Sermons on Divinity Humanity and Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, Sermons on the Prophecies · Sermon 1
¶ The firſt Sermon of the Propheſie of Ieſus Chriſt as concerning his death and paſſion taken out of the Prophete Iſaiah.
Iſaiah. Lij.
13 BEholde my ſeruaunt ſhall proſper: he ſhalbe exalted, and extolled, and be very high.
14 As many were aſtonied at thee. (His viſage was ſo deformed of men, and his forme of the Sonnes of men) ſo ſhall he ſprinkle many nations: the kinges ſhall ſhut their mouthes at him: for that which had not beene tolde them ſhal they ſee, and that which they had not heard ſhall they vnderſtand.
Chap. Liij.
1
VVHo will beleeue our reporte? and to whom is the grace of the Lord reueiled▪
THe Prophet hauing generally ſpokē of al ye people of the Iewes, commeth now to the head, vponupon whō hangeth al, that hath bin before ſaid. For their redemption was only grounded in & vponupon our Lord Ieſus Chriſt,2. Cor. 1.20. becauſe in him, are al the promiſes of God accompliſhed. Now it is long time paſt ſithence the redéemer was promiſed: But when it was thoughte that the ligne of Dauid was vtterly extinguiſhed, the hope of the faithfull might altogether hauehave bin aboliſhed. For it was ſaid yt God would eſtabliſh a king for euer,2. Kin. 24.15 2. Chro. 36.10 & would ſet him on Dauids ſeate, & notwithſtanding that he ſhould hauehave ye ſunne and the moone of heauē, yet ſhould this kingdom be mainteined & cōſerued: & that although al ye world ſhould periſh, yet ſhould this be ſo ſtable & ſure, as that it ſhould very wel be ſéen, that this was a kingdom wholly conſecrated vntounto God. And yet for al yt, it decreaſed: yea, & ſoone after by little & little fell in decay, vntil ſuch time as the laſt king ſaue one,2. Kin. 15.7. Ierem. 39.6.32.9. was carried away captiue, & al the kingly ligne tranſlated, & as it were cleane cut of. And ye laſt king, who was created at the charge of an Infidel, & an enemie vntounto al religion, in the ende playing the rebell, againſt him, it ſo fell out as that the king was takē, his eyes put out, he was indited, his children were ſlaine, he himſelfe was moſt ſhamefully condemned: & the temple, with al his houſes were burnt. What was to be thought héervpon? Forſooth, it muſt néeds bée, that the Iewes aſſured themſelues by the Prophet, that God would in ye end, take compaſſion on them, and bring them out of captiuitie: For it was méete he ſhoulde tel them, that, that which was ſpoken to Abraham in the old time was not ſpokē in vayne, That in his ſéede, all the nations of the earth ſhoulde bee bleſſed: and that there ſhould be a king of the ligne of Dauid eſtabliſhed, whoſe Empire ſhould be euerlaſting and without end.
And therefore we ſée, why Iſaiah reſtraineth heere his ſpéeche vntounto the perſon of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt: to this end & purpoſe (I ſay) that the redēption & returne of the people, which before hée had ſpokē of, might be holden to be moſt certayne and ſure. Nowe we hauehave ſéene here aboue,Iſaiah. 42.1. that our Lord Ieſus was called The ſeruaunt of God, forſomuch as he moſt obediently ſubmitted himſelf for our ſaluation: yea, beyng hée, who was Lord of glory, the head of the Angels, and before whom eueryevery knée muſt bowe. Wherfore, ſince this name of ſeruaunt is geuen vntounto him, let vsus vnderſtande that it is, becauſe he tooke vpō him our nature, and yt hée would not only abaſe himſelfe therein, but alſo be made of no reputation. For it coulde not bée choſen but that our tranſgreſſions and iniquities, muſt be repayred through his obedience. And according to that, which hée ſaide to Iohn Baptiſt,Mat. 3.1…. hée muſt néedes fulfil the meaſure of al righteouſneſſe: Thus wée ſée, that although our Lord Ieſus Chriſt was ful of al maieſty, & God euerlaſting, yet becauſe he took vponupon him our nature, and became like vntounto vsus hée thought not ſkorne too bée of the loweſt degree of men whiche cannot bee gaineſayd. For although his diuine nature was no whit chaunged Yet if we conſider well of the matter, it was méete he ſhould abaſe himſelfe,Galat. 4.4. as he was a Mediator betwixt God and vsus: for it is ſaid, that he was made ſubiect to ye law, although indéed he was no whit indebted to ye ſame, for it was he that muſt rule all, and vntounto whō al ſubiection was due: howebeit he placed himſelfe in that ranke that he might frée vsus frō the yoke which we were not able to beare. For the law was a burden to preſſe vsus cleane downe, if ſo be our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt had not borne it, and had fréede vsus thereof by that meane. Neither let vsus thinke it ſtraunge that hée was called the ſeruant of God: ſéeing hée refuſed not eftſoones to become our ſeruant, which was very much. For if wée conſider of our owne eſtate, wée ſée it is but a vayne thing, wée are but ſillie woormes of the earth, and the Deuill, and ſinne hauehave power ouer vsus: and yet behold how the only ſonne of God hath abaſed himſelfe to become our ſeruant,Rom. 15.8 according to the ſaying of Saint Paule. For hée is (I ſay) the Miniſter of Circumciſion.
