IT shall be needlesse to make stay vpon any curious Ana­lysis, either of this whole Chapter in generall, or in particular of that Epistle, whereof my Text is a par­cell. It containeth an en­tire Sentence of it selfe, and may well therefore be handled by it selfe.

They are the words of our Sauiour to the An­gell or Frustra est [...] Origenes, qui de Spiritibus coelesti­bus interpretatur [...] Luc. h [...]m. 13. & 3 [...] Pastor of the Church Vers. 8. of Smyrna: and they diuide themselues into two parts, Parts 2.

• a precept.
• a promise.

[Page 2] Precept.The precept is in those words, Be thou faithfull vnto death:

Promise.The promise in those, And I will giue thee a crowne of life. Part 1.

Branches 2.There is the worke in the one; the reward or wages in the other.1. Dutie.

2. Stint,In the precept we may obserue,

• Extent.
  1. The dutie required, fidelitie or faithfulnesse: Be thou faithfull:
  Part 2.
  and
• Branches 2.
  2. The stint, or extent of it; Vnto death.

1. Giuer.In the promise likewise we may consider,

• 2. Gift.
  1. The giuer; Christ: I will giue thee.
• Part 1.
  2. The gift; a Crowne; and that of life.

Branch 1.For the first branch, the dutie required or enioyned;Dutie. Be faithfull. The word faithfull, is ambiguous,Fidelitie. and may be taken two waies; and in a twofold sense is it giuen to the godly. For as the word [...]. Faith is taken sometime for cre­dulitie, Faith two­fold. Creduli [...]ie, Confidence. and sometime for fidelitie; sometime for trust, and sometime for trustinesse; some­time for confidence in another, and sometime for faithfulnesse to another: In the former sense it is taken in those phraeses so vsuall; Act. 24.25. Faith in Christ, and Act. 3.16. Faith in his Name: Fidelitie. Faithfulnesse. In the latter sense it is taken in those words of our Sauiour, Matth. 23.23. You neglect iudgement, mercy, and faith, or fidelitie; and in those of the Apostle, Tit. 2.10. Let seruants shew all faith (that is,Faithfull two waies. In regard of Beliefe and Confidence. faithfulnesse) to their Masters. So Gods Saints and seruants are termed [...]. faithfull in a two­fold respect: sometime in regard of their faith; that is, their beliefe and confidence in Christ: Iohn 20.27. Be not faithlesse, but faithfull; saith our Sauiour to [Page 3] Thomas: And, 2 Cor. 6.15. What part hath the faithfull with the Infidell? In regard of Fidelitie and Faithfulnesse. saith the Apostle; that is, the beleeuer with the vnbeleeuing. Sometime in regard of their fidelitie and faithfulnesse vnto Christ: Matth. 24.45. Who is a wise and a faithfull seruant? saith our Sauiour. And, 1 Cor. 7.27. I haue receiued mercie of God, to be faithfull; [...]aith the Apostle: which of the former Non quia [...]ram, sed ut essem, ne meritum fidei Dei misericordiam prae­veniat. Aug. de grat. & lib. arb. c. 6. & 14. & de praedest. sanct. c. 2. & 3. De fide iustificante in­telligens. some mis-ex­pound. In this latter sense (as I take it) is the word here to be taken. For so is Antipas [...], contra­ctum ex [...]: sicut [...]. Lucius, Lu­cas. Ar [...]emidorus, Artemas. Numeri­us, Numas, &c. vise Var. de [...]ing. Lat. l. 7. & Scalig. ad Catul. a little after ter­med Vers. 13. Christs faithfull Martyr: and what is here said of being faithfull to death, is in the next Epistle called, Vers. 26. the keeping of his workes to the end.

So that the Point then of Instruction that wee obserue hence,Mea [...]ing. Point I. is this; that

Fidelitie or faithfulnesse is required of all Chri­stians.

Faith in Christ must be seconded with faithful­nesse vnto Christ. As we must haue Faith in him, so we must keepe Faith to him. For Apoc. 14.17. those that are with him, are [...]. elect, called, and faithfull. And as some in this Booke are commended in this kinde for their Ver. 19. C. 14.12 patience and faith: so some are said else­where, to be condemned, for breaking their faith, to wit, formerly plighted vnto him.

Now that we may the better conceiue,Necessitie of Fidelitie. and see the necessitie hereof:Reason 1.

1. Consider we what tearmes of relation there are betweene Christ and vs. Fidelitie and loyaltie is in more speciall manner required Prou [...].17 Ho [...]. 3.3. Ier. 3.20. in the Wife toward the Husband; and in Tit. 2.10. the Seruant and Sub­iect toward his Master, his leige Lord, and his So­ueraigne. But Ephes. 5.23. Christ is our Husband, our Head, [Page 4] and euery Christian soule is his Spouse: Hosh. 2.19, 20. I haue espoused thee vnto me, saith he, in mercie and in fide­litie. Hee is 1 Cor. 8.6. our Lord and Matth. 23.8. Master: Iohn 13.13. You call me Lord and Master; saith he, and you say well; for so I am. We ought therefore to beare all loialtie ▪ to shew 1 Cor. 4.1, 2. 1 Pet. 4.10. all fidelitie and faithfulnesse vnto him. I might adde, that as Christ is Gods, so 1 Cor. 6.19, 20. wee are Christs. 1 Cor. 3.23. You are Christs, saith the Apostle, and Christ is Gods. As Christ therefore is to God, so should we be to Christ. But Heb. 4.2. Christ was faithfull in all things to God his Father: and Vt enim i [...]se fide­lis est in reddendo, ita fidelem exigi [...] de promisso, Chrysost. nom. de fide, spe, char. faithfull there­fore should we bee likewise in all things to him. Hee was faithfull to God for vs: and so should we also be for him.

Reason 2.2. The faith that must saue vs, must be [...]. 1 Tim. 1.5. 2. Tim. 1.5. faith vnfained. But faith seuered from fidelity, is no faith, but a meere fancie. Fides enim ab eo dicitur, quia id fit quod dicitur. Ex Cicer. de repub. l. 4. offic. l. 1. & ad Ti­r [...]n. ep. 10. Noni­us de propr. serm. Aug. de mend. c. 20. & ad Hieron. ep. 6. Herv. in Rom. 7. Haimo ibid. 1. & 5. Ergo ubi non fit quod dicitur, non est fides. Petr. Cāt. de ver. abbrev. c. 7. Faith without faithfulnesse is a false, a counterfeit faith; like [...]. Plut. de [...]ulat. Copper coine that hath the lustre, but not the worth of good Gold. It is Infidelis quaedā fiducia. Bern. de temp. 50. a faithlesse faith, saith Bernard; and a trust with­out truth, (Ierem. 7.8. You trust in a lie; saith Ieremie;) where­by men expect that God should keepe couenants with them, when they haue no care to keepe the like with him. Rabsakehs Argument against Eze­kiah had beene good, if his words of Ezekiah had beene true. Little cause could Ezekiah haue Esai 36.7. to trust in God, had he taken downe his high places, and demolished his altars.

Reason 3.3. When we surcease to keepe faith with God, we free him from performance of his promises to [Page 5] vs. For howsoeuer it be true indeed that the Apo­stle saith, 2 Tim. 2.13. Though we bee vnfaithfull, or, though [...]. Vide notas Piscat. we distrust, rather; yet doth God abide faithfull; nor can he deny himselfe. Rom. 3.3. Mans distrust or increduli­tie cannot annull his fidelitie. And it is a deuillish po­sition that the Romanists hold, and such as cutteth asunder the very si [...]ewes of humane societie: that Fidem cum hae­reticis non esse ser­vandam. Videantur quae ex Simanch. institu [...]. catholic. habentur in. The­sib. Romano-Cathol. à D. Thom▪ Mort [...] ­no editis. & in A­lex. Cookes More worke for a Masse-Priest, num. 7. Faith is not to bee held with Heretikes. For euen Etiam infideli re­ctè servatur fides. Taxatq [...]e Cic. offi [...]. l. 3. Atrei illud apud Accium. Ne­que do infideli, ne­que dedi, cuiquam fidem. with the vnfaithfull is faith to bee held. Howsoe­uer, I say, we may not [...]. Plut. in Lysand. & Aemyl. play the Creetes with Creti­ans; that is, lie and dissemble, because others so doe: nor in regard of any mans wickednesse or vngodlinesse otherwise, hold our selues discharged of such Gen. 21.32. & 26.28, 29. & 31.44, 53. bonds and couenants as we stand obli­ged in vnto him. Yet where agreements betweene parties are founded and grounded on conditions or couenants (for I stand not now on the precise di­stinction of Law-tearmes) to be mutually and en­terchangeably performed on either side, Frustra sibi fidem quis postulat ab eo seruari, cui fidem à se praestitam ser­vare recusat. Boni­fac. PP. in 6. reg­lur. 75. Frangen­ti fidem fides fran­gatur eidem. Fidem frangenti l [...]citum est fidem frangere. Petr. Fous reg. Iur. ff. de inoffic. testam. Quanquam hoc revera non est fidem fallere. he that in such case breaketh first, doth thereby free the other partie. Nor is it any vnfaithfulnesse therefore in God, (whose promises of life and saluation are so conditionall) to denie to make his promises good vnto those,Reason 4. that haue no care to keepe touch with him. Heb. 8.9. They kept not couenant with mee, and I re­garded not them: saith the Lord.

