we must deale before God with our workes and by them deserue the mercy of God when as notwithstanding ye haue very often heard that faith alone doth all and both Paul and the whole Scripture do commonly say and affirme that we must beleeue in God alone and deale by onely mere faith before him The answer It is requisite here to vnderstand that good workes are onely a setting forth and commendation of faith so that if I beleeue I must be mercifull I must not iudge nor condemne my neighbour I must forgiue and giue vnto my neighbour Whereof set an example before your selues What did Abraham being commaunded to offer his sonne Gen. 22. he obeyed the commaundement and drew forth the sword to kill his sonne what ensued therevpon the Angell of the Lord stayed him saying lay not thy hand vpon the child neither do any thing vnto him for now I know that thou fearest God forasmuch as for my sake thou hast not spared thine onely sonne Howbeit this is here to be knowen and marked of vs We must receiue mercy before we shew mercy that we must first receiue before we giue before we shew mercy we must receiue mercy of God we do not lay the first stone neither doth the shepe seeke the shepeheard but the shepeheard the shepe Wherefore so bestow thy workes in euerie respect that thou looke for nothing at Gods hand because of them We obtaine all good thinges of god through his meere mercy for we obtaine euen euerie thing of God without merit or desert so God sayth Esay 65 I am found of them that seeke not for me I haue appeared to them that aske not for me And in the ende of the same chapter The time shall come sayth God that or euer they call I will aunswere them and while they are yet but thinking how to speake I will heare them For in deede before we seeke him he fyndeth vs before we aske him he heareth vs. Likewise S. Paul sayth Rom. 3 There is no difference for all haue sinned and are depriued of the glorie of God and are iustified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Iesus whom God hath set forth to be a recoÌ„ciliatioÌ„ through faith in his blood to declare his righteousnes in that he forgiueth the synnes that are past through the patience of God to shew at this time his righteousnes that he might be iust and a iustifier of him which is of the faith of Iesus And in the chapter folowing he sayeth Now to him that worketh the wages is not counted by fauour but by dette but to him that worketh not but beleeueth in him that iustifieth the vngodly his faith is couÌ„ted for righteousnes For if it be of Grace it is no more of works or els were grace no more grace as he saith afterward in the eleuenth chapter Our good workes must be signes and testimonies of our sincere faith Againe I must bestow my workes so that they maye be a certaine signe and as it were a seale grauen with letters whereby I may be assured that my faith is syncere For if I feele in my heart that my worke proceedeth from loue I am sure concerning the integritie and soundnes of my faith If I forgiue the same forgiuenes doth assure me concerning the sinceritie of my faith doth declare my faith and certifie me that God hath also pardoned my synne and doth daily more and more pardon me So it fell out with Abraham his worke made his faith knowne vnto him God in deede knew that he did beleeue but it behoued that Abraham also should know and shew forth his faith Wherefore workes folowing onely freely as fruites of faith are declarations of such a faith For what should it profit me if I had euen a strong faith but vnknowen vnto me euen as if I should haue a chest full of gold yet I being ignoraunt thereof should take no commoditie thereby But if any would shew it vnto me he should do me as great a pleasure as if he gaue it me So if I haue faith and yet be ignoraunt thereof it is no profit vnto me Wherefore it must burst forth and be shewed by the workes that ensue which are both signes and seales of the present faith 2. Pet. 1.18.19 Soe Sainct Peter meaneth when speaking of the workes of charitie and the vertues of faith he concludeth thus â—â—â—â—â—fore brethren giue rather diligence to make your calling and election sure which if ye do ye shall not fall For by this meanes an entering shal be ministred vnto you aboundantly into the euerlasting kingdome of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ He sayeth not do good workes that by them ye may be called but that ye may more assure your selues of your calling Accustome your selues therefore well vnto the phrases and maner of speakinges vsed in the Scripture that ye rush not vpon them like blinde moules and confirme workes in such places as this for herein workes are reiected if we thinke that we are iustified by them but herein they are extolled and commended in that they are profitable to our neighbour and frutes and signes of faith Behold it was meete that I should make this digression least I should coÌ„firme the meaning of the Papists Now if it should be demaunded why God oftentimes setteth downe such contrarie sentences Why God wil haue sentences in the Scriptures which seeme contrarie and disagreeing one with an other as it seemeth to vs our reason I aunswere that he may exercise vs in reading and that we should not thinke that we vnderstand the whole Scripture when we scarce vnderstand one place Some sayinges do guide the spirit how we ought to behaue our selues toward God onely by faith as this Rom. 3.24 VVe are iustified freely Againe lest the body should be sluggish outwardly there are sentences also set forth vnto vs which do guide and exercise the body as these which we haue heard here rehearsed Forgiue and ye shal be forgiuen also where as Christ affirmeth that he will require workes in the last day and will say after this sort vnto the condemned Matthew 25 I was an hungred and ye gaue me no meat I thirsted ye gaue me no drinke I was astraunger and ye tooke me not in vnto you I was naked and ye clothed me not c. Which sentences whiles ignoraunt and light spirits labour to wrest and applie to workes they see not how great euell they commit But spirituall men referre them to the very body onely they them selues standing naked before God in spirit which is both iust and necessarie For there are two thinges in man the Spirit and the Flesh Hereupon there are some places which do guide onely faith in the spirit some which do direct onely workes in the body for one place can not direct both the body and the spirite togither We must so do with our substance that we be willing
