Certaine sermons taken out of seuerall places of Scripture, ... 1596
Udall, John.
* 2 1 eie Wk 5 — e Sk ST, D AE Fg | 75 r —<.- * 99285 e ee SERMONS, T A- KEN OVT OF S E- VERAIL PLACES OF SCRIP- TVR E. Rom. 10. ver. 16. gut they haue not all obeied the Geſpell: for E ſaias ſayii) : Lord, who hath belteued o report ? (Jahn AG) LONDON, b Printed b yeAdam 7/ltp, for Thomas Man. 1 9. | AS LP IE bd Fd 4 07RG Fon £* "3 A V 2 7 Ar. 3 4 N 8 5 q - N dee A breefe Summarie of ſuch Sermons as are con- tained in this boake. 2 CI 2 MAYZ 2 NN 2 $4 9. Peters Fal. ' Two Sermons vpon the hyſtorie of Peters denying of Chriſt: | wherein we may ſee the cauſes ofmans falling from God, and the manner how hoth of the i wicked thorow incredulitie, and of the godly by infirmitie: and alſò the way which God hath ſet downe1nhis Word to riſe - ——_ — 25 enn 5 Wl rife againe. The Texris taken - ont o pt. ſat hem and ſaint ae Zoiferred both coge- ther: As, Matt. chapt. 26. yer. 34,35, Lie chap. 22:ver.54Þ 55,56,57,58. Matt cha. 26. verl.7 2 37 $ 74. Lult chapt.. ver. 60, 61, 62. Three Sermons ypon Adichap- ter 2. ver. 37. 38. containing the tue effect ofthe word of god, inthe conuerſion of the god- lye : and the manner howe it changechk their hearts, and re- formeth their liues, which is | the true worke of regenera- :_; tion. 5 on Summarie. 2 1 82 ad ww - 7 — — 0 — — ZN 7 88 Pl ee e true e purer Famine and IWarres. * Five ſermons vpon the firſt chap- ter of the Propheſie of Joel, ' wherein the counſell that t he ” holy-ghoſt gaue the Iſraelits | to redreſſe the famine which | they felt, and preuent the wars that were threatned to come vpon them; is applied in par- ticular vnto our preſent time. Thi ks FR Crit And the Diuell. Foure Sermons vpon the temp- tation A Surmmarie. tation of Chriſt in the Wilder ,* neſſe by Sathan : wherein are to be ſcene the ſubtill leichtes that the tempter vſeth agaynſt the children of God, and the means that God inch appoin- ted to teſiſt him, GaRifed to our vſe, in the example of our ſauiout Ieſus Chriſt. The Text is taken out of the fourth chap- | ter of ſaint Matthews Goſpell, the  T37 i 4 ./ 2 CA Je 2 Obedience whe Goſpell, Two Sermons, containing fruit- | full matter, both of Doctrine, | and 1 : very ed. full co be knowne and. practi- {ed "ſed in theſe our daies. Vpon the words of the Holy-ghoſt, wiitten by the Euãgeliſt faint Lube, the ſecond chapter, and the 15,16,17,18,19, 20, ver- ſes : Containing the effect of the birth of Chriſt, (reueyled a by the Angell of God) in the ſbeepheards, and others that | heard of it. Fm. Three Sermons out of the {ſecond chapter ofthe Prophe- fie of E/ay. The Text begin- neth at the firſt verſe, The word that Fſaiah the ſonne of eAmos ſaw vpon Indah and Ieruſa- lem, esc, to the end of the fift verſe. To -. * - 4(% «* = 2 MN * - 4 — \ = 17 * — / "/. . int = 4,7 " 8 % 4. 2 % } - my. 2 » þ A — — 1 9 | ne Jv Lord, Francis Earle of Bedford, Eight of the moſt noble order of the Garter, ons of her Maieſties moſt honorable priuie Councell. Iohn Udall wiſnheth in- creaſe and continuance of vertue and godlines. He greateſt difference that 75 the Philoſophers could find (Right Honourable) be- tweene man and beaſt, was che rule of reaſon, whereby they could perceiue that mã could giue iudgement of things preſent & things paſt: and comparing them together, — a ſorte)prognoſticate of things | to come, which moued them according to | their power and vnderſtanding, to labour | night and day, in continuall meditation of | the excellencie of the fame, to ſeeke the a- dorning and beutifiirg therof, with al thoſe things which brute beaſtes for lacke of rea- B ſon, T he Epiſtle dould not haue, as namely the continual 4-arching out of naturall cauſes, the daylie donſideratiõ of the effects, & operations of chings in this worlde, & the particuler qua- lities of euerie ſeuerall beaſt, bird, fiſhe, tree, herbe, worme. frute, ſtone, and cucry other cręatute whatſoeuer. The benefit of whoſe NG es redoundeth euẽ to our greatgood, & conſolatiõ: as the Phiſitiõ very wel know- etli, and the diſeaſed patient ſimplie feeleth, yea, and( wluch is more) they ſtayed not the {clues in this alone: but n ſtill to beutifie that ſame diuine part of mans mind (I meane reaſon:) theyanuented another kindeof Flower, which they called Morall Phileſophie wherewithal their meaning was to haue the effects of Reaſon rightly ruled, to ſhine forth moſt brightly in euety parti- cular action of mans hy fe: putting all their n by this meanes, inasſiduall, and dayly practiſe. Wherein how excellent they were, and how forciblye they yſed it in their conuerſation, and alſo how equallye it ditected all their deeds by iuſtice & equity, their oyene writings remaining yet, & their notable acts recorded in hiſtories, do better and more plentifully declare, then either I can, or my preſent purpoſe may ſuffer mee. Onely thus muche is to bee ſaide, that their vertues were ſo excellent, that we aime ſtil at Dedicatorie, at