Sermons on Divinity Humanity and Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, Sermon on the Last Days
A Sermon of the latter day.
Second to the Theſſalonians. Chapter firſt.
6 IT is a righteous thing with God, to recompence tribulation vntounto them that trouble you.
7 And to you which are troubled, reſt with vsus in the Reuelation of our Lord Ieſus from heauen with the angels of his power,
8 In flaming fier, rendring vengeance vntounto them that knowe not God, and that obey not the Goſpell of our Lord Ieſus Chriſte.
9 Which ſhall bee puniſhed with euerlaſting damnation, from the preſence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.
10 When hee shall come to bee glorified in his Saintes, and to be made maruellous in all them that beleeue (becauſe our teſtimony towardes you was beleeued) in that day.
ONe of the principalleſt Articles of our faith is this, that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte muſt appeare from heauen. Now, it cannot be, that his comming ſhoulde bée vnprofitable: and therfore it neceſſarily followeth, that we muſt looke and wait for our redemptiō and ſaluation from thence. Neither muſt wée ſtand any whit in doubt thereof, becauſe if wée ſhoulde ſo doe, it were euen enough to make whatſoeuer our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte hath doone and ſuffered, of none effect. For, why came hée downe into the worlde, why tooke hée our fleſhe vponupon him, why ſuffered hée vponupon the Croſſe, why roſe hée againe, and why aſcended hée into heauen? Forſooth hée did all this, to this ende and purpoſe, that hée woulde gather vsus together into his kingdome, whenas hée ſhall appeare. And therfore this his comming, is as it were to ſeale and ratifie all whatſoeuer hée hath doone and indured, for our ſaluation.
Nowe this were euen ſufficient to ſtay vsus, for the reſiſting of all the temptations in the world: but becauſe wée are ſo fraile and inconſtant, as that wée cannot beléeue the thing which God himſelfe ſaith, Saint Paule now vſeth a ſtrange kinde of Argument, the better to confirme vsus in this hope, whereunto hée hath exhorted vsus in the perſon of the Theſſalonians: which is, That GOD will not be ſo lightly ſet by, by the contemners of his Goſpell, who make no reckoning of his heauenly Maieſtie: neither will hée ſuffer his creatures to lift them ſelues vp againſt him, & to withſtand him. Thus wée ſée, by howe much more wée ſhoulde bée confirmed, in the hope of our ſaluation, ſéeing that God hath an intereſt therein, & is his owne cauſe. And this is a point which wée are diligently to obſerue. For although (as I hauehave alredy ſaid) God excéedingly aſſureth vsus yt he hath great care of our ſaluatiō, yet our nature is ſo wōderfull miſtruſtful, as that we cōtinually ſtand in doubt. But when it is ſet down vntounto vsus, ye god wil defend his own right, and not ſuffer vsus to treade his maieſtie vnderunder foote, this is a doctrine which ſhoulde make▪ vsus full aſſured and reſolute.
And beſides, GOD ſheweth vsus ſuch fauour in ioyning his glorie with our ſaluation, as that there is an inſeparable bonde betwéene the one and the other. For, doe not wée ſée an infallible aſſurance, that our Lord Ieſus will come to giuegive vsus reſt and quietneſſe, becauſe it cannot otherwiſe bée but that God will mainteyn his maieſtie againſt the pride and enmitie of men? And therefore let vsus diligently marke, that Ieſus Chriſt cannot mainteyne the glory of his father, but yt he muſt eftſoones declare himſelf to be our redéemer. And theſe things (as I hauehave ſaid) cannot bée ſundered. Wherefore wée héerein ſée the infinite louelove of our God towardes his faythfull ones, whenas hée conioyneth himſelf in …uch ſort with them, for as hée cannot poſſibly forget his owne glorie, no more can hée alſo forget our ſaluation: and as hée will ſhew his power to be reuenged of al ſuch as reſiſt him, euen ſo will hée likewiſe puniſhe all thoſe that hauehave vniuſtly afflicted his choſen people. Thus wée ſée, what S. Paule his meaning is, when as hée ſayeth that Ieſus Chriſt wil come to render vengeance to al thoſe which hauehave not knowne God, and obeyed his Goſpel. As if hée ſhould hauehave ſaid Behold your enimies which perſecuted you. Nowe, you were in doubt whether God regarded your afflictions, and whether hée had cōpaſſion of you or not, for the remedying of them. What? Thinke you that GOD maketh no reckoning to mainteyne and defend his glory? Nowe, as the Aduerſaries afflict you for cleauing vntounto the Goſpel, euen ſo likewiſe will God, in the defence of his own cauſe, bée your Protector and defendor. And by the way, S. Paule alſo giueth vsus here in this place many profitable aduertiſementes. For, when hée ſpeaketh of the vengeance which is prepared for our enimies, hée ſaith, That Ieſus Chriſt will come with the Angels of his power, and in flaming fire. But to what ende? Forſooth, to confirme his ſaying: to wit, that the enimies of his truth (ſaieth hée) might ſuſtaine their puniſhment, both before God, and his maieſtie. As if hée ſhould hauehave ſaid, ſurely, you can no more comprehend the torment which the faithleſſe ſhall ſuffer: then wée doe ſée the glorie of God. For when wée heare the glorie of God ſpoken of, we know it to bée without end, and meaſure, and therefore wée ought to woonder at it. Euen ſo fareth it with the horrible vengeaunce which is prepared for all the faithleſſe: Séeing God muſt ſhewe foorth his power vponupon them. For ſince his Maieſtie (as I hauehave ſaid) is ineſtimable, therefore muſt their torment be alſo incomprehenſible for our cauſe, and thus much for this poynt.
