And therefore when wee stand in neede of any thing that is requisite eyther for the present lyfe or for the heauenly lyfe eyther for our bodyes or for our soules there is no running too S. Peter nor too S. Paule but wee must go streyght to our Lord Iesus Christ. Marke that for one poynt Secondly also let vs lerne too suffer our selues too bee ruled and too bee hild in awe by the hand of our Lord Iesus Christ that therby wee may shewe our selues too bee trew members of his bodie And he cannot bee our head but he must needes therwithall bee our Shepherd too and haue all authoritie ouer vs But lyke as I told you that the diuell hath labored too deface the glorie of Gods only sonne vnder the pretence of Angells so on the othersyde he hath sent vs an ydole intoo the world too bee a barre in our way that Iesus Christ myght bee as it were separated from vs For the Pope is not ashamed too spew out this blasphemie that the Chruch should bee but a headlesse bodie if he himselfe reygned not ouer it ne had the vniuersall dominion of it so as euery man looked at him and his seate were aboue the whole world And that is as much as if he should say that Iesus Christ hath no more too doo here but ought too hold him contented with heauen and let his successor alone too rule in his stead But herein wee see how he â—uershoots himselfe to abolishe the whole souereintie of the sonne of god So much the more therefore doth it stand vs on hand too beare well this Text in mynd wherein S. Paule sayeth that Iesus Christ is appoynted too bee head of the Churche aboue all things It is trew that the Pope will affirme himselfe too bee but as an vnderhead and therefore that Iesus Christ is not thrust out of his place But let vs looke backe too that which I haue touched alreadie which is that Iesus Christ will haue no imaginatiue title but will haue his power reserued vntoo him which belongeth vntoo him For a head requireth not onely too bee set hyghest but also too haue all men too receyue all things from him and it behoueth vs all too vnderstand and that he is the very roote of our life and the fountayne from whence it behoueth vs too draw notwithstanding that he send foorth his spirituall benefits and goods among vs by such chanels or â—undits as he thinks good Thus yee see what wee haue yit further briefly too beare in mynd This matter is layd foorth more at large in the first Chapter too the Colossians For S. Paule sheweth there that our Lord Iesus Christ was appoynted too bee the head euen from the beginning of the world forsomuchas all things were created in him and not alonly forsomuchas he is our redeemer at this day For put the cace that Adam had not falne intoo the ruine wherintoo he hath drawen vs with him yit had Gods sonne bin alwayes still as the first borne of al creatures Not that he himselfe is a creature but bycause he is the foundation according also as S. Paule addeth the reason thereof which is that in him the Angels were created and in him they haue their being or abiding Yee see then that the sonne of God should not haue ceassed to haue had all preheminence both aboue and beneath though wee had not falne with our father Adam intoo such confuzion as wee bee in But now our Lord Iesus Christ must bee our head after another manner that is too wit too make vs at one agein with God his father aud too gather vs toogither agein vntoo him from whom wee were estraunged by sinne so as he was our deadly enemie til we were brought in fauour agein by meanes of Iesus Christ by forgiuing vs our sinnes And besides this S. Paule declareth in the same Text that Iesus Christ was ordeyned head of the Churche too the end that all fulnesse should bee in him Thus wee see how wee ought too be knit with the Angels with the auncient fathers and with the Prophets with condition that our Lord Iesus Christ must neuerthelesse not onely continew the first and chiefe but also haue all things referred vntoo him and wee communicate in such wise toogither that euery of vs keepe his place and bee all members of one body and that there bee no mo heads thereof but onely one For if we adde any fellowe to Iesus Christ it is a bereeuing him of the thing that God his father hath giuen too him alone Let vs bee contented that he maketh vs partakers of all his benefits vppon condicion that wee acknowledge all things too come from him and seeke all things in him For in the fiue and fortith Psalme it is well shewed that we are al of vs fellowes with Iesus Christ and that we receyue some portion of all the good things that were giuen vntoo him But yit for all that it is not too bee sayd that he is fellowe and fellowelyke with vs and that he cannot bee discerned from his Apostles as the papists prate in their peuish prouerbe but it is too the end that wee should knowe that none of all the good thinges which wee can wishe are farre from vs but that they bee offered vs by him and that he is so liberall that he desyreth nothing else at our hands but that we should receyue the things that are for our owne welfare according as he himselfe sayeth Come vntoo mee all yee that are a thirst come drinke water yea euen without money or moneyes woorth drinke your fyll of water wyne and mylke There our Lord sheweth howe it is he that wee must resort vntoo and that if wee looke vppon him his maiestie is too hygh and too farre of from vs Iesus Christ therefore must bee as our meane and forasmuch as he is come downe too vs let vs also repayre vntoo him according as is sayd in the seuenth of S. Iohn come vntoo mee all yee that are a thirst and whosoeuer drinketh of the water that I wyll giue him he shall haue his belly so full that fountaines of water shall flowe out of him Condicionally that men seeke faythfully in Iesus Christ for the things they haue neede of he will giue vs not only so much as shall serue the turne of euery one of vs for himselfe but also so much as wee shall bee able too bestowe vppon our neyghbours too and too succour their want Now for a conclusion S. Paule addeth that the Church is the bodie and accomplishment of him that accomplisheth or performeth all things in all men In terming the Church the body of Iesus Christ he sheweth the thing that I haue touched already that is too wit that wee neede not too make long windlasses or harde iourneyes too get the things that wee haue neede of For sith wee bee vnited and ioyned too the sonne of God what require wee more Wee
