Sermons on Deuteronomy, Sermons · Sermon 86
On Fryday the xj. of October. 1555. The Lxxxvi. Sermon which is the first vponupon the thirteenth Chapter.
IF there rise vp among you a Prophet that is a dreamer of dreames, which giueth the signe or a myracle;
2 And the signe or myracle which hee hath tolde thee, commeth to passe: and he say vntounto thee, let vsus walke after other Gods which you hauehave not knowen, and let vsus serue them:
3 Thou shalt not hearken to the words of that Prophet, or dreamer of dreames; For the Lord your God trieth you, to weete if you louelove the Lorde your God with all your heart and with all your soule.
HEERE god sheweth what steadfastnesse of faith ought to bee in those yt hauehave bin taught by his word namely euē such as may bee able to withstād all the lyes and sleightes of Satan, so as they bee not hindered by any false doctrines or errors; but may continue alwayes in the trueth. For if wee receiued his worde when it is preached vntounto vsus, and yet it had no hold in vsus: but that wee should turne aside from that which we had learned as soone as we perceiued any thing to the contrary: what a thing were it? It is sayd that faith must be the victorie whereby to ouercome the whole worlde:…. Iohn. 5.4. for so doth Saint Iohn speake thereof in his first Epistle. And if wee yeelde to eueryevery winde, so as eueryevery blaste of vntrueth is enough to withdrawe vsus from GOD: our faith will soone bee ouercome; and where is then our victorie? Therefore let vsus marke that when GOD graunteth vsus the grace to bee taught by his worde; it is not onelyonly to the end wee shoulde learne the thinges that are spoken, and beare them in minde for a while; b…t also to the ende wee shoulde staye vppon them, and bee so grounded vppon them, that if all the troubles of the worlde shoulde rise vp against vsus, wee shoulde still holde our owne, and continue stedfast and inuincible. If this were sayd to the people of olde time, which had not so large instruction by a great deale as wee hauehave: much more dooth it belong to vsus nowadayes. God gaue the Iewes sufficient instruction, so farre foorth as was requisite for their welfare. That is true: but yet did he teach them vnderunder shadowes and figures, which maner of teaching was darkesome in comparison of that which we hauehave nowadayes. For in the Gospell we hauehave the sunne of righteousnesse shining as it were at nooneday.Mal. 4.2. So then, Gods worde must serue vsus, not onelyonly to shewe vsus the right way, but also to inable vsus to withstand all the temptations of Satan and his vpholders. We must (say I) be so armed, as we may fight and put backe all errors and falsehood, so as after we hauehave once knowen God, we may stick to him stedfastly to the vttermost. And that is the cause why Saint Paul treating of the vse of the Gospell,Eph. 4.14. sayth that we must not be lyke little babes which are drawen too and fro, so as we should no sooner see any trifling toye to beguile vsus, but we should by and by be gadding after it: and what a thing were that? But we must (sayth he) be so setled in the fayth, that if there come any cousiners that goe about to leade vsus by craft, and to deceiue vsus, wee may bee fenced against them, and not bee shaken by them ouersoone. True it is that we must needes hauehave a begetting in our Lord Iesus Christ, and that at the first our faith may be so weake, that we shall be lyke little babes: But we must growe still, and dayly gather new strength, vntil we come to mans estate that we be perfect to meete with our Lord Iesus Christ. Thus yee see what force the doctrine of trueth ought to hauehave, when it is taught vsus. That is to wit, we must not onelyonly count it good in consenting to it; but also be so well assured of it, that the diuell, doe what he can, may not be able to remoue vsus, by reason of the certeintie which wee hauehave, whereby wee bee inabled to beate backe whatsoeuer shall be set against vsus. And doubtlesse wee see by the example of our Lorde Iesus Christ, that such as hauehave bin faithfully taught, may well repulse all the wiles of Satan.Matt 4.7. For when Iesus Christ was tempted, wherewith armed he himselfe but with the holy Scripture? Wee see that if there rise vp neuer so many false Prophets among vsus, yet if wee be throughly well grounded in faith, & setled in it as we ought to be: we shal cōtinue stedfast, & the diuell shall win nothing at our handes. True it is that now & then we shal find some impedimēts; (for Gods seruauntes shall bee sure of trouble, that serueth to humble thē:) but yet whatsoeuer it be, their faith is alwayes the better prooued by errors, heresies, & such other lyke thinges, whereby our Lord sheweth that we hauehave profited well in his schoole, & that wee can neuer be led away vntounto wickednesse, whatsoeuer betideth. Also we heare what Saint Paul