THE PLAIN MAN'S Pathway to Heaven: Wherein every man may clearly see, whether he shall be saved or damned. Set forth Dialogue-wise, for the better understanding of the simple: By ARTHUR DENT, Preacher of the word of God at South-Shoobery in Essex. The ninth Impression. Corrected and amended: with a Table of all the principal matters; and three Prayers necessary to be used in private families hereunto added. ZEPH. 3. 5. Every morning the Lord bringeth his judgement to light, he faileth not: but the wicked will not learn to be ashamed. LONDON Printed for EDW. BISHOP, and are to be sold in Paul's Churchyard, at the sign of the Brazen Serpent. 1607. THE CONTENTS of this Dialogue. FIrst, it showeth man's misery in nature, with the means of recovery. Secondly, it sharply inveigheth against the iniquity of the time, and common corruption of the world. Thirdly, it showeth the marks of the children of God, and of the Reprobates, with the apparent signs of salvation and damnation. Fourthly, it declareth how hard a thing it is to enter into life: and how few shall enter. Fiftly, it layeth open the ignorance of the world, with the objections of the same. Last of all, it publisheth and proclaimeth the sweet promises of the Gospel, with the abundant mercies of God, to all that repent, believe and truly turn unto him. To the right Worshipful Sir JULIUS CAESAR Knight, one of the Masters of the Requests to the King's Majesty, judge of the high Court of Admiralty, and Master of S. Catherines: A. D. wisheth all good things in Christ jesus. Having finished (Right worshipful) and made ready for the Press this little Dialogue: I bethought me (sith the common manner of all, that write any books in this age, is to dedicát the same to one or to other of great place) to whom I might dedicate these my poor labours. At last I did resolve with myself, none to be more fit than your worship: both in regard of some affinity in the flesh, as also because of those manifold good parts, wherewith the Almighty hath endued you. Having therefore none other thing to present your worship withal (in token of a thankful heart for your courtesies showed towards me) behold, I do here send unto you this third fruit of my labours now published. Most humbly beseeching you to take it in good worth: not weighing the value of the thing, which is of no value, but the simple and good mind and meaning of the giver. This work doth sharply reprove and evict the world of sin, and therefore is like to find many deadly enemies, which with cruel hatred will most eagerly pursue it unto death. Zoilus also and his fellows, I know, will bitterly carp at it. Therefore it flieth unto your Worship for protection, and humbly desireth to take Sanctuary under your wings. Wherefore I humbly entreat you to take upon you the patronage and defence of it: that by your means it may be delivered both from the calumnious obloquys of evil disposed persons, and also from the world's malignity; so as it may take no injury. And concerning this little volume, the sum of the matter of it, you shall find in the Epistle to the Reader. As concerning the manner, here is no great matter in learning, wit, art, eloquence, or ingenious invention: (for I have herein specially respected the ignorant and vulgar sort, whose edification I do chiefly aim at) yet somewhat there is, which may concern the learned, & give them some contentment. Whatsoever it be, I leave it with your Worship, beseeching you to give it entertainment. And so I do most humbly take my leave: commending both yourself, your good wife, and your whole family to the merciful protection of the everliving God. From South-Shoobery in Essex. April. 10. Anno Dom. 1601. Your Worships to command in the Lord, ARTHUR DENT. THE EPISTLE TO the Reader. GEntle Reader, seeing my little Sermon of Repentance, some few years since published, hath been so well accepted of: I have, for thy further good published this Dialogue, being the third fruit of my labour: wishing to it the like success, that God thereby may have the glory, and thou who art the Reader comfort. I have, in one part of this Dialogue, produced some of the ancient writers, and some of the wise Heathen also, to testify upon their oath in their own language, and to bear witness of the ugliness of some vices, which we in this age make light of: which I wish may not be offensive to any. In other parts of this work, I do in a manner relinquish them. But in this case I have in my weak judgement, thought them to be of some good use, to show forth thus much: that if we do not in time repent, forsake our sins, & seek after God, both the ancient Christian fathers (whose eyes saw not that we see, nor their ears heard that we hear) yea the very Heathen also shall rise up in judgement against us. Let none therefore stumble at it. But if any do, let them remember I am in a Dialogue, not in a Sermon. I write to all of all sorts: I speak not to some few of one sort. But that which is done herein, is not much more than that of the Apostle (As some of your own Poets have said, Act. 17.) which is warrantable. One thing, dear Christian, I pray thee let me beg of thee; to wit, that thou wouldst not read two or three leaves of this Book, and so cast it from thee: but that thou wouldst read it throughout even to the end. For I do assure thee, if there be any thing in it worth the reading, it is bestowed in the latter part thereof, and most of all towards the conclusion. Be not discouraged therefore at the harshness of the beginning: but look for smother matter in the midst, and most smooth in the perclose and wind-up of all. For this Dialogue hath in it, not the nature of a Tragedy, which is begun with joy, and ended with sorrow: but of a Comedy, which is begun with sorrow, and ended with joy. This book meddleth not at all with any controverfies in the Church, or any thing in the state Ecclesiastical, but only entereth into a controversy with Satan and sin. It is contrived into six principal heads. First, it showeth man's misery in nature, with the means of recovery. Secondly, it sharply inveigheth against the iniquity of the time, and common corruptions of the world. Thirdly, it showeth the marks of the children of God, and of the Reprobates; together with the apparent signs of salvation and damnation. Fourthly, it declareth how hard a thing it is to enter into life: and how few shall enter. Fiftly, it layeth open the ignorance of the world, with the objections of the same. Last of all, it publisheth and proclaimeth the sweet promises of the Gospel, with the abundant mercy of God, to all that repent, believe, and truly turn unto him. The Author of all blessing give a blessing unto it. The God of peace, which brought again from the dead our Lord jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make us perfect in all good works, sanctify us throughout, amend all our imperfections, and keep us blameless until the day of his most glorious appearing, Amen. Thine in the Lord, A. D. The plain man's pathway to Heaven. Interlocutors: Theologus, a Divine. Philagathus, an honest man. Asunetus, an ignorant man. Antilegon, a caviller. Philagathus. WEll met, good Master Theologus. Theol. What mine old friend, Philagathus! I am glad to see you in good health. Phila. Are you walking, Sir, here all alone in this pleasant meadow? Theol. Yea: for I take some pleasure at this time of the year to walk abroad in the fields for my recreation, both to take the fresh air, and to hear the sweet singing of birds. Phila. Indeed, Sir, it is very comfortable, especially now in this pleasant month of May: and thanks be to God, hitherto we have had a very forward spring, and as kindly a season as came this seven years. Theo. God doth abound towards us in mercies: oh that we could abound towards him in thanksgiving. Phil. I pray you sir, what a clock hold you it? Theol. I take it to be a little past one: for I came but even now from dinner. Phila. But behold, yonder cometh two men towards us: What be they I pray you? Theolog. They be a couple of neighbours of the next Parish: the one of them is called Asunetus, who in very deed is a very ignorant man in God's matters: and the other is called Antilegon, a notable Atheist, and caviller against all goodness. Phila. If they be such, it were good for us to take some occasion to speak of matters of religion; it may be we shall do them some good. Theol. You have made a good motion: I like it well. If therefore you will minister some matter, and move some questions, I will be ready to answer in the best sort I can. Phi. But stay sir, lo here they come upon us. Theol. Welcome neighbours, welcome. How do you Asunetus, and you Antilegon? Asune. Well, God be thanked; and we are glad to see your mastership in good health. Theol. What make both of you here at this time of the day? There is some occasion I am sure draweth you this way. Asune. Indeed sir, we have some little business; for we came to talk with one of your parish, about a Cow we should buy of him. Theol. Hath my neighbour a Cow to sell? Antilegon. We are told he hath a very good one to sell; but I am afraid at this time of the year, we shall find dear ware of her. Theol. How dear? What do you think a very good Cow may be worth? Antile. A good Cow indeed, at this time of the year, is worth very near four pound, which is a great price. Theol. It is a very great price indeed. Phila. I pray you M. Theologus, leave off this talking of kine, and worldly matters; and let us enter into some speech of matters of religion, whereby we may do good, and take good one of another. Theol. You say well: but it may be these men's business requireth haste, so as they can not stay. Asune. No sir, we are in no great haste, we can stay two or three hours, for the days are long; if we dispatch our business by night it will serve our turn well enough. Theol. Then if it will please you to walk to yonder Oak tree, there is a goodly Arbour, and handsome seats, where we may all sit in the shadow, and confer of heavenly matters. Asune. With a good will Sir. Phila. Come then let us go. Asune. This is a goodly Arbour indeed, and here be handsome seats. Theol. Sat you all down, I pray you. Now friend Philagathus, if you have any questions to move of matters of Religion, we are all ready to hear you. Phila. It may be these men are somewhat ignorant of the very principles of Religion; and therefore I think it not amiss to begin there, and so to make way for further metters. Theol. I pray you do so then. Phila. First, than I demand of you, in what state all men are borne by nature? Theol. In the state of condemnation, as appeareth, Ephe. 2. 3. We are by nature the children of wrath as well as others. And again it is written: Behold I was borne in iniquity, Psal. 52. 5. and in sin hath my mother conceived me. Phila. Is it every man's case? Are not Dukes and Nobles, Lords and Ladies, and the great Potentates of the earth exempted from it? Theol. No surely, it is the common case of all, both high and low, rich and poor, as it is written: What is man that he should be job 15. 14. clean, and he that is borne of a woman, that he should be just? Philaga. From whence cometh it, that all men are borne in so woeful a case? Theol. From the fall of Adam, who thereby hath not only wrapped himself, but all his posterity, in extreme and unspeakable misery; as the Apostle saith: By one man's disobedience, many were made sinners: and by the offence of one, the fault came on all men to condemnation. Phi. What reason is there that we all should thus be punished for an other man's offence? Theol. Because we were then all in him, and are now all of him: that is, we are so descended out of his loins, that of him we have not only received our natural and corrupt bodies, but also by propagation have inherited his foul corruptions, as it were by hereditary right. Phila. But forasmuch as some have dreamt that Adam by his fall hurt himself only, and not his posterity; and that we have his corruption derived unto us by imitation, and not by propagation: therefore I pray you show this more plainly. Theol. Even as great personages, by committing of treason, do not only hurt themselves, but also stain their blood, and disgrace their posterity: for the children of such Nobles are disinherited, whose blood is attainted; till they be restored again by act of Parliament. Even so our blood being attainted by Adam's transgression, we can inherit nothing of right, till we be restored by Christ. Philaga. Doth this hereditary infection, and contagion, overspread our whole nature? Theol. Yes truly, it is universal, extending Ephes. 2. 1. Col. 1. 21. Col. 2. 13. itself throughout the whole man, both soul, and body, both reason, understanding, will and affections: for the Scriptures avouch, that we are dead in sins and trespasses. Phila. How understand you that? Theol. Not of the deadness of the body, or the natural faculties of the soul, but of the spiritual faculties. Phila. Did Adam then lose his nature and destroy it by his fall? or is our nature taken away by his fall? Theol. Not so. Our nature was corrupted thereby, but not destroyed: for still there remaineth in our nature, reason, understanding, will, and affections, and we are not as a block, or a stock; but by Adam's disobedience we are blemished, maimed, and spoiled of all ability to understand aright, or to will and do aright. As it is written: We are not sufficient of ourselves, to think any thing as of our 2. Cor. 3. 5. selves: but our sufficiency is of God. And again: It is God which worketh in you both Phil. 2. 13. the will and the deed; even of his good pleasure. And as concerning the other point, S. james saith: That all men are made after the jam. 3. 9 similitude of God; meaning thereby that there remain some relics and parts of God's Image, even in the most wicked men: as reason, understanding, etc. so that our nature was not wholly destroyed. Phila. Then you think there be some sparks and remnants left in us still of that excellent Image of God, which was in our first creation. Theol. I think so indeed: and it may plainly appear unto us in the wise speeches and writings of Heathen Poets and Philosophers: in all which we may, as by certain ruins, perceive what was the excellent frame and building of man's creation. Phil. Can a man please God in any thing which he doth, so long as he continueth in the state of nature? Theol. No, not in any thing: for till we be in the state of grace, even our best actions are sinful: as preaching, prayer, alms deeds, etc. As it is written: Who can bring a clean thing job 14. 4. out of that which is unclean. job. 14. 4. The Apostle also saith: They which are in the flesh Rom. 8. 8 cannot please God: that is, such as are still in their natural corruption. And our Lord Jesus himself saith: Do men gather Grapes of Mat. 7. 16. thorns, or Figs of thistles? Meaning thereby, that mere natural men can bring forth no fruits acceptable to God. Phila. This is a very harsh and hard saying; I pray you for my further instruction, make it more plain. Theol. Men in the state of nature may do those things which of themselves are good, but they do utterly fail in the manner of doing them: they do them not as they should be done: that is, in faith, love, zeal, conscience of obedience, etc. neither yet with any cheerfulness, delight or feeling, but even as it were, forcing themselves to do the outward actions. Thus did Cain sacrifice; the pharisees pray; Ananias and Sapphira give alms; and the Jews offer up their oblations and burnt offerings. Phila. Have men any true sight, or lively and sound feeling of this misery and woeful estate, so long as they be merely natural? Theol. No surely, but are altogether blinded and hardened in it, being nothing desirous to come out of it, but do greatly please themselves in it, and can hardly be persuaded that they are in any such woeful case; as appear plainly in the example of that ruler, who being commanded or rather required of our Saviour Christ to keep the commandments, answered: All these have I kept from my youth. And again, Luke. 18. 21. although the Church of Laodicea was wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked; yet she thought herself rich, increased with goods, and wanting nothing. It followeth then, that so long as men are in the state of nature, they have no true sight and feeling of their misery. Phila. Do you not think that all men being merely natural, are under the curse of the Law? Theol. Yea certainly: and not only so, but also under the very tyranny and dominion of Satan, though they know it not, see it not, feel it not, or perceive it not: for all that are not in Christ, are under the curse of the law, and the power of darkness and the devil, as appeareth, Ephes. 2. 2. where the devil is called the prince that ruleth in the air, even the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. In another 2. Cor. 4. 4. 2. Tim. 2. 26. place, he is called the god of this world, who blindeth the eyes of all unbelievers. And again, it is said; that all men naturally are in his snare being taken captive of him at his wil Phila. Few will be persuaded of that; they will say, they defy the devil, and thank God they were never troubled with him. Theol. Their hot words do nothing amend the matter: for the devil is no more driven away with words, then with holy water; but he sitteth in the tongues and mouths: nay possesseth the very hearts and entrails of thousands which say they defy him, and are not troubled with him, as appear manifestly by their particular acttions, and the whole course of their life. Phila. Me thinks, if the devil do so inwardly possesle the hearts and consciences of men, they should have some sight and feeling of it. Theol. The working of the Devil in men's souls (being an invisible spirit) is with such unconceivable sleight and crafty conveyance, that men in the estate of nature cannot possibly feel it, or perceive it: for how can a blind man see, or a dead man feel? Phila. Show this more plainly. Theol. Even as a crafty Juggler doth so prestigiate and blind men's outward senses by the delusions of Satan, that they think they see that which they see not, and feel that which they feel not: Even so the devil doth so delude and bewitch our inward senses, & the natural faculties of our souls, that we having a mist cast before our eyes, think we are that which we are not, see that which we see not, and feel that which we feel not. For the deep cunning of Satan lieth in this; that he can give us our death's wound, and we shall never know who hurt us. Phila. Few will believe this to be true. Theol. True indeed: for few will believe the Scriptures: few will believe this, because few feel it: where it is not felt, it can hardly be believed: only the elect do feel it, and therefore only the elect do believe it. As for all others, they are the very prentices and bondslaves of the devil, which is a thousand times worse than to be a galleyslave. Phil. How long do men continue in this woeful state of nature, being under the curse of the law, and the very slavery of Satan and sin? Theol. Till they be regenerate and borne again, and so brought into the state of grace: as our Lord Jesus saith: Except a man be borne john 3 3. again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Phila. Do not many die and depart this life, before they be borne again, and consequently before they be brought into the state of grace? Theol. Yes no doubt, thousands: for many live forty or threescore years in this world, and in the end die, and go out of this life, before they know wherefore they came into it: as it is written: My people perish for want of knowledge. Phila. What may we think of such? Theol. I quake to speak what I think: for surely I do not see how such can be saved. I speak not now of infants and children, whereof some no doubt are saved by virtue of the promise & covenant, through the election of grace. Phil. It seemeth then that you think none can be saved, but those only which are borne again. Theol. I think so indeed. Phil. I pray you tell me what that same regeneration and new birth is, whereof you speak. Theol. It is a renewing and repairing of the corrupted and decayed estate of our souls. As Rom. 12. 2. Ephes. 4. 13. it is written: Be ye changed by the renewing of your mind. And again: Be renewed in the spirit of your mind. Phila. Explain this more fully. Theol. Even as the wild Olive retaineth his old nature, till it be grafted into the sweet Olive, but afterward is partaker of a new nature: so we till we be grafted into Christ, retain our old nature, but afterward are turned into a new nature, as it is written: If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. 2. Cor. 5. 17. Phila. I understand not what you say. Theol. You must know this, that as there is a natural birth of the whole man; so there is also a spiritual birth of the whole man. Phila. How is that? Theol. When as the natural faculties of the soul, as reason, understanding, will and affections, and the members of the body also, are so sanctified, purged and rectified by grace, that we understand, will, and desire that which is good. Phila. Can not a man will and desire that which is good, before he be borne again? Theol. No more than a dead man can desire the good things of this life. For man's will is not free to consent unto good, till it be enlarged by grace: and an unregenerate man doth sin necessarily, though not by constraint. For man's will is free from constraint (for it sinneth of itself) but not from thrasdome unto sin. Phila. You speak, as if a man could do no other thing but sin, till the new work be wrought in him. Theol. That is mine opinion indeed: for a man & his flesh are all one, till he be regenerate; they agree together like man & wife, they join together in all evil, they live and die together: for when the flesh perisheth, the man perisheth. Phila. Is not this regeneration a changing or rather a destroying of human nature? Theol. Nothing less: It is neither an abolishing, nor changing of the substance of body or soul, or any of the faculties thereof: but only a rectifying and repairing of them by removing the corruption. Phila. Is then our natural corruption so purged and quite removed by the power of grace, as that it remaineth not at all in us, but that we are wholly freed of it? Theol. Not so. For the relics and remnants of our old nature, which the Scripture calleth the old man, do hang about us, and dwell in us, even until our dying day: as it is plainly proved in the ten last verses of the seventh to the Romans. Phila. Then you affirm that this new man or new work of grace and regeneration, is unperfect in this life. Theol. Yea. For the new creature, or new work of grace, can never be fully fashioned in this life: but is always in fashioning. And as our faith and knowledge in this life are unperfect: so is our regeneration, and sanctification. Phila. You said before that the regeneration or new birth is of the whole man; which speech seemeth to imply, that the new work of grace is entire and perfect. Theol. You mistake the matter. For although the new birth is universal, and of the whole man, yet it is not entire, perfect, pure and without mixture of corruption. For it is written: The flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the Gal. 5. 17. spirit against the flesh. The Apostle also prayeth, that the Thessalonians may be sanctified throughout, in spirit, soul, and body. Phila. This seemeth very obscure, I pray you make it more plain. Theol. You must note this, that the new work and the old, flesh and spirit, grace and corruption, are so intermingledly joined together in all the faculties of the soul and body, as that the one doth ever fight against the other. Phila. But tell me, I pray you, how you understand this intermingling of grace and corruption in the soul? Do you mean that grace is placed in one part of the soul, and corruption in another, so as they be sundered in place? Theol. No, that is not my meaning: but this, that they be joined and mingled together (as I said) in and throughout the whole man. For the mind, or understanding part, is not one part flesh, and another part spirit: but the whole mind is flesh, and the whole mind is spirit, partly one, and partly another. The same is to be said of the will and affection. Phila. I pray you express it more plainly. Theol. Even as the air in the dawning of the day, is not wholly light, or wholly dark, as at midnight, or at noon day; neither is it in one part light, in another part dark: but the whole air is partly light, and partly dark throughout: and as in a vessel of lukewarm water, the water itself is not only hot, nor only cold, but heat and cold are mixed together in every part of the water: so is the flesh and the spirit mingled together in the soul of man. And this is the cause why these two contrary qualities fight together. Phila. Out of doubt this doctrine of regeneration is a very great mystery. Theol. Yes certainly: it is a secret of secrets, which the wise of this world cannot comprehend. Phila. Some think that courtesy, kindness, good nurture, good nature, and good education, are regeneration, and that courteous and good natured men must needs be saved. Theol. They are greatly deceived; for these things do not necessarily accompany salvation, but are to be found in such as are altogether profane and irreligious: yet we are to love such good outward qualities, and the men in whom we find them. Phila. What say you then to learning, wit, and policy; are not these things of the essence of religion, and prove a regeneration? Theol. No, no: for they be external gifts, which may be in the most wicked men, as in Papists, Heathen Poets, and Philosophers: yet we are greatly to reverence learned and wise men, although the new and inward work be not as yet wrought: for that is only of God, that is from above. Phila. The common people do attribute much to learning and policy: for they will say, such a man is learned and wise, and knoweth the Scripture as well as any of them all, and yet he doth not thus and thus. Theol. It is one thing to know the History and Letter of the Scriptures, and another thing to believe and feel the power thereof in the heart, which is only from the sanctifying spirit, which none of the wise of this world can have. Phila. It is a common opinion, that if a man hold the truth in judgement, be no Papist, or heretic, but leadeth an honest civil life, than he must of necessity be saved. Theol. That followeth not: for many come so far, which yet notwithstanding have not the inward touch. Phila. That seemeth strange. For many will say, As long as they be neither whore nor thief, nor spotted with such like gross sins, they trust in God they shall be saved. Theol. They err not knowing the scriptures. For many thousands are in great danger of losing their souls for ever, which are free from such notorious and horrible vices may many which in the world are counted good honest men, good true dealers, good neighbours, and good Townsmen. Asune. I pray you Sir, give me leave a little. I have heard all your speech hitherto, and I like reasonably well of it: but now I can forbear no longer, my conscience urgeth me to speak. For me thinks you go too far, you go beyond your learning in this, that you condemn good neighbours, and good townsmen. You say, many such men are in danger of losing their souls: but I will never believe it while I live. For if such men be not saved, I cannot tell who shall. Theol. But you must learn to know out of the Scriptures that all outward honesty and righteousness, without the true knowledge and inward feeling of God, availeth not to eternal life. As our Saviour Christ saith: Except your Math. 5. righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye cannot enter into the Kingdom of heaven. It is also written that Acts 17. 12. when Paul preached at Berea, many honest men and honest women did believe: that is, such as were outwardly honest, or honest to the world only; for they could not be truly and inwardly honest, before they did believe. Therefore you see that this outward honesty & civility, without the inward regeneration of the spirit, availeth not to eternal life; and then consequently, all your honest worldly men are in great danger of losing their souls for ever. Asune. What sound reason can you yield, why such honest men should be condemned? Theol. Because many such are utterly void of all true knowledge of God, and of his word. Nay which is more: many of them despise the word of God, and hate all the zealous professors of it. They esteem preachers but as prattlers; and Sermons as good tales; they esteem a Preacher, no more than a shoemaker: they regard the Scriptures, no more than their old shoes. What hope is there then, I pray you, that such men should be saved? Doth not the holy Ghost say: How shall we escape if we Heb. 2. 3. neglect so great salvation? Asune. You go too far, you judge too hardly of them. Theol. Not a whit. For all experience showeth, that they mind, dream, and dote of nothing else day and night, but this world, this world, lands and leases, grounds and livings, kine, and sheep, and how to way rich. All their thoughts, words, and works, are of these and such like things. All their actions do most manifestly declare, that they are of the earth, and speak of the earth: and that there is nothing in them, but earth, earth. As for sermons, they care not how few they hear. And for the scriptures they regard them not, they read them not, they esteem them not worth the while: there is nothing more irksome unto them; they had rather pill straws, or do any thing, then hear, read, or confer of the Scriptures. And as the Prophet saith; The word of the Lord is as a reproach jer. 6. 10. unto them, that have no delight in it. Phila. I marvel much, that such men should live so honestly to the world-ward. Theol. No marvel at all; for many bad men whose hearts are wormeaten within, yet for some outward and carnal respects, do abstain from the gross act of sin; as some for credit, some for shame, some for fear of Law, some for fear of punishment; but none for love of God, for zeal, or conscience of obedience. For it is a sure thing, that the wicked may have that spirit which doth repress; but not that which doth renew. Phil. It seemeth then by your speeches, that some which are not regenerate, do in some things excel the children of God. Theol. Most certain it is, that some of them in outward gifts, and the outward carriage of themselves, do go beyond some of the elect. Phil. Show me I pray you in what gifts. Theol. In learning, discretion, justice, temperance, prudence, patience, liberality, affability, kindness, courtesy, good nature, & such like. Phila. Me thinketh it should not be possible. Theol. Yes truly. For some of God's dear children, in whom no doubt the inward work is truly and sound wrought; yet are so troubled & encumbered with a crabbed and crooked nature, and so clogged with some master sin; as some with anger, some with pride, some with covetousness, some with lusts, some one way, and some another: all which breaking out in them, do so blemish them and their profession, that they cannot so shine forth unto men, as otherwise no doubt they would; and this is their wound, their grief, and their hart-smart, and that which costeth them many a tear, and many a prayer: and yet can they not get the full victory over them, but still they are left in them, as the prick in the flesh to humble them. Phila. Yet love should cover a multitude of such infirmities in God's children. Theol. It should do so indeed: but there is great want of love, even in the best: and the worse sort espying these infirmities in the godly, run upon them with open mouth and take upon them to condemn them utterly, and to judge their hearts, saying; they be hypocrites, dissemblers, and there is none worse than they. Phila. But do you not think that there be some counterfeits, even amongst the greatest professors? Theol. Yes, no doubt, there be, and always have been some very hypocrites in the Church: but we must take heed of judging and condemning all, for some. For it were very much to condemn Christ and his eleven Disciples, because of one judas; or the whole Primitive Church, for Ananias and Sapphira. Phila. But I hope you are of this mind, that some regenerate men even in outward gifts, and their outward carriage, are comparable with any others. Theol. Questionless, very many. For they being guided by God's spirit, and upheld by his grace, do walk very uprightly and unblamably towards men. Phil. Yet there resteth one scruple: for it seemeth very strange unto me, that men of so discreet carriage as you speak of, and of so many good parts, should not be saved. It is great pity such men should be damned. Theol. It seemeth so unto us indeed: but God is only wise, and you must note, that as there be some infirmities in God's children, which he correcteth with temporal chastisements; and yet rewardeth their faith, love, and inward service and obedience, with eternal life: so there be some good things in the wicked, and them that are without Christ, which God rewardeth with temporal blessings; and yet punisheth them eternally for their unbelief and hardness of heart. Phila. Now you have reasonably well satisfied me touching the doctrine of regeneration, and the manifold errors and deceits that are in it, and of it. I pray you let us now proceed: and first of all tell me, by what means the new birth is wrought. Theol. By the preaching of the word, as the 1. Pet. 1. 23. joh. 15. 3. Act. 10. 44. Ephes. 4. 3. outward means; and the secret work of the spirit, as the inward means. Phila. Many hear the word preached, and are nothing the better, but rather the worse: what I pray you is the cause of that? Theol. men's own incredulity, and hardness of heart: because God in his wrath leaveth them to themselves and depriveth them of his spirit, without the which, all preaching is in vain. For except the spirit do follow the Act. 16. 14. word into our hearts, we can find no joy, taste, nor comfort therein. Phila. Cannot a man attain unto regeneration and the new birth without the word and the spirit? Theol. No verily: for they are the instruments & means, whereby God doth work it. Asune. Why may not a man have as good a faith to Godward, that heareth no Sermons, as he that heareth all the Sermons in the world? Theol. Why may not he, which eateth no meat, be as fat and as well liking, as he that eateth all the meat in the world? For is not the preaching of the word, the food of our souls? Asune. I like not so much hearing of Sermons, and reading of the Scriptures, except men could keep them better. Theol. Faithful and honest hearers do therefore hear, that they may be more able to observe and do. For a man cannot do the will of God before he know it: and he cannot know it without hearing and reading. Antile. I marvel what good men do get by gadding to Sermons, and poring so much in the scriptures; or what are they better than others? there are none more full of envy, and malice than they. They will do their neighbour a shrewd turn as soon as any body; and therefore in mine opinion, they be but a company of hypocrites, and precise fools. Theol. You judge uncharitably. Full little do you know what they feel, or what good God's people get by hearing of his word. For the work of the Spirit in the hearts of the elect is very secret, and altogether hid from the world, as it is written: The wind bloweth john. 3. 8. where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whither it goeth, or whence it cometh; So is every man that is borne of the spirit. And again: The things of God knoweth no man, but the spirit of God. Asune. Tush, tush; what needs all this a do? If a man say his Lord's prayer, his Ten Commandments, and his Belief, and keep them, and say no body no harm, nor do no body no harm, and do as he would be done to, have a good faith to Godward, and be a man of God's belief, no doubt he shall be saved, without all this running to Sermons, and prattling of the Scripture. Theol. Now you power it out indeed. you think you have spoken wisely. But alas, you have bewrayed your great ignorance. For you imagine, a man may be saved, without the word: which is a gross error. Asune. It is no matter: say you what you will, and all the Preachers in the world beside: as long as Iserue God, and say my prayers duly, and truly, morning and evening, and have a good faith in God, and put my whole trust in him, and do my true intent, and have a good mind to Godward, and a good meaning; although I am not learned, yet I hope it will serve the turn for my soul's health. For that God, which made me, must save me: It is not you that can save me, for all your learning, and all your Scriptures. Theol. You may very fitly be compared to a sick man, who having his brain distempered with heat, raveth, and speaketh idly, he cannot tell what. For the holy Ghost saith: He Pro. 28. 9 that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abominable. And again: he that despiseth the word, he shall be destroyed. Pro. 13: 13 So long therefore as you despise God's word, and turn away your ear from hearing his Gospel preached, all your prayers, your fantastical soruing God, your good meanings, and your good intents, are to no purpose; but most loathsome and odious in the sight of God: as it is written: My soul hateth your new moons, and your appointed feasts, they are a burden unto me, I am weary to bear them. When you stretch out your hands, I will hide Esa. 1. 14. mine eyes from you: and though you make many prayers, I will not hear. For your hands are full of blood. And again the Lord saith by the same Prophet: He that killeth a bullock, is as if he slew a man: he that sacrificeth a Isa. 66. 3. sheep, as if he cut off a dog's neck: he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood: he that remembreth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Where you see, the Lord telleth you his mind touching these matters: to wit, that all your prayers, services, good meanings, etc. are abominable unto him, so long as you walk in ignorance, profaneness, disobedience, and contempt of the Gospel. For he saith in the words immediately going before: To him will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my words. Asune. I grant indeed for them that are idle and have little to do, it is not amiss now and then to hear a Sermon, and read the Scriptures: but we have no leisure, we must follow our business, we cannot live by the scriptures: they are not for plain folk, they are too high for us, we will not meddle with them. They belong to Preachers and Ministers. Theol. CHRIST saith: My sheep hear my john 10. voice, and I give unto them eternal life. If therefore you refuse to hear the voice of Christ, you are none of his sheep, neither can you have eternal life. And in another place, our Lord jesus saith: He that is of God, heareth God's word. joh. 8. 47. Ye therefore hear it not, because ye are not of God. S. Paul writing to all sorts of men, both rich and poor, high & low, men & women, young and old, exhorteth, that the word of Christ may dwell plenteously in them all, in all wisdom. Col. 3. 16. You see therefore that the Apostle would have all sorts of people, that have souls to save, to be well acquainted with the scriptures. Therefore you may as well say, you will not meddle with God, with Christ, nor with everlasting life, as to say, you will not meddle with the scriptures. Asune. Well, I cannot read, and therefore I cannot tell, what Christ, or what S. Paul may say: but this I am sure of, that God is a good man (worshipped might he be) he is merciful, and that we must be saved by our good prayers, and good serving of God. Theol. You speak foolishly and ignorantly in all that you say: having no ground for any thing you speak but your own fancy, and your own conceit: and yet you will believe your own fancy against all Preachers, & against all that can be spoken out of the Word. But I pray you give me leave a little. If a man dream that he shall be a king, and in the morning when he is awake persuadeth himself it shall be so, may he not be justly laughed at, as having no ground for it? even so may all they which believe their own dreams and fantasies touching salvation: But it is true which Solomon saith: A fool believeth every thing: that Pro. 14. 15. copper is gold, and a counter an angel. And assuredly great reason there is, that he which will not believe God, should be given over to believe the devil, his dream, and his fancy. Asune. I pray you instruct me better then. Theol. You had need indeed to be better instructed: for the devil hath slily deluded your soul, and cast a mist before your eyes, making you believe the Crow is white, and that your estate is good before God, whereas indeed it is most woeful and miserable. Asune. Nay I defy the devil, with all my heart. But I pray you tell me how it cometh to pass that I am thus deceived. Theol. This it is that deceiveth you, and many others: that you measure yourselves by yourselves and by others: which is a false metwand. For you seem to lie strait, so long as you are measured by yourselves, and by others: but lay the rule of God's word unto you, and then you lie altogether crooked. Asune. What other thing is there that deceiveth me? Theol. another thing that deceiveth you, is your own heart: for you know not your own heart, but are altogether deceived therein. For jer. 17. 9 the heart is deceivable above all things. He is a wise man and greatly enlightened that knoweth his own heart. But you are blind, and know not what is within you: but dimly imagine you shall be saved, and hope you know not what of eternal life. And because blindness maketh you bold, you will seem to be resolute in words, and say: it is pity he should live, which doth any whit doubt of his salvation. And assuredly you speak as you think, & as you know. For aught that you know to the contrary, it seemeth so: though indeed, and in truth, it is not so: for you are deluded with a false light. And sometimes, no doubt, you have pricks, gripes, terrors, and inward accusations of conscience, for all your bold and resolute speeches. Asune. Truly I never heard so much before. Theol. That is, because you shut your eyes, and stop your ears against God, and all goodness. You are like the deaf Adder, which heareth Psa. 58. 45. not the voice of the Charmer, though he be most expert in charming. Asune. Well then, if it be so, I would be glad now to learn, if you would teach me. And as you have showed me the means whereby the new birth is wrought: so now show me the certain signs and tokens thereof: whereby all men may certainly know that they are sanctified, regenerate, and shall be saved. Theol. There be eight infallible notes and Eight infallible signs of salvation. john 3. 3. john 2. 5. ●s. 119. 114 ●s: 145. 18. Ro. 12. 11. Apo: 3. 19 Mat. 16. 24 job 1. 28. Eph. 4. 21. Phil. 4. 8. tokens of a regenerate mind, which may well be termed the eight signs of salvation: and they are these: A love to the children of God. A delight in his word. Often and fervent prayer. Zeal of God's glory. Denial of ourselves. Patient bearing of the cross, with profit, and comfort. Faithfulness in our calling. Honest, just, and conscionable dealing in all our actions amongst men. Phila. Now that you have showed us the evident signs of man's salvation: show us also the signs of condemnation. Theol. The contraries unto these are manifest Eight signs of condemnation. signs of damnation: No love to the childen of God. No delight in his word. Seldom and cold prayers. Coldness in God's matters. Trusting to ourselves. Impatience under the Cross. unfaithfulness in our calling. Unhonest and unconscionable dealing. Phila. No doubt, if a man be infected with these, they be shrewd signs that a man is extremely soul-sick, and in a very dangerous case. But are there not yet more evident and apparent signs of condemnation than these? Theol. Yes verily. There be nine very clear Nine manifest signs of damnation. and manifest signs of a man's condemnation. Phila. I pray you, let me hear what they be. Theol. Pride. Whoredom. Covetousness. Contempt of the Gospel. Swearing. Lying. Drunkenness. Idleness. Oppression. Phila. These be gross things indeed. Theol. They may not unfitly be termed the nine Beelzebubs of the world: and he that hath these signs upon him, is in a most woeful case. Phila. What if a man be infected with some two or three of these? Theol. Whosoever is infected with three of them, is in great danger of losing his soul. For all these be deadly venom, and rank poison to the soul: and either the three first, or the three last, or the middle three, are enough to poison the soul, and sting it to death. Nay, to say the truth, a man were as good gripe a toad, and handle a snake, as meddle with any one of these. Phila. Is every one of them so dangerous? Theol. Questionless. For they be the very Plague-sores of the soul. If any man have a Plague-sore upon his body, we use to say God's tokens are upon him, Lord have mercy on him. So we may truly say, if any man be thoroughly and totally infected at the heart with any one of these, God's tokens are upon his soul, Lord have mercy on him. Phila. Many do not think these to be such dangerous matters as you make them, & many there be which make light of them. Theol. True indeed: For the most part of men are altogether shut up in blindness, and hardness of heart, having neither sight nor feeling of their sins; and therefore make light of them, thinking there is no such danger. Phila. It is most certain, that men are given to lessen and extenuate their sins; or else, to hide them, and daub them over with many cunning shifts, and vain excuses. For men are ever ready to take covert, and will writhe and wreath (like snakes) to hide their sins: yea, if it were possible, to make sin no sin, to make virtue vice, and vice virtue. Therefore I pray you lay open unto me out of the scriptures, the grievousness, and ugliness of their sins. Theol. The stinking filthiness of these sins is so great and horrible, that no tongue or pen of man is sufficient fully to manifest and lay open the same, according to the proper nature and being thereof: yet notwithstanding, I will do my endeavour to lay them open in some measure, that all men may the more loath them. Phila. I pray you then, first of all begin with Pride. Theol. You say well: For that indeed may well stand in the forefront, sith it is a masterdivell, and the master pocke of the soul. Phila. Show me out of the Scriptures, that pride is so grievous and loathsome. Theol. SALOMON saith: Every one that is Pro. 16. 5. proud in heart, is abomination to the Lord. Which plainly showeth, that God doth detest and abhor proud men. And is it not a fearful thing, think you, to be abhorred of God? And in the same Chapter, vers. 18. he saith: Pride goeth before destruction, and an high mind before the fall. Wherein he showeth that pride is the forerunner of some deadly downfall, either by disgracing or displacing. For it is an old and true Proverb: Pride will have a fall. And oftentimes when men are most lifted up, then are they nearest unto it: as the examples of Haman, Nabuchadnezzar, and Herod, do plainly declare. When the Milt swelleth, the rest of the body pineth away: Even so, when the heart is puffed up with pride, the whole man is in danger of destruction. Moreover the holy ghost saith: The Lord will destroy the house of the proud. Pro. 15. 24 job 11. 5 & 15. job 20. 26. job saith of such kind of men: The spark of his fire shall not shine: fear shall dwell in his house, and Brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation. And in another place, he saith; The fire, which is not blown, shall devour him. job 23. 13 Me thinketh therefore if there were any spark of grace in us, these terrible speeches of the holy ghost might serve to humble us, and pull down our pride; especially sith the Scriptures do affirm that God resisteth the proud, and setteth himself, exprofesso, against them; & therefore woe unto them: for if God take against a man, who can reclaim him? for he doth whatsoever he wil Phil. But tell me, I pray you, when you speak against pride, what pride it is that you mean? Theol. I mean all pride, both that which is inward in the heart, & that also which breaketh out in men's foreheads; I mean that which apparently showeth itself in men's words & works. Phila. Do you mean also pride of men's gifts? Theo. Yes surely; for there is no pride worse or more dangerous than that. Beware, saith one, of spiritual pride; as to be proud of our learning, wit, knowledge, reading, writings, sermons, prayers, godliness, policy, valour, strength, riches, honour, birth, beauty, authority. For God hath not given such gifts unto men, to the end they should make sale-ware of them, and set them a sunshining, to behold; seeking only themselves with their gifts, the vain praise of the multitude, and applause of the people: so robbing God of his honour, and proudly arrogating to themselves, that which is due unto God; which is the praise of his gifts. But he hath given his gifts to an other end: namely, that we should use them to his glory, and the good of others (either in church or commonwealth) especially of those which do most concern us. Phila. Yet we see commonly, men of greatest gifts are most proud. Theol. True indeed: For the finest cloth is soon stained. And as worms engender sooner in soft and tender wood, than in that which is more hard and knotty: and as moths do breed sooner in fine wool, then in course flocks: Even so pride, and vainglory, do sooner assault an excellent and rare man in all kind of knowledge & virtue, than an other of meaner gifts. And therefore pride is said to spring out of the ashes of all virtues. For men will be proud, because they are wise, learned, godly, patient, humble, etc. Pride therefore may very fitly be compared to the crab-stock speins, which grow out of the root of the very best apple-tree. Therefore to say the truth, this is one of the last engines and weapons, which the devil useth for the overthrowing of Gods own children: even to blow them up with pride, as it were with gunpowder. For as we see it come to pass in the siege of strong holds, when no battery or force of shot will prevail, the last remedy and policy is to undermine it, and blow it up with trains of gunpowder: so when Satan can no way prevail, against some excellent servants of God, his last device is, to blow them up with pride, as it were with gunpowder. Phila. I see it is a special grace of God, for men of great gifts, to be humble minded; & he is an old man of a thousand, which excelling in gifts, doth excel in humility; & the more gifts he hath, the more humbly he walketh: not contemning others; but esteeming them better than himself. For commonly we are the worse for God's gifts; because we have not the right use of them; and again, because they engender so much proud flesh in us, that we had need daily to be corzied. Therefore God showeth great favour & mercy to that man, whom he humbleth and taketh down by any afflictions, or infirmities whatsoever. For otherwise, it is sure, proud flesh would altogether overgrow us. Theol. You have spoken the truth: for the Apostle 2. Cor. 11. himself confesseth, that he was tempted and troubled this way, & had like to have been puffed up out of measure, with the abundance of his revelations; but that God, in great mercy, sent him a cooler, and a rebater; to wit, a prick in the flesh (which he calleth the messenger of sathan) whereby the Lord cured him of his pride. And even so doth he cure many of us, of our pride, by throwing us to sathan, leaving us to ourselves, and giving us over, to commit some gross evil, even to fall down and break our necks; and all, to the end he may humble us, tame us, and pull down our pride, which he seeth we are heartsick of. It is good for us therefore to be humble in the abundance of graces, that we be not proud of that which we have, or that which we have done. For humility in sin, is better than pride in well doing. Phila. Herein surely appeareth the great wisdom and mercy of God: that he so graciously wringeth good out of evil, and turneth our afflictions, infirmities, falls and downefals, to his glory, and our good. Theo. It is most true. For even as of the flesh of a viper, is made a sovereign medicine, to cure those which are stung of a viper; and as Physicians expel poison with poison; so God, according to his marvelous wisdom, doth of the infirmities which remain in us after regeneration cure other more dangerous diseases; as pride, vainglory, and presumption. Oh, blessed therefore be his name for ever, which thus mercifully causeth all things to work together for the good of his own people; of whom these things are specially to be understood! Phila. Is there no cause, why men of great gifts should glory in their gifts? Theo. No surely, none at all. For the Apostle saith; Who separateth thee? And what hast 1 Cor. 4. thou, that thou hast not received? If thou hast received it, why boastest thou, as though thou hadst not received it? Where the Apostle plainly showeth, that no man is to be proud of his gifts; because they are none of his own: he hath but received them to use. We count him worthy to be laughed at as a fool, who having borrowed brave apparel of others (as a silk gown, a satin doublet, a chain of gold, velvet breeches, etc.) should proudly jet in the streets in them, as if they were his own: Even so they are worthy to be Chronicled for fools, which are proud of good gifts, which are none of their own. Therefore the Prophet jeremy saith: Thus saith the Lord; Let not the wise jer. 9 23. man glory in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, neither the rich man in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me. To this point also well saith the Heathen Poet: No man Theocritus. can escape the punishment of pride; therefore in greatest prosperity be not puffed up. Phil. Yet it is a world to see, how proud, surly, haughty, stately, insolent, and thrasonical some be, because of their gifts: they think they touch the clouds with their heads, and that the earth doth not bear them; they take themselves to be petty Angels, or some wonderful wights. They contemn and disdame all others which have not the like gifts. They do contemptuously overlook them, as a lion should overlook a mouse, a king a beggar; or, as we say in a proverb, As the devil over-looked Lincoln. Theol. Oh proud dust! Oh haughty worms meat! If they would bring their hearts before God, and their consciences, thoughts, and affections to be judged by this Law, it would soon cool them, and take them down well enough: they should see their wants and imperfections to be so great, that they indeed should have no more cause to boast of their gifts, than the black-more hath of his whiteness, because his teeth are white. The holy Ghost cuts all our combs, and pulleth down all pride of flesh, when he saith: How small a thing doth man Mat. 16. 14. understand of God Phila. I pray you, let us proceed to speak of the outward and gross pride of the World: and first of all, tell me what you think of pride in apparel. Theol. I think it to be a vanity of all vanities, and a folly of all follies. For to be proud of apparel, is, as if a thief should be proud of his halter, a beggar of his clouts, a child of his gay, or a fool of his babble. Phila. Yet we see how proud many (especially women) be of such babbles. For when they have spent a good part of the day in tricking and trimming, pricking and pinning, pranking and pouncing, girding and lacing, and braving up themselves in most exquisite manner, than out they come into the streets, with their peddlers shop upon their back, and carry their crests very high, taking themselves to be little Angels: or at least somewhat more than other women. Whereupon they do so exceedingly swell with pride, that it is to be feared they will burst with it, as they walk in the streets. And truly we may think, the very stones in the street, & the beams in the houses do quake, and wonder at their monstrous, intolerable, and excessive pride. For it seemeth, that they are altogether a lump of pride, a mass of pride, even altogether made of pride, and nothing else but pride, pride. The. You seem to be very hot in the matter. Asune. Marry, Sir, I like him the better: for the world was never so full of pride as it is now adays. Theol. Alas, alas: indeed, who can hold his peace, at the pride of this age! What a thing is it, that flesh and blood, wormsmeat, dust and ashes, dirt and dung, should so brave it out with their trim clouts, and that in the sight of God, angels, and men? For the time will come, when both they, and all their gay clouts shall be buried in a grave: yea, as job saith, The grave job. 17. 14. shall be their house, and they shall make their bed in the dark. And then shall they say to corruption; Thou art my Father: and to the worm: Thou art my Mother and my sister. What then shall it avail them, thus to have ruffled it out in all their bravery, when as suddenly they shall go down to destruction? What did it profit the rich man, to be sumptuously clothed, & fare deliciously every day, when his body was buried in the dust & his soul in hell fire? Asune. I pray you, Sir, what say you to these great ruffs, which are borne up with supporters, and rebatoes, as it were with post and rail? Theol. What should I say? but God be merciful unto us. For such things do draw down the wrath & vengeance of God upon us all: & as the Apostle saith: For such things sake, the wrath Col. 3. 6. of God cometh upon the children of disobedience. And truly, truly, we may well fear that God will plague us for our abominable pride. Asune. What say you then to these doubled and redoubled ruffs, which are now in common use, strutting farthingales, long locks, fore-tufts, shag-hair and all these new fashions which are devised and taken up every day? Theol. I say, they are far from that plainness, simplicity, and modesty, which hath been in former ages, our forefathers knew no such things. It is recorded of William Rufus, sometime grafton's Chron. King of this Land, that when his Chamberlain on a time brought him a new pair of hose, he demanded of him what they cost: who answered, three shillings. Whereat the King being somewhat moved, commanded him to prepare him a pair of a mark. If Kings were then thought to exceed, that bestowed a Mark upon a pair of hose, what is it to be thought of many mean men in these our days, (yea such as have no living, and are scarce of any good calling) which bestow as much upon one pair, as the King did upon two, when he was thought most of all to exceed? But alas, alas, we have passed all bounds of modesty and measure: there is no ho with us. Our land is too heavy of this sin. For the pride of all Nations, and the follies of all Countries are upon us; how shall we bear them? And as for these new fashions, the more new they be, the more foolish and ridiculous are they. For with our new fashions, we are grown clean out of fashion. If we had as many fashions of our bodies, as we have of our attire, we should have as many fashions as fingers and toes. But vain men and women, do apparently show their vain minds, by following so greedily such vain toys and fashions. Asune. It was never good world, since starching and steeling, busks, and whalebones, supporters, and rebatoes, full moons, and hobby-horses, painting and dying, with selling of favour and complexion, came to be in use. For since these came in, covetousness, oppression and deceit have increased. For how else should pride be maintained? And sure it is, within these thirty years, these things were not known, nor heard of. And what say you then to painting of faces, laying open of naked breasts, dying of hair, wearing of periwigs, and other hair coronets and top-gallants? And what say you to our artificial women, which will be better than God hath made them? They like not his handy work, they will mend it, and have other complexion, other faces, other hair, other bones, other breasts, and other bellies, than God made them. Theol. This I say: that you and I, and all the Lords people, have great and just cause of mourning, weeping, and lamentation, because such abomination is committed in Israel. David's Ps. 11. 9 eyes gushed out with rivers of téeres, because men kept not Gods laws: and an horrible fear came upon him, because men forsook jere. 9 1. the law of God. jeremy did sigh in secret, wishing that his head were full of water, & his eyes a fountain of téeres, because of the sins of the Neh. 13. people. Nehemiah mourned for the transgression of God's people. Lot's just soul was vexed with the unclean conversation of the Sodomites: & shall we mourn nothing at all for these things? shall we be no whit grieved for the pride of our land? shall we shed no téeres for such horrible & intolerable abomination? They are odious in the sight of God and men: the air stinketh of them. It is Gods marvelous patience, that the devil doth not carry them away quick, and rid the earth of them: or that fire & brimstone doth not come down from heaven & consume them. Antil. You are too hot in these matters of attire: you make more of them, than there is cause. Asune. I con him thank; God's blessing on his heart; I shall love him the better, while I know him: because he is so earnest against such shameful and detestable pride. Is it not a shame, that women, professing true Religion, should make themselves such pictures, puppets, and peacocks, as they do? And yet I hear few preachers in the pulpit speak against it. Antil. I marvel you should be so earnest in matters of apparel. You know well enough, that apparel is an indifferent thing: and that Religion, and the kingdom of God doth not consist in these things. Theol. I know right well, that apparel in it own nature is a thing indifferent: but lewd, wanton, immodest, and offensive apparel is not indifferent. For all such abuse taketh away the indifferency of them, and maketh them sinful and evil, by circumstance. For otherwise, why should the Lord threaten by his Prophet, that he would visit the Princes, and the King's children and all such as were clothed with strange apparel, that is, the fashions of other countries: Zeph. chap. 1. 8. Again; why should the Lord so plague the proud dames, and mincing minions of jerusalem, for their pride and vanity in attire, if there were no evil in such kind of abuse? the Lord saith thus, in the third of Esay, against those brave & gallant dames; Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched-out necks and with wandering eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and make a tinkling with their feet: therefore shall the Lord make the heads of the daughters of Zion bald, and the Lord shall discover their secret parts. In that day shall the Lord take away the ornament of the slippers, and the calls, and the round tires, the sweet balls, and the bracelets, and the bonnets, the tiers of the head, and the stops, the headbands, and the tablets, the earrings, the rings, and the mufflers, the costly apparel, and the veils, and the wimples, and the crisping pings, and the glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the lawns. And in stead of sweet savour, there shall be stink; and in stead of a girdle, a rent: and in stead of dressing of the hair, baldness: and in stead of a Stomacher, a girding of Sackcloth, and burning in stead of beauty. Then shall her gates mourn and lament: and she being desolate, shall sit upon the ground. Thus we see how terrible the Lord threateneth the gallant dames of jerusalem for their excessive and abominable pride. And this may well be a Mirror for the proud minions of our age, which assuredly may well fear, the Lord will bring some such judgement upon them, as he did upon the daughters of jerusalem. For their sin is as great in this kind, as was the daughters of Zion: and God is the same God now that he was then, to punish it. Antile. Tush: never speak so much of these matters of apparel. For we must do as others do, and follow the fashion: or else we shall not be esteemed. Theol. If you follow them not, you shall be more esteemed of God, of his Angels, Saints, and all good men. As for all others, if you esteem them more than these, you show what you are. Antil. Well, for all that, say you what you will, pride is in the heart, and not in the apparel. For one may be proud of plain apparel, as well as of costly. And some are as proud of their falling bands, and little sets, as others are of their great ruffs. Theol. You speak foolishly. For how know you that? can you judge men's hearts & inward affections? Can you say, when men's and women's apparel is sober, modest and Christianlike, that they have proud hearts, & are proud of that attire? You go very far indeed, to judge the heart. You ought to judge charitably of such as go soberly and modestly attired: even that their heart is according to their attire. As for you, we may rather think your heart is vain, light, and foolish: because your attire doth strongly argue it: And as the Prophet saith: The trial of your countenance testifieth Esay 3. 9 against you: you declare your sins as SODOM, and hide them not. Antile. I pray you then set down some rules for apparel out of the Scripture. Theol. I may well set down what I will: but surely most men and women will do what they list. For verily it may be thought that many of this age have forsworn God, & his word, & all goodness. For they are come to this point, let God say what he will, they will do what they list. For as the Prophet saith; They have made a covenant with Hell, and with death, and are grown to an agreement: Esay 28. 15. And I do verily think, if God himself should come down from Heaven in his own person, and dissuade men and women from this vanity of apparel, yet would they still use it, as it were in despite of God, and as it were to anger him the more. For they are so extraordinarily enamoured, and so immoderately delighted with it, and do so continually, and altogether dote on it, and are so wood mad of it, that they will have it, though men and angels, and all the world say nay: nay, which is more, though they should go to the devil quick with it. And therefore it is but lost labour to speak against it, preach against it, or write against it. It is but even to plough the sea, or knock at a deaf man's door: for there is no hope of any reformation. Only this we gain, that the world is reproved and convicted of sin: and these things shall stand in record against them, in the last day: so that they may say, they had a fair warning, and that there was a Prophet amongst them. Philaga. Yet for all this I pray you set us down some directions and rules, out of God's holy book, concerning attire. For albeit some be very bad and outrageous in these things, yet there be some others which are well disposed, and will (no doubt) make some conscience to frame themselves according to the rules of God's word. Theol. Well then, for their sakes which are well disposed, I will set down some few directions. Saint Paul in 1. Tim. 2. 