Sermons on Divinity Humanity and Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, Sermons on the Prophecies · Sermon 3
The third Sermon of the Propheſie of Chriſte.
Iſaiah. liii.
4 SVrely, hee hath borne our infirmities, and carryed our ſorrowes: yet we did iudge him as plagued and ſmitten of God, and humbled.
5 But hee was wounded for our transgreſſions, hee was broken for our iniquities: the chaſtiſement of our peace was vponupon him, and with his ſtripes we are healed.
6 All wee lyke ſheepe hauehave gone aſtray: wee hauehave turned euerie one to his owne way, and the Lorde hath layde vponupon him the iniquitie of vsus all.
WHen wee beholde all the woorkes of GOD héere in this worlde, wee are taught to prayſe him according to his excellency and highneſſe: But when we looke vponupon the perſon of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, wée are then to magnifie him in his lowlineſſe and humilitie. Héere then are two manner of wayes ſet downe vntounto vsus howe to praiſe God, The one is, Becauſe hée ſheweth vsus his infinite goodneſſe, righteouſnes and power, in the creation and framing of all things, and in the ordering and diſpoſing of the ſame, therefore we ought alſo to honour and exalt him, not that we are able, to make him honourable: But the ſcripture vſeth this kinde of ſpéech, to the ende we might lift vp our mindes vntounto heauen, aboue all worldly things, whē as we would glorifie our God according vntounto his worthines. The other is, that becauſe our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, in whom dwelleth the fulneſſe of ye Godhead, was not onelyonly abaſed for our ſaluatiō, but alſo wold be made of no reputation, no not refuſing to ſuffer the ſharpe anguiſhes of death, as if he had entred into hell: for this cauſe therfore, I ſay, is God more to be glorified, then for all the mightie gloriouſneſſe that is to be ſéene in all the worlde beſides. And of this we ſpake ſomewhat yeſterday: But becauſe the Prophet goeth on with the matter, we are to ayme cōtinually at this marke, that where the faythleſſe are abaſhed, whē as they ſée how God ye father, hath after this ſort afflicted & tormented his ſonne Ieſus Chriſt, & do take occaſiō of offence to eſtrange themſelues far from him, we, ought ſo much the rather to be ſtirred vp to ſéeke after him, & to be farther in louelove with him, ſince he ſpared not himſelf to take vponupon him our whole burthen, that we might be eaſed therof. And therfore, when as wée ſée that our Lord Ieſus Chriſt hath made ſuch an …xchange for vsus, and taken vponupon him to paye all our debtes, to the ende to diſcharge vsus, and woulde bée condemned in our behalfes, and in our perſon, that wée thereby might be pardoned, ſée what a merueilous occaſion hée hath offred vsus to drawe néere vntounto him, yea, to be altogether earneſtly in louelove with him, becauſe in him, reſteth all our quietneſſe. Nowe, it is ſaide,
That he was afflicted by the hande of God: but it was for our tranſgreſſiōs. For if we looke into the iudgement of God, the death and paſſion of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt ſhal be to vsus as an vnprofitable thing, neither ſhal we receiue any fruite or benefit thereby. For the principal point is, that we might be at an attonement wt God, who is our enemy, vntil ſuch time as our offences are buried, becauſe that he who is the fountain of righteouſnes, cannot abide to louelove iniquitie. And therefore, ſo long as he imputeth vntounto vsus our ſins, & ſeeth what we are, he muſt néeds be our iudge: But when as Ieſus Chriſt cōmeth betwéene vsus & him, & ſpeaketh for vsus, we are then acceptable in the ſight of God, becauſe he hath made ſatiſfaction for all our iniquities. For, the cōdemnation which our Lord Ieſus Chriſt ſuffred, cannot be vaine. Now, hée, in very déed had committed no fault, neither was he guiltie in any thing. And therefore he was cōdemned, that we might be pardoned:1. Pet. 1.19. for the which cauſe he is called the immaculate Lambe, which ſheweth, that hée beare our burthen. And for this cauſe alſo is it ſaid, that his blood, is our waſhing: For we are abhominable filthy & foule, vntil ſuch time as the blood of our lord Ieſus Chriſt cleanſeth vsus. Wherfore, it is not for naught, that the Prophet bringeth vsus back to the conſideration of Gods iudgement, ſaying, That Ieſus Chriſt was afflicted, that hée might beare our cōdemnation. To be ſhort, ſo often as we think for what cauſe it is, yt the death & paſſion of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt hath done vsus good, let eueryevery of vsus put himſelf ouer vntounto the iudgement ſeat of God: and there we ſhall finde that we are worthie of death. Now, what is the rigour of Gods iudgemēt, & how horrible is his vengeance? Surely, it is euen to ſwallow vsus vp, & to caſt vsus all down headlong into the bottomles pit of hell. Howbeit, becauſe God ſpared not our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, but laide the rigour of his iudgement on him, & that hée became our pledge, we may nowe be aſſured, that God will no longer purſue vsus, nor call vsus to any further reckoning, neither yet puniſh vsus according to our deſerts and offences. And why ſo? Forſooth, becauſe Ieſus Chriſt hath clearely diſcharged vsus of them all. Now, this is true, that God was neuer otherwiſe affected towardes his onelyonly Sonne, then as hée had pronounced, when as hée ſaide,Mat. 3.17. & 17.5. Ephe. 1.6. This is my beloued Sonne in whom I am well pleaſed, heare him. God then had long before ſaide, that Ieſus Chriſt contented him verie well, and that in him was his whole delight. And in déede (as S. Paule to the Epheſians ſaith) it were impoſſible for vsus to be acceptable before the lord God, in the name of his onelyonly ſonne, without in the firſt place hée were the beſt beloued, and in the higheſt degrée.
