.cafes of confcience,and fuch like holy conference, and you (hall finde him to bee a very infant, an ideot: it may bee, hee may fay fomcthing of the generall points of Religion, of matters in conrroverfie, of the meaning of fome places in Scripture: but cometoconferre of pradicalI dWi-nity,experimentall knowledge,palTages of Chri-ftianity, and pr3<3:ices of grace, and you fhall find him,and hee fhall fhew himfelfe to bee able to fay juft nothing with feeling and comfort : many a poorencglcded Chriftian, whom in the fpirit of Gifdainefulnefre,and out of the pride of his carnall wifedome,he tramples upon with contempt, and would fcorneto be'matcht with in other matters : yet would infinitely furpafTe him in this cafe 5 quite put him downc> th^c he would have nothing

2. Let

ASERMOK. aoj

J. Let him come tofomc great pcifonagewith ^^,^/, ,« a fuit, to inrrcate his ravour and countenance, or to temr petition give him tlianks for fome former good tuine: and ^enthun God. he will be able to fpeak wcll^plaLfibly.plcafingly, perlwafively,snd le^-fonably; 6in- put him to pray in his family unto Ahnighty God for the pardon of his finnes, and a crowne of life, for the remoovall of damnation aiid an cverlafting curfe 5 to powre out his foule in thankcfullnefle for e\Try good thing hce enjoycth ( fcrhee holds all from Him) andfuchawifeman ( which is ftrangeand fearefull) in a bufineffe of fo great weightjWill not bee able to fpcake fcarce one wife word without a book,

$, Comeintohisfamily,examinetheftateof ZSuLr^ his houfe, you fliall find all things in good order, 'denithmtUir every affaire marihallcdanddifpofed for the beft /"«'"• advantage,a provident fore-caft,and prefent pro-vifionofthingsneccffary fori heir bodies: Every one bufie in their feverallimployments, and careful] in theworkes oftheir calling: butfearch alfo into the eftate of their foules, what heavenly food is min fired for theii fpirituall life, how the Sabbath is fandified among them, how it ftands with them for houfliold-inftruiSlions and family-cxerci-fes.^r. And (God knowcs) in that regard, that way there is noprovidence at all, no care, no eon-fcicnce about any fuch matters.

Walkealfoamongfthis husbandry; you fliall rr«rW/i'^f^ find his arable carefully dungcd,iillcd and fowne: ^bZy^ tetur his paflurcs well mounded, iTankt and trencht; his i^a» ^intuan, trees pruned, his gardens weeded, his catrell

watchfully

-ao6 • A SERMON.

. . ■ : —. ■ . —, ■»■ •

TratchfuUy tended: but inquire into the fpirituall husbandry at home in his owne confcience, and you (hall find his heart overgiowne with finne, as the wildeft waft with thirties and briars; no fence to keep the Divell out of his foule, many noyforac hifts growing thick and ranke, Ukc fo many nettles and brambles to be cut down and caft into the firej fo that his fillieft lamb and pooreft pig is in a thou-fand times more happy cafe,than himfelfe theow-ner^and well were he if his laft end might be like theirs, that is, that hisimmortall foule might die with his body: but that cannot bej except in the meane time he repent, and renounce his carnall reafon, hee muft be dcflroyed with an everlafting perdition,from the prcfence of Go n,and from the glory of His power. m'rf'c'ire for ^' Confider His care and afifeaion towards S«r IhliJens Hlschildren; youfhallfindethattobe all earth; tm^nan than for whereas perhaps with farre lelTe toyle and tra-qinMi^aii vailcbythemerciesof Go D, by teaching them the feare of G o d , inftrud^ing them in the waies of godlinelTe, reftrayning them from prophanenefle, and prophaning the Sabbath, by his owne example of piety and godly converfation, hee might plantgracein their hearts, andprovideacrownc of glory for their heads hereafter: yet (wretched roan) hee doth not onely wickedly flegle(S thefe meanes of everlafting comfort: but with too much worldlineflc, variety of vexations (and perhaps for his very wickedneffe that way, if there were nothing elfe) with the great danger of his owne foule J hchcapesupforthcm thofe hoards,

that

that will hereafter hcapc coalcs of v^rigcance on their heads 5 and purchafcs and provides for them thofcgreenepafturesofa profpcrous flncc in this world wherein they are fatted for the fame flai'gh. ter, and thorow which they prophanely paflfe into the pit of the fame endkfle deftrudion with him-felfc.

5. Aslce his judgement about the Sabbath, and ^'fj^'f ^i,^ ordinarily you flial 1 finde his rcfolution to bee this^ sJLtb. that hce fees no reafon but mens fervants and children may enjoy fome houres of recreation and fport even upon the Sabbath, efpecially with exception of times of Divine Service: what would they have us to do, (will heefay) or what would they make of us ^ I hope they doe not looke wee fliouldbe Angels upon Earth: they know we are but flefli and bloud .It is too true indeed,this cavilling againft the keeping of the Sabbath favours full ranklyof flefli and bloud.

God out of the aboundance of His ownc goodneffe, and comp2ffionate confidcration of our weakcnefTe hath allotted and allowed unto us fix dayes for our ownc biifincfTe, and refcived but one to be confecrated in fpeciall manner, as glorious unto Him 5 ajid yet wretched men, th ey muft needs clip the Lor d s coyne,encroach upon His fan<5lified time, and unthankefully and accurfedly fpend thofe holy houres in which they fhould treafure up knowledge and comfort againfl that fearefull day,inidlentfre, worldlincffe, and pro-phane paftimcs, whereby bcfidts the particular curfe upon their ownc foulcs, they many times

draw

draw many miferics and plagues upon the place where they Uve.This reafon is carnall indced,this wifedome is earthly with a wirncfTe.

Addanotheroutof/'«^.i2. 39*40.

Thus you fee worldly vvifdome in all that coiv-fultation and carriage inclines unto the earth,pro-vidcs ever with greatcft care for the world, and favours rankly offlefliandbloud. fmlZfuT ^ • ^^ ^^ SiKo fenfmH: for, ir doth fenflcfly pr^-me/enfua . £^^^^ ^j^^ plcafures of fcnfe and pleafing the appetite, before the peace of confcience and fenfe of Gods favour. It provides a thoufand times better for a body of earth, which muft (hortly upon an unavoidable necelfity, feedc thewormes, and turne to duft; than for a precious immortall foulc, the immediate ilTue of Go d s Almighrineflfc, and which can never poflibly die; It doth with greater fwcetneflc and hold-faft, relifh, apprehend and enjoy the furious delights of fome bofomc-finne, which it hath in prefent purfuit, tafte and pofTeiS-on5than fpirituall graces, Gods favour, joy in that blefTed Spirit, andacrowneoflife hereafter; for which it hath Gods Word and promife, if ic would be wife to falvation. In a word : it doth fo highly preferre a fewbitter-fweet pleafures^for an inch of time in this vale of reares^ before unmixed and immeafurable joyes thorow all eternity in the glorious maniions of heaven: Is not this wifedome ftrangely nailed and glued unto fenfe, and ftupidly fenfeleffe in fpirituall things, that though many times fore-told and fore-warned by the Miniftcry of the Word, yet will needs for the

temporary

temporary fatisfaifiion of its carnall, covetous, oc ambitious humour, with filthy vexing, tranfitory pclfe,withvaniry5dung,nothing, run wilfully and headlong uponeafelelle, endlefTe, and remedilefle tormenrs in the world to come ^ And that which 4 isthe juft curfc and plague of worldly wifedome, (thisfpirituallmadnelTe commonly called) it is confident that it doth wifely, and takes the beft way, and thereupon becomes incorrigible and obftinate: For there is more hope ofafoole^ then of himthatisrvifeinhis o^vne conceift, Prov* 26. 22. hndijTh&ttghthou jhoitldefl if ray afookin a mi>rter,yet will not his fool iflmejfe depart from him\ Prov, 27.22* How fearefullthen is his cafe, that to his worldly wifdomejoynes confidence in his waies ^ But the day will come that hee'l fee and bewailerhe vanity of his wifdome, and the truth of his folly, and that with bitter gticfe and horrible anguiflieven in hell fire,asit is notably fee downe in the book of f^rif dome Cap.$. VmlZth,

But the Word which heere in Iam;s is rendred ^"x'^'^/l «> Senfihill, isthcfamewhich isufed, 1 Corinthians S^l^'vil^^^-nt 2. 14, The nattitiill man receiveth mt the things^ o^-fjrn«V/,i

So that worldly wifedome is In that fenfe natu- w^'^^U^v'^-^ rail: that it can neither rcliili nor receive the ^XiTy%lm things of the Spirit: itc^nno: poflibly conceive reujiwb not and comprehend the immediate meanes and my- ^^ritu^ tbiags fteries of falvation: let a man otherwife be never Co faire and comely in body, never fo proportio-nable^perfonable, or goodly tS looke upon, and in the eye of others, yetifhimfelfe wantcyes (the

P inftru-

SenTmU tthat

inftmmcnts of light, hcc cannot polTibly behold and gaze upon with delight the goodlineffe and glory of this great frame of the world about him : he cannot fee the brightnefTc of the Sun, the beau-•wty of the earth, and the dclightfome variety of the creatures: fo a worldly-wife man though hee bee never fo gracefull for his other parts, never fo admirable to carnall eyes,or mightily magnified by his flatterers or favourites: yet wanting the faving fight of G o p s fandlifying Spirit, and the eye of fpirituall undcrftanding,is ftarke blind infpirituall matters, and cannot poffibly behold the rich Pa-radifeof the kingdome of grace,thcfecrcts of San-£l:ification,and the incomparable glory and excellency of Chriftianity. This wifdome of the flcfb ferves the worldling (liketheOftrich wings) to make him to out-run others upon the earth and in earthly things 5 but can help him never a whic towards heaven: nay, is rather like a heavic mill-ftone about his neck,to make him finke deeper into the bottomleffe pit of hell.

The rcafon why thefe great politicians and joF-lijgeVidfim ly wife men ofthe world (as th^y are called) for vporidiivgi. all theif depths and devices, with all their wit and windings, cannot underftand one title ofthe things of G o d, is, becaufethis fpirituall knowledge is hid from them. For fo faith our Saviour Christ, Map. 11.25. Igf've theethankes o Father^ Lord of Heaven and Earth, hecmfethou haft hid thefe thingsfromthe wife and men $f underfandtng,, gndhafirevealidthilnuntohahes. And this reafon our Saviour rcndretb why hcc fpakc to worldlings

lings in parabks and to his Difciples plaincly> he-€aufetothefe itwasgiijen to kmw thefecretsofth^^ kingdome ofheavenM^ to them it was not given. And indeed it is juft with G o D,;Chat,

i.Sith they when the glorious Sun of the Word frorUiings of life ihines furely upon their faces, doe wilfully f "JJf;^/-^'* fhuc their eyes agakift it,that He fhould^ftrike chena ^w^rd. ftarkc blinde, fothat for matters of falvatien they fliould grope even at noone-day, as the blind gro* pethindarkenefle, and fturablcth in the darkcft night.

2« Sith they depend on their owne policy, n'orUiwgs dt* depths, and turning devices, God juftlyturnes 5^^/p"J^" them loofeto follow the fwing of their carnall "*" ' "^ teafon 5 and fuffers them to lie and delight them-felves in the fenfuall mifls, and felf-conceited foo* Icries and vanities of their own naturall wifdomc: while the Moonc lookcsdire(5lIy upon the Sunne> from whom fheborrowes her light, (bee is bright and beautifull, butiffheonceturneafide, and be left toiler felf,(hc loofesall her glory, and enjoycs but onely a fhadow of light w hich is her owne: fo while men with humility and teachablenefTe turne their faces toward the Sunne of RighteoufnefTe, ChristJesv s, and thofeStarres which he holds in his right hand, the faithfull Minifters, to receive from them illumination in heavenly things^andinftrudiion in the waies of G o d ,G o d doth gratioufly vouchfafe unto them the glorious light of faving knowledge: but when they turne their backs upon Him, betake themfelves to their owne plots and projeds,devices and policies, and

P 2 feekc

fecke dcepeto hide theii counfcll from the Lord: then they are juftly left to the darkfome giddineffe of theii;^carnall rtafon, and walke towards feare-fulnelTe and horrour, thorough the windings and turnings of their worldly wifdome. ivorinings ^' Becaufe they are proud of their earthly poli-

proud oj their cy>the Lo r d Will not givc them ptudc^ce in hca-oivnsmt, venly matters.-becaufe they are wife in their owne concciptSjthey are juftly given over to follow the deceitfulncffe of their owne hearts: with an imperious difdainefullnefle, they fcorne the fimplicity of the Saints, and therefore they arc juftly blinded, to thinke the way es of their falvation foali/h-nelTe. HiethetfLrl 4- Worldly men make an IdoU of their wifdome? :ifi/dme. both in refpe(5t that they wholy repofe themfelvcs upon it, for their provifion and protedion, and be-caufethey fecreily defire to be admired & adored for it^as men of extraordinary endowments,and o-racles of difcretion and policy; andit may be,thac they are fo by their favourites and flatterers i buc they muft give God His Word^ and good men leave to ccnfurc them truly and juftly to be the no-torioufeft fooles upon earth, becuufe they are infants and ideotsinthe matters and myftcries of falvation. Now I fay >becau{e they make an Idoll of their wirdon:ie,GoD and this earthly Dagon can-rot polTibly dwell together in one foule5but in his juft: judgement fufFers them with fuch doting de-votionjfelf-conceittofacrificeuntoit, that they want both underftanding and hearts to do him ^ny acceptable fervice^

This

This naturall and fenfuall wifedome being thus hood-winked from all heavenly light by G o d s juft judgement, and by the pride,piejudice,wilftil-ncffe, felfenefTeofchc owner doth proporrion and meafure all its conceipts,and confiderations of Religion and religious men by the unfound and fenfuall principles of our corrupt nature, and by the falfe fcantling of carnall" reafon.

We may fee this carnality of worldly wifdome in cenfuring fpirituall things in Nicodemus^ loh.'^. See alfo a carnall conceipt of worldly wifdome in my Difcourfe of true ^appneJfe^ip2g.$S,s9-

Hence it is alfo that wee fiad it to be a conftant ^^ridihgi mif-

I 1J1 T • cent art true pt'

property or a worldly-wile man to conceive or ^ty^ cenfure a zealous profeffion of G 0 d s truth, and found pradlce of fincerity, to be nothing but hypocrite and humour, anaffedation of angularity, precifene{re,andakindofodnefrefrom other men. The reafon is, when he lookes upon him-felfe in the flattering glaffe of felfe-conceipt^ hee judges himfelfe to be a very jolly fellow: thinkes he within his owne heart; I go for a fufficient man Qu'Tq; in alio in the world: the beft make good account of me: ^Z^nT >>& I am well beloved of my neighbours: my fuflfici- quod non ha-cncv for wifedome, moderation in Religion, civi- bet.neccurat:

i. V • • A /r • J f • 1 That ivhtcb he

lityforcarnage,jultnelle in dealings With men,are ^^^^^ „^^ ^^^ both knowne and w ell fpoke of by the moft: and feife, or doth what would you have more in a man <: Hereupon, "'^^ e/ietme, kee

r i_' A- 11 r r 1 • ^ accounts fubet'

outofthispraaicallfurvey of his owne counter- puy, an idle feit worth, and becaufe hee is ftarke blind in fp iri- quality,a meere tuall matters, and t he affaires of Heaven, hee pre- f£iftcinanoi fcntly concludes, whatfoeverzeale, (ingularities tier,

P ? of

A SERMON.

ofgrace and fpirituall excellencies are luppofed by fome kind of men to be in others, efpecially, if they be of lower rank and Icfle account for worldly wifedome than himfelfe, to be nothing but only outward fhewes, pretences and hypocrifics : he isfurnifliedin his owne conceipr with a compe-* tency,ifnot an extraordinary fiifficiency of natu-rall and morall endowments: and he never felt either the power ofgrace, neither can pofifibly fee or acknowledgethofe holy operations in others: and therefore hee cannot be perfwadcd, but he is fully as good as the precifeft of them (for that's the language of prophanenefTe againft grace) and that there is no worth worth naming, or any true reall goodnefle in thofe they now call Chriftians, over and befides that which hee iindeth in himfelfe.

5. Concerning greatneffe ofnobilityjunderftand that by Nobles I meane both the greater and leflc Nobility,according to T>.Smiths diftindion in his Commoji-r^ealeofEn g l a n d. Andthis double Nobility is of diverfe forts, i. Perfonall, 2. By defcent.

6, There isyet another Nobility, whichis Divine and fupernaturall in regard whereof all o* ther kindes whatfoever are but fliadowes and lliapes of Noblemfle.Here God istopof thekin, and Religion is the root. Thefe arc truly and the onely Noble indeed, and fo accounted by King D^-y/^/, though of no account in the World at alL How rarely is the glorious Image of the Lord J E s V s (which oncly creates this cxcellencie)

' ' feene

Nobility grea-terorleJfe^Cap.

SttpernaturaU

Nobility,

A SERMON. '215

feenefhine in their foulesj or fhew forth it felfein their holy canverfation, who glider in outward glory, and are lifted up above others by eniinency of Noble birth, orindulgence ofhighell favours. Such Noblemen and Gentlemen are black fwans, and thinly fcatter'd in the firmament of a State, e-ven like ftars of the firft magnitude. For,faith my Text, Net mmj Nohl^^^ Sec,

And that no maivell, for many reafons. And ^HfJeducated. yet I Vv^ill not heere trouble you Jn telling how mi-ierably and extreamely ill thofe who bee better borne are ordinarily educated. Alas,they arc too often brought up in ignorance<, idlenefle, cxcefTive purfuitoffports and vaine things: in drinking, carnall loofenelTe, riotous exceflc, in fenfuality, pride, prophanation of the Lords Day; In ftrange fafliions, healthing^gaming, good-fellow-f^ip: in frequenting Playes, thofe grand impoy-foners of many hopcfull plants, with univerfall prophane, unnaturall difToluteneffe melting unhappily the vigour of their fpirits into effeminate-nelfe, lightnefle and luft. Andalmofteverina conftancoppofitionto the good way, the power ofgodlinefTe, and ftri(5lnclle of the Saints, who arethe ordinary objeds of their greateft difta(l,je-fling and fcorne: and whereas they (of all others) have beft meanes,largefl: maintenance, mofl time, capacity, and pregnancy of wit, and other encouraging advantages, whereby they might become excellent fchoUers of eminent abilities, proportionable to their precedency irj birth: yet for want of a confcionaWe care in their cducation,of choice

P 4 for

^\6 A SERMON.

for godly and worthy Schoole-mafters, Tutors, Teachers, CGnforts,Miniftcrs,and reftraint from the coriuptions of the times; and by reafon of their perverting and empoyfoning by the fore-named youthfull aberrations, or rather exorbi-tancies. They pafle through thofe famous nurce-rics of learning and law, without any materiall im-prelHons of Academicall worth, or wifedome of State. At length returning many times unto rich inheritances, and faire eftates, and then refleding wpon their loft time with late repentance, and finding in themfelves neither any^competent fuffici, cncies to ferve their Countrey, or to little pur* pofe, and very poorely ; nor any folid flock of ibund learning for their working fpirits to bee ex-ercis'din,and feed upon with contentment: they refolvedly languifh and diflblvc into idlenefTe and pleafures, as though they were put into the World, as Leviathan into the fea, to take their paftime therein. And foat laft in refped: either of perfonall worth, or the publike good, they become but unprofitable burdens of the earth: and by their exemplary ill expence of time, if not farrc bafer trickes; the very banc of the Countreyes that bred them, and great dishonour tothefamiliesthatownethem. Tor affureyour felves,to bee well borne, and live like an humane beaft, is a notorious blemifli to a noble Houfe: and let never any bee fo vaine, as to brag of their birthjcxceptthcy be new-borne; this honour of birthCfaith Charron)mzy light upon a vicious man, &c.

Neither

Neither will I here take up a complaint of the ^^^,7;^, -^^^^ much lamented degeneration of our modernc No- Gentry degencf bility and Gentry (I ever except the truly worthy ^^^^' and noble)from even the civill worthineire5milita-ry valour> and noble deportment of former times. Now a daics, ifa man Icokebig, befiril in thefa-Ihion, fliake his fhag-haire inaboifterous and ruF-fian-likc m-anner>carrie himfelfe with a difdainfuU ncglc(5tand proud bravery, and with an afFe<5led, and artificiall haughtincfte of countenance, outbrave others, and brow-beat his brethren, better than himfelfe,he is the man. But alas! How farrc 'diflantisthis, and degenerating from true gcne-roufnefTe, and that fweet amiable courrelle and affability which was wont to dwell in the gentle breafls of the ancient Englifh Nobles ^ I am a-fraid if wee goe on, our pofterity will finde in the next age the bafeft generation of Englifli r/iat e-ver breathed in this famous Kingdome. Sir Walter Rarvlergh, I confefle in his excellent Work having difcourfed and difcufTed of this Queftion, whether the Bomam could have re(5tificd the GveaZLy^lexmJerj makes good in a fecond place Lib^pag,i6t tothemarchlefle honour of this Nation, chat nei- (^M-thcr the Oliacedonun, nor the Roman fouldier was of equall valour to the Bnglijh, But when wercthofetimes^ When his Father fent to the Blacke Prince, fighting (as it were)in bloud to the knecs,and in great diftrefre,this mefTagc; Let him cither vanquifli or die. When VVarwickc^,Bed' «/^. of Trance^ ford^ and that famous Talbot, and fuch other p«^.»5«. yiiftorious Englifli Commanders with their va- .

lianc

liant armies walked up and downe FA-^/^f^^ like fb many invincible Lions.But oh the mighty,and unconquerable manhood and magnanimity of the ancient Englijh ! Whither art thou gone^and where art thou buried, that wee may vific thy Tombed But I fay, to let thefe paffe, I onely lay hold upon that which is moft pregnant and pundluall to my purpofe. TmaJ'^wnp. . ThcfeiV^^/^y iu my Text, and ordinarily inall tationi. times fwallow down fo many baits from the divels

hands, are fo furrounded with variety and ftrength of temptations: fo ill brought up, and fo vainely puft up with infolency and felf-eftimation,becaufe they are lifted up above others:They are fo limed with inextricable infnarements, by pleafures, riches, honours, eafe, liberty, earthly fplendour, bravery, applaufe of the world, and pride of lifej that commonly, by fuchtimeas they come to the ftrengthof body and mmdacorruft ajfethon obtains its full ftrength and height, and hardneffe in their hearts: And then,and by that time,in what danger they are for falvation, you may perceive by well weighing the condition of this divcllifli engine, and its curfed companion, which I am wont to de-fcribe thus: Corrupt affim- It is the ripened and aduated ftrength and rage 9n\de}ned, of Originall corruption that furioufly executes the rebellious didates of the Divell, and dcfperare proje(5ls of Mens fenfuall hearts: ftands at defi-ance,profefres open hoftility againft grace, good-neffe, good men, good can es, and all courfes of fandificution^ feeds upon fo long, and fils it k\^c

fo

fofiiU with worldly vanities and plealures, that growing by little and little incorrigible^and hating to be reform'd, it breeds, and brings foorth(asits naturalliflue) defpaire, honour, and theworme which never dies.

And this corrupt afFedion is of it felfcjand natu-rally, Firft, iintameabkj Secondly, infatiablej Thirdlyjdefperare.

I. Untameable.The heart ofman is naturally ^° ^^'^^''^J^' ofthehardtft flinr,hcw'd immediately our of the ^Jl\r7atieTQ fturdy and ftubborne rock of the race of k^dam, change the Itsownecorruption,thejLiftcurreofGoD upon t'l^k^ri/ it, and the accurfed influence of hellifli malice, fill grace from God it fo full of ironfinewes, and of fuch adamant and ^"^^^ prodigious hardncffe, that no crofTe or created ° '^^'^^^^ power, not the fofteft eloquence or fevered courfe^ nay,not the weight cf the whole world, orthe heav'neiTe of Hell, if they were all prelTed upon it, could pofTibly bend and breake it, make it yeeld or relent one^bt from it obftinaie and out-ragious fury in it owne wayes: this is onely the worke of the Holy Ghoft,with the hammer of the Word. The ftubborne ifraelitcs were heavily laden with.an extraordinary variety of moft grievous erodes and affiidions: there was nothing wanting to m.ake them outwardly miferable^ and^ no miferyiniiided upon them, but upon purpofe to humble and take downe their rebellious hearts. StQlfayi,'$y6,'j. How the Prophet paints out to the life the rufull and diftrcffefull ftate of their frefh-bleeding defolations : Thewholehead (S2i\th he j i^fickeiandthe tvhok heart is heofvy ,&c. For the

place

place is meant, not (as fome take it) of their fins, but oFtheir forrowes. But all the blowes and pref-fures were fo farre from fofcning their hearts, that they hardened and emmarbled them more and more.when foreiMihihc Pvophei)J])OuUje he finite tenanj moye^feryefallawaj more and morz^? chnfissermont What Created power can poffibly have more little toTou^ht power upon the foules of men, than the facred Scr-«,i the imes, ^^^^ of the Son of G o D, whojpake as never mm Jpake .? And yet i hefe deareintreatics and melting invitations which fvvcerly & tenderly flow'd from that heart,which was refolved to fpil that warmcft & inmoft bloud for their fakcs,moved thofefliffe-necked ]ewes ncvct ^jov.lerufalemjlentfdlew, faith ' hcjtvhkl kiHesftk Prophets,^c.Mat,2^,'^'j, Ifaiah that noble Prophet, whofe matchleffe eloquence furpaflfeththe capacity ofthe largeft created under-flanding; and to which the powcrfull elegancies of prophane writers is pure barbarifme,fhed many ana many a gracious and golden fhower of fofteft and fweeteft eloquence upon a finfull nation and rebellious people,which was fruitlefly and vainly fpilt as water upon the ground, or loft upon the hardeft flint: many a piercing and powerfull Sermon had heefpentamongfl: them to the wafting of his ftrength and fpirits 3 which yet was to them as an idle and empty breath, vanifliing into no-thing,and fcatter'd in the ayre. The Lord (as He fayes Himfelfe)madc his mouth as a (harpe fword, and Himfelfeasa chofcn fhaft 5 and yet that two-Cap.40.4. edged fword was full often blunted upon their hardeft hearts, and his kccnc arrowcs difcharged

by

A SERMON.

221

by a skilfull handjfcbounded from their flinty bo-fomcs,asfhaftsflioragainftaftonewal]. And that made that Seraphicall Oratourjthe unmatched Paragon of facred eloquence, thus to cowphincj/ay ^^j,/!^.! have laboured in vaine^ I have J^em my ftrengthin vaineidndfor nothing.

A courfc ofextraordinary fevcrity and terrour pharaohhard^ was taken with Pharach-^ he was not only chaftifed «f^ oihtm. wi' h rods,but even fcourged with Scorpions; and yet all the plagues ofJEgypt were fo far from piercing and foftning his hard hearr^asthar every particular plague added a feveral iron fincw^and more flintincs to his already ftony heart. And as the heart is naturally thus hardened towards godlineffe, fo alfo hollow towards the godly: See Sauls carriage towards David, No materiall weight can more crufli the heart of man, than braying in a morter 5 and yet faith Salomon, Prov. 27.22. Though thew jheuldefi bray afcok.z defperste finner, a rebellious wretch, in a mcrter amongjl wheat braced with a pe^ ftfl:>jct will not hiifoolijlmes J:\is finfullnes,whicn is xhcgx^dXcik^departfrcmhim^no more than the skinne from theBlacke^morCiCr thef^otsjrom the Leopard by rvaf])inghim.

Shame an old obftinate beaten finner with his Nothingmoves^ horrible ingratitude^ (how him the ugly face of his «« ^^'"^ *f«'''« hainousfins, tell himofthelofTeofthehappinefle ofHeavensaffright him with the feare of hell and damnation: in all this hee is like a Smiths anvill that growes harder and harder for all his hammering. Laftlyja dam.ned fpirit,though he lye in the Idwcft dungeon of utter darkncflfe, laden with t hat

burdca

burden of finne, which preft downc a glorious Angell of light and all his followers from the top of Heaven into that loweft pit, with the full weight of the unquenchable and everlafting wrath of G o D 3 with all the heavy chaines of that infer-nail lake 5 and with that which (meethinkes) is farrc worfe and more cutting than many hels, than ten thoufand damnations, even with defpaire of e-ver having eafe, end or remedy of chofe moft bitter, everlafting, intoUerable hellifh torments: I fay,though a damned foulebe thus laden,and thus heavily preft downe with all this curfed weight, and hainoufnefTe of Hell; yet he is ftill as hard as a ftone.So certain it is,that no curfe,or created pow- . cr,nor the fofteft eloquence or fevereft courfe, not the weight of the whole world or the heavines of hell; if all were preft and laid upon the heart of a man; could poflibly breake that ftubbornefTe, or tame that rebellion. This is onely the worke ofthebleffed Spirit with the hammer of the Word. The hard hear- Thls hardncfTe of heart had attained a ftrangc tedaejfe of man height evcn in the worlds infancydnto what a pro-f-m hujaU, Jigious rocke is that growne now then by length of time,info many ages,fith every generation fince by invention of new finnes, and addition of hainoufnefTe unto the old, have every one added thereunto a feverall iron finew, and a further de-greeofflintincflfe. iT^t. What a heart was got into Cdins brcaft,

whowasfirftcut out of the ftony rocke of cor-rupc man-kind 5 remorfcof itcdding the guilt-

ile/Tc

lefTe blood of his murthcrcd brother, which was able to have n^elted an adamant into bloody teares, mooved hi«i never a whit. Nay,the prc-fenceof Almighty Go d, at which the earth pral.114.7. trembles J the hiUs melt like wax,wh:chturneththc^ ^1"^'*% rockeintowater-pcleSi an^theflintintoafeuntahieof "^' ^ ' Jv^^^(asI>4^'/i^pcakes) yet made his ftony heart relent never a whir. Nay, yet further, Gods mighty voyce immediately from his own mouth, which hreakes the Cedarsiandjhakes the wilderHejfe^y which was able with one word even in a moment toturnethc whole World into nothing, and the fonnes ofmen as though they had never beene; 'yet (I fay) this power full and mighty voyce did notatallamazeor moUifie the unrelenting ftub-borneneffe of this bloudy wretch: but in a ftrangc dogged fa(hion he anfwers God Almighty even to His face. For, when Go d mildly and fairely asked him what was become of his brother ^be\ he anfwered, / cannot tell: Nay, further, as though hee had bid God goe looke, hec faith, K^m Imj brothers keener ? Where take this note by the way 5 Let not Chriftians think much to re- Gen.4.^. ceive dogged anfwers and difdainfull fpeechcs • from prophane men: you fee how doggedly this fellow anfwers even God Almighty: TheDjfciple is not above his Majter,nffr thefervant above his Lord: It is enough for the Bifcifle to be as the Majter and the firvant as his Lor d:if they have called the M after of the houfe Beelzebub Jjow much more them of his houfijold j*" iU^r^Mo.24,25. »t L I J

Whataftrangcftonyhcartlodged in the brcaft f/^**^'^^*

of

J24 A SERMON.

ohhety tint Pharaoh} WhentheProphet(ir/^^/ l3.)cncdtothealrarof/^r^^/?4;»,0 altar altar, the altar clave prefently afunder at the Word of Go d in the mouch ofthe Propher-,biit this mighty hammer ot the Word, (/fr.23.29.) with ten miracles „ aaveten mighty ftrokes atP^<ir4^^j heart-and yet tbut impudent could find noentrance,couid not pierceit. Let no perfbns are no manthen thinkc it ftrange to fee many Hubborne mremoved. ^^^ rebellious wrctches run on in their courfes,and rage againft the waies of G o d , though they have both the Miniftcry ofthe Word of Go d to rc-claime them, and be many times fingled out particularly bythe hand of God withfome fpeciall judgement/or the abatement of their fury. For, the rebellioufnes of mans nature can never pofllb-lybee tamed,corruprafFedion can never bee conquered, untill the heart wherein it fits inrhron'd, be cruflit and broke in peeces : and this hardneffe ofheart can never bee mortified, no created -power can poiTibly pierce it, untill the Almighty Spirit take the hammer of the Word into His owne hand • that by His fpeciall, unrefiftable power He may firft breake and bruife it, and after by fprink-lingitwiththebloud of Christ, diflblve it into tearcs of true repentance,that fo it may be fof-J^rn'mmr ^ened,fanaified,and faved. And let no man mar* producetb veil, that the powerfullcft Miniftery doth produce [corners. by accident the moft peftilent fcorners, cruel-

left perfecutors, and men of moft raging carriage The War} againft the meanes of their falvation^ for thefc

M<i\ts the dead jcafons.

mrcto/}inke. ^^ ^Fromthc naturc ofthe glorious Gofpell

of Je sjf s Chr I $T,the Sun of righteoufnesAvhieh fhining upon one that hath fpiricuall hfe,will more revive and quicken him : but in one dead in finnes and trefpafTes, caufes him to ftinke more hatefully before the face of Go D and man.

2. From the cruelty of Satan: who laiesmore saunhoU0irs burdens and heavier chaines upon him that the ^""^^ ,^^'^'",'J^i Minifters labour to pull out or his inares. ay,<zv.

2. VnfAtiable, Corrupt aflPcclion is unfatia- corruption m-ble in all its fenfuall purfuits^for theempoyfo- J**'^-*^'^-ncd,

1. Fountaine of originall pollution is hot- ort^inaUpoUw tomleflejrciHefTe, and ever working 5 it fends out '^"^^-IP^^"^' uncefTanily frcfli defires, new longings, and more greedincfTe, for the grafping, engrofling, and devouring of earthly delights and carnall 'plea-

fures.

2, When the heart ofman for fakes the blefTed ^'^'^ '« H^'« 2.ndhound\c(CcFoumaJffeofUvwgwaursi of which pttftottm"fe if it fliould drifike heartily and fincercly, and every

drop fhould be in it a well of water Jpri/fring up to <?-verUHing Itfe-^znA digs unto it earthly p'ts; wher-outto fuck the muddy and troubled ftreams of vanity and fenfuall delights 5 then G o d in his juft Judgement makes thofe pits bottorales.that they'l hold no water; fo that it (liall fceke and never be fatisfied : it fliall toile and tire out it felfe in waies of wickedncfTe and deft ruction, and fliall never find end and reft; but in endleflc woe and reftleffe torments. IThuf''''''

5. Never was jay lor fo jealous over his prifo-ncrs,as Satan is watchfull over every wicked man.

CL And

Sat nmhmen And therefore Icaft he fhould wax we^ry of his infatiabkinfm way to hell,hc failes not by a fecrct accurfed influence to fill his finfull heart, with an unquenchable thirfl after pleafuresofthe earth. And he doth not only put this unfatiablethirft into the foule ofa car-^ nail man; but alfo by his jugling and art of impo-

flure^he guilds over fenfual objeds with lying glory jand a deceitfuU luftre,and puts a violcnt,ftrong inticing power into worldly vanities^thatthcy may continually feed his greedy appetite withfreili fuc-ceflion, and an endlefTe variety of fenfuall fweet-nefTes. Satan himfclfe is infinite in malice againft the majefty of G o d . He drinkes up fin, and de-voures iniquity with as infatiable grecdincfTe, as Behemothxhtnytt lordan, Satan hath lis Of all thofe huge mountaines, the numberlefle hand imvery number,andpurplc feas offins and tranfgrcflions, M which have at any time, any where, by any crea-

ture been committed fince himfelfe firft fell from heaven unto this houre,or fhall be from thence un-till the day of doomCjOr from thence everlaftingly in hell,by bannings,curfings,and defpairsamongft thofe damned fiends r I fay, of all thefe fins Satan is guilty one way or othenand if he might have his willjhe hath malice enough to make an infinite addition bojih in number and hainoufnefiTe. Where onefint>^is committed, he wiflieth there were ten thoufand.He would have every finfull thought be a firi of Sodomy: every idle word adefperateblaf-phemy^every angry lookja bloudy muither,every frailty,a ciying fin: every default, a damnable rebellion. Now as Satan himfelfe is thus infinite and

infati-

i

infatiable in the wayes of darknefTc; fo doth he in-fpire every limbe of his with a fpice of this finfuil greedinelTe,and reftlclTe purfuit of their owne wicked waies.

Togiveaninftantof trembling and terrour in ^fwearer tbat^ this kind,and of Satans merciles malice that way. I f/ipekiL^ill knew a man which in his life time was given to that oathi. fcarefuU blafphemous fin of fwearing, who com-mingtohisdeath-bedjSatanfofild his heart with a madded and enraged greedineffe after tha^ (moft gainelefTe and pleafurelelTc fin) that though him-felfe fwore as fall and furioufly as he couIdjyetCas though he had been already amongfi: the bnnnings and blafphemics of hell) he defperatly defir'd the fianders-by to helpe him with oathes, and to fwearc for him. Incredible rage,prodigious fury \ Now if Satan be able to beget fuch infatiablencffe ahcr fin wherein there is no profit or delight at all; how fiercely andfearcfully will he enrage carnall men in the purfuit of gainfulljpleafurefulljand advancing fins c*

You fee then how the unfatiablenefTe of corrupt affection fprings out of the fountaine of Originall naughtinefle/rom the juft curfcof Go Dand malice of Satan.

It is cleare and evident by ordinary experience, ^^r^h i'^^'f-and obfervation in the world, with what infatisfi- •'^'^^ ^"^*^'*' '^' able defire and greedincfi^e,corrupt affedion doth feed upon that fenfual ob/e6l,and earthly pleafure, upon which with fpeciall apprehenfion, and de-lightfull tafte,it feazes and fets it felfe. . ^

I. If it fall in love with honour and high tmT'^^"^^' 0^2 roomcsi

loomcs^ it begets ambition, which is an unfatiable thlrft after glory5and a gluttonous exceilive defirc after greatnefle. ^tionpor,. Qf ^jj other vicious paflions which doe pofTeffe ^ the heart of man, it is the moft powerfull and un-

^ conquerable. Asitisfuperlativeandtranfccndent

in itobje(5land afpirationsjand feated in the high-efhand haughtieft fpiritSjfoisitrefolute and def-perate in it undertakings, furious and head- flrong inits purfuits and profecutions. Ambition ven- It IS ventrous to remoove any let, and hardned trous. £q J ^jj meanes 3 many times without remorfe or

teares, it takes out of the way by fome cruell contrivance, their deareft friends, and tramples rhe-neereft blood,as we fee ordinarily in the Turkifli Emperors,to get up into an high place^and grafp an Imperiall Crowne, Ambition ma' It is vi(5borious ovcr all other affedions^and ^mm^" ^^^' mafters even the fenfuality of luftfull pleafures, as wee may fee in many great men of the Heathens, {Alexander, Scipo, Pom^ey^ and many othersj who being tempted with the exqi'jifitncfleand varieties of choifeft beauties^yct forbare that villany, not for confcience fake , or for feare of G o d, whom they knew not; but leaft thereby they fliould flop the current of their vi(5lorious atchie-vements^and obfcure the glory of their remarkable valour. >j«ji;.,"« n.»j. It preferres a hi^h roome in the world before a m upon life, temporall lircs yea, and eternall lire too. How many great mens hearts have burft, at the difplea-fed and frowning countenance of a King ^ How

many

many cither by defperate pradifes or their ownc violent hands have brought themfelves to untimely ends,bccaufe they were impatient of the lower places they had formerly enjoyed, i^chitophel, when he was like to loofethe reputation and ranke cf a Privy Counfellor,fadled his AflTejWcnt home, put his houfe in ordcr,and hanged himfclfe. How many daily run great hazards, to domineere for a while in their undeferved dignities f And prepare againftthc day of wrath, by an unconfcionable purchafingofhigheftroomesamongft the fons of menif

Laftly, it is uncapable of fociety,and fnarpened ^^^'l^onmuid by the injoy ment of that it defireth. Give roome to Cdfar, and hce'l ambitioufly purfue the Sovc-raignty ofthe whole world: Let ^^lexander conquer the whole world, he'l aske for mocjiet thofe be fubduedshe would climbe towards the ftarres, ifhe could afpire thither, he would peepe beyond the heavens. Fcr the froud and dmhitiot^ man en-largeth his defire like hell^andis as death.and cannot he jQ?Af/^^;C^^.//4^.2.5.Who can fill the bottomlelTe gulfe of helljor ftop the infatiable jawes of death f neither can the greedy humour of a haughty fpiriC be fatisficd.

Letaconfidcrationofthat Crowne ofendlefle Hsavenacoun* joy and glory,which the Chriftiart hath in purfuir^ ^er-poyfonto beuntohimacountcrpoyfonto uphold his heart '*^^'"**-in comfort and contentment againft the vanity and venome of fuch endlefle ambitions; and if men be fo infinitely vcntrous for an earthly crown, which (asoriefayes) if we well weighed with

0^5 what

A SERMON.

CovetoUjTieJfe injat table.

Covetoufne^e in bafefi hearts,

Cavetoiifneffe walies an heU on earth.

Coveteufnejfe mafies men neg' kSl themfelves

whatfeares,jealou{ies,cares,infidiations, &c. it is thick fet,if we found it before us in the way wc would not take it up. I fay then^how eager fliould we be after the glory of Heaven c*

2.. If coirnpt affedion fail in love with riches, and the wedge of gold,it begets covetoufne/Te^ the vileft and bafeft of all the infedion of the foule.

As ambition haunteth the haughtieft fpirits, fo covetoufnelTe lodgeth in the moft dunghill difpo-iition, it turncs the foule of man,that noble and im-mortall fpirit into earth and mudrwhereasit might live in Heaven upon earth, and by holy meditation, by a fweet familiarity and acquaintance ( as it were)with Go D,and converfing abovejand in that cverlafting Heaven of endlelTe happinefTe hereafter. It lies in Hell upon earth,and by reftlefle torture of unfatiable greedinefTe, makes way by it rooting to dekend into the hell of wicked Divels in the world to come. This devouring gangrene of greedineire,to get riches^doth not onely by a moft incompatible antipathy,keep out grace and God s feare s but alfo by it venomous heat waft and con-fume all honeft and naturall afFe(5lion, both to man and beafts,to parents^kindredjfriendsjand acquain-tance,

Nay^it makes a man contemne himfelfe body ] and foule, wilfully to abandon both the comfortable enjoyment of this fhort time of this prefent mortality, and all hope of the length of that blef-fed Eternity to come, for a little tranfitory pelfe, which he doth never enjoy or ufe; except it be for ufe,which enlargeth his covetous thirftas mighti-

ly,as it brings forth mony monftroufly.

Beiidcs,covetournes picrccth thorow the foule covetoufneft with a thoufand tormencs,and the riches of iniqui- ^"xatlT'' ty ingender in the heart of man many tortures, envies and moleftations^as their proper thunder-bolt and blading.

And of all other vile affeaions it is moft fottifli- ^'^'c[°infh ly and fenflefly unfatiable, Ecclef ^,2,Torjhow is '"* '" k polTible that earth lliould feed or fill the immaterial! and heaven-borne fpirit of a man ^ It cannot bc:and the Spirit of Go d hath faid it fliall not bej Ecclef,$ .9. He that loveth JilverJI^aH not be fat is fed witfjfilverjScc. Hence it is, that the deeplier the drowfie heart of this covetous nian doth drinke of this golden ftreame^the more furioufly it is inflamed with fpirituall thirft.

Nay, it is moftccrtaine, that if the covetous ^^^fo^rncj^g, man could purchafe a monopoly of all the fiiSdeftres wealth in the world 3 were he able Co empty the »'<^^' Wefternc parts of gold and fiiver^, and the Eaft of pcarles and jewels; (hould he cnclofe the whole face of the earth from one end of Heaven to the o-ther, and heap his hoards unto the ftarres: yet his heart wouldbeas hungry after more riches, as if he had never a penny, and much more : Such is Gods curfe upon that man which makes his gold his god.

And this infatiablenedein the covetous man be- coveicH^t.efc gets cruelty and oppre{fion of others^and perpetu- '^^^P^ "^^'^y al want of contentment and comfort in that he hath already .Sweetnes of gainc makes him many times drink the blood and eat the flefli of theopprclfed. Qjt He

He begins firft (if he be of power and place) to grind thefaces of the poorc;then to pluck off their skins, then totcarc their flefh, then to breake their bones,and chop them in peeces as flefti for the por, and at lafl: even to eac the flefli of G o d s people. That is; firft to weary them out with peity wrongs and extraordinary occafions, to vexe them with new conditions, and unconfcionable encroachments : and at Lift to wring their penfive foules from their wafted and hunger-ftarv'd bodics^with • extremity of opprcflion, and cruelty of covetouf-nefTe. covemfnejjfe And that which is a juft curfe upon the covetous »ever mtm. j^^p. j^^ jg ^y^^ infinitely more tormented with the want of that which he doth immoderately and un-necefrarilyde{xre,then contented and comforted withtheenjoymcntofthofe things he doth pre-fcntly pofTefTe. Ambition and The ambitious man,if he be difgrac'd and over-Z^J^arl^f^ top'd by any grand oppofite and counterfcjdioniff, or derided, and revil'd with bafcrand inferiour contempt, or negleded by omifljon of fome due obfcrvanceand ceremony of ftate: he (Ifay>)is more grieWd,if he want grace/or fome fuch little default in the attributions of his place,and want of complementall refpedt in that meafure,and of fuch menashedefires,thenhehath glory and pompe^ in his higheft place.This is cleare inffama/f^thou^h he was compafled and crown'd with fuch undefer-' vedand extraordinary precedency and pompe>

yet this one Jitle thingihecstufcMor^ecai would not bow the knee and do reverenccto him at theKings

gate.

gatc,did utterly marre and diflweeten alJ the other excellencies of his new advancemenr,and extraor-dinarinefTe of the Kings favourjSee Heshr 5.10,11 12,1^. Ar^d Bamm teld his wife and friends efaU his gl6ry,(^c.Eut Allthis{{2\x.\\ hc)dot/j nothing availe me as long as I fee Oil or deed the lew fitting at the Kings gaie^. As it is thus in ambition,and in great men that aregracelelle; they many times take more to heart(outofthe pride of their hearts) the want of fome one eircumftantiall obfervancejand of reverence from fome one manjthen they heartly enjoy all the other glory of their place: fo it is alfo with the covetons man 3 though already he hath more then enoughjyet fome greedy wifh of a new addition doth more torture his heart, then the rowing amongft all his other wealth can rejoyceit.o^/'rf^, * ^^'"S ^^'4. though he had already in his hand the riches^glo-ry3pleafuies,and foveraignty of a kingdome, yet after he had caft his covetous eye upon poorc iV^-hdths vinyard which was neare his Palace,his heart did more affli(5l and vex it felf with greedy longing for that bit of earth.then the vaft & fpacious com-pafTeofa kingdome could counter-comfort. He could take no joy in the beauty of a crowne, and largenesof hisroyall command^becaufe his poorc ; neighbour would not deprive himfelfe and all his pofterity of the inheritance of his fathers, which his anceftors had enjoyed time out of mind.

For a counterpoyfon againft the greedy gan- Meditations^ '» grcnc of hoarding up riches^coniider in what ftead root m earthy riches will ftand thee upon thy bed of death, "'*-'"^-^^' confidcrthat fpecchofapoorc diftrefTcd woman

afflidcd

afflidled in confcicnce, whom J heard thus fay in thcagony of her grieved fpirit: I have husband, goods^ andchildren,and other comforts s I would give them all the Treafures of the Earth if I had them,and all the good I (h ill have in this world or in the world to comejto feele but the leaft taftc of the favour of G o d in the pardon of my finne ; Ihe would in this cafe with all her heart have given the warmeft and deareft blood of her heart for one drop of C h r i s t s blood to doe away her fins. Voiuptuoufnes If corrupt affeif^ions fall in love with worldly infatiabie. pleafure, fuch as are furfeiting and drunkenncflc, chambering and wantonnefTe, luft, and unclean-nefife, unlawfull {ports«nd recreations, it begets a Grange furious thirft and heat in the carnall appetite, which cannot be fatisfied, butlikethetwo daughters of the horfleech, which cry ftill, give, givej which is fet on fire by Hell: and therefore it is as unfatiable as that bottomlefle Infernall pit 3 every tafl: of fenfuality ferves as fewell to increafe the flame and fury of concupifcence. We fee it in drunkards, who by drinking doe not quench their thirft,and fatisfie their appetite, but by their immoderate fvvilling both increafe the burning thirft of their bodies and inraged intemperance of their minds. We heareit o^vjanzonSyWifiome 2. Come let m enjoy the fleafures that are frefent,^c. Let us crorvne our [elves with Rofes before they wither, let there be rio fleafant meadow which our luxuriouf nejfe doth not fajfc over ; letm leavefome token of our fleafurcin every f lace,for that isonrfortion^andthis is

Mr

eur lot. Every Carnalift fceles it in himfelfe after

once he hath given the reins to his concupifccnce :

heislikeaftrong man running headlong downe

a fteepe hill, though he would never fo fainCj he

cannot ftayhimfelfe, butrunne ftill fafter and fa-

ftertill he breake his neckatthebottorac: If once

he fuffers the fountaine of originall pollution

which naturally flowes^3iit of his rocky heart, to

have that free and full courfe: it will fhortly ga«

ther in its palTage many ftrong and heady ftreames

offtubbornenelTe and rebellion untill by growing

by little and little in ftrength and fwiftneffe, it

fwell into a mighty and furious torrent, fo at laft

fall with fearefull noife and horrour into the gulfe

ofinecoverablemifery. In a word^after the heart

of a man be fet upon any fenfuall delight, it feeds

upon it as greedily as the hoifleech upon corrupt!

blood,it will burft before it gives over. It will by j

nomeanes part with its hold untill it either bee

broken with the hammer of the Word, or burft

with the horrour of defpaire. It drinks fo deepe

andlongoftheempoyfoned cup of carnall plea-

fures,untill the L o r d fill it unto its brim,full of

the cup of wine of his indignationjand bid it drink>

be drunken, and fpue and fall,and rife no more,/^r.

25.27. Mditati

A counterpoyfonsgainft this greedy wolfc of gainfi voilptu^ devouringearrhly delights; confider that at our oufnejfe. conv ^xC\ov\,M tit amurgdudia^rtOft toUuntur jBeAvcnly fucceedcarnallJ0j€S : SQcUckfon of lujl^Fatth^fag,

340,341. ^^^^ . r .

4. If it fall in love with rcvcrge, it begets a bafe tmlf '*"'*'

a

a cruell and vvolvifh difpoficion, and an unnaturall thirft of blood; of all the finfull paflions of the foule, d<ifire of revenge is the n:\oft bafe and cowardly : it ever breedes in the moft hateful! and weakeft minds. And of all kind of revenge,that is moft execrable and deadly, which(like a (crpent in the greene gra(re)lies lurking in the flatteries and f awnings of a fliering face,which kifTes with Jud^vsy and kills W\xS\loAh: entertainesa man with outward formes and complement, and curfefie, but would (ifitdurftor might) ftrike about the third ribjthat he (hould never rife againe: When a mans words are to his neighbour as foft: as oylc and butter, but his thoughts towards him cora-pofed all of blood and bitterneffe of gall and gunpowder. Revengeinha- ^^^ ^^ commonly fee that the bafcft and fefi mindi, moft worthlelTe men are moft malicious and revengefull.'fcldome doth it find harbour in a wcl-bred and generous fpirit: but as thunder, and tcmpcfts, and other fearefull motions in the aire doe trouble onely and difquiet thofe weaker fraile bodies below, but never difturbe or difmay thofc glorious heavenly ones above: fo wrongs,difgra-cesand wrongful! ufages doe vex and diftemper men of bafer temper and conditions.-butthe caufe* lefTe fpite and prophanc indifcretions and chil-difti brawles of fooles, wound not great and high minds. fmrevengeT Above all Others, thetrueChriftian which is onely of a true noble fpirit, contemncs, fcorncs, and difdaines to be revenged uponany,t hough

his

his undefcivedly bafeft and greateft enemy :

For,

I .He is completely fordfied with the armour of saimt fuppor^ proofeofhisowninnocencyagainftthemaliceand '^'^ ^.^'^ ^*5'J mifchicfeoFwicked mcn^and comforted continu- Ifaulef'^ ally with that inward fpirituall feaft of a good con-fcience iigainft all the lies and (landers of lewd and fpitefuU tongues.

2. Hee leaves them to bee fcourgcd of their ^'a/V* leave owne confciences for their cauflcffe ill-wils a- -^a-^'^^^ll^^lli^ gainft him, and wrongfull dealings: then which, 'J^ne con[!ienee (except they repent and be reconciled) there

is no more certaine and fevere revenger and executioner, no fcourgcsjnofcorpions can foLifli and torture a man, as his owne foule and guilty confci-ence.

3. He is kept in awe by an holy feare from pre- s<i^^^^ »"«>'■« fuming to take vengeance out of Gods hands: It ^^'^^^i,^^'^^^^ is one of G o d s royall grerogativesjwe miift not

meddle with thar, or incroach upon ii^Vengeanc^^ is mlm-, I mllrefaj ity faith the Lord, Rem.12, ip. -

4. He will not pollute fo farre^ and defile the saint ftptli mt glory and nobleneffe of his Chriftian refolurion, f^ZZilbTai as to be mov'd and difquicted with the rage of any hjng revenge, dogged D(?f;^or railing Shimei.}yy procuring tcm-

porall puniilimcnts to the fpirituall afPtidions: and outward vexations to the inward wofull mifery of the foule of his prophanc malicious oppofite: except he fee it probable, that by fufiering juftice to have its courfe,the party may be humbled,and o-thers terrified. •

5. He

A SERMON,

s i shv p ti ^' Heknowes out of his Chriftian policy, eTce tahjreveg that a couragious and undaunted infenfibility in fuffering injuries, is the way to tame and flop the rage and fury of thewrongcrs^and to make them to returne and rebound wholly like heavy blowes upon their owne pates. For, a prophane malicious man cannot be poiUbly more vext^than to fee himfclf dired particularly his hate and contempt againft his fuppofed adverfary^a goodChri-flian_,and yet hee is able to beareit away without woundorpaffions nay with reputation and comfort.

