too prouoke Gods wrath dayly by our wicked dooynges as folke that doo in deede fyght ageinst him God then must bee fayne too looke vppon vs in the person of his onely sonne or else he must needes hate vs and abhorre vs. Too bee short our sinnes doo set God and vs so farre at oddes that wee cannot so soone come towardes him but by and by wee feele his maiestie vtterly ageinst vs and as it were armed too put vs too vtter confuzion But now remayneth too see how God receyueth vs intoo his fauour by meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ. That is the thing which Saint Paule meaneth in adding that in him vvee haue redemption through his blud that is too vvit forgiuenesse of our sinnes according too the riches of Gods grace Heere wee bee first of all doone too vnderstand that the enmitie which God beareth vs is not in respect of our nature but in respect of our corruption I say it is not in respect of nature for as in respect that God hath creased vs it is certeine that he cannot hate vs But inasmuch as mankynd is vtterly marred and gyuen ouer too all naughtinessâ— God must needes bee as a mortall enemie too vs and as an aduersarie ageinst vs till the rememberance of our sinnes bee buryed out of his sight For wee bee subiect too euerlasting death till wee bee restored agein by reason whereof God being the fountaine of all iustice and rightâ—ousnesse dooth vtteâ—ly hate and abhorre the euill that he seeth in vs Therefore vntill such tyme as our sinnes bee blotted out it is vnpossible for vs too hope that God should eyther fauour or loue vs But let vs marke heere how S. Paule vseth twoo woordes too expresse how wee bee reconcyled too God First he setteth downe the Raunsom or Redemption which is all 〈◊〉 and afterward the forgiuenesse of sinnes Howe commeth it â—â—en too passe that Gods wrath is pacifyed that wee bee made at one â—ith him yea and that he accepteth and auâ—weth vs for his children â—t is by the pardoning of our â—umes sayeth S. Paule And furtherâ—ore bycause redemption is requisite thereuntoo he matcheth that â—ith it also Trew it is that as in respect of vs God wypeth away our â—â—mes of his owne free goodnesse and sheweth himseâ—fe altoogither â—â—untifull of himselfe without respect of any recompence for it at our â—â—ndes And in good soothe what man were able too make amendes 〈◊〉 the least fault he hath committed Then if euery of vs should imâ—loy his whole lyfe in making satisfaction for any one fault alone and 〈◊〉 that meanes seeke too winne fauour at Gods hande it is certeine â—â—at the same dooth farre surmount all our abilities And therfore God â—ust bee fayne too receyue vs too mercy without looking for any reâ—ompence or amendes at our handes But yit for all this the attoneâ—ent which is freely bestowed as in respect of vs did cost the sonne of God very deere For he found none other payment than the sheading â—f his owne blud insomuch that he made himselfe our borrowe both in ody and soule and answered for vs before Gods iudgement too get 〈◊〉 our discharge Our Lord Iesus Christ say I imployed himselfe holly both body and soule For it had not bin ynough for him to haue â—â—ffered so cruell and slaunderous a death in the syght of men but it â—houed him also too abyde such horrible anguishe in himselfe as iâ— God had bin become a iudge too him for he came too that poynt that 〈◊〉 susteyned the person of all sinners too make full amendes for them 〈◊〉 And so yee see why S. Paule hath matched those twoo woordes â—ogither in this streyne Therefore wee haue too marke first of all that wee can obteyne no 〈◊〉 at Gods hand nor be receyued of him till our sinnes bee â—â—yped 〈◊〉 and the rememberance of them cleane put away The reason â—hereof is as I sayd afore that God must needes hate sinne wherâ—â—euer he seeze it So then as long as he considereth vs as sinners he â—ust needes abhorre vs for there is not any thing in our selues nor in 〈◊〉 owne nature but al maner of naughtinesse confuzion Then are 〈◊〉 enemies and aduersaryes vntoo him till wee come too the remeâ—ie that S. Paule sheweth vs heere which is too haue our sinnes forgiuen Heereby wee see that no man can bee loued of God for any â—oorthinesse that is in himselfe For wherein lyeth the loue that God beareth vs I haue tolde you already that he must bee fayne too cast his eye vpon out Lord Iesus Christ not too looke a whit at vs But yit therewithall it is declared further that God dooth neuer lyke well of vs till he haue released vs oâ—r dettes and adopted vs too bee his children notwithstanding that wee bee woorthy of death before him Thus yee see that the assurance of our saluation as is sayd in the song of zacharie is that God bee mercifull too vs and forgiue vs our sinnes whereby wee were become his enemies Howbeit let vs also beare in mynd that the cleere release of our sinnes through Gods free goodnesse is not doone without the raunsome that was payd by our Lord Iesus Christ not in golde nor siluer as sayeth S. Peter in his first Epistle but in such wyse that he which was the vnspotted Lambe was fayne too serue that turne his owne selfe Wherefore whensoeuer wee intend too seeke Gods fauour and mercy let vs fasten all our wittes vpon the death passion of our Lord Iesus Christ that we may there fynd wherwith too appease Gods wrath And furthermore seyng that our sinnes are done away by such payment and satisfaction let vs vnderstand that wee cannot bring aught of our owne for the which wee should bee reconcyled vntoo god Wherin wee see how the diuell hath by his sâ—yghtes cut of all hope of saluation from the world by bearing men in hand that they must euery man raunsome himself and make his owne attonement with god And that is the very thing which men â—all good woorkes merites and vertewes in Papistrie For too what ende tend all the inuentions which they haue forged Why martir they themselues after so many fashions so as men neuer make an end day nor night but are euer still making of new wyndlasses and courses The marke that all these things ame at is too pacifie god And so all the good woorkes which are so counted in Papistrie are nothing else but meanes whereby too make amendes for sinne Howbeit that is but a defacing of the raunsome whereof S. Paule speaketh heere For there is as yee would say an inseparable bond betweene these twoo things namely that God putteth our sinnes out of his rememberance and drowneth them in the bottom of the sea and moreouer receiueth the payment that was offered him in the person of his only sonne Therefore wee cannot atteyne the one without the other Wherforeif wee intend too haue Gods fauour
is sorie or greeued And why Wee bee not Gods children as he speaketh of it in the Epistle too the Romanes except his holy Ghoste dwell in vs For are wee woorthie by nature too bee mustered in such aray as too bee fellowes with the Angells wee I say which are but rottennesse and moreouer cursed in Adam and chyldren of wrath Howbeeit God by his holy spirit calleth vs too this inestimable honour and dignitie of beeing his children so as wee may call vpon him as our father and haue familiar resort vntoo him That therfore is doone by the holy Ghoste and for the same cause is he called the spirit of adoption For the inheritance of heauen belongeth not too vs but in respect that wee bee Gods children Wee bee not so of our selues and by nature as I told you and therfore it followeth that it commeth of Gods freebestowed goodnesse Now hee sealeth vp all this in our harts by his holy Ghoste and that is the cause why it is sayd that wee haue a mortall bodie The thing that is ment heerby is not only our feete hands skin bone and flesh but that there is a lump of corruption in vs by reason of the dwelling of sin in vs which bringeth nothing but death For haue wee liued any tyme wee go away intoo dust and cindre and there is not that man which seeth not himself alredye beeseeged with a hundred deaths considering the diseases and infirmities wheruntoo wee bee subiect Agein age makes vs to stoope so as we perceyue a long whyle aforehand how we be summoned too come too our graue Seeing then that wee perceyue such a number of deathes all at once toogither