it is that the Papists haue lesse colour than had the deceyuers of whom S. Paule speaketh For although they were Satans vnderlings and sought nothing but to peruert the truthe of the Gospell yet had they at least wise this colour that they broughte not in their owne dreames and traditions but alleaged the authoritie of God howe that the lawe ought to be kepte and that was a meetely apparant excuse But the Papists haue no suche foundation For all their Ceremonies are forgeries of mans brayne It is true that they haue mingled Iewishnesse with them and made suche a galimaufrey as a man can not tell of whome they haue borowed moste But howsoeuer the world go yet are the Ceremonies of mens setting vp which are at this day in the Popedome Nowe when we striue to abolishe them they say wee trouble the worlde for nothing And then steppe in these Neuters whiche woulde fayne please bothe parties and make a Bastarde Gospell Those fellowes caste vs in the teeth that wee bee seditious and that throughe oure precisenesse wee set muche trouble in the worlde And for proofe thereof saye they is it meete that there shoulde bee suche stryuing aboute Ceremonies seeing they bee things indifferente Yea forsoothe For if God woulde haue the Ceremonies of the lawe which yet notwithstanding came of him and by his expresse commaundement too come too an ende in our Lorde Iesus Christ what shall wee do when men will of their owne foolishe rashnesse set vp others in their stead Seeing that God would haue his owne abolished why should men step foorth therevpon and bring in their owne deuice and make God beleeue that he was not well aduised See yee not a cursed blasphemie Nowe vve knowe that the cause vvhy God vvould haue the Ceremonies of his lawe abolished in these dayes was to the intent that the grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ should be the more lightsome and better knowen For he is the daysunne of righteousnesse Therfore all those shadowes must cease and it is he in whō we haue the body and substance of them sayth S. Paule Seeing then that God had that respect and reason the figures must passe and vanishe away But now what reason wil the Papists bring when as men perceyue by eyesight that all their Ceremonies are a burying of our Lorde Iesus Christ and yet that they binde men to the keeping of them vnder payne of deadly sinne And furthermore when as in all their Ceremonies they haue a certeyn opinion that Baptisme is not inough for them but that they must haue holiwater to christen or baptise men euening and morning and finally that when they haue brought in all their pelting trash and al their gewgawes there must alwayes be somewhat in thē to draw poore soules into bondage is it to be borne withall On the other side we see there is so streight a yoke as it is able to strangle the poore wretches For the seelie soules are bereft of the freedome that was purchased for them by the death passion of our Lord Iesus Christ VVe see thē how it is not without vrgent cause yea extreme necessitie that we striue against the Popish tyrannie about ceremonies cōsidering that our Lord Iesus Christ hath not his deserued preheminence so long as men busie their wits about those smal trifles that moreouer their wretched consciences are alwayes in vnquietnesse without ende or ceassing and finally that on the otherside the Papists thinke to deserue grace by the things which they terme Gods seruice bearing themselues in hande that that is the meane whereby men shuld become righteous to obteine saluatiō So thē we see that S. Paul in his time was driuē to susteyn that strife And forasmuch as our case is altogither like at this day so as we cānot hold our peace except we wil betray both god mā we must fight stoutly agaynst that hellish tyrannie and against those pelting trash trumperie and illusions of Sathan whereby hee would fayne eyther quite deface the Gospell or else so turmoyle it as a man shoulde not knowe which is the pure truth This in effect is the thing that wee haue to beare in mynde And whereas S. Paule sayth that he yelded not one iote too such men it is too confirme vs so muche the better on the thing that I touched euen nowe Peace and friendshippe are an amiable thing among men They bee so indeede and wee ought to seeke them to the vttermost of our power But yet for all that we must set such store by Gods truth that if all the world should bee set on fyre for the mayntenaunce thereof wee shoulde not sticke at it As much as wee can possibly let vs purchase peace and if the matter concerne but our owne persons or goodes let vs endeuour too compound with our aduersaries let vs beare with them and let vs labour to ouercome them by our patience Lo in what maner wee ought to buy peace But yet in the meane while let not Gods truth be deminished nor sustein any harme or preiudice For the peace that men seeke among themselues shall euermore be accursed if God be not therewithall acknowledged and magnified as he ought to be and his word also continue vnimpeached for that is the knot of our bonde and if we intend to haue it acceptable to God and the end of it to be good and for our welfare surely God must knit vs togither And hee hath giuen vs his Sonne who is called our peace too the end we should all of vs fall in order vnder him Then if we minde to haue good and holie peace let vs ame vs at this marke of yeelding our selues vnder the obeysance of Gods sonne that he may be our head and we his body like as there is but one Church But if any man goe about too withdraw vs from our Lord Iesus Christ let vs rather beare all the hatred outrages and madnesse of the world than to seeke such agreement And let vs not be afraide of all the reproch that can bee done vnto vs according as nowadayes we shal be falsly slaundered as stirrers vp of many strifes yea verily but what can wee do with it For it behoueth vs to abide still in the truth of the Gospell or else woe bee vntoo vs. If the Papistes will not agree with vs but bee vtterly wilfull in the stubbornnesse that is seene too bee in them wee must bee contented to be at defiance with men seeing they purpose too turne vs from the peace which wee should haue with God by the means of his Sonne who not without cause beareth that title as I told you before Therefore when they crye out vpon vs wee must be fenced with this answere of Elias which hee made vnto Achab. Art not thou he sayd Achab that troublest Israell For the Prophet was accused as we be nowadayes bicause he labored to bring the people backe againe too the purenesse of
is a maner of bearing with things which is commendable as I haue said alreadie which is to be gentle in rebuking such as haue done amisse so as we labour to win them and drawe them backe againe by freendlinesse and bee not too fumishe and hastie with them For there are faults that may be borne with and which are not to be searched to the bottom for it doth but sharpen men when they see an ouereagernesse of fault fynding according as yee shall see diuers whiche keepe as it were continuall watche too see if they can fynde anye thing too carpe at in some man or other all theyr holynesse consisteth in taunting of one man and in rayling vppon an other and too bee short they bee the greatest Correcters of the worlde But our desyre of rebuking must be so brydeled as wee seeke not to finde fault with men And yet on the other side the flattering that reigneth nowadayes to much in the worlde is a vice which we ought to shunne as a deadly plague Therefore according as euerie of vs loueth his neighbour so let him lerne to vse the freenesse of speach which S. Paule sheweth vs heere And specially when Gods truthe is in hande let no man be spared let the zeale of God get the vpper hande in vs and although we shoulde purchase displeasure and runne in daunger of many slaunders and backbytings yet ought wee neuerthelesse to vndertake the chalenge For there is no excuse for vs if wee play the traytours by dissembling when the truthe of the Gospell is falsified Wherefore wee must followe the thing that Saint Paule sheweth vs heere and the deede which hee did too his fellow Peter muste serue vs for a lawe and rule so as wee may shewe that wee desyre nothing more than that God shoulde bee hearde that his truth shoulde not bee turned intoo a lye and that there should not be any thing shuffled too it nor any Leuen or Darnell mingled with it but that it shoulde continue alwayes in hys owne pure singlenesse And on the other syde the greate ones are warned heere too submit themselues meekely and too yeelde themselues plyable too the correction that is offered them knowing that God surrendered not his owne right when hee aduaunced them too that state but muste still keepe his soueraigne dominion execute hys iurisdiction by hys woorde in suche wyse as they whiche are moste highly aduaunced muste bowe downe theyr neckes and vnderstande that it were a diuelishe confuzion too pretende a priuiledge too receyue no chastizement For by that meanes Gods woorde shoulde bee as good as thrust out of doores and hee bee bereft of the soueraintie which he hath ouer vs and therefore after that maner must wee put that doctrine in vre And specially nowadayes when wee see men so bolde too bende themselues after that fashion agaynst God let vs bee fenced aforehande agaynst them and let nothing abash vs seeing we knowe what the quarell is wherein we fight agaynst them but let vs hardily defie all that filthie dungeon that is to wit the Pope and his Cleargie and let vs not passe a whit for these stinking vermin when we see them bend their hornes at our Lorde Iesus Christ and that vnder his shadowe and by pretending his name they go about too thrust his Gospell vnder foote yea and too burie it vtterly or else too make suche a confuzed mingling of it as men may not knowe who is mayster Then sithe wee see that the Diuell possesseth them after that sort let vs not sticke too arme our selues too the battell and too stande out agaynst them too the vttermost specially seeing that among other things the quarell is more fauourable too vs in these dayes than it coulde seeme to bee in the tyme that Saint Paule mainteyned it True it is that the reason is alyke and springeth all out of one fountaine but yet was Saint Paule faine too fight agaynst the Ceremonyes that God had commaunded by his owne mouth And why did hee so Bycause that thereby the Gospell was darkened the grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ was after a sort beaten downe mennes merites were stablished and finally men knewe not whereat God had amed in his lawe And nowadayes the selfe same reasons moue vs to fight agaynst all the abhominations that haue bin set vp in the Popedome But we haue this for an aduantage that all these things were forged in the shoppes of Sathan and of men Nowe wee knowe there is nothing but vanitie in men so long as they bee ruled by their owne fancie and submit not themselues too the obeying of God For as much as the cace standeth so let vs fight so much the more manfully seeing that our Lorde doth in all respects giue vs wherewith to keepe vs from being dismayed at the titles that are set afore vs to outface vs with which are nought else but illusions of Satā Ye see in effect what we haue to beare in mind But it behoueth vs also too marke well howe Saint Paule addeth that his rebuking of Peter was bycause hee and his companyons walked not the right way in the truthe of the Gospell and besides that his rebuking of them was bycause hee sawe that the mischiefe was alreadie spread farre and wyde and that if he had forborne any longer the remedie woulde haue come out of season Beholde here twoo reasons which it standeth vs on hande too marke well As touching the truth of the Gospell I haue shewed you alreadie howe it is the purenesse which it behoueth vs to sticke vnto He might well haue sayd that they walke not the right way in the Gospell but he speaketh of the truth of the Gospell according as hee had vsed the same worde once afore The reason why he doth so is for that men woulde haue a halfe faced Gospell and be are themselues in hande that they bee discharged before God so the name of Christianitie runne roundly in theyr mouthes Like as at this day the woorde Gospell is taken to bee meetely honourable among the Papists but yet the Gospel which they haue is but a bastardgospell bicause they haue put their owne collups and gobbets to it They haue turkined all things after their owne pleasure and they haue taken suche a scope that Iesus Christ is but an vnderling in comparison of them For they haue giuen determinate sentence as it were from Heauen And in good sooth they haue not beene ashamed too say that the Contentes of the Gospell are but as an Apsie of the Christians or as it were an introduction and that the greate Mysteryes and principall matters haue beene reuealed too them since so as they muste come from Councels and from the Sea of Rome Thus is our Lorde Iesus Christe mocked as thoughe they had taken in hande too crucifie him newe agayne For men coulde not deuyze too offer hym a greater villanye than too saye that he was but as an Vsher of a Schoole to teach
sayd perfection without swaruing asyde at any time And so let vs all say Almightie God our heauenly father c. The. 30. Sermon which is the seuenth vpon the fourth Chapter 26 But the Ierusalem vvhiche is from aboue is free vvhich is the mother of vs all 27 For it is vvritten be glad thou barrein vvhich bearest no children breake forth and crie thou that trauellest not for the desolate hath many mo children than she that hath a husband 28 And vve my brethren vve be children of promise after the maner of Isaac 29 But like as then hee that vvas borne after the flesh persecuted him that vvas borne after the spirit euen so is it novv 30 Neuerthelesse vvhat sayth the scripture Cast out the bondvvoman and hir sonne for the sonne of the bondwoman shal not be heire with the sonne of the free vvoman 31 So then brethren vve be not children of the bondvvoman but of the free vvoman WE haue seene this morning that many do boast themselues to be faithfull pretending falsly to be Gods childrē are so taken to the worldwarde who notwithstanding are but bastards and God disclaymeth them bicause they haue corrupted the good seede whiche is the pure doctrine wherby we be begotten new again to be made partakers of the free adoption wherto God calleth vs. Thē all that we haue to do is not to be counted too bee of the Church except we be of the pure sound seed that is to say except we follow Gods worde without any corruption or mingling And for this cause doth S. Paule bring vs backe too the heauenly Ierusalem that we might know who is our mother Truly to speake properly such as peruert the naturall sense of the scripture are not the children of God and all their crying and calling vpon him as their father is but starke lying and hypocrisie Howbeit forasmuch as they be taken to be of that degree S. Paule discerneth them out by their mother too the end we might know which are Gods true and lawfull children and allowed of him For the 〈◊〉 of the Church is oftentimes pretended at al aduenture and in these dayes the Papists make a buckler of it to sheeld their errours withall And bicause the holy scripture is against them they thinke it may serue them for a couert that they as they wene haue the Church on their side Yea but S. Paule telleth vs that we must be wise to discern which is the true Church For the Iewes had colour ynough to shew that God had his abiding place in Ierusalem bicause hee had chosen it out with assurance that he woulde rest there for euer as we haue seene this morning And yet notwithstanding the very same Ierusalem became as a denne of theeues bicause our Lord Iesus Christ was crucified there and the Iewes were for their vnfaythfulnesse cut vtterly off from the house of God bicause they had indeuered to the vttermost of their power to abolish his truth Though the name of Ierusalē had earst bin honorable yet was it then had in reproch and disdein both before the Angels and before all the faithfull Euen so at this day wee ought to consider well which is the Church to the ende that we be not children of a bastarde seede and so God shake vs off and banishe vs out of his house for pretēding his name so falsly through hypocrisie before men In deede it is a verie excellent honor that God giueth to his Church in saying that she is the mother of all the faythfull and it agreeth with S. Paules report in another place where he sayeth that shee is as it were the piller that vpholdeth Gods truth in thys worlde Not that the truth hath any neede to be mainteyned by vs which are inclined to all lightnesse and inconstancie and which haue nothing in vs by nature but vntruth for what stedinesse is there to be found in vs to say that Gods truth shoulde stay vpon men But bicause that of his infinite goodnesse it is his will to haue his worde preached here beneath and hee hath committed the charge thereof to such as he calleth therto in respect where of the Church is called the mother of vs all For as our lord Iesus Christ telleth vs we haue but one father which is God yea and he is the father as well of our bodies as of our soules Howbeit God is our spirituall father without hauing any make yet notwithstāding he begetteth vs into the hope of eternall life and that is by the meanes of his Church wherinto he hath put the said incorruptible seed according as he saith by the Prophete Esay My worde sayth he shall be in thy mouth and continue with thy children from time too time and with all those that shall come of thy race Thus ye see how God intendeth to gouerne his faithfull ones namely by his worde which he maketh to bee as a pledge and inestimable treasure of saluation in his Church to the ende that we should be begotten and nurrished with it Therfore as I haue touched alreadie we had neede too bee so much the more skilfuller in discerning the Church For seeing it is the mother of Gods childrē the name of it ought not to be dishonored and trampled vnder foote nor yet defiled as it is seene to be nowadayes There is not a more common treacherie than to put forth the name of the Church to deface and darkē Gods truth For whereat do the Papists ame nowadayes in vaunting with full mouth and full throte that they be the Church but to stoppe Gods mouth and to thrust his worde vnder foote that it might no more be spoken of and that in the meane while the things that men haue forged after their own lyking should be receyued without any gainsaying and sticked to and obeyed VVe see then that men which are but earthwormes and rottennesse are put into the balance agaynst God and all vnder pretence of the Church But here Saint Paule warneth vs to seeke the Church which hath the pure doctrine whereby wee were adopted of God to be his children Nowe I haue tolde you heretofore that the whole matter lyeth in our being ingreffed into the bodie of our Lorde Iesus Christ and also in our acknowledging that wee be accursed by nature that all our workes are but filthinesse that the Diuell holdeth vs subiect to his tyrannie and that there is none other helpe for vs but that God should receyue vs to mercie and pitie Therefore let vs go into Gods house by the sayde gate that is to wit by acknowledging that there is none other way for vs to get in but by the onely mere grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ Thus ye see howe the Church doth breede vs and beare vs verely euen by the foresayde incorruptible seede Nowe that we may sore the better by this text wee haue two poyntes too marke The one is that we must not be like these
world coÌ„federate themselues against them no though there happen such rage as it may oftentimes seeme that they shal be swallowed vp but which euen wheÌ„ they see the perilles present doo neuerthelesse continue in vpright constancie let vs marke such men as Gods seruants But as for such as be variable and counterfetting which say now one thing and now another to eschew mennes hatred or for feare of persecution let vs beware of them that we be not deceyued and beguyled by them for they bee deadly plagues And it is certaine that wee shall neuer bee firme and well settled except we haue that discretion and warenesse with vs according as S. Paule sheweth vs in this text And this is very needefull now adayes For what causeth so many hypocrites too gabble agaynst Gods woord and too play the shamelesse brothels in maynteyning the outrageous abuses that are too bee seene in the Popedome as their superstitions idolatries and errours but for that they knowe well ynough that if they make not the pot too boyle apace they are lyke too starue and should they not therefore holde fast the possession of their things Againe on the other side they coÌ„sider also the daunger of persecutioÌ„ for maynteyning such doctrine for yee see it is condemned of the Princes and great menne of this world and therfore it is good sleeping in a whole skinne See I pray you howe an infinite number doo now adayes disguyse and falsifie Gods truth and maynteyne all corruptions bycause they bee lothe to suffer for Iesus Christes sake True it is that they bee not ranke Papistes too blaspheme Gods woorde openly but yet they would fayne haue a meane yea of their owne deuising For they blame vs of ouermuch rigour and extremitie in that wee condemne suche as go to Masse and beare themselues in hand that they woorship not ydols O say they howe should that be so a man thinke it not in his harte Should men bee driuen so neere hand as too make it a stumbling blocke and a matter of lyfe and death Too what purpose were that God setteth greate store by our lyfe and although wee should doo amisse yet will he haue pitie of our frayltie Surely they that speake after 〈◊〉 fashyon haue none other reason too moue them but that they see playnely that all the worlde is so sore inflamed agaynst vs and it seemeth that wee should perishe and be quite confounded euery day Thus ye see that they flee backe and labour too imbattell themselues alone from the rest when they see any daunger appeering But when we see these liuerharted folke shun persecution after that sort loth to come to any hand strokes for our Lord Iesus Christes sake and winding and transforming theÌ„selues after that maner only to haue peace in this world it standeth vs so much the more in hande too marke this warning of S. Paules and to discerne which are the true seruantes of Iesus Christe that is too wit they which regard not their owne profite nor would haue men too faune vppon them nor seeke the belly cheere and honour of the world but do simply content themselues with the doyng of their duetie and passe not what winde doo blowe whither it be tempestuous and stormie or whither it be fayre and calme but to profit their heerers and to maynteyne in all purenesse the doctrine committed vnto theÌ„ If we follow the thing that is shewed vs heere surely our faith shall neuer stagger as many do now adayes which know not what to do and yet notwithstanding will say I feare the troubles and diuersities of opinioÌ„s and the bickerings that are in this world Some caÌ„ well ynough say it were meete that I should giue my selfe wholly to our Lord Iesus Christ but there are another sorte which take a much pleasanter way and would haue a reformation but onely in half And which of these shall I beleeue say they OpeÌ„ thine eies for all they that alledge any such excuces seeke not too followe the truth but are well apayde if they can get some shrowding sheete too hide their shame and would fayne bee flattered but in the meane whyle what gaine they by it For Satan leades them to destruction and they be willing too follow him Bicause they are afrayd of their liues they loue the couert and bicause they bee giuen too pleasure they seeke their owne ease Therfore they must haue such payment as they deserue But how soeuer the worlde go S. Paule declareth that suche as wilfully become brutishe are so ouertaken by Satan and caste in such perplexitie as they wote not what too do bicause they consider not that such as do simply beare abrode the truthe of the Gospell are no wauering personâ—â— but suche as keepe on 〈◊〉 pace and passe not whither the worlde like of their doctrine or noâ— but for asmuch as God hath coÌ„maunded them to speake they do so Contrariwise as for the nicelings which say it is good too beware and not to cast themselues out of the Saddle and woulde haue men to counterfeyt and to beare two faces in one whoode it is certain that such maner of men are not ledde with any zeale or affection to serue God nor haue any regarde of edifycation or of the welfare of the Church nor to be short haue any other care or respect than to eschew all persecution and too liue at their ease so as no man might fasten vppon them Nowe then seeing that this is manifest ynough it is certaine that all suche as nowadayes do keepe themselues so in their nest do offende God and are vtterly wythoute excuze VVhy so For Saint Paule giueth vs heere an infallible marke which sheweth vs who bee the true seruants of God and who bee the hyrelings whom we must eschue that is too wit such as seeke but to feede their bellies and too haue their commodityes in this worlde Herevpon he addeth to the ende they might not suffer persecution for the Crosse of Christ. No doubt but that vnder the woorde Crosse Saint Paule comprehendeth the whole doctrine howbeeit with a consideration that it is right harde for a man too preache simply and plainly the things that are conteyned in Gods worde but that he shall haue many incounters For although God spare vs vs I meane which preach his worde and will not alwayes put vs too so hard tryall that our enemies shall haue their swordes drawne vpon vs yet the worlde doth neuer receyue the Gospell so obediently but that there is still some murmuring and speaking agaynst it as is too bee seene yet still at this day and must bee yet hereafter For our Lorde intendeth too trie the constancie of hys faythfull ones and therewithall to shewe the inuincible power of his worde in ouercomming all the lettes that Satan styrreth vp agaynst it according too this saying of Ieremie They shall fight agaynst thee but thou shalt get the vpper hande of them Thus ye see that God is
