doone in that behalfe Shoulde wee not be past hope Yes indeede and why so For there shall not bee founde any liuing creature that can be iustified And what meaneth that woorde that is to saye that any man can bee founde so iuste in Gods sight None is of him selfe iust before God that thereby he can be absolued and discharged before him So then when Paul speaketh heere of the workes of the lawe it is not to this ende that the discourse which he maketh shold be restrained to the ceremonies onely but he speketh expresly as wee haue already declared of the woorkes of the lawe because that the deceiuers which at time ment to corrupt the puritie of the Gospell did alwayes alledge set out the Ceremonies Now Paul speaketh here as of the onely remedy that serueth to draw men frō condemnation as also mention is made thereof in the fifteenth Chapter of the Actes of the Apostles Act. 15.10.11 and in that place it is saide that wee cannot be iustified by all that which is conteined in the lawe of Moyses but that we must come vnto the faith of Iesus Christ In the lawe of Moyses there were washings sacrifices to be short many means to be recōciled to God by He that hath Christe and his merits hath al. But what all that was but a figure and shadowe to bryng the people to Iesus Christe It followeth then that when wee haue the satisfaction that is purchased vnto vs by Iesus Christe his death we haue all neither neede we the law to supply any thing whatsoeuer A shifting and vaine obiection answered and though we had all that it were possible to finde out of our Lorde Iesus Christe we should haue nothing at all And yet notwtstāding it should seeme that this argument or reason is not sufficient strōg enough for albeit that we be not fully iustified by the works of the law yet a man might saye that wee are in part iustified therby which if it be true we are not altogeather iustified by faith for there is in it but one part of our righteousnesse Beholde howe the Papistes are abused and deceiued for they wyll not say that wee are able without the grace of our Lorde Iesus Christe to obteine saluation that wee are able to glory and boast before God of our selues as though wee had in our selues all that which is requisite to obteine euerlasting life by Papists shiftes and subtilties they wyll not speake so but they will say that wee are sinners that there are infirmities and weakenesses in vs and that we haue in our selues manyfolde imperfections and that our Lorde Iesus Christe must of necessitie remedy and redresse them and that in the vertue of his death and passion our sinnes are pardoned but yet for all that they say that we may haue a portion of righteousnesse in vs which righteousnesse they call partiall or parted because it is as it were parted betwene god man moreouer they say that the remission and forgeuenesse which is bestowed vppon vs when we are to obteine pardon of our sinnes A most horrible blasphemie is not free but that satisfactions on our behalfe must be added thereto And this is that which hath caused them to deuise theyr Masse Trentals Diriges Pilgrimages and suche like Beholde also the fundations wherupon they builded their Purgatorie Masse Pilgrimage Purgatorie and suche baggage vpon what grounde the stand To be short we see how the Papistes wyll indeede confesse that our Lorde Iesus Christe is necessarie for them but they meane onely in parte and to supplie that with they themselues want And yet they attribute to them selues thus much that they are able to purchase fauour before GOD that they are able to merite and deserue at the leaste some part and portion of theyr saluation and that when they shall haue offended that they are able to amende and repayre the faulte and that by theyr satisfactions and works as they cal them of supererrogation Now it should seeme that this argument did fight against S. Paule Marke his sentence we are not iustified but by faith for also a man is not iustified by the woorkes of the lawe Some might reply after this maner Let vs put the case that though we be not wholy iustified by the woorkes of the law A popish and peeuish reply yet this meaneth not but that we may haue some part and portion of righteousnes therin It followeth then that wee are not altogeather saued by our Lord Iesus Christe but that this is a supply or an addition But Sainte Paule supposeth that which is true that for asmuche as GOD in forbidding to commit whoredome hath also forbidden to robbe to lie and to blaspheme and all the rest that he that faileth in one point is culpable and guiltie of the whole as S. Iames saith in the seconde Chapter Iames. 2.10 And the better to perceiue and vnderstād this we must come to the promises and to the threates of the lawe Concerning the promises Promises It is not said He that shal do some part of these things shall lyue in them Leuit. 