4. As there is nothing among men generally more odious, than falshood in friendship; infidelitie in those that wee are in league and amitie withall: Viri f [...]deris tui praevaricati sunt. Obad. 7. Thy confederates, saith the Prophet, haue dealt [Page 6] treacherously with thee. And, Ps. 55.12, 13, 14. It was not a profest enemy, saith Dauid, that did me this wrong: for then could I well haue brooked it: but it was thou, my guide, my companion, my sworne brother; as we say. So there is nothing that God taketh to heart more, or can worse endure, than Esay 24.5. Ier. 3.20. & 5.23. & 11.10, 11. disloialtie and breach of couenants in those that bee in league with him. Ierem. 34.17, 18. Those, saith hee, that haue violated the couenant which they solemnly made with me, when they Ritus, qualis ille Genes. 15.9, 10, 17. cut the calfe in twaine, and passed betweene the two sides of it; I proscribe them to the famine, the sword, and the plague; and their carkases shall lie rotting aboue ground vnburied. Eccles. 5.5. Better not to make couenant with God at all, than to make, and not keepe.

Vse 1. Examination.From hence then may wee learne how to trie and examine the sinceritie, and the soundnesse of our Faith. 2 Cor. 13.5. Trie your selues, saith the Apostle, whether you be in the Faith: whether you bee sound or [...]. vnsound. (The word would not be translated reprobates, as we commonly vse that tearme.) Here is a Touchstone to trie it by. If our Faith and Con­fidence in Christ be accompanied with fidelitie and faithfulnesse vnto Christ: if we be carefull as well to obserue what hee requireth of vs, as to expect what he promiseth. It is [...]. Chrysostom. in 1. Cor. hom. 2. Fides Deum indiuiduat. the Nature of Faith, saith Chrysostome, to single out God; to make him as Thomas speaketh, Iohn 20.28. My Lord, and my God: and as to single out God himselfe, so to apply his promises in particular to the faithfull partie: Galat. 2.20. Who hath lo­ued me, saith the Apostle, and giuen himselfe for me. But wee must know withall, that true Faith is carefull as well to apply Gods [...]. precepts, as his [Page 7] [...]. promises. Psal. 27.8. When thou saist, Seeke my face; my soule answereth thee againe, Thy Face, Lord, will I seeke. Yea, to that end saith Chrysostome, doth the Apostle make that particular application of Gods grace and goodnesse to himselfe, [...]. Chrysost. ad Stelech. & in Gen. hom. 34. to imply thereby his owne particular engagement to God for it. And it is no true Faith that regardeth not the one as well as the other. Hence it is, that it is said of some, that [...]. Act. 6.7. they became obedient to the faith: and of the Romanes, that Rom. 6.17. they had from the very heart obeyed the forme of Doctrine deliuered vnto them: or (if you will) [...]. that they were bound vnto. Who are cōmended also more than once for their [...]. Rom. 1.5. & 16.26. obe­dience of faith, or their faithfull obedience. Which faithfull obedience is a sure note of sound faith; nor can it be true faith where such obedience is wanting. Then may wee know our Faith to be sound and sincere, when our faith in Christ breedeth and pro­duceth in vs a faithfulnesse vnto Christ, a careful­nesse to please him, Rom. 8.9, 14. Galat. 2.20. & 5.25. a willingnesse to obey him, to be guided and ruled by him.

But alas,Vse 2. Conuiction. how many will bee found, to haue no true faith, who yet make profession of Faith, if they be brought to this Touchstone, if they come to this triall. Euery one is ready to say with him in the Gospell, Mark. 6.24. I beleeue, Lord. But, 2 Thess. 3.2. All men, saith the Apostle, haue not faith. No: all haue not Faith, that make profession of Faith. How ap­peareth that, may some say? Surely, because as the same Apostle saith else-where, Rom. 10.17. All obey not the Gospell: 2 Thess. 1.8. all obserue not the rules of it. For how many professe the faith of Christ, that yet are whol­ly Ephes. 4.18. Philip. 3.18, 19. Rom. 16.18. Christum l [...]ngua si crepat, cum vita neget, non est fides, sed hypocrisis. Cy­priani nomine de dupl. martyr. estranged from the life of Christ? How many [Page 8] thousands (millions, I might say) bee there, that hauing giuen vp their names vnto Christ, and made solemne vowes and couenants in Baptisme with him, neuer so much as once thinke on (much lesse haue any care of performing or making good) those so­lemne vowes and promises that then they made, the bonds they entred into in their Baptisme? And how are they Christians that keepe no faith with Christ? And yet will such be counted Christians as well as the best: and are readie enough to vaunt of, and presume on their Christendome, as if Ita quidam om­nibus fidem Christi­anam etiam cum mala vita tenenti­bus salutem pro­mittebāt: teste Aug. de Ciuit. l. 21. c. 21. in re­gard thereof they were sure to doe well. But, to omit that this their confidence, is like that before touched vpon of the Iewes, which Ierem. 7.8. the Prophet telleth them, should neuer stand them in stead: I would gladly know of some such, what it is that maketh him a Christian. My faith, peraduenture thou wilt say,Vse 3. Admonition. in Christ. Yea, but that Faith, as hath beene shewed, that is not accompanied with faithfulnesse, is no true, it is but a false and a counter­feit faith: Nor can a false and a counterfeit faith make (at the best, and the most) but a counterfeit Chri­stian; Christiani nomi­ne, non vita, non moribus. Aug. in Psal. 30. a Christian in Name, but not in deed.

If therefore we desire Aliud est enim esse quod diceris, ali­ud dici quod non [...]s. Chrysost. n [...]m. de sp [...], fid. char. Quid autem proderit ap­pellari quod non es? quid nomen prodest, ubi res non est? Aug. in 1. Ioan. 5. [...]. Di [...]n. Chrys [...]st. orat. 38. to be counted what we are called, let vs approue the sinceritie of our faith in Christ by our fidelitie and faithfulnesse vnto Christ. If we desire to haue benefit by our faith in him, let vs be carefull to keepe our faith with him. If we looke that he should keepe couenants with vs, let vs be sure that we keepe couenant with him. Psal. 25.10. All the waies of God are mercy and truth, saith the Psal­mist, but to whom? to those that keepe his Couenant and his Testimonies. And, Psal. 103.18. The mercy of God is [Page 9] for euer and euer, vpon those that keepe Couenants with him, and that thinke vpon his Commandements to doe them. But it is an vnequall thing for vs, to expect that he should keepe couenants with vs, when we haue no care to keepe the like with him. An vnreasonable thing were it for Hosh. 2.5, 8, 9. a Wife to re­quire meanes of maintenance from her Husband, when she liueth disloially, and keepeth with ano­ther man: or for a Seruant to expect the Wages co­uenanted from his Master, when he keepeth no co­uenants at all with his Master, when he refuseth to doe his worke. Nor haue they any reason to ex­pect Life from Christ, when they die, that haue no care to keepe Faith with Christ, Branch 2. Extent. while they liue.

But how long must this faithfulnesse of ours be continued? Non ad annum, vel ad tempus, sed in aeternum divi­no te mancipasti famulatui. Bern. e­pist. 254. Not for a day or two; as some for­mally would seeme to obserue it, when they re­paire to Gods board once a yeere; no, nor for a yeere or two onely; but, as in the mutuall plighting of Faith in Wedlocke it is wont to be said, Rom. 7.2. 1 Cor. 7.39. till death vs doe part; so long as life lasteth, vnto death, [...]. Clem. Alex. in protraept. to the last gaspe: as it is afterward expounded, Vers. 25. vntill I come; Vers 26. vnto the end.

