why For he beareth with vs as a father with his childrē That therfore is the freedom wherein we must stand except we wil be separated frō our lord Iesus Christ For as I haue sayd alreadie if we beleeue not assuredly that God loueth vs though we be vnworthie of it and that his louing of vs is bycause our sinnes are buryed by the death and passion of oure Lord Iesus Christ what will become of vs what shal Iesus Christe boote vs Ageyn if we be in doubt and vnquietnesse not knowing whether God accept our seruice or no and therwithall be bounde to the keeping of this or that at mennes appoyntment the intangling of our selues in so many debatyngs will neuer suffer vs too haue any rest Neyther is it without cause that Saint Paule hauing exhorted the faythfull to continue in the freedome that was purchased them so dearly addeth that Iesus Christe shall not profite them at all vnlesse they know the thing that he hath purchased for them and suffer not themselues to be in any wise bereft of it by men Nowe we see heere that the freedome which Sainct Paule speaketh of is not to giue vs leaue to doo what we our selues thinke good as though he layd the reynes of the brydle vpon our necke and that will he also protest in place conuenient Then intendeth he none other thing than that we might serue God quietly without greef of mind without constreint and without any continuall tormenting of our selues with diuersitie of debatings doubtfull scruples as wee see the vnbeleeuers do namely such as haue not their trust wholly settled vpon our Lord Iesus Christ Therfore besides that which hath bin sayd alredie we haue to mark further that the end of that freedome is too bee able too carie a cheerfull and quiet minde before God For without that wee shall neuer haue the hart to obey him but wee shall alwayes bee in trouble and not bee able too call vppon hym which is the cheefe seruice that he demaundeth and alloweth of VVe see thē that this matter concerneth the cheef point of oure welfare if it bee well vnderstoode VVhen wee speake now a dayes of Christen libertie the Papistes say wee go aboute too abolishe all the ordinances and traditions of the Churche and that we passe not what commeth 〈◊〉 so euery man may liue as he listeth to eate flesh on all dayes alike without let and to despise all other such ordinances But their saying so is bycause they neuer knew that it is no obeying of God vnlesse it be done with an vnconstreyned will For let the Papistes be throughly sifted all the packe of them yea euen the deuoutest of them and it is certayne that they chafe vppon the bitte when they tyre and ouerlabour themselues most to serue God For all that euer they do is but vnwillingly and if they could plucke their heads out of the collar they would full fayne do it Furthermore when they haue toyled after that fashion in their fond deuotions they beare themselues in hand that God ought to like well of it And if a man tell them that they cannot do any thyng that God shoulde accept and furthermore that although their works were good yet they deserue not aught before hym ye shall see them spew out their poyson as they do and fall to blaspheming of God vnlesse yee beleeue them that they be able to worke wonders by their owne merites Howsoeuer the cace stand they are neuer able to know and to tast what it is to obey God For why they vnderstand not what it is too bee quiet namely that it is an vnconstreyned offering of their dooings vnto God with a free hart and an assuring of themselues that he accepteth the same euen bycause he handleth them gently and beareth with them as with his children The Papists know not this and therefore it is not too be wondered at though they thinke it straunge that we should striue for that freedome for they wote not what it meeneth But yet doth not Sainct Paule speake it without cause and by those words we see how precious that libertie is and that it is not a thing to be despised For Iesus Christ did not iest in hys death and passion when he offered vp himselfe vnto God hys father but wrought a worke that in excellencie and worthinesse passeth the creation of heauen and earth Now if Sainct Paule bring in this libertie for an excellent frute purchaced to vs by the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ it must needes followe that it is a high and precious thyng And to the intent wee may conceyue what the nature and power of it is wee must learne too gather in ourselues vnto God when wee bee spoken to of it As for example if we be commanded or enioyned of necessitie too do such a thing or such a thing very well the doing thereof too the worldward hindereth not our freedome before God for the thynges that concerne common policie may bee bidden or forbidden bycause that otherwise they might turne too the hurt of the common weale or else such things may be expedient and thē must one of vs serue anothers turne in common