vpper hand euen tyll wee bee come too the heauenly Kingdome where wee shall fully inioy the fruite of our victorie Now let vs fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God with acknowledgment of our faultes praying him too make vs feele them better and that in the meane whyle wee may alwayes resort vnto him and not bee out of hart although wee bee tootoo vnwoorthie too offer our selues before his maiestie nor quayle bycause of our vyces and imperfections but that seeyng it hath pleased him too bee on our side he make the remedies too serue at our neede which he hath giuen vs as wee desyre them at his hand and that wee may indeuer too profit so in his woord as it may guyde vs foorth too the end so as wee may not quayle in any incounter but that the Diuell may bee confounded and our Lord Iesus Christ exalted bycause it is vnder him and by his power that wee fyght and it is he also of whom our victory proceedeth That it may please him too graunt this grace not onely too vs but also too all people c. The .xlvii. Sermon which is the fifth vppon the sixth Chapter 18. Praying vvith all prayer and supplication at all tymes in the spirit and vvatching theruntoo vvith all instance and supplication for all the Saintes 19. And for mee that in opening my mouth vtterance may bee gyuen mee vvith boldnesse too vtter the secret of the Gospell MAny supposing themselues too haue profited well in fayth are yit notwithstanding ignorant what belongs too prayer They thinke it ynough if they can say God help mee when they see any daunger at hand and yit in the meane whyle flee not too him for refuge But such folke wote not too what purpose the promises serue that are made vntoo vs For God sayeth not singly that he will haue a care of vs and that he will help vs in all our needes but also allureth vs too him and therewithall incorageth vs too praying Then cannot the one bee separated from the other that is too wit that wee should rest vppon the hope of Gods promises and haue them throughly rooted in our hartes and also bee stirred vp too resort vnto our God so as our fayth exercyze vs in prayer and supplication Thus see wee that they bee vnseparable things And looke how much wee bee forewarder in fayth so much with the earnester zele should we call vpon our God and acknowledge and confesse that our saluation lyeth in his hand and that wee looke for all good things from him And forasmuch as wee bee so â—lothfull in that behalfe he setteth downe twoo woordes Prayer and supplication too expresse the better that wee must not go too it coldly nor slyghtly and as it were for courtesie sake but that wee must bee touched too the quicke too continue at it as he will adde anon after and too hold on ryghtly without ceassing at anye tyme Trew it is that God telleth vs by his Prophet Esay that he will heare vs before wee cry and his hand shal bee redye too succour vs before wee haue opened our mouth Howbeeit that is not too make vs slothfull that wee should lye gaping at him with open throte as they say but too shewe that he will not suffer vs too linger when wee shall haue called vppon him as though he were carelesse too help vs and that for proof thereof he preuenteth vs as wee fynd by experience Yit notwithstanding he will haue vs too yeeld a trew proof of our fâ—yth by praying vntoo him For the very way for vs too shewe truly that his promises haue taken effect in vs and that wee trust too them is that as soone as wee bee touched with any greef or affliction wee go streyt vntoo him and vnburthen our hartes there as is sayd in another place Now wee see how wee must make our aduauntage of Gods woord whereby wee bee certyfied that he wil neuer fayle vs that is too wit by seeking the things in him which he protesteth that wee shall fynd there And so prayers are as it were keyes whereby too come too the treasures that God reserueth for vs and which he will not keepe from vs Therefore wee must open the way too them by praying And yit Saint Paule thinketh it not ynough too say that our fayth must bee matched with prayers and supplications too our God but he sayeth also Yea all prayer As if he should say that in all matters in al things both great and smal in al our dooings whatsoeuer they bee that must bee our shooteanker For it myght happen that wee would call vppon God onely when wee thought on him or else when we had some matter of importance in hand But Saint Paule as I sayd will haue vs too doo God that homage euery where and at all tymes protesting that wee cannot haue any good but at his hand and of his mere free gift So much importeth the woorde All. And in good sooth wee see how our Lord taketh charge of our whole lyfe with condicion that wee should seeke too him euen for the bacest things and for such as wee durst not requyre of our freend that were our equall and companion Euen those things will he haue vs to ask of him For vnder this saying that he giueth vs our dayly bread it is certeyne that he comprehendeth all that belongeth too our lyfe Alas what a number of small things haue wee neede of which wee would bee ashamed too bee acknowen of euen too our inferiours And God abaceth himselfe so farre that he voutsafeth too haue a care of our persons which are but wretched and rotten carions and yit neuerthelesse he will not haue vs too stick too aske him the thinges that are expedient and needefull for vs Sith it is so let vs remember well this saying of Saint Paules which willeth vs too pray too our God for al things that wee deede assuring our selues that he wil yeeld so farre vntoo vs as nothing shal as yee would say scape his handes And he sayeth expresly that vvee must pray at all tymes and in Spirit Whereas he sayth in Spirit it is surely too exclude all Hipocrisye for we knowe that the most part of the world babble ynough when they should come vntoo God howbeeit it is but their lippes or the tippes of their tungs that doo their dewtie But that is not the manner that God will bee prayd vntoo and called vppon he lyketh not of such supplications but rather abhorreth them bycause that when wee pray so fondly vntoo him wee make a false shrowding sheete of him and that is a kynd of trecherie For if wee thinke too be heard of God for our babling when in the meane whyle our hart is dead and our prayers proceede not of a ryght dispozed and earnest mynd wee make God as an Idoll or as a little babe wherein wee doo too great wrong to his maiestie and to be short we
guide mee withal And in another place he saith agein Though I were beset round about with a million of enemyes yit should I not shrink And why for God is with mee Were wee then as well perswaded of Gods almyghtinesse as wee confesse it with our mouth surely wee should not bee so soone dismayd nother should our fayth bee shaken at euery brunt So then let vs conclude that inasmuch as wee bee so weake and euery thing of nothing will scare vs out of our wits there is nothing but hipocrisie in vs and our confessing that God is almightie commeth not from our hart So much the more therfore behoueth it vs too put this lesson in vre and too exercyze it nyght and day that wee may taste it throughly And that is the cause why it is so often mentioned vntoo vs for wee take it not too bee a matter of so greate importance But when our Lord dooth so often tell vs that he hath al things in his hand that he disposeth of his creatures as he listeth himself and that nothing is able too let his determination nor the performance of the things that hee hath promised it is too the end that wee should yeeld vntoo his promises that which they behyght vs that is too say whensoeuer wee shall seeme too bee at the poynt of vndooing and the diuell shall giue vs so whole skirmishes as we shall see no way too escape nor any end of our distresses let vs think thus with our selues who is he that hath spoken it Who is he that hath promised too bee our defender Is it not he that is almyghtie Could not he with one blast blowe away all that the diuell practizeth Though all the world were ageinst vs what could it doo so our Lord voutsafed too maynteyne our part After that maner must wee aduaunce Gods power aboue the whole world that wee may rest vppon his promises For as I haue sayd alredye Gods woord and the power of bringing too passe the things conteyned therin are things vnseparable And wee blaspheme God as oft as wee bee in dout and perplexitie whether he bee able too performe his defending of vs or no. For sith he hath promised it out of all doubt he wyll perfourme it or else should his power bee shortened which is impossible And so yee see why Saint Paule hath spoken heere of Gods power And that also is the cause why the prophets in speaking of the succour which God hath alwayes in redinesse too reskew the faythfull withall from death when they bee plundged in it haue commonly sayd Is it not the God which hath made both heauen and earth This should seeme too bee farre fet For the cace is that I am in some trubble and haue none other refuge but onely Gods pitying of mee whereof I seeke too bee assured and he telleth mee I haue created heauen and earth He seemeth too send mee very farre and too make mee leape out of Gods blissing intoo the warme sunne But Gods telling of vs that he created heauen and earth is too doo vs too vnderstand that it belonges too him also too rule his creatures that he hath a care of vs as of his children that there is not any thing aboue or beneath which is not subiect too him and that he turneth all things round about too and fro as he listeth Sayeth he so Then must wee out of hand apply it too our benefyte so as wee doubt not but that his power hath such preheminence as he is well able too roote out whatsoeuer seemeth too bee ageinst vs And so yee see how yee must alwayes haue the sayde cheyne to tye Gods promyses the truth of the brynging of them to passe togither And S. Paule sayeth that he can doo all things aboue our asking and our thinking Not without cause hath he inclozed heere all that belongeth too our saluation For he that trusteth in God for one thing will not misse too enter into debating whether he will adde a second benefite or a third That therfore is the cause why S. Paule will haue vs too looke for all things at the hand of our god And he sayeth Aboue our asking Trew it is that wee must not fall asleepe when wee would bee succored and gouerned at Gods hand or be filled with his benefites but if wee beleeue in his woord we must also bee moued too pray for it is a trew proof of our fayth when wee resort so vntoo our God. And for that cause is it sayd that the faythfull must discharge all their cares intoo his lappe For it is the trew record of it when at all tymes of our neede wee resort too him who will haue vs too seeke all our welfare in him alone The faythfull therfore must be diligent in praying according as S. Paule sayeth in another text wher he exhorteth vs too prayer and supplication and setteth downe this diligence also too the intent wee should haue no slothfulnesse too plucke vs backe But albeeit wee giue ouer all our wittes too praying vntoo God yit notwithstanding considering the necessities that compell vs too resort vntoo him God must bee fayne too outgo our requestes and too doo much more for vs than wee requyre And for proof therof when any of the faythfull feeles his owne infirmities he will streyt wayes humble himself and theruppon repayre vntoo God and that not for once only but euery minute of an houre And afterward he will resort to him both for his body and his soule and think thus Alas yit want I such a thing I must too him agein Lo how the faythfull doo throughly sift out the miseries and wantes wheruntoo they bee subiect therby too prouoke themselues too pray vntoo god But doo not wee think that the diuell hath a hundred thousand wyles which wee perceyue not And God must bee fayne too prouide for them or else what would become of vs For although wee feele that diuerse things doo pinch vs yit are ther many other things that are vnknowen and hidden from vs So then it will alwayes bee found trew that God outgoeth all our prayers and all our wishes Mark that for one poynt Therfore let vs doo what wee can and indeuer too resort continewally vntoo God and yit therwithall let vs bee fully perswaded that he must bee fayne too watch ouer vs and too bee much more sharp syghted than wee in espying what wee haue neede of and the meanes also that are fit too compasse it to our behoof all these things must God bee fayne too looke too And so must wee cast all our cares vppon him as I alledged afore out of the Psalme And soothly his adding of aboue our abilitie too thinke is too shewe that although men bee inlyghtened by the Gospell too distrust themselues too walke in feare yea and too bee abashed at the syght of their owne wretchednesse yit perceyue they not the hundreth part of it but must bee fayne
