meanes according also as S. Paules intent heere is to bring backe the Galathians to the pure truthe from the which they had bin led away seduced not that they had vtterly renounced Iesus Christ but that they had intermingled the ceremonies of the Lawe thereby to obtayne forgiuenesse of sinnes as who should say there needed other helpes therevnto according as in papistrie it wil well ynough be graunted that Iesus Christ is the redeemer of the world but yet therwithal euery man seeketh to cōpound with God to make amends by himself Now the Galathians had already bin imbured with the like errour For this cause Sainct Paule sheweth the that sinnes are none otherwize wiped out than by the sacrifize of our Lord Iesus Christ to thintent that our fayth may rest wholly there Therfore if we wil be parttakers of so great a benefite we must giue ouer al our vaine hopes all the illusiōs that the Diuell putteth in our minde when he turneth vs aside frō our Lord Iesus Christ frō his only grace by making vs to beleeue that we can come vnto God if we bring some amends with vs. To be short vntill such time as we be sure that there is none other washing wherewith to skoure out the spottes of our iniquities but the bloud which our Lord Iesus Christ hath shed wherwith we be rinced through the holy ghost it is certain that we cā neuer come freely vnto God nor rest vpon his fauour loue but shall euer be wandering in our own imaginacions that shal be a due payment for our misbelefe in that we haue not yeelded our Lord Iesus Christ the honor that he deserued Thus ye see in effect what we haue to beare in mind here where S. Paule setteth the death passion of our Lord Iesus Christ before vs telling vs that that is the thing wherein we shall finde the amends of all our faultes do as they shal not be called any more too account before God And he sayeth purposely that Iesus Christ gaue himselfe too the end wee should the more boldly take holde of his Loue. For wee see heere that when our Lord Iesus Christ did put foorth himself too make attonement betweene God and vs he spared not his owne body soule in somuch that he indured extreme anguish in his foule as he that was our borrow in the same and bare the wrath of God in our behalfe And in his body also he indured all reproch and shame and therewithall also the horriblest tormentes that could be deuized and al this as I sayd afore sheweth right wel that the loue which he bare vs was inestimable sith he forgate himself after that sort for our sakes But yet notwithstanding herewithall S. Paule bringeth vs alwayes backe too the will of God too shew that when our Lord Iesus Christ did in that wyze performe all that belonged too our saluation it was no let but that God in the meane whyle vttered his mercy in the same according as it is sayd in another text that God so loued the world that he spared not his onely sonne but deliuered him to death for vs. To the intent therfore that we should not think that the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ too pacifie God his father was after such a sort that he persuaded him to alter his purpose as men are inclined to such grosse earthly imaginacions S. Paule to shew vs that God was not reconcyled vnto vs after the maner of men telleth vs expresly that the cause why Iesus Christ was deliuered for our sinnes was for that God had so ordeyned it For if a man be angry with his childe some other man may steppe in too appease his wrath and such a one shall supply the roome of a third partie But the cace stoode not so with our Lord Iesus Christ when he offered himself in Sacrifize too do away all our sinnes to make vs way vnto God from whom we were shet out before He came not as one that stepped in of his owne head and as though God had not meddled with the matter How then God as hath bin touched not long since did both hate vs and loue vs before the reconciliation was made And why loued he vs Bicause we be his creatures And again although he saw we were so wretched and vtterly forlorne damned folke by reason of sin yet notwithstanding he had pitie vpon vs would not haue mankind to perish vtterly Thus yee see how God loued vs notwithstanding that in the persone of Adam we were fallen away frō him vtterly corrupted Therwithall he did also hate vs euen bicause he is the welspring of all rightuousnesse Therfore he abhorred the naughtinesse that was in vs by reason wherof there needed an attonemēt to be made in the bloud of our Lord Iesus Christ by the sacrifize which he offered But yet must not that benefite bee fathered vppon any other than God Yee see then howe it was Gods dooing too sende his onely sonne and too giue him ouer vnto death for vs. And why To the ende that all hatred betweene him and vs shoulde bee done away This in effect is the thing that ought to be vnderstood of S. Paules woordes when he saith that Iesus Christ gaue himselfe to the death for our sinnes and yet notwithstanding that the same came not too passe without the wil of God who had determined the same aforehande in his owne euerlasting purpose Heere first of all we haue too magnifie the mercie that was shewed vs in the person of our Lorde Iesus Christ For if God had but proclaymed a pardon and tolde vs that he woulde take vs to mercie though we were vnworthie of it that had bin verie much yea and it had bin impossible for vs to magnifie such a gracious goodnesse as it deserueth But seeing he hath lent vs such a gage of his loue as his owne sonne and gyueth himselfe to vs in his person thereby shewing himselfe to be our father it so farre passeth all that we haue sayde that if all our wittes were imployed too woondering at suche a goodnesse yet should wee neuer come to the fulnesse thereof Thus ye see what we haue to marke in the first place when Saint Paule speaketh too vs of Gods will Howbeeit let vs vnderstande that euen from the time that God had iust cause to hate vs and to abhorre vs yea and euen from the time that we were his enimies as the Scripture sayth in very deede he neuer ceassed to haue some regarde of vs and to extende his pitie so farre foorth as he would not haue vs to abyde in our destruction in so much that he hath not thought it ynough to declare the same by word of mouth but also hath giuen vs such a pledge as wee see that is to wit that his owne sonne hath answered for it Now seeing it is so that God hath shewed himselfe so gracious
than angelicall conformitie too all his commaundementes Howbeit although he holde vs in awe although he chaunge vs and fashion vs newe agayne althoughe he reyne vs backe to the obedience of his will yet is there no full perfection in vs. And why For he intendeth to holde vs still vnder the bridle of humilitie he wil haue vs to know our owne weaknesse and to grone for it before him and he will haue vs to passe iudgement and to know that wee be alwayes inâ—etted vnto him Forasmuche then as God doth not in this present life giue vs such perfection as were requisit to the ful performance of his whole law therfore we can neuer do throughly the things that he coÌ„maÌ„deth vs. And forasmuch as we be not able to performe theÌ„ therfore this iudgement is huÌ„dred down vpon our heads that he is cursed which fulfilleth not al the things It behoueth vs to marke well that saying for it is not sayd Cursed bee he that reiecteth the Lawe or which keepeth no poynt at all of it but Cursed be he that dischargeth not himselfe of it poynt by poynt and through stitche as I sayd afore And for that cause also S. Iames too the ende too beate downe mens pride sayth that he which fayleth in any one poynt is giltie of the whole VVee will think this to be very rough dealing at the first sight VVhat say we will God forget al the good that a man hath done for the committing of some one onely fault That would be counted crueltie among men Yea but S. Iames addeth a reason saying He that forbad to murther forbad also to coÌ„mit whordome and he that forbad to steale forbad al the residue too Then if I thinke my selfe to haue satisfied God in forbearing thefte and in the meane while am a whoremaster haue I not offended the maiestie of God And therfore wee must leaue all these peecings for if wee bring God some one peece let all the rest alone what a dealing wil that be â–ª VVe see that one man is giuen to one vice another to another and so euery man would bee priuiledged and dispenst with vnder colour that he had done this or that notwithstaÌ„ding that he missed in some other poynt But God hathe not separated his commaundements asunder He hath not sayde too one man thou shalte not steale and to another Thou shalte not commit aduoutry but he sayth to al men without exception Absteyne yee from whordome absteyne ye from theft absteyne yee from murther Therefore wee must examine our life not by any one commaundement alone but by all the whole law togither But now let vs see if we can find any man that is faultlesse Yee see then that wee must needes bee confounded so long as we stande to be iudged by the law For if Abraham who was the excellentest that euer could be picked out amoÌ„g men should be driuen to enter into account by that it is certayne that he shoulde not misse too bee damned Seeing it is so let vs beare well in minde that it is not for vs too dispute any more for when the Papistes speake of the righteousnesse of faythe they doo but dally and skoffe with God as if he were a lyttle babe Let vs keepe our selues from suche scornfulnesse and when God pronounceth this horrible sentence that all they bee cursed which fulfill not all that is written let vs conceiue such a terrour of it as we may quake before his maiestie yea and euery of vs become his owne iudge and willingly yeeld himselfe giltie and beeing so conuicted of our wretchednesse bewayle our vtter fayling in all things and therevpon imbrace the rightuousnesse that is offered vs in our Lord Iesus Christ taking all our contentment and rest there Now let vs fall downe before the maiestie of our good God with acknowledgement of our faults praying him to make vs so to feele them as we may not only aske him forgiuenesse with true repentance but also pray him to hold vs vp all the tyme of our lyfe till he haue taken vs hence into his owne kingdome and in the meane while to reforme vs more and more by his holy spirit to the end we may haue sure record that we be of the number of his children by gouerning ourselues after that manner in feare and seeke nothing else but to giue ourselues wholly vnto him And so let vs all say Almighty God heauenly father c. The. 18. Sermon which is the fourth vpon the third Chapter 11. That no man is iustifyed by the lavve before God it is manifest for the rightuous shall liue by faith 12. And the lavve is not of saith but the man that doeth those things shall liue in them 13. Christ hath raunsomed vs froÌ„ the curse of the lawe in that he became accursed for vs for it is vvritteÌ„ cursed is he that hangeth on tree 14. That the blissednesse of Abraham myght come vppon the Gentils through Iesus Christ to the end that vve myght receyue the promis of the spirite by fayth WE haue seene that if men be not worse than mad they must needes for all that euer they haue seeke their saluation in our Lord Iesus Christ For if they sticke to the law they shall find nothing there but damnation as hathe bin shewed alreadye and that doth euery man fynde sufficiently by hys owne experience And certesse when as Sainct Paule goeth about in the Epistle to the Romanes to shew that men beguile themselues too grosly by trusting in their owne merites he fayth that the law can worke nothing but Gods wrath and vengeance For although wee bee already sufficiently condemned ere God open his mouth to gyue sentence againste vs yet notwithstanding our naughtinesse is yet deeper ingrauen by the law when he saith that if wee transgresse but some any one point we become enimies to God and his wrath must needes be kindled against vs. VVhat shall we gaine by disputing when the determinate sentence is pronounced by the heauenly iudge There is nother appeale nor pleading that will stande vs in sted So then let vs vnderstand that to haue the true knowledge of the Gospell we must hold vs wholly to our Lorde Iesus Christe that we put not our hope of saluation in any other thyng than in his only mercie and for the performance thereof let euery of vs haue an eye to his owne life For if men sift themselues thoroughly without hipocrisie or feyning surely all cause of pleading will soone be rid away The Papistes will not in any wise graunte that only fayth should make vs acceptable to God and that is bycause they neuer felt throughly what it is to come before Goddes iudgement seate but haue alwayes as it were played with the shadow of it And therefore no maruell though they pardon themselues in all things But the very way to bring vs to the truth and to the pure and right religion is for euery of vs to
