Sermons on Ephesians, Sermons · Sermon 26

Sermons on Ephesians · Sermons · Sermon 26

The .xxvi. Sermon which is the sixt vppon the fourth Chapter.

11. And the same hath giuen, some Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Euangelists, and some Shehperds and Teachers.

12. For the reparation of the Saynts, too the woork of administration, and for the building vp of Christes bodie,

13. Vntill wee come all into the vnitie of fayth, and of the knowledge of the sonne of God, in the perfect man, vntoo the measure of the full age of Christ.

14. That wee may no more bee babes, vvauering and caryed too and fro vvith euerye vvynd of doctrine, by the vvylinesse of men, and through their craftie conueyances too deceyue vsus.

p. 183WEe hauehave seene this morning, how God hauing respect of our frayltie, hath voutsafed too vse this meane too drawe vsus too him: that is, that wee should be taught familiarly by mortal men lyke our selues, and therin he sheweth also that he had an eye too the thing that myght bee fittest for his seruants. For in saying that he will alwayes send a Prophet in Israell from among the people,Deut. 18. d. 18. & Iohn. 1. g. 45.Deut 18John 1 he ment too shewe that wee needed not too seeke farre for him, but that he would fynd a meane too bee familiarly conuersant among vsus Therfore when the Gospell is preached among vsus, Gods applying of himself after that maner too our slendernesse, is as much as if he came downe too vsus himself. So little then ought wee too disdeyne the order that he hath set among vsus, that our vnthankfulnesse shalbe the more heynous, if wee consider not how greatly he loueth vsus, in that he dealeth with vsus after our owne small capacitie. For inasmuch as wee hauehave not so excellent abilitie as the Angels: therfore dooth he giuegive vsus such meanes as he knoweth too bee necessarie for vsus. Moreouer Saint Paule addeth now, that this must not serue vsus for a little tyme only, but that wee must continew in it all the tyme of our lyfe. For had he not added yit further, the thing that we see: a man myght say, that we ought in deede to cōforme our selues to the rule that God giueth vsus, howbeit that must bee but for a whyle, as if a man shold send litle children to schole, but that is not to spend their whole lyfe there. And so it would hauehave seemed, that the thing which hath bin spoken heertofore, serued but for a tyme, and that when wee hauehave bin trayned in them a yeere or twayne, that ought too suffyze vsus, and eueryevery man should be a Clerk wel ynough learned, so as he myght forbeare all instruction afterward. But Saint Paule telleth vsus, that so long as wee bee in this world, wee must still profit in Gods schoole, and hauehave our eares beaten dayly with his woord, that wee may on the one syde bee brydled, and on the other syde bee strengthened and set foreward more and more. For put the cace wee were of so good abilitie and capacitie, as too learne all that is for our behoofe, within twoo or three yeeres space: yit are wee so fickle headed, that eueryevery of vsus would by and by bee starting out of the way, if wee were not hild backe. Therfore Gods voutsafyng too hauehave his woord preached vntoo vsus euen too our dying day, serueth too make our fayth … and stedfast.

