is possible Therefore for bycause there haue alwayes bin so many yea and to many that bring their owne consciences a fleepe S. Paule in this place lyke as also in the â—â—ft too the Romanes setteth downe the trâ—w peace which is that when wee come vntoo God and must present our selues before his Maiestie wee bee sure that he will pitie vs and not lay our sinnes to our chage but receyue vs as his owne children Then if we intend to enoye this spirituall peace which passeth all the goods of the world let vs â—earne too haue warre with our selues And how is that It is first too knowe that wee bee damned and forlorne and that there is no hope of remedie for vs wherby too get out of the pit of destruction agein except wee bee recouered by meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ. When wee bee so bereft of all vntoward selftrust in our own deserts and knowe that wee bee emptie and starke naked let vs repayre as poore beggers vntoo God that is the thing that is requisite for the atteynment of trew peace And by the way also let vs not thinke too gayne any thing by being blockishe â–ª so wee should fallâ— sleepe in this world bnt let vs vnderstand that forasmuch as wee haue no certeyne tyme appoynted vs it is our duetye to summon our selues euening and morning before God and too examine our sinnes throughly and too bee both sorie and ashamed of them When wee haue once learned too make warre thus ageinst our owne vyces and too plye it throughly without Hipocrisie and counterfetting then are wee in the hygh way too the peace which our Lord Iesus Christ dooth publish and preache vntoo vs euery day by the Gospell And that is the very cause why S. Paule sayeth expresly that by him wee haue enterance in vntoo the father As if he should say that no vnbeleeuers no heathenish worldlinges no mockers of God no dullardes which thinke not of their euerlasting saluation can by any meanes taste of what valew the peace is which wee obteyne by the Gospell or conceyue how precious and amyable it is And why For they put too many scarfes before their faces too keepe them from beyng abashed at Gods Iustice and from beyng striken with terrour of their sinnes Too bee shorte they make themselues wilfully drunken that they myght haue a senslesse conscience and they bereâ—ue themselues of all vnderstanding as though they were brute beastes But when wee consider that all our welfare consisteth in beyng able too haue all our recourse vntoo God and that our comming too him is certeine also yea and that the way is open for vs too go thither familiarly surely then will wee forget all other things and long too bee made parttakers of our Lord Iesus Christ and too bee vnited intoo his body too the ende that God may receyue vs and wee call vppon him with full trust in our necessitie and settle our selues vppon the loue that he beareth vs not doubting but that whatsoeuer is offered vs in the Gospell is all one as if God vttered his hart among vs. Now S. Paule hauing spoken of the preaching of the Gospell addeth purposely In one Spirit He had sayd afore that wee bee all knit toogither in the flesh of our Lord Iesus Christ namely â–ª for that he tooke our nature vpon him by that meanes abolished and tooke away the cursednesse that was in Adam Neuerthelesse the dooing therof in the person of the sonne of God were not ynough if the Gospell wer not as a meane to him Now therfore for a third poynt S. Paule addeth that wee must communicate all of one spirit For although the Gospell bee preached yit are there manie stubborne persons and others so beâ—narled in this world that they thinke no more of the heauenly lyfe than doggs and Swyne doo Othersome agein are so saped in their hipocrisie that although God doo call vs all and allure vs sweetly too him in the person of his sonne the number of them that come vntoo God is verye small For this cause S. Paule sayth that wee must haue Gods spirit For it is certein that by nature wee bee variable and not only euery one of vs will needs haue his opinion by himselfe but also wee change euery minute of an houre by meanes whereof wee bee so farre of from beeing all of one accorde that none of vs abydeth setled in his opinion from morning to nyght except he bee gouerned of god It standeth vs then on hand when wee heare the Gospell preached too haue Gods spirit to guyde and gouerne vs soo as wee may throughly imbrace our Lord Iesus Christ and by him haue accesse too the father Now therfore wee must beare in mynd first that when our Lord Iesus Christ exhorteth vs by his ministers according also as S. Paule sayeth in the second too the Corinthians wee ought too bee well dispozed too come vnto him yea and to runne vntoo him euen with inforcing our selues aboue all power of man For when wee haue doone what wee can yit shall wee haue none accesse vntoo him but all our indeuer shall rather bee a retyring backe than a going foreward vnlesse his spirit guyde vs So much the more then doth it stand vs on hand too pray God too touch vs with his holy spirit to cause him to make vs way vnto him as is sayd in the eyght to the Romans and as we haue seene also lykewyse too the Galathians For there S. Paule putteth a difference betwixt Gods children and the Reprobats Wee sayeth he haue the spirit of adoption wherby wee crye Abba father Wee should not knowe him of our selnes sayeth he bycause there is nothing in vs but infirmitie and it were too great a rashnesse in vs too call God our father But when God hath once sealed the truth of his Gospell in vs by his holie spirit and inlyghtened vs inwardly so as wee know it is he that speaketh and thertoo hath assured vs of his goodnesse and mercie then may wee freely and with open mouth crye out that he is our father And soo yee see in effect what wee haue too beare in mynd too the intent that none of vs trust too his owne brayne when the Gospell is preached vnto him but that in cosideration of the rudenesse and weaknesse that is in vs wee suffer our selues too bee gouerned by Gods spirit which is the chefe kye wherby the gate of paradise is opened vnto vs And for that cause also is it sayd that wee must be besprinckled with the blud of our Lord Iesus Christ as S. Peter termeth it in his first Epistle For the same cause also the Apostle in the Epistle to the Hebrewes sayth that Iesus Christ was offred vp in spirit meaning that his sacrifyze wherby he purchaced vs ryghtuousnes should still be as a vayne thing to vs if the holie Ghost wrought not in it by his powre And S. Paul
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
darknesse of this world euen the wicked spirites that are aboue To bee sâ—ort wee must indure continuall conflict ageinst the world the flesh and the diuell And this warfare is to be susteyned and borne out not by our owne strength and policie but by the power and wisdome of Christ in vs Agein the scripture telleth vs that as long as wee lyue in this world bee wee neuer so foreward willing and circumspect in our doyngs our knowledge is vnperfect our loue vnperfect our fayth vnperfect and all our ryghtuousnesse is as a defyled cloth so that euen the godlyest 〈◊〉 holyest men that euer were are or shal bee must bee faine 〈◊〉 confesse with Dauid that onely those are blissed whose 〈◊〉 are forgiuen and whose iniquities are couered and too 〈◊〉 out with the Publicane God bee mercifull too mee wretâ—â—ed sinner alwayes yeelding him this prayse that it is onâ—â—â—he which forgiueth all our sinnes and healeth all our infyrâ—â—â—ities For if wee thinke wee haue no sinne or that wee may â—ee quyte and cleane rid of sinne so long as wee beare the â—arthly tabernacle of this frayle body of fleshe and blud about 〈◊〉 wee deceyue our selues and the truth is not in vs Therefore wee must hold fast the foundation too the ende which foundation is the free forgiuenesse of sinnes through Iesus Christ beleeuing and hoping to bee iustifyed that is too say to bee accepted for innocent and ryghtuous and to bee indewed with power of the holy Ghost not by the deedes of the Lawe nor by our owne workes or inuentions but by the obedience and ryghtuousnesse of christ And therewithall vppon assured trust of his strength and assistance wee must fyght manfully ageinst our owne lustes and ageinst all maner of temptations and crosses with the weapons of Gods word continuall and hartie repentance feruent prayer often fasting and earnest indeuer of amendment so as wee suffer not sinne to ouermayster vs and too reigne in our mortall bodyes by our fulfylling of the lustes therof but delyght in the lawe of God with the inward man that is too say vnfeynedly with the whole hart for as God requyreth truth in the inward partes so hateth he the deceytfull man. So then wee must nother finne wilfully and presumptuously nor despayre and shrinke away from God when wee haue sinned nor play the hypocrites in iustifying our selues towardes God or the world But lyke as wee must continually pray God to keepe vs from presumptuous sinnes and beware in any wise that they get not the vpper hand of vs so when wee haue offended by what meane so euer it be or how often so euer it bee as who is he that sinneth not Or rather who can tell how oft he offendeth Wee must ryse agein continually by repentance and fayth so as although our sinnes seeme neuer so greeuous and heynous in our owne eyes yit must we yeeld God the honour as well of faythfulnesse and mercy in pardoning our often manifold and greeuous falles as of ryghtuousnesse in sanctifying vs with the fruites of true godlynesse and of strength in vpholding and mainteyning vs by the mighty power of his spirit or of Iustice in correcting and punishing vs for our misdeedes and offences For wee bee sure that if any of vs doo sinne wee haue a faythfull aduocate with the father euen Iesus Christ the rightuous who is the attonement maker for our sinnes and not for our sinnes onely but also for the sinnes of the whole world Insomuch that if it were possible for one man to haue in him the full gilt and greeuous burthen of all the particular sinnes of all men yit ought not the same man too despayre or to doubt of the cleere forgiuenesse and vtter release therof vpon his hartie repentance and vnfeyned amendment so long as Christ lyueth and sitteth at the right hand of God making intercession for vs For lyke as God himselfe is infinite so is his mercy infinite also towardes all such as take hold of it by fayth in Iesus Christ. And too the intent wee should take hold of it he assureth vs of it with an othe saying as truely as I lyue I desyre not the death of a sinner but rather that he should turne from his wickednesse and liue and in what houre so euer he repenteth him of his sinnes from the bottom of his hart I will put all his wickednesse out of my rememberance sayeth the lord Moreouer although we indeuer to keepe a cleare conscience towardes God and to leade a blamelesse lyfe through charitie towardes men according to the prescript rule of Gods lawe yit our so doyng must not be with intent too purchace grace fauour or ryghtuousnesse therby at Gods hand for that belongeth onely vnto Christ and no man liuing shall be iustifyed by the deedes of the lawe nor to glorify our selues to the worldward for whosoeuer seeketh the glory of men is destitute of the glory of God and hath receyued his reward already but onely to glorify God 〈◊〉 shewing foorth the myghtie woorking of his spirit in vs â—o 