¶ A GODLY Sermon, Preached on New years day last, before Sir William Fitzwilliam Knight, late Lord deputy of Ireland, Sir james Harrington Knight, their Ladies and Children, with many others, at Burghley in Rutland. By the minister of God Anthony Anderson. Hereto is added a very profitable form of prayer, good for all such as pass the seas: by the same author framed, and used in his adventured journey. Psal. 37. Mark the upright man, and behold the just, for the end of that man is peace. ¶ Imprinted at London by Thomas Purfoote for Lucas Harison, dwelling in Paul's Church yard. Anno Dom. 1576. ¶ TO THE RIGHT worshipful Sir William Fitzwilliam Knight, late Lord deputy of Ireland, Sir james Harrington Knight Master John Harrington his son and godly heir, their virtuous Ladies, Wives and faithful children: Anthony Anderson Preacher of Christ's Gospel, wisheth all health in Christ our Lord. THough I use not (more than brief notes) to writ my sermons (yet right worshipful) for that of some of your godly religious children, I was more than earnestly entreated to set down this Sermon, my simple newyear's gift (bestowed in common amongst you) I after longer suit than there was great cause, granted, and have penned down the same, so near as I can call to my memory the manner of my speech. The order and disposition I have exactly observed, and not omitted any note or authority of scripture by me then alleged. And as it is unpossible for him that penneth not his Sermons, to set them down, even so, and with the self same words in all places as he spoke them: So to all my possibility have I performed as near as may be my order and speech. And some thing have I added in some place, which want of time trained me from at that present. And if any less ye now like then when you heard the same, consider then the difference betwixt reading & preaching the self same truth, and matter. God's grace did then assist the preachers spirit, voice, gesture and disposition, & likewise your hearts by his spirit were made to hunger this holy bread. And now you have the living words, (but severed from the lively voice) which never can bring like profit to the godly hearts, unless great thirst of the matter, 'cause the resemblance of the manner how, to stand as fresh before your eyes. The Lord grant it to profit as much as my good will is, & then shall my small labour be fully recompensed. I have joined here to the form of prayer which I gave to your worship (good Sir William) at Holme Patrick in Ireland, very good for all such as pass the seas, as ourselves have tasted by good proof, the comforts received in our late arrival the lord be praised therefore. Take the small gift with the giver, all yours (as he may) in the Lord: to whom (with daily thanks for your great courtesy to me in Ireland), I in my prayers commend you & the rest unfeignedly. jan. 3. 1575. Your worships in the Lord Anthony Anderson. The Lord is my shepherd therefore shall I want nothing. He maketh me to rest in green pasture, etc. RIght worshipful and dearly beloved brethren, it hath from ancient days been received, that in the first of the new year, each friend doth salute his other with some token of friendship, and therewith wisheth to such his friend all health & good prosperity in God. Which civil custom in newyear's gifts, I do allow in civil sort, and having so many friends here assembled, have purposed, to benefit you all at once, and with such a special gift as of every of you (the same being worthily received) I shall be deemed to have satisfied my office belonging my bound amity to you all. The gift I exhibit is a portion of God's heavenly treasure, fully sufficient from this first day of the year to enrich you above measure in Christ, so that you use the same with the spiritual instrument of faithful and obedient practice, continually in your hearts. And this treasure forth of the Psalmists treasury I have received, and by the same spirit deliver it to you in the Lord, whose grace the Lord vouchsafe to be ours in this holy action for his Christ's sake. The treasure itself is the .23. Psalm of the Prophet David, the which Psalm was made by that holy king, after the receipt of his kingdom and Crown, whereto he confesseth God to be his only help, and promiseth to himself by the former received benefits, an absolute warrant of God's heavenly providence in his succeeding Regiment. The words are thus. The Lord is my shepherd, therefore shall I want nothing. He maketh me to rest in green pasture, and leadeth me by the still waters. And so forth to the end of the Psalm. I purpose (having thus by prayer called upon god) to give you the Psal. by verses, and of every of them such comfortable lessons, as the Lord in mercy shall give me to utter unto your Christian hearts, and with as much brevity as may be, because of the extreme cold, that so we may more speedily approach the Lords holy Table to receive his heavenly mysteries. The Lord is my shepherd. etc. The prophet calleth his God a shepherd, because of his provident care over him one of his chosen lambs, which word (shepherd) importeth an office of continual feeding, of daily care, of fervent love to the flock under his charge, of watching, guiding and defending, to the best safety of his sheep. All which the noble David, by the spirit of God's instructium knoweth to be in the Lord, his & our god, & therefore he giveth his majesty, this most apt title: The Lord is my shepherd. David the prophet useth the phrase which God by his holy spirit giveth to him & his other Prophets in calling the Lord a shepherd, Psa. 77.21 Psal. 80.1. as thus. Thou didst lead thy people like sheep by the hand of Moses and Aaron. Again, O thou shepherd of Israel hearken which leadest joseph like a sheep. And when God will by his Prophet foretell in what sort he will visit his people, Esai. 40.11 he promiseth his visiting Christ by this name, saying: He shall feed his flock like a shepherd, he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall guide them with young. Likewise in the Prophet jere. 23.4. & Ezec. 34.10.12. Psa. 110.1 Ma. 23. Act. 2.34. This shepherd Christ is David's shepherd and Lord. The Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. In which place David calleth Christ his lord, which is to hsm & to all the chosen children of god the appointed shepherd of their souls, as Christ himself doth witness, saying: Io. 10.11. I am the good shepherd, the good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep. And Peter in his first epistle thus: 1. Pe. 2.25. You were as sheep going astray but ye are returned now unto the shepherd and bishop of your souls. In a good shepherd are to be required these things, all which are most aptly found in Christ our good shepherd. He must be of sound skill, to know his sheep from other men's cattle, & this is said of Christ, I know my sheep by name, & am known of mine. He must have skill in pasturing his sheep, lest he bring them to rotten soil, and wasting grass. In Christ is the only pasture of man's soul, in whom all safety of food is, for his glorious gospel is our heavenly food, his spirit & life is our celestial diet, & by the mouth of our faith, this our bread of life is of every of us that believe, firmly eaten, and the same is so sound and sweet pasture, that no rot and death can come unto the worthy fields, Io. 5.24. or any less able is it then his divine power to bring us to life eternal. Thirdly a good shepherd must have will to feed according to his skill, that so his sheep may not be pined for want of his loving pains: So Christ is most loving of all others to feed his lambs, who hath not spared to lay down his life for the food of his sheep. willing to feed, for he calleth all men to him for pasture. most careful of their diet, Io. 10.15. Mat. 11.28 and therefore he hath left their Pabulum his holy word to the end of the world, whereby his beloved sheep should become fat and well liking in him, and hath to this end commanded Peter to feed, Io. 21.15.16.17. & also hath from thence till now, and will to the end of this world select his pastors from among men, to feed men with the bread of life, Christ in his word & Sacraments. Further a good shepherd taketh great ear over his sheep, and vigilantly doth search if so any of them scab, or be infected, and finding them faulty, he addresseth himself to their amendment: so Christ our Lord doth dearly care over his flock, Act. 20.28. Luke. 15.4 5. they be to him as the apple of his eye for them he hath paid the price of their sin, and deadly disease, namely his own heart blood, he seeketh the lost and carrieth them on his own shoulders, Mat. 18 12 Lu. 10.34. he anointeth their sores with the sovereign salve of his mercy and justice: Esai. 53. 1. Pe. 2.24. with the one he pacifieth, and that because he fully satisfieth his just Father: with the other he covereth our sins & healeth our infirmities. He most lovingly looketh into our weakness, and beareth up our infancy, he breaketh not the bruised reed, Ma. 12.20. nor quencheth the smoking flax. He suffereth not our lives to be lascivious, but scourgeth and purgeth us, that we may bring forth more fruit. Io. 15.2. Lastly a good shepherd hath himself, his staff & shepherd's dog, to help & aid his wandering flock. Even so hath Christ given himself for our defence, Io. 15.2.3. his preaching prophets have of him especial charge to feed his flock, and them protect continually: Eze. 3.18. Act. 20.28. and great plagues hath he appointed to such idle shepherds as no way feed his lowly lambs: and though all men fail, Zach. 11.17 yet David biddeth us all be glad, for the Lord is our shepherd therefore shall we not want. And now dearly beloved, time and place requireth to speak something of the sheeps property, which belong to that shepherd Christ, the which thing known, every man and woman with their young ones, may with examination of themselves, best say to God, I am thy sheep, for thou O Lord art my shepherd. For of no other is Christ the shepherd, but of those which know their wandering wickedness, & feel their stay to stand in him their God, and speedily submit themselves under his tuition. And to this is David our guide, who notwithstanding he was rich and a mighty king, yet he freely confesseth his health to be in this, that he is the Lords sheep, & hath Christ to his everlasting shepherd. In a sheep are sundry things agreeing, with the corruption of our nature, and therefore standeth in great need of an expert shepherd. She is foolish and unwares of harms, she runneth into daily dangers in herself remediless: So we by nature are unwise, and blind to all heavenly things. Rom. 8 Or can the natural man savour the things which be of God, or yet keep him from the wandering paths of death. 