Act 11. 27. In those dayes also came Pro­phe [...] from Ierusalem vnto Antioch.

28 And there stood vp one of them named Agabus, and signified by the spirit, that there should be great famine through­out the world, which also came to passe vnder Claudius Caesar.

29 Then the Disciples euerie man ac­cording to his ability, purposed to send succor vnto the brethren which dwelt in Iudea.

30 Which thing they also did, and sent it to the Elders by the hands of Barna­bas and Saule.

THe Arke of Noah, Ge. 7. 9. was a figure of the church, wher into Iewes & Gen­tiles, cleane and vn­cleane [Page] should one day bee gathe­red. Ierusalem is walled about, Psal. 122. 7. and there the Church of God is inclosed. But Zac. 2. 4, Ierusalem shal be inhabited with­out wals. There it is laid common as dispersed far and nigh ouer the face of the earth. Two commissi­ons are giuen to the Apostles, the former with limitation. Matt. 10. 5 Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into the Cities of the Samaritans enter ye not. The latter was without re­straint. Mat. 28. 19. Go and teach all Nations. In the first the partition wall standes vp: In the second that partition wall is broken downe. Ephe. 2. 14. Mat. 22. 2. The king­dome of Heauen is like vnto a cer­taine king which married his sonne. The feast is made vnto all people. Esay 25. 2. Therefore both Iewes [Page] and Gentiles are bidden to it. Mat. 22. They that dwell a farre of shall come and sit do [...]ne. Mat. 8. 11. The poore and the rich shall eate and bee sa­tisfied. Psal. 22. 26. 29. May eate and drinke cheape enough. Esay. 55. 7. But though there be no differēce betweene the cleane & vncleane. For Peter in the Chapter before, Acts 10. falling into a traunce, and seeing both sorts come downe to him in a vessell, heareth a voice, Arise Peter kill and eate: though the stewardes and commissioners of the high God, might distribute the food of the soule, and make all nations without stop partakers of it. And therefore Barnabas & Saule come vnto Antiochia in the verse before, and certaine Prophets also came from Ierusalem vnto Antio­chia, though (I say) the famine of [Page] the bread of life shuld last no lon­ger, the date was out, & the hand­writing cancelled, yet Agabus in this place telleth and foresheweth another famine, a great famine of material bread, which shuld come vpon all nations, in the world. In the intreatie wherof, I will speake first of the famin it selfe. 2, of the effects it wrought. Cōcerning the famin: 1, It is foreshewed, where I obserue, 1 the meanes by which it was reuealed to the Prophet, which was the spirit. 2, The ende why it was reuealed, which was that he might signify it to y^e people 2 The famin is brought, where I obserue the time in which it was brought, to wit whē Claudius was Emperor of Rome▪ [...], The reason why it was brought, which is here suppressed, because Claudius [Page] himselfe (as it is written) was im­moderately giuen to excesse, and the rest of the world ready to sur­feit in their diet.

Concerning the effect this fa­min wrought: it caused the disci­ples in Antiochia to send succor & reliefe to their brethren in Iudea, which were more distressed then themselues, where I note, 1, their charitie, 2, their discretion.

Touching their charitie, I mark, 1, their charitable mind, they pur­posed to send succor: 2, their charita­ble practise shewed two wayes. 1, They made a beneuolēce, which thing they also did: 2 they kept it not in their hands but sent it away, and sent it.

Concerning their charitable minde, in that they purposed to giue, I obserue, 1, the qualities of [Page] the giuers in whom there was:

1 A readinesse without delay, no­ted in the circumstance of the time, Assoone as the famine came, Then, &c.

2 A willingnesse, without com­pulsion: they did not impose [...] law one vpon another: But eue­rie man purposed.

3 The quantitie of the gift, they which had much, gaue much, they which had litle, gaue litle, Euery man according to his abilitie. Their discretion appeareth.

1 In choosing trustie messengers who should carrie their bene­uolence, as Barnabas and Saule.

2 In appointing wise men to re­ceiue it, which might distribute to euery one, as euery one had need: They sent it to the Elders. By the spirit. The meanes by [Page] which the famin was foreshewed was the spirit of God. The prophe­cies in the Scripture are not of any priuate motion, men did not speak of their owne heades, but holy men of God spake as they were moued by the holy Ghost. 2. Pet. 1. 20. The prophets are called criers as Iohn Baptist. Mat. 3. 3. and criers speake nothing but that which is first put into their mouths, there­fore Esay makes a noise after the maner of criers. Esay 55. 1. and heares the voyce of God saying, Crie, Esay 40. 6. And he said. VVhat shall I crie? All flesh is grasse, and all the glory thereof as the flower of the field. The voice of the Prophets is like a Trumpet. Esay 58. 1. They must set the trūpet to their mouths Hos. 8. 1. And blow the trumpet in Zion. Ioel. 2. 1. But the breath of [Page] the Lord must blow it, otherwise it giueth but an vncertaine sound, and false alarum. There is a doore of the heart: Acts 16. 14: & a doore of the lips, Ps. 141. 3: and he which hath the key of Dauid, Reuel. 3: 7. must open the doore of the heart, and let the worde in, before the Prophet open the doore of the lips to let the worde out, Ezech. 10. 11. Therefore the Lorde tea­cheth Balaam what to say, and puts an answere in his mouth. Num. 23. 5. Therefore Iosua before he deli­uers the matter, and telleth the children of Israel what shal come after, vseth this preface, Come hi­ther and heare the wordes of the Lorde your God, Therfore Elihu is taught by God, before he would bee tea­cher to Iob: his heart did speake before his mouth. Iob 33. There­fore [Page] Ieremie must eate the words Iere. 15: 16: and Ezechiel must eate the roll wherein the prophecies are written, and then speake to the house of Israel. Ezech. 3. 1. And Iohn must take the little booke out of the angels hand, and eate it vp, and then prophecie againe among the people: Reu: 10: 10: and Agabus must be foretaught by God, and as it were eat the prophecie concer­ning famin, & then giue notice to the world, how litle they shal eate that God will giue them cleannes of teeth in al their riches & scarce­nesse of bread in all their habitati­ons. That which the ministers are here to learne is to deliuer no­thing vnto the people, but that which they haue gathered out of Gods word: Euery minister must be a Moses, & speake al, Ex. 7: 2: he [Page] must bee an Isaac, and speake no more but all. Gen. 27. 37. e Hmus [...] teach. 1. Tim. 4. 11. the good and right way. 1. Sā. 12. 13. If any teach otherwise let him be accursed. Gal. 1. 8. That which I haue written saith Pilate, Iohn 19. 22. As if hee shuld say, that which I haue writ­ten truly, shall continue written without alteration. That which God hath spoken, he hath spoke [...] once or twise. Psal. 62. 11. That hi [...] worde might bee like the Med [...] and Persians which altereth not Dan. 6. 12. If any man shall adde, God shall adde vnto him plagues, if any shall diminish of his worde, God shall take away his part ou [...] of the booke of life. Reu. 22. 18.

That which the people gene­rally are here to learn, is first in re­spect of the message that is brogh [...] [Page] and doctrine which is deliuered, 1 To giue eare vnto it with dili­gence. That which Sarah saith, Ge. 21. 10. The scripture saith. Gal. 4. 30. That which the Prophet spea­keth, God speaketh by the mouth of the Prophets. Luk. 1. 70. The worde of the Apostles is the prea­ching of God. 1. Thes. 2. 13. The good doctrine commeth from a­boue. Iob 29. 22. The people haue it from the minister, as it were at the second hande, they must not therefore doe as Samuel did, who thought the Priest called him, and so after the first, second, and thirde call, go and sleepe: but do as Sa­muel after did, and when we know it is the Lord that calleth vs, in to­ken of attention, say with Samuel, Speak Lord thy seruant heareth. 1. Sā. 3. If God speaketh, let not man be [Page] a deafe Adder. If Paule preacheth, fall not with Eutichus into a dead sleepe: Acts 20: 9: Gaze not a­bout, but if Christ expound the Scripture, let the wandering eye bee fastened on him: Luke 4▪ 20: Doo not, as though tho [...] haddest with Malchus thy righ [...] care cut off, bring onelie thy left eare to the Sermon, bu [...] with Moses draw neare to learn [...] Exod: 3: 3: With Iacob note th [...] saving: Gen: 33: 11: If God offere [...] the foode of the soule, let hung [...] be thy sauce, and bring a stoma [...] with thee: if he bringeth the water of life, say with Sisera, Giue m [...] water, for I am thirstie: Iud▪ 4: 9: [...] rather with Samson, I die for thir [...] Iud: 15: 18: Secondly, because it [...] the spirit speaketh, we must hea [...] with reuerence, in token wher [...] [Page] Eglon, whē E [...]ud tels him he hath a message from God, dooth arise. Iud: 3: 20: as Bala [...]k must: Num: 23: 18: and Moses puts his shooes frō his feet: Exod: 3: 5: and Marie sits at Iesus feet, & heares his preaching Lu. 10: 39: whē the law was giuē, there was thunder and lightning and a thick cloud vpō the mount, Siuai was all on smoke, and all the mount trembled exceedingly: Ex: 19: that the people might pro­strate themselues before the lord, and receiue it with reuerence, and [...]hese two diligence & reuerence [...]n hearing, are the outward duties [...]ee must performe, because God [...]peaketh. The inward dutie wee [...]we is meditation: Let not the vir­ [...]in be as a broken vessell, but whē [...]hee hath heard Christ speake, [...]eepe all these sayinges in her [...]eart: Luke: 2: 51: Let not [Page] Sermons bee as Musicke, which once ended, there is no more re­membrance of it: there must bee vertue to retain a potion, if we wil haue it worke within vs. The cleane beastes haue not presently done with their meate assoone as they haue eate it, but chew the cud, and bring it vp againe, and a­gaine, and still do find a sweetnesse in it. Let the seruant be labouring in the field. Luk. 17. 7. and labouring in the house, ver. 8. Let M [...] ­tha go out to meete Christ, & M [...] ­rie keepe within doores. Iohn 1 [...] 20. Let there be the eare without and the heart within, let there b [...] action, let there be cōtemplation let there be hearing, let there be meditatiō, God hath ioined th [...] togither. Mal. 2. 2: man must n [...] put them asunder:

