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
haue vengeance ready for all such as â—et themselues ageinst our doctrine Yea though they bee the hyghest in the world yit if they set vp their bristles ageinst God and deâ—pyze him they shall not scape the damnation that is threatened them at leastwyse when the faythfull haue once performed their obedience And in deede when an enemie summoneth a people there is trembling for feare least they shall fynde no mercy if reasonable conditions should bee refuzed and what then shal be doone when God commeth not onely too will vs too yeeld our selues vntoo him but also too offer himselfe too vs and will haue vs too possesse him and all his goods in the person of Iesus Christ What shall become of vs if wee refuze such grace when he vseth such kyndnesse towardes vs Must not horrible damnation lyght vppon so villanous pryde and scornfulnesse when men voutsafe not too receyue him euen him which not only procureth their saluation but also created them and by whom they bee mainteyned Then let vs learne too marke well this doctrine wherein peace is spoken of too the ende wee prouoke not God any more ne turne our bread intoo bane and our meate intoo mortall poyson but that wee may bee quickened truely by the grace which God offereth vs dayly And for that cause Saint Paule concludeth that they which are so touched with Gods spirit to obey the Gospell simply and substancially are no more straungers but rather fellovvcitâ—zens vvith the Sayncts and Gods houshold folk And this tendeth still too the end that I haue noted afore that is too wit that Gods name should bee glorified as it deserueth and that wee should not step lyghtly too him as wee bee woont too doo For wee thinke too discharge our selues with one woord by saying that Iesus Christ is our redeemer But let vs alwayes call to remembrance what wee haue bin and in what taking we were til Iesus Christ drew vs out of the dungeons of death For the worde straungers importeth that which wee haue seene heertoofore namely that before the Gospell was preached the Gentyles were without hope of saluation cut of from Gods fauour without promises without God in the world insomuch that although they liued heere although they were fed and susteyned by the good thinges that God gaue them although they inioyed the lyght of the sunne yit neuerthelesse they were without god And at the same poynt are all vnbeleeuers So then S. Paules rehercing what our redemption was when Iesus Christ came too find vs reached vs his hand to guide vs too God his father is too the end that wee should learne toâ— yeeld hym the whole prayse of our saluation Heeruppon he sayeth that wee bee citizens of heauen companions with the Angelles of Paradise and fellowes with the holy kings and Prophets When there is any talke of the Prophetes and Apostles or of any of the Saynctes and Martyrs wee haue them in admiration and good reason wee should so but in the meane whyle wee regard not wherfore the holy Ghoste setteth them before vs The Papistes make Idolles of them and too theyr seeming they haue honored S. Paule and S. Peter well when they haue decked them with Gods fethers But contrarywyse it is sayd hâ—ere that when God setteth foorth the grace that he gaue vntoo them it is too the ende that wee shoulde bethinke vs of the benefite that he bestoweth vppon vs in that he mustereth vs in their band According wherunto the Apostle in the .xii. to the Hebrewes sayth that they might to be vnto vs as a great thicke cloud of witnesses that we myght followe their example the more cherefully and walke on in the way that they shewe vs Agein when God hath made vs too perceyue the inestimable good which he doth vs in matching vs with the Prophetes Apostles Martyrs and all the faythfull let vs go yit further and consider that he hath made vs fellowcitizens with the Angelles of heauen A man would take great labour for a citizenship Freedenizonship or Burgesship of this world and yit notwithstanding they be but incoms of this lyfe And what is this lyfe of ours A flyghtfull shadow which fleeteth away out of hand Behold God calleth vs not only to soiorne in his Church as straungers but also too assure vs that he admitteth and accepteth vs for his children so as wee may with trew trust and as it were with one mouth boldly call vppon him as our father and keepe one tune and melodie with all the Saints That therfore is the thing which we haue to remember vpon this streyne which order the Apostle vseth also in the end of the Epistle too the Hebrewes saying that we be no more vnder the law which could do nothing but fray vs bycause there was nothing too bee heard there but thunderings and lyghteninges which were terrible signes of Gods anger But wee sayeth he are come too mount Syon where wee heare the sweete voyce of God our father who matcheth vs with his holy spirites with his Angelles and with the soules of his faythfull ones so as wee bee now of their crew and may speake vntoo God as it were all with one mouth bycause wee haue one common head This is in effect the thing that wee must beare in mynd And although wee inioy it not as yit yit notwithstanding wee bee sure that by the meanes of fayth wee may walke through this present lyfe as straungers too the world and that God will not fayle too auow vs for his children and heyres and that although wee bee yit wrapped heere in many vyces and imperfections yit notwithstanding all the Saincts of Paradyse doo acknowledge vs for their brethren and imbrace vs for our Lorde Iesus Christes sake Now let vs cast our selues downe before the Maiestie of our good God with acknowledgment of our faults praying him too make vs so to feele them as we may mislike them more more on the other side set our whole mind too the considering of the infinite grace which he extendeth toowards vs in calling vs vntoo him too the intent we may not be so spitefull nor yit so witlesse and blind as not to hearken when he speaketh but rather that wee may obediently through fayth yeelde vntoo the doctrine which he setteth foorth vntoo vs wherein lyeth all our welfare and saluation and that the same may plucke vs backe from all the leaud lusts of the world and from all the froward affections that thrust vs aside turne vs away from him so as we may grow more and more in his feare and loue too be fashioned lyke his image vntill we bee come too his heauenly glory wheruntoo he calleth vs That it may please him too graunt this grace not only too vs but also too all people c. The .xv. Sermon which is the seuenth vppon the second Chapter 19 Then are you no more straungers and forreyners but fellowe citizens with the Saints and the
our vse had vin turned away by Adams sinne all was restored agein at the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ. So then by that meanes he gathered all things toogither agein that had bin scattered asunder before and then was the world after a sort chaunged as the Prophets had spoken of it afore For although they ment not too incloze the said renewment within any certeyne tyme yit notwithstanding when they preached of the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ and of the grace that shâ—uld bee giuen to the Church at that tyme they vsed such speech as this Behold I make the heauens new and the earth new After that maner dooth God speake by the Prophet Esay and it is not only once but it is as yee would say a common speech among al the prophets Nowe then Saint Paule following the common phraze of the Scripture sayth that all things were created new agein in Iesus Christ howbeeit that is in respect of the Church The world it self was not renewed but as in respect of vs wee bee parttakers alredye of the reâ—â—â—rement that is promised vs For by our Lord Iesus Christ wee inioy Gods creatures wherof wee were depryued afore Wheras the sunne and moone shyne vppon vs and wee be nurrished by the sustenance of the earth wee knowe that those things belong vntoo vs bycause wee bee Gods children And how is that Euen bycause he hath adopted vs in Iesus Christ. For the matter which wee haue sung in the Psalme concerning man must bee applyed to the person of Gods sonne as sayeth Saint Paule himself who is a faythfull expounder Not that he restreyneth it too him alone but forasmuch as the things which he speaketh concerning the vncorruptnesse of mankynd is not too bee found in it now but all is marred and corrupted therfore wee must bee fayne too repayre too our head by whom wee bee set in good plyght agein So then wee could not bee blissed of God nother in our meaâ—e nor in our drinke nor in the inioying of any of all his creatures were it not for the restorement that is made by our Lord Iesus Christ and that he hath caused the world too bee giuen vs hensforth in heritage too the end wee myght with a good and cleere consclence inioy all the gifts which hee hath bestowed vppon vs And so yee see that the creating of al things in Iesus Christ is Gods reforming