1. Pet. 2. The wandering ways of all the best may set down this: to the other sort, for all to true, that man can not but sin and daily run from God the Lord. Our David he, may stand as able among the rest, to this for proof, neither can any in the flesh by the qualities fleshy please God. Rom. 8. A sheep for weakness and want of courage is unable to stand against so many her devouring foes, the Fox, the Wolf, and the ravenous Lion: nor is the stoutest man in the earth by nature, of power to give check unto sin, who like a subtle Fox lieth lurking and fawning for his prey of Christian soul: or from the gaping gulf, of wolvish chaps that hypocritically seek his spoil: 1. Pe. 5. or yet from the raging Satan, who goeth roaring abroad seeking every where whom he may devour. The good shepherd Christ therefore is most requisite, in whom against all these we may go in and out safely, Io. 10. and find pasture. But else the natural sheep hath qualities right good, which are frequented in the children of God, they know their Pastor's whistle, and thereat they yield unto his william. So the sheep of christ refusing all strange voice, they hearken unto the word of our saviour Christ, & therein they take such comfort as having therein full contentation they eschew all other's charm, be they never so subtle, & sly. The sheep is ever feeding with his fleece those, which no way have pleasured him, for he hath his life of his shepherd's pasture. So the children of God, living in their Christ, are beneficial to all for his name's sake. Esa. 53.7. The sheep is laid by the shearer to the loss of himself, upon the thrall, and yet he openeth not his mouth: So also the true christian abideth for his Christ all ignominy, Heb. 12.2.3 4. etc. & reproachful death not resisting at all, but willingly abideth the cross expecting the event in the Lord, which is to them that suffer for his name's sake ever prosperous. Now my brethren of the pastors condition clasped in Christ and of the sheeps nature fixed by his spirit, learn yourselves to know to whom ye belong, and if you feel yourselves the Foldimates of David, then may you be bold to say, The Lord is my shepherd therefore can I not want. The wants whereof the prophet here speaketh are of two sorts. The one is called insatiable lust, the other necessary need. With the first as the godly are not cumbered (for that belongeth only the reprobate) so the other in them is ever remedied by the feeding shepherd Christ, first in supplying their need with present necessaries: then in forming their hearts to be content with their estate, established by his divine providence, to his glory and their best good. Psal. 37.25 I have been young and now am I old (saith David) yet never saw I the righteous forsaken, or his seed begging their bread. Helias following his vocation, 1. Kin. 17.4 5.6. was forsaken of all men, but daily fed of God by the ravenous Crows, & the poor widows meal, when the rich gluttons of Israel were pined for want of necessary food. 1. Kin. 17.14.15.16. Dan. 14. story of Bell. Daniel seeking chief the glory of our God is cast into the hungry lions den in deed, but preserved to live, and to him is sent the prophet Abacuk with his dinner many a mile by the guide of an Angel. The jews which follow Christ into the wilderness are of him miraculously fed. Io. 6.11.12 13. Mat. 6.33. Psa. 37.19 And to all is this promise given. Seek first the kingdom of God and the righteousness thereof, and all other things shall be ministered unto you. Now as concerning that the Lord frameth his people's hearts to be contented with their estate. Paul for the body of the whole church, sayeth thus: Phi. 4.11. I have learned in what state soever I am therewith to be content, & I can be abased & I can abound, every where in all things I am instructed, both to be full & to be hungry, & to a bound, Psa. 37.2.3 Psa. 17.14 and to have want. The wicked many times do flourish as the green bay tree, and have the world at will, great store of wealth for themselves and children, so that their son sons do feed of the elder gotten bread, but withal they have their portion in this life, and after that can see no further comforts. And though the godly contrary do feel many wants, and seem in man's conceit utterly to decay, yet far other is their state then external show doth tell, For the Lord is their shepherd, & when they seem to die, they live: they are chastened, but not killed: they seem in sorrow to be swallowed up, but they always rejoice: 2. Cor. 5.8.9.10.11.16.17.18. 2. Cor. 6.9.10. they seem poor, but yet they make many rich: & deprived so of worldly comforts seeming to have nothing, they notwithstanding possess all things. Likewise their end is far otherwise then the worldly rich. For the Lord dealeth with them as the noble man with his fatted Ox, when he is well fed, is by the slaughter man committed to the axe of death, his noble son abideth many sharp yirkes and correcting blows, and after that enjoyeth his father's possessions: Even so the wicked in wealth are wrapped with Dives in hell, and the beloved (though pained Lazarus) is carried by service of Angels into our heavenly Father's kingdom, Luke. 16 our Christ's inheritance belonging to the just. This is the mark that David shooteth at when he saith, I shall not want. It followeth, He shall make me to rest in green pasture, vers. 2 he leadeth me by the still waters. All things necessary shall the Lord give me saith David, and that in no base sort, or shall any trouble molest my feeding? for I shall quietly be guided, and my prosperity shall be continuing, always flourishing green, and at no time dry or withered, neither shall his blessings be taken from me with the rage of wicked men: but as the sheep, of herself weak, needeth resting place, and quiet rivers: so shall all things come to the best, and to my hearts desire in him. But beloved in Christ, our shepherd is spiritual, therefore our pasture must be answerable, and it is set down to us by our master & Pastor, thus: Io. 5.24 He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath eternal life, and he shall not come into judgement, but hath passed from death unto life. Hear is the pasture of life the gospel of God: The rest for man's soul, faith in God through Christ: joh. 7.39. The still waters, the holy spirit which doth pacify the troubled conscience, and quietly establisheth us in Christ, who freeth us from the Father's iuslice, the sentence of eternal death, and giveth us his glorious Crown, and heavenly kingdom our inheritance in him. Come to this pasture, john. 4.14. feed on this bread, rest in this power, drink of this water, So shall you no more thirst after the filthy puddles of Popish poisoned Cups. For in yourselves (by this spirit of Christ) shall abundant rivers of spiritual goodness flow out of you, that all men seeing your good works, Math. 6. may be provoked to praise the Lord. This God grant you for his son our saviour Christ his sake. Amen. vers. 3. He shall convert my soul, & lead me in the paths of righteousness, for his name's sake. Three especial things in this verse the Prophet teacheth most notably. first, that we are by nature stubborn, and estranged from the nature belonging the sheep of God. Secondly, that after regeneration by the spirit, there remaineth yet in us such matter of massy sin, Rom. 7.18.19.20. that unable we be to walk the paths belonging to the children of god, and therefore it behoveth us to have a leader into righteousness. Thirdly, as many be the falls by sin which Satan and the flesh procureth to us: So sundry be the fruits of the godly. In which virtues, as in sin, Satan seeketh our overthrow, if so he can make us to rest in them, as either satisfactory to God, or meritorious for their valour. But the Lord by his Prophet here preacheth, that our conversion to god, & our walking daily in godliness, is from & by the Lord, and that also not for any preventing, foreknown, or succeeding graces in us: but only solely for his name's sake. He shall convert my soul, saith David. The root of the Tree being sound and good, feedeth her branches to her fruitful life: So the soul of man's principal substance being made whole & sound, can not but give life to the whole body. In this branch also we are to note, that unless the inward man be turned unto God, th'external parts can be but hypocritical, and serving time. So the Nobles in joash Court, during the days of the good Bishop Jehoiada, seemed most religious, 2 Chro. 24 17.18.19.20. but death had no sooner deprived the godly of this priests life, than they dissuaded the Prince, & to their erst idolatry persuaded they him. Many be the mouths that now confess themselves changed from Popish life, but God continued our noble elizabeth's reign, and the Gospel safe progress, else doubt I that stormy days would starve the small store of living grace, in many English hearts of sundry callings. But who so is