Notwithſtanding, this was no let to our diſcharge, becauſe God had laide his rigour vponupon our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt: For, although hée loued him, yet would hée afflict him for our offences. For hée had no regarde to the righteouſnes, ſinceritie, and perfection that was in him: But rather tooke him as one that beare the perſon of all ſinners vponupon him.
Thus we ſée howe Ieſus Chriſt was charged wt all our ſins & iniquities: not yt hée was any way guiltie of thē, but would hauehave thē all to be imputed vntounto him, and take the reckoning vponupon him, and the payment. Wée ſée then howe the wordes of the Prophet are to be vnderſtood, when hée ſaieth that Ieſus Chriſt was not crucified onelyonly by the handes of men, but that hée alſo ſtood foorth before the iudgement ſeate of God, anſwered for vsus, and ſubmitted him ſelfe to beare the burthen which wée were worthie to hauehave borne. Marke alſo why hée ſayeth,
1. Pet. 2.24.That hee beare all our ſinnes and tranſgresſions, for ſo are alſo the wordes of Saint Peter, who naming the Croſſe, meant to ſignifie,Deu. 21.23. that, that kinde of death which the ſonne of God ſuffred, was a viſible and open teſtimony, that our iniquities were layde vponupon him: becauſe it was ſaide in the lawe, curſed be hée that hangeth on trée. Ieſus Chriſt was hanged thereon, to the ende wée might vnderſtande and knowe,Gala. 3.13. that hée was as one accurſed in our behalfe, according to the ſaying of Saint Paule to the Galathians. For hée there telleth vsus, that therin wée are to conſider of the wonderfull goodneſſe of God, and of the infinite louelove of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt to vsus warde, when as hée was not onelyonly contented to dye for vsus, but ſuffred alſo a moſt curſed death, to the ende wée might be bleſſed of God. And although our ſinnes and iniquities hauehave terrefied vsus (for it could not be choſen but that wée muſt be afeard of the iudgement of God, when as we heare the thinges that are héere ſet downe: to wit, that wée are abhominable by reaſon of our thus offending our good God, and that our conſcience ſo telleth vsus) yet let vsus be aſſured that hée will forgiue vsus our ſinnes, & receiue vsus as his beſt beloued children: yea, euen as iuſt & righteous people, becauſe our curſe was aboliſhed by this Gallow trée, wheron our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt was hanged. Loe, héere the meaning of the Prophetes ſpéech, for the more liuely ſetting foorth of the matter.
Nowe, hée eftſoones ſetteth downe, That hee was afflicted, becauſe the correction, or chaſtiſement of our peace was laide vponupon him, hée ſet downe no ſtraunge thing, but declared him ſelfe more familiarly, that hée might ſhewe howe the thing was to bée vnderſtood, and taken: which was, that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt was beaten and ſmitten by the hande of God, to the ende wée might bée diſcharged. And therfore hée beare the correctiō of peace which was due to vsus. In déede ſome men vnderſtand it, that it was méete that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt ſhould be thus puniſhed for our ſakes, becauſe wée were ſtubborne, & that none of vsus thought once to humble our ſelues before God, but were altogether blinded in our offē ces. Howbeit we ſée that this is the naturall meaning of the Prophet, that for the obtaining of peace at the handes of God, it muſt néedes be that we were to be reconciled by an other meane. I hauehave alredie ſaid, that God being the iudge of the world, could not chooſe but of verie right, hate and deteſt vsus: for (as ſhall be ſoone after declared) what hauehave we brought out from the wombe of the ſea, and what treaſure hauehave wée gathered together all our life long? Surely, wée doe nothing els but prouoke the wrath of God, as if wée had made a league with Satan, continually to encreaſe, more and more, his fury. Sée nowe, in what ſorte wée hauehave deſerued to bée hated and reiected at the handes of God: Beholde how his wrath is kindled againſt vsus? and it is impoſſible but that hée muſt néedes be our enemy, becauſe wée fight againſt him, and with might and mayne make ſuche warres, as that we vyolate and breake all order of iuſtice. And therefore (I ſay) muſt God, in this reſpect, ryſe vp in iudgement agaynſt vsus: becauſe, wée knowe it to bée his verie office, to maintaine and defende equitie and right. Wherfore ſince it is ſo, that he ſeeth vsus to be ful of iniquitie and corruption, and altogether rebellious, it is meete hée ſhoulde ſtretch foorth his arme, and ſhewe, that becauſe we are his enemyes, hée will render vsus the lyke.
And therefore wée had néede to hauehave peace, and our conſciences will alwayes witneſſe agaynſt vsus: and although wée goe about careleſly to ſleape in our flatteryes, yet will GOD ſo pricke and ſpurre vsus, and make vsus féele in deſpight of our téeth, that wee are altogether malicious and vnthankfull. Wherefore it is impoſſible that GOD ſhoulde bée mercifull vntounto vsus, and wée to bée aſſured to finde fauoure with him, vntill ſuch tyme as wée féele his correction. Not that GOD is deſirous of reuenge as men are.