do but transfigure him after our owne fancie Therfore it behoueth our prayers not only to be made with our mouth but also too come from the bottom of our hart And now forasmuch as we haue not that of our owne power the holy Ghost must be fayne to worke therin And therfore by the word Spirit may be vnderstood that we should beseech God to gouern vs in such wyse as he touch vs throughly to the end we may pray to him as we ought too doo and he also accept our prayers acknowleding in them the marks of his holie spirit For wee must alwayes remember how it is sayd in the Epistle too the Romans that wee know not what too pray for as in respect of our selues it is a thing that surmounteth all our vnderstanding and the ablest of vs all fayleth in that behalfe notwithstanding that there are a number which beare themselues on hand that they knowe perfectly howe and what too pray vntoo god Howbeeit all such opinion dooth but shet vs out of the gate vnlesse that vppon the knowing of our defaults and infirmities wee resort ryghtfoorth too the remedie according too this saying of Saint Paules that the spirit of God driueth vs to vnutterable gronings which cannot bee expressed without the which wee could not vtter so much as this woord Father according also as he sayeth too the Galathians that when the spirit cryeth in vs wee can open our mouthes too call freely vppon God as is reherced in another place Now then it is certein that wee shall neuer bee throughly dispozed too pray vntoo God except he gouerne vs by his holie spirit Moreouer Saint Paules intent as I haue declared alredie is too exclude all counterfetting and that wee should not hope too iustify our cace before God by ceremonies or by popeholines as they terme it in making of long prayers and many circumstances but suffer the spirit too beare sway Wherfore first of all let vs bee so touched as the spirit may bee our mayster and teacher and indyte the things too vs which wee haue too vtter in calling vppon our God and secondly let our prayers proceede from the bottom of our hart let vs put this saying of the Psalme in vre that wee must sue vnto our God in truth for it is sayd that he is not neere too any but too such as haue that qualitie And not without cause is such exposition set downe for as I haue declared alredie wee bee so much inclyned too shifting that too our seeming God ought too yeeld too vs and too our nature but it is cleane contrarie Now then forasmuch as God perceyueth that men abuse his name after that fashyon and make prayers after their owne maner that is too say prayers that are wrapped in hipocrisie and vntruthe and haue no substancialnesse nor soundnesse in them he sayeth expresly that we must not hope too bee heard at his hand nor too obteyne any thing of him except our prayers bee ruled by a ryght meaning that is too say vnlesse wee pray with a hartie affection Thus yee see what wee haue to remember vpon that saying of Saint Paule And that wheras he sayth Stedfastly and with holding out throughout too the ende it is too expresse the better that it is neuer out of season too call vppon god And euen therefore is this added bycause wee would fayne exempt our selues from our god Wherein a man may well perceyue howe vnperfect our myndes are and howe destitute of wit and reason wee be For all our welfare consisteth in hauing accesse too our God that wee seeke help at his hand and too bee short in being neere vntoo him so as wee bee sure that he regardeth vs and hath a care of our welfare And besyds that who is he that would not fayne bee heard Yit notwithstanding when wee should pray vntoo God it seemeth that wee bee haled to it as it were by force and wee should bee rauished in loue with it as I haue shewed alredy Now then this vyce of rechlesnesse and coldnesse in that wee neuer pray vnto God but when we be compelled or constreyned had neede to be corrected Saint Paule therefore telleth vs that wee must not tarie till vtter necessitie inforce vs but we must vnderstand that al times are seasonable and conuenient too resort vntoo god Iu deede after as wee bee picked foreward so must wee runne the swiftlyer according as it is certeyne that wee bee as it were spurted by the afflictions and manifold trubbles that God sendeth vs And lyke as if an Asse wil not go he must haue a good cudgell layd vppon his backe euen so God perceyuig that wee come not too him with a good will is fayne too drawe vs too him as it were by violence But yit must euery man cheere vp him self though no vrgent necessitie compell him Too bee short we must pray vntoo our God bothe in tyme of prosperitie and in tyme of aduersitie That is the thing which is ment by these woords at all tymes And theruppon S. Paule sayeth that wee must bee watchfull in it euen with all instance too pray for all the Saints In saying that wee must bee watchfull hee toucheth a vyce whertoo wee bee too much inclyned yea and wholly giuen ouer that is too say that wee bee sleepie when wee should pray vntoo God and had neede too bee waked Bycause of our heauinesse and sluggishnesse wee bee commaunded too wake and to keepe as it were a continuall wacth to the end wee should not let occasions slip but alwayes resort vntoo God with prayer Now there is not so perfect a man which fyndeth not this maladie by experience in him self namely that when wee should pray vnto God a number of things crosse vs that set vs wandering abrode insomuch as wee shall woonder that in sted of holding out earnestly our mynd shal bee rouing here and there Seeing then that wee bee so fickle and our wits so skittish and is hard too hold vs â—ast any whyle it standeth vs on hand to be the more watchfull to the intent to bring our selues back agein intoo the good way when we be started out of it And let vs not tarie till the diuell haue woone so much at our handes as to plucke vs quyte from our prayers and supplications and to breake of the continuall course of them and of the stedfastnes that ought too bee in them but when wee pray let vs be as it were locked vp and fast tyed too it that is too say let all our wittes bee full bent and settled vppon the thing that wee haue too doo For euen the heathen men when they were about too make sacrifyze too their Idolls vsed this proueth among them whyle thou woorshippest God doo nothing else but bee thou so wholly occupyed and fastened theruntoo as thou think vpon no other thing If God wrested such a confession from them what ought wee to doo when wee
he liketh well of And what is the cause of it Wee are all of vs the chyldren of Adam and we are all of one mould Why then inlighteneth hee the one sort and letteth the other alone in their blyndnesse There is none other cause but his owne choyse So then although we can not conceyue nother by wyt nor by reason howe God hath chozen vs before the making of the world yit wee know it by his shewing of it vntoo vs and experience it selfe auoucheth it sufficiently in asmuch as we be inlightened by faith What is the cause that I receyue the Gospell and sticke to it and in the meane whyle others abyde styl in their beastly blockishnesse or rather beare a spiteful rancour ageynst the doctrine of saluation If I imagine that it commeth of myne owne towardnesse I am a traytour too god For wee must alwayes come backe to that which wee haue seene alredy and say Who is hee that hath made thee to excel others S. Paule then dooth in that saying pull downe all loftinesse of man to the end that no man should aduance hymselfe nor alledge that he hath â—ught of his owne Wee must not thinke saith he that wee haue any woorthynesse of our selues but that euery whit of it commeth of god Therfore in this Text S. Paule sheweth by experience howe the Eâ—â—esians had byn chozen of God that it behoued them to haue their â—â—ole faith grounded thereupon that is to wyt vpon Gods free goodâ—â—sse And for proofe thereof saith he ye haue heard the doctrine of 〈◊〉 Gospell and beleeued it But how commes that to passe He sheâ—â—th that it must needes bee that they were confirmed by the holy Ghost Now if they were confirmed it was of necessitie that the holy ghost must needes haue wrought beforehand And so it is to no purpose to enter intoo so deepe a maze as Gods euerlasting ordinaunce For he sheweth vs as it were with his finger how he hath chozen vs at least wise if we play not the churles with hym but acknowledge the good that he hath done vs and bee fully perswaded and resolued in our selues that there is none other cause of it than for that hee had giuen vs his marke from before all euerlastingnesse that is too say for that he had reserued vs too hym selfe as his owne chyldren Nowe then wee see S. Paules meanyng and therfore let vs learne too leaue making of long raunges when the cace concerneth our imputyng of all things to Gods onely mere mercy For the faith that we haue dooth shew it wel ynough â–ª bycause that as I haâ—e sayd afore the same commeth not from our owne moother witte but as a gifte that commeth from aboue such a one as God communicateth not too all men without exception but onely so such as he lysteth Furthermore heere are many woords well worth the weying For on the one syde S. Paule intendeth too magnifie the grace of the holy Ghost by shewing that wee can haue no part nor portion in our Lord Iesus Christ nor in any of all the benefites that he hath purchased for vs except God put vs in possession of our saluation by his holie spirit That therfore is one poynt And yit notwithstanding S. Paule fayleth not too shew therwithall the ineâ—timable benyfite that wee haue by the Gospell in that he termeth it the woord of truth and the glad â—ydings of saluation For first of all he ment too assure vs too the inâ—ent wee myght haue an infallible warrant too call