Sermons on Deuteronomy, Sermons · Sermon 78
On Thursday the xxvj. of September. 1555. The Lxxviij. Sermon which is the fifth vponupon the eleuenth Chapter.
22 For if ye do earnestly keepe all the commandements which I command you to doe, and that you louelove the Lord your God and walke in all his wayes and sticke vntounto him:
23 Then the Lorde will driue out all these Nations before you, and yee shall possesse Nations that are greater and stronger than your selues.
24 Whatsoeuer place the sole of your foote treadeth on, it shalbe yours. Your bounds shalbe from the wildernes and from Libanus, and from the Riuer, euen the riuer of Euphrates, vntounto the vttermost sea.
25 No man shall be able to stand against you. The Lorde your God will cast the feare and dread of you vponupon the face of all the Land whereunto you go, as hee hath said vntounto you.
WE hauehave seene what promise Moses made to the Israelites: namely yt they shold possesse ye land which was giuen them to inherite. Howbeit forasmuch as their enemies might bee a stop in their way, and it might well seeme that God was not yet fully minded to performe that which he had said: he addeth further, that that let also should be taken away. As howe? Euen by this, that God would cast a terror vponupon all the nations whom he had erst condemned, so as none of them should be able to withstande the people that was so guided by his owne hande. That is the effect of Moseses meaning in this place. And it is as much as if he had said vntounto vsus, Whē God hath once warranted vsus a thing, although all the lets in the world shoulde incounter vsus, yet ought we not to doubt of his promise. For why? The thinges that may seeme vnpossible to men, are altogether in his power, because no creature is able to resist him. And therefore when we be abashed at the sight of the impediments that come before our eyes: wee must fall to the considering of the mightinesse of our God, which is able to ouercome all things. So then let vsus marke well, that wee must fully conclude with our selues, that God is able to performe whatsoeuer hee hath vttered with his mouth: insomuch that although all accesses bee (in our iudgement) foreclosed vntounto him; yet will hee wade through them all by his power. And therefore let vsus not measure the effect of Gods promises, by our owne eysight, nor by the conceite of our owne naturall vnderstanding: but let vsus assure our selues that hee hath victorie alwayes in his hande, howe much so euer the worlde set it selfe against him, and striue to stop the performance of that which hee hath spoken.
Herewithall, it standeth vsus in hand to applie this thing chiefly to our owne strenthening: and forasmuch as we see the diuel euer ready to hinder our welfare, yea and to disappoint it vtterly: let vsus hauehave this saying continually printed in our rememberance, that God which hath receiued vsus into his fauour, and promised to leade vsus into the heritage of the kingdome of heauen, is the God of hosts and of victorie, and that although all the furniture of hel do set it selfe against him, it is all noughtwoorth, but shalbe turned into smoke: insomuch that although wee bee driuen to abide neuer so many assaultes in this worlde, and that the diuell neuer cease to practise one thing or other against vsus: yet are we sure that god will welynough worke such deuises, as wee shall neuer be ouercome, so hee be on out side, as hee hath assured vsus, so that wee keepe our selues vnderunder his protection. And this is to be vnderstood, not onelyonly of Satan himselfe, but also of al his vpholders. For the diuell vseth all the meanes that can be; he hath all the wicked at his becke; hee ruleth them and driueth them to all euill. Forasmuch therefore as they be led by the wicked spirite; they vex and trouble vsus as much as they cā. But we hauehave God on our side to fight for vsus, and we shalbe defended by his power. Wherefore let vsus not feare but that hee will alwayes giuegive vsus the victory; though wee bee faine to indure much paine and trouble; for it cannot bee but that in such incounters, there must euer needs be some terrour, because wee see that the wicked are alwayes as whot as fire to annoy the children of God, and that as soone as they bee able to stirre but one finger, by and by they begin a new skirmish. Therfore must we beare it patiently, when soeuer it pleaseth God to exercise vsus after yt fashion. And we must waite for the end which Moses promiseth here to the faithful; which is, that they shal alwayes hauehave victory of their enemies. And so we see to what end this doctrine is to bee applied.
