VIRGINIA. A SERMON PREACHED AT white-chapel, IN THE presence of many, Honourable and Worshipful, the Adventurers and Planters for VIRGINIA. 25. April. 1609. PUBLISHED FOR THE BENEFIT AND USE OF THE COLONY, PLANTED, And to be Planted there, and for the Advancement of their CHRISTIAN Purpose.  
By WILLIAM SYMONDS, Preacher at Saint saviours in Southwark.  IVDE. 22. 23. 
Have compassion of some, in putting of difference:  
And other save with fear, pulling them out of the fire.  
LONDON Printed by I. WINDET, for ELEAZAR EDGAR, and William Welby, and are to be sold in Paul's Churchyard at the Sign of the Windmill. 1609.   

TO THE RIGHT NOBLE, AND WORTHY ADVANCERS OF THE standard of CHRIST, among the GENTILES, the Adventurers for the Plantation of VIRGINIA, W. S. prayeth that Nations may bless them, and be blessed by them.  
Right Noble and worthy,  
SUCH as do praise the worthies, do cloth them with the robes of others that have gone before them in virtues of like nature. A thing which I cannot do of your Plantation, seeing neither Testament (that I can find) doth afford us a Parallel in men of like quality. That great, and golden SENTENCE, The seed of the woman, shall 
Gene. 3. 15.  break the Serpent's head, (the only subject of all ages) with a part of the wisdom that is folded therein, hitherto hath beautified the world with admirable and pleasant varieties; more rich and delightful than all the ornaments of Prince's palaces, or the Curtains of Solomon. Here may we see the Flood, the burning of Sodom; the drown●ng of Pharaoh: the subduing of the Canaanites by David and his sons; the breaking of Monarchies into chaff: the 
Dan. 2. 35.  surprising & conquering of great Nations, 
Ephe. 6. 17.  by Fishermen, with the sword of the spirit; the stamping of the Dragon (the Heathen Empire) into pee●es by Constantine; 
Euseb. de vita Constantini.  the desolation, and nakedness of Antichrist, now ready to be cast into the fire. Manifest demonstrations of the Serpent's bruised head. But here is not all. These things were done in a corner, in comparison of that which is in hand, and remaineth to be accomplished at the last judgement. Long since the Gospel of Christ did ride forth conquering that he might overcome. 
reve. 6. &. 19  And NOW, the hosts that are in heaven do follow him on white horses. Now the 
Isai. 52. 10.  Lord hath made bare his holy arm, in the sight 
Revel. 19 12.  of ●ll the Gentiles; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. NOW many Mighty Kings have set their Crowns upon the head of Christ. The valiant soldier saith, The shields of the world belong to 
Psal. 47. 9  God. The true Nobility, have upon their horse bridles, Holiness to the Lord. And 
Zach. 14. 20.  now the wise and industrious Merchant, doth hold the riches of the Gentiles too base a freight for his ships. He tradeth 
Isai. 60. 9  for his wisdom, that said: Surely the Isles wait for me (saith the Lord) and the ships of the Ocean most especially: namely to carry the Gospel abroad. The people in multitudes, like strong thunderings, do say Hallelu-iah▪ And who is wanting in this 
Revel. 19 6.  blessed expedition? Surely, not any tribe, Praise ye the Lord,— for the people that offered 
judg. 5. 2.  themselves so willingly. For who can withdraw himself from concurrence in so good an action: especially, when he shall but read, or hear, that one sentence which Deborah did sing: Curse ye Meroz, said the Angel of the Lord curse the inhabitants thereof: 
judg. 5. 23.  because they came not forth to help the Lord.  
This land, was of old time, offered to our Kings. Our late Sovereign Q. Elizabeth (whose story hath no peer among Princes of her sex) being a pure Virgin, found it, set foot in it, and called it Virginia. Our most sacred Sovereign, in whom is the spirit of his great Ancestor, constantin t●e pacifier of the world, and planter of the Gospel 
Euseb. de vita Constantin.  in places most remote, desireth to present this land a pure Virgin to Christ. Such as do manage the expedition, are careful to carry thither no Traitors, nor Papists that depend on the Great Whore. Lord finish this good work thou hast begun; and marry this land, a pure Virgin to thy kingly son Christ jesus; so shall thy name be magnified: and we shall have a Virgin or Maiden Britain, a comfortable addition to our Great Britain.  
And now Right Worthy, if any ask an account of my vocation, to write and Preach thus much; I answer: that although I could not satisfy their request that would have me go; yet I could not omit to show my zeal to the glory of God. If they ask account of my Dedication, I answer, your virtue hath exacted it. If any man list to be curious, or contentious, we have no such custom, nor the Churches of God. Hold on your blessed course, and you shall receive blessings of Christ. Blessed be the Lord God; even the 
Psal. 72. 18. 19  God of Israel, which only worketh great wonders, and hath put these blessed thoughts into your Christian hearts, And blessed be his glorious name for ever, and let all the earth be filled with his glory, Amen, Amen.  
Fours most hearty affected in the cause of Virginia, WILLIAM SIMONDS.   

VIRGINEA BRITANNIA. A SERMON PREACHED AT WHITE CHAPEL, IN THE presence of many the Adventurers, and Planters for VIRGINIA.  GENESIS 12. 1. 2. 3. 
For the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy Country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto the land that I will show thee.  
And I will make of thee a great nation, and will bless thee, and make thy name great, and thou shalt be a blessing.  
I will bless them also that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee, and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.  
THis Book of Genesis containeth the story of the Creation and Plantation of heaven and earth, with convenient inhabitants. The heaven hath Angels, the sky stars, the air fowls, the water fishes, the earth (furnished with plants and herbs, and beasts) was provided for man a while to inhabit, who after was to be received into glory, like unto the Angels. 
Matth. 22. 30.  Hereupon the Lord (who by his great decree, set down by his whole Trinity, had determined that man should rule among the creatures) did make man, both male and female, After his own image, 
2. Cor. 4. 4.  that is, jesus Christ; and gave them this blessing, Bring forth fruit and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue 
Gen. 1. 26. ●7. 28.  it, etc. And howsoever this precept might seem to find interruption by the sin of man, that had incurred the curse to die the death: yet we see that God 
Gen. 2. 17 & 3. 3. Isai. 45. 23. Gen. 9 1, 2.  would not, for any thing, altar his oath and word, that was gone out of his mouth; for unto Noah he revived this precept after the flood.  
But as all the commandments of God do find rebellion against them: so hath this most specially; insomuch that the whole earth conspired to make open insurrection against it, by building of a City, 
Gen. 11. 1.  and Town, the better to continue together. For the subduing of which rebellion, The Lord came down, 
Gen. 11. 7  and confounded their languages, and scattered them abroad: Not only to the overthrow of their ambition, who sought a great name; but also to deprive them of his spiritual grace of salvation, one being not able to understand the other: And so of the sons of Noah, were the Nations divided after the 
Gen. ●0. 32.  flood.  
Among whom the blessed line of Shem is not 
Gen 11. 10.  only plentifully remembered; but also commended, as obedient unto that first and great Law of God: For Terah, the father of Abram, with his family, are reported to be found in a Land not theirs, that they might fill the earth.  
The reason why Terah, and his family removed, 
The context.  is recorded in these three verses; and, in a word, is the calling of Abram by the Lord to remove. In the story whereof, are these two points: First the the vocation of Abram, in these three verses, and then his obedience unto this heavenly calling, in the fourth verse. His vocation hath first the commandment of the Lord, and then the reasons and arguments, by which God doth induce him thereunto. The commandment is to take a journey; in which we must consider the places from whence, and whither 
Go out of  he was to go. The place from whence, is not described Cosmographically, but Morally, containing three important reasons, in all good sort, to rest him where he was. The first is his Country, 
Thy Country.  which was pleasant, and fruitful: The second his kindred, which was holy and blessed: The third, his father's house, which was loving and rich. Hence must he go, and leave them all behind, if they would not go with him. The place whither he must go is also very generally noted out: Namely, the place which God would show him: a place utterly 
To the place which I shall show thee.  unknown unto him, so that from thence he had no argument, to quicken him to that voyage.  
The arguments which the Lord doth use to persuade 
Arguments from promises.  Abram, to this journey are all taken from the promises of God; a stronger reason than the very sweetness of Paradise could be unto a faithful man. These promises do partly concern Abram himself, partly those among whom he shall live. For himself the Lord doth promise four things: First tha●, whereas himself was childless, He w●uld make 
1. A great Nation.  of him a great nation. A thing which the builders of Babel drifted but were disappointed of by the judgement 
2. Bless thee.  of God. The second promise is, that God will bless him, by giving him the good things of this present world, and that which is to come: A thing which the builders of Babel lost, by transgressing God's commandment of replenishing the earth. 
3. A great name.  The third thing is, that the Lord will make him a great name, with much honour, and good report; which the confounded builders of Babel sought, and miss, because of their sin. The fourth promise 
4. A blessing.  is, that he shall be a blessing: That is, such a one as men shall be the better where he cometh; and so think themselves, seeing that through him, as through a golden Pipe, the Lord will bestow his blessings upon his family, and others among whom he liveth.  
The arguments that concern other men, are of two sorts; the one is their Temporal estate; the other their Spiritual. Concerning the Temporal estate of those amongst whom he liveth, God will dispose of, as they dispose themselves towards Abram: For the Lord will bless them, and cause them 
1. Bless them that bless thee.  to prosper, that seek the blessing and prosperity of Abram. And again, if they stand otherwise affected towards Abram, then will the Lord also set his face 
2. Curse them that curse thee.  against them, in these words: And I will curse them that curse thee: So that nothing they have shall prosper, until they be gracious and favourable to Abram. That which concerneth their Spiritual estate, is, indeed an argument to a faithful man, stronger than chains of Adamant; Namely, that by this means, the people all abroad shall receive the grace of salvation. 