Abraham In the time of Abraham God did somewhat shewe forth his mercy he declared that he would send a Sauiour who should deliuer vs againe from death both of body and soule for albeit the body should dye yet it should not alwayes remayne in death but rise againe with the Lord Christ The wordes which God spake to Abraham Gen. 22. are thus In thy seede shall all the nations of the earth be blessed Here miserable men had a cause to hope and looke for a Sauiour which should deliuer them From that time all the Prophets did diuersly foretell of this aboue measure flowing fountaine of all mercy that is of this seede of the Lord Christ how that he at the last should come that all which beleued in him might obtaine saluation by that promise which can not be reuoked If so be that men would now open their eyes they must needes confesse and say that a straunge and incredible thinge is done with vs that man being in the state of damnation cursed desperate should be restored by the natiuitie of one man Hereupon the Prophets cryed out with ardent prayers and vnspeakeable groning that God would vouchsafe to sende the Sauiour whom he had promised By faith in this Sauiour the Israelites afterward obtained the lawe and this honour before all people that they were called the elect people of God By which ordinances written of Moses the anointed was plainely figured and signified whom this text which we haue now in hand setteth forth what he is from whence he is and by the afore sayd faith all obtayned saluation from Abraham vnto Dauid euen as many as were saued In the time of Dauid God made the comming of the Messias to be more manifestly declared that it might be certainly knowne of what stocke he should come namely of the stocke of Dauid as when God sayd vnto Dauid 2. Sam. 7.12 VVhen thy dayes be fulfilled thou shalt sleepe with thy fathers and I will set vp thy seede after thee which shall proceede out of thy body and wil stablish his kingdom He shall build an house for my name and I vvill stablish the throne of his kingdom for euer I will be his father and he shall be my sonne And yet more plainely in the Psalme The Lord hath made a faithfull othe vnto Dauid Psal 132.11 and he shall not shrinke from it Of the frute of thy bodye shall I set vppon thy seat Here Christ is described that he shall be a king and an eternall king Psal 45.6 as it is mentioned of him in an other Psalme Thy throne O Lord endureth for euer the scepter of righteousnes is the scepter of thy kingdome Who pertaineth to the kingdom of Christ and who to the kingdom of Satan Howebeit he is a spirituall king which ruleth the worlde by his worde and whosoeuer receiueth his word pertaineth to his kingdom But he that is not vnder this scepter neither heareth his worde is not of God neither pertaineth to his kingdom but is subiect to the kingdom of Satan vnder whose tyrannie we all are vntill the Lord doth deliuer vs from it defend vs with his scepter which is then done when we beleeue in him Forasmuch therefore as our saluation doth come meerly by the promise of God let euery one assuredly perswade him selfe that he shal neuer obtaine saluation wtout this promise although he should do the workes of all Sainctes yet they should profit him nothing hereunto Contrariwise if we lay hold on the scepter of this king that is of the promise of God we shal not perish although the sinnes of the whole world should lye vpon vs they shal be all swallowed vp in him albeit no good worke be done of vs. As we see in the theefe which hong by the Lord on the crosse who layd hold on the word of God beleued in Christ and therefore he obtayned the promised Paradise Here is no dout left let vs onely beleue that it is so and it is so in deede all thinges which men teach or which we haue done or can doe being set aside Here all thinges must giue place at the comming of this new king that he alone may rule reigne in vs. Let a man intermedle with those thinges that are written of this king as being his owne matters and as pertaining all vnto him Whatsoeuer is written of Christ it is written for our comfort For whatsoeuer is written any where of Christ it is written for our comfort that we may thereby feede and cherish our faith To the establishing of such faith God hath mercifully left vnto vs his promise written and hath suffered to be published that he will performe that which he hath promised Whosoeuer apprehendeth this in his hart it must needes be that with sighing he thirst for such Scripture and promise of God who of his grace being not prouoked of vs offereth vnto vs and bestoweth vpon vs such goodnes and mercy But let vs now come to our present text which not with words only but also with a certeine force pearseth the hart and poureth into it loue pleasure ioy gladnes c. As if an Angell should now come from heauen and say vnto vs miserable and condemned wretches after this sort Behold O man thou hast sinned wherfore thou hast deserued to be condemned for euer This being heard the hart must needes tremble Now although all this be true yet neuertheles God of