9 willeth that women should array themselves in comely apparel, with shame fastness and modesty, as tecommeth women that profess the fear of God: and not with broidered hair, or gold, or pearls or costly apparel. The Apostle Saint Peter giveth like rules also: for he saith, speaking 1. Pet. 3. 3. of Christian matrons, and professors of holy Religion, that their apparel must not be outward, that is, not consist so much in outward bravery (as broidered hair, gold put about, etc.) as it must be inward; that the hid man of the heart may be clothed with a meek & quiet spirit: which is a thing before God much set by. For after this manner, saith he, in times past, the holy women, which trusted in God, did attire themselves: as Sara, Rebecca, Rachel; and such like ancient and grave matrons. Phila. Wherein doth this inward clothing specially consist? Theol. In four things, which are set down in the forenamed places: to wit, shamefastness, modesty, a quiet spirit, and a meek spirit. Phila. These be fine suits of apparel, indeed. I would all women would put them on, and never put them off, but wear them continually. For they are the better for wearing, though all other apparel be the worse. Theol. If women would deck themselves inwardly with these foresaid virtues, they would be unto them as ornaments of gold, and jewels of pearl. For the woman that feareth Pro. 30. 1. the Lord shall be praised. Phila. But now I pray you sir, set down your judgement for outward attire. Theol. This is all that I can say, touching that point, that it must be as the Apostle saith; Comely, decent, handsome, neat and seemly; not light, nor wanton, not lascivious, not immodest, not offensive. Phila. But who shall judge what is comely, sober, handsome modest, &c: For every man and woman will say, their apparel is but decent and cleanly, how gallant, brave, and flaunting so ever they be. Theol. Herein the examples of the most godly, wise, grave, and modest men and women are to be followed: for who can better judge what is comely, sober and modest, than they? Phila. But we see some; even of the better sort, in this matter are a little infected, run out, and go beyond their bounds. Theol. The more is the pity. But alas, we see the sway of the time and the rage of the stream is so violent, that it carrieth before it whatsoever is not settled, and very deep rooted. And some godly and well disposed persons, whose hearts are not with these things but with God, are notwithstanding perforce earied away with the violence of the wind, and tide: whose case, though it cannot well be defended, or excused; yet it is much to be pitied and lamented. Phil. Have you any further directions, touching this point▪ Theol. There is one thing yet more to be added: to wit, that attire be according to men's places, callings and degrees. For that is not seemly for one, that is seemly for another: that becomes not one man's place, that becometh another's: For that is not meet for poor men, which is meet for rich men: nor that meet for mean men, which is meet for men of note and great place. Phila. Then you think it lawful for kings, princes, and great personages, to wear pearl, gold, silver, velvet, etc. Theol. Questionless, it is lawful for such in sober manner and easure, to wear the most costly and precious things which the earth can afford: and that, to set out the magnificence, pomp, and glory of their places. And therefore such things are in them most comely and decent. Phils. But now adays, few will keep within compass, few will know their places: but the most part run beyond their bounds, and leap quite out of their sockets. Theol. True indeed. For now adays, mean gentlewomen, yea some gentlewomen of their own making, will ruffle it, and brave it out, in their attire, like Countesses and Ladies of honour. Plain folk also, in the Country, will flaunt it like Courtiers, and like good gentlemen, and gentlewomen: and they see me to say in their hearts, Fie of this plainness, we will no more of it, we will not take it as we have done. So that now the old provorbe is verified: Every jack will be a gentleman, and jone is as good as my Lady. For now we cannot, by their apparel, discern the maid, from the Mistress: nor the waiting gentlewoman, from her Lady. And thus we see, in this matter of apparel, how all is out of joint. Phila. Is there any more to be said, in this ease? Theol. There is yet another thing to be respected, in this matter of attire. Phila. What is that? Theol. That it be according to men's abilities. For it is lamentable to consider, how poor men and women, poor hired servants, milkmaids, and such like, go quite beyond their ability. And more lamentable, to see what wretched▪ and ill-favoured shifts they make, to compass these things: so sharp and so eagerly, are they set upon them. Phila. Well Sir, now you have sufficiently rolled the stone, and at large satisfied us touching the matter of pride; which is the first sign of condemnation. Now proceed to the second, which is who redome; and unfold unto us out of the Scriptures, the dangers thereof. Theol. Solomon in his Proverbs, saith: That Pro 22. 14 the mouth of a strange woman, or an harlot, is as a deep pit: he, that is a derestation to the Lord, shall fall therein. Wherein he plainly showeth, that those whom God detesteth, and is exceeding angry with, are given over to this vice. And, in another place, he saith: An whore Pro. 23. 17 is as a deep dit oh, and as a narrow pit. Noting thereby, that if a man be once fallen in with an harlot, he shall as hardly get out again, as a man that is plunged into a very deep & narrow pit, where he can scant stir himself. The same Solomon, in the book of Ecclesiastes, yieldeth Eccl. 7. 28. us the reason hereof: namely, because she is as nets, snares & bands: wherein if a man be once taken he is fast enough for getting out. I find, saith he, more bitter than death, the woman, whose heart is as nets and snares, and her hands as bands. He that is good before God shall be Eccl. 7. 28. delivered from her: but the sinner shall be taken by her. We do therefore plainly see, in what a labyrinth & dangerous case they be, that are left o● God, and given over to whoredom and harlots. And therefore it is said: Desire not her beauty in thine heart▪ neither let her eyelids catch Pro. 26. 5. thee. For, by a whorish woman, a man is brought to a morsel of burnt: and the adulteress hunteth for life, which is precious. Again, he saith: Albeit the lips of an harlot drop as an honeycomb, Pro. 5. 3. 4. & the roof of her mouth is fofter than oil; yet her latter end is bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a two edged sword. All these prudent speeches of the holy Ghost, do most evidently show unto us, what a fearful thing it is to commit whoredom, and so to fall into the hands of whores and harlots. Therefore job job 36. 14. saith of the wicked: Their soul dieth in youth, and their life among the whoremongers. Phila. You have very well showed, out of God's book, the great danger of whoredom and adultery. And it is greatly to be lamented, that men in this age, make so light of it as they do, and that it is so common a vice: nay, that some (alas, with grief I speak it) do profess it, live by it, and prostitute themselves wholly unto it. Theol. Such men and women may justly fear the plaguing hand of God: for the Lord saith, by his Prophet: Though I fed them to jer. 5. 8. the full, yet they committed adultery, and assembled themselves by companies in harlots houses. They rose up in the morning like fed horses: every man neigheth after his neighbour's wife. Shall I not visit for these things (saith the Lord▪) Shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? Phila. Me thinketh, if men were not altogether hardened in this sin, and even past feeling, and past grace, this threatening and thundering of God himself from heaven, should terrify them. Theol. A man would think so indeed: but now we may take up the old complaint of the Prophet: I harkened and heard, and lo no jer. 28. 6. man spoke aright: no man repent him of his evil, saying: What have I done? Every one turned to their race, as the horse rusheth into the battle. Antile. Tush, whoredom is but a trick of youth, and we see all men have their imperfections. Theol. You speak profanely, and wickedly: 1. Cor. 10. 8. For, shall we count that but a trick of youth, for the which the Lord smote three and twenty thousand of his own people in one day? Shall we count that but a trick of youth, for the which 2. Sam. 12. 10. the Lord threatened David, his own servant, that the sword should never depart from his house? Shall we count that but a trick of youth, Genes. 24. 25. for the which Hamor and Shechem, the father and the son, and many other, both men, women and children, were cruelly murdered by Simeon and Levi, the sons of jacob? Shall we count that but a trieke of youth, for the which 1. Sam. 2. 22. the Lord slew Hophni and Phineas, the two sons of Eli the Priest, in the battle of the 1. Sam. 4. 11. Philistines? Shall we thus set all at six and seven, and make light of such horrible villainies? Doth not the severity of the punishments show the greatness of the sin? Doth not the Apostle say: These things came upon them for our 1. Cor. 10. 11. ensamples, upon whom the ends of the world are come: and yet you pass it over with a tush, and a trick of youth: as if God were to be dallied with. No, no, be not deceived; God is not mocked. They which will not be moved now in hearing, shall one day be crushed in pieces in feeling. And they which now call whoredom a trick of youth, shall one day howl and cry, yell and yelp, for such tricks, with woe and alas that ever they were borne. Antil. Oh sir you must bear with youth, youth you know is frail; and youth will be youthful, when you have said all that you can. Theol. Yes, but God doth allow no more liberty unto youth, then unto age: but bindeth all, upon pain of death, to the obedience of his commandments. The Apostle saith: Let Tit. 2. 6. young men be sober minded. David saith: Psal. 119. 9 Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way? In taking heed thereto according to thy word. The wise man saith: Remember thy Eccl. 12. 1. Creator, in the days of thy youth. And further addeth: that if they will needs follow their lusts, their pleasures, and their own swinge: yet in the end he will bring them to judgement, arraign them, condemn them, and tame them in hell fire well enough. Phila. Yet we see, men are so violently carried after their lust, and so desperately bend, that they will have the present sweet and pleasure of sin, come of it what will. Come sickness, come death, come hell, come damnation, they are at a point: they will pay the highest price for their lusts. They will purchase their pleasures with the loss of their souls. Oh woeful purchase: O damnable pleasures. Theol. Sweet meat will have sour sauce, and a dram of pleasure, a pound of a sorrow. Such cursed caitiffs shall at last pay a dear shot for their pleasures. Such desperate wretches shall one day know (to their everlasting woe) what it is to provoke God, & to sin with so high an hand against him. They shall well know in spite of their hearts, that vengeance is prepared for the wicked, and that there is a God that judgeth the earth. Let all men therefore take heed in time. For whoremongers and Adulterers Heb. 13. 4. God will judge. And the Apostle saith flatly, That whoremongers and Adulterers shall not 1. Cor. 6. 9 Heb. 12. inherit the kingdom of God. Let therefore no fornicator, or unclean person, be found amongst us, as was Esau. But let us abstain from 1. Pet. 2. fleshly lusts, which fight against the soul: And let every one know how to possess his vessel in holiness and honour, and nor in the lust of concupiscence, as the Gentiles which know not God. 1. Thess. 4. 5. Herein let us consider the wise speech of an ancient Father: Sin, while it is in doing, Chrysost. Math. ministereth some pleasure; but when it is committed, the short pleasure thereof vanisheth away, and long sorrow cometh in stead of it. Neither let us here reject the saying of a wise Heathen: Shun pleasure, for fear of Isocrates ad Deme. smart. Sour things follow sweet, and joy heaviness. Antile. Yet for all this, you shall not make me believe, that whoredom is so heinous a matter. You make more of it than it is. Theol. True indeed. For you, and such as you are, will believe nothing against your lusts, and fleshly delights: and that is the cause why you are deaf on this ear. I will therefore add a word or two more (out of the oracles of God) to that which hath vin spoken. The wise king saith: He that committeth Adultery with Pro. 6. 32. women, destroyeth his own soul: and so is accessary to his own death, which is no small matter. For we use to say, if a man hang himself, drown himself, or any manner of way make away himself: that he was cursed of God, that God's hand was heavy against him, that the devil ought him a shame, and now he hath paid it him. And all the country rings of such a strange accident, when, and where it falleth out: and the Crowner of the Country doth sit upon it. How much more may all the world wonder at this, that a man should destroy his own soul, and wittingly and willingly cast away himself for ever! Now the holy Ghost saith: the Adulterer doth such an act, giveth such a venture, and willingly murdereth himself. Oh, therefore woe unto him, that ever he was borne. For sure it is that great Crowner of heaven, that crowns whom he will crown, shall one day sit upon it, and give judgement. Moreover, as the Adulterer sinneth against his soul: so also he sinneth against his body after a special manner, as witnesseth the 1. Cor. 6. 18. Apostle. Also he sinneth against his goods and outward estate: as the holy man job testifieth, saying: Adultery is a fire, that devoureth to job 31. 12. destruction, and it will root out all our increase. Furthermore he sinneth against his name. For the Adulterer shall find a wound Pro. 6. 33. and dishonour: and his reproach shall never be put away. Item, he sinneth against his wife: who is his companion and the wife of his covenant. And God saith, in the same place: Let none trespass against the wife of his youth: keep yourselves in your spirit, and transgress not. Last of all he sinneth against his children and posterity: as the Lord said to David: Because 2. Sam. 12. 10. thou hast despised me, and done this, therefore the sword shall never depart from thy house. Behold I will raise up evil against thee, out of thine own house. Now therefore, to conclude this point, we may see how many deadly wounds men make in themselves, by committing of adultery. They wound themselves in their souls. They wound themselves in their bodies. They wound themselves in their goods. They wound themselves in their names. They wound themselves in their wives, and in their children. What man, except he were stark mad, would thrust in himself, in so many places, at once? The adulterer, with his own sin of adultery, maketh all these deadly wounds in himself. And it is a hundred to one he will never get them cured, but will die, and bleed to death of them. Lo, thus you see the dangerous quality and condition of this sin. Shall we now therefore make light of it? Shall we say it is but a trick of youth? Shall we smooth over the matter with sweet words, when the holy Ghost maketh it so heinous and capital? Shall we make nothing of that, which draweth down God's wrath upon the soul, body, goods, name, wife and children? That were an intolerable blindness, and most extreme hardness of heart. An ancient writer hath long ago passed sentence upon us, who make so light of this sin: for, (saith he) Adultery Basil in Epist. Gregor. is the very hook of the devil; whereby he draweth us to destruction. And another godly Father saith: that Adultery is like a furnace, whose mouth is gluttony, the flame pride, the sparkles filthy words, the smoke an evil name, the ashes poverty, and the end shame. And so we plainly see, that howsoever we regard not this sin, but flatter ourselves in it, yet those, whose eyes the Lord hath opened, have in all ages condemned it as most flagitious and horrible: yea the very Heathen will rise up in judgement against us; who have spoken and written many things against this filthy & beastly vice. Phila. Now indeed you have sufficiently branded the vice of adultery; and laid out the ugliness thereof, that all men may behold it stark naked and abhor it. If any man (notwithstanding all this) will venture upon it, he may be said to be a most desperate monster. For what doth he else, but (as it were) put his finger into the Lion's mouth, and (as it were) take the bear by the tooth? and they may well know what will follow, and what they may look for. Let all men therefore in time take heed to themselves, and to their own souls, as they will answer it at their uttermost peril, at the dreadful day of judgement, when the secrets of all hearts shallbe disclosed. But now one thing resteth; to wit, that you should show us the special roots and causes of adultery. Theol. There be five special causes of it. The first is our natural corruption: for the very spawn and seed of all sin is in our corrupt nature: and this, of all other, is a most inherent sin, as witnesseth the Apostle james, saying: When lust hath conceived, it bringeth jam. 1. 15. forth sin; and sin, when it is perfected, bringeth forth death. The second is gluttony and fullness of Bread: for when men have filled their bellies, and crammed their paunches, as full of good cheer, wine, and strong drink, as their skins can hold, what are they meet for, or what mind they else, but adultery and uncleanness? And therefore well saith one: Great nourishment, and gross feed, it is the shop of lust. The Heathen Est officina Terence. Poet could skill to say, Sine, Cicere & Baccho friget Venus. Without meat and drink, lust waxeth cold. And to this effect the wise king saith, that their eyes shall behold strange women, Pro. 23. vers. 3. & vers. 33. whose hearts are set upon wine and belly-cheer. And therefore he adviseth all men, not to look upon the wine when it appeareth red, when it showeth his colour in the cup, or stirreth very kindly: and that for fear of this after-clap. An ancient writer saith to the same purpose: He that delicately pampereth his Gregorius Nazianz. belly, and yet would overcome the spirit of fornication, is like him that will quench a flame of fire with Oil. Therefore, to close up this point, sure it is, though men pray, hear, and read much, and be otherwise well disposed: yet except they be absteinous in diet, they will be much troubled with lust. The third cause of adultery, is Idleness: For when men are lazy, luskish, and idle, having nothing to do, they lie wide open to adultery; and lust creepeth into them. Some Historiographers write, the Crab-fish is very desirous to eat Oysters: but because she cannot perforee open them, she watcheth her time when they open themselves unto the sun after the tide, and then she putteth in her claw, and pulleth out the Oyster. Even so sathan watcheth his opportunity against us, that he may infect and breath into us all filthy lusts, and adulterous desires, when we lie open unto him by idleness. Wisely therefore to this point said the Greek Poet: Much rest nourisheth lust. And Hesiodus. another Poet saith: Quaritur agistus quare sit factus adulter? In promtu causa est: desidiosus erat. Slothful laziness is the cause of Adultery, And therefore another saith: Eschew idleness, Otia si tollas, periere cupidinis are cousin. and cut the sinews of lust. The fourth cause of adultery, is wanton apparel: which is a ministrelsie, that pipes up a dance unto whoredom. But of this enough before. The fifth and last part of adultery, is the hope of impunity, or escaping of punishment. For many being blinded and hardened by Satan, think they shall never be called to an account for it: And because they can blear the eyes of men, and carry this sin so closely under a cloud, that it shall never come to light, they think all is safe, and that God seeth them not. And therefore job saith: The eye of the adulterer waiteth job 24. 15. for the twilight, and saith; None eye shall see me. And in another place; How shall God job 23. 13. know? can he judge thorough the dark cloud? But verily, verily, though the adulterer do never so closely and cunningly convey his sin under a canopy, yet the time will come when it shall be disclosed, to his eternal shame. For Eccl. 12. 24. God will bring every work to judgement, with every secret thought; whether it be good or evil. For he hath set our most secret sins in the Psal. 91. 8. light of his countenance. And he will lighten 1. Cor. 4. 5. the things that are hid in darkness, and make the counsels of the heart manifest. For this cause job saith; When I sin, thou watchest job 10. me, and wilt not purge me from my sin. Phila. Now you have showed us the causes of adultery, I pray you show us the remedies. Theol. There be six remedies for adultery: which no doubt will greatly prevail, if they be well practised. Phila. Which be they? Theol. Labour. Six remedies of adultery. Abstinence. Temperance. Prayer. Restraint of senses. Shunning of women's company, and all occasions whatsoever. Phila. Well sir; now you have waded deep enough in the second sign of damnation, I pray you let us proceed to the third, which is covetousness. And as you have laid naked the two former, so I pray you, strip this stark naked also, that all men may see what an ugly monster it is, and therefore hate it, and abhor it. Theol. I would willingly satisfy your mind: but in this point I shall never do it sufficiently. For no heart can conceive, or tongue sufficiently utter the loathsomeness of this vice. For, Covetousness is the foulest fiend, & blackest devil of all the rest. It is even great Beelzebub himself. Therefore I shall never be able fully to describe it unto you: but yet I will do what I can to strip it, and whip it stark naked. And howsoever that men of this earth, and blind worldlings, take it to be most sweet, beautiful and amiable, and therefore do embrace it, entertain it, and welcome it, as though there were some happiness in it; yet I hope, when I have showed them the face thereof in a glass (even the true glass of God's word) they will be no more in such love, but quite out of conceit with it. I will therefore hold out this glass to them. Saint Paul to Timothy brandeth this sin in the forehead, and boareth it in the ears, that all men may know it, and avoid it; when he saith: Covetousness is the root of all evil. 1. Tim. 6. 10. Luke 12. 15. Our Lord jesus also giveth us a watchword to take heed of it▪ saying: Take heed, and beware of covetousness. As if he should say; touch it not, come not near it, it is the very breath of the devil: it is present death and the very ratsbane of the soul. The Apostle layeth out the great danger of this sin, and doth exceedingly grime the face of it, when he saith: that the end of all such as mind earthly things, is damnation. Phil. 3. 19 Let all carnal worldlings, and muckish minded men lay this to heart, and consider well of it, lest they say one day: had I wist. Phila. Good sir, lay open unto us the true nature of Covetousness, and what it is, that we may more perfectly discern it. Theol. Covetousness is an immoderate desire of having. Phila. I hope you do not think frugality, thriftiness, and good husbandry to be covetousness. Theol. Nothing less. For they be things commanded; being done in the fear of God, and with a good conscience. Phila. Do you not think it lawful also for men to do their worldly business, and to use faithfulness and diligence in their callings, that they may provide for themselves and their families? Theol. Yes no doubt. And the rather, if they do these things with calling upon God for a blessing, upon the works of their hands; and use prayer & thanksgiving before & after their labour, taking heed all the day long of the common corruptions of the world: as swearing, cursing, lying, dissembling, deceiving, greedy getting, etc. Phila. Wherein I pray you doth covetousness especially consist? Theol. In the greedy desire of the mind. For we may lawfully do the works of our calling, and play the good husbands and good housewives; but we must take heed that distrustfulness, and inward greediness of the world do not catch our hearts. For then are we set on fire, and utterly undone. Phila. Sith covetousness is especially of the heart, how may we know certainly, when the heart is infected? Theol. There be four special signs of the heart's infection. Phil. Which be they? Theo. The first is an eager and sharp set desire of getting. Therefore the holy Ghost saith: Pro. 28. Pro. 20. 21. He that hasteth to be rich, shall not be unpunished. And again: An heritage is hastily gotten at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed. The Heathen man also saith: No Demosthenesin Olinth 3. man can be both justly, and hastily rich. The second is a pinching and niggardly keeping of our own, that is, when men (being able to give) will hardly part with any thing, though it be to never so holy and good use. And when at last with much ado, for shame they give something, it cometh heavily from them (God wot) and scantly. The third is, the neglect of holy duties: that is, when men's minds are so taken up with the love of earthly things, that they begin to slack and cool in matters of God's worship. The fourth and last is, a trusting in riches, and staying upon them, as though our lives were maintained by them, or did consist only in them: which thing our Lord Jesus flatly denieth, saying: Though a man have abundance, yet his life consisteth not in the things that he hath. Luke. 12. 15. These than are four evident signs and tokens, whereby we may certainly discern, that meus hearts and entrails are infected with covetousness. Phila. You have very well satisfied us in this point. Now let us understand the original causes Two causes of Covetousness. of Covetousness. Theol. There be two special causes of Covetousness. The one is the ignorance and distrust of God's providence. The other is the want of tasting and feeling of heavenly things: For till men taste better things, they will make much of these: till they feel heaven, they will love earth: till they be religious, they will be covetous. Therefore the cause is soon espied, why men are so sharp set upon these outward things, and do so admire riches, worldly pomp, pleasures, and treasures: Because they know no better, they never had taste or feeling of those things which are eternal. Phila. Now as you have showed us the causes of Covetousness, so let us also hear of the effects. Theol. If I once enter into this, I shall be entangled and wound up in a maze, where I know not how to get out again. For, the evil effects of this vice are so many, and so great, that I know not almost where to begin, or where to end. Notwithstanding, I will enter into it; get out how I can. Phila. If you do but give us some taste of them it shall suffice. Theol. Then will I briefly dispatch things in order. And first of all, I reason from the words of the Apostle before alleged, that if covetousness, and the love of many be the root of all evil, than it is the root of idelatry, the root of murder, the root of theft, the root of lying, the root of swearing, the root of simony, the root of bribery, the root of usury, the root of lawing, the root of all contentions in the Church, and the root of all brabbling and brawling in the Common weaith. Moreover, it spreadeth far & near, it dwelleth in every house, in every town, in every city; it prieth into every corner, it creepeth into every heart; it anoieth our Physicians, it infecteth our Divines, it choketh our Lawyers, it woundeth our Farmers, it baneth our Gentlemen, it murdereth our tradesmen, it be witcheth our Merchants, it stingeth our mariners. Oh covetousness, covetousness, it is the poison of all things, the wound of Christianity, the bane of all goodness! For covetousness mars all: it marreth all, every where, in all places, in all degrees, amongst all persons. It marreth marriages: for it coupleth young to old, and old to young. It marreth hospitality, it marreth all good housekeeping, it marreth alms deeds, it marreth Religion, it marreth Professors, it marreth Ministers, it marreth magistrates, it marreth all things. And therefore what sin so grievous, what evil so odious, what vice so enormous as this? For this cause it was prettily said of one: that all other vices are but Factors to Covetousness, and serve for Porters to fetch and bring in her living. She maketh simony her drudge, bribery her drudge, usury her drudge, deceit her drudge, swearing her drudge, lying her drudge. O what a devil incarnate is this, that setteth so many vices a work, and hath so many Factors and underlings to serve her turn! Are they not in a pretty case, think you, that are infected with this sin? Oh, they are in a most miserable case. It had been good they had never been borne. For being alive they are dead: dead I mean in their souls. For Covetousness is soul's poison, and soul's bane. Covetousness is the strongest poison to the soul that is. It is a confection of all the Spiders. Toads, Snakes, Adders, Scorpions, Basilisks, and all other the most venomous vermin of the whole world? If the devil can get us to take down but one pennyweight of it, it is enough, he desires no more. For presently we fall down stark dead. Therefore the Apostle saith: They that will be rich (he meaneth in all haste, by hook or by crook) fall into temptations, and snares, and into many 1. Tim. 2. foolish and noisome lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For, as Covetousness is rank poison to the soul: so the Apostle compareth it to the deep gulf, wherein thousands are drowned. And therefore he addeth in the same place: But thou O man of God fly these things. In which words he doth most gravely advise all the Ministers of the word of God, to take heed of it. For as it is dangerous to all men; so it is most dangerous and offensive in the preachers of the Gospel. Phila. Indeed it must needs be granted, that Covetousness is a very grievous sin: yea even a monster with seven heads. Yet for all that, we see in this our iron age, how many of all sorts are infected with it: and how few will give any thing to any holy use. Most men now adays have nothing to spare for Christ, nothing for his Gospel, nothing for his Church, nothing for the poor children of God, and needy members of Christ. Christ is a little beholden unto them: for they will do nothing for him, no not so much as speak a good word in his cause, or the cause of his poor Saints. Every little thing with them, is too much for God, and good men. For when they come to giving unto holy and necessary uses, than they will stick at a penny, and scotch at a great, and every thing is too much. But to bestow upon themselves, nothing is too much. Nothing is too much for lust, for pleasure, for back, belly, and building; for cards and dice, for whores and harlots, for rioting and reveling, for Taverns and brothelhouses. Hundreds and thousands are little enough, and too little, for their expenses this way. It is lamentable to consider, what masses of money are spent and bestowed upon these things. But, alas, alas, how heavy an account are they to make in the day of the Lord, which so spend their lands, livings, and revenues! I quake to think what shall become of them at last. It were well for them, if they might be in no worse case than a Crocodile, or a cur dog. Theol. It is most certain that you say: and we all have great cause to lament it, & to take up the old complaint of the Prophet jeremy, saying: From the least of them, even unto the greatest of them, every one is given unto Covetousness: jer. 6. 16. and from the Prophet even unto the Priest they all deal falsely. And another Prophet saith: they build up Zion with blood, Mic. 3. 10. and jerusalem with iniquity. The heads thereof judge for rewards, and the Priests thereof teach for hire, and the Prophets thereof prophesy for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord and say: Is not the Lord amongst us? no evil can come unto us. But these holy Prophets, and men of God, do fully describe unto us the state of our time: wherein, though all be corrupted, yet we bear ourselves stoutly upon God, we presume of his favour, because of our outward profession, and say in our hearts: No evil can come unto us. Asune. You say very true, Sir. The world was never so set upon covetousness, and men were never so greedily given to the world, as now adays. And yet (in truth) there is no cause why men should be so sharp set upon this world. For this world is but vanity: and all is but pelf and trash. Fie on this muck. Phila. Many such men as you are, can skill to give good words, and say: Fie on this world: all is but vanity: and yet for all that in your daily practice, you are nevertheless set upon the world, nor never the more seek after God. You hear the word of God no whit the more, you read no whit the more, you pray never the more; which evidently showeth, that all your fair speeches, and protestations, are nought else but hypocrisy and leazing. Your heart is not with God, for all this. All is but words, there is no such feeling in the heart. And therefore I may justly say to you, as God himself said to his people: This people have Deut. 5. 28. said well, all that they have said. Oh, that there were an heart in them to fear me, and keep my commandments! Theol. His words indeed are good; if his heart were according. For all things considered, there is no cause why men should be so given to this world: For they must leave it, when they have done all that they can. As we say: To day a man, to morrow none. And as the Apostle 1. Tim. 6. saith: We brought nothing into this world: and (it is certain) we shall carry nothing out. We must all die, we know not how soon: why therefore should men set their hearts upon such uncertain and deceivable things? for all things in this world are more light than a feather, more brittle than glass, more fléeting than a shadow, more vanishing then smoke, more unconstant than the wind. Doubtless saith the Prophet David: Man walketh in a shadow, and disquieteth himself in vain: he heapeth up riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them: Psalm. 39 6. I wonder therefore that these Moules and Muck-wormes of this earth, should so mind these shadowish things, and so dote on them as they do. If they were not altogether hardened and blinded by the devil, they would not be so nearly knit to the clod and the penny as they are: thinking, and always imagining, that there is no happiness but in these things, which are but dung and dross: and at last they will give us the slip, when we think ourselves most sure of them. The wise king, who had the greatest experience of these things, that ever man had (for he enjoyed whatsoever this world could afford, upward and downward, backward and forward) yet could find nothing in them, but vanity and vexation of spirit. Moreover, he flatly avoucheth, that all these things, riches, wealth, honour, pleasures, and treasures, will most notably deceive us in the end, give us the slip and be gone. For he compareth riches, and all the glory of this world, to an Eagle or Hawk, which a man holdeth upon his fist, stroketh her, maketh of her, taketh great delight and pleasure in her, and saith he will not take ten pounds for her: yet all on the sudden she taketh her flight, and flieth up into the air, and he never seeth her more, nor she him. The words of the holy Ghost are these: Wilt thou cause thine eyes to Pro. 23. 5. fly after them? (meaning riches) Thou mayst: but they will not be found. For they will make themselves wings like to the Eagle, which flieth up to Heaven. From thence we may learn, that though we set our hearts never so much on any thing here below: yet at the last it shall be taken from us, or we from it. Therefore all worldly men do but weave the Spider's web, and may fitly be compared to the silly Spider, who toileth herself, and laboureth all the week long to finish up her web; that she may lodge herself in it, as in her own house and free▪ hold. But alas, at the week's end, a Maid in a moment with one brush of a broom, dispessesseth her of her in heritance which she had purchased with great labour and much ado. Even so, when the men of this world have, with much care and travel, purchased great lands and revenues, and gathered all that they can: yet on the sudden, death (with one stroke of his direful dart) will make them give up the ghost: and then where are they? It was prettily therefore said of a man in the light of nature: No man hath ever lived Herodotus Polym. so happily in this life, but in his lifetime many things have befallen him, for the which he hath wished rather to die then to live. And assuredly I think there was never any man lived any one day upon the fare of this earth, but some grief or other either did, or justly might invade his mind ere night; either in the temptations of the world, the flesh, or the devil▪ or in regard of soul, body, goods, or name: in regard of wife, children, friends, or neighbours: in regard of dangers to Prince, Estate, church, or Common wealth: in regard of casualties and losses by water by fire, by Sea or by land. What a life therefore is this, that hath not one good day in it? Who would desire to dwell long in it? For it lieth open every day to manifold miseries, dangers, losses, casualties, reproaches, shame, infamy, poverty, sickness, diseases, colics, agues, toothache, headache, back-ache, bone-ache, and a thousand calamities. Phila. You have very well described unto us the vanity of this life, and that no day is free from one sorrow or other, one grief or other. Which thing our Lord jesus ratifieth, in the reason which he bringeth, why men should not distrustfully care for to morrow. For, saith he, Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Or, as Mat. 6. some read it. The day hath enough with his own grief. Where in he doth plainly show, that every day hath his sorrow, his evil, his grief, and his thwart. But I pray you proceed further in this point. Theol. This I say further: that when men have swinked and sweat, carked & cared, moiled and turmoiled, drudged & droiled by night & by day, by sea and by land, with much care and sorrow, much labour and grief, to rake together the things of this life; yet at last, all will away again, and we must end where we began. For, as job said; Naked we came into the world: and naked we must go out. job 1. For even as a windmill beateth itself, maketh a great noise, whisleth and whisketh about from day to day, all the year long; yet at the years end standeth still where it begun, being not moved one foot backward or forward: so when men have blustered and blown all that they can, & have even run themselves out of breath, to scrape up the commodities of the earth, yet at last they must (spite of their beards) end where they began: end with nothing, as they began with nothing: end with a winding sheets, as they began with swaddling clouts. For what is become of the greatest Monarches, Kings, Princes, Potentates, and Magnificoes, that ever the world had? Where is Cyrus, Darius, Xerxes, Alexander, Caesar, Pompey, Scipio and Hannibal? Where are the valiant Henry's, and noble Edward's of England? Are they not all gone down to the house of oblivion? Are they not all returned to their dust, and all their thoughts perish? Though they were as Gods, yet have they died as a man, are fallen like others. Who now careth for them? who talketh of them? who feareth them? who regardeth them? do not beggars tread upon them? Yet while they lived, they were the Lords of the world: they were as terrible as Lions: fearful to all men: full of pomp and glory, dignity and majesty. They ploughed up all things, they bore all before them, and who but they? But now they have given up the ghost, and are (as job saith) job 30. 23. gone down to the house appointed for all the living. Their pomp is descended with them, and all their glory is buried in the ashes. They are now covered under a clad, cast out into a vault, made companions to toads, and the worms do eat them: and what is become of their souls, is most of all to be feared. Thus we see, how all flesh doth but make a vain show for a while upon this Theatre of misery, fetcheth a compass about, and is presently gone. For as the Poet saith: Seriùs aut citiùs sedem properamus ad unam: First, or last, we must all to the grave. Asune. You have made a very good speech. It doth me good to hear it. I wonder, all these things considered, that men should be so wholly given to this world, as they are. I think the devil hath bewitched them. For they shall carry nothing with them when they die, but their good deeds and their ill. Theol. The drudges and snudges of this world, may very fitly be compared to a King's lumpter-horse, which goeth laden all the day long, with as much gold and treasure, as he can bear; but at night his treasure is taken from him, he is turned into a sorry dirty stable, and hath nothing left him, but his galled back. Even so the rich cormorants and caterpillars of the earth, which here have treasured and hoardward up great heaps of gold and silver (with the which they travel loaden thorough this world) shall in the end be stripped out of all, let down into their grave, and have nothing left them but their galled consciences, with the which they shall be tumbled down into the dungeon of eternal darkness. Phila. Wherein doth the sting and strength of the world especially consist? Theol. Even as the great strength of Samson lay in his hair; so the great strength of the world lieth in her two breasts: the one of pleasure, the other of profit. For she, like a notable strumpet, by laying out these her breasts, doth bewitch the sons of men, and allureth thousands to her lust. For if she cannot win them with the one breast, yet she gameth them with the other: if not with pleasure, then with profit: if not with profit, then with pleasure. He is an odd man of a thousand, that sucketh not of the one breast or the other. But sure it is, which soever he sucketh, he shall be poisoned. For she giveth none other milk, but rank poison. The world therefore is like to an alluring jael, which sitteth at her door, to entice us to come in, and eat of the milk of her pleasures: but when she hath once got us in, she is ready (even jud. 4. 21. while we are eating) with her hammer and her nail, to pierce thorough our brains. Phila. I see plainly, this world is a very strumpet, a strong bait, and a snarling net, wherein thousands are taken. It is very bird-lime, which doth so belime our affections, that they cannot ascend upward. It is like the weights of a clock, hanged upon our souls, which draweth them down to the earth: it naileth us fast down to the ground. It mortifieth us into clay: it maketh us abominable unto God. For I remember God made a law, that whatsoever goeth with his breast upon the ground, Leuit. 11. should be abominable unto us. How much more these carnal worldlings, which are fast soldered to the earth! Theol. The Apostle S. james seeing into the deep wickedness of this world, and knowing right well how odious it maketh us in the sight of God, crieth out against it, terming it adultery, and all worldlings adulterers; because they for sake Christ their true husband, & whorishly give their hearts to this world. O ye adulterers jam. 4. & adulteresses, saith he, know ye not that the amity of this world, is the enmity of God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of this world, maketh himself the enemy of God. And who dare stand forth and say, I will be the enemy of God? Who therefore dare be a worldling? For every worldling is the enemy of God. What then will become of you, O ye wicked worldlings? Phila. It appeareth then plainly by the Scriptures, that the excessive love of this world, and unsatiable desire of having, is a most dangerous thing; and men do they know not what, in seeking so greedily after it. Theol. The heathen man will rise up in Sophocles. judgement against us: for he saith; Vnsatiablenesse is the foulest evil amongst mortal men. But many of our sea-gulfs and whirlpools make no conscience of it. They think it is no sin: they devour and swallow up all; and yet are never satisfied. They will have all, and more than all, and the devil and al. The whole world cannot satisfy their mind: but God must create new worlds, to content them. These men are sick of the Golden dropsy: the more they have, the more they desire. The love of money increaseth, as money if self increaseth. But the Scripture saith: He that loveth silver, shall not Eccl. 5. 9 be satisfied with silver. Oh therefore, that we would strive earnestly to get out of this gulf of hell, and tread the moon, that is, all worldly things, under our feet: as it is spoken of the Apo. 12 1. Church: and that we would set our affections on the things that are above, and not on the things that are beneath: that we would fly an high pitch, and so are aloft as the Eagles, looking down at this world, and all things in it, as at our feet, contemning it, and treading the very glory of it under our feet, that it may never have more power over us! Phila. Oh happy, and twice happy are they that can do so! And I beseech the Almighty God, give us his holy spirit, whereby we may be carried above this world, into the mountains of Myrrh, and the mountains of Spices. For Can. 6. 4. how happy a thing is it, to have our conversation in heaven, that is, to have an inward conversation with God, by much prayer, reading, meditation, and heavenly affections! This indeed is, to climb up above the world, and to converse in the chambers of peace. Oh therefore, that we could seriously and thoroughly conceive and consider of this world as it is, that we would well weigh the vanity of it, and the excellency of that which is to come, that we might loathe the one, and love the other: despise the one, and embrace the other: love God more than ever we did, and this world less. For what is this world but vanity of vanities? Antil. You do exceedingly abase that, which some make their god. You speak contemptuously of that, which most men have in greatest price and admiration. You disgrace that which multitudes would grace. You make light of that, which numbers make greatest account of. Let us therefore hear your reasons: show us more fully what it is; describe it unto us. Theol. The world is a sea of glass, a pageant of fond delights, a Theatre of vanity, a labyrinth of error, a gulf of grief, a sty of filthiness, a vale of misery, a spectacle of woe, a river of téeres, a stage of deceit, a cage full of Owls, a den of Scorpions, a wilderness of Wolves, a cabin of Bears, a whirlwind of passions, a feigned Comedy, a delectable frenzy; where is false delight, assured grief, certain sorrow, uncertain pleasure, lasting woe, fickle wealth, long heaviness, short joy. Phila. Now you have indeed described it to the full, and laid it out (as it were) in orient colours. And a man would think, he were bewitched, or stark mad, which hereafter should set his mind on it. But yet I am desirous to hear a little more of that, which I asked you before; where in the strength and poison of the world doth specially consist. Theol. In this lieth a great strength of the world, that it draweth down the stars of heaven and maketh them fall to the earth, as it is said of the Dragon's tail. Apoc: 12. which is, ambition, covetousness, & the love of this world. For we may wonder and lament, to see how the love of these things hath wounded & overborne many excellent servants of God, both Preachers and professors of the Gospel: which thing doth plainly argue the strength of it. For it is the strongest & the very last engine, that sathan useth to impugn us withal, when none other will preaaile. For when no temptation could fasten upon Christ, he bringeth forth this last weapon which never faileth: All these things Matth. 4. will I give thee: showing him the glory of the whole world. So then he (having experience of this, that it never faileth) thought to have overcome Christ himself with it. Here therefore, lieth the very sting and strength of the world & the devil. For whom hath he not taken, with All these things will I give thee? whom hath he not wounded? whom hath he not deceived? whom hath he not overthrown? with this he enticed Baalam: with this he beguiled Achan: with this he overthrew judas: with this he be witched Demas; with this in these our days, he deceived many of excellent gifts. For assuredly, he is a Phoenix amongst men, which is not overcome with this. He is a wonderment in the world, that is not moved with money. Phila. I am now fully satisfied for this matter. But one thing cometh often into my mind; to wit, that these miserable worldlings can have no sound comfort in their pleasures and profits: because they have no comfort in God, nor peace in their own consciences. Theol. You say very true. It is unpossible, that men, loving this world, should have any sound comfort in God. For no man can serve two masters, both God and riches. Their case therefore is very dangerous & fearful, though they never see it, nor feel it: as I will show you by a plain example. Put case, one of these great rich worldlings should be clothed in velvet & cloth of gold, in most stately manner; and also should be set at his table, furnished with all the dainties of the world; should be attended and waited upon by many, in most Lordly and pompous manner; should sit in his goodly dining-chamber, all glittering like gold; should have his first, second, & third service served in, with minstrels and instruments of music, in most royal sort; he sitteth in his chair, like a King in his throne: yet for all this, if a dagger should be held to his heart all this while, ready to stab him▪ what pleasure, what joy, what comfort can he have in all the rest? Even so, whatsoever pomp or pleasures wicked worldlings have here below, yet their guilty & hellish conscience is, as it were, a dagger, held always hard to their heart; so as they can have no sound comfort in any thing. Or let me give it you thus: Put case a man hath committed high treason, and were therefore apprehended, arraigned, and condemned to be hanged, drawn and quartered: what then can comfort him in such a case? can mirth, can music, can gold, can silver, can lands, can livings? No, no: none of all these can help him, or give him any comfort. For the continual thoughts of death do so gripe him at the heart, that none of all these can do him any good or any whit mitigate his grief. What then is the thing that may comfort him in this case? Only a pardon, sealed with the King's broad seal, and subscribed with his own hand. For as soon as he hath got this, his heavy heart reviveth, and leaps for joy. This then assuredly is the very cause of all profane Atheists and worldlings, who are not assured of the King of heaven his pardon for their sin: and then, what joy can they have either in their meat, drink, goods, cattle, wives, children, lands, revenues, or any thing whatsoever? For the dreadful thoughts of hell do eftsoons cross them inwardly, & quite damp & dash all their mirth. Their own consciences will not be stilled: but in most terrible manner, rise up & give evidence against them, telling them flatly, they shall be damned, how merry and jocund soever they seem to be in this world; setting a good face on the matter. For sure it is, that inwardly they have many a cold pull, and many heart gripes. And all their mirth and jollity, is but a giggling from the teeth outward: they can have no sound comfort within. And therefore the wise King Pro. 14 13. saith; Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful: and the end of that mirth is heaviness. Likewise saith the holy man job; Terrors of conscience come upon the wicked man like waters: in job. 27. 20. the night a whirlwind carrieth him away secretly. Eliphas the Temanite, avouched the same point, saying: The wicked man is continually as one that travaileth of child: a sound job. 15. 20. of fear is in his ears, etc. Thus than we see, that howsoever many carnal Atheists, and ungodly persons, seem outwardly to float aloft in all mirth and jollity, bearing it out (as w●e say) at the breast: yet inwardly they are pi●ched with terrors, and most horrible convultions of conscience. Antile. You have spoken many things very sharply against covetousness: but in my mind, so long as a man covets nothing but his own, he cannot be said to be covetous. Theol. Yes, that he may. For not only is he covetous, which greedily desireth other men's goods; but even he also which over niggardly and pinchingly holdeth fast his own, & is such a miser, that he will part with nothing. We see the world is full of such pinch-pennies, that will let nothing go; except it be wrung from them perforce, as a key out of Hercules hand. These gripple muck-rakers had as lief part with their blood, as their goods. They will pinch their own backs & bellies, to get their god into their chests. And when they have once got him in there, will they easily part with him trow ye? No, no: a man will not part with his god, for no man's pleasure. He will eat peasebread, and drink small drink, rather than he will diminish his god. Therefore the scripture saith: Eat not the meat of him that hath an evil eye: Pro. 13. 6. and desire not his dainty dishes. For as he grudgeth his own soul; so he will say unto thee: Eat and drink, when his heart is not with thee. Thou shalt vomit thy morsels, which thou hast eaten, and lose thy pleasant speeches. The old saying is, The coveteus man wanteth as well that which he hath, as that which he hath not: because he hath no use of that which he hath. So than you see, there is a great strength of covetousness, in the niggardly keeping of our own. Antil. Yet, for all this, men must follow their worldly business, and lay to live. For it is an hard world, and goods are not easy to come by. Therefore men must ply their business, or else they may go beg or starve. Theol. I deny not, but that you may follow the works of your calling diligently: so it be in the fear of God, and with a good conscience, as I told you before: but this greediness and grippleness God doth condemn, and also this excessive love of money. Phila. Believe me I know no body that hateth it, I cannot see, but that all men love gold and silver. Theol. It is one thing to use these things: and another thing to love them & set our hearts upon them. For the Scripture saith: If riches increase, set not your heart upon them: Psa. 62. S. john also saith: Love not this world, nor the 1. joh. 2. things that are in this world. He saith not, use not this world, but love not this world. For use it we may: love it we may not. Therefore the Apostle saith: that they which use this world, 1. Cor. 7. should be as though they used it not. Where he alloweth a sober and moderate use of the things of this life, in the fear of God. We must use this world for necessities sake, as we use meat and drink. For, no more of this world then needs must: for fear of surfeiting. The holy Ghost saith: Let your conversation be without covetousness, & be content with things present. Heb. 13. 5. Happy is that man therefore, that is well content with his present estate whatsoever, and carrieth himself moderately and comfortably therein. For the spirit saith: There is no profit to a man under the Sun: but that he eat and drink, and delight his soul with Ec. 2. 24. the profit of his labours. I saw also this, that this is of the hand of God. In which words, the prudent King saith thus much, in effect: that this is all the good we can attain unto in this world, even to take a sober and comfortable use of the things of this life, which God bestoweth upon us. And further he avoucheth, That thus to use them aright, and with sound comfort, is a very rare gift of God. For as one saith: He is a wise man, that is not grieved for Gregorius Nazi. the things which he hath not: but doth rejoice in the things that he hath: using them to God's glory, and his own comfort. So then I conclude this point, and return you an answer thus: That we may in sober and godly manner, use gold, silver, and the things of this life: but at no hand to overlove them, or give our hearts unto them. Antile. Well: yet for all this, I cannot see, but that these preachers and professors, these learned men, and precise fellows, are even as eager of the world, & as covetous as any other. Theol. Now you show your venomous spirit, against better men than yourself. And I have a fourfold answer for you. First I answer, that although godly men may be somewhat overtaken this way, and over-spirt a little, yet they break not out so grosiv as others. Secondly, if God leave them sometimes to be overcome of the world: yet he, in his great wisdom and mercy, turneth it to their good. For thereby he first humbleth them, & afterward raiseth them Rom. 8. up again. And so all things work together for good, to them that love God. Thirdly, I answer, that we live by rules, & not by examples. For even the best of God's people have had their wants and weakness. Therefore we may not frame rules to live by, out of the infirmities of the most excellent servants of God. Wicked therefore & impious is their allegation, which allege David's adultery, Lot's drunkenness, Peter's fall, Abraham's slips, Salomon's weakness, etc. for a shelter & defence of themseines in the like sins. Lastly, I answer, that you do greatly wound yourself, in your own speech: so far off are you from mending your market any whit thereby. For if Preachers and other godly men (after many prayers and téeres, & much means used) cannot escape scotfree, but sometimes are wounded, and almost overthrown, by the world and the Devil; what then shall become of you, which use no means at all, nor any gain striving, but willingly give place to the Devil? If the Devil did overmaster David, Lot, Samson, Solomon, and other such excellent Worthies: alas, what shall become of mere worldlings and Atheists? If the most valiant men, and thief Captains in a battle go down, what shall become of the fainthearted soldiers? and as Saint Peter saith; If the righteous scarce 1. Pet. 4. 18. be saved, where shall the wicked and ungodly appear? So then I take you at the rebound, and return your own weapon upon yourself, that sith godly men cannot escape thorough this world, without blows, what shall become of them which know not what godliness meaneth? Antile. Yet, I say once again, that men must live, men must lay for this world: we cannot live by the Scriptures. And as for that which you call covetousness, it is but good husbandry. Theol. I thought, we should have it at last. Now you have paid it home: you are come to the old bias, and as an Hare to her old form, and her old covert. For this is the very covert and thicket of the world, wherein they would hide covetousness: but I will do what I can to hunt you out of it, by the Scriptures. First, Solomon saith: He that spareth more Pro. 11. 24. than is right, shall surely come to poverty. So than you see, that covetousness bringeth poverty. Thus therefore I reason: that which bringeth poverty is no good husbandry: but covetousness, and too much sparing, bringeth poverty: therefore it is no good husbandry. The same Solomon saith; He that is given to gain, troubleth his own house. That is, the covetous man is an occasion of many evils, in his estate and family. From this Scripture I do thus reason; That which troubleth a man's house, is no good husbandry: but covetousness troubleth a man's house: therefore it is no good husbandry. Last of all, the old proverb saith: Covetousness bringeth nothing home. And therefore it is no good husbandry. For oftentimes we do see, that men, for covetousness of more, lose that which otherwise they might have had. One of the wise Heathen saith: Evil gain is as bad as Hesiodus. loss. But the covetous man doth seek after wicked gain, and therefore seeketh loss: and consequently, is no good husband. Another saith: Unjust gain, bringeth both loss and misery. Phocillides. And therefore it is far enough off from virtue, and all good husbandry. Thus then, I hope, you are so hunted both by God and men, that this covert cannot hide you. And therefore you must out of it, and seek some other shelter: for this will not serve your turn. Phila. Now, I must needs say, you have fully stopped his mouth, and thoroughly ferrited him out of his deep burrow. And it is most certain, that you say: that the wise heathen have condemned covetousness and all unjust gains, which we both practise and defend: and therefore will rise up in judgement against us. But now let us leave this caviller, and proceed in our matters. There is one thing yet remaining, wherein I desire to be satisfied. Theol. What is that? Phila. I would gladly know which be the special remedies against covetousness. Theol. There be two special remedies against covetousness: to wit, Contentation, and the meditation of God's providence. Phila. Let us hear somewhat of Contentation, out of the Scriptures. Theol. The Apostle saith: Having food and 1. Tim. 6. 7. raiment, we must therewith be content. For we brought nothing into this world: and it is certain we shall carry nothing out. The Spirit also saith: Let your conversation be Heb. 12. 5. without covetousness, and be content with your present estate. Again, the Apostle saith: He had learned in what estate soever he Phil. 4. was, therewith to be content. Note that he saith, he had learned: for he had it not of himself. For Contentation is the singular gift of God: as it is written: The righteous eateth to the Contentation of his soul: but the belly of the Cyril. in joan. 4. wicked shall want. Pro. 13. 25. An ancient Father saith: We ought to accustom ourselves to live of a little, and to be content; that we may do no wicked or filthy, thing for lucre's sake. Chrysost. homil. 51. Another saith: He is not poor that hath nothing: but he that desireth much. Neither is he rich that hath much, but he that wanteth nothing; for contentation never wanteth. There is no grief in lacking, but where there is immoderate desire in having. If we will live after nature, we shall never be poor; if after our own appetite, we shall never be rich. Well therefore said the Poet: Wax not rich unjustly, but justly; Euripedes. Be content with thine own things; abstain from other men's. Thus than we see, that both God himself (the fountain of all wisdom) & men also, both in the state of nature & grace, do all jointly advise us to strive for Contentation: and then shall we have a sovereign remedy against Covetousness. Phila. Let us hear somewhat of the second remedies against Covetousness. Theol. An earnest thinking upon the providence of God, is a present remedy against the most foolish & pining carefulness of men for this life. For if we would seriously weigh & deeply consider the provident care that God hath had for his children in all ages, touching food & raiment; and how strangely he hath provided for them, it might suffice to correct this evil in us, and minister unto us a notable preservative against covetousness. We read how wonderfully the Lord did provide for his Prophet Eliah, in the time of the great dearth & drought, that was in Israel. Did not the Lord command the ravens to feed him, by the river Cherith? did not the ravens bring 1. Ki. 17. him bread & flesh in the morning, & bread & flesh in the evening, and he drunk of the River? What should I speak, how miraculously God provided for Hager and her infant, when they were both cast out of Abraham's house, and brought to great extremity! even both of them ready to give up the ghost for want of food. Did not God help at a pinch, as his manner Gen. 21. 15. hath always been? did not he send his angel unto them, & both comfort them, & provide for them? What should I speak how strangely God provided Exod. 15. 4. Exod. 17. 6. Psal. 7. 8. for his church in the wilderness? Did he not feed them with Manna from heaven, and gave them water to drink out of the Rock? Hath not our heavenly Father made many royal and large promises, that he will provide necessaries for his children? Shall we not think that he will be as good as his word? Doth he Ps. 34. 10. not say: The Lion's lack, and suffer hunger; but they which seek him, shall want nothing that is good? Doth he not say: Fear him all ye Saints; for nothing is wanting to them that fear him? Doth he not say: No Psal. 8. 4. 11. Mat. 6. 33. good thing shall be withheld from them that walk uprightly? Doth he not say: Our heavenly father knoweth, that we have need of these things: and that all these things shall be cast upon us, if we earnestly seek his kingdom? Doth he not bid us, cast all our care upon 1 Pet. 5. 7. Luke 12. Heb. 13. 5. him? For he careth for all. Doth he not bid us, take no thought what we shall eat, or what we shall drink, or wherewithal we shall be clothed? Meaning thereby, no distracting or distrustful thought. Doth he not say, He will not leave us not forsake us? Doth he not say: The Lord is at hand: in nothing be careful? Phillip 4. 