3. All Nations blessed.  The thing he promiseth is salvation by the Gospel, in this word, I will bless. The means, is Abram and his seed JESUS CHRIST: in these words in thee. The persons, to receive benefit by him, are infinite; even all the families of Noah, by whom the nations of all the earth were divided; In these words, And in thee, shall all the families of the earth be blessed. This is the sense of these three verses: In which are very many excellent things to be observed, but we will only insist upon those, which are proper to our occasion, etc.  

DOCTRINES. 
jo. Abraham called.   
THE Lord called Abraham to go into another Country. There is no doubt, but that there is a double manner of calling; the one ordinary, by some known precept of the word of God: the other 
Mat 1. 20. Num. 12. 6.  extraordinary when as by dream, or by vision, God requireth any duty to be done. Now if it be demanded how Abraham was called, to go into another Country: the answer is, both ordinarily and extraordinarily. It was a known rule of the word of God, concluded, and pronounced before the Creation, and often repeated afterwards, that man should spread abroad, etc. and inhabit the earth, and fill it. Hitherto belongeth that, which God said; Let us make man in our image, and let them rule over the Fish of the Sea, and over the Fowls of the 
Gen. 1. 26.  Heaven, and over the Beasts, and over ALL the earth. Then must he replenish the earth, else can he not rule over ALL. To the same effect is that spoken of Adam, after his fall, that God sent him forth of the 
Genes. 3. 23.  Garden of Eden to till the earth: so that the fall of Adam did not, in the least thing, cause the Lord to alter his first decree. So to Noah after the flood; 
Gen. 9 2, 7.  Bring forth fruit, and multiply, grow plentifully in the earth, and increase therein, and replenish the earth. By all this it doth appear, that God did call Abraham abroad, by a general Vocation. But when he is called to a certain place, and under certain conditions, it is also plain, that withal, he had a special and extraordinary calling, either by dream or by vision, or by some such extraordinary mean, which (till the Canon of the Scripture came fully in) was to be obeyed as the written word of God. Yet still we must remember that this special calling was subject to the general law of replenishing the earth. For although God called him to one land; yet to uphold the general rule, God often laid a necessity upon him to spread further: for in this Chapter, by reason of a famine, he was constrained to sojourn 
Gen 12. 10. etc.  in Egypt: God did also tell him before hand, that his seed should be a stranger, in a land that is not 
Gen. 15. 13.  theirs, four hundred years. It is true, that the jews did hold themselves so confined to their own land, that they were as loath to forego their inheritance, as from the Sacrament of their salvation: witness 
●. King. 21. 3.  be Naboth, that answered the King; The Lord keep me from giving the inheritance of my fathers unto thee. And yet, when God would have it so, as when there was famine, Elimelech and his Family 
R●th. 1. 1. 2.  go to sojourn among the Gentiles. In time of war David took his father and mother, and carried 
1. Sam. 2●. 3.  them to sojourn with the King of Moab. And 
Act. ●. 5.  when as we read that there were dwelling at jerusalem, jews of every nation under heaven; it is plain, that the jews did spread abroad, not only to sojourn for a time, and then to come again; but to 
Act. 22. 3.  inhabit and replenish the whole earth. Paul was also a jew, borne in Cilicia, even in a Roman Colony.  
The reason why God will have his to fill the 
1. Reason. To know God's works.  earth is, because the Lord would have his works to be known. Now in divers Countries God hath his divers works, of herbs, and trees, and beasts, and fishes, and fowls, and serpents, etc. which (if the people of God come not there) cannot praise the 
Psal. 145. 10. ●1.  Creator. When David saith, All thy works praise thee, O God, and thy Saints bless thee; they show the glory of thy kingdom, and speak of thy power: the implication is manifest, that his Saints must be witnesses of all his works, in all Climates; for else they cannot 
II.  bless him in all his works. Another reason is, 
Spreading of knowledge.  that one that hath the knowledge of the fear of God, should communicate it to others: Hereupon 
Psal. 67. 1. 2.  is it that David doth teach us to pray thus; Have mercy on us Lord, and bless us, and cause thy face to shine among us, Selah. Mark this, that he biddeth us pray, God be merciful unto us; The means how, is this: That they may know thy way upon earth, and thy saving health among all nations; whereby he doth imply, that God hath withheld some mercy from us, till all nations have the means of salvation. This was 
Exod, 11. 9  a cause why God sent Abraham's posterity into Egypt, that by their means Pharaoh, whose heart was big, and would not acknowledge God, might be constrained to fall down, and say, I have sinned against 
Exod. 10. 16.  the Lord. The cause also of the captivity of the jews in Babylon, in the secret providence of God, was, that the monarch of the world, who thought 
Dan. 4. 20. 21. 17. 29.  there was no God could come near them in greatness, might be as beasts before God, acknowledging, that it is God, that giveth Kingdoms to whom he will. And when the Lord had caused his people to return, and to build their City and Temple; yet would not God foreslowe the enforcing of his precept, Fill the earth. For whereas, by reason of his promise, he could not send the people abroad till Christ came, to make his glory known, he brought upon them Gog and Magog, with their numbersome 
Ezek. 38. 16. 23  Armies: The reason is, that the Heathen may know the Lord: I will be magnified, and sanctified, and known in the eyes of many Nations. Then here must we know, that what inducement Abraham had, to go 
USE. I.  out of his Country, by a general calling, the same doth bind all his sons, according to the faith, to go likewise abroad, when God doth not otherwise call them to some special affairs: How ever, still they must have a longing, and a liking to spread the Gospel abroad. And that this point may be evidently convicted unto us, Christ our Saviour hath, according to his infinite wisdom, revived the old law, of filling the earth, in a most excellent manner: Go teach (saith he) all nations, and baptise them in the 
Matth. 28. 19  name of the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghost. Gave he this Commandment to his Apostles only? have not also the labours of godly Preachers, which they have spread over the face of the whole earth, been bestowed by the power of this Commandment? And though the words, as they lie, do bind the Ministers of the Word, to endeavour the propagation of the Gospel, with all their power; yet not only them: For we read, that poor tentmakers and others, have done much good in spreading the 
Acts 18. 3. 26.  Gospel, according to their vocations: they also satisfying 
II.  thus much of Christ's precept. Neither can there be any doubt, but that the Lord that called Abraham into another Country, doth also by the same holy hand, call you to go and carry the Gospel to a Nation that never heard of Christ. The Prophet Zachary, speaking of the days of the Gospel, doth show, that it is a good Vocation for men to go abroad, when the number of the children of God do exceed; his words are these: Thus saith the Lord of hosts, my cities shall yet be broken with plenty, the Lord shall yet comfort Zion. Unto 
Zach. 1. 17.  whom agreeth the Prophet Isatah: The children of 
Isa. 49. 20.  thy barrenness shall say again, in thine ears, the place is too straight for me, give me place, that I may dwell. Wherefore seeing that, thanks be to God, we are thronged with multitude; the Lord of hosts himself hath given us the calling of his children to 
Objection. Not to enter other Prince's Territories.  seek for room, and place to dwell in. And here might we have proceeded to the next point, were it not for one scruple, which some, that think themselves to be very wise, do cast in our way; which is this in effect. The country, they say, is possessed by owners, that rule, and govern it in their own right: then with what conscience, and equity can we offer to thrust them, by violence, out of their inheritances? 
1. Answer. Conquest lawful.  For answer to this objection: first it is plain, that the obiecter supposeth it not lawful to invade the territories of other princes, by force of sword. This proposition I confess I never was willing to examine, considering my vocation is private. And if Sigismond, the Emperor, said well, 
Carrion.  that he marveled every man avoided all labours and difficulties, but only to rule, which is the most difficult of all other labours; then to give sentence of that, which in ruling is the most weighty, namely, wars, which are done with the greatest counsel, must needs be a labour too heavy for a private man's shoulders. And because myself am but weak eyed in so great a mystery; Come forth ye great Princes, and monarch, of Assyria, Persia, Media, Greece and Rome, with your gravest counsellors, and answer for your facts, in conquering and subduing nations. For your stories, that were wont to be read with singular admiration of your fortitude, your wisdom, your magnificence, and your great justice, are now arraigned, and must be found guilty, that through your sides, an action, of truer honour, then ever you attempted, may be wounded. Your strong title of the sword, heretofore magnified by Historians, Politicians, and Civilians, is to our obiecter, but a spider's web, or the hatching of a Cockatrice his egg. But whatsoever the rest can say for their own defence, the Lord himself doth say thus much for Cyrus: Thus saith 
Isay 45. 1. 2. 3. 4  the Lord unto Cyrus, his anointed: whose right hand I have holden to subdue nations before him: therefore will I weaken the loins of Kings, and open the doors before him, and the gates shall not be shut: I will go before thee, and make the crooked strait: I will break the brazen doors, and burst the iron bars. And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and the things hid in secret places; that thou mayst know, that I am the Lord, which call thee by thy name, even the God of Israel. For jacob my servants sake, and Iraell mine elect, I will even call thee by thy name, and name thee, though thou hast not known me. Then who can blame Cyrus, and keep himself from blaspheming the almighty. Nay, that which is more to be trembled at, we must also to summon up, and call to the bar, the most holy worthies of the Scripture: and see if man, or God, hath any thing to be said for them, why they should not be condemned as injust, cruel, and bloody. O jacob, thy blessed bow and sword, with the fruit whereof thou blessedst thy son joseph, the staff of 
Gene. 48. 22.  thy grey head, and feeble knees, must be broken and burnt: and thou must be condemned for thy unlawful conquest. Worthy joshuah, & most worthy David, with thy cloud of worthies, who hanged up so many shields in the house of God, and who sweetly singeth, that God was his fortitude and buckler, 
Psal. 1●. 2. Josh. 10. ●4.  must incur the note of injustice. joshuah, where is thy virtue, to set thy feet upon the necks of princes, in their own kingdoms, and call of the meanest of the people to be thy partners in that indignity? David, how wilt thou answer for the blood thy sword hath shed? which thou waste want to praise, There is none to it. Nay thou glory of men, 
1. Sam. ●1▪ 9  and true type of Christ, King Solomon, whose wisdom was like unto the wisdom of God: teach us to say somewhat in thy defence. (For one grain of thy wisdom is of more worth than a talon of their leaden wits, that we are constrained to answer.) Give an account of his innocency that said unto thee: Gird thee with thy sword upon thy 
Psal. 45. ●. 4▪ 5  thigh, O thou most mighty,— Thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things,- The people shall fall under thee. Thy father, the son of Ishai, made a sinful prayer for thee (as our obiecters blaspheme) when he said, thou shouldest so enlarge thy borders, that Thy dominion 
Psal. 72. 8.  should be from sea to sea, and from the river to the end of the land. He would have thee too rigid, when he saith, That thine enemies should lick the dust. Sure I am persuaded that at the only naming of so mighty monarchs, and holy conquerors, our obiecters out of their modesty will with some distinction qualify their proposition, and say that it is not lawful, by force to invade the Territories of other Princes, that are in quiet possession, in some sort, and in some cases. I know that the devil himself, with all his distinctions, that ever he made, which are recorded in scripture, or which he left in hell, in his cabinet of Abstruse Studies, (locked safe, till he found out the jesuits his trusty secretaries to keep them:) I say none of them all can arm a subject against his prince without sin. But he that will set open his school in the fantastical shop of his addle imagination, (for he will be hissed out of the Universities) and take upon him to nurture princes, as petties: telling them that they must not make offensive wars, if it were to gain the whole world to Christ, shall never be bidders of guests to the marriage 
Matth. 22. ●. Luke 14. 23.  of the king's son, who are required to compel them to come in. And if I might be so bold, I would feign ask one question of these obiecters, that come dropping out of some Anabaptists Spicery: whether (if it be unlawful to conquer) the crown sit well on the head of our most sacred sovereign? (whose days be as the days of heaven O Lord) For by this objection they show, that had they power to untwist that, which in so many ages hath been well spun, they would write him crownelesse, as far as he hath his title from the conqueror. 
