,the ,pulpit of the ,reformation2 ,no4 #a1 ,october #cj1 #ahcd4 ,containing ,the ,last ,judgment1 ,by ,john ,welch4 ,the ,day ,of ,judgment1 ,by ,bishop ,latimer4 ,no4 #b1 ,december #a1 #ahcd4 ,containing ,the ,parable ,of ,the ,householders1 ,and ,the ,parable ,of ,the ,tares1 ,by ,bishop ,latimer4 ,no4 #c1 ,january #a1 #ahce1 and ,no4 #d1 ,february #a1 #ahce4 ,containing ,a ,sermon ,preached ,before ,queen ,mary ,by ,john ,knox ,to ,which ,is ,subjoined ,an ,extract ,from ,knox's ,admonition ,to ,the ,people ,of ,england4 ,aberdeen3 ,published ,by ,george ,king1 #bh1 ,st4 ,nicholas ,street1 ,and ,robert ,king1 ,broad ,street1 ,peterhead ,,contents ,the ,last ,judgment4 ,by ,the ,rev4 ,john ,welch1 ,a4 ,d4 #aegj-afbb4 ,the ,day ,of ,judgment4 ,extracted ,from ,a ,sermon ,by ,hugh ,latimer1 ,bishop ,of ,worcester1 ,and ,martyr1 #aeee4 ,the ,parable ,of ,the ,householder4 ,a ,sermon1 ,by ,bishop ,latimer4 ,the ,parable ,of ,the ,tares1 ,by ,bishop ,latimer1 ,preached ,on ,the #gth ,of ,february1 #aeec4 ,a ,sermon ,on ,isaiah ,,xxvi4 ,by ,john ,knox4 8,it ,is ,i1 ,be ,not ,afraid40 ,extracted ,from ,knox's ,admonition ,to ,england4 ,footnotes ,,the ,,last ,,judgment4 ,,by ,,the ,,rev4 ,,john ,,welch1 ,a4 ,d4 #aegj-afbb4 ,,rev4 xx4 #aa4--;,and ,i saw a great white throne1 and him that sat on it1 from whose face the earth and heaven fled away4 ,the security of all flesh is wonderous great1 for there is a fearful sleep fallen both upon the good and the evil4 ,the foolish virgins are sound asleep1 and the wise are asleep also4 ,and suppose the ,lord be at the door1 and the hour of judgment at hand1 and the seventh angel ready to blow the last trumpet1 when time shall be no more2 yet it is scarcely one of a thousand1 yea1 one of ten thousand1 is to be found that is prepared1 and busying themselves to meet the ,lord1 who is making speed to come in the clouds3 and how soon that fire shall break forth1 which shall kindle the heavens above your head1 and the earth under your feet1 and shall set all on fire2 how soon the trumpet shall blow1 and the shout shall cry1 8,rise1 ,dead1 and come to judgment10 is only known to ,god1 and to no mortal man4 ,will ye not then be wakened till this trumpet waken you8 ,and will none of you take pains to look over the leaves of your conscience1 and read what sins are written there1 since ye came into the world1 before that day of doom come upon you8 ,o that ye knew that eternity1 and that terror of the day of the ,lord1 when the heavens above you1 and the earth beneath you1 shall not be able to stand before the face of him that sits on the throne6 ,therefore ,i hope the ,lord has made choice to me of this text1 at this time1 to give you warning before the judgment come4 ,ye know the watchman that the ,lord takes from among the people1 that he sets over the city or house to credit to them1 8,if ye see the sword and pestilence coming1 and warn them not1 the blood of them that perish under the judgment for lack of warning1 will be required at his hand10 that is1 the watchman's2 therefore it is time for me to be making warning to you1 and1 in the measure of strength that ,god will give me1 ,i am to make warning not of a temporal judgment1 but of an everlasting judgment that is coming on1 7,god waken you and warn you in time67 that when ye shall see the ,judge sit on his throne1 your hearts may not tremble at his awful countenance1 having gotten your souls washed in his blood4 ,but1 to come to the purpose1 there are many visions in this book1 and there are many things done here1 that the ,son shews to his servant ,john4 ,he shews him first the present state of the ,church at that time in the world1 under the name of seven stars1 and he tells1 8they are suffering1 and had patience2 and they laboured for his name's sake1 and fainted not2 but yet he had somewhat against them1 because they had forsaken their first love40 ,some were in tribulation and poverty1 but yet rich in ,god2 some kept the name of ,jesus1 and denied not the faith1 suppose they should had given their blood for it1 as the faithful martyr ,antipas did2 but yet he had a few things against them1 because they maintained the doctrine of the ,nicolaitans1 which thing he hated4 ,some had love1 service1 faith1 and patience1 and their work was more at the last than at the first2 but yet they suffered the false prophetess ,jezebel to be among them1 to whom he threatens he will cast her into a bed of affliction1 and them that commit fornication with her1 except they repent them of their works4 ,there were some whose works were not found perfect before ,god2 therefore he exhorts them to remember how they had heard1 and received2 he bids them hold fast and repent1 otherwise1 he tells1 that he will come shortly against them4 ,some had a little strength1 and kept his word1 and denied not his name2 therefore he promises to deliver them in the hour of temptation that shall come upon all the world to try the whole earth4 ,some were neither cold nor hot2 and therefore1 because they were lukewarm1 he tells them that it would come to pass1 that he would spew them out of his mouth2 they thought they were rich and increased in goods1 and had need of nothing1 but they know not that they were wretched1 miserable1 poor1 blind1 and naked2 and then he counsels them to buy of him gold tried in the fire1 that they might be rich1 and white raiment1 that they might be clothed1 and eye-salve that they might see4 ,so what is your case this day8 ,have ye not forsaken your first love8 ,but as for tribulation1 it is not yet come2 for our days have been days of peace1 of light1 liberty1 and glory2 but as for tribulation it is not yet come2 but as the ,lord lives1 the days of tribulation are not far off4 ,as for false doctrine1 ,god be praised1 it is not among us yet1 or1 at least1 if it be1 it dare not be avowed yet2 but ,i fear1 that1 who lives to see it1 they shall see heresy and corruption in doctrine and religion creep in piece and piece1 in this ,church2 and if our works be found perfect before ,god1 or not1 the ,lord knows the contrary1 and your own consciences bear witness to it2 and if your life be answerable to your name1 ,i leave it to your consciences to judge1 if we have not a name that we are living1 and yet are dead2 and whether this be not the doleful state of the generation that is neither cold nor hot4 ,it is clear1 the zeal of the glory of ,god1 being so worn out of the hearts of all1 plainly declares the same4 ,but ,i leave this4 ,after he had shewed him the present state of the ,church1 at that time1 then he tells him what shall be the state of the ,church unto the end of the world4 ,and first1 in the vision of a sealed book1 containing these acts concerning the ,church1 which none could open but the ,lion of the tribe of ,judah1 for it was sealed with seven seals4 ,now1 what was contained in these seven seals8 ,this will take a larger time to declare than now is meet to ware upon it4 ,mark always of these things spoken1 there are three consolations to the ,church of ,god2 howsoever it be that she be in tribulation1 or poverty1 and affliction2 and albeit it come to pass1 that the devil cast some of them in prison1 that they may be tried1 and some have tribulation ten days1 which is but a short time2 and howsoever it be that our adversary goes about continually like 8a roaring lion1 seeking whom to devour20 but yet1 8he that rides on the white horse10 with the badge at his belt1 and the arrows at his side1 he shall get the victory at the end of the world2 and to them that are faithful to the death1 he shall give them a crown of life4 ,mark next1 suppose the sword1 the famine1 the pestilence1 these temporal judgments1 be common to the godly as well as to the wicked1 yet there is consolation to the 8souls of them that are slain for the testimony of ,jesus1 they are lying under the altar1 and they cry with a loud voice1 ,lord1 how long1 holy and true1 dost thou not judge and avenge our blood upon them that dwell on the earth80 ,then it was said unto them1 8that they should rest for a little season1 until their fellow-servants and brethren1 that should be killed1 as they were1 should be fulfilled40 ,mark1 thirdly1 the sixth seal is opened1 8and there was a great earthquake1 and the sun was as black as sackcloth of hair1 and the moon was like blood1 and the stars of heaven fell to the earth1 and heaven departed away as a scroll when it is rolled together2 and every mountain and island were moved out of their places2 and then the kings of the earth1 and the great men1 and rich men1 and the captains1 and the mighty men1 and every bond man1 and every free man1 hid themselves in dens and rocks of the mountains2 and said to the mountains and rocks1 ,fall on us1 and hide us from the presence of him that sits on the throne1 and from the face of the ,lamb3 for the great day of his wrath is come1 and who shall be able to stand80 ,then shall the ,church of ,god be avenged on her enemies2 then she shall have power over the nations1 and shall rule them with a rod of iron1 and as the vessels of a potter they shall be broken2 then shall the saints of ,god be brought out of great tribulation1 and have their long robes washed and made white in the blood of the ,lamb2 they shall be in the presence of the throne of ,god1 and serve him both day and night in his temple2 and he that sits on the throne shall live among them1 and he that is in the midst of the throne shall govern them1 and shall lead them to the lively fountains of waters1 and ,god shall wipe away all tears from their eyes4 ,now1 ,i go forward4 ,after this1 he tells him1 before this day the ,gospel shall be wonderfully restrained2 8,and the bottomless pit shall be opened1 and the smoke of that pit shall arise as the smoke of a great furnace2 and the sun and the air shall be made dark with that smoke3 and out of that smoke shall come locusts upon the earth1 and they shall have power as the scorpions of the earth have1 and the pain of them shall be as the pain of a scorpion1 when he have stung a man4 ,and in these days men shall seek death1 and shall not find it1 and shall desire to die1 and death shall fly from them40 ,then he tells two woes that shall come upon the earth1 the one of the ,antichrist1 the other of the ,turk1 8who shall run through the world and slay the third part of men1 and shall lead their great army of twenty times ten thousand horsemen of war1 and there should be two witnesses raised up1 and power should be given them to prophesy so many days clothed in sackcloth2 and if any man should hurt them1 fire should proceed out of their mouth and devour their enemies2 and when they have fulfilled their testimonies1 they should be slain by the beast that came out of the bottomless pit1 but they should rise again2 and the spirit of life coming up from ,god1 should enter into them1 and they should stand upon their feet1 and great fear fell upon them that seized them1 and then shall they ascend up to heaven in a cloud in the sight of their enemies40 ,and at last1 8,the seventh angel shall blow his trumpet1 and the dead shall rise1 and every man shall receive according to his works40 ,this he does till he comes to the twelfth chapter1 then he tells him1 8,the fights of the dragon with the woman1 and her seed that kept the commands of her ,god1 and kept the testimony of ,jesus ,christ40 ,then he tells him1 8the two empires of the two beasts1 ,antichrist and the ,turk1 and the manner of every one of them40 ,then he tells1 8,the noble company of the ,lamb that stands in mount ,zion1 even the hundred and forty and four thousand1 having their ,father's name written on their fore-heads2 and how he heard a voice from heaven1 like the sound of many waters1 and as the sound of a great thunder2 and he heard the noise of harpers harping with their harps2 they sung1 as it were1 a new song before the throne1 and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand1 which were brought from the earth40 ,he tells what they were1 saying1 8,these are they which were not defiled with women1 for they are virgins2 these follow the ,lamb wherever he goes1 and these were redeemed from among men1 being the first fruits to ,god1 and to the ,lamb3 and in their mouth was found no guile2 for they are without spot before the throne of ,god40 ,then he tells1 8,that another angel flew in the midst of heaven1 with the everlasting ,gospel to preach unto them which dwell on the earth20 and that is the same ,gospel which ,i preach unto you1 even this1 8,fear ,god1 and give glory to him1 for the hour of judgment is come2 and worship him that made the heavens and the earth1 and the sea1 and the fountains of waters40 ,then he tells1 8that another angel cried1 ,it is fallen1 it is fallen1 ,babylon that great city1 she made all the nations to drink of the wine of her fornication4 ,ay1 ,rome1 thou shalt be taken and burnt in a furnice of fire1 and a mill-stone shall be bound about thy neck1 and thou shalt be cast into the midst of the sea1 and shalt be drowned2 there thou shalt fall1 and thy fall shall make heaven and earth1 and all the angels and saints to rejoice at thy fall4 ,ay1 ,god shall put it into the hearts of the kings to do it2 we know not what kings they are2 and then the bride shall prepare her for the bridegroom's coming in the clouds40 ,next again1 of seven vials he sets down again almost the same things that he prophesied before2 and now here1 last of all1 he lets him see the last judgment4 ,would you know then what is here8 ,see ye yon great throne8 ,ye shall see the ,judge standing on the throne2 ye shall all see both heaven and earth flee away from his face1 ye shall all see the dead1 great and small1 and yourselves among the rest1 standing before ,god2 and ye shall all see the books opened1 and the dead judged according to their works1 and death and hell cast into the lake of fire1 even those that had their hands in his heart's blood1 and those that pierced his side with a spear1 and those that rivetted him with nails1 both hands and feet1 they shall see it also4 ,the elect shall see it1 as ,job says1 8,for ,i know that my ,redeemer liveth1 and that he shall stand at the last day upon the earth4 ,and though after my skin worms destroy this body1 yet ,i shall see ,god in my flesh3 whom myself shall see1 and my eyes shall behold1 and not another1 though my reins were consumed in me40 ,and this was his consolation2 even so those very eyes of yours1 and no other1 shall see with terror or with joy1 either to your endless comfort1 or to your endless condemnation4 ,now1 what sees he8 ,first1 he sees a throne2 ye know a throne is set for a judge to sit on2 so he sees a throne whereon the ,judge of the whole earth is to sit on2 therefore he shall come to be a ,judge4 ,he came before1 at his first coming1 not to sit on a throne1 nor to be a ,judge1 but to be judged before thrones and tribunals of men2 for ,john says1 8,that he sent not his ,son that he should condemn the world1 but that the world through him might be saved40 ,christ himself says1 8,man1 who made me a judge1 or a divider over you80 ,and in another place1 8,the ,son of man came not to judge1 but be judged himself40 ,in his first coming1 he comes from high majesty to baseness and humility2 he came from his ,father's glory to shame and ignominy2 he came from a palace to a crib2 from the seat of his majesty to a tree2 he came like a ,lamb to be slain1 and as a ,saviour to save sinners3 as the ,apostle says1 it was a true saying1 8,that ,christ came into the world to save sinners1 of whom ,i am the chief20 ,christ himself says1 8,i came not to call the righteous1 but sinners to repentance20 and therefore that is the name that the angel gives him1 when he appears to ,joseph in a dream1 saying1 and 8thou shalt call his name ,jesus1 for he shall save his people from their sins2 and they shall call his name ,emmanuel1 that is1 ,god with us10 our ,god made flesh1 our ,god manifested in the flesh4 ,so ,i say1 in his first testimony1 he comes as a ,saviour and ,mediator between ,god and man2 but in his last coming1 he shall not come as a ,lamb1 but as a ,judge1 convoyed with all his angels and saints in heaven2 he shall come in flaming fire1 kindling the heavens before him1 in melting the elements and earth beneath him2 he shall come with a blast of the trumpet1 with the archangel1 to gather all people from the four corners of the earth2 and he shall come with a peremptory sentence1 from the which there shall be no appellation1 and of which there shall be no revocation1 ever again or again calling2 and he shall come with his reward in his hand1 to every man according to his works which he has done in this world1 be they evil1 be they good4 ,now1 ye see he has a throne1 he has a throne of grace2 as the ,apostle to the ,hebrews says1 8,let us go boldly to the throne of grace1 that we may receive mercy1 and find grace in time of need40 ,now he is sitting on a throne of grace1 that we may receive mercy1 and find grace in time of need2 and now he holds the door of mercy open1 and lets in every penitent sinner that comes2 therefore ,i testify unto you1 if ye will flee from your sins1 if ye will cast away the works of darkness1 if ye will hate and detest all sort of iniquity1 and if thou wilt run to the throne of grace now1 ,i will assure thee thou shalt find mercy1 and grace in the time of need2 so now is the throne of grace and mercy1 but afterwards thou shalt see the throne of glory and justice4 ,now is the good ,shepherd seeking his lost sheep1 and finding them1 to drink of the wells of the water of life1 and to eat of the fat things of his own house2 but afterwards1 such as would not be gathered of him1 he shall bind them hand and foot1 and cast them into outer darkness4 ,now he pities them that will not come home1 as he said to ,jerusalem1 8,o ,jerusalem1 ,jerusalem1 how oft would ,i have gathered thee1 as a hen doth her birds under her wings1 but thou wouldst not3 behold1 your habitation shall be made desolate40 ,so wo to the souls that repine and refuse to be fetched within the sweet and loving arms of the ,son of ,god1 even those bloody arms which were stretched out upon a tree4 ,now1 discern1 ,i pray you1 betwixt his first coming and his last coming2 for now is the time of grace1 and now is the spirit of grace offered1 and now is the throne of grace set up1 and now is the rainbow1 which is the sign of the covenant of life1 round about the throne1 and now the twelve ports of that new ,jerusalem are standing open1 that all may come in2 therefore1 wo to the soul that shall sit till this time of grace pass over1 and will not come in in time4 ,but ,i will go forward4 ,now1 ye see two things in that throne1 the one is a great throne1 the other is a white throne4 ,let kings keep silence of their thrones1 and speak of this throne4 ,o ye kings1 will ye look to the heavens above you1 and see that white cloud1 and upon the cloud one standing like the ,son of man1 having upon his head a golden crown1 and in his hand a sharp sickle1 who thrusts his sharp sickle in the earth1 and cuts down the vine of the vineyards of the earth1 and casts them into the great wine-press of the wrath of ,god2 so he calls it a great throne4 ,solomon's throne was great which he made of ivory1 and had six steps1 and twelve lions1 two on every step1 and the queen of the ,south was astonished when she saw it2 and it is said in the ,canticles1 8,come forth1 ,o daughters of ,zion1 and behold king ,solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his marriage1 and in the day of the gladness of his heart40 ,but will ye come out1 ye daughters of ,zion1 and see here another throne nor ,solomon's1 another crown nor his crown8 ,it is a great throne1 so that all the monarchs' thrones under heaven1 what are they in comparison with this throne8 ,nothing4 ,therefore no wonder that the twenty-four elders take their own crowns1 and cast them down before his throne2 and it is no wonder that they fall down before him that sits on the throne1 and worship him that lives for evermore1 saying1 8,thou art worthy to receive glory1 honour1 and power1 for thou hast created all things1 and for thy will's sake they are created40 ,o that the men of the world saw this throne6 ,and1 ,o that ye did see the greatness of the majesty of his throne6 ,now he calls it great1 because of him that sits on it2 great1 because of them that stand about it2 great1 because of them that shall be judged there2 and last of all1 great1 because of the judgment itself4 ,now1 who sits on it8 ,o6 the ,judge of the whole world1 ,god himself1 that infinite ,essence that men and angels have borrowed their being from1 even he whose glorious face the seraphims and cherubims cannot behold for the brightness thereof2 and therefore they have wings to cover their faces1 because they cannot bear to see him1 much less so then can any mortal man see his face and live2 he that rides on his white horse1 and tramples under foot all his enemies1 and treads them in the wine-press of his wrath without the city2 therefore rejoice1 all ye whose garments are made white in the blood of the ,lamb1 for his throne shall not terrify you1 because of the ,judge that sits thereon3 for he is thy brother1 thy ,advocate1 and thy ,saviour4 ,o blessed for evermore is the soul of the righteous1 and of such as are reconciled with the great ,god1 before he come to sit on this throne4 ,now1 ,i said1 it was great in respect of him that sits thereon2 next1 in respect of them that stand about it4 ,ye see a judge has his assizers that sit in judgment with him1 and consent to his sentence2 so this great ,judge has his assizers1 for there is not one of his angels shall be left in heaven1 but all shall stand about this throne1 and all the saints on earth shall be caught up in the air1 and they shall all have thrones set about his throne4 ,o the