OfFalling. 507 laid open , labour from thenceforth toapproue himfelfe, orat the leaff bewithout excufeagain(1: thedayof theLord. May therenot be alto at this exercife,fome thatcome in meth, and inthe feare of God, whomGodwill accept ? isit meetthat the fe children of God fhouldbe bereftof the vfe thereof, for theabufe ofthe wicked ? Moreouer weare tobe circumfpeét thatwe rcqut10 simile. not a daily fall ; for as in Phyficke it is a thing moltabfurd to prefcribea coutinualt vfe ofviolent vacuation, and fddomeof ordinarie foode t cuen fo it is asabfurdpiuinitìe, to fay, it is fufficient that preaching be vied at fundrie times, in fundrie places, and that fatting (*mold be dayly vfed: when asthe miniftric of the wordof God is as often tobe vfed , as milke, forbabes to be nouri- fhed; or as meat for flrong mento grow vp to the fulne ffeof the ageof Civil': and fatting is to be admitted, but aslettingof blood, orpurging torn corrupt humour , whenTome great caafe vrgeth thefame. We lamentthe wantof diligent Preaching , which fonte withoutacontiruall courfe thereof thinke tobe fufficient: AChrillian heart may appealeto Godsbleffed worde,che Ditigentand true Judgeofall them that are teachable:, but the Judgeofal, cucoof the froward n the lau coaaxuall prearhtxg. day ; yea,wee may appeale tothe great Inqueft of all Godschildren whichknow their os ce :rin4.rE. fins; yea to the experienceof twentie *yeeres, which is awioletfe fo (efficient, that no exception qbis aacarit- can be made againtf it ; as hether to workeall and everypoint of thatknowledge, with a care to ten, An.Eliaa. pradife it, in any fufficicnt meaGue,in all places,fofew Sermons, fo ladepreaching in [not+pla. a3 ces,benotveryinfufficicnt? The Law faith , that the mouthesofthe Priefles fhould alwayes keepeknooiedge,both that theymrght teach the peopleby prsbltke doéìrine and exhortation; and that the people aright requi e of them byprivate conference. The Prophets arecomman- ded to crie andnot toceafe; and the Lorde is faideby their Minillerie to rife vp rarely, and to fttetchforthhis haode all the day long: and the Kingdome ofGod is like to the father of an houfe, that bringcth forthof his trea(urie thingsnew and old for the dayly food of thefam she. What is this , char every trueMiniller is charged with,as he will aufwere tt beforethe tudgmeoe feateof lefus Chtill ropreach thewords infeafon andout offeafon? Surelyonce inaquarter,and once in a mon:th, may lbrise fecmeio be out of fealòn , orftarlè infeafon : But lore I am that twice on theSabboth,(itGods ward bethe iudgc)c an be termed no morebut in feafon:and to preach longerand ofìner on thefailing dayes,?ntay not becalled in the Apoftle his fenfe, outof leafon. Now to faft curry day wereniore'rhen the l'hzrilés did, who failed but twice in the wecke ; If we toil be counted the (mines of PatriatcbesandProphets, avidthedifciples of the Apollles,totake that libertirof Gods;çreatures,that they did, why fhould weebeburthened with the traditionsof Efeues, Heremites and heretikes- It is laidof Eafill the great andNazi - anzene the learned, that they vfed thus to maceratetheir bodies withvery often ab(finence; but what followes after, they were made(as agreat learnedConfuter faith) vnprofìtable to the Church, lying ficke fometimes halfe a ); sere, fometimesan whole yeere. Why then Ihould wee temptGod to lay anyokevpon thedifciples necks,which neuer ourfacherswere able tobeare? Seeing weare dead st ithChriti from theordinancesofche world;why,as though we were in the world, fhould m ebe burthenedwoh tradnions ? as Conchnor, Cafe not,handlenot, whichallpe- rijli with vfing , andare after thecommandementand doticineofmen;which things indeedbane a /hew ofwifedome, in voluntary religion, and humilitieof minde, andnot fparingthe bodie : but areofnovalue,fuse for the fulfillirgoftheflejb, Moreouer wemull learreto make adifference betweenea temperateand moderate vfe,of Gods creatures(Whichmec call fobrietie, and ought sobrietie. alwayes to appearsin The life of Chrif}ians) and anutter abflinence from the vfeof the crea- tures, called Pafling; which neitherbyGods word ought,nor yet by naturali reafoncan becon- tinually ordayly..And here let vi learoe toauoide theextremities, and tokeepe themere in li- fting,which mafterBuser bath taught vs , who faith, that if wee efchue not falling at all or fallingtoomach,.weeltallfall aright. Call they this a fall, fora man to ablaineeueryday front ameales meare? to vre prayer at morning and at night, although that lice 1pendethe moll paneof theday, and the whole night in the commodities, refrefl»ngsandpleafures of this life? this is no found Diuinitie.- Theblcffed Baptifb coutfe, andrutticall diet of locuflsand wildebony, which hevfed according to the natureofthe barrenand wildfoile whereinhelined, makethnothing forthis purpofe,vnlefle thofe that mil have itvfed, put onalfoCamelshayre:Hia difciples which foolifhly followed him without a warrant of that ( whichheedidvpon good ground) are làid to fall, not every day,but oftentimes. X a The
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