Sauiour whom thou hast prepared for al people Euen so in this place the prophet Dauid considering the great mercie that God had shewed the wonderous work that he had then wrought how that in his time al the whole people knew Gods way he said Laetentur exultent populi c Let the people reioyce be glad yea let all the people reioyce because thou iudgest the folke righteously gouernest the nations vpon the earth Now good brethren forasmuch as we haue here séene considered the state of Gods Church before Dauids time the state wherunto it was restored again in Dauids time Euen so let vs in like consider the state of Christs Church before our time the state condition of the same in our own time in those daies that we our selues haue séen Let vs cōsider how horrible darknesse what error confusion hath of late time bin in the Church of god let vs weigh consider I say the deformity great abuses the were in the same For alas we had the sacraments we had the holy gospel word of god but wee had them al in vain Baptism we had but we knew not the Principles of our faith The Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ wee had but wee vnderstood not why Christ left vs this Sacrament we knew not why he said Take eate this is my body c. It is the greatest Sacrament and yet we perceiued not what it meant We had Praiers wee had Psalmes wee had supplications vnto God and yet we vnderstood them not we vnderstood no word of them Wee worshipped things made with mens hands Images of blockes and stones such as had eyes and saw not eares and heard not neither had any breath in their mouthes such things we worshipped and this contrarie to the expresse commandement of God The Scriptures were rent were torne were troden vnder foote were burnt before our eyes We groped our way in the middest of the day as said the Prophet Ieremie And as the same Prophet of his owne time spake saying Secundum numerum Ciuitatum tuarum sunt Dij tui According to the number of the cities are thy Gods O Iuda so might we of our owne time haue said For looke how many cities we had so many Gods had wee also Euery Borough euery Towne yea euery village in a maner had his proper and peculier Saint It was then come to passe that Esaie prophesied saying Hell hath opened her mouth maruellous wide Hell hath gaped saith hee because they haue no knowledge of God because they haue no vnderstanding And so likewise Salomon When Prophesie faileth the people must needs be scattered This is the word of God and this is the miserie that wee our selues haue séene The old father Tobie when God had stricken him with blindnesse and so taken his sight from him and therefore his friends and acquaintance resorted vnto him to comfort him and somwhat if they might ease him of his great grief Alas said he what comfort can I receiue that cannot see the light of the Sunne Thus said he only because he could not behold the light of this world Alas what comfort then what ioy what consolation could wee haue when God tooke from vs the knowledge of his gospell the light of his word yea the knowledge of God himselfe when euery man ran whither himself best liked folowed that way which pleased his owne phansie Therefore were wee caried away therefore were we led into errour therfore lost we the knowledge of God because prophesie failed because Gods word was not taught and preached vnto vs. But now it hath pleased God to reueale himselfe vnto vs now we know what is what now can we discerne light from darknesse good from bad now we vnderstand know this I say Now we haue the Scriptures in our mother tongue that euery man may read and vnderstand them the same Scriptures that Christ hath sealed with his owne bloud And these Scriptures Ieremie that old father calleth The prop of our Faith So Christ himselfe Illae sunt quae testimonium perhibent de me They beare witnesse of me saith Christ and they shall lead you into al truth Hillary saith The Scriptures are the squire and Rule of our life In the Scriptures saith Christ you shall find euerlasting life And Paule writing vnto the Romains saith The Gospell of Christ is the power of God to saue all that beleeue theron The Scriptures were written saith he that we thereby should know our saluation All these things God hath now restored vnto vs. Now are wee able to know our profession now are we able to know our Religion to know God to know Christ to knowe our saluation Now haue wee the vse of the Primitiue Church the Communion vnder both kinds now haue wee our praiers in our knowne tongue as in the Apostles time as in the old Fathers and Doctors times they were vsed Tertullian that old Doctour speaking of his time We come together saith he and hear the Scripturs read vnto vs. We may now do as S. Basil writeth the people in his time did Sonus virorū mulierū paruulorū