Sermons on Deuteronomy, Sermons · Sermon 120
On Saturday the xxj. of December. 1555 The Cxx. Sermon which is the first vponupon the one and twentith Chapter.
WHen a bodie is found slaine lying vponupon the ground in the Land which the Lord thy GOD giueth thee to possesse, and it is not knowen who killed him:
2 Then shall thine Elders and Iudges come foorth, and measure the Townes that lye rounde about the slaine man.
3 And when they perceiue which of the Townes is nearest to the slaine man, then shall the Elders of that towne take a young Hekfar from the droue, which hath not beene labored nor hath drawen in the yoke:
4 And the Elders of that Towne shall driue the young bullocke downe into a harde valley, which hath neither beene plowed nor sowed, and they shal strike off the bullocks neck there in the valley.
5 Also the Priestes the children of Leuie shall come forth, for the Lorde thy God hath chosen them to minister vntounto him, and to blesse in the Lords name: And at their worde shall all cases and eueryevery plague be determined.
6 And all the Elders of that towne shall come to the deade man, and wash their hands ouer the bullocke that is beheaded in the valley:
7 And protest and say, Our handes hauehave not shed this bloude, neither hauehave our eyes seene it.
8 O Lord, be mercifull to thy people Israel whom thou hast purchased, and lay not the guiltlesse bloud among thy people Israel. And the manslaughter shalbe forgiuen them.
9 And so shalt thou take guiltles bloud from among you: for thou shalt do that which is acceptable in the eyes of the Lord.
I HaueHave spoken of this Law alreadie heretofore, and declared briefly what god ment in the ordeining of that Ceremony: namely that wee shoulde abhorre the shedding of bloud, and murthers, and outrages. He had spoken heretofore of the law of armes. And nowe hee addeth that the killing euen of one man is a defiling of the whole countrey, vnlesse the remedie bee sought by praying vntounto God to forgiue the fault, and by protesting that none of them is guiltie thereof. Wee see then that mens liues are deare vntounto God, sith hee will hauehave so solemne a redresse to bee made of a murther committed, yea euen when the doer thereof is not knowen, nor the trueth can bee founde out. If a man had heene murdered, and the doer thereof knowen: then woulde not this ceremonie hauehave sufficed. For God commandeth the crime to bee punished: and if a murtherer be suffered to scape, the Iudges and all the people become guiltie of the fact. But when it is vnknowen by whom a man is slaine, then GOD thinketh it not ynough for eueryevery man to protest for himselfe yt hee is neither partie nor priuie to the matter; but he will also that the town where the deede was done, or which was neerest to the place where the deede was done, shoulde bee examined for it. For wee knowe that a partition of the townes & villages was made to euerie tribe. Insomuch that euerie Citie had the Countrie about it, and the townes and villages in it were called as it were the daughters of that Citie. Yet notwithstanding, in this case our Lorde will hauehave them to make a newe suruey and measuring of the distance of places againe, and that the Citie which is found to bee neerest to the dead bodie, shalbe at the charges to make a solemne sacrifice, whereat hee will hauehave the Elders, Iudges, and Priestes, to be present. And he setteth downe the Priests by name, as wel for sacrificing as also because it was their Office to make the purgations: whensoeuer there befell any blotte, so as the people were defiled before God; it was the duetie of the Priestes to make them cleane againe towards God. And that was the cause why that order was required in this case.
And therefore Moses addeth, that God hath appointed them to serue him, and to blesse in his name, and that it belongeth to them to iudge of Leprosies and all other like thinges, and of all other kindes of vncleannesse wherewith the people might be defiled. In attributing this office vntounto them, he declareth to what purpose their presence ought to serue in this act. Also there was prayer to bee made, and the priestes were inioyned thereunto. And because the whole order of them was a figure of our Lorde Iesus Christ: they blessed in Gods name, as I hauehave declared heeretofore, and as I shall shewe somewhat more hereafter as I passe ouer it. And therefore our Lorde appointed them to make the solemne prayer that is set downe heere. Nowe wee see whereto this Lawe tended: Namely that our Lorde hath shewed howe precious mens liues are vntounto him, that wee on our part might bee the more prouoked to take him for our father. For what an vnthankfulnesse is it, that God shoulde hauehave so great and so fatherly a care of vsus, of vsus I say which are but Caryons: and yet notwithstanding that hee shoulde not bee honoured of vsus as of his children, nor finde any obedience at our handes? So then, forasmuch as we see our Lord vouchsafeth to hauehave a regarde of our life; let vsus be the more moued to honor him, and to yeeld him all reuerence.