Moreouer, the Prophet namely vſeth the ſelfe ſame woordes, to the ende wee might vnderſtand, that whatſoeuer is héere ſpoken of him, is for the common benefite & welfare of the whole church. Nowe, we muſt conſider whervnto it was, that Ieſus Chriſt was called: to wit, to be the Redéemer of al the faithful and choſen people of God. And therefore, ſince this charge was committed vntounto him, and that he was ſo called, let vsus not ſtande in doubt, but that whatſoeuer is ſaide of his perſon, is common to vsus, and that the benefite thereof ſhall redound vntounto vsus, which héereafter we ſhal ſée. And thus much of the meaning of the Prophet. Now it is ſaid, that Ieſus Chriſt being called: which was to an office to ſaue thoſe that are his, ſhoulde flooriſhe, and bee woonderfully exalted and magnified,
This was ſpoken to this ende, that all the faithfull might bée armed againſt the temptation wherwith they might be attēpted before Ieſus Chriſt ſhuld appeare in glory and maieſty, yt is to ſay before that he, who was God eternal, and ful of glory, were manifeſted in the fleſhe. For when the Iewes were tranſlated into Babylon (as hath béene before ſaide) then was the dignitie of Dauid his ligne cleane ſcraped out and defaced. Howbeit this is true in déed, that after the returne of a few of them, there was one Zorobabell who was taken for a Captein and chief: But he ware no Kingly Diadeame or Crowne, hée had but a certaine title of honour giuen him: becauſe the people beare alwayes a reuerence vntounto the houſe of Dauid. Thus we ſée (I ſay) that Zorobabell was obeyed: yea forſooth, but yet there was no ſhew of gouernment in him. And therefore it was méet that the faithfull ſhould be armed againſt ſuch a temptation, & that God ſhould aſſure them that the Redéemer ſhould come, and notwithſtanding that the earth and all bottomleſſe depthes ſhould open to giuegive him place to come out, and that hée might be aduanced aloft, yet for all that, muſt this thing néedes come to paſſe. And ſo, it is not to be doubted, yt the Prophet maketh here a cōpariſon betwéen two contrary things: that is, that Ieſus Chriſt muſt be as it were lōg time hid, yea, & as one plunged ouer head & eares in the bottomles depths: & beſides, yt whē he ſhuld come, yt he ſhould not come in ſuch great glory & pompous ſhewe, as yt men ſhould make any great eſtimation of him: But contrariwiſe, yt he ſhould be naught ſet by, or els ſo cōtemptible, as yt a man would think, ye ſaluation of the people, ſhould neuer be accōpliſhed, and brought about, by his meane: & yet ſhould he be exalted. But it is a great deale more plainly expreſſed, when as the Prophet ſaith, That he was more disfigured then any man, & no forme nor faſhion to beſeene in him, as if he were not worthy to come into ye company of men, but to be taken to be a moſt deteſtable fellow, & the very countenance of him, only to be abhorred. Thus we ſée ye pretenſe of the Prophet, in ſaying that Ieſus Chriſt was exalted. Héere are then two things, which ſhould ſéeme at the firſt ſight, to be nothing like, nor poſſible to be recōciled: to wit, that Ieſus Chriſt was not to be knowne: to be ſought for, and not found: & when he ſhould bée ſéene, no account to be made of him: laſt of all: yt there was nothing to be found in him worthy of reputation, & yet that God woulde ſo lift him vp, magnifie, & exalt him, as that hée ſhould ſurpaſſe whatſoeuer we might any way cōceiue of his maieſty, here in this world. A man might ſay, that theſe two things could no more agrée together thē fire & water: & yet the Prophet ſaith, that we muſt beléeue that God wil in ſuch ſort work, as that baſe beginnings ſhal be no let to bring things to a perfect end. Mark alſo why it is ſaid, that he ſhal be wonderfully lifted vp, exalted, & aduanced: For, this was a temptation hardly to be withſtood & ouercome. Neither is it alſo enough that God declareth vntounto vsus in a word, what he meaneth to doe, but whē we ſée how his doings are withſtood, & that it ſéemeth, that, that, which God hath ſaid, is impoſſible to be brought to paſſe, yet let vsus be confirmed & ſtrengthened, and be able to hauehave wherewith to ouercome whatſoeuer may be laid before vsus, to hinder our beléeuing the promiſes of God. And therfore, this is euen as much as if the Prophet had ſaid, My friends, aſſure your ſelues that God will exalt the Redéemer, yea, he will doe it in déede. But if we will reply & ſay, you ſay wel ſir, but I pray you which way? For we ſée, that the meanes are too too ſtrange. Well hauehave you no doubt thereof: becauſe the power of God is of ſo great might as