Now remaineth to be noted also, that whereas God promiseth such thinges, hee hath mens harts in his hand: for he addeth the mean, which is, that hee will cast our dread and our feare vppon all our enemies. As if hee should say, hee will print his mark vponupon vsus, so as the wicked (be they neuer so full of rancor, and bee they caried with neuer so great fury and rage) shalbe abashed, dismayed, & vtterly at their wits end. As to the worldwarde, they may well seeme to hauehave the heartes of Lyons: but God will make them to melt away like water, so as men shall see with their eyes, that there is not so much as one drop of corage in any man, but so farre forth as God giueth it them. And as for vsus; although we bee afraide, and hauehave not so stoute a courage by nature: yet wil God change vsus, & giuegive vsus inuincible constancy, so as although we had bin men of warre, and very valeant; yet should our manlinesse bee nothing like to y• which he will make vsus to feele in our selues, so we goe not presumptuously to worke, but rest vponupon him, seeking to be vphelde by his hand and fauor. The matter therefore which wee hauehave to mark vponupon that place, is, first that wheras our life is as a warfare, yet must wee not bee afraid, because god hath promised to fight for vsus. Yea, but we hauehave to do with an ouermightie enemie: and it is not one diuell alone that wee hauehave to withstand, but infinite legions of diuels. What cā we do then, seeing wee be so fraile, and are tempted so on all sides, & (to be short) our safetie is set as it were to the spoile? For what hauehave we to defende our selues withall? But wee must hauehave an eye to our god. I hauehave told you heretofore, that it is not without cause that he intitleth himselfe to be the Gods of Hosts. It serueth to shew that he will defende vsus in such sort, as our enemies shalbe disappointed. Although they aduance themselues with neuer so raging violence, & that we be scared at their first alarmes, yet shal we always get the vpper hand, by the helpe of him which hath all power in his hand. And indeede wee knowe that God hath his Angels, whom he hath ordeined for our safegard.Ps…. … He…. … He thinks it not ynough to reach out his arme to helpe vsus, but he hath also vttered foorth all his blessings, to fence vsus with them on all sides. Therfore let vsus trust to it, and let vsus walke on boldly through all the troubles that are prepared for vsus, not doubting but that we shall ouercome them, hauing such a guide as is spoken of in this text.
Againe, let vsus also apply these things euen to the necessities of this present life. Indeede the chiefe point is, that god should succour vsus to the intent wee may finish the course of this present life. But yet must we be faine to be aided by him euerie minute of an houre, so as hee leade vsus through the great number of euill wayes which we hauehave to passe, and preserue vsus from all daungers. So then we must be fully resolued of this, yt God will not onelyonly giuegive vsus victorie in the ende, thereby to bring vsus to the kingdome of heauen; but also will helpe vsus continually in this worlde, so as we shal wade out of al the troubles and perplexities wherin we be; insomuch that euē when we seeme to bee vtterly ouerwhelmed, he needeth no more but to reach vsus his hand, and by & by wee shalbe aflote againe. Moreouer let vsus assure our selues, that seeing God hath promised vsus such victory against Satan and our Ghostly enemies:Rom. 16.20. & Eph. 6.12.13. men also shall not bee able to preuaile, when they set thēselues against vsus: but although the whole world be bent against vsus and at deadly foode with vsus; yet ought it to suffice vsus, that God is fauorable to vsus. For inasmuch as he hath promised that al their practises which they attempt shalbe to no purpose, and that he wil turne them vpside downe: we may wel be quiet, and tary his leasure still with patience; and although we be abashed for a time, and perceiue not that God intendeth to worke according to his sayings: yet let vsus stand stedfast in his doctrine, vntil he hauehave shewed vsus the effect of his truth. That is the way for vsus to despise and defie all the wicked yt seeke nothing else but to destroy vsus. They be like a sort of madde dogges, and when they cannot bite they wil barke. They hauehave their throtes alwayes open, and their teeth always sharpened, & their pawes are alwayes in a readines, so as whensoeuer God letteth them loose, they be crueller thā Lyons or any other beasts. Let vsus sticke alwayes to this that our Lord hath taken vsus into his protection, and that when the wicked hauehave done what they can, in ye end they shalbe ouerthrowen and all their attempts shall come to no purpose or effect: That is the thing which wee hauehave to remember here. Notwithstanding, forasmuch as it cannot but bee a trouble and vexation of minde vntounto vsus at altimes, to see what power our enemies are of, and to see howe spitefull they shew themselues against vsus; let vsus hauehave recourse to that which is said here, namely that God hath mens hearts in his hande. And therefore be the pride of men neuer so great, and their stoutnesse such as were able to make the aire and the world to tremble: yet let vsus assure our selues that our Lord will turne it into feare and cowardlynes, so as the parties that would needes be so feared of others, shall in the ende hauehave lesse courage than women and children. For why? it is God that giueth men corage and constancie: and it is he that bereaueth them of it again whē he lifteth. Now