〈◊〉 benefite of our neyghbours to thâ— stablishing of our owne â—â—â—sciences in the faith and to the confuzion and shame of 〈◊〉 â—duersaries which doo slaunderously misreport the docâ—â—â— of saluation which wee professe 〈◊〉 wee deale after this maner then dooth Gods woord put 〈◊〉 of all doubt that sinne shall not get the vpper hand of 〈◊〉 bycause wee bee not vnder the lawe but vnder grace And 〈◊〉 continuall mainteyning renewing of the battell ageinst 〈◊〉 the world and our owne flesh assureth vs that although 〈◊〉 bee neuer so full of infirmities yit are wee graffed intoo â—hrist and growen into him by resembling his death in that 〈◊〉 haue crucifyed and dayly labour to crucifye the old man 〈◊〉 him by meanes wherof wee growe vp agein intoo the â—â—â—enesse of his resurrection through newnesse of lyfe to the â—â—ory of God for euer Finally it warranteth vs that wee bee 〈◊〉 grounded and setled in Gods Election so as wee cannot 〈◊〉 any wyse perish For Satan is not diuided ageinst himselfe 〈◊〉 worldlinges hate not the world nor the things therin â—â—esh and blud mislyke noâ— the corruption of the old Adam other can any man come vnto Christ except the father draw 〈◊〉 Now then seeying that to striue ageinst sinne and too 〈◊〉 continually by repentance after the maner afore mentioâ— ed and to doo all things of mere loue commeth not of our 〈◊〉 for the naturall man is not obedient to Gods will noâ—â—er can bee but of God the father of all mercy comfort and 〈◊〉 from whom euery good and perfect gift commeth who 〈◊〉 of his owne free goodnesse worketh in vs both the wyll 〈◊〉 the performance therof by the power of his spirit And â—â—eyng that the sheading of his spirit after that sort into our â—â—rtes beyng the earnest penny of
acknowledgeth 〈…〉 children Seyng then that God had an eye vntoo vs in the 〈…〉 of Iesus Christ it followeth that he fyndeth not any thing in 〈…〉 wee myght lay before him too cause him too elect vs This 〈…〉 is the thing that wee haue too remember further 〈…〉 afterward that it is too the end we should be pure 〈…〉 before God namely in Loue. This woord Loue 〈…〉 referred vntoo God as if it were sayd that wee shall fynde 〈…〉 reason why God voutsafed too take vs for his children but 〈…〉 owne free loue Or else as it is verye lyke S. Paule 〈…〉 what the trew soundnesse and perfection of the faythfull is 〈…〉 too walk in all rightuousnesse before god Wee cannot laye 〈…〉 the whole as now but it shall suffyze too tell breefly whertoo 〈…〉 had an eye For he sheweth heere that although Gods 〈…〉 free and doo beate downe and put away all the woorthinesse 〈…〉 and vertewes of men yet notwithstanding it serueth not to 〈…〉 leaue too doo euill and too lead a disordered lyfe or too runne at rouers but rather too withdraw vs from the euil wherin wee were plundged For naturally wee can doo nothing eâ—se but prouoke Gods wrath wickednesse will alwayes reigne in vs wee bee hild downe vnder the bonds and tyranny of Satan God therfore must bee fayne too woorke too change vs for all goodnesse coÌ„meth of his election sayeth S. Paule Yee see then that the thing wheruntoo he ment too bring the faythfull was to make them knowe that lyke as God choze them of his owne free goodnesse so he gyueth them not leaue too yeeld themselues to naughtinesse but intendeth too keepe and preserue them vndestâ—ed too himselfe For Gods chozing of vs and his calling of vs therwithall vnto holynesse are things matched insâ—perably togither accordingly also as S. Paule sayeth in another text that wee be not called to vncleâ—enesse fâ—â—thinesse but to be dedicated too God in all godlynesse and holynesse Now forasmuch as we cannot lay foorth the whole at this tyme let vs looke too make our profit of this Lesson And seing wee bee now about too prepare our selues to the receyuing of our Lord Iesus Christs supper which is a pawne vntoo vs as well of our election as of the hope of our saluation and of all the spiriâ—uall benefyts that come foorth of this welspring and fountaine of Gods free goodnesse let vs consider that there he vttereth his riches vntoo vs not too the end that wee should abuse them but rather of purpose too be glorified for them at our hands not only with our mouthes but also with our whole lyues And forasmuchas wee hold all things of him let vs also learne too bee his and too giue ouer our selues too the obeying of him that he may inioy vs quietly And let vs alwayes shoote at this mark namely too get a sure warrant that he taketh and auoweth vs for his children by bearing his marks by shewing in bery deede that wee bee rightly gouerned by his holy spirit in calling vppon him as our father Thus yee see in effect what wee haue too marke in this text till the residew may followe Now let vs fall down before the maiestie of our good God with acknowledgmeâ—t of our faults praying him too make vs feele them in such wise as wee may continually profit in his feare and be strengthened more and more in the same in the meane whyle so to beare with our weaknesse as wee may alwayes inioy his grace euen till he haue set vs in possession of all things at such time as he shall haue doone away our sinnes and blotted them quite out for our Lord Iesus Christs â—ake And salet vs all say Almightie God heauenly father c. ¶ The third Sermon vppon the first Chapter 〈…〉 hath choozen vs in Christ before the foundation of the 〈…〉 too the end vvee should bee holy and vnblamable 〈…〉 him in Loue. 〈…〉 hath predestinated vs too adopt vs too himself by 〈…〉 Christ according too the good pleasure of his vvill 〈…〉 the praise of the glory of his grace vvherethrough he 〈…〉 accepted vs in his vvelbeloued I Began too shewe you this morning that it is not lawfull for vs too take libertie too loocenesse vnder colour that God hath chozen vs before the making of the world as though it were meete for vs too giue ouer our selues too all naughtinesse bycause wee cannot perishe seyng that God hath taken vs for his children For wee must not put the thinges a sunder which he hath 〈…〉 toogither Seyng then that he hath chozen vs too bee holy 〈…〉 in purenesse of lyfe our election must bee as a roote that 〈…〉 good fruites For so long as God lettes vs alone in our owne 〈…〉 wee can doo nothing but all manner of naughtinesse bycause 〈…〉 so great corruption and frowardnesse in maâ—â—es nature that 〈…〉 they thinke or doo is contrarie too Gods rightuousnesse 〈…〉 there is none other shift but too bee chaunged by god And 〈…〉 â—ommeth this chaunge but onely of the grace that wee spake 〈…〉 for that he did elect and chooze vs for his children before 〈…〉 borne intoo the world Herewithall wee haue too marke 〈…〉 that God letteth his choozen ones go for a tyme so as they 〈…〉 too bee strayd away vtterly lost yit bringeth them home 〈…〉 too his flocke when it pleaseth him And that serueth too 〈…〉 the more and too make his goodnesse and mercy so much the 〈…〉 knowen too the whole world If God should make all his 〈…〉 too walke in perfectnesse of conuersation euen from their 〈…〉 it should not bee so well discerned that the same 〈…〉 of the grace of his holy spirit But when wretched folke that lyued looâ—ely and were giuen too all naughtinesse for a time are quite chaunged that cannot come too passe without Gods woorking putting too of his hand Thus yee see that the cause why God delayeth the calling of those whom he had chozen is say I too touche them too the quicke by his holy spirit that he may make them too walke in his obedience For when wee see them refourmed vpon the suddayne and beyond the common expectation and opinion of men therin we perceyue that God hath vttered his power in them as I sayde afore And agein on the other part euery of vs is conuicted by experience that wee bee beholden too God for all the good that is in vs For when wee bee naturally inclyned too any vyce and afterward the same is corrected wee perceyue well that God hath looked mercifully vppon vs Yee perceyue then that wee haue so much the more cause too humble vs seyng wee were in the way of perdition till he had drawen vs out of it And it standeth vs in hand too mark that well For there are some fantasticall heades which imagin that God dooth so guyde his chozen ones by his holy spirit that they bee sanctifyed
to the prince of the aire according as he hath all power in the vvorlde according too the spirit that ruleth all the vnbeleeuers His talking after that maner is too shewe that till God haue quickened vs by meanes of our Lord Iesus Chryst vntill he haue gathered vs vnto him the diuell hath dominion ouer vs See I pray you what the dignitie of men is vntill Iesus Christ haue raunsomed them They dye not once and away but euerlastingly and he must bee fayne by his Gospell to make them parttakers of the saluatinn which he hath purchased for them Then vntyll God haue wrought in vs by his grace whose are wee The diuels he is our prince Too bee short he hath all authoritie ouer vs and ruleth vs with such tyranny as there is nothing but haling of vs too him by force But S. Paule vseth this word Spirit purposely to shew that the diuell ruleth all our thoughts all our affections and all our desyres that he possesseth vs and that wee bee all wholly his bondslaues At a woord wee cannot stirre one finger wee cannot once moue wee cannot thinke one thought but the diuell is at our elbowe and haleth vs in such wyse as wee vtterly become deadly enemyes too god When wee heare these things it is no time for vs too fall a sleepe and too flatter our selues nor too bee so lustie and presumptuous as too go too lawe still with God as though there were some goodnesse in vs that he were bouÌ„d to acknowledge our vertues Must not men needes bee too farre out of their wittes when they continue still in their hipocrisie and will needes stand too their tackeling ageinst God and win him by their replying after that the holy Ghost hath thundred so dreadfull and horrible a sentence vppon our heades Then if a man bee considered in himselfe and in his owne nature what shall he bee able too say Behold a creature cursed of God and woorthie too bee cast out of the common account of all other creatures yea euen of woormes flyes lyce and vermine For there is more valour in any vermin in the world than there is in man For man is a creature wherein Gods image is defaced and the good that he had put in it corrupted there is nothing in it but sinne insomuch that wee bee the diuells limbes and he not onely ruleth vs but also possesseth vs and is our prince Bee wee once throughly perswaded of this in our hartes shall wee not on the one side haue cause too runne quaking too our Lord Iesus Christ and too holde vs shrowded vnder the shadowe of his winges And on the other syde must it not needes bee a beastly blockishnesse if wee bee so thanklesse as not too magnifie Gods goodnesse in that he hath drawen vs out of such a dungeon vntoo himselfe too make vs fellowes and brethren not onely of the Angells of heauen but also of our Lord Iesus Christ who is the Lord of glory thereby too put away all reproche and in stead of being hatefull too all creatures too make vs beare his marke and too bee honored and too bee imbraced of the Angells as their brethren and too bee auowed of our Lord Iesus Christ as members of his bodie So then now wee see S. Paules meaning And further too the intent that all replying should ceasse he sheweth what the power of the diuell is For he could haue sayd in one woord