For, a man when he is in an heate, woulde hauehave the fault that is committed to bee amended, and ſome redreſſe and puniſhment to be made, and had, that hee might be reuenged. Howbeit there are no ſuche paſſions in God. But how euer the caſe ſtandeth, God will hauehave his iuſtice and iudgement to be knowne and feared, to the ende wée might the rather bée afearde of our ſinnes, and learne to abhorre and deteſt them. For if GOD woulde hauehave forgiuen vsus, except Ieſus Chriſt had made interceſſion, and pawned him ſelfe for vsus, wée woulde hauehave made no account of the matter: and euerie of vsus woulde hauehave ſmoothed him ſelfe, and woulde hauehave taken alſo a greater occaſion of lycenſe to ſinne. But when we ſée that God hath not ſpared, ſo rigorouſly and extreamely to handle his onelyonly Sonne, as that hée did not onelyonly cauſe him to ſuffer the moſt gréeuous torments in body that might bée, but alſo, ſo extremely afflicted his ſoule, as that hée made him to crye out and ſay, My God, My God, why haſte thou forſaken mée?Mat. 27.46. When wée ſée all theſe thinges, I ſay, it is impoſſible (except our heartes bée harder then flynt ſtones) but that wée muſt bée gréeued, and conceiue ſuche a feare, as that it muſt vtterly confounde vsus: and neyther will nor chooſe but deteſt our ſinnes and iniquities, ſince they ſo prouoke the heauy wrath of God againſt vsus.
Thus wée ſée why it was requiſite that our whole correction of peace ſhoulde bée layde vponupon Ieſus Chriſt, to the ende wée might finde fauour before God his Father: that is to ſay, that we might be at ſuch a league with him, as that we might at this day be bold, and frée, to call vponupon God as our Father, although of very right hée is our enemy, and hateth vsus, as wée are in our owne nature.
Wée ſée then at this preſent, what the Prophet his meanyng is, when hée ſayeth, that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt was afflicted by the hande of God, diſfigured, and forſaken of all men, and that no man once vouchſafed to looke vponupon him, by reaſon of his merueylous deformitie. Howbeit, hée ſayeth, that it was becauſe God had kindled his wrath againſt vsus, and was armed and bent to cō founde and throwe vsus downe headlong into the pit of hell, vntill ſuch time as that attonement was made. And which way came it to paſſe? Forſooth, God of his méere mercy and goodneſſe, fréely forgiueth vsus our ſinnes: howbeit, the price of our redemption was in the perſon of his onelyonly Sonne.
Now we hauehave héere to note that by reaſon of the condemnation of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, we are pardoned, and al our ſinnes buried, & ſhal neuer again riſe vp againſt vsus before the maieſty of God: whē we ſpeak of ye forgiuenes of our ſins, it is not ſpokē as though God had ſo diſcharged vsus, as if we, had throughly cōtented & payde him: but we are acquited by his méere liberality. And although we are guilty before him, yet forgetteth he al, & receiueth vsus to merciemercy,Mat. 7.19. becauſe, as the prophet ſaith, he caſteth our ſins into the bottome of the ſea: but by the way we hauehave alſo here to note, yt this was no frée forgiuenes vntounto ye perſō of our lord Ieſus Chriſt, for it coſt him the ſetting on, as we ſay. Now if we cōſider, what a grieuous, cruel, & ſlanderous death this was which he abode: & beſides, what anguiſhes his ſoule endured, whē he was called before the iudgemēt ſeat of God his father to abide our condēnation: if we cōſider wel, of all this geare I ſay, we ſhal find yt our Lord Ieſus Chriſt hath made a woonderful paymēt for the diſcharging of our ſins. Loe here, howe we at this day are fréed of thē. And héerof, we are throughly to cōſider: for the diuel hath cōtinually gone about to darkē this doctrine, becauſe it is the chiefeſt article of our faith. In the beginning of the world, God would hauehave ſacrifices offred vntounto him, for the forgiueneſſe of ſinnes. And why was that? Forſooth, it was to this ende and purpoſe, that men ſhould not truſt vntounto him, but by the meane of a ſacrifice and the ſhedding of blood. And therefore, they all proteſted in their ſacrifices yt they were not able to come néere vntounto god, except they had béen redéemed, by the purging of their ſinnes & iniquities, which was to be done, by our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. And yet by the way, neither Iew nor Gentile but truſted to their own merits, & thought themſelues able to make ſatiſfaction vntounto God by thē. Here then we ſée, yt ye diuel euē at ye time wtdrew miſerable ſinners frō our lord Ieſus Chriſt, & frō ye payment which he had made by his death & paſſiō. And yet now, ſée in what caſe the papiſts are For they wil cōfeſſe that wee hauehave full remiſſion of our ſinnes by the death and paſſion of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, yea, but that is as they thinke onelyonly before baptiſme. For thus they reaſon: little children, ſay they, receiue the grace of God, and are pardoned of Originall ſinne in baptiſme, by the power of ye death and paſſion of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt: But ſay they, whē we are once baptized & then ſin Ieſus Chriſt alone, is not ſufficiēt to make vsus acceptable vntounto the Lord and