If i. ' ^» I i .'J^ w*"' ■.' ■' -■■§ ':'^^mBm^!'ssm^ srW^:':-'- * !• , V ^"^'- ':':'KJ:l'. ■■'"■■'^M I ,^ -^ . I. .(/> : ;■..■■-;:,-, -^M iisa.^ H cl PRINCETON, N. J. Collection of Puritan Literature. Division 1?L Section Number PHISIGKE AGAINST FAMINE- A SOVERAIGNE Prefervative againft all diftruftfull thoughts and cares touching the things of this lifcjprcfcribed and adminiftred by the beft Phvficion of ioule and body, Chriil Icfus : Comfortable in thefe dayes. Opened and cxppunded in ccrtaine Sermons, by William Attersoll^ Miniftcr of the Word of God. t P S A L. 37. 25. I have beene yong^anAnow am old: yet have I mt fccw the ri^hteowforjakerty nor his feed begging bread* ^ Ro M. 8« 32* Hethatjpared not his owne Sonne , but delivered him up for w allthowfhall he not with htm alfo freely give us all things f LONDON^ Printed by £. A. for Michael Sparse the yonger, dwelling at the blue Bible in Greene Arbour. 1632. TO THE RIGHT VVOR- fliipfull and worthy Lady, the Lady Dorothy Shvrle y, all happincffe in this life, and ia the life to come* Madam ; IS great game He faying of the u4pefile is remarkable and never to be forgotten, Godlinefte is pro- i Titn.4.8.& fitable unto all things, having the pro- ^- ^* mife of the life that now is, and of that which is to come : and afterrvardtnthe fame Spifile,Godl'mcs with corentment For Tvhat can itfrofitaman, ifheejhould ^aine the whole tvorldyand then lofe hts orvnefonle? Now the / drift of this enfuina Treatife (as afpsareth by the Tttle) is tofyevp to a godly Chrifiian, received already into the love ^dfavoftr of God in this ltfe^& looking for happines in hea- ^>en after this ///eu:.3 1 ,^,8. things as ye have ; for hee hath faid, I will never leave loih.i.j. jj^gg^ ^^^ tbrfake thee ; fo that we may boldly fay , The Lord is my helper, I will not feare what man fliall doc unto me : and our Saviour ^ to comfort us agamft feare of jamincy fendctb pu fomctimes to God, fomctimes to our fe/ves,fometimes to the Heaven, fometimes to the earthy andfometimes to the G entiles ^ that by all thefe wee might , bkve flrong confolation and refi in him,- that hath given us hoth our lives and our bodies, (^onjider a lit tie the Htfiory of the Creation, as it is defcribed in the Bool^e of Genefis : God made all the Creatures tofervefor mans ufe, before he made man himfelfe, wherein wee may behold a ferfetuall patterne of his providence ^ that he never bringeth any into the world, but that firjh hee ordaineth things needfull for them, for the time alotted them to be there ; even as milk^ in the Mothers breflsfor the child tofuck^, before ever th^ child be borne tofucks the fame, A verj gaod patterne al- waies to have before ou eyes, againji that difirufi and infi- delity which commonly hangeth on^and haunteth thenature efmaninthofe matters. Let Hs alfotakeheedoffetting our heart ufon the world,and the things in the world,and be rea- dy evermore to confefj'ein word,andfhew it by our, practice Heb.i r.i 3. that we account ourfelves to be but as Strangers and Pil- Pf2l.6 J. I o. grims-i« this world : if- riches increafe,wf muj} looke to it^ that we fee not our hearts upon them •• and we mufi ufe the . world, as if we ufed it not,becaHfe thefafhion thereof pa jfeth away, tyind if we doe notfet our hearts and ajfeUions upon 1 our riches, fundry good fruits will follow thereupon. Ftrjl,it bringeth comfort and contentment with our eflate, as being that portion which God allotteih unto m,?^ maketh w not to repine againji his providence,becaufe we have not a larger Allowance yf or be^hat doth not too much affeB their prefence, will not too much bewaile thetr abfence,neither be difi^ffUnt Sfgaufebe hath not abHndante (f that Vfhkh hee ^th not tuHcb The Epiftle Dedicatory. nmeh regard; bnt oitht ^fofiU faith. Having Food and i Tim.6.8« raiment,will therewith rclt coiitcnted. Secondlj/, having z jiere of this yvorlds good, if wee doe not fet our hearts upon them^then ivewiUhe content to leave thentitvhenfoever God the fufreme andfoveraigne Owner calleth againe for them, and not excclfivelymoHrne forth etnwh en they leave ta.And aiwewtllmtrefftfe andre'yll them when we havethenty feeing thej are the gifts of God, fo when they betake them to their wings and fiee axvaj, we wtlllook^e after them- with a quiet minde,aiit was with lob j who.becaufe hee rejoyced not when his fubftancc was grear,and when his hand had lob 3 1. : j .& gotten much, therefore he did not much grieve when his i 2,1. wealth was taken away , hut in his greatejt lojfetraifeth the Lord* So alfo it was with Paul, who, becanfe he nfed this world as notahufing it,and efieemedthe befl things thereof no better thendung in comparifon ofChrifi and his benefits, it was no great paine to himto take forth a farther leffon, in Phii°^7* l^sc what Itatc foevcr he was, therewithal! to be content : 4,iiju,ij^' he could be abafed and abound, every wherein all things he was infirulied-,both to be full, and to be hungry, to abound, andto have want : yea, hee could fay, I can doe all things through Chrifl which flrergtheneth me. Thirdly , if worldly ^ riches be wanting,we will not feeke them byevilme^nes^nor glory in them when we have them to make as high minded, or to put our trufi and confidence in them. Laflly, it will a make us keepe a vigilant eye over them, that through our a- bufe they doc not degenerate from their owne natnre,and be- come Satans baits to allure w,nor hisfnares to int angle as, nor his t homes to choke us, that the feed of the Word cannot frofper, neither the graces of God grow in us. Hence it is that I goe about fo perfwade to lay hold on Gods Jpeciall provi' dence watching over his children, to Jitccour and relieve them out ofhojfflejfe andremedilejfe troubles, when they ap- yeare defittute of allfuccour, and in a manner in a decorate ef^ate, without all meanes left unto them. When the Sonnes *fl^Qob flood gax^ing one uponayiother, that is, they fared q^j^j^^^^^ «/^ 3 as , The Epiftlc Dedicatory. m men 4maz^d,a»d at their wits end^hat they j^*m> n9t whatto doe forthemfelves^theirvfives, and their children • thenthe Lord hj his good hand ope/Jcd a rvay for their re-= lisfe, that there waifhmy ofCorne in Egypt ^whenthere woe nofie tnthe Land of Canaan, verifying hts graciomtremifey G en. 8 .2 2 . So when thep oore r^iddow in time of a great fa-^ i,K:.o.y.\7 .i i^^f'^e i»as brought to that extremity, that jhee had but an t ;. handfuil oFmeale in a bafrell, and a little oyle in a crufe, an(^ was novo going purpofely to gather afewjhickes to drejfe it for herfelfe andherfome^ t hut they might eate aa^d die • ^ ■ v^henjhe icvoi in this great perplexity, necejfity, and extre^ mity, the Lord (that never leaveth his) by hts good prsvi' dcKce diretied the Prophet Elijah (who immediately before rerfe 6. hadhimfelfe beenefed by Ravens that brought him bread and flelh in the morning, and bread and flelli in the* evening) to tell her good nerves y that the barrell of meah .; ^ i4' ftyoftldnotrvafi-e^neitherthe crufe of oyle faile^nniilthi'Ozy that the Lord ilndeth raine upon the earth. Thus it vfos , Tvith the widdow of one ofthefonnes of the Prophets, fhe tvas leftfofarre in debt, that her children ypereto befoldtofatif- fie the griping and grecdinejfe of the mrrcdeffe Creditor : iKmgs4,a. andfhe had nothing to difcharge it, but tl httle pitcher of oyle : yet Jhe re as provided for by wonderfull meanes : all . wh ich examp les, as a cloud ofwitneffes , doe verifie the fay- \'^i\\'^^''^'t^goftheTfulmiJi, Behold, the eye of the Lord is up> n " ' ^ ' them that teare him,upon them that hope in his mercy, to deliver their foule from death, and to keepe them alive in famine : andPfil. 3 7. I have beene young , and - nowamold , vet have I notfeenethe righteous forft- }.cn , nor his feed bej^giiig bread. But if there rvere no other reafons or con ^derations , theft fuch as are handled in this Scripture^to be as a prefervativ^ or counterpoifon againfi diffidence and diflruji" , touching earthly things, Tvhich doe more difcjuiet & diJl-urbe,not one- ly the nattsrall manj?ut even th e Regenerate th em f elves of~ tentimcS) than any. thing in^thc rvorld bejides therernwe maf finds The Epiftle Dedicatory. fnde matter fufficient to takefiom us the carnallfeare */ future wants -'^firfiy hecanfe we are his F locks t and he is our j Shepheard. Will the good Shef heard fiarve his Sheepe, and not Make them Ij e downe ingreene pafiures? Th is confidence in God doth the Trophetjherv , and concludeth fiom this groundthe point in hand y The Lord is my Shepheard, pfai^jji, therefore I fliall not want:/?o» then can thej ajfure them- f elves to be in the number of the Sheep ofChriJ},that doe net rely upon the care of this great Shepheard ? As then the prophet faith in another cafd Should not the Shepheards £|jy ^ j ^ feed the Flocke ? So we may be ajfured , that the Shep- Eick.?4. i** heardoflfrae/ , that leadeth lofep h like a Flocke , will ne- ver be wanting to his p?eepe , that call and cry unto him Se- 2 eondlyy becaufethe Title given to God,aJfureth us hereof, he iscalledaVsither. fVillthe father give over the care of his -pf^lQo.i z. children, andforfake or forget thefuiteofhis owne body ? nay,doth not the Prophet fay y Can a woman forget her Efay 4p.»f. fucking child, thaefhefhould not have compalTionon thcfonne of her wombe? yea, they may forgct:yet wiil I not forget thee,whom I have graven upon the palmes of my mn^s^And Chrifl our Saviour jpeaketh to the fame ^pofe. What man is thereofyou, whomif hisibnne Matth.?.?**©. aske breadjwill he give him a ftone? or if he aske a fi/L, ^ ^* will he give him a Serpent?lfycthen being evill,know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more fhall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that aske him? Laflly,becaufewe have 3 the pramife of a Kingdome , and of the glory of heaven which is unfieakeable, incemprehenfble, and evcrlafimg. He that hathpromifed us a Kingdome , will he with-hold from us food and raiment f nay, a6 the uipojile t cachet h us toreafon. He that fpared not his owne Sonne , but dtli- ^°'^- ^* J** vered him up for us all, how Hiall he not with him aUb freely give iis all xhip.f^s} Sof^ouldwe coclude,that feeing he hath called us to an inheritance incorruptible , andunde- filed, and that fadeth not away^ referved m heaven, i Pei.. 1.4. TheEpiftlc Dedicatory^ 1.4. He VP! U never leave us nor for fake us in this life, hut if vM'.nh 3 } . vfe frfifeeke the Kwgdofne of God, ail ochtr things ihaii be added unto us. He that promifeth and provideth the greater, can hefailc us and not per forme the lejfe ? He that: maketh us Kings unto his Father, and hath promt fed a Augujl. de verb, Crotvne, will he deny us a bit of bread, and a cup ofdrinke ? DominlJ^idd- 7 hefepoint^ are more particularly dtfcuffed and opened bitrcgmmy non ^.