of his Churche and our parttaking of the purchaced heritage for his sake and by his meanes Now hauing sayde that wee bee so created agein in the person of Gods sonne and that he is our head inasmuch as wee bee knit vntoo him by fayth he addeth that it is a vvisdome vvhich the very Angels haue not knovven insomuch that they fare the better by our saluation and haue cause too honour God for preferring them so too the thing that was after a sort buryed from them before Some thinking this too bee straunge stuffe haue bin of opinion that S. Paule spake of the diuels But he speaketh expresly of the heauenly places and meaneth too put a difference betwixt the chozen Angels the castawayes And ageyn too what purpose were it for the diuells too knowe Gods wisdome iâ— our saluation It were too no purpose at all There are others which beyng not able too rid themselues of this text of Saint Paules haue thought that the Angels are heere among vs too bee as schollers and to heare the preaching of Gods woord But that is too fond and chyldish an imagination for wee know that as well the doctrine as the vse of the Sacramentes are allotted peculiarly vntoo vs of God bycause of our rawnesse The Angels of heauen haue nothing too doo nother with Baptim nor with the Lordes Supper And why For the Angels bee altoogither spirituall But forasmuch as wee creepe heere beneath therefore wee haue neede of such meanes as are conuenient for our infirmitie too make vs come by little and little vntoo god Therefore the doctrine that is preached among vs serueth not for the instruction of the Angels How then shoulde it bee vnderstoode that the Angels were taught by the things which they see presently in the Church Let vs marke first of all that although the Angels behold the face of God yit is it not ment that they bee come too the perfection which is promised vs for that is reserued too the latter day when all things shall bee fulfilled The Angels then knowe not things yit but in part Trew it is that they must not bee mustered in our state and taking for lyke as they bee neerer God than wee so bee they taught more familiarly But howsoeuer they faâ—â— yit must they bee fayne too hyde their eyes as is shewed vs in the sixth Chapter of Esay in the vision that is giuen him there Albeit then that the Angels be heauenly spirites and be familiarly conuersant with God as houshold seruants of his kingdome yit haue they their eyes couered too shewe that they vnderstand not all things as yit and that their knowing is but in part For God must shewe them that they bee but creatures that they myght therby bee hild in continuall awe too humble themselues before him and to keepe themselues in their degree According heeruntoo it is sayed that the Angels of heauen knowe not when the last day shal bee that is hid from them And why Too the intent that men should humble themselues the more and not be ashamed to be ignorant of the things which God hath not reueled vntoo vs Too the end therfore that it may not greeue vs that God concealeth many things from vs the very Angels are set afore vs as not knowing all things as yit Then is it not without cause sayd that they knewe not what should befall and come too passe at the comming of the sonne of God that is too wit that all people without exception should bee called too the truth of the Gospell and bee all adopted of God too bee made the spirituall children of Abraham Trew it is that the Angels knewe well that Iesus Christ was the head of all mankind but how that should bee doone or at what tyme or by what meane that was hidden from them That is the maner wherin S. Paule sayth that they profited namely by beholding our Lord Iesus Christ too shed foorth his grace in that wyse For it was not ynough too say that men should woonder at such a miracle as â—hat God should take those intoo his house that were strayed away before and alye himself with those that were erst his mortall enemyes allure them to him whom he before abhorred If it had bin sayd that men ought too bee astonished at it that had not bin ynough But when as S. Paule sayeth that euen the Angels fynde it straunge and are fayne too maruell at it seeing how God vttereth so great treasures it serueth well too shewe vs that whensoeuer there
full fed it shal bee but with wynd that is too say with vayne and tryfling imaginations as I told you this morning They therefore which deuyze patrones of their owne head and surmyze that God will fauor them for it and in the meane whyle let Iesus Christ alone must vnderstand that they bee so farre of from obteyning their requests that God dooth rather abhore them insomuch that when they once swarue from the ankerhold which is set foorth for vs in the scripture that is too wit from hauing our Lord Iesus Christ for their lodesman the Angels of heauen must needs forsake them and the Saints also to whom they behighted themselues must needs deny them yea al of them must set themselues ageinst them as aduersarie parties For there is no means for vs too bee matched with the Angels Prophets Apostles and Martirs till wee haue trew concord with them And how shall wee haue that By fayth that is too say according too the pure doctrine of the Gospell Not that it is ynough for vs too haue our eares beaten with it but that wee must receyue the things that God promiseth vs there so as wee abhorre all that euer Satan can set afore vs and haue none other guyde than only our Lord Iesus Christ who hath told vs that he is the lyght of the world and that whosoeuer walketh in him cannot stray But by the way wee must serche and examin our selues narrowly that wee take not a vayne cloke vnder the name of Iesus Christ as we see manie doo now adayes which protest themselues to bee Gospellers And euen among our selues what a number are there which will shew signes greate ynough that they bee willing too followe Gods woord But they think too discharge themselues with petie tryfles and when they haue once giuen eare too the doctrine and spoken a fewe good words then too their seeming God is hyghly bound vntoo them But heere it is shewed vs that wee haue none acquayntance at all with him vntill Iesus Christ dwell in our harts And that is the verye meane wherby too bee filled with his benefits and too haue his holie spirit dwelling and reigning in vs For vnlesse we feare God and walk in his obedience so as wee behaue our selues according too his will and all our wits and desyres ame thitherward it is a token that wee liue after the flesh as Saint Paule sayeth too the Galathians Therefore wee must shewe by our outward fruites that wee bee truly ioyned too Iesus Christ and that he hath made vs partakers of his holie spirit Now hereuppon Saint Paule addeth further that vvee must bee rooted and grounded in charitie This woord Charitie or loue may bee taken as well for the loue that God beareth vs as for the mutuall loue which wee ought to beare one towardes another But the verie trew and natiue sense of Saint Paule heere is that he ment too haue vs knit toogither For as he spake heeretoofore of Gods free loue towardes vs so now he sheweth how fayth importeth that wee should haue brotherly loue one towards another And the holy Scripture bringeth vs alwayes to that poynt insomuch that when there is any speaking of the full perfection of good lyfe fayth goeth before then comes Charitie next vntoo it For the end that wee must begin at is the vtter abacing of our selues too the end wee may seeke all our welfare at Gods hand and that our seeking of it there may bee first too acknowledge that he giueth vs all things in the person of his onely sonne and secondly too call vppon him too settle our fayth in him too flee wholly for refuge too his mercy and after as euery man feeleth himfelf bound vntoo him as all of vs are exceedingly so to acknowledge by our thanksgiuing that he is our rightuousnes our holynes our victorye our ioy our glorie and our happinesse that wee may performe the thiâ—g which is sayd in Ieremie whosoeuer glorieth let him glorie in the Lord bycause it is he that woorketh ryghtuousnesse Iustice and mercy Yee see then that wee must rest wholly vppon our God or else all the vertuousnesse which wee seeme too haue before men shal bee but filth and dung Now then haue wee fayth Charitie must be matched with it and wee must liue euenly and vpryghtly one with another euery of vs acknowledge thus I was not created for my self nor to seeke myne own priuate benefyte commoditie but for the benefite of my neighbours also And therfore let vs absteyne froÌ„ al guile wrong outrage and malice and indeuer to serue eche others turne according too our abilitie That is the perfection of good lyfe Saint Paule hauing spoken alredie of fayth addeth now that wee must also bee grounded in Charitie as if he should say wee must not haue alonly some fit or pang of loue as manie men haue but there must bee a stedfastnesse and euen holding on in it all our lyfe long For a thing may giue a greate