glorified when the world and Satan streining themselues to the vttermost are not able too let the truth of his course For this cause Saint Paule sayth that they which be so variable and do disguize Gods worde or falsifie it do shunne the Crosse that is â—â—â—ay the true preaching of the Gospell euen too eschue persecution Now here againe we haue a verie profitable counsel For if we desire to serue God and his Church wee must alwayes bee readie to receiue alarums And although the fire bee not yet kindled or the enemies not yet armed too make so cruell persecution as they woulde or finally our Lorde do brydle all those that are wearie of his worde and woulde faine shake off his yoke yet must wee bee scorned at many mens handes we must be diffamed there must be murmuring and rayling agaynst vs and we must put it vp and harden our selues agaynst it Yea and wee shall see a thousand backbytings against such as imploy themselues faithfully euen where the Gospell is preached Some shall bee arreigned as felons and some shall be indited of this and that and yet all shall be but starke slaunders To be short all such as minde to go through with their race must prepare themselues too indure many temptations that might make them reele if they were not settled in this poynt that God must bee obeyed in spyte of the whole worlde Marke that for one poynt And here withall we haue also to marke that this extendeth to the whole Church in generall Therefore when wee heere the message of peace that is brought vs in the name of God let vs not thinke to be in rest to the worldwarde but too haue manie troubles and incomberances continually And he that determineth not vpon that must needs shrinke away from our Lord Iesus Christ for he can neuer be any of his disciples according as he himself declareth with his owne mouth that such a man is not worthie to be of his schole and so he shetteth them all our of the doores VVherefore let vs learne that when we be once called to our Lorde Iesus Christ wee must be partakers of his crosse so long as he listeth according as it is sayde that if we suffer with him we shall also bee glorified wyth him and be made partakers of the power that is shewed in his Resurrection But yet notwithstanding the sufferings which he indured must first be accomplished in vs that are his members True it is that he suffered as much as was requisite for our saluation but yet must wee bee fashioned like too his Image as it is sayde in the .viij. too the Romanes Nowe whereas God spareth vs so as wee bee not among Tyrantes that might tâ—â—ent vs or if the wicked â—ee not able too byte vs but onely barke at vs or if hee let vs 〈◊〉 in peace let vs knowe that it is bycause he pityeth our feeblenesse and that hee spareth vs bycause hee seeth howe weake we bee But yet for all this let vs not flatter oure selues but praye God too strengthen vs so by his holy spirite that whensoeuer hee shall call vs intoo the aray too fight wee may not bee lyke freshwater souldyours but that wee maye haue mynded it a long tyme before hande that wee muste bee made partakers of Iesus Christes sufferings too come too the glorie of his Resurrection Nowe Sainct Paule hauing spoken after that maner addeth for a larger confyrmation of his matter that they whiche are circumcyzed and whiche preache circumcizion keepe not the Lawe but onely seeke too glorie in the fleshe of those whome they bring too that Iewishe fashion In thys Text Saint Paule dooth ageine accuse his aduersaries of double dealing and vtter hypocrisie VVhy so Circumcision was the marke of the same thing before the comming of our Lorde Iesus Christ whereof Baptisme is the marke vntoo vs at this day For the Iewes had recorde thereby that they were sanctified by God as his heritage But yet for all that they that mingled Circumcizion with the Gospell were vtterly of opinion that the Lawe of Moyses was to be obserued forasmuch as it was giuen of God that it was not at any time to be abolished Heere then yee see that the couert which they tooke was that Circumcizion serued for a signe of the keeping of the whole Law But now S. Paule layeth to their charge that they kepe not the Law and therfore they do but mock God men in making a countenance by an outward signe to do the thing which they do not for it is clene coÌ„trarie Now theÌ„ we see S. Paules meening And as touching this spech of keeping the Law it is sometimes takeÌ„ for the doing or performing of all that is coÌ„teyned in the Lawe But no man can keepe the Lawe that is to say no man can discharge himselfe throughly of all things that the law coÌ„mandeth For it is not for nought that it is called an intollerable burthen Also we see our owne infirmitie and there God sheweth vs an angelicall rightuousnesse How then is it possible for vs to attaine vntoo it So then if wee take the worde Lawe for a perfect and faultlesse obedience no man keepeth it in effect Neuerthelesse the faythâ—â—â— beeing guided and gouerned by Gods spirite do keepe the Law that is to say they walk according to the rule that is giuen theÌ„ there Not that they run so swiftly as they should do nor that they attaine to the marke at the first brunt but yet they go on still towards it and God beareth with them and layeth not their faultes too their charge The faythfull then do kepe the Law But here S. Paule speaketh of the Ceremoniall Lawe howbeeit that by occasion hee had shewed heretofore that all Gods commaundements coulde bring nought els but condemnation except we had refuge to the grace of our lord Iesus Christ but as I said here he speaketh of the ceremonies shadowes Now let vs see what he meaneth by it They saith he which are circumcized keepe not the Lawe that is to say they haue in deede that signe as a standarde too make men beleeue that they be Iewes to the intent that they might not be hated nor persecuted but yet for all that they keepe not the whole Lawe for they take leaue to despize all that shoulde bee matched with Circumcision For he that is circumcized ought also to do sacrifize too absteyne from the meates that are forbydden by the lawe to keepe the dayes and feasts appoynted there to vse the inioyned washings and purifyings and to do diuerse other things But these men make none account of them VVhen they be in corners and no man sees them they passe not what they do neyther make they any conscience at all to despize all the Ceremonies of the Lawe Thus it appeareth that they do it not for any zeale but only in respect of men Nowe it behoueth vs to marke that Saint Paule speaketh
promise going before 127. b. 2. A discription of true Fayth 124. b. 8 125. a. b. 142. b. 15. 152. b. 30. 153. a VVe be not Iustifyed by Fayth as by a vertue that deserueth 171. a. 4 Fayth teacheth vs to seeke all our welfare in God 138. b. 18 Our Fayth must rest wholy vpon God and his worde and not depende vpon man 65 b. 14 The way and meane to shewe our selues Faythfull 22. a. 31. b. 24. a. 34 The meane whereby we take holde of Iesus Christ is onely Fayth 14 b. 2 Christes death and passion are the stay of our Fayth 105. b. 9. 106. a. b Helpes too stablishe and confirme Fayth 54 a. 4 Our Fayth must be euerlasting 21. a. 20 Fayth makes all things holy and without Fayth all thinges are vncleane 153. b. 22. 154. a VVho bee the housholde of Fayth and what dutie we owe to them aboue others 311. b. 15. 312. a Faythfulnesse betweene man and man 276. b. 33. 277. a The poyntes of Fayth or beleefe whervppon all men both learned and vnlearned must be vnmouably grounded and resolued 22. b. 36 The fathers and wee are saued all by one Fayth 177. b. 1. 178. a. b In what respect our Fayth is sayed too be greater then the Fayth of the auncient fathers 168. b. 9. 169. a. b They that boast of the greatnesse of their Fayth haue no Fayth at all 92. b. 22 They that continue in their sinnes doo boast in vaine of Fayth which they haue not 92. b. 21. 93. a The implicate Fayth of the Papistes 22. a 35. 43. a. 28. 125. a. 26. 213. a. 3 VVhat the Papists meane by Fayth or beleefe 90. b. 13. 242. b. 6 VVhat accoÌ„pt the Papistes make of Fayth 128. a. 21. b. The Turkes and the Papistes haue both one Fayth in substance 233. a. 30 The difference betweene the states of the Faythfull and the Faythlesse 103. a. 27. b 104. a. b The Faythlesse haue no ryght to anye thinge in this VVorlde 153. b. 12. 154. a. ¶ Feare The feare of the vnbeleeuers 201. a. 32. b. ¶ Flatterie and Flattering All men both good and bad are naturally inclined to Flatter themselues 30. b. 5 31. a The hypocrisie of man-in soothing himself when he is cleare froÌ„ the outwarde committing of grosse offences 269. a. 22. b. 270. a. b The mischiefe that commeth of selfsoothing 301. b. 29. 302. a. b. 303. a The inconueniences that come of Flattering eyther our selues or other men and the meanes to remedie the same 31. a. 7 b 32. a. 33. a. 1 Flatterie getteth frendes and truth getteth hatred 209. b. 1 The Preachers must not seeke too please men by Flatterie 30. b. 3. 31. a. b ¶ Fleshe VVhat is ment by the woorde Flesh 〈…〉 33. 262. a. 271. a. 35. b. 272. a. b. How the Papistes vnderstande the woorde Flesh 271. a. 24 VVhat is ment by Fleshe and bloud and why men are so called 44. b 13. 45. a. VVhy the verie Apostles are termed Flesh and bloud 45. a. 5 VVhat is ment by ending in the Flesh 119. a. 2. ¶ Forgiue Forgiuenesse VVe haue neede of continuall Forgiuenesse of sinnes euen after we be graffed into Christ 16. a 14. To what end God Forgiueth our sinnes 101. b 15. ¶ Freedome Looke Libertie ¶ Frendshippe Of trew Frendshippe and of worldly FreÌ„dshippe 209. b 1 Looke more in agreement concord charitie Loue and vnitie ¶ Free will Man hath no Freâ—wil to do good 115. a. 24 Mannes freewill vtterly vnauailable to saluation 38. a 10 40 b 28. 41. a VVhat our owne free will and workes are 83. a 3. The free will of the Papistes 220. a 11. b The fondnesse of the Papistes in stickinge to their owne freewill and meritorious workes and the cause thereof 98. b 18. 99. a 101. a 1. Looke more in merittes and workes deuotion and holynesse ¶ Fulnesse VVhat is ment by the Fulnesse of time 183. b 34. 184. a G ¶ Gaine VVHat gaine or profit and how it is to be looked for at Gods hand 309. a 20. b ¶ Giue and Giftes God doth freely Giue and man doth but only reciue 155. a. 4 All Gods gracious giftes come to vs by meanâ—s of the Gospell 121. b 33. 122. a To what end God bestoweth his Giftes more vppon one man then vppon another 288. a 32. b The glory of all good Giftes and indowmentes must be yeelded vnto God 51. b 15. 52. a. They to whom God hath giuen any gifts to edefie with all must be admitted and heard 122. a. 22. b VVith what humilitie of mind Gods Giftes are to be considered both in our selues and in other men 51. b 19. 52. a Gentlenes Looke meekenesse and meeldnesse ¶ Gladnesse Looke Ioy. ¶ Glory and Glorifie Of trew Glory and wherein and how we ought to Glory 321. b 26. 322. a. b 323. a b. 324. a b 325. a. b Gods Glory and our Saluation go euer vnseparably together 80. a 34. b The glorifiing of God goeth in order before our Saluation 80. a. 35. b. VVherein the glorifiing of God consisteth 14. b 27. 15. 317. a 30 ¶ God VVherin God wil be discerned from his Creatures 199. b 27. God is not partiall 67. a 10. b God is not variable though he alter the state of thinges in this world 70. b 14. 71. a God admitteth no partnership 194. b. 14 How God is perfect or vnperfect 212. a 31. God is alwaies one and the benefite that we haue thereby 162. a 8 ¶ Good and Goodnesse VVe must do good while wee haue time 309. b 29. 310. a b. How to do good and to whom and why and the reward therof 306. b 22. 307. a b 308. a b 309. a b 310. a b 312 a b The degrees that are to be obserued in doing good one to another 311. b 15. 312. a b The lettes that hinder vs to do good 307. b 14. 308. a 309. b. 33. 310. a All goodnesse and good thinges come of God 275. b 34. 276. a b 291 a 18 b VVe haue all thinges of Gods mere free Goodnesse as well temporal as spirituall 153. a 22. b. 154. a b. 275. b 34. 276. a b and 291. a 18. b. All things put vs in remembrance of gods goodnesse towards vs 154. a 3. ¶ Gospell The Gospell commeth of God 43. a 7. The dulnesse of the Papistes in vnderstanding what is ment by the woorde Gospell 28. a 11. The homelinesse and painefulnesse of the Gospell must not make vs to refuze despize or forsake it 254. b 22. It standeth all Christians on hande too know the substance and contents of the Gospell 29. a 4. VVhat the substance and contents of the Gospell are which it behoueth vs to
thorowly till we looke into the lawe 157. a 6. b and 158. a Iesus Christ is not a bringer in of Sinne but a bewrayer of Sinne 94. a. 7. b and 95. a b and 96. a VVhereto the manifest appearing of our Sinnes must lead vs. 271. a 10. The cause why men continue in theyr Sinnes though they know themselues to do amisse 322. a 33. b In what wize wee bee set free from Sinne 16. b 27. The opinion of true Christians concerning Sinne iustification 220. a 35. b The dolâ—sh opinion of papists concerning Sinfull thoughtes and motions vntoo Sinne 270. b 3. VVhat is ment by the worde Sinner VVho be Sinners 87. b 15. After what maner and with what minde the former misbehauiour of conuerted Sinners is to be looked into 66. a 8. b. Sowe Loke Seede ¶ Spirite and Spirituall VVhat is ment by the woorde Spirite 115. a 19. and 118. b 17. and 144. a 6. and 262. a 2. b The word Spirite matched agaynst Ceremonies figures and shadowes 138. a 16. b How the Spirite lusteth agaynst the flesh 265. b 31. and 266. a VVhat is ment to begin in the Spirite 118. b 33. and 119. a VVhat is ment by Gods Spirite 122. a 2. The fruites of the Spirite 272. b 15. and 275. b 18. and 276. a b and 277. a b How Gods Spirite is giuen and by whom 114. b 31. and 115. a b and 116. a b and 122. a 12. Gods Spirite is not idle in men but sheweth it selfe by good workes 279. a 28. b The true proofe and tryall that we haue Gods Spirite 279. a 28. b and 280. a and 282. a 9. b VVho be Spirituall in the opinion of Papists 274. a 26. b Stealing Looke Theft Stedfastnesse Looke Constancie and Perseuerance Stoutnesse Looke Constancie and Perseuerance ¶ Stumbling blocke VVhat is ment by the woorde Stumling â–ª blocke 255. a 16. Of Stumbling blockes or offences and after what maner and how farre foorth they are to be eschewed 255. a 11. b and 256. a b. ¶ Succession Succession of Bishops the chiefe sheelde of Papists and Papistrie 5. a 34. Looke more in Antiquitie ¶ Suffering The more a man hath Suffered for the Gospell the more shame it is for him to shrinke from it or to waxe colde 120 b 17. and 121. a b How Christes sufferings are accomplished in his members 317. b 29. ¶ Superstition The welspring of all Superstitions 245. a. 27. ¶ Supper The right vse and meaning of die Lords Supper or Communion 85. a 14. and 114. b 14. ¶ Supremacie VVhat the Supremacie of the Pope is and what he alleageth for it 225. b 2. and 226. a. The Popes Supremacie ouerhrowne 69. b 14. ¶ T OF Teachablenesse 110. a 35. A discriptioÌ„ of false Teachers men pleasers 2. a 16. 315. a 4. b and 316. a b and 317. a. Looke more in Ministers and Preachers The diuers sortes of false Teachers or cousiners and how they be too bee resisted 249. b 10. and 250. a VVhy god suffereth false prophets false Teachers to be rayzed vp 26. a 27. b. Looke more in Ministers and Preachers ¶ Teachablenesse Teachers ¶ Temperance Of Temperance or staiednes and what it is 277. a 28. b ¶ Theft or Stealing VVhat is conteined vnder the woorde Theft or Stealing 270. a 8. ¶ Threaten To what end God Threateneth 159. a 20. b ¶ Traditions VVhat a â—â—auerie or bondag it is to be subiect to mens Traditions 258. a 36. b Looke more in Ceremonies ¶ Trauell To what ends all men do Trauell take paines 303. a 12. ¶ Trust Our vnthankfulnesse in Trusting more to men then to God 308. b 13. 309. a b Looke more in Authoritie in Credit ¶ Truthe VVhat is ment by the woorde Truth 245. a 24. VVhat is ment by the Truthe of the Gospell 60. a 35. b VVhat is ment by the Truth of the gospel how vilanously it is defaced by papists newters 76. a 5. b 77. a By what meanes the Truth of the Gospell is to be reteined 51 a 1. The Truth being once knowne must be sticked to with vnremoueable constaÌ„cie 1. 2. 3. 20 â–ª a 15. b 21. a b 22. a b 23. a b and 24. a b Loke more in ConstaÌ„cie in perseueraÌ„ce V ¶ Vaineglorie OF Vaineglorie what it is how it is to be subdued 280. b 2. and 281. a 282. a 9. b The nature of Ambition or Vaineglorie 283. a 12. 290. b 26. 291. a b The fruites of Ambition or Vain glorie 51 b 30. 52. a b 281. b 5 282. a ¶ Vertue How the Heathen men may be counted Vertuous and yet are to be condemned 271. b 25. and 272. a b. The difference betweene the Vertues of of the beleeuers and the Vertues of the vnbeleeuers 272. b 4. The Vertues of Papistes 273. a 13. Looke more in Holinesse Deuotion and VVorkes ¶ Vnconstancie VVhy men are Vnconstant and shrinke away from the truth 317. a 26. The inconuenience of backesliding or Vnconstancie 245. b 32. and 246. a and 248. a 4. Of the weakening and ouerthrowing of the fayth by the Vnconstancie of the Ministers 50. a 34. b. The Vnconstancie of men disapoynteth not the effect of Gods woord 51. a 18. ¶ Vncircumcizion â–ª VVhat is meante by Vncircumzion â–ª 86. b. 14. ¶ Vnitie Of Christian Vnitie and by what meanes it is too bee kept 328. 33. and 329. a The Vnitie and agreement in fayth and doctrine that ought to be among Christians and specially among the Ministers 46. a 20. b and 47. a b and 53. a 2 b Vnitie and agreement among the ministers and Preachers is to the edifiing of the church to the confirmation strengthening of fayth 53. b 21. and 54. a b. ¶ Looke more in Attonement Concord Charitie and loue ¶ Vniuersalite Looke Multitude â–ª ¶ Vnmercifulnesse Of vnmercifulnes and vnkindnes and the reward therof 312. b 28. and 313. a ¶ Vice Vyces to be eschewed in the Ministring of Gods woord 251 b 11. 252. a God bridleth mans nature so that al Vices exceede not ne raigne not alike in all men 268. b 25. and 272. a 22. b W ¶ VValke VVHat is ment by the word VValke 279. b 20. VVhat it is to VValke after the spirit and the way to attaine therevnto 262. b 18. and 263. a b and 264. a b and 265. a and 280. a 23 ¶ VVarenesse VVhat VVarines ought to be in Christians 200. a 27. b and 287. b 32. and 288. 〈◊〉 ¶ VVarfare The continuall VVarfare of the Godly 264. b 21. and 265. a b and 266. a b and 267. a ¶ Looke more in Battell ¶ VVashing VVhat was betokened by the VVashings of the Iewes 84. a 15. ¶ VVatchfulnesse Continuall VVatchfulnes is requisite in Christians 1. a 14. b and 2. a b and 3. ¶ VVayt VVhat is betokened by this word VVayt 239. a 5 ¶ VVeakeling After what maner the
such renowme and authoritie as the things that proceeded from them should haue bin throughly receyued For their calling was lawfull it was well knowne that they did not thrust in themselues of their owne heades but that the sonne of God had chosen and appoynted them by his owne mouth yea and made them as it were new creatures being sillie soules and ignorant folke they were so chaunged as it appeared well that their doctrine came altogither of heauenly myracle For they had not learned ought but in Gods schole and he had in one instant of time so indued them with his grace and power that they became as instruments of the holy Ghost Yet notwithstanding the Diuell missed not too abuse their name and tytle too bring store of troubles and stumbling blockes into the Church ▪ For such as went in their companie made their brags when they came in far countrys that they had bin familiarly conuersant with them and yet for all that some of them were ful of vainglorie pride sought nothing but their own aduancement Othersome were selfwilled and could away with nothing but that which they had seene in the Citie of Ierusalem and in the land of Iewrie and they would haue had the whole world subiect to their Iure and therwithal would haue turned al things vpside down as they say Others were led yet with a more wicked minde so as they sought nothing else but to ouerthrow all that S. Paul had builded And all these as I sayd afore boasted that they had not learned any thing of him but that they had bin taught their doctrine by the Apostles themselues Thus yee see howe Sathan hath alwayes defaced Gods glorie euen vnder the shadow of the gracious giftes which hee had bestowed vpon his creatures And in good sooth we see how that vnder the names of the Apostles and of the virgin Marie the Idolatrie is the same at this day in the Popedom which it was among the Painims vnder the names of their fals gods for ther is nothing changed but only the names of thē As for the superstitiō it is as filthie and detestable in the Popedome as euer it was among the Heathen Heere therefore wee bee warned to bee wise to the intent that if the Diuell abuse Gods name wee may bee able to resist him and to discerne what authoritie men ought to haue and therewithall not to be ouerhastie of beleefe nor ouer easie to be moued and shaken with euerie winde For if wee haue not the constancie to walke in the doctrine that hath bin deliuered to vs when wee bee once fully resolued that it is Gods pure truth it will happen to vs as it did too the people of Galatia Yee see then that the thing which wee haue too beare in minde is in effect that when God hath giuen vs the grace too vnderstande his woorde wee must alwayes go forwarde in it and not be shaken lyke Reedes nor caryed too and fro nor led vp and downe like little babes but wee must haue the witte and discretion to sticke to the thing which wee knowe too bee offered vs of God Marke that for one poynt But by the way forasmuch as wee cannot haue such power in our selues let vs pray with all lowlinesse and earnestnesse vnto God too reforme vs by his holy spirit and too giue vs such stedfastnesse as wee may neuer swarue aside and that when we see all things turned vpside downe in this worlde yet notwithstanding this foundation may abide sure namely that forsomuch as God which cannot lie hath spoken to vs and shewed vs his will we may safely stande thervpon without turning any way from it Howbeit forsomuch as the Diuell hath many cunning knacks too thrust vs out of the way yea and that as I haue earst sayd he will not sticke to abuse Gods name to winde himselfe in and to get some accesse to vs it behoueth vs to vnderstand that our reuerencing of men must be in such wise as God may in the mean season continue vnimpeached and that our Lord may haue the whole maystrie ouer vs to himselfe as hee that is the teacher of the Church and that our fayth depend not neither vpon mens knowledge nor vpon any reputation that we haue of their wisdome power or holinesse but that our Lord Iesus may alwayes haue the preeminence for vs to rest and settle our selues vpon For if our fayth be not grounded vpon Gods pure truth which is vnvariable certeinly it will be but a loasing This is the thing that wee haue too gather of the example that is sette downe heere concerning the Galathians But by the way a man might thinke it straunge why Sainct Paule shoulde deale so roughly with them as wee shall see hereafter considering that the case stoode not vppon the open denying of God and the renouncing of the Gospell nor vpon the blaspheming of our Lord Iesus Christ or the setting forth of any notorious idolatrie but vpon the ceremonies of the Lawe For they against whom sainct Paule striueth in this Epistle mainteined none other thing but that the ceremonies of Moyses lawe were to be kept and that men were bounde to them vnder peyne of deadly sinne Now at the first blushe it myght be sayd that their cace was fauourable in that behalfe For the cace stoode not wyth them as it doth with the Pope who during his tyrannie hath forged many lawes and commanded this and that bringing poore soules into bondage but their saying was that inasmuche as the lawe was not of men but of God therfore it was to bee kept Heereby it should seeme that S. Paule had no cause to be so moued agaynst that opinion although it were not altogether sound and good Ageyne there is yet an other reason namely that wee muste not make so muche a doe about outward things as whether one day is to bee obserued more than an other or whether Swines flesh be not to be eaten as wel as mutton For whether a man obserue any ceremonies or whether he obserue none as for example If he forbeare the eating of Swines flesh or do any other like thing is his so doing an vtter forsaking of christianitie No Yet notwithstanding that is all the quarell that S. Paule hath yea and thervpon he crieth out that the Galathians are backsliders that they haue forsakē our Lord Iesus Chryst and that they are become renegates Some man wold say he vseth ouermuche vehemencie but herein wee be still warned that the diuell will now and then finde small trifles to draw vs from the Gospell ere we be aware and therfore it behoueth vs to be so muche the better aduised for of our selues we shal not be so but must in verie deede bee fayne to be gouerned by God And not without cause also is the spirit of wysedome fathered vpon him to the intent wee should seeke it in him Therfore let vs resort thyther and if any man goe about to