Heerewithall it is shewed vsus also, that wee must maintaine our neighbours as much as in vsus lyeth, and abstaine from all violence. For if murder bee so hatefull to GOD, that although the doer thereof bee vnknowen, yet it behoued a solemne clearing thereof to be made: what will become of vsus if wee spare not our neighbors? Is it not a setting of our selues vtterly against God? Here then is a bridle to restraine vsus from all violence and outrage, so as vnlesse wee will bee hatefull to our God, wee must liue in concorde and brotherly louelove with all our neighbours. Nowe I hauehave tolde you heretofore, that whereas murder is forbidden vsus, it is not meant thereby that wee shoulde but onelyonly forbeare the drawing of our swords to slea men, but also that forasmuch as all they which hate their brethren euen in secrete, are murderers; we should beware to hauehave our heartes as cleane as our handes, and abstaine from all hatred and enmitie. Thus yee see what wee hauehave to remember in the seconde place of this Lawe which is set downe heere. For it is not ynough for vsus to louelove our neighbours and not to hauehave stepped out into any iniurie or violence: but wee must also (to the vttermost of our power) bee a let to the anoyance that is done to others. Indeede it is a great thing to be peaceable: but God requireth yet more of his children, namely that they shoulde procure peace towardes others. Therefore whensoeuer any man fals to quareling or offereth wrong to his neighbour, let vsus looke that wee set our selues against him as much as wee can. I knowe that euerie man is not armed with the sworde, neither may euerie of vsus take vppon him to redresse wrongs: but yet let vsus hauehave an eye to that which GOD permitteth, so farre as our duetie will beare, and as occasion is ministred to deale: And therein wee shall shewe our selues not to consent to any outrage, but rather that wee bee willing to succour the innocent that is oppressed and wronged, whom let vsus looke that we help to our power and abilitie. That is the third point which we hauehave to gather vponupon this text.
Moreouer let vsus marke, that Iudges and Ministers of iustice are warned heere to doe their dueties. For it is not ynough for them to protest that they hauehave not supported nor fauored any euill: neither is it ynough for them to bee able to say, yt they hauehave yeelded euerie man his right when they were complained vntounto: but they must also inquire diligently of misorders, and although no man speake to them or mooue them, yet must they of their owne selues bee vigilant in making serch. And if they finde any fault committed: they themselues must followe the suite of it. But this is ill obserued of most Iudges. For they thinke themselues to bee come to the full perfection of vertue, and that they be greatly to bee commended, when they hauehave not refused to giuegive men the hearing. If a man that is grieued doe come to complaine to them, and they heare him and make countenance to helpe him: they thinke they hauehave acquitte themselues verie well. But our Lorde is not contented with that. Although then that the partie which is hurt doe holde his peace, and patiently put vp the wrong: yet notwithstanding the Iudge or the Magistrate that is in office must not forbeare to doe his duetie for all that. And therefore it is a fonde allegation to say, there is no information, no man complains of it. Yea: but yet neuerthelesse the euill is committed, and God seeth it, and hee hath commaunded that it shoulde bee punished; hee will hauehave all misdeedes redressed, and that no libertie bee giuen to the stronger to beare downe the weaker. And shall the Iudge in the meane while holde his peace? Let vsus marke then, that God will not hauehave the ministers of iustice to winke at mens misdeedes: no not euen though there be no informer, protector, aduocat, attourney, or plaintife to moue thē therunto. For they bee bound to punish crimes euen of themselues, though no man prosecute any suite in Law. And what ought they then to do, when they be sued vntounto, and when the partie that is misused commeth sorowing and declaring his griefe? If hee bee not hearde, or if hee bee skorned for his complaining, or let alone, or peraduenture so vexed that hee is inforced to giuegive ouer his right, and in the meane while the offender goeth vnpunished: shall such trecherie be excusable before God? Yet notwithstanding, we see oftentimes, that if a man which hath bin wronged do come to demaund Iustice; he shalbe trayned on. In deede hee shall not bee driuen away with a kudgell, it shall not bee saide vntounto him that hee doeth but lose his labour: but he shal bee so driuen off with shifts and delayes, that the poore soule is sorie that euer hee attempted any suite, and is faine to leaue off to his great griefe. That is the common course which is kept in executing of iustice on the earth. But wee see heere that such persons as hauehave so abused their authoritie, must come to account for it. For the heauenly Iudge will hauehave them not onelyonly to heare mens complaints and to releeue them: but also to make inquisitions, and to search out matters to the verie bottome, though it be not knowen that any fault is committed, or that any man is wronged, yea and euen though no man open his mouth to complaine. And when men hauehave done the best they can, yet will he hauehave them to offer Sacrifice, as though some blame lay vppon the countrie it selfe, vntil forgiuenesse of the offence were desired.
