too prouoke Gods wrath dayly by our wicked dooynges as folke that doo in deede fyght ageinst him God then must bee fayne too looke vppon vs in the person of his onely sonne or else he must needes hate vs and abhorre vs. Too bee short our sinnes doo set God and vs so farre at oddes that wee cannot so soone come towardes him but by and by wee feele his maiestie vtterly ageinst vs and as it were armed too put vs too vtter confuzion But now remayneth too see how God receyueth vs intoo his fauour by meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ. That is the thing which Saint Paule meaneth in adding that in him vvee haue redemption through his blud that is too vvit forgiuenesse of our sinnes according too the riches of Gods grace Heere wee bee first of all doone too vnderstand that the enmitie which God beareth vs is not in respect of our nature but in respect of our corruption I say it is not in respect of nature for as in respect that God hath creased vs it is certeine that he cannot hate vs But inasmuch as mankynd is vtterly marred and gyuen ouer too all naughtinessâ— God must needes bee as a mortall enemie too vs and as an aduersarie ageinst vs till the rememberance of our sinnes bee buryed out of his sight For wee bee subiect too euerlasting death till wee bee restored agein by reason whereof God being the fountaine of all iustice and rightâ—ousnesse dooth vtteâ—ly hate and abhorre the euill that he seeth in vs Therefore vntill such tyme as our sinnes bee blotted out it is vnpossible for vs too hope that God should eyther fauour or loue vs But let vs marke heere how S. Paule vseth twoo woordes too expresse how wee bee reconcyled too God First he setteth downe the Raunsom or Redemption which is all 〈◊〉 and afterward the forgiuenesse of sinnes Howe commeth it â—â—en too passe that Gods wrath is pacifyed that wee bee made at one â—ith him yea and that he accepteth and auâ—weth vs for his children â—t is by the pardoning of our â—umes sayeth S. Paule And furtherâ—ore bycause redemption is requisite thereuntoo he matcheth that â—ith it also Trew it is that as in respect of vs God wypeth away our â—â—mes of his owne free goodnesse and sheweth himseâ—fe altoogither â—â—untifull of himselfe without respect of any recompence for it at our â—â—ndes And in good soothe what man were able too make amendes 〈◊〉 the least fault he hath committed Then if euery of vs should imâ—loy his whole lyfe in making satisfaction for any one fault alone and 〈◊〉 that meanes seeke too winne fauour at Gods hande it is certeine â—â—at the same dooth farre surmount all our abilities And therfore God â—ust bee fayne too receyue vs too mercy without looking for any reâ—ompence or amendes at our handes But yit for all this the attoneâ—ent which is freely bestowed as in respect of vs did cost the sonne of God very deere For he found none other payment than the sheading â—f his owne blud insomuch that he made himselfe our borrowe both in ody and soule and answered for vs before Gods iudgement too get 〈◊〉 our discharge Our Lord Iesus Christ say I imployed himselfe holly both body and soule For it had not bin ynough for him to haue â—â—ffered so cruell and slaunderous a death in the syght of men but it â—houed him also too abyde such horrible anguishe in himselfe as iâ— God had bin become a iudge too him for he came too that poynt that 〈◊〉 susteyned the person of all sinners too make full amendes for them 〈◊〉 And so yee see why S. Paule hath matched those twoo woordes â—ogither in this streyne Therefore wee haue too marke first of all that wee can obteyne no 〈◊〉 at Gods hand nor be receyued of him till our sinnes bee â—â—yped 〈◊〉 and the rememberance of them cleane put away The reason â—hereof is as I sayd afore that God must needes hate sinne wherâ—â—euer he seeze it So then as long as he considereth vs as sinners he â—ust needes abhorre vs for there is not any thing in our selues nor in 〈◊〉 owne nature but al maner of naughtinesse confuzion Then are 〈◊〉 enemies and aduersaryes vntoo him till wee come too the remeâ—ie that S. Paule sheweth vs heere which is too haue our sinnes forgiuen Heereby wee see that no man can bee loued of God for any â—oorthinesse that is in himselfe For wherein lyeth the loue that God beareth vs I haue tolde you already that he must bee fayne too cast his eye vpon out Lord Iesus Christ not too looke a whit at vs But yit therewithall it is declared further that God dooth neuer lyke well of vs till he haue released vs oâ—r dettes and adopted vs too bee his children notwithstanding that wee bee woorthy of death before him Thus yee see that the assurance of our saluation as is sayd in the song of zacharie is that God bee mercifull too vs and forgiue vs our sinnes whereby wee were become his enemies Howbeit let vs also beare in mynd that the cleere release of our sinnes through Gods free goodnesse is not doone without the raunsome that was payd by our Lord Iesus Christ not in golde nor siluer as sayeth S. Peter in his first Epistle but in such wyse that he which was the vnspotted Lambe was fayne too serue that turne his owne selfe Wherefore whensoeuer wee intend too seeke Gods fauour and mercy let vs fasten all our wittes vpon the death passion of our Lord Iesus Christ that we may there fynd wherwith too appease Gods wrath And furthermore seyng that our sinnes are done away by such payment and satisfaction let vs vnderstand that wee cannot bring aught of our owne for the which wee should bee reconcyled vntoo god Wherin wee see how the diuell hath by his sâ—yghtes cut of all hope of saluation from the world by bearing men in hand that they must euery man raunsome himself and make his owne attonement with god And that is the very thing which men â—all good woorkes merites and vertewes in Papistrie For too what ende tend all the inuentions which they haue forged Why martir they themselues after so many fashions so as men neuer make an end day nor night but are euer still making of new wyndlasses and courses The marke that all these things ame at is too pacifie god And so all the good woorkes which are so counted in Papistrie are nothing else but meanes whereby too make amendes for sinne Howbeit that is but a defacing of the raunsome whereof S. Paule speaketh heere For there is as yee would say an inseparable bond betweene these twoo things namely that God putteth our sinnes out of his rememberance and drowneth them in the bottom of the sea and moreouer receiueth the payment that was offered him in the person of his only sonne Therefore wee cannot atteyne the one without the other Wherforeif wee intend too haue Gods fauour
full fed it shal bee but with wynd that is too say with vayne and tryfling imaginations as I told you this morning They therefore which deuyze patrones of their owne head and surmyze that God will fauor them for it and in the meane whyle let Iesus Christ alone must vnderstand that they bee so farre of from obteyning their requests that God dooth rather abhore them insomuch that when they once swarue from the ankerhold which is set foorth for vs in the scripture that is too wit from hauing our Lord Iesus Christ for their lodesman the Angels of heauen must needs forsake them and the Saints also to whom they behighted themselues must needs deny them yea al of them must set themselues ageinst them as aduersarie parties For there is no means for vs too bee matched with the Angels Prophets Apostles and Martirs till wee haue trew concord with them And how shall wee haue that By fayth that is too say according too the pure doctrine of the Gospell Not that it is ynough for vs too haue our eares beaten with it but that wee must receyue the things that God promiseth vs there so as wee abhorre all that euer Satan can set afore vs and haue none other guyde than only our Lord Iesus Christ who hath told vs that he is the lyght of the world and that whosoeuer walketh in him cannot stray But by the way wee must serche and examin our selues narrowly that wee take not a vayne cloke vnder the name of Iesus Christ as we see manie doo now adayes which protest themselues to bee Gospellers And euen among our selues what a number are there which will shew signes greate ynough that they bee willing too followe Gods woord But they think too discharge themselues with petie tryfles and when they haue once giuen eare too the doctrine and spoken a fewe good words then too their seeming God is hyghly bound vntoo them But heere it is shewed vs that wee haue none acquayntance at all with him vntill Iesus Christ dwell in our harts And that is the verye meane wherby too bee filled with his benefits and too haue his holie spirit dwelling and reigning in vs For vnlesse we feare God and walk in his obedience so as wee behaue our selues according too his will and all our wits and desyres ame thitherward it is a token that wee liue after the flesh as Saint Paule sayeth too the Galathians Therefore wee must shewe by our outward fruites that wee bee truly ioyned too Iesus Christ and that he hath made vs partakers of his holie spirit Now hereuppon Saint Paule addeth further that vvee must bee rooted and grounded in charitie This woord Charitie or loue may bee taken as well for the loue that God beareth vs as for the mutuall loue which wee ought to beare one towardes another But the verie trew and natiue sense of Saint Paule heere is that he ment too haue vs knit toogither For as he spake heeretoofore of Gods free loue towardes vs so now he sheweth how fayth importeth that wee should haue brotherly loue one towards another And the holy Scripture bringeth vs alwayes to that poynt insomuch that when there is any speaking of the full perfection of good lyfe fayth goeth before then comes Charitie next vntoo it For the end that wee must begin at is the vtter abacing of our selues too the end wee may seeke all our welfare at Gods hand and that our seeking of it there may bee first too acknowledge that he giueth vs all things in the person of his onely sonne and secondly too call vppon him too settle our fayth in him too flee wholly for refuge too his mercy and after as euery man feeleth himfelf bound vntoo him as all of vs are exceedingly so to acknowledge by our thanksgiuing that he is our rightuousnes our holynes our victorye our ioy our glorie and our happinesse that wee may performe the thiâ—g which is sayd in Ieremie whosoeuer glorieth let him glorie in the Lord bycause it is he that woorketh ryghtuousnesse Iustice and mercy Yee see then that wee must rest wholly vppon our God or else all the vertuousnesse which wee seeme too haue before men shal bee but filth and dung Now then haue wee fayth Charitie must be matched with it and wee must liue euenly and vpryghtly one with another euery of vs acknowledge thus I was not created for my self nor to seeke myne own priuate benefyte commoditie but for the benefite of my neighbours also And therfore let vs absteyne froÌ„ al guile wrong outrage and malice and indeuer to serue eche others turne according too our abilitie That is the perfection of good lyfe Saint Paule hauing spoken alredie of fayth addeth now that wee must also bee grounded in Charitie as if he should say wee must not haue alonly some fit or pang of loue as manie men haue but there must bee a stedfastnesse and euen holding on in it all our lyfe long For a thing may giue a greate blaze and yit quayle anon after Behold a huge building may be ouerthrowen with one blast of wynd if it be not set vppon a sure foundaton Also a man may set vp a greate tree but if the roote bee cut asunder what will come of it It must needes fall downe out of hand or else if it haue some hold a the one ende for a tyme it must needes wither at the heate of the Sunne Euen so is it with vs when we haue a greate zeale which is not well rooted in our hartes for it wil bee but as a maske or a gay showe before men That is the cause why Saint Paule exhorteth vs purposely too bee grounded in charitie too the intent too correct the vyce of louing by startes or fits as they say which is too common a thing Neuerthelesse it were a fondnesse too concluâ—â— therefore that our saluation were grounded vppon our good woorkes For heere he treateth not of the cause of our saluation but â—nly how wee ought too rule our lyfe Agein wee knowe there is but one onely foundation of the Church as S. Paule sayeth in the third chapter of the second Epistle too Coriâ—thians and as wee haue seene alredie in this selfsame Epistle and specially as Iesus Christ himself declareth in the sixteenth chapter of Saint Matthew And which is that foundation It is Iesus Christ and no man can lay any other than that which the Prophetes and Apostles haue layd and wee must hold our selues too it at this day and euen vntoo the worldes end And yit may wee not ceasse too bee rooted in loue by meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ. When men demaund what is the cause of our saluation by what meane wee be brought into his fauour and how wee may come vntoo hym and cal vpon hym with full trust wee must answeare it is bycause our Lord Iesus Christe is giuen vs and it is he in whom the fulnesse of the
he walked all his lyfe tyme as one vnknowen and vnesteemed and in the end was put too death and that not a common death but a death that was so reprochfull yea and cursed of Gods owne mouth that he was hild for accursed before God and his Angelles too the intent that wee myght be blissed for his sake and by his meanes Seeing then that Gods sonne was so abaced haue not wee good cause too stoope lowe For God requyreth not that wee should forgo anie thing of our owne when he exhorteth vs too lowlinesse And why for if wee knew what wee bee wee would stoope lowe ynough Our head was not in lyke plyght when he came downe hither For why As it is sayd in the .xvii. of Saint Iohn he possessed his diuine glorie and maiestie before the making of the world And yit for all that he voutsafed too abace himself in such wyze as in the syght and opinion of men that too outward apperance he seemed too haue vtterly giuen ouer his maiestie It is trew that he continued styll in his perfect state but that appeered not And that is the cause why Saint Paule vseth the woord Figure or Shape he appeered sayeth he in the shape of man For he meaneth that our Lord Iesus Christes clothing of himself with our flesh and his being despyzed and reiected were no derogation at all too his diuine essence And why for it was but an outward shape Then did he continue alwayes vnappayred and yit neuerthelesse he was seene too bee vnder all men Who wyll then refuze the same state that wee should not bee lowly after his example The fathers that liued vnder the Lawe perceyued alredye â—hat it behoued them too bee fashyoned lyke vntoo the image and patterne of our Lord Iesus Christ who was their head and yit they had but verie darke figures Now then seeing that Iesus Christ sheweth vs the way so as he is entered intoo the kingdome of heauen through many tribulations and intoo lyfe by death and is exalted on hygh after abacing lowe what excuce shall wee haue if wee seeing those things bee styll puffed vp with pryde and cannot fynd in our hartes too walke in meeknesse considering that wee bee nothing So then wheras Saint Paule speaketh of the lowe places of the earth he meaneth the humane nature which our Lord Iesus tooke vppon him for our saluation yea euen with addition of all the things that I haue toâ—ched For he shewed not himself as a great prince nother vsed he anie pompe or traynes of