blaze and yit quayle anon after Behold a huge building may be ouerthrowen with one blast of wynd if it be not set vppon a sure foundaton Also a man may set vp a greate tree but if the roote bee cut asunder what will come of it It must needes fall downe out of hand or else if it haue some hold a the one ende for a tyme it must needes wither at the heate of the Sunne Euen so is it with vs when we haue a greate zeale which is not well rooted in our hartes for it wil bee but as a maske or a gay showe before men That is the cause why Saint Paule exhorteth vs purposely too bee grounded in charitie too the intent too correct the vyce of louing by startes or fits as they say which is too common a thing Neuerthelesse it were a fondnesse too concluâ—â— therefore that our saluation were grounded vppon our good woorkes For heere he treateth not of the cause of our saluation but â—nly how wee ought too rule our lyfe Agein wee knowe there is but one onely foundation of the Church as S. Paule sayeth in the third chapter of the second Epistle too Coriâ—thians and as wee haue seene alredie in this selfsame Epistle and specially as Iesus Christ himself declareth in the sixteenth chapter of Saint Matthew And which is that foundation It is Iesus Christ and no man can lay any other than that which the Prophetes and Apostles haue layd and wee must hold our selues too it at this day and euen vntoo the worldes end And yit may wee not ceasse too bee rooted in loue by meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ. When men demaund what is the cause of our saluation by what meane wee be brought into his fauour and how wee may come vntoo hym and cal vpon hym with full trust wee must answeare it is bycause our Lord Iesus Christe is giuen vs and it is he in whom the fulnesse of the
we shal haue the fulnesse of all wisdome we shal no more neede too trot heere and there wee shall no more neede too go vp nor downe nor farre nor wyde for wee shall haue wholly whatsoeuer is good and requisite for our welfare When wee heare this must it not needes be that wee be as good as bewitched if wee beleeue not God too rest wholly vppon his sayings without flinging abrode after that fashyon and without making of so manie wyndlasss to trubble and tyre our selues too no purpose And that it is which is ment in the Prophet Esay where he sayeth Go tread in your owne wayes and when yee haue compassed and gone about both heauen and earth what shall it boote yee Then if wee bee so blynd as too stray out heere and there and cannot keepe the way that is shewed vs but will needs go dig pits at our own pleasure and forsake the spring of liuing water which God hath set before our eyes it is good reason that wee should bee both ahungered and athirst ly broyling in our owne foolish lusts to trot to and fro like women with chyld which long too eate char Coales and had leuer drink the water of some puddle thaÌ„ the water of a fayre clere spring If wee fall too gadding in that maner after Satan and bee â—gre of his illuzions and trumperie and cannot content our selues with the good that our Lord setteth afore vs must it not needes be that we be worse than bewitched and that the diuel hath made vs stark beasts So then let vs vndestand first of all that all things which men can bring vs of their owne behalf are but tryfles or rather illuzions of Satan And secondly that when the â—oriâ—ture â—etteth Iesus Christ afore vs it is not for nought told vs that wee must rest wholly vppon him and hold vs too him when wee be come thither bycause he hath the fulnesse of all goodnesse in him and therfore wee neede not too bee haled too and fro or too take too greate peyne in seeking the things that are needfull for vs nor finally too wander any more abrode but to stick wholly vntoo him as too our perfect and souere in blisfulnesse Thirdly we must consider in Iesus Christ the infinit grace that is brought vs and imparted too vs by his meanes And Saint Paule in saying heere the Loue sendeth vs too the wellspring For though wee knew all Gods secretes and were priuie too the rest of his will what were it till we were perswaded of the loue that he beareth vs For wee see that when any man speakes of God too the vnbeleeuers it dooth so greeue them that they wote not where too become and it is but a matter of heauinesse too them bycause they conceyue nothing but rigour in him But when his grace and fatherly goodnesse is vttered vntoo vs as he hath shewed it in our Lord Iesus Christ then come we boldly vntoo him and wee bee no more afrayd of his seate but haue familiar accesse to it and therin he dooth vs an inestimable good turne such a one as surmounteth all that euer wee can wish in this world according as S. Paule setteth vs it downe heere And so yee see what this saying the Loue of God importeth And he sayeth purposely in Iesus Christ bycause that without him wee could not bee beloued of god For let Iesus Christ bee as yee would say let alone and let vs put the cace that wee thought vppon God and that wee did apply all our wits theraboutes and therwithall that wee bethought vs of our selues also what were all this Wee shall fynd such an incomprehensible maiestie in God as shall swallowe vs vp lyke a deepe gulf Agein his Iustice is so perfect as it wil bee much lesse possible for vs to stand before it than for Snowe to abyde ageinst the Sunne Now when wee come too our selues wee must needes see a sea of all miserie before vs that is to wit that our senses are blynd that wee bee vtterly vnfurnished of all vertew that wee bee giuen too all euill that wee bee hild downe vnder the thraldome of sin and that nothing in vs no not euen of the excellentest thinges that wee thinke our selues too haue which is not lothsome before god Therfore when we once know these twoo things that is too wit when we haue once conceyued a terrour of Gods maiestie and bee drowned in despayre at the syght of our selues then let vs afterward go seeke al the meanes that can bee and let vs call the Angels too help and they will come neuer the neerer vs for all that Let vs take the Hee sayntes and Shee sayntes aud by what tytle can they belong too vs Nay rather wee bee separated from them And agein will God who is the fountayne of all purenesse receyue vs vs I say which are so wretched creatures Thinke we that he will intermeddle himself with our filth and vnclennesse No but contrariwyse he must needes abhorre vs So then it is not without cause that Saint Paule hauing spoken heere expresly of Gods Loue to the intent wee myght know that he dooth iustly hate vs so long as he beholdeth vs in our owne naturall state addeth immediatly that the same loue is grounded vpon the bludshed of our Lord Iesus Christ too the end that all our spottes should bee scoured away thereby and wee bee so clenzed as wee myght not bring anye thing hensfoorth before God which myght displease him And by that meanes are wee discharged and quit of all our dettes bycause he hath yeelded perfect obedience Lo how our stubbornnesse is doone away and shall neuer come too account bycause he offered himself in sacrifice for vs Lo how wee be set free from all thraldome bycause he hath ouercome both the diuell and death and sinne too our benefite Lo how wee at this day inioy his victory and make our tryumphe of it And so wee see briefly how God hath loued vs in Iesus Christ. Agein when we know this we must vnderstand also that we must not make long fetches any more ne trubble our selues in vayne in stying vpward by our fond speculations or in going downeward by our fantasticall imaginations and in the meane whyle let Iesus Christ alone as though he were too farre of from vs For he commeth neere vs yea he dwelleth in vs he will haue vs knit â—ntoo him so as wee should bee his body and lyuely members of his owne substance Sith it is so let vs learne to hold our selues in such wise vntoo him as nothing may turne vs from him And although we may be tempted by our owne fancies too shrinke away from him yit let vs cut of all such occasion and get the vpper hand by fayth And when wee haue so doone let vs vnderstand that God will still shewe himselfe a louing and kindharted father towardes vs and that Iesus Christ also will doo the dewtie of a shepherd