his grace hath mercy vppon thee sendeth to thee a Sauiour as he promised to Abraham and his seede Be of a good cheere and giue thankes to God Loe here is the booke of the generation of Iesus Christ who is the sonne of Dauid the sonne of Abraham so that this is not onely done but also written that thou mayst be certaine thereof Neither will he neither can he deceiue beleue onely and thou shalt haue all things Now it is to be noted that Matthew setteth Dauid before Abraham although the promise was first made to Abraham and came afterward to Dauid which promise made to Dauid the Prophets did afterward publish more abroad and did by it comfort the people As in the 11. chapter of Esai where the Prophet sayth thus There shall come a rod forth of the stocke of Iesse and a graffe shall growe out of his roote Ieremie likewise sayth thus chap. 23. Behold the time commeth sayth the Lord that I wil raise vp the righteous braunch of Dauid which king shall beare rule and he shall prosper with wisedom and shall set vp equitie righteousnes againe in the earth And many other such prophecies there are to be found in the writings of the Prophetes which they foretold of Dauid that his kingdom should be raysed vp as that Angell also declared vnto Marie when he sayd Luke 1.32 The Lord God shall giue vnto him the throne of his father Dauid Why Matthew setteth Dauid before Abraham Luke 1.54 he shall
to come Now it is not giuen vnto them in this earth to goe so farre that they may say We are subiect to no vices we are cleane from all sinne if they shall goe so farre it is Satan that deceiueth them Notwithstanding they are sorie for their sinnes and doe lament them yea it grieueth them to the hart that they must beare the miserable burden of this flesh and they crie out together with S. Paule Rom. 7. O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from the body of this death This shrite crie all the faithfull doe giue for that feeling sinne they doe most earnestly desire to be deliuered from it And in this feeling knowledge of sinne the kingdom of Christ consisteth so that euen in sinne there is no sinne That is albeit I doe both acknowledge and feele sinne Though the godly haue sinne in thē and feele the grieuousnes thereof yet it doth not hurt them yet saluation and the kingdom doe so firmely abide in my conscience that God sayth vnto me I will forgiue thee thy sinne for that thou hast faith and beleeuest in Christ my especially beloued sonne who was deliuered to death for thee neither shall thy sinnes hurt thee Others which feele not their sinnes but trust in their workes and complaine nothing of their faultes and offences thinking them selues cleane such are giuen to Satan not receiued or admitted into the kingdom of Christ for they which are partakers of this kingdom can not be without conflicts and tribulation Death Satan and the world doe somewhat trouble the godly but the godly at the last ouercome them Psal 118.18 And that I may speake more plainly recken I pray thee any of the Sainctes whom death doth not trouble yea I know thou shalt not finde one which is not afraid and trembleth not at the horrible sight of death But the conscience taketh comfort here by the Prophet Dauid who sayth The Lorde hath chastened and corrected me but he hath not giuen me ouer vnto death it fighteth against vs in deede but it preuaileth not Thus a Christian wrapped in sinnes is both vnder sinnes and aboue sinnes at the last notwithstanding obtaineth the victorie After the same sort also must he haue to doe with Satan with whom he must wrastle all his life and at the last ouercome him So in the world also he must suffer many conflicts and troubles and yet at length become victor For although it be a kingdom of saluation which hath neither rest nor quietnes but suffreth the force of hel death the deuill sinne and all maner of aduersitie and tribulation yet they which be in it doe with an inuincible courage endure and at length ouercome all euills But God therefore permitteth these thinges that our faith may be exercised and shew forth it selfe Moreouer that is a pleasure to the conscience and bringeth vnto it comfort and ioye that it hath such a kingdom that it may say Blessed be the Lord God who hath visited and redeemed vs and hath raised vp a kingdom in the house of Dauid That is for that he visiteth vs by his word deliuereth vs from sinnes and maketh vs conquerours ouer death and Satan Thus he haue heard both that a kingdom is raysed vp in the house of Dauid and also that a Christian is both dead and yet aliue is innocent in the middes of sinnes and although he be subiect to Satan yet notwithstanding hath dominion ouer Satan For both are true for that sinne death hell doe assaile the flesh but doe not ouercome forasmuch as this kingdom of saluation triumpheth ouer them all Wherefore as it were with a certaine great boldnes or confidence he calleth it a horne that is a stronge and puissant kingdom Which hath no rest or truce but being assailed of many and stronge enemies is alwayes diligently occupied in defence of it selfe and doth notably repell the force of the enemie So a Christian laying hold on this horne ouerthroweth sinne death and Satan Neither consisteth this horne in our strength neither are we makers thereof for God hath made and raysed it vp by the ministerie of his word whereby we are saued Wherefore Zacharias so singeth that his songe hath respect not to his own sonne but to Christ Yea he celebrateth this kingdom as pertaining to the Iewes onely and declareth that it shall be glorious and maketh no mention of the Gentiles how they also should come vnto it as beside others Simeon in his song the beginning whereof is Lorde nowe lettest thou c. did prophecie that we Gentiles also are chosen into that kingdom But