2. No wrong to bring in the Gospel. Matth. 7. 5.   
O but God forbidden, saith the obiecter, that we should do any wrong at all, no not to the devil. The rule of Christ is excellent; Cast out the beam of thine own eye, so shalt thou see clearly, to cast the mote out of thy brother's eye. If you will needs be casting stones, Let him begin first, that is without sin. But 
john 8. 7.  to the point: our obiecter would not whip a child to teach him learning and virtue, for fear of doing wrong. What wrong I pray you did the Apostles in going about to alter the laws of nations, even against the express commandment of the princes, and to set up the throne of Christ. If your mouth be so foul, to charge them with wrong, as the Gentiles 
Tertu. Apol. con●ra Gentes.  did, we have more need to provide you a medicine for a cankered mouth, and a stinking breath, then to make you any answer at all.  
O but, in entering of other countries, there must 
3. No blood meant to be shed.  needs be much lamentable effusion of blood. Certainly our obiecter was hatched of some popish egg; & it may be in a JESVITS vault, where they feed themselves fat, with tormenting innocents. Why is there no remedy, but assoon as we come 
See-white. The way to the Church.  on land, like Wolves, and Lions, and Tigers, long famished, we must tear in pieces, murder, and torment the natural inhabitants, with cruelties never read, nor heard of before? must we needs burn millions of them, and cast millions into the sea? must we bait them with dogs, that shall eat up the mothers with their children? let such be the practices of the devil, of Abaddon the son of perdition, of Antichrist and his fry, that is of purple Rome. As for the professors of the Gospel, they know with 
Gene. 47. ●. Only a sojourning. ●udg. ●5. 3. Wars only defensive.  jacob and his posterity, to say to Pharaoh, To sojourn in the land are we come; for thy servants have no pasture, etc. They can with Samson live peaceably with the Philistims, till they be constrained by injustice, to stand upon their defence. They can instruct 
Gene. 41. 25. 38  the barbarous princes, as joseph did Pharaoh and his Senators; and as Daniel did Nabuchadnezer, 
Dan. 4. 16.  etc. And if these obiecters had any brains in their head, but those which are sick, they could easily find a difference between a bloody invasion, and the planting of a peaceable Colony, in a waste 
Only the Planting of a Peaceable Colony.  country, where the people do live but like Dear in herds, and (no not in this stooping age, of the grey headed world, full of years and experience) have not as yet attained unto the first modesty that was 
Gene. 3. 7,  in Adam, that knew he was naked, where they know no God but the devil, nor sacrifice, but to offer their men and children unto Moloch. Can it be a sin in Philip, to join himself to an Aethiopian chariot? 
Acts 8. ●9.  Is only now the ancient planting of Colonies, so highly praised among the Romans, and all other nations, so vile and odious among us, that what is, and hath been a virtue in all others, must be sin in us? And if our obiecter be descended of the Noble Saxons blood, Let him take heed lest while he cast a stone at us, he wounds his father, that first brought him in his loins from foreign parts into this happy Isle. But assuring myself that these obiecters speak that they think not, because they think that they should not, and if the terms of the persons were changed, would praise other nations for that, which they dislike in us: I leave them to tremble before his glorious eyes, that all things are naked and bare unto, and myself will pass to enforce the rest of our Text upon the consciences of such, which I hope to be the sons of Abraham according to promise.   

ABram must get him out, from his country, his kindred, 
iio. His Country. Acts 72.  & his father's house. His Country was called Mesopotamia, the sweetest, and most fruitful soil that was in the world▪ For it lieth between the two great rivers Euphrates and Tigris, which served not, 
Pli●. Nat. Hist.  as other rivers do in other places, to bring fatness into the country: but to sweep away the rankness, and foison of the earth, lest with the lustiness of the ground, the fruit of the earth should rot, or be choked, or run up to weed.  
His kindred was every way of the best, and noblest 
His kindred.  stock of the sons of Noah; namely the families of 
Gene. 9 26.  Shem, of whom God said, Blessed be the God of Shem. So blessed were his tents, to wit the houses and families of his posterity, that, as of the most happy thing, it is said; God persuade japheth, and his posterity 
27.  (of which we are a part) to dwell in the tents of Shem. It seemeth then a matter of as great a peril, to leave that kindred, as to leave the church, and so salvation itself. So saith Peter to Christ: To whom 
john 6. 68  shall we go, thou hast the words of eternal life.  
His father's house was worthy for him to have 
His father's house.  continued in. For though some interpreters think, that he was commanded to remove, because his Father's house was idolatrous, it is not so, It is true indeed, that they were idolaters, because josuah doth say, to the children of Israel: your fathers dwelled be yond the flood in old time, Terah the Father Abraham, 
Josh. 24. 2.  and the Father of Nachor, and served other Gods. But what of this? Sure it was more through ignorance of the law, then through rebellion and rage. For when as Terah perceived, that God was with his son, he left all, without bidding, to go with his son, and had rather put himself in the tents of his son, then want the blessing of God. Hereby it appeareth, that they were a very loving people, one to the other, & soft hearted to obey, when the Lord did command. His father also was very wealthy, having many possessions, much cattle, a numbersome and great family of servants, All which is nothing obscurely implied in that which was spoken of Abram: Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver & 
Gene. 13. 2. Gene. 14. 14.  in gold: and that when Abram heard that his brother was taken, he armed of them that were borne & brought up in his house, three hundred and eighteen. For it was not likely but that this wealth, and multitude, came to him from his Father, yet all these must he forsake, and get him from them, unless they would follow him and his fortunes (as they say) which they might if they would. Otherwise if none would go with him, but that he must be alone; yet must he still follow the commandment of his God, that saith, Get thee out from among them.  
The reason is given by Christ, that also called 
1. Reason. The commandment is of price, and must be obeyed. Matth. 10. 37.  sons from their fathers, owners from their houses, and lands: brethren from their brethren: fathers, from their children: & husbands from their wives, as he saith. He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me. The commandment of God is the kingdom of heaven. It is a treasure hid in the field, a 
Matth. 13. 44. Psal. 119. 72. 127.  pearl of great price, which, if he hath the heart of a man, that findeth, he will s●ll a●l that he hath, and buy it. Hear than we see that, where God giveth a 
USE. Go when God calleth.  due vocation to spread abroad and inhabit the earth, neither the love of the country, be it never so fruitful; the love of kindred, be they never so noble and holy; the love of a man's father's house, be the family never so kind, so rich, so numbersome: no nor the largeness of possession ought to be any impediment to keep us from obedience. Indeed it is true, that if any thing could afford a man a sufficient excuse to defer obedience unto God's commandment, of this kind, it may be easily found in one of these branches. But what Christ saith to his followers, is to be repeated here: Christ saith to one follow me, 
Luke 9 5●▪ 60.  and the same said, Lord suffer me first to go and bury my father▪ but Christ endureth no delay, for he presently subjoineth a second commandment, Go thou 
61. 62.  and preach the kingdom of God: Then another said, I will follow thee Lord; but let me first go, and bid them farewell, which are at mine house: And jesus said, No man that putteth his hand to the plough and looketh back, is apt to the kingdom of God: Then the commandment of God must needs be obeyed, whosoever else be neglected.  