18.5 Rom 10.5 but it is saide hee that shall doe these thinges God then requireth a sounde and full accomplishment of the lawe otherwise there is no righteousnesse And who is hee that fulfilleth the same Truely there hath not beene yet any such founde It followeth then that this promise is indeede of no force seeing that men faile in the performance of pointes put downe with the same Threates Now let vs come to the threates which shal be declared more largely here after but yet now we may in one worde see that which God pronoūceth Deu. 27.26 Galat. 3.10 Cursed be he that shall not perfourme all these things When he saith that we are cursed if wee accomplishe not all the whole lawe and doe not satisfie the least point or title and the vttermoste farthing as men say behold how Saint Paules argument is forcible and strong that is that there is no partiall righteousnesse as the Papists imagine and affirme because God will not haue his righteousnesse cut and hewen in peeces and morcels but declareth vnto vs that we are al debters and faultie because we faile and fall before him Marke then howe wee must come to our Lord Iesus christ And moreouer it is certaine that when a man shall take all that hee hath or is able to bring before GOD there is nothing in him but a curse All that man hath of himself is accursed before God For all that which the Papistes haue imagined and forged touching theyr freewyll theyr meritorious works or workes of supererrogation all that I say is nothyng else but vanitie and illusions of Satan So then in the first place wee cannot be iustified because we cannot haue of our selues so muche as one good thought And besides although God shoulde haue renued vs by
the apprehension of the grace of Christ Now there is also a quickening or a liuing death when we dye being confounded in our selues because God knoweth our iniquitie transgression and that we are scattered to bee in that life as it were condemned creatures And this is that that bringeth vs to life And this is that also which I haue saide heretofore that we shal neuer seeke after the grace and fauour of our Lord Iesus Christ tyll such tyme as we bee wounded with the iudgementes of God and that so deepely that we are not able to indure any longer neither knowe on which side to turne vs. We haue then yet nowe at the length the vnderstanding of this place that is that Saint Paule declareth Three especiall pointes of doctrine that our Lorde Iesus Christ placeth vs not in condemnation but that it is the lawe which doeth that and besides we learne that albeit we dye to the lawe when we are dead with Christ yet that notwithstanding we obteine a newe life and moreouer he declareth that this newe lyfe of ours is without our selues And in that hee fayeth In that that I nowe liue I liue not any more sayth hee my selfe but Iesus Christ liueth in me he setteth out and declareth this matter which wee ought wel to marke and hold fast for without this saying wee shall neuer purely and simply perceiue what this meaneth to bee iustified by or thorowe fayth For diuers haue deceyued them selues when they haue found these wordes that we are iustified by the doctrine of the lawe A double error for they meane when wee are iustified that our Lorde draweth vs out of the corruption in which we are and that hee reneweth vs by his spirite to the ende that we should serue him and also they declare that the good woorkes which the Christians doe are no more from the lawe but from them selues And so that indeede which seemeth to haue established and strengthened Sainct Paules doctrine doeth nothyng els but corrupt peruert and marre the same for they make this distinction A doltishe distinction that there are certayne woorkes of the lawe which are the workes that men doe of their free will and of their owne motion and accorde as where they suppose to merite and deserue And they say that men are not iustified by suche woorkes that is to say by morall woorkes and dueties as men call them but yet notwithstanding they woulde bee iustified by spirituall workes that is to say that we know that God guideth vs by his spirit But if it were so all Saint Pauls doctrine should be ouerthrowen let vs then hold fast the word which is here to be expounded that is that we liue not in our selues but in Iesus Christ that is to say that our saluation is without our selues Not that we haue not the assurance thereof in our selues for the spirite is a pledge vnto vs therof as S. Peter saith 2. Cor. 1.22 2. Cor. 5.5 Ephes 1.13.14 Rom. 8.16 we haue the seale of our adoptiō thorow the same spirite in as much as the certaintie of Gods grace is sealed vnto vs thereby And moreouer Iesus Christ dwelleth in vs who is also the matter of our saluatiō but the question is not in this place touching men what they can do wherfore let vs mark wel that the matter of our saluation is not in our selues but in Iesus Christ And that is the cause why Saint Paule sayth that wee liue not any