that which S. Paule tolde vs heretofore that is to wit to beware that wee deceyue not our selues wilfully when we would shew our selues hardie and bolde in correcting rebuking and amending one man or other Let vs not bee so foolish as to iustifie our selues by comparison as who should say that God ought to hold himselfe contented with our rebuking of others after that maner and for that there is some shewe of vertue in vs. Let vs not stay vpon any of these things as is told vs vs heere but let vs marke also by the way that whereas it is sayde that euery man shal beare his own burthen we haue right great need of our Lord Iesus Christs helpe and that he should take all our burthens vpon him according as in very deed hee hath borne all our sinnes vpon the crosse as sayth S. Peter in his first Epistle True it is that the matter which S. Paule handleth here is none other than the same that I haue declared alreadie that is to wit that we must not imagin that men are able to warrant vs for the rightuousest man aliue is combered ynough with himself And furthermore that if our Lord had not regard to hold vs vp wee shoulde be oppressed vnder our burthen Yet notwithstanding euery man must answer for himselfe and Gods word must haue the maistrie as I said afore Thus ye see what S. Paule intended to tell vs. But yet further let vs thinke a little vpon our selues If euery man should be faine to beare his own burthen who were able to indure it VVe should needes be borne downe For if a man had but some one sinne in him behold hel were readie too swallowe him vp Surely the weight of one sinne is heauier than a stone that were able to crush all our limmes and bones a peeces Nowe it is no talking of any one nor of a hundred the multitude of them is infinite How then shall we stande in iudgement before God when he bringeth vs to account VVho can say that hee commeth franke and free To be short we see that if there were not a remedie in the matter that S. Paule telleth vs heere we shouâ—◠〈…〉 we must repayre to our Lorde Iesus Christ for it is hee that hath borne all our burthens as I haue alledged alreadie Truly the redeeming of vs did cost him deere and if we seeke heauen and earth throughout for the price of a ransome we shall not finde any other than him that is able too pacifie God Then had we neuer bin sanctified except the sonne of God had giuen himselfe for vs. And in very deed the prophete Esay sheweth how hee bare our burthens Namely that he felt the paynes of death and that the father was faine to wreake himselfe vpon him as though hee had bin an offender and giltie of all the sinnes of the worlde Now therefore we must resort vnto him according also as he allureth vs to him And by the way if any man alledge that here seemeth to be some contrarietie considering how Saint Paule saith that euery man shall beare his owne burthen the answere thereto is easie VVhen the Scripture speaketh too vs of Gods iustice it sayth that euery man shall bee recompenced according to his owne workes After which maner Saint Paule speaketh in the .xiiij. to the Romanes According as euerie man shall haue walked in his conuersation in this world sayeth he and according as hee shall haue wrought in his bodie so must he receyue his rewarde That is the order which the scripture keepeth in speaking of Gods iustice Yea but in the meane while it excludeth not the remedie that is giuen vs in our Lorde Iesus Christ whereby men are succoured Lo how God succoureth his elect and such as hee hath reserued too saluation that is to wit after he hath chastized them he reacheth them his hande and lyfteth them vp againe when hee hathe cast them downe And truly we shoulde not knowe of what value the grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ is neyther coulde wee taste of it neyther coulde wee euer bee partakers of it vnlesse wee were vtterly confounded in our selues Therefore let vs learne to feele our burthen in such wise as too bowe vnder it as hathe bin declared this morning and let the same leade vs too true humilitie And afterwarde when wee haue felt the burthen more than wee are able too beare let vs repayre too oure Lorde Iesus Christ who promiseth too ease vs so wee seeke oure whole rest in hym So then wee see that Gods grace is not excluded when hys iustice is spoken of For it standeth vs in 〈…〉 â—â—ayes too his mercie VVhereas it is sayde that hee whiche shall haue beene a cruell and mercilesse persone shall haue iustice withoute mercie thereby Saint Iames dooth vs too vnderstande that oure Lorde hath his iudgement against the wicked and the reprobates to recompende them according to their misdeedes and againe that he measureth his owne otherwise that is to wit that after he hath condemned them in themselues and made them to feele their diseases thereby to bring them to true lowlinesse then he setteth them vp againe Then must we first be striken downe with Gods hande and afterwarde be lifted vp againe by his gracious promises in that hee telleth vs that in our Lorde Iesus Christ wee shall find all that wee want Thus ye see in summe after what maner we must practize this text namely that in admonishing our neighbours with a gentle and meeld spirit and being also humble mâ—ke our selues without presuming any thing vpon our selues wee must examin well our owne liues so as we may dayly bewayle our sinnes and be sorie for them to the ende that we be no more deceyued with hipocrisie but labor to withdraw our selues from the worlde to the intent we surmize not that we shall scape Gods iudgement by our shiftes So then let vs beare all these things in minde that we may submit our selues to the pure worde of God And whatsoeuer men do to turne vs away from it let vs not suffer our selues too be seduced And for the bringing hereof to passe let vs flee to our Lorde Iesus Christ knowing that howe desirous so euer we bee to giue our selues wholly to the seruing of God yet wee be so ouerloden with sinnes and imperfections that they were able to sinke vs downe to the bottome of hell if wee had not one to holde vs backe that is to wit our Lorde Iesus Christ who hath borne all our sinnes and set vs vtterly free from them too the intent wee might hereafter come before God with our faces vpright Now let vs acknowledge our sinnes with such humilitie as euerie of vs may confesse yea euen vnfeynedly that we are all forlorne and paste hope except this oure good God haue pitie vppon vs praying him neuerthelesse too make the fruite and vertue of the death and passion of our Lorde Iesus Christ
and mercifull before we were reconciled to him what will he do now when we haue so sure a warrant and that the Gospell also is preached vnto vs to assure vs that we be knit vntoo our Lord Iesus Christ by fayth as members of his bodie Shall we now doubt of Gods loue towards vs when we haue so good a confirmation of it as Saint Paule fayth in the fift Chapter to the Romaines If so be that Iesus Christ sayth he came to put away all our sinnes at such times as there was yet deadly foad betweene god vs ought not all doubting to be troden vnder foote and we not be afrayde in any wise too call vpon our God but assure our selues of our owne saluation nowe when God hath so confirmed it vnto vs when hee hath admitted vs into his fauour when he calleth and allureth vs as gently as may be and when hee sheweth and certefieth vs that hee doth as it were hold open his armes to imbrace vs whensoeuer we will come vnto him Thus ye see what we haue to beare in minde in this streyne Furthermore let vs marke also the loue of our Lord Iesus Christ how that seeing hee hath giuen himselfe after that sort for our sinnes he will not suffer his death and passion to be vnprofitable nor the sacrifice which he hath once offered to be voyd and of none effect without bringing forth frute in vs. But as hee hath offered himselfe once for all so also will he be our continuall Mediator and Aduocate to the ende we may be partakers of the clennesse which he hath purchased for vs that beeing ridde of all our fowlenesse we may appeare cleane before God and speake vnto him with open mouth Lo how we ought to gather togither all the things that are shewed vs here for the stablishing of our faith that we may freely resort vnto our God not as straungers to him but as his owne children and familiar friendes And herewithall let vs learne also to shake off all the illusions and fancies of Satan who seeketh by all meanes too turne vs away from our Lorde Iesus Christ or else to darken the grace which we shoulde finde in him and when he can not abolish it vtterly he snarleth vs and putteth new meanes into our heades whereby to purchase fauor at Gods hande But let vs cut off all such things and so fasten all our wittes vpon our Lord Iesus Christ as he onely my suffize vs and we vtterly mislyke whatsoeuer shall come in our heade too purchase grace and fauor with assuring our selues that there is not any other thing that may cause God to receyue vs to mercie than the sacryfize whereby all righteousnesse and clennesse was purchased for vs. Furthermore vnder these woordes of Gods will it behoueth vs too comprehende a free goodnesse too exclude all that men are woont too make themselues beleeue of their owne merits for in that sence also are those wordes taken in the holy Scripture so that as I haue tolde you before the thing which is termed heere by the name of Will is termed elsewhere by the name of good pleasure Saint Paule therefore not onely sheweth that the welspring of our Redemption and Saluation consisteth in the ordinance and euerlasting purpose of God the father but also intendeth to beat down all pryde and presumption by shewing that wee must yeelde the whole prayse of our righteousnesse too the free fauour of God which had no regarde at all of our deseruings For let vs examine our selues and what shall God find in vs but vtter wretchednesse And that is the verie cause why God voutsafeth his mercie vpon vs. So then let vs assure our selues that hencefoorth wee may freely lift vp our eyes to heauen and preferre our prayers and supplications vnto God bycause he hath preuented vs according as it as sayd in S. Iohn that he had not tarried till we loued him for that was impossible bicause we be wholy bent vnto euill and are vtterly giuen ouer to it but had loued vs euen though wee were his enimies And so ye see that the appearing of our Lord Iesus Christ was too the ende too reconcile vs to God his father as wee haue shewed alreadie That therefore is in effect the thing that wee haue to beare in minde Nowe Saint Paule addeth immediately that it was to deliuer vs from this wicked worlde Heere he sheweth why we bee called too the knowledge of our Lorde Iesus Christ and also why he hath set so great store by vs as to redeeme vs as he hath done namely to the ende we shoulde not abide in our filth and vncleannesse but be withdrawne away from it by him In verie deed that is not the cause of our saluation but the ende and marke wherat God loked in ordeyning vs to saluation The thing therefore which it standeth vs on hand to haue an eie vnto when our redemption is spokē of is that we must begin at the free fauor which God bare vnto vs when he determined in his euerlasting purpose that we should be brought backe againe vnto him by the meanes of our Lorde Iesus Christ And so that was the principall cause Another cause thereof is Iesus Christ in whome wee finde all that is requisite for our assurance For there we see our sinnes blotted out inasmuch as hee is ordeyned to be our borrow and hath made such amendes for vs as nothing can stop vs from comming too God That is the seconde poynt which wee haue too remember heere Now the meane whereby we be made partakers of our Lorde Iesus Christ is our imbracing of the promises of the Gospel by true faith For the faythlesse haue no profite at all by the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ but rather are so much the more damnable bicause they reiect the meane that God had ordeyned and theyr vnthankfulnesse shall be so much the more grieuously punished bicause they haue troden vnder foote the bloud of our Lorde Iesus Christ which was the ransome for their soules Therfore it standeth vs on hande to receyue the promises of the Gospell by fayth if we desire that Iesus Christ should communicate himselfe vnto vs and that he should bring vs to the possession and inioyment of the benefites which he hath purchased for vs so as they belong not too any other than such as are members of his bodie and are graffed into him and receyue him by fayth according as it is sayde in the first Chapter of Saint Iohn that God accepteth and auoucheth those for his children which beleeue in his only sonne Thus ye see what we haue to remember in the thirde place when we come too the scanning of our saluation Nowe remayneth that God bee glorified in vs as good reason is that he shoulde be And in that respect also Saint Paule in the thirde to the Romaynes sayth that wheras God hath giuen vs the meanes in our Lorde Iesus Christ