5. Are not these large promises sufficient to stay up our faith in God's providence? shall we think God jesteth with us? shall we think he meaneth no such matter? shall we imagine he will not keep touch? Oh, it were blasphemy once to think it: For God is true, and all men liars. He is faithful that hath promised. His word is more than the faith of a Prince: more than ten thousand Obligations: Why then do we not rest upon it? why go we any further? why do we not take his word? why do we not depend wholly upon him? why are we still covetous? why are we still distrustful? why do we dissemble, & deceive? Oh we of little faith! Our Lord Jesus (knowing right well the distrustfulness of our nature, and the deep root it hath in us) is not only content to make these great and royal promises unto us which were enough; but also strengtheneth and backeth us with many strong reasons, to support our weakness in this behalf. He therefore bringeth us back, to a due consideration of things. Consider (saith he) Luk. 12. the Ravens; consider the fowls of the heavens; For they neither sow nor reap, nor carry into barns; and yet God feedeth them; they want nothing. Consider the Lilies how they grow; they neither labour, nor spin; yet Solomon in all his royalty, was not clothed like one of these. Oh therefore that we would consider these Considers! Oh that we would consider that our life is more worth than meat, and our bodies then raiment! Oh that we would consider, that with all our carking and caring, we can do no good at all; no, not so much as add one cubit to our stature! Truly, truly, if we would deeply ponder these reasons of our Saviour, and apply them to ourselves, they might serve for a bulwark and sure defence against Covetousness. If men would consider how that great King of heaven (who hath his way in the whirlwind, and the clouds are the dust of his feet) careth for the little wren, and silly Nahun. 12. sparrow; how he looketh to them, how he tendereth them, how he provideth for them every day, both breakfast, dinner, and supper: it might serve to correct our distrustfulness. For who ever saw these, or any other soul starve, for hunger? so good a father, and so good a nurse have they. And are not we much better than they? hath not God more care of us, then of them? yes verily, a thousand times. For he loveth them, but for our sakes: how much more than doth he love ourselves? Therefore I say again & again: if we would consider these things, & lay them to heart, they would nip covetousness on the head, & drive it quite out of our hearts. Let us consider therefore, that God provided for man before man was: then how much more will he provide for man, now that he is? Is he our Father, & will he not provide for us? Is he our king, and will he not regard us? Is he our shepherd, and will he not look to us? Hath he provided heaven for us, and will he not give us earth? Hath he given us his son Christ, and shall he not with him give us all things? Doth he provide for his enemies, and will he not provide for his friends? doth he provide for whoremongers; & will he neglect his chosen? Doth he send his rain, & cause his Sun to shine upon the unjust, and shall he not upon the just? Doth he provide for them which are not of the family, & will he not provide for his own family? Will a man feed his Hogs, and not care for his servants? Or will he care for his servants, and not regard his own children? Oh then let us consider these reasons: let us remember, that our heavenly Father hath as great care for the preservation of his creatures, as once he had for their creation. Let us therefore remember, that our life consisteth not in these things; but in the providence of God. Let us remember, that he which giveth the day, will provide for the things of the day. Let us remember, that God always giveth for sustentation, though not for satiety. Let us remember, that God will not famish the souls of the righteous. Pro. 10. 38. Let us remember how God never failed his. For who ever trusted in the Lord, and was confounded? Phila. What then is the cause that many do want outward things? Theol. The cause is in themselves, because jerom. ad. Heliodorum. Cyprian. in Oratione dominica. they want faith. For if we had faith, we could want nothing. For faith feareth no famine, as saith an ancient Father. And another saith: For as much as all things are Gods, he that hath god can want nothing: if he himself be not wanting unto God. Therefore to have God is to have all things. For if we have him our friend we have enough, we need go no further. For he will make men our friends: yea he will make Angels, & all creatures to be serviceable unto us: he will give them a special charge to look to us, to guard us, and to do continual homage unto us. Therefore let us make God our friend, and then have we done all at once, that may concern our good, both for this life, and a better. But if he stand not our friend, if we have not him on our side, if he back us not, than all other things whatsoever, can do us no good: all August. is not worth a button. For Quid prodest, si omnia habes, eum tamen, qui omnia dedit, non habere? What is a man the better though he have all things, and be without him which is the author of all things? Phila. Herein you speak very truly, no doubt. For we see, many have great plenty of outward things: but because they have not God, they can have no true comfort in them, or blessing with them. Theol. True indeed: For man liveth not by bread only (saith our Lord Jesus) but by Matth. 4. every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. And again he saith: Though a man Luke 12. have abundance, yet his life consisteth not in the things that he hath. For without God's blessing, there can be no sound comfort in any thing. We see by daily experience, how the Lord curseth the wicked, though they have abundance. For, some having abundance, yet are visited with continual sicknesses. Some having abundance, pine away with consumptions. Others having abundance die of surfeiting. Others are snatched away by untimely death, in the midst of all their jollity. Others are visited with great losses both by sea and by land. Others are vexed with cursed wives, and disobedient children. Some again commit murders, and treasons, and so lose all at once. Others are wasted and consumed, by the secret curse of God; no man knoweth how. Some having great riches, are given over to the murderer, some to the thief, some to the poisoner. Therefore the wise king saith: There is an evil sickness under the sun; riches reserved to the owners thereof, for their evil. Eccles. 5. 12. Zophar also, the Naamathite, saith; When job 20. 22. the wicked shall have sufficient and enough, he shall be brought into straits: The hand of every troublesome man shall be upon him. When he should fill his belly, God will send upon him his fierce wrath: which he shall rain upon him in stead of his meat. Thus than it is clear, that man's life and good estate, dependeth not upon the abundance of outward things, but only upon the blessing and providence of God. For, His blessing only maketh rich, and it doth bring no sorrow Pro. 10. 12. Psa. 37. 16. with it. For, Better is a little unto the iust, then great abundance to many of the wicked. Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than Pro. 25. 16. Pro. 16. 8. great treasure, and trouble therewith. Better is a little with righteousness, then great revenues, without equity. Thus than I conclude this point. Man liveth not by bread, but by a blessing upon bread; not by outward means, but by a blessing upon means. For how can bread, being a dead thing, and having no life in itself, give life to others? Phila. I do not well understand the meaning of these words: By every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Theol. Thereby is meant, the decree, ordinance, and providence of God, which upholdeth all things, even the whole order of nature: For the Scripture saith: He spoke and it was Psal. 33. 9 done: he commanded and they were created; In which words we plainly see, that God doth but speak, and it is done: he doth command, and all creatures are preserved. For God doth all things with a word. He created all with his word: he preserveth all with his word: he speaketh & it is done. His words are words of power, & authority. Whatsoever he saith, whatsoever he calleth for, it must be done presently, without any delay, there is no withstanding of him. He calleth for famine, and behold famine. He calleth for plenty, and behold plenty. He calleth for pestilence, and behold pestilence. He calleth for the sword, and behold the sword. All Angels, all men, all beasts, all fishes, all fowls, all creatures whatsoever must obey him, and be at his beck. He is the greatest Commander: his word commandeth heaven and earth and the sea. All creatures must be obedient to his will, and subject to his ordinance. This is the cause, why all things both in heaven, earth, and the sea, do keep their immutable, and unvariable courses, times and seasons, even because he hath charged them so to do. And they must of necessity always, at all times, and for ever obey, for the creatures must obey the Creator. This act of Parliament was made the first week of the world, and never since was or can be repealed. Phila. But to call you back again, to the point we had in hand: resolve me, I pray you, of this; Whether many of the dear children of God, do not in this life sometimes want outward things, and are brought into great distress? Theol. Yes certainly. For Eliah did want, & 1 Reg 17. 2. Cor. 1. 8. 2. Cor. 11. 25. Heb. 11. 36. was in distress. Paul did want, & was in many distresses. The holy Christians, mentioned in the Hebrews, did want, and were in marvelous distresses. Many of God's dear ones have in all ages wanted, and at this day also do want, and are greatly distressed. But this is a most infallible truth, that howsoever God's children may want, & be low brought; yet they are never utterly forsaken, but are holpen even in greatest extremities: yea, when all things are desperate, and brought even to the last cast. To this point, most notably speaketh the Apostle saying; We are afflicted on every side, but yet we despair not: we are persecuted, but 2. Cor. 4. 8. not forsaken: cast down, but we perish not. The Prophet jeremy also saith; The Lord will Lament. 3. not forsake for ever: but though he send affliction, yet will be have compassion, according to the multitude of his mercies. For he doth not punish willingly, or from his heart, nor afflict the children of men. The kingly Prophet saith; Surely the Lord will not fail his Psal. 94. 14. Esa. 55. 8. people, neither will he forsake his inheritance. The Lord himself saith; For a moment in mine anger, I hid my face from thee; but with everlasting mercy have I had compassion on thee. So then we may fully assure ourselves, and even write of it (as a most undoubted and sealed truth) that God's children shall never be utterly forsaken, in their troubles. Phila. Sith the care and providence of God is so great for his children, as you have largely declared: what than I pray you is the cause, why God suffereth his to be brought into so many troubles and necessities. Theol. Their profit and benefit is the cause, and not their hurt. For he loveth them, when he smiteth them: He favoureth them, when he seemeth to be most against them. He aimeth at their good, when he seemeth to be most angry with them. He woundeth them, that he may heal them. He presseth them, that he may ease them. He maketh them cry, that afterward they may laugh. He always meaneth well unto them, he never meaneth hurt. He is most constant in his love towards them. If he bring them into necessities, it is but for the trial of their faith, love, patience, and diligence in prayer. If he cast them into the fire, it is not to consume them, but to purge and refine them. If he bring them into great dangers, it is but to make them call upon him more earnestly, for help and deliverance. He presseth us, that we might cry: we cry, that we may be heard: we are heard, that we might be delivered. So that here is no hurt done: we are worse scared, then hurt. Even as a mother, when her child is wayward, threateneth to throw it to the Wolf, or scareth it with some pocar, or bul-begger, to make it cling more unto her and be quiet: So the Lord oftentimes showeth us the terrible faces of troubles and dangers, to make us clean and cling faster unto him: and also to teach us to esteem better of his gifts when we enjoy them, and to be more thankful for them; as health, wealth, peace, liberty, safety, etc. So then still we see, here is nothing meant on God's part, but good: As it is written; All things work together for good, to them that love Rom. 8. God. For even the afflictions of God's children Heb 12. 10. Heb. 12. 14. 1. Thes. 1. 6. Gal. 6. 14. Phil. 3. 10. 1 Cor. 11. 32. Rom. 5. 3. 4. are so sanctified unto them by the spirit, that thereby they are made partakers of God's holiness. Thereby they enjoy the quiet fruit of righteousness. Thereby they attain unto a greater measure of joy in the holy ghost. Thereby the world is crucified to them, and they to the world. Thereby they are made conformable to Christ's death. Thereby they are kept from the condemnation of the world. Thereby they learn experience, patience, hope, etc. So that, all things considered, God's children are no losers by their afflictions, but gainers. It is better for them to have them, then to be without them: they are very good for them. For when God's children are chastised, it is as it should be. For to them, the cross is mercy, and loss is gain. Afflictions are their schooling, and adversity their best University. Psa. 119. 27. It is good for me (saith the holy man of God) that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes. By his afflictions therefore, he learned much, and became a good scholar in God's book, and well seen in his Statutes and Laws. He grew to great wisdom and judgement by his chastisements. All things turned about, in God's merciful providence, to his everlasting comfort. For I say again, and again, that all things tend to the good of God's chosen people. And therefore that estate, which GOD will have his children to be in, is always best for them. Because he, who can best discern what is best, seeth it to be best for them: whether it be sickness or health, poverty or plenty, prison or liberty, prosperity or adversity. For sometimes sickness is better for us then health, and poverty than plenty. Are therefore the children of God sick? it is best for them. Are they poor? it is best for them. Are they in any trouble? it is best for them: because their good Father will turn it to the best. He will oftentimes cut us short of our lusts, and desires; because he seeth we will bane ourselves with them. He, in fatherly care, will take the knife from us; because he seeth we will hurt ourselves with it. He will keep us short of health, and wealth, because he knoweth we will be the worse for them. He will not give us too much ease, and prosperity in this world; for he knoweth it will poison us. He will not allow us continual rest, like standing ponds: for than he knoweth we will gather scum and filth. He dealeth fatherly and mercifully with us in all things, even then seeking our greatest good, when we think he doth us most harm. And to speak all in a word; he bringeth us into troubles and straits, to this end especially, that he may hear of us. For he right well knoweth our nature: he is well acquainted with our disposition. He knoweth we will not come at him, but when we stand in need of him: we care not for him, so long as all goeth well with us. But if we come into distress, or want any thing that we would fain have, than he is sure to hear of us. As he saith by the Prophet: In Hos. 5. 15. their affliction, they will seek me early. And another Prophet saith; Lord, in trouble Esa. 26. 16. have they visited thee. They powered out a prayer, when thy chastisement was upon them. So then now I hope, you do plainly see the cause, why the Lord bringeth his children into so many troubles and necessities. Phila. I do see it indeed: and I am very well satisfied in it. But yet let me ask you one thing further. Are God's children always sure to be delivered, out of their troubles? Theol. Yes verily: and (out of doubt) so far forth, as God seeth it good for them. For it is written: Great are the troubles of the righteous; Ps. 34. 20. but the Lord delivereth them out of all. S. Peter saith: The Lord knoweth how to deliver 2. Pet. 1. 9 the godly out of temptation. As if he should say: He is beaten in it, and well seen and experienced in it: so as he can do it easily, and without any trouble at all. It is said of joseph, being in prison: that, when his appointed Ps. 105. 19 20. time was come, and the counsel of the Lord had tried him, the King sent and loosed him, the Ruler of the people delivered him. And again, the Scripture saith; The righteous cry, and the Psal. 34. Lord heareth them, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The Angel of the Lord tarrieth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. And in another place, the Lord himself saith, concerning the righteous man; Ps. 91. 14. 15. Because he hath loved me, therefore I will deliver him. I will exalt him, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me in trouble, and I will hear him. I will be with him in trouble: I will deliver him, and glorify him. So also saith Eliphas the Temanite: He job. 5. shall deliver thee in six troubles: and in the seventh, the evil shall not touch thee. Come my people, saith the Lord, enter thou Esa. 16. 20. into thy Chambers, and shut thy doors after thee; hide thyself for a very little while, until the indignation passover. And the Prophet saith: Upon Mount Zion shall be deliverance, and it shall be holy; and the house of jacob Obad. 17. shall possess their hereditary possessions. Almost innumerable places of the Scriptures might be alleged, to this purpose: but these may suffice. Therefore let us know for a certainty, that so sure as trouble and affliction are to the Children of God, so sure also is deliverance out of the same. As we may write of the one, and make reckoning of it as sure as the coat of our back; so may we also, in God's good time, write of the other, and make full account of it as sure as the Lord is true. Abraham was in trouble; but delivered. job in trouble; but delivered. David in great troubles; but delivered. The three Children in the Furnace; but delivered. Daniel in the Lion's den; but delivered. jonas in the Whale's belly; but delivered. Paul in innumerable troubles; but yet delivered out of all. Phila. All this being true, that you say, it followeth, that God's children are chastised only for their good, and evermore sure of deliverance in his appointed time. Which thing being so, me thinketh there is no cause at all why they should be over heavy, or too much cast down in their afflictions. Theol. Assuredly there is no cause at all; but rather cause why they should rejoice, clap their hands, and sing care away. For can a father forsake his children? a sing his subjects? a Master his servant? or a Sheep heard Heb. 13. his sheep? Doth not jehovah say, I will nor leave thee nor forsake thee? Doth not our heavenly Father know, we have need of these things? Hath not God given us his word, that we shall not want outward things? Hath he not said: They shall be cast upon us? Why then should we be dismayed? Why should we hang down our heads? Why do we not pluck up our hearts? and be of good cheer? God is our dear Father: he is our best friend: he is our daily Benefactor: he keepeth us at his own costs and charges: he grudgeth us nothing: he thinketh nothing too much for us. He loveth us most dearly: he is most chary and tender over us: he cannot endure, the wind should blow upon us: he will have us want nothing that is good for us. If we will eat gold, we shall have it. He hath given us his faithful promise, that as long as we live, we shall never want. Let us therefore rejoice and be merry. For Heaven is ours, earth is ours, God is ours, Christ is ours, all is ours. As the Apostle saith: All is yours, and you 1. Cor. 3. 22. are Christ's, and Christ is Gods. The world clap their hands, and crow long before it be day, saying, all is theirs: but the children of God may say, and say truly: All is ours. For they have a true title, & proper interest, through Christ in all the creatures. Many are their privileges, great are their prerogatives. They are free of heaven, and free of earth. They are the only free Denisens' of the world. Christ hath purchased them their freedom. Christ hath made them free, and therefore they are free indeed. They are free from sin, free from hell, free from damnation. They are at peace with God, men & Angels. They are at peace with themselves. They are at peace with all creatures. They are young Princes, Angels fellows, descended of the highest house, of the blood royal of heaven, states of Paradise, and heirs apparent to the immortal Crown. Therefore God hath commanded his Angels to guard them, being such young Princes as they are: yea, he hath given a very strait charge to all his creatures, to look to them, to see to them, that they want nothing, that they take us hurt; so teasous, so chary, so tender is he of them. The angels must comfort jacob. The whale Gen. 32. 1. Kin. 17. jona. 2. Ios. 10. must rescue jonas. The ravens must feed Elias. The Sun and Moon must stay for joshua: The Sea must divide itself, that Moses and his people may pass thorough. The fire must Exod. 14. Dan. 3. Dan. 6. not burn the three children. The Lions may not devour Daniel. All the creatures must change their nature, rather than God's children should not be holpen and delivered. Oh therefore how great is the happiness of Gods chosen! Who can express it? who can utter it? They know not their own happiness: it is hid from them. Afflictions do cloud it; troubles do overshadow it; crosses do dim it: and there is an interposition of the earth, betwixt their sight and it. But this is most certain and sure, that the best is behind with the children of God: all the sweet is to come. Their happiness doth not appear in this world. Their life is Col. 3. 3. 4. hid with Christ in God. When Christ shall appear, then shall they also appear with him in glory. It doth not yet appear, what they shall 1. joh. 3. 1. be: but when he cometh, they shall be made like unto him. Their names are already taken, and entered into the book of life: and one day, they shall be crowned. One day it shall be said unto them: Come ye blessed, etc. One day, they shall enjoy his presence, where is fullness of joy; and at whose right hand, there is pleasure for evermore. Psal. 16. Therefore let all Gods secret ones rejoice, sing and be merry. For howsoever in this world they be contemned, trodden under the foot, made no bodies, and walk as shadows; being counted as the very rags of the earth, and the abjects of the world: yet the time will come, when their happiness and felicity shall be such, as never entered into the heart of man, it is endless, unspeakable, and unconceivable. Phila. I do now plainly see, that there is no cause why God's people should be too heavy and dampish in their afflictions. I see, that though they be not free from all afflictions, yet are they free from all hurtful afflictions. For no rod, no cross, no chastisement is hurtful unto them: but all in the conclusion cometh to a blessed issue. Theol. You have uttered a great, and a most certain truth. For there is no affliction or trial, which God imposeth upon his children, but if they endure it quietly, trust in his mercy firmly, and tarry his good pleasure obediently, it hath a blessed and comfortable end. Therefore the people of God may well be merry, in the midst of their sorrows. They may, with patience & comfort, submit themselves to their Father's corrections; taking them patiently, and even kissing his holy rod, and saying in themselves: Sith my Father will have it so. I am content; seeing it is his mind, I am willing withal. As old Ely said: It is the Lord, let 1. Sam. 3. 48. him do what he will. And as David in like submission, said in a certain case: Behold, here 2. Sam. 25. 26. am I: let him do to me, as seemeth good in his own eyes. And in another place, he saith: Psal. 39 I was dumb, and opened not my mouth: because thou Lord hast done it. Behold, here then the patience of God's Saints, and their humble submission unto his most holy will. They know all shall end well; and that maketh them glad to think of it. I conclude then, that the children of God are happy, in what state soever they are: happy in trouble, happy out of trouble, happy in poverty, happy in Deut. 28. plenty, blessed in sickness, blessed in health, blessed at home likewise, and abroad, and every way blessed. But on the contrary, the wicked are cursed, in what state soever they are: cursed in sickness, cursed in health, cursed in plenty, cursed in poverty, cursed in prosperity, cursed in adversity, cursed in honour, cursed in dishonour. For all things work together, for their destruction. Nothing doth them any good. They are not any thing the better, either for God's mercies or judgements. All weathers are alike unto them. They are always the same, in prosperity and adversity: they are no changelings. And, as we say: A good year doth not mend them; nor an ill year pair them. Phila. You have long insisted upon this point. Now proceed to the fourth sign of a man's damnation; which is the contempt of the Gospel: and lay open both the greatness of the sin, and the danger of it. Theol. This sin is of another nature, than the former. It is a sin against the first Table. It toucheth the person of God himself. For to contemn the Gospel, is to contemn God himself; whose Gospel it is. If to contemn the Ministers of the Gospel, be to contemn God and Christ, as our Lord Jesus avoucheth (Luke 10. 16.) how much more then, to contemn the Gospel itself? Therefore it is dangerous meddling in this sin. It is to meddle with edged tools, to meddle with princes matters, to touch the Ark, to come here the holy mountain: which all were things full of great peril and danger. Yea, it is to spill the Sacrament. It is Noli me tangere. It is to rail at a King. It is to spit God in the face. It is high treason against the King of glory. Therefore this sin, of all other, can never be endured; and may, at no hand, be borne withal. For can a mortal King endure the contempt of his laws? can he put up the contempt of his own person? Can he abide any to spit at his Sceptre, or to throw a stone at it? No surely, he will not. Therefore the holy Ghost saith: He that despiseth Moses Laws, dieth without mercy, under two or three witnesses. Of how much sorer Herald 10. 28. punishment suppose ye shall he be worthy, which treadeth under foot the Son of God, and counteth the blood of the Testament as an unholy thing (wherewith he was sanctified) and doth despise the Spirit of grace. And again; If they were punished which obeyed Heb. 2. 5. not the word spoken by Angels; how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? If they Heb. 13. escaped not, which refused him, that spoke on earth; how shall we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven? Therefore our Saviour Christ saith; That it shall be Luk. 10. 12. easier for Sodom in the day of judgement, then for the contemners of the Gospel. Moreover he saith; The Queen of the Matt. 12. South shall rise up in judgement, against all froward despisers of his Word. For she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon: and behold a greater than Solomon is here. For Christ is greater than Solomon, his doctrine and wisdom far more excellent. And therefore their sin is the greater which contemn it. They shall never be able to answer it. For the spirit saith; He that despiseth the word, shall be destroyed. Par. 13. 13 S. Peter also telleth us, that the old world, Pet. 3. 19 and men of the first age, are now in hell fire, because they both despised, & were disobedient to 2. Pet. 2. 5. the doctrine of Christ, which (though not personally, yet in his divine spirit) he spoke by Noah. So then we see clearly, God will never take it at our hands, that his glorious Gospel should be so universally & openly contemned as it is. Phila. You have spoken most truly, and also showed it out of the Scriptures, that the contempt of the Gospel is a most heinous sin: yet for all that, it is most lamentable to consider, how little men esteem it, and how light they make of it. Many regard it, no more than an eggshell; they think it is not worth a galley halfpenny; they will not go to the door to hear it; they take it to be but a breath from us, and a sound to them: and so the matter is ended. They esteem it but as a noise, or empty sound, in the air; or, as a voice afar off, which a man understandeth not: they never felt the power of it in their hearts. Therefore they prefer their sheep, their Farms, their Oxen, their profits, their pleasure, yea every thing before it; they know it not to be any such precious jewel, as it is. Although our Lord jesus himself compare it to a hid treasure, and a most precious pearl; yet these filthy Swine of the world tread it under feet. For they know not the price of it; though Solomon the wise saith; All the merchandise of gold & silver, pearl & precious stones, are not to Pro. 3. be compared unto it: yet these beasts, these dogs and hogs of the world contemn it. They esteem a cow more, than Christ's most glorious Gospel. They are like Esop's cock, which made more account of a Barley corn, than all the precious stones in the World: they are like little children, that esteeeme their rattles, more than a bag of gold: they are like the Gadarenes, which esteemed their Hogs, more than Christ and his Gospel: they make nothing of it. They think it not worth the while. Many of them sit idle in the streets even upon the Sabbaths. While the Gospel is preached in their churches, many are at cards, and tables, in Alehouses. Many, upon the Sabbaths, sleep upon their beds, all the Sermon while, in the afternoon. Many will hear a Sermon in the forenoon: and they take that to be as much as God can require at their hand, and that he is somewhat beholden unto them for it; but as for the afternoon they will hear none: then they will to bowls or Tables. These men serve God in the forenoon, and the devil in the afternoon; some run after whores and harlots on the Sabbaths; some run to dancing and bear-baitings; some sit upon their stalls; some sit in their shops; some by the fire side; some sit idly in the streets; some go to the stoolball, and other look on. O miserable wretches! O cursed caitiffs! O monstrous helhounds: which so grossly and openly contemn the Gospel of Christ! What will become of them in the end? Assuredly their damnation sleepeth not. A thousand deaths wait for them: they lie open on all sides to the wrath of God. And we may wonder at his marvelous patience, that he doth not throw down balls of wildfire from heaven, to consume and burn up, both them, their shops, and houses, and even make them spectacles of his vengeance, for so notorious contempt of such sacred, holy, and high things. Theo. You have spoken very truly, zealously, and religiously; and I do greatly commend you for it. And I must needs affirm the same things. For they cannot be denied. And for mine own part, I think the Gospel was never so openly contemned in any age (of a people living under the profession of it, and under a godly and christian prince) as it is in this age. For howsoever some make a show of religion, yet they have denied the power thereof. They turn the grace of God into wantonness, as S. Jude saith, vers. 4. They make the Gospel a cloak for their sins. They receive it & embrace it, as it will best stand with their profits & pleasures, their lusts & like, their credit & policies, and not a jot further. They will practise it at their leisure. These men profess they know God: but by their works they deny him, & are abominable, Tit. 1. 10. disobedient, and to every good work reprobate; This age is full of such carnal Protestants. Phil. This age indeed aboundeth with many hollow hearted hypocrites, dissemblers & time-servers; which howsoever they make a face, and bear a countenance as though they loved the Gospel, yet their heart is not with it. Their heart is with Atheism; their heart is with Popery. They have a Pope in their belly; they be Church-Papists. Howsoever, now and then, they come to the Church, and hear a Sermon, and show a good countenance to the preacher; yet their heart goeth after covetousness. The Lord complaineth of this, by his Prophet Ezechiel, saying; This people will sit before thee Eze. 33. 32 and hear thy words; but they will not do them. For, with their mouths they make jests; and their heart goeth after covetousness. God complaineth of this also, by his Prophet jeremy, saying; Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery, and Ie●. 7. 9 swear falsely, & stand before me in this house, whereupon my name is called, & say we are delivered, though we have done all these abominations? Is this house become a den of thieves, whereupon my name is called? Where we see, how the Lord doth chide his people, and sharply reprove them, for abusing of his temple, worship & sacrifices; making them a cloak for their sins; and making his house a den of thieves, which should be an assembly of Saints. Now all this is a lively description of our time; wherein many use the exercises of the world, prayer, and sacraments, not to kill and mortify sin, but to nourish and shelter their sins. For they blindly imagine, that if they come to the church & prey, and hear the Sermon, they are discharged of their sins, though they leave them not. They imagine they have given God his full due; and that therefore they may be the more bold to sin afterward. These kind of hypocrites are like rogues, which use medicines, not to cure sores, but to make sores. These are like the Papists, which think, if they hear mass in the morning, they may do what they list, all the day after. Theol. I see now, you have very well profited in the knowledge of God, & true religion. You have spoken sound, and like a man of knowledge, in God's matters. For the common sort of people think indeed, that all religion consisteth in the outward service of God, though their hearts be far from him. To whom God may justly say: This people draweth near me with their lips but their hearts are far from me. Mat. 15. 8. Of whom also God may justly take up all his just complaints of his people Israel and judah; which are so frequent in all the Prophets: to wit, that he did abhor their sacrifices, loathe their oblations, detest their incense, despise their Esa. 66. 3 new Moons, disdain their rams, lambs, and goats: accounting them all but as man's blood, dog's blood, swine's blood: and all, because their hands were full of blood; because they executed not justice & judgement in the gate; because they were not obedient to his will; because their hearts were not with him; because they used or rather abused all these things, as shelters for their sins. Phila. The great contempt of the Ministers of the Gospel in this age, doth strongly argue the contempt of the Gospel itself. For a man cannot love the Gospel, and hate the faithful Ministers thereof. But we see, by lamentable experience, that the most grave, godly and learned Ministers, are had in derision of very base and vile persons. And as job saith: They job 30. 1. whose fathers I have refused to set with the dogs of my flock, they were the children of fools, and the children of villains, which were more vile than the earth; For now every Rascal dares Tit. 1. 7. 1. Cor. 4. 1 Mat. 16. 19 2. Cor. 5. 20. Apoc. 3. 7 14. 2. Cor. 8. 23. scoff and scorn at the most grave and ancient Fathers and Pastors of the Church, dares flout them as they walk in the streets, and as they ride by the highways. And though the holy Ghost giveth them glorious and lofty titles (as, the Stewards of Gods own house, disposers of his secrets, disbursers of his treasure, keepers of the broad seal, keepers of the keys of heaven, God's Secretaries, Gods Ambassadors, Angels; yea, the very glory of Christ: and all this, to express the excellency of their calling) yet these vile varlets and venomous vermin of the earth, dare call them proud prelates, piled parsons, pelting priests. O monstrous and intolerable impiety! Now it is come to pass, that this most sacred function (which is glorious in the sight of God, and his Angels, and in itself most honourable) is had in greatest contempt, of all callings. For now the earth is full of rank Atheists, and mock-gods; which scoff at the Gospel, and blear out their tongues at all Religion. These kind of fellows never dissemble for the matter. They make no show at all, they are no hypocrites, they hide not their sins; but declare them openly, like Sodom. They care not if they never come to the Church: they are too full of it. They live like brute beasts. They think the Scriptures are but fables. They rail at the Ministers and Preachers. They make flat opposition against them, and are notorious mockers & past-graces. Theol. Of such the Apostle S. Peter foretold, 2. Pet. 33. that in the last days should come mockers, and such as would live after their own lusts, etc. Of such, a godly writer saith: Verbum Dei securè Calvin. contemnitur, promissiones inanes esse creduntur, minae pro fabulis habentur. That is, The word of God is carelessly contemned, his promises are counted vain, and his threatenings fables. Of such the Poet saith; Heu viwnt homines, tanquam mors nulla sequatur: Aut velut Infernus fabule vana foret. Alas, men live, as they should never die: Or as though all speech of hell were a stark lie. Now is also the time, wherein the world swarmeth with papists and Atheists; and most men live as if there were no God. For now religion is hated, true godliness despised, zeal abhorred, sincerity scoffed at, uprightness loathed, preachers contemned, professors disdained, & almost all good men had in derision. For now we may justly complain with the Prophet: Esa. 59 14. judgement is turned backward, and justice standeth far off. Truth is failen in the streets, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he that refraineth from evil, maketh himself a prey. The Prophet Micha bewaileth the times saying: The good man is perished out of the earth, and there is none righteous Mic. 7. 2. among men. They all lie in wait for blood: every man hunreth his neighbour with a net. The Prophet jeremy complaineth of the same evil in his time; namely, that the people were come to be past shame in sinning. Were they jer. 8. 12. ashamed (saith he) when they had committed abomination? Nay, they were not ashamed, neither could they have any shame. This is a lively picture and a very counterpane of our time. For now we have put on a brow of brass: we are become impudent in sin. We cannot blush: we cannot be ashamed. We are almost past shame, and past grace. O Lord what will this gear grow to in the end! Phila. We may justly fear some great judgement of God to be near us; yea even to hang over our heads. For the Lord will never leave the contempt of his Gospel and his ministery unpunished. Theol. You have spoken a truth. And we have heard before how the old world was plagued for it. And we read how grievously the Jew's were asflicted by the Romans for this sin: as our Lord jesus did plainly foretell. We read also, that after the Lord had broached the Gospel himself, and spread it abroad by his Apostles, conquering the world thereby (which thing was signified by the white horse, his rider, his bow and his crown) and yet shortly after, saw that the same began to be contemned Apoc. 6. 2. in the world and made light of; then he did in most fearful manner plague the earth with wars, blood-sheddings, tumults, dearth, famine, and pestilence: which all are signified by the red horse, the black horse, and the pale horse, which did appear at the opening of the second, third, and fourth seal. So likewise undoubtedly, God will severely punish all injuries, wrongs, & contempts, done to his faithful ambassadors; as appeareth Apocal. 11. 5. where it is set down, that if any would hurt the two witnesses with their two Olives, and two candlesticks, (whereby is signified the faithful Preachers of the Gospel, with all their spiritual treasures and heavenly light) fire should proceed out of their mouths, and devour their adversaries. That is, the fire of God's wrath should consume all that had oppressed them, either by mocks, flouts, railings, slanders, imprisonment, or any other kind of indignity. Of this we have a plain example or two, in the Scripture. First, we read how fire came down from Heaven, and consumed the contemptuous 2. King 1. 10. 2. King. 1. 23. captain and his fifty, at the threatening and calling for of Eliah. Secondly, how two Bears came out of the forest, and tore in pieces 42. younkers, which mocked Elishah the Prophet of God; calling him bald-head, baldpate. So then by these examples, it is manifest, that howsoever the Lord may wink at these things for a time, and make as though he saw them not: yet the time will come, when he will rain fire and brimstone upon all the scoffers of his faithful Ministers; and contemners of his Gospel. All this is plainly declared in the 5. Chapter of the Proverbs of Solomon: where is showed how the wisdom of God, even Jesus Christ the highest wisdom, doth cry aloud all abroad in the world, and manifest himself in the open streets: but yet is contemned of wicked worldlings and scoffing fools. Therefore saith Christ: Because I have called, and ye ●ro. 1. 24. ●8. refused, I have stretched out my hand, but none would regard: ye have hated knowledge, and despised all my counsel; therefore I will laugh at your destruction, and mock when your fear cometh upon you like sudden desolation, and your destruction like a whirlwind. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me. Here than we see is terrible wrath and vengeance threatened from heaven, against all profane contemners of Christ, and his everlasting Gospel, or any the faithful publishers, and proclaimers thereof. Behold therefore, ye despisers, and wonder: consider well what will become of you in the end. Dee not think, that the most just God will always put it up at your hands, that ye should so manifestly contemn both his Word, and the most zealous Preachers and professors thereof. No, no: assure yourselves he will be even with you at last. He will smite you both sidelings and overthwart; he will dog you and pursue you with his judgements and never leave following the chase with you, till he have destroyed you, and consumed you from off the face of the earth. For remember, I pray you, what he saith in Deut. If I whet my glittering sword, and my hand take hold of judgement, I will execute vengeance on mine enemies, and I will reward them that hate me; I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall eat the flesh of mine adversaries. Phila. Truly Sir, you may justly fear, that for our great contempt of the Gospel, and general coldness both in the profession and practise thereof, God will take it from us, and give it to a people that will bring forth the fruit thereof. Theol. We may well fear indeed, lest for our sins, especially our loathing of the heavenly Manna, the Lord remove our candlestick, take away our silver trumpets, let us no more hear the sweet bells of Aaron, cause all vision to fail, & our Sabbaths to cease, and bring upon us that most grievous and sore famine of not hearing the word of the Lord, spoken of by Amos the Prophet. Then shall all our halcyon Amos. 8. days, and golden years, be turned into weeping, mourning, and lamentation. God, for his infinite mercy sake, turn it away from us. Phila. Amen, Amen; and let us all pray earnestly, night & day, that those fearful judgements may according to God's infinite mercies be held back, which our sins do continually cry for: and that his most glorious Gospel may be continued to us and our posterity, even yet with greater success. Asune. No doubt, it is a very great sin to despise the word of God: and I think there is none so bad that will do it. For we ought to love God's word: God forbid else. He that loveth not God's word, it is pity he liveth. Theol. These are but words of course. It is an easy matter to speak good words. And very many will say as you say: but both you, and they, in your practice do plainly show that you make no reckoning of it: you esteem it no more than a dishclout. I think, if the matter were well tried, you have scant a Bible in your house. But though you have one, it is manifest that you seldom read therein, with any care or conscience: and as seldom hear the word preached. How else could you be so ignorant as you are? Asune. I grant, that I and some others are somewhat negligent in the hearing and reading of the word of God: but you cannot say therefore we do contemn it. Theol. Yes verily. Your continual negligence, and carelessness, doth argue a plain contempt. Sure it is, you have no appetite, nor stomach to the holy word of God. You had rather do any thing, then either read or meditate in it. It is irksome unto you. You read not two Chapters in a week. All holy exercises of religion are most bitter & tedions unto you. They are as vinegar to your teeth, and smoke to your eyes. The immoderate love of this world, and of vanity, hath taken away your appetite from all heavenly things. And where as you shift it off with negligence, as though that would excuse you; the Apostle hits you home, when he saith: How shall we escape, if we neglect so great Heb. 2. 3 salvation? Mark that he saith: if we neglect. Antile. Belike you think men have nothing else to do, but read the scriptures, and hear sermons. Theo. I do not say so. I do not say ye should do nothing else. For God doth allow you, with a good conscience, and in his fear, to follow the works of your calling: as hath been said before. But this I condemn in you, and many others; that you will give no time to private prayers, reading, & meditation in God's word: neither morning, nor evening, neither before your business, nor after. And although you have often vacant time enough, yet you will rather bestow it in vanity, and idle prattling, and gossiping, then in any good exercise of Religion. Which doth plainly show, that you neither delight in holy things: neither is there any true fear of God before your eyes. Antil. I tell you plainly, we must tend our business; we may go beg else; we cannot live by the Scriptures. If we follow Sermons we shall never thrive. What do you think every man is bound to read the Scriptures? Have we not our five wits? Do we not know what we have to do? You would make fools of us belike. But we are neither drunk nor mad. Theol. That every man (of what condition soever) is bound in conscience to hear and read the word of God, hath been showed, and proved in the beginning of our conference. But as for your five wits, they will not serve your turn in these matters: though you had fifteen wits. For all the wit, reason, and understanding of natural men, in God's matters, is but blindness, and mere foolishness. The Apostle 1. Cor. 3. 19 Rom. 8. 7. saith, that the wisdom of the most wise in this world, is not only foolishness with God; but indeed very enmity against God. And again, he saith, that the natural man (with all his five wits) understandeth not the things of the Spirit 1. Cor. 2. 14. of God; because they are spiritually discerned. Most prudently to this point speaketh Elihu, saying: There is a spirit in man; but the job. 32. 2. inspiration of the Almighty giveth understanding. Antile. I understand not these Scriptures which you do allege: they do not sink into my head. Theol. I think so indeed. For the holy ghost saith: Wisdom is too high for a fool. Pro. 24. 7. Antile. What do you call me fool? I am no more fool than yourself. Theo. I call you not fool: but I tell you, what the Scripture saith; which calleth all men (though otherwise never so wise, politic, and learned) very fools: till they be truly lightened, and inwardly sanctified by the Spirit of God; as appeareth, Tit. 3. 3. Where the Apostle affirmeth, that both Titus and himself, before they received the illuminating Spirit of God's grace, were very fools, without wit, and without all sense in God's matters. Phila. I pray you, good M. Theologus, let him alone; For he will never have done cavilling. I see, he is a notable caviller. Let us therefore proceed to speak of the fifth sign of Condemnation; which is swearing. Theol. It may well indeed be called a sign of condemnation. For I think it more than a sign; it is indeed an evident demonstration of a Reprobate. For I never wist any man, truly fearing God in his heart, that was an usual and a common swearer. Phila. I am flat of your mind for that. For it cannot be, that the true fear of God, and ordinary swearing should dwell together in one man: sith swearing is a thing forbidden by flat statute. And God addeth a sore threat to his Law: that he will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain; but will most sharply and severely punish that man. Theol. You say true. And God saith moreover, Deut. 28. 58. that if we do not fear and dread his glorious and fearful name jehova, he will make our plagues wonderful. He sayeth also by his Prophet Malachi, that he will be a swift witness Mal. 3. 5. Zach. 5. 2. 4. against swearers. The Prophet Zachary saith, that the flying book of God's curse & vengeance, shall enter into the house of the swearer, and he shall be cut off. Therefore let all swearers take heed & look to themselves in time. For we see, there is a rod in piss, laid up in store for them. Phila. These threatenings being so great and grievous, and that from the God of Heaven himself, a man would think should cause men's hearts to quake and tremble, and make them afraid to rap out such oaths as they do; if they were not altogether hardened, past feeling, and past grace. Theol. True indeed: but yet we see, by lamentable experience, how men are given over both to swear, and for swear, For at this day there is no sin more common amongst us then swearing. For many there be which cannot speak ten words, but one shall be an oath. And numbers have got such a wicked custom of swearing that they can by no means leave it: no more than a blackmoor can change his skin, or a Leopard his spots. For it is made natural unto them, through custom: and they have got the habit of it. I do verily think, if it were high Treason to swear, yet some could not leave swearing. And sure I am (as light as we make of it) that it is high Treason against the crown of Heaven. Yea, it is a sin immediately against God: even against his own person. And therefore he hath forbidden it, in the first Table of his Law. Phila. Questionless, this vice of swearing is of all other sins most rife in this Land. For you shall hear little boys and children, in the streets, rap out oaths, in most fearful manner. It would make a man's heart quake, to hear them. We may think, they have sucked them out of their mother's breasts: but sure we are, they have learned them from the evil example of their parents. And now adays we cannot almost talk with a man, but (in ordinary speech) he will belike out one oath or another. Theol. I will tell you a strange thing; and with great grief I speak it. I do verily think there are sworn in this land an hundred thousand oaths, every day in the year. Phila. No doubt, Sir, you are within compass. For now almost so many men, so many oaths; excepting some few in comparison. Nay, I know divers of mine own experience, which if they may be kept in talk, will swear every day in the year an hundred oaths for their parts. Theol. Oh what a lamentable thing is it! We may well take up the old complaint of the Prophet jeremy, who saith; that in his time the Land did mourn, because of oaths. jere. 23. 20. And we may well wonder, that the land sinketh not because of oaths. For, if God were not a God of infinite patience, how could he endure his most sacred and glorious name to be so many thousand times blasphemed in one day? and that, by such miserable wretches as we be. Phila. We may indeed admire and wonder at the patience and long suffering of God, that he spareth us so long, and giveth us so large a time of repentance; but sure it is that the Prophet saith; That, howsoever the Lord is slow to anger, yet he is great in power, and will not surely clear the wicked. Though he Nah. 1. 3. may wink at their monstrous oaths for a time, yet he forgetteth them never a whit, but scoreth them up, and registereth them in his book of accounts; so as they stand in record against them. And when the great day of reckoning shall come, he will set them all in order before them, and lay them to their charge. Let not wicked swearers and blasphemers therefore think that they shall always scape scotfree, because God letteth them alone for a while, and deferreth their punishment. For the longer God deferreth, the more terrible will his strokes be when they come. The longer an arrow is held in the bow, the stronger will be the shot when it cometh forth. Though God have leaden feet, and cometh slowly to execute wrath, yet hath he an iron hand, and will strike deadly when he cometh. Though God giveth the wicked security for a time (saith job 24. 23. job) yet his eyes are fixed upon all their ways. And in an other place he saith; The wicked is reserved unto the day of destruction, and they shall be brought forth unto the day of wrath job 21. 30 . So then the holy man job plainly affirmeth, that the state and condition of all the rich and wealthy worldlings is, as the condition of an Ox that is fatted up against the day of slaughter. For in the same Chapter he saith; They job. 21. spend their days in wealth, and suddenly go down to hell. But now I pray you nominate the oaths which are so rife and common amongst us. Theol. There be six oaths, which are (of all other) most rife and common, in every man's mouth; and they be these: By my Faith. By my Troth. Six common oaths. By our Lady. By S. Mary. By God. As God shall judge me. For you cannot lightly talk with a man, but he will flush out some of these, in his ordinary speech. Asune. Do you count it so great a matter, for a man to swear by his faith, or his troth? Theol. Yes indeed do I. For our faith and our troth are the most precious jewels we have. Shall we then lay them to gauge, for every word we speak? It showeth we are of small credit: nay, very bankrupts. For who but a bankrupt will lay the best jewel in his house to pledge, for every small trifle? Asune. I know a man, that will never swear, but by Cock or Pie, or Mouse-foot. I hope you will not say they be oaths. For he is as honest a man as ever broke bread. You shall not hear an oath come out of his mouth. Theol. I do not think, he is so honest a man as you make him. For it is no small sin to swear by creatures. The Lord saith by his Prophet jeremy: They have forsaken me, and jere. 5. 7. sworn by them that are no Gods. So then to swear by creatures, is to forsake God. And I trow you will not say, he is an honest man which forsaketh God. Asune. I do not believe that to swear by small things is a forsaking of God. Theol. You, and such as you are, will believe no more of the word of God, then will stand with your fantasy. But whatsoever you believe, or believe not, the word of God standeth sure: and no jot of it shall ever be proved false. But this I will say unto you, because you think it so small a matter to swear by creatures; that the more base and vile the thing is which you swore by, the greater is the oath: because you ascribe that unto a base creature, which is only proper to God: namely to know our hearts, and to be a discerner of secret things. For whatsoever a man sweareth by, he calleth it as a witness unto his conscience, that he speaketh the truth, and lieth not: which thing only belongeth unto God. And therefore in swearing by creatures, we do rob God of his honour. Therefore to swear by the cross of the money, or by bread, or a mouse foot, or the fire which they call God's Angel, or any such like, is a robbing of God of his Honour, and an ascribing of that to the creature, which is proper only to the Creator. Asune. What say you then to them, which swear by the Mass, and by the Rood? Theol. Their sin is as great as the other. For it is an heinous thing to swear by idols: as S. Mary, our Lady, by the Mass, by the Rood, etc. The Prophet Amos saith: They that Amos 8. 4 swear by the sin of Samaria, and that say; thy God, O Dan, liveth; even they shall fall, and never rise up again. To swear by the sin of Samaria, is to swear by Idols: for Samaria was full of idols. Moreover the Lord threateneth by the Prophet Zephany, that he will cut off them that Zep. 1. 5. swear by the Lord, and by Malcham, or by their King. For the idolaters called their idol, Molech, their King. Asune. Seeing you condemn both swearing by creatures, and swearing by idols, what then must we swear by? You would have us swear by nothing, belike. Theo. In our ordinary communication we must not swear at all, either by one thing or another. But (as our Lord teacheth us) our communication Ma. 5. 37. must be, yea, yea; nay, nay. For whatsoever is more than these, cometh of evil. And Saint james saith: Before all things, my jam. 5. 12. brethren, swear not: neither by heaven, nor by earth, nor by any other oath: but let your Yea be yea, and your Nay nay, lest you fall into condemnation. Antile. It seemeth you are an Anabaptist. You condemn all swearing; you will have no swearing at all. Theol. Not so. For though I condemn swearing by creatures, swearing by idols, and vain swearing; yet do I allow swearing before a Magistrate, and privately also, in matters of weight and importance, for the further bolting out of the truth. This is warranted from Gods own mouth, where he saith: Thou shalt swear, The Lord jere. 4. liveth, in truth, in judgement, and in righteousness. And in these cases only, the name of God is to be sworn by; as it is written: Thou Deut. 10. 20. shalt fear the Lord thy God, and thou shalt serve him, and shalt cleave unto him, and shalt swear by his name. Asune. May we not swear by God in our common talk? Theol. At no hand. For that is to take the name of God in vain: which you know is forbidden. And one of the wise Heathen could say thus: When an oath is laid upon thee, undertake it for two causes: either to deliver thyself from some grievous crime and accusation, or else to preserve thy friends from danger. So then that Isocra. ad Demon. Heathen man in common talk, will not allow any oath, much less, to swear by God. Another saith: Avoid an oath, though thou swear Phocilid. truly. So then we see vain swearing condemned, even by Heathen. Asune. Yea, but for all that, we must swear; men will not believe us else. Theol. Neither yet will they believe you any whit the more for your swearing. For it doth manifestly appear, that thousands make no conscience at all of it. They make no more conscience of it, then of cracking of nuts: and therefore what wise man will believe them, though they swear never so much? But, if you would make conscience always to speak the truth, from your heart, without any oaths at all, you should be better believed of all honest and wise men, than otherwise with a thousand oaths. Antile. It is the custom to swear. Theol. But a wicked and devilish custom. Antile. I hope, sir, we may swear, as long as we swear truly, and swear by nothing but that which is good. Theol. It hath been answered before, that in vain matters you may not swear at all. Antil. As long as we do no worse than that, I hope God will hold us excused. Theol. God will not hold you excused, when you break his commandments, and continue so doing. Antil. What say you then, to them, that swear wounds and blood, and such like, in a bravery, thinking that it setteth out their speech very well? Theol. Hell gapeth for them. And they shall know one day, what it is to blaspheme God. Antil. What may we think of such as swear by God's life, God's soul, God's body, God's heart? Theol. That their cause is most woeful and dangerous: & I quake at the naming of them. They are most horrible, monstrous and outrageous blasphemies: enough to make the stones in the street to crack, and the clouds to fall upon our heads. And we may think, that all the Devils in hell are in a readiness, to carry such blasphemous villains headlong into that lake, which burneth with fire and brimstone, for ever. Antil. Do you find in the Scriptures, that God will so severely punish swearers? Theol. Yes verily. For besides that which hath been spoken before, we have divers other examples: First of Senacherib, the King of Ashur, who for his outrageous blasphemies against the God of heaven, was in most fearful and tragical manner slain by his own sons, Adramelech, and Sharezer: and that, in the 1. Kin. 19 35. Temple, when he was worshipping his Idol God, Nisroch. And yet behold a more fearful example of God's wrath, against blasphemers. We read that an hundred thousand of the 1. Kin. 20. 29. Aramites were slain, by the Israelites, in one day, for blaspheming of God: And seven and twenty thousand being left, and flying into the city of Aphek for refuge, were all slain, by the fall of an huge great wall. What should I here speak how the seven sons of Saul, the King of Israel, were hanged up before the Lord in mount 2. Sam. 21. 9 Gibeah, for the breach of the oath made to the Gibeonites long before? In these examples, we may plainly see, that the just God, even in this life, sometimes will be revenged of blasphemers, and oath-breakers. And therefore the very Heathen in all ages have been very careful for the performing of oaths: as Pharaoh King of Egypt willed joseph to go up into the land of Canaan, to bury his father, according to his oath made to his father. Phila. Me thinketh, these so terrible, & fearful examples of God's vengeance against swearers, and blasphemers, should strike some terror into the hearts of our blasphemers. Theol. One would think so indeed, if any thing could do it. But alas, they are so hardened in it, and in all other sin, that nothing can move them: except peradventure there were a Law made, that every swearer and blasphemer should hold his hand a quarter of an hour in boiling lead. This or some such like severe law, might peradventure curb them a little, and make them bite in their oaths. But otherwise, they will never fear any thing, till they be in hell fire, when it will be too late to repent. Phila. What may be the cause of this so often, and great swearing? for surely it is no inherent and inbred sin in our nature, as some of the other sins be. Theol. No verily. But these three I judge to be the cause of it: Custom. Want of admonition. Want of punishment. Phila. What then are the remedies for it? Theol. The remedies are these: Disuse. Prayer. Friendly admonition. Some sharp Law. Phila. Well Sir, now we have heard enough of swearing, I pray you proceed to the next sign of damnation: which is lying. Theol. Swearing and lying be of very near kindred. For he that is a common swearer, is for the most part a common liar also. For he that maketh no conscience of swearing, will make no conscience of lying. And as the Lord hateth the one, so also he hateth the other. And as he punisheth the one, so he will punish the other. Therefore Solomon saith: Lying lips are Pro. 12. 22. Apoc. 22. 15. an abomination unto the Lord. Saint john saith: Without shall be dogs, enchanters, whoremongers, murderers, and whosoever loveth or maketh lies. Again the same holy man of God saith: that liars shall have their Apoc. 21. 8. part and portion in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Phila. These scriptures, which you allege, do manifestly declare that God abhorreth liars, and hath reserved great torments for them. Therefore the princely Prophet David saith, that he would banish all liars out of his house. Psa. 101. 7. He that telleth lies (saith he) shall not remain in my sight. A lying tongue is one of the six Pro. 6. 7. 8. things which God doth hate, and his soul abhor. Yet for all this, we see the lamentable experience, how many have even taught their tongues to lie (as the Prophet saith) and there ●●. 9 is no truth in their lips. This vice is almost as common as swearing. For it is hard to find a man that will speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth from his heart, in simplicity and plainness, at all times, in all places, and amongst all persons, without all glozing or dissembling, either for fear, gain, flattery, men-pleasing, hiding of faults, or any sinister respect whatsoever. Where, I say, is this man to be found? I would fain see him. I would fain look upon such a man. It would do my heart good to behold him. I would rejoice to set mine eyes upon such a man. Theo. Such a man, as you speak of, is hardly to be found among the sons of men. They be black Swans in the earth, they be white crows: they be rare birds. For there be very few that will speak the truth from their heart: yet some such I hope there be. But, for the most part, & amongst the greater sort, lying, dissembling, and fraud, do bear all the sway. There is no truth, no honesty, no conscience, no simplicity, no plain dealing, amongst men in these most corrupt times. Faith and truth are parted clean away. And as the kingly prophet saith: The faithful are failed, from among the children Psal. 12. of men. They speak deceitfully every one with his neighbour; flattering with their lips, and speak with a double heart. Men now adays study the Art of lying, flattering, fawning, glozing and dissembling: they have a heart and a heart. They have honey in their mouth; and gall in their heart. Their tongues are as soft as butter and oil: but their hearts are full of bitterness, poison and wormwood. They are full of outward courtesy and civility, full of court holy water, when there is no truth nor plainness in their inward affection. They will speak you fair, when they would cut your throats. They will show you a good countenance; when they would eat your heart with garlic. In outward show, they will carry themselves plausibly, when their hearts are full of venom & malice. This viperous brood do but watch their times & opportunities, till they can get a man upon the hip: and then they will sting him, & work their malice upon him. These fawning curs will not bark till they bite. They will lurk, and lie close, till they spy their vantage, and then they will show themselves in their kind: then they will hoist a man, and turn him over the perk, if they can. These men are like the waters, which are most deep, where they are most calm: like a dangerous rock, hid under a calm sea; or, as the Heathen say, like the Sirens song, which is the sailors wreck; like the Fowler's whistle, which is the birds death; like the hid bait, which is the fishes bane; like the Harpies, which have virgins faces, and Uultures talons; or like Hyena, which speaketh like a friend, and devoureth like a foe; or, as the Scripture saith; like joab, the captain of the 2. Sam. 20. 