acknowledgement of our faults praying him c. On Saturday the xxviij of September 1555. The Lxxx Sermon which is the first vpon the twelfth Chapter THese are the ordinaunces and Lawes which yee shal keepe that yee may doe them in the Lande which the Lord God of thy fathers hath giuen thee of possesse all the dayes which thou shalt liue vpon the earth 2 Ye shall destroy all the places wherein the people whom yee shal conquere haue serued their gods whether it be vpon high mountaines or vpon the hils or vnder any maner of greene trees 3 Also yee shall digge downe their Altars and breake their images and burne their woods with fire Yee shall destroy the images of their gods and dispatch the names of them out of that place 4 Yee shall not deale so with the Lord your God 5 But looke what place soeuer the Lord your God shal choose out of al your tribes to set his name in and to dwel in there shall yee seeke him and thither shall yee resorte WHeras Moses exhorteth y e people here againe to obserue the ordinances statutes of y e law and to do thē it doth vs to vnderstand y t if we be not diligēt in following Gods will we shal soone be carried away vnto wickednes one way or other For it falleth out vpon vs y t we do cōmit many faults through ouersight we stumble at euery turning of a hand because y e deuill doth easily beguile vs we haue no great wit or discretion in vs our mind is ful of fondnes consequētly vnconstant therfore if we be not very diligent in obeying our God we shall neuer obserue his law as we ought to do Now thē let vs beware y t we set our minds earnestly to y ◠ordering of our life For if we bethinke vs not aduisedly of it ne haue any great care of it we shal not fail to do amisse some way or other That is y e thing which we haue to gather vpon this place where Moses saith y t we must not only put gods cōmandemēts in execution but also keepe thē to do them As if he should say y t if men holde not themselues well in awe if they bee not very watchfull in following their duety if they be not well aduised earnest in their doings by by they slip away and there is no stedines in them and although there haue bin some good zeale in them yet it vanisheth away out of hande And he sayth expresly that they be the statutes and ordinances of the God of their fathers Which serueth to the better confirming of the matter y t we haue seene heereto fore which is that the Land of Chanaā was giuen thē by vertue of the couenant and promise y t was made before they were borne The Iewes then are put in minde in this place to thinke thēselues beholden to Gods free bestowed goodnes for their promised inheritāce forasmuch as they coulde not boast of it as of a cōquest because God had assigned it to their fathers before they were borne Neuerthelesse his purpose is also to confirme them in the doctrine of the Law to the end they might knowe y t they worshipped not a new god or a god lately found out but the same God which had bin reueiled to their fathers in all ages afore therfore he telleth them they were lesse to be excused if they held thē not to the religion y t had bin knowen in all times afore at leastwise among their fore fathers For we heare what God vpbraydeth them withall by his prophet Ieremie Go seeke all the worlde about saith he go ouer y e sea Ier. 〈…〉 see if the heathen nations haue changed their gods and yet they be but idols Sith you see such stedfastnes constancie in the infidels y t they be not variable in their superstitions but rather as it were wedded wilfully giuē ouer to thē what a shame will it be to you to haue forsaken the liuing God when ye haue knowen him not to continue in his word Then let vs marke wel in this text that Gods vpbraiding of y e Iewes with his manifesting of himself vnto thē to their fathers so long time aforehand is to y e ende they should be the more worthy to be condemned if they hild not them selues to the doctrine which had bin so well warranted vnto thē But let vs marke also y t it is not inough for vs y t our forefathers held some kind of religion but we must also see y t the same be alowable And whereas it is sayd here y t their forefathers knew the same God which had setforth his Law to thē at y t time the knowledge or opinion which the fathers had is not y e chief ground that we ought to stand vpon for God presupposeth y t he had so certified thē of his word as they were not in any doubt at all Therfore first let vs learn to knowe what our Lord declareth vnto vs and then let vs afterward go to antiquitie And it is certaine that if the religion be true good it is not new nor deuised in our time but our repaire must be to the things y t are witnessed in the Law and y e prophets There we shal see how God hath gathered his Church how he hath gouerned it how it hath alwayes had his truth euen from the beginning of the world In dede the number of people is but small y t haue followed godlinesse the rest haue turned away after their owne inuētions Howbeit we must not haue an eye to the world but let it suffice vs y t god hath had a church of his owne in all ages whereunto it behoueth vs to be ioyned to become one w t it For although the Church haue bin despised of the worlde yet hath it alwayes bin precious in Gods sight And we see the like still at this day True it is that the most part of such as boast thēselues to be beleeuers are doted with leasinges errours abuses but wee must let thē alone submit ourselues to the truth y t God telleth vs knitting ourselues in vnity of faith concord with the faithfull which are contented to followe whatsoeuer God hath shewed thē Thus ye see y t the way for vs to put this text in vre where the God of the fathers is spokē of is y t it is not ynough for vs to haue som antiquitie as the papists alledge saying we haue bin a long time in possession but we must be well groūded vpō certainty so as we know y t the God whom we worship is not an idoll When a man knowes y t once then let him proceede to the cōsent agreement of faith according to our beleef wherby we confes y t there is but one almightie god which is y e father of our lord Iesus Christ and by the same reasō our father too
to the end we should learne to serue him as he commaundeth vs and not lyke well of any thing but that which he alloweth for good Thus ye see whereto this saying is referred that God wrate the lawe in two tables And his wil was to write it in two tables of stone purposely to the intent it should continue For it was not giuen for any little time neither is it transitorie True it is that the ceremonies had an end 2. Cor. 3.11 Gal. 3.19 He 7.18.19 and 9.8.10 Ephe. 2.15 Col. 2.14.17 And in that respect the lawe is called temporall namely because the order that had bin stablished among the people of olde time to continue till the comming of our Lorde Iesus Christ was then abolished and thinges were made perfect so as wee be no more vnder the shadowes figures which serued for that time Neuerthelesse the substance and trueth of the lawe serued not for that one age onely Matt. 5.18 but is a thing that shall indure for euer and neuer faile Wherfore let vs learne that Gods setting forth of his wil at the going of his people out of Egypt and his speaking to them vppon mount Sinay was after such a sorte as he prouided and tooke order therewithal that his doctrine should stand in force for euermore And for that cause did he set downe his lawe in two tables of stone and not write it in barckes of trees as the maner of wryting was in those dayes or as we might say nowadayes in paper or parchment but his will was to ingraue it in stone as an euerlasting monument to confirme vs the better in the thinges that he had sayd For he was not satisfied with the speaking of it for that onely day but by ingrauing it in stone his intent was that wee all our life long should giue attentiue eare to heare what he tolde vs. Yet notwithstanding surely Gods ingrauing of his lawe in stone after that sorte would serue to small purpose vnlesse it were also ingrauen in our hearts 2. Cor. 3.3 What is to be done then Let vs assure our selues that the doctrine which God setteth downe vnto vs is behoofefull and necessarie for vs and yet it should stand vs in no stead vnlesse hee added a second grace which is y t the thing which he hath vttred be forthwith printed in our heartes and bowels Then lyke as God wrate his lawe at that time in two tables of stone with his finger that is to say with his power so now he must be fain to write it with his holy spirit in our heartes which are stony and hard as the prophet sheweth where he prayeth God to giue vs heartes of fleshe that may be soft lythe and plyable to receiue whatsoeuer he shall say Nowe then seeing that God hath shewed vs visibly y t it belongeth to him to write his Lawe that it may be well knowen let vs beseech him to vouchsafe to write it in vs now adayes by the power of his holy spirit to the end wee may holde it fast as the diuell may neuer wype it out of our rememberances doe what he can And herewithall Moses concludeth that the Lawe was deliuered vnto him to bee the preseruer and keeper therof and to bee the minister and dealer forth of it to the people so as euerie man might acknowledge him for a Prophet For otherwise he could not haue executed his office nor haue builded Gods Church except meÌ„ had knowen that that charge had bin committed vnto him Likewise now adayes if we were not perswaded that it is Gods will y t his Gospell should be preached by the mouthes of men and that there should be Shepheardes in his Church to beare abrode his worde who would vouchsafe to come togither Neither I nor any other creature is of abilitie to traine men to come to receiue the thinges that are to be vttered by my mouth When I speake here in the name of God and men giue eare to the doctrine to submit themselues to it and to doe him homage it is more than all the lawes and proclamations of kings and Emperors can doe Is the mortal man the doer thereof No. But when we once knowe it to be Gods will that this order shoulde bee in his Church and that it should bee kept vnuiolably namely that there should bee sheepheards to beare abroad his worde and to expounde the same which should be as messengers to bring tidings of the forgiuenesse of sinnes in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ and to rebuke reproue comfort and exhort when we I say doe vnderstand it to be Gods wil that there should be such gouernment in his Church then are wee ashamed to withstand him y t hath created and fashioned vs. So then ye see now why Moses sayd in this text that God deliuered him his lawe for himselfe Trueth it is that God gaue it for all the people in generall as I sayd afore Why then is Moses now the possessor of it It should seeme that God meant to bereaue all his people thereof and that none should bee priuiledged but Moses so as the lawe should be restrained vnto him and the residewe be as it were shut out from it But it is not so For although the Lawe was giuen for all the people yet was Moses made the protector of it And looke what God hath spoken of him we must extend it yet further accordingly as we heare that the prophets were put in the same commission Deut. 31. â—er 1.5.7 â— 2 to bee as it were disposers or dealers foorth of the treasure of saluation and of Gods couenant so as their office was to shewe Gods will from time to time and to bring vs worde of it in his name And the generall rule which Saint Paul giueth vs â— Cor. 4.1 is that men must esteem vs as Gods ministers as dealers forth of the secretes which he sendeth to the world Now whereas Saint Paul sayth wee bee dealers forth of Gods secretes he sheweth vs thereby that it is not enough for vs to haue the holy scripture and to reade it euery man at home in his house but it is required that it should bee preached vnto vs that wee should haue this order of being taught by the mouthes of men and that there should bee shepheardes to serue Gods turne to the ende y t by giuing care vnto them wee might profite more and more in the doctrine of saluation And for the same cause doth Saint Paule say in another place 2. Tim. 3.15 that the Church is the piller of trueth and as it were the ground and standard of the trueth The Papistes alledge this textfull doltishly to clayme priuiledge to themselues to deuise newe articles of fayth and to lode men with lawes at their owne pleasure But Saint Paul meant the cleane contrarie For hee saith that the Church is the piller or ground of Gods truth because that seeing God hath
vttered his trueth to men by his Lawe and by the Prophetes and Apostles his will is that the same ministerie should indure continualy namely that there should bee men ordeined and appointed to the office of expounding his worde and of building vp his Church Then let vs vnderstand that after that maner the Church is the meane of vpholding Gods trueth sounde and vnappayred For when God rayseth vppe men indued with his spirite to confirme vs in the faith and to inlighten vs and to shewe vs the right way by that meane Gods trueth continueth in the worlde so as it is not quenched nor vtterly done away Let vs mark then that Moseses meaning here is not to make him selfe the onely possessor or owner of Gods lawe and to shake off the people and to shutte them out of the gate but to vtter his minde plainely to this effect my friendes in deede the Lawe is common to vs all all of vs are Gods children I chalendge no more to my selfe in that behalfe than to you but yet will I dischardge my selfe of the commission that God hath giuen mee which is that I should serue you for a faithfull expounder of the Lawe and bee as a keeper thereof that yee might not thrust it vnder foote nor forget it for euer but alwayes bee put in minde of it by mee Sith it is so let all ministers of Gods worde looke that they bee readie prepared to serue the ignoraunt and let all men consider howe it is not for vs onely to reade the holy scripture but wee must also be diligent to profit therein and humbly come to y e hearing of those whom he hath appointed to be his ministers to giue vs the exposition vnderstanding therof Thus ye see whereto this text is to be referred Now let vs kneele downe in the presence of our good God with acknowledgement of our faultes praying him to make vs feele them better and to drawe vs dayly to such repentance as our whole desire may be to serue him and to please him without seeking any whit of our own will And that forasmuch as we be so greatly giuen to worldly thinges it may please him to drawe vs from them and therewithall to graunt that wee may submit our lyfe to his will and frame it to his righteousnesse and that for the bringing thereof to passe his worde may so ouerrule vs as wee may bee gouerned by it and all our whole lyfe be framed thereafter vntill that being quite rid of all our fleshly affections wee be clothed againe with his heauenly glory at such time as wee shall haue no more neede neither of writing nor of preaching That it may please him to graunt this grace not onely to vs but also to all people and nations of the earth c. On Wednesday the xvij of Iuly 1555. The xliij Sermon which is the fourteenth vpon the fifth Chapter 23 And when yee heard the voice from the middest of darkenesse because the Hill burned yee came to mee all the heades of your tribes and your Elders 24 Then saide you Behold the Lord our God hath shewed vs his glorie and his greatnesse and wee haue hearde his voice from the middest of the fire This day haue wee seene that GOD hath spoken with man and man is still aliue 25 Now then why die wee for if wee heare the voice of our Lord God againe this great fire will deuour vs and we shall die 26 For what man is hee that may heare the voice of the liuing God speaking from the middest of the fire as we doe and yet liue 27 Goe thou and heare whatsoeuer the Lord our God shall say and then tell thou vs what the Lord our GOD saieth to thee and wee will heare it and doe it WEe bee of opinion that where as God causeth his worde to be preached vnto vs by y e meanes of men if he spake to vs in his owne maiestie or sent some Angell to appeare vnto vs wee would bee the better touched and all the world would bee conuerted by and by and euery man obey without gaine saying or rebelling but wee knowe not what is for our owne benefite and behoofe For if wee looke vppon our owne frailtie it is not possible that God should make vs feele his power but it shoulde be to our vtter vndooing and destruction Now therefore when men are desirous that God should come downe from heauen or manifest himselfe by some visible token they know not what they bee nor how frayle their state is For did they wel consider it they would bee agast at Gods infinite glorie knowing well that they were not able to abide it Besides this let vs assure our selues that God tendereth our welfare and saluation in shewing vs his will by the mouth of men when hee ordeyneth and appoynteth them to be ministers of his worde to bring vs such message as hee knoweth to bee for our benefite Neuerthelesse it was his pleasure to auowe it by open proofe to mens faces that it is not good for them to heare his voyce thunder from heauen And that is the cause why hee thought good to giue forth his lawe not simply by Moses but by comming downe in his owne person as I haue declared already and as I tolde you yesterday that the lightninges and whirlewindes and the flaming of the fire and all that is written in the ninteenth and twentith chapters of Exodus Exod. 19.18.19 20.18 was done euery whit of it to the end that the people of Israell should learne to yeede reuerence to Gods word And this lesson belongeth to vs also For Gods inteÌ„t was that the remembrance of those thinges shoulde indure for euer and that they should be put in vre continually So then we see here that God hath vttered his glorious maiestie once for all to teach vs to receiue his worde with all reuerence and lowlynesse But yet furthermore hee intended lykewise y t the people should bee driuen of themselues to say It is not good that God should speake to vs againe Onely let vs haue a man to bring vs the doctrine which it shall please him to send vs. And this rule serueth to condemne vs if wee followe not this people which stepped forth to say so And if any man alledge that the thinges which were spoken at that time cannot binde vs The answere is easie namely that if God should doe the lyke at this day that is to wit if hee should speake y e thinges with his owne mouth which we heare at the mouthes of men it were impossible for vs to abide his glory wee should bee vtterly vndone And therefore let vs learne that this is rehearsed vnto vs to the ende that in the person of the people of Israell wee might vnderstand that God applyeth himselfe to our â—lendernesse and infirmitie and that in voutsafing to send vs his worde to bee preached vnto vs by men lyke our selues whome hee maketh his
