HVmility is a vertue sprin­ging from the feare of God: the mother of meekenesse: and sister of deuotiō: with­out which no man can at­taine to the knowledge and feeling of his owne misery in Adam: & felicity in Christ. A Birde, except her winges be mooued down­wards, can not flye vp to the top of an hill: nor man, except the affections of his hart be hum­bled downwards: mount vp to the towre of diuine vnderstanding. And therfore that god­ly father S. Augustine, Augustin de ciuitate Dei. compareth heauen vnto a faire stately Pallace, with a litle dore: where­at no man can enter, except he stoupe very low. [Page 2] As who should say, God reiecteth the proude, and giueth grace to the humble and lowlye.Psalm. 51.

The true wisedome of a Christian Pilgram, consisteth espetia [...]ly, in the knowledge of his owne imperfections. Then are we said to bee righteous (saith Ierom) when we acknowledge our selues to be wicked transgressors.Ierom in his first B. against Pelagius. Augustin. He hath much profited in this life (saith S. Augustin) that hath learned how farre he is from perfection of righteousnes.1 Tim. 1.15 For the lesse opinion a man hath of himselfe: the more trust he hath in God. And the more he feeleth in his conscience, the horror of hell:Those that feel not the horror of hell, passe litle for the ioyes of heauen. Psal. [...]1.17. the nearer he is to the ioyes of Heauen. None so neare, as the humble penitent, whose hart is most deepely wounded with the gree­uousnes of sinnes: nor none so farre from true religion, as he who thinketh himselfe most per­fect and very religious.

The ioyes of Paradise are prepared, not for proud presumptuous Pharasyes, who seeme in their owne Eyes,Luk. 18. most iust, pure and perfect: but poore humble Publicans, that iustly con­demne, themselues, as most vile, miserable and wretched. The Sunne of man came not to call the righteous:Luke. 5.32.19, 10.15 23.24 but sinners to repentance. To seeke vp none, but those that do acknowledge themselues to bee lost. To comfort and to raise vp none with his Gospel: but those which bee discomforted, and cast downe by the law. Nor to annoint and heale none with his oyle of [Page 3] gladnes, but such broken and contrit hartes,Esi. 61. as (for griefe of synnes) are sicke and mourne in syon.

A Naturall man consisteth of three partes The spirit,As Adam in Pa [...]ed or immortall soule, endued with reason, will,1. Th. 5.23. 1 Cor. 2.11. and diuine vnder­standing. The naturall af­fectiōs, or powers of the soule: as indifferent spurres to pro­uoke, stirre vp, and pricke forward vnto vertue,Ro. 8.5.13.

or vice: and the terrestriall body,Ro. 7.23. 1. Pet. 2.11. Gala. 5.17. wherein Sa­tan (by tempting of Adam) hath written the law of sinne.

[Page 4]All which parts of man (at the fyrst) were in such perfect order and conco [...]d, framed toge­ther: as nether the immortall spirit did con­ceaue any thing: the naturall powers of the soule desyre any thing: nor the terrestriall body, execute any thing, cōtrary to the wil of God. All creatures vnder heauen, being obedient to the body of man: as the subiects to the Prince. The naturall body, obedient to the reasonable soule: as the seruant to the maister. And the reasona­ble soule, with his affections, obedient to God the Creator: as the child to the father: till that cursed serpent our mortall enemie, found means to set them at variance,Mat. 26.41. and discord. Synce which time, the nature of man became so fraill and weake: the occasions vnto euill, so many: and the illusion of Satan,1 Pet. 5.8. so prompt, and rea­dy: that except, Gods special grace preu [...]nt him: he is apt and prone vpon euery light occasion, to yeeld vnto sinne, and wickednes. Being more easily brought to con [...]eaue an error, by one little word: then the truth by a long tale. And sooner seduced to consent vnto vice, by one small exam­ple: then conuerted vnto vertue, by many vehe­ment perswasions.

Rom. 11.17.24And as the Iewish Church was likened vnto a garden Oliue tree: whose branches in time, growing baren: were cutt off, as vnprofitable. And the gentles though by nature wild oliues: yet being grafted in the same, were by grace, [Page 5] made fruitfull. So is euery naturall man very aptly compared vnto a wild & bitter crab-tree. And as Abraham was remoued from the forest of Babilonia:Gen. 11. and replanted in the fruitfull gar­den of Canaan.Exod. 2. Moses from the wood of Pha­raos court: to the fieldes of Madian hils. And the Israelites from their hellish bondage in E­gipt, through the red sea:Exod. 12. Psal. 80.8. to the florishing land of promise. So must euery child of Adam, 1. Cor. 10. [...] Rom. 7.5.6 Mat. 15.13. Colo. 2.12. Rom. 10.14 Titus 2.15. bee remoued from the wild Wood of nature: And (by baptim) replanted in the fruitfull orchard of grace: regrafted with the sweete Garden imps of true christian doctrine: and (with the pruning knife of ecclesiasticall discipline) haue thei superfluous branches of sinne and wicked­nes, daily clensed and cut away:1. Cor. 2.14 Ioh. 15.1. [...] Math. 3.10. or they cannot bring forth true spirituall fruits, acceptable vn­to Gods diuine tast.

FOrasmuch as (of all other vi­ces) that olde rooted infection of pride, vaineglorie, and pre­sumption, is most vniuersallie grafted in man: there is no thing more necessarie or profi­table to suppresse and subdue his hautie affecti­ons [Page 6] then continuall remembrance what he is: from whence he came: and whether hee shall. That in calling to minde,Eccle. 7. his base mettall: his wretched condition: and mortall generation: he may the rather be moued, more humblie, and lowlie, to conceiue and esteeme of himselfe.

The mise­ry of mor­tality.What is man? telluris inutile pondus: an vn­profitable lump of earth: like as one might saie to a peece of yse: thou wast water: thou art wa­ter: and to water thou shalt turne againe. So man was earth:Gen. 3. he is earth: and to earth hee shall turne againe. Thou hast fashioned mee of mould and earth (saith Iob:Iob. 10.30.) and I am become like dust and ashes. Oh homo (saith Chriso­stome) si consideras, quid per o [...], quid per nares, quid per ceteros meatus egrediatur, Chrisost. nunquam vilius ster­quilium inuenisti.

What is man? [...]is matter is base, slime, and clay: his nature weake, and feeble: his birth paine, and sorow: his life vaine, and miserable: his state sliperie, & vncertaine: his time short, and tedious: his sinnes horrible, and filthie: and his ende, greeuous and lothsome.

What is man? A mirror of miserie: a play of fortune:He is born in teares, groweth vp in sighs, liueth in paine, and dyeth in griefe. and a pr [...]y of death. He is borne weping and wailing, to shew his wretchednes: he liueth laughing and toying, to bewraie his folly: and dieth sighing, and sob [...]ing, to declare his weake infirmitie.

What is man? Appulius a Philosopher, and [Page 7] scholler to Plato: describeth him in this wise. Mē (saith he:) are liuing creatures, dwelling vpon the earth: hauing soules immortall: brutish ser­uile bodies, subiect to death: light careful minds apt to errour: vaine in labours: diuers in con­ditions: long or they bee wise: their time but short: and during life neuer content.

What is the state of man? Saint Bernard describeth it in this maner. There commeth be­fore thine eies (saith he) a man, poore, naked, and miserable: mourning that he is a man: blushing that he is naked: weeping for that he is a wretch replenished with miserie and feare [...]ull for that his t [...]me is but sho [...]t. A great part of his life pas­seth away in doing that is euill: a greater part in doing nothing: and the greatest part, in do­ing thinges to small purpose.

And as the life of man is vaine, transitorie, and miserable: euen so is the world: with all thinges else, wherein humaine nature taketh pleasure and delight: as health, wealth, honor,Psal. 39.6. Preach. 2. wisedome, strength, beautie, or whatsoeuer.