meanes according also as S. Paules intent heere is to bring backe the Galathians to the pure truthe from the which they had bin led away seduced not that they had vtterly renounced Iesus Christ but that they had intermingled the ceremonies of the Lawe thereby to obtayne forgiuenesse of sinnes as who should say there needed other helpes therevnto according as in papistrie it wil well ynough be graunted that Iesus Christ is the redeemer of the world but yet therwithal euery man seeketh to cōpound with God to make amends by himself Now the Galathians had already bin imbured with the like errour For this cause Sainct Paule sheweth the that sinnes are none otherwize wiped out than by the sacrifize of our Lord Iesus Christ to thintent that our fayth may rest wholly there Therfore if we wil be parttakers of so great a benefite we must giue ouer al our vaine hopes all the illusiōs that the Diuell putteth in our minde when he turneth vs aside frō our Lord Iesus Christ frō his only grace by making vs to beleeue that we can come vnto God if we bring some amends with vs. To be short vntill such time as we be sure that there is none other washing wherewith to skoure out the spottes of our iniquities but the bloud which our Lord Iesus Christ hath shed wherwith we be rinced through the holy ghost it is certain that we cā neuer come freely vnto God nor rest vpon his fauour loue but shall euer be wandering in our own imaginacions that shal be a due payment for our misbelefe in that we haue not yeelded our Lord Iesus Christ the honor that he deserued Thus ye see in effect what we haue to beare in mind here where S. Paule setteth the death passion of our Lord Iesus Christ before vs telling vs that that is the thing wherein we shall finde the amends of all our faultes do as they shal not be called any more too account before God And he sayeth purposely that Iesus Christ gaue himselfe too the end wee should the more boldly take holde of his Loue. For wee see heere that when our Lord Iesus Christ did put foorth himself too make attonement betweene God and vs he spared not his owne body soule in somuch that he indured extreme anguish in his foule as he that was our borrow in the same and bare the wrath of God in our behalfe And in his body also he indured all reproch and shame and therewithall also the horriblest tormentes that could be deuized and al this as I sayd afore sheweth right wel that the loue which he bare vs was inestimable sith he forgate himself after that sort for our sakes But yet notwithstanding herewithall S. Paule bringeth vs alwayes backe too the will of God too shew that when our Lord Iesus Christ did in that wyze performe all that belonged too our saluation it was no let but that God in the meane whyle vttered his mercy in the same according as it is sayd in another text that God so loued the world that he spared not his onely sonne but deliuered him to death for vs. To the intent therfore that we should not think that the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ too pacifie God his father was after such a sort that he persuaded him to alter his purpose as men are inclined to such grosse earthly imaginacions S. Paule to shew vs that God was not reconcyled vnto vs after the maner of men telleth vs expresly that the cause why Iesus Christ was deliuered for our sinnes was for that God had so ordeyned it For if a man be angry with his childe some other man may steppe in too appease his wrath and such a one shall supply the roome of a third partie But the cace stoode not so with our Lord Iesus Christ when he offered himself in Sacrifize too do away all our sinnes to make vs way vnto God from whom we were shet out before He came not as one that stepped in of his owne head and as though God had not meddled with the matter How then God as hath bin touched not long since did both hate vs and loue vs before the reconciliation was made And why loued he vs Bicause we be his creatures And again although he saw we were so wretched and vtterly forlorne damned folke by reason of sin yet notwithstanding he had pitie vpon vs would not haue mankind to perish vtterly Thus yee see how God loued vs notwithstanding that in the persone of Adam we were fallen away frō him vtterly corrupted Therwithall he did also hate vs euen bicause he is the welspring of all rightuousnesse Therfore he abhorred the naughtinesse that was in vs by reason wherof there needed an attonemēt to be made in the bloud of our Lord Iesus Christ by the sacrifize which he offered But yet must not that benefite bee fathered vppon any other than God Yee see then howe it was Gods dooing too sende his onely sonne and too giue him ouer vnto death for vs. And why To the ende that all hatred betweene him and vs shoulde bee done away This in effect is the thing that ought to be vnderstood of S. Paules woordes when he saith that Iesus Christ gaue himselfe to the death for our sinnes and yet notwithstanding that the same came not too passe without the wil of God who had determined the same aforehande in his owne euerlasting purpose Heere first of all we haue too magnifie the mercie that was shewed vs in the person of our Lorde Iesus Christ For if God had but proclaymed a pardon and tolde vs that he woulde take vs to mercie though we were vnworthie of it that had bin verie much yea and it had bin impossible for vs to magnifie such a gracious goodnesse as it deserueth But seeing he hath lent vs such a gage of his loue as his owne sonne and gyueth himselfe to vs in his person thereby shewing himselfe to be our father it so farre passeth all that we haue sayde that if all our wittes were imployed too woondering at suche a goodnesse yet should wee neuer come to the fulnesse thereof Thus ye see what we haue to marke in the first place when Saint Paule speaketh too vs of Gods will Howbeeit let vs vnderstande that euen from the time that God had iust cause to hate vs and to abhorre vs yea and euen from the time that we were his enimies as the Scripture sayth in very deede he neuer ceassed to haue some regarde of vs and to extende his pitie so farre foorth as he would not haue vs to abyde in our destruction in so much that he hath not thought it ynough to declare the same by word of mouth but also hath giuen vs such a pledge as wee see that is to wit that his owne sonne hath answered for it Now seeing it is so that God hath shewed himselfe so gracious
there is nothing but spottinesse rebelliousnesse in vs till God haue changed vs how so answer they and what shall then become of our own free will To be short Iesus Christ shal be named oft ynough and men wil reserue vnto him the title of Redemer But in the meane season his office shal be parted and put too the spoyle and euery man shall catch a portion of it too himselfe Besides this they imagine that the Saints and Angels of heauen are as patrones to them and finally they haue infinit wayes to their owne seeming wherby to come vnto God But herevpon we may well conclude that the holy Ghost doth iustly auow them to be backsliders and to haue giuen ouer Iesus Christ and to be become strangers to him For they falsly abuse his name Iesus Christ is not variable according as wee haue seene howe S. Paule in the seconde to the Corinthians sayd that we shall not finde yea and nay in him but that he will continue alwayes at one stay To be short whatsoeuer the Papists bable concerning Christianitie is altogyther hypocrisie and leasing and they doo but falsifie the name of Gods sonne and abuse it wickedly For they make a mumrie of it or rather an Idoll Yee see then why Saint Paule blameth the Galathians for beeing so caryed away Nowe if a man demaunde the reason howe it was in that some woulde haue made them to obserue the ceremonies of the lawe as things necessarie and yet had God commaunded them Yea verely howbeeit that was but with a temporall condition for the people of olde tyme so as they muste of necessitie haue all ceassed at the comming of our Lorde Iesus Christ Forasmuch therefore as the Galathians mingled the olde figures and shadowes of the lawe with the cleare light of the Gospell Saint Paule being not able too suffer it sayth that they were turned aside from God yea and vtterly falne away from him But there is yet a worse thing than that namely that the grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ was thereby disanulled bicause men doo always beare themselues in hand that they deserue and earne righteousnesse before God to be in his fauour for their seruing of him and so when these deceiuers had brought in the said error that men ought to kepe the old forworne figures it was all one as if they had threaped a meritorious seruice vpon God whither hee woulde or no. But our saluation must bee of free gift or else Iesus Christ is nothing woorth I terme it saluation of free gift bicause it is giuen vs simplie of God so as wee bring not any thing with vs to the attaynment thereof but onely an eager desire too be filled wyth the thing that wee want Therefore it standeth vs on hande too come as poore beggers vntoo God if wee mynde too bee iustified for our Lorde Iesus Christes sake For if wee imagine neuer so small a droppe of deseruing in our selues it stoppeth vs from comming too our Lorde Iesus Christ And not without cause dooth an auncient Doctor say that wee cannot receyue the Saluation that is offered vs in our Lorde Iesus Christ except wee haue first dispatched the mynding of our owne desertes and acknowledged that there is nothing but vtter wretchednesse in our selues Thus yee see why Sainct Paule had yet more iust reason too say that the Galathians were caryed away from Iesus Christ and from his father But there was yet this clogge more namely that they were made too beleeue what other men lysted and thereby brought in subiection too a slauishe bondage too bee robbed of the quietnesse of conscience which wee ought too haue in our Lorde Iesus Christ For besydes that wee bee reconcyled by the sacryfize of hys death and passion wee bee also set free from the rygor of the law vnder the which wee were hilde in bondage As for example according as we shall see more fully hereafter for as nowe I do but ouerrunne matters whereof we shall see a larger discourse afterwarde Ye know howe it is sayde in the lawe that whosoeuer performeth not al that God commaundeth to the vttermost point shall be accursed But it is impossible for vs to attaine too such perfection Therefore it stoode vs vpon too haue freedome purchased for vs by our Lorde Iesus Christ that the Lorde might not any more holde vs vnder his yoke whiche was intollerable as it is sayde in the fifteenth of the Actes Nowe wee see in effect why Saint Paule blameth the Galathians for falling away lyke periured persons towardes God and towardes our Lorde Iesus Christ as hauing gyuen him the slippe and forsaken the fayth whiche they had plighted vntoo him And by this example wee bee warned to holde vs to the pure doctrine and simplicitie of the Gospell wythout wauering one way or other For it is not ynough to haue the name and title of Christians no nor yet to beare the marke of baptisme but we must continue stedfast in the doctrine of the Gospell For as I haue sayd heretofore our Lord Iesus Christ cannot denie himselfe and when we haue dreamed this and that of him yet must we bee fayne to knowe him for such a one as he is giuen vs of God his father Nowe the Gospell sheweth wherefore he is come what his office is the benefites that wee receyue by him and what hys power is towardes vs. And therefore if wee haue not the pure and single doctrine wherein our Lorde Iesus Christ was manifested vnto vs surely wee haue nothing at all and whensoeuer wee haue once bin instructed in it wee must holde it still too the last pushe For if we swarue neuer so little from it there will bee nothing but vnfaythfulnesse in vs. And in good sooth it standeth vs on hande to bethinke vs of the horrible fall wherevnto we were tumbled with others when wee were plunged in so many errours trumperyes and Illusions of Satan that Iesus Christe was vtterly vnknowne too vs. Seeing that God hath nowe of his owne infinite goodnesse plucked vs out of such a bottomlesse gulfe let vs settle our selues too haue a constant and fast fayth that wee bee no more shaken like Reedes with euery winde but abyde fast in the roote of the Gospell grounded vppon the inuincible power of our Lorde Iesus Christ And againe seeing that in him all Gods promises are yea and Amen and haue their truth in him so as they be performed there let our fayth also abyde stedfast there This is it that wee haue to remember in this saying of S. Paules Furthermore to put the Galathians to the greater shame hee setteth before them their calling by grace These woordes from him that hath called you maye bee referred as well too Iesus Christ as too GOD the Father for there is no great difference in the matter But in the meane time we see in effect what Saint Paule ment too say Therefore hee casteth the Galathians in the
Christe And therevppon S. Paule sayeth that it is nothing else but that there bee some among them which trouble them and would ouerthrowe the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christe Heere S. Paule sheweth that what soeuer men bring besides the Gospell is euery whit of it but starke smoke and that in the end it will bee perceyued that the Diuell did cast gewgawes in their wayes too couzen sillie fooles that could not rest wholly vppon Gods truth It is none other thing sayeth hee but that some trouble you Truely this woord Other importeth that it is nothing else or nothing at all Neuerthelesse Sainct Paule declareth that the Galathians may well pretend that they whiche came from Ierusalem and from the countrie of Iewrie had tolde them that they ought not too separate the Lawe from the Gospell No no sayeth hee there is no more but one Iesus Christe nother is there any more than one doctrine that leadeth vs vntoo him and holdeth vs in the faith where through wee obtayne saluation by his meanes So then all such as intend too cleaue vntoo the pure knowledge of the Gospell and to continue in the same muste not seeke any other perfection than that as for them that go any further they be troublers that ouerthrow and disorder all things And this saying is well woorthie too bee marked too the ende wee may knowe that when our Lorde hath done vs the grace too teache vs in his schoole wee muste no more haue a wauering fayth too reele too and fro but a resolute iudgement and determination too say this is the thing wherein wee must liue and die But ye shall see many that will not speake openly agaynst the doctrine of the Gospell but will suffer the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ too be preached If a man aske them what it is that they finde fault with nothing say they But let an Altar bee neuer so soone set vp and puppets vpon it and by and by they runne to it they must needes go heare Masse and see al the rest of the Popish trash they care not which way the world go and when all those disorders are set afore them they thinke not that there is any difference at all But let vs marke that such beastlinesse bewrayeth that there is no fayth in them And why For the thing wherein we may shewe yea and as in respect of our selues feele whither wee bee faythfull is too haue suche skill of the Gospell as to conclude that it is Gods infallible truthe and that it cannot leade vs amisse if wee followe it Contrarywize the Papistes haue deuized an Implicate fayth as they terme it and that is ynough for them and although the wretched soules wote not what they meane themselues yet notwithstanding beholde say they I referre my selfe too our mother the holy Churche I beleeue as shee beleeueth But such folke shewe openly that they haue no fayth at all ne knowe by what meanes too bee saued Neuerthelesse it is sayd that wee obtayne rightuousnesse and saluation by fayth namely for that wee imbrace Christ as the partie by whom all good things are imparted vnto vs. Then if our Lord Iesus Christ bee vnknowen it is no longer fayth but a grosse Illusion of Satan who hath bewitched the Popish doctors too speake after that sorte and thereby we see that they haue no knowledge of God but are vtterly giuen ouer too a lewd minde VVherefore let vs marke well that whereas S. Paule sayeth heere that there is none other Gospell it is too hold vs still in such stedfastnesse that after we haue once learned what our Lord Iesus Christ is wee may continue in him and vtterly giue ouer all things that are contrarie too the doctrine of the Gospell Haue wee once such skill it will serue vs too fight agaynst Satan and all the diuersitie of opinions that are at this day in the worlde so as wee shall not bee shaken downe what trouble soeuer happen nor finally bee turned aside from the certaintie of our fayth But if wee wauer after such a sorte that wee become like little children who if one man offer them an apple at one side they runne thither and if another man offer some other pleasant thing atother side they runne thither likewize and leauing the first go too yeeld themselues too the second I say if wee bee so fickle minded it is a token that there is nothing but mere vnbeleefe in vs. Then let vs assure our selues that there must bee such a mutuall agreement betweene our fayth and the Gospell that wee must giue our selues wholly therevnto and neuer bee plucked from it and our knowing of the things that are conteyned in it muste bee too rest our selues vppon them as I haue sayd already heretofore Not that all men can bee teachers a like for it is very certayne that the most parte of those whom our Lord Iesus Christ hath in his flocke comprehend not the tenth part of the vnderstanding of the holy Scripture but that how soeuer the world go it behoueth vs all to be grounded in these poynts namely that there is but one God the father of whom we haue al things and who hath adopted vs of his owne mere mercie That there is but one onely Iesus Christe by whose meanes wee be made parttakers of all good things And that wee bee begotten new agayne by the holy Ghost And as touchyng our Lord Iesus Christ it standeth vs on hand too bee well assured that he is our aduocate and that without him wee cannot come vnto God nor durst once open our mouthes to call him our father saue in respect that we be members of our Lord Iesus Christ and that he beareth woorde for vs as our spokesman and patron guyding vs as it were by the hand too bring vs vnto God his father If wee knowe not these things it is certayne that wee can obtayne no Saluation And that is the cause why S. Paule blameth the Galathians for that they considered not that there is but one onely Gospell whiche could not bee altered without doyng of wrong too our Lord Iesus Christe who all onely ought too haue all audience Therewithall also he warneth vs that when soeuer there come any busie bodies to turne vs from the pure simplicitie which wee ought too hold vs too concernyng God and our Lord Iesus Christ wee ought too holde them accursed For as shall bee sayd more fully hereafter they ouerthrow the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ And it is a right horrible thing that the Gospell which is the foundacion of our fayth and the key too open vs the gate of Paradice should bee ouerthrowen For that is all our welfare that is the kingdome of God from whence we after a sort are banished and wee can by no meanes come vntoo him vntill he haue made vs way by meanes of his Gospell to the end wee may be his people and he our king and wee bee guided and gouerned
the thing that wee haue too beare in minde But by the way it ought too make Paules doctrine of the more authoritie that he speaketh so boldly in the mayntenance of it and that not through humane rashnesse and presumption but in the name of God For in very deede he standeth not heere vppon the praysing of himselfe in his owne persone and that doth he shewe right well in that he sayeth If I my self He setteth himself formost as if he had sayd Let mee euen mee my selfe I say bee taken for a Diuell if I chaunge the doctrine or if you finde me to haue swarued in any maner of wize Heere S. Paule sheweth that he ment not too purchace reputation too himselfe ne fought in his owne quarell to haue it sayd of him that he was a fineheaded fellow or a wyze and excellent man no but he raungeth himself in aray with the faythfull and sayeth let vs all imbrace the doctrine of that Mayster too whose charge God hath cōmitted vs and vnto whose gouerment we ought too bee submitted For although I bee he that taught you the doctrine yet is it not mine but Gods who is vnchaungeable and although yee should see me chaunge yet bee not you remoued nor abashed for it but esteeme mee as a Diuell hold mee accursed and for your own partes continue you stil settled in the truth which you haue learned and as for mee curse you mee and ban you mee yea and the very Angelles of heauen too rather than too chaunge any whit of the truthe of Gods Sonne or too turne aside from it Heere wee see well ynough that S. Paule sought not aught else but that Gods truth might haue such reuerence among men as it deserueth and bee so receyued as all our wittes all our thoughts all our lustes and all our affections might bee subdued and hilde prysoners vnder it and that it might not be lawfull for any liuyng creature to chaūge aught therof but that God only might speake by the mouth of his only Sonne and we hold him for our Mayster yea and euery of vs obey him without gaynsaying That is the thing which S. Paule sought How beit for asmuch as wee cannot now lay forth the rest it shall bee reserued till the next Sunday if it please God Now let vs fall down before the Maiestie of our good God with acknowledgement of our faults praying him too make vs perceiue them more and more and that the feeling of them may draw vs too right repentance and cause vs too growe and increace in fayth so as wee may bee true sacrifizes too him that like as our Lord Iesus offered himself for our redemption so wee also may bethinke vs too dedicate our selues wholly vnto him and be guyded by him in such stedfastnesse that nother in lyfe nor death wee may not seeke any other contentation and rest than too apply our selues too his good will nor glorie in any other thing than in the Saluation that is purchaced for vs in him That it may please him too graunt this grace not only to vs but also too all people and nations of the earth c. The. 4. Sermon vpon the first Chapter 8 But if I my selfe or an Angell from heauen tell you othervvise than I haue tolde you cursed be he 9 As I sayd afore so say I yet agayne if any man tell you othervvize than you haue receyued cursed bee he c. WEe haue seene heretofore that we must be sure of the truth of the Gospell or else our fayth is no fayth but rather an opinion if we be ready to stagger too and fro Now then the very proofe which we ought to make of our fayth is to bee fully setled and resolued in our selues that God hath taught vs and that he hath so vttered his will vnto vs that if we swarue from it one way or other it is all one as if wee did wilfully cast our selues away And for this cause wee must not only receyue Gods woord as good holy but also beare such honour too it as to hate whatsoeuer is agaynst it yea or which agreeth not fully with it For when as S. Paule speaketh heere of an other Gospell his meanyng is that if men disguyze the pure simplicitie which they haue learned of him there remayneth nothing else but vntruth and corruption VVherfore let vs learne to set such store by Gods doctrine that wee may not only esteeme it in it self but also reiect as diuelish things what soeuer shall be brought contrarie or repugnant vntoo it And truly Sainct Paule thinkes it not ynough too speake of men but mounteth euen vntoo the Angelles of Heauen and sayeth that wee muste rather hold them accursed than alter any whit of the fayth which wee haue of the Gospell He dothe well too speake of himself first and he doeth that too shewe that he had no regard of his owne persone but that he ment simply too honour God and too cause his woord to bee receyued of all the worlde without gaynsaying Therefore it was needefull that Sainct Paule should vse that protestation for if any man exempt his owne doctrine by priuiledge he maketh the same a priuate cace But he that teacheth ought too raunge himselfe in the common aray and too submitte himself obediently too the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christe so as wee may not haue any other Mayster in this worlde of whom too hold our fayth but that the Sonne of God may haue all soueraintie ouer vs as belongeth vntoo him And Sainct Paule speaketh purposely of the Angelles bycause the false Apostles and deceyuers that were come intoo the countrie of Galatia pretended the name of Peter Iohn and Iames and therefore he setteth a barre in their way saying that when they had all that could bee on theyr side yea and that the whole world tooke parte with them all that was nothing Moreouer though they had the very Angelles of heauē with them yet should God neuerthelesse ouer rule thē by his word all creatures be thrust downe For if any thing lift vp it self against Gods truth wherin his image shineth forth and his maiestie and glorie ought to be knowen the same ought also to be condemned to be hild as accursed It might perchaunce seeme at the first blush that S. Paule vsed an excessiue fashion For too what purpose bringeth he in the Angels seyng wee know how they be wholly giuen too do Gods will According as it is sayde expresly in the. 103. Psalme and as we see moreouer through the whole holy Scripture that they haue not any other regard than simply to obey God Seing then that it is impossible that the Angelles shoulde falsifie the pure truthe Sainct Paule shoulde not haue brought them in Yea it might bee thought that he dooth them wrong and iniurie considering that God hath giuen them the grace too abyde in his obedience and too walke quietly as he hath appoynted them But it
