THE CONDITIONS OF CHRISTIANITY: OR, The terms upon which Christ will be followed. A necessary consideration for them that otherwise would be apt to take up Religion upon trust, and only keep company with CHRIST a while for fashion sake.  
By Mr. Christopher Harvey, sometime Minister of GOD'S Word at Bunbury in CHESHIRE.  
LONDON, Printed by R.B. for P. Stephens, and C. Meridith, and are to be sold at their Shop at the sign of the golden Lion in Paul's Churchyard. 1636.   

TO MY DEAR MOTHER M rs. HELEN PIERSON.  
MOst dear, and most worthy to be most dear, Mother, I remember a speech which divers years a go, fell from you, peradventure then but casually: when looking upon a book that was Dedicated by a Son to his Mother, you said, you did hope one day to see the like from me. It may be your words were then more agreeable to your desire then your expectation: yet you see them in some sort fulfilled now. This only is the difference, that what he published was penned by himself, but that which I present you with, is no otherwise mine, than it was yours before, being part of the fruit of the labours of my reverend Father you former husband: which being by you, with the rest of his papers, reserved for my use: is now at last come to my hand by the much lamented death of your late reverend Husband Master Tho. Pierson  
Two such Husbands and Fathers few women and their sons have. I should esteem it not a little happiness, if I might be a means to add but ●alfe that credit to their memories, that you did comfort ●o their lives. For the former, the penman of this ●ittle Treatise, to expatiate in his praises would be neither seemly for me who am his son, nor seasonable now when already he hath had his rest in peace these four and thirty years & upward, nor suitable to the proportion of so small a volume, unto which even this may seem too large an entrance. For the Treatise itself, such as it is I received it from you, and return it to you and through your hands commend it to the use of all them that desire to be Christians, in an earnest, not in word and tongue only, but in deed and truth. So humbly craving what I know, I have your daily prayers for blessings upon me and mine, I rest though much unworthy, yet most desirous to be still,  
Your every way observant and obedient Son, Christopher Harvey.   

THE CONDITIONS OF CHRISTIANITY.  Luke 9.23. 
And he said unto them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his Cross daily, and follow me.  
Our blessed Lord and Saviour, having signified unto his Disciples, and such as followed him, that the time drew near, when he should accomplish the thing, whereto he was sent into the world; and that he should suffer many things, as reproofs, slanders, revile, even of the Elders, and chief governor's of his people, and o● the High Priests, which challenged to themselves the chief rule in GOD'S Church, and of the Scribes, that took upon them to teach and instruct GOD'S people in the truth; yea, that they would not leave him till they had his blood, and had slain him, setteth down this thing; to be noted of all such, as had made profession of him, that if they would go after him, and bear him company, they must willingly every one of them ●●ke up their Cross on their shoulders, and come ●●ter him.  
Which is in very deed, 
Luk. 14.27, etc.  as our Saviour declareth, the ●●st lesson, that every one ●ust learn, that hath determined to follow Christ, to be ●●s Disciple, to be a Christi●● to be saved, and inherit ●●e kingdom of heaven. ●or, as a man that determineth to build him an ●ouse, if he have any wit and common sense with him, will cast with himself, and make account with the most, what it is ●●ke to cost him, and what ●ll things thereto necessarily appertaining will ly● him in, that so he may understand, whether his ability will stretch so fare, a● to bring it to pass, le● otherwise he be enforce● to leave off that which h● hath begun, and so be● mocked, as a fool, of a● that see his doings. So● saith our Saviour, He that meaneth, and hath fully purposed in his heart, to become a Christian, and to inherit the kingdom o● heaven, must first sit him down, and cast his account, what it will lie him in, that knowing the price he may see, whether he● may attain it, or no; lest, not knowing the matter, he give over in the midst of his travel, and be condemned for a fool and ignorant person.  
This kingdom of hea●en is a house, fare passing 〈◊〉 worldly possessions whatsoever, a pearl, more ●●ecious than the whole world beside: there is no ●●an, which hath heard of 〈◊〉 but would be desirous to attain it, and everyone, that would be cal●●d a Christian man, hath ●●solved to purchase it: ●●at, for want of knowledge, there are many, which having begun to ●uild, have given over, when they saw how great 〈◊〉 matter it was, and what ●he price was, that it would cost them, ere they had ended. This cann●● then but be a necessary le●son for us all, which hav● this purpose to follow Christ, to be with him, 〈◊〉 live with him: this is th● first lesson, as I said, i● Christ's School: namely ● to know the sum of o● charges, what it will ly● us in, if we will attain ● this pearl, our Saviour delivereth it unto us brie●ly, that we need not labour to search it out: for he● hath taught us all things ● which are necessary for u● to know. It is this then ● he, that will follow Christ must deny himself, take up his Cross daily, and follow him.  
He that will follow Christ, to be his Disciple, his ser●ant, and so with him to ●igne in joy, with God ●e Father, these two ●ings are necessarily required of him, without ●hich he cannot attain his estate: First, he must ●eny himself: Secondly, ●e must be content to take ●p his Cross willingly, ●nd bear it, not for a day, ●r a year, but continually, ●nd for ever, and so follow him.  