them and their common wiealths fo well ordered: that we make them our continual platforme and patterne, and the nearer wee come vnto diuerſe of them, the better wee thinke our gouernment eſtabliſhed. Nowe it is not yaknowne to your Honour, nor to any other that haue the true feeling of Gods grace working in their hearts, and tlie ſunne of righteoulneſſe ſhining in their conſcien- ces: that the Lord our Godthe Creator of all thinges, our Redemer, preſeruer, and ſan- ctifier, hath giuen vnto vs, not onelye the knowledge ofal theſe things( in ſome mea- ſure) which they had in great aboundance: But (which is more) a farre ſurpasſiug and more exellent difference, to ſeuer vs with- all from the reſt of his creatures, then euer they had, or once thought off, to wit, the knowledge of his loue and fauour towards vs in his ſonne Telus Chriſt. Foralbeit it bee true, that reaſon is the eſſentiall and for mall difference (as they call it) betweene man and Beaſt: yet wee ſee euen in them ſome ſparke (andas it were) ſome ſpecial} kinde of re:ſonfor (to trye the ſame in perticular effects) we ſee that a dog can decerne his ma ſter from another man, yea, thoghhe be 0. yeres from him (if it be true that(a) Homer 2 Oiſſ. 17 reporteth ot Vliſſes his Dog) & him that v- ſeth to hurt him he can ſhun, & can fawn on | B 2 him The Epiſtle. him that cheriſheth hun. Ihe bird a!ſo can foretell when rawe ill fall: the Eunt in the tune of ſommer,maketh prouiſion for win- rexzmanye there be ſuch like as theſe, which e read of n Plrie and eArrſtotle, wining of the nature of the Beaſtes, and which by out ou ne experience we dayly ſee. But this is ſo far from ſeeming to be reuealed to any other creature, that 1115 a Paradox, &a ſtrãge thing to many ot vs, that differ trom brute beaſts by reaſon. And therefore (which 1s the drift of this Whole diſcourſe) it ſtãdeth vs vppon which profeſſe the name of Ieſus Chriſt, which doc acknowledge him to bee — ofGod the Father, & ſcaled vnto ys by od the holy ghoſt, for our eternal ſa'uatid:; to haue an eſpeciall care (that as Chriſt ſaich of the wicked, that they be wiſer in their ge neration,theathe children of light: So it be not ſaid oſ vs) that the Paganes, heathen, & gentile philoſophers, be tounde in the fight of God, more diligent in their huniane pro- felSion, then wee in the profeſsion of Ieſus Chriſte: I meane more glorious m ſhev ing foorth the frute of the Philoſophie in then actions, then e of our Diuinitie in our lyfe and conuerſation. And ſurely I wou'd to God that we could truly and rightly follow their ſteps in one thing,. hich is this: I read of tkem, that the more knowledge they — taine Dedicatorie. tained in their philoſophie, the more they a- bandoned themſelueʒ from the vanitie of the worlde,ſothat(a)omacaſteh his golden Crates to the ſea, (b)another carried al his ſubſtãce b. Bi- with him, whereſoeuer he went, (c) another contented himfelfe with a Tub, or Tun to c · Diogene⸗ dwell in, in ſteede of his houſe; all of them whatſoeuer they poſſeſſed, they did willing ly employ it to the encreaſe of knowledge in thẽſelues and others, But doe we ſo? No. We ſeeke (d) how to ſerue God and Mam- mon too, we labour to become religious in d. Mat. 7. a3 ſne vw, and couetous in deede: We deſire to come to( e) Chriſt by night with — — for feare ot worldlye loſſes:wee (f )lecke to Joho. 5.4. ctie Lord, Lord, but we haue no care to doe 1. Mat. 7. the works of the Lord. (g) We make a ſhev of Godlynes, but we denie the power ther- © of: (h) wee wiſhe to fit at the right and left hand of leſus in his kingdome, but wee are b. Mat. 20. loathto drincke of his Cuppe. (All in one 22. word) We profeſſe leſus Chriſt, but (i)turn the grace of God into wantonnes. Hence it i Jude.. i. is that wickednes doth foabound, t hat ſatan hath preuailed ſo much, and that ſo few en- deuoura gad y lyfe. Euen for that the ene- mie can perſwade them, that profeſsion will ſerue:thata ſhe is ſufñcient. But how ſoeuer it be, that ſo miny be druncke with this Cup of ſithans poylon (againſt whome B 3 in g 2. Tim. 3. T he Fpiſtle intrueth the heathen Philoſophers that ne« uer knew God ſhallriſc in the day of iudge« ment and condemne them : for that they haue beene more carefull to ſhewe the fruit of their profeſsiõ in vpright dealing (thogh it was vaine, then theſe haue beene) yet it behooueth all them that ſee theſe things, & are grieued with the conſideration thereof, and are not ſpotted with the ſame brend, to bee ſo much the more carefull, as the e- uill is common, that they ſmell not of their a, Reu 18. 