And as we must performe these duties because it is the spirit that speaketh, so because the ministers are the mouth by which he spea­keth, in respect of them wee must take heede that on the one side we do not persecute, reuile, or thinke basely on them for their doctrine. If Haman abuseth Dauids messen­ger, hee abuseth Dauid, Sam. 10. They which contemne the Em­bassadors, despise those that sent them: if the dogge doth bite the stone, hee would bite him that threw it, and he that killes the dog meanes no good to the maister: if Satan stay Iobs seruant, his malice reacheth to Iob himselfe. And on the otherside we must take heede we think not better of the means then of the author of goodnesse. The corne is Pharaohs though Io­seph [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] must deliuer it. Ge. 14. 55. Christ multiplieth the loaues, y^e disciples do but giue to thē that sit down, Ioh. 6. 11. It was Christ who raised Lazarus, other did but loose him & let him go, Ioh. 11. 43. To blame are those men of Lystra to sacrifice vnto Paul, Acts 14. 13. and the men of Israel to gaze too much vppon Peter. Act. 3. 12. Paul may plant, and Apollo water, but God giueth increase: if Peter take a multitude of fishes, hee falles downe at Ie­sus feete: Luke 5: 8. Sette not more by the seedleape then by the ver­tue of the seede, and loue of him that sowes it: prayse not: more the condite pipe then the spring head, from whence the Water floweth.

Lastly let the prognosticators and diuiners especially here learne [Page] to keepe silence: they must not en­ter vpon Gods freehold, the stars doo not prognosticate a true e­uent, what health, what wealth, what weather shall befall, it must bee Eliah that tels Ahab there shall be neither dewe nor raine these 3. yeeres & 6. months 1. Reg. 17. 2. & the same Eliah that foretelleth the time of much raine 1. Reg. 18. 41. if Hezechiah bee weakened and sore broken, if his health be past away as a cloude & his soule be powred out vpon him, it must bee an E­say that must tell him hee shall liue fifteene yeeres longer, Esay 38. 5. If there be marrow to the rich mans bones, health vnto his nauell, no feeblenesse to his flesh, none but GOD can say, This night will they fetch away thy soule from thee. Luke 12. 20. If at any time there [Page] be an extreame famin in Samaria, that the faire virgins & yong men do perish for thirst, and God will not helpe them with the barne or with the winepresse, that they eate the flesh of their sonnes, and the flesh of their daughters they deuoure: it must bee an Elish [...] that can prophesie plenty, to mor­row this time a measure of fine flower shall be solde for a shekell, that is to say, twenty pence, and two measures of barly for a shekel in the gates of Samaria, 2. Reg. 7. 1: If there bee plentie in the world that God doth blesse it with hea­uently blessings from aboue, with blessings of y^e deepe that lieth be­neath, & men sit by the flesh pots and eate bread their belly full: i [...] God send them corne, and wine and oyle, and they are satisfie [...] [Page] therewith, then it must be an Aga­bus that signifieth by the spirit, the great famine that should bee tho­rowout all the world.

There stood vp one of them named Agabus. Many prophets came from Ierusalem, yet but one Agabus ac­quainted with this famine. The body is one, and hath many mem­bers, and euery member his seue­uerall office, that one may not say to another, I haue no neede of thee. So is it with the Church which is the body of Christ, who of euery Christian is a member, and these members haue their se­uerall gifts, some of doctrine, some of exhortation, some of prai­er, and so forth: and God hath thus giuen his gifts by measure that one might haue need of another. Ioseph hath a great gift, that can ex­pound [Page] the kings dreame assoone as hee heares it, Gene. 41. 51. But God hath giuen Daniel twice as much knowledge, for hee not on­ly expoundeth Nebuchadnezzars dreame, but shews the king what the dreame was which the king himselfe hadde forgotten, Dan. [...]. 28.

Our sauiour Christ the founda­tion of foundations had the full a­boundance of all grace, for God gaue him not the spirite by mea­sure, Iohn 3. 34. & in him dwelleth all the fulnesse of the godhead bo­dily, Collos. 2. 9. but to other is gi­uen grace according to the mea­sure of the gift of Christ. Ephe. 4. 7▪ The 12. Apostles which were 12 foundations, might excell one an­other in gifts, as one stone migh [...] bee more precious then another [Page] Reue. 21. 19: Bezaleel and Aholiab shall haue more skill in all work­manshippe then all other to make the tabernacle and the appurte­nances thereof: Exo. 31. 3. He that contriues the House hath most cunning, though hee that cuts the Timber may bee a good car­penter: hee that drawes the knot hath most knowledge, though hee that digs the ground may be a good gardiner: the master of the worke is most expert, though hee which carrieth bricke and morter may bee a good Mason. Iethro may see more in some thing then Moses, and therfore giue him counsell to iudge himselfe in hard causes, which cannot be decided but by consulting with god, and for other matters to refer thē ouer to the inferior officers. Exo. 18. 19. [Page] the Prophets heere which cam [...] from Ierusalem, were such as they were, which did behold as it were from an high tower, things vn­known to other, Esay 21. 6. & ther­fore might be called Sears as they were, 1. Sam. 9, 9. yet amongst thē but one Agabus seeth the famine that is to come. Let vs not enuie one another, but couet after the best gifts, and because in the same profession that may bee hidden from one, which is known to an­other, let not he which is able to teach other, disdaine that other should teach him. To harken is no let, but that a man may speake: to speake is no let but that a man may heare, therefore Iob ioyneth them together Chap. 34. 34. Let a man of vnderstanding tell mee, lette a wise man hearken to mee, let a man of vn­derstanding [Page] tell mee, there he is rea­dy to heare: let a wise man hearken to me, there he is ready to speake: speaking and hearing cannot bee preiudiciall one to another. The Apostles were shepheardes, and therefore hadde a charge of all, Mar. 16, 15. they were sheepe, and therefore must bee looked to.

Paul chargeth the Elders: Act. 20. 28. with a care of themselues, therefore they must heare, and with a care of their flocks, there­fore they must teach. The disci­ples may fall a sleepe, and there­fore must bee awaked: Mat. 26. 40. The Cocke may awake Peter, and one Cocke may awake ano­ther, therefore lette Eliah bee Elishas head. 2. Reg. 2. 3. Let him that sate in Moses chaire sometime [Page] sit at Gamaliels feete. And thus much of the meanes by which this famine was made knowne vnto Agabus, and onely to A­gabus.

The ende followeth, which was that hee might signifie the same vnto the people. The Pro­phets were as it were of Gods priuie counsaile. Amos 3. 7. The counsaile of earthly Princes must bee kept secrete: great affayres neuer haue good successe, when they are discouered before they take effect: therefore Alexander communicating a secrete to E­phestion, tooke his signet from his finger, and sealed therewith E­phestions lippes, shewing thereby what hee expected at his handes. The king, sayeth Dauid to Ahi­melech, hath commaunded mee a [Page] certaine thing, and hath sayde vn­to me, let no man knowe where about I sende thee, and what I haue commaunded thee: 1, Sam. 21: 2. But it is not thus with the counsell of God, the king of kings and Lord of Lordes. The Priest shall die if his sound bee not heard whē he goeth into the holy place, Exod. 28. 35. As hee is a husband­man, because hee must dresse the Vineyarde of the Lorde, that it might bring forth fruit. Luke 20. 9 and a buylder, verse 17. because hee must make the bodie of the people a Temple fitte for God to dwell in: so is hee a messen­ger, Ioel 33. 23. because he must ca­rie tydinges. Esay 52. chapt. verse 7. and he hath discharged his du­tie, and done his message best, that can say with Paule, I haue kept [Page] nothing backe, but hath shewe [...] you all the counsaile of God. Act▪ 20, 27: Let not Aarons oyle re [...] vpon his head, but runne downe on his beard, and go down to the verie skirts of his clothing. L [...] him that is a candle tinded after­warde light an house. Let Go [...] without meanes beget Paul, Act▪ 9: But let Paul be a meanes to wi [...] other, and if he be a generall deb­ter, Rom. 1, 14: let him bee readie to discharge his debt, ver: 15, and desirous to preach the Gospel, be­cause it is the honour of the Apo­stle, 2, the power of God, 3, the saluation of the people. Ver. 6: Le [...] Stewardes dispose their maister [...] goods to their gaine, Let the ser­uant be blamed that hides his ta­lent: Mat: 25, 30: Let the fierie pil­ler go before the children of Israel [Page] to the promised land, Exod: 13, 21 Let them preach which are bid to preach, when they see that they which are suspended, and put to silence, Mat: 7, 37. Act: 5, 40, can not hold their peace.