Moreouer, when S. Paule ſpeaketh of Infidels, and of the enimies of God, hée ſaieth, That they knew him not, nor yet obeyed his Goſpel, Or that they were Rebels, and this kind of ſpéech importeth a very profitable doctrine. For if a man ſhoulde aſke the moſt wicked men that were poſſibly to be found out, whether they would make warre againſt God or not, they would ſurely ſay no: and yet for all that, they do cleane contrary to their words, becauſe they will not fully and wholy ſubmit themſelues vntounto the Goſpel. And how is that? It is ſaide that wée cannot obey God without faith: For marke how Saint Paul ſpeaketh thereof aſwell in the Epiſtle to the Romans, as in the Actes of the Apoſtles.Rom. 1.8. Actes. 6.7. Sith it is ſo, (ſaith hée) that faith is ſuch a true and right obedience as god requireth & liketh of, it neceſſarily followeth, that all they which will not beléeue the Goſpel, are his enimies, and doe what in them lyeth to ſet themſelues againſt him,
Now, if they ſay they hauehave no ſuch meaning, it is all one, & the caſe ſo ſtandeth for all that. We are hereby taught that our ſeruice cannot pleaſe God, without wee firſt beléeue the Goſpell, and accept of all therein conteined, for our humbling, To bée ſhort, faith is the chiefeſt thing that God requireth at our handes. In very déede wée are to note this by the way, that faith ſimply leadeth vsus not to conſent vntounto that which is taught vsus, but that wée muſt withall, bring our heartes and affections with vsus: For wée muſt not only accept of that, that is ſaid vntounto vsus, with our mouthes, or in a fantaſticall maner, but it muſt bée imprinted in our heartes, and we muſt alſo vnderſtand, that it is not lawfull for vsus to ſtand againſt our God.
And therefore, let vsus with a true deſire craue to ſticke vntounto the doctrine which is offered vsus. Faith then is in the heart, and there taketh roote, and is no ſimple and bare knoweledge: For if wée were once brought to beléeue that the doctrine of the Goſpel is true, and yet wée in the meane while coulde finde no ſauour in it, but were gréeued and wéeried with it, were this to bée obedient vntounto it? No ſurely. Let vsus learne then to obey God, and take not the doctrine of the Goſpell to bee good, and holy onelyonly, but let vsus alſo louelove it: and not only louelove it, but alſo reuerence it: accordingly as Dauid ſpeaketh of the Lawe, where hee ſaith,Pſal. 19.11. That hee thought it to bee ſwéeter then hony, and more precious then golde or ſiluer. And therefore, wee muſt hauehave the doctrine of the Goſpell in ſuche an eſtimation and priſe, and chiefly, it muſt be euen ſo ſwéet, and pleaſant vntounto vsus.
Now, when wée ſhall thus doe: then (as I hauehave ſaide) will God like of our obedience. This then is the moſt worthie ſeruice which hée deſireth at our handes. For els, it is a wiſe thing for vsus, to doe this or that, becauſe that whatſoeuer wee ſhall take in hand to doe will ſtincke before the face of God, vntyll ſuch time as wée beléeue the Goſpell. And heerein may bée ſéene the miſerable eſtate and condition of the Papiſtes: for they excéedingly torment themſelues with their religions, as they call them: they thinke that god is greatly beholden vntounto them, whenas they hauehave plaid ye maſking Idiots, as they doe: and when they hauehave babbled out their Pater Noſters, hearde a number of Maſſes, trotted on Pilgrimage, and ſpent their money abhominably, they thinke that God ſhould allowe all this geare for currant. But what? Forſooth they want the principall matter, and that is Faith: For admit that theſe thinges in themſelues were good and godly, yet yf men hauehave not faith, God will account them all, as fond and fooliſh.
