Sermons on Deuteronomy, Sermons · Sermon 194
On Wednesday the first of Iuly, 1556. The CXCIIII. sermon, which is the fourth vponupon the xxxiij. Chapter.
9 Which hath saide of his father and of his mother, I hauehave not seene them, nor hath knowen his owne brethren, nor also hath knowen his owne children. For they shall keepe thy sayings, and obserue thy couenants.
10 They shal teach thy iudgements vntounto Iacob, and thy Law vntounto Israel. They shal send vp perfumes to thy nosethrils, and lay whole burnt offerings vponupon thine Altar.
11 O Lorde, blesse his substance, and make the worke of his hands pleasant vntounto thee. Breake the backebones of such as hate him, that they may not rise vp against him.
WE be to proceed with the blessing of the tribe of Leuy, which I began to declare yesterday. I tolde you in fewe wordes, that there Moses intended to stablish those whom God had chosen to bee his priestes, because it was verie needefull to keepe them from contempt of the people, least men might hauehave made none account of the doctrine which they were to deliuer vntounto them: and therefore it behoued them to be in good estimation as Gods seruaunts and representers of his person. And that is the cause why Moses declareth that although Aaron was tried in Massa, and suffered some trouble: yet notwithstanding God ceased not to retaine him still in his seruice, yea euen him and all his ofspring. And nowe Moses sheweth whereunto God had called the house of Leuie, and what was the office of the highpriest. He saith first of al, That they knew neither father nor mother, that they had forsaken their owne Children, and that they tolde their brothers they wi…t not who they were. And that is to shewe, that forasmuch as God had chosen them, it behooued them to forget all thinges, that they might giuegive themselues wholly vntounto him. Nowe wee knowe that when the Priestes were presented as all other oblations were;Nomb. ….10.11. men laide either their one hande or both their hands vppon them; to betoken that they were no more at their owne libertie, but that they were sāctified to such a vse, as it behooued eueryevery one of them to imploy themselues wholly to their office, and to be altogether at the appointment of God. True it is that the same condition is required of all the faithfull, for we ought to bee dedicated vntounto God in sacrifice.Rom. 12.…. But yet must the preachers of the worde leade the daunce, and consider themselues to bee double bounde, yea and more straitly. The thing then which Moses meant to betoken in this text, is that seeing God had so highly honoured the tribe of Leuie, as to hauehave them all to be his Priests: it behoued them to forget both father and mother, & to be vnaddicted to their fleshly affections, yea and to giuegive ouer euē their owne children. Not that God intended to alter the order of nature, but to shewe that when the case standeth vppon the performance of their charge, they must not bee turned from it by any worldly respect, neither must any thing withholde them from executing throughly & faithfully whatsoeuer God commaundeth them. Now then, he that will serue God must not forget his father & mother by forbearing to do his natural duetie towards them: but he must preferre God before all men, according to this generall saying,Luke 14.26. that we cannot be the disciples of our Lord Iesus Christ, except wee hate both father and mother. The word hate is yet somwhat harder than that which is conteined heere in Moses: but the meaning is not darke at all. For our Lord Iesus doth vsus to vnderstand, that wee must make such account of him, that both father & mother must be as nothing in comparison of him, that the husbande must leaue ye louelove which hee beareth to his wife, and the father must set aside the care of his children, that wee may keepe on our way roundly: insomuch that when the case standeth vppon yeelding record to the Gospell, and of cleauing to our Lord Iesus Christ, all worldly thinges must be quite and cleane wyped out of our hearts. And so we see nowe the meaning of Moses. And in very deed, the same appeared as well in himselfe as in his brother Aaron. At such time as the Calfe was made and the people had defiled themselues with ydolatrie, we see with what zeale Moses was carried, and likewise all the tribe of Leuie. For hee willed eueryevery man to take his sworde in his hande.…od. 32.27 Let vsus goe (saith hee) and sanctifie you your handes to the Lorde. For in so doing yee shall shewe your selues to be rightly zealous of Gods seruice, in that yee kill your owne brethren without sparing, so as in this case the order of nature be put vnderfoote, to shewe that God is aboue all, and ought to beare chiefest sway. Seeing then that Moses maketh such an execution, that hee carieth with him the whole tribe of Leuie: wee see it is not saide in vaine that the Priestes executed vengeance both on father and mother, that they did shut their eyes against al that euer might coole them or restreine them; and that God had so rauished them, as they sought nothing but the maintenance of his honour, and the executing of his vengeance vponupon such abhomination as had bin committed against him for to deface his honor in Israel. Neuerthelesse we must note that no one deede is spoken of heere alone: but Moses meant to shewe in fewe