10. host, which spoke kindly to Amasa an other Captain, & kissed him, when presently he stabbed him; or like unto the Herodians, and pharisees servants, which came to our Lord Jesus with many fawning insinuations, calling him good master, & telling him that he was the plain truth, that he taught the way of God truly, he regarded no man's person, and many good morrows, and all this gear, when as, in very deed, their purpose was to entangle him in his words, and to entrap him, that they might catch advantage against him, & so cut his throat, & give him pap with a hatchet. This it is which Pro. 2. 9 5 the wise man saith: A man that flattereth his Pro. 26. 23. Pro. 26. 24. neighbour, spreadeth a net for his feet. And again; As silver dross, overlaid upon an earthen pot: so are fawning lips, and an evil heart. And in another place he saith: He that beareth hatred, will counterfeit with his lips: but he layeth up deceit in his heart. When he shall show his voice favourably, trust him not. For their are seven abominations in his heart. He will cover hatred by deceit: but his malice shall be discovered in the congregation. In another place he pronounceth a curse upon all these hollow hearted hypocrites, and meale-mouthed flatterers. For saith he; Unto him that blesseth his friend, with a loud voice, betimes in the morning rising up early, a curse Pro. 17 14. shall be imputed. Phila. You have very well described the conditions of the men of this age, which have faces, countenances, and tongues, but no hearts; which profess lying and dissembling; which say, he cannot live, that cannot dissemble, which have fair faces, and false hearts, which have forgotten, that plain honesty is deep policy. Theol. The holy Ghost, often in the Proverbs of Solomon calleth all unregenerate men fools: or as it is in the Hebrew, men without hearts. Because they have no heart to God, no heart to his word, no heart to his children, no heart to godliness, no heart to any thing that good is. They are without an honest heart, an upright heart, a plain heart. They are all in words, nothing in deeds. They promise mountains, and perform mol-hils. They will speak well of religion, and practise nothing. They will give fair words to their friends, and do just nothing for them. Phila. The world is full of these masked counterfeits: and lying and dissembling did never more abound. Theol. It is too true, that lying and dissembling are most rife, and over common vices amongst all sorts of men: but especially it doth overflow and supper abound in shop keepers, and servants. For both these make a trade and occupation of it, they can do no other but lie. It cleaveth unto them, as the nail to the door. Phila. I do certainly know some shop keepers, which (to utter their bad wares, & to blind the eyes of the simple) do trade in lying, all the day long, from Sun to Sun; from the opening of the shop & windows, to the shutting of the same. And what is their life (if customers come in apace) but swearing, lying, dissembling, & deceiving? they will lie as fast as a dog will troth, as we say. It is a wonder, that their shops and all their wares do not fire over their heads, for their so common, so lewd, & so abominable lying; & that against their own knowledge, against their conscience, against God, against their neighbour, against heaven and earth, men & angels. Theol. True it is, we may marvel at the long suffering of God in this behalf. But this is to be noted, that God doth not immediately punish all notorious sinners in this life: but reserveth thousands to the judgement of the great day. In this life he only culleth out some few, whom he smiteth for the example of others, that they might fear and tremble, and learn by other men's harms to beware. Therefore, even in this life, we see before our eyes, some liars, some drunkards, some whoremongers, some swearers, some misers of the world, some ruffians, and cutthroats, stricken down, by the revenging hand of God. But whereas God smiteth one of these, in this life, he letteth an hundred escape. For if he should punish all offenders in this life, to what purpose should the judgement to come serve? If he should punish none, than we would think there were no God, or that he were shut up idle in heaven, and would do neither good, nor evil, nor once meddle in the matters of the earth: as some Epicures have dreamt. Therefore, to avoid both these extremities, God in his heavenly wisdom hath thought good to meet with some, even in this world. Phila. I am of this mind, that the goods which men get by swearing, lying, and deceit, will never prosper long. Theol. You are not therein deceived. For God will blow upon all such kind of evil gotten goods, and they shall put it in a bottomless purse, as the Prophet saith, Hag. 1. 6. The holy Ghost, in the book of the Proverbs, hath many excellent sayings to this effect: as chapter 13. The riches of vanity shall be diminished, but Pro. 13. he which laboureth with the hand, shall increase them. Again: He that dealeth with a Pro. 10. deceitful hand shall become poor: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. In another place he saith: The deceitful man roasteth not Pro. 18. 27. that which he hath caught in hunting. That is, he shall not long enjoy or taste the pray, which he hath gotten by fraud. For either one trouble or other will come upon him, that he shall not be able to possess, or take delight in the spoil. Therefore it is said: The bread of deceit is Pro. 10. 17. sweet to a man: but afterward his mouth shall be filled with gravel. That is, in the end the crafty person shall meet with many troubles. For either his conscience will upbraid him and check him, or vengeance will plague him, for his deceit. The fears, cares and sorrows, which he shall have, shall be as it were so many sharp stones, to set his teeth on edge, and to vex him. Wherefore, in stead of meat, he shall feed on gravel: and in steed of wheat, on pebble stones. Small pleasure is taken in the end in goods ill gotten, or livings unlawfully come by. For the holy Ghost hath passed sentence upon them, that they shall never prosper. Phila. It sometimes falleth out, that they prosper for a time: but as we say, the third heir shall never enjoy them. For God will curse them in our posterity: and our children's children shall feel the smart of our sins. Therefore the holy man, job saith: the offspring of the wicked shall not be satisfied with bread. For job. 27. 14. out of doubt, God will bless that only, which is got with a good conscience in the works of our calling; and it shall remain blessed to us, and our posterity. Therefore the Spirit saith, Pro. 20. 7. The just man that walketh in his uprightness is blessed, and blessed shall his children be after him. But God will not bless, but curse that, which is got with an evil conscience; as swearing, lying, dissembling, deceiving, etc. Theol. Some ancient writers have spoken very prudently to this point. For one saith: Iniusta lucra breves habent voluptates: longos autem dolores. That is, unjust gain hath long sorrow, jerom. and short joy. Another saith: Eligas damnum, potius quam turpe lucrum illud: enim semel tantùm te dolere afficiet; hoc verò semper. That is, choose August. loss, rather than filthy lucre. For the one will grieve thee but once; the other, for ever. A third saith; Meliùs est honestè pauperem esse, quam turpiter divitem. Hoc enim commiserationem, illud verò reprehensionem adfert. It is better Bernard. to be honestly poor, then wickedly rich. For the one moveth pity, the other reproof. One of Euripid. Pheniss. the wise Heathen also saith: We may not wax rich unjustly; but live of just things; which he calleth holy things. Phila. Have we not examples in the Scriptures of such as have been punished for lying? Theol. Yes. For we read how the Gibeonites, Ios. 9 23. for their lying and dissembling, were made drudges and slaves to the Israelites. Gehezi also 2. King. 5 the servant of Elisha the prophet, for his lying and covetousness together, was smitten with a most grievous leprosy. Ananias and Sapphira Act. 5. 5. his wife, for their lying and dissembling, were stricken down stark dead, by the immediate hand of God, at the rebuke of Peter. Zophar one of jobs friends, speaking of these kind of men, saith: They shall suck the gall of job. 20. 16. 24. Asps, and the Viper's tongue shall slay them. They shall flee from the iron weapons, and a bow of steel shall strike them thorough. Now then by all these examples we may plainly see, how greatly God abhorreth lying and dissembling. Phila. Oh therefore that we could follow Col. 3. 9 the counsel of the Apostle, who saith: Lie not one to another: sith ye have put off the old man, with his works. And again: Cast Eph. 4. 5. away lying, and speak every one the truth to his neighbour. The manner of speech which the Apostle useth is very forcible, implying this much; that we should in a kind of disdain or detestation, cast it away, and throw it from us, as a filthy, stinking and berayed clout, hanging about a man's neck: which he doth suddenly snatch away, and hurleth into the fire; as being ashamed, that ever it should be seen or known. Would to God therefore that we were come to such a detestation and loathing of lying, that we would even spittle at it, & cry fie upon it, and all that use it! Oh that we could hate it as the devil, which is the father of Homer. Iliad. 3. it; & as hell fire, which is the reward of it! Oh that we were come but so far as the heathen man, who saith; I hate him as the gates of hell, who hath one thing in his tongue & another in his heart! Antil. Yet for all this we find in the scriptures, that even some of the godly have been taken tardy in lying, and yet have not sinned in so doing; as Abraham, jacob, Rahab, the Midwives of Egypt; And therefore why may not we do so to. Theol. I told you before, that you may not make the infirmities of God's people, rules for you to live by. And further I answer, that all these did offend in their living. Some of them indeed, I grant, are commended for their love to the church & charitable affections to God's people, but none of them simply for lying: which is a thing condemned even of the heathen. For saith Eurip. Pheniss. one of them: Lying doth corrupt the life of man: and every wise and godly man doth hate lying. Antile. But may we not lie, now and then, for a vantage? Theol. No verily: neither is there any good vantage to be got that way. For when you have made up your accounts, all charges deducted, & all expenses defrayed, your clear gains will be very small. For by your wilful and customary lying you gain inward grief, and lose true joy; you gain short pleasure, and lose perpetual glory; you gain hell, and lose heaven; you make the devil your friend, and God your enemy. Now then reckon your gain. Phila. I pray you let us grow towards a conclusion of this point: and show us briefly the chief causes of lying. Theol. The chief causes of lying are these: Custom. Fear. Covetousness. The devil. Phila. What be the remedies? Theol. The remedies be these: Disuse. Godly boldness. Contentation. Earnest prayer. Phila. You have spoken enough of this vice to cause all such to abhor it and forsake it, as have any drop of grace, or spark of God's fear in them: but as for them that are filthy, let them be more filthy. Now I pray you speak your judgement of the seventh sign of condemnation: which is drunkenness. Theol. It is so brutish and beastly a sin, that a man would think, it should not need to be spoken against: but that all reasonable men should even abhor it, & quake to think of it. For it is a most swinish thing: it maketh of a man, a beast: it taketh away the heart of a man from all goodness, as witnesseth the Prophet Hosea, saying: Whoredom, wine, and new Hos. 4 11. wine, take away their heart. For, what heart, what stomach, what appetite can whoremongers and drunkards have to any thing that is good? either to hear or read the word of God, or to pray or to meditate in the same? Alas, they are far from it, far from God, and far from all grace and goodness. Therefore the Prophet joel saith: Awake ye drunkards: weep and joel. 1. 5. howl ye drinkers of wine. Yea, the mighty God of heaven doth pronounce a woe against them, saying: Woe unto them that rise up early Esa. 5. 11. to follow drunkenness: and to them that continue until night, till the wine do inflame them. Our Lord Jesus himself giveth us a caveat, to take heed of it: Take heed, saith he, that Luke. 22. 24. your hearts be not overcome with surfeiting and drunkenness, and the cares of this life: and so that day come upon you unawares. Thus you hear, how both Christ himself, and sundry of the Prophets, do thunder down from heaven against this gross beastliness, which now aboundeth & reigneth amongst the sons of men. Phila. True indeed. But yet almost nothing will make men leave it: for it is a most rife and over common vice. We see many, that think themselves some bodies (and as we say, no small fools) which yet will be overtaken with it: and thereby lose all their credit and reputation with all wise men: yea, do prove themselves to be but swine, and bruit beasts, as the holy Ghost avoucheth, saying: Pro. 21. 1. Wine is a mocker & strong drink is raging: Whosoever is deceived therein, is not wise. Theol. The wise king in the same book, doth most notably and fully describe unto us the inconveniences and mischiefs, which do accompany drunkenness, and follow drunkards at Pro. 23. 29. the heels. To whom (saith he) is woe? to whom is alas? to whom is strife? to whom is babbling? to whom are wounds without cause? to whom is the redness of the eyes? Even to them, that tarry long at the wine: to them, that go and seek out mixed wine. In the same chapter he saith: Be Pro. 23. 19 not of the number of them, which are bibbers of wine, or of them which glut themselves with flesh: for the drinker & the feaster shall become poor: and the sleeper shall be clothed with rags. Moreover he saith: Their eyes shall behold Pro. 23. strange women: and that they shallbe like him that lieth in the midst of the Sea, and sleepeth in the top of the Mast. In all these speeches, the holy Ghost doth, in most lively manner, describe unto us the properties of drunkards: even their staggering, their reeling, their snorting, their senseless sensuality. Behold then what be the cursed fruits and events of drunkenness. Even these which follow: woe, alas, grief, misery, beggary, poverty, shame, lusts, strife, babbling, brawling, fight, quarreling, surfeiting, sickness, diseases, swinish sleeping, security, and sensuality. So then I conclude, that drunkenness is a vice more beseeming an hog, than any reasonable man. And as one saith: It is the Metropolitan City of all the Province of vices. Well therefore saith the Heathen writer: Demost. Olinth. When the wine is in, a man is as a running coach without a Coachman. Phila. Let us hear what executions have been done upon drunkards in former ages, that now men may learn to take heed by their examples. Theol. Ammon, one of David's ungracious 2. Sam. 12. 28. 2. King. 20. 16. children, being drunk, was slain by his brother Absalon. Benhadad, King of Syria, being drunk, was discomfited by Ahab, King of Israel. Elah King of Israel, being drunk, was slain by Zimri his servant, and captain of his 1. King. 16. 9 Chariots: who also succeeded him in the kingdom. Lot, being drunk, committed incest with Gen. 19 37. his own daughters: and therefore was punished in his posterity. Thus we see, what executions have been done, even upon Kings, for this kind of sin. Therefore let men learn, once at last, to shun vice, and embrace virtue: and as the Apostle saith, to make an end of their salvation in fear and trembling. For all our shifts and starting holes will serve us to no purpose in the end: but when we have fisked hither and thither, never so much, yet at the last we must be fain to be shut up in God's wrath. Antile. What I pray you, do you make it so great a matter if a man be a little overtaken with drink, now and then? There is no man but he hath his faults: and the best of us all may be amended. If neighbours meet together now and then, at the Ale house, and play a game at Maw, for a pot of Ale, meaning no hurt: I take it to be good fellowship, and a good means to increase love amongst neighbours: and not so heinous a thing as you make it. Theol. I see you would fain make fair weather of it; and smooth over the matter with sweet words: as though there were no such great evil in it. But howsoever you mince it, and blanch it over, yet the Apostle saith flatly: That drunkards shall not inherit the kingdom 1. Cor. 5. of God. I think, this one sentence is enough to amaze and strike thorough the hearts of all drunkards in the world: For it is as much in effect, as if the Apostle had said: All drunkards are notorious Reprobates, and hellhounds, branded of Satan, and devoted to perpetual destruction and damnation. But you say, you mean no hurt. I answer, whatsoever you mean, your actions are nought, and your fellowship as bad. For what good meaning can you have? or what good fellowship call you it, for poor labouring men, artificers, and such like, to sit idly all the day long in Taverns and Alehouses, misspending their time, and their money in gaming, rioting, swearing, staring, swilling, bezzeling, bibbing, brawling, and brabbling? There is no true fellowship in it: it is mere impiety: if we may call it impiety, for poor mèn to live idly, dissolutely, neglecting their callings, while their poor wives and children sit crying at home for bread, being ready to starve, to beg or to steal. I pray you speak your conscience, what good fellowship is there in this? Antile. Yet for all that, there be some which abstain from Alehouses, and yet are as bad as any other. For they will backbite and slander their neighbours: they will do them a shrewd turn, as soon as any other: they are envious, they censure us, and disdain our company. Yet we think ourselves as good as they: for all their shows of holiness. Theol. You speak more than you know, or can justify, against some better than yourself. But if it were so, you should but justify one sin by another, a lesser by a greater: which is to no purpose. Antile. Will you then condemn all good fellowship? Theol. No no: I do greatly allow godly and Christian fellowship: and acknowledge it to be one of the chiefest comforts we have in the world. I know we are commanded to love brotherly fellowship. But as for your pot-companionship, 1. Pet. 2. 1. I hate it, and abhor it. For it is written: He that followeth the Heb. 13. idle, shall be filled with poverty. And again: He that keepeth company with banquetters, Pro. 28. 1. shameth his Father. And in an other place: He that loveth pastime, shall be a poor man: Pro. 28. 7. and he that loveth Wine and Oil, shall not be rich. Phila. Good M. Theologus, talk no more Pro. 21. 27. with him: but let us draw near unto the windeup of this matter: and tell us in a word, which be the chief causes of Drunkenness. Theol. The causes are these: Causes of drunkenness. Ill company. Alehouses. Idleness. A wicked humour. Phila. Which be the true remedies? Theol. The remedies are these: Avoiding of ill company. Remedies for drunkenness. Shunning of Alehouses. Labour in our callings. A good course of life. Phil. Well Sir you have waded far enough in this point: let us now come to the eighth sign of condemnation: which is idleness. Theol. Concerning idleness, this I say briefly: that it is the mother of all vice, and the stepdame of all virtue: yea, it is the very veldame of all enormities: It is the mother of whoredom, the mother of pride, the mother of theft, the mother of drunkenness, the mother of ignorance, the mother of error, the mother of poverty, the mother of slandering and backbiting, prattling, and gossiping, brawling, scolding, quarreling: and what not? Idleness was one of the principal sins of Sodom, as the Prophet Ezechiel testifieth, saying: pride, fullness Ezech. 16. 29. of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her, and in her daughters. Solomon is very plentiful in this matter: For, saith he, the sluggard Pro. 13. 4. lusteth and hath nought. And again: The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit, than Pro. 16. 16. seven men that can give a sensible reason. That is; he taketh himself the wisest of many; because he spareth his body, when others take Pro. 24. 33. pains: he saith; Yet a little sleep, yet a little slumber, yet a little folding of the hands: and his poverty cometh like a traveler; that is unawares: and his necessity like an armed man: that is strongly. Then he foldeth his Eccl. 4. 5. Pro 26. 15. hands together, and eateth his own flesh. For, he hideth his hand in his bosom: and it wearieth him to put it to his mouth again. In an other place the holy Ghost saith: The slothful man will not plough, because of winter: Therefore he shall beg in summer, and have nothing. Again: the slothful man is brother to him Pro. 16. 8. that is a great waster. Moreover it is said, that the sluggard turneth Pro. 26. 14. himself upon his bed, as the door doth upon the hinges: That is, he keepeth his bed, as if he were fastened to it. And, because the Spirit will abound in this point: it is further written of the slethfull man that he saith; An huge Lion is in the way: I Pro. 26. 11. shall be slain in the streets. That is, when any good matter is in hand (as preaching, praying, reading, giving to the poor, etc.) than he draweth back, he shrinketh into the shell, he findeth one let or other, one excuse or other. Then profit, and pleasure, business, and idleness, matters at home, and matters abroad, company, and a thousand occasions will lie in his way, as so many Lions, to let and hinder him. So then we see, how lively and plentifully the holy Scriptures do paint out the lazy lubbers of this world, and sons of idleness: which are as hardly drawn to any good thing, as a Bear to the stake. As for the duties of Religion, they go as lively and as cheerful about them, as a thief goeth up the ladder, to be executed for his theft. Phila. I do plainly see, that this sin of Idleness is a very gross evil, and the root of many vices: yet for all that, there be a great number which think they were borne to live idly; as many young Gentlemen, and such like: which imagine, they came into the world for no other purpose, but to hunt and hawk, card, and dice, riot and revel, and to spend their days in pleasure and vanity. Again, there be many lazy lozel's, and luskish youths, both in Towns and Villages, which do nothing all the day long, but walk in the streets, sit upon the staules, and frequent Taverns and Alehouses. Many rich Citizens, especially women, do ordinarily lie in bed till nine of the clock, and then forsooth rise and make themselves ready to go to dinner. And after they have well dined they spend the rest of the day, and a good part of the night also, in playing, prattling, babbling, cackling, prating and gossiping. Fie of this idle life. Many profane serving men also do falsely suppose, that they were borne only to game, riot, swear, whore, ruffle it, and roist it out, and to spend their time in mere idleness. But, of all these well said the Aristotle. Heathen Philosopher: Illi pariter indignantur & dij & homines, quisquis otiosus. Both God and man do hate the idle person. Theol. It is a lamentable thing to see so many men and women live so idly, and so unprofitably as they do. For alas, there be too many, which fellow no honest calling, live to no use, no body is the better for them. They do no good, neither to the Church or Commonwealth. They are like drone bees: they are unprofitable burdens of the earth. God hath no use of them, the Church no good, the Common wealth no benefit, their neighbours no profit, the poor no relief. They imagine, they came into the world, to do nothing but eat, and drink, and sleep and rise up to play. They think they should spend their time in dicing and dancing, in whoredom and bravery, in gluttony and belly-cheer: in masting themselves, like hogs of Epicurus heard: in pampering their paunches, and cramming their bellies: in fatting themselves like Boars in a Frank, till they be well brawned: and (as job saith) till their bones run full of marrow, their faces strut with job. 15. job. 21. 21. fatness, and they have collops in their flank. Oh, what a beastly life is this! Fie upon it, fie upon it. It is more meet for Epicures, than Christians: for swine, then for men: for Sardanapalus, and Heliogabalus, and such like belli-gods, then for the professors of the Gospel. But, of all such, job saith enough; They spend their job. 21. days in pleasure: and suddenly go down to hell. Phil. But may it not be allowed unto Lords and Ladies, Gentlemen and gentlewomen, and other great ones, to live idly, sith they have wherewithal to maintain it? Theol. God doth allow none to live idly: but all, great and small, are to be employed one way or other: either for the benefit of the Church, or common wealth: or for the good government of their own households, or for the good of towns and parishes, and those amongst whom they do converse: or for the succour and relief of the poor: or for the furtherance of the Gospel, and the maintaining of the Ministry: or for one good use or other. To these ends, our wits, our learning, our reading, our skill, our policy, our wealth, our health, our wisdom, and authority, are to be referred: knowing this; that one day, we shall come to give an account of our Bally-wicke, and to be reckoned withal, for the employment of our Talents. For this cause job saith: that, man is borne to job. 5. 5. 7. travel: as the sparks fly upward. And God hath laid this upon Adam, and all his posterity: Gen. 3. In the sweat of thy brows, thou shalt eat thy bread. Some do set down four causes, why every man should labour diligently in his calling: First, to bear the yoke laid upon all mankind, by the Lord. Secondly, to get the necessaries of this life. Thirdly, to live unto the profit of human society. Lastly, to avoid evil thoughts and actions. Saint Paul findeth great fault with some in the Church of Thessalonia, because they walked 2 Thes. 3. inordinately, that is idly, and out of a lawful calling: and therefore concluded, that such as would not labour, should not eat. So then we do plainly see, that God alloweth idleness in none. For when we are idle (as hath been showed before) we lie open to the devil & his temptations: and he getteth within us and prevaileth against us. While David tarried idly at home in the beginning of the year, when kings used to go forth to the battle, he was soon overtaken with those two foul sins of adultery, and manslaughter. So long as Samson warred with the Philistims, he could never be taken or overcome: but after he gave himself to idleness and pleasure, he not only committed fornication with the strumpet Dalilah, but also was taken of his enemies, and his eyes miserably pulled out. These examples do show, what a dangerous sin idleness is. Therefore the holy Ghost sends us to school, to the little creature, the Ant, to learn of her both to avoid idleness, and also to use wisdom and providence in our actions. Go to the Pismire, O sluggard, behold her ways, and be wise: For she, Pro. 6. 6. having no guide, task-maister, nor ruler, prepareth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in harvest. And in good-sooth it is wonderful to observe, what indesinent pains, and unwearied labour, this silly creature taketh in summer, that she may be well provided for against winter. Let us therefore learn wisdom from her example: and let us set before our eyes the looking glass of all creatures. Let us consider how the birds fly, the fishes swim, the worms creep, the heavens turn, the elements move, the sea ebbeth and floweth uncessantly: yea the earth itself, which is the most heavy and unwieldy creature of all other, yet never ceaseth his working, bringing forth his burden in summer, and labouring inwardly all the winter, in concocting and digesting his nourishment for the next spring. Thus we see, how all creatures are diligently and painfully exercised in their kinds. And therefore it is a great shame for us to live idly, carelessly, and dissolutely. Let us therefore learn (once at last) to fly slath, and every one to live faithfully, diligently, and industriously in our several callings. So shall we both keep Satan at the staves end, and also much sin out of our souls; which otherwise idleness will force in upon us. Phila. I must needs confess, that idleness is a gross vice in whomsoever it is found. But specially, in my judgement, it is most odious in Magistrates and Ministers. Theol. That is so in truth. For they ought to be the guides, governors, shepherds, and watchmen over the people of God. And therefore for them to neglect their duties and charges, is a most horrible thing, sith it concerneth Homer. Iliad. 2. the hurt of many. Therefore well said the Heathen Poet: A magistrate, or a Minister, may not be lazy and slothful, to whom the nursing of the people is given in charge, and of whom many things are to be cared for. What a lamentable thing therefore is it, when Magistrates are profane, irreligious, popish, vicious, and negligent in the duties of their calling? And how much more lamentable is it, when Ministers neglect their studies, slack preaching, and prayer, and give up themselves, some to covetousness, some to pride, some to husbandry, some to other worldly affairs, and some to spend their time idly in Laverns, Alehouses, gaming, rioting, and lewd company? Would to God therefore that both these kind of public persons would cast off idleness and sloth; and with diligence, faithfulness, care and conscience, perform the duties of their places. For it is an excellent thing for any to be a good man in his place: As a good Magistrate, that ruleth well, that governeth wisely, which favoureth good men and good causes, and defendeth them: which also setteth himself against bad men and bad causes, and punisheth them sharply and severely: which moreover maintaineth virtue, even of a very love he beareth unto it in his heart: and punisheth vice of a very zeal and hatred against it: and not for his credit only or to please some, or because he must needs do it, and can do no less, or for any such sinister respect: but even of a love to God, a care of his glory, a conscience of duty, and a fervent zeal against sin. So likewise, it is a notable thing for a Minister to be a good man in his place; to be studious in the law of God, diligent and painful in preaching; and that of a love to God▪ a zeal of his glory, deep pity and compassion toward the souls of the people, seeking by all means possible to win them unto God▪ carrying himself in all his actions amongst them, wisely, religiously, unblamably, and in offensively. So again, it is a worthy thing to be a good rich man which doth much good with this riches, which keepeth a good house, relieveth the poor, ministereth to the necessity of the Saints, and giveth cheerfully, and with discretion, where need is. So also, it is a commendable thing to be a good neighbour, or a good Towns▪ man▪ by whom a man may live quietly, peaceably, joyfully, and comfortably. And lastly, to be a good poor man: that is, humble, lowly, dutiful, painful, ready to help, and ready to please. Oh, I say, this is a most excellent and glorious thing, when every man keepeth his standing, his range, and his rank: when all men, with care and conscience perform the duties of their places: when the husband doth the duty of an husband, and the wife of a wife: when the father doth the duty of a Father, and the child of a child: when the Master doth the duty of a Master, and the seruantof a servant: when every man setteth God before his eyes, in doing those things, which especially belong unto him. For herein consisteth the honour of God, the glory of the Prince, the crown of the Church, the fortress of the Commonwealth, the safety of Cities, the strength of kingdoms, and the very preservation of all things. Antil. You have said well in some things. But yet I do not see, but that rich men and women may live idly; sith they have enough, where withal to maintain it. For may not a man do with his own what he list? Theol. No verily. For you may not take your own knife, and cut your own throat with it: neither may you take your own are, and kill your own child with it. Therefore that reason is nought. Albeit therefore wealthy men & women have great plenty of all things, so as they need not to labour; yet let them be profitably employed, some other way. Let them exercise themselves in one good thing or other. If they can find nothing to do, let them give themselves much to private prayers, and reading of the scriptures, that they may be able to instruct and exhort others. Or else let Ladies and Gentlewomen do, as that good woman Dorcas did: that is, buy cloth, cut it out, work it, sew it, make shirts, smocks, coats, and garments, and give them to the poor, when Acts 9 36. 39 they have so done. For it is said of Dorcas, that she was a woman full of good works and almsdeeds, which she did. She was a merciful and tender hearted woman, she was the poor man's friend, she clothed the poor and naked, she knew it was a sacrifice acceptable to God. Oh, that the wealthy women of our land would follow the example of Dorcas. But alas, these days bring forth few Dorcasses: Phila. As you have showed us the causes of the former evils: so now, I pray you, show the causes of this also. Theol. The causes of Idleness are: Causes of idleness. Evil examples. Bad education. Living out of calling. Phila. Show us also the remedies. Theol. The remedies are: Remedies against Idleness. Good education. Labour in youth. Good examples. Diligence in a lawful calling. Phila. Now then let us come to the last sign of condemnation; which is oppression. And I beseech you, good sir, speak your mind of it, our of the Scriptures. Theol. It is so infinite a matter, that I know not where to begin, or where to make an end of it. It is a bottomless sink of most grievous enormities. I shall enter into a Labyrinth, where I shall not know now to get out again. But sith you are desirous to hear something of it, this I say, that it is a most cruel monster, a bloody vice, a most ugly and hideous fiend of hell. The Scriptures in very many places, do cry out upon it, arraigning it, adjudging it, and condemning it down to hell. They do also thunder and lighten upon all those, which are stained and corrupted with this vice; calling them by such names and giving them such titles, as are taken from the effects of this sin, and most fit for oppressors: as namely, that they grind the faces of the poor; that they Esa. 3. 15. Amos. 8. 6 Mic. 3. 2. Psal. 14. 4. pluck off their skins from them, and their flesh from their bones; that they eat them up, as they eat bread. These are they; which strive to devour all (like savage beasts) & to get the whole earth into their hands, either by hook or by crook, by right or by wrong, by oppression, fraud, and violence. These Caterpillars, and Cormorants of the earth, are like unto the Whale-fish, which swalloweth up quick other little fishes. They are like the Lion, that devoureth other beasts. They are like the Falcon, which seizeth, plumeth, and prayeth upon other fowls. These greedy Wolves devour all, and swallow up the poor of the Land. Therefore the Prophets of God do thunder out many great woes against them. First, the Prophet Esay saith; Woe unto them Esay 5. 8. that join house to house, and field to field; till there be no place for the poor to dwell in; that they may be placed by themselves, in the midst of the earth. Secondly, the Prophet jeremy saith; Woe jere. 22. 13. unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers without equity. Thirdly, the Prophet Micah saith: Woe unto Mic. 2. 2. them that covet fields, and take them by violence; and so oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage. Fourthly, the Prophet Abacuc crieth out Abac. 2. 12. saying; Woe unto him that buildeth a Town with blood, and erecteth a City by iniquity. S. james also most terribly threateneth these kind jam. 5. 1. 2. of men, saying: Go to now you rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your gold and silver is cankered: and the rust of them shall be a witness against you; and shall eat your flesh, as it were fire. Lastly, S. Paul saith flatly, that extortioners 1. Cor. 6. 10. shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Thus we see, how many fearful woes and threats are denounced from heaven against these pestilent cutthroats of the earth. Phila. And all little enough. For they are steeped in their sin, and the stain of it is so soaked into them, as it will hardly ever be washed out. True it is, that you said, that these cruel oppressing bloodsuckers are the most pernicious and pestilent vermin, that creepeth upon the face of the earth; and yet I think there were never more of them, then in these days. For now the wicked world is full of such, as do sundry ways bite, pinch, and nip the poor, as we see by every days lamentable experience; but you can speak more of it then I. Therefore, I pray you, lay open the sundry kinds of oppression, used in these days. Theol. There is oppression, by usury. Oppression, by bribery. The sundry kinds of oppressions. Oppression, by racking of rents. Oppression, by taking excessive fines. Oppression, in bargaining. Oppression, in letting of leases. Oppression, in letting of houses. Oppression, in letting of grounds. Oppression, in binding poor men to unreasonable covenants. Oppression, in thrusting poor men out of their houses. Oppression, in hiring poor men's houses over their heads. Oppression, in taking of fees. Oppression, by Lawyers. Oppression, by Church Officers. Oppression, by engrossers. Oppression, by forestallers. Oppression of the Church. Oppression of the Ministry. Oppression of the poor. Oppression of widows. Oppression of Orphans. And thus we see, how all swarms with Oppressions: and nothing but Oppressions, Oppressions. Phila. In truth, this is a most cruel and oppressing age, wherein we live; yea, a very iron age. It seemeth, that the great ones mind nothing else, they are altogether set upon oppression, they dote and dream of it, they find sweet in it, and therefore they are mad of it. As Eccl. 7. 5. Solomon saith; Oppression maketh a wiseman mad. It seemeth therefore, that this vice is of such marvelous force, that it can bereave men of their wits, and make men stark mad of getting goods by hook or by crook, they care not how, nor from whom; so they have it. Yet, no doubt, the most wise God hath enacted many good laws for the suppressing of this evil: and doth threaten the execution of them in his own person: and especially his Law doth provide for the safety of the poor, the fatherless, the widow and the stranger. But you M. Theologus, can repeat the statutes better than I; because you are a professed Divine. Therefore, I pray you, let us hear them from you. Theol. In the 22. Chapter of Exodus, God made this law following: You shall not trouble any widow or fatherless child; if thou Exo. 22. vex or trouble such, and so he call and cry unto me, I will surely hear his cry. Then shall my wrath be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless. Again, he saith: Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant, that is Deut. 22. needy and poor; but thou shalt give him his hire for his day: neither shall the Sun go down upon it (for he is poor, and therewith sustaineth his life,) lest he cry against thee unto the Lord, and it be sin unto thee. Moreover, the Lord saith: Thou shalt do no injury Exod. 22. to a stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. And God himself threateneth that Mal. 3. he will be a swift witness against those which keep back the hirelings wages, and vex the widow, and the fatherless. The Apostle saith: Let no man oppress or defraud 1. Thes. 4. 6. his brother, in any matters. For the Lord is an avenger of all such things. Solomon also saith: If in a country thou feast the oppression of the poor, and the defrauding of justice and judgement, be not astonished at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth: and there be higher than they. Eccles. 5. 7. All these holy statutes and laws, enacted and provided against oppressors, do plainly show what care the Lord hath for his poor, distressed, and desolate people. Phila. But these oppressing helhounds are such as care for nothing. No Law of the Almighty can bridle them: nothing can fear them: nothing can restrain them. They have made a covenant with Hell and death. They are frozen in the dregs; they are past feeling. And as job saith: These are they, that abhor job. 14. 13. the light, they know not the ways thereof, neither continue in the paths thereof. Their hearts are as hard as the Adamant. Nothing can move them: nothing can work upon them. There is great crying out every where of the stone in the reins, which indeed is a great torment to the body (but there is no complaining of the stone in the heart. I mean a stony heart: which is the sorest disease that possibly can fall into the soul of man) and yet in these times it groweth very rife. For men's hearts are as hard as brass, and as the neither Millstone: as the Scripture speaketh. For many, especially of these unmerciful and oppressing Zeph. 1. 12. Amos 6. 3. 6. tyrants, say in their hearts; God will do neither good nor evil. Therefore they put the evil day far from them, and approach unto the seat of iniquity. They are at ease in Zion; they lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their beds; and eat the lambs of the flock, and the calves out of the stall. They sing to the sound of the vial; they invent instruments of music, like David. They drink wine in bowls, and no man is sorry for the affliction of joseph; that is, the troubles of God's people. The Prophet Esay also Esa. 5. 12. Psal. 10. 14. 6. complaineth of these kind of men, saying; They regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the work of his hands. And another Prophet saith; they say in their heart's God hath forgotten; he hideth away his face, and will never see. They are so proud, that they seek not for God. They think always, there is no God; his judgements are far out of their sight. Their ways always prosper; and therefore they say in their hearts; Tush we shall never be moved, nor come in danger. Theol. You have spoken very well, touching the stéelinesse and hardness of these men's hearts, who are so unmerciful to their poor neighbours, that almost none can live by them. They do so disturb & disquiet all things, that poor men can dwell in no rest by them. Therefore truly saith the wise king: A mighty man molesteth all, & Pro. 18. 2. both hireth the fool, & hireth those that pass by. But the poor man speaketh with prayers: that is, by the way of entreaty and supplications. For the poor are afraid of them. They quake when they see them: as the beasts quake, at the roaring of the Lion. Many poor Farmers, poor Husband men, poor Herds, poor Labourers, poor widows, and hirelings, do quake and tremble, when these greedy wolves come abroad. And (as job speaketh) the poor job. 24. 4. of the earth hide themselves together. For (alas) in their hearts, they cannot abide the sight of them: they had as lief meet the devil as meet them, for fear of one displeasure or another. For either they fear that they will warn them out of their houses, or parley about more rent and straighter covenants, or beg away their best kine, or borrow their horses, or command their carts, or require a weeks work of them, & never pay them for it, or a twelve months pasture for a couple of Geldings, or that they will make one quarrel or another unto than, or one mischief or another. See that these poor souls cannot tell what to do, nor which way to turn them, for fear of these cruel termagants. They are even weary of their lives. For they have no remedy for these things, but even to bear it off with head and shoulders. Therefore they often with they were out of the world, and that they were buried quick. They say, if any will knock them on the head, they will forgive him. O most piteous case! O lamentable hearing! These poor silly creatures are fain to drudge and moil all the year long, in winter & summer, in frost & snow, in heat & cold, to provide their rents, that they may be able to pay their cruel Landlord at his day: For else, how shall they be able to look him in the face? Yet their rent is so racked, that all that they can do is little enough to pay it. And when that is paid, (alas) the poor man, & his wife, & children have little left to take to, or to maintain themselves withal: they are fain to gnaw of a crust, to far hardly, & go thinly clad. Sometimes they have victuals, and sometimes none. The poor children cry for bread. Poor widows also, & poor fatherless children, are found weeping & mourning in their houses, and in their streets. So that now we may with Solomon, turn and consider Eccle. 4. 1. all the oppressions, that are wrought under the Sun. We may behold the téeres of the oppressed, and none comforteth them. For the mighty ones do wrong the weaker: even as the strongen beasts do push and harm the féebler. These griping oppressors do pinch the poor even to the quick. They pluck away from the fatherless and widows, that little which they have. If there be but a cow, or a few sheep left, they will have them. If there be a little commodity of house or land, oh what devices they have to wind it in, & to wring it away! These tyrants will go as nigh, as the bed they lie upon. They know well enough, the poor men are not able to wage law with them: and therefore they may do what wrong they will, & show what cruelty they list. Hence cometh the téeres of the oppressed; hence cometh the weeping & wailing of the poor. But alas (poor souls) they may well weep, to ease their hearts a little; but there is none to comfort them: remedy they can have none. But yet assuredly the everlasting God doth look upon them, & will be revenged. For the cries of the poor, the fatherless, and the widows, have entered into the cares of the Lord of Hosts, who is an avenger of all such things; yea a strong revenger, as Solomon saith: Enter Pro. 23. 14. not into the field of the fatherless: for their revenger is strong. He himself will plead their cause against thee. And again he saith: Rob Pro. 22. 2. not the poor, because he is poor: neither tread down the afflicted in the gate: for the Lord pleadeth their cause: and will spoil their soul that spoil them. We see then, that the most just God will be revenged on these unmerciful tyrants. He will not always put up these wrongs and injuries, done to the poor. In the eight chapter of the Prophet Amos, he sweareth by the excellency of jacob, that he will never forget any of their works. And again, he saith by his Prophet jeremy; Shall I not be avenged, on such a Nation as this? Surely he will set his face against them to root them out of the earth. For indeed they are not worthy to crawl upon the face of the earth, or to draw breath amongst the sons of men. It is written in the book of Psalms; that God will set their fellows opposite against him, as a Butt to shoot at: that he will put them apart: Psal. 21. 13. and the strings of his bow shall he make ready against their faces. Be astonished at this, O ye heavens; and tremble, O thou earth. Hear this, O ye cruel landlords, unmerciful oppressors, and bloodsuckers of the earth. You may well be called bloodsuckers: for you suck the blood of many poor men, women & children: you eat it, you drink it, you have it served in at your sumptuous tables every day, you swallow it up, and live by it. And (as job saith) The wilderness giveth you and your children food. That is, you job. 24. 5. live by robbing, and murdering. But woe, woe, unto you that ever you were born. For the blood of the oppressed, which you have eaten & drunken, shall one day cry for speedy vengeance, against you: as the blood of Abel cried against Cain. Their blood shall witness against you, in the day of judgement; and the téeres of many poor starved children, orphans, & widows shall cry out against you. Was the Lord revenged of Achab, for his cruel and uninst dealing 1. Reg. 21. with poor Naboth, and shall he not be revenged of you? Did the dog's lap the blood of Achab, and shall you escape? No, no: you shall not escape. The Lord will be a swift witness against you; as he saith in Malachi. Was the Mal. 3. Lord angry with the rich of his people, for oppressing the poor (so as the cry of the people and of their wives, against their oppressors, was Neh. 5. heard of the Almighty) & do you think, you shall escape scotfree? Doth not the like cause, bring forth the like effect? the like sin, the like punishment? know therefore for a certainty, that the Lord hath coffers full of vengeance against you, and one day he will unlock them, and bring them forth, in the sight of all men. Know also, that the timber of your houses, and the stones of your walls, which you have built by oppression and blood, shall cry against you in the day of the Lords wrath, as the Prophet Abacuch telleth you. The stone (saith he) Abac. 2. 11. shall cry out of the wall; and the beam out of the timber shall answer it. Where the Prophet telleth you, that the walls of your houses, built in blood, shall cry out loud, and shall, and play the Choristers in that behalf: so as they shall answer one another, on either side. The one side singeth, behold blood: the other, behold murder. The one side, behold deceit: the other, behold cruelty. The one, behold pilling & poling: the other, behold covetousness. The one, behold robbery: the other, behold penury. And thus you see how the stones and timber of your houses shall descant upon you. And howseever you put on your brazen brows, & harden your hearts against these threatenings of the most terrible God and Lord of hosts: yet one day, you shall (spite of your hearts) will ye nill ye, be brought forth unto judgement: you shall once come to your reckoning, you shall at last be apprehended, convented, and arraigned at the bar of God's tribunal seat before the great Judge of all the world. Then sentence shall pass against you: even that most dreadful Mat. 25. sentence: Go ye cursed into hell-fire, there to be tormented with the Devil and his Angels for ever. O then, woe, woe unto you. For, Mat. 16. what shall it profit a man to win the whole world, and lose his own soul? saith our Lord Jesus. Surely even as much, as if one should win a farthing, and lose an hundred thousand pound. For, if he shall be cast into hell-fire, Mat. 25. which hath not given of his own goods righteously gotten, as our Saviour avoucheth; where then shall he be cast, that hath stolen other men's goods? And if he shall be damned that hath not clothed the naked, what shall become of him that hath made naked them that were clothed? Oh, therefore repent in time, O ye cruel oppressors; seek the Lord whilst he may be found; call upon him while he is near; lay aside your savage cruelty, visit the fatherless and widow, in their distress; deal your bread to the hungry; help them to their right which suffer wrong; deal mercifully with your tenants; rack not your rents any more; pinch not the poor souls, for whom Christ died; pity them, I say, but pinch them not; deal kindly & friendly with them; remember your great accounts; consider the shortness of your days, and the vanity of your life; rend your hearts, and not your clothes. Turn unto the Lord, with all your heart, with weeping, fasting, and mourning; prevent God's wrath with a sacrifice of téeres; pacify his anger with the calves of your lips, and with a contrite spirit; be grieved for that which is past, and amend that which is to come; stand it out no more at the swords point against God. For it will not boot you to strive; he is too strong for you. Your only wisdom is, to come in. Come in therefore, come in, ye rebellious generation; submit yourselves to the great King, humble yourselves under his mighty hand: cast down your swords and targets: yield unto your God. So shall you escape the vengeance to come; so shall God accept you, have mercy upon you, receive you to favour, grant you a general pardon for all your rebellions, and admit you into the number of his faithful and loyal subjects. Phila. I do conceive by divers speeches which you have alleged, that goods gotten by oppression and cruelty, will never prosper long. For oppressors coin their money upon their neighbour's skins. How then can it be blessed? Theol. You have spoken a truth. For, as it hath been showed before, that those goods which are gotten by swearing and lying are cursed: so all these that are gotten by oppression and violence are more cursed. Therefore the Lord saith by his Prophet jeremy: as the Partridge gathereth jere. 17. 11. the young which she hath not brought forth, so he that gathereth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days: and at his end shall be a fool, and his name shall be written in the earth. Phila. Would to God our Magistrates and Governors would take speedy order for the remedying of these things, and for the redressing of such grievous enormities as are amongst us: or that they themselves would step in, and deliver the oppressed, from the hand of the oppressor. Theol. job was an excellent man for such job. 29. 17. matters. For it is said of him: That he broke the jaws of the unrighteous man, and plucked the prey out of his teeth. Where we see, how job was a means to deliver the innocent, and to pull the Lamb out of the Lion's claws. Moreever, it is written of him in the same chapter: job. 29. 15. that the blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon him, and that he caused the widows heart to rejoice: that he was the eye to the blind, the feet to the lame, and the father to the poor; and when he knew not the cause, he sought it out diligently. Oh, what a notable man was this! Oh that we had many jobs in these days! Wise Solomon doth most gravely advise us all, to follow jobs example in this behalf. Deliver, saith he, them that are oppressed Pro. 14. 11 and drawn to death. For shouldest thou withdraw thyself from them which go down to the slaughter? would to God that this holy counsel were well weighed, and practised amongst us! Phila. I marvel much, with what face these cruel oppressors can come before God in his holy Temple, to pray, and offer up their sacrifices unto him. For we see, many of them though they have such foul hands, and foul hearts, as we have heard; yet for all that, will most impudently presume to come to the church and pray; or at least, when they are laid in their beds a nights, and half asleep, then will they tumble over their prayers, or be pattering some Pater nosters. Theol. Alas, alas, poor souls: all that they do in matters of God's worship, is but hypocrisy & dissimulation. For in truth, they care not for God: they love him but from the teeth outward: their mouths are with him, but their heart goeth after covetousness, and their hands are full of blood. And therefore God doth both abhor them, and their prayers. For saith he; Though they stretch out their hands, yet will I Esa. 1. 15. hide mine eyes from them; and though they make many prayers, yet will I not hear them. For their hands are full of blood. Moreover the holy Ghost saith: He that turneth Pro. 28. 9 away his ear from hearing the Law, even his prayer is abominable. David saith: If I regard Psa. 66. 18. wickedness in my heart, God will not hear my prayer. Our Lord jesus also affirmeth, that joh. 9 31. God heareth not sinners: that is, stubborn and careless sinners. So then we may clearly see (by all these testimonies of holy writ) what account God maketh of the prayers of oppressors, and all other profane & ungodly men: namely, that he doth hate them, and abhor them, as most loathsome and odious in his sight. Phila. Now in conclusion, show us the causes of oppression. Theol. The causes are these: Causes of Oppression. Cruelty. Covetousness. hard-heartedness. An evil conscience. The Devil. Phila. Let us hear also of the remedies Theol. The remedies are these: pity. Remedies for oppression. Contentation. Tender affections. A good conscience. Much prayer. Phila. Now sir, as you have at large uttered your mind, concerning these gross corruptions of the world, and have plainly and evidently proved them to be the deadly poison of the soul; so also I pray you satisfy us in this: whether they be not hurtful also to the body, goods, and name. Theol. I have dwelled the longer in these common vices of the world, because almost all sorts of men are stained with one or other of them: and therefore they can never be enough spoken against. For the whole world lieth in them, as S. john testifieth. If men therefore could be recovered 1. john. 5. of these diseases, no doubt there would be a ready passage made for the abundance of grace; and we should have a most flourishing Church and Commonwealth; but as long as these do lie in the way, there is small hope of greater mercies and blessings to be powered upon us; or that ever we shall come to have an inward conversation with God. For these vices blind our eyes, burden our hearts, and (as the Prophet jeremy saith) hinder many things from jer. 5. 25. us. But touching your petition, I must needs grant; that, as these vices are the very bane of the soul, and most certain signs of condemnation; so are they very dangerous to the body, goods & name; yea, and to the whole land, both Church and Commonwealth. Phila. Show us out of the Scriptures what danger they bring to the body. Theol. The Lord our God saith, that if we will not obey him, nor keep his commandments (but break his covenant) he will appoint over us hasty plagues, consumptions, and the burning ague, to consume the eyes, and to make the heart heavy. So also he saith, that if we will Levi. 26. 16. Deut. 28. 21. not obey his voice, to observe all his commandments and ordinances, that then he will make the pestilence cleave unto us, until he have consumed us; that he will smite us with the Fever, with the botch of Egypt, with the Emeroids, with the Scab, and with the Itch; that also he will smite us with madness, and with blindness, and with astonishment of heart. So than you see what great evils the Lord threateneth to inflict upon our bodies in this life, for these and such like sins. But on the centrary, the holy ghost saith: Fear God, and depart Pro. 3. 7. from evil: so health shall be unto thy navel, and moisture unto thy bones. Phila. What evil do these forenamed sins bring upon us, in our goods and outward estate? Theol. They cause God to curse us in all that we set hand unto, as plentifully appeareth in the forenamed Chapters; where the Lord saith thus: If thou wilt not obey the commandments Deut. 28. of the Lord thy God, cursed shalt thou be in the town, cursed also in the field, cursed shall be thy basket and thy store, cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, and the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed also when thou goest out. The Lord shall send upon thee cursing, trouble, and shame, in all that thou settest thy hand unto. And further he saith: That he will break the staff of their bread: that ten women shall bake their bread in one oven, Deut. 28. and they shall deliver their bread again by weight: and they shall eat and not be satisfied. You do therefore apparently see, that these sins will draw down God's wrath upon us, and all that we have. Phila. What hurt do these sins to our good name? Theol. They bring reproach, shame, & infamy upon us, and cause us to be abhorred and contemned of all good men. They do utterly blot out our good name. For as virtue maketh men honourable and reverend; so vice maketh men vile & contemptible. This is set down, where the Lord threateneth Israel; that for their sins 2. Kin. 9 7. and disobedience, he will make them a proverb & common talk; yea, a reproach, & astonishment amongst all people. In sundry other places of the Prophets, he threateneth for their sins, to make them a reproach, a shame, and Eze. 5. 5. hissing, and nodding of the head to all Nations. Phila. I do verily thus think: that as sin generally doth stain every man's good name, which all are chary and tender of: so especially, it doth blot those which are in high places, and of special note, for learning, wisdom, and godliness. Theol. You have spoken most truly, and agreeable to the Scriptures. For the Scripture saith: As a dead fly causeth the Apothecary's ointment to stink: so doth a little folly, him that is in estimation, for wisdom & for honour. Where Solomon showeth, that if a fly get into the Apothecary's box of ointment, and die, and putrefy in it, she marreth it, though it be never so precious. Even so, if a little sin get into the heart, and break out into the forehead of a man of great fame for some singular gifts, it will blur him, though he be never so excellent. Phila. Show this, I pray you, more plainly. Theol. We observe this, in all experience: that if a Noble man be a good man, and have many excellent parts in him of courtesy, patience, humility, and love of Religion: yet if he be covetous, the common people will have their eye altogether upon that: and they will say; Such a Noble man, is a very good man, but for one thing: he is exceeding covetous, oppresseth poor men, & dealeth hardly with his tenants, keepeth no house, doth little good in the country where he dwelleth. And this is it that marreth all. Moreover, let a Judge, a Justice, or a Magistrate, be endued with excellent gifts of prudence, policy, temperance, liberality, & knowledge in the law: yet, if they be given to anger, or taking of bribes, oh, how it will grieve them amongst the people! For they will say: He is a worthy man indeed, but there is one thing in him that marreth all: he is an exceeding angry and furious man; he is as angry as a wasp: he will be in a pelting chafe for every trifle: he will fret and fume, if you do but blow upon him. And besides this, he is a very corrupt man: he is a great taker of bribes, he loveth well to be bribed: he will do any thing for bribes. Furthermore, if any Preacher be a man of great gifts, the common people will say of him: Oh, he is a worthy man indeed, an excellent Scholar, a profound Divine, a singular man in a Pulpit: but yet, for all that, he hath a shrewd touch which marreth all; he is an exceeding proud man: he is as proud as Lucifer. He hath very great gifts indeed, but I warrant you he knoweth it well enough. For he carrieth his crest very high, and looketh very sternly, and disdainfully upon all other men. He is unmeasurably puffed up with overweening, and thinketh that he toucheth the clouds with his head. Thus therefore we see, how the dead flies mar all: and how some one sin doth disgrace a man, that otherwise doth excel. Phila. What is the cause, why some one sin doth so blot and smut the most excellent men? Theol. The reason hereof is, because such men are as a candle, set upon a candlestick, or rather upon a scaffold or mountain, for all men to behold and look upon. And sure it is, they have a thousand eyes upon them every day; and that not only gazing upon them, but also prying very narrowly into them, to spy out the least moat, that they may make a mountain of it. For, as in a clean white paper, one little spot is soon espied; but in a piece of brown paper, twenty great blurs are scant discerned: even so in Noble men, Judges, Magistrates, Justices, Preachers, and Professors, the least spot or speck is soon seen into; but amongst the base sort, and most gross livers, almost nothing is espied or regarded. Phila. Sith the eyes of all men are bend and fixed upon such men as are of some note, therefore they had need very heedfully to look to their steps, that they may take away all advantage from them that seek advantage. Theol. Yes verily. And furthermore, they had need to pray with David always: Direct Psal. 119. 133. my steps O Lord in thy word: and let none iniquity have dominion over me. And Psal. 41. 12. again: Order my doings, that my footsteps slip not: uphold me in mine integrity. For if such men be never so little given to swearing, to lying, to drink, or to women, it is espied by and by: and therewithal their credit is cracked, their fame overcast, their glory eclipsed, and the date of their good name presently expired. Phila. Now, as you have showed what great hurt these sins do bring upon our soul, bodies, goods and name; so also, I pray you; show what danger they do bring upon the whole land. Theol. Questionless they do pull down the wrath of God upon us all, and give him just cause to break all in pieces, and utterly to subvert & overthrow the good estate, both of church and Commonwealth: yea, to make a final consumption and desolation of all. For they be the very firebrands of God's wrath, and as it were touchwood, to kindle his anger and indignation upon us. For the Apostle saith: For Col. 3. 6. such things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Phila. Declare unto us, out of the Scriptures, how the Lord in former times hath punished whole Nations and Kingdoms for these and such like sins. Theol. In the fourth of Hosea, the Lord telleth his people, that he hath a controversy Hos. 4. 2. with the inhabitants of the Land (and the reason is added) because there was no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the Land. By swearing, lying, kill, stealing, and whoring, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. Therefore shall the land mourn; and every one, that dwelleth therein, shall be cut off. Here than we see, what it is that will incense God against us, and cause us all to mourn. So likewise the Lord threateneth by his Prophet Amos, that for the cruelty and oppression of the poor, he would plague the whole land. Shall not the land tremble for this (saith the Am. 8. 8. Lord) and every one mourn that dwelleth therein? Again, the Lord sayeth by his Prophet jeremy; jer. 7. 19 20. Do they provoke me to anger, and not themselves, to the confusion of their own faces? Therefore thus saith the Lord: Behold mine anger and my wrath shall be powered upon this place, upon man, and beast, upon the tree of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and not be quenched. Again the Lord saith: If ye will not hear jer. 2●. these words, I swear by myself (saith the Lord) that this house shall be waste, and I will prepare destroyers against thee, every one with his weapons, and they shall cut down thy chief Cedar trees, and cast them in the fire. Likewise the Lord threateneth, by his Prophet Ezec. 5. 