yee haue liued after the maner of the world that is too say diuelishly â—for so doeth the thing that he speaketh import but in sted of naming the diuell in one woord he sayeth first according too the prince that hath his povver in the aire and the spirit that vvoorketh euen novv in the rebellious children In saying the prynce that hath his power in the aire he disappoynteth vs of all starting holes For it is not for nâ—ught that the diuell is named the prince of the world and yit it is not for that he reygneth ouer the sonne the moone the starres the skyes and the earth but for that he holdeth vs captiue in his bondes bycause wee bee not woorthie too bee gouerned by god For had Adam continued in the soundnesse wherin God created him God woold haue hild vs as his children But after the fall of our first father God left vs and Satan tooke vs in possession True it is that Satan cannot doo any thing at all without Gods leaue for wheras he is named the prince of the woorld it is not ment that he fyghteth in such wyse ageinst God as it cannot bee knowen who is the stronger that were a cursed blasphemie and lyke these heretikes which seeing such phrases in the scripture haue imagined that the diuell dooth now and then resist God and that he hath such force and power that God is fayne sometymes too giue him place But such woordes are stark madnesse Neuerthelesse this souereintie of Satan is Gods iust vengeance according as it is sayd that he deliuereth vs intoo the handes of our enemyes when wee cannot abyde that he should reigne ouer vs And so is that thing fulfilled and verefyed in vs all Forasmuch as God hath printed his mark in vs wee ought too bee gouerned by his spirit but our father would needes exalt himselfe he would needes set vp his bristles ageinst God and he was not contented with his owne state and boundes Forasmuch therfore as he rebelled in that wyse and could not fynd in his hart too abyde the souerein dominion of God he was giuen vp too the diuell and made subiect too him and forasmuch as he could not abyde that God should reigne ouer him he was fayne too haue another mayster and that subiection must reach vntoo all men in generall So then let vs marke that the souerenitie tyrannie of the diuell is a iust vengeance of God vppon men for their sinne Let that serue for one poynt And therfore let vs not imagine that the diuell hath the reynes of the brydle layd looce in his necke or that he hath libertie too doo what he liste though God withstand him but that wee bee left vp and giuen ouer vntoo him And too the intent wee may yit better knowe this subiection S. Paule sayeth that he is in the aire as he will speake more at large ageyn in the ende of the Epistle He could haue sayd simply according too the prince that hath great power according as our Lord Iesus sayeth that he is the strong man which possesseth the world in peace Yee see then that the diuell is called a prince bycause he hath such power as wee bee not able too withstand And besides that S. Paule giueth him his place in the ayre Not that the diuels are inclozed in a place certeine for wee our selues see that they enter intoo mens bodies yea and into the bodyes of Swyne after as our Lord giueth them leaue and power But he speaketh purposely of the ayre
withdrawe our selues from all the defilements of the world Heere yee see that the Lawe which God hath giuen vs too rule our lyfe by must continew still for that is not abolished but only that which consisted in traditions and in the figures that serued but for the tyme and were too haue an end by Iesus Christ. Now seing it behoueth vs too giue ouer the shadowes that were vsed and had their full scope in the tyme of Moyses and the Prophetes it is much more reason that the Christian Church should not now adayes bee burdened with mens inuentions According wherunto S. Paule â—elleth vs that we must content our selues with Gods Lawe which serueth too shewe vs how wee may be vnblamable that is too wit by walking in ryghtuousenesse Iustice faythfulnesse and mercy and specially by calling vppon God purely and after a spirituall manner Marke that for one poynt Agein he sayth that the shadowes of the Law should in these dayes not only be superfluous but also as a curtaine to keepe vs still in darknesse and too let vs from seeing our Lord Iesus Christ as wee ought too doo in the mirror of his Gospell Therfore let vs conclude that the ryghtuousenesse which God requyreth at our handes is another maner of one than that which the papistes haue imagined for all the thinges which they terme Gods seruice are but starke gewgawes Yea and wheretoo serue they all but onely too deface the peculiar operation of our Lord Iesus Christ For the poore ignorant soules are hilde fast too them and stand poring altoogither vppon them When I speake of ignorant soules I meane the ablest sort of them euen thosâ— that thinke themselues too â—ee of greatest capacitie for they are all intangled lyke wreâ—chd beastes And therefore let vs learne too holde vs too the singlenesse of the Gospell and too looke vppon our Lord Iesus Christ there lyke as he also 〈◊〉 familiarly vntoo vs too the intent wee myght bee aduaunced by him and boldly call God our father and flee too him for refuge not doubting but that he wil bee neere vs whensoeuer wee cal vppon him in truth Now let vs cast our selues downe before the Maiestie of our good God with acknowledgement of our faults praying him that his making of vs too feele them more and more may cause vs too forsake them by true repentaunce and too walke continually aright and too giue our selues too holy conuersation And that forasmuch as wee bee so weake that there will alwayes â—ee manie vices in vs it may please him too hold vs vp till he haue taken vs out of he world and throughly fashioned vs lyke too his owne image according too the ground worke which he hath begun in vs And so let vs all say Almighty God heauenly father c. The .xiiii. Sermon which is the sixth vppon the second Chapter 16 Iesus Christ hath reconcyled vs both in one body too the end too knit both the one and the other vntoo God by his crosse killing the enmitie therby 17 And being come be preached peace too you that were farre of and too them that were nere hand 18 For by him both twayne of vs haue accesse too the father in one spirit 19 Therfore yee be no more straungers and forreyners but fellowe citizens with the Saints and household folke of God. WEe haue seene this morning how S. Paul hath told vntoo such as were erst without hope of saluation that they were so much the more bound vntoo God for his calling of them too bee of the number of his children seeyng it was not a common and ordinarie thing nor a thing that was looked for On the other syde he did also beate downe all pryde too the intent that the Iewes myght not thinke in themselues that the priuiledge of adoption was of their owne purchacing nor vaunt themselues though God had preferred them before all the rest of the world And now goyng foreward still with the same matter he sayeth that wee vvere reconcyled as vvel the one syde as the other by the death of Iesus Christ and that in so dooyng he hath knit vs toogither intoo one body putting all enmitie too death by his crosse This serueth too expresse better the thing that wee haue seene already He had sayd that wee must come vntoo God by the meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ for without him wee bee all a farre of as well Iewes as Gentyles bycause wee bee all sinners and God in an enemye too vs till his wrath bee appeazed towardes vs Now S. Paule sheweth that that is done by his bearing of our sinnes vppon his crosse For it is by his obedience that all our iniquities are put awaye and it is by his sacrifyzce that our sinnes are washt away To bee short were it not for the death and passion of our Lord Iâ—sus Christ wee should stand bound still in the hand wryting that is spoken of in the second too the Colossians For if wee should come too reckening who durst open his mouth too excuze himself before God or looke too scape the damnation that all of vs haue deserued For if wee should go about too alledge but one poynt there would bee a thousand too stop our mouthes so as wee should bee driuen too stand still all confounded till wee came too the remedie that is too wit that Iesus Christ hath by his death made so full satisfaction for all our dettes that wee bee quitted and released That then is the thing which S. Paule handleth as now too the end wee myght knowe what maner of accesse it is that he speaketh of For too preace intoo Gods presence in cace as wee bee of our selues were too great a boldnesse But when it is told vs that God wil not lay our sinnes and misdeeds to our charge bycause Iesus Christ hath put them all away by his death then is it no rashnesse at all for vs too go vntoo God with our heades bolt vpryght but we haue a good foundation and a boldnesse that God lyketh well of Therfore as oft as wee haue occasion too pray or too fyght ageinst anie temptations let vs learne too knowe that wee haue neede too bee incoraged too patience and too bee asserteyned of the euerlasting lyfe and too repayre all wholly for refuge too the death and passion of the sonne of God knowing that vntill such tyme as wee bee dipped in his blud and washed by the woorking of his holie spirit wee shall euermore bee lothely and God will iustly shake vs of and bee alwayes a iudge too vs in sted of being our father And it is not ynough too knowe that Iesus Christ hath made amendes for vs yea and that all things requysyte too our saluation were fully accomplished and performed by his death and passion but wee must also therwithall receyue the benefyte thereof in such maner as it is ministred vntoo vs For what shall it auayle the Iewes Turkes and other lyke that Gods sonne