in orationibus claugorē edit tāquā fluctus ferientes littora The sound saith he of men women and children praying together maketh a noyse like the waues of the Sea beating on the shore Thus saith that old father they did in his time and thus may you now do Now may we say as Athanasius said If I be deceiued thou hast deceiued me O Lord. For thy word is plaine thy Gospell is true and therefore if we be now deceiued it is thy word it is thy Gospell that deceiueth vs God hath so plainly shewed vnto vs the light of his Gospel the knowledge of his word Therfore haue we most iust cause to say with the prophet Dauid Laetentur exultent populi Let the people reioyce be glad And therfore let vs not be vnkind let vs not be vnthankful let vs say thou O Lord iudgest the folk righteously gouernest the Nations vpon the earth Thou hast now restored vnto vs our praiers in our known tongue thy sacraments as they were vsed in the Apostls time in the Primitiue Church in the old Fathers Doctors times And let vs say with Zachary that holy father Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel Blessed is the Lord God of Israel Let vs say with Dauid Haec est dies laetemur exultemus in ea this is the ioyful day let vs reioyce be glad therin Let vs with Simeon the prophet say Nunc dimittis seruum tuū Domine secundum verbum tuum in pace Now lettest thou thy seruant O Lord depart in peace according vnto thy word Let vs say as the prophet here saith Laetentur exultent populi Let the people reioice and be glad because thou rulest the Nations vpon the earth O let the people praise thee O God let
his gospel If thou say thou knowest God if thou say thou knowest his gospell if thou liue not as God commaundeth thée if thou liue not as it becommeth a professor of Gods gospell thou blasphemest Gods name and dishonorest his gospel Ore suo appropinquant ad me saith God by his prophet Esay corda autem illorū longe absunt à me this people draweth nigh vnto mee with their mouthes but their hearts are farre from me They honor me with their mouthes but with their hearts they deny mée And in another place God by his Prophet Dauid saith O thou man why doest thou preach my lawes and takest my couenant in thy mouth for with the sinfull thou art sinfull with the théefe thou art a théefe with the adulterer thou art an adulterer Therefore if wee haue the word of God as a song to delight our eares if we turne the truth of Gods gospel into riot and wantonnesse if we confesse God with our lips deny him in our déeds if we say we know Gods law we know his commaundements and yet liue not thereafter we do not prayse God and confesse his name but we shame God and dishonor his holy name we cause the people to thinke euil of Gods word and slaunder his gospell And this is the cause why the common sort of people iudge that not to be the gospel which is this day preached taught vnto them because such as professe the gospell liue not after the gospell because such as say they know Gods way walke not in Gods way And thus through our own folly through our owne euill and corrupt liuing we offend our brethren we offend our selues and so in them offend Iesus Christ and their bloud shall bée required at our hands Let vs remember what God by the Prophet Esay saith Haec est vera via ambulate in ea This is the true way walke in the same Chrysostome saith if yee heare Gods word preached vnto you and yee follow it not yee learne saith he but your owne damnation yee learne nought els but your owne destruction The words that you heare preached vnto you shall accuse and condemne you God sayth Thou shalt not steale thou shalt not commit adulterie thou shalt beare no false witnesse c. these words this law of God written vnto vs shall accuse yea and condemne vs I say if wee to our powers follow not the same if wée walke not and continue in them accordingly Alas the verie age of the world the profession that wee haue taken vpon vs is or should bee ynough to put vs in remembrance of another life of another world to come Let vs not take the name of God in vaine let vs all prayse and extoll God let our mouthes our hands our hearts and all other our members praise and confesse his name for euer Laetentur exultent populs c. O let the people reioyce and bee glad that thou iudgest the folke righteously gouernest the nations vpon the earth Thy way O Lord is knowne said Dauid thy way is knowne vpon the earth therefore let all people all nations yea all the whole world reioyce and be glad thereat Diuers people set their minds on diuers things some in conquest some in great power and force of men some in heapes of money and treasures of this world some others that they are able to make other men feare and they feare nothing themselues But all these things are vaine both conquest power and heapes of great