in our bodies and a much greate dungeon in our soules how should wee hope that God would take vs vp intoo his kingdome But Saint Paule sayth that the spirit is lyfe If there bee but one grayne or one spark of the spirit of our Lord Iesus Christ in vs let vs assure our selues that wee shal be parttakers of his glorie for it is sayd that he is raysed agein from the dead and hath gotten the vpper hand of it by his holy spirit After that maner are wee quickened with him wayting till wee bee deliuered from all the corruptible nature that compasseth vs about And now S. Paule sayeth that wee bee sealed by the holy Ghost as is sayd of it in the first chapter heertoofore and in other places besyde as in the second to the Corinthians And this similitude is very fit For although Gods promises ought to be of sufficient authority to haue ful credit with vs of theÌ„selues yit notwithstanding such is our misbeeleef that wee cannot giue credit too them nor rest vppon them till they bee confirmed and warranted vntoo vs so as wee may say behold it is euen God himself that speaketh But what for that On the one syde we be forepossessed with distrust on the other syde we be alwayes doubtfull and misgiuing and cannot rest vpon the things that are told vs in Gods name By reason wherof his promises are alwayes vnauaylable vntill he print theÌ„ in our harts which thing he dooeth by his holie Ghost For as a peece of euidence is made authentical by setting too of the seale so God warranteth his promises of our saluation in our harts by signing and sealing of them there with his holy spirit That then is the cause why it is so often sayd that Gods spirit sealeth vp the inheritance of our saluation in our harts And for the same cause also is he named the earnest penny in another place For when a bargain is made although there bee no present payment seene yit if an earnest penny bee giuen the bargayne is concluded and the chapman cannot say afterward tush I repent mee of my bargayne and I willâ—forsake it nother can the other say I fynde my selfe deceyued and ouerseene and therfore I will rather keepe my wares styll but eche of them is bound the one too make the money and the other too deliuer his wares Euen so is it sayd that Gods spirit is the earnest penny of the lyfe of our soules And why For as I sayd God byndeth himself vntoo vs in respect of our infirmitie whertoo wee bee too much inclyned In deede it is not for that he oweth vs any thing but wee haue so much the more cause too magnifye his goodnesse in that he is so free harted as to bynd himselfe willingly vntoo vs wheras he oweth vs not any thing and vouâ—safeth too assure vs of it bycause he seeth vs so feeble and weake Lyke as when hee sweareth it is not for that he on his owne part needeth too adde any thing too his single woord for he himselfe is the truth and the thing that commeth of him must not bee doubted of It myght seeme therefore that the othe which he maketh is superfluous and that he dooth but abuse his owne name No but he dooeth it bycause he seeth vs weake and that wee haue neede too bee hild vp many wayes and specially bycause he seeth vs giuen too misbeliefe and therefore that he must bee fayne too remedie it So then whensoeuer God sweareth therin he stoopeth vntoo vs for pitie of our wretchednesse and the sealing and ratifying of his promyses in vs by his holy spirit is euen bycause it is impossible that wee of our selues should beleeue him and wee could not bee sure of the thinges that he promiseth vs to call vppon him and too ouercome all the temptations of the world vnlesse he vsed that meane And therefore wee haue so much the more neede too beare this text in mynd where S. Paule sayth that the holy Ghost sealeth in our hartes And hereupon wee may gather a good lesson to humble vs withal namely that wee shall neuer yeeld God the chiefe honour that he requyreth at our handes except he himself drawe vs too it and giue vs grace too discharge it whithall The thing that he requyreth aboue all other is that his woord haue all authoritie ouer vs and that wee yeeld it such reuerence as he may no sooner speake but wee shall by and by answer Amen that is too say as there may bee a ryght or full accord betwixt them That is the obedience of fayth which is the cheef sacrifyze that God requyreth But contrariwyse on our part there is nothing but replying ageinst Gods woord wee bee full of lustes and although wee seeme not too make vtter resistance ageinst him and too play the mad bedlems as many doo yit are wee giuen to a number of wicked imaginations as we see insomuch that some are as it were frantike specially when a man speakes too them of God for then will they haue their mouth open too spew out their blasphemies and too enter into disputation and debate shewing themselues vtterly vnwilling too receyue any good doctrine And othersome fall not intoo such furie and outrage but yit they let
hold plea as much as they list but if they enter intoo themselues and aske their owne consciences yee shall see them condemned and confounded without any nay When a man hath babled what he can so as he thinkes he hath wonne the gole by saying that he hath no free will of his owne nor abilitie too resist God there needeth no more but thys one woorde what thinkest thou too bee the thing that prouoketh thee too euill Ho it is the diuell Thou sayest well But yit marke a little whether that dooth so fully excuze thee as that thou perceyuest not ryght well that thou wart stirred vp and driuen too it by thine owne selfmouing knowest thou not that the welspring and roote of the mischiefe is in thy selfe When thou art so rebellious ageinst God that thy thoughtes are full of vntruth and vnbeleefe and that so much the more bycause thy lustes are out of square and imbattelled ageinst God and his rightuousnesse euen too make warre with him when thou seest all this must thou yit hold plea further with him So then let vs not seeke any starting holes seyng wee carie a sufficient iudge with vs euen within vs namely seyng that euery of our owne consciences rebuketh vs That is the thing that S. Paule amed at in this streyne And thereby wee also are warâ—ed not too presume aught at all on our selues but too brydle all our senses and imaginations and all the vnderstanding and reason which wee weene our selues too haue For vntill wee haue so renounced our selues it is certeine that we shall neuer bee meete too apply our selues too the seruing of God. And S. Paule sayeth expresly that those whom God hath quickened are by that meanes made felowes with our Lord Iesus Chryst for it is euen he in whom they haue theyr lyfe Trew it is that weâ— ought too seeke it in Gods being howbeeit forasmuch as that is too hygh for vs so as wee cannot come at it no nor any thing nere it therfore our Lord Iesus is called the way And he offereth himself and taryâ—th not till wee seeke him as though he weere farre from vs but reacheth out his armes too allure vs too him insomuch that in his Gospel he sayeth if any man bee aâ—hirst let him come vnto mee and drink And this is fulfilled in his person as hath bin said erewhiles So then let this speeche bee marked where S. Paule sayeth that those which were dead afore were quickened agein by Iesus Christ. And heere wee see yit better the thing that I touched shortly this morning which is that S. Paule speaketh not of a visible death wherof men may iudge by outward syght but of the corruption that is in our souls for he fyndeth fault with vs all How then may wee atteyne too the heauenly lyfe How shall we bee rayzed quickened agein to possesse the heriâ—age that is promised vs Wee see on the contrarie part how wee bee subiect too as many miseries as can bee This therfore must needs bee ment of the newnesse of lyfe which he speaketh of in other places Now it is certein that this lyfe is not yit perfeet in vs there is but a little enterance of it which serueth too leade vs further and too bring vs too the end which shal bee when wee bee come too the full glorie that he speaketh of heere And wee see also how S. Paule setting himself foorth for an example alledgeth that he had giuen ouer all things for our Lord