men too make himself dread in the world but as it is sayd in the two and fortith of Esay he brake not the broozed reede he quenched not the smoking flax nother was his voyce or crye hearde in the streetes Agein besydes this wee see how he suffered reproche and how he abode it paciently when he came too his death all men seemed too haue conspyred ageinst him Therfore wee must adde all these qualities too knowe how Iesus Christ descended into the lowe partes of the earth Howbeit if we compare his diuine maiestie with our nature wee may well call all the earth the lowe places although Iesus Christ had possessed the whole world yit had it bin nothing in comparison of his heauenly glorie For what are they which are in hyghest state of dignitie They doo but craule heere lyke Frogges or leape lyke Gressehoppers as sayth the Prophet Esay No maruell than though the whole earth bee termed a lowe and bace place in respect of heauen Howbeeit Saint Paules intent here was too note breefly that Iesus Christ voutsafed too stoope so lowe as too become a mocking stocke too the vnbeleeuers yea and euen too bee condemned and esteemed as a man accursed and forsaken of God all which things he indured for our saluation It is good reason therfore that wee should myldly and without geynsaying receyue Gods humbling of vs and beare in our selues the image of our Lord Iesus Christ by being shaken of despyzed and mocked for our simplicitie and that no man should â—â—ke vppon him or chalendge too himself the things that are none of his That is the effecte of Saynt Paules meaning Now he sayeth that he is gone vp aboue all heauens Wherin we see that the sonne of God hath not as now the lordship of this world For Saint Paules declaring that he is aboue all the heauens is too shewe that the dominion which he hath is heauenly and diuine and euerlasting For the heauens themselues shall passe away and they must needs vanish as Iesus Christ auoweth with his owne mouth Now if the heaues bee snbiect too chaunging and must bee doone away too be renewed agein if Iesus Christ dwelt in heauen he should bee subiect too the same state that is too say he should bee frayle and transitorie Then is he aboue all the heauens in his infinite glorie wherin there is nother chaunge nor turning about And theruppon he addeth that it is too fyll all things By this woord Fyll he meaneth that Iesus Christ is not so locked vp in anie one place but that wee may feele him present and that he dwelleth in vs and that he filleth all things But surely that is not with his bodie as some haue grossely imagined but it is with his power and with his spirituall benefyts and gifts Yit neuerthelesse Saint Paules intent heere is too betoken a presence of Christ too the end that wee may knowe that we haue not lost anie thing by his absenting of himself from the earth so as he dwelleth heere no more after a visible fashyon And why For he ceasseth not for all that too execute his power euery where and to fyll all things insomuch that wee haue all things of him which are requisite for our saluation That is in effect the verye meaning of S. Paule Wherfore let vs heere put in practize the exhortation that hath bin touched afore which is that wee cannot bee taken for Gods children except wee become lyke too him that hath the ryght of the first borne Sith it is so let vs willingly suffer our selues too be abaced that God may exalt vs for by that meane did our Lord Iesus come too his glorie Agein let vs apply all our senses to tast throughly what the mercie of God is in that it hath pleased him that his sonne which was his image should bee so abaced Let vs consider how greate the loue of our Lord Iesus Christ is in that he voutsafed to hide his diuine essence for a tyme and tooke not vppon him as belonged vntoo him but did as it were stoope downe too the syght of the world Sith wee see this let vs consider first of all how precious 〈◊〉 soules were too the sonne of God seeing he voutsafed too stoope so lowe for our saks and let vs esteeme of the Gospell wherby so greate a benefyte is communicated vntoo vs
what plyght haue I brought my self what shall I doo And that is the sorrow that Saint Paule speaketh of which wee must not shun But if wee neuerthelesse go on still in euill it is all one as if wee tooke pleasure in dryuing and chacing away of Gods spirit The Prophet Esay sayeth wee prouoke Gods spirit too bitternesse when wee refuze the good doctrine that he setteth afore vs But S. Paule passeth yit further heere For in deede it is a kynd of prouoking God too wrath when wee yeeld not too his doctrine which is a sure record of the care which he hath of our saluation and of the loue that he beareth vs But wee must come too the considering of euery of vs by himself God hath voutsafed to ingraue the beleefe of his Gospell in my hart too the intent I should bee sure of my saluation And how dooth he that By voutsafing to chooze mee for his house and too dwell in mee by his holy spirit Now then if I blot out this grace it is asmuch as if I ment to estraunge my self from God wilifully And therefore let vs beware of such extemitie and let vs hold our selues in awe And therewithall let vs marke also how Saint Paule addeth for the last woord that Gods sealing and marking of vs after that manner by his holy Ghost is ageinst the day of our redemption Hereby he sheweth vs that if wee will well ouercome Satans allurementes and the lustes of our flesh and all the temptations of the world wee must alwayes mynd the heauenly lyfe that is promysed vs and wheruntoo wee ought too trauell Now then Gods spirit sayth S. Paule is not giuen vs too bee withdrawen from vs agein when wee haue once felt his grace and power but too the intent that the seale and print of him should abyde with vs euen vntoo the day of our redemption that is too say tyll wee bee delyuered from this transitorie lyfe and from all the miseries wherwith wee bee beseeged Now therfore seeyng that God hath giuen vs his holy spirit too guyde and gouerne vs both in lyfe and death and with intent that wee should neuer bee depryued and destitute of him Let vs looke well too it that he may alwayes keepe the possession that he hath taken in vs and wee also inioy that inestimable benefite of his continuing with vs for euer that he may guide vs and hold vs alwayes vp by strong hand duryng all the course of our life The cause then why Saint Paule doth purposely call vs backe too the last day is too make vs lyue soberly knowing that like as wee haue neede too bee guided throughout by the power of Gods spirit so if wee bee depriued of it and estraunged from hym and left destitute of his grace it is too bee feared that wee shall fall intoo a reprobate mynd As touching the day of our redemption S. Paule by that woord vnderstoode the happinesse which wee hope for and which is hidden from vs as yit It is trew that wee were redeemed in the person of our Lord Iesus Christ but wee inioy not that benefyte as yit Wee may well say Iesus Christ is our Redeemer that is to say he hath deliuered vs and set vs free from the bondage and subiection of death sinne wherin wee were by paying our raunsome and by makyng our attonement Ye see then that wee bee redeemed as in respect of the sonne of God for he hath performed all that was requisite for our deliuerance and saluation as he hym selfe auoweth with his own mouth But when wee come too our selues wee fynde not thys redemption there And for that cause as well in thys place as in the eyght too the Romanes Saint Paule sayth that the last day wherin Iesus Christ will appeere is the day of our saluatioâ— and deliueraunce And why Wee see what a number of miseries beset vs round about yea wee carye them with vs and they bee inclozed in our bodyes and in our soules It behoueth vs therfore too seeke a better state than that which we see heere And for the same cause is it sayd that our saluation lyeth in hope and that wee hope not for the thing that wee see but that God intendeth too feede our hope And wheras he sheweth not the things too our eyes which he promiseth and which it behoueth vs too wayt for at his hand it is too the end that although wee bee forlorne wretches in this world yit wee should not ceasse too reioyce in him knowing that wee shal not bee disappoynted in wayting for the heritage which he hath purchaced for vs And so yee see what is ment by the woord Redemption which is set downe heere Wherefore let vs learne too bee so armed and fenced with Gods spirit too fyght ageinst all Satans temptations as he may neuer fynde vs vnprouided nor out of order And that that may bee doone let vs pray God so too ingraue his truth in vs by the same spirit as wee may get victorie by it and ouercome all that is ageinst our saluation and that we continuing in our vocation that God calleth vs too may take corage and bee pacient vntyll our Lord Iesus Christ who is our lyfe doo appeare that our lyfe and our full happinesse may also bee manifested in him at his comming And now let vs fall downe before the maiestie of our good God with acknowledgment of our faults praying him too take vs too mercy and not too impute the great number of our sinnes vntoo vs whereby wee bee blame woorthy before him but rather too beare with our infirmities and too clenze vs of them from day too day that wee may growe and increace in all his gracious gifâ—es and put farre from vs all euill that may seduce vs and thrust vs out of the way and that by that meane wee may draw neerer and neerer vntoo him vntyll wee bee fully knit vntoo him at the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ. That it may please him too graunt this grace not onely too vs but also too all people and Nations of the earth c. The .xxxiii. Sermon which is the thirteenth vppon the fourth Chapter and the first vppon the fifth Chapter 31. Let all bitternesse and hastinesse and wrath and roring and iniurie bee put from you with all spytefulnesse 32. And bee yee gentle one too another and kynd harted forgiuing one another euen as God though Christ forgaue you The fifth Chapter 1. Bee yee therfore folowers of God as deere children 2. And vvalke in loue euen as Christ loued vs and gaue himselfe for vs an offering and sacrifice vnto God for a sent of good sauour WEe knowe that all Gods children not only should bee peaceable themselues but also procure peace too the vttermost of their power and make attonement whereas was disagreement and stryfe forasmuch as it is the marke that our Lorde Iesus Christ hath giuen vs Now if we ought too
acknowledgeth 〈…〉 children Seyng then that God had an eye vntoo vs in the 〈…〉 of Iesus Christ it followeth that he fyndeth not any thing in 〈…〉 wee myght lay before him too cause him too elect vs This 〈…〉 is the thing that wee haue too remember further 〈…〉 afterward that it is too the end we should be pure 〈…〉 before God namely in Loue. This woord Loue 〈…〉 referred vntoo God as if it were sayd that wee shall fynde 〈…〉 reason why God voutsafed too take vs for his children but 〈…〉 owne free loue Or else as it is verye lyke S. Paule 〈…〉 what the trew soundnesse and perfection of the faythfull is 〈…〉 too walk in all rightuousnesse before god Wee cannot laye 〈…〉 the whole as now but it shall suffyze too tell breefly whertoo 〈…〉 had an eye For he sheweth heere that although Gods 〈…〉 free and doo beate downe and put away all the woorthinesse 〈…〉 and vertewes of men yet notwithstanding it serueth not to 〈…〉 leaue too doo euill and too lead a disordered lyfe or too runne at rouers but rather too withdraw vs from the euil wherin wee were plundged For naturally wee can doo nothing eâ—se but prouoke Gods wrath wickednesse will alwayes reigne in vs wee bee hild downe vnder the bonds and tyranny of Satan God therfore must bee fayne too woorke too change vs for all goodnesse coÌ„meth of his election sayeth S. Paule Yee see then that the thing wheruntoo he ment too bring the faythfull was to make them knowe that lyke as God choze them of his owne free goodnesse so he gyueth them not leaue too yeeld themselues to naughtinesse but intendeth too keepe and preserue them vndestâ—ed too himselfe For Gods chozing of vs and his calling of vs therwithall vnto holynesse are things matched insâ—perably togither accordingly also as S. Paule sayeth in another text that wee be not called to vncleâ—enesse fâ—â—thinesse but to be dedicated too God in all godlynesse and holynesse Now forasmuch as we cannot lay foorth the whole at this tyme let vs looke too make our profit of this Lesson And seing wee bee now about too prepare our selues to the receyuing of our Lord Iesus Christs supper which is a pawne vntoo vs as well of our election as of the hope of our saluation and of all the spiriâ—uall benefyts that come foorth of this welspring and fountaine of Gods free goodnesse let vs consider that there he vttereth his riches vntoo vs not too the end that wee should abuse them but rather of purpose too be glorified for them at our hands not only with our mouthes but also with our whole lyues And forasmuchas wee hold all things of him let vs also learne too bee his and too giue ouer our selues too the obeying of him that he may inioy vs quietly And let vs alwayes shoote at this mark namely too get a sure warrant that he taketh and auoweth vs for his children by bearing his marks by shewing in bery deede that wee bee rightly gouerned by his holy spirit in calling vppon him as our father Thus yee see in effect what wee haue too marke in this text till the residew may followe Now let vs fall down before the maiestie of our good God with acknowledgmeâ—t of our faults praying him too make vs feele them in such wise as wee may continually profit in his feare and be strengthened more and more in the same in the meane whyle so to beare with our weaknesse as wee may alwayes inioy his grace euen till he haue set vs in possession of all things at such time as he shall haue doone away our sinnes and blotted them quite out for our Lord Iesus Christs â—ake And salet vs all say Almightie God heauenly father c. ¶ The third Sermon vppon the first Chapter 〈…〉 hath choozen vs in Christ before the foundation of the 〈…〉 too the end vvee should bee holy and vnblamable 〈…〉 him in Loue. 〈…〉 hath predestinated vs too adopt vs too himself by 〈…〉 Christ according too the good pleasure of his vvill 〈…〉 the praise of the glory of his grace vvherethrough he 〈…〉 accepted vs in his vvelbeloued I Began too shewe you this morning that it is not lawfull for vs too take libertie too loocenesse vnder colour that God hath chozen vs before the making of the world as though it were meete for vs too giue ouer our selues too all naughtinesse bycause wee cannot perishe seyng that God hath taken vs for his children For wee must not put the thinges a sunder which he hath 〈…〉 toogither Seyng then that he hath chozen vs too bee holy 〈…〉 in purenesse of lyfe our election must bee as a roote that 〈…〉 good fruites For so long as God lettes vs alone in our owne 〈…〉 wee can doo nothing but all manner of naughtinesse bycause 〈…〉 so great corruption and frowardnesse in maâ—â—es nature that 〈…〉 they thinke or doo is contrarie too Gods rightuousnesse 〈…〉 there is none other shift but too bee chaunged by god And 〈…〉 â—ommeth this chaunge but onely of the grace that wee spake 〈…〉 for that he did elect and chooze vs for his children before 〈…〉 borne intoo the world Herewithall wee haue too marke 〈…〉 that God letteth his choozen ones go for a tyme so as they 〈…〉 too bee strayd away vtterly lost yit bringeth them home 〈…〉 too his flocke when it pleaseth him And that serueth too 〈…〉 the more and too make his goodnesse and mercy so much the 〈…〉 knowen too the whole world If God should make all his 〈…〉 too walke in perfectnesse of conuersation euen from their 〈…〉 it should not bee so well discerned that the same 〈…〉 of the grace of his holy spirit But when wretched folke that lyued looâ—ely and were giuen too all naughtinesse for a time are quite chaunged that cannot come too passe without Gods woorking putting too of his hand Thus yee see that the cause why God delayeth the calling of those whom he had chozen is say I too touche them too the quicke by his holy spirit that he may make them too walke in his obedience For when wee see them refourmed vpon the suddayne and beyond the common expectation and opinion of men therin we perceyue that God hath vttered his power in them as I sayde afore And agein on the other part euery of vs is conuicted by experience that wee bee beholden too God for all the good that is in vs For when wee bee naturally inclyned too any vyce and afterward the same is corrected wee perceyue well that God hath looked mercifully vppon vs Yee perceyue then that wee haue so much the more cause too humble vs seyng wee were in the way of perdition till he had drawen vs out of it And it standeth vs in hand too mark that well For there are some fantasticall heades which imagin that God dooth so guyde his chozen ones by his holy spirit that they bee sanctifyed