vppon God without doubting or grudge of conscience For so long as wee bee in doubt whether God loue vs or hat vs it is vnpossible for vs too praye truly vntoo him And so by that meanes yee see how our saluation is vtterly defeated according too that which is sayd by the Prophet Ioell And it is a common doctrine in the holy scripture that wee cannot obteyne saluation but by fleeing vntoo Gyd with prayer and supplication But wee should be shet out from that if wee had not the sayd warrant as wee shall see more fully in the third chapter Therfore it stands vs 〈◊〉 too be throughly assured that God is our father and that he accepteth vs for his children And how shall wee bee warranted that vnlesse the doctrine of the Gospell bee so certeyne in all poynts as it bee not lawfull for vs to bring it in question That therfore is the cause why S. Paule sayeth that it is the word of truth No doubt but there are other truthes also for euen when God threatneth vs he dooth it not in â—est nor yit in vayne for as well his threatninges as his promises haue their execution sure and certeyne Howbeeit forasmuch as the present cace concerned the correcting of al distrust in vs as wherunto we be to much inclined S. Paule hath termed the Gospell the doctrine of truth as if he should say my frendes God is a faithfull witnesse vntoo you of his owne wyll for the Gospell is as much as if he laid forth his hart vntoo you and therefore settle your selues vppon it Moreouer also he saith that our saluation lyeth inclosed in the Gospell and that it is too make vs too looue it and esteeme it For should we be so wirlesse or rather starke mad as to holde scorne of our owne welfare But yit notwithstandyng he saith that al this commeth of Gods mere mercy and of his euerlasting electioÌ„ which as in respect of our selues is farre of and vnknowen too vs but we haue knowledge of it by the Gospell which is the meanes and instrument therof For too what purpose were it that our Lorde Iesus Christ hath offered hym felfe in sacrifice too reconcile the worlde to God his father vnlesse wee were made partakers of it by faith Now faith is not an opinion of mans conceyuyng in his owne brayne but a setled beleefe that God cannot lye nor deceyue vs and that it is not to be feared that our hope shall not come too good end if wee wayt vpon hym So then too be short S. Paules intent was to shewe that if we haue the skyll to make our profit of the doctrine of the gospell wee shall no longer stand in a mamering and perplexitie but shal be able to call vppon God with open mouth acknowledgyng our selues so bound and wholly indetted vntoo hym in all things as wee feare not but that he auoweth vs for his children and are accepted at his hande and that hee heareth vs in all the prayers that wee make vntoo hym Thus much concernyng the first poynt Therfore according to S. Paules exhortation â–ª let vs learne to rest in suche wise vppon the doctrine of the gospell that it may bee as much too vs as if God shewed hymselfe visibly vntoo vs and that the heauens were opened vntoo vs and let vs alwayes beare in mynde howe it is anouched by the mouth of our Lord Iesus Christ hymselfe that when
or ceassing for the fayth which he hearde to bee in the Church of Ephesus And for their loue towards the Saints yit notwithstanding he continueth his praying vntoo God that he should inlighten them more and more and bring them too the perfection which all the faythfull ought too labour too attayne vntoo till God haue taken them out of this world Now in that he sayth that he ceaseth not to giue thanks vnto God wee see by his example wherabouts the faythful ought too spende their time For in very deede the cheife sacrifyze that God requireth and alloweth is that wee shoulde honour him for all his benefits and yeelde him his deserued prayse for the same And it is not too bee thought that that can bee doone as yee would say by starts or by patches but lyke as God on his side ceasseth not too poure out his benefits infinitely so also behoueth it euery of vs too inforce ourselues too blesse and prayse him without ceassing For S. Paule speakes heere vnfeynedly and when he blessed God for the Ephesians he ment as much for all other Churches What an vnkindnesse then were it if a maÌ„ should not thinke at all vpon the benefits that he hath receyued at Gods hand Wee are all of vs bound too prayse God for our neighbours If wee heare it reported that God hath prospered his Churche or shewed mercie too his people a hundred leages of and too bee short if wee heare of any thing that ought too make vs glad it becometh our mouthes too be open to prayse God for it Now if wee bee bound too doo this for the good turnes that wee see not but which our neighbours feele though they bee distant in far Countryes from vs what is too bee thought of vs when God filleth our mouthes as it is sayd in the Psalme and yit in the meane whyle wee haue no mind at all too yeelde him thanks And wee haue too note further that if wee bee bound too prayse God for our meate and drinke and for all the things that belong too this flightfull life he bindeth vs to hym much more without comparison when he calleth vs too the heauenly heritage and when he blisseth and inritcheth vs with spirituall gifts of grace which serue too leade vs farre further than this worlde Seing then that God vseth such bountifulnesse towards vs what excuse can wee haue if wee followe not the example that is shewed vs heere in S. Paule which is that all our life long wee must occupy our selues continually in praysing the name of God. Now heerewithall he sheweth that faith and charitie are the verye giftes of God come not of our selues as men doo alwayes imagine through a diuelishe pryde I told you afore that S. Paule playd not the Hypocrite in geuing thanks too God for the fayth and charitie of the Ephesians If euery man could beleeue and had faith of his owne inclination or cold get it by some power of his owne the prayse therof ought not too bee giuen vntoo God for it were but a mockerye too acknowledge our selues beholden too him for that thing which wee haue of others than of him But heere S. Paule blisseth Gods name for inlightning the Ephesians with fayth and for framing their harts vntoo charitie Therefore it is too bee concluded that all the whole commeth of god The heathen men bringing in their owne freewill thâ—â—ght themselues beholden too God for nothing but for their good fortune as they termed it for they surmyzed that they had all things by theyr owne power and pollicie The Papiâ—ts also will well graunt that Gods grace must bee fayne too help vs in parâ—e â—ub yet 〈◊〉 all that they wyll haue man too bee still exalted and too attayn too â—â—yth by his owne motion â—eere S Paule shetteeh out all these diâ—â—lish opinions and sheweth as wee haue seene heertofore that whensoeuer there is any Churche in the world or any people too â—al vppon 〈◊〉 which are setled and grounded vppon the beliefe of the Goâ—pell God deserueth to haâ—e the whole glorie therof And why For his hand must needs haâ—e wrought in that cace bycause men woold neuer inclyne too any goodnesse if they were not guyded and gouerâ—ed to it yea and euen drawen too it perforce by the holie Ghost For there is so greaâ—e 〈◊〉 usnesse in vs that wee not only bee weake and feble as the papists imagin but also vtterly contrarie too God vntill such time as he haue clenzed vs And this is the thing which he meaneth in saying by his prophet Ezechiel that the hartes which were stony before shall bee turned intoo fleshly hartes namely that he will sofâ—en them and bow them to his obeysance Furthermore vnder theis twoo woordes of Fayth and Loue S. Paule hath comprehended the whole perfection of Christians For the marke wherat the first table of the Lawe ameth is that wee should worship one only God and hang vppon him for all thinges acknowledging our selues too bee so indetted vnto him as wee ought to flee to him alone for all refuge and indeuer too spend our whole lyfe in his sâ—ruis That is the summe of the first table of the Lawe The contentes of the second are nothing else but that wee should liue toogither iâ— equiâ—ie and vpryghtnesse and deale in such wyze with our neyghbours as wee should streyue our selues too helpe all men without hurting of any man And wee bee sure that God hath set foorth so good and perfet a rule of good 〈◊〉 in his lawe that nothing can bee added vntoo it Seing it is so not without cause dooth S. Paule in this place set downe fayth in Iesus Christ and charitie towards our neyâ—â—or as the summe of whole christen comes 〈◊〉 shewing wherunto wee ought too frame our selues and which is our rule But herewith all wee haue also to marke that vnder this worde Fayth he compreheÌ„deth the whole seruis of god For it is imposible that wee should not be wholy rauished in loue to our heaueÌ„ly father being once acquainted with his goodnesse as hee hath shewed it vs in the person of his only sonne Behold God draweth vs out of the dungeon of confuzion and death and openeth vs the gate of the heaueÌ„ly kingdome and telleth vs that he will take vs for his children Now can we heare and beleue this but that wee shal be wholly geuen ouer vnto him forsaking the world and hating the euill that is in our selues bycause it separateth vs from him Yee see then how the woorde fayth importeth a full yeelding ouer of our selues wholly vnto god Ageine faith is not an ydle thing it importeth that wee should resort vnto God and that whensoeuer wee bee steyned with any blot wee should pray him to redresse it for there is not any necessitie in the world which is not as a dash with a spurre which God giueth vs to make vs comme vnto him Fayth therfore importeth prayer supplication It