you are not able to vnderſtand it: But (howeuer it is) if you doubt, & wauer, and fall to reaſoning, & wil not be cōtented with theſe words, withſtād I ſay, theſe fond imaginations, & be ſtrong, ſet your ſelues agaynſt your vnbeliefe: & be of this reſolute minde, that howeuer it is, God will worke farre beyond your expectation, & farre beyond your opinion and reaſon. Thus we ſée the pretenſe of the Prophet by vſing theſe thrée, or rather foure kindes of ſayinges, which notwithſtanding do ſignifie all one thing. And he declareth it very wel to be ſo, by ſaying, That he was foule and yll fauoured, and not worthie to be looked on, becauſe there was neither beautie nor good countenance in him, but was as one cut off from the company of all men, and not worthy to be placed amongſt mortal men. Now, this, whē time ſerueth, ſhal be more amply declared: For this very ſentence ſhal be again rehearſed, for a more large ſetting forth of the matter. But howeuer it is, the prophet hath alredy declared, that ye Iewes, in looking for their Redéemer, muſt cloſe vp their eyes againſt all ſuch things as they hauehave bin wonted to ſéeke after, & giuegive place vntounto faith, & ſo be aſſured of the goodnes of God, although all were cō trary to their opinion. And this is not onelyonly ſpoken of the perſon of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, but alſo of the whole courſe of his Goſpell, and of the whole order which he taketh for the maintenance & gouernment of the faithfull. And therefore if we would be aſſured of our ſaluation in Ieſus Chriſt, we muſt in the firſt place, not be aſhamed that he was ſo diſfigured after the maner of men, & being ſent into the world, was taken to be as one moſt accurſed: and ſoone after, his Goſpel was in ſuch ſort ſlaundered as we ſée it to be euen at this day. For if we be aſhamed to receiue our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt crucified, without doubt we are excluded from all hope of ſaluatiō. For, how are we ſaued by him? How belongeth the heauenly enheritance to vsus, without he had béen made accurſed for vsus, & not only accurſed before mē, but alſo by the mouth of God his father? Thus we ſée, that Ieſus Chriſt, the fountaine of all bleſſing, hath neuertheles borne our ſinnes, and was made like vntounto the old ſacrifices which were called ſin offrings,1. Cor. 5.…. becauſe the wrath of God was ſhewed in thē, & men were freed & pardoned by them. And howe could Ieſus Chriſt be called our life, if he had not ſwallowed vp death by his death? Either how could we be exalted by him, but becauſe hée went down into the bottom of hell, to wit, he ſuſteined the horrors that were vponupon vsus, and wherwith, by reaſon of our ſinne, we were held vnderunder? For it muſt néedes be that God muſt be our Iudge for euer: & this is the moſt fearfull thing that may be, to hauehave God our enemy. And it behoued yt Ieſus Chriſt ſhould enter into it, as our pledge, & as one that ſhould make ſatiſfaction for vsus, and ſuſtayne our cōdemnation, yt we therby might be pardoned. And therefore, let vsus thinke it no ſtrange thing to ſée him thus diſfigured: & if this in our reaſon, be fooliſhneſſe, let vsus vnderſtand (as S. Paul ſaith) that the fooliſhneſſe of God ſurpaſſeth all the wiſdom of the world. Hée calleth that, the fooliſhneſſe of God, in that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt was ſo abaſed, & ſurely, if we wold here ſet down our iudgement, we would ſay without doubt, that it were an abſurde thing. For, to what purpoſe could it be any way poſſible that hée, who was to be worſhipped both in heauen and in earth, ſhoulde be ſo ſhamefully dealt withall? Thus we ſée howe that we in our arrogancie, & preſumption, will, as raſhly and boldly as may be, continually condemne, whatſoeuer God doth for our redemptiō: howbeit God in his ſecret counſell ſheweth, yt he hath more wit, thē we, any way are able to cōceiue of. And therfore, let vsus in the firſt place hold this for a ſure ground, that ſéeing our Lord Ieſus Chriſt was not only cōtemptible, & abaſed, but alſo made of no reputatiō for our ſakes, not to forget (as S. Paul ſaith) to giuegive him the honour, belō ging vntounto him: for, his glory was no whit empaired therby, althogh al men knew it not: yet did his gratious goodnes ſhine ſo much the more clearly. And beſides we ought to trēble, whēas we ſée yt ye ſōne of God, refuſed not to be as it wer diſfigured, being ye very image of God his father:Hebr. 1.3. For, all this he did, becauſe hée would repaire this image in vsus. And this is certaine, we are ſo ſpotted, as that when we ſhal