too call him too preache the Gospell he did immediately fall in trayne and wâ—yted not at all for the aduice of man for it was ynough for him that God had sente him and that he was auowed by such a Mayster VVherevppon he did not in any wise spare himself nor stand scannyng of the matter but resolued himself fully to go foreward on his way and to hold out in such wyse as wee haue seene which is a sure record that God gouerned him by his holy spirite This is the thing which wee haue too beare in minde And therwithall we must also marke well how he sayeth that God had prepared him from his mothers wombe and in the end called him too publish his Gospell Here S. Paule sheweth that his calling after that maner was not for any forewardnesse or woorthinesse that was in his owne persone but bycause he had bin chozen of God euen before he was borne That is the cause why he purposely vseth this saying that from his moothers wombe he had bin as it were separated and dedicated vnto God How then could he bring any thing of his own power For what could he do when he was yet vnborne God therefore must needes bee the woorker in that behalfe Again he addeth that God called him True it is that he speaketh this coÌ„cerning his office but yet notwithstanding hee magnifieth Gods goodnesse in generall to shewe that too him onely we be beholden for all that wee haue not onely in respect of this flightfull lyfe but specially for the euerlasting saluation of our soules This cannot be layd out too the full at this time and therefore wee will leaue a peece of it till the next time Howbeit for a conclusion let vs marke how S. Paule sheweth vs as it were in a mirrour that our yeelding of our selues in obedience vnto God happeneth not through any mans putting foorth of himself but through Gods reaching out of his hand from aboue and through his drawyng of vs too himselfe euen at such time as wee could not seeke him No doubte but men will alwayes imagine somewhat too commend themselues withall Neuerthelater all is but illusion and the Diuell vseth that tricke to make vs too darken Gods grace too the intent wee might be bereft of it For it is good reason that God should leaue men in such plight as they bee when they will take vpon them that whiche belongeth vntoo him and not condemne themselues as they bee woorthie Therefore let vs marke well that all the goodnesse which wee perceyue in this world proceedeth of Gods meere grace and that there is not any thing that can bee graunted too our selues And that wee may the better perceiue this free goodnesse let vs vnderstand that wee must lay downe all worthinesse of our owne desertes and haue an eye first too Gods free election and afterward too his callyng VVherefore then are wee inlightened with the knowledge of the Gospell Is it for that wee haue deserued aught No but bicause God hath chozen vs before wee were borne yea and euen before the making of the world as it is sayd in another place Yee see then at what poynt wee must begin too the end wee bee not puffed vp with vayne pride whiche woulde make vs breake our neckes in the end but rather bethinke vs too walke in lowlinesse remembering how it is sayd in another place VVho is it that sholeth thee out or that maketh thee more excellent than others It is God sayth he who hath done it of his owne meere goodnesse VVhen S. Paule confesseth there that it is God which hath separated or sholed vs out it is to cut off all allegations of men beyng well assured that no man can say he is better than his fellowes saue onely bicause God hath chozen vs yea euen before we were borne And this choyze of God is secrete vntill he shewe by effect that he calleth vs too him And how doth he that By his Gospell and therein there is a double grace The one is when the doctrine is preached too vs. For we see the miserable state of the world how a number of sillie soules and a number of blinde wretches wander there in darknesse without succour or ayde when in the meane whyle our God offereth vs foode yea and putteth it intoo our mouthes and is not that a singular grace But yet further God muste bee fayne too call vs inwardely and too touch vs in such wise by his holy spirite as his doctrine may rightly haue authoritie with vs wee acknowledge that it comes of him and he seale the same in our hartes by his holy Ghost accordyng as he speaketh of it as well in the second too the Corinthians as also in the first to the Ephesians To be short according as it is sayd by the Prophete Esay that it behoueth vs too bee taught of God Let vs vnderstand that we must be throughly assured in our hartes by the holy Ghost that the doctrine whiche wee hold commeth not of men but is the infallible truthe of God and wee cannot but haue so sure record of it that if wee be not to leude and vnthankfull wee may perceyue by eye sight that it is the very same wherevnto we ought to sticke euen to the end and also which will bryng vs into the kingdome of heauen when wee shall haue finished our course in this mortall life But now let vs fall downe before the maiestie of our good God with acknowledgement of our faultes praying him to make vs perceyue them more and more to the end that beyng humbled to mislike of our selues and to renounce all our own wicked affections desires we may offer our selues to our Lord Iesus Christ and yeeld him the honour that he requireth at our hands not only for fashion sake but also in such wise that as he hath his mouth open too shewe vs the way of Saluation so wee also may haue our eares attentiue to submit our selues quietly vnto him â–ª and our hartes open so as there may be nother hardnesse nor sturdinesse in them but that wee may abide his yoke beyng readie too receyue the same and too dedicate our whole life too the obeying of him and too the framing of our selues vnto his holy will that when Gods name is so glorified in vs others may also be drawen therevnto and all of vs be gathered into his flocke to the end wee may woorship him with one common accord and our Lord Iesus Christ haue the due honour and seruis that belongeth vnto him And for the performance hereof it may please him to rayse vp true and faithfull ministers of his woord c. The. 6. Sermon vpon the first Chapter 15 But vvhen it pleazed God who choze me from my mothers vvomb and called mee by his grace 16 To reuele his Sonne by mee to the ende I shoulde preach him among the Gentiles I did not therevpon take counsell of flesh and
Paule came after that sort to shewe howe conformable he was with the rest of the Apostles and too giue recorde thereof to the whole Church therein wee see that the desirousnesse which he had to serue God and his stoutnesse too aduaunce Gods word aboue all creatures letted him not to be full of curtesie and modestie also And euen so must we do too That is to say we must receiue the consent of our brethren seeke to conforme our selues too them in such wise as we may all be members of one bodie and Iesus Christ be our heade and not be scattered asunder nor euery man walke alone by himselfe but seeke to communicate after such maner one with another as euery man may guide his neybour and all go on forwarde to one marke and eche of vs giue courage to other so as there may be sene a good agreement among vs. True it is that wee cannot haue peace with all men wee shall fayle greatly of that And therefore S. Paule in another place sayth that we must seeke to be at peace with all men at leastwise as much as is in vs whereby he sheweth that we shall be constreyned to bee at variance with many folkes For the Diuell hath many vnderlings and they be all of them bent agaynst Gods worde and we also must set our selues agaynst them if we intende to haue the pure doctrine of the Gospell on our syde But howsoeuer the cace stande if wee see any man willing to submit himselfe too our Lorde Iesus Christ let vs receyue him let vs preuent him let vs seeke to agree wholy togither and let vs not looke to be honoured aboue other men nor say how now If I should agree with such a man it would seeme that I am become his vnderling VVo bee too vs if we haue such pride in vs. But let our onely seeking bee to haue Iesus Christ to be our heade and in such wise become members of his bodie as wee may all woorship him and call vppon him with one mouth in vnitie of fayth And now let vs fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God with acknowledgement of our faultes praying him too make vs feele them more and more to the ende we may mislyke them and beseech him to amende them by his holy spirit that being quite rid of our sinnes and wretchednesse wâ— may be renued after his Image so as hee may bee glorified in all our lyfe and in the meane whyle beare with vs in our frailtie til he haue brought vs to the perfection from whence we be all gone away And so let vs all say Almightie God heauenly father c. The. 7. Sermon vpon the first Chapter which is also the first vpon the second Chapter 22 For I vvas vnknovvne by face to the Churches of Ievvrie that vvere in Christ 23 Saue onely they had heard say hee that erevvhiles persecuted vs doth novv preach the fayth vvhich he had destroyed for a â—ime 24 And they glorified God in mee The seconde Chapter ABoute fourteene yeares afte I vvent vp agayne too Ierusalem vvith Barnabas and tooke Titus vvith me also 2 And I vvent vp by reuelation and communed vvith them concerning the Gospel that I preach among the Gentiles hovvbeeit priuately vvith those that are in estimation least I might in any vvise runne or haue runne in vaine WEe haue seene howe S. Paule hath on the one side published the Gospell through the whole world without warrant of any man coÌ„tenting himself in that he was sure he serued God and that his labour was acceptable to him and yet notwithstanding hath not forslowed in the meane while to seeke brotherhod and good agreement with the Apostles as a thing right requisite to succour the infirmitie of suche as might haue bin thrust out of the way vnlesse God had helped them in their feeblenesse So haue we on the one side a warrant of S. Paules doctrine on the other side we see how he intended to gather togither gods children to the end they might be ioyned in one band of fayth and glorifie God as it were with one heart one minde one mouth And therwithall we see also that S. Paule passed not to aske couÌ„sell whether he should go foreward or backward For although he were vnknown to such as had bin in the faith before him yet forslowed he not to serue God wherevnto he had bin erst called And this surely is one verie notable poynt more for it sheweth vs that he was wholy bent to serue God loked not for his hire at mens hands to the end they should pleasure him or esteme of him as he deserued VVherfore let vs learn to walk after such a fashion in the vocation whervnto we be called that although men loke not vpoÌ„ vs yet we may not ceasse to discharge our duties faithfully contenting our selues in that it pleased god to allow of vs. For they that hang vpoÌ„ meÌ„ shall always be attainted with some spice of vainglory it wil be impossible for theÌ„ to walk purely souÌ„dly Besides this Saint Luke sheweth vs that Saint Paule must needes haue bin led with an inuincible constancie seeing hee stepped not out of the way although men made no reckening at all of his dooings For he sayth that the faythfull had him in suspition and that they shunned him when hee came too Ierusalem Nowe it was a greeuous temptation to Saint Paule to see that he coulde not bee receyued intoo the companie of the faythfull considering that hee had suffered so much alreadie For we knowe that at his first comming to Damasco the gates were shet vpon him as we haue seene heeretofore so that he was fayne too bee let downe in a Panyer or Basket Ye see then that as soone as hee was conuerted to the faith of our Lorde Iesus Christ hee was by and by tossed with great persecutions After that hee went intoo the Countrey of Arabie and there trauelled faythfully And thinketh hee for all that too haue friendship and attonement with the faythfull The gate is shette agaynst him and men shunne him as a wilde beast But before hee was turned to the fayth he had bin honoured and in great credite bothe with the enimies of the Gospell and in the Sinagog of the Iewes He had renounced all these things euen so farre as too see himselfe banished out of the place and yet for all that they vouchsafed not to admit him to haue place in the Church VVherefore he might haue bin so greeued at suche vnkindnesse as it might haue made him to haue giuen ouer all if he had had his minde tyed here bylowe Howbeeit forasmuch as he had giuen himselfe wholly too Gods seruice and was fully determined too holde out to the ende although men cunned him no thanke for his labour therefore hee turned not aside from his right way And such examples ought too incourage vs at this day when wee see there are so fewe
with him he had leuer to acknowledge his fault with al humilitie than to leaue the thing vnsought that might be to Gods glorie So then let vs learne with him too acknowledge simply the offences that wee haue committed when it standeth vpon the honouring of God and let vs not be loth to receiue some shaâ—e before men For that is the way for vs also too haue our sinnes buryed before God so as they may neuer come to account nor to remembrance more that is to wit if we be contented too susteyne some marke of infamie before men if neede be that God may haue his due This therefore is the thing whiche wee haue too remember in that it is sayde that the common reporte wente that hee had earst destroyed the fayth as hee had done in deede Truely the fayth of the Gospell shall euermore get the vpper hande of all the assaultes of Sathan and of all the wicked Therefore it lay not in Saint Paules power 〈◊〉 abolishe the fayth nor too ouerthrowe it at such tyme as hee was caryed with such furie as wee haue seene For the fayth is grounded vppon Gods truth whiche is inuincible it is not subiect too the opinions of men But Saint Paule had respect heere too the infirmitie of the simple sort whome hee had cast downe as muche as lay in him For it is sayde in the Actes that hee did not onely persecute the Christians but also made some of them too recant Lyke as nowadayes when any great number is persecuted some spare neyther theyr bloud nor theyr lyues for the confessing of the name of our Lorde Iesus Christ Othersome redeeme this wretched and flightfull lyfe by recanting so that they banish themselues from the Kingdome of heauen as muche as they can cast themselues intoo Satans snares and throw themselues headlong into endlesse death and all too escape the handes of Tyrantes and of theyr enimies Therefore Saint Paules crueltie is purposely condemned by the holy Ghost for that he not onely was full of pryde and stubbornnesse agaynst God but also had inforced many too recant and giue ouer the fayth of the Gospell Yee see then howe hee behaued himselfe and that must serue for our learning For although the worde abide still in his full state and wee preiudice it not at all by our weaknesse yet notwithstanding the fayth is cast downe in our persons For if I swarue too please Gods enimies or if I disguyze the truth or by any meanes dissemble then is my fayth defaced True it is as I haue sayde alreadie that Gods worde shall alwayes holde his owne and yet oftentimes the fall of one man shal draw a great hauocke after it If men see some one person recant at whose hande great constancie was looked for then are many poore soules shaken and they wote not what too say True it is that wee ought not to rest vppon men but yet for all that as wee shall declare agayne anon there are many that haue neede too bee confirmed by good example Nowe if a man cast a stumbling blocke in their way they bee as good as vtterly ouerthrowne or else they be so hartshaken as they wote not where to become VVherfore let vs lerne to coÌ„mit our selues vnto god seing that the diuel hath so many vnderlings whiche seeke nothing but too bring all too confusion and imploy themselues wholy to ouerwhelme the Christian fayth let vs pray God to strengthen vs with such constancie as our enimies may bee put too shame though we bee assayled neerelyer than we bee And let vs not onely care euery man for himselfe but also for the great number of poore soules whom wee see as it were in the VVoolues mouth for they shall bee tormented and threatned and finally laboured by flatteryes and allurements too recant Therefore when wee fee such assaultes gyuen too our brothers at leastwize let vs haue the heart too pray God too ayde them at theyr neede so as theyr fayth maye continue still inuincible and get the vpper hande and that they may neuer swarue for all that euer Satan and all his broode can practize So muche the more then behoueth it vs to marke this Text where it is sayde that Saint Paule did cast downe and destroy the fayth For although God will alwayes maintaine his truth yet doo not men ceasse too go too destruction bycause theyr fayth is shaken by swaruing and stepping asyde from the right way Furthermore wee haue wherewith too confirme oure selues so that althoughe men continue not in such constancie as were requisyte and too bee wyshed yet let vs not bee too muche abashed at it seeyng it is a thing that hathe beene common in all ages VVas Sainct Paules preaching of the lesse credite bycause there were manye renegates that in the ende shewed themselues too bee Hypocrites and full of vnfaythfulnesse Euen some of hys owne companions that had beene linked wyth him as twoo fingers of one hande gaue him quyte ouer in the ende And yet muste not Sainct Paules doctrine bee reiected for all that Also when hee persecuted the Christians before hee was conuerted althoughe that manye had renounced the saluation whiche they shoulde haue accepted as it was offered them in Iesus Christe yet ought not the fayth too bee defaced therefore Likewyse in these dayes when wee see manie wretched folke quayle and giue ouer all and othersome agayne holde oute at whose handes wee woulde not haue looked for any greate constancie let vs profite our selues thereby and bee oute of all doubt that although the whole worlde go too ruyne yet wee haue a good and sure foundation if wee rest vppon our God Nowe whereas Saint Paule addeth that the faithfull glorifyed God in him it is too shewe the better so as men might perceyue it euen by eysight that the chaunge whiche was made in him proceeded of the onely hande of God And all of it commeth too this poynt namely that hee had not thrust himselfe in and that it coulde not bee layde too his charge that he had preached at all aduenture nor that there was any rashnesse or presumption in him or that hee was dryuen wyth any worldly respect but that God had gouerned and guyded him For whereas the faythfull had glorifyed God in him it was by acknowledging that the renuing of suche a man after that fashion and the making of a rauening VVoolfe too become a Sheepe yea and a Sheephearde was his woorke and a verie miracle that proceeded from hym Marke that for a speciall poynt And heereby wee see briefly that they on whom God hath bestowed giftes of grace so as they excell and are farre aboue all others must not therefore aduaunce themselues but finde meanes that the prayse may bee yeelded too him that hath right too it and which hath deserued it VVherefore let vs keepe this rule of humilitie whiche is that wee seeke not our owne estimation nor too preferre our selues aboue oure neighbours for
shall not bee able any more too put a difference betweene whyte and blacke Thus yee see howe it behoueth vs too behaue our selues And nowe lette vs marke what kinde of menne Sainct Paule hath noted here He sayeth that they were crept in as it were by stealth too spie out the libertie whiche wee haue in our Lorde Iesus Christe The libertie that hee speaketh of heere concerned Ceremonies For as we haue touched alreadie and shall more fully see agayne hereafter God had ordeyned many figures vnder the Lawe too holde the Fathers in hope of oure Lorde Iesus Chryste till hee were come and shewed too the worlde The Sacrifizes therefore with all their appendants and appurtenances and the Sanctuarie with all that was in it serued bycause our Lorde Iesus Christe who is the truthe and substance of those things had not yet shewed himselfe It was for the fathers too bee led and guyded vnder suche shadowes And that is the cause why Sainct Paule will vse the similitude of yong children that are vnder Tutors and gouerners The auncient fathers therefore tooke profite by keeping the Ceremonies of the Lawe for thereby they were alwayes confirmed in the things that were promysed concerning the Redeemer And for that cause also it is sayd that the Sanctuarie was made according too the Patterne that Moyses had seene in the Mount Now that Patterne was spiritâ—all that is too wit it was our Lord Iesus Christe with his grace which is vttered too vs by his meanes now adayes in his Gospell For in asmuch as our Lord Iesus Christe is come intoo the worlde he hath made an end of those shadowes and figures And therefore also the veyle of the Temple rent asunder at his death too shew how it was Gods will too haue the faythfull come more familiarly vnto him S. Paule sayeth now that wee haue libertie in our Lorde Iesus Christ and that is bycause wee bee no more subiect too the bondage that lasted in the time of the Lawe according as he will hereafter take example of circumcision and as he treateth of it in another place also too the Colossians VVee then are circumcyzed not by the hand of man but by the woorking of Iesus Christ in vs through the power of his holy spirite And in steede of the circumcision that was ordeyned for the Iewes wee haue Baptime which witnesseth the same thing vntoo vs namely that wee must become new creatures too dedicate our selues wholly too the seruis of God And so wee see that the libertie or freedome whiche is purchaced too vs by our Lord Iesus Christe is that the Ceremonies of the lawe are layd away so as wee bee no more subiect nor bound vntoo them Now at the first blush a man would thinke this were no great thing For what harme were it if we were first baptized and by and by after circumcyzed Or if we knew that our Lord Iesus Christe only is the whole perfection and accomplishment and yet had the figures thereof still First if men should keepe still the ceremonies as in the time of the lawe the glorie of our Lord Iesus Christ should be diminished for it according as it is sayd that the law was giuen by Moyses but truth and grace were vttered too vs in our Lorde Iesus Christ for so it is sayd in the firste chapter of S. Iohn Therefore he should be bereft of his honour if wee shoulde not haue the libertie that he hath brought vs. And it behoueth vs to vnderstand that our state is better and more excellent now adayes than was the state of the old fathers bicause our Lord Iesus Christ is giuen vntoo vs and in him we haue all that was figured at that tyme. So then men do wrong to our Lord Iesus Christ in keeping still the ceremonies of the Lawe That is one poynt Againe for as much as he is named the Sonne of rightuousnesse we must not be led still as though there were but a sparke of light but wee must fasten our eyes vpon the doctrine wherein our Lord Iesus Christe is shewed vntoo vs and wherein wee may also behold him face to face to come euen vnto God his father as hath ben shewed in the second too the Corinthians Moreouer if the ceremonies of the Lawe bee considered without our Lord Iesus Christ that is to say if they be separated from him they bring as it were a binding with them and a recorde of condemnation and death vpon men And therevpon doth S. Paule stand in the seconde too the Colossians where he sayth that our Lorde Iesus Christe hath vpon his Crosse torne asunder and blotted out the obligation or handwriting that was against vs. For if the Sacrifizes stoode in force at this day wee should see there that we be all in daunger of eternall death before God And why so The sleaing of the poore beasts was not for that they themselues had deserued it but to shewe vnto men as it were in a liuely picture that they were all worthy to perishe Then if the same continued yet at this day we should still stand bounde vnder the same obligation of death But we be discharged of it by oure Lord Iesus Christ And that was the tryumph of his death as Saint Paule sayth Thirdly the auncient fathers knewe that although the Lawe was giuen them yet they obtained such fauour of freedome at Gods hand that all their faults were forgiuen them But if men shoulde nowadayes be put to the necessitie of keeping all the ceremonies it woulde be an intolerable yoke as it is sayd in the .xv. of the Actes For the cace would not only concerne ceremonies but also the drowning of vs in dispaire For is it possible for men to do the things which God commaundeth all men to do without any exception or release No. For the thing that God requireth and demaundeth passeth all our abilitie and if we fayle but in any one point we should be ouerwhelmed vnder the buâ—then Therefore for that cause this libertie is of such importance as we cannot bee sure of our saluation nor freely call vppon God excepte wee knowe that we be no more hilde vnder the yoke and bondage of the Lawe There is yet one poynt more which shall bee layd out at length which is that such as would needs make the faythfull subiecte to the keeping of ceremonies had therewithall a wicked and vntowarde imagination that men were iustifyed and did purchace grace at Gods hand by such meanes And that was an vtter abolishing of the force of the death passion of our Lord Iesus Christ Now then we see it was not causelesse that S. Paul stroue so stoutly agaynst the ceremonies of the lawe to the ende they should not be so brought in vse agayne that the faythfull should be hilde in bondage vnder them And we haue neede to be warned thereof for in these dayes we haue the like encounter agaynst the Papists True
things should goe to hauocke and confusion in the world than to abyde that Gods woord being so precious and holy a thing as it is should in any wise be peruerted yea it were better that heauen and earth should be confounded together than that that should bee suffered So then lette vs consyder well this doctrine howe it maye serue our turne and doe vs good not onely to beate backe all the assaultes that shall bee put too vs by the enimies of Gods truth but also too frame vs too all lowlynesse and modestie so as oure whole desire maye bee too bee guyded and gouerned by Gods woorde and by the doctrine of our Lorde Iesus Chryste Howbeeit therewithall lette vs bee so stoute hearted as not to bee turned awaye by men neyther for theyr credite and authoritie nor for their threatenyngs nor for all the pryde and statelinesse of the worlde but that wee maye alwayes sticke stedfastly to our Lorde Iesus Chryste And if any bodie come and laye any newe thing afore vs lette vs eâ—ermore haue a good eye too the ende wherevntoo they woulde leade vs and consyder that lyke as Satan hathe many wiles and policies so also haue his vnderlings too And therfore let vs on our side haue the skil to loke to our selues in such wyse as we may always know our Lord Iesus Christ and be guyded thither so as he may be our only marke and shoote anker and we vnderstande that hee hath all fulnesse of welfare in him to the ende that wee should seeke our wantes in him and all things be put away that might hinder vs from comming vnto him And nowe lette vs fall downe before the maiestie of our good God with acknowledgemente of oure faultes praying him too make vs feele them in suche wise as wee may craue forgiuenesse of them at hys hande wyth true repentance and profyte after suche sorte more and more in hys worde as it may make vs too forsake oure selues and leane vntoo hym and hys power that he may hold vs vp in our fraylenesse till he haue brought vs to the perfection wherevnto he calleth vs at thys daye And so let vs all say Almighty God our heauenly father c. The ninth Sermon which is the third vpon the second Chapter 6. But as for those that are in estimation I passe not vvhat they haue bin in time past for God regardeth not the outvvard apparance of man surely those that vvere in estimation did adde nothyng vnto me 7 â–ª But coÌ„traryvvise vvheÌ„ they savv that the preaching of the Gospell to the vncircumcised vvas coÌ„mitted vnto me as the preaching to the circumcysed vvas committed vnto Peter 8 For he that vvas of povver in Peters Apostleship tovvardes the Circumcizion was of povver in mee also tovvardes the Gentiles WE saw this morning that when meÌ„ mingle their owne fancies with Gods truth ther is nothing but corruption and by that meanes the Gospel is falsified VVhich thing ought to holde vs in such awe as no man shoulde presume to adde aught at all to the things that we haue from aboue For God hath taught vs so perfectly as we can not put too any thing without great blasphemie forasmuch as it were a couert accusing of him of vnaduisednesse or els of nigardship as who shuld say he were loth too bestow things vpon vs which would be for our welfare Seeing then that the doctrine of the Gospel is sufficient for vs let vs abide in it And if any man step vp to bring in some addition of his own let vs abhor it yea though the thing seme to haue neuer so great reason in it as oftentimes the diuell vseth to shroude himself vnder this couert that we must not stick at light slender points But surely God must be hearkned too in al points and al respects â–ª according as it is to be demed by S. Paules dooing who could easyly haue let slip the circumcizing of Titus as a smal thing yet notwithstanding would not beÌ„d in that behalf the reason wherof was least the Gentiles shoulde be made subiect to such necessitie as was intended to be layde vpon theÌ„ Yet we read that he sticked not to circumcise Timothie Neuerthelesse the matter seemed to be all one and that S. Paule vsed inconstancie and variablenesse in that behalfe Beholde there were twoo Heathen men which had not bin nourished and instructed in the law of Moyses from their birth And the Iewes would neuer haue receyued any man that had not ben circumcized For they deemed all men to be vncleane whiche bare not that warrant about them Now S. Paule circumcyseth the one and will not doe the lyke to the other who will thinke that he kept an euen hande If wee consider all thyngs well wee shall see why he refuzed to circumcyse Titus and yet had circumcysed Timothie Circumcision was at that tyme lawfull of it selfe It was not lyke the Idolatries that are in Papistrie nowadayes If ye aske what holywater is it is an vnhallowing of baptisme For in baptim wee haue a washing that ought to suffice vs both in lyfe and death and God will not haue vs too haue anie other warrant of the spirituall clenzing that was obteyned for vs by the blud of our Lord Iesus Christ but we must be contented with it But as for the Holywater of the Papists what else is it than an endlesse baptysing of our selues As touching the Masse it is so vilanous and outrageous a trecherie that noman can come at it but he must defyle himself by renouncing the death of our Lord Iesus Christ But Circumcision stoode not in the like case for it was profitable for the tyme that it lasted True it is that it was abolished at the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ but yet for all that the Iewes myght keepe it still till they were fully instructed in the libertie of the Gospel Saint Paule therfore had circumcised Timothie and the reason why was for that hee sawe manye weaklings whiche woulde haue bene offended bycause they were not yet throughly confirmed in the knowledge of the Gospell but thought that it behoued them to keepe still the ceremonies of the Lawe And it is sayd that wee must yeeld one to an other for charitie byndeth vs thervnto Euery man must not do what he him self thinks good to the trubbling of his neybours but we must so fashyon our selues one too an other as none maye bee offended through our faulte S â–ª Paule then forbare in hauing respect too the poore Ignorant weaklings who not withstanding myghte bee brought to knowledge in tyme. And as concerning the persone of Titus he sawe how men went about to lay a yoke of bondage vpon the Gentiles and that the same wold be a holding of the Iewes alwayes vnder the Lawe whiche was then but superstition For it was for them to haue known that the law had serued out his time and that the ceremonies should not continue for euer If thys