more in our selues but in Christ A good difference betweene the hypocrites and the true faithfull for he maketh here an indirect comparison betweene the hypocrites who deceiue them selues in a vaine ouerweening of them selues and the faithfull who are altogether beaten downe and spoiled of all presumption for they that thinke they haue some dignitie and glorie and boast them selues in their merites or meritorious workes as they call them such are they that liue in them selues And why so they suppose to bring somewhat to God that may make them acceptable before him They goe not out of them selues I warraunt you A place full of great profit and comfort when they will warraunt them selues against the iudgement of God But the faithfull who are instructed to knowe what manner of men they are they condemne them selues and confesse that they are voide of all hope and trust as it were in them selues and beyng so famished and starued as it were they come to our Lorde Iesus Christ and knowe that the matter and substance of their saluation is in him Beholde then howe and after what sort wee liue no more in our selues but in Iesus Christ that is to say that we should know and confesse seeing that our Lorde Iesus Christ bringeth vs saluation that we must hold it of him alone and fetch it from none other And indeed if the death of Iesus Christ bee the satisfaction of our sinnes it followeth therevpon that we are debtters to God A most strong reason Now seeing that so it is beholde our owne righteousnes taken from vs and we spoiled of it I meane thereby the griefe and vexation that wee might conceiue by it To be short Marke these pointes well whosoeuer shall knowe and feele what is the good will of our Lorde Iesus Christ and wherefore he was sent vnto vs from God the Father and also the graces that he maketh vs partakers of by the Gospell suche a one assuredly shall knowe that his life is not in him selfe but rather that hee hath nothing in him indeed saue the matter of death and damnation Hereupon Saint Paul passeth further and sayth In that that I now liue in the flesh I liue in the faith of the sonne of God This is to ouerthrowe yet another replye that men might make for vpon that which hath bene handled A question a man might bring in and mooue a question thus what is this life you speake of and what is our saluation seeyng that we are poore miserable sinners compassed about with so many infirmities yea and that wee liue in the fleshe that is to say wee are in this worlde with bruite beastes and are nourished and susteined with corruptible foode and yet you saye still our lyfe is in Christ An answere to the question Ephes 2.6 Sainct Paule handleth this in an other place when he sayth that we are alreadie set in heauen and that wee are entred into the possession of that inheritance which is promised vs. And yet it seemeth to some that all this shoulde bee but forged and deceipt Marke then how vnder the shadow and colour that we are nowe farre remoued from God wee are polluted and defiled as Saint Peter also speaketh thereof ◠Pet. 3.1.2 It should seeme that this should be nothing but shadowes of that which is set out vnto vs in the Gospell to wit that our lyfe is in Iesus Christ and that we are partakers of all his graces
the furnace or concupiscences lusts are the walles and the Diuell kindleth them And wherefore is it that our Lorde Iesus Christe teacheth vs to pray on this fashion to God his father Leade vs not intoo temptation This altogether gainesayeth his righteousnesse True it is that at the first shewe this maner of speache seemeth harde but wee muste come too Gods secrete iudgements Gods secrete iudgements must be reuerenced which to bee short and to conclude we must adore and reuerence seeyng we can not atteyne to a full and perfect knowledge thereof for this is sufficient that we knowe in part that which belongeth to our saluation and that God reserue with him selfe the rest vntyll the last day wherein wee shal beholde him face to face 1. Cor. 13.12 Nowe we see howe God keepeth his faithfull people and euery one feeleth the same by his owne experience And wherefore is it that we stande vpright against the deuill and his assaultes It is because that we are vpholden by God for our victorie commeth from thence as I haue already saide Beholde then it is God that preserueth vs from the deuils temptations And on the other side How whom God leadeth into temptation he leadeth them into temptation whome hee hath reiected and whom he will not receiue or take into his protection and sauegard And this is the reason also Exod. 9.12 Rom. 9.18 wherefore it is often saide that God hardeneth a peruerse frowarde and obstinate harte At the first blushe and appearaunce these matters seeme straunge And also there are at this day varlets and fantasticall men who blaspheme when suche thinges are spoken and would that all this were blotted out of the holy