appeare before the maieſtie of God, it cannot be choſen but that he muſt reiect vsus, vntill ſuch time as our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt hath ſet his brand vponupon vsus, whereby we might become acceptable vntounto God, and finde fauour at his hands. So, when we heare yt hée was vgly, & yll fauoured, let vsus looke well to our ſelues, & vnderſtand that hée, muſt take vntounto himſelf, all our ſpots & blots, to the end we might be clenſed of them, bringing now with vsus before the iudgement ſeate of God, nothing but righteouſnes & holines, which we could neuer hauehave had, except God had communicated the ſame vntounto vsus in Ieſus Chriſt. And herevpon he ſaith, That the mouthes of Kings ſhal be ſtopped, when as he ſhal hauehave beene thus exalted, and that they ſhoulde ſée ſuche a chaunge as neuer was thought of. Here then, we are told, that we muſt not raſhly iudge, when as we ſée our lord Ieſus Chriſt to be thus abaſed, & naught ſet by, but we muſt conſider to what end the Lord hath ſo brought him: which is, that ſuch an excellent name was giuen him aboue all other creatures, as yt eueryevery knée ſhould bow before him, as it is ſaid in the ſecond to the Philippians.Phili. 2.9. For whē S. Paul hath exhorted vsus to modeſtie, & ſhewed that we ſhould not eſtéeme of our ſelues, he ſetteth before vsus our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, as a glaſſe & pattern. Who (ſaith hée) being the true God, thought it no robbery to be equal wt God, & made him ſelfe of no reputation, taking vponupon him the forme of a ſeruant: yea & became obedient euen vntounto that moſt ſlaunderous and curſed death, the death of the croſſe, and that, before God and men: and all this hée did, to the ende hée woulde take vponupon him whatſoeuer was dewe to vsus.
Wherefore, ſaieth hée, God the Father hath exalted him, and giuen him ſuch a name, as that euerie knée ſhould bowe, of things in earth, and thinges vnderunder the earth, & that euerie tongue ſhoulde confeſſe that the Lord is Ieſus Chriſt, to the glory of God the Father: and that if we would ſée what the maieſtie of God is, & glorifie him as hée is worthie, we muſt néedes come vntounto our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. And this is in effect the meaning of the Prophet, That we muſt not for the baſenes of Ieſus Chriſt for a time, but beléeue in him, and ſet our whole heart on him: and alſo conſider to what end he was thus handled: and that whenſoeuer we ſpeake of his death, we muſt foorthwith remember his reſurrection, & ioyne them both together: For theſe are two inſeperable thinges, That Ieſus Chriſt would ſuffer in the weaknes of our fleſh, and ryſe againe in the power of his ſpirit: and that in this laſt point,1. Tim. 3.16. 2. Cor. 13.4. Rom. 1.4. (as S. Paul ſaith) he ſhewed himſelf to be the true ſonne of God. And we ſée alſo beſides, the pretence of the Prophet in this place. We hauehave before ſaide, that this was not onelyonly ſéene in the perſon of Ieſus Chriſt, but alſo in his Goſpel. For, how was Ieſus Chriſt known? and what obedience did the world yéeld him, whē the Goſpell was preached? We ſée, that they vntounto whō the greateſt authoritie was giuen, did not only ſcorne & condemne men, but alſo beat them, and ſcourged them, and in the ende put them to moſt ſhamefull death. And therfore, ſince it is ſo, Let vsus ouercome all ſuch offences, and being armed, as the Prophet héere ſpeaketh of, Let vsus conſider to what ende it was, that our Lord Ieſus came to ſtop the mouthes, that is to ſay, to make men aſtonied, that they ſhoulde not be able to reply, as we ſée the Ganderlike gagling and iangling Infidelles and faithleſſe doe. Now, it is true, that there is ſuch dealing, and they cannot come to honour our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, becauſe (as they thinke) they hauehave ſome reaſon, to ſay to the contrary. Howbeit, we are héere told, that if wée did conſider, wherfore it was, that our Lorde Ieſus came, and what the ende, and fruite, of his death and paſſion which hée ſuffered for vsus, was, that then our mouthes ſhoulde bée ſtopped. For, when the Scripture ſpeaketh after this ſort, it bringeth vsus to a conſideration of the ſure eſtabliſhed, and ſetled woorkes of God. For, ſo long as our mouthes are open, (as I hauehave alreadie ſaide) wée will enter into the cauſe, and ſo reaſon, as that God ſhall bee ſhut cleane out of the doores, and whatſoeuer hée hath done, ſhall be naught ſet by. But when it is ſaide, that euerie mouth ſhall holde it peace, and be ſilent before the Lorde, this ſheweth that all