so long despised God that in the ende their shame was of necessitie to bee discouered They protested sufficiently that their desire was to haue the Gospell but that was the gospell of Mahomet to turne all thinges vpside downe and to bring all things to confusion For the worlde hath seene howe farre they ouershot themselues insomuch that they tooke parte against God and his word Nowe sith wee haue such examples let vs learne to liue in feare and warinesse and alwayes come backe to that which is tolde vs here that is to wit that it is not without cause that our Lorde sayeth that hee tryeth and examineth such as were disguized afore and that when hee suffereth false prophets to bee stirred vp by Satan to sowe their darnell among vs it is to trye vs whether wee loue him with all our heart or no. And therefore let vs proceede more and more in the feare of our God accordingly as it is said here that wee must serue him and obey his holy commaundementes not douting but that hee will make vs to get the vpper hande in al assaults and conflictes wherewith wee be assayled so as wee shal be sure of the victorie because hee will fight for vs. Nowe let vs kneele downe in the presence of our good GOD with acknowledgement of our faultes praying him to make vs so to feele them as wee may not proceede to prouoke his wrath through our vnthankfulnesse but that seeing he hath giuen vs the infinite treasure of his holy worde whereby wee haue full assurance of our saluation wee may imbrace it with all reuerence and liue in such purenesse of heart before him as hee may bestowe his riches more and more vppon vs make vs partakers of them and that wee may walke the whole race of our life after such sort in his obedience as wee may moreouer resist all our enemies and by the power of the spirituall sworde of his worde and of the shield of faith beate backe all the assaultes that shal be made vppon vs. That it may please him to graunt this grace not onely to vs but also to all people and nations of the earth c. On Saturday the xij of October 1555. The Lxxxvij Sermon which is the second vpon the thirteenth Chapter 2.3 And the signe or miracle c. 4 Yee shall walke after the Lorde your God and feare him and keepe his commaundements and obey his voyce and serue him and sticke to him 5 But that Prophet or dreamer of dreames shal bee put to death for hee hath spoken to turne you from the Lorde your God which hath brought you out of the lande of Egypt and deliuered you from the house of bondage and to thrust thee out of the way which the Lorde thy God hath commaunded thee to walke in And so shall you ridde away the euill from among you WEe sawe yesterday wherefore God giueth the brydle to Satan in such wise that hee soweth many errours and corruptions not onely in the worlde but also in the Church For it is good reason that our faith should be tryed to weete whether we liue in vprightnesse soundnes and loue before our God or whether there bee any faynednesse in vs. And there is not a truer tryall thereof than when wee come to the incounter to know whether Gods trueth ought to bee inuincible against all erroures and leasings And therefore let it not offende vs when wee see him sowe darnell but let vs bethinke vs of that which is sayde here namely that our Lorde wil search vs to the harde bottome whether wee beare reuerence to his worde in good earnest and vnfeynedly or no. Not that hee knoweth not welynough what wee bee for it is not for himselfe that hee doeth it but to the ende that our faith should shewe it selfe and that there shoulde be true record thereof Nowe moreouer it is tolde vs that wee must followe Gods worde and hearken to him that wee may serue him and sticke to him And this is still to shewe vs that which I haue declared afore namely that wee can neuer bee at any stay vnlesse wee knowe well what God it is whome wee worship For if wee bee in dout there needeth nothing to shake vs downe as wee see by experience Therefore let vs learne to profite so in our Gods schoole as wee may not bee remoued by false doctrines but may haue wherwith to withstande the sleightes of Satan as was declared more at large yesterday But let vs goe backe againe to this saying that although the false Prophet haue giuen some signe or foretolde some wonder and the same thing is come to passe yet notwithstanding wee must hold our owne still Here it might be demaunded whether the diuell can prophesie or no. I stande not much vppon that it is not materiall but I haue aunswered before that GOD is aboue him and that it is his will that his Church shoulde liue in warrefare to the ende that the faith of all his might be exercised Then if a deceiuer foretell a thing and the same fal out in deede it is not to bee saide but that GOD hath giuen him the brydle Therefore it is not for vs to trouble entraunce into vs but also as Saint Paul sayth to bee diligent in purging of Gods Churche from them Gal. 5.9.12 Tit. 3.10 that such a plague be not nourished among vs. And truely if wee knewe our owne frailtie and considered well on the other side what Sathan is able to doe against vs it is certaine that wee woulde stande more vppon our garde than we be wont to doe Trewe it is as I haue sayde alreadie that wee woulde fayne repose and staye our selues vppon GOD so as we might not minister any occasion to Satan to beguyle vs and surely if wee through our owne fonde desire of seeking lyes did not cast ourselues into Sathans snares wee shoulde be sure that GOD woulde alwayes preserue vs. But forasmuch as we bee too too weake and Sathan needes no more but to holde vppe his finger to vs to carrie vs out of hande from the right way of saluation in respect thereof wee ought so much the more to seeke the remedies whereby to preuent the mischiefe Againe let vs consider what Satan is able to doe Iohn 12.31 He is the prince of this worlde and therefore wee shall soone be ouertaken by him the rather if wee be slothfull carelesse or negligent Then is it not without cause that our Lorde warneth vs to take so good order as such a plague may not lurke among vs that is to wit that wee may not haue deceiuers to beguile the simple and to marre them by turning them from the pure trueth For it is a likelihoode that wee woulde faine bee turned away from GOD when wee giue the mischiefe such scope If there were a breach in our towne wall and our enemies were at hand or that wee were alreadie beseeged so as wee looked for the
y e whole world and so must wee doe Though all the whole world crie out with one voyce that it is not now needefull to rest vpon the holy scripture and that the opinions of the great wise men of the world shall stand let vs giue eare to that which GOD sayeth Albeit there were but one man that laboured to bring vs from the errours and superstitions that haue full scope euerywhere yet let that one man bee more esteemed at our handes than a hundred thousand others For wee see the rule thereof that is giuen vs here And although Moses was the writer of this Booke yet is it the holy Ghostes dooing who vsed him as an instrument Now then where it is saide That the spies reported it to bee a good land wee see that the two are set downe at it were in the roome of all the twelue and the other tenne are laid vnderfoote For they were not worthie to bee remembred and we knowe that God destroyed them for their vntrustinesse Then if there bee any deceiuers that seduce the common people so as their wicked doctrine is receiued and men like well of them and in the meane while there are very fewe that teache vs to serue God purely let vs heare those fewe let vs not sticke to say These are the teachers that instruct vs rightly what wee ought to doe Though the nomber of their aduersaries be neuer so great let vs not make any account of theÌ„ forasmuch as we see that God destroyeth them that they be as it were rased out of his booke for beholde this storie written by Moses is the very register of God Insomuch that whereas on the one side ten men had conspired to miscarie the people they were all reiected God made no reckening nor account of them And on the contrarie part whereas there were but two that incouraged the people faithfully those were put in nomber for all y e rest for they were well worthy to be esteemed as ministers and shepherdes in Gods Church for their due perfourming of their charge Therfore if we marke this text we shall be throughly armed and fenced against all the stumbling blockes y t trouble most men who when they see a sort of dogges barking at Gods trueth are vtterly at their wits ende and knowe not what to doe nor where to become Wherefore let vs looke to obserue the rule that God giueth vs then shall wee euer keepe on our course neuer be turned out of the way for the troubles and diuisions that we see in the world And hereunto also ought that to serue which Moses addeth You would not saith he but were disobedient To whom He saith not singly vnto God but vnto the mouth of God This maner of speache might seeme harsh at the first sight but yet it importeth good doctrine Wee know that men are alwayes desirous to excuse themselues wheÌ„ they withstand God and incounter his word and yet for all that they ceasse not to protest that they meane not to be against God Their intent then is that men should not thinke them to doe that which they do But here to cut off occasion of all startingholes the holy Ghost saith expresly that we must yeeld to Gods mouth And what is meÌ„t by this mouth of his It is his vttering of his will vnto vs when he speaketh to vs by his ministers by his Prophets and by such as he raiseth vp in his Church to gouerne hâ—s people That then is y e thing that wee must take heede vnto for God will not shewe himselfe to vs in visible maner True it is that at the same time he gaue signes tokens to the end it might bee knowâ—n that he himselfe spake by Moses but yet in the meane while he vsed Moses as his instrument therewithall confirmed his lawe which was published at that time After him came the Prophets and them also did God vse as his mouth but in the Gospell wee haue his mouth open most of all So then let vs marke well y â— they which protest that their intent is to serue God in the meane while make none account of his word as it is vttered and left in writing are but hypocrites yea euen shamelesse hypocrites bicause the deede it selfe proueth them liars For whereas they on the one side say that their intent is to serue God and God on y e other side intendeth to trie our obedience by setting his word before vs y e same is a good triall to discerne whether our saying that we be his seruantes be so in good earnest or no. For thereby it appeareth that they hearken not to his word but rather reiect it preferre their owne opinions and fancies before it And so ye see a point that ye ought to marke wel And hereby it appeareth how much y e whole world is to be condemned now adayes For y e Papistes can well ynough say y t their intent is to be subiect vnto God yea to what purpose else do they take so great paines martyr theÌ„selues in their foolish deuotions All the Idolatries which they commit they terme by the name of Gods seruice But yet for all that behold wee haue the holy scripture wherein God hath vttered his will vnto vs and he will haue men to be ruled thereby This is alledged to the Papistes to the end they should not followe their owne lykings but submit themselues to the bridle in such sorte as God hath layde it vppon vs and beare his yoke quietly But contrariwise they will needes serue God after their owne imaginations as we see by the confused mingling that is among theÌ„ which maketh it manifest that they haue no care at all to obserue Gods commaundements For their saying is mee thinkes that this is good thus were we taught by our fathers Wherby we see that they doe flatly resist Gods mouth They will not stick afterward to say O wee worship God Yea marie but God will haue men to harken to his mouth and we knowe what maner a one that is namely euen the same wherewith he hath spoken by Moses and the prophets and finally by the Apostles by whom he hath taught vs familiarly all that euer hee would haue vs to doe So then let vs nowe take good heede to this doctrine for wee cannot disobey Gods mouth that is to say his word but it is a manifest despising of him for they be things that differ not neither can they be separated asunder Furthermore not onely the Papistes doe prouoke God by resisting his word but also we see that euen they which possesse the Gospell will beleue nothing but that which lyketh theÌ„selues For what reuereÌ„ce hath the holy scripture nowadayes among a nomber of men In deede the word Gospell costeth them nothing but in the meane while if a man tell them that God sayth not any thing which is not there euery man takes vpon him to bee an
wandering in the wildernesse by the space of fortie yeeres God shewed yet more harde and rigorous vengeance vppon them afterwarde in the thraldome of Babylon and other miseries that happened vnto them for the thraldome of Babylon lasted three score and ten yeares And at their returne although he shewed great and wonderfull power yet were they but a handfull which were saued according to this saying of the Prophet Esay Esa. 10.22 though thy people were as the sande of the sea yet shoulde but a small remnant of them be saued And in another place hee saith we had beene as Sodome and Gomorre Esa. 1.9 if God had not reserued a little seede yea euen a verie little one Wee see then that God increased his wrath against such as amended not at the example of their fathers And why Because they were the lesse to bee excused for they ought to haue taken warning by the punishmentes that were prepared for them Therefore did they double their offence And what thinke we of the desolation that hath happened since the first preaching of the Gospell for the refusall whereof the wretched world hath wandred so astray as all things haue bin corrupted in the Church so that in steede of Gods seruice there hath beene nothing but abhominations insteed of truth there hath beene nothing but diuelish lyes and errours and all thinges haue beene put out of order there and that the same confusion hath lasted nowe so long time All these thinges doe put vs in minde that Gods voyce ought to sounde shirler noweadayes in the Gospell than it did in the Lawe For as is saide by the Prophet Aggeus Agge 2.7 God maketh heauen and earth to quake nowadayes when the Gospel is preached And besides that wee haue all the thinges that befell to the people of olde time which serue vs as a liuely picture There must wee beholde Gods wrath to restrayne our selues from doing euil 1. Cor. 10.11 as Saint Paul sheweth vs in y e tenth of the first to the Corinthians But if wee make no reckening therof is it not reason that God shoulde punish vs sorer than hee did the Iewes Let vs learne then to hearken to Gods voyce while it soundeth in our eares and let vs beware that wee harden not our heartes least God sweare in his wrath For it is saide expresly that God sware And whie Because men thinke his threates to be vaine if hee make them not to perceiue that hee speaketh in good earnest And of a trueth we see dayly that when Gods threatnings are vttered vnto vs a great many of vs do but shake our eares at them and the number of those that are touched with them is verie smal Therefore the othe that GOD sweareth is no more than needeth euen in respect of the blockishnesse that is in men forasmuch as they bee so foolish as to make but a mocke of euerie thing that is tolde them And like as God to helpe the weakenesse of our faith vseth an othe when hee confirmeth his promises so on the contrarie part hee vseth to sweare when hee threatneth to punishe vs. And why To the ende that being afraide and abashed at it wee shoulde come to repentance For if wee bee not made to stoope that wee may take holde of Gods iustice our faultes will neuer mislike vs. Gods iustice then must become as a thunder or lightning and we must bee abashed before him that we may no more bee so drunken in our sins as wee were And therefore whensoeuer Gods threatnings do not dismay vs sufficiently let vs cal to minde the oth that Moses speakes of here and let vs assure our selues that it is we whom the same pointeth at according to that which I haue alledged alreadie both out of the Psalme and out of the record of the Apostle And therewithall let vs also marke well the words that are set downe heere by Moses None of this cursed and wicked generation saith hee shall see the good land that I haue promised Heere GOD maketh a comparison betweene lande and the people This lande then was a singular gift in token whereof hee calleth it his rest meaning thereby that he had chosen that lande to bee as a dwelling place and euerlasting inheritance for the people to rest in vnder his protection For there is no certaintie in this worlde and if wee bee lodged in any place wee may bee put out of our nest againe to day or to morrowe But God tolde them that hee had assigned the lande of Chanaan for an euerlasting possessiō to the children of Abraham to mainteine them and keepe them safe there so as no man shoulde trouble them nor euer driue them out againe Yee see then that the lande was not a common gift but a gift that deserued to bee esteemed as most excellent aboue al others But behold the people on the otherside are malicious and froward Therefore it is all one as if our Lorde shoulde say I see wel ynough howe the worlde goes I shall sooner make fire and water to agree than cause this people to like of my benefits For in my benefites there is nothing but meere goodnesse and in this people there is nothing but meere naughtinesse Let vs marke well then that to inioy Gods benefites wee must frame our selues to his will and righteousnesse for our naughtinesse and Gods goodnesse can neuer match together insomuch that if wee will needes followe our owne nature God must needes withdrawe his goodnesse away from vs. True it is that God looketh not for any worthinesse at our hands why hee shoulde doe vs good nay rather hee fighteth dayly against our sinnes and vseth mercie where as hee might lawfully vse rigour against vs. But yet for all that if hee see that we continue in our naughtinesse hee can no longer continue in doing vs good Yee see then that the doctrine which we haue to gather vppon this consideration is that there must bee as it were an accorde and melodie betweene God and vs and that when hee imparteth his benefites vnto vs we must make such estimation of them as wee indeuer to serue and honour him for them and consider that he calleth vs to him to plucke vs backe from our sinnes If wee doe so the good that he hath done vs shal be confirmed more more Otherwise it must needes bee that our naughtinesse shall cut off the course of his goodnesse Why so For as I haue said alreadie when God offreth men his benefits they refuse them of a wilfull frowardnesse it is as if fire and water should meete together But besides this wee must also marke Gods vpbrayding of the people with their saying that their yong children shoulde be a pray to their enemies They saith he shall possesse the lande yea euen to the intent that you may be proued lyers Heere it behoueth vs to marke well that when men will needes doubt of Gods trueth they must in the ende be
Exod. 4.22 and haue it yet stil. And which more is Ep. 2.12.13 at such time as wee were straungers vnto God they were his householde folke and in his house and Church Rom. 9.4 Yet notwithstanding euen after they had beene inlightened as wee see heere they were condemned of greater blindnesse than the wretched Painims that neuer had any taste of the trueth nor any one sparke of good knowledge And why for they had made themselues vnworthy of such a benefite But God in these dayes sheweth himselfe more familiarly to vs than he did to the fathers in the time of the lawe 2. Cor. 3.18 For in the Gospell his face shineth foorth in such wise as wee may beholde it to be transfigured into his glorie Is not our Lorde Iesus the liuely image of God his father And doeth not hee shewe himselfe in such wise in his Gospel that we may discerne him as well as if he dwelt among vs Nowe then if wee haue not our eyes open to receiue this doctrine nor bee diligent to profite in the same muste not the vengeance which the Prophet Esaye speakes of light vpon our heads that is to wit that wee shall be more blinde and brutish than the heathen Esa. 42.20 for as much as wee haue seene and woulde not see And in good sooth wee knowe it without his telling vs thereof Looke me vppon the Turkes they haue some reuerence to their religion and so haue the Papistes also yet are both of them cut off from the Church of God through their own fault but yet are they not so much to blame as wee Therefore when men slide backe againe after they haue once knowen the Gospell yee shall see them become like dogges so as there is no more honestie nor feeling of God in them but they bee vtterly bewitched and growe into the senslesnesse of minde which Saint Paul speaketh of 1. Tim 4.4 namely that they make no remorse of conscience at any thing And wee neede not to goe farre to seeke examples hereof For euen among vs there are diuers to bee seene who hauing vnhallowed Gods word after that sort are become starke madde and fall at defiance with GOD being possessed with such diuelish rage as there remaineth not any more shamefastnesse in them Therefore when wee see this geere we ought to quake at it and to say Loe howe GOD reuengeth the contempt of his worde And therefore let vs beare in minde that when God hath bene so gratious to vs as to doe the office of a scholemaster among vs and to teach vs by his word it behooueth vs to followe the light thereof For if it bee put out through our naughtinesse it must needes bee that wee shall become more dull of vnderstanding than all the rest of the worlde whiche neuer wist what GOD or true Religion is Thus yee see what wee haue to marke as in respecte of this sentence Nowe Moses addeth immediatly Take heede to thy selfe and keepe thy soule diligently that thou forget not the thinges which thine eyes haue seene nor let them euer depart from thy heart that is to wit the day wherein thy God made thee to appeare before his Maiestie in the valley of Hareb. There hee taught thee his lawe when hee willed mee to make you all to appeare together before him Therfore be mindfull of that day and let it neuer be forgotten Nowe when as Moses saith take heede to thy selfe keepe thy soule Hee sheweth that hee cannot sufficiently expresse the care which wee ought to haue to walke in the feare of God and to make and keepe good watch for feare of starting from him least the diuell harrie vs abrode and make vs become as stray sheepe Nowe if this bee not superfluous what needeth any more to quicken vs vp withall See howe God speaketh heere hee saieth not onely take heede to your selues but also take heede to your selues and take heede to your soules That is to say vppon perill of your liues take heede to your selues and watch well that yee bee not taken vnwares And this is not said without cause for wee see howe frayle wee bee Although God haue giuen vs so sure a foundation as wee can neuer be shaken downe if wee holde vs to it yet doe wee nothing but totter and euerie thing of nothing maketh vs to reele Seeing then that our nature is so vnconstant and wee swarue so easily from Gods trueth let vs assure our selues that this exhortation is not set downe heere without cause Againe wee see also howe wyly the diuell is and howe many meanes hee hath to beguile vs and wee are easily ledde to giue eare to such as seduce vs. Also there is great policie vsed to deceiue vs insomuch that the cousiners doe shroude themselues euen vnder the name of GOD in their foisting in of their false doctrines and errours and the diuell disguiseth himselfe by transforming himselfe into an Angel of light as S. Paul speaketh of him 2. Cor. 11. â— and hee assaulteth vs not some one way onely 1. Pet. 5.1 but when hee perceiueth that hee hath missed on the one side hee runneth streight to the other so as wee haue no sooner withstoode one assault but wee must by and by come to another Seeing then that wee on our sides are so fraile and the diuell hath such shifte of wyles and slyghtes to beguyle vs we may well assure our selues it is not for nought that Moses willeth vs here to beware euen vpon perill of our soules But what for that Wee see neuerthelesse how ill this doctrine is put in practise For wee bee carefull ynough for the thinges that concerne this earthly life insomuch that we stande alwayes vpon our gard for feare of being taken vnwares and on what side so euer a man come to assaile vs he can not enter vpon vs for wee are euer armed but as concerning Gods worde wee forget that out of hand True it is that men will come to some Sermon nowe and then for fashions sake but when they come home againe they neuer thinke more of it it is quite out of their rememberaunce it goes in at the one eare and out at the other as saieth the prouerb so that in the ende they finde themselues emptie and hungerstaruen bicause they made none account of the warning that is giuen vs here So then let vs learne to bee more watchfull and to keepe better warde and let vs weigh well this saying That we must take heed to our selues Why so For if wee doe not keepe good watche and looke well about vs wee shall wonder to see how soone the Diuell will haue snarled vs in his snares Moreouer forasmuch as it is very harde for vs to doe so and wee see that at one time or other wee bee quickly thrust out of the way let euerie of vs take good heede to himselfe and rowse vp all our wittes and gather them about vs applying