to blot out the remembrance of our ſins, but we our ſelues alſo muſt make recompence. And this is the cauſe of the deuiſing of their workes of ſuperogation: as to wander vp & down lyke Rogs a Pilgrimage, to hauehave many trentals of Maſſes, & ſuch lyke diueliſh inuentions. So, that if a man aſke the Papiſts why the roge vp and downe a pilgrimage as they doo, to ſée their mowing apes and marmeſets, why they faſt ſuch and ſuch a daye, why they build Churches, and why they cauſe maſſes to bee ſonge: forſooth wyll they ſay, euen to redéeme our ſelues before the Lord our God: for, it is very méete that when we hauehave vnderſtood of our ſins, that we ſhould make ſatiſfactiō for thē, to ye end God might acquite & diſcharge vsus of the ſame. Sée here, how they make ye death & paſſion of our lord Ieſus Chriſt of none effect: & ſo ye papiſts are not able to go on, one foot forward to do their deuotiōs, but yt they blaſpheme God opēly deny the death & paſſiō of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, & caſt thēſelues down into hel mouth: thus we ſée, whether their diueliſh deuotions (which they cal good) lead thē. And therfore we are to obſerue the words of the Prophet whē he ſaith, that the correction of our peace, was laid vpō our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, becauſe yt by his meane God is appeaſed & ſet at one with vsus for hée beareth all the ſinnes & iniquities of the world vponupon him. So thē, let vsus here note, that when we ſée what maner ones we are, we ſhuld alwaies ſtād in feare, becauſe God is our enemie, & our iudge. And beſides, wée muſt in the ſecōd place cōclude, that there is no other meane either in heauen or yet in the earth to make vsus at one with God, but by the price which our lord Ieſus hath paid & ſatiſfied, euē by his death & paſſiō. HaueHave we this? let vsus then with bold chéere, & countenance, come before our God: & yet not ſo but that we muſt alwaies humble our ſelues, & be aſhamed of our ſinnes: Howbeit, that wil be no let vntounto vsus, but that we may frankly cal vponupon our God as vpō our father, neither coulde wee glorify our ſelues, wtout he reputed vsus to be iuſt, & al our debts payd, becauſe we are pardoned by the power of the condemnation which Ieſus Chriſt ſuffred. Thus we ſée, how this place muſt be practiſed of vsus, Marke alſo why hee ſaieth, That wee are healed by his woundes. In very déede, we ſhal neuer bée able to ſée throughly into our ſinnes, becauſe hipocriſie blindfoldeth our eyes, & pride hath alwaies mighty rule ouer vsus: & therfore wee greately deceiue our ſelues, and make our ſelues beléeue that God is highly beholden vntounto vsus: or els, wée are ſo blockiſh, as that wée neuer thinke to come to a reckoning. Now, it falleth out here, that the Prophet ſheweth, that wée are but dead, if it were not for the woundes of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and therfore that we muſt néedes ſéeke to be healed by him. When then wée would féele the benefite which commeth vntounto vsus by the death and paſſion of the Sonne of God, Let vsus note, that looke howe many ſinnes as are rooted in our nature, although they appeare not, are euen ſo many deadly woundes and diſeaſes. I beſéech you, if there ſhall be an Apoſtume about the ſtomake of a man, or in his bowels, ſhould it be euer a whit the woorſe for the man if it were ſéene, that it might be launced: If a man then thinketh him ſelfe to be whole and ſound, becauſe he will not ſée his diſeaſe, ſurely, he muſt néedes be voide of all wit and reaſon. And therefore our diſeaſes muſt bée ſo much the more deadly, when as they are ſecret and not knowne. And, ouer & beſides the ſinnes which we beare about with vsus (the rootes of which are hid in vsus) there are ſinnes in vsus which we commit daily, which ſufficiently declareth, that our nature is froward and curſed, and that wée are altogether peruerted. Wherfore ſince wée are wholly infected with ſpirituall leproſie, and that our iniquitie is rotten in vsus, what ſhall wée doe in this caſe? & what remedie is to bée had? Shall wée ſéeke for helpe at the Angels in heauen? Alas, they can doe no good: and therefore we muſt go vntounto our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, becauſe hée would bee diſfigured euen from the crowne of the head, vntounto the ſoale of the foote, would be al to wounded, ſcourged and buffeted with one blow vponupon an other, crowned with thorns, tyed & faſt nayled to the Croſſe, and at laſt perſed through the ſide with a ſpeare. And here we ſee how wée are healed, here is the right medicine for our diſeaſe, wherwith we muſt be contented, & whervnto alſo we muſt apply our whole affection, knowing that we are neuer able to be at quiet with our ſelues but that we muſt ſtil be extreamly tormented & vexed, were it not that Ieſus Chriſt comforted vsus, and appeaſed the wrath of God for vsus. Now, when wée are ſure of this, it giueth vsus occaſion to ſing praiſes vntounto his holy name, where before, wée could doe nothing elſe, but grone, and be vtterly confounded. And this is in ſumme the thing which we are to learne out of the words of ye Prophet. Now S. Matthew, alledgeth this place,Mat. 8.17. when he maketh mention of all the diſeaſes which our Lord Ieſus Chriſt