our reaſons ſhould bée daunted and empriſoned, yea euen to bridle our tongues, that we might quietly cōfeſſe, that God is to be glorified in the perſon of his onelyonly Sonne. And if this be ſaide of Princes, what ſhall the common people doe? Wée are therefore, throughly to conſider of the order which the Prophet héere ſetteth downe: For hée giueth vsus this animaduerſion or warning, that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt muſt be as it were vgly and yll fauoured, and be refuſed of the worlde. Wherefore, ſince the holy Ghoſt thus warneth vsus, Let vsus not thinke it ſtraunge, nor yet bée careleſſe to embraſe him with a liuely faith: & although his Croſſe (which is a deteſtable Gallow trée in the ſight of men) might withdraw vsus, and altogether eſtraunge vsus from him, yet let not vsus bée ſlacke in ſéeking after our whole glorie, to wit, in Ieſus Chriſt crucified. Moreouer, let vsus not ſtay our ſelues vpō his ſuffring, wherby we might conceiue a great ſhame in him, whervnto he willingly ſubmitted himſelfe for vsus: But let vsus ioyne his reſurrection and his death together, and vnderſtand that although he was crucified, yet that hée ſitteth as Lieftenant to God his Father, exerciſing the moſt excellent gouernment, hauing all power giuen him aſwell in heauen, as in earth. And here we ſée, why it is ſaid that he ſhall bée exalted. In verie déed, that he was lifted vp & exalted vntounto the gallowes, was in the ſight of men a ſhamefull thing: howbeit he mocked and beguiled the Deuil, & ſet himſelf againſt all the world, in ſaying that hée ſhould be liuely exalted: and when he was put to this ſhame, that eueryevery mans tongue walked, & vomited out their blaſphemies & villainies againſt him, yet ſitteth hée in his throne, as we hauehave alredie declared out of the place of S. Paule.Coloſ. 2.15. And in an other place, hée namely ſaieth, that the Croſſe, although it was before time a Gallowes full of ſhame, was now as it were a Charyot of tryumph: and that Ieſus Chriſt hath not only ouercome the Deuill therein, but alſo hath ſhewed that we might nowe glorifie our ſelues, forſomuch as we are freed from all condemnation: that ſinne hath no more power ouer vsus, and yt al the deuils in hel are altogether cut off, from all kinde of pretenſe whatſoeuer againſt vsus. We ſée then in ſumme, that we muſt aſcend vp by fayth vntounto the glory of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, to the ende we might not be aſhamed to ſéeke for our ſaluatiō in his Croſſe, our bleſſing in his curſe, our life, in his death, our glory in his ſhame, and our ioy in his anguiſhes, out of which came water and blood. And this is the ſumme which we hauehave to conſider of in this place.Luk. 22.44. Nowe, the Prophet namely ſaith, That he will bedeaw, or ſprinkle. In very déede, this ſaying, by a ſimilitude, ſignifieth alſo to ſpeake fayre: But when we ſhall conſider better of the matter, we ſhall finde, that the naturall meaning of the Prophet in theſe wordes, That Ieſus Chriſt ſhall bedeaw all nations is this: to wit, that although hée be a dry and fruitleſſe blocke, yet ſhall all the worlde be bedeawed through his power and vertue. To be ſhort, he ſheweth that God wil work after an incomprehenſible maner, and that the Iewes ſhould not looke for any worldly helpe, but beleeue that God will ſurpaſſe all mens thoughtes and imaginations. For, when we are told of myracles, our ſences muſt needes fayle vsus: and when we are tolde of miſteries, that is to ſay, ſecrets, we muſt vnderſtand, that we are not ſufficient Iudges nor Arbiters, or dayes men, to ſay, it muſt néedes be ſo: But let vsus worſhip the thing that cannot ſinke into our brayne, nor which we cannot finde out the reaſon of. And thus much we hauehave in ſumme to conſider of. Now, this admonition apperteineth to vsus: for, as I hauehave alredie ſaide, we ſhould abide to be bedewed with our Lord Ieſus Chriſt: and although he hath appeared to be as one that were fruitleſſe, and that there can be nothing found in him, worthy reputation, yet, when hée ſhall offer himſelf vntounto vsus, and come néere vsus, let vsus not thruſt him back through miſbeliefe, but rather giuegive him frée acceſſe through fayth And this is in ſumme, the thing which we are to learne out of this doctrine of the Prophet. Moreouer, hée ſaieth, that all the world ſhall be bedeawed with our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, to wit, by the preaching of the Goſpell.
For, they (ſaieth hée) who neuer heard any ſpeech of him, ſhall heare of him: and they which neuer vnderſtood, ſhall vnderſtand of him.
