sendeth in his name and which represent him than too put them too all the shame and reproche of the world But S. Paule as well heere as in other places hathe not sticked too glorie in his imprisonment and bands In deede he was kept in ward as an euill dooer bâ—t in the meane while he had record bothe before God and also before man that he suffred wrongfully for executing his office and finally for seruing God faythfully Therfore let vs not think it strange that on the one syde he calleth himself prisoner and on the othersyde the Ambassadour or messenger of the Liuing God euen as representing his person and dignitie And it is not for nought that he addeth the name of Iesus christ For imprizonment generally myght haue bred some euill opinion of him bycause euill dooers are punished with it by order of Iustis But the cace putteth a difference betewne euill dooers and the witnesses of God and of our Lord Iesus Christ. That is the rause why S. Paule calleth not himself a prisoner simply and without exception but also sheweth the cause why saying that Iesus Christ auoweth him as thâ—ugh he were an hostage or pledge for him So then by this saying wee bee warned too reâ—eyue S. Paules doctrine with the greater authoritie seing hee hath ratiâ—â—ed it so well If he had but onely executed his 〈◊〉 â—n in preaching wee ought too haue made acount of the obedience that hee yeelded vntoo god But he also wrought miracles he inâ—ured a number of trubbles and incomberances and finally he suffered imprisonment and death Now when wee see that for all this he ceassed not too go through stedfastly and too ouercome all the assaults that Satan and the wicked world were able too stir vp ageinst him surely wee haue the greater confirmation of the doctrine which serueth at this day too our vse And therfore when wee bee told of Saint Paule and of the great number of incounters that he indured let vs not think it is more than needeth For it is alwayes a more certayne ratifying of the doctrine too the end wee myght vnderstand how it is not of the doctrine of any mortall wyght but the doctrine of the liuing God who also strengthened him with inuincible constancie by his holie spirit Now as this is well spoken of the persons of Saint Paule so must it also bee extended further For God wissed and ordeyned that the rest of the Apostles should suffer as well as hee And it is sayd of Saint Peter that when he was growen old he should bee girded after another fashion than he had bin woont too bee so as he should bee tyed in streyt bonds and bee led whither he would not at leastwyse as in respect of fleshly infirmitie though he had a spirituall disposition of mynd to obey god We see then in effect how Gods seruants suffered not a two or three of them but so as there myght bee as it were a great and thicke cloud of them as the Apostle sayeth in the twelfth too the Hebrewes Sith it is so let vs make our hand of such helpes For it is certeyne that God ment too susteyne our feeblenesse by adding such helpes too his woord which ought too bee of sufficient authoritie of it self too the intent it should no more bee doubted of nor called in question Thus yee see how the thing that wee haue too beare in mynd is that the blud of the Apostles and Martyrs that hath bin shed too confirme the doctrine of the Gospell is as good as a huÌ„dred seales yea as a whole milion of seales too warrant vs all the thinges fully which are conteyned in the Gospell Trew it is that our fayth ought too bee grounded vppon the authoritie of the holy Ghost and that although God had neuer a Martyr too shewe that the truth of the Gospell is firme and certeine yit it ought too suffyze vs that it is he which speaketh it Agein wee haue seene heeretoofore that the truth shall euer bee doubted of â—ill the holy Ghost haue sealed it in our hartes And for that cause is he called our earnestpennye bycause he insureth vs of the heritage which wee hope for according too the promise which hath bin purchaced so deerely for vs with the blud of our Lord Iesus Christ. Now for the last step wee must come too the experience that wee haue in these dayes For the blud of Martirs is shed still at this day God could well let that the wicked should not runne so vpon the brydle ageinst the faythfull he could well chaunge all their mischeeuousnesse and rebellion and wheras they bee rauening wolues he could make them as sheepe and Lambes surely he could doo so But on the one syde he ordeyneth Satan too driue them and stirre them vp too such rage and agein he giueth them licence and leaue too trubble the faythfull And why Too the end that wee should knowe what the power of his holy spirit is when it pleaseth him too guyde and gouerne vs For as I haue declared alredy the weaknesse of men is such that there needeth but the falling of a leafe from a tree too make them quake ageyne wee knowe that death is horrible of it self Therfore wee must conclude that God vttereth a wonderfull grace when he strengtheneth his seruantes in such wyse as they bee not dismayed with any threateninges nor at the syght of fyre when the enemyes and tirantes are not contented with single death but adde thertoo the most tyrannicall tormentes that can bee deuyzed Now then when the Martyres perseuer in such constancie therin men perceyue that God hath put to his hand Wherfore when wee heare that they bee handled so cruelly for Gods word and that some if they scape are notwithstanding redye too dye and othersome knowing their death shall bee precious in the eyes of the Lord offer them selues in sacrifize with a cheerful corage let vs not suffer their blud too fall too the ground I say when wee heare of all these things let vs beware wee suffer not that thing too perish which God hath ordeyned for our edifying and for the better confirming of vs in our fayth For although wee ought too bee sufficiently instructed by the preaching alone yit must it needes be a great strengthening too vs when Gods word is not onely preached but also sealed after that fashion Then is it not too bee called in question or too be disputed of as an vncertayne matter but they to whom God hath graunted the grace and are led so farre by his holy spirit as too suffer for his truth are faythfull wittnesses that their blud serueth too giue a full sealing vp too his word too the intent that wee should bee the better resolued of it Thus yee see what wee haue to gather vppoâ— this streyne And although the enemies of the Gospell make a triumphing and spit fire and keepe a great coyle too deface all that
stead of signing them with their owne handes they deliuered their seale or a ring and that was the maner of the publication of Testamentes and of other euidence and of all bargaynes and couenants In this respect S. Paule sayeth that wee must bee sealed in our hartes Trew it is that too speake properly he should haue sayd that the Gospell was sealed Howbeit too the end too doo vs too vnderstand that the fault commeth and springeth from our selues and that the Gospell is a doctrine of sufficient authoritie of it selfe he mynded too shewe vs that Gods sealing of his truth is in respect of our hard hartednesse and vnconstancie for that we be shaken with euery wynd lyke wouering reedes vntill such time as he haue strengthened vs But howsoeuer the cace stand let vs marke that the holy Ghost is as it were the scale wherewith he ratifyeth and warranteth his truth vntoo vs Nowe I haue told you alredy how greatly wee stand in neede thereof For although wee graunt that Gods word deserueth to be admitted without geynsâ—ying or reply yit ceasse wee not too doubt of it and that doo wee fynd well ynough by experience For whensoeuer any trubble or vexation commeth wee â—e as folke dismayd wheras if wee were throughly perswaded of Gods goodnesse in such wyse as he assureth vs of it it is certeyne that wee should not bee in any such feare All the temptaâ—â—ons then which shake vs doo shewe well ynough that wee profit not as wee ought too doo in the Gospell And therefore God is fayne too warranâ— it on his behalfe by his holy spirit and too print it so surely in our hartes as wee may bee stedfast and as the same stedfastnesse may not bee beaten downe by all that euer the diuell can woorke or deuise too ouerthâ—owe 〈…〉 But wee shall vnderstand this thing yit better by making continually such examination of our owne weakenesse as I haue spoken of before For take wee all the reasons of the world and yit shall wee neuer bee certifyed so fully and perfectly as is requisite that God will bee mercifull too vs and defend vs in the middes of all the perills of this world For wee bee heere as it were in a sea the wyndes and stormes assayle vs euery minute and wee be still in daunger of swallowing vp How then may wee despise Sathan bâ—ing as wretched shéepe vnprouided both of armour weapon and all other meanes of helpe How can wee be merye both in life and death knowing that Satan might doo any things ageinst vs if wee were not wel sealed and after an authentical manner So then besides that in this teâ—te wee bee warned too rid our selues of all presumption and ouerweening that onely God may bee prayzed and magnified wee may also gather therwith vppon S. Paules woords that wee haue armor and weapon wherwith too incounter and fight well and that although our enemy bee mighty and sturdie yit he shal neuer ouercome vs so wee take the aduauntage of that which is sayd heere namely that Gods spirite sealeâ—h the truthe and the certeyntie of the promises of the Gospell in vs. And S. Paule addeth yit one similitude more saying that Gods spirit is as an earnest peâ—ny And let vs not thinke it straunge that S. Paule hath so myghtily confirmed this doctrine forasmuch as the diuell hath neuer ceassed froÌ„ the beginning of the world to puffe vp men continually with some fond opinion of their owne wisdome vertew The cause of Adams fall was that he would needes aduaunce himself hygher than was lawfull for him and be wyser than God which thing God gaue him not leaue to doo Euen so standeth the cace with vs the diuell pursueth his chalendge still For behold he ouerthrew mankynd by that sleyght and all his indeuour yit still is to make vs beleue that wee be able too doo this and that Therfore it stoode S. Paule on hand too rid men of that false and cursed opinion of their owne â—reewill and selfuertew and too shewe them that they are beholden too the holy Ghost for all Mark that for one poynt Secondly we be so grosse and earthly that we had neede too haue the doctrine chawed vntoo vs and wee cannot conceyue any more of Gods gratious giftes which are inuisible than we see with our eyes and touche with our hands Therfore it was requisite that S. Paule should by similitudes declare how it is Gods holie spirit that putteth vs in possession of the Gospell and of all the benefits conteyned therin and which holdeth vs in them vntoo the end Now wee knowe that bargaynes are confirmed by giuing of an earnest penny which men doo coÌ„monly call a Gods penny For asmuch then as in buying eyther Lands houses inheritaunces or wares although a mans bare word ought to suffyze yit notwithstanding meÌ„ are so yll dispozed that if they perceyue any disaduauntage to themselues in the matter they will not bee ashamed too eate their woord therfore was this ceremonie of giuing an earnest penny added and it is all one as if the payment were fully performed so as the bargayne were vtterly past calling backe ageyne S. Paule then meaneth heere that Gods spirit serueth to warrant our saluation too the full And too what end For your inheritaunce sayeth he too the day of your redemption It is trew that we be Gods heyres euen in that wee bee his children But wee must note how it is sayd in the eyght too the Romanes that our saluation â—s shet vp vnder hope So then wee cannot see it nor inioy it as now according too the third of the Colossians where it is sayd that wee be lyke dead men that are departed out of this world and that our lyfe is hidden with God in christ Therfore although wee be Gods children yit haue wee not the full inioyment of it as yit And it is all one with that which S. Iohn sayeth in his cannonicall Epistle Wee â—nowe sayeth he wherby he sheweth that our fayth is not doubtfull but yit he addeth that it is not yit seene or it dooth not yit appeere but wee must wayt for the day wherin wee shal bee lyke vntoo God theÌ„ we shal haue lyght to see the thing perfectly which we doo but beleeue as now Ageyne wee haue seene how S. Paule sayd in the second too the Corinthians that as long as wee bee in this earthly pilgrimage wee bee after a sort absent from god For why wee walk sayeth he but in hope and wee see not the thing as if it were present but wee see it by fayth Too bee short although wee bee passed from death too lyfe as is sayde in the fift of Iohn yit do we fyght ageinst an infinite number of deathes bycause wee be beseeged by them And S. Paule dooth well match bothe toogither in this text For on the one syde he sayeth wee bee not yit come too our redemption and herytage and yit therwithal
slip whatsoeuer is sayd too them looke what comes in at the one eare goes out agein at the other Howsoeuer the cace stand nother the one nor the other doo giue glory vntoo God in receyuing his woord with such humilitie as they ought too doo Therefore let vs acknowledge our owne naughtinesse and bee sorie for it seeyng wee prouoke Gods displeasure in not yeelding him the honour of thinking him too bee soothfast and trew In deede wee wil not say in open speeche that his word is vayne wee will not accuze him of leasing and deceyt but yit dooth he protest that wee doo him as much wrong as that commes too if wee credit not his sayings How long will this people slaunder mee sayeth he and rob mee of myne honour It is a complaynt which he maketh there by Moyses and in many other places of the scripture And surely if Saint Iohns saying bee trew namely that when wee beleeue God we set to our seales that he is trew that is too say wee vphold him to be faythfull then contrariwyse if we haue not that sure groundwoorke in our fayth that Gods word win not so much at our handes as too make vs too betake our selues wholly vntoo it without any gaynsaying it is all one as if wee counted God a lyer insomuch that although wee would hate and abhorre too vtter any such blasphemie yit dooth he complaine that wee haue doone him the like reproch and not without cause And therfore wee see what frowardnesse there is in our nature vntill God remedie it Furthermore wheras he sayeth that the holy Ghoste sealeth his promises after that fashyon in our harts let vs vnderstand that that is bycause he hath voutsafed too chooze vs Wee haue seene alredy heertoofore how he calleth vs too him and inlyghteneth vs with the truthe of his Gospell according too his choozing of vs before wee were borne yea and before the making of the world Therfore let vs vnderstand that Gods spirit is a speciall gift which is not bestowed vppon all men indifferently but is reserued as a treasure for his children whom he hath chozen And for that cause wee ought too beare well in mynd the foretouched tytle that he is the spirit of adoption Also the vnbeleef which is throughout the whole worlde giueth an euident proof of our Gods goodnesse in that it hath pleazed him too ingraue his woord in our harts For it is certeyne that in all such as fyght ageinst God or which bee as brute beasts and so carelesse that his woord dooth no whit moue them wee see what wee bee of nature and what wee should bee still if our Lord for his mercies sake had not touched vs with his holy spirit And so yee see what wee haue too beare in mynd Wherfore whensoeuer the doctrine of our saluation is talked of let vs beeware that wee presume not any thing vppon our owne wit and policie but let vs bee small and lowely that our Lord may inlyghten vs by his his holie spirit And when wee perceyue that wee haue receyued such grace alredy let vs not burye it but let vs giue the prayse of it too him that deserueth it And on the contrarie part sith wee feele many perplexities douts and vnquietnesse and that sometymes we bee tossed lyke a ship that is redie too topple ouer and too be sunk in the bottom of the the sea sith we perceyue our selues too bee so trubbled let vs consider our owne fraylty that although wee haue bin trayned vp in Gods woord yit will there bee no stedfastnesse in our harts except God woork it there and theruppon let vs runne too the remedy and pray God too keepe the seede that he hath sowen in vs from choking and the assurednesse of our heritage from euer wearing out that although Satan streyne him self too the vttermoste too destroy that which God hath put intoo vs yit it may bee strengthened in vs from day to day as is needfull for vs And so yee see what wee haue to beare in mynd in this that Saint Paule sayeth that wee be sealed and marked by Gods spirit And now he warneth vs that it is too heynous a cryme too greeue him yea to intollerable a trecherie I haue told you alredy that this similitude intendeth not to impute any excessiue passioÌ„ to Gods spirit but too put vs too shame and too make the heare too stand vp vpon our heads Behold sayeth Saint Paule Gods spirit hath chozen his dwelling place in vs according as it is sayd in another place that not only our soules but also our bodyes are the temples of the holy Ghoste and he is glad too bee in vs and too abyde there and too make it his continuall home nowe then if wee fall too spyting of him as though wee mynded too chace him and banish him from vs is it not too diuelish a dealing And yit notwithstanding when wee seeke allurements of vnthriftinesse when wee take leaue too corrupt our selues by leaud and loose talk and when wee labour too haue other naughtie meanes too turne vs awaye from the feare of God and too bring our consciences asleepe it is all one as if wee indeuered of set purpose too chace away and too banish Gods spirit from vs and too say wee will haue no more acquayntance with him Must wee not needs be moste miserable and cursed creatures when wee ouershoote our selues so farre That then is the thyng that S. Paule had an eye vnto Therefore whensoeuer wee bee tempted vntoo euill and the diuell laboreth to make vs take pleasure in it that all remorse of conscience maye bee put away let vs call too mynd the things that are spoken heere and say How now Thou reioycest And wherin In the seruing of Satan and on the other syde thou lettest him go that is thy lyfe the earnestpenny of thy saluation and the foundation of the felicitie which hath bin purchaced so deerly for thee by our Lord Iesus Christ. Let vs thinke aduyzedly vpon this And moreouer it is certein that euery faythfull man ought too feele the thing that is declared heere For if our Lord haue touched vs and giuen vs the sealing that is spoken of heere it will bee a greef vntoo vs when wee bee tempted vntoo â—uill And so the thing that holdeth vs in awe is the spirit which watcheth and wardeth too withstand the enemie And if wee go aboue too kill this benefyte that is too say this inwoorking that God giueth vs it is al one as if wee greeued the holy Ghost This then is a most certein experience and such a one as sheweth vs that the thing which the holy Ghost hath put intoo vs is vtterly ageinst all euill and that there must needes bee a battell and stryfe betwixt them insomnch that none of Gods children can sin but he shall by and by bee stirred vp too feare and too say in himself Alas where shall I become In
