hee had exhorted the faythfull to saue that which was lost to the intent that hee may make them better vnderstand that all their indeuours and laboures are in vayne except God bee the worker hee sheweth that they cannot otherwise bee saued but by the powre of God Howbeit in this later member the greeke worde is otherwyse namely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth a garding or keeping So hee should haue a respect to the first member when hee saith keepe your selues It followeth And to present you faultlesse before the presence of his glory A. Paule saith Aug. Mar. that God hath chosen vs before the foundation of the world was layde that wee should bee holy and without blame before him through loue Ephesians the firste Chapter verse the fourth But wee can neuer bee founde to bee such vnlesse God him selfe doe bring it to passe in vs. It followeth Wyth ioy I. Heere the faythfull ought to bee of good courage to perseuere in well doing to the ende L. Pelycane As if hee should say you haue great cause to reioyce and to bee glad for the comming of our Lord Iesus Chryste when other that seeme heere to liue deliciously in sinne for a season shall mourne lament True ioy the ioy that euery good christian man ought to haue hath alwayes faith annexed and ioyned with it according to this saying of Peter whom yee haue not seene meaninge Chryste and yet loue him in whom euen nowe though yee see him not yet doe you beleeue him reioyce with ioy vnspeakable and glorious receauing the ende of your faith euen the saluation of your soules The first epistle of Peter the first Chapter verse the eyght Here the godly beginne their ioy but when Chryste commeth to his last iudgement then it shall bee fully perfected and completed 25. To God our sauiour which only is wise The texte bee glory and maiesty and dominion and powre nowe and euer Amen To God our sauiour which onely is wise C. All creatures doe giue all the prayse and glory of all wysedome knowledge Caluin as most proper and peculiar to God alone see the sixeteenth chapter to the Romaines verse twenti-seuenth Aug Mar. To God our sauiour A. Wee haue declared before in the twenty-fourth verse and proued out of the scriptures that God alone is both the author and finisher of our saluation It followeth Bee glory maiesty and dominion and powre now and euer As wisedome so also to God only hee ascribeth all glory according to S. Paule saying in the first to Tymothe the first Chapter the 17. verse To the king euerlasting immortall inuisible vnto God onely wise bee honor and glory for euer and euer Amen And Dauid in his 104. Psalme the 31. verse The gloryous maiesty of the Lorde shall indure for euer the Lord shall reioyce in his workes It followeth Now and for euer Although the name of God bee continually prophaned and blasphemed of the wicked yet the godly doe euen now celebrate and set forth the glory and maiesty of the same which is a sacrifice most acceptable vnto our God as hee him selfe witnesseth by his prophet Dauid in the 50. Psalme the 23. verse Who so offereth mee thankes praise hee honoreth mee and to him that ordereth his conuersation a ryghte him wyll I shewe the saluation of God This word Amen as it is vsuall and familiar both with Christe our Sauiour him selfe with his Apostles with all the holy men of God so it confirmeth signeth and sealeth vp as it were whatsoeuer thinges haue beene wrytten or spoken by the saintes and holy men of God inspired wyth the holy-ghost so that wee neede not doubt of their faith truth and verity but cleaue contynually and sticke fast vnto them The which thinge that wee may doe God the Father of heauen graūt vnto vs who hath vouchedsafed to call vs into the fellowship of his sonne Iesus Christe B. To whom bee praise Bulling confession and thankes giuing worlde without ende Amen Soli Deo honor gloria Amen
snatch vs vp as it were for a Pray and vtâ—erly to destroy vs had not Chryste our Sauiâ—ur protected and defended vs whom the faâ—her hath appoynted to bee our keeper and watchman for this purpose that nothing bee lost that hee hath receaued into his tuition safe keping Aug. Mar. â—hon 6.39 A. For this is the will of my Father that sent mee that of all that he hath geuen me I shall lose nothing but rayse it vp agayne at the last daye â—hon 10.27 And againe My sheepe heare my voyce and I knowe them and they followe mee and I geue vnto them eternall lyfe and they shall neuer perishe neyther shall any man plucke them out of my hande My Father which gaue them mee is greater then all and no man is able to take them out of my Fathers hand Ihon. 17.12 Also Those that thou gauest mee haue I kept and none of them is lost but that lost chylde that the scripture myght bee fulfilled C. A threefold benefite of God therefore in all the Godly doth Iudas heere declare Caluin First that by theyr callinge hee hath made them partakers of the gospell Secondly that by his spyrite hee hath regenerated them into newnesse of lyfe And thirdely that by the power of Christe hee hath kept them that they shoulde not fall away from saluation Aug. Mar. A. To this agreeth that sayinge of S. Peter in his 1. epistle vers 5. Wee are kept by the power of God through faith vnto saluation which is prepared for this purpose ready to bee sheweâ— in the last time Bullinger B. In these three members therefore thou hast the whole summe of the gospell which Paule especially mingleth together in the titles or inscriptions of his epistles Mercy bee vnto you and peace The teâ— vers â— Bullinâ—â—â— and charity bee multiplied B. This is an holy wyshe and a very Apostolike salutation Hee desireth three thinges to bee multiplied and increased that to is say Mercy Peace and Charity