healed, how he made the blinde to ſée, the lame to goe, the deafe to heare, ſet a foote ſuche as were half dead, & ſick of the palſie, & caſt deuils out of mens bodies. This (ſaith hée) declareth, that it was not for naught that the Prophet Iſaiah ſaid, that hée beare our infirmities, and ſuſteined our griefes. Without doubt, the Prophet ſpeaketh not héere of bodely diſeaſes. Wherefore, it ſéemeth that the Euangeliſt hath applyed this teſtimony but yll. But hée, in declaring that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt healed outward diſeaſes, meaneth to bring vsus to an higher conſideration, becauſe he would hauehave vsus to beholde as it were in a figure, the reaſon of his comming into the world. And therfore, whē we heare, that our Lord Ieſus Chriſt healed the ſicke of the palſy, but eſpecially rayſed the dead, & that hée alſo healed al maner of diſeaſes, let vsus vnderſtand euē in the view of the eye, according to our groſe & weak capacities, that he hath told vsus that he is our ſpirituall Phiſitiō: & let vsus alſo learn (as I hauehave alredy ſaide) that all the vices wherevnto we are enclined, are ſo many corruptions in our ſoules. And as there are many euil humors in the body, euē ſo likewiſe are there many other like things: To be ſhort, there are many ſecret diſeaſes & euen ſo fareth it wt our ſoules: & becauſe they are ful of vices before the lord God, they had alſo néed of a phiſitiō. And who ſhal he be? we ſhall not finde him either in heauen or in earth, except it be he whō the heauenly father hath giuen vsus: to wit, our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. And therfore if we can reach to ye vnderſtāding how our Lord Ieſus Chriſt hath brought health to our ſoules, let vsus come to figure out ye which is here ſhewed vsus, whē he made the blinde to ſée: for, this is out of al doubt, yt our ſoules are both blinde & beaſtly. Beſides, Ieſus Chriſt, made the dumbe to ſpeak. Nowe, we giuegive our tongues to nothing els but to wickednes, vntill ſuch time as Ieſus Chriſt hath giuen it the right vſe. And we are more then deafe, becauſe the word of God can hauehave no entrance into vsus, & therfore it is our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt that muſt giuegive vsus alſo our hearing. To be ſhort, whē we ſhal ioyne the words of S. Mathew, with the meaning of the Prophet Iſaiah: to wit, that we for our partes are full of corruption, & villainy & that there is no health in vsus, & our ſoules full of all deadly ſinnes: But that our Lord Ieſus Chriſt hath ryd vsus of them all, & that in comming to him, wée ſhall finde health: when I ſay, wée ſhall thus ioyne one with an other, then ſhall we vnderſtand, that except we hauehave recourſe vntounto this Redéemer, we muſt néedes alwaies lye ſtone ſtil in our ſinnes and miſeries, & rot altogether in thē. And thervpon he goeth on farther, and ſaith, That we hauehave all declined & gone aſtray. Here, the Prophet meaneth, better & more liuely to tell (as yeſterday we handled it) that wée cannot in good earneſt feele our neceſſitie to be healed by our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, vntill ſuch time as eueryevery of vsus hath truely examined his owne eſtate, & knoweth what is within him. For, what is the reaſon why we are ſo cold & ſlack, whē we are told of comming vntounto our Lord Ieſus Chriſt? Truely, it is becauſe wée hauehave no capacitie, but are like verie blockheads. For, we ſhall ſée howe theſe common drunkardes are knoden together in their intemperancy, & will neuer giuegive ouer, vntil ſuch time as they gnaſhe their téeth, & are able to doe no more. If a man ſpeake to them of phiſicke & Phiſitions, hée ſhall be but ſcorned for his labour: they will wagge the head, yea, & deſpiſe all helpes. Nowe, there is not a worſe kinde of drunkenneſſe, then this blockiſhnes wherin all miſerable ſinners are ouerwhelmed, vntill ſuche time as they féele what it is to hauehave God their enemy. So then, eueryevery man will giuegive him ſelfe ouer to all kinde of lewdneſſe, & by that meane, the death & paſſion of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt ſhall be cōtemned, & no account made of it. And therefore it is not without cauſe that the Prophet for the awaking of vsus, & for the beſtowing, of the moſt deſired benefite that may be, which is brought vntounto vsus by our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, ſheweth that we hauehave all erred & gon out of the way. Now, ouer and beſides that I hauehave ſaide, that as there are prophane contemners of the iudgement of God, euen ſo alſo are there fooliſh preſumptuous and arrogant men. Wherfore there are two ſortes of people which cannot doe them ſelues any good by this infinit grace and fauour which the Sonne of God hath purchaſed for vsus: becauſe the one ſort of them thinke them ſelues to be righteous, and hauehave workes and merites able to anſwere the iuſtice of God. As we ſée theſe Popiſh hypocrites, who doe not onelyonly thinke themſelues, to be diſcharged before God, but doe alſo ſell ſome parte of their merites, as if they had a ſuperfluitie of them: and that man or woman is well at eaſe and happie, that may be partaker of their perfection and holineſſe, becauſe they are in an Angellike eſtate.