As revenge is bafc, fo it is bloody and unquenchable, and prodigioufly thirfty that way: I will give inftance in the moft revengeful! wretch (lam perfwaded) that ever lived: It is reported of a man, or rather a * monfter of cJ^?/-lai»2 in Italy : when he had furprifed upon the fud-den one whom he dead lily hated, he prefentlyo-verthrew him, and fetting his dagger on his breaft, told him,hc would prefently have his bloud, except he would renounce, abjure, forfwcare, and blafpheme the Go d of Heavcn^which, when that fearefullman (toofinfully greedy of a miferable life) had done 3 in a moft horrible manner he immediately difpatch'd him, as foone as thofe prodigious blafphemics were out of his mouth : and with a bloody triumph infulting over his murdered adverfary, as though his heart had bcene poffeftof all the malice of hell, he added this horrible fpeech: oh (faith he) this is aright

Revenge U bloody.

^BodittdeRef lib.s c, 6,

nobler and htroicdl revenger , which

doth not onely

onely de^ri've the hody oftemfOraB life^ hutvftng alfo the mmortall fiule to en dieffe flames everlafi-ingly.

3. D^^^r4/^.- corruptafFeaionis ftrangelyde- cortupti^H u fpcratcto run headlong upon the damnation of hel, deiperareto the for a little earthly delight; if we fhould fee a na- Z''"'^' _ ked man in Tome furious moode, as prodigal! of his temporall life, run upon his owne fword, or throw himfelfe from fome fteepe rocke, or caft himfelfc into fome deepe river, and teare out his owne bowels, we fhould cenfureit prefently to be averydefpcrarepartandruefull fpe^f^ade: what fhallwefayofhimthem who thorough the fury of his rebellious nature, to the endlefle deftru^i-onofthelifeof hisimmorfall foule, doth defpe-ratly throw himfelfe upon the devouring edge of Gods fierccft indignation: upon the iharpeft points ofall the plagues and Gurfes in his Booke, and into the very flames of everlafting fire: It is ^veryfearefull thing, to fee a man bath and era-bruehis hands in the blood and butchery of his owne body,and with his murderous blade to take away the life thereof but of how much morehor-rour and wofulneiTcis thatfpecf^acle, when a def-perate wretch with the empoyfoned edge of his owne enrnged corruption, doth cut the throat of his owne deare immortall foule,fo that a man may track him all his Hfe long, by the blood thereofin the finfull paflTages of his life,untill at length he be ftaik dcid in finnes and trefpaffes, for how can a foule all purple red with wilfull fhedding its owne bloodjlookefor any part in that prctious bloud of

that

?4o A SERMON.

tffi^'^otleslJInbe^ Nay, afTuredly fuch bloody ftubbornnes and felfe-murthering cruelty will be paid homeatlaft, by the fevere revenger of fuch curled defperatneflfe. He will judge fuch'a man afcer the manner of them that flied their owne bloudjand give him the bloud of wrath and of jea-loufie.

Lorditisprodigiouflyftrange and lamentably fearefull, that fo noble and excellent a creature as man, prince ofall other earthly creatures, by the priviledgeofreafonandenlightned with the glorious beame of underftanding, nature fhould be fo furioufly madded with its owne malice, and be-witchedly blindfolded by the Prince which rules in the Aire; as, for the momentany enjoyment of fome few glorious mifcries^bitter-fweet pleafures, heart-vexing riches, or fome other worldly vanity at the beft,dcfperatly and wilfully to abandon and caft himfelfe from the unconceivable pleafures of its joy full place where Go D dwels^inro an infinite world of everlaflingwofulncfTe. For let a carnall man confider in a word his prodigious madneffein this point. fThata dejpe- He might not onely in this vale of teares bee '^ileshhnfei/ef foffcd with a peacefuU hearr,which is an incomparable precioufneffefurpalling all created under-ftandings: For I dare fay this, I know it to be true: One little glimpfeofHeaven {bed fometimes into the heart of a fandificd man, by the faving illumination of the comforting Spirit, whereby he fees andfeelcs, thatindefpightoftherage ofDivels, and malice of men $ lecfinnc and death, the grave

and

and hell do their worft,his fouk is moft certainely bound by the hand of Go p in the bundle of the li-ving,and that he fhall hereafter everlaftingly inha-bitc the joyes of eternity: I fay this one conceit being the immediate certificatoftheSpirit of truth doth infinitly more refreili his affeflions.-and aflPedl his heart with more true fweetncfTe and taftefull pleafure,then all carnall dclighcsjand fenfuali deli-caciecanpoifibly produce, though they were as exquifite and numberlc{re,as nature, art, and plea-fure it felfc could devifcjand to be enjoyed fecure-ly as long as the world lafts. Befides this heaven upon earth, and glorious happinefTe even in this world, he mi^ht hereafter goein arme with An-gelsjfit downc by the fide of theblefTed Trinity a-mongft Saints and Angels,and all the truly worthy menthat ever lived, with the high^ft perfe(5^ion of blifTcendiefre peace5and blefTed immortality: all the )oyes, all the glory, all the blifle, which lies within the compafle of heaven, fliould be powrcd upon him cverlaftingly.-and yet for all this he doth not only in a fpirituall phrenfiedefperatly deprive himfelfejand trample under foot this heaven upon earth, and that joy full reft in heaven, world without end:but alfo throwes himfelfe into a hell of ill confcience here,and hereafter into that hell of Di-vels ,which isa place of flames,and perpetuall dark-neffcwhere there is torment without end, and paft imagination.

The day will come, and the Lord knowes yj^ ^^^g ^j- ^^^ how foonc, when he will.clearely fee and ac- fperatefinnen, knowledge with horrible anguifli of heart, his

R ftrange

ftrange anddefperatemadncflc. SceWifei.$,2,(!rr^ For after the moment of a few miferable pleafures in this life be ended, he is prefently plunged into the fieiie lake; and ere he be aware, the pit of deft rudionfhiitteth upon him evcrlaftingly: and if fie^f foments oncc he find himfelfe in hcll,he knowesthere is no stu ejie. Redemption outofthatInfernal]pit; then would

he think himfelfe happie,ifhe were tofufFerthofe bitter and intolerable torments no moc thoufands ofyeares,thcnthere are fands on the Sea-(horc, hairs on his head, ftarres in Heaven, grafle piles on the ground,and creatures both in Fleaven and earthiforjhe would ftill comfort himfelfe at Icaflr with this thoughtjthat once his miferie would have an end; but alas,this word, ^^ever, doth ever burfl: his heart with unexprelTible forrow, when he thinks upon it:, for, after an hundred thoufand of millions of yeeres there fuffered, he bath as far to fufFer,as he had at the firft day of his entrance into thofeendleffe torments: now let a man confider, if he fhould lie in an extreme fit of the ftone; or a woman, if fhe fiiould be afBide d with the grievous torture ofchild-bed but one nighty though they lie upon the foftcft beds, have their friends about them to comfort them, Phyfitionsto cure them, all needfull things miniftred unto them to afTwage their paine y yet how tedious,painfull,and weari-forac would even one night feeme unto them^ how would they turne and toifethemfelves from fide to fide,tcUing the clock,counting every hourc as it paffeth, which would feeme unto them a whole day^ What is it thcn(think you)to lie in fire

and.

andbrimftone> inflamed with the unquenchable wrath of G o d world without end i Where they fhall have nothing about them but darknellc and difcomfort,yellings and gnafhing of teeth: their companions in prophanenefle and-v^nity to ban and cuvfc themrthe damned fiends of he! to fcourgc them and torment them: defpaire and the worme that never dies,to ktA upon them with cverlafting horrour.

If carnall wretches be fo defperate, as wilfully fTc oug^ to he to fpill the bloud of their own foulcs.-let us fet light r^g^^^ fJS^ by the life ofour bodies ,if the cruelry of the times call for it^ for the honour of the Saviour of our foules.

Let me give one inftance of dangerous fnares Me^fapnm wherinfuchasthefeare ordinarily entangled and hardy left. holdenfaft,from which inferiours are for the moft part free. Let us comcintoatowneorcountrey-village, and we fliall find all the reft not fo exorbi-cantjbut cnterinto the Noblemans, Gentlemans> or Knights houfe, (if there be any there) there fhall wee find a ncft of ncw-fangl'd fafliionifts; naked breafts^and naked armes, likebedlams/aith that excellent and learned Gentleman, in his Oyle pa,,!©^. ofScorpions, Buflies of vanity in the one fex,which they will nor part with (faith c^/4r^«/7) untill the Devill put a candle into the biiih: and cut haire in the other,ftirsagainft the Ordinance of G o D,and nature in both: & many other fuch d^ormed^loth-fome and prodigious fafhions, cenfured by that ftinging and flaming place againft fafliion-mon- . gers,2'4f^.i.8.And thefe are the more pernicious,

R 2 be-

becaufe it were many times more eafie for us of the Miniftery(I fpeakeout of fome experience) to un-dercakeby Gods h\c{\ing{c£ter/.<parfi>f^,as they fiy)rhe driving of an impure wretched drunkard, from his beaftly and fwinidi fin, which would be a very hard taske, then to draw fuch as delight in, and dote upon thefe miferable fooleries, from the abhorred vanity of ftrange fafhions: nay, and though fometimes they would be thought to look towards religion.

And thus I have done with the reafons peculiar

to every fcverall fort of greatnefTc; I now come to

thofe which are common to them all.

Great ones cne- j. All the great ones according to the flefh in

pfai.24,4. Jiny or tnele kmds; I lay,ye are alias yet deadly e-

Mat.5.8. nemies from the very heart-root to the profeflion

Heb.i a. I4- ^^^ pradifc of the holy men, without which ho-

linefiTc we cannot fqe Go D : you cannot indure to

Good Puritans be Called puritaus; much IcfTe to become fuch.-and

«Cf S'i«"cf i yet without purity, none lliall ever fee the face of

b K«, p>«c God with comfort. ^x^rr^rnt, ^ Miltakeme not. I meane L> h r i s t s ygM^oty xX^IVt^tL Ch RI sT s puritans,and no other,»i^/^^.j.S.b lohn Y>«i'<i> Aste'Miica I^.11.and c 15,3.

up.i.pag.isi. Secondly, I meane onely fuch as BellarmimL^ intimates,when hecals King Jam e s puritan: for, hefo calls him, faith D. Harkmt againfl Carrkr, becaufein tl^ firft bookeofhis BafdiconDoron^ he sffirmesjthat the religion proftfTedln Scotland was grounded upon the plaine words of the Scripture :■ And againein his fecondbook, that the reformation of Religion in Scotland was extraordinarily

wrought

wrought by Go o.Gratious nnd holy fpeeches (as you fee) with men of the world arc puritanicall. And ifa man fpeak but holilyjand name but reformation. Scripture, confciencc, and fuch other words which fting their carnal hearts,it is enough to make a man a puritan.

Thirdly, Imeanetheveryfamcjofwhom Bi-fhop Downam one of the greateft fchollars of cither Kingdome, fpcaks thus in his Sermon at Spittle, called {^hrahams Try all: And even in thefe ti?nes ^H-1 ^^ (faith he) the godly live amongH fuch a generation of rmn)(vs that ifa man doe but labour to keepeagcod con-fcienceinany meafure^ ahhough he meddle not with matters of St ate ^or Difcifline^or Ceremonies ,{^0^for ex. ,

amfle^ifa tji^inificr dHigcntly Preach, or in his f reaching feeke to profit rather then to pleafe, remerabring thefaytng of the i^pofiky If I feeke to pleafe men lam not the fervant of C h r i s t. Gal. 1.10. or ifa pri'vateChriftian make conference effwearing, faniiifyingthe Sabbath J jrequenttng Sermons ^ or ah-Hainingfrom the common corruptions of the time) hc^ jljallflraightway be condemned for a Puritan, andcoti-. fequently be lejfefavouredthen either a carnall Goj^el^ ler^or a clofe P apiftj(jrc.

Fourthly, I meane none but thofe whom the Communion-Bogke intends iotiiat paffage of the prayer after Con^efCioniThat the rejt of our life hereafter ma'j be pure andhdy .

Now thefe come by their purity by preaching theWord.Now faith Ch m s T,yearex.t9^,?.*^cleane ^Z^cf^'^ by the Word which I have fpoken unto you, loh^ 15.3.The Word muft firftillighten^convincejand

R 5 caft

A SERMON.

caft them downc: fo that out of fight of fin, and fenfe of divine wrath, being weaiie, ficke, loft, wounded, bruifed, broken-hearted, (thefe are Scripture phrafes) and thereupon cafting their eyes upon the amiablenelfejcxcellencic and fweer-ncsofthe Lord ]e svs,andthe Al-fijfficiencieof his blood to cure them, rcfolve to fell all, to con-fcffe and forfake all rheir fins,not to leave an hoofe behind: and then taking him offered by the hand of G o D s free grace,as well for an Husband, Lord, and King,to love,ferve,and obey him,as for a Sa-VI ov Rto free them from hell. They put on with the hand of faith the per fed puritie of his imputed righteoufnefcattendcd ever with fome meafure of inherent puritie, infufed by thefandifying Spirit, and after entring the good way, their lives are ever after pure and holy. FuritansaU Thefe are Ch R i sT s KctU^oh and the Puritans I meane. And thefe men of purity fome never meane to be: nay,they heartily hate the very Image of J E 8 V s Ck RI s T in them, they fpeakc fpirefully a-gainftthem. David\v:is not onely the drunkards fong, but thofe alfo that fate in the gate fpake a-gainft him : they are your fr^nfcke/md matter of your mirth 5 lamyotdr muficke, faith the Church in the perfon o^Icremy^Lam^^.They w'ill many times call upon a roguifli vagabond at your feafts ro fing a fong againft them, whom they fliould rather fee in the flockes 5 they are rranfported,and inwardly boyle with farre more indignation and heart-rifing againft their holincfre,purity3precife walking, and all mcanes that lead tbercumo, though cnjoyned

upon

waies hated'

upon paine of never feeing the face of Go d in glo-rie: thenmorefimple,poorer, and meaner men, Heb.12.r4. and that's a reafon ihey ftkke fafter in the Divels Matif.^'a!' clutches then they,and that few of them are called, lohn J j, converted,and faved,according to my Text. Eph j.1 r.

Secondly, ye that are thus the worlds favou- iroruymfe rites,are verie loth to become fooles s and there- '^^'>'/«"^^* fore in the meane time lie iockt full faft in the Divels bands, and cannot cfcape except ye be fuch. I fpeakeaverie difpleafing thing to worldly-wife men, but they are the verie words and wifdomeof the Spirit of GoDyiCor*-^.iS, Let no man deceive himfelfe : ifanj wan amongy ou feemeth to be tvifk^ in this rvorld^ let him become a fooU, that he may bez^

Let no man deceive himfelfe; fuch caveats as l^pl^^^kd/ this are wont to bee premifed when men out of their carnall conceipts are peremptorietothe con-trarie,and would venture their falvation (as they fay) that it is not fo. Sec Ephef^.e. iCcr.6,g. <j^/4^5,2. And did not moft of your hearts rifea-gainft thefe words of mine (you mufl: become fooles, or never be faved) untilll brought Scripture^

Give me here leaved pray you) to intimate in a ^ ^^^ j.,^^^ fewinftances the meaning of the place, and the d^ut^be^m truth of your falfe and fclfc»couzening hearts in obnoxioufneffe to the point. Suppofe a mcflfenger of Go D {hould dcale faithfully with you, and tell youjthat upon the Lords Day you muft not fervc your fclvcs^and your owne turnes, in idlencfTctra-vailing, fports, gaming: in any earthly bufineffe,

iR 4 01

or mif-imployment whatfoever : but fpend that whole blefTed Daie,wholly andonely in fpirituall refre(liing,hcavenly bufineiTesjdivine worfhip and holy duties: in meditation upon the creatures fpi-ritually,upon the great worke of Redemption and Refurrec^ion of C h r i s t: and upon tha-r everla-fting reft above: ofall which the Chriftian Sabbath is a remembrancer unto us, in both publike and private praier, reading, finging of Plalmes, hearing Sermons, confcrcncc.e^^. and in ruminating? and (as it were) chewing the cud upon Scripture points. I {zy-rttminatc {a^s it were) and chew the cud: fov jit is the very phrafe of the Church oi England in the Homily for reading Scrtpures, And thofe reverend and godly men which compcfed them, expreflfe the benefit thereof emphatically: Thus run the words^ Let m ruminate (of the Scriptures {c,^ that we may have thefweetjuyce^Jpir/tuall effect, marrow jh^njy kernell^ tafie, comfort ^and conjO" lati&n of tkem. I fay,fuppofeye were thus preft, would ye not prefently out of your worldly wife-dome and impatiencie fo be fo fnafH'd at>to be tied al the daie to fpiritual exercires,and reftraind from ordinarie recreations,conceive of it,and crie out a-gainft it as a puritanicall noveltie, and fooliili pre-cifeneffe^ Becaufe you mention precifcnesandno-veltiej couId(as I am wont,and to makeyou without excufe) appeale unto, and implore the aid of antiquitie,which will utterly take offfuch afperfi-ons. And here (were it incident and feafonable) I were able to procure Counccls and Fathers:,and o-ther authorities concurrently to teftiiie and take

my ail

my part^that upontheLoR d sDayitvearetorecreate cuyphes mly with(}irituAlldelights: onely then to plie divine bufinefres,and to do thofe things alone which belong to ourfoules falvaticn. Heare their owne words.

We ought upon that T>z.y^Solummodo [prnttuli-htis gaudijs rcplcri. Concilium Parifienfe. {^nno 82P.

Tantumdi'vinis cultibm ferviamus. Auguft. de Temp.Serm.25 i»5tf// divinocultui vacemm. Idem Ibid.^

£a^ tantufnfaciat qu£ ad amm£ falutcmfertinent, Hieron.in Cap.56.ira.

Nay the whole Church of-E«f/Whath this 60 yeeres and above complied exaSly with antiqui-tie in this point in the Horn, $f thef lace /tnd time of frayer: Thefe are the words,G oD S people fietf/d nfethe Sunda-^ holtly, and re si from their common and daily hufnejfe: andalfogive themfelves wholly te heavenly exercifes of GODS true religion andfervicc^* And yet for all this, you are fo wife in your owne conceipts; ye will none of this faving folly, you arc no fuch foolesjas after fo long libertie to fall ta any fuch" ftri^ntife.

Secondly,fuppofeaMini{ierfhouldcouniellyou semont tok& whenyou come home from thehoufe of G o D,to ^^^^^"^'^^°"' take your Bibles,and calbcth your wives and children to the comparing together, and conferring upon thefe thiiigs which were taught : That the husband (lioukl cxad of the v/ife, and the wife ask of the hufband thofe things that were there fpoken 3nd read,or at Icaft fomeofthemrThatyou fhould

fee

fa this law to your felvcs to be kept inTiolably, and not only to your felvcs,buc alfo to your wives and children:that you would fpend that one whols Day of the whole weekjWhcron you meet to heare the Wordjin meditation of thofe things which are delivered; I fay now in this cafe, your carnall wif-dome would refolutely condemne fuch counfels, as concrarie to the counfel ofgreathoufcs,as a way to become a By-v/ord to the whole Countrie, and as favouring too rankly of a foolifh ftricfbnefTe, and needleffe (ingularicie. And yet this was /<?//W'e«^^'^r-^^,wife,holyadvife above twelve hundred yeeres ago:For in giving the counfell,! have butrendred Chrjfojlome word for word in divcrfe places.Htf«;. 5 in Mat.In Efh.Serm. i o. Horn. % ,in Iom,B$m, 5. ad Fopul.Antioch, Famify duties of Thirdlyjf Preachers fhould prefTeyou to plant, piety. and preferve Family Duties in your houfe. Prayer,

and reading Scriptures, evening and morning, linging of Pfalmesjef ^.and you of grcateft meancs may beft fpare time for fuch blefTed bufineffes. Would not yourwifdomesthinke this more then need: Andthatitwouldbea foolifii thing, and much againft your profit, to rob your felves, and fervantsoffomuch time from your worldly affaires^ And yet here] could produce foure or five Fathers above a ihoufand yeares ago, preffing this point^and pundluall for my purpofe. Befides j^m-

brofe

^r<?/^ quoted in myhookc fiftvMttg with Gtd,fAg, ^^ tcatius e'jMcs^rcoihcrVaihctSfBaflfOrf^effjChryfiflomc^y cffe potent,

C^Uru/imc^. 1"am m teir^

'^ "^ . • tnpudium An-

gelorum imi-tsrijtnox orto die aJ prccationcspropcnntem, bymnis & odis vcneran Creatoiem 8cc.B.tfi! Epi/^i. '

Doicns & admoncrs, atq.formara ofiendenSj& tunc filijs fiii'-, & tunc omnibus nobis in pcrpetuum 5 ut confcftimdiluculoex nodis icqiue exfuroentcs ; nmeomnc ©pusjvel veiburtijante orane colloquium, vel convcntioncir., piimjtias lefurrcdionis noikix Deoexhibeamas m (liiccrisomtionibus, uq-, prccibiis,in matutinis deprecati* onibuSjatq; gratiarum zCtiombusfir'gin lib. 1./« ljb.fol,7.

Ainenfa nonadUdiitn, fsdad depiecationem vcitamur, ne biiKis animantibiis finaus inagis bruti, Novi foie muho<,quid3mnant ea,qu:E nunc dicuntur,veliiti qui novam quandam & miram confuetudinem invcham concionandi 5. At eeo maeis damnabopiavam cohfuetudincm, qua? nunc obtinuit. Ercnim quod poftcibum & menfam non ad fomnum oportcat irc^nec ad eubile, fed oportcJt cibo pieces ac divi-narum Scripturarnm Icdionem fuccedcic, maniftftiu? declaravit ipfe Chnftus qui quuin immenfammultitudincm accepiffetconvivio in defcrto, non rtmifit jllos ad leduin,autfomnam, fad ad audiendofcimonesdivinosinYitavic.C/!rj/yo//.co«c.i«2?e' La'^aro

Nccfoliim vobif fufficiar quod in EccleGa divinas leftioncs ^dits ; fed cjiam \r\ domibus vcftiis, nut ip(ilcgite,rut alios krentes req^uiritej&libeatcrauditc,^a£iiyj=, de Tem.Scrm 5 5 pag. 177'

Fourth Ivjf you were moved by til eMinifterie, ^ .. . to reftore everie halre pcnnie tliat you have any ^ waies at any time got wrongfully or by any wicked meanes,or that you dctaine unjuftly from any man: And thencafting your ele backe and con-fidering. How you are growre hdflily rich^ and by what waies you are come to a great deale of Wealth, fliouid find veiie foule wcrkes: would you not force your fclves by a ftrong counter-plea of carnall realon, not t© belecve the point, and thinkcit extreame ni^idncfTe at the inftanc'e^ and prating ofaprecife companion^ which undcrftands not the world (for fo or in the hke manner would you fpcake) to part perhaps with a good part of

youiL

youreftate^ Andyai^sfjufims Rule of above ^ twelve harrdfed yecres {landing, and confirmed

concurrently by all Divines to this day> is. That JV(?;? telltturfeccatum nifireHittiatur ablatumi^^oxc-ftitution, no remilHon. And ourowne Church tels us in the fccond exhortation before the Commu-nlon:Th:xt without read/ftejfe to make refiitutiony and fatisfatfionfor wrongs done, the Sacrament as often as you come, dothnothwgclfc but increafe jour damnation.

Thus might I pafTe through all the points of Sandification, and pafTages of holy life: And all the great men in the World, either in Learning, Wealth, Nobility, or Wifcdome according tothc^ fleJJjy would paflfethefeccnfures upon them, and cntertaine conceits ofthem proportionable to that oiNicodemm about the New birih.They will not become fooles in the Apoftles fenfe: And therefore they are foakt, and faft fettered in the gall of bittcrnefle^and bond of iniquity 5 and that above ordinaric. Gtzatmttan Thirdly, AUyegreatonesoftheworldin the fouie-coufeners. fenfe ] have faid. As ye are very wife in your own conceits,and it may be truly Co according to the flefh^ fo you are fclfe-conceited and foule-coufeners a-bout your fpiriruall ftate. For you thinke all better then you, too precife, and all worfe then you too prophanej and your felves onely to have happily hi: upon the golden meane, and pitch'd upon that well tempered moderation in ReIigion,wber-by you may enjoy temporall happineffe here, and cternall hereafter. Sleepema wholeskime (asthey

fay)

fay) and with a good Conlcience: Live the life ofpleafurcs, and dye the death of the righteous. ^

Whereas to be fo conceited, istheveiy complement and perfedion of folly: And the very fame attempt as to make two parallel lines to meet. You thinkc ye have a reach beyond the Moont: To lieinfomefweetfinne, andyet to nourifli in your felves fome hope of falvation. To have two two Heavens. Heavens, one in this World, and another in the r^'^'^^r^^'eard of. World to come, which was never heard of: to wearetwoCrownesof joyes; whereas Je s v s Christ himfelf had the firft of thornes. But alas I Beloved, ifyoubefaved in this condition, you muft have a new. Scripture, and there muft be found our another way to Heaven,than any of the Saints ever went fince the Creation, or ihall do to thcend of the World. Andrherforewemay fay of you, as ^rttilian fome where of fome deluded with an over-weening conceit of themfelves. That they might have frooved excellent Scholkrs if they had not hecne foprfwa^ed already /So if you did not thinkefalfly, your felves fafe already, you might be faved. But while you thus hugge the golden dreameofyour miftaken ftates to G o D-wardlikc the Pharifeesj the very Pttblicans and HarlotsJhall goe into the Kivgdome of Heaven before jou^tJiL at. 21.

Fourthly, you that are great in the world in the no7pmer{uU '^ foure fore-named refpcds,and meant in the Text; preacUng. cannot poffibly downe with, and digeft downe-right dealing, and thefeoUfhne(feoffreAching,2S it is called, Verje 21. And that "utterly undoes you.

You

You like well enough, nay and much approve,and applaud fuch Sermons as King Ja m e s cenfureSj in the redforis fifhis direciiens for f reaching, &c,vjh\ch he there cals a lighrjafFci^cdjand unprofitable kind of preaching,which hath beene of lareyears( faith he)takcnup in Court5Univerfity5Citie3and Coun-

crie, whereby the people are filled only with

tiirie fiouri{hment,&c. and I warrant you,not efpe-cially hating to be reformed or dlfquieted, for thefearenot wont to difcovcryour confcienccs, nordifturbyouinyour prefent courfcs, they never terrifie you with any fore-thought ofthe cvill day, neither torment you before the time;but now let a man come with thefoolijhnefcofpreachingy by which it pleafed God (faith the ApoftIe)/<?^i/c-» themthat bekevcj, witlidemonftration of the Spirit, and of power, and come home to the confci-ence.'if he fuffer not Satan to revell in the blood of yourfoules without refi(lance, nor fee you poft furioufly towards eternall fire, but will tell you that the pit of hell is a little before you;In a word, if he take the right courfe to convert you, and (hew you therefore onely your fpirituall miferie, that you may be fitted for mercie,c^^. O fuch a fellow is a dangerous man, a terrible and intolerable Teacher, able to drive men to diftradion, dc(. paire, felfe deftrudion s hee breaths ouc nothing but damnation, and his fearching Sermons are as fcorching as the very flames of hell! Fit phrafes for the Divell himfelfe, railing in a drunkard, or fcoffing//^w<if/againftfaithfulneffein preaching 5 and if you know where or when fuch men preach,

(and

(and It may be you entcreaine fome intelligence forthatpurpofeto prevent the torture) you will ^ not, you dare not hearethcm for your hearts, except you cannot decline it for ftarke fhamej or for atimeortwotofatisfieyourcuriofi ies: but as S. . Paul faithjyou become their enemies>becaufethey tell you the truth.to which truth not to have lifte-nedinthis day of your vifitation, will hereafter (when it is too late) torment yoamore then tenne thoufand fierie Scorpions ftings, and gnaw upon your confcienccs with unknowne and everlafting horrour.Alas!Beloved,whatmeanc you^You wil give your Phyfitiafl leave totel you the diftempers ofyourbody : the Lawyer to difcovcr unto you any flaw in your deeds: your horfe-keeper to tell you the furfets of your horfes: nay,your huntfman thefurrancesofyourdogs.'andfliall onely the Mi-nifter of G o d not tell you that your foules are bleeding to eternall deaths Prepoftcrous and prodigious incongtuitie !

Ifit be thus then, that ofall the feverall forts of ^^ great men mentioned bcfore(by reafon that they oigat 'ones to arebefct with fuch varierie of fnares, entangled in finve the more fo many temptations, fo much taken up by the >'* **<»'v«m-world,and for other reafons rendrcd alreadie) vc-lie few are called, converted and faved^my coun-fellinaword unto all fuch, is C h r i s t s own word, Luke 13.24. Strfve to enter in at thefiraitc^ ^4r^,laie violent hands upon flcfh and bloud,ftran-gleyourlufts, contend and *wraftle as for the * Ay^vin^, fearland in the Olympian games, to which the word fccmes to allude, become fooles in the

• worlds

worlds ccnfure,that you may be wife in the myfte^ ry of C H RI s T ,be little & vile in your own eftcem, that you may bee great and gracious in the eyes of Go D. In a wordjfubmit yourfoulesto thefword of the Spiiic,and fooliflinelTe of preaching, (as the Apoftlecalsit)that you may be wrought upon fa-viugly^and brought into thegocdrvay, and that by fuch works and waies as thefe. tltifhZl ]t7o Upon which before I enter, give me leave to good tiu Gods give you an account, why at this time I labour ra-ivord hjndeiy therto worke uponyour confciences for your per-woriison t em. (-qq^ij converfion,tnan as heretofore to tender unto you counfcis and confiderations for a more confcionablc deportment in your feverall publike places. When I well weighed with my feife,the truth of that principle and pofition in Hooker, That it is mfecttliar conceip, but a matter of found ccnfc' qnence^ that all duties are by fo much the betterprfor-medy by how much the men are more religion, from rvhofe abilities the fame proceed: And finding by ex-perienceof all ages, and moft of all in thefe worft and woefull times, that men of publike imploy-ment and in high places,untill there be infufed into their foules by the Spirit of grace an internall fu-pcrnaturall principle and divine habit to work by, untill aliquidCvi r i s t i (as they fay) be planted in them by the power of the Miniftery, they cannot poflibly bee univerfally thorow, and unfhaken. Some flrong affedion, feare, favour, or fome thing, will make them flie out and failc in fome particular very fowly. Upon exrraordinarie temptation ihey will fervc the times, and their

m, own

own turnes:for,a!as!as yet their fpirits are not ftccled with that heavenly edge,and mighty vigour,as to fee totheirfliouldersagainftthetorrentofthetimes,and rot to be ovei flowen with it. I fay upon this ground Ihaveadvifedlychofenro alTay and follow this way at this time:for,if once you turne on the Lords fide in truth,y Gu are won for ever to an invincible conftan-cie,and confcionablenes in an uniforme^regiilar, and religious difchargc of your publike dutiesrand wil e-vcr holdfaft without partialitie5Cowardlines>or feare of mans face,that brave and noble refolution, Vtfat juflitia/uAt ccelumMi heaven and earth be blundered together with horrible confufionjbefore I make fliip-wrackof a good confcience,orbe any waies drawn to do bafcly. Being incorporated into the reck of .eter-nitie Jesvs Christ blefifed for ever, you will ftand (like unmoveable rocks) againft the corruptions of the times,and ail ungodly oppofitions;and never before. For in the meane time (fay Minifters what they will) you v;ill not be moved 5 but you heareour difc CQurfes of a faithfull difcharge of your places, as ye would heare a very lovely fong of one that hath a pleafant voice; they leave no more imprelHon upon your confciences, than a fwcet leffon upon the Lute in the eare^when it is endedj for,then both the vocal I and inftrumentall fweetnesdifTolve into the aire, and vanifhinto nothing; Itis too truly fo with our Sermons upon your foules,Heare your charader in Gods ownewords unto the Prophet, They comemtothee,as e*<^^'33«3t. the people commeth^andtheyfit before me as ?nypc0ple,and^^ they heare thy words ^ but they will not do them 5 for with' their mouth they jhew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetoufneffe : andloey tho^t art unto them, as

a very lively fong of one that h ath afkafant vorce,^ can fUy well on An inUrument:for they hcarethy rvcrdsy hut Deut I they do them not. Let us lift up our voices never To high, ' ' ^* orcrie never fo lowd: and rell Judges,Ti^4f they ought not to be afraidofthefacecfman^for the judgement is Go D s: that in judgemenr/Z'^j' ?nufl mitherrefpechhe Lcvit.i 9.15. ^erfon ofthefoore^dor honour the-perfin of the mighty • chat they fhould nor onely hold their hands from grofic Lanquet.chron* bribes with Epammondas,\vho{^s the ftory tels us)re-J9/.J7. * ' fufed great prefentsfenc unto him, although he was pfal poore/ay ing ,7/7^^ th^ng were good,he would do it with-

Pag*i4*4. out any bribe.,hecaHfigood:Jfnot honefljoe wouldttot do it Bribery extendi for al thegoods in the fvorld,h\.\t they muft alfo be ofAu-toaff0 tons, j^^^^ judgement,that not only monie, gold and filver or prefenrs(asthey call them)are bribes,but the guilt of bribery alfo may be juftly imputed,evento any exorbitant affection, which fwaies a man afide from an ioipartial execution of juftice; as love, feare, hatred, anger, pufanimitic, worldlines, dcfirc of praife & ap-plaufcjwhich isAufiins inflace.&c.Thatthey beware of bringing morebloud upon the Law by fparing the Num.3533, fpiilcrofbloud. Forhlood'JakhGoD)itdefleththe land dr the land cannot be clean fed ofthehlood that isfhed therinibut by the bloodofhim that jhedit:\\\2.i they muft not look upo the caufes which come before them only through the fpedtacles of a favourite, &c. and tel ju-ftices of Peace,that they muft be true hearted patriots, and not fcrvers of rhemfelves, and their ownc turnes: that they muft be ferioils, reall,and gravejnon only formall 5 not cyphers,not unnobly light in their behaviour on the Bench: that they muft ever aime at the publike good, and never at their owne particular ^nd private cnds.chatthcy fhould difdainc & fcornat

*""'

any time to combine ladioufly,or for a petty bribe to uphold a rotten caufe, a peftilcnt ale-houfe, or lewd companion; and ever joyne \vi h an unanimous mag-narimitie to honourGo d3<&: do their countriegood.

And tell the Lawyers,that z/'d)' fbeuU not make hafi Lawyers faults tdberichSox^o (2x1X1 Salomon jthcy JJiall net Be innoccHti ^^^'^ '^°' nor fwallow down gold toogrcedily,leaft it turnc to gr .veil and the gall ofafpswirhinthem; and they be enforced to vomit up the riches(as/?^ fpeakeih) they job.io. i j. lave heaped together fo haftily, either by rcmorfe & rcilitution in the mean time^or with defpaire and im-penitv Hi: horrour hereafcenthat to oppofe & wrangle *

againftagood caufe, or undertake the defence of a bad^areboth equally moft unworthy the very moral vertue of an honcft Heathen^ that they muft not learn - to fpin out the caufes of their Clients from Termc to Termejand wire-draw their fuits untill they be utterly undone; that they fhould not now be taking inftru-dtions from their clients, when they fhould them-fclvcshere in the houfe of Go d be inftru^ed to the *

kingdome of heaven;had they this morning received a meffagcfrom the Almighty,that at nightthcy fliould appeare before that high & everlafting ludgeto give an account for all things done in the flefh; if they be not Atheifts or Papifts, O with what eagerneffe and violence would they have attended, addreft,and applied themielves r o the prefent opportunitie! & liitle do we know what the evening may bring forth. For, aflure your felves, there is no manfoafluredofhis richesjor life, but that he may be deprived of one or both the very next day or hourc to come. y^^^^^ y^„;^^,^

And tell the jurors ai^d lworn-mcn,tha: they fliould rather die then draw the bloud of any mans lifc,livc^

S 2 lihood

lihood^or good name upon their own confciences^ci-ther by acquitting the guiky, or hurraying the innocent. H§re(had I tiine)I would intimate unto you a myfticall, but tnifchievo'is packing fonecimes in choice of jury-men. I have kcn{ I fpeak of that which was long{ince,and at a Seflfio is)romc of the choiceft drunkards in aCountrie chofen for thac fervice.Now is it not a pirifall thing that Country bufineffes fhould be put into the hands of fuch as labour induftrioufly, ' and with equall cunning,to plague an honeft man^and deliver a drunkard. on whom the J ("^y ^q^^ ^i\ ^his while, we thus difcourfe unto pmrfur" yoUjcarneftly endeavouringjand with a thirfty dcfire to doc you good, and dire(^ you aright, and by a divine rule in the feverall duties proper to your places, we do but plow in the rea,and fovv in the ayreCas they fay)excepttheimmortalireedoftheWord hath firft moulded you anew,and ye be brought hj tkfooUfj)-nes cfpreaching out of the wax m SunintoGoDs blef-fing,and from the fools paradifc of worldly wifdome into the holy path of fincere profeilours, and thereupon prize and preferre the peace of a good confci-cnce before all the gold in theWeft,and preferments inthe world 5 which bleflfcd change from nature to grace, is wrought by fuch ftirrings of the foule, and foot-ftepsofthefpiritasthefe; lend me, I befeech you, (while J parfe along them)fomthing more than ordinary attention.-for J know they wil fceme ftrange things to all fuch great ones as are intended in rny Text, and thofe who live at reft in their pofTeflfions, and have nothing to vex them. The naturall ftoutnes of their fpirits will difdaine and fcorne to ftoope to fuch uncouth humiliauons, and this mighty change.

And the more they are men oftheworld, and wife according to the fledijthe greater repugnancy and reIu<5tationfliall they find in their affedions againfl thefe fpirituail workings, which makes the point good which was proved before. Bjl yet without them in truth and cife<5t(l define not die meafure and degree,Go d isa mod free agent) they can never become either gratious mentor good Miigidrates. They muft upon neceflity become fuch fooles, or they can never be wife unto falvation.

1. If any of you then v/ould come out of Satans „ ^n , clutches mtothearmes orC h r i s t ,he muitbe ilhgh- wtbfin. tencdjConvinced and caft down with fighr,fenre,and trouble for (inne,as in my art of comforting afflided confcienceslhave fliewed.

2. The point may teach us not to bee greedy of ^^ „gf ^..^^j^ greatnelTejnorhuntambirioufly after high roomes. ofgnatnej/i.

' 5.The point may ferve as a foveraigne antidote a- ^^^^ ^^^ ^j, gainft all difconrent orfretting, when we fee men o^gainfi tie the world carry al before the,&c.We may enta'tairi woMy. an holy indignatio to fee folly fet in great excel! ecy, fo many fervant^ on horfe-back,and Princes walking as fervants upon the ground. But I am prevented by the time from profecuting thefe two latter Ufes. Let me briefly fay two things more,and I have done. rh guilty to I .The firft concerning what I have faidj have fpo- apply repmch^ ken much (as you have heard^my Text naturally and diredly leading metherunto)of the truemiferieand fpiriruall madnes of all great men in learning,wealth nobiHty,wifdom according to the flefh.Leaft any be unjuftly angry and miftake,or cauflcfly grumble and gainfay,letme take up the words of the ancient holy Father Sahimm about a thoufand ycares ago in ths. - ■ S_3 _^ JU^c

like cafe.He having imparl liilly diicoveredthc horrible impieties of the noble & rich men in thofc coi"-rupttimeSjtels them by the way,and it is iriy jad: apology at this time./^<>«<>/(faith \\Q.)f}cakthusofany,^ut ortiyfuch as know theje things to betnthemjcives. iftbtit cOfikkncts bejree^ nothing that I f^y tends io their defba-ragement anddifgrace: butifthq know themfelves to he ■ gmlty, let them know alfoy that they ar::n(itmj words hut .their oxvne confitences which'uexe them. A*d in another place hus- Sith I/peake not theft tkngs ej all^ hut thofe who arefach^none ofyott ought to he angry at .ill which fin, dethnothimjelfto beotmoxtoti^-^leafl t her by hemakehim^ fel/efeeme,a^id be fufpe^c'dto be of the 'number ofihofe thai are naught. Rather let jo many m being gudlle(je and truly nobleyAbhorre filch unworthy courfes, be angry with them who disgrace thenumc cfnobility by their bafc andw^eked behaviour': becauje although others he much worfe and fcandaliz/dby them,y etc (feci ally they brnga gr-at d<^alg ofpameand dtfhoKOur'4tfoa thoje rvho tire ofthef,menvble ranker. Take notice by the ^ay,that by rhe Fathers wordsjthofemenare much to'oblame,whogo about CO dawb over the diforders.and fmo her upcbe fcan-dalousexorbirancics of delinquents in their own pro-feiHon, or to bee concurrents for their deliverance from deferv'd fhame &pu' iHiment.To giveinffance iai Minifftn in the higheft caliing: A Minifl^r which fals to drun-tohee wfl/ fe kennesand alchoulc-hauntingjAiould rather be pub-.ereiy^umjl^cL ji^ely (ham'd and ccnfurcd, than a fellow of an infe-liour calling We do not honour the Miniftrieby having our hads in helping out fuch,bur by difclaiming and not owning themjwel may we by fo medling in. currefufpicionofobnoxioufncfle: but never bring credit to our fo holy a calling, I knew a Knight did

'' [pen^nce^

penance ztPaals-Cro(fey but at the fame time I heard that many of his rankc in the City laboui'd to have . him dif-knighted firft, before he fo pubhkely difgra-ced their Order. Me thinks all well-minded fhould be fo minded.

2. The other is to my Lords the Judges. My reve- 'Dutks of rend and noble Lords, give me leave to clothe the ^U'k"' thoughts of the Country in a word or two.We much rejoyce in you,and bleite G o d for yoii,as men of tin-gular & known integrity, fpecial friendsiothe Gof-pellofjEsvs Chr I sT,and a great honour and hap-pinclTe to thefe parts, and heartily pray that wemiy hold you ftill: and therefore my intreaty unto your Lordfhips is, that you would couragioufly advance forward,and do like your felves,& nobly ftill.Draw oiit your drcadfuU fwords againft the torrents of Belial ,asl^4i//Vcalsthem,which even threaten a deluge; andbeyourfclvcsas mighty torrcnf^, armed both with juft and holy lawes,and the godly refoIu:ion of your own noble fpirits,to beareback,and beat down the common, crying^and r:iigning fins of our Country. In a word, be unto the opprefled& innocent as a refuge from the ftorme, but as a terrible tempeft upon the face of every humane bead, and fon of Belial,

And O that you could help us,that Gods people ^if^fi -^^^ might not perifh fi-o/want of bread: is it not a pitiful! ^'^^^"' thingjthat in fuch a deare yeare fpecially,it fhould be almoft as hard a worke to get downe a wicked ale-houfe,as to win Dunkerke ? That Maulfters fhould fnatch(asitwere)the grainefrom the mouths of the poor in the market placc,to uphold thefe hel-houfcs, thefe nurcericsofthcDivell5thatMagiflrates fhould be fo unmerciful], j^s neither for Go d s fake, nor the

Kings fake, nor the poores fake,nor their owne foules

fake to take the utmoft penalties for blafphemies,alc-

'houfe-hauntingSjdrunkcnnefle and prophanations of

the Lords Day ^ And were it not an honourable

courfe,and worthy to have an univerfall contribution

over the Country to pull down fomething the excef-

five prizes in market-townes for the poorc therea-

bouts,during this extremity^ But I leave it to your

Lordfhips charitable wifdome to do the beft you can

poflibly;that the bloud ofthe poore this yeare be not

added to the already crying- fins ofthe kingdome,to

haflen Gods judgements upon us,and our long fince

defervedruine.Andinthemcanctimeyou need not

fearethe face ofthe proudeft DIvell, whether incar-

nate^or in his own fliape. For,while you thus advance

Gods glory,and truely honour the Kingjaffure your

felves,thc hearts, and tearcs,and prayers 'of all good

men (hall be for you, and yours fhall bee the

crowne and comfort 3 when all prophane-

nefle and prophane oppofites to the good

way^all the enemies ofGo D,and peft-

ilent packings and complotments

ofthe Divels agents againft

Gods people^ fliall be

buried in Hell.

iU: FINIS.

The Index.

Changesf« beexfttftd. z9.

Christ 99r Advocate, i f.

Ch r I » t s feeondctmrning terrible t$ the

tficffd-ij' Ch Ri ( Ts glorified body, laj. Cnv.iirs Strmms littlewovght onIt»ts.

azu Chrkts jforitftM prefcnce thele/i. / 3 9. C hrift 1 a vA better antidotes then heathen, j i. Ciiiyfoftonne homfittedtv crojfet. 5 f. Churches i«y. i.

Comfort tube fought for futnre- ?o. Covafom embittered by impattencjfy 36. Comforts f» death. /, 8. ConfcicBCC fcer »«rwe. 27. Contentment, benefit of it. 7j, Contiihdefcribed. i6p, Coireftion ^ God. »i. Conxi^xotibainc tofoule. 1^9, Covctoufnefle ho» pointed out. t^^. CovctoufncflTc i/Hyi/idi/e. 130. Covcroufneffc and ambition c»iopared~%it Covctoufneflc cheelied, f ii» Comagt Of ainfi death^ f^6. Cicinon ofmant m i. Ci oflTcs (life-created, H- 4^-CroScs fitted to Sainti, 54. Crovwie of heaven, i ^9.

D. Daraacds d»^i/&/ar negletfirfggrace, 104.

lOJ.

Day5'feLaft. Day <f eviUprovidedagainfly^. ©ay ofrecf^oning negleifed, to. Day of vrathy ii. Day of grace iet not flip, \o6. Dead /o ie nournedfor moderately, i S1. Dcai »o/ »o beprayedjor, f aS.

DEATH. Death tal^et aUoftay, 74. Death hir once, 81. Dctihi terrort, 8 >,ti. Death «tfi(i£X the body loathfimCy S3. Dea t h fa^c; not grace from thefouU, 8 j. Death caAMor be avoided, f6.

Death »of to he feared^ fx 5. Death notfimpfy deftred, f iB. Death an immediatepajfage toChri/,/1 7 Therefore deftred, j 26. Deatli /« be oft meditated on* f is* In Death »Jb<»f (omfortt,fiB. Death tvhat itjreethfrom, f^x. t>caihof good Minijters to bee loomed, f6z.

VfetarifitfgfroM the jytt^efUiniJlertt

Dcfcnc not repentance, f 11. Dchght J'K loy Delight in heaven^ m j. D'fpairc hov prevented, 17. Defpifci « ofMiniflen who, 24, Bilcord akfrom impieta, 10 j.

DifiolmioD of vorldhitp fhewedyii, Drjomc at lafi day terrible^ 9 a. Douhts rejolved in heaven, 144. Dti^onmfceHtoutofthepitt 19a.

tanh]ymindednejfe,^6. .

Earthly and heave{y delights hoyv dijfery'it. Icclcfiafticall UvtngsimeUdi^ofed, i6«. Education ivorfi ojbefl borne, z 15, EVicspatience, 34.

Encouragcmeni how given to othert ,19. End\effctorment\inhc//,\o6.24i. Engtaod endures much for the Go^eU, ip a Ertortrefolved inheaven, 144. Evi!l day provided againfl, 4. Jn Evill /^fl)* »o btlpe in the world, 3^, 'Eyesglorified impaffihle, ijp. Example of great onti, 174. F. FAITH Faith not weSdtfcerned, c 3. Faith ma)/ bee f^norpne in birth andgro»tt^

64. Faith mixedwitbfeares^66^ Faith carefully l^ept iy beltevers, 67. Faith to/ft/rwVr, 68. Faith/fcott^t wcaj^ iAri/rw/rf,^9. Faith highlypri^eth things beleevtdj 6p.

The Index,

Uithttrnf^rsry hnffane itgteti. 70. Faith tcmfrao invhat tt fines jhort, 7 »• Faitbjtf «f */«»*««« a/"CHRiiT,/3 z. YzXUfnuui, Ml. Families pwn* ^ifed,i9^-Family duties •ffi9ty,%'i<s. Fathers te/^imMtes r»byproduced, 147-Favouit tfMenimw iruiiiege, 7. Fafhionswew, hardfylejt, 14?. Fault! «af r* fcc fmothered, i s8.

FearcK»f</e*^^j/^^ IitcefheMwarfethenayf otUr, 100. Flattery <ftfrJg"Wf, 189.

Fotmall/)rojcirM'«,a?' FurniturewJfi> Cod fupcUnf3 f i. FuncralUemwf/fwitfW^i ' T9-Future «»»f<wr to be fought, j o. Future efJiOf^ (5«>» they wtai;^en.tbe ^int,^^.

G.

Gentry. 5^^^ Nobility. Glorified ioij^«/CH«rsT fco»*rrgiM if. Glorified Sdiwff iw bnght:, 115. Glorified i?»^/«JWWji>rr<8Z?, I5O. Glorified e>cnwfd/;*/e, M 9. Glory ojheaven vhy net revealed at juU,

113. G]o\ygrcatefiintthit^Uce, uj.

Glory ofhighefl heav$n, 117-

Glory tf heaven to be mditatedcrij 116.

Glory o/fce</rcJ i» AwfC", ^ 3<5.

God hovf in a p'acCi M5'

God fcw» feerorre^i fc«j ? i•

God fufficietitlyfurHiJIjethhis, fi-

CoD« <r<ire ofSaimpoflerityj^.

GoDsl^ingdorae,!!?'

QoDs lave t0 theet^headmired^ 174-

Gofpcllper/cf«fe«iw EngUnd, 19^.

GriccbejoTehand ufefuM^ 5.

GTiccwithUuIeindeaihj 8j.

Grace Tw^/c^cf^ worJ^jf <»>fgMi/& w ie^?. 104.

GxActietnQtJlipy i®^.

Grace o?2«(>' cfcaw^cffc »ww i'<'<*r^ 119.

Ciirityrpiih afai}UneJfe, 166.

Great o«ef muft firivefor heaven. 25 f.

Great on*x/w»/«-«^t^'^'"f' ^ 5-3* 5 }•

6rcat owsfddtaitgAid, 171.1^^. Great o«w fo be prayedf4r, 1 75. 6reat duatv many ajttr them, 174. Great on«J bacl(ivardt9go$d, 177 t^l^. Gre»t ones tilietaf^ffyi&f. Gan-p^vdcr phtj 19}.

H. Heart cJbx^e^ ^ ^4ce Hf€^,tM9' Heart ef Pharaoh hard, 221 ^a 13. Heart hardnednot mruedt it 1. Heathens vertues to be obfervedy 49. Heat he as not fmh antidotes as ChijtUw,

HEAVEM. Health T^dwe, m ro. H«aveM excellencyumtt$rahley 11 r. HcAvcn'gloiy ivhy not revealed tofuM, 11|. HcaTCD Ughefi borpgloriOM, 117. HcaTCQsrfcree, 11?. Heavens I?/gfcey? excellency, 119. Heaven bath many Inhahitantty ito. }icivcmhtghefi imraenfityyiii, Hcarens wor/je, iiz. Mctiyciiihrightnejfe, laz. Hcavcns^/oryrok meditated My ii^« Heavens m/er, 117. Heaven »fca/- i^?M^ ojKs^^dont^ 127. Heaven »fctf^ i^ind of inheritance 128. Heavens crowwe, 128. Heavens ^e/ig-^r, m^^, Heaven<cxfc<5fc«_y, w 19. Haa vcn a counteipoife to ambition, 429. HeavcESft370, never heard of yi^^. Heiver.ly treajure, 14. Benefit thereof, 27. Heavenly t(m' differ from earthly, $8, Heavenly fcojfcf, 156. Heavenly/citifJ, 141. Heavenly /erufalem, ra 2, H ell /o i?c avoided to the ttttermofiy 110, HcWspaine ofloffct 95.

HcllsrffrffjeH?f,99 , Ue\]$ fire TCPsrfe then a^y other, 100, Hell torments the greutefl, 102,103. Hcil tormentsmoveallbutmadmtny i»4-D z Hcl'

The Index.

Hell tormentsendle^Ci io6,z4». Helhborrour. f 41.

Higheft.See Heaven.

Hoard o/> ^irituaSpro^ifton. 17. High ^/(jcef ufedforgainc hurtfuffj 164. Highp/dcef <»nger«;<i.l85. Honour'Foine, m if. Honours hovtfruitUJfe.j. . Humane learning hath difficulties.i^i,

I.