What is the world? A vaile of miserie: A sinck of sinne: a mould of mischiefe: a den of theeues: a court of Satan: a purgatorie of paine: a mo­ther to the wicked: and a stepdame to the good. Where the proud and vitious are daily advan­ced without desert: and the humble and vertu­ous oppressed without cause: the weiwarde and seditious befrended, and the quiet and obe­dient [Page 8] molested: the ignorant and foolish permit­ted to speake: and the wise and discreete put to silence: crafty dissemblers extolled: and simple in­siocents dispised.

What is the world? A second hell: full of am­bitious desires: couetuous conceates: carefull studies: wicked willes: and diuelish intents. A cruell serpent that biteth vs with her teeth: scratcheth vs with her nailes: and swelleth vs with her poison. Much like the deceitful Laban. Who made poore Iacob serue seauen yeares for faire Rachell: and in the ende, deceiued him with foule Lea. Euen so the world promiseth health, wealth, and long life: and in the ende, deceiueth vs with pouertie, sicknes, and death.

What is the world? Her mi [...]th is but sorow: her pleasure, but paine: her wisedome but foolish­nesse: and her wealth but misery. Where nothing is to be looked for, but euen a rancke of trou­bles, one folowing in a [...]others necke. A great trauell is created for all men, (saith Iesus Sirach) and a heauie yoake vpon all mens c [...]ildren.Eccles. 40. Some so p [...]nched with pouerty & oppressed with miserie: Some tossed and turntoiled with strife, and contention: some tormented with sickenes, sores, and contagious diseases: that if an olde man shoulde set forth the tragidie of his life, from the daie of his birth,As yeares diminish. so troubles increase. till his departure to the graue: a man would wonder that the bodie could suffer, and the h [...]art could beare, so paine­full, [Page 9] and dolorus a pilgrimage.

All the godly from the beginning haue tasted the troubles of their time. Adam felt his part of miserie: when his children did one kill an other, and saw the fall of his posterity, 900. yeares. Abraham felt his part of miserie: when at Gods commaundement he wandred into a straunge countrie, and suffered great troubles.Gen. 12. Iob felt his part of miserie: when hee sawe the spoyle and hauocke of all his goods: the distruction of his children: and his owne bodie (from toppe to toe) tormented with botches and sores: hauing nothing remaining but his wicked wise: who seemed to be left of the deuill: not to comfort, but vexe and tempt him, to blaspheme God. Io­seph felt his part of miserie:Gen. 38. when he was solde of his brother, and impr [...]soned without cause. Noah felt his part of miserie: being grieuouslye mocked and persecuted of the wicked. Poore Lazarus was both sicke, [...]o [...]e, hungry and thirsty.Luk. 16. Father Iacob. complayned that his daies were fewe and euill. Dauid said hee was a worme, and no man. Solomon was weary of his life: because all that euer he saw vnder the Sunne: was nothing but vanitie, miserie, and vexation of minde. Father Ierom complayned, that Sa­tan sought to ouerthrowe him: and that his weake fleshe was readie to consent.Ier. 15.20. The Pro­phet Ieremy cursed the daye of his birth. Ionas said, it was better for h [...]m to die, then liue. [Page 10] Chrisostome called the daies of his life, the daies of his sorrowe. Naziensen wept that his mo­ther had brought him forth, to see such misera­ble daies. Such trauell hath God giuen vnto men vnder the sunne,Preach. 1. to be exercised therin.

ANd as the dayes of this our painefull pilgrimage, are vayne, and miserable: so are they short and tedious. The one foote no sooner on the ground: but the o­ther readie to slip into the graue. Man that is borne of woman (saith Iob) hath but a short time to liue,Iob. 14. and is full of miserie. He springeth as a flower: fadeth like a shadowe: and neuer continueth in one state.Iob. 9. My daies (saith he) are more swifte then a runner. We bring our yeares to an ende (saith Dauid) as it were a tale that is tolde. We are dying con­tinually all our life long: euery yeare, day, and houre. Our infancie lasteth a small while, and dyeth. Our youth florisheth a time, and vani­sheth. Our manhood a time, and departeth. Our age a time, and by and by it is gone. The dayesPsal. 90. of our life (saith the Psalmist) are three-score [Page 11] yeares and tenne: and though men bee so strong, that they rubbe out till foure score: yet is their strength then but labour, and sorrow: so soone passeth it away, and we are gone. The life of man is aptly compared to a vapour: to the trace of a cloude:VVis. [...]. to a shippe passing ouer the waues of the sea,Vpon this condition we came in­to the world to leaue it againe. tossed and beaten with tempest: to a birde that flyeth in the aire: or a shaft that is shot at a marke, and neuer staieth till it light vpon the ground. Euen so, man, assoone as he is borne, beginneth immediately, to draw to his ende.

The godly Patriarkes who liued in the firste age of the world, saw many yeares: yet at last the dyed. Death was alwaies the ende of their song. Adam lyued 930-yeares: Seath 912: Enoch, 905: Kenan 910: Mahelaell, 895: Ia­red, 962: Mathusala, 969: Lamech, 777: Noah, 950: and they died saith the text. ABraham, the father of the faithfull: Dauid, a man according to Gods owne hart: Iohn Baptist, of whom our Sauiour Christ said, there hath not risen a greater amongst the children of women: y [...]t they dyed. All the Prophets, Apostles, and god­ly martires, were greatly in Gods fauour: yet they died. Rich and poore, wisemen and fooles: learned and ignorant: godly and vngodly: all must follow the daūce of death. Many are gone before: the rest must followe after: when God doth call nature must obey. Wise Salomon, rich [Page 12] Iob, strong Sampson, and faire Absolon, haue trode the path of all flesh. Great Alexander Con­quered the whole world: yet could hee finde no weapon to conquer death. The stiffest steele yeeldeth to the hammer: the strongest oake to the axe: and the stoutest heart vnto nature. And therefore, king Phillip of Macedonia wallowing in worldly wealth, and prosperity: commaun­ded his chamberlaine, euery daye at his vp ry­sing: sadly to repeate vnto him these wordes. Remember king Phillip, and forget not, that thou art a man, subiect to mortality. All flesh is grasse: and euerye man, the flower of the grasse: the grasse shall be withered, and the flo­wer shall fall away.

And as death is a thing of all other most cer­taine and sure: so is the time of d [...]ath most vn­certaine and doubtfull.Preach. 9.13 The Lord in his word hath reuea [...]ed vnto man, many notable lessons, touch [...]ng the knowledge of his w [...]ll: yet not the day of death: b [...]cause he would haue vs liue so, as euery day mig [...]t be the day of death. Know­ing that as the course of this life, is the r [...]ce vn­to death: so is death the gate to eternal life. And therefore, as at night, we do willingly put of our garments: in hope the next morning to put them on againe:He that wil liue, must learne to die. so ought wee willingly to put of these our mortall bodies: assuring our selues that after we haue slept a while in t [...]e dust: to receiue them againe immortall.

[Page 13]

[Page 14] 1 Cor. 15. Iohn 12.24The wheat and other seede, though it dye and rot in the ground: yet springeth vp more beau­tiful then before It is written how certain sum­mer birds lye dead all winter,Plinie. and reuiue in the spring.Lactantius. The Phenix being burnt vnto ashes, yet of the same ashes is bred to liue againe.

PLato calleth a Philosophers life, a meditation of death. But it may truly be said, that the whole race of a Christian mans life: is nothing else, but a continuall warfare.Beginning and ending in the hart. For as the Israelites by bodily resistance, did assaile, fyght against, and ouercome seuen Nations, before they could ob­taine a temporall inheritance, in the land of Ca­naan: so must Gods children, by spirituall resis­tance,Deut. 7.1. assaile, fight against, and ouercome their [Page 15] lewd lustes, wicked, appetits,1 Pet. 2.11 and fleshly affec­tions, with the hole host of vic [...]s: enemies most odious to God, and dangerous to man:Iames 4.1. before they can come to inioy their eternall inheritance in the kingdome of heauen.The more contrary man is to himself, the more agre­able to the will of God.