But there is yit a greater necessitie. Which is, that such as thinke themselues forewardest, if they sift themselues throughly, shall fynd themselues yit farre of from the marke that they runne at.Phil. 3. c. 12.Phil 3 And therfore it standeth vsus vppon, too bee strengthened dayly more and more, and to hauehave the lyght of our fayth increaced, after the maner of the day, which we see to grow still bryghter & bryghter vntoo hygh noone. So must we profit still more and more, till the daysonne of ryghtuousenesse appeere vntoo vsus. Trew it is that men are so stout harted as a number of them will not beleeue it: but that is bycause they bee contented with their assishnesse. For yee shall see a great sort so proud and presumptuous, bycause they hauehave studyed three or fower latin words, that to their owne seeming they passe all the greatest doctors in the world, A…d surely they also which doo but begin too study some science, beare themselues in hand that they bee alredy come too the perfection of it, and yit hauehave they scarsely entered into it. In lyke cace is it with handy craftes, in so much that there is none so bold as blynd bayard: he sticketh lesse to do al things, than the man that hath greatly profited. So is it also with these lyghtheaded Christiās: get they once some saying of the scripture at theyr tunges end, and behold, they bee (too their ow… seeming) as half Angels, and they neuer passe of profiting any more. But they that apply their whole indeuer to learne stil in Gods schoole, doo fynd themselues behynd hand at a ten or twenty yeeres end. Howsoeuer the world go, let vsus marke well how the Apostle sayeth heere, that God will not hauehave vsus trayned in the Gospell for a twoo or three yeeres only, but he will hauehave vsus go through with it, so that if wee liued a hundred yeeres and vpward in this world, yit must wee bee schollers still, and all our wisdome is too knowe that we be not yit come so neere too our perfection, but that wee had neede too go foreward still. And heeruppon wee must eueryevery of vsus for his own part stirre vp and spurre foorth our selues: and therwithall God must bee so gracious too vsus, as to be alwayes redy to continew his teaching of vsus styll withou… …eassing, so as wee maye neuer bee weerye. And when wee hauehave one day learned some lesson that may d…o vsus good, let vsus assure our selues that the same is not so wel printed in our harts as nedeth, nor yit so wel knowen of vsus as were reuqisite. And Agein, that when wee hauehave learned one poynt, yea twoo or three, wee want yit much more, and ther… p. 184is not a man so well qualified, which hath not neede too bee exhorted still. Too bee short, let vsus assure our selues in any wyse, that Gods ordeyning of this gouernment in his Church, that the Gospell should bee preached, is too the intent, that as long as wee bee in this earthly pilgrimage, wee should resort continually too the schoole where God teacheth vsus:1. Cor. 1…. d. 12.1 Cor 1 for wee walke by beleefe (sayeth Saint Paule) and not by eysyght. Wherin he sheweth that we bee not yit of capacitie to behold Gods glory,1. Iohn. …. a. …. (according also as S. Iohn sayeth in his first Epistle,) nother shalbee vntill wee bee all wholly transfigured and made lyke vntoo God: and then shall wee see him (sayeth he) as he is. As now as (S. Paule sayeth in another place) wee see but in part,1. Cor. 1…. c. 9.1 Cor 1 and we knowe but in part, verily bycause wee walke but in beleefe. Nowe whence springeth fayth?Rom. 1…. b. 17.Rom 1 How is it nurrished and increaced. By the woord of God. When wee hauehave preaching, and are diligent too bee edifyed by it: that is the first poynt wherby, and wherat our fayth beginneth: and that is the meane wherby it continueth and increaceth till it bee throughly perfected, as wee shall see. And for the same cause dooth S. Iohn call both old men and young men, and such as are in the flower of their age, too the intent they should all submit themselues too the obedience of the Gospell. Yee old men,1. Iohn. 2. b. 12. 13. 14.1 John 2 come heare him that was before all tyme, sayth he (speaking of our Lord Iesus Christ) he is appeered. And you young man and little children, learne too knowe that yee hauehave a father in heauen. And you stronger sort, know yee wherin your strength lyeth. Too bee short, S. Paule sheweth vsus heere, that Gods children must be so humble, as to submit themselues too instruction and teaching from day too day and from yeere to yeere, and consider that they bee not yit come whyther they woulde and should.

And too the same purpose dooth he adde, Vntill wee bee knit all toogither in the vnitie of fayth. Forasmuch as wee myght quyte start away, and no brydle could holde vsus backe, if necessitie once constreyned vsus, (as I hauehave shewed you already this morning: therfore S. Paule telleth vsus, that wee bee not yit come too the poynt, which these fantasticall persons that are puffed vp with their vayne ouerweening, (doo thinke themselues too bee come vntoo,) as though they wanted nothing more: S. Paule sayth, wee be not there yit. Trew it is, that wee ought too indeuer too bee all one (as I hauehave shewed already:) for without concord there can bee nother Church nor religion among vsus, nother is God honored and serued: neuerthelesse wee doo but go …ward still vntoo this concord asMath. 5. d. 25.Matt 5 wee doo too all other vertues. And so long as wee liue in this world, wee alwayes go still further and further, according whervntoo this lyfe is not in vayne named a race or way,1. Tim. 4. b. 7.1 Tim 4 appoynted vsus of God. After that maner then dooth he speake vntoo vsus of the vnitie of fayth: not that the Christians ought too varye one from another, and to maynteyne contrary opinions whyle they be in the trade of profiting: but S. Paule sheweth, that their fayth cannot bee all one, vntill it bee well settled. Now there will alwayes bee imperfections and infirmities, there will alwayes bee cloudes of ignorance. And therefore wee must keepe on too the marke that is set vsus downe heere.