Xehorah f0 [le trufted in three, inducements

thereto, Ibid. Icrufalcmfccd'yc»/y, »» ^. lewcs ///i/e »r(»«gfcr ^>' Chrifisfermons,

220. lllnmination /iipernaturalt to comprehend

heavenly glory. 114. \tt\mcn(iij of heaven- tti. Inamortality ofgUrifiedbodies 1J o. Immortality ojfoules. f lo. Impatiency wor/e then any crojfe. 34. Impatiency imbitters conrforts. }6. Impious endures norpiom. 200 locoriuption ofglorifedbodits.i 31. Indufiryrn caUing. 1^4. InhabitaRts»2a»}'7n<&e4ve;i. iso. Inheritance»Z»<a^ in heaven. izS. Invocation of Saints unlarofuU. f6o. Jobs patience. I i.

loy of heaven nvhenee it arifeth, w» 7. loy earthly and heavenly bow differ.i^i. loy carnal. 60.

loycs infinite loofe not for vaniiy.^Z. lu'dgemcnt lafi, terrible. 163.

Sec Lafi. ludgcE their virtues, i jj. Judges their duties. j6 3,

Kinodomeof heaven fet otit. IJ7. K ngdomc of God. 117. Knowledge of Saints in heaven, 14«. Knowledge ^owe another in fceavcrt. 144. ff^fcar/iin^ o/Knowledge. 149. Knovy ledge 0/ y4»gefy ^ heaven, i jo.

Knowledge «/GoD tHbeav^n. 150.

'L2& judgement terrible.Sy.

Laft dayes firiCl account.ig,

Laft idy dtfcovers aU fecrtts.91.

Laft doomes terror. 9*.

h&viyctsfaults. 259.

Learning humane bath diffitutties.n^.

Learning abufed. 179.

Learnings/rue e»//.i8o«

LifeywfyA/6.

Lifejiortncda benefit./ 6.

Life herevaine, « 10.

'LiviiigecclefiaJlicatiivelidi^o/ed.iSc.

Longings ojfou'e. 84.

Lords </i»y /o if l^ept confcionahly. 16a.

Lords day hare efteemed hy loforUlings.iQj.

Lords day hov to be (pent. 2 47.

Loofe not eternity for vanity.9 8,

Loffc of^oods recompenced..7$.

Loflc /b fce/7. 9 5.

'LofCcspublil^e to be laid to heart, i j 2,

Loflfc ofifpOTthy men aprefage.i 56.

Love carnall in mariages. 4 8,

Love of God to thee to be admired. 174,

Lucher bow fitted to crojfes. 5 7,

M.

Mad tpho not movedypith heMfire 104. Mariagc undu'y undertal^en. 46. Mariage carnaU. 4.6. Mariagc immodeflly ufed.^t, 'Mux'ugt duties Kcg/efi^eJ.48,49. Matches unmeete. 47. Meditate onheavees glory.\x6. Meditate on SeTmons.%^9. Meditate oft on death. / 3 5. Meditations againfi death 62. Meditat.on onjoure laji things.7^. Mctaphorica'i^rc f» fccili?,rlf wor/f.io J. \A iniftexs defarturtagreatlojfe. f <>5,66, l&'ira^exine^rleSedwfodt afi».2i,2^. }A\ti\(ke\% to be encouraged, f 5. '^MmWtngooi have many euemieSiioz, Miadhts bad to bepunijhed 262. lAiaiReTspowerJuUmaligy:ed 194.

Mioiftcrs

The Index,

MiBifter* efieem of theirfeoflesvelfare.fso Minifters life propahlcf $ i. Mini&iii convertfouUs. f5i' Mini ftcis refiraine corwftions.f 54. Miniflers»?«r/ijicrcZi^Mero/i»n./5 5. Miaifl crs difcsverfecret finsfS 6. Minifters revof-j men into the right >r<y.

Minifters iacreafegrace, f s 8. M inifters/>rocMrc t/ej75»^./S 8. Miniftcis departure not lamented hy Many.

f6i. UiaiRciSpovoerftiUhatedby rnavy-f^^-Winiftcrs »fcen /fccy «iJe f« ^e lamented f6z Wxaificxs to be highlypriied. f66. MinxRexitobeprayedjarr. f 67. U'xnxRenpaines to be regarded, f 6U Minds earthly dangerom. 3«^. Moitalityof man. 43. Mortality jj/r/t>r leaven, f 9* Mortall men not to be depended on. ff. lAomnittgfor4eadmoderate. i$z, My&encsdeepe f^nowncrin heaven. 144.

N.

"Nivne good for lojfe of goods. 80.

Negka hfgracereor\% angttifh in heM.iOj^,

New fafbiom hardly left. 14 j.

UohWity difiifiguifhed. 2.14.

Nobility y«rn»<2mrdi5f 114.

Nobility degenerate. 117.

"Cobles fubje£l to mavy temptations. ix8.

O.

Opportunity to be takca. 14. Oppofitionsfii^aJ»y? (orruptions.i 5 $, Oiiiexihov encouraged. 19,

P. Paine ojh/e in heft. 9 «. Pardon be ajfured of. 90. Patience her benefits, jt. Pjtienceo//afc. H-'[>tncncc of'David jj, Paucoceo/£/J.34.

faticnccfrom fijort life, f i j. Patrons iff, much hurt. 161. Pauis/rar^/g. Tharachshardheart. 221. Peace»i/fc God tobel^pt. 61. VcopictvithoutaVafiyr gsjheepe.fi. Pious wof endured by impioM. 200.20a. place hQ» God in /Mi y.

Place but ene at once for gloriftd bodtM.

Places high dangerour I«y. Plcafure unfatiable-it^. VlcaCurtsof this life vainej mg. Poflctity of Saints caredfor fyQoD> 79* toxeticy of Saints in heaven. 13a. VtziCcifalfe not to be given. 159^ Pray y\otfor the dead.f m.

Tray continually-f 31-Pieachmgpomerfufftoielifaed, 16B, Preaching much pandered. 196.

Preparatire. See Ptovifion.

Preparation. SeeProvifion, VMcblind^iT).

VnvAieadraonitionveUtahytn. 1^3. Profcflion iew^^Jcci. 18. Profcffbrsjdrwd//. i^. Prov ifion apainfi the evrS day. 4. Prcvifion Tvhatfruit lejfe. 7. ProvifioB rfhat mofi comjortable. 9. Provifion {pirituaUto be hoarded.^?' Prorifion again(ldeath, l^. Provifion -with Qovfuficient. 51. Provifion <zgd/M/? CHtilsrs fecoudtom-

mirg. 88. Vv.h\\\iicloJfestobeldidtoleart. iji. Purgatory re/«fe^-/18,12. Puritans^oo</. 144 Puritans fcojp made. 24?. Pufitansdiw<2yei hated. »4^.

R. Reckon mth tfyfelfe before hand.g*. Reckoning to come not thought of. 20. Reckoaing day terrible to tt>hom.z%, Rcckoniwg at the laji dAyfiriff..S^.

T 3 Rcpent.inc?

Tht Index.

Jepcntaacc to be f^eedily renmei, /1 j. Repentance/MAj^e, IJ tf. *cftitution, 151.

^cRittttioatothe Church, 1^9. Re ..

I^ichcsvjine, w 14. R.ichesfc(»»>_^«i//e^j 7. Riches c&t^^e rJ&e fTor*/, 184. Rich men regard Mt Semens^ 18 j.

S. Sabbath, j'ec Lords day. Sacriledgc, 178. Saints fittedfor tryaUi 54. Saints potency in heaverty ij«. Satlsfaftion «mc i« things below, 3 9. Satan tahji foftines a^iinfi the Wri^i^j Satan hu band in every fin, ti6, SezCon for grace to be t alien, f 1. SciConvfdoi/iggrace to be talien,f6^. Seerets difcoveredat lafl day, 91. Security w quietneje dangerous, 4. Sences bew exercifed in beaveng 140. Szn^aall wifdome, zo8. Senfualln'^dfff is, tcp. Sermons to be meditated on, 249. Sermons funeraHfor the living, i^9» Sermonsfelje/eel^ingf i8?. Sermons not regarded by rich men, 185. Sermons »/ C H r i s T wroaght little $n

leYveti »20. Short life agroundofpafience,fi y. Simonicall^mfi^i/ef, 161. Sincerityj/j6.

Smne in the befl on earth, f^a. Sinners rclat deprived of, %o 4. Sinners endfearefull, 241. Sotrowcsfxpeernedi i. Soule infefieiwith corruption, 159. Soiilenogoodby rvorldly things, 11. Soule boypfatisfied, Ibid. Soulc caries grace after death. 85. Soulc/«ngr»gr, 84.

Soulcs Meditation, m 20. Souks beatitude in heaven, 141, Souks immortality, fto., Souks^eepe not, fxi. Soules immediatly after death fie GoJ,fu. Spirit not to be weal^eneJ, 44. Spirit how 'wea\ened, 4 $. S^irituall pro-vifion to be hoardeiup,\7, Spirituall ejlate to be tried, 6 j. Spirituslls 4 recompence 9f lojfe of temporals, 7S, SpirjtualneiTc of Saints in heaven, ij}. S\^zdLttisdeftre belpe /cfweare more,zif,

T.

Temporary ^f/i&, 70,71.

Temporals lofi recompence Hfith ^iritu^

als,79. Teftimonies •/ fathers tphy produced,I ^7 Thstnkes for redemption, fS7. Thoughts of future eviUwealien^irit,^^: Torments ojbelt, 99. Torroent in heUnot fogteat as Uffe,g^. Toumtms nonefogreat at in heSf loz. Totmcnts in hellendlejfkf 106,243, Trcafurc ietf-ucw/K} *4' Benefit thereof, 27. Trials fitted to Saintsf 54. Truftiw Jehovah, 3.

V.

Vaine-glory (hcc\ed, f io Valuation of world, 4?. Van:ty of all worldly thingf, lo. Vanity of things below, J 3. Vimty may loofeeternity, 98. Vmitf.ofplca/ures,(^c m^.(^c, VilianbeatificaU, m 4-Voluptuoiilntfle unfatiable, 154.

See Plcafure. yCuiy taxed, iSc.

W. VValke in the way to heaven rather then en-

qaire after the glory of it, 149. Wuch [firituall, f J4. Weaken not i^irit, 44.

Weakened

■

i

The Index.

Weakcnet! hov the Ifirit 4 j. Weaned be from thetvorld, 7^. Wicked tremble at chrifts commirtfy S7. Wicked onesfhaffnotbevitb Chrtfi^ /30. Wife tvoTldlyjoilifih 247. Wifdomc tvorldly AangnoHiiis^' Wifiome worldly divelijb, 191. Wifdomc worldly in Satans right hand,

lot. WifdomcwwW/y U earthly, 105. Wfdonac worldly /enftkiUjzei, Woidiightly efieeoted, 176. Word cheated ly riebti, 1 84. Word why opfofed^ 197. Word how ttptdiicetl fcemert, 224, Word makes dead morefiinJit, »24,a2^. Word onwhomf«werjuM, ZQO, Wodd vaine, ra iz. World to he kl^^t off, 3 6. WotUhvw\eftoff,i^,

World haw tob^vc^iiei,^^^.

World te weaKedj'rem, 7 5.

World wht leave be» rewivrded^ 7 y,

WerUsdtffolulknhttrJht-tred, 11.

Worldlings not to be en-vied. 17 <•

Worldlings how profound, lowjhafffiv,

204. Worldlings itfae no ^irttvaU l^MiPiedj^ey

210. Worldlings »/)i^f<7^4/;fy? thefTordi an. Wotlilmgsiiel>end onewnewtt, zii. Worldlings mifcenjure true piety, 21 j, Woildly /i'M|,x fame, j o. Woildly/fciw^i Hotgoodto/oule, 1%. Wor[d\y great nejfe, 171. Worldly wi/dome danger Ota i 150. Worldly wifdome divelijb, 1»i.

Sre Wifdomc. Wormc of confcitncej 17* WiatJ) Jbctf^r^^ aguinft d«^ 0/wratIii 2 2.

FINIS.

TWO

SERMONS

PREACHED AT

NORTHAMPTON

AT TWO SEVERALL

ASSISES THERE.

The one in the time oftheShrevalty of Sir Erafmus Dryden Baronet.

The other in the time of the Shrcvalty

of Sir Henery R$binfin Knight,

By R»krt Bolton Bachelourin Divinityjatc Miniftcr of

Broughton in Northampton-Jhirc,2nd fomctimcs

Fellow oiBrafen-nofe Collcdge in Oxford,

]Publi/bedhjE.B.

London,

Printed by George tJiitHerdvfeWmg in the Black-Fryers. MDCXXXIX.

TO

THE READER.

HE ancient Impcriall La wes gave to an Oyer'-feeroUWiUynotonly a protection over/f, but an Adionfor i^,in cafe ofabufe. If I had not had this intereftin theAi/?»;/7/of thisAuthor; y ct as a ""Fidei Commijfaritis to hiai,and fpc^ ciallyintrufted by him for the publiSiing thcfe two Apfe Sermons^ I durft not but performethistrufttomy deare friend. I ncedc notaffurcthei^^^i^r, that thcfe Ser-A 2 mons

PM Aimmfii Tutor.l.i.%.u

*Eft We cujiu fidtiUgatum •vel reliGum committitur. Ant.l^oherg. in f^ocab, utriu/^ luris.

To the Reader^

monsarc irucly his owac, for whca hec Ihallobferve hoy they arc cloathcd and a^parrclled hee wHl quickly difcover who w4s their Father. Bellies, there ace hua-drcds^of people yet living who heard him preach them, andean with race futficiently atteftatethcit legitimation^ But I cannot fay fo for fome other Sermons that are au-dacioufly vented under his name.^ox I mufl; fay, that i he/^jaft^ called ih^XarndJlProfef-yir^printed for R^Da'^lman^xS^M none of Mafter Bolton Sjneither ^oadmateriam^ nor quoad formatii, as they fay in Schoolcs. I goe notabouj:to qiicftion it, or to draw any partie into punifbment, and therefpre Iwill not ventilate a queftion in the Ci'vill l?Je^mtit, LoTHfyV/hctha'^A^iodedoIoydQrh not lie in thtscafcil only note theinjurie and protefl; againftit.

In the former Workes of this Author you may obfervehis Eloquence for God ; in thisfor bis PnfJ^^ in vindicating the So-veraigntie of Kings^zs the immediate Ordinance o£Gq;1> againft thoTe proud ufurpa-

tions

To.^tEfiad^rl

tions upon them by that Mj« a//»»£j>and iniextaHing Pictie, whrcfeis then fee inthc higheft place, whcn.it wifely rules and di -reds in t^Qheans and ypayes oirighteoits Go-yernoursn

I will fay no more of this Worke, nor of the Workeman, for neither he nor it ftand in need of my praife,ic onely contents me that I have lived, to fee himliveagainejto per-forme his iJpi//, to execute his frwiif commit-tcd/rome^thoughit might have beene better done by another if hee had fopleafedj The law ofreafon and right pardons fomc aberrations in the Worke where there is a ncceflityofOe^/w^, and 1 doubt not but a hying Reader will pcrforme this right to mee, that am content thus to expofe my felfe for his fake. From any other I exped it not i it being a common humour with men that live at ^^^^.tocenfure other men, as toobuliethQU^ they workefor ihQ puhltkc^-y of whom I may fay, as Erafmr^ fpake of ^rafm cou.ds theFriersin his time, They aremore thea '" ''^'^"^^' men at their meatc, and lefle then wo-

A 5 men

To the Reader.

men at their worke. And as 1 contemner

the flouts of the one, fo J c<n;et the

good will and defircs of the other.

Let mce enjoy this and I

have done.,

Middle Temple^^ iffni7,24a63Ji

'''' - — Edw.Bagshavve-*

^I^s^f^ff^^

'j^i

ASSISE SERMON.

PROV.29.J.

when the right eons are in authority the people rejoyce: hut vpheH the wicked beareth rule,the people mourner.

VcnastheSunneinthe fpring by his bcames and influence, doth revive and quicken with new beauty of life, as it were, things hercbelow, makes the face of the canh to flourifh afrefli and fmilejthebirds to fill the aire with much melodious fweetneffe, and fo propor-tionably all other creatures in their fcvcrall kinds, lying within the Sphere of his fpringing warmth,to enlarge themfclves into exultations and mirth, fo a good man graced with Authority, doth marvel-loufly refrcfh all gracious hearts.

But as a bitter tempeftuous ftorme, doth with itsunrpfiftableimpctuoufnefreand violence, beat dowrie,and tcare, deface, and bruife: So a Shehna, oxUaman, unworthily mounted on horfe-backe, and haled by the cords of corruption, againft the haire into fomc high place, undoes all by his domineering

mineering,faftens the bloody fangs of cruelty and bare upon the face ofthcfairefe vertues; an^,<vhkji is an inexpiable villany, makesthc hearts of honcft men tobjeed. And, tl^twhkhismeq^zUmir^ chiefe, fets the fonncs ofBelial on foot 5 and caufes goodfellowes (astheycail them,) I meane brethren in iniquity jAlc-houfe hunters,drnn3(ards,and fuch refufe and riffe raffe of the Divell, to lift up their heads.

It is incredible to confider what a deale of hurt is done, and mifchrcfc many times wrought in-fenfibly and unobfervedly 5 when a wicked wit and wide confcience welds the fword of Authori-tie. For it iseafie to a man fo mounted, by Lcgall {[eights, and pretence of deeper reach to com-pafle his owne ends, either for promotion of iniquity, or oppreflion of innoccncy. For the latter 3 there is fomc truth in that Hyperbolicall fpeech of a great t^^oraliB, Let any man frefent ■me, faith he, with the mo ft excellent and hUmeUftfLj a5fion^ I wUloppofe it with fo mciom and bad intentions-, all rvhf chpall carry a face of likelihood. W hat may he-doe then, who bcfides the habituall malice of his owne heart, and wit at will, hath power and a pretended myfterie of government, to plague a man w ith in this kind ^ Efpecially {ith he knowes himfelfe backt with that principle in policy. // is notfafe fo to reverfe iranfa^ions of State, though taifj-ted perhaps with feme manifeft imprefions ofrmfcof' fiAgeanderrmr. Woe therefore tothofeempoyfo-nedftirrops, by which fo many fuch fervants rife aloft and climbc fo high ; I jncanc bribery, fi-

mony

*^n Afife Serwm.

inony, flattery,temporizing, bafe infinuations, and fuch viicmeanes;ButI hope this Gangren of going into offices. Benefices, and high roomes by corruption's not unhappily crept into this famous and flourilliing State; which if it ihould, it will eate fo farre into the hearts and finevves of the State, that no wit of man can forefce, into what bafenefTe and degenerations this noble Kingdome would fall in the next age: It would be the caufe that many vines,olive-trees,and fig-trees fliould wither away in obfcurity, and brambles brave it abroad in the world,wallow and tumble themfelves in the plea-fures, fplendour, and glory of the times. But \tt fuch alone,this is their day: When they have blu-ftered a while like mighty and boyfterous winds, they breath out into naught. Their breath is in their noftrils, flop but their nofe, and they are dead. Their big words arc but as avainefoame, &c. Ifthey be not humbled in their place, and repent, and turnc the edge of their fword the right way, there is a day comming upon them, wherein they fhall eate the fruit of their owne way, and be filled with their owne devices.

I have intimated now upon purpofejwhich way I would go upon this latter part ofrhc vcrfc ; When the wicked heare ride the people mcuyne: Becaufe I fliall not be abk at this time to reach it with a full difceurfe, Ircturnc to thefifft branch, wherein I will reft.

when t^e righteous are in Authority, the people rejoice. Inthefe wordsvvc may behold Migiftracy, Authority, Sovcraigi^ty, like a precious Diamond

B fct

t^n Apfe Strmm*

f^tin gold, I meane retting upon a righteous man,, fparkling out, as its proper effcia, amiable, noble ,and fvvecccft affedion, that ever feaz'cl upon the heart of man, joy, contentment, a pleafant Aveer-ncfTcofmind. Markc therefore three points in the propofition. Firft,Authority, SecondIy,its proper fubjed, A righteous man, Thirdly, rejoycing, its native and kindly effed.

Soveraignty is facred in it felfe; Authority evcnabftraded,is orient and illuftrious. Aray,and r<p»*efentation of that great Majcfty above.

It alfo ennobles thefubjed that receives it,witb atemarkable fplcndour, and a kind of divine cha-rader. 1 have laid you are gods, PfaL 28.5. That is^firftjby Analogy, fecondly, Deputation5thirdJy, Participation. For you well know that befides that Imperiall Majefty, which is originally and indivi-■dually inherent in the pcrfon of a Monarchical! Soveraigne, there are alfb by derivation,or depu-tation,fome markes and imprcffions of that princely endowment ftampt and fhiningin the i^c and prefenceof every fubordinate Magiftrate, which Hqu, makes them venerable, cfpecially thofe who give

life and vigour to the execution of their places, with the noblenefTe of a free fpirit, and clearenefTe of 2 good Conlcieficc.

Lattly,it ihining in its proper fubjedja righteous man, the true Sunne of Soveraignty, it difpcls fadnefTc of heart,in which all objeSs of lightfome-ticfle fire drowned. The fpirit of a man is broken, as Sdomen faith,Pf(?.i 5.13. As the beauty of a Pearle is^iffolved invincgcr^^nd begets joy in a worWcf

pco*

i^n ■4f^fi Sermon,

people, which is one of the richeft and moft royall donation,, which this wide world can afiford, nay and that which makes the effecft more excellent^ this afFe(5tion of joy is by warrantable propriety,, and true intereft, onely peculiar and proper to ho-neti and holy hearts. This Jewell is onely for fuch gracious and golden Cabinets. No wicked or un-regenerace man hath any truecaufe at all to re-joyce, laughjOr be meiry. I will make it plaine in a word, even to the fcorner. Suppofe a great man convicted and condemned for treafon, going towards the place of execution, a mile off5 let there atablebefurniftied all along with variety of dainties, let him tread upon violets, and rofes, cloth oi Arras5cloth of gold,or what you will 5 allthe way, let him be attended on both fides with moft exqin-fite muficke, and honourable entcrtainements 5 doe you thinke all this will make him laugh heartily, carrying this in his heart,that he muft loofe his head at the miles end ^ I trow not. As farre Icffe true caufe haft thou to laugh, whofoeverthou art, that goeft on impenitently in thy finncs^ in fwearing, drunkenneife, bribery, covetoufnefTe, pride, icor-ning godlinelTcorany other way ofdeath,as3tem-porall death is eafier thenendleffe torments, for he is but going to loofe his head, and thou art going towards hcil.

Now then IcoUedt in the firft place this Do-drine.

Dod. Gcvervment is agocdly thing, J)o0,

I conclude it thus out of the Text by good con-fequcncc. Whatfocvcr is illuftrious in it felfe,

B 2 en-

i^n Apfe Sermon,

ennobles the fubjedt wherein it re{ides,and is attended with fuchan excellent eflfcd, '.is a noble, glorious and goodly thing. But Soveraignty50r Autho-rity exercifed (forfowefindcitinthe Text, and therefore I call it government) is fuch and fo, therefore it is a goodly thing: my Dodrineisihe conclufionofaCategoricall Syllogifine, wherein

See Ratvleigh page I ^ I.

Sec whites Sermon at Pauls Croffe, page 18,

^ See Moulines book of Faith,

SceUim alfo upon Pfal. 1x4 fagejo^.

fomething in the Text is the medium-^ therefore foundly colle(fted.

I proceed to the Reafors. Firft reafon; U receives the prime honour, and excellency from Gods owne infticution. Bymee Kings raignet and Princes decree luflice ; By mez^ Princes rule and Nobles ^ even all the Judges of the^ earth. Pro.S.i5,i5. ThereisnofowerhutofGo d. The powers that be are ordained of G o DfRom,i^,i, "*■ Sothatitis Gods royall, and goodly creature. And if it were vifibleto our bodily eyes, it would farreout-fliinethefaircft, and moft gliftering Imperial! Crowne, that ever fate upon any C£fars head. It is fo foveraigne, and certainely from G o D., that in cafe of Antinomy, that is, when Authority countermands where God hath commanded; we mufl refufethe will,but ftill reverence the power of alawfuU M^^giftrate.

Ifthefword ofSovcraignty, the exercife, and execution ofpower be bent againft G o D,wemun: lay hold upon the Apoftles principle: Whether it be right in the fight of G o n to obey you rather then •G o i9^judge yee. And good reafon, G o d is a Creator, man a creature,andin his hands arc onely life and death: but in G 0 d s, Heaven and Hell.

Be-

Kyln Afife Sermon.

Benveene the Creator and creature there is no proportion, no comparifon. Phylofophy tells us, thatbetweene fomethingand nothing there is an infinite diftance, the two ends, (if I might fpeake ofinfinite things,) of which immeafurable diftance can never be brought together, but by an infinite being. Nothing can produce fonriething of nothing, but an Almighty nature. And therefore as there is an infinite diftance betweene fomething and nothing,fothere mufc alfoneedsbcan immeafurable difproportion betweene the Creating power, and that fomething created of nothing. And fo by confequence the excellency, power, bindingneffeand Sovcraignty of the Creators Law niufl: needs furpaffe and tranfcend above all degrees of comparifon, and meafure of proportion that of the creatures.

You that are converfant in all p.irts of divine 2. learning, and all thofe that are employed in the incomparable worke of the Miniftery, ought to endeavour thereafter. For Minifters had never more need of learning then at this day 5 confidering with what variety and ft rength the truth of Go d isop-pofed onall fides, by Atheifme, by Popery, thas Hydra of all herefics, and other braincleflc exoibi-tancies about matters of Religion. I fay thofe that looke into Cafuifts and Schoole Divines, know how many degrees and kinds of lawcs they make* Firft, There is the Law eternal!, refident in the pure, glorious, infinite mindc of God, wliich is that order which God before all ages hath fet downe withhimfelfc, for himfelfeto doe ^11 things

B 5 by.

by. Sccondly,then the Law of Nature. Thirdly, then the Law of Nations. Fourthly, then Humane Lawes. Thefirft,is^heclearc fountaine ofallcx-cclIencies,order,and equity, as pure as G o d him-feUe: thefe Jaft paffing thorow the polluted channel! of mans braine, are capable of muddineffe, im-perfedion, and infirmity. Who doubts then, but when we fpy thefe laft muddy ftreames to crofTe the current of divine Law, we muft have recourfe unto the well-^ head.

Divine Lawes do binde the confciencc primarily,as they fay, properly, and by themfelves. God is the L o R D of the confcicnce, and onely able todamneandfavethefoule, for the breaking or keeping of his Lawes; and therefore he alone hath an abfolute and foveraignc power to bindc the confcience. If humane Lawes, even that are jtilf, doe any way binde, it is by the power and precept of divine Law. See Rom. j ?. i, (^cA meane meerely humane. For that is falfe which Bellarmine hath pe laictSj Cap. 1 1,Par.^.th^t every jufl: Civill Lav/, is either a conclufion or determination of the di-vine^orall L^vjJumus as all along in his Anlmaci' njerfiom, fo here, he hath alfo nobly conquered and confounded him. And therefore as we would prefcrre the keeping of a good confcience, before the deeping in a whole skin, and the feare of him, which can aeftroy body and foule in hell fire, before him that can onely kill the body, let us cleave unto the Commandements of G o Dyagainft the conrradi(aions ofthc whole world.

Yet notwithftahdingthe mil^imploymcnt, and

the

Kji^ 'A&fe Stamm,

the errour in the cxeicife of it. Authority \% iliM venerable in the original!,nnd to be reputed <]>cds creature; elfe had Daniel newer fpoken thus to Nebuchadnez^itr, an ungodly King and fcoarge^'^'^-*'j7. of Nations> Thott (0 King) an a King of , Kings, for the G O D of Heaven hath given thee a Kingdomc^ power , and flrength, and glory .

And hence it is alfo, that K^tipin^ that renow- '^^G'^'^i^ate ned Father tells us, Hee that gave Sovereignty to ^'^'^*** Au^i\{iws^gave it a^fo to Nero. Hee that gav: ?> to theVQ^'p^Sxms, Father and Sonne, fweetefi Empe-rours, gave it alfo to Domitian that blotidy monfier. In a word (faith he) He that gave tt to Chriftian Conftantine, ^^4T^tf7> alfo to Julian the K^pofiata. That infinite wifedome of G o p, which hath di^ ftinguifhed his Angels by degrees5 which hath given greater and lefTe light and beauty to heavenly bodies, which hath made difference betweenc beafts and birds, created the Eagle and the Flye, the Cedar and the fhrub, and among ftones, given the faireft tinifture to the Ruby, and the quickeft light to the Diamond, hath alfo ordained Kings, Dukes or Leaders o^ the people, MagiftrateSj Judges, and other degrees amongft men.

Secondly, Government is the prop and pill.?r ^t^foni^ of all States and Kingdomes, the cement and fouleof humane affaires, the life of fociety and order, the very vitall fpirit whereby fo many millions of men, doe breath the life of comfort and peaces and the whole nature of things fubfifl. Let thchcaitinamanfurccafc from the cxcrcife of its

prin-

lo K^n Afi(e Sermon,

principality and prime motion, and the whole body would prefently grow pale, bloudlcfTe and livc-IcfTe. If that glorious Giant in the skie^ fliould re-tirehis light into himfelfe, and through alangm-. filing faimneiTe ftay his -courfe, and the Moone fhould wander from her beaten way,whom God hath appointed rulers over day and nightjthe times

and feafonsoftheyeare would blend themfelves, ' by difordered and confufed mixture. This goodly frame ofthe world would di(rolve,and fal into con-fufion and darknelTe. Proportionablyjtakc Sove-' raigntie from the face ofthe earth, and you turne it into a Cock-pit. Men would become cut-throats andCanibals one unto another.Murders^adukeries, incefts,rapes, rcberies, perjuries, witchcrsfcs, blaf-phemies^all kinds ofvillanies,outrages and favage crueltie,would overflow all Countries. Wc fliould havea very hell upon earth^and the face ofit covered with bloud,as it was once with water. 'Ru^on 3. 1 hirdly,It giveth opporrunitie by G o d s blef.

fingjforthe free exercife^and full improvement of all humane abilitieSjto their utmoft worth and ex-cellencie.Trades,traf!ike,lawes,learning,wifdome, valour, policies of State, religion; all Arts and excellencies thrive and flourifli with much happinefle and fucccfre,under the wings and warmth of a godly government. Some fliadowes of thefe notable and worthy effecf^s appeared, even in the Heathe-ni(h Statcjas in that ofthe Romnnes^xo what a match-lefTe noonc-tide of earthly glorie and greatneflfc j to what an incredible and uncomparablc height of humane felicity did that people afpire, by mana-

ging

*^n A fife Sermon. \ j

gingtheir myftcries of State,andguiding the raines

of their commanding power, by afaire, ingenious,

and noble hand,and that out of the mecre illumina-

tions of reafon, and principles of narurall policy^

But I muft tell you by the way, they were notably

alTifted inthislmperiallrife,by their ftrid: and fe-

verelawcs againtt thofe two grand impoyfoners

of the ftrongeft, and moft flourifhing States,

firft,3ribcry,fecondly, bafenefle in comming to Sec Go^»f»jc

high roomes.They had many hvjesdiaml>ftu, ^ de R9.Leg'p.i6i,

fecunijs repetundi^. If a Senator were found to have

ufed unlawfull mcanes for the attaining of any O f-

ficeihc was to fuffer ten yeares banifhmcnt, and fo

proportionably of bribery. No Kingdome under

heaven harbouring thcfe two cut-throats, can ftand

long without bafenefie or ruine.

If Government then hath fuch power,and works fuch wondersin Pagan Kingdomes, what heavens upon earth,what worlds of happinefTe by Gods mcrcie,miy be comfortably expeded, when ir is feafonedand (inewed with the truth of Religion and power of Chriftianity,which is thechiefeft top andwell-fpringofall truevertues,evenasG o d is of all gooci things. For all other ornameqts and excellencies of Nature, Art, PoUicy, are as but a dead and liveleffecarkafTe,except they be animated and quickned with the true feare of G o d, and religious forwardnelTe for hisglory. Nay, a gracc-leflc Magiftrate is a grievous plague, for when he foliowes the publike adminiftration of Juftice, only as a trade, with unquenchable, and unconfcio-nablc third of gaine, and attaining his owne ends,

C being

being not in heart perfwaded that Juftice is G o » $ owne worke, and himfelfehis Agent in this bufi-• nefTe ^ the fcntcnce of right, Gods owne vttd'{6t'^ and himfelfe his Minifter to deliver it, formalities ofjiifticedobutfcrvetofmoother right, and that which was neccffarily ordained for the common good,is through fhamefull abufe^made the caufe of common mifcry, which is too manifcft by too many wofull experiences. See B4£<wi 4^' But now for inftance of thofe happy fruits and vacmenupi '» excellencies, fpringing by G c d s blcfTrng out of Government/aniflificd by the cflfcifiual and power-full Majeftne of true Religion. I will go no further then our own State, fincc that peerelefTe Princefle Queene Elizabeth, of Avceceftand deareft memorie, the happieft inftrument of Go d s glorie of her fcxe, fincethe moft bleflfcd Virgine: I fay fince (he rofe into the Imperiall throne, what a dcale of glorie and light, admiration and honour, what miracles of unparallcd deliverances and pre-fervations,havecrowned this famous Hand. To fay nothing of temporall felicities, for which purpofe inftance might be given in fome of all proferfions and ftatiops: as for depth and variety of learning, gravity arid unfwaedneffc upon Seates of luftice • height of military valour, largeft comprchenfions of ftate-wifdome, excellency in all other kinds of worrh,as admirable and renowned,as ever trod upon Englifh mould. Onely take an eftimate, and fcantUng of fpirituall happineffe, more properly incident to religious governments, by that fpeech ofa great man in our State, Jfthe ehtfe 4nd heli,

faith

faith he, ofthofe observations ufm Texts of Serif ture, ^^

vehtch have kene made M(^erfedly in Sermms mthiit ohdvafce-thisyourLMajepies lland of great Brttaine^ by thejpdce mcnt of Icat-oftbefeforty ycares and mere, had beenejetdawneimi ^"ng^* " cofitimance,it had beenethe beH rv»rke in Divinity^ whtch had heme written fwce the K^pofiles time. And thence conclude that happy confequent, the crown and excellency of all truly worthy States.How ma* nybkfled fouleshavebeenefent to Heaven, and what a number of crowned Saints have bin created by fuch a confcionablc Miniftry,as was in all that time, and what a time it was of both temporall and fpirituall felicity, you may read from King James his noble pen: Greater blefings iff 0 D, faith he, ^irJf/''''' greater outwardpeace.andplenty, greater inwardpe/tde mthfprituallandcelepall treafnres,were never heaped upon my great Britatne, then have beene fmce^ my great Britatne beame, great inthegreateft andchis-feftrefpeBofall'^ tfimtfacemy great Britaine hath JhakmiffthePopesyfike^drc.Youkcinihonvihax a goodly thing Government is4.Now la us come to the Ufes of this Dodrinc 5 and in the firft place k ferves forconfutarion.

Firft5Confutation and confufion of all oppofites f^fe 1 , to Government,efpecially the underminers and un-dcr-prizers ofRegall Authority, the fbunfaine of fubordinateandinferiour Magiftracy.

Now to nullifiethcnothingnefreofthe phfan-ticke bedlam Anabaptifts arguments,(they are fitter to be out of the number of men, and driven out of the border of humane nature,thcntobe difputed with) for abolifhing Magiftracy,und€r,lknow not,

C 2 what

i^n ApfeSermon,

Sec Sdaters Aflifc Sermon /Mg.50.

See BeSarmine Ub.i.de Laic'u, cap.i.^c. Bel de Rom.pd-tif.l I .a 7^rt. Fnttrea Frin-cipitus fceculu' riiinftitutuie/i ah hominibiis, ^fti ^ jure gent iu 71.

And in his bookc againft Barl^.y ,Arnoux upon the 30. Article of the FrenchConfef* lion: calls the power of Ma« giftrates, an humane law, Greg.de f^alen. di^ 1^.10 de infidelitatep.t* art Siautem. Nam ut re£le ratiocinaturhic 2), Thomoi jus ^ominij vet prelationiiin-trodu&ue(i jure iumoHogeH'

what Chriftian pcrfe^ion, as a tranfient Mo-faicall ceremony, would not bee worrh the while 51 rather choofe at this time to deale with thePapift, amorcfubtileand plaufiblc adverfary inthepoinr,and in that regard morepcftilent.

And here in the firft place, letmepoin: you to the foumaine of thofe Popifli fulminarions and firc-workes, which have moft unworthily beaten upon,and blaftedthelmperiall and Regall Throne of Chriftendome: and the firft mover, as it were,of that bloody Sphere, which the man of finne hath turned upon the face of r»r5/j(?, andtorncand rent itinarufuUmanner. It is this.

That the power of Kings, Princes and Magi-ftrates,is not ordained by the divine Law of God, but an humane ordinance.Thisteachcth Bellarm'me.

And they all hand over head, draw this cunning and cut-throate conclufion, for fo it proves in theconfequcnts outof thcempoyfoned fountaine of * Aquinas,

Their reafons for this point are as weake as .water, and flie but with one wing.

Thofe of beft fhew are thcfe, which I refute in a word.

Firft,Hc that was firft King in the world, to wit iViwr^^,madchimfelfe King by force, not by the ordinance o^Gon.ErgOj^c,

SolJXhQ Antecedent is falfcj before NimrodtV^-thcrs and heads of Families were Kings,Pricfts,and foveraigne Princes of their Families. For after the floud men lived five or fix hundred yeares. Then it was an eafic matter for a man to fee fifty, yea a hundred

dredthoufand perfons of his poftcrity, over whom . „ .,., he cxerciled paternall powcrjandby conlequence, deckmii cap. foveraigne power 3 then when there was no other -'■^ art ad con. forme ofaRealme upon the earthy to which chil- ^^'nlr,'! n dren, their iervantsbemgadded,oneramily alone \o.an. i.z?j-made a great common-wealth.Likewife in K^bra- mmumts'pre-/'rfwx time, when mans life was much fliortenedjie duaaexjme^' was called by the Hethites, a mighty Pnnce,Gen.7.^, humanoerqjt 6.and he took out of his family 518. Soiddters to the ZrMum'de

wane ^G en .14,14.. - pre gentiaii,

Againe,how could mankind be maintained, and i^odefijui hu^ the world ftandfor 1556.years5without Soveraign- '"^*^^^ ty and Authority of the Magiftrate ^

Then to the confequent I fay thus much, if a ftrange Prince ihould invade a Kingdome^ they do well to defend themfelves, and if the ufurper bee flaine,he is juftly punifhed, but if he conquer, and the ancient profeffours be quite cxtinguilhed, and then the whole State concurre upon him, and fweare fidelity to the new King,then wemuft think that God hath cftabliflied fiich a Prince in that Kingdome. Then I fay that the people ought to yeeld to the will of G0D5 who for the finsof Kings and of their people, tranfpofeth Kingdomes, and difpofeth of the iflues of warre.

Secondly,but S.P^/e^ cals obedience to Kings,an oBjeSf,2. humane ordinance,: Pet, 2.1^, Ergo^drc.

Sol. It is fo called not in refpe6^ of the fubftance ^^^' of government and inftitution,and Caufaliter (as the Schooles fpcake; but in refpccft of,tirft,the fubjci^ wherin it is feated/econdiyjorthe objed wherup-on it is fcatcd,thirdly ,to the end to which it is dire-

C 5 ded

i^n Apfe Sermm*

See A\wm z.c©l p(>. X 5 JI

*ThrtSerm(»n was preached tefore Kmg CAdrfef'raig-ntA j.yearcs,

dedjorjfourthlyjthcfcvcrall formes or meanes by which ix. is attained.

The queftion is not, by what meanes, whether by hereditary fucccifion, oreledion, or any other humane forme,a Prince comes into his Kingdome, but whither by the ordinance of God weought te obey him,when he is eft^liflied J hope the Pope is hoifted into his chaire of peftilencc,by the elc(^ion of the Cardinals or worfe meanes,and yet that hinders notour adverfaries from holding it a divine ordinance.

Thirdly, Yea but there is no expreffc comman-dement fct down by Go d to obey HenryyOt Lewist ov lamesjov "^CfurkSiOx to acknowledge this or that man more then another to be King.

SolMo^ befottcd and infatuated Sophiflry!

By the fame reafon Bellarmineis not bound to be an honcft man,becaufe there is no particular and ex-prefTecommandenicntin Gods Book, thati?.^. ought to be an honcft man.

Neither is there any fpeciall charge from God, that Btllarmine muft obey ?auI the S. yet I hope he holds himfelfe {vk))tdi unco him by the Law of GoD^thoughno exprcffe word faith, this or that King rules by me,y et know thcrfore that that Scripture which faith, BjmeKingsmgneS2Axkiz\{oj by me King lAmn raigrres, that precept which bids us hcmm ihtKtng^i F^/.2.17.Binds usalfo to honour King Urms^ox generall rules in Go d s Book,whi-cher about precepts, prohibitions,orpromifcs, bind aod belong xq partiodar perfons without naming them,aQd particulars are ncceiTaftily,and pcrfonally contcined in the univerfals. Firft>

Firft,Now this falfe foundation being thus Jaid inthedifgrace a i J abafeaient of fecular Soveraign* ty,as they call itimarke the progrcfle and bloody giadation.

Second IyjHence they have proceeded and d-a-red to rob, and bereave Imperiall thrones, and the crowned Majefty of Kings of that native reverence, due attributions andobHgations ofState^ which divine ordinance,and purefttimes appropriated unto them.

Thirdly, They have beeneheartned to fly even inthefaceof Majcfty,and with unhallowed hands to decrowne the Princely heads of the Lords an-nointed.Thac great o^W^<?;? in this ftreine of rage SceHi/?.ofth« and pride, hath fet his foot upon the very necke of ^ouncdi of Emperours,and fpurned off tlieir Crowncs with "'^'^3'4. hisfbooe.

Fourthly,they arehardnedCprodigious and execrable villany !) even to kill,and cut the throats of Kings; upon this bloudy ftairc they now ftand^ha-ving lately revealed it in the royal blood of the two laft Henries of Trancz^.

] have difcovered and already done with the foundation which they have laid for a 54^^^of con-fufion and bloud.

Now for their fecond affront upon Soveraign-xy^ feeafele(5kd Catalogue of unworthy and bafe afperfions caft upon Kings Crownes by Cardinal 1 Bellarmine^ and purpofely collc(5ted by his ^S'S*-Majefty,towards the latter end of his \ moft Royal! Aw^logy. Letmcalfohcreinavirord tell you, how that

late

xS

K^n Aftfe Sermon,

P.i InflMar. /Jir.io.inhis Trcatife,</c /«• peraioreRoma-noruin.

Ibid cap i pag \^ ^ijcif.propter htecEt b^c fententia. Et propter h'^sc jjt. m is" ikcrtta. *SeB. bacfcH^ tentia.

Jbidpi.i'iS^-SeS.adeavero

omnia.

Cap ?.ye5. ilyinto eiu£ri^

tUT.

fag.zMb.^ ca deinde ob'ifciei

Ibid.c z ibid. feSi.Proptsr.

late famous CaCuift t^zarisis^hdxh handled the Emperour inthis kind.

This fellow teaches, that the jurifdi(5tion and power ofthe Empecour, hath irs being, cxiftence and dependance,(they are his ownc words,) from the Pope o^Rome. And upon this occafion tels us de faBo, how many Emperours the Pope hath depo-fed. "^^That the Pope is he who firft gives right and power to the Ele<5tors to choofe him,and then him-felfeannoincSjConfecratespandcrownes him fo e-leded.

That the Emperour is but the Popes minifter, e-lc(5led by him for the defence of the Church. So that in another place,he faith,thc Pope> if itpleafcd him, might cfeate two Emperours in the Church equall in power; one to govcinc in the Eaft part ofthe Church, the other in the Weft. And therefore having propofed this queftion: Whether the power ofthe £mperour be from God, the Bifhop of-X<?»?^j or the people: heconcludes. But certainly, faith he^ by the common confcnt, of moft of the Dodors ofthe Law, efpecially Pontificall, it is the received opinions,that the jurifdidion and power ofthe Emperour depends immediatly upon the Bifhop o^Romcjsxid. how proves he that, thinkc youf'Even thus.

It was faid to Peter ( faies he ) FeedmyJIjeefcj-j not thefe or other,but abfolutely and fimply, my fheepe, and therefore all : but the Emperour is a Sheepe, Er^o^ ^c. And in the fame place, hee makes alfo Kings and Princes amongft the aumbej: of fheepe.; and by confequcnt concludes

eludes their fubjc(5tion to the triple Crowne.

Nowthefeareftrangepaflfages againft theEm-perour, confidering that'^ C?Wi:«rfr^>?^ the Popes *<z)aiipgtonp. creature in his Digreflion, now effaced out of the ij-Mfinem. Originall by the Inquifition.

Tells ViSjthat aforetimes ytheeleciion of the Top did not fund good whhotit the confirmation of the £mperor, nay, faics he, the Popes in all their Bullsy Priviledges and Grants,exprejfed the date^ in thefe firmall mrds, (fuchan one our Lord the Emperour raigning.)

Neither hinders it, faith he, that thou fay, The Empire hath his being from the Romiih Bifhop, in rcfped of thofe things onely which are Spiritual! : For it is contrary; the Bifliop of Rome hath received the keyes of both Kingdomes,both terrene and celeftiall; and it is conformable to the Popes owne words, Sixtus the fifth, Imeane in his Bull againft Henery the third of France. For he there afiirmes,that he hath obtained fupreme power over all the Kings and Princes of the whole earth, and all people, and Countries, and Nations given him; not by humane but divine Inftitution. They are See Barclay de the words of the Bull. And agreeable to the Do- P^t^ft^te ?apce (flrine of Thomas Bozi us,one of the moft execrable '^sccapfp.ll!^ flatterers, that ever the Pope had: who teacheth. See Barclay de Omnem vim Regiam^^c, ^cl'^^'Jft'

Upon this point and principle, t^lexander the fixthgave the Weft-Indies to the Spaniards, and the Eaft-Indies to the Portugals,pl3cingthe Meridian which pafleth by the Azores for their limits.

And upon the fame ground Piusthe fifth depriv/pd^

D Queene

cap.i.pag.6,7.

ao

Kyfn Apfe Sermon»

SteMouiines Q^cuc Elfz,ahtth of EftgUffd, of her Kingdome, book of Faith, and gave it to PhfliP the fecond of Spaine, as Azo^

Marclaiuiloeo rim tcllS US. •_

«mf<». But of all in this point, for a true Jefuiticall

c,UMb t.pag. ftraine, Father Binet fliall take it to him, for fayes he, (markeitwell.)

It were better that all Kings were kiliedythen to re-njeale aconfepOff:a.nd he takes his ground from that rotten foundation^ fo derogatory to Kingly power, refuted before. Becaufe^ (akh hcy the'porver of Kings u ordained by humane lawes, but Confej^ion hy divine law. You have it in Caufaubons Epiftle to Eudiemin'm A- Fronto Due £ ffs t\\c]cCuitc. Now here isafweet S!i^'S'^?««- piece of worke; It were better that all the Kings lextraaa.de' inChriftendome had their throats cut, then that !>*»/>. fpeakes a kusvifli fcctet, or atraiterous plotofai='^«A;,or purpofe. RaviUacke confefTed to a Sodomiticall fTiaveling*,

Sec Mmiins fliould be difclofed^ Here is a true brat of the bloo-Book€ of ^y ;^hore, a fellow of the right Ignatian ftampe. a"bp-547. Thirdly, Now the third violence and villa-ny they offer to Kingly power, and Princely Thrones, is the decrowning and dethroning of Majefty.

And to this end the Pope doth pcftilently abufe that noble and glorious Engine of the Church, Excemmumcation^ which in it native ufe, ought to bedifcharged upon the hairy pate of every wretch, that goes on rebelliouflyin his fin, and hates to be reformed ^ upon the Drunkard, Whore-mafter. Swearer, If furer,Bribe-taker, and fellowes offuch infamous ranke,and vidorioufly to beate do wne the Bulwarks ofthe Divcll. But he now makes it ferve

his

his turne,to tumble downc into the duft the Imperial! Crovvnes of Oithodox Princes. Whereupon his Majefty tellsthem,in his Royall AnfwcrtoCar- p-^c 177. dinall P.errcny That the facredheads of Kings ^are mort churlifllyy uncivilly andrig&reufly handled, then thc^ cemmen hoods of the meaneft churks.

For excommunication fliould vexenonein his temporall State. That fpirituall fword^ (fay our Divines)deprives of fpirituall rights,that concerne the kingdome of heaven,deprivesnoneof his civill rightSjWhich he hath as a member of civill fociety.

And that learned and famous Spalatenfis^ a man ^'^^sdatm throughly verft in Popifli Dodlrine, fayes 5 For ci- ^^^^\ ^^^^^ vill and humane commerce, no excommunication TUensynt.pi. canhinderit3 and our Ecclcfiafticall Conftitutions /'^87.flrM6. runinthefameftraine. The excommunicated per-fonfhall not be excluded from civill negotiations, ^^ccUfiafi. jf' and ufuall bufinclTe^by which things neceffary to excomnunka-humane life are fupplied. ^ J.^sr^*'''*

Now,fhall not a private perfon be hurt in his out- ■''' ward eftatc by excommunication, and fhall a King loofe all < Here is a pure Popifh mercy indeed.

I need not trouble you with any Popifh Authors for proofe of the point; this traiterous tenent of depofing Princes, is every-where current in their Schooles '. they are fo farre from being afhamed of it, that every fliaveling infuksin the Catalogue of dejeded Crownes; the Popes pradifc muft now prove the principle,and hisfad:,his right.

To this very purpofe Azorius tells us, f. i Jnfi, mcrMB, i o cap,2.Sedl. Hxc fenteiatia,'] That Gregory the fcvcnth depofcd from the Empire ffe^ery the

D'2 fourth

L>df$ ApfeSermon,

if 11,3^^ ^^^_ iowxth* Alexander the thitdyFrederick the firft./;;^^-rcAed^^ar.by f^w^thcthitd, oM(^thc fifth. Innocentxho. fourth, aetfaiw Frederick the kcond»Clemsnt the fixth. "^ i^f rvAf the

See in the fame r -^u fence Grfgm. lOUr^*!*

MdevaUom j I willoncly here juftific that which a little be-^^"i'^* ^'*^' ^^^^ I ^did 0^1^quinas, where I called him the 5e<f/ j^/«/o fountaine of much Popery and rebellion; I fay probatut. And againe of rebellion alfo. For all the Schoole-fpi-Rompl'nt c.s, ^^^^3 (their works are hke fpiders-webs; they alfo fuck, feed upon and vomit venome,) have fucked a great deale of poyfon in this point, from his pofi-tion 22,q.i2. art.2» which is this.

As pone as a Prince is denounced ex commuriicate fer Afoflafie-^x^^o fado, his fubjeSh 'arefreed from his So-qjeraignt^,andabfolvedfrom the Oathofallegeance^ bj which they were bound unto him.

NowhisScholicrs^^^/Vfj-, zndValentia tell us.

See advancement of lear-

fteps of the Saints and his holy predecef-for$,yet it is

Sec Blac{»els examinationj

MS-4.

* Whatfoevcr

Gregory prete-

deth to the c6- that not onely totall Apoflafic, but partial! alfo, as f "^h ^"^"^h ^" h^'^^^^'^s ^^^^ meant; fo that any Proteftant Prince hefreads in the ^^ ^^^^^ interpretation is here concluded.

But mark, I pray you, the finew of this mans Af. fertion.He firft brings againft himfelfe the authority of v^w^r^?/^, telling us, that Chriftian Souldiers true that sigi- obeyed even lulianthe Apoftate: he might have thIswi%iK' added alfo an excellent fpccch of ^/#« to the fidi Pope liiat fame purpofe in Pfil 124.quoted by me before^He tode ^7^"'"'^'^ -alledges other good reafonsbefidesj but when he Emp?°our!"^ comes to refolve and define, he overthrowes all This Pope ex- with 3, Sedcontra Gregcriusfeptintusj^ Gregory the H^'^'lu'^ fcventh is of another mind: and he quotes^him out Anno ioj6. ofthe puddic of the Popifh Canon-law, Decret, SttFitidiib.s, iPar.2,cap.i%,^,6,cap.NosSa»^forfim,2

And who I pray you, was this Gregory the fe- f^^^"^^^^ venth^ it was Hildet?rand,ihc fcourge of Empcrofs, thefire-braad of warrc, thcfcorneof hisage. So that a bafe Pope, being a party, and in his owne caufejfctting his foot upon the necke ofHenery the fourth, muft countervaile and over-weigh the authority, of Gods Word, twooftheworthieft Fathers, that ever former times enjoyed, Reafon, Confcience, Nature, grounds of common fence, every thing,any thing- for he is a Pope forfooth, and therefore an infallible Vicar upon earth.

Fourthly, At length,in the fourth place, they are .^ arrived at the very height of that prodigious and tran fcendent rage, that m akes it very probable,that the Pope is that purple whore arrayed in fcarlet co-lour,iv^'y.i7.4.and drunken with blood,i/fr.5. And it is more then a miracle,thatChriftian Kings fuffer that bloody bead to fit fo long upon the fcven hills: they arc now come, I fay, firft, to the killing of Kings,fecondly,to teach the killing of Kings,third-ly,to defend the killing of Kings; For that laitftar-ting hole, and evafion of Cardinall Ferromus, and gge the Kings other Jefuites is ridiculous.That they kill not kings anfwer to Per-in EJfe:h\xt firft they un-king a King, and then kill a ^^atf'**''* King,when he is not a King but a private perfon^up- See aifo m«u-on this very point King Tdmes breaks out mofl juftly '^^^ ^ookc of outofaRoyall indignation of his noble fpirit, 6 ^^^a^i^jf' hell-hounds, O diabolical! wretches, O infcrnall monftcrs!