aforehand eueÌ„ from the tyme that they bee borne intoo the worlde as soone as they come out of their moothers womb but the contrarie appeereth And in good sooth wee see how S. Paule in another text speaking too the faythfull sayeth some of you were plundged in couetousnesse some were giuen too crueltie some were scorners some were whoremongers and looee lyuers and othersome were gluttons and drunkardes and too bee short yee were full of all vnclenesse but God hauyng chaunged you and made you cleane from such filthinesse and infection hath dedicated you too himselfe Agein he sayeth too the Romanes you â—ught too bee ashamed of the lyfe which you led before he drewe you too himselfe So then whereas it is sayd in this text that God choze his seruantes to make them walke in holinesse of life it is not ment that he is bound too gouerne them with his holy spirit eueÌ„ from their chyldhood forth For as I haue sayd alredy experience sheweth that he letteth them runne astray till conuenient tyme bee come for too call them But yit must wee alwayes beare in mynd that Gods choozing of vs was too the end too call vs too holinesse of lyfe For if he should let vs alone still as wretched castawayes surely wee could doo nothing but all manner of naughtinesse according too the corruption that is in vs The good then proceedeth of his free bestowed mercy which he hath vsed alredy towardes vs before wee were borne yea 〈…〉 the world was made Thus yee see in effect what wee haue 〈…〉 this streyne And so the blasphemies of such as would 〈…〉 praise are repressed which make a iarre and as it were 〈…〉 God 's free election and indeuer of dooyng well 〈…〉 Hath God chozen vs Then let euery of vs doo what 〈…〉 wee cannot petishe And what shoulde wee passe of 〈…〉 good or euill seying that our saluation is grounded vppon 〈…〉 grace and not vppon any vertew The answere 〈…〉 easie namely that if Gods election were not looke 〈…〉 thoughtes and appetites there are in vs so many 〈…〉 should there bee ageinst all rygâ—â—uousnesse for wee tende all 〈…〉 euill and wee bee not only inclyned too it but wee bee as it 〈…〉 hot with it and wee runne too it with frentik 〈…〉 cause the diuell possesseth all such as are not reformed by 〈…〉 spirit And so we must needes conclude that our giuing 〈…〉 too doo good is for that God guydeth and leadeth vs 〈…〉 his holy spirit and all bycause of his election 〈…〉 erewhyle wee must not separate the things that God 〈…〉 toogither For wee bee not chozen too take leaue too doo 〈…〉 list but too shewe by our deeds that God hath adopted vs 〈…〉 children and taken vs intoo his keeping too the intent too 〈…〉 by his holie spirit and too knit vs too himselfe in all 〈…〉 ryghtuousnesse 〈…〉 let vs mark also that although God haue reformed vs 〈…〉 in the good waye and made vs too feele that he hath 〈…〉 vs alredie to subdew vs to his word and to make vs serue 〈…〉 in all things yit doth it not therfore follow that we be 〈…〉 at the first day no nor yit in all our whole lyfetyme 〈…〉 sayes not that God bringeth his chozen and faythfull ones 〈…〉 poynt of perfection 〈◊〉 he sayes that he draweth them 〈…〉 And so are wee but in the way thitherward euen vntill our 〈…〉 Therfore as long as wee liue in this world let vs learne too 〈…〉 go foreward more and more assuring ourselues that there is 〈…〉 somewhat amisse in vs For they that imagin anie 〈…〉 are as good as bewitched with hippocrisie and pryde or 〈…〉 no feeling nor feare of God in them but mocke him 〈…〉 face For he that examineth himselfe shall alwayes fynd 〈…〉 of vyces as he shal bee ashamed of them if he consider them well They then which say that wee can come too anie perfection whyle wee dwell in this mortall bodie doo well shew that eyther they bee vtterly blynded with diuelishe pryde or else that they bee 〈…〉 folk voyd of all religion and godlinesse As for our part 〈◊〉 vs mark as I touched afore that God hath chozen vs too the 〈◊〉 wee â–ª should bee blamelesse Howbeeit that wee bee not able too bee so till wee bee quyte râ—d of all our infirmities and departed 〈◊〉 of this prison of sin wherin wee bee hild fast as now And therfore when wee feele anie vyces in vs let vs fyght manfully ageinst them and not bee out of hart as though wee were not Gods children bycause wee bee not yit faultlesse before him but that our sinnes are alwayes before our eyes which make vs giltie Although then that wee fynd neuer so manie miseries in ourselues too thrust vs out of the way â–ª Yit let vs go on still assuring our selues that as long as wee liue heere beneath vppon the earth our waye is neuer at an ende but wee 〈◊〉 alwayes go still forewarde and wee can neuer come too our resting place Lo how the faythfull ought too harten and strengthen themselues although they bee not perfect And let the same also cause 〈◊〉 too groâ—e and sigh vnder the burthen which wee bee driuen too feele For the perfection of the faythfull and of Gods children is too acknowledge their owne weaknesse and too pray God not onely too amend all their misdooings but also too beare with them of his infinite goodnesse and not too call them too account with extremitie and rigor Yee see then that the thing whereuntoo wee must resort for succour is Gods mercy whereby he couereth and buryeth all our sinnes bycause wee haue not yit atteyned too the marke whereunto he calleth vs that is too wit too a holy and faultlesse lyfe But howsoeuer the world go with vs let vs go foreward still and take good heede that 〈◊〉 step not out of the right way If the woord Loue bee referred too men then S. Paule ment too betoken the trew rightâ—â—â—â—ousnesse of Christians that is too wit to deale faithfully and vprightly For wee knowe that the hypocrites would content God with ceremonies and Gewgawes as men terme them and in the meane whyle some of them shal bee giuen too catching and snatching some shal be full of enuie malice crueltie and treason some 〈◊〉 drunkardâ— and othersome shal be whoremongers and looce 〈…〉 themselues the brydle too all naughtinesse And yit for all 〈…〉 al is safe if they may make a fewe moppes mowes 〈…〉 some countenaunce of holinesse by vsing a fewe 〈…〉 Paule too cut of all such stuffe sayeth that wee must walke in 〈…〉 is the bond of perfection and the fulfilling of the Lawe if 〈…〉 too haue our lyfe allowed of god And so yee see what wee 〈…〉 marke vppon that strey ne 〈…〉 let vs marke that in this place S. Paule exhorteth 〈…〉 acknowledge our selues beholden to God for all the vertew and 〈…〉 that is in vs As for example if wee
he liketh well of And what is the cause of it Wee are all of vs the chyldren of Adam and we are all of one mould Why then inlighteneth hee the one sort and letteth the other alone in their blyndnesse There is none other cause but his owne choyse So then although we can not conceyue nother by wyt nor by reason howe God hath chozen vs before the making of the world yit wee know it by his shewing of it vntoo vs and experience it selfe auoucheth it sufficiently in asmuch as we be inlightened by faith What is the cause that I receyue the Gospell and sticke to it and in the meane whyle others abyde styl in their beastly blockishnesse or rather beare a spiteful rancour ageynst the doctrine of saluation If I imagine that it commeth of myne owne towardnesse I am a traytour too god For wee must alwayes come backe to that which wee haue seene alredy and say Who is hee that hath made thee to excel others S. Paule then dooth in that saying pull downe all loftinesse of man to the end that no man should aduance hymselfe nor alledge that he hath â—ught of his owne Wee must not thinke saith he that wee haue any woorthynesse of our selues but that euery whit of it commeth of god Therfore in this Text S. Paule sheweth by experience howe the Eâ—â—esians had byn chozen of God that it behoued them to haue their â—â—ole faith grounded thereupon that is to wyt vpon Gods free goodâ—â—sse And for proofe thereof saith he ye haue heard the doctrine of 〈◊〉 Gospell and beleeued it But how commes that to passe He sheâ—â—th that it must needes bee that they were confirmed by the holy Ghost Now if they were confirmed it was of necessitie that the holy ghost must needes haue wrought beforehand And so it is to no purpose to enter intoo so deepe a maze as Gods euerlasting ordinaunce For he sheweth vs as it were with his finger how he hath chozen vs at least wise if we play not the churles with hym but acknowledge the good that he hath done vs and bee fully perswaded and resolued in our selues that there is none other cause of it than for that hee had giuen vs his marke from before all euerlastingnesse that is too say for that he had reserued vs too hym selfe as his owne chyldren Nowe then wee see S. Paules meanyng and therfore let vs learne too leaue making of long raunges when the cace concerneth our imputyng of all things to Gods onely mere mercy For the faith that we haue dooth shew it wel ynough â–ª bycause that as I haâ—e sayd afore the same commeth not from our owne moother witte but as a gifte that commeth from aboue such a one as God communicateth not too all men without exception but onely so such as he lysteth Furthermore heere are many woords well worth the weying For on the one syde S. Paule intendeth too magnifie the grace of the holy Ghost by shewing that wee can haue no part nor portion in our Lord Iesus Christ nor in any of all the benefites that he hath purchased for vs except God put vs in possession of our saluation by his holie spirit That therfore is one poynt And yit notwithstanding S. Paule fayleth not too shew therwithall the ineâ—timable benyfite that wee haue by the Gospell in that he termeth it the woord of truth and the glad â—ydings of saluation For first of all he ment too assure vs too the inâ—ent wee myght haue an infallible warrant too call vppon God without doubting or grudge of conscience For so long as wee bee in doubt whether God loue vs or hat vs it is vnpossible for vs too praye truly vntoo him And so by that meanes yee see how our saluation is vtterly defeated according too that which is sayd by the Prophet Ioell And it is a common doctrine in the holy scripture that wee cannot obteyne saluation but by fleeing vntoo Gyd with prayer and supplication But wee should be shet out from that if wee had not the sayd warrant as wee shall see more fully in the third chapter Therfore it stands vs 〈◊〉 too be throughly assured that God is our father and that he accepteth vs for his children And how shall wee bee warranted that vnlesse the doctrine of the Gospell bee so certeyne in all poynts as it bee not lawfull for vs to bring it in question That therfore is the cause why S. Paule sayeth that it is the word of truth No doubt but there are other truthes also for euen when God threatneth vs he dooth it not in â—est nor yit in vayne for as well his threatninges as his promises haue their execution sure and certeyne Howbeeit forasmuch as the present cace concerned the correcting of al distrust in vs as wherunto we be to much inclined S. Paule hath termed the Gospell the doctrine of truth as if he should say my frendes God is a faithfull witnesse vntoo you of his owne wyll for the Gospell is as much as if he laid forth his hart vntoo you and therefore settle your selues vppon it Moreouer also he saith that our saluation lyeth inclosed in the Gospell and that it is too make vs too looue it and esteeme it For should we be so wirlesse or rather starke mad as to holde scorne of our owne welfare But yit notwithstandyng he saith that al this commeth of Gods mere mercy and of his euerlasting electioÌ„ which as in respect of our selues is farre of and vnknowen too vs but we haue knowledge of it by the Gospell which is the meanes and instrument therof For too what purpose were it that our Lorde Iesus Christ hath offered hym felfe in sacrifice too reconcile the worlde to God his father vnlesse wee were made partakers of it by faith Now faith is not an opinion of mans conceyuyng in his owne brayne but a setled beleefe that God cannot lye nor deceyue vs and that it is not to be feared that our hope shall not come too good end if wee wayt vpon hym So then too be short S. Paules intent was to shewe that if we haue the skyll to make our profit of the doctrine of the gospell wee shall no longer stand in a mamering and perplexitie but shal be able to call vppon God with open mouth acknowledgyng our selues so bound and wholly indetted vntoo hym in all things as wee feare not but that he auoweth vs for his children and are accepted at his hande and that hee heareth vs in all the prayers that wee make vntoo hym Thus much concernyng the first poynt Therfore according to S. Paules exhortation â–ª let vs learne to rest in suche wise vppon the doctrine of the gospell that it may bee as much too vs as if God shewed hymselfe visibly vntoo vs and that the heauens were opened vntoo vs and let vs alwayes beare in mynde howe it is anouched by the mouth of our Lord Iesus Christ hymselfe that when