vs too the bottome of Hell And in good sooth as the wretched vnbeleeuers rack themselues they doo but double their owne condemnacion for the Diuell snarleth them so much the more in their damnation Therfore let vs acknowledge that wee haue bin rebelles too God euer since the time that wee would needes serue him so after our owne fancie and that there was nothing in all our whole lyfe but errour too make vs stray all the world ouer and too plucke vs backe rather than too set vs foreward and finally that all the deuotions whiche men deuyze are but slightes and illusions of Satan to sinke vs down too the deepest dungeons of death So then let vs returne too this obedientnesse and acknowledge that there is no way for vs too rule our life wel but by being taught in the schoole of the Sonne of God But doo wee thinke that the Superstitions that raigne now adayes in the world and haue their full scope there are better than the traditions that were in the tyme of S. Paule It is true that there were many wicked corruptions in the Churche of the Iewes For Sectes were sprung vp and the Pharisies whiche were yet the purest and soundest of all the rest had mingled many gewgawes with the seruis of God in somuche that all was corrupted among them But howsoeuer they fared yet Sainct Paule had alwayes the lawe and the holy Scripture As for the traditions whereof he speaketh he tooke them as appurtenances but yet in the meane whyle his mynde was too mayntayne the Lawe of Moyses whiche had Gods woorde in it and the vnchaungeable truthe and whiche ought too haue the same reuerence to the worldes end Yet notwithstanding he had but the letter of the lawe as wee haue seene heretofore in the Epistle too the Corinthians But now adayes as for them that bee the deuoutest in the Popedome what haue they VVhen they haue alledged all that they can it is certayne that the holy Scripture is as good as buryed among them and noman makes account of it They will not say that it ought to be cast away for that were too great a blasphemie and men would abhorre it But what soeuer they pretend the Gospell is nothing with them in comparison of that which hath bin ordeyned by their holy Councelles and by our moother holy Churche Yea and they are not ashamed too say that the Gospell al the holy Scripture is as a noze of waxe so as there is no certaintie in it but that it muste bee interpreted altogither by men Lo how Iesus Christ is mocked and skorned Thinke yee that such men may make vs beleeue all their owne inuentions when as they be so manifestly contrary to themselues Then let vs marke that if S. Paule did so condemne himselfe with his owne mouthe in the things that he did when he followed not our Lord Iesus Christ no excuse shal be auayleable nor go for payment before God when men swarue aside from the simplicitie of the Gospell This is in effect the thing that we haue to gather vpon his text But let vs marke therewithall that God vttered a singular grace in S. Paule too the end that by his example wee might know that our calling too saluation hath bin of his meere and vndeserued goodnesse And furthermore that if we haue sliddē backe and broken our promis made in Baptime to our Lord Iesus Christ yet how soeuer the cace stand we shall not fayle to be receyued to mercie so we confesse freely without hypocrisie that there was nothing in vs but confusion and that God must haue bin fayne to remedie the matter of his wōderfull goodnesse True it is as I haue touched afore that S. Paule was taken for a holy man and it might well haue bin sayd that God had accepted his deuotions and that there had bin some good preparation in him afore hand howbeit all that was but a pluckyng of him backe as I haue touched already in the thirde too the Philippians where he sayth he could not take hold of Iesus Christ and of the incomprehensible benefites that are in him vntill he had mislyked all the things that he had earst esteemed and had in reputation as his owne rightuousnesse and holinesse VVee see then after what sorte God wrought in the persone of Paule in somuch that in the first to Timothie he setteth foorth himself for an example patterne saying that Iesus Christ had shewed in him that he was come to saue all wretched sinners to the end we should not doubt too bee receyued when we keepe the right way VVhat did Frewill in S. Paule for the bringing of him to the obediēce of the Gospel nothing but God was fayne too thunder downe vpon him from heauen too driue out the pryde and presumption that was in him He was not only drawē by the hand but also God did caste so thicke scales vppon his eyes that hee was as a blynde wretche And besides that he was stricken too the ground and astonished too shewe that the knowledge and cunning whiche he thought himselfe too haue before was but starke blindnesse and that this darknesse had serued too bring him too a new light For if God had lette him still alone in his perfect plight surely there woulde alwayes haue remayned some foolish selfeweenyng in him and he would alwayes haue mingled some tricke of his owne deuyce and brayne with the doctrine of our Lord Iesus Christ therfore it behoued him to be blinded to abide so For in asmuch as he had earst bin in great reputation and bin tempted to hold his state still it was requisite that he should be brought downe and lifted vp againe and caried like a little babe or rather like a carkesse or dead body Thus yee see how it behoued S. Paule too bee corrected after a violent maner whereby wee see that nother free will nor deuotion nor holynesse stoode him in any steede but that all ought too bee attributed to the meere mercy of God And in very deede wee see how he yeeldeth a pure and vnconstrayned confession thereof Then seyng it is so let vs marke also that when God calleth vs too him it is not for that he seeth vs disposed therevnto or for that wee bee in any good readinesse too it afore hand but bycause it pleaseth him too drawe vs of his owne meere mercie as we shall see yet more at large hereafter And if we minde too be parttakers of the grace of our Lorde Iesus Christe as S. Paule was the way what wee must take is to confesse that there is nothing at all in vs but that wee must bee fayne too receyue from aboue all the things whereof wee bee destitute and too haue God woorke in vs after such a sorte as the prayse of our saluation may bee reserued too him alone without any exception And in that respect also S. Paule addeth that when it had pleazed God
Darnell as the ignorant and weake sort shall bee hindered by it And therewithall let vs consider the mischiefe that may happen when suche as haue the charge too preache the Gospell are so disfamed by slaunders or else so brought in suspicion as a man cannot tell whither he may beleeue them or no as though God had not ordeyned them too aduaunce the kingdome of his Sonne and too publish the Gospell in many Countries or at leastwise among many folke that should bee edified by them Cursed be he therefore that shall cast such a stumblingblocke in their wayes So then let vs by all meanes indeuer too agree with those that serue God and too help such as haue the gifte and abilitie too edifie the Churche and are put in office Let vs lende them our hand that their labour may bee profitable bothe for our selues and for all our neighbours that by that meanes God may bee glorified and wee more and more with one hart and one mouth call vppon him as our father And now let vs fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God with acknowledgement of our faultes praying him too make vs so to feele them as it may drawe vs to right repentance and make vs beseeche him too vse his infinite mercie towardes vs vntill he haue so rid vs of all our imperfections that wee may behold him face to face as he is and attayne too the perfection wherevntoo he calleth vs now by his woord and wherevnto it behoueth vs to go foreward all our lyfe long beyng well assured that wee canno◠come too it till wee bee rid of our flesh and taken out of this pryson wherein we bee now hilde vnder the bondage of sinne That it may please him too graunt this grace not onely too vs but also too all people and nacions of the earth c. The. 8. Sermon which is the seconde vpon the second Chapter 3 And Titus also vvho vvas vvith mee although he vvere a Greeke vvas not compelled too bee circumcized 4 Bycause of the false brethren that vvere priuily crept in to spie out our libertie vvhich vve haue in Iesus Christ to the end to bring vs into bondage 5 To vvhom vvee yeelded not in vvay of subiection euen for an houre to the intent that the truthe of the Gospell might continue in you WEe finde well ynough what an enemie of our welfare the Diuell is sith he ceasseth not to labour by all meanes too stop the course of the Gospell And therein wee perceyue also that God hath set al our welfare ioy and happinesse in beyng taught by his woorde For the Diuell would not be so hastie to trouble that doctrine vnlesse he knew that the whole welfare of men lyeth therein True it is that he laboreth sore and streyneth himselfe too deface Gods glory but they bee things that go togither For God of his gracious goodnesse hath appoynted that too bee the meane too reigne among vs and to gather vs vnto himself and all our welfare is too cleaue vnto him and too ioyne with him Now therfore the Diuell not only stirreth vp many enemies to make warre agaynst the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ but also laboreth too stirre vp much stryfe among our selues and too make vs enemies one too another and that hath bin his practize at all times as wee see by example in the things that Sainct Paule reherceth too vs heere VVee knowe what alarams were giuen him euerywhere and what a number of battelles and plundges he was put vntoo by reason that the Heathen and the vnbeleuers did to the vttermost of their power withstand the preaching of Gods woord and yet ouer and besides this he sheweth how there were deceyuers also which wound thēselues in slyly and entered in as it were by stealth For the Greeke woord that he vseth importeth so much and it cannot wel be expressed by any one woord in our french tunge His meening then is that there were Cousiners which intermedled thēselues vndermyningly with the faythfull and yet all was no more but to cause the truthe of the Gospell to be corrupted And let vs marke that those dogges pretended not to reiect vtterly the whole doctrine of our Lord Iesus Christ but rather bare the name and title of Christianitie Howbeit in the meane while their intent was to haue a halffaste Gospel which should bee nother fishe nor fleshe as they say but a medly of their owne deuice like as at this day there are still too many suche folke in the world who would fayne forge and builde a kind of Religion after their owne fashion taking a peece of the pure truth and mingling many lies and dreames with it Lo howe there haue bin Neuters euen from S. Paules time hither And now he sayeth that be yeelded not too them so much as one minute in way of subiection too the end that the libertie of the Gospell might continue in his full force That is in effect the thing that is rehearced heere And firste of all wee haue too arme our selues agaynst the houshold enemies which labour too turmoyle and trouble the doctrine of the Gospell in such wyse as it may become lyke a mishapen thing and men may not discerne any more of it But lette vs not bee abashed when it happeneth so for it is no noueltie at all ▪ VVherefore lette vs vnderstand that as it was Gods will too trie the constancie of the faythfull in S. Paules time so it is good reason that wee also should bee tried in these dayes according as it is sayd that it is necessarie that there should bee sectes and heresies too the intent that they which haue taken deepe roote might bee knowen by continuyng in their obedience to Godward and beare their marke that men may know them to haue profited truly in the schoole of our Lord Iesus Christ for that they haue not suffered themselues too be misledde or thrust out of the way That therefore is the cause why our Lorde dooth alwayes suffer some troublers to sowe darnell seede and too labour too turne the pure doctrine vpside downe He coulde well lette it if he thought good but he giueth Satan the brydle that our fayth may bee the better tryed Although wee see occasions before our eyes yet lette vs not swarue one way nor other but keepe on still in the way that is shewed vs assuring our selues that wee cannot doo amisse in resting wholly vppon Gods woord Then if we stand too that it is a good tryall of our fayth Furthermore let vs fight agaynst suche dogges knowyng that they bee deadly plagues and doo much more harme than they that leape quyte out of their sockets and shewe themselues manifestly too bee despyzers of the Gospell Those then that are intermedled among vs are the worser sorte and it standeth vs on hand too resist them manfully For if wee shrinke from them in the battell surely wee shall haue so much the greater confusion and men
