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worldly matters too, contrary to their calling. The clergy of our time have procured unto themselves a liberty to purchase lands. Think ye not that such doings savoured somewhat of worldly things? But I will desire them to take heed: for St. Paul saith here, that all they that are worldly-minded, are enemies of the cross of Christ; for they make their bellies to be their gods. Therefore they shall receive their punishment for their wicked doings. What shall that be? Truly, everlasting pain of hell fire, world without end, without any deliverance from the same; this is their reward.

But what shall become of St. Paul and all true preachers? He saith, "But our conversation is in heaven.” What? Was St. Paul in heaven when he spake these words? No; he was here on earth. But when we walk the pilgrimage of which I told you,-God's pilgrimage, then our conversation is in heaven; that is, conformable unto God's heavenly will: and God sees us and will reward us; when we do the works of our vocation, and wrestle with sin and wickedness, and live after God's will and pleasure: whosoever doth so, that man or woman hath his conversation in heaven: "From whence we long for the Saviour, even the Lord Jesus Christ."

What?

St. Paul looked for him to come from heaven. is he not here already? Christ is here with us already to our comfort, by his Spirit and power, to be our helper, and to work with his sacraments, to defend us from danger and peril; so he is with us in earth, but he is not here bodily: for he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Almighty; from thence shall he come to judge the quick and the dead. All good men and women long for him: and no doubt he will come, and very shortly, and will take account of every one of us; therefore as all the writers admonish us, let us never forget the day which we call the doom's-day. St. Jerome saith, that he ever thought he heard the trumpet. Now they that have in consideration this day, and make themselves ready, it is a joyful thing unto them; but they that are customable* sinners, and will not leave their wickedness, such as are common swearers, adulterers, or idolaters, and such as credit popery; unto them, this day shall be a fearful day, it shall be a heavy coming unto them. St. Paul tells what cheer they

* Habitual.

shall have; namely, everlasting damnation; being the enemies of Christ, their glory shall turn to their eternal shame. So you see that all the world may be divided into two parts; namely, into the faithful and unfaithful.

Now St. Paul said, that he looked for this Saviour "which shall change our vile bodies according to the working, whereby he is able also to subdue all things unto himself." We have a frail body, mortal, subject to all infirmities and miseries: it is a gross body, but for all that it shall rise again, and shall be changed. It is mortal now, it shall be immortal then; it is passible* now, it shall be impassible then; it is gross now, it shall be turned into agility then; it is corruptible now, it shall be incorruptible then; it is ignominious now, it shall be glorious then, like unto his body. Now when it shall be so with our bodies, you may be sure it shall be so with our souls too; for the felicity that we shall have, which God hath laid up for us, passes all men's thoughts: what joy they shall have that are content to leave their sins, and live godly. And these things Christ our Saviour shall bring to pass by his infinite power.

Now to make an end; for God's sake mark these lessons well: for this is a very good piece of Scripture, wherein Paul shows both ways. I think it were better for us to live so that we may attain to this felicity, which is prepared for us in heaven, rather than to follow our carnal desires and lusts. For when we leave our wicked life, and credit the word of God, and delight in it, no doubt it shall bring us in the end to this salvation, of which St. Paul speaks here.

But how shall it go with the others who will not hear God's word, nor leave their wickedness? Truly," their worm shall not die." (Mark ix.) By these words of Christ, is expressed the great pain and sorrow that the wicked shall have: therefore, saith the Scripture, "The death of sinners is the worst thing that can happen unto them." (Psal. xxxiv.) What means he by that? He signifies unto us, that the wicked are not enough punished here; it shall be worse with them after their death. So that it shall be a change: they that have pleasure here, and live according to their desires, shall come to afflictions in the other world, * Exposed to suffering.

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Again, they that have afflictions here, shall come yonder to the perpetual Sabbath, where there is no manner of miseries, but a perpetual lauding and praising of God; to whom, with the Son and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, now and ever, world without end. Amen.

CHRIST THE BEST PHYSICIAN.

A SERMON

Preached on the twenty-fourth Sunday after Trinity, 1552.

MATTHEW ix., LUKE viii., Mark v.

While he spake unto them this, behold there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter lieth at the point of death, but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. And Jesus arose and followed him, and so did his disciples; and behold a woman which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, &c.

THIS is a remarkable story, and much comfort we shall find in it, if we consider and weigh it, with all the circumstances. The evangelist Mark saith, the ruler's name was Jairus; he was an officer; some think that he was a reader of Scripture, as there were at that time; or perhaps he was such an officer as we call a churchwarden; which is a great office in the great cities. Churchwardens can bring much matter to pass; such a great officer he was. For though the Jews had a law, that they should make no sacrifices except at Jerusalem, where the temple was, and all the ceremonies; yet they had in every town their churches or synagogues, as we have churches here in England; commonly every town has a church. And this word Church

sometimes signifies the congregation, the people that are gathered together: and sometimes it signifies the place where the people come together; Continens pro contento, that is to say, "The thing that containeth, for that which

is contained."

Now our Saviour coming to Capernaum, where that

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great man dwelt, which was such a town as Bristol or Coventry is, Jairus comes to him in haste, and falleth down before him, "and maketh great suit unto him, that he would come to his house and heal his daughter, who was sick." No doubt he had heard what manner of man our Saviour was, and wherefore he was come into this world, namely, to save sinners both in souls and bodies; and he had heard also of the general proclamation, written in the eleventh chapter of Matthew, where our Saviour saith, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will ease you."

This proclamation Jairus had heard, and believed it, and therefore he came to Christ: He did not as a great many of us do, who when we are in trouble, or sickness, or lose any thing, run hither and thither to wizards or sorcerers, who are called "wise men;" when there is no man so foolish and blind as they are... And yet some run after them, seeking aid and comfort at their hands. But this good man did not so, he knew that God had forbidden to run to wizards. But what doth he? He comes to Christ our Saviour, with a good, strong, and unfeigned faith. For, as I told you before, he had heard of Christ, of his proclamation, which moved him now in his distress to come unto him. And no doubt he had a good substantial faith, as appeared by his behaviour; yet he had not so good a faith as the centurion had, who sent a message unto him, saying, "Lord, say but one word, and my servant shall be whole." This was a wondrous great faith: insomuch that Christ said, "I have not found such a faith in all Israel." But though this Jairus had not so good a faith as the centurion had, yet he had such faith as led him to Christ. He comes to Christ, he believes that Christ is able to help him, and according unto his belief it happens unto him; for his daughter was healed, as you shall hear afterward; and so upon him is fulfilled the Scripture, "I have believed and therefore I have spoken." For look, what man soever has a good faith, he will not hold his peace, he will speak, he will call for help at his hands. For if this Jairus had not had a good faith, he would not have humbled himself so much, to fall down before such a poor man as our Saviour

was.

Some would have had respect to their honour; they would have thought it scorn to fall down before such a poor man as our Saviour was, or would have been afraid

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