treasure are transitorie and fade away but the man of God that dreadeth God and hath a delight in his Law setteth his ioy and delight in those things which haue no end but continue for euer And therefore Dauid here saith Let all the people reioice and be glad in this thing alone because thou iudgest the folke righteously and gouernest the nations vpon the earth Let vs consider if there were a whole Christian nation brought in captiuitie vnder the Turke in thraldom and subiection vnto him in such sort that they should neuer heare the Scriptures neuer receiue the Sacraments neuer come to the church to pray but alwaies be where God should be despised and his name dishonored cōsider I say with your selues in what miserie in what wretchednesse in what great thraldome should they be With what conscience should they be able to abide this But if it would then please God to deliuer them standing in this state if it would please God to restore vnto them his Scriptrues if it would please God that they might receiue againe his holy Sacraments and might come and pray together if God would thus much doe for them O what ioy what tryumph what mirth would they make Let vs therfore here consider the estate of Gods Church before the time of the Prophet Dauid as it was in his time Before the Raigne of Dauid the Tabernacle of God was broken the Arke lost the Scriptures taken from them the Priests slaine God made them no answere by Prophet Angell nor by dreame euery man ran whither himselfe best liked without any feare of God or dread of his Law so had Saul that wicked King miserably tossed and turmoyled the same But it pleased God by the hands of King Dauid his Prophet to restore againe his Church so ouerthrowne to her former estate and condition it pleased God by him to make vp the Tabernacle againe to find out the Arke that before was lost to set vp all other things in good stay and order and this was as much as if he had called them from death vnto life from bondage to fréedome from Hell to Heauen Therefore when all these things were thus restored againe by the might and power of God this prophet Dauid comforted his heart and said Haec est dies quā fecit Dominus laetemur exultemus in ea This is a ioyfull day which the Lord hath made let vs reioyce be glad therin And so likewise in another place Dominus regnauit moueatur terra The Lord beareth the rule the Lord is king be the people neuer so vnpacient Let the whole world conspire saith he let it be moued do what it can against God for God ruleth and raigneth ouer al. Zacharie when he saw the comfortable time that should ensue the birth of Christ he fel downe cried out saying Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel quia visit auit fecit redemptionē plebis suae Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he hath visited redeemed his people So Simeon that old and holy father so soone as he beheld Christ had receiued his redéemer into his armes by and by his heart brake out for ioy said Nunc dimittis seruū tuū Domine secundū verbū tuū in pace c. Now lettest thou thy seruant O Lord depart in peace according to thy word for mine eyes haue beholden thy saluation mine eyes haue seene thy
all the people praise thee And God euen our owne God giue vs his blessing that the earth may bring forth her increase Thou hast O Lord sent vnto vs thy measure thou hast giuen vs thy squire whereby to measure and rule our liues thou hast sent I say vnto vs thy Gospell thy holie word the light of thy déerely beloued Sonne Iesus Christ whereby we may guid our selues direct our waies vpon the earth And when we shall thus liue when we shall once begin so to direct our doings as Gods Gospell teacheth his holie word commaundeth vs then shall the earth bring forth her increase then shall she yeeld vs her fruit in due season For like as God when we turne from him following our owne lusts and desires plagueth and punisheth vs so when we repent and returne vnto him he is good he is louing he is mercifull vnto vs. Turne vnto me sayth God by his prophet Ieremie and I will turne vnto you When soeuer a sinner repenteth him of his sinnes I will forget his iniquities saith the Lord. It is the Lord that gyueth vs fruit it is the Lord that maketh the ground fertile it is not the ground of it selfe that bringeth forth fruit it is not the corne that féedeth vs it is the blessing of God the blessing I say of God alone And therefore saith the prophet Dauid If thou O Lord wilt open thy hand then all things shall be filled with thy blessing It is the Lord that maketh the Sunne to shyne the Moone to giue light the raine to fall on the earth I am the Lord that doth all this sayth God Dauid also in his Psalme saith Sciant quòd manus tua fecit haec Let them know O Lord saith he that thy hand alone hath done these wonders