I am not ignorant, that many are not willing to 
Reason of not going answered. 1. England, not like Mesopotamia.  go abroad and spread the gospel, in this most honourable and christian voyage of the Plantation of Virginia. Their reasons are diverse according to their wits. One saith, England is a sweet country. True indeed, and the God of glory be blessed, that whereas the country was as wild a forest, but nothing so fruitful, as Virginia, and the people in their nakedness did arm themselves in a coat armour of Woad, fetching 
Com. C●soris.  their Curets and Polderns, from a painter's shop: by the civil care of conquerors and planters it is is now become a very paradise in comparison of 
Kindred not like abram's.  that it was. But how sweet soever it be, I am sure, it cannot compare with Me●●potamia, where Abram dwelled. O but, saith another, my kinidred would not be forsaken. Kindred? what kindred? Surely thy kindred is hardly so honourable and blessed, as the kindred of Abram was. And for any thing that I can see, since ATHEISTS and PAPISTS, have gotten out of their serpent's holes, and conversed with men, they have sowed such cockle among our wheat, that in many places a man is in no such peril to be cheated and cozened, if not murdered & poisoned, as among his own kindred that are affected that way. Some few, and those very few, are not willing to leave their father's house, where any thing may be hoped for after the death of their parents: but for the most part, the world perceiveth that except it be to join in a deadly feud, or some piece of excellent villainy, the English Proverb is true, The farther from kin, the nearer to friends. But look seriously into the land, and see whether there be not just cause, if not a necessity to seek abroad. The people 
Causes to seek abroad.  blessed be God, do swarm in the land, as young bees in a hive in june; insomuch that there is very hardly room for one man to live by another. The mightier like old strong bees thrust the weaker, as younger, out of their hives: Lords of Manors convert townships, in which were a hundredth or two hundredth communicants, to a shepherd & his dog. The true labouring husbandman, that sustaineth the prince by the plough, who was wont to feed many poor, to set many people on work, and pay twice as much subsidy and fifteens to the king, for his proportion of earth, as his Landlord did for ten times as much; that was wont to furnish the church with Saints, the musters with able persons to fight for their sovereign, is now in many places turned labourer, and can hardly scape the statute of rogues and vagrants. The gentleman hath gotten most of the tillage in his hand; he hath rotten sheep to sell at Michaelmas: his summer fed oxen at Easter: ask no better price for hay, than his beasts, to keep that till spring, that they got at grass: by these means he can keep his corn till the people starve, always provided that the poor husbandmen which are left, and the clothier must buy their seed, and wool at such a rate, that shall wear them out in a very few years. And were it not, that the honest and christian merchant doth often help, who putteth all his estate upon the providence of God, which they call venturing, to bring corn into the land, for which he hath many a bitter curse of the cursed cornmongers, we should find an extreme famine in the midst of our greatest plenty. The rich shopkeeper hath the good honest poor labourer at such advantage, that he can grind his facewhen he pleaseth. The poor metal man worketh his bones out, and swelteth himself in the fire, yet for all his labour, having charge of wife and children, he can hardly keep himself from the alms box. Always provided that his masters to whom he worketh, will give never a penny towards his living; but they can tell of their own knowledge, that if the poor man were a good husband, he might live well: for he receiveth much money in the year at their hands, very near four pence for every six penny worth of work. The thoughtful poor woman, that hath her small children standing at her knee, and hanging on her breast; she worketh with her needle and laboureth with her fingers, her candle goeth not out by night, she is often deluding the bitterness of her life with sweet songs, that she singeth to a heavy heart. Sometimes she singeth: Have mercy on me Lord, sometimes Help Lord, for good and godly men do perish and decay: sometimes judge and revenge my cause O Lord: and many such like: which when a man of understanding doth hear; he doth with pity praise God, that hath given such means to mock hunger with, and to give patience. I warrant you her songs want no passion; she never saith, O Lord, but a salt tear droppeth from her sorrowful head, a deep sigh breatheth as a furnace from her aching heart, that weary with the head for company, with tears of sweetest blood. And when all the week is ended, she can hardly earn salt for her water gruel to feed on upon the Sunday. Many such sweets are in England, which I know not how better to interpret then to say the strong old bees do beat out the younger, to swarm & hive themselves elsewhere. Take the opportunity, good honest labourers which indeed bring all the honey to the hive, God may so bless you, that the proverb may be true of you, that A May swarm, is worth a king's ransom.   

THE place whither Abram must go, is to the land 
iijo.  which the Lord will set himsee. A commandment fit for God, to persuade by no arguments taken from the sweetness and fruitfulness of the place. Thus doth the Apostle to the Hebrews, render this place, By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed God, 
Heb. 11. 8.  to go into a place, which afterwards he should receive for inheritance, and he went out, not knowing whither he went. The like commandment did the Lord give to the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt: For they must not choose their own way, but follow the cloudy pillar that led them. For at the commandment of the Lord, they pitched, and at the 
Numb. 9 23.  commandment of the Lord, they journeyed, keeping the watch of the Lord, at the commandment of the Lord. They journeyed, sometimes where the waters were bitter, sometimes where there was no water, sometimes where the place was full of fiery Serpents, yet could they not be their own choosers, but must follow, where the Lord went before. For 
Rom. 11. 34.  God in his ways can endure no counsellor. He will be the shepherd, we the sheep of his pasture, 
1. Reason. Contented to be God's creatures.  He will be the potter, we must content ourselves with the condition of the potter's vessel: wherefore we are bound, if God command, to follow him, though blindfold. Again, the Lord doth not tell 
II.  him whither he shall go, to keep him in suspense, that the obedience of faith may the more effectually appear. For if the Lord had enticed him by arguments taken from the opportunity and sweetness of the place: how should it be known, whether he went by the power of the promise of God, or by some carnal inducement? We know the devil saith to God of job, Doth job fear God for nought, hast 
job 1. 9 10.  thou not made a hedge about him & about his house? And we also know what Christ saith to them that followed 
job 6. 26.  him. Ye seek me not, because ye saw the miracles, that is, for any respect they had to his Godhead, but because ye ate of the loaves and were filled.  
From which imputation the Lord would free his servant Abraham, whom he purposed to make the Father of the faithful, and give him for an example to all posterity. So dealt the Lord in the wilderness with the children of Israel: he let them see no possibility to live in the world, but sustained them by extraordinary miracle, giving them Manna and Qua●les, that they might follow the steps of their father Abraham: and know, that man liveth not by 
Deut. 8. 3.  bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God, doth man live. Then here we see, where 
USE.  God doth command,, he is to be obeyed, without ask of any questions; Abraham must go to a land he knoweth not whither, because God will have it so. He must not say, A Lion may be in the 
Prou. 26. 13.  street, lest he find A Serpent bite him at home, as he leaneth on the wall. How much more, when the land is discovered, to be as much better than the place in which we live, as the land of Canaan, was better than the roaring wilderness, ought we to be willing to go, whither God calleth? The children of 
Numb. 14. 7. 8.  Israel had word by their spies. The land which we walked through to search it, is a very good land. If the Lord love us, he will bring us to this land, and give it us, which is a land that floweth with milk and ●oni●. Thence they brought a bunch of grapes, and loaded 
Numb. 13. 24. Deut. ●. 24,  two men as they carried it on a bar upon their shoulders: Sure if such motives as these could not make them ready to run to the place, it appeared that they had neither the fear of God, that would not be persuaded by him; nor the wits of reasonable men, that will not respect their own benefit. What shall we say then to our people, which have in them so little edge to follow their own thrift. The land, by the constant report of all that have seen it, is a good land, with the fruitfulness whereof, and pleasure of the Climate, the plenty of Fish and Fowl, England, our mistress, cannot compare, no not when she is in her greatest pride. It is said of the land of Canaan, that Isaac sowed in that land, and 
Gene. 26. 12.  found in the same year, an hundred fold, by estimation: and the text addeth, And so the Lord blessed him. But here is greater matter than so: For, if I count aright, this land giveth five hundred fold at one harvest. For the ears of Wheat, which I have seen, are ten in square, and fifty long: and yet they say, that commonly this return is little better than the third part, every stalk bearing, ordinarily three such ears of Wheat. As for the opportunity of the place, I leave it to the grave Politician: and for the commodities, let the industrious Merchant speak: but for food and raiment, here is enough to be had, for the labour of mastering and subduing the soil. The children of Israel that were in the wilderness, ready to perish, if God withdrew his miraculous hand, like a stiffnecked people as they were, refused to go, fell into a mutiny, and made a commotion, upon the news that the Land had fenced cities, and 
Num. 13. 29.  walled towns exceeding great. And because there were the sons of Anak: mighty ●●nts that were armed in Brass, & their spear like a weavers cloth beam. For they forgot the God that brought them out of Egypt, and that made the raging waves of the sea to stand in heaps, and take the office of strong walls, that they might easily march through upon dry land. They forgot that God was the creator of the mountains, whereof one of the least, is stronger than all the sons of Anak. They forgot that God putteth away all the ungodly of the earth like dross. But we should be worse than mad, to be discouraged by any such imaginations of this place. There are but poor Arbours for Castles, base and homely sheds for walled towns. A Mat is their strongest Portcullis, a naked breast their Target of best proof: an arrow of reed, on which is no iron, their most fearful weapon of offence, here is no fear of nine hundredth iron charets. Their God is the enemy 
judg. ●. ●3. ●. ●et. ●. 8.  of mankind that seeketh whom he may devour. A murderer from the beginning, that laboureth 
o●n 8. 44.  the destruction of those that serve him most devoutly. Hear that Scripture hath a full accomplishment; In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants 
〈…〉.  of jerusalem, and he that is feeble among them shall be is David, that slew his ten thousand: And the house 
〈…〉. 7.  of David as Gods, as the Angel of the Lord before them, that destroyed the most puissant Army of the Assyrians, that came against jerusalem. Wherefore 
●●ay. ●7. 3●.  seeing we are contented, when the King doth press us out to war, to go we know not whither, nor under whom, and can propose no thing unto us but to fight with a mighty enemy: Let us be cheerful to go to the place, that God will show us to possess in peace and plenty, a Land more like the garden of Eden: which the Lord planted, than any part else of all the earth.   