the touchstone of Gods word which is quick and effectuall and sharper than any two edged sword entering in to the diuiding asunder of the soule and the spirit and of the sinewes and marie and sifting out the thoughts and conceytes of the hart let vs examin our owne consciences whether wee bee in Christ and Christ in vs or no. Our owne consciences at leastwise if they bee not blynded with ignorance or hypocrisie will certifie vs of the truth in that behalf And if any man haue not the record thereof in himselfe he wanderâ—h yit still in errour and knoweth not whyther he goeth noâ— iâ— what cace he standeth For they that are in Christ haue Christes spirit in them and that spirit assureth their spirit that they bee the children of god Now let vs see if wee haue this warrant in our selues wee shall discerne it by these markes following and such other lyke The scripture telleth vs that those which are in Christ Iesus are become new creatures That they bee rooted buylded and setled vpon Christ by fayth That they walke as he walked fashioned themselues after his example That they haue put off the old man that is to say their owne naturall disposition which is corrupted with deceitfull lustes and beyng renewed in the spirit of their mynd that is to say in the inward working of their hartes they haue put on the new man that is to wit a new disposition of mynd which is shaped lyke vntoo God in true rightuousnesse and holinesse That they walke after the spirit and not after the fleshe that is to say that they liue not after the lyking of their owne wit and will but in obedience to the wisdome and will of God That they haue mortifyed their earthly members that is to say ouermaystred and subdewed their sinfull lustes and lykinges That they bee crucifyed too the world and the world to them that is to say that they bee no more intangled with the fond loue and sinister affection of the world and worldly things than if they were already dead and had no more neede of them at all And finally that they bee dead vnto sinne but alyue vnto rightuousnesse Of all which sayings and of a number mo tending to the same purpose the pith and effect is this consisting of two members Namely that such as are rightly and vnfeynedly in Christ haue vtterly renounced their owne wit will wisdome strength reputation and rightuousnesse yea and quyte and cleane forsaken themselues togither with the world and all worldly things and haue giuen ouer themselues as it were in bondage all wholly vnto Christ taking him for their onely God Lord Sauiour Father Mayster Teacher Guyde Defender Stay Light Rightuousnesse Holinesse Redemption Wisdome Strength Reconciliation Sacrifize Alter Temple high Priest and all in all and therefore depending alonely vppon him in all things putting their whole hope trust and confidence in him wayting vppon him as the seruant vppon his Mayster or as the handmayd vppon hir mistresse or as the chyld vppon his father seeking his onely honour and glory in all caces contenâ—ed to beare the crosse with him in suffering all manner of harmes wrongs losses despytes reproches myseries and torments for his sake that is to wit for the truth of his Gospell and for the rightuousnesse of his kingdome and finally making full account that as they on their part lyue not in themselues but in him nor to themselues but to God so he on his part will most plenteously and bountifully reward their labours beyond all that they can hope or conceiue and neuer fayle them or withdraw himself from them euen in this world at their neede Out of the which roote of trew and liuely faith springeth foorth this fruite which is the second part or member that I spake of to the full confirmation of our consciences to the open warranting of our beyng in Christ namely that for the loue of him wee imploy our whole lyfe to glorify God by indeuering continually to edefy profit and comfort our neyghbours both in word and deede earnestly faythfully and cheerefully without respect of our selues or of our owne commodities â—ase profit pleasure yea or lyfe which is in dede the perfect charitie If wee fynd this disposition of mynd throughly rooted in vs then may wee boldly and certeinly conclude that wee bee in Christ and Christ in vs that the life which we lyue as now in the fleshe that is to say in this world wee lyue by beleefe in the sonne of God or rather that it is not wee that lyue but the sonne of God which lyueth in vs that wee bee led by Gods spirit and consequently that wee bee his children and heyres of his blessed and euerlasting kingdome with Christ as chozen and predestinated therto in him before all worlds Howbeit forasmuch as wee carrie the old Adam continually about vs who cannot bee put quyte and cleane away but by death And the flesh not onely lusteth but also wrestleth and fyghteth so myghtily ageinst the spirit that oftentymes it weakeneth woundeth ouerthroweth yea and as sayeth Saint Paule leadeth vs captiue to the lawe or seruice of sinne Insomuch that there is not so stout a souldyer in Christ but he is compelled to say with the same Paule The good that I would doo I doo not but the euill which I hate that doo I by reason whereof the greefe and anguish of his mynd inforce him too cry out at leastwise in his hart 〈◊〉 that I am who shall deliuer mee from this body of sinâ—â— The weake conscience of the frayle sinner fynding how farre he commeth short of the trew effectes and fruites of perfect Christianitie heretoofore described is stryken in great heauinesse and dwelleth in doubt whether he bee yit in Christ or no. By meanes wherof he not only taketh no comfort in the doctrine of Gods eternall election and predestination but also is the more abashed and dismayed at it In this cace wee must not resort for remedie too fleshe and blud that is too say too the perswasions of worldly wisdome or of mans owne natural reason and vnderstanding but too Gods holy woord which beyng the very foode and healthfull salue of our soules alonely is able to pacify the vexed conscience and to cheere vp the drooping and dying hart This besydes other comfortes wherof mo shall bee reherced hereafter in place more conuenient telleth vs that there are ages and degrees in Christ and Christianitie and that our lyfe is a continuall warfare wherin wee must mainteyne battell not onely ageinst the trubbles and aduersities of this world but also ageinst our selues that is to say ageinst the vices and affections of our owne corrupt and sinfull nature yea and as sayeth Saint Paule in this present Epistle too the Ephesians ageinst principalities and powers ageinst the Lordes of this world which are the rulers of the
get the vpper hand and to stand by their owne strength at â—â—eir owne appoyntment and not at Gods appoyntment â—â—rough his power and mercie in Christ. Of which kynd of people the cowardlinesse is so much the more shamefull and blamewoorthie bycause God hath giuen them such a Sauyour Captein as is both able willing too minister strength too them bee they neuer so weake and feeble health bee they neuer so sicke or diseazed soundnesse bee they neuer so sore wounded or maymed corage bee they neuer so faynt and weery victory bee they neuer so much oppressed and ouermatched ryghtuousnesse bee they neuer so sinfull and wicked yea and euen lyfe though they bee dead For Christ himselfe beeing the Phisition of our soules our health our welfare our lyght our resurrection our lyfe and the very truth it selfe which cannot lye nor deceyue to the intent wee should bee willing too resott vntoo him and haue assured warrant of hope and comfort calleth and allureth vs in this wyse vntoo him Come vntoo mee all yee that are weery and ouerloden and I will refreshe you Bee of good cheere I haue ouercome the world and so shall you also by fayth in mee Although your sinnes bee as read as scarlet I will make them as whyte as snowe I will refuze none that commeth to mee but though he bee dead yit shall he lyue for I will rayze him vp at the last day If yee suffer with mee yee shall also reigne with mee in glory Resist the diuell and he shall flee from you so that the verye gates of hell shall not preuayle ageinst you Aske what you will of my father in my name and it shal bee done vntoo you Aske and yee shal haue seeke and yee shall fynd knocke and it shal bee opened vntoo you possesse yee your soules through pacience Besydes this he putteth vs not too the dooing of any thing which he himselfe hath not first doone for our sakes to giue vs the more comfort and incoragement by his owne example If wee bee tempted so was he If wee bee smitten for our sinnes so was he for he bare our infirmities and the penaltie of our transgressions was layd vppon him If wee be tryed and nurtured with correction of the crosse so was he insomuch that although he was the sonne of God yit learned he obedience by the things that he suffered If wee bee abaced so was he insomuch that wheras it was no robberie in him to bee equall with God bycause he was in the shape of God yit abaced he himselfe by taking vppon him the shape of a seruant and that so farre as he cryeth out in the Psalme I am a worme and no man a very scorning stocke of men and an outcast of the people If the terrour of Gods wrath for sin doo abash our harts so did it abash his and that so sore as he was fayne too crye out O God my God why hast thou forsaken mee If wee suffer want and penury so did he for he had not whereon too rest his head Finally he became lyke vnto vs in all things sauing onely in sinne to the intent that wee hauing a Hygh priest which could bee touched with the feeling of our infirmities might boldly preace to the throne of grace to obteyne mercy and fauour to our releefe and helpe in dew time Assuring our selues that if wee fashion our selues lyke vntoo his image in sufferance in patience in humilitie in fayth in hope in loue and in resistence of sinne wee shall also bee made lyke vnto him in glory Wherefore let vs take his yoke vppon vs for it is sweete let vs sticke to him in weale and wo 〈◊〉 he will not forsake vs and let vs fence our selues aforehand with the armour and weapons that Saint Paule speaketh of in his present Epistle that wee may bee able to stand fast in these euill dayes wherin Satan the old serpent leaueth nothing vnattempted that may destroy or impayre our fayth and that wee may bee able to beare out the brunt of afflictions which God iustly may and I feare mee shortly will cast vppon vs for our carelesse hearing and more carelesse slowe and negligent following of his word so plentifully preached among vs if wee conuert not by speedie amendment Let such as are yit weake learne to grow from fayth to fayth from knowledge to knowledge in Iesus Christ. Let them as sayth S. Peter indeuer by all meanes to adde too their fayth strength to their strength knowledge to their knowledge stayednesse to their stayednesse pacience to their pacience godlynesse to their godlynesse kynd hartednesse and to their kynd hartednesse loue And whyle they bee proceeding too perfection by those degrees I counsell them in the meane season too reuerence the mysteries which God hath not yit reuealed vnto them nother despayring of their owne saluation for want of deepe and exquisite knowledge for to whom much is giuen of him much shall bee requyred and to whom lesse is giuen of him lesse shall bee required nor refuzing too learne least they fall intoo the sinne of contempt nor grudging at thoze too whom God hath giuen a greater lyght of vnderstanding in such misteries nor yit diffaming the doctrine it selfe which is vttered by the holy Ghost for their comfort if they could conceyue it aryght Agein on the other syde I couÌ„sell the stronger sort euen for Christes sake who beeing the Lord of al power became weake for our sakes too trayne foreward the weakelings with all myldnesse of spirit not with disputing but with gentle exhortation and incoragement and too cheere vp the faynt handes and feeble knees eche bearing so with others infirmities and helping too guyde their feete in the ryght pathes as God may bee gloryfyed on all handes through Iesus christ And as for the vnreuerend and wicked wilfull scorners wee may let them alone vntoo God without casting of our pearles before swyne or wiâ—hout giuing of our holy things vnto Dogges least Gods name bee blasphemed and rayled vppon by our occasion But yit ought wee of christian charitie too pray for them if peraduenture the goodnesse and long sufferance of God may win them too repentance that they may acknowledge the truth and scaping out of the diuels snares wherein they bee hild prizoners come too their ryght myndes and performe the will of god For wee our selues also bee compassed about with innumerable infirmities and haue neede of continuall mercy at Gods hand nother is there any of vs all that standeth by his owne strength or that can assure himselfe too hold out one minute of an houre but by the helpe of God through christ Therefore let euery one that calleth vppon the name of Christ that is too wit which professeth himselfe a Christian depart from iniquitie Let him that seemeth to stand take heede that he fall not And finally let vs
all indeuer to warrant our calling and election by good and godly conuersation and so shall the way bee layed open for vs to enter into the euerlasting kingdome of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ to whom bee all honour glory and dominion for euer and euer Amen Thus much haue I presuming vpon your graces good fauour and sufferance aduentured to wryte of this deepe but yit moste comfortable poynt of Christen doctrine so farre foorth as myght beseeme the breefnesse of an Epistle and as too my poore skill hath seemed necessarie too giue the simple reader an enterance into the substance of this booke that he myght the eazlyer conceyue and the better vnderstand and digest the doctrine of this Epistle and of the Sermons written vppon the same And therfore I haue had a speciall care to set downe the matter as playnly and comfortably as I could holding my selfe alwayes to the present cace without stepping asyde into any bymatters and without auouching anything which is not warranted by Gods expresse woord Agein I haue bin the sparer in woordes and sentences of myne owne bycause of the greate profoundnesse of the diuine doctrine which cannot bee handled with too greate reuerence the rather bycause I see that the more godly and skilfull men are in matters of Religion the warer and circumspecter they bee is dealing with the foresayd doctrine eyther in familiar talk conference or in giuing it forth in their Sermons writings And as for the author of these Sermons I shal not neede to coÌ„mend him to your grace bycause that you whose study is imployed in matters of diuinitie and good gouernment of the Church are better acquaynted with him thaÌ„ I therfore cannot be ignorant of the goodnes of his writings wherof this is not the first part nor I hope the last that hath and shal be put forth both by mee and others I trust to the benefyte of our common country Wherefore omitting too trubble you any further in that behalfe I beseech your goodnesse to beare with my boldnesse and also with myne ouersyghtes where any haue scaped mee in this translation and to further this my trauell with your fauour as you doo the lyke proceedings that tend to the aduauncement of Gods glory by the edifying of his Church Surely my purpose and desyre was that it should haue bin a first fruite or at leastwise among the first fruites of such maner of presents as were offered your grace at your returne into the South to welcome you to your See of Caunterbury if the time would haue serued to haue had it conueniently printed for it was fully translated and deliuered out of handes a good while afore Neuerthelesse my trust is that a woorke so beneficiall to the Church of God shall not bee the lesse acceptable to you though it come not with such speede as I gladly would it should haue doone which thing I beseeche your goodnesse with all reuerend humilitie too graunt praying God too power vppon you such abundance of his heauenly grace and holy spirit as the place of high preheminence wherin he hath set your most reuerend fatherhood requyreth that wee may long inioy your furtherance to the continuall benefyte of his Church Written at Clare in Suffolke the .vii. of Ianuary 1576. Your good graces most humble Oratour alwayes at your commaundement Arthur Golding To all Christians baptized in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost dwelling or abyding in Fraunce greeting IT is a wondrous mattâ—r right deerly beleued brethren how all of vs glory in our Baptim and yit consider not all with one accord what that marke importeth of iâ— owne nature namely by following the intent of him that is the author of it For no doubt but if wee did so wee should all ioyne toogither in one holy consent too woorship the onely one God in spirit and truth and to acknowledge Iesus Christ for our onely Sauyour Aduocate Mayster yea and Lord as touching the gouernment of our soules and consciences and wee would take his â—nely woord for our wisdome guyde and rule of our whole lyfe and specially of his seruice without mingling of the inuentions of mans brayne with it how great antiquitie or countenance so euer they seeme too haue Yea and for the outward gouernment and visible order of the Church wee would hold vs to that which our Lord Iesus Christ in whose name wee were Baptyzed hath shewed thereof too his Apostles and by them inioyneth the whole world too followe euen vntoo the last day And certeynly then should the straunge confuzion and diuisions ceasse which are too bee seene in Christendome wherof those are the cause which will not harken vntoo God and yeeld full authoritie too his woord which fault shal bee layd too their charge at the iudgment of God vnlesse they turne a new leafe The Lord and Father of mercie graunt them grace so too doo according as supplication is made too him for them in all holy assemblies where he is called vppon according too his will in the onely name of Iesus Christ. That is the thing which wee desire For heere the cace concerneth not the bringing in of some newe deuyce after the fancie of men nother stryue wee too make the victorie fall vppon mens sides whatsoeuer they bee as some surmyze but that God and his woord may haue the vpper hand ageinst all abuses superstitions and lyes of Satan and 〈◊〉 we may all toogither giue glory too our God confessing that both 〈◊〉 and our fathers haue ouershamefully forgotten him insomuch 〈◊〉 haue not folowed his holy Lawe but haue bowed asyde both 〈…〉 the ryght hand and too the left And truly whensoeuer we reade 〈◊〉 woord in a tung that wee vnderstand or heare it preached and 〈◊〉 â—â—clared purely he allureth vs too him too make the lyke acknowâ—â—â—gedment And he hath doone so much in these late yeeres by striâ—â—ng with his mercie ageinst the malice of the world that dyuerse â—aue returned intoo the ryghtway whom others yea euen of all deâ—rees doo followe styll anew But yit is not that ynough vnlesse thâ— residew which haue hithertoo bin deaf or asleepe doo bethinke themselues too awake in good earnest and too haue eares too heare aâ— sayeth Iesus Christ. Therefore wee intreate and exhort them too it 〈◊〉 Gods name that they may discharge themselues of the promis whereuntoo their Baptim dooth secretly bynd them as hath bin sayd And too further them therein besydes the lyuely voyces of the trew â—inisters and other bookes conteyning faythfull expositions of the Scripture wee offer them heere the Sermons of M. Iohn Caluin vppon the Epistle of the Apostle Saint Paule too the Ephesians where as wee hope they shall haue matter too fare the better by for the playner vnderstanding of the things which they shall eyther heare preached or reade alone by themselues afterward Too mak long rehersall of things that myght bee alledged in commendation