Furthermore, wee must marke well what S. Paule addeth, concerning the knowing of the sonne of God. For therein he sheweth vsus the summe of our fayth: which is, not too wander too and fro, but too knowe what Iesus Christ is, what at his power is, and what benefites he bringeth vsus. That is the trew perfectnesse of fayth. Therfore I said, that it is a notable poynt. For wee see how the wretched world hath bin misseledde and beguyled heretoofore, and still is in the popedome, where they which hauehave some deuoutnesse, torment themselues greatly, and take paynes too inquyre of this and that, alwayes full of hartbytings, alwayes full of questionings, and yit are still of that sort, whom S. Paule reporteth too bee euer learning,…. Tim. 3. b. 7. and neuer a whit the wyzer. S. Paule speaketh there of these Hypocrites which despyze the simplicitie of the Gospell, and turne away from Iesus Christ, too follow… theyr owne foolishe inuentions. They will hauehave their speculations on eyther syde, and they will take payne ynough: but yit shall they neuer bee the wyzer.Coloss. 2. a. 3.Col 2 For inasmuch as all the treasures of wisedome and vnderstanding are layd vp in Iesus Christ, wee must ame at him: in him onelyonly shall wee fynde the whole substaunce of our saluation. When wee once knowe that Iesus Christ is giuen vsus of God his father,1. Cor. 6. b. 11.1 Cor 6 too reconcyle vsus by his death and passion: when wee once know… that it is he onelyonly in whom wee must seeke our ryghtuousnesse, when wee once knowe that wee bee washed from all spots and vnclenenesse by his blud, that he hath made satisfaction for all our dettes wherin wee were indetted, that he by his holy spirit hath sanctifyed vsus and dedicated vsus too the …eruice of God,1. Iohn. 2. …. ….1 John 2 and that he is our aduocate too make vsus fynde fauour in all our prayers and supplications: I say, when w…e p. 185once knowe this: wee may despyze all the things which the other sort thinke themselues too know, & which they hauehave imagined without any certeintie. For that cause therfore dooth S. Paule adde heere expresly the knowing of the sonne of God, too the end to defyne the better what the woord Fayth importeth. For it runneth roundly ynough in mens mouthes: and eueryevery man will say he beleeueth: but in the meane while, if these men which vaunt themselues with full mouth too bee as pillers of the Church, and as good catholikes as may bee, (as the world sees well ynough,) bee demaunded what faith is: they stop short of it. They will say perchaunce, it is too beleeue in God: (yea:) but the Turkes and Papistes will say so too: and yit for all that … will condemne the Turkes, bycause they know not what beleefe is. As much is too bee sayd of Papists. And wherin differ wee from them, wee (I say) that call our selues Christians? In knowing that God hath sent vsus Iesus Christ too leade vsus vp hygher, so as wee bee sure that bycause he is our father, he will not lay our sinnes too our charge, but receyueth vsus intoo his fauour through his owne free goodnesse, accepting vsus for ryghtuous, when wee condemne our selues by trew repentance, and seeke all our welfare in Iesus Christ, acknowledging that there is nothing in vsus but vtter cursednesse. Yee see then that our Lord Iesus Christ is the very marke or whyte wherat wee ame. If a man should shoote in a long bowe, or in a Crosse bowe, or in a Gunne, and hauehave no mark or white before him, but should discharge at aduenture, now this way, now that way: what a shooting were that? Euen so standes the cace with al them that ame not at our Lord Iesus Christ. For they doo but roue, and intangle them selues in many a pecke of trubbles: and wee should bee euer in daunger to bee misledde and de…eiued by men, if wee did not knowe Iesus Christ, and settle our whole contentation in hym, assuring our selues that he is the whole summe of our fayth.