turned in heart and mind unfeignedly, he joyeth the days of dangerous death, and sorroweth to see the worldly solace, the cause no doubt of all infinite woes. Rom. 8. He hateth that he loved first, he loatheth at his former life, he is ashamed of sin, he casteth off from him the works of darkness, and confessing Christ with his lips, because he believeth on him in heart, he daily walketh in the paths of righteousness after his leader Christ our lord. And here with me note, good Auditory, who it is that doth convert man's soul, himself, or some other: the Lord our Shepherd, David saith it is, He shall convert my soul. In that we are converted, it is not our action, or in our power is it to become the sheep of Christ, but it is the work of God in him. The order also in our conversion to the Lord is excellent. The Father giveth to his Christ those which shall be called. Io. 17.2.6 The holy Ghost he giveth into their hearts, whom he hath predestinate to life, which spirit graffeth them into Christ, who by his blood doth wash their souls from sin, and by the same his spirit doth form them in his faith, whose Gospel he writeth in their hearts, and sheedeth his love into their consciences, so that they walk in newness of life, because they are taken up, and the old man in them cast down, and as new creatures they follow their leader Christ, into the steps besitting their condition. These are they which are theodidaktoi, all taught of God. This elegant order is described at large by the Prophet Ezechiell, in this sort: A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you, & I will take away the stony heart out of your body, and will give you an heart of flesh, and I will put my spirit within you, and 'cause you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my judgements, and do them. And a little after, I will be your God, and you shall be my people: And again thus, Then shall ye remember your own wicked ways, and your deeds which were not good, and shall judge yourselves worthy to have been destroyed for your iniquities and abominations. Be it known to you that I do not this for your sakes, saith the Lord God, therefore be ashamed and confounded for your own ways. Rom. 8.29 And Paul to the Romans hath it thus, Those which he knew before, he also predestinate to be made like to the image of his son, that he might be the first borne among many brethren. Moreover, Whom he predestinate, them also he called, and whom he called, them also he justified, and whom he justified, them also he glorified. This is the golden gift of god, thus is our new creation linked in this precious chain. Eph. 1.2.3.4. The celestial god hath inwardly beyond time predestinate and created his people to the likeness of his son, and hath by his holy spirit sealed them to himself, and by thexternal Organ his holy word, through the ministery of preaching, in their several times hath he called his sheep to the knowledge of their shepherd Christ, Rom. 8. and state in him, and by his bloody death hath justified them before, and with his supernatural power hath made them glorious with the Angels. So our conversion, Colos. 3. as it is by the Lord, so is it by his spirit and gospel wrought in us. How necessary then the office of preaching is, you see, it is the instrumental cause of our conversion. How miserable that place is which wanteth preaching, may you perceive by the glory that cometh through daily teaching Christ by the truth in his word. For this cause Christ so often, Math. 3. 2. Co. 5.20 john Baptist so diligently, the Prophets severely, the Apostles most plainly, the Pastors and spiritual shepherds in God's Church now most comfortably, do offer and exhibit unto you the truth of God to turn your hearts. By the preaching of the word, the world from time to time hath been won to Christ the son of God: and by the same the Gentiles are converted into him: hereby this nation is changed into truth, and Popery overthrown: by this shall the hearts of the children he turned to the faith of their fathers in God, Luke. 1.17 and the Reprobate shall herewith be condemned. And this property David giveth to the word: The Law of the Lord, Psal. 19 saith he, converteth the soul, the testimony of the Lord is faithful, and giveth light unto the eyes. The necessity of teaching Paul preacheth to be great: 1. Co. 9.16 woe unto me if I preach not (saith he). Pro. 29.18 where preaching faileth, the people perish, saith Solomon. Faith cometh by hearing of the word of God, saith Paul to the romans: Ro. 10.17 without faith can not a man please God: by faith we shall be more than conquerors: Rom. 8.37 he that believeth shall be saved, Mark. 16 16 but he that believeth not shall be damned, saith our doctor Christ. Faith is brought by hearing, hearing waiteth of the Preacher, the Preacher is dumb unless he be sent: pray therefore the Lord of truth, to sand more store of true & painful Preachers into this Church of England, and this shire, and convert in mercy, or confounded by justice, Esa. 56.10 11.12 these dumb Dogs which can not bark: these watchmen which can not see: these idol shepherds which either can not, or will nor feed the hungry Lambs of Gods holy Church, and sheepfold of this nation. O Lord grant this for thy Christ our chief shepherds sake. Now dear friends examine yourselves here present: Is this holy change wrought in you? may I say unto you with Paul, You were sometime Gentiles, Ephe. 1 ye were dead in sin, ye were without God in this life? But you hath he quickened: you hath he called: you that were no people, hath he now made the people of God: you are no more strangers and foreigners, but Citizens with the Saints, and of the household of God, built (not upon the romish rock, but) upon the doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets, Eph. 2.19 jesus Christ himself being the head corner stone: in whom (my brethren) if you be by his spirit grafted and built, you shall grow to an holy temple in the lord. I trust to you I may say thus: You were Gentiles, but you are Christians, of the chiefest I know it, of the rest I have great cause to think it, and therefore with great comfort in God, I proceed to the second point. He leadeth us in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. In God is our conversion, in him also is the continuance of our upright walking before him. First, of us is here to be noted a double righteousness, whereunto we are brought by Christ. The first is the righteousness of Christ for us to the Father. The second is the righteousness of man by Christ, and is the worthy walking in holiness of life without ceasing. The righteousness of Christ for us, Eph. 2.12. consisteth in the person of himself, who for us hath so answered the father's full justice, in his just sacrifice, and hath so incorporate us into himself, by faith through his spirit, that the same his righteousness is accounted for ours, so that though we by nature are wicked, yet in respect of his grace we are sanctified, and just in the sight of God, whose it is to save and to condemn. Of this justification or righteousness Paul speaketh thus. Rom. 8.3.4. God sending his own son down in the similitude of sinful flesh, for sin condemned sin in the flesh that the righteousness of the law, might be fulfilled in us, which walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. The second righteousness is the daily walking in newness of life, which is of every man required that thus by the Lord is justified. The grace of God (saith Paul) that bringeth salvation unto all men appeared, Tit. 2.11.11. and teacheth us that we should deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and that we should live soberly and righteously, and godly in this world, looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the mighty God, and of our Saviour jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purge us to be a peculiar people unto himself, zealous of good works. Into both of these Christ leadeth us, for of our selves we are unapt, enable and moste unworthy, had we power to enter into the first, to win the latter. Daily we be looking back from the plough, where unto we are brought by Christ, Lu. 9.62. therefore unapt of ourselves to his kingdom. we have not so much power as to think a good thought, but that sufficiency which seemeth to be in any of us, 2. Cor. 3.5 the same is of God, who doth both begin the work of God, Phil. 1.6 and perform the same in us. The better learned we be in God, the more fully we see our unworthiness, to be accounted members of his righteousness. As the Prophet Ezechiell saith, Ezech. 