THE Lord doth promise to enrich him with many 
iiijo. Deut. 281. Levit. 26. 3.  blessings, if he be obedient to his calling. An example of that sweet sanction of the law, when the Lord doth allure men to keep it, by the abundance of his blessings. In this place, the Lord doth promise unto Abraham, four most excellent mercies, of all men of understanding most earnestly desired. The first thing he promiseth unto him, is, that The 
A great Nation.  Lord will make him a great Nation. A thing which in the beginning of the Plantation of the world, by all men, was principally desired, with the greatest longing. Out of this desire, arose the taking of many 
Mal. 2. 15.  wives, whereas God did make but one. Hence also rose a reproach unto the barren, though the Lord had shut up the womb. This appeareth by Leah, who said when she bore a son, Now therefore my 
Gone 29. 32. 1. ●●m. 1. 6.  husband will ●oue me. And again, Now will my husband keep me company, because I have borne him three sons. It appeareth also by the story of Hannah, of whom it is said, her adversary vexed her sore, which was her husbands other wife, for she upbraided her, because the Lord had made her barren. It appeareth also, that even to the time of the Gospel, it was a reproach to a woman if she were barren, as Elizabeth said when she conceived with child. Thus hath the 
Luke 1. 26.  Lord dealt with me, in the days when he looked on me, to take from me my rebuke among men. Yea it was in those days a speech, Cursed be the barren that beareth not, and the breasts that give not suck. No marvel then, if it were an argument very powerful to persuade Abraham to go under this condition: Especially when Abraham was full of years, elder 
Gene. 12. 4.  than his father was, when he begat him. And also 
Gene. 18. 11.  his wife was well strooken in years, in so much, that it ceased to be with her after the manner of women. And to let it appear that he was exceedingly affected with a desire to multiply and increase, when God came to him and comforted him, Thus, Fear 
Gene. 15. 1. 2.  not Abraham, I am thy buckler, and thine exceeding great reward; he maketh this answer to God: What wilt thou give me (for the Text doth say he was exceeding rich) seeing I go childless: As if he had said, that he preferred the blessing of multiplication before all the world beside. Now here doth God promise him, upon his obedience, not only to give 
Gone▪ 17. ●0.  him a child, or that he shall beget twelve princes, as it is said of Ishmael; but he will make him a great Nation; a Nation, that, not man, but God calleth Great: that is, exceeding great. For imprinting of which 
Gone▪ 1●. ●6. Gene. ●●. 5. Heb. ●●. 12.  promise in the heart of Abraham, he calleth him to see the innumerable stars of the sky, the infinite sands by the sea, and the motes of the dust of the earth, which he will make fit comparisons to express the greatness of this nation. Then seeing, 
Answer to the Objection of being extinguished.  whatsoever was promised to Abraham; is also promised to all that are of his faith and obedience; here is an answer to such, as object they are loath to go from home; because they know not what shall become of them. For if they once get into an other Country, they think there is an end of them, and all theirs. This the Lord answereth; Not so, but obey the commandment, And God will open the barren womb, and make her to dwell with a family, 
Psal 113. 9  and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise the Lord. jacob thus praiseth God, with my s●affe came I over 
Gone▪ 32. 10.  this Iorden, and now have I gotten two bands.  
The second thing which the Lord doth promise 
God will bless him.  unto Abram, is, that He will bless him, Him I say and the nation that shall come of him. What is meant by this blessing the Patriarch Isake doth, in part, make plain, when he disposeth of this blessing to jacob which his Father Abram had of God, and left to him. His words are these. God give thee of the dew of heaven, 
Gene. 27. 28.  and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of wheat and wine, Let people be thy servants; and nations bow unto thee, be thou Lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's children honour thee. In sum he blesseth him with plenty and authority. Howbeit these things were but a part of the blessing; the remainder of this blessing which indeed is most excellent, containeth the substance, whereof those temporal blessings were but the type and shadow, and as it were the Sacraments. When Moses doth say, My doctrine 
Deut. 32. 2.  shall drop as the rain, and my speech shall still as the dew, as the showers upon the herbs, and as the great rain upon the grass. It is plain that the dew is but the type of the word of God and his gracious spirit, that doth accompany it, as all the promises which were delivered in a temporal Phrase had a spiritual sense, To which purpose is that in the Epistle to the Hebrews, By faith Abraham abode in the 
Heb. 11. 9 10. 16  land of promise, as in a strange country, for he looked for a City having a foundation, whose builder and maker is God, that is an heavenly one, In this blessing then are there all good things, having the promise of 
1. Tim. 4. 8.  the life present, and of that which is to come, for this is the profit, is got by godliness. So when the children of Israel 
Exod. 12. 35.  came out of Egypt they came forth rich, with silver and gold; and with great substance, as the 
Gene. 15. 14.  Lord had showed unto Abram before. But that was 
Deut. 18. ● 5.  not all, for the Lord sent his angel to accompany them, raised them up Prophets of their brethren, erected 
Num. 11. 26 27 1. Cor. 10. 4. Answer to the Objection of losing the blessing of God.  his tabernacle among them, yea saith saint Paul They drank of the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.  
And here is an answer to a second obiecton, of such as will not go abroad, for fear of losing the blessing of God, divers are the difficulties into which a man is cast when he liveth among barbarous people. Sure he cannot have the blessing of God▪ that is mingled among the heathen. He must lose the preaching of the word of God, and the purity of the Sacraments, thus is he undone in body & soul. To this the Lord replieth, that to him that doth wilfully with the breach of God's commandment run into tentation, the Lord doth bring upon him the curse that David forewarneth his son of, If thou 
1. Chron. 28. 9  forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. But if a man leave his Country at God's commandment, the blessing of the Lord shall ever wait upon him to feed his body and sanctify his soul. The truth is; that none do so shine in piety as those that fear God & are out of their Country. We never read of such a blessing of men, with constancy and deliverance, in their own Country, as we find of some abroad. Where did Sidrach, Misach, and Abednago, stand 
Dan. ●1. 25.  for their faith and were delivered out of the fiery Oven into which they were cast, because they would not offend God, but among the Babylonians? Where 
Dan. 6. 16.  did Daniel show his constancy in prayer, and found deliverance from the lions den, but among the Gentiles? Stand fast then in the Faith, and you shall see the blessings of God redoubled upon you more, being in a strange Country, than you were able to discern at home.  
The third blessing upon Abraham, is, that God 
A great name.  will make him a great name. This is a blessing of that kind, as men are exceedingly ambitious of. No marvel, when God and man doth commend it unto the world, as a thing of price; A good name, 
Eccles. 7. 3. Prou. 22. 1.  (saith Solomon) is better th●n a costly ointment, and is to b●e chosen above great riches. Hereupon the Scripture hath recorded good men; and the Epistle to the Hebrews giveth the reason of it, which it rendereth 
Heb. 11. 39 1. Chron. 11.  thus, All these, through faith, obtained a good report. So is David registered for a worthy, and so are all his worthies recorded by the holy Ghost, to stir up other ages to imitate their virtues, that they may inherit their praises, For praise for virtue is a blessed thing, which Christ himself delighted in, His fame was spread abroad throughout all the land: and of the fame of the Apostles and such as preached 
Psal. 19 ●. Rom. 10. 18.  the word of God, David saith, which also S. Paul doth cite and thus render to their praise. Their sound went out through all the earth; and their words into the ends of the world. This swift flying and loud sounding fame, doth the Lord promise shall be spread abroad of Abram, if he will obey God and forsake his country. A thing which proved true: for all the rest of the Scriptures, to the end of the Bible hath this only subject, namely the praise of Abram. It is certain that a godly man hath never that great name at home, as abroad. Christ saith truly in the Particular of a Prophet, which is also true of every virtuous man, A Prophet is not without honour▪ save in 
Matth. 13. 57  his own Country, and in his own house. And so here is 
Answer to the Objection. of loss of memory.  an answer to a third objection, which some do make: What should a man do abroad? A man would willingly keep the poor reputation and respect he hath. If I go out of my Country, I shall be but swallowed up among strangers, my memory will be sooner rotten abroad, though I live; then if I were long laid in my grave at home. The Lord answereth this objection thus. Fear not Abram, I will be thine exceeding great reward, I will by thee do so great things in a strange place, that thy name shall be remembered, as my name, which I will put upon thee. Sure it is very true, that many a man, while he stayeth at home, liveth in obscurity, as in the darkest night, though his virtues and worth deserve better respect. For at home what can be a man's regard, where there be millions of his rank, though not better deserving, yet better favoured. Get abroad where virtue is scant, and there, by the advancing of thy wisdom and virtue, thou shalt be more eminent and famous in a year, then at home half of thy rank shall be all their days: hidden virtue is neglected, but abroad it is magnified, At home be thou a right good man, thou canst not be seen, for thou art either overtopped, or so many ways equalled, that thou art like Gold in salomon's time, which 
1. King. 10. 27.  was esteemed no better than stones, or like Cedars that were but like wild fig trees. Thy way then to make the world ring of thy virtue, to thy praise among the good, and to the terror of those that are evil, is to go abroad when God calleth thee.  