Moisture in spring remaines not still in the place where it breedes, but hasteneth to the wa­tering of drier soiles. The running riuers fill vp the emptie places, as they passe by them. The Moone lendes her light vnto the worlde, which she hath borrowed of the Sunne. A good stomacke recey­uing in the meate, sendeth out nourishment with verie good proportion, to euerie member of the bodie, and Agabus receyuing from God more knowledge then other, imparts it to other. Thus you see the ende why the Lorde [Page] makes knowne to Agabus th [...] which hee purposeth to bring [...] passe: see also a litle the end whic [...] Agabus hath in opening to t [...] people the counsell of God.

Ministers are fishers of men. M [...] 4. 19. to drawe them out of thes [...] of this worlde, wherein they [...] drowned, & as the fishers are w [...] shing their nets, Luk. 5. 2: so shou [...] they cleanse their wordes fro [...] temporall gaine, from vainglori [...] and from flatterie, as Paule di [...] 1. Thess. 2. 5, 6. concerning gain [...] (saith he) we neuer vsed colour [...] couetousnesse, God is record: co [...] cerning glorie, wee sought n [...] praise of men, neither of you n [...] of others: concerning flattery, [...] speake not as they that please me [...] but God which trieth our hear [...] neither yet did we euer vse flatt [...] ­ [...]ing [Page] words: but is it thus with our [...]ishers? God forbid but that there [...]hould be some, whose drist is to [...]atch men, as it is, Luk. 5, 10. who [...]bor with Andrew, Iohn. 1. 41. to [...]raw their brethrē to see the Mes­ [...]as, and to beat downe the wals of [...]n, like the showte which beate [...]owne the walles of Iericho, Ios. 6, [...]0. but hee which onely leuels at [...]his marke, is a rare man, a verie Phaenix, & flies alone, so few there [...]e that seeke to beare him compa­ [...]ie: but to speake more generallie, [...]ome fish for gaine, to see if they [...]an take a Parsonage, a Prebend, [...] Deanerie, a Bishoprike, and when they haue caught the fish, [...]r so many fishes as they can hold, [...]hey lay away their net, & wil fish [...]o lōger: which pope Iulius 2. ob [...] ­erued, & therfore being requested [Page] to make one Gylos a learned Frier Cardinall, to which in­tent when it was alleaged that, the man hadde learning and prea­ched dilligently. Nay quoth the Pope, that is the onely reason why I cannot make him Cardinall, that hee maye continue preaching still, which hee would not if hee were Cardinall, being farre from that dignitie and custome of the e­state. The naming of a Frier brings to my remembrance the story of a monke to beare him company, not much vnlike this, alwaies ca­sting his eies to the ground, at last for his great humilitie was made Abbot, being Abbot he looked a­loft, saving hee looked downe­ward before, to see if he could find the keyes of the Abby gate, nowe hee had founde them hee would [Page] looke no longer, but carry his countenance according to his cal­ling. It is not thus with Agabus, he gropeth not for gaine, for hee tel­leth them of a generall want shall come vppon themselues. Other hunt after praise, these vse colours of vaine affectation, braue their speech, & set it out with far sought words, allegoricall matters, with which common vse is not acquain­ted, prune their sillables, mince their phrases: giue these men a plaudite as the people do to Herod, saying: The voice of God and not of man, Act, 12. 22. you are for their tooth: let them not haue this, you shall haue no more of them, they are Chameleons alwaies gaping be­cause they liue by the aire, vessels with two handles, you may carrie thē by the eares, whither you list. [Page] Windmils that make no meal [...] but according as the blast endu­reth: it is not thus with Agabus hee tels thē plainely of that which might breede in them a genera [...] dislike.

Other vse flattering words, and when they know that the peopl [...] like the Prophet which will prophesie to them of wine & stron [...] drinke. Micah. 2. 11. tel them plea­sant talke and speake of their com­modities, and that Ieremie becau [...] he doth otherwise, shall be threa­tened: Ier. 11. 21. & railed at, as Ie [...] 43. 2. When they consider this say, they follow the counsel of th [...] people, Psal. 30. 10. speake flatte­ring things vnto vs, prophesie e [...] ­rors, threaten vs not by the wo [...] of God, tell vs not of iudgeme [...] and with the false prophts. 2. Cr [...] [Page] 18. 11. They declare good with one accord and a generall consent, & with Balaam would faine speak that which might bee pleasant to Balacke, who therefore changed his standing twice. Num. 23. Aga­bus doth not thus, who prophe­sies but twice in all the Scripture, and both times of iudgements, once vppon one man, hee taketh Pauls girdle, and bindeth his own hands and feete, saying. So shall the lewes binde this man that oweth this girdle, Acts 21. 11. and this place telleth aforehande of a generall plague that shall heereafter ouer­run all the Nations of the world. Thus the holy ghost acquainteth Agabus with the purpose of God, that hee might acquaint the peo­ple with it, & he signifieth y^e same not for profite or glory or such [Page] like, but fore sheweth the punish­ment (which other prophets also haue obserued, in setting downe Gods iudgement to come) fo [...] these reasons hereafter following.

First that wee may know that the punishments that befall vs, come not by chaunce or haphazard, bu [...] because they are foretold by God▪ they come from God as a rod fo [...] our offences, and a scourge for ou [...] sinnes. The Lorde is the Bi­shop. 1. Pet. 2. 25. which goeth his visitation, sometime in mercie, and then he saith, I wil come in vnt [...] him: Reu. 3. 20: sometime in iustice, and then he saith, I will come against him. Reu. 2. 5. 19.

Secondly to teach vs patience if the Dice bee already thrown, and the chaunce giuen, the game­ster is content to take the poyn [...] [Page] thed dice affordeth: if we know the miserie that will befall, wee must arme our selues with pati­ence against they fall, not so much grudging that our case is no bet­ter, as comforting our selues it is no worse. One reason of Iobs great impatience, was the sodaine ru­shing in of afflictions, I was in wealth (saith hee) Iob 16. 12, and by and by God turned the Wheele, and brought all my buildings of much ioy, to a castle of com down: hee presently set mee as a marke to shoote at, his arrowes compassed me about, the arrowes of the al­mightie were in me, and the ve­nom therof did drinke vp my spi­rits.

Thirdly, God will haue his iudgements fore shewed, to shew his patience before hee punish, [Page] that wee might haue space and time to repent: I reade of a Cap­taine, who alwaies when he laide siege to any citie, would the first day set vp a white tent in token of mercy, the second day a black ten [...] in token of seueritie, the third day a red tent in token of bloud, to shewe if the inhabitants would not yeeld, hee would vtterly de­stroy them: Theodosius the Empe­rour suffered not his men to as­sault any towne before ten daye [...] were past, causing this proclama­tion to bee made vnto them, tha [...] he graunted these ten daies to th [...] end they might accept the taste [...] his clemencie, before they had experience of his power. God is man of warre, the Lord of hosts his name, he can besiege our Cities, scale our wals, sacke our bu [...] [Page] warks, set all his creatures in bat­taile aray to charge vppon vs, and scatter the wings of all the battels we are able to make against him: but first he causeth a trumpet to be blowne to giue warning, sets vp his seuerall tents, giues many daies respit, sendes his heraldes with wordes of defiance, to proclaime open war against vs, and this hee doth that wee might followe the practise of the weaker King: Luke 14. 31. While wee know he is yet a great way off, send embassadors vnto him, and desire conditions of peace.