And tells them, that incomparifon of their religion and holinelfe, all the impiety that ever was pra<5tifcd among the Infidels, and all the barbarous

D 3 cruelty

cruelty that ever was perpetrated among the Canni-bals,may palTe hence-forth in the Chriftian world, for pure clemency and humanity.

It is not enough for that man of fin, and ftigmati-call ftrumpet,to be drunk with the bloodjCfor fhe is faid,5fx'.i7,4. and 6, both to be arrayed infcarlct> and to bee drunk with blood) of the dcareand precious foules of many thoufands of her own children, who being by her conceived, and brought forth in fpirituall adultery, and after nurft up, and nuzled in ignorance and fuperftition^havelived and died in Popifh darknefle. But fhe is alfo thick-cloa-thed with the crimfon and crying blood of infinite Martyrs of J £ s v s 5 nay, and now in her dotage, being growne a deformed Hag, and left by moftof her lovers, flie labours to repaire the decaiedncfic and ruine of her painted beauty with the richncfTc ofherattyre, fothatflieisnot now content onely with garments of bafer and inferiour die, but of late, is new clad, even with a robe of blood Royall, deeptly, and double-dyed in the facrcd blood of Kings.

Indifplayingthis whore in her bloody colours, I might tell youof thofe Seas of blood, which fliee hath furioufly fpilt in her drunken humour, and powred upon the face oiEurope, almoft all in our remembrance.

I might,I fay, enlarge thefe points, but I will at this time onely hold me to the prefent, and^eliver myfelfcin a word.

In the firft place that they kill Ki ngs 5 it is cleare in the eye crf'^U Chriftcndomc: I will go no further

then

then the prcfcnc age? and the frcfh bleeding memory of fuch dolefull a^ts. Two of the laft Kings of France, //e;?r)i the third and the fourth, fell from their Iraperiall Thrones by the bloody knives of twoPopifhvillanes.

Stxtif^ the fifth excommunicated and depofed Sec mouIw Henery xhcthnd^2.ndx\\cvlames Clement a Jacobin ^^^^^o*"F-^ith, committed thathorrible Parricide upon his Royall Sg? aXVp

perfon. loVenon^pug,

^ Ravillacke was the other Affafin, who rendred ^^"^-^B^-^-this reafon for his monftrous and horrible attempt. That King Henery had adefignetowarr with God, becaufehc had adefigne to take arraes againft his HolinelTe, who is God.

Now befides how greatly did they thirfl: after the Virgin blood of the late Priticely Elizakth, with a prodigious variety of murdejous complotments: hadnotthefilver line of her much honoured life, beene hid inthe cndlelTc maze of God ^ bottomc-\t{^Q mercy,thofe bloody Romifh hunters,had many and many a time laid her honour in the duft.

Nay,but for a miracle of the fame infinire mercy,they had torne King lames in pieces, his nobJc Queene, the Roy all limbes of thofe two fvyeet and orient Princes, and that Princely ftarre that now fliines fo faire in Bchemta, by their powder-mine.

There was no want at all of Popifli malice, pur-pofc, utmoft endeavour, to have fpilt all this Roy-all blood,a$ water upon the ground, and therefore, lalfot^ke allthefe noble Princes> as direA and proper Inftanccs for Popifh King-killing.

Yca,but thofe (may feme fay) were but onely ob]e^*

fome

K^fi Jpfe Sermon,

SbI.

Sec the Kings • Anfwer toPer-r(in,pag.^. and Moulins bookc otFaichjp J4^

* Francis de Verrona in his Apology for lohn Chafiell.

* Mariana ds Rege <S' Regis Jn/^ittitionty j lib. I.cap.6,

objeH,

Ohje^*

fomedifcontentcd perfons, which our of fome defperatc pang aded thcfe bloody Ailafinates, ProfelTion it fclfe^and Popilh religion is not to be charged with fuch exorbitant out-rages.

Nay,but they have mard all for that; and left no roomefor any fuch reply.

2. And therefore Imufttellyou in the fecond place, that theirlearnedeftProfeflbursand greateft Do(5tors, blui re their bookes with thcfe bloody liDes,and teach this moft abhorred Trade of King-killing,and murdering Princes.

BeHarm'me^ Becanmt Smre::^ Eudmimn, loannes, with other like monfters;(3"f. are fuch bloody Do-ftors of the fcarlct Whore.

But above all, me-thinkes "*" Francis dererronay and Mariana.zxt the moft mercileffe Mafters of this execrable Arc, as I fhall Ihew you in another Treatife.

Yea,but yet for all th's,thefearebut private Do-(ftors^and may erre.

3. Well therefore,in the third place, (for I charged them with that alfo,) I muft tell you, that King-killing is approved and applauded by their tranlcendentDo(5lour, which is virtually and eminently all the Popifti Dodors in the world, ever aflfifted with the unfallible fpirit of deceiving, and being deceived,the Pope \\im{t\h,Stxtm the fifth, gave thankes unto G o d in open Confiftory, for the horrible affafinate perpetrated by James Cle^ merttfUTpon Hemry the third oiFrance.

But was not that Oration publifhed by the Pro-teftants, purpofely to cafl fuch a bloody afpcrfion upon his HolincfTe. I

*^n Aftfe Sermn. j 7

I tell you no, it was put out by the Papifts, and printed at Parts,hy Nicholas Nivelle.znd RoUin Jhi- Fauh^^'f^i,**^ €rry,mxh approbation of their Do(ftors, Boucher, de See the ^opcs Crf//,and Ancelin, and doe you think he would not q? "J-"^,^";^,? have approved Faux his fire-work,if it had blowne i,ng fufcher" up the Parliaments if not why fuffcrs he (74r;?ff and pfovedby k. oUcorne, powder-miners, both by books and pi- AlS^toper-(flures falcable under his nofe in Rome,^o be enroled rmipag i zi,' in the Canon of holy Martyrs "f but the old Fox is "i« wily enough,not fodired^jand heartily, to com« mend amifchiefcuntill it be done.

The Powder-plot was of the nature of thofc h^Si^udi nunquam lauda/$iurmfi per-acfa.-zsTacitus fpeakes. You fee then at length, by wliat degrees thefe Romifh Locufts are fallen foule uponGo-vcrnmenr5upon all Imperiall, Regall and Princely power. So that at this day, to the inexpiable fhame and diflionour of the whole Chriftian world,they teach,a(5b,and approve, the bloudy killing of crowned Potentates.

Which things fith they arc thus 5 you are an ho-nourable,wife and worthy Auditory^ I fay no more but this.Me-thinks it is an aftonifliment beyond the comprehenfions of nature, rcafon. Religion, Policies of State,-that fuch an intollerable generation, fo odiousjboth to heaven and carth,for abominable • Idolatry,fo vifibly infamous,both to this and the o-ther world ,with many capitall charaders of blood, fo endleffe & implacable in their ragcfull defigne-ments againft the crowned Majefty of the Kings Throne,fo prodigious in their plots,that they have caftan inexpiable and cverlafting afperfion upon

E the

thcinnocency ofChriftian Religion, fiichfurious AfTafinsand Incendiaries/or murdering ofPrinces, butcheries of peo;:)le, and fisring of States; fo inra-ged,evenlike Woolves in the evening tofwallow us up quick ifthe rime did ferve^ T fay^th^tfuch, in fo Orthodox a Church and noble a Scatc,(hoiild by allowance, toleration, connivence, or remiffcnelTe, befuffered to receive increafernent and mulciplica-tion,both in number&infolency,to the great dirho-nour of Go D Almighty^The continual! ve^cation of Gods Children and good fubje^s, andthemoft Certaine hazard of the whole Eftate, and the peaceable fuccelTion of the Kings pofterity. And the moreftrange it is forthefe three reafons. Firft, What conceit do you think out of the con-gruity of Popifh principles, is it likely they hold of this forbearance,and what thankes do they returne to the States undoubtedIy,to think chat it is infatuated for their fakes, and that the hands of Juftice are manacled by G o d s over-ruling providence, that it cannot be executed fo fully and freely upon fuch alovingjholyjand unbloody generation.

Secondly, They daily do their utmoft at home, and abroad,to crofle King/4;w^/his Princely Admonition unto them,in his firft fpeechinthe Parlia-nient;wherein he admoniflied the Papifts^that they would not (o farre prcfume upon his lenity,as thereupon to think it lawfuU for them to increafe their number and ftrength in his Kingdome, whereby if not in hia time, yet at leaft in time of his Pofterity, they might be in hope to eredtheir religion againe.

Thirdly, If the day Hiould come they have fo

long

long looked for,(but I hope in the L o r D,all their

eyes (liall drop out of their holes with confufion

and rottennclfe, before they fee that day.) They

would queftionkfle lay hold u^ponVerromnjis wool-

vifli and bloody *conclufion;efpeciallybeingani- *^^ P"^^''^!

mated thereunto by the example ottheMaflacre: tingofmakmg

Refolution of Pope Vrbane^CatK 23.^.5. Can.Excom. away herencks

mumcatorum.'~\ We efteeme them, (faith he) not to be ^^^^^^^^'^^^^

murtherers^rvho being foffeffed with z,cale oft eir mo- gives allow-

ther,the CathoUque Churchy azainfi thofe that are ex- ^"" ^"^ ^^.^"^

■ J n 111 1 n r t / tocverypnv.tc

commumcatca,jbaU happen to kt 11 any of i hem: ana by ^^^^ ^^ murder the edge of their owne PopffI) blood-thirpneffe, really the iieretickc ensagerd^ by fained conceits of their pretended per- h!m"mS^K4 fecution. Decree of the Parliament of Paris: That de venohe.con-it (hould be lav/full to flay all the Hugonotsjwhich J^amm in by publicke order was read every Sunday in every ^/.uclaftett. Parifh. And therefore to tell you in one word, the Hiftory of the ^ndwhy at this time I have flood fo long upon this ^''""'^'^°g ^oint. It is to aske you this queflion, at clofc, whe- ^^'^^'^' ^ ' ther it be not now true and honourable mercy, (for God forbid, that I fliould pcrfwade any cruell thing,) nay, and I he contrary, extreme cruelty to the State, to execute exadly, juft and holy lawes upon fuch a generation: and let every one be judge that heares me this day, if he be not a party in that bloody fa(5^ion; or hanker that way. And yet one word morc,and I have done. I know Parfms in bis miferablc fhifting bookc about Equivocation, againfl Do6lori^^r?(?;?. p^^ ^j^ „. ^

Cardinall Perromus, Bellarmim in his Apology Anfwer.p.!"!*^ againfl the Kings Monitory Prefacc>and o' hers up- ^^^ ^a^nfis hij onwbofc foreheads the whereof i?<?«r^ hathftam- ZTZr'''

E 2 pcd ^'^* '

K^n Apfe Sermon .

See how vvc arc cleared, ,4Hticoton,p.6 } Anfwer to cer-tainefcanda-lous papcrSj^a. mlt.

EUenfis in hfs anfwer to BeU. ^pologp.rgg. Anfwer to Ferron,p.z7^,

JbiJpa.177.

Kings Anfwsr to ftrroriypag.

pcd her marke of PopiHi impudency; charge the Proteftants,and Reformed Churches, with thefc bloody palTages: but in fo doing, they deale with us as an impudent ftrumpct with an honeft woman; and as Vencs dealt with Tullj\Verres himfelfe wasa very notorious theefe, and knew that Tw/Zy had muchagainft him in that kind; and therefore, he veryknavifhly and impudently calls T'«//y, a true man, and that noble Oratour,iheefe firft: Itisjuft fo in this cafe.

But above all,heare King Tarngsin the point; we glory,(and well wemay,)chatour Religion affords no rules of rebellion 5 nor allowes and grants any difpenfation to fubje^ls for the oath of their AU leageance; and that, none of our Churches give entertainement unto fuch monftrous,and abominable principles ofdifloyalty.

And as concerning Ifmm- Brutmy whom they objed: his Majefty anfwers. That he is an Author unknowne, and perhaps of purpofe parched up by fome Romanift,with a trick of wily deceir,t'0 draw thereformed Religion into hatred with Chriflian Princes.

If we were in the fa me predicament with the Pa-pifts this way: how comes it to palfe, that our En-glifh Popelings have madefo many bloody affaults againft thefacred perfonsof Queene Eliz.abeth and King lam^S'y and the Protcftants of J'/^;?^^ having farre better opportunity and more power, have never ftird rebellioufly againft their Kings; of whom King lames thus fpeakes: icottldncveryet learnt hy Any goddand.trm mtelligence, that in France thofe of

the

the Religion tooke armes at any time againfi their King, muchlejfethcn^ offeredthey^to hfttcher or blew him up mth ^^m'pO)vJer.

Ihavethusfarredifcovcred in the firftUfethe moft peftilent oppofites- and cut-throatcs of Government and Kingly Majcfty, at this day in Chri-ftendome. I ncTW come to a fecond Ufc.

If Government be fuch agoodly thing, as hath f^fe 2, been proved before^then all that heare me this day, and every mothers child in this Land, I fay, we are all bound tobleffe God upon our knees,and to put it as afvvcet perfume into our daily facrifice of thankfgiving, for being bred and brought up under foblcfted & happy a Gov£rnment,in the Sun-fliine of the Gofpell, and under the wings of J e h o v a h . What ftaid or reftraincdthe Omnipotent arme of G o Djfrom creating any of us,and planting us upon earthjin the unhappydaiesof Qaeene Mary, when we might either have beencdam.ned or burned, or in the bloody times o^Lancafier, and Tork-, or when the mills of Popery, and infolent domineering of that man of fin, enthralled under the moft grievous yokeofmiferable bondage, both the Crowneand confcienccs of this Kingdome.-or fomc Pagan5Tur-kifh, or Tyrannicall Government, or neighbouring Popifli Countreyj or (which alfo had not bccnefo comfortable,) in the perfccuted, or Schifmaticall parts of the Churchc'it was nothing but Go d s own mecre mercy,rerpiting and remitting our being up* on earth,to better and more blcfledtimes & place; It was that and that alone, which ordered and appointed our lot of living herein that golden knot of

E s time.

timcas it were, and the very Diair ond of the ring, of that happier rcvolutionjfincc Ch r i s t s daies, I meane in the moft orient and comfortable breaking out of God s holy truth, from under the cloudesof Antichriftian darknefTe: and in this little nooke of the world,where the Gofpell fliines with fuch glory, truth and peace, and under the* kindly warmth Quecne £/i^«- and influence of two the moft glorious Starres that Kin^ umcs. ^^^^ moved,or gave light in BngUnds Hcmifphere. What beafts arethey then,that daily do their ut-moft to bereave and rob us,both of G o d s blcfling, and this warme Sunne: and hale downe all they can with ftrong cart-ropes of iniquity,the vengeance of God upon the face ofthis noble and famous King-dome^ and fuch are all the wicked amongft us, and thofethat hate to be reformed; Ale-houfc-hunters, pot-companions,good-fellowes,drunkards, arcthe mofl peftilenr, and curfed canker-wormes, that gnaw at the very heart, and finewof the glory and ftrcngth of the State, and likeaud.;cious and outra-gious Giants even wraftle withl^eaven; and by powringinof ftrong drink, labour might & maine, Sce/y3.i?.r, topuUdowncthefull violsof Oods fierccftwrath upon our heads. And thcrfore if there be any Juftice of Peace, which is a lecrct fupporter of any rotfen Alc-houfe, he is a great plague to the place where he dwells,whcther it be Towne or City.

The crueil Ufurer is the cut-throate of the Coun-trev where he kennels. See what adealc ofcom-pafllim-leflre miferies and confufion, a company of fuch catcrpillcrs brought upon the infant Replantation of the new rctyrncd Jewes, iV^^. 5.2,7. The

fwcarer.

2j3

fwearer, andtearerof Gods glorious Name by

his blafphemous breath> gives wings to the flying ^^'"-^ -»5'

book of Go D s curre5and is able to blaft the beauty

of the moftfruitfull Land, and flourifliing pfofperi-*

ty, Becaufeoffrearir};^, faith far. C/yaf>. 1^410. The

Land momneth^ the ^leafm fUces of the rvildcr-

nejfe are dried uf.

"^ Theprophaneralfoof Gods holy and glorious Sabbath,is an Incendiary ;7/>w/Jip///;/i?^^f4;'te g^^^^^ to »?^,faith God ,Ier. ij.ijjo hallow the Sabbath daj% 17^ 18. ' then will I kindle afire in the gates of lernfakw, andtt fiali denjonre the Pallaces thereofy and n fijall not k qaenched.'bki^^d be Go d therfore that hath put yeC into the heart of my Lords the Judges,to be fuch an honourable prefident to the whole Countrey, of forbearingthe Sabbath.I am perfwaded they may juftly make men of inferiour ranke fouly afliamed. Ignorant, diffolute, and difordered Minlfters, caufe G o D to cry aloud for the deOroyer, <^/lye heafis of the fieldSs^^^^ G c d ^tfa. $6,9 -come to devour e^ yea all ye beafis in thcforreftjjis Watch-men are blinde^ The Bribe-taker, or man of gifts, (as he is called originally in the fourth verfc of this prefent Chapter,) (hakes the very Pillars, and maftcr Timber of the Kingdonie: but he that receives gifts over-throwes it 5 ordinarily, bafcneffc in comming to high places,and bribery,are fworne brethren.

"Neither muft you conceive,asFather Aufiin excellently admonilheth in Pfal.i^. fage 144. That onely money, gold and filver, or prefentsj as they" call them, arc bribes, but the guilt of bribery alfo may be juftiy imputed, even to any exorbitant affe-

^ion, which fwaycs a manafidc, from the impaiti-all execution of Jufticc: as love, feare, hatred ^c^r. dt fire of praire,and applaufe, for that is Jujlms in-ftance in the fore-cited place: Forexamplc/.he party hath grear,and many friends,and therfore if rhou leane a little that way, thou (halt be honoured with many thankfull acknowledgements, and flattering cntertainements: or on the other fide, the party is poorc, and if thou be impartiall, it will light heavy on his his fide;and then the Countrey will be ready to cenfure ihee,as no friend to the poore.

Now in thefe cafes, if for fuch refpcds, thou en-cline either to the right hand, or to the left hand 5 thou pcrverteft Jufticejsnd juftly encurres the cenfure of a corrupt Judge.

Forheare Gods charge in thecafe,Zfi//>, 19.15. Tefiall not doeunjuftly in Itidgemcnt: Thou fhalt not favour the ferfbn of the poorcy nor honour the per fin of the mighty: hut thmjh alt judge thy neighbour juftly.

-P///«^^ perhaps could wafli his hands of bribes,but notofCHRisTs blood. Thatcryofthejewes, if thou let this man go.thouart not C.tfars friend, ftri-king cold unto his heart, and fwaying him awry, was equivalent to a bribe,and fli ill caufe him to be condemned, not only as a cruel], butalfo asa corrupt ]udge.The Judges ofi/r^^/who fentenced Na-^cf^ to death,were nor corrupted with downe-right bribesjfor any thing we know, but there was fome-thing equivalent; lezahel ruled the roaft at the • Court,and was potent cither to advance, or deject them,which brought them to the bent of her bloody mandate, and Nabotks blood upon their owne heads. Mockers

Mockers and roifurersofthe lairhflill Miinftcrs, (you would littlethinkeit) draw G o r» s flaming wrath upon a people without remedy, fee % Chr^/i,

36,16, " -1''.. .:;v.,rj::n'r • .vid

Spirituall cov/ards, and thofc who hiving given rheir names to Religion, are fallen away from their firfl: Iovc,arc the fpeciall men to remoove our Can- See Rcyci.z.y. dleftick, and put out the glory of Ifrael.

ScornefuU perfecutors^ of G o d s people, as though they were the very filth of the worlds and the of-fcouring of all things, the plagues of the simes, and the troublers of ifrael, whereas in truth the world is nqt worthy ofthem, they arc the very chariot and horfe-men o^ifrael •, they are the onely jewels,ftarres ,Sunnes, Saints, Angels of the earth: for their fakes, and fafety alone, theSunoe holds out his'glorious unwearied courfe; the earth fprings, and is over-fpred with fuch beauty and fwceineffei the ay re infpires her lively and rcfre-(liirg breath J that great and reftlcffe body of the Sea^ kcepcs within hei bounds ^ States and King-domes turne not into confufions of blood, in a word,the world ftands. If their number were once made up,this goodly frame would fipme about our eares.I fpeakenotfor any whitcd Tombes,fuperci-iious Pharifees; but I fay,fuch are very peftilcnt in-ftrumcntsto betray f.nd expofe aKingdome to the ambitious rage of forraine Nations, and fyry of their enemies, whether they vexc and perfccutc Gods people by fire,faggot, fword,power,purfe, pollicy in their hearts and affedions, by their conguesjoay^brow-beating^a eontradcd fore-head,

F . a

a foure countenance, and fleering face, and other fcorncfull geftures,are perfecutions in G o d s in-^cc E^c*. ly. jgj,pjgtation, and (hall be paid home proportiona-bly. The mercilefTe inclofcr, befides beating the poorc to pieces, and grinding their faces, pluckiiig ofFtheir skins from of them, their flefh from off their bones, breaking their bones, and chopping them inpieces,as for the Por,as it lSjMic4h^,2j^ He alfo robs the King of his honour, and the State of its ^rcngth)F or in the midtmde of people is the Kings honottr jhuf in the want of people is the dejiruyiionoftke Prince,Pro,i/^.tS.

But above all the fhcdder ofblood,fetche:h the very live-blood out of the heart of the State, and doth impreflc fuch a bloody ftaine upon the face of the Kingdome,that cannot be raz'dour, but by his blood that filed it. ForHoodSmh. God himfelfe, it defies the Land,and the Land cannot he clean fed tfthe blodd that is jhed therein, hut hy the blood of him that fljedity.Nnmkii^.'^^, •

For your fakes my Honourable Lords, fcave I purpofely inftanced in fome of the common, and crying (ins of the Countrey, hoping inthe Lord, you will helpe us all you can. Bur know alfo, that all foits of (inners, and haters to be reformed, are the Divelscurfed Enginers,to undermine andruine the State •, and inkindlers of that fiery indignation inthebofomeof God, which if it once begin, wiUburnc unto the bottome of Hell,//<»/l4.T,

FINIS.

THE

SECOND ASSISE

SERMON,

57

PROV.2p.2,

fVheti the rigfueom are in authority , thefeofle tejfiyce: but when the wicked heareth rule, the people mourne.

Have heretofore upon the fame folemne occafion, obfcrved from the firft point, this Do-(itrine. Government is a goodly thingy I proved it, and applycd ir. Only give mee leave,before I fall upon thefecond poinr,to add a word or two to the firft Ufc of the former Dodrine, which fell dirc(flly, and with full edge upon the Papifts,the moft pefti-kntoppofitcs and cut throates of Government,and Kingly Majefty, at this day inthe whole Chriftian world. For they teach (as I then (hewed at large,) that the power of Kings,Princcs and Magiftrates,is not ordained by the divine Lsrwof God, but ail humane ordinance; out of which fountainc have iffued all thofe Popifh fulminations and fire-works,wbich have moft unworthily at one time or

SceHift.ofthc Conn, oi Trent pag7Ti aid Spalat.pa.7zs. * IbU pa.; 6^.

As you may

kz,ibUp.j69

770.

Againft Ferron

The fecond

other, beaten upon, andblaftedall the Imperiall, and Regall Thrones of Chriftcndome. Nay, a fellow in the Counfell of Trent, did fiercely labour to confute that palTage of de Ferrieres Oration: That Kingsweregivenhy Go d 5 ashercticall, andcon-dermcd by the Extravaga/^t o^Boncface the ei^ht 5 Vnamfan5tam~\ thic they are not from God ,but by mediation of his Vicar. Thus it was in that Con-vendcle of fcarlet Fathers. The RomiOi Locufts did very feriouOy, "^ as appeares, obtrude i ?. Articles forthe reformation of Princes, all paring from Imperiall Crownes, to patch up the mofl unjuft ufurpations of their fliavelings. i will trouble you with one or two,that you may take notice how jufb-ly King/47»^^ out of a pang of Royall indigaation, after afurvay of that mofl grievous yoke ofmifera-blc bondage, to which the Crownes of Chriftian Kings,are made to ftoope by that man of fin. That Go D in whofe handsthe heart of Kings are poyfcd, and at his pleafure turned,as the water-courfcs,that mighty G o d alone, in his good time, is able to rouzc them out of fo deep a flumber,and to take or-dcr(their drowfic fits once over and fhakcn off with hcroicall fpirits,) that Popes hereafter fliall play no more upon their Princely patience, nor prefume to put bits and fnaflcs in their noble mouthes, to the binding up of their mighty power with weakc cords of fcruplcs, like mighty Bulls led about by little children with*afmall twifted thred. Thus fpeakes his Majefty in his Anfwer to the French Cardinall; for which book, and that other premonition to all Chriftian Princes cfpccially^the ages to

come

come Hiall call him bleflfed : I fay, the childe un-bornejfhall blciTe King lAmes his golden pen,which hath given fuch a blow tothatbeaftofi?/?/^?^, that howiocver they may have fomc lightning before their finallruinc,bythemcrciesof Go d, hefliall never be able to (land upright upon his foureleggs againe.

One of the Arcicles is this.that the Ecclefiafticks fhall not be forced to pay taxes,gabels;,tiths, paffa-ges, fnbfidies, though in the nameof gift or loane, citherin rcfpedof the Church goods, or of their PatrimonialljC^^.

Another isthiSjthat neither the Emperour,Kina;s, "'^* °'„'^^

. ir nil iT-i-<-K Counccll ot

or any Prmcc whatiocver, (hall make Edicts, or Trent p.770. Conilitutions in what manner foever, concerning Ecclcfiafticall caufes, orperfons, nor meddle witb theirpcrfons, Caufes, Jurifdicflions, or Tribunals, &c.

The reft alfo found the fame way, and all tend to the "^ {having of Imperial 1 Crownes 5 but thefc two * ^^^^P-^V* arefufficicntto reprefcnt to the weakeft undcrftan-ding, theunfufferable indignity and villany offered toRegall Soveraignty by thcfe Antichriflians, fich in thofc Kingdomes where the Pope doth tyran- .^ nizc,and dominccre^almoft the * third part of fub- a^om^^u jcv^ sand Territories are Church-men and Church-livings.

Nay,morc then this,fi:om the ground of that fel-lowes reply to the fore-named paffagc of^<f Ferric^ res Oration,conccrning the Articles for the reformation of Princes,! do not fee how any true Papift, either Ecclc{iaflick,or Laick,can poflibly be a true

F 5 fub-

porrifubefe fubjcd to any monarchicall Soveraigne r my rca-fTomni dna- ^^" *s this at this time. Bone face the eight, guided(as ne creature de- they dreame & damnably lie,)by an infallible fpi-!f!wT''''"' rit,pronounceth r eremptorily in the fore-cited Ex-e'pr>muncia- trava^.u^amjanuamj that it is altogether or the mxsyomninoejfe neceflityof (alvation to befubjedto the Pope of fahuis. Extra ^^^^' How then IS it poffibie, that any one of thofe cap.vnan fan- mighty fwatmes of ftinging '^ Locufts, and bufie ^'ober^^^''' wafpesjwhich lie at eafe in the bowels of this King-See aifoBe/y. dome, ready and addreft, when time ferves to ciJt de Ecci miiit. the vety heart- firings of it, fliould be a found fub-Noftmautem' J^^ ^^ ^^"g CharUs^ fith upon paine of damnation,

fenter,tia,pag. and as they would befaved in the Roraifh Church, ^*\^*ainft p ^^^^ "^"^ ^^ abfolutcly fubjed to a forraine, Anti-

rott^pag »sT chriftianjandfometimcsSodomiticall, and Aihei-^ fticall Prieft, of whom, (asthey'^fay) hcimme-

CoLecliJJ ciiatly holds his Crowne, and who may for many 775. ' '^ cau(es,depofe,and butcher him ^ Beliarmine n^mcs Set Mortons f^^T)^ ^ffl^^^ ^^^ Princifis. One of them is ; If he

fui Beu.pa.ii. ofter injury to the Pope,who many timcs Will com-

plaine without caufejfo that if King cMes perhaps

fhould refufe to kiife his curfed toe, (a thoufand

times more worthy to trample upon his triple

• Crowne)he might lie open to the bloody ftrokc of

fomc Clementy or Ravil/ac: Nay, and had not

Namnon viJe- ChristJesvs giyenthis powerto that holy Fa-

'^aJjui'/efut therjfaithrhcGlofTator upon the fore-named Ex-

cum rtvenmia travaganty{i^xod\o\om blafphemy I )he fhould have

io^uir)„ifi uni. becne undifcreet. Thefe are the words/or he would

UmvtaLT notfeemcto have been difcrcet to the Gods,(that

teii^mffht,nui I may fpcakc with reverence,) unlefTe he had left

hecomnu one only fuch Vicar behind himfclfc, who could

'*'^*'* have done all thefe things. Be-

Befides,thcRomi(h Locufts falling foule upon Government, upon all Impcriall, Royall, and Princely power; bydebafing the originall of it, by difrobing it of that native reverence, due attributions and obligations of State, which divineor-dination, and pureft times appropriated unto it; by teaching,aaing,and approving the bloody killing of crowned Potentates, as appeares before. There is another monftrous engine of Popifli impofture, hammerdinthc headsof thofehellifli firebrands, which if it were generally entertained, were able in (hoTt time, to cut in pieces and dififolve the finewes,and cement of all humane fociety,! meane Equivocation, and mentall refervation. Many cunning ihifts and cvafions have dicy coined from time to time, to ccufen the State, and delude the Magiftrate, in their oaths and anfwers before our juft Tribunals. They have vainely laboured to dawbe over and ftill their confciences againft their lies and per juries,fometimes, firft, by the fuppofed benefit of popifli difpcnfation. 1, Sometimes by a wicked conceit of our Magiftrates incompetency, 3 .Or pretended unauthenticallnclTe of our Bibles in Englifli, upon which they fwcare. Fourthly,butat this day, they reft moftupon this laft Jefuiticall ftratagem, which was wont to be confined to Couns of Juftice and more publikc cafes; but now the Popifli Cafuifts,by their Conclufions, be-o\n to convey this damnable Dodrine, and accur-ftdpoyfon of mentall refervation, into the common paflages of ordinary negotiations, and con-vcrfation *mongft men.

Now

Now I come to the next point, the lubje(5l of Soveraignty, a righteous man, whence Ibiiefly, and plainely ground this point. V0cK 7hefe that rulefhculdbe righte^tu: or thus; Men

in Authority fheuU be righteom men.

That you may underftand a right,what I meane by righteous, take notice of a double rightcoul-neffe, firft, imputed; fecond, inherent. Inherent two-fold,firft,morrall5 fecond,reIigious.

By imputed, I meane the glorious juftice of Jesvs Christ, purchafed by his blood, and obedience, and imputed as hisowne, molt fure forever to a truly humbled (inner, wherewith being richly and compleatly arrayed from top to toe, as with a Royall and everlafting Robe, he ftands thereby acquit, juftified and accepted at the ftridteft Tribunallof the ever-living God world without end, and fo ij^jo facio, (as they fay) becomes ever after a favourite to the mighty Lord of heaven and earth ; one of his jcwcls,as the apple of his owne eye, the dearely beloved of his foule, a Royall Diademcin his hand,(for fo are G o d s Children,though vilified by the v7orld, yet ftiled in the Word.)

This righteoufneifc is required in Rulers, and fuch as are placed above their brechrcn,to wit, that themfclvesbe reconciled unto God in Jesvs Christ: For fenfe of this alone is able to beget that right noble, aijd well-compofed temper of fpirit, thofc high and unfliakcn rcfolutions, which oncly are fit to make a Magiftrate, and create earth-jygods, as Judges arc callcd> Ff4l,S2.i,6, Without

out this fighteoufncflTe, affuredly whatfocvcr faire pretexts and reprcfentations to the contrary, may dadeand deceive the worlds eye, yet all is rotten at the hcart-roote. And in the executions of their places, though they may carry things fmoorhly and palliate with much art and policy, yet quefti-onkflc, in cafe of ft rong temptation, greatadvan-tage, rifing, and enriching themfclves, gratification of fome great one,hazard of temporal happines, (^cxhty will be exorbitant and yeelding,and at the beft, but fof mall. The cry of that happy foule, which leanes, and hath taken up his tverlafting refting place,upon the rocke of eternity ,is conftant, and ftill the fame in all cafes and caufes. Let right yt ^atjaftUia, bedone,and a good confcience difcharged, and ruote^iium. then come what come will. Let me not onely loofe my place and the favour of the times, but let even the heavens fall, and they will, all is one to me 5 by the mercy of G o d 1 (hall ftand upright under the mines, and re|oyce in the teftimony of a good confciience, amidft the confufions both of heaven and earth. But to fpeake in Scripture phrafc (for the other was the fpeech, even of an honeft Heathen.) Ever, when {landing on the better fide, and keeping a good confcience, threatneth danger and difgrace^he growes into HeHers happy refolu-tion: well, whatfocvcrcomesof me, I will take Gods part, and if I perifh, I perifh. But not to pc-rifli fo,is to perifh everlaftingly: and foto perifh,is to be eternally faved.

But now on the other fide, he which hath not made his peace with Go D^nor hath any part upon

G good

I ^ i^m—T "*—" • II > ■ - I ■ ■ ■ ■ I

^ 7ht fecond

goDd ground, in the Pcrfon, PafliDi, and promifes of Christ, will moft ccrtaincly, cfpecially in ftormy timesj and fuch trialls which fearch whi-thcrhebeftceletothebackeor no, manifeft and makcplaine by his prac^ife, that in the height of his counterfeit courage, his heart did hold in ear-neftthatpeftilent principle^ It is betrer to fleepe in a wholeskin, then with a good confcience. If he be put unto it indeed, (for alas) hd heavenly ftrengthasyct,dothftcelehisrpirit,he will warpe, windc-ouc one way orother^and fhrinkc in the wetting.

Againe, it is a caufeof great comfort,and matter of much joy to havca favourite to the higheft Ma-jefty, and one whom God accepts gratioufly in his Sonne, to fit ina high place, and beare fway o-vcr others. It is agoodly fight, right pleafing unto God, applauded ofAngcIs, amiable and admirable in the eyes of all good men. And thrice happy is that people, which breathes under the influence of fuch a bleflcd Authority,and all thofe who arc judged, ordered and over-ruled by him, be hee Judge, Juftice of Peace, Minifter or Magiftrate in any kind, whom G ® d owncs for his fervant,who entered into his office. Benefice, Bifliopricke, or any other publickc employment, in Go d s Name, and not by bribery, fymony, fiatery, temporizing, or any other bafc and unblelTed meanest and afterward in every palTagc of his place, aimes principally at Go o s glory,and not at his owne particular^to advance the Kingdomeof Christ and not his kindred and outward cflate.

And

And it is tht better with them, and they arc the more bleflcd, befidcs many other> in thefc two re-fpeds.

Firft, He that growes into familiarity with God, by the favour of Jbsvs Christ 5 bcfidcs anuniverfali and impar^all integrity in the managing and difchargc of the particulars in his publikc calling, may comfortably, and with a good con-fcienceprcflc daily to the Throne of grace, and bring down abundance of bIcflings,bothiipon him-fclfe,and thofe that are under him. He doth not onely watch over his owne heart, but alfo wraftlc with God continually by prayer, for himfelfe, that he may notdifparage thcMajeftie of his place, byanypcrfonalllightneffe, or make his perfon o-dious,by partiality in his publikc deportment; that he may neither poyfon his people by any fcanda-lous example, or plague them by private revengcj that he neither IcfTen his Authority, or loofe good mens love by fervingthe time, or fervileyeelding, or fwel over the banks of patience and moderation, with felf-will fowernes,and unfcafonablefcverity. In a word, that he may doe juft fo as G o d would have him; and therefore begs not onely generall a-bility, to weld aright the great body of his publick charge, but alfo,fpcciall direfi:ion,and rcfolution in every feverallaffeirc which paiTcth his hand, that it be ever carried faire, and ncver^crookncd to his owne ends: For his peoplcj that he may ever prc-fcrre his peoples fpirituall welfare, before the wealth of the whole world. "Now, whether doe youthinke, were it more p z ^3ppy,

happy, and comfortable living under that Mini-ftcr, Magiftratc, or man of Authority whatfoever, who thus acquaints hinfifelfc with Go d, and walks with him as with his friend, or under that fellow who is an alient, and meere ftranger to any fuch precifemyfterieand mightof prayer,who never thought with comfort of comming tothisplace, it being empoyfoncd unto hini, (as he knowes full-well himfelfe, though he tell no body, j with bafeneffct)rindiredion, never aimed fo much in thedifcharge^ofit,at G o d s glotie,and thegood of his people, as at his owne particular; his riling, enriching or revenging ; is fo farre from d\{^-charging Samuels dutie, m conftant praying for thofe committed to his charge, that he -prayes not even in his owne family conftantly, nor in private to any purpofe, was never feelingly humbled for his owne fins, or the abominations of the King-dome in any day ofhumiliapion.GivemeanAngell upon earth, and an incarnate Divell, afaire coole fhaddow under a goodly tree in a fweltering heate, and a fcurvie thorny-bufli, to which the poore fliccpe never flies for fuccour in a ftorme^ but loo-feth fomeof her fleece, a fliowre ofraine in agreat drought upon the new mowne-graflTe, and the fcorching Sun upon a dry parched heath, an obadi-dh:,2X\dzShel?mj Gods dearling and the Divclls drudgcand you have made the difference.

Secondly^Confider the difference of the Kings eye, I tneane in refped of anger, and amiable-neflTe, caft upon a defperate Traitour and his nea-tcft Favourite 5 pfoportionably, but with infinite

more

more loathing or liking,thc afpe(5t of G o © s pure eye is diverfified, looking upon an enemy to the power of GodlincfTe and profellion of the Saints, and that happy one who hath made his peace with him, and is cloathed with the righteoufnefTe of his Sonne: that glorious eye of hisj^vhich is ten thou-fand times brighter then the Sun, and cannot look oniniquicy,dothca{l downe a dircd perpendicular ray, as it were^^pon every wicked man, without any diverfion or refradion (that I may fo fpcake) of its fierce edge, and fiery pointednefie 5 andther-forefeeshimin his colours, a very vile, finnefull, curfedloathfome heart:, (though hefeemero him-felfe, and the great of the world, a brave and jolly fellow) abhorred of G o d and man, heaven and earth, and by confequent as an o\>)t&. of infinite indignation and hatred. But he ever lookcs upon his ownc Child, through the meritorious futeringg and fatisfa(5tionofthe Sonne of his love, in whom allhisdifcontentsagainft him are done away and drowned for ever,and fo beholds him fuch, and fo lovely,as the bloud and righteoufneffe of Ie s v s Christ hath made him. Even as to a man looking through a red glalTe, all the world appeares red andorientinhiseye. So to the eye of G o d the Father, looking from his throne of mercy upon a godly man, through the bleeding wounds of his bleffed Saviour, he is rendered, and reprefented .righrfaire and ruddy, deeply impreffioned with an iieavenly die of acceptation and grace. Now tell me,whither a people be likcr to profper under him, uponwhomthemightyLo-RD of heaven looks *,-miably,orangrily^ G3 2. By

2.By morall righteoufnesjincane allthofe per-fc(5^ions and poflibilitics ofcivill hontfty, and upright dealing, attaincablc by the light of ratiirall iinderftandingjgencrall notions of right and wrong, and pradife of morall prcceptSjinlargedjimproved, and husbanded to the hcight^hcrcby many ancient Heathens went farre,and did many admirable snd excellent things, even fuch, and fo wonhy, that may juftly make the heft of our mecre civil 1 honcff men hang dowrn their hcads,and be horribly afliamed.

For inftance.

Tahricius^ that famous Jloman, was fo precife, that (as it is reported of him) it waseafier to tu rnc thcSunne from his courfe, then to draw FabriciU'S from juft and honcfldealing. King Pyrrhu6 could with no gold or gifts, no not with promifc of the fourth part of his Kingdome, poflfibly corrupt this man j and yet how many miferable men in this very mid-day of the Gofpell will be eafily drawn by a fecrct bribe,office,honor>preferment, fome earthly favour,todo villanoufly, to betray a good caufe, a good man, and a good confcience, to fliame him-felfe for ever, grow odious to G o d and man, and goetohell.

In thefe difTolutc and formall times, would it nor be deemed to draw towards too much ftri(5t-neffe, if a Miniftcr ihould prefTe this dutic upon Lawyers 5 that every timebfcfore they goe out of their doorcs to plead at the Barre, they fhould proftratcthemfelvcsin private, and befides other paffages, pray uoto God, that he would fo guide

their

Apfe Strmoff, '. /^g

thcirtongues that day, that they may fpeakc nothing but advifcdly, and to the purpofc. And yctPmV/<f^ that famous Oratour of Greece, who fbrthcexcellcncicofhiseloqucncie, and mighd-neffeofhisfpeech, was faid to thunder, and lighten a: the Birre, oaK of the very principles of nature, and naturall fenfc of a Dcitie, ever before he went to pleade a caufe, (as Plutarch tells us inhislife) increated his gods, thacnot a word fhould ftll from him befides his purpofe 5 which he pradifed no doubt, out of confcience of Platoes principle in Tit;». That in all things we goe about. Sit Hotter,fa, Gods hel pe by p rayer is to be c raved. In the ad- ^^ miniflration and execution of Juftfce, many of them, though led only and inlightned by the con-dud of reafon,vvere cxtraordin irily exad and of admirable integritie.

Zaieucf^s made a hvfthzt every adulterer fhould Sces*.jvaher loofe his eyes, his fonne was firft taken in the fad; ^^^'i^ Hb. z leaft that law fliould be vioIated,he was content to rf."^!^^ c, part with one of his own cyes,and his fon was puni- ^dieg. rui,' (hcd with the lofTe of another. ^SoTcbrc^

Cambifes King of P^r/?/<,having deteded the cor- plg^^, ^'"' ruption of a ludgc in his Kingdome,commands him to be put to death,his skin to be plucked offi and fpread upon the judgement Seate as a Carpet, his fonne to fit in the fathers throne fo adorned, that he and all poftcriti? might feare for ever to pervert lu-aicc^ and to deale untruly in judgement.

The Mgypian Kings foleranely and ufually p^,^]^. prefented this oath tp their Judges: Not to fvvarve ftara their confciences, what command foever

they

they fhould receive from themfelves to the contrary.

The Roman laweSjCalled the lawes of the twelve ^pLm!^^' Tables, fo often magnified by r«iZ^, appoints, <i/E(nniitA?au' That if aludge, or any other in Cy^uthority fir that iM his love to p^ypje, flwuldtake money in thefoint of adrntniBring ^^^Pnamibds IuHice,hejhoulddiefortt . ifanyjJwuUkarefalfc^ alfo D.p. 5.7°' -aiitneffe^he fhould be throrvne downe from the Tar pet an

And alfo that ,J^' ^ -^ ^

'Dnxd Infer- Thus you hcarc in a tew particulars,that Morall

w«s RcguA Epi, jighreoufnefTcguided only by the light of narurall

Dedtcat, conscience goes far re, and yet it coracsfarre (liorc

of that righteoufneflfe required by my Textjand in

Chriftian rules,it is many waics defcdive.

Firft>There wants a right root,Faith in I e s v s Ch RI sT, and therfore all its prodndions, famous atchicvements, and excellencies were ililed by the Fathers, butbeautifuU nbhominations, having no better grounds, then felfe-Iove, vaine-glory, rules of policy, natuiall notions at the beft, they all withered and came to nothing.

Secondly, There wants fpeciall grace, as the fouleand life, to quicken and fan(5^ifie it in every paffage,and paiticular circumftance, to Chriftia-nizc itjthat I may (o fpcakcand crowne it.

Thirdly,thcre wants fupernatural principles and divine light to irradiatc,cnkrge, and fortific it.

Fourthly, There wants the right end, Gods glory. Liberty, and immortall fame, (faith Auflin) were the aime in the A(5^ors of thofe admirable things amongft the Rimancs. Adde then thefe, and wchavc.

Thirdly^

Thirdly, religious rightcoufncfTe, whichever ftrikes the ftrokejdoth the deed, and goes through flitch indeed, in all comfortable Chriftian government. It onely ftcercs aright in all publicke employments, flards upright in all ftormes, and is flecletothebacke. Either there muft be an addition of Religion to reafon, piety to policyjCounfeJI out of Gods Book to the light of natural] confci-cnce>fandified righteoufncflc tocivillhonefty: or as the preferred party himfelfe though otherwife of never fo good parts, never fo univerfally and excellently enriched with all endowments of^all kinds,naturall,morall,politicke, learned,is but as a dead man, a rotten carrion fluck over with flowers^ foccrtairely with whatfoever outward flouriflies and formalities he may fecme to dazle the eyes of underlings; he will poyfon his placc,by preferring hisowne particular and private ends, by putting fometimes hatcfull bufincfTe into good language, for hisowne advantage and further advancement, and ever by temporizing, rather then hazard his temporall happinelTe.Heare what judicious Mafler Hooker did happily let fall from his pen to this pur-pofe.So naturall (faith he,)is the union of Religion with ]uftiGe,that we may boldly dceme there is neither, where both are not. For how fliould they be unfainedly jufl, whom .Religion doth not caufeto be fuch,or they religious which are not found fuch by the proofe of their juft acflionscT If they which employ their labour and travaik about the publick adminiftration of Juftice/ollow it onely as a trade, with unquenchable .and unconfcionable thirfl of

H gaine.

gainc,bdng not in heart psrfwided, that Juftice is G0 D s own work,aid thcmfclves his Agent in this buiinc(re5 the fcntence of rightjGo d s own vcrdi6fc, and thcmfelves his Priefts to deliver it, formalities of]i.ifticcdoba:ferveto rrmother right, and that which was neccfTirily ordain<?d for the common good, is through (]i;imcfLill abjfe made the caufc of

I^ote, common mifcry. It is no peculiar conceit, but a

matter of found confeqirence, that all duties are by fo much the better performed, by how much the men arc mote religious from whofc abilities the fame proceed.

i.By scriptuie. This explication thus premifed, Tcome to con-firme the point.fiift by Scripture.

And fii ft take notice of G o d sowne words to Kins David^i Sam. 23.^. The G 0 T> »f ifradfaid, the R&chofljrael fyake te me: He that ruleth over men mffift kjuft, ruling inthefeare efc o D, And why a' Rocke? upon purpofe to intimate,and give afTurance of an all-fufficiency,and omnipotent arrae, for pro-ted^on in fuch cafes: And why fo f becaufe all that fetthcmfelvestogovernegracioufly and as God would have them, fhallbcfure to be mightily fet-againft by all the powers of darknelTe, all the Di-vcls in hell5and all their wicked inftruments upon earth. Magiftratesthat are no mcdlers, as they fay, but only feekethemfclves, and a name, and an honour in their places, need no Rocke. The Cover-. nourof a Corporation, who will faffer himfelfeto be intreated, for the ere(5iing and fupporting of thofe bloody dens of fwinifli drunkards, fchooUs qf mifr«le, and nurcerics for the gallowes, rcfol ves

to

to take no notice of thofe fonncs of Belial, who belch out their blafphcmies in the ftreet, againft that bleffed law provided in fuch a cafe, is willing to be acccflary to all thofe fins through his whole yeare, whichoutof cowardlineffeor connivency, he left unpuniflicd; I fay fuch a one is like enough to fleepe in a whole skinne, he needs no Rocke.

The negligent and unconfcionable Minifter, which never goes about to ftirrethe Divell in the !gnorant,prophane, and thole that hate to be refor-raed,but is well enough content,that fo he may rife and jovialize it in the meanetime^totreafure up the bloody cries of fo many murdered foules againft the day ot wrath, he fhall not have fo much as a drunkard to open his mouth, or wag his finger againft him, he needs no Rocke*

The idoll Juftice^thatonly hunts after plaufible-neffe and popularity, and for the good word of all the good-fcllowes about him, to ferve his owne turne for fome intents when the time fcrves,and for that purpofe upholds as much as he can for fhame, or dare for law, all prophane fports, rotten Alc-houfcs, I fay, there where the Jufticeof Peace is milde,and the drunkard merry, as they fay, there is mifchiefe enough, he needs no Rocke.

But now that man of Authority, who in love to the Lord ]esvs and outof the Lion-like bold-nefie of a good confcience, dare and will draw the fword of jAiftice againft the proudcft NimredyiintcA require, fets his breaft from the beginning to the end of his yeare, with impartiality and refolution againft all the floods of ^fV/W,bends himfelfe with

H 2 fuch

fuch an univcrfall finccre feveritcy againft all finnc, that he is now become the drunkards fong,^^. That mm of G o d which being fcnfible of the horribk fin of killing foiiles,dares not burdifcover unto his people, the damnablenefTe of their (late, all kinds of hypocrifie, all forts of unregeneration, the whole counlellof Go D ^and fo dwell upon their • bofome fins with terrour, and truth, and ftill beate upon thofe barres, with the hammer of the Word, which kecpes them from Christ, untilltheDi-vellbe driven out of them. (Which you know, what a world of ungodly oppofition, bedlam rage and railing it will raife againft afaithfull Minifter.)

The luftice of Peace which refol vcs to be feriouj. and reall to doe his Countrcy good indeed, and to difcharge a good confcience undauntedly without all feare or fadion, and lookes upon blafphemers, drunkards,whore-mafters, railers againft Religion, &€• as the North winde upm rame,8cc:

I fay fuch as thefc, and in a word, all who dealc uprightly,and rule in the feare of Go d , have need of a Rockc, againft the rage of all ungodly oppofi-tions. And fuch a Rocke will the God oilfiael be untothemj all that fet againft them, fhall fet their flioulders againft a Rocke; all their cunning and clofe pro)e(fts, and open bafe pra(f^ifcs of all pro-phane oppofites and underminers; the plaufible, politicke tyrannize of thofe that fitinthe gate, all the fcurrill, dunghill rimes and railings of deboift 5^W drunken jefters; all that man or Diveil can any waies doc againft them, ftiall all be but like fo many proud and fwciling wavcs,which daih them-

Telvcs

fclvesagairiflaftrong impregnable rocke, which the more boifteroufly they bcate againft it, the moredefperarlyarc they diirolved,and broken into a vainc foame or froth.

The ever glorious PrinccfTc of fweetcft,and dea-reftmemory,Qjeenc£//^4^^/^, is a moft memorable, and matchleflfe inftance of protedion in this kind.The mighty arme of G o d was as a Rock of braflTcto beate back from her facred & Royall per- See Raivi.vb fon, defendingthe Gofpell of Iesvs Christ, a-i'-^^^ji-fuch variety of murderous complotments, as no age,orftory can poflibly parallell. Whereas onthe other fide, that knife that could but ftrike out the teeth of fjensry the fourth, while he ftuck to the truth of G o D and true Religion; upon the pulling downe the Pyramis for their gratification, and admitting againethofe bloody fire-brands and cutthroats of Chriftendomcthe lefuites had power to take away his life.

Secondlyjconfider that counfcll given to great ones, P/4/.2. 10,11,12. Be wtfen$rv.therefore 0yee Kings J be inftnUhd yee ludges of the earthy Serve the Lord With feAre, dndrejoyce with trembling. KiJJe the Sonne leaH he be angry.

Here Princes,Iudg€s,andall thatbearc Authority,are charged to lay hold both upon imputed and inherent righteoufnefle,

Kiffe the Some'} entertaine and embrace Iesvs Christ, bleiled for ever, blcedmg upon the Crofle for your finnes and fakes, andfweetly^and amiably offering himfclfeto all broken hearts, in the arraes of your faith, love, and everlafting affc^ion, H 3 Ana

And Serve the Lerdin feare'] Let the fcarcof Go d be ever before your eyes in all places, a- all tinies, about all afFaires,and thereupon 5 neither think,n6r fpeake,nor do,neithci: judge,nor plead,nor bring in vcrdld.cjrc butfb, as you would be content,whcn it is new done,to go immediatly togive an account of it,before the high and evcrlaftingludgcj other-wife this Sonne whom you (hould Kifle, and to whom all Judgement is committed,7(>/';?5,2 2. will be angry, and if once a fire be kindled in his anger, againllan impenitent wretch^that hates to be rcfor-med,it will burne unto the bottome of hell, and fct on fire the foundations of the mountaines. And howfoever you may carry things faire to the worlds eye in the meane time,yet afTure your fclvcs veryfhortly, (for that day hafteneth apace,) all the judgements, pleadings, ientences,verdids, which have pafled againft Ibsvs Christ, the truth, any good caufe,or agood confcience, they fhall all be reverfcd and repealed before that Iaft,and highcft Tribunall,in the face of heaven ai dearth, before Angels, men, and Divels 3 and there, and then you (hall behorribly,univerfally;andeverlaftingly iha-med: be then advifed before hand, and in the Nam^ of G o D ,take heed what ye doe.