scripture vexe them selues when we reade that God blindeth men after that he seeth that they are hardened And is it so yea indeede but that is attributed to God as to a iust Iudge As if a Iudge sit in his seate and say A familiar and plaine example Tomorowe I will cause a whoremonger to bee punished if hee amende not and yet notwithstandyng hee letteth hym goe on forewarde in his vilainie If a Iudge say so what reason is there agaynst it So then wee see that there is good reason that God stryke them with blindnes that are reprobate and reiected from him wherefore let vs not any longer thynke this petition straunge which we make to witte that God leade vs not into temptation It is true that at the first showe this goeth beyonde our capacitie and reason as I haue alreadie sayde but wee must come thus farre that Gods iudgements are bottomelesse depthes and so that God leadeth into temptatiō those whom it pleaseth him Rom. 11.33 And after what sort doth he performe this not onely because that euill proceedeth from vs but also because he condemneth them whom he hath forsaken and reiecteth them that they may be ouercome of all temptations He deliuereth them to Satan as the hangman appointed to put them to death and the executor of his iustice Euen as a Iudge hauyng pronounced his sentence against an euill doer wil deliuer him afterwards into the handes of the executioner So doeth God deale in this behalfe Behold then howe hee leadeth into temptation those that are not of the number of his children and whom hee hath not in hys guiding and gouernment And therefore let vs marke that if it pleased God to vse rigor against vs it is certaine that after hee hath taken his power from vs hee should not onely leaue vs for suche as we are but hee shoulde deliuer vs into the hands and power of Satan As it is said that he will sende strength of errour and strong delusion That word is very meet to be weighed 2. Thes 2.11 for Saint Paul saith not that he will onely giue vs ouer to the deuill that hee may abuse and deceiue vs but he sayth that he wyll sende strength of errour insomuch that he shal be able to execute his pleasure in vs by his errours and illusions so that wee shall be as it were bruite beastes The corruption of mans nature the beginning of euill And after that wee shal be so blinded in our vnderstandings he wyll drawe vs to vnruly and disordered passions and make vs doe this and that yea we shall runne after it and that so farre as wee shal be cast downe headlong And howe doeth he this It is true that the beginnyng heereof commeth from the corruption of our nature which wee bryng with vs from our mothers wombe And then there is the deuill who kindleth the fire of our lustes but whatsoeuer it be yet so it falleth out that God woorketh withall How God worketh in the deed of sinne and yet no sinne to be imputed to him not that sinne or euill should any maner of way be imputed vnto him but because that by his incomprehensible iudgements he is able to blinde these men that are not of the number of his people and of his Church and therefore it must needs be that such men shold be vnder the tyranny of the deuill that he possesse them and pull them euery way on euery side and in euery place where hee shall thinke good him selfe Now we demaund further yet The Minister What meaneth this clause which foloweth For thine is the kingdome and the power and the glorie for euer and euer The Childe To put vs againe in remembrance that our praiers be rather grounded vpon God and vpon his almightie power goodnes than vpon our selues who indeed are not woorthie to open our mouthes to call vpon him And also to teach vs to conclude and shutte vp all our prayers in the praysing of his power and goodnes The Minister When wee haue prayed vnto God that he leade vs not into temptation the meane and way is added as I haue already touched that is that he deliuer vs from euill or from the euill one For as we haue alledged out of the eight Chapter of the Gospell of Iesus Christ accordyng to Saint Iohn Iohn 8.44 if hee deliuered vs not we should alwayes remaine in this miserable bondage of his Nowe this hath beene declared in the first place that our Lorde Iesus Christ hath acquyted and discharged vs before God his father and next Rom. 5.15 Rom. 6.3.4 that he died saith Saint Paul to the end that wee might liue that hee was buryed and rose againe to the ende that wee might folowe him to the graue that is in the death of sinne in vs lastly in a better lyfe than heretofore wee haue lead But it behoueth vs daily and deepely to thinke vpon this lesson and that our Lorde Iesus Christ make vs feele the fruite of his death and resurrection Our redemption must be continuall and that hee continue to redeeme vs still to wyt out of the power of sinne and Satan Nowe when wee make this prayer wee say for conclusion for thine