hope of saluation And so long as wee bee Gods enemyes what can wee looke for at his hand but vtter confuzion Yit notwithstanding it pleaseth him too make vs fellowes with the Angells of heauen yea and more than that too for we be made members of our Lord Iesus Christ to the end we should bee parttakers of his lyfe and glory How excellent riches are these When wee shall haue imployed all our wittes about them ought wee not too bee tootoo much ashamed seyng that God hath vttered so inestimable goodnesse towardes vs So then S. Paule too waken vp mennes drowzinesse and to rebuke and correct their vnthankfulnesse for that they commend not the hundreth part of Gods grace as they ought too doo telleth vs that if wee thinke better vppon it wee shall fynde that his speaking after that maner is too stirre vs vp too pray God too inlyghten vs bycause that without him wee should not bee able too come any thing neere fayth nor neere any knowledge at all Thus wee see now S. Paules meaning which hee pursueth and continueth much more in adding what the excellencie of his power is in vs that haue beleeued And ageyn according too the effectual voorking of the strength of his power He gathereth and heapeth vp many woordes heere toogither which import all one thing Neuerthelesse it is as it were a correcting of mans leawdnesse which labour too deface Gods goodnesse as much as they can insomuch that wheras they bee not able too deface it altogither they diminish it in such wyse as it appeereth not as if it had but a sparke wheras it ought to haue full light But by the way let vs mark that wheras S. Paule setteth downe here the Saintes and beleeuers he meaneth the faithfull whom God hath already called too him And therein he sheweth that euen when wee haue fayth all our holynesse proceedeth of Gods mercy and men bring nothing of their owne growing Truely this title of Saintes is very honorable but yit it behoueth vs to go to the welspring of holynesse for in our selues we haue nothing but vnclennesse Gods children must nedes be holy yit must they consider from wheÌ„ce they haue it whether they haue of their owne purchace and polliâ—ie or of Gods gift S. Paule sheweth here that the prayse thereof ought too bee yeelded simply vntoo God. For it is not for nought that he sayeth so oft I am holy And agein wee know that Iesus Christ was sanctified for vs too the intenâ—e that wee might bee washed and scoured from all our vnclenenesse Thus much concerning the first poynt Afterward followeth the cause of our fayth namely that men atteyne it not otherwise thaÌ„ by the drawing of a secret motion according as it is sayd â—hat we must learne of God not only bicause his woord conteineth all wisedome and God doth thereby teach vs faithfully the things that are for our behoofe but also bicause our Lord expoundeth it moreouer saying he that heareth it of my father He himself spake it which was the wisedome of God and yit he sheweth that the things which â—e vttered with his mouth could not preuaile except God spake withâ—â— a man by his holy spirit Now if Iesus Christ could not profot men by his teaching further foorth than Gods spirit wrought within their harts â–ª what shall the preaching doo which wee heare at the mouthe of mortall men who are nothing men then must plant and water and God must giue increace as S. Paule sayeth in the third Chapter of the first Epistle too the Corinthians Furthermore as I haue told you that wee must drawe all our holynesse froÌ„ out of Iesus Christ in whom we shall finde al the fulnesse and plentie of it so also let vs vnderstand that by that saying we bee warned that wee bee not called too filthinesse too take leaue too doo euill but too bee as it were sholed out too the seruice of god Most men can well ynough brag that they bee faythfull and that word runnes roundly vppon euery mans tongue but fayth is a preciouser thing than wee thinke for it 〈◊〉 our harts as it is sayd in the foftenth of the Acts too the intent wee should bee as it were sholed out and set a side too giue our selues wholly too Gods seruice But herâ—by it is ment that men are as it were of a corrupt and infected lump till God haue drawen out the one soâ—t from the other Then differ wee nothing at all from â—hem that are as deepely plundged as is possible in all manner of euil and wickednesse Wee bee all alike say I as touching our nature But they that beleeue in our Lord Iesus Christ must bee as it were â—orted out from the rest of the worlde as S. Peter also sayeth in his first Epiâ—â—le Agein wee haue seene heeretofore that wee bee clenzed by the bâ—ud of Iesus Christ too the intent too bee drawen out of this worlde according also as he sayeth in S. Iohn where he prayeth too his father not too take vs out of this world and out of this transitorie lyfe but too keepe the naughtinesse of the world from bearing rule in vs and too exempt vs from it Yee see then that the thing which wee haue too beare in mynde is that holynesse is the trew recorde of ouâ— fayth And therefore whosoeuer is called a Christian ought too fee consecrated vntoo God and not too intermeddle or defyle himself with the vnclenenesse and fâ—â—thinesse of the world Trew it is that our holynesse shall neuer bee perfect so long as wee bee in this world for wee doo alwayes drawe the lynes too vs and although sinne ouer mayster vs not yit dooth it dwell in vs and wee keepe continuall battell ageinst it to get the vpper hand But howsoeuer the world go yit when God once hath sanctified vs we must apply our selues to his seruice we must indeuer too clenze our selues more and more from all vyces and wee must giue our selues wholly vntoo him so as wee bee no more as worldlings which take leaue too doo what they list This in effect is the thing that S. Paule ment too say Moreouer no doâ—â—â— but that in this place he maketh comparison betweene such as are drowned in all ignorance or rather are so hardened that they haue no mynd at all too submit themselues too the obedience of the Gospell but doo fyght furiously ageinst it and the faythfull which are as sillie sheepe herkening to the voyce of the good shepherd S. Paule then condemneth heere all scoffers and scorners which despyze God and are as Doggs or brute beasts without any feeling of religion When wee see these things they are all of them mirrours vntoo vs too make the heares stand vp vppon our heades by making vs too knowe what wee should be if God pityed vs not And therfore when we see folkes scorne God so openly and rush forth at randon into al leaudnesse let
once dead Knowe yee therfore that God did draw you out of the dungeon of all destruction yea rather out of the bottom of hell when he voutsafed too adopt you too bee his children and too call you too the knowledge of his Gospell Wee see that this saying of Saint Paules is conformable too the doctrine and recorde of our Lorde Iesus Christ. So then let vs alwayes runne backe to the welles head whensoeuer we be tempted too glory in our owne vertewes and imagin our selues too haue I wote not what too aduaunce vs withall let vs resort too our naturall state let vs consider that wee had bin vndoone and that wee were vndoone yit still at this day if God of his infinite mercy had not drawen vs out of the confuzion wherin wee were and deliuered vs from it by the meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ. And it is purposely sayd in offences and sinnes too stoppe all mennes mouthes that no man myght make profer too withdrawe himselfe from the common araye nor think that any thing is so greeuous as the corruption of our nature which cannot bee stayed but by death It S. Paule had set downe but one of the words eyther offences or sinnes by and by there woold haue bin answearing and replying For some woold haue thought themselues too haue bin of the common aray And other some would haue said Uery wel though there bee some synne in vs though there bee some fault in vs it doth not therfore folowe that wee bee vtterly condemned and cursed of God for wyl he vse suche rigour and extremitie ageinst vs But S. Paule hath ioyned both the woordes toogither too shew that there is nothing in our nature but all wickednes and sinne and at a woord that there is not one drop of life too bee found in it Therfore it is al one as though he ment too aggrauate or make the thing heynous which men on their part would make light For if wee haue neuer so smal a portion of vertue yea or but a shadow of it wee wyll needes exalt it aboue all the mountaines of the worlde But if there bee any vices in vs though they bee neuer so grosse and apparant yit wee make but very light faultes of them Therefore it stood S. Paule on hand too beate downe this fond presumptuousnesse of men and too shew them that they bee wholly saped in sinne For although he speake heere too the Ephesians yit speaketh he generally too all men And in good sooth he expresseth it yit better in saying that vvee vvalked according too the trade of the vvorld for the euyll lurketh vnespied tyll it bewray it selfe by his fruites And the cause why men cannot humble themselues before God as were requisite is that they flatter themselues till they bee conuicted and bee compelled 〈◊〉 stoope and too hold downe their heades spyt of their teethe For wee see what hipocrisie is in vs insomuch that wee woold beare our selues in hand that blacke were whyte and neuer fynd our selues faultie so long as our misdeedes could not bee layd open too our faces nor any man stop our mouthes by witnessing them too our heads Too haue many wicked thoughtes or too bee tempted too doo this or that euyll wee thinke it no sinne at al. Too bee short S. Paule hath iustly set downe that the Ephesians walked in their sinnes too the intent too shewe that he speaketh not of a thing which ought too bee vnknowen too them For in beholding their owne lyues and in beholding what they had bin and what trace they had followed they should be driuen too confesse that they were vtterly forlorne cursed afore god Therfore when soeuer our hypocrisie hindereth vs from submitting our selues vnto God and from beating of our selues downâ— by acknowledging of our synnes let vs learne too looke intoo our life Truely although wee perceyued a whole million of faultes which wee haue coÌ„mitted yit is it nothing in comparison of that whiche God knoweth Yit notwithstanding too waken vs the better that wee may not be deceiued by our owne selfe soothing as wee haue bin woont too bee let vs alwayes iudge of the roote by the fruites of it Seeing then that wee bee gilty of offending God so many wayes let vs conclude thereupon that there is nothing but frowardnesse in our nature And too shewe the better that he speaketh not here of any one sort of men but of al mankind S. Paule addeth that it vvas according too the trade of the vvorld The woorde that he vseth here betokeneth the course of tyme As if he should say Euen as wee see the Sunne dooth dayly ryse and go downe and as wee see Winter and Sommer followe one another so is it an ordinarie custome yea and euen the nature of man too bee vtterly froward spytefull and rebellious ageinst God and there is nothing in him but all maner of leawdnesse and corruption It is not for men too say â—ush euill custome hath gotten the vpper hande and agein this serueth for some men but all doo not so there are some nations more sinfull than othersome and there are some meÌ„ more stubborne and malicious than others but yet there will alwayes some vertew bee found in some other men Nay sayeth S. Paule for it is the common course of the worlde As if he should saye it is so naturall too all men as there is no disputing whether one man bee bad aâ—d another good For like as fishe is made too suck vp water so arâ— we suckled or rather made starke drunken withall maner of iniquities and sinnes Wee be so filled and stuffed with them that we burst agein Thus yee see how S. Paule ment heere not too rebuke some one sort of men but too shewe all men without exception what their state is till God haue redressed it Therefore let vs open our eyes and looke intoo the thing that S. Paule sayeth and wee shall perceyue that all our woorthinesse and noblenesse is decyphred vntoo vs heere heere are our armes blazed that is too wit that wee bee but dead men till God quicken vs by his mere grace Agein too the end wee should knowe that this death proceedeth not from elswhere than of our owne sinnes it is sayd that wee bee all corrupted that there is nothing in vs but faultes sinnes and offences and that all our whole lyfe beareth record thereof so as the fruite sheweth what the roote is And on the other syde that our starting aside is not for once and no more but that wee tend wholly thither that is too say too euill wee bee inclyned thereuntoo nay rather wee bee caryed headlong thereuntoo yea and wee bee driuen with such a rage that wee neuer ceasse stryuing ageinst God tyll he haue broughte vs in subiection too him by his holye spirit And S. Paule thinkes it not ynough to saye so but addeth things which ought to make vs too tremble yet more saying that it is according
lykeeh of afterward he must reforme vs and so guide and gouerne vs by his holy spirit as there may bee one accord betweene our life and his lawe Then vntill such time as God prepare good woorks after that fashion that is too say till he giue vs them by shewng vs his will and also make vs to do them by his power wee must needes bee vtterly vnprofitable Now sith it is so let vs learne too humble our selues before God both for that is past and also for that that is too come For that which is past let vs acknowledge that God hath plucked vs out of the gulf of hell and that whereas wee were by nature damned he hath voutsafed too haue vs too bee his children and therfore let vs not bee so ouerweening as too thinke that wee haue this or that but let him be gloryfied as he deserueth and let vs assure our selues that he hath pulled vs backe from death to the intent that the beginning welspring roote and onely cause of our saluation should proceede of his onely free bestowed goodnesse Thus ye see in effect that it is a poynt of trew humilitie to giue all the glory of our saluation vntoo god And for that which is too come it behoueth too knowe that wee could not stirre one of our little fingers too doo any good except wee were gouerned by God and receyued the good works them selues at the hand of him and of his holy spirit So then as oft as wee feele our owne weakenesse let vs flee too him for refuge and when wee haue doone any good let it not puffe vs vp with any pryde but let vs alwayes thinke our selues so much the more straytely bound vntoo God yea euen by dubble He that is yit very weake must confesse him selfe exceedingly bound vntoo Gods mercy for bearing with him but he that goeth afore others and is as a mirrour of all holinesse must confesse himselfe much more bounde vntoo him For why He hath nothing of his owne he holdeth all things of God and of his onely free goodnesse Wherefore let vs all our life long walke in such sort as wee may still from yeere too yeere from mooneth to mooneth from day to day from houre to houre and froÌ„ minute too minute continually acknowledge our selues bound vnto God for the goodnesse which he hath giuen vs of his owne mere mercy and let vs thinke our selues beholden too him for all things And let vs marke by the way for a conclusion that S. Paules intent here is not to decypher al the causes of our saluation one by one but too abate mens lustinesse that they might not make any bragges or any countenance 〈◊〉 God is in their debt Therefore it is ynough for S. Paule to haue stopped all mens mouthes in such wyze as they may not take vppon them too haue aught of their owne For contrariwize whensoeuer God giueth vs good works although they bee the fruites of his mere goodnesse yit can they not purchace vs any thing at his hand for wee must alwayes ground and settle our selues vppon the forgiuenesse of our sinnes There lyeth all our rightuousnesse Too bee short there are twoo things requisite in yeelding God the prayse that is dew for our saluation first that wee acknowledge our selues too haue all things of him and secondly that wee acknowledge that all the good workes and all the good will which he hath giuen vs already serue not too purchace vs fauour at his hand nor for vs too trust vppon but too shewe vs that he had neede too vpholde vs and too burye and forget all our sinnes and that by that meanes wee bee iustifyed before him bycause he acquitteth vs