Thesaurus ecclesiæ: that is, the treasure of the church consisting of the perpetuall intercession and most holy praier of Christ, set forth in the 17. chapter of the Gospel by S. Iohn: which in this treatise is plainly interpreted, with necessarie doctrines enlarged, and fit applications enforced.

The seuenteenth Lecture. (Book 17)

Verse 25. O righteous father, the world also hath not knowne thee.

IN these verses following, the meanes are expressed whereby we may attaine vnto euerlasting glory, described in the former verse, and they are two: the know∣ledge of God, vers. 25. and the liuely sense and feeling of Gods loue, verse 26. First, in this verse our Sauior sheweth, that the world is vtterly ignorant of God, and void of true knowledge.

1. As the Euangelist testifieth,* 1.1 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not, Iohn 1. 10. So the Apostle rehearseth out of the Psalme, There is none that vnderstandeth, none that seeketh after God, Rom 3. 11.

2. Such a worldly man was Pharao, who prophanely said: I know not the Lord, nei∣ther wil I let Israel go, Exod. 5. 2. Such an ignorant person and blasphemous wretch was the messenger of the King sent for E∣lisha: Behold this euil (saith he) commeth of the Lord, why should I waite on the Lord any longer. 2. Kin. 6. 33.

3. Like as a foole or ideot knoweth not the way into the citie; such fooles are all wordly men, that know not the way which leadeth to the celestiall Ierusalem, Eccles. 10. 15. who are herein worse then the oxe or asse, which know their ow∣ner and their masters crib, Isay 13. but these haue no knowledge of God, who made them and dayly feedeth them.

4. The cause of this ignorance of the world, is the hardnes of their heart. Eph. 4 18, because through their corrupt and fro∣ward affections, they corrupt that light of nature which they haue, Because when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, nei∣ther were thankefull, but became vaine in their imaginations, and their foolish hart was full of darknesse, Rom. 1. 21.

5. We see then what a dangerous thing it is, not to haue the knowledge of God, and to be ignorant of his wayes: all such are as yet of the world, and being of the world are vnder the regiment and king∣dome of Satan: vnder Christs protection they are not, for he prayeth not for the world, Iohn 17. 9. This should be a caueat to all those, who, some of contempt, some of negligence, care not for the knowledge of God or his word. Ambrose well saith,

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Leprae medicina verbū est,* 1.2 contemptus vtique verbi, lepra mentis est: The word is the medi∣cine for the leprosie of the soule, the contempt then of the word, maketh the soule leprous. Though a man had no other sins to con∣dēne him (& yet ignorāce cānot be alone,* 1.3 but hath other sinnes following it) it were a sufficient cause of condemnation, that he regardeth not to know God: as the Pro∣phet saith▪ My people go into captiuitie, be∣cause they haue no knowledge, Isay 5. 13.

But I know him,* 1.4 and these haue known that thou hast sent me.* 1.5 We know God, because Christ first knoweth, and by him and from him his members also know: so that Christ to his church is the fountaine and author of all spirituall knowledge.

1. No man hath seene God at any time, the onely begotten sonne, which is in the bosome of the father, he hath declared him. Iohn 1. 18.

2. Nicodemus til he came to Christ, was ignorant of the first principles of Christian religiō, he knew not what it was to be born again, Iohn 3. The holy Apostle could not find out true knowledge at the feete of Gamaliel, nor in the sect of the Pharises: he was taught the Gospell by no other meanes, but by the reuelation of Iesus

Christ, Galat. 1. 12. neither had Zacheus euer be come the child of Abraham, if he had not come downe from the figge tree and followed Christ, Luke 19.

3. So that as the Israelites could neuer haue found out the way to the promised land, through the vast and vnknowne wildernesse, vnlesse Christ had gone be∣fore them in a cloudie piller by day, and a fiery piller by night: and like as Moses could neuer haue described the forme and fashion of the tabernacle, if the Lord had not first shewed it him in the mount: so as impossible it is, without Christs direction in his word, to find out the way to eternal life. He is therefore that oliue tree, that doth conuey into the candlesticke of the church, that oile and fatnesse, whereby the light thereof is cherished and preserued, Zach. 4.