wordes, that God had chosen that tribe, with condition that it should be holy vntounto him, and that they all should shewe the way to all the rest of the people. But wee know it is vnpossible to please God, so long as wee bee too much affectioned towardes men. And therefore we hauehave heere a rule, that if wee intende to walke aright, and not to halt before God; we must not be intangled in our fleshly affections, no not euen in those which are most commendable, or at leastwise which may hauehave most excuse. Men cannot condemne him which honoureth his father and mother, for it is a vertue, and wee knowe that God hath commaunded it with a promise,Exod. 20.12 Ephe. 6.2. The man that loueth his wife, shall not bee the lesse esteemed for it: but what shalbe saide of the man which hath not a care of his children? He were worse thā a brute beast.1. T…m. 5.8. And Sainct Paul saith that such folk shalbe condemned by the vnbeleeuers, because the vnbeleeuers do shewe them their lesson. Then is it a commendable vertue for a man to louelove his father and his mother and his neighbours: but yet must all these bee forgotten when God commeth in place, and when his honour is put into the balance to be compared with the duety which wee owe to all creatures. For then, (as I saide afore) God must go formost, and al the residue must follow. Insomuch that if we shoulde be turned quite away from them for the doing of such things as God commandeth to be done for his honour, the order of nature ought to beare no sway in that behalfe, but rather to bee vtterly ouerthrowen.
True it is that here he speaketh of the Leuits which were in olde time: yet notwithstanding, they which at this day do preach Gods worde are bound to the like, and ought to vnderstande that Gods putting of them in that office & degree, is to the intent they shoulde so giuegive themselues vntounto him, as that they should not be turned away from him, neither for regard of their owne persons, nor for any earthly affection, nor for any louelove of the world. Then must they fight against those thinges; and although there bee great hardnes in it; yet must they inforce themselues neuerthelesse. For we shall not so fully ouer master our selues at ye first, that we shalbe able to forget both our wiues and children. But yet is it no excuse to alledge that we be weake, and yt the things which we hauehave by kind cannot be so soone forgotten: we must fight against thē neuerthelesse. For if we be rechlesse, heere our condemnation is giuen vponupon vsus. How then shall the ministers of Gods word performe their dutie faithfully? Euen by hauing the one foote cō tinually lifted vp to depart out of the worlde, so as neither houshold nor any thing else do hold them backe from dedicating themselues wholly vntounto God, be it to liue or die. That is the end whereat we must begin. Now in very deede that cannot be done throughly: but yet must wee indeuour and inforce our selues to that ende, and dayly labour and take paines to profite, & to go forward in that behalf. Moreouer forasmuch as nowadayes al of vsus are Leuits & a kingly priesthood,1. Pet. 2.9. as the people of Israel were: let vsus note yt this matter belongeth partly vntounto vsus all. For we heare how it is saide by the Prophet,Esay. 66.21. that in the reigne of our Lord Iesus Christ; those which afore were but Leuits, to be porters of ye temple, or to make cleane the vessels; or to doe the residue of the base seruices; shalbe high priests: and that the common people which durst not enter into the Temple afore, shalbe of the order and degree of Leuits. And in very deede, at this day the sanctuarie of God is set open vntounto vsus by the bloud of our Lord Iesus Christ,Heb. 10.19.20. the veile is rent asunder, and wee goe in vntounto the maiestie of God, as the high priestes did of olde time vnderunder the Lawe. Seeing that God hath so greatly inhonoured the faithfull vnderunder the Gospell, that hee hath set then in equall degree with those which were Leuits in the materiall tabernacle which was but a figure: it behooueth vsus well to consider what hath beene said concerning the Priests of old time; and all of vsus from the highest to the lowest, ought to know that we cannot serue God without forgetting our father and mother, according to the forealledged saying of our Lorde Iesus Christ, who speaketh there not of his disciples onelyonly. True it is that it behoued them to be the foreleaders, and by their example to induce the faithfull to the restreining and dispatching of their owne affection, and of all that euer they hauehave of nature; but yet our Lord Iesus sheweth that no man can followe him, nor come vntounto him to continue stedfastly in ye Gospel, but with condition of forgetting his father and mother, and of forsaking his wife, and of giuing ouer his own children. After what manner? Not that we do it of our owne head, for eueryevery man ought to discharge his dutie as much as he can. But if a man bee called to forsake his wife and houshold for witnessing of ye Gospel: he must be turned from them as if he had his bowels plucked from him; and yet for all yt hee must rather choose to hauehave the one halfe of himselfe taken from him, than in any wise to shrinke away or to estraunge himselfe from Iesus Christ. That is the thing which we hauehave to gather vponupon that text.