4 abhomination; that they (a) departe from them, and bee not partakers of their ſinnes; b. lude. v a3 that they (b) hate the garment ſpotted by — 12. the fleſhe:that they faſnon( c) not themſel- ues like vnto this worlde, but that they be chaunged in their ſhape by their renuing of their mindes, and that thereby their profeſ- ſion may be adorned, and the trueth therof in their hartes and conſciences forcibly eſt- abliſhed, WhenlT conſider theſe things( Right ho- norable) and ſought out of Gods booke, (which1s the looking glaſte diſcouering all enormities)wherin the chiefe cauſe heereof ſhould conſiſt: I perceiued (ſo farreas my {mall knowledge coulde attaine vnto) that the lacke of the right vſe of Gods word, & heedefull care to be gouerned by the ſame, did engender theſe and infinit other abho- minations: Dedicatorie. e minations: and therefore for my own « fort, & the inſtructionof others, I did make choiſe of the hiſtorie of Perers denyin *. Chriſt, to intreat vpon: which bein ed, for certaine conſiderations hereafter menti- oned: I haue (ſo neereas I could) penned it, according as it was ſpoken: Moſt humbly beſeeching your honor, that the ſame may proccede vnder the w ings of your defence — otection, which (I doubt not)ſhal be by — meanes of the Godly ſorte, the better accepted, and of the cankred Caterpiller,the leſſe touched. So thall I be bound, (which notwithſtanding is my dutie) to praye vnto the Lord God of heaucn for the increaſe & continuance of the graces of his holy ſpirite, vnto your honour, to guide and direct the ame in all your g good and godly enterpriſes whatſocuer, that thereby Gods holy Name heere ypon earth may be glorified, his chile dren maintained and cherihed. ſinne & ini- quitie cut down and quenched, leſus Chriſt his goſpell promoted & aduanced, and your owne conſcience vnfuned- ly comforted, Amen. Tour honors moſt humble to com- mand Iohn Vdall. | : B 4 To 85 * To the Godlie and well | diſpoſed Reader. treat of this place of Scripture, ( — to wy poore talent, ; Wherewith God hath inabled nee) I was verye earneſtly re- come 4 * To the Reader | come With t heir fore1ble perſwaſions , I haus en- ned the ſame as neer as cã remtber. Now(pood Reader) if thou be deſirous to know what bene« fite thou ſhalt reape by the ſame; I am very loath to mdent wich thee before hand: For if I ſhould promiſe nothing, f were to be blamed to trouble thee , which elſe might be better imployed. FI ſhoulde promiſe that which peraduenture thoa mayeſt 2 I might ſceme to arrogate to much vnto my ſelfe, and therefore I commit it to thy Godly conſideration and Judgement. But for the plare of Scripture it ſelfe , thus mnche I dare ſay,( and that f truſt with the conſent of al the Godlye learned) that if thou deſireſt to vnder- ſtand bowe the wicked doo beginne to fall from the Lorde : what cauſes doo concurre, and in what order they proceede wntothe beight of ini- quitie. f thou deſire to knowe What is it that mooxeth the Godly to fall and offend Cod: And Laſthe if thou hee willing to underſtand What thinges be neceſſarie, and expedient for thy ſelſe, being fallen to returne vnto God, and to ſtand to bis fauour when thou art in it I am ſure thou mayeſt learne it out of this hiſtorie. Nowe if I haue not ſo fully diſcourſed of euerye point at thou couldeſt wiſhe, nor ſo learnedly proceeded , as the matter doth require: I pray thee beare with me & pray tothe Lord to encreaſe his begmmings in me, and ſupplie my want. Concerning the laſt parte of all, Which is Repentennce : I haue of purpoſe TotheReader purpeſe beene ſparing in it, becauſe others haue learnedlie,' and at large intreated thereof: Whoſe full intreatie if thou _ „ haue recourſe unto thoſe their writings. To conclude, if any thing do heere pleaſe thee , giue God his due for it, (to whome all honour belongeth. The Mcthode and order ofthe whole matter in this Booke. forſakiog gods word. Is. preſump 1 tioo; in — 5 a ſeaning to his ** Con power. 2. Call ſes, {following far off. 3. : h | Findet, (tbe companie, the high | a 5 Prieſts ſe ruants. 4. | the placezthe warme fire, 3. the man (Ct. By bare denyi . ying. 6, * . By ſwearing» 7. a 3. By exectation. 8. his | the 388 2 the Cocke, "9s | cau-. | | (es, bimlelfe, the looking bac ke of leſus. 0. 2 riſing 5 X h Lagan | = | 8 what Chriſt had ſaid. 11. 3 the copſi - | 1 derations what lie had done, 12. „ | the a going out, 13. 1 ner how (his ſorrows, 14. The Text out of S. Mathew and S. Luke conferred both together. Eſas ſaid vnto Peter, verehye I ſay unto thee, Mat, 26.34 | this night before the — thou ſhalt deny me thriſe, 3.5 . Peter ſaid vnto him, though I ſhould die with t hee, yet will I not deny thee. $5. And Peter followed afarre of, and when they had kindled a fire in the middeſt of the Hall, and were ſet downe together: Pet er alſo ſue down amongſt them. 56. And acertaine maid behelde him as be fate by the fire , and hauing well looked on him, ſa:d,this man was alſo with him. FJ. But he denyed: ſaying, Woman I kno\pe bim not, 58. And after a while another came vnto him, ſaying. thou art alſo of them. But he denyed againe ( before them all) with an oath, ſaying, I know not the man. 73. Then cam they vnto him (that ſtoode by) and ſind, thy ſp ach bewrayeth thee. 74. Then beganne hee to curſſe bumſelfe, and ſweare: ſaying, I know not the man. 60. And umm: diatly while be yet ſp:ke, the Cockedid crow. 61. Then the Lordturned backe,and looked vpon Peter, and Peter remembred the worde: of the Lord, hom he had ſaud, before the cock crow thou ſhalt deny me thriſe. 