first vpon the fifth Chapter 44 This is the Lawe which Moses did set before the children of Israel 45 These are the Couenants Ordinances and Lawes which Moses shewed to the children of Israel after they were come out of Egypt 46 Beyond Iordan in the valley against Bethphogor in the Lande of Sehon King of the Amorrhytes which dwelt in Hesebon whom Moses and the children of Israel smote after they were come out of Egypt 47 And possessed his land and the land of Og King of Basan two kings of the Amorrhytes which were beyond Iordan towards the Sunrising 48 From Aroer which is vpon the banke of the riuer Arnon vnto the Hill of Sehon which is Hermon 49 And all the plaine beyond Iordan Eastwarde vnto the Sea that is in the plaine vnder Asdoth of Phasga The fifth Chapter ANd Moses called all Israel and said vnto them Heare O Israel the ordinances and Lawes which I set before you this day that ye may learne them and keepe them in deede 2 The Lord our God made a couenant with vs in Horeb. 3 The Lorde our God made not this couenant with our fathers but with vs which are all here aliue at this day FOr as much as it is hard to keep men in subiectiō to GOD therfore after hee had chosen him a people he vouchsafed to rule thē not for once and awaye but euen so long time till they ought to haue bin well inured to his yoke And after the same maner doeth he deale dayly with his Church One worde ought to bee ynough to make vs vnderstand the trueth of our God But forasmuch as wee beleeue not so speedily as were requisite when wee haue begunne wee start away againe and finally forget the things that he had taught vs therefore he thinketh it not ynough to haue tolde vs once what is needefull for our saluation but he doeth also put vs oft in minde of it printeth it in our heartes as much as is possible That is the cause why Moses rehearseth in this text y t he not onely deliuered them y e law in Horeb but also taught it them new againe after he had gone about with them a fortie yeres or fast vpon it yea and ceased not of al that time to set the things continually before them which GOD had earst commaunded him to vtter vnto them as hath bin touched already heretofore But the diligence of Moses is not superfluous in that hee sayth that being come to the side of Iordan and hauing vanquished Sehon king of the Amorrhites and Og the king of Basan his neighbour hee did stil put the people in minde of Gods lawes and ordinaunces that they might stand to them and put them in vre and that if they had not had sufficient teaching already they might at leastwise euen then know Gods trueth and sticke to it That is the matter which moses meant by this text And here he setteth downe expresly the Lawes Couenants Statutes and ordinances to expresse the better as I haue tolde you heretofore that God taught not his people by halues ne gaue them a doctrine that was darke short or vnperfect but such a lawe as comprehended al that was for their benefite welfare so as if they sticked thereunto they should not neede to seeke any further for they should haue wherewith to direct themselues in all poyntes and all respectes Yea verily for the lawe is a full doctrine accordingly also as the worde hath his originall thereof Againe there are Couenantes which is as much to say as y ◠God couenanteth and indenteth with men so as he neither forgetteth nor leaueth any thing out that may make for the maintenance of the couenant betwixt him and vs in that it hath pleased him to adopte vs for his children and Church to take vs to himselfe Whatsoeuer concerneth the spirituall aliance betweene him and vs is comprehended vnder the worde Couenant because they be articles For when men intende to couenant they set downe articles as well on y e one side as on the other We see then how God protesteth here that the Lawe hath enough to teach men withall so they hold themselues to it Afterwarde followe Statutes and ordinances It is a wonder to see how painefull GOD is in teaching of vs and how hee telleth vs that he hath not omitted any thing and yet for all that our wittes are so fugitiue that wee still couet some better thing than wee finde in Gods word This diuelish curiositie hath reigned at all times in the worlde And we see that euen at this day do what wee can this cursed desire cannot be ouer-mastered but that men will still needes be wiser than God would haue them to be And why For when his worde is preached vnto vs there is no cause for vs to finde fault that hee hath not shewed vs all that is for our behoofe Yet notwithstanding wee be ticklish still and woulde faine haue this and that besides that which God hath shewed vs. Seeing then that such faultinesse bewrayeth it selfe in vs it standeth vs so much the more on hand to remember the counsel that is giuen vs here that is wit that if wee will suffer God to bee our maister wee shall finde all perfection of wisedome in his schoole For his lawe is of sufficient abilitie to make vs wise And againe Colos. 1.28 Deut. 6. as I haue sayd heretofore it conteineth all the poyntes that serue to vnite vs vnto our GOD wherein consisteth our whole happinesse and glorie Moreouer it sheweth vs the rule of well doing so as we need not to seeke any where else what GOD alloweth for wee haue there his statutes and ordinances Then may wee well knowe and assure our selues that our lyfe shall please GOD when wee passe not the boundes that hee hath set vs. But if wee adde any thing at al to it let vs not thinke that GOD alloweth that as righteousnesse or as a good thing for hee forgate not any thing that was necessarie or behoofefull And these two poyntes are well worthie to be noted For they serue to make vs to set the more store by the doctrine that is dayly set foorth to vs in the name of GOD. Sith wee see it is the perfect wisedome ought wee not to apply all our wittes to it and to holde vs to it Sith wee see that GOD foresloweth not but continueth to teach vs dayly ought not wee also on our side to bee attentiue and diligent to profite vnder him And though wee bee not so well giuen to it at the first as were meete wee shoulde ought wee not to inforce our selues all our lyfe long to know Gods will still more and more till wee bee quite rid of all ignoraunce which shall bee when wee be taken out of this world 1. Cor. 1.9.10.12 and not before Surely that which Moses did ought to serue vs for a rule and example at this day For hee did it not
at al aduenture And besides that GOD ordayned him to bee as a looking glasse to all prophetes and to all such as haue charge to teache in Gods Church Let vs vnderstand therefore that GOD will not haue vs to learne his trueth in one day as though one lesson were enough for vs but hee will haue the thinges often rehearsed to vs which wee haue heard that they may tary with vs and bee so rooted in our heartes as wee may no more alledge in excuse of our selues O I haue not yet bin wel instructed God then on his part is alwayes ready so as wee cannot erre except we doe it wittingly willingly and wilfully as it were But here is expresse mention made of the Temple of Pheor to shewe that although the people had an eysore there to turne them away to superstition yet had they a remedie for it also inasmuch as GOD called earnestly vppon thē by his worde that they shoulde not meddle with the idolatries of the heathen In deede it was a hard chastisement for them to bee driuen to haue the temple of an idoll continually in their sight It was as if God meaning to haue spyted them shoulde haue sayd I haue called you to possesse a lande that is alotted to my seruice where yee shoulde haue seene nothing y t should haue offēded you for my Sanctuarie should haue bin set vp among you I should haue bin worshiped purely according to my law y e land should not haue bin defiled with old superstitiōs al such things should haue bin wiped out so as ye should haue heard nothing sownde in your eares but my prayers But now ye bee here in a corner of a countrie where ye beholde the temple of an idoll and where shameful abhominations are committed Therefore it is as a vengeance which yee be faine to suffer for your sinnes because yee be not worthie to enter into the land that I promised you Thus yee see how it was Gods will to chastise his people whē hee did let them dwell by the temple of Pheor Lykewise if wee in these dayes bee mingled with idolaters so as wee bee faine to looke vpon the filthinesse which they commit and vppon their peruerting of all religion let vs vnderstand that by that meanes God punisheth vs or at leastwise humbleth vs because of our sinnes And wee ought to bee sory not onely for the offences that are committed by the vnbeleeuers but also because wee may well perceiue that wee be not worthie to see the whole worlde reformed so as there might bee one accorde and consent of harmonie in religion and GOD bee purely worshipped euery where I say wee bee not worthie to see it Nowe then if superstitions bee neere vs and wee bee driuen to beholde the markes of them or to heare any peece of them Let vs impute it to our owne sinnes But yet howsoeuer the worlde went GOD failed not to giue the people of Israel a good remedie For when the lawe was taught them so by Moses it was as if GOD had separated those that were his from the blinde wretches that went astray in their superstitions And hereupon wee haue to note that although the whole worlde bee peruerted and great confusion is to bee seene and all is full of error and corruption yet notwithstanding we must take Gods worde for our guide and that must strengthen vs to defy all superstitions and idolatries And if wee bee so full of vanitie as to fleete too and fro after that God hath giuen vs his worde there will bee no excuse for vs. For as I haue sayd afore Gods declaring of his will vnto vs ought to bee a sufficient bridle for vs. Though all the worlde went the contrary way and one sorte followed their owne fancies and another sorte had some lykelyhood of religion yet ought none of those thinges to wey with vs when wee haue once heard the voyce of our GOD and thereby gotten knowledge of his will And therefore let vs learne to make this certeine and infallible doctrine auaileable that it may drawe vs from all wicked opinions from all errors and from the thinges which the diuell hath forged and men inuented in the worlde Thus ye see what wee haue to remember when Moses maketh mention here of Pheors temple Now herewithall hee addeth also that this was done after their ouercomming of the two kinges Og king of Basan and Sehon king of the Amorrhites or of Hesebon And this circumstance serued to blame the people if they yelded not themselues obedient vnto God Wee knowe that the more fauor GOD sheweth vs the more ought wee to bee prouoked to loue and feare him God hath shewed himselfe beneficiall to vs nowe ought not the same to drawe vs the more vnto him Yes For if wee bynde a mortall man vnto vs by our wel doing he shall bee taken and deemed vnthankefull if hee acknowledge not the good that wee haue done him and howe much lesse are we to be excused if we doe not so to the liuing God Then let vs beare in minde that Moses maketh expresse mention here of the two kinges that had bin ouercome to the intent that the people shoulde haue considered thus with themselues Goe to we haue had here two excellent victories Heretofore when wee woulde haue attempted it against the forbidding of our GOD wee were stoutely beaten back there was no strength nor courage in vs our enemies came lyke Waspes or Hornets to sting out our eyes according to the similitude which hath bin set downe heeretofore But now are two strong and mightie kinges ouercome without any cost of ours So as GOD hath giuen them into our handes Who was the cause of these two victories was it not God who directed and ruled all Seeing then that he hath pitied vs and begonne to performe the promise which he made to our fathers and giuen vs so good a hansell of it already ought wee not to indeuer to giue our selues in such wise vnto him as wee may be wholy at his commaundement Should wee not put our selues into his hand which hee hath shewed to be so mightie for the loue of vs Behold say I how Moses meant the thinges that he rehearseth concerning the discomfiture of Sehon and Og namely to blame the people for their vnthankefulnesse if they yelded not thēselues quietly to y e seruice of their God which had bound thē so greatly vnto him But now must we also apply this doctrine to our vse Whensoeuer wee perceiue any sloth or coldnes or rebelliousnesse in our selues so as our fleshe falleth to striuing and wee labor not to Godward with so cheareful minde and lustie courage as were expedient we must enter into account of the benefites that we haue receiued at his hand and thinke thus with our selues wretched creature how happeneth it that thou art so loth to sticke to thy GOD seeing hee hath shewed thee his will consider what thou hast of him bethinke thee
Christ Hebr. 5.2 should beare abroad his word that they shold prease vnto him to bee as mediators betweene him men Ye see then how it was Gods will to teache his people humilitie by visible signes and outward ceremonies to the ende that his worde should be embraced with all reuerence continue euermore in good state But as for vs wee haue not nowadayes the ceremonie any more but we haue the trueth which ought to continue to the worlds end Therefore whensoeuer Gods word is preached vnto vs Col. 2.17 let vs learne to stoope to it to know y t it is a heauenly doctrine wherunto it becommeth vs to encline that it is not for vs to bring our own fond imaginations in y t case for then wo be vnto vs. Neuerthelesse God granteth vs a special fauor in that he inableth vs to beare abroad his word maketh it to dwel in vs Esa. 66 2â— whereby he sheweth that he hath performed the thing which he promised by his Prophets y t is to wit that he hath chosen vs for his Leuytes as shal be declared more at length to morrowe Now let vs fall downe in the presence of our good God with acknowledgement of our faults praying him to make vs feele them better yea euen in such wise as it may lead vs to such repentance that we may be sorie for them all our life long be ashamed that we haue bin so wretched sinners And that therwithall wee may be quickened vp to glorifie him the more for the great goodnes which he hath shewed vpon vs proceede continually more more in obeying him to the intent that his law may be the better ingraued in vs by his writing of it in our hartes we become the readier to follow the things y t he shal haue shewed vs so as we may be forward to obey him all our life long our life be wholy dedicated vnto him That it may please him to graunt this grace c. On Wednesday the xi of September 1555. The Lxx. Sermon which is the seconde vpon the tenth Chapter 8 The same time the Lord c. 9 Therefore Leuie had no portion nor inheritaunce with his brethren but the Lord is his inheritaunce as the Lord thy God sayd vnto him 10 And I taried on the mountaine as I had doone afore fortie dayes and fortie nightes And the Lord heard mee that time also so as the Lord would not destroy thee 11 But the Lord sayde vnto mee vp get thee hence and goe before the people that they may goe and possesse the Land which I sware to their fathers to giue them WE sawe yesterday how Moses in this text did magnifie Gods mercie as well towardes the Leuites as towardes the whole people For in sheweing that Aaron was punished for his fault it appeareth plainly that all his whole linage deserued to haue ben disgraded Yet notwithstanding God of his goodnes vouchsafed y t there should bee a certaine number of men appointed to his seruice and them he chose not for any worthines that was in them but only for his owne mercies sake For if wee be not worthie of so much as that God should crowde vs into a litle corner of his house how should he aduaunce vs to farre higher degree That then is the meaning of Moses Neuerthelesse wee must marke herewithall the three charges which he setteth downe here which he reporteth to haue been assigned to the Leuites The first is To beare the Arke of Gods couenant the vessels of the sanctuary The seconde is To be at hand to serue God the third is To blesse in the name of God These are the three things that were incident to the priesthod of old time For as concerning the Sanctuarie with al the appurtenances therof it was but a figure which we must referre to the spiritual temple that is to wit to Gods church Hebr. 8.5 Rom. 12 1. to the sacrifices which are offered vnto him by the faithful when they dedicate themselues to him both in bodie soule by yelding vp their ownselues y t he may be glorified in them Marke that for one point The second is the seruice wherof he speaketh which consisteth likewise in figure but the trueth therof is performed toward vs when such as nowadayes are called to the gouerning of Gods church do their dutie in offering vp mens soules in sacrifice vnto God Rom. 15.6 by preaching y e gospell in maintaining the order state of the church in such wise as God be glorified and the church be cleansed from all stumbling blockes The third is to blesse in Gods name that is to yeeld a testimonie of Gods goodnes and grace to his people Now must we applie these things to y e trueth of them y t we may be edified by them Let vs say I haue a regarde to apply these three things to their trueth substance Col. 2 1â— which our Lorde Iesus Christ hath brought vs by his comming It is said here that the Leuiâ—es must beare the vessels of God And this belongeth not only to the ministers of the worde or to such as beare publike office in the church but also to all the faithful in general And that is the cause why it is said by y e prophet Malachie Mal. 3.3 y t the Leuits were made priests which thing I say was accomplished at the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ at which time the church was aduanced to greater perfection than it was vnder y e law Likewise Esay telleth vs that all men shal be Leuites vnto y e Lord. Esa. 6 〈…〉 Al the children of Israel saith he shal execute the office of priesthod vnto God And in the same respect doth S. Peter say 1. Pe◠〈…〉 y t we be a royal priesthod S. Peter speaks not there of any peculiar sort of people after y e maner of y e Pope who hath villanously corrupted y e said sentence of his in attributing it to his owne clergie as he termeth them y t is to wit to y e stinking rable of his powlshorn greaslings but he attributeth y t honorable title to all the faithfull to as many as are of the church of God Moses could wel say euen in his time Exod. 〈…〉 Yee be a priestly kingdome y t is to say a nation holy aboue all others But S. Peter turning the same words saith y t now we be become a royal priesthod inasmuch as our Lord Iesus Christ hauing shewed himself to the world is ordeined priest after the order of Melchizedech Heb◠〈…〉 to communicate the same grace to y e whole church Therfore let vs marke wel y t this gift of becoÌ„ming Priestes Leuites is not a priuilege or prerogatiue graÌ„ted to three or four but inasmuch as al y e things which our Lorde Iesus Christ hath receiued of God his father ar coÌ„mon to vs all