7. Ezechiel, saying: Because ye have not walked in my statutes, nor kept my judgements; therefore behold; I even I, come against thee, and will execute judgement in the midst of thee; even in the sight of Nations: and I will do in thee, that I never did before, neither will I do any more the like, because of all thine abominations. For, in the midst of thee, the fathers shall eat their sons: and the sons shall eat their fathers. Again, by Eze. 7. 23. 27. the same Prophet, the Lord saith: The land is full of the judgement of blood, and the city full of cruelty. Wherefore, I will bring the most wicked of the Heathen, and they shall possess their houses. I will also make the pomp of the mighty to cease, and the holy places shall be defiled. When destruction cometh, they shall seek peace, and not have it. Calamity shall come upon calamity, and rumour upon rumour. Then shall they seek a vision of the Prophet, but the law shall perish from the Priests, and counsel from the ancient. The King shall mourn, and the Prince shall be clothed with desolation, and the hands of the people in the land shall be troubled. I will do unto them according to their ways: and according to their judgements will I judge them: and they shall know, that I am the Lord. Last of all, the Lord saith by his Prophet: Hear O earth: behold, I will cause a plague to come jer. 4. 19 upon this people, even the spruce of their own imaginations, because they have not taken heed to my words, nor to my Law; but cast it off. Almost innumerable places to this purpose are to be found in the writings of the prophets: but these may suffice to prove the main point: to wit, that the just God doth punish whole nations and kingdoms, for the sins and rebellions thereof. Phila. Sith all these sins (for the which the Lord did execute such universal punishments, upon his own people) do abound and overflow in this land, may we not justly fear some great plague to fall upon us? and the rather, because our transgressions do increase daily, and grow to a full height and ripeness: so as it seemeth the harvest of God's vengeance draweth near, and approacheth. Theol. We may indeed justly fear and tremble. For if God spared not the Angels that sinned, how shall he spare us? If he spared not his own people, what can we look for? If he spared not the natural branches, how shall he spare us which are wild by nature? Are we better than they? Can we look to be spared, when they were punished? Are not our sins as many, and as great as theirs? Doth not the same cause bring forth the same effect? Is the arm of the Lord shortened? Or is not God the same just God, to punish sin now, that he was then? Yes, yes, assuredly. And therefore we have great cause to mourn and lament, to quake and tremble; because there is a naked sword of vengeance, hanging over our jer. 4. 19 Am. 5. 6. Abac. 3. 16. heads. Thus did jeremy, thus did Amos, thus did Abacuch: when they plainly saw the imminent wrath of God approaching upon the people of Israel and judah. Phila. I think, we may the rather doubt and fear, because the punishment of these forenamed vices, is neglected by the Magistrate. For commonly, when they that bear the sword of justice, do not draw it out to punish notorious offenders and malefactors, the Lord himself will take the matter into his own hands, and be revenged in his own person: which is most dreadful and dangerous. For it is a fearful Heb. 10. 31. thing, to fall into the hands of the living God. Theo. You have spoken a truth. For if those, which are Gods deputies and vicegerents in the earth, do their duties faithfully in punishing vice, and maintaining virtue; in smiting the wicked, and favouring the godly: then assuredly evil shall be taken out of Israel, God's wrath prevented, and his judgements intercepted; as it is written: Phineas stood up and executed judgement, and the plague was stayed. 1 Ps. 106. 30 But if they (for fear, favour, affection, gain, flattery, bribery, or any other sinister respect) will be too sparing and remiss in punishing of gross offenders, and be rather ready to smite the righteous: then do they exceedingly provoke God's wrath against the land, and against themselves. Phila. One thing I do greatly lament: that there be either none at all, or very slender censurers, either by the Civil, or Ecclesiastical authority, for divers of these forenamed vices: as pride, covetousness, oppression, lying, idleness swearing, etc. Theol. It is a thing to be lamented indeed. For where do we see a proud man punished, a covetous man punished, an oppressor punished, aswearer punished, a liar punished, an idle person punished? Now, because they know they cannot, or shall not be punished, therefore they are altogether hardened, and emboldened in their sins: as the wise man saith: Because sentence Eccl. 8. 11. against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the hearts of the children of men are fully set in them to do evil. Phila. One thing I do much muse at, wherein also I desire to be further satisfied, to wit, what is the cause, that under so godly a prince, so many good laws, and so much good preaching and teaching, there should notwithstanding, be such an excess and overflowing of sin, in all estates. Theo. The causes here of are divers and manifold. But I will nominate sour especial ones, in my judgement. The first is, man's natural corruption; which is so strong, as almost nothing can bridle it. The second is ill precedents, and external provocations to evil. The third is the want of teaching, in many congregations of the land; by reason whereof, many know not sin to be sin. The last reason is, the corruption and negligence of some such as are in authority. Phila. Doth not this inundation and overflowing of sin, with the impunity of the same, Prognosticate great wrath against us? Theol. Yes undoubtedly, as hath in part been showed before. And there he divers other presages of wrath, though not of the same kind: which are these: unthankfulness for the Gospel. The abuse of our long peace. Our general security. Our secret Idolatries. Nine predictions, or foresignes of wrath. Our ripeness in all sin. Our abuse of all God's mercies. Our abuse of his long patience. The coldness of professors. Our not profiting by former judgements: as pestilence, famine, dearth, and the shaking of the Sword. Phila. This last I take to be a special token of approaching vengeance; that we have not profited by former warnings. Theol. True indeed. For it is an ordinary thing with God, when men will not profit by mild corrections, and common punishments, then to lay greater upon them. And when a former trouble doth us no good, we are to fear a final consuming trouble. For so we read in the Prophecy of Hosea; that at the first, God was to Ephraim as a moth, and to judah as rottenness: but afterward, when as they profited not by it, he was to Ephraim as a Lion, and to judah Hos. 5. 12. as a Lion's whelp. So the Lord saith in another place, that, if they will not come in, and yield obedience at the first call of his wrath, than he will punish them seven times more. But if Leu. 26. 18 they continue in their stubbornness, than he threateneth to bring seven times more plagues Verse 21. upon them, according to their sins. If by all these they would not be reform, but walk stubbornly Verse 24. against him, than he threateneth yet seven times more, for their sins: and the fourth Verse 28. time, yet seven times more. The proof hereof we have in the book of the judges. Where judg. 3. 8. we read, how the people of Israel, for their sins, were in subjection to the King of Aram Naharim, eight years: afterward, because they profited nothing by it, but returned to their old sins, therefore they served Eglon king of Moab, eighteen years. After that again, for their judg. 3. new sins and provocations, the Lord gave them up into the hands of Midian, seven years. judg. 6. 1. After all this, for the renewing of their sins, the Lord sold them into the hands of the Philistines jud. 10. 7. Psa. 106. 3. and the Amonites, which did grievously vex and oppress them, for the space of eighteen years. Last of all, we read, that when neither famine nor pestilence could cause them to return unto him, than he delivered them up to the sword of their enemies, and held them in bondage & captivity, threescore and ten years. After all this, when they were delivered out of Captivity, and returned home safely to their own nation, and enjoyed some good time of peace and rest, yet at last they fell to renewing of their sins: and therefore the Lord plagued Ezec. 3. 8. Dan. 7. Dan. 11. them most grievously, by the divided Greek Empire: even by Magog, and Egypt, Seleucidae, and Lagidae, and that by the space almost of three hundred years. And this is it, that the Prophet Hosea did foretell: that the children Hos. 3. 4. of Israel should remain many days without a King, and without a prince, without an offering, and without an image, without an Ephod, and without Teraphim. Phila. You have very largely laid open this last token of vengeance; to wit, that God at the first doth but beat us upon the coat: but if we continue in sin, he will whip us on the bare skin: and if men will not yield at the first gentle strokes, than he will strike harder and harder, till he have broken our stout stomachs, and made our great hearts come down. Therefore it is good yielding at the first: for we shall get nothing by our sturdiness against him. We do but cause him to double his strokes, and strike us both sidelings and overthwart: For he cannot endure that we should gruntle against him, with stubborn sullenness. But now to the point. Sith there are so many presages, and foresignes of God's wrath, I pray you show, what it is that stayeth the execution, and very downfall of the same. Theo. The prayers and téeres of the faithful, are the special mean, that stay the hand of God from striking of us. For the prayers of the righteous are of great force with him: even able to do all things. Saint james saith, that the jam. 5. 17. prayer of a righteous man availeth much, if it be fervent: and bringeth the example of Elias, to prove it: For saith he, Though Elias was a man subject to the like passions that we be, yet was he able, by his prayers, both to open and shut the heavens. Abraham likewise prevailed so far with God, by his prayers for Sodom, Gen. 18. that if there had been but ten just men found in it, it had been spared. The almighty God saith in the 15. chap. of jeremy, Though jere. 15. 1. Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet mine affection could not be toward this people. Which doth plainly show, that Moses and Samuel might have done much with him, had he not been so fully bend against his people for their sins, as he was. So likewise he saith in the Prophecy of Ezechiel; Though these three Ez. 14. 14. men, Noah, Daniel and job, were amongst them, they should deliver but their own souls, by their righteousness. Which also showeth, that if there had been any possible entreating of him for the Land, these three men might have done it: but now he was resolutely determined to the contrary. In respect therefore that the zealous preachers, and true professors of the Gospel do so much prevail wish God by their prayers, they are said to be the defence and strength of Kingdoms and Countries, of Churches and Common wealths: as it is said of Eliah; that he was the Chariot of Israel 2. King. 2. 12. 2. King. 6. 17. and the horsemen thereof. Elishah also was environed with a mountain full of horses, and Chariots of fire. And sure it is, that Eliah and Elishah are not only the Chariots and Horsemen of Israel, but also by their prayers, they do cause God himself to be a wall of fire round about it: as the Prophet saith in the 22. of Ezechiel, verse 30. the Lord God saith: I Eze 22. 30 sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land; that I might not destroy it: but I found none. Which showeth, that if there had been but some few to have stood in the breach, he would have spared the whole land. This also appeareth more plainly, in the Prophecy of jeremy; where the Lord saith thus: Run to and fro, by the streets of jerusalem; jere. 5. 1. behold and inquire in the open places thereof, if ye can find a man, or if there be any that executeth judgement, and seeketh the truth: and I will spare it. Oh than mark and consider, what a man may do: yea, what one man may do: what an Abraham may do: what a Moses may do: what an Eliah may do: what a Daniel, what a Samuel, what a job, what a Noah may do! Some one man (by reason of his high favour with the Eternal) is able sometimes to do more for a land, by his prayers and téeres, than many prudent men by their counsel, or valiant men by their swords. Yea, it doth evidently appear (in the sacred volume of the holy Ghost) that some one poor Preacher, being full of the Spirit and power of Eliah, doth more in his study (either for offence, or defence: either for the turning away of wrath, or the procuring of mercy) than a Campe-royall, even forty thousand strong: or, as the Spirit speaketh: though they all have Cant. 3. 7. their swords girded to their thighs, and be of the most valiant men in Israel. All this is clearly proved in one verse of the book of the Psalms: where the Prophet having reckoned up the sins of the people, addeth: Therefore the Lord minded to destroy them, had not Moses (his chosen) Ps. 106. 23. stood in the breach, to turn away his wrath: lest he should destroy them. See therefore, what one man may do with God Some one man doth so bind the hands of God, that when he should strike, he hath no power to do it: as it is said of Lot: I can do nothing, till Gen. 19 22 thou be come out. See how the Lord saith, he can do nothing: because he will do nothing! He doth wittingly and willingly suffer his hands to be manacled and bound behind him, for some fewes sake, which he doth make more account of, than all the world beside: so precious and dear are they in his sight. Likewise it is written, that the Lord was exceedingly incensed against the Israelites for their idolatrous Calf, which they made in Horeb: yet he could do nothing, because Moses would not let him. And therefore he falleth to entreating of Moses, that Moses would let him alone, and entreat no more for them. Oh, (saith Exo. 32. 10. the Lord to Moses) let me alone: that my wrath may wax hot against this people, and that I may consume them. Thus we see, that except Let go out of the City, and Moses let him alone, he can do nothing. Oh the profoundness and altitude of God's mercy, towards mankind! Oh, the height and depth, length and breadth of his love towards some! Oh that the most glorious & invisible God should so greatly respect the sons of men! For what is man, that he should be mindful of him? or the son of man, that he should regard him? Let us therefore that are the Lords remembrancers, give him no rest, nor let him alone, until we have some security, and good assurance from him, that he will turn away from us the wrath which we most justly have deserved: that he will spare us, and be merciful unto us. Yea, & as the Prophet saith, Let us never leave him, nor give him Esa. 62. 7. over, till he repair and set up jerusalem, the praise of the world: lest for default hereof, that be charged upon us, which was charged upon the head of some of the Prophets in Israel: that they were like the foxes in the waste places, that they had not risen up in the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel. Eze. 13. 45. For now adays, alas, we have many hedge-breakers, few hedg-makers: many openers of gaps, few stoppers, many breakers of breaches, to let in the floods of God's wrath upon us, but very few, that by true repentance go about to make up the breach, and to let down the sluices, that the gushing streams of God's vengeance may be stopped and stayed. Phila. I do now plainly see, that there be some in high favour with God, and, as we say, greatly in his books; sith his love is so great unto them, that for their sakes he spareth thousands. Theol. It is written in the Proverbs of Solomon, that the righteous in a land, are the establishment of the king's throne; and the wicked, the overthrowing of the same. The words are these: Take away the dross from the silver, Pro. 25. 4. and there will proceed a vessel for the finer. Take away the wicked from the King, and his throne shall be established in righteousness. Likewise in another place the wise man affirmeth, that the righteous are the strength and bulwark of Cities, Towns, and Corporations: but the wicked are the weakening & undoing of all. Scornful men, saith he, set a City Pro. 29. 8. on fire; but the wise turn away wrath. To this purpose, most excellent is that saying of Eliphas in job; The innocent shall deliver the Island; and job. 23. 30. it shall be preserved by the pureness of their hands. We read in the book of the Chronicles, that when the Levites & the Priests were cast out by jeroboam, they came to jerusalem, and all such as set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel came with them. And then afterward 2. Chron. 11. 13. it is said, they strengthened the kingdom of judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon mighty. By all these testimonies it is evident, that princes, kingdoms, cities, towns & villages, are fortified by the righteous therein: and for their sakes also great plagues are kept back. Which thing one of the heathen did well see into, as appeareth by his words, which are these: When God meaneth well unto a city, and will do good unto it, than he raiseth up good men: but when he meaneth to punish a city or country, and do ill unto it, than he taketh away the good men from it. Phil. It is very manifest by all that you have alleged, that the wicked fare the better every day in the year, for the righteous that dwell amongst them. Theol. All experience doth teach it: and the scriptures do plentifully avouch it. For did not churlish Laban fare the better for jacob his Gen. 30. 27. Gen. 39 5. kinsman? Doth he not acknowledge, that the Lord had blessed him for his sake? Did not Potiphar fare the better for godly joseph? Doth not the Scripture say, that the Lord blessed the Egyptians house for joseph his sake? and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his 2. Sam. 6. 11. hand? Did not Obed-edom fare the better for the Ark? Did not the seventy and six souls, that were in the ship with Paul, speed all the Act. 27. 24. better for his sake? Did not the Angel of God tell him in the night, that God had given unto him, all that sailed with him? for otherwise, a thousand to one, they had been all drowned. Therefore the children of God may very fitly be compared to a great piece of cork, which though it be cast into the sea, having many nails fastened in it, yet it beareth them all up from sinking: which otherwise, would sink of themselves. What shall we say then? or what shall we conclude? but that the ungodly are more beholden to the righteous, than they are aware of. Phila. I do think, if it were not for God's children, it would go hard with the wicked. For, if they were sorted and shoaled out from amongst them, and placed by themselves, what could they look for; but wrath upon wrath, and plague upon plague? till the Lord had made a final consumption of them, and swept them like dung, from the face of the earth. Theo. Sure it is, all creatures would frown upon them. The Sun would unwillingly shine upon them: or the Moon give them any light. The Stars would not be seen of them: and the Planets would hide themselves. The beasts would devour them: the fowls would pick out their eyes. The fishes would make war against them: and all creatures in heaven and earth would rise up in arms against them. Yea, the Lord himself from heaven, would rain down fire and brimstone upon them. Phila. Yet for all this, it is a wonder to consider how deadly the wicked hate the righteous, and almost in every thing oppose themselves against them: and that in most virulent and spiteful manner. They rail and slander, scoff and scorn, mock and mow at them: as though they were not worthy to live upon the earth. They esteem every pelting rascal, and prefer every vile varlet, before them. And though they have their lives and liberty, their breath and safety, and all that they have else, by them, yet, for all that, they could be content to eat their hearts with garlic: so great, so fiery, so burning and hissing hot is their fury and malice against them. Theol. They may very fitly be compared to a Moth that fretteth in pieces the same cloth wherein she is bred. Or to a certain worm, or canker, that corrodeth, and eateth thorough the heart of the tree that nourisheth her. Or unto a man that standeth upon a bough in the top of a tree, where there is no more: and yet, with an axe choppeth it off, and therewithal falleth down with it, and breaketh his neck. Even so, the fools of this world do what they can, to chop asunder the bough that upholds them: but they may easily know what will follow. Phila. I see plainly, they be much their own foes, and stand in their own light, and indeed know not what they do. For the benefit which they receive by such, is exceeding great; and therefore by their mangling of them, they do but hold the stirrup to their own destruction. Theol. Now to apply these things to ourselves, and to return to the first question of this argument: may we not marvel, that our nation is so long spared; considering that the sins thereof are so horrible and outrageous as they be? Phila. We may justly marvel at the wonderful patience of God. And we may well think that there be some in the land, which stand in the breach; being in no small favour with his highness; sith they do so much prevail. Theo. The merciful preservation of our most gracious king (who is the breath of our nostrils) the long continuance of our peace, and of the Gospel: the keeping back of the sword out of the land, which our sins pull upon us: the frustrating of many plots and subtle devices, which have been often intended against our state, yea, and the life of his majesties most royal person: make me to think, that there be some strong pleaders with God, for the public good of us all. Phila. You may well think so indeed: For, by our sins, we have forfeited (and daily do forfeit, into God's hands) both our King, our Country, our Peace, our Gospel, our lives, our goods, our lands, our livings, our wives, our children, and all that we have: but only the righteous (which are so near about the King, and in so high favour) do step in, and earnestly entreat for us, that the forfeitures may be released, and that we may have a lease (in parley) of them all again; or at least a grant of further time. But I pray you sir, are not we to attribute something, concerning our good estate, to the policy of the land, the laws established, and the wisdom and counsel of our prudent Governors? Theol. Yes assuredly, very much: as the ordinary and outward means, which God useth for our safety. For though the Apostle Paul had a grant from God for the safety of his own life, & all that were with him in the ship; yet he said, Except the mariners abide in the ship, we can not be safe. Showing thereby, that unto faith Act. 17. 3. and prayers, the best and wisest means must be joined. We are therefore, upon our knees every day to give thanks unto God for such good means of our safety, as he hath given us. Phila. Well then, as the prayers of the righteous have been hitherto great means, both for the averting and turning away of wrath and the continuance of favour; so show, I pray you, what is the best course to be taken, & what in sound wisdom is to be done, both to prevent future dangers, and to continue God's favours and mercies still upon us. Theol. The best and surest course, that I can consider or conceive of, is, to repent heartily for sins past, and to reform our lives in time to come, to seek the Lord while he may be found, and to call upon him while he is near: to forsake our own ways, and our own imaginations, and to turn unto him with all our hearts, with weeping, with fasting, and with mourning; as the Prophet joel adviseth: For joel. 2. our God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. All the Prophets do counsel us to follow this course, and do plainly teach, that if we all (from the highest to the lowest) do meet the Lord with unfeigned repentance, and offer him the sacrifice of a contrite spirit, undoubtedly he will be pacified towards us, and be merciful to our transgressions. This is most plainly set down in the seventh of jeremy, where the Lord saith thus to his people: jer. y. If you amend and redress your ways and your works: If you execute judgement betwixt a man and his neighbour, and oppress not the stranger, the fatherless and the widow, and shed no innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods, to your destruction: then will I let you dwell in this place; even in the land which I gave unto your fathers, for ever and ever. So likewise he saith by the same Prophet. Execute ye judgement and jer. 22 3. righteousness, and deliver the oppressed from the hand of the oppressor, and vex not the fatherless, the widow or the strangers; do no violence, nor shed innocent blood in this place. For if you do this thing, then shall the Kings sitting upon the Throne of David, enter in by the gates of this house, and ride upon chariots and upon horses, both he, and his servants and his people. And again: O ye jer. 3. 22. disobedient children return, and I will heal your rebellion. The Lord also saith by his Prophet Esay; If ye consent and obey, ye Esay. 1. 19 shall eat the good things of the land; but if ye refuse and be rebellious, ye shall be devoured with the sword. For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. The Prophet Hosea saith: Come let us return to the Lord: for Hos. 6. 1. he hath spoiled, and he will heal us: he hath wounded us, and he will bind us up. And again: O Israel return unto the Lord, (for Hos. 13. 1. thou hast fallen by thine iniquity) and I will heal thy rebellion, and will love thee freely: for mine anger is turned away from thee. I will be as the dew unto Israel; he shall grow as the Lily, and fasten his root as the tree of Lebanon; his branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the Olive tree; and his smell as Lebanon. The Prophet Michah telleth us what is good for us, and what is our best course, and what the Lord requireth at our hands: namely these four things: To do justly, to love mercy, Mic. 6. 8. to humble ourselves, and to walk with our God. The Prophet Amos giveth the same Amos. 5. 14. counsel, saying: Seek the Lord, and ye shall live. Seek good, and not evil. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgement in the gate. It may be, that the Lord of Hosts will be merciful unto the remnant of joseph. Also the Lord himself saith; If this Nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their wickedness, I will repent of the plague I thought to bring upon them. jere. 8. 8. Thus we do plainly see, what advice and counsel the Prophets and holy men of God do give unto us. The sum of all is this; that if we do truly repent and turn unto him with all our hearts (studying to obey him, and walk in his ways) than he will grant us any favour, that we will require at his hands. For, even as woolpacks, and other sost matter, beateth back, and dampeth the force of all shot: so penitent, melting, and soft hearts, do beat back the shot of God's wrath, and turn away his vengeance from us. Moreover, we may observe in all experience, that when potentates are offended, or any great man hath conceived a displeasure against a poor man, that then he must run and ride, send presents, use his friends, break his sleeps, and never be quiet till he have pacified him. Even so must we deal with our God, seeing he hath taken a displeasure against us. Oh therefore that we would speedily use all possible means, to pacify his wrath! Oh that we would, with one heart and voice, every one of us (from the highest to the lowest) humble ourselves before our God, forsake our former evil ways, be grieved for that we have done, and purpose never to do the like again! Oh that it might go to the hearts of us, that we have so often & so grievously offended so loving a God, and so merciful a Father! Oh that we would awakeonce at last, & rouse up our drowsy hearts, & ransack our sleepy consciences, crying out against our sins; that our sins might never cry out against us! Oh that we would judge ourselves, accuie ourselves, indite ourselves, and condemn ourselves; so should we never be adjudged, accused, indited or condemned of the Lord! Oh that all hearts might sob, all souls might sigh, all loins might be smitten with sorrow, all faces gather blackness, and every man smite himself one the thigh, saying: What have I done? Oh, that both Magistracy, Ministry, and commonalty, would purpose and vow, and even take a bond of themselves, that from hence forth, and from this day forward they would set their hearts to seek the Lord: and that they would wholly give up themselves to his obedience! Oh that all men, women, and children would fear God, & keep his commandments: would eschew evil, and do good: would study to please God in allthings, and to be fruitful in all good works: making conscience to perform the duties of their general callings, and duties of their special callings: duties of the first Table, and duties of the second Table: that so God might be sincerely worshipped, his name truly reverenced, his Sabbaths religiously observed; & that every man would deal kindly, mercifully, justly, & uprightly with his neighbour: that there might be no complaining, no crying in our streets! Oh I say again, & again, that if all of us, of what estate, degree, or condition soever, would walk in the paths of our God; then doubtless we should live and see good days, all future dangers should be prevented, our peace prolonged, our state established, our King preserved, and the Gospel continued. Then should we still enjoy our lives, our goods, our lands, our livings, cur wives, our children, our houses, and tenements, our Orchards, and Gardens: yea, as the Prophet saith, we should eat the good things of the land, spending our days in much comfort, peace and tranquillity: and leave great blissing unto our children and posterity, from age to age, from generation to generation. Phila. You have fully answered my question, and well satisfied me therein, out of the scriptures: yet I pray you give me leave to add one thing unto that, which you have at large set down. The Lord saith by the Prophet Amos, that for their sins and rebellions, he had given them cleanness of teeth: that is, dearth and scarcity: and yet they did not turn unto him. Also he withheld the rain from them, and punished them with drought, and yet they did not turn unto him. Moreover he smote their Corn, their great Gardens, their Orchards, Vineyards, Figtrees, and Olive-trees, with blasting and mildeaw, and the Palmerworm did devour them; and yet they did not return unto him. Last of all, he smote them with pestilence, and with the sword, and overthrew them, as he overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and they were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet, for all this, they did not turn unto him. Ye have not turned unto me, saith the Lord. But now to come to the point. Out of this I Amos. 4. 6. 7. gather, that if we multiply our transgressions, God will multiply his plagues upon us: but on the contrary, if we would unfeignedly turn unto the Lord our God with all our hearts, all plagues should be stayed, all dangers prevented; and no evil should fall upon us. For because they would not turn, therefore he smote them. If therefore they had turned, he would not have smote them. But now I pray you briefly conclude this point, and declare in few words, what it is that doth most materially concern our peace, and public good. Theol. These few then briefly, I take to be the things which belong to our peace: Let Solomon execute joab and Shemei. Ten things concerning our peace. Let john and Eliah slay the Priests and Prophets of Baal. Let Aaron and Eleazar minister before the Lord faithfully. Let jonas be cast out of the ship. Let Moses stand fast in the gap, and not let down his hand. Let josuah succeed him. Let Cornelius fear God, with all his household. Let Tabytha be full of good works, and almsdeeds. Let Deborah judge long in Israel, prosper, and be victorious. Let us all prey that the light of Israel may not be quenched. And this I take to be the sum of all, that belongeth to our peace. Phila. The sum of all our conference hitherto, as I remember, may be reduced unto these few heads: First, man's natural corruption hath been laid open. Secondly, the horrible fruits thereof. Thirdly, their evil effects and workings, both against our souls and bodies, goods, name, and the whole land. Lastly, the remedies of all. Now therefore I would grow to some conclusion of that which you touched by the way, and made some mention of: namely, the signs of salvation and damnation: and declare unto us plainly, whether the state of a man's soul, before God, may not by certain signs and tokens, be certainly discerned even in this life. Theol. Besides those which before have been mentioned, we may add these nine following: Reverence of God's name. Nine signs of a sound soul. Keeping of his Sabbaths. Truth. Sobriety. industry. Compassion. Humility. Chastity. Contentation. Phila. These indeed, I grant, are very good signs: but yet all of them are not certain. For some of them may be in the reprobates. Theol. What say you then to Saint Peter's signs, which are set down in the first chapter of his second Epistle: which are these eight? Faith. S. Peter's eight signs of salvation. Virtue: Knowledge. Temperance. Patience. Godliness. Brotherly kindness. love. Saint Peter saith: If these be in us, and abound, they will make us neither idle, nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord jesus. Which is as much as if he had said: they will make us sound and sincere Professors of the Gospel. Phila. All these, I grant, are exceeding good signs and evidences of a man's salvation: but yet some of them may deceive; and an hole may be picked in some of these evidences. I would therefore hear of some such demonstrative and infallible evidences, as no Lawyer can find fault with. For I hold, that good Divines can as perfectly judge of the assurances and evidences of men's salvation: as the best Lawyer can judge of the assurances and evidences, whereby men hold their lands and livings. Theol. You have spoken truly, in that. And would to God all the Lords people would bring forth the evidences of their salvation: that we might discern of them. Phila. Set down then, which be the most certain and infallible evidences of a man's salvation: against the which no exception can be Seven infallible signs of salvation. Acts 16. 31. Pro. 11. 20. joh. 1. 47. taken. Theol. I judge these to be most sound and infallible: Assured faith in the promises. Sincerity of heart. The spirit of adoption. Sound Regeneration, and Sanctification. Rom. 8. 14. joh. 4. 3. 1. Thes. 4. 5. Rom. 5. 1. Col. 1. 23. Mat. 24. 13. Inward peace. groundedness in the truth. Continuance to the end. Phila. Now you come near the quick indeed. For, in my judgement, none of these can be found truly in any reprobat. Therefore I think no Divine can take exception against any of these. Theo. No, I assure you: no more than a Lawyer can find fault with the Tenure of men's lands, and fee-simples, when as both the Title is good & strong by the law, and the evidences thereof are sealed, subscribed, delivered, conveyed, and sufficient witness upon the same, and all other signs and ceremonies (in the delivering and taking possession thereof) according to strict law observed. For if a man have these forenamed evidences of his salvation, sure it is, his Title and interest to heaven is good, by the law of Moses, and the Prophets: I mean the word of God. God himself subscribeth to them: Jesus Christ delivereth them as his own deed: the holy Ghost sealeth unto them: yea, the three great witnesses, which bear record in the earth (that is, water, blood, and the spirit) do all witness the same. Phila. Now, you have very fully satisfied me touching this point. And one thing more I do gather out of all your speech: to wit, that you do think, a man may be assured of his salvation, even in this life. Theol. I do think so indeed. For he, that knoweth not in this life that he shall be saved, shall never be saved after this life. For S. john 1. john. 3. 2. saith: Now are we made the sons of God. Phila. But because many doubt of this, and the Papists do altogether deny it: therefore I pray you confirm it unto us out of the Scriptures. Theol. The Apostle saith: We know that if 2. Cor. 5. 1. our earthly house of this Tabernacle be destroyed, we have a building given us of God: that is, an house not made with hands, but eternal in the heavens. Mark, that he saith, both he, and the rest of God's people, did certainly know, that heaven was provided for them. For the spirit of adoption beareth witness with our spirits, that we are the children of God. And again, the same Apostle saith: From henceforth is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous Rom. 8. 15. 16. 2. Tim. 4. 8. judge shall give me at that day; not to me only, but to all them that love his appearing. Here we see, that he knew there was a crown prepared for him, and for all the elect. And the same spirit, which did assure it unto Paul doth assure it also to all the children of God. For they all have the same spirit: though not in the same measure. S. john saith also: 1. Ioh 2. 3. Hereby we are sure we know him; If we keep his Commandments. In-which words, S. john telleth us thus much: that if we do unfeignedly endeavour to obey God, there is in us the true knowledge and fear of God: and consequently, we are sure we shall be saved. S. Peter saith: Give all diligence, to make your 2. Pet. 1. 10. calling and election sure. Wherefore should the Apostle exhort us, to make our election sure, if none could be sure of it? In the second to the Ephesians the Apostle saith flatly, that in Christ jesus we do already sit together in the heavenly places. His meaning is not, that we are there already in possession: but we are as sure of it, as if we were there already. The reasons hereof are these: Christ our head is in joh. 22. 32. joh. 14. 13 possession: Therefore he will draw all his members unto him, as he himself saith. Secondly, we are as sure of the thing which we hope for, as of that which we have. But we are sure of that which we have; which is the work of grace; Therefore we are sure of that we look for; which is the crown of glory. Many other places of the holy Scriptures might be alleged to this purpose: but I suppose, these may suffice. Phila. As you have showed this by the Scriptures; So also show it yet more plainly, by evident reason out of the same. Theol. How can a man in truth call God his Father? (when he saith: Our Father which art in Heaven) and yet doubt, whether he be his Father or no? For if God indeed be our Father, and we his children, how can we perish? how can we be damned? will a father condemn his own children? or shall the children of God be condemned? No, no. There is no condemnation Rom. 8. 1. Rom. 8. 33. 34. to them that are in Christ jesus. And, who can lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect? It is God that justifieth, who can condemn? It is therefore most certain and sure, that all such, as do in truth call God their Father, and have God for their Father, shall be saved. Again, how can a man say, in truth and feeling, that he believeth the forgiveness of sin, and yet doubt whether he shall be saved? For if he be fully persuaded that his sins are forgiven, what letteth why he should not be saved? Moreover, as certainly as we know that we are called, justified, and sanctified: so certainly we know we shall be glorified. But we know the one certainly: and therefore the other. Asune. I will never believe, that any man can certainly know in this world, whether he shall be saved, or damned; but all men must hope well, and be of a good belief. Theol. Nay: we must go further than hope well. We may not venture our salvation upon uncertain hopes. As, if a man should hope it would be a fair day to morrow: but he cannot certainly tell. No, no. We must in this case, being of such infinite importance as it is, grow to some certainty, and full resolution. We see, worldly men will be loath to hold their lands and leases uncertainly, having nothing to show for them. They will not stand to the courtesy of their landlords, nor rest upon their good wills. They will not stay upon uncertain hope. No; they are wiser than so. For the children of this world are wiser in their generation, than the children of light. They will be sure to have something to show. They will have it under seal. They will not stay upon the words and promises of the most honest Luke. 16. men, and best Landlords. They cannot be quiet, till they have it in white and black, with sound counsel upon their Title; and every way made as sure unto them, as any Law of the Land can make it. Are then the children of this world so wise in these inferior things, and shall not we be as wise in matters of ten thousand times more importance? Are they so wise for earth, and shall not we be as wise for Heaven? Are they so wise for their bodies, and shall not we be as wise for our souls? Shall we hold the state of our immortal inheritance by hope well; and have no writings, nor evidences, no seals, no witnesses, nor any thing to show for it? Alas, this is a weak Tenure, a broken title, a simple hold indeed. Asune. Yet for all that a man cannot be certain. Theol. Yes, S. john telleth us, we may be certain. For he saith: Hereby we know we 1. john. 4. 13. dwell in him, and he in us; because he hath given us of his spirit. He saith not, we hope; but we know certainly. For he that hath the spirit of God, knoweth certainly he hath it; and he that hath faith, knoweth that he hath faith; & he that shall be saved, knoweth he shall be saved. For God doth not work so darkly in men's hearts, by his spirit, but that they may easily know whether it be of him or no, if they would make a due trial. Again, the same Apostle saith: He that believeth in the Son of God, 1. john. 5. 10. hath the witness in himself. That is, he hath certain testimonies in his own conscience, that he shall be saved. For we must fetch the warrant of our salvation from within ourselves: even from the work of God within us. For look, how much a man feeleth in himself the increase of knowledge, obedience, & godliness; so much the more sure he is, that he shall be saved. A man's own conscience is of great force this way: and will not lie, or deceive. For so saith the wise man: As water showeth face to Pro. 27. 19 face, so doth the heart, man unto man; That is, the mind and conscience of every man telleth him justly (though not perfectly) what he is. For the conscience will not lie: but accuse, or excuse a man; being in stead of a thousand witnesses. The Apostle also saith; No man knoweth the 1. Cor. 2. 11. Pro. 20. 27. things of man, but the spirit of a man that is in him. And again, the Scripture saith; Man's soul is, as it were, the candle of the Lord: whereby he searcheth all the bowels of the belly. So than it is a clear case, that a man must have recourse to the work of God's grace within him, even in his own soul. For thereby he shall be certainly resolved, one way or another. For even as Rebecca knew certainly, by the striving and stirring of the twins in her womb, that she was conceived and quick of child; so God's children know certainly, by the motions and stirring of the holy Ghost within them, that they have conceived Christ, and shall undoubtedly be saved. Phila. I pray you, let us come to the ground work of this certainty of salvation, and speak somewhat of that. Theo. The groundwork of our salvation is laid in God's eternal election, and in respect thereof it standeth fast and unmovable; as it is written: The foundation of God standeth fast. 2. Tim. 2. 19 1. Thes. 5. 2. Tim. 2. 13. And again: He is faithful, that hath promised: though we cannot believe, yet he abideth faithful. So then, as we know it certainly in ourselves, by the consequents of election; so it standeth most firm in respect of God, and his eternal and immutable decree. And a thousand infirmities (nay all the sins in the world, nor all the devils in hell) cannot overthrow God's election. For our Lord Jesus saith; All that the joh. 6. 37. Father hath given me, shall come unto me. And again: This is the Father's will that hath joh. 6. 39 sent me: that of all which he hath given me, I should lose nothing: but should raise it up again, at the last day. And in another place, joh. 10. 27. our Saviour Christ saith; My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish: neither shall any pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them me, is greater than all; and none is able to take them out of my Father's hand. We ought therefore to be as sure of our salvation, as of any other thing which God hath promised, or which we are bound to believe. For to doubt thereof, in respect of God's truth, is blasphemous against the immutability of his truth. Philag. But, are there not some doubts, at some times, even in the very Elect, and in those which are grown to the greatest persuasion? Theol. Yes verily. For he that never doubted, never believed. For whosoever believeth in truth, feeleth sometimes doubtings and waver. Even as the sound body feeleth many grudge of diseases, which if he hath not health, he could not feel: so the sound soul feeleth some doubtings: which if it were not sound, it could not so easily feel. For we feel not corruption, by corruption; but we feel corruption, by grace. And the more grace we have, the more quick are we in the feeling of corruption. Some men of tender skins, and quick feeling, will easily feel the lightest feather, in softer manner laid upon the ball of their hands; which others, of more slow feeling and hard flesh, cannot so easily discern. So than it is certain, that although the children of God feel some doubtings, at sometimes; yet the same do no whit impeach the certainty of their salvation: but rather argue a perfect soundness and health of their souls. For, when such little grudge are felt in the soul, the children of God oppose against them the certainty of God's truth and promises: and so do easily overcome them. For the Lords people need no more to fear them, than he that rideth thorough the streets upon a lusty gelding with his sword by his side, needs to fear the barking and bawling of a few little curs and whappets. Phila. Show yet more plainly, how, or in what respects the child of God may both have doubtings, and yet be fully assured. Theol. Even as a man, set in the top of the highest steeple in the world, and so fast bound unto it, that he cannot fall though he would; yet when he looketh downward, he feareth, because man's nature is not acquainted, nor accustomed to mount so high in the air, and to behold the earth so far beneath: but when he looketh upward, and perceiveth himself fast bound, and out of all danger, than he casteth away all fear. Even so when we look downward to ourselves, we have doubts and fears: but when we look upward to Christ, and the truth of his promises, we feel ourselves cocksure, and cease to doubt any more. Phila. Declare unto us, what is the original of these doubts and fears, and from whence they spring in the children of God. Theol. They spring from the imperfection of our regeneration, and from that strife which is in the very mind of the elect, between faith and infidelity. For these two do mightily fight together in the most regenerate, and strive to over master, and overshadow one another. By reason whereof, sometimes it cometh to pass, through the prevailing of unbelief, that the most excellent servants of God may fall into fits and pangs of despair, as job and David, in their temptations did. And even in these days also, some of God's children at sometimes are shrewdly handled this way, and brought very low; even unto death's door: but yet the Lord in great mercy doth recover them, both from total and final despair. Only they are humbled and tried by these sharp fits, for a time, and that for their great good. For as we use to say, that an Ague in a young man is a sign of health: so these burning fits of temptations, in the elect, for the most part, are signs of God's grace and favour. For, if they were not of God, the devil would never be so busy with them. Phila. Is it not mere presumption, and an overmuch trusting to ourselves, to be persuaded of our salvation? Theol. Nothing less. For the ground of this persuasion is not laid in ourselves, or any thing within us, or without us; but only in the righteousness of Christ, and the merciful promises of God. For, is it any presumption for us to believe that, which God hath promised, Christ hath purchased, and the holy Ghost hath sealed? No verily, it is not any presumption; but a thing which we all stand bound unto, as we will answer it at the dreadful day of judgement. As for ourselves, we do freely confess, that in God's sight we are but lumps of sin and masses of all misery; and cannot of ourselves move hand or foot to the furtherance of our salvation. But being justified by faith, we are at peace with God, and fully persuaded of his love and favour toward us, in Christ. Phila. Cannot the Reprobates and ungodly be assured of their salvation? Theo. No. For the Prophet saith: There is Esay. 57 22. no peace to the wicked. Then I reason thus: They which have not the inward peace, cannot be assured. But the wicked have not the inward peace. Therefore they cannot be assured. Steadfast faith in the promises doth assure. But the wicked have not steadfast faith in the promises. Therefore they cannot be assured. The spirit of adoption doth assure. But the wicked have not the spirit of adoption. Therefore they cannot be assured. To conclude, when a man feeleth in himself an evil conscience, blindness, profaneness, and disobedience, he shall (in despite of his heart) sing this doleful song: I know not whether I shall be saved or damned. Phila. Is not the doctrine of the assurance of salvation, a most comfortable doctrine? Theol. Yes doubtless. For except a man be persuaded of the favour of God, and the forgiveness of sins, and consequently of his salvation, what comfort can he have in any thing? Besides this, the persuasion of God's love towards us, is the root of all our love and cheerful obedience towards him. For therefore we love him and obey him, because we know he hath loved us first, and written our names in the book of life. But on the contrary, the Doctrine of the Papists, which would have men always doubt and fear in a servile sort, is most hellish and uncomfortable. For so long as a man holds that, what encouragement can he have to serve God? What love to his Majesty? What hope in the promises? What comfort in trouble? What patience in adversity? Antil. Touching this point, I am flat of your mind. For I think verily, a man ought to be persuaded of his salvation. And for mine own part, I make no question of it. I hope to be saved, as well as the best of them all. I am out of fear for that. For I have such a steadfast faith in God, that, if there should be but two in the world saved, I hope I should be one of them. Theol. You are very confident indeed. You are persuaded before you know. I would your ground were as good, as your vain confidence. But who is so bold as blind Bayard? Your hope is but a fancy, and as a sick man's dream. You hope you can not tell what. You have no ground for that you say. For, what hope can you have to be saved, when you walk in no path of salvation? What hope can a man have to come to London speedily, that traveleth nothing that way, but quite contrary? What hope can a man have to reap a good crop of corn, that useth no means, neither ploweth, soweth, nor harroweth? What hope can a man have to be fat and well liking of his body, that seldom or never eateth any meat? What hope can a man have to escape drowning, which leapeth into the Sea? Even so, what hope can you have to be saved, when you walk nothing that way, when you use no means, when you do all things that are contrary unto the same? For, alas, there is nothing in you of those things, which the Scriptures do affirm must be, in all those that shall be saved. There be none of the forenamed signs and tokens in you. You are ignorant, profane and careless. God is not worshipped under your roof. There is no true fear of God in yourself nor in your household. You seldom hear the word preached. You content yourself with an ignorant Minister. You have no prayers in your family, no reading, no singing of psalms, no instructions, exhortations, or admonitions, or any other Christian exercises. You make no conscience of the observation of the Sabbaths; you use not the name of God with any reverence; you break out sometimes into horrible dathes and cursings; you make an ordinary matter of swearing by your faith, & your troth. Your wife is irreligious, your children dissolute and ungracious, your servants profane & careless. You are an example in your own house of all Atheism, and conscienceles behaviour. You are a great gamester, a rioter, a spendthrift, a drinker, a common ale-house-haunter, an whore hunter; and, to conclude, given to all vice and naughtiness. Now then, I pray you tell me, or rather let your conscience tell me, what hope you can have to be saved, so long as you walk and continue in this course? Doth not S. john say; If we say we have fellowship 1. joh. 1. 6. with him, and walk in darkness, we are liars? Doth not the same Apostle avouch, that 1. joh. 2. 4. such as say they know God, and keep not his commandments, are liars? Again doth he not say: Heth at committeth 1. joh. 3. 8. 10. sin, is of the Devil; And whosoever doth not righteousness, is not of God? Doth not our Lord Jesus flatly tell the Jews (which bragged that Abraham was their father) that they were of their father the devil: because they did his works? Doth not the Apostle Paul say; His Rome 6. 16. servants we are, to whom we obey; whether it be of sin, unto death, or of obedience, unto righteousness? Doth not the scripture say; He that joh. 3. 7. doth righteousness, is righteous? Doth not our Lord Jesus affirm: that nor every one that Mat. 7. 21. saith Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doth the will of my father which is in Heaven? Therefore I conclude: that, forasmuch as your whole course is carnal, careless, and dissolute, you can have no warrantable hope to be saved. Phila. I do verily think, that this man's case (which now you have laid open) is the case of thousands. Theo. Yea, doubtless (of thousand thousands) the more is the pity. Asune. Soft and fair, sir, you are very round indeed. Soft fire maketh sweet malt. I hope you know we must be saved by mercy: and not by merit. If I should do all myself, wherefore serveth Christ? I hope that which I cannot do, he will do for me. And I hope to be saved by jesus Christ as well as the best of you all. Theol. Oh, now I see which way the game goeth. You would fain make Christ a cloak for your sins. You will sin, that grace may abound. You will sin frankly, and set all upon Christ's score. Truly there be many thousands of your mind, which, hearing of God's abundant mercy in Christ, are thereby made more bold to sin. But they shall know one day, to their cost, what it is so to abuse the mercy of God. The Apostle saith: The mercy and loving Rom. 2. kindness of God should lead us to repentance. But we see, it leadeth many to further hardness of heart. The Prophet saith: With him is mercy, that he may be feared. But many thereby are made more secure and careless. But to come nearer the mark: you say, you hope to be saved by Jesus Christ. And I answer: that if those things be found in you, which the Scriptures do avouch to be in all that shall be saved by him, than you may have good 9 Things required of all that shall be saved by Christ. 2. Cor. 5. 17. 1. Pet. 4. 2. confidence, and assured hope: otherwise not. Now the Scriptures do thus determine it, and set it down: That if a man be in Christ, and look to be saved by him, he must be endued with these qualities following: First he must be a new creature. Secondly, he must live, not after the lusts of men: but after the will of God. Thirdly, he must be zealous of good works. 'tis 2. 14. Rom. 6. 14. Fourthly, he must die to sin, and live to righteousness. Fiftly, he must be holy and unblamable. Sixtly, he must so walk, as Christ hath walked. Col. 1. 22. john 2. 6. Gal. 5. 24. Seventhly, he must crucify the flesh, with the affections and lusts. Eigthly, he must walk, not after the flesh, but Rom. 8. 1. after the spirit. Last of all, he must serve God in righteousness Luke. 1. 75. and true holiness, all the days of his life. Lo than what things are required of all that shallbe saved by Christ. Now therefore, if these things be in you in some measure of tenth, than your hope is currant, sound, & good: otherwise, it is nothing worth. For in vain do men say, they hope to be saved by Christ, when as they walk dissolutely. The reason hereof is: because the members must be suitable to the head. But Christ our head is holy: therefore we his members must be holy also; as it is written: Be ye 1. Pet. 1. 16. holy, for I am holy. Otherwise, if we will join profane & unholy members to our holy head Christ, than we make Christ a monster. As if a man should join unto the head of a Lion, the neck of a Bear, the body of a Wolf, and the legs of a Fox: were it not a monstrous thing: would it not make a monstrous creature? Even such a thing do they go about, which would have Swearers, Drunkards, Whoremongers, and such like, to be the members of Christ, and to have life and salvation by him. But sith you do so much presume of Christ, I pray you let me ask you a question. Antil. What is that? Theol. How do you know that Christ died for you particularly, and by name? Antile. Christ died for all men, and therefore for me. Theol. But, all men shall not be saved by Christ. How therefore do you know that you are one of them that have special interest in Christ, and shall be saved by his death? Antil. This I know that we are all sinners, and cannot be saved by any other then by Christ. Theol. Answer directly to my question. How do you know in yourself, and for yourself, that you are one of the Elect, and one of those, for whom Christ died? Antil. I know it, by my good faith in God: because I put my whole trust in him, and in none other. Theol. But, how know you, that you have faith? or how shall a man know his faith? Antile. I know it by this; that I have always had as good a meaning, and as good a faith to Godward as any man of my calling, and that is not book-learned. I have always feared God with all my heart, and served him with my prayers. Theol. Tush: now you go about the bush, and hover in the air. Answer me to the point. How do you know certainly and assuredly, that Christ died for you particularly & by name. Antil. You would make a man mad. You put me out of my faith: you drive me from Christ. But if you go about to drive me from Christ, I will never believe you. For I know we must be saved only by him. Theo. I go not about to drive you from Christ, but to drive you to Christ. For how can I drive you from Christ, seeing you never came near him? How can I drive you out of Christ, seeing you were never in him? But this is it, that deceiveth you, & many others; that you think you believe in Christ, because you say you believe in Christ. As though faith consisted in words: or, as though a man had faith, because he saith so, If every one that saith he hath faith, therefore hath faith: & every one that saith he believeth in Christ, doth therefore believe: then who will not have faith? who will not believe? But in very deed, your faith, and the faith of many others, is nothing else but a mere imagination. But all this while, you have not answered my question, touching your particular knowledge of Christ. Antile. I can answer you no otherwise then I have answered you. And I think I have answered you sufficiently. Theol. No, no; you falter in your speech: your answer is not worth a button, you speak you wot not what, you are altogether befogd and benighted in this question. But, if there were in your heart the true knowledge, & lively feeling of God, than I am sure you would have yielded another, and a better answer. Then you would have spoken something from the sense and feeling of your own heart & from the work of God's grace within you: but because you can yield no sound reason, that Christ died for you particularly, and by name; therefore I suspect you are none of them which have proper interest in him, and in whom his death taketh effect indeed. Phila. I think this question would gravel a great number: and few there be that can answer it aright. Theol. It is most certain. I do know it by lamentable experience, that not one of an hundred can sound and sufficiently answer this question: none, indeed, but only those, in whom the new work is wrought, & do by the inward work of the spirit feel Christ to be theirs. I have talked with some, which are both witty, sensible, and learned: who notwithstanding when they have been brought to this very point and issue, have stuck sore at it, & staggered very much. And howsoever they might by wit and learning shuffle it over, and in a plundered sort, speak reason: yet had they no feeling of that which they said, and therefore no assurance: and consequently as good never a whit, as never the better. It is the sanctifying spirit, that giveth feeling in this point. And therefore, without the feeling of the operation of the same spirit, it can never be sound answered. Thus then, I do close up this whole matter: As the vinebrauch cannot live and bring forth fruit, except it abide in the Ume: no more can we, except we abide in Christ, and be truly grafted into him by a lively faith. None can have any benefit by him, but they only which dwell in him. None can live by Christ, but they which are changed into Christ. None are partakers of his body, but they which are in his body. None can be saved by Christ crucified, but they which are crucified with Christ. None can live with him being dead, but those which die with him being alive. Therefore let us root downward in mortification, that we may shoot upward in sanctification. Let us die to sin, that we may live to righteousness: Let us die while we are alive, that we may live when we are dead. Asune. If none can be saved by Christ, but only those which are so qualified as you speak of, than Lord have mercy upon us: then the way to heaven is very strait indeed, and few at all shall be saved. For there be few such in the world. Theo. You are no whit therein deceived. For when all comes to all, it is most certain, that few shall be saved. Which thing I will show unto you, both by scripture, reason, and examples. Asune. First then, let us hear it proved by the scriptures. Theo. Our Lord Jesus saith: Enter in at the Mat. 7. 1. strait gate. For, it is the wide gate and broad way that leadeth to destruction: and many there be which go in thereat: because the gate is straight, and the way narrow that leadeth unto life, & few there be that find it. Again he saith, Many are called, but few are chosen. In another Mat. 20. 16. place, we read of a certain man which came to our saviour Christ, & asked him of purpose whether few should be saved. To whom our Lord Jesus answered thus: Strive to enter in at the strait gate. For many (I say unto you) Luk. 13. 14. will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. In which answer, albeit our Saviour doth not answer directly to his question, either negatively or affirmatively; yet doth he plainly insinuate by his speeches, that few shall be saved. For first he bids us strive earnestly: noting thereby, that it is a matter of great strife against the world, the flesh, and the devil. Secondly, he affirmeth, that the gate is very strait: noting, that none can enter in, without vehement crowding, and almost breaking their shoulder bones. Lastly, he saith; that many which seek to enter in, shall not be able: noting thereby, that even of them that seek, many shall step short; because they seek him not aright. Esaias also saith: Except the Lord of Hosts had left us a Esay. 1. 9 seed, we had been as Sodom, and had been like to omorrha. The Apostle also all allegeth Esay. 10. 22. Rom. 9 28. out of the Prophet: That the Lord will make a short account in the earth, and gather it into a short sum, with righteousness. These scriptures, I think, are sufficient to prove that few shall be saved. Asune. Now let us hear your reasons. Theol. If we come to reason, we may rather wonder that any should be saved, then so few shall be saved. For, we have all the lets and hindrances that may be, both within us and without us. We have (as they say) the Sun, Moon, and seven Stars against us. We have all the Devils in Hell against us, with all their horns, heads, marvelous strength, infinite wiles, cunning devices, deep sleights, and methodical temptations. Here runs a sore stream against us. Then have we this present evil world against us, with her innumerable baits, snares, nets, gins, and grins to catch us, fetter us, and entangle us. Here have we profits and pleasures, riches and honour, wealth and preferment, ambition and covetousness. Here comes in a Camp royal of spiritual and invisible enemies. Lastly, we have our flesh, that is, our corrupted nature against us: we have ourselves against ourselves. For we ourselves are as great enemies to our salvation, as either the world, or the Devil. For, our understanding, reason, will, and affections, are altogether against us. Our natural wisdom is an enemy unto us. Our concupiscences & lusts do minister strength to satans temptations. They are all in league with Satan against us. They take part with him in every thing against us and our salvation. They fight all under his standard, and receive their pay of him. This then goeth hard on our side, that the Devil hath an inward party against us: and we carry always within us our greatest enemy, which is ever ready, night and day, to betray us into the hands of Satan; yea to unbelt the door, and let him in to cut our throats. Here than we see an huge army of dreadful enemies, and a very legion of Devils, lying in ambush against our souls. Are not we therefore poor wretches in a most pitiful case, which are thus betrayed and besieged on every side? All things then considered, may we not justly marvel, that any shall be saved? For who seeth not, who knoweth not, that thousand thousands are carried headlong to destruction; either with the temptations of the world, the flesh or the Devil? But yet further, I will show, by an other very manifest and apparent reason, that the number of God's Elect upon the face of the earth, are very few in comparison: which may thus be considered. First, let there be taken away from amongst us all Papists, Atheists, and Heretics. Secondly, let there be shoaled out all vicious and notorious evil livers; as Swearers, Drunkards, Whoremongers, Worldlings, deceivers, cozeners, proud men, Rioters, gamesters, and all the profane multitude. Thirdly, let there be refused and sorted out all Hypocrites, carnal Protestants, vain professors, backesliders, decliners, and cold Christians. Let all these, I say, be separated: and then tell me, how many sound, sincere, faithful, and zealous worshippers of God, will be found among us. I suppose, we should not need the Art of Arithmetic to number them. For I think, there would be very few in every village, Town, and City; I doubt, they would walk very thinly in the streets: so as a man might easily tell them as they go. Our Lord Jesus asketh a question in the Gospel of S. Luke, saying: Do you think, when the Son of man cometh, Luk. 18. 