So then, let vsus learne on our part, that our Lord watcheth ouer vsus, so that although we be oppressed and hauehave all the outrages in the world done vntounto vsus, yet our Lord ceaseth not to hauehave a care of vsus. True it is (as I hauehave said afore) that Iudges and Magistrates hauehave heere a good lesson, and that they ought to consider that they shal not scape the hands of the Heauenly Iudge, when they hauehave bin negligent in mainteining good men that are troden vnderunder foote. If they passe not to defende them, they must make a reckening for that loose dealing of theirs. For it is al one as if they themselues were confederate with them. And therefore we must vnderstande, that seeing God hath such a care of those that are deade, it is much more of consequence, that our Lorde beholding all things would we should resort boldly vntounto him for refuge, when we pine away in this worlde, suffering many troubles & vexations, though we speake neuer a worde, ne finde any defence or helpe at all among men, in how great extremitie so euer we be. For although he shew not himselfe by and by neere at hand: yet must we not thinke that he hath turned his backe vponupon vsus: for hee marketh all the wrongs that are done vntounto vsus, and our teares (as it is saide in the Psalme) shall come vp before him.Psal. 56.7. For Dauid saith that the tears of the faithfull are put vp as it were into bottels, as men put vp sweete waters into glasses, and oyntmentes into vyols. And so our Lorde keepeth the treares of such as make their moane to him, and resort to him for refuge. He keepeth all those teares of theirs, to be reuenged for them in time conuenient. But we must passe yet further. For if God succour them that are departed; it is a token that we be not as the brute beastes. For (as is shewed in S. Luke) hee is not the God of the deade,Luk. 20.38. but of the liuing. Therefore let vsus conclude, that when wee be gone out of this world, we shall hauehave a better life and be in the hand of God. Loe what a recorde of the immortall life here is vttered in the marke that God giueth vsus here, namely in that if a man be found murthered, solemne sacrifice must bee made to clense the Lande from the defiling whereto it was subiect. For thereby hee witnesseth that after our decease we liue with him, and that wee must not thinke our selues to bee vtterly done away and come to nothing, when God taketh vsus out of this worlde; but rather that it is but a passage whereby to goe into the seconde life which hee promiseth vsus. Seeing that this was spoken in the Law, we ought the more to assure our selues thereof nowadayes. For we hauehave the holy scripture more at large. Wee hauehave the heauenly life shewed vntounto vsus much more apparantly in the newe Testament, than it was shewed to the fathers of olde time before the comming of our Lorde Iesus Christ. And therefore wee ought to bee so much the more assured of it, and not bee like the vnbelieuers, who quake when they heare death spoken of, as though all were fordone with them, and as though they shoulde vtterly perish. But wee must vnderstand, that when God gathereth vsus to him by death, wee cease not to liue still to himwardes. Although a mans bodie rot away, and become a Carion like the bodies of brute beastes: yet is God a faithfull keeper of our soules, so as they be preserued in his hand & by his power, wherein he giueth vsus hope of the last resurrection, in the which we shalbe wholly restored againe. For wheras we be nowe corruptible, and tende to corruption by death▪ we shall then be clothed again with such a newe nature, that ye thing which is now corruptible and transitorie in vsus, shall become newe and vncorruptible, when we be renewed after ye likenesse of our Lord Iesus Christ. Thus ye see what we hauehave to remember yet further, in that God sheweth him selfe to hauehave such care of them that are deade.