And therefore wée ſée; that the more the Papiſtes goe about to think to ſerue god, the greater condemnatiō they heape vponupon them ſelues, and prouoke his anger to light vponupon their heads. And therefore they are héere called the enimies of GOD, becauſe they will not bée ſubiect vntounto the doctrine of the Goſpell, well Good ſir, will they ſay, you ſée that our meaning is to ſerue God, and this, and that wée doe, to the ſame ende. Yée ſay well, But behold how God inuiteth you vntounto himſelfe, hée telleth you that all your felicitie and bleſſedneſſe reſteth in his onelyonly méere fauour and mercy, and woulde hauehave you ſéeke for no ſaluation but in Chriſte Ieſus alone: hee hath tolde you that hée hath ſent his Sonne vntounto you, that you might feele the fruite and effect of his paſſion: and that in his name and for his ſake all your treſpaſſes are pardoned and forgiuen you: and that you ſhoulde looke for none other Aduocate but him, to bring you vntounto his Maieſtie: and deſire to bee renued by his holy ſpirite.
Thus you ſée after what manner the Lord ſpeaketh to you. And you puppetly Papiſts, what doe you? Surely there is nothing but pride and preſumption in you: For you bend all your force againſt all the promiſes which God hath made you, and thinke to gaine by your owne induſtry, the thing which is promiſed you in Ieſus Chriſt: For you truſt in your owne merites and woorkes, you looke after ſuch Patrones and aduocates as you like beſt of, and in the meane while, Chriſt Ieſus is ſhutte cleane out of the doores: without doubt, faith you hauehave none: and that which is woorſe, yée rebell againſt GOD, and in ſtéede as you thinke, of woorſhipping and honouring him, yée proclayme mortall warres againſt him. Wherefore, wée are highly to magnifie our good GOD for bringing vsus out of ſo bottomleſſe a pitte, and ſhewing vsus the right way howe to ſerue him: to wit, in ſincerely conioyning vsus vntounto the doctrine of the Goſpell, receiuing the promiſes which by it is made vntounto vsus.
Moreouer, if wée doe perceiue that men are once humbled, this is a right preparatiue to bring them vntounto the true ſeruice of God, yea euen to the full and perfecte obedience which GOD liketh of, as already hath béene ſayde, Héere then wée ſée one point, That infidelitie is an enemie to GOD: For there can bée no obedience, without it be begunne by fayth. Nowe, Saint Paule ſaieth, that they which obey not the Goſpel, knowe not God. Wherein wée ſée that ignoraunce ſhall not excuſe, although many there are which woulde fayne make it their defence: and they thinke it ſufficient if they hauehave not manifeſtly and of ſet purpoſe offended therein, making this reckoning, that GOD ought to forgiue them euerie whitte. Yea forſooth, But marke that Saint Paule namely ſaith, that Ieſus Chriſt wil come to deſtroy all thoſe that hauehave not knowne God.
Let vsus therefore vnderſtand, that wée cannot chooſe but bée confounded and vtterly ouerthrowen, if ſo bée wée know not him who created vsus, & him alſo who redéemed vsus And to ſpeake truely, there is great reaſon in it: for why hath God giuen vsus wit & vnderſtanding, but to this end, that in knowing of him wée ſhould worſhippe him, and yéeld him that honor which belongeth vntounto him.
