confesse that our chief desire is willingly vnfeignedly to honor God that we cānot suffer any reprochfullie to abuse his maiestie Thus ye see what we haue to beare in minde vpon this place which we ought at this day with all diligence to obserue albeit it be preciselie geuen in commādement to the Iewes for in substance truth it belongeth vnto vs For as in old time our lord brought this people out of Egypt so at this day hath he drawen vs out of the gulfe of hell hath deliuered vs from eternal death from those deepe and darke dongeons wherein we were plunged to bring vs into his heauenlie kingdome hauing redeemed and purchased vs to himselfe by the bloud of his welbeloued sonne our Lord Iesus Christ Now let vs cast our selues downe before the face of our good God with acknowledging our faults praiing him to make vs feele them better than we haue done that labouring to reforme our selues more and more to his iustice we fight daily against the lustes and desires of our flesh and continue so long in this combate vntill he hath fullie freed vs from it and reformed vs vnto his image in the which we were first created That hee will graunt this grace not only to vs but to al people and nations of the earth c. The. 7. Sermon wherein it is entreated of the second Table Deut. Chap. 5. 16 Honour thy father and thy mother as the Lorde thy God hath commaunded thee that thy dayes may bee prolonged and that it may be well with thee in the land which the Lorde thy God geueth thee WE are now come vnto the second Table of the lawe wherein God sheweth vs how we ought all to liue here together For as it hath bene aboue touched there are two principall thinges required in our life The one that wee serue God purelie and sincerelie The other that we liue with men in all integritie and vprightnesse rendring vnto euerie one that which apperteineth and belongeth vnto him Now as the honour of God is more excellent than all that which concerneth men so it behoued that in the first and principall place the rule of honouring God as we ought should be geuen And this is handled dispatched in the first Table Here then God beginneth to declare vnto vs in what sort our life ought to be ordered if we wil applie our selues vnto the dutie we owe vnto men Now we haue also declared that God requireth no honour of vs for any neede he hath of it or for any profite it bringeth vnto him but it is for our welfare and saluation that he requireth it So then he will proue our obedience and the loue we beare him when he commaundeth vs to walke in all equitie and vprightnesse with our neighbours and that we liue together in such concord and fellowship that any one bee not geuen vnto himselfe but that we communicate together and that euerie one according to his abilitie and power to do well employ and force himselfe therevnto This say I is the proofe which God maketh to knowe whether we worship him vnfeignedly and from our heart For we might make many faire countenances and vse great ceremonies but God shall not content himselfe with it And this is the cause why our Lord Iesus Christ saith that the principall point of the law is iustice iudgement vprightnesse faith which worde importeth here fidelitie or faithfulnesse Therefore when we liue with men without hypocrisie and dissimulation when we are not geuen to our subtile sleightes nor malicious practises wee studie to minister vnto and to serue euerie one in his commoditie we mainteine right resist wrong as much as lieth in vs loe the chiefe and principal part of the lawe Not that the seruice of God ought in the meane while to be forgotten or that it is of lesse importance but because it is vnpossible that men acquite themselues in their duetie toward their neighbours except they be led herevnto by the feare of god Now let vs handle this commaundement last recited which concerneth the honouring of father and mother And here although expresselie mention be made of the father and the mother there is no doubt but GOD meant to deliuer a generall doctrine of hauing all superioritie in honour For graunt we which must needes be confessed that the lawe conteineth a perfect rule of doctrine wherein nothing is wanting and this which we haue said must needes be so For if it hath not touched any thing of the duetie we owe to other superiours as princes and magistrates and those which haue the sworde of iustice if it hath deliuered nothing concerning maisters it should haue some default in it Therefore we must conclude that God hath commaunded that all they which are in any degree of honour and authoritie be honoured and obeyed Moreouer seing all preeminence and superioritie commeth from God and that this order is established and appointed by him without the which the world could not stande what might be thought if God made no account of this when he gaue forth a certeine forme of liuing well and in all holinesse Neither ought we to account it straunge that vnder one speciall kind of obedience to bee yelded to all superiours the whole is comprised For we haue alreadie touched how this ought to be obserued in the law and we shall see it more plainlie hereafter And this was not done because God could speake in no other manner but for our better profite and instruction For we know that albeit men desire to seeme subtile and sharpe witted yet cease they not alwayes to couer themselues with the buckler of ignorance If we might espie that the law of God presseth vs ouer sore we would feigne haue some excuse to exempt our selues from the subiection of it And if the lawe of God were not apt and conuenient to instruct the rude and ignoraunt many would alledge that they are no great Clerkes that they neuer went to schoole It should seeme then that the law of God might not bind them But when we see that God abaseth himselfe to our rudenesse and that he speaketh grosselie according to our capacitie this taketh from vs all excuse this remoueth all pretences whatsoeuer and euerie one is bound to order him selfe aright and we all must confesse that there is nothing which hindereth vs from doing our dueties but that we be rebellious against God and will not beare his yoke Lo why vnder one kind God comprehendeth the whole that he might instruct traine vs vp like yong children whiche are not capable nor apt to be taught after some absolute and perfect maner This therfore is the true and naturall sense of the place as we shall see hereafter For as God deliuered the ten commaundementes or wordes as he calleth them so he annexed also the exposition of them to the end nothing might be obscure and that men might not doubt or dispute of that which