then if we be fully perswaded and resolued yt our Lord bridleth mens hearts: we wil not doubt but that he will alwayes giuegive vsus victorie against our enemies; and it is the point which the scripture standeth expresly vppon. And to the intent wee may know that men hauehave not one spark of prowesse or manhood in them, furtherfoorth than god giueth it them,Prou. 21.1. Salomon saith expresly, that the hearts of kings are in the hand of God. It shoulde seeme that though all the rest of mankind be in subiection and bridled; yet kinges bee exempted from the common aray: for no man dares once open his lippes against them: & when they hauehave once spoken ye word, by and by it must be put in execution. It shold seeme therfore that they hauehave a prerogatiue aboue al ye world beside. Yea, but like as God maketh ye riuers to run here and there, and turneth their streams which way he lifteth: so also doth he hold ye hearts of kinges in his hand saith Salomon. And what shall then become of ye little Goslings when they perke vp, & hauehave no power nor strength at al? Shall we be dismayed at their threatnings? The thing then wherin we must trust, is our yeelding of ye honor to God which he requireth at our hands, to wit, yt it belongeth to him to giuegive men corage when they be fearefull, & to daunt the corages of such as areas lustie as if they had the thunder & lightening at their commandement: for God will so cut their combes, as they shal not know where to become, but be vtterly dismayed, so that in steed of ye stoutnesse which they had shewed before; there shalbe nothing in them but weaknesse and fearefulnes. After that manner must ye faithfull assure themselues. For otherwise what will become of vsus? In what taking are we? As I said afore, we be hemmed in on al sides by Satan & his vnderlings.1. Pet. 5.8. There is not yt minute of an houre, wherin we hauehave not somewhat to be afraid of: a thousand dangers beset vsus round about: & therefore what will become of vsus, if wee be not so fully perswaded of this doctrine, as to make it to serue vsus for dyches & rampyres, to hold out al ye assalts that our enemies make vppon vsus? And so, forasmuch as our life is full of vnquietnesse, & we bee threatened with many sortes of death, so as wee cannot step foorth one foote but wee shall meete with some mischance or other, specially considering the meanes which the diuell hath to annoy vsus withal, & the indeuer which he putteth therunto; & also considering ye multitude of ye wicked, whom hee driueth forward & carieth headlong: let vsus put this lessō in vre, yt the god of hosts who hath ye victorie in his own hand, is on our side & wil defēd vsus, so as we shal not be ouercome, but be preserued & defended by his power. HaueHave we this once well printed in our hearts, we may go on boldly: and though we see men neuer so full of pride that they spew it out ag…in, and so spitefull that they coulde finde in their hearts to eate vsus vp at one bit: let vsus not passe for that; for God will strike them in such a feare, that they shalbe daunted and discouraged; and although wee hauehave neither sworde nor staffe, yet shall they be vanquished by themselues, & not perceiue why nor how, but only by Gods secret working. Let vsus looke vponupon it, & experience will shew vsus that God ment not to beguile vsus when he behighted it vsus with his own mouth. But our own vnbeliefe & leawdnesse, suffer vsus not to perceiue the thing by experience which is spokē here. We cā wel ynough make our complaints and say; howe happeneth it that God giueth such prowesse to our enemies? how happeneth it yt we be so cowardly and forlorne? We can aske such questions wel ynough. But we consider not the cause of them: & yet it is in our selues: & our enemies hauehave none other power, than we our selues giuegive them: and I say the same of Satan▪ as well as of all his vnderlings. For whē we forsake our god it is good reason yt we should be disfurnished of his help, and yt he should let vsus alone like poore forlorne caitifs looking on either side of vsus, & not espying any remedy to resist our enemies withal, because we be bereft of ye garde and inuincible fortresse yt God promised vsus,Exod 32.25 & Psal. 106.23. according as it is spoken of, both in Exodus and in the Psalme, where it is said that ye people were disappointed of their strong holde, when they had once forsaken God. I pray you if we stand not in awe of God, is it not reason that he should make vsus afraide, both of men & beasts, yea and euen of a flie when it doth but flie by vsus,Leuit 26.36 as the scripture telleth vsus? Beholde, our God offereth himselfe in his maiesty, requiring that we should do him homage, by humbling our selues vntounto him,1. Cor. 6.20. and by offering our selues both bodie & soule in sacrifice to him, yt he may possesse vsus: & we despise him, making but a mocke at his holie word, so as he cānot get any seruice at our hāds, for we striue against him like wild beasts. Seeing yt this is apparant, is it not reason that he should chastise vsus, by making vsus to stand in feare of mē? Yes: for what are we? Behold I am scared & made afraide, at the peering of a worme that doth but put vp his head at me. I neede not to seeke farre to knowe the cause thereof. Let me but consider whether I hauehave behaued my selfe well towardes my God, in yeelding him obedience in al things. Nay contrariwise, I hauehave turned away frō him, and moreouer I hauehave played the rebell, I hauehave leaped beyonde my bounds, and to bee short, I hauehave fought against him: and therefore