He that will be conten●ed to do thus, him Christ will delight in, him he will make an inheritor in heaven with him, he shall enter into the joy of his Lord, and and be made partaker of all the blessings, which GOD hath prepared in heaven for such as love him.  
An excellent pearl this is, dear brethren, and o● great value, a worthy house, and of high price but it will cost us all that ever we have to buy it, and the cost to build it will be● as much, as all we have a● mounteth unto. Now consider with your own hearts what to do; whether you will play the wise Merchants, or no: whether do as wise builders or as foolish persons. What thing so happy for you, 
1 Cor. 2.9.  as to follow Christ, to inherit the kingdom of heaven, and those eternal joys, which heart cannot think, nor have ever entered into the mind of any man, to be blessed, and happy for evermore?  
I will not endeavour to ●ell you the excellency of them, that shall follow Christ: my tongue cannot utter it, the tongue of any man is but the tongue of a ●abe to tell you these things: a small taste thereof in our souls will inflame us, with a longing after it; one glimpse thereof is sufficient to ravish us, with a desire of it. Our Saviour, in a word, telleth his Disciples, ask him, what they shall have, that have left all, and followed him, 
Mat. 19.28  that they shall participate with him in his sovereign glory, and in his kingdom shall sit on thrones, like Princes, and judge th● twelve tribes of Israel. Ye● shall be made Kings, not o● earth, or earthly things, bu● of heaven: 
1 Cor. 6.3.  ye shall judge the tribes of Israel, yea, th● very Angels themselves ● as Paul teacheth. Tha● thing, which we see th● greatest in this world, to be a King, 
Matth. 20.23.  a judge, tha● which Zebedees' Children desired in this life: that, and fare greater, shall every one of them have that follow CHRIST: not Zebedees' Children, but every one of us, that follow Christ, shall sit on his right hand, in his heavenly kingdom.  
But let us see, what condition is required, of them that must come to this exceeding glory, what the price thereof is, and what we must lay out, if we will attain it. Two things Christ requireth: First, that we should deny ourselves: that is, utterly to renounce whatsoever is naturally in us, whether it appertain to our wit, or knowledge, or whether it belong to our affections, actions, deeds and practices. For our own wit, not to credit it, to refuse our own counsel, to renounce what flesh and blood putteth in our heads, and to be content to know nothing, to understand nothing, but what Christ hath taught us, and willed us to know. 
1 Cor. 3.18.  Which Saint Paul declareth, when he saith, that, if any will be wise, the only way is to become a fool, a fool to the world, a fool to flesh and blood, a fool to all, that have not submitted themselves to Christ; this is the way to be wise, this is the first step, which we must make in following Christ. The first thing, when we come into Christ's School, that we must tread upon, is our own neck.  
A hard lesson, dear brethren, for flesh and blood, which naturally is puffed up with a selfe-liking of itself, and of those things, which belong to it: which is the cause indeed, 
1 Cor. 1.26.  that so few wise, so few noble, so few mighty, are called to follow Christ: for that they are hardly brought to this pass, to deny and defy themselves, to account of their wisdom as folly, their strength weakness, their nobility baseness; to esteem all things in them, as dung, to win jesus Christ.  
And yet, so it is, that until we be brought to this pass, to deny all that is in us, to lay even our crowns at Christ's feet, we cannot follow him. Neither must we only deny our knowledge, wit, and understanding, to learn, and know only what Christ hath taught us; but we must also deny our own deeds, such thoughts, and works, as we are naturally given unto. For, he, that will follow Christ, 
1 Pet. 1.15. 2 Cor. 6.14, 15.  must be holy, as he is holy: for, what fellowship can there be betwixt light and darkness? Christ, and the sons of Belial? wicked and ungodly persons, 
Amos 3.3.  and our Saviour Christ? Can two walk together, except they be agreed? By nature we are all sinners, our hearts are set on fleshly lusts, and ungodly deeds, which God hateth, and his soul hath no pleasure in: and all sinners are his enemies, whom his soul hateth. Wherefore, till such time, as we have denied these ungodly lusts, and natural transgressions, wherein we walk, even from our birth, we are enemies to God; and therefore, being not agreed, and made friends, we cannot walk together with God, we cannot follow Christ. 
1 joh. 1.6.  Wherefore Saint john telleth us, that whosoever saith, that he hath fellowship with Christ, that he is his companion, that he followeth him, and walketh in darkness, in his own way, he lieth, there is no truth in him. For none can follow CHRIST, but he, that hath denied himself, forgone his wicked life, which naturally he is inclined to, and is become a new Creature.  
Here we may mark, that our Saviour biddeth us deny ourselves. He saith not, deny ungodly works, deny the wisdom of the flesh, though he meaneth, as hath been said, such things; but deny ourselves: to show unto us the great corruption, which is in our nature, 
Rom. 6.6.  that we are not only sinful, but even sin itself, as it were, this body of sin, we must deny ourselves. 