62. And Peter went out and wept bitterly. Math. Luk. 22 54. Mat. 26.72. Luke. 23. Math. 26. 34. Jeſus ſaid unto Peter, verely I ſay unto thee, that this night before the Cocke crow thou ſhalt de- ny me :hriſe. WOO oOO09 0 00909 — S there isſet f e downinthe woorde of & God which is not in his | molt excel - e lent, & ſin- o|| guler wiſe- 5. Neis dome. ro- * N — N poidedva- ...er to his chil- — | dren, (a) ei- a6. ther to teach the the will of the Lord, & the: I Religion they muſt profeſſe, or to furniſhe them with ſufficient armour, to conuince their aduerſaries, or to inſtruct them howe to frame their liues and conuerſation accor- ding to his will, and to reproue them that vate inordin tly or laſtly to (b) comforte f RO. ; them being diſtreſſed, andatfl:Qed in thus. worlde, A —— adit. oth. amt. Peters fall. worlde: ſo there is no example ſet before our eyes, in the whole booke of God, more neceſſarie for vs continuallye to be medita- ted vpon, then this of Peters fall. For in the ſame is firſt painted out vnto vs, the miſera- ble eſtate of; man, being left vnto himſelfe: then the exceeding mercy of God towards man. Secondly we may ſee it in the beginnings, proceedings, and manner, how all men doe ſinne: whether it be the God ye falling b infirmity, or the wicked trãſgresſing ok infidelity : and then howe and by what de- grees the Godly be reclaimed and reſtored againe, | So that in this Hiſtorie, wee haue two things offered to our conſiderations , Firſt Peters fall, Secondly, his riſing againe: in his fall we note the cauſes that moued htm ther vnato,and the manner how itwas. The cauſes be either in himſelfe, or accedentarie with- out himſelte: within humſelfe, his preſump- tion in departing from the worde of God, and leaning vpon his owne power, and his ſlowefolowing: tht cauſes without humfelt be his companie the hiegh Prieſts ſeruants, and the place where he was, the wa-me fire: the manner how hee did fall, is firſt in bare deniall , then with binding it with an oath, and Perers fall, and laſtlye, by curſing himſelfe if euer he knew Chriſt. In his riſing againe, are likewiſe the cauſes and the maner how : the cauſes with out himſelfe, and within himſelfe: without himſelte,thecrowing of the Cock, and loo- king backe of Ieſus: within himſelfe, his remembrance what Chriſte had ſaide, and what he had done: the manner how he roſe, his going out, and his ſorro wing. The firſt caulc of his fall(as you ſee) was his preſump tio, &that is alſo in two things. The firſt is, in not leaning vnto the words of his Lord& maiſter: ForChriſt told him that he ſhould deny him: But he n2*withſtanding beeing either blinded with the conſideration of his one power, (as hereafter ſliall appeare) or elſe c:r1ed away with a preſumpteous zeale, to follow him whether ſoeuer he went, re- rag that though all men ſhould for ſake 1 lum, yet hee would not. And ſurelye this is moſt worth ie the conſideration. For if wee beginne at the firſt man that euer was, and continue throughout the whole Scrip- tures: we ſhall finde that the lytle 1 giuen vnto the worde of God, was the be- giuning of their fall. The Father of mankind, the firſt founder of his miſerye, Adam, hauing receiued this eſpeciall Peters fall. 4 Cen. 2. 1j eſpeciall commaundement: (of the (a) Tree of knowledge of — enill, thou ſhialt not eat:) Vet this being put ont of his hart, partely thorow the ſubtiltie of Satan(wher- withall he was aſlailed) partely by the pro- uocation of the woman, home greatlye he loued, and partly withthe beautie & Fj - licacie ofthe Aple, with which he was allu- red, hee notwithſtanding did(b)take of it, and cating of the tree forbidden, fellfrom the Lord his God & was caſt out of the place of pleſure where before he dwelled. (c) So | a0 Caine, forgetting the commaundement of God. yea and * of nature: kill his brother Abel. (d) amech not conſidering 4. 449. that the Lorde God ai made man and wo- man to be one fleſhe, tooke vnto hum two wiues and ſo fell from the Lord. (e) Saul hauing receiued precept to de- ſtroy Amaleck, and all that pertained vnto them, that he ſhoulde haue no compaſsion on them, but ſhould ſlay both man and wo- man, both infant and ſuckling : bothe oxen and ſheepe, and Camels and Aſſes: yet di- recting not his doingsaccording to his com miſsion, but yelding vnto his owne fantaſie in ſparing the King Agag , and the better ſheepe, and fatte Oxen to facrifice, as (was pretended)vnto the LORD, as rewarded | with b. 3.23. Peters fall. with depriuation from his kingdome, | Ihe like may be ſaid of the rebellious (a) l{raclites in the wildernes (wha hawng a.Exod.1g, the promiſe of Gods ſpeciall 7 — 2.17.3, yet murmured often times. The ſame is plain in the rebellious Iewes:&breefly tho- ro out the u hole booke of GO D: That whenſoeuer the Prophets bee