sayth, when hee armeth vsus against all spirituall battels that may befall vsus:Eph. 6.12. & 16.17. hee giueth vsus the sword of Gods word, hee deliuereth vsus the Shield of faith, and hee giueth vsus the helmette of hope. And thereupon hee inferreth, that wee shall not onelyonly be inabled to withstand all the assaultes that Satan can make vppon vsus, but also bee defended from his fiery dartes when there is no lykelyhoode for vsus to escape from his subtleties. Now therefore, whensoeuer the Gospell is preached vntounto vsus, or that wee reade the holy scripture, let vsus learne not onelyonly to receiue the thinges as true which are told vsus out of the mouth of God, but also to bee so fully resolued of them in our selues, as we may not be trayned vntounto wickednesse nor turned aside from the right way when the diuell stirreth vp any heresies. And so ye see what is told vsus in this text. For our Lord thinkes it not enough that the faithfull should serue him and hold them to his trueth when they bee in quiet & without temptation; but also hee will hauehave them to yeeld such trust vntounto his worde, that if the diuell fall to sowing of his darnell to marre al, and wicked men rise vp to deface the truth by al the meanes they can, and to turne it into lyes: such as hauehave learned what the true religion meaneth, should not change nor be fickle and vnconstant, but shewe that the thinges which they know are of God, and an abiding trueth, so as it is not for men to swarue or start from them in any wise.
Now thē, let vsus beare this warning wel in mind, and eueryevery of vsus examine himselfe; and when we hauehave once vnderstoode ye things yt hauehave bin told vsus, and are necessary to our saluation: let vsus not imagine our selues to hauehave a perfect and right faith as is requisite, vnlesse wee bee so constant and fully resolued in the thinges that our Lorde hath shewed vsus, that we abide by it and followe our course still, whatsoeuer come of it. For whosoeuer fleeteth or starteth aside at eueryevery matter, sheweth that hee neuer knewe Iesus Christ as hee ought to doe. And therefore Saint Paul in another place vseth two similitudes to shewe of what force Gods word ought to bee with vsus, to hold vsus fast vntounto him in his obedience. Hee saith that wee must be throughly grounded and rooted. For many hauehave a kinde of faith: but that is but in outward shewe and appearaunce: as for inwardly it hath no liuely nor deepe roote. For if a man hauehave but a faire braunch couered with flowers, to what purpose is that? One blast of wind will deface it. But if a tree bee well planted, the roote of it will hold it fast in the middest of all stormes. Euen so must wee bee rooted in our Lorde Iesus Christ, and we must be throughly well grounded vppon him, so as men may perceiue not onelyonly that wee hauehave knowledge, but also that our heartes doe yeeld record of our playne dealing. And marke here the cause why so many men are so greatly hindered, and indeuour no further but to purchase themselues credit among men. When they come to a Sermon where the Gospell is preached, for the most part they thinke they hauehave well profited, when they can skill to talke of it: and there are very feawe that hauehave a care to be so grounded in it, as to lay it vp in their hartes, that GOD may be witnesse of it: there are very fewe that indeuour to atteine to that steddinesse. And therefore doth God abhorre that foolish vaine gloriousnesse, wherethrough men seeke but onelyonly to win themselues estimation, by setting a faire face and countenaunce vppon the matter.
And therefore let vsus marke in feawe wordes, that Gods word ought to serue vsus to dubble purpose. First to teach vsus his will, that wee may submit our selues simply vntounto it: so that when wee hauehave the grace giuen vsus to hauehave the doctrine purely taught vsus, then eueryevery of vsus should agree thereunto, and hearken to the voyce of our sheepheard, and followe whatsoeuer is tolde vsus, without gainesaying. The thing which wee must doe when wee hauehave order in the Church, so as there be no sectes nor troubles in it, but Gods trueth is purely preached: is, that there must bee true concorde and brotherly louelove among vsus, to answere our God all with one hart and one mouth, that his trueth may be aduaunced among vsus. The second vse thereof is, that when it falleth out that Satan indeuoreth to turne vsus away, and there spring vp heresies, false doctrines and errors among vsus: wee must withstand all such things, and shew that Gods trueth is strong enough to hold vsus still vntounto him; according to my former saying that our faith must get the vpper hand of all the world, so as wee bee starke deafe in hearkening to any of all the wiles that are put to vsus to intice vsus from GOD and his pure trueth. Thus yee see in effect what is told vsus in this text.