Nowe hee addeth thereunto, That they shall keepe the sayings of the Lorde, and holde fast his couenant. True it is, that forasmuch as the Law was giuen to all the children of Abraham without exception, the thing that is spoken here belonged alike to all the other tribes. And wee hauehave seene already, that the Leuites were not the onelyonly folke which were commaunded to keepe the doctrine conteined therin: but it was saide [indifferently to all the rest,] Yee shall keepe my Statutes.Deut. 27.1. When God said so, hee directed his speech to all the children of Israel. Yet notwithstanding (as I saide afore) it behooued the priests who had the charge of drawing the people, and of holding them vnderunder the obedience of God, to shewe them the way, and to hauehave a more ardent zeale to keepe the lawe faith…ully. That is the cause why Moses giueth them that title. But wee must note that these wordes keepe and maintaine, importe two thinges; that is to wit, that the Leuites shoulde teach the people the Lawe (as shalbe shewed more at large); and also holde them in awe, that the religion might be preserued pure, so as the people might not start away to ydolatrie and superstition, nor leade a wicked and loose life; but that God might bee honoured and serued. That is the first keeping which wee hauehave of the doctrine. And for the same cause doeth Moses adde, They shall teach thy Lawe vntounto Israel, and thy Commaundementes vntounto Iacob. Then was it not ynough for the children of Leuie to walke vndefiledly and according to the doctrine of the Lawe; but also it behooued them all to hauehave the doctrine in their mouth, to giuegive instruction to their brethren, & to bring them alwayes to the knowledge of God, and to make them continue therein to the end.
The seconde manner of keeping was in good life, by shewing example and by being zelous to holde the people still in order when they sawe them start aside, as we knowe that the worlde is ouer fraile, yea and that we be so inclined to naughtinesse and vice, that it is a great matter to vsus if we be not vtterly dissolute. Therefore it stoode the children of Leuie in hande to imploy themselues thereabouts. And here we see, first that God meant not to make ydols in his Church, when he ordeined Shepherds and other men to hauehave some ouersight and authoritie there. And if it were so in the time of the Lawe; much more ought it to bee so at this day. For (as wee shall see againe anon) the Priestes had the Ceremonies and manie like thinges, so as they were sufficiently occupied about them, although they had not medled at all with teaching. But nowadays al those things are ceased, and there remaineth no more buy ye preaching of the Gospel, and the ministring of the sacraments, which are but feaw in number, and hauehave not so much adoe as was vnderunder the figures of old time. That is the cause why I said, that if the Priestes which were before the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ were bound to be Gods messengers in preaching his word and in giuing good instruction to the people, or else they were after a sort disgraded from their office: what shall become of it nowadayes, when such as are ordained shepherds in the Church, hauehave none other charge but to teach folke publikely and priuately, and therewithall to minister the sacraments? Seeing it is so, then is there no excuse for such as say they hauehave any charge or spirituall gouernement in the Church, if therewithall they hauehave not the doctrin in their mouth. Wherby it is apparāt, that in the Popedome there is nothing but confused disorder, and that all those which nowadayes doe name themselues Bishops and Prelates, are but scarebugs set vp by the diuell to bleare the eyes of the ignorant, and are folkes vnworthy to bee counted of ye flock, forasmuch as they hauehave peruerted Gods order, and made such a bottomles pit, that a man cannot discerne any remnant of that which our Lord Iesus Christ had ordained among the faithfull. Seeing they hauehave altered and imbaced all thinges after that fashion, they bee not worthy to bee of the number of Gods people, but rather of his deadly foes, and much lesse ought they to be reputed for Sheepeherds. But forasmuch as this deserueth to be laid forth more at length; let vsus begin at those which are spoken of heere.