When Iacob Gen. 33. seeth his bro­ther Esau come against him with foure thousand men, a greater power then hee is able to re­sist, hee prouideth to meete him, and to appease Esaus wrath, [Page] takes a present with him and deli­uers it: Esau seeing the great hu­militie of his brother, is not now the same man he was, but altered as much as the flesh of Naaman, when hee hadde washed in Ior­dane: 2. Reg. 5. for whereas before hee did disgrace him, Gene. 27. 36. nowe hee doth embrace him: wheras before he purposed to take him by the throat & kill him, now he falleth vpon his necke and kis­seth him. The Scripture wisheth vs to take that course with our god as Iacob doth with his brother, first to meete God, and this is Amos counsell, chap. 4. 12. for whereas hee had said God had burnt them with hunger smit them with bla­sting and mildew, with pestilence, & so forth, thus wil I do vnto thee saith he O Israel: because I will do [Page] this vnto thee, prepare to meete thy God, O Israel. And then do we prepare to meete God, when we gird our selues, and lament, as it is, Ioel 1, 13: when wee go to acquaint our selues with God, as it is, Iob 22 21. Then do wee carry a present with vs, when we take vnto our selues wordes, and turne to the lord, as it is, Hos. 14. 3. when with the Israelites. 1. Sam: 7. 6. We draw water out of our hearts, & powre it out before the Lord, when with Marie, Luke 7. 38: wee stande wee­ping, and be desirous that our eies which haue been as windows to let sinne in, should be as doores to let sinne out: then do wee offer it vp, when we kisse the Sonne, as it is, Psal. 2, 12. and render vnto him the fruit of the lips, as it is, Heb: 13, 15. Thus doing, when the Lorde [Page] seeth our great humilitie, our tean which he put into his bottel, whē our hearts do melt, hee ceaseth with Esau from the fiercenesse of his wrath, and will not suffer his whole displeasure to arise: but i [...] wee abuse his patience, and take thereby occasion to sinne, we sha [...] know that his iudgments, which haue feet of wooll, & come slow­ly, haue armes of brasse, and strik [...] surely. If faults be suffered in hope of amendmente, yet after, [...] hope bee none, howe shall there bee sufferance? forbearance is no quittance, though God take daye [...] for a time, yet he payth truly at the length, the longer the wicked ru [...] on the score, the harder will be the reckoning when the pay­ment come: they long swimme [...] their sinne, but it is to make the [Page] sinking more sorrowfull: all the while God is pacient, and puts vp our sinnes, hee is lifting vppe his blowe, and a stroke or blowe, the higher it is lifted the heauyer it falleth, and when God hath tried vs a while with mercie, seeking our good and cannot bowe vs, hee will vse seueritie, and breake vs in peeces like a Potters ves­sell.

Lastly, God wil haue Agabus re­ueale the iudgements he mindeth to send vpon the worlde, to take from the worlde all excuse of ignoraunce, as if the Lorde should say, come hither Agabus, thou seest the sinne wherevnto the worlde is inclining, men be­gin to giue themselues to all kind of ryot and excesse, the drun­kard makes in his body a sink, the [Page] glutton a dunghill, I will deale with them as a mother doth with her childe, when once he begin­neth to play with his meate, shee takes his meat from him. I wil call a famin on the land, and break the staffe of bread, men shall bee hun­grie, and thirstie, their soule shall faint in them, the people shall crie for bread, and all plentie shall bee forgotten, and because the [...] shall not say, had we knowne that thou didst mind in such grieuous sort to afflict vs, we would haue stricken our hearts with the rod of repentance, beaten downe the pleasures we delighted in, rased e­uill actions, corrected vntamed desires, and beene enemies to the disordred will of the soule, the a­mendment of our liues shoulde haue beene as Moses, and stande in [Page] the gap to turne away the wrath from vs: because, I say, they shalbe without excuse, stand vp Agabus, and signifie to them from me, the famine that is to come, tell them I wil send not a dearth, when some men may haue plentie, if they will pay deare for it, but a famine, and a great famine, like the famine of Samaria, 2. Reg. 6. when they shall not get meate for money: not in one Countrey alone, for then the plentie of one might supplie the penurie of another, but the fa­mine shall bee generall in euerie quarter: stande vp Agabus and [...]ell them this: let thy words be as [...] lightning and go before, and my [...]udgement as a thunder clap shall follow. And Agabus stoode vp and [...]ignified by the spirit, that there should [...]e a great famine ouer all the worlde. If [Page] God in this sort open his mouth to speake, before hee lift vp his hand to strike, let none plead ig­noraunce, nor yet blame God though his iudgements fall vpo [...] them: Let not the standers b [...] blame the Archer, though the arrow hurt thē, when he that shoo­teth cries, away, away, before th [...] arrow cōmes: for the careful for [...] warning should haue made the [...] preuent the daunger that was hand, which also came to pa [...] vnder Claudius Caesar. Mans wra [...] may be escaped by seeking refug [...] or flying from it: but if gods wra [...] be kindled, whither shall we fli [...] he will find vs out in the top of [...] highest, or bottom of the deep [...] places in the world: Psal. 139, o [...] whom shall we run for refuge? the woman, when the famine [Page] extreame, shall run vnto the king, saying, Help me, O Lord the king, the king himself must answere, Seeing the Lord doth not succour thee, howe should I helpe thee? 2. Reg. 27. Gods threatnings therefore must not be thought as scarcrowes, or bulbeg­gers, to fray children withall: for God is a sowler, and if hee settes a snare, he will not take it vp before hee takes vs in it. Amos [...]3. 5. If a Trumpet be blowne in the Citie, shal not the people tremble? If the Lion roare, who will not bee afrayde? But because a Lion roareth not in the Forrest, when hee hath no prey, nor a Lions Whelpe crie out of his denne, if hee haue taken nothing, nor Agabus threaten, except there be some great occasion, nor the fa­min come, as it doth in the time of [Page] Claudius except it bee sent for. [...] vs a little see, what sinne especia [...] it was, that went to call for it: [...] was truly said of Claudius, whi [...] was vntruly spokē of Christ. M [...] 11. 19. Behold a glutton and drinker [...] wine. If Ieroboam sinne, he make [...] Israel to sin: if the squared ston [...] slip downe, a number of litle on [...] follow after. The life of the kin [...] is a white for the Court, and nob [...] lity is an aime for the people. Lo [...] degrees leuell at markes of high [...] perfection: whereupon I inferr [...] that gluttonie and drunkennes [...] reigned at this time. Gut was th [...] god, the paūche was a powdrin [...] tub, the bellie a coupe, a Poulte [...] coupe, or rather a Noahs arke, vi [...] tailed with I know not how manie kinde of creatures: wherevpo [...] I note that to bee true, which i [...] [Page] [...]Vis. 11. 13. Wherby a man sin­ [...]eth, by the same also he shall bee [...]unished. In Iewry was God knowne, [...] name was great in Israel, hee gaue [...]s law vnto Iacob, his statutes and or­ [...]nances vnto Israel. He had not dealt [...] with other nations, neither had the [...]athen knowledge of his law. But [...]hen they despised his word, and [...]f those that brought it beate one, [...]illed another, stoned another, [...]od threatned that the Kingdome [...]f God shuld be taken from them, [...] giuen to a nation which should [...]ring foorth the fruits thereof. [...]at. 21. 43. which came to passe [...]hen the word of god was remo­ [...]ed from them to the Gentils. As [...]od did deale in the olde Church [...]ith the Iewes, so in the newe [...]hurch with the Ephesians, vpon [...]hom God did shine by the light [Page] of his Gospell, and they were [...] first glad, that the light did spri [...] vp to them which before did siti [...] darknesse and in the shadowe [...] death, but when they forsoo [...] their first loue, God threatened [...] remoue the candlesticke out of hi [...] place, Reue. 2. 5. & was as good [...] his word, when hee put out the [...] candle, which done, they fell [...] sleep, falling sicke of sundry here­sies, died at last of the plague [...] Mahomet. As God brings a famine of his word, when men are as i [...] were ouergorged with it: so he [...] brings a famin of bread, when mē prepare bread for laughter, Ec. 10. 19. when their sacietie wil not suf­fer them to sleepe. Ecl. 5. 11. Whe [...] they eate the Lambes out of the flocke, and calues out of the stall, Amos 6. 4. eate vntil it come ou [...] [Page] at their nostrils, and bee lothsome vnto thē, as it is Num. 11. 20. When men which shuld be sober are be­come trencher-men, not tarrying till hunger ouertake them, but preuenting it by an artificial appe­tite, so sawcing their meates, that they turne substance into acci­dent, and nature into art: when mē I say are come to this passe that their greedines knoweth no mea­sure, and variety exceedeth all the bounds thereof, then God in to­ken of reuenge, sends a scarcitie, that mē shalbe glad to eate in time for strength, & not for drūkennes, as it is Ecl. 10. 17, & do what they can their mouths shall not make their flesh to sin, as it is Eccle. 5. 5: thus was it with y^e prodigal child, Luke 15. And thus with Clau­dius who was made Emperour [Page] of Rome, An. 42. and raigned 13. yeeres and nine moneths: of this famin speaketh Suetonius in Claud. Oros. 7. cap. 6. Thus was it with the world at this time, but the punish­ment being generall, I marke thy iudgements O Iudea, more then the calamitie that befalleth other natiōs, because as it appeareth ver. 7. you being before more blessed thē other, are now more distressed then other: if thou didst sow, thou didst find the same yere an hūdred fold in estimation, if thou sowed▪ a little seed, but an handful of corn▪ and that on the mountaines, nay, on the top of the mountaines, th [...] fruite thereof did shake like th [...] trees of Libanon, thy threshing d [...] last vnto the vintage, and the vin­tage to the sowing time, the plow­man did touch the mower, & the [Page] treader of grapes him that sowed the seed. When one kind of fruit was ripe another followed, and e­uery one in course: thou didst eate thy bread in plenteousnes, eate the old store, and carry out the old be­cause of the new, & so didst laugh at death, because thy greatest wāt was store. But see an alteration, thy land, this thy most fruitfull land is made barren, the meate is cut off before thine eies, ten women doo bake their bread at one Ouen, and deliuer thy bread by weight: if thou sowest the seede of an Homer, which is 100. pottles, it yeelds but an Epha, which is but 10. pottles, thou hast but 10. of y^e 100. & loose the principall, thou dost gage out thy lāds, thy vineyards, thy houses because of y^e famine, & dost howle for the wheate and the barly, be­cause [Page] the haruest of the fielde i [...] perished: but let me tarry a little it our own land, & leaue Iudea till I come to it in the verse following: God embraced our land so kindly, that we suckt the sap of wealth frō branche and roote. The fruit of our ground was blessed, for God crowned y^e yeere with his good­nesse, the Lord did heare the hea­uens when they desired raine for the earth, the heauens did heare the earth, the earth did heare the corne, & the corn did heare man, and that same blessing did come vpō vs which god promised to Is­rael, Thou shalt lend to other nations▪ but shalt not borrow of any. Deu. 28. 1 [...] but of late, specially this last yeere▪ the ground hath not yeelded vnto vs her strength, Bashan is wasted and Carmell and the flower of L [...] banon is wasted, Gods creature [Page] haue bin deafe, because God him­selfe hath bin as one that heareth not, so y^e we haue bin constrained to borrow of other natiōs, but are not able to lende any. Thus God hath punished the seed of our soile for the sin of our soule, & because our folly hath bin in the blossom, our fruit hath not budded out of the earth. Sodome was destroied, but fulnes of bread a sin of Sodom, still continued, men haue farced their bodies & starued their souls: nature is not the Cater, frugalitie the pursebearer, not hunger the cooke to assigne the diet. There was but one Bel God but many bel­ly gods, which haue said in effect with the Epicures, Let vs eate and drink, for to morrow we must die. Quaffing hath bin the only grace: men haue misspent their time in bibing & shaking hāds ouer their [Page] licour profoundly, carowsed [...] hunters hope, drowned th [...] soules in a gallon pot, made th [...] bellies quagmires, & their brea [...] to smell like brewers aprons, th [...] haue loued the wine bottels, a [...] is Hos. 3. 1. made themselues sic [...] with flagons. Hos. 7. 5. drinke wi [...] in bowles, Amos 6. 6. & transgre [...] by it. Hab. 2. 5. In Assuerus time the [...] chaunged vessell after vessell an [...] dranke wine in aboundance. H [...] 19. but they dranke by an order [...] none might compell: but sinc [...] they drink without order, enforc [...] one another, giue their neighbo [...] drinke, and make him dronke al­so, as Hab. 2. 15. Sette thy foote to mine and drinke to the soule of such a body, and the health of my lord or Lady, and by drinking to healths they drink themselues out [Page] [...]f health, they doo carrowse it, [...]hich they say is a Dutch worde, [...]nd the English of it may be this, [...] drinke all the drinke out of the [...]ot, al the money out of his purse, [...]l the wit out of the head, and all [...]e honestie out of the bodie, and [...]at is a clean carrowse. These fel­ [...]wes if they may haue the but­ [...]er, care not though (as it falleth [...]ut, Gen. 40. 22.) the baker be han­ [...]ed vp. Thus because men, as [...]hough they had the ear-marke of [...]eprobates follow the same sinnes with full saile, to which Claudius [...]nd other in the world had bound [...]hemselues apprentises, no maruel [...]hough now also the Lord dooth vse the like corection. Miserie cō ­meth not forth of the dust, neither doth affliction spring out of the earth. Iob. 5. 6. but our fruitful land [Page] is made barren for the wickedne [...] of them that dwell therein. Ps. 10▪ 34. The earth our mother is out of heart, dead and barren as the wombe of Sarah, & God hath so rotted the seed, pinched the blade, shaken the eare, that it hath not answered our expectation, neither vnder the flaile, in the mill, in the dough, or in the ouen, & that curse is come vpon vs, which Iob spea­keth of cap. 31. 40: for thistles grow in stead of wheate, and cocle in stead of barley. In the ninth of Matt. ver. 37. The haruest is great, but the labourers are fewe, the Lorde there speaketh by way of comparison, comparing the num­ber of the elect to a plentifull har­uest. But to speake simply of our tyme, the haruest is small, and the labourers are many: small, I say, [Page] for though the mower hath filled his armes, & he that bound vp the sheaues his bosome, yet the yeel­ding hath not bin like the increase of other yeares. Speake by way of comparison, and pray the Lord of the haruest to send forth labourers into haruest. Matt. 9. 38. but speake simply, and pray the Lord of the haruest to sende forth a plentifull haruest for the labourers to bring into the barne: and if we see that our praier goeth vp, & Gods mer­cy commeth downe, that our land bring forth her wonted increase, then sinne no more, least a worse thing happen vnto thee. Iohn: 5. 14 Let vs hereafter vse sobrietie, not liue to eate, but eate to liue, and taking our portion fitte for nou­rishment, content our selues with it: since Iob speaketh of appointed [Page] food, Iob. 23. 12. and since natu [...] is content with litle, & grace wi [...] lesse, let vs bee measurable of fe [...] ding, measurable in drinking, r [...] ther of too sparing, then of too l [...] berall a diet: and thus much of th [...] famin fore shewed to Agabus, b [...] means of the spirit, to the end th [...] hee might signifie the same vn [...] the people, & brought in the dai [...] of Claudius, because of exces [...] The effects follow.

