vndertooke the condemnation that belonged too vs They shal rather bee hild dubble giltie bycause that by their vnthankfulnesse they bereeue themselues of the benefyte wherof they myght haue bin parttakers if they had receyued the promises of the Gospell by fayth But the Iewes on the one syde blaspheme our Lord Iesus Christ the Turks on the other syde laughe him too scorne and count him but as a night ghost And the Papists labour with tooth and nayle to deface his power and too rob him of the greatest part of his graces These therfore shall fynde that the death which the sonne God hath suffered serueth too increace their cursednesse and too kindle Gods wrath so much the more ageinst them Yea and euen they also which neuer heard of the Gospell are vtterly excluded from this treasure And for that cause S. Paule addeth that Iesus Christ hath preached peace to them that vvere neere and too them that vvere farre of Wherby he sheweth that wheÌ„ the Gospel is preached we be dayly put in possession of the saluation which was purchaced for vs by our Lord Iesus Christ at â—eastwyse if wee lay holde on him by trew fayth that hath taken lyuely roote in our hartes too bring foorth good fruite Therefore there are twoo things requyred The one is that wee know how that the matter and substance of our saluation is in Iesus Christ and the other is that the same bee declared too vs by the Gospell And too the intent wee may bee the surer of this doctrine S. Paule sayeth not that Christ hath sent his Apostles or set vp a great sort of 〈◊〉 too bring vs such message but that Christ himselfe is come too bryng tydings of peace too all men Nowe it is certeyne that our Lord Iesus Christ hath not executed the office of preaching since his Reâ—urrection sauing onely among his Disciples that they myght bee furnished aforehand too preache euery where the doctrine that was committed vntoo them But S. Paule sayeth that he preached too such as had erst bin farre of from god He did not this in his owne person Then is it certeyne that S. Paule speaketh of that preaching of the Gospell which was doone by the Ministers that were appoynted by God and by our Lord Iesus Christ. And yit notwithstanding he sayeth that it was Christ himself that preached namely too the end wee should yeeld the greater reuerence too the Gospell and hold it as the truthe authorized by God and euerye of vs submit himself too it without any geynsaying or replying For if wee haue any doubt of it let vs not thinke that Iesus Christ shall boote vs any thing at all Therfore wee must assure our selues of it yea and as wee haue seene in the first Chapter Gods promises must bee sealed in our harts by the holie Ghost who for the same cause is called the earnestpennye of the lyfe that wee hope for and the verye signe manuell or seale that God printeth in vs too the end that our fayth should bee in full certeintie Wee see then wherat S. Paule amed in this text in saying that Iesus Christ being rayzed from the dead and hauing performed the charge that was inioyned him by God his father was our Redeemer and also the bringer of the same meâ—sage vntoo vs not for once and away but by continuall preaching of it insomuch that he will haue his mouth still open euen too the end too witnesse vnto vs that in him wee shall assuredly fynd all that wee can wish too bring vs too the heauenly lyfe Now then must wee not bee very blocks if we be not touched too the quicke at the hearing of these woords It is trew that the sonne of God fleeteth not from place too place nor is conuersant heere beneath among vs in visible fashion nother were that requisite But yit for all that the doctrine which wee preache in his name ought too haue lyke anthoritie as if hee spake to vs himselfe mouth to mouth And for the same cause also dooth hee say Hee that heareth you heareth mee and he that receyueth you receyueth mee and likewyse he that reiecteth you reiecteth mee And agein by this meanes is God my father honored euen by your beeleeuing of the Gospel And contrariwise he hath great wrong and reproch doone vnto him when the things are douted of that are so wel certifyed there The Pope al the rabble of his Clergie alledge this for the mayntenance of their tyrannie But our Lord Iesus Christes meaning was too warrant vs the message that concerneth the forgiuenesse of our sinnes wherwith our eares are beaten continually For wee shall alwayes hang in a mamering and doubt if wee bee not throughly perswaded and resolued that all thinges conteyned in the Gospell are hild of Iesus Christ who is the infallible truth it self For if wee haue an eye too men wee shall bee euer wauering and doubtfull And for proofe thereof what can they bring vs of their owne growing but vtter vanitie and leazing So then although our Lord Iesus Christ abyde still in his heauenly glory and wee bee absent from him in body yea and that it bee a straunge thing to vs too say that he dwelleth in vs and that wheresoeuer twoo or three bee gathered toogither in his name he is in the middes of them yit notwithstanding wee must bee fully assured of this poynt that when the pure doctrine of the Gospell is preached it is all one as if he himselfe spake vntoo vs and were familiarly conuersant heere among vs Then too bee short our fayth must ame at him as at the very marke or butte of it and we must rest vppon him And seeyng that God his father hath sent him too bee a faythfull witnesse looke whatsoeuer is â—old vs truly in his name wee must receyue it without any geynsaying Furthermore as wee haue heere wherwith too strengthen vs in trew constancie of fayth and too arme vs ageinst all the assaultes and alarumes that Satan can giue vs so it is a great shame for vs when wee bee deafe at the hearing of the Gospell or let it alone as a thing hanging in the aire taking it too bee but as a fable or a thing of no valew And yit for all that most men now adayes doo eyther despyze the Gospell or else are so besotted that they discant of it as of a tryfle or else make but a mocke of it Some hauing heard Sermons or hauing bin taught at some Lecture or by some other meanes will perchaunce say it is possible that this may bee trew and as for mee I wil not say nay to it but forasmuch as I am no clerk nor diuine it is al one too mee I will let it alone still in his ordinarie course Some other will say Tush I will hold mee too the fayth of my forefathers For it is too daungerous a matter to chaunge Some agein say thus How so It is a new doctrine
which he treated of continually was that wee cannot sufficiently exalt our God considering the mercie that he vseth towardes vs And now too expresse the same yit the better and to touch vs the more to the quicke with it he sheweth vs as in a picture or in a glasse what men are til God haue preuented them with his grace and called them backe too himselfe Therfore he sheweth that wee be pluâ—dged in so horrible a dungeon that the very thinking of it ought to abash vs and make the heares stand vp vpon our heades for it cannot bee but that theruppon wee must needes bee moued and inflamed too blisse Gods name for that he hath sought vs so in in the bottome of Hell too drawe vs vp too the kingdome of heauen And our Lord Iesus Christ too shew in what cace he findeth vs sayeth that he is come to the end that the deade should ryze at his voyce Yee see thâ—n that the office which the sonne of God taketh vppon him is too draw vs from death too lyfe by the doctrine of his Gospel According wherunto he addeth that such as beleue in him are passed from death wherin they were hild downe and are entred into the heauenly lyfe Not that the faythfull doo inioy it heere alredy but bycause they possesse it in such wyse by hope as they be throughly assured of it Now wheras our Lord Iesus Christ sayeth that his voyce hath power too rayze the dead he taketh it by a similitude For what lyfe soeuer wee suâ—myze oâ—r selues too haue yit notwithstanding if we be separated from God wee l bee in a spirituall death howsoeuer the vnbeleeuers imagin themselues too be more than alyue in their owne wisdome and vertue And therein doo they harden themselues and make their brags of it too the vttermost But let vs see where the welspring of lyfe is It is in God and they bee alienated from him Also let vs see what is the trew lyfe of man It is not that he should bee sâ—ttle and fine witted and bee able too compasse his matters well in this world by his owne cunning and pollicie or too purchace himselfe renoune or too bee wittie and well aduized too giue counsell too all other men it is not that he should excell in all humane sciences and in all arts nother is it that he should bee esteemed and renouned as a maâ— of noble corage or as one that hath the other vertues that are commendable among men but it is a hygher thing that wee must begin at namely to knowe that God is our father that wee bee defended and preserued by the light of his word inlightened by fayth too knowe the way of saluation and too assure our selues that our whole welfare lyeth in him so as wee seeke it there with al lowelynesse and also too knowe the meane whereby too atteyne too it that is too wit by hauing our Lord Iesus Christ in whom the whole fulnesse of grace is offered vs. Thus you see what the spirituall lyfe of man is and where it lyeth that is too wit in the lyght of Gods woord and in the woorking of his holie spirit so as wee be new fashyoned agein according too the image that was lost and vtterly defaced in vs by Adams sin And is that too bee found among worldly men Yea euen among those that are most honored No surely Then is it not without cause that our Lord Iesus vseth this similitude saying that wee bee raysed from death by meanes of the Gospell For florish wee neuer so much beare wee neuer so fayer a glosse before men and seeme wee too haue neuer