I must not thinke it straunge, if I bee afraide of men, which are nothing. Verily God will yet more laugh our pride and ouerweening to scorne. For he will make vsus to quake at the falling of a leafe from a tree. To be short, as Salomon sayes, wee shall flee when noman followeth vsus:Prou. 28.1. euerie little noyse shall make vsus to thinke that we be pursued with maine strokes. Verily it is a singular gifte of God to hauehave quietnesse of conscience, so as wee may bee assured of his defence. And on the contrarie part, if we be not vnderunder his protection, wee shalbe dismayed without any cause on mans behalfe, onelyonly because we hauehave God against vsus. And so the cause why our enemies doe so trouble vsus as wee wote not where to become; is that we regard not our god. For is it reason that hee shoulde bee our friende when we be not on his side? No: but he must rather set himselfe against vsus. And that is ye cause why Moses both in other places, and specially in his song that is in the 32. Chapter,Deut. 32.30 saith, How coulde it bee that a hundred of you shoulde flee before one man, and that a thousande of you should be chased by a hundred of your enemies, if it were not for that the Lorde hath forsaken you, and deliuered you as prisoners into your enemies handes? Consider then (saith hee) that when yee be afflicted by your enemies, it is for that your God hath appalled you. For you be not worthy that he shoulde put his power into you, or vtter it in your behalf. And therfore whensoeuer we stand too much in feare of our enemies, & are so dismayed that we can hardly call vponupon God, but are ouerwhelmed with distrust and vexation of minde: let vsus vnderstande that God hath withdrawen himselfe from vsus, and hath left vsus destitute after yt fashion, because we be turned away from him, and hauehave shaken off his feare, and not stoode in awe of him as wee ought to hauehave done, in respect whereof hee threateneth vsus by men, & maketh vsus to feele our owne wretchednesse, to the intent we should returne vntounto him. Furthermore hee sheweth well by the sequele, that his promise was not in vaine. What a proofe was there thereof, at the entring of the people into the land of Chanaan? For they had such a multitude of enemies, as might hauehave made them al dismayed. But what for that? God himselfe fought for his people. And that did the poore harlot well perceiue, when shee said to the men that were come to spie out the land,Ios… 2.2.… I know that your God is the God of heauen and earth, which reigneth ouer all. And for proofe therof, I see yt al the inhabiters of these countries, are astonished at the only fame and report of you, wherwith they be discoraged, that they be as good as vanquished already. She attributeth this indeed to ye wonderful working of God. Now seeing that this silly woman, hauing but a little taft of faith, did lay so sure hold vponupon it: I pray you ought not we to behold ye strēgth much more openly, which our Lord promiseth vsus here, which is, that he wil cast a terrour and fearefulnes vponupon all those that are much stronger & mightier than we? It is said yt euen when God setteth his mark vponupon kings & princes,…. 1.… ye brute beasts which hauehave no reason do stande in awe of them. And why is that? Because God worketh by a secrete meanes vnknowen to vsus. If our lord had not such power to inspyre men withal; surely principalities & seniories could not continue one minute of an houre. Nowthen seeing that God imprinteth such a marke, yt he maketh not only mē but also beasts to stand in awe, & to be subiect to those to whom hee hath committed the sword of iustice: let vsus note yt if we bee his children, wee shall also beare his image; insomuch yt if we be vnderunder his tuition, wee shalbe defēded in despite of our enemies: yea & we shall be feared, so as wee shall perceiue by the effect, that it is long of none but our selues that wee be not succored by him, and yt although our vnthākfulnes do beat backe his hand, yet doth he ouercome vsus wt his infinite goodnes. For we see yt although the wicked hauehave the Law in their owne hand; yet notwithstanding they be so abashed & dismaied, yt they be quite and cleane wtout heart. We must needes see it, or else we be duller than blockes. For our Lorde hath wrought with such power, that though wee were blinde, yet wee might grope it with our hands, namely that God hath daunted those that thought to hauehave cut the throtes of his children, euen when no man durst lift vp his little finger against them, insomuch yt when they thought themselues to hauehave wonne ye gole, then were they seen to be so striken down & discoraged, & cast into such feare & perplexitie, and so at their wits end, as they wist not what to do nor where to become. Indeede they had ye Law in their own hand (as I said), they had practises and deuices ynow, and ye world sees yt they had neither vprightnes nor faithfulnes in them. But yet howsoeuer they fared, they were discoraged, & were made to stand gaping & gasing one vpō another, & could not tel what to do for feare Hereby we see that our Lord not only held their hands tyed; but also bereft them of heart; so as he disappointed them of wit & reason, by reason whereof they were so dulled, that there was lesse skill in them than in little babes, yea or euen in beasts. Ye see then how it is goodly proofe of yt which is promised here: so as if we yeeld god his due honor, we should bee the more stayed vnderunder his protection, to walke on continually, yea & to keepe our selues from stepping out of the way.