Thirdly, for our purpofe, let us ponder well thofe properties,which the Scriptures require iti a iriati of placc^AT. 18.4 i.-DwM .1 ^.Thcy arc feven in all ,fbure in the firft, three in the fecond place. I fiame them not in their order • you fhall finde them ill in the Tc3rt, Magiftrates ftiould be,

Firftj Abktmn^ apt.to fill the place with fomc

«tom-

competency of parts and equality of worth, to an-fwer and fuftainc the heat aiid burthen of it, wirh a fitfufficicncyof endowments, ability, aaiveneffe, and induftry. There ever ought to be a conv^enient correfpondency bet\vecne-=the importance of the place, gnd the capacity of the party. It is a thou-fand pitties to fee in a Church, and Common-vveale,many places full,and yet fo few filled,when there is noproportion,n3y a vaft diftance betweenc the heightjor rather the weight of the place, and thcwcakeneflTejWorthlefnefTe, ifnvOt thenororious wickednelTc of that unworthy perfon, who either-by agolden violcnce,ortempori{ing bafeneflfeshath moft impudently thruft himfelfe into it.

Secondly, Wif€,fapent men, Such as arcskilfull in the Theory,nature, my ftery and meaning of the place, and Office into which they are to be preferred. A man can never happily executcand fucceffe-fully anyfunaion,office,or Art, which is not learned in the fpeculative part, before he defccnd unto the pradicke. Is it fit,thinke you, for a man to plead attheBarre, before he hath well ftudicd, and profitably paffcd thorow the courfe^f the Common-law 1 1f a Phyfitian fliould fall to pradife, before hebe skilled in Hypocrates and GaUity in the natures, caufeSifignes,fympromes, prognofticks,and remedies of dlfe3fes,he is like enough tokill all before him.Proportionable miferics and mifchiefc, may beexpeded, and enfue, when important places arc preft into,and undertaken without habituall under-(landing, and fpeculative skill what belongs unto them. It is a pittifuU ^ihing, when a man will

needs

needsthruft into publicke imploymcnts, oncly for the gaine and honour, and depend upon others for thcdirchargcofthem,orc)reciothembeaftlily.

Thirdly^Truilent,So fitly rendred by luniuoj approved alfoby FataMus,th'dt^rcat ProfeflTour of the Hebrew tongue. Theymuft notondybe Sap em, if I may fofpeake^and it cannot poffibly be other-wife expreft in the Englifh tonguejbut alfo Prudenty endowed with apradicall dexterity and difcreti-on^to order wifely all the particulars in the execution of their place. This prudcncejX^ h'ch is, as the Moralifts fpeake,the generall Queene, fuperinten-dent, and guide of allpther vertues, Auriga virtu-^«»^,without which there is nothing good, beauti-full,ficanddccent,beingfan(5lified efpecially, will enable them, by comparing one thing with another, by well weighing aH accidents, circumftan-ces, appurtinances, times, perfons, places,c^<r. to guide and manage all the feverall paffages of their publicke charges, with wifdome, equity, and impartiality. It confifts principally in three things, which arc all of one ranke 5 to confult, and deliberate welljto judg^andrefolve well-, to condudand execute well. It hath achiefe ftroke in affaires of judicature to moderate rigour with equity.

Thatyoumaymore clearely apprehend the nc-celfityof adding this, to the former requifitcina good Magiftrate,take aninftance or two.

Itisnotenoi^hfor aMinifterof Go d to be a good Scholler,and preach generalltruths,(though IconfefTe a great deale of learning is required in every Miniftcr of our times )I fay befidcs his fpecu-

lative

lative Divinity and ability to preach, he muftex-crcife a prudent zeale to windc himfclfe by the Word into the confcienccs and affccflions of mcn^ to convince, and cafl them downe, and fo conduci them thorow the pangs of the new birth into the hoJy pachj he muitlabo.urto add tothe excellency of icsrniiig,theart of converting, elfc woe unto the people that arc under him.

It is not enough fc r a Juft ice of Pence, to have a good rcvenew and rich attire, and to prefcnt him-iclfe folemnly upon the Bench every Scions and AiTize: but he muft be skilfull in the duties of his cflice and Statutes, fo farre as they concernc it: ctherwife he will fit but as an rdoll,or cipher upon thr.tTribunall,which requires agreatdeale ofun-derftanding, andadion. Nay, and not onely fo, knowledge in thedutiesof his place,though never fo univerfall and exa<fl, will not fervcthe turne^ex-ccpt he be alfoadive, and imployed. Being thus furnifhcd with fpcculative abilities, and wifedotne for that purpofe^hemufttake to heart the good of the Coumrey, outof confcience ^ Iabour,and pray for an holy dexterity, todifcover and dive into the depth of the Divcls Agents, their combinations, haunts,and hypocrifies^to fearch bufine/Tes that are brought before him to the bottome, and that with gravity and in enrneft 5 out of a fpirituall prudence to take all advantages,3n#ftT opportunities, to fup-prefTethefloudsof^f/M/, todifgrace agracckfle, and honour an honeft man; otherwife he will be fo farre from being a good Patriot, that he may prove a very plague to the Countrcy .There is not a more

I 00-

^o "^^^ /^^<J;^^

notorious villany, there can be no greater wrong and greater indignity offered to an ingenious and" free people, then to have aMagiftratc fet over them, which adding craft to his power and skill welds them all three to worke his ownc ends, and pradife his private revenge from time to time upon his fuppofed oppofitcs.

Fourthly, CMen of truth, Let them be true-hearted Nathawels in their private and perfonall converfation: let them prize and prefcrre the truth in all caufes that are brought unto them, and all matters they meddle with, before ^old ov: friend,favourite orricheft favour.

There is a truth in things when they are conformable to the divineldea. There is atruih in the minde, when there is an adequation betwecnethe conceit, and the thing apprehended out of the un-derftanding. There is a truth in thetongue, when there is an an agreement betweene the fpeech and the thought. There is a truth in the adion, when there is a correfpondency betweene a mans word, and deed; letmceaddafift, fitteft for the prefenr' to make you compleatly true. There is alfo a truth' (letthemconfiderofitlerioufly whom it neerely concernes,) when the verdid: anfwers exa^aiy, and pundually tothe evidence, and the Sentence to the true meaning of the Law.

Fifthly, Haters oj Covetoufnejfe-^ For afTuredly if thefe Kite-footed corruptions dominecre in the Magiftrate^allismard; thenmuft his high place, honour, friends, favourites, fervants, dependants' officers, all occafions, circumflances, advantages'

wir.

wit, poUicy, nay religion, confciencc and all, be made to fcrve and feedc this unfatiable daughter of the horfe-leach. Sacriledgc^thatmonftrous incongruity of Lay-mens taking Tithes, andnotprea- ira.59,14.. ching to the people, Symony,Bribery, turning of judgement away backv/ard,temporifing,betraying the truth and good caures,felling of offices, benefices. ]uftice,iilence, (harking of under officers^^f. are the filthy vermine, xh?x breed onely in this Burrow. Excellent then was the counfell of "*" Ber- * f|f" "f f,

, • c 1 1 1 1 n (uoditii cre\c(K'.

nard to Bugemw-^ bo rule that the people may prof- ne<iuaquam,fed per and grow rich under thee,and not thou wealthy «^ # ''«'^* by them.

Sm\y, Such as feare God ■, Here is the life and crowne5which givcsafpirituall being and gracious beauty to all the red:, which were it poflible, a man could pofTefTe in pcrfe(5lion, yet without this, they would be but as matter without forme,a body without a foulc,a foule without ] e s v s Ch r i s t .Nay in this cafe the greater fufficiency would prove, but as a fliarper fword in a madder hand, ever the greater man without grace the greater beaft, as a good Divine concludes from that P/49.20. Matt that is in honour i and underfiandeth not^is like the beafis thdt-pe^ riji). If the feareof G o d be not planted in the heart, to feafon and (atidifie the other fcverail endowments, they will all degenerate 5 wifedome into craft; power into private revenge; valour into violence; prudence into plotting for his owne ends; courage into foole-hardineffe to uphold a fadion; poll icy into putting faire pretences upon foulc bufincffes; all his abilities and fufficicncics,

I 2 into

62 The fecond

into fctting forward, and fecuring his own tempo-rail happineflTc. Ifthis holds him not in^ and fervw bimasaload-ftarrcto fteere ftill aright,we cannot look For an univerfall uprighcncfTe, and con^ancy of juft dealing in any man of place; but fometimes atleaftjefpecially in:i;nr of fome great tryall, and when he is put to it indeed, he will flinke and fall off. A great man,his friend, liis enemy s his feare, cowardlincfTc^ affection^, fadion; covetoufncfle, malice,orfomcthing will ever and anon tranfport inordinately, and fway him.awiy. So that he will be in great danger of turning judgement into gall, andrighreoufneffe into hemlocke.

Seventhly,.Af^;/ wellknowntyhnd thattwowaies principally, for the prcfentpurpofe. i. To be ho-neft in their perfonall convcrfation; if there be bus any one fin that corrupts their tonfcience, ftaines their life or difgraces their calling, to which they give allowance in themfelves,it will not onely hinder and difeourage them from drawing thefword againfl that,butalfo thefence of its guiltincfle, will putfuch an univerfall faintneflc in the armeofju-ftice, thatthey will be much difabled from a refo-Intc execution of their place, andcordiall puniili* mentoffin. 2. To rule well their ownehoufe. if s Tim ?.j. ^ TttAny faith the Apoftle, knowethnot how to rule his owne houfe,he rp Jhallhe take arc ofthe Church ofG ovi or indeed any publicke charge at all -f Is it fit,think. you,for onero be a Jufticeof Peace, who is a fwea-rer himfelf^rc^^.and harbours under his roofe drun* kards/wearerS;fcornersofReligion,Papifts,&c.Is fuch amanficor like to execute wi:h any heart or

refolii-

._-—. . *

rcfolution chofe excellent -adts againft fvvearing, drunkennelTc, RecufancyjC^r. upon oftendersa-broad^ Is it fit for a man to undertake any Minifte* Hall charge, who is an haunter of Ale-hoiifesj a fafhion-rrionger, anidle frllow himfclFe, and a patron of good-ftllowcSj and if he hath a family,had never any c-ire to pny evening and morning, fing PfalmcSjC^t? Is fuch a companion like to lift up his voice like aTrUinpet.againft thefms of the time, and (land at fwords point again ft the feverall corruptions,all the finfull prophanations of his Padfh, himfelfc being anotoriojsdelinquent ^

A Magiftrate thus endowed, as the Scripture appoints jis a man after Gods own heart, and a ftarre in his right hand^ he that wants any ofthefeis but a blazing Comec.how high foever he feems to foare.

2. By Reafons,

Thefirft, may be taken from the maine, and principall end of all government, Regall, or fub-ordinatc. To wit, the advancement of the King-dome of J Esvs Chrts T,and the cherifhing of his Children. For let men of the world which have their portion onciy in this life, thinke^ and fay what they lift, it is for the fakes, and fafety of the Saints alone, whom they lookeupon fo difdaine-fally, themfclvcs being extremely contemptible, and wox^ldif they might have leave, trample them into the dull v;irlithcfeet ofpride and malice,who ordinarily become the drunkards fong, a by-word to men,viicr then the earth, and Muficke at thcta- -blesofgracelcflfe great ones. I fay, itisonely for them jthat the mighty L o r j> of HCvWen,riot only

I J fupports .

Sa 7he(econd

fupportsandprefervesj all the States and Monar-chiesjall the Comraon-weales, and Kingdonties of the earth, but even the world it fclfe. Afluredly, \f hen the laft of thefe Elecfted ones, whom God hath everlaftingly loved from before all worlds, Ihall becalled,converted,and fitted for Heavcn,the world Hiallftand no longer, but the heavens fhall llirivell together like a fcrole, and pafTe away with a noife, the whole frame of this inferiour world, fliall be turned into a ball of fire, the Imperiall Crownes of the greateft Monarchs upon carth,{haU flame about their eares 5 you that carry now all before you, and wallow impenitently in the glory, < pleafure, applaufe, and wealth of the world, fliall

tire the rockes and mountaines with bootlefle cries, and intreaties to fall upon you, the Trumpet will found, and we fliall all come to the Judgement of that great, and laii day.

This ferviceablenefle, and fubordination of all Imperiall, Regall, and inferiour power whatfoe-vcrto the Kingdome of Christ, King /4w^^ of famous memory, clearcly intimates, andacknow-ledgeth in his Royall remonflrance, when hee fpeakes thus: To that G o T>->that KingcfKings Ide-njote my Scepter, at his feete in all humblcneffe of fiirity llay dcwneitij Crowne^ towhofe ferfice, as. a woji humble homager, and VAJfall, I confecrate all the glory, honour, fflendor^ and lujlre of my earthly Kingdome, And what will become of all the power and pollicy, that oppofeth the people of Qcm, we may fee in the fecond of Daniel^ ver, 34,55,44,45. Thofcfourc flrongcft Monarchies, and mightieft

States,

States, that ever the Sunne faw, fhadowcd by Ne-

huchadnezar^ great Image, fetting themfelves

againftthefervants of Go d, were beaten upon,

and blafted by the curfe of divine wrath, and fo

funke in their feverall times, into the jawcs of ruine,

and irrecoverable defolation. Theybluftereda

while like mighty winds with much threatning,

and impetuous rage,but prefently breathed out into

naught,andvaniilied for ever. Thatfione, faith the

Tcxtjwhich was cut out without hand, fmote the Imaj!^e

uponhisfeetCy that rvcreof jrorij and clay, and brake

them t6 peeces. Then was theyron, clay^ the hraffe^ and

fdver, and the gold, brokcnto feeces together^ and hs-

come Ukfi thechajfeofthe Summer threfldngflower,and

the wind cnrriedthem away,that no place was found for

them. And fo let all the implacable enemies of

Jesvs Christ periilitothe worlds end. 5^/4^.

Thus you fee what is the maine end of Magiftra-cy: which neceffarily requires righteoufneflfe in Rulers. For

A wicked Magiftrate or Minifter entering into this place, not by Gods doorc, but by the Divels window,asthey fay, which is ordinary with men ,^

of ill conscience; if they be of a medling and malignant humour,fen(e of his guiltincfife in comming inbafely, and at a backe-doore, enraging him, or the curfe of God for his Symony or Bribery juftly hardning his heart- it is his wont to vexe and fall foule upon honeft men, to ftandfor rotten caufes, totakethe worfe part without repentance all the daies of his domineering. But if he be of a duller, and marcunadive fpirit, and given to the world ^

he

he is refolvcd to meddle as little as he may, to live rcfervcdly, make a (hew, grow rich, and there is anend; of vvhat temper foever they be, if they feare not God, they are fo farre from feeking his Kingdome,and righteoufnefTe in the firft place, that it is leaft, and loweft in their thoughts. Nay, doth not every fpirituaii eye fee,that I hey are upon the matter clofc Agenrs,or publickc actors againft " the power, and holy pi ecifencfTe of it ^ 1 heir fee-king is thcmfclvcs, their ferving is the time, their heaven is their high place. But now give mee a godly man indeed, and as he would rarher lie in the duft, alhhedaicsof hislife^ and die in ob-fcurity, then be advanced by any wicked, or unworthy meanes: So being pulled into any place of publickeempjoymcnr, hisholieftand higheft de-{ire,and ambition is/obeas arefreiQiing comfona-ble fliowcrin agreat droughtj to every honeft man: but as a terrible tempeft upon the face of every fonneof i5e//^/, and hairy-pate of every one that hates to be reformed 5 to ftand no longer in his (lippery place, then he may continue an upright in-duftriousinftrumenttoadvance Gods glory,promote good caufes, protect good men, ever moft willing, rathcrto part with the higheft promotioa inthe world, were it crowned with the richesand revenewes of all the Kingdomcs upon earth, then with a good confcience. It was a right noble and 2)i/»eofCciif. worthy anfwcr, and exemplary o[ Benevols^ to pagi^o. 7«j7/??/jan Arrian Emprefle, offering him prefer-* ment to be an inflrument in fomc viiefcrvice, what,

faith he, doc ye promiiing me a higher place for a

reward

reward of iniquity < Take this away,and welcome, which I have already. To that I may keepe a good confcicncc: and thereupon threw at her fecce his girdle,the enfigneof his honour.Thus undoubtedly will a good confcience trample under foot the higheft preferment, to preferve its owne integrity. Secondly, the righteous man onely will be tho-rowly,and univerfally refolute, for hcknowcsfull well,and feelcs, that he cannot poflTibly have any higher preferment then Jesvs Christ, whom he already happily polTeflfeth in the armes of his faith, nor any greater crolTe then a wounded confcience, and therfore he dares by no meanes either hurt the one, or hazard the other. Hence it was that Mofes cafting the eye of his faith upon the recom-penfeof reward,refufcd to be a favourite inPharohs Court, and that lofeph did To invincibly withftand the impure, and impudent follicitatfons of his wicked5and wanton Miftreflfe 5 hcclearely forclaw what horrour was like to feaze upon his heart,by fo finningagainft his God. Nowthereafon that the righteous man is fo refolute; is the fenfe of his reconcilement >o God, and the clearenelle of his confcience: and the caufe that every wicked man is .a coward, and will fo conformeto the current of the time, is his ill confcience. The wicked flee, faith Salomon, tvhen nomanfurfueth ^ hut the righteous are hid as a Lyon jPr 0,2^,I, The wordinthe originall fignifies a young Lyon, which as a Lyon feares neither man nor beaft, great nor fmall, he turneth not away for any ,Fr<?.3 o. But as young,by the freih and furious boyling of his abundant native heat, is

K more

more audacious, and undaunted for any adventure then other Lyons, fo lyon-like bold, fliould every Magiftrate be, for he muft pull the prey out of the Lyons mouth, and refcue the opprefTcd from the man that is too mighty for him, he muft not be afraideitherof mortall, or immortall adverfaries, he muft not fearetheface of man, or frownes of grcatnefte, the lofle of preferment, prefent or pro-mifed: he muft hold to the death, fuch principles as thefe: Let luflice be done, and let the heavens fall^ ifjferijlyjferifh'y Should fuch a man as I flee, and be faint-hearted? lively.hoody liberty, Itfe and all for a good cofifcicncej^c. And fo bold can a Ruler never be,unlc(Ie he be righteous, and reconciled unto G o D. It is the comfoct of a good confcience alone, which is able by a fecret, and facrcd influence, not onely to fill the body v^ith marrow, and fatnefle, infpire the aife(5lions with acalme,andcompofed fwectnefre,but alfo begets in the fpirit that ftrong, and heavenly vigour, which inkindles, and keepes in life all fuch true courage, and noble refolution. There may be a brazen-face, and much foole- har-dincffe without grace, but never a brave mind in-deedjand fpirit of fteele. A wicked man advanced, and hoifted into fome high place, may looke bigge,domincere5 and give foulc words, Nay, to be plaufible, and pleafc he may doc many good things; ftand t6 it ftoutly a good while; but bring him once to a ftrong temptation, or tryall, put him upon the pufti ofthePikes,& he willprefenrly pull in the hornes,and ftart a fide like a broken bow. He that is a flavc to his lufts, and (laviihly fcrves the

time

Afife Sermon^ <jp

time, will be fure to hide his head at the rifing of every ftorme, and ever turne true coward, when his temporary happincfle is hazarded. And cow-ardsnis a worthy Divine hath chara(5terized them, are flaves to their fnperioursjfellow-fooles to their cqualsjty rants to theirinfcriours,and wind-mills to popular breath,not being able to any ofthefe to fay fo much as. No.

. Thirdly, unrighteous Rulers are the onely men to ruine a Kingdpme: wicked Magiftratcs,and Mi-nifters are able in a fhort time to diflolvc the fi-newes of the ftrongeft State in Chriftendome, and to bring the moft flourifhmg Church of the world into confufion 5 Many waies, is the meafure of a peoples rebellion made up, and full ripe, and ready for the Side of Go d s vengeance,and beefome of utrer deftrudion; by many abominationsisthc Lords indignationfet on fire againft a Nation, but I know not whether by any more, fet Idolatry a{ide,thenby perverting of juftice: when judgement is turned away backward, and Jufticeftandeth a farre off, when truth is fallen in the ftreet, (Al?^s for pitty! where fo many pafTe by, and not put too their helping-hand,) and equity cannot enter. D the Lor b the righteous Judge of alhhe world, is extremely angry, when judgement goes not forth, and luftice is turned into gall, whenthofe that fit in his p'ace,either judge not at all, or judge unjuftly, punifhing the innocent, which ihould be cleared, and clearing the guilty who (bould be puniihed. When private men do wrong^the fin is their owrie, it is their perfonall ofience,andthey mufi: anfwer it

K 2 with

withtheirheads; but if private mens enormities and abominations pafTe unpuniihedjbe borne with, or boulftred out by authority 3 if the wicked be juftified, and the juft condemned, if execution be notdoneupon^^^^^/^ifhebefavedjwhom God hath appointed to die, if publicke power be villa-nouAy abufed to private revenge, profit, or pleafu-ring of great oncs> if good Lavves be no: executed for the protection of the innocent, and punching ofthewicked. In a word, if publicke Tribunals, and feates of Juftice, be any wales corrupted, if Juftice,that glorious cement of all focieties,be neg-Icded or perverted, iftruthfallinthe ftreete, and equity grow lame, I fay then the offence grovves publicke, even the (innc of the whole Kingdome^ and caufeth G o d to enter into judgement, not with the Elders of his people, and Princes alone, but with the whole Land, even with the State in generall. Heare the Prophets of old, expreffing Gods mind herein. Efayahj'yg,T/^,i$yi6ji'j, Let us take notice, and tremble, ludgement is turned 4rvay backward, andlufiice ftandeth afarre ojf-^for truth is fatten in the fir eete J and equity cannot enter. Nay ytruthfaileth^ and he that departeth from evill ma* keth himfelfe a prey, and the Lord faiv it, andtt dffpleafedhim^that there waism judgement, ^nd he farv there was no man , and wondered that there was no Intercejfour. Therefore his arme brought falvatton tinto him,and ri^hteoufie(fej it fast aim d him. For he ■put onrighteoufneffe as abreft-platej and an helmet of falvation upon hts head, and he put on the garment of vengeance fir f loathing, and was clad with zcale, as a

cloake^

elcah, ler.^,2 J ytS,29 yS 0,^1. As a cage is full of birds fo aretheir houfofuU of deceit: He means wealth hoarded up by diflioneft gaine, therefore they are be-tome great, and maxen rich: They are waxen fat, they fhine,yea,thcy overpaffe the deeds of the wicked: they ■judge not the catife ofthefatherleffe,yet they proffer,and the right of the needy, they doe not jftdge.

shall I not ^uifite thefethings^ faith theLO RD? shall not my foide Be avenged enfuch a nation as this? asifhchadfaid, I will be moft ccrtainely, andfe-verely revenged of it. k_A wonder full and horrible thing is committed in the Land, the Prophets prophecy falfely, and the Priefls be are rule by their meanes, and my people love to have ttfo. ^yindwhat will you doe in the end thereof? CAiicah ^.9, 10,11, 12. Bearer this,Ipraf you, yeheads oftheho;ife of jacoh.^andPrinces oft he hoafe cf I frael, that abhorre judgement, and pervert alleqnity. They buildup Sion with blood, and lerufalem with iniquity. The heads thereof judge for reward J and the Priefls thereof teach for hire ; and the Prophets thereof divine for money ^ yet will they learn upon the LO RD, and fay, is not the LORD amongfi us ? None evill can come upon us. Therefore fhaU Sion for your fake be plowed up as afeld^ anh lerufalem jh all become heapes, andthe mountaines ef the houfe as the high places of the for re B,

Unrighteous Minifters alfo, as well as wicked Magiftrates doe agreac deale of mifchife to a State, and haften captivity. Their unjuft dealings in their place, are by fo much the more peftilent, by how much the condition of their calling is of its owne nature moft excellent, Degeneratio optimi pefma, K 3 Sec

ScctheperniciourndTe of their unrighteous ruling in two or three palTages.

Firft, when they take temporary things from their people, but make no confcience, take no care to give them fpirituall. The blood of thofe foules which perifii under the unconfcionahle, and crucll neghgence of an unfaithfull Paftour, pier-ceththe heavens with a more horrible cry,then the lowdeft thunder^ ableto pull downe plagues, and dreadful! judgements upon a'whole Land, efpe-cially, where fuch bloody floath is pleaded for, andnotpunifhed. O but will (omefay, when the Sermon is done: thefe are great words indeed, fwellingphrafeSjC^r.Pr^Vm ampdl<^ & fifqtti fe^ dalia verba, No,no,thatisnotit, itisthctrue^ and piercing fenfe of thefe honefl: words meeting with your galled, and guilty confciences, which makes you rage^and ftampe, and raile. I affure you if we were able to compofe words of thunder and lightnings, they would be rooweaketo awake a great number outof their curfcd cruelty of horred blood-flied in this kind.

Secondly, When Miniftcrs like thofe dawbers with untempered mortar, and pillow-fowers under mens elbowes. Ezech.i^, make the heart of the righteous fad, whom G o n hath nor made fad, and ftrengthen the hands of the wicked, that he fhould not turne from his wicked way, by promi-fing him life. As it is* in the laft verfe but one of that Chapter.

Thirdly, By tampering with our Articles of Religion, (ns found and orthodoxe, for any thing

I

I know, as any finccthe Apoftles times, which make oyr Church as happy at this day, as any under the cope of Heaven. If we be fo happy as to hold them in that purity,and true fenccas we received them of our predeceflburs, and as they came ftreaming downeto us in the blood of our glorious Martyrs) by labouring to put falfe glofTes upon them, and talking of fome reconcilement of our Church to the Romifh Synagogue, which is asim-polfible^as to reconcile Christ unto Antichrift. Befides the concurrent judgement of thofe un-comparable, and renowned Divines in Q^eene Elizabeths time,our prefcntorthodoxe Divines,and Do(aors, apprehend aright and acknowledge the infinite antipathy and utter impoflibility, fpeaking thus; Romaisirreconciliahilis^ faith theBifhopof Exeter : Light and darknefTe may meete, faith anothcr,in the twilight,but mid-day and mid-night can never polfibly come togaher 5 and fuch is Popery ,and Proteftancy. The truth is, faith Dodor Werfln^^ fuch is the antipathy betweenc a Prote-flant and a Papift,as there is betwecne the two birds in PlutarchfXht 5^^/>i,andthe M^^/;;, which will fight eagerly alive, and being dead, if you mixe their blood it will runne apart,and diflbciate.They are like the two poles of Heaven, faith another, which ftand for ever dirc<5^1y, and diametrically oppofitc.

If any by the way,marvcll why I meete with Mi-nifters, let them know,

Firft, That many of my Brethren are in mine eye, and a worthy part of this great Auditoiy.

Secondly^

<74 ^^^ fecon^

Secondly, That iheCivillMagiftratc may fee, whereas we preach impartiality to them ;t we are not partiall towards our owne Tribe. As we de-firc to deale faithfully with them, fo we fpare not our owne Coat. And that all the world may know, that wee approve no Miniftery in this Church, but that which is honeft, oithodoxe, and painefulL

Thirdly, Mini(Icrs lie diredly within the verge of my Text. For we arc called Redours, Rulers, and our Perfonages, Rectories, c^T'iih . Bven honeft Politicians require rightcoufnefTe €0^,7,1 il 5* ii^ Rulers,for many reafons. i. Becaufc they are as it werc,earthly gods, and reprefcnt theperfonof God himfclfe in their places of Authority, and upontheir juft Tribunals. 2. For the eminency of their honour, which is due not to the man, but to his vertue. 3. For imitation to thofe who (hall fucceed them in their places, who will looke back .uponthcm,aspattcrnes, and prefidents, forthem-felves to follow, 4. For fearc of fcandall and giving offcnce,which inferiours will be very apt, and eager to take. 5. Fortheuniverfall good of thofe they governe, which is the end of all Authority over others.

This point thus proved by Scriptures, and Reafons, I come to the Ufe of it, which may be three-fold.

I. For Reproofe. 2.Inftru(flion. 3.Exhortation. The time runnes away fo faft, that I can bu^ onely name the two firft,becaufe I defire to infift the longer, and enlarge my felfc the more upon the laft.

Firft,

Apfe Sermon. j^

Firft,Reproofc to all unrighteous Rulers, Mi-liifters, Magiftrates, or whatfoever they be. Many now a daics runne a madding after promotions, and fervc themfelves, Fijs c!r m$dis, into Offices, Benefices, preferments, high roomes, and being mod unworthily advanced, they hold -it a fpeciall happincffe to have an hand over men, farrcworthyer then themfelves. Let them alone, this is their day, a day of domineering, and of their foolcs Paradife, and fcrving themfelves fenfually, but affuredly without fpcedy repentance, turning on the better fide, taking Gods Childrens ipzxi,There is a day a comming upon them, ^c h 11 it is neere^tt uneere, it haflcneth greatly, faith the ^^ *^' '**^ Prophet, vohen the mighty manjhall cry (fitterly. That day is a day of -wrath^ a day oftrouBle^anddt-fireJfe,adayofwafim(fe, anddefoiation-, a day sf dark* neffey and gloomineffe, a day of clouds^ and thicke darknejfe-y (they arethe the words of the Ho l y Ghost,) which no earthly glory, no glittering of outward pompe, no fliining heapes of gold and filver, not the Prince of all the lights in heaven,nor the whole ftarry Firmament fhall ever be able to enlightenjorrcfreihj though.they fwell never fo bigge with pride, and difdaine, looke they never fo high, fliould they exalt themfelves as the Eagle, and fet their neft among the ftarres, they {hall cer-taincly downc with a vengeance, God (hallfud-denly fhoote at them with a fwift arrow, it is already in the Bow 5 even a Bow of fteelc fhall fend forth an arrow, that fhall ftrikethem thorow, ftiive off their gall, ^Joh fpcakcth, throw them downe

^ The fecond

imoche duft. Their pride, and their power (hall be ovctthrowne in the turning of an hand, then muftthey lay downe their cold carkaiTcs among thcftonesofthepit,atthc rootcsofthe rocke,and their poorc finfull foulcs rauft prefendy bee prcfented at that laft, and ftnckteft Tribu-nall, where never bribe, or bigge looke, gold or greatncfTcbeares any fway. O then they will gnafh the teeth, and roare, and wifli that they had lyen in the duft all the dales of their life, and never knowne what preferment had meant, when they fhall finde by wofuU experience, but too late, that to mighty men there are mighty torments prcpa--red,and that they (hall be horribly plagued, pro-portionably to thepeftilent abufe of their high places,andthofepublickemployments,into which they have corruptly thruft themfelves without cleare entrance^and due calling. Then will they tremblef take on as wild Bulls in a net, as Jfdiah lfa.t x.io. fpeakes,full of the fury of the Lord, and cry out Ifa Ji*»4» ^jth thofe finncrs in ZXon^ho amengfi u^JhaH dwelt in everlafiingfre? whoamongsi mJhaH dwell irt ever* Ufiingburmng? The day of recompence is now come upon them. They have had their heaven ia this world,and therefore they muft now have their hell in another.They have domineered for awhile upon earth>done what they lift, and had what they would, yet now muft they downe into a land of datknefle, of horrour, and confufion, whence they (hall never rife up againe. Onely repent, and you may prevent all this 5 but doe it to day,wc little know what fad ncwcs the evening may

brings

bring. If thou die in an impenitent cftate, thou art damned cvcriaftingly: and in this paflfage I value all men alike, of what cloath fbevcrhiscoatc be made. He that layes his foundation with firc-worke, muft looke to beblowne up at laft, he that doth not confefle his fins, forfake them, enter into the narrow way, ieade a new life, ftand on Ch RI ? T s fide, love the Brother-hood,he can never be favcd I know not how my words be taken, or miftaken,yetfure I am, before any man can deny this to be trvie,or fay any thing againft thati have faidjhe muft turne Atheift, and prove Scripture is falfe, and that there is no God, no heaven, no hell, which would be abrainclcflc and bootlcffe taske of the moft dcfperate,and prodigious incarnate Di-vell upon earth. ,

Secondly, For Ipftru<flion, to teach us,whenfo- n'^ 2. ever wee have any power to difpofc of any place, or preferment, to bcftow any office and Bene-fice,c^<r. and whenfocvcr we are called to give our voices in the clcdlion of any Magiftrate or other mantobepublickely employed for the good of the Countrcy any way,let us ever be fure to caff our eye upon the worthicft, and without all fearc or favour^ ot fadiion, impartially, and rcfolute-ly,to pitch upon him, who, as we areperfwaded in our confcicnces is moft able, and is beft furni-flicd with thcfe properties, which Gods Spirit requires in a Ruler mentioned before. And \ct friend, kinfman, neighbour, favourite, money, letters. Land-lord, Lord, or any roan alive, fay whatthcy wills (if thf Land-lord, or Lord, or

L 2 who-

whofocvcr take the right way, and (land for the bcft,I'HckeCO him,and welcome• and blcfTe God for ^o good a guide;) Let the c jrrcnt of the times runne never fo boifteroufly a contrary courfe, let the event, and fucceflfe, be for thee> or againft thee, as God would have xu&c thoufliilt have more honour,and combrr, in doing as the Ho l y Ghost dircds, and as an honcfl: man fliould, then if thy voice were able to purchafc for thee, the riches of both the Indies, or advance thee as high as Heaven.

And furthermore confider,if thou fliouldeft have thy hand in the preferment of any wicked, and unworthy man to a place, whether thou haft not thy handalfo infomefort, inallthemiferics,andmif-chiefes which may fallout and follow upon his ill di (charge of the place.

. Doc you not think, (for the purpofc)if a Patron ftiould preferrc corruptly to a living, an idle, dilTo-lutc Miniftcrja felfe-preacher3temporizer5enemy to God s pcople,c^f .that he fhould not in fome mea-fure be acceflary to the blood of all thofc foules, which (hould perifh by the default, and under the cruell handof fuch a negligent unconfcionable fellow :r j^fe ^, Thirdly,for Exhortation to all Rulers,3nd who-

focvcr take into fheir hand theraincs of Government over other in any kind, that they would be righteous; that they would firft,furniflithemfelves, with Imputed, 2.Morall. ^. Religious rightcouf-nelTe, with thofe feven-fold fore-mentioned on-dowments in a good Magiftrate. That they may

behave

behave themfelves, as Go d would have them, which that they may comfortably, and confciona-bly doe,Ietthcm take good counlcll, and amongd: many other diredions, doe, as I now advifc; Let them I. Get Jesvs Christ. 2. Enter into their places purely in Gods name. ^, Beillightncd, direded,and quickncd to a thorow, and conflant difchargeofthem, principally by the divine light, and heavenly motions of Gods holy truth. " 4.Keepe ever a clcarcconfcience,both in refped of their perfonall walking, and right managing all the particulars of their publicke charge. 5.Have an eye ftill upon that laft, and dreadfull Tribunall, at which they muft fliortly give a flrid account for allthings doneinthefleih.

But herebeforel enter upon the particulars,give me leave to prevent an exccption,remove a fcruple, which may perhaps arife already in fome mens hearts,and fo dull their attcntion,and blunt the im-prelfton of the enfuing points. What i may fome fay,here is nothing but Jesvs Chris repute preferment ,holy truth, divine light, I know not how manykindesof righteoufncfic, clcare confcience, fadfore-thoughtsof thelaftday,c^r. All (for any thing I fee)tcnding wholly to Puritanifmc 51 think "^ A derivative he would haveusali fo ^ righteous,that wc fhould wracc'co'rs

CUrne Puntans,^^. o'pn; in my

Before I fpeaketothepoint, let mee tell you, TT'.^''/T that I am right glad, that I have now mminc eye, the Septua! fuch an honourable, noble, judicious, and under- §'"" ftanding Auditory, who I know will doe mee ^°^'4'»7» right, were there now before mee a number of

L 3 drun-

go Thefecmd

drunkards, whore-maftcrs, dcboift fwaggcrcrs, fcorners of Religion, fcnfuall Epcures, 5>tigma-ticall fcurrill jeftcrs 3 O how would they take on, ftampc, and play the Bedlams! how they would rage, raile, and cavill; though by the mercy of God, they fhould be no more able to ovenhrow by any found reafon what I fay, then to remove the niightieft rock, when they arc reeling-drunkc, either with wine or malice. Now upon this occafi-on let me acquaint you with the truth, about this unhappy imputation,ordinarily laid by Proteftants at large upon the power of godlineffe. Now a SttHaxian. daies,every boiftcrous Nintrod^ impure drunkard, fag, 5 J X. and and felfe-guilty wretch, is ready with great lage to ^°^* fliein the face of every profefTour, with the impu-

tation of Puritanifme s if he doth but looke towards Religion, labour to keepe a good confcience in all things, he is prefcntly a Puritane, and through this name, many times by a malicious equivocation, they ftrike at the very heart of grace, and power of As M G.wcll godlineffe,at Gods beft Servants, and the Kings sit Boyff •ft beftfubjc(jis. Forthereisnoneof themall, but in f^.579' their fence,with all their hearts, they would be the ftrickteftPuritanesin a Countrey upon their beds of death 5 I mcane,that their confciences fhould be cnlightned, and they not fealed up with the fpirit •of number, like drunken NahdH^ior a day of vengeance. But let none hecrc out of humour,malicc5 fa<aion, or miftake, ftraine, and wrcft, for I meanc not,

Firft, the naturall Puritane intimated, Trov,^o, i>. There is 4 gener4tm,&c. You fhall findc

many

many of thcfe,erpecially among the common and

ignorant people; charge them wichfinnein gene j

rail, and they will confcfTcjand yeeld: but defcend 1

to particulars, and you can faften ife^iing upon

them, they are true Jufticiaries; prefle oneof thefe

with the firft Commandement> and how he ftands

in his carriage towards it, O he is infinitely free, he

neverfervedany God, but one,c^<r. with the fe-

cond. Images, Inevcr worlliippcd any Images in

my lifej dcfiethem;C^r.They are excellently hid

out in their colours,androtheIife,by that Reverend

man of G o » MailerD^/?rin his PlainemAns Tath. ^'^g-i^iA'^*

way to Heaven.

They are a kind of people who yet lie in the darknelfe of their naturall ignorance, and dung of their ownecorruption> and yet with their own tcfti-mony, confirmethemfelvesin a great opinion of their owne integrity.

Secondly,! meane not the morall Puritane,who thinks himfelfe as fafe for falvation by the power of civill honefty, as if he were already a Saint in Heaven 5 whereas it is cleare^iy^^. 12.14. without addition of holinefTe to civill honefty,and confcionabic dealing with our Brethren, none (hall ever fee the Lord.

Thirdly, I meane not the fuperflitious Puritane, who out of a furious felfe-love to his ownewill-worfhip, and fencelcfTe doting upon old Popifh cuftomes,thinkes himfelfe to be the only holy devout man, and all forward profefTours prophane. You fhall heare aknot of fuch fellowes fpeake, lfa» ^^,$XMfe »9t mere to me, fir J am hlier then then,

Fouahly,

Fourthly, I meanc not the Pharifaicall Purirane, charadicnzedtothelife,X»^^x8.11,12. Who being paflingly proud of the godly flourifh of out-fide C hriftianit3^5thinkes himfelfe to be in the only true fpirituall temper,and whatfocver is {hort of him, to be prophanenefre,and whatfocver to be above him to be precifenefTe.

"Now thefe kinds are true Puritanes indeed; for they think themfelves to be the only men,and all others hypocrites 5 whereas poore foulcs, they were yet never acquainted with the great myftcry of grace, but are meere ftrangers to that glorious workc of converfion,pangs of the new birch, wraft-ling with inward corrupaons,breaking their hearts, and powring out their foules every day before G<5D infecret, open heartedneflc, and bountiful! doles to diftreifed Chriftians, and the poore members of C H RI s T, felfe- deniall, heavenly-minded-nc(fe,walkingwith G o -d^^c.

Fiftly,! meane not the true Catharills, peftilcnt herctickcsabouttheyeareofour Lord, 253. Set Hofi.cent.1 They werealfo called Novatians, o£ Novat/^ ^pal i^llc. their Author,but Cathari, from their opinions, and Sec Efipu. profeition, who wickedly denied to the relapfed, ^''^'En Bid r^c^P'^^0^ ^^^^ ^^^ Church upon repentance, ^r. ^£cc!epi>b6 and called themfelves pure. cap 41 p^g-' 9 Sixthly,! meane not the African Donatiftsjabout StcHofxenu^ thevcareofoutLoRD,351, whowere alfocalled, pag^ 17 ? ,&c CtrcnmcmoneSy CtrcmtoreSj Verp^emant^ Mont am ft £^ Sc.Hofcent.^, j4cntenfes.

iiHipagi?* Seventhly, Not the furious Anabaptifts, of our times, who arc as like the ancient Donatifts, as if they had fpit them out of their mouth. Eight-

Eightly, Not the giddy Separift.

Ninthly>Nor the unwarrantable Opinionift^^«* talisy as ungroundedly difopinionated 5 I fpcake thus,becaufe I am perfwaded,good men may dififer in things indifferent without prejudice of falvati-on, or juft caufe of breach of charity, or Difunion of affedions. If I fee the power of grace founcly appeare in a mans whole carriage and aconftant partaking with God, good caufcs, and good men, hefhall for my part^ be ever right deare unto my heart, though he differ from meein fome indifferent things.

By Puritanes,then I meanc onely fuch,as J e s v s J^^^^^^^'J*' Christ his own mouth ftileth iojohn 1^.10 .and ,^l°ll^v iT 15.5. The fame word is ufed here, but in a more f^;-^f^nKct blclTcd fence.that Eufcbiu^ hathto defcribe equivo- *'-^"'* cally,thecurfed Sectof theNovarians. You arc all pure^or cleane, faith Ch r i s t, by the word which I have fpoken unto you 5 I meane then oncly G H R I s T s ;t«t9rtjc/, whom the powerfull worke of the Word hath regenerated, and pofTefTed with "^^^^^^i^^ purity of heaitjholinefTc of affcdions, and unfpot- KA^ia,,^c tednefTe of life, to whom he promifcth blefred-neffe, A/4f. 5.8. Blejjedare the pure in heart: And to whom alone his beloved Apoflle promifeth the ' bleffedvifion of God inglory,i lohft^,-;.

Now that the name of Puritanes (which is, as you may conceive by that which hath bcene faid,a see Difcourfc very equivocall terme) is put upon (uchas thcfe ofTrueHap-in contempt, and reproach 5 is more then manifefl P^^^-f^'P^-^^i by a thoufand experienccs,and by the teftimony of a great Dovlor at Saint Pauls CrolTe. And yet I dare

M fay.

mm^rBsmmmm

U

And I prove it out of Bi(h. 2)«w. in ^bra-ianii Triall, f<*g ,7 2.

PuritaMS, Fth

ritanos incta-' mantfVocifera' fur,at per Pur i-tanorum latera erthodoxam vulnerant VC' ritatem.

Tlte ficox^d

■Hac}(a>ell a-gainlt Carrier,

fay,the greatcft oppofites to tficfe derided waics o^ purify,if he die not like drunken Na[fal,vfon\d upon his bed of deai:h,give ten choufand worlds,to have lived as one of thetn. Andthroughthe name of Pu-ritane, by a malicious eqiivocation, theyftrike at the very heart of grace, and the power oFgodlines.

Secondly, Z add, thorow the fides of this Nick-name> they have laboured to wound, and lay waft the truth of oui' bleflfed Religion, as pure as any fince the Apoftles time, ^c. Heare what I heard Do(5lor Jbhots Profeffbiir there complaine of, at Oxford Aa.

What Do<ftor Hackmll faith of dirrier. Thus thoiewhom we call Papifts, he calls temperate Proteftants, and thofe whom we call Proteftanrs> he calls State Puricanes? M^ifi\Dedicator.

He concludes it by good confequent, that by Cameras aflertion, our greateft Bifhops, our wifejf!^ Gounfellours, ourgraveft Judges, andourSove-raigne himfelfe, muft be acGounte<i Puritanes and* not Maftcrs of Schifmes.

And now I come to tender ray counfeU to men \n\ Authority, and all thofe who are>or may be hereaf. ter put into any place,prcferment, orpublieke employment over their brethren^ that they may go-verne righteoufly, and make the people rejoyce.

In the firft place, let them be fureto getpofTeffi-onof la SYS Christ, and affuranceupon good ground, thatthcAll-fufficient God is their owne. Elfe fay,or do what ye will,men will be ambicious^ covetous,fenfuall,they will hunt after preferments, pfofits, honours, precedency, or whatfocver will

add

Apifi Smnon. Sj

add to their outward happinefle. Butplant once the eye of faith in the face of the fotile, which will utterly darken with its heavenly brighthcfre,thc eyes offence, andcarnall rcafon, astheprcfenceofthc Sunne obfcures the ftarres, and then, and theft aloncjand never before, we fhall be able tolooke upon the world/et out in the gaudieft manner^with allherbaites, and babies of riches, honours, fa-voursjgreatneffcpleafuresjc^^.as upon anunfavou-ry rotten carrion. For all true Converts dedrCjand endeavour, and have in fome good meafure the world crucified to them, as they are to the world, Jesvs Christ embraced in the armcs of their faith/o fills,and fatisfiesthefoulc,that To they may pleafc him,they are at a point for any worldly preferment, except it comes fairely by good meanes^ and his allowance.

Here then it will be very feafonable to give fome light for tryall, whet her you have J EsysCHRist already or no, if nor,hoW to get him: fot both which purpofes,know that thatblefTcd L o r d of life,is brought intothefoule by fuch faving works of the Spirit,fuch degrees, and ads as thofe, dcfcri-bed in my book of Comforting aflSided confcien^ ces.

Secondly,Lct them enter into their Offices, Be-ncfices,prtfermcnts, high roomcs,in Go d s name, I raeane not by money, or any wicked meancs; not by Symony,Bribcry5flattery,temporifing;not by anytricks,over-reaching,undermining,fupplanting competitours,imployment in any vileferviccj not by any bafencfle or iniquity at all, no, not fo much as by ambitious fecking. M 2 Nci-

«^ The fecond

Neither am I now upon aprecife point, excepc the prodigious iniquity oi the times in this kinde represent it fo^thorow thefalfe glafle of commonnefTc and cuftome^tothe covetous and carnalleyejbebut honcft Heathens, but ingenious Turks, and that is not much I require of thofc who profefTe Chriftia-nity, and you will be on my fide: witnefTe, See Tmr Mar, That famous ItdtanA^w De ambitu, amongft the Common pia- jjncient Romanes^ whereby it was ena»5led, that if 7u0an^in/i> any man fhoald attaine honour, ormagiftracy by and Pacm Aiv moncy ,he {hould both be punirticd with a great pe-^om.p./ils, ciiniarymul<5t,andalfo made infamous.

T hat right noble carriage of mighty Tamerlaficz Scythian ,and commander of the Tartars,who is reported in the Turkifli Story, never to have beftow-cd his preferments upon fuch as ambitioufly fought them, (as deeming them in fo doing, unworthy thereof,) but upon fuch as whofe modefty orde-ferr, bethought worthy of thofe his great favours. We are come unto a ftrange pafife, thatitfhould beholden a Puritanicall point5tocondemneallcorrupt comrhing into places of preferment, and pub-licke charge^ fith even politick Pagans, and barbarous Nations, out of light of reafon, and ordinary notions of nature,did abhorre it. And no marvell, for befides motives of piety,and the feare of Go d, which they wanted5even grounds of policy ,give us tounderftand,that thisbafe, and accurfed courfe, wasablc to become the bane, and breake-necke of the ftrongeft States upon earth in fhort time.I leave it to your wifdomes to weigh well in your own bo-fbmes,what flrangc degenerations from worth,and

honour.

honour jwhatfeircfufllApoftafie from^ orthodoxe-ncfTe, and zeale, it may being upon a Cominon-wealeinfewyeares. /S'lhoJ.

If theworld once takein6tice, that money doth Reafon i, the deed; men to make way for preferment, will feeke more to get money then merit. ' - Thofe who (hould rife into high roomes in the Common-wealth, will labour rather to furnilh themfelves with heavy purfes,then noble parts.Mi-nifters will ftudy more to become pragmatical! Traders about Benefices, and other Ecclefiafticall promotions, then compleat Divines, and powerfiiM Preachers s and having learned the Trade, they would heape living upon living, cry downe preaching, plunge into the world, andfecularcrnpJoy-ments,gather a hoard,hoping thereby at length to behoified intofome higher placejef'f. which you know were a very horrible thing, would marre all-, and undoe us quite.

Againe,icis a common faying in this cafe: what ^afmi^ we buy by grofTe, we muft fell by retaile. He that buyeth,faith Mornaj, is (hrowdly provoked, nay is aftera fort openly difpenfed withall,to fell againc. And what wofull workc and intollerable mifcry, that brings upon a people,you may eafily guefle* ^ Thefetworeafons I have infinuated unto mee, in the French Story, where the Author gives this ex- p^^^ ^ ^^ celknt eulogy oiLewis the ninth.

The Realmewas corrupted with theunjuftice, and extortion of farmer raignes,by the falc of Offi-ces,being moftcertaine that what we buy ingrofle, wc muft fell by rctaile. He did therefore exprefly

M 3 pro*

gg The fecof^d

prohibit thcfcfalcs, ind fupplied iuch places as were void, according to die merit ofperfons, after due cxaraiaation, to draw good men, and of un-derftanding,lo apply thcmfelvcs to ftudy; other-wife they would have beene {hrowdly tempted, rather to have ftored themfelvcs with money then merit, with gold then goodneiTe. Wife,and gracious then,is the counfell, which the fore-named no-• Ptfg.i J5' ble and learned "^ Morfjay gave unto another French King,in his Meditation upon Ffalme loj.

The Princes eye, faith he,and care fhouid be upon the beft fort of people, to fet them in offices, and bcftow charges upon them.He fhouid take this courfe.Thofethat fliallaffed fuch places,hc fhouid alwaicsfufpedi: them, their perfons, and pra<5iifes5 for ccrtaineit is, that he that very earneftlyaimeth at an office,or Iiving,hath laid hisplotalreadyj and withoutdoubt, he defireth it for the profit, and not for the charge. Sermqa J. be- Hcatcalfo what old reverend Latimer faid to this fore King E<i- purpofe,in£^iv4r^the fixts time, and the Saint. warjthc 6. ^^ ^ defend,faith he,that ever.any fuch enormi-

ty (take notice, betakes it for an enormous finnc,) fhouid be in England, that civill offices fhouid be bougbti and fold, whereas men fhouid have them given for their worthineffe. And a little after^ the holy Scripture qualifieth the Officers>and fhewcth what manner of men they fhouid be, men of cou-ragc,wifc,fearing God,^<?. O^iiLatimtrh^A lived in our times 1 I am fure, if he had, he would have beene a great honour5and ornament to our Church. Mm X t. it.». ^gy ^ YiQ^v^ your ownc Law, and Fer Ugim amm •'^•* iffi

ipfemlfrls, Tbetitkis, Noneikill bfecainccJ^ficeiS' by fuice^or forrewardjbuc upondefert. The Chan-cdoui!, Trcafurer, or Keeper of the privy Seal-c, Steward of the Ki^igshoufsyi^e Kings Chamber-lane, Clarke of the Roles, the Tufticcs of the one Banchjand of the ©thett. Barons of ciic Exchequer, aiiid all other tfcac fliall feecalledco ofv^aiiie, nam^-,-ormake]ufti;G^'ofPcace,c^<r. nor other officer or Minift^r of the King, fhall be ftraightly fvvome^ for any gifc, nor brokarge, feivour nor afifeciion 3 nor that any which purfueth by himfclfe, orbyothcr, privily? or openly, to be in any manner of otfice, fliall be put in^the kme ofiicc,or any other • but that they make all fuch officers, andMiniflers of the befljand lawfulleft men, and moft fiifficicntto their judgement and knowledge. ,

Now blefled bcG o n for thisblefled law,hoI-ding fuch a comfortable conformity to Qo&s-holy Word; complying fo exactly,wickthcgrave eounfels of all truly learned^nd godly Divines,f he auneient uprightnellc of morall Puritanes, I'cafoiiy honefty, common fence, rules of naturall equity, and neccffity of holding up States, Kingdomcs,and humane fociety/or thecontrary overthrowesthem alI,andcrofl[Ing direi^ly the mighty torrent of the times corruptions.

You fee here, as in the formerpaflages.notonely theviler,andbafcr, and more grolTewaics of getting into places of preferment, and rifing, as by gifts,brokage,affeiSiion, favour,^f. are forbidden, and condemned,but even ambitious feeking alfo,

Fophowfoever it may fcemeaflrangeparadoxe,

consr-

compared wiih the fttong corruptions of the rimes* yet notwithftanding it is a true principle in godly policy 5 that he which ambitioufly feckes a place, even info doing, makes himfelfe moft unworthy of it.

An excellent Interpretour ofujhuah, intimating thatG o J) s extraordinary eameftnefTe^and iteration of encouragements to lojhuah^ implyed his loth-ne(re,and backwardnefcto be advanced into Mefes roome,though he was a man of invincible fpiritjand incomparable wifdome,lets fall upon confideration S ^-ailmr thereof this conclufion; That mm are lejfe mrthy of eorum fmt in- advancement, then thefe tvhc hunt mofi eagerly after n^ dignijfmt, ^fj^^ ^fj^j^^ ^y aifibittoujly feeke an office^ or honpttr, doe ipfofadbo,^^ that very AEidtfcover their extreme un-wcrthineffe^ and that of all other men^ they defcrve it mt. Nay, the very light of founder rcafonled Tamerlane lo a right conceit herein, as I told you be-fore. And Momay tells Henery i he fourth of France^ that (uch have laid their plot already,and moft cer-tainelyfeeke the place,for their owne profir,not for thepublick good. Excellently then doth our Law, exclude fuch fellowes, not onely from that office, they fo greedily gape after, but alfo from all other. It is great pitcy, fo goodly a body fhould want a foule.