For in it selfe the maiestie of God is too high a thing and wee should bee vndone a hundred times before wee could come nere him if it were not that he is come downe vnto vs But if wee once haue Iesus Christ â–ª there wee haue a lyuely image of him wherein wee may behold whatsoeuer is requisite for our saluation For there we vnderstand that God is our father and that wee bee clenzed from all our sinnes too be transformed intoo the glorye of god There wee see how God accepteth vs for rightuous and that wee bee reconciled too God ageine There wee perceyue how he hath raunsomed vs and that wee shall neuer bee left destitute of the grace of his holy spirit till he haue brought vs too the ioying of our inheritaunce Thus doo wee knowe all these things in our Lord Iesus Christ. And that is the cause also why S. Paul sayeth in another place that he desired not too knowe any other thing than Iesus Christ and that it is he onley of whom he intended too boast According whereuntoo wee haue seene heretofore how he forsooke all things to abyde vnder the Crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ and that althoughe the same hath too the worldward nothing but shame and reproch yit he protesteth that he had giuen ouer al that he had esteemed afore and that he estemed them but as hinderaunce and losse yea and as filth and dung too the intent too cleaue too our Lord Iesus Christ and too shewe that such as are possessed with the fond opinion of their owne deseruings do separate themselues from our Lord Iesus Christ and that if wee will bee knit vntoo him wee must giue ouer all that we imagine our selues too haue of our owne and offer our selues vnto him â—oyde of all goodnesse too bee filled at his hand And here ye seâ— also why S. Paule sayth that he had leuer come too the hauen of saluation poore and starke naked then too liue in the mids of the Sea and too bee there swallowed vp For although he were taken for an holy man and as halfe an Angell yit made he no reckening of all that so he might bee partaker of the remission of sinnes that was giuen him in Iesus Christ and of the grace which he hath communicated too all his members Therefore let vs learne too magnifie Gods grace in such wyze as wee may vtterly forget all the toyes wherwith the diuell deâ—â—iueth the vnbeleeuers by puffing them vp with I wote not what manner of pryde and come vtterly emptie too our Lord Iesus Christ â—oo beg his grace For wee cannot receiue one drop of it but by confessing our selues too bee vtterly vnworthie of it And now let vs fall downe before the maiestie of our good God with acknoweledgment of our faults praying him too make vs percâ—yue them more and more and that the same may so humble vs as wee may bee stablished in his grace and labour too come nerer and nerer vntoo him that being beaten downe in our selues wee may bee rayzed vp by him through his mere mercie and depending altogither vppon him resort vntoo him as too 〈◊〉 father and continewe in so doing till he haue taken vs out of the prizon of sinne and ioyned vs perfectly too himselfe That it may please him too graunt this grace not onely too vs but also too all people c. The seuenth Sermon vpon the first Chapter 17. I pray for you that the God of our Lord Iesus Christ the father of glorie giue you the spirit of wisedome and reuelation too haue the knoweledge of him 18 That is too wit too haue the eyes of your vnderstanding inlightened too the end ye may know what the hope is which you ought too haue of his calling and what the riches are of the glory of his heritage among the Saintes ALl men haue naturallye some vnderstanding Not that it sheweth itself as soone as they bee borne but in processe of tyme all haue some discretion of good and euill And for that cause are thei reasonable creatures But the vnderstanding which wee haue of nature is not ynough too bring vs too the kingdome of heauen For wee stop farre short when matteâ—s that concerne the heauenly life doo come in question Wee see that euery man hath wit in matters and affayres of the world and euery man will looke about him Agein although dyuers could fynd in their harts that their owne consciences were dead yit notwithstanding God hath so graued a kynd of feeling in their harts as our liues must needs bee brydled and euen the wickeddest and woorst natured of vs all shall of force haue some remorse or hartbyting and bee constreyned whether they will or no too allow the good and condemne the euill Trew it is that when they haue committed any fault they will labour too hyde it with vayne excuces But if a man aske them whether murther extortion robberie whoredome deceyt and forswearing bee vertewes or no thy will say they bee vyces woorthy too bee condemned Euerie man will talke so For it is Gods will that there should bee such a knowledge printed in mans harte too the end that all should bee condemned without excuce and bee inforced too bee thir owne iudges But as I said afore this is not ynough too leade vs vntoo God