Héere, the Prophet amplifieth his purpoſe, ſhewing that God the Father would ſend our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, not onelyonly to bée a Sauiour vntounto the Iewes (although hée was liuely promiſed vntounto them) but alſo vntounto the whole world. Now, to proue the meaning of the Prophet to be thus,Rom. 15.21 S. Paul himſelf ſaith as much in his Epiſtle to the Romans, applying this ſaying vntounto his, being ſent into ſtraunge countries, hauing trauelled here and there, filling all nations with the Goſpell, & in ſuch places as God was neuer ſpoken of, preaching not only vntounto the Iewes, but alſo vntounto the Gentiles.
Thus we ſée the drift of the Prophete: and this place ought to bée as a keye, to open vntounto vsus the kingdome God. For if Ieſus Chriſt had not béene promiſed but onelyonly to the ligne of Abraham, what had wée béene the better for him? For although hée was a Sauiour and Redéemer, yet is this nothing to vsus, we hauehave neither part nor portion herein. But becauſe it was tolde of ſo long time, before hée was ſent, that hée ſhould bedeaw all people: Forſooth, becauſe that they which neuer before vnderſtood, might vnderſtand: and that they to whom it was neuer before told, might heare: Let vsus vnderſtande, that our God had adopted vsus, when as Ieſus Chriſt came into the worlde, and that hée accompliſhed whatſoeuer was requiſite and neceſſarie for our ſaluation: inſomuch that the Goſpell is nowe as a rayne to giuegive vsus heauenly ſtrength, by reaſon we are altogether fruitleſſe, and becauſe wée are hunger ſteruen, and voide of the grace of God, we muſt bee ſtrengthened by the doctrine of the Goſpell, that wée might féele what the death of our Redéemer is woorth, and what it auayleth vsus, and that his life is the perfection of our ioy. Now, it is moſt certain, that the Prophet would neuer hauehave ſpokē here of the Iewes, had they not bin brought vp & acquainted with the law: but would hauehave included the ſtrange nations, who before had béen brought vp in all ſuperſtition and idolatry. For all the world cut off the God of Iſrael, & had him in contempt, and the Gentiles, made a ſcorne at the true religion. Now, it is ſaid that they ſhould heare, and hauing heard,Rom. 10.17. ſhould alſo vnderſtand. By theſe wordes, the Prophet ſheweth, from whence fayth commeth, to wit, by hearing of the worde of God: But by the way, hée alſo meaneth that it is not enough to hauehave our eares beaten with the hearing of the Goſpell, without wée vnderſtande it. Nowe, this is not giuen to all men: and therfore this ſaying muſt be reſtrayned vntounto Gods choſen people, and to ſuche as are renued by the holie Ghoſt: as alſo it is more liuely declared when as he ſaith, Who will beleeue our preaching? and to whom ſhall the arme of the Lord be reuealed?
Héere the Prophet pauſeth in the middeſt of his wordes, and cryeth out as one that were merueylouſly aſtonied. And this place, is greatly woorth the noting. Wée hauehave heard, that hée exhorteth the faythfull to magnanimitie and conſtancy, as if hée had ſayde, My good friendes, be not abaſhed although your Redéemer bee of no eſtimation nor credite, in the worlde, but is rather ſpetted vponupon, deſpighted, and alſo accurſed and banned: yet let not vsus for all this loath him, becauſe God hath ſo ordeined it. But in the end you ſhall ſée, that when hée aroſe againe out of the bottomleſſe depth of death, hée was ſo highly exalted, as that he had al power giuen him both in heauen and in earth. And therefore, ſticke not to worſhip this Redéemer, who hath ſo abaſed himſelfe for your benefite.
Now in very déede, he compareth him to rayne, and ſayth that God ſhall bedeaw or ſprinckle thoſe which neuer vnderſtood the trueth, but were as a man woulde ſay like vntounto bruite beaſtes. They, ſayth hée, ſhall be taught, and be made partakers of the benefite which was purchaſed, and the Church of God ſhalbe ſo ſpred ouer the face of ye whole earth, as that they which hauehave blaſpemed this ſincere doctrine, ſhall hauehave their mouthes ſtopped, except they will moſte reuerently and ſoberly confeſſe, that there is none but the GOD of Iſraell that is to bée honoured, and that his onelyonly Sonne, the very liuely Image of his glory and Maieſtie, ought to bee receiued and worſhipped. Yea kings themſelues although they be neuer ſo proudly bente, ſhalbe enforced to abaſe themſelues, and moſt willingly obey. Thus wee ſée howe honourable the wordes of the Prophet are.