^^^^ f»/«^w Treatife, which I have pre fumed to dedicate tojourLadj'jhip, andnot without good anawatghtj rea- fons. Tou heard thepuhltke preaching of them wtthjpecialt attention,(though many ye ere s fine e,) andtherefore Imufi needs ack^owledgeyou among mj befi hearers and friends ^ andwithall confecrate vnto you fome part of my labours ^ Tvhich Ihavebefiotvedinwriting. Befides,co:ifideringyour earnefi defre, to know that (jod^ whofe goodneffeyou have alwaies tried, your z^eale to gloriflehim,on whomyou have alwaies called , your care to walke in his waies , whomyett have alwaies ferved , andthe fruits of a lively fahh , that have plentifully flowed fromyou , whereofthere arefo many eje-witneffes among us , the hearts of many diflrejfed A^i" mfjrers, and the Uynes of many poore people being ready to ^leffeyou , and ^od for you : I cannot bttt hefeechyour La- dy-jhip ^to accept of this fmalltejiimony ofmyunfained ob' fervance of your manypraifes in the Gojpell, and as a pledge f my thankffulnefTe, which I leave behind me to the worldy being now ready togoe out of it. The God ofeternaUglory, the Father of our Lord J efus Chrifii make you abound yet more and more inallthertches of hts favinggraces in this iife,and fill you with the inwardcomforts of the blejfed hope oftheappearanceofJefus(^hrifl. Your Lady-fTiips tn all Chriftian duties to command, William Attsrsoll% PHISICKE AGAINST FAMINE. LVKB 12.. 3X. Fearenety little Flocke : for it is your Fa- thers good pleajitre to giye untoyou the Kingdomc^. Heoccafion ofthefe words is to Thcoccafion bee taken from the 15. verfe ofoft^« words, this Chapter, wherein our Savi- our exhorteth to take heed & be- y^are ofcovetonffiejfffy for as much as no rnans life ftandeth in the a- bundance of thofe tilings he pofl fefTeth. True it is^ this leflbn is iliort, and fet downe in few words :howbeit it is not fo foone Icarnediand eaffly pra- difed,as it is fpoken and delivered. Wherefore, hepro- a * pounaeth 2. Theoccafionjnterpretation^ poundech a parable, and telleth what hapncd to acer- cainc rich man, who, in the plcntifuU encreafe of his goods and fruits of his ground,bIefled himfclfe the pof- Itffor, but not the Lord the giver of all : for he faid to Luke 1149, ^^^ foule, Soule, thou hafi much goods laid uf for many i3. jeeres,takethin^eafeyCateydrin}^yaKdbemerrj. But what faid the Oracle of God unto him ? ThoufooU, thiintght thyfoHUfoull hee required of thee -^ then rehofe p^aU thefe thiKgs be, rekich thou hafi provided? This example hee Vcrfeij. appiiethtoall,foisheai>arkefoolethatlayethuptrea-. fure for himfelfe, but is not rich toward God. Then he goeth forward to lay before us the care that God hath over his Children, both toward their lives and their Verfc £4. bodies, who feedeth the "B^iens that cry uKtaJ^im, and V^rfez?. dotheth the Lillies of the Field that cannot cry unto him; fo that Salomon in all his royalty w^as not arayed like one of them. But what is all this, if we make no« ufe thereof ? if we doe not apply it unto our idvts ? doubtlelTe, it is no better then the covetous mans hid* den treafnre, which he heapeth and hoardeth together, but doth neither to himfelfe nor to other any good. Wee have therefore the direflion of Chrift himfelfe, whodraweth and dedufleth fundry conclufiens from Vcrfe 1 1, hence. One ufe is taugntin the verfe 3 1 .Firfiofallfeeke the Kingdome of (jedyAnd then all thefe things Jhall he ad- ded unto yon. Another ufe is in thele words of the text, /(?*?r^fi[i,i. dence. This teacheth that Gods fervants have no caufe tofeare the want of Gods hand or heipe in tern- porall things. We need not be afraid to be forfaken or forgotten of God, as if hee negleded us, or had caft us i off in time of diftrefle. True it is, when wc iooke up- onourprefenteftatewith flellily eyes, and can fee no end, norifliicoutofour troubles, like a Sea nhat hath neither bankenor bottome,we are oftentimes alTaulted with doubting, and fon^etimes with defpaire : but when we call up our eyes to Heaven, and behold the providence,thepurpofe,the promife, the protedion, andprelervationofGod, we have a llaffe of comfort put into cur hands to flay us up, that we fall not to the ground. The Ifraelites being , brought out of Egypt^ lifted up their eyes, and beheld the Egyptians march- ing after them. Then they were fore afraid, and began to murmure againft LMofes^not without a bitter taunt Exod.14.10. likewife, Exod.i^.io. Becaufe there were no graves in ^ '* Sgjpt, hafi thou taken us away to dje in the wildernejfe ? VV herefore hafl: thou delt thus with us to carry us forth out of Egypt ? then LMofes hid unto rhem, Feare ye not, fiandfiiil andfee the falvation which he^will fjew toy oh to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have feene to day, yee riiall fee them againe no more for ever *. the Lord fhall fight for you, and you fhall hold your peace. Thus the Pral.s4.9»io. Prophet fpeakcth, Tfal. 34. They th^tfeare the Lordy fhall need to/f i > willhe gitie him aflofie J or^fheaskeafijh, TVill hee give^°i *'» ' him aferpem I If ye then being evill, know how to give^ gopd -* 8 Qodsfer "pants ha'^e no caufe tofeare good gifts unto your children, how much more fhall your Father whic!8 is in Heaven, give good things to them that aske bim? And the Lord by the mouth of PC the Prophet, Cana woman forget her ft*ckt»g Childe, that ii\ * pys [honld not have commit jfion on the fonne ofhervfombei yen-, the) may for get, jet will I not forget thee, €fay 49. i j. The love of God therefore toward his, is greater then the love of men is, or can be to their Children : he that toiicheth them, toucheth the apple of his eye, and fhall notefcape his hand, his revenging hand. 2 Secondly, God will worke above and beyond all or- dm-iry meanes, rather then luch as are his (hall perilli, and after the courfe oFnature to doe them good, and to preferve them from evi'.i, who hath all creatures in his owne hand. A memorable example hereofwe have in the Ifraclites, while they were in the vvilderncffe, hee Ejfod t^.if. fcdthem with cJ^^«^«4forthefpaceof4o.yeeres, and Numb- zo.F. opened the hard Rocke to u^ivq them water, whereof they and their Cattell dranke, Exod. 16. Nnmb. 20, Confider this further in the example of Sltahy i King. 19. whenhewasconftrainedto flyeforhis life from the perfecution o^Jez^abel, and defired to dye, the An- I K!fi;T 19 7^ gell of the Lord came unto him and faid, Arife^andeat: & i7.'5, andhe wentintheftrengthofthat mcat40.dayesand 40. nights unto Horeb the mountaine of God. The like we read before, that is, TheWordofthe Lordeame unt9 him^ Hide thyfelfcin the brooke Charith, and thou pyak dr/it^ ofthe brooke^afid I have commandedthe Ravens to feedthee. So hee did according to the Word of the Lord, for he dwelt by the brooke, and the Ravens brought him bread and flefli in the morning, and bread and flefh in the evening? and he dranke of the brooke. But behold how the Lord tryed him ! for hee had not tarryed there long, but the brooke drycd up, becaufe no raine fel] in the Land. What then did the Prophet of we -^mt oj tempa*^^i tfiej5tngs, ^ of the Lord?, did he wurmure againftGod ? No, hec waited with pati«ice his bifure, and he fent him other meanes for b-f*' maintenance j he directed him to the widdowot' Sarepta, where he was fed in that famine. She had indeed but an handfull of meale in a barrell, and a little oyle in a criife, and he faith unto her, Thru y ^ ^ faith the Lord God ofJfrael, The harrell of meale fhtUl not ^ ^ •n>aj}e)neitherjhallthe crufe ofoylefaiU,Mmllthe day that the Lordfendeth raine uponthe earth. Thus he commaii- dethtoIayafidefearc,and to fubmit herfelfe to the will and pleafure of Almighty God. Thus alfo the Lord dealt with her, that had beene the wife of one of the children of the Prophets, after his deceafc, 2 Kiftg. ^. 4. he dying indebted, the mercileffe Creditor came to . 1/"*'** take unto himher two fonnes to be his bondmen: but the lak. 6'j,5,i9ji mercy ofGod was fuch in her extremity, that having u. in her houfe a pot ofoyle onely, it was ib increafed and multiplied, that flie received more then fheedefired, through his abundant blefling that giveth more then is asked, fo that fhe, not onely paied the debt, but her felfe and children lived of the refidue. Thirdly, God will fandifie a little, and that of the 5 worft, and courfeft fort, to ferve and fuifice thofe that are his : that albeit they have but fliort Commons and a poore Pittance, yet a little that the righteous hath, fhall be betterunto them, then all the ftore and abun- dance of Dhe ungodly. This cJJfo/^j teachethjDwf.S, Manltveth not by breadonelj, but bj every f^ord thatpro- ceedethoutof the month of the Lord doth man live. Wee have a lively example hereof in Daniel and his foi' lowes that did eate nothing butpulfe (a grafne that beareth his fruit in poddes) yet were they fairer and fretlier, fuller and fatter at the end often dayes/ /j^ « dli ^^"-i -^ > ' the childrenvfhichdtdeatethefortionof the Ki^gimeate, t)an.i ,15. Thi.s alio we may fee by experience in rick b ■* mens to Gadsfenpanti Ual>e no caufe to fear e mens and poore mens cbildrcti,ind in thcmfclvea alfo as well as in their children. For whereas the poorer fort havefcarce one £jood meales meat ir.a moncth,buc keep a perpetuail Lent, not eating a bit of flt^h in their ownehoufes once in a yeere, artd feed hardly and hcmtly with browne bread, and > et have not enough of that neither: yet is their labour pleafant, and theii E e no caufe to feare fupporteth the with his hand,that they fink e not under the waight thereof. Albeit famine doe pinch and picfTe hard upon their bodies, hee feedeth their foules with the precious food of his Word to eternall life, and they are ready to anfwer with their Lord and Mailer, Uh.^, lohn 4. 3 1. 32./ have meat to eate, thatyee k^ow not of. Albeit they be vexed with warre, yet he giveth them peace of con- fcience that pafleth all underitanding, even peace with himfelfc, which the world cannot take away from them. Albeit they fall into timesof perils and dangers, Pfal.