Papistes who stande very muche vpon that Fable of Peters being at Rome the principall bullwarke of the Popes supremacie and that same diuelishe doctrine of mens merites tendyng to the great dishonour of almighty God and the woonderful disgrace of our sauiour Christes obedience both whiche and sundry other pointes in controuersie betwixt vs and the◠〈…〉 these speaches large◠〈…〉 â—â—â—ficientlie handl◠〈…〉 is behalfe of 〈…〉 who either 〈…〉 enough alredy 〈…〉 these pointes or else woulde 〈◊〉 them through forgetfulnesse too die out of theyr remembraunce For the first sort may easily be confuted by the pitifull practise lameÌ„table experience that the Lord hath shewed vs daily doth shew vs to the contrary a better proof we cannot haue in my poore opinion than that accursed rebellion in the North Cutbert Maines practises in the west the coÌ„tinual sending ouer of Buls and Bables besides a woonderfull number not onely of old subtil foxes and cruel wolues which lie lurking in their holes waiting for the darke night of ignoraunce and blindnes wher in they may rauine to the ful as heretofore they haue done but of young cubbes also sundry of them little aboue twentie yeeres olde a woefull thing to behold who are not ashamed priuately in corners and openly in great assemblies as â—â—r maiesties Commissioners for caâ—â— Ecclesiastical I am sure can well reporte boldly too speake for and stifly to defend after their beastly maner sundrie points and principles of that popishe religion And as for the other who woulde haue Poperie weare away without naming of it I saye that they offende doubly first in that they fight directly against nature For let a man sow what good and wholesome seedes hee can in his garden and haue not a care for the cleane keeping thereof as that it may be throughly weeded wheÌ„ the time and season requireth no doubt but that as experience also teacheth vs it wyll in shorte tyme be cleane ouergrowne become as we say a Wildernesse or Forrest if not altogeather past hope of recouery yet dangerous and chargeable to attempt the redresse thereof Secondly in that they doe not enter into a deepe consideration of the corruption of mans nature and Satans cunning in this subtill shift Iohn 3.19.20 That man is inclined to loue darkenesse and to hate the light Gen. 6. 5. Gen. 8.21 yea that he deuiseth doth all the meanes wherby he may continue therein is more plaine then needeth to stande vppon because that al the thoughts and motions of his hart are euill and that euery day yea euery houre of a day and euerye moment of an houre from his youth vpwarde And what SataÌ„ meaneth hereby they that are acquainted with the depth of his assaultes may easily perceiue to wit still to keepe meÌ„ in the possessioÌ„ of their old Idolatrie and superstition This rather resteth in my iudgement carefully to be forseene vnto and diligently to be performed that is that as the doctrine of trueth shoulde bee more often sounded into the eares and heartes of the poore ignorant people and that Romishe religion soundly with autority confuted by the Ministers and preachers of the woorde so all the Magistrates are humbly and earnestly to bee intreated and that on Gods behalfe and the peoples to drawe out the swoorde of iustice and execute the same vppon the disobedient rebellious and obstinate sort which if it might bee yet now at the length practised no doubt but it woulde somwhat delay the heate of these lusty bloodes as you would say that spare not to broch and spreade abroade deceaueable errors which the auncient among them supposed great clarkes and gray headed men dare not openly and in plaine termes aduouch for feare of some punishment and bewray the hardhartednesse cankred malice and cursed hypocrisie of that horned generatioÌ„ who then either for feare of due punishement would renounce their religion though it were but dissemblingly or else declare their want of wit and wilfulnesse in yeelding theyr bodies a sacrifice to Satan as Story Felton Maine and some other haue doone The third last reason is that I might in Christ comfort some whoÌ„ I know to be sore pressed beaten downe with the fearefull feeling of the weight of their own greeuous iniquities transgressions and so in charitie reache out my hande to helpe them what in me lyeth out of the clawes and clouches of sinne and Satan It is very true that the Authour doeth not of purpose handle in these discourses that most sweete pointe and yet notwithstanding shall the afflicted conscience finde herein many notable sentences teÌ„ding to that ende which if they bee well weighed rightly applied to the soule will no doubt be both comfortable and profitable too them coÌ„fortable in that they will serue to raise them vp in spirituall ioye and assured hope of the free pardoÌ„ and full forgiuenes of all theyr sinnes thorow Christes death and blessed obedience and profitable in this that they shal instruct them to walke with greater care conscience of perfourmaunce