and too open vs the kingdome of heauen in such wise as wee may knowe how too bee saued or howe too call vppon god Then are wee starke blynd in that behalf for our insyght reacheth not beyond the world Therfore God must bee fayne too woorke in vs and too giue vs new eyes too spye out the things that are requisite too our saluation And that is the cause why S. Paule prayeth vntoo God heere too giue them inlyghtened eyes Wherin he presuppozeth that men haue alredie some enterance not too atteyne so hygh as is requisyte but too haue some seede of Religion in them and too perceyue that there is a God Furthermore God must bee fayne too giue a greater lyght and such a one as wee be quyte voyd of by reason of Adams sin for wee bee plundged in such darknesse that we go cleane awk froÌ„ the ryght way till God haue reached vs his hand Yee see then that the thing which is conteyned heere is that God hath doone more for vs in giuing vs the eyes of vnderstanding than in making vs men and putting vs intoo the world bycause that therby he reformeth vs and giueth vs a cleere and sure insyght as to those whom he hath chozen For it is a priuiledge which is peculiar too his owne children and not common too all men And truely wee see that when God vttereth his power it is not knowen but onely too such as haue inlyghtened eyes according too this saying of Moyses Thy God hath not giuen thee a hart too vnderstand nor eyes too see euen vntoo this day Wee knowe that miracles were wrought in the sight of the people
is possible Therefore for bycause there haue alwayes bin so many yea and to many that bring their owne consciences a fleepe S. Paule in this place lyke as also in the â—â—ft too the Romanes setteth downe the trâ—w peace which is that when wee come vntoo God and must present our selues before his Maiestie wee bee sure that he will pitie vs and not lay our sinnes to our chage but receyue vs as his owne children Then if we intend to enoye this spirituall peace which passeth all the goods of the world let vs â—earne too haue warre with our selues And how is that It is first too knowe that wee bee damned and forlorne and that there is no hope of remedie for vs wherby too get out of the pit of destruction agein except wee bee recouered by meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ. When wee bee so bereft of all vntoward selftrust in our own deserts and knowe that wee bee emptie and starke naked let vs repayre as poore beggers vntoo God that is the thing that is requisite for the atteynment of trew peace And by the way also let vs not thinke too gayne any thing by being blockishe â–ª so wee should fallâ— sleepe in this world bnt let vs vnderstand that forasmuch as wee haue no certeyne tyme appoynted vs it is our duetye to summon our selues euening and morning before God and too examine our sinnes throughly and too bee both sorie and ashamed of them When wee haue once learned too make warre thus ageinst our owne vyces and too plye it throughly without Hipocrisie and counterfetting then are wee in the hygh way too the peace which our Lord Iesus Christ dooth publish and preache vntoo vs euery day by the Gospell And that is the very cause why S. Paule sayeth expresly that by him wee haue enterance in vntoo the father As if he should say that no vnbeleeuers no heathenish worldlinges no mockers of God no dullardes which thinke not of their euerlasting saluation can by any meanes taste of what valew the peace is which wee obteyne by the Gospell or conceyue how precious and amyable it is And why For they put too many scarfes before their faces too keepe them from beyng abashed at Gods Iustice and from beyng striken with terrour of their sinnes Too bee shorte they make themselues wilfully drunken that they myght haue a senslesse conscience and they bereâ—ue themselues of all vnderstanding as though they were brute beastes But when wee consider that all our welfare consisteth in beyng able too haue all our recourse vntoo God and that our comming too him is certeine also yea and that the way is open for vs too go thither familiarly surely then will wee forget all other things and long too bee made parttakers of our Lord Iesus Christ and too bee vnited intoo his body too the ende that God may receyue vs and wee call vppon him with full trust in our necessitie and settle our selues vppon the loue that he beareth vs not doubting but that whatsoeuer is offered vs in the Gospell is all one as if God vttered his hart among vs. Now S. Paule hauing spoken of the preaching of the Gospell addeth purposely In one Spirit He had sayd afore that wee bee all knit toogither in the flesh of our Lord Iesus Christ namely â–ª for that he tooke our nature vpon him by that meanes abolished and tooke away the cursednesse that was in Adam Neuerthelesse the dooing therof in the person of the sonne of God were not ynough if the Gospell wer not as a meane to him Now therfore for a third poynt S. Paule addeth that wee must communicate all of one spirit For although the Gospell bee preached yit are there manie stubborne persons and others so beâ—narled in this world that they thinke no more of the heauenly lyfe than doggs and Swyne doo Othersome agein are so saped in their hipocrisie that although God doo call vs all and allure vs sweetly too him in the person of his sonne the number of them that come vntoo God is verye small For this cause S. Paule sayth that wee must haue Gods spirit For it is certein that by nature wee bee variable and not only euery one of vs will needs haue his opinion by himselfe but also wee change euery minute of an houre by meanes whereof wee bee so farre of from beeing all of one accorde that none of vs abydeth setled in his opinion from