Now Saint Paule addeth yit further, that the same is for the age of perfection, and for our true accomplishment. Wherby he doth vsus too wit (as I hauehave touched alredy) that so long as wee liue in this world, wee must still growe and go foreward, knowing that there are still manie infirmities in vsus, and that wee bee not yit come too our full greatnesse. Yit is it not therfore too bee sayd, that wee bee litle children still, as he will adde anon after: but here he setteth downe as it were three degrees of age. First infanc…e and chyldhod, secondly the yeeres aboue twelue, before there bee yit discretion and skill to gouerne our selues, in which tyme wee must still profit more and more. And when a man is come too the age of fortie yeeres, then is he is his cheefe state. For by that tyme he ought too hauehave some trade both of bodie and mynd, wheron too stay and rest. Not that wee must not profit still euen at threescore yeeres: but I speake of the similitude that Saint Paule setteth downe heere. First therfore he sayth, that wee must herken too the Gospell, till wee bee come too full age. And when is that? At our death, sayeth he. For heere wee must not count our yeeres after the manner of men. After a man is once past fiftie, too all seeming he decayeth both in his senses and in his wit, But Saint Paule sayth, that wee shall neuer bee at our full growth, till wee bee rid of this bodie. So then, the spirituall age of Christians is when they bee gone out of this world. But now let vsus see what manner of ones wee bee, since wee beganne too profit in the Gospell. Wee bee lyke a chylde that is halfe a man. He is past fifteene yeere old, or perhappes past twentie: & yit he ceasseth not to learne styl dayly, for he hath needde of it, and he is sure, that although he hauehave studied (a good whyle,) yit is he not come too the last step, he hath not gotten so settled and stayed a iudgment as were requisite. Howbeeit, it may well come too passe, that a child of twentie yeeres shall hauehave all the sciences at his fingers endes, wherein he hath bin trayned and instructed: but yit shall he bee neuerthelesse lyght headed for all that, nother shall he hauehave the skyll too apply them too his vse, bycause he is not yit rype: for he is but lyke greene Corne, or lyke as when a vyneyard makes a fayre show of a good vintage, but the grapes are not yit rype. Euen so is it with that age. And for that cause Saint Paule sayth by a similitude, that as long as Christians are alyue, although they were threescore, yea foure score, or fyue score yeeres old, yit must they bee still lyke children, not too chyldren of wit, but too young striplings which are of age to profite,1. Cor. 3. a. 1.1 Cor 3 and doo willingly submit and suffer themselues too bee gouerned, bycause they knowe well they bee not yit of rype discretion. Neuerthelesse Saynt Paule telleth vsus, wee must not bee lyke lyttle babes that hauehave yit nother wit nor discretion,1. Cor. 14. b. 20.1 Cor 14 nor can scarsely yit discerne betweene good and bad.

First and formest therfore wee must beare this lesson well in mynd, that when wee hauehave seene and tryed neuer so much in the world, and traueled from place too place, and bin exercyzed in manye affayres: p. 186though we thinke our selues to be the politikest in the world, yit are wee not so wyse, that wee neede to learne no more. And why? For heere the cace concerneth Gods wisdome, which passeth all the wit of man, and wee may bee commended ynough and too much of the world, and yit wee shall know things but in part,1. Cor. 13. c. 19.1 Cor 13 and therfore let vsus not deceyue our selues. Therfore away with this fond ouerweening, too thinke our selues wyse ynough, (I spake euen of them that are able too teathe others) and let vsus continew scollers still. For although Iesus Christ hauehave appoynted certein too bee as leaders and guydes too shewe other men the way: yit dooth it not follow, that they bee so wyse, that they must not bee learners as well as the rest. For he that speaketh, must take instruction by it himself, and a man shall neuer be meete too declare Gods will vntoo other men, except he himself learne dayly.