the wretchednesse that was in the Iewes to the intent they shoulde returne vnto him and confesse that they had not any thing in them worthie of Gods fauour nor any other refuge than vnto his mere mercie Thus ye see in effect what wee haue to consider for the solution of the question and doubt which Saint Paule putteth forth heere Likewise in these dayes if a man speake of the Gospell too such as thinke they serue God and hope to winne heauen by their owne desertes they be greeued at it bicause that that gate is shet agaynst them by the presumptuousnesse which they haue conceyued afore hande saying VVhat I pray Shall I haue lost my time when I haue bin so deuout all my life long As for the man that shall haue heard a Masse or twaine or mumbled vp a sort of prayers or gone on pilgrimage or lashed out his money and substance without sparing vpon pardons indulgences and such other things if one tell him that wee bee all wretched and that there is none other thing for vs too leane vnto but the mere grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ and that all that euer we are able to bring vnto God is but filthie and lothly he will storme and replie Is it possible that God should haue no regarde of so greate paynes as I take to serue him Muste not all of it passe in myne accounte and bee allowed mee too my saluation They woulde faine accuze God yea and wee shall see many that will not sticke to rayle vpon him with open mouth bycause they bee lothe to lose that which they haue done Although the Hypocrites perceyue much lewdnesse in themselues yet woulde they fayne hyde all vnder theyr cowles For they breake out after this maner One sayes I haue gone woolwarde another I haue risen at midnight to serue God the thirde I haue forborne the eating of fleshe and another I haue bin shette vp in a Cloyster as in a pryson and finally I haue bin dead to the worldwarde and shall all this be vnprofitable too mee so as God will haue no regarde of it Such murmurings as these we shall heare dayly But let vs see if they can make their cace the better for all their replying For when they haue wel examined what is in them they shall finde that all their doings are but as a paynting to ouercast things withall like as a man that in-intendeth not too repayre his house leaueth the holes vnmended within and doth but dawb them ouer on the outside too the ende they be not seene and afterwarde whytelymes them so that finally it is nothing else but a pargetting or whitelyming according also as our Lorde Iesus Christ vseth the same similitude agaynst the hypocrites that did no more but blaunche things Howbeeit in the meane while God regardeth not the outwarde appearance as it is sayde in the first of Samuell but searcheth mens heartes and the truth and layeth open the things that were hidden afore according also as it is sayd in Ieremie Sith it is so then all such as alledge or set foorth their owne deuotions may peraduenture haue some fayre shew before men but surely before God all is but leasing And assoone as God doth but blowe vppon their painting and starche it shall scale off lyke the painting of harlots that take great paine too starch their faces and yet the Sunne doth no sooner shine vppon them but a man shall see the filthie scales fal off and their foulnesse is discouered to their shame In like taking are all hypocrites when they will needes colour things after that maner before God their shamefull leudnesse must needes bee brought too light VVherefore let vs marke that our Lorde Iesus Chryste in condemning the whole worlde by shewing that none can bee saued but by the free goodnesse of God his father the which hee offereth and imparteth vntoo vs bringeth not sinne for wee haue that alreadie in vs but vttereth and bewrayeth it too the ende wee should bee conuicted of it and all the pryde wherewith wee were made drunken afore be layde downe and nothing remayne in vs but lowlynesse too confesse vnfeynedly that wee bee vndoone and that there is none other shifte for vs but that God vtter the infinite treasures of hys mercy vpon vs. Yee see then that all mouthes shall bee stopped and men must not beguile themselues any more by surmyzing to find any rightuousnesse in themselues And furthermore S. Paule vseth heere a dubble answere too shew that it is nothing so Howbeit before he answer he setteth downe a precyze woord saying God forbid As if he should say it is an horrible blasphemie too intend to lay the blame of our sinnes vpon our Lord Iesus Christ Eor sayth he if I pull downe the thing that I haue buylded vp there shal be contrarietie in mee And in speaking so he bringeth vs backe to the common doctrine of the Gospell For our preaching of the end wherevnto God hath sent his onely sonne is too shew that he hath brought vs rightuousnesse and is come too put away sinne which holds vs as it were vnder Tyrannie till wee bee deliuered and set free from it by the grace whiche was purchaced for vs in the death and passion of the Sonne of God Now then seing it is so wee see that our Lord Iesus Christ is not the bringer in of sinne but is come too destroy sinne as S. Iohn sayeth in his Canonicall Epistle and we also do see it to bee so For what else dothe the Gospell teach vs but that wee bee full of all wickednesse and must bee fayne to bee made cleane by him that is made the Lambe without spot and also that he hath brought vs the spirit of holinesse For asmuch then as mē so long as they be cut off frō Christ haue nothing in thē but cursednesse so as they be vtterly rottē saped in their sins that Iesus Christ is the partie that maketh thē pure and cleane by the sheading of his bloud to wash thē withall and by bringing vs the spirit of regeneration to renue vs with that we might giue our selues too the seruing of God haue his Image repayred in vs and walke in truth and vprightnesse forasmuch say I as it is sayde so we see that our Lorde Iesus Christ is not the bringer in of sinne And why so For let vs consider what we bee and wee shall finde that there is a gulfe of all maner of wickednesse in euery one of vs and in all mankinde But our Lorde Iesus Christ commeth to remedie it Ye see then that the sinne was in vs before but our Lorde Iesus Christ is faine to vncouer it VVhat harme doth a Phisition by letting bloud Beholde a wretched man hath a disease that is not perceyued his bloud is altogither corrupted and yet it is not seene to be so as long as it lieth within the veynes But be he once let bloud it will appeare
heauenly life that is prepared for vs and that although we do but glide away here below and be as straungers yet there is an euerlasting heritage which cānot fayle vs. According as the outward man decayeth saith S. Paule so the inward man renueth For the more that the faithfull see themselues decay the more are they warned and prouoked to looke vpward For we know that such as are strong and lusty do besot and forget themselues and therefore our Lorde is faine to tame vs in such wise as we may renue by decaying I say in such wise as we may be as ye wold say new cast in a mould again to the end that the hope of the heauenly life may be stablished in vs and we haue our sight cleered to behold the thyng which otherwise would be wrapped vp frō vs. Marke how gold and siluer do greatly wast when men make them to passe the furnace VVhē it is cast into the fire it is a great masse of metall but whē it is takē out again ther is but a small quantitie of it And yet the gold if it were not so fined would neuer serue to any purpose no more would siluer nother Euen so is it with vs we could neuer be renued to come to the kingdome of heauen except we dyed first VVe must euer go forward to that vtter defacement and not rest by the way vpon any thing that we see with our eyes For this earthly life is but a shadow and a smoke that slideth and vanisheth away yet neuerthelesse we be renued thereby within Not that all men haue that benefit For the faithlesse do well ynough finde their owne weaknesse and are inforced to feele the summonings of death specially when they be growen old for then they perceiue that any little blast is ynough to cast thē downe and therevpon they fall to storming and could find in their harts to fall out with God nature Howsoeuer the world go though they rotte yet are they not renued For one graine of corne may well rotte and yet not take roote to spring againe and to bring foorth frute and another grain shal rot likewise howbeit for asmuch as it is in good earth hathe takē roote it will bring foorth frute in seasonable time So thē the faithful come to decay and the rewithal are renued and gather new force and why For they rot in this world to the end to be restored and renued againe in the heauēly heritage The faithlesse also do go away to they rot likewise they slip aside they vanish quite away but they haue no vauntage by it bycause they be not restored to eternall life So then let vs marke well that whereas S. Paul sayth we liue by the faith of Iesus Christ it is to wakē vs so as nothing in the world may keepe vs from resting cōtinually vpon Gods promises VVhen we looke vpon al the things that are about vs there is nothing but death But what for that God hath giuē vs his word that being dead in our own nature we haue our life elsewhere namely in our Lord Iesus Christ in asmuch as he was purposely sent to bring vs from death to life Seing then that we haue that promise of god ye see how he may be honored at our hands And for asmuch as the cace standeth so that only saying ought to suffise vs. And if wee setle and resolue ourselues fully therevpon it is a token that we set our handes to Gods truth as faithfull witnesses thereof as sayeth Sainct Iohn Contrariwise when we doubt or be in a mamering then hath Gods word no authoritie nor reuerence among vs. For if we looke no further than to the things that are before vs and to the things that are neare at hand we cannot acknowldge that God is faithfull and that the things which God hath vttered wyth his owne mouth are vnfallible Moreouer in so doing we turne away from our Lord Iesus Christ who notwithstāding is the pledge of all that is conteined in Gods word Seeing we haue the worde we must no more aske as Moses saith who shall climb vp aboue the Cloudes or who shall go downe into the deepe or who shall go ouer the Sea The word sayth he is in thy mouth and in thy hart and we must content ourselues with it And moreouer seeing that we haue our Lord Iesus Christ for a larger confirmation we know that he went downe into the hells that is to saye bare the curse that was due to vs for our sinnes and answered as our pledge and suretie before the iudgement seate of his father and afterward went vp into heauen and in our behalfe tooke possession of the heritage that he had purchaced for vs. For he was exalted vp in our flesh and nature Seeing that we haue such an assurance must wee not needes be tootoo wretched if we cannot hold ourselues too it Agayne the matter willeth vs to looke still backe to that whych hath bin said namely that we hope not for thinges that are open and manifest but for the thinges that are vnknowen to worldly perceiuerance Then sith it is so let vs learne to liue by the faith of Iesus Christ that is to say although we be miserable in this worlde and be faine to indure neuer so many hartbitings greefes anguishes troubles and distresses yet notwithstanding let vs continue in this constancie of beleeuing that there is nothing but singular happinesse in all our miseries bycause God blisseth and halloweth them for our Lord Iesus Christs sake and all is turned to our helpe and welfare as it is said in the .viij. to the Rom. Therfore as we haue seene in another text God must vtter the perfectnesse of his strēgth in our weakenesse and we suffer him to make vs to stoupe in such sort as this world may not keepe vs backe from hauing the promises of the Gospell throughly printed in our heartes nor hinder vs to be glad and cheerfull in the mids of our miseries and afflictions nor boldly too dispyze all the slaunderings and mockages of the faythlesse when they offer vs reproch saying Godes you silly wretches thinke your selues to be princes when you beleeue the Gospell But alack poore soules where is the ioy and happinesse which you say is promised you of God VVhere is the inestimable benefit which you make so great account of For ye haue no more than those whō you call Gods enimies reprobates and cursed kaytifs But as I sayde all this geere must not thrust vs out of the way for we must come backe vntoo fayth Although then that heere beneath we perceiue not the things that are promised vs in the Gospell yet let vs assure our selues of them out of all doubt For as sayth S. Paule our life is hidden and the time of the discouerie thereof is not yet come And where is our life but in our Lorde Iesus Christ Now the
knowing well that although wee bee of the race of cursed Adam yet notwithstanding for asmuch as wee bee blissed agayne in Iesus Chryste hee acknowledgeth vs alwayes for his Children bycause wee be grounded vppon the free adoption whiche not without cause he willed too bee published through the whole worlde to the intent we might haue the gate opened and the way made easie for vs to come vnto him But now let vs fal downe before the maiestie of our good God with acknowledgement of our faultes praying him to make vs perceiue them more and more that we may in suche wise mislike of them as we may labour and indeuer ourselues to honor and serue him in true obedience all our life long and whereas we cannot do it to the full for that is vnpossible considering our frailtie that hee will hold vs vp till he haue rid vs of al the corruptions of our flesh and clothed vs againe with his owne rightuousnesse the whiche he beginneth in vs already as now and giueth vs certayne firstfrutes of it to assure vs that he will performe the thing that he hathe begonne And so let vs all say Almightie God heauenly father c. The .xx. Sermon which is the sixth vpon the third Chapter 15. BrethreÌ„ I speake after the maner of men Although it be but a mans Testament yet if it be proued no man breaketh it or putteth aught to it 16. Novv the promises vvere spoken to Abraham and his seede He sayth not and to the seedes as speaking of manie but as of one and in thy seede vvhiche is Christe 17. This is it that I say as touching the couenant that vvas confirmed before by God in Christe the lavv vvhich came foure hundred and thirtie yeeres after cannot impeach or abolish the promis 11. For if the inheritaÌ„ce come by the lavv then commeth it not of promis but God gaue it to Abraham by promis IT were great shame for vs if God should beare no more sway with vs than mortall creatures For what comparison is there betwixt his maiestie and the state of men which are but a fading shadow And yet notwithstanding it is an ordinarie matter with men too preferre themselues before God which is so ougly a thyng that if the Sunne were matched with the darknesse of hell it were not so great a confusion as to exalt men aboue him to whome all honor belongeth But howsoeuer the cace stande it is a vice as I sayd which hath euermore reigned and stil reigneth at this day too much in the world For looke what man speaketh it shall strayghtways be beleeued and if folke be loth to do it of their owne good will yet must they be fayne to hold them to it in all matters that are allowed by law Behold God speaketh yea and that right substantially so as he ouerslippeth not any thing that may giue credite and assurednesse to his word and yet notwithstanding we bee always in a mamering or else we fall to flat reasoning against hym Must it not needes be then that we be out of our wittes when wee diminish Gods authoritie after that fashion and yeeld more credit to creatures than to him that made both heauen and earth wyth his only word and mainteyneth all things by the same That is the cause why S. Paule in this text vseth this preface I speake sayth he after the manner of men For if hee had sayd no more but thys Couenantes shall bee kept heere bylow without breaking or repealing and therefore needes must Gods promis bee euerlasting that had bin true but yet had he spoken too coldly of Gods maiestie in raunging him so in aray among earthly creatures But whereas hee sayth that hee speaketh after the manner of men it is all one as if he had sayd that he vseth not such maner of stile and speech as might beseeme to treate of the maiestie of God For both the Sunne and Moone ought too forgo their brightnesse when Gods glory commeth in presence All of it must needes bee darkened what shall then become of those that are but as flyes frogges crauling vpon the earth For make men neuer so much of their painted sheath yet are they lesse than naught worthe before God Now when wee heere this wee should bee the more restreyned that wee vse no replying but with all reuerence take in good worth the thing that is tolde vs heere that is too wit that if God haue voutsafed too giue them full assurednesse of their saluation which receiue the promise that is preached vntoo them wee must not take vpon vs to reason against him For when a deede is passed among men if it bee entered of record it shall be receyued and go for good euidence and what then shall bee done when God shall haue opened his holy mouth to beare vs recorde of his good will Is there any solemnitie among men that commeth neere too the glory of God who will haue vs too sticke too that which he hath spoken and vttered True it is as I haue touched alreadie that we ought to fight agaynst the lewdnesse which is rooted in vs too yeelde credite vnto God for wee bee so bent to mistrustfulnesse that not one worde of the things whiche God hathe vttered shall euer haue setling in our harts except wee haue fought agaynst the vice wherein wee bee so sore intangled So then euery of vs when he commeth too bee taught in Gods worde must examine what is in himselfe and when he seeth him selfe subiect still too many distrustes and doubts he must mislike of it and pray God to touch all his senses in suche wise too the quicke that he may rest wholly vpon the thing which he heareth at his hande according also as it is the office of the holy Ghost to seale in our hearts the truthe which is certayne inough of it selfe howbeeit that it bee not certayne vnto vs till it be assured too vs from aboue For if wee were of our owne mouing inclined to beleeue God the holy Ghoste should not neede to worke in that behalfe But it is sayde that he is the very Seale wherewith God marketh vs and whereby â–ª he imprinteth and ingraueth in our harts the â—â—ings whiche else should neuer be receyued Yea and wee must also marke well that Sainct Paule setteth downe heere two wordes namely that no man diminisheth or disanulleth the thing that is authorized among men by lawfull and orderly meanes nor also addeth any thing too it For althoughe wee bee not alwayes vtter rebels yet are our wittes stil tickling vs too make some additions and gloses to Gods worde and we can not abide to holde vs to the simplicitie that is conteyned there Then if wee consider well what wee bee without selfe soothing euery of vs shall finde two vices in vs. The one is that when God hath spoken vnto vs wee can not throughly consent to say Amen vnfaynedly or to accept his promises or to bee
renounce our owne nature and let all things which we know to come of man be thrust vtterly vnder foote and let vs learne to holde vs simply to Gods pure truthe This say I is the thing that we haue to remember vpon the words of S. Paule where he sayth that those which knewe not God had serued suche as were but Idols Moreouer let vs not thinke our selues too bee wiser than the Galathians but as I haue sayde alreadie let vs vnderstande that in this place the holy Ghost mente too beate downe all pride that men might not presume vppon their owne reason and skill to doo what they like themselues but rather know that there is nothing but brutishnesse in vs till God haue inlightened vs with his grace Furthermore whereas S. Paule sayth that Idols are no Gods by nature he meeneth that we be very dulheaded when we can not repayre to the maker of all things who sheweth him selfe bothe aboue and beneathe too the ende we should know him to worship and serue him For wee can not looke vpon our hands and our feete but we must openly see Gods wonderfull wisdome power and goodnesse and when we beholde the skyes and the starres wee haue there a sufficient recorde that there is a soueraygne Lorde which maynteyneth them VVhen we consider the chaunges of seasons and see the snow rayne winde or heate beholde therein doth God shew him selfe VVhen the earth bringeth foorth hir fruites or is as good as dead and withered in all those things wee continually knowe God or at leastwise are conuicted that he sheweth him selfe there And if we will not perceiue him nowe wee shall bee driuen too confesse it at the latter daye when the bookes shall bee opened Now in the meane while if wee woorship those whiche are not Gods by nature it is all one as if wee dyd wilfully shet our eyes ageynst so many recordes and lookingglasses which God setteth afore vs to bring vs vnto him How soeuer the world go all the worshipping that men can deuise is but a vayne fancie till they haue bin brought intoo the good way For of their owne natural wit they cannot but giue themselues to al errour and deceiuablenesse He addeth Now that you haue knoweÌ„ God or rather haue bin knowen of hym Some translate it nowe that you haue been instructed in the knowledge of God but all comes too one Neuerthelesse in the firste part as I haue touched alreadye he sheweth that suche as haue bin trayned in the pure truth are giltie of periurie to Godward And therof they bee vnexcusable for it is no ignorance any more it is not with them as thoughe they neuer had tasted of the true religion but it â—as a manifest falshod lyke as if some subiectes knowing well inoughe who is their Prince should reuolte from him and breake the allegeance whiche they had promised him and confederate them selues with his deadly enimie Thus yee see in what plight wee bee namely that all suche as haue knowen Gods truth can not steppe aside after their owne superstitions and errours but they must become periured and false forsworne traytors For it is not causelesse sayde that all Idols must fall downe when God is to be glorified in his highnesse and that all superstitions must vanish away when his maiestie commeth abrode Nowe if he voutsafe too shew him selfe to vs it is as much as if he dyd set vp his chayre of estate among vs of purpose to bee so good and gracious too vs as too become our king If wee can not finde in our hearts too yeelde him any subiection are wee not falseharted caytifs towards him If we alledge for a replie that our intent is not so it is but hypocrisie For we knowe that our Lorde can abide no companion in so muche that he vseth the worde Ielosie to shew that he wil so possesse vs as we may belong vnto him wholly and not in parte Then if we will play on both sides row betweene two streames there will bee nothing but fayning and hypocrisie in vs. But there ought to bee a substantiall soundnesse in vs. And therfore S. Paule sayth not simply if wee bee beguyled by Satan forsake the Gospell quite and cleane but if we swarue from the simplicitie of it As for example the Galathians as I haue shewed alreadie had not renounced Iesus Christ nor denied their baptisme for they professed to holde the Gospell still but they had mingled it and that marred all a little Leuen sowreth a whole lumpe of dowe Euen so when men will needes adde I wote not what of their owne brayne to Gods truthe it marreth all For let a man put a little vineger or some other slabersauce into a cuppe of the best wine in the worlde and he were better to drinke sheere water In like cace is it when men wyll turkin the true Religion as all they doo which take vpon them too inuent I wote not what of their owne heade Surely it were muche better that they had neuer knowen anye more at all but grossely that there is a God than too haue beene trayned vp in the good doctrine of the Gospell and afterwaâ—â—e too falsifie all and too disfigure our Lorde Iesus Christe after that sorte Yee see then howe it is a thing that can not be borne withall and that is it which we haue to marke in the first place Secondly S. Paule sheweth that the calling of the Galathians to the Gospell came not of their owne proper motion nor through their owne furthering of the matter but of God who had sought them out when they were wandering and straying wretches And this is not spoken for them alone for wee know how the Prophet Esay speaketh after the same maner generally of all such as should be partakers of the saluation that is purchased for vs by our Lord Iesus Christ saying I was fouÌ„d of them that sought me not and I shewed my selfe to such as inquired not after me and vnto such as made none account of me I saide Lo here I am here I am See how God magnifieth his grace to the intent that men should not be so far ouerseene as to thinke that they atteine to fayth by their owne wisdome No sayth he yee bee all of you in the way of destruction there is none of you that coÌ„meth to me without I draw him for pitie of the wretchednesse wherein you be plunged Therfore it is I that haue discouered my selfe and all this is of mine owne meere gracious goodnesse for you would neuer haue soughte me yea there is none of you all but he withdrew him selfe further and further off from mee For wee be not onely as straying beasts but also as wylde and wood beastes wee be wholly giuen to rebellion tyll God haue tamed vs and chaunged vs that wee might be sheepe of his folde that he may do the office of a shephearde towards vs. So then it is not for