deede he disputeth not much of it heere bycause it was knowen well ynough in the Church of Ephesits But forasmuch as the GalathiaÌ„s had bin trubbled by deceyuers in so much that S. Paules authoritie yea and the name of God himselfe had bin disgraced there wee sawe howe he mainteyned his owne state telling them that the reuerence dew too an Apostle of Iesus Christ coulde not bee taken from him without ouerthrowing the order of god And therfore it is ynough for him heere too haue sayd in one woord that he is an Apostle of Iesus Christ. Let vs come too the seconde poynt which I touched namely that it is not ynough for a man too bee called except he discharge his dewtie with a pure conscience and vpright dealing in his office â–ª which thing S. Paule tooke vppon him as a thing out of all Qutesion and he had giuen sufficient proofe of it The deceyuers may well boast themselues with full mouth that they bee called as wee see they doo For all they that fight ageinst God and his woord and sowe trubble and darnell in his Church would fayne make a buckler of their calling and also of their zeale for they will needes bee called Christians yea more too But S. Paule had sufficiently proued that he came not of himselfe ne sought any thing else than too spend himselfe in the building vp of the Church And forasmuch as the same was well knowen in Ephesus as wee may gather by the storie of S. Luke yea and that he had borne out many a hard brunt therefore he thinketh it ynough too say in one woorde that he is an Apostle of our Lorde Iesus Christ. And heere wee bee warned first too holde our selues too the pure doctrine which wee knowe too haue proceeded from God for wee cannot doo amisse if wee followe that rule And bycause that in our Lord Iesus Christ wee haue the performance of all that is requisite and needefull for our instruction so as wee neede not too doubt whither wee may hold vs too the Gospell or adde somewhat too it Let vs bee coâ—tented too take the sonne of God for our mayster specially such he voutâ—afeth too stoope so lowe as too take that charge vppon him and also protesteth that if wee haue profited well in his doctrine wee shall come too the trew marke wheruntoo wee should go Yee see then that the first lessâ—n which wee haue too gather vpon this text is that our faith must not wauer one way nor other but haue a sure and vnmoueable foundation too rest vppon that is too wit Gods truth euen as it is conteyned in the Gospell And seyng that S. Paule is sufficiently auowed vntoo vs let vs not doubt but Gods spirit speaketh too vs at this day by his mouth nother let vs heere the doctrine as though it were subiecâ— too our iudgement but let vs imprizon our owne vndersâ—â—â—ding wittes and receyue it without scanning except wee will wilfully make warre ageinst God and aduaunce our selues aboue him And so that is one of the thinges which wee haue too marke vppon this text Furthermore too the ende that this doctrine may not onely bee reuerenced among vs but also bee amiable too vs let vs marke that S. Paule speaketh in the name of Christ who was sent vntoo vs of God his father too bring vs glad tydinges of peace and also let vs beare in mynd how he sayeth in another text that he was ordeyned too bring the message of attonement and beseecheth men in Gods name too bee reconcyled too god Now I told you that this was done too make the doctrine of the Gospell sweete that wee myght bee desirous of it and giue our selues 〈◊〉 too it For whensoeuer it is told vs that God speaketh too vs 〈…〉 it is ynough too authorize all that he shall speake but yet might 〈…〉 at his voyce and therwithall bee weerie of it according 〈…〉 see a great muâ—ber confesse well ynough that God deserueth 〈…〉 obeyed and too haue all men subiect to him but in the meane 〈…〉 they start away and shun him as farre as they can bycause his 〈…〉 maketh them afrayd But when Iesus Christ speaketh too vs 〈…〉 mediator betweene God and men wee may go too him boldly 〈…〉 as it is sayd in the Epistle too the Hebrewes wee bee no more 〈…〉 were at Mount Sinay where the lyghtenings flashed in the aire 〈◊〉 the Lawe was published in so much that if a beast had come 〈◊〉 it it must haue dyed The voyce therefore which God vttered at 〈◊〉 time was terrible But now a dayes seyng he incorageth vs by 〈◊〉 Gospell to receyue the grace that he offereth vs and is mynded too 〈◊〉 away the rememberance of our sinnes let vs suffer our selues 〈…〉 iustifyed by his free goodnesse and let vs bee peasable and 〈…〉 vntoo him For that ought well too moue vs too resort vntoo him 〈…〉 poore hungrie soules to bee fed with the heauenly foode that he 〈…〉 giue vs Thus yee see in effect what wee haue too remember when 〈…〉 Paule calleth himselfe the Apostle of Iesus Christ. Whereas he addeth that it is by the vvill of God it serueth too 〈◊〉 off all scanning too the ende that men should not blame him of preâ—â—â—ptuosnesse as though he thought himself of more reputation than 〈◊〉 men For he protesseth that it was not for any woorthinesse of his 〈◊〉 but bycause it had pleased God too chcoze him too that office 〈…〉 surely it is no feyned humilitie that he sayeth he was set in that 〈◊〉 by Gods mere grace choozing For wee see how he protesteth 〈◊〉 other places that he is not woorthy of such honour but rather had 〈◊〉 serued vtter damnation and therefore was too bee taken as a 〈…〉 of Gods infinite goodnesse in that he had exalted him so high 〈…〉 him that had bin a murtherer of Christians that had shed the blud 〈…〉 the Martirs and that had rayled ageynst God and his woord as he 〈◊〉 reporteth it Wee see then that there was no feynednesse in 〈◊〉 is confession of his where he sayeth that he was set in that state and 〈◊〉 â—gree by the onely will of god And this serueth vs too great purpose 〈◊〉 too the intent wee esteeme not Gods woord after the qualitie of 〈◊〉 that bring it too vs For one of the ordinarie polices which the diuell vseth too diminish the reuerence of Gods woord withall is too outface vs with the persons that bring it Now it is certaine that wee bee frayle vessels and of no valew yea and euen as good as broken pots What is there in them whom God hath ordeyned too bee the ministers of his word But it is the treasure alwayes inestimable notwithstanding the dyspizednesse of the vessells Then let vs marke that when men come too warrant vs the forgiuenesse of our sinnes the saluation which wee ought too hope for our fayth must mount
toogether in the person of his onely sonne euen vs that haue so torne a sunder the thinges that he had set in so goodly order And for the same cause S. Paule speaketh heere not only of men which were estraunged from God afore by reason of sin but also of all things that are in heauen and earth wherin he comprehendeth euen the verye Angells For although Gods glorie shyne foorth in them and that they were neuer yit separated from him yit neuerthelesse it stoode them on hand too beâ— gathered toogither by our Lord Iesus Christ and that after twoo sorts For albeeit that they neuer swarued asyde ne fell from that they were at the first and that Gods ryghtuousnesse doo alwayes shewe it self in them insomuch that they bee as it were mirrours and paternes of it yit notwithstanding if God liâ—ted too looke vppon them with rigour they should fynd themselues farre short of the perfection of ryghtuousnesse that is in him as it is sayd in the booke of Iob. Furthermore there is yit one other reason too bee matched with this which is that the Aungells should not hane such constancie and stedinesse as were requisyte vnlesse Iesus Christ had so stablished them as they myght neuer fall Thus yee see one way how they were gathered togither But this gathering wherof S. Paule speaketh heere is in respect of their vniting agein vntoo vs For wee knowe that inasmuch as wee were banished out of Gods kingdome wee were cut of from all hope of saluation so as the Angells were by and by fayne too become our enemies and should bee so still were it not for the attonement which wee haue with them agein by meanes of the head which is common too vs both And heere yee see also why that in the ladder that was shewed vntoo Iacob it is said that God stood vppon the toppe of it and touched both heauen and earth and that the Angells went vp and downe on it Now our Lord Iesus Christ is the trew liuing and euerlasting God which touched both heauen â–ª and earth bycause that in his persone God hath knit his owne diuine being or substance and the nature of man toogither Thus therefore yee see that heauen is open so as the Angells begin too acquaynt themselues with vs yea and too become our seruants as is sayd in the Epistle too the Hebrewes bycause the care of our soules is committed vntoo them and they as is sayd in the thirtie and foure Psalme incamp about vs and watch vs and are our keepers Yee see then how wee bee vnited agein too the Angells of heauen by our Lord Iesus Christ. And that is the cause also why he sayd from hensfoorth yee shall see the heauens open and the sonne of man comming downe in his maiestie with his Angells Whereby he doeth vs too wit that heauen was shet ageinst vs and that wee also were vnwoorthie too fynd any fauour at Gods hand that yit notwithstanding now that he is come too bee our head and hath made the attonement betweene his father and vs and taken vppon him the office of mediator is become the head not only of the faythfull but also of the Angells he hath gathered all toogither agein in such wyse that wheras the diuells make warre ageinst vs and practize our destruction without ceassing the Angells are armed with infinite power too maynteyne vs And although wee see them not with our eyes yit must wee certeynly beleeue that they watch for our welfare Otherwyse what a thing were it For wee knowe that the diuell is as a roring Lion and seeketh nothing else but too deuoure vs Wee see what a number of â—â—yghts he hath too wynd about vs with Needes then must the Angells haue an infinite power too defend vs withall Also it must needes bee that wee bee preserued vnder the protection of our Lorde Iesus Christ who is both their head and ours too Thus yee see briefly that the thing which S. Paule ment too tell vs in this Text where he saith that we are gathered togither agein is that wee were scattered asunder before that wee bee not onely reconciled to God by the death and Passion of our Lord Iesus Christ but also now henceforth knyt ageyn vntoo the Angelles so as they are become our brethren and fellowes and God hath giuen them charge too guide and mainteyne vs in all our wayes and to watche ouer vs and to be in continuall battell for the withstandyng of all the enemyes that make warre ageynst vs tyll wee be gathered all together intoo the rest of heauen Now let vs cast our selues downe before the maiestie of our good God with acknowledgment of our faultes praying him too make vs so too feele them as it may drawe vs too trew repentance and make vs to continue the same all the tyme of our lyfe and that yit notwithstanding wee may not ceasse too trust in him and too offer our selues boldly in his sight forasmuch as our sinnes are scoured out by the blud that was shed for the washing of them and that wee may so frame our selues too this doctrine as wee may all the tyme of our lyfe acknowledge that seyng he hath purchaced vs so deerely wee ought too giue our selues wholy too his seruice and that seyng he hath shewed himselfe so good a redeemer towardes vs wee may not doubt but he wyll continue his goodnesse from day too day too the full finishing of the thing that he hath begunne and strengthen vs in all assaultes tyll he haue deliuered vs from the crueltie of Satan and of all his vpholders yea and quyte and cleane taken vs out of the world too make vs parttakers of the happie blissednesse whereuntoo he calleth vs That it may please him too graunt this grace not onely too vs but also too all people and nacions c. The fifth Sermon vpon the first Chapter 13. You also doo trust in Christ vppon the hearing of the word of truth that is too say of the glad tydings of your saluation by beleeuing vvhereof you also are sealed vvith the holy spirit of the promise 14. VVhich is the earnest penny of our inheritance vntoo the redeeming of the purchaced possession too the prayse of his glory WEe haue seene heeretoofore how S. Paule hath declared that there is none other grounde of our saluation than Gods free goodnesse and that wee must not seeke any where else for the cause why he choozeth the one and forsaketh the other For it becommeth vs too holde our selues contented with his onely will purpose vnchaungeable determination And whosoeuer goeth any further must needes stumble intoo such a dimgeon through his owne rashnesse as he shall feele that such as cannot honour Gods maiestie and euerlasting ordinance with all lowlynesse and reuerence must euery one of them say I come too shame Therefore whensoeuer we come to the serching of the cause of our saluation let
he liketh well of And what is the cause of it Wee are all of vs the chyldren of Adam and we are all of one mould Why then inlighteneth hee the one sort and letteth the other alone in their blyndnesse There is none other cause but his owne choyse So then although we can not conceyue nother by wyt nor by reason howe God hath chozen vs before the making of the world yit wee know it by his shewing of it vntoo vs and experience it selfe auoucheth it sufficiently in asmuch as we be inlightened by faith What is the cause that I receyue the Gospell and sticke to it and in the meane whyle others abyde styl in their beastly blockishnesse or rather beare a spiteful rancour ageynst the doctrine of saluation If I imagine that it commeth of myne owne towardnesse I am a traytour too god For wee must alwayes come backe to that which wee haue seene alredy and say Who is hee that hath made thee to excel others S. Paule then dooth in that saying pull downe all loftinesse of man to the end that no man should aduance hymselfe nor alledge that he hath â—ught of his owne Wee must not thinke saith he that wee haue any woorthynesse of our selues but that euery whit of it commeth of god Therfore in this Text S. Paule sheweth by experience howe the Eâ—â—esians had byn chozen of God that it behoued them to haue their â—â—ole faith grounded thereupon that is to wyt vpon Gods free goodâ—â—sse And for proofe thereof saith he ye haue heard the doctrine of 〈◊〉 Gospell and beleeued it But how commes that to passe He sheâ—â—th that it must needes bee that they were confirmed by the holy Ghost Now if they were confirmed it was of necessitie that the holy ghost must needes haue wrought beforehand And so it is to no purpose to enter intoo so deepe a maze as Gods euerlasting ordinaunce For he sheweth vs as it were with his finger how he hath chozen vs at least wise if we play not the churles with hym but acknowledge the good that he hath done vs and bee fully perswaded and resolued in our selues that there is none other cause of it than for that hee had giuen vs his marke from before all euerlastingnesse that is too say for that he had reserued vs too hym selfe as his owne chyldren Nowe then wee see S. Paules meanyng and therfore let vs learne too leaue making of long raunges when the cace concerneth our imputyng of all things to Gods onely mere mercy For the faith that we haue dooth shew it wel ynough â–ª bycause that as I haâ—e sayd afore the same commeth not from our owne moother witte but as a gifte that commeth from aboue such a one as God communicateth not too all men without exception but onely so such as he lysteth Furthermore heere are many woords well worth the weying For on the one syde S. Paule intendeth too magnifie the grace of the holy Ghost by shewing that wee can haue no part nor portion in our Lord Iesus Christ nor in any of all the benefites that he hath purchased for vs except God put vs in possession of our saluation by his holie spirit That therfore is one poynt And yit notwithstanding S. Paule fayleth not too shew therwithall the ineâ—timable benyfite that wee haue by the Gospell in that he termeth it the woord of truth and the glad â—ydings of saluation For first of all he ment too assure vs too the inâ—ent wee myght haue an infallible warrant too call vppon God without doubting or grudge of conscience For so long as wee bee in doubt whether God loue vs or hat vs it is vnpossible for vs too praye truly vntoo him And so by that meanes yee see how our saluation is vtterly defeated according too that which is sayd by the Prophet Ioell And it is a common doctrine in the holy scripture that wee cannot obteyne saluation but by fleeing vntoo Gyd with prayer and supplication But wee should be shet out from that if wee had not the sayd warrant as wee shall see more fully in the third chapter Therfore it stands vs 〈◊〉 too be throughly assured that God is our father and that he accepteth vs for his children And how shall wee bee warranted that vnlesse the doctrine of the Gospell bee so certeyne in all poynts as it bee not lawfull for vs to bring it in question That therfore is the cause why S. Paule sayeth that it is the word of truth No doubt but there are other truthes also for euen when God threatneth vs he dooth it not in â—est nor yit in vayne for as well his threatninges as his promises haue their execution sure and certeyne Howbeeit forasmuch as the present cace concerned the correcting of al distrust in vs as wherunto we be to much inclined S. Paule hath termed the Gospell the doctrine of truth as if he should say my frendes God is a faithfull witnesse vntoo you of his owne wyll for the Gospell is as much as if he laid forth his hart vntoo you and therefore settle your selues vppon it Moreouer also he saith that our saluation lyeth inclosed in the Gospell and that it is too make vs too looue it and esteeme it For should we be so wirlesse or rather starke mad as to holde scorne of our owne welfare But yit notwithstandyng he saith that al this commeth of Gods mere mercy and of his euerlasting electioÌ„ which as in respect of our selues is farre of and vnknowen too vs but we haue knowledge of it by the Gospell which is the meanes and instrument therof For too what purpose were it that our Lorde Iesus Christ hath offered hym felfe in sacrifice too reconcile the worlde to God his father vnlesse wee were made partakers of it by faith Now faith is not an opinion of mans conceyuyng in his owne brayne but a setled beleefe that God cannot lye nor deceyue vs and that it is not to be feared that our hope shall not come too good end if wee wayt vpon hym So then too be short S. Paules intent was to shewe that if we haue the skyll to make our profit of the doctrine of the gospell wee shall no longer stand in a mamering and perplexitie but shal be able to call vppon God with open mouth acknowledgyng our selues so bound and wholly indetted vntoo hym in all things as wee feare not but that he auoweth vs for his children and are accepted at his hande and that hee heareth vs in all the prayers that wee make vntoo hym Thus much concernyng the first poynt Therfore according to S. Paules exhortation â–ª let vs learne to rest in suche wise vppon the doctrine of the gospell that it may bee as much too vs as if God shewed hymselfe visibly vntoo vs and that the heauens were opened vntoo vs and let vs alwayes beare in mynde howe it is anouched by the mouth of our Lord Iesus Christ hymselfe that when