^ I.I . yet are they made to dwell in the fecret place of the mofi highyandtoahid&nnderthejhadowofthe ^A-lmighty^ Pfal. p i.i. Thenameof the Lord is a moll ftrong tower and place of refuge, the righteous flie unto it, and areprc- lerved. Albeit they be fometimes enforced to* endure nakedneffe, yet even then hee clotheth them with the precious robes of Chrifts righteoufnefle, all whofe Pfal.45.8. ^izcts fmell of Afyrrhe>u4Ioes,andCaJfta,vjhcrchy they are more adorned, then with all the filvcrand gold in the world. Laftly,ifhe take away this temporail life,, he recompeufeth the loffe thereof with eternall life and happinefl'e. Ffei» We learne from hence firfl: of all,what need we have all of us of faith, to lay hold on the promifes of God made in Chrift lefus tofuch as are m him,and have him dwelling in them. For what is there can drive us out » Tim.4.8,& of this feare, but faith ? Indeed god/inejfe t^ profitai> let 6.6, all things, and hath the promifes of this iifty as well as ofthe life to come. Ofthishfe,with condition, fo far as it Oiall be good for us : ofthe life to come, without any condition. This godlinefle is great.gaine, nay,the. greateft of all other. But what of all thfs, if wee have, not the hand of faith to receive them? Offer meat ne- ver fo hiuchto the hungry fbulc, yet if the hand be clo- itfd> and the iBQUth flopped, hee can receive not hii^* Pow/c .they0antoftemporallblejiings, i^ Powre water upon a VefTell all the day long, it rerrai* ncth empty, if the entrance thereof bee /hue up : io let us heare of the promifes of Ged to iulfaine us in timt s. offemine,want, lofl"e,andncaflityj yetit is all oncas ifyoufpaketoadeadman, except wee have faith to quicken us, and to put life into the foule. For as the A- poftlc concludeth from the fuffring of the Saints, w/'ot.Tgjj^jQ endurednvith ioy the jpojltng of their goods y]\vtoxvm^thty had a better inheritance reltrved for them in the Hea- vens, that we have alltteed offatience,x.\\2iX. after we have done the will of God, wee may receive the promiie, //>^r.io. So from this confideration that wee are rea- dy every foot to faint, and to feare want and beggery (or elfe this dehortation were vaine and needlcfle) u'e are to gather,that we may notcaft away our confidence in God, which hath great recompence of reward. The /uft fKall live by faith, which is the fmhfiance of things Hebr,n. i, hoped for, andthc evidence of things notfeene. Ta k e heed therefore, and beware of infidelity, ^ov 2ls co^fttovi[^ vtt{\Qis;herootof4llevill,i Tiw.6. fo is infidehty the iTim.6;io. Tf^ot of covetPulhefTe. What is the caufe that we feare the lacking of earthly things, which the greatell fort doe wore feare then the lackc or lofTeorleflening of the feeding of the love and favour of God? Doubtleffe this is nothing but the want of faith. Let them lofe but a. trifle, or the leaft pinne and profit that commeth to the purfe, what crying andc complaining have wee? how ihuch adoe have wee to perfwade them to bee conten- ted ? to bee refolved to fubmit themfelves to the plea-' fare of Almighty God ?■■ and to beleeve that hee is ablet togivethem more th;;n that ? A41 the armor and furni- ture that wee can bring out of the Store- houfe of the ^ Scripture,is too little to fettle their unbeleeving; hearts; upon the promifts of God*. But thefe men can bee con- tent without aay'fcrupleortough of cDnfcieiKc t© ab:»« 14 Gods feryantsheno caufetofme ' ferit themfelves from the hcxife of God, to lofe many Sermons, and much wholefome dcdrine which is ac- cording togodlineCfe, many exhortations, many inftru- dions,many comforts : nay,they may apparently iedc their decaying and declining in knowledge, in faith, and in obedience, yet it troubleth them no more then Gcn.af.j4, it did that prophane £p/*, who when hech^idfoidhu hirth'rightt'ccmefnned and dQ{p'dcdiu The trne cau(e ot our carnall and corrupt feare is this want of a true lively faith, when we dare not believe him that hath pron)i{ed, who yet is able to performe, and is not as man that he fiiould lie, or as the fonne of man that hce fl:i0uld deceive. Hence proceedeth feare of the loite of life and living, that we are afraid to commit our ftate and (landing to the (afe garding of God, as manifeftly PuUi7.i3i. sppeareth by the contrary,Pfal.27. The Lordis my light andfalvatioH^vphomJhall I fearef 7 he Lord is the firength . ofmyltf€,ofTvhor»[hatllBe ajraid? Though an hofi ^ha& encantpe againfi me, my hfartjhallfjot feare :-■ thofigh warrc jhoHld nfe againfl meet in thiswtil Ibe« confident » What made the Prophet bold to ovcrftiide all dangers, that he could not be difmaied by them,but bccaufe his heart was fixed in God to depend upon him,and to looke for falvation from him •*' On the other fide, what doth diC' comfort and dit harten many men, what maketh them to doubt, to murmure, and many times to blafpheme, . , ^ but becaufe they imagine the Lordshand isjhortnoii,md urn .II. 3. j3 not able to fupply their wants .^ It is aneafie matter, when Ure have (lore and abundance, when the Lord bleflcth «s on every fide,and our liibftance isencreafcd, lob i 9 . 6. when he nfajheth onr fiefs with bntterj and the rod^epoW- reth out rtvers ofoyle npon m, to flatter our felvcs that we have a llrong faith, and a fall perfwafion and aflUrance of his love, that we put our whole truft and a6Sance in , him, and will never be brought to rapine againft him. Buc we %^ant of temporau blejsings, 1 5 But be not dcccived^thefc are not tbedaycs of niall of our faith, thcfe are not the times gf the patience bfthc Saints. Bel^ore tria]l, Teter was moll confident ; but in the brunt of the battel he was a coward, and gave over in the plaine field. So doe we triumph before thevido- ry: but when wee fee perfecution, famine, perill, and Iword, we give over fighting, and feare poflefTeth our hearts. W hen Shjha the man of Ciod was fent with a comfortable meflage at the fiege of Samaria, that two meafures ofbarly fhould bee lold for a Oiekell, and a meafureoffineflowre for a Oiekeil to morrow about that time, one of the Princes beleevcd notthe Word of the Lord, Beholdyif the Lord nvould make rvindowes tn iKins.7.i,2. Heaven,woHld this thing bel the Prophet anfwered, Becauife thou faiftfo, thou fhalt fee it with thine cy^s, but fhalt not eatc thereof : and according to his Word ib it came to pafle. The Difciples being in danger to be drowned, when a flormic arofe, they came toChrift their Mafter for helpe,and he faith, JVhy arejefearefull, Ma■.th.8,^<5. O y,€t$f little fnith ? H^zcax(Qihihtm not to be faich- icfre men, or to have no faith at all ; for beleeving and doubting, faith ^nd feare may fland together in one fubjsd, as they met together mthefe.buthe laytth to their charge to have //Vf/p/^/V/?. The like wee read touching Peter t \\?fien he law the windes blow, and the waves afifej he was fore afraid, and beginning to finke, he cryqd out,0 Mafier^fdve me /Then Chrift Wretched Mattk. X4. ^jo, out his hand.caught him, and faid, O than of little faith, 3 ^•'^ *^-3*^ wherefore didjl- thoti dfnh ^ And in a like cafe wherein we deale, he faith, IfQtf^fi cUthe the grajfe ofthe^fpeU, which to day flour if? eth^afid to morrow is cafi iuto the Otjen, wi&henot much more cloathe joh, Q j/ee of little faith i' Thus doth Chrift evermore upbraid fuch as are feare- ^ full,doubtfull,and diftruftfuDjWith want or with weak« neire9ffaithto reft upon hint Boi as the Apoftle fpe*- ketfe i6 Godsferyants hat>e no caufe tofeare I IoH.4« x«, l^eth ofperfed love : fo may I fay of perfed hixhythaf itcafiethoHtfeare, W here fuch Fearc is, there is little faith. Thefeteftimonies teach us, where tofcekeand finde the true caule of all our wavering and doubting ; Hebr. 5. 1 1. ^^ fpringeth from an evillbeart ondHMfakhfuU^to depart i loh. f.4,j. away from the living God, this is the ground of all. Therefore this (hifting for our felves, and penfiveneffe forworldly things, is a ftrong argument of a weake i^itn; tot what foeverii borne of god, overcomm thy yvay to the Lord, PfaKjj.f. Mtdtruft in him, andhepjalllrring it tofajfe, to wit, when ' ^^or.xoi J. v/e can fee no end or ifluec^t of our dangers, yet hee can : wefee but before our eyes, he feeth the moft hid- den things of the world. Andagaine, Cafi thy hHrdc» Pfal. ?f .»t. m^on the Lord, andhefhaUfttftaine thee» Let us not there- fore content our felves to depend upon him in light a^id flight troubles, but even then, when we have the grca- telhentations and afflidions upon us: and let us not cry out in anguilh of fpirit, O what an heavy burden doe 1 beare I no man is fo troubled as I am. No man knowcth what forrow I fuftaine, what mifery I feele i But be it never fo tedious and toilfome, as waighty and wearifomeas amountaineto carry, caft thy care and crofle upon the Lords ihoulders, he is able to beare it, albeit wc be not, and he hath promifed toheipe us to beare it, who never faileth of his promife in time of need. Thus S atomonfy tdiktth, Prov. 1 5.3. ^ow»!»/> thy Proy. itf.j, waiej unto the Lord, and thy thoughts flyall be efiabltjhed. And I Pet.y«7. Cafi all jronr care on him, for he carethfor i Pet. j.7. joH. If a Prince Ihould Utter any fuch gracious words of comfort to any of his {)oore people, and ^ivc fuch a precept accompanied with fuch a promile, O how wouldtheyacceptofit,andrt)oyce in it, as we fee an example in Bar3u:Uai, zSam.i^. David promifing to fliew kiridntfle to his^Sonnc, Iwilldoe to him whatfoever thoHPfaltyeejHire of me, attd whatfoever Jhallfeeme good to j $3^^ 19,18. thee: how did his heart reft in the Kings word f and how willing was he to truft the King with him ? God hath made a faithfuU promife to us to care for us, and ihallnot we caft all our care upon him ? or fliall wee thinkc he will,or can falfific his Word f True it is, the chiefc promife that we lay hold upon, is touching the c * remilfion t ^ '•" iaR» and ctsfnili life : but w hen by 4 tfn^ ; ,- . old upon the prjncipii! promiic ot Go 2i:C belecve iiJ, tcttching faivacior. in Chrii't, v/c appre- ^,„^- - • vertcLtthcreotthcprcaaile ofGcd fortemp^- T - ?<. dVo, is tcod, raimcrir, h^:h, peace, hbct- t dtpccrti uron the former tniine proaiiic c- '^...... .^ -iiietbnh as G 2d teeth them bchoovchdi for us. This wee ieeLne>^^^.?w, who, bcitcvia* in* C ' ■ ' ■ iTth impcted uflco him for rightc- . _ . -I cf the pait cJar promiTc thjt Gcd would give him a Sonne, and that his feed ihouM Gen: ;.^. be oitte St^tms tr. Jiej-.rKfrrmmhimdfyMrd ms thtfmd lieb. .ill. ff^^^ rt^f Sed-^)::rs xliAZ ejXKii he rmmkrtd. The bcixt tbtr hazh tniely learned to Uy by tai:h, Gcd will pardon my llnnes and lave ir.y loiile; \n3caliiy alio fay by force of the lix.e tai:h, Gcd \dii give mce food and raiment^ provide thir.gs nccsltiry tor my 'txA^.^ 2nd ibilkiciic X<>z this prel cnc lite. If vi e have rret learned to bticerc 13 Gcd touching his mercy in feeding and ia clocbing o us, v.hich arc mirrers of farrelcfier momencaad im>- pOitar.ce, wc have not yet learned to depend npoH him fortheremiilioa of oar fenes, and the iniputanon of Ch r. ": ■ : ;ooiheire,vrhich are cf in ."inite ajore prce and . j.n the other. If we vriii not tnill him for cur bodies, how fnould wee trjfl and reft in him for cur foclcs? And I'ivst coinmit cot to hJm the things of this life,hcu- can wc credit him with heavenly things? "• "rrTT.jf: £-1 thsfcfcre leametofzy v.