Iesus Christes sake yea and euen the fond opinion which he had of his owne ryghtuousnesse insomuch that although men esteemed him as a little Angell yit notwithstanding he knewe that it behoued him too bee saued by Gods free grace in Iesus Christ. And in sted of all his honour and riches he had suffred so many reproches so many tortures so many beatings and so many imprisonings that a man would haue said he had bin lyfted vp aboue the world and yit notwithstanding he addeth not that I am yit come too my marke but I streyne my self foreward and forget the tyme that is past For if I stay vppon the things I haue done alredy saying I haue ouercome so many incounters I haue delt thus valeantly I haue not ceassed too preach the Gospell euery where I haue wrought in such wyse that the frute of my doctâ—ine is come to the whole world I haue passed the sea I haue bin among barbarus nations where God and his Gospel were neuer erst heard of I haue had a number of lets and haue ouercome them all I haue incountered with thus manie enemyes and haue got the vpper hand of them all If S. Paule say I had had all these considerations with him he had become cold for it is an easye matter with vs too shrink away when wee once think with our selues 〈◊〉 I haue doone ynough for my part now let others marche on in their aray And so euery of vs woold take his leaue when he had some thing or other I â—ot not what But S. Paule sayth that he forgets the tyme past too the intent too cut of occasion of slothfullnesse which myght come in his head and sayeth that he streyneth him self foreward and holdeth his armes opeÌ„ too atteyne vnto it And how long tyme did S. Paule streyne himselfe foreward Euen too the end Then let vs mark well that our glorie shall neuer bee perfect that is too say wee shall neuer throughly inioy the glorie that wee wayt for vntill the end And therefore it behoueth vs alwayes too take warning of our owne wretchednesse too moorne for it before God and too confesse that wee be beholden too his only goodnesse for all things Now then howsoeuer wee fare wee see that we be reformed vnto newnesse of lyfe by Gods spirit and that although wee dwell among vnbeleeuers bee subiect too manie miseries yea and haue sin dwelling in vs yit there is none of vs but he feeleth that the handsells which God hath giuen vs of his holie spirit are not vayne nor vnprofitable If any man alledge that before such tyme as Iesus Christ woork in vs wee haue alredye some lyfe as is seene answer was made shortly this morning that forasmuch as all that euer men haue by nature is not able too bring them vntoo God but maketh them too rest vppon this world none of it ought too bee made account of when the heauenly lyfe commeth in question Then let men calp their hands at vs on all syds yit are wee but dead men when God layeth the brydle looce in our necks and suffereth vs too walk after our owne fancie and lyking Man may well haue some reason but what can it doo so long as it is in the owne nature It will fyght ageinst God and ageinst all truthe Yit notwithstanding man say they hath a will howbeeit that the same will bee wicked Trew it is as I haue sayd alredye that it hathe no strength
withdrawe our selues from all the defilements of the world Heere yee see that the Lawe which God hath giuen vs too rule our lyfe by must continew still for that is not abolished but only that which consisted in traditions and in the figures that serued but for the tyme and were too haue an end by Iesus Christ. Now seing it behoueth vs too giue ouer the shadowes that were vsed and had their full scope in the tyme of Moyses and the Prophetes it is much more reason that the Christian Church should not now adayes bee burdened with mens inuentions According wherunto S. Paule â—elleth vs that we must content our selues with Gods Lawe which serueth too shewe vs how wee may be vnblamable that is too wit by walking in ryghtuousenesse Iustice faythfulnesse and mercy and specially by calling vppon God purely and after a spirituall manner Marke that for one poynt Agein he sayth that the shadowes of the Law should in these dayes not only be superfluous but also as a curtaine to keepe vs still in darknesse and too let vs from seeing our Lord Iesus Christ as wee ought too doo in the mirror of his Gospell Therfore let vs conclude that the ryghtuousenesse which God requyreth at our handes is another maner of one than that which the papistes haue imagined for all the thinges which they terme Gods seruice are but starke gewgawes Yea and wheretoo serue they all but onely too deface the peculiar operation of our Lord Iesus Christ For the poore ignorant soules are hilde fast too them and stand poring altoogither vppon them When I speake of ignorant soules I meane the ablest sort of them euen thosâ— that thinke themselues too â—ee of greatest capacitie for they are all intangled lyke wreâ—chd beastes And therefore let vs learne too holde vs too the singlenesse of the Gospell and too looke vppon our Lord Iesus Christ there lyke as he also 〈◊〉 familiarly vntoo vs too the intent wee myght bee aduaunced by him and boldly call God our father and flee too him for refuge not doubting but that he wil bee neere vs whensoeuer wee cal vppon him in truth Now let vs cast our selues downe before the Maiestie of our good God with acknowledgement of our faults praying him that his making of vs too feele them more and more may cause vs too forsake them by true repentaunce and too walke continually aright and too giue our selues too holy conuersation And that forasmuch as wee bee so weake that there will alwayes â—ee manie vices in vs it may please him too hold vs vp till he haue taken vs out of he world and throughly fashioned vs lyke too his owne image according too the ground worke which he hath begun in vs And so let vs all say Almighty God heauenly father c. The .xiiii. Sermon which is the sixth vppon the second Chapter 16 Iesus Christ hath reconcyled vs both in one body too the end too knit both the one and the other vntoo God by his crosse killing the enmitie therby 17 And being come be preached peace too you that were farre of and too them that were nere hand 18 For by him both twayne of vs haue accesse too the father in one spirit 19 Therfore yee be no more straungers and forreyners but fellowe citizens with the Saints and household folke of God. WEe haue seene this morning how S. Paul hath told vntoo such as were erst without hope of saluation that they were so much the more bound vntoo God for his calling of them too bee of the number of his children seeyng it was not a common and ordinarie thing nor a thing that was looked for On the other syde he did also beate downe all pryde too the intent that the Iewes myght not thinke in themselues that the priuiledge of adoption was of their owne purchacing nor vaunt themselues though God had preferred them before all the rest of the world And now goyng foreward still with the same matter he sayeth that wee vvere reconcyled as vvel the one syde as the other by the death of Iesus Christ and that in so dooyng he hath knit vs toogither intoo one body putting all enmitie too death by his crosse This serueth too expresse better the thing that wee haue seene already He had sayd that wee must come vntoo God by the meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ for without him wee bee all a farre of as well Iewes as Gentyles bycause wee bee all sinners and God in an enemye too vs till his wrath bee appeazed towardes vs Now S. Paule sheweth that that is done by his bearing of our sinnes vppon his crosse For it is by his obedience that all our iniquities are put awaye and it is by his sacrifyzce that our sinnes are washt away To bee short were it not for the death and passion of our Lord Iâ—sus Christ wee should stand bound still in the hand wryting that is spoken of in the second too the Colossians For if wee should come too reckening who durst open his mouth too excuze himself before God or looke too scape the damnation that all of vs haue deserued For if wee should go about too alledge but one poynt there would bee a thousand too stop our mouthes so as wee should bee driuen too stand still