We ſée how deſirous we our ſelues are to be eſtéemed and honoured, and yet will wee thruſt him out at the Cartes arſe, as wée ſay, & who made vsus? for what purpoſe doe they this? Is it not a thing cleane againſt nature? but let vsus by ye way marke that the ignorance of Infidels and incredulous Papiſtes, procéedeth not of méere ſimplicitie, but of very malice, pride and hypocriſie, which cauſeth them to bée ſo cléerely voyd of wit, and diſcretion. And how ſo? becauſe without all doubt, if we might once come to the knowledge of God, we could neither will nor chooſe, but hūble our ſelues before him: For it is impoſſible for vsus, to bee able to thinke what God is, except wée bée liuely touched with ſome feare, which may make vsus yéelde vntounto him▪ And therefore, ſo long as wée are Rebels, and his enimies, it is a token that wee neuer knew him: for this knowledge of God, is too too liuely a thing, to ſay, there wée ſée him, and yet bée as obſtinate and rebellious as Infidels. And if any man ſay, that they are ignoraunt, I graunt: but let them take this withall, that they are alſo curſed hypocrites. Is there either one or other of vsus, that hath any thing in him, able to excuſe him? No ſurely, for if wée had but the ſéede of nature in vsus, giuen by God, the verie beholding of heauen and earth, were ynough to make vsus think, that there were ſome one who created all theſe thinges: God reuealeth vntounto vsus as it were in a glaſſe his maieſtie and glorie: and yet there is none of vsus all that will yéeld vntounto it. Surely, the moſte vngodly, and ſuch as make a ſcorne of GOD, whenas they bée in any paine or griefe, will call vponupon him, and yet thinke no whit at all indéede of him: and héerevnto doeth GOD driue them, that they might bée without all excuſe, inſomuch that they (as I hauehave already ſayd) which are moſt incredulous, are not yet ſo ignorant, but that they play the very Hipocrites. They would gladly couer and cloake it: Howbéeit they cloſe vp their eyes for the very nonce. Wée are proude alſo & malicious: for if wée did beare that honour vntounto God that wée ought, we would hauehave another maner of care to ſéeke to know him and his will.
And therefore, whenas wée are ſo lazie, and colde, it is a token that wée care not for him. So that by that meane our deſire is, to walke altogether in the darke. Why ſo? what is then to bée done? Forſooth, when wée come néere vntounto GOD, and that hée rebuketh vsus for our offences, wée ſhoulde learne to bée offended with our ſinnes and reforme our liues. Howbéeit, wée are contented to lulle our ſelues aſléepe in our miſeries: and thus wée ſée howe wée flye from his brightnes.
Wée are therefore héere to note, that we are not puniſhed without good cauſe, although we bée ignorant: for wée cannot iuſtly ſay, that wée are ſimple, but rather hypocriticall, proud, and malicious. We ſée then why S. Paule ſaith. That they which had ſinned without law (to wit, they which had no vnderſtanding of the woorde of God) ſhould notwithſtanding die without law, ſaying further, that God had ingrauē a law in eueryevery mans heart: for although we had neither Scripture nor preaching, yet doth our conſciences ſerue for a law to condemne vsus: and this ſhalbée ſufficient at the latter day, well, wée may hauehave many ſtarting holes to deceiue men withall, and wée thinke it a good diſcharge: but when wée come once before the heauenly Iudge, wée ſhal come ſhort of our reckoning, for there wée ſhall ſée all our excuſes to be vaine. Let vsus then note out of the ſaying in this place, That the Lord wil come to render vengeance vntounto al thoſe which hauehave not knowne GOD and obeyed the goſpel, to wit, vntounto al incredulous perſons. Now, by this wee ſée, that faith is ye only port or gate vntounto ſaluatiō, & life: becauſe Ieſus Chriſt wil come to confound al thoſe which hauehave not beléeued.
Moreouer, we muſt vnderſtand, that vntill ſuch time as GOD enlighteneth vsus, wée are altogether ignorant and blind. And why ſo? Forſooth, wée hauehave a faire catch to know whatſoeuer is in heauen & in earth, & yet not knowe God, & then to what purpoſe ſerueth all our knowledge? And ſurely, wée ſhal neuer know him aright, vntil ſuch time as hée hath enlightened vsus with his holie ſpirit. Whervpon we ſée, that our ignorance ſhal not excuſe vsus, to the end no man ſhould flatter himſelfe, and become careleſſe: & yet let vsus alſo note one thing by the way, that when wee are come to the knowledge of God, wée ought of very right ſubmit our ſelues vntounto him, to the end hee might kéepe vsus in awe, that all our thoughts and affections might be guided after his wil: ſo that wée may hauehave ſuch a faith vntounto the Goſpel, as that we may ſay with Dauid,Pſal. 19.1…. that this doctrine is ſweeter then hony, & more precious then gold or ſiluer. And thus much for this poynt.
Moreouer, wee here ſée, how GOD meaneth to certefie vsus of our ſaluation. For if Ieſus Chriſt muſt come to doe vengeaunce vponupon all thoſe which hauehave not beléeued the Goſpel, but reſiſted it: wée muſt néedes conclude, that the worlde ſhall bée iudged by the Goſpel. Nowe, it is there ſayde vntounto vsus, that when wee hauehave receiued the promiſes of God with a true and liuely faith, we muſt not ſtand in doubt of his fauour and louelove to vsus warde, neither yet doubt that Ieſus Chriſte will not ſtande to the thing which hee hath offered for vsus and for our redemption.