Col. 3.5.  So Saint Paul calleth them our members. Mortify your earthly members. To which purpose also the Scripture speaketh, when it saith, that we are not only sick in sins and trespasses, 
Eph. 2.1.  or wounded, or maimed, but even dead: of no more power, and ability to do that, which GOD liketh, then dead men to perform the actions of this life. 
joh. 5.25 28.  And our Saviour Christ teacheth, that it is the power of his Gospel, to raise, not such, as are fallen, not such, as are a sleep, but even those, that are dead, yea such, as are in the graves, over whom death hath dominion, who are buried, as dead men, 
Ps. 51.10.  in sins and transgressions. Which also the holy Prophets acknowledged, when David prayeth, not to reform, or amend, as a thing, in which some small, fault was, but to create a new heart within him, to frame him again, and cast him, as it were, in a new mould. Create in me a clean heart, O Lord, and renew a right spirit within me.  
If you ask of me, how can this be? This is an hard speech, that we are dead, that we can do nothing: to what purpose then is God's word preached to us? Why are we commanded to serve God, to follow Christ? If we be dead, we cannot do it: it is in vain to command any such thing. Nay, God forbidden we should so think. Our Saviour's words be truth and life. He saith, his Gospel is preached, even to them that are as dead men in the graves. And how then? Is that to any purpose? Yea sure, 
joh. 5.28.  for he saith, that the power thereof is such, that they shall hear, which are in their graves. We be dead in sins, not able to move one whit to any good thing; yet is the Gospel preached to us, etc. that it will quicken us, it will revive, and set us on our feet, it will raise us from the death of sin, and create us anew, to serve God, and walk in his Commandments.  
Which point the Lord openeth in the Prophet Ezekiel, speaking of the gathering together of his Church, he saith, 
Ezek. 11.19.  I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within their bowels, I will take the stony heart out of their bodies, and I will give them an heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes, and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. He showeth, what we are by nature, what metal we are made of, stones; the workman, that doth this great fear, is God. I will take the stony heart out of their bodies. Man can make new faces, Hypocrites can alter their countenances, but it is GOD alone, that maketh new hearts. There is, within each one of us, a heart of stone: is it then any marvel, though we be beaten upon, never so hard, that we yield not? though the seed be cast, never so oft, that it groweth not? though the dew of heaven fall, never so oft, that we fructify not? Why, our heart is of stone, which beateth back the stroke, and will not yield, it is a rock, on which the seed cannot take root, a hard flint, into which the hard drops cannot pierce. And how shall we do? 
Heb. 6.7.7, 8.  the ground, which receiveth the rain, and bringeth not forth fruit, is cursed, and shall be burned. GOD alone, dear brethren, can rip us up, and pull up this stony heart, and place for it an heart of flesh. The only hammer, that breaketh this stone, 
jer. 23.29.  is the word of God: wherefore, we must willingly suffer it to be stricken therewithal, that it may be bruised. The rod of God's power, 
Ps. 110.2.  (as it is called in the Psalm,) if it strike the rock, the waters shall gush out of it. But before this, our heart is a stone, which cannot yield, which cannot be bowed, untoward, nothing fit without preparation, not fit to be taught, it cannot be mended, we must needs have a new. It is stone, hard mettle, nothing fit for this purpose, it must be taken away, quite away, and another sort of matter put in place. If we will follow Christ, we must renounce, even ourselves.  
The second general point is, the taking up of our Cross, we must take it up. It is not a badge of Christians, to have a Cross on their backs, for the wicked also have very many: but the difference is this, the wicked have crosses laid on their backs, which they bear, but against their wills: the godly, that follow Christ, have taken up their Crosses, that is, have willingly submitted themselves thereunto. A wild and unruly horse, which is to be broken, beareth his rider on his back, but it is against his will, he flingeth, and runneth, and chafeth, but in vain, he took not up his rider, but beareth him against his will. So is it with the ungodly, they are often in misfortune, and trouble, and adversity, they have many crosses on their backs, but fain would they shake them off, if they could; but all in vain: the godly have stooped down, and taken up their Cross, and patiently carry it, because they know, it is God's appointment, so to exercise all those, whom he meaneth to make inheritors of his kingdom.  
The name of Cross in this place, as in divers others of the New Testament, is used, for any misery, trouble, affliction, distress, vexation, of body, or mind, which it pleaseth GOD, to send upon his Children: which, because it is divers, and not after one sort, Christ commandeth each one, to take up his own Cross; GOD having laid this on one, that on another, according to his mercy, and wisdom; which disposeth, as pleaseth him, of them: on some he layeth a lighter, because he knoweth their weakness, and being faithful, will not tempt them above their strength; on others a heavier, to whom he hath given a greater measure of patience, and endurance. But whatsoever it be, whether small or great, light or heavy, we must be content to sustain it.  