our harte too shewe that wee bee his for being once Baptyzed with water wee doo all heare Iesus Christ according as it shewed vs by that visible signe And now that Baptin is ordeyned shall euery man haue a Baptim of his owne by himselfe No but Baptim is alwayes but me And therfore wee must haue an eye too our selues and dedicate our selues too the one only God and too the one only Saâ—iour Iesus Christ and for performance therof we must also be well vnited togither And by these woordes of S. Paules wee may see playnly that the father the sonne and the holy Ghost are but one god For if Baptim bee in such wyse one as it serueth too bring vs too an vnitie of body and soule that is to say to a brotherhood that passeth all the allyances of the world what shall it bee when wee come vntoo God of whom Baptim taketh all the power that it hath â–ª And what is God He is not only the father but Iesus Christ is ioyned with him and also the holy Ghost So theÌ„ let vs mark that there is truly 〈◊〉 in the essence of God and that although there bee distinction of persons yit is not God separated nor deuyded in himself And although the father bee named simply God as Saint Paul will speake therof heerafter that is in respect of the 〈◊〉 and order and for that be is the head of him which was sent too bee the mediator bycause Iesus Christ abaced himself and although he had 〈◊〉 shape vntoo God as sayeth Saint Paule and that it had hi◠〈…〉 for him too haue shewed himself in such souerein maiestye yit it was his will 〈…〉 himself yea and too emptie himself vtterly But howsoeuer it bee yit wee see that Baptim leadeth vs ryght vntoo god And therby wee see that which wee haue touched heertoofore â–ª which is that if our peace and concord bee not grounded in God and we gouerned by him according to his woord and by the power of his holy spirit there is nothing but lothlynesse in vs But if wee bee touched too the quicke with that which is sayd vnto vs heere that is to wit that Iesus Christ hath linked vs too him with condition that wee also should linke one with another wee shall bee hild in such concord as the diuell shall not bee able too win so much at our handes as too separate vs from the flocke but wee shall ouercome all temptations and where there bee any vyces and infirmities wee shall beare with them myldly and paciently and continue in the holy vnion whertoo wee be dayly exhorted by the Gospell and by the common Baptim which wee haue receyued Now let vs cast our selues downe before the maiestie of our good God with acknowledgment of our faultes praying him too make vs so too perceyue them as wee may mislyke more and more of them and runne backe vntoo him with trew repentance too obteyne such grace of him as wee may withdrawe our selues from all defylementes and by that meane learne too be vnabashed or vndismayed for any assaults of Satan and bee able too ouercome them all with all the hardnesse that he can trump in out way too turne vs out of the pathe of saluation That it may please him too graunt this grace not onely too vs but also to all people and nations of the earth c. The .xxiii. Sermon which is the third vppon the fourth Chapter 6. There is one God and father of all vvhich is aboue all things â–ª and through all things and in you all 7. But grace is giuen too euery one of vs according too the measure of Christes gift 8. For the vvhich thing he sayeth When he went vp on high he led a multitude of prisoners into captiuitie and gaue giâ—ts vntoo men WEe haue seene heeretoofore that God forgat not any meane that myght knit vs togither in trew concord and brotherhood For he hath dedicated vs all too himselfe by Baptim wherein wee put on Christ. Forasmuch as wee hee come toogither intoo the Church lyke as wee bee called vntoo one selfsame lyfe too bee heires all togither of the kingdome of heauen so ought we too know who is the Maister that hath authoritie ouer vs Too bee short God is in such wyse our father and wee his children as he will not haue vs too bee at discord for otherwyse it were but a setting of trubble in his owne house and Churche Seeyng wee bee members of our Lord Iesus Christ it is meete that wee should link toogither in trew vnitie or else wee shall as much as in vs lyeth teare his body in peeces Yit notwithstanding too the intent that this vnitie myght touche vs the better S. Paule addeth now that God beyng the father of all the faythfull sheadeth out his power and grace vppon them and is aboue all things as it were too gather them intoo one Too bee short he so dwelleth in them by his holy spirit that they must needes bee one body vnlesse they will needes turne away from him Yee see then that the reason why God is our father is not onely that he hath once created vs or that he hath begotten vs agein by his Gospell but bycause he hath shed out his grace vppon vs as I sayd and agein for that he is aboue all Yee see then that the meane wherby God linketh vs one with another is his casting of his beames as it were sunne beames from heauen so as wee must needes come toogither intoo one sith wee know whence the things come that belong too our spirituall lyfe namely of Gods gift towardes vs And this is not too scatter vs a sunder but rather too gather vs toogither intoo one body But the last wordes doo yit better lay open the mynd of S. Paule namely that God is in vs. Then if euery of vâ— know that God dooth him so much grace and honour as to take him for his house too dwell in there is no excuce for vs if wee bee at variance and hatred and euery man would bee separated from other and liue too himselfe too the vtter ouerthrow of all order which God hath set if it were possible Besyds this Saint Paule speaketh not heere of the grace that is common too all men but he treateth of the Churh and sheweth that wee ought too link toogither bycause God hath adopted vs and taken vs too bee of his houshold It is trew that God hath declared sufficiently that wee haue nother strength nor liuelinesse but aâ— his hand and for that cause dooth Saint Paule saye that it is hee in whom wee haue our lyfe mouing and being But this is generall to all things And in that respeâ—â— also is it sayd in the first of Saint Iohn that our Lord Iesus hath bin the lyfe of men from the Creation of the world Howbeeit forasmuch as men haue a more excellent priuilege than the bruce beasts it is sayd that he is
would haue kept himself from dooing so vnlawfull and vtterly vnexcusable a deede And therfore let vs beware let vs I say beware that we suffer not our selues too bee blynded after that fashyon by Satan and so rocked aslepe as wee consider not what is told vs here namely that if wee haue receyued anie grace or gift at Gods hand wee must set more store by it and put it too such vse as God may bee glorifyed and his Church furthered by it or else wee shall haue a dreafull account too make for giuing cause so of offence too the weake And it had bin better that that filthie trash had bin consumed a hundred tymes with fyre than too haue bin so brought foorth in open place in the syght of all such as lye in wayt for vs a farre of For of a truthe wee knowe well ynough that there are manie which watch vs and seeke nothing but too spye some cause too speake euill of vs not only too mocke vs for our labour for wee bee woorthie of that but too blaspheme Gods name Therfore if a man haue ouershot himself once it is good that he should bee warned of it that he may take better heede hereafter and that wee knowing that God hath bound vs so deeply vntoo him by exalting vs and by dooing vs more honour than we deserue in voutsafing too haue vs too bee his people and too make vs glorie of the hauing of the pure doctrine of his Gospell we may profit our selues the better by it and bee afrayd least if wee chaunge after that sort and become so rechelesse as too fall too taking of leaue too doo what wee list God shewe vs that he is able too take away the things that hee hath giuen vs and too dispossesse vs of them when he listeth Now Saint Paule addeth heere the maner how God is so liberall vntoo vs in Iesus Christ and yit notwithstanding dealeth the gifts of his holie spirit too eche man by certayne meazure not to euery man alyke but as he him self thinketh good He sayeth that this was done by our Lord lesus Christs ascending vp intoo Heauen For then did hee obteyne souerein dominion and the father gaue him a name which is aboue all names that all knees should how before him as it is sayd in another place In deede our Lord Iesus Christ receyued al fulnesse of grace at his comming intoo the world accordingly as S. Iohn sayeth in his first Chapter that al of vs receiue of him to the end wee may haue our fill of the good things wherof wee were hungrie and emptie before That was the cause then why the spirit was giuen him without measure as it is sayd in the same text And the faythfull bycause they be members of the Church haue receyued therof and God hath giuen too euery man his portion and according too the mesure of his only sonne But as for him God hath not giuen him his spirit by measure And why For hee is the head and euerye man must take his lyuelines from thence and he therwithal haue all power ouer vs Wherfore let vs bee contented that euery of vs hath his portion that wee may walk in feare before God and therwithall let vs vnderstand that the perfectnesse is in Iesus Christ bycause Gods spirit resteth in him and bothe greate and smal must bee fayne too repayre too him with acknowledgment of their pouertie too obteyne there the things that they want and not be ashamed to receyue Christs Almesse as they that are destitute of all good things Furthermore although our Lord Iesus Christ shewed himself too bee the only sonne of God whyle he was conuersant in this world proued the same by his wonders miracles and gifts Yit notwithstanding whē he ascended intoo heauen he shewed himself too bee the verye partie in deede which had commission of God his father too deale vntoo vs all things that we haue neede of And that is the cause why it is sayd in the seuenth of Saint Iohn that the holie Ghoste was not yit giuen bycause Iesus Christ was not yit glorified It is very certeyn that our Lord wrought euen then by the power of his holie spirit For when Saint Peter confessed him too bee the sonne of the liuing God it was answered him Flesh and blud hath not reueled this thing vntoo thee but my heauenly father Too bee short wee knowe well that there is nothing but euill in vs and that the good which God giueth vs is by his holie spirit and that all things are committed too our Lord Iesus Christ and that it belongeth too him too deale foorth his doctrine vnto vs according as it is told vs that it is his office and that the father hath giuen him speciall commission too deale his gifts vntoo vs And in deede it is a cause also why the Prophet Esay sayth that Gods spirit rested vppon him namely too shewe that if wee bee separated from him wee must needs perish as it were through drought and emptinesse But howsoeuer the cace stand wee must alwayes come backe too his poynt that the holie Ghost was then powred out vppon all the faythfull when our Lord Iesus Christ was exalted as it is sayd in the other text So then let vs mark that when our Lord Iesus Christ left the world and was receyued vp intoo his heauenly glorie it was too the end that wee should thenfforth inioy his goods so much the better And that is also the cause why he sayd too his disciples it is erpedient for you that I go away for if I taried still with you the holie Ghost should not come It is trew that our Lord Iesus Christ could well haue giuen them his spirit whyle he was conuersant with them after a visible fashyon as well as he did when he was gone out of the world But we must not dispute of this matter after our own fancie we must vnderstand that our Lord Iesus was humbled for a time yea and vtterly emptyed as wee shall see more at length agein hereafter but yit was he receyued intoo his heauenly glory too the intent he should haue souerein dominion and bee so exalted as all creatures myght stoope too him Thus yee see how our Lord Iesus Christes will was to absent himselfe from vs in his body too the intent wee myght the better feele his presence through his dwelling in vs by his holy spirit And that is the thing which S. Paule treateth of as now when he sayeth that for the same cause it is sayd that he vvent vp and gaue his gifts too men after he had led away his enemies prisoners Now this text which is alledged out of the threescore and eyght Psalme sheweth that God is verily exalted in the person of our Lord Iesus christ In deede in that song Dauid preacheth aud singeth the praise of God bycause that beyng stablished King of Israell and bearing the figure