in very dede But what We welter in our own dung euen till we do as it were stinke in it without any care or regard at all And that is the cause of such contēpt of the gospel of such vnthankefulnes as is seene almost euery where Yet notwithstanding it behoueth y e faithfull to consider of how great value it is 2. Cor. 5.20 y t God receiueth them to mercy sheweth himselfe to be a father to them that such as are appointed to preach his word are as witnesses to certifie vs y t God beareth vs such fatherly loue Trueth it is y t this was accōplished by our Lord Iesus Christ for he was the only priest and y t that which wee do is not to take his office vpon vs but onely to approue ratifie the thing y t he did Hebr. 5.6 And therefore let vs marke well that it belongeth onely to our Lord Iesus Christ to assure vs of the loue of God his father but yet doth he also witnes it vnto vs by y e mouthes of such as preach the Gospel in his name It hath bin told vs herewithall that the things which were figured vnder y e Law Col. 2.17 haue bin performed in his person For the high priests when they blessed the people had a solemn ceremony of lifting vp of their handes as though they made an offering vp of all the people vnto God Likewise whē Iesus Christ wēt vp into heauen he vsed y e same fashiō by lifting vp his hands to blesse his disciples Luke 24.50.51 in whose persons hee pronounced a general blessing vpon y e whole body of his Church We see then y t the figures of y e Lawe belōg to vs at this day howbeit not as touching the outward vse of them but as in respect of the substance truth of thē Wherby we be warned to get vs to our Lord Iesus Christ who bringeth vs y e full accomplishment of all thinges And we must vnderstand y t although he be not now conuersant in y e world to blesse vs yet will he haue vs to bee made partakers of the same blessing by meanes of y e gospel when it is preached among vs. This is the effect of the thinges which we haue to gather vpon that place Now Moses addeth That God hath giuen the Leuites no portion among their brethren but that he himselfe would be their portion and heritage Yea but yet for all that he appointed them y e tenthes first-fruits as is shewed in the fourth booke of Moses Num. 18.21 Now then Gods assigning of a portion vnto thē was in such sort as they possessed not any Lande or inheritance more thā their townes suburbs for their cattell But yet tooke they the tenthes firstfruits all other such things of all y e people Herein God had a cōsideration y t such as he mēt to dedicate to y e seruing of himselfe should be w tdrawen frō all worldly affaires y t they might intend to y e seruing of God Gods intent then was y t the Leuits their children shold not giue thēselues to husbādry such other things And why For they had ynough to do to discharg thēselues of their dutie otherwise y t is to wit in calling vpō the people to folow Gods cōmandementes to keepe his couenant so as religion might continue vnapaired faith might haue his full force so consequently y t God might be honored Also they had the Sacrifices which serued them in steed of Sacraments at y t time they were many in nūber because the people could not otherwise be held in order they would easily haue bin mard if they had not bin restreined w t many bridles That therfore was ynough to keep y e Leuits occupied And for the same cause God gaue thē a portion beside the tithes that they might haue wherwith to finde mainteine thēselues while they were a doing of their duties But this hath bin corrupted falsified by the papistes For they haue borne men in hand that tithes belong to thē by Gods Law And why because as they say they belonged to y e Leuits But they consider not y t the Leuites were inheriters of the land of Chanaan as well as those y t were of the tribes of Iuda Beniamin Ephraim Manasses and all y e residue In respect whereof it was meete they shold haue had their portiō with their brethren they ought not to haue bin excluded or banished frō it for y e inheritance of the land was cōmon to them all therfore was it meete y t they should haue had their part of it Yea but God recompensed them after an other fashion It were meete then y t the Pope al his rable shold shew how y e inheritances of all landes belong to thē then might they therepon demand their tithes Thus ye see how this text hath bin miswrested But yet for all this let vs beare in minde howe S. Paul saith 1. Cor. 9.13 y t euen at this day it is Gods wil y t they which preach y e gospel should be nourished and mainteined as well as the Priestes had their liuinges appointed thē in old time 2. Cor. 3.6 S. Paul demādeth in way of cōparison whether y e spiritual seruice y t is yelded to God nowadaies ought not at the least to be asmuch esteemed as the seruice y t was vnder the figures of y e law Now it was Gods will y t such as serued at the altar should be mainteined by the altar therefore it is good reason y t such as at this day doe serue Gods Church in bringing thē his word should also be nourished and mainteined Thus ye see y t the way to vnder stād this text a right is to take S. Paul for our expounder thereof But to conclude peremptorily y t tithes belong to the preachers of y e gospel is to grosse an abuse fondnes Neuertheles we must mark also y t it is not our Lords meaning y t ydols or idle bellies much lesse y t such as peruert al order turne vs away from y e seruing obeying of God should be nourished in his Church Now then if the Shepherdes will needes claime to be found at y e common charges of the Church they must looke that they occupie themselues in the seruice of God As how It is no title of idlenes it is no fantasticall dignitie to be called the Shepherde of a Church but it is a kinde of bondage howbeit y t it be honorable And therfore y e party y t is appointed to be a shepherd or minister must looke y t he obey God and serue his people For we can not serue him y t hath put vs in office but by seruing of his Church Yee see then how the Pope al his hangers on are disappointed of the things which they pretend to pertain to them of
estimation by setting a faire face and countenaunce vppon the matter And therefore let vs marke in feawe wordes that Gods word ought to serue vs to dubble purpose First to teach vs his will that wee may submit our selues simply vnto it so that when wee haue the grace giuen vs to haue the doctrine purely taught vs then euery of vs should agree thereunto and hearken to the voyce of our sheepheard and followe whatsoeuer is tolde vs without gainesaying The thing which wee must doe when wee haue order in the Church so as there be no sectes nor troubles in it but Gods trueth is purely preached is that there must bee true concorde and brotherly loue among vs to answere our God all with one hart and one mouth that his trueth may be aduaunced among vs. The second vse thereof is that when it falleth out that Satan indeuoreth to turne vs away and there spring vp heresies false doctrines and errors among vs wee must withstand all such things and shew that Gods trueth is strong enough to hold vs still vnto him according to my former saying that our faith must get the vpper hand of all the world so as wee bee starke deafe in hearkening to any of all the wiles that are put to vs to intice vs from GOD and his pure trueth Thus yee see in effect what is told vs in this text And let vs marke well Moseses maner of speache If a prophet steppe vp among you sayth he Hereby hee sheweth that wee must not onely withstand the open enemies that fight against Gods word and pretend not at all to bee of his flocke or to haue any partnership or neighborhoode with vs but also resist our homebred battels insomuch that if there rise vp any deceiuer among our selues that is to say if any such as maketh pretence to be of the fellowship of the faithfull and to be as it were of the very household of faith step vp we must not bee troubled at it out of measure And that is well worthie to be noted for if the christian faith be impugned by the wicked which pretend not to come vnto God as by the Turkes Paynims and Iewes so as they blaspheme with open mouth forasmuch as they be vtterly cut off from the Church lyke rotten members their resisting of the Gospell and their striuing to abolishe the Christian religion is no great woonder to vs. For why Wee be as it were hardened with such examples Therfore when the opē enemies set themselues against God his word it is a tēptation that will easily bee ouercome But when those that are knitte vnto vs and are as it were of our owne bodie doe fall to tearing of the vnitie of our faith in peeces to peruert Gods trueth and to marre it in such wise as it shoulde bee disfigured that is such a perplexitie and griefe to vs as wee wote not where to become And that is the thing that troubleth so many simple folkes nowadayes What shall wee doe say they For wee see so much disputing in the Church and so greate diuersitie of opinions that it were better to aske no question of any thing insomuch that a great number become carelesse for feare to bee intangled in wicked matters and to bee beguyled and therefore they let all alone and will not in any wise come neere vnto God Wee see a greate sorte of men of that stampe Othersome let loose the raynes of the brydle and take libertie to maintaine one while one mans saying and another while another mans and are neuer fully persuaded of any thing but are in one mynde to day and in another minde to morrowe and chaunge at euery minute of an houre Wee see a number of wild heades nowadayes which haue no stay at all but thinke that all thinges are lawfull And why For I see there are diuerse opinions say they But such men do shewe that they neuer tasted what Gods trueth is The first sort doe well bewray a cursed vnbeleefe For our Lorde promiseth that such as seeke him with a lowly heart shall not be disappointed but hee will shewe him selfe to them Esa. 45.19 Matt. 7.7 Luke 11.19 Let vs knocke and the doore shal be opened If wee desire reuerently to be guided by God surely he will not faile vs. Let vs distrust our owne infirmitie and rudenesse and our Lorde will give vs the spirite of discretion so as wee shall not bee beguyled To be short this saying of Saint Paul which I haue alleaged alreadie heretofore shall euer be perfourmed ◠Cor. 11.19 namely that heresies shall turne to the true tryall of our faith and not bee able to ouerthrowe it For as touching those that are so fleeting without cause they shewe that there was nothing in them but a false pretence and that they did but play the hypocrites in making a countenance to sticke to Gods trueth for had they beene well rooted in it as I sayde they woulde haue continued stedfast in it still To conclude let such examples prouoke vs to put this lesson the better in vre And when wee see the troubles that are nowadays in the world let vs not be ouercome by them neither let our faith be defaced But the more the diuel laboureth and inforceth himselfe to vndo it the more let it aduaunce it selfe and get the vpper hande of such assaultes And when wee see false prophets step vp among vs let vs not ceasse to yeeld this honour still to God that wee hold our selues to his word and start not from it by any means And very necessitie constraines vs to it in these dayes because wee see that such as call themselues Christians and take that title most vppon them are the worst enemies of God that a man can finde For the Turkes Iewes are not more fierie and venemous at this day against God to deface the whole doctrine of saluation than are the Papistes And therefore let vs arme our selues with the warning that is giuen vs heere which is that when wee see false prophets step vp in the sheepefold and in the middes of Gods house yet notwithstanding wee must not faile to hold on stil nor make a stumbling blocke of it to step aside or start away but ouergo it through the power of faith Yea and to come yet neerer the matter when wee see these varlets that had pretended to be at oddes with the Papistes and had mingled themselues among vs do thereupō fall to inuenting of false opinions let vs not bee ouermuch amazed for all that True it is that wee be not senselesse that we haue neede to be waked but yet must wee alwayes conclude thus with our selues How nowe Our Lord hath beene so gratious to vs as to open his owne holy mouth to giue vs the certeintie of faith by his Gospel and shall wee nowe turne away at euery push After that manner say I must wee withstande all the temptations that may befall vs when deceiuers
assault euerie minute of an houre would we not prouide for it Now the case standeth so with vs that our enemie is not onely at hande but also is entered in already When wee heare his lyes and withstand them not ne make account of theÌ„ we may seeme to be wilfully disposed to perish as wee bee worthie And as touching vs that are shepheardes it standeth vs in hande to haue a double voyce For wee must gather together the sheepe as much as is possible and when they bee in the flocke wee must keepe them there quietly But if there be wolues also and theeues that woulde inuade the flocke against those we must crye out aloude And yet besides this such as haue the sworde in their hande must prouide for it also and euerie man to his power must streine himselfe to keepe Gods Church from infecting with suche poyson that the deuill may not haue his full scope to falsifie the pure trueth to aduaunce himselfe against GOD to ouerthrowe the right religion and at a worde to turne all thinges vpside downe but we must let these thinges as much as we can Wherefore let vs marke that it was Gods will that falseprophetes shoulde be rooted out from among his people Nowe at the first sight this Lawe seemeth to bee ouerstreite for is it meete that a man shoulde bee punished so sore for speaking his minde Verily it is a wonder that we can abide that one shoulde be punished for speaking against a mortall man and that when a man shall haue blasphemed the liuing GOD we coulde finde in our heartes that he shoulde scape vnpunished It appeareth what zeale is in them which woulde haue such rigour abolished If a Prince be misused men will thinke that death is too small a thing for the offender and that the fact can not be sufficiently reuendged insomuch that whosoeuer speaketh against the princes authoritie shall bee punished and no man will speake against it If a man be founde so wicked as to procure a rebellion or to rayse an insurrection among the people verie well he must loose his heade for it and no man will say that such a Lawe is vniust or wicked And why Because it serues for the mainteynaunce of the state and common weale of the Countrey And yet for all this whereas GOD hath the soueraigne dominion of all a woorme of the earth shall sette himselfe against him and goe about to robbe him of his honour and to deface his maiestie and authoritie and yet all this shall be as nothing it shall be let slippe and because it is but woordes there is no reason why such punishement should ensewe of it But they that say so doe well shewe that they haue no loue at all towardes GOD but which worse is that they coulde finde in their heartes that all thinges were confounded together in a hotchpotche so as men might scoffe at GOD and at his maiestie and turne all religion into a mockerie and scorne To be shorte whosoeuer he is that speaketh so he is not to be taken for an ignoraunt person seeing hee woulde that false doctrines shoulde be vnpunished but rather hee is to bee counted a despiser of GOD and an vphoulder of the deuill which seeketh nothing else but the â—urning of all thinges vpside downe in the worlde For our parte lette vs learne to haue Gods honour in such estimation that wheras we reuenge the wronges doone to men wee thinke it much more reason that the partie shoulde bee punished which violateth the maiestie of him that hath created and fashioned vs. And the matter concerneth not onely the honour of God but also the saluation of our owne soules for they be thinges inseparable And that ought well to whette vs on the more not to beare with the erroures and deceites of false prophetes See howe GOD witnesseth the infinite Loue that hee beareth vs in that hee matcheth our saluation with his owne glorie so as men canne not touche the one without hurting of the other insomuch that if a man deface the honour of GOD the saluation of man is assayled therewithall In respect whereof GOD sayeth vnto vs suffer mee not to bee misused among you nor your selues to bee inticed to shrinke from my obedience But if there be any wicked man among you that goeth about to egge you away beware yee nourishe not such a plague Doeth not our Lorde in so saying shewe that wee can not serue to his honour nor mayntaine him in his estate but that in so dooing wee procure our owne welfare And therefore these dalyers and mockers that woulde haue vs to beare with all manner of false doctrine and that it shoulde bee Lawefull for euerie man to spewe out whatsoeuer hee lysteth besides that they shewe themselues traitours to GOD and vtter defacers of his maiestie if it lay in them to doe it doe also bewraye themselues to bee enemies of mankinde and desirous to bring their soules to ruine and destruction so as they bee worse than murtherers Let vs marke then that if Gods honour bee precious in our sight and that the saluation of our owne soules bee deere vnto vs we must not nourishe heresies nor abuses nor any other of Sathans trumperies but euerie of vs in his owne state and calling must procure the purging of Gods Churche from all euill that wee may worshippe him with one common consent that his doctrine may bee receiued and that there may bee no diuision among vs. But this was sayde to the people of olde time Yea and Gods honour must not be diminished by vs at this day the reasons that I haue alleadged alreadie doe serue as well for vs as for them Then lette vs not thinke that this Lawe is a speciall Lawe for the Iewes but let vs vnderstande that GOD intended to deliuer vs a generall rule to which wee must tye our selues In deede it is alleadged that when our Lorde Iesus Christ came into the worlde he aduaunced not his doctrine by the sworde but rather both he and his were persecuted and therefore that the right way to mayntaine the true religion is not to punishe such as set vppe themselues against it but rather to holde our selues contented with the spirituall swoorde and to vse that in our fighting against Satan so as our vnholding of the trueth bee alwayes by sufferaunce and patience if the worlde doe persecute it But lette vs see whether our Lorde haue excluded and banished Princes and Magistrates and Officers of Iustice out of his flocke so as they may not be Christians No surely For when he speaketh of the kingdome of our Lorde Iesus Christe hee sayeth expresly Yee kinges stande you in awe and yee Iudges of the earth Psal. 2.10 humble you your selues and all of you kisse the sonne Moreouer before hee speake to priuate persons hee willeth expresly that Kinges Iudges and Officers of Iustice shoulde doe homage to our Lorde Iesus Christ then they bee called to the
