Diary of John Manningham Part 26

21 Nov. 1602.]

This day. When G.o.d came to reprehend and denounce judgment against Adam in Paradise, it is sayd he walked; but when he comes with saluacion he comes with hindes feet swiftly. This day. Against procrastinacion and deferring repentaunce. It is a fearefull saying, they shall striue to enter in and cannot, because they came not soone enough; too many think they have the Spirit of G.o.d in a string, and are able to dispatch all while the bell is tolling. But G.o.d sayth, they shall cry, but I will not hear them; then they shall seeke me earely, but they shall not finde me, because they cry and seeke too late. The example of the theife on the crosse is noe example. It was a miracle, that Christ might shewe the power of his diuinity in his greatest humiliacion: besides, the theife had moe and greater graces then manie of the disciples at that time, for some had forsaken and none durst confesse him. And besydes, he were but a desperat theife that would presume because the prince had graunted one pardon.

Outward actions of Christ point at inward and spirituall matters; the raysing of Lazarus that had bin dead three dayes was with great difficulty. Christ was fayne to cry out and grone ere he could get him up. And the disciples could not cast out the diuel that had possessed the man from his infancy. And when Christ cast him out it was with wonderfull tormentinges to the possessed; soe dangerous delay, for the difficulty to repent, syn growing as deare as old, &c.

[Sidenote: fo. 70.

22 Nov. 1602.]

I heard that one Daniel, an Italian, having appeached one Mowbray, a Scott, of treason against his King, Mowbray challenged the combat, and it was appointed to be foughten.

[Sidenote: 25.]

Lord Cheife Baron Manwood[126] understanding that his sonne had sold his chayne to a goldsmith, sent for the goldsmith, willed him to bring the chayne, enquired where he bought it. He told, in his house. The Baron desyred to see it, and put it in his pocket, telling him it was not lawefully bought. The goldsmith sued the Lord, and, fearing the issue would proue against him, obtained the counsels letters to the Lord, whoe answered, "_Malas causas habentes semper fugiunt ad potentes. Ubi non valet veritas, prevalet authoritas. Currat lex, Vivat Rex_, and soe fare you well, my Lords;" but he was committ. (_Curle._)

[Footnote 126: 1578-1603. (Foss's Judges, v. 516.)]

Take heed of your frend; You are in the right---- Your foe strikes by day, Your freind in the night.

Mr. Nichols, of Eastwell in Kent, wrote a booke which he called the Plea of Innocents;[127] wherin it seemes he hath taken vpon him the defense of Puritans more then he ought, for I heard that he is deprived, and must be degraded for it, besides imprisonment and perpetuall silence, before the High Commissioners at Lambeth.

[Footnote 127: The t.i.tle of the book is "The Plea of the Innocent: wherein is averred That the Ministers and People falslie termed Puritanes are iniuriouslie slaundered for enemies or troublers of the State." 12mo. 1602. The author, Josias Nichols, was inst.i.tuted to the rectory of Eastwell in 1580, deprived 1603, but buried there May 16, 1639. Hasted's Kent, fol. edit. iii. 203.]

Women, because they cannot have their wills when they dye, they will have their wills while they live.

[Sidenote: 27.]

Dum spero pereo. (_J. Couper's motto._)

John Sweete: wee shine to:--a companie of stars about the moone. (_His devise._)

[Sidenote: fo. 70^b.

27 Nov. 1602.]

There were called to the bar by parliament, Shurland, Branstone, Bradnum, Bennet, Gibbes, Jeanor, Rivers, Paget, Horton, and Crue.

The diuine, the lawyer, and the physicion must all have these three things, reason, experience, and autority, but eache in a severall degree; the diuine must begin with the autoritie of scripture, the lawyer rely upon reason, and the physicion trust to experience.

The happiest lyfe that I can fynd, Is sweete content in a setled mynd.

Serjeant Harris, standing on day at the common place barr with the other sergeants, and hauing scarce clients enough to hold motion,--"They talke of a call of sergeants," said he, "but for ought I can see wee had more neede of a call of clients."

When one said that Vennar the graund connicatcher had golden spurres and a brasen face, "It seemes," said R. R., "he hath some mettall in him."

A proud man is like a rotten egge, which swymmes above his betters.

[Sidenote: fo. 71.

28 Nov. 1602.]

AT PAULES,

MR. TOLSON of Queenes Colledge in Cambridge; his text in Ephes. v. 25: "As Christ alsoe hath loved the Church, and hath given himself for hir, that he might sanctifie it."

The blessinges of G.o.d to man are infinit and exceeding gracious; many being giuen which we knowe not of, many before wee aske them, manie which wee are unthankefull for; but of all this gift is most admirable, most inestimable, Christ gave himselfe.

He considered the person giving, the party receiving.

There is noe creature soe base and little but if it be considered with reason it may shewe, as were written in greate caractars, that there is a G.o.d.

G.o.d is infinit and eternall, therefore can be but one in essence. One person doth not differ from another really in the essence of deity. Yet each person differeth really from other, and haue their proper personall operacions not common to all. Soe here Christ is said to have giuen himselfe, that is, the person of the sonne of G.o.d, perfect G.o.d and perfect man; he gave not his body, nor his soule, nor his whole humanitie onely,--for if all the creatures in the world were heaped up togither to be giuen, they were noe sufficient sacrifice to satisffie the justice of G.o.d,--but he gave himselfe, his whole person.

But two deaths of the soule, synn and eternall d.a.m.nacion; to affirme that the soule of Christ suffered either were horrible blasphemie.

[Sidenote: fo. 71^b.

28 Nov. 1602.]

Wee must soe worship G.o.d as a trinity in vnity, and an vnity in trynity, otherwise we worship but our owne fastasie.

Christ was _et sacerdos et sacrificium_, he gave himselfe.

_Christus totus mortuus est, non totum Christi_, the whole person of Christ and both his natures suffered; his deity and soule being mortall could not, but his whole person, wherein both natures are indissolubly united. _Christus h.o.m.o in terra, deus in coelo, Christus in utroque._

Christ not made in nor by the Virgin, but of the Virgin; therefore perfect man, not an essence of a nature above the angels but inferior to the G.o.dhead: but the splendor or brightnes of G.o.ds glory, the engraven forme of his person, (Hebr. i. cap.) therefore perfect G.o.d.

He gave himselfe not for all men, but for his Church; he died for all _sufficienter non efficienter_; he would have all men saued, _revelata non occulta voluntate_, or rather, as a Father sayth, _Deus vult omnes salvos fieri, non quod nullus hominum sit quem non velit salvum fieri, sed quia nemo salvus fit nisi quem velit_; he saveth whom he pleaseth, and they are saved because he will.

Christ gave himselfe for the Church, and hence growes the greate quarrell betwixt Papists and us Protestants, for, this gift being soe precious that none can be saved without it, every one is ready to int.i.tle himselfe thereunto, and challeng his part therin; noe heretike so d.a.m.nable, but would hold he was of the Churche, but the point is whether they bee what they pretend, or haue what they arrogate. And here, because, as he said, the text gaue him occasion, and he had direction from the superuisor of this sea, he spake some thinge against the common enimye.

_Ecclesia dicitur [Greek: apo tou ekkalein], ab evocando_, because it is a people called from the rest to be sanctified by Christ.

[Sidenote: fo. 72.