reſiſted, the Apoſtles perſecuted , or anye other ſinne hat ſoeuer committed, heather it bee af the Godly, falling by infirmitie, or by the wicked offending ot obſtinacie: The firſt originall & beginuing isthis, that the word of the Lorde, in that teſpecte, is either not knowne or not ren red: and therfore Sa- than ſtrooke very deepe, and in verie deed, at the ſureſt roote of mans ſafegatde, when he put it into the head of his ſontie & heyre Antichriſt, the childe of perditjõ( the Pope of Rome)to keepe the people frõ the know ledge of Gods worde; for he kvewe well e- nough that the worde of God beeing mani- feſt vnto all the worlde, would be the inſtru ment to keep man from groſſe fins, for very ſhame and feare of puniffiment, and manye in faith and obedicnce vnto the Lord, for joue and zeale vnto his glory, and deſire of their own ſaluatio, which other wiſe ſhauld wander in darkeneſſe, and in the ſhadow pf = C death, Peters fall, : death, becauſe that they beeing blinde for wantof knowledge,ſhould haue ſwallowed many moats of iniquitie. But to let him go, & come nearer vnto our ſelues: what is the cauſe that euen in this light, and glorious Sunne beames of Chriſt his Goſpell, ſo ma- ny be ſotted and drowned in idolatrie and ſuperſticiõ, that they are not aſhamed with whoriſhſaces, not bluſhing. to maintaine, & defend the heathniſh faſhio,of worſhipping of God in images, (for their own ſhãe Fark fomed away the worſhipping of the image. * __ it ſelfe,) but onelye this, that * (a) ſecond — 58. Peters fall. neuer preſume to take his name in their mouth without a ſinguler reuerence of his Maieſtie, or the threatnings therevnta an: nexed: For GOD —— them that ſweare (by (a) thoſe which were no Gods) to be none of his: For hee ſaith, they haue 2. ler. 5. 7. A note for lweare by forſaken him in ſo ws alſo a many that them that + vieth much {wearing , thall bee filled with wickednes,(b)and the plague of God fthall not departefrom his houſe,vntil itbevtter- ly waſtedand conſumed. The whooremaiſter goeth on in his fl thineſſe, becauſe he forgtteth the comman- dement of God: Thou ſhalt not commit Adulterye: and thæ (c) threatninges, that Whooremongers and Adulterers God will Iudge. To conclude, the lyke is truely to be thought of all other ſinnes, that the ca- ſting off Fof the worde of God behind their backes, and treading Godes vengeaunce 8 threatned againſt ſinne, vnder ther feete, is the firſt ſteppe vnto that i iniquitie which they commit. Nowe if wee will applye this to our edification and benefit, we muſt learne by the harmes of other men, to be more warye and circumſpect: If wee ſee that others begin their trãſgresſions, by ne- glecting the word of God, we muſt be ſure that we begin our * in imbracing it 2 in faith, maſſe Sainr.&c, b. Zac. J. 4. c. Hb. 13.4 b.Ioſua.1.8. e. 1. Cor.1, 4.1. d. Epheſ, 6. 17. e. Mat. 1 3. 31. Peters fall. in learning, meditating, and exerciſing our ſelues in the ſame continually. For the Pro- —— it the only ioy(a) & de- ight that godly men can find in this world. Wherevntoappertainethit, that the Lorde appointing ynto his ſerua . the gouer- nement ot his people, in ſteede of Moyſes, ſaith, let not (b) this booke of the Lawe de- parte out of thy mouth, but meditate there- in day and night, that thou mayeſt obſerue and do accor An g to al that is writtẽ therin: where you ſee, that he ſetteth meditation & continuall exerciſe therin, to go before the ſeruice ofthe Lord, & indede by very good reaſon, for the word ofGyd being his wil, & the thing he enioyneth vs todo, how can it be, that we ſhal do it beforewe learne it, and howcan we learn it, if we neuer giue our ſel ues therunto, nor regard it? Wel how ſoeuer the wicked of the world care not for it, nor the preaching thereof, becauſe through the a a of their harts, it ſeemeth fooliſhnes vnto thẽ, yet ſure wee are it is the(c) power of God vnto ſaluatiõ, vnto all thoſe that be- leeue it. It is the ſworde( d) of the ſpiritthat cuttethaway the bonds of ſinne: It is the(e) graine of Muſtarde ſeede, thatat the firſt is very ſmal, but taking roote & increaſing in the children of God, it groweth vp to loch an \ Peters fall. | an height, that it poſfeſſeth the whole hart and minde. It is the fire (a) which hurneth 2. Ic 9, 4. and conſumeth the dregs of iniquitie. It is alſo that (b) boriye; the ſweetnes whereof þ, Exe. 3.3. doth both delight the ſoule, and alſo tem: per the troubles of this world, that they be- come tollerable and eaſie: It is the ( c) raine c. deut. 3. 2 ſhowers & dewes moiſtning the ſtony hart. And laſtly, it is the (d) ſeede, whoſe rotes 4 Luk. 8.71 take ſo deep holde, andare ſo ſurely faſtned mn that it neuer ceaſeth from growing,vntill it 1 4 bring the ſoule which it penn into the x Kingdomeof Heauen. This being ſo preci- 621 ous, and yet not beleeued to be ſo by them 5 that are not called vnto the faith of Teſus Chriſt . Therefore the Lord God; to allute them whome hee hath elected, and to take all excuſes from them that be reiected:hath ſet down moſt excellent and ſingular alute- ments, and ſweet ſpeaches vnto them, to in- uite them vnto a loue & lykng of the ſame. The wiſe man Salomon bringeth in the Lord ſpeaking or rather ſpeaking himſelfe in the name of the Lord: faith, let thine (e) harte e. pro 4. 