the father what protestation soeuer he make of going too him So then wheras it is sayd heere that wee must beleeue in Iesus Christ let vs bethinke vs of the warning which he giueth to his disciples Beleeue yee in God sayeth he beleeue ye also in me There hee sheweth that the auncient fathers which liued vnder the Lawe had but a dark teaching vntill the tyme that he was manifested too the world Trew it is that they woorshippid the liuing God yea and that they had none accesse vntoo him but by meanes of the mediaâ—or Howbeit that was but vnder shadowes and figures nother had â—hey any such lyght as wee haue nowadayes vnder the Gospell And 〈◊〉 that cause also told I you that he is called the image of God who is of his owne nature inuisible so as wee could not knowe him vnlesse he â—â—tered himself by such meanes Too bee short let vs mark that wee â—oo nothing else but wander till wee haue our fayth settled in Iesus Christ. And this wil bee the better perceyued by the errors wherwith â—he world hath bin imbrewed vnto this day For the Papists will proâ—est well ynough that they beleeue in God as much doo the Turkes the Iewes also Trew it is that the Papistes and Iewes seeme too come neerest the truthe for the Iewes protest that they worship the liuing God euen the same God that gaue them his Lawe by Moyses But what for that In the meane whyle they reiect Christ who is the end and substance of the Lawe As for the Papistes although they â—â—â—fesse Christianitie auowe Iesus Christ to be their sauiour yit is 〈◊〉 â—pparant that they make warre ageynst him for as much as they 〈◊〉 set vp seruing of God after their owne lyking so as there is nothing but disorder in all their doings As touching the Turkes they can wel ynough say Almyghtie God the maker of heauen and earth but shall wee thinke that God will renounce himselfe or vnsaye that which he hath sayd which is that no man can come vntoo him but by his welbeloued sonne whome he hath ordeyned too bee the mediator â—â—tweene him and men Ageyn wee see how the papistes will well yâ—â—ugh say that they beleue in God but yit therwithall they wil needs 〈◊〉 patrons and aduocates too bring them too his presencâ— Agein 〈◊〉 not ynough for them that they bee bought with the blud of ou◠〈◊〉 Iesus Christ they must also put too their owne merits and â—â—â—â—some themselues by their owne satisfactions and when wee haue offended God we must haue such meanes and such Then if a man list too examin the papistes beleefe surely he shall fynd that they â—eleeue their owne dreames and that all that euer they doo is 〈◊〉 confuzed maze For with Iesus Christ they mingle whatsoeuer commeth in their owne head wheras wee know that he ought to continue whole aâ—one by himseâ—fe Wee see then how S. Paule leadeth vs to the trew tâ—yal of our fayth which is by resting vpon Iesus Christ so that wee feele our selues vtterly voyd of all goodnesse and that wee mâ—â—t draw from out of his fulnesse too be filled with all good thinges or else â—o wil bee vnto vs For if wee had all the Angels in heaâ—en on our syde if it were possible yit is it certeyn that all should go too wâ—ecke if wee haue not the sayd head as S. Paule sayeth in the first and second chapters of the Epistle too the Colossians And so yee see what wee haue too gather vppon that sentence Now after S. Paule hath sayd that he thanketh God for the things that he sawe alredie in the Church of Ephesus he addeth that 〈◊〉 praâ—eth too him also This is too shewe vs that when wee see God bestowe his excellent giftes vppon his children wee had neede too beseche him still to contâ—newe and go forewarde with the same and that for twoo causes For he that standeth may happen to fall and againe God had neede too increace his grace more and more For euen they that are the perfectest shall haue cause too bee ashamed if they looke well intoo their owne wantes Yee see then that the thing wheretoo S. Paule bringeth vs is that when wee prayse God for the gyftes which he hath bestowed vppon his chozen children â–ª wee ought too match prayer also with our thanksgiuing And why For it is in hiâ— onely too bring too passe the thing that he hath begunne and it behâ—ueth vs too lay alwayes this ground Lord thou wilt not leaue the woorke of thine owne handes halfe vndone And the same thing whiâ—h wee ought too doo for others is also requisite for our selues Too bee short wee bee heere warned too magnifie God in such wyse for his goodnesse and gyftes which wee haue felt already as wee must perceiue that there is still much default in vs and that it standeth vs on hand that he should giue vs perseuerance too the ende and moreouer that he should correct our vyces and augment his grace in vs till wee bee come too full perfection which thing will neuer bee till wee bee rid of this mortall body Yit notwithstanding wee see howe Satan dooth now adayes possesse such as surmyze a hellishe perfection and make but the three first petitions too their father saying that it is ynough too pray God that his name bee hallowed that his kingdome come and that his will bee done and so they cut of all the rest of the prayer which our Lord Iesus hath left vs And for this matter I haue the signing of their owne handes which theyr disciples know wherby those diuells shewe that they must needes bee vtterly without wit seing they bee caryed away so farre as too refuze too yeelde God this glory that euen now wee bee yit still ouer loden with the burthen of our infirmities hild downe with store of corruptions and hemmed in with abundance of vyces and that God must bee fayne too clenze vs of them more and more yea euen from day too day vntill he haue brought vs too the perfection wheruntoo he calleth vs And it standeth vs so much the more on hand too marke this doctrine well bycause the Papistes are not so farre ouershot in the errours of their superstiâ—ions and Idolatries as these varlets are which doo now adayes sowe abrode their poysons in their priuie meetings and lurking holes But howsoeuer they fare let vs marke well what is shewed vs heere by the holy Ghost when S. Paule sayeth that he prayeth god And why I haue tolde you already that the Ephesians had profited and that the giftes of God and of his holy spirit were augmented in them He hath shewed that Now too knit vp the matter he sayeth further that he prayeth God too giue them that which they haue not which they want as yit Sith it is so let vs marke that the more wee haue profited the more cause haue wee too humble our selues and
The father of our Lorde Iesus Christ of whom all kinred is named in heauen and in earth Now hereby hee sheweth vs first of all how familiarly wee may go vntoo God as hath bin touched alredye And the last sunday this text was declared sufficiently where he shewed vs how we may come vnto god But there he did set fayth in the first place Seeing then that wee haue assurance that the gate is opened for vs wee may bee bolde too go in vntoo god And this fayth ingendereth trust in our hartes and trust giueth boldnesse These are the three steppes that Saint Paule did set downe there And heere he sheweth vs how wee obteyne that priuiledge that is too wit bycause God hath not only his heauenly Maiestie too bee worshipped of vs for although wee ought too honour him in that respect yit would it so astonishe vs as too make vs shun his presence as much as wee possibly could but also addeth the tytle of father and sayeth that he taketh vs for his children by meanes whereof wee hee no more afrayde of him but may come faâ—â—lâ—arly too him whensoeuer occasion serueth forasmuch as he hath his armes open too receyue vs This is an article well woorthy too bee mynded For if wee cannot call vppon God what will become of vs in what plyght shall wee bee It is sayd that all our welfare lyeth in hauing our recourse vntoo god Now if wee thinke that God wil heare vs when wee pray doubtingly and debatingly wee beguile our selues as sayeth S. Iames. Therfore wee must nâ—t bee as reedes that are shaken with euery wynde or lyke the waues of the sea But wee must bee well and throughly assured that God which calleth vs too him will not disappoynt vs Wherfore when wee pray vnto God it must be with trust that wee shall not loze our labour But how may we come by that For behold God hath 〈◊〉 incoÌ„prehensible 〈◊〉 what a distance is there betweene him vs Though we could 〈◊〉 aboue the cloudes yit could wee not come nygh God by reason of the infinite hyghnesse that is in him for the heauens comprehend it not Then should wee bee as folke forlorne and vainshed away if Iesus Christ were not there as a meane to make vs way And that is it which S. Paule meaneth heere when he sayeth that he prayeth too the father of our Lord Iesus Christ too the end wee might 〈◊〉 that he is not farre from vs if wee hold the way that he sheweth vs that is too wit if wee make Iesus Christ our aduocate to beare word for vs and speake as it were by his mouth For he is entred intoo the Sanctuary of the heauens too present himselfe there on our behalf that it might he all one as if he bare vs vppon his shoulders and boâ—h wee and our prayers bee accepted and allowed of God and wee bee sure that they vanish not away intoo the ayre but that God 〈◊〉 them as well as if he were hard by vs according to his promise made in the Psalme which is that he wil be neere at hand to all such as call vpon him in truth Had this bin well considered the wretched world had not troubled it self so much in seeking too Hee Saints and She Saints too bee their patrons and aduocats As for example when the wretched Papists say that they must haue the Uirgin Mary S. Michaell for their intercessors and other Saints whom they haue deuyzed of their owne brayne ho say they wee bee not woorthy too come in Gods presence It is very trew but his vnworthinesse of ours ought also to make vs too seeke the remedye which God hath appoynted for vs that is wit too repayre too our Lord Iesus Christ who is the way that leadeth vs too his father according too this saying of his I am the way the truthe and the lyfe and whatsouer yee ask of Goâ— my father in my name shal be graunted you There our Lord Iesus promiseth that whatsoeuer we ask of God his father in his name shal bee doone vnto vs and therby he warranteth this doctrine Therfore let vs mark at a woord that in asmuch as our Lord Iesus offereth and putteth foorth himself too bee the way too lead vs vnto God his father wee must not go raunging vp and downe but if wee will needs seeke any other way wee shall but stray and neuer bee at any certeinetie to come vntoo god Furthermore too the intent wee may bee contented with Iesus Christ alone let vs beare well in mynd how he sayeth that all our requests shal be heard if they bee grounded vppon his 〈◊〉 Yee see then that the thing which Saint Paule ment too shewe 〈◊〉 first place is that as oft as wee pray vntoo God wee must assure 〈◊〉 selues that although wee bee vnworthy too come vntoo him yit notwithstanding he ceasseth not too accept vs and our prayers are a sacrifyze of good and acceptable sent vntoo him when we acknowledge him too bee the father of our Lord Iesus Christ. But yit must 〈◊〉 also adde that which the Gospell sheweth vs that is too wit that 〈◊〉 bee members of his only sonnes bodie For had wee no allyance 〈◊〉 Iesus Christ we should gayne nothing by knowing him too bee the sonne of god But forasmuch as wee bee made one with him and he boutsafeth too communicate all his goods vntoo vs therfore wee may well call God our father And for that cause also did he saye 〈…〉 disciples I go my way too my God and your God too my father and your father Thus much concerning the first poynt And heerewithall wee must marke well also how S. Paule addeth for a larger declaration that all kinred both in heauen and earth is named of him In saying so first he sheweth that the Iewes ought to be ioyned vnto the Gentyles and that for asmuch as the Trumpet of the Gospell is blowen Gods grace must bee preached abrode euery where that men of all Countries and Nations may call vppon God And therby also it is shewed vs that although wee come of the heathen which were erst cut of from the kingdome of God yit wee bee now made his household folke and registred among the Citizens of heauen and God auoweth vs too bee so And so yee see that by the father of our Lord Iesus Christ an also bycause Iesus Christ is made our head and hath receyued vs for his body yee see I say that all kinred is named of him bycause God voutsafeth too take vs too him yea euen vs poore wretched creatures which are not woorthie too bee of the number of the woormes of the earth yit notwithstanding he not only voutsafeth too admit vs intoo the companie of the Iewes which were a holy linage the chozen people of God and his owne inheritaunce but also hath taken vs intoo the fellowship of the Angels of heauen For
