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A01725 Foure sermons vpon seuerall partes of scripture, preached by George Gyffard, preacher of the worde, at Maudlin in Essex Gifford, George, d. 1620. 1598 (1598) STC 11859; ESTC S117695 68,936 149

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to cōdemne vs. Seeing then that as by the disobediēce of Adam many were made sinners so by the obedience of Christ many are made righteous Why came the lawe To this Saint Paul answereth that the lawe entred that sinne might abounde but where sinne abounded there grace hath superabounded The greater the sinne was the more plenteous was the grace of God in Christ in taking it away That as sinne had raigned vnto death so grace should raigne through righteousnes vnto life eternall by Iesus Christ Then the more that sinne abounded the greater is the riches of the grace of God in Christ that doth pardon it and so the greater is the praise and glorie of God All this is true Now hereupon the wisedome of the flesh doth argue thus If the more the sinne be increased the greater is the glorie of God in pardoning it then is it good for those which beleeue in Christe to continue still in sinne to commit all abundance of sinne that so God may haue the greater glorie This is a pleasant doctrine to mans corrupt nature and much followed in all places for albeit you shall not heare many vse the same words which S. Paule setteth downe to bolden themselues to continue in sinne yet marke i● well and you shall perceiue that there is the same reason in effect Great multitudes as you knowe doe professe Christ and they say they looke to haue all their sinnes forgiuen only be his death and bloudshedding Look vpon then liues and you shall finde that the greatest pa●● are euē ouerwhelmed and lie as it were drowned in all manner of vncleane and abominable vices Deale particularly with any one and say but thus vnto him These foule sinnes which you continue in and daylie commit are such as God doeth threaten vengeance against will he not answere I know they be grieuous sins but I hope to haue them al forgiuē me through the bloud of Iesus Christ yea are there not many which will say I hope I shall call for mercie and pardon at the last This is the doctrine of the holy Ghost the grace of God which bringeth saluation hath appeared vnto all men teaching vs to denie vngodlines worldly lustes and to liue soberly iustly and godly in this present world Tit. 2. ver 11.12 Behold how contrary to the doctrine of GOD such men be He saith that the grace giuē vs in Christ doth teach vs to deny all wicked waies and to liue a godly ●●fer and they say because there is pardon in Christ we will continue still in our wickednes and ●all for mercy at the last Al such men doth the holy Apostle heere quite cut downe pro●●●g indeed that they haue no part in Christ they doe but deceiue themselues Also he doth heere meete with the Papistes which are enimies to the crosse of Christ and can by no meanes indure to heare that we haue our iustification only in Christ but they will haue mens owne good works and merites to iustifie them before God And thus they cry out against vs you open a gappe vnto all loosenes and licentiousnes of life you destroy all zeale and care of good works when you teach that men are iustified onely by faith in Christ for if a man shall haue all his sinnes forgiuen by the grace of Christ what wil he eare what sinnes he commit Also if a man shall be made righteous only by grace in Christ and not by his own good deedes who will care to doe anie This also I say doth S. Paul here meete withal shewing and proouing by strong reasons that all they which haue a true faith in Christ and so haue al their sinnes forgiuen by his bloude and haue also his obedience imputed vnto them and be fully iustified cannot but liue a godly life Iustification in Christ and true sanctification cannot be parted asunder first therefore propounding the question Shall we continue still in s●●● that grace may abound he reiecteth it with detestation saying God forbid as if he should say It is a thinge that ought not to enter into our thoughts And then he propoundeth the first reason in these words How shall we that are dead to sinne yet liue therein This is a principle in the light of natural reason so that if a man haue not lost the common vnderstanding he cannot deny it We all doe know that contraries cannot be together in the same subiect at one time in the same part and in the same respect but the one necessarily doth exclude the other and if the one be it is vnpossible that the other should also be And that is the cause why S. Paule saith How can we which are dead to sinne yet liue