all confounded till wee came too the remedie that is too wit that Iesus Christ hath by his death made so full satisfaction for all our dettes that wee bee quitted and released That then is the thing which S. Paule handleth as now too the end wee myght knowe what maner of accesse it is that he speaketh of For too preace intoo Gods presence in cace as wee bee of our selues were too great a boldnesse But when it is told vs that God wil not lay our sinnes and misdeeds to our charge bycause Iesus Christ hath put them all away by his death then is it no rashnesse at all for vs too go vntoo God with our heades bolt vpryght but we haue a good foundation and a boldnesse that God lyketh well of Therfore as oft as wee haue occasion too pray or too fyght ageinst anie temptations let vs learne too knowe that wee haue neede too bee incoraged too patience and too bee asserteyned of the euerlasting lyfe and too repayre all wholly for refuge too the death and passion of the sonne of God knowing that vntill such tyme as wee bee dipped in his blud and washed by the woorking of his holie spirit wee shall euermore bee lothely and God will iustly shake vs of and bee alwayes a iudge too vs in sted of being our father And it is not ynough too knowe that Iesus Christ hath made amendes for vs yea and that all things requysyte too our saluation were fully accomplished and performed by his death and passion but wee must also therwithall receyue the benefyte thereof in such maner as it is ministred vntoo vs For what shall it auayle the Iewes Turkes and other lyke that Gods sonne
too vnderstand that the Churche should bee preserued forâ— euer and that there should alwayes remayne some seede of it in the world so as the record of sauation should neuer bee frutelesse but there should bee some people still too bee gathered toogither which should bee a looking glasse wherin too behold the inestimable mercie which our God sheweth vs in our Lord Iesus Christ. So then wee see Saynt Pauls meaning wherby wee ought too bee assured that although Satan practyze all that is possible too wype away the remembering of God and too make hauocke in the Church as the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ may bee as good as defaced yit will God ouercome all by his power so as the Church shall continew still and the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ shall bee auaylable notwithstanding the crueltie of Tyrantes and the practyzes of houshold enemyes and of such as would ouerthrowe the whole buylding And that also is the cause why Saynt Paule setteth vs downe the name of Iesus Christ. It is trew that wee cannot yeeld God thankes but by that meane for it is certeyne that wee should not bee meete too receyue one drop of good but by the meane of our Lord Iesus Christ bycause wee bee enemyes too God by nature Insomuch that although he bee freeharted euen too the vnbeleeuers yit shall the same turne too their greater condemnation so that they bee dubble accursed in beeing partakers of Gods blissynges for too hym that is vncleane all thyngs are vncleane as sayth Saint Paule in an other place And therefore wee can neuer giue God thankes but in the name of Iesus Christ by whom wee rereyue all good things Howbeit Saint Paules meanyng was too doo vs too vnderstand in this Text that Gods once shewing of hym selfe too bee a father too all men in the person of his onely sonne by ordeinyng hym too make the attonement was too last for euer and too continue world without end insomuch that wee must assure our selues as I sayd afore that God will mainteyne his truth in this world and by that meanes haue alwayes some flocke gathered vnto him among whom his name shal bee called vppon But let vs come now too the second part He sheweth that it is not ynough for vs too haue knowne Gods goodnesse by experience for the tyme past vnlesse we be strengthened in such hope by it as we doubt not but that God will shewe himself mercifull toowards vs euer after And that is the cause why he sayeth Too him that is able too doo al things exceeding abundantly aboue our asking or thinking Now wee see heere how S. Paule warneth vs that if God haue vsed great mercifulnesse towards vs heeretoofore wee must not doubt of his continuing of the same bycause he is not lyke mortal men which be fickle mynded nother must wee bee afrayd that his fountayne will drye when he shal haue bestowed great benefits vppon vs already Why so for he hath such store of them that the more wee take to our contentation the greater abundaunce hath he still Wee see then the meane too dispoze our selues too acknowledge the good that God hath done vs at leastwyse too honour him for them is too bee alwayes fully resolued and perswaded that wee shall euer fynd him a father bycause he hath promised so too bee And wheras he speaketh of Gods power or myght wee must not imagin it too bee an ydle power as the worldlings doo They will graunt well ynough that God is almyghtie but yit in the meane whyle they trust neuer the more in him Too their seeming he takes his rest in heauen or else he dispozeth not things in this world but at starts when he bethinks himself of them But contrariwyse when God speaks vntoo vs of his power it is too the end wee should make it our sheeld ageinst al the distresses hinderances and lets which the diuell casteth before our eyes too make vs distrust Gods promises Lyke as when it is sayd that Abraham beleued that God is almightie it was not generally and confuzedly but with an applying of Gods infinite power too the thing that had bin promised him which was that in his seede all the nations of the earth should bee blissed Abraham looking vppon himself sawe he was a man as fast decaying as myght bee He drooped and as yee would say dragged his wings after him too bee short he was hard at deathes doore His wyfe had bin barrein all hir lyfe long she was past the age of teeming anie more insomuch that the thing which was told him by Gods own mouth seemed vtterly vnpossible And why is it that Abraham dooth neuerthelesse beleeue assuredly that God will keepe promis with him It is bycause he had an eye too his infinite power which is able too ouercome all lets and hinderances Wee see then how Abraham applyed Gods power too his owne behoof assuring himself that Gods truthe and his power are things inseparable After that maner also dooth S. Paule say that he whom he hath put in trust with his gage is myghtie For he sawe himself too bee a poore and frayle creature he sawe how hee was hunted at all hands he sawe that he was shaken of and despyzed he sawe how the doctrine that he bare abrode was hated and abhorred he sawe how his lyfe hung as by a threede and he had such a number of trubbles as were able too ouerwhelm him yea and finally too confound him and dispatch him quyte And how ouercame he all this abode inuincible yea euen tryumphed ouer them being in prison seing himself at deathes doore How could he haue such victory ageinst so manie temptations and incounters It was by knowing that God was the keper of his soule whervpon he conceyued his infinite power which is able too performe all that he appoynteth Yee see then that Saint Paule imagined not a power in the aire but knew that God wrought so in him as he should neuer fall but vppon his feete as men say And why For he had promis of it Wherfore let vs learne to put this lesson as well in vre as it is common in the scripture The repeting therof so oft is not for nought For wee see the frowardnesse that is in our selues insomuch that although God haue promised too keepe vs yit if neuer so little a blast of wynd come vppon vs wee bee dismayed by and by And howso Surely if wee yeelded God the honour that hee deserueth and acknowledge him too bee almightie in deede we should boldly defye all that seemeth too bee ageinst vs And why For if God bee on our syde who shal bee ageinst vs sayeth Saint Paule And wee see also how Dauid defyeth both all his enemyes and also death saying though I should walk in the shadowe of death within the graue yit should I be safe bycause God is my shepherd and hathe his sheephooke too
