Obedience to the Gospel, Title page – Table
OBEDIENCE TO the Gospell.
TWO SERMONS, CONTEINING FRVTEFVL MATTER, both of doctrine, and exhortation: very needefull to be knowne, and practised in these our dayes: vponupon the words of the holy ghost, written by the Euangelist S. Luke, chapter 2. verses 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20, conteining the effect of the birth of Christ, (reuealed by the Angell of God) in the sheepeherds, and others that heard of it.
GATHERED OVT OF THE SERmons of IOHN VDALL, Preacher of the worde of God, at Kingston vponupon Thames, and published, at the request of some of them that heard them preached.
ROM. 10. 16. But they hauehave not all obeyed the Gospell: for Esa… sayth: Lord, who hath beleeued our report?
AT LONDON Imprinted for T. Man, W. B. and N.L. 1584.
TO THE CONGREGATION OF CHRISTES PEOPLE, IMBRACING THE TRVTH OF THE GOspel, by a liuely faith, and obedience to the same, the ordinarie hearers of the worde of God, at Kingston vponupon Thames, IOHN VDALL wisheth increase of knowledge, faith, reformation of life, Zeale, & all other vertues of true godlines, and holines in this world, and the rewarde of the same, (thorough the merciemercy of God in Iesus Christ) in the world to come.
SEEING it hath pleased the Lord, of his great merciemercy, and goodnes, to vouchsafe vntounto vsus that inestimable treasure of his holy word: the preciousnes whereof, surmounteth all things vnderunder the sunne: wherein he doth offer, euen his owne selfe vntounto vsus, and teacheth vsus the way whereby we may come vntounto him: it behoueth vsus with all reuerence, and feare, to imbrace the same, preferring it before any thing that we can desire vponupon the earth. And forasmuch as it hath pleased him, to put that precious treasure in these earthly vessells, subiect vntounto corruption, and mortality: which by the natural disposition that they are of, will striue to infect all the fruite of that precious treasure, with the stenche of sinnefull and vngodly desires: we are diligently to watch, and contend, that we see, that these fleshly and inordinate motions (that seeke so greatly to extinguish eueryevery good thing) may be dayly more and more kept vnderunder: that the word of God may (by the working of his holy spirit) get the victorie in our harts, and sit there as a Prince, to rule the cogitations therof, captiuing them daily vntounto the kingdom of Iesus Christ, thorough obedience to his most blessed will. The which, forsomuch as it is done, especially, by the ministery of the word, wherein the Lord hath printed such force, that it throweth downe all munitions reared against it: and vntounto the worke of the same, hath appointed me among you (of many other most vnable) to do that, which he commaundeth, and my duety requireth at my hands: it standeth both me, and you, in hand, to be most heedefull, that we be not carelesse in these great and weighty matters, which doe concerne the glory of Almightie God, and the eternall saluation, both of our soules and bodies: and so much the rather, because Satan fearing the continuance of the world to be short: and therefore, that which he doeth for the aduancement of his owne kingdome, he must doe it quickly: laboureth by his instruments, with tooth and naile, to extinguish the light of the glorious Gospell, that it should not shine with open face, vntounto Gods people: for we see daily, what mischieuous practises he broacheth, what errors he spreadeth, what slaunders he inuenteth, what lyes he disperseth, and all to discredite the course of religion: the truth whereof we doe feele, and see in our owne experience: for you knowe, what enimitie the establishment of the Gospell amongst you had, by your enuious foes, that would hauehave kept you still in palpable ignorance, with themselues: howe many pullbacks and hinderances were deuised, and be daily inuented, to stay the course thereof, all which, for so much, as (thorough the merciemercy of God, to vsus-ward) they hauehave not had that successe, which the authors hoped for: they labour now, and hauehave done continually, to imagine slaū derous lyes, and most wicked forgeries, which they doe daily spread abroad, to the ende, to defame the religion, which we professe: so that there is not (almost) any sinne, that can be committed, but it is fathered vponupon some of vsus: which deuillish dealing, albeit we know that it shall turne to their eternall destruction, vnlesse the Lorde in merciemercy, giuegive them grace to repent: yet notwithstāding we may learne a very good lesson out of the same, and make a profitable vse of it vntounto our selues: let me therefore intreate you, to marke with diligence this which I shall write vntounto you, as you are wont to doe, when I doe speake. The greatest accusation (you knowe) in generall, that your foes, the aduersaries of the Gospell, doe charge you with, is, that you professe one thing, and practise another: that you say well, and doe naughtily: that you reprehēd others, you your selues being worse: which (in deede) is a most heinous accusation, and such a thing, as, your owne selues can witnesse, I neuer hauehave winked at, but most carefully reproued, and such a thing as our religion neither teacheth, nor permitteth▪ for it is of that force, where it entreth▪ that it will reforme all these things (in measure) in those that hauehave it within them. This slaunder goeth yet further: for our profession is accused, to be seditious, contentious, and troublesome vntounto the state, and enemie to good order, and gouernment: & we our selues accounted malicious, proude, finding rather fault with others, than amending our selues, seeking rather for singularitie, than louelove and charitie. You are not ignorant of the sleights of Satan: and therfore knowing, that he was from the beginning, an accuser, and lyar, may the better, by the merciemercy of God, hauehave vse of your knowledge, to comfort you in these temptations. But marke, how the Lord maketh Satan, & his imps, to be as spurs and pricks, to driue the godly forward, though they be very grosse, and dull in the beholding of their owne faults: (for Satan casteth a myste ouer