for hee is knowen to haue beene present and yet if hee bee asked of it hee doeth but wring his groyne like a swyne and saye I heard him not Such folke are well worthie not only that God should plucke their eares from their head but also vtterly ouerwhelme them They bee monsters that can heare the name of their maker blasphemed and yet couer such filthines and suffer it to abyde vnpunished Is it not reason that God should shew how it is hee to whom they be to yeeld accompt for it And though he winke at it yet let not vs thinke that they which forsweare themselues so vntrustily shall scape scotfree but that in the ende GOD will shewe howe it is not without cause that hee hath pronounced that to fauour euill is worse than to doe euill For it may bee that hee that doeth the euill is carried to it by choler or by some other affection but as for him that cloketh it he is not onely a partaker of it but also a wilfull iustifier of it as it were in despite of GOD and that is an vtter peruerting of the order of nature And therefore lette vs learne by that which is tolde vs heere that euerie of vs must beare such zeale to the mainteinaunce of Gods honour as not to spare anie kinne or friende if they steppe vppe to sette themselues against him to whome wee belong and to whome wee owe all seruice going about to ouerthrowe his seate and to disappoint him that hee may no more reigne among vs. And therefore whensoeuer Gods honour is darkened or diminished among vs let euerie of vs in his state looke to it that we be so zealous as to redresse it to the vttermost of his power This is y e first point which we haue to marke heere And moreouer if any man shoulde goe about to alter the Religion so as GOD shoulde after a sorte bee driuen from among vs it were meete that our zeale shoulde in that case be kindled yet more For if wee bee nice in hauing our owne honour touched what ought wee to be when Gods kingdome is in daunger of vtter dispatch If there be some wicked practise in a Citie so as some treason insurrection or alteration of the state is a bruing and one hauing but some secret incling of it tolde him in his eare doe conceiue it shall hee not bee taken as accessarie and bee adiudged woorthie of punishment If it be proued against a man that some wicked treason was a practising and hee heard of the matter and yet discouered it not he shal be punished as a traytour and men will say hee was well worthie of such punishment And shall we bee helde excused of our silence when an insurrection is made against GOD and men goe about to ouerthrowe his holy temple that he might not dwell any more among vs so as they indeuour to deface his maiestie and furthermore to cast vp the saluation of mennes soules as a pray to Satan and wee say nothing to it Doeth not our dissimulation import both trecherie and periurie against GOD Yet notwithstanding there be some so farre past shame that they demaunde at euerie turne Who is he that findeth faulte with mee Whome haue I wronged Behoulde hee hath played the blasphemous and wicked wretche in flushing out some matter so vglye against GOD as hee ought to be rooted out for it and yet hee sayes Who complaines of mee If hee had stolne but fifteene pence he shoulde be whipped and for the seconde or thirde offence he should goe to the gallowes and like a Churchtraytour hee hath trampled Gods maiestie vnder foote wherin hee hath doone worse than the theefe that cuttes a trauellers throte in a wood and yet to his owne seeming he is iust still And whereof commeth this but of the foresaid lasinesse that no man bethinks himself of his dutie in that behalfe GOD doeth vs the honour to make vs mainteyners of his trueth as though he made vs a solemne commission of it And is not that such a preheminence as of duetie ought to make euerie of vs to streine himselfe yea euen beyonde his power to shew a constant and inuincible zeale in causing men to serue and honour GOD For if a prince imployed a man in his afaires and did put him in commission hee woulde strayne himselfe so farre as he woulde euen hazarde his life and hee woulde thinke that what paine so euer hee tooke though he did much more yet all were too litle seeing hee hadde so honourable a charge Beholde the liuing GOD taketh vs as if wee were his defenders and will haue euerie of vs to represent his owne person and yet for all that we despise all those thinges when Gods name is blasphemed wee make no reckening of it the partie himselfe that hath taken the othe to conceale no such thing shall playe the traytour first And therefore it is no woonder though wicked folke take such libertie and that when they bee conuicted they alleadge that no man complaines of them that they haue done no man any wrong For were wee the true children of GOD surely wee woulde tender the wronges that are doone to him more than the wronges that are doone to our selues and wee woulde take them much sorer to hearte For if wee our selues bee offended is it any great matter But when Gods holy name is lightly esteemed and reproched then wee ought to bee verie tender hearted And because wee thinke not of it when wee haue blasphemed God wee say wee haue done no man any wrong Furthermore let vs consider as I haue saide afore that if wee must endeuour by all the meanes wee can to haue swearing redressed much more reason is it that wee shoulde not suffer any man to step vp to trouble the Church and to make any rebellion but vtterly roote out such a pestilent fellowe out of hande But yet before all other thinges let vs looke that wee knowe Gods trueth aforehand that wee may be able to maintaine the same for without that wee shall goe lumpishly to worke and our zeale shal bee but as the rage of madfolkes as I haue alreadie shewed by the examples of the heathen men Iewes and Papistes The Papistes haue a faire colour in saying that if a man deface the maiestie of a Prince hee shall not scape vnpunished and therefore it is much more reason that men shoulde bee punished for setting themselues against God Yea but in the meane while they wote not what GOD they worship for they bee carried away with their owne wicked and diuelish superstitions Let vs marke then that wee must not take this lawe here at alauenture but that to begin well wee must lay this foundation that wee bee sure that the religion which wee holde is of God As for example wee haue the holy Scripture and there our Lorde hath shewed vs his will Hee protesteth by his Prophet Esay that hee hath not spoken vainly nor couertly
flock and to stay men as much as we caÌ„ from departing from y e same Yea and we knowe how we be commanded not only to nourish theÌ„ which are already begotten the children of god but also to do our indeuor to win theÌ„ which are straungers what wickednes then were it to turne theÌ„ out which are already receiued vnto y e church of God I meane those which in very deede doe shew declare theÌ„selues to be y e children of god For we know y t there is a regard to be had y t al tag â—ag be not receiued into y e church For there are many which seeke after Christ to haue their bodily ease there are many deceiuers and if there be no discretion in receiuing theÌ„ in it were altogether a mocking of god as we haue too many examples in this case Therfore we haue need of wisedom in this behalf Neuertheles if we thorowe a cruelty or wickednes doe diminish the church of god we must render an accouÌ„t therof and y t not as for som smal fault but for so weighty a crime as we see God accounteth it and as the paine which he ordained vnder the law of Moses declareth it to be Yet notwithstanding wee finde many who for their owne profites sake doe in this sort disseuer their neighbors cut theÌ„ off from y e Church of God We see what marchaÌ„dise of soules is made by them which seeke as it seemeth nothing els but to rent y e world and many are not contented to steale their neighbours away but they steale themselues too For al they who for their teÌ„poral transitory profite do turne aside and w tdrawe themselues from y e seruice of God commit they not I beseech you this theft wherof I now speak There is one which belongeth vnto y e body of y e church God hath vouchsafed him y e grace to cal him vnto y e knowledge of his truth what doth he Because y t nowadayes he which is knowen to be a faithful maÌ„ is persecuted in y e world it were better to shrowd himself in a corner thaÌ„ to make a shew countenaÌ„ce of any thing he reasoneth thus w t himself what Shal I take in hand so hard a thing And is there any other likelihood but y t in y e end I shal be put beside my liuing my life O this were too heauy a burdeÌ„ for me to beare Now he beareth himself in hand y t he is so excused And thus meÌ„ steale theÌ„selues away both froÌ„ god from his church They make marchaÌ„dise sale of their own soules as it were for a messe of potage Gen. 25.32 as it is said of Esau that is to say for earthly foode they sel themselues become the bondslaues of satan And so we see y t this lawe is nowadays very ill kept and therefore we ought so much y e more to note the intent meaning of God to the end y t euery man after that god hath vouchsafed him y e grace to gather him into the number of his people may keep himself among them and y e better to maintaine y e libertie which wee haue let vs consider as S. Paul saith howe dearely it hath cost the son of God Rom. 6 17. 1. Cor. 7.23 let vs not enter againe into the bondage of satan and of sin seeing we are freed thence by the bloude of the only sonne of God but let vs walke according vnto that priuiledge which god hath giuen vnto vs and hold fast the possession therof as long as we liue And when euerie of vs shall haue had such a regarde of himselfe let vs doe the like towardes all our brethren that they whom God hath ioyned vnto vs depart not out of his house but let vs so imploy our paines as euery of vs may keepe his estate that none bee diminished that none wander nor go astray And farther let vs be afraid to make marchandise of those soules which haue beene redeemed by our Lord Iesus Christ with so deare a price and let vs not seeke after our owne commoditie in that behalfe as we see howe retchlesly many giue themselues ouer in this point and so they may finde the fatter fare they care not one whit whether they remaine in the Church of God or no. Euen in this citie without seeking any farther we haue examples hereof namely y â— men haue bin sold for redy mony insomuch y t for y e pleasure of a drunkard or I know not of whoÌ„ one hath bin sold as an open marchaÌ„dise to y e same wickednes such leaudnes hath bin seene heere at Geneua But let vs not take this example for a two or three but let vs know y t God ment in this place to giue a general rule and instruction that wee ought asmuch as lieth in vs to seeke and procure y t they which are of the body of the Church may remaine therein euen vnto y e end Ye see in effect what we haue to beare in mind And if the liberty of y e bodies was held so deare of God in y e time of y e lawe let vs at this day make far greater account of y e freedome which our soules haue obtained by the bloud of our Lord Iesus Christ. Let vs come now vnto y e second law which is meÌ„tioned in this place It is said That men shal diligeÌ„tly iudge of the leprosie and take heede thereof obseruing all the things which were commanded in the lawe that the priests of the stock of Leuie shal be Iudges that the people shall stand to the iudgement which they shal giue which they shall giue I say not as they lust themselues but as God had made a declaratioÌ„ thereof as we may see in Leuiticus from y e thirteenth chapter to y e fifteenth where it is fully treted of Moses in this place speaketh of it as by y e way and saith that they shal keepe al y t order And for more ample confirmatioÌ„ he addeth Remember what GOD did vnto Marie by the way when ye came out of Egypt For because Marie Aaron murmured against their brother Moses for his wiues sake who was an Aethiopian Numb 12. they bare themselues in hand that they ought to bee aduanced in as high a degree as hee in somuch that Mary became so arrogant presumptuous that shee would needs be a Prophetise in equall degree with Moses But God punisheth her for such presumption Aaron is born withal although he had in like sort deserued to be chastised Mary therfore was striken with the leprosie and was shut vp by y e space of seuendayes And there she had bin like a rotten carrion all her life long but that Moses prayed for her her sin was pardoned Neuerthelesse he addeth there If her father had spit in her face she ought to haue hiddeÌ„ her self for hauing offended him therefore she must depart
owne feelde and his owne vineyarde although euery man eate of his owne corne and drinke of his owne wine must charitie therefore cease and bee layde aside Col. 3.14 Must it bee diminished Is it not in degree aboue all the ciuil orders and lawes in the worlde Is it not the bonde of perfection So then they which are by nature such miserable pinchpennies and such niggardes they which whyne so when they shoulde giue an almes and are as willing to doe it as a Beare to goe to the stake let them fight against that vice of theirs in such wise as our Lorde sheweth vs in this place and let them say Howe nowe That which thou hast is none of thine sauing that thy God hath giuen it thee Consider nowe what couenant hee hath made with thee It is not that thou shouldest bee a gulfe to deuour and swallowe vp all but to the intent that thy brethren shoulde bee somewhat relieued by thee and hee vouchsafeth thee the honour to bee the disposer of his goods If God gaue me no more than I needed yea if I had not a crum of breade more than woulde feede mee yet were that verie much and coulde I euer discharge my selfe of my duetie to magnifie him sufficiently for that his bountifulnesse goodnesse towardes mee No verily But when as hee giueth a man more than hee needeth hee appointeth him after a sorte to represent his owne person as if hee shoulde saye Whereas it is my propertie to doe good for all good thinges proceede from mee It is I which make the earth to yeelde fruite It is I which do giue it strength to bring foorth her fruites I doe as it were giue him mine owne office and assigne him to bee as it were my lieuetenaunt and howe greate an honour is that All the riche therefore which haue wherewith to doe good are doutlesse as it were the officers of God to exercise that which is properly belonging vnto him to wit to helpe their neighbours to liue Therefore sith God vouchsafeth vs such honour are not we too shamefully malicious and more beastly than the beasts themselues if wee bee not mooued with pitie and compassion towardes the poore So then let vs remember this worde when it is sayde that God gaue the land of Chanaan vnto his people on condition that the rich shoulde pittie the poore and at this daye let vs applye this doctrine vnto our selues according vnto that forealleaged warning which Saint Paul giueth vs. Nowe wee are likewise warned in generall to acknowledge the miseries wherein wee were when God reached out his hande vnto vs to the intent wee may bee so much the more feruent to serue and honour him and to yeeld our selues wholly vnto his obedience And that extendeth verie farre for in generall when God meaneth to presse vs more neerely to discharge our dueties towardes him and that euery one shoulde dedicate him selfe wholy vnto his seruice hee putteth vs in minde that hee hath drawen vs from out of the deepest dungeon of death and that wee were sometimes the bondslaues of Satan that wee were helde fast bounde vnder eternall damnation to be short that we were as good as plunged in hell Loe what inheritaunce wee haue by our birth vntill GOD cast his eye vppon vs and of his mercie drawe vs out of the horrible confusion wherein wee are and which wee bring with vs. But nowe let vs looke vnto our first birth of all Our Lorde created vs after his own image and likenesse It is true but that was wholly defaced and wiped out in vs by the sinne of Adam wee are accursed wee are by nature shut out from all hope of life but behold our God hath redeemed vs by the bloud of his sonne hath opened vnto vs the gate of heauen Howe much therefore are wee bounde vnto him if we consider our first estate and what wee were before hee aduaunced vs vnto this dignitie And this is not yet all wee were also wretched vnbeleeuers For albeit that Iesus Christ was the redeemer of the whole worlde yet had wee as much as lay in vs renounced that benefite nay wee had falsified our baptisme whereby God from our infancie had marked vs to say that wee should bee of his house and of his Church And howe haue wee liued all the time that wee were Idolaters Wee haue annihilated Gods grace whereby he had called vs to him at leastwise as much as laye in vs but the goodnesse of God alwayes surmounted and his truth was so firme and sure that it hath ouercome all the wickednesse of men in so much that though they haue beene vnfaithfull yet notwithstanding GOD continueth still to shewe himselfe faithfull so that the baptisme which wee had defaced remayneth still in his full force but it is not long of vs for as I sayde afore wee were plunged in all vncleannesse and filthines and were so defiled both in bodie and soule with all manner of defilementes that wee coulde not bee but estraunged wholly from God But yet hath hee plucked vs backe againe and as nowe we bee become citizens of the kingdome of heauen and are reconciled vnto him and are adopted for his children and yet wee are vnthankfull vnto him yea and we growe prowd against him insomuch that diuerse presume wonderously of themselues and yet knowe not that they are beholding vnto God for all the good which they haue Yee see then how wee be moued to humble our selues and that in acknowledging the benefites and giftes which we haue receiued of God wee ought to endeuour to vse them so as all may bee referred vnto his honour that hee may bee serued of vs and euery of vs apply himselfe first vnto his obedience and then to haue cōpassion of our neighbours When wee beholde the wretched vnbeleeuers in the Popedome which are still carryed away so headlōg in ignorance and in the damnable superstitions of Papistrie alas wee ought to thinke that wee were like vnto them vntill God deliuered vs from thence and that wee are forgetfull heereof through contempt as wee see that many disdayne the Papistes and mocke them and haue no pitie of them And why Because they consider not what they themselues haue beene ne magnifie the grace of God to saye If God had not reached vs his hande what had become of vs Wee had remayned in our destruction wherewith we had beene ouerwhelmed Let vs therefore thinke hereupon when wee beholde them which are yet as it were reiected and forsaken of God let vs knowe that our case and theirs was alike and let it mooue vs to humilitie that all pryde may bee cast downe and wee endeuour to winne them as much as lyeth in vs which are yet wandering from the way of saluation let vs acknowledge that wee had once neede of such helpe and succour and that God was not niggardly towardes vs to the intent that wee for our parte shoulde not bee negligent