The name of Cross is not used, without great cause, in this, and the like places. The death of the Cross was a punishment, not only most painful, but most ignominious also, and full of all shame, and reproach: and so much the more, 
Deut. 21.23.  among the jews, for that he was pronounced accursed, by GOD'S own mouth, that came to this death. The Gallows among us is shameful, as you know, and to be hanged, we count it commonly a dog's death: but this cannot be in such contempt, as was the Cross, which, by GOD'S own mouth, brought a ●rse to every one that han●●d on it. And, so much ●●emore, was the shame of them, that so died, for that they were enforced, as the Evangelists, and other profane writers teach, to ●●rry it on their backs, which they should present●● be hanged upon. For, ●here we read, that Simon ● Cyrene was enforced, 
Mar. 15.21  to ●●re the Cross, which our ●●viour died on, it was, ● that he, being wearied, and weakened, with pains and sorrows, did himself, than he was in the way, ●●nt under it, not able to ●●rry it any longer. Wherefore, when Christ talketh ●ere of a Cross, which every one must take up, ● is meant, that they should prepare themselves, for the most grievous, and m● shameful, and contemp●●ous dealing, which 〈◊〉 world could devise against them. So that we m●●● be content, to sustain 〈◊〉 griefs, miseries, loss 〈◊〉 friends, of goods, banishment, imprisonment, to 〈◊〉 slandered, envied, belie evil spoken of, reproache● in a word, to endure, wh● the naughtiness, and malice of all the world, c● devise against us, even 〈◊〉 the very death. For this 〈◊〉 to take up our Cross, th● is the charge we must b● at, if we will build o● house; the precious pear● ●l cost not a whit less.  
Again, when all our affection's, which God sen●●th us, are called crosses, ●is to our great comfort, ●hen we see, that whatsoever we endure, for Christ's ●e, and his Gospel, we ●e crucified, as it were, that 〈◊〉 communicate with him suffering, and that, after ●ort, Christ beareth this ●rosse with us. For such fellowship, and partaking there, betwixt Christ the ●ad, and his servants the members, that when they ●●ffer, 
Acts 9.4  he suffereth with them: Paul persecuted ●●em, and therefore persecuted him: and so, I trow, ●aint Paul himself afterwards calleth his sufferings Christ's. 
Col. 1.24.  Now fulfil 〈◊〉 my flesh the rest of the ●flictions of CHRIST He hath suffered perfect to redeem us, but the suffering of trial, and proo●● he endureth in his members, partaking with the●● all their punishments, 〈◊〉 afflictions are Crosses. 〈◊〉 that, when we are in a● calamity, for God's cau●● let us call to mind, th● this is our Cross, and ta● it on our back patient●● remembering, that Christ in our company, to partake with us thereof. Ru●● found such goodness 〈◊〉 Naomi her mother in Law that, 
Ruth 1.16.  when she was to departed out of Moab, when Ruth was borne, and brought up, into the land of Israel, Ruth would not leave her, in any case, though her sister in Law had returned, but requested her, not to will her so. Entreat me not, saith she, to leave thee, neither to departed from thee; for whither thou goest, I will go, where thou dwellest, I will dwell, thy people shall be my people, thy God my God, where thou diest, will I dye, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught, but death, depart me and thee. Did the courtesy, which Naomi had showed her daughter in law, so tie her heart unto her, that she was content, to leave her own people, and her father's house, and her gods, to go into a strange land, to strange people, yea to swear solemnly, that nothing, but death, should departed them? What could Naomi do for Ruth? a woman, a widow, deprived of her husband, and children, now not Naomi, beautiful, but Marah, bitter, to whom GOD had given much bitterness▪ whom he had humbled, and brought into adversity, whom he had loaded with an heavy Cross? yet would not Ruth leave her, she would take up her Cross, and follow her, till death should departed them. Oh that faithful soul, which hath taken such delight in Christ, as to love him, as Ruth did Naomi, that forsaketh father, and mother, wife, and children, all the world, to go after Christ, who intreateth us, not to leave him, nor to departed from him, but willeth us to follow him! O happy man, that hath said in his heart, Lord jesus, which art sweet, and in whom is no bitterness, whose love is pleasanter than Wine, thou call est me after thee: draw me, good LORD, and I will run after thee: thou biddest me take up my Cross, see, LORD, I am ready, I rejoice in all adversity, I think myself happy, that I suffer for thy name's sake, I will not leave thee, O LORD, nor departed from thee, whither thou goest, will I go, i● into banishment, I leav● mine own Country, if into prison, I refuse all liberty, if into reproach, an● reviling, I give my cheeked to the scorners, where thou dwellest, I will dwell, thy people shall be my people, thy God my God, the Lord do s● to me, and more also, if tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword, yea if death itself departed thee and me? Death must departed Ruth and Naomi, death cannot departed us and CHRIST; Nay, where their comfort ended, there doth ours begin: for death joineth us most near to Christ: it taketh the Cross from our shoulders, and setteth a Crown on our heads. It maketh an end of all the love of this world: man and wife, that are one flesh, are but tied till death come; death undoeth all knots, but this, wherewith the faithful soul is tied to Christ; for this death maketh most sure, which never shall be loosed. Ye see then, that by the name of Cross is meant, all affliction, which God layeth on us, for our trial, and that this name is used, to teach us, that we must endure it, how full of pain, or shame soever it be, and that in it Christ doth after a sort, partake with us.  