vs by his meanes let vs learne to humble our selues not to clymb in such wise as he should be defrauded of his honor but confesse simply and without feyning that looke whatsoeuer is giuen vs through his free goodnesse he mainteyneth preserueth it moreouer increaceth and stablisheth it in vs more and more Furthermore let vs marke that wee cannot possesse the goods of our Lord Iesus Christ to take any profit by theÌ„ except we first inioy him And that is the cause why he giueth himself vnto vs And thinkes it not ynough to giue vs some part and portion of his rightuousnesse of his desertes by the sacrifyce of his death and passion of the obedience that he yeelded vnto God his father of all the giftes which he receiued fully of God his father I say he thinkes it not ynough to giue vs some part and portion of them in his Sacraments but he sayth I am yours possesse yee mee Then is it not ynough for vs too go seeke our wants at his hand that he may impart them to vs but wee must also consider first of all how he offereth himself vntoo vs and sayeth Lo heere my body which is deliuered for you lo heere my blud which shal be shed for the remission of your sinnes And this is doone too the ende that wee should know that he dwelleth in vs truly by his holy spirit that wee liue by his owne substance that it is not sayd heere without cause that the knitting of the bodye commeth of hym and that he is the furniture thereof and that forasmuch as wee want the grace and giftes that belong too our spirituall lyfe wee must drawe them out of that fountayne And if we resort to him with perseuerance in the fayth of the Gospell wee shall feele our selues more and more strengthened and stablished in all grace euen till he haue rid vs of all our imperfections infirmities too make vs inioy his heauenly glory with him Now let vs fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God with acknowledgment of our faultes praying him too make vs so too feele them as wee may be sory for them and therwithall too worke so in vs hereafter as wee may from day too day bee clenzed of all our imperfections and vyces more and more and that our Lord Iesus Christ who is the welspring of all purenesse may so shed foorth the grace of his holy spirit as wee may bee made newe creatures therby too doo our souerein king the honour that belongeth too him And so let vs all say Almighty God heauenly father â–ª c. The .xxviii. Sermon which is the eyght vppon the fourth Chapter 17. This I say therefore and adiure you by the Lord that hensfoorth yee vvalke not as the rest of the Gentyles which walke in vanitie of their mynd 18. Hauing their vnderstanding ouercast vvith darknesse and being straungers too the lyfe of God by reason of the ignorance that is in them and through the blyndnesse of their hart 19. VVho vvithout remorse of conscience haue giuen themselues ouer too leaudnesse too commit all vnclenenesse euen with inordinate greedinesse COnsidering howe corrupt wee bee by nature it is not ynough for vs too haue â—he good shewed vntoo vs vnlesse the vyâ—â—s that are rooted in vs bee also corrected lyke as it woulde smally boote too sowe corne in a ground that were ouergrowen with nettles shrewd weedes rushes and thornes And therefore notwithstanding that Saint Paule haue heretofore shewed the trew rule of godly lyfe yit he addeth as neede is that it standeth euery man on hand too bethinke himselfe too chaunge quyte and cleane and too become a newe man bycause that vntill God haue clenzed vs both in mynde and haâ—â— and in all partes of our soule there will neuer bee any thing but tilthinesse So then the doctrine that wee haue herd heretoofore should not boote vs if that which wee heare now presently had not bin added For weâ— knowe that the Ephesians too whom Saint Paule speaketh before they were conuerted too the fayth of our Lord Iesus Christ had liued a certeine tyme in ignorance and bin giuen too all naughtinesse and leaud lyfe euen too the vttermost Yit notwithstanding Saint Paul setteth it downe heere in generall that all they which haue not bin â—aught in Gods schoole are blynd wretches vnable too discrene betweene good and euill yea and staâ—ke beastes insomuch that euen with the very roote that commeth with them from their moothers womb euery man hardeneth more and more tyll they fall intoo such excesse that they become as monsters and appeare no more too bee creatures fashyoned after the image of god Yee see then that in effect Saint Paules intent is that after he hath declared Gods stablishing of his gouernment ouer vs Now too the end that our walking in this world should bee too go vnto God and too the heauenly lyfe wheruntoo he calleth vs he sheweth that wee shall neuer obey him nor bow our necke too receyue his yoke vntyll wee haue chaunged both our disposition and mynd and forsaken our selues by cause wee be vtterly corrupted And so there are twoo parts in the instruction that is giuen vs The one sheweth vs wheruntoo God calleth vs and the other that wee must fyght ageinst our owne sinfulnesse and vtterly imprison our selues that wee may become teachable too receyue the doctrine that God setteth out for vs Howbeeit for asmuch as that is hard too doo Saint Paule thinks it not ynough too giue vs single warning but also cyteth vs and after a sort setteth him in seat of Iustice before whom wee must yeeld an account too the intent too moue them and quicken them the more too whom he speaketh For it is no small thing to make men to renounce theÌ„selues considering how euery man sootheth himself and beleeueth that he is able to woork wonders Although he bee saped in naughtinesse yit thinks he that he hath some vertues in him Yea and although wee haue our faults proued too our faces yit will wee labour too cloke them through hipocrisie and too set some fayre colour and glosse vpon them or else we will maynteyne them wilfully and neuer yeeld our selues giltie though our shame lye open to the whole world To be short it is a very hard incounter when a maÌ„ must as well lay down all the wisdome which he weened himself â—oo haue in gouerning himself after his owne fancie as also tame his affections that he may bee subiect vntoo God and haue nothing in him self that shall stryue ageinst him For our flesh is too too stout in that behalf and wee heare how it is sayd in another text that all a mans thoughts and all that euer he can conceyue is emnitie ageinst god Lykewyse also it is sayd in Genesis yea euen at the tyme that the world had the greatest soundnesse that euer it had that whatsoeuer can come out of the warehouse of
is sorie or greeued And why Wee bee not Gods children as he speaketh of it in the Epistle too the Romanes except his holy Ghoste dwell in vs For are wee woorthie by nature too bee mustered in such aray as too bee fellowes with the Angells wee I say which are but rottennesse and moreouer cursed in Adam and chyldren of wrath Howbeeit God by his holy spirit calleth vs too this inestimable honour and dignitie of beeing his children so as wee may call vpon him as our father and haue familiar resort vntoo him That therfore is doone by the holy Ghoste and for the same cause is he called the spirit of adoption For the inheritance of heauen belongeth not too vs but in respect that wee bee Gods children Wee bee not so of our selues and by nature as I told you and therfore it followeth that it commeth of Gods freebestowed goodnesse Now hee sealeth vp all this in our harts by his holy Ghoste and that is the cause why it is sayd that wee haue a mortall bodie The thing that is ment heerby is not only our feete hands skin bone and flesh but that there is a lump of corruption in vs by reason of the dwelling of sin in vs which bringeth nothing but death For haue wee liued any tyme wee go away intoo dust and cindre and there is not that man which seeth not himself alredye beeseeged with a hundred deaths considering the diseases and infirmities wheruntoo wee bee subiect Agein age makes vs to stoope so as we perceyue a long whyle aforehand how we be summoned too come too our graue Seeing then that wee perceyue such a number of deathes all at once toogither in our bodies and a much greate dungeon in our soules how should wee hope that God would take vs vp intoo his kingdome But Saint Paule sayth that the spirit is lyfe If there bee but one grayne or one spark of the spirit of our Lord Iesus Christ in vs let vs assure our selues that wee shal be parttakers of his glorie for it is sayd that he is raysed agein from the dead and hath gotten the vpper hand of it by his holy spirit After that maner are wee quickened with him wayting till wee bee deliuered from all the corruptible nature that compasseth vs about And now S. Paule sayeth that wee bee sealed by the holy Ghost as is sayd of it in the first chapter heertoofore and in other places besyde as in the second to the Corinthians And this similitude is very fit For although Gods promises ought to be of sufficient authority to haue ful credit with vs of theÌ„selues yit notwithstanding such is our misbeeleef that wee cannot giue credit too them nor rest vppon them till they bee confirmed and warranted vntoo vs so as wee may say behold it is euen God himself that speaketh But what for that On the one syde we be forepossessed with distrust on the other syde we be alwayes doubtfull and misgiuing and cannot rest vpon the things that are told vs in Gods name By reason wherof his promises are alwayes vnauaylable vntill he print theÌ„ in our harts which thing he dooeth by his holie Ghost For as a peece of euidence is made authentical by setting too of the seale so God warranteth his promises of our saluation in our harts by signing and sealing of them there with his holy spirit That then is the cause why it is so often sayd that Gods spirit sealeth vp the inheritance of our saluation in our harts And for the same cause also is he named the earnest penny in another place For when a bargain is made although there bee no present payment seene yit if an earnest penny bee giuen the bargayne is concluded and the chapman cannot say afterward tush I repent mee of my bargayne and I willâ—forsake it nother can the other say I fynde my selfe deceyued and ouerseene and therfore I will rather keepe my wares styll but eche of them is bound the one too make the money and the other too deliuer his wares Euen so is it sayd that Gods spirit is the earnest penny of the lyfe of our soules And why For as I sayd God byndeth himself vntoo vs in respect of our infirmitie whertoo wee bee too much inclyned In deede it is not for that he oweth vs any thing but wee haue so much the more cause too magnifye his goodnesse in that he is so free harted as to bynd himselfe willingly vntoo vs wheras he oweth vs not any thing and vouâ—safeth too assure vs of it bycause he seeth vs so feeble and weake Lyke as when hee sweareth it is not for that he on his owne part needeth too adde any thing too his single woord for he himselfe is the truth and the thing that commeth of him must not bee doubted of It myght seeme therefore that the othe which he maketh is superfluous and that he dooth but abuse his owne name No but he dooeth it bycause he seeth vs weake and that wee haue neede too bee hild vp many wayes and specially bycause he seeth vs giuen too misbeliefe and therefore that he must bee fayne too remedie it So then whensoeuer God sweareth therin he stoopeth vntoo vs for pitie of our wretchednesse and the sealing and ratifying of his promyses in vs by his holy spirit is euen bycause it is impossible that wee of our selues should beleeue him and wee could not bee sure of the thinges that he promiseth vs to call vppon him and too ouercome all the temptations of the world vnlesse he vsed that meane And therefore wee haue so much the more neede too beare this text in mynd where S. Paule sayth that the holy Ghost sealeth in our hartes And hereupon wee may gather a good lesson to humble vs withal namely that wee shall neuer yeeld God the chiefe honour that he requyreth at our handes except he himself drawe vs too it and giue vs grace too discharge it whithall The thing that he requyreth aboue all other is that his woord haue all authoritie ouer vs and that wee yeeld it such reuerence as he may no sooner speake but wee shall by and by answer Amen that is too say as there may bee a ryght or full accord betwixt them That is the obedience of fayth which is the cheef sacrifyze that God requyreth But contrariwyse on our part there is nothing but replying ageinst Gods woord wee bee full of lustes and although wee seeme not too make vtter resistance ageinst him and too play the mad bedlems as many doo yit are wee giuen to a number of wicked imaginations as we see insomuch that some are as it were frantike specially when a man speakes too them of God for then will they haue their mouth open too spew out their blasphemies and too enter into disputation and debate shewing themselues vtterly vnwilling too receyue any good doctrine And othersome fall not intoo such furie and outrage but yit they let