therein As much as to say it is vnpossible for to be aliue to sinne and to be dead to sinne at the same time which are so flat and perfect contraries cannot be He that is aliue is not dead and he that is dead is not aliue Thus now the matter standeth wee that is all true Christians are dead to sinne howe can wee then liue to sinne And so if it bee vnpossible for a man which is a right Christian and therefore dead to sinne yet to liue in it how should wee continue still in sinne that grace may abounde Well may some man say This is a cleare case that such contraries as these to be aliue and to be dead cannot stand together but how shall th●● appeare that a true Christian of necessitie is dead to sinn● for S. Paule hath but affirmed that we are de●d to sinne and therefore in the 〈◊〉 words he proueth it for the death to sinne being proued the life to sinne is thereby of necessity excluded Knowe ye not sayth he that all wee which haue beene baptized into Iesus Christ haue beene baptized into his death Loe heere is his proofe and this is a plaine a strong and an inuincible demonstration that euery true christian is deade to sinne and so by consequence cannot possibly be aliue to sinne It is drawen from the vse of Baptisme or from that which Baptisme doth represent vnto vs. It representeth that we are ingrafted into Christ therefore he saith Knowe you not that wee which haue bene baptized into Iesus Christ Beeing then baptized into Christ the holie Baptisme doth represent vnto vs that wee are washed in his bloude and so haue the free remission of our sins but also that in him wee haue the new the spirituall and the heauenly birth Now the death of Christ is as it were the fountaine of this regeneration therefore the Apostle putteth vs in minde that wee are baptized into the death of Christ He that is baptized must remēber that hee is baptized into Christ crucified and therefore into the death of Christ To what end then was the death of Christ Not onely to make satisfaction for sinnes but also to destroy and vtterly to abolish s●nne in his mistical bodie which is the Church 〈◊〉 Iohn
also liue with him 9 Knowing that Christ being raysed from the dead dieth no more death hath no more dominion ouer him 10 For in that he dyed he dyed once to sinne but in that he liueth he liueth to God 11 Likewise thinke yee also that yee are deade to sinne but are aliue to God in Iesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sinne raigne therefore in your mortall body that you should obey it in the lustes thereof 13 Neither giue yee your members as weapons of vnrighteousnesse vnto sinne but giue your selues vnto God as they that are aliue from the deade and giue your members as weapons of righteousnesse to God 14 For sinne shall not haue dominion ouer you for yee are not vnder the law but vnder grace IN the former part of this Epistle frō the 16. verse of the first Chapter vnto the ende of the fift S. Paul hath disputed of iustificatiō and now in the beginning of this sixt Chapter he entereth into a discourse touching sanctification These be two principall pointes of doctrine most necessarie for all Christians to be well instructed and grounded in I suppose that some doe not vnderstand the difference betweene iustification and sanctification it is requisite therfore that I touch that first Christ as the Apostle saith Is our righteousnesse and our sanctification 1. Cor. 1. ver 30. Our righteousnes is our iustification so that by that Scripture it is euident that iustification and sanctification be two seuerall things In deede the Papistes doe confound them or make them both one while they make our sanctification or righteousnesse inhaerent to be our iustification To bee iustified is to be made righteous from al guiltinesse of sinne and so to be acquite and cleared from the curse and penaltie thereof To bee sanctified is to be drawne out of the yoke and bondage of sinne and sinfull lustes to the seruice of God in true holines But this is not enough to make it cleare vnto euery mans vnderstanding what the difference is betweene them I must therefore speake further in this matter First therefore concerning iustification S. Paul before in this Epistle calleth it the righteousnesse of God and saith it is reuealed in the Gospell from faith to faith Chapter 1. verse 17. And then sheweth that all men both Iewes Gentiles are of themselues grieuous sinners voide of righteousnesse The true belieuers are iustified or made righteous in Christ So the righteousnesse of God is that righteousnesse which God giueth vnto vs in Christ which is called the righteousnesse of faith because faith doeth apprehend it Chapter 3. ver 21.22 Wee may also say that it