is nigh vnto vs to succour vs let vs bee well resolued in this Moreouer Moses addeth Other people shall see that the name of the Lorde thy GOD is called vppon ouer thee and they shall be afraide It is certaine that the Idolaters can vaunt themselues enough of the name of God and we see howe they pretend it euen in their fighting against him when they cast off all doctrine Insomuch that being as fierce as wilde beastes yet they looke to bee counted of the Church But Moses dooth here take the worde call vppon for naming or calling vpon yea and that in trueth meaning that the people were truely and in deed called after God his name or named his People If wee walke in the feare of our God and frame our life after his calling then shall it be seene how it is not in vaine that hee calleth himselfe our God auoweth vs to be his people Now it is certain that this word dooth presuppose that wee haue our recourse to God as being vnder his protection For it is sayd that a man is called vppon or named after the name of a prince when hee is become his subiect and is vnder his tuition Euen so it is sayd that the faithfull haue GOD his name called vppon ouer them in protesting that they bee his and that there they bee all safe vâ—der his winges And this cannot bee vnlesse we call vppon GOD and haue our refuge vnto him in all our necessities But whence commeth such boldnesse that wee glory in this that wee belong vnto God more than any other For wee know that the state of men is alyke by nature Wherefore then be we preferred before them that are descended of the self same race It commeth through Gods election It may not begin of vs. For what is he y t can aduaunce himself to come nigher vnto God thaÌ„ others come What desert can any man bring w t him None at all TheÌ„ must God make choice of vs through his own meere goodnes wheÌ„ he hath declared himselfe to be our God then may wee also of our parte bee bolde in all assurance and without doubt to call vppon his name Nowe wee see what is the effect of this sentence And Moses meaneth to declare what preheminence GOD giueth vnto those whome hee hath adopted for his children to wit that albeit they be mingled amongest men and encompassed with many miseries yet be they preserued as being vnder his hand and protection euen because hee doth holde and auowe them to bee of his houshold not for any other cause than onely his own good pleasure Let vs therfore courageously defie Sathan when wee see that hee practiseth all that hee possibly can against vs and let vs count our selues assured against all the dangers of this world seeing that God hath done vs such fauor as not to leaue vs to fortune as the vnbeleeuers doe imagine And why For wee bee vnto him a holy people And from whence shall wee fetche this preeminence Wee haue it because hee hath testified vnto vs that hee is our GOD. If wee had not gotten this worde of him we should bee alwayes in perplexitie wee shoulde still doubt through questioning of this and that and our lyfe should hang as it were by a threed as wee shall see in this Chapter But seeing that God hath vttered his fatherly loue vnto vs and it hath pleased him to open his mouth to make vs to vnderstand that hee hath giuen vs familiar accesse vnto him seeing I say that wee haue such assurance let vs call vppon him that is to say let vs not doubt to glorie in this that hee is our Sauiour and that seeing we are his wee cannot perish Howebeit let vs beware that wee call not vppon the name of God falsly as all they doe which abuse it and yet in the meane while doe make a mocke of him and are despisers of his maiestie If wee clayme the name of God let it bee because we be grounded vppon his promises and haue receiued them through faith and then let vs call vppon him let him bee our refuge and let vs not giue our selues to fond bragging as they doe which thinke it enough for them to beare the bare name of Christians Nay let vs followe the call of our GOD as Moses sheweth here saying If thou wilt keepe the commaundementes of thy GOD as I dâ—e set them afore thee this day For it is good reason that seeing God hath so bound himselfe vnto vs wee in lykewise for our parte should yeelde our selues to his direction And that wee should not onely professe with our mouthes that wee bee his people but also shewe it by framing our whole lyfe agreeable to the same and by keeping his commaundementes make it apparant that we haue receiued the grace which hee offered vs For that is the true proofe thereof Now hee sayth moreouer That other people shall see how the name of God is called vppon ouer vs and that they shall feare vs. It is not enough for vs that GOD doe promise vs to make vs to feele that wee bee in his keeping but he saith that euen the Paynims our mortall enemies and the despisers of his maiestie shall bee made to know the same Now it is certaine that the Infidels knowe not the arme of GOD in such wise as it ought to bee knowen vnto vs they come far short of it For in seeing they see not a whit and how then should it be possible that they should perceiue that GOD hath blessed vs that we liue of his fauor and that we be nourished at his cost For they bee blockish and thinke not that any thing coÌ„meth vnto them from the hand of God Wee see well how the Infidels be fedde and cloathed they enioy the light of the Sunne yea and they haue aboundance of goods But as for the worshipping and seeking of God there is no tidinges at all among them thereof And if besides their despising of the benefites of their God they haue no vnderstanding whence they come vnto them howe should they then knowe that the name of God is called vppon ouer vs Their knowing of it is not through any perswasion of minde or through any such true vnderstanding of it as we ought to haue but Moses sayth that they shall haue it proued to their faces as for example wee see the wicked grinde their teeth when they behold the faithfull to prosper and see that God vpholdeth and keepeth them And whence commeth that Truely they shall be astonished at it and they shal not be able to think otherwise but that God fauoreth the contrarie parte not that they doe settle vppon it or bee rightly resolued thereof in their heartes but for that they be confounded in their owne selues Hee sayth that they shall perceaue that Gods name is claymed or called vppon ouer vs and that it shall put them in feare For albeit that they feare not God yet
say to make it to prosper if he see that vnder colour thereof the hypocrits take libertie to doe euil he withdraweth his hand Let vs therefore consider wel that forasmuch as the Iewes were puft vp w t a foolish presumption and thought it impossible for God to diminish them seeing he had spoken the worde that he woulde increase them forasmuch I say as they abused the goodnes of GOD and falsified his promise through their hypocrisie hee consumed them and brought them to a small number Neuerthelesse of that small number there came a great ofspring againe yea and so great a one that men might so much the better perceiue his trueth and mercie howbeit after an other maner Therefore saieth hee by his Prophet Esay in the tenth Chapter Esa. 10.22 Although you were as the sande of the sea for he did alwayes send them backe to the promise made to Abraham although thy seede as I saide be as the sande of the sea yet shall but a small remnant bee saued But when ye are altogether consumed yet shall that little remnant bee dispersed ouer all the earth as if out of a little fountaine shoulde issue forth a greate riuer or a great lake wherewith verie many lands shold be watered So shal it be Nowe then wee perceiue that although GOD punish the hypocrites which abuse his promises yet faileth hee not to performe his sayings still howbeit by an extraordinary meane as we haue seene it in the Popedome and as is to bee seene yet stil. For the Papists haue ouerflowed the whole worlde with superstition and ydolatrie and all manner of euill yea and moreouer thy harden their heartes in pride and scoffe at God with open mouth Howe nowe say they Are not we the church Is it not said that Iesus Christ shal be with vs vnto the end of the worlde Matt. 28.20 Can he forsake his Church Yet do they continually crucifie him as much as in them lieth they spit in his face and doe him all the reproch in the worlde they make him as if hee were a prisoner or a bondslaue amongst them and they consider not that such a horrible destruction happeneth throughout y e whole worlde through Gods iust vengeance for the shamelesse hypocrisie which hath beene in them that haue rebelled against the Gospel yet notwithstanding GOD hath not omitted to saue his people as it were vnder the earth And in our dayes he hath raised his Church as if y e bones of rotten bodies shold recouer flesh and strength againe For what were we through our vnbeliefe Yee see howe it is a meruailous resurrection that God hath wrought in that behalfe Marke well therefore that when our Lorde promiseth to maintaine his Church and to preserue it the same belongeth nothing to them that abuse his name falsely nor to them that come to despise him vnder colour that hee is gentle and mercifull For they shall euermore be disappointed of that fauour which God hath so reserued vnto his people for they bereaue themselues thereof through their owne malice and vnthankfulnesse Yet notwithstanding howsoeuer the case stande God is euer faithful and wil find incomprehensible meanes to giue place to his trueth by fighting against the malice of men That is the thing which we haue to remeÌ„ber concerning this text where he saith That he will wast the Iewes though they were as the starres in the skie And in verie deede the same appeared euen in Iesus Christ the head of the church And therfore we ought not to thinke it straunge that that the members of the bodâ—e should be fashioned like vnto him Whence came Iesus Christ when God his father sent him to be the Redeemer The Prophet Esay saieth that hee shoulde spring from a stocke Esa. 11 2â— as if a tree were hewen downe and there remained but the stub within the grounde in such sort as men might tread vpon it It is not saide that hee should come out of house of Dauid but out of the house of Iessee who was a Neateheard and a man despised The same was I say the father of Dauid a man of no estimation Albeit that Dauid was so excellent a king that he was chosen of God to be magnified to the skies yet the Prophet sheweth that when Iesus Christ shoulde come into the worlde it should not bee with any shewe of that royal maiestie that was in Dauid but he should come out of the house of Isay as if he should come out of a heard And that euen then also hee should not come of a tree but of a stocke that were cut off And in what manner And after what fashion As a little braunch saith he Nowe seeing that God did thus to the head of the church we must vnderstande that all the bodie must be sutelike but this maketh not that the hypocrites shall be partakers of that which God reserueth to his elect and whom he hath chosen and indeed doe shewe themselues to be his children and bee obedient vnto him as to their father which also come not alonely with all confidence but also are drawen with a right affection to honor him And wheras we perceiue y t God doth at this day sende horrible destructions into the worlde let vs vnderstande that he practiseth that which is heere declared yet let vs not doubt but that he doth euermore preseâ—ue his Church let vs not doubt but he doth vpholde vs as oft as wee haue our recourse to him according to this saying that whosoeuer calleth vppon the name of the Lord shal be saued Ioel. 2.32 yea euen amiddest the greatest troubles thay may be Though heauen and earth should run together yet are wee sure that by calling vppon the name of God we shall bee preserued But let vs take heede that wee abuse not his name to make thereof a fained cloake for he can wast vs well ynough And if we boast that wee bee of his Church when he hath cut vs off he can quickely rayse him a new people and augment them in such wise as his trueth shall not be defaced and yet we shall perish After that Moses hath thus spoken he addeth That like as God had taken pleasure in dooing good to the Iewes euen so he woulde take pleasure in persecuting them vntill he had consumed them and vtterly rooted them out Heere Moses doeth first of all shewe what affection GOD beareth towardes these whome hee hath chosen out for himselfe and meaneth to take for his flock It is certaine that God is not subiect to any humane passions yet can not he sufficiently manifest either the goodnesse or the loue that he hath towards vs but by transfiguring himself as if he were a mortall man saying that he woulde take pleasure in doing vs good Let vs vnderstand therefore that God holdeth vs so deere as if a father shoulde shoulde delight and reioyce to doe good to his children When hee seeth them according to his minde
we haue receyued of God we must not thinke that he will suffer them to be buried he will surely put vs throughly in minde of them euen to our vtter confusion according as we see how he speaketh here of the Iewes And nowe on the contrarie part he blameth them for that That they bee turned away after straunge gods which they haue not knowen and which had done them no good This is generally incident to all Idolaters For notwithstanding that there be a kinde of wilfull opinion in them yet are they at no certaintie Like as the Papistes which can not say that they bee assured of their religion all is grounded vpon a supposition True it is that they play the madde men for when they bee tolde of their foolishnesse they rage and storme and thinke that men do them the greatest wrong in the worlde when they make any gainesaying to that which they imagine to bee good and yet howsoeuer they fare they haue but a supposall For all their saying is Our fathers taught vs so it is the order of our holie mother the Church this hath nowe beene receyued of olde Verie well shall God bee outfaced with that Shall his trueth which wee ought to admitte to bee vnfallible bee made voyde vnlesse wee bee grounded vppon custome and authorities of men Nay without that there is nothing in men but vanities and lies Hereby then wee must learne not to thinke that straunge which the Scripture speaketh namelie that wee must fashion our selues after our fathers howbeit those fathers which haue followed the trueth of God and none other To bee short wee shall finde that there is no certeyntie in them that followe not the lawe that none but the children of God can talke of it vppon knowledge 1. Iob. 5 2â— according as Saint Iohn sayth in his Canonicall Epistle Soothly it is not for vs to bee taught by coniectures of men when the worde of God is laide before vs for it is good reason that God shoulde haue so greate authoritie ouer vs as that when hee saith the worde we shoulde wholy sticke to it and seeke no farther but yet is there alwayes a true knowledge in faith and not a wauering opinion Contrariwise all they that serue GOD after their owne deuotion doe but imagine and serue gods whome they know not The Papistes say that the Virgin Marie is their aduocate euerie one hath his patron such as hee hath deuised of his owne heade doe they vnderstande that GOD hath giuen them these offices Haue they any Testimonies thereof None but they thinke so When I goe on Pilgrimage or cause a masse to bee sung or founde such a yeares minde O that is goodly seruing of God What Haue you authoritie for all these thinges that they be pleasing to God and that hee alloweth them O no sir but our intent is good Yea but that is not enough to binde God for hee must bee serued according to his owne will and hee will none of all those things To bee short examine all that the Idolaters doe and yee shall finde that they be rauished and puffed vp with a wauering opinion Thereupon they sooth themselues exceedingly but yet are they neuer assured of their case Therefore it is not without cause that Moses reprooueth the Iewes for following the gods which they knew not And indeede howe shall a man knowe that which is not for there is no knowledge but the truth and there is nothing but lies in all that men doe deuise without the worde of God Againe hee saith yet further that the Idoles whome they serued had doone them no good Trulie the wretched misbeleeuers doe beare them selues in hande that the Idoles whome they serue haue doone them much good as we see the Papistes doe saying Lo wee finde it good to goe to sâ—ich a Saint for there is such a miracle as sheweth that this deuotion is not vnprofitable after which manner wee see the Idolaters to haue doone at all times When we serued the Queene of heaueÌ„ say they in Ieremie we had our fill of meate and drinke 〈…〉 .18 there was plentie of all manner of good thinges Lo howe Satan blindeth these wretches and God doeth suffer them to bee fedde with vaine flatteries and to please themselues with their owne superstitions to their condemnation Neuerthelesse that which is spoken by the Prophet Isay shall bee alwayes true namely that Idoles haue no power to doe either good nor euill 〈◊〉 â—49 for they bee nothing Therefore let vs learne first of all to sticke vnto the word whereby God teacheth vs and let vs followe our fathers that is to say those whome hee hath allowed and chosen and set foorth for our example to the intent that wee shoulde imitate them The verie point whereat wee must beginne for the hauing of a pure religion both certaine and infallible is the said doctrine and secondly that we be confirmed by the gratious giftes and benefits which God bestowed vpon the olde fathers yea and euen by those also whereof wee our selues haue had proofe in our own persons Let these things induce vs so much the more to giue our selues ouer vnto him and therewithall let vs stande in awe of his threateninges and likewise of his punishments which we see executed vpon all y e wicked that haue forsaken him That in effect is that which we haue to remember vppon this place Nowe for conclusion Moses addeth The secretes belong to the Lorde our God and the things reueiled befor vs and our children for euer to the end we shoulde doe the thinges that are written in this booke This text is taken diuerse wayes Some doe expounde it that the secretes of our God bee reueiled vnto vs and to our children and that is a verie profitable doctrine for it is saide that the lawe conteineth wonders that be incomprehensible to men vntill time that hee hath opened their eyes Therefore Dauid prayeth thus Lord lighten me that I may beholde the wonderfull wisedome 〈◊〉 119.18 which is in thy lawe And indeede we doe neuer by our naturall wit vnderstande that which is shewed by the worde of God it exceedeth all that is in man And that is the cause why this grace is so highlie magnified in holie Scripture that God dealt not with any nation as hee hath doone with the Iewes for that hee had not reueiled vnto them the secretes of his woorde Deut. 4.8 but left them to walke in brutishnesse and ignorance It is to a good purpose therefore to say That the secretes of our God be reueiled vnto vs at this day that folke might be the more mooued to be attentiue to the law knowing that God hath vsed a speciall goodnesse towarde them to whome he hath shewed himselfe so familiarlie as wee haue alreadie seene in the fourth Chapter But albeit y t the same doctrine be verie good profitable yet is it somewhat strained because of y e words for the text
that although God be harde and rough to them for a time yet doeth hee not faile to remember that hee had chosen them for his people of porpose to vse mercie towarde them yea when the time serueth for it howbeit not ouerhastily but after that hee had well â—amed them so as in steede of rebelling agaynst him they haue chaunged their minde to obey him Nowe wee perceiue what is the meaning of Moses And this is the more expressely and largelie shewed vnto vs according as the Promise concerning y e redeemer came more to light For when God saide to Dauid that the redeemer of the worlde which was promised vnto Abraham shoulde come of his seede 2. Sam. 7.14 he confirmed and ratified that which we heare in this Text saying If thy seede do fal away and forget my lawe and goe astray I will saith he visite their iniquities but it shall bee with the rodde of a man I will punishe them but it shall bee with measure I will neuer take away my mercie from them This is a more large declaration of that which is sayd here to wit that God must needes so punishe the Iewes after hee had long suffered their misbehauiour And when they had shewed themselues vnreformable hee must punishe them howbeit in such wise as there should yet bee reserued some mercie And wherefore Because he hath not respect vnto them simplie but vnto him selfe and to his owne trueth Nowe wee must note that when God made his couenaunt with Abraham as we haue alreadie saide the same was not for the woorthinesse that was in that people neither was it for their desertes but God grounded himselfe vppon his owne free goodnesse onely Albeit that the people shewe themselues vnworthie yet notwithstanding must GOD remayne alwayes firme in his purpose according as Saint Paul also speaketh Rom. 11.29 saying that the calling of GOD whereby hee did choose the linage of Abraham and sanctified it is without repentaunce and inchaungeable It is true that the hypocrites as it hath also beene treated of haue beene punished according as they were woorthie and yet Gods continuall keeping of his promise profited them nothing at all And why See here howe it came to passe God had chosen the linage of Abraham that people fell away from him and hee punished them according as their malice did increase and augment euen so were their punishments alwayes the sorer vntill they came euen to the extremitie insomuch as God seemed euen to haue forsaken them and to haue cutte them off from his house And when he hath doone so then wrought hee after such a sorte as there remaineth yet some seede hidden vnder the grounnde and in time will hee make it manifest that hee forgetteth not what he had saide namelie that in the seede of Abraham all nations of the earth shoulde bee blessed Cen. 22.18 Loe heere a handfull of people whom God keepeth euen after an incomprehensible maner Anon after out of this he raised a great multitude of people vntill that Iesus Christ himselfe was come Bee the wicked and the contemners of God and his lawe escaped thereby No God hath punished them But nowe must we benefite our selues by this doctrine For albeit that our Lorde Iesus Christ hath appeared for the saluation of the world yet must the Church remayne vntill the ende wee haue the promise that cannot fayle But in the meane while wee see the thankelesnesse which is too common in the worlde yea and it so ouerfloweth the worlde that