4. holde faſt my wordes,keepe my commaun-; 5.6.7. 8. &. dements, and thou thalt liue, get wiſedume d the 15, get vnderſtanding, neither declyne from the wordes of my mouthe. And there hee ſhew eth what the worde of God ſhai bring C9 vnto Peters fall. vnto the louers thereof: namelye, honour, riches, long lyfe, & ſuch like:vVhich in deed figureth to vs all ioyes whatſoeuer, which the Godly ſhall haue in the lyfe to come. If Ithould ſtand vpon this, I might fhew you miny excellent moſt places for this ſe n the excellency thereof deſcribed by the 4. pf. 19.9 Prophet (a) Dauid, and the great beneſites 8.9. 10. 11, that hee profeſſeth himſelfe to haue recea- 23. ued by the ſame. As that he had periſhed in his troubles, if the comforte thereof had not ſupported him, and thinkethit no bragge b. Plal. 119. to ſay, he hath (b) more vnderſtanding then 99. his teachers, becauſe his meditation was in the worde of God, and vnderſtoode more then the auncient , becauſe he kept Gods precepts, and he was made wiſer then his e- nemies, becauſe Gods precepts wer alwaies with him. The whole 779. Pſalme, is concer- ning this argumẽt. And was it ſo excellent, ſo precious, and ſo frutefull in Dauid, for himſelfe onely?no, but it is alſo for our in- ſtruction, that we might be ſtirred vp, by the example of Dauid, to take ſo great delight in it, as he did: for God is the ſame he was, and his worde of it ſelte is as forcible( if not more forcible) then it was . So that wee needenot to _ of Gods goodneſſe in this cauſe. For ſure the cauſe why we * 0 Peters fall, ſo farre behinde Daui in zeale and godly. nes, — —— mow bardo of heart, and our preſumptionin that we (with Peter heere) per{waide our ſelues, better of our ſelues, then iudeed wee either need or ſhould. 100 lu 2922. 535 Let vs then awake, & ſhake off the drow / fines of our ſoule: let vs vnloade our ſelues, of all that (a) preſſeth don: let vslooke vn· 4 Heb. 12. to that, which Godcommaundeth, and not to that ſmall proceeding which wer haue made: and ſo much the rather (my deerelye beloued brethre)becauſe we ſee the xorid more lulled in ſecuritie then euer ĩtwas be- fore, that wee can either reade or heare of The word of Gad hathno more force with the greateſt nõber, then if they were ſtocka, or — ; whereas the threatning of Gods yengeanceagainſt ſinne, ſhould pricke their harts, and moue theto repentance, It hring- eth thema ſleepe: whereas the preaching df the Goſpell ſhould bring them to Faith in Chriſte, it ſeemeth vnto them a fable, and a meere inuention of men. Nowe the calc ſtandimg deſperately with them, (for this is the cauſo why I ſpeale it) It behooneth vs to be morecircumſpe&and careful that the loue, and lyking, and continuall exerciſe, and obedience, in, and to the word: of God, C 4 do 4. Ich. 3. 24. R do lo vs; that we neuer be drawne frõ the fame, but fo ſurely faſten our ſoules, harts, and willes thereunte, that wee niaye thereby haue a ſurereſtimonie in ou con- fciences, that wee bee tho childrem of God, (a) becauſe we keepe his commandements. Whereas contrary, the wicked aue within them a note of condempnation, in that they - regarde not Gods worde, neither hue anye b Gen. 11.3. delight in hearing or learning, or practiſing the ſame in their — and conuerſationz. 2. The ſecond branch of Peters preſump- tion conſiſteth in this, that he ſaith: I ans re- dye to got wuh thee into priſon and onto death. Peter thought he was ſtrong enough to be a Martir, when in deed, heehad ſcarce leat- ned the principles of his faith , nor that v hich is moſt neceſſatie for al men to know namely, his one power and habilitie, and how he muſt learn to ſtand beforethe Lord. Heere youſee Peter thmking humſelſe a va- lant Souldier, and yet is not ſoe: out of which we note the pride of mens harts, and confidence that fleſh & bloode conceiueth of himſelfe. For by nature we are ſo blinde, that though we be naked, yet we vaurit our ſeſues as though we were gorgiouſly appa- railed. Though we be of no force to doe a- ny thing, yet we follow Nemerod (b) & his wicked ' Peters full, wicked complices; and thinke to builde a tower to heauen 244 Ik we view che ſtories of the worde of God, concerning them that haue thus brag- ged of their one power, we ſhall ſco their ucceſſe moſt vnhappie. (a) Phayaob beeing a.Exo.y .2 ſo proud in him ſelfe, that he contemmeth God euen in flit wordes,yet the rewarde of his pride was his deſtructiõ in the red ( b)ſea. b. 14.27. Goliuah(c) who railed on the liuing Lord and c.. Sam. his children, was ouerthrowne with a ſtone 7.45. by (the weake man) little Dauid. Vea, and even of them that ſeemed to be grrate Pil- lers in the Churche of God,; as Rehoboam (d) the ſonne of wile Salomant who through d 2. Chro. 0 pride ſaith vnto his ſubiects, that he would 14.15, 16. make his little finger heauier vnto them, then all his fathers —— for his pride, ten partes of his kingdome was taken from him. And therefore the Lord bothe know - ing; and foreſeeing that we are moſte ſit & ready to be enfected with this diſeaſe: hath prouided by ſpecial commandement for his childrẽ in this caſe. (e) Beware ſaith he, leaſt Daut. 8. y thou ſay in tliyne heart, my power, and the ſtrẽgth of my own hand hath prouided me this ſubſtaunce. But temember the Lorde thy God : it is he that giueth thee power, to get ſubſtaunce. And to this purpoſe it is: C's when : : 1 4 Iud. . 