so much wherfore too bee had in estimation yit are wee but wretched carions there is nothing but rottennesse and filthinesse in vs God lotheth vs wee bee damned and forlorne before him the Angells abhorre vs all creatures curse and ban vs and all things aske vengeance vppon vs bycause wee defyle them For there is such corruption in man that heauen and earth must bee infected with it vntill God haue chaunged them The thing then which our Lord Iesus Christs saying importeth is that vntill wee bee renewed by the Gospell through the fayth that proceedeth of it wee bee but as dead men there is not one drop of lyfe in vs that deserueth the name of lyfe And too bee short wee bee as good as buryed in our graues and must bee fayne to go out of them agein whereby wee bee doone too vnderstand that wee bee cut of from Gods kingdome and consequently that there is nothing but filth in vs and yit notwithstanding that God voutsafeth too bee knit and vnited vntoo such as put their trust in him and in his goodnesse That say I is our rysing agein Too bee short wee must alwayes consider that man bringeth death with him euen with his birth not only bycause he is mortall but also bycause he is separated from god We bee mortall wyghtes and it were but in respect that wee must needes passe through this world and depart thence whensoeuer it pleaseth God but wee bee also dead afore hand And how is that Bycause our soules are altoogither sinfull There is nother thought nor affection in vs which tendeth not too euil all is repugnant or rebellious ageinst God and ageinst the rule of his ryghtuousnesse When wee imagin eyther one thing or other wee can neuer deuyse any thing in our myndes but sin and vnryghtuousnesse according as it is sayd in Genesis that God knew that all that euer man had in his thought and imagination was sin Now sith it is so let vs vnderstand that although wee had knowledge of good and euill and that wee had farre greater skill and discretion than wee haue yit are wee so marred that all our desires and lustes rebell ageinst God as it were too make warre ageinst him Seyng then that we be so corrupted in our soules and that there is nother thought nor affection which is not vtterly naught let vs not thinke it straunge that God with his owne mouth auoweth vs too bee dead notwithstanding that through our owne fond ouerweening wee imagin that there is some lyfe in vs And that is the very thing which S. Paule treateth of as now in saying that the Ephesians were parttakers of the aboue mentioned grace though they were deade through their owne sinnes and iniquities As if he should saye Too the intent yee may the better esteeme the valew of Gods grace and what it bringeth with it thinke not only vppon your present state but consider that if God had left you such as you were of your selues and had not succored you at all but had let you followe your owne swindge you had bin vndoone Consider what your nature is for yee were dead and there was no hope that euer you should bee quickened agein bicause it is not in the power of mans owne free-will too giue himselfe lyfe agein when he is
end wee may bee the better prepared too receiue the 〈◊〉 conteyned in this Epistle the same may haue such authoritie among vs as it deserueth and moreouer bee made amyable too vs so as wee may vnderstaÌ„d how it is for our singular benefite too learne at Paules hand forsomuch as he witnesseth the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ vntoo vs and leadeth vs too God too bee reconcyled vntoo him wheras wee bee naturally the children of wrath and furthermore that wee may stand in his fauour so as wee may bee hold too call vppon him as 〈◊〉 father bee sure that he also taketh vs for his children Theruppon 〈◊〉 a thanksgiuing too lift vp a mennes hartes too acknowledge 〈◊〉 much they bee bound and beholden vntoo God specially consideâ—â—â—â— that he hath shewed himselfe so bountifull towardes them in 〈…〉 foorth himselfe after all maner of sortes â—â—â—essed sayeth he bee the God and father of our Lord Iesus 〈◊〉 vvhich hath blissed vs vvith all spirituall blissings in heaâ—â—â—ly things or in heauenly places in Christ. Forasmuch as the chiefe 〈◊〉 which God requireth at mennes hands is that they should acâ—â—wledge his benefites and be thankfull too him for them S. Paule 〈◊〉 â—sidereth first of all how the same maye prouoke them too doo their 〈…〉 For wee bee so rechlesse as it is â–ª pitie too see Wee can well 〈◊〉 confesse that our chiefe studie and indeuer ought too bee too 〈…〉 a well ordered lyfe that is too wit to praise god For if a man aske vs wherefore wee bee in this world wherefore God hath such a care of vs wherfore his goodnesse feedeth and cherisheth vs finally 〈◊〉 he dooth as it were put out our eyes with the great number 〈…〉 which he bestoweth vppon vs it is too the end wee should 〈…〉 some acknowledgement of them vntoo him For as it is sayd in 〈◊〉 Psalme wee 〈◊〉 our side cannot profit him at all nother requyreth 〈…〉 else of vs in exchaunge than thanksgiuing according as it is 〈◊〉 in the hundred and sixteenth Psalme What shall I render too the 〈◊〉 for all the benefites which I haue receyued of him but onely too 〈◊〉 the cuppe of welfare at his hand and too call vppon his name 〈…〉 see then that all that euer wee can bring vntoo God is but too acâ—â—owledge our selues bound too him for all things And yet for all that 〈◊〉 dischargeth his dewtie no nor the hundredth part of it in that bâ—halfe but rather all of vs from the greatest too the least doo defraud 〈◊〉 of it in as much as wee ceasse not through our leawdnesse to bury 〈◊〉 praise which ought too ring 〈…〉 in our mouthes For this cause 〈◊〉 Lord rebuketh vs for our negligence for wheras the holy scripture exhorteth vs too praise God and vseth so many woordes too that purâ—ose let vs not thinke that they bee superâ—â—â—ous but let vs acknowâ—edge them too bee as many vpbraydings of our churlishnesse and vnâ—yâ—dnesse for fayling in the thing that is so requisite and as yee would 〈◊〉 the principall poynt of our life Trew it is that the holy Ghost â—ooth oftentimes set foorth other reasons why wee shoud magnifye Gods name as the order of nature the fruites which the earth yeeldeth the ayde and help which God giueth vs such other things and those are sufficient matter wherfore too prayse god But S. Paule leadeth vs hygher heere and will haue vs too glorifye God aboue all things for bycause he thinkes it not ynough too haue set vs in the worlde and too cherish vs there and too haue prouided all things needfull for the passing of this transitorie lyfe but also hath chozen vs too bee heires of his kingdome and of the heauenly lyfe Then are wee dubble bound vntoo God and that much more streytly than the ignorant and vnbeleeuing wretches are For although they bee sufficiently bonnd alredye yit notwithstanding the good which he hath doone vs in Iesus Christ is without all comparison more excellent and noble bycause he hath adopted vs too bee his children Truely inasmuch as wee bee men wee bee of the nomber of his creatures which he hath fashioned after his owne image but what for that This image is defaced in vs by sin and by the corruption wherwith we bee atteinted by Adams disobedieÌ„ce And now what other heritage haue wee than of his wrath and of endlesse death Too bee shorte wee bee not woorthy too bee reckened in the number of brute beasts if wee abide in the state which wee haue of nature Now then seyng that God maketh vs members of his onely sonne setteth vs in the aray of the Angels prepareth vs too become parttakers of his owne nature and glory as sayeth S. Peter in his first Epistle ought not wee too perceiue there so hygh and noble a grace as should rauish vs wholly in loue with it Thus yee see that of the thinges which S. Paule ment too say in this text the first is that wee bee heere exhorted too apply our whole indeuer too the praising of God verily bycause wee bee too cold slothfull in that behalfe if wee bee not driuen and inforced thereuntoo Besydes this S. Paule had one other respect more which was too feede vs in such wise with the grace that we haue by the Gospell as wee may no more couet this thing that thing after our ordinary manor We see how fickle wee bee of nature when God is so good vntoo vs as too set his woord before vs wee will needes haue some other thinges beside and nothing can content vs And what is the cause of it It is for that wee bee dull neuer conceiued nor vnderstoode what God sheweth vs by his word For we shal see heereafter that such as know the loue which God sheweth vs in our Lord Iesus Christ haue all that they can wish vpward and downward farre wyde Also S. Paule dooth now call vpon vs too blisse God too the end too holde vs to the doctrine wherin consisteth the fulnesse of all felicitie at leastwise if we 〈…〉 skill too vse it too our profit â—â—thermore let vs marke also how not without cause he sayeth 〈◊〉 is in spirituall blissings For although wee cannot eate a bit of 〈◊〉 nor drinke a drop of water without theft too Godward except â—cknowledge confesse that he therein sheweth himselfe a very 〈◊〉 towards vs yit notwithstaÌ„ding the things that concerne this 〈◊〉 and transitory life of ours are nothing in respect of the thinges 〈◊〉 serue for the euerlasting welfare of our soules And in very deede 〈◊〉 Paules exhorting of vs heere too praise God for his heauenly blisâ—â—s is in such wise that therwithall he giueth vs an incling that we 〈◊〉 bee pacient if we bee pinched in respect of the flesh haue not all â—â—ges at will but that God cutteth vs short of our pittance handâ—â—â— vs not so tenderly as we would bee Two