Now let vsus take good heed to yt which I hauehave said, namely yt such as do so go astray & giuegive thē selues to naughtines, hauehave not ye protectiō which our Lord hath promised: for they goe wilfully to cast themselues vp as it were to ye spoile. Therefore it is good reasō yt God should forsake them, & that they should find themselues to be taken vnprouided. But if we walk in humility, & seeke to be always guided by ye hand of our God: then let vsus hardily put our trust in him, and we shal euer be maintained. Although men gape vppon vsus like Lyons with opē mouth; & although we hauehave not wherewith to resist them: yet will God be able ynough to beate them backe. Wee may be driuen to fight; but in ye mids of the incounter we shalbe sustained as God hath promised vsus, and yt will be an inuincible fortres vntounto vsus. That is the thing which we hauehave to remember vponupon this place.
Yea and Moses saith expresly, People or Nations that are mightier and stronger than you; to the intent wee shoulde not make comparison with the things that are seene, to thinke that God wil not helpe vsus except there be some naturall meanes, or some worldly enterance. No no, wee must not bee at that point: but wee must consider that his power is infinite. Therefore wee doe him great wrong, when we restraine his power to yt which our senses can attaine vntounto. Nay, when our enemies are too strong and too mighty for vsus, and when it seemeth that they be ready to treade vsus vnderunder foote: euen then must wee perswade our selues that God wil vtter his power to succor vsus. And therefore let vsus go on boldly, at leastwise so there bee no presumption in vsus, and that we bee not stubborn against our God. For there are two things which are very requisite for vsus. The first is that we giuegive ouer our selues wholly to the seruing and honoring of our God: & secondly that we put our trust in him, and sticke vntounto his promises, not doubting but that he will giuegive things a good ende, though they seeme vtterly past all hope. Thus you see in effect what we hauehave to remember vponupon this lesson.
Now immediatly Moses addeth, That wheresoeuer the people set their foote, they shall possesse the whole land, from the wildernes vntounto Libanus, and from ye great Riuer Euphrates vntounto the Sea. For those were the bounds & borders which God had promised to his people, as appeareth in the person of Abraham. For the promise that is made here is no newe thing,Gen. 13.14. but a ratifying or confirming of the same thing that God had spoken long afore. As if he should say, nothing shal bar you from inioying ye heritage yt I hauehave assigned you: stick you to me, & I wil performe whatsoeuer I hauehave said vntounto you. True it is that if ye hauehave an eye to ye great nūber of Nations which you hauehave to ouercome; ye may be so scared as to say, How shall we nowe do? Indeede wee be a great multitude of vsus; but what are we in comparisō of our enemies, which are men exercised in feats of armes, & houge mē like gyāts? as we hauehave seene already heretofore. Againe they be nestled alreadie, they hauehave their townes well fortified, and when we shal hauehave taken a two or three hundred of their townes, yet is it nothing in respect of ye rest, but our enemies will be continually both before vsus & behinde vsus. Ye see then yt these were thinges that might well hauehave made ye people afraid. But it is said vntounto thē; Although ye land be neuer so large, although yee hauehave neuer so many cities to take, and although there be neuer so great a number of battels prepared for you: yet settle you your selues vponupon the promise of your God, for he can skil welynough how to performe the thing that he hath spoken. Shut you your eyes against all likelyhoodes of thinges that may daunt your corages, and open your eyes to behold ye inestimable power of your God, & doubt not but he will shew himself faithful. Now we see wherat Moses amed. But yet was not this thing accomplished to the ful, vntill the reigne of Dauid & Salomon. For although Iosua made partition of their portions, & god appointed him to yt office: yet were ye vnbeleeuing people mixed stil with ye Iewes; and (which worse is) wheras they should hauehave rooted them out quite & cleane, & hauehave had peasable possession of the land: they payed tribute to their enemies, which held thē in bondage like slaues & fleeced ye wool from their backs.Iudg. 3.8. & 13.1. They were vexed in such sort, yt they were as good as flaine quick, & they indured such cruelty as was pity to see. It shold seeme therfore yt God kept not touch wt