As touching the things that are spoken here concerning the priests, we neede not as nowe to stande verie long vppon them: but it will suffice to speake a word or twaine thereof. Moses saith that they were ordeined to blesse in Gods name, that is to say, to make publike prayers. True it is, that wee at this day hauehave the same office of making praiers in the name of ye whole church, and that the people must say Amen, (as S. Paul saith in the xiiii. of the first Epistle to the Corinthians): but there was a speciall consideration of this matter in the tribe of Leuie, & in the priests of the Lawe: namely, that they bare the figure of our Lorde Iesus Christ who is our aduocate, and our mouth, as it were. Forasmuch then as it belōgeth to our Lord Iesus Christ to offer vp our requests to God our father, bicause they can neuer bee acceptable to God but for his sake, neither are we worthie to preace vntounto God, except hee leade vsus and make way and meanes for vsus: Therefore in the time of the Lawe, the Priestes blessed the people, that is to say, they made the publike prayers for them. Againe there is another thing, namely, that their blessing of ye people was a witnessing of Gods fauour and louelove towardes them. And that also belongeth to our Lord Iesus Christ, howbeit that the same pertaineth not to himself alone, but also to al the preachers of the Gospel. Whē we preach Gods merciemercy, the blessing of God is vponupon al them that harken to vsus. For it is all one as if God himselfe came to declare his fauour towards vsus, and yt for asmuch as wee be reconciled vntounto him, hee intendeth to take vsus into his keeping. Seeing then that the doctrine of the Gospell importeth such thinges, wee see that all the Shepheardes of the Christian Church, doe blesse the people. But this is not because they are figures of our Lorde Iesus Christ, but because of the charge that is committed vntounto them. They doe indeede represent his person as his officers; but in the time of the Lawe, this was of force that the Priest during the continuance of those shadowes, did after a sorte supply the roome of our Lorde Iesus Christ vntill hee was come. That then was meant by blessing the people in the name of God, as we see our Lorde Iesus Christ himselfe hath declared. For hee blessed his disciples by laying his handes vppon them.Luk. 24.50. & Act. 1.4… Therefore let vsus resorte to him as oft as wee thinke vppon our owne cursednesse: that is to say, forasmuch as wee knowe our selues worthie to bee reiected of God, and to bee as it were accursed, because there is nothing but vtter wickednes in vsus: Let vsus flee to our Lord Iesus Christ. For if God gaue that remedie to his people vnderunder the Lawe, of being blessed by the priestes who were but mortall men: shall wee mistrust that our Lorde Iesus Christ hath not sufficient power to doe away all our accursednesse, so as God shall looke fauorable vppon vsus, and receiue vsus as his children? Then let vsus hardily giuegive eare hereunto, and rest vppon it with full trust. And when wee bee about to pray, let vsus assure our selues that wee hauehave an aduocate, who will make vsus to finde fauor. And let vsus not alledge as the Papistes doe, I am not worthie to pray to God; but let vsus bee sure that our Lorde Iesus Christ calleth vsus to him. Trueth it is that wee ought to perceiue our owne vnworthinesse: howbeit not to make vsus to raunge away when wee pray vntounto God, or to cause vsus to seeke long windlasses, as who shoulde say, Such a Saint shall bee mine aduocate, or such a Sheesaint shall bee my patronesse: but to direct vsus to him which is giuen vsus of God his father, namely to our Lorde Iesus Christ. Thus much concerning the blessing.