consisteth of two partes the one is the free forgiuenesse of sins through Christes bloud euen of grace Chapter 3. ver 24.25 For vntill there bee a satisfaction for sinne and so the guiltinesse thereof purged away there can be none iust before God Then further the other part is this wee are bounde to keepe the whole law which we breake and Christ in our nature hath perfectly fulfilled it and his obedience is imputed to those that do beleue in him wherefore hee saith as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many also bee made righteous Chapter 5. ver 19. Thus may we see what iustification is euen the purging away of all our sins and of all spot of sinne by Christes bloud and the imputation of his obedience in fulfilling the lawe Thus al that belieue are made righteous in Christe This is it which he writeth in another place saying he made him to be sinne for vs which knew no sinne that we in him might bee made the righteousnesse of God 2. Cor. 5. ver 21. Then sanctification is that which is called the newe birth repentance the putting off the old man and the putting on the newe The mortifying and putting off sinne and all sinfull lustes of the flesh the walking in the vertues of the spirit This is also called righteousnes it is the righteousnesse in Here●● o● that doth stick in the faithful the righteousnesse which consisteth in the godly deedes of men Of this the holy Apostle in the fi● Chapters disputeth at large And the summe of this matter is this that iustification in Christ and sanctification doe goe inseperable together There is no man which hath his sinnes pardoned by the bloud of Christ and that hath the obedience of Christ reckoned to be his but he hath also the grace of sanctification he hath vnfained repentance he renounceth vice and followeth vertue Manie doe parte these two asunder for they doe verie willinglie hearken to this that Christ hath by his bloud made satisfaction for our sinnes and that we in his obedience shall bee made righteous before God this is comfortable but when they heare that he hath redeemed vs that wee should denie our selues forsake our sinful lusts and leade a godlie life according to the rules of his holy will that is sower and vnpleasant Let such giue eare vnto S. Paul for hee dooth by two arguments in this Chapter which are drawen euen from two principles in reason proue that whosoeuer is not sanctified in Christ he is not iustified in him he may imagine that his sinnes shall be forgiuen him but they shall not a matter of verie great waight● let vs then come vnto it What shall wee say then faith S. Paul Shall wee continue still in sinne that grace may abound Here is the whole question here is the state of th●●●sse which is to be decided The wordes of themselues are so plaine that they neede no opening but onely in this to see how this question is made or dependeth vpon some matter vttred in the former Chapter You may see there how the Apostle at the 12. verse entreth into a comparison betweene Adam and Christ which are as two stockes or fountaines from the one that is from Adam there hath sprung and flowed sinne and death ouer all men from the other that is Christ there springeth and floweth righteousnesse and life Herein they be like that both of thē doe make those which are theirs partakers of that which they haue But herein they be vnlike that Adam deriueth sinne and that vnto death into all them that are his euen into all his posteritie by nature or by a naturall propagation for they haue all sinned in him Christ bestoweth his righteousnesse vpon those which be his vnto life eternal by grace by a free gift they haue it not as Adams children haue their sinne from him by a naturall spreading but by imputation Also there be other differences as namelie all are made guiltie and cast downe by one offence of Adam but Christ by his righteousnesse freely giuen vnto vs doth not onely absolue vs frō that one offcnee but from all other sinnes which we haue committed And the righteousnesse of Christe imputed by grace is of greater power to saue vs then the sinne of Adam was for
