The first lesson that John taught, was: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Math. 3. 2. The first lesson that the Disciples taught, was, Repent too, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, Matth. 10. And the first lesson that Christ taught, was repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, Matth. 4. 10. to teach us what we should do first. Repent was the first lesson to young and old: For what can ⟨p. 461⟩we owe God to morrow, which we are not indebted to day? Therefore David prayed, Teach me O Lord to number my days: 1not years, nor my months, nor my weeks. but my days, showing that we shall answer for days as well as years, for to day as well as to morrow: and for our youth as straightly as our age, which made him cry, Remember not the sins of my youth: which he would not have spoken, if God did not mark the sins of youth as well as age. Therefore he calleth children unto him as Solomon doth, and saith, that he will teach them the fear of the Lord. For should children honour their father and not honour God. It was a sweet comfort, when the children went before Christ to his temple, and sang there Hosanna, to make their fathers ashamed, which did not know the Messiah when he came, when their little children knew him. It is written that when Christ heard a young man answer, that he had kept the commandments from his youth, Christ began to love him, which shows how Christ loveth these timely beginnings, when we make him our nurse, and draw our first milk from his breasts. There is not one confession for old men, and another for young men, the old man saith not, I did believe in God: the young ⟨p. 462⟩man saith not, I will believe in God, but both say, I do believe in God, for he which is called I am, in the third of Exodus, loveth, I am, and careth not for, I was, nor I will be. When Christ asketh Peter, Lovest thou me? he looketh that Peter should answer him, Yea Lord I love thee: and not drive him off as Felix did Paul, I will hear thee, I will love thee, when I have a convenient time. For he which will not come when God calls, whatsoever he say, it is impossible that he should resolve to come hereafter: for he which is evil, how should he resolve to be good? therefore now or never, now and ever, the tree which buddeth not in spring, is dead all the year.
The first lesson that Iohn taught, was: Repent, for the kingdome of heauen is at hand. Math. 3. 2. The first lesson that the Disciples taught, was, Repent too, for the kingdome of heauen is at hand, Matth. 10. And the first lesson that Christ taught, was repent, for the kingdome of heauen is at hand, Matth. 4. 10. to teach vs what we should do first. Repent was the first lesson to yong and old: For what can ⟨p. 461⟩we owe God to morrow, which wee are not indebted to day? Therefore Dauid prayed, Teach mee O Lord to number my dayes: 1not yeares, nor my moneths, nor my weekes. but my dayes, shewing that we shall answere for daies as well as yeares, for to day as well as to morrow: and for our youth as straightly as our age, which made him cry, Remember not the sinnes of my youth: which hee would not haue spoken, if God did not marke the sinnes of youth as well as age. Therefore he calleth children vnto him as Salomon dooth, and saith, that hee will teach them the feare of the Lord. For should children honor their father and not honour God. It was a sweete comfort, when the children went before Christ to his temple, and sang there Hosanna, to make their fathers ashamed, which did not know the Messias when he came, when their little children knew him. It is written that when Christ heard a young man answer, that hee had kept the commaundementes from his youth, Christ beganne to loue him, which shewes how Christ loueth these timelie beginnings, when wee make him our nurse, and drawe our first milke from his brests. There is not one confession for olde men, and another for young men, the old man saith not, I did beleeue in God: the young ⟨p. 462⟩man saith not, I will beleeue in God, but both say, I doe beleeue in God, for hee which is called I am, in the third of Exodus, loueth, I am, and careth not for, I was, nor I will be. When Christ asketh Peter, Louest thou me? he looketh that Peter should answere him, Yea Lord I loue thee: and not driue him off as Felix did Paule, I will heare thee, I will loue thee, when I haue a conuenient time. For he which will not come when God cals, whatsoeuer he say, it is impossible that hee should resolue to come heereafter: for hee which is euill, how should hee resolue to bee good? therefore now or neuer, now and euer, the tree which buddeth not in spring, is dead all the yeare.
- 1Psal. 90. 12.