Therefore let vs haue a regard of the things that concerne the policie bycause it behoueth vs to be knit and vnited togither and to haue suche an onement among vs that euery of vs serue his neighbours turne and none of vs be addicted to himselfe But when the cace concerneth the spirituall libertie then must euery of vs draw home into himselfe too consider the nature and propertie thereof Euery of vs say I must draw home himselfe as it were before God For our account is too be made to the heauenly iudge and therefore it behoueth vs too enter into ourselues to say thus How may I present my self before Gods iudgement seate If my life come to be tried by the lawe wo worth me For I am giltie after so many sorts yea euen withoute number that if I should suffer a Million of deaths it were too little for the offences that I haue committed Neuerthelesse God will be fauourable to me and take me to mercy for our Lord Iesus Christs sake and when I resort to him I may come with my head bolt vpright as hauing my quits est and cleere discharge which was gyuen me in the sacrifise that he offered vp for vs bycause that therein hee hath made full satisfaction for me and set me at full libertie Marke this for one point that I must serue God and it is good reason that I should dedicate my life vnto him But at which end shall I begin I cannot bring such perfection as is requisite no nor the hundreth part of it Yet for all that God beareth with me and ceasseth not to take the things in good worth which are vnperfect and weake yea sinful too And why doth he so Bycause he admitteth me as one of his children for our Lord
by his authoritie Yee see then that the inestimable benefites whiche are comprehended in the Gospell are these namely that men are reconciled vnto God that the gate of Paradice is opened vntoo vs and that our Lord Iesus Christ is giuen vs for our heritage so as we bee made pattakers of all the benefites that he hath powred vpon vs and that he hath warranted our endlesse Saluation Now were it not better that the whole world should sinke and perish than that all this should bee ouerthrowen That therfore is the cause why S. Paule telleth vs that all such as come too set troubles after we haue bin faithfully taught and that all such as bring in any curiosities or foyst in this or that of their owne brayne do turne men away from the kingdome of God and from his royall seate too the intent that they should not any more be gouerned by him nor the Scepter of our Lord Iesus Christ be any more lifted vp among them too their saluation Nowe if wee set so much store by Gods honour as wee ought to do or esteeme it a precious thing too bee parttakers of all heauenly benefites or if wee make account of our owne welfare ought not euery of vs too shunne those troublers and too cast them out as deadly plagues of the world when they come among vs and fall too abolishing of the whole Maiestie of God and of the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ and consequently of our saluation also Thus yee see in effect that the thing which wee haue too marke heere is that wee must sticke with so earnest a minde to the Gospell as wee may not suffer our selues too bee thrust out of the way by any meanes nor abide that any man should trouble our wits by bringing in any new thing more than was afore Although the men bee neuer so skilfull suttle sharpwitted and eloquent yet let vs shake it off euery wit as accursed if it go about to turne vs from the purenesse of the Gospell That is the thing whiche Sainct Paule teacheth vs heere And when he hath spoken so he addeth that if he himselfe or an Angell came too preach any other Gospell than that which the Galathians had heard and vnderstoode they shoulde shake them off hold them as accursed excommunicate them and take them too be as Diuelles Heere wee see that S. Paule is as yee would say whote to mayntayne the stedfastnesse of the fayth to the intent we should not by any meanes bee shaken from it and that is not without cause For we see what frayltie is in vs and not only frayltie but also fondnesse and rebelliousnesse which are yet woorse At the first blush if a man teach vs Gods woord and that wee be not touched with it in good earnest we will thinke it the straungest thing in the worlde for the doctrine will alwayes seeme foolish too mannes wit as wee haue seene heretofore And what is the reason Euen our fondnesse bycause our wittes are wandering and rouing and wee bee naturally bent and foreward too leasing and desire as it were wilfully too bee beguyled Now then seyng that our wittes are so marred it is no maruell though wee lyke not the woord of God or though it haue no enterance intoo vs for all our lustinesse is but rebelliousnesse and whereas we thinke our selues to haue reason we be stark blind and to be short it is not for nought that the scripture sayeth that men are nothing but vanitie and leasing