Now, theſe men thinke that they hauehave no néede of the death and paſſion of Ieſus Chriſt: but they will partly cōfeſſe that they hauehave néede: and yet we ſée it cleane otherwiſe: becauſe they kéepe faires and merkets of their merites, and hauehave of them to ſell and reſell, to the ende they would hauehave others to ſettle them ſelues and truſt vponupon ſuch profanation. Moreouer, forſomuch as there is in Popery, both men and women hypocrites, they are euen ſo many hornes or powers ſet vp againſt God: For this pride is alwayes in them, to ſay, what good Syr? I beſéech you if I deſerue not, to what purpoſe were it for mée to hauehave ſo many good deuotions, to cauſe ſo many Maſſes to be ſoonge, to hauehave chaunted ſo muche, to hauehave runne ſo many times from one Aulter to an other, to hauehave praied to ſuch a Saint, & to hauehave made ſuch & ſuch a feaſt: To bée ſhort, they hauehave alwayes this curſed & helliſh opinion with them, that God is bound, & greatly beholdē vntounto them. Thus we ſée howe Satan ſo deceiueth them with ſuch illuſions, as yt they cannot poſſibly féele to what end the death & paſſion of our lord Ieſus Chriſt ſerueth them. The other ſort, truſt not to their merittes, for drunkardes, whoremongers, and wanton people will not ſay, wée are like vntounto litle Angels, we hauehave liued well, we hauehave béen earneſt in our deuotions: But wil ſport them ſelues (as I hauehave alredie ſaid) and think to eſcape the hand of God by mocking and ſcorning. And for this cauſe, the Prophet calleth vsus all here, & ſaith, Conſider yée poore ſoules in what caſe you ſtād, vntil ſuch time as God hath ſhewed you his compaſſion in our Lord Ieſus Chriſt his Sonne: For you hauehave al erred, & are al like loſt ſhéepe. Mark his meaning: for he ſaith, We all, becauſe he putteth in himſelf. Yea verely, for we hauehave alredie ſéene, yt the Iewes were included within this general curſe of men, becauſe they thought that they ſhould hauehave bin exempt out of it: For they were euer thus fooliſh arrogāt, as to think yt becauſe God had adopted & choſen thē, yt they were a great deale more worthy then the reſt. Now, the Prophet foldeth them vp here in euerlaſting death, vntil ſuch time as they ſéeke for the remedie of their deliuerance in Ieſus Chriſt. We are then all included within this cōdemnation: & he putteth in this word, All, to the end there ſhould be no exceptiō of any: as if he ſhould hauehave ſaid. And therefore let no mā brag of himſelfe, no not an inch, to be iuſt before God, & to ouer ſlipt ye remedy wherof I euē now ſpake: for he yt is ye perfecteſt in ye iudgemēt of men, ſhalbe foūd guiltie before the maieſtie of god, We ſée héere then the meaning of the Prophet: howbeit he is not for al that, thus contented, but ſaith, That eueryevery man is declined from his way. But why repeateth he the ſaying, of al, to eueryevery one. Forſooth, I will tell you, becauſe, when as wee are generally condemned, we are not ſo liuely moued and touched as we ought to be. In déede, this muſt néedes bée a plaine condemnation, whenas it is ſaide, that there is not amongſt the children of men, one iuſt man:Pſal. 14.2. and is alſo ſaid, in another place of the Pſalmiſt, That God looked downe from heauen, & ſaw not one man that was not corrupt in his ſinnes. Hée ſpeaketh alſo there aſwell of the godly who were in great eſtimation and dignitie, as alſo of the wicked. It is ſaide that all men hauehave gone aſtray, and that there could not bée founde one who was not corrupt before the Lorde: and of this doctrine, the holy Scripture is full:Rom. 3.9. Saint Paul alſo ſheweth this very ſufficiently in his Epiſtle to the Romans, whenas he bryngeth in the ſayinges of the Pſalmiſt and of the Prophets, where any thing is ſpoken of infamous men, ſaying, That there is nothing but malice and treaſon in them, full of crueltie, poyſon, violence, deceipt and robbery, and their throat an open Sepulchre. When all theſe thinges are ſpoken of, Saint Paule ſaith, that all men are heerein comprehended without exception, vntill ſuch time as GOD hath changed and renued them by his holy Spirite.