4. For none in heauen or in earth was found worthy to open the book of Gods secrets, and to looke thereon, but onely the lambe, Reu. 5. 3. 9. The booke had re∣mained sealed still, if Christ had not taken the booke out of the right hand of him that sate vpon the throne, and opened the seales thereof.

5. First then their blind endeuor is con∣demned,

which by the light of nature thinke to find out the truth. The Philoso∣phers among the heathen,* 1.6 and wise a∣mong the Gentiles, much busied them∣selues to find out the truth, but they labo∣red in vaine. The three wise-men that came from the East, did not content them selues with their humane wisedome and natural experience, but followed the con∣duct of the starre to seeke for Christ. If Saul must haue a prophet to tell him what was become of his fathers asses; to find out heauen, hath much more need of a propheticall light.

Secondly, all carnal and secure persons are admonished, that if they desire know∣ledge, they should seek it at Christs hands in his word: it is no maruell that so many yet continue in ignorance, seeing they de∣spise the meanes of knowledge. Heauen cannot be scaled without Iacobs ladder, the top whereof resteth vpon Christ, Gen. 28.* 1.7 One well saith, Nemini credas tuum, nisi praeeunte lucernae istius luce processum, sit fides itineris tui praeuia, sit tibi iter scriptura diuina: Trust no man to direct thee, vnles this light go before: let faith be the foreman in thy iorney, and let thy way be by the scripture.

Verse 26.* 1.8 And I haue declared vnto them

thy name, and will declare it.] Here our Sa∣uior promiseth the perpetuall assistance of his spirit, and continuall declaration of his word to his church,* 1.9 that as he had prea∣ched and declared it, so he would still in∣struct his seruants, & not leaue his church destitute of the ministerie of his word.

1. Thus the Lord promiseth by his pro∣phet: I will make my couenant with them, saith the Lord, my spirit that is vpon thee, & the words which I haue put in thy mouth shal not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of the seed of thy seed (saith the Lord) from henceforth, euen for euer. Isay 59. 21.

2. Thus our Sauiour leauing the world, ordained his Apostles in his stead, to be witnesses of him to the ends of the world. Act. 1. 8. The Apostles also constituted E∣uangelists, as Timothy, 2. Tim. 1. 6. To se∣cond their work, the Euāgelists ordained Bishops, Pastors and Elders in euery citie Tit. 1. 5. to finish the work of the Gospell.

3. For like as it is not enough to sow the corne, and cast it into the earth, but it must haue both the first and latter raine, Ioel 2. 23. so it is necessary that Apostles & other succeeding Ministers, should water that which Paul and the other Apostles had

planted, 1. Cor. 3. 6. And like as after the house is builded, it must be continually re∣paired, lest through the idlenesse of the hands the house drop through, Eccl. 10. 18. so after the foundation laid, and building finished by Christ and his Apostles the chiefe builders, others must be raised vp to repaire the ruines of Gods house.

4. Therefore as Saint Paul saith, Christ gaue some to be Apostles, some Prophets, some Euangelists, some Pastors and tea∣chers, for the gathering together of the saints the work of the ministery, the edificatiō of the body of Christ, Eph. 4. 11. So that al these of∣fices are necessary, Prophets to assist, Apo∣stles and Euangelists to second Prophets, Pastors and teachers to succeed Euange∣lists, that all the Saints in all ages may be gathered together, and the whole body of Christ edified.

5. How much then are we to giue thankes vnto God, for this his prouident care ouer his church, neuer leauing the same destitute of his word, which we see to the praise of God this day: for God hath furnished this Church of England with such abundance of learned pastors, as I thinke few churches in the world may compare with it. So that as Elias ascen∣ding,

left his spirit doubled vpon Elisha: as Ambrose well noteth,* 1.10 O haereditas pre∣ciosa, in qua plus haeredi relinquitur, quàm habetur: mirum in modum plus Helias gratiae dimisit in terris, quam secum portauit ad coe∣los: A precious inheritance, wherein more is left to the heire, then was first had; Elias lea∣ueth more grace in earth, then he caried to heauen: so I doubt not but many faithfull seruants of God departed this life, haue transmitted their spirit and giftes double vpon their posteritie. Seeing Christ then hath such care to instruct his flocke, as he hath declared his word, so doth yet and will further declare: let no man despise this so great riches, but profit more and more by the ministerie of the word, that the oftener it is declared, the greater may be our increase in faith: that as Gods gra∣ces are doubled vpon our teachers, so they may be multiplied also vpon the hearers.