The fourth blessing is that he shall be A blessing. This speech hath relation to the esteem that other 
A blessing.  men give; For so do we often read the phrase in the Scripture, where it ever doth import so good a reputation among others, that they hold themselves blessed for his company. In that sense the prophet Isaiah useth the word in this sentence: In 
Isai. 19 24.  that day shall Israel be a third with Egypt and Ashur, even a blessing in the mids of the land. And the Prophet Zacharie thus, It shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of judah, and 
Zach. 8. 13.  house of Israel, so will I deliver you, and ye shall be a blessing. But the speech hath more in it then so; namely that whereas, The time of ignorance God regarded not: but that he bestowed those blessing upon 
Acts 17. 30.  the barbarous people, by the hand of that general providence whereby he maketh his Sun to shine 
Matth. 5. 45.  on the evil, & the good, and sendeth rain on the just and unjust: now the Lord shall bestow all his blessings upon the land through Abram: as if the Olive trees of God's graces did drop through him, as through a golden pipe, upon them. A great blessing to Abram 
Zach. 4. 12.  who herein should be a type of Christ. For as of his fullness all receive, so of Abram, the nations should receive grace for grace. And so here is an answer 
Answer of being abhorred.  to a fourth objection of them that say, what should a man do out of his country? He shall be but a hissing and a gazing stock, and a curse to those among whom he is a stranger. Besides if he will have any good, he must seek for pearls in a dunghill, he must lick his honey off from the thorn, and work his butter out of the fire. Unto this objection the Lord answereth; Abram fear not, for none of these things shall befall. For on the contrary I will incline the heart of thy strangers so to respect thee, that they shall hold thee to be the only blessing that ever came among them, because thou shalt very sensibly bring many blessings unto them. When Isaac the son of Abram, came to Abimelech, though 
Gene. 26. 2●.  the Philistines envied him for his wealth: yet Abimelech the King came to him with his friends and captains of his army, and said, We have certainly seen that the Lord is with thee: and we thought, let there now be an oath between us, and let us make a covenant with thee, Thou now the blessed of the Lord, do this. Pharaoh, 
Gene. ●1. 38. and 40.  King of Egypt, said to his servants of joseph, can we find such a man as this, in whom is the spirit of God. He said also to joseph, Thou shalt be over mine house, and at thy word shall all my people be armed. Thus Abraham was known to be a blessing. Now what the Lord promised to Abraham, was also promised to all those 
●om. 4. 2●.  that are of the same faith and obedience with him. Then this blessing, of being a blessing, belongeth unthose which at God's commandment do Get them out of their Country. When a man of worth is among many men of like worth, he is accounted rather a curse then a blessing, such is the corruption of flesh and blood, infected with envy and with pride. If any good come to any land by reason of any good man, yet is there such wrestling for the garland, that he that hath the most friends, will set the better leg before, and not only get the thanks that is due to another; but also, as jacob got the start of Esau, in virtue, so will Esau trip up the heels of jacob by his power, if God keep him not. Nay Esau must be acknowledged to have an Angel's face, for winking at his brother; that windeth himself out of his company as cleanly as he can. But when a man cometh abroad, where the word of God and his fear is precious, than every virtue of worth shall have this Respond of the Idiots and Barbarians, out of question 
1. Cor. 14. 25.  God is in these men. Then can there no blessing fall extraordinarily, but all men know for whose sake it is, namely for such as God hath made a blessing.  
Out of these arguments, by which God enticed 
USE I.  Abram to go out of his Country, such as go to a Christian Plantation may gather many blessed lessons. 
Marry not with Infidels.  God will make him a great nation. Then must Abraham's posterity keep them to themselves. They may not marry nor give in marriage to the heathen, that are uncircumcised. And this is so plain, that out of this foundation arose the law of marriage a-among themselves. The breaking of this rule, may break the neck of all good success of this voyage, whereas by keeping the fear of God, the Planters in short time, by the blessing of God, may grow into a nation formidable to all the enemies of Christ, and be the praise of that part of the world, for so strong a hand to be joined with the people here that fear God.  
Another thing also is to be marked out of this 
II. A great Nation God's blessing.  place, mamelie, that to grow into a great nation is a very great blessing of God. Then are they but Atheists, that hold a great family of children to be a heavy and sore charge: and they blaspheme they know not what, that wish God had their children, for they could spare them well enough. But especially the son of perdition, that body of Popery is by this Text made abominable, that once wrote to the Lords of the Counsel of this Land, that Popery would much profit the Land, because by the single life of Priests and Nuns, and Monks, and Friars, the Commonwealth should not be so charged with multitude of children. They fitly say, not charged; but they say not, that less children shall be gotten. For when as one fishpond, a thousand 
Par. Vrsperg.  years ago, could afford more than six thousand infants heads, so long before the abstruse studies▪ came from hell into the hands of jesuits, what shall we think of these latter days? But to rake no further into that stinking kennel, I must tell them to their teeth, that when they say the kingdom is better for the smallness of the number of the subjects, or is not the better for being a great nation, that they do like their father the devil, give God the lie.  
Whereas God doth promise to bless him in 
III.  his journey, as he did indeed, giving him the gift 
Bless his journey.  of a Prophet to teach, of a Priest to pray, of a King to rule, of plenty in his Temporal estate, and joy in seeing Christ the Saviour of his soul; here may 
john 8. 56.  such as transplant at God's commandment, be assured of that promse of God, I will not leave thee, nor forsake thee; but as God saith to joshuah, as I was with Moses so will I be with thee: so God saith to 
Iosh 1. 5.  them, as I was with Abraham, so will I be with you. I will bless you, to wit, with the blessings of this life and of the kingdom of heaven.  
But further if you will have Abraham's blessing, you 
FOUR  must do your diligence to walk in those ways, by which the Lord doth give his blessings. You must not with Idleness, enforce God to work miracles of mercy on the wilfully sinful. You must be diligent to hear the word of God▪ reverent in believing and receiving of it, fruitful in the Christian practice of it, that the blessing of God may come upon you. God can raise children unto Abraham of 
Matth. 3. 9  the very stones, and cast you away if you cast him off.  
In that the Lord doth promise Abraham to make 
V  him a great Name, know that it is a blessed thing to 
A good Name  be well spoken of. This will God bring upon the obedient. But if you disobey, you will but make the ears of them to tingle, that hear of you. And as we are in continual expectation of some honourable effect, if you continue in the faith: so will you bring a confusion upon yourselves, and a shame upon your Nation, if you stick not fast to God, and his blessed commandments.  
And lastly, whereas God doth promise, that Abram 
VI  shall be a blessing, you must know it your duty 
Ephe. 5. 15. 16.  to walk wisely towards those that are without, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. The days are evil indeed, in that continent.  
Then how tender ought your care to be, to gain the reputation of a blessing among this people. Let them see, that he that came before, was but Satan whom they themselves do serve, that had transformed 
2. Cor 11. 13. 1●  himself into an Angel of light; and that they were Satan's ministers, that transformed themselves into the Apostles of Christ. But walk you honestly as in the day, 
Rom. 13. 11. atth. 5. 16.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify you father which is in heaven. While we have time, let v do good to all men; yet give 
Gal 6. 10. ●phe. 4. 27.  no place to the devil. So the blessing of God shall be upon us, and we shall be a blessing wheresoever we go. And still remember that, as the devils children will needs be a curse, so the sons of Abraham will always labour to be a sweet blessing, where ever they come. And these were the arguments that concerned Abraham and his people, we must now proceed also to speak of such arguments that concerned others.   

THE Lord doth deal wonderfully with him in respect 
Vo.  of others, When he is departed from his own Country. For first the Lord will bless them that bless him. To bless, in this place, is by word and deed to seek the prosperity of any. The Lord than doth promise to make all his blessings go before them, that do, in any manner, make their blessings go before his servants. To this purpose is it, which the Prophet David hath, Pray for the peace of 
●sal. 1●2. 6.  jerusalem, Let them prosper that love thee. And that of Christ. He that receiveth a Prophet, in the name of 
●att. 10. 41. 42  a Prophet, shall receive a Prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man, in the name of a righteous man, shall receive the reward of a righteous man. And whosoever shall give to one of these little ones, to drink, a cup of cold water only, in the name of a Disciple. Verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. Upon this blessing of God was it that David said to his son Solomon. Show kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the 
1. King. 2. 7.  Gileadite,- for so they came to me, when I fled from Absolom thy brother. And as the Lord doth bless them that love his children, with his blessings of this life, so doth he bless them at last with the kingdom of heaven. For thus doth our Saviour Christ give his sentence; Come ye blessed of my father, take the inheritance of the kingdom prepared for you, from the beginning 
Matth. 25. 34.  of the world: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat, etc. Which afterwards he doth thus explain, Verily I say unto you, in as much as ye have done it to one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it to me. But here we must understand, that when he saith, I will bless them that bless thee, the word thee, did not signify personal Abraham; but Abraham and all his posterity, which were in his loins, and were to be that great Nation, that the Lord promised to make of him. And this, the Fox Balam knew very 
Num. 24 5. ●.  well, when speaking of jacob, and the habitation of Israel, He citeth this Text: Blessed is he that blesseth 
Gen●. 3●. ●●. and 39 23.  thee. Laban was blessed for jacobs' sake, and the keeper of the prison, with his whole charge, was blessed because of joseph. The midwives, that did spare 
Exod. 1. ●7. 20. 21.  the children of the Israclites, and did not kill them, according to the commandment of Pharaoh the king, were also blessed: which the Scripture doth thus record, God therefore prospered the widows. And again, And because the widows feared God, therefore he made them house▪ Rahab also, that harboured and hid the Lords spies, found the blessing that joshuah 
o●. ●. 14. & 6. 25. ●at. 1. 5.  saved her, and her father's household, and all that she had, and she dwelled in Israel, as it seemeth, married to Salmon▪ and so also from her came Christ.  
To curse, in this place, doth signify all kind of afflictions: 
Deut. 28. Levit. ●6.  as appeareth by the law of God. And so the meaning is, that the Lord will spend all his plagues upon such as do bring any affliction upon Abraham, yea the Lord will revenge them in his wrath. So saith the Lord jesus Christ, He that shall 
Mat. 18. 6.  offend one of these little ones, that believe in me, it were better for him, that a millstone were hanged about his neck: and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Let Pharaoh tell how well he sped for taking Abraham's wife into his house, The Text saith, The Lord plagued Pharaoh with great plagues; because of Sarai Abraham's 
Gen. 12 15. 12. Gen. 20. 3. 18. Goe 19 5. 12. 24. Exod. 1. etc.  wife. Let Abimelech tell, how much better he faired for the like prank. But S●dom will never be forgotten, that would abuse strangers. And Egypt is hanged up a table, in all men's eyes, to let them see, that the Lord hath innumerable fearful plagues, to spend upon them that will deal craftily, and cruelly with his people; and not suffer them to serve the Lord. The reason hereof is, that God, to 
Reason, communion with God. Gen. 17. 7.  him that receiveth his covenant, doth bind himself to be his God, and the God of his seed. And thus the Prophet Zacharie bringing forth God expressing his meaning to be, that there is so strict an Union, between God and his people, that what is done to his servants, he taketh as done to himself; His words be these, He that toucheth you, toucheth the apple 
Zach. 2. 8.  of mine eye. To this purpose is that of our Saviour Christ, He that receiveth you, receiveth me: and he that 
Matth. 10.  receiveth me, receiveth him that sent me. And again, He that despiseth you, despiseth me: and he that despiseth 
Luke 10. 16.  me, despiseth him that sent me. And now, seeing the respect of blessing or cursing, which falleth upon Abraham and his posterity, doth fall upon God, then consider what God saith for himself. Them that honour 
1. Sam. 2. 30.  me, I will honour: and they that despise me, shall be despised. And this doth David acknowledge in God, With the godly, thou wilt show thyself godly: with the 
Psal. 18. 25. 26  upright, thou wilt show thyself upright: with the pure, thou wilt show thyself pure: and with the froward, thou wilt show thyself froward.  