Then the disciples, &c. We are deters, not onely to God, to who [...] we owe loue and obedience, b [...] debters to our selues, debters t [...] our neighbours: to our selues w [...] owe mortification of the corrup [...] affections that are in vs: wee a [...] debters to the flesh, saith the A­postle, that we should not liue a [...] ­ter it: but we are bad pay maister [...] [Page] either not at all discharging this debt, or else putting it of from day to day, saying of the temple of our body, as the [...]ewes of their temple Hag. 1. 2. The time is not yet come to build the house of the Lord. To our neighbours, besides the loue of the hart. Rom. 13, 8, the instruc­tion of the mouth. Rom: 1. 14: wee owe good works, & the blessing of them which are readie to pe­rish should come vpon vs, as vpō Iob, cap: 29. 13. but mens harts are so hard frozen, that the shining Sun of pitie cannot thaw them, and e­uery mans song is, I am nearest my selfe, and so they scrape and scratch and heape, & lay vp for them and theirs, and being as brasse & iron, turne both hand and heart cleane away, when pitifull suit is made vnto them for some comfort, or [Page] else they say come againe anothe [...] time, whereas they haue nowe to help them: it is not thus with the Disciples in this place, but they stay them vppe with their libera­litie, which are more distressed then themselues, and being like the Macedonians. 2. Cor. 8. in great afflictions are prompt to helpe o­thers. The first thing then that I note in them, is a readinesse with­out delay, to teach vs as soone as wee knowe that extremitie, to re­lieue the necessitye of our bre­thren: the birde droupes in the hande while the head considers whether hee shall let her go, or hold her stil, and the good worke dieth in the birth, when we think, can I spare it or no, shall I giue it away? &c. Delaying hold fasts are like a badde pay maister, who [Page] knowing that hee must pay the debt, yet bragges with the mo­ney in his purse, a day or two be­fore, like him that goeth to han­ging, he delayth as long as he can, and when he commeth to moun­ting vppon the ladder, falleth to preaching at euerie steppe. Zache making his will and Testament, Luke 19. 8: payeth his debts, gi­uing foure-fold restitution, where hee had vniustlie taken, and be­queatheth legacies the halfe of my goodes I giue to the poore: hee sayeth not, I haue giuen as a bragger, or I will giue as a de­layer, but I do giue, as his owne executer: some fewe will giue in health, but more in sickenesse, almost all of abilitie after death, will haue manye Gownes, or such and such a Dole gyuen. [Page] a gift after death is lead, in sicke­nes is siluer, in health is gold, bu [...] with the disciples here not to tar [...] but arise and meet a righteous pe­tition in the teeth, & be intreated before wee bee asked, is a iewell which cannot be esteemed. Whē we are in aduersitie, wee think [...] men can neuer come time enoug [...] to succour vs, let vs take this mea­sure for other. Perfect cōpassio [...] is to preuent the hungry, ere th [...] begger desire vs. Charitie is no [...] perfect, when crauing exhor­teth vs.