8. that he shall find faith on the earth? To the which we may answer, Surely very little. Asune. Now, according to your promise, show this thing also, by examples. Theol. In the first age of the world, all flesh had so corrupted their ways, that God could no longer bear them; but even vowed their destruction, by the overflowing of waters. When the flood came, how few were found faithful? Eight persons only were saved by the Ark. How few righteous were found in Sodom, and the Cities adjoining; but one poor Lot, and his family? How few believers were found in jericho; but one Rahab? How few of the old Israelites entered into the Land of Promise; but two, Caleb and josuah? The Heb. 3. 19 rest could not enter in, because of unbelief. The true and invisible Church was small, during the government of the Judges: as appeareth plentifully in that book. In Elias time, the church was so small, that it did not appear. In the reign of the Kings of Israel and judah, 1. Kin. 17. the sincere worshippers were very few: as appeareth by all the Prophets. During the captivity, the Church was as the Moon voder a cloud, she was driven into the Wilderness, where she hid herself. During the persecutions of the Greek Empire, by Gog, Magog, and Egypt, they were fewest of all. In Christ's time, what a silly company did he begin withal! How were all things corrupted by the Priests, Scribes, and pharisees! In the beginning of the Apostles preaching, there were few believers. After the first six hundredth years, what an eclipse was in the Church, during the height of Antichrists reign! How few true worshippers of God were in the world, for the space of▪ almost seven hundred years! Since the Gospel was broached and spread abroad, how few do believe! And as the Prophet saith; Esay. 53. 1. Lord who hath believed our report? Thus then you see, it is apparent (both by Scripture, reason, and examples of all ages) that the number of the Elect is very small: and when all comes to all, few shallbe saved. Phil. I pray you tell us, how few, and to what scantling they may be reduced: whether one of an hundred, or one of a thousand, shallbe saved? Theol. No man knoweth that: neither can I give you any direct and certain answer unto it. But I say, that, in comparison of the Reprobate, there shall be but a few saved. For, all that profess the Gospel are not the true Church, before God. There be many in the Church, which are not of the Church. Phila. How do you prove that? Theo. Out of the ninth to the Romans: where the Apostle saith: All are not Israel, that are of Rom. 9 6. Israel. And again, Esaias crieth, concerning Israel: Though the number of the children of Rom. 9 27 Israel were as the sand of the sea, yet but a remnant shall be saved. Phila. How do you balance it in the visible Church: or in what comparison do you take it? Let us hear some estimate of it. Some think, one of a hundred; some but one of a thousand shall be saved. Theol. Indeed I have heard some learned and godly Divines give such conjectures: but for that matter, I can say nothing to it. But Rom. 9 27. only let us observe the comparison of the holy Ghost betwixt a remnant, and the sand of the sea, and it will give some light into the matter. Phila. Doth not the knowledge of this doctrine discourage men from seeking after God? Theol. Nothing less. But rather it ought to awake us, and stir up in us a greater care of our salvation, that we may be of the number of Christ's little flock, which make an end of Phil. 2. 12. their salvation in fear and trembling. Phila. Some make light of all these matters. Others say; As for the life to come, that is the least matter of an hundred to be cared for. As for that matter, they will leave unto God, even as pleaseth him, they will not meddle with it. For they say, God that made them, must save them. They hope they shall do as well as others, and make as good shift as their neighbours. Theol. It is lamentable, that men should be so careless, and make so light of that, which (of all other things) is most weighty and important. For, it shall not profit a man to win the Math. 16. 2. whole world, and lose his own soul, as the author of all wisdom testifieth. Asune. I pray you Sir under correction, give me leave to speak my mind, in this point. I am an ignorant man: pardon me, if I speak amiss. For a fools bolt is soon shot. Theol. Say on. Asune. I do verily think, that God is stronger than the devil. Therefore I cannot believe that he will suffer the Devil to have more than himself. He will not take it at his hands. He loveth mankind better than so. Theol. You do carnally imagine, that God will wrestle and strive with the devil about the matter. As for God's power, it doth never cross his will. For God can do nothing against his will and decree, because he will not. Asune. Yea but the Scripture saith, God will have all men saved. Theol. That is not meant of every particular man, but of all sorts some. Some jews, some Gentiles, some rich, some poor, some high, some low, etc. Asune. Christ died for all: therefore all shall be saved. Theol. Christ died for all, in the sufficiency of his death: but not in efficacy, unto life. For only the Elect shall be saved by his death. As it is written; This is my blood in the new Testament, Luke 22. 20. which is given for you: meaning his Disciples, and chosen Children. And again, Christ being consecrated, is made the author of Heb. 5. 9 salvation, to all that obey him. Asune. God is merciful, and therefore I hope he will save the greatest part, for his mercy sake. Theol. The greatest part shall perish: but all that shallbe saved, shallbe saved by his mercy. As Rome 9 it is written; He will have mercy on whom he will have mercy: And whom he will he hardeneth. And again: It is not in him that willeth, Rom. 9 or in him that runneth: but in God, that showeth mercy. Therefore, though God be infinite in mercy, and Christ infinite in merit, yet none shall have mercy, but only the vessels of mercy. Antile. Can you tell who shall be saved, and who shall be damned? Do you know God's secrets? When were you in Heaven? When spoke you with God? I am of the mind that all men shall be saved. For God's mercy is above all his works. Say you what you will, and what you can, God did not make us, to condemn us. Theol. You are very peremptory indeed: you are more bold than wise: for Christ saith, few shall be saved: you say, all shall be saved. Whether then shall we believe Christ or you? Antil. If there should come two souls, one from heaven, and another from hell, and bring us certain news how the case stood, than I would believe it indeed. Theol. Put case, two souls of the dead should come, the one from heaven, the other from hell: I can tell you aforehand certainly what they would say, and what news they would bring. Antil. What I pray you? Theol. They would say, there be few in heaven, and many in hell: heaven is empty, and hell is full. Antil. How know you that? How know you, they would say so? Theol. I am sure, if they speak the truth, they must needs say so. Antil. Must they needs? Why, I pray you, must they needs? Theol. Because the word of God saith so. Because Moses and the Prophets say so. If you will not believe Moses, and the Prophets, neither will you believe, though one, though two, though an hundred should rise from the dead. Antile. Yes, but I would. Theol. I pray you let me ask you a question. Whether do you think, that God and his word, or the souls of dead men are more to be credited? Antile. If I were sure that God said so, than I would believe it. Theo. If his word say so, doth not he say so? Is not he and his word all one? Antile. Yet for all that, if I might hear God himself speak it, it would move me much. Theol. You show yourself to be a notable Infidel. You will not believe God's word, without signs and miracles, and wonders from the dead. Antile. You speak, as though you knew certainly, that hell is full. You do but speak at random: you cannot tell: you were never there to see. But for mine own part, I believe there is no hell at all, but only the hell of a man's conscience. Theol. Now you show yourself in kind what you are. You say, you believe no hell at all. And I think, if you were well examined, you believe no heaven at all neither God nor devil. Antile. Yes: I believe there is an Heaven, because I see it with mine eyes. Theol. You will believe no more belike than you see: but blessed is he that believeth, and seeth joh. 20. 29. not. You are one of the rankest Atheists that ever I talked withal. Antile. You ought not to judge: you know not men's hearts. Theol. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. You have sufficiently bewrayed your heart by your words. For the tongue is the key of the mind. As for judging, I judge you only by your fruits: which is lawful. For we may justly say, It is a bad tree which bringeth forth bad fruit; and he that doth wickedly, is a wicked man. But it is you, and such as you are, that will take upon you to judge men's hearts. For, though a man's outward actions be religious and honest, yet you will condemn him. And, if a man give himself to the word and prayer, reformeth his family, and abstaineth from the gross sins of the world, you will by and by say, he is an hypocrite. And thus you take upon you to judge men's hearts, as though you knew with what affection these things are done. Antile. I confess, I am a sinner: and so are all other for aught I know. There is no man, but he may be amended. I pray God send us all of his grace, that we may please him, and get to heaven at last. Theol. Now you would shuffle up all together, as though you were as good as the best, and as though there were no difference of sinners: but you must learn to know, that there is great difference of sinners. For there is the penitent, and the unpenitent sinner; the careful, and the careless sinner; the sinner whose sins are not imputed, and the sinner whose sins are imputed; the sinner that shall be saved, and the sinner that shall be damned. For it is one thing to sin of frailty, another thing to live in it, dwell in it, and trade in it, and (as the holy Ghost speaketh) to suck it in, as the Esay. 5. 18. fish sucketh water, and to draw it unto us with cartropes and cords of vanity. To conclude therefore, there is as great difference betwixt a sinner, and a sinner, as betwixt light and darkness. For, though God's children be sinners, in respect of the remnants of sin within them, yet the Scriptures call them just and righteous: because they are justified by Christ, and sanctified by his grace and holy spirit. And, for this cause, it is, that S. john saith, 1. joh. 3. 6. He that is borne of God sinneth not. Antile. What, I pray you, did you never sin? Theo. Yes, and what then? what are you the better? Antile. You Preachers cannot agree amongst yourselves. One saith one thing, and another saith another thing: so that you bring the ignorant people into a mammering: and they know not on which hand to take. Theol. The Preachers, God be thanked, agree very well together, in all the main grounds of religion, and principal points of salvation. But, if they descent in some other matters, you are to try the spirits, whether they be of God or no. You must try all things, and keep that which is good. Antile. How can plain and simple men try the spirits and doctrines of the Preachers? Theol. Yes. For the Apostle saith: The spiritual 1. Cor. 2. 15. 1. joh. 2. 26. man discerneth all things. And S. john saith to the holy Christians: You have received an ointment from that holy one, and know all things; that is, all things necessary to salvation. Those therefore which have the spirit of God, can judge and discern of doctrines, whether they be of God or no. Antile. I am not book-learned: and therefore I cannot judge of such matters. As for hearing of Sermons, I have no leisure to go to them: I have somewhat else to do. Let them that are bookish, and hear so many Sermons, judge of such matters. For I will not meddle with them, they belong not unto me. Theol. Yet for all that, you ought to read the Scriptures, and hear the word of God preached, that you may be able to discern betwixt truth and falsehood in matters of religion. Antile. Belike you think none can be saved without Preaching; and that all men stand bound to frequent Sermons; but I am not of your mind in that. Theol. Our Lord Jesus saith; My sheep joh. 10. 27. joh. 8. 47. hear my voice. And again he saith; He that is of God, heareth God's word. Ye therefore hear it not; because you are not of God. You see therefore how Christ Jesus maketh it a special note of God's child, to hear his word preached. Antile. But I think, we may serve God well enough without a Preacher. For, Preachers are but men; and what can they do? A Preacher is a good man, so long as he is in the Pulpit; but if he be out of the Pulpit, he is but as another man. Theol. You speak contemptuously of God's messengers, and of God's sacred ordinance. But the Apostle doth fully answer your objection, saying: Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing Rom. 10. by the word of God; and how can they hear without a Preacher? In which words, the Apostle telleth you flatly, that you can neither have faith, nor serve God aright, without preaching. Antile. When you have Preached all that you can, you can make the word of God no better than it is: and some put in and put out what they list. The Scriptures are but men's inventions: and they made the Scriptures. Theol. We preach not to make the Word better, but to make you better. As for putting in and putting out, it is a mere untruth. And whereas you say, the scriptures were made by men, it is blasphemy once to think it: and you are worthy to receive your answer at Tyburn. Antile. Now I see you are hot. I perceive, for all your godliness, you will be angry. Theol. I take it to be no sin to be angry against sin. For your sin is very great: and who can bear it? Antile. All this while you speak much for Preaching: but you say nothing for Prayer. I think there is as much need of Prayer, as Preaching. For, I find in the Scriptures, Pray continually; but I find not, Preach continually. Theol. No man denieth, but that prayer is most needful, always to be joined unto preaching & all other holy exercises: for it is the handmaid to all. But yet we prefer preaching above it, because preaching is both the director and whetstone of prayer: yea, it stirreth us aright in all spiritual actions and services whatsoever: without the which we can keep no certain course, but are ever ready to err on this hand, or that. Now, whereas you say, you find Pray continually, but not Preach continually: you might (if you were not wilfully blind) find also, Preach continually. For the Apostle saith to Timothy, Be instant: Preach the word in season, 2. Tim. 3. 2. and out of season: that is, always; as time and occasion shall serve. Antile. You extol preaching: but you say nothing for reading. I believe, you condemn reading. Theol. Doth he that highly commendeth gold, condemn silver? I do ingenuously confess, that both public and private reading of the scriptures, are very necessary and profitable, and would to God, it were more used, than it is. For, it is of singular use, both to increase knowledge and judgement, and also to make us more fit to hear the word preached. For, such men, as are altogether ignorant of the History of the bible, can hear the word with small profit or comfort. Phila. It seemeth, that this man neither regardeth the one nor the other: because, for aught that I can see, he careth not greatly if the Scriptures were burnt. Theol. Oh sirrah, you speak very malapartly: you may speak when you are bidden. Antile. Who made you a judge? You are one of his Disciples, and that makes you to speak on his side. Phila. No sir. I hope, I am Christ's Disciple, and no man's. But assuredly, I cannot hold my peace at your vile cavilling, and most blasphemous speeches. Antile. I cry you mercy sir. You seem to be one of these Scripture-men: you are all of the spirit: you are so full of it, that it runneth out at your nostrils. Phila. You do plainly show yourself to be ascoffing Ismaelite. Antil. And you do plainly show yourself to be one of these folk of God, which know their seats in heaven. Phila. I pray God be merciful unto you, and give you a better heart. For I see you are in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. Antil. You think there is none good, but such as yourself, and such as can please your humour. You will, forsooth, be all pure. But by God, there be a company of pure knaves of you. Theo. Nay, now you do manifestly show of of what spirit you are. For, you both swear and rail with one breath. Antile. God forgive me. Why did he anger me then? There be a company of such controllers as he in the world, that no body can be quiet for them. Theol. I perceive a little thing will anger you, sith you will be angry with him for speaking the truth. Antil. What hath he to do with me? He is more busy than needs. Why doth he say, I am in a bad case? I will not come to him to learn my duty. If I have faults, he shall not answer for them. I shall answer for mine own faults, and every fat shall stand on his own bottom. Let him meddle with that he hath to do withal. Theo. You are too impatient: you take matters at the worst. We ought friendly, and in love to admonish one another: for we must have a care one of another's salvation, I dare say for him, that he speaketh both of love and compassion towards you. Antil. I care not for such love. Let him keep it to himself. What doth he think of me? Doth he suppose that I have not a soul to save as well as he; or that I have no care of my salvation? I would he should know, that I have as great care for my salvation as he, though I make no such outward shows. For, all is not gold that glistereth. I have as good a meaning as he, though I cannot utter it. Theol. These words might well be spared, I hope you will be pacified, and amend your life, and draw nearer to God here after. Antile. Truly, Sir, you may think of me what you please. But I assure you, I have more care that way, than all the world wonders at: I thank God for it. I say my prayers every night when I am in my bed. And if good prayers will do us no good, God help us. I have always served God duly and truly, and had him in my mind. I do as I would be done to. I keep my Church, and tend my prayers while I am there. And, I hope, I am not so bad as this fellow would make me. I am sure, if I be bad, I am not the worst in the world: there be as bad as I. If I go to hell, I shall have fellows, and make as good shift as others. Theol. You think, you have spoken wisely: but I like not your answer. For your words smell strongly, both of ignorance, pride, and unbelief. For first you justify yourself in your faithless and ignorant worshipping of God. And secondly, you justify yourself by comparison with others; because others are as bad as you, and you are not the worst in the world. Antile. Now I know, you speak of ill will. For, you never had any good opinion of me. Theol. I would I could have as good an opinion of you, as I desire; and that I might see that wrought in you, which might draw my love and liking towards you. And as for ill will, the Lord knoweth I bear you none. I desire your conversion, and salvation, with my whole heart. And I would think myself happy, if I might save your soul with the loss of my right arm. Antile. I hope I may repent. For the scripture saith: At what time soever a sinner doth repent, God will have mercy on him. Therefore if I may have space and grace, and time to repent before death, and to ask God forgiveness, and say my prayers, and cry God mercy, I hope I shall do well enough. Theol. You speak as though repentance were in your power, and at your commandment, and that you can put it into your own heart when you list; and that makes you, and many others presume of it, three hours before death. But you must know that repentance is the rare gift of God: and it is given but to a few. For God will know him well that he bestoweth repentance upon, sith it is proper only to the Elect. It is no word matter. It is not attained without many & fervent prayers, & much hearing, reading, and meditating in the word of God. It is not so easy a matter to come by, as the world judgeth. It is not found but of them that seek it diligently, and beg it earnestly. It is no ordinary three hours matter. Cry God mercy a little for fashion will not do it. Coursarie saying of a few prayers a little before death availeth not. For, though true repentance be never too late, yet late repentance is seldom true. Herein delays are dangerous; for the longer we defer it, the worse is our case. The further a nail is driven in with an hammer, the harder it is to get out again. The longer a disease is let run, the harder it is to cure. The deeper a tree is rooted, the harder it is to pluck up again. The longer we defer the time of our repentance, the harder it will be to repent; and therefore it is dangerous driving it off to the last cast. For an ancient Father saith: Augustine. We read but of one that repented at the last, that no man should presume: and yet of one, that none might despair. Well then, to conclude this point, I would have you to know, that the present time is always the time of repentance. For, time past can not be recovered, and time to come is uncertain. Antile. Sir, in mine opinion, you have uttered some very dangerous things, and such as were enough to drive a man to despair. Theol. What be they, I pray you? Antile. There be divers things. But one thing doth most of all stick in my stomach, and that is, the small number that shall be saved, as you say. But I can hardly be persuaded that God made so many thousands to cast them away when he hath done. Do you think that God hath made us, to condemn us? Will you make him to be the author of condemnation? Theol. Nothing less. For God is not the cause of men's condemnation, but themselves. For every man's destruction cometh of himself: as it is written: O Israel, thy destruction is of thyself. As for God, he doth (in great Hos. 13. mercy) use all possible means to save souls; as he saith by the Prophet: What could I Esa. 5. 4. have done more to my vineyard, that I have not done unto it? But to come nearer to your question. I deny, that God hath created the most part of men only and solely unto perdition, as the proper end which he did aim at in creating them: but he hath created all things for the praise of his glory; as it is written: He hath created all things for himself; Pro. 16. 4. and the wicked also for the evil day. Then it followeth, that the cause and end why the wicked were created, neither was, nor is the only destruction of his creature, but his own praise and glory; that that only might appear and shine forth in all his works. Yet certeins it is, that God, for just causes (albeit unknown and hid to us) hath rejected a great part of men. The causes, I say, of reprobation are hid in the eternal counsel of God, and known to his godly wisdom only. They are secret and hid from us; reserved in his eternal wisdom to be revealed at the glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus. His judgements Psal. 36. Rom. 11. (saith the Scripture) are as a great deep, and his ways past finding out. It is as possible for us to comprehend the Ocean sea in a little dish, as to comprehend the reason of God's counsel in this behalf. Antile. What reason, justice, or equity is there, that sentence of death should be passed upon men before they be borne, and before they have done good or evil? Theol. I told you before, that we can never comprehend the reason of Gods proceeding in this behalf: yet we must know that his will is the rule of righteousness, and must be unto us in stead of a thousand reasons. For whatsoever God willeth, in as much as he willeth it, is to be holden just. We cannot conceive the reason of many natural things, and things subject to sense; as, the motion of the celestial bodies, their unconceivable swiftness, their matter and substance, their magnitude, altitude, and latitude. We can not thoroughly find out the causes of the thunder, lightning, winds, earthquakes, ebbing and flowing of the sea, and many other things under the Sun: how then can we possibly ascend up into the privy chamber and counsel-house of God, to sift and search out the bottom of God's secrets; which no wit or reach of man can any way attain unto! Let us therefore learn in God's fear to reverence that which we can not in this life comprehend. This one thing I must say unto you, that whatsoever God decreeth, yet doth he execute no man, till he have ten thousand times deserved it. For, betwixt the decree and the execution thereof, cometh sin in us, and most just causes of condemnation. Antil. If God have decreed men's destruction, what can they do withal? who can resist his will? why then is he angry with us? For all things must needs come to pass according to his decree and determination. Theol. First, I answer you with the Apostle: O man, who art thou which pleadest against Rom. 9 20 God Shall the thing form say to him that form it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the Potter power of the clay, to make of the same lump one vessel to honour, and another to dishonour? Moreover, I answer, That God's decree doth not enforce the will of man: but it worketh, and moveth of itself. It hath in itself the beginning of evil motion, and sinneth willingly. Therefore, though the decree of God imposeth a necessity upon all secondary causes (so as they must needs be framed and disposed according to the same) yet no coaction or constraint: for they are all carried with their voluntary motion. Even as we see the plumb of a clock, being the first mover, doth cause all the other wheels to move, but not to move this way or that way: for, in that they move some one way, and some another, it is of themselves; I mean of their own frame. So God's decree doth move all secondary causes, but not take away their own proper motion. For God is the author of every action, but not of any evil in any action. As the soul of man is the original cause of all motion in man, as the Philosopher's dispute, but yet not of lame and impotent motion; for that is from another cause; to wit, some defect in the body. So, I say, God's decree is the root and first cause of motion, but not of defective motion: That is from ourselves. Likewise, that a bell soundeth, the cause is in him that ringeth it: but that it jarreth, the cause is in itself. Again, that an instrument soundeth, is in him that playeth upon it: but that it jarreth, is in itself; that is, in it own want of tuning. So then, to shut up this point, all instruments and middle causes are so moved of God, being the first mover, that he always doth well, holily, and justly in his moving. But the instruments moved, are carried in contrary motions, according to their own nature and frame. If they be good, they are carried unto that which is good: but if they be evil, they are carried unto evil. So that according to the double beginning of motion and will, there is a double and divers work and effect. Antile. But from whence cometh it, that man of himself, that is, of his own free motion, doth will that which is evil? Theol. From the fall of Adam, whereby his will was corrupted. Antile. What was the cause of Adam's fall? Theol. The Devil, and the depravation of his own will. Antil. How could his will incline unto evil, it being made good, and he being made good? Theol. He and his will were made good, yet mutably good. For to be immutably good, is proper only to God. And Adam did so stand, that he might fall, as the event declared. Antile. Was not the decree of God the cause of Adam's fall? Theol. No: but the voluntary inclination of his will unto evil. For Adam's will was neither forced, nor by any violence of God's purpose, compelled to consent: but he, of free will and ready mind, left God, and joined with the Devil. Thus than I do determine, that Adam sinned necessarily, if you respect the decree or event: but if you respect the first mover and inherent cause, which was his own will, than he sinned voluntarily and contingently. For the decree of God did not take away his will, or the contingency thereof; but only order and dispose it. Therefore (as a learned writer saith) Volens Beza. peccavit, & motu. He sinned willingly, and of his own motion. And therefore no evil is to be attributed unto God or his decree. Antile. How then do you conceive and consider of the purpose of God in all these things? Theol. Thus: That God decreed with himself, uno actu, at once; That there should be a world, That Adam should be created perfect, That he should fall of himself, That all should fall with him, That he would save some of the lost race, That he would do it of mercy through his son, That he would condemn others for sin. Antile. But how do you prove the decree of reprobation? to wit, That God hath determined the destruction of thousands before the world was. Theol. The Scripture calleth the reprobates The vessels of wrath, prepared to destruction. Ro. 9 22. The Scripture saith: God hath not appointed 1. Thes. 5. us unto wrath. Therefore it followeth, that some are appointed unto wrath. The Scripture saith of the reprobates, That they were 1. Pet. 2. 8. even ordained to stumble at the Word. The Scripture saith, They were of old ordained to this condemnation. jud. ver. 4 Antile. But how answer you this? God willeth not the death of a sinner. Therefore he Ezec. 18. hath predestinate none to destruction. Theol. God willeth not the death of a sinner simply, and absolutely, as it is the destruction of his creature; but as it is a mean to declare his justice, and to set forth his glory. Antile. God did foresee, and foreknow, that the wicked would perish through their own sin: but yet he did not predestinate them unto it. Theol. God's prescience and foreknowledge cannot be separated from his decree. For whatsoever God hath foreseen & foreknown in his eternal counsel, he hath determined the same shall come to pass. For as it appertaineth to his wisdom to foreknow and foresee all things, so doth it appertain to his power to moderate and rule all things according to his will. Antil. What do you call prescience in God? Theol. Presence in God, is that whereby all things abide present before his eyes: so that to his eternal knowledge, nothing is past, nothing to come; but all things are always present. And so are they present, that they are not as conceived imaginations, forms, and motions: but all things are always so present, before God, that he doth behold them in their verity and perfection. Antil. How can God justly determine of men's destruction, before they have sinned? Theol. This objection hath been answered in part before. For, I told you, that God condemneth none but for sin, either original only, or else both original and actual. For howsoever he doth in himself, before all time, determine the reprobation of many, yet he proceedeth to no execution, till there be found in us both just deserts, and apparent cause. Therefore they deal unsoundly and foolishly, which confound the decree of reprobation, with damnation itself: sith sin is the cause of the one, and only the will of God of the other. Phila. Well Sir, sith we are so far proceeded in this question, by the occasion of this man's objections and cavils, I pray you now, as you have spoken much of reprobation, and the causes thereof, so let us hear somewhat of election, and the causes thereof: and show us out of the Scriptures, that God hath before all worlds chosen some to eternal life. Theol. Touching the decree of Election, there are almost none that make any doubt thereof: therefore small proof shall serve for this point. Only I will confirm it by one or two testimonies out of the holy Scriptures. First the Apostle saith; Blessed be God, even the Father Ephes. 2. 3 of our Lord jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Heavenly things in Christ, as he hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before him, in love. You see, the words are very plain and pregnant for this purpose. another confirmation is taken out of the 8. Chap. to the Romans, in these words: Those whom he knew before, did Rome 8. he also predestinate to be like to the image of his own Son; that he might be the first borne of many brethren. Phila. Which be the causes of Election? Theol. The causes of Election are to be found only in God himself. For his eternal election dependeth neither upon man, neither yet upon any thing that is in man, but is purposed in himself, and established in Christ in whom we are Elected. This is fully proved in these words: Who hath predestinated us to be adopted Eph. 1. 5. 6 through jesus Christ in himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glory, wherewith he hath made us freely accepted in his beloved. Where we see, the apostle telleth us, that his free grace, and the good pleasure of his will, are the first motives or moving causes of our Election. Phila. But the Papists fetch the first motive of election out of man's merits, and foreseen works. For, say they, God did foresee who would repent, believe, and do well: and therefore he made choice of them. Theol. But they are greatly deceived. For I say again, and again, that there was nothing in us which did ever move God to set his love upon us, and to choose us unto life: but he ever found the original cause in himself. As it is Rom. 9 written; He will have mercy upon whom he will have mercy: and whom he will, he hardeneth. Rom. 9 And again: It is neither in him that willeth, nor in him that runneth; but in God that showeth mercy. The Lord himself Deut. 7. 7. also testifieth, that he did choose his people, not for any respect in them; but only because he loved them, and bore a special favour unto them. So than it is a certain truth that God's eternal predestination excludeth all merits of man, and all power of his will, thereby to attain unto eternal life: and that his free mercy, and undeserved favour, is both the beginning, the midst, and the end of our salvation. That is to say, all is of him, and nothing of ourselves. Phila. Whether then doth faith depend upon election, or election upon faith? That is, whether did God choose us because we do believe? or whether do we believe, because we are chosen? Theol. Out of all doubt, both faith, and all fruits of faith, do depend upon election. For, therefore we believe, because we are elected: and not therefore elected, because we believe. As it is written: So many as were ordained to everlasting Act. 13. 48. life, believed. Antil. If men be predestinate before they be borne, to what purpose serve all precepts, admonitions, laws, & c? It forceth not how we live. For neither our godly, or ungodly life can alter the purpose of God. Theo. This is a very wicked and carnal objection, and showeth a vile and dissolute mind in them that use it. But I would wish such men to consider the end of our election: which is that we should lead a godly life. As it is plainly set down in the first to the Ephesians, where the Apostle saith: God hath chosen us before Ephe. 1. 3. the foundation of the world. But to what end? that we should line as we lift? No, no, saith he: But that we should be holy, and unblamable before him. Again he saith: We are perdestinate Rom. 8. to be made like the image of his Son; that is, to be holy and righteous. For most certain it is, that we can judge nothing of predestination, but by the consequents: that is, by our calling, justification, and sanctification. For when once we feel the work of grace within us, (that is, that we are washed by the new birth, and renewed by the holy Ghost, finding in ourselves an unfeigned hatred of sin, and love of righteousness) then are we sure, and out of all doubt, that we are predestinated to life. And it is even as much, as if God had personally appeared unto us, and whispered us in the ear, and told us that our names are taken, & written in the book of life. For, whom he hath predestinate, Rom. 8. them he hath called; and whom he hath called, them he hath justified; & whom he hath justified, them he hath glorified. Now therefore, till we feel these marks of election wrought in us, we can be at no certainty in this point; neither are we to take any notice of it, or meddle in it: but we must strive, according to that power and faculty we have, to live honestly, and civilly, waiting when God will have mercy on us, and give us the true touch. As for them that are careless and dissolute, setting all at six and seven, there is small hope that they are elected, or ever shall be called. Antil. I think the preaching and publishing of this doctrine of predestination hath done much hurt: and it had been good it had never been known to the people, but utterly concealed. For, some it driveth to despair, and others it maketh more secure and careless. Theol. You are in a great error. For this Doctrine is a part of Gods revealed Truth, which he would have known to his people. And, in good sooth, it is of very great and comfortable use to the children of God, against all the assaults of the Devil, and temptations of desperation whatsoever. For, when a man hath once in truth felt, by the effects, that God hath chosen him to life: then though the Devil lie sore at him, and the conscience of sin and his own frailties most vehemently assault him; yet he knoweth certainly, that the eternal purpose and counsel of God is immutable; and that because his salvation is not grounded upon himself, or his own strength, but upon the unchangeable decree of God, which is a foundation unmovable, and always standing sure and firm; therefore, do the devil and sin what they can, yet he shall be upheld in righteousness & truth, & even (as it were) borne up in the arms of God, even to the end. For whom God loveth, to the end he loveth them. Moreover, when once the Lord's people perceive (by their sanctification, and new birth) both that the Lord hath rejected and reprobated so many thousand thousands, and made choice of them to be heirs of his most glorious kingdom, being in themselves of the same mould and making that others are; and that be hath done all this of his free grace, and undeserved mercy towards them: oh, how doth it ravish their hearts with the love of him! Again, how frankly and cheerfully do they serve him! How willingly and faithfully do they obey him! Yea, how are they wholly rapt, and infiamed with the desire of him! For it is the persuasion and feeling of God's love towards us, that draweth up our love to him again; as S. john saith: We love him, because he hath 1. joh. 4. loved us first. Moreover, it is said of Mary Magdalen, Luke. 7. that she loved much, because much was forgiven. For, after she felt her many and great sins freely pardoned, her affections were kindled with the love and obedience of Christ. So likewise the Church in the Canticles, after she had been in the banqueting house of all spiritual Cant. 2. 5 grace, and felt the banner of Christ's love displayed upon her, forthwith she was rapt therewith, and cried out (as it were in a swoon) that she was sick of love. So again, when Christ put Cant. 5. 4. in his hand by the hole of the door (that is, touched the very inward parts of her heart, by his spirit) than her heart yearned, and her bowels were affectioned towards him. This is it which Saint Paul prayeth for upon his knees, that it may be granted to the Ephesians, that Ephes. 5. they may be able to comprehend with all the Saints, what is the breadth and length, height and depth of God's love towards us, and to know the love of Christ (which passeth knowledge) and to be filled with all fullness of God. Thus than you see the great and comfortable use of this doctrine of election, both in that it ministereth strength & comfort against all temptations, as also because it constraineth us to love God & of very love to fear him, and obey him. Phila. Well Sir, I think now you have spent time enough in answering the objections and cavils of Antilegon. In all which, I do observe one thing; that there is no end of cavilling, and objecting against the truth; and that a man may object more in an hour, than a learned man can well answer in a day. Theol. You say truth. And the reason hereof is, because men have sin in them out of measure, and the spirit of God but in measure. Therefore they can by the one, object and conceive more against the truth, then by the other they shall be able to answer, and say for it. Phila. It appeareth indeed, that errors be infinite, & objections innumerable, & that there is no end of men's cavilling against God's sacred truth. It is good for us therefore to be thoroughly settled in the truth, that we be not entangled or snarled with any cavils, or sophistications whatsoever. But I do verily think (notwithstanding all his objections, and exceptions) that he doth in his conscience desire, with Balaam, to die the death of the righteous, and to be as one of them, whom he seemeth to despise. Theol. I am so persuaded too. For this is the triumph that virtue hath over vice, that, where she is most hated, there she is often desired and wished for. And this is the great punishment, that God bringeth upon the wicked; Virtutem ut videant, intabescantque relictâ, as saith the Poet; That they shall see virtue and pine away having no power to follow it. Phila. But now let us return to the point we were in hand with, before we fell into these objection and cavils: which was concerning the small number of them which shall be saved. And as you have showed us many reasons thereof, so proceed to speak yet more unto that point. Theol. As I have showed you of sundry lets, both within us, and without us, which do keep us back from God, and hold us fast in our sins: So now, unto all that hath been said before, I will add nine great hindrances unto eternal life: which may not unfitly be termed nine bars out of heaven, and nine gates into hell. Phila. Which be they? Nine gates into hell. Theol. They be these; Infidelity. Presumption of God's mercy. Example of the multitude. Long custom of sin. Long escaping of punishment. Hope of long life. conceitedness. Ill company. Evil example of Ministers. Phila. These indeed be strong bars out of heaven; and wide gates into hell. I pray you therefore prove them out of the Scriptures, and lay them forth somewhat more largely. Theol. The first, which is Infidelity, is proved out of the fourth chapter to the Hebrews, where it is written; Unto us was the Gospel preached, as unto them: but the word, which Heb. 4. 2. they heard, profited them not, because it was not mixed with faith in those that heard it. And again: They could not enter in, because of unbelief. Here we see that unbelief did bar out the old people, from entering into the land of promise, which was a figure of God's eternal kingdom. And sure it is, that the same unbelief doth bar out thousands of us. For many will believe nothing, but their own fancies. They will not believe the word of God: especially, when it is contrary to their lusts and like, profits & pleasures. Though things be manifestly proved to their faces, and both the Chapter and the Verse showed them, yet will they not believe: or though they say they believe, yet will they never go about the practice of any thing, but reply against God in all their actions. And, for the most part, when God saith one thing, they will say another. When God saith yea, they will say no: and so give God the lie. Some again will say, if all be true that the Preachers say, than God help us. Thus you see, how Infidelity doth bar men out of Heaven, and cast them into hell. Phila. Let us hear of the second gate, which is Presumption of God's mercy. Theol. This is set down in the 29. of Deuteronomy; where the Lord saith thus. When a man heareth the words of this curse, and yet flattereth himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, although I walk according to the stubbornness of mine own heart (thus adding drunkenness to thirst, that is, one sin to another) the Lord will not be merciful unto him, but the wrath of the Lord and his jealousy shall smoke against that man; and every curse that is written in this book, shall light upon him, and the Lord shall put out his name, from under heaven. Here we see, how the mighty God doth thunder down upon such as go on in their sins, presuming of his mercy, and saying in their hearts, If I may have but a Lord have mercy upon me, three hours before death, I care not. But it is just with God, when those three hours come, to shut them up in blindness, and hardness of heart, as a just plague for their presumption. Therefore the Prophet David, seeing the Psal. 19 grievousness of this sin prayeth to be delivered from it. Keep me, o Lord (saith he) from presumptuous sins: let them not reign over me. Let all men therefore take heed of presumptuous sins: For, though God be full of mercy: yet will he show no mercy to them that presume of his mercy. But they shall once know, to their cost, that justice goeth from him, as well as mercy. Phila. Let us come to the third gate, which is the Example of the multitude. Theol. This is proved in the 23. of Exod. where the Lord saith flatly, Thou shalt not Exo. 23. 2. follow a multitude to do evil. In another Leuit. 18. 3. place the Lord saith▪ After the doings of the land of Egypt wherein ye dwelled, shall ye not do: and after the manner of the land of Canaan, whither I will bring you, shall ye not do, neither walk in their ordinances. Against this Law did the Children of Israel offend, when they said in the stubbornness of their heart, to the Prophet jeremy; The word jere. 44. 16. that thou hast spoken unto us, in the name of the Lord, we will not hear. But we will do whatsoever goeth out of our own mouth: and we will do as we have done, both we and our Fathers, our Kings, and our Princes, in the cities of judah and in the streets of jerusalem. Note here, how they do altogether refuse the word of the Lord, and how to follow the example of the multitude. We see, in these our days, by lamentable experience, how thousands are violently carried down this stream: and for defence of it, some will say: Do as the most men do, and the fewest will speak of you: Which is a very wicked speech. For, if we will follow the course of the most, we shall have the reward of the most: which is eternal perdition. Let us therefore take heed of bending with the sway. For, the sway of the world doth weigh down all things that can be spoken out of the word of God, and openeth a very wide passage into Hell▪ Phila. Proceed to the fourth gate into Hell, which is the Long custom of sin. Theol. This is noted by the Prophet jeremy, to be a very dangerous thing. For he saith, Can jer. 13. 23. the black More change his skin, or the Leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, which are accustomed to do evil. Noting thereby, that it is as hard a matter to leave an old custom of sin, as to wash a black-more white, or to change the spots of a Leopard: which because they are natural, are most impossible. So, when men through custom, have made swearing, lying, adultery, and drunkenness (as it were) natural unto them, oh how hard it is to leave them! For custom maketh another nature, and taketh away all sense and feeling of sin. Phila. Let us hear of the fifth gate; which is the Long escaping of punishment. Theol. This is avouched by the wise man, in these words; Because sentence against an evil Eccl. 8. 11. work is not executed speedily, therefore the hearts of the children of men are set in them to do evil. Where he showeth, that one cause why men are so hardened in their sins, is, because God winketh at them, and letteth them alone, not punishing them immediately after they have sinned. For if God should forthwith strike down one, and rain fire and brimstone upon another, and cause the earth to swallow up the third, than men would fear indeed. But it hath been showed before, that God taketh not that course: but though he meet with some in this life, yet he lets thousands escape: and that makes them more bold, thinking they shall never come to their answer. Even as an old thief, which hath a long time escaped both prison and gallows, thinks he shall always so escape, and therefore goeth boldly on in his thefts. But let men take heed. For as the proverb saith, Though the pitcher goeth long to the well, yet at last it cometh broken home: So, though men escape long, yet they shall not escape always. For there will come a day of reckoning, a day that will pay it home for all. Thus you see, how impunity leadeth numbers to destruction. That is, when men are let alone, and neither smitten by the hand of God, nor punished by the law of the Magistrate. Phila. Let us come to the sixth gate: which is the Hope of long life. Theol. This is affirmed by our Lord jesus concerning that rich worldling, who, when he felt the world come in upon him with full stream, said he would pull down his barns and build greater, and say to his soul; Soul, Luke 12. 19 thou hast much goods laid up for many years: Live at ease, eat, drink, and take thy pastime. But our Saviour calleth him fool, for flattering himself in security, and promising unto himself long life. Moreover he plainly told him, that the same night, he should make a hellish and miserable end. Note, I pray you, how Jesus Christ, the fountain of all Wisdom, calleth this man a fool; and yieldeth a reason thereof: to wit, because he gathered riches to himself, and was not rich in God; he had great care of this life, and none at all for that which is to come. So than it followeth, that all such are right fools indeed, and may be Chronicled for fools, (how wise soever they be taken and reputed in the world) which have much care for their bodies, and none for their souls: great care for this life, and little for that which is to come. Well, let all such profane worldlings, as dream and dote of long life, (and therefore defer the day of their repentance and conversion unto God) take heed by this man's example, that they reckon not without their Host, and be suddenly snatched away in the midst of all their pleasures, and jollities; as job job. 21. 23. saith: Some die in their full strength, being in all ease and prosperity. Their breasts run full of milk: and their bones run full of marrow. We see therefore, how dangerous a thing it is for men to flatter and soothe up themselves with hope of long life. Phila. Proceed to the seventh gate; which is conceitedness. Theol. This is indeed a very broad gate, into hell. For the Scripture saith: Seest thou a Pro. 26. 12. Pro. 26. 16. man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool then of such a one. And again, The fool is wiser in his own eyes, than seven men that can give a sensible reason. The holy ghost, we see, affirmeth, that such as are puffed up with an over-wéening of their own gifts, are farthest of all other from the kingdom of Heaven. For they despise the wisdom of God, to their own destruction. They hold scorn to be taught. They will say, they know as much as all the Preachers can tell them. For, what can all the Preachers say more than this; We are all sinners, we must be saved by Christ; We must do as we would be done to? There is no more, but do well, and have well, etc. Alas poor souls, they look aloft: they are desperately haven up with conceiptednesse; not knowing that they are poor, naked, blind, & miserable. Reu. 3. 17. These men trust altogether to their own wit, learning, policy, riches, and great reputation in the world. And because all men crouch to them, and clap their hands at them, therefore they swell like Turkey Cocks, set up their feathers, & draw their wings upon the ground with a kind of snuff and disdain of all men: as if they were the only wights of the world. Moreover, when men do praise them for their gifts, sooth them, and applaud unto them, than is it a wonder to see how they streak themselves; as though they would forthwith take their flight, and mount into the clouds. But let all insolent and conceited men hearken unto the woe that is pronounced against them, by the eternal King of glory, saying, Woe unto Esa. 5. 21. them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight. Again, let them hearken to the counsel of God, which saith, Trust unto Prou. 3. 5. the Lord, with all thy heart, but lean not unto thine own wisdom. Be not wise in thine own eyes: but fear God, and depart from evil. These silly conceited fools think, that because they have the cast of this life, and can cunningly compass the things of this world and go through-stich with them, therefore they can compass heaven also by their fine wits, and deep devices. But, alas, poor wretches, they are greatly and grossly deceived. For the wisdom of the world is foolishness with God: and 1. Cor. 3. 19 he catcheth the wise in their own craftiness. And again the Lord saith, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will cast away the understanding 1. Cor. 1. 19 of the prudent. Let not these men therefore stand too much in their own light: let them not trust to their own policies. For, they are all but as an ice of one nights fréezing, which will deceive them that trust unto it. Let them therefore become fools in themselves, that God may make them wise. Let them deny themselves, that God may acknowledge them. Let them be humbled in themselves, that God may exalt them. For assuredly, there is no use after this life, of the most exquistte wisdom of flesh: it all endeth when we end. For how dieth the wise man? Even as dieth the fool, saith the Eccl. 2. 16. holy Ghost. And where all worldly wisdom endeth, there all heavenly wisdom beginneth. Thus therefore we see, what a wide gate into hell, conceitedness is, and how many enter in thereat. Phila. Now let us understand of the eight gate into hell: which is ill company. Theol. The spirit of God foreseeing the great danger of this, and knowing how ready we are to be carried away with ill company, doth give us most earnest warning to take heed of it, as a most dangerous thing. Enter not (saith Pro. 4. 14 he) in the way of the wicked: and walk not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, go not by it, turn from it, and pass by. The reason hereof is yielded in another place: where it is said. A companion of fools shall be made Pro. 13. 20. worse. Let men therefore take heed of ill company. For, many thereby have been brought to the gallows, and have confessed upon the ladder, that ill company hath brought them unto it: and therefore have admonished all by their example, to take heed, and beware of lewd company. Moreover, the Scripture saith: He that followeth vain companions, shall be filled with poverty. And again in the Pro. 28. 19 same Chapter, He that keepeth company with banquetters, shameth his Father. Let us therefore with David say, I am a companion of all Ps. 119. 63. them that fear God, and keep his commandments. And, on the contrary, let us say with him, I have not haunted with vain persons, Ps. 26. 4 neither kept company with the dissemblers. I hate the assembly of the evil, and have not companied with the wicked. Let us therefore, by David's example, shun the company of the wicked: For, as a man is, so is his company. It is the surest note to discern a man by. For, as all unlike things are unsociable, so all like things are sociable. Herein let us beware, we deceive not ourselves with vain words, and an opinion of our own strength: as if we were as strong as Christ, & could not be drawn away with any company. No, no: we are more apt to be drawn, then to draw: to be drawn to evil by others, then to draw others to good. Therefore God saith by his prophet: Let them return unto thee, but return not thou unto them. Undoubtedly jere. 15. 19 he is an odd man, that is not made worse with ill company. For can a man touch pitch, and not be defiled therewith? Can a man carry coals in his bosom, and not be burnt? Daily & lamentable experience showeth, that many of them, which think themselves strong, are this way most grievously smutted. Let a man think therefore, he never abandoneth evil, till he abandon ill company. For no good is concluded in this Parliament. For ill company is the suburbs of hell. Furthermore, it is to be observed, that some upon admonitions, and some inward compunctions of their own conscience, do leave their sins, until they have new provocations, and until they come amongst their old copesmates and sinne-companions: and then are they carried back again to their old bias, and return to their folly, as a Pro. 26. 11. dog returneth to his vomit. For we see some, which otherwise are of good natures and dispositions, most pitifully, and violently carried away with ill company. For even as green wood of itself is unapt to burn, yet being laid on the fire, with a great deal of sear wood, it burneth as fast as the rest: So, many toward youths, which of themselves are not so prone unto evil, as others: yet with this violent stream and blustering tempest of ill company, are carried clean away. Phila. Let us come to the last gate: which is the Evil example of Ministers. Theol. It grieveth me, and I am almost ashamed, to speak of this point. For, is it not a woeful and lamentable thing, that any such should be found amongst the sons of Levi? Is it not a corsie, that the Ministers of Christ should be of a scandalous conversation? For if the eye be dark, how great is the darkness? If they be examples of all evil to the flock, which should be patterns, lights, and examples of all goodness, must it not needs strengthen the hands of the wicked, so as they cannot return from their wickedness? But this is an old disease & evil sickness, which hath always been in the church. The Prophet jeremy doth most grievously complain of it in his time, & saith; That from the Prophets of jerusalem, is wickedness jer. 23. 14. gone forth into all the land. For, both the Prophet and the Priest do wickedly. I have seen, saith he, in the Prophets of jerusalem, filthiness. They commit adultery, & walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of the wicked, that none can return from his wickedness; they are all unto me as Sodom: and the Inhabitants thereof, as Gomorah. And in the ninth verse of the same Chap. he showeth, that it was no pleasure or toy unto him, so publicly to reprove them: but, that he did it with exceeding grief, as being forced thereunto, both in regard of God's glory, & the good of his Church. His words are these, Mine heart breaketh within me, because of the prophets, and all my bones shake. Moreover, in the same Chapter is set down, how the Lord would feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall, and sundry other ways plague them, for their flatteries, seducements, corrupt doctrine, and evil example of life. Phila. Most certain it is, that the evil example of Ministers, and especially of Preachers, is very dangerous, & offensive: for thereby thousands are hardened in their sins. For men will say, Such a Minister, and such a Preacher, doth thus, and thus, and therefore why may not we do so too? They are learned, and know the word of God: therefore, if it were evil, I hope they would not do it. For they should be lights to us, and give us good examples. Therefore, sith they do such things, we cannot tell what to think, or what to say to the matter: they bring such simple folk as we are, into a mammering. Theol. Oh that I could, with the Prophet jeremy, quake and shake to think of these matters! Oh that I could mourn as a Dove, in penning of it! Oh that I had in the wilderness a cottage, and could with job be a brother to the Dragons, and a companion to the Ostriches, whilst I have any thoughts of those things▪ Oh that I could weep & mourn without sin, before I yield you an answer ï For weep indeed I may: but answer, I cannot. Alas (with much grief I speak it) all is too true, that you say. And herein the people have a vantage against us: if I may call it vantage. But let this be mine answer: If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. Blind guides Math 15. 