too our saluation in the meere grace of our Lorde Iesus Christe Thus yee see that this saying where Sainct Paule auoweth that no fleshe shall bee iustified ought too bee vnderstoode as though hee had sayde ▪ If men looke vppon themselues in their owne nature they shall finde nothing but euill notwithstanding all the fayre shewes that they can haue They may well bee highly praysed and esteemed in the worlde and they may well beguyle themselues by vayne selfe soothings but vntill suche time as God haue wrought in them too chaunge them it is certaine that there shall bee nothing in them but filthinesse al the vertues that men make account of shal be starke vice too leade them too destruction and too plundge them in Hell For although that they which are renewed by Gods grace and haue already profited in his obediēce haue some vertues which he loueth and esteemeth yet are they not able to bring aught that may passe account before him for they shall alwayes finde themselues in arrerages And that goodnesse whiche is in them they haue it of him and yet is that goodnesse also corrupted with their sinnes and infirmities by reason whereof they are vtterly bereft of all trust in their owne rightuousnesse and so if wee now seeke our rightuousnesse in the law we be beguyled wee shall not find it there we be al of vs condemned from the greatest too the least But heere wee see much better that which I touched afore namely that when we perceyue and find by experience that we want all that euer pertayneth to the life of our soules we must resort to Iesus Christ as to our refuge so that the true preparatiue to make vs beleue in Iesus Christ is to be touched with a liuely cōceyt and feeling of our own sinnes And for the same cause also he sayeth Come vnto me all ye that labour and are heauie loden I will refresh you and you shal find rest to your soules Again it is sayd expresly that he is sent to preach the message of gladnesse to the poore to set free such as are in prison to cōfort such as are vtterly oppressed and as it were ouerwhelmed Those then which take pleasure in their sinnes will neuer come at our Lord Iesus Christ True it is that they wil boast ynough of faith according as many skorners of God do vnhallow that worde as holie as it is Euery man will be counted a Christian and they that bee furthest out of square in all wickednesse will say they beleeue as much as any other man But when a man speaketh after that maner it is a token that he hath not one droppe of fayth For the faithfull will surely say I beleeue howbeit with so greate weakenesse that I see well if my God should not pitie mee that little whiche I haue would soone vanish away vtterly Therfore they that vaūt with full mouth that they haue a perfect fayth are but dogges and swine which neuer tasted what the feare of God or what religion is But how soeuer the world go the name of fayth shall be shamefully defiled by those dogges which doo nothing else but mocke God For they haue no skill too discerne betweene good and euill They bee so blockish that they doo as it were welter in their filthinesse insomuch that a grosse drunkarde that is past all shame and therewithall hath ouerglutted himselfe also woulde faine continue still in his disordinatenesse Besydes this the whoremongers the periurers the blasphemers and such other like will protest welynough that they haue fayth but yet for all that it is certaine that they were neuer in any towardnesse to come to our Lorde Iesus Christ And why so For they haue not considered that they cannot be iustified but by grace Howbeit let vs marke that to be throughly peswaded that we cannot be iustified by the lawe we must set God before vs in his iudgement seate and euery of vs summon our selues before him and morning and euening bethinke vs that we must yeelde vp an account of our whole life Therevpon let vs vnderstande that we shoulde be ouerwhelmed a hundred thousand tymes if God should not pitie vs and beare with vs of his infinite mercie That is the way for vs to knowe that wee cannot bee iustified by the lawe for we bee as good as damned so oft as we appeare before God It is meete for vs to be put in such feare as wee may haue neyther releace nor rest till our Lorde Iesus Christ haue succoured vs. Ye see then howe it behoueth vs to be loden and fortrauelled that is too say to mislyke of our sinnes and to bee greeued with such anguish as we may be pinched with the sorrowes of death to the ende wee may seeke all our ease in God assuring our selues that wee cannot otherwise obtaine saluation neyther whole nor in part but must be faine to haue it giuen vs. For S. Paule doth not set down any meane way heere as though he sayde that we shoulde finde that which we want in Iesus Christ and be able to haue the rest of our selues But he sayth that forasmuch as we knowe once that we cannot bee taken as righteous for our owne desertes nor for our owne workes onely fayth must content and suffize vs. VVherefore let vs vnderstande that there is not one whitte of our saluation out of Iesus Christ but that we haue there both the beginning and the end of it that is to say euery whit of it and let vs abyde continually in that lowlinesse knowing that we bring nothing with vs but damnation and that all that euer perteyneth to our saluation must be receyued of Gods onely free mercie so as we may say that it is by fayth that we be saued that is too say bycause God the father hath appoynted his sonne our Lorde Iesus Christ for vs to rest vpon that he might both begin and finishe our saluation in such wise as the whole must be fathered vpon him and we learne to renounce our selues and to giue our selues fully and wholy vnto him And now let vs fall downe before the maiestie of our good God with acknowledgement of our sinnes praying him too make vs so to feele them as we may mislike more more of them and grow and go forwarde in the amendment wherein wee ought too spende our whole life and learne too magnifie his goodnesse in such wise as it hath bin shewed to vs in our Lorde Iesus Christ so as wee may be wholy rauished with it and that the same may be not a glorying of it with our mouth onely but a putting of our whole trust in him so as we may be settled in it more and more till we be gathered vp intoo the euerlasting life where we shall haue the rewarde of our fayth That it may please him to graunt this grace not onely to vs but also to all people c. The. 13. Sermon which is the
for vs in the kingdome of heauen And that is the thing whervnto S. Paule leadeth vs. For first of all he exhorteth vs to a holy and well ruled lyfe and to be lowly as becommeth vs to giue our selues wholly to our Lord Iesus Christ And secondly he exhorteth vs to arme our selues with patience that we may ouercome all the assaultes and distresses that come vpon vs and walke in such wise in this world as we may alwayes go foreward to the heauēly heritage which we see not and which passeth all our vnderstanding not ceassing for all that to assure our selues of it sith we haue so good a promis of it made vnto vs. And further seing we haue the earnestpēnie and pledge of it giuen vnto vs in our Lord Iesus Christ let the same serue vs for a full assurance to shew vs that wee neede not runne at randon but haue a perfect fayth a firme and substantiall hope for asmuch as wee haue already in the persone of the Sonne of God a full performance of all things that we can wish But now let vs fall downe before the maiestie of our good God with acknowledgement of our sinnes praying him to make vs feele them more and more and to touch vs in such wise with true repentance as the same may prouoke vs more and more to seeke forgiuenesse and mercie at Gods hand therewithall also to beseech him to gouerne vs so by his holy spirit as we may be incoraged more more to forsake all the lustes of our owne flesh and all that is of our old Adam till we be come to the perfection wherevnto he allureth vs from which we be so farre off as yet That it may please him to graunt this grace not only to vs but also to all people c. The. 15. Sermon which is the first vpon the third Chapter O Yee vnwize Galathians vvho hath bevvitched you that yee should not obey the truth vnto vvhom Iesus Christe hath heretofore bin pottrayed out before your eyes and crucified among you 2 I vvould knovv but this one thing of you receyued you the spirit by the vvorkes of the Lavve or by the preaching of fayth 3 Are yee so vnvvize that vvhen ye haue begon in the spirit yee vvill novv end in the flesh WEe see how God goeth about to win vs by gentlenesse and fayre meanes till our naughtinesse and stubbornnesse inforce him to deale roughly with vs bicause we suffer not our selues too be hādled so gētly by his hand For throughout the whole doctrine of the Gospell God doth as it were stretch out his armes to bring vs in vnto him and to receyue vs in his fatherly loue or rather as he likeneth himself by Moyses he is as a Hen that spreadeth out hir wings too gather hir yong chickēs vnder them Ye see then that God of his infinite goodnesse allureth vs to him but we be like wild beastes that will not suffer themselues to be guyded by him And therfore in respect of such our frowardnesse he had neede to vse roughnesse and to shewe vs our vnthankfulnesse too the end wee may learne to be ashamed of it And that is the cause why S. Paule hauing shewed that all our welfare lieth in Iesus Christ and that if wee will bee partakers of his rightuousnesse and of the benefites that he is willing too impart vntoo vs we must vtterly renounce ourselues and acknowledge that there is nothing but sinne and corruption in vs doth now sharply rebuke such as would mingle their owne deuotions with the grace that is offered them in our Lord Iesus Christ for they had bin instructed faithfully before If S. Paule had begonne in some place where men had neuer heard one woorde of the Gospell afore he would not haue vsed such roughnesse for he would haue pitied the blinde and ignorant wretches But for asmuche as the Galathians had bin taught faythfully by him and he had taken paynes to treine them too the Gospell accordingly and they therevppon had shrunk backe and suffered themselues too bee turmoyled with false opinions therfore is he so rough with them according also as he himselfe sheweth that the reason thereof was for that Iesus Christ had bin crucified among them and that they hauing seene the treasures of Gods infinite goodnesse layd foorth after that maner before them had none excuze to returne againe to their pelting trash in hope to bee iustified and too purchace saluation by the Ceremonies of the Lawe Thus ye see in effect that the thing which wee haue to gather vpon this text is that if wee desire too find a pleasant taste in Gods woord wee on our side muste be teachable and not stubborne For we must call too minde howe it is written in the eighttenth Psalme that God wil alwayes deale meeldly with such as be of a meeld spirite and that he will bee rough and sharp towardes such as vse stubbornnesse and cannot abide to submit themselues vnto him Al they then which haue a necke of brasse and cannot finde in their heartes too stoupe vnder the obedience of God shall finde themselues to be matched with too strong an aduersarie that they must needes be broozed and broken in peeces if they will not bow Furthermore let vs marke that when God correcteth our vyces wee muste not chafe and storme as many doo who do nothing else but gnash their teeth when they bee rebuked saying that they will not bee handled after such a fashion and that their nature requireth to be taught by gentlenesse yea verely but that their sturdinesse sheweth the clean contrarie For they that speake after that maner would very fayne bee flattered And although they ouershoote themselues into all euill yet will they not abide too haue their galled backes rubbed but rather that men should winke at them and conceale their naughtinesse But if their faultes bee layd afore them by and by they rancle agaynst the Gospell and whereas they shewed some good signe of zeale afore they vtter suche spitefulnesse afterwarde as a man may perceyue there was nothing but venim and bitternesse in their hart and it is a sure token that such folke neuer wist what it is too profite in Gods schoole at leastwize purely as S. Paule sayeth in another place Gods woord sayeth he is good not only to teach to the end we may know what is for our behoofe and bee able to discerne betwixt good and euill but also to rebuke and correct vs. For there are many negligent folke which haue neede to be pricked foreward with hard strokes of the spurre some had neede to be imbaced by reason of their ouerweening and othersome grow altogither past◠recouerie if they be not ouermaystred by strong hand Thus ye see how all of vs must suffer patiētly when our Lord vseth such roughnesse acknowledging the same to be greatly to our behoof Howbeit let euery of vs examine his life well and