both of generall speciall dueties before God and their brethren than heretofore they haue done Nowe because this number is very smal for Satan and sinne hold the most part of men Captiues in senselesnes of their euill I thinke it good in this place to adde this warnyng that my meanyng is not heereby to worke carelesnes in the harts and heads of any whatsoeuer dissolute persoÌ„s who I know are ouer readie to snatch that to them selues which doeth not belong vnto theÌ„ and vnder that pretence to abuse Gods goodnes Iude. 4. and to turne his grace into wantonnes but to minister comforte of conscience rather to those that are cast downe with the true taste and feelyng of their filthinesse and the wrath of God agaynst them for the same whose case though for a whyle it be miserable in respect of theÌ„selues and lamentable and pitiful to theÌ„ that are truly touched with Christian charitie and vnfeigned good will in the Lord towardes them yet is the state of it selfe profitable because that thereby as it were by a bridle the Lorde withholdeth his from running ryote with the rest of the world and shal be in the ende assuredly comfortable because that being exercised in that schoolehouse of God and feelyng the ioy and comfort of him that is the father of mercyes and the God of all comfort 2. Cor. 1.3 â— they shall bee able not onely to comfort them selues but to comfort others also which are in any afflictioÌ„ by that comforte wherewith they them selues are comforted of hym So that so farre of should we bee from disliking either in our selues or others this feeling estate of our owne wretchednes and miserie that wee should rather esteeme of it as one of the speciallest blessings that can come vnto vs in this lyfe as whereby indeed Gods glorie is greatly magnified his mercy merueilously manifested wee oure selues rightly instructed in care
I nowe liue in the flesh I liue in the faith of the sonne of God who hath loued me and hath giuen him selfe for me 21 I doe not abolishe or take away the grace of God for if righteousnes be by the lawe Christ then is dead in vaine WE haue seene heard howe this doctryne ought to bee vnderstood to wit that we are iustified by the faith of Iesus Christ But nowe it remaineth to handle the reason that S. Paule bringeth to wit that necessitie inforceth vs to seeke this righteousnes which is giuen vnto vs thorowe the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ for if there were any other meane thereof No righteousnes to be found in any either in heauen or in earth but in Iesus Christ alone men might receiue and take it but when we knowe that after wee haue sought aboue and beneath and that we haue made our circuites and iourneyes as it were both in heauen and in earth and yet notwithstanding behold we are shut vp and that there is no righteousnes in any man lyuing thereupon we may verie well and safely conclude that we must be saued through the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ or els that we are all lost condempned This then is that wherupon S. Paul standeth at this time So this saying ought well to be weighed that the Iewes stoode in neede to obteine righteousnes through faith because that no flesh shal be iustified by the woorkes of the lawe And indeede it is certaine No way of deliuerance from Gods curse but Iesus Christ that we shall neuer come with a good affection to our Lord Iesus Christ if this be not rightly imprinted in our hartes to wit that the curse of God holdeth vs faste locked vp inclosed and that we can not any maner of way come out of it but by this meane Euen as a sicke partie when his disease presseth wringeth him and that he is not able any lōger to indure it A fit similitude well pursued and applied he will submit him selfe to the Phisition and wil binde and tye him self to receiue these things which shal be sharp bitter vnto him He that is mery maketh good cheare will not goe to seeke the Phisition when he is wel disposed to drinke and to eate and that hee findeth him selfe to haue a good appetite or stomacke euen so is it with vs None can come rightly to Christ but such as are wounded with Gods iudgements for vntill suche time as Gods iudgement haue in such sort wounded vs that we be as it were poore scattered lost people to be short that we be as it were drowned or swalowed vp in death wee will neuer come in good earnest to our Lord Iesus Christ It is true that this doctrine may well be receiued and that they which shall heare thereof will bowe their eares and hearken when some shall say to them that there is no other righteousnes but the grace of God There are verie many scoffers and iesters that allowe this but it shall not bee in trueth for there is nothing but hypocrisie and dissimulation amongest them Let vs then holde this fast that we must beginne at this ende when wee woulde knowe wherein our saluation standeth and howe so For wee must of necessitie