threate here made as we see So it is not sufficient not to haue pronounced expresselie by God but when one sweareth by his faith or taketh any coÌ„firmation from that which hath any signe of the maiestie of God his name is vnhallowed in this thing What shall wee say then of them whiche vse false othes to disguise their purposes which sweare rashlie euen to sport them selues with othes yea to despite God by their execrable blasphemies in so much that he hath neither flesh nor bloud nor nothing else which they spare Are these onely holden faultie for abusing the name of God No but because they vse him to the greatest and most execrable reproch that they may doe Beholde our Lorde Iesus Christ which made himselfe of no reputation for a time as Saint Paule speaketh who beeing the founteine of all life became mortall man hauing superioritie dominion ouer the Angels of Heauen tooke the forme of a seruant euen to shedde his bloud for our redemption and in the end to suffer the curse that was due vnto vs And nowe for a recompense of all this hee must at this day bee rent and torne in peeces of the carion and stinking mouthes of them whiche name them selues Christians For when they sweare by his bloud and by his death and by his woundes and by this and by that is not this as much as in them lieth to crucifie the sonne of GOD and to teare him as it were in pieces And are not these altogether worthie to bee cut off from God yea from the worlde and not to bee numbered in the band and companie of creatures Must Iesus Christ for abasing and humbling himselfe for vs haue such a reward at our handes God vpbraideth the people of Israel in this sorte O my people what haue I done vnto thee I haue brought thee out of Egypt I haue conducted thee by the desert I haue nourished thee in all gentlenesse and sweetenesse I haue planted thee as in my heritage that thou shouldest haue beene as a vine whiche should haue borne mee good fruite I bestowed all labour in keeping and fencing thee and must thou now bee turned into bitternesse vnto mee and bring foorth sowre fruite to strangle and to choke me Nowe the same apperteineth also at this day vnto vs For when the sonne of GOD whiche is appointed Iudge of the world shall come in the last day he may say vnto vs What meaneth this You haue borne my name to bee called Christians you haue bene baptised in witnesse and testimonie that I was your redeemer I haue drawen you foorth of the deepe dongeon wherein you were plunged I haue deliuered you from euerlasting death by the cruell death whiche I suffered and for this cause I beecame man I sbmitted my selfe to the malediction of GOD my Father to the end you might bee blessed by my grace and by my meane And beholde the rewarde you haue rendered mee I haue bene rent in pieces of you I haue beene as a â—easting stocke the death whiche I haue snffered hath beene had in derision and mockerie my bloude whiche is the washing of your soules was as it were trampled vnder your feete briefly you haue taken all occasion to blaspheme and to raile on mee as if I had bene a wretched and miserable creature When When this shal be rebukefullie told vs of our souereigne Iudge will not this be to thunder on vs and to throw vs downe to the bottomles pit of hell And yet notwithstanding there are verie fewe of vs which deeplie consider of this For if superfluous othes were at this day had in such greate horrour and detestation as they should bee men would not yeald vnto them selues any time hereafter such an outragious boldnesse and libertie of swearing and forswearing As for blasphemies see wee not how common and rife they are And in the meane time wee wil be verie zealous for our owne honour and reputation when the name of God is so troden vnder feete amongest vs If one speake any thing reprochfullie of ones father he will make a greate quarell of it or enter some action of slaunder yea many will reuenge them selues by their owne handes and by all meanes they may on euerie side and it seemeth to them that they haue an honest excuse to take vppon them the defence of their fathers Beholde our souereigne father shall susteine wrong and iniurie beholde in like manner our Lorde Iesus Christ who not without cause is named The Lord of glorie before whom euerie knee ought to bow as Saint Paule speaketh to the Philippians loe he I say shal be mocked than whiche despite none could bee wrought him greater except a man would spitte in his face and yet notwithstanding they whiche name them selues Christians whiche make a countenaunce of procuring and mainteining his honour will not bee moued any whitte therewith nay they them selues will bee the men whiche will blaspheme him in most execrable manner But for all this as I haue said our Lorde will not cease to mainteine his owne honour as he himselfe speaketh when he seeth that men are so wicked and profane so to violate his maiestie as much as lieth in them For he maketh a solemne othe that he will wreake his vengeaunce vppon them for this wickednesse I am the Lorde saith hee this is my name and my glorie I will not geue to an other neither my praise to grauen images Now as he will not that his honour bee transferred to idols so is it certeine it extendeth it selfe further namelie that if men shall falsly abuse his holy name they shall perceiue in what price it was vnto him And therefore let vs not waite vntill this bee accomplished vppon vs but let vs learne to beare such reuerence vnto our God and to him that hath all souereigne maiestie that is to our Lord Iesus Christ that we be throughlie instructed to sweare in such sorte that this be alwayes to confirme that it is he by whome we are that he is our Father our Creatour our Iudge Thus ye se in effect what we haue to gather of this place Now here is withall anuexed a threatening whereby we are to vnderstand the blockishnes of men how Sathan hath as it were bewitched them in such sorte that they conceiue not the wrath and anger of God when it is set before them I will not hold him guiltlesse which shall take my name in vaine Loe God who speaketh I pray you ought not all the haires of the heades of them stand on end which blaspheme God so wickedly and villainously as I haue saide When one sweareth lightelie by his faith behold God who is armed and saith For as much as thou hast not honored mee thou shalt geue an account for such trecherie God can not beare with vs for a simple lie if one periure him selfe this is much worse if an other blaspheme herein is the extremitie and furthest