in good plyght but by meane of the preaching of Gods woord So then if wee bee willing that God should be honored and serued that our Lord should quietly haue his royal seat among vs to reigne in the mids of vs if we be willing to be his people to liue vnder his protection if we couet too bee builded vp in the him to be ioyned vnto him to continue in him vnto the end to be short if we desyre our saluation we must learne to be humble schoollers in receyuing the doctrine of the Gospel in herkening to the shepherds that are sent vs as if Iesus Christ spake too vs himself in his own person assuring our selues that he wil allow of the obedience submission of our fayth wheÌ„ we herken to the mortal men vnto whoÌ„ he giueth that charge Therfore let vs shew the desyre which wee haue that God should be honored also the desire and care which we haue of our owne saluation of the common welfare and edefying of the Churche which thing will then come too passe when all of vs both great and small doo giue our consentes that Iesus Christ shall haue his instruments wherby too speake vntoo vs and drawe vs vntoo him Which order if wee obserue he will so blisse vs therby as wee shall haue cause too glorifie him for that wee shall see how it hath alwayes bin his will too procure the saluation of our soules and that he is euer at hand with vs and will so woork as wee shal not want any thing that is for our behoofe or profit Now let vs fal downe before the maiesty of our good God with acknowledgment of our faults praying him to make vs so to feele them as we may be cast down in our selues seeke nothing else but to be set vp agein by him that our Lord Iesus may haue such preheminence ouer vs as we may honour him as he deserueth that wee beeing vnder him in his keeping may bee so guyded by his holie spiâ—iâ— as his woord may profit more and more in vs and shewe foorth his strength and he so beare with our infirmities as he may neuer ceasse too take vs for his owne so long as wee liue in his world vntill wee bee all gathered vp toogither intoo his kingdome That it may please him too graunt his grace not only too vs but also too all c. The .xxvi. Sermon which is the sixt vppon the fourth Chapter 11. And the same hath giuen some Apostles and some Prophets and some Euangelists and some Shehperds and Teachers 12. For the reparation of the Saynts too the woork of administration and for the building vp of Christes bodie 13. Vntill wee come all into the vnitie of fayth and of the knowledge of the sonne of God in the perfect man vntoo the measure of the full age of Christ. 14. That wee may no more bee babes vvauering and caryed too and fro vvith euerye vvynd of doctrine by the vvylinesse of men and through their craftie conueyances too deceyue vs. WEe haue seene this morning how God hauing respect of our frayltie hath voutsafed too vse this meane too drawe vs too him that is that wee should be taught familiarly by mortal men lyke our selues and therin he sheweth also that he had an eye too the thing that myght bee fittest for his seruants For in saying that he will alwayes send a Prophet in Israell from among the people he ment too shewe that wee needed not too seeke farre for him but that he would fynd a meane too bee familiarly conuersant among vs Therfore when the Gospell is preached among vs Gods applying of himself after that maner too our slendernesse is as much as if he came downe too vs himself So little then ought wee too disdeyne the order that he hath set among vs that our vnthankfulnesse shal be the more heynous if wee consider not how greatly he loueth vs in that he dealeth with vs after our owne small capacitie For inasmuch as wee haue not so excellent abilitie as the Angels therfore dooth he giue vs such meanes as he knoweth too bee necessarie for vs Moreouer Saint Paule addeth now that this must not serue vs for a little tyme only but that wee must continew in it all the tyme of our lyfe For had he not added yit further the thing that we see a man myght say that we ought in deede to coÌ„forme our selues to the rule that God giueth vs howbeit that must bee but for a whyle as if a man shold send litle children to schole but that is not to spend their whole lyfe there And so it would haue seemed that the thing which hath bin spoken heertofore serued but for a tyme and that when wee haue bin trayned in them a yeere or twayne that ought too suffyze vs and euery man should be a Clerk wel ynough learned so as he myght forbeare all instruction afterward But Saint Paule telleth vs that so long as wee bee in this world wee must still profit in Gods schoole and haue our eares beaten dayly with his woord that wee may on the one syde bee brydled and on the other syde bee strengthened and set foreward more and more For put the cace wee were of so good abilitie and capacitie as too learne all that is for our behoofe within twoo or three yeeres space yit are wee so fickle headed that euery of vs would by and by bee starting out of the way if wee were not hild backe Therfore Gods voutsafyng too haue his woord preached vntoo vs euen too our dying day serueth too make our fayth 〈◊〉 and stedfast But there is yit a greater necessitie Which is that such as thinke themselues forewardest if they sift themselues throughly shall fynd themselues yit farre of from the marke that they runne at And therfore it standeth vs vppon too bee strengthened dayly more and more and to haue the lyght of our fayth increaced after the maner of the day which we see to grow still bryghter bryghter vntoo hygh noone So must we profit still more and more till the daysonne of ryghtuousenesse appeere vntoo vs Trew it is that men are so stout harted as a number of them will not beleeue it but that is bycause they bee contented with their assishnesse For yee shall see a great sort so proud and presumptuous bycause they haue studyed three or fower latin words that to their owne seeming they passe all the greatest doctors in the world Aâ—d surely they also which doo but begin too study some science beare themselues in hand that they bee alredy come too the perfection of it and yit haue they scarsely entered into it In lyke cace is it with handy craftes in so much that there is none so bold as blynd bayard he sticketh lesse to do al things than the man that hath greatly profited So is it also with these lyghtheaded ChristiaÌ„s get they once some saying of
of that treasure from day too day And if olde folk bee so much the carefuller too gather goods as they drawe neerer too their graue bycause they see themselues too bee weake and too haue neede of succour and are alwayes afrayd to bee destitute of mans ayde insomuch that that forecast of theirs driueth them to burning couetâ—usnesse ought not wee on our syde too bee greatly ashamed if wee make not prouision of Gods woord in our old age seeing wee perceyue how there is much feeblenesse and sin still in vs or if wee labour not too bee continually still inlyghtened euen tyll the daysonne of ryghtuousnesse which is our Lord Iesus Christ shyne vppon vs as at hygh noone seeing wee fynde our owne ignorance by experience Yee see then that the meane too put this doctrine of Saint Paules in vre is first too humble our selues in such wyse as no man take more vppon him through vayne selfweening than belongs vntoo him but that wee will keepe on our way aduyzedly assuring our selues that we bee not yit come too our wayes end And that is the cause also why Saint Paul sayd that he looked not backe to the things he had doone alredye but foreward vntoo the things that remayned Saint Paule had made a greate iorney and taken much peyne for the Gospels sake he had bin taken vp afore into the third heauen and there he had heard and seene secret things which it was not lawfull for him to speake of among men Yee see then that he was as a man that had bin taught in the schoole of Angels and as in respect of men he had passed all the other Apostles and yit for all this he sayeth he streyneth himselfe forewarde and laboureth too atteyne too the marke wherat he amed Now if Saint Paule spake so what ought wee too doo which are yit as it were but at our Apcie Then as concerning this full rypenesse of age let vs assure our selues that wee cannot forbeare new and dayly instruction vntill wee bee quyte rid of all the infirmities of our flesh Untill wee bee departed out of this world wee must suffer our selues too bee guyded and gouerned lyke teachable and meeke young folk and wee must beeleeue good counsell assuring our selues that wee haue neede of it Therfore Saint Paule attributeth that full rypenesse of age too our Lord Iesus Christ as if he should say that men beguyle themselues through their owne fond rashnesse by beholding themselues in them selues For know we once what Iesus Christ is wee shal perceyue full well that there are yit manie imperfections in vs He is called the wisdome of God his father he is called his euerlasting woord he is called his image And all this is too the end that wee should learne of him and behold Gods glorie in his person which otherwyse were inuisible vntoo vs But now can wee comprehend Gods infinite wisdome Can wee atteyne too the vnderstanding of Gods glorie so as wee may haue the full syght of it Alas wee bee farre short of it Therfore whensoeuer wee be tempted with foolish ouerweening too think wee knowe more than wee doo let vs lift vp our eyes too our Lord Iesus Christ and not presume in our selues as many fantasticall persons doo For when wee 〈◊〉 knowe that our wisdome is in our Lord Iesus Christ then shall wee well perceyue that wee bee yit farre from it Herewithall Saint Paule warneth vs also that it is not in our owne power or cunning too beleeue faythfully