It is saide, That the children of Leuie shall keepe the sayings of the Lorde, and maintaine his doctrine, and preach his Lawe in Iacob. Heere we see that because the worlde is so weake, and so easily turned away from God & from the right way; it is requisite that Gods word shold be preached, and that there should be men appointed therevnto. It might be said that eueryevery man may bee his owne teacher, and that there needeth not any choosing of some small number of men to guide the rest; for seeing we hauehave the Law and the holy scriptures, are not they ynough to gouerne vsus? A man might so say. Yea, but they which giuegive out such speeches, did neuer examin their owne weakenesse, or rather how wicked the inclination of their nature is. For our Lord hath set downe an order, which he knoweth to be profitable for vsus. And thereby he hath shewed vsus, that of our selues we should be caried away out of hande vntounto euill, if wee were not restreined by the meane which he hath giuen vntounto vsus. And therfore it was requisite that there should alwayes be men appointed in the church to preach Gods word, to admonish the people, and to holde them in awe, and to withholde them from disorder, so as the Religion might not be corrupted. We see then howe God condemneth our vnfaithfulnesse in this behalfe, shewing vsus that if we be not held back as it were by force vnderunder his yoke; we wil by and by play ye lose coltes, and eueryevery of vsus will sting away after such a sort, that we shall become as stray beasts. Seing that God telleth vsus it, let vsus learn to humble our selues, and to consider what neede wee hauehave to hearken to his doctrin and to rest theron. But there are a great many of fantastical persons, which thinke it ynough for them to hauehave taken some tast of ye Gospel. And thereuppon it commeth that the world is nowadayes so full of vngodlynes as is seene eueryevery where; insomuch that the most part of such as hauehave heard ye Gospel become dullards, worldlings, and naughtipackes, euen like dogs, skorning all religion, or else lotting it slippe like water (as they say) so as they passe not to continue still brutish, yea and vtterly fenslesse. The world at this day is full of such vermin and doung. And what is the cause thereof? The foresaid Rechlesnes, & finally also pride, where through a great number do beare themselues in hand, yt they hauehave knowledge ynough to rule themselues wel, & that it is needlesse now to learne any more, and yt eueryevery man may gouerne himselfe as he lifteth. By reason wherof doctrin is despised & god is vnregarded, and therfore he must needs withdraw his spirit from such folke. So then let vsus learne to submit our selues with all lowlynes and carefulnesse to y• general rule which god hath set in his church, euen for euer; which is, that there shoulde bee men which should hauehave the charge to teach vsus, and that we should hearken vntounto them, and by that meane continue fast knit together in the obedience of our faith with indissoluble bond, & become one body in verie deede, agreeing al in Gods truth and in the pure Religion. Marke it therefore for a speciall point, that we hauehave then the true token that we be of Gods flocke, and of his Church, when his word is purely preached among vsus, and eueryevery of vsus doth quietly receiue the doctrine at the mouth of such as hauehave the charge to preach it. And therewithall, as I hauehave saide afore, it behooueth those which are called vntounto that state, to looke well to themselues that they surmise not to thēselues a fantasticall dignitie in this world, to make thēselues ydols. For wherefore be we shepherds, but to giuegive men the foode of life? In respect whereof it behooueth vsus to bring folke vntounto God, and to holde them still vnderunder his gouernment. And that is vtterly vnpossible to be done, vnlesse gods word doe sounde and ring loude and shirle in our mouthes, so as folk may hauehave their eares beaten therewith, and be dayly prouoked to come vntounto God, and to sticke vntounto him with such firmnesse and constancy, as wee may neuer start away againe. For in all ages men hauehave misused ye things which were ord…ined for their welfare, & specially vntounto the people of God. We see howe the Priests themselues stepped away vnderunder the law. That is ye cause why ye Prophets crie out against them,Esay 56.10. that they be dumbe dogs, yt they be blinde watchmen, yt God had set thē as on a high stage or watchtowre, to the intent they should keepe good watch for the preseruation of the people & of the true Religion. But they were blinde. Again, he wold hauehave their mouthes open to teach & that whensoeuer they saw any misbehauiour, they should crie out against it with open throat, as it is said in ye Prophet Esay.Esay 58.1. But they hauehave bin as dumbe dogs, they hauehave done nothing but fill their bellies, and as for the people, they past not though they wēt al to destruction & decay. We see then how yt vnderunder the Lawe, the Priestes did wickedly abuse their vocatiō, insomuch yt whereas they were vtterly corrupted, yet neuerthelesse they would needes take vponupon them to bee men of great valor, & be named Prelates of the Church. Howbeit in ye end, when God had well rebuked them, he giueth definitiue sentence of condemnation vponupon them by his Prophet Malachie, who was ye last of them.Malach. 2.6.7.8. No, no (saieth he) pretend no more ye name of your father Leuie, say not any more yt God hath chosen you to the dignitie of Priesthood, for Leuie walked in the feare of God, & kept his law: and the verie condition whereupon God called you, is that the lawe should be in your mouth, so as men might seeke for learning at your hands, and you be as Gods messēgers and Angels. But you hauehave corrupted and falsified all thinges. And therefore I also doe renounce you and disclaime you. After that maner did God speake to the priests of old time.