35.30.31 I will deliver you from all your filthiness, etc. Then shall ye remember your own wickedness, and your deeds that were not good, & shall judge yourselves worthy to have been destroyed. Zacheus was the best disposed man in that people, and the more graces he had with the Centurion, the more unworthy he thought himself of Christ's presence at his house: but being comforted by Christ, he took most joy therein. Finally, let us note the valour of this word, He leadeth us. That we are righteous before God, it is that Christ our shepherd leadeth us by his spirit, and faith, unto the throne of grace, where he presenteth us as dear children to God his father, and teacheth us to cry unto him, Ephe. 2.18 Rom. 8.15 Abba dear father. Into which state by his spirit brought, we firmly see our salvation to rest in him, and that we are sealed to the lords salvation. Apoc. 7. and 14 Eph. 4.30 1. Io. 5.10 Yea and the witness even God's holy spirit from that Throne, is set strongly in our hearts, and within us doth bear witness against Satan, sin, and the world, that following our God by the faith of Christ, we are become his children, so righteous that no man can condemn us, because our god hath in his Christ set us free. Rom. 8.33 2. To the second he leadeth us in himself first: as Peter saith, Christ suffered for us, 1. Pet. 2.21 leaving us an example that we should follow his steps, who did no sin, neither was there any guile found in his mouth, who when he was reviled, reviled not again, when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed it to him that judgeth righteously. Secondly, by his holy spirit he conducteth us into all goodness. Rom. 8.14 For either are we lead by Satan and flesh unto evil, or by his spirit and grace into all godliness. Rom. 7.19 In our selves there is no power of passing to good, or will to stay from evil. 2. Pet. 2.19 Of whom soever a man is overcome, his servant he is saith the Apostle, whether of sin unto death, or of grace unto life. And those which be the sons of God, are lead by the spirit of God, and strengthened in the inner man, Eph. 3.16. Christ dwelleth in their hearts by faith, they are rooted and grounded in the love of God, they are by Christ coupled one to another in him, through him they receive the increase of the spiritual body, & edify one another: and therefore they walk not as other Gentiles, or themselves erst did, in the vanity of their mind, with darkened cogitations in blind hypocrisy, but they cast of the old man and passed conversation, and being thus renewed, they put on the new, which is created in righteousness & true holiness after the will of God. Eph. 4.19 20. Thus they follow by the spirit the commandment of Paul in Christ, saying: Be ye followers of God as dear children. Eph. 5.4. And himself going before hath given us a rule to measure the saints imitation, saying: Follow you me, as I follow Christ. 1. Cor. 11.1 The Lord grant us his grace and spiritual strength by prosperity and adversity, sickness and health, life & death, thus to follow our leader, and pastor Christ jesus, in true holiness and righteousness before him all the days of this our present life. Luk. 2. I devil in speech to teach the sheep of God only, and therefore I leave to set you forth the paths of the wicked goats, which know not God, nor can be accepted of him. Sap. 5. They run through the pleasures of this life, and live at lust, till death do summon their souls to the tribunal throne whence they are cast to everlasting torments and woe. But or we pass this verse, we aught deeply to consider the conclusion of David's words which are: This he doth for his name's sake. From the beginning the godly have felt his defending and guiding hand, & by his spirit they have been fed and led the ways to live in him, but never was there any one, or could the worthiness of all, being laid up into one lump, demerit the jest his benefits, or ever challenge cause beyond his own names sake to move his so great mercy to his chosen church and children. For his name's sake he hath converted and led us, that is for his own glories sake, and not our worthiness hath he thus blessed us. Then thus the Prophet saith: That the Lord is our shepherd, that he hath chosen us from the wicked world to be of the number of his elect children and sheep of his pasture, that he temporally feedeth us: that he by his spirit, and the ministery of his gospel converteth us: that he maketh us righteous before his Father in him, and leadeth us by the hand into all godly actions and christian life: that he conducteth us into safety from the fury of our crooked foes, and every way blesseth us: it is not for the excellency of our beauty, for that is but grass: Esa. 40 Esa. 30.22. Esa. 64 vers. 6 not for our righteousness, for that is to his eyes as a filthy menstruous cloth. But it is for the same cause wherewith he hath ever been provoked, and that is, for his own glories sake. So have the Fathers from time to time confessed, condemning themselves for sin, and accepting his benefits for his mercy sake, and his holy names sake. This is that the Prophet would have us to rest in, when he saith, that the name of god is a strong Tower of defence. For his name's sake he will lead us, and nourish us: for his great names sake he will not forsake his people: Psal. 31.4 1. Sa. 12.22 Esa. 48.9 Eze. 20.9 and for his name's sake he will far hence remove his anger from us. The same shall 'cause him to preserve his truth among the gentiles. And that he continueth his gospel, our gracious Queen and this quiet government over us, it is not for our worthiness, who be all for our daily sins most unworthy of his mercies, as the Lord for ever speaketh to all flesh thus: Eze. 36.32. Be it known unto you that I do not this for your sakes: Not Lord, but for thine own names sake, to the which, only be all glory for ever. It followeth. vers. 4. And though I should walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art ever with me. Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. The lessons again be three in especial which David hath taught me in this verse to deliver you. The first is, though that the godly safely are set under the Lords protection, as the sheep under the most faithful shepherd, yet are they assaulted with sundry attempts, Psa. 34.19 and eminent dangers. Many be the troubles of the just saith the Psalmist, but the Lord delivereth him quite out of all. And his mercy hath so determined the matter, that the godly perceiving his holy hand, might more firmly rest in his fatherly providence. Secondly the godly are not freed under the shepherd Christ from all kind of fear, but are set amid the mighty hellhounds of the earth, Eph. 5.7 that they should warily walk and shun thoccasion of danger, but if they be so exalted by the Lord, to have the cross, then are they freed from shaking terror, 2. Cor. 4.13 & desperate fear, & strengthened by his spirit: they follow Christ whither soever he goeth. Exo. 14.22 So the Israelites followed Moses in the Read sea, so the children the Angel in the burning Oven, Dan. 3.25. So Thapostles their master Christ to death & cruel torments. So David without fear is ready to continued his calling though he pass through the valley of the shadow of death, that is, though he enter into most extreme peril. The third is the boldening force which David attempteth by his shepherds croak, Thy rod & thy staff they comfort me. Two things saith David drive all fear from me. Thy presence, for thou art with me: & thy careful government, which is always exercised to my good. Note good people, the god is always present, & beholdeth all our actions, & pierceth into our thoughts: he saw Sara in Abimelecks' chamber, Gen. 20.3 & Bethsaba in David's bed. 2. Sa. 12.1. He prevented Herodes purpose, & brought confusion to Saules persecution. Psa. 22.24 He beholdeth the oppression of the poor afflicted, & is present to hear their cry when they call upon him. All things are naked & open to his eyes, Gene. 17. and therefore reverently walk before him, & be thou upright. jona. 1.17. He fetched jonas from his fleeing ship, & cast him into the whales belly. Act. 12.8.9 He brought his preaching Peter forth of the prison fast locked in with iron gates. He is present ever to help innocent Susanna out of distress, & ready to cast the corrupted judges unto their deserved death. This was David's comfort, Thou Lord art with me, therefore will I not fear. Let the same teach us now to say, our God and Christ is present by his spiritual aid and comforts in all troubles to assist us: of whom then shall we be afraid, for though fast closed in iron gates, through the strength of our god we shall leap over the wall. And though persecuted for his cause, yet is he ready to comfort us in all tribulation. 2. Cor. 2.3. So that we are able to comfort others which be in affliction, by the same comforts which we have received ourselves of God. Secondly, thy careful government saith David doth administer no small solace unto me, for thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. David elegantly, dwelling in the received Metaphor, setteth forth God's good government by the shepherds rod and staff, which rod or shepherds crook is used of a cunning heard, to constrain the declining sheep, to his former foldy-mates, to urge the wanderer to his wonted fellows, and to force the slothful Plodders better to pace it: Even so the Lord by his holy rod and staff of health, doth scourge our wandering steps, and with his correcting hand, in love, doth join us to his Church, and if slothfully we lie aloof, he useth sharper blows to compel our speed to join with others in the service of our god: all which is to the best comfort of his chosen child. But here is named a Rod, and a Staff, the one to correct us, tother to defend us. And both of these are doubled in the holy scriptures. God is said to have a twofold Rod, the Rod of his love, and the Rod of his anger. Zach. 11. Also a twofold staff: as in Zacharie the staff of beauty, and the staff of Bands. Of these two rods, and these two staves, the scripture speaketh thus, First Thapostle saith, that in love he scourgeth his people, & correcteth their sins, lest they should be damned with the wicked world. 1. Cor. 11.32 When we are thus judged (saith Paul, speaking of gods correction for th'abuse of the Eucharist) we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. Behold his loving Rod. Our daily transgressions demerit death, but his daily mercy who willeth not the death of a sinner, Ezech. 