striue to atteine that Feeling of death in our selues bringeth vs to life before God we must I say beginne at death to the ende that that may leade vs to life And this is the cause wherefore Saint Paule largely laying out the matter which wee haue to handle in this place summoneth and proceedeth against all mankinde On the one side he sheweth that though the Gentiles had not the lawe written yet that theyr conscience did suffice to condemne them and that God exercised in the same his iudgement to their condemnation Rom. 2.12.14.15 and that theyr owne very thoughtes were so many Summons to bring them before the heauenly iudgement seat to declare vnto them that they were altogeather accursed On the otherside concerning the Iewes if they woulde glory and boast in the lawe Rom. 2.1.2 that is it that doeth condemne them as S. Paule saith Thereupon he concludeth that it behoueth euery mouth to bee stopped and shut vp and that wee shoulde confesse that there is nothing in vs but confusion and shame of face and that if wee shoulde yeelde vp an accounte before God They that flatter them selues in theyr sinnes had neede to be rowsed vp wee shoulde be so muche the more drowned in dispayre And indeede because that men rocke them selues a sleepe as it were in their owne hypocrisie S. Paule doth in a maner thunder against them that iustifie themselues and flatter themselues saying Thinkest thou that God accepteth mens persons Thou presumest indeede to condemne others and who or what art thou Verily dust yet thou takest vpō thee the office of iudging and wilt needes haue this authoritie when thou thy selfe canst not be exempted frō the iudgement of God Mark then how it behooueth vs to be awaked and stirred vp that we seeke not our righteousnesse any where else nor by any other meane but onely by our Lord Iesus Christe and that we learne rightly to examime our life and not onely to goe beyonde a certaine free and willing condemnation of our selues as transgressours of the lawe and blame worthie before God Before Gods mercy can bee sweete vnto vs we must be wōderfully cast down in our selues but to bee altogeather confounded and moued with such an astonishmēt that we shoulde not knowe on which side to turne Beholde I say howe wee may geue opening and entertainement to the doctrine which is handled in this place by S. Paul And so let vs wel and rightly weigh these woordes That no flesh shal be iustified by the woorkes of the law and also let vs marke that this is it that ought to bring vs too our Lorde Iesus Christe and to the faith of the Gospel to the end that through the grace of GOD we may at the last be saued And moreouer that which some stand so much vpon touching these wordes The workes of the law as though S. Paul spake of nothing but the Ceremonies that I say hath bin in part reprooued and handled and wee haue declared that so to take the woorde is an ouerfoule folly And indeede Paule meneth no other thing in this place then that which is saide in the hundred fortie and third Psalme Psalm 143.2 when Dauid beseecheth GOD that hee woulde not enter into iudgement and accounte with him for hee addeth the reason that no man liuing shal be iustified in his sight Dauid speaketh not in that place of the woorkes of the lawe but it is to shewe that if GOD woulde exercise the office of a Iudge that then our lyfe ought to bee aunswearable thereto And to knowe wheather wee shoulde bee acceptable before him or no what shoulde bee
is it sinne is discouered by the lawe and after that sorte indeede it killeth vs. The lawe bringeth and offereth vnto vs a doctrine of life as Moyses also protesteth and witnesseth saying 2. Cor. 3.7 Beholde life and yet Saint Paul saith that it bringeth nothing but death Yea indeede but that is by reason of our faulte The Lawe then killeth vs not by it selfe but by circumstaunce because it is vnto vs as a glasse to cause vs to beholde our owne condemnation Nowe pursuing his purpose hee sayth that when the lawe condemneth vs not Rom. 7.8.9 it is as it were dead For sin sayth he lyueth not when the law is dead And yet this shoulde be darke if it should not be opened and declared When he saith that sinne liueth not when the lawe is dead it is to shew that mē are negligent and carelesse and that they rocke themselues a sleepe in vaine flatteries and deceipts so long as they are not reprooued by the lawe The preaching of the law most necessarie specially for these dayes wherein men are growen to lewdnesse of conscience Behold then sinne which is dead when the lawe is blotted out or defaced that is to say so long as men doe not examine them selues by Gods lawe and according to that which he cōmaundeth and call not themselues to an account to knowe whether they dutifully behaue themselues or no they forget themselues and enter not deeply into thē selues For this must stande true that so long as they are not carefull and watchfull