here he foretelleth of a kingdom raysed vp of God to the Iewes euen a kingdom of saluation and blessednes and that in the house of his seruaunt Dauid Wherefore he sayth moreouer Verse 70. As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets which haue bene since the world began Therefore he hath raised vp this kingdom that he might confirme his promise whereby he had foretold that he would sometime rayse vp a kingdom c. And now that time is come wherein he will fulfill that his promise So Zacharias reduceth the horne of saluation the kingdom of Christ to the olde Testament that out of it he may bring witnesses of so strong and puissant a kingdom The Prophets foretold of the kingdom that should be raysed vp in the house of Dauid For the Prophets from the time of Dauid did all prophesie that the seede of Dauid should haue a kingdom in the earth yet a spirituall kingdom and aboue the rest Esai and Ieremie foretold that it should be such a kingdom that the gouernment thereof should consist in the spirit worde to these especially Zacharias hath here respect The other as Osee Micheas and the rest doe speake of the same kingdom but not so manifestly Verse 71. That he would deliuer vs from our enemies and from the handes of all that hate vs. The Euangelist hath hitherto generally rehearsed what that kingdom of Christ is whereof the Prophets prophesied Wherein this kingdom of saluation consisteth Nowe he speaketh of it also but particularly declaring wherein it consisteth First in this that he deliuereth vs from the handes of our enemies yea and from all them that hate vs. Ye see here and vnderstand most dearely beloued that this verse doth witnes most plainely declare that we which are his people and kingdom doe liue amongst enemies and that no other is to be looked for of vs but to be hated of them That also the force qualitie and nature of this kingdom consisteth in this that it deliuereth vs out of the handes of all them that hate vs as the Prophet Dauid sayth Psal 110. The Lord shall send the rod of thy power out of Sion be thou ruler in the middes of thine enemies And Psal 45. Thine arrowes are very sharpe euen in the middes of the Kings enemies It is a delight vnto Christ
vnto vs the couenant made to Abraham Thus he sayth to Abraham By my selfe haue I sworne sayth the Lorde that in blessing I will blesse thee And in thy seede c. Which words the Prophets diligently held marked hādled alwaies trusted vnto them for that he doth here solemnly sweare that he might wholy assure vs that he would poure forth his blessing vpon vs. And now the time is present the hower is come wherein he hath sworne that saluation should come vnto vs as it is declared Mar. 16. Goe ye into all the world preach the Gospell to euery creature he that shall beleue be baptised shall be saued but he that will not beleeue Abraham merited not the promise shall be damned Men surely haue not merited it no not Abraham him selfe who was not made partaker of the promise seeing that he died long before the fulfilling thereof In spirit in deede and faith he was partaker of it but he liued not so long til the Gospel was reuealed to the whole world The promise therfore was made vnto him although as I haue sayd he looked not for the fulfilling therof in this life That is his life was not prolonged vntill the preaching of the Gospell in the whole world although in faith he obtained the Gospell for him selfe Wherefore it can not be sayd that that promise was due to his merits otherwise he must haue liued in the earth vntill the fulfilling thereof and a due price or reward must haue bene payd vnto him But now the performing of the promise was after his death so that euery one must needes confesse that that promise was not made to Abraham because of his merits Againe it can not be sayd The Gentiles merited not the enioying of the promise that the Gentiles which enioy this promise haue obtained it by their merits which then were not God promiseth to the fathers and performeth not he performeth to the Gentiles to whom notwithstāding no promise was made who all at that time were not God will alwayes retayne to him self his honour and be the same God although the wicked world can not be so perswaded He chasteneth reproueth rebuketh prouoketh stirreth allureth doth whatsoeuer is to be done but the worldlings rob him of his honour and attribute it to them selues that is they will not acknowledge that whatsoeuer they possesse or haue it commeth vnto them by the only grace of God When therefore we glory of such good thinges acknowledge not God to be the author and giuer of them we make our selues as God and him as our seruaunt So he is dishonoured and the honour attributed vnto vs. But albeit we make marchandize of his honour yet he hath affirmed in the Scriptures that he will keepe his honour and glorye onely to him selfe that so he may be acknowledged to giue all things of his meere and only grace These thinges he that beleueth doth also receiue them he that doth not beleue shall at the lēgth receiue his due reward Zacharias sayth moreouer Verse 74. That we being deliuered out of the hands of our enemies might serue him without feare Verse 75. All the dayes of our life in holines and righteousnes before him He hath defined the nature and propertie of this kingdom that is the couenant made with Abraham that in his seede all the nations of the earth should be blessed c. Which words of blessing thus sayth he I will interpret vnto you that being deliuered out of the handes of our enemies we may serue him without feare all our life long in holines and righteousnes before him Which to the world and our flesh sauoureth not well For the world thus murmureth here I had thought that he woulde haue giuen vs some pretious thing as a purse well stuffed