18. changes his sharpened sword into a smarting rod, Psal. 103.8 thereby to work in us true repentance, Heb. 12.10. and 2.17 and humble patience. For as his hand is striking, Esa. 5 4.7 his bowels are boiling in pity towards us, and with his spirit doth change our hearts, and supporteth our falling state, by his defending staff. Wherefore despise not (saith Paul) the chastening of the Lord, Hebr. 12.5.6.7. neither faint when thou art rebuked of him. For whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth, and he scourgeth every son that he receiveth. If ye endure chastening God offereth himself unto you as unto sons, for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? If therefore ye be without correction, whereof all be partakers, then are ye Bastards and not Sons. See dearly beloved, the nature of our loving Father in this his rod of love. And now it should seem this doctrine to be most lively, when as we see his heavy hand whipping our brethren with the smarting scourge of pestilence, Ireland is therewith every where infected. England is infected, and this our Country, and Towns very near us. Stamford and Vppingham, grievously visited. Hereby we aught to be moved to repentance, knowing that for sin our God our shepherd chasteneth us with rebukes (that I may use our prophets words in the Psalms) and with his rod maketh our gallant beauty to fade away, Psal. 39.11 as it were a moth fretting a garment. Every man therefore is but vanity: But there be some of you (me thinketh) that whispereth in my ears, thus: Sir you know that many of us together with yourself, God hath most lovingly delivered from this pestilent rod, in Ireland, yea and so, that wondered was our safety. The whole land is visited, no town known free, in the house where we lay some dead, in the ship wherein we passed the seas, one or more gone to God: and sith our departure, the Knight, with whom we were twenty days (waiting God's blessing for westerly winds) hath in his own person therewith been scourged. The which deliverance seemeth to clear us, in deserving so heavy a scourge, though called a loving rod. So of the rest (I deem) some say, and we also are not touched with the plague, but they which have deserved it, have it: this doctrine therefore might best serve those which are now exercised with his loving Rod. But to one and other of you I say (dear brethren) as Christ our loving shepherd said to the reporters of Pilate'S cruel fact, who mingled the blood of the Galileans with the sacrifice of the jews, thus: Luke. 13.2 Suppose ye (saith Christ) that these Galileans were greater sinners than all the other Galileans, because they have suffered such things? I tell you nay. But except ye amend your lives, ye shall all likewise perish. Or think you that those eyghtien upon whom the Tower in Syloam fell and slew them, that they were sinners above all men that dwelled in jerusalem? I tell you nay. But except ye amend your lives, ye shall all likewise perish. So let Christ say to you here present: That you are by my sparing hand brought from the plague in Ireland, that you are yet severed from the sick here in Rutland: it is not for that any of you, (from the Preacher to the basest Hearer) have less offended, but that I would use them for your Preachers to amendment, and themselves to a bettered life, as hereafter (if by their example ye amend not) I will make you the like example to others, when they shall see my hand shaking over you. Pray for our brethren therefore, help too secure their present need, and repent in time, lest that his scourge of love being removed, we feel the heavy fall of his angry Rod. Whereof our Prophet speaketh in the second Psalm, Psal. 2.9. prophesying the utter ruin of all those that insult against Christ and his chosen children. For as he is most lovely unto his lovely sheep, So to the stubborn hearted he is the God of strength, who can and will correct, or compel them to stoop to his good pleasure. And he is said to have an iron rod in respect of his divine power, and princely dominion over the mighty Kings of the earth, who with his word doth arm the weak things of the world, against the most gigaunt under heaven. lice and Frogs shall be to strong for stout Pharaoh the mighty gigante king of Egypt, Ps. 78.45. and weak David shall overthrow the huge armies of the Philisteans, the Syrians, the Ammonites, 2. Sa. 10.12 & the Moabites. The Idumeans, 1. Para. 18.19. and the Syrians shall often by weakness be brought from their great strength. Esa. 37.36.38 Sennacherib with his Rabsekah shall leave his siege against jerusalem, & shall be broken into pieces: his own sons shall strike him to the heart with their swords (the lords iron rod) to his utter confusion. And to this their utter shame, the Lord from heaven shall use but his only word, and with the breath of his mouth shall he make all creatures ready to be his rod, to the confusion of the wicked. His own prophet Elisah shall 'cause blindness to come into the eyes of the mighty host, which from the king of Syria are sent to take him, and shall bring them into Samaria the city of their enemies. Bennadad the king of Aram shall be compelled 2. King. 6.14.18 to remove his siege from Samaria in one night, 2. Kin. 7.6. because the Lord hath made the concept of hearing of charets & horsemen, to be his iron rod to drive them before their enemies, which by them before were brought to most extreme penury, so that an asses head, was sold for four schore silverlings, and a load of doves dung (to roast the same) for five silverlings. The former churches of the cast which did degenerate from their first faith, 2. Ki. 6.25. hath he with this his angry rod, cast under the power of the Turk, that they may believe lies to their destruction, which would not receive the truth, when it was offered them. Christ in his own person is this rod of anger, to all that stubbornly resist him. 2. Tes. 2. He that stumbleth at this Christ shall be bruised, but upon whomsoever this stone Christ shall fall he shall grinned them all to powder, Mat. 21.44. take heed of this angry (so daily provoked) iron rod. For as to the faithful he is life and consolation, so to the unbelieving & obstinate, he is the iron rod here spoken of. His gospel, Apostles, preachers & ministers, hath he made to be the same, according to the nature of their auditory, as The Apostle Paul witnesseth, saying: The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, 2. Cor. 10.4. but mighty through God, to cast down holds, casting down the imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, & bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. And having ready the vengeance against all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. O my brethren consider your calling: ye are the sheep of Christ, what belongeth your calling: Truly to hear with reverent obedience his voice. What is his workmanship then of you regenerate? To purge you with his rod of love that ye should be more fruitful, and to the greater comfort of you his chosen: he plaigeth to destruction with his angry iron rod, the wicked which can not but much molest you, were they unbridled. Take heed in time, repent and believe his gospel, joh. 14.1. least the former being ended, his second rod begin to scour you out of place, for a better people. Mat. 21.43 Thus much for the lords rods, and now to the shepherds crook, that doubled staff, of which David thus saith: Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. As it is far more safety for us, to be under our shepherds rod, then committed or left to the wolvish jaws of Satanical broad: So is it our best comfort and assured prosperity to devil under the reach of his most loving government, which here is set forth unto us by the shepherd staff. Very significantly doth the Prophet Zachary set down the love and anger of God, by the two stanes which Christ our shepherd first took into his hand, and after burst in sunder. And these be his words: I took unto me two staves (the prophet speaketh in the person of Christ) the one I called beauty, Zach. 11.7. and the other I called bands, & I fed the sheep. And a little after he saith: Their soul abhorred me, and I said, I will not feed you, that which dieth let it die, and that which perisheth let it perish: and let the remnant eat one another: every one the flesh of his neighbour. And I took my staff beauty and broke it, that I might disannul my covenant which I had made with all people: And somewhat after, thus, Then broke I mine other staff, even bands, that I might dissolve the brotherhood between Judah and Jsraell. By the first staff beauty, the Prophet understandeth that most elegant frame of the jewish common wealth & government, which for the great excellency thereof, is here called beauty. Of this staff Moses triumphing speaketh thus: Keep these laws and do them, Deu. 4.6. for that is your wisdom, and your understanding in the sight of the people, which shall hear all these ordinances, and shall say, only this people is wise and of understanding, and a great nation. For what nation is so great unto whom the Gods come so near unto them, as the Lord our God is near unto us, in all that we call unto him for. And what nation is so great, that hath ordinances and laws so righteous, as all this law which I set before you this day: But if from the constituted law most holy, righteous, brief and commodious, thou cast thine eyes to the common wealth of Israel, even from the king Solomon to his people, thou shalt see it most beautiful. The constitution of the church in jury as it far passed all popish pomp (and that was marvelous) so was it not without a preaching office to the posterity of Christ's glorified church. The doctrine plainly did set forth the way to life in Christ: and because all this fair form tended to this end to keep the people of Israel in the limits of their calling, Gualterus in zachari. it is aptly compared to a shepherds staff, and for the excelling order is most worthily called beauty. By the second staff he understandeth the linked love and fraternity in blood, which far excelled all other kingdoms, which know not their original, or are kept immixed with foreign blood. The jews proceed all from one father jacob, and are as touching blood all in one brotherhood. The Lord to keep them in themselves, as well in external rites as continual Genelogies of