vs for a perfect doctrine of sanctimonie and holinesse Seeing then we haue the holy ghost which preseuteth vnto vs all that which is requisite there is no further questiō but of walking holily in the obedience of our god And how is this done Verily when with all reuerence and humilitie we receiue his holy worde seeking to conforme our selues vnto his iustice But because all that which is of our owne is contrarie herevnto we must begin at this end namely to renounce our selues When this shal be done haue we not all that which is requisite for the seruice of God But this is very hardly done and therfore let vs take the more diligent heed to awaken and stirre vp our selues when we heare that God commaundeth vs to obserue the Sabbaoth day knowing that this is not in sporting our selues but that we ought herein to vse force with our selues considering that for all our life we shall haue well profited if we come to obserue this day of rest that is to wit by renouncing all that which is of our owne and by dedicating our selues wholy vnto our god And by so much the more ought we to be inflamed to obserue spiritually this rest of the Lord seing we are franchised from this seruile subiection of the lawe and that God hath geuen vnto vs a greater priuiledge than vnto the auncient fathers in as much as he is contented that we bee mortified in our olde man to be renewed by his holy spirite so that we are no more bound to the obseruing of that ceremonie which was so streightly kept vnder the lawe Therfore when God handleth vs so louingly this bindeth vs so much the more to haue respect vnto the principall to the ende we may duely obserue it And we may not alledge that the auncient fathers haue had the ceremonie to stirre them vp and that this serued as a spurre to pricke them forward for we haue much more than the outward and exteriour signe for our Lord Iesus Christ is appeared that in him all this which hath bene figured vnder a shadow might be fulfilled Wherfore we are not to desire these smaller thinges which haue bene vnder the lawe Ye see then how this which hath bene ordeined concerning the Sabbaoth day is accomplished at this day touching the truth of the figure wherof the fathers had a sight vnder a shadowe And in deed wee must note that this which was commaunded of the Sabbaoth day is common belonging vnto ve as well as vnto them For let vs take the lawe of God as it is in it selfe and we shall haue a perpetuall rule of iustice seeing it is most certeine that vnder the ten commandements God would geue a rule which should endure for euer So let vs not thinke that this which Moses reciteth touching the Sabbaoth day is superfluous and not apperteining to vs Not that the figure yet abideth but we haue the truth thereof See to this purpose why the Apostle applieth to the instruction of Christians and of the new Church this which is said of the Sabbaoth day For he declareth that we ought to conforme our selues vnto our God and that this is our full and perfect felicitie So for asmuch as the chiefe happinesse of man consisteth in this that he was created to the image of God what ought we now sithence this image is defaced blotted out by sume but to studie to renew and repaire it See then how me ought to march on forward to our perfection namely that in conforming our selues to our God and to his will we enquire and seeke after his workes to the ende to endeuour to do the like Let vs know therfore that at this day to the end we may the better serue God our duetie is to bestowe all the paines we are able to tread vnder our owne thoughts and affections that God may reigne and beare rule in vs that he may guide gouerne vs by his holy spirite And so all hypocrites may well maske and disguise themselues they may well paint their doings and shew faire countenances yet neuerthelesse as long as their wicked lusts shall be closed vp and hid in their hearts as long as they shall be full of enuie of rancors of ambition of crueltie or of deceit it is certeine they shall doe nothing els but violate the Sabbaoth day or day of rest And therefore we may conclude that they peruert all the seruice of God according to that we haue alreadie alledged out of Ezechiel and as it is also spoken hereof in Ieremie And marke we why the ceremonie was so streight vnder the lawe Thinke we that God euer tooke pleasure in the idlenesse of men Certeine it is he hath not And yet he punished as greuously him which brake the day of rest to labour therein as if he had murdered a man And why so It seemeth that it is extreme crueltie that for gathering of stickes on the Sabbaoth day a man must die as if he did commit murder Yet the Lord condemneth him to death which gathered stickes in the Sabbaoth day And why Because that vnder this figure was comprehended the whole seruice of God. And see why in Ieremie it is said that they haue carried burthens on the Sabbaoth day And why It seemeth that God stayeth himselfe to much on a trifling and childish thing but he hath respect vnto this which was signified by the Sabbaoth day And therefore when it was so neglected of the Iewes this was as open sacriledge whereby they did declare that the whole lawe was of small account amongest them So then to come to our selues forasmuch as at this day we haue not this figure so precise and so streight but that God hath geuen vs a greater libertie obteined vnto vs by the death and passion of our Lorde Iesus Christ let vs learne with all diligence to bequest our selues vnto him and to knowe as I haue alreadie touched that how fairelie so euer we shall haue trauelled in all the rest it shall bee to small purpose except our affections bee helde brideled and that wee bestowe all our paines to renounce and take leaue of our lustes and desires in such sorte that GOD alone may rule and gouerne vs and that we may protest that we desire nothing els but to rest and repose our selues on him And see how God proposeth himselfe for an example For he is not onelie content to commaund men to rest but hee hath also shewed them the way hereto For after hee had created the worlde and all therein conteined be rested not that hee was wearie or needed any rest but this was to leade vs to beholde his workes and that staying our selues thereon we might be fashioned vnto him Will wee then obserue the spirituall rest Euen as it is said that hee ceased from all his workes So must wee also bee quiet and still leauing to doe that shall seeme good vnto vs and which our owne