The thing then whiche wee hauehave too beare in mynde, is, that wee must bee throughly perswaded, that if wee profit not our selues, wee go lyke Seacrabbes. For they that go not foreward in the doctrine of saluation, vaunt they neuer so much of their being taught in Gods schoole, doo vndoubtedly go backe. And therfore let vsus beware in any wyse that wee fall not asleepe, or stand still at a stay, as though there were no more too bee learned. And let vsus consider that our lyfe is lykened too a way, and thervppon learne too go foreward still, and too gayne alwayes some ground, and too spurre and etch foorth our slouthfulnesse and slowenesse, so as it may from day too day appeere, that wee hauehave gotten some knowledge more than afore: eyther by vnderstanding better the things which we thought too hauehave bin throughly printed in our myndes, or by conceyuing some other poynt by other folkes instruction, which was vnknowen too vsus afore. So then, let vsus increace the hoord of that treasure from day too day. And if olde folk bee so much the carefuller too gather goods, as they drawe neerer too their graue, bycause they see themselues too bee weake, and too hauehave neede of succour, and are alwayes afrayd to bee destitute of mans ayde, insomuch that that forecast of theirs, driueth them to burning couet…usnesse: ought not wee on our syde too bee greatly ashamed, if wee make not prouision of Gods woord in our old age, seeing wee perceyue how there is much feeblenesse and sin still in vsus? or if wee labour not too bee continually still inlyghtened euen tyll the daysonne of ryghtuousnesse (which is our Lord Iesus Christ) shyne vppon vsus,Mala…h. 4. a. 2. as at hygh noone, seeing wee fynde our owne ignorance by experience.

Yee see then that the meane too put this doctrine of Saint Paules in vre, is first too humble our selues in such wyse, as no man take more vppon him through vayne selfweening, than belongs vntoo him, but that wee will keepe on our way aduyzedly, assuring our selues that we bee not yit come too our wayes end. And that is the cause also why Saint Paul sayd,Phil. 3. c. 12.Phil 3 that he looked not backe to the things he had doone alredye, but foreward vntoo the things that remayned. Saint Paule had made a greate iorney, and taken much peyne for the Gospels sake: he had bin taken vp afore into the third heauen:2. Cor. 12. b. 4.2 Cor 12 and there he had heard and seene secret things, which it was not lawfull for him to speake of among men. Yee see then, that he was as a man that had bin taught in the schoole of Angels: and as in respect of men, he had passed all the other Apostles: and yit for all this, he sayeth he streyneth himselfe forewarde, and laboureth too atteyne too the marke wherat he amed. Now if Saint Paule spake so: what ought wee too doo, which are yit as it were but at our Apcie? Then as concerning this full rypenesse of age, let vsus assure our selues that wee cannot forbeare new and dayly instruction, vntill wee bee quyte rid of all the infirmities of our flesh. Untill wee bee departed out of this world, wee must suffer our selues too bee guyded and gouerned lyke teachable and meeke young folk, and wee must beeleeue good counsell, assuring our selues that wee hauehave neede of it. Therfore Saint Paule attributeth that (full rypenesse of age) too our Lord Iesus Christ, as if he should say, that men beguyle themselues through their owne fond rashnesse, by beholding themselues in them selues.1. Cor. 1. d. 21.1 Cor 1 For know we once what Iesus Christ is, wee shal perceyue full well, that there are yit manie imperfections in vsus. He is called the wisdome of God his father, he is called his euerlasting woord,Iohn. 1. a. 1.John 1 he is called his image. And all this is too the end that wee should learne of him, and behold Gods glorie in his person, which otherwyse were inuisible vntoo vsus. But now, can wee comprehend Gods infinite wisdome? Can wee atteyne too the vnderstanding of Gods glorie,1. Cor. 11. b. 7.1 Cor 11 so as wee may hauehave the full syght of it? Alas wee bee farre short of it.Coloss. 1. b. 15.Col 1 Therfore whensoeuer wee be tempted with foolish ouerweening, too think wee knowe more than wee doo: let vsus lift vp our eyes too our Lord Iesus Christ, and not presume in our selues, as many fantasticall persons doo. For when wee … p. 187knowe that our wisdome is in our Lord Iesus Christ, then shall wee well perceyue that wee bee yit farre from it.

Herewithall Saint Paule warneth vsus also, that it is not in our owne power or cunning too beleeue faythfully,Iam. 1. c. 17.Jas 1 but th…t wee must be fayne too hauehave it giuen vntoo vsus. Trew it is that wee must doo our indeuer, that our fayth may bee stablished: wee must bee diligent in hearing Gods word, we must haunt Sermons, we must reade, we must herken too good exhortations, and too all good doctrine, wherby wee may fare the better: wee must giuegive good heede too those things. And yit notwithstanding wee must not presume any whit vppon our owne cunning, as though our wit were able of it self too receyue learning and instructiō: but let vsus learne that our Lord Iesus Christ must bring vsus too that by his holie spirit. So then let vsus bee lowely, that wee may bee the schollers of our God: and that lowelinesse importeth a ridding of our selues from all selfweening, and an abcing of our selues, knowing that wee hauehave no more than is giuen vsus of God.