with money a rich wife fayre and bewtifull children goodly houses and whatsoeuer the world is delighted in But now I perceiue it to be otherwise I heare that we must without feare serue him in holines righteousnes and so please him Wherefore it shall be meete that we apply hereunto spirituall eyes and eares that we may more rightly consider and vnderstand the wordes Whereas he sayth that he will deliuer vs from all our enemies it is againe thus to be vnderstood that this kingdom is placed in the middes of enemies and notwithstanding that it is not therefore destroyed but that alwayes all the enemies and aduersaries thereof are ouercome We must vnderstand also that the deliuerance from our enemies tendeth hereunto that we should alwayes obey him that deliuereth vs without any feare And this is a Christian thing an amiable kingdom that a Christian shall leade his life without feare Howbeit God hath bestowed this vpon vs that we should hereafter serue him alone The words without feare include in them that we shall quietly enioy the good thinges of this present world A Christian how he liueth without feare of the world to come For a Christian is sure and certaine of the forgiuenes of his sinnes although he as yet feeleth them as we haue sayd a litle before He is certaine that death hath no power in him that Satan doth not ouercome him that the worlde can not preuaile against him Such a hart is without all perill and feare plainly free from them Which doe not thou so vnderstand as though we do not feele sinne at all but that we are greatly grieued when sinnes trouble vs when the image or sight of death terrifieth vs when as being reproched and sclaundered of the world we stand as destitute and haue none in this earth to whom we may turne vs or resort for succour but God alone These thinges in deede are felt but they doe not preuaile nor ouercome vs for the hart notwithstanding remaineth safe and quiet in God So pouertie also is felt when thou art pinched with hunger hast not wherewithall to fill thy belly to maintaine thy wife and bringe vp thy children nor any certaine place where to dwell and abide but all these thinges shall not hurt thee thou must aske of God whatsoeuer thou needest serue him without feare as our present text declareth But herein we doe for the most part behaue our selues not as Christians we iudge after our owne affection and sense according as the world doth blame vs or report euill of vs. Also when our fieldes haue no corne no money is in our purse we thinke our selues vtterly destitute and forsaken But a true Christian with shut eyes and eares sayth with Paule speaking to the Galathians O flesh sinne death ye are dead vnto me Gal. 2. 6. and I againe am dead vnto you that Christ may liue in me The world is crucified vnto me and I vnto the worlde That is the worlde hath no care or regard of me and my preaching and life is mocked and scorned of it But with the same measure that thou measurest vnto me I will measure to
Idle wordes Now I call them idle words which make neither to the edifying of faith nor to the vse of our corporall life For there be things enow both profitable and pleasaunt which when it pleaseth vs to speake we may talke of in the short time of this life as of Christ of loue and other things either necessary or profitable Whereof Paule admonisheth when he sayth but rather giuing of thankes For our daily speech ought to be the praise of God and giuing of thankes to him as well priuatly as publikely in sermons for such infinite good thinges as he hath giuen vnto vs in Christ euen vnspeakeable But such is the maner of our reason nature that necessary and profitable thinges are neglected and foolish friuolous things are chiefly regarded Now marke here if Paul doth not suffer in Christians speeches that be onely pleasant and tending to mirth what thinkest thou would he say of that pestilēt backebyting and sclaundering which reigneth now in all companies of men euen them that be priuate when two oftentimes doe talke togither Yea what would he say of them which openly in sermons do as it were bite and rent one an other with reprochful wordes and maliciously accuse and speake euill one of an other For this ye know that no whoremonger neither vncleane person nor couetous person which is an idolater hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God In these wordes he doth very plainly pronounce against them which are infected with such vices that they are heathen vnder the name of Christians how many soeuer do not bring forth the frutes of faith This is a briefe and a certaine sentence A fornicator an vncleane person and a couetous person haue denied the faith 1. Tim. 5.8 He that is a fornicator hath denied the faith an vncleane person hath denied the faith a couetous person hath denied the faith all such are Apostataes periured traitours towards God as Paul writeth also vnto Timothe of him the neglecteth them that be of his familie If there be any sayth he that prouideth not for his owne namely for them of his houshold he denieth the faith and is worse then an Infidell How could he more seuerely and terribly fraie vs from vices For he sayth For this ye know as if he sayd Do not so much as dout count it not for a play neither let it be a sport vnto you neither comfort your selues with vaine hope of a Christian name and for that ye are counted Christians these thinges shall profit you no more then it profited the Iewes that they were the children of Abraham and Disciples of Moses It was spoken to all which Christ sayth Matth. 