Now the seruing of God imported the sacrifices and all the rest of the ceremonies. And at this day, they that are appointed ministers of Gods woorde, hauehave the administration of Sacramentes, because it is an appurtenance to Gods worde and doctrine which they bring: but our Lorde Iesus is hee that hath made the onelyonly and euerlasting sacrifice whereupon wee must rest. And herein wee see the foolishnesse that is in the Popedome: for the Priestes will needes counterfeit his sacrifice, saying thus: O beholde the tribe of Leuie was appointed to serue God. Yea, but we must consider what maner of Sacrifice God requireth and alloweth at this day. Will hee hauehave vsus to slea Bullockes, Sheepe, Lambes, and such other thinges? No verily. But Saint Paul sayth that the sacrifices which the Shepheardes of the Church must offer to God,Phil. … 17. Rom. 15.16 are mens soules whome they winne by the preaching of his worde. Those doe they dedicate vntounto God, and that is the seruice which hee lyketh of. This is a part of that seruice of God, which is spirituall. And therefore let vsus marke that wee must let Iesus Christ alone with that which the holy scripture reserueth vntounto him: Namely the offering vp of himselfe once for all,Act. 13.3…. to purchase vsus euerlasting forgiuenesse of all our sinnes, and the making of vsus cleane and pure yet still before God. Now then, there remaineth nothing but this onelyonly, that wee be confirmed in the power that is brought vntounto vsus by his death and passion. And howe may that bee? By the vse of the sacramentes. When we receiue the Supper, wee make not a newe sacrifice, as the Papistes were woont to doe in that diuelish abhomination of their Masse: but we protest that God is at one with vsus, when we be grounded in the death and passion of his onelyonly sonne, and that we be partakers thereof: and our present receiuing of the bread and wine that are giuen vsus, is all one as if we were fed with his body and bloud as with meate and drinke. Thus ye see how we ought to apply the thinges to our instruction, which are spoken here concerning the sacrifices that were to bee offered to GOD by the priestes of the Lawe.
Now let vsus proceede with that which Moses addeth here. He saith that the Priestes shall resort thither with the gouerners and Iudges of the Citie, and take a young Heckfar (or Bullocke as they terme it here;) and cut off the necke of it, yea and that in a valley (saith he) as in a secret place, and namely in a valley that is barreine, and vntilled, as in a desert place. This circumstance is set downe to moue the standers by to the more terror, when they saw the cutting off, of the Heckfars neck, and that they were come as into a secrete place. For it is certeine yt God passed not for the bloud of the Heckfar.1. Cor. 9.9. Hath God a care of Oxen or kine (sayth Saint Paul,) as though he regarded them? His speaking of them is for mens sakes. And therefore let vsus marke how God poynted out a valley, yea and a barraine valley, to the end that they which were there present, should conceiue a certeine terror in themselues. Wherat? At the smiting off of the bullockes head, as who should say; Must wee come to this deserte place for such a matter? And what a thing is it thē that a man which is shaped after the image of God should be slayne, and that such a crime should be committed? Shal not the Sunne, and and the Moone, and all the starres of the skye cry out for vengeāce to God? Shal not the largenesse of the earth frame an inditemēt as though it were written in paper or parchment? Thus yee see what we hauehave to consider, in Gods appointing out of the place so with such circumstance.
Nowe afterward followeth the protestation. Our handes hauehave not doone this deede, neither hauehave our eyes seene it. When the Iudges & gouerners say, Our handes hauehave not done this deede; they meane the whole people as well as themselues. For it is not enough that the rulers themselues bee cleere of the murder: but they speake in the name or behalfe of the whole bodie of the people whome they represent. And hereby it appeareth, that if the Magistrates suffer any wickednesse to lie lurking in any citie or countrie, they themselues are guiltie thereof, and it is as much before God, as if they had giuen their consentes to the dooing of it. Therefore let men marke well this saying, Our handes hauehave not done this deede: namely that such as are in authoritie must aunswere for the whole bodie of the people, so farre as lyeth in them: that is to say, that wicked dooinges hauehave not bin suffered to nestle by their slouth and negligence: but that they hauehave searched them out diligently, and done their dutie in that behalfe: otherwise it will be in vaine for them to say, I was not the dooer of the deed. No, but thou diddest represent the whole people, thou wast put in commission by Gods appointment, and therefore sith thou hast suffred leawdnesse to be committed within thy Iurisdiction, it is at thy hand that God wil require the account. And in very deede, wee see how it is Gods will, not onelyonly in this place but also throughout the whole holy scripture, that when any trespasse was committed in any trybe, the Elders should stand forth as it were to confesse the peoples offences in their persons. For inasmuch as they were set in authoritie and place of honor, it behooued them to know that their charge was so much the more hard and weightie. That is the point which is to bee noted here.