fairest parliament that ever was in the world6 ,o6 behold the ,king crowned with many crowns1 standing in the midst1 and all the ,king's servants with their crowns on their heads1 and also the saints with palms in their hands1 sitting on thrones about that throne4 ,thirdly1 ,great is this throne1 because great is the number of persons that shall be there4 ,all men and women in the world must be judged here2 there is never a reprobate that ever took life1 but he shall be judged here1 and all the elect and saints of ,god shall be judged here also1 7so fair is this parliament17 six thousand years' generations shall all stand there1 waiting to receive an eternal and final judgment4 ,last of all1 ,great is this throne1 because great shall be the judgment that shall come forth from this throne4 ,lords of the ,session think their judgments great2 but come out here1 and see to whom the new city ,jerusalem in heaven shall be given1 and who shall be cast into the lake of fire4 ,now1 compare all these together1 and see if this throne be not great2 great is he that sits on the throne1 even the ,prince of life1 and ,god of glory1 and the ,judge of all the world2 great is his synod1 even all the elect angels and saints1 from the beginning of the world to the end of the world2 for ye that are in ,christ shall be glorified in the clouds1 and the sight of your glory shall aggravate the torment of the reprobates1 because they might have had it1 and would not take it2 and then you shall rule them with a rod of iron1 and as a potter's vessel they shall be broken2 and great is the number of them that shall be judged2 for let all flesh prepare them for it1 even kings and emperors1 those that wore many crowns on the earth1 must appear naked before the throne4 ,alexander1 thou worest many crowns1 conquered many nations1 but yet thou must stand up naked as thou was born1 and thou must render a reckoning of thy conquests4 ,but ,i leave this4 ,again1 you see this throne is white4 ,what means this whiteness8 ,it is innocency or righteousness1 and full of shining brightness1 of an unspeakable joy4 ,innocent and righteous2 how so8 ,because the ,judge is white1 innocent1 and righteous2 all his assizers that shall sit round about him1 they are white1 innocent1 white and righteous2 all his citations1 summonses and convictions1 sentences and executions1 are innocent and righteous2 so all is white1 the ,judge1 the unspotted innocent and undefiled ,lamb of ,god1 sitting on his throne of justice1 and ordained deputy of his ,father1 to judge both the quick and the dead1 he in whose heart was never found guile2 therefore ,abraham said1 8,shall not the ,judge of the world judge righteously80 ,so this ,judge is white1 innocent1 and he is bright and glorious4 ,peter1 ,james1 and ,john1 saw him white on the mount ,tabor1 when he was transfigured1 8and his face shined as the sun1 and his raiment white as the light2 and when ,peter said1 ,master1 it is good for us to be here3 if thou wilt1 let us make three tabernacles1 one for thee1 and one for ,moses1 and one for ,elias40 ,matth4 xvii4 #a1 #b1 #c4 ,ay1 ,peter1 but this shall be a whiter appearing1 and thou shalt think it better to be with him here4 ,ay1 ,lord1 it is true1 white wast thou upon mount ,tabor1 but whiter shalt thou be in the clouds4 ,he is white again1 in respect of his citations4 ,o that our hearts were ravished with the consideration of thy righteous and just citing and summoning of all men1 when thou shalt cause the earth1 grave1 hell1 and the sea1 and all places1 thrust out of them all their dead2 just shalt thou be in glorifying the souls and bodies of them that glorify thee on earth2 and just shalt thou be in glorifying thyself1 by tormenting the souls and bodies of them that dishonoured thee on earth4 ,he is white in respect of his accusations1 for there shall be nothing read in thy ditty1 but that which shall be found written either in one leaf of thy conscience or other2 there the sins of thy conception1 there the sins of thy youth1 there the sins of thy ignorance1 there the sins against the light of thy conscience1 and there the sins against the law1 and there the sins against the gospel1 and all shall be presented to thy conscience4 ,o6 well is the soul and conscience that dare lift up the head with rejoicing1 and can say1 8,thou ,lamb of ,god1 thou takest away the sins of the world10 thou tookest away my sins when thou wast on the tree4 ,and can any body tell how ye will compear before this throne that were never cleansed with the blood of ,jesus8 ,o6 that blackness and darkness1 which is abiding that soul which never yet ran to the blood of the ,lamb1 to make itself white in it2 so the raising of all1 the compearing of all1 the accusation of all1 the conviction of all1 shall be just1 and ,god shall be glorified in all4 ,there is also the absolution of the righteous1 and the condemnation of the wicked2 and therefore the throne is called white1 because of the innocency and righteousness of the ,judge4 ,now1 brethren1 ,i will go no further at this time than this that follows or remains to be spoken of1 the majesty and terror of the ,judge sitting on his throne1 8and him that sat on it40 ,many shall sit on thrones in that day1 but one shall sit above all the rest1 for the saints shall be caught up in the air1 and shall all sit on thrones1 and give out sentence both of absolution and condemnation1 and they shall say1 8,hallelujah1 salvation1 and glory1 and power1 be to the ,lord our ,god1 for true and righteous are his judgments40 ,i could never yet rightly consider the majesty of this ,judge4 ,o heavens6 what aileth thee to flee from the face of this ,judge4 ,o earth6 what aileth thee to flee1 and why art thou chased away1 and never seen again8 ,what ails thee1 ,o heavens1 that never sinned1 and1 ,o earth1 that never sinned neither1 for they had never understanding to be capable of a law1 nor to be subject to keep a law4 ,what means this8 ,o but ,i must leave this6 for who can but wonder at this6 ,yet ,i will tell you the cause4 ,you and ,i1 and the generations before that this firmament has seen1 and this earth seen or born1 since the first day that ,god made the earth1 and established this heaven and earth1 and since that day that ,adam eat of the forbidden tree1 since that day heaven and earth have been eye-witnesses of our sins1 and subject to vanity1 and since that day they have been defiled with our iniquities1 and since that time they have been subject to bondage and corruption1 and therefore they groan with us also1 and travail with pain together until this present2 and therefore1 in that great day1 they cannot abide the face of the ,judge4 ,now1 what is the fruit ye should make of this8 ,i thank my ,god that ,i preach unto you so sure a gospel1 even the oracles of the eternal ,god2 the earth and the heavens shall pass away1 but this word and oracles shall never pass away2 therefore it is not a doubtsome message that ,i carry unto you1 for it is surer than the heavens1 and surer than the earth2 and these eyes of yours1 that have seen both the truth of this spoken here4 ,o that the ,lord would fill my heart1 with this verity1 that ,i might eat it and drink it1 and feed upon it continually1 and that he would fill me with the spirit of exhortation1 that ,i might exhort you to meditate on this truth1 both day and night1 that the remembrance of that day might never go out of your hearts4 ,o that you would do it1 even for his sake that left you his heart's blood to slocken that fire which will burn both the heavens and the earth3 therefore hear1 hear6 ,what should you hear8 things of the last importance4 ,is hell1 is heaven1 is the terror of that day of any importance8 ,and this is not the blessing of mount ,gerizim1 but that everlasting blessing which the ,judge of all the world shall pronounce out of his mouth1 saying1 8,ye blessed of my ,father1 inherit the kingdom prepared for you before the foundation of the world40 ,and it is nothing to the curse of the mount ,ebal1 but it is that everlasting curse and malediction which the ,son of ,god shall pronounce1 saying1 8,depart from me1 ye cursed1 into everlasting fire1 prepared for the devil and his angels40 7,and what shall ,i say to you87 ,this day is coming1 and the ,lord is preparing himself to come down through the clouds1 to sit on a great white throne1 and the archangel is putting the trumpet to his mouth1 and he is near to the blowing of it1 and the rest of the angels are but waiting when they shall give the last shout1 8,rise1 dead1 and come to judgment10 the ,bridegroom is coming1 and the heaven and the earth are waiting when the ,lord shall come in his glory1 in flaming fire1 to burn them up4 ,now1 brethren1 what should ye do then8 ,it is but this one thing that ,i will charge you with1 hear what ,i am to say to you1 ,i bear the message of ,god1 and ,i preach the ,gospel that shall judge you2 and ,i am here sent of ,god to tell you what is his will towards you2 therefore ,i charge you all before ,god1 and his ,son ,christ ,jesus1 every man and woman1 let this be your occupation this day1 turn over the leaves of your conscience1 and see there what is the ditty that thou hast pinned up against thyself1 since the day that thou wast born1 and look on thy sins before the ,lord1 and come and spread them before the ,judge1 and crave pardon of them1 now in the day of grace2 for he is ready to forgive thee and thy sins1 were they never so great2 for aye the redder that thy soul has been1 the virtue of his blood shall appear the greater in cleansing thee from thy sins2 therefore let none of you scare at the greatness of your sins2 for here ,i testify unto you1 that if any of you be condemned1 it shall not be for your sins1 but it shall be for contempt of that blood which shall condemn you4 ,o ,god6 full of mercy and goodness1 and of fatherly care and providence1 and never a greater providence found ,i in my lifetime1 than ,i found this last time in my journey1 ,i thank my ,god for it2 and here ,i avow1 if this blood of mine should go for it1 it was acceptable service to ,god we did that day2 ,i know there were many that sent up their prayers to ,god for the maintenance of his liberty1 ,i am sure the ,lord heard you2 for ,i say to you1 the room was never that ,i came to1 but ,i found the ,lord meeting me there1 and confirming me that all was well and acceptable to him2 so that ,i never found sweeter providence since ,i was born2 ,i see the ,lord's hand is not shortened4 ,o ,scotland6 ,o that thou wouldst repent1 and mourn for the contempt of this so great a light that has shined in thee2 then thou shouldst see as glorious a day on ,god's poor ,church within this land1 as ever was seen in any church before from the beginning2 then the ,lord should be strong1 and glorious1 and wonderful in all the hearts of his own4 ,what is it to him to run sixteen or eighteen score of miles to ,london1 and then run to the hearts of kings1 princes1 and nobles of the land1 and humble them1 and subject them to the crown and kingdom of ,jesus ,christ2 but1 let them think of it what they will1 ,i know who has approven of us1 for it is the running of the ,gospel through the whole land1 and it is that the net of ,christ may be spread over all1 that if it were possible we may gather in a world in it1 that they might not perish2 it is that which we seek1 and when ,i look to the eternity of wrath that is abiding the wicked of this world1 then ,i may say1 who would not pity a world of sinners8 ,but ,i leave this1 and ,i will give ,god the praise of his own glory1 that he can begin and he can perfect his own work in you3 therefore this is my petition to ,god1 that ye may all be presented blameless before him in that great day4 ,therefore ,i beseech you all1 for ,christ's sake1 that every one of you would come in time1 by speedy repentance1 and that you would take up ,christ in the arms of your souls1 and that ye would take a fill of his flesh and blood1 that ye may never hunger and thirst any more2 and1 in like manner1 he may know you in that great day to be his own sheep1 marked with his own blood4 ,will ye have any pleasure at his coming1 when ye have eaten and drunken1 and taken your pleasure here1 and then shall be flung into hell hereafter8 ,so ,i would beseech you1 in all lenity and meekness of mind1 for ,christ's cause1 ye would not delay at least to mint at repentance2 and if ye cannot get your hearts melted as ye would1 yet run to ,god1 and say1 8,father have mercy upon me2 ,father1 forgive me10 and cause me to repent2 ,father1 send down thy ,spirit to soften my heart4 ,now1 if ye would do this1 ye should be welcome to him2 for ,i assure you he delights to shew mercy on poor penitent sinners1 that would 8repent1 and hunger1 and thirst for righteousness40 ,now1 ,i say no more now1 but ,i commend you all to him that is able to give you repentance and remission of sins in the blood of his ,son ,jesus ,christ3 to ,father and with the ,holy ,ghost1 be all honour1 ,amen4 ,,the ,,day ,,of ,,judgment4 ,,extracted ,,from ,a ,,sermon ,,by ,,hugh ,,latimer1 ,,bishop ,,of ,,worcester1 ,,and ,,martyr1 #aeee47a7 ,,luke ,,xxi47#b7 ,as we die so we shall rise again4 ,if we die in the state of damnation1 we shall rise in that same state4 ,again1 if we die in the state of salvation1 we shall rise again in that state1 and come to everlasting felicity1 both of soul and body4 ,for if we die now in the state of salvation1 then at the last general day of judgment we shall hear this joyful sentence1 proceeding out of the mouth of our ,saviour ,christ1 when he will say1 8,come1 ye blessed of my ,father1 possess that kingdom which is prepared for you from the beginning of the world40 7,matt4 xxv47 ,and though we have much misery here in this world1 though it goeth hard with us1 though we must bite on the bridle1 yet for all that1 we must be content1 for we shall be sure of our deliverance1 we shall be sure that our salvation is not far off4 ,and no doubt they that will wrestle with sin1 and strive and fight with it1 shall have the assistance of ,god2 he will help them1 he will not forsake them1 he will strengthen them1 so that they shall be able to live uprightly2 and though they shall not be able to fulfil the law of ,god to the uttermost1 yet for all that1 ,god will take their doings in good part1 for ,christ his ,son's sake1 in whose name all faithful people do their good works1 and so for his sake they are acceptable unto ,god1 and in the end they shall be delivered out of all miseries and troubles1 and come to the bliss of everlasting joy and felicity4 ,i pray ,god1 that we may be of the number of those who shall hear this joyful and most comfortable voice of ,christ our ,saviour1 when he will say1 8,come1 ye blessed of my ,father1 possess the kingdom which is prepared for you before the foundation of the world was laid40 ,there are a great number amongst the ,christian people1 who in the ,lord's prayer1 when they pray1 8,thy kingdom come10 pray that this day may come2 but yet1 for all that1 they are drowned in the world1 they say the words with their lips1 but they cannot tell what is the meaning of it2 they speak it only with their tongue3 which saying indeed is to no purpose4 ,but the man or woman that saith these words1 8,thy kingdom come10 with a faithful heart1 no doubt he or she desires in very deed that ,god will come to judgment1 and amend all things in this world1 to pull down satan that old serpent under our feet4 ,but there are a great number of us who are not ready4 ,some have lived in this world fifty years1 some sixty1 but yet for all that they are not prepared for his coming2 they ever think he will not come yet4 ,but ,i tell you1 that though his general coming be not yet1 yet for all that he will come one day1 and take us out of this world3 and1 no doubt1 as he finds us1 so we shall have2 if he find us ready1 and in the state of salvation1 no doubt we shall be saved for ever1 world without end4 ,but1 if he find us in the state of damnation1 we shall be damned1 world without end1 there is no remedy after we are once past this world2 no penance will help then1 nor anything that man is able to do for us4 8,and then shall they see the ,son of man come in a cloud with power and great glory40 ,st4 ,paul to the ,thessalonians setteth out the coming of ,christ and our resurrection2 but he speaks in the same place only of the rising of the good and faithful that shall be saved4 ,but the ,holy ,scripture in other places witnesses1 that the wicked shall rise too1 and shall receive their sentence from ,christ1 and so go to hell1 where they shall be punished world without end4 ,now1 ,st4 ,paul's words are these1 8,this say we unto you in the word of the ,lord3 that we which shall live and shall remain to the coming of the ,lord1 shall not come before them which sleep4 ,for the ,lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout1 and the voice of the archangel and the trump of ,god1 and the dead in ,christ shall arise first3 then we which shall live1 even we which shall remain1 shall be caught up with them also in the clouds to meet the ,lord in the air2 and so shall we ever be with the ,lord2 wherefore comfort one another with these words40 #a ,thess4 iv4 ,by these words of ,st4 ,paul it appears1 that they which died in the beginning of the world shall be by ,christ as soon saved1 as they who shall be alive here at the time of his coming4 ,i would have you to note well the manner of speaking which ,st4 ,paul uses2 he speaks as if the last day should have come in his time4 ,now1 when ,st4 ,paul thought that this day should have come in his time1 how much more shall we think that it shall be in our time8 ,for no doubt it will come1 and it is not long thereunto2 as it appears by all the scriptures which make mention of this day2 it will come1 but it shall come suddenly1 unawares1 as a thief in the night4 ,for a thief when he intends a robbery1 to rob a man's house1 to break up his chests1 and take away his goods1 gives him not warning1 he lets not the good man of the house know at what time he intends to come1 but rather he intends to spy such a time1 that no man shall be aware of him4 ,so1 no doubt1 this last day will come one day suddenly upon our heads1 before we are aware of it2 like as the fire fell down from heaven upon the people of ,sodom when unlooked for2 they thought that all things were well1 therefore they took their pleasures1 till the time when fire fell down from heaven and burned them up all1 with all their substance and goods4 8,and he showed them a similitude1 ,behold the fig-tree and all the trees1 when they shoot forth their buds1 ye see and know of your ownselves that summer is then near at hand40 ,so when you see the tokens which shall go before this fearful day1 it is time to make ready4 ,but here a man might ask a question1 saying1 ,i pray you wherein standeth this preparation8 ,how shall ,i make ready8 ,about this there has been great strife1 for there have been an infinite number1 and there are some yet at this time1 who think that this readiness standeth in masses1 in setting up candles1 in going of pilgrimage2 and in such things1 they thought to be made ready for that day1 and so to be made worthy to stand before the ,son of man1 that is1 before our ,saviour ,christ4 ,but ,i tell you1 this was not the right way to make ready4 ,christ our ,saviour showeth us how we shall make ourselves ready1 saying1 8,take heed to yourselves1 lest at any time your hearts be overcome with surfeiting1 and drunkenness1 and cares of this world1 and so this day come upon you unawares2 for as a snare shall it come upon all them that dwell upon the face of the whole world40 8,watch and pray30 as if he had said1 ,be ye ever in readiness1 lest you be taken unawares4 ,but those sluggards who spend their time vainly in eating and drinking1 and sleeping1 please not ,god1 for he commands us to watch1 to be mindful1 to take heed to ourselves1 lest the devil1 or the world1 or our own flesh1 get the victory over us4 ,we are allowed to take our natural sleep1 for it is as necessary for us as meat and drink1 and we please ,god as well in that1 as we please him when we take our food4 ,but we must take heed1 that we do it according as he has appointed us2 for like as he has not ordained meat and drink that we should play the glutton with it1 so likewise sleep is not ordained that we should give ourselves to sluggishness1 or over-much sleeping2 for no doubt when we do so1 we shall displease ,god most highly4 ,for ,christ saith not in vain1 8,watch and pray40 ,he would have us to be watchers1 to have at all times in remembrance his coming1 and to give ourselves to prayer1 that we may be able to stand before him at this great and fearful day4 ,meaning1 that we should not trust in ourselves but call unto ,god1 saying1 8,lord ,god ,almighty1 thou hast promised to come and judge the quick and the dead2 we beseech thee give us thy grace and ,holy ,ghost1 that we may live according unto thy holy commandments1 that when thou comest1 thou have not cause to bestow thy fearful anger1 but rather thy lovingkindness and mercy upon us40 ,so likewise when we go to bed1 we should desire ,god that we sleep not the sleep of sin and wickedness1 but rather that we may leave them1 and follow his will and pleasure2 that we be not led with the desires of this wicked world4 ,such an earnest mind we should have towards him1 so watchful we should be4 ,for ,i tell you it is not a trifling matter1 it is not a money matter3 for our eternal salvation and our damnation hang upon it4 ,our nature is to do all that is possible for us to get silver and gold2 how much more then should we endeavour to make ourselves ready towards this day1 when it shall not be a money matter1 but a soul matter1 for at that day it will appear most manifestly who they are that