Nowe, hée foreſéeth that when the Goſpell ſhall bee preached throughout the face of the whole earth, that ſome will make a ieſt at it, ſome will bee madde at it, ſome wyll neuer finde any taſte in it, ſome will be blockiſhe, other ſome will hypocritically lye vntounto GOD, and make a ſhewe that they louelove and obey the Goſpell, and yet all ſhall bee but plaine diſſembling. Wherefore, the Prophet ſéeing the worlde to bee thus wicked, and foreſéeing that God ſhoulde not bee hearde, nor yet his worde ſo reuerently receiued as it ought, wondered, and cryed out ſaying, Who ſhal beleeue our doctrine? As if hee ſhoulde hauehave ſaide, Alas, I preache héere ſaluation vntounto the worlde, but it is all loſte labour without this remedie bée had: to wit, that GOD will ſende his onelyonly ſonne, to fight againſt the Diuell and death, that hée myght thereby purchaſe vsus righteouſneſſe, and life: For this doctrine is it that muſt bedeawe all the worlde ouer, otherwiſe wee are very fruitleſſe. There is in vsus nothing but drynes and wretchedneſſe: and yet God tarrieth not vntill ſuch time as wee deſire him to bedeawe vsus but commeth firſt to vsus and franckly offereth himſelfe, preſenting vntounto vsus his onelyonly ſonne with his doctrine: and heerein, he ſheweth himſelfe ſo louing, as that hée ought to bee receiued without gayneſaying: yea ſhoulde not eueryevery man be ſo zelouſly inflamed, as not to make any reckoning of all the reſt whatſoeuer, for the imbraſing of this Redéemer which hath appeared. Nowe, this déede is ſo farre of, as that a man ſhall hardly find the tenth part of the hearers which ſhall bee earneſtly touched. And in déede, wee are taught by experience that ſome make a teſt at it, as commonly all theſe contemners of God doe, in whome there is as much faith & religion as in a Maſtiffe Curre: accounting all whatſoeuer is preached vntounto thē of euerlaſting life, but as an old wiues tale: Other ſome there are who are not cōtented with this cōtempt of the word, without they go farder: for they are ſtark ſtaryng madde at it.
Moreouer, there are ſome which blaſpheme it with open mouth and otherſome deſire but to hold themſelues vntounto that which they hauehave conceiued in their fantaſtical crowing braine. Beſides, there are ſome ſo blockiſh, as that they are neither named nor touched, more then ſtones, and otherſome there are, who though they hauehave a fayre cloke of godlineſſe, yet are they lyars and periured perſons, and nothing in them but deceit and hypocriſie. This, we well enough ſée, and although the Prophet had ſaid nothing, yet we wil open our eyes, we ſhal ſée it to bée ſo. And is not this a fearefull thing, and a monſter againſt nature? yes no doubt of it.
Now, héere might maruellous offences be taken, to ſerue as it were for a barre to kéepe vsus from comming to the Goſpell, if wee ſhould looke into the dealings of the world, ſo that wee might ſay, what? if the word of God be our moſt excellent bleſſedneſſe and felicitie, how falleth it out that it is thus reiected. And beſides, what is the cauſe that God ſuffereth himſelfe thus to bee ſcorned, and reſiſted, and that he maketh them not to heare him, & to giuegive him ye credite which apperteineth vntounto him? So what tēptations héere are, to cauſe vsus not to beléeue the Goſpel. Surely, héere is a great ſpeake, as though our miſbeliefe did derogate frō the truth of God, and leſſened his honour. And therfore, it is not without cauſe, that the Prophet Iſaiah hath interlaced this ſaying. For if hée had ſimply ſaide, as héere before we hauehave ſéene, that is, that all the worlde ſhould be bedeawed by our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and that the goſpell ſhould be ſpred al ouer, & kinges & princes ſhould ſubiect thēſelues vntounto him: we would at this preſent ſay, ho, this was not ſpoken by the Prophet Iſaiah for our time: For we ſee al to be cleane contrary, & in ſtéed that the earth ſhould be bedeawed for the obteining of ſaluation, we ſée here to be a deluge or monſtrous flood of al iniquitie: we ſée that we become as it were brutiſhed with an helliſh rebellion, euen to the caſting of, of God & all godlineſſe. To be ſhort, wée ſée the Goſpel to be ſo ill intreated, as is horrible. And ſince it is ſo, the ſaying of the Prophet ſhall not be as yet verified. Nowe, this (as I hauehave alredy ſaid) were euen enough to turn our faith vpſide downe: but when this ſaying is ioyned with that, that went before: which is, that notwithſtanding that God ſendeth raine to quicken and refreſh vsus, hee beſtoweth not this ſpeciall grace vponupon all men, to receiue that which is ſpoken of: But that the greateſt number of the faithleſſe will hauehave their eares ſtopped, or els will bee ſo hard hearted as that they will bée the more inuenomed to doe miſchiefe: and the reſt will make no reckoning of the ineſtimable benefite which is communicated vntounto them. Wherefore, ſéeing the Prophet hath declared all theſe things, and