the name of our Lord Iesus Christ and he beare with vs vntil he haue drawen vs quyte and cleane away from all the corruptions of the world and of our flesh and that wee bee so reformed as wee may seeke nothing but by all meanes too come too the perfect ryghtuousnesse wheruntoo he exhorteth vs And let vs all say Almyghtie God heauenly father The .xxxviii. Sermon which is the sixth vppon the fifth Chapter 18 â–ª And bee not drunken vvith vvine wherin is loocenesse but bee yee filled with the Spirit 19. Talking among you in Psalmes Praysinges and spirituall songs singing and making melodie in your hart too the Lord. 20. Giuing thankes alvvayes too our God and father â–ª for all things in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ â–ª 21. Beyng subiect one too another in the feare of God. WEe haâ—e seene this morning how God is offended when men abuze the benefytes which he would haue to be applyed â—o such end as he sheweth by his word therfore that all exceâ—â—e and drunkennesse ought too bee shunned of the faythfull bycause they knowe that God sheweth himself a father toowardes them by nurrishing them in this world howbeeit not as when they shal bee come too the heauenly heritage but by hauing at leastwyse some tast of his goodnesse for they be continualy confirmed in the hope which is giuen them by our Lord Iesus Christ. Now if in sted of beeing drawen vpward men become so brutish as to looze all reason and maÌ„hood it is an vtter peruerting of the order of nature it is as a defying of God for his owne benâ—fytes But yit when drunkenesse draweth a long tayle after it and men flush foorth into all leaâ—dnesse so as they bee past all shame and yit their shamefulnesse may make folke too loth and abhorre it the mischefe is increaced so much the more And therefore too the intent too kepe vs in sobrietie and orderly conuersation Saint Paule sayth wee must keepe our selues from being so ouercome and vanquished of wyne And now on the contrarie part he addeth that vvee must rather be filled vvith the Spirit For they that burst themselues so with eating and drinking and keepe no measure tyll they can no more doo well shewe that they haue no feeling of the kingdome of God ne neuer tasted what the heauenly lyfe is This remedie therefore is ryght conuenient too correct all the excesses and superfluities that reigne among heathenish men and such as neuer conceyued any incling of Gods grace and spirituall benefytes Lyke as if a man that were emptie should deuoure swallow vp al without chawing it were rather an ouerlaying of his stomack than a taking of sustenance and repast and therefore if another man sawe that vyce in him he would restreyne him euen so is it with all such as haue inordinate lustes it is a token that they bee too emptie And wherof Of fayth of the feare of God and of the ioy which is in the holy Ghost and that they know not a whit of Gods goodnesse and fauour toowardes them nor of the grace which he sheweth vs in our Lord Iesus christ For had we once our bellye 's full of such vittelles surely we would not play the Wolues in rauening but wee would keepe meaâ—ure That then is the cause why Saint Paule sayth that wee must bee filled with the holy Ghost As if he should say that the despyzers of God and such as haue none other religion but too lyue at ease heere and too haue all their delyghtes and pleasures are excessiuely full beyond all reason and measure And that is a defyling of Gods benefytes and a despizing of the order of nature as I sayd afore Now then if yee bee so sharpe set too knowe what God is and what it is too profit in his woord come your wayes to deuoure it as they doo which haue eaten no meate a twoo dayes afore bee not afrayd of eating too much of that foode for it will neuer burst our soules Therefore let vs hardily cram our selues with the giftes of Gods spirit and with his Ghostly benefytes wherby he feedeth vs in the hope of the heauenly lyfe for in so dooing wee cannot doo amisse but wee cannot giue head too our lustes in taking foode for the bodie but there will by and by followe some euill and offence The matter which wee haue in effect too remember vppon this streyne is that all they which glut themselues after that fashyon and cannot satisfie themselues but by playing the beastes shewe well that they haue not so much as one drop of fayth nor of the feare of God nor of religion in them â–ª but that their bellye ouerruleth them and that they bee so subiect thereuntoo as too their peculiar principall Idoll Now seeing it is so let vs learne to long after the foode of our soules And forasmuch as it is liberally offered vs from day too day insomuch that it is Gods whole desyre that wee should haue all that suffyzeth for our saluation let vs sharpen our appetytes too take such repast and then shall wee bee sure that our other meates shall not allure vs too such gluttonie that wee shall become as vnsatiable gulfes but wee shal bee contented with the hauing of that which is meete for vs and sufficient for our necessitie at leastwyse too our behoof Furthermore this similitude which Saint Paule vseth must not bee thought straunge when he sayth that wee must drinke our fill of Gods spirit For wee knowe that the Prophet Esay sayeth that Gods spirit is lykened too Water and too Milke and too Wyne wherby wee bee inuyted too come vntoo God to take our repaste and too haue whatsoeuer is behooffull for vs Come on sayeth he and take at your pleasures both Milke Wyne and Water without money or monyes woorth Hereby therfore God declareth vntoo vs that wee shall haue abundance of all spirituall benefites and sufficient too content vs too the full if so bee that wee will but open our mouthes as it is sayd in the Psalme and not bee so forepossessed of our owne inordinate lustes as wee cannot fynd in our hartes too seeke the principall That is the further meaning of the similitude that S. Paule vseth heere Now forasmuch as this doctrine is so yll put in vre euerywhere we ought to thinke the better of it If a maÌ„ consider how great emptinesse there is in them that professe Christianitie he shall fynde that they can scarsly say three woordes too yeeld confession of their fayth for had they any in their hartes surely their mouthes would vtter it according too this saying that wee beleeue with the hart vntoo ryghtuousnesse and confesse with the mouth vntoo saluation Howbeeit if wee bee desyrous too bee filled wee neede not too bee counselled too go seeke the things that wee neede wee neede but onely too receyue the foode that is profered vs and set afore vs Yea and this serueth well
seede wee bee accursed It is trew that Adam was created after the image of God but yit was that image defaced by sin so as wee bee not worthie too bee counted among Gods woorkes And the same horrible condemnation is pronounced wyth his owne mouth where he sayeth that it repenteth him that hee had made man as though he disclaymed vs all bycause wee doo but infect the earth and are not so woorthy too bee mustered in the aray of hys creatures as are the woormes lyce fleas dogflyes and all other vermin of the world That then is the benefyte which wee haue by Adam and as oft as it is sayd that wee be of his seede and of his fleshe it serueth too shew vs that there is nothing in vs but a gulf of cursednesse Now hereuppon if wee come too our Lord Iesus Christ wee bee restored agein and as the Scripture speaketh of it wee bee made new creatures in him Yee see then that it is by power of the spirit and not by order of nature nor by any common fashyon that wee bee of the bone and of the fleshe of our Lord Iesus Christ and the cause why wee bee members of his body is that God his father hath ordeyned and stablished him as our head Howbeeit as I sayd afore that is doone by a secret power which wee comprehend not but by fayth Then do both these things agree very well namely that Iesus Christ is of our bone and of our fleshe in respect that he hath taken our humane nature vpon him and clothed himself with it without the which wee should haue no alyance with him For if wee cannot atteyne too the Angels how shall wee atteyne too him that is the souerein head of them But wheras he is come in such wyze vntoo vs that he hath voutsafed to bee knit in the bond of brotherhood with vs that is doone specially when he woorketh so by the power of his holy spirit that he is our head and wee are gathered toogither in him and haue a heauenly state and wheras afore wee had nothing but of the earh and consequently had nothing in vs but corruption now wee bee lifted vp on hygh and are made the children of God by the grace that is spoken of heere wheras erst wee were heires of his wrath which wee hold from our father Adam when wee followe his nature bycause wee are all lost and peruerted in him Thus yee see in effect how the twoo things are too bee agreed wherin there seemed too bee some diuersitie And in deede if wee haue not that what would become of vs How miserable would our state bee I haue shewed alredye that if any man looke well what is in himselfe he shall fynd nothing there but matter too separate him from god Now then vntyll wee bee of the substance of our Lord Iesus Christ God must needes hate vs and abhorre vs and not knowe vs too bee of the number and company of his creatures Now remayneth too see how it commeth to passe that wee bee of the bones of Iesus Christ and of his flesh For he is in heauen and wee are heere beneath on earth Agein when wee bee begotten euery of vs is begotten after the order of nature he hath his father and his mother too come of and they bee of the same race that he is How then are wee of the bones of Iesus Christ It is not in respect of substance for if wee looke vppon our owne flesh nother the skin nor the bones nor the gristles that wee haue doo come of the body of our Lord Iesus Christ but it is in respect that the cursednesse which wee bring from our moothers womb and is spred ouer all Adams linage is taken away by the power