shall enjoy everlasting life1 and who shall be thrust into hell4 ,now as long as we are in this world1 we have all one baptism1 we go all to the ,lord's ,supper1 we all bear the name of ,christians1 but then it will appear who are the right ,christians2 and again1 who are the hypocrites or dissemblers4 ,well1 ,i pray ,god grant us such hearts1 that we may look diligently about us1 and make ready against his fearful and joyful coming--fearful to them that delight in sin and wickedness1 and will not leave them2 and joyful unto those who repent1 forsake their sins1 and believe in him2 who1 no doubt1 will come in great honour and glory1 and will make all his faithful like unto him1 and will say unto them that are chosen to everlasting life1 8,come1 ye blessed of my ,father1 possess that kingdom which is prepared for you from the beginning of the world40 ,but1 to the wicked who will not live according unto his will and pleasure1 but follow their own appetites1 he will say1 8,go1 ye cursed1 into everlasting fire40 ,o what a horrible thing will this be1 to depart from him who is the fountain of all goodness and mercy1 without whom is no consolation1 comfort1 nor rest1 but eternal sorrow and everlasting death6 ,for ,god's sake ,i require you let us consider this1 that we may be amongst those who shall hear1 8,come to me20 that we may be amongst those who shall enjoy eternal life4 ,,the ,,parable ,,of ,,the ,,householder4 ,a ,,sermon1 ,,by ,,bishop ,,latimer4 ,,matthew ,,xx4--,the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that was an householder1 which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard4 ,this parable is written by the evangelist ,matthew in the twentieth chapter1 and is very dark and hard to be understood2 yea1 there is no harder piece of scripture written by any evangelist4 ,therefore it may well be called hard meat2 not meat for mowers nor ignorant people1 who are not exercised in the word of ,god4 ,and yet there is no other diversity between this scripture and any other4 ,for though many scriptures have diverse expositions1 7as is well to be allowed of1 so long as they keep in the tenour of the catholic faith17#c77 yet they pertain all to one end and effect1 and they are all alike4 ,therefore although this parable is harder to understand than the others at the first hearing or reading1 yet when we well advise and consider the same1 we shall find it agreeable unto all the others4 ,now to the principal cause1 and to which our ,saviour had respect in this parable1 and that is1 he teaches us hereby that all ,christian people are equal in all things appertaining to the kingdom of ,christ4 ,so that we have one ,christ1 one ,redeemer1 one baptism1 and one gospel1 one ,supper of the ,lord1 and one kingdom of heaven4 ,so that the poorest man and most miserable that is in the world1 may call ,god his ,father1 and ,christ his ,redeemer1 as well as the greatest king or emperor in the world4 ,and this is the scope of this parable1 wherein ,christ teacheth us this equality4 ,and if this is considered1 the whole parable will be easily and soon understood47#d7 ,here is declared unto us that some laboured the whole day1 which are hired for a penny1 that is of our money ten pence3 for like as we have a piece of money which we call a shilling1 and is in value twelve pence1 so the ,jews had a piece that they called denarium1 and that was in value ten of our pence4 ,the first company wrought twelve hours1 and the others wrought1 some nine hours1 some six hours1 some three hours1 and some but one hour4 ,now when evening was come1 and the time of payment drew on1 the householder said to his stewart1 ,go1 and give to every man alike1 and begin at those that came last4 ,and when the others that came early in the morning perceived that they should have no more than those that had wrought but one hour1 they murmured against the householder1 saying1 8,shall they which have laboured but one hour1 have as much as we that have wrought the whole day80 ,the householder1 perceiving their discontented mind1 said to one of them1 8,friend1 wherefore grudgest thou8 ,is it not lawful for me to do with mine own what pleaseth me8 ,have ,i not given thee what ,i promised thee8 ,content thyself therefore1 and go thy way1 for it hath pleased me to give unto this man which hath wrought but one hour as much as unto thee40 ,this is the sum of this parable1 which ,christ concludes with this sentence1 8,the first shall be the last1 and the last first40 ,first consider who are these murmurers8 ,the merit-mongers1 who esteem their own works so much1 that they think heaven scarcely sufficient to recompense their good deeds2 namely1 for putting themselves to pain with saying of our lady's psalter1 and gadding on pilgrimage1 and such like trifles4 ,these are the murmurers2 for they think themselves holier than all the world1 and therefore worthy to receive a greater reward than all other men4 ,but such men are much deceived and are in a false opinion1 and if they abide and continue therein1 it shall bring them to the fire of hell4 ,for man's salvation cannot be gotten by any work3 because the ,scripture saith1 8,life everlasting is the gift of ,god40 7,rom4 vi47 ,true it is1 that ,god requires good works of us1 and commands us to avoid all wickedness4 ,but for all that1 we may not do our good works that we should get heaven withal2 but rather to show ourselves thankful for what ,christ hath done for us1 who with his sufferings hath opened heaven to all believers1 that is1 to all those that put their hope and trust1 not in their deeds1 but in his death and suffering1 and study to live well and godly2 and yet not to make merits of their own works1 as though they should have everlasting life for them2 as our monks and friars1 and all our religious persons were wont to do1 and therefore may rightly be called murmurers2 for they thought they had so great a store of merits1 that they sold some of them unto other men4 ,and many men spend a great part of their substance to buy their merits1 and to be a brother of their houses1 or to obtain one of their coats or cowls to be buried in4 ,but there is a great difference between the judgment of ,god1 and the judgment of this world4 ,in this world they were accounted most holy above all men1 and so most worthy to be first2 but before ,god they shall be last1 when their hypocrisy and wickedness shall be opened4 ,and thus much ,i thought to say of murmurers4 ,now ,i will not apply all the parts of this parable2 for1 as ,i said before1 it is enough for us if we know the chief point and scope of the parable1 which is1 that there shall be an equality in all the things that appertain to ,christ3 insomuch1 that the ruler of this realm hath no better a ,god1 no better sacraments1 and no better a gospel1 than the poorest in the world2 yea1 the poorest man hath as good right to ,christ and his benefits1 as the greatest man in this world4 ,this is comfortable to every one1 and especially to such as are in misery1 poverty1 or other calamities2 which1 if it were well considered1 would not make us so desirous to come aloft1 and to get riches1 honour1 and dignities in this world1 as we now are1 nor yet so malicious one against another as we are4 ,for then we should ever make this reckoning with ourselves1 each man in his vocation2 the servant would think thus with himself1 ,i am a poor servant1 and must live after the pleasure of my master1 ,i may not have my free will2 but what then8 ,i am sure that ,i have as good a ,god as my master hath2 and ,i am sure that my service and business pleases ,god as much1 when ,i do it with a good faith1 as the preachers and curates1 in preaching or saying of service4 ,for we must understand that ,god esteems not the diversity of the works1 but he hath respect unto the faith2 for a poor man who does his duty in faith1 is as acceptable unto ,god1 and hath as good right to the death and merits of ,christ1 as the greatest man in the world4 ,so go through all states of men1 whosoever applieth to his business with faith1 considering that ,god willeth him so to do1 surely the same is most beloved of ,god4 ,if this were well considered and printed in our hearts1 all ambition and desire of promotion1 all covetousness and other vices1 would depart out of our hearts4 ,for it is the greatest comfort that may be unto poor people1 especially such as are nothing regarded in this world--if they consider that ,god loves them as well as the richest in the world--it must needs be a great comfort unto them4 ,but there are some that say1 that this sentence1 8,the first shall be last10 is the very substance of the parable4 ,and here you shall understand1 that our ,saviour ,christ took occasion to put forth this parable1 when there came a young man demanding of him1 8,what shall ,i do to come to everlasting life80 ,our ,saviour1 after he had taught him the commandments of ,god1 bade him1 8,go1 and sell all that he had1 and give to the poor2 and come and follow him40 ,he hearing this1 went away heavily1 for his heart was cold4 ,and then our ,saviour spake very terribly against rich men1 saying1 8,it is more easy for a camel to go through the eye of a needle1 than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven30--a camel1 or as some think1 a great cable of a ship1 which is more likely than the beast that is called a camel4 ,the disciples hearing this1 said1 8,who then can be saved80 ,he made them answer1 saying1 8,god is almighty1 and that which is impossible to men1 is possible with ,god20 signifying1 that he condemns not all rich men1 but only those who set their heart upon riches1 who care not how they get them1 and when they have them1 who abuse them to the satisfying of their own carnal appetites and fleshly delights and pleasures1 and use them not to the honour of ,god4 ,and again1 such riches as are justly1 rightly1 and godly gotten1 those are the good creatures of ,god1 when rightly used to the glory of ,god1 and comfort of their neighbours2 not hoarding nor heaping them up1 to make treasures of them4 ,for riches are not evil of themselves2 but they are made evil1 when our hearts is set upon them1 and we put hope in them2 for that is an abominable thing before the face of ,god4 ,now after these words spoken by our ,saviour ,christ1 ,peter came forth1 saying1 8,lo1 we have forsaken all that we had1 what shall be our reward80 ,peter had forsaken all that he had1 which was but little in substance1 but yet it was a great matter to him1 for he had no more than that little3 like the widow who cast into the treasury two mites1 yet our ,saviour praised the gift above all that gave before her4 ,here thou learnest1 that when thou hast but little1 yet give of the same little2 for it is as acceptable unto ,god1 as though it were a greater thing4 ,so ,peter1 in forsaking his old boat and net1 was approved as much before ,god1 as if he had forsaken all the riches in the world2 therefore he shall have a great reward for his old boat2 for ,christ saith1 that he shall be one of them that shall sit and judge the twelve tribes of ,israel2 and to signify them to be more than others1 he giveth them the name of judges2 meaning1 that they shall condemn the world3 like as ,god speaketh of the queen of ,sheba1 that in the last day she shall arise and condemn the ,jews who would not hear ,christ1 and she came so great a journey to hear the wisdom of ,solomon4 ,then he answered and said1 8,whosoever leaveth father1 or mother1 or brethren1 for my sake1 shall receive an hundred-fold1 and shall inherit everlasting life40 ,now what is this1 to leave father and mother8 ,when my father or mother would hinder me in any goodness1 or would persuade me from the honouring of ,god and faith in ,christ1 then ,i must forsake and rather lose the favour and good-will of my father and mother1 than forsake ,god and his holy word4 ,and now ,christ saith1 8,the first shall be last1 and the last shall be first10 alluding to ,st4 ,peter's saying1 which sounded as though ,peter looked for a reward for his deeds2 and that is it1 which is the let of altogether17#e7 if a man come to the ,gospel and hears the same1 and afterwards looks for a reward1 such a man shall be 8the last40 ,if these sayings were well considered by us1 surely we should not have such a number of vain gospellers as we now have1 who seek nothing but their own advantage under the name and colour of the ,gospel4 ,moreover1 he teaches us to be meek and lowly1 and not to think much of ourselves2 for those that are greatly esteemed in their own eyes1 are the least before ,god3 8,for he that humbleth himself shall be exalted20 according to the scripture1 which saith1 8,god resisteth the proud1 and advanceth the humble and meek40 ,and this is what he saith1 8,the first shall be the last10 teaching us to be careful and not to stand in our own conceit1 but ever to mistrust ourselves2 as ,st4 ,paul teacheth1 saying1 8,whosoever standeth let him take heed he fall not2 and therefore we may not put trust in ourselves1 but rather in ,god40 ,further1 in this saying of our ,saviour is comprehended a great comfort2 for those that are accounted by the world to be the vilest slaves and most abject1 may by this saying have a hope to be made the first and the principal2 for although they are ever so low1 yet they may rise again1 and become the highest4 ,and so this is to us a comfortable sentence1 which strengthens our faith1 and keeps us from desperation and falling from ,god4 ,and at the end he saith1 8,many are called1 but few are chosen40 ,these words of our ,saviour are very hard to understand1 and therefore it is not good to be too curious in them1 as some vain fellows1 who seeking carnal liberty1 pervert1 toss and turn the word of ,god1 after their own mind and purpose4 ,such1 ,i say1 when they read these words1 make their reckoning thus2 saying1 8,what need ,i to mortify my body with abstaining from all sin and wickedness8 ,i perceive ,god hath chosen some1 and some are rejected4 ,now if ,i be in the number of the chosen1 ,i cannot be damned2 but if ,i be accounted among the condemned number1 then ,i cannot be saved3 for ,god's judgments are immutable40 ,such foolish and wicked reasons some have2 which bring them either to desperation1 or else to carnal liberty4 ,therefore1 it is as needful to beware of such reasons1 or expositions of the scripture1 as it is to beware of the devil himself4 ,but if thou art desirous to know whether thou art chosen to everlasting life1 thou mayest not begin with ,god3 for ,god is too high1 thou canst not comprehend him2 the judgments of ,god are unknown to man2 therefore thou mayest not begin there3 but begin with ,christ1 and learn to know ,christ1 and wherefore he came2 namely1 that he came to save sinners1 and made himself subject to the law1 and a fulfiller of the same1 to deliver us from the wrath and danger thereof1 and therefore was crucified for our sins1 and rose again to show and teach us the way to heaven1 and by his resurrection to teach us to arise from sin3 so also his resurrection teaches and admonishes us of the general resurrection4 ,he sitteth at the right hand of ,god and maketh intercession for us1 and gives us the ,holy ,ghost1 that comforts and strengthens our faith1 and daily assures us of our salvation4 ,consider1 ,i say1 ,christ and his coming2 and then begin to try thyself whether thou art in the book of life or not4 ,if thou findest thyself in ,christ1 then thou art sure of everlasting life4 ,if thou be without him1 then thou art in an evil case4 ,for it is written1 8,no man cometh unto the ,father but through me40 ,therefore if thou knowest ,christ1 then thou mayest know further of thy election4 ,but when we are about this matter1 and are troubled within ourselves1 whether we are elected or no2 we must ever have this maxim1 or principal rule before our eyes2 namely1 that ,god beareth a good-will towards us2 ,god loveth us2 ,god beareth a fatherly heart towards us4 ,but you will say1 8,how shall ,i know that8 ,or how shall ,i believe that80 ,we may know ,god's will towards us through ,christ3 ,god hath opened himself unto us by his ,son ,christ2 for so saith ,john the ,evangelist1 8,the ,son which is in the bosom of the ,father1 he hath revealed40 7,john i47 ,therefore we may perceive his good-will and love towards us2 he hath sent his ,son into this world1 who suffered a most painful death for us4 ,shall ,i now think that ,god hates me8 ,or shall ,i doubt of his love towards me8 ,here you see how you shall avoid the scrupulous and most dangerous question of the predestination of ,god4 ,for if thou wilt inquire his counsels1 and enter into his consistory1 thy wit will deceive thee2 for thou shalt not be able to search the counsels of ,god4 ,but if thou begin with ,christ1 and consider his coming into the world1 and dost believe that ,god hath sent him for thy sake1 to suffer for thee1 and deliver thee from sin1 death1 the devil1 and hell2 then when thou art so armed with the knowledge of ,christ1 then1 ,i say1 this simple question cannot hurt thee2 for thou art in the book of life1 which is ,christ himself4 ,also we learn by this sentence1 8,many are called10 that the preaching of the gospel is universal2 that it pertains to all mankind2 that it is written1 8,through the whole earth their sound is heard40 ,now seeing that the gospel is universal1 it appears that he would have all mankind saved1 and that the fault is not in him if we are damned4 ,for it is written thus1 8,god would have all men to be saved30 his salvation is sufficient to save all mankind1 but we are so wicked of ourselves that we refuse the same1 for we will not take it when it is offered unto us2 and therefore he saith1 8,few are chosen20 that is1 few have pleasure and delight in it2 for the most part are weary of it1 they cannot abide it4 ,and there are some that hear it1 but they will not abide any danger for it1 they love their riches and possessions more than the word of ,god4 ,and therefore few are elected1 there are but a few that stick heartily unto it1 and can find in their hearts to forgo this world for ,god's sake and his holy word4 ,there are some now-a-days that will not be reprehended by the gospel2 they think themselves better than it4 ,some again are so stubborn1 that they will rather forswear themselves1 than confess their sins and wickedness4 ,such men are the cause of their own damnation2 for ,god would have them saved1 but they refuse it2 like as did ,judas the traitor1 whom ,christ would have had to be saved1 but he refused his salvation2 he refused to follow the doctrine of his master ,christ4 ,and so1 whosoever heareth the word of ,god1 and follows it1 the same is elect by him4 ,and again1 whosoever refuses to hear the word of ,god1 and to follow the same1 is damned4 ,so that our election is sure if we follow the word of ,god4 ,here is now taught you how to try out your election1 namely1 in ,christ1 for ,christ is the accounting book and register of ,god2 even in the same book1 that is1 ,christ1 are written all the names of the elect4 ,therefore we cannot find our election in ourselves1 neither yet in the high counsel of ,god2 for 8,secret things belong to the most ,high40 7,deut4 xxix47 ,where then shall ,i find my election8 ,in the counting book of ,god1 which is ,christ2 for thus it is written1 8,god hath so entirely loved the world1 that he gave his only begotten ,son1 to that end1 that all that believe in him should not perish1 but have life everlasting40 ,whereby appears most plainly that ,christ is the book of life1 and that all that believe in him are in the same book1 and so are chosen to everlasting life2 for only those are ordained which believe4 ,therefore when thou hast faith in ,christ1 then thou art in the book of life1 and so art thou sure of thine election4 ,and again1 if thou art without ,christ1 and have no faith in him1 neither art sorry for thy wickedness1 nor have a mind and purpose to leave and forsake sin1 but rather exercise and use the same1 then thou art not in the book of life as long as thou art in such a case2 and therefore shalt thou go into everlasting fire1 namely1 if thou die in thy wickedness and sin1 without repentance4 ,but there are none so wicked but he may have a remedy4 ,what is that8 ,enter into thine own heart1 and search the secrets of the same4 ,consider thine own life1 and how thou hast spent thy days4 ,and if thou find in thyself all manner of uncleanness and abominable sins1 and so seest thy damnation before thine eyes1 what shalt thou then do8 ,confess the same unto the ,lord thy ,god4 ,be sorry that thou hast offended so loving a ,father1 and ask mercy of him in the name of ,christ1 and believe steadfastly that he will be merciful unto thee in respect of his only ,son1 who suffered death for thee2 and then have a good purpose to leave all sin and wickedness1 and to withstand and resist the affections of thine own flesh1 which ever fight against the ,spirit2 and to live uprightly and godly1 after the will and commandment of thy heavenly ,father4 ,if thou go thus to work1 surely thou shalt be heard4 ,thy sins shall be forgiven thee2 ,god will show himself true in his promise1 for to that end he sent his only ,son into this world1 that he might save sinners4 ,consider therefore1 ,i say1 wherefore ,christ came into this world2 consider also the great hatred and wrath that ,god beareth against sin2 and again consider his great love1 showed unto thee1 in that he sent his only ,son to suffer most cruel death1 rather than that thou shouldst be damned everlastingly4 ,consider therefore this great love of ,god the ,father1 amend thy life1 fly all occasions of sin and wickedness1 and be loath to displease him4 ,and in doing this thou mayest be assured that though thou hadst done all the sins of the world1 they shall neither hurt nor condemn thee2 