GOD must needes withdrawe his goodnesse and exclude vs from being partakers thereof because wee haue thrust him farre from vs. And that is the cause of the desolation which is to bee seene still in the Popedome at this day The Papistes woulde shielde themselues against GOD and his worde by alleadging that it is vnpossible that God should forsake his Church yea but in the meane while they doe not vnderstande howe they misbehaue themselues against him and are gone away from him and cannot fuffer him any way to come neere them And why Because they driue away the Gospel from them with swoorde and fire so as Iesus Christ hath no place with them nor accesse vnto them We see therefore howe GOD at the first blushe seemeth to roote out those whome hee had called and nothing is to bee seene but confusion as if the Church were lost and vtterly wyped out of the worlde Yet notwithstanding God keepeth his owne hee knoweth howe to accomplishe his promise which is that the state of the Church bee euer continuing and we see the markes of it For when it was to haue bin thought that there was no more trueth in the worlde and that the seruice of GOD had beene altogether brought to nought hee did set vp some doctrine againe In deede the number of them that beleeue the Gospell is little yet neuerthelesse it is a matter that exceedeth all expectation and it woulde neuer haue beene thought that hee would haue wrought after that fashion against all hope insomuch that as it is said in the Psalme it might bee saide that it is as a dreame Psal. 126.1 if a man consider howe the Gospell hath beene set vp againe Yet notwithstanding it falleth out that the wicked they that are wilfully bent to euill gaine nothing by that which God doeth for it is to their more confusion but the faithfull haue wherewith to comfort themselues when they see that God doeth chastice them for they perceiue that hee doeth it not of purpose to forget his mercie or for that hee meaneth not to vse it towarde them Loe here a staffe to stay vs by when God chastiseth vs for our sinnes For one fillippe of his finger were enough to bring vs to ruine and to throwe vs into the deepest doungeon of death As soone as GOD doeth but blowe vppon vs saith the holy scripture bee a man neuer so freshe and floorishing by and by hee withereth and droopeth Psal. 104.29 And what then shall become of vs if wee bee smitten with his mighty hande Must wee not needes bee worse than miserable Here therefore wee bee admonished to stay our selues vppon some comforte or else wee shall bee vtterly vndoone as soone as God giueth vs any token of his anger Hereby wee see howe profitable this doctrine is for vs where hee saith that when God scourgeth thee yet hee will not forget the promise which he swore to thy fathers and albeit that thou bee thrust out into the vttermost partes of the worlde yet neuerthelesse the Lorde will gather thee againe into this lande which he hath promised thee for thine inheritance As often therefore as God punisheth vs for our sinnes be it that ech of vs haue his priuate disease or wretchednesse or any other token of the wrath of God or else that wee be generaly scourged with the plague with warre with hunger or with anie other affliction first let vs acknowledge our
agree in vnitie of faith God doeth vs to vnderstande that hee dwelleth among vs and our Lorde Iesus Christ doeth then shewe himselfe to bee the heade of that whole bodie That is the thing which wee haue to gather vppon this text where it is saide that the children of Leuie shall keepe Gods couenant And why For else it might perish in the worlde according whereunto Saint Paul saieth 1. Tim. 3.15 that the Church is the Arch the Piller and the vpholder of Gods trueth And howe is that Because that men as I haue saide afore are so inclined to vanitie and leasings that they shoulde bee alienated out of hande from the pure Religion if they were held still by that meane The Church then is as a Gardian to Gods trueth to the intent it shoulde not bee dâ—rie away but that we should alwayes haue that light among vs and that wee might vnderstand that where preaching is there Gods voice ringeth in our eares so as if wee were neuer so sore shaken too and fro yet doeth God giue vs a sure stay wherewith to resist all temptations Yee see then how the keeping of Gods couenant is committed to the Leuits and generally to all such as haue the office of sheepherds among Gods people Moreouer for the better maintaining of the pure Religion it behooueth them to haue a zeale of Gods honour they must all their life long indeuour to maintaine the doctrine and therewithall they must haue their mouthes open to preach the worde that is committed vnto them to the ende that that treasure bee not lost nor buried but that all men may bee made partakers thereof They shall preach thy lawe then vnto Iacob and thy doctrine vnto Israel so as Gods worde must needes be published if we will shew our selues to bee a people dedicated vnto him Againe let vs marke also that heere is speciall mention made of Gods worde and of his lawe to doe vs to wit that God will not haue mens inuentions to reigne among his people but will haue men to hold themselues wholly vnto him and as yee would say to hang altogether vpon his mouth Nowe then the children of Leuie haue not here a libertie giuen them to forge lawes after their owne liking and to set foorth whatsoeuer they list as the Pope and al his haue done And it is to be seene yet still at this day howe the same tyrannie reigneth in such sort that whatsoeuer is termed by the name of Gods seruice in Poperie is but a confused heape of all manner of dotages whereunto euery man hath put to his peece and yet they cannot alledge one syllable of holy scripture to shew that God alloweth their doings But men haue stepped foorth through their owne diuelish rashnes haue made Lawes and Statutes to binde mens consciences vnder paine of deadly sinne and moreouer haue coyned articles of faith at their owne pleasure From whence then hath all the doctrine of poperie beene taken Not from the fountaine of y e truth but from the hellish stinking puddle of Satan where there is nothing but confusion Where haue they founde their praying vnto Sainctes but in their owne braine or rather that Satan hauing forged it in his shoppe hath besotted them therewith Againe where finde they any of the thinges which they speak concerning works of supererogation Merits the Apes toyes of their Masse and all their Ceremonies in generall It is certaine that al these things were set forth by men But contrariwise our Lorde hath tolde vs here that he meaneth not to haue those to put forth any thing of their owne whom hee hath appointed to beare abroade his worde For the commission which hee gaue to the Leuites was to set those thinges abroade which they had receiued of him and to deale them forth plainly and rightly to the people taking good heede that they did not alter or falsifie any thing And therefore let vs marke that wee shall then bee allowed for Gods people when our faith flittereth not after the lure of mortall men without knowing why wee beleeue but that wee rest wholly vppon God and that when wee knowe that wee haue his worde to rule vs by then will hee vpholde and auowe vs to bee his Church But yet must wee alwayes come backe to this that it is not ynough for vs to haue the lawe written and to haue Gods worde in our handes and to make a priuate reading thereof at home in our houses but the same worde must also bee preached and expounded vnto vs. And why so Because Gods will is that it shoulde be so and therefore wee must not dispute vppon it For why The order which God hath set among vs is not to bee broken Neither hath hee doone it without cause and iust reason as I haue saide alreadie considering the frailtie that is in vs and how easily wee be led to swarue aside Moses addeth heereunto That they shall put vp the perfume vnto the nosethrilles of the Lorde and lay the whole burnt offerings vppon his Altar This concerneth the Ceremonies For vnder the Lawe they had thinges which we haue not nowadayes namely the figures of the things which were fulfilled in the person of our Lorde Iesus Christ. For the Priesthoode did vs to vnderstande that the people coulde not haue any accesse vnto GOD without some meane And when the people came to worshippe God and to offer sacrifices they helde themselues in y e outmost court There was the first part wherein they all held themselues and it was not lawfull for them to preace any further There was also y e sanctuarie for the priests and lodgings for the tribe of Leuie Also there was the great Sanctuarie whereinto the high-priest entered all alone with great solemnitie And all this serued to shewe yet more liuely the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ. But nowe all those things are come to an end For there is no more shadowing the veile as it is said is broken asunder and we haue the heaueÌ„ly sanctuarie wherunto we be called right forth and Iesus Christ hath set it open for vs. And so there needeth nowe no more burnt offering there needeth no more sacrifising for sinnes for our Lorde Iesus Christ hath by his one only sacrifice wiped away the sins of the world made an euerlasting attonement the vertue whereof can neuer be diminished As often then as we will preace vnto God it is not for vs to bring thither either calfe or sheep but we must resort to the bloudshed of our Lorde Iesus Christ because that thereby the euerlasting redemption is purchased vnto vs. Nowe we see wherein the Priestes of the olde lawe differed from vs. Yet notwithstanding those which are ordeined at this day to preach Gods worde ought to knowe that God will haue them to shewe the way in praying to him And to that ende serued the perfumes that were made in the Temple Let vs not thinke that God taketh
a 50.60 b 10 How Ambition tickleth vs continually 22. b 50 Men are made to spite God through their Ambition and couetousnesse 63. b 10 The Ambition of Princes noted and whereupon it groweth 15. a 10 All men giuen to Ambition and endeuour to growe greate and why 13. b Of a foolish Ambition whereto men are ouer much giuen 879. a 20.30.40 b. 30.40 Looke Loftinesse and Pride Amen The faithfull must aunswere Amen as well to the curssings as the blessings of God 487. a 50.60 Read what particular cursses they bee concerning the second table whereto the Iewes aunswered Amen with one accord Sermon 151 beginning at page 929 We must answere Amen willingly wheÌ„ the Lord behighteth vs his blessing 487. a 40.60 Of this worde Amen aunswered by the Iewes and vs. 486. b 40.50.60 and 487. a 10.20.30 Of answering Amen to the blessings and threatenings of God 925. all 927. b 50 Amendement Foure hundred yeares respite of repentance and Amendement giuen by God and to whome 728. a 60. and b 10 The maner of our Amendement when wee haue offended God described 114. a. 20 The Amendement of the Iewes noted when they sawe they had troden Gods lawe vnder foote 114. a 40 Eighteene hundred yeres forbearance of the Iewes for their Amendement 1137. b 60 Ammon The meaning of the worde Ammon 68. a 60 Moab and Ammon harlots birdes borne in a brothell house 68. b. 10 Ammonites Why the Ammonites Moabites were forbidden by Gods lawe to enter into his sanctuarie and why the Iewes were forbidden in no wise to seeke the peace and prosperitie of them 798. a 40.50.60 b all 799 all 800 all The Ammonites notwithstanding their kinred with the Israelites became Scorpions to sting them c. 69. b 10 Amorrhites The Amorrhites being enimies to the Iewes likened vnto bees and how 57. b 10.20 Why God woulde haue none of the Amorrhites left aliue 303. a 60. and b 10.20 God bare with the abhominations of the Amorrhites foure hundred yeres 303. b 40.50.60 The Amorrhites spared of the Israelites and what followed thereuponâ— since God bad the contrarie 307. a 30.40.50 The Amorrhites were forborne eight hundred yeres before God destroyed them 1142. b 40.50 The cause why God commaunded the Amorrhites to be rooted out of the world 84. b 10.20 Anabaptistes Anabaptistes receiued in Geneua and gret cheere made them in the town house 532. b 40.50 Looke Heretikes Angels How Angels are sometimes called the sonnes of God 647. b 60 Of wicked Angels which execute Gods vengeance vppon men 669. b 20 Whether the Angels are fed with Manna as the Psalme seemeth to say 355. a 40.50 Angels righteousnes scarcely answerable to Gods law 245. b 50 The verie Angels do hide their eyes because of the greatnesse of Gods glorie 254. b 10.20 A stryfe betweene the Angels and the diuels for our behoofe 1239. a 10 20 Of the helpe or seruice of Angels and whereto God vseth the same 1123 a 40.50.60 In what respect Angels are called the children of God 1113. a 40 Angels are nothing as in respect of themselues 1123. a 40.50.60 The Angels were witnesses vnto the lawe 1187. b 50 By Saints are ment Angels Looke the place and marke the doctrine 1187 b 20 30.40.50.60.1188 a 10.20 Of the infinit number of Angels which were witnesses vnto God at such time as hee shewed himselfe to bee the author of the lawe 1187. b all 1188. a 10.20 Of Gods Angels why they were created and their office 1187. b 30.40.50 60 What wee haue to note in that it is Gods will that the Angels shall fight to drawe vs out of all y e temptations of Satan 1239. a 20.30.40 Anger The Anger of God against the Amalekites and the cause thereof 888. b 40.50.60 In what cases wee ought to shewe that wee feare not the hatred and Anger of men 74. a 10 Towardes whome the Anger of God is soone pacified and not soone pacified 975. b 50.60 Loo Wrath. Anguish Of the Anguish of the heart and why speciall mention is made hereof 907. a all and b 10 The meaning of the wordes I haue not eaten of the first fruites in the Anguish of my heart 906. b 50.60 907. all Annealing Of Annealing the sicke and whence the Papistes haue that sacrament of theirs 919. b 10.20 Looke Sacraments Antiquitie That Antiquitie is not enough for vs but other degrees are also required 489. a 20.30 What wee must first do touching religion before wee goe to Antiquitie 488. b 60. 489 a 10 An allegoricall exposition of that men should hold them selues in all things and in all respectes to Antiquitie 698. b 10 Vnto what Antiquitie wee must haue an eye touching the doctrine of saluation 698. b 50 The Antiquitie of the true authenticall religion 1041. b all 1042. a 10 20.30 Of the true Antiquitie embraced of Christians and of the auncient faith 1130. a 10.20 The Antiquitie of diuerse trumperies vsed in the Popedome 1129. b 50.60 1130. a 10. c. The Antiquitie of Gods Church 489. a 10 The Antiquitie that the Papistes alleage for them selues 489. a 20 Touching the Antiquitie of superstition Read page 1129. all Apostasie Of the Apostasie of men from God after they haue once knowen his trueth 370. b 60. and 371. a 10 The Apostasie of the Iewes from God was without cause 1041. b 10.20 Generall Apostasie from God naturally in men from their birth 10â—7 b 60 Of Apostasie from God and his trueth and how the same is committed a. 30.40.50.60 b all The Iewes Apostasie from God after the death of Iosua and what wee haue to marke thereby 1072. a b all The manifold Apostasie of the Iewes from God and their reprobation 1138. a all 1137. all Howe God will deale with vs for our Apostasie from him 1091. a 40.50.60 Howe Moses was greeued when hee heard of the Apostasie of the Iewes from God after his death 1089. a 40.50.60 Apostles The Apostles the true fathers of the Christian Church 489. b 10 That the Apostles must be our fathers and that we must follow their example 897. a 20 The twelue Apostles were chosen according to the twelue tribes of Israell 45. a 50 The Papistes common prouerbe that God is not knowen for the Apostles 490. b 50 Apparell Howe the lawe forbidding women to weare mens Apparell expoundeth the commaundement Thou shalt not commit adulterie 774. a 50.60 What we haue to note vppon Aarons Priestlie Apparell 1199. b 30.40.50.60 What wee are to learne by the Lawe forbidding the Iewes to weare Apparell of diuers sorts 782. a 10. c. Against excesse of Apparell and the vaine brauerie of the same 782. b 10.20 A lawe made which forbad the Iewes to weare Apparell wouen of linnen and wollen and what doctrines wee haue to gather of the same 780. b all Of what things we be put in mind wheÌ„ we put on our Apparell 774. a 30.40 Of honestie in Apparell and that God liketh well
Iewes refused Christ and therefore were refused of him 1137. b all Why it is good reason y t Christ should be aboue Moses notwithstanding he were a peereles Prophet 389. a 50.60 If wee take not Christ for our God wee haue nothing else but an Idol as for example 1137. b 20.30 To what end Christ tooke our nature vpon him 336. a 60 Iesus Christ whō the Iewes haue reiected is the soule of the Lawe 269. a 30 Christ is otherwise to be heard than in his owne person 256. a 10 Christ is the onelie partie whome God will haue men to heare 256. a 10 For what cause Christ was called Emanuell 336. a 50 Howe our Lorde Iesus Christ came to preach his word 537. b 50.60 Christ hath not taken to him the name of Emanuell for naught 500. b 20 Of the most abhominable sacrifice of the Masse wherein the Papistes vsurpe the office of Christ. 505. b 10 20 c. Christ was not simplie a Prophete but the liuing God in himselfe manifested in flesh and the nature of man 1247. b 20 Christians They that call themselues Christians and take that title most vpon them are the worst enemies of God that a man can finde 529. a 60. b 10 In what respectes the Iewes were yong children in comparison of Christians 608. b 60. 609. a 10 Whether such as are setled in wealth at ease in this world can be Christians 616. b 40.50 Christianitie The first point of Christianitie what it is 125. b 50 Our affection to Christianitie declared 204. a 40.50 What is a true proofe of our Christianitie 567. b 30 Christendome Of the true marke of our Christēdome what the same is 605. b 50 The cheefest point that troubleth Christendome at this day 114. a 50 Church Against a number that come irreligiouslie to the Church 205. a 30.40.50 The state of the Church and howe it consisteth of good and bad 1170. a 10.20.30 The state of Gods Church and howe hee comforteth and preserueth the same 1168. b all 1169. al The Church is the arch the piller and the gardian to Gods trueth how 1206. a 50.60 Gods Church likened vnto a vineyard and how 1153. b 10.20 God will neuer forsake his Church and how he prouideth for the gouernement of the same 1243 b all A note to be obserued in y e spiritual gouernment of the Church 94. b 60. 95. a 10 A description of y e Church of God now a dayes and in what plight they be 374. a 40.50.60 No Church in poperie at al and reasons why 1206. a 10.20.30 What is the thing that wee must doe when we haue order in the Church 528. b 20 We maie vse a Church that hath been one of sathans brothelhouses 549. b 50.60 We must not suffer anie man to steppe vp to trouble the Church 543. a 10 The cause why the Church of GOD came to such desolation 633. b 50 Who are the true fathers of the christian Church 489. b 10 Of the Temple of all Gods and the Church of all hallowes 493. a 30.40 Though Gods Church hath beene despised of the worlde yet hath it alwaies beene precious in Gods sight 489. a 10 What we ought to do when God hath once taken vs into his Church 466. b 10.20 Of the order of Gods Church whereto it serueth and that it is no impeachment to the ciuil power 461. a 10.20.30 Howe God augmenteth his Church where read most excellent doctrine 454. a b all Of the state of the Church ingenerall and how God hath wrought for the same 456. b 10 Of Gods Church and the auncientnesse of the same 489. a 10 How all such as haue the gouernment of the Church should behaue themselues 112. b 40 When and in what time it will seeme that there is no more anie Church at all 44. b 40 To what purpose God hath called vs in to his Church 411. b 50 God hath a care for the maintenance and preseruation of his Church 44. b 50.60 45. a 10 An imprecation of Caluin against such as seeke to breake the vnion of gods Church 127. b 10.20 Of the vnion and communion or of the gathering together of the Church Read the place It was Gods ordinance 126. b 10.20.30.40.50.60 What such as haue felt by experience in their lifetime how paineful a thing it is to maintaine the Church ought to doe 144. b 20 The true token that wee bee of Gods flocke of his Church 1205. b 10 What we haue to marke when God calleth vs to be of his Church 166. b 20.30 What manner of seruice God requireth at their hands that haue the charge of his Church 427. b 40.50 The right vse of such things as belong to the Church commonly called Church goods c. 430. a 20.30 Gods Church shall continewe for euer and the calling vppon his name so long as either Sunne or Moone is in the skie 43. b 60 The order of the Church is to be maintained notwithstanding many corruptions and abuses be in it 430. a 20.30.40.50.60 What shall befall to all such as withdraw themselues from the Church 153 b 10 The misbehauiour of such noted as will be taken for the pillers and vpholders of the Church 150. a 10.20.30 What our carelesnes doth cause when God taketh such out of the worlde as are able to build his Church 145. a 10 What ought to come to our remembrance so often as wee goe to the Church 1027. a 40.50.60 Of Gods promise touching the continuing of his Church the marke◠thereof 1047. b all 1048. all The Papistes alledge that it is vnpossible for God to forsake his Church 1048. a 10 c. Of the bodie of the Church and howe all estates are bound with one couenant 1027. b all 1028. a all Howe the Papistes boast themselues to be the Church of Christ and yet defile him in their life 1004. a 20.30.40 Against such as seeke nothing but to scatter Gods flocke namelie his Church 127. a 30 The Iewes haue the birthright in gods Church 124. a 20 To what end God doth gather vs into his Church 300. a 10.20 Whereto the ordinances which God hath established in his Church doe tend and to what end they are to be referred 298. b al. 299. a 10.20.30 Why the Church is generally called by the name of mother 883. a 20 Vpon what condition God chooseth vs when hee taketh vs to bee of his Church 955. a 30 The Church is the piller of truth the standard as it were thereof 253. a 10.20 and why it is so called ibidem 30 How the Pope and his rable doe what they can to bring the Church in bondage 389. a 60. b 10 A continuing lesson to al gods Church touching their safetie 1232. b 10.20 God choose the Israelits to make thē a looking glasse for his Church 73. a 40 Why Gods Church is neuer without enemies 1231. a 30 How our Sauiours words are
