Sermons Upon all the Sunday Gospels, Sermon 4
The fourthe Sonday of Aduent. ¶The Gospell of S. Iohn. i.
THis is the recorde of Iohn, when the Iewes sente priestes and Leuites from Ierusalem, to aske hym What arte thou? And he confessed and denied not, and sayd playnly: I am not Christ. And they asked hym, what then, art thou Helias? And he saith: I am not. Art thou the Prophete? And he aunswered, No. Then sayde they vntounto hym. What art thou? that we may geue an aunswere vntounto them that sent vsus? What sayest thou of thy self? He sayd: I am the voyce of a cryer in the wyldernesse: make straight the waye of the Lorde, as saide the prophete Esaie. And they whiche were sent, were of the Phariseis, and they asked hym, and sayd vntounto hym: Why baptisest thou then, if thou be not Christ, nor Helias, neyther that prophete? Iohn answered them, saying: I baptise with water, but there standeth one among you, whome ye knowe not: he it is, whiche though he came after me, was before me, whose shoe latchet I am not worthye to vnlose. These thynges were doone at Bethabara, beyonde Iordan where Iohn dyd baptise.
THE EXPOSITION.
THIS Gospell also is one of the especiallest gospels, that proueth a hygh article of our religion, which belongeth not to the tenne commaundementes or workes, but to a hygher matter, teachynge what is Christe, and what he hath done. Wherefore it is almost one with the gospell of the laste Sonday, and conteyneth the same doctrine, excepte that the matter is sette foorthe with other wordes and other persones. For the laste Sonday ye heard, how all the matter consisteth in this poynte, that we hauehave chiefe respect vntounto this person CHRIST, & that nothing besyde be had in so great estimatiō,Christe alone saueth. that all our mynd and thought reste in this man. For he that swarueth not from hym, fyndeth remission of synnes, and deliuerance from deth and hel. For so is it wholly decreed with God,Iohn. 14. that in this man all thynges should be. He is the way, truth, and lyfe, and by hym onelyonly the patriarkes, prophetes, and Apostles be saued from the beginning of the worlde. This knoweth Iohn, and sendeth his disciples for this cause vntounto hym, that they should not lacke so great a tresure and goodnes. This doth God wel perceiue,The patriarkes and Prophetes were saued by faith i… Christ. that this is our fault, to be desyrous to serche out many ways. And one for ye louelove of monkerie becometh a monk, an other fasteth, an other slepeth on the ground, and so eueryevery man foloweth his owne deuise, and goeth forth in his owne ways, that may bryng him to heuen. Wherfore God talketh with vsus by the gospell, and protesteth that he alloweth not that as seme good to vsus: But that he putteth forthe his word to shewe vsus the true way (that is) his sonne Iesus Christe.Withoute Christe there is no saluatiō Wherefore he that strayeth from hym, shall depart voyde of saluation, although he fast & pray neuer somuche. Contrarywyse he that cleaueth vntounto him by faith, hath remission of sins and life euerlasting, neither can the diuel or synne, deceaue him of his trust.
This way did the Patriarkes and prophets walk, & obtained saluation through Christ▪ For if any should be saued by workes, and by theyr owne rightuousnes, surely they must nedes be the prophets and apostles, which out of mesure, wrought and suffred many thinges. But here they do all dispaire of their owne rightuousnes, and toke hold by that sede with a firme faith that shold breake the serpentes head. But the Iewes wil not walke in this way, they could not beleue,Gen. 3. that ther was such help in a carpenter, thinkyng this with them selues: we must so worke by fast, almes, & praier that we may be with God, it is a foly to thynke that this craftesman can saue. And for this cause, God toke this order,The office of Iohn. that Iohn shold come as a trompetter before Christe, and this is the meanynge of the trompet, that all at the sound therof, should hauehave their eies attent, and mark that mā well, that cometh after Iohn as the true expectation of Israell. Wherfore when the Iewes sende Legates, and demaunde whether he be Christ? Elias, or any Prophete? He aunswereth, I am not. When they are instant, sayenge: Who arte thou then, and what recorde geuest thou of thy selfe? He aunswerethe: I am the voyce of a cryer in wyldernes, make readye the waie for the Lorde. That is, I am a trompetter before the kyng. Wherfore be attente to my worde: for he shall come after me incontinently, whiche was before me, and shall baptise you with the holy ghost, where as I do baptise but with water, as a minister. He standeth in the myddest of you, and ye know hym not. Wherfore this is my duetie, to be the voyce of a crier in wyldernes: that when ye heare the sound of my trumpet, ye may vnderstande that he is come. For I am that soundynge voyce and crier, to whom ye ought to be attēt. He therfore that foloweth next after me, is he hym selfe,Esaye. 