part we also are ioyned in it and God inlargeth his goodnesse and mercie further which hee had appoynted too one certaine linage by that meanes we become parttakers of saluation And that is the thing which Saint Paule treateth of heere when he telleth vs that the Scripture foreseeing that God not onely iustifieth the Iewes but also vseth the lyke mercie towardes the Gentiles whiche were as good as cut off from the house sayth All Nations shall bee blessed in thee Then is there no speaking here of some handfull of men or of some certaine people but without any exception God openeth the gate to all such as had earst bin quite and cleane past hope And therevpon also Saint Paule concludeth that they which are of fayth shall be blessed with faythfull Abraham As if hee shoulde say when God iustified Abraham he had not respect neither to Circumcision nor to any thing that he had wherewith too winne fauour after the opinion of men but receyued him in another kew that is to wit as a beleeuing man God therefore contented himselfe with Abrahams fayth onely And in that respect also it was his will too make him the father of the whole Church Seeing then that God made none account of any thing else in Abraham but of his fayth let vs conclude that God doth nowe still receyue vs to him in likewise if we haue the like fayth that Abraham had though not in like measure and that God taketh it in good worth though we do but follow him aloofe Then belongeth not this blessing to Abrahams fleshly ofspring onely but also too those that were straungers too him so there bee the like substaunce and fashion of fayth in them Howebeeit too the ende wee take profite by this doctrine let vs remember what I haue touched alreadie that is to wit what it is too be of faith namely that it is a reposing of our selues wholy in Gods mere mercie But Saint Paule setteth down a comparison of things contrarie and which can no more agree than fire and water that is to wit of beeing of the lawe and of beeing of fatyh Yet followeth it not that the lawe commeth not of God insomuch that if we reiect it at whom doth such contempt poynt Is not Gods authoritie impeached thereby But in these wordes of Lawe and Fayth S. Paule respecteth not simplie the doctrine of eyther of them but the hope of saluation that men may conceyue of them For the rightuousnesse of fayth hath his recorde of the lawe and the Prophetes as Saint Paule sayth in the third to the Romanes They be not contrarie things but the diuersitie of them is in this that such as misknowe themselues and are blinded with hypocrisie thinke too purchaze fauour in Gods sight by keeping the Lawe whiche thing is impossible Those therefore are of the lawe whiche holde of the Lawe as though they were able too earne the heritage of the heauenly life at Gods hande On the contrarie part they that are needie yea or rather vtterly emptie of themselues acknowledging that they haue not so muche as one droppe of grace in them they are of fayth For why they forsake themselues and seeke theyr rightuousnesse elsewhere They come and offer them selues lyke poore beggers vnto God to the ende he shoulde fill them whereas they were vtterly emptie before Therfore marke it for a scholepoynt that by the force of fayth we must be quite ridde of all selfe-trust and of all ouerweening of our owne merites and haue oure whole refuge to Gods mere goodnesse But truly we cannot come right forth vnto God without some meane our Lorde Iesus Christ must be faine too make vs way thither and all this is comprehended vnder the worde fayth For fayth is not an imagination of mens owne forging it is an assurednesse which wee conceyue of Gods goodnesse when he commeth to vs and vttereth familiarly the loue that he beareth vs. Then must the promise go before or else there shall be no following of fayth To be short whosoeuer hath not bin trayned in the Gospell can haue no fayth at all For God must first haue told vs that he loueth vs or else we cannot rest vpō his goodnesse nor call vpon him as our father Now let vs see what this promise is God not only saith that he wil haue pitie vpō vs but also telleth vs that although we be wretched sinners yet he will not ceasse to accept vs bycause he buryeth all our sinnes namely by the meanes of our Lorde Iesus Christ for that sacrifize must needes come forth euery where where any mention is made of the forgiuing of sinnes Neuer can there be any pardon gotten at Gods hand except there be bloudsheding with it for a satisfaction So then the foundation of this promise where God sayth that he wil be merciful to vs is Christes sheading of his bloud to wash away our spots and his offering vp of himselfe for a full amends to pacifie the wrath of God his father Thus ye see how that if we be of fayth we haue our eies fastened vpon Iesus Christ and our rest and quietnesse is altogither in his death and passion which is the onely meane too reconcile vs vnto God Also let vs marke that to bee blessed and to be iustified are al one thing accordingly as S. Paule declareth heere Hardly shal a man finde one among thirtie of such as are called Christians that can skill to define this worde iustifie And surely it is a foule shame that we shoulde haue our eares dayly beaten with the Gospell and yet notwithstanding bee ignorant of the cheefe article of our fayth Then to be iustified is not too haue any rightuousnesse in a mans selfe but to be admitted for rightuous at Gods hande though we be not so And here ye see why I sayd that we haue a good opening of this doctrine in that Saint Paule setteth downe the worde Blesse in stead of the worde Iustifie which he had vsed afore according to the fourth of the Romanes where hee sayeth that the rightuousnesse of fayth is that our sinnes are forgiuen vs. Forsomuch then as God is fauourable and louing to vs and receyueth vs as his children therefore it is sayde that wee bee iustified before him And why iustified Bycause he cannot loue sinners till hee haue forgiuen their sinnes and put them quite away VVe knowe that forasmuch as God is rightuous hee cannot agree with sinne but muste needes alwayes hate it Then sith the cace standeth so if we intend to haue his fauour we must needes be first clenzed of our offences For so long as they come to reckening God must needes hate vs and curse vs. But contrariwize when he wipeth away all our sinnes then receyueth he vs to mercie And by that meanes do we begin to be blessed of him Are wee then blessed that is to say be loued of God Verely we are therewithall iustified also that is to say wheras
let vs not doubt but that mercie is readie for vs as oft as we seeke it in his name for if we should come with any opinion of our owne deseruings what were that woorth But when we know how deerely the Sonne is beloued of the father and how precious his death was that is the thing wherein we haue full certaintie that God will alwayes heare vs and that wee shall finde him mercifull and fauorable towards vs namely if wee rest wholly vpon that which is tolde vs here which is that our Lord Iesus Christ forbare not euen to become accursed for our sakes Here withall let vs marke how S. Paule sayeth that by that meanes the promis of the spirit came vntoo the Gentyles as it had bin giuen vntoo Abraham Nowe by naming Abraham heere he sheweth that the promis belonged first and formest too those that came of his race For the Iewes had as it were a peculiar interest in the heritage of saluation till suche tyme as God opened the gate too the whole worlde and published his Gospell too the end that all men should bee made parttakers of the redemption that was purchaced by our Lorde Iesus Christe Now then although the sayd promis belonged too the Iewes and was after a sort peculiar too them yet was it after them made common too the whole world And why For it consisteth in spirite and not in Ceremonies By this woorde Spirite Sainct Paule ment too deface all the false opinion of those deceyuers whiche mingled the Lawe and the Gospell toogither He sheweth that all these things namely the Sacrifices Circumcision and such other things are now superfluous Not that there is no profite for vs too gather by the Ceremonies in reading the Lawe but bycause the vse of them is abolished Yee see then that the cause why the promis is at this day called spirituall is for that wee haue no more neede of the old shadowes and figures but are simply called and guyded to our God so as wee may call vppon him with full trust and beyng so adopted by him rest wholly vpon our Lord Iesus Christ as the only foundacion of the Gospell and seeke all our wantes in him That in effect is the thing that S. Paule ment too say in this text And herevpon he vseth another reason too shewe that wee haue our saluation perfectly reueled in the Gospell and neede not any other doctrine than that and also that we bee iustified by the free mercie of our God For the Lawe sayeth he was giuen foure hundred and thirtie yeeres after the promis of saluation Now when any couenant is made though it be but betweene men yet ought it too bee kepte if it bee once throughly agreed vppon Therefore it foloweth that the Lawe was not giuen too disanuall the couenant that God had made with Abraham chiefly in the behalfe of his linage and finally in the behalfe of the whole worlde True it is that at the firste blush this argument of Sainct Paules may seeme very weake for wee knowe that second couenantes do alwayes repeale former couenantes in so much that although men haue made any bargayne yet they may aduyze themselues better and therevppon chaunge their mindes and so the first bargaine shall be as good as buried As much is to bee sayd of Lawes and Statutes For a former Lawe may well bee repealed and disanulled by a second Lawe But Sainct Paule presupposeth the thing that is too be considered in this matter whiche is that when a man hath once promised yea and solemnly bound himself he will not go backe againe but bee as good as his woord Howbeit if bothe the parties agree too chaunge the thing that they had consented on and be bothe of one minde then may it be so But it were no fit similitude too take men that are fickleminded and chaungeable through lightnesse or by better aduice but S. Paule presupposeth a couenant too be made by a man that will stand to it and not fall too skanning afterward how to shift it off by any meanes at all For if any of the parties should doo agaynst the former couenant it were a falsehood that were not to bee borne with among men bicause the things that are inregistred so solemnly ought to bee stood too and performed without any gaynsaying Now then shall there be lesse stedfastnesse in God than in men which are nothing but vanitie The Gospell therefore muste continue vnimpeached notwithstanding that the lawe came in after the making of the free promis This would bee still darke if it should not be declared in order I haue shewed heretofore what comparison S. Paule maketh betweene the Lawe and the Gospell For whereas God promiseth saluation in his Lawe it is vpon condition that men serue him and doo their duetie towards him But that is not done and therefore are wee shet out from all hope of saluation as in respect of the Law not that God is not faithfull on his side but bycause wee keepe not touche with him in performing that which he requireth It is all one as if a man should say I am ready to sell you this thing so you bring mee monie Now if a man bring nother monie nor moneys woorth he can not bee put in possession of the thing that he would haue for the condition is that he must first pay for it So then God promiseth vs the heritage of saluation when wee shall haue serued him but wee be neuer the better for it bycause it is but vpon condicion that we performe that which he requireth of vs and wee bee fraughted with all iniquitie and haue not any thing in vs but vncleannesse and filth in somuche that wee bee iustly odious vnto him And so are wee all condemned in the lawe howbeit God receyueth vs of his free goodnesse in our Lord Iesus Christ in whom he offereth vs the forgiuenesse of our sinnes and will haue vs so too imbrace his offered goodnesse as wee should hold our selues wholly to our Lord Iesus Christ and vtterly renounce ourselues But now sayth Sainct Paul let vs see whither went before other in antiquitie the free promis of saluation or the law VVe know the diuersitie that is betwixt them Then if the law were the auncienter it might seeme that that ought to be sticked too bycause God doth neuer vnsay his wordes nother is variable But if the free promis were the elder and were made before the law was published it is to be concluded that God repented hym not ne called backe his promis at that time ne ment to disanul the sayd couenant for it were too great a diminishing of his bountie and mercie if we should say that he had first bound himselfe of hys owne free goodnesse and promised men saluation without theyr desert and afterward intended to restreyne it as though he meant to inrich himselfe with our good works It were an auk thing too talke after that fashion For Sainct Paul sheweth