14. and blind people, shall perish together. If because we are wicked, they will be more wicked, then both they and we shall burn in hell fire together. Then let them reckon their gains, and see what they have got. They have small cause so to triumph over us. For, thereby their market is never a whit amended: let them take this for answer. And let us that are the Ministers of Christ, and Preachers of the Gospel, look narrowly to ourselves, and make strait steps to our feet. For if we tread never so little awry, we may see how many eyes are upon us. Let us therefore with David pray continually, Order my goings, O Lord, that my footsteps slip not. For when my foot slipped, they rejoiced against me. And as for the people, let them follow the examples of those, which walk unblamably (as God be thanked, some such there be) and let them fly the examples of such as are offensive. So shall God have more glory, & they more peace in their own hearts. Thus have we heard, what a wide gate is opened into hell, by the evil example of Ministers, and especially of Preachers. Phila. Well, sith there be so many bars out of heaven, and so many gates into hell, it is a very hard matter to break thorough all these bars, and so to enter into life: and as hard a matter, to miss all these gates, and to escape hell. He quits him well, that can do it. Theol. True indeed. And as hard a thing as this is, so hard a thing is it for flesh and blood to enter into the kingdom of heaven. And yet most men make light of it, and think it is the easiest matter of an hundred. Asune. As hard as it is, yet I hope by the grace of God, I shall be one of them, that shall enter in. For, so long as I do as I would be done to; and say no body no harm, nor do no body no harm, God will have mercy on my soul. And I doubt not, but my good deeds shall weigh against my evil deeds, and that I shall make even with God, at my latter end. For I thank God for it, I have always lived in his fear, & served him with a true intent. Therefore I know, that so long as I keep his commandments, and live as my neighbours do, and as a Christian man ought to do, he will not damn my soul. Theol. Can you then keep God's commandments? Asune. As near as GOD will give me grace. Theol. Nay, but I ask you whether you keep them or no? Asune. I do say to keep them, as near as I can; I do my true intent. Though I keep them not all, yet I am sure I keep some of them. Theol. Because you say you keep some of them, I pray you let me be so bold with you, as to examine you in the particulars. You know, the first commandment is this; Thou shalt have none other gods in my sight. How say you, do you keep this? Asune. I am out of all fear of it. For I never worshipped any God, but one. I am fully persuaded, there is but one God. Theol. What say you to the second commandment; Thou shalt make to thyself no graven image? etc. Asune. I never worshipped any Images in my life; I defy them. I know they cannot help me; for they be but stocks and stones. Theol. What say you to the third commandment; which is this; Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy GOD in vain? etc. Asune. Nay certainly, I was never counted a swearer in my life; but I have feared God always of a child, and have had a good faith in him, ever since I could remember. I would be sorry else. Theol. What say you then to the fourth commandment; Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day? etc. Asune. Nay, for that matter, I keep my church as well as any man in the parish where I dwell, and mind my prayers as well, when I am there. I thank God for it (though I say it myself) I have been always well given, and have loved God's word with all my heart; and it doth me good to hear the Epistles and Gospels read every Sunday, by our Vicar. Theo. Tell me, what say you to the fifth commandment, which is; Honour thy Father and thy Mother, etc. Do you keep this? Asune. I have always loved and obeyed my Father and Mother from my heart. I hope there is no body can accuse me for that, and I am sure, if I keep any commandment, it is this. For, when I was a boy, every body said that I was well given, and a toward child. Therefore, if I should not keep this commandment, it would be a great grief to me; and go as near my heart, as any thing that came to me this seven year. Theol. What say you to the sixth commandment; Thou shalt not kill? Asune. It were strange, if I should not keep that. Theol. What say you to the seventh: Thou shalt not commit adultery? Asune. I thank God for it, I was never given to women. God hath always kept me from that, and I hope, will so still. Theo. What say you to the eight: Thou shalt not steal? Asunetus. I am neither whoremaster, nor thief. Theol. What say you to the ninth: Thou shalt not bear false witness? etc. Asune. I defy all false witness-bearing from my heart. Theol. What say you to the last: Thou shalt not covet? etc. Asune. I thank God for it, I never coveted any man's goods but mine own. Theol. Now I perceive, you are a wonderful man: you can keep all the Commandments. You are like that blind Ruler, which said unto Christ; All these things have I kept Math. 19 20. from my youth. I perceive now indeed, that it is no marvel though you make so light of preaching: for you have no need ofit. You are whole, you need not the Physician: you feel no misery, and therefore you care not for mercy. For where misery is not felt, there mercy is not regarded: but I see, you need no Saviour. Asune. You say not well in that. I need a Saviour: and it is my Lord jesus that must save me: for he made me. Theol. What need you a Saviour, sith you are no sinner? Asune. Yes believe me, I am a sinner. We are all sinners: there is no man but he sinneth. Theo. How can you be a sinner, sith you keep all the Commandments? Asune. Yes: I am a sinner, for all that. Theo. Can you both be a sinner, and be without sin too? for he that keepeth the commandments, is without sin. Which thing you say you do. But I see how the case standeth; that a great number of such ignorant & sottish men as you are, will in general say you are sinners, because your conscience telleth you so: but when it cometh to particulars, you know not how you sin, nor wherein. I pray you therefore, let me lead you thorough the Commandments again, and deal with you in particulars: that I may bring you to the sight of your sins. How say you therefore, do you upon your knees, every morning and evening, give God thanks for his particular mercies, & manifold favours towards you: And do you call much upon him privately, and much also with your family? answer me plainly and simply. Asune. I cannot say so. Theol. Then you have broken the first commandment; which chargeth us to give God his due worship; whereof, prayer and thanksgiving are a part. So then here, at the very entrance, you are found guilty. Further, I demand of you, whether you never had any by-thoughts in your prayers, and your heart hath not been upon other matters, even then while you were in prayer? Asune. I cannot deny that. For it is a very hard matter to pray, without by-thoughts. Theol. Then (by your own confession) you have broken the second commandment, which doth command the right manner of God's worship; that is, that as we must worship God, so we must do it in saith, love, zeal, and pure affections. So that here you are guilty also; because when you pray, your mind is of other matters, and you do it not in sincerity and truth. Further, I demand of you, whether you did never swear by your faith, or troth, or tie our Lady, S. Mary, and such other oaths? Asune. Yes by S. Mary have I: I must needs confess it. Theol. We need no further witness. Your very answer proveth it; for your answer is an oath. Therefore here also you are guilty; because you swear by idols. Further, I demand of you, whether you did never travel to Fairs on the Sabbath day, or make bargains on that day, or take journeys, or talk of worldly matters, neglecting holy duties? Asune. Yes, God for give me, I have. Theol. Then are you guilty of the breach of the fourth commandment: which chargeth us, on pain of death, to spend the Sabbath day in holy & religious duties, both publicly, and privately. Further I demand, whether you instruct your wife, children, and servants, in the true knowledge of God, and pray with them, or no? Asun. I am sure, you would have me speak the truth, I must needs confess, I do not, neither am I able to do it. Theol. Then you are guilty of the breach of the fifth commandment; which commandeth all duties of superiors, towards their inferiors; and of inferiors, towards their superiors, whereof prayer and instructions are a part. Moreover, I demand, whether you were never angry or no? Asune. Yes, an hundred times, in my days. And I think, there is no body, but will be angry at one time or other; especially when they have cause. Theol. Then you have broken the sixth commandment: which chargeth us to avoid wrath, anger, malice, desire of revenge: and all such like forerunners unto murder. Further, I ask you: whether you did never look upon a woman with a lust in your heart? Asune. Yes. For I think there is no man free from thoughts that way. I had thought, thoughts had been free. Theol. No: thoughts are not free before God. For, God knoweth our thoughts: & will punish us, arraign us, & condemn us for thoughts. Men know not thoughts: and therefore can make no Laws against thoughts: but because God is privy to all our most secret thoughts, therefore he hath made Laws against them, and will condemn them. Therefore I conclude, that if you have nourished adulterous thoughts in your heart, you are guilty of the breach of the seventh commandment: which forbiddeth all secret thoughts and provocations whatsoever to adultery. But further, I demand, whether you did never pilfer, purloin, and steal some small things from your neighbour: as pasture, poultry, coneys, apples, and such like? Asun. I cannot clear myself in these things. For I had thought, they had been no sin. Theol. Then have you broken the eight commandment, and stand guilty of eternal death. For God, in this commandment, chargeth us to have as great care of our neighbour's goods, as of our own: and not to injure him any manner of way, in thought, word, or deed. Therefore all deceit, pilfering, oppressing, and all unjust dealing with our neighbour's goods, is here condemned. Moreover, let me ask you, whether you did never lie, or dissemble? Asune. Yes assuredly. Theo. Then have you broken the ninth commandment: wherein, God chargeth us, both in witness-bearing, and all other matters, to speak the plain truth from our heart, without lying or dissembling. Last of all, I demand whether you did never in your heart desire something that was not your own: as your neighbour's house, or ground, kine, or sheep, etc. therein bewraying the discontentment of your heart? Asune. I am as guilty in this, as in any thing. For (God forgive me) I have often desired and lusted after this, and that, which was none of mine own, and so have bewrayed my discontentment. Theol. Then I perceive (by your own confession) that you are guilty of the breach of all the Commandments. Asune. I must needs confess it. For I see now more into that matter, than ever I did. I never heard so much before in my life, nor was ever asked any such questions, as you ask me. I had thought many of those things, which you asked me, had been no sins at all. Theol. I could have convicted you in a thousand other particulars, wherein you do daily and hourly break the Law of God. But my purpose was only to give you a taste of some particular transgressions, and there withal some little light by the way into the meaning of the law: that thereby you might be brought to some better fight of yourself, and might a little perceive in what case you stand before God; and by that little, conceive a great deal more. Asune. Well: now I do plainly see, that I have been deceived; and am not in so good estate before God, as I thought I had been. Moreover I see, that thousands are out of the way, which think they are in a good case before God: whereas indeed they are in blindness, and in their sins. But Lord have mercy upon us. I do now plainly see, that I am far from keeping the commandments: and I think no man doth keep them. Theol. You may swear it, I warrant you. For neither S. Paul, David, or the virgin Mary, could ever keep any one of the Commandments. I am glad you begin to see into the law of God, and to have some taste that way. For, as a man's knowledge and insight is into the law, so is the knowledge and insight into himself. He that hath a deep insight into the law of God, hath also a deep insight into himself. He that hath no sight into the law, can have no insight into himself. For the law is that glass wherein we do behold the face of our souls, before God. The Apostle saith: By the law cometh Rom. 3. 20. the knowledge of sin. Therefore those which are altogether ignorant of the law, and never behold themselves in this glass, do commit an hundred sins a day, which they know not of; and therefore are not grieved for them. For, how can a man be grieved for that, which he knoweth not? But now further, I pray you give me leave to ask you some more questions of the principles of religion: to the end, that you knowing and feeling your ignorance, may be humbled therewith, bewail it in time, & seek after the true knowledge of God. But yet, by the way, I will ask Antilegon, a question, or two; because I desire to understand what knowledge he hath in the grounds of religion. Tell me therefore Antilegon, what was the reason why Christ was conceived by the holy Ghost? Antil. I could answer you: but I will not. What authority have you to examine me? Show your Commission. When I see your warrant, I will answer you. In the mean time, you have nothing to do, to examine me. Meddle with that you have to do withal. Theol. I perceive you are not only ignorant, but wilful, and obstinate, and refuse all instructions. Therefore I will leave you to God, and to your galled conscience. But I pray you Asunetus, answer that question. What think you, what is the reason that Christ was conceived by the holy Ghost? Asune. Believe me Sir, that is an hard question. You may ask a wise man that question: For I cannot answer it. Theo. What say you then to this: Who was Christ's mother? Asune. Mary Sir, that was our blessed Lady. Theol. What was Pontius Pilate? Asun. I am somewhat ignorant, I am not book-learned: but if you will have my simple opinion, I think it was the devil. For none but the devil, would put our sweet Saviour to death. Theo. What is the holy Catholic Church, which you say you do believe? Asune. The Communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins. Theol. What do you pray for, when you say, Thy Kingdom come? Asune. I do pray, that God would send us all of his grace, that we may serve him, & do as we ought to do, & keep us in a good mind to God ward, and to have him much in our mind: For some (God bless us) have nothing but the devil in their mind: they do nothing a God's name. Theol. What is a Sacrament? Asune. The Lord's Supper. Theol. How many Sacraments be there? Asune. Two? Theol. Which be they? Asune. Bread and Wine. Theo. What is the principal end of your coming to receive the Sacrament? Asune. To receive my maker. Theol. What is the principal use of a Sacrament? Asune. The body and blood of Christ. Theol. What profit and comfort have you by a Sacrament? Asune. In token that Christ died for us. Theol. I can but pity you, for your ignorance: for it is exceeding gross and palpable. Your answers are to no purpose, and bewray a wonderful blindness and senselessness in matters of Religion. I am sorry, that now I have not time and leisure to let you see your folly, & extreme ignorance, as also to lay open unto you the sense and meaning of the Articles of the faith, the Lords prayer, and the Sacraments, & all other the grounds of Christian Religion. Asune. What course would you wish me to take, that I may come out of ignorance, and attain unto the true knowledge of God? Theol. Surely, I would wish you to be diligent in hearing of Sermons, and reading the Scriptures, with prayer and humility. Also that you would peruse Catechisms, and other good books: and especially Vi●els grounds of Religion, and the works of the two worthy servants of God, Master Gyffard and Master Perkins, and other men's that have done great service to the Church, and for whom thousands are bound to give God thanks. If you take this course, you shall by God's grace, within a short time, grow to some good measure of knowledge, in all the main grounds of Christian religion. Phila. I had not thought any man had been so ignorant, as I now perceive this man is. Theo. Yes verily: there be thousands in his case. And I do know by experience, that many will use the very same answers: or at least, very little differing. Phila. I warrant you, if you had questioned with him of kine, or sheep, purchasing of lands, taking of Leases, or any other matter under the sun, you should have found him very ripe and ready in his answers. Theol. I am so persuaded too. For let a man talk with worldly men of worldly matters, and their answer is never to seek. They will talk very freshly with you of such matters, if it be all the day long. For they have a deep insight into earthly things: and do wholly delight to talk of them, being never weary. For it is their joy, their meat, and their drink. But come once to talk with them of God's matters (as of faith, repentance regeneration etc.) you shall find them the veriest dullards, & dunces in the world. For, when speech is had of these things, they are so befogged, that they can not tell where they are, nor what they say. Phil. In my judgement, such men's case is very pitiful, and dangerous. And so is this man's case also, if God do not very speedily pull him out of it. Theol. Questionless. For God saith, My people Hos. 4. 7. perish for want of knowledge. Our Lord Jesus saith, that ignorance is the cause of all errors. Ye err, saith he, not knowing the scriptures. Math. 22. The Apostle saith, that ignorance doth alienate us from the life of God. For saith he, The gentiles were darkened in their cogitation, Ephes. 4. 18. being strangers from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them. So than it is clear, that ignorance is not the mother of devotion, as the Papists do avouch: but it is the mother of error, death and destruction, as the Scripture affirmeth. Our Lord foreseeing the great danger of ignorance (how thereby thousands are carried headlong into Hell) doth admonish joh. 5. 39 all men to search the Scriptures, which do testify of him: that so they might get out of the most dangerous gulf of ignorance, wherein multitudes are implunged. Therefore the Noble men of Berea are commended, by the Act. 17. 11. holy Ghost, because they received the word, with all readiness; and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Oh therefore that men would earnestly seek after the knowledge of God in time: and (as the Prophet saith) Seek the Lord, whilst he may Esay. 55. 6. be found: call upon him whilst he is near▪ Phila. I do see, that all ignorance in matters of faith, is dangerous: but I think, wilful ignorance is of all other most dangerous. Theol. Wilful ignorance (no doubt) is a plain prognostication, and demonstrative argument of eternal death: For it is a most horrible and fearful thing, for men to refuse instructions, despise counsels, harden their hearts, stop their ears, and close up their eyes against God. This is the very upshot of our decay. Phila. I pray you, what call you hardness of heart? Theol. An heard heart is that, which is neither moved with God's mercies, nor scared with his judgements: neither feareth the law, nor regardeth the Gospel: neither is holpen by threatenings, nor softened by chastenings: which is unthankful for God's benefits, and disobedient to his counsels: made cruel by his rods, and dissolute by his favours: unshamefast to filthiness, and fearless to perils: uncourteous to men, and reckless to God: forgetful of things past, negligent in things present, and improvident in things to come. Phila. Lay forth yet more plainly the state of ignorant and hard hearted men; and show how lamentable it is. Theol. If a man be outwardly blind, we do pity him, and say: There goeth a poor blind man: but if he be both blind and deaf, do we not more pity him, and say? Oh, in how miserable a case is that man! But if he be both blind, deaf and dumb, do we not most of all pity him, and say? Oh, that man is in a most woeful taking, and in a most pitiful plight! How much more than are they to be pitied, which as concerning their souls, are both blind, deaf, and dumb? For the diseases of the soul are far more dangerous, and more to be pitied, than those of the body. Would it not pity a man's heart, to see a poor sheep in a Lion's mouth, whilst he teareth him, renteth him, & pulleth out his guts? Even such is the case of ignorant men, in the claws of the devil. For the devil hath them under him, rideth them at his pleasure, and teareth their souls in pieces. the groanings of soldiers wounded, & the doleful sighs and groanings of many Captains and Colonels, giving up the ghost: were not this a most woeful spectacle? Even so, when we do clearly see Satan wound and murder thousand, thousands souls, is it not a far more tragical & lamentable sight? and ought it not even to kill our hearts, to behold it? But alas, men have no eyes, to see into these things. And yet certain it is, that Satan doth continually, and in most fearful manner, massacre innumerable souls. Thus have I showed you, the woeful estate of profane and ignorant men. Phila. If it be so, you that be Ministers and Preachers of the Gospel, & have taken upon you the cure and charge of souls, have need to look about you, and to do what in you lieth, to save souls, & as good shepherds, in great pity and compassion, to labour to pull them out of the paws of this roaring Lion, which goeth about continually seeking whom he may devour. Theol. It standeth us upon indeed, very seriously and carefully to look to it, as we will answer it at the dreadful day of judgement. For it is no small matter that we have taken in hand; which is, to care for the flock, which Christ hath bought with his blood. Would to God therefore that we would leave striving about other matters, and strive together all about this; who can pull most out of the kingdom of Satan, sin, and ignorance: who can win most souls, and who can perform best service to the church. This were a good strife indeed: and would to God that we might once at last with joined forces go about it, & with one heart and hand, join together to build up God's house. If through our own follies the work hath been hindered, or any breach made, let us in wisdom and love, labour to make it up again. If there hath been any declining and coldness, let us now at last revive: let us stir up ourselves, that we may stir up others. Let us be zealous and fervent in spirit, that we may through God's grace put life into others, and rouse up this dead declining & cold age wherein we live: So shall God be glorified, his church edified, his Saints comforted, his people saved, his throne erected, and the kingdom of the Devil overthrown. Phila. What think you were the best course to effect this which you speak of? Theol. This is a thing that must be exceedingly laboured in of us, which are the Ministers, and Preachers of the Gospel. And here is required diligence and (as we say) double diligence: for the people are, every where, very ignorant. Some are stones, altogether uncapable of instruction: others are froward and wilful. Some will receive the doctrine: but not the practice: some again are altogether set upon peevishness, and cavilling. So that a man were better take upon him the charge of keeping Wolves and Bears, than the charge of souls. For it is the hardest thing in the world, to reform men's disorders, and to bring them into order, to pull men's souls out of the kingdom of Satan, and to bring them to God. It is as we say, an endless piece of work, an infinite toil, a labour of all labours: I quake to think of it. For, men are so obstinate and irrefragable that they will be brought into no order: they will come under no yoke. They will not be ruled by God, nor bridled by his word. They will follow their own swinge. They will run after their own lusts and pleasures. They will kick and spurn, if they be reproved. They will rage and storm if you go about to curb them, and restrain them of their wills, like, and liberties. They will have their wills, and follow their old fashions; say what you will, and do what you can. Is it not think you a busy piece of work, to smooth and square such Timber-logs, so full of knots and knobs? Is it not a tedious and irksome thing, to think upon? And would it not kill a man's heart to go about it? For, how hard a thing is it, to bring such into frame, as are so far out of frame? Phila. Well sir, you can but do your endeavour, and commit the success to God. You can but plant and water: let God give the increase. You are Ministers of the letter: but not of the spirit. You baptize with water: but not with the holy Ghost. If you therefore preach diligently, exhort, admonish, and reprove, publicly, and privately: studying by all good example of life, and seeking with all good zeal, care, and conscience, to do the uttermost that in you lieth, to reduce them from their evil ways; I take it, you are discharged, though they remain stubborn and incorrigible. For you know, what the Lord saith by his Prophet: If you do admonish them and give them warning, than you shall be discharged, and Eze. 33. 9 their blood shall be required at their own hands. Theol. You have spoken the truth. And therefore, sith some must needs take upon them this so great a charge, it will be our best course, to labour much with them in catechizing, and private instructions: and that in most familiar and plain manner. For much good hath been done, and is done, this way. The ignorant sort must be much laboured upon this way: and so, no doubt, much good may be done. For, in all labour there is profit. Herein, we Pro. 14. 23. (that are the Ministers of Christ) must be content to be abased, and to teach the poor ignorant people in most plain manner, ask them many easy questions, & often questioning with them in most plain and loving manner, till we have brought them to some taste and smack of the principles of Christian Religion. We must not be ashamed to use repetitions, and tautologies, and to tell them one thing twenty times over, and over again, here a line, and there a line: here a little, and there a little: precept Isa. 28. 10. upon precept, as the Prophet speaketh. I know riht well, nothing goeth more against the stomach of a scholar, and him that is learned indeed, then to do thus. It is as irksome and tedious, as to teach A. B. C. Some can, at no hand, endure it. But truly, truly I find now, after long experience, that if we will do any good to these simple and ignorant souls, we must enter into this course: and we may not be ashamed of it. For, it will be our crown, and our glory, to win souls, howsoever we be abased. Let us therefore be well content to stoop down, that Christ may be exalted. Let us be abased, that God may be honoured. Let us do all things in great love to Christ, who hath said: If thou lovest me, feed, feed, feed joh. 21. 15. my flock. Let us therefore testify our love to him, by feeding his flock. Let us do all things in great love and deep compassion towards the poor souls, that go astray. As it is said, that our Lord Jesus was moved to pity, and his bowels did yearn, to see the people as sheep without a shepherd. Let it likewise move us thoroughly, and make our hearts to bleed, to see so many poor sheep of Christ wandering and straying in the mountains, and wilderness of this world, caught in every bramble, and hanged in every bush, ready to be devoured of the Wolf. Thus have I showed you, what course (in my judgement) is best to be taken, for the delivering of poor ignorant souls, out of the captivity of Satan and sin. Phil. Now, as you have declared, what course is best to be followed of your part, which are the Ministers and Preachers of the Gospel; so I pray you show, what is best to be done of us, which are the people of God. Theol. The best counsel that I can give you if it were for my life, is, to be much exercised in the word of God, both in the hearing, reading, and meditation thereof: and also to purchase, unto yourself the sincere ministry of the Gospel, and to make conscience to live under it, esteeming yourself happy if you have it, though you want other things: and unhappy if you have it not, though you have all other things. For it is a peerless pearl, an incomparable Jewel. For the purchasing whereof, we are advised by our Lord Jesus, to sell all that we have, rather than to go without it. Again, Mat. 13. 44. our Saviour Christ giveth the same counsel, to the Church of Laodicea, in these words: I counsel Apo. 3. 18 thee, to buy of me gold tried by the fire, that thou mayest be rich: and white raiment, that thou mayst be clothed, and that thy filthy nakedness do not appear: and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayst see. Where you see, the word of God is compared to most precious gold, whereby we are made spiritually rich: and to glittering attire, wherewith our naked souls are clothed: and to an eyesalve, wherewith our spiritual blindness is cured. We are advertised also by Jesus Christ whose counsel is ever the best, that we should buy these things, whatsoever they cost us. The same counsel also giveth wise Solomon, saying, Buy the truth: but sell it not. So than you see, Pro. 23. 23. the counsel which herein I give you, is not mine own; but the counsel of jesus himself, and Solomon the wise. And who can or who dare except against their counsel? Asune. Is your meaning, that men must of necessity frequent preaching of the word? will not bare reading serve the turn? Theol. I told you before, that reading is good, profitable, and necessary: but yet it is not sufficient. We must not content ourselves with that only: but we must go further, and get unto ourselves the sound preaching of the Gospel, as the chiefest and most princiyall means, which God hath ordained and sanctified, for the saving of men. As it is plainly set down, 1. Cor. 1. 21. When as the world (by wisdom) knew not God, in the wisdom of God, it pleased God, by the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe. The meaning of it is, that when as men, neither by natural wisdom, nor the contemplation of the creatures, could sufficiently attain to the true knowledge of God; the Lord, according to his heavenly and infinite wisdom thought of an other course: which is, to save men by preaching; which the world counteth foolishness. And by the way note, that the preaching of the word is not a thing of human invention: but it is Gods own device, and came first out of his brain, as the next and nearest way to save men's souls. Wise Solomon also in the Book of the proverbs telleth us, that the preaching of God's word (which he calleth vision, using the word of the Prophets, which called their Sermons visions) is not a thing that may be spared, or that we may be at choice whether we have it or no: but he maketh it to be of absolute necessity unto eternal life. For he saith, Where vision faileth, the people are left naked. Pro. 29. 18. So indeed, it is in the Original. But the old translation giveth us the sense, thus: Where the word of God is not preached, there the people perish. Then you see that Solomon striketh it dead, in telling us, that all they which are without preaching of the word, are in exceeding danger of losing their souls. Oh that men could be persuaded of this! Saint Paul also saith, that faith cometh by hearing the word preached. For he saith: How can they Rom. 10. 14. hear, without a Preacher? If faith come by hearing the word preached, than I reason thus▪ No preaching, no faith: no faith, no Christ: no Christ, no eternal life. For eternal life is only in him. Let us then put them together, thus: Take away the word, take away faith: take away faith, take away Christ: take away Christ, and take away eternal life. So than it followeth; Take away the word, and take away eternal life. Or, we may read them backward thus: If we will have heaven, we must have Christ: If we will have Christ, we must have faith. If we will have faith, we must have the word preached. Then it followeth thus. If we will have heaven, we must have the word preached. Then I conclude, that preaching generally, and for the most part, is of absolute necessity unto eternal life; as meat is of absolute necessity, for the preservation of our bodies; as grass and fodder are of absolute necessity, for the upholding of the life of beasts; and water of absolute necessity, for the life of fishes. Then, this being so, men are with great care and conscience to hear the Gospel preached, to frequent Sermons, to resort much to God's house and habitation, where his honour dwelleth: with David to say; One thing have I desired Psal. 27. 4. of the Lord, that I will require: even that I may dwell in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to visit his holy Temple. With godly Luke. 14. 42. joh. 5. 7. Mary to say; One thing is necessary; and so choose the better part. With the poor Cripple at Bethesda, to wait for the moving of the waters by the Angel, that his impotency may be cured: I mean, that we should tie ourselves to the first moving of the spiritual waters of life, by the Preachers of the Gospel; that our spiritual impotency may be holpen and relieved. For the ministry of the Gospel is that golden pipe, whereby and wherethrough all the goodness of GOD, all the sweetness of Christ, and all heavenly graces whatsoever are derived unto us. Which thing was shadowed, in the law by the Pomegranates in the skirts of Aaron's garments, and the golden Bells between them round about: that is, a golden Bell, and a Pomegranate; a golden Bell, and a Pomegranate. The golden Bells xod. 28. 33. did signify the preaching of the Gospel, and the Pomegranates the sweet savour of Christ's death. Noting thereby that the sweet savour of Christ's death, and all the benefits of his passion, should be spread abroad by the preaching of the Gospel. Thus you see, that if ever men purpose to be saved, they must make more account of the preaching of the Gospel, than they have done, & not think, (as most men do) that they may be without it, & yet do well enough. And some had as lief be without it, as have it. For it doth but disquiet them, and trouble their consciences: but woe be unto such. Phila. Yet we see, where the word is sound preached, there be many bad people: and the reasons thereof, in mine opinion, are two. The one, that God taketh his holy spirit from many in hearing the word: so that their hearing is made unfruitful. The other, that the devil hath an hundred devices, to hinder the effectual working of the word: so as it shall do no good at all, nor take any effect in multitudes of men. But you, Master Theologus, can better lay open this matter, than I. I pray you therefore speak something of it. Theol. The sleights of Satan, in this behalf, are more and more sly, than I, or any man else can possibly discover. For who is able to descry, or in sufficient manner, to lay open the deep subtleties, and most secret and sinful suggestions of the Devil in the hearts of men: He is so cunning a craft's master this way, that none can perfectly trace him. His workings, in the hearts, of men, are with such close and hid deceits, and most methodical and crafty conveyances, that none can sufficiently find them out. But yet notwithstanding, I will bewray so much as I know, or can conceive of his dealings with men that hear the word, that he may steal it out of their hearts, and make it fruitless and unprofitable. First of all, he bestirreth him and laboureth hard, to keep men fast asleep in their sins, that they may have no care at all of their salvation: and therefore dissuadeth them from hearing, or reading the word at all; lest they should be awaked. If this will not prevail, but that they must needs hear, than his craft is, to make their hearing unprofitable, by sleepiness, dullness by-thoughts, conceitedness, and a thousand such like. If this will not serve the turn, but that the word doth get within them, and work upon them (so as thereby they grow to some knowledge and understanding of the truth) than he practiseth another way, which is, to make them rest themselves upon their bare knowledge, and so become altogether consciencelesse. If this will not suffice, but that men fall to doing, and leave some sins, especially the gross sins of the world, and do some good, than he persuadeth them to trust to those doings without Christ, and to think themselves well enough, because they do some good, and leave some evil. If this be not enough, but that men attain unto the true justifying faith which apprehendeth Christ, and resteth upon his merits, than he deviseth how to blemish the beauty of their faith, and weaken their comfort, through many frailties and wants, yea gross downefalles, and rank evils: so as they shall be but spotted and leprous Christians. If this weapon will not work, but that Christians do join all good virtues with their faith, and abundantly shine forth in all fruits of righteousness, than he casteth about another way: which is, to daunt and damp them with discouragements: as poverty, necessity, sickness, reproaches, contempts, persecutions etc. If none of all these will do the deeds, but that men constantly believe in Christ, and patiently, and joyfully endure all afflictions, than his last refuge is, to blow them up with gunpowder: that is, to puff them up with a pride of their gifts, graces and strength, and so to give them an utter overthrow whilst they do not walk humbly and give God the praise of his gifts. Thus have you a little taste of Satan's cunning, in making the word unfruitful amongst us. Asune. I pray you good sir (seeing I am ignorant and unlearned) give me some particular directions out of the word of Gnd, for the good guiding and ordering of my particular actions, in such sort, as that I may glorify God in the earth, and after this life be glorified of him for ever. Theol. It were an infinite thing, to enter into all particulars: but briefly do this: First, seek God earnestly in his word: pray much: in all things give thanks. Eschew evil, and do good: Fear God and keep his Commandments: reform yourself, and your household: love virtue, and virtuous men; keep company with the godly, and avoid the society of the wicked. Live soberly, justly, and holily, in the present evil world. Speak always graciously, ● beware of filthy communication. Recompense to no man evil for evil; but recompense evil with good. Be courteous, and pitiful towards all men. Take heed of swearing, cursing, and banning. Beware of anger, wrath, and bitterness. Praise your friend openly: reprove him secretly. Speak no evil of them that are absent, nor of the dead. Speak evil of no man: speak always the best, or at least, not the worst. Reverence God's name, and keep his Sabbaths. Avoid all the signs of condemnation, and labour after all the signs of salvation. Above all things, take heed of sin: for that is the very cutthroat of the soul, and bane of all goodness. Tremble therefore, and sin not. For if you sin, mark what followeth. Six great dangers in sin: God seeth. His Angels bear witness. The conscience pricketh. Death threateneth. The Devil accuseth. Hell devoureth. You see then, that sin is no scarecrow, or jesting matter. Every sin▪ that a man committeth, is as a thorn thrust deep into the soul, which will not be got out again, but with many a sigh, and many a sorrowful oh, oh. Every sin jer. 17. 1. is written with a pen of iron: and the point of a diamond upon the conscience, and shall in the last day (when the books shall be opened) accuse Note this. us, and give in evidence, against us. If a man commit sin with pleasure, the pleasure passeth away, but the conscience and sting of the sin abideth, and tormenteth deadly: but if a man do well, though with labour and painfulness, the pain passeth away, yet the conscience of well doing remaineth, with much comfort. But, the best end of sin is always repentance: if not in this life, then with woe, and alas, when it is too late. Therefore take heed in time; take heed I say of sin. Six most hurtful effects of sin. Sin hardeneth the heart. Heb. 3. 13. 1. Sa. 25. 31. 1. Pet. 2. 11. jam. 1. 15. Rom. 6. 21. Deut. 28. Sin gnaweth the conscience. Sin fighteth against the soul. Sin bringeth forth death. Sin maketh ashamed. Sin procureth all plagues of body and soul. Behold, therefore the evil effects of sin. For this cause, Zophar, the Naamathite, speaketh job. 11. 15. very wisely to job, saying; When thou shalt lift thy face, out of thy sin, thou shalt be strong, and shalt not fear; thou shalt forget all sorrow; thou shalt temember it, as the waters that are past. Where, Zophar plainly showeth, that the avoiding of sin is our strength, and the committing of it, our weakening. According to that of Solomon; The way of the Pro. 10. 29. Lord is the strength of the upright man. Therefore walk in the way of God, and take heed of the ways of sin. For God punisheth every sin, his way; some one way, and some another; and no sin can escape unpunished. For because God is just, therefore he must needs punish sin in all men, though in divers manners; as the wicked, in their own persons; the godly, in Christ. Beware of it therefore, and flatter not yourself in your sins. Remember how every disobedience, and every transgression, hath had a just recompense of reward. God hath in all ages matched the causes with Note how God in all ages hath punished the breaks of his law. Exo. 32. 10. Leuit. 10. 2. Num. 15. Num. 15 52. the effect; that is, sin with the punishment of sin. The Isralites, for breaking the first commandment in making other Gods were often smitten by the hand of God. Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, for the breach of the second commandment, in offering strange fire upon God's Altar, were consumed with fire. He that blasphemed and transgressed the third commandment, was stoned to death. He that broke the fourth commandment, in gathering sticks upon the Sabbath, was likewise stoned. Absalon transgressing the fifth Commandment, was hanged in his own hair. 2 Sam. 18. Cain, transgressing the sixth, in flaying his brother Abel, was branded with the mark Gen. 4. 15. of God's wrath. Sichem the son of Hamor, Gen. 34. 26. transgressing the seventh, in defiling Dina the daughter of jacob, was slain by Simeon and Levi, the sons of jacob. Achan, sinning against josua 7. 25. the eight Commandment, in stealing the wedge of Gold, and the Babylonish garment, Act. 5. 6. was stoned to death. Ananias & Sapphira, sinning against the ninth commandment, in liing and dissembling, were suddenly smitten 1. Re. 21. 24. with death. Ahab, transgressing the tenth commandment, in ceveting and discententment, was devoured of dogs. Or if you will have original sin therein only forbidden, than infants Rom. 5. 14. are therefore punished with death. Thus we see there is no dallying with God; but if we sin, we are as sure to beierkt for it, as the coat is on our back. Therefore let us not deceive ourselves, nor make light of sin. For sin is no scar-bugge; and we shall one day find it so. And howsoever we make light of some sins, yet in very deed all sin is odious in the sight of God, yea all sin is heinous and capital, in this respect, that it is against a person of infinite being; it is against God himself; it is against the highest Majesty. For the greatness of the person offended, doth enhance and increase the greatness of the sin. As for example: If a man rail at a Justice of peace, he shall be stocked; if he rail being the sons of idleness, will step short (in the end) of that they looked for. For the spirit saith: The sluggard lusteth, but his soul hath Pro. 13. 4. nought. We must therefore leave bare words, and come to deeds. For our Lord jesus saith: Not every one that saith Lord, Lord, shall enter Mat. 7. 21. into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doth the will of my father which is in heaven. Where we see, Christ (in plain terms) doth exclude out of his kingdom, all those whose Religion consisteth only in good words and smooth speeches: but make no conscience to practise the Commandments of God. David, having made some good preparation for the building of the Temple, and perceiving his son Solomon to have stuff and provision enough to perfectt and finish it, doth most wisely encourage him to the work, in these words: Up, and be doing, and the Lord shall be with 1. Chro. 12. 16. thee. Oh, that men would follow this counsel of David: That they would up, and be doing; And not sit still, and do nothing: that they would leave words and countenances; and set upon the practice of God's Law: and study with all care and conscience, to be obedient to his will. Then assuredly God would be with them, and bless them: and much good would come of it. For the Scripture saith: In all labour Prou. 14. 23. there is profit, or increase: but the talk of the lips only bringeth want. Phila. Most men's minds are so wholly drowned in the love of this world, that they have no heart to obey God, nor any delight in his commandments. Theo. The greatest part of men are like unto the Gadarens, which esteemed their Swine more than Christ. As we see in these our days, how many make more account of their kine and sheep, then of the most glorious Gospel of Christ. They highly esteem dung, and contemn Pearl. They are careful for trifles, and regard not the things of greatest moment. And therefore may very fitly be compared to a man, who having his wife and children very sick, doth utterly neglect them, and is altogether careful for the curing of his hog's ears. Phila. We are somewhat digressed from the matter we had in hand: I pray you therefore, if you have any more matter of good counsel to give unto Asunetus, that you would presently deliver it. Theol. I have little more to say: save only I would advise him often to remember, and much to muse of these nine things. The evil he hath committed. The good he hath omitted. The time he hath misspent. The shortness of this life. The vanity of this world. The excellency of the world to come. Death, than the which, nothing is more terrible. 9 Things much to be thought of. The day of judgement, than the which nothing is more fearful. Hell fire, than the which, nothing is more intolerable. Phila. This is short and sweet indeed. You have touched some of these points before, in this our conference. But I am very desirous to hear somewhat more of the two last, which yet have not been touched. Theol. Sith you are desirous, I will briefly deliver unto you, that which I have received from the Lord. First concerning the day of judgement, I find in the volume of God's book, that it shallbe very terrible and dreadful. For, Math. 24. 30. The son of man shall come in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. S. Peter saith; The day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night. In the which, the heavens 1. Pet. 3. 10. shall pass away with a noise, the elements shall melt with heat; & the earth, with the works that are therein shall be burnt up. The Apostle telleth us, that at the coming of Christ, all the whole world shall be of a light fire: and that all castles, towers, goodly buildings, gold, silver, velvets, silks, and all the glittering hue, glory, and beauty of this world, shall be consumed to powder and ashes. For he saith plainly; The heavens and the earth, which are now, are 2. Pet. 3. 7. reserved unto fire, against the day of judgement, and of the destruction of ungodly men. Moreover, he doth strongly prove, that as the world was once destroyed by water; so the second time, in the end thereof, it shall be destroyed by fire. The Apostle Paul doth witness the same 2. Thes. 1. 7. 1. Thes. 4. 16. thing: For he saith; Christ shall come from heaven, with all his mighty Angels in flaming fire. And in another place, he noteth the terror of his coming to judgement, saying; He shall come with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, & the trumpet of God. We see by experience, that the coming of mortal Princes to any place, is with great pomp & glory. They have great trains and troops behind them and before them. They are accompanied with many Nobles, goodly Lords; and gallant Ladies do attend upon them. The Sword-bearer, Trumpeters, and harbingers go before; many flaunting and stately personages follow after. Now then, if the coming of mortal Princes be so pompous, and glorious: how much more glorious shall the coming of the son of man be, in whose sight, all mortal princes are but dust? The Scriptures do affirm, that his second coming unto judgement, shall be with such resplendent and unspeakable glory, that even the most excellent creatures shall blush at it. For the Sun shall be darkened: the Math. 24. 29. Moon shall not give her light: and the stars shall fall from heaven. Meaning thereby, that the most glorious and bright-shining creatures shall be clouded and obscured, by the unconceivable brightness of Christ's coming. Moreover, is noted unto us the terror of Christ's coming, in this; that immediately before it, the very sea shall quake and tremble, and in his kind cry out. For it is said, that the Luk. 21. 25. 1. sea shall roar (and make a noise in most doleful and lugubrious manner) and men's hearts shall fail them for fear, and for looking after those things, which shall come on the world: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. Oh, what shall become of swearers, drunkards, whoremongers, & such like, in that day! They shall seek to creep into an auger hole, to hide their heads. They shall then cry woe and alas, that ever they were borne. They shall wish that they had never been borne, or that their mother had born them toads. And, as it is said in the Apocalypse, They shall say to the mountains and rocks, Fall Apoc. 6. 16. on us, and hide us from the presence of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of his wrath is come, and who can stand? We see therefore, that the coming of Christ shall not be base and contemptible, as in his first visitation: but it shall be most terrible, princely, and glorious. And as the Scriptures do affirm, that his coming shall be with great terror and dread: so also they do show, that it shall be very sudden and unlooked for. For the day of the Lord shall come as a thief 2. Pet. 3. 10. 1. Thes. 5. 2. Luk. 21. 35. in the night: as the travel that cometh upon a woman. As a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the earth. That is, it shall suddenly catch and entangle all men, wheresoever they be in the world: As the Earthquake, which was some twenty years ago, did suddenly take the world tardy, they not thinking of any such matter: So shall the coming of the son of man to judgement, take the world tardy and unprepared. For few there be that think of any such matter. Sith therefore the second appearing of Christ shall be with such suddenness, let us fear and tremble: for all sudden things are to be feared. Phila. Well sir, as you have showed us the terror, and suddenness of Christ's coming, so show us the purpose and end of his coming. Theol. The principal end of his coming, shall be to keep a general audit, to call all men to an account, to have a reckoning of every man's particular actions, & to reward them according to their deeds; as it is written: The Son Math. 16. 27. of man shall come in the glory of his Father, with his Angels: and then shall he give to every man, according to his deeds. Again, the Apostle saith to the Corinthians: We must all appear 2. Cor. 5. 10. before the judgement seat of Christ, that every man may receive the things which are done in his body, according to that which he hath done, whether it be good or evil. Here we do plainly see, that the end of Christ's coming shall be, to judge every man according to his works, that is, as his works shall declare him, and testify of him and of his faith. In another place the Apostle saith; That 2. Thes. 1. 9 the end of his coming shall be to render vengeance unto them which know not God, and which obey not the Gospel of our Lord jesus Christ, which shall be punished with everlasting perdition, from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. Woe then unto two sorts of men, the ignorant & the disobedient. For, the Apostle saith flatly, they both shall be damned. Me thinketh, both the ignorant & disobedient, & all other profane men, should tremble to think of this, that Christ shall come to render vengeance unto them. If we did certainly know, that the Spaniard should invade our Nation, overrun it, and make a conquest of Note this. it, that he should shed our blood, destroy us, and make a massacre amongst us: yea, that we should see our wives, our children, our kindred and dear friends slain before our faces, so as their blood should stream in the streets: what a wonderful fear and terror would it strike into us? we would quake to think of it. Shall we not then be much more afraid of the damnation of our souls? Shall we not quake, to think, that Christ shall come to take vengeance? If the Lion roar, all the beast of the field tremble, and shall not we be afraid of the roaring of the Lion of the Tribe of judah? But alas, we are so hard hearted, and so rocked asleep in the cradle of security, that nothing can move us, nothing can awake us. Phila. Now as you have showed us the terror, and end of Christ's coming: so also declare the manner of it. Theol. The manner of it is this; that the whole world shall be cited to appear personally at the general Assizes, before the great judge. No man shall be admitted to appear by his attorney: but all must appear personally. None shall be suffered to put in sureties: but all must come in their own persons, without bail or main prize; as it is written: We must all appear, 2. Cor. 5. 10. high and low, rich and poor, king and beggar, one and other; as it is plainly set down in the 20. Chapter of the Revelation: where the spirit saith, I sawche dead both great and small stand before God: and the sea gave up the dead which were in her, and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them. So than it is clear, that all, without exception, shall make their appearance at the great and dreadful Assizes. Oh what a great day will that be, when as the whole world shall appear together at once! If a king marry his son and dif other Kings, Emperors, Dukes, & Nobles to the marriage, with all their pomp & train, we use to say: Oh what a marriage, what a meeting, what a do, what a great day will there be! but when the universal world shall be assembled together (not only all monarchs, Kings, and Princes, but all other, that ever have been from the beginning of the world, all that are, and shall be) what a day will that be! No marvel therefore, though the Scriptures call it the day of God and the great day of the Lord. Now then when all flesh is come together, to make their personal appearance, then shall the son of God aseend unto his tribunal seat, with great Majesty and glory. For a fiery stream shall issue and come forth before him: thousand thousand Dan. 7. 10. Angels shall accompany him, and minister unto him: and ten thousand thousand shall stand before him: the judgement shall be set and the books opened. All the Saints also, and true worshippers of God, shall attend him, and accompany him unto his judgement seat. And not only so, but they shall sit upon the Bench and Throne, with him; as it is written: The 1. Cor. 6. 2. Saints shall judge the world: they shall judge the Angels; that is, the devils, the Angels of darkness. Our Lord Jesus himself doth avouch the same thing, when he said to his Disciples, and Mat. 19 28. in them to all true Christians: Verily I say unto you, that when the son of man shall sit in the throne of his Majesty, ye which followed me in the regeneration, shall sit upon twelve thrones, and judge the twelve Tribes of Israel. That is, the Saints of God shall bear witness that the judgement of Christ, and sentence of condemnatien which he passeth against all unbelievers, is according to justice and equity. Thus than we see, how Christ shall be accompanied to his throne; and with what glory and Majesty he shall ascend unto it. Experience teacheth, that when mortal judges hold their Sessions and general Assizes, they are brought unto the Bench & judgement seat, with pomp and terror. For the Sheriff of the Shire, and Holbard-men, with many Justices of peace, and trains of others, do accompany them unto the Bench. Then with how much more glory and majesty shall the Son of God be brought unto his royal Throne! Thus than Christ being set upon his judgement seat, all the ungodly shall be convented before him, and he shall stand over them with a naked sword in his hand. The devil shall stand by them on the one side, to accuse them, and their own conscience, on the other side: and the gaping gulf of hell, underneath them, ready to deucure them. Then shall the books be opened; not any books of paper and parchment, but the books of men's consciences. For every man's sins are written and recorded in his conscience, as it were in a Register book. Then will God bring every work to judgement, with every secret thought, and set them in order before all the Reprobates. Then will God lighten the things that are hid in darkness; 1. Cor. 4. 5 and make the counsels of the heart manifest. Then shall all the ungodly be arraigned, convicted, and hold up their hands at the bar of Christ's tribunal let, and shall cry guilty. Then shall that most dreadful sentence of death & condemnation be pronounced Math. 25. 41. against them by the most righteous Judge, Go ye cursed into everlasting fire; which is prepared for the devil and his Angels. Oh dole full sentence! Oh heavy hearing! Whose heart doth not tremble at these things? whose hair doth not stand upon his head? For than shall thousands, which in this world have flourished as the cedars of Libanus, be cast down for evermore; and shall drink (as a just recompense for their iniquity) of the bitter Cup of God's eternal wrath & indignation in the kingdom of darkness, and in the fearful presence of Satan, and all the rursed enemies of God's grace. Phil. Well now as you have declared unto us the terror, the suddenness, the end, & the manner of Christ's coming to judgement; so lastly show unto us, the right use of all these things. Theol. S. Peter telleth and teacheth us the 2. Pet. 3. 11. right use of all: for saith he; Seeing all these things must be dissolved, what manner of persons ought we to be, in all holy conversation & godliness? As if he should say; Sith the heavens shall pass away with a noise, the Elements shall melt with heat, & the earth, with the works that are therein, shall be burnt up: sith also the coming of Christ shall be with great terror, to a fearful end, & in fearful manner; O how ought we to excel in goodness! So then S. Peter telleth us, that the true use of all is this: that hereby we be brought nearer unto God, even to be more obedient to his will, & to walk in all his commandments, making conscience of all our ways, and studying to please God in all things, and to be fruitful in all good works, living soberly, justly, & holily in this present evil world, and showing forth the virtues of him which hath called us out of darkness to this marvelous light; so that we may be prepared against the day of his appearing, that it may not take us tardy. For our life ought to be a continual meditation of death. We should always live as if we should die, or that our bed should be our grave: we must live continually, as if Christ should come to judgement presently. As it is reported of a godly man in the Primitue church; that whether he eat or drank, or whatsoever he did, he thought always he heard the trumpet of the Lord, with these words; Arise ye dead, and come unto judgement. Put case it were certainly known, that Christ would come to judgement the next Midsummerday; Oh what an alteration would it make in the world, how would men change their minds & affections! who would care for this world! who would set his heart unto riches! Who would regard brave apparel! Who durst deceive or oppress! who durst be drunk! Who durst swear, lie, and commit adultery! Nay, would not all men give up themselves to the obedience of God? would not all serve him diligently? would not all men and women flock to Sermons? would they not give themselves to prayer and reading? would they not repent them of their sins? would they not cry for mercy and forgiveness? See then, what the knowledge of a certain day approaching would effect. And ought we not to do all these things with as great care & zeal, seeing the day is uncertain? For, who knoweth whether Christ will come this month, or the next; this year, or next? He Mat. 24. 44. himself saith; Be ready, watch: for, in the hour that ye think not of, will the son of man come. We think he will not come this year, nor next year, nor this hundred year. It may be therefore, that he will come suddenly upon us: we know not how soon. For in an hour that we little think of, will he come. Therefore our Saviour saith in the 13. Chapter of Mark. Take Mark. 13. 33. heed, watch and pray: for, you know not when the time is. And in the Gospel of S. Luke, he Luke 21. 34. saith; Take heed that your hearts be not overcome with surfeiting and drunkenness, and the cares of this life; and so that day come upon you unawares. For, as a snare shall it come upon all them that dwell upon the face of the earth. We hear therefore how many watch words and caveats our Saviour giveth us, when he saith: Be in readiness, awake, take heed, watch and pray, and look about you, lest that day come suddenly upon you, and take you napping. It standeth us all therefore upon, to be at an hours warning, upon pain of death, and as we will answer it at our uttermost peril. Phil. Proceed to speak of the torments of hell. Theol. Concerning the torments of hell, (I do note three things which I will briefly speak of) and they be these: The extremity, perpetuity, and remedilesnesse thereof. First, touching the extremity thereof, it standeth specially in these three things. First, that it is a separation from all joy and comfort of the presence of God. Secondly, that it is an eternal fellowship with the devil and his angels. Thirdly, it is a feeling of the horrible wrath of God; which shall seize upon body and soul & shall feed on them (as fire death upon pitch and brimstone) for ever. The Apo. 21. 8. Luke. 13. 28. Mat. 9 44. scriptures do note the extremity of it, in calling it a lake, that burneth with fire & brimstone, for ever: in saying, there shall be weeping & gnashing of teeth: in affirming, that their worm dieth not, (meaning the worm that gnaweth their conscience, or their torment of conscience) & the fire never goeth out: in terming it Tophet, which is deep and large: & the burning thereof is fire and much wood: and that the breath of the Lord, as a river of brimstone, doth kindle it All these things he terrible to our senses: and yet can they not fully express the thing, as it is indeed. For, no heart can conceive, or tongue express the greatness and extremity of the torments of hell. As the joys of heaven never entered into the heart of man: no more did the torments of hell. All the torments and troubles that fall upon men in this life, are but as sparkles of the furnace of God's total wrath. All fires are but as it were pictures of fire, in comparison of hell fire. For as one writeth: Hell fire is so extremely hot, that it will burn up a man seven mile, before he come at if. Yet the reprobates, being always in it, shall never be consumed of it. As the Salamander is always in the fire, and never consumeth so the wicked shall be always in the fire of hell, & never consume. For hell is a death always living, & an end always beginning. It is a grievous thing to a man that is very sick, to lie upon a featherbed: how much more upon a hot gridiron! but how most of all to burn always in hell fire, & never be consumed! another extremity of it consisseth in this, that the torments of hell are universal: that is, in every memberat once: head, eyes, tongue, teeth, throat, stomach, back, belly heart, sides, etc. All punishments of this life are particular. For some are pained in their head, some in their back, some in their stomach, etc. Yet some particular pains are such, as a man would not suffer, to gain all the world. But, for a man to be tormented in all parts at once, what sight more lamentable! who could but take pity of a dog in the street, in that case! Thus than we see, that the extremity of Hell torments is greater, then can be conceived or uttered. For, who can utter that, which is incomprehensible? We can go no further in comprehending that which is incomprehensible, then to know it to be incomprehensible. Phila. As you have showed us the extremity of Hell torments: so now proceed to the perpetuity. Theol. The Scriptures do set forth the perpetuity of hell torments, in saying: they are for ever. The wicked shall be cast into the lake, that burneth with fire and brimstone for ever. The fire never goeth out. When as many hundred thousand years are expired, as there be stones by the Sea side: yet still there be so many more to come. For that which hath no end, can never come to an end. If all the Arithmeticians in the world were set a work to do nothing but number all the days of their life, even the greatest numbers that they could possibly set down, and should in the end add all their numbers together; yet could they never come any thing near to that length of time, wherein the wicked shallbe tormented. If the whole circumference of the heavens were written about with figures of Arithmetic, from the East to the West, and from the West to the East again; yet could it not contain that infinite time, and innumerable years, wherein all unbelievers shall suffer eternal torture. For, in things infinite, time hath no place. For time is the measure of those things which are subject to measure. Therefore, because Hell torments are infinite, they cannot be measured by any time: neither can that which is infinite, be diminished. For if you subtract from that which is infinite, ten thousand thousand millions of million, yet it is thereby nothing diminished or made less. Put case a man should once in an hundred thousand years, take a spoonful of water, out of the great Ocean Sea, how long would it be, ere he had so emptied it! Yet shall a man sooner empty the Sea, by taking out a spoonful once in a hundred thousand years, than the damned soul shall have any ease. Therefore a certain writer saith, If a damned soul might be tormented in Hell but a thousand years, and then have ease, there were some comfort in it: (sor then there would be hope it would come to an end,) but, saith he, this word ever killeth the heart. Oh consider this ye that forget God O ye carnal worldlings, think on this in time! For, if you will not now be moved in hearing, you shall be then crushed in pieces in feeling. What availeth it, to live in all possible pleasures, and carnal delights here, for some 60. years, and then to suffer this eternal torment? What shall it profit a man, to win the whole world & lose his soul? they be more than mad, which will hazard their souls, for a little profit, and a few stinking pleasures. But this is the nature of men; they will have the present sweet (come of it what will) though they pay never so dear for it: though they go to the highest price: though hay lose their souls for it. Oh the unspeakable blindness & madness of the men of this world! The devil hath put out their eyes: & therefore leadeth them whither he list. For who cannot lead a blind man whither he list? Nahash 1. Sam. 11. 2. the Ammonite would make no covenant with the Israelites, but upon condition that he might put out all their right eyes. So the devil doth covenant with all the wicked, to put out both their eyes; that he may lead them directly into Hell. Phila. Now sir, a word or two more of the remedilesnesse of hell fire. Theol. The scriptures do affirm, that as the torments of hell are extreme, so they are without all hope of remedy; as it is written: A man can Psal. 49. 8. by no means redeem his brother; he can not give his ransom unto God: so precious is the redemption of the soul, and the continuance for ever. To this purpose Abraham said to the Luke 16. 