cease from our earthlie affaires and all worldlie businesse to attend the better on the meditation of the works of God that wee may bee exercised to knowe the benefites he bestoweth on vs and aboue all that wee may bestow all our paines in acknowledging his gratious fauour whiche he offereth dailie in his Gospell to bee confirmed and established more and more therein when we shall haue emploied the Sunday to praise and magnifie the name of God and to meditate on his workes let vs shewe all the rest of the weeke how we haue profited herein Now let vs cast our selues downe before the face of our good God with acknowledging of our faults praying that it will please him to make vs feele them better than wee haue done And because wee can not in any respect serue him vntill this wickednesse and peruersnesse which is in vs be abolished and because he hath shewen that we shall not cease to make warre against his iustice as long as we shall lose the bridle to our wicked thoughtes and concupiscences pray we that it will please this good God by the power of his holy spirite to geue vs this grace to bee fullie conformed vnto him which is dead and risen for vs to the end he might mortifie and quicken vs that wee may beare the markes of our Lord Iesus euen in renouncing our selues and ordering our whole life so to his will that wee desire nothing but to bee conformed to his iustice to the end his lawe may bee accomplished in vs as it is spirituall and that wee bee reformed both in flesh and in spirite to liue vnder his obedience And forasmuch as wee so ofte returne vnto our selues pray wee that it will please this good God to beare with vs in our infirmities till his rest bee truelie accomplished in vs and that he hath gathered vs into his heauenlie kingdome That it will please him to graunt this grace not onelie vnto vs but to all people and nations of the earth c. The. 6. Sermon Deut. Chap. 5. 13 Sixe dayes thou shalt labour and shalt doe all thy woorke 14 But the seuenth day is the Sabbaoth of the Lord thy God thou shalt not doe any woorke therein thou nor thy sonne not thy daughter nor thy man seruant nor thy maide nor thine oxe nor thine asse neither any of thy cattell nor the straunger that is within thy gates that thy man seruant and thy maide may rest as well as thou 15 Remember that thou wast a seruant in the land of Aegypt and that the Lorde thy God brought thee out thence with a mightie hand and a stretched out arme therefore the Lorde thy God commaunded thee to obserue the Sabbaoth day WE handled yesterday in what sorte and to what end the commaundement of obseruing the Sabboth day was giuen to the Iewes It was said in generall that this was a figure of the spirituall rest which the faithfull ought to keepe the better to serue and woorshippe god And seeing our Lord hath brought vs the full accomplishment of this it hath bene said that we must no longer rest and stay our selues on this shadowe of the Lawe but be content that our old man be crucified by the vertue of the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ to the end wee may bee renewed in our mindes wholie to serue our god Withall wee noted that wee stand in neede of some order and policie amongest vs and therefore it behoued that some certeine day should bee appointed to assemble vs together to bee confirmed in the doctrine of God and to make our profite therein euerie day euen all the time of our life that wee bee also exercised to call vppon his name to make confession of our faith and that the rest of this day bee spent in considering the benefites wee receiue at all times at the hand of God to the end he bee the more glorified in them And now haue we to note this whiche followeth in the text of Moses Sixe dayes thou shalt labour saith the lord This ought not to bee vnderstood as if God commaunded vs hereby preciselie to labour Howbeit it is true that we are borne to this and wee knowe that God meaneth not wee should bee idle as long as wee liue in this world For he hath giuen men hands and feete force and strength to this purpose Yea before sinne entered it is saide that Adam was placed in the garden of Eden to dresse it and keepe it Albeit the labour and trauell which men are now enioyned is a chastisement for sinne For it is thus denounced them In the sweate of thy face thou shalt eate thy breade This is a curse and malediction laide on mankind For we are not worthie to enioy the condition whiche was giuen to our father Adam that he might liue at pleasure without troubling or tormenting him selfe But yet before that sinne entred into the world and that wee were in this sort condemned of God to this painfull weariesome trauell it was requisite that men should exercise themselues with some labour And why Because this is contrarie to our nature that we shoulde be as logges and blockes vnprofitable So then it is verie certeine that wee ought to applie our selues to some labour all the time of our life But yet here in this place it is not simplie commaunded that we trauell sixe dayes For indeede there were other solemnities vnder the Lawe besides the rest of the Sabboth There were feastes which might happen in the middest of the weeke but because the number of them was small beeing onely foure dayes in the yeare there is no mention made of them but onely of the Sabbaoth Therefore when it is said Thou shalt labour sixe dayes our Lord woulde hereby signifie vnto vs that we ought not to complaine of yelding vnto him one certeine day when he leaueth vnto vs sixe for one As if he did say Shall the cost and charge be great vnto you to choose one day which may be wholy geuen to my seruice that you doe no other thing in it but reade and exercise your selues in my lawe or heare my doctrine whiche shal be preached vnto you a day to come to the Temple to the end you may be there confirmed by the sacrifices which are there made a day to call vppon my name to declare and protest that you are of the number and companie of my people Ought this to bee grieuous and burthensome vnto you seing you haue sixe dayes free to traffike and to doe your businesse in When I vse such gentlenesse towardes you that I demand but one day of seuen is not this an ouer great vnthankfulnesse on your part if you complaine of this time as beeing euill employed and if you bee such couetous niggardlie wretches as not to spare mee one seuenth part of the time I haue giuen you your whole life Whensoeuer the Sunne shineth vpon you you ought to acknowledge my goodnesse