And let vsus marke well Moseses maner of speache. If a prophet steppe vp among you sayth he. Hereby hee sheweth that wee must not onelyonly withstand the open enemies that fight against Gods word, and pretend not at all to bee of his flocke, or to hauehave any partnership or neighborhoode with vsus: but also resist our homebred battels, insomuch that if there rise vp any deceiuer among our selues, that is to say if any such as maketh pretence to be of the fellowship of the faithfull, and to be as it were of the very household of faith, step vp: we must not bee troubled at it out of measure. And that is well worthie to be noted, for if the christian faith be impugned by the wicked, which pretend not to come vntounto God, (as by the Turkes, Paynims, and Iewes) so as they blaspheme with open mouth: forasmuch as they be vtterly cut off from the Church lyke rotten members, their resisting of the Gospell, and their striuing to abolishe the Christian religion, is no great woonder to vsus. For why? Wee be as it were hardened with such examples. Therfore when the opē enemies set themselues against God & his word, it is a tēptation that will easily bee ouercome. But when those that are knitte vntounto vsus, and are as it were of our owne bodie, doe fall to tearing of the vnitie of our faith in peeces, to peruert Gods trueth, and to marre it in such wise as it shoulde bee disfigured: that is such a perplexitie and griefe to vsus, as wee wote not where to become. And that is the thing that troubleth so many simple folkes nowadayes. What shall wee doe, say they? For wee see so much disputing in the Church, and so greate diuersitie of opinions, that it were better to aske no question of any thing, insomuch that a great number become carelesse, for feare to bee intangled in wicked matters and to bee beguyled, and therefore they let all alone, and will not in any wise come neere vntounto God. Wee see a greate sorte of men of that stampe. Othersome let loose the raynes of the brydle, and take libertie to maintaine one while one mans saying and another while another mans, and are neuer fully persuaded of any thing; but are in one mynde to day, and in another minde to morrowe, and chaunge at eueryevery minute of an houre.
Wee see a number of wild heades nowadayes which hauehave no stay at all, but thinke that all thinges are lawfull. And why? For I see there are diuerse opinions, say they. But such men do shewe that they neuer tasted what Gods trueth is. The first sort doe well bewray a cursed vnbeleefe. For our Lorde promiseth that such as seeke him with a lowly heart, shall not be disappointed, but hee will shewe him selfe to them.Esa. 45.19. Matt. 7.7. Luke. 11.19. Let vsus knocke, and the doore shalbe opened. If wee desire reuerently to be guided by God, surely he will not faile vsus. Let vsus distrust our owne infirmitie and rudenesse; and our Lorde will give vsus the spirite of discretion, so as wee shall not bee beguyled. To be short this saying of Saint Paul which I hauehave alleaged alreadie heretofore shall euer be perfourmed;… Cor. 11.19. namely, that heresies shall turne to the true tryall of our faith, and not bee able to ouerthrowe it. For as touching those that are so fleeting without cause; they shewe that there was nothing in them but a false pretence, and that they did but play the hypocrites in making a countenance to sticke to Gods trueth; for had they beene well rooted in it, as I sayde, they woulde hauehave continued stedfast in it still.