heauenly and glorious life then wee that die to sinne with him must needes be raised vp also with him into the partaking of that spirituall and heauenly life As the killing and burying of sinne is called the putting off the olde man so this rising with Christ vnto new of life is called the putting on of the new man This is to walke in true holynes Seeing all this is thus I pray you how can hee be a true Christian that doth continue in sinne Shall wee continue still in sinne that grace may abound You see it manifest that a true Christian is so farre off from continuing in sinne that contrariwise he doth walke in newnesse of life This Saint Paul doth further examplifie in the verses that follow namelie that all they which die with Christ vnto sinne must needes also rise with him vnto the partaking of the newe life and further that being once raised vp from the death of sinne into that life of righteousnes they neuer returne backe againe to liue vnto sinne Touching the former of these for to expresse it hee vseth a similitude taken from a plant If saith he we be grafted to the similitude of his death euen so shall wee be to the similitude of his resurrection Thus it is in the naturall plant as we also doe knowe that when the siences are grafted into a stocke and that is digged into the ground if the stocke die they die with it and if the stocke doe growe and spring vp they doe growe and spring vp with it Euen so the holie Apostle teacheth that a man being by faith grafted into Christ as he is grafted and doth grow to him by a mysticall and spirituall vnion to die with him that is as Christ died to slay sinne so he dyeth to sinne or sinne by the power of Christes death is slain in him likewise he is grafted vnto the similitude of his resurrection that is he receiueth the sappe of life from Christ as from the stocke into which he is grafted and so doth liue and grow vp by him Then you see by the doctrine of the holy Apostle that from the neere coniunction which the faithfull haue with Christ these two thinges goe inseperablie together the dying to sinne and the rising to the newe life euen the life of righteousnesse For how should a man be in Christ and seperate these As a man cannot haue iustification except hee be in Christ Iesus and if he be in him he must needes with it bee partaker of the grace and power of sanctification so also if he be partaker of the one parte of sanctification he can not be voide of the other If he be dead and buried with Christ he shall also rise with him Whereby this is manifest that where holie life appeareth not in a man there sinne is not slaine for where there is a death and a buriall of sinne there must needes be a resurrection vnto a new life All they then are in the bondage of their sinnes which are not by the resurrection of Christ quickned vnto a new life euen to walke in the vertues of him that calleth vs. What shall wee say vnto those also which will seeme to haue the latter without the former They would seeme to be verie riche and plenteous in good workes and so to liue vnto righteousnesse but looke vpon their life and examine it by the rules of the holie worde of God and you shall behodle great and grieuous vices that raigne in them As those other which make no shewe of good workes are awrie when they imagine that they haue parte in the death of Christ and yet they are not partakers of his resurrection because they haue no holy life so these are vtterly deceiued which will seeme to be risen with Christ vnto an holie life and yet were neuer dead and buryed with him In deede they cannot be raised vnto the life of righteousnesse vnlesse they haue first died vnto sinne Will they be grafted to the similitude of Christes resurrection and haue not bene grafted with him to the similitude of his death What then are all those good workes which they worke that together with those good workes doe mingle so many bad vices all their life long Surely their good deedes are euen such as the almes fasting and prayers of the Pharisies which Christ doth reproue Mat. 6. Take this for a most vndoubted truth that there is no holy life but from the vertue of Christs resurrection There is no partaking of the true life of God and consequently not of any action of that true life but from hence that a man be grafted with Christ to the similitude of his resurrection And therefore all the good deeds which men doe that haue not sin first slaine in them proceed but of vain-glory selfe-loue or from other such sinister respects What is it when a prophane dispiser of Gods word an horrible abuser of Gods name by swearing a couetous a proude and an hawty person or an idolater doth almes deeds The poore indeede are relieued by it but they doe not any thing that is good before God And now touching the words that follow Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sinne might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serue sinne for he that is dead is freed frō sinne This being so notable a matter touching our ingrafting into Christ and growing together with him to the similitude of his death and resurrectiō the Apostle doth yet lay it open further and so cōmeth to that other pointe which I noted of not returning backe again from the life of righteousnes to liue vnto sin But heere now the speeches which