their Tribes, did tie them together in one, that they should not he ignorant of their pedigrie, nor should mixed themselves with foreigners. Neither was it else then the Lords singular blessing, that notwithstanding so many battles and often troubles, such division of the kingdom and long exile, in so many forepast years, they (till the day wherein the Lord broke these his staves of beauty and bands) know one another's race & offspring for the which things sake you may see how elegantly this staff is called bands, as by the which the jewish amity was preserved. But both these staves Christ broke when Simony first purchased the priesthood in jerusalem, & lastly when the jews were oppressed of all men & made the out casts of the world, which sometime were Lords in the earth above the rest. And this covenant did God unfold when after Christ's ascension, he sent the romans to pollute: and finally to subvert both their ecclesiastical and politic government. Yet some comfort was left them till the reign of Aelius Adrianus, by whom their rebellion to Christ and his word, was utterly revenged. For he slew many of them, he put the rest to exile, and forbdd them the entrance into their former Cities & towns, he did compel them to cast their looks from the land of promise. He rammed up the gates in jerusalem with swines dung to the ignominious reproach of the obstinate jews with whom God in justice had caused his Christ to break the staves of their former defence beauty & bands. And from this time is it that the temple and common wealth in jury is so overthrown, that none of them can now truly tell of what linnaige or kindred he is of. O Lord who can look into this people and not quake in fear, so greatly blessed, so dearly loved, as to them and for them God spared not to give his son in first and chief. Besides for this he kept the whole earth to stand in awe of them. But now no people so odious either to God or man, as they, quite given over of god, and persecuted of all good men. By this we are taught (that sith all our christian fraternity dependeth upon Christ whom this people despised, of whom we are named, and by whom also we have God to our father) speedily to kiss the son lest he be angry, Psa. 2.12. and so we perish from the right way, for unless we be at one with him, there is no account of us, but as to the wicked jews, to whom there is no peace. The beautiful government of this our land so long continued under one monarchy, may assure us of Christ our shepherd to hold our stay, his beautiful staff, in hand. But I fear me our demerits be such, as were it not for his own names sake, this staff by him yet holden, would speedily be sore shivered. God preserve our noble Queen, in whom alone by his great mercy, the stay of our happy government is continued, for beyond her we can see nothing but confusion. Our beauty is then like to be turned into more than beggary. far be it from men in earth, to take this God's office from heaven in hand. If any government he not perfect, it is the Lords to amend it, if any to be reformed, the same is with such foresight to be regarded, that in seeking to remove the forreing matter, from the shepherds staff (which by longer time (as a snail) slowly hath crept upon it: and by latter days is conglutinate so thereto, that hardly may it be severed without some detriment) that the staff may still be preserved, without which we perish. To the shepherds which have this staff in hold, belongeth the polishing of the same, Prou. 20. and not to private persons which are rather to be directed thereby. Our parts is to pray the head shepherd Christ, by whom kings do reign, so to frame the hearts of christian kings which are all in his hand, that they may feed the flock committed to their charge, faithfully and in the integrity of their soul, Ps. 78.70.71.72. with the staff of Christ's government: Namely by the Cannon of his word, which by his divine providence is appointed the staff of our assured defence. The preachers office is into the hearts of Kings to beaten the knowledge of this truth, that they by doctrine, may know, the substantial duty of best government. The higher called to the first, must hoalpe thereto, that God our high shepherd by himself, in the person of his princes in earth, may daily rule over us his children. So far I like of the learned at this day seeking for redress: but in no wise dare I allow, that others should be shut up in hate, which cannot join in all respects to that themselves do not perceive. And I conclude that petition, patience, and parliament, is the ascending stair, to this high blessing. Beyond this there seemeth not else to be but a chrusshing of the shepherds croak, which is the work of god alone: Zac. 11.16. and to us then no other, but the door of desolation, and confusion, to our former christian unity, which God preserve for his name's sake, and purge his church, of snayly knurres glued to this staff, and keep the same whole & sound over us to our farthest posterity, if it stand with his good will and pleasure. So shall our kingdom be beautiful, and our christian brotherhood guarded with the band of God's spirit, to our eternal peace in him. For the which peace only we aught to strive, for all other peace is mere wars with God. Thus much of the shepherds rods and staves, and now we proceed to the .5. verse, which saith. Thou dost prepare a table before me in the sight of mine adversaries. Thou dost anoint my head with oil and my cup runneth over. Doubtless kindness and mercy shall follow me, all the days of my life, and I shall remain a long season in the house of the Lord Though mine enemies (saith David) seek to destroy me, yet thou Lord dost not only deliver me, but also in despite of their fury dealest most liberally with me, as men do with their chiefest friends in this our land of Jewry. bidden to their sumptuous feasts, they anoint their heads with pleasant Oil, and give them Cups of large import, and them most amply filled. So haste thou, and much more abundantly dealt with me, and wilt after, for thy mercy is such, as kindness shall follow me during life. And for this thy mercy in my prolonged days, I shall always in them seek to serve thee: in thy holy house. Because I have long troubled you, I will omit to speak here of the providence of God in them which be his, and persecuted of the multitude, Ps. 61.2.5. but such it is, that their devices the Lord doth laugh to scorn, and erecteth his beloved up to honour, maugre their berdes. Or more to say of the difference betwixt the papist and the faithful protestant: the one with the jew is ever gaping after good: but after the godly, God's blessing runneth, them to comfort, even as the river from Moses Rock flowed after Israel to be their drink & spiritual sacrament. 1. Co. 10.4. Or once to touch that longing lust which aught to be in David's live (in all christian heroical, honourable, worshipful, godly, rich, and meaner persons) that is a daily desire to serve God, yea even in the house of prayer with the flock of Christ's fold. Psa. 122.1. I was glad (saith David) of those which said unto me, Come we will go into the house of the Lord together. Your old chaples, your private houses (O ye states of the earth) are for the most part an occasion of great loss to yourselves. You so separate yourselves from the common exercise of Christ's sheep. You lack the doctrine which other there receive to their great comfort. You keep your families from grace, & be evil examples to the vulgar sort. You express the small love to those that be like David, which if you mend not, can not but bring you from his god & our sheheard Christ, whose desire is to have his sheep come together. 1. Cor. 10. Where two or three be gathered together in my name (saith Christ) there am I in the midst of them. Gather the people saith God, sanctify the congregation, gather the Elders, assemble the children & those that suck the breast, let the bridegroom go out of his chamber, and the Bride out of her closet, Let the Priests the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch, and the Altar, and let them say, Spare thy people O Lord. etc. joel. 2.16 17. This was the order in the Apostles church, as Paul affirmeth in his first epistle to the Corrin. saying. I praise you not, 1. Cor. 10.17. that you come together not with profit, but with hurt. For first of all when you come together in the church I hear that there is dissension among you: Again, if therefore when the whole church is come together in one. 1. Cor. 14.23. etc. In this church were of great birth, like wealth and stately condition, yet they came together in one they assembled themselves in the church, they kept not, some their privy chaples, other their dining chambers, but most of all their sleeping heads. Look to this (you states) be not so stately that you set yourselves stiff necked to the Lord, frequent his house, adsociate his people, conjoin with his church, to hear the Lord by his ministers speak unto you, that your common cry with the rest may jointly pierce the ears of Gods most loving majesty, in the throne of his mercy seat. In hope of your content hereto, I say nothing hereof, but as you see run from the same in haste to end. But because of the holy communion, to the which we purpose in the Lord, one word thereof and so an end. 1. Cor. 10.1 2.3.4. Paul the Apostle taketh occasion by the temporal blessing of God upon the Israelites in Manna and the stony rock, to deliver to the Corrinthians sound doctrine in sacraments. And if the same (with the rest of holy scripture) be written for our learning, Rom. 15. why should I forget so good and apt a lesson, as both his example, our present ministration, and this our profitable text doth offer unto me. etc. David speaketh of his Crown and Diadem, with the Appendices: Neither doth he forget the spiritual comforts that from the Lord he daily receiveth by the seals of the lords righteousness his sacred sacraments. Rom. 4. The sacraments of God's church are only two, The laver of baptism, and the Table of the Lord: In the Supper at this table prepared (without our provision and desert) of God in his Christ, the faithful do receive two things, & that of two several persons: sacred bread & wine, In the Sacrament two things are conceived. at & of the external preaching ministry (the only fit ministre for the same) & by the inward secret, & omnipotent invisible work of the holy ghost, (in soul by faith truly fixed in christ) they verily eat & receive the very true & substantial body of jesus Christ, still sitting at the right hand of his heavenly father in majesty on high. By faith he is received, by god's spirit he is delivered in soul he is eaten, for the diet is spiritual, and can not be pressed with man's carnal teeth. That of the minister we receive only bread and wine, the holy Apostle Paul five times telleth us in the delivery thereof to the Corinthians. 