Likewise let not vsus thinke it strange nowadayes, that these horned beastes of the Popedome doe still vsurpe the title of Prelates and Bishoppes, and will needes bee worshipped, vnderunder colour of vaunting themselues to hauehave the gouernement of the Church, which indeede is a stark… lye; for it behooueth vsus to consider whether they bee set vp by God or no, or whether they hauehave thrust in themselues or no. They hauehave no sure grounde. For as it is saide in the fifth Chapter to the Hebrewes,Heb. 5.4. No man ought to take authoritie vppon him in the Church, for it is not for any man to intrude himselfe, but it behooueth vsus to be called. Certaine it is that our Lorde Iesus Christ declaring the will of God his father, and his owne will also, ordeined not dumbe folke thereunto, which shoulde but vaunt themselues with a two-horned Myter and such other gewgawes. Hee meant not to play a pageant, that men shoulde disguise themselues, and in the meane while no man know to what purpose those things serued. Hee intended not that men shoulde play murlimewes, as one that coulde wel skill to mocke at God and all his doctrine by making of Crosses and blessing of Altars. Our Lorde Iesus Christ did not put forth any such defilementes in his Church: but Satan corrupted all things. And therefore they which at this day doe terme themselues Prelates in the Popedome, cannot alledge that they be sent of God, nor that they ought to hauehave any authoritie or credite in the name of Iesus Christ. For hee disclaimeth them because they hauehave not any likenesse to his institution. Sith it is so, we may boldly conclude, that in Popery there is no Church at al, but a hellish Synagogue: and that whosoeuer medleth there or thrusteth himselfe in among them, forsaketh Iesus Christ, and cutteth himselfe off as a rotten member from his Church. Loe at what point the Papistes are. It may bee that they will call vsus heretikes and Schismatikes as they doe indeede. Yea, but they bee not our Iudges, and wee may boldly laugh at the sentence which they giuegive vppon vsus, as vaine. For wee hauehave our warrant in heauen, who alloweth vsus, and holdeth them as accursed. For we know that the true marke of sheepeherds is to preach Gods worde, that men may inquire at their mouth howe to behaue themselues according to Gods will, knowing that it is hee which sendeth them vntounto vsus. And therefore whensoeuer wee hauehave the Gospell purely preached vntounto vsus, and that wee agree in vnitie of faith: God doeth vsus to vnderstande that hee dwelleth among vsus, and our Lorde Iesus Christ doeth then shewe himselfe to bee the heade of that whole bodie. That is the thing which wee hauehave to gather vppon this text, where it is saide that the children of Leuie shall keepe Gods couenant. And why? For else it might perish in the worlde; according whereunto Saint Paul saieth,1. Tim. 3.15. that the Church is the Arch, the Piller, and the vpholder of Gods trueth. And howe is that? Because that men (as I hauehave saide afore) are so inclined to vanitie and leasings▪ that they shoulde bee alienated out of hande from the pure Religion, if they were held still by that meane. The Church then is as a Gardian to Gods trueth, to the intent it shoulde not bee d…rie away, but that we should alwayes hauehave that light among vsus, and that wee might vnderstand that where preaching is, there Gods voice ringeth in our eares, so as if wee were neuer so sore shaken too and fro, yet doeth God giuegive vsus a sure stay wherewith to resist all temptations. Yee see then how the keeping of Gods couenant is committed to the Leuits, and generally to all such as hauehave the office of sheepherds among Gods people.