morning to nyght except he bee gouerned of god It standeth vs then on hand when wee heare the Gospell preached too haue Gods spirit to guyde and gouerne vs soo as wee may throughly imbrace our Lord Iesus Christ and by him haue accesse too the father Now therfore wee must beare in mynd first that when our Lord Iesus Christ exhorteth vs by his ministers according also as S. Paule sayeth in the second too the Corinthians wee ought too bee well dispozed too come vnto him yea and to runne vntoo him euen with inforcing our selues aboue all power of man For when wee haue doone what wee can yit shall wee haue none accesse vntoo him but all our indeuer shall rather bee a retyring backe than a going foreward vnlesse his spirit guyde vs So much the more then doth it stand vs on hand too pray God too touch vs with his holy spirit to cause him to make vs way vnto him as is sayd in the eyght to the Romans and as we haue seene also lykewyse too the Galathians For there S. Paule putteth a difference betwixt Gods children and the Reprobats Wee sayeth he haue the spirit of adoption wherby wee crye Abba father Wee should not knowe him of our selnes sayeth he bycause there is nothing in vs but infirmitie and it were too great a rashnesse in vs too call God our father But when God hath once sealed the truth of his Gospell in vs by his holie spirit and inlyghtened vs inwardly so as wee know it is he that speaketh and thertoo hath assured vs of his goodnesse and mercie then may wee freely and with open mouth crye out that he is our father And soo yee see in effect what wee haue too beare in mynd too the intent that none of vs trust too his owne brayne when the Gospell is preached vnto him but that in cosideration of the rudenesse and weaknesse that is in vs wee suffer our selues too bee gouerned by Gods spirit which is the chefe kye wherby the gate of paradise is opened vnto vs And for that cause also is it sayd that wee must be besprinckled with the blud of our Lord Iesus Christ as S. Peter termeth it in his first Epistle For the same cause also the Apostle in the Epistle to the Hebrewes sayth that Iesus Christ was offred vp in spirit meaning that his sacrifyze wherby he purchaced vs ryghtuousnes should still be as a vayne thing to vs if the holie Ghost wrought not in it by his powre And S. Paul
backe from all worldly superstitions dooyng vs too vnderstand that they bee but pelting trashe yea and very dung before God who abhorreth them Therfore wee must growe in spirit And verily wee see that the shadowes of the Lawe â—â—â—assed immediatly as soone as wee had the accomplishment and substance of the body that is too wit our Lord Iesus Christ. And now that he is come wee must not gaze any longer vppon those figures Sith it is so wee ought much rather too giue oâ—er the things that men bring in How hygh and excellent so euer they be let vs cast them from vs as filthinesse hold our selues coÌ„tent with this that our Lord Iesus Christ wil haue vs to build in him after a spirituall manner And so yee see how his doctrine ought too bee sweete and amiable too vs yea and too rauish vs all wholly in loue with it so as wee may giue vp the world with a free harte and giue our selues too our Lord Iesus Christ. But on the other syde also let vs beware that the iudgment which he threatneth vnto such as cast asyde this stone lyght not vppon our heades according too this saying Behold I lay a precious stone in Sion Seing then that Iesus Christ is giuen vs too bee our foundation wee haue there a precious stone whervppon if wee bee builded wee may bee sure of our saluation And wee neede not bee afrayd that he is not strong ynough too vphold vs so as he will neuer fayle vs But if wee fall to iustling ageinst that stone it is cerâ—ein that wee shall not bee able too stand ageinst it but wee shall sink downe vnderneath it and in the end it shall brooze vs and beate vs all too peeces Therfore let vs take heede that our Lord Iesus Christ turne not intoo a stone too stumple at after the manner of the world which now adayes maliceth him insomuch that euery man settes vp his bristles proudly and rebelliously too come russhing ageinst him but let vs bethink our selues well and be meekely dispozed too yeeld our seruice too him that he may maynteyne vs vntoo the end And although wee see Iesus Christ too bee reiected of the world and it may seeme straunge vntoo vs that men should fyght so ageinst him and that he should bee as a whyte to shoote at yit let vs not ceasse too take him still for a precious stone as Saint Peter counselleth vs in the second Chapter of his first Epistle Yee see then that when wee heare these promises which Saint Paule telleth vs of wee ought on the one syde too bee drawen too our Lord Iesus Christ too giue our selues wholly vntoo him and too forgeâ— all the things that seeme most excellent in the world and on the other syde too beware that our vnthankfulnesse bee not punished for disdeyning too receyue him as a precious stone sith that God telleth vs that all our welfare lyeth in this that is too wit that wee bee his Temple and that he bee called vppon at our handes Therefore let vs profit our selues by so great and inestimable a benefite and let vs still growe and increase therin more and more vntill wee come too the heauenly heritage where wee shall haue full fruiâ—ion of all the good things which he maketh vs â—oo feele as yit but by fayth And now let vs fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God with acknowledgement of our sinnes praying him too voutsafe too wyâ—e out the rememberance of them so as they may not come too account before him and that therwithall he so correct vs as wee may cleaue fully vntoo him and he so