notwithstanding that wee deserue too bee condemned a hundred tymes So then too be shorâ— when it is tolde vs that there is nother freewill nor any thing else in man it is too the ende wee should learne too gyue all glory vnto God and not haue any cause too vaunt our selues any more And that afterwarde vppon the knowing thereof wee should vnderstand that wee should bee in continuall trubble and perplexitie were it not that wee bee sure that wee shall alwayes obteine grace and mercy by comming too God with teares and lamenting And how so Bycause he voutsafeth too acquit vs and although he could thunder downe vppon 〈◊〉 and drowne vs yit he buryeth our sinnes by meanes of â—ur Lord Iesus Christ and receyueth vs alwayes too mercy Thus then yee see how men ought in all poyntes and in all caces too bee confounded in themselues and too bee ashamed of their owne leawdnesse that they may glorifie God and therwithall ackowledge that they should alwayes bee in doubt and anguish but that God dooth euermore pitie them and the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ is the sacrifize wherby wee be reconcyled too him That therfore is the trew way too vphold and auow God too bee the Sauiour of the world that also is the way for vs to father all things vpon the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ as he deserueth namely by rayzing and putting quyte away all the glorying which we pretend to haue in our selues and theruppon too confesse not only that all the goodnesse which is in vs is of Gods putting intoo vs but also that he must bee fayne too beare with our infirmities bycause wee ceasse not too prouoke his wrath till he make that satisfaction auaylable which was made by the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ. But now let vs cast our selues downe before the maiestie of our good God with acknowledgment of our sinnes praying him to make vs too feele them more and more till wee bee so pulled downe as there may bee no more showe of sin in vs and that in the meane whyle wee may neuerthelesse seeke the ayde and helpe of our Lord Iesus Christ. And that forasmuch as he hath partly inlyghtened vs alredy by his holy spirit it may please him too increace his grace in vs more and more till he haue communicated it wholy vntoo vs and in the meane tyme so vphold vs and gouerne vs by his holy spirit as our whole indeuer may bee nothing else but too frame our lyfe after his holy lawe and he not passe vppon the great number of our sinnes which we commit neuer ceassing too stray away too our owne vndooing but hold vs backe by his secret power vntill he take vs away out of this world and ioyne vs with our Lord Iesus Christ who is the fountayne of all perfection that wee also may bee perfect in him And so let vs say Almyghtie God heauenly father c. The twelfth Sermon which is the fourth vppon the second Chapter 11. VVherfore remember that you vvhich vvere sometime Gentiles in the fleshe beyng called vncircumcision in respect of that vvhich is called circumcision made by hand in the flesh 12. VVere at that time vvithout Christ straungers too the common vveale of
Gospell Yee see then that the thing which wee haue too marke in the first place is that by the meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ bycause he hath reconcyled vs too God his father by his death wee bee now come neere too the kingdome of heauen from whence wee were farre of yea and without hope too haue any accesse or enterance thither And although S. Paule haue spoken but too one nation yit is his matter generall And so the holie Ghoste exhorteth vs at this day by the same doctrine too consider our owne miserie that wee may be abashed in our selues and receyue the inestimable benefyte that is offered vs by the Gospell in the person of Christ. Hereuppon he addeth that hee is our peace making both one yea euen those that were farre of as well as them that were neere Lyke as in the forerehearced sentence S. Paule ment too humble the Gentiles and shewed howe muche they were indetted vntoo God so heere he addeth a warning for the Iewes to pull downe their pryde that they myght not think themselues too bee better than other men bicause God had chozen them For acording as men are alwayes giuen to auaunce themselus beyond measure that people abused Gods grace and bare theÌ„selues in hand that the linage of Abraham was as a linage of Angels Too bee short when it was told them that the Church should bee vnited togither both of Iewes and Gentyles without exception they thought that God did them great wrong and iniurie In somuch that it was oftentymes told them that Gods choozing of them was nother for their vertue nor for their nobilitie nor for any thing else that he found in their persons but bicause he had loued their fathers without any desert of theirs Often tymes therfore were they warned by Moyses and the Prophets too chalenge nothing at al too them selues but too goe too Gods free goodnesse too spye out them selues there too the ende they myght confesse that if they had any prerogatiue aboue others that was not of themselues nor for their own sakes but bicause it was Gods good pleasure too keepe them to himself for his owne heritage And yit for all that S. Paule sheweth heere that the Iewes renounce their own saluation if they match not with the Gentiles in true brotherhood For why Although the Iewes were neere God alredye and had witnesse that he hild them for his children yit notwithstanding the matter hung in suspence til the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ. Then behoued it them too bee knit to God by the mediator or else they should haue had no peace in their consciences For when men examin themselues they must needs conclude by and by that God is iustly their enemye And for proof therof what haue wee in our thoughts in our lusts in our soules and in our bodies but vtter corruption Therfore it ought to make vs to quake as oft as wee thinke what wee bee But the Iewes had the Ceremonies and shadowes of the Law which were assurances of Gods grace vntoo them Yea but if they had stayed there what a thing had that bin For the blud of brute beasts could not scoure away their spottes nor set them in Gods fauour Therefore it stoode them on hand too resort too Iesus christ And that is the cause why S. Paule sheweth that the Iewes ought not too too bee so puffed vp with pryde as too shet the heathen out of the doores as though they were not woorthie too bee of Gods Church For Iesus Christ is the mediator as well of the one as of the other vntoo God his father In so much that without him all of vs are shet out from the hope of saluation No man then ought too despyze his neyghbour in this cace nor too looke ouer the shoulder at him as the prouerb sayeth But wee ought too imbrace one another in â—rew vnitie of fayth and loue knowyng that euerychone of vs from the greatest too the least should ryghtfully bee cutte of from Gods Church but that he of his owne mere goodnesse gathereth vs too him After the same maner dooth S. Iames exhort the great men of this world too glory in their smalnesse bycause God hath taken away the blyndfolding that letted them too know their owne wretchednesse For wee knowe that men doo wilfully abuse their greatnesse and beleeue them selues too bee marueylous wyghtes tyll they come too knowe god Therefore the great men of this worlde haue their eyes blyndfolded and that deceyueth them and maketh them too take leaue too doo what they liste Now Saint Iames sayeth that they haue cause too glorye of their smalnesse for that our Lorde discouereth them too bee creatures out of all hope as of themselues and yit neuerthelesse taketh them intoo his fauour of his owne mercy And let the little ones sayeth he reioyce in their nobilitie bycause God hath exalted them in somuch that whereas they were but as wretched woormes and had nothing but reproche in them God hath taken them vp and made them new creatures Yee see then that the meanes too vnite vs as wee ought too bee is that euerye of vs in his degree acknowledge himselfe too bee in a wretched and miserable plyght anâ— that when he hath yeelded all too Gods mere mercy he acknowledge that the same is spred ouer all at this day and that it is not for vs too stint or too brydle him but in asmuch as he hath chozen vs it is our dewâ—ie too receyue those intoo our fellowship whom he hath set in the same aray and company with vs That say I is the thing that Saint Paule amed at in saying that our Lord Iesus Christ is the peace of all men yea euen as well of them that were mere afore as of them that were yit farre of But yit as I tolde yee afore he had an eye too the foolishe ouerweening of the Iewes which woulde haue driuen away the Gâ—ntyles from the kingdome of god And he telleth vs that if wee mynd too haue Iesus Christ too bee our mediator too giue vs enterance too God his father and too guyde vs thither and that all this should bee grounded vppon Gods mere mercy let vs not bee so folish as too clayme aught too our selues as who should say wee were better than other men or ought too bee preferred before them but let euery of vs acknowledge that all of vs had neede of Gods infinite mercye bycause all of vs were shet vp vnder sinne as S. Paule sayeth in another place Now must we apply this well too our owne behoofe For some thinke that men are aduaunced the rather bycause some of them haue bin of an honest and vnblamable conuersation to the worldward some borne of honorable houses and othersome indewed with exâ—â—llent vertewes or with some skill and cunning Too be short euery man sercheth and seeketh as much as is possible too alledge some thing why God hath accepted him rather than
going forward with the matter that hath bin declared hertofore addeth also that as vvell they that vvere farre of as they that vvere neere hand had heard the sayd message that the same is set afore vs also at this day to the end we myght bee confirmed in it more and more And as I haue sayd alredy by those that were neere he meaneth the Iewes who had had some familiaritie with God theretoofore bycause he had acquaynted himselfe with them by giuing them his Lawe telling them that he receyued theyr linage too be the protector thereof Howbeeit that was not too knit them throughly vntoo him till he had pardoned their sinnes which was doone by the meanes of Iesus christ For the Lawe could yeeld them nothing but terrour and anguish of mynd curse them throughout and sink them downe too the bottom of hell as S. Paule sayeth in the third too the Romans and specially in the third Chapter of the second Epistle too the Corinthians Therfore it was requisite that the Gospell should bee added thereuntoo Now it is certein that Dauid the other holy Prophetes and lykewyse all the kings and the faythfull that liued vnder the old Testament had not the Gospel so manifestly as we haue but yit in very substance God declared vnto theÌ„ that he of his owne free goodnesse receyued them too mercie for the redeemers sake in whom they trusted If the Lawe bee separated from the Gospell it not only profiteth them not at all which rest vppon it but also serueth too beate them downe and too thunder vpon them and too shewe them how dreadfull Gods maiestie is It is in the Gospell then that wee haue peace and therefore it stoode the Iewes in hand too bee made partakers of that doctrine And as for vs that come of the Gentyles wee ought as I sayd this morning too acknowledge so much the better the dubble recognisance wherin wee stand bound vnto God for that he hath voutsafed too make vs fellowes with his peculiar people vs I say that were as things borne out of tyme and too put vs in the companie of those whom he had chozen and adopted afore in such wyse as the recordes of the Prophets are now fulfilled wherin it is sayd yee Gentyles and Nations glorifye yee God with his owne people wherby the holie Ghost foreshewed that there should be such a melodie that all men should sing Gods prayses euen as well the Gentyles as the Iewes when they were once knit toogither and gathered from out of the scattering wherin all of vs are as is sayd alredie and as wee haue seene afore Wee see then wherat S. Paule amed in saying that the Gospell was preached too all men as well them that were farre of as them that were neere And that is it which he treateth of in the tenth too the Romans For there he sheweth that wee should euer bee scanning and neuer resolued of our fayth if wee knew not that the preaching of the Gospel proceeded of Gods authoritie of his vnchaungeable ordinance It is not for men sayeth he too put foorth themâ—elues except God send them And God hath begunne too teache the worlde at all tymes heeretofore though not by preaching or wryting yit by the onely sight of the world it selâ—e No maruell therefore sayeth he though God haue voutsafed at this time too extend his grace too all Nations by making them too knowe that he would bee their father Now then lyke as on the one side it stoode the Iewes on hand too knowe howe great neede they had too bee reconcyled too God by Iesus Christ and not too bee deceyued by trusting too theyr birthryght or too their Circumcision or too any of all these shadowes of the Law but that it behoued them too flee too the onely meanes that I haue treated of namely that God receyued them too mercy for the eternall sacrifyzes sake which Iesus Christ offered so let vs on our syde learne too magnify Gods goodnesse seeyng he hath voutsafed too cast vs too bee of his houshold and Church notwithstanding that wee were cut of and banished from it before And therefore let vs looke too our selues that wee let not this benefite vanish away ne be depryued of it through our owne vnthankfulnesse For what excuce will there bee for vs if when God calleth vs too heauen in the person of his onely sonne so as Iesus Christ telleth vs that it is he himselfe which commeth too seeke vs as oft as it is tolde vs that God will be mercifull to vs for his sake wee runne not apace vntoo him both hot in zeale and earnest in carefulnesse too shewe howe wee knowe that all our welfare ioye happinesse and glory consist in beyng ioyned too our God which cannot bee but through his free goodnesse Agein when wee refuze too receyue this peace let vs bee afrayde that Iesus Christ will chaunge his voyce for it is certeine that the Gospell dooth alwayes behyght danâ—nation too such as frame not themselues too Gods will. And it is not for nought that the scripture speaketh of binding as wel as of loozingâ— for our Lord Iesus Christ ment too shewe vs that it is the very nature and dewtie of the Gospell too plucke vs out of the bondage and prison wherin wee bee hild vntill he hath set vs free and so is it his owne office also as he himselfe sayeth in the eyght of S. Iohn where he declareth the same thing howbeeit he addeth that there are bondes also prepared for those that take him not for their redeemer ne suffer themselues too bee set free by him And that is it which he meaneth in S. Iohn when he sayeth whose sinnes soeuer yee release they bee released vntoo them and whose soeuer yee withhold they be withhild Then dooth he shewe that when wee preache the Gospell wee must first of all declare the message of Reconciliation which thing is spoken of in the first too the Corinthians in the place by mee before alledged Thus yee see that the thing which wee haue too doo continually is too shewe that God hath bin so kynd vntoo vs as too bee at one with vs in the person of his sonne yea and too receyue vs too bee himselfe that we myght washed and scoured from all our filthinesse and bee accepted for ryghtuous before him Lo how wretched soules are vnbound lo how poore captiues are let out of prison Lo how they that erst were plundged in darkenesse of death are brought out ageyn too the lyght of lyfe But on the other syde wee haue also commission too withhold sinnes by threatening the despyzers of Gods woorde with Gods horrible wrath and by telling them that when they haue shaken their eares and thinke themselues too be scaped the doctrine that they haue heard must bee as ropes and fetters too bynd them withall According wheruntoo S. Paule sayeth expresly in another place that wee