Moreouer, for the better maintaining of the pure Religion, it behooueth them to hauehave a zeale of Gods honour; they must all their life long indeuour to maintaine the doctrine, and therewithall they must hauehave their mouthes open to preach the worde that is committed vntounto them, to the ende that that treasure bee not lost nor buried, but that all men may bee made partakers thereof. They shall preach thy lawe then vntounto Iacob, and thy doctrine vntounto Israel: so as Gods worde must needes be published if we will shew our selues to bee a people dedicated vntounto him. Againe, let vsus marke also that heere is speciall mention made of Gods worde and of his lawe, to doe vsus to wit, that God will not hauehave mens inuentions to reigne among his people, but will hauehave men to hold themselues wholly vntounto him, and (as yee would say) to hang altogether vponupon his mouth. Nowe then, the children of Leuie hauehave not here a libertie giuen them to forge lawes after their owne liking, and to set foorth whatsoeuer they list as the Pope and al his hauehave done. And it is to be seene yet still at this day howe the same tyrannie reigneth in such sort, that whatsoeuer is termed by the name of Gods seruice in Poperie, is but a confused heape of all manner of dotages, whereunto eueryevery man hath put to his peece, and yet they cannot alledge one syllable of holy scripture to shew that God alloweth their doings. But men hauehave stepped foorth through their owne diuelish rashnes, & hauehave made Lawes and Statutes to binde mens consciences vnderunder paine of deadly sinne: and moreouer hauehave coyned articles of faith at their owne pleasure. From whence then hath all the doctrine of poperie beene taken? Not from the fountaine of ye truth; but from the hellish & stinking puddle of Satan, where there is nothing but confusion. Where hauehave they founde their praying vntounto Sainctes, but in their owne braine, or rather that Satan hauing forged it in his shoppe, hath besotted them therewith? Againe, where finde they any of the thinges which they speak concerning works of supererogation, Merits, the Apes toyes of their Masse, and all their Ceremonies in generall? It is certaine that al these things were set forth by men. But contrariwise our Lorde hath tolde vsus here, that he meaneth not to hauehave those to put forth any thing of their owne, whom hee hath appointed to beare abroade his worde. For the commission which hee gaue to the Leuites, was to set those thinges abroade which they had receiued of him, and to deale them forth plainly and rightly to the people, taking good heede that they did not alter or falsifie any thing. And therefore let vsus marke, that wee shall then bee allowed for Gods people, when our faith flittereth not, after the lure of mortall men, without knowing why wee beleeue, but that wee rest wholly vppon God; and that when wee knowe that wee hauehave his worde to rule vsus by; then will hee vpholde and auowe vsus to bee his Church. But yet must wee alwayes come backe to this, that it is not ynough for vsus to hauehave the lawe written, and to hauehave Gods worde in our handes, and to make a priuate reading thereof at home in our houses: but the same worde must also bee preached and expounded vntounto vsus. And why so? Because Gods will is that it shoulde be so, and therefore wee must not dispute vppon it. For why? The order which God hath set among vsus, is not to bee broken. Neither hath hee doone it without cause and iust reason (as I hauehave saide alreadie) considering the frailtie that is in vsus, and how easily wee be led to swarue aside.
Moses addeth heereunto, That they shall put vp the perfume vntounto the nosethrilles of the Lorde, and lay the whole burnt offerings vppon his Altar. This concerneth the Ceremonies. For vnderunder the Lawe they had thinges which we hauehave not nowadayes, namely the figures of the things which were fulfilled in the person of our Lorde Iesus Christ. For the Priesthoode did vsus to vnderstande, that the people coulde not hauehave any accesse vntounto GOD, without some meane. And when the people came to worshippe God, and to offer sacrifices; they helde themselues in ye outmost court. There was the first part wherein they all held themselues and it was not lawfull for them to preace any further. There was also ye sanctuarie for the priests, and lodgings for the tribe of Leuie. Also there was the great Sanctuarie whereinto the highpriest entered all alone with great solemnitie. And all this serued to shewe yet more liuely the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ. But nowe all those things are come to an end. For there is no more shadowing, the veile (as it is said) is broken asunder, and we hauehave the heauē ly sanctuarie wherunto we be called right forth, and Iesus Christ hath set it open for vsus. And so there needeth nowe no more burnt offering, there needeth no more sacrifising for sinnes: for our Lorde Iesus Christ hath by his one only sacrifice wiped away the sins of the