40. as Esaie prophecieth in the .xl. Chapter: The voice of a cryer is in the desert, make redy the way for the Lord, make streight the pathes of our Lord in wildernes. He am I (saith Iohn) and this is my word. Wherfore be attent, he is nowe amongest you, but ye know hym not. And this is my office, to bryng you into acquaintance with hym, that ye may receyue hym. For the next prophete that commeth after me, is euen he hym selfe. As for me I am but one sent before: and this office doo I now execute and fulfyll my duetie prophesyed of before. He as yet is priuate and vnknowen, but by and by after me shal he come abrode with his prophetical office of teaching. Wherefore take ye good heede, least ye be deceaued in markyng of hym, and hauehave him in hygh estimation among you. Neither was there truely any other end of this matter, then as Iohn prophecied before. For incō tinently after Baptisme, Christe began to work myracles in Galilee. He sent twelue apostles, and seuētie disciples, to preache that the kyngedome of God was at hande: that is, that Christ was come. Here he is (sayth Iohn) Ioyne your selfe to hym, receyue hym, and ye shall not be deceaued. He came after me, but he was before me. For Iohn was elder than Christ six whole moneths, and yet he saieth, he was before me. This amongest the Iewes had ben a blasphemous worde, if they had at that tyme vnderstande it: as it is playne in Iohns Gospell, where as he saith: Before Abrahā was, I am. And this is as much to say, as this man before he was borne in the earthe, he was in heauen. But yet the Iewes dyd not vnderstand it: neuer the lesse this saying of Iohn is trewe,Iohn. 8. and dothe notifie to vsus a person of the Godhed. As he declareth plainely hereby, when he saith: I am not worthy to lose the lachet of his shoes. Here should the Iewes hauehave diligently consydered, what maner of man this was, in comparison of whom Iohn denieth and abaseth hym self so muche, and saith him self vnworthy to serue hym in ye leaste thyng that is. The testimonie of Iohn cometh frely from his hart, that he is not worthy: Although (saith he) I be neuer so much sett by of you, yet in comparison of this man, I am nothing. He is wel content to lay asyde all his glorie, & saith plainly that he will take yt for a great renoume, yf he might be thought necessarie to this man in the moste bassest office of wiping his shoes.
Wherfore leaste the Iewes should surmyse that he humbled him self to muche, wheras Iohn the author of baptisme executed ye ministerie of a prophet: he doth expoūd the trew meaninge of his baptisme, saying: I hauehave a signe also, as hathe the other prophetes. Ieremie did weare a chaine of woode: Esai walked naked and barefooted,Esa. 20. when he prophesied to the Aegiptiās & Ethiopes, that they shold be a pray to ther enemies, & be spoyled of all they had. I am the auctor of a new word, and of a new signe.Iohn declareth his baptisme. I preache that ye prepare the way for the lorde. Ye had no nede of this worde, yf the way were prepared now alredie. After that I washe you for a signe, that ye are vnpure and filthie: and I am the beginner of this lauer. But he that foloweth me, wil prouide a better baptisme, and baptise you with the holy spirit. All this was spoken, that they might not coūt Christe vnworthy of their sighte, but should hauehave for a remēbrance the words of Iohn: that because he had borne recorde of him, which should come foorthe so magnificētly, with teaching & signes, thei might not doubt in an euident matter. But what do they? thei hear Iohn, but they thinke not his authoritie sufficient. For as they beheaded Iohn: so they crucified Christe, as touching whome, Iohns witnesse was so faithfull. Suche regard of godlines had they, that they only despised not the word of God, but for that also killed the Prophetes, and nayled on the crosse,The Iewes regarde not Iohns doctrine. the Lord of all Prophetes. And so goeth the matter now also. For Christ is condemned to the crosse: not only at his beyng here in earth, but nowe also in his members. We labour all that we can with Iohn, to bringe men into this way: for as muche as without Christe, ther is no remission of synnes, or lyfe euerlasting. But the more we go about to withdrawe mens trust from their oune workes as vnprofitable to righteousnes in the sight of God,Papistes can not abyde the word of God. and to leade them to Christe: so much the more greuously are we condemned as heretykes of our aduersaries. For that is not agreable with their doctrine, as all do knowe. They sette foorth the Mounkes rules and masses with ostentation, they offer vp masses for the dead, they ordeyne seruice, they go a pilgrimage, they bye pardons. But what other thing is this, then to caste away Christe, and searche out new ways to heauen. And we can alow this by no meanes: and therfore can they not abstayne from rayling and slaundering of vsus. The Bishops and highe Priests wold deale lykewyse with vsus, as they did with the