Now it followeth, in our Saviour's words, let him take up his Cross daily and follow me. Take it up? when? or how long? daily. This is not added, by our Saviour, without just cause: for such is our blindness, and overthwartnesse, in such things as God commandeth us, that we seek for starting holes, to shrink out at, and either make doubt of the matter, or, most commonly, define of ourselves, what sense the things must bear, which it pleaseth us to call in question. So, our Saviour, having taught his Disciples, and in them us, to forgive our brethren, if they offend, or trespass against us, as we pray our heavenly Father, to forgive us; Peter, in whom yet flesh and blood, and the wisdom thereof remained, maketh a doubt, where none was, what our Saviour's meaning should be, when he commanded him to forgive his brother. Lord, saith he, thou hast taught me, to forgive my brother, but thou hast not told me how oft: we must know that too: how oft must I so do: what, 
Mat. 18. 2●  till seven times? must I do it so oft? Our Saviour answereth, I say not to thee, seven times, but seventy times seven times: so oft, as he can offend thee, so oft, must thou forgive him▪ Was it not a strange matte● that Peter should make such a doubt, who was taught to pray, forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them, that trespass against us? would Peter ask, how oft GOD should forgive? What seven times? But so ignorant, and blind are we, till God have opened our eyes. This was a thing, which flesh and blood had revealed to Peter, that he must forgive his brother seven times. Wherefore our Saviour, to remove such a question, as might be made, Lord, thou ' hast commanded us, to take up our crosses, and follow thee, when must we do it? when must we begin? how long must we hold on? when must we lay it down? what in our age? when our strength is spent? for seven days? or a year? Nay, our Saviour hath limited out the term, daily, every day, there is no vacation: the term for this exercise endeth with this life.  
This then is another thing diligently to be noted, for there are many, that fault herein. Christ may have all the world to follow him, if it were to eat bread, to be satisfied with such things, as this present life desireth; but not so many, when they hear, that they must carry a Cross on their shoulders. Yea many there are, that would be content, to take up their Cross too, and so go with him: but they would have leave for a while, to bid their kinsfolk's farewell, to take leave of their Parents, or to bury their Fathers, yea some, that have without delay forsaken all, and followed him, that in the midst of their journey have fainted. Some, that have laid their hands to this plough, but not wholly regarding, what they had in hand, have looked back to other matters, and become unworthy of the kingdom of God. These all were foolish builders, that had not made a perfect account of their charges. Wherefore, we must take this with us, for one part of our reckoning; that the Cross, which we talked of, must be taken up every day. We are not for Christ's company, if to day we be content to carry his Cross, but not to morrow: for either ever, or never. We have therefore here to note, that in this life, the children of God, are not to look for any rest, but that, as one day followeth another, and one night another, so one Cross or calamity must accompany another. Then, that we must be prepared to constancy, and perseverance, to settle ourselves, and be resolved, unmoveable in this point, whatsoever, whensoever, how oft soever, it pleaseth God to lay his Cross on us, to bear it willingly, and follow him.  
Such was the estate of God's Children, yea of Christ himself, to whom it behoveth us, in this point, to be made conformable. This was the cause, that moved jacob to answer Pharaoh, 
Gen. 47.9.  demanding his age, few and evil, saith he, are the days of thy servant, small in number, and continuance, full of evil, full of troubles, calamities, and crosses. And so might jacob well say: for of the hundred and thirty years of his Pilgrimage, how many days passed he, without sorrow and trouble? Nay in his mother's womb, before he saw the light, he was at war, in trouble: his brother, ere he was yet borne, strove with him, or, as some read, 
Gen. 25.22  hurt him. Afterwards, from the time, that the Children were able to discern their right hand from their left, he abode the malice of his brother, whose nature and disposition was quite contrary to his: he a plain, simple, innocent, harmless thing, abiding at home, his brother a jolly hunter, a man of the field, and fierce wood man. But, when he had lost his birthright, and father's blessing, deprived of both by his brother, no marvel, if the fire, which bred in the womb, burst out to a flame, if he vowed, that when the days of mourning for his Father Isaac were come; he would kill his brother jacob. Then was it time for him to fly, being forced to leave his old blind Father, now ready to yield up the ghost, and dear and kind mother, that loved him no less, than her own soul. But leave them he must, if he will save his life; his mother conselleth him, to run to her brother, his Uncle Laban, and there to abide, till his brother's wrath were assuaged. So he parteth from his Parents forward on his journey: by the way, he resteth his weary limbs on the ground, and under his head for a pillow, 
Gen. 28.14  hath he laid an hard stone: but, even than God cometh to him, comforteth him, promiseth him, and his seed a mighty increase. At length he cometh to Haran, and is entertained of his Uncle Laban; but as a servant, in his own occupation, which he had been taught: Laban promiseth him wages for his travel, and so he bindeth himself prentice, for seven years. His wages was Rachel, for whom he served seven years, and although, because he loved her, it seemed but a little while to him, yet endured he no small trouble, the heat of the day, and cold of the night; and that which passed all, he was cozened and beguiled of his Wife, when his term was ended, so that he was fain to serve seven years more for her again. What should I rip up unto you, the discourtesies, and hard countenances of his Uncle, and father in law, the envy and grudging of his Wives brethren, the often changing of his wages? yet, under all these crosses, GOD'S blessing was with him, and he increased exceeding. At last, he fled from Laban, not taking leave of him; for which cause Laban was wrath, & pursued him, and had certainly done him some evil, had not God forbade him expressly. Well, it pleased GOD, that his heart was changed, and they departed friends: but, no sooner escaped he this fear, but, behold, he was overtaken with a greater. For he meeteth with Esau his deadly enemy, accompanied with no less, than four hundred men. No marvel, if now he were afraid, lest the day were come, when he, his Wives, and Children should be destroyed at once: but God had mercy on him, turned the hard heart of Esau, and softened it. He runneth to meet his brother, falleth on his neck, kisseth him, and weepeth with him.  
