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
Iesus Christ calleth vs too him and telleth vs that the things which he hath receyued of God his father are common too vs and that although wee inioy them not as yit too the full yit wee cannot bee disappoynted of them Too bee short I told you also that our Lord Iesus Christ is set at the ryght hand of God his father too the ende that wee myght bee sure that all things are vnder his hand that he rules the whole world and that all good things are of him and he is able too disappoynt all anoyances insomuch that if we be vnder his protection wee may defye the diuell and all our enemyes And now too the intent wee should lerne too content our selues the better with Iesus Christ alone and not wander heere and there as we be woont too doo S. Paule addeth expresly that he vvas set aboue all myghtinesse souereintie principalitie and povver No dout but that he meaneth the Angells howbeit he hath vsed this maner of speeche to hold vs the better too our Lord Iesus Christ that no fancy myght turne vs from him as if he should say although God haue imparted some portion of his glorie dignitie and power among the Angells yit dooth it no whit diminish that which he hath giuen too Iesus Christ and therefore wee shall fynd in him all things that are needfull so as wee neede not too gad heere and there for them nother is it lawfull too ioyne any companion with him bycause all preeminence and whatsoeuer else may bee thought or deuyzed too bee moste noble and excellent is there that is too say in our Lord Iesus Christ and he only is too bee sought vntoo as Paule himselfe sayeth also in the first too the Colossians For it is not now alate that the world hath sought occasion too turne away from our Lord Iesus Christ vnder colour of seeking too the Angells of heauen Wee see how Gods creatures are alwayes drawen too some superstition and men make Idolls of them bycause God executeth his souereintie by the Angells and they be as it were his handes his officers and his instrumentes That is the cause why men think them selues too haue doone much in betaking themselues too S. Michaell or too S. Gabriell or too I wote not whom else For as I sayd it is not a vyce newly deuyzed the diuell who is the father and author of lying hath intangled men at all tymes with such fancies yea and euen the Christians haue folowed the example of the heathen mens doings in that behalfe For the heathen men haue alwayes surmized the Angells too bee as halfe goddes and thought too haue them as their mediators wherby too come vntoo God bycause they were not woorthie of themselues And euen after the same maner talk the Papistes at this day Now the selfsame abhominations began too be buylded vppon the earth euen in S. Paules tyme And for that cause he sheweth that it is not lawfull too match any thing with Iesus Christ but that although the Angells â—ee magnifyed and bee called vertewes powers Lordshippes and dominations and men giue them what other tytles they liâ—t yit must they stoope and bee inferiour too the head and the cheefe dignitie must bee reserued too Gods sonne bycause that all knees must bow before him not only of worldly creatures but also of heauenly Wee see then that the cause of S. Paules packing toogither of so manie woordes in this place too expresse the Angells withall is that wee should the better bee hilde too our Lord Iesus Christ and rest wholly vppon him without wandering one way or other vnder pretence that the Angells haue excellent and noble giftes And so wee see and may gather vpon this streyne that all the dotage of the popedomme in imagining of Patrons Aduocates and mediators vntoo God sprang vp euery whit of it of none other cause than for want of knowing of our Lord Iesus Christ and of the things giuen vntoo him by God his father For wee haue no mynd too repoze our selues vppon him except wee know too what ende he is come But the Papistes haue on the one syde imagined themselues too bee separated from our Lord Iesus Christ not knowing that he is become our brother too the end wee should repayre familiarly vntoo him and on the other syde they haue robbed him of his office which is allotted him in the holy scripture and made but a dead thing of it So much the more therefore behoueth it vs too marke wel these sayings that we be made al one gathered togither into one body with the Angells of heauen and with the holy fathers that lyued vnder the Lawe and that wee and all the Prophetes Apostles and Martirs must with one common accord glorify our commoÌ„ head Iesus Christ and resort vntoo him and that he must bee set vp on hye for euery man too looke at and that wee must not wilfully put blyndfoldings before our eyes but take away all impediment that his glorye be not in any wyse dimmed The very meane then to ouercome all lets that Satan shall cast in our way too stop vs from comming too Iesus Christ is too consider that there is no dignitie or worthinesse in the whole world neyther aboue nor beneath which is not made too stope too the end wee should all of vs bee ioyned vntoo him with one accord Thus you see in effect what wee haue too gather vpon this text Trew it is that by those wordes wee be doone too vndestrand also that God distributeth offices among his Angels as pleaseth him so as one hath a greater charge than another Yit notwithstanding it is not in our power too knowe how the case standeth with them Let vs bee contented too knowe it according too the measure of our fayth and onely giue eare too Gods woord and in all sobernesse learne of him without giuing brydle too our owne fond curiositie as a number doo whom wee see disputing finely of the Angels as though euery of them would bee marshal of Gods house too place euery of the Angels according too his degree For there is not a more diuilish malapertnesse than too babble in that sort of Gods secrets further than God hath made vs priuie too them by his woord Therefore let vs hold our selues contented that the Angels how noble so euer they bee are ordeyned too be the ministers of our welfare by meanes of Iesus christ And whensoeuer wee intend too haue the familiaritie or acquintance and helpe of them Let vs not doo as the Papists doo which haue their peculiar prayers too make vnto them but let vs repayre too Iesus Christ for by that meanes shal all things become common betweene them and vs When hauing spoken of the Churche wee say I beleeue the communion of Saincts it is certeyne that the Angels are comprehended therin seeing that God imployeth them too doo vs seruice And why doth he so It is not for