haue any good zeale if 〈…〉 ageinst our owne vyces or if wee walke in the obedience of 〈…〉 whence commeth it Euen of this welspring that he purposed 〈…〉 is to wit that he choze vs aforehand Then let vs consider 〈…〉 prayse thereof is dew vnto him and let vs not defraud him of 〈…〉 For although wee lyued as perfectly as Angells yit if we 〈…〉 fond as too thinke that the same commeth of our owne free 〈…〉 selfmouing wee misse the chiefe poynt of all For wheretoo 〈…〉 our good workes but to glorify God withall And if we take 〈…〉 spring of our selues wee see they bee marred by so dooyng 〈…〉 turned intoo vyces so as they be nought else than stark 〈…〉 Yee see then that the thing wherat S. Paule amed in this 〈…〉 too bring vs alwayes backe too Gods free election that wee 〈…〉 know how all goodnesse dependeth theruppon 〈…〉 addeth immediatly that wee be predestinated in adoption in 〈…〉 through Iesus Christ according too the good pleasure of 〈…〉 will. Wheras he sayth that God hath predestinated vs in 〈…〉 it is too shewe that if wee bee Gods children it is not 〈…〉 nature but through his onely grace Now this onely grace 〈…〉 respect of any thing that God foresawe in vs as I touched 〈…〉 but bycause he had erst marked vs out and 〈…〉 too such adoption yea euen in such wyse as the cause thereof is 〈…〉 bee sought elswhere than in himselfe And that is the cause why 〈…〉 addeth immediatly that he did it in himself and according 〈…〉 the good pleasure of his ovvne vvill Also he repeteth the same 〈…〉 that I declared this forenoone namely that all was done in 〈…〉 Christ. Yee see therfore that the thing which wee haue too marke 〈…〉 sentence is that none other cause maketh vs Gods children 〈…〉 onely his choozing of vs in himselfe For wee haue no such 〈…〉 by birth or inheritance nother commeth it of fleshe and blud 〈…〉 sayd in the first chapter of S. Iohn insomuch that al that euer can bee sought in our our owne selues is vtterly excluded and abolished And that is too shewe vs that if men bee let alone in their former plyght they haue no intercommoning at all with God but are vtterly cut off from his kingdome Trew it is that our first father Adam was created after the image of God and that he was excellent in his first state but after the comming in of sinne wee were all vtterly forlorne Insomuch that euen Adam had not any stay of himselfe and his free will that was giuen him serued him too none other purpose but too make him the more vnexcuzable For he fell wilfully and through his owâ—e malice But heereby we see what maner of constancie he had in him sith he was no sooner made but he by by fell drew vs downe intoo his fall with him Then as nowe wee bee all of vs borne the children of wrath and are cursed of God. And so as long as wee abyde in our former state and plyght there is nothing but endlesse death in vs Therefore God must bee fayne too call vs home to him For are wee able too purchace such prerogatiue Where is the goold or siluer too buy it withall Wâ—ere are the vertewes wherewith to recompence God for so great and excellent a priuiledge Too bee short as is sayd alredie vppon this sentence it commeth nother of flesh nor of blud that is too say it commeth not of anie thing that wee can fynd in this world but alonly of Gods adoption For the word which S. Paule vseth betokeneth an appoynting of children lyke as when a man adopteth a chyld he choozeth him too bee his heire and all the goods that he hath afterward doo passe vnder that tytle Euen so are wee heires of the heauenly lyfe bycause God hath adopted and chozen vs for his children Yea but S. Paule is not contented too haue magnifyed Gods grace so farre foorth but he sayth moreouer that God had also predestinated vs and appoynted the thing aforehand Wee see theâ— that S. Paule gâ—tâ—ereth toogither all the things that may beate downe the fond imaginations which wee myght conceyue of bringing aught vntoo God or of auauncing our selues towards him too make our selues acceptable vntoo him Therefore all such thinges muâ—t bee layd awater so as Gods only grace may bee acknowledged in that behalfe And that also is the cause why he repeteth through Iesus Christ. Then if it bee demaunded why and how wee bee predestinated of God too bee his children it is bycause he voutsafed too looke vppon vs in Christ for as I haue sayd afore he is as it were the register wherein wee 〈…〉 too atteine too the heritage of lyfe and saluation For 〈…〉 pitie our miseries yit should we alwayes be hateful in his 〈…〉 Iesus Christ came not before him bycause that all of vs 〈…〉 descended of Adam are all of one mould and making and 〈…〉 none better than other among vs Now then the one sorte 〈…〉 and why is that but bycause God looking vppon them 〈…〉 dooth mislyke them But he choozeth vs in our Lorde 〈…〉 Christ and looketh vppon vs there as in a glasse that he lyketh 〈…〉 And so yee see whereof the difference proceedeth 〈…〉 the thing yit better he sayeth that Gods choozing of vs 〈…〉 himself Trew it is that God doeth all good of himself But 〈…〉 S. Paule ment too set out the thing which is not seene in all the 〈…〉 workes of God that is to wit that none other cause moued 〈…〉 chooze vs than his owne will. S. Paule therefore taketh 〈…〉 all respectes when he sayeth that God choze vs in himselfe If he 〈…〉 any desert or woorthinesse if he had found any disposition 〈…〉 if he had found any goodnesse or vertew or too be 〈…〉 had found any one drop of aught that he myght like and 〈…〉 he had not chozen vs in himselfe but wee our selues shoulde 〈…〉 some partnership with him Seyng then that S. Paule 〈…〉 all thinges in Gods purpose which belong too our saluation 〈…〉 that our election also is shet vp there it is all one as if he 〈…〉 saye that men doo fowly ouershoote themselues when they take 〈…〉 them too bee any thing woorth or too haue bin furtherers or 〈…〉 of themselues too the receyuing of such grace Therefore 〈…〉 bee caryed vp aloft if wee will knowe whereuppon our 〈…〉 grounded and what is the very originall welspring and the 〈…〉 only cause of the same And so yee see what is ment by this 〈◊〉 that God did it in himselfe â—ut S. Paul addeth yet further according too the good pleasure 〈…〉 owne will. If he had set downe no more but onely the woorde 〈…〉 it had bin ynough accordingly as wee haue seene heertoofore 〈◊〉 declared vppon Sonday last that S. Paule was chozen 〈…〉 too the will of god And why so Bycause he was nother fit 〈…〉 to haue
let vs consider that wee bee his enemyes till he haue pardoned all our sinnes of his owne free goodnesse and yit notwithstanding that our Lord Iesus Christ must bee fayne too step in betweene him and vs For the sacrifyze of his death serueth too purchase vs an euerlasting attonement so as wee must alwayes flee thither for refuge Trew it is that the whole lyfe but of Lord Iesus Christ is become our raunsome â–ª for the obedience which he yeelded too God his father in this world was too make amends for Adams offence and for all the iniquities wherthrough wee bee ronne in arrerages Howbeit S. Paule speaketh heere purposely of his blud bycause it behoueth vs too resort too his death and passion as too the sacrifyze which is of power too blot out all our sinnes And for that cause hath God represented in figures vnder the lawe that men could not bee reconcyled vntoo him but only by that meane Now it is trew that Iesus Christ did not only shed his blud namely at his death but also feele the feare and terrour which ought too haue lyghted vpon vs But S. Paule dooth heere vnder one parrell comprehend the whole after the ordinarie maner of the holy scripture Too bee short let vs repose all our rightâ—â—usnesse in Gods shewing of himselfe mercifull towardes vs of his owne free goodnesse and let vs not presume too face him with any vertew of our owne thereby too bynd him vntoo vs but let it suffize vs that he receyueth vs intoo his fauour freely without any desert of ours onely bycause the rememberance of our sinnes is buryed out of his sight And agein let vs vnderstand that the same canno bee doone but by the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ and that that is the thing wheruppon wee must wholly rest Heeruppon S. Paule addeth that all is done according too the richesse of Gods grace Noâ— without cause dooth he heere magnifye Gods mercie which he vttereth in receyuing vs too fauour For wee see on the one syde how men doo wilfully ouershoote themselues through their foolish ouerweening For most men haue alwayes imagined that they myght make their attonement with God by their owne satisfactions and I wote not what shiftes besydes Seeing then that men are so farre ouerseene in their owne imaginations S. Paule too exclude all such dealing sayth that wee must bee rauished in loue with the richenesse of Gods goodnesse He could haue sayd simply that God dooth all according too his grace but he setteh downe heere his greate treasures too the intent that men should not bee so fond as too bring as it were but a farthing for the discharge of ten hundred thousand crownes And truly when the Papists prattle of their satisfactions they say not that they bee able too doo it throughly in all poyntes but they are of opinion that with the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ they also are able too bring somewhat of their owne and too doo so much by patches and peeces that God shal bee satisfied and contented Thus yee see what a diuelish opinion reigneth in papistrie for they will needes found masses they will needs bable many prayers they will needs gad on pilgrimage they will needs keepe this feast and that feast they will needs performe I wot not what deuotioÌ„s they wil needs weare sack cloth next their skin and all too help foorth the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ as who should say it were not sufficieÌ„t ynough of it self But S. Paule telleth vs that Gods goodnesse as it is shewed vs in Iesus Christ is so greate a treasure that all other things must needs giue ouer and be thrust vnder foâ—te And seing that God vseth so greate