one spirit yit are the gyftes diuers and they be distributed to euery of vs in measure and as it pleaseth hym to giue them There is none but Iesus Christe whiche hath receyued them fully He onely is the fountaine that can neuer be drayned dry it is he vpon whom Gods spirit reâ—teth to the end that we should al of vs bee made partakers of it And for our owne parts let vs acknowledge that the wizest of vs haue neede too bee alwayes scolâ—ers and too learne styll euen to our dying day Howbeit by the way let vs marke that this woorde Reuelation condemneth vs of al blyndesse For wee haue our eyes open too discerne betweene white and blacke wee see the Sunne and the Moone wee see these worldly things and are able to iudge of them wee neede no newe Reuelation for that geere for wee haue it of nature True it is that our eyes are instrumentes of Gods power and goodnesse wherby he maketh vs to inioye the light but that is a common thing But heere S. Paule sheweth vs that wee bee blynd and that we conceyue not any whyt of Gods spirituall grace except he open our eyes and take away the kercheefe or veyle that is before them yea and giue vs a newe sight which wee haue not For wee haue our eyes woorse thaÌ„ stopped vntyl he inlighten them by his holy spirit Thus ye see what wee haue too beare in mynde And that is the thing which he proceedeth styl withal Namely saith he too haue the eyes of your vnderstanding inlightened But a man might reply If wee haue the spirit of Reuelation alredy why haue wee neede of it Uerily as who should say you sawe nothing at all True it is that you see partly but you haue your eyes styll too much dymmed And this may be said generally of al men according as it is saide that in this worlde wee see thinges but dâ—â—ly and as it were through a glasse tyll wee bee able to behold God in his heauenly glory at which tyme we shal be fashioned lyke vntoo hym Ageyâ—e too the intent that men shoulde not alledge and say Mâ—st God then reuele thinges in suche wise vntoo vs as if wee were in such taking that wee could see nothing at all And shall a man bee as a bruâ—e beast without discretion or iudgement To answeare heereunto it is true that wee haue some wyt but yit are wee blynd for all that bycause wee be corrupted by sin God therfore must bee fayne too giue vs new eyes as I sayd afore And he addeth the woord wisdome the better too beate downe the fond ouerweening that men conceyue in themselues when they will needes flye without wings too come vntoo god For there is not that man which woulde not bee wyse If wee desyred trew wisedome by seeking it at Gods hand it were a good and well ruled desyre But there are twoo faults in vs for wee will needes bee wyze after our owne conceyt Am I not wyze ynough too gouerne my selfe wyll a foole say And in the meane whyle wee despyze Gods word and euery of vs will needes haue the â—rydle layd looce in our necke and haue leaue giuen him too doo what he thinketh good But that is too great an ouerweening The other vyce is that in reading the holy scripture wee still imagin too come too the knowledge of the things that are conteyned there by our owne discretion But heere both twayne of them are excluded by S. Paule For when as he desyreth God too giue his faythfull ones the spirit of wisdome he sheweth that they haue no discretion no more than brute beastes except it bee by the guyding of our Lord Iesus Christ of purpose too come too the kingdome of heauen For euen in ciuill matters and worldly affayres God giueth it not too any but too such as he thinketh good Now if he keepe his speciall goodnesse alwayes too himselfe too giue discretion too whom he listeth too guyde himselfe withall in these bace things of the world then dooth he make the vnbeleeuers too bee well syghted and therefore when the cace concerneth the heauenly lyfe there is no preparation in vs And so S. Paule presuppozeth the thing which I haue sayd already namely that wee must bee taught at Gods hand too know him by the doctrine of truth through the record of the Gospell for without that wee shoulde bee lyke these fantasticall fellowes which roue vnder the pretence of hauing the reuelation of Gods holy spirit howbeeit that is not after the maner that S. Paule taketh the word Reuelation when he prayeth God too giue it too his children As for example when Iesus Christ speaketh of his spirit he doth not separate it from the doctrine that he had preached When the spirit commeth sayeth he he shall tell you all truth And how is that Had not the Apostles receyued it alredy Yis but he addeth he shall shewe you the things that you heare now of my mouth Too bee short it is the peculiar office of the holy Ghost to teach vs in such wise as the word which we heare may therwithall haue his course place and as we may profit in the same And theruppon S. Paule sheweth also wherin lyeth all our light and knowledge namely in knowing God in the person of his onely sonne That say â—is the thing wherwith we must content our selues For if wee haue â—iâ—klishe wits too bee inquisitiue of the things that passe our capacitâ—e Let vs consider a little how weake and rawe our vnderstanding is And if our wits be so grosse heauie how shall wee doo when wee would sâ—ye aboue heauen and earth Are wee able too comprehend all that in so small a roome Yit neuerthelesse we see how men take vnmeasurable leaue to bee inquisitiue of this and that to put foorth questions in way of pleading and disputing ageinst god For this cause S. Paule sheweth vs here that if wee mynde too bee wize it behoueth vs too bee sober that is too wit we must vnderstand what manner a thing God and our Lord Iesus Christ is as he himselfe will shew anone after that when wee be once come to that poynt wee haue so much as ought wel too suffize vs and if wee presume too go any further it is but a wilfull ouerthrowing of our selues S. Paule then wil shew that more at length hereafter but it ought to suffize vs that as wel in this text as in all the whole holy scripture we ought too learne which is the God whom wee ought too serue what is his will how we may haue our trust in him what entraÌ„ce we may haue to pray too him and too flie too him for succour at all times That is the thing wherunto we must imploy our selues But that caÌ„not be doone vnlesse al that euer we haue neede of and is auaylable to our welfare be too bee had in Iesus Christ in whom God hath manifested himself
you bee saued 6. And rayzed vs vvith him and made vs sit vvith him in heauenly places in Iesus Christ. I Began this morning too shewe you how S. Paule ment too stretch out Gods goodnesse vntoo all men too the intent that none should haue cause too boast of himselfe as though he had any woorthinesse alone by himself And truly if euer there were any nation in the world aduaunced aboue others it was the Iewes forsomuchas God had accepted them for his owne houshold and called them a holie linage and his owne inheritaunce In that respect therfore the Iewes seemed well woorthie too haue preheminence aboue others Howbeit too the end that none should darken the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ he sayeth that euer they also were the children of wrath so as it stoode theÌ„ on hand â—o lie drawen out of the dungeon of confuzion wherof I spake this morning Too bee short S. Paule sheweth heere that euen those whom men woold deeme too bee the excellentest can bring nothing wherof too brag or too purchace themselues estimation before God but are all receyued too grace too bee made heires of the heauenly lyfe by meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ. Now heere myght a question be demaunded why S. Paule setteth the heathen men on euen ground with the Iewes seing that God had set such oddes betwixt them For it myght seeme that all the promises were disanulled and that were a dooing of wrong vntoo God rather than vntoo men If wee graunt as of necessitie and reason wee needs must that Gods choozing of Abrahams ofspring was not in vayne and that his telling of them that he accepted them too bee of his houshold Church was not too deceyue them they must needes be neerer more familiar vntoo God and they must needes haue some marke wherby too bee gathered vntoo him It seemeth then that S. Paule should not haue abaced the Iewes after that sort But in another place he sheweth that all this geere agrees full well if wee consider the Iewes on the one syde in the state of Gods chozen and peculiar people and on the other syde what they bee of themselues and what they haue deserued before god For in the Epistle too the Romans after that S. Paule hath giuen sentence vppon the whole world shewing that there is not any one which is not damned and forlorne he moueth this question Seing then that God gathered Abrahams linage and dedicated it wholly too himself what shall become of them Shall there bee no holinesse in them For it seeemeth else that God had but dalyed and that his saying in the holie scriptures that he had not delt so with any other nation was nothing woorth But S. Paule sayeth that of a truth men ought too commend the grace that God voutsafed too shewe foorth vppon his people and so consequently that they are too bee preferred before all the whole world so farre foorth as they be indewed with the benefytes which they had by Gods promises Hewbeit he addeth foorthwith that in asmuch as they bee descended of Adams race and are sinners as well as all other men and there is nothing in our whole nature but corruption and frowardnesse all men must bee fayne too stoope and all of vs must needes acknowledg that one of vs cannot bee sholed out fâ—om another according as wee haue seene heeâ—toofore in the second chapter too the Galathians where S. Paule told S. Peter thus Yea wee bee Iewes by nature and it seemeth that wee ought too go alone by our selues seing that God is our King and hath sanctifyed vs and voutsafeth too dwel among vs Well then it seemeth at the first blush that wee should shake of the Gentyles as vncleane persons and such as haue none acquaintance with god But let vs come too account sayeth he aâ—â— there is none of vs all but he is indaungered vntoo God must needes perceyue himselfe too bee a wretched sinner Sith it is so God must bee the iudge of all men and we must needes sinke before his maiestie till wee bee reconcyled vntoo him by our Lord Iesus Christ. Too bee short S. Paules meaning in this text is not too deface Gods grace but too shewe that the Iewes had not any other meane in themselues whereby too obteyne the saluation and heritage of heauen than onely by beyng members of our Lord Iesus Christ and that they must alwayes bee fayne too take themselues first for cursed and damned For the woorthinesse which they haue is but as a wyndfall they be borne in sinne and subiect too cursednesse no lesse than all other men and Gods accepting and choozing of them too himself was a speciall and as they saye a supernaturall gift Yee see then that by nature the Iewes are forlorne as well as the rest of the whole world and yit neuerthelesse that God hath also receiued them too mercy By the way wee must marke that vnder the word Nature Saynt Paule sheweth not only that wee bee sinners by custome so as euery of vs thrusteth his fellowe out of the way and wee bee too much inclyned too followe the euill rather than the good but also that there is a further matter in it which is that euery of vs bringeth sinne with him euen from his birth Too eate and too drinke are things that accompany vs but yit is sinne more rooted in vs than all the things that belong too this lyfe Truely the heathen men will thinke it straunge that the young babes which are not able too discerne betweene good and euill nor haue any discrecion or will should alreadie bee sinners and damned before God according too S. Paules saying who calleth them the children of wrath but yit must wee needes yeelde our selues too condemnation whether we wil or no. As soone as babes bee able too make any signe it is certeyne that they will shewe inough and too much that they bee froward and naughtie and that there is a secrete poyson lurking in them â–ª And that although they cast it not out at the first yit they bee as a broode of serpentes Sith it is so let vs vnderstand that Saint Paule dooth not without cause call vs the children of wrath as well as the Iewes not excepting the very infantes out of the number whom men terme innocents and take them so to bee For wee must not regarde our owne opinion nor the things that wee see before our eyes but wee must giue glory vntoo God who is the competeent iudge thereof although wee finde it incomprehensible How soeuer the world go wee must alwayes come backe too that which is sayd in the one and fiftith Psalme namely that wee not onely offend God dayly in diuerse manners but also are lothsome too hym before-hand yea euen before wee haue eyther done or thought any thing bycause wee were begotten in sinne and cursednesse And by that word Children of wrath S. Paule meaneth
is possible Therefore for bycause there haue alwayes bin so many yea and to many that bring their owne consciences a fleepe S. Paule in this place lyke as also in the â—â—ft too the Romanes setteth downe the trâ—w peace which is that when wee come vntoo God and must present our selues before his Maiestie wee bee sure that he will pitie vs and not lay our sinnes to our chage but receyue vs as his owne children Then if we intend to enoye this spirituall peace which passeth all the goods of the world let vs â—earne too haue warre with our selues And how is that It is first too knowe that wee bee damned and forlorne and that there is no hope of remedie for vs wherby too get out of the pit of destruction agein except wee bee recouered by meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ. When wee bee so bereft of all vntoward selftrust in our own deserts and knowe that wee bee emptie and starke naked let vs repayre as poore beggers vntoo God that is the thing that is requisite for the atteynment of trew peace And by the way also let vs not thinke too gayne any thing by being blockishe â–ª so wee should fallâ— sleepe in this world bnt let vs vnderstand that forasmuch as wee haue no certeyne tyme appoynted vs it is our duetye to summon our selues euening and morning before God and too examine our sinnes throughly and too bee both sorie and ashamed of them When wee haue once learned too make warre thus ageinst our owne vyces and too plye it throughly without Hipocrisie and counterfetting then are wee in the hygh way too the peace which our Lord Iesus Christ dooth publish and preache vntoo vs euery day by the Gospell And that is the very cause why S. Paule sayeth expresly that by him wee haue enterance in vntoo the father As if he should say that no vnbeleeuers no heathenish worldlinges no mockers of God no dullardes which thinke not of their euerlasting saluation can by any meanes taste of what valew the peace is which wee obteyne by the Gospell or conceyue how precious and amyable it is And why For they put too many scarfes before their faces too keepe them from beyng abashed at Gods Iustice and from beyng striken with terrour of their sinnes Too bee shorte they make themselues wilfully drunken that they myght haue a senslesse conscience and they bereâ—ue themselues of all vnderstanding as though they were brute beastes But when wee consider that all our welfare consisteth in beyng able too haue all our recourse vntoo God and that our comming too him is certeine also yea and that the way is open for vs too go thither familiarly surely then will wee forget all other things and long too bee made parttakers of our Lord Iesus Christ and too bee vnited intoo his body too the ende that God may receyue vs and wee call vppon him with full trust in our necessitie and settle our selues vppon the loue that he beareth vs not doubting but that whatsoeuer is offered vs in the Gospell is all one as if God vttered his hart among vs. Now S. Paule hauing spoken of the preaching of the Gospell addeth purposely In one Spirit He had sayd afore that wee bee all knit toogither in the flesh of our Lord Iesus Christ namely â–ª for that he tooke our nature vpon him by that meanes abolished and tooke away the cursednesse that was in Adam Neuerthelesse the dooing therof in the person of the sonne of God were not ynough if the Gospell wer not as a meane to him Now therfore for a third poynt S. Paule addeth that wee must communicate all of one spirit For although the Gospell bee preached yit are there manie stubborne persons and others so beâ—narled in this world that they thinke no more of the heauenly lyfe than doggs and Swyne doo Othersome agein are so saped in their hipocrisie that although God doo call vs all and allure vs sweetly too him in the person of his sonne the number of them that come vntoo God is verye small For this cause S. Paule sayth that wee must haue Gods spirit For it is certein that by nature wee bee variable and not only euery one of vs will needs haue his opinion by himselfe but also wee change euery minute of an houre by meanes whereof wee bee so farre of from beeing all of one accorde that none of vs abydeth setled in his opinion from morning to nyght except he bee gouerned of god It standeth vs then on hand when wee heare the Gospell preached too haue Gods spirit to guyde and gouerne vs soo as wee may throughly imbrace our Lord Iesus Christ and by him haue accesse too the father Now therfore wee must beare in mynd first that when our Lord Iesus Christ exhorteth vs by his ministers according also as S. Paule sayeth in the second too the Corinthians wee ought too bee well dispozed too come vnto him yea and to runne vntoo him euen with inforcing our selues aboue all power of man For when wee haue doone what wee can yit shall wee haue none accesse vntoo him but all our indeuer shall rather bee a retyring backe than a going foreward vnlesse his spirit guyde vs So much the more then doth it stand vs on hand too pray God too touch vs with his holy spirit to cause him to make vs way vnto him as is sayd in the eyght to the Romans and as we haue seene also lykewyse too the Galathians For there S. Paule putteth a difference betwixt Gods children and the Reprobats Wee sayeth he haue the spirit of adoption wherby wee crye Abba father Wee should not knowe him of our selnes sayeth he bycause there is nothing in vs but infirmitie and it were too great a rashnesse in vs too call God our father But when God hath once sealed the truth of his Gospell in vs by his holie spirit and inlyghtened vs inwardly so as wee know it is he that speaketh and thertoo hath assured vs of his goodnesse and mercie then may wee freely and with open mouth crye out that he is our father And soo yee see in effect what wee haue too beare in mynd too the intent that none of vs trust too his owne brayne when the Gospell is preached vnto him but that in cosideration of the rudenesse and weaknesse that is in vs wee suffer our selues too bee gouerned by Gods spirit which is the chefe kye wherby the gate of paradise is opened vnto vs And for that cause also is it sayd that wee must be besprinckled with the blud of our Lord Iesus Christ as S. Peter termeth it in his first Epistle For the same cause also the Apostle in the Epistle to the Hebrewes sayth that Iesus Christ was offred vp in spirit meaning that his sacrifyze wherby he purchaced vs ryghtuousnes should still be as a vayne thing to vs if the holie Ghost wrought not in it by his powre And S. Paul