-'ththeApofhe, tTsr.i i:. I r^ :^ vhi^m I kx:e htUevsi^sJid [ jonvrrpxit^id that ht If AffU te ks^ftkAtwkkh I hjrvf cswamTrrd kt:* htm m^ gMits^tkjttd-n. ^ LalHy, feeing we oaglit not to fesre at ail teaching canrJy things, we may be well aflbred hee \vifl giv^c us a!l things ncedfclj for ocr foalcs,which are ©Fan high- er oar-irc, aad of a greater price If lice that lirteth w the The Faithfull are the Sheepe^tfc. i^ the HeavenSjVouchfafe to looke downe fo low,and to aba(e himrelfe to order every creature ferving forp{f.i Church. Hence wee leame, that all the Eled are the Sheepe of Chrift, and his Rocke, beloved of him, dearc to him, as his p>ortion and pofleUion, and in the account of him, his chiefeje\vels,and principall fubftance,C and one of them begone ajlraj/, dothhee ^"^e i y 4. tfot leave the mnety and nine which rvent notaftrajy andgoe lifter that which U loft, tiUhepndeit ? Such a Sheepe was O^anajfeh^ that filled lerulalem with innocent blood, i King.tr.i^;-. and did much evill in the fight of the Lord to provoke a Chr0n.5j.if. him to anger : yet he found mercy upon his prayer and humiliation. Such a Sheepe was Z^***/, who had beene an 9ppre/ferand^lajphemer,ytt he was called and conver- i Tim, i.i j; . ted to the faith, and of a perfccuter became a Preacher, becaufe he dfd it ignorantlj, through unbeleefe. Such were the hearers ot Peter, \^.^, who denied the holy One and juft, and delirt d a murthercr to be granted un- to them, They killed the Prince ofltfe, when Pi fate was A.^. it^,ig,^ determined to let him goe; yet when they repented, their finnes (albeit molt haiaous) were Wortcd our, when thetimcs of refrefliing came from the prcfencc 4 bc^ne great day and night, Gc}t.T^i^ Lu^i. But what i? Luke 1.8, this to the loyc of Chriil.tbe Arch-paftof of his . , ^ >. . i>tepc, who^ui^^h.^qn^o] cterna^l Ufe^^a^d fuffc- rcth and Flocke^of Chrifi. z'5 reih rto man to doc them hanne, but often rebuketh Pnnccs and people for their fakes? Howfo^ver there- fore no Creature lyeth open to more dangers and difad- vanrage^ then they doe, yet Chriftis their guide and govanour that wiil judge betvveene the Lambeis and the CoztcSy^s^keShepheardfecketh out huFlockeinthe Eieth.34.17- • day that he u nmorg hu Sheepe that arefcatt€red,fo fvilll fiekeoHtmy Sheepe, farth the Lord. The like wee read in the prophtlie of iiAmos, tAs a Shepheard tal^th out Amos j. ix^ of the mouth of the Ljontreoteggci or apiece of an eare : io ijiall ciie Children ofJlraclbtc taken out that dwell in Saniaiia: and lb will our Shepheard take his Sheepe out of the jawes of our advcriary the Devill, who goeth a- houiitk£aroarftff Z^oKjfceking whom he may devoure; 1 Pet.j.S. Indeed It cannot be denied, fome of them are ofceft in pittifuli cafe, fome 7ofi, Matth. 1 . Ibme broken^ Gal. 6. Matth. lo.-f, Ibme wf FeW can put up thcleaft injury and difgrace, every one of us is ready to breathe out threatnings, or to diflemble our malice untill we may revenge, as we fee in JBfaUy Gen. G«n,»7.4v 27.4I. and in t/fhfalomyi Sam. We are taught another Icflbn of our Lord and Mailer, to be meeke and gentle, Matth.ii.*^. aad/wr//#»Awrr,that we may finde reft to oar Monies. ^'^2'j"*f*'**' d* I never t6 The Faith fuR are the Fiocke o/Ckrij?. I never kiiewor have obfervcd any raeeke and nnid in fpirir, ready as a Limbe ro endure wrongs, and lui- mindfijUofirijariesForChrirts lake, but hce h^fe a deepeimpreflion of grace, and a lively cbaracler of Gods Spirit in his heart. This wee may fee m aU the Saints as in a glafi'e, the Set ipture havmg fct before us a cloud of witnefl'es, that in them we flio-t»ld behod our faces. Confidwr zA^raham,Ifa/u:,\rA 7je K4).ii.i. Author and fini^lver of our faith, cndiiring mockes, *'^^'>** buffetting, and crucifying, and yet he prayed to his Fa- ther to forgive them. The contrary to ali thefe are evi- dent markes and llgnes of Goats. And if we fearch in- to the waies of m^n by theie former notes, wee iliaU finde few Sheepe indeed, bu-: ^orc and plenty ot Goats every where. Gedeon fcemed to have many flout Soul- IjA".'' ^. diei'S in his Army, but:/ ' ' 'C remained few vtith !..... .- -.- _. '-^ Sheepes clothing, but when they come to bee proved, theyappc; ' ; rather ravening \Vohics, or fkhy GoatP, wi . s of the forreft, or crueii Blares oat cf the wdod ; tben any troe Sheepe, ife^Nirc are they that The Faith fuU are the Flocke ofChrifl, %j that heare the voice of Chrift with clihgence,attention and obedience ? The Word '\% no more regarded of the moit, then if it were a tale or a toy, as appcartth by their palpable ignorance, ordinary abfence, and nota- ble diibbcdience. Every light pleafure, every flight profit, every foolifh occafion, every frivolous bufinefle i% fiiiJicient to lead them from the houfe of God, and yet they would be accounted fuch Sheepe of Chriil as heare his voice. How rare are they that labour to doc what good they can to the Church of God, albeit God have inabled them with pltntifull meanes to doe much 1 Whwe are they that can fay with godly Ne- hemiahi Thinhe ttfon me, my God,forgood, according to all NeKcm. f ,if ^, that I have dow for this pe(>fie ; or if they liiuuld, what doe they but pray fearetuiiy againfl: thcmfelves? When the Lord leius {hall come to judgement, and allflelh fhallappeare before him,will he enquire ofthem,what goods they have gotten, or how much ground they have purciiafed, or v/hat lands they have left to their pofteriLy,and hew lichly they have provided for their heires? No, no, we muft give ap unto Chrift fcfus o- theraccouiirs, and tha*- of other things, to wit, what good wc have done v/ith our goods, what membersof his we have ftd,cioched,harboured,or rifited. O what an heavy reckoning then have thoufands to make, when they muft give up an account of their Steward- Hi ip I and yet chey would be accounted the Sheep of ChriU?Othattheycould think of thefe things betimes, before it be too late 1 -iow rare al(b are thcy,almoft as blacke Swaaft5,that wiliforbeare, forgive, and forget the wrongs that are offered, as Chridforgiveth them Ephcf,4.j t. that offend him t* bwt if any of us have a qusrrell againft Col.j'.i *,i3, another, we are ready topurfueit wich all greedinefle, indwacch all occaiions of advantage many yeeres fonletimes, as wee fee in the example of zAhfaUntt d * 2 2 Sam. 2,8 ThsFitithfU^larethsFlockeofChrifl. aSam.ij.xi, 2Sam.i3.2 2,2g.andyetthey would be accounted the *^* Sheepe of Chrift. There cannot be a more fearefull marke aad cognixance of a Goat then this is ; beware ofit. ? Thirdly, conclude the £afe cftate and condition of lohn le.i?. theSheepeofChrift:forwho{haUbcabler(?r4/(^r/f^r« oHtofhiihand,\ohAO.i%» or who fhall fight againft his Sheepe, and theFlocke of his pafture, and prevaile? Icr.x.j. -jjjjj jjjg Prophet teacheth, IfraelwM holinejfe nnto the Lordy and the firfl fruits of his increafe : all that devour e ^ h$m,JhMllcfeHd^cvillfhAllcome upon them, faith the Lord, *obi.^. j^j. J 3,xheShecpeof J<7^ are reckoned in the account of his fubftance : lb are Gods Sheepe a part of his fub- ftance which he chofc to himfclfe; fo great is the k ind- ncflc and mercy of Cod toward us, For why doth hec take them for his Sheepe, and let the reil goe as Goats, being by nature no better ? Is it any worchinefTcjor ex- 1^om.x.x»ji^. cellency in them before others ? No, we are all gene out •fthe W47, there is none that doth good,no not onc,that every mouth might be flopped, and that all the world may become guilty before God. Is it for their multi- Ip^ 14 A tude ? No, they are called hy Chrifl in this place, a tit- tUElock^y and hec is the truth it felfe that (peaketh ir. Thus U^ofes flieweth>thac the Lord did not fet his love upon Ifrad, neither chufe them, becaufc they were I^ut.7.7. . moc in number then any people, For they were the fewefi ofaBpeop/e^Dcuz.^.y^ Is it for their ftrength,mighr, and Eacki tf.5,6. power they have? No, he found them weake and waU lowing intheirUoodynonctyQ pittiedthem to have com- paflion upon them; fo that wee may not fay in our rhut,8,i7,i8. hearts,-^ ^<;wrr and the might ofmine hand hath got- ten me this wealth, but wee mull remember the Lord our God, for it is he from whom wee receive all good things. Whatthen?- is it becaufe wears more righte- ous F The Ifraelitcs are charged not to fpeake fo in their.' TheFaithJuUaretheFlockeofChriji, %^ their hearts, 7)^1^.94,5. becaufe It was not for their Dcm.9A>S' righteoufnefeorufrightfufe of heart that they cmred to poffejfe the Lattdt but tor the wickedneflc of thofe Nati- ons which were driven out before thcmt W ho is it a- mong the Tonnes of men, that will not fpendiand, and limme, and lifeit felfe, to defend that which hee hath bought and purchafed with a great price, atid at a dearc rate? And will not God defend and avenge his Chil- dren,, whom he knew to be his before the foundation of the world waslaid, though they bee opprefled for a time^and he beare long with the veflels of wrath, who cry out againft them, Downc with them, downe with them,cvento the ground? howbeit the foundation re- t Tim.i. i^. maineth furct andhath thii fealcy The Lord k»oweth w^*Roin.u.i,2,j ^rrit/if, and hcc will not cait off the care of them for ever. Fourthly, here is matter offered unto us to ftirre our ^ hearts to thankfgiving, confidering the infinite mercy ofGod toward us, who hath vcuchfafed to make choife of us to be his Sheepe, paffing by fo many thou- fands4n the world. Of this duty the Prophet putteth us in minde, arifing from this dodrine, Pfal. 1 00. /f at PfaUxoo. j»4> the Lord that hath made us, and notv^eourfeives: for we arehispe^le, and the Sheefeof hu pafiure. What fol- lowetn ? he maketh this ufe thereupon, Snter into his Gates with thani(ejgivin£, and into his Courts with prat fe, pethanl^efullu»to him^ and hlejfe his T^me. It is no fmalf token of his love toward us,to make us to be his Sheep, that are by nature Lyon&,Leop3rds,Beares,Bulls,Dogs, Pfal.»i.i i,i|. Wolves, and wild Beatls, and whatnot ? Is not his»^>i»' love ( who loved us firfl) worth our love to himagaine? Match, iy,i^. If it be a great blefling, that we are made to bee reafo- nablemen,howmuchglrcaterisitto be received and regarded as his owne inheritance, then which nothing is dearer to him, nothing ought to be better to us?The d * 5 unfaith- 3 Th^ Faithful are the Flock e ofChrijl. uafairhfuit are the vvorke of God by naturall generati- on, bu: they are the new-workc of Gcd by Ipirituall regeneration. It is no: our owne free wili t ha: can frame and fafiuonus to be the people of God, for then we might lay, It is we cur lelves that have