The examples of the incertaintie of riches by often and suddain casualtyes should be like Lott's wife to the beholders, to remember and avoid the like. The multitude followe the riche men, as a swarme of bees followe a man that carries the hiue of honie combes, rather for the love of the honie then his person, more for the love of his money then his manhood.
23 May, 1602.
fo.
21b.At Westminster.
Dr. Androes, Deane of that Churche,[63] made a Sermon, his text John xvi. 7: "Yet I tell you the truth, It is expedient for you that I goe away, for if I goe not away the Comforter will not come vnto you, but if I depart I will send him vnto you."
These wordes have reference to the feast which is celebrated this day: whereupon St. Augustine said, In verbo fuit promissio missionis, et in festo missio promissionis: for soe it is in the second of the Acts. "When the day of Pentecost was come they were all filled with the Holy Ghost."
These words were spoken to the disciples when their hearts were full of sorrowe that Christ must part from them, and therefore had need of comfort, for they had cause of sorrowe, for yf a man would not willingly be forsaken of any, as Paule complayneth 2 Tim. iv. 10, that Demas had forsaken him, would it not greiue the disciples to [be] forsaken by such a frend as Christ had bin vnto them, whoe in one place speaking vnto them asketh this question, Which of you hath wanted any thing since you followed me? And in an other place he compareth them while he continues with them to the children of the bridechamber.
Besides the tyme of his departure might aggravate their sorrowes, for it was then when he foretold soe many persecutions should come upon 23 May, 1602.
fo. 22.them. And therefore here he ministers words of comfort, telling them that is expedient, and expedient for them, that he should leaue them, for thereby they should receive a benefit, and that of soe high a nature as they were better to want him then it. And further for their comfort he added, that, though he would forsake them, yet he would not leaue them like orphanes destitute of all frends, but would send them a Comforter.
And here he made his prayer, which being ended with the Lordes prayer, he proceeded with his text: and first noted that Christ rendred a reason of his departure, though it be not requisite alwayes that gouernors should render a reason to their subiects of all their commaundments, for in the 1 Sam. the Kinge gives noe other reason but it was his pleasure. 2. It is a mylde reason, not harshe like that in Marke ix. cap. 19 v. "O, ye faythles generacion, howe long shall I bee with you, how long nowe shall I suffer you?" but here he deliueres it meekely, and moues them with expediency, and that not for himselfe, non nobis, sed vobis expedit. And therefore because it is expedient it ought not to greive them, in soe much as the profit they shall gayne will countervayle the pleasure which they must forgoe by his departure.
And yet it might seeme strange that they should gayne by loosing him; it is reade, Dissolve cœlum et veni ad nos, Domine, and againe, Veni ad nos, et mane nobiscum. But to goe from them what desyre could they haue? Here may arise three difficulties. 1. The disciples might have rejoyned, and sayde, What neede, what care wee for any other Comforter? soe long as you are with us, wee desyre noe other. 2. Why might not the Holy Ghost have come, and yet Christ tarried with them; could they not be togither? 3. Howe can it be expedient for anie to loose Christ? 23 May, 1602.
fo. 22b.what comfort can there be in those wordes which tell them Christ will forsake them?
1. Our happiness is to be reunited to God, from whom we were fallen by our first fathers synn; for as it is the perfection of a branche that is broken of to be ingrafted againe that it may growe with the body, soe is it the felicitie of man to be vnited to his Creator. And in this vnion, as well as God must be partaker of man, soe must man be made partaker of God, otherwise there can arise noe vnion: the former was effected by Christ's incarnacion, and the second is perfected by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, whoe is as it were the connexion and loue knot of the deitie. Christ hath as it were made his testament, and the Holie Ghost is the executor, 1 Cor. xii. Christ is the word: and the Holy Ghost is the seale of it, 2 Corin. i. 22. "Christ hath purchased redemption for us:" and the Holy Ghost must give us seisin, Eph. i. 14. And in conclusion Paule sayth, viii. Rom. 9, "He that hath not the Spirit of Christ is not his:" and therefore was it expedient and necessary that the Holy Ghost should come; for, as Christ was complementum legis, soe is the Holy Ghost complementum Evangelii.