bountifulnesse as wee ought too bee wholy rauished at it is it not too outrageouse a presumptuousnesse when wee will needs bring our owne pelting trash as though our going on pilgrimage our dooing of some other deuotions were of any valew or estimation Is it not al one as though the blud of Iesus Christ were not a sufficient pryce I say a sufficient pryce and raunsome for our saluation Yee see then on the one syde how S. Paule ment heere too cut of all occasions of the fond imaginations that men conceyue in surmizing themselues able too pacifye Gods wrath by their owne satisfactions and paymentes and on the other syde how he purpozed too succour our feeblenesse For although wee bee giuen too beleeue wonderous well of our owne vertuosusnesse and too beare ourselues in hand that God is greatly beholden vntoo vs yit notwithstanding when it commeth too the calling vppon God in good earnest and too the putting of our trust in him then if Satan egge vs too despayre and that wee bee tossed with trubbles and temptations we be so dismayed that all the promises of the holy scripture and all that is said vntoo vs of the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ cannot make vs too haue any hope S. Paule therfore too remedie this vyce of vnbeleefe which is too deepely rooted in vs doth heere set before vs the greate treasures of Gods goodnesse too the end that all the distruste which wee can conceyue may bee as it were swallowed vp seing that God voutsafeth too vse so greate bounteousnes towards vs. And heeruppon he addeth that he hath made the same grace too abound towards vs in all wisdom and vnderstanding By these â—ords he doth vs too wit by what meanes wee come by the thing that he had specifyed afore Behold all our happinesse and all our souerein velfare consisteth in being at one with God so as he may take vs for hâ—s children and it may bee lawfull for vs too call vppon him as our father with full libertie But how shall wee obteyne that thing from which we be so farre wyde It is sayde that although wee bee naught wâ—orth ne naught can doo yit wee shall finde all thinges in Iesus Christ which are wanting in our selues and that his death passion will bee a sufficient sacrifyze too put away the rememberance of all our misdeedes Howbeit dooth it followe therefore that all men are parttakers of this benefite which is purchaced for vs by our Lord Iesus Christ No for the vnbeleeuers haue nother part nor portion in it Then is it a speciall priuiledge for those whom God gathereth too himselfe Also S. Paule sheweth that eyther wee must haue fayth or else Christ shall not boote vs at all Although then that Christ bee generally the redeemer of the whole world yit dooth his death and passion aduauntage none but such as receiue the thing that S. Paule sheweth heere And so wee see that when wee once know the benefites that are brought vs by Christ and which he offereth vs dayly by his Gospell we muste also bee knyt vntoo hym by faith For the Turkes Iewes and Papistes and all other lyke are cut of and estranged from Christ
too make vs vnderstand that they bee aboue our heads If wee haue an enemy wee will see if we can ouerthrowe him But if he haue his foote vppon our throte alreadye if he treade vppon our bellyes if he bee already gotten vppon vs what remedie is there then None at all on our part That is the cause why S. Paule speaketh here expresly of the ayre as if he should say that men may well brag and lifte vp their nebbes and bee brazenfaste in auauncing themselues but yit is the diuell aboue them with all that he can make Too bee short he sheweth that wee bee vtterly giuen vp too that cursed bondage And to make the matter the playner he addeth according too the spirit For what is the cause that wee perceyue not the state which he speaketh of but bycause wee be fleshely â–ª If there reygned a tyran ouer vs that would lay a subsidie vppon vs too day and a tax to morrow and sacke mens houses the next day cut this mans and that mans throte and rauish mens wyues and commit other enormities and outrages wee would well ynough perceyue it And why Bycause wee be quicke of feeling in the things that touche our fleshe and so earthly as wee cannot perceyue any thing except it concerne this present lyfe That is the cause why wee perceyue not our owne miseries for they bee inuisible Wee thinke not that the diuell is such a Tyran nor so horrible as he is bycause wee see him not But S. Paule telleth vs that we must looke higher then this world and that wee must haue other eyes than those that beehold visible things and that it standeth vs on hand too looke vppon the diuell though he bee ghostly that although he haue nother armes too strike vs with nor legges too go with nor any such other things yit he fayleth not too be the woorst tyran that can bee deuized in the whole woorld And why so For he entreth vnseene If there were a man that could enter into other mens heads and harts yea and intoo their thoughts and affections without swoord or staffe without venim or poyson without threatening or any thing else or if he had an hundreth deathes in his hand and could make them enter without feeling how I pray you were not such an enemy much more too bee feared than such as come furnished with great force and make a great noize Yis surely Now S. Paule telleth vs that the diuell is such a one for he is a spirite sayeth he So then let vs not to be so fleshely as we haue bin wont too bee nother let vs iudge according too our owne rude and fond fancye when the sayd spirituall enemye is spoken of But let vs assure our selues that he is able too doo vs much more mischiefe without al comparison then if wee could see how he came towards vs and how he entered intoo vs So then forasmuch as he is a spirit let vs bee so much the more afrayd of him And too the intent the faythfull should bee the better dispozed too come too this foresayde poynt that is too say too know their owne confuzion till God haue prouided for it S. Paule addeth yit one confirmation more of his saying For as soone as wee haue receyued the fayth and bee inlightened by Gods holy spirit if wee haue any desire too doo well wee shall by and by indeuer too serue our god And it will seeme that that were inough But if a faythfull man looke intoo himselfe he shall finde ynough to mislike and too sighe and groone for according as I haue tolde you before that euen S. Paule confesseth himselfe too haue bin vnhappy and crieth out who shall set mee free from this prison of death The faythfull then shall alwayes fynd ynough in themselues wherfore too morne before god Yit notwithstaÌ„ding forasmuch as God hath put some goodnesse some wel meaning and some good intent intoo vs the same doth halfe couer the leawdnesse of our nature so as wee knowe not a long time after that it were requisite howe wretched our state is so long as wee thinke but vppon our selues I say vppon our selues such as wee bee after that God hath partly reformed vs by his holy spirit That is the cause why S. Paule sendeth vs too behold what the vnbeleeuers are If wee looke vppon the worlde wee shall see some giuen too couetousnesse and some too pilling and poulling and not onely the little theeues that are whipped and hanged euen such as are robbers I say not in woods and forests but in houses in markets and in places of iustice Wee shall see that there is nother fayth nor loyaltie among most men but that all men are giuen too pilling and pouling without any respect of equitie or vprightnesse Wee shall see some rushe out intoo whoredome and dishonestie some intoo drunkennesse and some intoo other leawdnesse and looce behauiour Wee shall see men rap out othes periuries and other cursed things Agein wee shall see secret conueyances impoysonings spytings malicings treasons and wicked practizes Too bee short wee shall see some so diuelish that they fling them selues headlong altoogither as though they ment too make warre wilfully ageinst god These are things that may astonish vs And although wee bee dull yet ought wee too haue some remors when we see things so farre out of order in the world Neuerthelesse S. Paule sayeth that if we consider what is doone and how all thinges are turned topsiteruie and what libertie the world taketh too withstand God it behoueth vs too apply the same too our selues and too conclude thus the same should betyde mee yea and euen as much as I see in them that are moste wretched For when wee looke vppon the diseases that are abrode how some are eaten with cankers and other filthie diseases and othersome haue as terrible sicknesses as can be we must prie vpon them and say as ill yea worse to should lyght vpon me if God pitied me not For all of vs doo carye the seede of them about vs that not only in our bodyes but also in our soules for there may be some diuersitie of coÌ„plexions so as some shal be stronger and lusâ—yer than other some but the soule of man is vtterly corrupted and marred So then the sinnes that reigne in vs are all of them warnings to make vs cast downe our eyes and too be ashamed before God and his Angells yea and too make vs hate and vtterly abhorre our selues Thus yee see why S. Paule hath added here that the diuell woorketh now still He vseth the woord Now as if he should say my frendes if in looking vppon your present state you fynd any thing well and that the same keepeth you from humbling of your selues throughly and from feeling how miserable yee shoulde haue bin if God had not shewed pitie and mercie towards you see what is doone about you see how the vnbeleueres behaue themselues and