n::2deus, FarticuljT and not the Lord. This thank fubcfie coafilleth not m branches of words onely, but in divers other particular branches thiokiulmfTc. nottd by the Prophet in that place. F.rft, let as givt to him oar hearts, that our tongues may Dee guided thereby : jet us ririt offer him all that is within us, and then all that is without us will follow al fo j for other worlnip God accepteth nor. In vaine they ivorinip MJtch.ij.8. him, ihiLi draw netremno him vpith their momh, Ar.dho- vour htmwith their Itpfes, wh(.n their heaits are hrre from him. Secondly, we mull never bee aihamed to praile the Lord, and to confefle his wondirFuU workes to the children of men. We fee how men are not alha- med to iinne before the Loid,op£nIy,pubiikely,proud- ly,prefumptuoufl.y, andprophanel/, and they blufh at nothing but at godiincflV, prayer, prcfeiTion, hearing the Word, and luch like workes of Chriftian piety. Pkil.j.19, Thtfe men g/orjf :n rheir ov:?t£jhamfy but they arealha- Ur.6.is. mcd of their glory, nay of Gcds glory, and even of their owne good. Thirdly, the fervice which wc per- fornic to God, wee mnil: ;. etld willingly, readily, joy- i Co:, $,6. fjily^and with a glad heart, for hee Uz-eth a ckeerefuS gn'er. 1 hankes coniVained, or wrung and wrelted from us,are rcjtrded ofGod. Wee mull give unto him backeagaine, as he giveth tons. Bat how is that ?and ill what manner bttfoweth he upon us? hee giveth us his gifts freely, we muft therefore re turn e to him cur thankes frankly. La.tir, he calltth us :o the allembly of hisSaints, which he nameth the Court and ^refence of Gfd, which was the place appointed for his pujlukc £ervice and worihip. Indeed God is hoc conHned to a certaine TheFaithfuUarethsFlockeofChrift. ji certainc place^ neither is there any place wherein he is ASt, 7.^9. not to bcc worfliipped : ncvertheklle, fuch as are in-Iohn4. z'l. diied with true faith, niut follow the communion of the Saints,as Sheepe that feed not alone, but with their feilowes. Gods Sheepe and fervants muft iliew thcm- fclves in the publike AlTemblies, being publikely thankefull for publike benefits received at his merci- full hands, Confiderin^ that o»^ day in (a) hts Courts is Pral.84.10 ifetterthertathoftjandelfewhere, Fiftly, ail thau are Paitors and Teachers under Chrift 5 are bound to feed the Flocke that depcndeth upon them. They areVnder-/hcpheards,asit were Chrifts Vicars or Curates : hee is the great Shepheard of our fouks, to whom the reft miift be rub/ed,rbr the Sheepe are his. This ufc is gathered from the exhortation that Paftl giveth to the Elders of Ephefus, Ad-. 20. Ta^ heedufttoyoftrfelves, and to all the Flocke, over the Aft.xo.iS, vphich the holy (jhofi hath made yoH overfeers, to feed the Church of God, which hee hath purehafed with his ovane blood. W here he reafoneth thus,It is the Flock of God, thercforefeed it : for hee maketh the Church of God and the Flocke of God all one. So when the Lord lefus afcended, and led captivity captive, hee gave gifts to mcn,and appointed Vnder-paftors and Vnder-teachcrs, Ephcf. 4.11, for the worke of the miniftery, and the edification of the whoiebody. This is the charge hee gave to P^/^r, To feedhis Sheepe: as if he (hould fav. Feed them, be- caud' they arc my Sheepe. Now as Taul fpeaketh to tTim. i.i, 7/W(?/^^^- The thingsthat thou halt learnedof me, the fame commit to faithfull men, who fhall bee able to teach others alfo : fo Teter having received fo earnefl: a charge himfelfe, is carefull to deliver the fame too- there, himfelfe an Elder.to the Eiders, I Pet.5. Feedthe » Pcc.y.t. Flocke of Cod which is among yon-, taking the overjight thereof, not hy conjiraint ■, but willingly : notfor filth j lucre, d * 4 but Wherein the Mimfter is to rcfcmble a Shephcard, •uomment. on i^'uHib. pag. Mirk. J 0.14. lob. M.I f . ftOY,lt.6. 31 The^Faitb/uB are the Flocke ofChnfl. hut of a reAdf m:»dg,&cAnd that we may pcrforaic thij the better, we muli confider that we are (undry waycs provoked to our duties by this title. For as wee have iliewed that the people tnul^ refcmbic the Sheep, {o we muil remember that fpirituall Paftors and Teachers muftbelike toother Shepheards,bcllowing great la- boar and paines among the£heepe, for that is not an idle calling. Firft,the Shcpbeard overfeeth the whole flocke in generall, and every part in particular ; f oraf- much as to overlooke one, and ovcrflip another, is the part oFaloofe and carelefieShephcard. Thus mulltbc Miniiler of God looke to all, and exempt himlelfc from intruding of none that arc of his fold. For as the foulc quickneth every member ofthe body from the high^l^ tQ-thelowcit, from the greateftto the Icaft: fo mult hefeekethc good of all, both high and tow, great and fmall,one and other, fo farre as lyeth in liim to the ut- moft. Hetice it is, that Tatfl willeth the Elders to take heedtorf/Zthe flocke. WhoToever fcorntth in his dee- per skill to ftoope downe toteach the lealV, the lo weft, the pooreft,the fimpleft.fic to be familiar with them to win them to God/crveth not his Mailer Chrift,neither favourcth of his Spirit, but rather ofthe fpirit of Anti- chrift^But of this more at large elfe where, Secondly, the Shepheard looketh to the lambcsas wel as to the <"hcep, which are as the hope ofthe flocke, as we fee in Jacof^t Gen-i 1 .1 g.So is the Minifter to teach the yourhjthat he may have comfort of them in their age,as-^/oy^/ would not goc out of Egypt without theirltuhonts to offer la- crifice to the Lord, Exo. i o.p.As Chrift willeth the Dif- cv^Xts to {M^QxVttle children to come unto him, becauic tofuch belongeth the Kingdome of God,>Wrfr^.i o. 14. And he willeth Peter to feed his Lambes as well as his Sheepe, Jo^.21.15. If a child bee taught yvhaf tr^de 19 itks when hcis jomgi he will not forget it when l>ee is old; The Faithful! are the FlockeoJChrift^ 5 j old I as a veffell rctameih the taftc of that liquor where- with it was feafoned when it was new. Thirdly, wee fee that as the Shepheard Feedeth the flocke, fo it fec- deth him againe, whereby the Minifter of the Word hath warrant to live of the Gofpell, as he preacheth the Gofpel. This llmilitiide is prtlTcd by the Apoftle, i Cor, ^.Whogoeth awarfare mi^ time af his owne chargrt fvfho i Cix^.9 7. fUntetha vineyard, Hftd cateth not the fiuit thereof? or rvhofeedeth a pockeiOnd eateth notofthemilke of the flocke? If we feed the flocke, wc have warrant to be fed there- with ? but we have no power and authority given xxs from Godftfrrf/f thereof, if wc labour nor For be fet- r ThcCj-i*. teth us to worke, he calleth us not to idlent (Fe Fourth- ly.the Shepheard looketh to the ftieepethat tre wcake and feeble, and laboureth to cure them, and therefore is never without his renudies and medicines to heale them : fo the Minifter of God muft receive the weakc, reftore fuch as are fallen, warne them that are unruly, , comfort the feeble-minded, fupport the taider^hear- ted, and htfaticm toward ailment proving if God at any i Tim.t.i^. time will give them repentance, that they may come out of tlie mares of the DevilU of whom they are hol- den captive to doe his will. The(c doe elpecially ftand inneedofthehelpeofchefpirituall Shepheard. Fiftly, as the Shepheard prefcrveth the flieepe from the vio- lence and invafion of the Lyon and the Beare^ of the x Sirp. 17 j^.^ Wolfe and the Fox, that would prey upon both the (hcepe and Jambcs ; fo muft the Minifter keepe his hea» rcTS from the infc 4, J. Krf r^v S/:^hrHraj,fFo- hee to the Shefhcirds 0- Ij r^/ thdidoefceid rhemfelves, jhonld aet (he Sheepheards feed tkepckes< 0:1 the oth^r (ide, it v:tQ feed che ficcke wnangiy, and readily, \veel>.ail receive a co vneof I P«.^4. glory that fadeth noc away, r^hen the chief.- Shepheard o^n. I'..;. Jhallaffe^re tnghrj. If this great Day ot cne Lord were ahvajcs bctoie U5, it were luilicient to make them thatareidietobedihgent,and{Ucha5 are dii:oc,ir to beyetmorediiigectj and luch as are fai: hfuiL to bee yet cicrefaithj-uil. 6 I-iI'tiy, co'iclude from hence, thar the fairhfaH" can- not wiiic any thing thdc li good for ihem. The litle ^i. yen to the raKhfi:i:,t:ia: :hcv are Chriiis Sheetc oelonV ing no their AL-l ,:-icnt Shepheard, fervecn to afTu^e tucmctusnever-rax. -igcaretoH-ardrhem. Foralbe'C they^c (;mpieanoiXJr.oc«>t,vett^eirShepheard7r:;:^e aaaf^Uofdcrc- i^e into their wants Buy 40. 1 r. asEiay4c.,i.. , "% like a Shepheard! he iDau gather cneLamoes Wich his arme, and carry tuciaiahiico4ome,andlhal{^enc;vieadthore that are WKhTou.ig.-.Tht/ are his chiefe rreature, a royall i liel JiooG, a choien qeneracion : they arc chofen o£ ^"^-5.^^^'^. -^iJ <5i,tingiuihcd from all people of che RcveUi7, wcnd,graLvcn :n:he paimeof his hands \ tLj h.,ve ^ rerr - "'- : hjh>k th em, yjV'jch noman knovveth fa rin*^ I -c . f . ^^i\:x:d rx. Hiow then can they bee for- p - , ^;' - ;-> thac:i:iK>weth Aeni all by their names ? f'r.Lzj.i. Ti.. ..^rearpocth,PiaU3.i. r^.£W«;^JW hearj. Ij.almt wart. Orlerve the concluuon of the Propiici m .hisplacc .-the Lord was his Sbephcard, and he The Faith full are the Flocke ofChrifl. 3 5 he one of his fiiecpe, therefore he is aflfured he Hiall ne- ver want, therefore he will have a fpcciall care of him. ^ For what, I pray you, can they want,' who have God to be their. Shcpbeard? Hence it is, that hee faith die- where, lam^oore and needy ^yet the Lord thinketh ttfoH pfil. , ,.i 7 «??. Butitwiil be objected, Doe we not fee many o^Ohi^cl, Gods ferv ants live in want? to futFer hunger, thirl}, nakedntflc: cold, and an heapc ofinaay milt-ries ? to be driven frcm hou(e and home, and to wander from place to place ? and doth not the Scripture teach u$ as much ? 2 C.or.ii zj. Heb. 11.57. ^ anfwtr, God fee- ^}iC». de.hhisin iuchextrcmiLies astheie, another way : hce ftrengchnecliandftaycth thcin up with his grace, that they cleavcwKo him, and dcpv^nd upon him, for hee i.s theirportion,and never fbifaketh them. They have (uch inwafd peace that the world knoweth not of; which mac^e the Apofl.'c le[?if;jf yt^i^uh^dfy-arepartakersofthcm as well as-r , tH^ goX«4 i'ti'k6xU \6a$.^ \% sj." 18.18,': 3' Thirdly y. 1^6 The FaitbfuU arethe Flockeof(^hrijl. Thirdly, tcmporall bleflings ferve oncly for this prefcnr Ufe> but fpintuall belong to the life to come. As then * the life to come ought more to be delired which never (hall have end, then this prefenc which is tranfitory and cannot continue, but pafi'eth away wee know not how foonc : fo we (hould much more defire the blef- 1 Cor. 4.18. fings of the next life which abide for ever, * Qor,d^,For the things that Arefee»e^ arc tfrnporall, but the thtxgs that arenctfe. (heir faith fliall never faile ; whereas temporall things are onely left and lent unto us, but the time fliall come when they muft leave us, and wc them, Thefe two points laft remembred^re concluded out of the words Lj;jr*xo.4i, of Chrill himfelfe, Z.