The chiefe Captaine generall in this conti­nuall conflict, is the mighty Lion of the tribe of Iuda: the prince of peace: the conqueror of death, hell, and sinne: the great Iudge of the world, and bishop of our soules: which is Christ himselfe.

[Page 16] The grande Captaine of our ennemyes part: is the great red Dragon: the old crafty serpent: the deceauer of the world: accuser of his brethe­ren: and gouernor of darknes: which is Satan himselfe. Mighty in power: subtil in pollicy: & skilfull in war. Apt and ready (what in him ly­eth) to hinder the glory of God, and saluation of man.1 Pet. 5.8. Who (like a ramping and roring lyon, see­king continually whom he may deuoure) know­eth how to vse both riches and pouerty, prospe­rity and aduersity health and sicknesse: strength and weakenes, bewty and deformity, as instru­ments and weapons, to serue his purpose. Hee tempted Adam, to eate the forb [...]ddē fruit: Aaron, to make the goldē Calfe: Dauid, to commit adul­try and murther: Iudas, to betray Christ: & Pe­ter, to forsweare him.

He is the prince of this world: hauing all those which are without or against Christ: either by ignorance, not knowing him: or by heathenish life, not following him: or by violence resist [...]ng him: at his b [...]cke, to take part against vs, with tooth and naile.

The Lieutenants of the field: are fleshly sensu­ality, against spir [...]tuall reason.

The Sargeants of the band: the cursed children of darknes,Ephe. 6 12. against the faithful ch [...]ldren of light.

The common souldiers: the law of our mem­bers, against the law of our mind: the effectes of the flesh, ag [...]i [...]st t [...]e fruites of the spirite: [Page 17] oppression and wrong, against right and iustice: subtill craft, and deceit,Gala. 5. against true simple mea­ning: pride and presumption, against humility and lowlines: and all other vice against ver­tue.

NOw forasmuch as our enimies, the children of the world: are more subtill, craftie, and poli­ticke in their generation, then the children of God:Mat. 24.24. able to de­ceiue (if it were possible) euen the very elect. Satan can transfo [...]me himselfe into an Angell of light. Pharaos sorserers could work maruelous strange wonders:Exod. 7. turne a rod to a Serpent: water into bloud: and make quick Frogs. It is written that Simon Magus, could by sorserye flye in the aire: turne stones into bread: make quicke Serpents of brasse: sicles to rea [...]e corne without hands: Images of stone to laugh: and dogges to sing.

And being so many in number, as which way soeuer we turne, be sure to haue one enimie or other to incounter with vs. At our right hand, the world, the flesh, and the deuill watcheth to [Page 18] intice vs to our vtter distruction. At our left hand, aduersitie, pouertie and affliction of bo­die is readie to cast vs downe, into the dunge­on of dispaire. Behinde vs, our sinnes are at hand, to bewray vs. Within vs, our owne con­science, belaieth to accuse vs. Before vs, are Gods iudgements read [...]e to condemne vs: and hell mouth open to deuour vs.

And seeing also that the soldiours of Satan, are so mightie in force, and strongly armed a­gainst vs: hauing on the brest plate of iniury: the girdle of falshood: the shoes of discord: the sheeld of infidelity: the helmet of mistrust: the pearcing dartes of crueltie: the cannon shotte of spitefull reproches: the arrowes of lying slaun­ders: and the sworde of the flesh, which is the doctrine of man: seeking continually to tempt, peruert, and vtterly confound vs.

To resist their tyranny therefore, it standeth vs in hand to be also well and strongly armed, with the brestplate of equitie: the shielde of vn­doubted faith in Christ: the helmet of assured hope:Ephe. 6. the shoes of knowledge, and peace in the holy Ghost: the girdle of truth, well buckled with patience, and constancie: the cannon shotte of deepe sighes proceeding from a true penitent heart: the arrowes of bitter teares, brought forth by remorse of conscience: the pearcing dartes of humble fasting: deuout praying, chari­table giuing, and vertuous liuing: and the [Page 19] two edged sworde of the eternall word of God: which is liuely in operation,Heb. 4.12. & entreth through euen to the diuiding of the soule, and the spirite: and the ioyntes, and the marow. Mighty and strong to cast downe holdes, and ouerthrow the imaginations of euerye thing that exalteth it selfe against the knowledge of God:2. Cor. 10.41.5 and bring into captiuity euery thought to the obedience of Christ.

In which spirituall conflic [...], are three kinds of soldiours. Some painefull warriours: placed for a time, to be tryed in this irkesome vale of miserie, on earth. Some triumphat conque­rours: for whom is appointed a crowne of vic­torie, in the glorious kingdome of heauen. And some cowardly fugitiues: for whō are reserued most greeuous torments, in the lothsome pri­son of hell. For as that professed soldiour,Esay 24. which in time of battaile doth flye the field: and suffer his captaine amongst his enimies, to be buffi­ted, and beaten downe: is but a dastardlye co­ward, worthy of death: so that professed christi­an, which in time of persecution, and trouble,Math. 10.28.32. Rom. 10.9.10. doth flye the spirituall combat, and suffer Christ his louing redeemer, amongst his enimies, to be buffited, and borne downe: is but a dastardly hi­pocrite, worthy of eternall torments.

Forasmuch therefore, as he is nowe readie comming in mai [...]stie, and honor to muster,Heb. 10.37. Math. 25.3 re­ward, and crowne with glorie his conquering [Page 20] soldiours: and punish with seuerity, all coward­ly fugitiues: whose signes and tokens (as mes­sengers) being alreadie come before: to shewe that himselfe is not farre behind. It standeth vs vpon, to keepe our battle ray orderly: fight valiantly: watch carefully: pray hartily: belieue faithfully: hope assuredly: indure constantly: and march on charitably: to stand fast: perse­uer, and quite our selues like men: the quarrell is Gods:1. Cor. 16.13. the victorie ours: the ende, the salua­tion of our soules. Let vs keep am [...]ane course: as it were betwixt Silla and Caribdes: pre­sumption, and desperation: traueling our paine­full pilgrimage in humble obedience,Phil. 2.12. with feare and trembling: alwaies ready to do our best, and trusting in Christ to performe the rest.

AS the Israelits could not come to the land of promise,Deut. 29. but by long painefull trauell through the wildernes: no more can we come to the promised land of rest:Act. 14.22. but by long painefull trauel through the wildernes of tribulation.

[Page 21]The law of Adams children, is to liue in la­bor:Gen. 3. and the curse of Eues brats to suffer afflic­tion: yea all mankinde do feele the biting of the serpent.

Our elders in times past,Though these & such other familiar ex­amples may profitably bee vsed, to helpe the weake ca­pacity of the simple: yet no man ought to ground his conscience vpon the in­uention of man, which may erre: but the truth of God which can not de­ceaue. before they learned their A B.C. (to put them in mind of their cal­ling) began alwaies their fyrst lesson with Christs crosse. Who in building their churches, did imitat the fashion of Salomons temple: so as the bodies thereof, might seeme to represent the church militant: and the chancell, the church triumphant. And in the time of ignorance, was placed right ouer the doore betweene thē, a Rood, or crosse of wood: to signify, that there is no way left vs to passe from the one to the o­ther: but onely vnder the crosse of our louing Redeemer.