them. But here is an excellent goodly text, to open vntounto vsus the thing which I hauehave expounded afore, and which wil come to be spoken of again. It is said that God will giuegive his people the victory, conditionally that they keepe all the commandements which are inioyned them. God tieth it wt a conditiō. Do whatsoeuer I commaund you (saith he,) & then shall you finde my power to be such, as your enemies (do what they can) shal not be able to preuaile any whit against you. Nowe let vsus see if ye Iewes were able to performe all Gods cōmandements. Nay, they were vtterly disobedient vntounto thē. And we also cease not to take ye clean contrary way to yt which god teacheth vsus & commandeth vsus vntil he hauehave reformed vsus by his holy spirit.Ro. 7.19.23. Ye see then that the Iewes were disobediēt vntounto god, & therfore were disappointed of his promise. Yea, but yet for al yt he ceased not to make place for his owne mercy still by meanes of their leawdnesse. For although their enemies pricked them like thornes; yet they held stil the possession of the dwelling place that God had appointed them. Trueth it is that it is said expresly, forasmuch as ye hauehave behaued your selues leawdly,Iosua. 23.13 and prouoked your God, by refusing to goe forwarde when he was readie to guide you: therfore shall you not ouercome your enemies, but they shall remaine still, and bee as thornes in your sides, & as waspes to sting you, yea and they shal euen picke out your eyes, because yee hauehave not taken courage as ye ought to hauehave done, nor submitted your selues to God, to go forwarde at his commaundement. Lo what threatnings are made vntounto thē: & they perceiue them wellynough: and afterward they become subiect vntounto them, insomuch yt they were fain to beare charges & tributes euen til they groned again. But our Lord hauing chastised them so many waies, did afterward …hew vntounto them, that he failed not to pity them stil; for he raised them vp such men from time to time, as saued them frō their enemies. And so howsoeuer ye world went with thē, they still inioyed Gods gracious gifts, at leastwise in part: not that they were worthie of them,2. Sam. 7.10.11.13. but because Gods wil was to be as good as his promise, so as mē might not be disappointed of it through their own leaudnes & vnthankfulnes. In the end, Dauid and Salomon obtained the promise, so as God by their hand did set the people in ful & perfect liberty, & their kingdome was perfectly stablished, because god had so promised. But wee must note, yt Dauid and Salomon were a figure of our Lord Iesus Christ: and we be sure yt it is long of none but our selues, that God sheweth not himselfe bountifull & liberall to the vttermost. For if we obeyed him according to his commaundement; wee should want nothing, but we should euen in this earthly life feele his drawing of vsus vntounto euerlasting saluation. And forasmuch as he is ye fountain of al goodnes, he would giuegive vsus such abundance of all thinges, that wee should hauehave al things at wil; and we should passe through this world as through an earthly paradise, and afterward attaine to ye kingdom of heauen yt is prepared for vsus. Lo howe God offereth himself vntounto vsus in his law: but yet with condition yt we do whatsoeuer he commaundeth vsus. But we be so far off from doing it, yt we drag back from it, and there is not that thought nor that affection in vsus, which is not enemie to God & his righteousnes. By reason wherof,Rom. 8.7. in steede of the inioying of his benefites which hee hath promised in his Lawe, he is faine to become our enemy, & to arme himselfe against vsus, and to consume vsus till we be vtterly come to nothing. Sometimes hee thundreth in such sort, yt wee be ouerthrowen in ye turning of a hand. And wherof commeth that? Euen so it must needs be: for (as I said afore) god sheweth himself liberal towards vsus & vttreth his great treasures towards vsus. But what? Our hearts are shut & locked vp. And therfore must we needs be bereft of them, and feele the paine therof; we must be so vexed as we may grone again, & be in such anguish of mind, as we may not wote where to become. Yet notwithstanding, if we be his, he neuer faileth to mingle some sweetnes continually with the corrections yt hee sendeth vsus. True it is that hee beareth with the wicked, and with such as are vtter castaways: but yet in the end he is terrible to them, and dealeth not in such wise with them, as he doth with those whom he intē deth to reserue to himselfe. Although that naturally all of vsus be disobedient vntounto him, yet ceaseth hee not to hauehave