Saint Paule is not contented heere with setting downe a kinred among men too shew that he meaneâ—t of the faythfull is matched with Abraham Dauid Peter and Paule but he sheweth that he is matched euen with the Angels of heauen too And soothly we may well haue that dignitiâ—â— seeing that Iesus Christ himselfe voutsafeth too bee our brother and hath knit himself to vs in the bond of brotherhood Thus yee see how wee should bee guyded in praying vntoo God that wee may coine vntoo him in feare and reuerence considering his maiestie which is infinite and moreâ—uer not too bee abashed at it ne too turne away but vnderstand that inasmuch as God hath voutsafed too take vs for his children and our Lord Iesus Christ is ordeyned our mediator too the intent wee 〈◊〉 come vntoo him â–ª wee may come with full trust before 〈◊〉 of grace and not sticke too cal God our father with open mouth â—â—cause he hath shewed that he taketh vs for his children and wee haue Iesus Christ for our brother by adoption and wee neede not too doubt but that all the Angels of heauen acknowledge and auow vs for their brethren when wee come too God so ioyned too our Lord Iesus Christ lyke as on the contrarie part also if we swerue from that marke wee must needes bee cast of and the Angels must beecome our enemyes and aduersaries and set themselues ageinst all the prayers that wee can make Now let vs fall downe before the maiestie of our good God with acknowledgment of our faultes praying him too voutsafe too reforme our lyfe in such wyse as wee may shewe by our deedes that wee haue not lost our tyme in going too his schoole and indeuer and inforce our selues too please him in all things and that forasmuch as wee bee not able too serue him alwayes in perfection he will voutsafe too beare with our infirmities to beare them vp in the meane whyle so as wee may not ceasse too resort still vntoo him seeing the neede and necessitie wherwith wee bee pinched And so let vs all say Almyghtie God heauenly father c. The .xx. Sermon which is the fifth vppon the third Chapter 14. For the vvhich thing I bovv my knees too the father of our Lord Iesus Christ 15. Of vvhom all kinred is named in heauen and in earth 16. That according too the riches of his glory he graunt you too bee strengthened vvith povver by his spirit in the invvardâ— man. 17. And that Christ may dvvell in your hartes by fayth 18. And that yee may bee rooted and grounded in Loue too the intent yee may comprehend vvith all the Sainctes vvhat the wydenesse and the length and the deepth and the heyght 19. And knovve the louingnesse of Christ vvhich passeth all knovvledge that yee may be filled vvith all fulnesse of God. WEe haue seene this morning by what enterance wee must offer our prayers vntoo God if we intend too be heard at his hand and too haue full assurance that our prayers shal bee well lyked namely that Iesus Christ bee our guyde and aduocate and make intercessioÌ„ for vs so as we speake not but as it were by his mouth Now he hath set it downe for a rule in praying vnto God that wee must call him father And how dare men bee so bolde or presumptuous as to call God their father Surely wee can alledge no ryght wherby too clayme any such dignitie For not euen the Angels haue it but by meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ. Then is it vnpossible for vs too pray too God as he commaundeth vs and after the manner which he teacheth vs in his woord except Iesus Christ bee our aduocate For on whether syde are the Angels akyn too vs shall the Uirgin Mary be found to bee our greate Aunt or Graundmother What are the Apostles Too bee short wee must resort too our Lord Iesus Christ too haue his spirituall kinred wherby God avoweth vs for his adopted children And when wee once haue that wee must no more doubt whether God will heare our prayers or no seeing wee come not to him vppon a foolish rashnesse by presuming vppon our owne naturall reason or selflyking but with obedience too his commaundement Agein wee haue his promis which can neuer deceyue vs Contrarywyse all they that thinke too obteyne fauour at Gods hand by any other meane doo but run astray and haue shet them selues out of the doore already And therfore there is now none excuce but that wee must simply hold the way which the Gospell sheweth vs to come vnto God by that is too wit in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ without adding of any other creature as we see doone by the whole world In deede they that pester vp a throng of patrons and aduocates as they terme them hope too bee well welcome vntoo god But by what warrant Who hath promised them that God will accept their deuotion and all that they offer vntoo him For it is not in vs too appoynt officers in heauen In a Court of Iustice of the world it myght well bee a matter of course as they terme it and it myght lie in the power of a Iudge too giue leaue too whom he listeth too pleade mens caces too the intent there myght be no confuzion But if wee will make aduocates at our owne pleasure and vppon our owne head in heauen it is all one as if wee would rob God of his authoritie and souereintie Yea and wee must bethink vs how S. Paule sayeth that all our prayers and supplications shall neuer be aught worth but vtterly vnprofitable and vayne if they be not conformable to Gods word so as we take our rule froÌ„ thence For how shall wee call vpon a God saieth he whom wee knowe not at all aduenture And how shall we knowe after what maner we should pray and what style and speeche wee should vse Wee must come too hearing not of the things that men shall bring vs of their owne brayne but of the things that God commaundeth vs So then wee must vse this modestie and sobrietie and not speake at randon when wee pray vntoo God but simply obey his word Yea and we know that prayer is the cheefe sacrifice that God requireth For whereas it is sayd that wee must worship the only one God it is not alonly with ceremonies as with kneeling downe before him In deede that is requisite for it is meete that wee should honour our God both with our body and with our mynd bycause they bee both his Howbeit in worshipping him wee must acknowledge truely that wee hold all good things of him and that doo wee in praying too him For wee come thither as poore soules vtterly destitute of all thinges that are meete for vs knowing that without him wee bee woorse than miserable It is sayde in the lawe that in offering sacrifyze too God men must not doo any thing at all of their owne
all the earth ouer about other Sciences what profytâ— wyll come of it It will bee but vanitie as I sayde afore Wherefore let vs not seeke any thing out of Iesus Christ but let vs rest wholly there and not swarue any whit at all from him And heere wee see first of all the thing that I haue touched already heeretoofore namely that if wee knewe wel what our Lord Iesus Christ is wee would easly giue ouer all other things according as it is sayd in the third too the Philippians that S. Paule counted all his former high esteemed things as losse and dung to the end he might hold himself too Iesus Christ and that he went forewarde therein all the tyme of his life yea and did as it were hold his armes stretched out too catch it as he himself protesteth Yee see then that the thing which wee haue too marke heere is that when wee once knowe that Iesus Christ and the benefits that he bringeth vs namely that wee may resort too God in his name with full trust we shall no more haue our mynds so vexed with vnquietnesse but wee shal stand fast and stedy in pure simplicitie of the Gospell Howbeit for the better vnderstanding hereof let vs see how men speake of our Lord Iesus christ In deede they wyll call hym the sonne of God and they wyll take hym for theyr Redeemer but in the meane whyle they wyl make a doale of his offices and part them here and there as a pray The holy Scripture calleth him the onely Priest bycause it belongeth alonly vntoo him too reconcyle vs vntoo god And how many doo now adayes take that vppon them Euen as many Moonks Freers Masse Priests and Hipocrites as bee in the world for they sell their prayers as though Iesus Christ had resigned his place vnto them And vnder pretence therof they deuoure all the wealth of the world and in the meane whyle Iesus Christ is thrust a great way of Agein it is sayd that by the one sacrifize which he offered once for all he hath gotten vs grace and saluation yea euen for euer so that his death and passion appeaseth Gods wrath bycause that therby we haue full rightuousnesse But yit for all this the Masse is brought in as though the sacrifize that Iesus Christ offered in his owne person were but a bare figure and that the thing which the Papists haue inuented were the only meane as they say too purchace fauour at Gods hand For the whoremaster goes thither too pay his raunsome so does the drunkard the wicked swearer the looce liuer the piller and poller the quareller the glutton the eater vp of his neighbour all these resort too the Masse for their raunsome and beare them selues on hand that God is well appayd And in the meane whyle what becommeth of the sacrifize of Iesus Christ Tush that must be thrust vnder foote Agein it is sayd that Iesus Christ is our onely Aduocate which maketh intercession for vs vntoo God his father Yit notwithstanding in the Popedome there are whole warreins and Swarmes of Patrons which euery man hath forged of his owne brayne And they bee not contented alonly with the Apostles and Martirs but they must also haue their S. Christopher their S. Catherin which are night Ghosts that were neuer borne in the world but looke whatsoeuer the diuell did put in their heads it was receyued Agein it is sayd that Iesus Christ is our rightuousnesse But what for that Yit neuerthelesse euery man takes vpon him too make attonement with God by his owne woorks And therevppon sprang the ground worke of merits and of all the rest Agein it is sayd that Iesus Christ is our loadestarre and the way wherby wee must come too God his father and finally too euerlasting saluation and yit will they needes haue whatsoeuer commeth in their owne imagination O say they mee thinks this is good and seeing I doo it of a good intent why should not God take it in good worth Thus they make God a pretie fellow to stoope at their appoyntment and as a Iacke to creepe vnder their sleeue at their pleasure See how proud men are wheÌ„ they once turne away from Gods pure truth vnto their own foolish inuentions so as there is not so pure and sound a thing which they corrupt not What is then the cause that all things haue bin turned vpside down in Poperie It is for that they knew not Iesus Christ for such a one as he is set forth in the Gospell but onely haue made I wote not what a dead and vnauaylable thing of him and kept no more but the bare name and titles of him Then is it not ynough for vs to say we beleeue in Iesus Christ and that wee take him for our redeemer but wee must also knowe to whaâ— purpose hee is sent vs of God his father and what benefâ—ts hee hath brought vs When wee once knowe all this then shall wee bee filled with him We shal not neede to go bibbling heere and there nor to lap or licke vp mudde and stinking water one where or other for want of meate ad drink that is fit for vs Our Lord Iesus Christ hath told vs that wee shall fynd both meate and drinke in him so as wee may throughly satisfye our selues both with meate and drink that is good wholsome for the nurrishmeÌ„t of our soules So much the more therfore behoueth it vs to go thither when we reade the holy scripture let the mark that we looke at be alwayes too know what the grace of God is which he hath shewed vs in the person of his onely sonne and when wee once know it wee shall haue profited very well in Gods 〈◊〉 may well cast away all other things as filth poyson In deede 〈◊〉 doctrines will haue some sauor at the first syght for wee see 〈…〉 doo alwayes follow that which Saint Paul speakes in the second too the Colossians that is to wit that bycause theyr dreames and dotages haue some showe of wisdome therfore they giue themselues vntoo them But we must vnderstand that there is no trew foode but that which God giueth vs and that it is his will to prouide vs of all things which he knoweth too bee needfull for vs Will wee then bee filled without him Thinke we that if wee seeke too the Uirgin marie and call hir the moother of grace after the maner of the papists which doo commonly giue hir that title wee shall there fynd the things that we want Surely it is all one as if we would go seeke foode snatch here a bit there a bit by morsels gobbets But Iesus Christ sayth Come vnto me ye shal fynd all that you haue neede of according wherunto it is sayd that al the treasures of wisdome knowledge are inclozed in him TheÌ„ if we once know the loue that God his father hath shewed vs in his person