but thâ—t wee must be fayne too haue it giuen vntoo vs Trew it is that wee must doo our indeuer that our fayth may bee stablished wee must bee diligent in hearing Gods word we must haunt Sermons we must reade we must herken too good exhortations and too all good doctrine wherby wee may fare the better wee must giue good heede too those things And yit notwithstanding wee must not presume any whit vppon our owne cunning as though our wit were able of it self too receyue learning and instructioÌ„ but let vs learne that our Lord Iesus Christ must bring vs too that by his holie spirit So then let vs bee lowely that wee may bee the schollers of our God and that lowelinesse importeth a ridding of our selues from all selfweening and an abcing of our selues knowing that wee haue no more than is giuen vs of God. Also on the contrarie part Saint Paule sayeth that wee must not bee as little children wauering with euerie blast of doctrine or being tossed and turmoyled too and fro as chaffe vvith the vvynd and too bee short that vvee must not bee beguyled by the vvylynesse of men Heere wee see yit better the thing thaâ— I touched heertoofoore which is that Saint Paule setteth downe as it were three ages The first is as a Chyldhood And which is that It is before we haue anie instruction at all when wee be yit as it were half beasts without discretion too discerne Gods truthe And there bee many such children in the world At what age Euen at three or fouer score yeeres For here Saint Paule speaks by a liknesse or resemblaâ—nce stands not vpon the accounting of dayes moonethes or yeeres His meaning then is that such as are wauering and floting lyke a bote that is tossed vppon the water are little children It it is trew that the scripture dooth sundry tymes vse the woord Chyld in another sense as when Saint Peter exhorteth vs too bee as newborne babes and too desyre the milk of soundnesse yea euen with putting away of all malice Also our Lord Iesus exhorteth vs too bee as babes that is too say vnpuffed vp with presumption and pryde so as wee makâ— no reckening of our selues ne be trubbled with the lusts that vexâ— vs when wee begin too knowe what it is too liue among men Then after that maner it dooth vs good to be babes or little children Agein in another place Saint Paule sayth that wee should bee babes iâ— naughtinesse but yit he sayth that wee must not bee babes in vnderstanding and that is the thing which he rehearseth agein in this present text Then condemneth he such as are babes in vnderstanding that is too say which are so doutfull and wauering that they bee sure of nothing they knowe not what fayth too bee of nor what God too woorship Now I told you that the world is too full of such babes which harden themselues in their brutishnesse and ignorance And in good sooth how manie shall a man fynde which are so throughly settled in Gods truth as they cannot bee made too daunce after another mannes pype as Saint Paule speaketh of them heere For if it bee demaunded what the Gospell is some will answere it must needes bee a good thing bycause God is the author of it but in the meane whyle too bee able too yeelde a reason of theyr fayth is no poynt of their skill but they harden
birthryght nor yit by our owne purchace but by free gift The kingdome of God then is the heauenly lyfe and al our whole happinesse For out of God what can wee haue but all vnhappynesse Therefore if wee bee banished out of Gods kingdome we must needs be plundged in all miserie But it is expresly sayd too bee the kingdome of Christ and why Bycause it was purchaced vs by his blud and also bycause wee bee now restored agein too the state from whence wee were falne in our father Adam Agein wee knowe that the inheritance is giuen vs in our Lord Iesus Christ to the intent that we being his members and adopted of God by his meanes should also bee parttakers of that which is peculiar too him In the first too the Hebrewes he is called the heire of all things and is that too shell vs vtterly out No but bycause wee cannot otherwyse bee taken for Gods children but by being incorporated intoo the bodie of our Lord Iesus Christ to whom all belongeth Now then if wee should bee reiected of God if wee should bee cut of from all the benefytes which haue bin purchaced for vs by our Lord Iesus Christ that this should come to passe through our owne vnthankfulnesse Alas should wee not bee too too blockish Yea and for the better expressing thereof Saint Paule vseth the woord Heritage or Inheritance As if he should say if yee were heires of Gods kingdome from your moothers wombe consider how great a greef it ought too be vntoo you too bee set besyde it But now vnderstand you that the kingdome of God is communicated vntoo you by our Lord Iesus Christ bycause he hath purchaced it for you and made you his brethren and fellowes And vnderstand yee besides that it is bycause God hath adopted you freely and yit you haue it not by birthryght nother can yee say that it is your owne otherwyze than by free gift Now then seeing it is a state of inheritance will yee bee so leaud as to looze such a benefite when it is offered you Shall God inuyte you so graciously too his glory shall he offer you all the ioy and happynes of the kingdome of heauen shall he match you with his owne sonne and by that meane make you too possesse all the good things that you can wishe and shall all this be nothing woorth to you but that you will needes hold scorne of it and refuze it How can Satan so farre ouermayster you Wee see then how Saint Paule ment too waken vs heere earnestly by all meanes too the intent that if wee cannot bee drawen wholly vntoo God by loue at leastwyze yit threatening may doo vs some good and moue vs too yeeld that our desyres may by that meane be brydled and our lusts not ouerflow so outrageously but that sith God sheweth himself our Iudge wee may at leastwyze refrayne too resist him for that is all one as if wee would openly runne rushing ageinst him Seeing that he with his owne holy mouth hath auowed vs too bee banished from the kingdome of heauen if wee notwithstanding doo make none account of the thinges that he telleth vs what a dealing is that Furthermore whereas Saint Paule sayeth that nother whoremoongers nor cuetous men nor vncleane persons shall enter intoo the kingdome of God he meaneth not that all such as haue offended and doone amisse are reiected of god For who is he that can say he is cleere of all the vyces that are reherced heere But he meaneth the whoremoongers couetous persons and looce liuers that take pleasure in their lustes and are hardened in them and are so settled in the filthinesse of them as there is not any more feare of God in them too hold them backe Wee heare what he sayeth too the Corinthians where hauing made a greater beadroll of the same and other vyces and hauing first vttered the lyke sentence telling them that all such as are giuen too those vyces shall neuer come in the kingdome of God he sayeth and such haue you bin He sheweth that the faythfull also had bin steyned with the lyke corruptions But yee bee washed and made cleane sayeth he yee bee sanctifyed by Gods holy spirit and through the blud of our Lord Iesus christ As if he should say by nature yee were miserable and folke giuen too all leaudnesse The willingnesse and desyre that you haue now too serue God came not of your selues but of Gods drawing of you vntoo him that wheras you were erst as wyld beastes he hath brought you vntoo his obedience wheras yee were foule and vncleane he hath washed you with the blud of our Lord Iesus Christ and wheras you were vnholy he hath made you holy by his holy Ghost And therfore fall not too wallowing and plundging of your selues agein intoo vncleannesse Thus the trew meaning of those woordes is in effect that the wicked and such as lead an awlesse and lawlesse lyfe that is too say such as fyght not ageinst their lustes but delyght in naughtinesse shall neuer come in the kingdome of god For first of all if the faythfull bee not renewed at their birth by the spirit of God they bee steyned with the sinnes wheruntoo mankynd is subiect yea and wee see some that are wholy giuen vntoo them And albeit that our Lord haue wrought in vs by his holy spirit it dooth not therfore followe that wee bee so well reformed at the first day as there is no more euill in vs For wee must bee fayne too keepe continuall battell through repentance all our lyfe long And repentance should take no place if wee felt not sinne dwelling styll within vs Therfore it suffyzeth that it reigne not in vs as S. Paule exhorteth vs in the sixth too the Romanes There S. Paule telleth them too whom he speaketh that if they looke vppon their former life they must needes be ashamed bycause they were so strayed away that they had forgotten God and all vertew and honestie Yee cannot sayth he remember what yee were before yee were conuerted too the beleefe of the Gospell but yee must needes cast downe your eyes with great shame And yit notwithstanding he telleth them that sinne must not now reigne in our mortall bodyes although it dwell there still In deede it were too bee wished that there were no sinne dwelling in vs and that wee were all lyke the Angels of heauen But Saint Paule knowing well that wee cannot atteyne too that so long as wee dwell in this world and vntyll wee haue put off our corruption and bee dispatched of this transitorie lyfe wylleth vs yit at leastwize that sinne should not reigne in vs So then although wee bee steyned with many vyces yit let vs so fyght ageinst them that they may not become heynous crymes as though wee rebelled ageinst God but continew onely as infirmities so as wee beseeche God too forgiue vs them quite and cleane acknowledging that wee haue neede too obteyne mercy