Beneuolence is then ful of grace and goodnesse, when it hath be­sides the quantitie, readines with­out prolonging spoken of, 2. Cor. 9. 5. Secondly willingnesse with­out grudging, vers. 7. The forme [...] of these qualities wee haue seene [Page] in these Antiochians by the cir­cumstance of the time, the better we shall perceiue, if wee consider that they had not a law to compell them, nor yet a precept from the higher powers, commaunding thē to send succor, as they would aunswere to the contrarie at theyr perill, but when they knewe the famine waxed very sore at Ierusa­lem, of their own accord euery mā purposed to sende succour. If Za­che be ready to receiue Christ, and therefore comes from the tree ha­stily, let him also bee willing to re­ceiue him ioyfully. Luke 19. 6. When the scripture commandeth the matter of goodnesse, it sets out the maner of doing good, that we might not sinne in the maner, as if it commandeth to heare, to reade, to suffer, to pray, to giue, it tea­cheth [Page] howe to heare, Mar. 4. 24. howe to reade, Matth. 24. 15. howe to suffer, Matth. 5. 10. howe to pray, Luke 11. 1. howe to giue, Philemon 14. To giue rea­dily is to doo good, to giue wil­lingly is to do wel. A man may sin in doing good, but cannot offende in doing well: Abimelech doth ill but with a pure heart, Gen. 20. 5. Contrariewise, a man may doo good but with a bad minde, and thus hee that doth good against his will doth euill, lette therefore a forewarde gift & voluntarie of­fering meete togither, let readie­nesse and willingnesse kisse each other, go hande in hande like friendes, arme in arme like man and wife, be as Hercules two twins, liue and die together.

The Disciples. He that planteth [Page] a vineyard should eate of the fruit, hee that feedeth a flocke, shoulde taste of the milke: there must needes be a famine of the bread of life, by staruing the oxe that shuld treade out the corne. The church of Antiochia beeing planted by the Church of the Iewes, as ap­peareth in this Chapter, and these Disciples as good schollers, hauing learned the word of God of the brethren in Iudea, are ve­ry willing, yea, hough Opus & v­sus bee readie to knocke at theyr owne doore, to doo good and to distribute to those which had instructed them, assuring them­selues they coulde not offer their sacrifice on a better Altar. Lette all therfore generally, if they haue not hardened their [Page] faces, as it is Pro. 21. 29. Fil their f [...] ces with shame, as it is Psal. 83. 16▪ which spoyle the Lord in tithes & offerings, as it is Mal. 3. 8. especi­ally lette cormorant Patrones which crop & girdle the mainte­nance of ministers, drinke scorne­fulnesse like water, as it is Iob. 34▪ 7. and couer themselues wit [...] their confusion as with a cloake as Psal. 109. 29. It were in thes [...] dayes good friendly dealing, i [...] when a Patron lifts a clarke vp t [...] the window, he would say, I wi [...] let out this benefice to the third [...] nay would he would but say con­cerning the benefice, as one harlo [...] doth to another concerning the child, 1. Reg. 3. 26. Let it be neithe [...] mine nor thine, but diuide it. Bu [...] they will say, the Apostles were poore, Paul wrought with his [Page] hands, and these haue the deuoti­on of Iudas, when he spake of the oyntment, hee was a theefe and bare the bagge. I would to God there were not as bad day theeues as night theeues, which grinding the faces of the churchmen, carrie all the tithes into their owne barnes. There were neuer so ma­ny benefices without charge, as there are nowe charges without benefices. The foxes spoken of Can. 2. 15. haue eate vp sheepe and shepheards both, and the mer­chants which haue broke into the Church haue done more hurt by bringing in ignoraunce and A­theisme, then those which Christ whipt out of the temple. In the 10. of Luke vers. 30. He that went down from Ierusalem fell amongst theeues, but now hee that will go [Page] vp to Ierusalem (you knowe my meaning) shall fal among theeues which will rob him of all. You shall haue a Patron or Chapman, who hath bought an aduouson, which saith, I wil giue a presenta­tion, but he will giue like the de­uill, Mat. 4. 9. he will giue with conditions as this, you may thresh the corne in the Parsonage barne, to auoide suspition, but if you will lette it be solde to my best commo­ditie, contenting your selfe with the straw, which is the grea­ter part, and small tithes which are a priuie thing, you shall haue my presentation. The very name of a Parson carrieth meate in the mouth, and will gette you credit wheresoeuer you come.

Thus with his craft hee cau­seth him to yeelde, and hee go­eth [Page] into a liuing as an oxe that go­eth to the slaughter, as a foole to [...]he stocks for correction, or as a [...]irde hasteth to the snare, not [...]nowing that hee is in daunger, beeing presented, hee thinkes his [...]arthing good siluer, and there­ [...]ore holdes vppe his beake, soares in the aire, speakes bigge, the rod of pride is in his mouth, as it is Prou. 14. 3. Examine him of his en­terance, he will not St [...]cke to lie, but pumpe out one after an­other, hee thinkes truth is like a garment, and the lesse hee vse it, the longer it continues: you shall heare him vse hunting othes, and swere by no beggars he comes as freely by his liuing as any man in England. Thus like a landhounde hee cares not howe much hee spendes his [Page] mouth though he smell nothing, for circumstances shewe, that hee like a simple silly asse must beare the burden, and yet bee conten [...] with a durtie stable: but you mar­uel that such a Symonist is suffered to continue his liuing, since laws haue well prouided to the con­trarie: I tell you the iuggling bartering is now so close, that neither Hooke nor Crooke can pull him out at the doores, that thus hath come in at the Win­dow.

Where shall you finde an A­gabus, a Patron like Abraham, that beares such an heroical mind, that hee will not take so much as a threed or a shoo-latchet of Mel­chizedech, Gene. 14. 23? Where shal you finde a Dauid, a patrone like Dauid who wil bridle his affectiō, [Page] and though he be ouercome with thirst, yet will not drinke of the water brought vnto him, if it bee fetcht with the venture of blood? 2. Sam. 23. 16. Where shall you finde a Peter, a patron like Peter, who, if Simon offer mony, will be at defiance with him, and say, Thy mony perish with thee. Act. 8. 20?