to teache and too carie abrode the doctrine of thâ— Gospell muste aboue all things eschue quarelles and contentions at leastwyse if they intende to haue theyr preaching to preuayle and bee profitable I say quarelles and contentions for theyr owne peculiar matters And so yee see howe wee must abstayne from all quarâ—lles least the gate bee shette agaynst vs and wee bee disbarred of all libertie of rebuking men when neede shall requyre that wee may protest with Saint Paule that we deale not wyth them for any desire of reuenge enmitie or euill will but onely for desyre of theyr welfare let vs bee sure of that too the intente it maye open vs a gappe and giue vs a waye too all maner of rebukings Marke that for one poynt Againe let vs also be well aduized that if our vices be touched wee cast not a blocke in the way by conceyuing and surmising this false opinion in our heades that it is done of hatred for that is the pollicie of Satan Although men be inclinable to thinke that other men do bite them and nip them of hatred yet let vs not thinke that they doo it of their owne mere motion but by the Diuels meanes who snarleth them after that fashion If we bee rebuked when wee haue done amysse whence soeuer the same commeth surely it is a message sente of God bycause hee will not haue vs too perishe but would haue vs to returne vnto the right way notwithstanding that the partie which findeth fault with vs doo it not of a good and pure affection but seeketh onely to spite vs or to wreake his teene vppon vs for yet doth God neuerthelesse reache vs his hande too the ende we should not perish But beholde Satan on the contrarie parte stoppeth vs from receyuing of the medicine and putteth vs in the heade that the rebuking of our faults commeth not of good will but that there is a pad in the straw so as we be either too much sifted or too sore bitten or else that there is some other secrete grudge lurking vnseene All these imaginations doth Satan mingle with mennes admonitions to the intent we should bee out of loue with them and refuze them and by that meanes rebell agaynst God VVherefore let vs beare well in minde what is sayde heere to the ende that when we be warned of our faultes we may consider that God to the intent he would not be our iudge himselfe appoynteth as it were attourneyes solliciters in his name to come and charge vs with our offences VVhen a mortal man rebuketh me for my misdoings it is Gods will he shoulde do so and he hath appoynted him in his place And too what ende That we should not come before his Maiestie to yeelde an account of them â–ª for it were better for vs too bee drowned a hundred thousande tymes Gop then dooth pitie vs when hee sendeth vs mortall men to bee our iudges yea euen to bee oure iudges to put vs too some shame and thereby to styrre vs vppe afterward to returne againe into the right way Therefore whensoeuer God is so mercifull vntoo vs let vs profite our selues by such grace and beware that we inuenim not our selues with opinions that come incontinently in our heads as that the partie hateth vs that hee seeketh vs that there is some hartburning that there is some enmitie and that there is I wote not what Let all this geere bee troden vnder foote and let vs accept their warnings if they be true To bee short if any man blame vs we cannot do better than to consider what our owne conscience telleth vs of it Marke this for a speciall poynt that wee must not looke what the persone is that speaketh nor passe whither there bee any grudge or enmitie in him but onely what our owne conscience iudgeth of the matter and then must we needes conclude I am rightly reproued It is a maruelous thing that they which do so chafe and storme and grind their teeth wheÌ„ they be rebuked should neuerthelesse condemne theÌ„selues continually whither they would or no if they entered into their owne consciences and yet had much leuer to play the mad bedlems against God and too spite him by all meanes possible than to humble themselues in acknowledging their offences Yee see then that the way which we haue to keepe when we be found fault with is too herken vnto such as may make vs too enter into account and specially too haue an eye too that which is in vs. And where shall wee finde that Euen written and ingrauen in our consciences And although wee perceyue it not throughly yet let vs mistrust our selues for noman is a coÌ„petent iudge in his owne cace as they say True it is that God doth already make vs iudges in part but yet must wee rather receyue the condemnation whiche wee perceyue not than carpe agaynst it before wee haue well and throughly weyed whither wee bee faultie or no. But there are a number that are well apayde to shet vp or rather too seele vp their eyes that they might not see their own shame when a man comes to prouoke them to amendment they fall to skirmishing at the first push with did they ouershoote themselues so And then all is dispatcht they wil heare no further of the matter let a hundred things bee proued against them and all is nothing with them They do but wring their mouth awrie at it For they would alwaies cleere themselues and although they bee a laughing stocke euen too little children they passe not for it but glory still of the hardening of themselues in their owne leudnesse and filthinesse Therfore let vs keepe our selues from falling into such wilfull stubbornnesse and in iudging vnfeynedly of our vices according to truth let vs also be lowly-minded too humble our selues and to beate downe all pryde in vs too the end that nothing may let vs from acknowledging freely that wee haue done amisse This is the effect of that which wee haue to remember vppon this text Now a man might thinke it straunge that S. Paule should say that the Galathians had receyued him as an Angell of God yea or rather as Iesus Christ. For what perfection of holinesse so euer was in him yet could he not match with the Angelles as wee see how he speaketh in the seuenth 〈◊〉 the Romanes where he acknowledgeth himself too bee wretched and sheweth that he is as a poore captiue and slaue of the world vnder the bondage of sinne Although S. Paule had an earnest desire too serue God yet notwithstanding he knew he did but drag his legges after him and that hee had many infirmities to plucke him backe And heere he sayeth that he was receyued as an Angell yea and he stayeth not there but addeth further as Iesus Christ who as we know is the very Sonne of God and highest King whiche hath souerain power ouer all creatures But heere the cace concerneth not Sainct Paules life nor
any worthinesse that he pretendeth in himself He hath an eye onely to the doctrine It is sayd firste that he was receyued as an Angell of God And why not For the same title hath bin giuen too all such as haue had chardge too beare abrode the doctrine of the Lawe and of much more reason ought too bee giuen to the publishers of the Gospell for there God vttereth his maiestie and power muche more than he did in olde time vnder the Lawe For asmuch then as God appoynteth mortall men to speake in his name and authoritie it is requisite that they should be acknowledged to be his Angelles that is to say Messengers or Ambassadors for the woord Angell betokeneth none other thing And in good sooth too what purpose were the doctrine which wee heere if it came not of God It were much better that we preachers were dumbe and speechlesse and that the heerers were deafe and blind than to stand herkening to a man that were not sent of God For the chief honour that God requireth at our hands is that we should be whist and herken to his woord yeelding him all authoritie and holding our selues bridled and captiue as vnder the royall scepter wherevnto he will haue vs too submit our selues Now if a mortall creature should vsurpe this to himself what a thing were it So then let vs marke well that S. Paule doth iustly compare himselfe with an Angell as in respect of his doctrine And why For he knewe well inough he had not forged it of his owne brayne but had receyued it of God And that also is the cause why he addeth as Iesus Christ. For surely our Lorde Iesus Christe will haue vs too receyue such as he ordeyneth too bee his ministers as if he himself were heere in visible shape among vs. He that he ereth you sayeth he heereth mee 〈◊〉 neuerthelesse it is certaine that he ment not too make idolles when he ordeyned his Apostles and such as should bee ministers of his woord He ment not that they should bee woorshipped in his steed for out of all doubte that preheminence is not to be giuen to the very Angelles of heauen and what shall bee done too vs then whiche are but dung and rottennesse Howbeit our Lorde Iesus Christ regarded not what maner of ones men are but ment too aduaunce his owne woorde too the end that all men should submit themselues too it Although then that wee bee but as brittle earthen pottes or rather already broken so as wee bee nothing woorth yet muste not the treasure of the Gospell which wee beare abrode bee therefore despyzed For when Gods woorde is preached purely vntoo vs it is all one as if he dwelte among vs and appeered personally vntoo vs and it behoueth vs too giue a proofe of our feare loue and obedience towardes him by receyuing his woorde though it come out of a mortall mans mouth And furthermore if wee holde skorne of the Gospell vnder colour and pretence that they which speake vntoo vs are nother Kings nor Princes ouer vs let vs assure our selues that that rebelliousnesse of oures heaueth at our Lorde Iesus Christe He that despyzeth you sayth he despyzeth mee and he that reiecteth you reiecteth mee And this is well woorth the marking For wee see now adayes that Gods woord shall bee so lightly esteemed vnder pretence of mens persones as it is dreadfull too behold And all suche as are loth too bee rebuked will by and by haue this answere in their mouth who are you Sir who made you my Prince As who shoulde say that God had not superioritie ouer vs nor might speake too vs by the mouth of his seruaunts A Prince may well ynough sende his officer or some such man as he listeth to chooze and although the persone bee of no countenance yet will he haue him receyued without doubting and men do so And when God who hath soueraine dominion ouer vs and sole preheminence ouer all the kingdomes and principalities of the world sendeth vs his seruāts whom he auoweth and will haue vs too giue them the heering if wee neuerthelesse do disdayne thē and in respect of their persones make none account of the message that he sendeth vs by them and therewithall alledge how now is this fellowe a 〈◊〉 what a presumptuousnesse were that If a man carie abrode Gods woorde ▪ faythfully and tell men that whosoeuer despizeth it setteth and aduaunceth himselfe agaynst God what say they this fellow makes himselfe God As who should say that God might not speake by those whom he hath appointed to be his instruments for as I haue sayd heretofore cursed mought we be if wee bring our owne inuentions It were muche better that wee were drowned a hundred times than that euer wee should go vp into the pulpet if we should not vtter Gods will faithfully and sticke too that which he commaundeth vs and draw it out of the cleere fountayne of his holy woord Should not these things be declared Thinke we that God can be bereft of the thing that is peculiar too him that is too wit of his truth No he and his truthe can neuer bee separated So then let vs abhorre the blasphemies of these naughtipackes which say ô he that speaketh will make himself a God If he require men too heere him without gainsaying namely when he is sure in himself that he bringeth not any thing whiche is not of God it is good reason that he should commend the authoritie of his mayster So then let vs not haue any acquayntance with these worldlings but let vs yeeld such reuerēce to our God that although suche as speake in his name bee of no estimation yet wee may not ceasse to obey the things that they set foorth with a true and lowly fayth Yet neuerthelesse we must also discerne betweene those that pretend Gods name falsly and make a vayne cloke of it and those that be faythfull dealers of his woord which he hath committed vnto them Looke me vpon the Pope with his whole kenell who are not ashamed to say that whosoeuer heereth them heereth Christ that he which reiecteth them reiecteth Christ for they alledge that saying of Christes he that heereth you heereth mee c. too authorize themselues withall But they that will bee receyued as Angels must doo the duetie of Angelles that is too say they muste bee true messengers of God in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ who hath sent them and they must hold all of him so as they serue him truly and seeke not soueraintie too themselues but that he may alwayes bee the shepeherd of the Churche and that the sheepe of his flocke may heere his voyce and follow him whither soeuer he calleth thē And as for them that be false 〈◊〉 peruerting the truth and vsurping superioritie too deface Gods woorde it is meete that they should be taken for such as they be in deede this hath bin shewed by that which
maiestie dishonored in mens mouthes aught we to suffer and not to be moued to choler and anger Euen for that cause also it is sayde that the zeale of Gods house ought to eate vs vp so as wee must not only bee wel-minded and sory for the defacing of the maiestie of our God and for the corrupting of the doctrine of saluation and for the disordering of his Church but these things must also bite vs at the hart According heerevnto it is sayd heere that Ismaell persecuted Isaac If a man demaunde what had he neyther torture fyre nor sword to cut his throte No none of all these but he scoffed at the promise that had bin made concerning Isaac For it was sayd expresly Ismaell shall liue but yet is he not therfore heire of the promise Isaac is he in whom they shall bee blissed Yee see then that Iesus Christ and consequently all hope of saluation was closed vp in the person of Isaac VVhen Ismaell did so disdayne and scorne the souerein welfare and happinesse that mockage of his wounded all the children of adoption all the faythfull yea euen with a deadly stripe Nowe then wee see what S. Paule mente and howe wee ought to put this doctrine in vre which is that wee must prepare our selues to inwarde battels knowing that not onely the Turkes and Paynims shall bee aduersaries of the Gospell but also the hypocrites who too the vttermost of their power doo deface the doctrine of grace that is offered them in our Lorde Iesus Christe to abolishe all the dignitie and reuerence which wee ought to giue vnto it in magnifying the mere bounteous goodnesse of God and in acknowledging that all our whole welfare lyeth there Let vs bee ready I say too abide suche battels at the hands of our housholde enimies whiche boast themâ—â—â—ues too bee Gods children which are aduaunced euen aboue vs which outface vs with their eldership as who shuld say that vnder the colour of that we ought too bee vtterly borne downe and ouerwhelmed But there is yet more that is to wit that we must be touched too the quicke and sorie at the harte to see Gods doctrine so corrupted True it is that naturally wee shunne the harmes that come agaynst vs as bodily persecutions and suche other But yet for all that wee must not be so wedded to this world as not to preferre the heauenly heritage before all things that we esteeme most worthy to be desired And therfore when soeuer Gods name is blasphemed when men labour to abolishe the doctrine of life let vs in those cases set suche greef to our hart as we can not beare with it or at leastwise as if we were persecuted in our bodies For he that should cut our throte yea put vs to all the torments that were possible as wee see the enimies of the Gospel do whose rage against their poore brethren can not now a dayes be stanched with racking burning cutting out of their tungs and such other like torments all this aught not to greue vs so much as to see Gods name torne in peeces scorned by the wicked For the very same is such a cutting of our throtes as not only bereeueth vs of this flightfull and transitorie life but also bereth vs quite out of the kingdome of heauen For wheÌ„ Gods doctrine is corrupted then is foode turned into poyson lyfe into death and light into darknesse So then let this texte of S. Paules warne and exhort vs not to be so giuen too the earth and too the world but that we may alwayes haue our minds vnderstandings lifted vp to the inestimable benefite that is offered vs by the Gospell and fight more earnestly for that quarell than for our owne life For truely a whole million of such liues as wee haue here beneath can not be comparable to the endlesse life that is promised vs in our Lord Iesus Christ Thus yee see wherin it behoueth vs to exercise our selues and we can not exceede measure in beeing too angry when we see wicked men blaspheme God after that sorte labour by their wiles and pollicies to ouerthrowe and to falsifie the onely doctrine whereby wee liue spiritually Furthermore let vs marke also how S. Paule addeth in the ende for a conclusion that all they which now a dayes â— boast themselues so highly to be the Church and specially those that haue the title of eldership shall be driueÌ„ out as bastard children Therfore let vs not be beguyled with al the pompes that are among those which fight agaynst Gods pure truth to maynteine them selues in their tyrannie by force persecutions braggings such other like things but let vs tarie the ende which is that they shal be cut off for they be none inheritors VVel may they dwell in the house as it is sayd of Antichrist that he shall sit in the Temple of God but yet must they needes be swept out of it as filth and vnclennesse And although this bee not so before men but that it is hidden from vs for a time yet let vs wayte tyll God shewe his truthe more full and vntill our Lord Iesus Christ confound his enimies with the breath of his mouth and by the power of his worde Thus yee see how wee ought to be setled in inuincible constancie And although we be now despised scorned yet let vs not ceasse to holde out in the holy calling of our God knowing that we shall not be disappoynted if we be grounded vpoÌ„ the doctrine of the Gospell and rest wholly thervpon till God discouer the things that are nowe hidden that wee be throughly gathered vnto him and finde that it was not in vayne that we were trayned vp in his pure worde giuing ouer all the fancies of men not seeking life elsewhere than in the seede wherby wee were begotten agayne and in the foode whereby wee bee susteyned and nourished to the ende Nowe let vs fall downe before the maiestie of our good God with acknowledgemeÌ„t of our sinnes praying him to make vs feele them in such wise as it may leade vs to true repentance that wee may mourne continually before his maiestie and bee so abashed in our selues as yet notwithstanding wee may not doubt but that he accepteth vs for our Lord Iesus Christs sake that we shal always obteine sure forgiuenesse of our sinnes if we seeke it in true fayth without swaruing to the right haÌ„d or to the left but only folowing the path which he hath shewed vs as in deede we can neuer go amisse when we haue the day sunne of righteousnesse shining vpon vs. That it may please him to graunt this grace not only to vs but also to all people and nations of the earth â–ª c. The .xxxj. Sermon which is the first vpon the fifth Chapter STaude fast therfore in the libertie vvhervvith Christ hath made vs free and put not your selues agayn vnder the yoke of bondage 2
farre ouerseene as to take vpon him that he hath performed the whole Lawe Then if all of vs be found giltie of offence against God wee be as good as vtterly vndone till our Lord Iesus Christe reach vs his hand Therefore it followeth that wee must forget the rightuousnesse of the lawe and lay it vnder foote so as it may bee vtterly abolished and therevpon that wee go naked too our Lord Iesus Christe for remedie confessing our owne pouertie and not beyng ashamed too bee defaced with all reproche before God that we may be clothed againe with his glorie Thus ye see in effect what we haue too gather vpon this text where S. Paule sayeth that Iesus Christ is made vnprofitable if men hope to iustifie themselues by the Lawe For it hath bin too common an errour in all ages that at the first setting forth and first brunt men will needes pay God all that is due too him and in the end seeke startingholes when they see no power nor abilitie in them too doo it VVell say they though wee cannot doo all yet will wee do somewhat But in this cace it is not for vs to follow our owne imaginacions for God will iudge vs according too his owne woorde Therefore let vs not recken without our host as the Prouerb sayes by making our selues beleeue that God will accept what we think good but let vs vnderstand that Iesus Christ cannot boote vs at all except wee seeke the fulnesse of our saluation in him For it is not sayde in the Scripture that the father hath giuen vs him as a help to obtaine our saluation but that he is giuen vs to be our rightuousnesse and lyfe It followeth then that in our own selues there is nothing but wickednesse endlesse death til we haue recouered the thing in Iesus Christ which wee lost and were vtterly bereft of in Adam And these twoo things are ioyned here togither namely that Iesus Christ profiteth vs not at all and that wee be fallen from grace according as in very truth all the grace or fauour that we must finde at Gods hand is coÌ„municated to vs by the meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ And it is a very notable poynt For euery man will well ynough graunt that we must resort vntoo God bycause he is the welspring of all welfare But in the meane whyle the most part of men wander in their own windlasses and in stead of coÌ„ming vntoo God do go from him as it is too bee seene in the Papacie where wretched hipocrites the ignorant sort say that their gadding after their Sainctes and puppets their marâ—yring of theÌ„selues in their foolish deuotions is to get Gods fauour But in the meane whyle Iesus Christ is let alone and no man makes accouÌ„t of him but they rather hie theÌ„ to some stocke or stone which they call their Lady than to the Sonne of God And wherof coÌ„meth this Euen bicause they know not how God hath giuen vs his grace nor after what maner he will haue vs too seeke it nor what way and order it behoueth vs to hold Therefore when we be once throughly resolued that God is our father also know perfectly that what soeuer we haue neede of he will haue vs to draw it from out of our Lord Iesus Christ who is as a spring that was vnder the earth and afterward is opened and floweth abrode that euery man may take his fill of it then say I do we know that Gods grace cannot bee drayned drie but yet dooth it not come at vs but by the meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ Too bee short let vs marke that all that euer belongeth too our saluation is so put intoo the persone of Gods onely sonne that he alone must suffize vs and we go streyght vnto him and take all our contentation there And as I sayd afore let vs keepe our selues from this imagination of thinking to purchace any thing by our desertes for it separateth vs vtterly froÌ„ our Lord Iesus Christ Nowe herevpon S. Paule addeth that wee wayt for the hope of rightuousnesse by fayth in the spirite It serueth to confirme that which he hath sayd heretofore concerning the diuersitie that is betweene vs and the fathers that liued vnder the Lawe For howe was Abraham receyued intoo fauour but through fayth Yet notwithstanding he differed from vs in one thing For in asmuch as Iesus Christ was not yet discouered Ceremonies were giuen him and many mo were added at the publishing of the Lawe according too the neede which the people had too bee so led and guyded Too bee short the faythfull of all ages haue euer sought their whole rightuousenesse in the grace of God Neuerthelesse they were helped by the Ceremonies and shadowes bycause the Gospell was not yet so reueled vntoo them as it is vntoo vs nother was Iesus Christe who is the very pledge of rightuousnesse made yet so manifest But nowe lette vs come too that which Sainct Paule sayeth He setteth heere the spirite now adayes among the Christians to exclude all figures and shadowes as if he should say that it ought too suffize vs that the Sonne of God is appeered too vs for our rightuousnesse and therefore wee muste let go the Ceremonies bycause the shadowe were needelesse now adayes And not in this Texte alone dothe Sainct Paule match the woorde spirite agaynst the shadowes of the Lawe Truly when God in old time did ordeyne Circumcision Sacrifices and suche other things it was not too set folke at a gaze heere bylowe for all things that are contayned in the Lawe are in very deede spirituall There was a patterne of them shewed too Moyses on the Mountayne So then it is certayne that the fathers had a spirituall beleef as well as wee so as they knewe they were not washed and made cleane by three or foure droppes of water nor reconcyled too God by the sacrifizing of a Calfe or of some other brute beast but that oure Lorde Iesus Christe was their onely washyng and clenzing and that hee by the Sacrifyze of his deathe had discharged them quyte or at leastwyse should bycause the thyng was not yet done but the Fathers looked aloofe at the thing which was not yet disclozed And moreouer it is 〈◊〉 without cause that the sayde woord Spirit is set downe heere to shewe that the fathers could not imbrace the grace of our Lord Iesus Christe but by the meanes whiche our Lorde had ordeyned for the time Therefore when any man had done amisse he came with a sacrifice to acknowledge himself woorthie of death before God not too seeke his attonement in a Calfe or in a Sheepe or in any such other thing for that was too bee had in Iesus Christe but yet was it of necessitie that the figure of him should go before As much is to be sayd of the washings and of the residue of those things In these dayes we haue the body sayeth S. Paule and