expound what the holy Ghost ment No the thing is euident ynough of it selfe and euery man knowes in himself that he vnderstandes it well ynough But if yee looke vppon the loue that men beare too their wyues scarsely shall yee fynd one among a hundred which could not fynd in his hart too giue it ouer and which hath not some wandering fancies in his head The women also are so lyght mynded that they could fynd in their hartes too bee vnmaryed twentie tymes in a yeere And wherof commeth that Euen of that they haue not an eye vntoo God who is the author of Mariage Truely though wee had no scripture at all as I sayd yit would the brutishest man in the world reuerence mariage And why is that but â—ycause it was our Lordes will too leaue that record ingrauen in mens hartes His meaning then is too shewe that sith the most ignorant and grossest sort vnderstand that man and wyfe should ioyne in good loue euery one in their degree men must bend that way But now wee haue teaching and wee haue exhortations added too spurre vs the further foreward too the intent wee should not â—latter our selues in our vyces and yit what are wee the better It is too bee seene dayly that men storme at their wyues and wyues checke at their husbandes it is an ordinarie matter in euery house and euer among there flye and flyng out cursings and bannings too be short there is nothing but frowardnesse and disâ—eyne Now where these things are it is vnpossible that the man and wyfe should haue any accesse too come vntoo god For after what manner ought our repayring vntoo God bee that wee myght receyue mercy and be vnder his protection and he haue a care of vs It is by prayer Now Saint Peter sayeth expresly that when a man is ouersharp and rigorous too his wyfe and the wyfe also on hir syde is stubborne so as he is not able too weeld hir by any meanes nor shee willing too submit hir self as shee ought too doo then are their prayers broken of As if he should say wretched folk wheron think yee Are yee not verie miserable seing the gate is shet ageinst you that yee cannot call vppon God Now then what will become of vs when wee cannot betake our selues intoo the hand of our God It were better for vs too bee drowned a hundred thousand tymes Seeing then that God loueth the quietnesse bothe of the men and of the women in commaunding vs too liue in peace and concorde and moreouer â—iddeth them come vntoo him saying when the husband gouerneth his wyfe quietly and the wyfe on hir syde dooth hir dewtie too then if yee call vppon mee I will heare you as it were out of 〈◊〉 mouth seeing say I that our Lord calleth vs to him for our owne benefyte and welfare when he commaundeth vs too call vppon him with a pure hart must it not needs be that we are possessed of the diuell and haue forgone al our wits if wee accept not so good and profitable a conditon Therfore let vs mark wel that if the husband intend too discharge his dewtie and the wyfe lykewyse bothe of them must haue an eye vntoo God and hold their mariage of him assuring themselues that they met not at al aduenture but that the Lord cuppled them toogither too the end that the husband should bee as a companion too his wyfe and receyue hir as a part of him self and the wyfe yeeld the degree of honourâ—too hir husband as belongeth too him in respect of God and submit hir self too him as too hir head Thus the best may too herken vnto God and too obey him in this cace is too take him for the authour of wedlocke too bee ruled by him in all things And let not the husband trubble him self too much in looking vppon the faults of his wyfe too say what shall I doo with this caryon For wee knowe that reproches are lothsome and heynous Also let not the wyfe looke at the things that are in hir husband to say he is a very diuel and cannot bee wonne by any meanes but let hir hold hir to the condition that shee is bound vntoo and let hir not ask why nor wherfore God hath put hir so in subiection nother let hir make hir self glorious in setting vp hir briâ—â—â—es ageinst God for putting hir so in subiection too hir husbâ—nd But now let vs come too the second poynt and speake yit more of the hygh misterie which Saint Paule magnifyeth so much heere It is sayeth he a great misterie yea betweene Christ and his Church By these woords it is easie too discerne that Saint Paule ment not too call mariage or wedlocke a Sacrament for he expoundeth him 〈◊〉 afterward And as I told you the only thing that is treated heere is the expressing of Gods inestimable goodnesse insomuch that in sted of executing the office of a teacher too shewe and declare how wee bee knit too our Lord Iesus Christ Saint Paule him self 〈◊〉 is astonished and as a man rauished intoo woonderment confeâ—sing that the wanâ—eth fit and sufficient wordes to expresse wel Gods grace in vouâ—safâ—ng too knit and vnite vs too his only sonne I haue told you 〈◊〉 alredy how wee â—ee 〈◊〉 of our Lord Iesus Christs 〈◊〉 and how wee bee his flesh It is not that wee bee taken out of his bodie for wee come of the linage of Adam but bycause wee liue of his owne substance according too this saying that his flesh is our meate and his blud our drink wherby he meaneth that wee liue in him howbeit spiritually In deede wee haue a common lyfe both too talke and too walk with all men which proceedeth not of the speciall grace of our Lord Iesus Christ. But yit the mouing which wee haue common with the brute beasts proceedeth also of him according as it is sayd that he was the lyfe of all things Yea and Saint Iohn passeth yit further saying that the woord that is to say our Lord Iesus Christ was too quicken men in that God hath giuen them this speciall priuiledge of hauing some vnderstanding and discretion But when the spirituall lyfe which wee haue with the sonne of God is spoken of that is a thing aboue nature For although wee haue not any woorthinesse or excellencie when wee come out of our moothers womb yit remayneth there alwayes some print and image of god And yit for all that wee bee so cursed in our owne nature and so miserable that wee bee called euen deceassed and dead And that is the cause why our Lord Iesus Christ sayeth that the houre is come that the dead which are as rotten carkesses in the graue shall heare the voyce of the sonne of god And Saint Paul hath sayd in the second Chapter that when wee bee reformed by our Lord Iesus Christ then wee lyue whereas erst wee were dead in our sinnes and trangressions bycause wee receyue that
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
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
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