shoulde ratifie the same 554. b 40.50.60 Of the warrant of our Election what it is 1064. a 60. b 10 Gods Election is a mysterie aboue the reach of all mens reason 1107. b 60.1108 a 10 The Election of God is of his free goodnesse aâ—â— of no merits of ours 955. b 60. 314. b 20.30 Vpon what condition Gods Election in taking vs to be of his Church doth stande 955. a 30.40.50.60 and so forward Emanuel Christ hath not taken to him the name of Emanuel for naught and what it signifieth 500. b 20 End Wherunto God calleth vs and how we ought to consider the word End 1148 a 60. b all What wee haue to note vppon these words And take heede to their End 1148. a 10.20 c. Looke Death Enimie Vnder this worde Enimie allsuch as haue not bin taught by Gods worde to yeelde themselues teachable vnto him are comprehended 1145. b 50.60 Howe these wordes that God feared to prouoke the Enemy are ment 1145. a 40.50.60 In what cases God declareth himselfe to be our mortall Enimie 982. b 10.20.30 Of a great Enimie that we haue much mightier than Pharao and of other enemies of ours 503. b 20.30.40 Looke Diuel and Satan Enimies What we must doe when we see our Enimies fierce like feends 75. b 10. and 71. a 50 We must yeeld God the honour of all the victories that hee giueth vs against our Enimies 83. a 30.40 A description of the easie victory of the Israelites ouer their Enimies 83. b 30 40 What we must doe when we see our Enimies fearefull and dismaied 75. b 10 What was the cause why the Israelites ran away as soone as their Enimies came against them 85. b 50 Why we must not go about to purchase vs Enimies 87. a 10. Our Enimies much stronger and stouter in comparison of vs than the Enimies of the Israelites when they were to enter into the land of Chanaan 90. a 30.40 Why God saying that hee will driue away our Enimies affirmeth also that wee shall destroy them 1231. a 30.40.50.60.1232 a all The meaning of Moses by these words God will not destroy all the Enimies of his people out of hande and why 338. a 40.50.60 b all How we must behaue our selues peaceably if we haue any Enimes 87. a 10. 88. a 10 We haue an infinite number of Enimies whom we see not 55. b 40 That albeit we serue God yet wee shall not cease to haue Enimies and why 968. b 40 That it is in God onely to make vs inuincible against al our Enimies 889. b all Of Gods blessing of vs against our Enimies and of our manifold enimies both visible and inuisible 953. b 10.20.30 c. Howe God will deale for vs against our storming Enimies is shewed by comparison to our comfort 954. a 10.20 What is Gods purpose in permitting vs to haue Enemies 953. b 50.60.954 a 10 Howe and by what meanes men doe picke out Enemies against themselues 73. b 50.60 74. a 10 But one onlie meane wherby we maie ouercome the feare of our Enemies 714. b 60 The feare that Achaz had of his Enemies the kings of Syria and Israell 713. b 60.714 a 10. c. Howe the subtill doctors of the Popedome interprete these wordes of Christ Do good to your Enemies 771. a 50.60 b 10.20 What we must do to bee strong against our Enemies 71. a 50.60 and b 10 What we haue to gather vpon this text where Moses doth so oft repeat that we must not be afraide of our Enemies 414. b 40.50 What we must doe if we woulde haue the victorie ouer our Enemies 37. b 20 How vnable we bee to encounter with our Ghostlie Enemies 71. b 10 What is the cause that our Enemies vanquish vs and haue power ouer vs 55. b 10 Notable doctrine vpon this point that the Iewes woulde needes goe vp to discomfite their Enemies 53. a 10.20.30.40.50 Vpon what condition God will vanquish or destroy our Enemies 42. b 10 What we must doe if the Enemies with whome wee fight bee too strong for vs. 35. b 30. 712. b 40.50.60 713. al. Who be our Enemies with whome wee wage battell in this life 37. b 10 The end of Gods discharging vs from the hand and tyrannie of our ghostlie Enemies 1. a 20 The Enemies with whom we fight are mortall men what then 35. a 20. Howe men shoulde bethinke theÌ„selues when they are compelled to slaie their Enemies in the mainteinance of iust quarels 516. a 50.60 The cause why Gods Church is neuer without Enemies and the remedie 1231. a 50.60 b al. Howe God will deale with his Enemies 189. a 10 In what respect we must needes fall before our Enemies 55. b 20 Of certaine kinde of Enemies to Gods trueth of whome we must speciallie take heede 529. a 60. b 10 Howe we must arme our selues against the open and secrete Enemies of of Gods trueth 528. b 50.60 529. a b al. Howe we must be resolued when we be stricken with feare because wee heare that our Enemies doe practise al that they can against vs. 375. b 20.30.40 How we ought to be prouided and furnished against our Enemies both inward and outwarde 374. a 40.50.60 b al 375. a 10.20 c Three reasons rendred wherby the Israelites are exhorted not to bee afraide of their Enemies 334. b 30.40 A proofe of Gods promise that hee would cast a feare vpon his peoples Enemies 478. b 20.30.479 a 10.20 Two places reconciled namelie that God will destroy all the Enemies wherin thou fearest and Thou shalt not be afraide of them Reade this aduisedlie 334. b 50.60 335. a all What we haue to vnderstande whensoeuer we stande too much in feare of our Enemies and are â—ore dismaied c. 478. b 10.20 The comfort that poore Christians deteined among the Enemies of the faith haue 331. b 50.60 332. a 10 Of our manifolde Enemies and howe God will enable vs against them and fight in our behalfe 476. a and b all 477. a all Our enemies haue none other power than we our selues gaue them Read that place well 478. a 10 Howe the faithfull must assure themselues in cases of danger and assaults of proude Enemies 477. b all Enuie Against the blasing abroade of mens faultes for Enuie sake 238. a 20.30.40 Looke Hatred and Malice Ephod Of the the hie Priestes Ephod and diuerse ornaments thereunto belonging 502. b 10.20 Looke Hiepriests Ephraim The tribe of Ephraim and Manasses were planted in the verie storehouse of all the lande of Chanaan 1212. a 40.50 Ephraim Manasses the two sonnes of Ioseph 1211. b 40 Ephraim made tenfolde greater than Manasses being the elder brother what we haue to note there in 1213. b 40.50.60.1214 a all What mischeefes arose by the meanes of the tribe of Ephraim 1214. b 10.20 The tribe of Ephraim blessed of Moses 1213. b 20 c. Epicures The cause why there bee so manie
10. Looke Couenants Promise of man What sinne is committed when a Promise bounde with an oth is broken 94. a 50.60 Of the Promise made in Marriage and of how great importance it is 789. b 10 Howe farre foorth men keepe touch in the thing that they Promise 94. a 10 Looke Couenant Promises of Men. When and by what default there wil alwaies bee some fainednesse in our Promises 94. a 10 The deceitfulnesse of men notwithstanding their Promises neuer so autentically made 94. a 40 Prophesie both true and false Howe â—he Iewes make their boast of the gift of Prophesie and why the same was giuen them 682. b 50.60 Two places touching the Prophesie of false Prophets comming to passe and not comming to passe reconciled 534. a 30.40.50.60 and b all Of Ieremies Prophesie touching the Iewes captiuitie in Babylon howe Homaniah went about to discredite and scorne the same 534. a 60. and b all Whether the Diuell can Prophesie or no. 533. b 50.60 534. a 10 Prophesies The blessinges that Iacob and Moses gaue the twelue tribes were Prophesies 1212. b 10. and a 20.30.40 What we must doe that wee maie not bee deceiued as in respect of particular Prophesies 533. b 10 All Prophesies performed in Christ to which intent he came 674. b 50.60 Prophet Vnto what Prophet we must not hearken and vnto whome these wordes appertaine 529. b 30.40.50.60 c. That a Prophet maie saie something that shall come to passe afterwarde and yet neuerthelesse not haue the more warran to be taken for a seruant of God 535. a 20.30 Howe euill Ieremie the Prophete was intreated for telling the trueth 538. a 60. b 10.20.30 Not the title onelie but the effect also of a Prophet must bee had and what that is 678. a 60. and b 10.677 a 20 Of a true Prophet and a false the differences of both and infallible tokens to knowe them 680. b 50.60 534. a all and 535. a 10 The meaning of Moses by these words God will raise vs vp a Prophet 664. a 20.30.40.50.60 â— 10. c. 665. a 10. 674. b 20.30 Howe Moseses wordes Yee shall obey the Prophet are meant 666. a 50.60 Notable doctrine vpon these wordes The man that will not heare y e Prophet shall die without release 675. a 30. c. Christ the great and cheefe Prophete promised to the Iewes 665. b 30. 642. a 40 False Prophet Howe a False Prophete preuailed against a true Prophet and withstood him to his facâ— 538. b 10.20.30 Howe we bee affected when the thing that a false Prophet saith to vs doth come to passe 531. a 10. and what we must do in such a case ibidem 20 Though a False Prophet speake the truth yet is not that a warrant that his doctrine is true 681. a. 30. Notable doctrine vpon these wordes Thou shalt not be afraide of such a False Prophet 684. a 20.30 Of a False Prophete that spake in as excellent a stile and manner of speech as could be of Gods vnchangeable truth 804. b 60. and 805. a 10.30.40 Prophetes Against such as holde that there is no more neede of the law and the Prophetes 463. a 30.40.50 God will haue vs to sift the Prophetes whether they teach aright or no. 677. b 50.60 and 678. a 10 To what ende God raiseth vp Prophetes and their charge 677. a 50.60 Why wee haue no Prophetes nowe adaies to tell vs of things to come by speciall reuelation 681. b 60. 682. a 10 Howe the true Prophetes did set them selues against the False Prophetes 681. b 10.20 What the Prophetes would saie when they meant to proue that they were sent of God 681. a 50. Example of Ieremie ibid. 60. b 10 Of the office of Prophets and in what pointes the same consisted 679. b 40 50.60 Ministers of the Church are in the same degree that the Prophets were and how 666. a 20.30 All the Prophetes tooke their end in Christ and he made a perfect conclusion of all 666. a 10 No more Prophetes in Israell after the time of Zacharie and Aggeus 665. b 40 That there shall be Prophetes alwaies in Gods Church 665. a 30 That God will raise vp Prophetes from time to time among the people and to what intent 665. a 10.20.30 and 67â— all What Christ meant by this saying That Iohn Baptist excelled all the Prophetes 675. b 50.60 676. a 10 Moses and his fellowe Prophetes were but seruantes and how 674. b 40 The Iewes were destitute of Prophets from Malachies time till the comming of Christ. 1247. a 40. b 10 Moses excelled all the Prophetes that were to be founde in Israell why 1246.30.40.50.60.1247 al. False Prophetes What ought to bee our refuge when there rise vp neuer so manie False Prophets among vs. 527. b 50.60.529 a 50.60 b 10 Of False Prophetes who they bee and howe wee must withstande them 528. b. 40.50.60 and 530. a 30. and 531. a 30 The order that False Prophets true Prophets vse in their admonitions doe differ and how 534. b 40.50 The offence of False Prophetes aggrauated by comparison 536. a 60. and b 10.20.30 and 537. b 10.20 Remedies for the rooting of False Prophetes and heretikes out of the Church 536. a 20.30.40.50.60 Why God setteth downe a lawe for False Prophetes 679. a 30 Howe it commeth to passe that False Prophets doe sometimes speake the truth 680.50 b. 60. 681. a 10.20 Tokens whereby to discerne False Prophetes aright 679. b 40.50.60 Two sorts of False Prophets set downe by the Lord himselfe 682. a 60. and b 10 Howe God will turne the sayings of the False Prophetes into the contrarie 682. a 40.50 The pride and presumption of False Prophetes noted and condemned 683. a 30.40.50.60 The cause why Moses saith that he wil discouer False Prophets 682. a 10.20 False Prophetes or teachers that goe about to seduce Gods people from the right waie compared to bitter rootes 1032. a 50. b all 1033. a b all To what ende God suffereth False Prophets to bee stirred vp by Satan to sowe their daâ—nell among vs. 533. a 10 Prosper Howe a man should bethinke himselfe if he would Prosper in his owne person 952. b 50.60 953. a 10.20 948 b 50.60 How it is not alwaies perceiuable that God doeth prosper them that serue him and why 324. b 60. 325. a 10 The way how to Prosper all our life loÌ„g 482. a 50.519 a 20. 551. a 30.40 345. b 10.20 How we seeke and intend to Prosper as it were in despite of God and of the ende of our drifts therein 518. b 10.20 What a kinde of contentation we must haue if God list to Prosper vs. 355. b 40 What wee haue to learne when God promiseth to Prosper vs if wee serue him 347. a 10. Looke Blessed Prosperitie Prosperitie a good trial to bewray what is in mens hearts see howe 349. a 10 From whence all manner of Prosperitie
among all the Tribes 496. b 50 What the Iewes might haue alledged for their owne aduancement against the Tribe of Iuda 496. b 10.20.30.40 The punishment of the Tribe of Leui turned into an honour 658. a 10 Tribes Why the townes of the Leuits were appointed of God to bee dispersed among the Tribes 508. a 10.20.30.40 50.60.513 a 60 The twelue Tribes had euerie one his portion to inherite in the lande of Chanaan 496. The Tribes of Ephraim and Manasses refused 496. b 40 Two Tribes put in steede of one to make vp twelue for the diuiding of the lande of Chanaan into twelue portions 568. b 10 The Tribes of Leui and Iuda priuileged the one more notably than the other and both aboue all the other Tribes 658. a 10.20 The rest of the Tribes hauing their portions ceased not to grudge against the Priestes and Leuites 656. b 50.60 657. a 40 The blessings of Moses vpō the twelue Tribes with their expositions Read sermons 192.193.194.195.196.197 What wee haue to note vppon these wordes God shall cut such a man off from among the Tribes of Israel 1038. a 40.50.60 b all What wee haue to learne by this that God woulde choose a place for his sanctuarie in one of y e twelue Tribes 509. b 10 How the twelue Tribes were diuided and the Leuites standing in y e midst whiles curssing and blessing were vttered of either side 922. b 60.923 a 10 Tributes Tributes allowed to be laide vpon vanquished or subdued cities 725. b 10 20. and what instructions wee are to gather thereby ibidem 30.40.50 60. c. Triumph The Triumph of Christ set forth vpon his crosse 764. b 40.50.60.765 a all Looke Victorie Trouble Against such as Trouble molest the church and that God will take vengeance of them in due time 798. b 40 50.60.799 all How a poore sillie man that is in anguish and Trouble of minde shoulde be comforted how he should bethinke himselfe 717. b 50.60 What wee haue to doe when wee feele such Trouble of minde in our selues that we cannot be comforted again out of hand 714. a 60. b 10.20.30 Looke Affliction Troubles The cause why wee see the worlde infected with so many Troubles errours 538. a 30.40.50 Why God doth exercise vs with Troubles in this life 368. a 60. and b 10.20 340. b 30.40 Through whose fault it is that God doeth not deliuer vs from all Troubles out of hand 340. a 40.50 Looke Chastisements True What we haue to learne in that God is said to be True 1108. a 60. b 10.20.30 Looke Faithfull Vpright Trust in God What trust God will haue vs yeld vnto his word 528. a 20.30.374 a all Reasons of proofe that wee haue no Trust in Gods alsufficiencie 595. a 10 How the Israelites might haue emboldened themselues with Trust that God would not faile thē 86. a 40.50 Words of great comfort for the confirming of our Trust in Gods helpe 87. b 30.40 The worlde vseth the words Faith and Trust vprightly how 87. a 60 An in separable bonde betweene Gods promises and the Trust that we haue in him 87. a 50 Vpon what Trust wee may be bolde to come vnto God in prayer 101. a 10 An exhortation to put our Trust in god in respect of his promises c. 335. b 30.40 The mightifull force of perfect Trust in God 335. a 10.20 Vntil what time wee cannot put any Trust in God 337. a 60 Into what extremities wee fall because wee put not our Trust in God 1077. a 10 Wee cannot exceede measure of Trust in God 147. a 40.50 Trust in men creatures Why no man should beguile himselfe vpon Trust of men 37. b 20 That it is not for vs to put our Trust in any worldly munition or defence but in God only 996. all Of a diuelish Trust that men haue in the things that they possesse 583. b 60.584 a 10 Trueth of God God is the author of Truth and wil bee the warranter thereof 5. a 10. b 30 We reply against Gods Truth as thogh he were not faithfull 26. a 40.50 What kind of truth gods Truth is which endureth for euer 22. b 20 How much honour wee should yeeld to Gods Truth 28. a 10 Gods Truth is not to bee measured by time 25. b 50.60 How farre foorth wee must be inquisitiue of Gods Truth 33. a 50.60 God suffereth not his Truth to fall to the grounde or to die without effect 44. a 10 The carelesnes of such as should maintaine Gods Truth 113. a 30 Gods Truth doeth not die with men 25. b 40 If God haue once taught vs his Truth it ought to suffice vs why 370. b 10.30 How the church is said to be the piller of Gods Truth 253. a 20.30.40 God giueth them ouer which turne away frō the Truth 404. b 10.147 a 20 That euen among the heathen there remained alwayes a remnant of the Truth 1095. b 60.1096 a 10 Of Gods Truth and what wee haue to gather by that title ascribed vnto him 1108. b all 1109. a all 177. b 30.40.26 a 50 Houshoulde enimies of the Truth noted farre worsse than the Papistes 129. b 40.50 It is a falsification of Gods Truth whēsoeuer men make any counterfeit of God 135. a 30 What the Iewes ought to haue done in so much as they were taught the Truth 149. b 10 The rewarde of such as would not obey the Truth 153. b 30 How and in what sort God will haue vs to learne his Truth 177. b 30.40 Wee cannot deuise to doe a greater outrage to God than to abolish or deface his Truth 194. b 50 Gods Truth being vnuariable is contained in the law 181. a 20 How wee must endeuour to get knowledge of the Truth 298. a 10.20.40.50 To what end God hath called vs to the knowledge of the Truth 300. a 40 How wee confirme Gods Truth to our saluation 487. a 10 That it is not enough for a mā to haue some taste of Gods Truth but a further matter is required Looke what 493. b 60.494 a 10 Howe wee must arme our selues against the open and secret enimies of gods Truth 528. b 50.60 529. a b all Looke Gospell Scripture and Word of God Trumpets Of the feast of Trumpets 612. a 10.613 b 10 Of what things the Iewes were warned when they heard the Trumpets 613. b 30.40 What kinde of Trumpets we should be that are Christians 613. b 50.60 Looke Feasts Turkes The Turkes cut off from Gods church through their owne fault 124. a 50 The Turkes haue some reuerence of their religion 124. a 50 Turne Without what it is vnpossible for vs to haue any desire to Turne vnto God 1050. b 50 To Turne to the right hande and to the left Read what is thereby meant 262. b 30.40.50.60 263. a 10 God doth Turne mens hearts maketh them to be inflamed with hatred 80. b 20 God doth Turne the hearts of men to gentlenes when