And therefore, all they which doe beléeue in the Goſpell, may without all doubt reioyce, that Ieſus Chriſte will come to be their Redéemer. And this aſſurance (as I hauehave alreadie ſaid) God maketh vsus, ſo that wée refuſe not ſuch a benefite. As for the power and glory of Ieſus Chriſte, which Saint Paul héere ſpeaketh of, it is (as hath béene before ſaide) to this ende that his comming might bée the more terrible to all incredulous and rebellious perſons. And is this a ſmall matter, to ſay that Ieſus Chriſte wyll come accompanied with his Angels in flaming fier, and with an incomprehenſible Maieſtie, thundering and lightening vponupon all thoſe that are his enimies.
By this wee ſée that Saint Paule his meaning héere, is to admoniſhe all faithleſſe people, if they are to bée holpen, to beware how they continue ſtill without am…ndment. Notwithſtanding, becauſe wee ſée that ſuch as Satan leadeth, and whoſe heartes hee hardeneth, doe nothing els but make a mocke at the threatninges of God, let vsus for our partes make our profite thereby: and when wée heare that Ieſus Chriſte wyll come in ſuch a feareful maner, as that hee will ſo feare and bridle vsus, that when Satan ſhall goe about to ſpurre and pricke vsus forwarde, to withdrawe vsus from the obedience of the Goſpell, wée might bée able to thinke thus with our ſelues and ſay, how fareth it with vsus? how headlong runne we into deſtruction? What meane we to prouoke him againſt vsus, vntounto whom all maieſtie, power, glory, and dominion is giuen, to caſt down euen into the pit of hell, as many as reſiſt him?
Now if wée throughly cōſidered of this, without doubt we would kéepe ſo good a hand of our ſelues, as that all the fleſhly luſtes and temptations of the world, ſhould neuer bée able to preuaile againſt vsus. Saint Paule alſo meant to make a compariſon betwixt the firſt comming of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte, and the ſecond. Why then doe the wicked, and vngodly contemners of the Goſpell, ſo boldly lift vp themſelues, as that they become diſſolute, and ſtarke ſtaring mad. Surely, it is becauſe they heare, that while Ieſus Chriſte was héere on earth, hée tooke vponupon him the ſtate of a ſeruant,Phil. 2.7. yea and abaſed himſelfe (and Saint Paule ſaith) euen vntounto this moſt ſhamefull and ſlaunderous death. And becauſe the enimies of God vnderſtand ſuch an infirmitie to bée in Ieſus Chriſt, they take vponupon them to ſpeak thus wickedly and furiouſly of him: as we ſée it is euen ſo: howbeit, they ſée not, that as hée ſuffered as hée was man, that hée likewiſe roſe againe through the power of his ſpirite: For hée then in ſuch ſort ſhewed foorth his glory, as that both great and ſmall ought to tremble thereat.2. Cor. 13.4. But if theſe faithleſſe people are not able to vnderſtand the power that appeared in the reſurrection of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte, let them giuegive eare to that which is héere ſpoken: to wit, that hée will come in glory.
For in his firſt comming, hée appeared contemptible, becauſe hée woulde ſhewe him ſelfe obedient in our behalfes, for that hée was to make ſatiſfaction for our ſinnes: But at his ſeconde comming, hée will come to bée our iudge. Hée was iudged and condemned, that wée might bée deliuered from the iudgement ſeate of God, and bée pardoned of all our ſinnes, Then will hée not queſtionleſſe come in ſuch humble ſort: but will come with his angels in glory. And this is the meaning which Saint Paule woulde hauehave vsus note, to the ende the wicked and faithleſſe might not take occaſion to contemn this his laſt comming, vnderunder colour ye Ieſus Chriſte once appeared as hée was man, like vntounto vsus, and was made like vntounto a worme of the earth, as it is ſaide in the Pſalme: and as Iſaiah ſayeth, hée was diſfigured from toppe to toe, all to wounded, and that for our redemption. For ſince hee accompliſhed that, which the iuſtice of God required, there remayned nothing, but that hee ſhoulde ſhewe himſelfe in this glory, which was appointed for him: For wée knowe (as Saint Paule ſayeth) That hée hath giuen him a name aboue all names,Phil. 2.9. that al the Creatures in Heauen, Earth, and Hell ſhould bowe vntounto him: that eueryevery thing ſhoulde tremble at his excellent Maieſtie, which alſo the deſpiſers of his Goſpell ſhoulde well know, to their paine though late firſt.