And it muft needs be io, by that obfervation from men of beft confcience, greateft worth, and deepeft underflanding, and noblcft-parts, if truly fandified unto them are moft unambitious, loth to rife, and fcarefull ever to enter upon, and undertake any publickc charge. A piodeft undervaluing

. Apfe Sermon. pi

valuing of thcmfclvcs, (an ordinary attendance upon true worth) fcnfiblcncfle of the burthen, doubt-fullncflcof athorowdifchargcofthcplace, fearc-fulInclTe of being cnfnared,and overcome by teirp-tations, a right apprehenfion and fore-conceit of the great account^^^. eafily take them off from too much forwardncffe, coole their courage for over eager purfuit, and quite extinguifh all ambitious heate 5 nay,many times thereupon^they draw back, and retire. A rare thing in this age^but former times affoord many examples.

It is reported of Father Jus^Hft,a man of more incomparable learning then thoufands that thinke themfelves worthy of a Bifhopricke,that he would runne fromthofe Cities which wanted Biihops, leaft they fliould lay hold upon hira.

Naziafszerf having all the voices heaped upon him, ftoutly ref ufed the advancement, and at the length, faith the ftory, very hardly after many in-treaties^and pcrrwafions ofthcEmperour yeelded.

Great Bajil washald into the Bifhoprkkc with much adoe: * ChryfoHme hid himfelte,and dcfircd \^J„\^bcfore to be cxcufed. And this their pradtife is anfwcrable ^ch^^ft. "Dz to the principle intimated before; That men of ho- smtAam. ncfty, and fufficiency arc more fenfible of the bur-ihcn^carefull of the charge,and apprehenfive of the account, then affc^ed with the honour, or in love with (landing in a (lippcry place.

Thefe Fathers that feared thefe great charges, were rcfolved to preach every day, twice a day, fomctimes thrice a day ^ and they did take to heart aforchand that account ihcy muft give for the

N foulcs

foulcscommitted to their charge: the terronr of xhzx<xyxnm\nmoi^S'i^l)\Chrjf6prmyHshv^, 17. For they rvauhover ymrfitdis, as the^that mrtfi'^ivc aecmntf makes me quake andtremDle. Ffom fuch grounds as thefe^mcn of innocency,and true wortli, efpccially enjoying the comforts of a good confci-encCjandcommunion with Jssvs Christ, arc well enough content to continue in a private cftate, andwould not willingly IHrrc, except by adired and comfortable calling, God would have them to do him fcrvice,in a more publicke employment, and higher place 5 and they ordinarily undertake them with muchfeare, felfe-diftnift, and excraordi. nary prayer. Full little doe you know5who in the m^nc time flop the cfies of your guilty confcien-ces with goldj good-fellowfhip or great place, what the pleafuresof an appeafed conlcience are; had you ever truly tafted their fwectnelTe, and foundly fmarted with the anguifh of a troubled one in convevfion, I dare fay you vwuldnot by your good wills wound it for a Kingdome, for a world. A good confcience (faith one well) is of the fame mind with the trees in Jothams Vmhlt Judges 9.It will not with the Olive loofe its fatneflfc, nor with the Fig-tree loofe his fwcctneflc, nor with the Vinc,its-winc ofchcarcfljllneflre,to have the fatteift, and fwecteft preferments, and^ pleafures of the world: no thougWt were to raigne and domineere over all the trees in the forrefts. Only the Bramble asyou^know, theraoftbafe, and contcmp'^ible, a drie fapleflfekcxc and weed, will needs up into a high roomc. ^cake,and wortfjldfc racOjordinariiy

arc

Afife Sermon. ,P5

are the only, men, old cxGclkm, asthcyray,moft adive, and pragmaticall to fcruethenifelves by Bribesjand bafe ti'cks into Benefices, Offices, .and other undcfcived places of preferment. For they wanrhoncft wit to conceive &fore-fee thewai^ht of the ch3rgC:,and confcicnce to difcharge it feith-fully,their onelyaimc, and afpiration outof an ambitious itching humour, is to advance their owne particular private ends,and although they be many times as err.pry of all true worth, as the vaineft Idoll, yet they defite to fit aloft, and be adored above others.Though they may takefomc diredi-ons,and motives from the grounds of reafon, and light of naturali confcience, todealehonef^Jy and ingenioufly intheirplacesjyetfor athorow univer-fall, unfhaken ftoutneflc and integrity in the difcharge of them 5 let them principally be enlight-ned, guided, quickned, by the fupcrnatuVall principles of divine truth, and diiftates of a confcience fprinkledwith the blood of Christ, and fan<fli-fied by fpeciall grace.

The ordinary temptations to which theprofcfli-on of Lawyers is fomctime fiibjcift, are iuch as thefe.

Firft,Patronage of bad caufes, which they know lufim advoea. out of their Lesdl skiU,''and in their own confdcn- '** »»/V^ ces arc rotten at the roote, and will prove naught ar mjo/uppit. the lafl. 2.Pleading againftthe right* 5.Mercenary Greg.uom.s. filence. 4. Wire-drawing their Clients fuites for ^'^ ^^^'^*'* their owne advantagcufing caufes,as unconfciona-ble Surgeons do fore legs, hold them long in hand, not for the difficulty, but forthegaioeofthc cure,

N 2 j.T^-

p A the fecond

5. Taking unreafonablc fees. (^.Tamperingabout their Law bufinclle upon the Lor d s day. 7. Receiving the fee, and not fpcakingin the Clients caufc.Thc laft of which, I could never yet beleeve of any: becaufc in my conceit,for any thing I know he might as well take their fwifteft horfc, and kcc-ncftfword, and lie by the high-waies for a rich Ururer,or wealthy Clothier: what^ to k\\ fo much as in them lies,toa poore man rheruineof hislive-lic-hood, for his owne peece of gold i where is the valuable confideration fo much talked ofc' in a pare unvaluable is the wrong, whereas if they had not truftedinhim, he might perhaps have prevented the mifchiefe.

But for my purpofe to inftance in two of them, pleading for a bad, and againft agood caufe, are both upon the matter, and in plainc Engliih, lyine againft the truth. "^ ^

Now if any palliate and pretend, that an officious lie, efpccially accompanied wirh fo much gaine,is no fuch great matter. Let them looke then upon the light of founder reafon, which inforced the very heathen Philofopher Ariflotk to afiirme, that a lie is x*9 auto (^oZkov, evill fer fe^ in it own nature, and therefore no confideration, circumftance or Religion can po/Tibly legitimate it 5 bur it is ftill a bafeand loathfome vice. But principally let them caft their eye upon Gods bleffed Book,and tremble and be for ever frighted from all falfe dealing in this kind, by fuch places asthefe,/yi.5,2o.Woe unto them that call cvill good, and good evill,^(r. Kev.11,%. AllLycrsfhall have their part in the

Lake

Apfe Sermon^ ^f

Lake which burneth with fire and brimftone, which is the fccond death.

Judges may be acceflary to blood-fhed two waics, efpecially if they doe it knowingly, and fwftyedaway by by-rerpc(f^s.i.By condcmningthc innocent,which is cleare,and 2,By letting the guil. ty efcape,whichappearcsby Gods ownewords, I Kmgs 20.42, Becaufe thou haft faved him whom I appointed to die,thy life (ball be for his life^cJ*^, And by that Advocates fpeech to a Judge in Germany, aggravating the fault of a muithercr, that had killed fixe men. No my Lord, faith he,hc hath killed but one, you are guilty of the blood of the other five,becaufeyou lethim efcape upon the firft murthcr. Now in this cafe let them take a curbe, and reftraint from confideration, that the very hea-thens,to fhadow out their torment, didfaine hellifh furies to follow fuch hainous offenders with burning firebrands,c^r. Butefpccially let the Book of God bcate them off, from any tainture that way. Amongft many others,that place, Numh. 35.33. is able to pierce an heart of adamant, where the Spirit of God tells us, that befides perfonall guilt, blood involves, even the whole Kingdomeinthc ftaineandmifchicfe: for blood, faith he> defileth the Land,andthe Land cannot becleanfed of the blood that is fhed therein, but by the blood of him that filed it. I intend nothing in thefc laft paflages, to the prejudice,or offence of anyJFor my part I honour the reverend Judges, and worthy Lawyers of this Land, at this day, as one of thenobleft limbcs of the State. And I cannot but lookcupon the

N 3 Lords

Lords my Judge?, vvkh more then ordinary ^re-fpctt, for Juflice Nicols fake, my worthy Patron, that reverend and renowned Judge, whom Iho-nourin the duft. And yec for all this,! muft tell you thetruthj dealeplainely Imuftand will, from.this place, in this place, though I fhould die in it.

Me thiL>kcs the very providence of reafonabic men fliould move you that are Magilkatcs, in this and other Corporations, to relieve your poore with the forfeitures of oathes, and Ale-houfcs: But when you have befides Gods blcflfed Law, fo mighty againft drunkards, blafphemers; and that King C h a r l b s alfo hath fo gracioufly confirmed thofeblcfTed Ads provided in t-haccafe, tofharpenthefword, and ftrcngthen the armc of Authority for that purpofe, you ought to be extraordinarily vigilant, adlive, and confcionablc in the execution of them, othcrwife afTure your felves, you rob Gcd of his honour, the King of his fervice, and the poore of their almes, and your felves of good confciences. And this fourc-fold cord without repentance, and quickning, is abletobindthccurfeof Go© fcarcfully to the confciences of thofc which ihould be faulty this way. I charge none in this point., but onely them, whofc confciences if they will give them leave to fpeake out, may jufUy accufe 5 if any of your hearts fhouldcondcmne you, God is greater then your hcatts,and will pay you home: be not deceived, nor flatter your felves with any ungrounded fclfc conceit. It is a principle, even in morall policy ,th^ an ill executor of the Lawcs is worfe in a

State,

State, then a great breaker of them. Nottopunifh ^,. ... anofrcnce, being under your charge, and myour pag.i^^. power, isto commit it.

We that arc Miaii tcrs, and called Re<ftours, are bound, knd may be ftirred up by the grounds of common equity to feed the flockc, if we cake the fleece; to give fpiriiuall things, where we have temporal I.

But that dreadfull charge of PAuiioTirwthy, 1T/W.4.T. is able to trouble, and affright ever a ChryfiJ}0i9fe,2Calvm,\vho preached everyday, aful fuch others illuftrious lights, and earthly Angels, forpowerfull^andplentifull preaching; what ter-rour and trembling then fhould it put into the hearts, (if they be not turned into rocks,) of filkcn, feldorae, negligent, and no Preachers ^ / charge ihee before G 0D.^{3k\\ Paul i and the Lord ]esv$ Christ, fvho JhaB judge the qmke and the dead, at his appearing^andhis Kingdowe, Preach the Wordi be infiant in feafon, outoffeafon, reproove, rebuke, exhort, mth all long frjfcri^gt ^nd Do^rine. When I ferioufly ponder the fevcrall etfcdtuall enforcements ot this terrible obtefta^ tion,mc ihinkes Minifters fbouW do nothing but ftudy, preach, and pray.

FINIS.

A

LEAR

GODLY SERMON

Preached on the XIX. day of ©^r^m^er. Anno DomMDCXXXU at the Funerall of

M'. Robert Bolton Batchelourin Divinity and (JMinifter cf Broughton in

T^jrlhawpon-Shire, ^

By

1M'. Nicolas Hstvvick,

Batcbelourin Dirvinky^ and/ometimesfelloe of

Chrifts Colledgc in CamMgeyZnd now Mini-

fter Q^Warkton in T^rthampon-Shire.

Revifed and fomewhat enlarged by the Author, and now

at the imfortfinity offome friends fuhlijhed^

■^-fN itf

London, Printed by GsOR6i M111 er dwelling in B/aci-Frierst 16^p,

^ght Honourable^ ^g^^ WorjInpfuUy

andbeloyed Brethren.

iF that my wcake defires concurring with your heaity prayers^could have prevailed with our good G o d, wc ihould not have met at this time in this holy place upon this fad occaflonj youof thisParifh fhould have ftil enjoyed your faith-full Paftor,and we of the Clergy a deare brotherrbut the Lord, to whom it is meet we fliould all fubmit, having fctboundsto his and to all our livcs,as to the .fea, hither jhdtthou go and no further y hath otherwifc difpofcd.O Brottghton^Brougkonyhowhappy haft thou been intheblelkd Miniflery o^M-Bolton^znd if thou didftnotfeethyhappinefle when he livM, thou art like to fcelc it to thy griefenow he is deadj thou haft had a golden fcafon of grace, and time was when thou mighteft have gloried in the Lor d for fending thee in mercy a more skilfull, a more painfuU^a more powerfull teacher than any of thy neighbours have had round about thee: thou haft not beene more exalted this way above others, than thou art now, alas, dejc<aed below them, being at thisprefcntasa

A z ftoclj

Si me* cum vcftns valuif-fent vota, ^c. OvilMcUlil'

Job. 14. f.

Th Ct(t(''n for

People tptthut aPafior cftjbcep tvithout afijep' kard.

K^ Sermon Preached

flock of flieep withouta particular fhepheard; and if thou hadft leave to name his fucceirpur, thou might-eft feekefrom one end ofthc land to another in thy choice, and yet not find in all points a mati matchable to him 5 he was a bright and a fhining lamp, if any of thy inhabitants doe fie in darknefie, their ignorance is altogether inexcufable: hee lifted up his voice in this place many ycares together like a trumperjif nny of thy inhabitant* are not awakened out of the fleepe of finne^ thty may now goe on more fecurely in rhis

The lop of a ^^^^ ^^^P 3 ^"^ ^^^ ^^ them^ it will be eafier for So^ gooJMmi/^er. domeznd Gom9rrah 3X. the day of judgement than for them. I pitieyour cafe {good friends j and bewaile your loife : but why do J name your lofie ^ It is my loffe, and a common lofie, we are all of us fliarers, though nor all alike in this judgement. Lor d, that thou (houldcft fuffer fuch a wretched finner and an " unprofitable fervant oF thine as I am yet to live, and deprive the vifible Church of fo worthy an inftru^ ment of thy glorie as M.Bdtonl Holy Father,we may think;had it ftood it with thy holy pleafure,that it had been good for thy Church, if his life had beenfpared with the lofie of many of ours: he was a deep chan-nell, in whofe jufily deferved commendations the ftreames of eloquence which in former ages flowed from thofe great and godly Orators, the two Grego-rieshoth QfNa'^anz^um and Nyfa, from great Baftl and golden-mouth'd C^?7y^/<^Wi?, fromS. i^mbrofe and S,*^usiin, might have emptied themfelves,and yet not over-flowed the banks: and what do I then come hither with my dift:raded thoughts and trembling heart, «vhichifeverl had any gift in encomia

afticall

4t the Funer4lhfM\Bokon,

afticall and laudative Orations have many years fincc willingly neglected ir, and io loft it. As Gregory Nazi-mzen fpoke of Iiis5rf/?/J have for my part as great rea-fon to fpeake of our fomecimes deare and now blefled M.Bolfop^:] admired him while he lived,and honoured him in my heartjSc to fpeak of his excellencies wher-wich the Lord had plentifully inriched him,is a burden too heavy for my fhoulder5,and a very hard task forthofe who. doe nothing els but i\\xdy Oratory: all that / can fpeak in the praifes of this godly man/alls fhort by many degrees of his worth, whofe memory is precious,and fiiall be kept greene and flourifhing as the rod o^ Aaron laid up in the Tabernacle."

^ rf®V v^f 4I& v^

THE TEXT.

P H I L. I. 25, 24. Idefire to be difelved-

|He ApoftleS.i'^/z/was in a ftrait, ordir PauUfintt. vided betwixt two afFedions, carried toditrercntobjeds, and they were in a-

........ ._ fort contrary 5one way he was drawne

^^^<^i^^^ with a defire to be wit h C h r i &t , farrc from the Philippans:^ even as farre as Heaven is from earth 5 another way he was drawne with a defire to continue with his beloved brethren warring on earth, and to bee for a time farre remooved from C H R I s T 5 the necelfi" y of his brethren did move him to defire the lattery his great love to C h r i s t

A 3 did

' did incite him to long br the former; betwixt thcfc two aifcdtions the Apoftlc had a confli(5t, and he was fo perplexed,that he knew not whither toturnehim, he knew not what to chufe. He was as iron betwixt two load-ftoncs, drawne this way firft,and then haC way. We read that David was on a time i» a great

i$ym.iJ^ \^. jlrMt^ but apparent were the differences betwixt the & prelcnt perplexity of this our Apoftle, and that of DAvtd^ Davids was in regard of cvills propofed,this was for the enjoying of goodjhis neceflity was touching evil! which could not be avoided, but the Apo-ftles was free and voluntary; his perplexity fomwhat concerned himfelf,the fhunning of his own evill-, but the Apoftles was for the good of others, which was joyned with his own hurt. Behold here as in a per-rpc(5live a heart truly Apoftolicall, wherein he (hewed at once both great love to Ch r i s t, deflring to be with him^and wirhall great love to his brethrcn,dc(i-

summe ^^"S ^^ abide with them for their profit.

'. * Ibeginwiththefirftofthefe, Pauls defire in re-

fped of himfclfe; wherein are obfervable three particulars.

larts. I. The defire it felfe^and that was to depart or die.

2. A leafon implied of ihishis dcfire,for then hee fbould be with Ch r i s t.

3. His cenfurc or judgement of that ellate, to bee with Chris T,it*s be ft of ail: Let us open the words fi'rft, and then raife Obfervationsout of them for our edification,

ExpoJitioH, E V/Vi*" Vv'"") *^ is word for word, havirtg 4 defire^

and \ his is Ibmewhat more than fimply to defire, for it notcth a vehement, tamcft and continued defire,

a

at the Fmerall (fM'> Bolton. j

a dcfire which is in adion and working till wee have • our ddire accompli{hed,vvheras to defire finiply may be a fudden motion or raomentany paflion.

AVtf^vjtf*) Soraetranflate the word paifively, Ter-iutiian renders ir recipij de panefftia,pa. ^, others to be dirtblvcd or looied, and it is done when things raixc and com pounded are refolvcd into their parts and principles, now becaufethc foulc is(as it werc)inclu-ded in the body^and cannot enjoy Christ fully till that compofition by the body be refolved by death, therfore doth S.Paul earneftly defire this refolution.

2. Or it may iignifie to return,as the word is taken elfewhere, theLo k b wiHreturnefiom the weddings Luk«»z.3(>. which fcnfe is notdiflbnant from the fcope of this

place 5 for the fpirit being freed from the body, re-turnethtoGoD that gave it, and what els doth the Apoftlenowdcfire, butto returneunto Christ by whokn he was fent to preach the Gofpcll^

3. Itfignifiethtoloofe anchor, oxzschryjcjlome renders it,^jdK-«cSta to flit or to change our place^ and foit*sa metaphor from marriners? importing a flic- ' ting or [aUing from the ftate of this prefcnt life by the ihip of death to another port, to faikCas it werc)froni one bank to another.

It is not much matcriall which reading we follow, they all of them doe agree in the maine point and fubftance, and doe affoord an obfervation which might be enlarged and fet foorth with variety of colours? and ftrcngthencd with longdifcourfes, but as they which have a long Journey to goe, and but a fliort time allowed them,mufl: make but a fliort (lay in any one place,and as Painters many times ufe only

to

Kyi Sermm Preached

to draw out the heads and fupericur parts of men,lca-

ving all the other parts & lineaments to be proporti-

onably fuppliedby the wife beholdersj even fo muft

J at this time propound only fcmegenerall heads of

fcverall points without any large amplifications, and

leave them and the reft to your private devotions.

J)o5i. T. Death will unavoidably furf rife m .-Which is a refo-

"Diaxh camot Jution or diflfolution of this exquifite frame of man,

be avoids. .^ j^ ^l^^ difiociation of parts united together, it is the

taking away the ftru(Sture and the f-afhion of this

i Cor.i. 5. houfe of clay. We muf needs dtc^ and then rve are as tva-

c r ,. ter (hilt en the ground which cannot he gathered ftp a-

2 bam, 14. 14. . // ^ r «- ; / r 1 ^ t

game, as the wile woman or Tckoah ipoke to the

EccUI.8.8. King 5 No man hath power over the JJ?irit tn the day of

death, neither is there any difcharge in that warre, all

muft fight with dea:h,and death will conquer all; our

foules and bodies now met together in this nearc

conjundion, though deare friends muft be fcparatcd

each from other untill the day of the gcnerall refur-

rediom and keep them now as charily from dangers

asv>^ecan, yet will thefe earthen brittle vefTcllsbe

broken afunder, which all forts and ranks of men are

boundtolookeforat alltimcs> Surely men of low de-

■ ■'^* gree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie, tohec^

laid in the ballance they are altogether lighter then vanity^

a marvellous debafing of all men ! Let men be put in

one end of the ballance, and vanity in the other, and

the Pfalmift doth alTurc us that vanity will weigh

downe man,and man is lighter than vanity it felfe./^^

fcts out his life by comparing hisdaiestoa fwift fhip,

Lifefwift. ^^^ ^^ ^" Eagle that hafteth to the prey, yea and hee

ioh,9.z6.\.zs further faith, they are fwiftertban a poft> then the

birds

At theFunerAliof M.Bolton.

buds in the ayrc,thc (hips on the rea,& thefwift poft on the land, all thefe doproclaime and preach a Sermon to us of our mortality, and that this lamp many waiesmaybe extinguifhcd 5 experience fhewcth,us that death puts no difFerence,the young do die as wel as the old, the ftrong as well as the weakc,the Kings and Counfclloursofthe earth as well as beggars,the J**''^'H>'^ Phyfiriansthemfelvesaswell as their patients, and death is haftned by infinite difeafcs, whereunto all the living arc fubjcd, and thefe are within us, and a thoufandaccidcntstofurtherdeath without us, and which is the foundation of all our evils, by our own fins, whereby we do provoke the Lor d of our lives to anger, and do walk every day over a mine (as it were) of gun-powder, fubjed every moment Co be blowneup by the Lords difpleafure: and S*Cyfrian cyprianje excellently flieweth the declining ftate of the world, '"*"'*^ how the ftrengthofthe husband-man in the field, of the marriner on the fca,and the fouldier in the camp is weakenedjf4»^j videmusmpueris:and it is well for us Eenepsofjhort that our lives are fliortned, and that our daies do not '^/i?« ordinarily attaine to the tenth part ofthofe that lived before the floud, and th.at both in regard of the wic-kcd,vand the godly. Firft touching the wicked^ to re-prefle their outrage and impudcncie in finning 5 this Very thought that they may die cre-long, and cannot live very long^in rcafon fhould abate their violent and exorbitant courfes, ifthey aretranfcendently wicked now when death is at,hand,what l^imrdds would they be ifthey had in the ordinary courfe erf" nature, eight or nine hundred yeares before them to live in i If theirdamipipn^npwjball be mpft fjrqajd&lU how

B much

clryfoftomeoh. much morc ititollcrablc would it then be,the number »n" llmny of their fins adding fuell (as it wcrc)to the fire of hell< tofinners t9die and the Lord in juftice meafuring out to them apro-fr''"^' S*"" portionable degree of vengeance to their fins:' hence Qu^en^t vua willthelr accounts be fo much the eafier, and their diuturnior, eo fttipss fomjch the fewer. And this makes likewife fieretculpanu- ^ ^^^^ ^:^^ ^^^ exceeding comfort and good of

deBonaM^rtii. diltrelled Chriftians;innrmicies,temprations,pover-C.4 & iongc ty,reproaches, griefeofp3(Iionfor rhcirowneandof n"uo^"profu"f' -co'-npalfion for their brechrens miferies are a great fet nc incre. burchen tothcm, how much Iieavier wouldit'beif mema faceient j^^^g burdicn was to preflTc them down many hundred idemcr/l^juf. yeares together:' this much allaies their forrowjthat dem libri. all thcfe cvills are bur as clouds which foone ride a-way, orasatempeftthough violent yet not perma-Heb^io.j4. ncnt^afharpeyetbuta fhortwinter, here is our Scripture comfort, the time to beare them is but fliorr. yfi I-. This confideration of our mortality fhould in reafon

mnfJven!*' ^^^^ "^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^ Heaven for helpe that we may ef-^ fe<5tually remember our condition: the holy fervants

ot Go D our prefidents herein have prayed to the Lord for this purpofe: thus did U\tofes,teachmeto pfal.^.ii. number m-j ^af^/Vi, thus did Davidywakeme L o r d rt? ^ '^^ ** 'know mine end: in their blefied fteps let us tread, and their example let us follow ^ it is a wonder that we iliould need to be remembred hereof, that we fhould be fuch ftrangers in the world, but there is need of that proclamation ftill to found in our eares, allpfl is Efay40. • graffe,Andthebeautyoftt as the flower df thefeld: were "wc indeed as Adam was at the beginrlTng of the world who faw no fpedaclc of death before his eyes, wee might have fom probable cxcufc if we thought not of

our

at theFunerattof M.Bolton.

our departure: but what can wc a Hedge for our felvcs when we have had the experience of all ages^ Go into any part of the world, and aske them in the Prophets woxds,your fathers whtre are they ? and doe they *^ ^•*'^' live fir ever ? Even this place and this meeting doe preach unto us our mortality. Where are thofe Epicures in f/^jf, which promifc to themfelves continuance in their dcfperate wales. To morrow (hall Se as thif Efay ?$.ii. daj and much more Aboundant^ nay and which is more abominable, doetake occaiionby the iliortnefTeof iheii lives to eateanddrinke^hecaufeto morrow they m»fi die: Come on therfire{hy they )/^/ mfll our [elves with Efay.««. i j. ce^Uwine^ andointmentSi andla no Rower ofthefbrin? „,.,-. ^ tafe by U6y let m crowncourjelves with rofe-bms before they be withered, let none of us go without fart of our jollt-tyjet m leave to\ie,iS cfour joyful Inefe in every pi ace,for this is our portion. Thefe finners are likely to fee the daies when they fhall wifli themfelves toads, fer-pentsor any loathfome creatures,rather f hen men and women,and yet as defirous as they fliall be of that exchange of their eftate they fhall not have it, but fliall remaine wofull men and women for ever.

This Do(5lrine ferveth likewife for the reproofe of 2. thofe who negleding principally to depend on the '^vanUyttde, immortall Go D,do fmfully relieon others which arc £;'^ '"""'"''^ mortall like themfelves s thus the Subjed: relieth on. the Soveraigne, the fervant on his Lord and Mafter, the wife relieth on her husband, and the children on their parents, and all this is done contrary to our duty ^ Trufl not in Princes nor in thefons of man, and why PfaLi 16.1. fo < There is no helpe in them : their breath goeth forthy and they returne to their earth. Truly they arc like the running waters, our dove, i. e. our faith can find no

B 2 reft

to

i^s&mfftrmhed

iob.8.13.

Izck.io.i^.

7fal. 145.4.

reft for the foles of her feet in aay of the fons of men, {wchhofe is like the hsttfe of a fpider,one Iweep of Go d s bcfome will cafily make both the objeds of their hope and their hopes to be in the duft : it is as a broken reed to leane ons it will both deceive and pierce them:' the whole world runs on wheelcs, look Eaft-ward,orintheWeft, North or South, youfhallfee nothing but inconftancyinall the parts therof. Oh how fafe and ^apj>y then are they rvhich make the God of Jacob their hclp^ and rvhofe hope is in the Lord their God. Whofe hearts and eyes are fixed upon him; how hard foever the world goeth with them for the prefenr, all Ihall be well aflure your felves with fuch in Gods good time; he will provide all fhall be well, he will helpe the husband, hee will comfort the wife, hee will guide the fervants, hee will preferve the goods 5 yea rather than it ihould bee undone^ (with reverence be it fpokenj he will rock the cradle, they are the words of the learned (JllartyrB, Hooper,

This dodrinedoth check all vainglorious & proud perfons,which NarciJfus-]i\:c,6o doic dn thcnifelves^ their own beauty,or ftrcngth,or any ornament of the body,which may like lon.t^ his goufd in one night be withered. Who is morcodiousin our fight than a proud beggar^and nothing is more hat'cfull iri Go d ^ eyes than a proud man or woman, who are but rtieat for the filly crawling wormes to fc^d upon, and if thou^noweflnotthyfelfe,gotothe graves of thofe which have been mofl lovely and beautifull in their dales I in that piif^ure and glaffe maift th6u view thy relf,theremaifi thou behold theriiyfteries of ouj'na-turCjOs Gregory iVj^<?/? fpeaketh^and exeelltntlyinlar-

fox ARiyfage X4S0.

yaine'gloTy checked.

1 GregMyff. in

\iiat^, Beati

fauptres fpiri-

tuMTM Beat.

gcth this point. Haft thou not (faith he)fecna heap of dead mens boncs^haft thou not fccn their skills without flefh,a grim fpe<aaclc to behold,the very eyes being wafted and turned into ^\:{^ c* Haft thou not feene their mouthes (as it were) grinning and iJiewingtheir corrupted teeth and their other bones lie fcattered in the grave ^ If thou haft feene thefethou haft in them feen thy felfe: where arc the tokens of flomiftiingage^ where arethofe beautiful cheeksc* where is bloud and colours in the lips^ whatis now becom ofthofefpatk-Hng and lovely ey.es^ what of the comely nofe placed in the midft of the < hceksc' where are thofe locks of haire which were wont to adorne their heads, &c, what is become of all thofe things which do incrcafe thy pride ^ Tell me,what dreame is more vanifliing, what ftiadow more flitting than is thy beauty, or any other thing whereof thou glorieft 'f

Fourthly, thofe alfo are to be reproved which arc 4»

earth-wormes, and do labour inordinately and im- ^cheelti'^^'^^ •moderatelyfortranfitory riches, which are careful! for very trifles, and carelcflc for matters of grearcft confequence, which toile unceflantly for an eftate to leave to pofterity,andarc compared by Barthlemeus^ to children following butter-flies, they rauft fome-timesgoeoutoftheway in their purfuir, they may mi(re,and if they citch,it's but a flic to befmeare their hands, Nakedx9e C4fhi inte thts world, and whatfoever '**** we have gotten here,we muft leave it all behind, for nakedjbaUrvegooutoftheworld.SaladmeK t^ahometan j{n9Us Turf^i/b the great T«r^^ may teach Chriftians a good Jeflbnj «^/^^73- -he caufed a Proclamation to bd made by one of his Priets, a (hitt feftned to a fpearc m manftcr of an cn-

Bj (igne.

Mat.i^.a^.

(ignc, laying,thisisallthat54/4^/;;c Conquerour of the Eaft caries away with him of all his richcs.-indccd it is not all, they carry with them a guilty accufing, confcicnce, which will extort from parents curfcs to their children, becaufethat they to make them rich^ became Ufurers,unmercifiill Land-lords, deceitful! in their dealings, and worldly minded^ wecanpitie others in their miferies,and fhall we have no compaf-fion on ourowne foules i fhall our owne foules now be vile to us,in comparifon of which al the kingdoms of the world are but trifles^for what fhallitprejit aman to win the whole world and to loofe hisewncfeule f or what recommence fjall a man give for hisfotde? if the foule per-ifliethjthen all the world is gone with us. 5. This Do<5trine fhould teach al finners a point oi fpi-

2)e/em mtn- yituall wifdom,not to defer their repentance and fcck-fentmt' ingtomake their peace wuhGod.the children of this

world are wife in their generation, that if they be tenants at will and courtefie,and certain ere long to be thruftoutoftheirhoufts, they would looke abroad to provide clfewhere, they would run all the country over to get an aflfurance of an earthly houfe, and will not thou while thoumaieft provide for the eternall welfare of thy foule ^ if a man was hungry, and had twenty or thirty difhesfet before him, and he knew poy fon was in one of them, the danger of that would make him be afraid of the reft j& thou haft a dcfirc to live twenty or thirty yeares that in pofTibility are before thecjwhich thou maift happily livc,but in one of them, thou knoweft not whicla, death in probability will come to thee, fliould not this prepare thee for death alwaics^fmenthat arc wife and have enemies,

keepe

at the FmeralhfM^. Bolcon.

15

e.7.

C. II.

Iceepecontinuall watch & garrifons in frontier towns for fearc of afuddcn furprifall: death continually fhooteshisarrowes abroad; fomctimes he mortally fmitesthofe above theejfomerimcsthofe below thee, and thou feeft fome fall dead hard by thcc:if thou gi-veft thy foulc to Satan in rhy life, how canft thou hope that Go d will entertaineitarthy death^O then why fliouldeft thou for the pleafures of unrighteouf-ncffe for a very few daies (little dofl: thouknow how few) deftroy thy foule for ever c do thou whip thy foule with the lafhes of d ivine fentences to follow after Go d ,as Saint Aufim did his, when it was backe-wardand refilled this heavenly work of thy conver-fion, and let notthofc ?wg£ ntiganim ^ vanitates va-matum^ohhok antient fins which did (hake his coate and whifpered in hiseares, doftthou leave us now, and mud we part for ever^ let not thefe bofome fins I fay,dctaine thee in the prifon of the divell,butlhake ihcm off as Saint Paul did the Viper, that they may doe thee no hurt. Neither doth this concemethe un-regenerateonly,butthofealfo which through the po- tancejpceiffy. licy of hell have difgraced their profeHion^ inflantly to arife from their fin by unfained repentance, a duty praife-worthy in any,and to be pra(5^ifed by the grea-teft men on the earth.Many heroicall vertues were in King David^ for none is he more to be honoured then for his repentance; it is a goodlier fight to fee a King on his knees feeding upon the bread of forrow, and mingling histcares with'his drink, then to utter divine Proverbs with wife Salomon: and what our Saviour fpoke of watching, the fame doc I fpcake of repentance,! fay unto youall repent, if you are in the

field

Aflsif, Renexff Repen-

field, remember i^^^/, ifyouareafcafting, remember lobs children: when you goe to bed, th^c you might holily compofc your felves to reft, that you may commie the kcyes of your doores, much more your lives into the hands of G o d, remember the ntft-borneof Egypt which were flaineat midnight by the Angellof the Lo r d: let Adulterers remem-i Klng.16.9* bcxZimri and Cozhf^ and drunkards^ King Ela (laine by another Zimri ; if you walk in the ftrcers, remember thofe on whom the tower of Sile fell, if your hearts begin toturne to the love of the world, remember Lfits wife :that which befell tliem may befall us y it will bethenourwifdomeby Gods grace to prevent fin, and if we fall into fin> our next wifdomc will be to repent of the fin we have fallen into. 6, Another duty which naturally dotharife from this

Take the oppor* Dofftfine is, to lofc HO time in doing and^in receiving mity of doing j^j ^^^ g^^j ^^^^ ^^^ . ^j^j^ -g ^y^^ ^^y (appointed to

Gai.'j.io. workc) and how (hort this day is, the L q r d alone Joh.^. ^Qth know,but this we know, the night commeth ivher-

f>; »<j;;c r^f? m^ri^. Shall the Sun ftand ftill for chce,as ic did for loJJma? or go back as it did five houres for Be-ukiah ? dee we thinke we can doe good in another world, when we do no good to Ipcake of in this^ be not deceived with this dangerous errour, andhurtfull pretention of doing good hereafter, rvhatfoever fky icclsf. 10. hindfindeth to do, do it with all thy might, and the rea-ibn is good; for there ism device, nor work,nor knowledge ynor wijdome in thegrai/v whither tho»goefi, Vainc hope of fliture performances hath undone many: fow thy ^tcd whiles the feed time la(ieth,if thou looke to havcacropand harveft.Wcmay Icamc this from the

birds

birds of the ayre, tkTurtle, the Storke, the Crane and ^^^ g^^^ Sivdlorv,hoviftheir^pp0imeJtimeS'jihcv!a\!Eavingmzvi he travels whiles it is light, then he knowes he is under the protedion of the Lawes, the fea-faring man he obfervcs the wind, the Smith he flrikes whiles his iron is hot 5 nay we may learne this wifdome from the divell himfelf, herageth and doth all the mifchief ^ he can,kcaufe his time is htjhort,Thus of doing good, P***^ "• * *• and fo likewife muft we let no opportunity flip of receiving good, lay hold of every feafon which may be an advantage to get heaven, to ftrengthen and in-creafefpirituall graces, be glad if thou canft heare the Word preached on a working day. Saint Bajll he ^J^'^J"' ** preached on a working day, and tels his Auditors ^*''^"'* their thoughts & defires, that he would be fhortthat they might goabout their labour. If fuch thoughts poirclic our hearts, at this or any other time,let us re-pell them, and remember what the holy Father there fpeaketh, the time fpent in Go d $ fervicc is not loft, for God (torecompence themj removes troublc-fome bufmefie, gives promptitude of minde, or ilrcngth of body,fends cuftomersto buy their wares, and if he doth noneofthefe;yet(are they no- Icofcrs by their paines, for) he gives them a rich treafurein heaven.

Laft ly? this point may teach Gods children pa- 7« tience in all diftrefres,and afford them found comfort j.^^^Ji'A-in all cftates: they arc nearer heaven now, falvation time. ' now is nearer to thcra then wheij they began to believe; fin and Satan do now difquiet them, but they Rom.ij.a. (hall not do fo for evcr.Many a one can be content to endure hardship a few yeares, nay to be a galley ilave

C under

undcrtbc Turke fevcn yearcs, if he had aflfurancc of a great Lordfhip after that time was expired, and choofc rather to be a bondman upon thofe termcs, ' then to be a free man without them r cxercife Jong-fufFering(goodChrirt:ian)thcrcranybcbut a day or moneth5orycare, but a little tim.e betwixt thee and the joyes of heaven. Who would not admire the ftate of fuch a beggar, who every houre was in polH-bility of a Kingdome < but behold a greater reward by GoDspiomifeisduetoallhischildren, then this earth can atfords more glorious things fliall betheirs, I Qoti.f. then ever e^e hathfeene, or eare hath heard, $r the heart of man can conceive^ which without all doubt by com-parifonat leaft^are true of the joyes of heaven. Why thenfliouldeft thou O Chriftian foulc be caft downe, or why fhouldeft thou be in vaine difquietcdf furcly if thou wouldeft ferioufly confidcr, that thy heavi-neflefhall be fuddenly turned into unfpeakcable joy, that all thy teares (hall be for ever wiped from thy ^^' ^* eyes, and thanhcCe momentary affliciions do froportio-naHy work unto thee^m exceeding weight ojglory , thou haft no reafon to be much dejedcd for them.

Thus much of the firft Do(f^rinc, the fecond fol-loweth 5 but that we may build upon a good foundation, we niuft firft declare the meaning of thofe wordsonwhich we muft ground our enfuing Obfer-vation. H(i)» Saints tin I defitets depart andtsbe with CHRIST) Te he with mtbcbri/f. Christ. Why^was not Saint PW with Christ^ Phil. J. ao. was not hfs cenverfatm now in heaven ? and was not the ftrcame of his affection carried to C h r i s t ^ was Colof.>.r. not he with him in the fpirit as with the ColopAns, re-

iovcing

joycingand beholding hishappincffc^ doubtlcflfehc was. Butthis being with Ch r i s t was notthat prc-fencc which hedefircdj itwasancercr prcfcnce, to be where he was in the highcft heavens, and to he. held the gUfj vphtch God the Father had given htm j ^®'^" ' '•*♦• tleilre is the daughter of indigence and want fome %

way, and himfelfe doth plaincly tell uSjivhtlefi rveare tn the hod-jy as now Saini Faul was, we are ahfent from i Cor. j. <. the Lord jyou may be pleafed to obfcrve a difference betwixt thefephrafes of Christ his being with us, and our being with C h r i s t , it is one thing for C H RI s T to be with us, this benefit is enjoyed in thislife, hepromifed to be with the Apoftles, an4 Mat.t8.to. his SuccelTors, and {o by Analogy, he is with all his myfticall members to the worlds endj but it is another thing for us to be with Christ 5 this honour is ' referved for the world to come, and it is a ftatc of blelTednefleashe (poke to the theefe on the CrolTe, this day fbalt thou he with mem Paradife, Whence I doe Luk.23.4j, obferve,that

Thefaithfull foulenvhenit defmeth out of thislife is DoMne^, immediatly after death with Christ. If the foule of ^'»^*'* '"^^wc-Paul^ why not the foule of other faithfull onesC Saint a&tai^lo Paul Iknow, whileftheelived, was a man indued cbrt/i, withfingularzealcfor Christ andhohncfTeoflifc, ^^°^-'^^*i' and exercifed with more then ordinary miferies and perfecutionsj himfelfe rcciteth a Catalogue of many of them, but as it is not the degree of faith, but faith thatjuftifies, nor the meafure of graces, but the having (aving graces in truth, that aflbres us of G o d $ gratious acceptation of us in this world, fodocthey alfo by G o D s frecpromifc obtainc reward inhea-

C 2 ven.

cypr. de morta- ^^^' inftnotly upoHthc diflolution 5 as Saint Cyfrian iitM jinemfe- fpokc toBemetriai^us^though. a blafphemous Echnicic, '^' chat if he would at the end of his life pray to G o d for

the pardon of his fins, belceve and confefTe him, he fhould be tranflated fub ipfa morte to immortality, * why not •*. the foule being purged clearely from the

impurity and ftaine of fin by thecomplerion & ftate of grace, which gets full dominion in the very moment of her departure out of the body, as Alexander Balenfis, t>urandm, and other learned Schoolemen havcrefolved, and it is not defined in that Church whether the deordination of the will, and whether virions affedions (as too much love to wife and chil-Lib.4Mll»ii. dren) remaine in the foule, faith-E///^, yctdocwe sea.3» ^ grant this to be true, that the more gracious any man is in this world, the more is he now rcfpe(5led of Go D,& the more glorious {hall he be hereafter. The point it felf is clearly proved by the New Teftaracnt, Rom.8.1. There ii no condemnMion tofuch as are in C h r i s t ] e-jigahfi Fur- s v s. None,and therfore not to purgatory paines. For gatoiy. the name damnation extendeth to Purgatory, faith

Th.in/^,SentenJifi.^'^ . q,2. SixtusSenenpsl.S.Anno-tat,^'-j. No condemnation faith the Apo(lIe,yes,that there is damnation to the fire of Purgatory, faith the Mai0n agaxnfi Jefuite iW4/^^. Whether will you beleeve^againe,)^^^ \'cq^^ f *^^ ^''^'^ ?^4/-r//^^ earthly houfe of this our tabernaclejl)all be defiroyedj we have a building net made with hands, but etemallinthcheavens, S^chr'jfojlome rendreth e^u^ if. hy t-Tztv when^to note the time immediatly after death, he faith ix'^uAv not 'ihij-zv we have not I knownot after how many years,we ihall have:which may further appcare by the Apoftles'fcope,which was toadminifter con-

folation

attk Furterdll ^/M'.BoIton. j^

folationtotheaffli(aed, as appearesbytheendofchc. former Chapter, that they rfiould after death goc to aneternall hovikyjlmmfoH mortem acquirenda, forthwith to be poflefTed after death,as Efti^s (h^wcth out ofP^^//^>^'^i^/w^ and Ti^^w^,whichelfc could be Lib.^jif.ti, butfmall comfort unto them, if they beJieved they ^^^•*» fhould be detained in a fiery prifon, farre hotter and more intollerable then any puniOimenr in this world can be 5 and that the foules of the faithful! were in a ftate of happines before the Afcenfion of Christ into Heaven is cleare, (though neither they nor the Angels were fo happy for degree, as after the incarnation of our Saviour^is generally concluded, and by cleare demonftrations confirmed;) the point I fay is clearej build not my faith on the bookof Wifdome, though it binds Papifls to the beliefe thereof, that faith, the foules oft he right e ou^ are in the harids of'Q o d , Wifdome 4. md therejhdl no torment touch them: no torment, thea ''^'^* not the torment of Purgatory 5 but behold a cryftall ftreame which is able to quench the flames of Purgatory; if a wicked man will turnefrom all hisfinnes.^che Ezck 18 22. jlsallfurely live,he [ball not die:all his tranfgrefions that he hath committed j]^all not be mentioned to him. How doth he not remember, if he doth fo feverely punifh that it paffeth the imagination of man to conceive the greatneffc thereof ^ can there be a back reckoning for that which (hall never be remembred < and faying, that not a few but al his fins fliall be forgotten,will he yet punifh them to fatisfie for any fins at all i and is it not an cafie thing unto the Lo r tx inthe day of death Ecdef. i x-a, to reward a man according to his waies -f Call you this a re ward,for a good man to be thr uft into a place

K^ Sermon Preached

/Irocontrahtr, de beaut.I,

of torments this prcfcntlifc isatimc of working,ftri-ving,runniRg,fowing,anci godly living, after death is the timeofrcapingjof receiving wages, garlands and crownesj an unjlift thing it is to detainc the labourers wages, which reafon 1 fuppofe is as ftrong againft Purgatory, as againft thofe Armenians whom our Advcrfarics do worthily confute^ and how is it imaginable that if I he good in the old Law fuppofcd then dcad,Went firft to torment, that they did not tremble for fearc of deaths howcouldthey (as they did) depart in peace i and how is it imaginable that God who appointed facrifices for all forts of fins and pol-lutions,{liould appoint neither expiation norfacrifice nor fatisfacf^ionto be made for the foules of the dead! furcly there appeares not to us any token of any fuch thing,and therefore we may fairely concIude,that all the foules of the righteous then were trandated into a ftare of happinefte.

This Do<5lrine being thus briefly cleared, we may from hence draw many conclufions.

Hence it followeth that the foule dieth not with the body, astheSadducesthatpcftiferous fed amongft thcjewes did damnably maintained for as they denied the rcfurreclion and the being of Angels, fodid they fay,there was no fpin'r, no fpirituall fubftance at alljfaith Scaliger,^^hxch. without all doubt, is the truth in the judgement of ^r»to/^ 5 fogrofTc werethefc Sadduccs in th ir apprehenfions : and as a wicked branch of thisfortifli ftock of ^adduces there fprung up certninc Arabians which held that the foule pen-flicd rrgetherwirh the body, aswitneftcth Eufebiu*. Afitdodrineibr enlarging the kingdomc of the di-

vell:

Vfej.

The fou'e im-mortali.

£xer(ltat.

Hufeb. Ecclef,

at the Funerdll ^^r.Bolton,

21

vell.-butthatthcfouleis immortall myTexcprovcth, bowclfecould it part from the body and be with Ch r I s T^unlcffe it was a feperablcfubftance^fith the bodytsnotwith Christ till after the general!rc-furredion^ whence is there in natural! confcience that accLifing power for fin, that feare of wraths but from this principle that the foule is immorralknever make any queftion of this^when thou dieft,thy foule which is thy better part dicth not, but is taken out of thy body ,as a candleout of a lanthorneiandimmediatly placed either in blifle or in torment.

Hence may we in the fecond place conclude againft the i^mihAf tills and SocinUnst which though they went not fo far as the Sadduces ro deny the refurre(5ti-on, yetdidthefe fantaftiques dreamc that the foule fleepcthtill Doomesday,and i$in a ftateofincenfibi-lity like fomc creatures in Winter,/»/e(^4.ti!l they be quickned and revived by the heat of the Sun,fothey of fou!es,till they be raifcd by the power of theLo r d at the laft day^but ho^ then could Saint P/tulhe with Christ ^but to fay no more againft thefe filly dreamers, I proceed.

In thethird place, that conceit alfo falls to the groundjwhich prevailed with many oftheantient Fathers and with fomc later writers, that the foules of the righteous fee not God till thelaft day,but are kept in ceitaine receptacles in expcdation therof. I fee no profit to the Auditory by naming them 5 the learned if they pleafc m ay read many of their names in Sixtffs Senenfis, But how then (fay I)could Saint Paxtl be with Ch RI s T^this opinion is an unworthy conceit condemned by the Church, as robbing heaven

for

2.

tit fculej!eeps not as the bedy,

BuUingtr ciira Anaha I.4 e.io

' 3.

Soules departed iMtiediatety fte G9J,

SixfM Senenh hibLSM. lib.b. Annot<it.i^$^^

for the prcfent of its bieffed inhabitants. 4. Fourthly, hence ah"© doth it follow, that though

clMft abfent C H R i s T as touching his divinity is every where pre-tnbody. fent, for clfc he were not God, yet to US in this world

he is abfent as touching his bodily prefcncc. For, what is it to be with Christ, but to be prcfent where C h r i s t is bodily prcfent c' and againcjwhiles iCor.y.8. wc areiffthcMy^ wee are abfent from the h o-Bi -d i the Apoftle then was ignorant of that unhappy perplexed point which fomefeemeto defend, the ubiquity of C H R I s T s body,for howfoevcr his humane nature (efpecially in the ftateofglory)is adorned with admirable gifts, and advanced to the highefl: dignity, honour and domination, yet doe the natures of Christ perfonally united remaine diftin<5k both in cflTenccpropertieSjand operations. Yea, and them-felves confefTe that the divine properties belong to the humane nature, not by any phyHcall transfijfion from one fubjed into another,but it is only perfonali de^pe!f7nlthri' ^"^ communicatcd tothe humane nature by the grace fii,p. 12. of perfonal union infomuch that the humane na ure(as FhiiipNichoi. thcy fay)isomniprcfentnot in being but in having, fenti7"bminu ^^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^^^ t>ut in the perfon of the word, a nd thus chrifii,c.6, do they in words at Icaft deny what they fcem to contend for. 5. From wh encc likewife it followeth that there is no

jigaififi eurga- Popifh Purgatory; the fault is clearely remitted,and "'J'* fo there can be no fatisfad:ory torments required.

God fhould(methinks)but mock us,ifthcy fay true, as if he fhould fay, I pardon thee thy offence, but I will punifh thee for it, I acquit th ee of the debt thou oweft mcbutnot of the paimcnt: but why Ihould not

the

"■«*""""^R«»"«»«1I»»>

at the f4(mr»&9ftA\hohon, « ^

the foulespftherightcoBS dying m fahh bccari^din* ftantly into hcaven,as well as the foule of a man new -ly baptised comming to that holy Sacrament in due manner, and dying before he hath committed a new fin, akhongh he was full offinnc before ^ there is no queftionofthis lattcTjand why (hould there be of the former ^ And if they cannot goto Heaven becaufb Gods jufiice muft be fatisfiediWhat will becom of all tl^ofe that dica little before the judgements &much more is the difficulty increafcd in thofe which pafFc in a moment from moitalitie to immorralitie,atthe very comming of Je sv s Ch r i sr.But ] marvel not if Pa-pifts do contend for this Purgatory, as being indeed one ofthebeft fires that ever (he Pope and his Cler-gie have had for the heating of their kitchins. For let this be granted that there is fuch a fire, and that tht torments there and in the place of the damned diflFer but in duration, and there are no torments in this world compavableto thofe in Purgatory ; let their Preachers tell their people fuch a fuppofition as this is, if a foule had becne tormented in Purgatory thirty yeares, and had by an Angell a choifeeithcr to ftay 7>}fciputiu de in Purgatory one day lor^,or toreturneintothebo- jf'»^«'^Ar.^«. dy and do this penance a hundred yeares together, t(> ''^'^*' * tread only on iron nailes which will pierce the feet, to drinke gall minglrd with vineger, and to eat the tomfeft bread, to be cloathcd with Camels haire, to lie on the ground, and inftead of a boiler to have a hard ftone for a pillow,the foule would rather do this penance a hundred yeares together, then to endure in Apoc«. j. Purgatory one day,fairh their Preacher. Bythisand fuch like dodrinciB,thc Gonfcfcnces of their difcip!«s

X> arc

arc ftung as with Scorpions 5 and it is like a gift whi-.

Jf«.t7 «.' 'her focvcr it turncth, it profpercth, then may they work them Kke foft waxe by their charitable promi-fes to apply the meanes for their eafc and reliefc out of the place of torments. What a wofull fpcech was

foxAHipag. that of our Rfcktrd L who committed his foule to

*49. Purgatory till Doomes day.

6, Sixthly,this Dodrine ovcrthroweth their Popifh

^gainfimay. prayers for the dcad,dire(fled unto G o Dto eafe th^,

ifigfor tie dead and free them fromthepainesof Purgatory, yea and that kind of kindncs too which many that do profeilc the Orthodox doctrine, doe unwarrantably uic in wordsa and further, as a more durable monument of their miftake,dowrite upon the grave ftones of the

dt^NoT f«' ^^2^>^^ ^ ^c mercifuU to the foule ofthis dead man.

M^atat.Tab9r. For are they with Christ^ then doe their prayers

pag.x9u bring no profit to the dead, but hurt to the livings For to fpeake thefaireft of them, i .Such prayers can

Mat.i z.3 6, be no better than an idle vpord, for vfhich we muHgive 4n account at that day, 2.They are an injury to the dead, and do vertually imply, thatfuchas pray for them are not perfwaded they are in happincfTe for whom they pray. 3. This pradtife although it might be perhaps by fome qualification .juftifiablc in the intention of the fpeaker, yet may it breed danger in the conceit of the hearer, who may turne thy voluntary devotion to harden him in the dangerous error of that opinion 5 if then no bencfif redounds either to the dead, ihyfelfe, or the hearer, its beft to leave ihofe formes of prayer which arc made for the dead. But ignorant perfons being reproved arc bold to reply in this fooliih manner, what would you have us

fay

fay of the dead, would you have us to revile or curfe

them ? Oh pervcrfe minds! as though neceflitie Jay

upon you, cither to pray for them or to curfe them f

Belilcc what difplcafctn God pleafeth you pafling

well: let us fpeake of the dead as G o o s Word tea-

chcth us to fpeake of them; furc I am, it no whercen-

joynethustopray forthcm, nor furni(heth us with

the exam pic of any Saint to that purpofe,and yet were

their affe<5tions to the de^d as good as yours. Gannot

you ufe fuch formes of fpeech when you fall into ^

mention of thera, they are with God ,thcy are at reft,

they are happy,their memorie is blefled, unlelfc you

pray for them.