And he addeth Our eyes hauehave not seene it. And hereby we may knowe (as I sayd afore) that it is not enough for vsus to hauehave our handes cleere: but it is required also that we should not be priuie to any euill: For if we cloke it knowing of it, to whom is it to bee imputed? Truely we may well washe our hands of it (as Pilate did) before men,Matt. 27.24 as who should say, I did it not, I am guiltlesse of it▪ but God admitteth no such mockerie. Therfore whensoeuer we bee examined or deposed vponupon any matter, let vsus not imagin that we shall scape skotfree before God because we hauehave not done the actuall deede: Fo… we must to the vttermost of our power find meanes that the mischiefe may be redressed, so as one man may not be trodden vnderunder foote, and another be bolstered and borne out, and consequently common robberie be suffred to reigne disorderly among men; but that right and euen dealing may bee mainteined among men: and let eueryevery man further the same on his owne behalfe. And as concerning Iudges and Magistrates, let them also learne to hauehave eyes, that they play not the blin… kar…es and blindefolkes when euill is committed, ne thinke to escape when they can say, As for me, I hauehave no such thing. Yes, but such as are in authoritie of Iustice, must know that God hath set them aloft as it were in a watchtower to discouer thinges afarre off. If the Magistrates themselues doe set a watchman in a high tower, and he excuse himselfe saying, I sawe nothing: will they hold him excused? No, For hee was set there to looke about him, and that was his charge. Euen so our Lord ordeineth Magistrates to keepe good watch. And if they notwithstanding doe shut their eyes, and make as though they sawe nothing at all: shall it serue to acquit them? What an excuse were that? Were it not too fond and trifling? So then, let vsus marke well, that Magistrates must open their eyes and bee watchfull, that they may see what their duetie is. And if they wil be taken for guiltlesse, they must looke to it that they may bee able to vse this present protestation in trueth, Our eyes hauehave not seene it, neither hauehave our handes done this deede.
But yet besides this, Moses sheweth that the citie or towne where a murder is committed, is not altogether cleere of it, and therefore that they must bee faine to craue pardon at Gods hand. Surely this seemeth to be with the extremest. What? Seeing we hauehave not consented to the euill, but woulde hauehave punished it, if it had bin done in our presence, and wee protest that wee our selues did not the deede, neither doe wee knowe the dooer of the deed that wee might punishe him: ought not God to bee contented with all this? Nay, there is yet a further thing, namely that the committing of such a fault, is as a defiling of the whole countrie, and a warning giuen vsus of God to looke narrowlyer to our selues. True it is that he will not take vsus for murderers: but yet for al that, his suffering of such an offence to be committed, is as though he shold shew vsus with his finger, yt he is gone frō vsus. For when God blesseth a countrie, he preserueth it from all defilement. And the falling out of any defilement, is as a turning of Gods backe vppon vsus, as if hee should say, I hauehave no more care of you, I let you alone, I giuegive you ouer. The nation therefore that perceiueth God to giuegive any signe of his displeasure, hauehave good cause to humble themselues. And that is the cause why hee commaunded the Iudges and gouernours of the citie where a murder was committed, to thinke earnestly vppon it, as if they should say, Lorde hauehave pitie vppon thy people Israel, and take away this guiltlesse bloud from among vsus, and let not this deed bee imputed vntounto vsus.