Nowe, let this doctrine bée preached, and wée muſt néedes all ſtoupe and yéelde: for, ſhame and feare will not ſuffer vsus to reply againſt our God. And to ſay the trueth, what ſhall wée get by our reaſoning and diſputing? For, wee muſt feele, in deſpite of our téethes, that wée are not condemned in vaine, ſince it is God that iudgeth vsus. And yet notwithſtanding eueryevery of vsus wil return home to his houſe, and bee no whit moued thereat: and the thing that hath béene tolde vsus will not touch vsus at all. Wée will well enough agrée that wee are all ſinners, and that eueryevery man is guiltie before the Lorde: But doe wée in the meane while féele the burden of our ſinnes, and be diſpleaſed with them, and beſides, are we ſtirred vp to ſéeke for the fauour of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte, and deny our ſelues? No, no: and yet we think we are ſufficiently diſcharged, if wée ſay that wée are ſinners. And that which is worſe wée ſhall oftentimes ſée men bouldly couer and cloke their ſinnes when they are accuſed and conuinced of them. Ho good Syr, wyll they ſay, It is very true yt al mē are ſinners. Surely, if a mā exhort a wicked blaſphemer of the name of God, or ſome ſuch one as hath committed a curſed and horrible déede, hee will deny it at the firſt chop: and neuer confes it but by conſtraint. But what if he ſee him ſelfe to be conuicted? In very déede Syr, will he thē ſay, we are all ſinners. And that is aſmuch to ſay, that thou art a wicked hypocrite that thus ſcorneſt God. Thus we ſée that vnderunder theſe general words, there are very many which wil finde out this excuſe, to the end they would not hauehave their filthineſſe knowne as it ought to be And for this cauſe, after the Prophet had ſaide, That all hauehave erred, he addeth, EueryEvery one, eueryevery one, as if he ſhould hauehave ſaide, looke not generall what mankinde is, but let eueryevery man ſift himſelfe a part, and conſider and way wel with your ſelues what you are. For, the way to cauſe vsus to be touched with the iudgements of God, and to be brought to true humilitie is, whenas wee are brought to repent vsus of our wickedneſſe, & that eueryevery man in this ſort ſhall as it were, hauehave ſecretely examined his owne conſcience. Thus we ſée the meaning of the Prophet. Moreouer, when hee ſaith, That eueryevery man hath departed from his way, hee declareth in the firſt place that he ſpeaketh of thoſe mē, who are gouerned by their luſtes, and according to their owne reaſon and wiſdome. And this is a point to be throughly marked of vsus, becauſe we ſée the folly of ſome to be ſuch, as that all the perſuaſions in the worlde cannot withdrawe them from running into deſtruction, by doing of that which ſéemeth beſt in their owne eyes: The other ſort, doe ſo beaſtly follow their deſires, as that they vnderſtand not that they plunge themſelues wittingly into the bottome of Hell, except god reſtrained them. For we ſée how the Papiſts at this day deale, whenas they are found fault with, by the word of God, & are conuinced therby. I beſéech you ſir, wil they ſay, let me alone, for be as be may, I will be ſure to go on that courſe which I hauehave begunne. And wilt thou ſo? why then thou ſurely goeſt the direct way to hel: for this is thy way, if thou folow yt thy courſe. Ho, tuſh, why man, I hauehave ſuch a good deuotiō, as yt it is impoſſible for God to reiect it. Wel ſir, but the Prophet Iſaiah ſpeaketh alſo héere of the deuotiō, which eueryevery man maketh to himſelf: & thinkeſt thou that the holy ghoſt who ſpake in thoſe daies by his mouth, knew not that thou wouldſt be an hypocrite, full of poyſon & pride: that thou wouldeſt be ruled as thou luſteſt: yt thou wouldſt deuiſe a ſeruice of god at thy owne pleaſure: yt thou wouldſt worſhip idols, & thinke thou diddeſt wel: & that therein ſhould ſtand thy religiō, hath the holy ghoſt vnderſtood all thy villanies? Then looke thou to that which he hath ſpoken, EueryEvery man hath walked in his owne way, to wit, eueryevery mā hath gone the ſtraite way to hell. EueryEvery man hath run into deſtruction, by taking his own courſe. Héere then we ſee what the waies are that we take. And ſo, we are taught by this place to caſt of all fond arrogancie, & to vnderſtand, that when we doe that which ſéemeth good in our own eies, & which we think to be very reſonable, it is as if we had made a league wt Satā to catch vsus in his ſnares. And therfore this doctrine ſerueth for the correction of all preſumption, to the end we might be cōtented to be ruled only by ſpirite of God, & by his word: and let vsus alſo in like maner obſerue, that the Prophet Iſaiah hath declared by theſe wordes, that although wee know the thing yt is good, yet wil we not leaue frō doing the thing yt is wicked & naught. And why ſo? Forſooth, becauſe al our affections are enimies to God: & although we ſée that we muſt refuſe the euil yet wil we be carried away therwith, & that not forcibly, but euen very wittingly wickedly, & it is ſo hid in vsus, as that the fruit muſt néedes ſhew what the rootes are. And therefore, let vsus in the firſt place vnderſtand, yt we know not how to walke a right, & there is but one only way which God alloweth of, & which wil bring vsus to ſaluatiō: to wit, whenas our Lord Ieſus ſhal take vsus into his protection. & be the ſhéepe of his flocke, & follow him as our ſhepheard, let vsus alſo further vnderſtand, yt al the affections are corrupt, & wil hunt after euill in ſtéede of good, vntil ſuch time as our Lord Ieſus Chriſt hath corrected & reformed vsus, & put into vsus a right affection to obey him. And this is it which the Prophet meaneth to declare. Now, let vsus conclude, that all ſuch as toſſe to & fro, doe depart frō our Lord Ieſus. For the Prophet ſaith, That all the Patriarkes & Prophets & eueryevery one of the holy Fathers and