are vsed be very effectuall to expresse to open vnto vs this whole matter As the olde man crucified the bodie of sinne abolished and the seruice of sinne from which we are freed First what is it which hee calleth our old man This you must vnderstand or else you shall not attaine to the doctrine of the Apostle It is neyther the essence of our soule nor body which is called the old man but the corrupt qualities As also the new man is in the pure vncorrupted qualities as whē we are willed to put off the old man and to put on the new man it is a speech borrowed from the putting off and on of garments for the putting off the old man is as the putting off a most filthy garment the putting on the new man is as the putting on of a pure and clean garment Then further we must note why it is called a man our old man and that is because the filthy corruption hath by nature ouerspread all parts of man both within and without All the powers and faculties of the soule and all the partes of the body are defiled so that there is nothing pure in man as he is in himselfe by nature The power and dominion of sinne hath gotten the mastery ouer all that
what spirit this is which is ioined with the water the bloud as a witnes vpon earth Is it not the holy Ghost one of the three witnesses from heauen This is out of all doubt controuersie that he speaketh againe of the holy Ghost The spirite then is a double witnes he is one of the three from heauen and hee is one of the three vpon earth If any shall demaund how can this bee Let them know that the holy ghost doth two waies beare witnes of Christ first together with the father and the sonne from heauen in the highest authority of the Diuine Maiestie hee did beare recorde of Christ and confirmed his doctrine which he had taught with signes and wonders and manifold gifts And then by his worke and grace in the hearts of men when he lighteneth them and applyeth vnto them the efficacie of the death and resurrection of Christ Let it not seeme strange then that the holy Ghost is brought in as a double witnes first as one of the three from heauen and then as one of the three in earth that is in the hearts of men for if there were no more but the testimony of those three from heauē Christ should not profite vs at al because we are not capable of our selues and therefore the holy Ghost also as a witnes in earth applyeth vnto our hearts the power of the water the bloud by which Christ came that is the sanctifying and satisfying power of his death for he sprinckleth the harts of the beleeuers with the bloud of Christ The water the bloud and the spirite then witnes one thing in the heart euen that the whole satisfaction for sinne and al true holines is from Christ crucified Hereby we may perceiue that the efficacie and power of Christs bloud in vs is a witnes vnto vs of a true and liuely faith and so of eternall life because the Spirite and the water and the bloude beare witnesse in earth Then he proceedeth to set forth the stablenes of the credite of these witnesses which he doth by a comparison saying If we receiue the witnes of men the witnes of God is greater This is grounded vpon a cleare principle which none can deny for God in stedfast truth far exceeds men We giue credite to a matter when two or three men which are reputed honest doe vpon their solemne oath affirme that they did heare or see it done if other mē make doubt whē such as they haue sworne they hold thēselues much iniured for shal we not receiue or giue credite to the testimony of honest men vpō their oths How much more iniurie doe we to the God of all truth whose witnes is greater then the witnes of all men when we do not giue credite to the witnes which hee witnesseth of his Sonne For the testimony of God is that which he hath witnessed of his son I neede not stand to open this for it is meere brutishnes not to yeelde vnto it And here I pray you beholde againe the great and horrible wickednes and filthy blasphemy of the Pope and his shauelings which would make the testimony of men yea euen the testimony of themselues being wicked men greater then the testimony of God For what is the testimony of God by which he doth beare record of his sonne but his written word deliuered vnto vs by the Apostles Prophets And where can wee haue the testimony which God witnesseth of his son but in those sacred Bookes Search the Scriptures saith Christ for they beare record of mee Iohn 5. Now when the Papists do affirme that the Scriptures haue no authority nor credite vnto vs but as their Pope and they do giue it or commende them to bee beleeued what doe they but set the witnes of men aboue the witnes of God I will not stand here to rehearse at large but