Christian fidelitie must continue to the last. Point 2.

So Dauid, Psal. 119.112. I haue applied mine heart to fulfill thy statutes alwaies, euen to the end. And, Hebr. 3.6. His house we are, if we hold fast the confidence, and the reioy­cing of hope to the end: and, Heb. 3.14. we are partakers of him, (or, [...], i. [...], ut Cap. 1.9. h. [...]. Rom. 8.17. socij. consortes. Pis­cat. fellow-heires with him) if we keepe firme [...], i. [...]: quae [...] esse dicitur, cap. 11.1. Idem. principium autem sive initi­um fidei, i. quam profiteri c [...]pimus, & qua initiati su­mus fide. the confidence begun in vs to the end. And looke what is there said of our confidence in, the same is required in our faithfulnesse vnto Christ, in Vers. 26. the [Page 10] keeping of his workes; that must also be to the end. For euen one branch it is also of Psal. 44.17, 18. our Faith vnto Christ, Necessitie of Perseuerance to hold fast our faith in Christ, and the pro­fession of it, against all oppositions, and all opposites whatsoeuer.

Now as the necessitie before of this fidelitie, so the necessitie of such constancie and continuance may appeare;Reason 1. if we shall consider, that

1. Non perseuerare cultus est mutilus. Bern. epist. 24 & 165. & de temp. 56. Not to perseuere is a curtailed sacrifice; a mai­med seruice, and such as God therefore will not accept of. Leuit. 22.21, 22. No maimed beast might be presented for sacrifice. That that was offered to God must haue both Psal. 69.31. horne and hoofe: yet it must not want so much as the taile: for Leuit. 3.9. the taile-peece by name is in the sacred Rituals disposed of. It being there­by intimated, say Caudam hostiae offerre praecipimur, ut omne bonum quod incepimus, e­tiam perse [...]eranti sine compleamus. Greg. mor. l. 1. c. 40. Bene immolat, qui sacrificium bo­ni operis ad finem perducit. Idem in Euang. 25. Caput cum cauda offerri jubetur, quia sine perseuerantia nihil placet. Rad. Ardens. in 1.40 [...]. some of the Ancients, that no holy course of life is accepted, if it be not concluded and closed vp with a good end.

2. Indicium maxi­mum est malae men­tis st [...]ctuatio. Sen. epist. 120. Inconstancie and instabilitie is an Argument of vnsoundnesse and insinceritie. Prou. 17.17. A friend, saith Salomon, loueth for euer. And, [...]. Aristot. rhet. l. 2. c. 21. & Eudem. l. 7. c. 2. Non est amicus jugiter qui non amat. Amicitia quae aliquando desmere potuit, nunquam vera fuit. Martin. Dum. de morib. ex Aug. ad Iulian. Com. de poen. d. 2. Hee was neuer a true Friend, saith the Heathen man, that euer ceaseth to be a Friend. Reason 2. In like manner, those that be true-hearted to God, will keepe constantly with him. Psal. 78.8, 10, 37, 57. Nor were they euer sincere and vpright with him, that euer leaue and giue ouer their loialtie vnto him.Reason 3.

3. Christus perseve­ravit pro te. Tu ergò pro illo perseveres. Bern. de temp. 56. & de [...]on. deser. Ibi tu figas cur­sus tui metam, ubi Christus posuit suam. Idem. ep. 254. Christ perseuered for vs ▪ and therefore [Page 11] ought we to perseuere for him. Such a Friend was he to vs, as Salomon describeth. Iohn 13.1. Whom he once loued, saith the Euangelist, he loued them to the last. Hee was not Heb. 12.2. the Beginner onely, but the Finisher of our saluation. He held out to the last gaspe, till Consummatū est. Iohn 19.30. all were consummated, till all were done that was to be done for the full effecting and the finishing of it.

4. It is a Rule in the Ciuill Law, Reason 4. that Factum no [...] dici­tur, quod non per­severat. Pet. Fon [...] Reg. Iur. it is as nothing that holdeth not. Yea that, Nihil dicitur fu­isse factum, quam­diu aliquid agen­dum superest. Ibid. ex Cod. Iustin. In­cassum bonum agi­tur, si ante termi­num vitae desera­tur. Greg. m [...]r. l. 2. c. 40. [...]. Basil. Cas. hom. 5. Nothing is held done, because all that is done is as good as nothing, as not done, as long as ought remaineth to bee done. Testamentum [...] perfectum fuerit, nullum est. Gloss. ad Grat. de poen. d. 3. ex Cod. Iustin. A will vnfinished is no will: a deed, vnlesse it bee signed, sealed, and deliuered, is no deed. In a Lease made vpon condition of diuers Acts, either suc­cessiuely to be done, or yeerely to be reiterated, if all but one be done, and that onely omitted, or all be obserued for many yeeres together, but default then be once made, Nisi totum solua­tur, nihil soluitur. Neque enim abso­lutus est debitor, qui multa reddit, sed qui omnia Greg. Mor. l. 22. c. 6. that one faile, or once fai­ling, is enough to make all the rest of no effect, and to cause a forfeiture of the whole.

5. Cedunt prima po­stremis. Tacit. An­nal. l. 13. Vltima primis cedunt. Bern. de pass. Dom. c. 14. The former part of our life yeeldeth vnto the latter: Reason 5. and Vita posterior priori praeiudicat. Hieron. ad Furiam. the latter part of our life carrieth it away from the former. Ezech. 18.21, 22. If the wicked man, saith God, returne from his wicked courses, all his for­mer iniquities shall be forgotten, and shall be mentio­ned no more. And on the other side, Ibid. 24. Neque enim ex praeteritis, sed ex praesentibus judicantur. Hieron. in Ezech. c. 26. vides profunda oblivione sepeliri, quae perseuerantia non insignivit. Bern. de grad. obed. If the righ­teous man, saith hee, giue ouer his good courses; all the righteous deeds that hee hath done shall doe him [Page 12] no good; but for the euill that then hee doth, shall he die. Reason 6.

6 Terminus ad quē dat appellationem. Non quaeruntur in Christianis initia vel exord [...]a, sed fi­nis & perseveran­tia. Paulus male co [...] ­pit, sed benè fini­vit. Iudas benà coe­pit, sed malè fini­vit. Ex Hieron. Bern. ad sororem. c. 20. The end of each thing is all in all. Psal. 37.37. Marke the end of the iust man. And, Psal. 73.17. I saw the end of these men. It is that that maketh or marreth all. Cu [...]us finis bonus est, ipsum quoque bonum est. Bern. in Psal. 91. ser. 17. Euerie thing, we say, is well, that endeth well. And indeed, H. Smith on Psal. 90.12. Tota vita discendum est mori. Sen. de brev. vit. c. 7. the maine end and aime of our whole life, should be this, to make a good end of our life; to put a good conclusion to it, 2 Pet. 3.14. that we may be found then holy and vnblameable in peace.

7. Perseverantia sola virtutum coro­natur. Bern. epist. 32. & 109. & 129. & 353. & de [...]. 56. & 114. It is perseuerance alone that carrieth away the Crowne. Vnlesse we be faithfull to death, there is Finis, non p [...]gna, corona [...]. Id [...]m. de pass. Dom. c. 14. [...]. Themistocles. Plut. apoph. no Crowne of life for vs.Reason 7. Heb. 12.1. Christianitie is com­pared to a race. 1 Cor. 9.24. In a race, saith the Apostle, all that runne, win not. Those onely get the Garland that get first to the Goale. But in this spirituall Race, saith Chrysostome, Non qui primus ven [...]t, sed quicunque pervenerit. Chrys. nomine de fide, spe, char. tom. 4. not he that commeth first, but each one that holdeth out to the last, is crowned. Matth. 24.13. Marke 13.13. Non qui [...]perit, sed qui perseveraverit. Bern. de grad. [...]. Non in hoantibus, sed p [...]rseverantibus praemium promittitur. Isidor. de sum. bon. l. 2. c. 7. Nec coepisse, vel facere, sed profi [...]ere virtutis est. Hier. Gloss. ad Matt. 10. He that perseuereth to the end, shall be saued. Galat. 3.4. He that doth not, loseth all that hee hath done. [...]. Basil. Caes. hom. 5. Nec ad bravium victoriae pervenit, qui in magna parte sp [...]ctaculi velociter currit, si juxta metas veniens, in hoc quod reliquum est, deficit. Greg. mor. l. 22. c. 6. Com­ming but a foot short, may make a man misse the prize, and lose the wager he ran for. As [...]. Basil. Caes. ibid. Nec ad quaelibet de­s [...]nata loca pergentibus [...]nch [...]ndo pr [...]desset longum iter carpere, si non etiam totum valerent consummare. Greg. ibid. in iournying al­so, [Page 13] a man doth but lose all his labour,Reason 8. if he get not to his iournies end.