for the mercy of ,god is greater than all the sins of the world4 ,but we sometimes are in such a case that we think we have no faith at all1 or if we have any1 it is very feeble and weak4 ,and therefore these are two things2 to have faith and to have the feeling of faith4 ,for some men would fain have the feeling of faith1 but they cannot attain unto it2 and yet they may not despair1 but go forward in calling upon ,god1 and it will come at length3 ,god will open their hearts1 and let them feel his goodness4 ,and thus may you see who are in the book of life1 and who are not4 ,for all those that are obstinate sinners1 are without ,christ1 and so not elect to everlasting life1 if they remain in their wickedness4 ,there are none of us all but we may be saved by ,christ1 and therefore let us stick hard unto it1 and be content to forego all the pleasures and riches of this world for his sake1 who for our sake forsook all the heavenly pleasures1 and came down into this miserable and wretched world1 and here suffered all manner of afflictions for our sake4 ,and therefore it is right that we should do somewhat for his sake1 to show ourselves thankful unto him2 and so we may assuredly be found among the first1 and not among the last2 that is to say1 among the elect and chosen of ,god1 that are written in the counting book of ,god1 who are those that believe in ,christ ,jesus2 to whom1 with ,god the ,father1 and the ,holy ,ghost1 be all honour and glory1 world without end4--,amen4 ,,the ,,parable ,,of ,,the ,,tares1 ,,by ,,bishop ,,latimer1 ,,preached ,,on ,,the #g,,th ,,of ,,february1 #aeec4 ,,matthew ,,xiii4--,the kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field3 but while men slept1 his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat1 and went his way1 c4 ,this is a parable or similitude wherein our ,saviour compared the kingdom of ,god1 that is1 the preaching of his word1 wherein consisteth the salvation of mankind1 unto a husbandman who sowed good seed in his field4 ,but before we come unto the matter1 you shall first learn to understand what this word parable1 which is a ,greek word1 and used in the ,latin and ,english tongue1 means2 that is to say1 8,a parable is a comparison of two things that are unlike outwardly20 while in effect they signify but one thing1 for they appertain to one end2 as in this place1 ,christ compared the word of ,god unto seed3 which two things are unlike1 but yet they teach one thing2 for like as the seed is sown in the earth1 so is the word of ,god sown in our hearts3 and thus much of this word parable4 ,the sum of this gospel is1 first he speaks of a husbandman that sowed good seed2 after that he mentions an enemy that sowed evil seed4 ,and these two manner of seeds1 that is1 the husbandman's seed that was good1 and the enemy's seed which was naught1 came up both together3 so that the enemy was as busy as the other in sowing his evil seed4 ,and while he was busy in sowing it1 it was unknown4 ,and at the first springing up1 it all seemed to be good seed1 but at length the servant of the husbandman perceived the evil seed sown amongst the good2 therefore he came and told his master1 showing him all the matter1 and required leave to gather the evil seed from amongst the other4 ,the husbandman himself said1 8,our enemy hath done this4 ,but for all that1 let it alone until the harvest1 and then will ,i separate the good from the evil40 ,this is the sum of this gospel4 ,first1 note that he saith1 8,when everybody was asleep1 then he came and sowed his seed40 ,who are these sleepers8 ,the bishops and prelates1 the slothful and careless curates and ministers2 they with their negligence give the devil leave to sow his seed1 for they sow not their seed4 ,that is1 they preach not the word of ,god1 they instruct not the people with wholesome doctrine1 and so they give place to the devil to sow his seed4 ,for when the devil cometh1 and findeth the heart of man not weaponed nor garnished with the word of ,god1 he forthwith possesses the same1 and so getteth victory through the slothfulness of the spirituality1 which they shall one day grievously repent4 ,for the whole scripture1 that is to say1 both the ,old and ,new ,testament1 is full of threatenings against such negligent and slothful pastors2 and they shall make a heavy and grievous account one day1 when no excuse shall serve1 but extreme punishment shall follow1 for a reward of their slothfulness4 ,this gospel gives occasion to speak of many things3 for our ,saviour himself expounded this parable unto his disciples after the people were gone from him1 and he was come into the house4 ,for the disciples were not so bold as to ask him of the meaning of this parable in the presence of the people2 whereby we may learn good manners1 to use in everything a good and convenient time4 ,also we may here learn to search and inquire earnestly1 and with great diligence1 for the true understanding of ,god's word4 ,and when you hear a sermon and are in doubt of something1 inquire about it1 and be desirous to learn2 for it is written1 8,whosoever hath1 unto him shall be given2 and he shall have abundance40 7,matt4 xiii47 ,what means this saying8--,when we hear the word of ,god1 and have tasted somewhat thereof1 and are afterwards desirous to go forward more and more1 then shall we have further knowledge2 for ,god will give us his grace to come to further understanding4 ,and so the saying of our ,saviour shall be fulfilled in us4 ,now when our ,saviour heard the request of his disciples1 he performs their desire1 and begins to expound unto them the parable1 saying1 8,i am he that soweth good seed3 the adversary1 the devil1 is he who soweth evil seed40 ,here our ,saviour1 good people1 makes known that he goeth about to do us good2 but the devil doth quite the contrary1 and he seeks to spoil and destroy us with his filthy and naughty seeds of false doctrine4 ,the field here is the whole world4 ,the harvest is the end of the world4 ,the reapers are the angels of ,god1 who are his servants3 for as every lord or master has his servants to wait upon him1 and to do his commandments1 so the angels of ,god wait upon ,him to do his commandments4 ,the angels at the time of the harvest shall gather first all such as have been evil and have given occasion of wickedness1 and go forward in the same without repentance or amendment of their lives4 ,all such1 ,i say1 shall be gathered together and cast into the furnace of fire1 8where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth40 ,for in the end of this wicked world1 all such as have lived in the delights and pleasures of the same1 and have not fought with the lusts and pleasures of their flesh1 but are proud and stubborn1 or bear hatred and malice unto their neighbours1 or are covetous persons2 also all naughty servants that do not their duties1 and all those that use falsehood in buying and selling1 and care not for their neighbours1 but sell unto them false wares1 or otherwise deceive them2 all these are called 8the offenders of this world10 and all such shall be cast into the furnace where shall be weeping1 and wailing1 and gnashing of teeth4 ,in like manner1 all idle persons that will not work for their living1 but go about loitering and are chargeable unto others2 and also drunken persons that abuse the benefits of ,god in dishonouring themselves1 so that they lose the use of reason1 and their natural wits wherewith ,god has endued them1 and make themselves like swine and beasts2 also those who break wedlock1 and despise matrimony1 which is instituted of ,god himself4 ,hereunto add all swearers1 all usurers1 all liars1 and deceivers2 all these are called the seed of the devil2 and so they are the devil's creatures through their own wickedness4 ,but yet it is true that wicked men have their souls and bodies of ,god1 for he is their ,creator and ,maker3 but they themselves1 in forsaking ,god and his laws1 and following the devil and his instructions1 make themselves members of the devil1 and become his seed2 therefore in the last day they shall be cast out into everlasting fire1 when the trumpet shall blow1 and the angels shall come and gather all those that offend from among the elect of ,god4 ,the form of judgment shall be in this manner3 ,christ our ,saviour at the day of judgment1 being appointed of ,god1 shall come down with great triumph and honour1 accompanied with all his angels and saints that departed in faith out of this world before time3 they shall come with him then1 and all the elect shall be gathered to him1 and there they shall see the judgment2 but they themselves shall not be judged1 but shall be like as judges with him4 ,after the elect are separated from the wicked1 he shall give a most horrible and dreadful sentence unto the wicked1 commanding his angels to cast them into everlasting fire1 where they shall have such torments as no tongue can express4 ,therefore our ,saviour1 desirous to set out the pains of hell unto us1 and to make us afraid thereof1 calls it fire1 yea1 a burning and unquenchable fire4 ,for as there is no pain so grievous to a man as fire is1 so the pains of hell pass all the pains that may be imagined by any man4 ,there shall be sobbing and sighing1 weeping and wailing1 and gnashing of teeth1 which are the tokens of unspeakable pains and griefs that shall come upon those that die in the state of damnation4 ,for you must understand that there are but two places appointed by ,almighty ,god1 for all mankind1 that is1 heaven and hell4 ,and in what state soever a man dieth1 in the same he shall rise again1 for there shall be no alteration or change4 ,those who die repentant and are sorry for their sins--who cry to ,god for mercy1 are ashamed of their wickedness1 and believe with all their hearts that ,god will be merciful unto them through the passion of our ,saviour ,christ2 those who die in such a faith1 shall come into everlasting life and felicity1 and shall rise in the last day in a state of salvation4 ,for look--as you die1 so shall you arise4 ,whosoever departeth out of this world without a repentant heart1 and has been a malicious and envious man1 and a hater of the word of ,god1 and so continues1 and will not repent and be sorry1 and call upon ,god with a good faith1 or has no faith at all2 that man shall come to everlasting damnation2 and so he shall arise again at the last day4 ,for there is nothing that can help a soul when departed out of its damnation1 or hinder it of its salvation4 ,for when a man dies without faith in ,christ1 all the masses in the whole world are not able to relieve him2 and so to conclude1 all the travails that we have had in time past by seeking of remedy by purgatory1 and all the great costs and expenses that may be bestowed upon any soul lying in the state of damnation1 can avail nothing1 neither can it do any good4 ,for as ,i said before1 the judgments of ,god are immutable1 that is--as you die1 so shall you rise4 ,if you die in the state of salvation1 you shall rise so again1 and receive your body1 and remain in salvation4 ,again1 if you die in damnation1 you shall rise in the same state1 and receive your body1 and return again to the same state1 and be punished world without end1 with unspeakable pains and torments4 ,for our natural fire1 in comparison to hell-fire1 is like a fire painted on a wall2 but that shall be so extreme1 that no man is able to express the terrible horror and grief thereof4 ,o what a pitiful thing is it1 that man will not consider this1 and leave the sin and pleasure of this world1 and live godly2 but is so blind and mad1 that he will rather have a momentary1 and a very short and small pleasure1 than hearken to the will and pleasure of ,almighty ,god2 who can take away everlasting pain and woe1 and give unto him everlasting felicity6 ,that a great many of us are damned1 the fault is not in ,god1 for 8,god would have all men be saved40 ,but the fault is in ourselves1 and in our own madness1 who had rather have damnation than salvation4 ,therefore1 good people1 consider these terrible pains in your minds1 which are prepared for the wicked and ungodly1 avoid all wickedness and sin3 set before your eyes the wonderful joy and felicity1 and the innumerable treasures which ,god hath laid up for you that fear and love him1 and live after his will and commandments2 for no tongue can express1 no eye hath seen1 no heart can comprehend1 nor conceive the great felicity that ,god hath prepared for his elect and chosen1 as ,st4 ,paul witnesses4 ,consider1 therefore1 ,i say1 these most excellent treasures1 and exert yourselves to obtain the fruition of the same4 ,continue not1 neither abide nor wallow too long in your sins1 like as swine lieth in the mire4 ,make no delay to repent of your sin1 and to amend your life1 for you are not so sure to have repentance in the end4 ,it is a common saying1 8,late repentance is seldom sincere40 ,therefore consider this thing with yourself betimes1 and study to amend your life3 for what avails it to have all the pleasures of the world for a while1 and after that to have everlasting pain and infelicity8 ,therefore let every one examine his own conscience when he finds himself unready4 ,for all such as through the goodness of ,god have received faith1 and then wrestling with sin1 consent not unto it1 but are sorry for it when they fall1 and do not abide nor dwell in the same1 but rise up again forthwith1 and call for forgiveness thereof1 through the merits of our ,saviour ,jesus ,christ--all such are called just3 that is to say1 all that die with a repentant heart1 and are sorry that they have sinned1 and are minded if ,god give them longer time to live1 to amend all faults1 and lead a new life2 then are they just2 but not through their own merits or good works4 ,for if ,god should enter into judgment with us1 none are able to stand before his face2 neither may any of his saints be found just2 neither ,st4 ,john ,baptist1 ,st4 ,peter1 nor ,st4 ,paul2 no nor is the mother of our ,saviour ,christ herself just1 if she should be judged after the rigour of the law4 ,for all are and must be justified by the justification of our ,saviour ,christ1 and so we must be justified1 and not by our own well-doing1 but our justice standeth in this1 that our righteousness is forgiven us through the righteousness of ,christ1 for if we believe in him1 then are we made righteous4 ,for he fulfilled the law1 and afterwards granted the same to be ours1 if we believe that his fulfilling is our fulfilling2 for the apostle ,saint ,paul saith1 8,he hath not spared his own ,son1 but hath given him up for us2 and how then may it be1 but that we should have all things with him80 ,therefore it must needs follow1 that when he gave us his only ,son1 he gave us also his righteousness1 and his fulfilling of the law4 ,so that we are justified by ,god's free gift1 and not of ourselves1 nor by our merits3 but the righteousness of ,christ is accounted to be our righteousness1 and through the same we obtain everlasting life1 and not through our own doings2 for1 as ,i said before1 if ,god should enter into judgment with us1 we should be damned4 ,therefore take heed and be not proud1 and be humble and low1 and trust not too much in yourselves2 but put your only trust in ,christ our ,saviour4 ,and yet you may not utterly set aside the doing of good works2 but especially look that you have always oil in readiness for your lamps1 or else you may not come to the wedding1 but shall be shut out1 and thrust into everlasting darkness4 ,this oil is faith in ,christ1 which if you lack1 then all things are unsavory before the face of ,god3 but a great many people are much deceived1 for they think themselves to have faith when indeed they have it not4 ,some peradventure will say1 ,how shall ,i know whether ,i have faith or not8 ,truly you shall find this in you1 if you have no mind to leave sin2 then sin grieves you not1 but you are content to go forward in the same1 and you delight in it1 and hate it not1 neither do you feel what sin is3 when you are in such a case1 then you have no faith1 and therefore are like to perish everlastingly4 ,for that man who is sore sick1 and yet feels not his sickness1 he is in great danger1 for he has lost all his senses2 so that man who has gone so far in sin1 that he feels his sin no more1 is like to be damned1 for he is without faith4 ,again1 that man is in good case1 who can be content to fight and strive with sin1 and to withstand the devil1 and his temptations1 and calls for the help of ,god1 and believes that ,god will help him1 and make him strong to fight4 ,that man shall not be overcome by the devil4 ,and whosoever feels this in his heart1 and so wrestles with sin1 may be sure that he has faith1 and is in the favour of ,god4 ,but if you will have a trial of your faith1 then do this--,examine yourself concerning your enemy2 he does you harm1 he slanders you1 or takes away your living from you4 ,how shall you conduct yourself towards such a man8 ,if you can find in your heart to pray for him1 to love him with all your heart1 and forgive him with a good-will all that he has sinned against you--if you can find this readiness in your heart1 then you are one of those who have faith1 if you would have him to be saved as well as yourself4 ,and if you can do this you may argue that your sin is forgiven1 and that you are none of those that shall be cast out1 but shall be received and placed among the number of the godly1 and shall enjoy with them everlasting life4 ,for ,st4 ,paul saith1 8,those that are just10 that is1 those that are justified by faith1 and exercise faith in their living and conversation1 8they shall shine like unto the sun in the kingdom of ,god20 that is to say1 they shall be in exceeding great honour and glory4 ,for like as the sun exceeds in brightness all other works of ,god1 and is beautiful in the eyes of every man2 so shall all the faithful be beautiful and endued with honour and glory3 although in this world they are but outcasts1 and accounted as 8,the dross and filth of the world20 but in the other world1 when the angels shall gather together the wicked1 and cast them into the fire1 then shall the elect shine as the sun in the kingdom of ,god4 ,for no man can express the honour and glory that they shall have1 who will be content to suffer all things for ,god's sake1 and reform themselves after his will2 or are content to be told of their faults1 and glad to amend the same1 and humble themselves under the mighty hand of ,god4 ,also the householder said unto his servants1 8,let them alone until harvest40 ,here you may learn that the preachers and ministers of the word of ,god1 have not authority to compel the people with violence to goodness1 although they are wicked4 ,but they should admonish them only with the word of ,god1 not pull the wicked out by the throat2 for that is not their duty4 ,all things must be done according as ,god has appointed4 ,god has appointed the magistrates to punish the wicked2 for so he saith1 8,thou shalt take away the evil from amongst the people1 thou shalt have no pity of him40 ,if he be a thief1 an adulterer1 or a whore-monger1 away with him4 ,but when our ,saviour saith1 8,let them grow20 he speaks not of the civil magistrates1 for it is their duty to pull them out2 but he signifies that there will be such wickedness in spite of the magistrates1 and teaches that the ecclesiastical power is ordained1 not to pull out the wicked with the sword1 but only to admonish them with the word of ,god1 which is called 8,the sword of the ,spirit40 ,so did ,john ,baptist1 saying1 8,who hath taught you to flee from the wrath of ,god that is at hand80 ,so did ,peter in the ,acts of the ,apostles2 8,whom you have crucified10 he said unto the ,jews4 ,what follows8 8,they were pricked in their hearts20 contrition and repentance followed as soon as the word was preached unto them4 ,therefore they said1 8,brethren1 what shall we do8 ,how shall we be made clean from our sins1 that we may be saved80 ,then he sends them to ,christ4 ,so that it appears in this gospel1 and by these examples1 that the preacher has no other sword1 but the sword of the word of ,god3 with that sword he may strike them4 ,he may rebuke their wicked living1 and further he ought not to go4 ,but kings and magistrates have power to punish with the sword the obstinate and vicious livers1 and to put them to due punishment4 ,now to make an end1 with this one lesson1 which is1 ,if you dwell in a town where are some wicked men that will not be reformed1 nor in anywise amend their lives1 as there are commonly some in every town2 run not therefore out of the town1 but tarry there still1 and exercise patience amongst them1 exhort them1 whensoever occasion serves1 to amendment4 ,and do not as the fondness of the monkery first did1 for they at the first made so great account of the holiness of their good life1 that they could not be content to live and abide in cities and towns where sinners and wicked doers were1 but thought to amend the matter2 and therefore ran out into the wilderness1 where they fell into great inconveniences4 ,for some despised the communion of the body and blood of our ,saviour ,christ1 and so fell into other errors1 so ,god punished them for their foolishness and uncharitableness4 ,we are born into this world1 not for our own sakes only1 but for every ,christian's sake4 ,they forgetting this commandment of love and charity1 ran away from their neighbours1 like beasts and wild horses1 that cannot abide the company of men4 ,so there have been some in our time who follow their example1 separating themselves from the company of other men1 and therefore ,god gave them a perverted judgment4 ,therefore when you dwell in any evil town or parish1 follow not these examples2 but remember that ,lot1 dwelling in the midst of ,sodom1 was