Being so rid from him, he cometh into Canaan, and dwelleth among the Shechemites: but alas, what sorrow, and grief sustained he there? to see his daughter ravished, and his sons commit that horrible and cruel murder, by their falsehood and naughty dealing, upon all the poor Shechemites: yea jacob was in fear, lest the Canaanites would have risen up against him, and slain both him and all his house. It were too long, to stand upon the sorrows, and reckon up all the crosses, which he after sustained, which yet the Holy Ghost hath, for our instruction, laid out at large. What a grief, that Reuben the eldest, should climb up into his Father's bed, and defile it? what a death, to lose joseph, and to have him, as his Sons made him believe, torn in pieces of wild beasts? What care, and pensiveness, to provide in the great famine, for his great household? The grief he abode, when Simeon was kept behind in Egypt, and he must part with Benjamin also, on whose life his depended, Genesis 44. verse 30. Well▪ through all these, GOD delivereth him, and a● length brought him into Egypt, and restored him to his son. But, you see in part, what a world of misery he passed through, how many cross he carried, with what patience he endured, what a good end GOD put to them all, and how justl● he might say to Pharaoh that the days of his pilgrimage were but few i● number, but full of evilly and sorrows.  
Now what hath been said of Israel, may be seen true in all his seed and in all the Israel of God how that this is the badge, and cognisance of all God's Children, of all such, as follow CHRIST, daily to bear a Cross: The Scripture is nothing else, but, as it were, a tragedy of all the Crosses, which the godly have daily endured, and a plain demonstration of Saint Paul's speech, that all that will live godly, must suffer persecution: 2 Tim. 3. verse 12. ●hat whosoever will follow CHRIST, must deny himself, and take his Cross daily, and follow Him. we must therefore hold but unto the end, if we will be saved; which the Commandment requireth of us, and the reward, for the performance, and punishment for the transgression thereof, do with all necessarily enforce ● unto.  
This is the cause, wh●● the Church of Thyatir●● commanded, to hold f●● till CHRIST come, Re● 2. verse 25. Why we a● all enjoined to continu● and not to faint in w● doing. Why a Crow● is promised to those, the strive manfully, james ● verse 12. He is blessed the endureth: we must be pa●ent unto the LORD● coming, as the Husband man waiteth for the precio● fruit of the earth, and ha● long patience for it, unto he receive the first and t● ●ater rain, james 5. verse 〈◊〉 etc. The seed of joy and peace and all happiness 〈◊〉 sown for the righteous: 〈◊〉 is sown, it lieth hid under the earth, Psalm 97. verse 11. we must expect the fruit thereof in patience, for we shall ●eape it, if we faint not, in good time: a fruit more precious, than that of the earth, such gladness, such joy as passeth that of theirs, whose corn, and wine, and oil is increased, Psalm 4. verse 7. For it is nothing to begin, unless we continue. And, as they that run in a race, though they set outnever so lustily, and run never so swiftly, yet receive not the reward, till they come to the end, but lose the labour, and beat the ayr● if they faint in the midst, 〈◊〉 give over, before they come to the Gaol: so for this Crown of glory though we run forth while, never so hastily, ye● if we stay in the midway or leave before we come to the end, we lose our reward. And not that only but our case will be such that better it had been for us, never to have begun▪ then to have given over. Unwise Galatians, that began in the spirit, and made an end in the flesh: Gal. 3▪ verse 3. that ran well at the setting out, but were hindered, or they received the price, Galat. 5.7. Fowl ●wine, that, when they are washed, return to their wallowing in the mire, 2 Pet. 2. verse 22. He that is just, let him be more just, he that is pure let him be more pure, he that is holy let him be more holy, Revelations 22. verse 11. he that beareth Christ's Cross to day, let him bear it also to morrow, and every day, or else it were better, he had never laid hand to it. He that hath laid his hand to the plough, let his eyes look strait before to his furrow, and not look back to other things.  