theyr conscience is senselesse void of feeling And after this maner is it the lawe being dead maketh sinne also to die But doeth the lawe liue Howe the lawe is said to liue That is to say hath the lawe her force and power to summon vs before God to cause vs to seeke what manner of men we are to the end that we should not flatter our selues Then behold sinne which is as it were raised vp againe where as before wee made no accompt of it yea it maketh warre against vs and persecuteth vs so farre that we are brought to all extremitie But then we die saith Saint Paul Rom. 7.9 for hee addeth I was aliue without the lawe In saying that hee was aliue hee meaneth it not of a common life but that he was saued for this worde life is put and vsed for righteousnes and saluation I liued saith hee that is I thought my selfe to bee iustified and to bee accepted before God and to haue obteined euerlasting life And why so We are not in the best state when wee so thinke our selues neither are we in the worst when God maketh vs see our vilenes and iniquitie because hee had cast the law verie farre away But when the law once had her course I thought well vpon it I said alas am I not conuicted and vanquished Doe I not nowe know what manner of man I am Can I nowe esteeme my selfe innocent No verely for so farre off is it that I can do so that I finde within my selfe a bottomlesse depth of sinne So then when I knewe the lawe the lawe slue me And this is that which the Apostle now meaneth when he sayth that it is by the lawe that he is dead Nowe to dye to the lawe may be taken after two sortes as sometymes it is taken for iudgement because that then wee can perceiue nothing but damnation And also wee may take these wordes to dye to the lawe in this sense as not to come nigh to it nor to haue any thing to do therwith A good lesson for ministers to teach them to haue care both what they speake and how they speak for S. Paul absteined as muche as was possible for him from making his doctrine odious hatefull among the Iewes If he had said I am dead it had not bene right But when he sayth I am dead to the lawe that importeth that we are no more any thyng at all and that we finde not in it any matter of ioy Nowe he sayth that this is by the lawe and not by Christ we see how he turneth away this slander Ho our iniquitie is vncouered it followeth then that Christ bringeth and manifesteth sinne Many men say that this commeth from Iesus Christ and not from the lawe but we may see the contrary for if the lawe be dead it foloweth that we also die with it because wee are condemned in Gods sight we see that all the promises that are conteined therein cannot make vs glad and reioyce wee see that in steade of being accepted of God we are accursed and altogether confounded Seeing then that so it is that the law The lawe and not the Gospel condemneth when Christ appeareth not killeth vs and inforceth vs to dye with it we will not nor we cannot impute that to the grace of God and to the faith of the Gospell but wee will rather impute it to that which the lawe saith vnto vs we shal be iustified and we shall obteine saluation when we shall haue accomplished all that which it sheweth vs teacheth vs. For looke how much more high the lawe lifteth vs vp so muche the more shal we fall into most deepe pittes and whirlepooles wherfore we are farre remoued from this righteousnes of faith by the lawe we died then to the lawe The promises of the law haue a condition adioyned in as much as God adioyneth this condition to all the promises thereof to witte that if we keepe it and doe according to that which he saieth vnto vs therein wee shal be recompenced Nowe beholde all we are dead and lost And why so for this is not sufficient that God speake but we must looke to the conditions as whether we be answerable to that which he commaundeth vs and then we shal finde that we goe altogether a contrarie course or backward as it were It foloweth then that when hee shall haue shewed vs the way we shall behold our selues accursed condemned and plunged in the bottomlesse pitte of hell Nowe we haue the true sense and vnderstanding of this place But hee addeth afterwardes the meane that is that hee hath beene deade with Christ but with all hee immediatly giueth vnto vs the doctrine that was to the ende he might liue to God He sheweth then This is a liuing death and a dead lyfe that there is a liuing death as there is also a dead life The life that he calleth deade is that false presumption with which men deceiue them selues when they imagine that they are iust and righteous before God They liue but it is in their owne fantasie and that life is nothing els but dead for because they seeke not the mercy of God that is the reason why they suffer them selues to go wholie to destruction To know that God knoweth our sinnes and to haue a sensible feeling of his iudgements for them is the readie way to come to