Also on the contrarie part Saint Paule sayeth, that wee must not bee as little children wauering with euerie blast of doctrine, or being tossed and turmoyled too and fro, as chaffe vvith the vvynd: and too bee short, that vvee must not bee beguyled by the vvylynesse of men. Heere wee see yit better the thing tha… I touched heertoofoore: which is, that Saint Paule setteth downe as it were three ages. The first is, as a Chyldhood. And which is that? It is before we hauehave anie instruction at all, when wee be yit as it were half beasts, without discretion too discerne Gods truthe. And there bee many such children in the world. At what age? Euen at three or fouer score yeeres. For here Saint Paule speaks by a liknesse or resembla…nce, & stands not vponupon the accounting of dayes, moonethes, or yeeres. His meaning then is, that such as are wauering and floting lyke a bote that is tossed vppon the water, are little children. It it is trew that the scripture dooth sundry tymes vse the woord (Chyld) in another sense: as when Saint Peter exhorteth vsus too bee as newborne babes,1. Pet. 2. a. 2.1 Pet 2 and too desyre the milk of soundnesse, yea euen with putting away of all malice. Also our Lord Iesus exhorteth vsus too bee as babes,Mark. 9. …. 36. & Luke. …. f. 47.Mark 9 that is too say, vnpuffed vp with presumption and pryde, so as wee mak… no reckening of our selues, ne be trubbled with the lusts that vex… vsus, when wee begin too knowe what it is too liue among men. Then after that maner it dooth vsus good to be babes or little children. Agein in another place Saint Paule sayth,…. Cor. 14. d. 20. that wee should bee babes i… naughtinesse: but yit he sayth, that wee must not bee babes in vnderstanding: and that is the thing which he rehearseth agein in this present text. Then condemneth he such as are babes in vnderstanding, that is too say, which are so doutfull and wauering, that they bee sure of nothing: they knowe not what fayth too bee of, nor what God too woorship. Now I told you that the world is too full of such babes, which harden themselues in their brutishnesse and ignorance. And in good sooth, how manie shall a man fynde which are so throughly settled in Gods truth, as they cannot bee made too daunce after another mannes pype, as Saint Paule speaketh of them heere? For if it bee demaunded what the Gospell is, some will answere, it must needes bee a good thing bycause God is the author of it: but in the meane whyle, too bee able too yeelde a reason of theyr fayth, is no poynt of their skill, but they harden themselues in their ignorance, yea and couet too bee as lyttle babes styll. Othersome can well ynough skill too yeeld an account, in such wyse as a man woulde deeme there were some good roote of fayth in them: and yit for all that, if there come but one blast of wynd, yee shall see them in such perplexitie, that they wote not any more in what God they beleeue. For if there ryse vp any heresyes or stumbling blockes, the most part of those that spake woonders afore, are so wyndshaken as too saye, How now? There were neuer such opinions heard of: and what meaneth this? Which may a man holde for the best? But in so dooing they shewe well ynough, (as I sayd afore) that they neuer streyned themselues, ne tooke any great payne too go forwarde, that they myght no more bee so wauering.

Furthermore, besydes this lykening of men vntoo babes, Saint Paule setteth downe yit other similitudes, saying, that such folkes are as reedes that are shaken vvith eueryevery vvynd, or as a boate that floteth vppon the waues of the sea, or of some Lake. In deede this belongeth not too little babes: but Saint Paules intent was also too shewe howe wretched their state is, which are not throughly grounded in the Gospell. For is there any greater wretchednesse than too bee floting, and as it were wauering at eueryevery wynde, and too hauehave no steadinesse at all in the matters that concerne our saluation? If wee were threatened euerye minute of an houre, where through wee were so scared, that wee were in continuall fearfulnesse p. 188and trembling: had wee not leauer too bee dead out of hand, than too linger after that sorte, and too dye a hundred tymes aday? But now, wee stand vppon the euerlasting saluation of our soules: and wote not where too become in that cace? Shall there bee no stedinesse in vsus? S. Paule therefore ment too shew vsus this thing, of purpose too redresse the slothfulnesse or rechlesnesse whervntoo wee be too much giuen.