8. Deus aeter [...]us: praemia aeterna. Quid levitati & aetern [...]tati? Aug. God himselfe is eternall, from whom wee expect our reward: and the reward that we looke for, is it selfe also euerlasting. But what hath leuitie and inconstancie, saith Augustine, to doe with eterni­tie? Aeternitatis [...]ma­ginem perseveran­tia prae se fert. So­la est cui aeternitas redditur. Bern. de consider. l. 5. Our fidelitie must therefore hold out to the last, if we desire to haue an euerlasting reward. Yea most equall it is, that we continue to the end, if we looke to enioy that Gaudium in fine, sed gaudium sine fine. Id [...]m de di­vers. 19. ioy and blisse in the end, that shall be without end.

And,Vse 1. Information. is it so then, that without such perseue­rance nothing in this kinde is auaileable? How mi­serable then and deplorable is the stare of those that with Ephesus, Apoc. 2.4, 5. forsake their first loue; that with the Galatians, Galat. 5.7. run well a while, but then Frusta velociter currit, qui prius­quam ad metas ve­nerit, deficit. Greg. mor. l. 2. c. 40. giue ouer; that Galat. 3.3. begin in the spirit, and end in the flesh; that Luke 9.62. Retro post aratrum aspicit, qui post ex­ordia boni operis ad mala revertitur quae dorel▪ quit. Gre. in Ezech. 1. hom. 6. put their hand to Gods plough▪ and then looke backe againe, as Luke 17.32. Gen. 19.26. Lots Wife did toward Sodome; that with Demas, Coloss. 4.14. Phil [...]m. 24. follow Paul a while; but then 2 Tim. 4.10. leaue him againe to embrace the world; that 2 Pet. 2.20, 21, 22. ha­uing escaped the defilements of the flesh, and the world, by the acknowledgement of our Lord and Sa­uiour Iesus Christ, doe afterward turne away from the holy Commandement, and returne [...] Prou. 26.11. like Dogges to their vomit, to their former filth, and [...] [...]ambus est, & poeticum spirat. like swine after washing to the wallowing againe in the mire? They are not onely in as bad ca [...]e as before, (and yet were Ephes. 2.1, 2, 3. & 4.17, 18. that bad enough) but in worse case now than euer. 2 Pet. 2.20. Matt. 12.45. Their latter estate, saith S^t Peter, is worse than their first was.

[Page 14] Vse 2. Admonition.And let it admonish vs therefore Vers. 25. Chap. 3.11. to hold fast what we haue; Acts 11.23. to cleaue vnto God with full purpose of heart; and Hebr. 6.11. vse all diligence, to keepe firme our assurance of hope to the end. For as it were better for vs neuer to haue entred into Couenant with God, than to make Couenants with him, and not to keepe them: So Ille plus delin­quit, qui interrup­tam causam dimit­tit, quam qui nun­quam ad illam per­veni [...]. Bromyard in oper. trivio ex Au­thent. collat. 8. de Litig. it had beene better for vs neuer to haue made shew of obseruing them, if at any time after we cease and giue ouer the obseruation of them againe. And therefore 2 Pet. 3.17. seeing that wee know these things, saith S. Peter; since that we see and haue heard what Ing [...]us praeiculum ad deteriora rede­undi. Sen. ep. 72. Iohn 5.14. Gravi­us aegrotant, qui cum levati morbo viderentur, in eum de integro incidunt. C [...]c. famil. l. 12. ep. 30. the danger of it is, let vs take heed lest we be drawne away by the error of the wic­ked; and so fall from our stedfastnesse and our faith­fulnesse to our Lord Christ Iesus.

And because, as Gregorie saith, Quid ista prode­rit praenosse, si non contingat evadere? Greg in Euang. 36. it is to little pur­pose for vs, to be informed how dangerous it is, if wee be not taught how to preuent the danger: It shall not be amisse to adde some few Rules for the furthe­ring of vs vnto perseuerance in those religious courses that either we are to enter, or are in some measure entred into already.

Rules for Furtherance. Meanes of Perseuerance. Meanes 1.Wouldst thou therefore continue faithfull to Christ thy Master, and hold out in thy Christian course to the end?

1. Enter with resolution. Luke 14.28, 29, 30. Cast vp thine ac­counts before hand. Et aequissimum [...]era; & ad ini­quissimum te para. Sen. ep. 24. Fore-cast the worst, and prepare for it. Luke 14.33. Vnlesse a man, saith our Sauiour, leaue (Quantum ad affectum, licet non quantum ad effectum. Lu­dolf. de Vit. Christ. proposito tenus. Adrian. qu [...]dlibet. q. 10. in resolution at least) all that euer hee hath, Luke 14.26. father and mother, and wife, and children, and land, [Page 15] and liuing, and his owne life too; he can be none of my Disciple. The want of this is that, that maketh many a one turne head and set saile backe againe, so soone as they see stormes towards, and opposi­tion begin to be made: they neuer were minded to goe further, than they found the way cleare before them. It fareth with them as with those that goe to sea vpon pleasure, Nondum era [...] tempestas, sed ja [...] inclinatio maris, [...] subinde crebrio [...] fluctus. Cepi guber [...]natorem rogare, [...] me in aliquo litor [...] exponeret. Senec epist. 53. who no sooner see a blacke cloud rise, or finde the sea begin to worke, especial­ly Nausea me segni torquebat. Instit itaque gubernatori & illum, velle nollet, coegi ut l [...]tus peteret. Ibid. if they begin to grow Sea-sick with it, but they are crying by and by to make backe with all haste to the shoare; whereas the Merchant or Sea-man Cui propositum [...] navem▪ in portun [...] perducere. Idem e [...]pist. 85. that is bound for his Port, will not be driuen backe with a storme or two, (hee looked before for it) with a little foule weather, or a little sea-sicknesse, but goeth on through faire and foule,Meanes 2. till hee hath made his voiage, till he haue gotten to his Port.

2. Labour for sinceritie. Endeuour to bee that inwardly, that thou makest profession of outward­ly. Else there is no hope of continuance. For [...]. Greg▪ Naz. Nihil fictu [...] diuturnum. Amb [...] offic. l. 2. c. 22▪ Caduca sunt quae [...] cunque fucata sun [...] Cyprian. ad Donat▪ no­thing that is counterfeit, will last long. Counterfeit pearles may make a faire shew for some time; but their lustre will not last. And this is one maine cause of the Apostasie of many, they were neuer but Psal. 78.37. Hosh. 6.4. hollow-hearted; they were neuer sound at the heart. Mattth. 13.20▪ 21. Nam quod ra [...] dicatum est etiam ardente Sole ares [...] cere non potest. So [...]le nutritur & vi [...]rescit, non arescit Aug. in Psalm. 43▪ & in 1 Ioan. [...]r. 3. The seed on the stonie ground, therefore wi­thereth away when the heat of the yeere commeth, because it had no root. And therefore 1 Tim. 4.1. many shall fall away, when 2 Tim. 3.1. the dangerous daies come, that had made a goodly shew of profession before; because they had (when they were at the very best) 2 Tim. 3.5. an out­ward shew and semblance of godlinesse onely, but [Page 16] inward power of it. Yea, that is one cause why Reade the [...] of Sanders and [...]ndleton, in [...] Acts and Mo­ [...]ments. many that haue seemed very forward men in times of peace, haue in times of persecution fallen cleane away, when some others that made no such great shew before, haue stucke close to it. There was an outward blase onely in the one, that was therefore by and by blowen out: there was an inward sparke in the other, that being blowne vp by the bellowes and blast of opposition, hath broken forth, and blased out to the won­derment of those, that little looked for such things from such, as had made no greater flourish be­fore.

