36z OfeJlfeäl er theChurch, Matthewchapter 7. verfe 6. hecalleth them holie, andprecious. Firf &Au.= lines, wee knowe there is no foundholineffe, but in the Lorde, or of the Lorde, and therefore it was fayde holnes to she Lorde; it was the infcription ofAarons miter. And it is faide in the Gofpell, that none is good but God, that is, none is effentially good but God: theword, theAngels and fo forth, are holy, but in refpea rather offome thing receiued then of their ownenature ; and fo the wordeis holy after a double manner, ei. therfor that itcommeth from God,who is perfidy holy, and it is of the nature of him; or elfe for that by it wee receiue holines and are made holy. For the firltit is fore, that the law-giuer doth alwaies impart to the lawe fomthing of Isis ownenature, and there- foreamong the heathen , looke whatkinde of men fee downe the !awes , the lawehad a fmacke oftheir difpofition. Solon a very moderateman, his (awes were very moderate, and rafted much that way, Drag? his lawes were feitere like to Iimfelfe, and therefore theywere fayde tobee written withbloud: So are the Lord his ordinances, they corn mingfrom theholieft of all, eerie from him in themafenfiblerelifhof holinelfe, and are vmtedto the natureofGod. Andas thelawncommeth from one holy, and fo teacheth holy things, likewife cornmeal, holineife into our hearts by applying them thereunto, our hearts of themfeluesnot being holy ; and fo thelawe hamnga quahtie ofGodhhri- felfe,itbathit notfor it (elfe alone,butforvs. In this refpea as the lave is liuely, fo it is aquickning lawe making aline; as the word is wife, fo it maketh wife; as it is hohe, fo it isa fanLtfiynglawe Making vs wife. For precioufneffe the Scripturesfticke not and ceafenotcofet a priceofthe word, as Pfalme r 9. and r r 9. Dauidcompares it to fpoiles; athing full of precious things, wherein are things of great price. And yet for that in fpoiles are things, ofall value, fome more fome le(le precious, after heecompares it to golde,then tofinedgolde, afterward to muchfined golde,yea tothoufands of golde and (doer : andnot contenting himfelfehe ioyneth to golde,precious (tones;and leaftyet her might fay too little,he compares ittoall manner ofriches.. Thereafon hereof is this,that for as muchasthe fouleof aman euenof him that pperilheth, is precious, and the foule of euerygood man moreprecious ; then the fouleof theholyett, Chrift Iefus ismolt preci- ous. Nowfor as much as the Gofpellbath it foundation in opening of the figmeof the blood of Chrift : therefore the Gofpell ina fingular degreeof excellenciemuttneedes be molt precious. 7 WhenTome penitent linnets areexecuted for theft, wee fee they aresnore grieued for whoredome, then for theft, becaufe it brought them to thefte, but molt of all they forrowe for negleët of the word , which hath made them soft lode in all their life. Seeing then this is warrnted by the experience of our times, let vs take heede wee ,Butanes to negledt it not, but fee the want and neglefiî of thefe meanes to be the taufe ofother keepevsfrom fumes; but if wee will not doe this, the Lorde will puntfh fnne by fnne, which is. fist. moftfearefull: for thisis the onlymeanestokeepevifrom finne, tobeatetise word,pray, giuethankes, heart admonitions,receiue the facratnents, with reuerence and in truth. As thefe means doe keepe vs from finnes, fodo theyrecouer vs from themwhenwee are fallen thereinto, as when great trouble is vpon vs, poucrty, difquietnes: and a. gainit thefetheword ofGod doth gluearetnedie, teachingvs, that asit came by Gods prouidence, fohe muft take it away, contrary to the fatnilie of loue whodenying the prcuidence ofGod attributeit to outwardcaufes. Example ofa manwhich raying his ficknes came by Gods vifitation, they replyed, did ye not take cold ? he aunfwered, that is butameanes toferue his prouidence, fo the famille left him. For we take cold often, and yet are not ficke, becaufethe Lorde hackall things in lift hand, to difpofe athis preafure, andthen thallwe refs in this, when weeare certainlyperfwaded of this doarine. Pfalme 3 x. The Prophet faith, that beforehe acknowledged his finne, moy- fhure was turned into drought, but when bee confeifed, his punifhment was taken a. way ; fo /06,3 3.when men will not profiteby his worde; then the Lorde will Peale this former dofiìrme by a correaion, which if wee profite not by, it will lie fo long on a man, that hisbones that(Rieke out: being in this cafe, if the Lorde [male him this,
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