Caluiâ— C. This worde Mercy is as much in effect almost as Grace in Paules salutations If a man will haue a more subtill or fine difference properly grace is the effecte of mercy Because God doth imbrace vs with his loue for no other cause but because hee beholdeth our myseries B. This mercy the Father of heauen doth increase in vs Bullinâ— when hee taketh pitty vppon vs and forgeueth vs our sinnes and doth as it were power downe him selfe and all his benefittes vppon vs day by day most lyberally and bountifully so that hee doth oftentymes and euer nowe and then knitte as it were and bynde him selfe more strongly and neerely vnto vs by his beneuolence and fatherly benignity This worde peace doth signifie the tranquillity or quietnesse of the minde or conscience the desire or studdy of vnity and coÌ„cord with all men Charity It may bee vnderstoode as well of God towards men as of one man towardes another If it be vnderstoode of God then the sence is that he would vouchsafe to increase the same amonge men and that the trust and confidence of his heauenly loue may dayly more and more bee confirmed and stablished in our heartes if of men it is not amysse neyther that the same God also will vouchsafe to kindle and confirme in them mutuall loue and charity one towardes another I. that they may bee of one minde and of one accorde Ierus and to continew helpfull and beneficiall one towardes another 3. Beloued when I gaue all diligeÌ„ce to write vnto you of the common saluation it was needefull for mee to wryte vnto you to exhorte you that yee should earnestly contend for the fayth which was once geuen vnto the sainctes 〈◊〉 texte â—â—llinger Beloued when I gaue all diligence B. Here hee sheweth the cause that enforced him to write indeuouringe to get theyr good will and fauoure shewinge with all as by a preface the scope drift of those things whereof hee mindeth to speake Mar. Lâ— M. Some doe thinke that a certayne earnest and vehement desire was the cause that inforced Iudas to write as wee are wonte to say of them that doe euen burne as it were with some earnest affection or other that they cannot moderate or wythholde themselues but needes they must doe this or that So that it was necessity in him after their opinion that the earnest desire that Iudas had to write would not suffer him to keepe silence Caluin C. But if a man examine the matter more narrowly hee shall see here two distincte members that whereas otherwise hee was ready inough and earnestly bent yet necessity hath also compelled him to wryte Hee signifieth therefore that hee was willing verely and very desirous to write vnto them and yet notwithstanding compelled so to doe of necessity for as it followeth in the texte being assaulted of the wicked they were to be instructed to prepare and addresse themselues to the battell In this first place therefore Iudas declareth that hee had so great care for their health and saluation that hee wished to write of his owne accord and that very earnestly Then to the intent to styrre them vp to geue the more heede attention hee saith that the matter also it selfe required so to doe for necessity is a sharpe spurre Except they had ben forewarned how necessary this exhortation was for them they would haply haue bene somewhat negligent and slouthfull in the reading of the same But when hee declared in the beginninge that hee wrote vppon present necessity it is all one as if hee had stricken vp the alarame to rouse them vp out of their drowsie sleepe â— Mar. and carelesse security A. Paule after the same maner styrreth vp the Philippians to take heede to them selues and to beware of false Apostles and deceauers â—ilip 3. â— 1.2 It grieueth mee not saith hee to write the same things oft to you for to you it is a sure thinge Beware of dogges beware of euill workers beware of Concision It followeth Of the common saluation C. Some bookes haue yours but amysse â—uin For hee maketh saluation to bee common as well to other as to him selfe Whereby it coÌ„meth to passe that the credit and estimation of the doctrine of saluation is not a litle furthered â—ug Mar. when a man speaketh of his owne vnderstanding experience A. For it will bee counted but a foolish bablinge to reason and dispute of saluation amoÌ„g others whereof we our selues haue had no taste or feeling at all A doctor of experience therefore if we may so speake Iudas professeth himselfe to bee when hee reckeneth himselfe amonge the godly to bee partaker of the same fellowship of saluation with them And truely if there bee but on faith of all the faithfull beleeuers one gospell one Lord Iesus Christe keeper and defendour of the flocke then must saluation of necessity be a coÌ„mon thinge to them
seruitude and bondage of Satan by the fountaine of regeneration wherewith he hath washed vs from all our sinnes to eternal lyfe But as this deliuerance profited theÌ„ not which murmured agaynst God in the desert which defiled them selues with Idolatry with meates offered vp to Idols with whoredome and glottony for certaine thowsands of them were slayne in the wildernesse euen so the preaching of redemption shall litle profite vs if wee goe forwarde in the way of wickednesse and vngodlinesse Caluin C. The very same comparison almost is in Paule 1. Corinth 10. vers 6. Those whom God indued with greate benefites whom hee exalted to the same degree of honor as hee at this day hath vouchedsafe to shew vppon vs afterwarde hee punished seueerly for their rebellion and disobedience In vayne is it therefore to bragge and to bee proude of the grace of God if our deedes are not answerable to our vocation and callinge I. And litle shall it profit â—mlerus that wee haue once by baptisme layde away our sinnes