must bee fayne too make his sonne shyne that is too saye lyke as he hath commaunded and ordeyned his woord too bee preached vntoo vs so also must he giue vs eyes too inioy the same lyght For though the sunne shyne neuer so bright in the skye yit should wee fynd nother frute nor profit by it vnlesse wee haue eyes which are as instruments to receyue the lyght that commes from aboue So must God bee fayne too giue vs spirituall eyesyght to conceyue the things that are taught vs by his woord Yee see then that the meane how wee become lyght in the Lord is that on the one syde God sheweth vs the way of saluation by the preaching of his woord vntoo vs and therwithall giueth vs a new spirit or mind too the intent wee should not abyde in the ignorance wherin all of vs are by nature And Saint Paule vttereth his meaning yit better when he addeth that vvee should vvalke as children of lyght Nowe wee see that heere he not onely prayzeth and commendeth Gods grace too stirre vs vp too gloryfye him for it as wee bee bound too doo but also therewithall sheweth the vse of it As if he should say beware in any wyse that yee thrust not Gods grace vnder foote ne make it vnauaylable vntoo you For his calling of you too the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ was too the intent yee should bee wholly chaunged tod bee brought vntoo this lyght For if wee would haue the sunne but onely too stande ydly gazing vppon it lyke folke out of their wittes what a thing were that Wee were better too haue continuall nyght But the Sunne must serue vs to apply our selues too the buzinesse which we haue too doo and too labour in getting of our liuing euery man according too his charge office and calling Yee see then that wee should abuze the sunne which bringeth vs so great benefyte if we should not euery of vs occupie our selues in the things that wee knowe too bee our dewtie Now Saint Paule applyeth this similitude too the spirituall daysonne that is too wit too the doctrine of the Gospell saying that it shyneth howbeeit not for vs too giue our selues too ydle speculations but too the end wee should set our hand too the plough and euery of vs looke wherwith he can and ought too doo seruice and theruppon make the lyght auaylable that is offered him Furthermore Saint Paule in one place calleth vs Lyght and by and by he addeth Chyldren of light Both of them come too one end But yit is it not for nought that he termeth vs Lyght For it serueth too expresse the better that Gods grace is not only offered vs but also imprinted in vs so as wee bee after a sort new shaped by it And it is not only heere that he dooth it but also in the Epistle too the Philippians Now wee haue too marke first of all that that tytle belongeth properly too none but too our Lord Iesus Christ according as he himself sayeth I am the lyght of the world he that walketh in mee shall neuer stray Yee see then that our Lorde Iesus Christ is sufficient of himself alone too giue vs lyght and that if wee keepe our selues aloofe from him we shall fynd nothing but darknesse nother in heauen nor in earth nor in any creature else For if wee speake of Gods maiestie it is aboue all the heauens yea and the very Angels haue no lyght but that which they borrowe of our Lord Iesus Christ. And that is the cause why Saint Iohn Baptist is excluded from that honour when he sayth that he was not the lyght but that that dignitie belongeth peculiarly to the sonne of God who inlyghteneth all men that come intoo the world Agein the Apostles and all such as preache Gods truthe are also termed lyght in their degree when as it is sayd yee bee the lyght of the world Not that that belongeth properly vntoo them but bycause God serueth his own turne by them when he deliuereth them his word to guyde others by and to shew them the way of saluation Now if he that beareth the Candle too lyght other men doo reele and stumble and stray heere and there what a thing is it Therefore in asmuch as God hath giuen vs the charge too preache his woord wee bee warned too walke in such wyse as euery man may bee edifyed by our lyfe And yit in the meane whyle this is no derogation at all too the honour of our Lord Iesus Christ for they that are inlyghtened by him must not thrust forth themselues to be fellow and fellow lyke with him but he alone must continewe the lyâ—ht still and wee inlyghten one another according too Saint Paules saying in the text that I alledged afore where he sayeth thus too all the faythfull You bee as Lampes burning in this world euen by hauing the woord of god The lyght then which the Scripture allotteth as well too the teachers as too them that are taught is that all of vs must haue Gods woord which must bee as a candle set vp aloft and our lyues must so ruled thereby as the vnbeeleeuers may bee drawen too the fayth and reformed or else confounded and put too shame when they see that our Lordes calling of vs too profit in his scoole is not in vayne And so yee see in what sense S. Paule sayeth that wee bee lyght in the Lord namely bycause Gods woord ought too bee as a burning Lampe vntoo vs not only too guyde our selues by but also too shewe the way too all such as otherwyse should go astray Hereunto he addeth that vvee bee children of lyght to doo vs to vnderstand that our lyght commeth from elsewhere than of our selues and that wee borrowe it of him that is the lyght of the world as I haue alledged before According whereuntoo it is sayd that God is the father of lyght and so also dooth the Scripture name him Agein our Lord Iesus Christ is the trew lyght wherby God appeered vntoo vs and whereby it is his wyll too inlyghten vs Therefore are wee the children of lyght that is too say wee bee so iâ—â—yghtened that Gods lyght is in vs namely bycause wee bee members of our Lord Iesus Christ as I sayde afore and communicate with him and he guydeth vs by the lyght of his Gospell and inlyghteneth vs also by his holy spirit And forasmuch as our Lord woorketh in vs by fayth he dreepeth it intoo vs by measure as he himselfe thinketh good as we haue seene in the fourth Chapter Howsoeuer the cace stand let vs esteeme Gods grace as it is woorthy and as it deserueth and theruppon turne it too our owne benefyte that it be not disappoynted through our rechlesnesse but that wee may walke that is too saye consider whertoo God hath called vs and euery of vs imploy and inforce himselfe theruntoo Now hereuppon Saint Paule giues a warning that the frute of
bycause God hath ordeyned them and there is no preheminence but of him as Saint Paule declareth to the Romanes It is trew that there he speaketh expressely of Princes and Magistrates but yit for all that it extendeth too all authoritie as too that which parentes haue ouer their children husbandes ouer wyues and Maysters ouer their seruantes Therefore wee must bee fully perswaded of this that Gods intent is not that all men should bee shuffled toogither as it woulde come too passe if there were no restreynt but that some should rule and haue authoritie too commaund others and that they which are vnder them should obey Then is it an vnreuocable sentence of God wheruntoo wee must hold our selues and bee contented For if wee protest our selues too bee willing too obey God and in the meane whyle will needs remoue all order that he hath set among vs all that wee speake wyth our mouth is but hypocrisie Therefore wee must gyue a proofe of our humilitie too God-ward by our willyng and easye bearing of mans yoke which he hath layd vppon vs as it were his owne handes Let that bee for one poynt Now as I sayd this comprehendeth all subiection as well of people towardes Princes and Magistrates of children towardes theyr parentes and of wyues towardes their husbandes as also of seruantes towardes their maysters And when wee once haue that it wyll bee easie for vs too withstand all the trubbles and incomberances that hinder vs and turne vs away from our dewties For what is the cause that wee cannot submit our selues too Gods wyll As I sayd all these disputings are vnauaylable and fond when a man shall say Why am I bound too such a one Why shoulde he holde his foote vppon my throte Who hath giuen him