vppon that stryng But let vs learne too humble our selues with a good will and as I sayd afore let vs consider that Saynt Paule blameth mens nature shewing that all of vs from the greatest too the least are plundged euen too the bottom of hel vntyll God plucke vs backe agein And therwithall let vs consider all the enormities that are doone through the whole world and conclude that we our selues should doo as much if God shewed vs not his mercie and let the same stirre vs vp too brydle our selues least wee ouershoote our selues at some tyme and seeing it hath pleased God too drawe vs vntoo him let vs not turne backe agein too meddle with the leawdnesse of the vnbeleeuers And no wonder though they stumble tumble and reele too fro for they haue no lyght to direct them by But our Lord shyneth vppon vsâ— by his woord and giueth vs eyes by his holy spirt and therfore let vs eschew too bee lyke them as S. Paule exhorteth vs heere Heereuntoo he addeth the toppe of al mischeef which is that men go astray after their owne kynd continew in going outward from woorse too woorse and foade themselues with flatterie wherby they cast their consciences into such a sleepe as they feele no more anye remorse or griefe and that is the hygh way too make them vtterly past recouerie Now first of all let vs learne heere too preuent such vengeance of God which ought too make vs quake And when wee heare that such as abyde styll in their owne nature and ouershoote themselues so farre as too bee without scruple of conscience and too become as brute beastes voyde of discretion too be moued eyther with lyfe or death or with any maner of feeling of their owne soule health let vs a Gods name walke in feare and awe and bewayle our sinnes euerye houre early and late that wee bee not hardened after that fashion For wee see how they that growe beastly after that sort doo gather such a hard hartednes as a man cannot bow them after they haue once gotten such a boldnesse in giuing themselues vntoo euyll Thus as touching the first poynt let vs bee ryght well assured that God reuengeth himselfe after a terrible manner ageinst all such as foade themselues in their vyces and take inordinate leaue too doo what they list so that in the end they become brutish euen as Asses and Dogges And now for the second poynt if God vse such rigor towards those which were neuer yit trayned too the Gospell what will he doo to vs when he shall haue shewed vs the way of saluation a long tyme and yit wee continew still lyke those that neuer tasted of good instruction Do wee not thinke that the punishment shal bee more horrible and dreadfull vppon vs Lyke as when S. Paule declareth in the first too the Romanes that God gaue men ouer intoo disordinate and shamefull lustes so as they were vtterly past all shame he speaketh expresly of the heathen and vnbeleeuers who had none other knowledge of God than by the skyes and the earth and the creatures they had none other helpe than that great booke wherby too glorify God and yit forasmuch as they did it not therefore are they condemned after that maner But now can wee haue no such excuce as those sillie soules had wee cannot say wee be not able too discerne what is good bycause we were blynded by Adams sinne and there is nothing but vanitie in vs for God hath giuen vs his woorde which is iustly called a lampe too guyde vs by wee haue the Gospell where our Lord Iesus Christ declareth that he is our guyde and yit for all this if we will needes prouoke God wilfully by disaulling the doctrine of saluation whereas wee should followe it of which sort there are many euen at this day who seeke too wallowe in all leaudnesse and disorder and despyze God openly what shall become of vs Wherefore let vs learne too walke in the feare of God and let vs marke well that Saint Paule hath not without cause set downe here the toppe of all mischief of purpose to shewe vs therby what wages God will pay too all such as yeeld not to him in dewe tyme and place but rather take libertie of all naughtinesse as though they were scaped out of his handes Let vs then be afrayde too ouershoote our selues so farre and then although we haue wandered farre afore God can skill well ynough too drawe vs to him Let vs bee afrayde least God should execute the sayd vengeance vppon vs as wel as vppon them according too this saying of Salomon that when the wicked man is come too extremitie he despyzeth all that is too say he regardeth nother lyfe nor death but flingeth foorth lyke a brute beast Therefore let vs quake at such threatenings for feare least God execute them vppon vs when wee cannot abyde too bee rebuked for our vyces And contrariwyze let vs practyze the doctrine of Salomon where he sayeth happie is the man whose hart pricketh him quickeneth him vp nyght and day Let vs learne then too bee our owne sollicitors and too touche our selues for our vyces and when wee enter intoo them let vs bee abashed at them and cast downe and condemne our selues vntill God haue releeued vs with his mercy After that maner must wee put this doctrine of S. Paules in vre too the end that when God hath once knit vs too him by the meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ and giuen vs lyfe wee may take good heede that that lyfe bee not defaced and quenched in vs through our owne leaudnesse and vnthankfulnesse Agein that beyng mynded too continew in this doctrine may learne first of all too humble our selues for it is certeyne that humilitie will cause vs too resort vntoo God and secondly that our humilitie bee matched with warenesse so as wee bee not rechlesse too flatter our selues but that through the same warenesse wee streyne our selues too the vttermost too fyght ageynst all our vyces and lustes tarying our Lordes leyzure vntyll he rid vs quyte and cleane of them in the meane whyle let vs alwayes win somwhat of our selues bee it neuer so lyttle so as it may continually appeare that our Lord Iesus Christ woorketh in vs and maketh his grace too preuayle by causing vs too goe foreward in goodnesse that wee may say I bee so dispozed as wee may growe more and more vntyll God haue taken vs ouâ— of this world Now let vs fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God with acknowledgment of our sinnes praying him too touche vs so too the quicke as it may drawe vs vntoo trewe repentance too continew in it all the tyme of our lyfe that beyng vtterly beaten downe and made nothing in our selues wee maye learne too seeke all our welfare in him and he theruppon leade vs familiarly by the the hand of our Lord Iesus Christ so as wee may go
not only in the dark but also stark blynd The remedie therfore which the sonne of God bringeth vs by teaching vs the doctrine of the Gospell is that hee giueth vs our syght agein For our eyes are pikt out by the sin of our first father Aâ—am who would â—eeds see too cleere â–ª Uaynglor iousnesse did so cary him away that he would needs discerne betweene good and euill more than was lawfull for him But in sted of hauing greater lyght he became brutish and wee with him insomuch that all of vs continew blynd Now therfore wee had neede too haue our eyes restored vs agein and too haue Gods spirit too serue vs in sted of eyes Mark that for one poynt Agein in this world there is nothing but dull darknesse yea and that so thicke as wee wote not how too step one pace without stumbling or without straying out of our way Therfore it standeth vs on hande too bee guyded and that our Lord Iesus Christ shewe vs the way This is it that Saint Paule declareth too vs heere and how our Lord Iesus inlyghteneth vs namely not only that wee bee dimsyghted and that he helpeth vs and supplyeth the want that is in vs but also that wee bee stark blynd yea and dead and finally euen in the pit of hell lyke as when a Coarse is layd in the graue men may well bring Candels and Torches too it but it seeth neuer the more for all that So then our Lord Iesus imparteth his lyght vntoo vs not too make vs see more cleerly than wee did afore but to giue vs our whole â—ysyght new agein bycause we bee stark blynd Now then seeing that Iesus Christ speaketh after this maner and contineweth day by day in wakening vs and in making vs too see cleerer and cleeres ought