wiped out and baptisme is hereof a sure testimonie and witnesse vnto vs For by it haue we bene washed from all the filthes and pollutions which are in vs that we might appeare pure and cleane in the sight of God yea which more is those mortall and deadlie sinnes which are acuiallis committed shall not bee imputed vnto vs because as I haue said that God hath buried our sinne and will not regard it but we must notwithstanding haue respect vnto it and beware diligentlie howe we offende But if anie abuse and deceiue them selues to be persuaded they conceiue no wicked ked desires this shall occasion GOD to call them to their account And why For when men flatter them selues they must needes be condemned And loe why the diuell hath so much ende-uoured to blind the eyes of men in making them beleeue that none of all these thinges are sinne yea we see how the Papists thinke that the grossest faultes that may be are soone wiped out with one signe of the crosse or with one Asperges of holie water They thinke these thinges are nothing and they sport them selues with GOD as with some litle childe But let vs contrariwise remember that when wee shall not onelie slugge in sinne but shal be greatlie inclined to flatter our selues in our vices let vs I say remember to take vnto vs this glasse of the lawe and to behold our selues in that we abuse not nor deceiue our selues A man may haue his face foule and dirtie euerie one shall mockee him and yet hee shall see nothing thereon but when het looketh in a glasse and seeth all his face soyled then hee withdraweth him selfe and goeth and washeth it so haue we need here to do It is true that the whole lawe of GOD is as a glasse to shewe vs our filthinesse that wee might bee confounded and ashamed of our wickednesse but wee must haue to consider of our condition a most cleare and bright glasse If wee reade this onelie Thou shalt not steale Thou shalt not bee a murderer nor adulterer euerie one will make him selfe beleeue that hee is guiltie in nothing but when wee come to this commaundement Thou shalt not couet loe GOD soundeth not onelie the depth of our heart but all our thoughtes and imaginations there is nothing which hee trieth not and examineth and those thinges which we shall account for no faultes shal be condenmed before GOD and he shall be Iudge of them if wee on our part will not iudge them Nowe in the meane time we are to magnifie the mercie of our God that when we are so manie wayes culpable hee yet receiueth vs as iust and righteous Let vs compare together the iustice wee obteine by the meanes of faith and the malediction which is on vs wherein wee are plunged Are wee culpable before GOD of one offence of three of anie number Nay rather are wee not plunged into such bottomlesse gulfes that when wee shall beginne to make our account we shal be ouerwhelmed and confounded with the multitude of our offences An hundred millians of faultes are the hundreth part of them which wee haue committed in the sight of GOD wee are guiltie in so manie that there is neither end nor measure in our sinnes Yet for all this GOD receiueth vs so to mercie that we are accounted iust before him as if there were in vs all integritie and perfection and that wee wanted nothing of fulfilling the whole lawe Therefore when God bestoweth on vs this gift of faith whereby wee apprehend and take holde of the grace and mercie which hath bene purchased vs by the death and passion of our Lorde Iesus Christ that wee will nowe doe him this honour to say Lorde it is in thy meere goodnesse and free mercie that our saluation consisteth when GOD I say pardoneth vs such an infinite number of sinnes and offences and clotheth vs with his owne iustice see we not howe farre wee are bounde vnto him for this inestimable goodnesse So then when the lawe of God shall haue vtterlie confounded vs seeing not onelie our concupiscences exceede all number but that we are buried in them as vnder great and huge mountaines if GOD would seuerelie deale with vs for them let vs knowe that God will not leaue vs in despaire but as soone as we are beaten to the ground he helpeth vs vp againe when he seeth our weakenesse hee reacheth vs out his hande and calleth vs vnto him and willeth vs to bee of good comfort when he for his mercies sake will impute none of our sinnes vnto vs Loe in what sort the faithfull continue in glorifying of God although they be in them selues condemned And at this end wee must alwayes beginne to bee veterlie confounded in our selues that our Lorde may deliuer vs from the deepest dongeon of death seeing that our onelie saluation lieth and consisteth in his meere mercie and grace Nowe withall let vs walke in all heedefulnesse let vs diligentlie looke vnto our selues knowing that when wee shall haue employed great paines to serue GOD when wee shall haue shunned all occasions which might leade vs vnto euill when wee shall haue subdued our lustes and affections when wee shall haue further endeuoured to represse wicked thoughtes wee are yet to condemne our selues and to stand in greate feare of the anger and displeasure of god For although through the vertue and power of his grace sinne reigneth not in vs yet doeth it alwayes dwell in vs and staineth vs still with some blot of filthinesse and vncleannesse Let vs therefore bewayle our selues hereof and lament in suche sorte that wee bee hereby incited and pricked forwarde to doe our duetie We see in what sort Saint Paule speaketh after that he had profited so farre and was come euen to an angelicall holinesse O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from this bodie of death And why is it so that he desireth death in him selfe For no other reason but because he sawe sinne abiding in his bodie Now moreouer wee must knowe that wee ought not although euerie day wee see a millian of faultes in vs to bee discouraged Loe why Saint Paule exhorting the faithfull to flee from vices saieth not Let not sin dwell in you but he saith Let not sinne reigne in you I grant it were to be desired that sinne dwelt not at all in vs but although we be not altogether rid thereof yet must wee not bee to much dismaide But when he saith that sinne dwelleth in vs let vs knowe that this â—s first to warne vs of our miserable condition and againe to admonish vs that wee must bee exercised continuallie in combat and fight with sinne to the end wee should more feruenthe desire the aide and help of our God praying him to fortifie and strengthen vs by his power and by the grace of his holy spirite whiche he hath giuen vs in the name of our Lorde Iesus Christ Now let vs cast our selues downe