yea and rebelles too God so as they draw alwayes backe from that wherevnto God calleth them But put the cace that God had done so much for vs as too draw vs too him and to make vs taste that his truth is the thing wherevnto it behoueth vs too hold our selues and that we were so tamed that there were no more wilfulnesse in vs but that wee were ready to yeeld him all obedience yet is there such a fraylnesse and vnconstancie in vs that the Diuell shall easily thrust vs out of the way euery minute of an howre And hereof wee see experience euen in those that had bin as mirrours of holinesse so as yee would wonder to see them sodainly chaūged and gone from the right way And what is the cause of it As I sayd afore although we be in a good forewardnesse yet can we not hold our owne long but that we shall by and by go cleane awrie except God worke in vs and amend our frayltie Thus ye see why S. Paule doth with such maiestie maintaine the doctrine of the Gospell and the occasion therof was giuen him by the Galathians for they were thrust out of the way by reazon that they were borne in hand that it behoued them too keepe the ceremonies of the lawe S. Paule therefore beholding suche an example and image of mens infirmitie and ouer great lightnesse sayeth that the beleefe of the Gospell must surmount all that wee can conceyue and that wee must not bee remoued from it nother by the knowledge nor by the great cunning nor by the eloquence of men in somuch that euen though the Angelles of heauen shoulde deale with vs in that cace wee shoulde take them too bee but Diuelles But howe soeuer the cace standeth this were verie straunge VVhat The Angelles of heauen And agayne what is it that Sainct Paule speaketh of His owne preachyng Hee fayeth not singly the Gospell of Christe but the Gospell which I haue preached vnto you And ought that too haue preheminence aboue all the Angelles of heauen First and formest we see that it is too no purpose too magnifie the doctrine of the Gospell in generall and vndistinct termes but wee muste also therewithall bee sure which is the same doctrine To be short there are many among vs that can well ynough mocke at the fondnesse of the Papists but if a man poze thē in the principles which euen yong children ought too know perfectly they can no skill of them and so that one of them bee talking of one man and another of an other all is one too them they haue no discretion they make such a hotchpotch of the matter as if a man should iumble salt and water and mustarde and verie wee all togither Yee see then that they can well ynough confesse in generall termes that the Gospell ought too bee preached but in the meane whyle they know not what the Gospell is Nowe too correct such faults S. Paule sayeth Namely the Gospell that I haue preached vnto you And hereby as I sayd he sheweth vs that wee ought too know what substance is contayned in the doctrine that is set foorth vnto vs in the name of God to the intent that our faith may bee fully setled vpon it so as wee may not bee fickle minded to bee tossed with euery winde nor go at all aduenture too alter our purpose an hundred times a day but that wee may stand out too the end This is in effect
that is not commaunded by hym And truly the thing wherein hee will be discerned from his creatures is that hee haue all souerenitie in ruling our lyfe that the thing whych he commaundeth be accepted as good and needefull without gaynsaying that the thinges which he forbiddeth be omitted and that men make no reckening nor conscience of them But in obseruing the Ceremonies and in thinking to deserue at Gods hand for so doing there is yet a further matter namely that we renounce or giue ouer the thing that is purchaced for vs by the death and passion of the sonne of God our Lorde Iesus Christ whâ—â—e hath discharged vs of all dettes due vnto God hys father Not to gyue vs libertie to do euill but too the ende wee shoulde flee vnto him alone when wee haue done amisse If we find ourselues to haue transgressed Gods lawe and that our owne conscience vpbraydeth vs there is none other remedie for vs but to put ourselues into the hands of our Lord Iesus Christ that we may bee quit before God and washed from all our spottes by the merit of his death and passion and by the sheading of his bloud To be short Sainct Paule sheweth heere that men runne astray when they seeke meanes of saluation any where else than in Iesus Christ in somuch that they become forlorne and vtterly past recouerie Now then seeing that God hath sette vs foorth but only one way of saluation they that turne aside from that do cast themselues wilfully into destruction and Satan reigneth ouer them for their vnthankfulnesse sake in despising the inestimable benefyte that God offered them VVhat a bountifulnesse is it that God calleth and allureth vs too hys fauoure and loue notwithstanding that we be his deadly foes Againe