wee not too followe his example and too hold backe our neyghbours as much as wee can when wee see them straying too their destruction This is the pith of the things 〈…〉 shewed vs heere Now seeing that our Lord Iesus setteth 〈◊〉 forth for an example and patterne needs must we be too barbarous and sauage if we be not touched with it And how The sonne of God hath not only voutsafed too doo his office in inlyghtening vs and too shewe vs the way of saluation and to waken vs from the deadly sleepe wherwith wee were ouerwhelmed but also when he hath inlyghtened vs he will haue vs too serue as Lampes for others too followe that wee may shewe them the way so as he will haue vs after a sort too execute the one half of his office Seeing then that the sonne of God hath doone vs such honour if wee for all this doo thrust this lyght vuder foote and nother doo good too our selues nor too other men with it is it not too heynous a treacherie Agein if wee imagin our selues too bee discharged of our dewtie when euery of vs dooth for his owne part refreynes 〈◊〉 dooyng euill and in the meane tyme let others go too destruction 〈◊〉 as wee haue nother care nor willingnesse to remedie the matter when wee see the Diuell hale them after him too euerlasting death must we not needes perceyue therin that wee doo God great wrong and iniurie in holding his lyght choked after that fashion and in betraying our neyghbours by suppressing so the benefyte which should serue too the euerlasting saluation of their soules Yee see then that wee shall bee alwayes blame woorthie both before God and man vnlesse wee followe the thing that is shewed vs heere by our Lord Iesus Christ and beare this doctrine alwayes in our hartes too put it in vre namely that they which call themselues Christians and will bee so taken must therwithall bee as trumpetters too waken such as are asleepe and as guydes too direct such as go astray and too bring them intoo the ryght way which were wandered out afore After that manner say I must wee all deale and continew in so dooyng vntyll wee bee come too the happie meeting when our Lord Iesus Christ shall call vs all too him too put vs in possession of the heritance which he hath purchaced for vs. Now let vs fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God with acknowledgment of our faultes praying him too make vs perceyue them more and more and in any wise not too suffer vs too fall asleepe lyke wretched infidels but that forasmuch as it is his will that our lyfe should bee as one continuall day wherein he gyueth vs not the Sunne too inlyghten vs onely for a tyme so as nyght shoulde afterward come vppon vs but guydeth and gouerneth vs himselfe 〈◊〉 nyght and day wee may take such profit thereby as he suffer vs not too returne too darknesse agein after he hath so inlyghtened vs but keepe vs styll waking too go through in the holy calling wherto he hath called vs and too follow the way which he sheweth vs so as wee may call others too vs too runne all toogither vntoo him as he calleth vs vntill wee bee fully come thither That it may please him too graunt this grace not onely too vs but also to all people and Nations of the earth c. The .xxxvii. Sermon which is the fifth vppon the fifth Chapter 15. Take heede therefore that yee vvalke circumspectly not as fooles but as vvyle 16. Recouering the tyme for the dayes are euill 17. VVherfore bee not vnvvyse but vnderstanding what is the vvill of the Lord. 18. And bee not drunken vvith vvyne vvherin is loocenesse THe care that wee haue of our tempor all profit will suffyze too condemne vs before God of the negligence that is seene in vs when wee come too the well ordering of our lyfe For wee thinke too escape by this excuce that wee thought not of it But is it a tollerable fault that when God calleth vs too him and setteth the heauenly lyfe 〈◊〉 vs specially telling vs how deerly it was purchaced and requireth nothing but that wee should yeeld him his ryght that is too say that we should glorify him in trew obedience all this should bee nothing with vs Must it not needes bee that wee bee too too grosse headed too stande buzzing about a strawe as yee would say and about a sort of thinges that vanish away and in the meane whyle too despyze the kingdome of heauen after such a sort as too make no account of Gods seruice and too esteeme the saluation of â—ur soules as a thing of nothing Yis And therfore S. Paule exhorteth vs now too bee more waker than we haue bin woont and first he sayeth that in this â—ace we must stand vppon our gaâ—d and not imagin that God must acquit vs for out bloâ—kishnesse sake when wee bee intangled in this worlde and by that meanes thinke not vppon the kingdome of heauen Take heede sayth he that yee vvalke circumspectly It is trew that although we looke neuer so neerly too our selues yit shall wee not misse too bee
Saint Paule hauing sayd that wee must yâ—eld thankes vâ—to God in and for al things bycause he is our father dooth iustly adde that that is doone by our Lord Iesus Christ. Then let vs vnderstand that all they which are afrayd of Gods maiestie and cannot trust him nor rest vppon the promises of his fauour too call vppon him as their father can neuer prayse him In deede they may well vse some Ceremonies but all shal bee but leazing Therefore whensoeuer wee wil pray vnto God and yeeld him prayse and thankes fayth must leade the way Marke that for one poynt Howbeeit as I sayd afore it is vnpossible for vs too bee grounded in any certeintie of fayth too take God for our father vntyll wee knowe that wee bee made one in our Lord Iesus Christ and that forasmuch as wee bee members of his bodie we bee also parttakers of the benefytes that he hathe purchaced so as his death and passion are our ryghtuousnesse his holinesse our clenzing from all our own defylementes and the sacrifyze which he hath offered dooth set vs cleere and drawe vs out of the damnation wherin wee were and finally hath set vs free from the bondage of sin and purchaced vs full ryghtuousnesse Forasmuch as wee haue all these things in our Lord Iesus Christ therefore ought wee also too geue thankes vntoo God by his meanes And that is the cause why the Papistes cannot frame so much as one request that God alloweth Yea and in very deede they bee as good as dumb For though a man may heare Hymnes and Canticles ynow as they terme them among them yit cannot God bee praysed at their handes For although they wynd vp all things with this saying By our Lord Iesus Christ yit doo they not beleeue that God is mercifull too them nother are they woorthie of it bycause they disclayme our Lord Iesus Christ and doo so intangle him with patrons and aduocates of their owne forging as a man cannot discerne him from others insomuch that they coope him vp in a corner or else set him behynd in the reerward whyle in the meane tyme there is hunting after the merites and intercessions of Saintes and that is their trust that is the moother of their diuelish presumpâ—ion namely that they can make amendes for their sinnes and redeeme themselues But as for vs when as it is told vs that wee must thanke God in all things it is too the end that wee should alwayes abace our selues And for that cause did I say that fayth openeth vs the way as wel too pray vntoo God as also too giue him thankes for the benefites that wee haue receyued at his hand Now heerupon Saint Paule addeth that wee must bee subiect one too another in the feare of Christ or in the feare of God for any of bothe will fit the text wellynough In saying that wee must bee subiect he sheweth that lyke as God will haue his children too exercyze themselues in his prayzes so also he wil noâ— haue them too bee vnprofitable heere beneathe but too serue one anothers turne For inasmuch as wee bee not able too doo God eyther good or harme therfore is he contented that wee doo but prayse his name For though we imploy all our abilitie what is there in vs wherwith too inriche God or too aduauntage him For the giueth vs all things and needeth nothing him self Therfore is it an inestimable goodnesse in that he quitteth vs of all that wee can owe him so wee protest our selues too bee so greatly beholden and