as to destroy and bring vs to nothing that he yet vseth such mercie towardes vs that it is vnto vs to life in steede of consuming and destroying vs And when I say that the worde of God is of such force as to consume vs to nothing I vnderstand not onelie the worde as it is here described by Moses but if the Lord would make vs feele the vertue and power of his worde albeit it should be preached vnto vs by men yet shoulde it serue vtterly to confound vs But now wee see that the Lorde quickeneth vs when he speaketh vnto vs and especially at this day when the Gospell is preached vnto vs for this which is spoken by Saint Iohn is euerie day accomplished namelie That all those which heare the worde of the sonne of man are restored to life For by nature wee are aliantes from GOD wee are exiled and banished his kingdome wee are dead and as it were enâ—umbed in some graue or sepulchre and loe our Lorde Iesus Christ profeteth vnto vs the remission and forgiuenesse of our sinnes God his father adopteth vs for his children Beholde then the manifestation of saluation which is opened vnto vs and wee are thereby quickened and restored vnto life by the meanes of the Gospell And for this wee haue wonderfull great cause to praise and glorifie our GOD for that he maketh his worde to serue for to restore vs vnto life and to deliuer vs from death whereas his worde is of such force and vertue as vtterlie to consume vs if he of his mercie did not turne it to worke a cleane contrarie effect in vs. Now withall let vs diligentlie note that if our Lord hath once bestowed on vs more than we any way deserue wee must not therefore take leaue and licence hereby to tempt him and to desire alwayes to rule him after our owne lustes and appetites As wee see at this day the Papists will excuse themselues for not receiuing the Gospell because they see no miracles done in our time Yea but let them answere me wherevnto the miracles which our Lorde Iesus Christ hath done and which hee committed to his Apostles serued Ought these to serue nothing to our profite and commoditie Behold then what admirable vertue and power GOD hath declared at the beginning of the Gospell The heauen and the earth were then moued there was no parte in the worlde wherein GOD imprinted not some worke or signe of his maiestie that the Gospell might be authorized Beholde the Angels which descended at the birth of our Lorde Iesus Christ to beare witnesse vnto him beholde the Sunne which was darkened at his death behold the vaile of the temple which was rent in two pieces to shew that the holy Sanctuarie was opened and that freer and bolder accesse was graunted vnto GOD than euer before The raging and tempestuous Sea is appeased the diuels themselues do homage to the glorie of GOD being present Brieflie both by signes and wonders aboue and beneath God hath declared that the Gospell proceeded from him as wee haue alreadie shewed So many maladies sicknesses healed so great warres appeased so many other signes and wonders which were shewed were not to serue for one time onelie but at this daie the memorie of them ought to remaine and wee must receiue this witnesse for a seale of our faith that wee doubt not but that the dignitie of the Gospell ought to bee as great at this day and that the authoritie thereof is as well nowe ratified and confirmed as it was then when Christ wrought his miracles And yet for all this we see manie of the vncredulous and vnbeleeuing sorte which alledge that if they did see any miracles they should be conuerted But it is certeine if they were now presently shewed they would still remaine in their obstinacie and stubbornesse take thereby an occasion of further enuenoming and impoisoning themselues against god What remaineth then for vs to doe We must learne as I haue said to content our selues with that which GOD hath once done If GOD hath giuen vs more than hee owed vs let vs receiue it and with geuing of thankes let vs learne not to prouoke his wrath and anger against vs by an ouer presumptuous tempting of his patience Beholde then what wee haue to beare in minde in this place when the people saith Let the Lorde speake vnto vs no more for it sufficeth vs that were haue hearde his voice and yet haue bene permitted of him to liue And that this wee haue aboue declared may bee more certeinlie confirmed vnto vs let vs beare in minde that which is here said What fleshe hath hearde the voice of the liuing GOD and liueth For by these wordes in this place it is plainelie shewed that the people of Israel spake not in their owne name but euen in the behalfe of all mankinde They saie not onelie What are all we to heare GOD speake but What is all flesh And in verie deede as I haue touched in the beginning it cannot bee but men are either staring madde or starke dronken when they cannot humble themselues for there needed no other thing for them to doe but to respect their owne estate and condition to saie What are wee There is nothing neither in our bodies nor in our soules but frailtie We are not now remaining in our nature wherein wee were first created but beeing fallen therefrom into that estate wee nowe are in what are wee but as a water which glideth away as a smoke which passeth and vanisheth on a soudeine And which worse is wee are enimies of GOD and hee must needes bee our aduersarie partie forasmuch as there is nothing in vs to be found but sinne and wickednesse Therefore when we be entised and tickled with such foolish and vaine lustes and desires as to wishe that GOD would do miracles that we might heare the angels of heauen let vs returne to thinke on this which is here said and what is all flesh Let vs I say enter into this consideration to bethinke our selues what wee are and our owne small abilitie shall sufficiently aduise and aduertise vs to geue praise and thankes vnto God that he maketh vs not feele his presence to consume vtterlie to confound vs but with an amiable mildenesse and gentlenesse allureth vs to himselfe when we heare men like our selues and our brethren which speake vnto vs in his person And let vs further note that when the people of Israel say What people hath heard the voice of the liuing God and remained aliue as wee It is to shewe vnto vs that God would not that this should bee drawen into consequence for vs to conclude any thing thereon And therefore let vs not alledge this to say And why speaketh not God at this day vnto vs after a visible manner as he hath done to his people in the mount It pleased him then so to doe but wee must not impose him a lawe or thinke to binde