Where shall you find such a pa­tron as was Henry the fourth, who when some offred golden moun­taines, other great booties, out of the Abbey landes, other more ser­uice to the common wealth then was accustomed for the Abbey of Fulde, called vnto him one Ru­zelin, a Monke, who came to the Court about the businesse of his house, at the commaundement of the Abbot, and neuer dreamed of any such thing, and putting the [Page] pastorall staffe in his hands, first named him Abbot, and prayed the rest both Souldiers & Monks, to consent to his election. I con­demne not all, I knowe there be manie good men which preferre the giftes of the minde, before the gifts of the purse, which mislike the bishop that is a Balaam, the pa­trone that is a Iudas, the minister that is a Magus, which quickelie cast them off that come farre, and bring golde with them, because the celestiall shining starre refuse to bee their guide, & among those let the right honourable the Lord Keeper that nowe is, haue the chiefest place, who regarding more Simon Peters preaching, then Simon Magus bagge, singles out such to bestowe preferments vpon them, which haue of good [Page] continuance beene brought vp in Naioth, I meane the schooles and Vniuersities, which were first planted to bee nurseryes of Pro­phets. 1. Sam. 19: 20. If patrones would fetch their light from this Torch, and patronesses take their woorke out of this Sampler, then shoulde men bee gyuen to dignities, not dignityes to men, then oh, then howe well would it bee with our Church? There woulde bee as little seeking af­ter benefices as nowe there is greedinesse to get them, men woulde rather labour to deserue liuing, then bee bolde to procure it: but such is the iniquitie of this latter time, into which wee are fallen, that I am verily perswaded that spirituall promotions are as v­sully sold of most mē, which haue [Page] thē to bestow, as horses in Smith­field, and solde as garments by the drum, to those which offer most money for them: There was no Citie (saide Philip of Macedon) so surely defenced, whereunto a [...] Asse laden with golde might no [...] enter: so, sed reprimo me, and retur [...] againe to these disciples which in this place take a cleane contrarie course, hereby shewing howe much they esteeme the Gospel of Christ, because they send succou [...] to the place from whence it came. - To send succour to the brethren. Some are brethren by nature as Pharez and Zarah, borne both of Tamar, Gen. 38, 30. some by consan­guinitie, which are of the same fa­milie: so Laban calleth Iacob his brother, Gen. 29. 15. though hee were his sisters sonne, ver: 13. some [Page] by Nation, so Paule calleth the Iewes his brethren, Rom. 9. 3. some by profession, so the Christians in this place call brethren: brethren not onely bicause they are made of one God, Mal. 2. 10. came all out of the loynes of one Adam, but because they are called to the same inheritance, the kingdome of heauen. Luke 12. 32. The verie name of a brother or kinsman is a sufficient argument to stirre vp compassion. VVhen Laban heares tell that one Iacob his sisters sonne is come into the countrey, he runs to meet him, embraceth him, and kisseth him, and bringeth him to his house. Ge. 29. 13. VVhen Hester is fatherlesse, & motherlesse, Mor­decai, because she came of his vncle takes her for his owne daughter. Hest. 2. 7. Pauls heart melteth vpon [Page] the Iewes his brethren, and there­fore would redeeme their reiecti­on with his owne damnation. R [...] 9. 3. Israel must not detest an Ed [...] mit, because he is his brother. De [...] 23. 7. nor Edom detest an Israelite [...] because he is his brother. Amos [...] 11. if nature worketh thus in thos [...] which are brethren in the flesh shall not Grace rouze vp pitie towardes our brethren in Christ▪ There is a maruellous neare con­iunction between the faithful be­cause they are members one of an other. 1. Cor. 12. Do good therefore (saith the Apostle) Gal. 6. 10. to al, but especially to the housholde of faith: do good to all generally, for true vertue sets it self on work, in respect of none other end the [...] of it self. Non est magni animi benefi­ciū dare, & perdere, sed perdere, & da­ [...]e, [Page] It argues not so valiant a minde [...]o giue a benefite and loose, as to [...]oose a benefit, and giue againe. A [...]an will sowe his ground againe [...]his yere in hope of good increase, [...]hough the last yeare he had but a [...]ad crop. Si non demus vt homini, [...]men vt homines. If we giue not to Christians, yet let vs giue, because [...]ee are Christians: though wee [...]inde little kindnesse in other, let [...]s not loose it in our selues: but especially wee must bee good to [...]he housholde of fayth. Ioseph lo­ [...]eth all his brethren, but Benia­ [...]in with a more speciall loue, and [...]herefore he shall haue a messe by him self, Gen. 43. 34. as Iacob loueth [...]oseph more then al his sons▪ Ge. 37. 3 God maketh his sun to shine vpon the good and bad. Matt. 5, 45. but such a brightnes shal ouer shine his people, [Page] as if seuen Sunnes did giue light [...] one time, Is. 30. 26. God loues a [...] the dwellings of Iacob, but mo [...] the gates of Zion, Psal. 87. 2. Th [...] godly are vessels of gold, 2. Tim. [...] 20. Therefore the Lord makes [...] speciall account of them. Wher [...] God hath set his heart, there l [...] man set his delight: therefore Dauid said, all his delight was vpo [...] the Saints in earth, and vpon suc [...] as excelled in vertue. Psa. 16. 3. an [...] therefore the disciples here send [...] succour to the brethren. If the di [...] ciples here giue a voluntarie offering, and as it seemeth of the [...] own penury, then let them whic [...] haue superfluitie, consider of th [...] needie, and the rather for that i [...] these distressed times, a specia [...] commandement hath come fro [...] the higher powers, to inioine thē [Page] to it. That inequality is diuelish where one surfetteth, another is hungry. 1, Cor. 11. 21. that equalitie is commendable where one mans plentie supplies another mans want. 2. Cor. 8. 14. If Christ became poore to make vs rich, let vs of our riches spare somewhat to the reliefe of his pouertie: we thinke it theft to take away another mans goods, yet is it no lesse sinne to to take from him that hath, then not to giue to him that want. We cannot abide to heare that our hands should bee imbrued in our brothers blood, yet he kils a man that suffers him to perish for want of foode, when hee may relieue him. Let mercie fol­lowe Iustice. Matth. 5. 7. Let iustice pay debts, and then mer­cye giue part of that which re­maineth, [Page] the rich man hath Lu [...] 12. 17, when hee saith hee hath n [...] row me to lay his fruits: for poor [...] mens bellies are barnes, in whic [...] he may put the extraordinarie increase of his corne: and becaus [...] the generatiō of the righteous ar [...] to God as the apple of his eye, God loueth them as Iacob doth Io­seph aboue his other sons. Gen. 37. 3. let not y^• prophet vpbraide vs with this, that we haue not bin sory fo [...] the affliction of Ioseph. Amos 6. 6.

Brethren which were in Iudea. Th [...] land O Iurie, was as the garden o [...] Eden, Ioel 2. 3. Blessed of the Lord [...] was thy land for the sweetnesse of heauen, for the dew, and for the depth lying beneath, and for the sweet increase of the Sun, and for the sweete increase of the moone, not onely the valleys did stande so [Page] [...]hicke with corne, that they did showte for ioy, and sing, but the hilles were compassed [...]th glad [...]esse, and the mountaines did bring peace vnto the people: sweet was the top of thy ancient moūtains sweet were thy old hils. Flumina [...]ā lactis, iā flumina nectaris ibant. Thy land did flow with milk and hony, euery place was full of the riches of the Lord, but now the heauen aboue thee is as iron, and the earth as brasse, there are no fields of offrings, the seede is rot­ten vnder the clods, the garners [...]re destroied, y^e corne is withered, so that when a man seeth the little increase of thy ground, he would think that thou had delt with it▪ as Abimelech did with Sichem, sowed salt in it. Iud 9. 45 let vs learne here not only not to promise our selues [Page] continuall prosperitie, not onlie not to place our chiefest felicitie in anie outward blessings we do enioy, but especially this, not to make the meanes an Idoll to tie Gods power vnto, or fetter his graces to it. If thou consider e [...] the constitution of thy bodie, and see that GOD hath giuen the [...] strength to labour and take paine, and that thou risest while it is yet night, and girdest thy loynes, and in the morning sowest thy seede, and in the euening suffrest not thy hād to rest, yet trust not too much in thy labour▪ for it may be thou shalt euen wearie thy selfe for ve­rie vanitie, sow the wind, and reap the while wind, for thou seest ma­ny rise vp early, & late take rest, & eat y^e bread of carefulnes, yet they neuer thriue, for neither is he that [Page] plāteth any thing, nor he that wa­treth, but god that giueth increase 1. Cor. 3. 7. Therfore Iacob though hee had taken great paines, yet a­scribeth nothing to his labour, but all to Gods blessing. Gen. 30. 30. If thou art in health, and hast a good appetite to thy meat, and thy table furnished with all maner of cates, trust not too much in the vanitie of thy dishes▪ for he that can make Daniel fat in flesh, and in good ly­king with pulse and water, Dan. 1. 15. can kindle his wrath against Is­rael, while the flesh is yet be­tweene their teeth. Num. 11. 33. or it goeth downe, hee can vtterly breake the staffe of bread, giue men their desire, but send leannes withall into their soule, the Floore, and the Winepresse shall not feede them, they shall eate [Page] but not haue inough, drink & n [...] be filled: and they shalbe as 7: euill fauoured kine in Pharohs dreame, which were still lean though they had deuoured the fat kine, & like the thin eares which were still wi­thered, thin, and blasted with the East wind, though they had eate [...] vp the fuller corne. Gen. 41. Ther­fore the Prophet affirming that a [...] things wait on God for meat, saith God filleth them not with bread but with blessing. Psa. 124. 28. fo [...] it is not the bread of it selfe, tha [...] nourisheth, but the grace of th [...] word infused into it: as it is not th [...] running water it selfe that helpe [...] the disease, but the vertue of th [...] hearbs that are boiled in it: If Go [...] ha [...]h punished thee with sicknes honor the Phisition. The Iewe [...] were to blame who though the [...] [Page] would not esteeme Christ as God, yet ought to make some reckning of him, because he cured so manie diseases. Luke 4. 40. but trust not too much in earthly Phisitiōs, for the woman may spend all she hath vpon phisitians, & not be the bet­ter, but the worse. Mat: 5: 26. And Galienus the Emperor wil giue his phisicion Fabatus a sum of mony, not for that hee had cured him of the Sciatica, but because he should no more medle with him. If thou hast friēds, trust not in thy friends, let not man trust in man, and make flesh his arme, and withdraw his heart frō the Lord. Ier: 17: 5. let not Israel trust in Egypt, the Egyptiās are men, and not God: Is: 31: 3: and as a brokē reed which wil run in­to their hād if they leā vpō it: trust not in thy horses, they are flesh, [Page] and not spirite, Esay. 31. 3. a vaine thing to saue a man. Psal. 33. 17. Do not sacrifice to thy net, Hab. 1. 16. Stick not with the rich man: Luk. 12. 19 to thy wealth, Much goods for many yeares. Leane not vpon thy house it shall not stand: do not hold thee fast by it, it shall not en­dure, but be as the house of a Spi­der, which is to day & to morrow swept away, Iob. 8. 14. Do not pro­mise to thy self plenty, if thou hast a fatte soile, for Iudea in this place whose very hils, & tops of moun­tains were very fruitfull, Ioel, 3. 18 is made so barren, that other pla­ces must send succour to it: com­monly the clay dooth serue the sand, but of late yeares, the sande hath serued the Clay, and our Dorcetshire, and other drie coun­treyes haue beene some stay to [Page] farre more fruitfull places. Our God can blesse his curses, hee can make Colloquintida ranke poyson to nourish the children of the pro­phets, 2. Reg. 4. 40. Hee can make our daies to be light, and the same God can curse his blessings. Mal. 2. 2. make our meate to be poison, our table a snare, our prosperitie our ruine, turne out light into darknesse, our life into death: and can turne the Wildernesse into pooles of water, and the drie land into watersprings, can also turne the flouds into a wildernesse, and the springs of water into drinesse, and Iudea a fruit full land into salt­nesse and barrennesse, for the wic­kednesse of them that dwell ther­in. When therefore we haue al the meanes which might serue any way to do vs good, our best way [Page] is to spread handes abroade before the Lord, as Iacob doth, Gen. 43. 14. Hesiodus will haue the husband­man lay his hand vpon the plough taile, there he must vse the meanes: hee will haue him further to make his vowes to Iupiter and Ceres, before hee ploweth or putteth in his seede: there must hee pray God to blesse the meanes. In warres Ioshua must muster his men and sette them in array, and stretch out the speare in his hand, Ios. 8. this is to vse the meanes: hee must further remember, the name of the Lord his God, Psa. 2. 8. that he may blesse the meanes. When the waues threaten the shippe, lette the marriners cutte the ropes and cast anchor, Acts 27. 30. there is the meanes of safetie, and further with the disciples crie helpe Lord, [Page] Mat. 8. 25. a prayer for safetie. Oyle was much vsed in Palestina, and counted medicinable, Mar. 6. 13. Luke 10. 34. Therefore the Elders when they visited the sicke must vse oyle, and as well praier as oile, Iames 5, 14. if thou art hungerbit, knowe the Disciples go to buye meate, Ioh. 4. 8. but knowe againe that Christ blesseth the meat, Mat. 14. 19. by the first learne to receiue Gods creatures as a meanes to re­fresh thy bodie, by the latter, to begin thy meale with praier, and end it with thanksgiuing: if thou had bad or leane grounde, as it is Num. 13, 21. good it with thy pot or with thy fold, fallow it, twifallow it, bring it into heart, husband it in the best manner, make it as fat as this Iudea, yet for al this because it is in God to choose whether it [Page] shal yeeld a curse or a blessing, thi­stles or wheate, cockle or barly; in this and so in al other thy actions, let this bee as it were the foote of thy song, Prosper thou vpon vs the worke of our hands O Lord, prosper thou our handie worke.