He that will tast of his glory in heauen, must first be partaker of his cuppe vpon earth. Hee that after death will reioyce at his presence,2 Tim. 2.3. must first in his life time mourne for his ab­sence. Hee that will imbrace him in his diuine robes of honor, must thinke no skorne of his earthly ragges of contempt.Luk. 9.26. Whosoeuer is a­shamed of his crosse in this life,Hee that will be crowned, must not grudge to be crossed. he will bee a­shamed of him in the life to come. Hee can not passe from ioy to ioy, but ether from earthly mi­sery, to heauenly felicity: or else from earthly fe­licity, to infernall extremity. There is no other way left for the members,Luk. 14.27. then to follow their [Page 22] head.Mat. 10.24.25. The Disciple is not aboue his maister: nor the seruant aboue his Lord. Seeing the good man of the house hath beene called Belsa­bub,Luk. 7.34. glutton, and a companion of the wicked: how can the seruants looke for better entertain­ment?

If the Prophets, Apostles, and godly Mar­tirs of the primitiue Church, (who suffred so pa­tiently the persecutions and troubles of their time) might haue come to the ioyes of heauen, by liuing here at ease in sensual pleasure and se­curity: they were madde men so to dispise the world, and afflict their bodies as they did. E­say had his carkas cut a sunder with a woodden saw.Hebr. 11. Amos thrust into the temples with a naile. Iohn Baptist, beheaded. Daniel condemned to be eaten of Lyons.All that will liue godly in Christ Ie­sus, must suffer per­secution. 2 Tim. 3.12. The three Israelites, com­mitted to the flam [...]ng fyre. Ieremie and Steeuen stoned to death. Paul, beh [...]aded. Thomas (prea­ching the Ghospell in India) slaine with a Dart. And Symon Zelots preaching in Britany, was there crucifyed, &c.

But these valiant and victorious conque­rours, were w [...]ll assured, that prosperity and aduersity, riches and poue [...]ty, life and death, are all Gods giftes,Iames 1.3.4 to trye, the hartes of men.

That godly and valian [...] cha [...]p on Ignatius, scholler to Iohn, and Byshop of Antioch, be­ing condemned for t [...]e Gospell, to be torne and deuoured of wild [...]e [...]sses:Ignatius an. dom. 80. brast sodenly out in [Page 23] these words. So I may finde Christ (saith he) I passe neyther for beastes, teeth, fyre, Iebet, crashing my bones, renting my body, nor all the cruell torments, the Deuill and his instru­ments can inuent.. Who in the middest of his greeuous panges, did valiantly comfort him­selfe, saying: Iam incipio esse discipulus Christi. For as a Noble mans seruant is knowen by his maisters cognisance:Let no mā count that a greeuous misery, which Christ hath left as a badge of his bles­sing. so is a faithfull Christian by bearing his crosse with patience.

It is written how a certaine Pagan on a time vsyng great iniury and outrage against a godly christ [...]an, asked him in great disdaine, what fruit or profyt he receiued by his Christ. Is not this a singuler profyte (quoth he) that for all the bit­ter tants cruell in [...]urie,An exam­ple of pati­ence. and grieuous outrage against mee, yet I do patiently suffer, and wil­lingly pardon thee without reuenge?

REpentance is an inward sor­row, compunction, and mour­ning of the hart,Psal. 51.17. 2 Cor. 7.10 and conscience for sinnes committed: and con­taineth three partes. Con­trition of heart, confession of mouth, and reformation of life.1 Iohn. 1.8.9.10. Lyke as a man feeling his body greeuouslyMath. 3.8. [Page 24] infected with sicknes doth first acknowledge his disease: secondly, seeke to the Phisition for re­medie: and thirdly, being cured, is carefull to temper his diet, and keepe his body from surfet­ting againe. So is it the manner and duty of euery christian Pilgram, feeling his soule sur­feted with sinnes: first by earnest repentance to acknowledge his owne wickednes: secondly by humble, faithfull, and deuout praier to seeke vnto Christ for pardon: and thirdly by restrai­ning and subduing his fleshly appetits and vn­ruly affections, to keepe himselfe from falling againe. And as when the aire is one cast with stormes, the Sunne darkened with tempest, the clowds torne with thunder, and the ground bed [...]wed with raine, straight followeth calme and faire wether. So when a penitent christi­an, feeling his cōscience burthened with sinnes, doth humbly bewaile and confesse his faultes: the teares (like drops of raine) trickling downe his cheekes, with groning, sighing and sobbing vnto God for mercy: at last, by earnest, faithful, and deuout praier, being easily entreated and wonne: straight followeth pardō in Christ com­fort of conscience, and quietnesse of mind.

Psalm. 40.In this manner the Prophet Dauid, confessed his sinnes to be more in number, then the hairs of his head.4 Kings. 20 Manasses bowing the knees of his hart vnto God, confessed his faultes to be more then the sandes of the Sea. Ezechias turned [Page 25] his face to the wall, and mourned heauily. Ma­ry Magdalyn fell downe behinde Iesus,Luk. 7. [...]. and la­mented pitifully. Peter remembring the words of Christ, after he had for sworne him,Mat. 26.71. went out and wept bitterly. Which godly conuersion (for that it seemeth greeuous and painfull to flesh and bloud, so to resist and striue against the corrupti­on of nature) is of some called penance. For Christ neuer assigned any other penance or satis­faction for synnes:Iohn. 8.11. but goe thy way and synne no more.

Thus wheresoeuer true repentance with her inseperable furniture (as humble confession: faithfull prayer, and amendment of life) goeth before: their remission of sinnes (belonging only to penitent synners) do alwaies follow after. And wher acknowledging of sinnes leadeth not the way:Luk. 2 [...].3. there the gates of Gods mercy is al­wayes shutte.

THere be foure manner of confes­sions allowed before God.

The fyrst is publike: as when for some notorious crime com­mitted) the church is greeuously offēded: the gilty offender ought then to come forth in open assembly, and there [Page 26] (with an vnfained shew of repentance,2 Cor. 2.3.9 and ear­nest desire of pardon) to make confession of his fault. Humble thy selfe (saith sainct Ambrose) and intreat thy mother,Ambrose in his 2. B. of repentance Chap. 10. the church of GOD to weepe for thee, and wash away thine offences with her teares.

The second is, when one priuate person (by word or deede) hath done iniury, hurt, or wrong vnto an other: the party offender ought then in charitable maner to come vnto him,Iames 5.16. Math 5.23.24. confesse his fault, desyre a brotherly reconcillatiō, and make satisfaction for the iniurie committed. Non re­mittitur peccatum (saith S. Augustine) nisi resti­tuatur ablatum:August. that is to say, the fault is not pardoned, without restitution (ether in effect, or affect) to the party offended.

The third, when a man is distressed in mind, or troubled in conscience, he ought then to resort vnto his pastor, or else some other learned man, whose office and duty is by the word of God,2. Tim. 3.16 17. 2. Cor. 1.4. to instruct his mind, resolue his conscience, & com­fort his weaknesse

The fourth is a daily opening of our hartes in secret before God.Prou. 24. The iust man (saith Salo­mon) falleth seauen times, and riseth againe. Who so hideth his sinnes (saith he) shal not pros­per:Prou. 28. but he that confesseth and forsaketh them, shall haue mercie.

Chrisost. v­pon the 30. Psalm. ho­mili. 2.Confesse thy synnes in this life (saith Chriso­tome) that thou maist haue rest in the life to [Page 27] come: not vnto the Preest,Auricular confession was fyrst compelled by Pope Innocent. an. dom. 1198. Psalm. 32.6. 1 Iohn 1.9. who is but thy felow seruant, but vnto God himselfe, who is able to heale them.

I sayd I will confesse my sinnes vnto the Lord (saith Dauid) and thou forgauest the wic­kednesse of my fault. If wee acknowledge our sinnes (saith the Apostle) God is mercifull and iust to forgiue vs our synnes, and clense vs from all vnrighteousnes.

FAith is a certainty of thinges, which are not seene:Hebru. 11.1 a sure per­swasion and stedfast consent of the hart and conscience: where­with man beleeueth that, which his dull capacity cā not compre­hend: and is deuided into three kindes.