To conclude, let such examples prouoke vsus to put this lesson the better in vre. And when wee see the troubles that are nowadays in the world, let vsus not be ouercome by them, neither let our faith be defaced. But the more the diuel laboureth and inforceth himselfe to vndo it, the more let it aduaunce it selfe and get the vpper hande of such assaultes. And when wee see false prophets step vp among vsus, let vsus not ceasse to yeeld this honour still to God, that wee hold our selues to his word, and start not from it by any means. And very necessitie constraines vsus to it in these dayes, because wee see that such as call themselues Christians and take that title most vppon them, are the worst enemies of God that a man can finde. For the Turkes & Iewes are not more fierie and venemous at this day against God, to deface the whole doctrine of saluation; than are the Papistes. And therefore let vsus arme our selues with the warning that is giuen vsus heere: which is, that when wee see false prophets step vp in the sheepefold and in the middes of Gods house: yet notwithstanding wee must not faile to hold on stil, nor make a stumbling blocke of it to step aside or start away, but ouergo it through the power of faith. Yea, and to come yet neerer the matter, when wee see these varlets that had pretended to be at oddes with the Papistes, and had mingled themselues among vsus, do thereupō fall to inuenting of false opinions: let vsus not bee ouermuch amazed for all that. True it is that wee be not senselesse, & that we hauehave neede to be waked: but yet must wee alwayes conclude thus with our selues: How nowe? Our Lord hath beene so gratious to vsus as to open his owne holy mouth to giuegive vsus the certeintie of faith by his Gospel: and shall wee nowe turne away at eueryevery push? After that manner (say I) must wee withstande all the temptations that may befall vsus, when deceiuers and false fellowes step vp amōg vsus, of purpose to deface by their suttletie the pure doctrine that hath beene preached to vsus, & wherein we hauehave beene trayned vp.
Now first of all it is said, Thou shalt not hearken to the Prophet when he sayth vntounto thee, Let vsus go and serue other gods which thou hast not knowen. It behoueth vsus to wey well all these woordes of Moses; For here he speaketh to al beleeuers. He speakes not only to the great doctors that hauehave beene at the Vniuersitie all their life long, but also to the vnlearned. Although then that we be no clerks, yet let vsus learne that we must hauehave this constancie of faith, of not following the wyles of Satan to bee withdrawen from our God when he hath beene so gracious vntounto vsus, as to communicate himselfe to vsus. Wee must not say, Alas, I hauehave no learning, nor finenesse of witte, to be so cunning; eueryevery man hath not like measure. I graunt that eueryevery man is not of abilitie to enter into disputation against sophisters, and against such as are full fraught with malice to deceiue ye simple: but yet, all men from the moste to the least ought to hauehave this inuincible stedfastnes of sticking vntounto God and his trueth when they once knowe it. There is no excuse in that case. For it is not in vaine that God hath set downe this generall law for all his Church. And it is certaine also that he will giuegive vsus power, so wee resort to him, and seeke to him for succour. For what is ye cause why so many folke are seduced, but onelyonly their own fond presumption, or their negligence, or else their contempt of Gods worde? For yee shall see some stand so much in their owne conceits, as (to their own seeming) no man is able to ouermatch them: and yet for all that, they are but sillie beastes. Our Lorde therefore doth blow away their pride, as men may perceiue: and experience sheweth that God punisheth many folkes pride, which had too great an ouerweening of themselues. Now thē, what is to be done? Let vsus humble our selues & pray God to gouern vsus so by his holy spirit, & to giuegive vsus such wise dōe, as wee may not bee taken tardie when the diuel goes about to make a breach into vsus to enter at. If we goe yt way to worke, let vsus assure our selues that God will guide vsus, and that wee shall neuer be caught in Satans snares. But there are many that keepe on their race without care, as though they were priuiledged from all dangers. But let vsus for our part keepe good watch, and hauehave such a care to warde our selues, as the deceiuers (whē they come) may not finde vsus asleepe. And that will so bee, if wee beare such reuerence to Gods worde, as wee acknowledge it to bee the preciousest treasure that we hauehave. For if a man make so little reckening of a thing, that he leaue it at al aduenture: the first that commeth may robbe him of it: but as for him yt locketh vp his goods, (specialy those that are the chiefe and which he counteth to bee most worth:) he cannot bee so bereft of them. And therefore let vsus put our faith in good custodie, and be so warie in the keping of it, as [it may appeare] that we hauehave it in such estimation as it deserueth; for it is an inestimable treasure. Thus yee see what wee hauehave to note here, where Moses speaketh to all such as had tasted what Gods lawe is, exempting no man from standing st…tly in battaile and defence against the lyes and sleyghts of Satan.