beare with our infirmities as wee may not ceasse too resort vntoo him freely at al tymes though wee bee not woorthy of it And so let vs all say Almighty God heauenly fafather â–ª c. The .xvi. Sermon which is the first vppon the third Chapter 1. For this cause I Paule beyng the prisoner of Iesus Christ am an Ambassadour for you Gentyâ—es 2. Surely you haue heard the dealing forth of Gods grace which vvas committed too mee on your behalfe 3. How that by Reuelation he hath giuen mee knovvledge of the mistery as I haue written vntoo you briefely heeretofore 4. By the reading vvhereof you may vnderstand the knovvledge vvhich I haue in the mystery of Christ 5. VVhich vvas not knovven too the children of men in times past as it is novv discouered too his holy Apostles and Prophetes by the spirit 6. That is too vvit That the Gentyles are fellovvheires and of one selfsame body and parttakers toogither of his promise in Iesus Christ by the Gospell ALthough euery of vs confesse that the doctrine of the Gospell brings alwayes trubble and persecution bycause the world hateth it and yit for all that that wee ought not too bee dismayed nor shrinke away yit notwithstanding it is so hard too put the thing in vre which wee confesse that there is almost none of vs all which is not vexed and in maner shaken downe when Gods enemyes offer any vnquyetnesse or when wee see the silly faythfull sorâ— cruelly vsed at their handes Neuerthelesse it ought too serue for a strengthening of our fayth when wee see men which are frayle of their owne nature not afrayd too hazard their lyues in bearing record of Gods truthe Seeing then that the power of Gods spirit appeareth most manifestly if we were not to 〈◊〉 blynded with vnthankfulnesse it ought too assure vs so much the more But forasmuch as wee aduauntage our selues very euill by it we haue neede too bee incoraged as S. Paule also dooth in this text When wee see the diuell stirre vp his vnderlinges too execute all tyranny ageinst Gods children let it not shake our fayth And specially if the faythfull indure paciently al that can be for the maynteynance of Gods truth which they knowe and that they doo also hold out too the end Without swaruing that as I sayd ought not too bee lost And for the same cause dooth S. Paule in other places say he suffereth for the welfare of the Church Not that he could purchace them forgiuenesse of sinnes or any grace by his death but bycause the Gospell is Gods myghty power too the welfare of all that beleeue and the further that wee go forward in it the neerer it maketh vs too come vntoo God and vntoo euerlasting lyfe S. Paule then suffred for the example of those whoÌ„ he had taught afore with his owne mouth For therby they knew that his speaking too them had bin in good earnest seeing he spared not his owne blud and his lyfe too seale and confirme the doctrine that he had brought them As much is doone in this text For he sayth he was an Ambassadour for the Gentyles yea euen though he were the prisoner of Iesus Christ. Surely these twoo things seeme too bee as contrarie as fyre and water For could not Iesus Christ honour them better whom he
ryghtfull and doone with such wysdome as is not too bee founde fault with And now Saint Paule thinkes it not ynough to say that God had his secret purpose hidden in himself but also sayeth that his vvill vvas that this vvisdome vvhich is diuers in many sortes should be knowen This tytle deserueth too bee well marked where he sayth that Gods wisdome is as yee would say of dyuers sortes Not that God is variable and chaungeable in himself nor that there is any snarling or intangling in his deuyces there is no such thing at all in God nother can there bee but Saint Paules speaking after that manner is in respect of our vndersauding Therfore if wee would comprehend Gods wisdome wee should bee confounded and dazeled at it bycause it is infinite and besydes that it hath things in it which are able too amaze all our senses yea and too swallowe them quyte vp so as wee should neuer discerne anie thing certeynly too say Loe this is it But this had neede too bee layd out more at length that wee may vnderstand it and fare the better by it Now and then wee see some looking glasses wherin wee thinke we behold a hundred yea or rather an infinite number of images before vs and when wee see them wee bee at our wits end After the same manner hath Saynt Paule spoken heere of Gods wisdome namely as giuing vs warning of the weakenesse and rudensse that is in our vnderstanding too the intent wee should not bee too inquisitiue in serching the things that passe our capacitie and the matters that God hath purposed in himselfe Then if wee will needes so stye vp hygher than is lawfull for vs and thrust our selues foreward with foolish presumption too bee priuie of Gods counsell and too inquyre particularly what he hath determined our wittes must needes fayle vs ere wee come halfe way there and we shall fynde so many things there that wee must of necessitie quayle of our selues and bee driuen too confesse that it is not for vs too reache the bottome of so great and deepe a gulfe Therfore if a man demaund here how then can wee confesse God too bee ryghtuous wyse and almyghtie sith wee bee so daunted at his woorks for it is said that it is the wisdome of men too serche out Gods woorks and too set theyr mynds wholly vppon them and he hath also ordeyned the world too bee as a stage wheron too behold his goodnesse ryghtuousnesse power and wisdome and therfore there seemeth too bee some contrarietie betweene these twoo that wee should bee diligent and heedfull in considering Gods woorks and yit notwithstanding that our wits are dazeled at the thinking vppon them