sendeth in his name and which represent him than too put them too all the shame and reproche of the world But S. Paule as well heere as in other places hathe not sticked too glorie in his imprisonment and bands In deede he was kept in ward as an euill dooer bâ—t in the meane while he had record bothe before God and also before man that he suffred wrongfully for executing his office and finally for seruing God faythfully Therfore let vs not think it strange that on the one syde he calleth himself prisoner and on the othersyde the Ambassadour or messenger of the Liuing God euen as representing his person and dignitie And it is not for nought that he addeth the name of Iesus christ For imprizonment generally myght haue bred some euill opinion of him bycause euill dooers are punished with it by order of Iustis But the cace putteth a difference betewne euill dooers and the witnesses of God and of our Lord Iesus Christ. That is the rause why S. Paule calleth not himself a prisoner simply and without exception but also sheweth the cause why saying that Iesus Christ auoweth him as thâ—ugh he were an hostage or pledge for him So then by this saying wee bee warned too reâ—eyue S. Paules doctrine with the greater authoritie seing hee hath ratiâ—â—ed it so well If he had but onely executed his 〈◊〉 â—n in preaching wee ought too haue made acount of the obedience that hee yeelded vntoo god But he also wrought miracles he inâ—ured a number of trubbles and incomberances and finally he suffered imprisonment and death Now when wee see that for all this he ceassed not too go through stedfastly and too ouercome all the assaults that Satan and the wicked world were able too stir vp ageinst him surely wee haue the greater confirmation of the doctrine which serueth at this day too our vse And therfore when wee bee told of Saint Paule and of the great number of incounters that he indured let vs not think it is more than needeth For it is alwayes a more certayne ratifying of the doctrine too the end wee myght vnderstand how it is not of the doctrine of any mortall wyght but the doctrine of the liuing God who also strengthened him with inuincible constancie by his holie spirit Now as this is well spoken of the persons of Saint Paule so must it also bee extended further For God wissed and ordeyned that the rest of the Apostles should suffer as well as hee And it is sayd of Saint Peter that when he was growen old he should bee girded after another fashion than he had bin woont too bee so as he should bee tyed in streyt bonds and bee led whither he would not at leastwyse as in respect of fleshly infirmitie though he had a spirituall disposition of mynd to obey god We see then in effect how Gods seruants suffered not a two or three of them but so as there myght bee as it were a great and thicke cloud of them as the Apostle sayeth in the twelfth too the Hebrewes Sith it is so let vs make our hand of such helpes For it is certeyne that God ment too susteyne our feeblenesse by adding such helpes too his woord which ought too bee of sufficient authoritie of it self too the intent it should no more bee doubted of nor called in question Thus yee see how the thing that wee haue too beare in mynd is that the blud of the Apostles and Martyrs that hath bin shed too confirme the doctrine of the Gospell is as good as a huÌ„dred seales yea as a whole milion of seales too warrant vs all the thinges fully which are conteyned in the Gospell Trew it is that our fayth ought too bee grounded vppon the authoritie of the holy Ghost and that although God had neuer a Martyr too shewe that the truth of the Gospell is firme and certeine yit it ought too suffyze vs that it is he which speaketh it Agein wee haue seene heeretoofore that the truth shall euer bee doubted of â—ill the holy Ghost haue sealed it in our hartes And for that cause is he called our earnestpennye bycause he insureth vs of the heritage which wee hope for according too the promise which hath bin purchaced so deerely for vs with the blud of our Lord Iesus Christ. Now for the last step wee must come too the experience that wee haue in these dayes For the blud of Martirs is shed still at this day God could well let that the wicked should not runne so vpon the brydle ageinst the faythfull he could well chaunge all their mischeeuousnesse and rebellion and wheras they bee rauening wolues he could make them as sheepe and Lambes surely he could doo so But on the one syde he ordeyneth Satan too driue them and stirre them vp too such rage and agein he giueth them licence and leaue too trubble the faythfull And why Too the end that wee should knowe what the power of his holy spirit is when it pleaseth him too guyde and gouerne vs For as I haue declared alredy the weaknesse of men is such that there needeth but the falling of a leafe from a tree too make them quake ageyne wee knowe that death is horrible of it self Therfore wee must conclude that God vttereth a wonderfull grace when he strengtheneth his seruantes in such wyse as they bee not dismayed with any threateninges nor at the syght of fyre when the enemyes and tirantes are not contented with single death but adde thertoo the most tyrannicall tormentes that can bee deuyzed Now then when the Martyres perseuer in such constancie therin men perceyue that God hath put to his hand Wherfore when wee heare that they bee handled so cruelly for Gods word and that some if they scape are notwithstanding redye too dye and othersome knowing their death shall bee precious in the eyes of the Lord offer them selues in sacrifize with a cheerful corage let vs not suffer their blud too fall too the ground I say when wee heare of all these things let vs beware wee suffer not that thing too perish which God hath ordeyned for our edifying and for the better confirming of vs in our fayth For although wee ought too bee sufficiently instructed by the preaching alone yit must it needes be a great strengthening too vs when Gods word is not onely preached but also sealed after that fashion Then is it not too bee called in question or too be disputed of as an vncertayne matter but they to whom God hath graunted the grace and are led so farre by his holy spirit as too suffer for his truth are faythfull wittnesses that their blud serueth too giue a full sealing vp too his word too the intent that wee should bee the better resolued of it Thus yee see what wee haue to gather vppoâ— this streyne And although the enemies of the Gospell make a triumphing and spit fire and keepe a great coyle too deface all that
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
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
offended That therefore is the order which Saint Paule keepeth too bring vs too charitie and too maynteyne vs in it for it is the whole summe of this Lesson Too bee Gods children say I we must loue one another be knit toogither in good agreement that peace may bee maynteyned among vs And how is that possible too bee For euery man is too much medded too himself Agein their myndes are as farre differing as may bee Their manners and conditions also are differing Too bee short wee haue infinite causes too put vs away and too cut vs of from all company And surely if euery man let himselfe looce Charitie shall neuer take place but bee banished farre from vs What is too bee doone then Wee must first rid away all scornfulnesse and pryde as is sayd afore and afterward bee clenzed from bitternesse and frowardnesse so as wee fall not too bee cholerike and testie but euery man brydle himself and subdew his owne affections But this cannot bee doone except wee bee gentle and kynd harted namely bycause wee bee creatures fashyoned after the image of God and knit togither with an vnseperable bond Yit would not all this suffize vntyll wee haue learned too knowe our owne infirmities and that euery of vs bee angrie with himself bycause he seeth that he hath neede too bee quickned vp and that there bee many vyces in himself of the same sort that are in his neyghbours and that therefore wee haue neede of this bond too hold vs fast togither which will then bee doone when wee bee mercifull and pitifull Now if common courtesie ought too moue vs too succour such as are in necessitie it ought also too bee of force too reconcyle vs. For when our Lord Iesus exhorteth vs too bee merciful it is not only too the intent wee should releeue the hungry and thirsty with meat and drinke or help vp a man agein that is falne in decay or that wee should succour euery man according too our owne abilitie and the parties neede our Lord Iesus intendeth not that alone Trew it is that all things are comprehended therein but he will haue vs specially too shewe mercie in forgiuing the faultes that are committed and not too bee so extreme as too shake of those vtterly which are not altoogither too bee commended or in whom wee spye many vyces In deede wee ought not too flatter one another for trew freendship will not beare that bycause it would bee but a foading of vs too our owne destruction If a man bee a freend too another and suffer him to ouer come himself with meate and drinke so as in the end he killeth himself is it too be sayd that his flattering of him after that manner and his foading of all his foolish appetytes is freendship No So then if wee see a poore man at the poynt too throw himself headlong intoo destruction wee doo well shew our selues too bee rather traytors than freendes too him if wee indeuer not too plucke him backe The compassion therefore whereuntoo our Lord Iesus exhorteth vs is not a rocking of vs asleep in our infirmities through flatterie but a holding of our selues in measure and a tempering of our rigour in such wyse as oyle may alwayes bee mingled with our vineger as they say That is in effett the thing whertoo Saint Paule ment too bring vs For although euery man doo his best too bee pitiful so as he may shew no ouer greate rigour towards his neyghbours yit is it as contrarie too our nature as any thing can bee For as I haue sayd alredye this selfloue of ours dooth so blynd vs that wee make