as it were requisite Wee shall then bee accursed and condemned when God shall iudge vs in any rigor and seueritie So then men must not here vaunt them selues of obteining any reward which they haue merited nor boast of their workes but rather let them knowe that all the promises which God hath giuen in his lawe import with them a condition and therefore shoulde bee vnprofitable vnto vs by reason that none discharge them selues of their dutie except God would accept of vs and beare with vs for his meere bountie and goodnesse And hereby wee see what rage and madnesse this is in the Papistes when they boast themselues of their merites that it seemeth them they haue to contracte and couenaunt with God and they so venturoustie vpon a diuelish ouerweening and boldnesse make their account that they thinke God is verie much bound and beholding vnto them But what proofes haue they of their satisfactions their woorkes their meâ—â—â—es And where shall a man finde those merites O we haue done say they this and that no remedie but wee must make vp our accountes with god And behold on the contrarie side God who requireth that wee serue him in all and through all which wee are neuer able to doe as wee haue seene heretofore and as it is sufficientlie handled and declared in many other places Nowe let all the worlde examine them selues to see whether there may herein be found one which hath accomplished the lawe But so farre we shal be from finding any such that there is not one which may protest that he hath done the hundred part of that which is in the lawe required Therefore all must confesse that they are accursed Yea in this so small portion and so little as may be wherein men acquite them selues shall bee alwayes founde some wickednesse and some blottes or other So then GOD shall iustly reiect and haue in detestation all that we bring and are able to doe Let men therefore bee ouerwhelmed and confounded with shame and let them confesse that they are all culpable guiltie before god Wherefore let vs note that this promise cannot be accomplished but that God beareth with vs and respecteth not so manie vices and infirmities as are in vs but by his mercie hideth and burieth them Therefore our workes are then receiued and approued by God when he respecteth not what they are but accepteth them through the vertue of the death and passion of our Lorde Iesus Christ as good and holie And albeit there be alwayes many blots and staines in vs yea much stinking corruption except it should be washed away by the bloud of Iesus Christ yet hee alwayes accepteth vs by the meanes thereof and no otherwise So let vs learne to boast our selues and glorifie in the meere and only mercie of God and not vaunt vs of anie merites And in the meane time let vs not cease to be incited and stirred vp with so much greater zeale to serue him when we see that hee will allure and winne vs vnto him selfe by such mildnesse and gentlenesse Yea Moses sheweth that whatsoeuer God promiseth vnto his people when they shall obserue his law procedeth from this fountaine rather than from anie obligation And this is that which he saith As God hath promised to thy fathers as if he said Beloued serue God and he shall be a good maister vnto you And thinke not that you haue lost your time labour when you shall haue obserued his law for you shall haue a large reward which is made readie for you But withall consider ye whence it proceedeth Behold the fountaine saith hee that is that before ye were borne and brought into this worlde God hath promised your fathers to bring them into a land which floweth with milke and honie Moses thus leading the people vnto this promise which had beene made vnto the Patriarches sheweth sufficiently that God maketh no new promise but that he ratifieth and confirmeth that which hee had said And why Is it that he was bound to them which were not yet born No but because he had loued their fathers as he hath aboue said It is true that Moses now sheweth that the people was partaker of such a promise if so be they should obserue the lawe of God. But what We must yet alwayes come to this point that men are vtterly confounded if they will oppose themselues against GOD alledging anie dignitie or worthinesse of their owne and that they shall alwayes remaine in their condemnation they shall finde that they are all accursed It behoueth therefore that they haue their onely refuge vnto the mercie of GOD and that they knowe that when they shall haue forced them selues to walke according vnto his lawe that God shall owe them nothing albeit he will not leaue to accomplish that which he hath promised them euen by his meere goodnesse and free mercie Loe then howe this place ought to bee vnderstoode Nowe seeing he in this place speaketh of the land promised vnto the Iewes let vs note that at this day we ought to be by manie degrees more incited and prouoked to serue GOD seeing hee hath dedicated the whole earth vnto himselfe and will that his name be called on throughout all the worlde For the bloud which our Lorde Iesus Christ hath shedde hath sanctified all the world which was then as it were in all filth and pollution For we knowe there was no lande but this which GOD had reserued vnto himselfe and wherein hee woulde beare rule vntill the comming of his Sonne But when our Lorde Iesus Christ appeared he then obteined possession of the whole worlde and his kingdome was extended from one end vnto an other and especially nowe when the Gospell hath beene published Sithence then it is so let vs diligently note that we are at this day much more streightly bounde vnto the seruice and worship of GOD for as much as by the precious bloud of his Sonne he hath consecrated and made holie the whole earth to the end wee may dwell and be lodged therein and that we may liue vnder his kingdome And therefore as we will that he haue vs vnder his safegard and protection so let vs beware that wee yeeld vp our selues wholie vnto him But because men are alwayes so fickle and wauering that as I haue alreadie saide no bridles are sufficient to raine them to obedience Moses confirmeth all the doctrine hee hath in this place pronounced by saying Heare therefore O Israel the Lorde thy GOD is one god He had saide before Hearken he had said Take yee heede he had said That they must obserue the lawe But here he confirmeth his whole matter much more better when hee saith so expressely That the GOD of Israel is one GOD For by this his meaning is to exclude all the gods which the worlde forgeth and he will shewe that it is not lawfull for them to conceiue anie thing after their owne fansie but that only which we holde by