least without any exception Now if we be al condemned euen by the law what would we more Must it not needs be that we be tootoo much blinded with hypocrisie when we will needes binde God to vs after this sorte notwithstanding that we be farre wyde from all righteousnesse and he hath tolde vs that we can not compasse it in his sighte but that we must bee vtterly ouerwhelmed S. Paule alledgeth not heere any text too shewe that the Scripture hath shut vp all vnder sinne but taketh it as vtterly certayne and which ought not to bee doubted of any more among the faithfull And for proofe thereof wee see that euen from the creation of the world we be all of vs corrupted in Adam His sinne condemned not him selfe onely but also all his whole ofspring and all of vs are falne in that fal of his And thervpon it is sayd that al our thoughts are rebellings agaynst God and there is nothing but naughtinesse in vs. VVhat then is mans wit A warehouse of all wickednesse And seeing that God hath auouched it to be so at a word what shal wee gayne by chalenging this or that too our selues For all our startingholes shal but increase our miserie bicause that in so doing wee spite God and kindle his wrath so much the more For wherto serued all the sacrifices but to shew vs to our faces that all men are vtterly accursed so long as they continue in them And although there were no sacrifices at all yet very experience sheweth it Let euery of vs enter into himselfe let him consider what maner a one he is and let him viewe himselfe in the perfection which the holy scripture requireth at our hands he shal wel find that there is no way for him but to imbrace the promise of Gods mercy which he maketh vnto vs wheÌ„ he sayth that our iniquities shal be wiped out that there is no way for vs to come to him but only by his loue And doth he not hereby still bewray our sinne specially seeing he setteth down Iesus Christ for our rightuousnesse But if any maÌ„ list to haue a larger certener discourse hereof let him ad that which S. Paule setteth down in the third to the Romans where he setteth foorth the thing largely which is touched here briefly then shal he see yet better how the scripture hath shut vp all vnder sinne For there S. Paule alleageth the texts that serue to bewray mans nature till Gods haue drawen him backe changed him and fashioned him new agayne Like as when he sayth that God looked downe heere bylowe to see if he could find any soundnesse and all were corrupted yea and festered in their naughtinesse and there was not so much as one that sought after God Nowe it is certayne that there there is no speaking of two or three but generally of all men in whom God hath not wrought to gouerne them by his holy spirite Therefore it is all one as if Dauid did shewe vs in a paynted table what maner of ones wee bee by birth and heritage Afterwarde he addeth that which is written in the fiftith Psalme and in all the residue and finally alleageth Esay also to shewe that God was fayne to serue his turne with his own arme when he purposed to redeme men VVhat is it sayth he that men haue done in that behalfe For they do but runne forwarde and cast themselues headlong intoo all cursednesse and transgression They doo but wander they loue shifting sutteltie falshod and lying to bee short when God had looked that men should haue helped to bring themselues too saluation they were rather a hundred thousand times more in danger of perishing S. Paule therefore alleadgeth all those things Nowe let vs flatter our selues as muche as wee list yet can not the things bee called backe which God hath pronounced vpon vs. And as ofte as wee reade the sayde textes and heare Sainct Paules expounding of them in the forealledged chapter it is for vs too cast downe our heads and to receyue the shame which we deserue namely to be berefte of all glory and too seeke at Gods hande the things that we want And thus ye see how the scripture hathe shut vp all vnder sinne In the eleuenth chapter to the Romans he saith that God hath shut vp all vnder sinne too the intent to haue mercie on all But there heâ—â—seth yet one steppe higher For he speaketh not of the things that are told vs in the law and the prophets but of Gods secret iudgement in that it was his will that all of vs shoulde bee as good as drowned in destruction to the intent that there should be no saluation but only by his goodnesse Then if it be demaunded why God hath suffered men to fall into so miserable plight it is bycause he will haue vs beholden to his only mercy for all things Truly this will seeme straunge to many fantasticall persons whiche would fayne restrayne God to their measure and are so rash that when Gods determinations passe beyond theyr fleshly reason by and by they condemne him for spitefull and cruell Yet for all that S. Paule will haue vs too rest vpon thys saying that God hath shet vp all vnder sin that is to say that he could well haue created vs much stedfaster and perfecter than he hath done He could haue preserued vs as he doth his Angells He could haue giuen vs such constancie in the person of Adam that wee shoulde haue entered into the heritage of heauen without dying Yea and he could haue made that no mo should haue falne in the person of Adam but Adam alone But he listed not so to do If it be demaunded why the mischeefe spreaded out further is it not bycause God would haue it so Therefore we must in this cace as it were brydle and imprison ourselues and receiue the doctrine in suche wyse as Sainct Paule hath vttered it namely that God hath put vs all vnder sinne to the intent we should resort to him for mercie But it is not ynough that God hath so determined it in his secrete purpose it was requisite also that the determination shoulde be published and knowen For vntill such time as men perceyue themselues too be condemned they will still be weltring in some vayne selftrust and boast of themselues as we see too much The Scripture therefore must be fayne to bring vs to this vnderstanding that euery of vs may condemne himselfe for a sinner as it were with his owne mouth yea and that we do it vnfeynedly And why Bycause it is by beleeuing that we obteyne the promis that is to say the rightuousnesse that is freely promised vs. In the sayd text of the eleuenth to the Romanes whych I alledged euen now Sainct Paule sayth to the intent to shew mercy vpon all but heere he sheweth that it is not for all men to be partakers of it in generall For
too lay the brydle looce in our necke that wee might fall a scoterloping and playe the wylde beastes so as God shoulde not tame vs but rather too the intent wee shoulde repayre vntoo him with a good courage to obey him freely For if wee were not sure that he taketh vs for his children and beareth with vs so gently that the things whiche are nothing woorth are taken in good woorth at his hand for the fatherly loue which he beareth vs surely wee shall doo nothing but gnashe our teeth when wee intende too serue God But if wee bee persuaded that God casteth such a fauour towardes vs that although wee be full of infirmities and cannot doo any thing that may deserue too bee well lyked at his hande yet hee accepteth vs for our Lorde Iesus Christes sake must it not needes giue vs courage as thoughe our sayle were set vp and wee had the winde on our sterne Therefore it is certaine that our heartes must needes runne swiftly as a shippe that hath the full winde vppon hir sayles when wee knowe that wee are in Gods fauour and that hee accepteth our woorkes and intendeth not too bynde vs too any bondage but is contented too take vs for his children and accepteth oure willingnesse too obey his Now then when we be once sure of that we may serue our God with the better courage and bicause wee bee grounded vppon his grace it will cheere vs in suche wise as wee shall offer him the sacrifice of prayse and â—â—rayer assuring oure selues that hee wyll heere vs and therevppon yeelde hym thankes for that so great and inestimable benefyte which hee communicateth vnto vs euerie day Nowe let vs fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God with acknowlegement of our faultes praying him to vouchsafe to make vs so to feele them as it may humble vs truely and make vs yeelde our selues wholly to our Lorde Iesus Christ and that when we be once come vnto him we may persist in the fayth of his Gospell without swaruing asyde in any wise and that he may so sustein vs in our infirmities as wee notwithstanding may be touched with true repentance too sigh and grone before him till hee haue taken vs out of this mortall bodye wherein wee bee hilde in prison vnder the bondage of sinne And so let vs all say Almightie God our heauenly father c. The. 32. Sermon which is the seconde vpon the fifth Chapter 4 Christ is become vnprofitable to you to all of you that are iustified by the Lavve and you bee falne from grace 5 For vve in spirite doo vvayte by fayth for the hope of Rightuousnesse 6 For neyther Circumcision nor vncircumcision is any thing woorth in Iesus Christ but fayth that vvorketh by loue WE haue seene heretofore that such as wil make a partnership betwene their owne workes and Gods grace do fouly ouershoot theÌ„selues for as soone as we come to reckening God must needes iudge vs with rygour Then if we go about too get his fauour and to purchace our saluation by our owne woorkes we must performe Lawe to the vttermoste without any missing But nowe let vs see if euer man discharged him 〈◊〉 so perfectly Surely we come verie farre short of it Therefore we must come emptie vnto God that hee may receyue vs too mercie and impute vnto vs the obedience of oure Lorde Iesus Christ auowing it in suche wise as wee lay asyde all our owne deseruings and bring not any thing of the Lawe with vs saue onely a single and pure confession that wee bee damned and forlorne till God pitie vs and burying all our faultes and transgressions do cloth and apparell vs againe with the rightuousnesse of our Lorde Iesus Christ his sonne And for that cause doth Saint Paule conclude heere that such as will iustifie themselues by the lawe are falne from grace and Iesus Christ shall profite them not thing at all If is not for nought that hee speaketh after that maner For the false packers that had partly corrupted the doctrine of the Gospell in the Church of the Galathians ment too mingle the one with the other that is to wit that Iesus Christ is giuen vs to supplie our wantes and yet notwithstanding that wee ceasse not to be rightuous in part by indeuering to do well For they did not vtterly renounce our Lord Iesus Christ neither sayd they that all the promises wherein God telleth vs that he wil of his goodnesse forgiue the faithful their sinnes are deceyt and mockerie but their intent was that men should labor to iustifie theÌ„selues that is to say to purchase fauour at Gods hand by their owne workes And forasmuch as wee be farre from perfection they ment that Iesus Christ should supply it as a second remedie that was their surmize Likewise nowadayes in Poperie they will not with opeÌ„ mouth vtter this blasphemie that Iesus Christ serueth vs to none other purpose but too teach vs the will of God his father they will afoorde to say that he hath redeemed vs and purchased the ground of deseruing for vs for he hath opened vs the gate of Paradice too enter in at and also that his death and passion do dayly profite vs too reconcile vs vntoo God dayly when wee haue offended him But howsoeuer the worlde go they will haue vs too deserue or earne the kingdome of heauen in parts and to redeeme our sinnes by diuerse meanes and thereof sprang all their satisfactions and finally that if a man cannot performe all during his life the rest shall bee fulfilled in Purgatorie Thus yee see howe Iesus Christ hath but halfe a place with them in receyuing vs vnto God and 〈◊〉 in the meane while they shoulder him in such wise that freewill merites workes of supererogation or ouerplus as they terme them and suche like things runne away at leastwise with the one half of our saluation But S. Paule telleth vs that God liketh no such partenership For either we must bring such a full performance of the Lawe as God may be contented with or else yeeld our selues giltie If there bee neuer so little a fault all the residue deserueth nothing at all For as I haue declared God promiseth not saluation too such as doo him halfe seruis or too such as serue him after a sorte but to such as keepe his Lawe throughout He that dooth all the things shall liue and contrarywise he that performeth not all shall bee cursed But it is so that no man dooth the things that are required and commaunded in the Law For what good zele or will soeuer wee haue too serue God there is alwayes much feeblenesse in vs and wee go too him halting and make many false steppes yea and oftentimes wee happen to steppe aside and too go astray and so are wee all shet out from the promis of saluation as in respect of our own workes and the curse wayteth for vs which we cannot escape For who is so