And too pricke vsus foreward yit dubble: he sayeth, that vvee must not bee subiect too mens Cousinage. He vseth heere a woord that is taken of dyce playing. For wee knowe that they which make a trade or occupacion of that craft, must hauehave store of siyghtes, for there is no faythfulnesse nor trust in it. In deede it is sayd, that a man shall see the tryall of ones wit and disposition by playe: but it is knowen also that all Dycers are deceyuers, insomuch as there is not the simplest of them, but he would hauehave the cunning too beguyle those that playe with him. In deede all are not so cunnyng as too shred other men of their goods by their s…eyghtie conueyance: but yit for all that, wee see it is the generall and vniuersall propertie of that play, too bee guylefull. And it is not so in that game onelyonly, but welneere in all other. Saint Paule hath set downe heere but one kynde, but experience sheweth how the cace standeth, yea and euen lyttle children ought too beare it well in mynde. And whereas I call them little children, I meane not such as hang vppon the dug, but these lyttle Cockchickens that are tyed too swordes, and are so pert fellowes, & weene themselues to be men, when they ought to hauehave a rodde yit half a doozen yeeres longer, and yit for al that doo take snuffe at it, if a man kepe them from beyng deceyued. For if all games were set at lybertie: surely there woulde be store of Cousiners euerywhere. And a young heyre shoulde no sooner come too a dozen yeeres olde, but he should hauehave a newe lyuerie on his backe (as they say:) for he should fynde Cousiners ynow, which would take him by the hande, too picke his purse, and keepe him good companie till he were quyte shred of all that he hath. Now then although Saint Paule speake heere of the stedfastnesse of the fayth of the Gospell: yit borroweth he the comparisons of the common lyfe, and of the thinges that are seene day by day. His saying then is, that vnlesse wee hauehave a well settled fayth, so as wee bee fully purposed and determyned too walke in Gods truth euen to the end, & to stand inuincibly in it: we be but little children that are subiect too eueryevery mans cousinage, & we shall alwayes fynd Cousiners and deceiuers, that will robbe vsus & spoyle vsus, & we neuer perceiue it, so as wee shall woonder how wee become poore. In the same taking are wee▪ and all commeth too his poynt, too shewe vsus that wee hauehave great neede too bee well fenced. For when wee bee out of feare, eueryevery of vsus falles too reueling, we take no care, wee keepe no watch. But if there bee warre, so as wee bee threatened: then (wee think) it behoues vsus too keepe good watch, & wee stand vppon our gard. If wee dout of any afterclappes, then we bethink our selues, least we be taken napping. Saint Paule therfore telleth vsus heere, that there will bee nothing but cousining, and that we shal fall into Satans snares eueryevery minute of an houre, if wee watch not warely. And why? For among whom are wee conuersant? What a sort of Cousiners are there in the worlde? There will euer bee leaud companie which shall seeke the ouerthrowe of our fayth: there will euer bee scoffers, heathenish folk, and other makebates, which would fayne hauehave all things go too ha…cke, yea and which will indeuer too shead their poysons and herestes abrode, too corrupt and infect men withall. Too bee short, the diuell hath a thousand wayes too deceyue vsus, and men also are redy ynough vntoo it, and there are maynteyners ynow which will offer themselues, and desyre no better liuing, as they say. For this cause Saint Paule sheweth vsus, that if wee labour not stoutly too profyte in Gods woord, wee shall surely bee caught and caryed away at eueryevery hand, and fleete too and fro, and bee led by the bill, and runne about lyke little chilldren, so as wee shall hauehave no discretion at all. Then if wee bee not well aduyzed, euen they that are the forewardest of vsus, shall stumble, and within a step or twoo breake our neckes, notwithstanding that wee seeme too bee well entered on our way alr…y…. And it is not heere only that the scripture telleth vsus, we must not bee as little babes in vnderstanding. Wee see that the people of the Iewes also were…vpbrayded with it, insomuch that Esay telleth them, that they be but as little children alwayes at their Apcie,Esay. 28. …. 10.Isa 28 and that they must alwayes bee rapped vppon the pates, bycause they continue still in their brutishnesse. When a man hath cryed out too them a hundr… and hundred tymes A.B.C. by and by they forget it, and are … new too begin. Thus complayneth he of them. And agein, too … them ashamed, How pro…t you (sayeth he) specially in Gods doct…i…e? There yee make as though yee were little children, & play the …. p. 189In worldly affi…es yee bee craftie yn…gh: but in the doctrine of saluation yee vnderstand nothing a… all. Now herein God sheweth, that he will punishe such as take scorne too bee taught in his schoole. So then, let vsus labour too come too the myddle age,Ephe. 4. b. 13.Eph 4 whereof S. Paule spake not long ago. And although wee cannot atteyne too perfection so long as wee bee in this world: yit let vsus not bee starke idiots and altoogither vnlearned, nother let vsus bee euer nouices: but let vsus shewe that God hath not lost his tyme, in beeyng so gracious too vsus, as too beate our eares with his woorde. That is the thing which wee hauehave too beare away.