pitie vponupon vsus: and although wee feele sore blowes at his hande; yet doth hee shew vsus therewithall yt he is not minded to roote vsus out vtterly. But surely we should continue stil in our sins to the end, yea and rot away in them▪ were it not for his raising vp of the promised Dauid, that is to say, of our Lorde Iesus Christ. For by his meanes wee recouer yt which we had lost by our owne sinnes, and so yee see how Iesus Christ setteth vsus in possession of the heritage that was promised vsus by the Lawe. Yet notwithstanding we shoulde be disappointed of it, and it coulde not belong vntounto vsus, vnlesse yt Iesus Christ had as wel made vsus partakers of the benefites of God his father in his own person, as redemed vsus in our owne persons. Nowe then, wee recouer all this in him, whereas erst we were quite & cleane bereft and cut off from the inioying thereof. Therefore let vsus marke well, that whereas God made so many & so large promises to the Iewes in his law, vponupon condition that they shold keepe his commaundements: he ment to shew that the same tooke no place, vntill the kingdome was stablished in the person of Dauid. And therefore wee must not alledge as the beastly Papists doe, who say: Tush, God promiseth vsus this and that, if we keepe his commaundements; therefore it followeth that wee winne Gods fauour by our owne desertes, and that wee purchase the kingdome of heauen, and are able to attaine saluation by our owne obedience; for God hath an eye to yeeld vntounto eueryevery mā according to his desert. They shew fulwell, that they neuer vnderstoode one sillable of the holy scripture. And euen this text without going any further, is ynough to bewray their beastlines & ignorance. True it is that God promised his people that they should inioy ye land which he had appointed vntounto them: but ye performance thereof was to bee deferred to the reigne of Dauid. Wherupon let vsus marke how it is our Lord Iesus Christ which maketh ye promises of ye Law auailable towards vsus, so as wee shall not be disappointed of ye thinges yt are conteined therin. And indeed, yt is the very cause why ye promise is made expresly to Dauid & Salomon, as it had bin made before to al ye people. And this serueth well to make ye doctrine yet plainer which I com to treat of. For there are two sorts of promises in ye holy scripture. The one is; He yt doth these things, shal liue in thē. The other is, He yt beleeueth in ye son whom ye father hath sent, shalbe saued. Loe here two promises, betweene yt which it behoueth vsus welto put a differēce: for they be far vnlike. When God saith, He yt doth these things: he bindeth not himself to vsus but with an if, namely that wee dischardge our selues by performing his Law; and that, not only in part, but throughout and perfectly. But no man is able to do that; and therefore yee see wee be shut out from all hope, and we cannot looke yt the promise should bee of force any more towardes vsus, because of our default. For God continueth alwayes faithful, but wee suffer not his goodnes to come vntounto vsus. Now when he seeth vsus so bereft of all his benefits; he findeth another nowe remedie for vsus, which is this:Matt. 28.18. 2. Cor. 4.46 Colossi 2.9. …. 1.2.3. Lo here my sonne who is vniuersal heire both of heauen and earth; hee holdeth all the worlde in subiection, hee hath the whole fulnesse of the Godhead inclosed in him, my image shyneth most perfectly in him: which is shewed soorth in his Gospell: and therfore they that are members of his bodie, are made partakers of all the benefites which hee hath in him. That is the way for the promises to hauehave their effect and force in vsus, and not to looke simply to the doctrine of the lawe. For when God sayd, I will giuegive you the lande: to whome spake he? To all the people. But yet with condition, if yee keepe my commandements. And that was made voide. As howe? Because the people were disobedient, and kept not couenant with God. And so ye see that the whole couenant was broken, so as God was set free againe, and no longer bounde vntounto them, because it was tyed to a condition. What doeth he then? He sends vsus a king to whome he sayeth▪ I will giuegive thee the lande for thine inheritance. Hee vseth the selfe same wordes that are set downe here by Moses. I will giuegive thee the lande (saith hee) for thine inheritance, from the wildernesse vntounto mount Libanus, & from the riuer Euphrates to ye great sea. And to whome doth God giuegive it? To Dauid & Salomon. True it is that he had giuen the same land afore to all the people; but the people were banished from it through their own