Our Saviour biddeth us Remember Lot's Wife, Luk. 17. verse 32. Lot's Wife was brought out of Sodom, she was commanded not to look back to that wicked place: she began well, and walked on with her face forwards, but she held not on to the race end, but in the midst looked back, and was presently turned into a pillar of salt.  

Hos. 4.6  The LORD, by the Prophet, maketh this complaint against Ephraim; O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O judah, how shall I entreat thee? For your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the morning dew it goeth away. GOD would, and he knew how, deal favourably with them, but he cannot show them any pity, which be temporizers, time-servers, which will serve him only for a while: what goodness is in them? or to what shall it be likened? it is like, saith God, a morning cloud, which appeareth for a while, but behold it vanisheth, or as the dew, which in the morning covereth the earth, but when the Sun ariseth, it getteth itself away, and leaveth no sign of its presence behind. Such are they, which will follow Christ, and bear his Cross, for a while: they appear in the morning, before the Sun arise, but in the heat of the day they appear not: when affliction, and the heat thereof appeareth, they hide their heads, and get them into their lurking holes.  
Let us therefore consider, that the taking up, and daily bearing of our Cross, is not a thing of our own voluntary will, to be undertaken, or omitted, but necessarily enjoined by Christ, not to a few, that would be excellent, and above their fellows, but even to all, and every one, that would follow him, that would be his Disciple, that would be a true Christian, and that we continue herein, and not faint, and be weary, or in any case moved from our standing: considering, that even such, as he vouchsafed to deliver from great destruction, yet for not continuing, and holding on in that, which they had well begun, are most severely punished: that God knoweth not, how to show mercy to such, as are but as morning dew, and morning clouds, appearing for a while, and suddenly vanishing: but rather let us remember, that the crown of glory is proposed to such, as fight lawfully, not to such, as beat the air, to such, as come to the end of the race, not to them, that run well for a while, and so give over: that such shall receive the fruit of that peace, which is sown for the just, that patiently endure the Lord's leisure: finally, that such shall follow Christ, and be fit for his company, as daily take up their Cross, and as it followeth, follow him. If any man, saith our Saviour, will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his Cross daily, and follow me.  
Being thus prepared for the purpose, having renounced ourselves, and all that is in us, and taken up our Cross on our shoulders, we must, in GOD'S name and fear take our voyage after our Saviour, and blessed LORD. For, as the Soldier prepareth himself, and buckleth his harness about him, not therein to stay at home, or bestow himself about his common business, but to join himself to the army, and follow his Captain; So, each true Christian, and sworn Soldier of Christ, must be prepared, with his Cross on his shoulders, not to sit still, or lie down under it, or to take what rest he can, but he must get up on his feet, and be going, he must march on lustily, and with a bold courage.  
And for that all this were to no end neither, either to be under the Cross, or to go on, unless we knew whither to go, where to stay; we are here taught, what steps we are to tread which way to travel, and how to journey. For, if we should take a wrong way, what would it profit us, though we made never so great haste. Now indeed so many ways there are, and by-paths, and we, like simple Sheep, so easy to stray, and miss the right way, that we had need have the way trod out before us, and be well instructed, which we should take. For, there is a broad way, which we can hardly keep us out of, for many there are that walk in it, and it leadeth to death and destruction. There is a way, which is full of darkness, and men loving darkness more than light, rejoice to walk in it: but, because they want the light, they stumble and fall in it. Yea, that which is worst, there is a way, which seemeth to be the right way, and the narrow way, and the light way; but the end thereof leadeth to destruction. In a word, each man hath a way of his own, which seemeth to be right in his own eyes, but is not so. Wherefore, need it was for us to know, seeing we are to bare a Cross, and follow on, whom to follow, which way to take.  
Whom then must we follow? Our Saviour saith, follow me. We must neither follow our own ways, nor any man's else, but his alone, that here speaketh unto us. I have considered my ways, saith the Prophet, and turned my feet into thy testimonies, Psalm 119. ver. 59 The Prophet considered his own ways, those wherein he walked of himself, and whereinto he was slipped, by that corruption of nature, which leadeth us all astray, and considering thereof, and of his duty to GOD, which had appointed him to walk another way, he drew back his feet from that path, and turned into the way of God's testimonies. So ready are we to decline from following the right path, as he saith also in the same Psalm; Before I was afflicted, I went astray: Verse 67. that is, Before I had the Cross on my shoulders, I walked after mine own heart's lust, and followed not thee. Or, as some read it, before I could speak, I went astray; even from mine infancy, even from the womb, I have wandered and followed mine own steps. Therefore, it is convenient for us, to call our ways to remembrance, it is good for us to be afflicted, that we may learn whom to follow. We must then not follow our ways, neither the steps of any man, but only of CHRIST our Saviour. If then we will be sure not to wander, let us consider whom we must follow, for this is the thing, whereof we must have a diligent regard.  