1 Epist. chap. 11. And the ancient Fathers say the same: amongst whom S. Cyprian doth stand approved, and he saith thus of the Eucharist: Cipriani de unct Chrism. Dedit itaque dominus noster, in mensa, etc. Therefore our Lord Christ in his last supper which he made with his Apostles, gave to them at that table, Bread & wine with his own hands: but upon the Cross by the hands of the cruel torments, he gave his body wounded for us. Sunt quae erant (saith Ambrose, Ambro. de sacra. li. 4. cap. 4. speaking of the Elemental bread and wine) The same they were they are, and are changed into another use. If the sacramental bread be the very body of Christ after consecration, than the wicked aswell eat Christ's body, as the godly. But this the ancient fathers do deny. Origen saith, Est verus Cibus. Origen. in Matth. Christ is the true meat, which no evil and wicked man can eat. For if the wicked man could (in the Sacrament) eat the body of the Lord, then should it not be written, Qui edit hunc panem, He that eateth this bread shall live for ever. Augustine saith: August. in Io. tra. 20. Qui non manet in Christo, etc. He that dwelleth not in Christ, and in whom Christ dwelleth not, undoubtedly he eateth not spiritually the flesh and blood of Christ, Albeit he carnally and visibly tear with his teeth the Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ. And if any man say unto me, why then doth Christ say, This is my body? I answer, it is a figurative speech of our Saviour, and is of him spoken to a people that well were acquainted with the Scriptures phrase in Sacraments. So is Circumcision called the covenant of the Lord, when it is but the sign of the lords covenant. The covenant itself was, I will be thy God, Gen. 17.10 and thou shalt be my people. And therefore Circumcision is called in the same chapter that which in itself it remaineth to be, namely the Sign, and not the covenant. And it shall be (saith God) a sign of the covenant betwixt thee and me. Likewise the paschal Lamb is called Transitus domini, the passing by of the Lord, until the coming of Christ, yet the Lord by his angel passed but once in all through the land of Egypt, Exod. 12. and therefore verily & indeed, that sacrament could not be the passing of the Lord. This is the use of scripture, saith Augu. August. in Leuit. 17. Gen. 41.26 that the signs which signify, are called by the names which they do represent, as thus: the seven ears of corn septem anni sunt, are seven years. The Rock was Christ. etc. And in another place he saith, The Lord doubted not to say, This is my body, when he gave signum corporis the sign of his body. So good christian Audience, the words of Christ, as of him they were spoken, are sacramentally to be understood. So that when Christ saith, This is my body, we are to take it thus: this is the representing, & to the faithful the exhibiting sign of my body. That these words of Christ are figuratively spoken, Augu. Augu. de doct. chri. lib. 3. also witnesseth in his book De doctrina christiana. But that the faithful do eat by the work of the spirit & Christ's divine power his very body and blood in the true use of the Lords supper, the faithfulness in god approveth, who ever was the same to his people, that his faithful pledges the Sacraments promised. Circuncision promised his continual aid, & that he would be their god, and they should be his people. Search the Scriptures, & see, Deut. 4. if ever any people were so guerdoned, or had the presence of God so near them, or were any people so prospered so long as they continued with circumcised hearts in his holy covenant? Did not the Lord by his angel perform that in deed, which he promised by his paesah, his sacramental passover? Exo. 12.12.13.28.29. Did he not pass by the Israelites house tied to this Covenant, & plagued all the first borne in Egypt. So no doubt he truly feedeth the faithful with not only the power, but the precious body in himself, not stooping one inch yet from his father's Throne, or giving his body to be rend into pieces with our mortal teeth, but in such a divine sort as our tongues can not utter, because our or thy capacities can not conceive the manner how, further than by the sight of his noble creature the shining sun. The sun in his globe and person doth keep & continued his sphere & circle in the Zodiac, & yet doth he by the decree and provident power of God, light us, warm us, comfort us, and renew our blood and bodies, and as we may say by borrowed speech, giveth us life, by his heavenly beams, the ordinary conducts from him self, with his very living substance. Sigh thus we have so elegant a shadow, of our Saviour Christ's body verily feeding us that are his in earth: let us not distrust, or further descant how the Lord can (sith we know not how the son doth his office, but feel it so to be) but let us believe that the Lord by his holy spirit doth feed us, and in deed with his very body & blood, from heaven, as verily as his minister at the table in earth doth give us the sacred symbols of his holy body, which in their former nature remain not other than bread & wine. And with that mind that our father Abraham did receive the sacrament of circumcision, let us follow & approach the lords table. That is, so taccept with faithful heart in hand, Ro. 4.11.12 the holy Mysteries, as the seals of righteousness, that God will give us the same that he affirmeth them to be, and in such sort as the same is to be distributed unto us effectually in spirit & truth. Let us examine & try ourselves whether we be in the faith, 2. Corinth. let us well consider of our steps whether we be standing or falling before our God, let us cast from us our former ills, & put upon us jesus Christ, & his obedience. Let us confess our daily sins, & approach with loving fear & reverence unto this table of atonement. Finally repent & believe the Gospel. Let the Papist depart from all his ignorant superstition, & receive the doctrine of the holy written scriptures unfeignedly. Let the carnal gospeler, the Atheist, be ashamed at his filthy life & scoffing girds, cast at the truth. Let the Ancient harlot hate his whoredom, and bathe his beastly body in the blood of Christ by repentant faith. Let the covetous stretch out his hand unto the poor, & shut up his eyes from worldly thirst. Let the courtly Dames (& you here present) cut short the fantasies of vain desires, and rather covet to come behind the lashing pride of these ill days, Rom. 12.2. then seek to follow the untamed fashion of this wicked world. Psal. 119.32. And pray with David, that your eyes may be fast shut from beholding our to to much, & abominable vanities. Let the contentious cease their brawling strife, and with us in one by the lords spirit of truth, ascend to the lords sacrament of unity & love. That this grace may come to every of us, and to the whole Church of god this Church of England & Ireland, and therein to the queens majesty Elizabeth, her honourable Councelours and Potentates, Gods spiritual Preachers and Ministers, to all Magistrates & governors, as well here present as absent, and to this congregation a member of the said Church, let us the loving sheep of our chief Shepherd Christ, by the comfort & direction of his holy spirit, humbly at the hands of our most merciful Father, for the love he beareth to Christ his only begotten son, and in his name crave it, saying, O our father which art in heaven, etc. Grant, O Lord, that into the words which this day, and at other times, through thy great mercy we have graciously heard, we may be effectually transformed, through Christ our head Shepherd and Lord. To whom together with thee, O Father, and the holy Ghost, three distinct persons, and one eternal God, be all honour and glory, power and dominion, now and for ever. Amen. Laus Deo per Christum. 1. jan. 1575. To the right worshipful Sir William Fitzwilliam Knight, late Lord deputy of Ireland: A. Anderson the minister of Christ's holy Gospel, wisheth Christ our Lord, with his whole merits. CAll upon me (saith God) in the day of thy trouble, and I will deliver thee. Greater troubles with less comforts than in the raging Seas, can not be found, as those with David must confess which occupy their business in great waters. This dangerous journey, as among many others ye are in the lords name to adventure, so vouchsafe this preparative to your godly heart, and by and with the same in assured hope of God's assistance for his Christ, approach his mercy seat. The hast we have, and gaping hope for Westerly winds, will not permit long leisure, to proyve this sudden frame. Take it (Right Worshipful) as it is, and accept the good will of the giver, use it at your need to the lords praise, and your present comfort, which is my hearty desire. And I shall daily pray the Lord for you, and us, that we may speedily embark, and safely arrive in England through Christ's aid, the master of our ship. At Holme Patrick in Ireland. 