for GOD protesteth that he hath not spoken in vaine But nowe at this day when GOD speaketh vnto vs with full mouth and that we haue so perfect a reuelation in his Gospell is not this an ouer great wickednesse that men yet wander and goe so astraie Were there euer more foolish and fond superstitions or more outragious and enormous than those which are at this day to bee seene in Poperie I graunt the Iewes mingled them selues among the superstitions of the Painims that they defiled them selues ouer much with their silthes and pollutions but when all shal be well sifted and examined wee shall finde that the Papistes haue surmounted and exceeded them herein by manie degrees for the word of God at this day is as it were buried among them When mention shal be made of faith the articles shal be drawen from out of the forge of men the holie Scripture shal be of no more force than as if it were dead and vtterlie brought to ruine Loe howe they behaue them selues herein and when question is of the seruice of GOD they wander as we haue alreadie said after their owne inuentions and loe My meaning is good will they say and they thinke God will suffer him selfe to bee ruled as a litle childe and that he will neuer come to examine all the doctrine of Poperie Againe if men speake of faith is there anie talke of the free promises of GOD No but they attribute all to them selues When they will speake of the office of Iesus Christ they ouerthrowe the vertue of his death and passion as much as in them lieth When anie question is to be handled of their saluation then will they come in with their free will their merites and satisfactions But we ought contrariwise to returne to the meere and onelie grace of the holie Ghost confessing that we are in bondage and seruitude of sinne but that we are thence deliuered by the mercie and goodnesse of god And here hence cōmeth it that the holy scripture calleth the remission and forgiuenesse of sinnes our righteousnesse We must therefore come vnto this point and also knowe that if we haue failed in our duetie we can not bring anie other payment or satisfaction than that which we borrowe of the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ Of all this there is nothing to be found in Poperie If question be of calling vpon GOD they will make their vagaries vnto their he Saintes and shee Saintes and Iesus Christ in the meane time shall not be knowen such a one as he is nor clothed with the office which hath bene giuen him of God his Father But the Papistes degrade him as sacrilegious and false traiterous villaines which seeke nothing els but to burie altogether and toset forth to open prey all the glorie and dignitie which God his Father hath giuen him As much may be said of all their seruice and religion We see howe the Sacramentes are polluted and defiled among them In place of the holie supper of our Lord Iesus Christ there is substituted this infernall and diuelish abhomination of the Masse wherin they say That Iesus Christ is sacrificed as if he him selfe had done nothing as if he were not established the onlie perpetuall priest by God his father So then we see howe the Papistes make a mockerie of the word of God wherein hee hath reuealed him self that it seemeth that of set deliberate purpose they would deface put out the knowledge of him which is in the Gospell And therfore we must more hee fullie note this word That the Lord is God yea one God onlie And so alwayes as often as this worde of God shall come in place let vs knowe that it is to cut off all that shall come into our braine all that which men shall haue forged deuised and which we are not taught by the holy scripture for God wil be in such sort considered of vs that we be not wrapped entangled in the fantasies errours of idolaters And in verie deed wee can not haue the true God except we haue him alone that is that we ioyne with him no companion for assoone as we come in with our litle halfe gods we renounce the liuing god And why For he will be alone as he pronounceth by the Prophet Esaie in another place I am the euerliuing saith the Lord I will not giue my glorie vnto another And again we haue seene before that he nameth him selfe A gealous god And for what other cause than for this to withdrawe vs from all corruptions As S. Paul speaketh in the 2. to the Corinth For assoone as we are turned from the simplicitie of the word of God it is as if a woman should hearken vnto a Bawd which shall come to whisper in her eare Lowe are forthwith corrupted so we play the wicked fornicators against God when we falsifie the faith which we haue promised him in baptisme we reiect cast aside his law we violate and profane all religion when we decline the least that may be from his pure sincere doctrine Let vs therfore beare in mind alwayes as oftē as mention is made of this word God that we know that God must be alone therfore when we shall haue accompanied him with creatures he casteth vs off as Apostataes as people which are not worthie to haue to doe with him because wee would not yeelde vnto him the honour which hee deserueth namelie that he should be the Lorde but shall haue profaned his name by making it common vnto creatures or communicating of it with our dreames But withall let vs note that it is not inough that we reserue vnto the liuing GOD the title of one woorde but we must take heede that whatsoeuer apperteineth vnto him remaine and abide vnto him in his entire and perfecte estate As howe He meaneth not only to be called God but to be acknowledged Almightie to be acknowledged our Father and Sauiour to be knowen for him which hath authoritie to gouerne vs for him in whom we ought to repose our whole trust and confidence for him whom we ought to inuocate and call vpon Loe the chiefe and principall things we ought to thinke and meditate vpon when question is of honouring one onelie god I graunt the Papistes will still say That S. Michael and S. William and such others are not their goddes but yet for all this they worship them yea their images and pictures although they thinke to escape by this shifte that the images are not the Saintes they pray vnto but onelie their remembrances to represent them and yet is this against the expresse commandement of god And againe they knowe not howe GOD will be worshipped when they so mingle him among their idols of wood and of stone by the which they thinke to represent their Saintes It is true they vse words them selues vnderstand not of Dulia and Latria when they say