The first is called a dead or fruitlesse faith,Iames. 2.19. re­ferred only to Deuils & reprobats: who though they beleeue the story of the Bible, and all the articles of the common Creede, except remission of sinnes: yet remaine still in their damnable state.

The second is to worke miracles:Luk. 17.6. Mark. 9.23.11, 23. as with a certaine assured perswasion, to beleeue that a thing shall come to passe:Acts 3.16. whereby the Apostles [Page 26] [...] [Page 27] [...] [Page 28] did cast out Deuils and heale diseases: Which kind, is common as wel [...] to the reprobate as to the elect.Mat. 7.22.23. But the true, liuely, and iustifying faith:Math. 3.17. Acts 10.43. whereby Gods wrath is pacifyed: our sinnes pardoned: our minds lightned: our harts strengthened:Iames 1.6. Ro. 8.14.15. 1 Cor. 6.15.19. our praye [...]s heard: our requestes granted: and we adopted the children of God, members of Christ, and Temples of the holy ghost:Hebru. 11.6. Math. 16.17. Ro. 10 17. Luk. 24.45. Ro. 10.10.1.16. without which it is not possible to please him: is a syngular gift of God, whereby his holy spirit (by the preaching of his word and sa­craments) doth seale and conforme in the harts and conscience of his elect, a certaine assured trust:Which pro­seedeth ra­ther from the affecti­ons of the hart, then the vnder­standing of the braine. Iohn 3.16. that onely by and through the conception, byrth, merits, death, passion, resurrection, assen­tion, & intercession of that pure innocent Lambe Christ Iesus: to haue free pardon & remission of synnes, both originall, and actuall, and raigne with him in glory for euer.

Pope is an assured, constant, and vnmooua­ble expectation: which as an inseperable com­panion,Ro. 15.4.8.24. doth stedfastly looke and long for the perfourmance of those things,1 Thes. 5.8. Titus 2.13. Heb. 10, 21. which faith belie­ueth to be true: and is therefore called the bloud of faith, and anker of saluation.

Loue in generall, is a common effect of fauor and affection: and charity is loue, reduced in due order, the handmaid of faith, and mistres of all other vertues.

And as faith beleeueth the word, and hope [Page 29] waiteth for the promised reward: so charity see­keth to helpe, comfort, and releeue her neigh:Math. 7.12. 1. Cor. 13.4.7. hour. To profit and do good vnto all: and to hurt or hinder none. To loue all men in Christ, and for Christes sake: and to hate none but sin,Rom. 13.10. Math. 5.44. Ioh. 13.35. and for sinnes sake.

And as the spirite of life, descending from the head, disperseth into euery part of the bodie: so that if any member shall not be partaker there­of, it cannot liue, but perish terrestrially: euen so the spirite of Christ, (being the head of his Church) so disperseath into euerye member thereof, quickning, knitting, and ioyning them together, by the vertue of concord, loue,Mat. 22.12. Ioh. 13.35. and cha­rity: that if any part, or member shall bee sepa­rate, or cut from the same: it cannot liue but pe­rish eternally.

AS amongst the Iewes in olde time, those beastes onely,Leu. 11. Prayer must be grounded vpon faith, and faith vpon the word of God. which chew the endde, were counted cleane, and meete for the suste­nance of man: so those men one­ly which (by faithfull prayer, and meditation) chew the cudd of their minds: are counted righteous, and meete for the king­dome [Page 30] of heauen.

Meditation is the keye of conscience, which openeth the closet of the heart: and the eye of the soule, whereby she seeth her whole estate, defect, and danger.

Prayer is an humble lifting vp of the minde vnto God: the fruits of repentance, and foode of faith:Colo. 4.2. consisting of two partes: inuocation, and thanksgiuing. Which Christ himselfe, hath not onely in mercy ordained, as the chiefest part of Diuinity: profitably appointed it, as the surest staffe for a christiā pilgrim to s [...]ay vpon:Mat. 14.38. 1. Tim. 2.1. straight­ly commaunded it, as the strongest defence for his poore distressed children to flye vnto: and by his owne example confirmed it,Luk. 22.40.41. as the onely meane to obtaine all thinges meete for the vse and profite of man:Math. 7.8. Math. 6.9. but hath also prescribed, an ordinary rule, and firme (as it were his com­mon store house of wealth and vertue) to direct our praiers according to his owne diuine wise­dome. Wherein is contained all thinges necessa­ry, both concerning his owne glory: the health of our soules: and preseruation of our bodies. Adding thereunto, a certaine assured promise, confirmed with an othe, and sealed with his owne bloud: that whosoeuer do faithfully be­leeue in him: put their trust in his mercy: and depend wholy vpon his prouidence:Mat. 6.30. Act. 10.43. Iohn 6.47. Mark. 11.34 Ioh. 16.23. shall haue cleane remission of sinn [...]s, and eternall life. And whatsoeuer they shall profitably aske in his [Page 31] name: he will assuredly here them, and graunt their requestes.Psal. 50. Call vpon me in the daye of trouble (saith the Lord:) and I will heare thee, and thou shal praise me. This is the trust that we haue towardes him (saith the Euangelist) that if we aske any thing according to his will,1. Ioh. 5.14. he heareth vs. If you abide in me, and my wordes abide in you (saith our Sauiour) aske what you will, and it shall be done vnto you.Ioh. 15.7. Whatsoeuer you shall aske in prayer, if you do beleeue (saith he) you shall receiue it.Mat. 21, 22. The Lord is nigh vnto all that ca [...]l vpon him (saith Da­uid) Yea vnto all such as call vpon him faithful­ly. I will heare before you call,Psal. 145. yea while you are but euen thinking to speake, saith the Lord.Esay 65.

As truely as hee heard Iobes prayer in the dunghill: Ieremy, in the clay p [...]tte:Iob. 42. Lam. 3. Daniel 6.3. Ionas 2. Act. 7. Daniell in the Lyons denne: the three children, in the flaming fire: Iona [...] in the whales bellye: and Steuen vnder the stones: so truely will he heare the rest of his obedient children,All times, in al places and for all persons. Iames 1.6.7 that call faithfully vpon him in distresse, and mistrust him not. But hee that doubteth (saith the Apostle) is like a waue of the sea, tost w [...]th the wind, and carried with vio­lence. Neither let that man thinke, that he shall receiue any thing of the Lord.

Some are not heard,Like a har­per that plaieth one tune and singeth an other. because they pray with lippes onely, without the affections of the hart. Some for vngratefully abusing Gods bene­fites, as though got by their owne policie.

[Page 32]Some in praying for superfluity, are iustlye denyed things necessarie. You receiue not (saith the Apostle) because you aske not.Iames 4.2.3 And you aske and receiue not: because you aske amisse.

The matter in prayer lyeth not in much saying, but well saying. It is not in the number of words,Math. 6.6.7 or lowdnesse of voice: but the zealous af­fection of an humble penitent heart:Esay. 57. Psal. 31. and the fer­uent groning desire of a troubl [...]d spiri [...]e: that as most delicate musicke, pearceth the heauens, and soundeth in Gods sacred eares: as daintie meate pleaseth his diuine tast: and as sweete incence, delighteth his heauenly smell.

When Anna (a figure of the Church) did pray in the Temple:1. King. 1. her hea [...]t and lippes did moue: but her voyce was not heard: and yet God hard her. So was Moises saide to be vehement in prayer,Exod. 14. when he spake not one word.

It is moreouer to be obserued: that our pray­ers for spirituall giftes, pertaining to the soule, ought alwaies to be absolute, without conditi­on: as well assured of rem [...]ss [...]on of sinnes, and eternall saluation in Christ, according to his promise. But for temporall thinges pertaining to the bodie: to b [...]e alwaies ioyned with this condition: that if it sha [...]l please his fatherly goodnes, to graunt our petitions. Because wee are ignorant, what is most meete, and profita­ble for vs.