world, & made an euerlasting attonement, the vertue whereof can neuer be diminished. As often then as we will preace vntounto God, it is not for vsus to bring thither either calfe or sheep, but we must resort to the bloudshed of our Lorde Iesus Christ, because that thereby the euerlasting redemption is purchased vntounto vsus. Nowe we see wherein the Priestes of the olde lawe differed from vsus. Yet notwithstanding, those which are ordeined at this day to preach Gods worde ought to knowe that God will hauehave them to shewe the way in praying to him. And to that ende serued the perfumes that were made in the Temple. Let vsus not thinke that God taketh pleasure in any sweete sents, though mention bee made of his nosethrilles after that manner: for wee knowe hee hath no bodie, and therefore wee must not imagine him to bee like our selues: but the holy scripture speaketh after that fashion, because we comprehend him not in his maiestie. As for the perfumes then which were vnderunder the lawe, they signifie nothing else but the sauour that is in our prayers and petitions, when wee come to offer our selues into the presence of our God. True it is that all of vsus both great and small, may blesse the name of our God and yeelde him thankes.Rom. 8.15. True it is that wee may with full libertie and open mouth call vppon him as our father, because that in Iesus Christ hee auoweth vsus for his children. But howsoeuer the case stande, yet was that charge committed specially to the ministers of Gods worde, as is saide thereof in the sixth Chapter of the Actes of the Apostles.Act. 6.4. It is saide that wee must giuegive our selues to preaching and praying. And howe? Belongs it not to the whole bodie to doe so too? Yes verilie. But (as I hauehave saide) it is requisite that those to whom GOD hath committed the charge of his Church, and ought to watche ouer it, shoulde bee carefull to praye, as who shoulde say, yea Lorde, This is a charge which I were neuer able to beare, except I were vphelde by thy power: wherefore I pray thee vouchsafe to direct mee and strengthen mee; and therewithall vouchsafe also to maintaine those who thou hast alreadie gathered together vnderunder thy banner, and to drawe those thither which are away from it. Yea and shewing other men the way to pray, wee ought to frame our wordes after such a sort, as other men may take them as at our mouth. When the Minister is in the pulpit, hee is to vtterfoorth the common prayer, and all the residue are to say Amen, accordingly as Sainct Paul speaking thereof in the fourteenth Chapter of the first Epistle to the Corinthians,1. Cor. 14.16 saieth that when prayer is made in the name of the whole congregation, there ought no moe but one to speake, and all the rest ought to aunswere Amen; because that they which ought to teach in Gods name, ought also to rule the rest, and to prouoke them to prayer and supplication, by their example. And therefore let vsus marke, that whereas heere is mention made of perfumes and sacrifises; let vsus (say I) mark the thing yt was peculiar to the Priests, namely how God would hauehave thē to guide the people to hope that there should be a redemption wrought by the blessed seede of Abraham; and that the people were to be inured thereunto. As for vsus, we hauehave not that office, yt is to wit, to be as in ye person of our Lord Iesus Christ to make sacrifices. But we hauehave the Sacramentes; we hauehave Baptisme, which serueth to shewe howe we be made cleane before God: and wee hauehave the Lordes supper, wherein it is shewed vsus that wee bee nourished with the substance of our Lorde Iesus Christ. Nowe then let vsus vnderstande, that as the Priestes were ordeined to represent in the Temple the Mediator which was to come: so we at this day doe represent him after another manner. Not by doing as ye Papists do who hauehave plaid ye Apes: For in their Masse (say they) they make a sacrifice: but it is an abhomination which serueth to abolish the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ. Nowe the vse of the Sacramentes is cleane repugnant thereunto: For they serue vsus to shewe in the name of our Lorde Iesus Christ, that we hauehave bin once washed & made cleane, and that by meanes thereof men are reconciled by the sacrifice of his death which was offered vp for them. Also when wee minister the Lords supper, we rehearse what was said by our Lorde Iesus Christ:Math. 26.26 & 1. Cor. 11.24. This is my body which is deliuered for you: this my bloude which is shed for the saluation of the world. Seeing then that we nowadayes do minister the Sacraments after that manner; we take not vponupon vsus the thing that belongeth to our Lorde Iesus Christ or to his office: but rather we sende the people to the euerlasting sacrifice whereby we be reconcyled vntounto God, so as we neede not any other meane or helpe than that. Moreouer in steede of the materiall perfumes which were in the Temple, at this day wee offer vp prayers vntounto God, as thinges that cast a sweete smell vntounto him.