It is then to be observed, that godly men, that 
USE. I.  fear God, where ever they go by God's vocation, 
Godly men find friends.  they shall find friends, and such as shall bless them. He made those that led them away captain to pity them. joseph, and Daniel found more honour abroad, than their Princes had at home. Ester and Mordecai, found more favour at Shusan, than many of their better found at jerusalem. He that raised up those godly men friends abroad, will also provide for you abroad, if ye continue his faithful servants, as Abram did. And further, here we see, that such as love 
II.  God's people shall prosper; though they be but heathen. 
The friends of godly men prosper.  This may give warranty unto our conscience, to accept of favour and blessings, even of the Gentiles: and also to hold a league and concurrence, even with the well affected Heathen, that God hath stirred up, to be the means of his Blessings unto us. So is it said to Abram, When he had occasion to rescue his brother Lot from Chedor-Laome●, 
Gen. ●4. 1●.  Then came one that escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew, which dwelled in the plain of Mamre, the Amorite, brother to Eshcol, and brother to Aner, which were confederate with Abram. And also we may secure ourselves, in the association of such; that God will not kill us for their sakes: but on the contrary, God will bless them for our sakes.  
Again, this text doth teach us thus much, that 
III.  in a strange Country, we must look for enemies; 
Th●y ●●st look for enemies.  even cursing enemies, under whose tongues is the poison of Asps, and whose right hand is a right hand of iniquity. Balaam, that had a witch's tongue 
Iosh ●3 2●. Num. 22. 6.  in his head, was sent for to curse Israel, by Balak, that knew he had a pestilent tongue. The seed of the devil 
Gen 3. 15.  will be spitting and biting, do what a man can. This our Saviour foretelleth to his holy Apostles, 
john 16. 33.  In the world you shall have trouble. A thing which if the children of Israel had known as they ought, they would never have refused to enter the land which God commanded them to possess: because there were cursing and killing enemies, no better than Cannibals. Be not then discouraged, though you light on enemies: for that did God foretell unto Abram, that he and his seed must find. Rather be strong, and of good courage: because the Lord is with you; and with them, but an arm of flesh.  
Lastly, our text doth tell us, that he will curse 
FOUR  them that curse Abram, This the witch Balaam knew 
Their enemies shall be cursed.  that if any would open his mouth to curse the people of God, he should be cursed himself: for the curse should return unto him, as Water into his 
Psal. 109. 17.  bowels, and oil into his bones. And generally, they shall come unto shame and confusion, as many as have evil will at Ziion. Here then is a warrant that where godly men are constrained to encounter with cursers, such as are the Priests of the Gentiles; it is God's ordinance to bring a curse upon them, and to kill them: as the children of Israel did Balam. 
josh▪ 13. 22.  Here is also a promise, that, if we keep ourselves to Abraham's faith and obedience, God will bring a curse upon all our enemies. The Prophet Zacharie hath many excellent speeches, to express this by: The Lord, saith he, will make jerusalem a cup of poison, 
Zach. 12. ●. etc.  unto all the people in the siege of jerusalem. jerusalem shall be a heavy stone for all people: all that lift at it, shall be torn; though all the earth be gathered together against it. Again, the princes of juda shall be as coals of fire among wood, and like the firebrand in the sheaf, and they shall devour all people round about, on the right hand, and on the left. These things spoke the Prophet of these victorious days of the Gospel. I hope out of these words thus generally delivered, every true hearted Protestant, can frame out an answer unto the objection, that is thought much to impeach this Plantation in VIRGINIA. The peril, say the obiecters, is great by the Papists that shall come on the back of us. What Papists do you fear? the Princes? Sure, such as are in alliance with our Nation, will think other thoughts, and take better advice. But as for the popish Church, an unruly beast, exempt from all good government, Civil and Divine, only adoring him, that hath exalted himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, it may be they, like the daughters of salomon's horseleeches, will cry, Give, give, more blood, and yet more bloo●. 
Fro●. 3●. 14. 15.  And yet, a man would think, they were glutted before this time of day, For in her may be found the blood 
●eue. 1●. 24.  of the Prophets and of the Saints, and of ALL that were slain upon the earth. But you will say, now they be so well fleshed, they will have more blood. To this first our text answereth in general, never fear them: they come to curse with Bell, Book and Candle, and the Devil and all: but remember this, God will cu●se them that curse Abram. But say you, they are such terrible beasts, as that the professors of the Gospel must needs be afraid of them. Indeed their peril was great, while their enchantments were in 
reve. 18. 23.  force. jannes' and jambres withstood Moses, till the 
Exod. 9 11.  Plague of the Scab fell upon them, and then they were able to stand before Moses no longer. So they 
reve. 16. ●.  juggled, and did many strange tricks, and much mischief, till the Plague of the Scab light upon them at Naples, more than an hundred year ago: but since, though their industry hath been nothing inferior to the devils, that came from compassing of the earth, 
job 1. ●.  to and fro; yet they may cast a woeful account: For they find in the total, how many Kingdoms they have lost, and do daily lose; how many battles they have fought, in all which to the Protestants, as the Canaanites, would prove to the Isralites in Calebs' 
Numb. 1●. 9  judgement, so have they been, even Bread for us. Ask what is become of those imperial armies, that went into Boeme, against the Hussites, in the time of Sigismond the Emperor: and know, what is become of their Armour: whether it armed not the Hussites that wanted? Ask what is become of the many ships that came into the Narrow seas in the year 1588.? I am sure much of their Ordinance furnished the Netherlanders. Will they come to you? Sure GOD that made Israel rich of the spoils of Egypt, can by his providence make them furnish you with ships, with Munition, with Victual, with money: let this be your hope. But fear not their fears. Babylon, saith the Angel, is fallen; 
reve. 14. & 18  never to rise again: sing Hallelu-iah, and you shall see her smoke ascend for evermore. No, no, they 
reve. 19 3.  shall prevail no more, for their madness is made evident. 
1. Tim. 3. 8.  They have another char to do, I hope, will make them scratch where it itcheth not. Think ye that it is possible for Princes, whose treasure is exhausted, and honour impeached, by their inchaunments, not to require satisfaction for these wrongs? and, to that purpose, pull all their Mammon from under their Altars? I am persuaded, the Armour they have in the roufes of their Churches, will one day help to arm a company of good fellows, that will come to Church, it may be under pretence of hearing a Mass, but will departed with good luggage, of silver and gold, and pearl, and such like, that is there ready gathered to their hands. Wherefore fear God, and of all others, there lieth the least fear to be looked for from them. The only peril is in offending God, and taking of Papists in to your company: if once they come creeping into your houses, then look for mischief: if treason or poison be of any force: know them all to be very Assasines, of all men to be abhorred. But hope in God that he, that hath sent you abroad, will also send you such governors, as will cast out the leaven out of your houses: to whom I need say little, because I know they need not be nurtured by me.   

IN Abram shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 
Vj●.  By Abram, is meant, as before, Abraham, as in his loins are many nations. For that which is here spoken of Abram, is also spoken of jacob, in this manner. In thee, and in thy seed, shall all the families of the earth be blessed. It is true that in Abraham and his 
Gen. 28. 14.  Children, were many men blessed: as appeareth in the Scripture, where they have drawn many strangers to serve God. Howbeit the principal blessing is ascribed to Christ, who by excellency is called Thy seed; as S. Paul doth very notably observe, when he saith, He saith not, and to thy seeds, as speaking 
Gal. 3. 16.  of many, but, And to thy seed, as of one, which is Christ. By the families of the earth are understood all those nations, which arose from the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations among their 
Gen. ●●. 3●.  people; for out of these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood: and that which is here rendered families, afterward is called Nations in the speech of the Lord of Abraham, All the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him. S. Paul rendereth it thus, in thee shall 
Gen. ●8. ●8. & 22. 18.  all the Gentiles be blessed. By blessing in this place, seeing 
Gal. 3. 8.  the seed is Christ, and the word, Thee, did so far point out Abraham, as it had relation to Christ in his loins, of force it must signify that blessedness, which Christ doth bring unto men. Which the Angel and a multitude of heavenly soldiers, do comprehend in their sweet song of praising God, when they said. Glory be to God on high, and Peace on earth, 
Luk. 2. 14.  and towards men good will. Then the speech, all put together, is this, that Abr●ham must get him out of his Country: that he may begin that, which God, by him and his seed, will accomplish in due time: namely that all nations may embrace the gospel of Christ unto their salvation. An excellent argument, and of singular force, to persuade not only Abram, but all his Children according to the faith, to fly, if it were possible, over the mountains, about so great an errand. O with what Comfort may a man come before the Lord, with this account of his talon. Behold I am here, & the children which God hath given me. It would never grieve S Paul to go from Cilicia, to present a Church at Corinth, a pure Virgin to Christ. 