seeing he appoynteth not the Angells to bee our mediators but voutsaueth to ioyne himselfe vnto vs in the persone of his only sonne if we be so miserable that that will not suffise vs but wee will needs of a diuelish couetousnesse seeke other meanes is it not a shaking off of our Lorde Iesus Christ â–ª Then let vs learne that too profit well in the Gospell wee must forsake all that is contrary to the trust whych we ought to haue in our Lord Iesus Christ and sticke wholly to his ryghtuousnsse too seeke all perfection in hym Let that serue for one poynt Also therewithall let vs looke well to ourselues for sometimes we shall thinke we commit but some small and light fault in swaruing asyde but in the end we shall wonder how God hath giuen vs head so as wee shall bee vtterly strayed from him And that is the cause why so feaw holde out to the end For men doo easly beare wyth themselues vnder the foresayde pretence bearing themselues in hand that it is nothing and so euery man giueth him selfe libertie But God punisheth such rechlesnesse giueth vs ouer to it so as Satan carieth vs away VVherefore let vs walke in feare and warenesse â–ª and when â—od hath once gyuen vs the grace to tast of his Gospell let vs indeuer too bee confirmed in it day by day let vs beware in any wise that wee step not asyde from it and let euery of vs bee watchfull in that behalfe least wee make a deadly fall when we thinke wee do but trippe finally let vs keepe the way that our Lorde Iesus Christe teacheth vs. It is true that though wee swarue aside yet he will pitie vs as wee see by experience For hee must bee fayne too rayse vs vp agayne not three or foure tymes in our whole lyfe but a hundred tymes euery day For wee bee fickle and neuer leaue reeling too and fro Neuerthelesse let vs not tempte him nor so harden ourselues that the Diuell leade vs away or draw vs one way or other but let vs labour too make the seede of lyfe auaylable in vs seeing that God wyll haue vs too yeelde foorth frute too hys honor in all our thoughtes wordes and deedes Let vs beware that wee indeuour ourselues heerevntoo Nowe heerevpon Sainct Paule addeth that hee woulde fayne haue the Galathians fashion themselues lyke vnto hym bycause that hee on hys side laboureth to apply hymselfe vntoo them It shoulde seeme that thys saying differeth farre from that whyche wee hearde euen nowe for it was as a stroke of some tempest or thunderclap when he sayde I am afrayde least I haue lost my laboure vppon you I will let you alone like folke past amendmente It greeued hym too see that the doctrine whyche hee had preached was so ill receiued and nowe hee vseth a gentle and freendly manner of speeche To bryng them backe agayne vntoo hym hee calleth them breethren and afterwarde protesteth that hee desireth to ioyne wyth them and too frame hymselfe to them as much as is possible for hym seekyng nothyng but that they shoulde yeelde the like vntoo hym And heerein we see what measurablenesse they ought to keepe which haue the charge to preach Gods word that is to witte they must not foade mens faults by flatterie but rebuke them sharply to the intent that such as are beguiled by SataÌ„s illusioÌ„s may bee wakened as it were scared at Gods iudgemeÌ„ts For wheÌ„ meÌ„ are giueÌ„ to any euill they lye weltering in it still vnlesse they be plucked out of it as it were by force Yea aâ—â— it greeueth and spiteth them if they be wrung by the eare too hard or if they bee made to scratch where it did not itch as the coÌ„mon prouerb sayth The more then that men beare with themselues the lesse are their faultes to be spared for else it were a betraying of them That is the cause why S. Paule vsed so great vehemencie in saying that hee was sore afrayde least hee had lost his labour and there leaueth the Galathians as it were in despayre But yet for all this hee intendeth to cheere them vp agayne that they may come to repentaunce And so hee seasoneth hys sharpenesse with sweetenesse and sheweth that the gate is still open for them if they will submitte themselues vnto God Thus yee see twoo things that are requisyte when wee will haue our exhortations too bee profitable The first is that there bee a liuelynesse in vs too pricke foorth suche as haue done amisse that they may bee throughly touched with the knowledge of theyr synnes and mourne and bee sorie for them before God for if they haue not that sorynesse they will neuer yeelde to followe God True it is that to outwarde syght menne may well alter theyr lewde dispositions but howe soeuer they pretende they shall styll bee full of stubbornnesse and malice till they be ashamed of themselues and feele what they haue deserued So then the true preparatiue too repentaunce is to be pricked so neerely as wee may feele the euill that is in vs and condemne our selues for it yea and that wee bee full of anguishe finding no rest till God haue receyued vs to mercie But yet