the least scapes in the world too bee heynous sinnes and offences vnpardonable By meanes wherof if any man anger vs too our seeming his fault ought not in any wyse too bee forgiuen So then mercifulnesse shall neuer bee found in men vnlesse they fyght it out too the vttermost ageinst their owne affections As for single teaching it wil not boote in that behalf Wee haue this Churlishnesse so deeply rooted in our harts that if wee bee told of our dewtie it dooth but half moue vs For this cause Saint Paule setteth Gods example afore vs heere who hath forgiuen vs in his only sonne And immediatly therunto he addeth our Lord Iesus Christe who spared not him self for our redemption and saluation The thing then that can breake all hardnesse in vs the thing that can mortifye all our excessiue passions the thing that can reclayme all our crueltie pull downe all our pryde and loftinesse and sweeten all our bitternesse is to haue an eye too Gods behauing of himselfe towardes vs. Nowe he hath loued the world so well that he hath giuen his only sonne too death for our sakes If we compare our selues with God what a distance is there betwixt vs So then the greatest wrongs that wee can possibly imagin too bee doone vntoo vs are nothing in comparison of the least fault that wee commit ageinst god For a man cannot deuyze to break Gods will neuer so little but the same is an incountering of his souerein dominion a violating of his maiestie and an ouerthrowing of his ryghtuousnesse which are thinges too precious too bee abuzed What lyke thing is too bee found in man can it bee sayd that if one haue misuzed vs it ought too bee esteemed as if a man had infringed Gods ryghtuousnesse Now then wee haue iust cause too condemne our selues vntill wee serue God as wee ought too doo And who dooeth that Wee bee enemyes too him aforehand euen from our moothers womb and as wee growe in age so growe wee continually without ceassing in naughtinesse in all sinfulnesse and in all vnryghtuousnesse And yit for all that God hath not forborne too looke mercifully vppon vs insomuch that the more wretched we were the more hath he vttered his infinite mercie in sending vs his only sonne Now if wee consider this ought not all pryde too bee layd downe all bitternesse asswaged all rebelliousenesse tamed all spytefulnesse rid out of our harts and all vntruthe put away Yis verily What is the cause then that wee bee so wayward and that when heate hath once caryed vs away wee ceasse not euen too spurre foreward our selues and that wee doo so easly enter intoo contention and stryfe that all the house where we bee must ring of vs What is the cause hereof Euen our owne vnthankfulnesse for that wee think not vppon Gods incomprehensible goodnesse towards vs in that he hath not spared his only sonne notwithstanding that wee were his deadlie enemyes notwithstanding that wee were at warre with him notwithstanding that wee were cursed alredy of nature bycause of the corruption that is in vs But yit notwithstanding all this as I sayd afore it is vnpossible that wee should taste of Gods mercie except wee bee touched with compassion and haue our harts rid cleane of that cursed affection of reuendge So then albeeit that
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
before the Maiestie of our good God with acknowledgment of our faultes praying him too make vs feele them more and more that wee may bee sorie for them and so streyne our selues too followe his seruice as wee may shewe by our deedes all our lyfe long that he hath not redeemed vs in vayne from the tyrannye of Satan and set vs at libertie euen too serue him with a free will and too giue our selues wholly too the glorifying of his holy name And therwithall let vs beseeche him also too graunt vs the grace so too taste the benefytes which he bestoweth vppon vs as they may prouoke vs more and more too glorify him and that it may bee our continuall exercyze and study too sing and preach his prayses alwayes and too acknowledge how greatly wee bee bound and iâ—detted vntoo him that by that meanes our Lord Iesus may so reigne ouer vs as wee may bee linked too him in vnseparable 〈◊〉 vntyll wee come too the ringdome that he hath bought so deerly for vs That it may please him to graunt this grace not only to vs but also to all people c. The .xli. Sermon which is the nyenth vppon the fifth Chapter 28. Men ought so too loue their vvyues as their ovvne bodyes He that loueth his vvyfe loueth himselfe 29. For no man euer yit hated his ovvne fleshe but rather he nurrisheth and cherisheth it as the Lord also dooth the Churche 30. For vvee bee members of his body of his fleshe and of his bones SEeing that the holy scripture exhorteth vs to be kynd harted meeke and patient one too another and setteth vs downe the example of God who is reconcyled too vs in the person of his sonne our Lord Iesus Christ and sheweth vs therewithall that Iesus Christ spared not himself but shewed the loue that he bare vs and the care that he had of our saluation in that he gaue himselfe too so hard and bitter a death it must needes bee that our hartes are harder than steele if they bee not meekened by it And yit notwithstanding all these exhortations cannot suffyze vs by reason of our wylfulnesse and corruption God therfore too put vs too the greater shame sendeth vs backe too the order of nature as if it were sayd that although we had neuer heard any word of Gods mouth nor neuer had had any teaching by holy Scripture yit ought euery of vs too enter intoo himselfe and too consider his own state for that wyll be ynough too hold vs conuicted without any other witnesse And that could the heathen men tell vs full well who hauing nother beleefe in God nor any Religion could notwithstanding well skill too saye that the wyld beastes make not warre one ageinst another For one Woolfe eateth not another the Beares and Lyons that lyue abrode in the wyld woods haue a certein thing that holdeth them in order so as they hurt not one another And yit haue they no discretion as is among men but they haue as it were a naturall â—â—â—ouing which driueth them too loue one another so as euery of them lyueth quietly with his fellowe â–ª Now then must it not needes bee that men are altoogither out of square and doo despyze God and nature seeing they lyue like Dogges and Cattes as they say and euery man is as a Woolfe or a Foxe too his neyghbour so as there is nothing but craftinesse and malice or else vtter crueltie That is the cause why God telleth vs that wee bee all of one fleshe and of one kynd And Esay vseth the same reason too perswade vs too succour our neyghbours and too haue pitie and compassion of them they stand in any neede Thou shalt not despyze thine owne fleshe sayeth he For the furthest straunger in the world is neuer the more separated from vs for all that but both he and wee spring both out of one fountayne and wee ought too acknowledge him too bee our image Therefore whosoeuer disdeyneth any man surely he foregetteth himselfe too much and he knoweth not what he is nother is woorthy of the honorable degree wherin God hath set him And why Bycause he peruerteth all order Now if this reason ought too take place in generall much more ought men too bee touched too the quicke when it is told them what they bee specially seeing they bee linked toogither in a much streyter bond As if a man should saye too a father How now If thou bee so farre out of loue with thy sonne that thou art vnwylling too see him and disdeynest too talke with him and he can fynd no meanes too come too attonement with thee what a crueltie is that For he is thy fleshe and thy blud And how then canst thou bee so blynded in thyne excessiue moode as not too consider that God hath giuen him thee as though he had come out of thyne owne person And too a sonne it will bee sayde lykewyse How now Is it meete that thou shouldest bee borne intoo the world and haue roome and place among Gods children and in the meane whyle forget thy father that begate thee and by whose meanes God sent thee intoo the world Now the holyest band that God hath set among vs is the bond betweene man and wyfe That is the cause why Saint Paule sayth that a man cannot loue his wyfe but he must loue him self and contrariwyse that if he despyze his wyfe or hate hir it is all one as if he fall at oddes with him self And is that possible Heretoofore he had exhorted husbands too doo their duetyes by hauing an eye too the example of our Lord Iesus Christ. And he had alledged that the sonne of God had giuen him self too the death too wash his Churche so that although it was poore and miserable and ful of filth and vncleannesse 〈…〉 suffered that which was needefull for ouâ— saluation he lefte vs moreouer a record of the grace which he hath purchaced â—or vs Insomuch that in Bâ—btim wee haue a visible token that the bluâ— of our Lord Iesus Christ is our washing and cleâ—zing Can we think vppon all these things and not bee moued too some gentlnesse Yea if wee consider first of all that wee â—ee but wrâ—tched woormes of the earth and too be short that there is nothing in vs but vtter miserie so as wee may well â—ee called vermin and caryons full of all corruption and lothsomnesse and afterward compare our selues with the sonne of God ought there too bee any such pryde in vs as too esteeme and commend our selues and too â—read others vnder our feete Now if this bee generall too all men as I sayd what shall it bee betweene man and wyfe For the knot that God hath knit betwixt them is such that the husband is as yee would say but half him self may no more separate him selfe froÌ„ his wyfe thaÌ„ the wyfe may separate hir selfe froÌ„ hir husband but eche of them must haue regard too their owne state