of our Lord Iesus Christ and that therwithall he hath so sheaded foorth the grace of his holy spirit vppon vs that wee bee inlyghtened by it Therfore it is as a qualitie as men terme it not a substance Euery mā shal descend of such linage and God letteth the common order runne on styll which he appoynted at the beginning namely that men beget one another from issew too issew but in the meane whyle Iesus Christ renueth those whom God his father hath chozen and such as are the members of his owne body and riddeth them of the corruption which they had taken from Adam And afterward he giueth them such a power as euery of them feeleth by fayth that he is vnder the head that is set ouer vs and that wee bee gathered all toogither in him and his lyfe is giuen vntoo vs too the intent wee should no more liue too our selues nor too the world but rather 〈◊〉 he should liue in vs as Saint Paule sayeth of him Yee see then that Iesus Christ needeth not too come downe from heauen too make vs members of his body nor too diminish his owne flesh too make vs too growe out of him and too bee shaped of him For all is doone by the woonderfull power of his holy spirit Wee drawe no◠any thing from the flesh nor from the body wherwith he once clothed himselfe for that is in heauen too the intent that wee should bee fashyoned lyke vntoo the glory that is now in him But yit for all that he woorketh in such wyse as wee haue all our strength continually of him And lyke as trees drawe both their flowers their leaues and their fruites from their roote and lyke as the body of man feeleth his strength too flowe downe from the head so do wee feele the vertew and force of the coniunction that is betweene vs and our Lord Iesus Christ and yit he continueth still in his full state al the whyle Nother doth that hinder vs too inioy the inestimable benefite that S. Paule magnifyeth so much in this text And therwithal let vs beare this poynt in mynd that it is much when wee bee inwardly stird vp to doo euery man his duetie for thereby wee tast the grace of God which concerneth the saluation of our soules The matter that is in hand heere is that men should liue freendly and agreeingly with their wyues And when a husband considereth the things that are spoken heere he ought too bee prouoked not only too discharge him selfe of the bond wherein he is bound too God and his wyfe but also too thinke thus with him selfe This is such a state that although it bee corruptible and serue but for this transitorie lyfe yit hath God set it afore vs as a lyuely image wherein I see that Iesus Christ is my head and that I belong too him and that not onely I am his but also he is myne so as his lyfe belongs too mee and too bee short I am as if I were a member of his body Seeing then that men in dooing their duetie towards their wyues and wyues also in obeying their husbandes may behold how they bee ioyned vntoo Christ and that they doo the things
irketh men to yeeld too it vntill our Lord haue framed vs too it by his holie spirit And for that cause also is the spirit of God called the spirit of meeknesse and gentlenesse And why Bycause pryde maketh men lyke wyld beasts and puffeth them vp lyke Toades so as they cannot humble themselues Saint Paule therfore perceyuing that this vyce is so rooted in our nature and mynding too redresse it sheweth that it is ryght and that it becommeth euery man too imploy him self theruntoo and that although there bee any such sturdinesse in vs as wil not suffer vs too bee subiect too our superiours yit this ryghtfulnesse 〈◊〉 Gods that is too say the rule that he hath set must ouerwey it For when he sayeth it is ryght or ryghtfull he bringeth vs backe too Gods authoritie as if he should say seeyng God hath sayd the woorde there is no further scanning of the matter but men must stop their mouthes and seeyng God hath commaunded it men must obey it assuring themselues that his wyll is a sure and infallible rule from the which it is not lawfull too swarue nother too the ryght syde nor too the left And it is a good warning For wee see that although men were willing too doo well and had some good zeale towardes it yit will euery of vs bee wyze in his owne conceyt and when it commeth too the guyding and gouerning of our selues wee will needes beare sway aboue the woorde of god Forasmuch then as men are so fond and presumptuous as too attribute somewhat continually too their owne wit it standeth vs the more on hand too marke well what is sayd heere that is too wit that wee must haue the discretion and skill too perceyue what God commaundeth and alloweth and lykewyse what he disalloweth Haue wee then a warrant of Gods will Wee must bee contented with it And if he once say This pleaseth mee then is it ryghtfull though wee perceyue not the reason of it Agein if there bee some hardnesse yit let vs not aske why nother let vs reply ageinst God whē he condemneth the thing that seemeth not too bee vtterly euyll in our eyes Let vs say I beware of such malapertnesse and diuelishe rashnesse and let vs followe that which Saint Paule telleth vs heere that is too wit that all that euer God hath vttered by his woord is ryghtfull and that wee also must auow it too bee so without geynsaying For the trew proofe of our fayth and obedience is that when wee thinke that this or that ought not to haue bin commaunded or forbidden yit we accept it for good and auaylable bycause God hath spoken it Now hereuppon Saint Paule alledgeth the commaundement of the Lawe Honour thy father and thy moother And agein he addeth further that it is the first commaundement of promis As if he should say that God intended too bring vs by all meanes too the subiection which wee should yeeld too our fathers and mothers It ought too suffyze vs that it is acceptable too God but seeyng he allureth vs moreouer by gentlenesse and will not fray vs with authoritie force but promyseth too prosper vs in seruing our fathers and moothers that ought too make vs too lyke the better of our subiection Therefore Saint Paule hauing shewed vs that wee must bee subiect too our fathers and mothers except wee will bee rebels too God and bend our hornes ageinst him and turne all ryght and order vpsyde downe addeth that wee shall bee tootoo hard harted and wilfull stubborne if after Gods commaūding of vs this promis of his moue vs not wherby he intendeth too induce vs so graciously too doo the thing that he willeth vs And surely if wee bee not moued yea and euen meekened by it it may well bee sayd that the diuell reigneth wholly in vs and that he possesseth our hartes His saying then is that it is a commaundement which hath a speciall promis and so hath none other commaundement of the lawe but that The promis is that wee shall liue long vppon the earth yea and in prosperitie bycause God will blisse vs if wee honour those that were the meanes whereby wee came into the world And on the other syde he sheweth what the dewtie of fathers and mothers is towardes their children that is too wit too intreate them gently Not too pardon them altoogither or too lay the brydle in their neckes and too let them doo what they list but too deale so myldly with them as they doo not in any wyse put them out of hart as it is sayd in another place but nurrish them in the feare of god By this woord Nurrish Saint Paule meaneth that they should deale gently with them and shewe themselues louing towardes them Howbeeit this woord is also sauced as yee would say with nurture and correction of god Then is there on the one syde Nurrishment that is too say kyndnesse and gentlenesse and on the other side Chastyzement and Discipline that children may bee hild in awe and not bee suffered too bee wanton and vnruly but so brought vp in the feare of God as they may knowe that God hath not left them awelesse and lawlesse but that he hath giuen them ouerseers too rule their lyfe This is the effect of the thing that S. Paule sheweth vs heere Now too the intent wee may haue the fuller and certeiner vnderstanding of this text wee must marke first of all that too speake properly wee haue no father but only god Trewe it is that now and then he is called the father of our soules and of our spirites according as he is spoken of in the Epistle too the Hebrewes Howbeeit euen as in respect of the flesh also the honour and dignitie of bearing the name of father belongeth not too any mortall creature for it is God that fashyoneth vs as it is sayd in the booke of Iob. Is the seede of man which is but corruption able to◠fashyon a body wherein appeereth so excellent woorkmanship of God No. Then let vs vnderstand that forasmuch as our bodyes are all of them recordes of Gods woonderfull power he onely deserueth too bee hild and accounted as our father Yit for all that they also that beget vs and by whom wee bee brought intoo this world are our fathers By what tytle Bycause God hath voutsafed too make them parttakers of the honour that belongeth too himselfe alone And heereby wee bee put in mynd that in stryuing ageinst our fathers and mothers we make warre ageinst god For he hath imprinted his marke in them that tytle of theirs dooth vs too wit that God hath set them as it were in his place Therefore we must hold it for an vndoubted truth that in honoring our fathers and mothers wee yeeld God the seruice that he requyreth of vs and which we owe him And contrarywyse if wee despyze our fathers and moothers and hold scorne too do◠our dewties towardes them
vs looke too the discharging of his owne dewtie In deede I cannot as now go through with the things that are inioyned heere to children to fathers mothers therfore I wil reserue theÌ„ to another tyme Yit notwithstanding for a short conclusion let vs vnderstand that God allureth vs too our dewtie by shewing that he seeketh nothing else but our welfare and benefyte too the intent that wee should with a frank and free hart receyue the yoke that he layeth vppon our shoulders And although it be an irksome thing too bee subiect too those whom God hath appoynted too bee superiours ouer vs yit when wee haue first condemned our selues for it let vs neuerthelesse yeeld to that which he sayeth and vttereth assuring our selues thâ—t he procureth our welfare would fayne win vs by gentlenesse and not by rigour and let that make vs the more obedient And also generally forasmuch as wee see that all superiorities are of God let vs vnderstand that wee cannot geynsay them but wee shall lift vp our selues ageinst his maiestie and bend our hornes ageinst him and that contrariwyse if wee beare subiection willingly wee may assure our selues that it is an acceptable sacrifyze vnto him and not doubt that our labour shal be lost in seruing him Not that God will recompence vs by his promises as though we had deserued aught at his hand but he wil doo it of ouerplus For as I haue declared alredie wee bee bound too obey him in all things that he commaundeth nother must wee think him beholden too vs for it nor think too bynd him too vs by any meanes but that although wee bee bound too him as wee bee wholly his yit he of his ouerflowing goodnesse voutsafeth too blisse vs and too make vs feele his fauour when wee haue awfully and reuerently followed the things that he ordeyneth in his woord That then is the recompence which wee ought too hope for at Gods hand howbeeit not as the Papistes say ho God promiseth vs and therfore we deserue They beare themselues on hand