he burie our faults through his infinite mercie and let vs pray him too take vs to mercie for our Lorde Iesus Christes sake and in the meane whyle too graunt vs the grace too walke in suche wyse as wee may â—â—â—de a true proofe that we 〈◊〉 his children and that his calling of vs hath not bin in vayne and also to cause the same grace too auayle in such wise in our hartes that wee may growe in it and bee strengthened more and more too serue and worship him all our lyfe long in true obedience to his holy woord And so let vs all say Almightie God heauenly father c. The. 42. Sermon which is the fifth vpon the sixth Chapter 12 As many as desire vvith outvvard apparance to please in the flesh constreyne you too bee circumcized onely to the ende they may not suffer persecution for the crosse of Christ 13 For euen they themselues vvhiche are circumcized keepe not the Lavve but vvoulde haue you circumcyzed that they mighte glorie in your fleshe IT is not for nought that God hath so often warned the Preachers of his woorde not too seeke the well liking and fauour of men but as it were too shet their eyes against all worldly respects to the end that they gaze not heere there nor be hindered to do their duetie rightly For wee see it is impossible for vs too discharge our selues aright vnlesse wee looke vp vntoo God and turne away our looke from men bycause wee shall bee easly corrupted when wee bee so ledde whereas nothing ought too bowe vs one way or other Howbeeit this constancie is cheefly requisite in suche as shoulde beare abrode Gods woorde namely that they bee not ledde nother by ambition nor by couetousnesse too speake in fauour of men or too please them and that they bee not abashed at any threatening or perill For experience sheweth that so soone as a man is afrayde of his â—inne or hath respect of 〈◊〉 owne profite he will bee chaunged in the turning of a hande True it is that such as couet mennes fauour after that fashion will not at the first dash shew themselues to be wicked enemies of the truth according as our Lord Iesus Christ also putteth a differeÌ„ce betwene the hyrelings and the woolues After he hath spoken of the good and faythfull sheepeherds which seeke the coÌ„mon welfare of the flocke he sayeth there are also rauening woolues or theeues whiche seeke nothing else but too put all too spoyle ruine and confuzion And these are they which fight openly against God laboring and indeuering to ouerthrow the pure doctrine of the Gospell Neuerthelesse there are also which rowe betweene twoo streames who do make a countenance to serue God And truly some men builde howbeit not for any zele for there is no soundnesse of hart in them Notwithstanding so long as it is not to their coste they set a good face vpon the matter so that the world is oftentimes deceyued by them and taketh them too bee the ministers of Iesus Christ but yet their seeking is but for wages they bee wholly giuen too their bellies For proofe whereof if yee do but threaten them by and by they be dismayed and they will turne the cat in the pan so that wheras yesterday they seemed too maynteyne Gods woord too day they bende crooked and a crosse And why For they see it is the way to please the world and to profite themselues And for the same cause doth Sainct Paule nowe warned the Galathians to marke well that such as had troubled them and thruste them out of the right way were men giuen too their owne profite and by that meanes had brought their doctrine in suspicion Heeretofore he hath already sufficiently discussed and shewed by reason that if wee put our whole trust in Iesus Christe the Ceremonies of the Lawe are henceforth superfluous for they serued but for a time too shewe that it is not for vs too mingle any merite of their owne or any fonde opinion of purchacing rightuousnesse before God if wee bee well settled vpon the grace of our Lorde Iesus Christe Sainct Paule then hath handled and layde foorth that matter as much as needed And now too the end that the simple sorte may bee the more moued he turneth his â—ale too the persones themselues saying Consider what is the 〈◊〉 that these men against whom I striue heere make such a minging of the Ceremonies of the law with our Lord Iesus Christ Is it zele that moueth theÌ„ therevnto or is it for that they be desirous to serue God No it is rather for that they bee lothe too put themselues in daunger of persecution Seyng then that feare causeth theÌ„ too misfashion Gods woorde yee neede not too make any long inquirie too knowe what maner of men they bee and whither they bee to be credited or no for yee see that their chaunging and transforming of themselues after that fashyon is bycause they would fayne shunne the battell Nowe then seing that they bee such traytours vnto God through their cowardlinesse deserue they too bee beleeued or to haue any reuerence yeelded to their sayings Thus yee see Sainct Paules meening But heere all Ministers of Gods woord are taught to haue such constancie and stedfastnesse as they may not passe whither the doctrine that they bring bee hated or beloued of the worlde but go on still in their race and not strike sayle at euery winde nor be shaken like wauering reedes that bowe too and fro but alwayes hold on in seruing of God what turnings and chaunges so euer happen and what troubles and disorders so euer befall To bee short wee must practize the thing that we haue seene before which is that if wee will please mennes fancies wee must giue ouer the seruis of the Sonne of God Marke that for one poynt And heerewithall also all the faythful may receyue a good and profitable lesson in this text that is too wit that they muste looke well vppon such as seeke their owne profit and aduauntage and are desirous to winne fauour with the worlde and woulde fayne be prayzed for a man shall neuer haue any holde of such folke They will not shewe themselues too bee such at the firste brunt as I sayd afore for there are that play the Popeholy hypocrites in somuch that it seemeth that but for them the woord of God woulde growe odious and so long as it is well lyked they cast out fire at their mouthes and yet in the meane whyle yee shall see them chaunge their minde from day too day If any perill happen and they see that they muste witnesse with our Lord Iesus Christ in good earnest then shew they their cowardlinesse and in the end turne quite away chauÌ„ge their coates as it is sayd in the Prouerbe But howsoeuer they fare let vs staâ—â— vpon our gard continually that wee may beleeue such as walke vprightly and start not out when they see the
myseries and prouide remedie for them and finally bee ready too follow him whither soeuer he calleth vs not haue any other wisedome than his only woorde knowing that he cannot bee serued with pompes and gay showes of great glittering too the worlde but he is contented that wee shoulde simply offer vp vnto him our thoughts and affections And therfore it is long of none but of our selues that we knowe not what S Paule meeneth nor wheretoo this lesson may serue vs. For it is certeine that all they which flatter not themselues in their owne vyces but looke vp vntoo God knowing that they must come before his iudgemeÌ„t seate will rid their handes of all glorie And furthermore they will consider what God commaundes them by his word how he wil bee serued of vs and what he alloweth so as they shall no more bee in daunger too bee deceyued by those tryfling toyes wherein the hypocrites are plunged ouer heade and eares For it is certeine that whereas the Papistes torment themselues as wee see to serue God it is too none other ende but that he should hold them acquit and they scape his hands not be constreined to serue him as he commauÌ„deth for they despise the whole law yet in the meane while haue a nuÌ„ber of things to put into their account which they would haue God to allow of But as I said the end of all their dooings is to imagin themselues discharged to Godward and that he should not presse theÌ„ to sore and yet notwithstanding that they might follow their own swindge take leaue to assoile theÌ„selues of al their sinnes that God hauing I wote not what that is too say some faire countenance of their owne bringing shoulde haue his mouth shet and not bee so hardie as too speake a worde Now then wee see whereat S. Paule amed And he addeth in the wynding vp Peace and mercye bee vppon all those that submit themselues too that rule and vppon Israell that perteyneth too God In speaking of the Rule he sheweth that men may well maâ—â— themselues beleeue thys or that 〈◊〉 yet in the meane whyle God wyl not bow for he is not mutable that he should suffer himself to be led by our folyes or be made to swarue aside that is impossible saith S. Paul and whatsoeuer befall the Law that God hath stablished must abide vnchaungeable as he himself is No doubt but we will admit this at the first sight For who wil not willingliy abide that God should be our superior Yea and we perceiue ful wel that to say the contrary were blasphemie Yee see then that at a glaunce the whole world can wel graunt that God should be our souerein and his lawe our rule but therwithall let vs see what libertie men take to themselues Euery man deuiseth one thing or other and when he hath so done he would haue all other men too obserue the same euery man then woulde haue his owne rule alone by himself True it is that in the popedome all are not of the rule of S. Frauncis or of S. Dominik but yet for all that there is not so doting an old foole nor so superstitious an hypocrite in the popedome but he hath his rule Ageine there is not so yong a calfe but he hath his rule too For all of them will say that is my deuotion And their vsing of the worde Deuotion is as much to say with them as God is put backe and I must haue my libertie to do what I list and God must hold himself contented with it Thus wee see how the diuelish pride of meÌ„ in fleeting to and fro and in wandering out at rouers gadding now on the one side and now on the other is all one as if they made crooked and ouerthwart pathes that God should therfore be faine to bow his rule become plyable to bend according to their fancies So much the more therfore behoueth it vs too marke well howe it is said heere that men may well torment themselues but yet Gods rule shall continue still hold on his course and keepe his pace And what is this rule It is that it should suffize vs to haue perfection in such wise as our Lord Iesus Christ sheweth it vs in his Gospell Not that it can be fully in vs but that it behoueth vs too labour towardes it For when wee speake of perfection it is not ment that we can atteine to it so long as we liue but that we must not swarue one way nor other neither to the right hand nor to the left but keepe on still to the mark that God sheweth vs. Yee see then that it behoueth vs to become newe creatures that is to say wee 〈◊〉 renounce ourselues and yâ—â—lde wholly vnto God And sith it is so let vs bethinke vs too subâ—â—â—â— ourselues to the sayd rule and to frame ourselues therafter For euery man will soone set forth his legges and feete but that shall be but to fisk heere and there And therefore to the end we stray not let vs learne to sticke fast to the things that God sheweth and teacheth vs by his woorde Now wheras S. Paule saith that peace and mercie shal be vpon them it is to shewe vs that we may defye the whole world and that although wee be condemned by the follie of men yet wee neede not to passe for it but may keepe on our race still so God allow of vs it is sufficient For surely we shewe that wee yeeld him not the honor which is due to him when wee be so shaken downe by the foolishe iudgement of the worlde and with the opinions that men sowe abrode of vs. If it bee sayd of vs these fellowes behaue not themselues well and wee bee greeued at it thervpon would frame ourselues to euery mans liking it is certein that in the meane while wee shall swarue aside from God So then let vs marke well how S. Paule hath tolde vs heere that althoughe men condemne vs and finde fault in our doyngs as certeinly the world will neuer agree with God yet notwithstanding wee must esteeme it as nothing and hold ourselues contented that God blisseth vs and offereth vs heere all happinesse vnder the word peace certifying vs that he will haue compassion vpon vs how miserable soeuer we be Although men should spit in our faces and although there appeere no such vertues in vs as were requisite yet notwithstanding if we keepe on our way still vnto God we shall euer finde him pitifull to beare with our infirmities and to releeue all our miseries VVhen wee be once at the poynt it ought to suffyze vs. But on the contrary part let vs vnderstand also that in blissing such as frame themselues too the rule of God the holy Ghost curseth and detesteth yea and vtterly shaketh off such as runne at rouers after that sort and set more by their owne fancies than by all lawes and will needes haue