the answer thertoo is verye easye which is that if wee desyre soberly too knowe but the things which God voutsafeth too reuele vntoo vs and which are for our profite wee shall haue vnderstanding ynough and wee shall well perceyue that he enuyeth not the teaching of vs by his woorks that wee myght come vntoo him and put our whole trust in him too knowe how too call vppon him to discerne betweene good and bad and too walke according too his will. Then if wee giue not head to our foolish and vnordinate lusts but herken lyke good scollers to the things which our mayster voutsafeth too declare vntoo vs wee shall in Gods woorks vnderstand all things that are for the furtherance of our welfare And that is the cause why it is sayd in the booke of Iob that wee shall haue done very much if wee can espye but the vtmost borders of Gods woorks Then may wee taste of Gods wisdome ryghtuousenesse power and goodnesse by considering allonly the â—â—sts or vttermost bounds of Gods workes But if we will needs fall too gaging of them too the bottom there wee shall fynd the foresayd gulf which is able too swallow vp all our vnderstanding Too bee short first it is too bee vnderstoode heere that as well Gods woord as his woorks are vntoo vs woonderfull secrets and such as passe all our wit and capacitie Insomuch that if wee haue an eye to his works there are yit further miracles in them too daunt vs withall than the things that wee see euery day which are in common vse among vs Lykewise in the holy scripture there are somwhat secreter poynts which are not very easye to be vnderstoode Konwe wee that once wee haue first of all to humble our selues and to pray God to inlyghten vs by his holie spirit that wee may profit our selues by all his woorks and woords And moreouer let vs lerne the things that he sheweth vs and bee contented with the measure that he appoynteth vs without coueting too knowe anie more than that which wee may lerne in his schoole Thus yee see what wee haue to beare in mynd Furthermore when wee once haue such meeldnesse surely our Lord will giue vs a sure resting poynt and although his priuities bee incomprehensible and the doctrine of the Lawe and the Gospell bee secrets aboue the the reache of the world yit shall wee bee taught by them too our welfare and saluation And so there is no mingling no confuzednesse no intangling for vs bycause God will guyde vs by his holie Ghoste and giue vs wisdome and discretion too knowe whatsoeuer he seeth too bee for our behoof Mark that for one poynt But if wee bee vnteachable or vnruly and will needs play the looce colts too serche further than wee haue leaue surely Gods wisdome wil bee alwayes variable vntoo vs that is to say there wil be such diuersitie of things and so manie stoppes in it as wil make vs at our wits end and wee shall abyde as vtterly confounded Yea and euen the faythfull shall well perceiue the thing that Saint Paule sayeth heere that they may euer bee put in mynd too walke in awe and feare and not giue themselues the brydle too much nor take too much leaue to know more than our Lord will haue them too knowe Now then the dout which myght haue bin cast namely how God wil haue vs too bee abashed at his works is remoued And yit will he not haue vs too bee abasshed at them so wee suffer our selues too bee taught by him Theruppon wee may gather also that it is a diuelish statelinesse when these Ruffians take so highly vppon them as too reiect whatsoeuer they cannot conceyue the reason of If a man tell them that God dispozeth al things by his secret ordinance and that the things which wee terme fortune chaunce â—azard casualtie happe aduenture and such lyke are al determined before the making of the world insomuch that euen the heares of our heads are numbered and one litle bird shal not light vppon the ground without Gods prouidence they step forth and obiect how can that bee And whereas God telleth vs in his Lawe that he will haue this and that done shall wee say that he hath mo wils
Then dooth it follow that Christ intendeth too distribute his giftes by certeine measure And theruppon wee haue too conclude that he which presumeth of himself and surmizeth that he hath all that is requisite dooth foully deceyue himself twoo wayes For there is not that man which hath receyued such perfection but that he hath neede too profit still with his brethren That is one poynt Agein he that is the excellentest of all others is most bound too doo good with the things that God hath coÌ„mitted to his charge or to his trust as a paâ—â—n On the contrary part the meaner and the ignorant sort must not enuye them that go before them in lerning and wisdome bycause it is Iesus Christes will too haue it so and so must it bee seeing he will haue his Church gouerned by the meanes of men Now then wee see wherat the Prophet amed namely that wee should so suffer our selues too bee filled with the spirituall giftes that belong too our saluation as none of vs refuze too bee taught by the meanes of men Let vs not belyke these fantasticall persons who would haue God too send them some reuelation from heauen and that they myght haue no neede of preaching or reading Let vs not bee caryed away with such foolish ouerweening but let all of vs both great and small submit our selues soberly too the order that our Lord Iesus Christ hath set which is that such as haue greate skill and are well seene in thee holy scriptures and haue the gift of teaching should streyne themselues too serue the whole Church as they bee bound too doo for too that end hath God aduaunced them aboue others And that the meaner sort and the ignorant bee not enuious for that they see not them selues too haue lyke portion but consider that