Meanes 3.3. Be carefull to 1 Tim. 1.19. keepe a good Conscience. [...]ebr. 13.18. Hol­ding the mysterie of faith in a good conscience; saith the Apostle; 1 Tim. 3.9. 1. Tim. 1.19. which some casting away, haue made shipwracke of Faith. Perkins of Con­science. Hee compareth Conscience to a Ship or a Barke; and Faith to Treasure therein imbarqued; Rectè itaque con­ [...]ra Papam ratio­ [...]natur Nilus ep. [...]ess. [...]. which must needs therefore mis­carrie, if the Ship or Barke be castaway. And in this Barke, Sinnes against Conscience make foule breaches, which if they be not speedily repaired, (and that is not easily done neither) may soone vndoe all. Better it is to preuent them, than to hazzard the making of them good againe. The rather, because when they are growne frequent once, they bring a kinde of retchlesnesse with them. It is with our Conscience, as it is with our apparell. While it is fresh and faire, new, or new washt, we are very charie what wee leane against, where we sit, or what we touch with it; but when it is once soiled or sullied, we haue no such regard [Page 17] of it, we little passe what we doe with it, wee care not now where we cast it.Meanes 4.

4. Slight no sinne; make light of no euill course. For to omit that Nihil leve quo Deus laeditur. Sal­vian. de provid. l. 2. no sinne is light or little in it selfe. Some may seeme Matth. 7.3, 4. motes, and bee so tearmed in comparison of some other. But there is none but may well be deemed a beame, being considered in it selfe. As the earth, though but Terram hanc cum populis, & urbibus, fluminibus, atque ambitu maris pun­cti loco ponimus, ad universa referen­tes. Sen. ad Marc. c. 20. a center or a point to the heauens, yet is an huge bodie of it selfe, Ier. 31.37. Am­bitus terrae totius, quae nobis immensa videtur, ad magni­tudinem universi­tatis instar brevis obtinet puncti. Am­mian. hist. l. 15. by no art or skill of man exactly measurable. And againe, that in euery sinne, great or lesse, there is ranke poison; there are Peccatum quod­que in se & ex na­tura sua mortale esse docet Gersees de vit. spirit. lect. 1. Idemque fatetur Ioan. Fisher Roff. Ep. in re [...]ut. Lu­ther. ar [...]ic. 32. V [...] ­dentur Vasquez. in Thom. tom. 1. disput. [...]42 num. 7 [...]. no sinnes that are in themselues not mortall, as the Popish sort imagine: 1 Cor. 15.55, 56. a deadly sting there is in euery sinne; which Pro [...]. 10.23. & 14.9. may not therefore be dallied with. Not to stand, I say, vpon these things; euen those little sinnes, as wee reckon them, if wee giue way to them, will make way soone for greater. The Deuill vseth them (it is the comparison of Autor Oculi mo­ralis. an ancient Writer) as Theeues, some little Boy that they put in at a win­dow; who though hee can doe no great matter of hurt himselfe, yet when he is once in, can open, the doores and let them in, that may both rob the house and kill all that are in it. Or Idem. ibid. as Hunt [...] doe their little Beagles, which they ply the D [...]ere withall till he be heated and blowen, and then clap they on their great Buck-hounds that may pull him downe and plucke out his throat. And indeed, in these smaller matters decay of grace first discoue­reth it selfe, as Easly on Esay [...].5. the decay of a tree, appeareth first in the washie boughes or the twigs, and so by little [Page 18] and little goeth on further into the bigger armes, and at length pierceth into the maine bodie. And as we say, that a mans truth and honestie may be seene as well in a small matter, as in a greater: So Luke 16.10, 11. euen in these trifling things also, as they are commonly esteemed, as well as in weightier, may a mans vnfaithfulnesse be discouered. He hath hardly a faithfull heart vnto Christ, that counteth any thing a trifle that may tend to his dishonour; as 1 Tim. 6.1. Tit. 2.10. Rom. 2.24. all sinne, in a Christian man especially, more or lesse doth.

5. Be iealous of thine owne weaknesse▪ trust not too much to thine owne strength. Matth. 26.33, 34, 35. Iohn 13.37. Praesumps [...]t nescio quid, quod in illo nondum erat. Aug. in Psal. 55. Pos [...]e se putavit, quod nondum potuit. Ber. de temp. 88. Meane 5. It was Peters ouer-sight, and we know how Matth. 26.73, 74. fouly he fell. And his example is left vpon record Vt [...]uina majo­rum si [...] cautela mi­norum. Greg. mor. l. 33. c. 15. Scr [...]p­ [...]ae sunt enim rui­nae priorum ad cau­tel [...]m poster [...]erum. Rad. Ardens post Trinit. 9. [...] naque debet red­dere, non s [...]qu. [...] error ali [...]nus. C [...]s­siod. Var. l. 7. [...]p. 2. to make vs the more warie. For this is the ruine of not a few; Multos imp [...]dit a firmitate praesump­tio firmitatis. Aug. de verb. D [...]m. 13. Infirmior is est, qui suam non conside­rat infirmitatem. Greg. registr. l. 6. indict. 15. ep. 4. Meanes 6. that they presume too much of their owne might, and so are bold to offer themselues vnto those prouocations and temptations, that proue many times their vtter ruine. They are Stella in Luc. c. 11. like sicke folkes, who when they haue had a good day or two, think that they are perfectly well againe, and make bold to cast off their sicke kerchiefe, or put on thinner apparell, or venture out into the fresh aire, and by such meanes fall into relapses, which they hardly, or neuer (it may be) recouer againe.

6. Shun euill occasions. Non vitat peccatum, qui non vitat occasiones peccatorum. Stell. in Luc. 11. & Me­lanchth. loc. commun. 22. Exponens se periculo peccati mortalis, peccat mortaliter. Gerson­de vit. spirit. lect. 4. He shunneth not sinne as he should, who is not carefull to eschew the occasi­ons of sinne, as well as the sinne it selfe. By care­lesnesse [Page 19] in this kinde many fall into relapses. Which S^t Peter also intimateth, when he saith of some that 2 Pet. 2.20. hauing escaped the defilements of the world, by the acknowledgement of Christ, that is, by the profession of Christianitie; by being [...]. Sae­pe familiaritas im­plicavit. Saepe oc­casio peccati volun­tatem fecit peccan­di. Isidor. Soliloq. l. 2. entangled, they come to be the second time ouercome. As Dauid saith of himselfe, Ps [...]l. 142.3. In the way that I walke, haue they hid their snare for me. Satan hath his Omne iter istius vitae plenum laque­ort mest. Ambr. de bon. mort. c. 6. snares and his ginnes set in all our waies for vs, in our meat, our drinke, our apparell, our recreation, our lawfull delights, our trading, our trafficke, our buying and selling, &c. In regard whereof, as those that Iob 22.10. walke among snares, we had need Prou. 4.25, 26. tread wa­rily, and Ephes. 5.15. walke wisely, and circumspectly, and Hebr. 12.13. make straight steps to our feet. Remembring that Satan preuaileth more against those that make any conscience of their courses, by the vnlawfull, im­moderate, or inordinate vsage of things in them­selues lawfull, than by the practise of things meere­ly euill and vnlawfull in themselues. And that it is safer, and easier by much ordinarily, Nam vitare pla­gas in [...]moris ne la­ciaris Non ita dif­ficile est, quàm cap­tum retibus ipsis Exire, & validos veneris perrumpe­re nodos. Lucret. de rer. nat. l. 4. to passe by the snare, than Non avis utiliter viscatis ef [...]ugit alis: Non bene de laxis cassibus [...]xit aper. Saucius arrepto pi­scis retinetur ab ha­m [...]. Ovid. art. l. 1. to winde out when we are once wrought in. You know what was Eues ouerthrow. Satan suggested vnto her, that though shee were forbidden to eat of it, yet it was not vnlawfull to looke on it. And so by Gen. 3.7. Oculos tendo, non manum. Non est interdictū ne videam, sed ne comedam. Bern. de humil. grad. 4. gazing on it, she came to haue a liking to it, and from taking liking to it, fell to a longing after it, she had Etsi culpa non est, culpa tamen occasio est [...] & indicium est commissae, & causa commit tendae. Bern. ibid. tasted it in her heart, ere it came into her hand, and so at length by ea­ting [Page 20] of it, Hausit virus pe­ritu [...]a, & perituros paritura. Ibid. she tooke in that that proued the bane both of her and hers. In regard whereof, the Pro­phet promiseth eternall happinesse with God to that man alone, Esay 33.14, 15. who not onely Psal. 15.2. speaketh truly and walketh vprightly, but D [...]ut. 16.19. Ne iniquos accepto mu­nere, si non [...]ve­rit, ingratus; si foverit, i [...]quus ha­beatur. Autor ocul. mor. c. 6. shaketh his hands also from taking of gifts, and Sep [...] spinis aures tuas. S [...]rac. stoppeth his eare from hea­ring of bloud, and Iob 31.1. Psal. 119.37. Vitijs no­bis in animum per o [...]ulos est v [...]a. Quint [...]l. declam. I­taque [...]. Clem. Alex. paedag. l. 3. c. 11. shutteth his eies from seeing of euill: shunneth those things as well that may bee occasions of euill, as the euill, whereof they may be occasions, it selfe.