Nowe hee addeth, If he say vntounto thee, Let vsus followe strange gods, which thou hast not knowen. This serueth to shewe vsus who bee false prophets. For God telleth vsus that wee cannot withstande the wyles of Satan, without the knowledge of the trueth: that is the onelyonly meane. And no maruel though the wretched worlde nowadayes be allured to destruction: for Gods worde is as it were buryed: and when men are destitute of that light, it is certaine that they bee in horrible darknesse, so as they cannot but stumble & stray here and there, because they hauehave no certaine aime at any thing. But here our Lorde declareth that wee must bee instructed in his worde; and thereunto also is this saying after a sort referred. For hee presupposeth that wee bee in a good trade alreadie, and that wee knowe the way of saluation: accordingly as Moses wil protest hereafter;Deut. 30.15 19. saying, I hauehave shewed you the way of life and the way of death. Nowe therefore, whensoeuer wee will resist false Prophets, and their lyes, let vsus take to vsus the doctrine of trueth. And that is the cause why it is saide, The gods which thou hast not knowen. For in this case wee must match the liuing God whome wee hauehave knowen, against all the ydolles which the worlde hath forged to it selfe. For God speaketh not to such as neuer heard nor vnderstood any thing of him before: but to such as he had giuen his lawe vntounto, whome hee had set in the right way, and to whome hee had giuen an infallible rule. When hee hath so fenced men aforehande, then sayeth hee vntounto them, Beware that yee followe not the gods whome yee hauehave not beene acquainted with.
To be short then, it is shewed vsus that this doctrine concerneth such as hauehave beene duely instructed in the faith. Will wee beate backe all Satans deuices? Let vsus hauehave the skill to say, It is God that hath certified vsus, hee is a faithfull witnesse to vsus, wee neede not to be in dout or vncertaintie any more, or to cast doutes, or to say, What? Which way shall we goe? We may well assure our selues that this is the way, that is the thing which wee must stay vppon. That in effect is the order which wee hauehave to keepe, according as it is shewed vsus in this text.
But let vsus marke also, that wee must hauehave our eares so stopped, as we may vtterly mislike whatsoeuer may cause vsus to swarue to the contrarie of those things which we hauehave learned by Gods worde. For as soone as wee giuegive eare to them, by and by wee be halfe corrupted, according to this similitude which Saint Paul alleageth in the seconde to the Corinthians, that when a woman giueth eare to a bawde or a Ruffian,2. Cor. … 3. although shee consent not to him out of hande, yet is shee alreadie peruerted, and it is already an euill token. For if a woman bee chaste and shamefast, shee will in any wise shunne all such messages as may be brought to her to intyce her to follie, and to make her to breake wedlocke. Shee must eschewe such manner of thinges. Nowe Saint Paul sayeth, that as long as wee abyde in the simplicitie of the Gospell, wee bee as a chaste wife that keepeth her faith & troth to her husbande, and that our Lorde Iesus Christ who hath made such couenant with vsus, to choose vsus to bee of his bodie, taketh and receiueth vsus for his owne. But if wee hearken to the lyes and trumperies that are brought vntounto vsus; and wee refuse not to learne what Darnell is: it is an euill signe, and wee bee corrupted alreadie. And therefore let vsus beare well in minde, that wee ought so little to consent …o false prophets, as wee shoulde not in any wise giuegive eare vntounto them, but shunne them a farre off, as soone as wee perceiue that they goe about to deceiue vsus and to entyce vsus to naughtinesse. And to say the trueth, this cursed curiositie hath beene the cause of many mennes destruction. For it seemeth to many high minded persons, that all thinges should passe the tryall of their wit: and that when they hauehave sifted things after their owne imagination, they may followe whatsoeuer they themselues thinke good, for they bee able ynough to discerne the trueth of all thinges. But when our Lorde findeth such ouerboldnesse in them, hee putteth them to confusion. The trueth is, that they would so inquire of all things, as nothing might escape them: in so much as they could finde in their hearts to mingle Mahomets Alcoran, and all the dotages of the Heathen, and all the superstitions of the Papists with the purenesse of ye Gospell, and to make a medly of them, that whē they had well clowted them together in their owne brayne, they might saye, This is the thing that is good. But our Lorde (as I saide afore) cannot abyde that men shoulde trust so to their owne wittes. And againe on the other side, hee cannot abide such iniurie to bee done to his worde, as that it shoulde bee matched with the wyles of Satan, so as it might bee sayde, now will I choose what liketh mee best.