fault. And was it then but for one onelyonly person? was it the worthines of Dauid or Salomon that made God willing to giuegive them the thing which hee had promised to al the ofspring of Abraham? No: but it was because they were a figure of our Lorde Iesus Christ. And in verie deede when the Prophets intended to assure the people of the quiet state that was promised to thē, and of the inioying of the land: they saide, I will raise you vp a Dauid. Now then, Gods offering to lay foorth his riches to al men without exceptiō in his law, to maintaine them withall in this present life, is as if he should say, whatsoeuer I hauehave promised to giuegive to the fathers of olde time, belongeth to you also, at leastwise if ye obey my law throughly in all points, & not by pieces & starts. But wee be so farre vnable to discharge our selues of that duetie, that we fall to despising of God, so as hee is faine to shewe himselfe an enemie vntounto vsus. That is al that we be able to win by our keeping of the lawe, if we wil needes stick simply to it as I sayd afore. Neuerthelesse there is this other remedie for it. Whē our Lord Iesus Christ cōmeth forth & reacheth vsus his hande to pull vsus to him; then we find that he is not without cause termed the vniuersal heire of all the goods which God his father hath. And his possessing of them is not for himself:… 1.…. & 17 for he is one selfesame essence wt God the father, he hath bin the God of glory at all times.1. Cor. 2.8. Matt. 28.18. Phil. 2.7.9. But in this flesh of ours & in our humaine nature wherewith he was clothed, he was ordeyned chiefe king, and the dominion of the worlde was giuen vntounto him, euen as wel in heauen as in earth. Now then if we be once graffed into his bodie, and perfectly made one with him; then shall wee recouer that thing in him, which we cannot obteine by our deedes & deserts. And then shal we see that Iesus Christ beeing raised againe vntounto glorie, wil of his goodnes drawe vsus after him, to make vsus partakers of all things that he hath.
Furthermore, the telling of this thing vntounto vsus is not to giuegive men scope to do euil; but wee must marke that when God reserueth vsus to himselfe to put vsus in possession of his goods, he doth also reforme vsus by his holy spirite. Yet notwithstanding, all that euer we can do, albeit that wee bee gouerned by God & hauehave a good will to serue him, is of no value at all if it bee esteemed of it selfe: but yet for Iesus Christes sake God will accept vsus and our workes, and the inheritance shal abyde sure & stedfast vntounto vsus: for wee must not be afraide but that we shal attaine vntounto it. It is not giuen vsus for our own sakes, but because wee be partakers of our Lord Iesus Christ, & receiue the grace that he hath purchased vsus, so as we bee reconciled to God by his death & passion, in respect whereof he is mercifull to vsus, & we be sure of the forgiuenesse of our sinnes, because all our spots are washed & scoured cleane away. Although there bee sinnes & imperfections in vsus, which might make vsus blamable before God; yet are we iustified and brought into his fauour againe, when hee hath once renewed vsus by his holy spirite. Therfore if we go that way to work, let vsus not dout but the promise shal stand fast, so as we shal feele the effect & force of it to our saluation. But in the meane while let vsus not glorie in our selues, for there is no matter nor cause why we should do so.
Now let vsus fall downe in the presence of our good God with acknowledgement of our faults, praying him to make vsus feele them better, yea and so to feele them as that misliking and condemning our selues for them, we may submit our selues to our Lord Iesus Christ, beseeching him so to reform vsus by his holy spirit, as Gods image may shine forth in vsus, and wee not faile to continue in the possession of the heritage which hee hath promised vsus, because it is not grounded vponupon our owne workes & deedes, but vppon his freebestowed goodnes. And moreouer let vsus pray our Lord to be so gracious to vsus, as to giuegive vsus such strength while wee passe through this world, wherin wee hauehave a great sort of enemies to fight against, that we may get the vpper hand of them, & be alwayes certified more and more, yt he is neere at hand to such as call vponupon him & submit themselues vntounto him, that by ye meanes he may continually be glorified at our hands, & that it may appeare howe hee will alwayes vphold vsus, if wee fight vnderunder his standarde. That it may please him to graunt this grace, not only to vsus, but also to all people and nations of the earth, &c.