Purposed to send succor, which thing they also did. Before the hand bee stretched out to giue, the heart must bee touched with compassi­on, else almes is not accepted, and when wee are touched with pit­tie, then must we giue also, else to say God helpe thee and not to giue, is but a mockerie, Iames 2. 16. The disciples therfore in this place, first pi [...]tie with their hearts, and then open their hands: concerning the heart, where God likes not the gi­uer he likes not the gift, if he hath cast off Cayn, he regards not his of­fering [Page] Gen. 4. 5. and where hee li­keth not the heart that moueth, he liketh not the giuer that bestow­eth. God accepts not the offerings of the Iewes, Mal. 1. not onely be­cause they are vnable as the blind, and lame, and sicke, Leuit. 2 [...]. 22. but offered vnlawfully, with a minde and conscience polluted. Tit. 1. 15. I haue no pleasure in you, saith the lord of hosts, Mal. 1. 10. neither will I accept any offe­ring at your hands▪ as if he would say. I haue no pleasure in the foū ­taine, I will none of the streame: the seed is infected, I will none of the crop, I mislike the root, it hath no good iuice, I will none of the fruit, it hath no good taste, I will not drinke of the wine is drawen out, the vessell is mustie from whence it commeth: I iudge not [Page] the heart by the worke, but th [...] worke by the heart. To the vn­cleane all things are vncleane: be [...] the water neuer so faire, it is defi­led that passeth through a myeri [...] spring: as the Iewes therefore should haue sifted their souls an [...] consciences when they sacrifice [...] to the Lord, so doo the Disciple [...] heere enter into themselues, t [...] shewe y^e their liberality commeth of a charitable minde: when they go about to sacrifice to their brethren, it is not glorie stirres the [...] vp as it doth the h [...]pocrits, Mat. 6▪ 2. nor yet gaine, Claw me and ile cla [...] thee, but the meere necessitie o [...] their brethren, when they consi­der their want, in charitie they they purposed to releeue them▪ neither doth their determination die while it is yet Embrio, but li­ [...]ertie [Page] beeing conceiued bringeth forth action, for the text saith, They did send succour, the charitie of the countrey is I pittie thee, God [...]elpe you, men will not open their [...]ips and their purse together, but [...]et your heart as a iudge sit on the [...]ench and giue the charge, then [...]et the hand go to worke, let the [...]eart bee in tune, then let there be [...] consort of the other members: [...]et the heart bee a secret treasurie, [...]r as a larder or pantrie in an [...]ouse, and fetch from thence that which is wanting to others. Let the heart bee as the poyze of a Clocke, and turne all the other members as Wheeles one way, lette the heart loue, lette there bee loue in word and tongue, Ioh. 3. 18. let there be the deed & truth of loue, Luke 3. 11. let the plentie [Page] of the fruite shewe the planting of the tree. Psal. 1. 3. and the faire­nes of the blossome the goodnesse of the roote.

Euery man according to his abilitie. In euery thing a golden meane is [...] good vertue, running past the goale for slownesse, exceeding brightnesse dazeleth the sight, a [...] well as darkenesse obscureth th [...] obiect: if gifts be too big, then a [...] thou a waster, if they be too small, then art thou a niggard. When the tabernacle is made, the rich bring golde and siluer, the meaner sor [...] brasse and gifts of lesse value, Ec. 25, 4. When the Israelites giue ci­ties to the Leuites, euery Tribe must giue according to his inhe­ritance, Num. 35. 8: Rich men cast great gifts into the treasurie, but the poore widow but two mites, [Page] Luk. 21. 1. In this place the disciples which haue much, giue much, they which haue litle, g [...]ue of that little. We say not, giue as we giue Mat. 6. 11. but forgiue as we for­giue. ver. 12. for we may and must alwaies forgiue. Giue alwaies we need not, nor cannot: and when facultie can stretch no further, good will is taken in good part, he that doth what he can, can shewe no greater liberalitie. Grand ene­mies of this beneuolence, are couetousnesse and prodigalitie: the couetous man is like churlish Naball, who will not giue a piece of bread to succour king Dauid. 1. Sam. 25. 11. he himselfe wanteth as well that he hath, as that he hath not: & how can the greedy mind carie any disposition to spend vpō [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] other, since hee counts that [...] which he bestoweth vpō himself▪ The prod [...]gall man on the other side, because he hath suffered su­perfluous expences to surmou [...] his reuenewes, is cōpelled by ne­cessitie to take from others, hee is not as a litle spring rūning always, but standing vpon reputation, la­uisheth and lasheth for a time, and is drie in the end as those brookes Iob. 6. 16. To auoid these extremi­ties lay not vp without measure, lauish not wi [...]hout meane.

Sic vteretuo, vt alieno non indige­as, In such sort guide that which is thine owne, that thou needest no [...] beg of another? Sin not against o­thers by giuing too litle: sin not a­gainst thy self by giuing too much: God giueth riches, let not coue­tousnesse hoord them vp: let not [Page] prodigalitie cast them away, but let liberalitie bestow them accor­ding to euery mans abilitie.

And sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saule. What more delightfull to the eare then good musicke? what more vnpleasant then much noise, & no concord? what more acceptable before god or profitable before man thē good orders, daily & duly obserued: the disciples therfore thogh they are bountifull in giuing, yet will not haue euery one be his owne car­uer, catch & latch what he cā, but wil haue the elders, the gouernors of the church called elders, of their age (among whō the apostles had the chiefest place) vnder whom the deacons were appointed for this businesse. Act. 6, 3. to deale as they think cōuenient in the distri­bution, [Page] to be as Ioseph. Ge. 41. [...]5. & opening the places wherein the store is, deliuer it out to hunge [...]-sterued souls. And besides, to shew that prouision for the poore is a matter of no small account, they make choise of such men to carrie their beneuolēce, as were of verie good estimation: Barnab as a good man, & full of the holy ghost and faith: Act: 11: 24, and Saul a wor­thy seruant of God, a chosen ves­sel to beare gods name before the Gentils, Act: 9: 15. & those like the doue which Noah sent out of the ark. Ge: 8, 9: hauing fulfilled their office, returned again frō Ierusalē, and are now gone vp to the high & heauenly Ierusalem, whither he graunt we may ascend which did spend his blood for vs. To whom with the father, &c.