it is ynough for them that God forgat them not but that the dealing of his gracious giftes after that maner was too their profit and saluation It was Gods will that all things should bee made common and that euery member of the bodie should haue his part of them at leastwyse so the order bee alwayes kept Now S. Paule in saying that our Lord Iesus Christ gaue Apostles and Prophets and Euangelistes and Shepherds and Teachers dooth vs to vnderstand that the preaching of the Gospell and the meeting of men toogither too heare the holy Scripture expounded is not a thing inuented by men but that God hath so ordeyned it and our Lord Iesus hath set it downe for a lawe and wee must keepe it without breaking of it For in good sooth were it not set downe by the souereine authoritie of the sonne of God men are so hygh mynded that many of them would shake of that yoke What haue I too doo would euery man say too bee taught by my fellowe Seeyng wee haue the holy Scripture among vs ought wee not too fetch thence whatsoeuer is meete for vs too know Why then should any one man bee preferred before the rest of the company Thus would there bee an horrible disorder in the Churche so as no man would submit himselfe too bee taught No man would bee a learner too haue a mayster or teacher ouer him vnlesse wee were fully perswaded and resolued that that order was not of mans deuyce but that it is a gouernment set downe for all the faythfull by the sonne of God who will haue them heard which haue the charge of teaching as men sent by him telling men that they despyze him and do him wrong and rebel ageinst him and his father if they receyue not his doctrine with all humblenesse and that whosoeuer will bee taken for a Christian must also bee a chyld of the Church And so yee see in effect what wee haue too remember when S. Paul imputeth the hauing of Prophets Teachers 〈◊〉 vntoo the person of Iesus Christ. Furthermore too the intent wee should bee the more gentle and tractable and make no sticking too receyue the doctrine that hath bin preched vntoo vs and to bee alwayes lerners in the scoole of our Lord Iesus Christ Saint Paule telleth vs also that when wee haue good and faythfullteachers and others that labour too shewe vs the way of saluation it is a signe that our Lord Ieâ—â—s Christ hath not left vs nor forgotten vs but that he is present with vs â–ª 〈◊〉 watcheth for our saluation and welfare Therfore let vs not 〈…〉 men can put them selues foorth of their owne head for 〈…〉 too speake one woorde too the glorie of Iesus Christe except it 〈◊〉 gyuen hym from aboue and that the holie Ghoste gouerne his tung â–ª And in very deede it is for the same cause that it is sayd that the holie 〈◊〉 is a wisdome which passeth all wit of man and that the 〈◊〉 man vnderstandeth no whit of it but that God must bee fayne too reuele the things too vs which else are too hygh and hidden from vs Now then when wee see the holie scripture truely expounded and applyed ryghtly too our vse let vs assure our selues that Gods spirit giueth vs record that he abydeth among vs Wherfore let vs lerne to receyue so excellent a gift assuring our selues that it is the homage which our Lord Iesus demaundeth at our hands And that is a cause also why the Gospell is called the kingdome of heauen For wee beewray ryght well that wee take not God for our king nor are willing too honour our Lord Iesus Christ wheÌ„ he is sent vnto vs if we suffer not our selues too bee gouerned by the meanes that he commaundeth and alloweth which is the preaching of the Gospell wheruntoo wee must yeeld such obedience as too receyue the doctrine of it without geynsaying so that he which hath the charge of teaching acquit him self faythfully and the residew bee not so hygh mynded as to say tush I may forbeare it well ynongh but receyue the things willingly which are spoken too them and suffer themselues too bee taught for feare least they should resist the sonne of God that wee may continew in them all the tyme of our lyfe as shall bee declared more at length agein anon Now besydes this Saint Paule by the diuersitie of the offices which he setteth downe expresseth yit better how greatly forecasting our Lord Iesus Christ hath shewed himself for the saluation of those that are his in that he hath left nothing behynd which was requisite conuenient too bring them too the heritage of saluation â–ª Wee must note here concerning these offices which S. Paul reherceth that some of theÌ„ serued but for a tyme as the office of Apostleship For they were not chozen of purpose too continew too the worlds end â—ut only too publish abrode the doctrine of the Gospell vntill it was receyued through the whole world I meane in all kingdomes and Countries though euery man shewed not himself obedient vntoo it Then was there that speciall reason why our Lord Iesus
shewe briefely that if wee receyue the meanes that God offereth vs and bee diligent too serue him wee shall bee furnished of all peeces and wee neede not feare but wee shall haue wherwith too withstand all our enemies yea and too vanquish them That then was Saint Paules meaning Now he setteth downe heere first of all that wee must bee girt vvith the Svvoord girdle of truth and put on the headpeece of Ryghtuousnesse By those twoo woordes he meaneth soundnesse and holynesse of lyfe Therefore whensoeuer wee heare this woorde Truth let vs vnderstand that Saint Paule condemneth all hypocrisie and will haue vs learne too giue our selues too the seruing of God with a free hart not with eye seruice nor as to the syght of the world but with a pure right meaning mind And to know why this Soothfastnes or vprightnes this soundnesse is put for a brestplate it is not now needefull