that it becommeth vs too bee occupyed in blissing his holy name yit will not wee see it one whit Agein as touching the bodie we beare our selues on hand that our goods come too vs eyther by our owne cunning or by good fortune or by fauour of the world as for God he is alwayes let alone and as for his goodnesse wee thinke not on it Now then when wee intend too doo our deâ—tie in yeelding God his dew prayse which is the cheef sacrifyze that he requyreth as I sayd afore let vs haue regard too consâ—der better what wee bee and what our state is and how wee bee subiect too so many necessities as God must bee fayne too succour vs iâ—finite wayes And when wee haue considered our wretchednesse both in bodie and soule and on the contrarie part also considered how God prouydeth for all and suffereth vs not too haue any penurie without relâ—ef at his hand surely wee shall haue wherwith too continue the praysing of his holy name without ceassing And Saint Paule will haue vs not onely too thanke God for the benefites which wee feele apparantly but also although he afflict vs and handle vs diuerse tymes otherwyse than wee would yit will he haue vs too prayse him styll after the example of Iob who as wee see not onely thanked God when he had his children at his table and they made merry in feasting one another but also when he was bereft of his issew and left desolate in his house when all his goods were taken away partly by robbers and partly by lyghtening that fell from heauen and when he was so miserable as it seemed that Lyce should eate him vp he ceassed not too say The Lord hath giuen the Lord hath taken away blissed bee the name of the lord So then Saint Paule sheweth vs that euen in our sorowes and when wee receyue chastizements that are rough and bitter too vs yit let vs not grudge ageinst God but rather perseuer in praysing his name as he exhorteth vs in another place where he sayeth that in praying too him wee must alwayes prayse him Although wee haue not the things that wee craue and that in our peticions wee shewe our selues too want this and that and are pinched with greefe and care yit must thanksgiuing be mingled still with our prayers There are a great number that pray vntoo God but yit they do but prouoke Gods wrath bycause they intermingle their grudgings and repynings gâ—ashing their teeth at him They will in deede say My God helpe mee But which is that God If they could plucke him out of heauen they would doo it with all their hart too the end he myght haue no more power ouer them Ye see then that a number thinking too pray vntoo God doo but prouoke him to wrath bycause their requestes are full of pryde spytefulnesse and defyance And therfore Saint Paule telleth vs too the Philippians that all our petitions and requestes must bee matched with thanksgiuing too shewe that wee doo paciently abyde too bee gouerned by the hand of god Likewise in this text he sayeth that wee must thanke God for all things not only when wee bee in prosperitie and all things fall out as wee would wish so as God giueth vs our hartes desyre and wee lyue in delyght and pleasure that is not the onely fit tyme and season too yeeld praise vntoo God but although he squoorge vs yit must wee acknowledge that he procureth our saluation and welfare by that meane Let vs see then if wee haue not cause to blisse God in all our aduersities Yis For first whatsoeuer betyde vs he beareth with vs insomuch that if he should touche vs but with one of his fingers in good earnest wee should bee ouerwhelmed at the first blowe Seeyng then that wee hold out it is a token that he spareth vs and haue not wee cause too thanke him for it Agein when he turneth his chastizings too our benefyte for that he purgeth vs by that meanes too further vs continually therby too the kingdome of heauen and too lift vs vp bycause wee bee too much tyed too the world too the end wee should bee gathered toogither too come too the full perfection that is prepared for vs in heauen when wee see all this haue wee not cause too prayse our God notwithstanding that wee bee full of greefe care feare and doubtes Yis certeinly but that our owne vnthankfulnesse hindereth it So much the more behoueth it vs too marke well the thing that S. Paule telleth vs heere namely that wee haue cause too praise God without end or ceassing And if our mouth bee stopped sometymes with grief so as wee seeme too bee barred from praysing God and wee cannot apply our selues freely theruntoo let vs vnderstand that God neuer sheweth himselfe so rough and rigorous towardes vs but that he asswageth the bitternesse which is in our afflictions too the intent too drawe vs vntoo him and that wee myght thanke him and glorify him for it Forasmuch as wee receyue no grace but by the meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ who dooth also turne the corrections too our welfare which wee should suffer as punishments for our sinnes therfore it is sayd that vvee should yeeld thankes too our God and father namely by our Lord Iesus Christ. Now he setteth downe on the one syde God the father and afterward sheweth how God is our father in all respectes that is too wit by meanes of the mediator through whom we be reconcyled vnto him and he hath so put away al our sinnes that whatsoeuer things we can indure in this world are all furtherances of our saluation as is sayd of them in the Epistle too the Romans And heere wee haue to marke first of all that without fayth wee cannot prayse God as we ought to doo insomuch that whatsoeuer prayses wee sing with our mouth all is but feyning and hipocrisie except wee bee throughly perswaded that God is our father And marke heere what is ment by fayth It is not as the Papistes suppoze it namely too beleeue that there is a God in heauen and in the meane whyle too knowe no whit of his will but Saint Paule telleth vs wee must bee throughly resolued that God accepteth vs for his children or else wee shall neuer bee able to prayse him with a pure and free affection And how may that bee doone but by being grounded vppon the free adoption wherethrough he taketh vs too him for our Lord Iesus Christes sake For is it by inheritance or for any woorthinesse of ours that God is our father and wee his children Alas no but cleane contrariwyse wee bee called the children of wrath and God must needes disclayme vs bycause there is nothing but sin and wickednesse in vs Then â—ntill wee come too our Lord Iesus Christ it is certein that wee cannot bee sure of Gods fauour nor that he will accept our â—eruice And therefore
offer him the cheef sacrifyze which he alloweth aboue all other that is when wee confesse our selues beholden too him for all good things Should wee mingle our owne vanities with it and make our prayer too bee but for custome and fashyons sake Now then this watchfulnesse wherof Saint Paul speaketh is verie requisyte by reason of the fraylnesse of our wits and specially bycause wee bee so wandering as is horrible Seeing it is so with vs when wee goo about too pray vntoo God let vs bend our whole mynds vnto it and let not our wittes bee intangled about other cares and affections but let our comming vntoo it bee as though wee had broken all other bondes That is the cause why mention is made of lifting vp of our selues in our prayers and supplications Trew it is that in offering our selues vnto God wee must come with all lowlinesse but yit must wee lift vp our hartes in such wyse as wee may bee after a sort in the preseâ—ce of our god That say I is the thing that is imported by the sayd diligentnesse And he sayeth further with all instance which serueth still too shewe vs that if wee intend too bee wel disposed too praying wee must not go too it lazily yea and that if wee followe that which our owne nature sheweth vs wee shal bee farre of from comming at god Therefore must euery man inforce him For seeyng Saint Paule speaketh so it is as much as if he sayd My freendes yee shall fynde such a coldnesse in your selues as yee shall neuer pray vntoo God nother shall yee euer bee willing too pray except ye prouoke and inforce your selues For the Diuell will alwayes bleare your eyes too the end yee should not see what neede yee haue too pray vntoo god And if yee lye sleeping still it will cause your God too forsake you seeyng you bee so thanklesse as too despyze his benefites and too yeeld him no honour for them no nor too acknowledge that all your welfare proceedeth of him For lyke leaud lozels wee defyle the benefytes which God bestoweth vppon vs vnlesse wee acknowledge that wee haue all things at his hand yea euen by crauing all thinges that wee want of him and also by yeelding him thankes for the things that wee receyued already So then let vs learne too match our watchfulnesse with all instantnesse And herein wee comprehend holding out or continuance so as it is not ynough for vs too pray vntoo God by startes and braydes as they say but wee must continue in it and that twoo wayes For first when wee haue prayed too day both euening and morning and euery houre wee must holde on still and neuer swarue from that trade so long as wee lyue For our fayth as I sayd must exercyze it self and the meane too exercyze it withall is this There is yit one other maner of perseuerance or holding out which is that when wee haue desyred God too helpe vs in this or that wee must repete the same request not twyce or thryce onely but as oft as wee haue neede a hundred yea a thousand tymes As for example Although God haue told vs that he will succour vs before wee open our mouth too him yit doth he not shewe it alwayes openly too the eye Therefore wee must neuer bee weery in wayting for Gods helpe Also it is not good that wee should bee heard after our owne lyking bycause God knoweth what is meete and expedient for vs So then he