Thus wee ſee what the Apoſtle Saint Paul his pretenſe is, when hee ſayeth, That his comming ſhall bee fearefull. Let vsus alſo eftſoones mark yt which followeth, That he ſhall come to appeare meruellous, and to be glorified in his Saintes. Now it is not for nothing that Saint Paule ſetteth downe this ſaying: for what are wee, that wée ſhoulde be able to abide the preſence of the Sonne of God, whenas hee ſhall come in flambing fier. And therefore, when hee ſhall come with an incomprehenſible power. Alas, muſt not we néedes melt before him, as Snowe before the Sunne, and come to nothing. Loe, howe we ſhoulde bee caſte downe whenas wée doe but onelyonly heare the heauenly glory of Ieſus Chriſte ſpoken of: But Saint Paule ſheweth vsus, that if wée bee of the faithfull ſorte, that we muſt not be afraide at the appearing of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte, neither yet waxe ſorowfull and melancholike at the brightneſſe of his Maieſtie. And why ſo? Becauſe (ſayeth hée) hee will bee glorified, and made wonderfull in his Saintes. As if he ſhoulde hauehave ſaide, that the mention which he before made of the flambing fier, and of the horror and feare, was not to diſcourage the faithfull ones, as though they deſired not the comming of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, and as though they helde not vp their heads as often as they hearde it ſpoken of: becauſe hée ſhall come to redéeme them. And this is a doctrine which is very common in the holy Scriptures: to wit, yt our Lord ioyneth theſe two thinges together. That hee will come to be reuenged of his enimies, and to deliuer his people: that hee will come to ſaue al thoſe that hauehave ſerued and honored him, and to caſt downe and confounde all thoſe, who hauehave hardened them ſelues againſte him, and his worde.
Let vsus nowe then kéepe in minde that this terrible deſcription which héere before hath béene ſet downe, is not to make vsus ſorowfull and melancholike: But rather to make vsus ioyfull and glad, whenas wée ſée what louelove and fauour God beareth vsus. Beholde, our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte will come, and that terribly. And wherfore will hée do ſo? Forſooth, euen to throwe downe headlong all his enimies, and to take vengeance of al the ſhames and afflictions which we hauehave abidden, How ſo I beſéech you? Are wee worthie that the Sonne of God ſhould powre out his Maieſtie, & ſhewe himſelfe ſo terribly againſt all his creatures for our cauſes? No, without doubt: But yet will hée doe ſo, forſomuch as he loueth vsus This then is it which I hauehave alreadie ſaid, that we might be comforted, when as we heare it ſaide, That the Sonne of God will come ſo horribly and fearefully. For herein, he effectually ſheweth, the infinite louelove hee beareth vsus, in that hee ſpareth not his power and Maieſtie to take vengeance of all the wrongs which hauehave béene done to vsus.
Neuertheleſſe, we ſhall neuer be able to féele the ſauour of it, without this thing be obſerued, which Saint Paule namely ſetteth downe in this place: to wit, that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt will not come, to be onelyonly reuenged of his enemies, and of all ſuch as hauehave been enimies vntounto his Goſpel but alſo, To bee glorified, and made wonderfull in his ſaints, and in thoſe which hauehave beleeued.