that wée ſée it, we muſt not be abaſhed thereat: But our faith ſhould rather be ſtrengthened thereby. Héere then we ſée (in ſumme) what we hauehave to conſider of this. And ſo, let vsus make this reckoning that the world will neuer bée conuerted vntounto God in ſuch ſorte, but that Satan will hauehave the poſſeſſion of the greateſt number, who ſhal continue blockiſhe, deſiring rather to periſh, then to receiue the benefite offered. And there are diuers kindes of them, as hath béene before ſaide: Some will bée blockiſh, ſome will hauehave a pride to ieſt at GOD, and bée ſo fooliſhe arrogant as to condemne all that is conteined in the Goſpell: and other ſome will bée ouer head and eares in the carckes and cares of this world, and will bee ſo preuentyng of things by their cunning and deceites, that they wil taſt of nothing that is heauenly: and other ſome will bee ſo brutiſhe as that it is impoſſible for a man to enter into their mindes, to ſhewe them any doctrine. And therefore, when wée ſée all this geare, let vsus make this reckoning, that although the Goſpell bée preached, and that the voice of GOD reſoundeth and ringeth throughout the worlde, yet will a great number of people be no changelinges out continue as they were, ſo that all doctrine ſhal lye dead to them as it were. And thus much for this point. Wée ſée alſo, that the beléeuing number is very ſmal. And therefore we are to beware howe wee become wanton, but let vsus rather vnderſtande, that whatſoeuer god hath ſpokē, he will performe. And in ye mean time, we ſhould be the carefuller to ſhroude our ſelues vnderunder his wings, by reaſon that the worlde at this day is full of wickednes and rebellion In very déede, wee ought to ſtande in feare, and walke more carefully. For, if all men were well giuen to ſerue God, wee ſhoulde hauehave good examples on eueryevery ſide, which ſhoulde ſufficiently ſtirre vsus vp, very valiantly for our partes, to beſtowe our ſelues, but when it is ſaide, that the greateſt number of thoſe which come to heare the Goſpell preached, ſhall liue like Diuels, and nothing els to be found amongſt them but diſſoluteneſſe and wantonneſſe, ſo that a man woulde thinke that the world had conſpired to eſtrange vsus quite and cleane from God, then had we moſt neede to walke in trembling and in feare, For, if God myraculouſly preſerued vsus not, what would become of it? And therfore, let all ſuch as meane to ſtand to the goſpel, prepare thēſelues to withſtād the like occaſions: although we ſee that other men do not their duties as they ought, yet let vsus take héede that we turne not aſide: But let vsus when we ſée the whole worlde treade the word of God vnderunder foote, ſticke to it, and not that onelyonly, but let vsus ſo much the more duetifully ſubmit our ſelues vntounto our God, whenas wee ſee that offences and euill examples, might giuegive vsus occaſion to ſlyde away from him, and continue in the Goſpell whereunto God hath called vsus. Thus we ſée what it is that wee hauehave to conſider of the Prophetes crying out, when hee ſayeth, who will beleeue our doctrine? For, hee preſuppoſeth that the number of thē will be thinne ſowen: and whenas the Goſpell ſhall be publiſhed ouer the face of the whole earth, if wée looke what great effect it hath wrought, we ſhall find, that it hath taken déepe roote but in a very fewe, for the reformation and bettering of their life, forſaking thē ſelues, and conſecrating them wholy vntounto God: wée ſhall ſée, I ſay, very fewe ſuche. But hée ſetteth downe by the way, the cauſe which at this preſent wee cannot handle: to wit, that in it wee ſhoulde alſo note that faith is an eſpeciall gifte of God, and that to hauehave our eares beaten with the doctrine is not al, that is required: but God muſt alſo touch vsus, and ſo worke in vsus by his ſecrete power, as that we may be drawne to him, and be edified by the preaching which is deliuered vntounto vsus. Howbeit becauſe we cannot goe forward with it at this preſent, therefore we will reſerue it vntyll another time.
Nowe let vsus fall downe before the Maieſtie of our good God, and acknowledge our offences, beſeeching him to make vsus more and more to féele them: that we may come vntounto him ſo repentant as that we neuer ceaſe all our life long to labour for it, vntill ſuch time as all our corruptions, vices, and wicked luſtes be aboliſhed and wee bee deliuered of them by his holy ſpirite looking after nothing els but the glorifiyng of our God. And becauſe he would hauehave all prayſe rendered vntounto him in the perſon and mediation of his onelyonly Sonne, let vsus beſéech him, that wee may all moſte humbly imbrace this Redéemer which is offered vsus: and in the meane while bée ſo mortified, as that we may bée exalted to that Maieſty which hée hath giuen vsus, for the partaking of the life purchaſed by him for vsus. That it woulde pleaſe him to beſtowe this grace not onelyonly vponupon vsus, but vponupon all people and nations of the earth. &c.