fynd that our Lord gaue not his woord in vayne Now then seeyng that in these dayes wee see a number that fynde no taste in the Gospell bycause it is as a straunge language vntoo them Let S. Paules saying and declaration moue vs too receyue modestly whatsoeuer God â—â—lleth vs yea though the same bee too hygh for vs and let vs pray him who hath all lyght in him too giue vs therof as he knoweth too bee for our behoofe For lyke as God speaketh too vs and maketh his doctrine too ring in our eares so also dooth he woorke inwardly in our hartes by his holy Ghost Wherfore let vs submit our selues too him and bee ready too receyue whatsoeuer is taught vs truly in his name Thus yee see what wee haue too remember vnder the woord Mysterie or secrete Now therfore when wee fynd any thing in the Gospell that shall seeme hard and vneasie too brucke let vs not doo as a number of mad-folks doo which reiect whatsoeuer is not too their owne lyking but as I sayd let vs reuerence the thing that is hid from vs as yit wayting till God further vs and come familiarly too vs and increaâ—e the measure of our fayth And so ye se how that in reading of the holie scripâ—ure wee must haue the modestie too hold our selues in awe and too say thus I vnderstand not such a text but yit is it not for mee too giue it ouer so as though it were too no purpose and therfore I will pray God too beare with myne ignorance and too open mee the gate when he sees â—it tyme and that he which hath the kye of all knowledge and vnderstanding will shew mee so much as he thinkes meete and as may bee for my benefite Agein lykewise when wee come too a Sermon if wee vnderstâ—nde not all thâ—â— is spoken too vs let vs stay our selues and in the meane whyle honour our God and reuerence him in the things that are too hygh for our wit too reache vntoo And heerein wee see that such as would stoppe the mouthes of all Gods trew seruantes that they should not speake of the thinges that seeme too hygh for them are very diuells incarnate For what a madnesse is it that bycause wee vnderstand not why God hath chozen some and forsaken othersome how God gouerneth the world that the diuell himself cannot doo any thing without leaue that the wicked are the instrumentes of Gods Iustice wee woormes of the earth and stinking caryons should take such authoritie vppon vs as too say that the thing ought too bee rased out of the holy Scripture which not onely was reuealed too vs by the holy Ghost but also sealed with the blud of Gods sonne Must it not needes bee that they are wholly possessed of the diuel when they presume so farre Therfore let vs abhorre such monsters pray God too lay his hand vppon them and too shewe that they bee no better than lyce fleas punices and other the most vyle and despyzed things of the worlde when they fall too iustling so ageinst God euen with tyrannicall and passing barbarous furie But as for our part let vs vnderstand that the honour which wee owe too our God is this that whensoeuer wee heare any of the secretes of Gods woord which cannot bee knowen or vnderstoode of man except it bee by the reuelation of Gods spirit wee must wayt paciently till God increace the knowledge that he hath giuen vs Agein when one man hath a greater measure of fayth and more vnderstanding than other men let him frame himselfe too the lesser sort and beare with them and labour too further them more and more and let the lesser sort on their side haue the modestie too hold themselues within their compasse and not passe theyr boundes but put in vre this saying of S. Paule in another place If yee thinke otherwise tary till God shewe it you in the meane while liue in concord and let there bee no trubble among yee And so yee see what wee haue too gather vppon that streyne Herewithall let vs mark that God by that meanes intended too set the greater glory vppon his mercie for when in the end he publyshed the doctrine of his Gospell then did he vtter the infinite riches of his goodnesse towardes vs And although wee knowe not all the reasons that God had in his mynd when he deferred and put off the publishing of his Gospell so long tyme yit notwithstaâ—â—ing it is very eazie for vs too iudge that he intended too open our eyes and too waken vs and too quicken vp all our wits too the end that euery of vs should apply himself the better too knowe how much wee bee beholden and bound vntoo him For are wee better than our fathers Or when the Gospell was published through the worlde were the Gentyles more teachable than before No but it seemed that wickednesse was then come too his full measure so as there was nothing but contempt of god Now when the world was so diuelish throughout then came Iesus Christ then was the message of saluation brought too all men Yea and when S. Paule speaking to the Corinthians had told them that Murtherers whormoongers drunkardes Theeues forswearers and such like folke yea which had committed yit more heinous crimes should not inherit the kingdome of heauen he sayth vntoo them you also haue bin lyke them too shewe that the Gospell was not preached at Corinth for any vertues that were there nor for that the inhabiters had bin more giuen vntoo God or deserued aught at all but all proceeded of Gods only free goodnesse Thus yee see that the secret which S. Paule speaketh of is too bee applyed after this maner namely that it was Gods will that there should be sin in al men without exception the remedie wherof he hath sent by his grace Lykewyse also wee in our tyme cannot say that wee bee better then our forefathers as I tolde you before For if yee haue an eye too the common state there was more faythfulnesse among men a fiftie yeeres ago than is now there was more modest conuersation there was lesse excesse and superfluitie of pomp and too bee short men were not lyke Dogges and Cattes as they bee now adayes It is trew that they had alwayes a smatch of their owne nature which is nothing woorth but yit Satan seemed too bee then cheyned vp But within these thirtie yeeres things haue gone from wooorse too woorse and so farre out of square as is horrible too see And theruppon behold Gods grace is preached forguienesse of sinnes is vttered God calleth those that were a hundred thousand tymes forlorne Now what can bee sayd too it but that Gods will was too giue the greater beautie too his grace and mercye by such an after deele Wherfore let vs consider that the way too aduauntage our selues by Gods woonderfull secretes is too reuerence the thing that wee know not and too receyue
he was not contented too set downe simply the gift but also would needes adde free bestowed And afterward he magnifyeth the same gift yit more saying that God vvrought therein according too the woorking of his povver Too bee short hee giueth men too vnderstand that they ought to espye a singular and woonderfull goodnesse of God in him and therwithall a power not ordinarie among men Those are the twoo poynts which wee haue too marke Now forasmuch as in the first too Timothie he sayeth also that he himself both is and ought too scrue vs all for a looking glasse let vs learne too apply the same vntoo vs. And first of al whatsoeuer wee aske of God let vs vnderstand that the same must issew vntoo vs from the welspring of his only mercie and free bountie too the end wee should forget all selfdeseruing For it is the next way too shet vs out of the doore when wee come vntoo God if wee imagin too bring aught of our selues Mark that for one poynt And secondly to amend all distrust let vs hope that God will doo more than all our wits can conceiue For it is not in vs too measure his infinite power and therfore whatsoeuer he hath giuen vs alreadye let vs think â—ur selues beholden too his goodnesse for it let vs doo him homage for it and let vs yeeld him the prayse of it as meete is wee should And so yee see that the thing which wee haue too gather vppon Saint Paules example is that we must with al humilitie besech God too worke so in vs by his owne mere grace as his name may bee glorified therby bicause there is no deseruing to be fouÌ„d in vs Also let vs be out of dout that his power passeth all our capacitie so as wee may euery way giue him place and enterance and not shet him out from vs through our vnbeleef â—nowe wee once that Hath God shewed vs his mercie and power and made vs too feele them by experience Let vs put them in vre to the vttermost of our power and let vs not seeke to deface his glorie vnder colour that he hath made vs more excellent than others as though wee had deserued aught of our selues but let vs yeeld him his dew and that which ought too bee his peculiar owne And herewithall too continue his matter he addeth that this grace was giuen too him euen too him the least of all the Saincts This serueth too expound that which hee had sayd concerning the gift of grace Now heruppon wee haue too mark that if wee intend too yeeld God that which wee owe him wee must be vtterly abaced in our selues For so long as men fall too parting of staks with God and will needs bee somwhat of themselues it is all one as if they would set themselues ageinst God and bee their owne keruers Too bee short God neuer hath his full right except wee be rid quyte and cleane of all Thefore a man cannot discerne how Saint Paule hild al things of Gods mere grace and free gift but by considering his former slendernesse that is too say by considering what manner a one he had bin and what his estate had bin before And this is a poynt of greate importance for wee see how men couet alwayes too reserue somwhat too themselues And although they graunt that God deserueth too be exalted without end yit can they not finde in their harts too forgo the the whole prayse of the thinges that he hath giuen them but wouldâ— fayne be esteemed and had in some reputation for them Seeing that wee bee so much giuen to vaynglorie and that there is not a harder thing for vs too doo than too humble our selues with such lowelinesse as God requireth it standeth vs on hand too mark this doctrine so much the more wherin we see that God shall neuer bee honored as he deserueth till wee be thrust downe vnder his feete and haue not any thing wherfore to bee estemed but bee become lyke wrethed creatures that haue nothing in vs but miserie wherby God may haue occasion too shewe forth his mercie vppon vs Lo how Saint Paulâ— yeelded the prayse of all things vntoo Gods freegift without hipocrisie by acknowledging himself too bee the least of all others And let vs marke also that S. Paules so dooing was not a feyned modestie after the maner of most men which wil commonly say and make as it were a prouerbe of it O sir I am the meanest and least able of all men and yit in so saying with their mouth they ceasse not too haue theyr hartes puffed vp with pryde In so much that in very deede if a man should answere them I beleeue it wel they would bee as hot as a toste and had leeuer too bee found lyers than too gyue ouer theyr selfe weenyng wherwith they bee so ful fraughted S. Paul vsed no such Ceremonie full of vntruth but protested truely the thing as he thought it accordingly as in another place to the Corinthians he sayth he is not worthie too bee named an Apostle bycause he had persecuted Gods Church and withstood his truth And agein when he setteth foorth himselfe for an example in the first too Timothie too the end wee should not doubt but that God sheweth himself mercifull towards vs he sayth he had blasphemed the Gospell and bin full of crueltie seeking to shed innocent blud There then S. Paule sheweth well ynough that there was no counterfetnesse in his confession and that his lowelinesse proceeded from his hart For he would haue chozen too haue bin out of estimation too the worldward and too haue receyued all manner of reproche too himselfe yea and too haue bin taken for a cursed caytife than to haue disgraced Gods goodnesse And like as his doctrine was too indure for euer so ment he too haue his wants knowen in all ages and all tymes vntoo the worlds end referring al things to this poiâ—t namely that men might knowe how God had set him as it were vpon a scaffold to warrant vs that he will shew himselfe as free harted towards vs also at this day and that on the other side wee should not bee ashamed too bee acknowne of our owne wretchednesse too the intent that Gods grace may haue the greater glosse in vs Wherfore let vs remember vppon this Text that wee doo then offer God such sacrifize of prayse as he deserueth when wee protest truly and vnfeynedly that al the good which is in vs commeth of his grace who hath bestowed it vppon vs and that wee cannot chalendge any thing at all too our selues but that when wee haue examined all that is our owne wee shall finde none other things at all than such as may cause vs too cast downe our eyes and make vs ashamed After this manner say I must wee followe the thing that S. Paule sheweth vs heere Yea and let nother spyte nor vayneglory hinder vs too humble our selues among