nevertheless preserved from the wrath of ,god1 and such will be preserved in the midst of the wicked4 ,but for all that1 you must not flatter them in their evil doings and naughty livings1 but rebuke their sins and wickedness1 and in nowise consent unto them4 ,then it will be well with you here in this world1 and in the world to come you shall have life everlasting3 which grant both to you and me1 ,god the ,father1 the ,son1 and the ,holy ,ghost4--,amen4 ,a ,,sermon ,,on ,,isaiah ,,xxvi4 ,,by ,,john ,,knox4 ,in the ,prospectus of our ,publication it was stated1 that one discourse1 at least1 would be given in each number4 ,a strict adherence to this arrangement1 however1 it is found1 would exclude from our pages some of the most talented discourses of our early ,divines2 and it is therefore deemed expedient to depart from it as occasion may require4 ,the following ,sermon will occupy two numbers1 and we hope1 that from its intrinsic value1 its historical interest1 and the illustrious name of its author1 it will prove generally acceptable to our readers4 ,for the information of those who may not be acquainted with the circumstances attending its delivery1 we subjoin the following extract from a late edition of the select works of ,knox3-- 8,henry ,darnley 7king of ,scotland by his marriage with queen ,mary17 went sometimes to mass with the queen1 and sometimes attended the protestant sermons4 ,to silence the rumours then circulated of his having forsaken the reformed religion1 he1 on the #aith of ,august1 #aefe1 attended service at ,st4 ,giles's church1 sitting on a throne which had been prepared for him4 ,knox preached that day on ,isaiah xxvi4 #ac1 #ad1 and happened to prolong the service beyond the usual time4 ,in one part of the sermon1 he quoted these words of scripture1 #8,i will give children to be their princes1 and babes shall rule over them3 children are their oppressors1 and women rule over them4' ,in another part he referred to ,god's displeasure against ,ahab1 because he did not correct his idolatrous wife ,jezebel4 ,no particular application of these passages was made by ,knox1 but the king considered them as reflecting upon the queen and himself1 and returned to the palace in great wrath4 ,he refused to dine1 and went out to hawking4 ,that same afternoon ,knox was summoned from his bed to appear before the council4 ,he went accompanied by several respectable inhabitants of the city4 ,the secretary informed him of the king's displeasure at his sermon1 and desired that he would abstain from preaching for fifteen or twenty days4 ,knox answered1 that he had spoken nothing but according to his text1 and if the church would command him either to preach or abstain1 he would obey so far as the word of ,god would permit him4 ,the king and queen left ,edinburgh during the week following1 and it does not appear that ,knox was actually suspended from preaching40 ,the following are ,knox's reasons for the publication of this ,sermon1 extracted from his preface to the first edition4 8,if any will ask1 ,to what purpose this sermon is set forth8 ,i answer1 ,to let such as satan has not altogether blinded1 see upon how small occasions great offence is now conceived4 ,this sermon is it1 for which1 from my bed1 ,i was called before the council2 and after long reasoning1 ,i was by some forbidden to preach in ,edinburgh1 so long as the king and queen were in town4 ,this sermon is it1 that so offends such as would please the court1 and will not appear to be enemies to the truth2 yet they dare affirm1 that ,i exceeded the bounds of ,god's messenger4 ,i have therefore faithfully committed unto writing whatsoever ,i could remember might have been offensive in that sermon2 to the end1 that the enemies of ,god's truth1 as well as the professors of the same1 may either note unto me wherein ,i have offended1 or at the least cease to condemn me before they have convinced me by ,god's manifest word40 ,a ,,sermon ,,on ,,isaiah ,,xxvi4 ,,isaiah ,,xxxvi4 #ac1 #ad1 #ae1 #af1 c4--,o ,lord our ,god1 other lords besides thee have had dominion over us2 but by thee only will we make mention of thy name4 ,they are dead1 they shall not live2 they are deceased1 they shall not rise2 therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them1 and made all their memory to perish4 ,thou hast increased the nation1 ,o ,lord1 thou hast increased the nation1 thou art glorified2 thou hast removed it far unto the ends of the earth4 ,lord1 in trouble have they visited thee1 they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them1 c4 ,as the skilful mariner 7being master17 having his ship tossed with a vehement tempest1 and contrary winds1 is compelled oft to traverse1 lest that1 either by too much resisting to the violence of the waves1 his vessel might be overwhelmed2 or by too much liberty granted1 might be carried whither the fury of the tempest would1 so that his ship should be driven upon the shore1 and make shipwreck2 even so doth our prophet ,isaiah in this text1 which now you have heard read4 ,for he1 foreseeing the great desolation that was decreed in the council of the ,eternal1 against ,jerusalem and ,judah1 namely1 that the whole people1 that bare the name of ,god1 should be dispersed2 that the holy city should be destroyed2 the temple wherein was the ark of the covenant1 and where ,god had promised to give his own presence1 should be burnt with fire2 and the king taken1 his sons in his own presence murdered1 his own eyes immediately after be put out2 the nobility1 some cruelly murdered1 some shamefully led away captives2 and finally1 the whole seed of ,abraham rased1 as it were1 from the fate of the earth4 ,the prophet1 ,i say1 fearing these horrible calamities1 doth1 as it were1 sometimes suffer himself1 and the people committed to his charge1 to be carried away with the violence of the tempest1 without further resistance than by pouring forth his and their dolorous complaints before the majesty of ,god1 as in the #acth1 #agth1 and #ahth verses of this present text we may read4 ,at other times he valiantly resists the desperate tempest1 and pronounces the fearful destruction of all such as trouble the church of ,god2 which he pronounces that ,god will multiply1 even when it appears utterly to be exterminated4 ,but because there is no final rest to the whole body till the ,head return to judgment1 he exhorts the afflicted to patience1 and promises a visitation whereby the wickedness of the wicked shall be disclosed1 and finally recompensed in their own bosoms4 ,these are the chief points of which1 by the grace of ,god1 we intend more largely at this present to speak2 ,first1 ,the prophet saith1 8,o ,lord our ,god1 other lords besides thee have ruled us40 ,this1 no doubt1 is the beginning of the dolorous complaint1 in which he complains of the unjust tyranny that the poor afflicted ,israelites sustained during the time of their captivity4 ,true it is1 that the prophet was gathered to his fathers in peace1 before this came upon the people3 for a hundred years after his decease the people were not led away captive2 yet he1 foreseeing the assurance of the calamity1 did before-hand indite and dictate unto them the complaint1 which afterward they should make4 ,but at the first sight it appears1 that the complaint has but small weight2 for what new thing was it1 that other lords than ,god in his own person ruled them1 seeing that such had been their government from the beginning8 ,for who knows not1 that ,moses1 ,aaron1 and ,joshua1 the judges1 ,samuel1 ,david1 and other godly rulers1 were men1 and not ,god2 and so other lords than ,god ruled them in their greatest prosperity4 ,for the better understanding of this complaint1 and of the mind of the prophet1 we must1 first1 observe from whence all authority flows2 and1 secondly1 to what end powers are appointed by ,god3 which two points being discussed1 we shall better understand1 what lords and what authority rule beside ,god1 and who they are in whom ,god and his merciful presence rules4 ,the first is resolved to us by the words of the apostle1 saying1 8,there is no power but of ,god40 ,david brings in the eternal ,god speaking to judges and rulers1 saying1 8,i have said1 ye are gods1 and sons of the ,most ,high40 7,psal4 lxxxii47 ,and ,solomon1 in the person of ,god1 affirmeth the same1 saying1 8,by me kings reign1 and princes discern the things that are just40 ,from which place it is evident1 that it is neither birth1 influence of stars1 election of people1 force of arms1 nor finally1 whatsoever can be comprehended under the power of nature1 that makes the distinction betwixt the superior power and the inferior1 or that establishes the royal throne of kings2 but it is the only and perfect ordinance of ,god1 who willeth his terror1 power1 and majesty1 partly to shine in the thrones of kings1 and in the faces of judges1 and that for the profit and comfort of man4 ,so that whosoever would study to deface the order of government that ,god has established1 and allowed by his holy word1 and bring in such a confusion1 that no difference should be betwixt the upper powers and the subjects1 does nothing but avert and turn upside down the very throne of ,god1 which he wills to be fixed here upon earth2 as in the end and cause of this ordinance more plainly shall appear3 which is the second point we have to observe1 for the better understanding of the prophet's words and mind4 ,the end and cause then1 why ,god imprints in the weak and feeble flesh of man this image of his own power and majesty1 is not to puff up flesh in opinion of itself2 neither yet that the heart of him1 that is exalted above others1 should be lifted up by presumption and pride1 and so despise others2 but that he should consider he is appointed lieutenant to ,one1 whose eyes continually watch upon him1 to see and examine how he behaves himself in his office4 ,st4 ,paul1 in few words1 declares the end wherefore the sword is committed to the powers1 saying1 8,it is to the punishment of the wicked doers1 and unto the praise of such as do well40 ,rom4 xiii4 ,of which words it is evident1 that the sword of ,god is not committed to the hand of man1 to use as it pleases him1 but only to punish vice and maintain virtue1 that men may live in such society as is acceptable before ,god4 ,and this is the true and only cause why ,god has appointed powers in this earth4 ,for such is the furious rage of man's corrupt nature1 that1 unless severe punishment were appointed and put in execution upon malefactors1 better it were that man should live among brutes and wild beasts than among men4 ,but at this present ,i dare not enter into the description of this common-place2 for so should ,i not satisfy the text1 which by ,god's grace ,i purpose to explain4 ,this only by the way--,i would that such as are placed in authority should consider1 whether they reign and rule by ,god1 so that ,god rules them2 or if they rule without1 besides1 and against ,god1 of whom our prophet hero complains4 ,if any desire to take trial of this point1 it is not hard2 for ,moses1 in the election of judges1 and of a king1 describes not only what persons shall be chosen to that honour1 but also gives to him that is elected and chosen1 the rule by which he shall try himself1 whether ,god reign in him or not1 saying1 8,when he shall sit upon the throne of his kingdom1 he shall write to himself an exemplar of this law1 in a book by the priests and ,levites2 it shall be with him1 and he shall lead therein1 all the days of his life3 that he may learn to fear the ,lord his ,god1 and to keep all the words of his law1 and these statutes1 that he may do them2 that his heart be not lifted up above his brethren1 and that he turn not from the commandment1 to the right hand1 or to the left40 ,deut4 xvii4 ,the same is repeated to ,joshua1 in his inauguration to the government of the people1 by ,god himself1 saying1 8,let not the book of this law depart from thy mouth1 but meditate in it day and night1 that thou mayest keep it1 and do according to all that which is written in it4 ,for then shall thy way be prosperous1 and thou shall do prudently40 ,josh4 i4 ,the first thing then that ,god requires of him1 who is called to the honour of a king1 is1 ,the knowledge of his will revealed in his word4 ,the second is1 ,an upright and willing mind1 to put in execution such things as ,god commands in his law1 without declining to the right1 or to the left hand4 ,kings then have not an absolute power1 to do in their government what pleases them1 but their power is limited by ,god's word2 so that if they strike where ,god has not commanded1 they are but murderers2 and if they spare where ,god has commanded to strike1 they and their throne are criminal and guilty of the wickedness which abounds upon the face of the earth1 for lack of punishment4 ,o that kings and princes would consider what account shall be craved of them1 as well of their ignorance and misknowledge of ,god's will1 as for the neglecting of their office6 ,but now1 to return to the words of the prophet4 ,in the person of the whole people he complains unto ,god1 that the ,babylonians 7whom he calls1 8other lords besides ,god10 both because of their ignorance of ,god1 and by reason of their cruelty and inhumanity17 had long ruled over them in great rigour1 without pity or compassion upon the ancient men1 and famous matrons3 for they1 being mortal enemies to the people of ,god1 sought by all means to aggravate their yoke1 yea1 utterly to exterminate the memory of them1 and of their religion1 from the face of the earth4 ,after the first part of this dolorous complaint1 the prophet declares the protestation of the people1 saying1 8,nevertheless in thee shall we remember thy name10 7others read it1 ,but we will remember thee only1 and thy name27 but in the ,hebrew there is no conjunction copulative in that sentence4 ,the mind of the prophet is plain1 namely1 that notwithstanding the long sustained affliction1 the people of ,god declined not to a false and vain religion1 but remembered ,god1 who sometime appeared to them in his merciful presence2 which although they saw not then1 yet they would still remember his name--that is1 they would call to mind the doctrine and promise1 which formerly they heard1 although in their prosperity they did not sufficiently glorify ,god1 who so mercifully ruled in the midst of them4 ,the temptation1 no doubt1 of the ,israelites was great in those days2 they were carried captives from the land of ,canaan1 which was to them the gage and pledge of ,god's favour towards them3 for it was the inheritance that ,god promised to ,abraham1 and to his seed for ever4 ,the league and covenant of ,god's protection appeared to have been broken--they lamentably complain that they saw not their accustomed signs of ,god's merciful presence4 ,the true prophets were few1 and the abominations used in ,babylon were exceedingly many3 and so it might have appeared to them1 that in vain it was that they were called the posterity of ,abraham1 or that ever they had received the law1 or form of right religion from ,god4 ,that we may the better feel it in ourselves1 the temptation1 ,i say1 was even such1 as if ,god should utterly destroy all order and policy that this day is within his church--that the true preaching of the word should be suppressed--the right use of sacraments abolished--idolatry and papistical abomination erected up again2 and therewith1 that our bodies should be taken prisoners by ,turks1 or other manifest enemies of ,god1 and of all godliness4 ,such1 ,i say1 was their temptation2 how notable then is this their confession that in bondage they make1 namely1 ,that they will remember ,god only2 although he has appeared to turn his face from them1 they will remember his name1 and will call to mind the deliverance promised6 ,hereof have we to consider1 what is our duty1 if ,god bring us to the like extremity1 as for our offences and unthankfulness justly he may4 ,this confession is not the fair flattering words of hypocrites1 lying and bathing in their pleasures2 but it is the mighty operation of the ,spirit of ,god1 who leaves not his own destitute of some comfort1 in their most desperate calamities4 ,this then is our duty1 not only to confess our ,god in time of peace and quietness1 but he chiefly craves1 that we avow him in the midst of his and our enemies2 and this is not in us to do1 but it behoves that the ,spirit of ,god work in us1 above all power of nature2 and thus we ought earnestly to meditate before the battle rise more vehement1 which appears not to be far off4 ,but now must we somewhat more deeply consider these judgments of ,god4 ,this people dealt with thus1 as we have heard1 were the only people upon the face of the earth to whom ,god was rightly known2 among them only were his laws1 statutes1 ordinances1 and sacrifices1 used and put in practice2 they only invocated his name2 and to them alone had he promised his protection and assistance4 ,what then should be the cause1 that he should give them over unto this great reproach2 and bring them into such extremity that his own name1 in them1 should be blasphemed8 ,the prophet ,ezekiel1 who saw this horrible destruction1 forespoken by ,isaiah1 put into just execution1 gives an answer in these words1 8,i gave unto them laws that were good1 in the which whosoever should walk1 should live in them2 but they would not walk in my ways1 but rebelled against me2 and therefore1 ,i have given unto them laws that are not good1 and judgments1 in the which they shall not live40 7,ezek4 xx47 ,the writers of the books of ,kings and ,chronicles declare this in more plain words1 saying1 8,the ,lord sent unto them his prophets1 rising early1 desiring of them to return unto the ,lord1 and to amend their wicked ways1 for he would have spared his people1 and his tabernacle2 but they mocked his servants1 and would not return unto the ,lord their ,god to walk in his ways40 7#b ,kings xvii47 ,yea1 ,judah itself kept not the precepts of the ,lord ,god1 but walked in the manners and ordinances of ,israel2 that is1 of such as then had declined to idolatry from the days of ,jeroboam2 and therefore1 the ,lord ,god abhorred the whole seed of ,israel1 that is1 the whole body of the people2 he punished them1 and gave them into the hands of those that spoiled them1 and so he cast them out from his presence4 ,hereof it is evident1 that their disobedience unto ,god1 and unto the voices of his prophets1 was the cause of their destruction4 ,now have we to take heed how we should use the good laws of ,god2 that is1 his will revealed unto us in his word2 and that order of justice1 which by him1 for the comfort of man1 is established amongst men4 ,there is no doubt but that obedience is the most acceptable sacrifice unto ,god1 and that which above all things he requires2 so that when he manifests himself by his word1 men should follow according to their vocation and commandment4 ,now so it is1 that ,god1 by that great ,pastor our ,lord ,jesus1 now manifestly in his word calls us from all impiety1 as well of body as of mind1 to holiness of life1 and to his spiritual service2 and for this purpose he has erected the throne of his mercy among us1 the true preaching of his word1 together with the right administration of his sacraments3 but what our obedience is1 let every man examine his own conscience1 and consider what statutes and laws we would have to be given unto us4 ,wouldst thou1 ,o ,scotland6 have a king to reign over thee in justice1 equity1 and mercy8 ,subject thou thyself to the ,lord thy ,god1 obey his commandments1 and magnify thou the word that calleth unto thee1 8,this is the way1 walk in it20 7,isa4 xxx47 and if thou wilt not1 flatter not thyself2 the same justice remains this day in ,god to punish thee1 ,scotland1 and thee ,edinburgh especially1 which before punished the land of ,judah1 and the city of ,jerusalem4 ,every realm or nation1 saith the prophet ,jeremiah1 that likewise offendeth1 shall be likewise punished4 7,jer4 ix47 ,but if thou shalt see impiety placed in the seat of justice above thee1 so that in the throne of ,god 7as ,solomon complains1 ,eccles4 iii47 reigns nothing but fraud and violence1 accuse thine own ingratitude and rebellion against ,god2 for that is the only cause why ,god takes away 8the strong man and the man of war1 the judge and the prophet1 the prudent and the aged1 the captain and the honourable1 the counsellor and the cunning artificer2 and ,i will appoint1 saith the ,lord1 children to be their princes1 and babes shall rule over them4 ,children are extortioners of my people1 and women have rule over them40 ,isa4 iii4 ,if these calamities1 ,i say1 apprehend us1 so that we see nothing but the oppression of good men1 and of all godliness1 and that wicked men without ,god reign above us2 let us accuse and condemn ourselves1 as the only cause of our own miseries4 ,for if we had heard the voice of the ,lord our ,god1 and given upright obedience unto the same1 ,god would have multiplied our peace1 and would have rewarded our obedience before the eyes of the world4 ,but now let us hear what the prophet saith further3 8,the dead shall not live10 saith he1 8neither shall the tyrants1 nor the dead arise1 because thou hast visited and scattered them1 and destroyed all their memory10 verse #ad4 ,from this #adth verse1 unto the end of the #aith1 it appears1 that the prophet observes no order2 yea1 that he speaks things directly repugning7#f7 one to another2 for1 first1 he saith1 8,the dead shall not live30 afterwards1 he affirms1 8,thy dead men shall live40 ,secondly1 he saith1 8,thou hast visited and scattered them1 and destroyed all their memory40 ,immediately after1 he saith1 8,thou hast increased thy nation1 ,o ,lord1 thou hast increased thy nation4 ,they have visited thee1 and have poured forth a prayer before