Furthermore whereas it is saide that God blessed the substance of Leuie, & accepted the worke of his handes, and that hee breaketh the backebones of all thē that set thēselues against him: therby Moses doth vsus to vnderstande that wee hauehave neede to pray our Lord Iesus Christ to maintaine those whom hee hath chosen and shouled out to preach his worde. For all Satans seeking is to plucke vp all the seede, as wee see is come to passe. For the diuell hath founde out suttle shifts to make many sorts of shepeherds, Churchmen, and Clergimen. Wee knowe that the number of the Popish Clergie is infinite. There are such a sort of offices, and so many liueries of men of the Church as they terme them, that a man cannot tell at what point to bee. If a man should recken vp the orders of Friers, hee shoulde bee at his wittes end, there is such a rabble of them as woulde amase a man. Yee shall see their gray Fryers, white Friers, blacke Friers, and Friers of all sortes. Againe there is such a howge heape of states and offices in the Popedome: as Patriarks, Archbishoppes, Bishops, Archdeacons, Deanes, and other inferiour offices; as woulde make a man to wonder. Besides this, there are a sort of Sacramentes, to deceiue men the better, and to giuegive a pompe and maiestie to al their gewgawes, which are but slights to serue Satan withall. For they bee all illusions framed in his workehouse. And of all this rout there is not so much as any one taile that doth his duetie in teaching Gods worde. Wee see then howe Satans wylynesse is such, that hee will bring in masking toyes ynowe, and iuggling-trickes ynowe to holde still the worlde in errour and superstition, vnderunder pretence that they may say, wee hauehave prelates, wee hauehave men of the Church, wee hauehave Clergimen. And in the meane while the thinges which our Lorde Iesus Christ ordained are abolished.
For this cause Moses saieth, That God maintaineth Leuies substance, and that hee breaketh and crusheth all such as set themselues against him. They that intende to serue God faithfully and to preach his worde, shall neuer want enemies to make warre against them, according as it is tolde vntounto Ieremie,Ier. 1.10. Goe thy wayes, I hauehave appointed thee to fight. Insomuch that the man which serueth God in bearing his worde abroade faithfully shall neuer hauehave peace, nor goe vnpinched and vnuexed, nor bee without good store of enemies. But what? Heere Moses comforteth all such as imploye themselues that way. Although the worlde bee against them, and it seeme that they shoulde bee ouerwhelmed eueryevery day: yet will GOD maintaine them, and breake the heades of all their enemies; according to this which is saide vntounto Ieremie,Iere. 1.19. Goe thy way, thou must fight: but thou shalt hauehave the vpper hande. Thou must bee faine to hauehave a foreheade of brasse, that thou maist set thy selfe against the whole worlde and withstande them. For in the ende they shalbe all broken and ouerthrowen before thee. Seeing wee hauehave this promise, let vsus hold our owne & be stedfast, though wee see the whole worlde steppe vp against vsus, knowing that God will beate downe all that set themselues after that fashion against them which indeuour to serue him faithfully. Moreouer let vsus knowe also that this is spoken for all the faithfull, to the ende they shoulde bee desirous to hauehave Gods worde maintained, and men to preach it, and that they should all reach their handes vntounto them. Let euerie man in his degree doe the best he can, that such as do the duetie of Sheepherds, (such as doe it, I say, and not such as bragge and boast of it), may be stablished and helped, so as there may bee an accorde betweene such as report themselues to bee the Children of God, and such as feede them with the foode that God giueth them. That then is the thing whereat Moses amed. Let vsus note further, how it is not without cause that Moses exhorteth the people to make such intreatance for the blessing of Leuie and of his substance. For why? If wee bee desirous that God should continually prouide for his church: it behooueth vsus to hauehave a care to pray for those to whom he hath committed the charge thereof. And if wee through our vnthankfulnesse cause not God to bereaue vsus of so great a benefite; let vsus assure our selues that wee shall neuer want good Sheepeherds. Nowe then if our vnthankfulnesse cause not the contrarie, let vsus knowe that our Lord will alwayes prouide vsus of fit and able men, and that he will hold them vnderunder his safekeeping, and maintaine them in spite of Satan and all the force of the worlde.
Nowe let vsus fall downe before the maiestie of our good God, with acknowledgement of our faultes, praying him to vouchsafe to make vsus to feele them more and more, that wee may mislike them: and therewithall to worke so mightily as we may not be turned away from him as wee hauehave beene, but that wee may proceede still in the renewment which he hath commanded vsus, vntill we hauehave throughly attained therevnto, & that our Lord Iesus Christ do so reigne among vsus, as we may bee true priests vntounto him, because that by his meanes wee also doe obtaine that grace and dignitie before God his father. And so let vsus all say; Almightie God heauenly father, &c.