334 Collor, q, 6, Sina monfter, and why, Efay6q. Offences,how and when to bee forgiven, On the Tuefdayalter it is the beltand the fafeft councell, toadhere to that which is the furefl,and not tomake anyreckoning ofthat courfe which is nowadayes held in theWorld : not ofthat which is invfe, butthat whichought tobee vied ; not fo much the pradifeoftheLaw,as ofReligion.For iftheabufes ofthe world,and traditions. ofmen,were totontinuein forceby pleadingofcuflome,&bythat meansmade iuftifable,rhey would giue the checkmate,& amid incompetitió with the laws ofGod. S. Paulfaith,writing to the Coloffians,Letyearfpeechbe&rations almayes, andpoudredwithfait, thatyeemayknow how toanfwer euerieman.AndS. vlmbrcfe expounding this place,faith, That theApoftle begs graceofGod,that liemight knowhow to fpeake withdifcretion,when time,place, andoccäfon fhall oblige him thereunto : As alfo, when (vpon the fame termes) to hold his peace. And this is that whichInow delire ofGod. If thybrotherfhalltre#affeagain!? thee. Here fumeis put downe in the condi- tionof this obligation. For it is akindof moi dtroufneffe which wee neuer, or feldonie ought to fee. Weeoiling that amoníter which comes foorth into the world againftthe Lawes of Nature. And in this fence,limemaybe fayd to bee a monfier becaufeit is againftthe Lawes of God. Ecclefraflicus fayth , That God did not wil anyman to finne, nor didallow him, any timewherein to finne, butalotted hima life, andplacewherein to fernhim, and a time toreturn vn- tohimand to repent as oft as hee íhouldoffend his diuineMai eflie 5 but tofinne, he neuer gaue him the leaft leaue in theworld, Deditei locumpnitenti4, He game him a placeforrepentance , fayth the ApoftleSaint Paul ; fo likewife fayth lob. And therefore Godhauing made theHeauen & theEarth,andal that thereinis, hedid not then prefentlymake Hell ; For,if Man had not finned there hadbin no needeof it. For where no faultsare committed, aprifon is needleffe. The Prophet Eftywas vericearneftwith God , that bee would come downevpon Earth, oh,that thou wouldfibreake the Heauens and come down, and that theOYlaun- taines mightmelt at thy prefence,&c. Hee alludeth to that Hiftorie:ofMoúntSi- nay, where God defcended to giue the Law vnto his peoplewith thundering, lightening, and fire; wherewith heftruckefuchafeare and terrourintothem, that the people had great reuerençeto the Law ; And therefore this holy Pro- phet fayth, What would they doe if thou íhouldeft once againe come amongft them ? c1facie tua,mantesfluerent;The proudeftof them allwould let fall their plumes, and humble thenifeluesat thy feete,which are here reprefented in the wordMantes, or mountains . And thofe foules which arenow frozenandas cold as yce (figuredin the wordAyuz,or waters) would gatherheat and be fet on fire. With this delire didthe fonne ofGod defcend from the bofome ofhis father ; but he bringing that humilitiewithhim, that wasable tomake the high- eft mountains to fioope, and to bring downethe proudeft heart; and fire,forto burnand dryvp many waters ; yet mens brefts waxedcolderandcolder, and their foules weremoreand more fwolnewith pride. The Glorious ApofileSaint Paul writingtothe Romans, That Godmade his Sonne our propitiation ; Whome Godbath fit fourth tobee a reconciliation through faith inhis bloud,to declare his rigbteoufne by theforgiuenes oftheftnnes that arepaf- fed,&c. He did exercifevponhis fonne the feuereft Iufticethat euer was,or Ihall be fence againe ; for the remiffionofprecedent finnes. To the end, that Man conftdering how deere our former wickedneffe and forepaffed ftnnes coil our Sauiour5Man íhould be fo affraidofoffending that hee fhouldneuer returne to finne anymore. Somemay happilyaskeme the queftion Why thedeath and paffion ofour Sautour)
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