euen a little touch some of the vile and execrable speeches of those foule mouthed Papists which to hold vp the Popish religion deface the cleare testimony of God in the Scriptures which are flat against them for beeing pressed with the manifest voice and testimony of God in his worde they cry out there is no certainty in the Scriptures they be like a nose of waxe which you may turne which way you will they be a dead letter and a dumbe Iudge and but that the Church commendeth them no more credite were to be giuen to the Scripture then to Aesopes Fables O most vile wretches shall the testimony of God which is greater then the testimony of men haue no force but as it receiueth from them And then he addeth Hee that beleeueth in that son of God hath the witnes in himselfe As he spake of the greatnes of the testimony of the Father the word and the holy ghost which is from heauen in the former verse so now he sheweth that who soeuer beleeueth that testimony from heauen hath the testimony of the three witnesses which beare recorde in earth within him What is that this it is he that doth beleeue the witnes that GOD beareth of his sonne the witnes that Christ beareth of himselfe and which the holy Ghost hath also witnessed which is all indeede but one testimony the same hath the witnes also of the Spirite of the water and of the bloud within him Marke then how these sixe witnesses doe meete together to assure vs of one and the selfe same thing euen this that God hath giuen vnto vs eternall life and that the same life is in his Sonne For when the spirite of adoption as S. Paule calleth him Rom. 8. beareth witnes with the spirite of a man that he is the sonne of God he doth it by making him feele the efficacie of the water bloud by which Christ came that is the efficacie of his death and resurrection in satisfaction for his sinnes and in sanctification Euerie one then which beleeueth aright hath the spirite of God in him the liuely power of Christ crucified which do witnes vnto him that through Christ he is made the childe of God and shall be saued From hence we may learne what the nature of the true liuelie and iustifying faith is and whereby it is distinguished or discerned from the historicall and dead faith for if a man doe assent and beleeue that all those things are true which the father the Sonne and the holy Ghost haue testified of Christ in the scriptures and yet bee voide of the spirite and power of Christ vnto sanctification as many that are euen learned men are it is a manifest declaration that his faith is but a dead faith and not that which S. Iohn speaketh of here when hee saith He that belieueth hath the witnesse in him selfe And it followeth hee that belieueth not God hath made him a lyer because he belieueth not the record that God witnesseth of his Sonne as I noted before Men which are reputed honest if they testifie vpon their oath in a matter
Can any thing be more plaine then this do you not marke the reason Such as will not heare the Lord calling so earnestly to them offring so great kindnes he will not regard nor heare them when in their distresse they shall cry vnto him In the 28. chapter of the Prou. ver 9. it is written He that turneth away his ear● f●● hearing the lawe euen his prayer shall be abominable Is not this a most fearefull thing Is not thi● the same also in effect with that which is hee●● spoken of Esau Then the doctrine is generall Let euery man then take heed to it God does● now offer vnto vs grace hee hath sent vnto vs the word of reconciliation he openeth vnto vs the heauens calleth vs with an holy calling then take heede wee be not so prophane a●●o set light by it for if we doe it may be that we shall afterwardes seeke it with teares and yet misse thereof Men cannot beleeue this therfore they liue dissolutely trusting that at their end they shall call to God for grace and so obtaine pardon O poore wretches if their prayer it selfe then be abominable wher is their help what shall become of them I pray you le● 〈◊〉 repeat it againe The Lord God doth call vpon men to turne vnto him from their wicked and sinfull wayes he promiseth to become their father as it is written in the Prophet and alleadged by the Apostle 2. Cor. 6. ver 17.18 Therefore come out frō among them saith the Lord and separate your selues and touch no vnclea● thing and I will receiue you and I wil be you father and you shall be my sonnes and daughters saith the Lord God almighty and beeing sonnes they bee the heyres of God and fellow heires with Christ Rom. 8. Nowe while this dignitie and glory is propounded and set before them men prophanelie dispise the same they doe more esteeme a messe of pottage they satisfie their