Nowe, whenas Sainte Paul did ſet downe this, it is aſmuch as if he had ſaide, that hee would come to make vsus partakers of his glory: That whatſoeuer is in him, worthie reuerence and honor all that, I ſay, ſhall be communicated vntounto vsus. To be ſhort, S. Paule ſaieth, That our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt ſhall not come him ſelfe alone, and kéepe his glorie to him ſelfe, but to the end it might be poured out vponupon all the members of his bodie. And for this cauſe we ſée it is ſaide in the Colloſſians, That our life lyeth nowe hid,Col. 3.3. but that it ſhall appeare at the comming of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. And therefore hée ſhall not come perticulerly for him ſelfe, and for his owne glorie alone, but rather that we might be partakers therof: and not in ſuch ſort neither, but that he alwayes hath a great prerogatiue ouer his children, for it is good reaſon he ſhould be the head of his Church. And to ſay the trueth, the glory which hée communicateth with vsus, is not derogatorie from his, neyther yet is it therby made any whit leſſe, howbeit we muſt be tranſformed, as Saint Paule ſaieth to the Phillippians:Phil. 3.21. and where wée are nowe ſo full of infirmities as is lamentable, it cannot be choſen but that our life muſt be made like vntounto the heauenly life of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. And ſo, when Saint Paule ſpake after that maner, hée namely had regarde vntounto the ſtate of the faythfull, as it is in this worlde: For we are noted, pointed at with the finger, and our tongues pulde out: wée ſée howe the wicked and vngodly make a ieſt at the children of God: and it is méete we ſhoulde bée made thus contemtible, to the end we might learne to looke for no glorie here in this worlde. Howbeit, God will, when it pleaſeth him, hauehave vsus exalted aboue them all: but his meaning, in the mean while, is, that we ſhould ſuffer ſuch ſlaunders and reproches, that we might looke vp into heauen, and ſéeke for our triumph and victorie, there. For, to what purpoſe were it, for vsus to be glorified and made much of here in this life, and to hauehave God in the meane time to be diſhonoured? In verie déede, the wicked with open mouth make a ſcorne of God: and make no reckoning of them, which wil not ſpit in his Maieſties face. And would we then be honoured by them? Surely, if we ſhould deſire it, muſt it not néedes be ſaid, that we are too too faint hearted. Wherefore, according to my firſt ſaying: that forſomuch as the faithfull, are at this preſent contemned, and naught ſet by: and that ſome laugh them to ſcorne, and other ſome oppreſſe them: ſo that their fleſh is eaten to ye bones, and troaden cleane vnderunder foote, therefore the Apoſtle calleth vsus backe vntounto the latter day, ſaying, That we ſhall at that tyme appeare wonderfull, euen like vntounto the Sonne of God him ſelfe: for which cauſe, let not vsus feare, but that the glorie which he wil giuegive vsus ſhall ſo terrefie our enemies, as that they ſhall be made our footſtoole, according to that ſaying of the ſcripture. Howbéet, Saint Paule, here namely ſetteth downe, who they are that muſt looke to be partakers of the glorie of the Sonne of God:Pſal. 110. and hée declareth the fruites of all thoſe that hauehave beléeued, in theſe wordes, Saintes. For hée ſheweth that they which are carried away with the pollutions & corruptions of this worlde, muſt not looke to hauehave any parte or portion in this enheritance, nor yet be partakers of any thing which belongeth vntounto the Sonne of God.
Neuertheleſſe, in this ſaying, They which hauehave beleeued, hée ſheweth that fayth is the verie right ſpringhead and beginning of all holineſſe.
Thirdly, hée ſheweth, that if our fayth be pure and right, that it is impoſſible but that we muſt eftſoones be ſanctified. Thus wée ſée thrée pointes which we are to obſerue. The firſt is, That if we foyle, and tumble our ſelues in our filthineſſe, and corruptions, we are quite cut off from the Sonne of God: and therefore let vsus not looke to be any whit the better for his comming: but call to minde the ſaying of the Prophet, in theſe wordes, Deſire not the comming of the day of the Lorde:Amos. 5. For it ſhall be a day of terrour and feare, and not of health and ioy.
For, by reaſon there were in thoſe dayes, a great number of hypocrites, who cloaked them ſelues with the name of God, the Prophet telleth them that it will coſt them deare. After the ſame verie maner ſhal we ſée the moſt wicked at this day, with opē mouth and wyde throate ſay, What I beſéech you good Syr? thinke you that we feare not God, and that wée will not be as good Chriſtians as the reſt? Thus, no doubt of it, will they ſay: and yet in the meane while, a man ſhall ſée nothing in them but wantonnes, and all vngodlines, and as religious as Dogges and Swine. And examine their lyues, and we ſhall finde them altogether diſloyall, and faythleſſe like Foxes, full of treaſon, periurie, crueltie, and bitterneſſe vntounto their neighbours: giuen to all kinde of harme and outrage, and full of all corruption, ſo that whoſoeuer giueth them moſt, they will be ſure to be no loſers: They will kéepe open ſhop to take of all handes, inſomuch that they will not onelyonly ſell their fayth and credite, but their honour and honeſtie alſo euen in open ſight: and will kéepe open fayre and market to vtter all wickedneſſe. To be ſhort, they will ſhewe them ſelues extreame impudent contemptuous perſons, and yet forſooth, they will not ſticke to bragge, that they are the frowardeſt men in all the Church of God: and thinke, that God will helpe them, as if hée were greatly beholden vntounto them. And therefore, as we ſée it to be thus at this day, euen ſo the Prophet ſpeaking to thoſe that were in his dayes, ſaith, What? what kinde of bragges are theſe that you make, of the Lordes comming? Why? thinke you to receiue any benefite by his comming? No, no: But be aſſured that it will be a terrible, and a moſt fearefull day to you. And ſo, according to my firſt ſaying, we hauehave to note out of this place of Saint Paule, that if wée would hauehave the comming of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt auaileable to vsus, and doe vsus good, and to be the Redéemer of our ſaluation, wée muſt learne to conſecrate our ſelues to holineſſe of life, and to ſeparate our ſelues from the corruptions of the worlde, and the fleſhe. And thus much for the firſt point. But to the attaining héereof, let vsus note, that we muſt begin with fayth: according to that which we hauehave lately ſaid: For, to ſay truely, fayth,Actes. 15.6. is the ſpring head of all holineſſe, as it is ſaide in the Actes, where Saint Peter ſayeth, That God cleanſeth the heartes of men by fayth.