Martyrs, hauehave néeded to be reconciled vntounto God, through the death and Paſſion of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. For, if Abraham the father of the faithful, If Dauid the mirrour of al righteouſneſſe, and if others ſuch like, as Iob & Daniell, who are called as it were, the myrrours of all holineſſe and perfection: If theſe, I ſay, were poore ſtrayed and loſt ſhéepe, vntill ſuch time as they were recōciled by our Lord Ieſus Chriſte, Alas, what ſhall become of vsus? And therefore when we ſhall ſéeke after our Mediators, and thinke by their meanes to eſcape the deſtruction wherein wée are, do wée not ſhew our ſelues too too vnthankefull vntounto our Lord Ieſus Chriſt? And are not wée in the meane while too too voyde of ſenſe and reaſon, to craue any thing at their handes, who alſo hauehave néede to runne for help to the death and paſſion of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt? For, if neceſſitie inforceth vsus to ſéeke for remedie, we muſt goe vntounto him, vntounto whom all the faithfull in eueryevery age had recourſe: For neither Saint Peter, nor yet Saint Paul, ne the virgin Mary, nor any whatſoeuer, yt are exempt frō it. And therefore let vsus learne to goe to the ſpring head and fountaine, and drawe cut of that which is wanting vntounto vsus. For our Lorde Ieſus hath wherewith to ſatiſfie vsus all: and wée muſt not feare that the fulneſſe of his grace, can any way bée drawne dry: but bée aſſured, yt he will giuegive to eueryevery one his parte and portion thereof, which will come to ſéeke for it. Wherefore, let vsus come vntounto our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte, and he will ſatiſfie vsus all: But whoſoeuer declineth from him either one way or other, ſuche a one cannot bée holpen with that remedie which is offered vntounto him, but refuſeth it aſmuche as in him lyeth: ſo that his vnthankfulneſſe is a let for the inioying of the grace that is preſented vntounto him. And ſo much the more ſhall wée bée inexcuſable, ſince this is dayly preached vntounto vsus. For, God was not contented to hauehave ſent his Sonne for a time, to thruſt him out to bée ſlaine, and to beat him in his wrath, although hée loued him as his onelyonly ſonne (for, notwithſtanding he woulde caſt him downe to the outward ſhew and vſed all the rigour that was poſſible againſt him, yet was hée alwayes his beſt beloued ſonne, as alredy hath béene ſaid: howbeit all was to the end that we might bée pardoned) yet was hée not I ſay, contented with this: but dayly deliuereth vntounto vsus this treaſure, to the end wée might inioy it: hée declareth vntounto vsus that Ieſus Chriſte who was thruſt into the ſide, hath at this day his hart as it were wyde open, that wée might bée aſſured of the louelove hee beareth vsus, and that as his armes were tyed faſt to the croſſe, euen ſo hath he now ſtretched them out to imbraſe vsus and pull vsus vntounto him: and woulde hauehave all theſe thinges to doe vsus good: and as hée hath ſhed his blood, ſo would hée that wée ſhould at this day bée plunged therein. Wherefore, when God ſo neatly inuiteth vsus, and that Ieſus Chriſt alſo ſéeth before vsus the benefite of his death and paſſion, and telleth vsus that his blood is alwayes freſhe (according to the ſaying of the Apoſtle to the Hebrewes) that it is not like dry blood, which becōmeth nothing:Heb. 10.2…. but becauſe it is ſanctified by his heauenly power, therefore this blood is continually freſh: for the Apoſtle hath vſed this ſpéeche, that wee might vnderſtand, that his power is not leſſened, but hath continually his full and whole ſtrength, ſuch as it had from the beginning, to the end wée myght all come and ſubmit our ſelues vntounto our Lord Ieſus Chriſte. And after wée hauehave confeſſed our ſinnes, and be aſhamed of them, let vsus not doubt, but yt he is ſufficient to giuegive vsus ſuch remedy, as that we may conclude that God hath receiued and allowed vsus, as his own children, and accounteth vsus as righteous and perfect, where before wée were abhominable in his ſight. Thus wée ſée what we hauehave to learne out of this doctrine. And becauſe we ſée that at this day ſome ieſt and mock, and other ſome waxe proude & preſumptuous, and thinke by their righteouſneſſe to ſatiſfie God, let vsus deny all ſuch blaſphemies, and in true faith and repentance ſéeke for our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte, and with all our affections ſubmit our ſelues to him, whenas we ſhall féele our ſelues thus charged with ſo inſupportable a burden.
Let vsus nowe fall downe before the Maieſtie of our good God, & acknowledge our offences, beſéeching him to cauſe vsus ſo to féele them, as that wée may grone for them all our life longe, and be moued to hauehave recourſe vntounto him: and not to wander and roile in our fooliſh, wicked, and diueliſh opinions: But in vnderſtanding that al our bleſſedneſſe, and whatſoeuer els belongeth to our ſaluation, is in our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, that it would pleaſe this our good God, to make vsus come wholy vntounto him, and ſo kéepe our faith, as that we neuer be turned away from it And that it would pleaſe him alſo, by his holy ſpirite ſo to worke in our heartes, that we knowing our ſelues to bee fréely forgiuen of our ſinnes, might alſo acknowledge, what a great pryce it coſt, and howe deare and precious it was vntounto his onelyonly Sonne, that thereby wée might bée ſo much the more ſtyrred vp to magnifie him. And foraſmuche as wee muſt bee healed by him, that it woulde pleaſe him to cleanſe vsus dayly of all our faultes and ſinnes, vntyll ſuch time as hee hath brought vsus vntounto that perfection, wherunto wee ought to growe al our life long: that it would pleaſe him not onelyonly to ſhew vsus this fauour, but alſo vntounto all people and nations of the earth, &c.