7 Not euery one that sayth vnto me Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdome of heauen but he that doth the will of my Father which is in heauen Two very forcible meanes to stirre vs vp vnto godlines there is neede of doing and our faith must be proued by workes Whom therefore that great force of heauenly fire shall not enflame vnto godlines that is the admonition of the incomparable loue of God toward vs which he set in the first place him let these horrible threatnings of hell fire moue to wit whereas he witnesseth that as many as wil not follow God and walke in loue and shew forth their faith by their workes are neither the sonnes of God nor heires of his kingdome whereupon it followeth that they are vndoutedly heires with Satan of hell fire Whom therefore these two so mightie prouokements shall not stirre vp to the feare of God godlines with all diligence to doe the dutie of a Christian he is plainly a blocke and a stone hauing a hart harder then the anuill as Iob sayth He particularly reproueth a couetous person The couetous man an idolater and pronounceth him an Idolater or worshipper of images whereby surely he declareth how greatly he is displeased with them that are infected with this vice and in the third chapter of his Epistle to the Colossians he sayth also the same thing of him The cause hereof I thinke to be this other sinners vse onely that thinge wherein they offend and make it serue their lust and desire so the fornicator and vncleane person vse their body to pleasure the proud person vseth riches learning the fauour of men and such like vnto glory onely this miserable Idolater is a slaue to his money and riches and his sinne is that he spareth his money and goods keepeth and hourdeth them vp dareth not apply them neither to his owne vse nor to the vse of other but doth plainly serue and worship them as his god and so much esteemeth them that he would sooner lose and suffer to perish the kingdome of God then he would spende his money or giue the value of a rush toward the maintaining either of a preacher or an instructer of youth wherby the word of God and his kingdom might be furthered Forasmuch therefore as all the trust and hope of such a man is reposed in money and not in God alone who giueth him aboundantly whereby to liue money is worthely called his god and he him selfe said to be an Idolater and hath no inheritance in the kingdom of heauen What can be inuented more filthy and pestilent then this disease Wo vnto thee incredulitie howe an abominable and hurtfull euill art thou We must take heede we be not deceiued with vaine wordes Let no man deceiue you with vaine wordes These are the vaine wordes of them which extenuate and make light of fornication and such like sinnes as though they were not greatly euill or did so much offend God There were not wanting Philosophers and Poets among the Heathen which counted all vse of lecherie beside onely adulterie lawfull as a thing naturall as is to vse meate and drinke So sayth Terence It is not a wickednes beleeue me for a yong man to follow harlots c. But this is to be ignorant of God and to liue according to the sore of concupiscence as the Gentiles were wont to doe Moreouer such vaine words are those which albeit they haue some likelihood of truth yet in deede are trifling and shall not excuse any So couetousnes doth not want a cloke and pretence for it selfe for him that seeketh his owne with the discommoditie of others they call a good husband industrious one that looketh to his busines although in the meane while the poore perish with hunger or are otherwise afflicted aboue their strength Wherefore such speeches are prophane and heathnish by which loue is extinguished they which giue eare to them beleeue them are deluded with a vaine hope For for such things commeth the wrath of God vpon the children of disobedience This is an other light which we ought to follow leauing the obscure light of reason which doth not greatly condemne fornication The wrath vēgeance of God hangeth ouer fornicators
vvordes and iudgement I make no small account of but aftervvard entring into deeper consideration of the matter and vveying on the one side the great ignorance of many euen in matters of saluation togither vvith the dayly dishonouring of God by vngodly life and on the other side the diuine doctrine and most vvholsom exhortations vvhich these Sermons conteine I vvas more forcibly stirred vp thereunto and thought that the painefull perusing of them and frutefull follovving of that vvhereof they entreat vvould be a souereigne salue to help to cure such daungerous diseases For by them may they learne to knovv one onely true God and vvhom he hath sent Iesus Christ and the infinit riches vvhich are comprised in him and offered vnto vs through him of God his Father that he humbled him selfe to exalt vs that he became a seruaunt to set vs at libertie that he vvas empouerished to make vs rich that he dyed for our sinnes rose again for our iustification that through his meanes mercie hath svvallovved vp miserie and bounty hath ouercome all euill finally that vvithout him there is no ioy nor consolation no peace nor quietnes no felicitie nor saluation but that he is the onely meanes by vvhich all good thinges are attained so that they vvhich enioy him receiue not one gift alone as vvith Salomon vvisedom vvith Samson strength vvith Iob patience vvith Paule zeale c but for pouertie they receiue riches for vveakenes strength for folly vvisedom for seruitude freedom for griefe ioy for sinne righteousnes for death life yea all good thinges vvhatsoeuer VVherefore if the faithfull man be pressed vvith pouertie he may here learne that by Christ he is adopted to be the Sonne of God and so may be comforted saying to him selfe Hovv can he be poore vvhich hath God to his Father vvho both is able to giue all thinges necessary for his is the earth and all that therein is and also vvill giue the same because he is most louing and gracious to his children Againe if he feele in