backe from all worldly superstitions dooyng vs too vnderstand that they bee but pelting trashe yea and very dung before God who abhorreth them Therfore wee must growe in spirit And verily wee see that the shadowes of the Lawe â—â—â—assed immediatly as soone as wee had the accomplishment and substance of the body that is too wit our Lord Iesus Christ. And now that he is come wee must not gaze any longer vppon those figures Sith it is so wee ought much rather too giue oâ—er the things that men bring in How hygh and excellent so euer they be let vs cast them from vs as filthinesse hold our selues coÌ„tent with this that our Lord Iesus Christ wil haue vs to build in him after a spirituall manner And so yee see how his doctrine ought too bee sweete and amiable too vs yea and too rauish vs all wholly in loue with it so as wee may giue vp the world with a free harte and giue our selues too our Lord Iesus Christ. But on the other syde also let vs beware that the iudgment which he threatneth vnto such as cast asyde this stone lyght not vppon our heades according too this saying Behold I lay a precious stone in Sion Seing then that Iesus Christ is giuen vs too bee our foundation wee haue there a precious stone whervppon if wee bee builded wee may bee sure of our saluation And wee neede not bee afrayd that he is not strong ynough too vphold vs so as he will neuer fayle vs But if wee fall to iustling ageinst that stone it is cerâ—ein that wee shall not bee able too stand ageinst it but wee shall sink downe vnderneath it and in the end it shall brooze vs and beate vs all too peeces Therfore let vs take heede that our Lord Iesus Christ turne not intoo a stone too stumple at after the manner of the world which now adayes maliceth him insomuch that euery man settes vp his bristles proudly and rebelliously too come russhing ageinst him but let vs bethink our selues well and be meekely dispozed too yeeld our seruice too him that he may maynteyne vs vntoo the end And although wee see Iesus Christ too bee reiected of the world and it may seeme straunge vntoo vs that men should fyght so ageinst him and that he should bee as a whyte to shoote at yit let vs not ceasse too take him still for a precious stone as Saint Peter counselleth vs in the second Chapter of his first Epistle Yee see then that when wee heare these promises which Saint Paule telleth vs of wee ought on the one syde too bee drawen too our Lord Iesus Christ too giue our selues wholly vntoo him and too forgeâ— all the things that seeme most excellent in the world and on the other syde too beware that our vnthankfulnesse bee not punished for disdeyning too receyue him as a precious stone sith that God telleth vs that all our welfare lyeth in this that is too wit that wee bee his Temple and that he bee called vppon at our handes Therefore let vs profit our selues by so great and inestimable a benefite and let vs still growe and increase therin more and more vntill wee come too the heauenly heritage where wee shall haue full fruiâ—ion of all the good things which he maketh vs â—oo feele as yit but by fayth And now let vs fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God with acknowledgement of our sinnes praying him too voutsafe too wyâ—e out the rememberance of them so as they may not come too account before him and that therwithall he so correct vs as wee may cleaue fully vntoo him and he so beare with our infirmities as wee may not ceasse too resort vntoo him freely at al tymes though wee bee not woorthy of it And so let vs all say Almighty God heauenly fafather â–ª c. The .xvi. Sermon which is the first vppon the third Chapter 1. For this cause I Paule beyng the prisoner of Iesus Christ am an Ambassadour for you Gentyâ—es 2. Surely you haue heard the dealing forth of Gods grace which vvas committed too mee on your behalfe 3. How that by Reuelation he hath giuen mee knovvledge of the mistery as I haue written vntoo you briefely heeretofore 4. By the reading vvhereof you may vnderstand the knovvledge vvhich I haue in the mystery of Christ 5. VVhich vvas not knovven too the children of men in times past as it is novv discouered too his holy Apostles and Prophetes by the spirit 6. That is too vvit That the Gentyles are fellovvheires and of one selfsame body and parttakers toogither of his promise in Iesus Christ by the Gospell ALthough euery of vs confesse that the doctrine of the Gospell brings alwayes trubble and persecution bycause the world hateth it and yit for all that that wee ought not too bee dismayed nor shrinke away yit notwithstanding it is so hard too put the thing in vre which wee confesse that there is almost none of vs all which is not vexed and in maner shaken downe when Gods enemyes offer any vnquyetnesse or when wee see the silly faythfull sorâ— cruelly vsed at their handes Neuerthelesse it ought too serue for a strengthening of our fayth when wee see men which are frayle of their owne nature not afrayd too hazard their lyues in bearing record of Gods truthe Seeing then that the power of Gods spirit appeareth most manifestly if we were not to 〈◊〉 blynded with vnthankfulnesse it ought too assure vs so much the more But forasmuch as wee aduauntage our selues very euill by it we haue neede too bee incoraged as S. Paule also dooth in this text When wee see the diuell stirre vp his vnderlinges too execute all tyranny ageinst Gods children let it not shake our fayth And specially if the faythfull indure paciently al that can be for the maynteynance of Gods truth which they knowe and that they doo also hold out too the end Without swaruing that as I sayd ought not too bee lost And for the same cause dooth S. Paule in other places say he suffereth for the welfare of the Church Not that he could purchace them forgiuenesse of sinnes or any grace by his death but bycause the Gospell is Gods myghty power too the welfare of all that beleeue and the further that wee go forward in it the neerer it maketh vs too come vntoo God and vntoo euerlasting lyfe S. Paule then suffred for the example of those whoÌ„ he had taught afore with his owne mouth For therby they knew that his speaking too them had bin in good earnest seeing he spared not his owne blud and his lyfe too seale and confirme the doctrine that he had brought them As much is doone in this text For he sayth he was an Ambassadour for the Gentyles yea euen though he were the prisoner of Iesus Christ. Surely these twoo things seeme too bee as contrarie as fyre and water For could not Iesus Christ honour them better whom he
Christ were the bond of our concord and that God alloweth it bycause it is grounded vpon his woord Saynt Paule then ment heere too put a difference betwixt vs and the heathen and vnbeleeuers For all men will graunt well ynough that there can be nothing but hauocke among men when they bee lyke too Dogges and Cattes and it hath bin knowen for a grounded principle in all ages in all Countries and among all people insomuch that euen the heathen folke and such as knew not what trewe religion meaneth haue simply commended and esteemed the benefyte of concord and agreement toogither But yit they buylded without foundation And therefore Saynt Paule beginneth at Gods truth As if he should saye wee must not only linke in one among our selues but God must also go before vs and wee must obey him so as wee must bee gathered toogither vnder him and he sit ouer vs and wee must leuer chooze too bee at defyance with the whole world than too slip away from him Thus yee see that the thing which wee haue too marke vppon this text is that God will not haue vs too bee knit toogither without knowing how or why but he will haue vs too agree too woorship and serue him and too put our whole trust in his infinite goodnes so as Iesus Christ be our head and we all members of his bodie through the power of fayth And agein that when wee once knowe how wee haue a father in heauen which hath adopted vs too bee his children and that Iesus Christ hath voutsafed too take our flesh and substance vppon him too the intent that wee should bee flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone the same should moue vs too loue one another too bee carefull ech for others saluation and too helpe one another according too the abilitie that God gyueth vs According wheruntoo it is sayd in the Psalme that the freendship of brothers is a leeuesome thing And afterward the Prophet bringeth vs too the oyntment that was powred vpon the Priests as if he should say that men hauing no more but euen their moother wit may perceyue that there is not a more leeuesome thing in the world than too liue in peace and amitie Howbeit therewithall he declareth the order of it after the same maner that it is shewed vs heere by S. Paule and â—ayth that the sayd brotherhood must bee conâ—crated and dedicated to the name of god For the annoynting of Aaron and his successors was in such sort as the oyntment did sheade downe vppon the whole body and vppon the garment of them Now therefore let vs marke that if wee intend too linke toogither well wee must drawe vntoo God and our linking must bee allowed of him Otherwyse wee may well haue fellowship toogither but it shal bee but a cursed felowship and the end of it can neuer bee but vtter confuzion Wherefore that wee may rule our lyfe well let the end that wee begin at bee too cleaue vntoo the truth Ryght necessarie is this warning for vs now adayes For the Papistes accuse vs that wee haue trubbled the world that the debates that are now adayes doo spring of our fault inasmuch as heretoofore all was deade euery man sayd Amen too them and there was no disputing In deede there was no great trauell spent in seeking God or the saluation of men Now then too cast the Diuell out of the possession that he had gotten it behoued vs too vse great vehemencie according as it is sayd that he will neuer giue ouer his place except he bee inforced Therefore it stoode vs on hand as yee would say too thunder and lighten too waken the world that was so falne asleepe and after a sort bewitched For inasmuch as the vnbeleeuers are extremely stubborne in stryuing ageinst God and cannot abyde that the truth should take place but vpholde theyr lyes with diuelishe wilfulnesse that is the very cause why there is so much trubble and warre in the world now adayes I meane for Religion Now the Papistes would laye the blame in our neckes but let vs see who is in the fault For wee desyre that euery man should doo homage vntoo God and that both great and small should submit themselues too his woorde and that there should bee one trew vnitie of fayth so the simplicitie of the Gospell go before it and guyde it These are the things that wee seeke and the Papists fynd fault with it Yit notwithstanding there is none other thing too bee found in our doctrine but that wee would fayne that there should bee a melodie betweene men and Angels too woorship the trew God and too follow his wâ—ord which is our trew rule to the end there should be no corruption in his seruis On the contrarie part the Papistes would maynteyne all their abhominations and errours and cannot indure that Iesus Christ should haue his preheminence For they haue bereft him of all his offices and made as it it were a bootie of them They haue an infinite warrein of Hee sayncts and Shee sayncts too whom they giue the tytle of their Aduocats saying that by their merits they obtein fauour at Gods hand for such as pray vntoo them Moreouer in all the rest of their doctrine there is nothing but it is peruerted yea and falsifyed And besydes these errours and superstitions the Papists are also so spytefull as too bend themselues euen ageinst God to spit out their madnesse yea and to indeueâ— too wype away the rememberance of Iesus Christ by fyre and swoord What should wee doo in this cace There is no compounding with them but by renouncing of Gods truth But wee know what order is taught vs heere by the holie Ghoste For Saint Paule could well haue sayd io one woord Agree my freends But he sawe well hee should haue spoken but one half and that his doctrine also should haue bin misconstrewed and therfore he sayth Let vs bee knit toogither in the truthe and let vs rather gyue ouer all the frendship of the worlde and procure the anger of all vnbeleeuers and of all such as rebell ageinst God than swarâ—e one whit from it But if wee seeke too bee at good agreement in the truthe and none of bs bee wedded too himself but rather euery of vs procure the welfare and saluation of his neyghbours that is the concord which ought to be among vs. The thing then which wee haue in effect too remember vppon this streyne is that on the one syde we must beware of confederating with Gods enemyes that wee stryke not sayle as they say too please them For although it behoue vs too seeke too haue peace and vnitie with all men as neere as wee can yit is Gods truthe alwayes excepted and wee must make more account of that than of all the world And in deede they that will needs gartify creatures and in the meane season turne away from Gods truth as much as they can
shall bee alwayes vnhappie Wherfore let vs euermore abyde stedfastly by our God and hold vs vnder his yoke and not shrink away in any wyse but rather defye the whole world yea though there were no man too hold with vs That is one poynt Agein if the world may bee wonne too obedience and wee bee able too doo so much as too drawe one or twoo too consent in one fayth with vs then must wee put our indeuer and labour theruntoo For wee must shun these twoo extremities namely of offending God and of turning away from his pure woord too purchace mens fauor and also of being so hygh mynded and full of statelinesse as too trust euery man to himselfe and to let others alone and too passe for no man but himselfe for these are two euill extremities which wee must beware of But let vs learne too ioyne these twoo things as inseperable namely that wee yeeld God trew obedience through fayth by holding our selues to the pure simplicitie of his word and agein that therwithall we despyze not our neyghbours but indeuer to win them that they may submit themselues quietly vntoo God and by that meanes alâ— of vs both greate and small may speake as it were with one mouth through the holy Ghoste reigning in our harts and all of vs haue the knowledge that hath bin spoken of namely that God is so the authour of our saluation that he hath also shewed himself a father towards vs in adopting vs and in voutsafing to haue vs to be al of his household Which cannot bee except wee liue all in good concord bycause he is the God of peace And although wee should bee driuen too fyght ageinst the whole world yit let vs bee of good comfort bycause the Angels of heauen are our companions in cleauing vnto god Should wee then in these dayes separate our selues from an infinite multitude of men which presume vppon their riches their greatnesse their pomp their credit yea their wisdome Yea and let vs esteeme euery whit of it but as trashe and for our owne parte although they call vs Schismatikes count vs but as the ofscowrings of the world let vs hold vs contented in that wee know that the Angels of heauen the holie Patriarks the Hrophets the Apostles and the Martirs agree with vs and too be short that all Gods chozen people from Abell too his present day doo beare vs sufficient companie And so may wee despyze all that shal bee layd too our reproche when wee haue Gods truthe and the mark wherby wee knowe our selues too bee his children For inasmuch as God cannot deny himself he will continew alwayes with his Church wherof we bee a parcell if shee sticke vntoo his woord Let that therfor bee one poynt But in the meane while also let vs not forget to seeke peace to the vâ—termost of our power according to the text that I alledged out of the Romanes Therfore let vs not wilfully seperate our selues from the world but let vs haue as it were our armes strected out too take home all such as yeeld themselues willingly too the obedience of God that wee may haue one fayth toogither and let vs indeuer too bring it too passe And the very same also is the cause why Saint Paule telleth vs heere that the fayth and obedience which wâ— yeeld vntoo God serues not too puffe vp our harts with pryde so as wee should reiect other men and euery of vs loue himself and shift for himself â—ut too make vs followe the example of our heauenly father who allureth them too him which were farre of and is readye too beâ— reconcyled too his enemyes which thing seing he hath shewed vs 〈◊〉 our Lord Iesus Christ and giuen vs so excellent a pledge of it wee also must haue the same doctrine of peace in our thoughts and in our harts and indeuer as much as is possible too bring them too the vnion of the Gospell that are separated from it as yit so that if they which haue bin as it were stark mad ageinst God doo yeeld themselues as lambes and sheepe of the flocke wee must bee redye to receyue them Let vs then bend our selues too that and not bee giuen euery man too his owne profite but assure our selues that sith God hath knit vs toogither and bound vs one too another euery of vs ought too imploy himself too the vttermoste of his abilitie and according too his owne measure too drawe his neyghbours with him so as we may be ryghtly one bodie and Iesus Christ reigne ouer vs. And for the same cause also dooth he adde that wee should grovve in all things in him that is our head that is too vvit in Iesus Christ. Now by this woord Growe Saynt Paule continueth the matter that wee haue seene heeretoofore which is that wee must not stand so much in our owne conceytes as too thinke our selues too bee come alredye to the marke wee go too For as I told you our lyfe is a iorney and therfore wee must go on styll for he that lingereth by the way dooth well shew that he neuer wist wherat he amed Therefore although wee must not bee as little children yit are wee not yit come to full age nother haue wee gotten yit such strength as were requisyte Wherfore let vs growe that is too say let euery of vs looke well too his owne infirmitie and when he sees his owne weakenesse â–ª let him theruppon take harte and thrust foorth himself let him preace vntoo God and let all our myndes bee continually bent that waye For it is not ynough for vs too haue begunne nor yit too haue gone on â— good way vnlesse it bee printed in our hartes that wee must profiâ—e still euen too our dying day Otherwyse it is certeyne that wee shall be but dazeled with our owne pryde that will make all Gods gifâ—es too vanish away which wee had receyued afore Wherfore let vs not imagin that wee haue such power or such vnderstanding in all the things that are requisyte for our saluation as that wee should not consider how it is not for nought that the holy Ghost exhorteth vs heere 〈◊〉 growe And heere yee see also how lowelinesse ought alwayes too maâ—ch with fayth according too this saying that Gods woord serueth too instruct the small and lowelye ones The greater then that a man would make himself too bee surely the more dooth he shet the doore ageinst himself so as he can haue no enterance intoo the schoole of God and of our Lord Iesus Christ. Therfore let vs looke well 〈◊〉 our owne slendernesse that wee may bee so meeke as nothing mayâ— hinder vs from hoping continually more and more in our god And the same ought also too quicken vs and prouoke vs to serue him and to confirme our selues continually the more in his woord For what is the cause of so greate sloth and coldnesse as is seene in manye men but that they thinke