Iewes, yf they coulde. Only this is lacking vntounto them, that they can not abuse vsus at their pleasure. But what is the cause they are so greuously offended with vsus? surely no other, but that we teache with Iohn to geue the glory to God, and to humble them selues before Christ, and iudge them selues vnworthy with all their seruice and good workes, to wipe such a great mannes shoes. For they can not chose but graunt this, that Iohn was more holy then all they can be: and yet he saith, I will caste away all this holynes, yf I might but be receaued only into the felowshippe of his grace, to hauehave the ouersight of his shoes, I wold thynke my selfe an honorable man. This do we therfore testifie and proteste before the worlde, the Pope, the Bishoppes, Priests, and Mounkes, that be their righteousnes and holynes neuer so much: yet in this poynte they are nothyng to be compared with Iohn. Wherfore if ye do all that ye can by fastyng, and saying your prayers, only do this also: see that these things be caste at Christes feete, and lett them not looke to be iustified and saued therby. But say this humbly: I do not refuse to be to lowly and humble. This do we teache, that they suffer Christ to be holy only, but they can not be persuaded so to doo. They crie out vponupon vsus lyke madde men, saying:
Not only faith is sufficient, but we muste do good workes. And so they make not the holynes of Christ their ground and piller, as Iohn dydde, which is gladde to forgo his owne holynes, and count it not so much worthy, as the cloutes wherwith durty shoes are made cleane. He testifieth plainly, that his holynes is not so muche worth as a vyle cloute, and how much lesse worthy dothe he iudge it to wipe CHRISTES nose,Papistes seke saluation by theyr owne workes. and to do any higher office. This doth the Pope and his Churche refuse to doo. They extolle them self highly with their workes, and that they hauehave euerlastyng lyfe for them. And can not abyde that their workes and holynes should be counted as vyle cloutes. Yea rather they doubt, whether they may iudge Christe worthie to hauehave this holines geuen in steade of almes and sacrifice. This heard the Iewes, but thei despised and persecuted it: and vntounto this tyme is not this cōtempt and persecution lefte. But as this madnes chaunced to the Iewes destruction, so shall it by Gods grace chaunce to the Papistes. Wherefore we muste diligently marke this example, where as Iohn that moste holieste man, which (as Christ saith) hathe none lyke him amōgest all that are borne of women,Matth. 116 which passed all mounkes and priests farre: yet dothe he so demitte and humble him self, and saith that he wt all his holines and workes is not worthy to be as a clout to wipe shooes. Truly this example is worthye to be folowed. Good workes muste be doone, and that with great diligence.Good workes. For so hath God commanded in the ten preceptes. But when we come to that pointe, that we muste entreat of this man, as Iohn doth: all is to be caste downe at his feete, & we muste confesse hartely with Iohn, that it is not worthy to doo him the leste seruice that is. Before mānes iudgemēt hereof is had chief respecte, that thou art no aduouterer, no thefe, no robber, that thou geuest almes, that thou seruest well in thy vocation. These thynges are boasted of amongest men, and had in highe estimation.
But when the matter is tried in the sight and iudgement of God, be not lothe to say this: O Lorde I know that before thee, the excellentest thinges in me are nothing worthe. Wherfore iudge me not accordīg to my workes, I am willinge to byde ye losse of them. And can wishe no better thinge, yf so be I might hauehave my desier therin, I may thinke my self well blessed. So doth Paule also to the Philippi. I am (saith he) an Israelite,Phil. 3. after the profession of the lawe a Pharisei, and as touchyng righteousnes vnblameable, so that no man can reproue me. It is not much sene, that one should stande so in these thyngs, against the iudgement of men. Yet he saith: I thinke all this but chyppes, and all my trust and confort resteth herein, that I may be found not hauing my owne righteousnes, which is of the lawe, but the righteousnes which is by fayth in CHRISTE, whiche righteousnes belongeth to faith, as God saith. Wherfore that I might take fruite of this man, I caste away all my owne righteousnes as chips. The saying of Paule is more cōtumelious against good workes thē Iohns. For he is cōtent to suffer them to be estemed cloutes, but Paule nameth them very chips, paryngs, or scrapyngs. Paule the Apostle nothing feareth the reproch of vnciuilitie, wheras he vseth suche vnpure words. Suche examples are very necessary to maintayn the study of honesty and sobernes before the worlde, that men might not hauehave any cause to reproue vsus. This righteousnes is belonging to this lyfe, and hath his ende with this lyfe, as it is knowen. Good men are put into the graue as well as the euill, the matrones