It is too high a mounting for men to make themselues iudges and vmpers of Gods trueth, which the Angels do honour with all reuerence. Needes therefore must such men fall into horrible destruction. And therfore let vsus beware that wee brydle our selues, so as our mindes wander not out into fond curiositie. And as soone as wee perceiue that ye diuel goes about to falsifie Gods pure trueth, let vsus stop our eares, and not harken to any such thing, but vtterly abhorre it.
Now moreouer Moses sayth, That although the false prophets shewe some signe or myracle, & the same commeth to passe, yet must not men giuegive eare vntounto thē. Here he sheweth that we must hauehave such constā cie and stedfastnesse in our faith, as it may not bee ouerthrowen though there bee neuer so great occasion of stumbling. As for example, if there bee such an illusion of Satan, that a false-prophet say vntounto vsus, such a thing shall come to passe, and it commeth to passe in deede: then are wee at our wittes end, and it is ynough to ouerthrowe our whole building though it were neuer so well builded, vnlesse God worke on our side aboue the power of mans abilitie. But yet howsoeuer the world go, Gods trueth must be of such force with vsus as to holde vsus backe against al such temptation, so as if the diuel bring any illusion, he may not gaine any thing at our handes, nor preuaile against vsus.
And let vsus marke, that before that Moses saith so: he giueth vsus a sure declaration of false prophets, that is to say, of such as go about to turne vsus from the true God, whome were hauehave once knowen, and would wrap vsus in wicked superstitions wherin there is no reason. If any such thing befall vsus, no maruel though our Lorde will hauehave vsus to resist all that euer the diuel putteth to vsus to bleare our eyes withal, yea, euen though there bee false miracles, in so much that although all that the false prophet or deceiuer foretelleth, do come to passe; yet must wee not be led away by it. We see then in effect what the meaning of Moses is, that we must be so well fenced by gods worde, that although the diuell rush against vsus with neuer so great violence, and worke all the meanes he can to beguyle vsus; yet we must not be ouercome, but our faith must be as a wel garded fortresse, that notwithstanding any assault, or any battrie made against vsus, yet it may warde all blowes, and bee able to saue it selfe from beeing vanquished by any enemies.
And now let vsus marke, that if God sende such false miracles; it is not to intrap those that are his; but to punish such as hauehave not beleeued the Gospel,2. Thes. 2.12 as Saint Paul speaketh thereof in the seconde to the Thessalonians. And therefore doth Moses also adde, Then is it Gods will to try thee whether thou louest him with all thy heart & all thy soule or no. It is a saying that deserueth to be wel marked. For first Moses doeth vsus to vnderstande, that such thinges happen not without the ordinance of God: and secondly hee sheweth the ende or reason wherefore: namely that the faithfull may hauehave wherewith to bee confirmed, knowing well that God will giuegive them constancie to holde out, though the temptation be neuer so rough and violent. Those are the two thinges which wee hauehave to remember here. First, it is sayd, God tryeth thee. Hereby hee sheweth, that Satan hath no power ouer vsus, nor can sowe any wicked weedes, further foorth than God giueth him leaue. And that is a verie needefull thing for vsus to marke. For were wee perswaded that the doore were open for Satan, and that all errours might spring vp at all aduenture, and that God ouer ruled them not: alas what a thing were it? For wee see howe mad the diuel is to ouerthrowe all trueth: wee see with what furie hee goes to worke when hee is to fight against the kingdome of our Lorde Iesus Christ: and we see what spite hee beareth to our saluation. And therefore things would go too much to hauocke if God wrought not to hinder Satan of his full scope, that hee might not set vp his lyes among vsus. Wherefore let vsus vnderstande, that whensoeuer there is any trouble, diuision, or diuersitie of opinion in the Church, the same happeneth not at all aduenture, but God worketh from aboue, and ouerruleth the whole matter, according to this protestation of Moses, Thy God tryeth thee. Yee see then that by knowing that God holdeth vsus vnderunder his hande, wee bee assured that no errours or abuses can hauehave accesse vntounto vsus, vnlesse so farre foorth as our Lorde giuegive them accesse. And marke it for a speciall point, to the ende wee thinke not that the diuel reigneth at his owne pleasure, and doeth all thinges as it were whether God will or no: for hee must bee faine to hauehave leaue of his master.