bound vntoo him as wee cannot discharge our selues of it Then if wee come with all humilitie and confesse the bond wherin wee stand bound vntoo God it is the payment that he requyreth of vs and for his owne part hee seeks no more But yit he will haue vs seruisable one too another and not too seeke our priuate profit in such wyse as too forget that wee bee knit toogither in one mutuall bond of charitie That is the thing wheruntoo he intendeth to bring vs now in this text Now a man myght think it straunge at the first blush that he should say wee ought too bee subiect one too another For it seemeth not meete that the father should bee subiect too his children the husband too his wyfe or the magistrate too the people whom he gouerneth yea or that euen they also which bee equal in degree should bee subiect one too another But if wee looke well vppon all things wee shall fynd that Saint Paule hath not without cause put all Christians vnder this subiection For why The magistrats which are aduaunced in authoritie and glorie aboue other men are bound neuerthelesse too those whom they gouerne for they bee not ordeyned rulers for theyr owne saks but for the common welthes sake For Gods ordeyning of Principalities kingdomes and States was not to the end that some should haue preheminence aboue others but for that it is for our behoof too haue some brydle too hold vs in obedienâ—e vnder lawes and too haue some power and authoritie ouer vs and to stand in feare and awe of magistrats bycause wee cannot forbeare such a remedie Seeing then that God hath set magistrates in such state it is certein that they be therfore subiect too those whom they ought too serue in reigning ouer them As much is too bee sayd of fathers It is trew that the father ought too bee honored of his children Yit notwithstanding forasmuch as it is an honorable tytle it shal cost them ryght deere if they gouerne not their housholds discreetly And in that gouernment there is also subiection Lykewyse is it betweene the husband and the wyfe For is it not a subiection that the husband beareth with the frayltie of his wyfe and hath the discretion too forbeare rigour towards hir holding hir as his companion and taking vppon him a part of hir burthen both in sicknesse and in helth Is not that a subiection yis Not without cause then dooth Saint Paule pronounce heere generally that all they which will proue themselues faythfull must bee subiect one to another namely euery man in his state and degree Let them that are hyghly aduaunced consider well that Gods aduauncing of them is too the end they should the willinglyer submit themselues too beare the paynes and cares that belong too their office and let such as are inferiours vnderstande that they ought much rather too humble themselues and too beare the yoke that is layd vppon their necke And let such as are equals and fellowes vnlesse they will needs bee as wood beasts and are loth too maynteyn any câ—urtisie among them consider neuerthelesse that euery maÌ„ ought to beare with his neyghbors And is not this a subiection Wee cannot liue one with another without forbearing Now surely al forbearing importeth boâ—dage therfore must we be serued for necessities sake According wherunto it is said in another place that wee must owe nothing but that which charitie
dispatch of the rest for vnder that woord it is shewed vs first that our Lord Iesus Christ was after a sort myndlesse of himselfe and regarded not his owne person when he went about our saluation Trew it is that he was giuen vs of God who as it is sayd in the third of Saint Iohn dyd loue the world so well that he spared not his onely sonne but gaue him too the death for our sakes Yit notwithstanding our Lord Iesus Christ also did gyue himself No man taketh my lyfe from mee sayth he but I lay it downe For it was requisite that the sacrifyzce which he offered for the remission of our sinnes should bee willing Yee see then that Iesus Christ gaue himselfe too the death and if wee deâ—aund the cause surely it was first too fulfill the will and euerlasting deteâ—â—ination of God his father Neuerthelesse lyke as God the father inteâ—ded the saluation of mankynd so Iesus Christ shewed how deere wee were too him and how precious our soules are in his syght sith he voutsafed too giue himselfe after that fashyon Now then on the one syde the husbandes must consider well heere what they owe too their wyues that is too wit that they should bee as â—eere too them as their owne lyues at the least And though they doo so yit shall they not come too the perfection of our Lord Iesus Christ but followe him a great way behynde And the wyues also on their syde must beare well in mynd that forasmuch as it is Gods â—ill that 〈◊〉 wedlocke there should bee as it were a figure of the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ they bee too farre 〈◊〉 if they submit not themselues where God calleth them too it And by the way let vs knowe also that Saint Paule ment too magnify Gods goodnesse towardes vs and the loue that Iesus Christ beareth vs in saying that hâ— gaue himself for vs And therefore let vs acknowledge that it came of the free mercie of God his father and also that our Lord Iesus Christ respected nothing but our miseries when he shewed himselfe so pitifull too succour vs If wee mynd these things on the one syde wee shal bee moued too our dewtie without geynsaying and on the othersyde inflamed too glorify our God and acknowledge both with our mouthes and also by our whole lyfe how much wee bee beholden too him seeyng he hath powred out the treasures of his mercy vppon vs in so much that he hath not onely discharged vs of the condemnation wherin we were and drawen vs out of death but also hath voutsafed too giue vs his welbeeloued sonne for a pledge of his loue and Iesus Christ hath taken vppon him the office too bee the borrowe and raunsome for vs too the end too set vs cleere before God that the diuel also myght not haue any more ageinst vs notwithstanding that he bee our aduersary we bee subiect vnto him tyll we be set free from that bondage by meanes of the sayd Redeemer Now let vs fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God with acknowledgment of our faultes praying him to make vs so to knowe them as wee may aske him forgiuenesse of them and reforme our selues more and more by amending them and so profit in the doctrine of saluation as our lyfe may alwayes bee fashyoned after his law according to the meazure of the grace which wee haue receyued of him And so let vs all say Almyghtye God heauenlye father c. The .xl. Sermon which is the eyght vppon the fifth Chapter 25. Yee husbandes loue your vvyues as Christ loued the Church and gaue himselfe for it 26. Too sanctify it clenzing it in the vvashing of vvater through the vvoord 27. Too make it too himselfe a glorious Church vvithout spot or vvrincle or any thing elâ—e but that it myght bee holy and vnblamable WEe haue seene this morning how large matter of glorifying the infinite goodnesse of our God wee haue if wee consider by what meanes he hathe drawen vs from death and taken vs for his children notwithstanding that wee were cursed afore in Adam And now Saint Paule setteth foorth how wee bee made parttakers of the grace that is purchaced for vs by our Lord Iesus Christ namely by being wafshed and clenzed from our spottes too the end too bee dedicated too his seruice in all holynesse Also he addeth the wasshing of water bycause Baptim is a visible figure and record vntoo vs according too our rudenesse and infirmitie too make vs the better too perceyue the grace of our God which passeth all vnderstanding of man Now first of al there is the woord Sanctify which importeth that we should bee separated from the world too bee knit vntoo the sonne of god And this doctrine is such as wee can neuer knowe it ynough For as I haue sayd afore wee must alwayes compare the state wherein God fyndeth vs with the state wheretoo he calleth vs For from our moothers womb wee 〈◊〉 nothing but vtter wretchednesse wee bee cursed and detestablâ—â—â—fore god Therefore he draweth vs out of the dungeon of death from thence dooth he gather vs vp too himselfe