their eyes, when they should see them) yet they be very quicke eyed, to prye into the doings of others, especially, the godly, and are able, if our foote doe but slip, to find it out, and hauehave it as a reason to discredit our profession, which aboue all things, we labour to keepe vnspotted. Therefore it behooueth you, to looke diligently vntounto your selues, to watch your owne soules, to attend and looke vntounto eueryevery worde that you speake, eueryevery thought that you thinke, and eueryevery action that you commit: to examine it diligently, by the line of Gods word, which is the touchstone, that wil either approue it, or disproue it: and if you find, by the vndoubted warrant thereof, that it is lawfull, and that you ought to doe it, then let neither slaunder, speach of people, deuill, nor hell, staye you from the practise thereof: but if, (thorough the remnants of old Adam) you be at any time allured to doe, or speake any thing, that either is forbidden, or hath no warrant from the word of God, then reason thus with your selues: this is not agreeable to my profession: this is contrary to that I hauehave learned: this will procure the name of God to be dishonoured, my religion to be defamed, and my selfe to be discredited: therefore, though it might be gainefull, delightfull, or any other way pleasure me, I may not doe it: this you had neede to marke very well: for (I tell you) you hauehave many lookers on, that would laugh to see your fall: you dwell in a country, where the Gospell is very litle preached: insomuch, that your ignorant neighbours make them selues sport, to mocke at you, that will be so foolish, as to suffer your selues to be seduced by the Scriptures: you hauehave godlesse and profane men, that doe deride you: Libertines, and freewill men, that doe despise you: worldlings and bellygods, that doe carpe at you: insomuch, that you hauehave very great neede to walke warily: that it standeth you vponupon, to behaue your selues circumspectly: therefore doe thus: be diligent in publike hearing, and, (as it may stand with your calling) priuate reading of the worde of God, (for that is the onelyonly schoolemaister, to teach you all truth) vsing daily and hartie prayer vntounto God, for the presence of his holy spirite, to teach you the true meaning thereof: looke what you finde therein required of eueryevery Christian, be carefull to doe it: in your dealing with others, deale faithfully, without facing out of ill matters: without swearing, or lying: reproue others with the spirite of mildnes, that doe amisse, in your presence: shewe your selues obedient vntounto all authoritie, that is appointed of God: and that for conscience sake. Bring vp your children, and seruants, in the feare of God, instructing them in the principles of religion: detract no man secretly, but tell them plainely of their faults: to conclude, shewe your selues approued vntounto the Lord, in the testimonie of a good conscience, being alwaies carefull to seeke the glorie of God, and benefit of your brethren: be alwaies in worde and deede, that, which (according to the Scriptures) ye professe: and then, let Satan broach his lyes: let the wicked carry them abroad: let godlesse persons hate you, as long as they may, it shall turne to their shame at the length, as (to our great comfort) we see it doth daily, and (being a triall of your patience) to your greater glorie in the kingdome of heauen: and let not the glory of this world bewitch you, for ye are not of this world: let not the successe of godlesse persons dismay you, for the world loueth his owne, and is liberall vntounto them: let not the slaunders of the wicked discourage you: for because you runne not on into the same excesse of riot with them, therefore they speake euill of you: let not the multitude of your aduersaries feare you, for God is strōger then all men: let not the threatnings of great ones daunt you, for their heartes are in the handes of the Lord, to be guided at his pleasure: let not the pronenesse of your owne nature seduce you, for he that liueth after the flesh, shall die: let not the crosses that accompanye the Gospell wearie you, for they bring the ioyfull fruite of righteousnesse, to all that are exercised thereby: so shall the name of God be glorified by you: so shall your foes be put to flight, & your profession known to be the truth of the eternall God, that liueth for euer. Now, to come to speake of these present sermons, which I hauehave dedicated chiefly vntounto you: partly for that, by that calling which the Lorde hath layd vponupon me, I am at this instant, bound, by all lawfull meanes, to doe you good: partly, because it is the earnest sute of some of you, to hauehave them penned: & partly, for that they contain in them sundrye pointes of religion, which you doe professe, and for which, you are of the world condemned: that eueryevery man may see thereby, the impudencie of Satan, that dare note Gods owne word with the marke of infamie: onelyonly let me craue this at your hands, as a recompence for my trauaile, that you woulde expresse the doctrine in your liues, that I hauehave expressed, (though simply, yet truly) therein: that I may once see in you all that zeale, which the example of these sheepeherds may teach you: then shal I thinke my labour well bestowed, when the beames of righteousnesse doe breake forth, as the sun at noone day: which, the Lord, for his merciemercy, graunt, in his Sonne, our Sauiour Iesus Christ: to whome with the father, and the holy ghost, be all honor and glorie, both now, and for euer.
Amen.
Your seruant, for Iesus Christes sake, his vnworthy messenger. IOHN VDALL.
The table.
The birth of Christ, reuealed by the Angells, did worke effectually, in
the sheepeherds, in whome are to be considered these things:
their conference,
the time when it was. 1.
the maner of it. 2.
their iorney in going with haste vntounto the place where the childe was. 3.
the fruite of the conference and iorney
1. founde the child. 4.
2. published it abroad. 5.
returned, praysing God. 6.
the people, who wondered at the thinges which they had heard. 7.
Marye, who
kept all these things 8.
pondred them in her hart. 9.