How many have there been, who because they have not known the necessity of this commandment, have walked, and wandered in by-paths, yea wearied themselves therein, and lost their labour? for that they have followed, either their own ways, or the ways of men; whereas, the only way is CHRIST, and who so follow not him, they stray, and are out of their path. If then we would know, what the will-worship of men, their own inventions to serve GOD, their own devises, and good meanings, their outward holiness of their own imagination, what all these profit them; mark and see, whether these things have been by CHRIST commanded them, whether therein they follow him, or no: which if they do not, let them have never so fair a show, yet are they most abominable in GOD'S sight; nay there is nothing, which his soul more abhorreth, than such care, and diligence in doing that, which he hath not commanded. What man, that hath not learned this lesson, but would commend the doing of King Saul, and his zeal to God's service. Being commanded to fight against Amalek, and to slay both Man and Woman, infant and suckling, Ox and Sheep, Camel and Ass; he destroyeth, as the Scripture showeth, all the people, only the King of the Amalekites he took alive, and the better Sheep and the Oxen, the fat beasts, the Lambs he reserveth. The LORD comes to Samuel, saying, It repenteth me that I have made Saul King, for he turneth from me, and hath not performed my Commandment, he hath left following me, and is ●one after his own ways. But what thinketh Saul? sure, that he had done marvellously well: for, meeting with Samuel, he saluteth him, Blessed be thou of the Lord, I have fulfilled the Commandment of the Lord. See, I pray you, how ready he was to justify himself: he was in a mind, that he had done marvellously well, and no man could mend it: I have, Sir, saith Saul, fulfilled God's Commandment. Is it so, saith Samuel? what meaneth then the bleating of the Sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the Oxen, that I hear? Saul answers readily, they have brought them from the Amalekites, they are of the best of the Sheep, and the Oxen, and they will forsooth, sacrifice them to the Lord thy God: the remnant we have destroyed. But Samuel telleth him, that herein he hath done wickedly: he replieth, and disputeth out the matter. Nay, it is not so, I have obeyed GOD'S voice, and have gone the way, which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag, and have destroyed the Amalekites: the people indeed have taken of the chiefest things, but it is to offer them to the LORD thy GOD. What harm is in this? Is it not a good meaning? Is it not to a good purpose? cometh it not of a good intent? Sure we have obeyed the voice of the Lord. But Samuel said, hath the LORD as great pleasure in  offerings, and sacrifices, as when his voice is obeyed? even sacrifice itself is not acceptable to GOD, unless his voice be obeyed, unless it be his commandment, how fair a show soever it make, though it be a sacrifice, yea of the best of the Sheep, yet it is displeasant in his sight: for to do any thing in God's service, but what he hath appointed, to choose our own ways, and not only to follow CHRIST, is rebellion against his Majesty, which is as the sin of witchcraft, this transgression is wicked idolatry. All our good intents, all our good meaning, all our will-worship, and service of our own invention, is Idolatry, nothing better, so fare from being meritorious, or acceptable to GOD. And why Idolatry? Even because they make, and imagine to themselves another GOD, then there is indeed: for they think they serve a GOD, that will be pleased with such obedience as they devise, and that will like whatsoever they fancy. Now indeed, our God is no such God: for he will only be served, but as he hath commanded. Wherefore, while they thus think, and thus do, they imagine to themselves such a God, as is not, and worship him they know not. The only safe rule therefore for us, is to follow CHRIST, not to walk in our own ways, or follow after men: for his sheep hear his voice, and a stranger will they not hear. 
joh. 10.27.  And this is the cause why our Saviour limiteth us whom to follow, even him, even him alone, and none but him.  
But if it be so, may you say, why doth Paul command the Corinthians to be followers of him? 
1 Cor. 11.1. Phil. 3.17.  Be ye followers of me: and walk as you have us for an example: and the Shepherds are commanded to go in and out before their flock An easy thing to understand this. Paul layeth open this meaning: follow me, saith he; but how long? When? Even as I follow CHRIST: so long follow me. If I step aside, it is no warrant to you: for Christ must you only follow, and me, so long as I follow him. For as Soldiers are said one to follow another, while they all follow their Captain, so may we be said to follow Paul, or any servant of Christ, so long as they walk in Christ's steps, and follow him. But, if, they decline, beware how ye follow them. Were he as great as Paul, that was rapt up into heaven, yea as an Angel sent down from heaven, we have no warrant to follow him, any further, than he followeth Christ.  
Moreover, when our Saviour biddeth us to follow him, he expresseth the duty a good Captain, who saith not to his Soldiers, go you, but come you, and follow me, do as you see me do; I require no other thing of you, than I will myself be content to abide. I bid you not go, but I bid you come on, and follow me. Of a good Shepherd, that leadeth forth his Sheep and guideth them.  
FINIS   

Imprimatur.  
Thomas Weeks.