vaine lustes and carnall appetites they haue all threatnings in derision they will repent and cal for grace when age or sicknes shall take holde of them they hope to do euen as well then as the godliest of them all that liue vpon the earth Thus with Esau they fall to their pottage what care they for the birth-right Well sicknes comes terror of conscience ariseth from the sight remembrance of their sins in which they haue walked they must now come before the high Iudge they wish now that they had neuer committed such abominable and filthy vices where is their refuge onely in prayer They cry out with feare with horror and with teares And where are they then if this their prayer be abominable to God Ye see the place which I alleaged Prou. 28. Which telleth vs so They crie and call now vnto Christ and he doth mocke them and laugh at their destruction as he saith hee will Prou. 1. Doe you not see now what a wofull case these prophane men are in which now dispise the grace of God that the prayer and the repentance which they trust vnto is abominable This is hard will some man say For doe not they esteeme highly of Gods blessings which weepe and crie to haue it Againe doth not the Scripture teach that God will forgiue at what time soeuer a sinner doth repent hi●● of his sinne Shall we say that they doe not repent which crie with teares to GOD for mercie To this I answere that Esau woulde faine haue had the blessing at the last but that doth not argue but that he was prophane Who is i● that woulde not willingly be saued Or who 〈◊〉 so prophane but that he would bee glad to escape from the damnation of hell And touching their crying with teares it is not true repentance no more then that in Esau He wep● not for any detestation of his prophanesse b●● because he had lost the blessing Euen so these doe weepe and crie out not that they loath and hate the sinne by which they haue dishonoured GOD and defiled themselues but because their conscience doeth terrifie them with the losse of heauen and with th● feare and horror of hell O beloued learne to knowe true repentance least we bee seduced and caried awrie to destruction It will bee obiected further that the holy Scriptures doe testifie how some haue repented at their ende and haue beene saued as for example the theefe vppon the crosse And Christ in the Parable of the man that hired labourers into his Vineyarde doeth teach that some come at the eleauenth hower Most true it is that God alwayes hath and doth conuert some euen towarde the ende of their life when as they haue spent a long time in wickednesse for thereby the Lorde doth declare the riches of his mercie drawing men euen out of hell which of themselues would neuer haue returned But shall euerie man therefore presume that God will doe the same to him He doth open the eyes of some giuing them faith and repentance which haue liued in blindnesse and ignoraunce al their life will he therefore heare thee which hast for a great part of thy life yea it may bee euen from thine infancie beene taught and hast dispised the grace of GOD boldning thy selfe in sinfull wayes and saying thou wilt cal for mercie and pardon at thine ende Yea thou sayest that thou hast knowne many which haue liued verie wickedly which haue made as good an ende as the godliest calling euen to their last breath for mercie and for pardon Well Esau trust not to such kinde of repentance thinke not that such must needs be saued because they weepe and cry for pardon but heare what Christ hath spoken Ma●●●e the seauenth Not euerie one that sayth vnto me Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdome of heauen but hee that doth the will of my 〈◊〉 which is in heauen Turne turne and doe the will of God while thou hast time 〈◊〉 godly life that so thou mayest ma●e a godly and a happie ende Let vs call vpon God for this wisedome and grace The end of the third Sermon THE FOVRTH Sermon Romanes 6. 1 What shall we saye then shall we continue still in sin that grace may abound God forbid 2 How shall we that are dead to sin yet liue therein 3 Know yee not that all we which haue beene baptized into Iesus Christ haue beene baptised into his death 4 We are buried then with him by baptisme into his death that like as Christ was raised vp from the dead by the glorie of the Father so we should walke in newnesse of life 5 For if we bee grafted with him to the similitude of his death euen so shall we be to the similitude of his resurrection 6 Knowing this that our olde man is crucified with him that the body of sinne might bee destroyed that henceforth we should not serue sinne 7 For he that is dead is freed from sinne 8 Wherefore if we be dead with Christ we belieue that we shall