And nowe let vsus come to that which Moses addeth concerning the ende and reason why God doeth it: For wee may thinke it strange. What? That God shoulde trye vsus? That errors shoulde bee saide to come so of God? Then is hee the author of lying. Againe, doeth God stirre vp the diuell vntounto euill? Then might wee take occasion of stumbling at it. Yea; but in as much as Moses addeth that God doeth it for iust cause, the stumbling blocke is taken away. Hee sayth that God tempteth vsus, that is to saye, that hee tryeth vsus. After what maner? Whether we louelove the Lorde our God or no. And hereby hee sheweth, (as I hauehave declared heretofore) that if wee hauehave a right meaning and pure heart, and hauehave receiued his trueth without hypocrisie, he will helpe vsus at our neede, and we shalbe vpheld by his power, so as Satan may well straine himselfe to the vttermost, but the victorie shall alwayes go on our side. And this is the thing that I hauehave touched out of Saint Paul where he sayth, that all the false miracles which befall vnderunder the reigne of Antichrist,2. Thes. 2.12 (as many hauehave been seene) are all reuengements of God, to punish such as woulde not obey his trueth. And it is good reason that Satan shoulde driue them to destruction, sith they woulde not open their eyes at such time as God woulde hauehave enlightened them. And seeing they hauehave thrust all good doctrine vnderunder foote; it is meete that they shoulde bee deceiued by lyes.
But let vsus come backe againe to the wordes of Moses. He sayth that wee be tryed, to weete if wee louelove the Lorde our God. Heereby hee sheweth, that God putteth a difference betweene the hypocrites and such as serue him in soundnesse of heart, at such time as heresies spring vp and that there is trouble and disagreement. And why? For it is certaine that such as louelove God are preserued by the power of his holy Ghoste, & that the troubles which they susteyne are a good proofe and sealing vp of their faith, whereby the same is made autenticall. God sheweth by effect howe hee hath wrought in them, and that they bee in verie deede of the number of those whome hee hath chosen. So then let vsus vnderstand, that all the errours and heresies which the diuell shall hauehave sowed among vsus, shalbee turned to good ende to all Gods children. So farre off is it that they bring vsus any hurte or harme, that they serue euer to make our faith shyne the brighter, and to warrant vsus that God hath succoured vsus, and that hee will hauehave the same knowen to the whole worlde, so as he may bee glorified for it. And we also hauehave the more cause to rest vppon him with the greater certaintie of faith, and to trust that hee will neuer faile vsus.
For as much then as wee see that our Lorde worketh in such wise as hee turneth darkenesse into light, and deadly poyson to our health: hauehave wee not whereof to reioyce? and ought wee not to bee patient albeit that troubles doe vexe vsus for a time, and that wee hauehave much adoo to resist? Yet ought not our heartes to quaile, seeing that God giueth it so happie an issue. Thus much concerning the first poynt; that is to witte, that if wee louelove God with all our heart, that is to say, roundly and soundly and without counterfayting: hee will not suffer vsus to bee beguyled: but whensoeuer Satan comes to sowe troubles and heresies, wee shalbee confirmed still better and better, and profite in such wise, as wee shall neuer bee ouercome. And therewithall wee shall hauehave the better proofe that wee bee of the number of his seruauntes, and of those whome hee hath committed to the custodie of our Lorde Iesus Christ, and that wee shall see this saying fulfilled, that hee will neuer suffer any of the things to perish,Iob. 18.9. which his father hath put into his hande. Wee see then howe our Lorde Iesus Christ is the keeper of our saluation; & that wee finde the thing by experience which Saint Peter sayeth;1. Pet. 1.4.5. namely that our saluation is kept in heauen by faith, and that wee our selues also shall get the vpper hande of all the temptations which the diuell stirreth vp against vsus, by sowing such cockle and darnel to the preiudice of Gods trueth.