more authoritie than mee But seeyng God hath told vs that he will haue it so it behoueth vs too holde our peace Therfore if wee bee fully perswaded of it wee shall be too froward if wee shewe not by our deedes that wee bee willing too please our God and too fulfill his good wyll For if a mayster haue a great multitude of folke in his house he shall bee of sufficient authoritie too appoynt whom he listeth too haue the ouersyght of it and they must be obeyed A Prince hath his officers and they must commaund and others must herken too them and simply obey them And what is too bee doone then when our God who is the souerein Lord and father hath the ryght of preheminence and dominion ouer vs will haue vs too obey such as he hath appoynted without making any reply For what can it boote too say the contrarie Therefore as I sayde let vs print this counsell of Saint Paules throughly in our hartes That when wee doo our dewtie willingly and vnfeynedly towardes those whom God hath set in authoritie ouer vs wee serue God himself And soothly without that mynd all the vertewes that wee can haue in outward shewe too the worldward shal bee but smoke as yee shall see a number of men that pretend maruelously well insomuch that they whoÌ„ they serue shall bee contented tootoo well with them But although such dealing bee allowed among men yit is it nothing woorth before god And why For God will bee honored at our handes He wyll haue men too inioy theyr ryght in such wyse as nother he bee forgotten nor they as it were defaced Therefore if wee will but onely obey men and despyze the thing which God will haue too bee as an acceptable sacrifyze too himselfe what a dealing were that Then let vs tend alwayes too him and dedicate our selues too him And forasmuch as it is hys will that wee should bee vnderlyngs let vs beare that yoke willyngly and with a free and vnslauishe or vnconstreyned mynd And for the same cause Saint Paule sayeth expresly Let not your seruice bee eye seruice as though yee sought too pleaze men And in very deede they that play their pageantes so fayre as they say seeke eyther recompence or else too bee well interteyned and fed with the fattest or else too haue greater wages and afterward too haue some extraordinarye gift or reward when occasion serueth That is the thing that men hunt for when they haue not an eye vntoo god But Saint Paule telleth vs that although they whom we serue be so froward as wee cannot tell how too content them and wee haue not any hope that euer wee shall get the valew of a button at their hands yit wee must neuerthelesse performe our dewties towards god And heere wee haue too gather that in all things which God commaundeth vs wee must not onely imploy our eyes our feete our handes and our armes as they say but wee must begin with the inwarâ— affection Therefore when as Saint Paule sayeth not vvith eye seruice he sheweth vs that if wee desyre that our Lord should allowe our seruiâ—â—s as good and lawfull â–ª our hart must go foremost and guyde all our members so as there bee no counterfetting accordingly as it is sayd that he regardeth faythfulnesse that is too say that wee should deale soundly playnly and substancially Thus are all gay showes quyte dasht For as I sayd there is greaâ—e preâ—ence of vertew in many men but God accounteth it euery whit as nothing and in deede it is but hipoâ—risie Therfore if wee will begin too serue God well let vs learne too leaue dubblenesse and that wee may buyld substanâ—ially let vs alwayes lay that foundation accordingly also as wee see how he had leuer too bee loued than feared Trew it is that wee owe him reuerence and that wee ought too treâ—ble at his maiestie â–ª but yit when he sheweth vs the cheef thing which he â—â—quyreth and which pleaseth him best he sayeth What is it O Israel that thou shalt fynd in my Lawe but that thou loâ—e mee and sticke too mee Seeing that our Lord requyreth this willing affection and that wee should resort too him with a free and franke hart thinke wee that he accepteth aught at our handes when wee come too him grudgingly repyningly yit pretend too maruelous earnesâ—nes towardes men Howsoeuer the world go wee will alwayes haue this backe nooke in vs that wee would bee exempted from the obeying of god Therfore we must take pleasure in his seruice and it must be our ioy and delyght so as our bondage must be more sweete and leeâ—some too vs than all liberty yea and than all the Realmes and Kingdomes of the world And Saint Paule sayeth expresly Maysters as touching the flesh bycause that among other â—lyghtes of Satan wherewith he 〈◊〉 too trubble the world in old tyme and also too make the doctrine of the Gospell hated he did put this heresie intoo a number of mens heades that if wee bee once spirituall wee must no more bee subiect too any worldly and transitorie policie nother is that the state of Gods children And wee also haue seene in
household folke of God â–ª 20 Buylded vppon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets wherof Iesus Christ himselfe is the head corner stone 21 In vvhom the whole building being knit toogither groweth intoo a holy Temple too the Lord 22 In vvhom you also are builded togither for a dvvelling place of God in spirit WEe haue seene here alreadie how the holy Ghost by the mouth of S. Paule setteth vs out a looking glasse wherin too behold the infinite goodnesse of our God in pulling vs backe from the dâ—â—â—eons of death to make vs his children and heires of the heauenly lyfe For this cause it is sayâ— â–ª that when we be receyued into the Châ—rch it is all one as if we were made Citizens not of some earthly Citie but euen of heauen too bee companions 〈◊〉 all the 〈◊〉 and faythful seruaunts of God yea and with all the Angels of Paradise And bycause the Churche is called not onely Gods Citie but also his house therefore Paule addeth that we bee his houshold folke therby too inhaunce the grace and fauour that God hath vttered towards vs For 〈◊〉 gathered intoo Gods house and too haue him neere vntoo vs and too haue familiar accâ—sse continually vnto him is much more for vs than if wee were but generally of some Citie of his Wee see then that bicause men doo neuer sufficiently esteeme the spirituall good that wee receyue by our Lord Iesus Christ S. Paul ment to shew here how it is good reason that we should make more account of the adoptioÌ„ wherby God hath so gathered vs toogither by meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ that we may now be familiarly conuersant with him by hope than by al the whole world And he addeth another similitude which is that we be builded to be the temple of God. Sometymes the holy Scripture sayth that euery faithful man is the TeÌ„ple of God bycause he dwelleth in vs by his holy spirit But when it is spoken vniuersally of the whole Churche then are wee as lyuely stones and the building is so bound and clozed toogither that euery of vs serueth too the perfectting therof Then is not the one contrarie too the other For euery faythfull bodye alone is the Temple of God bycause he ought too bee giuen too all holinesse by the woorking of the holie Ghost and as I sayd afore God abydeth in vs Howbeeit for asmuch as wee ought not too bee separated asunder but rather to bee knit toogither in vnitie by the bond of fayth â–ª it agreeth very well also that wee should be named stones and that lyke as a building is made of manye stones wherof there is none but it serueth too some purpose so wee should suffer our selues too bee ioyned too our Lord Iesus Christ by beleef of the Gospell that God may dwell in vs and bee there purely woorshipped and wee bee fully assured that whensoeuer wee call vppon him wee shall alwayes fynd him at hand too heare vs and that when wee bee gathered toogither in his name wee shall euermore haue him among vs That is the thing which S. Paule treateth of heere when he sayeth that they which had bin heathen men and cut of from all hope of saluation were builded vp by the Gospell to bee made a Temple for God. Now we see better than afore how God will take vs for his household that is too wit if wee bee taught purely by the doctrine of the Gospell that God auoweth vs for his Temples that he is contented too bee worshipped of vs and that he taketh our seruis in good worth Therfore vntill such tyme as wee haue the doctrine of the Gospell too giue vs enterance too that excellent benefyte which is vtterly vnestimable wee cannot bee called nother Citizens of heauen nor children of God nor belongers too his household And it is added as well too make vs perceyâ—e what reuerence the Gospell deserueth as also too shewe vs that wee neede not to make farre iourneis too seeke it For God offereth vs the prerogatiue of entring into his house the doore is set open for vs at least wyse if wee receyue the promises that he maketh Wee neede not too go about heauen nor earth God telleth vs and assureth vs that hee hathe adopted vs too the intent wee should leane all