him selfe vveaknes he may learne here that he is not able of him selfe to attaine vnto strength but that it is the gift of Christ vvho strengtheneth such as beleeue in him so may be stirred vp by harty prayer to aske the same of him that he vvill vouchsafe by his holy spirit to strengthen and confirme him that he may be able to performe that by grace vvhich by nature and of him selfe he shall neuer be able to doe as mightely to subdue the rebellious flesh strongly to resist and at the last valiauntly to ouercome the tentations of Satan patiently to beare the troubles of the vvorld and constantly to contemne the allurements of the same Moreouer if he thirst after diuine and heauenly vvisedom vvhich is to knovv God aright and those thinges that are necessary to be knovvne to the attaining of saluation he may finde here largely and liuely set forth that Christ came his Fathers Embassadour and Messenger to men that by him they might be brought to the right knovvledge of God and into all truth so that by him vve are enlightened vvith the knovvledge of God by him vve are instructed in all truth and consequently by him vve obtaine diuine and heauenly vvisedom Here also shall he learne that Christ vvas made vnder the lavve that he might redeeme them vvhich vvere in bondage vnder the lavve of seruile bondmen make them free sonnes euen the children of God Furthermore if griefe and heauines come vpon him he is here taught vvhere true ioy may be had euen in Christ Iesus alone that in him onely he may fynde sure comfort souereigne medicines present remedie true ioy of heart and quietnes of conscience Finally vvhereas vve are synnefull and haue by our synnes iustly deserued Gods eternall vvrath and most heauie vengeance he shall here learne that Christ hath payed the ransome for our synnes and pacified Gods most grieuous vvrath and displeasure iustly conceiued against vs. And because it is not sufficient that due satisfaction be made for synnes and Gods vvrath appeased but vve must also appeare righteous before God it is here shevved that as by one mans disobedience many vvere made synners so by the obedience of one namely of Iesus Christ as many as beleeue in him shal be made righteous inasmuch as his righteousnes is imputed to them as their ovvne vvhereby they appeare perfectly righteous before God and are accepted of him so that vvhereas they had of themselues deserued eternall death they are through Christ accounted vvorthie of euerlasting life But vvhat doe I goe about to rehearse the infinite treasures vvhich the faithfull enioy through Christ it shall be sufficient to conclude vvith the Apostle Paule and say If God spared not his ovvne Sonne but gaue him for vs all to death hovv shall he not vvith him giue vs all thinges also Novv forasmuch as these thinges and the right meanes to attaine vnto them are in these Sermons of that most learned Diuine Martin Luther most learnedly yea euen diuinely set forth they may vndoutedly be a singular meane not onely to instruct them vvhich be ignorant in matters of saluation but also to increase and confirme the knovvledge of such as haue already vvell profited in Christian religion Hovvbeit there is annexed hereunto sound and absolute doctrine concerning good vvorkes and godly conuersation as being most necessary to be of all Christiās perfectly knovvne and effectually follovved For Christians through Christ being become the Sonnes of God hovv vnmeete yea hovv abhominable a thinge is it that they should resemble Satan in their doinges being novv made the members of Christ hovv detestable a thing is it that they should be instruments of iniquitie being novv the temple of the holy Ghost hovv beastly a thinge vvere it to defyle the same vvith the filthines of synne Finally hauing receiued so many and so great benefites of God through Christ hovv vvicked and shamefull a thinge should it be to be vnthankefull to so gracious a God to be disobedient to so louing a Father in any vvise to displease so mercifull a Sauiour But it shal be needelesse much to stand vpon this point seeing it is not vnknovvne to the faithfull vvith hovv great endeuour they ought to auoyde that vvhich is euill and embrace that vvhich is good and therefore shall syncere perfect doctrine concerning good vvorkes be vnto them no lesse commodious and profitable then needefull and necessarie For the causes aboue specified especially among other I haue right VVorshipfull though not finely yet faithfully translated these Sermons into our vulgar tounge and haue done myne endeuour for the publishing of the same vvhich I doe humbly dedicate to your VVorships protection by your zealous godlines and godly zeale chiefly moued thereunto vvhereby I am induced to thinke that you vvill vvell accept of them For as the godly do vvith Dauid delight in the Arke of the Couenant in the Tabernacle of the Lord in
the holy Mount Sion that is in the Church of God so doe they vvith the same Dauid desyre the building of this house of God the florishing of this vine the peace and prosperitie of this heauenly Ierusalem and therefore that vvhich is a meane and furtherance hereunto they doe not onely loue and like but also hiely esteeme and hartily praye for VVherefore right VVorshipfull I thinke it altogether superfluous to goe about vvith vvordes to procure your vvell liking and accepting of these Sermons forasmuch as they tend onely to this ende that the Church of God may by them be edified as in the premisses is of me declared VVhereas in translating them I haue vsed a plaine kynde of stile yet such as sufficiently expresseth the meaning of the author and not studied for curious vvordes eloquēt phrases the cause thereof is for that I preferre plainnesse vvith profit before much curiositie vvith smaller commoditie so that I