But leaving now thcfc Ufcs of confutation, I come to thofe of inftrudlion, which are indeed more profitable for our edification,and more futablc to this prc-fent occafion, and the firft is,

Fcare not death(0 thou righteous foul)ovcrmuch; ^/^ ^/ /^ its one benefit we reape from the death of our blefled flfuSfm, Saviour,to be freed from the feare of our own death; j^ death is called indeed by Btldad'inUbythefrittceofter- 7)eatb 'wt t» r^«r/,& by the Philofophcr,of all formidable things, ^^fearej, the moft terribie/o it is to the wickedjOr at Icaft there lob./g.'ii] isgood cauic it fhould be fo, for to fuch as live without Christ, death is as a purfcivant fent from hell to fetch them thither: but they that live confciona-bly^maythinke of death comfortably,and they may fing that triumphant fong, O death where is thy fiing! , cor.i y. they may take this all-devouring fcrpent without any hurt at all into their bofomes: they that have their debts paid, dare go out of doores, and are not afraid to meet the Sergeants they dare JooJce on death, and

D 2 welcome

fauthim in vita Ambrofij ad MyAugufi.

juag,i4. i4f

Miurnt not im^ moderatly ft/r the d(aJ,

,€lry/.in locum.

wellGomehimasthc Kipg of heavens offi€er to give tbem poflTcflion o^ an everlafting inhcrit«^nce 5 wee feaic our friends when they have a vizour on rheir fa-ces,but put it ofFand we rejoyce in them. Excellcnc was the fpcech ofS.Amhofe to the Nobles of his ci-ty,whichvvich threats and flatteries were fent to him by the Gotrnt Stiitco, to perfwade him to pray unto GoDforthecontiniianceofhisHfe,which when the holy Bi{lx)p heard he anfwercd divinely, J have not foHvcdamongft you that I am aflrimed to live longer, nor am] afraid to die, becaufe we have a good Lord.Doubtlefle had we(beIovedbrethren)as much faith on earth as there is joy in heaven/we would not be afraid of death; this isthcnarrow paflagc betwixt this lifeand our countrie: on thisfide the bridge we have many troubles, many fins, many feares, mmy temptations of the Divcl,which fhould make us think the worfeofourlives,and very willing to leave them: but on the other fide,we fliall be freed from all trotj-ble,from all fin,from al moleftation of the divel,and fhall be filled with all the joy our hearts can pofllbly deiire.Sothat hitherto we may apply 54w/>/^A;f riddle, Oi*t of the eater CAmeforth meAt^Andoutofthefireng came forth fweetnefe.

Secondly, this may fei ve to moderate ourexcef^ fiVe/raourning for our friends which die, we hope in the Lo R D. Z>rf<i^/Wexceeded in his farrow for oi'^-fdpny and was there not axraufc •: He d\d not fo at the death of the infant. Let us rejoyce, Saint Chryfojlo/m^ faith>f6r the juft bouh living and dc:!t6, becaufe they are happyjlet us not in an unfeemely manner bewail e them by pulling ofiPour hairesjbaring^our armes, tearing

ring our faces, or putting on mourning garments, fo faith the fathcrsand I fay,hnppy are they which have exchanged a bafe earthly tabernacle for a princely Pallacc>- forrowcs for joy, and eartli for heaven 5 and inethinkesourblefTed brother now deceafed, if he had incercourfc with us mortal^rreacuresj would fay-to his deare wife lying in her tearcs, children and friends, as our Saviour did tathoiepious women thac followed hivfVyD aught ers ofleruftiem rveepe not for mn^ LuV.s3.23. Imt yvi4pe for your fdvesy you know my failings, my meditations, my warchings (and know you brethren that godly M^niftersdopurpofely watch and medi--tate for you,when you are or would be a deep.) You know my gricfe for my owne calamities and for the calamities of Gods Church, and by your owne experience, you may know what fliarpc combats I have had with that raging enemie the Divell, and what wounds I have received in the confli(5l; now do I feare no perils on the land or fea, no perils in the houfeorin the field, now am ] vidorious over Satan and have trampled him under my fecc, and now he hath nothing at all in mee, and now am ] crowned with gloric, and would you (my dearc friends) be fo unkind to me to wifh me alive againe, and to run the former hazards ^ Kings andQueenes are willing to niarric their daughters to forraine Princes, and never looketofet their eyes onthcm againe,and fliould wc mourne too much for his abfence, and not rather re-joyce wirhhim for his happier cftatethen this earth canafford^ When /^f<?^heard that his beloved ufef;h Gcn.4^27. wasalive,and governour over all the Land of &gy^% his fainting heart revived jnalefTe ought the confide-

D 3 ration

K^ StrfHon Treached

Forefigbtofbf-ingivitbCbrijt

maizes n>iUin^ t9 die.

Job.j.iijij.

2ie$th jimptjf not defired. Fhrut cited by Brjherinhifi. GotefoLp i^z.

1 Cor. 5.4.

ration of the glorie of departed fervants of G o d, checrc up our droopingfand fad hearts for them, and excite us to dcfirc tne fruition of the fame glorie.

And this is my next point to be handled, / deftrc^^ faith S. Pattljto be dijiohedandto be with Christ.

It's the fire-fight of heavenly glory and being with Christ ythat makes a man dcfire to die: Some men indeed would die, becaufe there is nothing in this world for them to cxpe6t but mifcrie and (hame, and thefe do little IcfTcfomcdmesthen^^/J^T^r ther$cks t§ falluf on themt that they might end their wretched daies as lob faith, they long fir death ^and dig for it more then for hidtreafure^ which rejoycc exceedingly, and are glad when they can finde the grave, this motive fwaicd not Saint Pady but onely this that he might be WithCH RI s T.I grant to defire death {imply,as death, is againft the Law of G o d and the law of nature, death is our enemie^and is not from Go d creationcihy creation, though it be truly from him ultione t6 revenge the fins of man, faith Florm de pr^deft: or as others fay, itis ^xom him or din at ione, becaufe inju-ftice he ordained death corporal las one part of the punifhment which was due for the finne of man, and henceourSayiour Christ himfclfe who knew no fin at all, viewing death as it is in it {c\(c confidered, declined it, let this cuppafe^tind fo did Saint Paul too, we ivill»ot{(^izh he)beunc bathed, the parting of thefe good friends body and foule without fome further cnd^ is a grievous fepararion; this harmelefle innocent nature teachcth; and as death is further a meanes to cut ofFall polTibility to profit others, and to helpc the poore Church of C m r i s t with our laboursrthus

piety

piety and grace may move them to pray with Dav/d, Lord Z^/ w^yS«/<r //V^. Thefe cautions are prcmifcd Pfal.1x9.17y. to prevent miltaking in the point 5 but now, which is to my purpofejOonfider death as it is a way & meanes to bring us to the prefcnceof Ch RI ST, fo it may be holily defiredjour Saviour Ch r i sT,who fxdjetthis ffippa/fe, faid alfo as his death was our life, / han/e a Luk.u.jo, Bapiifme to be baftized withalh and horv am I pained till it be accompli j\^ed? and not only I P4///,but we that are * Cor.^4. faithfull that are in this tabernacle, degroaneearneftly, ver.2, not fir that we rvouU be uncloathed^ but cloathed upon,that mortality might befrv allowed up oflife-^ and after, vpeare mlling rather to be abfentfrom the bddy and prefent with the Lor D.Its the love that a child ihould ^"•*-be borne into the world, not the love of painc that makes the mother dcfire thetravell in child-birth 5 excellently CahhSzintBafiI,properanti adc^leflempa- ^^pi </eA«»//-triam,(^c, to him that makes hail to the countrey tm /ufiitu,. which-is above, iheftay in the body is more grievous then any paine, or any prifon: and it is faid that Peter znd ^^ifdrew welcomed their crofTes, as they were wont to doc their dearcft friends, and imbra-ced them in their armcs, and faluted them with kiflcs of peace. Ignatius encoaraged wild beads to devourc himthat he might be bread for Ch r i s t 5 Martyrs went to their death with cheerefuilnefle and fongs, andtan to the (lake as to a garland, and who would > Sam. io.tz.' with Saul hide himfelfe in thefiujfe, when he is called to be crowned a King ^

J( Abrahamfawhis day by faith vfhen he wasbut pro-mifed,4»^ rej0y^ed,vfh2t caufe of joy muft it needs be lotut. 5 5. to fee the Saviour of the world when he is exhibited^

If •

L-^ SenttfftiPrtAched

MSzwiilohnBit^tifiSiXt^^c at [lis prelcncc whcft he was in the womb e of his bleflcd mot her. Wlwc will his glorious prefcncc cfFcd in t hcra who fliall behold him in al his Royaltic^if the Wife men of the Luk.1,44. ^^^wenta longjournie,and rejoyccd to fcethe holy Babe C H K I s T inchchouies what caiifc of joy wijl it be to fee him fit in his gloric at the right, hand of his Father,fiir above all PrincipalKi<:sand powers^ Luk.io. 14. If pfony Kings and Princes longed for that da) to fu their Saviour nioitall, what refemblance is fit to expreflc the joy ofthofe that behold him crowned with glory and immortalities it is^paifingglory to be admitted to the fight of Ch RI $ T his flKe,andto receive glory from the brightntfleof his Ma jcftLe,and if we were to fufFc r torments every day, yea the very torments of hell for a time, therby to gaine the fight of Ch ri st, it were nothing in refpe<f^ of the reward. yfi !• ThisDodrineflievvesusthcexcreamc folly ofull

wtckei or.es jjcentious Hvers and impenitent finners; w hen thty chri^. lookc upon their Wicked courles, whattortnght can

they have but of hell as their juft rewardc'they would be with Christ (asthey (ay)hereafter, and yet they will not have Christ to be with them now, and to rule over them^they wiW fbw unto the flefh, and yet would reapeunto the fpidtjthey are ftout and will hr-vetheirfinne though they be damned for it; Jcr,i8..ia. wc will (fay thofe rebels in/^r^wy) xvalh after our prvne devices^ and rve wiUevery enedoe th magtndttcns cfhis_ evillheart. Experience fiiewcthtJS that youcan-notcrufhoyleout of flints^, nor fwea wine out of fowcr grapes, and if you be the fecdefmen of darnell atid cockle, yOufhali have no harvcftofwhcateor

good

good grainej you willnot live confcionably, and yet you would die peaceably 5 and though you fpeake Chri ST faire,yetyou wil loofc nothing for his fakej the chainc will make your profcflion aMd, and reproach will make ic alhamed : you love him well yolb fay ^butyou willbeadvifed notto difplcafc fuch and fuchfriends for his love 5 your fore-fight of Heayetj hath no hands to do good works corporall and fpiri-tuall, nor cyesto (lied tearcs for your fins and the fins of others, nor (tomacke to abide a holy and a religi-ous faft, nor flefh to endure this mortification and zealous revenge, nor tongue to fpeake the language of confcifion, and zealous, devout and faithfull pray-ers if then in your extremities and when your fearcs approach, you fend for us, as P^4r40^ did for c>rc/^j, ^

and never till then, and cry unto us helpe m and com- »Kmg ^-^^ fort us, as that flawed woman dX^^ to the King of ifr^d : Wceanfwer asheedid that diftrefTed creature, if'the Lo \ D doth not helpe ym^horv jhould we? And now by this time Uuppofeyou are brought to that paire,that Gods fervants, whom you haveinyour profperitydcfpifed may fay to you concerning all your dauberswhom you then refpeded, where are they now that will prophefie peace peace unto you? your confciences which before were aflcepe, being now awakened to heare the crie of your finnes, and thefe glades formerly covered with dufl as it were, being wiped cleare to reprefent unv o you the disfigured and odions flice of your finnes; when thefe evill daies ftiall come upon you (as they will or that which is worfe) you muft needs confefTe to the tcrrour of your fouks,thar we Go d s Meifcngers have told you Gcn,4i.i». of ihcfe things, and you would not hearc us>as Reuben'

E faid

faid tohisbrethren. Your fins which you tooke to bcyourfriendsCasGo D himfclfc hach thrcatncd) are fuddenly turned to be your foes, and now do ap-Pfal.yo.zi. ^arc as a marfhallcd armycomming in a terrible 1 Kine manner againft you, and when Goo fpeakcs to your

2'^ ^^* confciences, s^^Jehu did to the Eunuchs^ who is onmy ftde? who? tvmx.\\QyW\\\caJlyotidowneanddajh,z%\i were, your bloodagainfi the wdsy and make you to he trampled upon 5 and then can you caft your eyes no way without horrour, if upw^irds unto heaven, they will tell you that you'are juftly excluded our of that happy place,if you think upon hell, the mouth thereof (as you fcare) is open every moment to receive you when thefc evil! daies fhail come,&c. j^ Second Ufc of inftru<5lion is^ that we would ftudy

Gtt afurance our felves, and ranfacke our foules, and be of good ofchrij}. grounds, and to have certaine evidence that our change {hall be for the better: mans wifdome tea-chcth him in Summer to provide for Winter, in youth for old age^ if G o. d be better then the world and heaven better then earth, and the foule better then the body, fhall we not labour while we live to get full aflurance of being with Chris t, as S.Pml had,when we are dead < but here is the maine doubt, how I (hould know and be afTured thereof. faiihlivcrar^ Firft,ifthou art aflfured hereof, then haft thou faith, furante of the maine and fundamental! grace, not fundamentum chifi. quod^ that is,CH r i s t, but cm as a learned Schoole-

man doth diftinguifh, immediatly laying us upon

Ghr I ST, and as a Captaine,! fay not making the graces as heavenly Souldiers,but as bringing them forth to fight according to their fcvcrall operations 5 thou baft I fay a lively faith both in that di;ca ad^whcre-

byitjuftifietb, andalfobya prudent obfcrvation of the workc of faith in thy foulq thou doft by faith believe that thou art juftificd by faithjthou haft alfo the attendant companion upon faith, that Chriftian hope whereby thou waitcfi: on G o d till he accompHfh Heb.j.^. all his gracious promifesjif wecomeagainftthe Di-vcll as Dji/vVdid againft the Philipne, not withfwerd^ i Sam. 17.45. pucldandfj^eare^but in the name of the Lord ojHofs^wQ are furc ro conquer. If we have thefe graces and by the ufe of holy meanes do hold them faft^how happy are wclBltflTcdishethatbeleeveththe Lords words to be all of :h?m true, and bleifed is he that waiteth onhim,tillhemanifefisthetruth of his words, that believeth by faith that G 0 d is his Father,and expcd-eth by hope that he fhould Ihew a fatherly atFe<^ion to him; who believes that falvation belongs to him,and waites by hope til he enters inro pofTelTion of it: if this then be the blefTed frame of thy foulc,thatthou refbl-veft and hopcft to livejand thou refolveft and hopeft to die in the armes of thy fvvect Saviour, thou art in a happy cafe.

Secondly,if thou haft this holy affcdion to die,and 2; alTurance of being with Christ when thou art dead, ^Jurameofie-then doft thou labour for the true fenfe and fee- »l»''^tfc«/^ ling ofthy reconciliation with God, and doft make Mary.* 5.*^'^* thy peace with thy brother whom thou haft wronged by word or deed 5 if thou lookeft to fee the face of Ch r I s t the righteous Judge with comfort thou wilt abandon foolifti ftiame^and fond fclfe-love^thou wilt make reftitutioHjand rcturne goods in thy hands to the right owner 5 thou wilt not fuffeifincoiicupon ^^. thyfoule, nirktthy furrmesinthyfeldt^ ary out a* lob.j!.^*/*

B 2 gdnH

J4

1^ SermH9 Fr€j$cM

3'

gHi?ffi thee, nor hy pr0portiim,t^e B-one andtimhr of thy heufe to compUme of thee, ZAch . ^. 4 .fhr this wou Id bf}n^ Acttrfe to eonfmnt them:^Qii^ wi?f often make thy xtt^-hing even with thy Go d ,for this makes friendfhip dii* rable,if Cfi r r s t be gone,as he feemes to be at lOmc rimeffom his children,thou wiltfeek for him forrovv-ing ^i.^Ma.ry his mother did, and thou (halt in G o d s good time find him in th^ Temple(as (he did)I mean in the uFe of his holy ordinances. Thirdlyjalwaies be vigilant and watchfulljthis fpi-

SfirUttai watch rituall watchis nothing but the carefullncfle of the foulctokeep fpirituall graces in their vigour and a(5^i-vity,and though God hath appointed v;^atchmen o-ver us, yet hath he not appointed watchmen for us, their watching is not in our ftead to give us leave to fleepe, but it is to keepe us waking, what I fay to you J

Mar I J,? 7. fay to all, PF^^r^. And very good rcafon, Touknorvrnt ("faith our Saviour) n^hathoureyour Lord willcom^^jy

Mat 14,41. ^j^j ^yj. ^^j.Qy{]g difpofirion will be foonc rocked a

fleepe by .Satan, who befprinkles the temples of our head with his fpirituall <?//«;?;? of wicked motions and fuggeftions, if we do not lawfully ftrive againilthem^ take heed leaft thine owne corrupt heart the greateft enemy thou haft beguileth thee not, be prudently vigilant to defcry dangers before they come, to prevent all occafions whereby thy happy eftate might be loft 3 the dumbe beaft" ,as Oxc and Mule, that are without underftanding.will not comeneare the place where they have efcaped danger, and fhouldeft thou adventure to the hazard of thy foule >: in kmowledge benotlikethehorfeandmulcj in avoiding dangers be Itkettliem. Consider tbcDivcls policy, he is a

thccfc

thcefe 5 abeggar may fafely pafTe by him^his aimc is

to rob the wealthy pafTcngcr: rub thine eyes oitco,

frequentlyranfackethy heart,kcep Gods fcarcfi'dh

inthy foulc. laco'ifcodd not {]cej>e when he heard of

£faft hiscommingngaihfl hiri],zndSamf^finh2Ld little

lirtto deepcm Dalilaes hp when he heard the Phili- G^n 1%

fiins wcrecommingonhim^ delightin the fociety iud^i6.i^,io

of the Saints, good company keepes us waking; all

thefc are foveraigne helps to keepe us fpirituaHy

watching.

Fourthly,often meditate on death, die as it were 4* daily in the difpoficion of thy foule, and preparation tatiTnoldeath' todeaih; forge: fullnclTe of dcarh makes lifecobe fin-full, and death to be terrible as adeftroying Lyon, ^^^^^ ^ whereas the fight of favage beafts is not terrible to Mat.z4.48! thofe that converfe with them 5 looke on death as on the Sun inan opticke glaife, though it be faroflr,yct it feemes neere at hind, and fo in truth it may be neerr us, being as a pit covered with fnow into which wee may fuddenly fill; that which many carrle in their •

rings, carrie thou in thy heart, memento meri'^ be like to thofe that in their life time had their lepulchers in their gardens, and places of pleafure, and that they might be mindful! hereof,fome had dead mensskuls before their eyes in their mofl delicious banquets 5 by fo doing, we fiiould prevent a great deale of fin,& it would bcas abicter pill to purge out many noifome humours, and prove that wt are truly wife, ahvaies ^"^"«P'«5' ready fordeath: itsan excellent thing when deathap-proachet'hjto have nothing elfc to xlo but to die.

Fifthly,it is a comfortable figne, if thou doft-hsar- cmtimau tily pray:to Go b for this very end as the Saints of fraya,

E 3 God

B^ K^ Sermon Preached

prai 3 9.21. God have done: prayer is our bcft guard when wc & 90.11., ' arcathomeand when we arc abroad J God will not tukz.}». denieourfuitsmadein Christ his name, becaufc this was one benefit which Christ merited for us. Alas whatelfe fhould wedo'whcnweareevcry day for ought we know going to judgement i iliould we not intreat the Judge to pardon us ^ (liould wc not with fighcs and fobs cry continually unto him to be hXT f *' *' '^^crcifuil unto us i Hier. reports in the life of Paul a /"■• '^B ^ i. Difciplc oiAnthony the firft Monke,and that not (imply for devotion, but to avoid perfecurion, that this religious man wjs found dead kneeling upon his knees, holding up his hands, lifting up his eyes, the foulc was fo devout that the very d^id corps leemcd to pray unto God, now this humble feeking to Go d by prayer that he would make us alwaics ready foi death, argues a foule fenfible of its owne weakencflfe and of Gods goodnelTe. 6» Sixthly, rf thou art fincere and found at the heart,

sincmty. and walkefi with G o d in the uprightncfTe of thy foule, and makeftthis the crowne and garland of thy lifcwhich will never wither and detay,that thou ha-teft all knowne fins, not the outward onely whereof men may be witnedes, but all inward corruptions, as Efayjy.7. hardncrfc of heart, wanton revengeful! tlwughts and fuch like,whereof the world can take no notice, if thou magnified Gods graces,and gracious per-fons,and canft be content out of thy love to Ch r i s t, to fuffer anything for Chri st, this is fincerity: I faynotlegallfincerity, that is aperfedion too high for us to attaine unto, nor onely naturail and raorall integrity,whercby an unrcgencratc man is guided by

the

thelight which is inhim without hypocrifie (this may mc very heathens have) but Evangclicall integrity, whereby the perfon being accepted for Chris T,the heart though failing in fome particular a6tions,yet manifcfts habitual I grace by a conftant courfe (in the generall) of a holy convcrfation.

Laftly 5X0 name no more, if we are truly thankfull Thanhjt'or unto G o D for making away for ustogoe by death Redemption to heaven (by the death of his Son) whofe portion /'"*'«'^f*^^* by due defert was hell 5 how Iiidith and Ejier were magnified for procuring deliverance to their countrymen from outward enemies, the Bible fliewcth: how the Grecians honoured i=*//tw/;?//^/the Romanc for prevailing againft Philip o^Macedon, and proclai- P'utar, in vita ming their Hb^rty, is regiftred in heathen ftories, ^^r^'/^/^. with whatapplaufes and acclamations of all the Ro- R9m.ii.17, mans, men,women, and children Conftantine was received into that Queene of C\xxt%,EufebiHs the Hifto- EufeidibA k riandoth relate,for vanauifhing the Tyrant MAxm- Tll^i!^. //>/,calling him their deliverer,their conferver, their bountiful 1 Patron, a common good thing,c^f. here was love and thankfulnefTe we fee moft earneftjG g s knowcsand our owne confciencesteftifie unto us this day how far we exceed thofe Grecians and Romans in mercies bcftowed upon us, not by amortallman but by our J E s V s ,nor from temporall fervitudc, but from the power of the divell 5 if then our cries and acclamations be to our ]e s vu conftantly,OTuwp m>Tii^,as theirs were to their deliverers, and we can joyfully found forth S.P4«/ Iwiwcf, 0 death where is thyfiing— thankes he to God who hath given as viBory tfjrough J e -s V s Chris T w^r Lor p,thisisa good fignc of a blef-

fcd

fed man; and if thcfe arc in you, I do affurc you that your eftate is now good, and by pcrfcverance in them, Ihalibefarrc better hereafter, and thefc will

ivh t mf ^^^^^^^ you,whenallthe comforts ofthc world will

in dLth,^ f^il^' Whatwill all fricnds,riches,and plcafures pro-licwhen you are on your death-bed^ unlefle you have this forcfighc of joy in Ch r i s t , you live (for ought you know) under Gods curfe, thecurfebothof .he Law, and the curfe ofthc Gofpell, and you can have no folid joy in any thing under the Sun, no more then a condemned man can have in his wealth & fore-paf-fcd honour; but have and keepthefe fruits of the holy Spirit,and when death (hall come to thee,and take tbee(asitwere) by the hand, thou haftnocaufe to ihrinkefor feare.but maift fay with Babyhys flaine by Decit4i thatperfecutor, in the words of the Pfalmift, Returneunto thy refi 0 mjfoulCjfor theLoKD hath heene ketiejiciall unto thee^now my griefcs farewell,& all my wrongs adieu, and now my foule be glad, for now commcth thy reft, thy fure reft, thy fwect and never fading reft; and that which co iiforted Hezekjah on

Efay 58.j. his fuppofcd death-bed, 'Kermmher Lo r d how I have walkedhejore theervithan upr'ght hedrt ; thatalfo was agrcat comfort to this our dcccafed brother, that he could fay to mee in his laft; fieknefle, when I vifited

>^'ote, h\v[\y that he bad walked in (incerity, and performed

his Minifteriall duties (fctting humane unavoidable defects adde) with an upright heart, andfo 1 doubt not but God fcnt his Angcll to waite at his beds head tocarry his foule when it patted from the body, into i^hrahams boiome. You have heard .(beloved) .what was Saint PWx

dcfirc.

4t the FUfterafffi/M',Bolton, ^p

dcfrrc,that was codic; and a rcafen implied of his de-fire, for then he fliould be with Christ: hearken with the like Chrfftian attention fo Sain: PauU judgement or cenfureof that cftate of being withCn r i stj this is faith he far the better, or (as fome expound the words) which is beft of all: which occafions a Que- Ogf/f^ ftion,Whetherisit better to be with Christ in his Hmulbefi humane nature, then to be with God, whofe beatifi- fo be vitb, ' call vifion is faid to be the chiefe objed of happi- ^^"^' ncffe 't To which I anfwer, that the Apoftle doth not . com.pare thefe together, I mcane the enjoying of ^ * God and Christ, as though his chiefe happinede did confift rather in beholding the body of Ch r i s t then the face of God, but his being with Christ, and that eftarc in glory is compared to his being in thisprefentworld, and he raentioneth Chr i st be-caufc he in his humane nature had purchafed this great happineflfc for him, which confifteth principally in the vifion of divine excellency: our happineflc is chiefely in Go D,but by Ch r i s t his merit :do we ^quh.i^u^:i not thinke that many poorc exiles dripped out of <trtxpiec9^ their inheritance, and baniflied out of their native ''^''''^^•'•«-foilejdodefireto fee that day, and that bleffedman that (hould bring them out of their captivity, and fettle them in their former habitations, andrejoyce in him as the author of their happineflc^ hence I note, ^' ^ life in heaven with Christ, is fane better then ^o^rint^. alife on earth with men, Itis better for the, wife to be Irefencftht'^ with her husband then in other company, and is it fcey?. not much better for the Spoufe of C h r i s t to be with her Lor d, whom flic worthily eftccmcth as the chiefe often thoufand * this prefent life of nature is

F good

good,the life ofgrace is far better, but the life of glory is beft of all; it is goad fo be a babe in Ch r i s t ,it is better to be a ftrong experienced Chriftian,but to raignewlth Christ is beft of all; itisgoodtofigli andfobforfiaJcisbetcertonortifieand to prcvailc againftic, but it is befl: of all to be perFe(5lly fan(5tified, »Sam. 14. 3"^ purged from it. Wc know that K^bfolon recalled fromexilc,and not admitred to fee his fathers face in Court,was impatient of all delayes,and foare God s children after they are called to G d d s favourjlongto fee their Saviour which is far better, which may further appeare by thcfe differences betwixt thefe two e- ftatcs.

fhunfbe 'beii ^^ ^^ "°^ ^^'^ better to have the wayward old man in •ne^rtk ourbofome,themoft fpitefull enemy and falfe friend, I mcane all the remainders of corruption,the leprofie and poifonof fin quite abolifhed then to have them ftill in us < while we live they will be in us do what we can, we fhall find much ignorance of G o d and all his waies, much folly which keepeth us from taking any thing to heart which refpe^eth Go d or our felvcs, muchuncircumcifion of heart which makes us that we cannot be holily poore in fpirit though confciousofinnumerable motives which fliould induce us hereunto, much drolfe offelfe-fufficiency which will not let us perceive what need we have of Gods prefence for thequickning, ftrengthening, comforting, dirc^ing and profpering of us in all our wayeSjthough the breath of our noftrils be not more neceffary for our naturall being, then his grace is for our fpirituall welfare and comfort 5 thefe evils do rc-nue their aflfaults on us every day, and notwithftan-

ding

ding we renuedaily our Endeavouring againft them,

yet cannot we get that full conqucft over them. If We

could afTemble all the Saints together, and askc them .

\vbcther'tbey were without fin, what do we thinke ^fratilTs6.

would they anrwer^whither that which Pf/4f//^ faith,

orthat which Tofm the Apoftle faiths How great foe-.

vcr their excellency was,if they could be asked, they

would cry out with one voice, Jfwe fay m have no fin ^' * "^^ " ^'^ *

we deceive our felves^dvdthere ts ne truth in usy and

would they perhaps fay fo more humbly then truly ^

God placeth not the commendation of humility in

any part of falfity: and therefore if they fpoke this

truly, they had {in,becaufe they humbly confelTed it,

and the truth was in them^ & it they faid they had fin

whentheyhadnoneatall, they did lie.andfo did fin

in lying, and the truth was not inthem, but when wc

arein Chr i st all our fins are quiteaboliilied^and not .

tillthen^andtherforetobewithC H r i« t isfarbet-

ter»^\

Secondly, isitnotfarbettertobeinfuchacondi- 2. tioDj where we fliall be freed from all troubles, raife- 'Dzaxh frecti ries5difeafesanddifcontents,thento live in poverty, f^omaHaefef, debts, difeafes, difgraces, difconrents and infinite crofTes^ even thofc things often which we love the beft> and cxpeded the greateft comforts from them m ay p):oove our greateft croffes, or at leaft we live in feare and cxpcdation of changes and evils to come; now they that are with Ch r i s t are then and not till then, freed from all thofe evils which fhould make our life not over-plcafing to us, and they are not onely freed from thofe evils, but fet in high places out of the gunne-lliot and danger of them, and

F 2 there-

%^ Strtmtt freshed

Dtatl jheth fr$m alijfare.

4*

Death freetb fi»ji»aStemp' tatutu. a. Tim. 4, 8.

^aclusjt

Deaii freeth fitmiicompa

PfaLiio. |.

therefore to be with G h r i $ t is fan-e hector. Thirdly, is it not farre better to live in fuch ftatc where we (hall live without feare of difplcafing our good Goo ,and of loofing his favour, which is better then life ic fclfe, then to live in feare of difpleafiog him^ from this feare in this life we can never be freed in truth, nor without great danger in our conceit, and It is a great bitterncs to the foule to difpleafc our beft ff icnd in the world^from thcfc fcarcs we arc fully freed when we (hall be with Christ, and therefore to be with Chr I ST is far the better.

Fourthly, is it not far better to be there, where we fhallbc freed from the moleftations and temptations of the Divell, who as he is crafty,fo is he cruell^then to be encumbred with them^ S,Paul we know triumphed, m/'^;? he hadfinijhedhis courfe and fought thAtgo&d j?^/&ragainft them,and (hall not wc^rthefe infernal fpi-rits arc every whereabout usrwhen we are at our bcft devotions inthc Church, one Divell or other ftandr at eur right h^ndas at lefhtiahs, to intice usto (in> they have no place in heaven to trouble us wlien wee are with Christ ,and therfore to be with C h r i s t is fj r better.

Fiftly,and laftly, is it not far better to be in heaven with Ch r I s t where no fin is committed, where are no falfe brethren to betray us, then to live in this world which is a very peft-houfe and Sodome full of filthincffcand where perhaps we have not one entire good ftiend in this world i This is the condition of them that are with Chris Tjthey are freed from that woe oftheP/rf/w/Zj VVotismsthatlam conHrained ta dwellia ^J^efech, and from the company of all the

wicked.

wickcd,and {hall fee with unfpeakable joy and comfort the blcflcd Angels,andthcfpiritsof all the faith-full departed, the glorious company of Martyrs which fliinc now much brighter then the flames wherewith they were burned, they /hall fee the blef-fcd Virgin Marj the mother of our Lor d, they fljall fee the moft facred humanity of our Saviour^and his comely face,fairerthen ihc fons of men; and above all this.they iTiall immediatly enjoy the glorious pre-fence of G o d, and have a cleare {iglit of the divine face rand confequently to be with C h r i s t isthc beftofall.

Firft,ifrobewithCHRisT,isbeftofall,thcn (by ^^ the law of contraries) to be with the divells in hell is rhhmw «/ worft of allj to be borne in fin isbad, to live a flavc of beU, finis worfe,butto die in fin is worft ofall:to live in a deep dungeon and prifon, to be tormented with the fight of ugly divels5& that withcverlafting fire without all eafe, inter miffion and hope of remedy, what a wofuU thing is it^ if fome have loft their wits by meanesoffomedreadfull fight, ycaifthevcryfufpi-tion of divcls hath caufed many men to tremble, and thehaires of their heads to ftand upright, whatfhall then theterrour and feare of that dark lake be, which is full of many horrible fiends and dreadful! hcHi/h monfters ^ the appearing oi divels in horrible (hape, is a far greater evill then is imagined; fome body faith (he beares the name ofCyrtfl) that one would choofc cyrii de vita B. rather to burne in a hot fire, then endure their feare- HUronymi ad full fight. Good Lord that any Chriftian fhould live ^^'^,^^^^^' in the danger hereof, and yet be fenfeleffe^ what to be a fire-brand of hell and not to be movcd^ this ftu-

F 3 pidity

pidity may make our hearts to quake, end ourflcfh fotremble,andaftoni{hourfenfcs5 O then pity your owne fouks, pity the fowles of wretched finners, and bcintreated(brethren)bythervveeiemerciesofGoDj byallihefuffeiingsofouL- Saviour, by allthejoyes of heaven to fetke theLoKD while he may he foftnd.- if the danger of lin was onely to he hond-men andhond-wO' men.zs Queene Efier faid to Ahajl-^verm^ I wotddhave held my tongue, or I ^\ould have beene kfTe importunate with youjbut the punifhment is athoufand times greater, and I am at this time Gods Meffenger, to bring heavy tidings imco finners, and I will tell you what you fliall find true by experience hereaftcrjthac youwhoaredefpifers and contemners of G^Di Ordinances, formall profefTors having a fliew, not any power of godlineffe,malicious per{ons>«S^c.(hall afcer anttletime,yeaa very Httletime, cry out, Wo^wo, wb. Ah what an unfortunate wretch am I, that have loft all hopes of heaven ! time was when happineffe was offered to me, but I (foole that I w^s) rejc(5led ir, now alasfliali I wecpeand waileforever.. A little Ci-. ty as I have fomewherc read ,refiftcd tj^llexAndcr, he lighted a torch and vowed that ifthey fubmittednot themfclves before the torch was burnt, he would burne their Cityinto afliss; our life is like the burning of a torch ; now mud thou yeeld up thyfclfe to beruled by the Lord, or burne in heU,notasthatCi-ty for a fliorttime,but for ever: the eveilading flames of hell cannot burne out one ftaine of fin out of thy foule: What great benefits didft thou receive of the worldto allure thee to loofe heaven ^ and what if thou hadft gained much riches and many pleafures,

and

at the FAnerall o/M ^.Bolton.

45

Cutlel MeU mcf Cottinu^ ter HedtjG j.

andcnjoynedchema hundred yearesf all thofe are gone, andallarenothingin comparifon of the leaft torment which rhou there mud fuferj then wilt thou cry out,oh unhappy pleafures^oh unfonunare riches, ohmiferable time wherein I foolidily blinded my felfc! Ethelhrgawlfco^ King fva a Saxon King in this L-md i A ff?foDom, J op.by agodly policy won her husbands heart from carnall delights: on a day they had all outward folaces that heart could wifh, the roome richly furnifhed with plate, they had fweet & pleafant miificke and delicate cheere j (he caufed the lame place to be flrewed with dung, and to be as loathfomeasthey could make it, flic intreated and prevailed with the King to repaire thether, & beholding it, he mufed in his mind of the change,fhe took the opportunity,and thus faid unto him,where are ye-fterdaies delights, goodcheare, and rich furniture ^ are not all fuch things as wind and vanity which paf-feth away <! and with thefe and the like fpecches (he drew her husband to a mortified life. Oh that this or the like confideration could reduce the lovers of pleafurestothe loveofthc ever-living God 1 If the damned in hell could have but another life in this world, nay if thofe which have but fccne them, or ratherC as I believe in my inftance) the ftrong imagination of fuch a terrible fight 5 I would not wonder if they proved thegreatefl Saints on earth. Venerable-5^^" tels (ashethink«,) atrueftory, of one DrL thelme bynamc,(theman lived in NorthumbsrUnd) who was raifed from death ro lifcjand reported v^n-drous things which he had heard and fecne both of joy and painc, which wrought this great eflfed (as

there

BedaUiftor.

A/S %yi Sermon Preached

there is chronicled) that he utterly dcteited this pre-fcnt life, and abandoned all worldly cares, chaftifcd his old impotent body with daily failing, plunging himfelfe in Winter feafon into the cold water, fin-ging of Pfalmcs and devoutly praying, and when the beholders faid. Brother Drithelme, this is a marvellous thing that you can pofTibly fuffer fuch bitter and fharp cold; marvell not (faith he) for I have feene places colder then thefe. Let this move thee to feeh the Lord while he may he found, the benefit of this life you cannot long enjoy, and when it is once paft, it is cverpaft, you cannon recover it though you had in your power a thoufand worlds to give to rcdeeme it. And as for us fellow fouldiers and dcarc Chriftians,

iT3^tlth 'let us hold faft thatgoodnefle which we have, let us play themen,lct us b.e couragious,conftant5and never weary of well-doing 5 let neither divcl 1 nor man take our crownes away from us, never looke to enjoy a (late which is beft of all, wihout much oppofition, Pharaoh will purfue you with all his power to bring youjjack into fervitade, but do you like ftout Champions rcpell the temptations of the divcll, as Gregory

Gregar.Hyfeti Nyjfen infttu^eth you. Avant thou curfed and un-

sanaoBapti, happy ctcacure, I am a dead man, a dead man loves not bodily plcafurcs, a dead man is not caught with riches, a dead man flandereth not, a dead man is no lier,c^r now have F another kindeof life, and another rule of life then formerly I had. I have learned ro contemnc earthly things, and to fet my mind on

^fia&f I'^avenly things. That which Saint Hierem fpoke of judgemcnt,we may apply to the joy es of heaven, let them be painted on the walls of our houfcs, and in

every

at the Fu/ieraffe/hA^Bolton, ^y

every corner thereof,that they may be alwaies before our eyes: as Captainesdo encourage their Souldiers to fight for their countryjlivesjprokflrion;^^^. fo doe I fay to you brethren,it is the Lord of Hofts whofe batrailes you fight, it is your own falvation which is in hazard, your enemies would rob you of grace, and deprive you of happineffe j ifyoergivc up your wea-' pons youarc undone and firebrands of hell,be valiant therefore and keepe this trcafure, this pretious treasure which Christ {CaiihS.Berf^xrd) did judge to Bernardfer.^, be more pretiousthcn his owne bloody if I had kept ^fj^l""^"* the blood of Ch -< i st which dropped from him as he hanged on the CrolTe in aglalTe, how carefull fhould I be to keep it ^ and muft I not be carefull of my foule which is apretious treafurekept in an car-then velTcIl <: if thou art poore in thine outward cftate, and Christ be thy portion, thouart rich enough, , care not for outward poverty, be the Lords fervant ' now,& thou flialt be with C h r i s t hereafter, which Is beft of alLIf thou art afflidled in thy body with any grievous difeafe,care not for that 5 ifafflicflions work kindly to mortifie thy finne now, thou (halt be with Christ hereafter, which is beft of all 5 if thou art bafely efteemed and perfecuted by wicked men,care nor for that; if this be for righteoufnelTe and out of a defire to keep a good conference, thou (halt be with Christ hereafter,whichisbeft ofall. Ifthouhaft but wcake indeavours and a litle ftrength to goodnes, if thou ftrivcft to be better,& art a conquering thy fin, be not daunted hereat, thou (halt be with Christ hcrcaftcrjwhich is beft of all. And to refle(5t upon our dcccafed brother, now haft thou happy foule that

G which

^g i^ Sermtn fnuhtd

^ which thau haftfo much longed for; thy death is

" the death of all thy defeats, & the beginning of cver-

lafting happincffcjthy faithf ullncfTe^thy integrity,thy

2cale have procured to thee acrowneofglory, now

haft thou thy fill of happinelTe 5 O blefTcd art thou

that n[iaift fee the Lord face to face, that thou maift

enjoy the happy fight of thy fweet Saviourjthou bc-

holdeft thoufands of Angels, the Aficmbly of our

firft ParentSjthe feitesof the Apoftles, the tribunals

oftheProphe s, the fceptersof thePatriarkes, the

BdfiUc Baw. crownes ofthe Martyrs,3nd the praifes of all juft men

/(»t.x47. made perfcd,as Saint Ba^iI faith.

V E R. 24. Neverthekjfe te abide inthefl.jh is more needjullfor you.

Coherence, Our Apoftle hath raadeic knowne unto us, why in refpeift of himfclf he defired to die, and of this I have already fpoken; now doth he in this vcrfe acquaint us with the reafon, why he fliould defireto live, be-caufe his life made more for the profit and advantage ofthePto^/>/4;f^, then his death could doe Forma-king the way to the maine point which Idoeonely aime at,five things are to be cleared. JExftfition. I. What is meant by Flefli ^ the mortall body in which the foule dwcllcth by a Synecdoche, flefh being a confpicuous part thereof.

2 .What is it to live in the flefii^ it is to live a natu-

rall life prcferved by naturall meanes,as eating, drin-

king,{leeping,c^fi wewalkcinthe flefh though wc

>Cor.i«.j. do not warrc after the flefh; yet take him not as if he

meant to abide.alwaics in the flefli, and by a privi,

ledge

2021

ledge to be exempted from death which is appointed for all men, but he meanes deliverance fromthofe phil.1.12, prefent bonds, and the continuance of his life for a time to the furtherance of their faith and joy.

3, Marke here and in the former verfc that our Aooftle fpeakcs as if his foule was himfelfejandas if bis body was no cfTentiall part of man, this is not true in propriety of fpeech, and therefore is to be taken improperly by a Synecdoche, Integrifremembro^ the whole is put for apart, & here foraprincipall part of p<f»/, the lame trope in the like phrafes touching our Saviour Christ, is by a kind of Appropriation cal- ?°t"l'i^' ^

11. T>.' • u /^ • • ^*- c • John 6.62,

led by Divines the Communication of properties; Adts and thefeareufefuU termes happily invented to cleare thefe and many obfcure Texts of Scripture touching our Saviour.But to returne to our Apoftlc; Saint P^W confifteth of flefh and fpirit, or foule and body, and yet Saint P4«/ faith, for him to abide in the flefh is more profitable for them. When hcc died he was with Christ; how 1 not with his body, but witlv his foule; Saint Patd is dead and hath feene corruption. How< in body,not in foule. Saint Paulin propriety of fpeech abideth not in the flefh, but his fpirit a principall part of Patd that is it which during the tcrmeof his naturall life abideth in the flefh or body. A. More ftecejfary'} This is not fpoken (imply but comparatively, it was not abfolutely neccflary for the Church that S. Pattl fhould live,for God could even thefl,as after his departure he did,provide other Inftru6tourstobuild his Church and Houfc, but yet itwasmorenecefTary for their profit that he fhould live then die.

G 2 5. For

JO K^ Sermon Treached

5. Forjoti] But why more neccfTaryf was knot bccaufe his appointed time to die was not yet come:* this is true, but perfonall. He mentioneththac which concernes the Phtltppiam^ that they might take notice how carefull he was for them, and how thankfnll they ought to be to Go d for him.

My life is more needful! for you, for the furchc-rance of your faith and piety.

Sz. I^i^ Saint Paul defire to live only for the good ohhe Philippfans ?

Sol, He neither faith it, northinketh it. He faith his life was more need full for the Phrl/ppiofts, foit was, but he faith not only for them. ^Why then doth he only namethcm 'f Anfifv, Becaufe he only writeth to them. f**i ^^%' Behold a pattcrne of admirable love in aShcp-tbeu^fln^^ heard to the (beep of Ch r i s t , preferring their wel-tbeirjheepto farctohisownprcfentglory. What Merchant (faith fbM"£Z Ssiini Chryfifiome) having his vcfTell fraught with «,a, ' rich commodicicsjif he could fafely arrive at a haven would doubt to do fo, rather then be ftill toffed in thcfea ^ What Champion would ftrive for the mart cry when he might weare the corruptible crowncf What Commander when he might reft at home in glory after a triumphant vi<5kory, would rather ftill continue the fight to the hazard of his life and ho-nourc'and yet this is S.Pmls choife5wherein he resembles a woman that hath husband & children,her husband is in a far country & ilie is with her childrcn^fhc may go to him whom her foule dothchicfcly love, and there (he fliall be abundantly provided for, but then fhe muft leave her children behind hcr,and what

then

then will become of you my poore childrcn:'it would be better indeed for me to be with my husband, but it would be worfe with you then now it is, for your fakes therefore it is that i ncgle<5t mine owne prefcnt honour to do you good. Leaving this difcourfe, the words do naturally yeeld us this Do(5lrine, which I will handle being pertinent to our prefent purpofe.

rhclifeofafaithfull Mimlier doth more good, and Is ^o^rine 5. moreprofiahiefor God s people then hu de^th: This ufeTofprofi. dothS.P^w/witnefle ofhimfelfc, yet from this par- table then ku ticular and worthy cxamplcthe grounds and rcafons '^^''^*-of his afTcrtion being common,and the fame in others that they were in him, the do(^rine is generally true of every faithflill Paftour, that they doe more good to the living Saints while they thcmfelves doc live, then when they are dead. The Word of Go d in the mouthesofthc Minifters is not weake, but mighty in operation, able to call: downe ftrong holds and whatfoever oppofeth it felfc to it: though Satan be the ftrong man that keeps poflfelTion, yetthc Lor d is ftrongerandcancafthimout. See the efficacy and wonderfuU working of the Gofpell, that Saint P^^/ Rom.i5.i^ could fay for his part only^that from lerujalem round about unto Jllyricum, he had fully preached the Gof-pell of C H RI s T, and of the lightening commeth out of "•*-*• *7. tbeEdfi,andjhinethtotheWeH, and as ihQ Suns going forth is from the ends of the heaven^ and his circuit to the pfal.x^.^. ends of it, and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof: fo in Saint P/wij time the Gofpell wa-s come into all thcknowne parts of the world, and brought forth fruit,as it did amongft the Colopansi^thus did the Gof- <^°^°«-»-*-pclL ilrangely fpread it felfc by the preaching of

G 3 Go D s ^

Gods fervan s, even while Saint Prf»/himfclfe was alive, and afrer the Apoftles by their SucccfTcurs as they were Paftours ? as the fcule in the body, fo were Chriftiansdifperfed in the world, even the Gctuli-ans, Moores,Spaniards, Galls, and thcBritans, the Sarmatians alfo, Gevmanes and Scythians do believe inCHKisT,before whomrhegatcs of all Cities arc throwne open, and none are flmtagainft him, before whom alfo the iron locks are broken, and the brazen gates are opened, i.e. the hearts of very many ^hat were holden faft locked by the divelhare now unloc-

Tertul adver- kcd by the faith of C H RI s T, faith Tertullian, What

/fuiudtoi. inftrumentwaseverroo weaketocffe<5l Gods will^ if he tooke it in hand < though the Apoftles prcfence was but weak^and their fpetch rude, and their words diftaftfull and unwelcome to the world, yet did they prev3ile,or if they had been to preach to Infants and children notfeafoned with inveterate idolatry,it had beene no great maftery to have brought them to the faith of Christ, as-it was no grcatglory to the Spaniard, to vanquifh the lndians,when Bcrtz sihc Italian reported that he durft be one of the 25. that would fight with ten thoufand, nay with twenty thoufand of that naked people: but the cafe is altered now, for I. The Apoftles were but few for number and of no great reckoning in the world : 2. For the fame men to teach a ftrange do(5trine to believe on Christ crucified, and to be ready to laydowne their lives for him^if they looked to go to heaven. 5.T0 preach to the world when many ot them did fecke after wif-

zCoMo.j. dome and fecular Philofophy, as did the Grecians, many after ftate policy and war, as did the Romans,

tk and

and all of them trained up in a long continued will-worrtiip, and damnable idalitry of a dccpe die, yet the Gofpellby the preaching of it, zsC^arens rod amongft the fcrpcn s of the Magicians devoured them all, and brought them to acknowledge allegiance to it; furely this iTiould make us cry out, as the people did upon the proofc that Elioi made, the LoKDheisGoDy the Lord he is God. Nowthc ^King.iS.jj. Lor D doth this great worke by the Miniftcry of living men, and fomctimes by wcake men, that the excellency of the power may beafcribedto God and not to man: and thus you fee in generall the great profit which accompanies the work of the Preachers in the plantation and foundation of Churches; let us confidcr fome particular benefits which redound to them which arc a(5luaiI members ofavifiblc Church; and they are cither i in regard ofthcbad,or 2 in regard of rhofethat aregood,or 3 in regard of all forts both good and bad.

Firft, I fay their life is more need full in regard of i-thofethatare aif^aally asycc in the ftatc of unregene-ration,and that in a double refpcdt;

Firft, to be a powcrfull meanes of converting the i.

Eled, and to bring them to all the degrees of falvati- -^'"^A^* f*^' onrother prof eflflons do aimc at the good of thi s life 5 "^^^ "' the Phyfician at the health of the body,the Lawyer is for the right of his Clicnt,bu: the end of the Minifte-ry alone, is chiefely to fave m^ns foulcs; Vocation, that is hy the f reachingefthe Gojjull ; Juftincation ano- i Theff.i.Lf. ther degree of falvation, that is for Ch r 1 s t his faie ^y faith which is given by hearing the Miniftcr^Sandifi-cation another degree offalvation in this life, is bj

preaching

Ron). 10.x 4,

f reaching of the Word^m rtgard of dying to limthc Mi-

Mat.j.15, nif^cr iS as the Jalt of the earthy in regard of living to

righteou'lncs, its the Word of grace hy which we are fan-

% Cor.j, 8. tfifed^NhdX. had become of PaiUus Sergtm^ of Omfi-

musj of Lydia, and of many Churches if they had not

becne called to Go d by the preaching of S.PW,who

rcftoredthofe tolife/aith S.Chryfofeme, which had

llxe hundred ulcers by (in ^ bur what need linftance

in particiilarsjtheconfciencesof millions converted,

can witncflTc that Minifters have beenc their fpirituall

fathers, their preaching hath beenc the key to open

the Kingdomc of Heaven, and they are appeimed hj

EpScr4. II. God for the gathering oft he Saints .

2» Secondly,their life is profitable, if not to convert,

fiia^ncmns ^^ ^^ civilizc peopIe,and to reftraine the corruption corruptions. of nature • even reafon and Philofophy over-ruled SctBraimird, py/^4^^r/*/, by nature the worft of men, as Philemort i!i,Ti; ^'' the Aftrologerconje(5turedj to conquer his naturall propenfions to vice, and to become (as his Schollers thought)thc beft and the mofl worthy roan that lived; much more effeduall fure is the Word preached to produce morall vertues, and to enable fomc to doc raorall workes rationally, out of the fway of right reafon, though not obedicntially with a pure intention to obey and glorifie God, preaching is a banke to hinder the inundation of finne, and to kecpc men in outward conformity, this keeps calmeneffe upon the face of the Church and mankind, which otherwife might degenerate into favagebratiibncfTc. Herod vf as better by hearing lohft^ and reformed many things that wcreamilTcand by their meancs they may have many graces of the fpirit,it is the influcDcc of the fame

Sun

Sun which ripcneth both the grape and the crab, it is ■

the fame fpiritaUo which helpeth the wickedlft their

moral!,andth^godly inthdr fpiritmll workPSjtb^fe

Ifpeakeof may have illumination and a^fte of the

heavenly gift, and may propagate Goes truth too-

thers> as/<J/e/7j the King did all the dales of/(?^j4.'/4 2chro.i4.t1.

the high Pf iell, and Vtuah in the daies of Zaehariah * chron.26.y.

the Prophet; and who fees not that the prefence ofa

godly man doth bridle the tongues of the wicked

from wicked fpeeches, though fore to their griefe,

as/(?.^ faith, inmf ^rofperiiy the yout^g nrenfawme dnd Iobij.8,$,io

hidthcmfelves^ the Princes refidined tdlke, the NoMes

held their peace ffi'c. and the fame is reported of Cdto,

that they would forbeare to fpeake uncomely things

on the ftagc while he was prefent: and if fwearers

rap out unawares prophan€ oathes in the prefence of

a grave man, they cbecke one another, know you

not that fuch a one heard you ^ the divell dares not

fhew himfelfe a divell in his colours in the prefcnce-

of fuch a reverend man as this our brother was.

Secondly^the life of aMinifter is more rieedfull 2, then his death, in regard of thofe that are cffedually called. '' *' '■ ;'*':': ' '-■'■

Firftjbecaufe there is after convcrfion much cor- . . 5-ruption and finnein Gods people to be mortified, dfiJilli l^l^lf whereof they may juftly complaine as did Saint Pdul, [wne. ^"" if^^w.y.thebeftChrift-ians arc like peecesof gold, they are too light and muft have their graittes of^ allowance tomake them cxsxx^nuWhocanfaf wy heart is Pro.20.9. cl44)H ?■■ he propofeth the point in his armour by way of demand,making his chalcnge to all the world with his triumphant negative^ knowing that no rnaft dutf!