as well as the harlots. But whē thou wilt make thee a way to euerlasting lyfe, say this: Christ is my refuge, and his righteousnes, which he promiseth and geueth in Baptisme by his worde, and in the supper by his body and bloud.The differēce betwene the righteousnes of faith and good workes. At last I shall stand by hym as a poore worme. That so by this meanes there may be put a difference betwene oure righteousnes, whiche consisteth in the functions of this common lyfe, and betwene the righteousnes whiche is before God. The Ethnykes also hath shewed honesty and sobernes in theyr lyuinge, and donne and suffered many thyngs for their natiue countreye, for the which they hauehave their due renoume. But when death commeth, nothyng therof will steppe foorth to take their part. For by suche righteousnes and good workes, we can not attayne to the remission of synnes. But whyther must we then go for righteousnes and such holynes, that is accepted before GOD, and alowed in the euerlasting lyfe? There then is this holy anker to be caste, this muste be oure refuge, that we come humbly after the precept of Iohn, and thynke vyle of oure self, or as Paule saith, shamefully. In the eyes of the worlde, this maye perchaunce seme excellent, but before God, it is but a cloute to wipe the shoes of the sonne of GOD. Whose righteousnes I wold gladly hauehave to be geuen to me, by the helpe wherof, I might be certayn of saluation, wheras for my owne righteousnes I ought not to refuse damnation in hell. And this is the cause that we say surely, that Mounkes, Priests, cooles, and all things of this sort, is destinate to damnation. For they applie not their works, to the obedience of God, to honest lyuing, to the auoyding of offence: but that they might hereby obtayne saluation. Wherfore they sell these thyngs also to other, and this it is to denie CHRIST, Papistes sell theyr words.and to mocke and despise him, as the Iewes mocked and despised hym. Lett vsus beware of such abomination, and here let vsus learne, how to aunswer suche Iuglers. Woldest thou wretched mā be so mighty with thy workes and righteousnes, that thou mightest purchase me saluation therby? The vertue of Iohn, Peter, nor of any other, was euer of suche power. If it had ben otherwyse,Monasteries. they would neuer hauehave thought so lightly of it, as their words shewe. If the vse of the Abbeis, were turned to the instruction of youth, & to the trayning vp of them in scriptures, no man could reproue it, because it was done with great reason. But they can not be brought from their wicked order: They referre all to the obtayning of saluation.
Wherfore yt were better, that suche Abbeis were cleane put downe, than that men shoulde fall into offence thereby, and straye from CHRIST, and lose both body and sowle. Learne therfore of this Gospell to lyue godly, righteously, and chastly,Good works ought diligētly to be done. and to be diligent in good workes. For suche obedience doth God require by his lawe, and wold hauehave vsus to do it. And when we do it not, let vsus know that punishement is redy for vsus: and if he seeth vsus not to amende by bodyly paynes, he will punishe vsus euerlastyng. These things are to be done before mē, but yet before God say on this wyse: Lord, for as much as belongeth to my works and righteousnes, I hauehave no hope, only this I desier, that I may hauehave some lowe seruice about CHRISTES feete. For as muche as belongeth to my liuing, I hauehave deserued to be cast in to hell, but I call vponupon his holynes, that he will sanctifie me with a better and eternall lyfe, then shall I be sure to hauehave euerlastyng lyfe. But the Popes and Bishops heare not this. For yf they woulde, Priests, Colleges, Mounkeries, Masses, and suche other ceremonies and seruice, wold sone be ouerthrowen. Whiche things all they defende so stubbornely, because they truste to hauehave saluation therby. So doth not Iohn, nor Paule, which renoūce their owne righteousnes. And a Christian man ought to say this with Paule: My righteousnes & iustice, is but rubble and rubbyshe. And also with Iohn: My holynes is an vnprofitable cloute, when I compare it with the workes and holynes of Christe. But the Papistes cā not abyde that such iudgement shold be geuen of their masses, vowes, fastings, prayers: thei murder vsus, because we folow this doctrine, and teach not as they do, but shew men a better way of saluation. An euill mynd, an euill heart, neither can there euer be any hope of amendment in them. They seke euill, they shall fynde euill. Lett vsus hauehave an eye to Iohns fynger, wherwith he poynteth vsus whether to looke, leaste oure Lord and sauiour Iesus CHRIST, that most necessary capitayn passe by vsus vnseen and vnknowen, and so we wander and stray from him to oure destruction. And because it should not be so, Iohn is sent to leade vsus and shewe vsus the way, that we might be saued. The which thing GOD the father graunt vsus through his sonne Iesus Christe. AMEN.