When it pleaseth the Lord to bestowe a be­nefit of his children: his custome is,Phil. 2.13. first to sti [...]re [Page 33] vp their mindes: moue their heartes: and open their lippes, humbly to pray vnto him.Phil. 2.13. And then (as a louing father) so farre as shall further his owne glorie, and their saluation: to graunt their requestes. For whatsoeuer is contrarie, is vn­me [...]t for him to giue: and hurtfu [...]l for vs to re­ceiue.

And though our prayers be but weake, faint,For if God shoulde straightly measure mans im­perfections by the straight rule of his word, the most righ­teous man vpon earth should not be able to stand be­fore him. Mat. 9.24. Math. 7.6.15 29. VVisd. 1. and full of wandring fantasies: y [...]t in stirring vp our selues, what in vs lyeth: hee will no doubt, put to his helping hand: sharpen our dul­n [...]s: strengthen our weakenes: pardon our im­perfections: and accept our obedience. But contrariwise: as he is mercifull, so is he iust. As he is liberall, so is he wise. He appeared not vnto Moises, before he had runne out of Egypt, vnto the hilles of Madian. Neither will he endewe the hartes of such, with his heauenly consolatiō: as are yet possessed with worldly vanities. He will not cast pearles before swine: not the chil­drens bread vnto dogges; Ne [...]ther giue a tast of his treasure where there is no will to receiue it. He will be found of those (saith the wise man) that tempt him not.

FAsting serueth especiallye to three endes. First, to mortify, and subdue the lustes of the flesh. Secondlye, to stirre vp more feruent aptnesse,Tob. 12.9. Psal. 35.13. to medi­tation and prayer. And th [...]rdly, to be a testimony of our inward humility, and duetifull obedience to the will of God.

We ought to fast (saith S. Ambrose) to keepe our bodies from surfetting:Ambrose. and our soules from sinning.

The diseases of the minde (saith S. Ierom) are to be healed with praying:Ierom. and the lustes of of the body, with fasting. For euen as a wanton pampered horse, doth striue to cast his rider: so doth a wanton pampered bodie, by nature, re­sist against reason, and vertue. And as a fat foule with few fethers, is vnapt to flye in the aire: so our praiers (as it were the wings of the soule) without abstinence of bodie:Luk. 2.37. Mat. 17.21. are vnapt to fly vn­to heauen.

The bodie of an obedient Christian, is the meetest temple wherein the holy Ghost deligh­teth to dwell.1. Cor. 6.19 Psal. 51.17. An humble penitent hart, the fit­test [Page 35] altar, whereon the Lord taketh pleasure, to receiue our offerings: and the mortifying of our flesh, the most acceptable sacrifice,Rom. 6.12. Colo. 3.5.6 to appease the honorable maiestie of our God.

Yet alwaies prouided, that as he is well con­tented with the abstinence of the godly: so much more with the conuersion of a sinner. Hee is greatly moued with the prayers of the iust: but much more, with the restitution of the iniuri­ous. He is greatly delighted with the patience of the sicke,Iames 1.3.4 Iames 2.15 but much more with the charitable hospitality of those that be whole.

It is good to fast (saith S. Augustine) but better to giue almesse.Augustine in his 64. sermon of time. When the lustes of the flesh are mortifyed: our wronged brother satisfied: and our needy neighbour releeued: then God with our fast is well pleased.

AS the wise men of the East did offer vnto Christ their costlye presents of gold,Math. 2.11. frankensence, and mirre:1. Thes. 3.8 Heb. 13.15 Act. 10.4 Ephe. 4.24. 1. Thes 4.3 Math. 7.12 6.31.33. so the most pretious thing that we can present vnto him, is the golde of faith, and sure hope: the franckensence of zeale, and true deuotion: and the mirre of ver­tue, & charitable liuing. To honor him with due obedience: and depend wholy vpon his proui­dence. Ioyning alwaies practice with know­ledge deedes, with wordes: keeping, with hea­ring: walking with talking: and expressing, with professing.Rom. 2.13. Knowing that not the hearers of the word, but the doers, shall be iustified. Not euery one that saith vnto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdome of heauen:Mat. 7.21. Ioh. 13.17. Luk. 11.28. but he that doth the will of my father, which is in heauen. If you vnderstand these things (saith our Sauiour) happy are you if you do them. Blessed are they that heare the word of God, and [...]eepe it.

Christian duetie con­sisteth in knowledge of the truth, faith in Christ, and obedience to his will.He that heareth the word willingly: vnder­standeth it rightly: belieueth it faithfuly: learneth it perfectly applyeth it profitably: and keepeth it diligently: shall ioy with Christ assuredly. [Page 37] And this is religion, or godlines, the ground of conscience, and true deuotion.

The word of God propoundeth; repentance seeketh: prayer findeth: faith apprehendeth: hope assureth: and charity perfourmeth. And where faith neuer doubteth: nor hope neuer shrin­keth: nor charity neuer ceaseth: there God ne­uer faileth. And this is the golden chaine of saluation: the true pilgrimage to Paradise, and right ladder to heauen. To know and beleeue the truth, are two winges to flye vnto ioy: and to resist vice, and practise vertue, two legges to walke to felicity.

Iohn heard a voice from heauen saying: bles­sed are the dead which die in the Lord:Apoc. 14.13 euen so sayth the spir [...]t, that they rest from their labors, & their works follow them. And he that will die in the Lord, must be carefull to liue in the Lord.

It is an infallible rule, qualis vita, finis ita: to him that liueth vertuously. God doth alwayes giue grace to dye faithfully. A ioyful death fol­loweth a charitable life: and a happy life insu­eth such a death. So as hee that liueth to dye well, shall surely die to liue better: whereas he that will not frame himselfe to honor and obay the giuer of his life: is vnworthy to haue or en­ioy his life. And as God in olde tune,Leuit. 21. was not contented to be serued with the blind, lame, and maimed of the flock: so he that carelesly imploy­eth the bewty and strength of his youth, in vice, [Page 38] vanity, and seruice of the Deuill: as though old rotten bones, and dregs of age were good y­nough to vse in the seru [...]ce of God: he seldome granteth either time to liue long, or grace to dye well. Such as liue like wolues, do often dye like swine. Commonly after a dissolute life without feare of death, followeth a desperat death, without hope of life. And it agreeth with all equity, right, and reason, that such as in lewd behauiour haue passed their time:A wicked life deser­ueth a shamefull death. should by ry­gure of iustice receiue their end.

IT is required in a true chri­stian Pilgram, to be wel and strongly armed with patiēce, and girt with constancy, to abide firme and stable in the time of temptation and tri­all:Ro. 8.36.38 39. so as nether prosperity, nor aduersity, well, nor woe, life nor death, can once moue, quaile, or discorage him.

Worldly riches are subiect to many mishaps: bodily strength is taken away by sicknes: and by age that dayly cree [...]es on, bewty is soone consumed: but a true constant mind, comforted [Page 39] by Gods holy spirit: no chance or misfortune can alter or quall. Elias in the desert, Iohn Baptist in the wildernesse, and Peeter in prison with the rest of the Apostles in time of their pilgrimage, had but simple clothing, but the loines of their minds were we [...]l & surely gi [...]t. Whose commen­dations of Christ himselfe are very great: yet not so much for leauing their parents, frendes, goods, and countrie to followe him: nether for their strait kinde of liuing, or valiant corage in preaching: as for that they continued constant to the end. You are they that haue byden with mee in my temptation (saith he) and I will giue you a kingdome: bee faithfull to the end,Luk. 22.2 [...].29. Apoc. 2.10. Apoc. 21.7. and I will giue you a crown of life. He that ouercom­meth, shall possesse all thinges, and I will be his God, and he shall be my sonne,Apoc. 2.7. and shall eate of the tree of life, which is in the middest of Para­dise of God. But hee that taketh the Plough in hand, and looke [...]h back,Luk. 9.62. Heb. 10.3 [...] is vnmeete for the king­dome of heauen. Not euery one that runneth: but he that commeth to the end of the gole,1 Cor. 9.24 25. hath the garlande. Not euery one that worketh in the vine [...]ard: but he that cōtinueth vntil night,Math. 20. hath the penny. Not euery one that fighteth: but he that getteth the victory, hath the crowne of triumph. Not euery one that beginneth wel,Mat. 10.22 and doth good for a time: but hee that indureth to the end shall be saued.