must gouerne vs according too his owne will. But as I sayd if wee pray too him after his fashion and after his maner he protesteth that wee shall obteyne all our requestes at his hand euen before wee haue vttered them with our mouth Yit notwithstanding he will sometymes hold vs as it were at the staues end in so much as it shall seeme that he is asleepe when wee call vppon him and that he hath turned his backe vppon vs For this cause is perseuerance requisite so that if wee bee pinched with any distresse and would fayne seeke ease of it at Gods hand we must not doo it once and away but wee must returne too it oftentymes and bee as yee would say importunate according too the similitude which our Lord Iesus telleth vs of the widdowe which had too doo with a Iudge that was without any feare of God or shame of the world and yit neuerthelesse shee obteyned hir sute euen by importunatenesse So must wee doo that is too say wee must bee importunate vppon our God not that he is slowe in succouring vs as I sayd afore but bycause he will trye the constancie of our fayth For they that pray vnto God and fall to stomacking chafing and impaciencie if he releeue them not out of hand doo not pray vntoo him but as yee would say summon him too bee at commaundement of their lustes But it behoueth vs too restreyne all our passions and desyres too Gods good will so as when wee pray him too make speede wee may neuerthelesse bee pacient and bee contented too tary his leazure in delaying too day or too morrowe or as long as it pleaseth him Yee see then that wee must continue in prayer and supplication so as wee must pray presently for the necessities that pinch vs too day and lykewyse too morrow for those that may come then and so wee must pray ordinarily euery day And besydes this if God list not too deliuer vs so soone as wee fayne would let vs not ceasse to renew our petitions still euen vntill wee perceiue that wee haue profited by our praying and that he haue shewed vs the effect of his promis Now forasmuch as it is hard for vs too bee brought too pray well vntoo God Saint Paule heere setteth vs foorth the thing out of our owne persons which ought too perswade vs that is too say that wee bee bound too pray vntoo God not onely for our selues that is too say euery man for himselfe but also too haue a care of our neyghbours and to respect them also It is trew that if wee considered our owne miseries well and the great number of sinnes that are in vs and the great neede which we haue to be succored at Gods haÌ„d we should haue cause ynough without going out of our selues too imploy our selues in prayer and supplication yea though wee did nothing else al our lyfe long but sygh and lament before God for our offences and pray him to reach vs his hand too the end that Satan might not ouercome vs As I sayd wee should haue matter ynough in our selues But now that wee must extend our prayers further that is too wit too the whole Church of God and vnderstand that he will not haue mee too thinke alonly vppon my selfe but also too bee myndfull of all his chozen inasmuch as he hath knit mee too them so as I must indeuer too comprehend them in my prayers as much as is possible for mee seeing
say I that wee bee resolued herof it must needs bee that we be too blockish if we be not touched yit more to the quicke and set on fyre with this carefulnesse that is spoken of here and therwithal continue in the same Howbeeit Saint Paule speaketh heere expresly of the Saintes or faythfull but yit is that no impediment that wee should not pray generally for all men For the wretched vnbeleeuers and the ignorant sort haue greate neede too bee sewed for vntoo God for behold they bee in the hygh way too destruction If wee sawe a beast at the poynt to perish we would haue pitie of it and what shal we do when we see a soule in perill which is so precious before God as he hath shewed in that he hath raunsomed them with the blud of his owne sonne Then if wee see a poore soule go so too destruction ought wee not too bee moued with compassion and kyndnesse too desyre God too remedye it So then Saint Paules meaning in this text is not that wee should let the wretched vnbeleeuers alone without care of them but that wee should pray generally for all men howbeeit he sheweth vs therewithall that wee must haue a speciall care of those whom God hath knit vntoo vs by a streyter bond Lykewyse when he speaketh of Almesedeedes his intent is that they should bee doone too all men without exception which haue neede but yit he addeth that wee must specially succour them that are of the houshold of fayth Euen so is it with our prayers and supplications For the spirituall brotherhood which God hath set among vs ought too touch vs the more and too make the Church of God too come before our eyes and intoo our remembrance as oft as wee pray And these words Our Father ought too teache vs too make our prayers common For none of vs can say My father alone of himselfe but wee call him Ours too shewe that wee ought not to haue such care of our selues as to forget them that belong vnto vs and are linked to vs with so neere a knot as I haue declared already That then is the cause why S. Paule sayeth expresly that wee must pray for the Saintes Now were this well printed in our hartes as I sayd afore wee should bee well waked too pray too our God without end or ceassing For let vs consider the state and plyght of the Church in these dayes Although our Lord giue vs some rest yit are our poore brethren tormented by tyrantes and by the enemyes of the fayth Some are fayne too flee some haue their goods taken from them many bee thrust intoo prizon and other some are burnt at the stake All these poore soules are in vnquietnesse and put too some new terrour euery minute of an houre Wee see that there is as tirrible manacing and threatening as may bee Wee see how the diuell dryueth all those foreward with outrageous fury which would abolish the doctrine of the Gospell Wee see what scatterings are made by the stumbling blockes that Satan thrusteth in by his champions Wee see how a great sort seeke nothing else but too put the Gospell too all shame And in the meane whyle the poore seruantes of God which imploy themselues in his seruice are trubbled and vexed by all meanes Then if we gather toogither all the miseries and aduersities wheretoo the Church is subiect and consider well the distresse of euery of our brethren must it not needes bee that wee are duller than brut beasts if wee bee not moued too pray vntoo God yea euen with a ryght perseuerance in the same For though I bee at myne ease too day there are many thousands in great perplexitie and I shewe wel that I cut of my selfe as much as I can from the bodye of our Lorde Iesus Christ if I pitye not the members too whom I am linked Not without cause therefore dooth Saint Paule set all the Saintes heere afore vs when be intendeth too inflame vs the better too a ryght dispozed mynde in praying and too continewe throughout in the same And therupon he requyreth also that men should pray for him Yee shall pray for mee also sayeth he that God giue mee boldnesse in opening my mouth so as I may vtter the secret of the Gospell accordingly When Saint Paule commendeth him self too the prayers of his neyghbours therby he sheweth well in what humilitie wee ought too walk For he did not counterfet in exhorting the Ephesians too such praying He protesteth before God and his Angels that he had neede of it But now let vs compare our selues with Saint Paule What man is of such abilttie that he can forbeare too bee succored by the prayers of his neyghbours when Saint Paule exempteth not him self from it Now then let euery man in his praying vntoo God desyre too bee made parttaker of all the prayers that are made throughout the Churche both generally and particularly In deede this promis shall alwayes stand trew that God wil bee neere at hand too all such as call vppon him And Ionas fayled not too bee succored of God though he were in the whales belly Now therfore when we bee forsaken of men when we be as good as dead and the remembrance of vs is as good as buryed yit wil not God ceasse to regard vs and too cast his eye vppon vs too succour vs according too this saying that the eyes of God are alwayes vppon them that feare him and his eares open too such as repayre vnto him Notwithstanding too the intent too humble vs the better our Lord telleth vs that wee haue neede one of anothers help and that there should bee an intercommoning among vs And besyds this there is also another reason which is that he will keepe our charitie occupyed Wherfore let vs learne too shewe both by our almesdeeds and by our counsell and by all other helpes that none of vs is giuen too him self nor too his too owne priuate profit but that after as God hath linked vs toogither euery of vs coueteth too succour our members and too communicate toogither in our prayers supplications For our commending one of vs of another after that maner vntoo God is the cheef dewtie of charitie And therfore it caused Saint Paule too desyre the Ephesians expresly too pray for him Now if any man alledge that that was a signe of vnbeleef for if this promis suffyze vs not that euery man shall obteyne his owne requests is it not a poynt of distrust the answer thertoo is easy For wheras God sayeth that he will haue pitie vppon all such as seeke it at his hand he meaneth not too disanull the thing that he commaundeth vs in so many other texts which is that wee should bee myndfull one of another Furthermore let vs mark that in following Gods woord wee can neuer bee blamed of misbeleef For how comes it too passe that men fall to misbeleefe but by passing