And this was ſpoken to this end and purpoſe, to ſhewe that whatſoeuer glorious ſhewe we make, that we ſhall alwayes be corrupt and ſtinking before the Maieſtie of God, vntill ſuch time as God cleanſeth vsus by the meane of fayth. As for the third point, we are admoniſhed, that if we hauehave a liuely fayth, it cannot be choſen but that we muſt eftſoones be ſanctified: to wit, that we cannot but be refourmed to the ſeruice of God, and be conſecrated to honor him. And howe is that? Forſooth, becauſe that wee embraſing Ieſus Chriſt by fayth, hée will dwell in vsus, according to the ſaying of all the whole ſcripture: and namely, Saint Paule vſeth theſe words to the Epheſians, Ieſus Chriſt (ſaith hée) dwelleth in your hearts by fayth.Ephe. 3.17. I beſéech you tell mée, doe not theſe thinges hang yll fauoredly together, That Ieſus Chriſt dwelleth in vsus, and we in the meane while giuegive our ſelues to all villainy and filthineſſe? Do wée thinke that hée will dwell in a Swine ſtie? And therefore we muſt conſecrate our ſelues vntounto him.
Moreouer, hée cannot be with vsus, but by his holie ſpirite. And is not this the ſpirite of holineſſe, righteouſneſſe, and cleanneſſe. Will not this be a ſtraunge medley, when as we will bragge to hauehave fayth in Ieſus Chriſt, and yet liue wantonly and wickedly, and be ſtayned with all the corruptions of the worlde? This is as a man would ſay, I holde the Sunne, and it ſhineth not: and as if a man would turne vpſide downe, the whole order of nature: For it is more like that the Sunne ſhould be without light, then that Ieſus Chriſt ſhould be without righteouſneſſe. And therefore, let vsus make this obſeruation, that we take not this cloake of hypocriſie vponupon vsus, and ſay that we hauehave fayth in the Goſpell, and that we beleeue in good ſadneſſe, without our life and conuerſation be anſwerable, and ſhewe that we hauehave receiued Ieſus Chriſt, and that through the grace of his holie ſpirite, hée conſecrateth, & ſanctifieth vsus to the obedience of God his Father. We ſée then, that we muſt not come with fal… enſignes to vſurpe this name of faith, being a moſt holie thing. And therefore let vsus take héede we prophane it not: But if we beleeue in the Sonne of God, let vsus effectually ſhewe, that we hauehave done ſo. And then no doubt, hée wil make vsus féele his power, and giuegive vsus grace, paciently to tarry his comming. And although we muſt in this worlde, ſuffer many iniuries for his names ſake, yet ſhall we in the end be clothed with his glorie, and righteouſnes, as hée hath promiſed, which hée wil make vsus féele, ſo wée receiue it without doubting.
And now let vsus fall downe before the Maieſtie of our good God, and acknowledge our offences, beſéeching him, that after hée hath made vsus to feele them, that hée wil deliuer vsus from them: and becauſe hée cannot doe it, but that there muſt néedes bée an yll remnaunt left behinde that it would pleaſe him to ſupport vsus, vntill ſuch time as hée hath quite and cleane ridde vsus of all this corruptible fleſhe of ours, and brought vsus to his heauenly kingdome, which wée wayte for at the comming of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. And ſo, let vsus all ſay, O almighty God, and heauenly Father, &c.
¶ Jmprinted at London by Thomas Dawſon for George Biſhop. 1581.
End of the text · John Calvin, Sermons on Divinity Humanity and Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ (1581)