to the euerlasting inheritance and in the meane while indeuer to walk in suche wise in his commaundements as it may please him to beare with our frailtie till he haue quite and cleane ridde vs of it And so let vs all say Almightie God heauenly father c. The .xxxiij. Sermon which is the third vpon the fifth Chapter 7 Yee ranne vvel vvho hath letted you that ye should not obey the truth 8 That counsell came not of him that called you 9 A little Leuen sovvreth a vvhole lump of dovve 10 I haue hope of you through the Lord that yee vvil be none othervvise minded But he that troubleth you shall beare his iudgement vvhatsoeuer he bee WEe knowe that God hath set downe such a rule for vs too liue by that if wee giue eare too his word wee shall not be subiect to walking at rouers but sure to hold the right way And that is a thing wherein the faythfull differ from the faithlesse For all such as submit themselues to Gods word are not in any doubt or disputation with themselues whither their doyngs are allowable or no for who hath power too iudge of that matter but onely God But he hath giuen his sentence alreadie So then forasmuch as mans life is lykened too a race let vs learne too followe whither soeuer God calleth vs and then shall wee not stray as wretched wanderers that do greatly ouertrauell and tyre themselues without any profit And for that cause also doth Sainct Paule in this text set downe a dubble race the one good which hath a right direction and the other wandering and vncerteine Now it is not ynough for men too take great peynes but they must also â—ame at a certeine end Moreouer we see herewithall a true difference betwene the race that is to bee counted good and the race that doth but ouerlabor men in vayne For S. Paule layeth them foorth certeinly and infallibly saying that all suche as obey the truth doo runne well Lo heere a saying of greate weyghte For therevppon wee may gather that when menne bee gyuen too theyr owne fancies or walke only by gesse or receyue all that is tolde them wythout discretion or skill they maye runne swiftlye ynoughe but they shall come neuer the neerer vntoo God VVhen they haue spent all theyr lyfe in traueling they shal fynde themselues further off than they were at the first And therfore let vs learne to begin at this poynt that is to wit to giue eare vntoo God who dooth vs the grace and honour too teache vs assuring our selues that there is none other truth but that which proceedeth of him and that when meÌ„ follow the deuises of their owne braine it shall bee but vntruth and leasing Yee see then that the waye for vs too fare the better by this saying of S. Paules is firste of all too consider that all the deuotions whyche men doo frame of theyr owne heades are but mere illusions of Satan and that all such as doo wâ—at they lyke best themselues may runne fast inough howbeit they shall be neuer the further forward in the right way but rather the further backe Then is nothing too bee taken and allowed for a good course or race but only the obedience which wee yeelde vnto Gods truthe VVere this throughly well knowen to the world nowe a dayes there woulde not bee so muche trouble and contention as is seene For what is the cause that wee drawe not all by one lyne and that euery of vs reacheth not out his hande to his neighbour It is for that most men cannot be persuaded to obey God Therefore the true course of the faythfull is well shewed to vs by the Prophet Esay when he sayth that euery man shall take his fellow by the hand and say Go we let vs go vp too the Lords hill and he will teache vs his wayes Nowe were wee fully resolued of this poynt so as wee were altogither willing and desirous to submit our selues to God it is certayne that wee shoulde all of vs runne togither and the formost should helpe forward the hindermost and the weaker sort shuld not enuy such as were their guides yea and that would giue them courage to go on But although we see the world full of stubbornesse and euery man giuen to his own liking yet must we profite our selues by this doctrine that is too wit by imprisoning our senses that wee take not a licentious libertie too doo what wee list but that wee obey the truthe assuring our selues that the foundation whervpon it behoueth vs too buylde is the sayde faythfull obedience which wee yeelde vnto Gods worde And whereas S. Paule vseth this worde Truthe it is specially to beate downe all foolishe presumptuousnesse and ouerweening bicause men beare them selues in hande that they be wise inough to order their owne lyfe And out of this ouerboldnesse sprang also the Seagulfe of all superstitions For if men knewe them selues too bee suche as they bee in deede that is to wit to be poore blinde and ignorant it is certein that they woulde with all humblenesse hearken vntoo God and then should not there be so many partakings and sectes as there bee But what As I sayde afore men will needes bee ouerwyse Now S. Paule too pull downe all loftinesse and to ridde vs of all pride and presumption sayth that there is no truthe to be founde but in the doctrine that commeth 〈◊〉 God and that howe sure so euer wee weene our selues to bee there is nothing but mere follie in vs except God gouerne vs and Gods word reigne wholly ouer vs. Further let vs vnderstande that to yeeld our selues techable is a farre greater vertue without all comparison than to enter into disputation and to be inquisitiue of things that belong not to vs nor are lawfull for vs. It is true that fayth is not a dotage or sottishnesse to receyue and beleeue without gaynsaying whatsoeuer shall be tolde vs but yet when God speaketh it behoueth vs too yeeld him so much honor as to keepe our mouths shut to open our eares to herkeÌ„ aduisedly to that which he telleth vs to frame our selues simply to the same Yee see then that the good race wherin we can not go amisse nor bee caried aside one way nor other is to follow the way that god sheweth vs by his word Otherwise as I sayd wee shall but roue according also as S. Paule vseth the selfe same similitude in taunting all the things that the ignoraÌ„t and vnbeleeuers doo to serue God withall For although they take neuer so much payne yet they doo but loose their labour But by the way let vs marke also how he blameth the Galathians for turning aside in the middest of their race saying that their faulte is so much the lesse to be excused in that they had begon well and not hild out likewise to the end True it is that euen the ignorantest in the world shal not fayle
to be condemned if they follow not Gods word but howsoeuer they fare we offend much more grosly wheÌ„ God hath once bin so gracious vnto vs as to call vs vnto him to shewe vs his will Then if wee turne head and forsake oure holy calling from heauen after we haue bin taught in Gods schole and entred into the way surely our fault is double we deserue much sorer punishment This is it that S. Paul ment in this text by saying how now You ran well Surely this forwardnesse of fayth is a great vertue namely when we be readie to answere God as soone as he speaketh the word to vs but yet is it nothing worth without holding out Then if we be so fickle and inconstant that when we haue gone forward a step or twayne we be readie to runne back ageyne or else to start out on the one side or on the other suche vnthankfulnesse is much more shamefull than if we had neuer harkened to God at all for we can not 〈◊〉 â—ore sheelde our selues by ignorance as they doo which are bred brought vp in errour and misknowledge who will say if we knew which is the truth we would not doo so as we should neede to be pulled by the eare but we be in doubt and we wote not on which side to turne vs. Then if they which haue begonne to followe God yea and haue had some certayne and infallible instruction by his worde doo afterward starte aside or go backe agayne doo they not shew that they doo it not of ignorance but of wilfulnesse and stubbornesse as though they mente of set purpose to spyte God Now it behoueth vs to marke well this thing specially for so muche as God is so gracious vnto vs as too shewe vs whiche is the waye of saluation whiche thing he dooth not too the rest of the worlde For wee see many blinde wretches that runne and trotte vp and downe and wote not what they doo but yet they shewe some desire of seruing God If a man aske them whether they thinke they doo well or no they answere yea howbeeit it is but a weening they bee not sure of it But wee on our side haue the warrant of the holy Ghost whiche oughte too bee sealed in our hearts that the doctrine whiche is preached vnto vs is not deuised by men but that God is the very author of it The holy Scripture is sufficiently proued wee know without adding of any thyng that God is oure guyde so that nowe a dayes there is not so very a dullarde or idiote but hee is iustly too bee condemned if hee receyue not the doctrine that is preached and set foorth and maye vppon hys owne knowledge iudge that hee dooth manifestly make wylfull warre agaynst God Seeing that oure Lorde hathe doone vs the prerogatiue too call vs too him and dooth still dayly allure vs and incorage vs to come forwarde till wee bee come to our races ende if wee bee weery to heare him and euery of vs would fayne take his owne scope to followe whatsoeuer his owne lust liketh what excuse or shift can wee hope to haue that we should not bee condemned with the Galathians for falling to our owne byasse after wee haue runne well and bin well forwarde on our way Yea and wee must also marke this saying which S. Paule interlaceth Who hath letted you sayth he He might haue sayde simply as he sayde in the begynning of the Epystle â–ª that they were quyte gone away yea and vtterly reuolted as Apostates or backslyders But he vseth the worde Let too shewe that it is not inough for vs not to turne quite and cleane away from God but that if wee doo but stoppe or linger that wee go not right foorth on still nor continue alwayes stedfastly in comming neerer and neerer vnto God it is alreadie a very dangerous matter So then let vs be ware of Satans wyles and not onely be afrayde of vtter reuolting from the obedience of oure God but also beare well in minde that when the Diuell shall once haue cooled vs and made vs too slake our pace so as wee fall to loytering in our gooing he shall haue gayned ouer much at our hands Thus ye see in effect what we haue to gather vpon this text Now to condemne the vnthankfulnesse of the Galathians the better he addeth that that counsell came not of him that called them In the first chapter he had sayde I maruell that yee bee so soone caryed away from Iesus Christ which called you to the grace of his Gospell For it is good reason that God should be heard when he openeth his holy mouth to teach vs. VVhat are wee VVretched wormes of the earth and rottennesse and yet notwithstanding our Lorde maketh his voyce to ring from heaueÌ„ to assure vs that if he inlighten guyde vs we can not do amisse and therefore that wee must depende wholly vpon him and reste vpon his truthe But if wee giue eare to this and that and when God speaketh wee be soaring in the ayre and hearken to one that whistleth and to another that singeth Is it not too shamefull an vnthankfulnesse If a Scholemaster see his scholers prattling togither while he speaketh to them or buylding of Castles in Spayne so as they heare not what he sayth the rodde must bee fayne too walke among them and good right it should so Verily a man can not abide that his mate or companion shoulde muse vppon other matters when he is talking with him but he will take it in scorne and derision But beholde God calleth vs and yet if there come any deceyuer to whisper vs in the eare wee hearken too him and followe his counsell which is a token that there was neuer any knowledge in vs too discerne the maiestie of oure God and too yeelde him the reuerence that he deserueth VVee knowe that the chief honor that he requireth 〈◊〉 is to haue our wittes minds bent to vnderstande what he commaundeth and appoynteth For that cause therfore S. Paule sayth that the sayde counsell came not of God who had called the Galathians Now it is certayne that he had called them long afore that time Neuerthelesse he thinketh it not inough to haue tolde vs once for all how wee should walke but also he holdeth on still according also as wee haue neede too haue the remembraunce of that doctrine to be renued dayly Then seeing it is so that God is alwayes at hande with vs yea as the Prophet Esay sayth both early and late that is to saye seeing he hath a continuall care to bring vs to him selfe and to draw vs neerer and neerer it is certayne that our fault is so much the haynouser if wee haue one of our eares in the fielde and the other in the towne as the Prouerbe sayth and that we be not wholly giuen too him and to his worde To be short we see heere that the true perfection of Gods children
is too offer vp themselues wholly vnto him and to suffer theÌ„selues to be gouerned after a peaceable maner with all teachablenesse so as none of theÌ„ say this is mine opinion this is my fancie this haue I lerned of men but alwayes preferre the obedience of fayth before all things For there is none other lampe to guide vs aright than Gods word Mark that for one poynt Now after that S. Paule hath spoken so he addeth that a little Leuen marreth a whole lumpe of Dowe This serueth to confirme the matter which I touched not long since which is that it is not inough for vs not to make any full reuolting from God to forsake him vtterly to renounce al his word but that we must also continue pure sound be as it were vntrussed to put ourselues more more forward and although Satan deuise and practise too cast blocks and barres in our wayes to stoppe vs yet must wee not ceasse to go on foorth still And this is to be marked the better bicause the diuell sheweâ—h not his hornes at the first as they say to withdrawe vs away from God but transformeth him selfe into an Angell of light and creepeth vpon vs by bypathes and mines vnder the ground And by that meanes are we beguyled For to our seeming this or that is no great matter by meanes whereof wee ouerleape it lightly and strike sayle as they say But wee bee vtterly amazed when the Diuell holde 〈◊〉 vs masked in his nettes Too bee shorte S. Paule ment too say here that when men haue learned the Gospell it is not inough for them to professe the receyuing of the doctrine that is conteyned there but they must also haue a pure sound and substantiall fayth and not swarue aside too the right hand nor to the left nor be corrupted with any error nor admit any mingling but holde fast the pure truth which God sheweth vs. This is the summe of the matter which we haue to gather vpon this text But if euer this warning were necessarie it is necessarie at this day For Satan straynes him selfe too the vttermost too intangle yea and too imbrace Gods worde too the ende that men might no more discerne betweene white and blacke but that al Religions whatsoeuer men list to haue might be taken for good And such as vse that cunning do serue the diuel and haue no more feare of God nor Religion than dogges haue Nowe a dayes they that be the best vpholders of the Pope perceyuing well that their abuses haue bin so grosse and out of all square as it is impossible to maynteyne them say very well yet must yee not seeke suche a reformation as to breake of the Eele by the wast as they say men must bee contented with some good meane And all this is but too couer their filthinesse as if a man that woulde plucke vp a venemous weede shoulde but nippe off some leaues of it and say Lo nowe it is as good as cut vp Yea but the roote is still behinde togither with the residue of it which is able to doo harme inoughe and that is all one as if it had not bin touched at all Neuerthelesse the world now a dayes is full of such vermine and corruption for wee see that these sticklers and neuters which rowe betweene two streames would fayne disguize our Lord Iesus Christ after suche a sort as he should be Iacke out of office and be no more knowen and that the doctrine of the Gospell mighte bee mingled lyke a hotchpotch And so muche the more dooth it stand vs in hand to marke well the thing that is tolde vs heere by the holy Ghost namely that a little Leuen soureth a whole batch of Dowe Sometime this similitude is applied to men for one scabbed sheepe is inoughe too infect a whole flocke as they say But Sainct Paule speaketh nowe of doctrine as if he shoulde saye that wee muste holde our owne and not suffâ—â— any thing to bee added to Gods pure worde according as we haue seene in the seconde to the Corinthians how he sayd that suche as giue eare to Satans illusions are like a woman that hearkeneth to a baude whose comming is to beguile abuse hir Now as soone as we be so corrupted in our fayth by and by we be alienated from our Lord Iesus Christ and we break the promise of mariage which is made betwixt him vs as soone as we swarue aside from the simplicitie of the Gospell And like as in that place he vseth the word simplicitie of set purpose so in this place he sayth that if we mingle neuer so little leuen with the dow by and by it is all made sowre VVhat must we doo then VVhereas it pleased God to shewe the Iewes by his lawe the true meane to walke in such wise as they should not be harried heere there in the Gospell he hathe taughte vs yet with muche greater perfectioÌ„ bicause that there he hath made an end of all prophesies Then seeing it is so let vs now frame our selues therafter And although Satan whisper vs on either side let vs not be as reedes that are shaken with euery winde but let vs be so rooted in our Lorde Iesus Christ as he may make vs to indure al winds and wethers by the power of fayth and all assaultes that can bee put vnto vs. To bee shorte if wee will bee taken for Disciples of oure Lorde Iesus Christ let vs not hearken too any other master or teacher than him for we can not do him greater wrong than to adde any thing to that which he bringeth vs. For it is sayd that it is he whom the father hath set ouer vs with full preheminence and whiche is the good shepherd and that they which are of his flocke will heare his voyce eschue the voyce of strangers Howsoeuer the world go we must stand whist at that stay without resistance follow whither soeuer God calleth vs and suffer our selues to be so turned returned by as we may desire nothing but too submit our selues to his worde as I haue declared before And therefore althoughe that nowe and then men finde fayre clokings to vernish the minglings withal which they put foorth yet let vs hold vs to that which is sayde heere namely that a little Leuen is inough too marre a whole batche of dowe according as wee shall see manye who too make vs swarue aside wyll alledge what It is no renouncing of Iesus Christ so wee holde the groundes of the Gospell that wee be iustified by the free goodnesse of God that wee can call vpon him in the name of him that hath promised too bee our mediator VVhen wee haue done amisse wee flee too the onely and euerlasting sacrifice of our Lorde Iesus Christe and if there bee any small spottes or wemmes beside they must be borne with and winked at And specially suche as woulde winne by their pride
he be shaken downe and too continue alwayes stedfast in the thing which wee knowe too bee of our God whatsoeuer this man or that man doo babble or prate Yee see then that the thing whiche Sainct Paule ment is that wee shoulde not one of vs looke at another lyke sheepe which leape one after another intoo a riuer or a pit when one is leapt in afore them or lyke Cranes and other byrdes that flie all on a rowe one after another no wee may not doo so but wee muste alwayes bee constant without swaruing aside from the woorde of God Marke that for one poynt But aboue all things Sainct Paule telleth vs that wee muste not bee dazeled at mennes gay showes when they peruert Gods pure truthe vnder colour of their owne skill but that when wee see them too haue no regarde of any thing nor religion no feare of God no awe yea and that sometymes they bee woorse than paste shame so that if they once come so farre foreward as too get the Lawe in their owne handes they passe for noman but do after a sorte spit euen in Gods face I say when wee see them become suche Monsters wee muste wayt that God should execute his iustice vpon them and shew how much store he setteth by the soules which he hath bought so deerly And that is the cause why he addeth purposely whosoeuer he bee For heere he intended too deface all the gay titles whereof men vaunt themselues in setting vp their bristles against God Like as at this day whereas the Pope turneth Gods truthe vpside downe and through Diuelish pryde mingleth and mangleth all things yet notwithstanding he ceasseth not too call himselfe the Seruant of Gods Seruantes the Successor of Iesus Christ and the Vicar of Sainct Peter The Bishops also suppose themselues too haue a very lawfull tytle to suppresse all knowledge of the truth in naming themselues Prelates But Sainct Paule telleth vs heere that when men are so disguyzed they bee but Idolles for all that and God is vnchangeable and altereth nother his nature nor his minde Then sith it is so although men were exalted too the third heauen yet ought wee too take them for starke Diuelles if they go about to mingle aught at al of their owne deuizing with the pure simplicitie of Gods woord To bee short we see heere all worthâ—â—esse of man beaten downe when the obedience of fayth commeth in presence True it is that in ciuill caces there hath alwayes bin superioritie but yet muste God not withstanding gouerne stil by his woord and his seruis must be ruled thereby that our fayth may be wholly conformable therevnto and though all the world should set it self against it and heape vp neuer so huge and high mountaynes of most excellent titles euen vp too the cloudes all must be hild but as smoke yea and as filth and dung Thus yee see in effect what Sainct Paule ment to say Yet doth he it not too excuse the Galathians of their vnaduized ouershooting of themselues but too giue them courage to returne vnto God There are many too bee seene now adayes which thinke themselues to bee scaped out of Gods hands and too be quite discharged when they can say that their Prelates and Shepeherdes haue taught them so But S. Paule admitteth no such excuce but sayeth that the way for them to scape the damnatioÌ„ that is prepared for the deceyuers is to returne to Gods pure truth not to refuze to be brought backe againe though they haue swarued from it for a time And herewithall also for a coÌ„clusion he doth vs to vnderstand how deere our saluatioÌ„ is to God and how great store he setteth by it For whereof coÌ„meth that which S. Paule sayeth heere namely that all such as trouble the Churche shall giue a reckening of it and bee ouerwhelmed at Gods hand but of that wee be his heritage and he taketh all his pleasure in vs as in them whom he hath chozen and adopted and for that we be as it were his accomplishment as S. Paule termeth vs Seing it is so let vs learne to trust in God seing he hath so fatherly care of our saluation And so let vs learne to put from vs all false doctrine constantly and with such stoutnesse as we ought to do For wee see that God is chafed and moued too anger telling vs that he will neuer pardon those that haue so troubled his For asmuch then as wee see that God powreth out his indignatioÌ„ vpon them that haue troubled his Churche let vs haue a zele answereable therevnto and let vs abhorre all false doctrines And when wee see men desirous of nothing but too sowe some troubles let vs take them as our mortall enemies let vs make warre valiantly agaynst them and let vs fight too the vttermost for the truth of our God assuring our selues that that is the thing wherein lieth all our happinesse Thus yee see in effect what we haue to gather vpon this streyne And so for asmuch as God hath once called vs too him and ceasseth not to pricke vs forward dayly by exhortations let vs hold vs vnder his obedience And although we see many troubles dissentions and debates in the world yet let vs alwayes sticke stedfastly to the truth which cannot deceyue vs. And for asmuch as we may be soone seduced and deceyued let vs pray God too giue vs wisedome and discretion and also let vs giue diligent eare to his woord as whiche is able to strengthen vs against all Satans illusioÌ„s and let vs no more be led too daunce after other mennes pypes as S. Paule warneth vs in the end of this Epistle Seing then that we haue the meane which God hath stablished too holde vs alwayes too bee of his house and Church let vs stand stedfast therein And if we happen too bee turned aside through the foolishnesse and vnaduizednesse of our flesh let vs by and by herken to the warnings that are giuen vs heere let vs mourne for our faults and when wee haue mourned let vs serue our God knowing that he is euer readie too receyue vs. And although we see neuer so great a number of despyzers and worldlings which ceasse not to corrupt and peruert the doctrine of the Gospel yea and too bee vtterly sotted in their corruptions although I say that we see such stumblingblockes yet let vs take good heede that vnder the colour thereof we be not turned away vnto wickednesse and so be wrapped in the same damnation with them for following of their steppes but let vs go forward to the saluation that is set afore vs and wherevnto God prouoketh vs dayly to come Now let vs fall downe before the maiestie of our good God with acknowledgmeÌ„t of our faults praying him to make vs feele theÌ„ more more therwithall to beare with our infirmities till he haue rid vs quite and cleane of theÌ„ and clothed vs againe with the purenesse of his