But let vsus marke also, that such as are winde-shaken, doe shewe that they neuer wist what it is to louelove God with all their heartes, and that there was nothing in them but vanitie and hypocrisie. And therefore when wee see men seduced, let vsus not wonder as though God were cruell to them. For it was meete that their hypocrisie shoulde bee discouered. They meant to mocke God, and vsed a kinde of vernishing and painting to make a showe of that which they were not: and God bewrayeth what they were in deede. Nowe therefore, whereas wee see the wretched worlde so carried nowadayes into darkenesse, superstition and ydolatrie; wee must not thinke that they doe it of meere simplicitie, as though they were innocent and faultlesse, and that God had giuen Satan the brydle without cause: but wee must rather consider that God with iust vengeance punisheth the vnkindnesse of such as had neither purpose nor desire vntounto him.
Trueth it is, that a man shall see some outwarde shewe of holinesse in a number of those that are seduced in the popedome and elsewhere. But yet for all that, they bee double hearted, and God perceiueth what they bee in secret. So then, let vsus vnderstand that God is a iust Iudge, and let vsus glorifie him for his punishing of such as loued him not soundly in their heartes as they shoulde hauehave done. That is the thing which wee hauehave to note.
And in deede, experience shewes it in such as turne backe and fall to naughtinesse after they hauehave once knowen the Gospell. Wee hauehave seene here that when Satans vnderlinges hauehave come hither to set troubles in the Church, those that hauehave beene seduced by them hauehave knowen them welynough of olde, and not nowe of late, for I speake of the space of eyghteene yeares. Since the troubling of this Church, diuers sectes hauehave been seene, and stil God hath beene faine to shewe and to poynt these out with his finger, which had nothing in them but dissimulation & hypocrisie, howe faire countenance soeuer they did make. And I say that this hath beene knowen nowe these eyghteene yeres; insomuch that euen they that hauehave pretended to bee great vpholders of the Gospell, are well knowen to mee howe they hauehave behaued themselues, & I could rehearse their doings if neede were, but it is ynough to giuegive men an incling of them, that others might take example by them. When the Anabaptistes came hither to infect all, there was great cheere made them in the townhouse, and this was about an eyghteene yeares ago. True it is, that men were constrained to reproue their doctrine openly: but yet in the meanewhile they were still chockt vnderunder the chinne; & in steed of resisting them lustily, feastes were made to entertaine them with. And since that time, wee hauehave seene in our owne dayes, (and that not long ago) howe other heretikes hauehave beene fauoured at their comming hither, and specially howe that horrible blasphemer was supported. And by whom? By such as had so long despised God, that in the ende their shame was of necessitie to bee discouered. They protested sufficiently that their desire was to hauehave the Gospell: but that was the gospell of Mahomet to turne all thinges vpside downe, and to bring all things to confusion. For the worlde hath seene howe farre they ouershot themselues; insomuch that they tooke parte against God and his word. Nowe sith wee hauehave such examples, let vsus learne to liue in feare and warinesse, and alwayes come backe to that which is tolde vsus here, that is to wit, that it is not without cause that our Lorde sayeth, that hee tryeth and examineth such as were disguized afore: and that when hee suffereth false prophets to bee stirred vp by Satan, to sowe their darnell among vsus, it is to trye vsus whether wee louelove him with all our heart or no. And therefore let vsus proceede more and more in the feare of our God, accordingly as it is said here, that wee must serue him and obey his holy commaundementes, not douting but that hee will make vsus to get the vpper hande in al assaults and conflictes wherewith wee be assayled, so as wee shalbe sure of the victorie, because hee will fight for vsus.
Nowe let vsus kneele downe in the presence of our good GOD with acknowledgement of our faultes, praying him to make vsus so to feele them, as wee may not proceede to prouoke his wrath through our vnthankfulnesse; but that seeing he hath giuen vsus the infinite treasure of his holy worde, whereby wee hauehave full assurance of our saluation; wee may imbrace it with all reuerence and liue in such purenesse of heart before him, as hee may bestowe his riches more and more vppon vsus & make vsus partakers of them, and that wee may walke the whole race of our life after such sort in his obedience, as wee may moreouer resist all our enemies, and by the power of the spirituall sworde of his worde, and of the shield of faith, beate backe all the assaultes that shalbe made vppon vsus. That it may please him to graunt this grace, not onelyonly to vsus but also to all people and nations of the earth, &c.