God with his owne mouth sayd determinately that who soeuer hung vppon tree should be accursed and yet for all that that it was his will therewithall that his owne Sonne should bee hanged on tree And why so Too the end he shoulde beare our burthen according as he is our pledge ordeyned to be the principall detter in our behalf To the end then that wee might bee set free from the curse of the Lawe Iesus Christe became accursed Nowe at the first fight it might seeme hard and straunge that the Lord of glorie he that hath all soueraine dominion and before whose maiestie the verie Angelles of heauen do tremble and are abashed should be subiect too cursing But wee muste go backe too that whiche S. Paule hath treated of in the first to the Corinthians namely that the doctrine of the Gospell is foolishnesse too mankind yea euen too the wyzest of them and that it was Gods will too humble vs after that maner bycause of our vnthankfulnesse For we should haue a good instruction to leade vs vnto God yea euen in wisedome if we could profite our selues by the things that are shewed vs in the whole order of heauen earth But for asmuch as men are blinde and shet their eyes agaynst this wisedome that God setteth afore them therfore he is fayne too take a new way to the woode and too draw them to him as it were by folie So then let vs not iudge after our owne mother wit of the thing that is declared heere which is that the sonne of God was put vnder the curse but rather let vs bee rauished at such a secrete and giue the glorie vntoo our God seyng he hath so loued our soules as too pay so inestimable a pryce for the raunsoming of them And so little ought this thing to imbace the maiestie of our Lord Iesus Christ or to deface that which is giuen him in the holy Scripture as wee rather haue cause too glorifie him the more for it And for proofe thereof our Lord Iesus Christe as sayeth S. Paule committed no robberie when he shewed himselfe in his infinite glorie And yet notwithstanding he abaced himselfe willing and not onely clothed himself with our nature and became a passible mā but also submitted himself to a death that was both shamefull before men yea and accursed before God Then must it needes bee that we were very deere vnto him seing he yeelded himself too such extremitie for our redemption If wee could taste the meening hereof surely wee would giue our selues wholly too the magnifying of that grace which cānot be sufficiently expressed by woordes and surpasseth all wisedome of man Seyng therefore that wee comprehend it not nor can vtter the hundredth part of it let vs yet be as it were astonished at it in considering so much of it as we be able too comprehend But heere we see still the leudnesse and frowardnesse of men in that whereas S. Paule sayeth that our Lorde Iesus Christ became accursed for vs it passeth and slippeth away from vs. Yea and there are some so leud that they take occasiō of stumbling and of flinging out of the way and of estraunging themselues quite and cleane from the Churche when they heare this maner of our reedeming set afore vs. VVhat say they was it of necessitie that the sonne of God who is the fountayne of all goodnesse and ought too make vs all holy should be cursed It seemeth too them that God in so doyng ment too peruert all order and reason But as I haue declared alreadie it is certaine that God condemneth mens vnkindnesse by bringing them to such a kinde of foolishnesse bycause they came not too him by wisedome when he shewed them that way Neuerthe later howsoeuer the cace stande needes muste our wittes shrinke and our reason bee vtterly confounded so as wee may honour Gods secretes and wonder at them though they bee hidden from vs. And againe whensoeuer it is sayd vnto vs that the sonne of God became accursed for vs it would become vs to enter into the examinacion of our sinnes In so doing we shall perceyue how lothly wee be before God till our sinnes and offences bee washed away by the bloud of our Lord Iesus Christ Had all the Angelles of heauen vndertaken for vs it had bin no sufficient bayle Then was there none other satisfaction than the persone of our Lord Iesus Christe And he came not into the world too discharge vs of the bonde of euerlasting death wherein we were bound by his diuine and heauenly power How then By weakenesse And not onely so but also he was fayne to bee counted accursed or else we should haue lien still ouerwhelmed with the burthen and haue perished all of vs in that gulf Therefore when wee see that the sonne of God who not only is the vnspotted Lambe and the mirrour of all rightuousnesse holinesse and perfection but also the very welspring thereof was hilde accursed for vs ought wee not at the sight thereof to conceyue such a terrour for our sinnes that wee should be as good as swallowed vp with despayre till we be plucked backe againe by the infinite grace and goodnesse of our God So then let vs marke well that when it is tolde vs that wee were raunsomed from the curse of the Lawe God intendeth thereby to bryng vs to true humilitie But that cannot bee vnlesse men be vtterly cōfounded in themselues so as they be ashamed too loke vpon themselues and therewithall also afrayd and dismayed knowing that Gods wrath wayteth readie for them till our Lord Iesus Christe doo remedie the matter Thus yee see that all our whole lyfe is lothsome before God and there is no way for vs too come too attonement with him till our Lord Iesus Christ take vpon him the cursednesse that is in vs and beare it in his owne persone And therefore as oft as wee reade this text let euery of vs awake and set himselfe before Gods iudgement seate that wee may feele there as it were a gulf to swallow vs vp quyte and cleane and thereat bee abashed for very shame of our selues and on the other side so much the more magnifie the grace that is purchaced for vs in the persone of the sonne of God and keepe our selues warely from diminishing his dignitie in that he is sayd to be accursed and rather thereby be the more prouoked to yeeld him his due and deserued prayse for that he hath shewed himself to esteeme our welfare so highly ▪ Furthermore let vs make our profit of that pledge of our saluation and of the loue that God beareth vs so as we doubt not but that God liketh well of vs when we come to him seyng he hath bought vs so deere that as S. Peter telleth vs in his first canonicall Epistle it was nother golde nor siluer nor any corruptible thing but it was our Lord Iesus Christ himself that was payd for our raunsome Therefore
our selues too set more by that grace and honour than by all the goodes in the worlde And in proofe thereof let vs shewe also that wee haue a brotherly affection too doo good too such as haue neede of vs according to such oportunitie as God shall giue vs and according too the measure of our abilitie Nowe herevppon Sainct Paule sayeth that the Galathians ought too consider that he hath written them a large letter with his owne hande And this serues too make them the more attentiue when they see what care he hath of their saluation For his commending of the largenesse of his letter was not too bee payed for it by the pounde as they say but too the end that the Galathians might knowe that he ment too open his hart vnto them and that for asmuch as he sawe them thrust out of the way into a wrong trade and was lothe that they shoulde perish therfore he had not only warned them in a woord or twaine but also coÌ„firmed his doctrine so as they might perceyue themselues to haue bin misledde before Lo in effect whereat Sainct Paule amed And by this text we ought all to take warning to confirme our selues the more according too the meanes and helpes whiche our Lorde giueth vs to come to him withall If God had but incled his minde vntoo vs in one woord yet had there bin no excuce for vs if we could not beleeue him to submit our selues with such obedience as becommeth vs. But when wee see that besides his giuing of the Lawe he hath also added an exposition of it and moreouer sent his Prophets too the ende that the doctrine should alwayes bee of the more authoritie the things be made cleere which else would haue bin darkesome and after his Prophetes sent his onely Sonne who hath brought vs the full perfection of all wisedome and finally his Apostles so that he thought it not ynough too giue the Lawe but also willed the Gospell too bee published and that the same shoulde continue to the end and stirreth fit men still to instruct vs sith 〈◊〉 I say that God doth so much for vs and that he hath such a care of our welfare quickening vs vp continually without ende or ceassing must we not needes be so much the more blameworthie if wee be negligent and all this stande vs in no stead Therefore let vs not looke at Sainct Paule here how the Galathians had little regarde of him but let vs consider that God had raysed him vp and ment too shewe how deere we be vnto him and how great store he setteth by our soules in that he would haue his doctrine so confirmed True it is that there are not past a sixe or seuen leaues in this Epistle and at the first it should not seeme to be so great a letter But if wee marke the substance and contents of it surely wee shall finde heere wherewith to confound the Diuell and all the wyles that he can bring with him so as Gods truth whiche is our saluation shall haue the vpper hand In somuch that if we had no more but this Epistle we might be sufficiently fenced and armed to fight against all the lies deceytes abuses which the Diuell can alledge to bleare our eyes with But we haue not this Epistle alone but we haue also so many other of Gods testimonies as are sufficient as yee would say to put out our eyes if we list not to looke vpon them And therwithall wee haue so many confirmations to help vs that although we were the stubbornest wildest creatures in the world yet might wee be drawen too some knowledge seing that God trieth so many wayes to winne vs to him To be short he maketh vs too come vnto him though wee would not come by our good will And if wee go backe wheras we should come forward must not the rebelliousnesse that is in vs bee tootoo intolerable So then whensoeuer and as oft as wee reade this text although it seeme not to touche vs but too haue bin spoken only to the Galathians yet let vs vnderstand that god casteth vs in the teeth that his labour should be lost as vnauaylable among vs except we were furthered coÌ„tinually by the doctrine more more confirmed Howbeit he had much leuer that we came with a cheerefull corage For he intendeth not to blame vs nor too go to law with vs coÌ„dicionally that we be so well aduized as to say Go too I see now that my God deserueth well that I should hie me to him if he did but becken too mee a farre off But he calleth mee wonderous familiarly and is noâ—â—â—â—tented with opening his mouth once for all and away but he hath also sent Moyses and all the â—â—â—phetes he hath sent teachers without number he hath sent his Apostles yea his owne only sonne which is his euerlasting wisedome woord Seing then that God is so friendly to me yea and aduaunceth me to excellent dignitie seing that by all meanes possible he sheweth mee his wisedome wherby he seeketh to win mee to himself coÌ„tinueth in the same without end or ceassing early and late should I lie stil as asleepe without any more vnderstaÌ„ding or feeling than if I were a blocke So much the more then doth it stand vs on hand to take a better tast of Gods woord to apply all our indeuer therevnto And seing there is nothing superfluous in it and that wee haue neede to bee prouoked to giue ourselues to it Let euery of vs be moued too apply our selues thereto not say that the repeating of one selfsame thing is needlesse but let vs vnderstaÌ„d that although men bring vs no noueltie yet must we coÌ„tinually beate vpoÌ„ the self-same lesson namely that in asmuch as God hath sent Moyses the Prophets Apostles ouermore vouchsafed to haue his doctrine put in writing all this was done for our instructioÌ„ and that wheÌ„ our Lord Iesus Christ was sent at the full time he vttered all that is requisite for our saluation and moreouer raysed vp men to bee the instruments of his spirit to shewe vs his will and too bring vs the tydings of saluation as he doth still at this day who are witnesses too vs of the things which otherwise should haue bin vnknowen too vs. For asmuch therefore as it is so let euery of vs agree therevnto and whither wee reade it euery man alone by himselfe or whither wee be taught it publikely let vs bee stablished in the woord which it hath pleased God too bestowe vppon vs. Thus yee see in effect what wee haue too beare in minde too the ende wee may haue so much the greater good will too giue our selues wholly too this holy woord and that it may be receyued with the greater reuerence according also as it is well woorthie too bee But now let vs fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God and father acknowledging him as our iudge except