2. b. Gen. 2.7. c. 1. Kin. 8. 46. d. PIA. 14 3. e. Ich. 7.i. Peters fall. whenthe Lord ordained Godiom to delyuer his people, and he had gathered a great mul · titude togeather: God commaunded him to ſend manye of them awaye, leaſt frac! (a) (ſaithhee) vaunt againſt mee, and ſay, my owue power hath ſaued mee. | And therefore it behooueth vs ſeein the ſhamefull fall of the proude and heig conceited people: and contrariwiſe, the ſpeciall commaundement that God hath (er | my vnto vs in this behalfe, that we ſhun; and beware the one, and diligẽtlye embrace and follow the other, and the better to aply our {clues vnto this humilitie of the ſpirite, let vs marke what reaſons the holye Choſe victh to perſwade vs thereunto. They bee eſpecially two moſte forcible and ſtronge. The firſt is the conſideration of out eſtate by nature: as namely the mettell w herof we be made. It is not only earth, wi eh we day- ly tread vader our feete but euen the verye uſt( b) & ſlyme ofthe earth, woatenobbed and vtterlye ſpoyled of all our, good giftes whatſocuer,and ſo ly wallo ing inthe mire of ſinne. There (c) is ao ma that ſinneth not. All (d) are gone aſtray, and are become vnprofitable, there is none that doth good, no, not one: our condition in this wotld is moſt miſerable. (e) A continual warrefare, our —— 07> A Peters fall. our age is as the length( a) of a ſpan, our ſub· a. pſil. 35. ſtance remaining we know not to whome; 5.5. and which of all other is moſte miſerable, after this lyfe (not called to grace in this Pilgrimage) the praye of Sathan, the fyre- brand of hell. So that the right and due conſideration of this, is able to pull downe ) ts the ſtouteſt Champion in the worlde, and to conſume all the figge leaues of vanitie, and pride of mans hart whaſoeuer. And indeed it is moſte effectual in the children of God, It mooued (b) Abraham to tearme himſelf b. en. 18. duſt and aſhes. It made Moyſes (c) ſay who 7. am I, that I ſhould go to Pharaoh ? the ſame c ExOd. 3. is to bee ſeene of Dauid: hauing the Kinges Daughter offered to Wyfe: (d) Who am d. Sam. 18. J (faith hee) or what is my fathers houſe in 18. Iſraell that I ſhould be the Kinges ſonne in we? So then if they beeing mooued with the conſideration of their naturall eſtate; , haue thus paſſed their time with all humili - e: much more it is our duety ſo to do, con idering that our infirmities be manye moe then theirs, which ought to abaſe vs lower then they, | A ſecond argument, the ſpirit of God vſeth in the whole ſcripturs, to mooue all men to humility, & that is this: to confider whence they haue that good thingwhichthey — whether 4. I. Cor. 4. 7. b. lob. 1.21. t. 1. Sm. 2. d. Exo. zt. 3. e. Eph. 28. * of — — Peters fall. whether it be riches, honor, pleaſure, lyfe,or whartſocuer it is, all cometh from the Lord. And therefore no man is toarrogate anye thing vnto himſelfe in any reſpect of them. Which reaſon the Apoſtle Paul vſeth in ex- preſſe wordes, to beat done the pride of the Corinthians laying: What (a) haſte thou, that thou haſt not receiued? if thou haſt re- ceiued it, why reioyſeſt thou as though thou haſte not receiued it? So then this argument ought to bee in force with e- uery one of ys. Forif thou be rich, who did giue it vnto thee? (b) The Lord giueth,and is able to take away. Ifthou be in eſtimatiõ in the world: the Lord (c) ſetteth vp & pul- leth don. If thou haſt( d) cunning or ſkil in any thing whatſoeuer: And if thou art come to the knowledge of God his word, & faith in Chriſt — It is the gitt of God, and not of thy ſelfe. So that in al things whatſoe- uer, thou art to humble thy ſelfe, knowing this, that thou haſt nothing of thy ſelfe, but a lumpe of ſinne And if God hath beftow- ed his gifte vpon thee, in greater meaſure then vppon others thy breathren, that are as deare vnto him, as thou art: thou haſte no iuſt occaſion to be puffed vp there withall: But conttariwiſe. For if thou be the ſtew - ardof much, thiue account thalbefor * I Peters fall. If thou haſt fue (a) Talents, the Lord will looke for the encreaſeof ſiue: If thou haſte moe riches then others, it is beſtowed vpon thee that thou maiſt releue & ſuccour thoſe that want. Not to lay vp in ſtore for thy ſelfe & many yeeres, or to beſtowe it in ex- ceſſe of pride or banquetting. If thou