When the Angell had wrestled and night withGen. [...]2. [Page 40] Iacob: at last because it drue neere day, desyred to depart: (no quoth Iacob) I will not let thee go before thou blesse me. Iacob by faith preuailed, and was therefore called Israel (that is to say) one that preuaileth with God: so all that wil be taken at the last day for true christiā Israelites: must by faithfull prayer, patience and constan­cy, preuaile with God.

To become a Citizen of heauen, is an office of great honor: and no small matter to obtaine so high a calling. We may not thinke to haue that at the fyrst chop, which all the godly before vs haue obtained in long time: with great trobles, greeuous crosses, and many tears. An Oke springeth vp by litle and litle in great space of yeares: and cut downe againe by many small strokes. The soft drops of water, by often fal­ling, do pierce through the hardest stone. By continuall perswasion, the hardnes of mans hart is molifyed: and by continuall prayers our God is easily intreated. Without great labor and long sute, a worldly benefyte is not obtai­ned at an earthly kings hands: so many we think our selues most happy and blessed: if (when we haue paciently waited in hope, with cont [...]nuall praying and intr [...]ating all the dayes of our life) we may yet at length obtaine our long desired ioyes.Luk. 10 20.

Happy and blessed is hee whom the father of mercy endueth with his interior grace: so to [Page 41] worke, runne, and perseuer: as in the ende hee may say with the Apostle:2. Tim. 4.7. I haue fought a good fyght: and got the victory. I haue finished my course: and woon the prise. Christ is to me life: and death to mee aduantage. To him with the Father, and the holy Ghost, be all honor, glory, and thankes for euer.

PLucke vp thy hart, and reioice,Sach. 2.8. Psal. 6.2.9. Luk. 12.32. Ihon. 16.20 33. litle poore dispised flocke: for the Lord hath heard the voice of thy weeping: whose will and pleasure is to giue thee a king­dome.

Great are the troubles of the righteous:Psalm. 33.107. but the Lord himselfe is the defender of their cause, and will deliuer them out of all. One haire of their head shall not perish:Math 10.30 for they are dearely bought. Euen as a Father pittieth his owne sonne:Psal. 103. so is our God mercifull vnto them that feare him. The naturall infirmities of man, are not hid from his eies: he knoweth whereof we are made: he remembreth that we are but dust.Psal. 116.13. Right deare in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Sainctes. He that [Page 42] toucheth one of his obedient Children, tou­cheth the apple of his owne eie.Zach. 2. Esay 49. Will a wife forget the child of hir wombe, or the sonne that shee hath borne: and though shee do forget, yet wi [...]l not I forget thee, saith the Lord. I haue bene younge,Psalm. 37. and now am olde (sayth Dauid) yet saw I neuer the righteous forsaken: nor his Children begge their bread. Yea, rather then Helias shall die for foode: he will prepare the Rauens to feede him.3 King. 17. Rather then Sampson shall decay for drinke,Iudg. 15. hee will bring water out of an Asses Iawe bone, to refresh him. Ra­ther then Israell shall starue for hunger: He wil send Manna from Heauen, to norish them. rather then his people shall perish for thirst:Exod. 16. hee will turne the hard Rocke into a standing water,Deutr. 8. to comfort them. Rather then any harme shall come vnto his chosen: hee will set his Angels to keepe and preserue them: and carry the poor begger into Abrahams boo­some.Heb. 1.14. Math. 18.10. Psalm. 34. Euk. 16.22. Esay. 54. The Mountaines shall moue, and the hilles shall fall downe: but my louing kindnes, shall neuer moue, nor fall, saith the Lord.

Psal. 12.5.1.They that put their trust in him (saith the Prophet) shall be euen as mount Sion, which may not bee remoued, but standeth fast for euer.

1 Cor, 11.32 Not barrē trees, but fruitful are yerely bea­den.And though our louing Father, whose will and pleasure is, not to cocker his children in this life: but rather to punish their sinnes, that [Page 43] they should not be condempned in the world to come) do feede them for a time,Esay 30. with the sowre bread of heauinesse, and bitter water of afflic­tion: to try them in the fournace of aduersitie:Prou 17. as the potters vessell in the ouen: or gold in the fyer:Apoc. 3.11. yet the time of refreshing (no doubt) is e­uen at hand. He will come shortly, and will not tary: to wipe all teares from their eies: and turne their sorrow,Apoc. 7.17. Esay 61 Math. 16.20 and miserie into ioy and fe­licity for euer.

Whom the Lord loueth, him hee chaste­neth:Prou. 3. Tob. 12 and yet delighteth in him as a father in his sonne. Because thou wast beloued of God (saith the Angell to Tobias) it was necessary that temptation should trye thee.

Lyke as the Heards-man, when any of his flocke are vnruly, and straye from their fel­lowes: sendeth forth his dogge not of mallice to hurt on deuoure them: but of loue to saue and refourme them. Euen so our heauenly Shepheard; when his sheepe goe astray, and offende him: hee sendeth out his dogge of tri­bulation: not of e [...]uye to hurt or distroy them: but of fauor to correct and am [...]nd them.

And as the skilfull Phisitian prescribeth not one manner of dyet, nor one kinde of mede­cine, to all his patients: but onely that which he knoweth most meete for their bodily health, according to the complection of the man, and [Page 44] quality of the disease: so where as God our on­ly sailfull Phisitian, knowing best what is meet and expedient for the health of all men, both bo­dy and soule: doth giue vnto some prosperity, some aduersity, some health, some sicknes, some quietnes,Iams. 1 12. Phil. 4.11. and some troubles: it is our duty to rest contented with his will: knowing that hee neuer faileth his children in necessity: nor suf­freth them to bee tempted aboue their power.1. Cor. 10.13 Though he maketh a wound (sai [...]h Iob) hee gi­u [...]th a plaister,Iob. 5. and though hee smite, hee maketh hole.Gen. 32. As in wrastling with Iacob with one hande: he did comfort and strengthen him to ouercome with the other.2. Pet. 2 [...]. So will hee ei­ther strengthen the rest of his obedient Chil­dren,1. Cor. 10.13 to indure and ouercome their troubles: or else open a way whereby to auoide them. And often times those thinges, which are taken for punishmentes, are rather profitable medecins. For euen as the Nurse, by annointing her brest with Aloes, doth weane hir Infant from suc­king: so doth God by tribulation and aduer­sity: weane his Children from sensuall de­lightes.

Deutr 1.And as Moses, by striking the hard stonie Rocke, with his Rodde: brought forth plen­ty of Water: euen so GOD by stryking the stony Hart of Man with affliction: bringeth foorth teares of contrition. And as in the [Page 45] Gold-smithes Forge, the golde is fined, while the Coales are burned: so in the Forge of temptation and trouble: the faithfull are try­ed, and fined: while the wicked are hardned and consumed.

And as the seed, which is cast vpon the land: vnlesse it indure the coldnesse of raine, frost, and snowe: can bring forth no fruit: no more can man:He that so­weth in teares shall reape in ioy. Prou. 10. Esay 51.4.5 52.4. vnlesse he do patiently beare the crosse of tribulation and aduersity: bring forth true fruites of the Gospell. The patient abiding of the righteous (saith Salomon) shall be turned into gladnesse. The Lorde correcteth all those whom he loueth:Heb. 12.6. Apoc. 3.19. and scourgeth euery sonne that he receiueth. So as there is no greater temptation, then neuer to be tempted: nor sorer whip, then neuer to be scourged.