«i^ lo. touching the necefjity and perpetuity of fpirituall grace* ; as for remporail blef^ fings, they are indeed convenient and profitable, but not fimply ncceflary, fo that we may be favcd without them, as many are condemned with them. For the iovix.oiLnxjirHs was carried \i:xo %Ahrahami\io£ovs\t^ that The Faithful! are the FlockcofChrifl. ^j that wanted them, and the foulc of the rich man to hell and torments that had them* Laftfy, we arc moved to feeke Gods Kingdome before and above all earthly things, becaufe as earthly things are Gods gifts,lb they belong rightly and properly to the faithfull. They onely have the promife, that they fhall not want, and therefore they have the trueft title and tenure whereby they hold them, ^sEfay 6j. i j. This made the Prophet fay, Pfal.37.2^. I have l^eene yoftg, /wd mw am oldijet^h\,n,x'i,> . have Inotfeene therighteotu forfa^n^nor his feed (^egging ' bread. The Lord hath made no fuch promife to ungod- ly men. True it is, they have earthly blelTings often- times more then the godly, to make them without ex- cufe, but they have them not byvertueof hispromiie. For where hath hee given to them any fiich promife ? - or how can they (hew us their charter ? nay, they and \ their children have a contrary judgement way ting up- on them, Zr^'f^Af children bee continnaUy vagabonds ^'^^pfaLiooojio. begge, Pfal. i op. Such as will not hearken unto the voice of the Lord to obf ervc all his Commandements, Jhall be curfed in the City and in the Field, in their Dciu. 18,15 » basket and itore, in all their fruit and incrcafe, *2)ef*t, 16, &c. * 28. zSam-^ip^ As for the godly, it is not fi? with *^,^"'-?*9 them, Chriil iQiusjs theirs, and therefore no marvaile, V^'^^'}'^*' ifailthifjgj elfe be theirs, and that they (hall inherit the ^l^^[^ '^ll earth. IheSheepeof Chrifthave all by aright of do-' nation, the ungodly hold all by a wrong of ufurpation* Gan there be a better or truer titlethen Gods gift>by which Ifrael poffeffed the Land of Canaan ? or can there be a meaner or worfer hold, then to ufiirpe that which is not their owne, as the thcefe doth the true manspurfe? All that the godly man hath, is his free- hold touching the Conlcience, as themfelves are »«"^^^iohn8;^^/. f^ebv the Sontte, and ashisferviceis perfed freedome : 0*1.4.1^.-.. his food is free, his hoiifc and lan4 (if hee have anyj is • free^, } 8 The Faith full are the FlockeofChriJl, free, his dwelling is free, all that he putteth on, or Mf way belongtth unto him,is of a free tenure. Howbeit iinderftand thus much, that this freedome of the faith* full exempteth them not from Princes lawes, but is wholy fpirituall;and this is their ad vantagt',that which they have, is their owne, and they may uk it to their comfort. For they have an intereft both from God and man; from Heaven and earth, to enjoy the thin»s of this life. It is not fo with the ungodly, vvho are in bondage to finne, to Satan, to their ownelufts and cor- ruptions, which bringeth all thatthey pofTefle into bon. dage with them. True it is, they may Aiew their war- rant from men, and bring forth their evidences, or leafes, their writings and feales, their bonds and inden- tures ; but what IS all this to their right and claime fromGod, andtoafoundfancflifiedufe of them before him ? For the bondage of their perfons bringeth with It the bondage of their pofTemons. All therefore that they have and hold,isa bad and a bond hold. They can fetch their title no further then from men, and from their courts and cuflomes. Howfoever fuch are ready to cry out with the lewes, Wee rvere never in bondage to A»y, yet while they take themfelves to bee the frecft men upon the earth, and to have liberty to make others 2 Pet.z.i9, frecthey are themfelves thefervams.nzy flaves to their owne corruption : for of whom a man is overcome of the lame is he brought into bondage. ' Another ob- Flocke,) Another obfervation Htly arifeth ^rom the fir.'o'S "^"{^^^"^""'J^er here ufed; as the fo.merdid from nu^beXe 't ^/^^^^^f ^[P^^^^h, and title alcribed to the faithfull. lO-ed. l^or hee calleth not his people flockes, as fpeakingof maiiy, but he lingleth them out in the Angular number as .peaking of one onely by the name of a flocks, my intiejlocke-on^ flocke, not many or fevcrall flockes, irueic IS, there are many iLeepe, yet they make but I'jhn 8. j3 om The Faithfullarethe FlockeofChriJi. 55^ ene flocke or fheepfold . This teacheth us, that xht'DoU. -^ Church of Chrill is oneJy one, and net divers. So wee ' profefl'e in the Articles oFour f aith^ to beleeve one ho- ly and Catholike Church , nor many Carholike Churches. This Chrift himidfe Hieweth piainci)', loh.io.f^^r^ is one Shcf heard, andoKe SheeffoU. The loliuio. i6. Shepheard is but one,lo the ilockesare not many.Thus alfo tlie Apoftle fpcaketh, i Cor. 12. There be many^ q tncmhcrs,yttbtfto»eifodj. This we iinde often repea- Ephci; i*»o*& ted in him in many places, he pur^ofed to gather together 2.16. ' inofie all things both which are in Heaven and in earth, ^jp/;f/^i.io. webeingmany,4r^tf«f ^fl^inChrift,Rom. j^o^ j^ 1 2.5. TeareaJlonein (^hrijl Jefiu,Gz\.i»i%, Wee being Gal. 5.18.' many are w?^r(?^^ and one body, i Cer. 10.17. Thisis i Cor. 10,17; • the effed: of our Saviours prayei, That they aU may bee ^^^^ » 7.n. . ofje, 04 thou, O Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they alfo r»aj be one in Hi. This alfo Sa/omon. {^ttQth downe, Canc.6. A^ 1) ove, my unde filed is butone,pyeu the onely Cunt, tf.o; one iifher Aiother,Jhe is the chiefe one of her that bare her. • The truth hereof better app;^areth, if wee confider 2?^^/: p^ thcritles given to the Church. Jc is called the Citjr ofi^in Sy.^.sc- God^ Pial.87.2 . 7 he City of the great if/>f^,and the jay of 48. i, the whole world, Kal.48 2,Thebody e/C/;r//, Ephcf.^'^"^-* 9'i 2. I.22,23.&5.23. I Con 2.27. Col. I. iS. The Ipofife ^/kfly^'.i &, Chr/Jf,C9m.^o7heL^foftntaineoftheLord,EicLy2.t.j • • T« • The Temple of God, i Cor. &. \^. The houfe of God^ \ Cor.6,1^. Numb. 1 2,7 Hcb % .I.The filler and groundof the Truth, Numb. 1 1.7. I Tim.g.r^. The vineyard of the LordofHofts^izy 5.7. ^^fV^ The whole family inHeaven and Earth,Eph, J . I j ^Agar- g il V i6 deninclofed.Cam-^. 1 2. as Chritt alio oftentimes in that i Tim.3.1 j. Booke calleth ir hii Sifler, his Love,his Dove, his Vnde- filed,cha[i.i^.2 . Theheavenly J'erufalemf the mother of hs ^H, Gal 4.2^5. and many other fuch like titles, all lingu- lar fignifying one, noi^e plurall as pointing out many. Againe, thepriviledgesofthe Church are oneand^ 1 the. 40 The FaithfuDaretheFIockeofQhnfi. the lame t for albeit there bee many Citizens in this C/tj, many fubjeds in this Kwgdontey many members in this Bodjt many dwellers in this Honfet many plants in this Fmeyardy many Sonnes and Daughters in this Family, many trees inthis Garde>/,ind many childrenof this C^otheryyctthc milkethey fucke, the meat they tate,the garments they put on arc one and the fame, as Eph,4.4,5,<' Ephef 4.4, There u one (jodtont Head, one Saviour, on^ Redeemer, one Sandifier, one Husband, one Hope, one Heaven, one Way , one Doore, one Lord, one Baptifmc, one Supper, one Faith, and one Father of all, whojis above all, and through all, and in you all. Here arc ma^^ ny unities, which makethe Church fitly joyned toge- ther, and compaded by that which every joynt lup- plieth, according to the efFeduall working in the mea- furcof every part,&c. Ohtect, But it may be objcded, How is it then that we read offundry Churches, x C9r,\i,l6» Like wife of thefe« vcn Churches of Afia, %eveLi,^, 13. asalfoofthe Churches of the Romanes,Corinthians,Galatians, &c» t/infw^ I anfwer, Thefe are onely feverall parts of the Church militant, which is the company of Eled or faithfull living under the Crofle, defiring to be diflblvcd and re- moved hencfe,to be withChrift. Now as the Ocean Sea which is but one, is notwithflanding divided into fundry parts, according to the Countries and King- domes ty which it runneth: fo the Church difperfed over the whole earth, is divided into many particular Churches,according as the regions are feveral in which Irisfeated* Orasthebodyofmaa is one, but in this body there are many feverall members that .make all of tncm but one body :fo it is with the body of the Ffat iii.j. Church it felfc, as thcProphet teachcth,that jT^r^yi/iriw isbuildcdasaCity that is compa^ together in it felfc> Ackiiow The Church ofChrift is one/)/ one. 41 Aeknowledge from hence a difference bctwecne thc^^ i , tni« Church, and all other faife conventicles and Syna- gogues of Satan,not worthy to bee called by the names of Churches. The true Church is onely one, as Gcd it one, that calleth it, as Chrift is one that rcdcemcth it, as the Spirit one that fancJtificth and preferveth it. But the Faife churches have Satan and his angels for their head and King: and as hec is called the god of this world,lo he may be called the god of diforder and con- iii^h the god of hatred and malice; thcie are at cnmi- ty^ith God, with the truth, with the true Church, and one with another, as the fwords ofthcMidianithiud^.j.xzt were drawne out againft the i^idiamtes their owne ifellowes. This ufe is concluded ii\ the iongoi S^lomoft, lchap.6*There are threefcore ^eeries ,^ndfourefcore C JhaUmt be reckoned among the V^ions ; If then we joy ne ' our felvcs with the world, we disjoyne our ielvcs from the Church. Secondly, true holineflc is begun in 2 their nature. Weebeleeve this in our hearts, and wee mull pradife if in our lives, r/f. 3. 5. Hereby we make Tit. j.y our eUamn andcaUwgfmre, 2 Pet. i . i o . Matth. j . l ^. No » Pet.i.i o. fandification,no (alvation. Thirdly, the holinefle of^'"^-?-'^* Chrift and his righteoufnefle is imputed unto them be- 5 • ing walhed and bathed in his blood, //r^, 10. 