vnlesse with constant mindes wee dayly goe forwarde from better to better from vertue to vertue to the obtayning of the celestiall and heauenly lyfe Caluin C. This name people is very honorably taken for the holy and elect nation as if hee should say it profited them nothing that by this singular pryuiledge they were receaued into the couenante when afterward they fell away by disobedience It followeth Hee destroyed them which afterward beleeued not Heere he noteth the welspring of all euill For hence is it that Moses doth recken vp all their sinnes because they would not suffer themselues to bee ruled by the worde of God For faith consisteth in obedience towardes God all our lyfe longe Aug. Maâ— A. It is not without cause therefore that Christe sayd to the Iewes Except yee beleeue that I am hee Ihon. 8. vers 24. yee shall dye in your sinnes And the author of the epistle to the Hebr. Cha. 4. vers 2. For vnto vs was the gospell preached as well as vnto them but the worde which they heard did not profite them not being coupled wyth faith to them that heard M. Let them therefore take heede that are called by the name of Christians and yet notwithstanding vnder this colour and title doe turne the grace of God into wantonnes least that happen vnto them as did to the Israelites M. Luth. And in very deede from the time that Popery first began and that the gospell in our age lay hidden one plague hath followed another by which God hath taken vengeance on the vnbeleeuers and hath made them a Pray to Satan 6. The texte The Angels also which kept not their first estate but left their owne habitation he hath reserued in euerlasting chaynes vnder darcknesse vnto the iudgement of the great day The Angels also which kept not their fyrst estate B. This seconde example th'Apostle S. Peter hath touched also in his 2. â—ullinger epistle and 2. â—aluin Chap. vers 4. C. And it is an argumente taken from the more to the lesse For the state and condition of Angels is farre more excellent then ours and yet notwithstanding God reuenged their fallinge away from him with an horrible example Therefore hee will not spare our vnfaythfulnes â—ullinger â— Pelyâ—ane if we fal from grace into the which hee hath called vs. B. L. When the Angels sayth hee chaunged their moste blessed and happy nature into wickednes neither continued in their first estate they were throwen out of heauen into hell where they are kept in chaynes euen vntill that last iudgment in the which they shall receaue the sentence of eternall damnation Aug. Mar. A. If therefore God spared not them beinge such excellent creatures B if wee contynew not in our estate and callinge doinge those things which become the chyldren of God how shall wee escape his punyshment Caluin C. This punishment verely hath bene layde vppon the inhabitants and indwellers of heauen and so excellent ministers of God ought dayly to be sett before our eyes leaste at any tyme wee proudely contemne the grace of God from whence wee fall headlonge into vtter destruction Aug. Mâ— A. For the Lord doth no lesse hate pryde nowe and the contempt of his grace then hee did in time past Hee is no changlinge hee remayneth one and the selfe same God still Caluin C. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in this place may bee aptly taken as well for the beginninge as for principallity For Iudas signifieth that therefore they suffered punishment because despisinge the goodnes of God they fell from their first callinge And by and by hee expoundeth the same when hee sayth But lefte their owne habitation For they left and forsoke theyr standing wherein they were placed as fugitiue dastardly souldiars are wont to do in the time of warres It followeth Hee hath reserued in euerlastinge chaines vnder darkenesse vnto the iudgemente of the greate day The cruelty of this punishmente which the Apostle heere expresseth is to bee noted They were not only free spirites but they were also celestiall powers and nowe they are kepte in perpetuall Chaynes They dydde not onelye enioye and beeholde the gloryous lighte of God but his brightnesse also did shine in them in such sorte as it might spread abroade it selfe into all the partes and quarters of the world like the sonne beames whereas nowe they are drowned in darkenesse â—g Mar. A. It is all one with the same that S. Peter wryteth of their punyshment althoughe in other wordes â—luin C. Furthermore wee must not fayne of our owne heades a place wherein the diuells are shut vp and holden bounde For the Apostles woulde teach vs playnely how miserable their state and condition is sithens the time they were depriued of their dignity for their Apostasie or fallinge away from God Whether so euer they goe they drawe their chaynes after them and remaine ouerwhelmed in their darckenesse In the meane time their punishment is deferred vntill that great and extreme day of iudgemeÌ„t A. But what wee must thinke and iudge of the fall of Angells â—ng Mar. and howe soberly wee must reason and dispute of such matters it hath bene sufficiently spoken of in the second epistle of S. Peter the seconde Chapter the fourth verse The texte 7. Euen as Sodome and Gomorrhe and the cyties aboute them which in like maner defiled themselues with fornication and followed straunge flesh are set forth for an ensample and suffer the payne of eternall fire Euen as Sodome and Gomorrhe and the cyties aboute them B. The third example is taken out of the booke of Genesis the nineteenth Chap. verse twenty-fourth Bulling Caluin C and it is more generall for it sheweth that God will punishe all the wicked one with another no kinde of men excepted Aug. Maâ— A. Hee leaueth out the example of that olde worlde that peryshed ouerflowed