heere of such as stoode vpon the sayde poynt that men ought of necessitie to bee circumcized For at some tymes Saint Paule had a speciall regarde to fashion himselfe like to the Iewes and absteyned from the libertie which was permitted him for eschuing of offences but did he alwayes mainteyne that there was no bonde of necessitie in the matter So then when Saint Paule submitted himselfe of his owne accorde he ment not to bring other men in bondage according as he protesteth that he intendeth not to binde any bodie True it is that the cace is altered when hee speaketh of mariage but yet hee sayeth generally that he will not lay any yoke of bondage vpon the soules that are redeemed by our Lorde Iesus Christ And thus yee see howe Saint Paule behaued himselfe in that behalfe Nowe 〈◊〉 sayth here They that constreyne you to bee circumcized that is to say they that lode you with the lawe and say you must keepe that Ceremonie vnder paine of deadly sinne seeke nothing else but too bring you in bondage without cause why To be short we see here whereof they be blamed which woulde subdue Christen folke too the keeping of the Ceremonies and shadowes of Moyses Lawe that is to wit that they were double fellowes and passed not vppon the truth of the matter whither God required such things or no but had a minde to please and pleasure the worlde and by that meanes to eschue persecution And we nowadayes haue neede to bee warned thereof as well as the Galathians needed then And if we looke vpon the state and disposition of our time we shall easily perceyue that this doctrine is not needelesse and that the holy Ghost intended to prouide for the thing whiche he knew to be for our behoofe For what a number are to be founde nowadayes which do strongly and stoutly mainteyne the Ceremonies of the Lawe and yet notwithstanding make none accounte of them But which is worse they mainteyne the follies and traditions that are inuented by men yea and euen such abuses errours and deceytes as are so grosse and fonde as may bee All these things shall be mainteyned with extreeme rygour by such as will needes haue men to obey them Like as nowadayes if a man charge these Hypocrites that the grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ and the brightnesse of his Gospell are darkned by the great number of their obseruations and that wee bee become as good as Iewes for in very deed the Papists haue borowed so many things of the Lawe that a man shall hardly discerne the difference betweene the Iewes them that call themselues Christians I say if a man doo charge them with these things yet wyll they mainteyne to the vttermost that men must do so still bicause they haue bin kept time out of minde If a man go further wyth them and say howe so Yee haue so many dotages that the verie heathen men were neuer so grosse and fonde in their superstitions as you be O tush say they yet must we keepe still the traditions of our mother holy Church And therewithall they crie to the fire with him But nowe what doo these Hypocrites which moue the 〈◊〉 of Princes and Iudges agaynst those that preach Gods worde faithfully So long as they be among themselues they make but a mocke at theyr owne traditions And when they dispute of them they will say cleane contrarie too theyr preaching and talking in the Pulpit VVhereby it appeareth that there is no zeale of God nor no soundnesse in them but that their whole seeking is to be fedde and pampered fatte and too liue in rest and too haue their ease and commodities Seing then that nowadayes there are so many men that haue not one whitte of the feare of God nor of the reuerence of his woorde in them who notwithstanding pretende too bee verie zealous and yet in verie deede doo but allure poore soules with baytes or rather as ye woulde say choke them it standeth vs so much the more on hande too marke well the thing that Saint Paule telleth vs heere which is that forasmuch as wee see that they which crie out and storme at others do nothing at all of that which they speake of we must stande vpon our garde and consider whereat they ame which teache vs. True it is that although the partie do cleane contrarie too that which hee sayeth yet muste not Gods woorde therefore bee of the lesse authoritie towards vs For it is no reason that bycause the man is wicked therefore God shoulde bee dispossessed of his soueraine prerogatiue And though a man leade a looce lyfe or do some shrewde turne yet ought not that to deface the heauenly doctrine so he preach faythfully Although a man be mutable fleeting and variable or though he bee an hypocrite and his life be not answerable to the things that hee speaketh with his mouth the truth of Gods worde must not therefore be imbaced towardes vs. Neuerthelesse I say now that whensoeuer we see men pretend great zeale and yet let themselues loce and take leaue to do contrarie to their preaching we must consider of it and haue the discretion not too bee ledde by theyr Pype nor drawne by the noze but to looke into theyr doctrine and to make a good and liuely tryall of it And when we go so to worke we shall see that the doctrine of the Papistes is but a couert which they take to liue quiet to the worldwarde and as for to Godwarde they care not how things go For they would not abide any chaūges but that they be loth to put themselues in daūger of any displeasure for they be alwayes afrayd to bee vexed or greeued in any wise Sith 〈◊〉 this it is an infallible marke to make vs beware of all Satans ambushes so as it shall not be possible for vs to be deceyued except wee lyst our selues as I haue declared before Furthermore Saint Paule addeth that such men desire to glorie in the fleshe of the simple It is very certaine that heere he hath an eye to the signe of Circumcision as if he should say they intende to prynt their marke vpon you to the ende they may vaunt VVe haue wonne them Yea but their winning of men after that sort is to make them so much the more detestable for so abusing the signe which God hath giuē them to warrant the adoption which he had made with Abrahams ofspring and for corrupting the true and lawfull vse thereof For God had commaunded the Iewes to be circumcised And why To the ende they might see that all mankind is accursed and that there is nothing but vncleanesse in vs and that wee must be faine to renounce all that is of our owne nature or else we shall neuer ceasse too bee filthie and damnable before God Lo what the Iewes ought to haue learned by their circumcizion Neuerthelesse therwithal they had also a record that by mans seede they
lette vs bee sure that as soone as any by matter is added too the pure doctrine of our lord Iesus Christe it is playne falsehod For he will not onely hee hilde as principall but he muste continue alone without any companion and all those that teach must first become his scholers so as he that speaketh in the Church set not downe any thing of his own or which hath bin coyned in the warehouses of men but shew himselfe to be the true disciple of our Lorde Iesus Christ and teach vs all by the authoritie of him Marke that for one poynt And for a seconde it behoueth vs to knowe what is conteyned in the Gospell For if the woorde Gospell shoulde trotte vp and downe in euerie mans mouth and yet in the meane while men make vs beleue that Chalke is Cheese as they say what a thing were that VVhat shoulde wee bee the better for giuing so honourable report too the Gospell as to say it is Gods pure truth wherevntoo all creatures ought to submit themselues It standeth vs on hande too knowe what is the substance of it so as wee may bee sure that the sonne of God is come downe hither to guide vs vntoo God his father too the ende wee may vnderstande after what manner hee will bee worshipped at our handes and furthermore bee made priuie too Gods will that wee may frame our whole life thereafter and not inuent a seruice after our owne lust and lyking but yeelde him that obedience which he requireth and alloweth aboue all things Againe wee must learne too knowe howe miserable our state is if wee intend to seeke our saluation in our selues For there is nothing in vs but ignorance infirmitie weakenesse yea and stubbornesse and wicked lustes and to be short we bee hilde in Satans bandes so as he draweth vs like sillie beastes euen as Asses and Oxen that are solde and if we intende to be set free from so horrible bondage and tyrannie we must go too none but God assuring our selues that hee is the fountaine of all welfare Furthermore forasmuch as wee cannot come vntoo God but we must first come to our Lorde Iesus Christ who is come downe vnto vs so as wee must seeke all that we haue neede of in his fulnesse and repose our whole trust there and not haue any other preparation righteousnesse holinesse or perfection than him but be vtterly emptied in our selues and yet notwithstanding not ceasse too trust that hee will leade vs too God his father ▪ VVe must also vnderstande by what meanes we bee iustifyed that is to wit by the sacrifice of his death and passion Besides this when we come to pray vnt God let vs resort vnto him as our Aduocate that he may beare worde for vs. Ye see then that the thing which we ought too knowe concerning the Gospell is that there is but one onely lawe whereby to rule our lyues that we must haue but one certaine beleefe so as wee knowe the God whom we should serue and worship that we behold him in the person of our Lorde Iesus Christ who is his verie Image that we must haue none other thing to rest vpon than Iesus Christ and that all our thoughts must be directed thither assuring our selues that in him the father hath put all things requisit for our faluation and that he also doth by the power of his holy spirit guide and gouerne vs in such wise that being vnder his protection we be sure that the Diuell and all his champions can do nothing against vs when we bee so preserued by his power This is the contempt of the Gospell which it behoueth vs to know or else the things that are spoken here wil do vs no good at al. Furthermore S. Paule to shew that he doth not without cause preferre himself before those that went about to disguise the doctrine of the Gospel by thrusting in some minglings and additions vseth two arguments The one is that he had behaued himselfe faithfully with a pure and right meening mind in teaching the Galathians and all other mē The other is that he had not set forth any thing of his own head but had receiued his matters by heauenly reuelation frō our Lord Iesus Christ Now it behoueth vs to mark wel these two arguments to the end we may perceyue that S. Paule hath not without cause declared heretofore that this doctrine of his ought too bee of good credit that it was not lawful for any liuing creatur to striue against it Hervpon wee may gather a generall rule how wee ought to be sure of our faith For the Angels shal not come down to speak to vs after a visible maner but we must be taught by the mouthes of men And yet for all that as I haue sayd already we must holde this for an infallible cōclusion that we haue the doctrine whervpon our fayth is grounded and setled from God and from our Lorde Iesus Christ And how shal we perceiue that By the two reasons that are set downe here VVherof the one is that such as teach vs haue a desire and zeale to bring vs vnto god and arme not thēselues with the title name of men no nor hauè any thing at all of man but folow the trace which God hath cōmaunded all his to kepe that is to wit that they win the world vnto the obedience of him Let that serue for one point Secōdly besides their good zeale they must also haue a certeintie of doctrine so as hee that speaketh may not take any thing vpon him nor passe his bounds but from hand to hand deliuer the thing that is cōmanded him in such wise as Iesus Christ may always be heard suffered to speak and al mouthes else be stopped sauing only in way of hearkning that his doctrine may bee knowne vnto vs. Now as touching the first wher S. Paul protesteth his good mind he saith that he doth not coūcel or persuade according to mē but according to God ▪ And hereby he meneth that he went not to worke with a worldly affectiō but had labored to apply himself simply vnto God seing he had bin called by him also that he had takē Iesus Christ for his master so as he laide not forth any thing but him nor toke any backfence of mē as those do which would allure simple ignorāt folk vnto thē who hunt for credit here there saying ▪ ho such a man saith so But it is only God that is to be hearkned vnto For though al mē with one accord would turne vs aside from him surely he alone ought to outwey ten C. M. worldes if there were so many Then seing the cace standeth so let vs mark well the doctrine that is conteined here where S. Paule setteth down his owne affection which serueth to giue vs a generall rule according wherevnto he addeth immediatly that he had not labored to please mē For so sone as folk speake after
the appetite of men Gods truth must nedes be corrupted Also â–ª he addeth that if he should please men he were not the seruant of Iesus Christ But the diuell hath many meanes slightes to darken Gods truth in such wise as it may wel seme vnto vs that we be stil with God yet in the mean while we shal be a great way of from him vnlesse we haue wisdome and discretion as it is giuen vs heere Therefore let vs haue the skill too discerne God from men so as we may not be abashed nor amazed when wee see many contrarieties muche diuersitie of opinions and many incounters and disputations Let none of all those things make vs chaunge our beleefe And why Let vs looke no more but whether wee can bee sure in God if we haue that once let vs boldely despise the whole worlde But if we bee not well settled in our fayth it is certayne thâ—â— euerie blaste of winde wyll ouerthrowe it or at leastwyze make it too stagger too and fro Therefore let vs take such taste as wee maye knowe that God hathe verily had pitie of vs too the ende too shewe vs hys wyll and let vs looke well too suche as teach vs and marke of what minde they be led and gouerned whether they seeke to obey God on their owne part and too leade vs in the same way by their owne example Furthermore when S. Paule sayth that if he shoulde please men hee were not the seruant of Iesus Christ that doctrine implyeth verie much For we knowe well ynough what men are of their owne nature howe there is nothing in them but iniquitie and stubbornnesse agaynst God Then if we minde to pleasure them we must giue ouer God and haue nothing to doo with him For men go alwayes backwarde if they bee not compelled to come vnto God and they kicke agaynst him like wilde beastes Therefore wee cannot please them but by straying from God and by giuing the brydle to such as leape out eft a tone side and eft a toother yea and euen the good men coulde sometymes finde in their heartes that God shoulde applie himselfe too their appetites For although they bee still minded too serue him yet are they not at all tymes and in all poyntes so well ruled as to haue giuen ouer all their owne opinions lykings and desires but that sometimes they shall euerie one of them be tempted to do one thing or other insomuch that if wee were not hilde short and made to retire out of hande wee would runne to our destruction To bee short there is none of vs all but hee woulde bee pleased insomuch that if they which haue the charge to buylde and teach the Church would please men they shoulde bee fayne too renounce our Lorde Iesus Christ And hereby all Ministers of Gods worde are taught to shet their eyes when they intende to discharge their duetie faythfully so as they must not looke aside too regarde men according to their disordered desires which they see but sette aside all desire of their good lyking and fauour And if they purpose to lead those vntoo God which woulde else bee stubborne hearted whatsoeuer come of it let them so deale that God may haue his right and that our Lorde Iesus Christ may haue his authoritie For as I haue sayd alreadie what is too bee done when we speake in his name VVee must not onely generally condemne all that is of our owne nature but also so ransacke mens consciences as euerie of them may feele that God executeth his iurisdiction there and that the Gospell is not onely a launcing yron to pricke but also a sworde that pearceth to the marye of the bones as the Apostle sayth in the Epistle too the Hebrewes There must then be neyther thought nor affection which the Gospell must not search Truely it cannot bee but that they which are so wounded must needes grone and haue some greefe and hartbyting But yet must wee shet our eyes at all that and not regard what men couet or desire but passe on still forward Furthermore this warning serueth not onely for the Ministers of Gods worde but for all men ingenerall Therefore if we desire too bee Christians let vs learne to do so much honour to the sonne of God that although his woorde bee not verie well too our lyking nor we finde fauour in it according to our naturall witte yet notwithstanding we may not ceasse too receyue it obediently And so when any man commeth to a Sermon lette him first and formost make his reckening to be rebuked as meete is and let him vnderstande that it is for his profite that hee is not soothed And if hee haue itching eares let him lay them away from him assuring himselfe that else he is forclosed so as hee shall neuer receyue the doctrine to his profite and instruction VVherefore let vs all suffer our sores too bee rubbed and our selues to be condemned and too bee dealt with cleane contrarie to our lyking Thus yee see how euery of vs ought to be prepared if wee purpose to bee scholers too the sonne of God and to yeeld him the maystrie which belongeth vnto him And wee ought too endeuer this thing so much the more forasmuch as we see our nature driueth vs to the contrarie way For we bee blinded with selfeloue and euery of vs coueteth too be honoured but honoured we cannot bee but by flatterie and lying For who is he among vs that deserueth to bee commended There is nothing but filthinesse and infection in vs before God For all the goodly vertues which we haue to outwarde showe are but corruption till God haue reformed vs. So then it is certaine that all that euer we haue of our owne nature must be clensed or else wee shall rotte in our owne wretchednesse And therefore forasmuche as there is none other meane to drawe vs to saluation but by clensing vs of all our vyces and the same clensing cannot bee done but by violence when we bee warned by the doctrine of the Gospell so as our owne consciences rebuke vs although we like well to bee nowe and then flattered and soothed yet let vs seeke to be spoken vnto earnestly and to haue our faults told vs and to be made ashamed of them and too haue our vnhonestie discouered and not desire to be pleased for it were the next way to make vs rotte in our owne naughtinesse if we should holde it so in secrete and it woulde cost vs dearly the setting on if we should be so flattered by men and in the meane season the heauenly Iudge should thunder downe vppon vs. Thus ye see how euery of vs ought too profite himselfe by that which S. Paule speaketh here namely that if the preachers gratifie and please men in so doing they renounce God and if they renounce him what shall become of the rest of the people VVhither shall they be led but to the diuell Therfore when any man
there is nothing but hellishe confuzion in Poperie For there is talking ynough of our Lorde Iesus Christ but after what sort Knowe they his power Can they tell too what ende hee is sent of God his Father and what benefytes hee bringeth vs No whit at all He shall be called the Sauiour of the worlde and in the meane whyle euerie man seeketh his saluation in himselfe or at some Saints hand of his owne forging Lo at what poynt they be And therefore so much the more doth it stande vs vpon to beare in minde the thing that is shewed vs heere which is that whensoeuer God is spoken of the verie Sunne and Moone must needes be darkened as it is sayde in the Prophete and there is not any that must not bee thrust vnder foote too the ende that God may haue all preeminence And forasmuch as God accepteth any honour or seruice that wee doo vntoo him vntill wee bee subiect too his woorde let vs receyue the whole doctrine of the Gospell and let nothing plucke vs backe from yeelding such reuerence therevnto as too submit our selues too all that is conteyned therein This in effect is the thing that wee haue too gather vppon this place where the Apostles are termed flesh and bloud ▪ Furthermore whereas Saint Paule addeth that hee went to Ierusalem too see Peter it is a sure recorde that his former speaking of his going intoo Arabie was not of any pride or disdayne but too the ende that Gods grace might bee knowne and that no worldly meanes might bee made as a veyle too keepe men from knowing that Iesus Christ had wrought by singular myracle in that a man whiche had bin so stubborne before had beene brought too the lure Thus yee see on the on the one syde howe Saint Paule ment too reserue vntoo God his due and on the other side that yet notwithstanding he ment to shewe there was good agreement betwene him and the other Apostles And euen so must we do For in many men there are alwayes two euill extremities too bee found in that behalfe There are some scoffers which make pretence to magnifie gods grace and in the meane time are but traytors to God full of poyson pride preferring their owne dreames and dotages before him If a man say vnto them how now Seeing that God hath graunted grace to many men and they be knowen to be men wel seene in the holy scriptures and they imploy themselues faithfully in preaching the Gospell to vs therefore why do ye not agree with them O say they I haue not to do with any man liuing vpon earth I ground my selfe vppon none but God These are the prowde and stately which pretend to haue the holy Ghost in their heades certaine reuelations of the holy Ghost and yet notwithstanding they breake the vnitie of the Church and dispize Gods gracious giftes So much the more therefore doth it stande vs on hande to keepe the measure that we see heere For although Saint Paule haue on the one side declared that he went straight wayes into Arabie as soone as he was conuerted too the ende it might be knowne that Iesus Christ had bin hys only maister and teacher as indeed he only ought alwayes to haue preeminence ouer vs yet neuerthelesse he hath also well shewed on the other syde that he ment to be in vnitie of good concorde with the rest of the Apostles and was desirous too haue it knowne to the whole worlde that his minde was too agree with them and that they were as instruments of the holy Ghost For as I haue shewed afore it is no small helpe too the confirmation of our fayth when we be so linked togither that God calleth not any one mā alone but hath many that submit themselues too him so that it is seene that they be guided all by one spirite that they bee all of one minde that they ame all at one marke and that they shew themselues to be Gods children by going on forwarde too the heritage of the heauenly life That helpe then is fit for the confirmation of our fayth and it was for Saint Paule too shewe that hee was rightly linked with the Apostles and ment not too separate himselfe from them VVherfore let vs marke the maner of dealing that is shewed vs here to the intent we swarue not to the one extremitie or the other But there are some so lightheaded that they will giue ouer the doctrine of the Gospell for right naught and as soone as they heare a man speake by and by they must receyue whatsoeuer hee sayth Howbeeit if we bee no better settled than so shall we bee able too withstande all the alarums whiche the Diuell our mortall enimie will giue vs Then must men stand stoute to their tackling and all of vs from the most too the least must sticke fast togither too our Lorde Iesus Christ For like as he is our heade so must he also bee exalted and as the Prophete Esay sayth he is the marke that all men must looke at Sith it is so let vs learne to forbeare our resting in such wise vpon the outwarde appearance of men that the same shoulde impeache the maiestie of Gods Sonne But yet neuerthelesse when we be once fully settled vpon that poynt we must all of vs be contented to be taught of him that is giuen vs too bee our teacher and not be so prowde as to stande euerie man in his owne conceyt for so shall we but make variance in the Church but desire to agree togither and euery of vs put forth that which is giuen him that the vnitie of our fayth may be as a bonde to knit vs togither so as we may make one Temple of God For it is not sayde for nought that we be the liuely stones whereof Gods Temple is builded Now if euerie of vs shoulde bee sundred from other and left alone by himselfe what woulde become of it Shoulde there be any building No but contrariwize there woulde be vtter desolation If we couet to haue God dwell among vs and too bee of householde with vs wee must worship him truely and euery of vs apply himselfe as much as hee can possibly to his neighbours Not that we must shrinke from God to cleaue to men for it were better that we shoulde all of vs bee at discorde one with another and togither by the eares as whot as fire among our selues but when wee bee knitte vnto God that is a good harmonie and that is the meane for vs to holde the way that Saint Paule hilde who woulde not match himselfe with the Apostles to darken Gods glorie or to hinder the doctrine of the Gospell and yet notwithstanding fayled not to come from a straunge countrey to seke them yea euen with great trauell and with the induring of right hard temptation for as we see they charged him to haue bin a persecuter of God his truth Seeing that S.