thee40 ,who1 ,i say1 would not think1 that these are things not only spoken without good order and purpose1 but also manifestly repugning one to another8 ,for to live1 and not to live1 to be so destroyed that no memorial remains1 and to be so increased that the coasts of the earth shall be replenished1 seems to import plain contradiction4 ,for removing of this doubt1 and for better understanding the prophet's mind1 we must observe1 that the prophet had to do with divers sorts of men2 he had to do with the conjured7#g7 and manifest enemies of ,god's people1 the ,chaldeans or ,babylonians2 even so1 such as profess ,christ ,jesus have to do with the ,turks and ,saracens4 ,he had to do with the seed of ,abraham1 whereof there were three sorts4 ,the ten tribes were all degenerated from the true worshipping of ,god1 and corrupted with idolatry1 as this day are our pestilent papists in all realms and nations2 there rested only the tribe of ,judah at ,jerusalem1 where the form of true religion was observed1 the law taught1 and the ordinances of ,god outwardly kept4 ,but yet there were in that body1 ,i mean1 in the body of the visible church1 a great number that were hypocrites1 as this day yet are among us that profess the ,lord ,jesus1 and have refused papistry2 also not a few that were licentious livers2 some that turned their back to ,god1 that is1 had forsaken all true religion2 and some that lived a most abominable life1 as ,ezekiel saith in his vision2 and yet there were some godly1 as a few wheat-corns1 oppressed7#h7 and hid among the multitude of chaff3 now1 according to this diversity1 the prophet keeps divers purposes1 and yet in most perfect order4 ,and first1 after the first part of the complaint of the afflicted as we have heard1 in vehemency of spirit he bursts forth against all the proud enemies of ,god's people1 against all such as trouble them1 and against all such as mock and forsake ,god1 and saith1 8,the dead shall not live1 the proud giants shall not rise2 thou hast scattered them1 and destroyed their memorial40 ,in which words he contends against the present temptation and dolorous state of ,god's people1 and against the insolent pride of such as oppressed them2 as if the prophet should say1 ,o ye troublers of ,god's people6 howsoever it appears to you in this your bloody rage1 that ,god regards not your cruelty1 nor considers what violence you do to his poor afflicted1 yet shall you he visited1 yea1 your carcases shall fall and lie as stinking carrion upon the face of the earth1 you shall fall without hope of life1 or of a blessed resurrection2 yea1 howsoever you gather your substance1 and augment your families1 you shall be so scattered1 that you shall leave no memorial of you to the posterities to come1 but that which shall be execrable and odious4 ,hereof the tyrants have their admonition1 and the afflicted church inestimable comfort3 the tyrants that oppress1 shall receive the same end which they did who have passed before2 that is1 they shall die and fall with shame1 without hope of resurrection1 as is aforesaid4 ,not that they shall not arise to their own confusion and just condemnation2 but that they shall not recover power1 to trouble the servants of ,god2 neither yet shall the wicked arise1 as ,david saith1 in the counsel of the just4 ,now the wicked have their councils1 their thrones1 and finally handle7#i7 7for the most part7 all things that are upon the face of the earth2 but the poor servants of ,god are reputed unworthy of men's presence1 envied and mocked2 yea1 they are more vile before these proud tyrants1 than is the very dirt and mire which is trodden under foot4 ,but in that glorious resurrection1 this state shall be changed2 for then shall such as now1 by their abominable living and cruelty1 destroy the earth1 and molest ,god's children1 see ,him whom they have pierced2 they shall see the glory of such as now they persecute1 to their terror and everlasting confusion4 ,the remembrance hereof ought to make us patient in the days of affliction1 and so to comfort us1 that when we see tyrants in their blind rage tread under foot the saints of ,god1 we despair not utterly1 as if there were neither wisdom1 justice1 nor power above in the heavens1 to repress such tyrants1 and to redress the dolours of the unjustly afflicted4 ,no1 brethren1 let us be assured1 that the right hand of the ,lord will change the state of things that are most desperate4 ,in our ,god there is wisdom and power1 in a moment to change the joy and mirth of our enemies into everlasting mourning1 and our sorrows into joy and gladness that shall have no end4 ,therefore1 in these apparent calamities1 7and marvel not that ,i say apparent calamities1 for he that sees not a fire is begun1 that shall burn more than we look for1 unless ,god of his mercy quench it17#aj7 is more than blind17 let us not be discouraged1 but with unfeigned repentance let us return to the ,lord our ,god2 let us accuse and condemn our former negligence1 and steadfastly depend upon his promised deliverance2 so shall our temporal sorrows be converted into everlasting joy4 ,the doubt that might be moved concerning the destruction of those whom ,god exalteth1 shall be discussed1 if time will suffer1 after we have passed throughout the text4 ,the prophet1 now proceeds1 and saith1 8,thou hast increased the nations1 ,o ,lord1 thou hast increased the nations2 thou art made glorious1 thou hast enlarged all the coasts of the earth4 ,lord1 in trouble10 c4 verses #ae1 #af4 ,in these words the prophet gives consolation to the afflicted1 assuring them1 that how horrible soever the desolation should be1 yet should the seed of ,abraham be so multiplied1 that it should replenish the coasts of the earth2 yea1 that ,god should be more glorified in their affliction1 than he was during the time of their prosperity4 ,this promise1 no doubt1 was incredible when it was made2 for who could have been persuaded1 that the destruction of ,jerusalem should have been the means whereby the nation of the ,jews should have been increased8 seeing that much rather it appeared1 that the overthrow of ,jerusalem should have been the very abolishing of the seed of ,abraham3 but we must consider1 to what end it was that ,god revealed himself to ,abraham1 and what is contained in the promise of the multiplication of his seed1 and the benediction promised thereto4 ,first1 ,god revealed himself to ,abraham1 to let all flesh understand1 by the means of his word1 that ,god first called man1 and revealed himself unto him2 that flesh can do nothing but rebel against ,god2 for ,abraham1 no doubt1 was an idolater1 before ,god called him from ,ur of the ,chaldees4 ,the promise was made1 that the seed of ,abraham should be multiplied as the stars of heaven1 and as the sand of the sea2 which is not simply to be understood of his natural seed1 although it was sometimes greatly increased2 but rather of such as should become the spiritual seed of ,abraham1 as the apostle speaks4 ,now1 if we be able to prove1 that the right knowledge of ,god1 his wisdom1 justice1 mercy1 and power1 were more amply declared in their captivity1 than at any time before1 then we cannot deny1 but that ,god1 even when to man's judgment he had utterly rased them from the face of the earth1 did increase the nation of the ,jews1 so that he was glorified in them1 and extended the coasts of the earth for their habitation4 ,and1 for the better understanding hereof1 let us shortly try the histories from their captivity to their deliverance2 and after the same1 to the coming of the ,messiah4 ,no doubt satan intended1 by the dispersion of the ,jews1 so to have profaned the whole seed of ,abraham1 that among them neither should have remained the true knowledge of ,god1 nor yet the spirit of sanctification1 but that all should have come to a like contempt of ,god4 ,for1 ,i pray you1 for what purpose was it1 that ,daniel and his fellows were taken into the king's court1 were commanded to be fed at the king's table1 and were put to the schools of their diviners1 soothsayers1 and astrologers8 ,it may be thought that it proceeded of the king's humanity1 and of a zeal which he had1 that they should be brought up in virtue and good learning2 and ,i doubt not but it was so understood by a great number of the ,jews4 ,but the secret practice of the devil was understood by ,daniel1 when he refused to defile himself with the king's meat1 which was forbidden to the seed of ,abraham in the law of their ,god4 ,well1 ,god began shortly after to show himself mindful of his promise made by his prophet1 and to trouble ,nebuchadnezzar himself1 by showing to him a vision in his dream2 which the more troubled him1 because he could not forget the terror of it1 neither yet could he remember what the vision and the parts thereof were4 ,whereupon were called all the diviners1 interpreters of dreams1 and soothsayers1 of whom the king demanded1 if they could let him understand what he had dreamed3 but while they answered1 that such a question used not to be demanded of any soothsayer or magician1 for the resolution thereof only appertained to the gods1 whose habitation was not with men1 the charge was given1 that they all should be slain3 and amongst the rest1 ,daniel1 whose innocence the devil envied1 was sought to have suffered the same judgment4 ,he claimed1 and asked time to disclose that secret2 7,i only touch the history1 to let you see by what means ,god increased his knowledge7 which being granted1 the vision was revealed unto him2 he shewed the same unto the king1 with the true interpretation of it2 adding1 that the knowledge thereof came not from the stars1 but only from the ,god of ,abraham1 who alone was and is the true ,god4 ,which being understood1 the king burst forth in his confession1 saying1 8,of a truth your ,god is the most excellent of all gods1 and he is ,lord of kings1 and only he that revealeth secrets1 seeing that thou couldst open this secret40 ,and when ,nebuchadnezzar after that1 being puffed up with pride by the counsel of his wicked nobility1 would make an image1 before which he would that all tongues and nations subject to him should make adoration2 and when ,shadrach1 ,meshach1 and ,abed-nego1 would not obey his unjust commandment1 and so were cast into the flaming furnace of fire2 and yet by ,god's angels were so preserved1 that no smell of fire remained on their persons or garments2 this same king gave a more notable confession1 saying1 8,the ,lord ,god of ,shadrach1 ,meshach1 and ,abed-nego1 is to be praised1 who hath sent his angels1 and delivered his worshippers that put trust in him1 who have done against the king's commandment2 who have rather given their own bodies to torment1 than that they would worship another god1 except their own ,god4 ,by me therefore is there made a decree1 that whosoever shall blaspheme the ,god of ,shadrach1 ,meshach1 and ,abed-nego1 he shall be cut in pieces1 and his house shall be made detestable40 ,dan4 iii4 ,thus we see how ,god began1 even almost in the beginning of their captivity1 to notify his name1 to multiply his knowledge1 and set forth as well his power as his wisdom1 and true worshipping1 by those that were taken prisoners1 yea1 that were despised1 and of all men contemned2 so that the name and fear of the ,god of ,abraham was never before notified to so many realms and nations4 ,this wondrous work of ,god proceeded from one empire to another2 for ,daniel being promoted to great honour by ,darius king of the ,persians and ,medes1 fell into a desperate danger2 for he was committed to prison among lions1 because he was found breaking the king's injunction2 not that the king desired the destruction of ,god's servants1 but because the corrupt idolaters1 who in hatred of ,daniel had procured that law to be made1 urged the king against his nature2 but ,god1 by his angel1 stopped the lions' mouths1 and so preserved his servant2 which being considered1 with the sudden destruction of ,daniel's enemies by the same lions1 king ,darius1 besides his own confession1 wrote to all people1 tongues1 and nations1 after this form2 8,it is decreed by me1 ,that in all the dominions of my kingdom1 men shall fear and reverence the ,god of ,daniel1 because he is the ,living ,god1 abiding for ever1 whose kingdom shall not be destroyed1 and his dominion remaineth2 who saveth and delivereth1 and sheweth signs and wonders in heaven and in earth1 who hath delivered ,daniel from the lions40 ,this knowledge was yet further increased in the days of ,cyrus1 who giving freedom to the captives to return to their own native country1 gave this confession2 8,thus saith ,cyrus the king of ,persia1 ,all the kingdoms of the earth hath the ,lord ,god of heaven given unto me1 and hath commanded me1 that a house be built to him in ,jerusalem1 which is in ,judah4 ,whosoever therefore of you1 that are of his people1 let the ,lord his ,god be with him1 and let him pass up to ,jerusalem1 and let him build the house of the ,lord ,god of ,israel2 for he only is ,god that is in ,jerusalem40 7,ezra i47 ,time will not suffer me to treat the points of this confession1 neither yet did ,i for that purpose adduce the history2 but only to let us see1 how constantly ,god kept his promise in increasing his people1 and in augmenting his true knowledge beyond men's expectation1 when both they that were the seed of ,abraham1 and the religion which they professed1 appeared utterly to have been extinguished4 ,i say1 he brought freedom out of bondage1 light out of darkness1 and life out of death4 ,i am not ignorant1 that the building of the temple1 and the reparation of the walls of ,jerusalem1 were long stayed1 so that the work had many enemies2 but the hand of ,god so prevailed in the end1 that a decree was made by ,darius1 7by him ,i suppose that succeeded to ,cambyses17 not only that all things necessary for the building of the temple1 and for the sacrifices that were to be burnt there1 should be ministered upon the king's charges2 but also1 that 8whosoever should hinder that work1 or change that decree1 that a tree should be taken out of his house1 and that he should be hanged thereupon2 yea1 that his house should be made a dunghill10 7,ezra vi472 and thereto he added a prayer1 saying1 8,the ,god of heaven1 who hath placed his name there1 root out every king and people1 7,o that kings and nations would understand67 that shall put his hand1 either to change or to hurt this house of ,god that is in ,jerusalem40 ,and so1 in despite of satan1 was the temple built1 the walls repaired1 and the city inhabited2 and in the most desperate dangers it was preserved1 until the promised ,messiah1 the glory of the second temple1 came1 manifested himself to the world1 suffered and rose again1 according to the scriptures2 and so1 by sending forth his gospel from ,jerusalem1 replenished the earth with the true knowledge of ,god2 and so did ,god in perfection increase the nation1 and the spiritual seed of ,abraham4 ,wherefore1 dear brethren1 we have no small consolation1 if the state of all things be this day rightly considered4 ,we see in what fury and rage the world1 for the most part1 is now raised1 against the poor church of ,jesus ,christ1 unto which he has proclaimed liberty1 after the fearful bondage of that spiritual ,babylon1 in which we have been holden captives longer space than ,israel was prisoner in ,babylon itself3 for if we shall consider1 upon the one part1 the multitude of those that live wholly without ,christ2 and1 upon the other part1 the blind rage of the pestilent papists2 what shall we think of the small number of them that profess ,christ ,jesus1 but that they are as a poor sheep1 already seized in the claws of the lion2 yea1 that they1 and the true religion which they profess1 shall in a moment be utterly consumed8 ,but against this fearful temptation1 let us be armed with the promise of ,god1 namely1 that he will be the protector of his church2 yea1 that he will multiply it1 even when to man's judgment it appears utterly to be exterminated4 ,this promise has our ,god performed1 in the multiplication of ,abraham's seed1 in the preservation of it when satan laboured utterly to have destroyed it1 and in deliverance of the same1 as we have heard1 from ,babylon4 ,he hath sent his ,son ,christ ,jesus1 clad in our flesh1 who hath tasted of all our infirmities1 7sin excepted17 who hath promised to be with us to the end of the world2 he hath further kept promise in the publication1 yea1 in the restitution of his glorious gospel4 ,shall we then think that he will leave his church destitute in this most dangerous age8 ,only let us cleave to his truth1 and study to conform our lives to the same1 and he shall multiply his knowledge1 and increase his people4 ,but now let us hear what the prophet saith more3 8,lord1 in trouble have they visited thee1 they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them10 verse #af4 ,the prophet means1 that such as in the time of quietness did not rightly regard ,god nor his judgments1 were compelled1 by sharp corrections1 to seek ,god2 yea1 by cries and dolorous complaints to visit him4 ,true it is1 that such obedience deserves small praise before men2 for who can praise1 or accept that in good part1 which comes as it were of mere compulsion8 ,and yet it is rare1 that any of ,god's children do give unfeigned obedience1 until the hand of ,god turn them4 ,for if quietness and prosperity make them not utterly to forget their duty1 both towards ,god and man1 as ,david for a season1 yet it makes them careless1 insolent1 and in many things unmindful of those things that ,god chiefly craves of them2 which imperfection being espied1 and the danger that thereof might ensue1 our heavenly ,father visits the sins of his children1 but with the rod of his mercy1 by which they are moved to return to their ,god1 to accuse their former negligence1 and to promise better obedience in all times hereafter2 as ,david confessed1 saying1 8,before ,i fell in affliction ,i went astray1 but now will ,i keep thy statutes40 ,but yet1 for the better understanding of the prophet's mind1 we may consider how ,god doth visit man1 and how man doth visit ,god2 and what difference there is betwixt the visitation of ,god upon the reprobate1 and his visitation upon the chosen4 ,god sometimes visits the reprobate in his hot displeasure1 pouring upon them his plagues for their long rebellion2 as we have heard before1 that he visited the proud1 and destroyed their memory4 ,at other times ,god is said to visit his people1 being in affliction1 to whom he sends comfort or promise of deliverance1 as he visited the seed of ,abraham1 when oppressed in ,egypt4 ,and ,zacharias said1 that ,god had visited his people1 and sent unto them hope of deliverance1 when ,john the ,baptist was born4 ,but of none of these visitations our prophet here speaks1 but of that only which we have already touched2 namely1 when ,god layeth his correction upon his own children1 to call them from the venomous breasts of this corrupt world1 that they suck not in over great abundance the poison thereof2 and he doth1 as it were1 wean them from their mother's breasts1 that they may learn to receive other nourishment4 ,true it is1 that this weaning 7or speaning1 as we term it7 from worldly pleasure1 is a thing strange to the flesh4 ,and yet it is a thing so necessary to ,god's children1 that1 unless they are weaned from the pleasures of the world1 they can never feed upon that delectable milk of ,god's eternal verity2 for the corruption of the one either hinders the other from being received1 or else so troubles the whole powers of man1 that the soul can never so digest the truth of ,god as he ought to do4 ,although this appears hard1 yet it is most evident2 for what can we receive from the world1 but that which is in the world8 ,what that is1 the apostle ,john teaches2 saying1 8,whatsoever is in the world1 is either the lust of the eyes1 the lust of the flesh1 or the pride of life40 7#a ,john ii47 ,now1 seeing that these are not of the ,father1 but of the world1 how can it be1 that our souls can feed upon chastity1 temperance1 and humility1 so long as our stomachs are replenished with the corruption of these vices8 ,now so it is1 that flesh can never willingly refuse these fore-named1 but rather still delights itself in every one of them2 yea1 in them all1 as the examples are but too evident4 ,it behoves therefore1 that ,god himself shall violently pull his children from these venomous breasts1 that when they lack the liquor and poison of the world1 they may visit him1 and learn to be nourished of him4 ,oh if the eyes of worldly princes should be opened1 that they might see with what humour and liquor their souls are fed1 while their whole delight consists in pride1 ambition1 and the lusts of the corrupt flesh6 ,we understand then how ,god doth visit men1 as well by his severe judgments1 as by his merciful visitation of deliverance from troubles1 or by bringing trouble upon his chosen for their humiliation2 and now it remains to understand how man visits ,god4 ,man doth visit ,god1 when he appears in his presence1 be it for the hearing of his word1 or for the participation of his sacraments2 as the people of ,israel1 besides the observation of their sabbaths and daily oblations1 were commanded thrice a-year to present themselves before the presence of the tabernacle2 and as we do1 and us often as we present ourselves to the hearing of the word4 ,for there is the footstool1 yea1 there is the face and throne of ,god himself1 wheresoever the gospel of ,jesus ,christ is truly preached1 and his sacraments rightly ministered4 ,but men may on this sort visit ,god hypocritically2 for they may come for the fashion1 they may hear with deaf ears2 yea1 they may understand1 and yet never determine with themselves to obey that which ,god requires3 and