wholly vnto him And so ye see how wee may bee familiar with him and he bee ioyned vnto vs. But therwithall hee sheweth also where wee should seeke for his woord For faythlesse men are so spytefull that they seeke all maner of krinks too shift themselues from god And surely wee see that manie make as though they were willing too serue God so it myght bee apparant too them that it is he which speaketh but therwithall they doubt whether the Lawe came of him or no and whether the Gospell bee his truth or no. Lo how men would shake of Gods yoke too the vttermost of their power by their shrinking aside and by their starting holes and shifting They make protestation with full mouth that their intent is too humble themselues vnder him and yit they knowe not nother can they discerne which is his woord And why is that Euen bycause of their malice and vnthankfulnesse S. Paule therefore too barre all such tryfling excuces telleth vs that inasmuch as God hath spoken by Moyses and his Prophets and finally by his Apostles wee ought too assure our selues that al that euer is couteyued in the Lawe and in the Gospel is the truthe it self and that we ought not bee afrayd too bee be guyled or deceyued Wee shall heare manie Replyes for euery man imagineth whatsoeuer commeth in his fancie But God authorized his woord sufficiently when he published his law Agein he gaue sufficient authoritie too his Prophets and finally his Gospel was ratified and sealed with miracles ynow Therfore it is not for vs too say wee knowe not whether it bee Gods woord or no For it is in our mouth it is neere at hand to vs insomuch that God hathe voutsafed to feed vs lyke littel babes with it by sending vs mortall men to speake it too vs face to face So then let vs learne first of all not to sorâ— in the ayre when the receyuing of Gods woord commeth in question Let vs bee contented that he hath giuen vs sufficient record of his wil by his Prophets and Apostles and so shall wee yeeld him obedience though it hath pleased him too vse such instrumentes of his holy spirit for our fayth cannot bee without humilitie and God taketh a tryall thereof in making mortall men too bee the meanes wherby he communicateth himselfe vntoo vs Take it therefore for a principale that it must not greeue vs though God appeere not in visible shape or though he send vs not his Angells from heauen For it ought too suffyze vs that wee knowe that the Prophetes and Apostles are sufficient witnesses chozen and ordeyned too bring vs the message of saluation And by the waye
Saint Paule sheweth that there is very good agreement betweene the Lawe the Prophetes and the Gospell In deede wee haue seene heretofore that the vse of the ceremonies is at an ende but yit for all that the substance of them continueth still And when God caused the Gospell too bee preached openly too the woorld it was not for that he was vnconstant nor for that he intended too teache men after a new and straunge fashion wherwith the Lawe was nothing acquaynted for the Lawe and the Prophetes bare witnesse continually too our Lord Iesus Christ. And therby also are wee put in mynd too further our selues by all the things that are conteyned in Moyses and in the rest of the Prophetes For now adayes there are some fantasticall folk which think that for all doctrine wee ought too haue no more but the new Testament and that all the rest is superfluous It is trew indeede that al perfection of wisdome is throughly conteyned in the Gospell but yit dooth it not therfore followe that wee ought not too bee edifyed by the Lawe and the Prophetes for wee see that the Apostles themselues confirmed their doctrine by their testimonies And heere when S. Paule sayeth that wee must bee builded vppon their foundation he sheweth sufficiently that whatsoeuer things our Lord betooke vntoo them in old tyme is profitable for vs at this day and wee must practize it and put it in vre Lykewyse S. Peter sayeth that they serued not only for their owne tyme but also for ours Trew it is that they gaue some tast of our Lord Iesus Christ and of the good things that are imparted to vs by his meanes but yit it is wee that are come too the fulnesse of the tyme â–ª as sayeth S. Paule in another place And the same is also a verifying of S. Peters saying that is too wit that the doctrine of the Prophetes poynteth at vs and wee haue more ful fruition and greater fruite of it than they that heard it spoken For wee haue so great a lyght in Iesus Christ that the things which were then darke are now manifestly open and knowen vntoo vs So then let vs studie the Lawe and the Prophetes knowing wel that they leade vs to our Lord Iesus christ For he is the marke that is set before vs and wherat wee leuell at this day accordingly as it is said that Iesus Christ is the end of the Law and also the patterne that Moyses sawe on the mountain It is sayd that the Lawe and the Prophetes beare witnesse of him and euen our Lord Iesus Christ himselfe vpbraydeth the Iewes telling them that forasmuch as they boasted of the Lawe they were so much the more blame woorthie and lesse too bee excuzed afore God and their offence was so much the more heynous and vnreasonable bycause they reiected him to whom the Lawe sendeth vs and too whom the Lawe would holde vs backe So then hereuppon wee haue too gather that too profite well in the holy scripture wee must alwayes resort to our Lord Iesus Christ and cast our eyes vppon him without turning away thence at any time Yee shall see a number of folk that Martir themselues exceedingly in reading the holy scriptures they doo nothing else but turne ouer the leaues of it and yit at the end of halfe a score yeares they are as wel seene in it as if they had neuer read line of it And why Bycause they doo but roue vp downe aâ—e not at any certeyn end yea and euen in worldly learning yee shall see a great sort that take paine ynough and yit all is to no purpose bycause they kepe nother order nor measure nor doo aught else then make a raking toogither on all sides By meanes wherof they bee euer new too seeke and can neuer bring any thing too perfection and although they haue gathered togither a number of sentences of al sorts yit is there no hold at all in theÌ„ Euen so is it with them that labour in reading the holy scripture and know not which is the poynt that they ought to rest vpon namely how it is our Lord Iesus christ For lyke as it is sayd that all our perfection is in the Gospell so on the other side it is said that our Lord Iesus Christ is giuen vs too bee the wisedome of God his father as sayth S. Paule in the first too the Corinthians And lyke as it is sayd of the Lawe This is the waye walke yee therein so also it is sayd of our Lord Iesus Christ that he is the trew way Agein as it is sayd Lord thy word is a Lanterne too guide my steppes by so our Lord Iesus Christ sayeth I am the light of the world he that walketh in mee cannot go amisse We see then that all that euer is treated of in the holy scripture is now verified of our Lord Iesus Christ to shew vs how that he is the onely thing that wee haue too take hold of And in very deede it is not for nought that he is called the lyuely image of God his father For although there bee nothing but light in God yit shall wee neuer bee able too come too that light till our Lord Iesus Christ come downe too lift vs vp thither and giue vs enteraunce intoo the place that was shet fast ageinst vs afore Yee see then that the thing which wee haue too gather vppon those words of S. Paule is that the Prophets Apostles were chozen and ordeined to bring vs to God by meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ who is his very image and therefore that the onely thing wheron we must settle all our senses and myndes is too bee edified in the holy scripture And on the contrary part alos let vs conclude that all such as giue themselues too vayne curiosities and will needes bee wyser than God gyues them leaue too bee must abyde still in confuzion and in steed of goyng foreward go more and more backeward whereof wee see many examples as I sayd â—fore and it standeth vs in hand too profit our selues by them For what is the cause of all the corruptions in the world what is the cause of the great number of errours of the great abundance of vngodlynesse of the great store of superstitions which raygne euery where but for that men are ticklish in their owne foolish luâ—tes and fleshly lykinges and can neuer bee contented with the simplenesse of Iesus Christ as it is set downe in the Gospell So much the more therefore ought wee too beare well in mynd the thing that is tolde vs heere which is that wee must alwayes set our Lord Iesus Christ before our eyes and in our sight if wee purpose too haue an infallible resting stocke in the holy scripture and too further our selues in it And heerewithall wee see also that we neede not too seeke heere and there for Gods woord for wee bee sent
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