what is expedient and behoofull for vs and therfore giueth vs such lyght as he thinkes meete in measure and proportion Thus yee see in effect how S. Paule ment that the Gospell was communicated vntoo him and also that the Gentyles receyued their part of it by his meanes insomuch that all men knew the things that were as good as buryed from them before till God brought them foorth to lyght Likewyse let vs at this day vnderstand that whensoeuer it pleaseth God to rayze vp men of skill which haue the gift too teache vs it is a sure token that he hath pitied vs aforehand and is mynded too call vs too the inheritaunce of saluation And therfore let vs bee teachable let vs suffer our selues to be taught by the woord that is preached too vs and let vs coueâ— no further but let vs rest vppon that which God shewethshe vs For the only meanes too satisfye vs is too bee cotnented with the free goodnesse which he hath vttered towardes vs which as I sayd afore is infinite bycause the treasures of his mercie which he hath powred out vpon vs doo passe all mans capacitie insomuch that our vnthankefulnesse shal bee tootoo vnexecuzable if our owne desires and lykynges leade vs too knowe more than is reueled vntoo vs. Now let vs fall downe before the maiestie of our good God with acknowledgment of our faules praying him too forgiue them and too blot out the rememberance of them to giue vs the grace too frame our lyues too his holy will and commaundementes so as wee may shewe by our deedes that forasmuch as he hath adopted vs too bee his children wee also doo honour him as our father And therfore let vâ— all say Almyghtie God heauenly father .c. The .xviii. Sermon which is the third vppon the third Chapter 9. The grace vvas giuen too mee too manifest too all men what the communicating of the mysterie is vvhich vvas hid from the beginning of all tymes in God vvho created all things by Iesus Christ. 10. Too the end that Gods vvisdome vvhich is diuers in all sorts myght bee manifested too principalities and powers in heauenly places by the Church 11. According to the determination of all tymes which he made in Iesus Christ our Lord. 12. By vvhom vvee haue assurance and accesse in trust through the fayth which wee haue in him LIke as I sayd this morning that all Gods woorkes in generall deserue well too bee reuerenced at our handes bycause God hath printed in them some markes of his infinite goodnesse Iustice power and wisdome So also there are some woorkes more woonderfull than the rest and woorthie too bee aduaunced aboue the common rate forsomuch as God oftentymes woorketh after such a sort that men euen whether they wil or no are inforced to bee abashed and astonished at them Of this sort is the doctrine of the Byble For all that euer is conteyned in the Lawe and the Gospell is a wisdome which it behoueth vs too worship bycause that without that wee should neuer vnderstande any thing insomuch that it is sayde that God will bee the teacher of the little and humble ones Yit notwithstanding some part of the thinges that are shewed vs in the scripture may well bee vnderstoode euen of the rudest and ignorantest sort Agein there are there hygher or deeper matters And those are they which S. Paule meaneth now by calling the preaching of the Gospell a Mysterie or secret in comparison of all the rest For albeit that God had euermore determined in himselfe too call the whole world too saluation yit he kept the execution of his purpose secret too himselfe till the comming of ouâ— Lord Iesus Christ when it was dooâ—e the newnesse of iâ— seemed straunge That therefore is the thing that wee haue too consider when S. Paule sayth that he was appoynted an Apostle too coâ—municate the secret that had bin hydâ—â—n before in God. And by those woordes hee dooeth vs too vnderstand that although too mans sight the publishing of the Gospell was a new and vnwoonted thing yit God did nothing vppon the suddein nor in hast but onely shewed then by effect the thing that he had aâ—reâ—dy determined and purpozed vppon afore euen from the câ—eation of the world Wherfore when wee looke vppon Gods workes let vs learne not too thinke he did the things at abrayd as men say which were erst â—id from vs but let vs reserue his secret purpose too himself and when we see the things come too passe let vs vnderstand that it must needes haue bin so bycause God had purpozed vppon it And this serueth too humble vs by all meanes First too make vs knowe the smalnesse of our capacitie that we may reuerence the things which passe the reach of ouâ— wit. And secondly wee haue also wherwith too hold vs in suspence as concerning the execution of Gods ordinance for wee cannot giâ—e sentence of things too come without fond rashnesse and God will laugh vs too scorne according as wee see how all such as take vppon them too prophesie at lestwyse of theyr owne heade and without Gods calling of them to that office bewray their owne shamelessenesse and are worthie too bee mocked of little children Yee see then that it becommeth vs too restreyne our iudgmentes in the things which our Lord hath not disclozed by effect and that when wee see the thinges come too passe wee must vnderstand that therin he dooeth not any thing at aduenture but had ordeyned it so before And after the same manner must wee iudge of the chaunge that was seene at the tyme that our Lord Iesus was sent intoo the world If it bee demaunded why God delayed it so long tyme men aduaunce themselues too much in such curiositie If it bee demaunded why the heathen were then matched with the Iewes and set in equall degree with them seing tâ—at God had cut them of from his Church afore we must also honour this secret ordinance whereof Saint Paule speaketh heere And therwithall let vs vnderstand that God had so determined it afore Could wee haue that sobrietie with vs wee should learne too profite our selues much better by Gods woorkes than doo these heaâ—henish folke which barke at them though they cannot byte them And now adayes we see that many are stirred vp with diuelish rage to murmur ageinst all Gods dooings bycause they conceyue not the reason of his purpose insomuch that thervppon they spew out their horrible blasphemies as who should say it were not free for God too reserue any thing too himself but must call men too counsell and make himself their vnderling Seing then that a number doo so farre ouershoot theÌ„ selues through that villanous pryde to thrust God as it were vnder their feete it standeth vs the more on hand too put this doctrine in vre that wee may reuerence Gods secret ordinance and therwithall receyue the things that are vttered vnto vs without geynsaying as good and
assuring our selues that if Gods sonne had not come downe vntoo vs there had bin no meane for vs too haue come vntoo God his father For besyds that wee bee plundged heere in myre and haue nothings in vs but vtter frayltie it is certeyne that we beare as good as a hell about vs bycause the diuell is not without cause called the prince of this world So then seeing wee bee vnder the tyrannie of Satan and of sinne how could wee mount vpward if Iesus Christ drew vs not But first it behoued Christ too come downe hither And therby are wee taught to woorship our Lord Iesus Christ alwayes in the person which he hath taken of the mediatour and wheras the vnbeleuers and vnholie folk take occasion too despyze him bycause he was crucifyed let vs honour him still as he deserueth For wheras his greatnesse and maiestie were after a sort darkened for a tyme that was too giue the greater beautie too his mercy and louing kindnesse which selfsame woord S. Paule vseth when he purposeth too expresse well what earnestnesse of mynd and care God had too raunsome vs from the dungeons of death And so yee see in effect what we haue too consider vppon the Apostles woords where he sayth that Iesus Christ was so abaced And wheras he addeth that he went vp aboue all the heauens I haue told you alredye in one woord that it is all one as if he ment too exempt him from the aray of creatures knowing that as now hee is not subiect too any chaunge And for the same cause is it sayd in the sixt too the Romans that he suffered once in dying for our sinnes but yit for all that dyed not for euer bycause he is entred into the lyfe of God that is to say he is made parttaker of the immortall glorie so as wee haue iust cause to cast downe our eyes And bycause wee conceyue not this so hygh souereintie which was giuen him let vs honour it seing that euen the Angels of heauen do beare vs companie therin For it is not for nought sayd in the Psalm that all the Angels of God worshipped him when he shewed him self too the world which text the Apostle also applyeth to his person in the first chapter too the Hebrews Herewithall let vs mark that although Iesus Christ be not shet vp in anie place certayne yit he ceasseth not too keepe still the trew nature of his bodie For the Papists haue imagined that although he bee in heauen yit he is euerywhere else as well as there yea and therwithall they haue their speculations too shewe how it is no inconuenience at all that God should haue his beeing aboue and therewithall also bee beneathe â—eere with vs And theruppon they imagin themselues too haue the bodie of Iesus Christ in Almbrye by reason whereof they beare it abrode in the streates and cause all men too woorship it and yit in the meane whyle men knowe it is but a morsell of bread Yis say they it is god But that is an vtter adâ—ichilating of the trwe nature of our Lord Iesus christ In defence therof they alledge that if it had the propertie of a bodie it must needs bee in one place certeine But aboue the heaueus there is no place too speake after the maner of the philoâ—ophers it is sayd that Iesus Christ is there ergo say they his bodie hath not the properties of a bodie Yis and wee knowe that the Angels haue no bodies and yit are they not euerywhere for they be faine to go whether soeuer God appointeth them Now seeing that the Angels are not tyed too any place notwithstanding that their essence is not infinite but comprehended within a certeine measure though they haue no proportion of members why should not Iesus Christ bee aboue all the elements of this world yea and aboue all the heauens and yit not ceasse too bee very man Not that he can dye anie more or bee subiect too anie of our passions and infirmities as hee was heertoofore when he listed too bee conuersant in the world for as now he is quyte rid of all those things but that howsoeuer the cace stand he holdeth stil his trewe nature of man And although he bee aboue the heauens yit let vs assure our selues that that distance hindereth not his preseâ—tnesse with vs and in vs As how Wee must mark what hath bin touched afore It is sayd that he filleth all things yea but that is with the power of his spirit Yee see then that the filling wherof Saint Paule speaketh is that wee should haue our fill of the benefyts of our Lord Iesus Christ and that when wee bee graffed intoo his bodie and made one with him by beleef of the Gospell then may we assure our selues that he is the fountayne which neuer dryeth nor can neuer bee emptyed with drawing and that in him wee haue all varietie of good thinges and all perfection Now then if Saint Paule had ment as the papists haue forged and as is maynteyned now adayes of manie ignorant and wilfull persons namely that Iesus Christ filleth all things with his humane nature surely hee would not haue forgotten it but he letteth it alone as an absurditie Wherfore let vs mark well the the twoo sayings that are set downe heere that is too wit on the one syde that Iesus Christ is gone vp aboue all the heauens and yit notwithstanding that he ceasseth not too fyll all things It is sayd that he is gone vp aboue the heauens euen to the end that we should not be tyed too this world and too our fleshly fancies when we intend too resort too Iesus Christ but that wee should lift vp our mynds on hygh and seeke him there by fayth Insomuch that when the holie scripture sayeth that God is in heauen it intendeth not too assigne him some peculiar place The respect is farre differing and altoogither vnlyke betweene God in his spirituall essence and Iesus Christ in respect of the bodie and humane nature which he tooke of vs For when we speake of God we must alwayes lay this ground that he hath an infinite essence which filleth al things so that heauen is as his royal throne the earth is his footestoole Not that he hath any feete nor any seate to sit on but it serues to shewe that there is no distance so farre or wyde that can conteyne the maiestie of God which is infinite as I sayd That is a thing which wee must beare in mynd when God is spoken of vntoo vs And why then is it sayd that God is aboue al the heauens and why dooth Saint Paul speake after the same maner here of Iesus Christ It is bycause that wee bee dull and earthly that if God should not tell vs that he hath his temple palace in heauen we would tye him too euery pyller to euery stone too euery waterspring too euery tree too bee short too
vppon that stryng But let vs learne too humble our selues with a good will and as I sayd afore let vs consider that Saynt Paule blameth mens nature shewing that all of vs from the greatest too the least are plundged euen too the bottom of hel vntyll God plucke vs backe agein And therwithall let vs consider all the enormities that are doone through the whole world and conclude that we our selues should doo as much if God shewed vs not his mercie and let the same stirre vs vp too brydle our selues least wee ouershoote our selues at some tyme and seeing it hath pleased God too drawe vs vntoo him let vs not turne backe agein too meddle with the leawdnesse of the vnbeleeuers And no wonder though they stumble tumble and reele too fro for they haue no lyght to direct them by But our Lord shyneth vppon vsâ— by his woord and giueth vs eyes by his holy spirt and therfore let vs eschew too bee lyke them as S. Paule exhorteth vs heere Heereuntoo he addeth the toppe of al mischeef which is that men go astray after their owne kynd continew in going outward from woorse too woorse and foade themselues with flatterie wherby they cast their consciences into such a sleepe as they feele no more anye remorse or griefe and that is the hygh way too make them vtterly past recouerie Now first of all let vs learne heere too preuent such vengeance of God which ought too make vs quake And when wee heare that such as abyde styll in their owne nature and ouershoote themselues so farre as too bee without scruple of conscience and too become as brute beastes voyde of discretion too be moued eyther with lyfe or death or with any maner of feeling of their owne soule health let vs a Gods name walke in feare and awe and bewayle our sinnes euerye houre early and late that wee bee not hardened after that fashion For wee see how they that growe beastly after that sort doo gather such a hard hartednes as a man cannot bow them after they haue once gotten such a boldnesse in giuing themselues vntoo euyll Thus as touching the first poynt let vs bee ryght well assured that God reuengeth himselfe after a terrible manner ageinst all such as foade themselues in their vyces and take inordinate leaue too doo what they list so that in the end they become brutish euen as Asses and Dogges And now for the second poynt if God vse such rigor towards those which were neuer yit trayned too the Gospell what will he doo to vs when he shall haue shewed vs the way of saluation a long tyme and yit wee continew still lyke those that neuer tasted of good instruction Do wee not thinke that the punishment shal bee more horrible and dreadfull vppon vs Lyke as when S. Paule declareth in the first too the Romanes that God gaue men ouer intoo disordinate and shamefull lustes so as they were vtterly past all shame he speaketh expresly of the heathen and vnbeleeuers who had none other knowledge of God than by the skyes and the earth and the creatures they had none other helpe than that great booke wherby too glorify God and yit forasmuch as they did it not therefore are they condemned after that maner But now can wee haue no such excuce as those sillie soules had wee cannot say wee be not able too discerne what is good bycause we were blynded by Adams sinne and there is nothing but vanitie in vs for God hath giuen vs his woorde which is iustly called a lampe too guyde vs by wee haue the Gospell where our Lord Iesus Christ declareth that he is our guyde and yit for all this if we will needes prouoke God wilfully by disaulling the doctrine of saluation whereas wee should followe it of which sort there are many euen at this day who seeke too wallowe in all leaudnesse and disorder and despyze God openly what shall become of vs Wherefore let vs learne too walke in the feare of God and let vs marke well that Saint Paule hath not without cause set downe here the toppe of all mischief of purpose to shewe vs therby what wages God will pay too all such as yeeld not to him in dewe tyme and place but rather take libertie of all naughtinesse as though they were scaped out of his handes Let vs then be afrayde too ouershoote our selues so farre and then although we haue wandered farre afore God can skill well ynough too drawe vs to him Let vs bee afrayde