too trubble our selues much as I sayde afore For the poynt that wee must beare in mynd is how Saint Paul shemeth vs that if wee take the armour which God giueth vs wee shall bee sure without fayle too haue victorie ageinst all our enemyes Ryghtuousnesse is matched with it which is a trew rule whereby too walke in the feare of God and too lyue with our neyghbours without dooyng any harme without fraud without malice and without extortion and rather too indeuer too doo one another good according too the end too which our Lord hath knit vs toogither which is that wee should so communicate with our neyghbours as no man bee wedded too hys owne profit but all of vs seeke the common welfare And no maruell now though the Diuell ouercome vs easly and steale vppon vs al kynd of wayes vâ—wares both Euening and Morning and euery minute For where is this soundnesse that Saint Paule requyreth heere first of all Nay rather euery of vs flattereth himselfe and wee thinke wee haue doone much when wee haue vsed a fewe fayre countenances and not bin vtter rebels ageinst God so as the world cannot vpbrayd vs that wee haue bin despyzers of his maiestie Then if wee play not the starke bedlems but pretend some fayre showe make some gay countenance of religion too our owne seeming wee haue discharged our dewtie very well when notwithstanding the diuell in the meane while hath turned vs quyte away from the soundnesse and substancialnesse whereof Saint Paule speaketh heere In lyke cace is it with Ryghtuousnesse For wee would fayne content God with a little In deede wee will confesse well ynough with the mouth that it is reason that God should bee serued and honoured and that wee should lyue quietly toogither and indeuer too doo one another good Wee will condemne Robberie Extortion Whoredome Deceyt and wrong Dealing but yit when all is doone wee would haue God too accept in good woorth the little that he fyndeth in vs and too hold him contented with it But by that meane behold the diuell fyndeth vs still vnprouyded Forasmuch then as wee open him such a gap wee must not maruell that he getteth the better hand of vs And therefore it were much better for vs too go through with our race and too sticke too our tackeling that wee stand fast For a man shall see dyuerse that haue a good zeale as farre as can bee iudged and yit it shall bee but a blast it will not continue And why Bycause wee bee not fenced ageinst Satan And for proofe hereof if wee followe the thing that is shewed vs heere it is certeyne that the promis wyll neuer deceyue vs For although Saint Paule exhort the faythfull too stand fast and too hold out too the ende yit is there a certein warrantyze included therin that God wyll alwayes succour them at their neede and that they shall not fynd themselues disappoynted so they fyght styll vnder his banner calling continually vppon his power and vsing the meanes that are offered them by his word Therfore if there bee such cowardlynesse in vs as too be so afrayd of the diuell that he makes vs too tumble downe and to start asyde and too stray quyte out of the good way wee must impute all too our owne rechlesnesse bycause wee haue not put on the armour that God giueth vs but haue hanged them vp vppon a pin Afterward heere followeth that vvee should bee shod vvith preparation too the Gospel of peace No dout but Saint Paule had an eye to the auncient fashion of men of warre For they wore no shooes at home but only when they went a warfare and that was bothe too defend them from the cold and too saue their feete when they entred intoo battell with the enemie It is sayd that the Gospell serueth vs for it Howbeit there are twoo other woords too bee marked also in that he addeth Preparation and Peace Notwithstanding that wee may lay foorth things in their order let vs note that Saint Paule allotteth too the Gospell this power and propertie of shooing of vs bycause that when wee bee trayned in the doctrine of the Gospell as wee ought too bee then wee may walk safely through the world For wee see how the vnbeleeuers are plundged euer head and eares in it Those whom God hath not prepared too walk and too atteyne too the kingdome of heauen are so snarled in this world that they bee altoogither vnprofitable as though they had their legges broken and they sink themselues dayly deeper and deeper in it Therfore there is but one only way too make vs wade through this world and too atteyne too the kingdome of heauen which is too haue such instruction as is in the Gospell namely that God hauing adopted vs too bee his children will not haue vs too dwell heere beneathe for euer but that wee should come vntoo him yea euen with all haste and speede and agein that we intermeddle not our selues with the vncleannesse of the vnbeleeuers but separate our selues from them Thus much concerning the first poynt There is also the woord Preparation wherby Saint Paule dooeth vs too vnderstand that if wee haue the skill too aduauntage our selues by the Gospell wee shal bee rid of all thinges that let vs and hinder vs from comming vntoo god What is it then that wee fynd there It is that wheras erst wee were as it wee falen asleepe or rather doted in our pleasures and vanities our Lord dispozeth vs too come vntoo him Wee haue seene already that all this world is in darknesse and that as long as wee abyde in it wee bee as it were asleepe so as wee see no way before vs and doo but reele and stumble or rather lye along in it as dead men as it is sayd in Esay and if wee bee not reskewed by our our Lord Iesus Christ we must lye snorting in it still and welâ—er euer in that darknesse Wherfore let vs learne too put our selues in such redinesse as our loynes may bee girded vp as sayeth