Meanes 7.7. Luke 18.1. Rom. 12, 12. Coloss. 4.2. 1 Thess. 1.17. Bee frequent in praier vnto God for sup­port. Matth. 26.41. Watch and pray, saith our Sauiour, that you may not enter into temptation. Watch & pray; because Psal. 127.1. all our watching will be of no force or efficacie at all without praier. For Ephes. 6.10, 11, 13. from God it is, that strength must bee had to stand stedfast and firme: Rom. 8.37. Phil. 4.13. it is his power that must support vs. 1 Pet. 1.5. We are vp­held by the power of God through Faith, saith the Apo­stle. It is the Ephes. 3.16. Colos. 1.11. power of God then that must enable vs to perseuer: and it is Ephes. 6.18. praier that must procure this power. This holy exercise therefore we must be diligent in, if we desire thus to hold out; pray­ing, as Dauid doth in the Psalme; Psal. 86.11. Lord, teach mee thy waies, that I may walke in thy pathes: O knit mine heart vnto thee, that I may feare thy Name. As on the other side wee may obserue, that when men grow negligent herein, a generall decay of grace vsu­ally ensueth. Psal. 14.3, 4. They are all gone aside, &c. saith the Psalmist: While they call not vpon God. And how can we hope to haue strength thus to stand, if we be not carefull to seeke it, where it is only to be had?

[Page 21]8. Keepe the feare of God fresh in thy soule.Meanes 8. Psal. 86.11. Knit mine heart vnto thee, that I may feare thee, saith the Psalmist. The feare of God, if it be fresh in vs, will make vs keepe home with him, Deut. 10.20. cleaue and cling close to him, bee afraid to stirre but an inch (as we say) from him, Deut. 6.2, 13. & 5.29. Eccles. 12.13. be carefull to vse all meanes of retaining his fauour, of approuing our selues and all our courses vnto him, and Iob 1.1. & 31.13, 14, 21, 22. Nehem. 5.15. Prou. 8.13. & 16.6. of es­chewing whatsoeuer may either offend him, or sauour of any disloialtie and vnfaithfulnesse in vs towards him. Qui op [...]ratur ut accedamus, id [...]m o­peratur ne disceda­mus. Aug. de bon. persever. c. 7. God, saith Augustine, that hath wrought on vs to bring vs home to him, must also worke in vs, that we depart not againe from him. But this he doth by meanes; which hee pointeth at, when he saith by the Prophet, I [...]rem. 32.40 I will put into their hearts such feare of me, that they shall neuer depart againe away from me. Fides facit formi­dinem: sormido fa­cis solicitudinem: solicitudo parit per­severantiam. Ter­tull. ad Marc. Faith breedeth feare, and feare breedeth care; and carefulnesse causeth perseue­rance. The Deuill could neuer preuaile with our first Parent to withdraw her from God, till he had Gen. 3.4. wrought this Feare out of her. Nor had he euer beene able so to preuaile with her,Meanes 9. had she beene carefull to keepe this Feare fresh in her soule.

9. Take heed of standing still. Thinke not with thy selfe, that hauing runne thus long, thou maist now stand still a while; or hauing gotten thus far, thou maist now sit downe and breathe thee. 2 P [...]t. 3.17. Take heed, saith S^t Peter, l [...]st you bee drawne aside, and fall from your stedfastnesse. And if you aske him, what you must doe to preuent it: Ibid. 18. But grow, saith he, in grace. Vnum [...] duobus necesse est, aut sem­per proficere, a [...]t prorsus desicere. Bern. de divers. 36. Qui non proficit, deficit; qui non progreditur, regre­ditur. Nolle profi­cere, deficere est▪ Idem epist. 25.4. If we be not growing, we are de­caying: [Page 22] if we be not making on, wee are going amaine back. As Non aliter quam qui adverso [...] flu­mine l [...]mbum Re­ [...]g [...]s subigit, si brachia forte remi­sit, Atque illum in praeceps pron [...] rapit [...]veus amni. Virg. georg. l. 1. & Apud G [...]ll. noct. Attic. l. 10. c. 29. Vide Greg. mor. l. 11. c. 8. in rowing vp a Riuer, that run­neth with a strong current, if the Oares doe but stay, the Boat falleth backward. There is no stay­ing of our hands: N [...]hil stat, nihil sixum manet. Aug. in Ioan. 31. There is no standing at a stay. Inter profectum & desectum nihil medium invenitur. Bern. ep. 254. Betweene mending and pairing there is no medium, saith Bernard. Damnum parata sentient, si para [...]e cessaveris. Pelag. ad Demetr. That we haue will be gone, vnlesse we striue to get more.

10. Mica. 6.8. Walke in humilitie. When we haue done all this, take heed of pride: (Remember 2 Chron. 26.16. Vzziah; remē ­ber 2 Chron. 32.25, 26. Ezekiah:) It is a deadly poison that spoileth and killeth all where it commeth;Meanes 10. so dangerous, that 2 Cor. 12.7. of another poison is a counter-poison confe­cted, to preserue S^t Paul from it. And A [...]a quaecunque iniquitas in malis operibus exercetur, ut fiant: superbia verò bonis operibus insidiatur ut pere­ant. Aug. epist. 109. we are ne­uer more in danger of it than when we haue done most, and made greatest progresse in the professi­on and practise of pietie. For it is as Quod de fisco Iulianus Imper. Fiscus ut lien. Ammian. hist. l. 25. the spleene in the bodie, that groweth most when the other parts waste; Mul­tis quippe vitia conculcasse, & virtutes acquisivisse fit occasio superbiae. Rad. Ardens post Tri­nit. 5. it groweth fastest oft, when other euils decay, and out of the decay of them, sucketh matter to feed & foster it selfe with. This therefore must be carefully eschewed and auoided. When wee haue done well, wee must take heed, how in that regard we begin to think highly of our selues. Humilitas est conservatrix virtutum. Et qui sine humilitate caeteras virtutes congregat, qua [...]i pulverem in ventum portat. Idem. ibid. ex Greg. mor. If we doe so, all is gone, Qui gloriantur vitia devicisse se, ipsi devincuntur. Ardens ibid. we are vndone. Be af­fected rather as Paul was. After hee had gone so [Page 23] farre, done so much: 2 Cor. 11.5. I make account, that I come not short, saith he, of the very chiefe Apostles. Yea, 1 Cor. 15.10. I haue laboured more than them all. For, Rom. 15.19. from Ierusalem round about, euen vnto Illyricum, (that is, from Syria to Sclauonie) haue I plentifully preached the Gospell: Yet, Phil. 3.14. I forget, saith he, what is past. I regard no more what I haue done, than as if yet I had done nothing, or had cleane forgotten what I did. And Ibid. I put on forward to what is be­fore; pressing on toward the high calling of God in Christ Iesus. He did as men in a race that Instat equis auri­ga suos vincenti­bus, illum Praeteri­tum temnens. Ho­rat. satyr. 1. looke not backe to see how many they haue out-stript, or how farre they haue gotten, but haue their eies fixed on those that haue got ground of them, and on the ground before them, that they are to mea­sure, ere they can come to the marke. Let vs More viatorum nequaquam debe­mus aspicere quan­tum jam iter egi­mus, sed quantum superest ut peraga­mus: ut paulisper fiat praeteritum, quod indesinenter & timidè adhuc at­tenditur suturum. Greg. mor. l. 22. c. 6. Oblivis [...]ere omne praeteritum: & quotid [...]è incho­are tepu [...]a: ne pro praesenti die, quo debes servire Deo, praeteritum impu­tes. Pelag. ad De­metr. not consider so much how far we haue gone, and how many others come short of vs, but Summun illud bonum imitari [...]o­nemur: quod quan­tumvis quis in hac vita vires proten­derit, neutiquam tamen consequi po­terit. Stella in Luc. 1. how farre we are to goe, and how farre wee come farre short of that Christian perfection, that we should all striue and contend to attaine vnto. And as our Sauiour aduiseth vs, Luke 17.10. Vide Chrysost. in Oziam serm. 3. When we haue done all that we can, let vs say, that we are but vnprofitable seruants; we haue done no more, nay Iob 9.3. Rom. 7.17, 23. Galat. 5.17. farre lesse, than we ought to doe, Meanes 11. than was our dutie to haue done.