not the Moone and the Starres ordeyned to doo vs seruis And yit are they as noble Creatures as may bee insomuch that the heathen folk woorshipped them thinking that there was some Godhead inclozed in them Agein when wee looke downward wee see what good things God hath appoynted for our vse And although he feede the beasts yit in the end all redoundeth too vs according as Saint Paule speaketh of them saying hath God a care of the beasts That is to say when as God voutsafeth too succour the beasts in their neede by his prouidence he doth it for mens saks Seing theÌ„ that God hath harborowed vs after such a sort to make vs possesse so many good things besyds his creating of vs after his owne image and lykenesse is it not an inestimable benefyte So then this present life is not to be hild scorne of But there is yit more God hath set vs heere as it were in a iourney too come too a further matter that is too wit too the euerlasting rest and too the heritage of heauen Then if this present lyfe guyde vs thither that is too say too the glory which God hath prepared for vs and which was purchaced for vs by the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ therbey wee see that it is a great benefyte and meete too bee esteemed at our handes Trew it is that there are so many myseries in our lyfe that it were much better for vs neuer too haue bin borne than too linger continually as wee doo Therefore if a man consider how wretched our lyfe is in it self and too what a number of greefes anguishes peynes and vexations it is subiect surely he will say it were better neuer too haue come out of our moothers womb than to enter into such a sea of confuzion as we see vppon earth Neuerthelesse when all commeth to al we shal fynd that Gods goodnesse exceedeth all the chastyzementes that he sendeth vs for our sinnes This lyfe should of it self bee nothing but happinesse and rest if God made vs vs not to reape the frute of our sinnes transgressions Yit notwithstanding when as God dooth now and then afflict vs with some barrennesse or kill our vynes with frost or drowne our Corne with wet or parche it vp with drought and too bee short send vs famin and derth they bee as a rod of God too shewe vs that in sted of his former leberalitie he is now become contrarie to vs Likewyse are the plague warre particular diseases and sicknesses harmes reproches and all other such thinges as woorke vs greefe or displeasure They are all chastyzements whereby God putteth vs in mynd of our sinnes and faultes of purpose too humble vs that wee myght knowe what wee bee and finally too make vs ready too forsake the world the more willingly Howbeeit when wee haue gatherrd all the afflictions trubbles and greefes that we see intoo one heape yit see we well as I sayd afore that God maketh vs too feele the taste and sauour of his goodnesse in that he gyueth vs sustenance in this world And this present lyfe is euer as a record of his loue For proof wherof we should quayle at euery temptatioÌ„ at euery vexation that myght befall vs in this world were it neuer so little if God gaue vs not some cheering to mitigate his rigour withall For he dooth alwayes shew such euent as may cause vs to coÌ„ceiue that he myndeth not to handle vs according to our desertes but that in his chastizing of vs he leaueth alwayes roome for his mercie as he himself sayeth in Habacucke Not without cause then doth God promis prosperitie in this lyfe to such as obey their fathers mothers Trew it is that Moyses ment the land of Chanaan bycause he spake to the people of Israel which were to be settled there Therefore as in respect of that people it was a particular lesson Yit notwithstanding not euen wee at this day can set our foote in any place but that wee bee after a sort harbrowghed there by god Therfore wee must all of vs hope for the blissing that was promised in olde tyme too the Iewes of bringing them intoo the land that was behyghted them for their inheritance A man myght moue other questions heere For wee see some that are disobedient too their fathers and mothers which notwithstanding doo lyue still and othersome which are of a good gentle and tractable nature doo dye so as God should seeme too disanull the promis that he made in his lawe The answere heretoo is this That God dooth them no wrong whom he calleth out of this world too take vp to himselfe nother dooth he appayre their state But too the intent wee may haue an euidenter and easyer answer let vs marke that things fall not alwayes out alyke as in respect of temporall promyses As for example God promyseth too prosper all them that serue and loue him in singlenesse of hart And how falles this out Wee see a number of poore beleeuers which are wretched too the worldward and reiected and despyzed of all men And where is this promis of God As I sayd we must alwayes haue this condition added that God giueth vs whatsoeuer he knoweth too bee expedient for vs There are twoo sortes of Gods promises and wee must marke well that Some of Gods promises belong too the saluation of our soules as his receyuing of vs too mercie his pardoning of our sinnes his shewing of vs his will his giuing of vs power too withstand Satan and his strengthening of vs ageinst al temptatioÌ„s by holding vs vp with stroÌ„g hand that wee may neuer quayle in all these things wee must firmly and stedâ—astly beleeue that God will performe whatsoeuer he sayeth yea and farre more than our vnderstanding can see or conceyue God then will surmount all our wit and capaâ—ity in things concerning the euerlasting saluation of our soules But there are other promises to passe this world withall for the easing of vs in our miseries In those God wil cantle vs out our morsels so as wee shall now and then haue hunger and thrist with them Yea and yit dooth not that impeach but that he is faythfull styll For as I sayde he knoweth what is meete for vs and therefore wee must not take his promises precyzely woord for woord in those caces that is too say we must not take them according too the bare letter or sound of them too say that God should doo all that is sayd there too the vttermost sillable No but wee must alwayes beare in mynd that he knoweth what is for our behoofe and benefite Now then if he take vs soone out of this world it is bycause he knoweth it too bee for our welfare and saluation And so yee see that God dooth not falsifye his promis when he taketh those away in the flower of their age which haue obeyed their fathers and moothers Surely none dooth
vs looke too the discharging of his owne dewtie In deede I cannot as now go through with the things that are inioyned heere to children to fathers mothers therfore I wil reserue theÌ„ to another tyme Yit notwithstanding for a short conclusion let vs vnderstand that God allureth vs too our dewtie by shewing that he seeketh nothing else but our welfare and benefyte too the intent that wee should with a frank and free hart receyue the yoke that he layeth vppon our shoulders And although it be an irksome thing too bee subiect too those whom God hath appoynted too bee superiours ouer vs yit when wee haue first condemned our selues for it let vs neuerthelesse yeeld to that which he sayeth and vttereth assuring our selues thâ—t he procureth our welfare would fayne win vs by gentlenesse and not by rigour and let that make vs the more obedient And also generally forasmuch as wee see that all superiorities are of God let vs vnderstand that wee cannot geynsay them but wee shall lift vp our selues ageinst his maiestie and bend our hornes ageinst him and that contrariwyse if wee beare subiection willingly wee may assure our selues that it is an acceptable sacrifyze vnto him and not doubt that our labour shal be lost in seruing him Not that God will recompence vs by his promises as though we had deserued aught at his hand but he wil doo it of ouerplus For as I haue declared alredie wee bee bound too obey him in all things that he commaundeth nother must wee think him beholden too vs for it nor think too bynd him too vs by any meanes but that although wee bee bound too him as wee bee wholly his yit he of his ouerflowing goodnesse voutsafeth too blisse vs and too make vs feele his fauour when wee haue awfully and reuerently followed the things that he ordeyneth in his woord That then is the recompence which wee ought too hope for at Gods hand howbeeit not as the Papistes say ho God promiseth vs and therfore we deserue They beare themselues on hand that God is beholden vntoo them bycause he hath bound himselfe willingly yea but that is of a free and vndeserued goodnesse Howbeeit wee must not fall intoo such dotages but vnderstand that God beyng no whit at all bound vntoo vs dooth notwithstanding voutsafe too win vs by gentlenesse too the intent wee should serue him with the freer mynd and cheerfuller corage Thus dooth he call vs too him by all wayes And therfore so much the leauder are wee if wee bow not our neckes willingly too giue our selues wholly vntoo him without seeking of any thing but onely too frame our selues too his good pleasure and will which is our cheefe rule by renounceall our owne affections Now let vs fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God with acknowledgment of our faultes praying him too voutsafe too burye them and too washe vs from them for our Lord Iesus Christes sake and too gouerne vs in such wyse by his holy spirit as wee may bee reformed too obey wholly his holy will and too follow his commaundements which he hath giuen vs for a rule and that therin we may shew our selues too bee his trew children lykewise as he hath voutsafed too sheâ— himselfe our gentle and louing father And so let vs all say Almyghtie God heauenly father c. The .xliiii. Sermon which is the second vppon the sixth Chapter 5. Seruauntes bee obedient too such as are your maysters as touching the fleshe vvith feare and trembling in singlenesse of your hartes as vntoo Christ 6. Not