their bounds that they wil needs adde too that which God hath vttered As for example Wee see that in the popedome men haue forged so many patrones and aduocats as they wote not which too beetake themselues vntoo And whence procedeth that Euen of that their heads bee ticklish and agein that they distrusted the things that are conteyned in Gods word Wee haue this generall lesson Call vppon me in the day of thy neede and I will heare thee God then will haue vs too resort vntoo him and too looke only at him assuring our selues that he will neuer refuze vs when we pray vnto him in his sonnes name And our Lord Iesus Christ commeth afore vs and offereth himself too vs saying that hee will beare woord too and fro for vs and that as long as we hold vs in that path wee neede not feare that wee shall not fynd accesse vntoo his father or that he wil not receyue vs familiarly So dooth the holie scripture report But what haue the papists doone O say they wee haue neede of aduocats too make intercession for vs It is trew but our Lord Iesus Christ whō God his father hath assigned vnto vs ought to suffyze vs forasmuch as he only is appoynted to that office Contrariwyse the papists make Aduocats in paradyse at their owne pleasure and in the meane whyle spoyle Iesu◠Christ of the priestly dignitie which is giuen him of God his father yea euen with a solēne othe The papists are not contented with that but haue made such a patching to it that their cace is become a horrible confuzion As for vs if wee followe that which is taught vs by Gods woord then shall wee walk in fayth and wee neede not feare any straying or that wee shall bee blamed of vnbeleef for God wil alwayes guyde vs aryght That then is the answere to this question and doubt which myght bee cast whether it bee not a poynt of distrust too desyre other men too pray for vs seeing that euery man may be heard him self bycause that what things God hath ioyned toogither men must not presume too put them asunder For wee must alwayes beare in mynd howe it is sayd that euery man must occupie himselfe in praying and moreouer drawe his neyghbours too bee matched with him and so shall wee neuer bee turned from the fayth Now if any man obiect further that our Lord Iesus Christ cannot bee the onely aduocate and patrone if wee make supplication one for another the answer theruntoo is easie For it is sayd that Iesus Christ is the onely mediator and that all men both great and small must resort too him too obteyne our sutes For vnlesse our prayers bee dedicated by his holinesse surely they shall euer bee foule and infected When Esay was commaunded too beare the message that God had appoynted he sayd Alas my God I am a man of vncleane lippes and dwell among a people that is vncleane also How shall I doo then when I must call vppon my God and speake familiarly too him as it were mouth too mouth seeing wee bee full of vncleannesse and infection Now then all our prayers must be sanctifyed by our Lord Iesus Christ or else wee shall neuer fynd fauour at Gods hand Also it is most certeyne that Christ is the only aduocate and Intercessour and that all the auncient Patriarks were fayne too hold that rule and lykewyse the Prophets and Apostles in their tymes and so must wee also continew in the same And yit for all that wee bee not letted therby too pray one for another inasmuch as wee haue albut one cōmon head which is our Lord Iesus Christ in whom all our prayers must bee ioyned toogither too the intent wee may all with one accord and with one wel tuned melody protest that wee haue none other welfare than that it pleaseth God too haue care of vs insomuch that that is our full felicitie and vppon that trust wee come ryght foorth vntoo him The meane then for vs too continew euermore in the ryght way and too see that our Lord Iesus Christ bee not defaced is too take him for our only aduocate and not too turne asyde one way nor other after our owne fond fancies as is come to passe in the popedome And wee see that the papists haue not bin ashamed too alledge this text too perswade vs too pray too Saint Peter and Saint Paule yea too Saints of the Popes owne forging or rather to the Idols whom the diuell hath blowen intoo his eare But heere wee haue too consider that wee bee commaunded too praye mutually one for another bycause God hath also commaunded vs too seeke helpe and comforte at our neyghbours handes And our Lord willeth it so and promiseth that wee shall fynd it After the same maner also dooth Saint Iames speake of it Acknowledge your sinnes sayeth he one too another and pray one for another that is too say when yee bee pressed with any temptation and yee feele many infirmities and vyces in you let euery man vnburthen him self towards his neyghbours and say Alas I haue such a thing that greeueth mee I haue offended my God after such manner and such And if yee doo so bewray the infirmities that are in yee it wel stiree yee vp to pray one for another But now is there any lyke thing betweene the Sayncts deceassed and vs Will Saint Peter and Saint Paule come tell vs their sunnes too the end wee myght pray for them Or haue they eares long ynough too heere our prayers No wee see then that God intended too restreyne mennes mutuall praying one of another to such as are conuersant in this world and are yit in the battell They therfore that haue neede of our prayers shall also pray on their syde for vs and wee must doo the lyke for them on our syde But as for them that are departed out of the world it is not in vs too make them our aduocats before god For if wee cannot make an Aduocate in a matter of law that shal not be past fyue shillings but it is in the Iudges power too appoynt such one for aduocate as he listeth and too put him in that office what a presumptuousenesse is it if wee will take vppon vs too make aduocats in heauen What a pryde and presumptuousnesse is it Is it not a plucking of Gods maiestie and authoritie from him Now then let vs learne too pray so one for another as wee passe not our bounds nor wander out one way nor other euery mā after his owne conceyt but bee contented too haue a care of all the members of the Church as wee bee bound too doo and too take comfort and ioy our selues in that God hath voutsafed too bynd all his Churche vntoo vs and that by the same mutuall communicating we shewe our selues too bee members of the bodie of our Lord Iesus Christ. And therwithall let vs all tend too our head knowing that our
prayers should not bee woorthie too bee receyued but rather bee foule filthie and stinking if our Lord Iesus Christ hallowed them not by his holinesse and perfection Knowing this let vs neuer presume too open our mouth too call vppon our God but in the name of our mediatour assuring our selues that it is his office too bearewoord for vs and too make vs to bee heard so as wee may fynd God fauorable and foreward too help vs That then is the meane for vs too pray vntoo God boldly and with open mouth as is sayd in the texts which I alledged euen now both out of eyghth to the Ramans and out of Saint Iames and also as wee haue seene in the third chapter of this Epistle Wee must call vppon God through the beleef which wee haue in Iesus Christ assuring our selues that he not only came downe intoo the world too shead his blud once for the remission of our sinnes but also is incessantly before God too pray for vs so as wee bee fully resolued that although wee bee but wretched earthwoormes yit God accepteth vs and auoweth vs for his children by his meanes will alwayes be mercifull in receyuing our prayers and supplications bycause wee offer them not too him in our owne name nor by our selues for in good sooth that were a foolish presumptiō of our owne imagination but bycause he hath commaunded it and shewed vs the way which we should hold vs too Now let vs fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God with acknowledgment of our faultes praying him too pardon them notwithstanding that wee deserue too bee quyte cut of from the hope of saluation And forasmuch as it hath pleased him too call vs too him and too promis vs that wee shal bee receyued too mercie if wee come too him with fayth and humilitie let vs pray him too prepare our hartes in such wyse as wee may make such requestes too him as he alloweth and that therewithall he so beare with our infirmities as wee may not fayle to obteine fauour though there be many imperfections in our prayers And so let vs al say Almyghtye God heauenly father c. The .xlviii. Sermon which is the sixth and last vppon the sixth Chapter 19 Praying also for mee that in opening my mouth vtterance may bee giuen mee with boldnesse too vtter the secret of the Gospel 20 For the which I am an Ambassadour in cheynes too the end I say that I may speake freely as it becommeth mee too speake 21 But that yee may also knowe of my state and what I do Tychicus our deere brother and faythful minister in the Lord shall shewe you all things 22 Whom I haue sent vntoo you for the same purpose that you myght knowe my state and he comfort your hartes 23 Peace be to the brethren and charitie with fayth from God and from our Lord Iesus Christ. 24 Grace bee with all them which loue our Lord Iesus Christ in purenesse Amen WEe sawe this morning how wee ought too bee carefull in praying one for anther and the frute that commeth thereof namely that euery man which is a member of the Sonne of God must assure him selfe that the whole Church laboreth for him and that generally both Iesus Christ and all his must bee refuzed if God pitie vs not But heerewithal wee haue to marke also that Saint Paule in commending himselfe too the prayers of the Church is not so myndfull of his bodye as of the thing that is much excellenter that is too wit of the due executing of the charge and office committed vntoo him If a man bee sicke or in necessitye in this world or trubbled by his enemyes wee bee woont too crye out for helpe and succour and wee would haue euery man too occupye himselfe for vs And why For inasmuch as wee bee fleshly as soone as wee feele any disease in our bodye wee bee sorye at the harte but in the meane whyle wee forget the cheef poynt that is too wit the things that concerne the euerlasting saluation of our soules Agein when it comes too the seruing of God euery man thinkes he is sufficient ynough of himselfe too doo it without helpe of his neyghbours But Saint Paule sheweth heere that he thinkes not himselfe sufficient too execute the charge that is committed too him of preaching the Gospell without help from aboue and therefore he requyreth the prayers of the Church And afterward he sheweth therwithall that he maketh more account therof than of his lyfe notwithstanding that he were hild as then in prizon yea and euen cheyned Ye see here that Saint Paule is hild in streyt ward as a sory offender and looketh dayly for nothing but death and yit for all that he careth not so much for his lyfe as for the aduauncement and preferment of Gods woorde insomuch that he had leuer dye than too bee slothfull in dooing the thing that was inioyned him That is the effect of the thing which wee haue too remember vppon this text Trew it is that in the Epistle too the Thessalonians he noteth also the reason why he desyred too bee deliuered from the wicked and faythlesse which ceassed not too lay snares for him And why It was lawfull for him too set store by his lyfe but yit for all that he did not set the Cart before the horse as they say for wee see by this text and also by that which is written too the Colossians that he had alwayes more regard too discharge his dewtie toowardes God specially in respect of the Church by preaching the Gospell faythfully than too ease himselfe or too eschew the daunger wherein he sawe he was Then first of all if our Lord call vs too any charge whatsoeuer it bee let vs learne too vnderstand our owne infirmitie that wee may bee succored of him as wee neede and not presume any whit vppon our owne strength or cunning but consider that God must bee fayne too hold vs vp by strong hand and that wee haue neede too resort vntoo him yea and too desyre after the example of Saint Paule to bee cōmended to the prayers of al the members of our Lord Iesus Christ as in deede it is good reason that wee should pray mutually also for them That is for the first poynt Secondly although it be lawfull for vs to desire men to pray for vs when wee bee sicke or when we bee pinched with any other affliction yit notwithstanding lyke as wee must afore all thinges pray for the comming of Gods kingdome and seeke the aduauncing of his glorie and make but an income of all other things else So in this cace wee must learne not too bee so wedded too the world and too this transitorie lyfe as too cry out for helpe when wee bee pinched with any aduersitie or neede and in the meane whyle forget the thing that ought too bee preferred before them Wherefore let vs learne too bee chare in such wyse