That the loue wherewith thou hast loued them,* 1.11 may be in them: that is, they may haue a liuely sense & feeling of the loue of God:* 1.12 that as they abound in knowledge, so they may also be quickned in the liuely feeling and apprehension of it.

1. This is that which the Apostle saith: That ye may be able to comprehend with all

Saints, what is the breadth, length, depth and height▪ and to know the loue of Christ which passeth knowledge. Ephes. 3. 18. 19.

2 Such sense of the loue of Christ the Apostle Paul had, who thus in particular professeth of himselfe: Christ loued me, and gaue himselfe for me, Gal. 2. 20. Thus also the prophet Dauid spake from his inward feeling of Gods goodnesse toward him: how deare are thy thoghts toward me, ô God, how great is the sum of them! Psal. 132. 17.

3. Like as Iob saith, I haue heard of thee by the hearing of the eare, but now mine eye seeth thee. Iob 42. 5. so they which haue only a speculatiue knowledge of God, do heare as with the eare; but they that haue an inward feeling and experience of his loue, do see him with the eye: this the pro∣phet Dauid calleth, the tast of the soule: Tast ye and see how gracious the Lord is, Psa. 34▪ 8. Like as Manna, though pleasant to the sight, yet was more pleasant to the tast: so is the mercie and loue of God more ioyous felt and comprehended, then vn∣derstood onely and apprehended.

4 For we are commanded to loue God with all the heart, soule and mind, Mat. 22. 37. God must not only haue our mind and vnderstanding, but our heart and affectiō:

we do not otherwise honour God with all our strength.

5 Hence then we are taught a most ne∣nessarie point of Christian doctrine, that we should labour to our knowledge to ad affection, to our iudgement zeale, to our vnderstanding cōscience & feeling. Many seeme to know much, but there is withall a coldnesse in their heart.* 1.13 Happy it is with those, that when they heare the word, do not onely conceiue and vnderstand it as Herode did, Marke. 6. 20. but their hearts are inflamed, as the two Disciples, while Christ preached vnto them, found their hearts burne within them, Luke 24. The Prophet Dauid saith: O how I loue thy law! Psal. 119. 97.* 1.14 whereof Ambrose well saith; Diligere amplius est, quàm custodire, hoc ne∣cessitatis est & timēs, illud charitatis: To loue is more then to keepe, this is of feare and ne∣cessitie, that proceedeth of charitie▪ So o••r obedience to God should proceede from a willing affection and louing heart. That as God delighteth in the faithfull, My delight is with the children of men. Pro. 8. 31 so our delight may be in God, that we may say with the prophet, The desire of our soule is to thy name, and to the remēbrance

Isa. 26. 8. So shall we be sure, that if we de∣sire his waies now, the Lord wil delight in vs for euer, and cause vs to enter into his euerlasting ioy.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The blindnes & ignorance of the world.
• * 1.2

  Lib. 5 in Luc.
• * 1.3

  Ignorance a sufficiēt cause of condem∣nation.
• * 1.4

  Doct. 2.
• * 1.5

  Al holy know¦ledge deriued from Christ.
• * 1.6

  A vaine labor to seeke for true wisdome without Christ.
• * 1.7

  Amb. serm. 14▪ in Psal. 1 19.
• * 1.8

  Doct. 3.
• * 1.9

  God will ne∣uer leaue his Church desti∣tute of his word.
• * 1.10

  Ambros. E∣pist. 60.
• * 1.11

  Doct. 4.
• * 1.12

  Knowledge without sense and feeling fruitlesse.
• * 1.13

  We must not onley vnder∣stād the word but ioy in it.
• * 1.14

  Serm. 20. in Psal. 119.