let such men be assured1 that ,he who searches the secrets of hearts will be avenged of all such2 for nothing can be more odious to ,god1 than to mock him in his own presence4 ,let every man therefore examine himself1 with what mind1 and what purpose1 he comes to hear the word of ,god2 yea1 with what ear he hears it1 and what testimony his heart gives unto him1 when ,god commands virtue1 and forbids impiety4 ,repinest thou when ,god requires obedience8 ,thou hearest to thine own condemnation4 ,mockest thou at ,god's threatenings8 ,thou shalt feel the weight and truth of them1 albeit too late1 when flesh and blood cannot deliver thee from his hand4 ,but the visitation1 whereof our prophet speaks1 is only proper to the sons of ,god1 who1 in the time when ,god takes from them the pleasures of the world1 or shows his angry countenance unto them1 have recourse unto him1 and1 confessing their former negligence1 with troubled hearts1 cry for his mercy4 ,this visitation is not proper to all the afflicted1 but appertains only to ,god's children3 for the reprobates can never have access to ,god's mercy in time of their tribulation1 and that because they abuse his long patience1 as well as the manifold benefits they receive from his hands2 for as the same prophet heretofore saith1 8,let the wicked obtain mercy1 yet shall he never learn wisdom1 but in the land of righteousness10 that is1 where the true knowledge of ,god abounds1 8he will do wickedly40 ,which is a crime above all others abominable2 for to what end is it that ,god erects his throne among us1 but that we should fear him8 ,why does he reveal his holy will unto us1 but that we should obey it8 ,why does he deliver us from trouble1 but that we should be witnesses unto the world1 that he is gracious and merciful8 ,now1 when men hearing their duty1 and knowing what ,god requires of them1 do malapertly fight against all equity and justice1 what ,i pray you1 do they else1 but make manifest war against ,god8 ,yea1 when they have received from ,god such deliverance1 that they cannot deny but that ,god himself hath in his great mercy visited them1 and yet they continue wicked as before2 what deserve they but effectually to be given over unto a reprobate sense1 that they may headlong run to ruin1 both of body and soul8 ,it is almost incredible that a man should be so enraged against ,god1 that neither his plagues1 nor yet his mercy showed1 should move him to repentance2 but because the ,scriptures bear witness of the one and the other1 let us cease to marvel1 and let us firmly believe1 that such things as have been1 are even at present before our eyes1 albeit many1 blinded by affection1 cannot see them4 ,ahab1 as it is written in the book of the ,kings1 received many notable benefits of the hand of ,god1 who visited him in divers sorts1 sometimes by his plagues1 sometimes by his word1 and sometimes by his merciful deliverance4 ,he made him king1 and1 for the idolatry used by him and his wife1 he plagued the whole of ,israel by famine2 he revealed to him his will1 and true religion1 by the prophet ,elijah2 he gave unto him sundry deliverances1 but one most special1 when proud ,benhadad came to besiege ,samaria1 and was not content to receive ,ahab's gold1 silver1 sons1 daughters1 and wives1 but also required1 that his servants should have at their pleasure whatsoever was delectable in ,samaria4 ,true it is1 that his elders and people willed him not to hear the proud tyrant1 but who made unto him the promise of deliverance8 ,and who appointed and put his army in order8 ,who assured him of victory8 ,the prophet of ,god only1 who assured him1 that by the servants of the princes of the provinces1 who in number were only two hundred thirty-and-two1 he should defeat the great army1 in which there were two-and-thirty kings1 with all their forces4 ,and as the prophet of ,god promised1 so it came to pass2 victory was obtained1 not once only1 but twice1 and that by the merciful visitation of the ,lord4 ,but how did ,ahab visit ,god again for his great benefit received8 ,did he remove his idolatry8 ,did he correct his idolatrous wife ,jezebel8 ,no1 we find no such thing2 but the one and the other we find to have continued and increased in their former impiety3 but what was the end thereof8 ,the last visitation of ,god was1 that dogs licked the blood of the one1 and did eat the flesh of the other4 ,in few words then we understand1 what difference there is betwixt the visitation of ,god upon the reprobate1 and his visitation upon his chosen4 ,the reprobate are visited1 but never truly humbled1 nor yet amended2 the chosen being visited1 they sob1 and they cry unto ,god for mercy2 which being obtained1 they magnify ,god's name1 and afterwards manifest the fruits of repentance4 ,let us therefore that bear these judgments of our ,god1 call for the assistance of his ,holy ,spirit1 that howsoever it pleaseth him to visit us1 we may stoop under his merciful hands1 and unfeignedly cry to him when he corrects us2 and so shall we know in experience1 that our cries and complaints were not in vain4 ,but let us hear what the prophet saith further3 8,like as a woman with child1 that draweth near her travail1 is in sorrow1 and crieth in her pains1 so have we been in thy sight1 ,o ,lord2 we have conceived1 we have borne in vain1 as though we should have brought forth the wind4 ,salvations were not made to the earth1 neither did the inhabitants of the earth fall10 verses #ag1 #ah4 ,this is the second part of the prophet's complaint1 in which he1 in the person of ,god's people1 complains1 that of their great affliction there appeared no end4 ,this same similitude is used by our ,master ,jesus ,christ2 for when he speaks of the troubles of his church1 he compares them to the pains of a woman travailing in child-birth4 ,but it is to another end2 for there he promises exceeding and permanent joy after a sort1 though it appear trouble4 ,but here is the trouble long and vehement1 albeit the fruit of it was not suddenly espied4 ,he speaks no doubt of that long and dolorous time of their captivity1 in which they continually laboured for deliverance1 but obtained it not before the complete end of seventy years4 ,during which time1 the earth1 that is1 the land of ,judah1 which sometimes was sanctified unto ,god1 but was then given to be profaned by wicked people1 got no help1 nor perceived any deliverance3 for the inhabitants of the world fell not2 that is1 the tyrants and oppressors of ,god's people were not taken away1 but still remained and continued blasphemers of ,god1 and troublers of his church4 ,but because ,i perceive the hours to pass more swiftly than they have seemed at other times1 ,i must contract that which remains of this text into certain points4 ,the prophet first contends against the present despair2 afterwards he introduces ,god himself calling upon his people2 and1 last of all1 he assures his afflicted1 that ,god will come1 and require account of all the blood-thirsty tyrants of the earth4 ,first1 ,fighting against the present despair1 he saith1 8,thy dead shall live1 even my body 7or with my body7 shall they arise2 awake and sing1 ye that dwell in the dust2 for thy dew is as the dew of herbs10 verse #ai4 ,the prophet here pierces through all impediments that nature could object2 and1 by the victory of faith1 he overcomes1 not only the common enemies1 but the great and last enemy of all1 death itself2 for this would he say1 ,lord1 ,i see nothing for thy chosen1 but misery to follow misery1 and one affliction to succeed another2 yea1 in the end ,i see1 that death shall devour thy dearest children4 ,but yet1 ,o ,lord6 ,i see thy promise to be true1 and thy love to remain towards thy chosen1 even when death appears to have devoured them3 8,for thy dead shall live1 yea1 not only shall they live1 but my very dead carcase shall arise20 and so ,i see honour and glory to succeed this temporal shame1 ,i see permanent joy to come after trouble1 order to spring out of this terrible confusion2 and1 finally1 ,i see that life shall devour death1 so that death shall be destroyed1 and so thy servants shall have life4 ,this1 ,i say1 is the victory of faith1 when to the midst of death1 through the light of ,god's word1 the afflicted see life4 ,hypocrites1 in the time of quietness and prosperity1 can generally confess1 that ,god is true to his promises2 but bring them to the extremity1 and there the hypocrite ceases further to trust to ,god1 than he seeth natural means1 whereby ,god useth to work4 ,but the true faithful1 when all hope of natural means fail1 flee to ,god himself1 and to the truth of his promise1 who is above nature2 yea1 whose works are not so subject to the ordinary course of nature1 that when nature fails1 his power and promise fail also therewith4 ,let us further observe1 ,that the prophet here speaks not of all the dead in general1 but saith1 8,thy dead1 ,o ,lord1 shall live30 in which words he makes a difference betwixt those that die in the ,lord1 and those that die in their natural corruption1 and in the old ,adam4 ,die in the ,lord can none1 except those that live in him1 7,i mean1 of those that attain to the years of discretion27 and none live in him1 but those that1 with the apostle1 can say1 8,i live1 and yet not ,i1 but ,christ ,jesus that dwelleth in me3 the life that ,i now live1 ,i have by the faith of the ,son of ,god40 7,gal4 ii47 ,not that ,i mean1 that the faithful have at all hours such a sense of the life everlasting1 that they fear not the death and the troubles of this life2 no1 not so2 for the faith of ,god's children is weak1 yea1 and in many things imperfect4 ,but ,i mean1 that such as in death1 and after death shall live1 must communicate in this life with ,jesus ,christ1 and must be regenerated by the seed of life2 that is1 by the word of the everlasting ,god1 which whosoever despises1 refuses life and joy everlasting4 ,the prophet transfers all the promises of ,god to himself1 saying1 8,even my dead body shall arise20 and immediately after1 gives commandment and charge to the dwellers in the dust1 that is1 to the dead carcases of those that were departed1 7for the spirit and soul of man dwells not in the dust17 8,that they should awake1 that they should sing and rejoice20 for they should arise and spring up from the earth1 even as the herbs do1 after they have received the dew from above4 ,time will not suffer that these particulars be so largely treated as ought1 and as ,i gladly would do2 therefore let us consider1 that the prophet1 in transferring the power and promise of ,god to himself1 does not claim to himself any particular prerogative above the people of ,god1 as that he alone should live and arise1 and not they also2 but he does it1 to let them understand that he taught a doctrine whereof he was certain2 yea1 and whereof they should have experience after his death4 ,as if he should say1 ,my words appear to you now to be incredible1 but the day will come1 that ,i shall be taken from you1 my carcase shall be inclosed in the bosom of the earth2 and you shall be led away captives to ,babylon1 where you shall remain many days and years1 as it were buried in your sepulchres4 ,but then call to mind what ,i said unto you before hand1 that my body shall arise2 even so shall you rise from your graves out of ,babylon1 and be restored to your own country1 and city of ,jerusalem2 this1 ,i doubt not1 is the true meaning of the prophet4 ,the charge that he gives to the dwellers in the dust1 is to express the power of ,god's word1 whereby he not only gives life1 where death apparently had prevailed2 but also1 by it1 he calls things that are not1 even as though they were4 ,true it is1 that the prophet ,isaiah saw not the destruction of ,jerusalem1 much less could he see the restitution of it with his corporeal eyes2 but he leaves this1 as it were1 in testament with them--that when they were in the extremity of all bondage1 they should call to mind what the prophet of ,god had before spoken4 ,and lest that his doctrine1 and this promise of ,god made unto them by his mouth1 should have been forgotten1 as we are ever prone and ready to forget ,god's promises when we are pressed with any sorrow1 ,god raised up unto them1 in the midst of their calamity1 his prophet ,ezekiel1 unto whom1 among many other visions1 he gave this--,the hand of the ,lord first led him in a place1 which was full of dry and dispersed bones4 7,ezek4 xxxvii47 ,the question was demanded of the prophet1 ,if these bones1 being wondrous dry1 could live8 ,the prophet answered1 ,the knowledge thereof appertained unto ,god4 ,charge was given unto him1 that he should speak unto the dry bones1 and say1 8,thus saith the ,lord ,god to these bones1 ,behold1 ,i will give you breath1 and you shall live3 ,i will give unto you sinews1 flesh1 and skin1 and you shall live40 ,and while the prophet spake as he was commanded1 he heard a voice1 and he saw every bone join its fellow2 he saw them covered with flesh and skin1 albeit there was no spirit of life in them4 ,he was commanded again to speak1 and to say1 8,thus saith the ,lord ,god1 ,come1 ,o ,spirit1 from the four quarters1 and blow on these that are slain1 that they may live40 ,and as he prophesied1 the spirit of life came2 they lived1 and stood upon their feet4 ,then the ,lord interprets what this vision meant1 saying 8,o son of man1 these bones are the whole house of ,israel4 ,behold1 they say1 ,our bones are dried1 our hope is perished1 we are plainly cut off4 ,but behold1 saith the ,lord1 ,i will open your graves1 ,i will bring you forth of them1 ye shall live1 and come unto the land of ,israel1 and ye shall know that ,i am the ,lord40 ,this vision1 ,i say1 given to the prophet1 and by the prophet preached to the people1 when they thought that ,god had utterly forgotten them1 compelled them more diligently to advert to what the former prophets had spoken4 ,it is no doubt but that they carried with them both the prophecy of ,isaiah and ,jeremiah1 so that the prophet ,ezekiel is a commentary to these words of ,isaiah1 where he saith1 8,thy dead1 ,o ,lord1 shall live1 with my body they shall arise40 ,the prophet brings in this similitude of the dew1 to answer unto that part of their fidelity1 who can believe no further of ,god's promises than they are able to apprehend by natural judgment2 as if he would say1 ,think ye this impossible1 that ,god should give life unto you1 and bring you to an estate of a commonwealth again1 after that ye are dead1 and as it were rased from the face of the earth8 ,but why do you not consider what ,god worketh from year to year in the order of nature8 ,sometimes you see the face of the earth decked and beautified with herbs1 flowers1 grass1 and fruits2 again you see the same utterly taken away by storms1 and the vehemence of the winter3 what does ,god to replenish the earth again1 and to restore the beauty thereof8 ,he sends down his small and soft dew1 the drops whereof1 in their descending1 are neither great nor visible1 and yet thereby are the pores and secret veins of the earth1 which before by vehemence of frost and cold were shut up1 opened again1 and so does the earth produce again the like herbs1 flowers1 and fruits4 ,shall you then think1 that the dew of ,god's heavenly grace will not be as effectual in you to whom he hath made his promise1 as it is in the herbs and fruits which from year to year bud forth and decay8 ,if you do so1 the prophet would say your unbelief is inexcusable2 because you neither rightly weigh the power1 nor the promise of your ,god4 ,the like similitude the apostle ,paul uses against such as called the resurrection in doubt1 because by natural judgment they could not apprehend that flesh once putrified1 and dissolved as it were into other substance1 should rise again1 and return again to the same substance and nature3 8,o fool10 saith he1 8that which thou sowest is not quickened1 except it die2 and that which thou sowest1 thou sowest not that body that shall be1 but bare corn1 as it falleth1 of wheat1 or some other1 but ,god giveth it a body as it pleaseth him1 even to every seed his own body40 ,in which words and sentence1 the apostle sharply rebukes the gross ignorance of the ,corinthians1 who began to call in doubt the chief article of our faith1 the resurrection of the flesh after it was once dissolved1 because that natural judgment1 as he said1 reclaimed thereto47#aa7 ,he reproves1 ,i say1 their gross ignorance1 because they might have seen and considered some proof and document thereof in the very order of nature2 for albeit the wheat1 or other corn1 cast in the earth1 appears to die or putrify1 and so to be lost1 yet we see that it is not perished1 but that it fructifies according to ,god's will and ordinance4 ,now1 if the power of ,god be so manifest in raising up of the fruits of the earth1 unto which no particular promise is made by ,god1 what shall be his power and virtue in raising up our bodies1 seeing that thereto he is bound by the solemn promise of ,jesus ,christ his ,eternal ,wisdom1 and the ,verity itself that cannot lie8 ,yea1 seeing that the members must once communicate with the glory of the ,head1 how shall our bodies1 which are flesh of his flesh1 and bone of his bones1 lie still for ever in corruption1 seeing that our ,head1 ,jesus ,christ1 is now exalted in his glory8 ,neither yet is this power and good-will of ,god to be restrained unto the last and general resurrection only1 but we ought to consider it in the marvellous preservation of his church1 and in the raising up of the same from the very bottom of death1 when by tyrants it has been oppressed from age to age4 ,now1 of the former words of the prophet1 we have to gather this comfort2 that if at any time we see the face of the church within this realm so defaced1 as ,i think it shall be sooner than we look for--when we shall see1 ,i say1 virtue to be despised1 vice to be maintained1 the verity of ,god to be impugned1 lies and men's inventions holden in authority--and finally1 when we see the true religion of our ,god1 and the zealous observers of the same1 trodden under the feet of such as in their heart say1 that 8,there is no ,god10 7,psal4 xiv472 let us then call to mind what have been the wondrous works of our ,god from the beginning--that it is his proper office to bring light out of darkness1 order out of confusion1 life out of death3 and finally1 that this is ,he that calleth things that are not1 even as if they were1 as before we have heard4 ,and if in the day of our temptation1 which in my judgment approaches fast1 we are thus armed1 if our incredulity cannot utterly be removed1 yet shall it so be corrected1 that damnable despair oppress us not4 ,but now let us hear how the prophet proceeds3-- 8,come1 thou my people1 enter within thy chamber1 shut thy door after thee1 hide thyself a very little while1 until the indignation pass over40 ,here the prophet brings in ,god1 lovingly1 calling upon his people to come to himself1 and to rest with him1 until such time as the fury and sharp plagues should be executed upon the wicked and disobedient4 ,it may appear at the first sight1 that all these words of the prophet1 in the person of ,god1 calling the people unto rest1 are spoken in vain2 for we neither find chambers1 nor rest1 more prepared for the dearest children of ,god1 so far as man's judgment can discern1 than for the rebellious and disobedient2 for such as fell not by the edge of the sword1 or died not of pestilence1 or by hunger1 were either carried captives unto ,babylon1 or else departed afterwards into ,egypt1 so that none of ,abraham's seed had either chamber or quiet place to remain in within the land of ,canaan4 ,for the resolution hereof1 we must understand1 ,that albeit the chambers whereunto ,god called his chosen be not visible1 yet notwithstanding they are certain1 and offer unto ,god's children a quiet habitation in spirit1 howsoever the flesh be travailed and tormented4 ,the chambers then are ,god's sure promises1 unto which ,god's people are commanded to resort2 yea1 within which they are commanded to close themselves in the time of greatest adversity4 ,the manner of speaking is borrowed from that judgment and foresight which ,god has printed in this our nature2 for when men espy great tempests appearing to come1 they will not willingly remain uncovered in the fields1 but straightway they will draw them to their houses or holds1 that they may escape the vehemence of the same2 and if they fear any enemy pursues them1 they will shut their doors1 to the end that the enemy should not suddenly have entry4 ,after this manner ,god speaks to his people2 as if he should say1 ,the tempest that shall come upon this whole nation shall be so terrible1 that nothing but extermination shall appear to come upon the whole body4 ,but thou my people1 that hearest my word1 believest the same1 and tremblest at the threatenings of my prophets1 now1 when the world does insolently resist--let such1 ,i say1 enter within the secret chamber of my promises1 let them contain themselves quietly there2 yea1 let them shut the door upon them1 and suffer not infidelity1 the mortal enemy of my truth1 and of my people that depend thereupon1 to have free entry to trouble them1 yea1 further to murder1 in my promise2 and so shall they perceive that my indignation shall pass1 and that such as depend upon me shall be saved4 ,thus we may perceive the meaning of the prophet2 whereof we have first to observe1 that ,god acknowledges them for his people who are in the greatest affliction2 yea1 such as are reputed unworthy of men's presence are yet admitted within the secret chamber of ,god4 ,let no man think that flesh and blood can suddenly attain to that comfort2 and therefore most expedient it is1 that we be frequently exercised in meditation of the same4 ,easy it is1 ,i grant1 in time of