11. Consider we the short stint of time, that this laborious course is required of vs; it is but till death. And since that our Psal. 39.4, 5. & 89.47. [...]. Hippocr. aphor. 1. Quid tam circumcisum, tam breve, quam hominis vita longissima? Plin. ep. 7. lib. 3. life here is not long; [Page 24] (it is but [...]. Plut. paedag. Punctum [...]st quod vivimus, & adhuc puncto minu [...]. Sen. ep. 49. Minorem portio­nem aetas nostra quam partem pun­cti habet, si tempo­ri comparetur om­ni. Id [...]m ad Marc. c. 20. a point, saith the Heathen man, or lesse than so, that we liue here) that emploiment can­not be long that must end with it. For what can be long in that, that is not long it selfe? It is but till death onely that our Sauiour Christ requireth this of vs. It is a note of stint, as well as of extent, here. Not that our fidelitie & loialtie vnto Christ shall not last longer; but [...]inem dico qua vita ista finitur, in qua tantumm [...]do periculum est, ne ca­datur. Aug. de per­sever. c. 1. because after that there will be no difficultie in our loialtie, no danger of disloialtie, if till then we hold out.Matth. 13.41. Vbi omni & hoste & peste carebimus. Aug. nom. de con­tinent. c. 14. All scandals, stumbling blocks and impediments being then remoued; and all oc­casions of prouocation and temptation to the con­trary being thē vtterly abolished. It is but for a spurt therefore, to speak of, that this is required of vs, it is but Propone profundi temporis vastitatē, & universum com­plectere: deinde hoc, quod aetatem vocamus huma­nam, compara im­menso; videbimus quam exigu [...]m sit, quod optamus, quod extendimus. Sen. ep. 9 [...]. Omnia hu­mana brevia & caduca sunt, infi­nui temporis nullum spatium occupantia. Idem ad Marc. c. 20. a spurt, in comparison of that that after en­sueth. And who would not for a spurt, for a short brunt endure any difficultie, any hardnesse, to liue at hearts ease for euer after? Who would not serue, euen an hard and an vnkinde Master, and much more then so kinde and liberall a one as our Lord and Master Christ is, (that Matth. 20.28. Philip. 2.7. Luke 22.27. came to serue vs and for vs, ere he required this seruice of vs) with all fidelitie and diligence for a day or two, that hee might after be a free man, yea an happy man for euer? Vt non sit hîc necessarium Epicuri solamen illud, Si longus, levis est; Si gravis est, brevis est. Cic. Tuscul. l. 2. Sen. epist. 24. & 30. & 78. & 94. Moras & I [...]lius in epigr. It is not long, and it is but light, that is required of vs, in respect of that that is expected for it, and is promised thereunto. For 2 Cor. 4.17. [...]. Chrys. de compunct. 1. this light hardship that is [Page 25] but for an instant, saith the Apostle, procureth vn­to vs an exceeding excessiue euerlasting weight of glorie.

12. Be oft Op [...]s te terret, merce [...]e vide. Aug. de verb. Dom. 6. eying, Meanes 12. and meditating on the roiall reward, that is both here and else-where propoun­ded and promised to all those that thus perseuer. This made Moses hold out the rather, and Heb. 11.25, 26. [...]. Chrys­tom. 8. ser. 13. en­dure not constantly onely, but cheerefully, chusing rather to suffer hardship with the people of God, than to enioy some sinfull delights for a season; and estee­ming the reproach, that for Christs sake hee suffered, greater riches than all the Aegyptian treasures; be­cause he had an eie to the recompence of reward. And 2 Cor. 4.8, 10, 16, 18. therefore we faint not, saith the Apostle, though we bee straitned on euery side; and beare about with vs in our bodie the dying of the Lord Iesus, being de­liuered vp daily for him to death; because wee looke not on the things that are seene, but on the things that are not seene: for the things that are seene, are tem­porall; but the things that are not seene, are eternall. For though Gods children be Galat. 4.7. no hirelings, to serue him onely for hire sake, but out of loue, [...]. Gr [...]g. Nazianz. de Bapt. dutie, and good-will; yet are they animated and encouraged, the rather to doe that they doe the more cheere­fully, comfortably, and constantly, when they consi­der what a blessed issue their l [...]bours, endeuours and sufferings are like, nay, are sure to haue, if they hold out in them. For, Galat. 6.9. we shall reape in due time, saith the Apostle, if we faint not: Yea, of our Sa­uiour himselfe it is said, whom we are will [...]d there­in also to imitate, that Heb. 12.2, 3. For the glorie set before him, he endured the Crosse, and set light by the shame [Page 26] of it, and is now seated at the right hand of God. And Heb. 10.35. cast not therefore away your confidence, saith the Apostle,Considerati­ons 2. nor giue ouer, say I, your fidelitie, that you owe vnto Christ; since that it hath so great recom­pence of reward. Consider. 1. Losse.

Yea, consider we as well what we lose, if wee giue ouer, as what we win and gaine, if we perseuer.

For the former; Apoc. 3.11. [...]. Chrysost. in Matth. [...]m. 24. Hold fast what thou hast, saith our Sauiour, lest the Crowne be taken from thee. And it is a Question canuased to and fro among the Schoolemen, Vide Thom. Sum. par. l ^a. 2 ae. q. 88. [...]. 4. Dura [...]d. in sut. l. 2. d. 33. q. 3. Al [...]x. Ales sum. p 1. q. 39. m. 3. a. 4. §. 1. & p [...]r. 2 q. 114. m. 3. [...]. Chrysost. in Matth. [...]om. 23. whether is the greater euill to forgoe the ioyes of heauen, or to vndergoe the paines of Hell. But how soeuer it be, an heauy thing it will be, if we faint and faile now, hereafter to thinke, as he some­time said, who for a draught of drinke in distresse gaue vp his command; [...]; Ly­ [...]macl [...] apud Plut. in ap p [...]b. vel u [...]idem in prac. salubr. [...]. For what a trifling matter haue wee bereft our selues of a great command, of a Crowne, of a Kingdome? For what a toy (to speake of) haue we depriued our selues of eternall felicitie?

For the latter; Bee faithfull, saith our Sauiour here, vnto death, and I will giue thee a Crowne of life.

The latter clause whereof, containing a free and a large promise, Consider. 2. Gaine. annexed to the precept, which hi­therto we haue handled, albeit it might well mini­ster much matter of further Consideration, Part 2. Promise. Motiue. yet for the present we will consider it onely, as a Motiue, in its seuerall branches, to induce to, and enforce on vs, such constant fidelitie, and faithfull perseue­rance, as we haue shewed to be here required.

[Page 27]1. He that promiseth,Branch. 1. Giuer. it is Vers. 8. Christ. I will giue. I will giue that haue power to giue; that haue abilitie and authoritie so to doe.Point 1.Ability. Mat [...]h. 4.9. I will giue thee all these, said he sometime to our Sauiour, who had no pow­er to make good what he said: But he that speak­eth it here, is able to performe what he here promi­seth. Ap [...]c. 2.16, 18. As I haue receiued power, so I will, saith he, giue them power. For Matth. 28.18. all power is giuen mee in heauen and earth. Point 2. Fidelitie. And, Apoc. 3.21. To him therefore that ouer­commeth, will I giue to sit with me in my Throne; as I haue ouercome, and sit now with my Father on his Throne.