10. Thefe ^^^•^°-^®- rely wholy upon his merits for their righteoufneffe and falvation, not upon themfelves. Fourthly, they cleave unto fuch as fearc God, and worke ri«Thtcouf- nefie with unchangeable affcdions, as the onely people in the world, with whom they become one body, Rom, Rom.u u IJ.5. For as they are one in Chrift, fo they are one a- mong themfelves, and love one another in deed and in truth, as fellow fervants of the fame family, as fellow berthren of the fame Father, and as fellow Citizens of the fame City, with all rnecknefle,patience, gentlencirc, lowlinelTejlong-fuffering, love, concord, and unity. As fliecpc will not be alone, io neither will they fort with Swine,or Bcares, or Lyons, or Wolves. Let altour de- light therefore be in the Saints, H^fal. 1 5. On the other , . fide, let us avoid the fociety of the wicked, ComcoutlTh^l^t' ^•m^mongthem. And touch no uncleane thing, feparateH^b.jo^^^t c* 3 from 4^ ^^^^ Church of Chriji is onety one, 5 from them, and have no famiiiarity with them. Fiftly, ;:tbcy (trive wich might andmaiiie by ratidificacion ^iwl liolmefreof life to exceed and outitrip the deeds and praiflices of Turkes,Papifts, and prophanepcrfbr.sof J Pet. ^,ff. ^^^ world, that thefe may fee their good workes, and "' '^'^'*' gloiilie their Father which is in Heaven. For except M3ttk,f,ic. .our righreoufneffe exceed the righteoufnejfe of the ^ Scribes andPharifes^ wcc cannot enter into the King- dome of Heaven. Our workes, not our words oncly mult fpeakp for us, and witneffe with us, that we are of this one Church. And let us take heed, left by our fin- full liveswe flander our profelIion,blafphemetheNamc of God our Fatherjdiilionour Chrift our Head, and dif- 6 grace the Church our Mother, €fhef 1.4. Laftly, wee Heb. ii.^jxo. muft acknowledge our felves to t)e Pilgrims andfiran- ^^-r/ in this world, as the Patriarkcs and holy men of God did. For albeit we are in the world, yet we arc • none of the world : and albeit we live on the earth,yet riulj. ao, we iTiuft not be earthly-minded, but have onr converfn- tio» ifi Heavefty and from thence looke for our Saviour, to change our vile bodies, and to fafhion them like to iiis glorious body. We live^ere as in a ftrange Coun- try, but we looke for a City which hath foundations, whofe builder and maker is God. We muft therefore 3 Cor.?; J I. wfe this world ju thoughrpeufedit tiot. And thus being members of the Church militaiu in this life, wee fliall be parts of the Church triumphant in the {[{q to come, there to remaine with Chrift lefus our Head for ever. Little fiocke.) The third point of the divifion fol- loweth, which is the limitation, it isUttle. Though it beaflocke,yetitisbuti^//«/f/oci^. It is a company, yet but a fmall company. Touching the company or compafTe of the Church,wearetocon{idertwothingi{: Firft,the errors that ftaiadon both fides, and the^ ftrcngth of the rcafon that Chrift naaktth againft all caniall The in terpretation ojthe Tipords, 47 camall fcare of want and famine. Touching the errors on both hands, as well on the right hand as on the left, fome goc about to (hrinke up the finewes of this /;>r/r Jlackff and fo contra<^ it into a lefler roome then Chrift himfclte hath folded it into. True it is, hee hath Haut it up into a narrow fold, but many have gone about to pin it up, and to tye it fhorter then he hath done. Thus the I ewes that were of the Circuracifion offended, who went about to gather it into a Qiorter fumme then they ought to have done : for they contended with Fttcr-,4Kdtook€ it gricvoujljtthat he went into mennficir- Aftsii.x^j. cMmcifed, and did eate with them They faliely perfwa- ded themfclves, that the promiles concerning the Mcffiah pertained to thcmfelves alone, becauie they heard in the Scriptures that they were called the pecu- liar people to w horn pertained the adoption, the cove- R©m.9^,5 » nants,thc giving of the Law, and the fervice oFGod, and fo they dreamed that the Gentiles were quite ex- cluded from lalvation, and fevered from the Church of God. Howbeit this is contrary to the ancient promifc and prophefie, that God will enUrge laphtt, /A^rA^tf Gcn.^.iy. ffaUdweUinthe Tents ef^htm : and hereunto doe other Prophets accord. Thusallo did the 2)ow4r//?i fliutup the Church into»a corner of the world onely, to wit, in Africk, as if it had beene utterly perillied oiitofthc -^Ag*jf.i>*H-t- whole earth belides. Thus doe the Anabaptifts and ref.taf,6^, fundry of the Separation, as if there were no true Church upon the earth, but among theml'elves, who in truth «rc the true ^Domtifis of our time, as whofoc- ver knoweth the hiftory of them will eafily acknov/- Icdge. For thefe Sectaries were Separatifts, who had their Conventicles apart under colour of great corrup- tions in other places, perfons, and Churches, and they imagined contagion and infedion to arile by commu- mcating with all others. This is a gene ration that fay e* 4 as 48 Thsinterpretatioi^ofthe'Voords. £r.iy 5j. f . as it is in the Prophet, Siand hj thjfelfe, Cvmt mtneere to me^forl am holier then than. But here good and evjll are mingled togcther,as cleane & uqcleane in the Arkc, as wheateand chafFe in the fioore,and mufl fo continue totheendof the World. So likewife doe the Roma- nics abridge it, who faften the Church to the (leevc of the See of Rome, and therefore define it to bee a com- SeUarM. 5 .Ve pany of men under one Pafior, and fabjcdl to the jurifdi^ ecdej.caf,!, dionoftheBifhopofRome : fo that let men belecvc never fo orthodoxally and foundly ptherwiie, yet they hold them out of the account ofthe Church, and brand them to bee no better then damnable Hcretikes, who doe not acknowledge their /.0'.:ld dy rhas to his Sould:crs, Ycc are a lictic Aroiy, and your Enemies ar; nianv, therefore feare not their fcare, neither ix: yee difcoara- gedjWhat comfort could bee gathered byfuchreafo- ning ? But God uleth not realbas according to mans reafon; his Worses arc contrary to the wiudomeof lor.c 9 6. men, as Chrift cured the blindc man by making cUj of thcfptnlcy Mtd hj anajming Ins ejcs therewith. Thus alio are his arguments, his promiles, his chrearnings, and his pur.iinments oftentimes contrary to humane undtr- ilandiag. Wee are ready to judge them to bee nopro- miies, which notwirhftaading are great and precious promife?,lf we conlidcr of them aright. j\s for exam- Piil 8^. ji, P^^> Pfal.Sp.^ 2. If thy cbildrcH for fake my Lawy then 79tS J ^'I'Jt their trjVff^e/Jlo?: with the rod, imt m¥ loving ^-W- nejje IwtH not mterly ta^e from him. and thisGod ivould J Cor.ij.-'t« *^®" ^^ mercy, as i Cor. 1 1 . thar wefccnU, net he condem- Ked wtth the wtrld. So 'Djvids auctions were medi- cines and blcilings unto him, and as a precious balme, 'Pfai, 1 1 p. 57, 7 1 . Againe, wee many times fuppoic thereto be no tbj'eatmngs,nor puniihments at all, which nevenhelclTc are dctpc and grievous judgements, as H oT. 4 . 14, Hofuf .14./ vftUnot fnn Jhj^nr doMghtcrs.whenthejCffm- WKttfhoredtme. Where he threatncthto let them alone, fo that be \nil no: punilh thein, but fuffer them to ran en The interpyetaiion of the ycords, 5 1 on without punifhmcnt, that thereby hee may punifh >tfiem the more fharpely and irrecoverably. His hand is mofl: heavy, when it is thought mofl light ; and he flrikcch us with a deadly blow, while we are {cncelefle and feele nothing. Thus the wound is dcepcft, when itis not fecne at all. And as Sometimes he will not pu- ni{h,that he may punifh : fo fometimes hee will bleffe, J^^^'^^ t!oc that he may not blefle. Thus bo punidiments become 'J'^"'^ ^^^^' punilliments, and blefl^ngs become no blelTings, but rail men."""" curfes upon us. Thtfe coufiderations may feeme para- doxes and Itrange pofitions to nacurall men, but the re- i^f"<'l-9».7. generate underlhnd f;em well enough, and feele the ^^ **** truth of them by experience, and wonder at the un- fearchablc wifedome of God, and tremble under the ftroke and decjpc judgement of his right hand upon the world. To efcapc fcotfree whiles other men fmart for their finaes, the moft (ort interpretto be nopunifh- ment at all, but rather a fpeciall priviledge, and notable blefUng : howbeit fuch fliall know and feele in the end to their etcn.all woe and deftrud:ion, that it had beene athoufand times better, they had lyen under the rod, and beene chailericdofthc Lord all the day long For 35 it is faid of an earthly Father, Hee -which loveth his Prov.i j. 54. 8c child, chafieneth him hetimes, Prov. 13. 24. and ip.18. '9 *^« fb ir is wirh God, thofe whom he loveth, he alio cha- fieneth betimes. //'^r^.T 2. which made 'Z>/«t//W fay, Itis P''-»l.n9^7« goodfsrme that I have btne a^ilied,that I might tearne thy ^ ' • Statutes : beca^tfe, before he was ajfiiUed^he wentajlraj. In like manner,the rcaions that the holyGhoft ufeth m his Word, are net like our reafonings, as his thoughts arc not like oiH-thoughts,neither his waieslike our waies.lf we confult with flcfh & blood.we fhall never alfow this fox a ftrongand a fubftaotial reafon,Ye are a little flock, therefore f eare not : hut rather conclude the contrary, . therefore feare. Wee would rather argtre onthis man- - ner^ , 52, The Flockeo/Chrifi if a little Flocke, ner, as they did in the Prophet, Pf^ee are many, therefore feare wr,Ezck. 35.24. Wee are wealthy, therefore feare not. We have many friends, therefore feare nor. Wee have houfes and lanjs, therefore feare nor. Wee have much laid up for many yeeres, and wee want no- thing, therefore teare not. But the reafon ftandeth o- thcrwife with God. He will draw faith irom the con- fideration of our k^^ty ; hope out of defpaire ; and Itrengthoutofweakneffe; as once hee brought hght outofdarkneffe, and4//f^;«f.fcutofw/A/>^. As ifhec fl^puld iay.Ye are few and httle regarded of the world^ therefore ye lliali be the more regarded of me, my power JhallbeperfeHedmyoftrTvea^neJfe, and the more yee Ije open CO the wide world, the more ye {hall be under my proredion, and the lefle yee ihall need to feare : fo that howfoeveryee be every way little in the judgement of men, yet yee are every way great in mine eyes. Thus dothChrift our Saviour underftand more then hee ex- prefleth. Now to come to the words themfelves, we have fiiewed before in what fence the fiocke of God is called //>//^. The firft confideration is in regard of the number; yee are a few in number, yea a very few, and as it were a little handfull*. yet notwithflanding as a Iitrle corne is more of worth then great heapes of chaffe,andone Iheepe then many goats: fo this fmall company is more precious in Gods fight then all the Doll 4. multitudes ofthe ungodly. This teachethjthat the flock ' "^' of Chrift is but a fmall and little fiocke : the number of Gods children is f ew.thin fowne, and foone told. We . may eafily perceive and prove the truth hereof, if wee obferve theflateof the Church from the beginning of G -11,4,8, i 5 . the world. The family oftAdam the firft man was lit- tle, and he remained childleffe a long time after t/4M was made away by his owne brother, while the poftc- rityofCrf/« (a carnall and curfed feed) cncreafed in power. Tbd Flocke ofChrift is a little Floch. 