Gods lawe had not yit sifted him throughly But when I once entered intoo my selfe sayeth he and knew what it was too lust then did Gods Lawe wound mee too death and I perceyued that the lyfe which I had lyued afore was but death and that I had made my selfe too beleeue woonders taking my selfe too bee that which I was not as fooles doo which beleeue that they bee Kings and Princes when in the meane whyle lyce eate them vp or else they starue for hunger and cold So then Saint Paule confesseth that before he was conuerted he was alyue too his owne seemyng and he tryumphed at it but when Christ had once humbled him and made him feele what Gods iudgment was then he gaue ouer that lyfe and sawe well that it was but a death Lykewyse he sayeth now that although wee bee alyue in the opinion of the world so as men clap their hands at vs and magnyfye our vertewes and that wee our selues also are besotted with the same opinion it is nothing at all but wee must go vntoo god Now wee shall fynd that God hath a speciall lyfe which he reserueth and keepeth as layd vp in secret for his children For albeeit that he make his daysonne too shyne both vppon good and bad and shewe himselfe lyberall towardes all without exception Yit dooth he not scatter abrod the things that serue for his chozen according too this saying of this Psalme Lord how great is thy goodnesse which thou hast layd vp in store for them that feare thee It is as a treasure that thou hast hoorded vp for them So then whereas Saint Paule speaketh heere of Gods lyfe he sheweth that in lyuing according too our nature wee haue not our lyfe of him Whence then Is it not God that hath created vs Is it not he of whom wee haue our beeing and mouing as it is sayd in the seuenteenth of the Actes Then is our common lyfe of God in asmuch as he is our maker but in asmuch as he is the Sauiour of the chozen and in asmuch as he is the father of his children whom he hath adopted this lyfe which is common both too good and bad is not named Gods lyfe but mans lyfe God letteth it alone in his plyght And which then is Gods lyfe It is when vppon his choozing of vs he sheweth vs the way of lyfe and saluation and reneweth vs by his holye spirit so as Iesus Christ dwelleth in vs by fayth as wee haue seene afore and vttereth his power in vs causing our old man to be crucifyed with him yea euen buried too that wee may bee rayzed agein euen too bee separated from all vncleannesse of the world that wee may not resemble the vnbeleeuers who are wholly prisoners vnder the tyrannye of Satan and are driuen and haled by him and giue ouer themselues too all euill That is in effect the cause why S. Paule hath spoken too vs here of Gods lyfe And now that wee may the beteer bee wakened and receyue this exhortation vnfeynedly let vs not deceyue our selues any more with the opinions that euery of vs may conceyue in our owne head nor yit with the iudgment of men which oftymes doo prayse and commend the thing that is nothing woorth Uerilye wee knowe how our Lord Iesus Christ sayeth in Saint Luke that the thing which is hygh and excellent afore men is vtterly lothsome before god Too the intent therefore that wee may no more bee deceyued by them let vs vnderstand that vntyll God haue made vs new creatures and begotten vs agein by his holye spirit wee bee blynd in our vnderstanding wee haue nothing in vs but vanitie and wee bee vtterly ignorant yea and starke beastes That is in effect the thing that wee haue too beare in mynd Wherfore as oft as wee fall too our accustomed byase and followe our owne fancie let vs learne too cyte our selues beefore God and too wey wel what is ment by the lyfe that he reserueth as peculiar too himself Not that it serueth for none other but himself but bycause he bestoweth it vppon none but his owne children For therby it is that he sheweth himself to haue chozen vs as wee haue seene in the first chapter Now heerupon he setteth downe immediatly the hardnesse of their hart not a single hardnesse after the maner as wee take hardnesse for the greeke word betokeneth a thickenednesse or muddinesse as when a peece of wyne that was very well fyned is so trubbled as it becommeth all Lees and groweth thicke and muddie lyke a puddle so as there is no more cleere licour in it Euen so Saynt Paule sayeth that the hart is thickened when it is so blynded and hardened by that meane as it cannot yeeld too the obeying of God and that then there is no cleerenesse in it but all is trubbled lyke a puddle And this word Hart doth in the holy Scripture betoken now and then all the lustes lykings and will of man and sometymes also his vnderstanding But for asmuch as heere Saint Paule hath put a difference betweene a mans vnderstanding and his mynd and his Hart we may wel think that he ment too adde the will togither with all the scannings and debatings which wee make in our selues about the iudging of good and euill and finally the whole vnderstanding which wee haue and the reason that reigneth in vs Saynt Paule therfore ment in effect too shewe that man is so corrupted in all partes of him through the sinne of Adam as there is nother wit nor wil but it tendeth wholy vntoo euill and is vtterly saped in it And therfore lyke as erst he condemned the beastlinesse that is in vs so now also he sheweth that weâ— bee as blockes and cannot bee quiet too follow our God whither soeuer he calleth vs but that wee be stubborne and haue stiffe neckes which cannot bowe as Moyses also vpbraydeth those that rebelled ageinst God telling them that they had a necke of yron or brasse And euen such are wee too of nature And for that cause is it sayd in Ezechiell that God will chaunge the hartes of them whom he will haue saued so that wheras they were stonye before he will make them fleshye This similitude sheweth well what is in vs tyll God haue wrought an alteration in vs For wee haue nothing but hardnesse which is as much as if the holy Ghost should say that wee bee Gods enemyes and refuzers of al truth vntill God haue softened vs and corrected the crabbednesse and stubbornnesse wherethrough wâ—e cast vp our rage in such wyze ageinst god Too bee short all our lustes are as men of warre marching in battell to let God that he should not reigne and execute his power and superioritie which he ought to haue ouer vs Lo what our nature is Now let vs go brag of our owne freewill and of our reason as wee see these wretched Papistes doo who are euer harping styll
too seeke it there and go foreward more and more in the professing of his Gospell too the intent also too bee filled with his gracious giftes which are the trew fruites of that roote That it may please him too graunt this grace not onely too vs but also too all people and Nations c. The .xxix. Sermon which is the nynth vppon the fourth Chapter 20. But you haue not learned Christ so 21. At leastwise if yee haue heard him and bin taught in him euen as the truth is in Iesus 22. That is too wit that yee put off the old man after the former conuersation which is corrupt after the lustes of errour 23. And bee yee renewed in the spirit of your mynd 24. And put on the newe man vvhich is created after God in rightuousnesse and holynesse of truth SAint Paule sheweth vs by the example of the heathen men and vnbeleeuers how wretched mans lyfe is when he suffereth himself too bee led by his owne affections and lusts For wee bee so blynded by the sinne of Adam that we discerne not beetween good and euill Howbeeeit that is not perceyued at the first blush but if yee looke into the whole course of mans lyfe yee shal find that they hold not any certein way but that they wander too and fro and in the end become stark beasts so as they haue no hart greef nor scruple of conscience at all Now he sheweth what diuersitie there ought too bee betwixt the lyfâ— of Christians that haue bin â—rayâ—ed in the Gospell and the lyfe of the ignorant and blyud wretches which neuer wist what God or his will is That is the cause why he addeth that wee ought too keepe a farre other trade wee I say that are trayned vp in Iesus Christ. As if he sayd that such as haue not the lyght of God straye heere and there and no maruell though they doo so for they be blynd and wander in darknesse But seing that God hath inlyghtened vs and wee haue Iesus Christ the daysonne of ryghtuousenesse shyning vppon vs what a shame is it if wee bee mingled with those that haue no direction at all Then is there no excuce for vs if wee will alledge the heathen For so little can their exawple serue too lessen our sin that it shall dubble our condemnation And why God setteth them before our eyes as looking glasses wherin too behold what wee our selues and what our nature is of all the whyle that wee bee vngouerned of the holy Ghoste On the contrarie part we haue our Lord Iesus Christ too shewe vs the way of lyfe And it is not for nought that he hath sayd that he is the lyght of the worlde and that whosoeuer walketh in him cannot stray and agein that he is also the way wherin a man cannot go amisse That then is the cause in effect why Saint Paule addeth that it is not so with vs for wee haue lerned Iesus Christ. And how Yee haue herd him layeth he And his setting downe a those woords is of purpose too cut of all occasion of making of shrouding sheete of ignorance For men are loth too bee counted fooles except it bee when they should come too accounting with god But then they would fayne scape by saying I am a silie idiot I am not able too buzie my self in so manie matters it is vnpossible for me too set my mynd vntoo that Yee see then how wee can well ynough acknowledge our ignorance when wee bee called and cyted too make our reckening before god Agein another sort will say that the Gospell is too hygh and deepe a thing for them Saint Paule answereth vntoo all this in one woord saying that we haue heard Iesus christ As if he should say it is long of none but of our selues that wee haue not bin well and dewly instucted seing that the Gospell hath bin preached vntoo vs For why There God sheweth him self so farre foorth as is expedient for vs Then is there sufficient learning in the Gospell and it is not for vs too alledge our owne rawenesse no more than our darknesse for God dooth the dewtie of a good and faythfull shcoolemayster Too bee short if wee continew still in our beastlinesse after we haue heard the doctrine of the Gospell we must blame our selues for it for surely it is not long of God who knoweth what is meete for vs And that is the cause also why Saint Paule protesteth that there is no veyle in his preaching but that men myght there see Iesus Christ if they were not blynded by Satan with vnbeleefe too goo away intoo destruction Howsoeuer the cace stande wee coulde not fayle on Gods behalfe too bee guyded and gouerned as is meete for vs if wee gaue diligent eare too the things that he sheweth vs in the Gospell And he dooth yit so much the more aggrauate the leaudnesse of such as profite not in Gods schoole when he addeth that they haue bin taught not as though it had bin sheweth them what Iesns Christ is for once and away and that they had had but only some small tast of it for then myght it seeme that their ignorance were excusable But seeing that our eares are continewally beaten with it from day to day and wee haue bin confirmed and furthered in the fayth and yit wee abyde styll in our beastlinesse that is vtterlye vnexcuzable For he hath shewed heertoofore that if all this boote vs not but that notwithstanding mens stirring of vs vp early and late to come vnto God and theyr offering of the foode of lyfe vntoo vs too feede vs withall so as wee haue bin confirmed in it from day too day too the intente wee should not want any thing wee bee styll at our Apcie lyke yong beginners and knowe not what the rule of good lyfe is wee can blame none but our selues nother can wee say that wee bee silie ignorant soules or that God speaketh vntoo vs in too darke a language or that wee haue not bin trayned vp in the knowledge of the truthe All this is dispatched by that which Saint Paule telleth vs heere which is that God hath not ceassed with the preaching of his truth vntoo vs once or twyce but that he hath ordeyned the Gospell too bee preached continually that wee myght be confirmed in it all the time of our lyfe and that the thing which wee did not conceyue or vnderstand at the first should bee repeted vntoo vs and layd foorth more familiarly in a knowen tung too the ende wee myght haue the larger confirmation of it and that if wee profit not for all his calling of vs too him without ceassing wee see our vnthankfulnesse too apparant in that wee knowe not Iesus Christ after wee haue had our eares beaten so long tyme with the Gospell And this is spoken vntoo vs wherfore let vs learne too recken the tyme well When such as haue knowen Gods truth from their chyldhood do come too mans state
that the name of Iesus Christ which ought to be holy too you be not taken in vaine and that wheras enery of you boasteth himself to be a Christian yit notwithstaÌ„ding ye know not to what end Iesus Christ was giuen of God his father nor how we be made parttakers of him nor what our redemption is nor how wee may inioy all his benefytes For if yee knowe not these it is certein that all this bragging of yours shall cost you ryght deere for that you haue with full mouth protested your selues too bee Christians and yit notwithstanding knowe not which bee the qualities of your Christendome nor to what ende to apply them This in effect is the thing that wee haue too remember vpon that streyne Behold Saint Paule telleth vs heere that if wee haue bin trayned in the Gospell it behâ—ueth vs too differ from the ignorant and the vnbeleeuers For Gods sholing of vs out and his setting of vs in aray alone by our selues after that fashion and his inlyghtening of vs is to the eâ—d we should no more be as wanderers at randon nor as silly blynd wretches groping in the dark but that wee should knowe the ryght way of saluation And in especially seeing wee be dayly exhorted too come vntoo him and he giueth vs meanes to further vs more and more in the fayth let vs bee verye ware that we vnhallow not so holie a thing as is the truth of the Gospel the pure doctrine of god But wee vnhalowe it if we know not too what end God hath giuen it vs and that wee must beare it in mynd For I haue told you alredy that manie fantasticall persons will pretend christianitie wel ynough but yit for all that there is no substance nor roote in them Therfore let vs looke well that wee knowe whertoo wee bee called and that God bee not disappoynted of his intent when hee dooeth the office of a schoolemayster towards vs but that wee consider how he sheweth vs the way of lyfe and saluation and lyke as he is a good and faythfull teacher so let vs bee lyke schollers vntoo him But let vs come now too the truthe whereof Saint Paule speaketh which is sayth he that yee put of the old man which is corrupted with earthly lusts euen according too the conuersation that yee haue led heretoofore He expresseth yit better that all they which vaunt themselues too bee the disciples of Iesus Christ and yit notwithstanding leade a lawelesse lyfe and doo but giue occasion of offence in the Churche are falsaries as if a man should bring forth a counterfet deede Wherfore let vs mark that it is a cursed trecherie when wee say wee intend too bee Christians and professe it also with our mouth and yit notwithstanding go from the thing in our woorks which wee protest in our woords as sayeth Saint Paule in another place For he that taketh leaue too doo all euill and yit wil bee taken too bee of the number of Gods children it is certeyn that he denyeth Iesus Christ in his whole lyfe how much soeuer he confesse him in woords Therfore let vs bethink our selues and consider that if wee meane to bee allowed of God wee must learne too rid away our old man And by that woord the scripture meaneth al that we haue of nature For wee knowe there are as yee would say twoo welsprings of mankind that is too wit Adam and our Lord Iesus Christ. Now as in respect of our first birth wee come all out of the welspring of Adam and are corrupted with sinfulnesse so as there is nothing but frowardnesse and cursednesse in our soules It standeth vs then on hand too bee renewed in Iesus Christ and too bee made new creatures And for that cause dooth the old Man betoken all that wee haue by birthryght from our fathers Now then if a man bee let alone in his first state surely he shal bee but a blynd wretch full of rebelliousnesse and spyte ageinst god Too bee short he shall tend all wholly vntoo euill for wee bee altoogither saped in it That is the thing that is ment by the old man least wee should think that Saint Paules intent was too rebuke but only the vyces that are apparant before men lyke as when men will rebuke one that hath played the vnthrift for a tyme they will say he must cast his old skin But heere Saint Paule passeth yit further which is that our likings are vtterly vntoward that there is not one drop of goodnesse and vprightnesse in vs that all our thoughts are wicked and that all our desyres and affections are rebellious ageinst God and ageinst his will and iustice Furthermore wheras he speaketh of vnclothing or putting of it is a similitude ryfe ynough wherby is ment that wee must giue ouer all that is of our owne and cast it quyte away that wee may bee clothed agein with other ornaments as he wil adde anon after And here we see that there are twoo partes in ruling our lyfe and in comming vntoo god The one is the forsaking of our selues and the other is that wee bee gouerned by Gods spirit For needs must all that is our owne bee layd downe before God take in hand the guyding of vs And why For our thoughts and Gods doctrine our affections and the commaundements wherby God will haue vs too bee ruled are as fyre and water Therfore all that is of our owne nature must bee cut of before God doo gouerne vs And that is the cause why wee must begin at the forsaking of our selues which also is the verye order that Saint Paule hath followed in this text Wee must sayeth he put of the old man. And secondly wee haue too mark that Iesus Christ was sent vs too the end that we should be repayred after the image of god It is trew that he hath reconcyled vs to God his father by his death passion that the sheading of his blud washeth vs from all our filthynesse and setteth vs free from damnatioÌ„ and endlesse death and that his offring of himself hath made full satisfaction for vs insomuch that if we resort to Iesus Christ for remission of our sinnes God of his own free goodnesse accepteth vs for ryghtuous bycause he passeth not what we bee but buryeth all our faults and ceasseth not to fauour vs as his childreÌ„ notwithstanding that wee bee wretched sinners This benefyte receyue wee by Iesus Christ. But yit must wee not separate the second poynt from it which is that wee must bee sanctifyed by his holie spirit according too this saying that he hath receyued the fulnesse of all grace too the end that all of vs should drawe out of him And Esay declareth that spirit of wisedome the spirit of iudgment the spirit of vpryghtnesse and the spirit of the feare of God rested vppon him And was that for any neede that he himselfe had No but too the intent that wee should receyue