And by the woord Sanctifie S. Paule meaneth the chaunge which ought as it were too rauish and too astonish vs as oft as wee consider what wee were and what wee should bee styll if God pitied vs not But let vs come too the meane that I spake of He sayeth that our Lord Iesus Christ hath washed vs. No dout but this is too bee referred too his death and passion For how could wee appeere before God as it were with our countenances vpryght but that our sinnes are done away by the sacrifyze that was offered too set vs at one with god Then vntill wee bee wasshed and scoured cleane by the blud of our Lord Iesus Christ wee bee fowler before God than any leapar wee bee full of all maner of filth and infection and too bee short all that wee can bring shall but prouoke Gods wrath and the vertewes that men esteeme greatest shal bee but lothsomnesse Therfore wee must imbrace the sacrifyce wherby our Lord Iesus Christ hath reconcyled vs too God his father and his blud must flowe downe vppon our soules too clenze vs from our filthinesse and spots Neuerthelesse it is not without cause that Saint Paule sets vs downe baptim heere not that wee bee made cleane by that nother was it his meaning too turne vs asyde from the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ. But forasmuch as wee bee dust and grosse and vnderstand not the spirituall benefyts so well as were requisyte therfore Saint Paule conforming him self too our rudenesse and infirmitie hath shewed vs here our wasshing by a visible signe That wee may the better profit our selues by this maner of speeche let vs consider too what end baptim was ordeyned and whertoo it serueth When our Lord Iesus Christ commaunded vs too bee baptyzed in his name ment he too
turne away our fayth from his bludshed Ment he that baptim should take the roome of his death and passion to performe the office of our saluatioÌ„ No surely For Baptim is but on Incum and an appendant too the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ and if it did not direct vs thither certeynely it were but a tryfling Ceremony As much is too bee fayd of the Lords Supper When wee câ—me too 〈◊〉 the bread and wyne which are the pledges of the body and bluâ— of our Lord Iesus Christ although that in that supper wee bee truly fed with the meate and drink wherof mention is 〈◊〉 in the sixth of Saint Iohn that is to wit that our Lord Iesus Chriâ—â— maketh vs partakers of the truthe of his owne substance too the end that his lyfe should bee common vntoo vs yit notwithstanding if the supper should bee separated from the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ it were a thing of nothing And in deede wee see also what the promis conteyneth This is my bodie sayeth he which is giuen for you Trew it is that is sheweth well what our ordinarie foode is but therwithall he sendeth vs also too his death and passion For had he not made satisfaction for our sinnes and shed his blud to wash away our spots what should it boote vs now too haue baptim and his supper ministred and giuen vntoo vs Wee see then that too vse baptim well and according too the institution of the sonne of God we must not set our mâ—nds vppon the corruptible and transitorie element For what is the water If it stand but one day it will corruâ—pt and how then can it clenze our soules for euer and get vs a purenesse that shall continew after death though wee our selues doo turne too rottennesse If this power cannot bee in the water wee must of necessitie repayre too the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ. And in dede the water also is a figure of his blud and of his holy spirit Then let vs mark that our Lord Iesus did then wash vs when he shed his blud wherby he clenzed vs That is the meane wherby wee may resort vntoo God with full trust that wee shal bee receyâ—ed as ryghtuous and perfect bycause he layeth not our sinnes too our charge Mark that for one poynt Now as Saint Peter sayeth in his first Epistle wee be wasâ—hed with the blud of our Lord Iesus Christ by the holy Ghost Wee see then that wee haue the substance and truthe of our saluation in the person of the sonne of god And moreouer wee haue too note also that he communicateth him self vntoo vs and therby putteth vs in possession and fruition of all his goods through the power of the holy Ghost And how happeneth it then that Saint Paule hath made no mention heere of the blud that clenzeth vs and of the woorking of the holy Ghost It seemeth that hee hath forgotten the cheef thing and buzieth him self about a thing that is very small I haue told you alredye that he ment not too abridge any thing that belonged too the sonne of God that wee should not seeke the whole fulnes of our saluation in him alone and settle our fayth alonly vppon him nother ment he too dispossesse the holy Ghost of his office but he had respect of our infirmitie And that is the cause why he set downe the signe wherby the thing that of it self is too hygh and too farre hidden from our vnderstanding is set before our eyes That is the piâ—h of the thing which we haue too beare in mynd Now of this declaration wee may receyue a very profitable lesson in generall that is too wit that the trew and lawfull vse of Sacraments is too leade vs directly too our Lord Iesus Christ and that otherwyse wee make them but as Idols And therfore in poperie Baptim is but as a Charme bycause they think there is no saluation but by the water I let passe the things that they haue puâ— to it of their owne deuyzing For they haue corrupted and mard the very institution of Iesus Christ by mingling baptim with the superstitions that are knowen of But let vs put the cace they vsed nothing else but the pure water yit is it diuelish opinion that Baptim is able of it self to saue vs For by that meanes our Lord Iesus Christ is as good as thrust away so as they make none account of him For they stand poring vppon the visible signe and are as yee would say vtterly doted vppon it In lyke cace are they with all the rest of their Ceremonies So much the more therefore dooth it stand vs on hand too beare this lesson in mynd That too apply the Sacraments too a ryght vse and too such vse as God alloweth and ordeyneth they must guyde vs too our Lord Iesus Christ Lyke as in Baptim wee see but the water but therby we must be lifted vp hygher to the blud of the sonne of God assuring our selues that it is not the water that maketh vs cleane but that it is only a warrant of the washing that was gotten for vs when our Lord Iesus Christ was crucifyed for vs In the Supper wee haue bread and wyne Now to hold our selues to that which is set before out eyes were a withdrawing of our selues from Iesus Christ. Our fayth therfore must bee lifted vp and conueyed too him in whom all the partes of our saluation are inclozed Forasmuch then as wee haue the whole perfection and fulnesse of all good things in the onely Sonne of God it is thither that wee must looke vp and labour too atteyne when the Sacramentes are set afore vs for that is the very office of them or else wee peâ—uert all and it is as yee would saye an vnhallowing of the thing that God hath halowed too our benefyte if our Lord Iesus Christ bee separated from the visible signes Wee haue also too note that wee communicate not with Iesus Christ but by the grace of the holy Ghost Yit notwithstanding let vs not hold scorne of the helpes that our Lord hath ordeyned for vs bycause he knewe them too bee requisite for our infirmities sake Why be we not taught simply that if wee runne too our Lord Iesus Christ in him wee shall fynde our washing and clenzing It seemeth that that ought too suffyze vs and that the water of Baptim is but a vayle too keepe vs from comming vntoo Iesus Christ. Yea but let vs see a little what our owne â—udenesse is If wee had the myndes of Angels wee should no more neede this outward Baptim than the Angels do But forasmuch as wee bee earthly and it is hard for vs too atteyne vntoo God and the secretes of his heauenly kingdome it is for our behoofe too bee helped after that fashion And it is a wonderfull gracious goodnesse of God that he stoopeth so too our infirmitie and supplyeth it with meeâ—e and conuenient