55 power, in ftrength, in number, and in eftimation oftlie Wicked world. When the tioodcame, the houfc of Noah oncly (whom hce fa w righteous in'that genera- tion) confiftnig of r/g^f/>^r/o»/ wasfaved, whiles all Gen.6 0.5(7, j the rert were miferabiy drowned in the waters. When » i'ct j 20. Sodom was deftroycd with fire Andbrimfionefiom Hea- ^ ^^^t- ■- 1- 'verij all the reft of the City were confumtd and burnt to ^p" '^^^'*- afhes, and onely the houle of Xi?tefcaped with their lives as a prey. Of all the mirltitudc that came out of Egypt amouhiing to fixe hundred thoufand, none en- tredinto the Land oiCoHnan, bf*t Caleb and lofhua. Numb.j^,',*, True it isy all the reil were not condemned; howbeit if ' 5- We confider their often provoc\tions,dirCv^i«ntments, niurniurings, and open rebelliotis againftGod,we iLall cafily difcerne that the fc weft number did truely be- leevc", and foundly ciea veto God, and entred into the heavenly Canaan, as Inde 5. 7 he Lord having faved thduic j. people 6Ht of the Latidof Egj^t^ afierrvard defirojedthem thatobejed mt. The holy Scripture isftillofllich tclti- monies, examples, parables, and comparifons both in the old and new Telhmenr, Thofe whom God ref cr- vfcfa as a portion tohimfelfe,arecallcd a^wf/7; they are B'av 5.f ?, & compared to the fliaking of an Olive trcv:, Two or three '7-^. ^- 14 r?. berries are in the top oft he uttnofi bongheSyitfidfoHre ^r five in the high branches. The Church ic lelfe complaiiieth, that it is diStheSnmmer gatherings ^ and as the grapes of Mk.7.1 . the Vintage ^thcvQ is no clufter to eate . If there be foure forts of hearers, oneonely amoag them all is the faving Muth« ^i-tp- hearer that hath a good and honeft heart. And iUen^^^-'^^*^^- ffapfTshc clenfed, one of them onely among them all i& found to returnebacke to give glory to God. WhenGcn.i8.->t. cyfbraham made intercelfion for Sodom,if ten righteous ler 5 . 9 . perfons had beene fouad in it,the whole Citv had bene Mutlv?. j 5 , fparedfor theirfakes; SQQmovt,Jer.'^.<^Ji^atth.'j,\^M^_^^^^'-'\- i^i3.24.^(W8Mi.3,4.comparedwith i Xikg^vg^i^, 1 lUrt-Vo'il 54 "^'^^ Flockeo/Chriji is a little Fhcke. R3ttt.9.i7,iS. '^w.917,28. Though the number of the Children of If. Efay io,ix>i J. raelbc as the fatid of the Sea, jet a remyutntfhall beefaved: Si- 1- 9- for he will hiiilh the worke, and cut it ihoit in nghce- Re7ci.j 4. oufiiefle, becaule a fhort worke will the Lord make up- " on the earth. And as this hath beene in former times, fo is it in our dayes. If wee would take a view of the ftate of the world as it is knowne and daily dilcovered in our daies, and fever from places where the face of a Church iSjthe ftate of Mahometans,B arbarians,Sayage$, lewes, and Idolaters, what is it but a poore hand'full,as a brand taken out of die middcfl of the fire, or as a lit- tle flocke driven into a corner of the world ? Againe, to leave out the rabble ofthofethat are without, expe- rience teacheth that where the hcc of a Church is fct- led and eihbh'hed, and Chrift lefus is profefled, if you take away fuch as are open enemies, Libertines, Epicures, luke-vvarme Profeflbrs, prophane men, Atheifts, New« tcrs. Halters, carnal Gofpellers, ignorant perl'ons,hypo- crites, Antichriftians,Anabaptifts,falfe-brethren,meere civ ill men, that trouble not themfelves with God or gcdlinelTe, and fuchlikc,that meddle not any way with matters of religion; we may truely cry out with Chrift Macrh. lo. 16, our Saviour, Oifdnj are called, bntferv are chofen, Nei- Lukc 1^.8, thcr may wethinkeit will be better or other wife here- after: for Chrift lefus admonifhechus,that when the SoK-rieofmancontmethj he ihallfcarce finde faith on the earth. %S''-f' ^ • This will farther appcarc by reafons ; Firft, becaufe as the way to the eartnly Canaan was thoro w a folitary wilderntfTe ; fo the way that leadeth to the heavenly Mattli.7.t J) Canaan and to everlafting life is narrovf^artd the gate ^^' /r4r^^^ and that in divers refpeds. It fuflfereth not a man to fleepe foundly in his finne, and to v/ander whi- ther hee lifteth, bat (hutteth him up within the clofe bounds of the Word of Godj which tdlcth him that he ^ The F Locke oJOod isa little Fiocke: 5 5 be muft fiiffer peri edition, dr^^y km^elfev mortifieand Matth.i»^l,i^.& 13. hii greene fafiMres,to delight in the kford above all x.fi 17 4- & things, to bee patient in aUveriities, and toward their 119 14. S:i6. adverfaries.andtocall upon God inthe day of trouble. VV hen a fhcepe llicketh in bulhcs and brambles, and is any way holden in thornes and thickets, it bleateth and ^^ / A cryeth, and the Shepheard, hearing the voice thereof^ ' ^^ iconedeliverethit; fo when wee are in any diftreffc ^7 and calamity,'or want of earthly things, we muft ill ew ^ our ielves the fhcepe of Chrift by calling to our Teat , Shepheard: if he once heare us cry unto him out of the depths, he will deliver us out of our diftrefle, and fet us in lafe places. OhieU, I fit be obje<^ed , that mAny are faid to bee redeemed M.tth.i6 z8. by Chrilf, C^^//^/».2 5.andthat an infinite number « ly^ fome faid he 19 a4 agoodman ; fome, of a tiuth hee i% ** **^' a Prophet; lorae, this is the Chrijl ; but others, nay, for hfdecejveth the people, Co that there was a murmuring, zndadivijtonzmong them becaufe of him; doabtlell'e riiey would have denied and refufed him, at leaft till they had feene the Scribes and Pharifees, and other learned Lawyers among the lewes, wholly to receive him. But how many among them, thinkeyou, were damned for this device, albeit they had fully as much to plead for themfelves as thefe men have? And ifJ^oah had never fet upon the Arke to build it, untill the whole world of the ungodly had confented unto him, and counfelled him, he had perifhed with them in the - xvaterst \V hat good thing ever was there,thatall men rroofef "* allowed 5.nd approved ? I^%, another fort ('the vvorft of The FlockeofGodii alittle Flocke. 6t of all the reft) are here reprooved, who make a fcoffe and dcrifion at thefe Words of Chrift, SisPiUtedid, v/henChriftlefus (hewed, that he came for this caiife into the world, that he might beare witnefle unto the truth, he hidiJVhatu truth f So doe prophane perfons I jhn i^ &», upbraid the faithfull fervants of God with this title as withataunt, 0,youare of the godly ones I O, you are one of thefe holy folke! you have the Spirit of God, and are one of the little -flocke I thereby fcorning and deriding fuch as honour the Word, and frequent the hearing of it ; nay mocking at the preaching of Chrift, and bringing the Word it felfeinto contempt, and as it were flouting God to his face. But he that firteth in the Heavens, fliall laugh at them, the Lordjhallhave theniin Pal.j, .^ J(?r^thatcuttethasarazor,which in the end Heb,4.ii. fliallcut them in pieces. Theferaife a nick-name upon the WotdtyNhich He hath magnified above all htsother'^^^^*^^^*^' "i^mefiZnd are come to the height and top of finne,and take the name of God in vaine in the higheft degree, not onely walking in the counfell of the ungodly, and il andingin the way of finners, but even fittifig downe in P^alj.i. the feat of the fcornefuUj whereby they fill up the mea- furc of their finne, that God may fill to them the full viall of his fierce wrath and indignation. Thefe doe notorioufly belch out their owne iliamc, and manifeft- ly renounce their owne falvation, and prove with their owne mouthes, that they Iboke for no other, but the portion of reprobateSjtogether with the Devilland his angels. For I would gladly be informed, and receive anfwer from them, whether they beleeve in their f ^ 3 hearts. 6l The FlockeofGodua little Flockc, heartSjthac themfelves have any true holinefle in them* and are in the number oFthis lictle flocke,or not ?. IF they doe, th?,n their owne words convince them, and by their owne mouthes (as the evill llrvanr) they il .dA be condemned. If tKey doe not, then they mull bee foule and hlchy goats that iliall ftaad at thekh hand, as damned creatures, and receive an horrible curfc de- nounced and executcdagainl"l;them:and all this by-their owne verdid: and confeflion. For as Chriil lelus at the laftDay i"hall fay to the reprobate, Inafmuch as ihey (hewed no mercy to his brethren, they did it no: to him ; lb may Hay to thefe fcofFers, In as much as chey doeit againlUheWord, they doe it againd the Lord himfelfe, whole Word it is. To conclude, I will fpeak Efay 57,5j4. tothemin the words o£zhe Vrophct,^raw ^eerehtthet , jefonnes of the Sorcerejfe, the feed of the Adulterer undthe whore., againfl whom doe jee jp or t jour f elves ? i'.gA'tnJh yvhommakejee a wide mouth ? and draw out the tor.g-Ae ? are ye not children of tranfgrejfien, a feed of f wifehood f 1 Secondly, here is peace and comfort againll all dK- courageraents that arife in the world from prop'r.ane perfons, and a foveraigne prefervative to all thofe that truely feare God, though they fee themfelves alone likeaPellicanin the Wildtrncfle, like an Ovvle in the Defart, and like a Sparrow upon the houfe top. If wee Efay 8. z8, be as a.figne and wonder inlfrael,yt2i as a monfter among men, yet let us not be difcouraged, but remember that the Lords portion hath beene but as the f^-w^, thatis, in comparifon of the multitudein all ages the lead part, as it were an handful!. If then we have heretofore run into all exceffe of riot with the world of the ungodly, and made confcience of nothing that is good or plta- fing to God, and now have learned better things by the direction of the Word, to refr aine from every evill way, to have refpe<5t to all the Commandements of God, The Flocke ofQod is a little Flocke. 6^ God, and to make confcience of all, even theleaft fins : albeit we finde our felves left alone, as Eliah the Pro- phet did, when they had killed the Prophets of the Lord, and digged downe his Altars ; and walke in a rugged and untrodden path like Jomthan and his Ar-i Sam,i4ij, mour-hearer, having few to follow us, or to accompany us, many to diflwade and difcourage us,and Ibm e ready to hinder us, and to pull us backe ; yet let us fay with Peter, Though all men fhouldforfake thee, yet will I never Matth. x6«j t. leavethee : and elfewhere, Whither fhall wee goe ? thou. ^°^" ^' ^^' hafithe fVords of eternalllife I whenlefus faid unto the Twelve, Will yee alfo goe away ? And let this bee our comfort, and give us reil, that thus it hath gone ever- more with the faithfull,this hath beene the Itate of Re- ligion, and few in comparifon of the reft have found the true path-way thatleadeth to life and ialvation to their endleffe comfort. Thirdly, learnethatthe number of the wicked and 5 reprobate is exceeding great, and the way to Hell hath many people and paflengers thit thruft and throng by heapes that way. The way is broad, and the gate wide that leadcth to definition, andmany there be that enter Matth.? ,14, in thereat,Matth.j» We are ready to follow a multi- tude to evill,but Chrift lefus giveth us counfcll to (hun that way, as a dangerous rocke, which the multitude treadeth. Hence it is,that the Apoftleteacheth, i Cor. 3i I. Notmany yvife aff