vvith eye seruice as men pleazers but as the seruantes of Christ dooing the vvill of God from the hart 7. Seruing the Lord with good will and not men 8. Assuring your selues that euery man bee he bond or free shall receyue of the Lord the good that he shall haue doone 9. And you maysters do the like vnto them forbearing threates assuring your selues that the Lord both of them and of you is iâ— heauen that in him there is no respecting of the outward appearance of persons WEe haue seene already that besydes the generall rule which God hath giuen too all men heere are also seuerall warnings how euery man should behaue himselfe in his degree and calling And we haue seen already what the husbandes ought too bee towardes their wyues and how the wyues should behaue themselues towardes theyr husbandes what gentlenesse parentes ought too vse towardes their children and what subiection children ought too vse towardes their parentes Now Saint Paule speaketh of Maysters and Seruantes howbeeit not of such seruantes as we haue now adayes for at that tyme there were no seruantes that serued a yeere or two for wages but they were hild in bondage for lyfe and death and were in the same taking that they bee whom now adayes wee call bondslaues But wee neede not too stand any longer as now too haue further knowledge of them Yit notwithstanding wee haue great cause too prayse God for taking away of such bondage from among men For no doubt but it was too excessiue an authoritie which maysters had in those dayes ouer their seruantes They hild them as brute beastes and they had libertie too kill them for euery fault And in deede they had prisons in theyr houses to keepe them locked in the stocks they racked them they rent them in peeces and too bee short they vsed them horribly yea and euen beastly Yit notwithstanding bycause of mans naughtinesse it was our Lordes wyll that this state should bee styll suffered Moreouer wee see that euen they which are auowed too haue lyued in the feare of God and to haue excelled in his Church left not too keepe bondmen or slaues in their houses howbeeit they vsed another manner of gentlenesse towardes them than the Infidels did according as wee shall see heere in Saint Paules teaching Also there was a reason that constreyned maysters sometymes too vse the greater rigour towardes their slaues bycause it was a common prouerb among them that looke how many slaues they had so many enemyes they had and that was by reason of their holding of them in awe by extreme force and violence as those are now adayes vppon the Sea which are called Gallie slaues And I haue alredy touched what how excessiue oâ—trages were done vnto them There was a great number of those bondfolke and riche men had as it were halfe armies of them insomuch that some had fyue thousand slaues in one house and that was the way too haue ones throte cut fyue thousand tymes if there had not bin good heede taken too keepe them fettered And this came of sin as one mischeef tolleth on another vntyll things bee come too vtter confuzion But if wee consider what the ryght or authority of maysters was wee will alwayes say it was a thing vttterly ageinst all order of nature For wee bee all fashyoned after the image of God and therefore that a
leyzure let vs learne too fence our selues so afore hand with corage and constancie as wee may bee his Ambassadours whensoeuer it shall please him both in prizon and in the middes of the threatenings of enemies and in all the rages of death that can bee put ageinst vs That is the thing which wee haue too marke vppon this streyne And so let vs not bee dismayed as a number of vnconstant persons are who when they heare that a great sort are imprizoned in such a place and such a one was burnt in another place are by and by out of hart and the Gospell is no more accounted with them They that forge too themselues such stumbling blockes shewe well that they neuer had any liuely roote in fayth But contrariwyse when wee see that our Lord Iesus Christ dooth so serue himselfe by those whom he calleth too tryall by putting them intoo the handes of Tyrantes and of the enemies of his truth and yit giueth them inuincible constancie it is a goodly strengthning of our fayth and wee haue cause too bee the more inflamed For vnlesse God wrought in them it is certeyne that there should no such strenght bee seene in any man liuing Therefore wee must pray God too arme vs at our neede and therwithal to shewe vs that the doctrine of his Gospell which is of sufficient authoritie of it selfe must bee further authorized by a manner of prouision But yit must the blud of the Martirs and of such as God hath sanctified to his glory serue too that purpose bycause they bee as it were his Proctors before men Now heereuppon Paule addeth that he hath sent Tychicus too Ephesus too the intent that the Ephesians myght knowe in what state he was This also is sayd too the common edifying of the Church For whereas Saint Paule speaketh of his state and dooings he meaneth not the things that concerne his bodie or his health nor any thing else that belongeth too this present lyfe but he referreth it specially too the confession of the fayth and his free maynteyning of the Gospell Wee know that if a man bee in prison specially a man of renowme folke will bee in some care of him saying Alas will God giue him constancie And agein ▪ the diuell sleepeth not at that tyme There shall neuer any man of credit which hath edifyed Gods Church bee cast in prison or impeached but there shall some thing or other bee sowed abrode too disgrace him and too bring him as it were intoo a slaunder and all is too deface the things that God hath doone by his meane and too ouerthrowe that which he hath builded That is one of Satans policies And therefore Saint Paule knowing that men myght sowe abrode many lyes and say ho see yee I warrant yee he should not bee so long borne with at Rome specially hauing the Emperour and all the Court ageinst him except he did yeeld it may well bee sayd that his cace is not cleere And others Tush men make no account of him they see he is but a doting foole And others some one thing and some another euery man after his owne fancie Saint Paule I say perceyuing that many poore we akelings myght be hindered by him and cast intoo perpleritie and that othersome myght bee kept backe from comming too the Gospell will haue his state knowen and the diuell with all his slaunders put too the foyle and the mouthes of all backebyters stopped and lykewyse of all Colcaryers which seeke nothing but too set trubble in the Church Also for feare least they that had begun too profit in the Gospell myght bee hindered and the same an occasion too shet the gate ageinst such as were not yit come in Saint Paule intending too preuent all those respectes sayeth that he hath sent Tychicus And wee see yit better in this text what care he had alwayes too make the Churches continewe in goodnesse For he could haue alledged that he was letted ynough for himselfe and that he was ouermatched with enemyes he could haue made thē beleeue that he had had no leyzure too thinke of other folkes and that for his owne part it was ynough for him too doo his dewtie at Rome without sending here and there ouer the sea too confirme the Churches for there were a great sort of others besydes him Agein forasmuch as God had shet him vp it had bin ynough as a man would haue iudged in common opinion that he swarued not a syde euen too the death But he contenteth not him self with his only being of a faythfull witnesse and martir of our Lord Iesus Christ but he thinketh therwithall that it became him too preuent all stumbling blocks which the diuell stirred vp one way or other too defame the Gospell withall and he imployeth himself therto as wee see heere by example Now then let vs learne to serue God in such wyze euen too the laste gaspe of our lyfe as wee may haue a care of our neyghbours also and procure their welare as much as wee can accordingly as God hath bound vs thertoo And to the intent that Tychicus should be receyued he calleth him brother and faythfull minister in Christ and that is too giue him credit that men myght receyue his record And in very deede wee must iudeuer too the vttermost of our power that such as can serue the Church may bee aduaunced and men knowe what they bee and that they may haue as it were their mark so as they may haue authoritie as is requisite That is the example which Saint Paule sheweth vs For it was not for any vaynglorie or fauor of men that he commended Tychicus after that maner but his desyre was that men should know Christs faythfull minister too their owne benefyte so as he myght haue accesse too them and not be reiected as one woorth nothing but that his woord myght be receyned as it deserued Theruppon too end and knit vp his Epistle withall Saint Paule prayeth that the brethren myght haue peace loue and Fayth from God and from our Lord Iesus Christ. Now this woord Peace is commonly taken in Saint Paule for all welfare and prosperitie In deede it signifyeth properly concord but the Apostles being accustomed too the Hebrew tung haue vsed the word that importeth both And when Saint Paule sayeth Grace and peace bee giuen vntoo you by the first he wisheth Gods fauour and mercie and by the other that he should prosper vs in all goodnesse and good things Therfore in this text he sheweth that all the prosperitie of the godly commeth of Gods mere goodnesse and not from elswhere Therunto he addeth also fayth and charitie Wherin wee see that God reserueth too him self the office not only of sending vs these outward goods which wee want but also and specially of giuing vs the spiritual gifts wherof wee bee vtterly voyd and destitute Howbeit it is hard too make men beleeue it bicause they be alwayes drunkē with this pryde of