It is God I say that causeth the earth to be fruitfull and bring forth increase it is God that causeth the heauens to heare the earth the earth to crie vnto the Heauens Your harts shall be full of my blessing saith the Lord. If we shall forsake our sinnes if we will leaue our wickednesse and turne vnto God our harts shall be full of his blessing and then shall the earth bring forth her increase the earth this dead thing this vnsensible thing this masse of clay at Gods commaundement at his will and pleasure it shall bring forth corne it shall bring forth grasse and all other kind of fruits to serue them that neuer thinke vpon him that bestowed them O that wée were kinde that wée were not vnmindfull that we would remember God But alas wée are vnkind we are vnmindfull we neyther thinke on God nor his works and therefore God closeth vp his hand therefore he gyueth not vnto vs hys blessing therefore is the earth barren and vnfruitfull And this our owne sinnes causeth this our owne wickednesse and sinfull lyuing causeth Ose the prophet vnto the people of Israel when they had forsaken God their Lord and therefore were gréeuously punished cried out and said Malum tuum ex te ô Israel Thy euill is come of thy selfe O Israel All this scarsitie all this dearth all this plague commeth of thy selfe alone Thou art saith he the cause thou thy selfe art the cause hereof And euen as they were the cause of their plague so are we the only cause of all this our punishment and yet we sée not nor know Gods anger I haue striken thee saith God by his prophet and yet thou feelest not and where shall I strike thee once againe Filios educaui saith God by his prophet I haue bred vp I haue nourished vp children and they despise me they set nought by mée they will not acknowledge mée their father Good Bretheren let vs turne vnto God let vs amend our sinfull lyuing let vs submit our selues wholy to his mercie so shall the earth bring forth her increase so shal she yéeld vs her fruit in due time season Let vs consider the dignitie that God hath giuen vs he made vs in Paradise he fashioned vs to his owne likenesse he breathed life into vs and lastly where we by the fall of our first parent Adam were all adiudged to eternall death he redéemed vs again by the blood of his déere Sonne and Passion of our Sauior Iesus Christ Behold these things and be not vnthankfull Let vs good Bretheren behold our selues let vs behold our owne vocation our owne profession let vs behold Christ our Sauior We are the children of God the bretheren of Christ and heyres of the euerlasting kingdom we are Christian men we professe Gods Gospell let vs therfore remember that we must walke as becommeth the seruants of Christ we must liue like the professors of Gods holie Gospell Let vs remember how many wayes God calleth vs how diuersly he allureth vs vnto him by what sundry meanes he prouoketh vs to come vnto him O thou proud soule sayth God by his prophet thou earth ashes when wilt thou forsake thy sinfull lyuing and come vnto me when wilt thou repent and turne vnto me Alas do we looke that the stones in the stréets the verie stones vnder our féete should rise vp and call vs to repentance The heauens drop downe teares for our sake they wéepe and are sorie for vs and wilt not thou O man burst out in teares and bewaile thy sinfull life God looketh when we will come he wayteth when we will returne vnto him he daily and hourely watcheth when we will submit our selues receiue his mercie So louing so good so gratious a Lord is he Why should you perish saith Christ giue me thy hart O thou man and I am contented Let vs all therefore my Bretheren let vs all returne vnto God let vs altogether come forth confesse Gods holie name let our hands our mouthes our harts praise and laud him for euer let all the people reioyce and be glad that God iudgeth the folke righteously and gouerneth the Nations vpon the earth So shall the earth bring forth her increase so shall shée yéeld vs her fruit in due season so shall we be blessed in our houses blessed in the fields blessed in our commings in and our goings out so shall our corne our cattell our shéepe and oxen be alwayes blessed and so shall Gods blessing be vpon vs and our Children and God euen our owne God shall blesse vs and remaine with vs for euer Amen THE THIRD Sermon Rom. 6. vers 19. 19. Like as ye haue giuen ouer your members to the seruice of vncleannesse from one wickednesse to an other euen so now also giue ouer your members to the seruice of righteousnesse that ye may be holie c. FOr the better vnderstanding of these words written by the Apostle S. Paul we must consider that there be two Princes of contrary dispositions and natures which haue the rule and gouernance of this world that is to wit God and the Deuill and that neuer was there man