what plyght haue I brought my self what shall I doo And that is the sorrow that Saint Paule speaketh of which wee must not shun But if wee neuerthelesse go on still in euill it is all one as if wee tooke pleasure in dryuing and chacing away of Gods spirit The Prophet Esay sayeth wee prouoke Gods spirit too bitternesse when wee refuze the good doctrine that he setteth afore vs But S. Paule passeth yit further heere For in deede it is a kynd of prouoking God too wrath when wee yeeld not too his doctrine which is a sure record of the care which he hath of our saluation and of the loue that he beareth vs But wee must come too the considering of euery of vs by himself God hath voutsafed to ingraue the beleefe of his Gospell in my hart too the intent I should bee sure of my saluation And how dooth he that By voutsafing to chooze mee for his house and too dwell in mee by his holy spirit Now then if I blot out this grace it is asmuch as if I ment to estraunge my self from God wilifully And therefore let vs beware of such extemitie and let vs hold our selues in awe And therewithall let vs marke also how Saint Paule addeth for the last woord that Gods sealing and marking of vs after that manner by his holy Ghost is ageinst the day of our redemption Hereby he sheweth vs that if wee will well ouercome Satans allurementes and the lustes of our flesh and all the temptations of the world wee must alwayes mynd the heauenly lyfe that is promysed vs and wheruntoo wee ought too trauell Now then Gods spirit sayth S. Paule is not giuen vs too bee withdrawen from vs agein when wee haue once felt his grace and power but too the intent that the seale and print of him should abyde with vs euen vntoo the day of our redemption that is too say tyll wee bee delyuered from this transitorie lyfe and from all the miseries wherwith wee bee beseeged Now therfore seeyng that God hath giuen vs his holy spirit too guyde and gouerne vs both in lyfe and death and with intent that wee should neuer bee depryued and destitute of him Let vs looke well too it that he may alwayes keepe the possession that he hath taken in vs and wee also inioy that inestimable benefite of his continuing with vs for euer that he may guide vs and hold vs alwayes vp by strong hand duryng all the course of our life The cause then why Saint Paule doth purposely call vs backe too the last day is too make vs lyue soberly knowing that like as wee haue neede too bee guided throughout by the power of Gods spirit so if wee bee depriued of it and estraunged from hym and left destitute of his grace it is too bee feared that wee shall fall intoo a reprobate mynd As touching the day of our redemption S. Paule by that woord vnderstoode the happinesse which wee hope for and which is hidden from vs as yit It is trew that wee were redeemed in the person of our Lord Iesus Christ but wee inioy not that benefyte as yit Wee may well say Iesus Christ is our Redeemer that is to say he hath deliuered vs and set vs free from the bondage and subiection of death sinne wherin wee were by paying our raunsome and by makyng our attonement Ye see then that wee bee redeemed as in respect of the sonne of God for he hath performed all that was requisite for our deliuerance and saluation as he hym selfe auoweth with his own mouth But when wee come too our selues wee fynde not thys redemption there And for that cause as well in thys place as in the eyght too the Romanes Saint Paule sayth that the last day wherin Iesus Christ will appeere is the day of our saluatioâ— and deliueraunce And why Wee see what a number of miseries beset vs round about yea wee carye them with vs and they bee inclozed in our bodyes and in our soules It behoueth vs therfore too seeke a better state than that which we see heere And for the same cause is it sayd that our saluation lyeth in hope and that wee hope not for the thing that wee see but that God intendeth too feede our hope And wheras he sheweth not the things too our eyes which he promiseth and which it behoueth vs too wayt for at his hand it is too the end that although wee bee forlorne wretches in this world yit wee should not ceasse too reioyce in him knowing that wee shal not bee disappoynted in wayting for the heritage which he hath purchaced for vs And so yee see what is ment by the woord Redemption which is set downe heere Wherefore let vs learne too bee so armed and fenced with Gods spirit too fyght ageinst all Satans temptations as he may neuer fynde vs vnprouided nor out of order And that that may bee doone let vs pray God so too ingraue his truth in vs by the same spirit as wee may get victorie by it and ouercome all that is ageinst our saluation and that we continuing in our vocation that God calleth vs too may take corage and bee pacient vntyll our Lord Iesus Christ who is our lyfe doo appeare that our lyfe and our full happinesse may also bee manifested in him at his comming And now let vs fall downe before the maiestie of our good God with acknowledgment of our faults praying him too take vs too mercy and not too impute the great number of our sinnes vntoo vs whereby wee bee blame woorthy before him but rather too beare with our infirmities and too clenze vs of them from day too day that wee may growe and increace in all his gracious gifâ—es and put farre from vs all euill that may seduce vs and thrust vs out of the way and that by that meane wee may draw neerer and neerer vntoo him vntyll wee bee fully knit vntoo him at the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ. That it may please him too graunt this grace not onely too vs but also too all people and Nations of the earth c. The .xxxiii. Sermon which is the thirteenth vppon the fourth Chapter and the first vppon the fifth Chapter 31. Let all bitternesse and hastinesse and wrath and roring and iniurie bee put from you with all spytefulnesse 32. And bee yee gentle one too another and kynd harted forgiuing one another euen as God though Christ forgaue you The fifth Chapter 1. Bee yee therfore folowers of God as deere children 2. And vvalke in loue euen as Christ loued vs and gaue himselfe for vs an offering and sacrifice vnto God for a sent of good sauour WEe knowe that all Gods children not only should bee peaceable themselues but also procure peace too the vttermost of their power and make attonement whereas was disagreement and stryfe forasmuch as it is the marke that our Lorde Iesus Christ hath giuen vs Now if we ought too
turne away our fayth from his bludshed Ment he that baptim should take the roome of his death and passion to performe the office of our saluatioÌ„ No surely For Baptim is but on Incum and an appendant too the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ and if it did not direct vs thither certeynely it were but a tryfling Ceremony As much is too bee fayd of the Lords Supper When wee câ—me too 〈◊〉 the bread and wyne which are the pledges of the body and bluâ— of our Lord Iesus Christ although that in that supper wee bee truly fed with the meate and drink wherof mention is 〈◊〉 in the sixth of Saint Iohn that is to wit that our Lord Iesus Chriâ—â— maketh vs partakers of the truthe of his owne substance too the end that his lyfe should bee common vntoo vs yit notwithstanding if the supper should bee separated from the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ it were a thing of nothing And in deede wee see also what the promis conteyneth This is my bodie sayeth he which is giuen for you Trew it is that is sheweth well what our ordinarie foode is but therwithall he sendeth vs also too his death and passion For had he not made satisfaction for our sinnes and shed his blud to wash away our spots what should it boote vs now too haue baptim and his supper ministred and giuen vntoo vs Wee see then that too vse baptim well and according too the institution of the sonne of God we must not set our mâ—nds vppon the corruptible and transitorie element For what is the water If it stand but one day it will corruâ—pt and how then can it clenze our soules for euer and get vs a purenesse that shall continew after death though wee our selues doo turne too rottennesse If this power cannot bee in the water wee must of necessitie repayre too the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ. And in dede the water also is a figure of his blud and of his holy spirit Then let vs mark that our Lord Iesus did then wash vs when he shed his blud wherby he clenzed vs That is the meane wherby wee may resort vntoo God with full trust that wee shal bee receyâ—ed as ryghtuous and perfect bycause he layeth not our sinnes too our charge Mark that for one poynt Now as Saint Peter sayeth in his first Epistle wee be wasâ—hed with the blud of our Lord Iesus Christ by the holy Ghost Wee see then that wee haue the substance and truthe of our saluation in the person of the sonne of god And moreouer wee haue too note also that he communicateth him self vntoo vs and therby putteth vs in possession and fruition of all his goods through the power of the holy Ghost And how happeneth it then that Saint Paule hath made no mention heere of the blud that clenzeth vs and of the woorking of the holy Ghost It seemeth that hee hath forgotten the cheef thing and buzieth him self about a thing that is very small I haue told you alredye that he ment not too abridge any thing that belonged too the sonne of God that wee should not seeke the whole fulnes of our saluation in him alone and settle our fayth alonly vppon him nother ment he too dispossesse the holy Ghost of his office but he had respect of our infirmitie And that is the cause why he set downe the signe wherby the thing that of it self is too hygh and too farre hidden from our vnderstanding is set before our eyes That is the piâ—h of the thing which we haue too beare in mynd Now of this declaration wee may receyue a very profitable lesson in generall that is too wit that the trew and lawfull vse of Sacraments is too leade vs directly too our Lord Iesus Christ and that otherwyse wee make them but as Idols And therfore in poperie Baptim is but as a Charme bycause they think there is no saluation but by the water I let passe the things that they haue puâ— to it of their owne deuyzing For they haue corrupted and mard the very institution of Iesus Christ by mingling baptim with the superstitions that are knowen of But let vs put the cace they vsed nothing else but the pure water yit is it diuelish opinion that Baptim is able of it self to saue vs For by that meanes our Lord Iesus Christ is as good as thrust away so as they make none account of him For they stand poring vppon the visible signe and are as yee would say vtterly doted vppon it In lyke cace are they with all the rest of their Ceremonies So much the more therefore dooth it stand vs on hand too beare this lesson in mynd That too apply the Sacraments too a ryght vse and too such vse as God alloweth and ordeyneth they must guyde vs too our Lord Iesus Christ Lyke as in Baptim wee see but the water but therby we must be lifted vp hygher to the blud of the sonne of God assuring our selues that it is not the water that maketh vs cleane but that it is only a warrant of the washing that was gotten for vs when our Lord Iesus Christ was crucifyed for vs In the Supper wee haue bread and wyne Now to hold our selues to that which is set before out eyes were a withdrawing of our selues from Iesus Christ. Our fayth therfore must bee lifted vp and conueyed too him in whom all the partes of our saluation are inclozed Forasmuch then as wee haue the whole perfection and fulnesse of all good things in the onely Sonne of God it is thither that wee must looke vp and labour too atteyne when the Sacramentes are set afore vs for that is the very office of them or else wee peâ—uert all and it is as yee would saye an vnhallowing of the thing that God hath halowed too our benefyte if our Lord Iesus Christ bee separated from the visible signes Wee haue also too note that wee communicate not with Iesus Christ but by the grace of the holy Ghost Yit notwithstanding let vs not hold scorne of the helpes that our Lord hath ordeyned for vs bycause he knewe them too bee requisite for our infirmities sake Why be we not taught simply that if wee runne too our Lord Iesus Christ in him wee shall fynde our washing and clenzing It seemeth that that ought too suffyze vs and that the water of Baptim is but a vayle too keepe vs from comming vntoo Iesus Christ. Yea but let vs see a little what our owne â—udenesse is If wee had the myndes of Angels wee should no more neede this outward Baptim than the Angels do But forasmuch as wee bee earthly and it is hard for vs too atteyne vntoo God and the secretes of his heauenly kingdome it is for our behoofe too bee helped after that fashion And it is a wonderfull gracious goodnesse of God that he stoopeth so too our infirmitie and supplyeth it with meeâ—e and conuenient
peeces as much as lyeth in him Now then would wee bee parttakers of the spirituall washing wherof Saint Paule treateth heere Let vs looke that wee bee holy and that wee walke in pure conuersation before god Not that it can bee doone by our owne power or cunning but all is attributed heere to Iesus Christ and Saint Paul sheweth that it is his office to make vs so excellent For it is certein that when men will needes come too it with presumptuousnesse they may well inforce themselues 〈◊〉 yit they shall bee neuer the neerer but as for vs wee must only suffer our Lord Iesus Christ too woorke in vs by his holy spirit And by that meanes shall wee bee passyng beautifull that he may haue delyght in vs. And for the same cause also doth he say that he may present vnto himself a beawtifull and glorious Church In saying so he declareth that al the outward shewe and gay glistering which wee can haue to the worldward is but smoke and that wee must haue a purenesse of hart He could haue sayd Our Lord Iesus hath clensed his Churche too the intent it should be pure and ryghtuous but he intended too expresse that our purenenesse or cleannesse is not too please the syght of the world that wee may be prayzed and commended heere belowe as hipocrits are whom men gape and gaze at a great way of clapping their hands at them and esteeming them holyer than the Angels but that it is much better for a man not too bee so precyze but too walk playnly and if there bee imperfections in him too let them be knowen and yit too hold on his full pace still hauing the feare of God vnfeynedly in him all the whyle Wherfore folowing this instruction of Saint Paules let vs learne too set our selues in the presence of the sonne of God and when it commeth too the ordering of our lyfe let vs looke at him knowing that eyther wee must bee allowed there or else wee gayne nothing by being exalted and commended heere beneathe though men haue neuer so maruelous opinion of vs all say I shal bee but mere vanitie and leazing till wee haue ruled and framed our lyfe in such wyse as if wee walked before the face of the sonne of God howbeeit that in very deede nothing can bee hidden from him This is it that wee haue too remember further Now when as Saint Paule sayeth too the end that the Church should bee without spot or wâ—inâ—le and vnrebukable in holinesse he meaneth not that this is accomplshed and performed in vs alredie nor that it can bee as long as wee bee compassed abâ—ut with this bodie 〈◊〉 it is as a prizon and a bondage â–ª and wee dragge our shackles after vs continually whyle wee bee heere beneathe and although wee haue profited well in the feare of God yit must wee bee fayne too say alwayes with Saint Paule that wee be hild in a miserable bondage and cannot serue God but by halues as ye would say Howbeeit S. Paule ment also too shewe simply whertoo wee bee called too the intent wâ—e should hye vs thitherward all the tyme of our lyfe Now then what is the end of our Redemption wherfore are wee reconcyled too God Wherfore are we made cleane by the blud of our Lord Iesus Christ Wherfore also are wee sanctifyed and regenerated It is too the intent we myght in the end be vnblamable before god And what in this world There will euer bee much too bee blamed and to bee found fault with but let vs bee contented that our sinnes shal not bee layd too our charge And this is well woorth the noting bycause there were a sort of malicious and leaud heads in old tyme which surmyzed an Angelicall perfection in their brayne as though men myght atteyne too a full and perfect ryghtuousnesse in this world and that was euen an abolishing of the couenant that God hath made with vs wherin consisteth our saluation For therin are twoo inseperable poynts that is too wit the forgiuenesse of sinnes and the newbirth as it is sayd in the seuen and thirtith of Ezechiell in the thirteenth of Ieremie and in effect euery where These things then cannot bee put asunder namely that God dooth so receyue and adopt vs as wee neede still too haue our sinnes forgiuen vs till wee bee ridde quyte and cleane of al earthly corruption and agein that wee must go foreward dayly in newnesse of lyfe But there are yit still of those diuells incarnate which would abolish the remission of sinnes insomuch that they dare slaunder vs so farre as to say that wee hold men stil to their Apcie wheÌ„ we make theÌ„ beleeue that they must needs be sinners still â–ª Neuerthelesse it is certein that whosoeuer wil bee a Christian must needes be a sinner This is straunge at the first sight but yit is it moued so as by the holy Gost. It is Saint Iohn that speaketh it but the doctrine is Gods. If wee say sayeth he that wee haue no sin wee make God a lyer and his truth is not in vs Then if wee imagin our selues too bee so holy that wee haue no more sin in vs shall God bee a lyer for our fancies sake Also if wee wil bee Christians ought wee not too bee Christes disciples And if wee bee desyrous too learne in his schoole is not the maner of praying vntoo God his father the principall poynt which he teacheth vs And what doth he shew vs there For giue vs our offences Wee beseech God dayly too forgiue vs the greate 〈…〉 Now if any man intend too raze out this petition of crauing forgiuenesse of our faultes the same forsaketh the schoole of Iesus Christ. Then let vs vnderstand that in this world wee cannot bee without spot or wriâ—kle but wee must bee clenzed by little and little and the vyces whertoo wee bee giuen must bee corrected by peecemeale vntyll wee come too the perfection that is spoken of in the first Chapter Too bee short as long as wee bee in this worlde forasmuch as wee haue so many sinnes and vyces in vs let vs bee heedfull in praying vntoo God too shewe himselfe alwayes mercifull towardes vs and in bearing with vs by forgiuing our misdeedes And yit notwithstanding let vs therwithall take hart too fight ageinst all our vyces and too yeeld our selues obedient too our God and let vs vse force and violence too subdew all our passions and lustes vntyll wee haue gotten the vpper haâ—d of euill though wee ceasse not too commit it Although sinne dwell in vs yit let it not reigne in vs Thus yee see how wee must day by day continew this exercyze of presenting our selues before God with all humilitie in beseeching him too pardon our offences and yit notwithstanding profite more and more in the renewment that is spoken of heere tyll wee bee wholly fashyoned lyke too the ryghtuousnesse and glory of our God. Now let vs fall downe