17. October. 1575. Your Worships in Dom. A. Anderson. A form of prayer for seamen and passengers to use in the sailing Ship. ¶ A confession of our sins to God. O Almighty God and most righteous, we thy dear children, here encompassed with these thy mighty creatures, the winds, the huge seas and sailing ship, do acknowledge and confess ourselves, and every of us, to be miserable sinners, and from our first cradles deeply to have offended thy divine majesty. Our several thoughts be corrupted, our sundry hearts and acts are polluted, our sins cannot be hid from thee. We heartily confess them O Lord, else should our consciences condemn us, because our transgressions bear witness against us. But thou art the God of our salvation and to us thy children the best father, full of mercies, rich in compassion, slow to wrath, and most ready to forgive the penitent sinner calling upon thee. And sith it is the work of thy most holy spirit to mollify the stony hearted, and to change the fleshly heart into a spiritual soul: Eze. 36. We most humbly beseech thee for thy Christ's sake, to grant us thy holy spirit, taken from us our stony and give us hearts of flesh, and into them power thy graces, & turn us unto thee. Thy holy law imprint in our souls, and give us to walk in thy statutes, during these our natural lives. Bow down thine ear and hear us, and with thy favourable countenance look upon us, behold our place, and cause of cry. Our ship is subject to subversion, if thy holy hand direct us not in merciful providence. give, O lord the sweet and pleasant gale, in thy name of us to be desired in vehement storms (by thee called to punish and prove us) assist us with thy strength and spirit of comfort. Look upon our mediator Christ, and through him pity us, and in the bowels of thy mercy, conduct us to the haven of us desired if it be thy william. Then shall we sing and praise thy name, and show thy wonders in the deep, and our souls shall confess that though the seas be mighty, Psa. 93.5. yet thou, O God, art of most might over them. Let us not be tempted further gracious God, then that our strength in thee shall countervail, and grant the event prosperous, Glad our hearts with safety on shore, and make us mindful of thy mercies. give us we beseech thee, true faith, firm hope, and fervent love in thee, keep us always thine, and grant thy Christ for ever ours, in whose name for ourselves and all other in our condition, with the rest of thy church we call unto thee, thus: O our father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, etc. A psalm. Psa. 93.5. The waves of the sea are mighy and rage's horribly, but yet the Lord that dwelleth on high is mightier. Psal. 107. 23. They that go down to the sea in ships, & occupy their business in great waters. 24. These men see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. 25. For at his word the stormy wind ariseth which lifteth up the waves thereof. 26. They are carried up to heaven & down again to the deep, their soul melteth in them because of their trouble. 27. They reel to & fro, and stagger like a drunken man, & are at their wits end. 28. So when they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, he delivereth them out of their distress. 29. For he maketh the stormy winds to cease, so that the waves thereof are still. 30. Then are they glad because they are at rest, and so he bringeth them to the haven where they would be. O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness, & declare the wonders which he doth for the children of men. Glory be to the Father. etc. The lesson Mat. 8.13. ANd when jesus was entered with his disciples into the ship, there arose a great tempest in the sea, so that the ship was covered with waves, but he was a sleep. Then his Disciples awoke him, saying, Master save us, we perish. And he said unto them, why are ye fearful O ye of little faith? Then he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and so there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, what man is this that both winds and sea obey him. If the Sea be rough. Out of the deep O Lord we call upon thee, hear us, O God, and have mercy. Psal. 5. We have sore provoked thine anger (O Lord) thy wrath is waxed hot, & thy heavy displeasure is sore kindled against us. But rebuke us not in thine indignation, neither chasten us in thy displeasure. Psal. 6. judit 8. In deed we acknowledge that all our punishments are less than our deservings. job. 11. But yet of thy mercy (O Lord) correct us to amendment, and plague us not to our destruction. Sap. 11. Psa. 25. Turn thee unto us and have mercy, for we are desolate and in great misery. Psa. 79. So we that be thy people and the sheep of thy pasture, shall give thee thanks for ever, and will be always showing forth thy praise, to all generations. Glory be to the father. etc. The prayer. O Lord God the Father of comforts and God of all solace, which art ever mindful of thy mercy, and careful to keep promise, who also commandest us to call upon thee in our troubles, with hope of full release at the brink of our deep dangers, we thy poor children crave thy hand now to help us, which are destitute of further aid in earth, than this our little ship. We are environed with these huge roaring seas, horribly raging, and breaking in upon us. The winds are vehement, & grow to increase in storms, our sins be heavy, and Satan seeketh to sink us. In ourselves we distrust, but in thy mercy we repose our earnest confidence, and in the humbled state of these our souls, we beseech thee to hear us. Grant us thy Christ his presence in our ship. Awake, O blessed saviour, & help us jest we perish. Thou seest our case & cause of cry, thou knowest our weakness, O Lord increase our faith. Command the winds to cease their violence, control the seas, and set them quite under us. Keep whole our masts, provide safety to our sail, hold steady our helm, and be thyself the master of our ship. Give us grace to have like care to serve thee in seeming & supposed security, as we have desire to receive thy help in this our present adversity. Keep us ever to be thine, and vouchsafe to stand for us to thy Father's justice. Conduct us to land, and safely set us to our several dwellings for thy name's sake. Bless our souls with thy spirit, & be merciful to our Church and Queen, her honourable Deputies, councillors, Precedents, & Magistrates. give them and us faithful hearts to hear thy word, & increase thy good gifts in the teachers of the same. Finally, ourselves, our souls & bodies, we commit into thy merciful hands, deliver us at thy good pleasure for thy holy names sake, we beseech thee, to whom with the Father and the holy ghost, be all honour and glory now and for ever. Amen. But if the Seas be quiet, and passage pleasant, then say thus, and pray. O Lord our good God, how excellent is thy name, wonderful are thy works, but thy mercy far above measure. If we descend into our consciences to ponder the poised of our sin, what may we look for but vengeance, beholding thee for just? These senseless Creatures, the wind and seas, do daily serve thee in silent obedience: and all other inferior created things do ever yield thee obsequy. But we for whom all these are made, and daily are benefited by them, do never stand upright before thee. And at this present Lord we feel the truth of thy loving promise give to all them that trust in thee. For thou hast called away the elder storms (the correction of sin and trial of faith) and sent unto us this pleasant gale, having the wind serviceable to our humble desires, & these mighty waters to work our willing effects. Vouchsafe us pardon by Christ, for our iniquities, and the continuance of this pleasant passing, until we be arrived the port (in thee) of us desired. Keep us we pray thee O heavenly father, from all perils in the sea, and save us by thy mighty hand in earth. Guide us with thy spirit in the ship of thy holy church, through the raging seas of this wicked world, & bring us through true faith safely to the celestial haven of our inheritance, that there with the company of all heavenly passengers, we may praise thee everlastingly. Grant us, and thy whole church, these our requests, for Christ our Lord thy sons sake. In whose name we make to thy mercy our petition thus: O our father which art in heaven. etc. Laus Deo. Having safely arrived let the godly company together say or sing the 103 Psalm, and then this thanksgiving, thus. ALL honour & praise we yield to thee O God our loving father, who in thy great mercy, notwithstanding our former lives, & present sins, some distrusting thy loving help, some not caring to call upon thee (and some most desperately blaspheming thy holy name) hast thus most mercifully delivered us, and to this safety on land in thy great mercy brought us. Now Lord again we beseech thee to defend us, that having safely passed the surging seas, we be not, through our weakness, & Satan's temptation, drowned in the voluptuous Rivers of fleshly lusts, or choked with the foggy mists of popish or carnal practices, but that we may attend upon the son of righteousness, Christ our Lord, and may be conducted to the haven of our celestial jerusalem, by the most pleasant purifying wind, the spirit of truth. Which spirit as he bloweth where he lusteth, so vouchsafe him ever to take us with him during our natural lives, in the faithful and true serving of thee, and never leave us destitute of his holy aid, until thou hast (for thy Christ's sake) crowned us in glory. To whom with thee and the same holy ghost, three persons, and our one & only God, be all honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. Laus Deo per Christum.