haſte more wiſdome, or lerning, more knowledge or feeling of Gods graces in thee, thẽ others haue: it is not only for thy ſelfe, but alſo for the benefite of that body whereofthou art a member. If the graces and gifts of God be thus firſt conſidered fro whence they came, then employed to thoſe endes, whereunto the Lord hath ordained them: they will bee ſo farre from exalting lum that hath them, by making him proud: that they will ingen- der in him, a great and ſinguler humilitie. Peter followed a farre of. When our Saniour Chriſte walked at li- bertie, many thouſands followed him, & ſe- med very deſirous of his doctrine: but now when hee is apprehended and like to ſuffer troubles for his doings, they al forſake him, onely Peter followeth , peaking aloofe. If Chriſte had beene nothing els — familiar 2 Mat. 25. 20. b. Luke. 13. 19. friend( c) vnto them, yet this had been great c. Pro. 15. their ingratitude in thẽ: but he was their maiſter, 17. «.loh. 13.37 b. Exo. 17. 3 e. Nom. 13. 23.29, ares 4. 4% Zo AS ADE ro ee tt 9 oe * Peters fall, their Lord and their God, therefore their faulte was the — But let vs leaue them all, and conſider Peter his doings onely, Not long before his courage was ſo ſtout, thit hee would ſtande when all fledde,he would lay down his life for him, and ſeemedto bee diſpleaſed with his Maſter, that he would not ſuffer him ſo to doe, ſaying (a) Why cannot I follow thee now?But whe he ſeeth plainly that his Ma- ſter is in troubles indeed, then he pulleth in the ſhoulder, the burthẽ is heauy vntb him before hee feeleth it, hee is very deſirous to ſerue Chriſte, but hee is not willing to take pains with him. So were the(b)/ſra lit very deſirous to come to Canaan, but loath to be troubled by the way in the wildernes: they that went (c) to vie we the land of Canaan with Caleb and poſhua, confeſſed it to bee a countrie ſo frutefull, that it flowed with milke and honnye , and did deſire to come thither, neuertheles they were vn willing to enter combat with the /ebuſites, Amalachirs, (anaarnes , and other people that ſhoulde bee ouercome before they ſhould poſſeſſe at The ſons of Zebed-,did deſire to fit (d) at Chriſts elbo in his Kindome, but they had forgotten that they muſt firſt drinke of the Cuppe Peters fall, BE Cuppe that Chriſte did drinkeoff, and bee baptiſed with his baptiſme. And therefore it is, that our Sauiour Chriſt tearmeth thoſe hearers, whome tri- bulation dooth dryue from the Goſpell, to be like vnto the ſtonye ground, into the which the woorde of GOD can ſend noe roote becauſe ofthe hardenes therof. Many alſo did departe from Chriſt, which before did followe him willinglye, becauſe their groſſe capacitie could not conceiue , howe they ſhould (a) cate theflethe of the Sonne of Man, and drinke his bloode:and truelye the worlde is full of ſuch people at this day, that be very willing to heare and learne the worde of God, becauſe they knowe that it is the way of eternall Iyfe; but if any trou- bles ſhuo!d ſeem to ariſe for the ſame, they are gone, they are willing to come to Chriſt by night, becauſe they feur troubles by day, but chey are not diſcerned in theſe dayes, by their reuoulting in time of perſecution, becauſe(the Lords name be praiſed for it) al men may freely profeſſe the Goſpell, but by their carnall & fleſhly conuerſatiõ, their con trary life & dealing forthe (b)tree is known by the fruit: they loue to heare how to come to heauen, but they like not this, that they muſte addreſſe themſelues to * that 13.21. 2. Ioh. 6.66 b. Mat.. Peters fall. that they muſt forſake their wicked con- uerſation, and frame their doings to the rule ol Gods word, and therefore they (a) turne the grace of God into wantonnes. So there bee a great nomber that be followers of Pe- ter in this point: for he followed becauſe of his promile, but it was a farre off: ſo they fol- lowe the Golpell, becauſe of their preſent ſafegarde, w hich elſe they could not enioy: but as Peter durſt not come neare for feare of troubles: ſo dare they come no faſter on, for feare of after claps; they think that kee- ing themſelues aloofe, they may be ſafe at all ſeaſons, it a change come for which they gape; then they thinke they maye with ho- neſtye change lyike wiſe; whereas if they ſhould be deſirousto pull downe Papiſtrie, (if they be in authoritie) and earneſtly eſta- bliſhe the preaching of the Goſpell they ſhould be aſhamed inthoſe dayes, (which TI truſt ſhall neuer bee) but in the mean while let them well know, that they haue wel pro fit ed to warde the Deuill when they bee in that caſe: For many deny with Peter, but fewe weepe with him. Well, howſoeuer it be that the worlde dooth thus fall from the Lord, and pull away their ſhoulder, from his obedience: yet they that feare God indeed, and do yntainedly — that which they profeſſe, profeſſe, doe — che 3 t * * 1 thereot vndergae, and willinglie receiue all cauble winch followe the ſame - (a) « Luke 14, They ſirſt ſit them dane and caſt theirace. 