Againe, I will giue, who am Apoc. 3.14. Amen, True and Faithfull. He that is faithfull to me, shall finde me faithfull to him. Heb. 10.23. Let vs keepe the profession of our hope without flitting and wauering, saith the Apo­stle, for he that hath promised is faithfull. What he saith, he will make good: he will performe what he hath promised. He will doe it? Yea, hee hath done it. He is not like that Antigonus, whom they vsed to call [...]. Plut. in Paul. Ae­myl. Antigonus that would giue. He will giue; and he hath giuen. We tread but in the steps of those that alreadie Hebr. 6.11. [...]. Clem. Alex. paedag. l. 3. c. 8. haue inherited these promises. Point. 3. Liberality.

3. He will giue. What hee doth, is of free gift, not of due debt. Such is his goodnesse, that though Rom. 8.12. Quicquid es, qu [...]c­quid pot [...]s, d [...]bes creanti, d [...]bes redi­m [...]nti. Bern. de di­vers. 19. we owe vnto him whatsoeuer we doe or can doe, Rom. 11.35, 36. nor can wee claime ought as of right from him for all that we doe for him; he oweth vs not so much as thankes, as Luke 17.9.10. himselfe else-where sheweth, for it: yet O magna Dei b [...] ­nitas, cui cum pro conditione reddere d [...]beamus obsequia, vt servi Domino, famu [...] Deo, subiecti potenti, mancipia redemptori, amicitiarum nobis praemia repromittit. Aug. de [...]erb. Dom. of his meere bountie he will not suffer vs [Page 28] to goe vnrewarded;Branch 2. Gift. but of his free goodnesse will giue vs, what we could not otherwise require.

Point 4. Crowne.2. The Gift, or the thing promised, it is 2 Tim. 4.8. a Crowne; it is Luke 12.32. Matth. 25.34. a Kingdome. [...]. Euripid. Phoeniss. Nam si vi­olandum est jus, regnandi gratia vi­olandum est. C [...]c. of­fic. l. 3. Who would not straine hard for a Crowne? Perpessi sunt ex­ercitus inopiam re­rum omnium, vi [...] ­erunt herbarum ra­dicibus, & dictu foedis tulerunt fa­mem. Haec omnia passi sunt proregno, & (quô magis mi­r [...]ris) alieno. Sen. op. 17. Who would not endure much for a Kingdome? Who would stay by the way, or giue ouer ere he came at it, if hee saw a Crowne at the goale, and were sure to haue it, if hee held but out, till he came there?

3. This Crowne, it is Iam. 1.12. a Crowne of Life. It is not like the Crownes that worldly Kings weare, that cannot [...]. Plut. de tranq. free them from diseases, much lesse saue them from Death. Point 5. Life. They may die, and Psal. 82.7. & 146.3, 4. doe die, for all their Crownes, and returne to their dust. But this is a Crowne that giueth life to him that hath it. It is a Crowne that keepeth him in life that wea­reth it.

4. The Life that this Crowne giueth (though it be not expressed here) is Matth. 26.46. Galat. 6.8. an eternall, an euerlasting life. 1 Cor. 9.29. They striue for a corruptible, wee for [...]. an in­corruptible Crowne, saith S^t Paul. It is a Crowne or [...]. 1 Pet. 5.4. a garland of Est spica purpurea verius quam flos. Mirum in eo gaudere de­cerpi & laetius renasci. Mi [...]eque, postquam defecere cuncti flores, madefactus aqua reviviscit & hibernas coronas facit. Summa eius natura in nomine est, appellato, quoniam non marces­cat. Plin. hist. nat. l. 21. c. 8. Amarantum, or of Euerlasting, saith S^t Peter, Point 6. Euerlasting. alluding to a Flower, or a Tuft ra [...]ther, commonly so tearmed. Therefore so tear­med, because by it, as wee are now 1 Pet. 1.4. kept vnto, so we shall hereafter be kept, and preserued in, a King­dome [...]. incorruptible, vntainted, that neuer withereth away, reserued for vs in the Heauens.

[Page 29]All which laid together;Conclusion. Vse. Perswasion, and Encou­ragement. the giuer so able, so free, so faithfull; and the gift it selfe so great; a Crowne, of life, and euerlasting life: so glorious and excellent an estate, Rom. 8.18. that all that euer wee doe, or can endure here, is not worthy once to bee named with it; should perswade and encourage vs with all constancie and cheerefulnesse to goe on and hold out in the faithfull seruice of our Sauiour, Matth. 19.2 [...], 28. Marke 10.28, 29, 30. Luke 14, 26, 33. whatsoeuer it should cost vs, though we should lose libertie, li­uing, life by it, and all that euer wee were worth; that so continuing faithfull vnto death, he may be­stow vpon vs a Crowne of Life.

Now it is,The Testimonie giuen to M^r ▪ William Winter de­ceased. I know, expected that I should, as the manner is, say, somewhat concerning our Christian brother deceased, to whose corps we performe now Acts 8.2. 2. Sam. 3.31. the last Christian office. It shall not be needfull to say much of him to those that knew him, as I sup­pose the most here did. As Bernard saith of one Humbert; his whole life was Factitium vobi [...] sermon [...]m in omni forma sanctitatis Dei servus exhibu­it. Bern. in obit. Humb. a reall and vitall Ser­mon of that, whereof you haue had a verbal and vo­call one now; to wit, of pietie and godlinesse, of fidelitie and faithfulnesse to his Lord and Master Christ Iesus. Hee had beene an ancient Professor: nor was he one (as Rom. 2.24. too many there are) that did staine and blemish his Christian profession, either by Vnchristian courses, or vndiscreet carriages; but by his pious and prudent behauiour rather Tit. 2.7, 8, 10. graced and adorned it. It had pleased God to endow him with singular gifts and parts (for a priuate man especi­ally) of vnderstanding, memorie, and speech; which hee was not slothfull or negligent to improue and employ, to the glorie of Gods name, and Many, I doubt not, may say of him, as Bernard of Humbert, Separa­vit à nobis dulcem ami [...], pruden­tem consil [...]arium, sor [...]ē auxiliarium: God hath taken from vs, a sweet friend, a wise counseller, a strong helper. the edifica­tion [Page 30] of others: As the maine course of his life and conuersation, so his ordinarie speech, conference, and communication being Coloss. 4.8. seasoned with salt, sauouring of sound sanctification, and such as might Ephes. 4. [...]. minister much grace to the hearers. And albeit, God saw it good to affoord him but a meane estate for [...]. 1 Cor. 6.4. the things of this life, (hee will stirre vp those, I doubt not, that 2 Sam. 9.3, 7. out of their religious disposition and affection to him, will doe for those that hee hath left behinde him) yet he had made him Iam. 2.5. rich in grace; and by helpe of that grace he liued with that small pittance Quod de Cratete Plut. lib. de tranq. [...]. more cheerefully and comforta­bly, than many doe with large and ample estates. Nor saw I him euer more cheerefull, than in this his last sicknesse. As Ambrose said sometime when he lay a dying to his Millainers; Non sic vixi, ut [...]e pud [...]at intervos vivere: nec mori timco. qu [...]a bonum Dominum hab [...] ­mus. Ambros. test [...] Paul [...]o in vita Ambr. I haue not so liued among you, that I am ashamed to liue longer with you; nor yet am I afraid to die, because we haue a good Ma­ster: And Martine of Tours being now neere his end, when his friends stood abou [...] him, lamenting their losse of him, Domine, si adhuc topu [...]o tuo sum ne­cessarius; non re­cuso laborem; f [...]t volu [...]tas tua. Se­ver. de Martin ep. 3. & Bern. serm. in fest. Mart. Lord, if I may doe thy people yet any seruice, I thinke not much of my paines, thy will be done: So was it one of this blessed Seruant of God his last speeches vnto me, willing to be disposed of by God, though As Paul, Philip. 1.25. As Simeon, Luke 2.29. desirous of departure in regard of his owne good; If God haue any more worke for me, I am well content to liue longer, though my life should be neuer so tedious vnto me: But if my worke bee at an end, I am most willing to bee gone, well knowing, though I be altogether vnworthy of ought, what hee hath in store for me. What should I say more of him, but as it is in my Text? Hee was faithfull to [Page 31] Christ his Master vnto Death; and hee hath now re­ceiued from him a Crowne of Life. Which that we may also, in Gods due time attaine, he vouchsafe vnto vs, Apoc. 1.5, 6. & 5.9, 10. who hath purchased and pro­cured it for vs, IESVS CHRIST, Rom. 9. [...]. to be blessed for euer. AMEN.