least God should execute the sayd vengeance vppon vs as wel as vppon them according too this saying of Salomon that when the wicked man is come too extremitie he despyzeth all that is too say he regardeth nother lyfe nor death but flingeth foorth lyke a brute beast Therefore let vs quake at such threatenings for feare least God execute them vppon vs when wee cannot abyde too bee rebuked for our vyces And contrariwyze let vs practyze the doctrine of Salomon where he sayeth happie is the man whose hart pricketh him quickeneth him vp nyght and day Let vs learne then too bee our owne sollicitors and too touche our selues for our vyces and when wee enter intoo them let vs bee abashed at them and cast downe and condemne our selues vntill God haue releeued vs with his mercy After that maner must wee put this doctrine of S. Paules in vre too the end that when God hath once knit vs too him by the meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ and giuen vs lyfe wee may take good heede that that lyfe bee not defaced and quenched in vs through our owne leaudnesse and vnthankfulnesse Agein that beyng mynded too continew in this doctrine may learne first of all too humble our selues for it is certeyne that humilitie will cause vs too resort vntoo God and secondly that our humilitie bee matched with warenesse so as wee bee not rechlesse too flatter our selues but that through the same warenesse wee streyne our selues too the vttermost too fyght ageynst all our vyces and lustes tarying our Lordes leyzure vntyll he rid vs quyte and cleane of them in the meane whyle let vs alwayes win somwhat of our selues bee it neuer so lyttle so as it may continually appeare that our Lord Iesus Christ woorketh in vs and maketh his grace too preuayle by causing vs too goe foreward in goodnesse that wee may say I bee so dispozed as wee may growe more and more vntyll God haue taken vs ouâ— of this world Now let vs fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God with acknowledgment of our sinnes praying him too touche vs so too the quicke as it may drawe vs vntoo trewe repentance too continew in it all the tyme of our lyfe that beyng vtterly beaten downe and made nothing in our selues wee maye learne too seeke all our welfare in him and he theruppon leade vs familiarly by the the hand of our Lord Iesus Christ so as wee may go
birthryght nor yit by our owne purchace but by free gift The kingdome of God then is the heauenly lyfe and al our whole happinesse For out of God what can wee haue but all vnhappynesse Therefore if wee bee banished out of Gods kingdome we must needs be plundged in all miserie But it is expresly sayd too bee the kingdome of Christ and why Bycause it was purchaced vs by his blud and also bycause wee bee now restored agein too the state from whence wee were falne in our father Adam Agein wee knowe that the inheritance is giuen vs in our Lord Iesus Christ to the intent that we being his members and adopted of God by his meanes should also bee parttakers of that which is peculiar too him In the first too the Hebrewes he is called the heire of all things and is that too shell vs vtterly out No but bycause wee cannot otherwyse bee taken for Gods children but by being incorporated intoo the bodie of our Lord Iesus Christ to whom all belongeth Now then if wee should bee reiected of God if wee should bee cut of from all the benefytes which haue bin purchaced for vs by our Lord Iesus Christ that this should come to passe through our owne vnthankfulnesse Alas should wee not bee too too blockish Yea and for the better expressing thereof Saint Paule vseth the woord Heritage or Inheritance As if he should say if yee were heires of Gods kingdome from your moothers wombe consider how great a greef it ought too be vntoo you too bee set besyde it But now vnderstand you that the kingdome of God is communicated vntoo you by our Lord Iesus Christ bycause he hath purchaced it for you and made you his brethren and fellowes And vnderstand yee besides that it is bycause God hath adopted you freely and yit you haue it not by birthryght nother can yee say that it is your owne otherwyze than by free gift Now then seeing it is a state of inheritance will yee bee so leaud as to looze such a benefite when it is offered you Shall God inuyte you so graciously too his glory shall he offer you all the ioy and happynes of the kingdome of heauen shall he match you with his owne sonne and by that meane make you too possesse all the good things that you can wishe and shall all this be nothing woorth to you but that you will needes hold scorne of it and refuze it How can Satan so farre ouermayster you Wee see then how Saint Paule ment too waken vs heere earnestly by all meanes too the intent that if wee cannot bee drawen wholly vntoo God by loue at leastwyze yit threatening may doo vs some good and moue vs too yeeld that our desyres may by that meane be brydled and our lusts not ouerflow so outrageously but that sith God sheweth himself our Iudge wee may at leastwyze refrayne too resist him for that is all one as if wee would openly runne rushing ageinst him Seeing that he with his owne holy mouth hath auowed vs too bee banished from the kingdome of heauen if wee notwithstanding doo make none account of the thinges that he telleth vs what a dealing is that Furthermore whereas Saint Paule sayeth that nother whoremoongers nor cuetous men nor vncleane persons shall enter intoo the kingdome of God he meaneth not that all such as haue offended and doone amisse are reiected of god For who is he that can say he is cleere of all the vyces that are reherced heere But he meaneth the whoremoongers couetous persons and looce liuers that take pleasure in their lustes and are hardened in them and are so settled in the filthinesse of them as there is not any more feare of God in them too hold them backe Wee heare what he sayeth too the Corinthians where hauing made a greater beadroll of the same and other vyces and hauing first vttered the lyke sentence telling them that all such as are giuen too those vyces shall neuer come in the kingdome of God he sayeth and such haue you bin He sheweth that the faythfull also had bin steyned with the lyke corruptions But yee bee washed and made cleane sayeth he yee bee sanctifyed by Gods holy spirit and through the blud of our Lord Iesus christ As if he should say by nature yee were miserable and folke giuen too all leaudnesse The willingnesse and desyre that you haue now too serue God came not of your selues but of Gods drawing of you vntoo him that wheras you were erst as wyld beastes he hath brought you vntoo his obedience wheras yee were foule and vncleane he hath washed you with the blud of our Lord Iesus Christ and wheras you were vnholy he hath made you holy by his holy Ghost And therfore fall not too wallowing and plundging of your selues agein intoo vncleannesse Thus the trew meaning of those woordes is in effect that the wicked and such as lead an awlesse and lawlesse lyfe that is too say such as fyght not ageinst their lustes but delyght in naughtinesse shall neuer come in the kingdome of god For first of all if the faythfull bee not renewed at their birth by the spirit of God they bee steyned with the sinnes wheruntoo mankynd is subiect yea and wee see some that are wholy giuen vntoo them And albeit that our Lord haue wrought in vs by his holy spirit it dooth not therfore followe that wee bee so well reformed at the first day as there is no more euill in vs For wee must bee fayne too keepe continuall battell through repentance all our lyfe long And repentance should take no place if wee felt not sinne dwelling styll within vs Therfore it suffyzeth that it reigne not in vs as S. Paule exhorteth vs in the sixth too the Romanes There S. Paule telleth them too whom he speaketh that if they looke vppon their former life they must needes be ashamed bycause they were so strayed away that they had forgotten God and all vertew and honestie Yee cannot sayth he remember what yee were before yee were conuerted too the beleefe of the Gospell but yee must needes cast downe your eyes with great shame And yit notwithstanding he telleth them that sinne must not now reigne in our mortall bodyes although it dwell there still In deede it were too bee wished that there were no sinne dwelling in vs and that wee were all lyke the Angels of heauen But Saint Paule knowing well that wee cannot atteyne too that so long as wee dwell in this world and vntyll wee haue put off our corruption and bee dispatched of this transitorie lyfe wylleth vs yit at leastwize that sinne should not reigne in vs So then although wee bee steyned with many vyces yit let vs so fyght ageinst them that they may not become heynous crymes as though wee rebelled ageinst God but continew onely as infirmities so as wee beseeche God too forgiue vs them quite and cleane acknowledging that wee haue neede too obteyne mercy
dispatch of the rest for vnder that woord it is shewed vs first that our Lord Iesus Christ was after a sort myndlesse of himselfe and regarded not his owne person when he went about our saluation Trew it is that he was giuen vs of God who as it is sayd in the third of Saint Iohn dyd loue the world so well that he spared not his onely sonne but gaue him too the death for our sakes Yit notwithstanding our Lord Iesus Christ also did gyue himself No man taketh my lyfe from mee sayth he but I lay it downe For it was requisite that the sacrifyzce which he offered for the remission of our sinnes should bee willing Yee see then that Iesus Christ gaue himselfe too the death and if wee deâ—aund the cause surely it was first too fulfill the will and euerlasting deteâ—â—ination of God his father Neuerthelesse lyke as God the father inteâ—ded the saluation of mankynd so Iesus Christ shewed how deere wee were too him and how precious our soules are in his syght sith he voutsafed too giue himselfe after that fashyon Now then on the one syde the husbandes must consider well heere what they owe too their wyues that is too wit that they should bee as â—eere too them as their owne lyues at the least And though they doo so yit shall they not come too the perfection of our Lord Iesus Christ but followe him a great way behynde And the wyues also on their syde must beare well in mynd that forasmuch as it is Gods â—ill that 〈◊〉 wedlocke there should bee as it were a figure of the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ they bee too farre 〈◊〉 if they submit not themselues where God calleth them too it And by the way let vs knowe also that Saint Paule ment too magnify Gods goodnesse towardes vs and the loue that Iesus Christ beareth vs in saying that hâ— gaue himself for vs And therefore let vs acknowledge that it came of the free mercie of God his father and also that our Lord Iesus Christ respected nothing but our miseries when he shewed himselfe so pitifull too succour vs If wee mynd these things on the one syde wee shal bee moued too our dewtie without geynsaying and on the othersyde inflamed too glorify our God and acknowledge both with our mouthes and also by our whole lyfe how much wee bee beholden too him seeyng he hath powred out the treasures of his mercy vppon vs in so much that he hath not onely discharged vs of the condemnation wherin we were and drawen vs out of death but also hath voutsafed too giue vs his welbeeloued sonne for a pledge of his loue and Iesus Christ hath taken vppon him the office too bee the borrowe and raunsome for vs too the end too set vs cleere before God that the diuel also myght not haue any more ageinst vs notwithstanding that he bee our aduersary we bee subiect vnto him tyll we be set free from that bondage by meanes of the sayd Redeemer Now let vs fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God with acknowledgment of our faultes praying him to make vs so to knowe them as wee may aske him forgiuenesse of them and reforme our selues more and more by amending them and so profit in the doctrine of saluation as our lyfe may alwayes bee fashyoned after his law according to the meazure of the grace which wee haue receyued of him And so let vs all say Almyghtye God heauenlye father c. The .xl. Sermon which is the eyght vppon the fifth Chapter 25. Yee husbandes loue your vvyues as Christ loued the Church and gaue himselfe for it 26. Too sanctify it clenzing it in the vvashing of vvater through the vvoord 27. Too make it too himselfe a glorious Church vvithout spot or vvrincle or any thing elâ—e but that it myght bee holy and vnblamable WEe haue seene this morning how large matter of glorifying the infinite goodnesse of our God wee haue if wee consider by what meanes he hathe drawen vs from death and taken vs for his children notwithstanding that wee were cursed afore in Adam And now Saint Paule setteth foorth how wee bee made parttakers of the grace that is purchaced for vs by our Lord Iesus Christ namely by being wafshed and clenzed from our spottes too the end too bee dedicated too his seruice in all holynesse Also he addeth the wasshing of water bycause Baptim is a visible figure and record vntoo vs according too our rudenesse and infirmitie too make vs the better too perceyue the grace of our God which passeth all vnderstanding of man Now first of al there is the woord Sanctify which importeth that we should bee separated from the world too bee knit vntoo the sonne of god And this doctrine is such as wee can neuer knowe it ynough For as I haue sayd afore wee must alwayes compare the state wherein God fyndeth vs with the state wheretoo he calleth vs For from our moothers womb wee 〈◊〉 nothing but vtter wretchednesse wee bee cursed and detestablâ—â—â—fore god Therefore he draweth vs out of the dungeon of death from thence dooth he gather vs vp too himselfe And by the woord Sanctifie S. Paule meaneth the chaunge which ought as it were too rauish and too astonish vs as oft as wee consider what wee were and what wee should bee styll if God pitied vs not But let vs come too the meane that I spake of He sayeth that our Lord Iesus Christ hath washed vs. No dout but this is too bee referred too his death and passion For how could wee appeere before God as it were with our countenances vpryght but that our sinnes are done away by the sacrifyze that was offered too set vs at one with god Then vntill wee bee wasshed and scoured cleane by the blud of our Lord Iesus Christ wee bee fowler before God than any leapar wee bee full of all maner of filth and infection and too bee short all that wee can bring shall but prouoke Gods wrath and the vertewes that men esteeme greatest shal bee but lothsomnesse Therfore wee must imbrace the sacrifyce wherby our Lord Iesus Christ hath reconcyled vs too God his father and his blud must flowe downe vppon our soules too clenze vs from our filthinesse and spots Neuerthelesse it is not without cause that Saint Paule sets vs downe baptim heere not that wee bee made cleane by that nother was it his meaning too turne vs asyde from the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ. But forasmuch as wee bee dust and grosse and vnderstand not the spirituall benefyts so well as were requisyte therfore Saint Paule conforming him self too our rudenesse and infirmitie hath shewed vs here our wasshing by a visible signe That wee may the better profit our selues by this maner of speeche let vs consider too what end baptim was ordeyned and whertoo it serueth When our Lord Iesus Christ commaunded vs too bee baptyzed in his name ment he too