26. rich man, being in hell torments: Betwixt you and us, there is a great gulf set; so that they which would go from hence to you, cannot: neither can they come from thence, to us. Our Lord Jesus also saith; What shall a man give Math. 16. for the recompense of his soul? Where our Saviour doth plainly affirm, that there is no ransom or recompense, though never so great, to be given for a damned soul. For the soul being in Hell, can never be released, it is past remedy. No means whatsoever can do any good. No gold, no silver, no friends, no riches, no power, no policy, no flattery, no bribery, no reach, no fetch or device whatsoever can prevail one jot. For a man being once in Hell, hath no remedy. He is in close prison, he is shut up under the hatches for ever: there is no getting out again. He must suffer perpetual imprisonment. He cannot bring a writ of false imprisonment: (because he is laid in by the most righteous and just Judge, who cannot possibly do any wrong,) but he must lie by it. For being there once, he is there for ever. If all the Angels of Heaven should entreat for a damned soul: If Abraham, Isaac, and jacob, should make great suit: If all the Prophets, Apostles & Martyrs, should be continual solicitors of Christ for release: if the father should make request for his son, or the mother for her daughter: yet can none of these be heard: they must all have the repulse. For, the sentence of Christ cannot be reversed; his decree is unrepealeable. The due consideration of these things, may make all hearts to quake, and all knees to tremble. In the troubles and afflictions of this life, though a man come in never so great dangers, yet he may wind out again, by one means or another, by money, or friendship, or rewards, or such like means: but in Hell fire this is it that gripes, & maketh the heart despair, that there is no remedy at all to be used. If we should ask of a damned soul, or an afflicted conscience, what they would give for the ease and redemption of their souls: they would answer, the whole world; howsoever secure worldlings, and wicked Atheists (which see nothing, nor feel nothing) make nothing of it. Here, by the way, let us consider the greatness of the loss of a man's soul; which we shall the better perceive and see into, if we can aright value and prize the soul. If therefore it be demanded, what is the price of the soul, or what is it worth; our Lord Jesus answereth; that it is more worth, than all the world. For saith he, What shall it profit a man, to win all the Math. 16. world, and lose his soul? Therefore the soul of the poorest beggar is more worth than all the world. Then I reason thus: if the soul be more worth than all the world, than the loss of it is greater, than the loss of the whole world. For indeed it is a loss of all losses; an unrecoverable loss. If a man should have his house burnt over his head, and all that he hath consumed in one night, it were a great loss. If a Merchant venturer should lose twenty thousand pound in one venture, in one ship, or, as they say, in one bottom, it were a very great loss. If a king should lose his crown and kingdom, it were an exceeding great loss. But the loss of the soul is a thousand time more than all these: it is a matter of infinite importance. If a Tenant be cast out of the favour of his Landlord, it is a matter of grief. If a Nobleman's Secretary be cast out of favour with his Lord, so that he taketh a pritch against him, it is a matter of great sorrow. If a Nobleman himself be discountenanced, & cast out of all favour with his Prince, that was in great favour, it is a corsie, a heart smart, and a matter of exceeding grievance. But, to be eternally separated from God, to be shut out of his favour, and to be cast away from his presence, and the presence of his Angels, is a matter of infinite more dolour and torment. Mark then and behold, what a thing it is for a man to lose his soul. Oh therefore that men would be wise in God's fear, that they would look out in time, & make provision for their souls. Now then, to close up this whole point, the sum of all that hath been said, is this: That the torments of Hell are endless, easeless, and remediless. Asune. The laying open of these doctrines of hell fire, and the judgement to come, maketh me quake and tremble: I am thereby much perplexed, I feel great terror in my conscience, I am afraid I shall be damned. Antil. Damned, man! What speak you of damning? I am ashamed to hear you say so. For it is well known that you are an honest man, a quiet liver, a good neighbour, and as good a towns man, as any is in the parish where you dwell: and you have always been so reputed and taken. If you should be damned, I know not who shall be saved. Asune. I regard not your flatteries, I believe God; I believe his word. I believe those things which M. Theologus hath alleged out of the holy scriptures, pointing me both to the chapter, and the verse: and whether it be more meet that I should believe the Scriptures, or your soothe, judge you. No, no: Now I do clearly see by the glass of God's law, that my state is wretched and miserable. For I have lived in sin and ignorance all the days of my life, being utterly void of all Religion, and true knowledge of God. I am not the man indeed that you and others take me for. For though outwardly I have lived honestly to the worldward, yet inwardly I have not lived religiously to Godward. Antile. Tush, tush, now I see you are in a melancholy humour. If you will go home with me I can give you a speedy remedy: for I have many pleasant and merry books, which if you should hear them read, would soon remedy you of this melancholy passion. I have the Court of Venus, the Palace of pleasure, Bevas of Southampton, Ellen of Rummin; The merry jest of the Friar and the Boy; The pleasant story of Clem of the Clough, Adam Bell, and William of Cloudesley; The odd tale of William Richard, and Humphrey; The pretty conceit of john Splinters last Will and Testament; which all are excellent and singular books against heart-qualmes; and to remove such dumpishness, as I see you are now fallen into. Asune. Your vain & frivolous books of tales, jests, and lies, would more increase my grief, & strike the print of sorrow deeper into my heart. Antile. Nay, if you be of that mind, I have done with you. Phila. I pray you if a man may be so bold with you: How came you by all these good books? I should have said, so much trash and rubbish. Antile. What mattereth it to you? What have you to do to inquire? But I pray you Sir, what mean you to call them trash and rubbish. Phila. Because they be no better. They be goodly gear, trim stuff. They are good to kindle a fire, or to scour a hot oven withal. And shall I tell you my opinion of them? I do thus think, that they were devised by the devil, seen and allowed by the Pope, printed in hell, bound up by Hobgoblin; and first published and dispersed in Rome, Italy, and Spain: and all to this end, that thereby men might be kept from the reading of the Scriptures. For even as a Lapwing with her busy cry, draweth men away from her nest: so the Popish generation, by these fabulous devices, draw men from the Scriptures. Antile. Ah sir; I see now, a fools bolt is soon shot. You are more precise than wise. The Vicar of Saint fools shall be your ghostly father. What tell you me of your opinion? I would you should well know, I neither regard you, nor your opinion. There be wiser men than you, which do both read, allow, and take pleasure in these books. Theol. Let him alone, good Philagathus; for you see what he is. There is no end of his crossing, and cavilling. But he that is ignorant, let him be ignorant. And he that is filthy, let him be more filthy. Let us now turn our speech to Asunetus, for I see he is heavy hearted, and troubled in his mind. How do you Asunetus? how do you feel yourself? me thinketh you are very sad. Asune. I am the better for you Sir, I thank God. I never knew what sin meant till this day. It hath pleased God now to give me some sight and feeling thereof. I am greatly distressed in my conscience to think what I have been. The remembrance of my former sins doth strike an horror into me, when I consider how ignorantly and profanely, and how far off from God, I have lived all my life: it stings and gripes me to the heart. I do now see that which I never saw; and feel that which I never felt. I do plainly see that if I had died in that state wherein I have lived all my life, I should certainly have been condemned, and should have perished for ever in my sin and ignorance. Theol. I am very glad that God hath opened your eyes, and given you the sight and feeling of your misery, which indeed is the very first step to eternal life. It is a great favour and special mercy of God towards you, that he hath so touched your heart: you can never be thankful enough for it. It is more than if you had a million of gold given you. It is the only rare privilege of Gods elect, to have the eyes of their souls opened, that they may see into heavenly and spiritual things. As for the world, it is just with God, to leave them in their blindness. Asune. I do feel the burden of my sins, I am greatly grieved for them, I am weary of them, I am sorry that ever I sinned against God, or that I should be such a wretch as to incur his displeasure, and provoke his Majesty against me. But I pray you good M. Theologiu, sith you are a spiritual Physician, and I am sick of sin, that you would minister unto me, out of God's word, some spiritual Physic, and comfort. Theol. Truly, I must needs think that the promises of mercy and forgiveness of sin, made in the Gospel, do belong unto you, and that Jesus Christ is yours: you are truly interested in him, and have a proper right unto him. For he came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. You do now feel yourself to be a finner, you are grieved for your sins, you are weary of them: therefore Jesus Christ is for you: all the benefits of his passion belong to you. Again he saith, The whole need not the Matt. 9 12. Physician, but they that are sick. But you do acknowledge yourself to be sick of sin: therefore Christ Jesus will be your Physician; he will swaddle you, and lap you; he will bind up all your sores; he will heal all your wounds; he will anoint them with the oil of his mercy; he will smile upon you, and show you a joyful countenance; he will say unto you, your sins are forgiven. In him you shall have rest and peace to your soul: Through him, you shall have ease and comfort. For he taketh pity of all such as mourn for their sins, as you do. He biddeth you, and all that are in your case, to come unto him, and he will help you. Come unto me Math. 11. 28. (saith he,) all ye that are weary and heavy loaden, and I will ease you. You are one of them that are bid to come: for you are weary of your sins, you feel the burden of them. Christ is altogether for such as you are. He regardeth not the world, that is, the profane and unregenerate men. He bids not them come, he prayeth not for them. I pray not for the world, saith he. joh. 17. 9 They have no part nor interest in him. They have nothing to do with him, nor with his merits & righteousness. He is only for the penitent sinner, & such as mourn for their sins. He is a pillow of down to all aching heads, & aching consciences. Be of good comfort therefore, fear nothing: for assuredly Christ and all his righteousness is yours. He will clothe you with it. He will never impute your sins 〈◊〉 you or lay any of them to your charge, though they be never so many so or so 〈…〉 happy are you that have such a Mediator and high Priest. Rest therefore wholly upon him, and upon that perfect, eternal, and propitiatory sacrifice which he hath once offered. Apply Christ, apply his merits, apply the promises to yourself, and to your own conscience: so shall they do you good & bring great comfort to your soul. For put case you had a most excellent and sovereign salve, which would cure any wound it were laid unto; yet if you should lock it up in your chest, & never apply it to your wound, what good could it do you? Even so the righteousness & merits of Christ are a spiritual salve, which will cure any wound of the soul: but if we do not apply them to ourselves by faith, they can do us no good. You must therefore apply Christ, & all the premises of the Gospel, to yourself by faith, & stand fully persuaded, that whatsoever he hath done upon the Cross, he hath done for you particularly. For what is the justifying faith, but a full persuasion of God's particular love to us in Christ? The general & confused knowledge of Christ & of his Gospel, availeth not to eternal life. Labour therefore to have the true use of all these great and precious promises: stick fast to Christ, for through him only we have remission of sins, and eternal life. To him all the Prophets give witness (saith S. Act. 10. 45. Peter) that through his name, all that believe shall receive remission of their sins. Where the Apostle telleth us, that if a grand Jury of prophets were panelled to testify of the way & means to eternal life, they would all with one consent bring in a verdict, that remission of sins & eternal life are only in Christ. Let us hear the foreman speak, & one or two of the rest, for in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word stand. The Prophet Esay saith: He was wounded for our Esa. 53. 5 transgressions; he was broken for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, & with his stripes we are healed. This great Prophet we see doth plainly affirm, that Christ suffered for our sins & by his suffering we are saved. The Prophet jeremy testifieth the same thing, saying; Behold the days come (saith the Lord) jer. 23. 5 that I will raise unto David a righteous branch & a king shall reign and prosper, & shall execute judgement & justice in the earth. In his days, judah shall be saved, & Israel shall dwell safely; and this is the name whereby they shall call him; the Lord our righteousness. This Prophet tumpeth with the other. For he saith, that Christ is the righteous branch, & that he is our righteousness, which is all one as if he had said, our sins are pardoned only through him, & through him we are made righteous. Moreover he affirmeth, that judah & Israel, that is, the Church, shall be saved by him. The Prophet Zachary, that I may speak it with reverence, telleth the same tale word for word. He avoucheth the same thing with the other two Prophets. For he saith: In that day a Fountain shall be opened to the house of Zach. 13. 1. David, and to the inhabitants of jerusalem for sin, and for uncleanness. The meaning of the prophet is, that in the days of Christ's kingdom, the fountain of God's mercy in Christ, should be opened, and let out, to wash away the sins and uncleanness of the Church. So then we see, that these three great witnesses do all agree in this, that through Christ only, we are washed from our sins, and through him only we are made righteous. Seeing then that eternal life is only in the son, therefore he that hath the son hath life. Be of good courage therefore, O Asunetus, for no doubt you have the son, & therefore eternal life. Fear not your sins, for they cannot hurt you. For as all the righteousness of Abraham, Isaac, and jacob, and all the most righteous men that ever lived upon the face of the earth, if it were yours, could do you no good, without Christ; so all the sins in the world can do you no hurt, being in Christ. For there is no condemnation to them which are in Rom. 8. 1. Christ jesus. Pluck up a good heart therefore, be no more heavy and sad; for if you be found in Christ, clothed with his perfect righteousness, being made yours through faith, what can the devil say to you? what can the Law do? They may well hiss at you, but they cannot sting you: they may grin at you, but they cannot hurt you. For who shall lay any thing to the charge of Rom. 8. 33. Gods elect? It is God that justifieth; who shall condemn? It is Christ which is dead, or rather which is risen again, who is also at the right hand of God, & maketh request for us. Rejoice Phil. 4. 4. in the Lord therefore: & again I say rejoice. For greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world: our Lord Jesus is stronger than all. None can pluck you out of his hands: he is a strong Mediator; he hath conquered all our spiritual enemies; he hath over come hell, death, & damnation; he hath led captivity captive; he hath spoiled principalities & powers; and hath Col. 2. 15. made an open show of them, & triumphed over them in his cross. He hath most triumphantly said, O death, I will be thy death; O grave, I will Hos. 13. 14. 1. Cor. 15. 55. be thy destruction: O death where is thy sting? O hell where is thy victory? Seeing then you have such a Mediator and high Priest, as hath conquered the hellish army, and subdued all infernal power, what need you to doubt, what need you to fear any more? Moreover you are to understand, and to be persuaded, that God's mercy is exceeding great towards penitent sinners, & all such as mourn for their transgressions; Ezech. 18. according as he saith: At what time soever a sinner doth repent him of his sins from the bottom of his heart, he will put them all out of his remembrance. The Prophet David doth most lively & fully describe unto us, the merciful nature of God, in the 103. Psalm; where he saith: The Lord is full of compassion and Psal. 103. mercy, slow to anger, & of great kindness: he will not always chide, neither keep his anger for ever; he hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heaven is above the earth, so great is his mercy towards those that fear him. As far as the East is from the West, so far hath he removed our sins from us. As a father hath compassion on his children; so hath the Lord compassion on them that fear him. For he knoweth whereof we be made; he remembreth that we are but dust. The History of the lost son doth most notably set forth the wonderful mercy of God towards penitent sinners. There is showed, how the Lord doth embrace, tender & make much of such poor sinners, as have broken and contrite hearts for their sins: for it is said; that when the father saw his repenting son a Luk. 15. great way off, he had compassion on him, and ran and fell on his neck, and kissed him, and clothed him with the best rob, put it on him, put a ring on his hand, & shoes on his feet, and caused the fat calf to be killed for him. Even so the ever lasting father doth rejoice at the conversion of any of his lost sons. Yea, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God, for one sinner that converteth. Moreover the Lord doth most lively express his merciful nature and disposition, in this, that he is very loath we should perish & willingly cast away ourselves. Therefore often in the holy scriptures he doth mourn for us, bewail our wretchedness, and taketh up many pitiful complaints and lamentations for Psal 81. 13. us, saying: Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways. And again: Oh that thou hadst harkened unto my commandments; then had thy prosperity been Esay 48. 18. as the flood, and thy righteousness as the waves of the Sea. Again he mourningly complaineth Hos. 6. 4. by his Prophet Hosea, saying: Oh Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? Oh judah, how shall I entreat thee? And in another place: What could I do more unto my vineyard that I have not done? Mark here how compassionately the Almighty God doth yearn over us, and even as it were bleed upon our wounds. The Apostle also doth note the rich mercy, & marvelous love of God to mankind, in this, that he doth beseech us, & pray us by the ministers of the gospel, that we would be reconciled unto him. The words are these: Now then are we ambassadors for Christ, 2. Cor. 5. as though God did beseech you through us, we pray you in Christ's stead, that you be reconciled unto God. Is it not a strange thing that the omni potent God, should fall to entreating of us poor wretches? It is all one, as if a King should entreat a beggar, whom he may will and command: But the abundant mercy of God towards mankind, doth most of all consist in this, that he hath given his only son for us, when we were his enemies. As it is written: God john 3. so loved the world, that he hath given his only begotten son; that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. Again: God setteth out his love towards us, Rom. 5. 8. seeing that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us: much more than being now justified by his blood, we shallbe saved from wrath through him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. In all this than we may clearly behold the infinite mercy of God towards us poor sinners. For is it not a great matter that the son of God should take our nature upon him, should be so abased as he was, & should humble himself Phil. 2. 8. to death, even to the death of the Cross? For as the shadow of the Dial went back ten degrees that Ezechias might receive length of days, & much happiness: so Christ, the son of righteousness, hath gone back many degrees, that we might have eternal life. His humiliation therefore, is our exaltation: his sufferings our joy: his death, our life. For we have no other remedy or refuge but only his merits & righteousness. He is our city of refuge, whither we must fly & where we must take sanctuary. He is the jer. 8. john 5. 2. Balm of Gilead, whereby our souls are cured. He is that pool of Bethesda, where every man may be cured of what disease so ever he 2. King. 5 hath. He is the river of jordan, where Naaman may wash away all his Leprosy. He is that Pelican, who by pecking a hole in his own breast, doth restore his young to life again by his blood. Yet one thing we must note by the way, which hath been partly touched before: that all the mercy of God, and merits of Christ, are to be restrained only to the elect: only to the true members of the Church. As plainly appeareth in the 103. Psalm. Where the mercies of God, which there are largely described, are restrained only to them that fear him, keep his covenant, & think upon his Commandments to do them. And touching Christ, it is said, that Psal. 130. Heb. 5. 6. he is a prince, & a Saviour unto Israel: & that he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities. Again it is written: That Christ being consecrate, was made the author of eternal salvation, to them that obey him. None do or can obey him, but only the Elect: therefore he is the author of salvation only to the Elect. And consequently, the profane world, whatsoever they say, whatsoever they brag & boast, have no true title or interest in him. This thing was figured in the law, in this, that the mercy seat, which was a type of God's mercy in Christ, & the Ark which was a figure of the Church, were by the express commandment of God, fitted each to other, both in length and breadth. For as the Ark was two cubits and a half Exod. 25. 10. long, & a cubit and a half broad: just so was the mercy seat. Noting thereby, that the mercy of God in Christ, should only be fitted to his church, & belong only to the Church: so as not one without the Church should be saved. For he that hath not the church for his mother, cannot have God for his father. Lastly we are to observe, that as God is infinite in mercy, & of great compassion towards penitent sinners: so also is he most constant in the course of his mercies towards his children. And therefore one of the Psalms carrieth this foot: His mercy endureth Psal. 138. for ever; his mercy endureth for ever; his mercy endureth for ever. Noting thereby both the constancy and eternity of God's mercy. To the same purpose it is thus written: It is the Lords mercies that we are not consumed; it is because Lament. 3. 22. his compassions fail not. Let us know therefore, that God, as touching his mercy to his children, is of a most constant and unchangeable nature. As he saith: I am the Lord I change not. For if God were of a changeable nature, as we are, and subject to passions, than were we in a most miserable case. Then must he needs smite us down, and take vengeance of us every day and every hour in the day: because we provoke him every day, & every hour in the day. But the God of heaven is not as a man, that he should be subject to passions and affections: he is of a most constant and immutable nature. For though we provoke him every day with new sins, yet is he so far off from taking revenge, that the next day he rewardeth us with new mercies, and breaketh through all our unkindness, to show kindness unto us: and through all our naughtiness to do us good. All our infirmities cannot make him break off with us, or cease to love us. He is content to take us with all faults: and to love us dearly, though we have great faults. He regardeth not our infirmities, though we be oftentimes wayward and elvish, yet for all that, he loveth us nevertheless. Even as a loving mother, though her young suckling cry all night, and be exceeding treafe and weiward, so as she cannot rest an hour in the night: yea, though she endure much loathsomeness & trouble with it, yet in the morning, when she ariseth, she loveth it nevertheless, but dandles it, playeth with it, smileth and laugheth upon it: so the God of all mercies, whose love towards us far passeth the love of mothers, though we grieve him with our infirmities continually, yet loveth us nevertheless, and is content to put up all, to forget and forgive all: for he is a most constant lover. Where he once sets and settles his love, he loveth most constantly, nothing can alter him, nothing can remove him, Even as a Father, when his little child catcheth a fall, breaketh his shins, and hurteth his face, is so far from being offended or displeased with him therefore, that he doth pity him, and bemoan him, seeking remedies for his hurt: so our merciful Father, is so far off from being angry & displeased with us for some slips and falls, that he doth the more pity us, and lament our case. Even as a loving and wise husband, though his wife have many infirmities, yet knowing that she loveth him dearly, and that her heart is with him, he is well content to wink at all her faults, to hide them, to bear with them, yea and to make nothing of them, loving her nevertheless for them. So our dear husband and Spouse Jesus Christ, because he knoweth we love him, and that he hath our hearts, is content to bear with all our infirmities, and to make light of them. For this cause it is that he saith to his Spouse in the Canticles: Though she was Can. 4. 1. black and full of infirmities, behold thou art fair my love, behold thou art fair, thou art all fair my love, there is no spot in thee. Mark that he calleth his Church fair, all fair, and without spot, not because she was so in herself, but because she was made so in him. And assuredly the eternal God beholding her in his son doth so esteem and account of her. For as he that beholdeth any thing through a red glass doth take it to be red, as is the colour of the glass; so God the Father, beholding us in his son, doth take us to be of the same nature and quality that he is: that is, perfectly righteous. For this cause it is that he loveth us, & setteth his heart upon us, and will not be removed from us. For his love to his children, is always one and the same: although we have not always the like sight and feeling of it. As the Moon is always the same in substance and quantity, though sometime it seemeth unto us to be wasted into a very small scantling. Let us know then to our great comfort, that the love of God towards us in his dear son, is constant and always alike, and that he will not discountenance us or shake us off for some infirmities, no nor yet for many infirmities: for the merciful God doth accept of his children, because their general care is good, and the universal Tenor of their life tendeth unto righteousness, howsoever they may greatly fail in many particular actions. Two or three fits of an Ague, do not prove a diseased body: nor two or three good days a sound body: even so some few infirmities do not argue a wicked man; nor two or three good actions, a good man: but we must have an eye to the certain and settled course of a man's life. Even as men are truly said to walk in a way, when they go in it, although sometimes they trip and stumble: so God's children do walk in the way of righteousness, although sometimes they stumble, and step out of it; or sometimes be violently haled out of it by thieves. For Satan and the violence of our lusts, do often hale us out of the way, but we must get into it again as soon as we are escaped. Now then to conclude & draw to an end, sith God is so infinitely merciful, and constant in his mercy: sith such great and precious promises are made to us in Christ: sith the Lord doth not regard our infirmities when our hearts are with him: Therefore O Asunetus, be of good cheer, let nothing trouble you, fear not the assaults of the Devil, regard not his temptations: for assuredly your sins are forgiven. Christ is yours, heaven is yours, and all the promises of life and salvation belong unto you: so as you need not to doubt, you cannot miscarry, your name is written in the book of life. Asune. I am greatly comforted and cheered up with your words: your preaching of the Gospel, and laying open of God's abundant mercy in Christ, and of the promises, do exceedingly revive me, and even as it were put new life into me: they are as Sack and Sugar unto my soul, and more sweet than the honey, and the honey comb: they are as Physic to my sick soul, and as ointment to my spiritual wounds. I do now begin to see what misery is in man, and what mercy is in God. And I know by woeful experience, that where misery is not felt, there mercy is not regarded: but now it hath pleased God to give me some feeling of mine own wretchedness and misery, and yet with good comfort in his mercy. For I thank God for it, I begin now to grow to some persuasion, that the promises do belong unto me, my sins are forgiven, and that I am one of them that shall be saved. Theol. I do greatly rejoice, that God hath according to his rich mercy, wrought this good work in you. I do from the bottom of my heart give him the praise and glory of it. Happy are you, that ever you were borne, in whom God hath wrought so gracious a work. It is of his high favour and special mercy towards you, for it is the only privilege and prerogative royal of Gods own children, truly to repent and believe. I beseech God therefore to increase your faith, and to fill you full of joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the holy Ghost. Antile. The Sun draweth low Asunetus, it is time for you and me to be going. Phila. Indeed the night will approach by and by: and therefore we must of necessity break off. Theol. Sith it is so, we will here surcease and go no further. Asune. Sir, I will now take my leave of you. I can never be thankful enough for all the good instructions and comforts which I have heard from you this day; I hope I shall remember some of them whilst I live: I do therefore praise God for you, and for your counsel, and for this day, which I hope shall be the first day of my repentance, and true conversion unto God. Theol. The Lord for his infinite mercy's sake grant it. And I most humbly beseech the Almighty God to establish you with his free spirit, that you may proceed and go forward in a Christian course unto the end. Phila. I pray you good M. Theologus pardon my boldness: for you see I have been very bold to propound many questions unto you, wherein you have fully satisfied me, to the great joy and comfort of my soul. I do therefore praise God for you, and I hope I shall never forget some things which you have uttered. But I will now commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build further. Theol. Farewell good Philagathus. The Lord bless you, and keep you in all your ways: and the God of Heaven preserve us all, and continue us in his fear unto the end. All glory be given to God. FINIS. A Table containing all the principal matters contained in this Book, and directing to the Page where they are set down. Man's natural corruption. Page 5 Man's misery in nature. 6 Man's nature corrupted, but not destroyed by Adam's fall. ibid. Some sparks of God's Image, still remain after the fall. 7 Man in the state of nature, cannot do any thing that pleaseth God. ibid. Man naturally neither seeth, nor feeleth his misery. 8 Man in nature is under the tyranny of Satan, and curse of the Law. 9 Man grown to years, living and dying in the state of nature, perisheth for ever. 11 Man continueth cursed till he be borne again. ibid. None can be saved, but only the regenerate. 12 Regeneration what. ibid. The quality of regeneration. 13 Remnants of sin after regeneration. 14 Regeneration unperfect in this life. ibid. Means of regeneration. 23 Eight infallible signs of salvation. 30 Eight signs of damnation. 31 Nine manifest tokens of damnation. ibid. Pride described. 33 Pride of gifts condemned. 35 Pride in apparel condemned. 40 Rules of the world for apparel. 49, 51 Whoredom, and the dangers thereof. 54 Excuses of whoredom. 56 The fearful effects of whoredom. 60 The punishment of whoredom. 56, 57 The causes of whoredom. 63 Remedies against whoredom. 67 Covetousness what. ibid. Covetousness wherein it doth consist. 68 Four notes to discern the inward covetousness of the heart by. 69 The evil effects of covetousness. 71 The vanity of this world, and all worldly things. 76 Excuses of covetousness. 90 Remedies against covetousness. 97 Gods providence for his children in the things of this life. 98 For the things of this life, God's blessing is all in all. 104 Outward means alone do not uphold us. ibid. & 105 Gods children sometimes are brought to great distress. 108 Gods children always sure to be delivered out of trouble. 113 The great privileges of God's children. 116 Contempt of the Gospel, a grievous sin. 120 Contempt of the Gospel punished. 121 Contempt of the Gospel the sin of this age. 122 Contempt of the Gospel, a foresigne of wrath to the Land. 130 Swearing, and the punishments thereof. 138 Excuses for swearing. 146 Causes of swearing. 149 Remedies against swearing. ibid. Lying, flattering, and dissembling. 150 Punishments for lying. 158. 159 Excuses of lying. 160 Causes of lying. 161 Remedies against lying. ibid. Drunkenness, and all the evil effects thereof. 163 Excuses of drunkenness. 167 Causes of drunkenness. 167 Remedies for drunkenness. 168 Idleness, and the woeful effects thereof. 174 Causes of Idleness. 179 Remedies against Idleness. 179 Oppression, a most horrible sin. 180 Many woes denounced against oppressors. 181 Sundry kinds of Oppression. 182. 183 Causes of Oppression. 197 Remedies of Oppression. 197 Sin hurteth men in their bodies, goods and name. ibid. Sin bringeth great danger to the whole Land. 205 Nine predictions of wrath to the Land. 210 The prayers and tears of the faithful, keep back the wrath of God from the Land. 213 Prayers of the elect of great force. 214 The wicked fare the better for God's children. 220 The best course to prevent God's judgements, and to keep back his wrath from our Land. 224 Ten special things concerning the continuance of our peace. 230 Nine signs of a found soul. 232 Saint Peter's eight marks of salvation. ibid. Seven infallible tokens of salvation. 223 Assurance of salvation in this life proved. 352 Objections against the assurance of salvation answered. 237. The groundwork of our salvation. 241 Some doubts may stand with the assurance of faith. 242 It is no presumption to be persuaded of our salvation. 244 The wicked cannot be assured of their salvation. 245 The security of salvation which the wicked brag of is vain. 247 Nine things required of all that shall be saved by Christ. 250 Many say they hope to be saved by Christ, but few can give a reason why Christ died for them particularly, and by name. 252 Few shall be saved: proved by scriptures, reasons, and examples. 256 But few even in the visible Church shall be saved. 262 Objections against the small number of the elect answered. 263 Objections of Atheists and unbelievers answered. 264 Reading of the Scriptures much commended. 272 Deferring of repentance dangerous. 277 God no author of man's condemnation, but himself. 278 Objections against predestination answered. 279. 280 Gods decree no cause of Adam's fall. 283 The decree of reprobation proved. 284 Prescience in God what. 285 The decree of election proved. 286 The first moviue of election, is in God himself. 287 Foreseen faith, and foreseen works, no motives of salvation. ibid. Faith dependeth upon election, not election upon faith. 288 A reason yielded, why there is no end of cavilling and objecting against the truth. 292 Nine bars out of heaven. 293 Nine gates into hell. 294 The ignorance of the world. 301 The answers of ignorant men to the grounds of religion. 319 The means to get out of ignorance. 322 Ignorance a most dangerous thing. 323. 324 The charge of Ministers exceeding weighty, and most carefully to be looked unto. 328 What is the best course for Ministers to take, to bring the people out of ignorance. 331 What is the best course for the people to take, that they may be brought out of the bondage of sin and captivity of Satan. 333 Preaching, a matter of absolute necessity unto eternal life. 337 Without preaching, the people are in great danger of losing their souls. 336 Satan's cunning in frustrating the hearing of the Word and making all preaching utterly unprofitable. 339 The Preachers counsel to the ignorant man. 341 Six great dangers in sin. 342 Six most fearful events of sin. 343 God in all ages hath severely punished the transgressers of his law. 344 Every sin, though never so little in our eyes, is heinous and capital, because it is against a person of infinite majesty. 346 Nine profitable considerations. 346 If men would leave words, and fall to doing, great good would come of it. 348 Nine things much to be thought upon. 350 The description of Christ's coming to judgement. 351 The terror, the suddenness, the end, the manner, and the use of Christ's second coming described. 352, 353 The torments of hell, with the extremity, perpetuity, and remedilesnesse thereof described. 361 The ignorant man, upon the hearing of the day of judgement, and hell fire laid open, is pricked in his conscience, bewaileth his former life, repenteth earnestly for his sin and ignorance, and desireth spiritual Physic and comfort of the Preacher. 374 The Preacher ministereth unto him much spiritual comfort, and doth in ample manner lay open unto him all the sweet promises of the Gospel, and the infinite mercy of God in Christ, to all true, penitent, and broken hearted sinners. 375 The ignorant man, being afflicted in his conscience, is exceedingly comforted with the hearing of God's abundant mercy preached unto him, and thereupon doth gather great inward peace, converteth unto God with all his heart, and doth exceedingly bless God for the Preachers counsel. 391 FINIS. A Morning prayer, to be used in private families. O Lord our God, and heavenly Father, we thy unworthy children do here come into thy most holy and heavenly presence to give thee praise and glory, for all thy great mercies and manifold blessings towards us: especially for that thou hast preserved us this night passed from all the dangers and fears thereof, hast given us quiet rest to our bodies, and brought us now safely to the beginning of this day, & dost now afresh renew all thy mercies upon us, as the Eagle reneweth her bill, giving us all things abundantly to enjoy; as food, raiment, health, peace, liberty, and freedom from many miseries, diseases, casualties, and calamities which we are subject unto in this life, every minute of an hour: and not only so, but also for vouchsafeing unto us many good things, not only for necessity, but even for delight also. But above all (dear Father) we praise thy name for the blessings of a better life, specially for thy most holy word and sacraments, and all the good we enjoy thereby; for the continuance of the Gospel amongst us; for the death of thy son, & all that happiness which we have thereby; also because thou hast chosen us to life before we were, and that of thy mere goodness, & undeserved favour towards us, & hast called us in thine appointed time, justified us by thy grace, sanctified us by thy spirit, & adopted us to be thine own children, & heirs apparent to the great crown. O Lord open our eyes every day more & more, to see and consider of thy great & marvelous love to us in all these things; that by the due consideration thereof, our hearts may be drawn yet nearer unto thee, even more to love thee, fear thee, & obey thee: that as thou art enlarged towards us in mercy, so we may be enlarged towards thee in thanksgiving: & as thou dost abound towards us in goodness, so we may abound towards thee in obedience & love. And sith (dear father) thou art never weary of doing us good, notwithstanding all our unworthiness & naughtiness: therefore let the consideration of thy great mercy, & fatherly kindness towards us even as it were force our hearts, and compel us to come into thy most glorious presence with new songs of thanksgiving in our mouths. We pray thee (O most merciful God) to forgive us all our unthankfulness, unkindness, prophannes, & great abusing of all thy mercies, & specially our abuse & contempt of thy Gospel, together with all other the sins of our life, which we confess are innumerable & more than can be reckoned up, both in omission of good things & commission of evil. We most humbly entreat thee to set them all over to the reckoning which thy son Christ hath made up for them upon his cross, & never to lay any of them to our charge, but freely forget all, & forgive all; Nail down all our sins & iniquities to the Cross of Christ, bury them in his death, bathe them in his blood, hide them in his wounds, let them never rise up in judgement against us. Set us free of the miseries that are upon us for sin, & keep back the judgements to come, both of soul, body, goods, and good name. Be reconciled unto us in thy dear son, concerning all matters past, not once remembering or repeating unto us our old & abominable iniquities: but accept us as righteous in him, imputing his righteousness to us, & our sins to him. Let his righteousness satisfy thy justice for all our unrighteousness, his obedience for our disobedience, his perfection for our imperfection. Moreover we humbly beseech thy good majesty to give us the true sight & feeling of our manifold sins, that we may not be blinded in them through delight, or hardened in them through custom, as the reprobates are: but that we may be even weary of them, & much grieved for them, labouring and striving by all possible means to get out of them. Good Father touch our hearts with true repentance for all sin. Let us not take any delight or pleasure in any sin: but howsoever we fall through frailty (as we fall often) yet let us never fall finally, let us never lie down in sin, nor continue in sin; but let us get upon our feet again, & turn to thee with all our hearts, & seek thee whilst thou mayest be found, & whilst thou dost offer grace and mercy unto us. O Lord increase in us that true and lively faith whereby we may lay sure hold on thy son Christ, & rest upon his merits altogether. Give us faith assuredly to believe all the great and precious promises made in the Gospel, and strengthen us from above to walk and abound in all the true & sound fruits of faith. Let us walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. Let us feel the power of thy son's death killing sin in our mortal bodies, and the power of his resurrection, raising us up to newness of life. Let us grow daily in the sanctification of the spirit, and the mortification of the flesh. Let us live holily, justly, and soberly in this present evil world, showing forth the virtues of thee in all our particular actions; that we may adorn our most holy profession, and shine as lights in the midst of a crooked and froward generation amongst whom we live, being gainful to all by our lives & conversations, & offensive to none. To this end we pray thee fill us with thy spirit and all spiritual graces; as love, wisdom, patience, contentment, meekness, humility, temperancy, chastity, kindness, and affability: and stir us up to use prayer and watchfulness, reading & meditation in thy law, and all other good means whereby we may grow and abound in all heavenly virtues. Bless us in the use of the means, from day to day; make us such as thou wouldst have us to be, and such as we desire to be, working in us both will and deed, purpose and power. For thou, O Lord, art all in all, thou wilt have mercy upon whom thou wilt have mercy, and whom thou wilt thou hardenest. Have mercy upon us therefore (dear Father) and never leave us to ourselves, nor to our own wills, lusts, and desires, but assist us with thy good spirit, that we may continue to the end in a righteous course; that so at length we may be received into glory, and be partakers of that immortal crown which thou hast laid up for all that love thee, and truly call upon thee. Further, we entreat thee, O heavenly father, to give us all things necessary for this life: as food, raiment, health, peace, liberty, and such freedom from those manifold miseries which we lie open unto every day, as thou seest meet. Bless unto us all the means which thou hast put into our hands for the sustenance of this frail life. Bless our stock, and store, corn, and cattle, trades & occupations, and all the works of our hands: for thy blessing only maketh rich, and it bringeth no sorrows with it. Give us therefore such a competency and sufficiency of these outward blessings, as thou in thy heavenly wisdom seest most needful for us. Moreover, we humbly beseech thee, (most loving Father) in great mercy to look down from heaven upon thy whole Church, and every member of it. Be favourable unto Zion, and build up the walls of jerusalem. Behold with the eye of pity, the great ruins and desolations of thy Church. heal up the wounds, & make up the breaches thereof in all Nations. Regard it as thine own flock, tender it as thine own family, dress it as thine own vineyard, love it as thine own spouse. Think thoughts of peace to it, & always look upon it in deep compassion. Bless it with thy grace, guide it with thy spirit, & defend it always with thy mighty power: scatter the devices confound the counsels, & overthrow the forces of all that fight against it. Specially we entreat thee (dear Father) to set thyself against that antichrist of Rome, that man of perdition, which setteth himself against thee, and against all thy people. In thine appointed time we pray thee give him a deadly downfall. Beat down all his power and authority daily more and more: give free passage to thy Gospel in all kingdoms, that Babylon may fall and never rise up again. The more the favourites and adherents of Rome labour to uphold their Idolatrous kingdom, the more let it fall down, even as Dagon before the presence of thine Ark. Pour down the vials of the fullness of thy wrath upon the kingdom of the beast, and let their riches, wealth, credit, and authority dry up every day more and more, as the river Euphrates. Let it pity thee, O Father, to see thine own spouse sit as a deformed and forlorn woman here below, weeping and mourning with her hair about her neck, having lost all her beauty and comeliness: cheer her up (dear Father) glad her with the joy of thy countenance, and so deck her and trim her up, that thou mayest delight in her, as a Bridegroom in his Bride. Specially we entreat thee to have mercy upon thy Church in this land: intent good unto us and not evil: give us not over into the hands of the cruel Spaniard, as our sins have deserved. Scatter we pray thee, O Lord, the devices, and break the plots of all such as have plotted the overthrow & utter subversion of this church and commonwealth. Bless this Church more and more, with the continuance of true Religion amongst us. For thy great names sake, and infinite mercy's sake, deal graciously and favourably with us, & our posterity. Turn from us that vengeance which is due to us for our sins. For thou seest how iniquity prevaileth and the wicked go away with the goal. Atheism overspreadeth every where, and Popery seemeth to get a head again. Now therefore (dear Father) we most humbly beseech thee to take order speedily for the remedying & repressing of these manifold disorders, and grievous enormities that are amongst us. Be entreated of thy poor children to be good to this English Nation. Hear the cries of thine elect: hear the mourning of them that mourn in Zion. Let the cries of thy children cry down all the cries of the sins of the land, and be reconciled unto us in the multitude of thy compassions: that so thou mayest still continue a most merciful protector of this thine English vineyard. We pray thee (good Father) show special mercy to our most Noble and gracious King james thine anointed servant: bless him, and keep him in all his ways. Bless his government unto us. Let thine Angels encamp about him, and let thy holy hand be always over him, keep him from treasons, and deliver him from the treacheries of his enemies: give him to see what belongeth unto his peace, and give him a heart earnestlybent to set upon the practice of the same: give him all graces necessary for his peace, and necessary for his salvation: continue his government peaceable and prosperous amongst us: & as thou hast made him the breath of our nostrils, and a gracious instrument for the saving of many thousand souls, so let his own soul be saved in the day of thy Son Christ. Bless his majesties most honourable privy Counsellors, & give such good success unto all their Counsels and policies in matters of state, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness & honesty. Bless all the Nobility, work in them a care to glorify thy name in their places, make them faithful to thee, and faithful to the Land. Direct with thy good spirit all such as bear the sword of justice, that they may draw it out to punish the wicked, and to defend the godly, and that they may with all good care and conscience discharge the duties of their places. Increase the number of faithful and zealous Ministers, in this church. Send thy Gospel to those places where it is not, and bless it where it is. Remember them in thy mercy O Lord, that are under any cross or affliction whatsoever: be comfortable unto them, heal up their wounds, bind up their sores, put all their tears into thy bottle, and make their bed in all their sorrows, and put such a good end to all their troubles, that they may redound to thy glory, and the furtherance of their own salvation. In the mean time give them patience and constancy to bear whatsoever it shall please thy merciful hand to lay upon them. Last of all, in a word, we pray thee bless magistracy, ministry, and commonalty. Bless all thy people; do good to all that are true and upright in their hearts. And so (dear Father) we do commit and commend ourselves, our souls and bodies into thy hands, for this day, and the rest of our life, praying thee to take care and charge of us; keep us from all evil, watch over us for our good, let thine Angels encamp about us, let thy holy hand be over us, & keep us in all our ways, that we may live to thy praise and glory here in earth, keeping faith and a good conscience in all our actions; that after this life we may be crowned of thee, for ever in thy kingdom. Grant these things (good father) to us here present, & to all thine absent; praying thee in special favour to remember our friends, & kinsfolks in the flesh, all our good neighbours & well-willers, & all those forwhom we are bound to pray by nature, by deserts, or any duty whatsoever, for jesus Christ's sake our only mediator; to whom with thee, and the holy Ghost, be given all praise and glory, both now, and for evermore. Amen. An Evening Prayer, to be used in private families. eternal God, and our most loving and dear Father, wethy unworthy children do here fall down at the foot of thy great Majesty, acknowledging from our hearts, that we are altogether unworthy to come near thee or to look towards thee: because thou art a God of infinite glory, and we are most vile, and abominable sinners, such as were conceived, & borne in sin and corruption, such as have inherited our father's corruptions, and also have actually transgressed all thy holy statutes and laws, both in thought, words, & deeds, before weknew thee: and since, secretly and openly, with ourselves & with others, our particular sins are more than can be numbered: for who knoweth how often he offendeth? But this we must needs confess against ourselves, that our hearts are full of pride, covetousness, and the love of this world, full ofwrath anger, and impatiency, full of lying, dissembling, and deceiving, full of vanity, hardness, and profaneness, full of infidelity, distrust, and self-love, full of lust, uncleanness, and all adhominable desires: yea our hearts are the very sinks of sin, and dunghills of all filthiness. And besides all this, we do omit the good things we should do: for there are in us great wants of faith, of love, of zeal, of patience, of contentment, and of every good grace; so as thou hast just cause to proceed to sentence of judgement against us, as most damnable transgressors of all thy holy commandments: yea such as are sunk in our rebellions, and have many times & often committed high treason against thy majesty, & therefore thou mayst justly cast us all down into hell fire, there to be tormented with Satan, and his Angels for ever. And we have nothing to except against thy majesty for so doing: sith therein thou shouldest deal with us but according to equity, and our just deserts. Wherefore dear Father, we do appeal from thy justice to thy mercy, most humbly entreating thee to have mercy upon us, and freely to forgive us all our sins past whatsoever, both new, and old, secret and open, known and unknown, and thatfor Jesus Christ's sake our only mediator. And we pray thee touch our hearts with true grief, & unfeigned repentance for them, that they may be a matter of continual sorrow, & hart-smart unto us, so as nothing may grieve us more than this, that we have offended thee being our special friend and Father. Give us therefore (dear Father) every day more and more sight & feeling of our sins, with true humiliation under the same. Give us also that true and lively faith, whereby we may lay sure hold on thy Son Christ, and all his merits, applying the same to our own souls; so as we may stand fully persuaded that whatsoever he hath done upon the cross, he hath done for us particularly, as well as for others. Give us faith (good Father) constantly to believe all the sweet promises of the Gospel, touching remission of sin, and eternal life, made in thy son Christ. O Lord increase our faith that we may altogether rest upon thy promises which are all yea, and Amen. Yea, that we may settle ourselves, and all that we have wholly upon them: both our souls, bodies, goods, name, wives, children, and our whole estate, knowing that all things depend upon thy promises, power, and providence, & that thy word doth support and bear up the whole order of nature. Moreover, we entreat thee, O Lord, to strengthen us from above, to walk in every good way, & to bring forth the fruits of true faith in all our particular actions, studying to please thee in all things and to be fruitful in good works, that we may show forth unto all men by our good conversation whose children we are: and that we may adorn and beautify our most holy profession by walking in a Christian course, and in all the sound fruits, & practise of godliness, and true religion. To this end we pray thee sanctify our hearts by thy spirit, yet more and more: sanctify our souls and bodies, and all our corrupt natural faculties, as reason, understanding, will, and affections, so as they may be fitted for thy worship and service, taking a delight and pleasure therein. Stir us up to use prayer, watchfulness, reading, and meditation in thy law, & all other good means whereby we may profit in grace & goodness from day to day. Bless us in the use of the means, that we may daily die to sin, and live to righteousness: draw us yet nearer unto thee: help us against our manifold wants. Amend our great imperfections, renew us inwardly more and more, repair the ruins of our hearts, aid us against the remnants of sin. Enlarge our hearts to run the way of thy Commandments, direct all our steps in thy word, let none iniquity have dominion over us. Assist us against our special infirmities, & master sins, that we may get the victory over them all, to thy glory, and the great peace & comfort of our own consciences. Strengthen us good father by thy grace and holy spirit, against the common corruptions of the world, as pride, whoredom, covetousness, contempt of thy Gospel, swearing, lying, dissembling, and deceiving. O dear father, let us not be overcome of these filthy vices: nor any other sinful pleasures, and fond delights, wherewith thousands are carried headlong to destruction. Arm our souls against all the temptations of this world, the flesh, & the devil: that we may overcome them all through thy help, & keep on the right way to life, that we may live in thy fear, & die in thy favour, that our last days may be our best days, & that we may end in great peace of conscience. Furthermore, dear father, we entreat thee not only for ourselves, but for all our good brethren thy dear children scattered over the face of the whole earth, most humbly beseeching thee to bless them all▪ to cheer them up, & glad them with the joy of thy countenance, both now and always. Guide them all in thy fear, and keep them from evil, that they may praise thy name. In these dangerous days, and declining times, we pray thee, O Lord, raise up nursing fathers, and nursing mothers unto thy Church. Raise up also faithful Pastors, that thy cause may be carried forward, truth may prevail, Religion may prosper, thy name only may be set up in the earth, thy sons kingdom advanced, and thy will accomplished. Set thyself against all adversary power, especially that of Rome, Antichrist, Idolatry, and Atheism: curse and cross all their counsels, frustrate their devices, scatter their forces, overthrow their armies. When they are most wise, let them be most foolish: when they are most strong, let them be most weak. Let them know that there is no wisdom, nor counsel, power nor policy against thee the Lord of hosts. Let them know that Israel hath a God, and that thou which art called jehovah art the only ruler over all the world. Arise therefore O most mighty God, and maintain thine own cause against all thine enemies, smite through all their loins, and bow down their backs, yea let them all be confounded, and turned backward that bear ill will unto Zion. Let the patient abiding of the righteous be joy: and let the wicked be disappointed of their hope. But of all favour, we entreat thee O Lord to show special mercy to thy Church in this Land wherein we live. Continue thy Gospel amongst us yet with greater success, purge thy house daily more and more, take away all things that offend. Let this Nation still be a place where thy name may be called upon; & an harbour for thy saints. Show mercy to our posterity, dear Father, and have ●are of them, that thy Gospel may be left unto them as a most holy inheritance. Defend us against foreign invasion, keep out idolatry, and Popery from amongst us. Turn from us those plagues which our sins cry for. For the sins of this Land are exceeding great, horrible, and outrageous, and give thee just cause to make us spectacles of thy vengeance to all Nations: that by how much the more thou hast lifted us up in great mercy, & long peace, by so much the more thou shouldest press us down in great wrath and long war. Therefore dear father, we most humbly entreat thee for thy great names sake, & for thy infinite mercy's sake, that thou wouldst be reconciled to this land, and discharge it of all the horrible sins thereof. Drown them O Lord in thy infinite mercy through Christ, as it were in a bottomless gulf, that they may never rise up in judgement against us. For although our sins be exceeding many, and fearful, yet thy mercy is far greater. For thou art infinite in mercy: but we cannot be infinite in sinning. Give us not over into the hands of the Idolaters, left they should blaspheme thy name and say, Where is their God in whom they trusted? But rather, dear Father, take us into thine own hands, and correct us according to thy wisdom: for with thee is mercy, and deep compassion. Moreover we most heartily beseech thy good Majesty to bless our most gracious King james, and to show much mercy to him in all things. Guide him in thy fear, and keep him in all his ways, working in his soul unfeigned sorrow for sinew, true faith in the promises, & a great care to please thee in all things, and to discharge the duties of his high place, in all zeal of thy glory, and faithfulness towards thy Majesty: that as thou hast crowned him here in earth, so he (spending his days here below in thy fear) may after this life, be crowned of thee for ever in the Heavens. We beseech thee also to bless his majesties most henorable privy Counsellors. Counsel them from above, let them take advise of thee in all things: that they may both consult, and resolve of such courses as may be most for thy glory, the good of the Church, and the peace of this our Commonwealth. Bless the Nobility, and all the Magistrates in the Land, giving them all grace to execute judgement and justice, and to maintain truth and equity. Bless all the faithful Ministers of the Gospel, increase the number of them, increase thy gifts in them: and so bless all their labours in their several places and congregations, that they all may be instruments of thy hand to enlarge thy sons kingdom, and to win many unto thee. Comfort the comfortless with all needful comforts. Forget none of thine that are in trouble: but as their afflions are, so let the joys and comforts of thy spirit be unto them; and so sanctify unto all thine, their afflictions and troubles, that they may tend to thy glory, and their own good. Give us thankful hearts for all thy mercies, both spiritual and corporal: for thou art very merciful unto us in the things of this life, and infinitely more merciful in the things of a better life. Let us deeply ponder and weigh all thy particular favours towards us: that by the due consideration thereof, our hearts may be gained yet nearer unto thee, and that therefore we may both love and obey thee, because thou art so kind and loving unto us: that even thy love towards us, may draw our love towards thee, and that because mercy is with thee, thou mayest be feared. Grant these things good Father, and all other needful graces for our souls or bodies, or any of thine throughout the whole world, for Jesus Christ's sake. In whose name we further call upon thee as he hath taught us in his Gospel, saying; Our Father which art in Heaven, etc. A prayer to be used at any time, by one alone privately. O Lord my God, and heavenly Father, I thy most unworthy child, do here in thy sight freely confess that I am a most sinful creature, and damnable transgressor of all thy holy Laws and Commandments: that as I was borne and bred in fin, and stained in the womb, so have I continually brought forth the corrupt & ugly fruits of that infection & contagion, wherein I was first conceived, both in thoughts, words, & works. If I should go about to reckon up my particular offences, I know not where to begin, or where to make an end. For they are more than the hairs of my head, yea far more than I can possibly feel or know. For who knoweth the height, and depth of his corruption: who knoweth how oft he offendeth? Thou only O Lord knowest my sins, who knowest my heart: nothing is hid from thee, thou knowest what I have been, & what I am: yea my conscience doth accuse me of many & grievous evils, and I do daily feel by woeful experience how frail I am, how prone to evil, & how untoward to all goodness. My mind is full of vanity, my hartfull of profaneness, mine affections full of deadness, dullness & drowsiness in matters of thy worship & service. Yea, my whole soul is full of spiritual blindness, hardness, unprofitableness, coldness, and security. And in very deed I am altogether a lump of sin, & a mass of all misery: & therefore I have forfeited thy favour, & incurred thy high displeasure, & have given thee just cause to frown upon me, to give me over, & leave me to mine own corrupt will and affections. But (O my dear father) I have learned from thy mouth, that thou art a God full of mercy, flow to wrath & of great compassion & kindness, towards all such as groan under the burden of their sins. Therefore extend thy great mercy towards me poor sinner, and give me a general pardon for all mine offences whatsoever: seal it in the blood of thy son, and seal it to my conscience by thy spirit, assuring me more and more of thy love & favour towards me, & that thou art a reconciled father unto me. Grant that I may, in all time to come love thee much, because much is given, and of very love fear thee, and obey thee. O Lord increase my faith, that I may steadfastly believe all the promises of the Gospel made in thy son Christ & rest upon them altogether. Enable me to bring forth the sound fruits of faith and repentance in all my particular actions. Fill my soul full of joy and peace in believing. Fill me full of inward comfort and spiritual strength against all temptatious: give me yet a greater feeling of thy love & manifold mercies towards me, work in my soul a love of thy Majesty, a zeal of thy glory, an hatred of evil, and a desire of all good things. Give me victory over those sins which thou knowest are strongest in me. Let me once at last make a conquest of the world, and the flesh. Mortify in me whatsoever is carnal, sanctify me throughout by thy spirit, knit my heart to thee for ever that I may fear thy name, renew in me the image of thy son Christ daily more and more. Give me a delight in the reading and meditation of thy word. Let me rejoice in the public ministry thereof. Let me love and reverence all the faithful Ministers of thy Gospel. Sanctify their doctrines to my conscience, seal them in my soul, write them in my heart; give me a soft and melting heart, that I may tremble at thy words, and be always much affected with godly sermons. Let not my sins hold back thy mercies from me, nor mine unworthiness stop the passage of thy grace. Open mine eyes to see the great wonders of thy law. Reveal thy secrets unto me: be open hearted towards me thy unworthy servant. Hide nothing from me that may make for thy glory, & the good of my soul. Bless all means unto me which thou usest for my good. Bless all holy instructions unto my soul. Bless me at all times, both in hearing & reading thy word. Give me the right use of all thy mercies, and corrections, that I may be the better for them. Let me abound in love to thy children. Let my heart be very nearly knit unto them, that where thou lovest most, there I may love most also. Let me watch & pray, that I enter not into temptation: give me patience & contentment in all things. Let me love thee more & more, & the world less & less. So draw my mind upward, that I may despise all transitory things. Let me be so rapt & ravished with the sight and feeling of heavenly things, that I may make a base reckoning of all earthly things. Let me use this world, as though I used it not. Let me use it but for necessity, as meat & drink. Let me not be carried away with the vain pleasures and fond delights thereof. Good Father work thy good work in me, & never leave me, nor forsake me, till thou hast brought me to true happiness. Oh dear Father, make me faithful in my calling, that I may serve thee in it, & be always careful to do what good I may in any thing. Bless me in my outward estate. Bless my soul, body, goods, and name. Bless all that belongeth unto me. Bless my goings out, & comings in. Let thy countenance be lifted up upon me, now & always: cheer me up with the joys & comforts of thy spirit: make me thankful for all thy mercies. For I must needs confess that thou art very kind unto me in all things. For in thee I live move & have my being: of thee I have my welfare & good being, thou art a daily friend, & special good benefactor unto me. I live at thy cost & charges. I hold all of thee in chief, and I find that thou art never weary of doing me good: thy goodness towards me is unstanchable. Oh I can never be thankful enough unto thee for all thy mercies, both spiritual & corporal. But in such measure as I am able, I praise thy name for all, beseeching thee to accept of my thanksgiving, in thy son Christ, and to give me a profitable use of all thy favours, that thereby my heart may be fully drawn unto thee: give me O Father to be of such a good nature, and disposition, that I may be won by gentleness & fair means, as much as if thou gavest me many lashes. Pardon all mine unthankfulness, unkindness, and great abusing of thy mercies, and give me grace to use them more to thy glory in all time to come. Strengthen me dear Father thus to continue praising & glorifying thy name here upon earth: that after this life I may be crowned of thee for ever in thy kingdom. Grant these petitions most merciful God, not only to me, but to all thy dear children throughout the whole world, for Jesus Christ sake: in whose name I do further call upon thee, saying as he hath taught me: O our Father which art in Heaven, etc. FINIS.