H ftcp

ftcpforth, none could juftl/ fay, lam cntirdy innocent,! am as good as loughrtobcas good as the holy Law rcquircth that I ih )uld be. Private helps I knoWjas prayer,fafting, meditation, havethcir force to abate the ftrength of (inne, but yet the hvely two edged fword, the fword of the Spirit in the mouthes of Gods Minifters, hath the prcheminence, that is Jcr. I J. 1 J. ih^fire to waji it, and the hammer to bruife a hard heart, ^^ Secondly, their Miniftery is needfull to difcover

•MwfltTs iif- (ins after renovation: there are fecrct darkc corners c»verfei.retpns jnourhenits whicharc deccitfulh whercin wlcked-pGil. i 9.11. neflc doth 1 urk .Wh can tell how often he offends?cleanfe mefromfecretfi^'S. if unknovvne fins were in David, who was a man of an excellent fpirif, of great iinder-ftandinf'jand a ftric!^ examiner of his owne heart, can Bifii injfitutio any manfay in truth he is free from them ^ Sainr Bafii apran, advi- faith, it beco-Ties all men to acknowledge that they tavtperfe tun. ^^^ ^^^ worthy to fpeake before the divine Majefty, becaufe chey are finners: we are guilty of many faults which we know nat,in that refpedtwe may fay with our Apo'Me, I know nothing by my felfe, yet am I not j.iftified thercby,that is, I fingreatly,bur I do not underftand it. Hencethe Prophet faith, Whounder-J! ands his faults i" thou wikconfeflc if thou ait wife,that thou art a greater tinner then other men; fo Bafil-, private meanes fuch as are the looking into the law of 1 Cor.i4.iJ. liberty, friendly rcproofes, and infirudion,and fuch likc^ are much availeable, yet that which doth moft lively difcoverir,isprophcfie,thatisit which unbow-clscorruption, and beft difplaics the hidden naked-Hci>4. II. nc^^ ef old f^dam, and which doth exceedingly ad. vaaccche honour of the Miniftery by the praching

of

at the FtmeraHof M^ Bolton. y 7

of the Gorpcll,Angcls,ycachicfeAngds>as Principalities und Powers have learned, what formerly without (in they did not know, the manifold wifdome Ephcf.j.ia of Gc T> 'in the dif^enfation of the vnfearchable riches af C u K I ir to the Gentiles.

Thirdly,many are the ftcppings afidc out of Gao $ %•

way ,in regard of ajftuall (ins even in ihc moftfancfli- ^^^^fi^^'j^-^cdjntrtany things we fin all, David did fo, ^nd Peter th right way^ did lb, and what fliecp of C h r i s t doth not fo i iam.3,i. checks of confciencc, 1 know, and Gdus fatherly chafcifements are good helps to reduce us into the righcway^ thcoHeisourbofomcremembrancer,and ' the other is Hkc to Jonathans arrow,which hath God* meflage in the feathers, yet neither confcicnce nor Cfo0es have power comparable with Christ his voycein the preaching of the Word> to procure our revocation into Gods waics.

Fourthly, Chriftians ought to be confirmed in . . ^» ^hcir gracious eftate, yet whofc faith is fo conftant, f'^'fj""!" that It admits no wavering i whole pa'ienceis (0 hx- gun cdjthat it admits no daggering i the clearcft Suns of the Church have been more or lelTe eclipfed in their faith, their patience and their piety: of all outward meanes to make us hold out, preaching is the principal!, that is as goads to prtcke men forward that are undertheyoakeof Christ, thatisasy^/f tofwee-ten them and to keep them favoury -, it is with our hearts as with our foilc,which is not like the Land of C<inaan^thef$rmerrainez{i€T {ccdstirx\c3t the h\\ of Mw.f.ij; the leafe,and the latter rainezt the fpring, to ripen the fruitTufficed, infomuchthat Saint Hierofru living in Canaany rarely fawraine there in luneznd luly, but «'>»■» wi^wmf.

jg Ot SermM frucM

our foilc though now well watered, yet except It be well refrefhed and often comforted with drops of rainc from heaven, will parch and wither. 7*. Laftly,to name n« more, they are notable meanes

wtlfigrlu. ^<^ increafe the vigour and lively-hood of faving gra-cesjthey are bellowes to increafe the flame,as a fweec rainetomakethe Lords inheritance ro thrive in goodneffcthey arc as milke and wine, and meate to makethechildrenof God toflioote uptotheir juft flature^and as a ftrong gale of wind to carry their vef-

nku.ai7)6' fei5 |.Q the dcfired haven, as Hierom faith, Vugilumfor^ titudo cUwmhs m/:itatur, though Champions fight valiantly, yet their courage-is enftamed by the accia-> mationsoftheby.ftanders, fois itwith you5 wheff we pray, exhort, befecch that that which you dod well,youdp it continually, more fincercly and zea-loufly. What good foale by experience frndeth rroij graces excited, good motions kindled, hol^ refoluti-ons furthered and gracious operations intended byffc profitable Minifter ♦r -hr ^ T^niiT/i.'/;- on ,-»]if.'ibe:i :r rli

Ridfo^ 5 ' The third Reafon why thrcilifb of agodly Minllfe^

MiJfleriuufe ^^ morc profitable, is in regard of all both good and'

bieiings, bad, astouching the continuance of blcflings. For

he is as Slifha faid of Eltasy and King Toafh of Blijba,

I Kinos 1 " '^^ chariots andthehorfemen oflfrael^ he fights while ° he lives, and bends his forces againft all manner of

ixod.jLiy. fins,which make a people naked and expofethemto the wratlvof G o d , hefiands in the hreach hetwixt thi "^' '^'^' Uvinz^andthedead,to avert theplartie,af%dto rndkeaft jUtonement for the people, ascx/4W»did: and doiibt-lefTetheman of God muftbe agood part ofthofe righteous ones for whofc fake the Sun is darkened,

and

and than the Mboncgivcshcr light, that the frame of heaven apd carrh continues as we fee this day, as /«-fimC^anyr (hew cih'^ they are a good partofthofe ^uflin Martyr impregnable bulwarkcsagainft ail enemies, as Theo- '^^rmJk. doret (hcwes in a memorable example when Confian-tine the great was dead. Saperes the King oFFerfitdid ftrongly befiege Niftl?is 5 there was a holy man of ^^^'''^ saniter. Go D, UcohHs by name in that City, the Citizens be* /I'S.*'^"''* feech him that he would flicwhimfelf upon the walls of the City, and pray againft the enemies, which he did, and the L o r d fent a cloud of flics and gnats ai-mongft the bcfiegers, which difpeifed them. Behold a whole City favedby themeane&of oncrcligioui man, and hence alfo it is afigneof Gods wrathand heavy difpleafure, and a forerunner of fanher judge* ments, to have excellent inftruments of God taken away,and therefore the Lor d purpofing to vifit the ^^^y ^'* Jewesfortheiriniquitiesjthreatens to take away from EDy 57.1. them the Judge and the Prophet 5 and the Lord ufethashimfelfefpcaketh, Totakeavjkftk'erighteoftf:, cum attquh that their ejes ma.y not heboid the evil to ri?;«v*,though this c'iT''er%mtk be little laidto heart as; there is faid, Whetiwefeea revsrsmiw) <{e-

fardinertake away the wall and fence, pluckeup the '^''^/'^^"!""' hoifeft plants, take away the ornaments and beauty ^^^l planum of it, and lay it open for the beafts to enter, we may murofemiu dt. fupDofehe intendeth not to continue, but to deface '^l^ pentura: his garden 5 10 when we lee the evident rootfteps of rum imrAnen* God s wrath, and the fire of his jealoufie X^isir.were) ""'^ '^eifumr» breaking out by the fmoake 5 beginning to appeare tt^ %!'um by taking away profitable men as plants of his gar* ejf,8cc,s.Amb, den, which hisowne right hand hath planted, we f^^^^'^i" ^ ^-muft lay it to our hearts, as a probable token precc- ^' ** ^ ^*

H 3 ding

ding a heavy judgement j by which it dcih appearc, that the wicked do enjoy tcmporall bkflingsby the life and prayers of a good Minifter yfii. r/^ I. Is of Confutation to the Church of Komc,

-^gain/f invo' which do maintainc the invocatiocs ofSaints dcpatr cation of saists tcd,and fay that their favoui'with God (which we deny not) is improved, and that their affcdionatc notice of the peoples ncceilirics, continues greater after death then when they were alive; if fo,thc fpce-dydiffolution of Saint P4»/_, had beenc as expedient for the Churches which he had planted, as for him-felfe, for fo(to ufe their owne language) they might have had a new Patron in the Court of Heavcn,and it wouldbe expedient for the benefit of the Church militant, that the godlieft Minifters fliould die the fopneft and the faOeftjforfo they may become more thenApoftics, able to heare the prayers and undertake the Patronage of many thoufands with whom they had no commerce while they lived; but ir was never profitable for rhe Church to be deprived ofthe ]^h.H 1 J. godly Paftours bodily prefence in this teCp^Q ; this Rom.'8.34. Is to rob C H RI s T of his preroga ive, fitting at the right hand of his Father; in the Tabernacle of this world, as was in the firft Tabernacle, we may find Hcb.p.^,7,&c many Priefts toiraploy as Agents foruswich God, but in the San5tum SanBorum^ the fecond Tabernacle, there is but one Agent who hath Royall com-KoUo^mCoi. milTiontodcale betwixt Go d and men. I dare be /•/.171 /w^. ijQij jQ fay^ that if the Angels and Saints would take the honour that the Pope and his Clergy would give them, they fhould all go to hell and leave the joyes which they now have.

This

This paint fcf vcs for the rcproofe offuch pcrfons, 2 •

which feele no forrow for the lofTc of the ehicfe \f^^l^^% ftayes of the Church,which are like a Dove without dahy^m^^^J a hcan:, and like the drunkards are ftriken and. yet Hor7.11. feele nothing, which loofc an eye and are fenfcIefFc i/r!j'j.*'^'^ in this loflTe^which have their mafter-piecesand po^s that hold up their houfc removed, and yet lay ic nx to heart, which have the pawncs of their peace, and the pledges oF their pofterity taken from thc;Ti, and regard it not: thefe mens afe^ions had need of the fpurrejwhich haveftony hearts,and bowels of braflfe, which are not penfive at all for the loff;; of a deare brother, which perhaps as Siinc Aufien complaines, can weep when he read the ftory of lyido and o^Troy, and fuch fabulous reports, but he could not do fo for the miferies of G o d s Churchy thefe men areas far from fymparhytowardsthemiferiesof Gods people, as from an inward feeling of the tender mercies of Go D to their own foules; the harder the heart is, the worfe it is, and the word of all is hardeft to mourne for fo great a lofle.

Thirdly,and much more doth this Doctrine con 3*

derane their pra(ftife, that if their Paftour be a faith- "mmL^I full teacher, one that kcepes nothing backc from kiamd them,but delivers untothem the whole connfelUfGo ©, Aas 20.27. as P4tf/ did 'to the Bfheftdns ; if he denounccth the judgementof the Lord againft (inners,if helaycth theaxetothe rooteofthe tree, and launceth their feftercd fores to the very bottome, they do even for their workc fake, eftccmethcmas ^yihab did CMu taidh to be their enemy, and the more he loveth thcm> cheleireheisbelevcdofthem> and docwifh

from

9^ Sermon Preached .

The death of goad. Mini ft zn to be lamented.

Efter4 z.

Aa$8.i.

Bradford,

from their hearts that bee might not live amongft th€m>but calabourto niskc him.weary of hjislifc by, vexing him, rafting ir.any times the very name of aPricftiasaterme of reproach upon his faccj the abundance of this Manna and bread from Heaven, makes them to loath it and the Meifengcr that brings it. The rcafons of both; i. Bccaufc fuch men fccic not their fin nor their mifery for firu r. Nor caft the comfort, fweetnene and power of grace. j.Ndrdoc confider that Presbyters are Gods hands to con-vdgh graces to themjhencedo thcfcfeliowcs fcorne them' ia their hearts,and fo have asic were a brand fet upon.themtob^ A'>:5^ Atheifts>,irrehgious pcrfons anddefpifer-sof Christ, as that ancient and holy Father/^^*«^//i^'phrafeth them* ,, "Foiirthlyathis^GOpiideration that the Ufe of a good. Paftourjs more profitable then his death, Ihould put qsinmindofad-iify tomourneand grieve for the departure pf an emin<?bt fiiembetin the Ghurch:GoDjs not like to the Per(ian Kings,?// wbofefrefcnceno mourners werefii-fferedtocemey butgodly mourners arc aJ-waies welcome to Go d . See thcpradifc of this duty hut in one example, thedcvmtmen that buriedStefhet^, made great lamentation over him:, though Stephen was a Martyr^ and which wa$ his honour, thcfirft Martyr toOj and if I well renriember^ a Martyr faith, if there he any rvaj to heaven on h^rfehaekC) it li\by CMartyrdotne-^ yetdiddevoutmcn make great lamentation over Ste-p^fA?. Sec the bowels ofmen indued with Gods Spi-ritjthcyarefullofaffedtion, full of tendernciTe, fo that the ftreames thereof do overflow the banks ^and good reafon, they hav^ fewer friends remaining, ,i'. .and

at the FumrxUofW .Bolton. ^^

and fewer helpsi's> fe\^cr prayers are made unto God, and fewer remaine to whom they may doc good,and from whom they may reccivegood. And iiccording to this prefent occafion let us pra'<5Hffe d duty which we Owe in regard of our deceafed bro-ther,even to mourne: away with that Stoicall opinion which allowt's flot their '^{{'^ man to (tgh or chafige cOiWe<nanceat arty crofle accident, this neither forts with religion nor reafon. No, we have caufeall of us to mourne,notyou only of this Towne, but your neighbours round about you, nay this whole Country ; zvid [ay ^s Elifia to Elija^ my father, niy father^the Chariots and the horfcmen of Ifrael 5 he by his fadings, often and extraordinary prayers* often hathftood in the gap, and mightily wra*>led with the LoRP to keep away judgements; and like another £/5f4^ hath left his mantle, or Dcrcas her garments for the poore,fomegodly works, the fruits of afandified heart and braine behind him, and many no doubt are ftranglcd in the wombe by his death which (hall never fee light.

Touching the beginning of his ftudies, they were Mafier^ouU notfo commendable as could have beenewiflied, he ^omitje, was tainted by hisSchoolemafter in his youth, and continued a Papift in heart at Oxford certaine yeeres, and refolved with one * Anderten his fchoole-fellow, "^ sometimes a to have gone to the Seminaries beyond the ft a: but ^ndTS'*' God happily crofTed that dcfignc, and cffcdurdly OrSilcti '" calling him to the (ight of his fins, and the light of ^^'^&^' his truthjdrew good out of that evill, andtaughrhim fo much the more to dcteft Popery, and to difcover bypocriiieand difHrnulation in Gods worfhipand

inordinary convcrfationabove the ordinarieftraine of Writers.

How induftrious a ftudent he was in the Univerfi-cy,his many note bookes left behind him will beare witncfTe, and how well reputed he was for his lear-nir^,as his other exercifes, fo his publike difputati-onsbefore King Jamhs will teftifie.

But Learning is nothing, Induftry is nothing to be praifcd before Go d without grace 5 grace hath the prehemincnce and gives the lufter to all che reft 5 the Lord enrfched his heart with a great meafure of grace,hence is it that his life was unftained and without reproofe 5 though he was not freed from infirmi-ties,yet he was from crimes.'

Hence it was that he was fo laborious in his Mini-ftery, a true ftudent he was all his dales, as appearcs by his library though great, yet very few bookes in it which were not read over and noted in the mar-gent, and he attained that high ftraine of grave eloquence, familiar to him, fcarce imitable by any o-thersj you were twife aweekc ordinarily fed with Sermons and Catcchifmes, and with the Expofition of Scripture on Holydaies which would have becnc acceptable, wholcfome foode I am fure, to the mofl: learnedauditoiy of the Land.

And though he was fo great a Gierke, and fo famous, yet was not he ambitious nor fought great matters for himfelfc,and he doth bcfeechan honou-Epwie Dedi- ^^^^^ Knight, to whom he dedicated his laft booke, ■ catory to Sir and all Others in him to doe him that fivour, nay that Robert Carre, jighf^nay that hottour, not to conceive that he had a thought that way.

His

His heart was fct on the right objc(5^5 and the bent of his ftudy was for matter of Sandification, both of himftlfe and of his hearers, for himfclfc he could profcdc (andOihatallPriefts andPaftorscoulddo N**^^' the hke!) he did Ifay profcffeto his comfort on his death bed,that he never taught any godly point, but he firft wrought it on his owne heart 5 toward* others he was a powerful! inftrurocntto batrer \ he kingdomc oi the divell^he was a downe-right Preacher and /pared no fins, he made many an unconverted (Inner to quake and to tremble at his difcourfes, as Felix did at Taulsy andcaftthemintoaftrongfic of legall humi- .. liation; hewasan inftrum.entto pull many captives out of Satans fnarcs, many of you can ftep forth and fay he was my fpirituall father 5 he had a fearching Miniftery to difcover the hidden abominations of fin, to ihengfhen andincreafe the graces of thofe ihatdid ftand, to quicken thofe that languiflied 5 many have caufe to bleffc G o d for him, and de ovfe even phikmon ig. themfelvesumohimyZsThilemendUdtoPdnl,

From this fpedaclc before our eyes all of us may •learne fomcthing for our imitation : doth any one prophane G o d s ,ordinan(ies by a diffembled religion ^ let him forfakeit, and flic from it as from afer-penr, (for, I fpcaketo the glory of Go d s mercy, turning his face from 3ahylcnio Jerufatem) fo did our de-ceafcd brother; doth any one walk before God with an I'piight heart,let him hold out to the end, run his race and finifh his courfe both in health and fickneffe, for fo did our deceafed brother.

A great man, great in worth is fallen in'ourlfrael, & there will be a grea^ lofle of him,his wife fliall^nd

I 2 the

the loflTc ofag'acious husbandj his ch ildren (hail find the loflcofagracious father5 hisfhccp (Inllfiad rhc loiTc of a gracious (hepheard,wc ofthe Miniftcry fliall find th<: lofl^qf a g|f.nycj,Ic^rneJj.& a gracious brorherj ^hedcvoiit Ctriflu^th?tdc/ue-s to ha\^e all his (Innes uj3|bpvydk^:?ii4.4licoycrcd, (haU fin(»l the lofTe of g gvajGlous fou]e^(eai;ching Minifter, he that would ^havc rules tp avoid particular fins, and :o make pro-grcifcinallvcrtijes, (hall fiadthc lofTc of a copious and cxpcreneed direcflour*, he that is wounded in confcience fliiU findthcioflTeof a skilfull Surgeon, who in that arc was one of a thoufand to reftore righ-leoufnelTej thevrrtuoiis, rich, and humble poore Chriftians that feared God, (hall findthelofliof ^ loving friend and a gracioijs fupporter^thofe that are in wants and truly religious, (liall find (to my know^-ledge) the \\:>{{q of a liberall reliever and comforteij, nay poore condemned Chriftians ihall fi id th? loffc pf acharitable inftrudaur: and what fhali I fay moic^'the whole Land (liall ^nd the lofTc ofazealoujs pillar and of a powerfull nrevailcr with God for the continuance of our happiniffe: fo that all had caufc to pray not as the dreffer of the barren fig-tree, but as for a fruitfull tree, Lord Utitfiandoneyenre, nay many yeares longer 5 but the j^rratcr our loflc is of him, the greater is the gainc unto himlelfe, and as he is crowned with glory in heaven,fo hisremembranceto many of us,will be like that oilcfits to the Jcvves,/^ is fweet as honie in all wQutheSy and as muficke at a hanqMt

fnlt'^ZTif ^^^^ confidcrationmay be of goodufe for Gods Minifitrs, pcoplcjFirfl tJijat they would fct a high price on good

Minifters,

Miniftcrs,and apr^themafii^ular meafurcof/oveas ^.^..^ ,,^, to fpirituall fathers, God honouring them fo highly, bighyprixa as ioyning them with himfelfcas co~werkers in the re- » Thefl:?.»», generation and falvation of his people^ againft whom \^cor 3.9. Satan and his inftrumems ^tc moft enraged : towards fuch 1 ct the afifcdtions, of Go jp s peopie be moil enfl^-mc4 5 though thicir pcrfons naay be contemptible,y«c in regard ofchcir high calling as they are Chkists Ambaffadours they are venerable, they are deare unto Gob; you cannot conremne nor revc^rence chem, but this reaches h unto heaven, and in the laft refoluti-onrefledts on Christ himfelfe, Christ is inte- LuWio.itf. rcffed both in the concempt and in the rcrpc(^ you fliew towards them.

Secondly, it iliould reach them another duty, to ,,...?;, ^^^, pray heartily to Go d for them, that Gob would prajUfou give his rWwand his rhammim to his holy ones; this was the prayer o^Mofes for the Tribe o^Levi: think Dcqtji.s. of rhcmas ^ aim lams faid o^EUas, Thai thejmmen ^^^^^^^^ fubieti to likepafiotJs that you are, conceive us not to be of Laodicean temper,/^? fandin needofmthwg-^-^c arc ^^^,1^,^ 7. nobetttr, nor fogood as Saint PW, and yet good Saint PW is frequent in his exhortations to the people to pray for him; brethren we had need of your prayers, none more need then we: fomething it is that Saint Patd in his prayer for the Churches, ufeth this forme, Grace be unto you and peace, but when he wntcszoTtmthy and to Titus, feparated for the fcr-viceof God, bcpraycsfor Grace, Mercy^ and Peaci^ for them.They in fpeciall manner it feemes do ftand in need of Go d s mercy •, pray for fuch then, and for their continuance, that they may live, be guides to

I s tl^c

^S K^ Sermoti breached

the blind,lights to them that fit in darkcncife, Tnftru-<5i;oTS of the ignorant, and by a godly lif^ examples to the flocke over which the Lor d hath made them Over-feers. ?• Get now all the good you can from profitable

liat^rLfll'^to Miniftcrs while you enjoy them, hearetheni eveiy bereabtd frm Lords day ^as though it was the laft day youfliouW Mini/fm, hearethem; whiles theyeares of plenty laft, ftorc up,with good/^/'/^ provifion which may preferve your lives if a dearth fhould come y like the (licl-fifh, fuckeinthac moifture while you are in the waters, which may preferve you on the dry land. When iV/-//fef over-flowed the bankcs, the Egyptians were fo wife, to dig pits to retaine the water to ferve their turne, when the waterof the river returned into its channel]. Doe thou fo for thy foule in regard of the waters of life, ftore now thy felfe with the bread of heaven, leafl: thou finde to thy griefe the greatneffe of a benefit inthelofTe thereof: unwife they arc that know not the true worth of bleflings but by -wanting them, which wifemen had rather learne by keeping Eufeb. Ecd them. O carry thy fclfe towards them as S^intlrena-mfi.i.<i.c.it. j^ ^jj towards that bleifed Martyr Pelycarpm, many yeares after he did keep frefli in memory the dif-^\Xi2it\omoiPoljcar^w^\{\s goings out^andcommings in, his manner of life, the (hape of his body, his Sermons to the people, how he converfed with Saint lohn the Apoftic, and with others which faw the Lor D, he could recite what he reported as fpoken by them,^f. fuch adcepe imprcffion in his foulc there was lefi: many yeares after Poly car^e was aglo-tiousi'Saint in heaven^ and I bcleeyc that this our brothers

there unaffc<fled gravity5his wife carriage, and many of his gracious fpecches are written with the pen of an adamant in fonae Chtiftians which will be legible in them fo long as they live.

Laftly, let us of the Clergic while we live, do all 4« the good we can,and putfonh ourfelvcs with all la- )jg*^"/l?. ''* borioufncffe before the day of harvcft^die gifts of the i cor. 11.7^ Spirit are given to profit withall, God gives thefe minifteriall talents to this end; and let us imploy our calcitsto attainc this end, while we continue in this Tabernacle, Ictus not ceafc to put men in mind of their duty,as Saint Feter profefTed he would doe; let 1 Pet.i.12.19 us pity the cafe of all difobedicnt pcrfons: let other fi(hcrs, if they thinke good, fiftifor riches, or for vaine applaiifcs 5 but let out chicfe aimc be to deliver a {inner from the pit of dcftru(51:ion, and rather to fpcake five words in compaflfion to fave a foule, then fi'^e thoufand for any finifter end whatfoever; the foule of the poorcft man is very pretiouSjand the loffe of it cannot be redeemed with a world, it is finne that loofeth the foule.O how unhappy are all finners,how miferable! which would make Gods fcrvantsfhcd rivers of teares if they thought advifcdiy thereof, and mourne over them as our Saviour did over leru- Luk« 19 4u faUm^ when he beheld their prcfent fecurity, and forefaw their future ruine, ifthoubadSf knowne thefe Mat.zj. things that c»ncerm thy pease^ how happy hadft thou thenbeenec* let us then be faithfull and laborious, and fo much the rather now ought we to be laborious, to makeup this breach for the loffe of our brother,if Go d enablesussthe Lor d hiajfelfe is the he^venlj? teacher of this IclTon by a juft proportion

yo *^ Sennm Preached

tionin alike cafe, x^^efes tny jervant is dead^ now

I-pih i.a,«. therefore arife Ujhnnh — hefirortg And ofagpod courage-^ this our brother G o d s fervant is ^^d.d,, let us therefore who doe by thegoodntffc of God remaineyet alive in a better degree then forrnerly, be fai^-hfull in our callings, let us be more induftrious in reading, ih meditating, in confcionablc preaching, and in a holy walking in the fcarc of G o d> that i-b we may re-paire what we may our great lofie by the death of him ; and tnily we have great encouragements fo to

loih.i.<. ^^ : for as God vpos with Mofesj2x\A promifed to he withlojhttah^hwili the fame God, if wc continue fo doing, make the fame word good unto us, he will be with us,ffe will never leave us myforfake tis , jind w hert

Hcb.13.5. <his (hort unccrtainc, vaine and wretched life is ended ,wc arcalready afTured, that every one of us fiiaii heare to our everlafting comfort, that blcffed fen, tcnce. Well difnethougoed and faithfull fervant, thou

Mat.«6 1?, ^^fi ^^^^^ faithfiill ever afevf thinp^ I will make

thee ruler ever many tfjtngs : enter th$i*

mothejcyofthy hoKB, Which he

for his mercy fake grant uftto

us aW^Amen.

FINIS.

M E DIT A TIO N E S ^O^

IN DIEBVS DOMINICIS D£ VITA FUTURA,i628.

Meditationsofthe lifetocome^

|^,^g^Orcl, when thou created'ft Manas ^^ 1^1 tbelaftofthy nobkftworksjihat Creation (^

thou mighteft crown him as the fdlofuan.

end and perfe(3:ionof thy work-inanlhip. Thou madeft him a King at firft, gaveft him rule and dominion over all th« Creatures of the Earth, 1 hou entertained'fl: him like a Priwt^^ by bringing him into a moft ftately PallacCjCovered over with a glorious ArchjCmboffcd with infinite ftuds and fpan-gles of gold/rhou madeft him a roy all feaft w ith all the varieties and dainties that were on earcb.Thou placed'ft him in thy own Garden where all his fenfes werefatisficd with unutterable delights, there thou guardeft him with innumerable Angells andpcrmit-

A tcdfl:

Meditations of

tcd'fthimtowalkcinthy owne Walk as a companion for thy felfe^But that man might be taught an etcrnall Icflbn of huraility,Thc commiflion ofthat onednneineacmg the forbidden fruifjcoft him his life and the loffe of all his happinelTe together, and derived ancverlaftingcurfe and corruption upon all his pofterity, Butyetfuchwas thy excee-dinggoodnefle^O God, that rather then thou would ft loofe the company of fo noble a creaturcjthou devifed'ft a means to redeem him,and thereby to joynehim nearer to thy felfein more glorious manfions and farrc greater plcafures,both for duration of time and extention of delight, 2. Glorious things are fpokcn of thee thou

The hea- City ofGody thou Momt Sion^ thou Heaipenly venlj leru' jerufalem, thouC/>>' ofthe great Ktng^ for by ricb^iii. divers fuch names art thou called, Thisis the place wherein the ^^waVw^ofdaieshath chofen to dwell, whofcmoft glorious pre* fence foillightneth that Imperial featejthat the darkcft corner of Hf^-T^^w (if I may fo fpeakeof fuch infinite brightncffc) isfarre lighter then the greateft fplendour of the

Sume

the life to come. j

Sunne (hining in his full ftrcngth. There arc the innumerable company of Angels,thofe celeftiall quires with moft melodious * ajres *^tit iantkai continually lauding and praifing him that fuVcwaitn^t fitteih upon iheThrone. There are thofe f«:;;f S! numberlesnumbersof^hefpiritsofiuft and tibuntun so-

r 11 V • /• 1 I finfit ibijempef

pericdmen, outoi all Nations, kindreds muiflM hym^ and peoplejftanding before the Throne clo- /uZ7iftmTZ'-thcd with white robes, and palmes in their f^^Xl mm, hands, giving glory, wifedomejihankefgi- R«vei,7.9,&e, ving, honour,power and might to G o d for ever and ever. When we but confider what company v;e fliall meet with in Heavcn,vvc needenoi be curious tofearch after the exceeding joy es u hich God hath therepro-vided for their entertainement: onely let us content our fclves with what we read in ge-nerallandberavi(htinthereadingofit,f/?rf^ ,ccr.a^ eye hath mtjecnc-icare hath not beard^ neither is the heart of man able to conceive the things yfhich God hath prepared for thofe that loye foVw.lf the onely delight we have here be in the communion with the Saints on Earth, how (hall our delight exceed in Heaven, where w€ (hall meet with innumerable Saints that A 2 there

Meditaionsof

there fhall bcarc us company for ever. 3. But this is not all,for that which fliall there

Beatifcall mod of all delight US, (hall bee the fight of V/^f^'n Godjthat beatifical vifion which Aq'^ Ancients (2^ vifi0 faciei lo much Ipcake or,to wit, the beholding of pJrTyjentu God facc to facc^Tltat is to fay,a plaine/ull pe'ZX^'i and familiar revelation of himlelfe to us,fo [ujnmaDei bo. niuch as our oaturcs are capable of, a fi^ura-(^lumeniihi- tivckindc01 fpccchtakcHirom the dired ^ugiorficetur. Deholding otoiieHiaQD^ another, where-tmef^^'^'dJe. ^J ^ ^c beaut}' of the faceis the betrcr difco-aanturdeT)eo, vcred.and it is called the Face of G o d by a pukher, janes phraictaKen ironi men, becaule the perfe-

decQTa,eloquiu z.. pi . , . •

duke: deika- clion oi bcauty m man or woman is in the

T:iL:'!i^ i^^^^^which chiefly dclighteth the eyes.and

adprefruenduin thereforeGoD in difcoveringhis beauty to

'vifio vjdere US teamicsit by his F^i^^. Hence are thofe

"jitremlbil fwcct defcfiptions by the Bride^ or her hea-

o-jioi ta CO. yenlyBnV^^roafwethroughout the Canticles

Medit.cap 7. by hi s Eycs. his Lippes, his Mouth, his Haire^

^^a,' his Teeth^isfc which all concurre to beautifae

the face of man, bucyetall fofarre (hortto

reprcfcnt nnto ns that which is fignified by

theFaceof GoDjChatrf all the excellency of

beauty in the faces of all tfaernen and wo-

(Qen

mcnin the world were united into one Angular perfcdion: yet it would not fo much as decipher unto us oneray ofGoDs glorious countenance that (hall (hine upon us in Heaveni In hisprefence({sLith the PJalmift) ifai.15. isfuilneffe of joy j and it is the fullneffe that makes up the joy^. Hence it is that in the earth the foule can have no true joy^becaufe it can have no fuInerfj,nothing in earth can fill the dcfires of it.for when we have heaped up never To many pleafures, never fo many delights we ftill dcfircmore. The reafon is, the foule hath notyetattainedthofe delights that will fill it,nor ever will^tillit meet with him that fils heaven and earth, and then will it everlaftingly fill it felfe.For beyond fulnes thereisno appct te.

But this is not all,our delight in Heaven ^^ that we (hall behold,the inexpreilible beau- The delight ties ofGooiffuingfrom his glorious coun- ^/ ^^^fi"^^ tenancej but herein isthe Angularity of our '^ ^^^'^^^' joy^thatwelhallbe wonderfully taken with his beauty,and our foules inwardly ravtflied with the things that we (hall behold-Let trs refume that former inftancc, which is the

A3 oftneft

Mediations of

oftneft utcd in Scripture to cxpreflc the joyes of Heavcn,l?/J?: of the Bridegroome and thcBride. U iheBridegroome apipcsixe never fo lovely in comelinefle of body and condition . never fo amiable in the endowijients of minde^ y et if the aflFedions of f lie Bride be not inflamed with a love of thcm.if (he prize them not above all,it her heart be not thcre^ by tied to him with a condant and perpe-tuall tycj by how much (he is deprived of thefe, by fo much is fliee difpoylcd of her chiefeft comfort. But here is the excellency of our ftate in Heaven, that wefhall behold from the face of God moft (ingular beauties beyond w hat we are able to fpeake or think. And which is morcjour foules fhall be continually ravilht with adelight of thenijnothing (hall bee able to make our joyes either to faint or to failcjfor that nothing can feparatc betwixt God and the glorified foulcjeither to darken thofe beames of glory fhining upon It, or to diminifii its joyes in the fruition of them. For/w«^ which made all the batebetweene God and us we left behind uswithourfleih, for it could not follow us

thelifetocome^

into heaven, and together with finnc wee parted with all our mi feries, all our griefes andfcarcs, and other calamities the wretched fruits and effects therof,which the Scrip, turetcis us (hall be there aboli(hed, when it Revci.7.'i7& tells us ^hataU teares/hadbe mfedfrom ouK "'•♦• eyes. There (hall be no matter nor caufe of griefc in Heaven,but only of joy es unfpeak * able and glorious.

And howcanthofejoyesbeeotherwife, ^ 5. ' when God from whom they flow isinfinite Jy'^'-^ in power to make them fo, and everlafling ingoodnefTeandlove to them who (ball be made partakers of them. When Chrift who hath purchafed this glory for them, con-trads with his Father that his children (hall enjoy it, lohniy.i 4. Father I ml} thai; they whomthouhaUgmnme bemtbtnewhsre lam^ that they may behold my glory ^hich thou haflgi^ yen me. As we received from hisfullnelTc a meafurcofgracc on earth, fo (hall we an exceeding meafurc of glory in heaven. We fee when the Sunne(hinetb how it illight-neth all parts of the world on which it Ihi-nctb i how light then is heaven when every

part

g Meditations of

part ofit is in it felfcfarrc brighter then the Sunj and when God whofe ey esare ten ihou-fand times brighter then theSun there (hines in perfect glory. A nd iherfore excellently doth that beloved Difcipledefcribc that /1.?Ji:/.t- place, Km/.ZnF^^23. 1 he City, fairh he, €ura,pamara: hathuofjeed oftheSmne ( admitting it to be totum contmcns meant ot Heaven)f7^/f/;^r of the Moon tojhine Bern.Med!^'' i» it-JoT thegloY^ ofQod doth illrgbtcn it^and the Lambe is the light thereof, Every Saint (hall Ihinc ther^ like aStarrCjand (liail contribute their light tor the beautifying of that moft glorious place. Ojwhat light will there be inHeavenwhcn wefliallfeefomany Suns. Nay,GoDWouldloofe of the end of his creation of heavcn,if the Saints did not there behold and enjoy infinite glory and delight. Forheraade it not for himfelfe, (fith all places are alike to him v\ ho fils heaven and earth ^) butthercfore did hee make it with fuch infinite variety and perfection of beauty, that there his Saints might fit with him and fing his praifcs for evermore. When the fbule of Saint Aufiin was carried up into thethirdheaveii; inthofe bis divine Meditations

the Ufe to come*

ditationsofthejoyes" thereof, confidering the unmixed pleafures of that places that reft was there without Iabour,dignity without fcare, riches without loflc, health without (ickocflcj aboundancc without wantjlifc without death, felicity without calamity, and eteriiitj without vanity. But when he had further brought into his ravilhcd mind thofe mod melodious Ditties of the Angelss . and delicious Songs of the Saints, andiuch other delicate Mudcke that was in heaven^ he breakes forth into this celeftiall rapture, Ohoyphappy/houldlhe, if imight but beare^ sed^mmwM fomeoftbofef^eeteSongsthataretberefmgin S^.1J«?2 hmouroftbebleffedTrinity, butiflmigk bee ^^^J'j^r^^^, rvouchfafedtobe one ofthoje heayenly ^itiiri^" /lo deduiabM 'ersthatmighvfingbutoneJongtotheLordlejii^ '^'!^!^JZ6. ChriU qfthefyeet Songs of Sion^t ytouldbe a fe^ licity too high for me.

Oh who would then fatten his delights 6. on any pleafurc that can here be offered un- '^he vmtj to us, whenasiheareatcft fclicitie in this , t^t world, aweihouIdcompafleSeaandLand W for the obtaining of it, is but like that of che graire,whichin the morning flourilbeth and

B growcth

lo Meditations of

vantyoflife, growcthUp,butinthecveiiingiscutdownc and withered. Take a (hort furvey of the

inea,vu7fr^i glofy of all the earth, and beginne with life

vi!^^!P: " felfc the bed of buma^ie things, Shme for

tomagiscrefcit skitmcandaHthat ammb^th (faith M) will

trefcit, quanta hegiipe foT VIS life yZud yet what more ^fraile

Tamm^^u sd and brictle! what tongue wantcth not words

X/aw toexpreffethe vanity of it > Adreame, a

umbraticap;en:i fliadoW) a Waft, a buble> a wind^a vapour,

taqueii mortis. • nt i \\ r \ t

Nnnc gaudeo, a tale, apolr,acloud (allof them phrafes mttrvlgeo!jam aod fimiUtudes of holy writ) yet cannot itX;j;: fufficientlyexpreffethe vanityofmans life. vor.wncjcetix * AsthccloUiISconfumcd({2i\ih lob) andrvci" mifer, nunc ri- ni/heth owoy'Jo he tbatgoeth dovpne to the grays iimmtmftt jbdU comc tip nomore. Hsfbad returne no morc^ fznt%Mt ^0 ^^ ^o^fii neither/ball hfs place knoyx> him any

na hora in uno ff^gre, . * *

neat ^ug.soii- What Is faid of Life may.-bee faid of Mob 7.9,10. ^Healthi the very pcrfe<5tion of life, how heahhr^ vaine and fickle that isjone example in holy * None/} -UN ^^jj willfcrvcfora lively expreffion of the

vere/ed VAlerc . i . i it n - i

vita. vanity or bothyia that excellent itory in the.

j^BooJc^ otKing«,Cij/7.4,fet out on purpofc as it fcemes to difcover the vanity of all temporall happineflif A great noble woman

man oiShummy who abounding (I conceive) in many outward felicities, yet wan-tinga child which iheeefleemed above all, refuted the Kings favour in refped of this blcfTing it is likely the Prof bet for the klnd-nefle (he (hewed him would have fatisfied her defire in any thing, yet neither honour, nor fiches,nor prerermentjUor the favour of a King (whith many thoufands would have coveted) could content her, but (hee fe-cretly asked that qucftion that Abraham asked oiGoDfiLORD yiphatmltthougiyfe mee Jith I goe childlejjh. The Prophet granted her a fonne, never woman bare him with more joy, when this fonne wasgrowncup, and her joy encreafed with his yearsjhow quickly was this incomparable leypell fnatcht from her, on morning he fell feke in his head atfd dyed ere noone. All that pretinefTe and beauty that was in the childe is now vani« (hed, and all that wpnderfuUjoy ofthemo^ ther that was bound up in the life of her fon, was now diiTolved into more fadnefle and heartsgriefe,then if ihe never had enjoyed the benefit. j

B 2 What

Gca.19.1,

Meditations of

7. Whatisfaidof lifcandhealthmay befaid

^f^\f ofall things in the world bcfidcs. LoTenop %u! ^he-^porld (faiththe Apoftlc)i. iohn i.o-. 16^ i^.nor the things inthe world. Andhcgivcs thcreafon by fumming up the things of the vvorldjand dividing them into 5. parts, For aUthatisintheworlu (fairh he) is either the^ lufi of the pfh^heluftofthe eye^orprideJflife^ and then in the next words hdHieweth the vanity of them.5«^r/;^ yporldpaffeth away and the lufi therofyi!fc. Butthefegeneralswilbc betterdifcerned by difcovering the vanity of thefe 3. particulars. Beauty^ Riches^ Ho^ nour^ being the lively characters and exa^l: expreflions of the lufls of the flefbyofthe eyc^ y Andfrideoflife^ and which arc indeed the grand impoAors, and bewitchers of the whole world^and oftentimes (leale away the hearts of G o d « owne people. B^a»/> For Beauty^ we may at once fee both th e

fewer and thcvanify of it, in that it infnared and beguiled the ia/r^^, the wifeft, and the flrengtji of men; Da'vid^ Salomon and Samp-fonjtiovf dearedid thoie delights cofl; them^ with how many affliiSions were thofe bitter

pleafures

thilifetocomeu

pkafures attended, infomuch as it cofl the laft his life, the other his Kingdomca and the firft his contentment. For from chat time to the houre of his death jD^>/Vwas not quiee from vvarre, from rebellions,frora treafons, from troubles brought upon him by his owncbo\vc]5. Nay, Icfa man behold the grcatcft beauty that can poflTibly bee in the perfon of any, let the face be never fo amiable for colour and favour, letthebody bee never fo comely for feature and (hape, let the skinne be as white as the Lilly, and em* brodcredoipir'Sifithpurple rveines*^ addc to this, tbemoftgraccfull motion that ever was in any creature, yet were the mind of man by exemption of unruly affedionsi but permitted to be wife, and to paufe upon this pieafant vanity, and but confider that if this faire body was fmicten from G od ^th the boy les and botches of loby u hat an ugly fpedlacle it would be, or what by addition offomelittle more time it will be, when it ftiall be withered and rivellcd together with age, or if that be not, when it fhall be turned into a rotten carcafTe. Cenainely th e

B 3 foule

foule of man would never reft till it had

fought out a farrc more glorious delight

both for the excellency of being and lading*

neffe of continuancej and therefore mod

true is that which the wifedomc of truth

hath uttered, Favour is deceitfu{l\beauty is

piov.31.30. rjjanity^ io vaine, that the lead ague doth

change it,a imall ficknes doth wadit.a little

time doth fade it, a little forrow doth melt

and con fume iuWhen thou with nhtikes(^(^\th

pfar. 39.11. David)doeU comH man for iniquity y thou ma-

keft his beaut'^ to confume like a moth»

For Riches^ if in the obf ainement of them wee doc but looke upon the ends oi Judas SLndihcRicbGluttorij it might make us very flow to covet th^m, much more to affv;d them. Forbefidestheir vanity, that they laketothcmfelveswingsandfheawayihow many are the miferies that attend upon them, in the getting, keeping and parting with them? But if to thefe, they begotten with an ill confcience, and enjoyed without godlinefTe,they arefnares and thorncs, nay veryplaL>ues and Scorpions unto us5 fuell toourlufts; lets to our pray ejrs, and blocks

in

Riches.

in our waiesofpfrty and devotion. Nofui is fuch a canker to grace and holineflfe, as is thefinnc of covetoufneile, ^v^jv^?*'* (an cf- mio'.'^U traordinarydefire of heaping up riches. ) The ApoRIe Paul maketh it clearc by telling US; TimJCzp 6.^ A o. That the i&y>e of mony H the root o/ad e'viH^ ^bich "^hikfome iujkd after erred from the Faith and pierced th:m^ fehe$ through mtb many forrowes. No tongue can exprefle a worfe effecil:, and from that cffei^ greater mifery then Apoftacy from God, ,whichis uiually accompanied with fearefullforrowesif not'difpaire, witncflfe that lamentable ftory ot FrancU Spira, who from this roote of covetouftfeffc to continue his Offices and mcancs of getting, denied the true profeflion of the Gofpell, wherein he had greatly profited, and fub-feribed to Popery which formerly hec bad renounced and (b fell into that intolerable mifery ofdcfpaircof his ownefalvation.

Foi H^«(?«r and Jwfc>/(j», if examples doe'^^"^"'^ give inftrudions, as they then doe, whcii judgements are declared upon them^ wee need goe no further for fcarch of this vanity

then

then in Nimrod^ Nelfuc.hahe;^9iar^ Daritts^

Alexanderf^far^^c. whatvaftdefircs were

in them all for iplarging their Kingdomes^

even to the clouds, what infinite care and

painestooke they for the compaffing of

thofedefiresto the haOining of their ends,

smr>ii[q,nig^ and Waiting outtheirUmps oflifc, andyet

mmftarediu: all theirplorioiis Raignes are now (hut up

wsjubpondere lu Vanity, their remembrance IS as ii they

ia£/aiLuca». j^^ j nevet becnc, nay let the dcfires of man

be filled with all the earthly glory that is to be found in the whole world, and let his heartcheareinitas much as may bee, yet that it might appearetofraile man, that the highcrt worWly happineffe is not exempted from ihat condition of vanity, which God and nature hath infeperably tyed to it, ?^fT f'^^^' fome crofle or mifery thai: the wifcft man $iv stub. could never fore- fee, inall ever attend h igh place to make it irkfomc and uncomfortable, ifnottooverthrowthe horfc and the rider, and caft downe thei^%/0i'/^man lowerthenthcduft Innumerable examples might be produced to prove this out of Hi-(loriesin all kinds: I will take but one for

al

the life to come. * vj

all out of the beft of them, The Boeke of God, Haman (wee know) wanted not for as much honourascould be heaped upon a roan 5 Prince and people were all but as in^ ftruments to contribute to his happineffe: and yeia (wonderful! thing) the want of a cappefrompoorc Af{?r^^(:^j, whofe headhc might have taken off at hispleafure marred all his mirth ^ a filly croffe one would thinkc tovcxea wifeman, yetGoD putfuch a fling into it, that it did not onely quite bereave this proud man of all his joy, but never left him til it caft him down from the top Mfammm of all his honour fo low, as that his place '^^i^ could no more be found.To proceed high- p^ ey?.sen«. cr,and as farrc as earthly felicitie can ftretch unto, let honour and high place,and all the outward pompe of this world bee conferred upon zgodl) w/jff jand let this man have aki-litie from.GoD tobeare it, fo that no whit of Gods glorie bee loftjnor iny of G o d s graces in him diminifhed, (which rarely hap* pens to high place) yet that the mofl glo-tious flate of man might flill bee fubjedt to that vanity swhicb is over ail created felicity,

C fome

fomc £«!>)', fu^iPion, ]ealoufie^ difdaine^ i^c* orotheraccidcntlhallalwaiesactend earthly glory, to make it tniferable. A better in-ftance cannot be given then in holy Dame/^ Dia.6.4,^. whom when that great Darius had advanced (meercly forhis virtues without any luing orfeekingoi his owncj above all the Prefi-dents and Princes in his Kingdomej this ve* ry thing wrought fuch en vie and difdaine in the hearts oi the Princes againft him^tbat al-though,asthe fext faith, There ypas neither Hm^ummi^ crrornorfaultfomdin Daniel^ yet they nc-'^'^"! i!'i'^i? ver reded till they had caft him from the ciiisinperfe£fQ hei^htofhis happirtefle to the loweft pit, even a Denne ot Ltons. • 1 o lumnie up all in this one period, Give me a man endowed with all the excellencies that have beene in any fince the Creation, let him attaine to the LearningyWifedome^ Riches and Glory ^ of Kin^Salomoni let him be as wife for coun-fell as Ahitophel^ let him have the meekneffe^ oiMofeSi the courage oiDanpidy the/ireng$b of Sampfon^ the patience oi lob^thzirmocency oiJfaacky the eloquence otPauU the beauty of 2 Sam. 14 »5 • Abjolou^ that ftom top to toe had no blemifh

in

in him, yet what \sz\\\hhhmadmiredrvani-ty ? All this pompe ftiall not follow him to the grave, the wormes and duft Ihall de-voure both it and himi \ he Prophet Day id rfai 46.4. makes this Epitaph for him. His breathgoeth forth-, he returnetb to his earthy in that *ver) day his thoughts per lifj*

How incomparably excellent then is the ^• glorie of Hcaven,where none of thcfc chan- ^P^^^P gesihallbc, where (hall be vvondcrfullad-vancemesu, but without Injuftice, abundance of glorie, but without Envie, infinite wealth,but without woe, admirable beautie and felicitie^but without vanity or infirmity. Here (hall the patient^fferings of the Saints be amply rewarded, and all the rage and fpite ot their enemies on earth, (hall inOead of doing them hurt, adde much to their cro wne of glorip,here (hall all thofe fcoffes, thofe bitter gybes and jefts againft the pu-ritie of Goos children, be turned with horrible amazements and terrour into the bofomes of wicked men, when they ihall behold with anguIQi of fpirit what they here jefted at, Jbat onelj the furs in Math;. s.

C 2 fbirit

Meditations of

9-

Amplication to the foitlc,

Ibi efl fwama fislicitas, fum ma jucunlitaiy vera libertaa^ perfe&a chart-tas,teterna fe-euritas (^ fe-air a xternitoi' Serjt.Mfdir,

Jj^iri$/ballfie God andbeholdbis glory.

Othentn/foulc, fith by thcfefew in-ftanc es thou maift take a fcancling of the va-nitie and niifcrie of all worldly happincffe, raifc up thy dcfiresto thsLtbUjfedplace yufbere isfullmjje of joy andphafures for ei^ermdre^ To himin yohom U no <variety norjJjiido'^ ofchange^ tothatcompanie which everlaftingly fing and arc never fad.Think with thy fclfe when thoufeeft and delighteft in th« beautie of any creature, bee it wife; children, houfes, lands^to'^.thatthefeare but vanities under theSunne* to put thee in mindcjthat true felicities reach as high as Heaven, and were they as glorious asiheSunnitfclfe,yetthey arc not freed from clouds and darkeneffe and many cclipfes, which Ihew their cmpti-neficandinfelicitie. Nay, wee know not whenw« behold them in their higheft per-fei^idn, whether they will net turne to bit* terneflc at the laft» Hi^^^/looked amiably upon F/i^^z/if, yet that good Prophet wept when hec faw hini,.aj> beholding the aboun-dance of cvill which that goodly perfon fhould afterwards cxecute.T/b^ ^<? U mt/atfS"

fied

thelifetocomen ai

fiedmth feeing^ nor the e^e filled ^ith bearings ^^^^«'»- ^' faith the wife maa. The miDrc a man covets and hunts alter the things of this lifc^his dc-fires are hereby more enlarged, but not his contentmenti for the mind is not plcafed in that it is not fatis&d.

- Get thee gone then, O my foUlcjand flie ^^ hence tq thofe celeftlall manfions where on- condufm, ly thou (halt finde reft, ihere^ therelhailall thy defif cs be filled,there (hall the prefencc ofGoorepleniQi thee with unutterable de- mtoTrme u, lights,thercancly (haltthouhearcf/;^i?wV^ nuulraaple^ ofjoyandgladnejfe, andfonoy and mcwmng ~;^^^ /hall flee ax;>ayi divorce thy affections from fin '^'l/^!'f!'^' and from all the pleafures of the world thoughnevcrfodeare tothce, and marry them to Christ, thy gainc fliall bee great, thy glory greater^ even life andhappinefle for evermore. Why (hould'ft thouftay and abide any longer here amongfl the enemies of thy peaccjamid'ft fo many forrowes and affli^iouspurfuing thee for thy fins? Who 'Deikatmes fi would not forgoc a cottage togaine a King- dm cumf^cuio domc?who would not exchange a few fraile Zntmcbfi comforts of this life, for thofe ^^^^^^^^^ i'il^^.Z^'''

C J joyes

joy cs of bliffe^why wilt thou any lorgerfet-* tie thy heart upon that which is nothing? what arc the choifeft delights here below be-ii g rightly ballarced other then 'vanity and (vexationofjpirit, Ceafe then to admire any outward excellencies and be vvholy taken vviththofereiplendent beauties that are in the face of chy J>aviour, to whomere long thou ihalt be married, and partake of that great feaft with which hec will entertainc thee at chat wedding d ay. Cark e and care onely for thofe durable riches that (hall then abide with thee when thou (halt bee here no more.Haften and hunt after the honour and happinefle of the Saints i there is no preferment like being in heaven, poffcffe thy felte of him who hath beeoe thy God from thy yourh^who hath many a time rai-fed thee up with his comforts, when thou haft bcene in the Va[ley oftbefi;aioyiP of deaths •fipho hah-heeyethe portion oft bine inheritance^ andbatbmaitjtiindthy lot: forfake him not and he Will bri^jj theeto/;a«(?«ratthclaft,to fuch honour $ as all the glory of this world cannot reach anto^. He that made heaven

. . for

the life tocome.

for hb owBe Children, canoncly declare

thejoycs of that place ^ Returm then into th^

refl 0 my foule^ from which thou haft long

wandered. Be content to part with any

thing on earth which thou canft not keepe,

to gaine every thing in Heaven, which thou

canft never loofe*. drowne all thy delights in

thofefweete contemplations of heavenly

bliffe, prcffe hard to this marke, ftrive for

this vidoric, fight for this Crowne>/<iy

boldoneternaUltfs^7i.v\i\^ivio^mg

in this world take away

thyCrowne.

*j

Sitfatraro me-aydefideret iliui tota fu'v/lantia mcayimec intrt tngaudium "Domm meijthi perman/urm per fuula, ^men. Aug»

J?I2rf/5.

K, .