Now if it be so, and yt there be no remedie to be found but only to flee to Gods merciemercy, and to craue forgiuenesse not only for ye fault, but also because men ought to feele yt he is angrie with the whole Citie: What is to be done when the misdeede is apparant? Ought not men much more to make supplication to God, and to flee to his merciemercy, at leastwise if they were well aduised? Yes; but wee see what hardnesse or rather blockishnesse is nowadayes in most men, yea and well neere in all men. For when a misdeede is committed, who is hee that regardeth it? True it is that if an outragious wickednesse be committed, men will perchaunce say, hee is a wicked man. But they consider not that God warneth all folkes generally to say eueryevery man in himselfe. Alas how happeneth it that such an enormitie is committed among vsus, that all of vsus shoulde bee defiled with it before GOD? For that this is come to passe and wee neuer wist it, is a token that wee hauehave euill profited in Gods worde. For wee thinke not that his giuing of such examples vntounto vsus, is for our instruction. But although wee sleepe, yet dooth not GOD cease to doe his office. Wee heare what hee sayth when there is no Iustice nor vpright dealing in a citie. They bee princes of Sodome, they be theeues and murtherers.Esa. 6.…0. Hee sayth this to Iudges. Not for that they had cut mens throates that were traueling: No; but because they had not mainteined the good and guiltlesse. Therefore he saith, Beholde, it is a citie of bloud. The very citie of Ierusalem it selfe, which God had chosen to bee his royall pallace and Temple, is called a citie of bloud and a denne of theeues. And why? Because many outrages and disorders were there committed, and many poore soules were trodden vnderunder foote without succor, and Iustice was become as an open robberie. So then, let vsus learne to resorte to our God when any offence is committed, and let eueryevery of vsus thinke with himselfe, Alas, our Lorde doeth vsus to vnderstande that he is angrie with vsus, in that such things are hapned, and that such enormities are committed among vsus. And therefore let eueryevery of vsus craue pardon of them, and also thinke thus with our selues: Of whom is it long that I am not lyke one of them, but onelyonly of Gods preseruing of me? And let vsus also beware for the time to come. Thus yee see in effect what wee hauehave to beare in minde, as in the respect of the things that are spoken here concerning murder.
There was also the striking off of the Hekfers heade, to make men the more afraid: as who should say, that the beholding of a poore beast slayne after that sorte, doth moue men the more. And what is to bee sayd then of a man, which is shaped after the image of God? Wee see then, how our Lord meant to teach the Elders and Iudges that were present at the sacrifice, that they might the better learne the horriblenesse of all murders. For if wee bee afraid of a beast: it is good reason that wee should bee touched much more to the quicke without all comparison, for a humaine creature. As touching the washing of their handes, it is added to doe the people to vnderstand, that they were after a sorte defiled, or rather that they should declare both before the Angels and before all creatures, that they might washe themselues from it. And this serued for the time of the ceremonies of the Lawe. But wee must vnderstand that it was not our Lordes meaning to foade his people by such signes in counterfeiting and hypocrisie. What gayned Pilate by his washing of his handes? Was hee cleared from the death of Iesus Christ? No, that washing of his was a token of his defiling. Wherefore washed he his handes, but because hee knewe himselfe guiltie of the death of Iesus Christ? Whereof hee thought to cleere himselfe by a drop of water: and that was too great a dalying with God. And that is the cause why I sayd that his washing ingraued his sinne the deeper before GOD, and made him the more vnexcusable. And therefore had the people come dissemblingly to washe their handes; it had bin but a further charging of themselues, and a making of themselues the more faultie. But Gods will was that the Elders should vse such ceremonies, to doe vsus the better to vnderstand, that wee be fleshly, and consider not our sinnes vnlesse they bee as it were pointed out with the finger. Wee conceiue not Gods wrath, except wee hauehave some signe of it before vsus. God then meant to declare, that when there is any such offence, wee bee defiled, so as there is nothing but filthinesse in vsus, but God mislyketh of vsus, & we cannot preace vntounto him without prouoking him to wrath. Marke that for one point.
And therewithall hee meant to shewe vsus, how we ought to apply our indeuour to cleanesse. And this cleanesse is not compassed with corruptible water; but it must bee first in our consciences, and afterwardes in all our members. Wherefore let vsus learne to looke to it,Esa. 1.15. that our handes bee not bloudy, as the Prophet Esay termeth the hands of those which did wrong to their neighbours: and let not our feete runne after bloud, neither let our members bee defiled, nor made instrumentes of vnrighteousnesse, as Saint Paule speaketh of them in the sixt to the Romans. When we indeuour after that sort to keepe our selues vndefiled to Godward; then do wee obserue the washing that was vnderunder the Lawe, to reteine the trueth and substance thereof. And at this day whereas we hauehave baptisme, the water betokeneth the lyke; not that it is sufficient of it selfe, nor that it is of force to washe away our sinnes, for what should then become of our Lord Iesus Christes bloud? It were too grosse a blasphemie for a man to put his trust in a visible signe: we must lift vp our mindes higher. In lyke case is it with the Lordes supper; Insomuch that when wee come to the table of our Lorde Iesus Christ, if wee thinke to finde our soule-health in a bit of bread or in a droppe of wine; wee bee very brutish, and there is neither reason nor vnderstanding in vsus. But when we bee led further, so as by eating of the bread we conceiue that Christ is our very sustenance, and that although wee bee spiritually dead in our selues, yet we cease not to liue in him: then doth the sacrament turne to our benefite. And to that vse must we apply the doctrine that is set downe here.