hauing borne out the brunt of all wyndes and weathers continueth vnblowen downe through the violence of tempests haue shaken off all the leaues broken off some braunches sliuered dyuers bowghes riuen the bark yea and inforced the top of it too stoope now and then too the ground euen so that fayth or beleefe is too bee counted stedfast and well settled which continueth vnuanquished too the end though in the meane time it haue bin neuer so sore shaken and battered with the assaultes of temptations aduersities and crosses both of body and mynd They therfore which haue atteyned to this grounded growth in Iesus Christ may safely and comfortably deale with the doctrine of Election and Predestination without guyde such may haue neede of exhortation admonition warning and incoragement by reason of the naturall fraytlie which alwayes followeth and oftentimes ouertaketh eueÌ„ the strongest but not of instruction otherwise than by the woord it selfe for as sayeth S. Iohn the inward anoynting that is to wit the inlightening of the holy Ghost teacheth them all things But as for the other sort which are yit but as new borne infantes in Christ whether it bee in respect of â—yme or in respect of knowledge or in respect of both forasmuch as this doctrine is of such nature as it cannot bee learned by any preceptes or perswasions of wisdome vntill the knâ—wledge and loue of God in Iesus Christ be first well felt and throughly digested by fayth in the bowels of mens hartes they haue neede too bee both cherished and trayned foorth by degrees and as it were by parcelmeale too the right conceyuing and vnderstanding of so great a mysterie For although Gods free Election and Predestination according too the purpose of his owne good will euen before all time bee in very deede the first cause and onely originall welspring of our saluation or endlesse welfare and of all the things that further or accompanie the same yit is it not the first poynt in doctrine wherby too bring men to saluation nor the first Loadestarre that men must looke at as soone as they bee entered intoo the way of saluation Which thing appeereth sufficiently by the continuall order of teaching vsed throughout the whole holy scripture where both the Prophets and Apostles and Christ himselfe doo alwayes begin the ministration of saluation at the preaching of repentance and so proceeding too fayth and free forgiuenesse of sinnes too newnesse of lyfe and the right vse of Sacramentes too the rizing agein of the dead and the euerlasting iudgment doo finally deliuer foorth the doctrine of Election and Predestination as a sheeld ageinst all assaultes to make meâ— perseuer and hold out to the end in the way of saluation through all aduersities tormentes and temptations as shall appeare more plainly hereafter This doctrine then is as yee would say the roofe of Christianirie which beyng orderly substancially and workemanly reered vppon the rest of the building is as a couering and safegard too the whole defending it froÌ„ all iniuries anoyances of wynd weather and giuing it continuance with perpetuitie so that whatsoeuer is added afterward may well make too the adorning and beautifying of it but not to the safetie and strength of it â–ª And therefore if it bee set vppon a false or ouerfeeble foundation or while the building is yit greene and vnperfected bâ—fore the stones bee well clozed settled and dry the weyght of it beareth downe the whole house to the ground to the great losse and but if the more grace of God bee too the vtter and vnrecouerable vndoyng both of the buylder and of the building What then will some man say Is it not too bee taught Is it not to bee learned Yis verily and that with all earnestnesse and indeuer of mynd howbeeit not at al aduenture not in haste not rashly not presumptuously but with singular circumspection reuerence warenesse and humilitie as al the godly haue vsed to doo least whyle wee take vppon vs too swim without a bladder before wee haue learned too beare our bodyes vppon the water wee bee caryed away with the violence of the streame or sink for fayntnesse ere wee can recouer too land agein or least which worse is whyle wee bee ouercurious in medling with the secretes of Gods Maiestie wee bee ouerwhelmed of his glory How then may wee wade safely in it too our benefite Euen by seeking of our selues in Iesus Christ. Let vs see if wee can fynd our selues there For the scripture assureth vs that there is no saluation but onely in Christ Iesus nor no damnation to them that are in him Now therefore like as too knowe the originall cause of our death and damnation wee must not raundge beyond the fall of our first father Adam bycause that by him sinne entered into the world and by sinne death so to fynd our recouerie and saluation wee must not seeke elswhere than in Iesus Christ bycause he is ordeyned to bee the onely propitiation and attonement for our sinnes and there is not any other name that is to say any other person or meane giuen vs wherby to bee saued than the onely name of Iesus For he is the way the the truth and the lyfe He is the lyght of the world He is the resurrection and the lyfe God is in him reconcyling the world vnto himselfe In him dwelleth the whole fulnesse of the Godhead bodily God hath made him our Wisedome Rightuousnesse Holinesse and Redemption And he through his once offering vp of himselfe vppon the Crosse hath perfected them for euer which are to bee sanctifyed and is become the author of euerlasting saluation too as many as obey him Inasmuch then as Iesus Christ is both God and man and hath all power both in heauen and earth and all knees must bow before him whosoeuer seeketh saluation out of Iesus Christ dooth but wander away after his owne deceytfull imaginations neuer to fynd the thing that he seeketh bycause that as sayeth Saint Iohn he that hath not the sonne hath not the father and he that hath not the father is a straunger too the couenauntes and promises of saluation without hope and without God in the world and so consequently in stead of the substance he ketcheth but a shadowe or a dreame or rather nothing at all Nay rather he ketcheth euerlasting damnation according to this saying He that beleeueth not in the sonne shall not see light but the wrath of God abydeth vppon him And agein this is damnation that is to say the cause of damnation that wheras light is come into the world which lyght is Christ men haue loued darknesse better than lyght that is to say they haue loued the blynd imaginations and inuentions of their owne ignorant mynds better than the lightsome truth of Christes Gospell Wherefore putting away all flatterie and soothing of our selues and taking to vs
of him in the first Chapter of S. Iohn And this in effect is the maner how wee ought too put this text in vre where it is sayd that our Lord Iesus Christ is in such wyse the cheef stone that he beareth vp all the whole building in the corner and we knowe that the greatest weyght of a building lyeth vpon the corner But by the way let vs marke also that S. Paule ment not too set Christ alone in a rowe by himself and to couch other stones with him that should haue maystership and authoritie as well as he but simply too shew that there is no more diuersitie betweene the Lawe and the Gospell as touching the substance of them but that our Lord Iesus Christ is the end of all and that wee bee so ioyned and knit togither by his meanes that all of vs are made the Temple of God and belong by vnitie of fayth too the spirituall building wherin God intendeth too dwell Yit notwithstanding if our fayth rest not wholy vppon our Lord Iesus Christ it is certeyne that wee cannot bee builded vppon this foundation For whereas the Papistes inuent Patrones and Aduocates too get them fauour at Gods hand and heape vp a number of meanes too merit withall it is all one as if they made themselues straungers too Iesus Christ. Now whosoeuer turneth away from him and it bee but a finger bredth must needes fall intoo destruction for ▪ it is the propertie of a foundation too beare vp the whole building Now if the buildig bee too wyde and ouerhang it it must needes fall downe Euen so goeth it with vs If wee bee not builded vppon Iesus Christ so as our fayth bee lined and leueled vntoo him and wee sticke too him without adding of one thing or other he must needes disauow vs for any of his and cast vs quyte away And in good fayth the Papists their lyke doo well be wray their greate vnthankfulnes by their wandring here and there and by their adding of new meanes at their owne pleasure This wrong and outrage which they doo too our Lord Iesus Christ deserue wel that we should tumble them downe and cut them quite off from Gods Church Therfore if wee mynd too inioy the benefite that S. Paule setteth foorth to vs heere let vs beware that our fayth bee so framed too the Lawe and the Gospell as too reiect whatsoeuer thinges man shall haue inuented assuring our selues that it is the next way too drawe vs too destruction and that wee cannot bee grounded vppon Iesus Christ too stand fast vpon him for euer vnlesse wee addmit all the thinges that are spoken and witnessed of him in the Lawe and the Gospell without making of it Lawfull for men too adde any thing at all too it Yee see then in effect that the thing which wee bee warned of in these woordes of S. Paule is that wee belong not too our Lord Iesus Christ ne can bee of Gods Church except it be by following the pure doctrine of the Lawe and the Gospell and by forsaking as yee would say all the filth and abhomination that men haue deuyzed by their owne dreames and dotages how fayre colour of wisdome soeuer they beare For they will fynd store ynough of fyne pedlery too make folke beleeue that their adding of so many gewgawes is not without cause But howsoeuer they fare if wee couet too bee ioyned and vnited too Iesus Christ we must so abyde in him as too make none account of any other thing And therwithall wee see also that too bee taken for Gods children wee must giue our wynds too trew concord For S. Paule setteth downe bothe twayne of them heere and in verye deede they be things inseparable that Christians being taught Gods word purely should with one hart and one mynd receiue the things that are so set forth vnto them and haue brotherly concord among them too speake as it were with one mouth and too make one pure and simple confession Then lyke as hithertoo wee haue seene that we must be builded vppon Gods pure woord alone so it is shewed vs heere that wee must not euery of vs bee bent too his owne opinion but frame our selues too the vnitie of fayth accordingly as S. Paule speaketh therof in the third too the Philippians saying ▪ if ye intend too bee perfect ame yee all at one mark and be yee knit truly toogither in one For wee know how ambition tickleth vs continually and euery man would fayne haue somewhat by himself too set out his owne estimation withall For the very cause wherof came al the heresies that euer were is this pryde so depely rooted in mennes harts that wheras all of vs ought too bee lerners euery of vs will needs bee teachers And in verye deede he that is to teach other folks must not set foorth any thing of his owne but purely impart vntoo them the things that he hath learned of our Lord Iesus Christ. And soo bycause men are so froward that they couet alwayes too knowe more than is lawfull for them therefore they misbehaue them selues and euery man would keepe a schoole too make a showe of hym selfe But it is said heere that in stead of this dealyng wee must bee knyt toogither that wee may speake all as it were with one mouth and confesse that wee haue but one God and one Father by shewing our selues too haue no mo maysters but onely Iesus Christe Neuerthelesse it is true that such a concord would not bee ynough but I haue told you already at what ende wee must begynne that is too wit at the pure instruction which wee receyue of the Prophetes and Apostles The Papistes brag too too much of theyr agreement and so may they do ful wel for the diuel possesseth thē in such wise that they be wholly sotted in it In deede there is ianglyng iarryng ynough among thē they snatch one at another lyke Curdogs when they bee in theyr own Synagogues but yit they sticke toogither lyke Burres in the mayntenance of all vngodlynesse We see their diuelish madnesse wilful stubbornnes when they reason for the mayntenance of their own lies ageinst gods truth But S. Paul sheweth vs after what maner we ought to agree ▪ namely not in dreames dotages nor in the things that men haue put foorth of their own store but in the doctrine of the Prophets Apostles Now seing that the Papists haue banished the holy scripture although they make coūtenance to receyue it doo neuerthelesse deface it yea vtterly falsifie corrupt it by their own inuētions therby we see they be farre of frō their reckening in that they vant thē selues with open mouth to bee Gods Church for seeing they haue not the doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles they haue no marke 〈◊〉 the church at al. Although men were redie to receyue al things that are in the holy scripture euē without geinsaying yit if they fal to mingling
of their own fancies therwithall Christianitie is therby alredy corrupted coÌ„foâ—â—ded Now they not only intangle Gods truth with their own inuentions but also vtterly ouerthrow al in somuch that Gods seruice is vtterly corrupted by theÌ„ poore soules are harried to fro our Lord Iesus Christ is robbed so as they make but a fantastical coÌ„ceit of him attribute his offices to this man that maÌ„ as it were the dealing of some pray or bootie Forasmuch theÌ„ as we see the papists so malapertly madly turne Gods word vpsyde downe after that fashion we may well conclude that although they boast theÌ„selues neuer so much to bee the Church yit God disauoweth them yea vtterly abhorreth them that if a maÌ„ get him not out of that den of theeues it is impossible for him to be ioyned to our Lord Iesus Christ. Thus yee see that the thing which we haue to beare in mynd is that to be ioyned to God by meanes of his only sonne to be companions with the Angels of heauen brethren of the Patriarks holie kings and Prophets wee must be banished out of the Hellish Sinagogs that are in the popedome where it is apparant that Antichrist reigneth and that Iesus Christ is vtterly dispossessed of his right and souereintie And veryly we see their cursed presumption in that they haue bin so bolde as too say that the See of Rome is the foundation of the Churche For they abuse these woordes of our Lord Iesus Christ in the sixteenth Chapter of S. Mathew Thou art Peter and vpon this Stone will I buyld my Church Now seeyng that Iesus Christ sayeth that Peter shall bee buylded vppon himselfe that is too say vppon Iesus Christ he meaneth not too resigne his offyce eyther too him or too any other body but therby it appeereth that among the Papists there hath not bin any reuerence of the holy scripture nor any desyre too bee taught but that all was one too them so they myght set vp a tyrannye too oppresse the kingdome of our Lord Iesus Christ and too make cleane riddance of it if it were possible and that they haue made no conscience of manifest blasphemie insomuch that euen little children ought too haue spit in their faces considering the grosse beastlinesse that is and hath bin among them And herein also it is too bee seene howe the diuell hath raigned in full darkenesse that Gods woord was buryed yea and vtterly defaced and the wretched world quite and cleane beâ—eft of it for a tyme notwithstanding that it was their ordinary foode So then let vs abhorre all those blasphemies assuring our selues that wee cannot bee grounded in but our Lord Iesus Christ and that when wee bee once faythfully instructed in him wee neede not too borrow elsewhere bycause he hath brought vs whatsoâ—uer is requisite for our saluation And it is not meete that wee should doo him so great dishonour as too seeke any supply one where or other but that wee should hold our selues all wholly vntoo him That therfore is the meaning of the things that S. Paule speaketh heere Theruppon he addeth that it behoueth vs all too bee buylded and too growe intoo a spirituall building euen too God and in the spirit First whereas he sayeth that wee must bee builded it is to stirre vs vp so much the better to growe dayly more and more in faith He vseth also the word Growe and he meaneth in effect twoo things The one is that wee must not thinke our selues too bee so perfect as neede were that wee should bee as some fantasticall heads dâ—o whom yee shall see so puffed vp with ouerweening that they imagine themselues too be wize ynough and disdeyne too looke vppon Gods word or too giue eare vntoo it to be taught by it But wo worth such pryde for wee cannot bee disciples of our Lord Iesus Christ but by knowing that it behoueth vs too bee grounded in him and too profite in him al the tyme of our life For Gods word is of such height bredth and length that if a man should forbeare eating drinking and sleeping and buzie himselfe all wholly about that yit should he neuer knowe all So then wee ought too trauell in it al our life long knowing that God intendeth as now but onely to set vs in the way and that wee must go foreward by little and little and bee hiâ—d continually in humblenesse and modestie Agein S. Paule sheweth vs that too bee seâ—tled in our Lord Iesus Christ and too bee furthered in all the good things that are giuen vs by him wee must haue his word that wee may bee builded vppâ—â— it and growe vppon it more and more and that too bring the same too passe wee must bee teachable and from day â—oo day labour too seeke new helpe there too strenghthen our fayth withall which shal neuer be perfect in this world as we fynde sufficiently by experience Thus yee see what S. Paule ment by that â–ª which he sayeth here concerning our growing and going forward in the sayd building howbeit vntoo the Lord sayeth he shewing therby that too haue a goodly show is not all that is reâ—uired at our hands but that the cheife point is that God like well of vs and that wee bee wholly giuen vntoo him so as he haue place and roome in vs and dwel in vs as in his Temple For the Papists wil make a farre greater showe then wee on the 〈◊〉 side they haue great multitudes wherwith they bee pâ—ffed vp 〈◊〉 the vttermost Aâ—d theruppon they despyze vs bycause wee bee but a handfull of men in comparison of them What say they dooth not Christendome extende through all Europe Greece and Affricke And yit see how these rascals that haue nother authoritie nor credit nor any thing else in them will needes be counted the Chruch Yee see then that the Papists shake vs of with diuelish pride malapertnesse bycause they haue on their syde great pomp and all manner of riches insomuch that if a man go intoo their temples he is rauished at them as if he were in an earthly paradice But al is not gold that glistereth And although their pompe bee able too bleare the eyes of poore ignorant soules whom we see too bee caryed away in deede with such things Yit are they all no better but abhomination before god And so S. Paule sheweth vs that wee must not spite the Papistes though they be very many in number and greatly multiplyed for they bee but a head without a body or rather but a bumbasted and counterfet body Too bee short that which the Papists terme their Church is a very monster For it hath no head bycause Iesus Christ hath not preheminence ouer it no nor any part or portion in it Too the end therefore that wee might knowe how wee should growe it is sayd vntoo vs that wee must grow vntoo the Lord and in Spirit sayth S. Paule Heere he draweth vs