that God is beholden vntoo them bycause he hath bound himselfe willingly yea but that is of a free and vndeserued goodnesse Howbeeit wee must not fall intoo such dotages but vnderstand that God beyng no whit at all bound vntoo vs dooth notwithstanding voutsafe too win vs by gentlenesse too the intent wee should serue him with the freer mynd and cheerfuller corage Thus dooth he call vs too him by all wayes And therfore so much the leauder are wee if wee bow not our neckes willingly too giue our selues wholly vntoo him without seeking of any thing but onely too frame our selues too his good pleasure and will which is our cheefe rule by renounceall our owne affections Now let vs fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God with acknowledgment of our faultes praying him too voutsafe too burye them and too washe vs from them for our Lord Iesus Christes sake and too gouerne vs in such wyse by his holy spirit as wee may bee reformed too obey wholly his holy will and too follow his commaundements which he hath giuen vs for a rule and that therin we may shew our selues too bee his trew children lykewise as he hath voutsafed too sheâ— himselfe our gentle and louing father And so let vs all say Almyghtie God heauenly father c. The .xliiii. Sermon which is the second vppon the sixth Chapter 5. Seruauntes bee obedient too such as are your maysters as touching the fleshe vvith feare and trembling in singlenesse of your hartes as vntoo Christ 6. Not vvith eye seruice as men pleazers but as the seruantes of Christ dooing the vvill of God from the hart 7. Seruing the Lord with good will and not men 8. Assuring your selues that euery man bee he bond or free shall receyue of the Lord the good that he shall haue doone 9. And you maysters do the like vnto them forbearing threates assuring your selues that the Lord both of them and of you is iâ— heauen that in him there is no respecting of the outward appearance of persons WEe haue seene already that besydes the generall rule which God hath giuen too all men heere are also seuerall warnings how euery man should behaue himselfe in his degree and calling And we haue seen already what the husbandes ought too bee towardes their wyues and how the wyues should behaue themselues towardes theyr husbandes what gentlenesse parentes ought too vse towardes their children and what subiection children ought too vse towardes their parentes Now Saint Paule speaketh of Maysters and Seruantes howbeeit not of such seruantes as we haue now adayes for at that tyme there were no seruantes that serued a yeere or two for wages but they were hild in bondage for lyfe and death and were in the same taking that they bee whom now adayes wee call bondslaues But wee neede not too stand any longer as now too haue further knowledge of them Yit notwithstanding wee haue great cause too prayse God for taking away of such bondage from among men For no doubt but it was too excessiue an authoritie which maysters had in those dayes ouer their seruantes They hild them as brute beastes and they had libertie too kill them for euery fault And in deede they had prisons in theyr houses to keepe them locked in the stocks they racked them they rent them in peeces and too bee short they vsed them horribly yea and euen beastly Yit notwithstanding bycause of mans naughtinesse it was our Lordes wyll that this state should bee styll suffered Moreouer wee see that euen they which are auowed too haue lyued in the feare of God and to haue excelled in his Church left not too keepe bondmen or slaues in their houses howbeeit they vsed another manner of gentlenesse towardes them than the Infidels did according as wee shall see heere in Saint Paules teaching Also there was a reason that constreyned maysters sometymes too vse the greater rigour towardes their slaues bycause it was a common prouerb among them that looke how many slaues they had so many enemyes they had and that was by reason of their holding of them in awe by extreme force and violence as those are now adayes vppon the Sea which are called Gallie slaues And I haue alredy touched what how excessiue oâ—trages were done vnto them There was a great number of those bondfolke and riche men had as it were halfe armies of them insomuch that some had fyue thousand slaues in one house and that was the way too haue ones throte cut fyue thousand tymes if there had not bin good heede taken too keepe them fettered And this came of sin as one mischeef tolleth on another vntyll things bee come too vtter confuzion But if wee consider what the ryght or authority of maysters was wee will alwayes say it was a thing vttterly ageinst all order of nature For wee bee all fashyoned after the image of God and therefore that a
themselues too much And the same order ought too bee obserued by such as haue charge in the Churche are ministers of Gods word namely that they spare nother great nor small but tell euery man his dewtie For sith there is no accepting of persons before God his woord must bee handled roundly and wee must not bee dismayed at the hyghnesse and authoritie of such as are in estimation among men For seeing it is God that speaketh his woord must pull downe all loftinesse according as Saint Paule speaketh in the second too the Corinthians where he sayth that commission is giuen too all Shepherds and ministers of the Gospell too pull downe the pryde of men and too subdew their ouer loftinesse when they will needs exalt themselues ageinst our Lord Iesus Christ and step vp ageinst his doctrine so as they wil not submit themselues too his yoke The way then for ministers of Gods woord too discharge their office faythfully is too exhort the meaner sort too doo their dewtie and the poore and oppressed too beare their state paciently without replying howsoeuer they fare and without grudging ageinst men bycause that in so dooing they should rebell ageinst God. But on the other syde also he telleth the greate ones that they must not be as beasts that deuoure others and eate them vp but that they must behaue themselues vpryghtly And in deede euen the heathen men themselues when they listed too speake according too naturall equitie declared that euen at that tyme it became not the maysters too abuze the authoritie which they had ouer their seruants and these were their woords that bondmen and slaues ought to be hild as Hyrelinges that were interteyned by the day Sith the Paymins spake so without hauing any other vnderstanding than their moother wit auorded them what excuce is there now adayes for such as are trayned vp in Gods schoole where there is a brotherhood betweene both greate and small and where the maysters ought too become fellowlie with their seruants bycause they haue all one hope of the endlesse lyfe If they that haue power aboue others will needs set their feete vppon their throts by abuâ—ing the ryght of their authoritie what a thing is it So then so much the more ought both the one and the other sort of vs too think how too walk in our owne state and calling so as the inferiour sort grudge not that our Lord suffereth them too bee abandoned too so many wrongs too this worldward and too bee so mocked and scorned but that although they should indure a hundred tymes as much yit they repyne not ageinst God bycause it were but a kicking ageinst the spurre And the greater sort also doo the lyke that is too say that they consider that the neerer God hath drawen them too himselfe in giuing them preheminence the more will he also haue them too fashyon themselues too his image and lykenesse And what shall wee fynd in God but goodnesse according as wee see that throughout all the Scripture he is called the fountaine of all lowelinesse gentlenesse and mercy And therefore let such as are in degree of honour thinke cheefely theruppon For it is certein that if they discharge not their dewtie they shall pay full deerely for that they haue bin so honorable in the world and yit abuzed the singular benefyte of god And as I sayd afore bycause both the one and the other are hard too bee brought too conformitie insomuch that they which are oppressed cannot refreyne grudging but are prouoked too breake all bondes Let them be hild in awe by Gods woord and by earnest exhortations And let the great ones also bee subdewed that they forget not God as they are woont too doo For they ouershoote themselues so farre as to thinke they bee no more mortall men And it is certein that if men bethinke themselues well of their owne state and view themselues in the persons of the meanest it will leade them too humilitie So then Gods woord must haue his course in this cace too brydle as well the one as the other that wee may lyue in such sort euery man according too his calling as God may bee quietly obeyed and wee in herkening too his voyce desyre nothing but too performe our dewtie towardes him and towardes all creatures vntyll wee bee come too the euerlastyng kingdome where wee shall bee parttakers both of his glory and of his maiestie and of all the good things that are in him Now let vs fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God with acknowledgment of our sinnes praying him to voutsafe to touch vs with trew and lyuely repentance that wee may bee so sorie for offending of him as it may make vs too hate our vyces and too craue pardon of them at his hand too the intent he may gouerne vs by his holy spirit and make vs too liue according too his holy commaundements and beare with our weakenesse vntyll hee haue rid vs quyte and cleane of it And so let vs all saye Almyghtie God heauenly father c. The .xlv. Sermon which is the third vppon the sixth Chapter 10. Moreouer my brethren bee strong in the Lord and in the mightinesse of his povver 11. Put on the complet harnesse of God that yee may stand out ageinst the assaultes of the diuell 12. For our vvrestling is not ageinst fleshe and blud but ageinst Principalities ageinst Povvers ageinst the Lordes of the vvorld euen the rulers of the darknesse of this world and ageinst the spirituall vvickednesses vvhich are in the heauenly places WEe knowe that prospertie dooth so puffe men vp as they beare themselues on hand that they ought too bee priuiledged and theyr state exempted from the common aray and too bee short that they ought too doo what they lyst On the contrary part the poorer sorte which are despyzed and shaken of thinke that God hath as good as forgotten them and thereuppon they cannot conceyue that he hath any care of them Therefore it is expedient that such as are so drunken with presumptuousnesse as they take ouermuch vppon them vnder colour that they bee in credit and authority should haue their corages abated and heare it told them that they haue a mayster in heauen too punish them though they scape the handes of men On the other syde it is requisyte that they should be comforted which are redye to quayle and should bee tempted too fall intoo despayre And Saint Paule shewed them both heere For he telleth the Seruants they neede not bee afrayd but that God regardeth them so they walke in his feare and that he hath a care of them and accepteth their seruice as well as though they were in honorable state and very great dignitie too the worldward And vntoo the maysters he sayeth they haue a superiour in heauen before whom they must yeeld their account and that there their greatnesse and hyghnesse will not go for payment For al those things are nothing