nothinge at all feare that in this respect they shal be misliked of the godly vvhose misliking onely I endeuour to auoide Thus as it seemes vnto me hauing intreated sufficiently of those thinges vvhich I thought pertinent to my present purpose I doe here conclude desyring the Lord God that he vvill by his holy Spirit alvvayes gouerne and direct you in the true obedience of his blessed vvorde to the glorie of his diuine Name to the profit of your neighbours and comfort of your conscience so shall you assuredly haue prosperous successe in all your affayres and at the last obtaine euerlasting ioyes and endlesse felicitie by the onely meanes of Christ Iesus our Sauiour Your Worships humbly at commaundement W. GACE AN ADMONITION TO THE CHRISTIAN READER FOR the commendation of this worke and the Author thereof there shall not neede I trust at this present any great discourse to be made forasmuch as so many good bookes of the same writer be already set abroad whereby may sufficiently be coniectured what is to be thought of this also Againe because the worke it selfe is such conteining such matter of heauenly consolation that without any further commendation of other it yeldeth cause sufficient to commend it selfe Onely this then remaineth to intreat and exhort the reader but to peruse reade the same who in so doing shall fynde I doubt not neither to lacke great cause in vs to set forth these Sermons nor lesse necessitie in the readers to bestow paines in perusing and reading them for the dignitie of the matter and singular frute therein to be found For what more worthie matter can be thē to set forth Christ in his right glorie in his full riches and royall estate to the hearts and soules of men especially such as are heauie laden and distressed in spirit what more comfortable hearinge or doctrine more true then of forgiuenes and remission of synnes so graciously purchased so freely offered by our Sauiour so cleerely preached by his ministers or what riches more excellent then faith fixed in Christ and hope stablished in the promises of life or what studie more frutefull then to seeke the kingdome of God For where the frute of all other studies decayeth and hath his ende the frute of this study abydeth for euer And therefore not without cause we be so willed by our Sauiour him selfe first to seeke for this kingdome and righteousnes thereof promising withall in an other place that he which seeketh shall fynde In the seeking of which kingdom two special notes we haue to learne and search first the glorie grace of the King secondly the welth and felicitie of the subiects In which two partes as the whole summe of all our spirituall comfort most principally consisteth groūded in the holy Scriptures so of all expositors of the same Scriptures I know none or fewe in these our dayes more liuely to open these comforts vnto vs out of Gods worde then this Doctor and Preacher of these Sermōs here following which as he hath done most effectually first in his owne tounge to his contry people then in Latin to the learned so this translator hath no lesse plainly and faithfully englished the same for the commoditie and vse of our contryfolke of England By whose meanes and industrie this vantage we haue now gayned that we haue gotten vnto vs one good preacher in England more then we had before to the comfort and edification of all such as be disposed to read and learne So that in such townes and villages wherein before were mute ministers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this Preacher now may supplie the lacke and there be receiued as their person if they please preaching now in their owne speech vnto them and putting them to no charges of any tythes And in other places where more plentie of learned teachers is yet notwithstanding no hurt shall come to admit this stranger as a coadiutor or felow helper vnto them Whereby I nothing dout but in so doing all such as shal be willing to giue eare to this Preacher as well they that be learned shall fynde wherein to growe in more perfection as also the vnlearned wherein to be instructed sufficiently to their soules helth in Christ Iesu In whom I wish to thee and to all true Christian readers all spirituall grace and heauenly wisedom to blesse thy studies to prosper thy labours to stablish thy faith to multiplie thy consolations to direct thy wayes and finally to glorifie thee both body and soule in his blessed kingdome for euer Amen I. FOX T. V. A SERMON OF D. MARTIN LVTHER OF THE NATIVITIE OF CHRIST Luke 2. Verse 1. ANd it came to passe in those daies that there came a decree from Augustus Caesar that all the world should be taxed 2. This firste taxing was made when Cyrenius was gouernour of Syria 3. Therefore went all to be taxed euery man to his owne citie 4. And Ioseph also went vp from Galile out of a citie called Nazareth into Iudea vnto the citie of Dauid which is called Bethlehem because he was of the house and linage of Dauid 5. To be taxed with Marie that was giuen him to wife which was with childe 6. And so it was that while they were there the dayes were accomplished that she shoulde be deliuered 7. And she brought forth her first begottē sonne and wrapped him in swadling clothes layed him in a manger because there was no roome for them in the Inne 8. And there were in the same countrey shepeheards abiding in the field and watching their flocke by night 9. And loe the Angell of the Lord came vppon them and the glory of the Lorde shone about them and they were sore afrayd 10. Then the Angel sayd vnto them Be not afraid for beholde I bring you glad tydinges of great ioy that shall be to all people 11. That is that vnto you is borne this day in the citie of Dauid a Sauiour which is Christ the Lord. 12. And this shall be a signe to you ye shall finde