Yet such is the naturall infirmitie of man: that it God beginne a little to chastice: wee so­row and lament, as though there were none other hell. And if we florish a little in prosperi­ty: we laugh and sing, as though there were none oth [...]r heauen. Hauing more respect, how the world is inclined: then what the Lorde hath commaunded. Whereas wee shoulde not so much regard what we are here: as what here after wee shall bee. Not what we haue now: but what we shall haue, in time to come. For all that Christ dyed for, is yet behinde. His kingdome is not of this world. [Page 46] The effect of his death, is not to make vs flo­rish in this life. The ioy of Gods children, and sorrow of his enimies, beginneth not till after death.

Hoc momentum, vnde pendet eternitas. This is a place of temptation and triall: a moment of time, whereof dependeth eternity of life to come. The figure of this life: withall the glory pompe,1. Cor. 7.31. 2. Cor. 5.17. 2. Pet. 3.13. and vanity thereof: shall vanish and passe away, and all thinges must be new. New heauen: new earth: new bodies: new mindes: and all thinges new: such as neither eye hath seene: eare hath heard: nor heart hath vnder­stand before.

AS the worlde had a beginning: so shall it haue an ending. The heauens (saith the Apostle) shal passe away in manner of a tem­pest:2. Pet. 3. the eliments shall melt with heat: and the earth with all thinges therein contained shall burne with fier, and be consumed. But the Lord will crea [...]e newe heauens,Esay 51.8. and a new earth:Esay 65.17. and the former (saith the prophet) [Page 47] shall not bee remembred nor come to minde.

I saw (saith the Euangelist) a newe heauen. and a newe earth: for the first heauens,Apoc. 21. and the first earth were passed away, and there was no more sea.

And I saw the holy citie new Ierusalem,All things shall be re­newed and restored to the most excellent state of per­fection, as in paradise be­fore Adams fall. come downe from God, out of heauen, prepared as a bride, trimmed for her husband. And I heard a great voyce out of heauen saying: [Page 48] beholde the tabernacle of God is with men: and he will dwell with them: and they shall be his people: and he himselfe shall bee their God with them: and shall wipe awaye all teares from their eies. And there shall bee no more death: neither sorrow: neither crying: neither shall there bee any more paine: for the first things are gone. And there shall be no night there:Apoc. 22.5. and they neede no candle, neither light of the sunne, for the Lorde God giueth them light: and they shall raigne for euermore. Thy sonne shall neuer go downe (saith the Prophet) and thy name shall not be taken away:Esay 60. for the Lorde himselfe shall be thine euerlasting light: and thy sorrowfull daies shall be ended.Esay 30. The moue (saith he) shall then be as light as the sunne: and the sunne light shall be increa­sed, seauen folde: and haue as much shine as in seauen daies besides.

And as the newe heauens, and newe earth which I will make,Esay 66. shall remaine before mee (saith the Lorde) so shall your seede, and your name continue: and from moneth to moneth: and from Saboth to Saboth: shall all fleshe come and worshippe before me (saith the Lord) and they shall go forth, and looke vpon the kar­cases of the men which haue transgressed a­gainst me: for their worme shall not die neither shall their fire be quenched: and they shall be an abhorring vnto all flesh.

[Page 49]As the gold is desolued in the fire (saith S. Augustine) not to perish,Augustine de ciuitate dei. but to make it more fine, and pure: so the first heauen, defiled with the pride of Angels: and the first earth cor­rupted with the wickednesse of man: shall va­nish, passe away, and be no more seene. Not altered in verity, and substance: but changed in fashion, forme, and shape.1. Cor. 7.31 So as the na­ture, qualitie, and complexion, of corruptible Elemen [...]s, agreeable to these our mortall bo­dies: shall then be transformed, to agree with our immortall, and purified bodies:1. Thes. 4.16 and so re­maine for euer.

And as we are now clothed, with the I­mage of Adams corruptible bodie,1. Cor. 15.48.49. subiect to death and miserie:Phil. 3.21. 1. Cor. 15.52.53. so shall wee then bee clothed with the Image of Christes glorified bodie, chaunged into perfection and sincerity. When Christ shall appeare (saith the Apostle) wee shall be like vnto him, and see him as he is.1. Iohn 3.2. And though wee shall not then, as now:Ierom. Mat. 22.30. Psal. 78.25. Iob. 19. bee main­tained and fed with elimentall foode, but as the Angels in heauen:Not airie spitits but incorrupti­ble bodies. Theodoret in his 2. dialoge. 1. Cor. 15.38.44. Luk. 24.39 Yet our bodies of the same humaine nature, shape, and fashion, of flesh and bones, with all partes and members of a man, as in this life. Not altered in substance: but chaunged in property. Behold my handes and my feete (saith our Sauiour his Disci­ples) for it is euen I my selfe: handle mee and see: for a spirite hath not flesh and bones as you [Page 56] see me haue.

Ioh. 20.19 Anselm. in lib. de simi­li, Chap. 48.49.Yet such was his bodie, as he entred the cham­ber where they were assembled, t [...]e dores being shut. Anselmus affirmeth that y^e glorifie [...] to ies of the iust: shall be so pure, and p [...]rfect, as may easily pearce or penitrate,Mat. 13.43. Daniel 12. any other body, with­out resistance, or danger: and in beaut [...]e shall shine, as the sunne.

And as we shall be new men: so shall we haue new sences to vnderstand thinges, not as they seeme:1. Cor. 13.12. but as they are in deede: And beholde the diuine mysterie of God, face to face. The fruition of whose glorious presence (as the ori­ginall fountaine from whence, all wisedome, gladnes, ioye, vertue, and true felicitie, do pro­ceede) shall so rauish, content, and satisfie, euery member,1. Ioh. 14. Act. 2.28. 1. Cor. 2.9. power, and sence of bodie, and minde, with fu [...]l perfection, of pleasure and delight: as neither eie hath seene: eare hath heard: tongue can expresse: nor heart imagine. In compa­rison whereof: all the va [...]ne pleasures of this world, are but fained shewes, or darke sha­dowes.

There was in the temple at Ierusalem, and so in the tabernacle, two vales. The first in the sanctuarie: and the second in sanctum sanctorum. The outward vale did signifye the couering and concealing of those mysteries, glad tydings, of the Gospell, or doctrine of grace: pertaining to the church militant.2. Cor. 3.13.14.18. Which at the death of christ [Page 57] (to shewe that the same was then reueiled: the fierie sword, which kept the gate of Paradise remoued: and the way to God the Father, vnto all true beleeuers, laid open) did rent and teare in sunder.Mat. 27.51

The inwarde vale, did signify the couering and concealing of those diuine mysteries, which after the generall iudgement shall bee reuealed: when we shall see his glorious maiestie face to face, as he is. Which vale had foure colours,1. Cor. 13.12 signifying the foure Elements: being impedi­ments, and lets, to keepe vs from the sight of those heauenly substances, which our immortall and glorifyed bodies, shall then behold.

And as our Sauiour Christ,Phil. 2. laide aside the pa [...]t of maiestie: tooke vpon him the forme of a seruant: and hauing performed due obedience, and subiection vnto his father: is now aduan­ced to the highest dominion, and crowned with honor and glorie, that all knees shall bow vnto him. So after the last day,Rom. 14.11 when he hath perfor­med the offic [...] of a mediator: hee shall yeelde vp into the handes of his Father,1. Cor. 15.24.25. both the king­dome, name, and crowne of glorie:Maister Caluin in his insti­tutions. and bee con­tent with that same glorie which he inioyed be­fore the creation of the world: that God may be all in all.