2. Cor▪ 11▪ 2▪ Objection. The last judgement at hand.   
But stay, saith one, you run too fast without good ground: you seem to incline to the Millenaries, or such as look for the gospel to be spread over all the world. You must know that is done many a fair year ago, that we need not look for a new Revolution of that. It were safer to tremble at the last judgement, whose trumpet is ever sounding in our ears: Arise from the dead and come to judgement. To this I answer that no prejudicate opinion is a just 
Answer.  condemnation to the truth, nor any doctrine out of Books that are apocrypha, can make a wise man departed from a doctrine of the Canonical Scriptures. It is true that Gregory's credit was wont to be great 
●r●g. lib. Dialo.  in the times that men knew no better, who confidently affirmed the judgement to be at hand; but besides the confutation of a thousand years, which have been since he so affirmed, the pregnant & clear Scripture confoundeth the proud conjecture of him and his followers. And this doth also appear by the Apostasy of some Papists that in their books 
Maluenda de Antichristo.  lately Printed at Rome, have departed from the sentence of so great a Pope, and grave Doctor of the Church, telling us plainly that the gospel must be preached universally through the world before the last judgement. But neither by their authority, nor arguments, but by the force of such Texts as cannot be deluded, do I affirm, That all the Nations of the world shall be blessed in Christ. They that mince and pair this Text, that they make it as sore as the Shechamits 
Gene. 34. 25. Psal. 19 3. Rom. 10. 18.  were with their circumcision, say, that, take away the overlashing hyperbole, and, Their sound is gone out into all the world, will serve the turn. A simple blessing God knoweth and little differeth from The savour of death unto death. If they receive you not, 
● Cor. 3. 16.  (saith Christ,) shake off the dust of your feet. Truly, I say unto yond, it shall be easier for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgement, then for that City, 
att●. 10. 14.  howsoever they heard the sound of the word of God. This stumbling block, few wise men will say was this Blessedness promised to Abram.  
The jews hunt counter as fast on the other side, For when as, in the second Psalm, they read of their Messtas, that he shall have the heathen for his inheritance, and the utter most parts of the earth for his possession: 
Psal. 2. 8. 9  that he shall crush them with a sceptre of iron, and break them in pieces like a potter's vessel, they affirm, that all the world must be subdued by force and violence unto Messiah, An opinion that prevailed much in the time of Christ, as appeareth not only by diverse others, but also by the Apostles, who encountered our Saviour Christ thus, before his ascension. Lord wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom 
Acts 1. 6.  to Israel. But they also make but an uncomfortable blessing of this blessedness of Abraham. The phrase is plain, that in Abraham all the families of the earth shall be blessed. A blessedness than must the Gentiles trust to receive from Abraham. Particuly these things are delivered in the Scripture, which, I think, no distinctions of hyperbole, nor spiritually, nor at the last judgement, can delude, which are the ordinary refuges of them that, out of prejudice, would feign put by the truth.  
Daniel hath it thus, A stone was cut without hands, 
Dan. 2. 35.  and smote the image upon the feet, and broke them in pieces. Then was the iron, the clay the brass, the silver, and gold broken together, and became like chaff of the summer flowers, and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone, that smote the image, became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.  
Here, first, we plainly see, that Christ must destroy the monarchs that they be not found. And so much of this speech doth S. Paul interpret thus plainly. That Christ shall put down all rule, and all authority, 
●. G●r, 15. 2●. 25. 2●.  and power. For he must reign, till he ha●h put all his enemies, under his feet: the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death, The other part of daniel's speech, David doth thus express in the Psalm. Thou Lord 
Psal. 8●. 6.  shalt inherit all nations. And this point the Prophet Zachary doth render thus. The Lord sh●ll be King over all the earth, In that day there shall be one Lord, and his name shall be one: so that no other God shall be 
Zach. 14. 19  named in all the world. But lest any should understand this point of the last judgement, and so place earth in heaven; Daniel showeth how the Lord shall be king, his words are these. The kingdom and dominion, and greatness of his kingdom under the whole 
Dan. 7. 27.  heaven shall be given to the holy people of the most high, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and alpowers shall serve and obey him. But what shall he abolish kings, and bring all to a Popularity? no such matter, God is the author of order; and not of confusion. The 
● Cor. 14. 33 ●euel. 1●. 15.  kingdoms of this world shall be our Lords, and his Christ's, and he shall reign for evermore, by Kings converted to the Gospel. For godly Kings do si● 
1 Chr●. 30. 23 Psa▪ ●3. & 97. & 99  on the throne of the Lord, and by them the Lord reigneth The beginning of this alteration Isaiah expresseth thus. King's shall be thy nursing Fathers, and Queens shall be thy nurses: they shall worship thee with their faces 
Isa●. 49. 23.  towards the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet. But least any man should say, it may be some▪ but what is that to the rest? David answereth thus, The Kings of Tarshish, and of the Isles shall bring presents. The 
Psal. 7●. 10. 11.  Kings of Sheba, and Seba, shall bring gifts, yea All 
Psal. 47. 6.  Kings shall worship him, All nations shall serve him. And again, The Lord is high and terrible: A great King over all the earth. And again in the same Psalm. God is King over all the earth, sing praise●, whosoever hath understanding. God reigneth over the heathen etc. If any do yet think that they shall serve him as the Kings did josuah, when he set his feet on their necks: 
Josh. 10. 24.  the blessed scripture saith no. For the Psalm hath it thus. All Kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord, for 
Psal. 138. 4.  they have heard the words of thy mouth. A thing which they will not do at the resurrection; when going to hell thy shall say: When saw we thee an hungered, or a 
Mat. 25. 45.  thirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick or in prison & c? And as the scripture is very particular in setting down the state of the kings, how they shall stand affected to the Gospel, so doth it of the people. First 
Psal. 97. 6.  David saith All the people shall see thy glory. But that is not sufficient, wherefore S. john, in the Revelation goeth farther thus. All nations shall come and worship 
Revel. 15. 5. Isai. 45. 23.  before thee, O Lord. Isaiah hath it thus,, I have sworn by myself, and the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return: that every knee shall bow unto me, and every tongue shall swear by me. 
Phil. 2. 9 10.  Which Saint Paul expresseth thus. God hath exalted Christ jesus and given him a name above all names: that at the name of jesus▪ should every knee bow, and that every tongue should confess that jesus is the Lord, unto the glory of God the Father. Malachi yet goeth further 
Mala▪ 1. 11.  thus: From the rising of the Sun, to the going down of the same, My name is great among the Gentiles, and in every place incense shall be offered unto thy name, and 
Psal. 17. 9  a pure offering. The Psalm saith also, The princes of the people are gathered unto the people of the God of Abraham. To conclude this point the Prophet Isaiah saith From month to month, and from Saboth, to Saboth, 
Isai. 66. 2●.  shall all flesh come to worship me; saith the Lord.  
The sum is, what blessing any Nation had by Christ, must be Communicated to all Nations: the office of his Prophecy to teach the ignorant; the office of his Priesthood, to give remission of sins to the sinful: the office of his kingdom, by word, and Sacraments, and spirit, to rule the inordinate: that such as are dead in trespasses, may be made to sit together 
Ephe. 2. 1. etc.  in heavenly places. For there is no difference between the jew, and the Grecian. For he that is Lord over 
Rom. 10. 12.  all, is rich unto all, that call upon him. For it well beseemeth the glory of God to triumph over his 
Reasons from God's attributes.  enemies: and the Wisdom of God (after the world hath had plentiful experience of the craft of the devil, and wicked men of all sorts) to exalt the Gospel, the wisdom of God: As also his Power to be declared, when all his enemies had showed their force; and his Mercy to his Saints, after so great exercises of patience; and his justice, to show his judgements, in condemning those that have spoken proud words, and done wicked deeds, to his servants. But especially to his Glory, in exalting his son, and crowning him with Glory, & Worship, that we may see that, which yet we see not: All ●hings be put in subjection unto him. It is true that many 
H●b. 2. 8.  objections are made against this doctrine, out of such places as this. When the son of man cometh, 
Luk. 18. 8.  shall he find faith on the earth? And of Antichrist, whom 
2. Thes. 2. 8.  the Lord shall abolish, by the brightness of his coming. But partly, for want of Grammar learning, to know the meaning of the word Come, and partly for want of Logic, to lay out those places to their due times: those Scriptures, and many more, are racked by such men out of their joints: which rightly understood, have a clean other sense, then that for which they are alleged: which neither this time nor place will give me leave to dispute. Wherefore standing to our own first ground, learn first to be sparing in 
USE.  abridging the glory of God; which made the world, 
Be sparing in shortening the glory of God.  that his Son might rule over all. For howsoever, for some good causes, God would not make himself glorious at the first, but would seem to hide the glory of God in the passion of his Son, and affliction of his Saints; and permitting Antichrist to climb to his height, that those that are perfect may be known: yet questionless, Christ must sit at the 
Psal. 110. ●. 1. Cor. 15.  right hand of his Father, till all his enemies be made his footstool, and then shall come from thence to judge the quick and the dead.  
Again, if it be God's purpose, that the Gospel 
II.  shall be preached through the world for a witness, than aught ministers to be careful and willing to spread it abroad, in such good services as this, that is intended. Sure it is great shame unto us, of the ministry, that can be better content, to sit, and rest us here idle▪ then undergo so good a work. Our pretence of zeal, is clear discovered to be but hypocrisy, when we rather choose to mind unprofitable questions at home, then gaining souls abroad. It is a singular sin for men to be overcome with evil, it is a shame that the jesuits and Friars, that accompany every ship, should be so diligent to destroy souls, and we not seek the tender lambs, nor bind up that which is broken.  
But go on courageously, and notwithstanding the snorting idleness of the ministry, suspect not the 
2 King. 5. 2.  blessing of God. A captive girl, brought Naman to the Prophet. A captive woman, was the means of converting Iberia, now called Georgia. Eedesius, & 
Ruffinus Eccle. Hist. lib. 1. cap. 9 10. 1. Cor. 1.  Frumentius▪ two captive youths, were the means of bringing the gospel into India. God makes the weak things of the world confound the mighty, and getteth himself praise by the mouth of Babes and sucklings. Be cheerful then, and the Lord of all glory, glorify his name by your happy spreading of the gospel, to your commendation, and his glory, that is Lord of all things, to whom be power and dominion for ever. Hallelu-iah.   
FINIS.