And for a conclusion let vsus marke further, that although the men that are murthered doe…no more speake vntounto vsus, because they be dead: yet the bloud of them cryeth out for vengeance against vsus. See wee not what proceeded from the bloud of Abell? Hee needed no man of lawe to pleade his case: for his very bloud cryed vntounto God as is reported thereof. Whereby wee bee done to vnderstand, that although the parties whom we hauehave misused doe forgiue vsus, yet will God euer be a Iudge to vsus, vntill we hauehave acknowledged our faults, and indeuour to amend thē. Insomuch that although his wrath appeare not towardes vsus, & that our wrong dealing hauehave lyen long concealed, so as it seeme to bee starke dead & quite forgotten: yet notwithstanding, the rememberance thereof is alwayes fresh before God. Let vsus consider this, and let eueryevery of vsus in true repentance rebuke himselfe and amende his misdoings, indeuoring to liue quietly & without doing any harme. And for the doing thereof, let vsus thinke vponupon the outcrie whereof the Apostle speaketh in the Epistle to the Hebrues, saying that the bloud of our Lord Iesus Christ cryeth much better than did the bloud of Abell.Heb. 12.25. Not to aske vengeance of God against vsus, so we receiue him in such wise as our sins bee washed & clensed away. For to that purpose was that holy bloud of his shed. True it is that the bloud of our Lord Iesus Christ shall cry out for vengeance against all the faithlesse and froward sorte, & against such as hauehave refused the doctrine of ye Gospel & troden it vnderunder foot, & made a skorn of it, & al prophane folk; for al such shal be guilty of the bloudshed of our Lord Iesus Christ. But when we receiue his bloud by faith, & know yt it ought to serue vsus as a purgatiō to make vsus righteous and innocent before God: let vsus assure our selues yt the same bloud hath his cry. And in deed we see how the Gospell soundeth and ringeth in our eares to ye intent we should know the vertue of ye bloud of our Lord Iesus Christ. For it is no dead thing: but it is euer fresh, as the Apostle speketh of it in another place.Heb. 10.20. Yea & it is so fresh yt it hath his liuely force continually, to reconcile vsus vntounto God. Therefore let vsus rightly weigh this inestimable benefit, & receiue the peace of the Gospell, whereby God witnesseth vntounto vsus, that he admitteth the bloud of his sonne for our washing, that we may appeare before his maiestie with full hope.
Now let vsus cast our selues downe in the presence of our good God with acknowledgmēt of our faults, praying him to make vsus perceiue thē more and more. Yea and let vsus confesse, not only the faultes which we know by our selues, and which we perceiue, & whereof we ought to be ashamed before men: but also our ignorances & our secret sinnes whereof we be now guiltie. And forasmuch as we know how there be many vices and infirmities in vsus, let vsus mourne for them before God, and let it make vsus to proceede more and more in true repentance. And in the meane while let vsus not continue wilfull; but let vsus take courage to turne vntounto him; and let vsus not looke to hauehave a bullock or a brute beast to answere for vsus nowadayes, as though the bloud thereof should serue vsus for a sacrifice: but let vsus resorte to our Lorde Iesus Christ, that seeing hee hath offered vp the onelyonly and euerlasting sacrifice, in his death and passion once for all, to set vsus free from all our debtes, and that hee calleth vsus dayly vntounto him by his Gospell: wee seeke not any other meane to serue God withall, but proceede in all purenesse vnderunder his hand & guiding. That it may please him to graunt this grace, not onelyonly to vsus but also to all people and nations of the earth, &c.