prosperity1 to say1 and to think1 that ,god is our ,god1 and that we are his people2 but when he has given us over into the hands of our enemies1 and turned1 as it were1 his back unto us1 then1 ,i say1 still to reclaim him to be our ,god1 and to have this assurance1 that we are his people1 proceeds wholly from the ,holy ,spirit of ,god1 as it is the greatest victory of faith1 which overcomes the world2 for increase whereof1 we ought continually to pray4 ,this doctrine we shall not think strange1 if we consider how suddenly our spirits are carried away from our ,god1 and from believing his promise4 ,so soon as any great temptation apprehends us1 then we begin to doubt if ever we believed ,god's promise1 if ,god will fulfil them to us1 if we abide in his favour1 if he regards and looks upon the violence and injury that is done unto us2 and a multitude of such cogitations which before lurked quietly in our corrupted hearts1 burst violently forth when we are oppressed with any desperate calamity4 ,against which this is the remedy--once to apprehend1 and still to retain ,god to be our ,god1 and firmly to believe1 that we are his people whom he loves1 and will defend1 not only in affliction1 but even in the midst of death itself4 ,again1 ,let us observe1 ,that the judgments of our ,god never were1 nor yet shall be so vehement upon the face of the earth1 but that there has been1 and shall be1 some secret habitation prepared in the sanctuary of ,god1 for some of his chosen1 where they shall be preserved until the indignation pass by2 and that ,god prepares a time1 that they may glorify him again1 before the face of the world1 which once despised them4 ,and this ought to be unto us no small comfort in these appearing dangers1 namely1 that we are surely persuaded1 that how vehement soever the tempest shall be1 it yet shall pass over1 and some of us shall be preserved to glorify the name of our ,god1 as is aforesaid4 ,two vices lurk in this our nature3 the one is1 that we cannot tremble at ,god's threatenings1 before the plagues apprehend us1 albeit we see cause most just why his fierce wrath should burn as a devouring fire2 the other is1 that when calamities before pronounced1 fall upon us1 then we begin to sink down in despair1 so that we never look for any comfortable end of the same4 ,to correct this our mortal infirmity1 in time of quietness we ought to consider what is the justice of our ,god1 and how odious sin is2 and1 above all1 how odious idolatry is in ,his presence1 who has forbidden it1 and who has so severely punished it in all ages from the beginning3 and in the time of our affliction we ought to consider1 what have been the wondrous works of our ,god1 in the preservation of his church when it hath been in uttermost extremity4 ,for never shall we find the church humbled under the hands of traitors1 and cruelly tormented by them1 but we shall find ,god's just vengeance fall upon the cruel persecutors1 and his merciful deliverance shewed to the afflicted4 ,and1 in taking of this trial1 we should not only call to mind the histories of ancient times1 but also we should diligently mark what notable works ,god hath wrought1 even in this our age1 as well upon the one as upon the other4 ,we ought not to think1 that our ,god bears less love to his church this day1 than what he has done from the beginning2 for as our ,god in his own nature is immutable1 so his love towards his elect remains always unchangeable4 ,for as in ,christ ,jesus he hath chosen his church1 before the beginning of all ages2 so by him will he maintain and preserve the same unto the end4 ,yea1 he will quiet the storms1 and cause the earth to open her mouth1 and receive the raging floods of violent waters1 cast out by the dragon1 to drown and carry away the woman1 which is the spouse of ,jesus ,christ1 unto whom ,god for his own name's sake will be the perpetual ,protector4 ,rev4 xii4 ,this saw that notable servant of ,jesus ,christ1 ,athanasius1 who being exiled from ,alexandria by that blasphemous apostate ,julian the emperor1 said unto his flock1 who bitterly wept for his envious banishment1 8,weep not1 but be of good comfort1 for this little cloud will suddenly vanish40 ,he called both the emperor himself and his cruel tyranny a little cloud2 and albeit there was small appearance of any deliverance to the church of ,god1 or of any punishment to have apprehended the proud tyrants1 when the man of ,god pronounced these words1 yet shortly after ,god did give witness1 that those words did not proceed from flesh nor blood1 but from ,god's very ,spirit4 ,for not long after1 being in warfare1 ,julian received a deadly wound1 whether by his own hand1 or by one of his own soldiers1 the writers clearly conclude not2 but casting his own blood against the heaven1 he said1 8,at last thou hast overcome1 thou ,galilean30 so in despite he termed the ,lord ,jesus4 ,and so perished that tyrant in his own iniquity2 the storm ceased1 and the church of ,god received new comfort4 ,such shall be the end of all cruel persecutors1 their reign shall be short1 their end miserable1 and their name shall be left in execrations to ,god's people2 and yet shall the church of ,god remain to ,god's glory1 after all storms4 ,but now shortly1 let us come to the last point3 8,for behold10 saith the prophet1 8the ,lord will come out of his place1 to visit the iniquity of the inhabitants of the earth upon them2 and the earth shall disclose her blood1 and shall no more hide her slain40 7,verse #ba47 ,because that the final end of the troubles of ,god's chosen shall not be1 before the ,lord ,jesus shall return to restore all things to their full perfection4 ,the prophet brings forth the eternal ,god1 as it were1 from his own place and habitation1 and therewith shows the cause of his coming to be1 that he might take account of all such as have wrought wickedly2 for that he means1 where he saith1 8,he will visit the iniquity of the inhabitants of the earth upon them40 ,and lest any should think the wrong doers are so many1 that they cannot be called to an account1 he gives unto the earth as it were an office and charge1 to bear witness against all those that have wrought wickedly1 and chiefly against those that have shed innocent blood from the beginning2 and saith1 8,that the earth shall disclose her blood1 and shall no more hide her slain men40 ,if tyrants of the earth1 and such as delight in the shedding of blood1 should be persuaded that this sentence is true1 they would not so furiously come to their own destruction2 for what man can be so enraged1 that he would willingly do even before the eyes of ,god that which might provoke his ,majesty to anger1 yea1 provoke him to become his enemy for ever1 if he understood how fearful a thing it is to fall into the hands of the living ,god8 ,the cause then of this blind fury of the world is the ignorance of ,god1 and that men think that ,god is but an idol2 and that there is no knowledge above1 that beholds their tyranny2 nor yet justice that will1 nor power that can1 repress their impiety4 ,but the ,spirit of truth witnesses the contrary1 affirming1 that as the eyes of the ,lord are upon the just1 and as his ears are ready to receive their sobbing and prayers1 so is his visage angry against such as work iniquity2 he hateth and holdeth in abomination every deceitful and blood-thirsty man1 whereof he has given sufficient document from age to age1 in preserving the one1 or at least in avenging their cause1 and in punishing the other4 ,where it is said1 8,that the ,lord will come from his place1 and that he will visit the iniquity of the inhabitants of the earth upon them1 and that the earth shall disclose her blood20 we have to consider1 what most commonly has been1 and what shall be1 the condition of the church of ,god1 namely1 that it is not only hated1 mocked1 and despised1 but that it is exposed as a prey unto the fury of the wicked2 so that the blood of the children of ,god is spilt like unto water upon the face of the earth4 ,the understanding whereof1 albeit it is unpleasant to the flesh1 yet to us it is most profitable1 lest that we1 seeing the cruel treatment of ,god's servants1 begin to forsake the spouse of ,jesus ,christ1 because she is not so dealt with in this unthankful world1 as the just and upright dealings of ,god's children do deserve4 ,but contrariwise1 for mercy they receive cruelty1 for doing good to many1 of all the reprobate they receive evil2 and this is decreed in ,god's eternal council1 that the members may follow the trace of the ,head2 to the end that ,god in his just judgment should finally condemn the wicked4 ,for how should he punish the inhabitants of the earth1 if their iniquity deserve it not8 ,how should the earth disclose our blood1 if it should not be unjustly spilt8 ,we must then commit ourselves into the hands of our ,god1 and lay down our necks2 yea1 and patiently suffer our blood to be shed1 that the righteous ,judge may require account1 as most assuredly he will1 of all the blood that hath been shed1 from the blood of ,abel the just1 till the day that the earth shall disclose the same4 ,i say1 every one that sheds1 or consents to shed the blood of ,god's children1 shall be guilty of the whole2 so that all the blood of ,god's children shall cry vengeance1 not only in general1 but also in particular1 upon every one that has shed the blood of any that unjustly suffered4 ,and if any think it strange1 that such as live this day can be guilty of the blood that was shed in the days of the apostles1 let them consider1 that the ,verity itself pronounced1 ,that all the blood that was shed from the days of ,abel1 unto the days of ,zacharias1 should come upon the unthankful generation that heard his doctrine and refused it4 7,matt4 xxiii47 ,the reason is evident2 for as there are two heads and captains that rule over the whole world1 namely1 ,jesus ,christ1 the ,prince of justice and peace1 and satan1 called the prince of the world2 so there are but two armies that have continued battle from the beginning1 and shall fight unto the end4 ,the quarrel which the army of ,jesus ,christ sustains1 and which the reprobate persecute1 is the same1 namely1 ,the eternal truth of the eternal ,god1 and the image of ,jesus ,christ printed in his elect--so that whosoever in any age persecutes any one member of ,jesus ,christ for his truth's sake1 subscribes1 as it were with his hand1 to the persecution of all that have passed before him4 ,and this ought the tyrants of this age deeply to consider2 for they shall be guilty1 not only of the blood shed by themselves1 but of all1 as is said1 that has been shed for the cause of ,jesus ,christ from the beginning of the world4 ,let the faithful not be discouraged1 although they be appointed as sheep to the slaughter-house2 for ,he1 for whose sake they suffer1 shall not forget to avenge their cause4 ,i am not ignorant that flesh and blood will think that kind of support too late2 for we had rather be preserved still alive1 than have our blood avenged after our death4 ,and truly1 if our felicity stood in this life1 or if temporal death should bring unto us any damage1 our desire in that behalf were not to be disallowed or condemned3 but seeing that death is common to all1 and that this temporal life is nothing but misery1 and that death fully joins us with our ,god1 and gives unto us the possession of our inheritance1 why should we think it strange to leave this world and go to our ,head and sovereign ,captain1 ,jesus ,christ8 ,lastly1 ,we have to observe this manner of speaking1 where the prophet saith1 that 8the earth shall disclose her blood30 in which words the prophet would accuse the cruelty of those that dare so unmercifully and violently force1 from the breasts of the earth1 the dearest children of ,god1 and cruelly cut their throats in her bosom1 who is by ,god appointed the common mother of mankind1 so that she unwillingly is compelled to open her mouth and receive their blood4 ,if such tyranny were used against any woman1 as violently to pull her infant from her breasts1 cut the throat of it in her own bosom1 and compel her to receive the blood of her dear child in her own mouth1 all nations would hold the act so abominable1 that the like had never been done in the course of nature4 ,no less wickedness commit they that shed the blood of ,god's children upon the face of their common mother1 the earth1 as ,i said before4 ,but be of good courage1 ,o little and despised flock of ,christ ,jesus6 for ,he that seeth your grief1 hath power to revenge it2 he will not suffer one tear of yours to fall1 but it shall be kept and reserved in his bottle1 till the fulness thereof be poured down from heaven1 upon those that caused you to weep and mourn4 ,this your merciful ,god1 ,i say1 will not suffer your blood for ever to be covered with the earth2 nay1 the flaming fires that have licked up the blood of any of our brethren2 the earth that has been defiled with it1 ,i say1 with the blood of ,god's children2 for otherwise1 to shed the blood of the cruel blood-shedders1 is to purge the land from blood1 and as it were to sanctify it3 the earth1 ,i say1 shall purge herself of it1 and show it before the face of ,god2 yea1 the beasts1 fowls1 and other creatures whatsoever1 shall be compelled to render that which they have received1 be it flesh1 blood1 or bones1 that appertained to thy children1 ,o ,lord6 which altogether thou shalt glorify1 according to thy promise1 made to us in our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ1 thy well-beloved ,son2 to whom1 with thee1 and the ,holy ,ghost1 be honour1 praise1 and glory1 for ever and ever4 ,amen4 ,let us now humble ourselves in the presence of our ,god1 and from the bottom of our hearts let us desire him to assist us with the power of his ,holy ,spirit2 that albeit1 for our former negligence1 ,god gives us over into the hands of others than such as rule in his fear2 that yet he let us not forget his mercy1 and the glorious name that hath been proclaimed amongst us2 but that we may look through the dolorous storm of his present displeasure1 and see as well what punishment he has appointed for the cruel tyrants1 as what reward he has laid in store for such as continue in his fear to the end4 ,that it would further please him to assist1 that albeit we see his church so diminished1 that it appears to be brought1 as it were1 to utter extermination1 we may be assured1 that in our ,god there is great power and will1 to increase the number of his chosen1 until they are enlarged to the uttermost parts of the earth4 ,give us1 ,o ,lord6 hearts to visit thee in time of affliction2 and albeit we see no end of our dolours1 yet our faith and hope may conduct us to the assured hope of that joyful resurrection1 in which we shall possess the fruit of that for which we now labour4 ,in the mean time1 grant unto us1 ,o ,lord6 to repose ourselves in the sanctuary of thy promise1 that in thee we may find comfort1 till this thy great indignation1 begun amongst us1 may pass over1 and thou thyself appear to the comfort of thine afflicted1 and to the terror of thine and our enemies4 ,let us pray with heart and mouth1 ,almighty ,god1 and merciful ,father1 c4 ,lord1 into thy hands ,i commend my spirit2 for the terrible roaring of guns17#ab7 and the noise of armour1 do so pierce my heart1 that my soul thirsteth to depart4 ------------------------------------- ,the last day of ,august1 #aefe1 at four of the clock in the afternoon1 written indigestedly1 but yet truly so far as memory would serve1 of those things that in public ,i spake on ,sunday1 ,august #ai2 for which ,i was discharged7#ac7 to preach for a time4 ,be merciful to thy flock1 ,o ,lord6 and at thy good pleasure put an end to my misery4 ,,john ,,knox4 8,,it ,,is ,i1 ,,be ,,not ,,afraid40 ,,extracted ,,from ,,knox',s ,,admonition ,,to ,,england4 8,jesus spake unto them1 saying1 ,be of good comfort1 it is ,i1 be not afraid40 ,the natural man that cannot understand the power of ,god1 would have desired some other present comfort in so great a danger2 as1 either to have had the heavens opened1 to show unto them such light in that darkness1 that ,christ might have been fully known by his own face2 or else1 that the winds and raging waves of the seas suddenly should have ceased2 or some other miracle which had been subject to all their senses1 whereby they might have perfectly known that they were delivered from all danger4 ,and truly1 it had been the same to ,christ ,jesus to have done any of these1 or any greater work1 as to have said1 8,it is ,i1 be not afraid30 but willing to teach us the dignity and effectual power of his most holy word1 he uses no other instrument to pacify the great and horrible fear of his disciples but his comfortable word1 and lively voice4 ,and this is not done only at one time1 but whensoever his church is in such a strait and perplexity1 that nothing appears but extreme calamity1 desolation1 and ruin2 then the first comfort that ever it receives1 is by the means of his word and promise2 as may appear in the troubles and temptations of ,abraham1 ,isaac1 ,jacob1 ,moses1 ,david1 and ,paul4 ,to ,abraham was given no other defence1 after he had discomfited four kings1 whose posterity and lineage1 no doubt1 he1 being a stranger1 greatly feared1 but only this promise of ,god made to him by his holy word1 8,fear not1 ,abraham1 ,i am thy buckler20 that is1 thy protection and defence4 ,the same we find of ,isaac1 who flying from the place of his accustomed habitation1 compelled thereto by hunger1 got no other comfort nor conduct but this promise only1 8,i will be with thee40 ,in all the journeys and temptations of ,jacob the same is to be espied2 as when he fled from his father's house for fear of his brother ,esau2 when he returned from ,laban2 and when he feared the inhabitants of the region of the ,canaanites and ,perizzites for the slaughter of the ,shechemites committed by his sons2 he received no other defence1 but only ,god's word and promise4 ,and this is most evident in ,moses1 and in the afflicted church under him when ,moses himself was in such despair1 that he was bold to chide with ,god1 saying1 8,why hast thou sent me8 ,for since that time ,i have come to ,pharaoh1 to speak in thy name1 he hath oppressed this people2 neither yet hast thou delivered thy people40 ,this same expostulation of ,moses declares how sorely he was tempted2 yea1 and what opinion he had conceived of ,god2 that is1 ,that ,god was either impotent1 and could not deliver his people from such a tyrant's hand2 or else1 ,that he was mutable1 and unjust in his promises4 ,and this same1 and sorer temptations1 assaulted the people2 for in anguish of heart1 they both refused ,god and ,moses4 ,and what means did ,god use to comfort them in that great extremity8 ,did he straightway suddenly kill ,pharaoh1 the great tyrant8--,no4 ,did he send them a legion of angels to defend and deliver them8--,no such thing3 but he only recites and beats into their ears his former promises to them1 which oftentimes they had before3 and yet the rehearsal of the same wrought so mightily in the heart of ,moses1 that not only was bitterness and despair removed away1 but also he was inflamed with such boldness1 that without fear he went in again to the presence of the king1 after he had been threatened and repulsed by him4 ,this ,i write1 beloved in the ,lord1 since you know the word of ,god not only to be that whereby heaven and earth were created1 but also to be the power of ,god to salvation to all that believe1 the bright lantern to the feet of those who by nature walk in darkness1 the life to those that by sin are dead1 a comfort to such as are in tribulation1 the tower of defence to such as are most feeble1 the wisdom and great felicity of such as delight in the same4 ,and1 to be short1 you know ,god's word to be of such efficacy and strength1 that thereby sin is purged1 death vanquished1 tyrants suppressed2 and1 finally1 the devil1 the author of all mischief1 overthrown and confounded4 ,this1 ,i say1 ,i write1 that you1 knowing this of the holy word1 and most blessed gospel and voice of ,god1 which once you have heard1 ,i trust to your comfort1 may now1 in this hour of darkness1 and most raging tempest1 thirst and pray1 that you may hear yet once again this amiable voice of our ,saviour ,christ1 8,be of good comfort1 it is ,i1 fear not40 ,and also1 that you may receive some consolation from that blessed gospel which before you have professed1 assuredly knowing1 that ,god shall be no less merciful unto you1 than he has been to others afflicted for his name's sake before you2 and albeit ,god speedily removes not this horrible darkness1 neither suddenly pacifies this tempest1 yet shall he not suffer his tossed ship to be drowned4 ,,footnotes #a ,the ,editor may here state1 what cannot be unknown to many of his readers1 that there are some of the sermons of our early ,divines1 which1 from various circumstances1 are not1 as entire discourses1 available for a publication like the present4 ,from such1 however1 as also from works which do not come under the appellation of ,pulpit discourses1 striking and useful passages will be given from time to time1 when they can be inserted without interfering with those complete discourses which will form the body of this work4 #b ,the ,sermon is founded on the whole ,chapter1 which was the lesson for the day1 in the ,church of ,england service4 #c ,universal faith4 #d ,it should be observed that other commentators have taken other views of the meaning of this parable4 #e ,greatest or entire hinderance4 #f ,opposing4 #g ,combined4 #h ,covered over1 weighed down4 #i ,manage4 #aj ,alluding to the political troubles of that day4 #aa ,cried out against it4 #ab ,the cattle of ,edinburgh was shooting against the exiled for ,christ ,jesus' sake4 #ac ,forbidden4