Furthermore let vsus vnderstand also, that it is long of none but our selues that wee be not wel armed ageinst all the wyles of the diuell and the world, namely by laboring too profit in the Gospell and in Gods woord. For from thence must wee fetch armor and weapon too furnish our selues withall, when wee bee weake. That is the way too withstand at the cosinages and falshoods of Satan: that is the meane for vsus to beate backe all his assaultes: that is to wyt, by hauyng the said worde, which wyll serue vsus for Swoord, Target, and Headpeece▪ Ephe. …. c. 14.as wee shall see in the syrt Chapter. Too bee short, wee shalbe well armed too withstand all bruntes.

Therefore if wee bee fickle headed, and therupon it please … too punish our vnthankfulnesse, accordyng too his threatnyng by Moyses in the thirteene of Deuteronomie, where he saith,Deut. 13. a. 3.Deut 13 that if he styrre vp false Prophetes, and the people gyue eare too them, it is a token that they loued hym not, and that they which continue in his feare, wyll abide firme and stedfast: I say, if wee bee so light and fickle mynded, let vsus arme our selues with these exhortations: and (as saith Saint Paul) if heresies spring vp, let vsus vnderstand,1. Cor. 11. d. 19.1 Cor 11 that it is for the tryall of suche as bee rightly mynded. And therefore let vsus marke well, that it is long of nothing but of our own rechlesnesse, that wee bee not alwayes stedfast in Gods woorde, and that our fayth dooth not alwayes get the vpper hand of all temptations (as saith Saint Iohn in his first Epistle. This ought too prouoke vsus too take paynes,1. Iohn. 5. a. 4.1 John 5 not onelyonly too get ordinary foode to sustaine our soules withall: but also too withstande Satan and all his champions, and too beate backe all assaultes that shalbee made vponupon vsus.

And forasmuch as our Lord matcheth his Sacramentes with his woord: let vsus make our profit of them altoogither. And wheras wee are too receyue the holy Supper the next Sunday, let vsus vnderstand, that it is our spirituall armour, wherwith it beh…ueth vsus too bee fenced ageinst Satan, and is added for a further strengthning of vsus after wee hauehave bin instructed in Gods woord. Wherfore …et vsus not through our vnkyndnesse and vanitie, suffer the meanes too serue for nothing, which God hath giuen vsus, and which he knoweth too bee fit for vsus: but let vsus followe this counsell of Saynt Paules. And on the one syde let vsus consider that wee bee weake, a…d that wee hauehave neede too bee releeued, and that Gods comming after that fashyon vntoo vsus, is too drawe vsus vntoo him, that wee myght yeeld him thankes for the louing kyndnesse which he vseth. And for our owne parte let vsus indeuer too put foreward our selues the more, by matching the woord with the Sacramentes, and the Sacraments with the woord, so as wee may bee prouoked thereby too resort too our God, that he maye so further vsus in the way of saluation, as it may appeere in the end, that wee hauehave not walked in vayne, nor bin disappoynted of our expectation.

Now let vsus foll downe before the maiestie of our good God, with acknowledgment of our faultes, praying him too make vsus so too feele them, as we may vtterly mis…yke of them, and bee alwayes prouoked too trew repentance, and not onlye bee sory that wee hauehave offended, but also resist all the wicked lustes of our flesh, which hinder our trew obedience in ruling our lyfe according too his holie woord, and that forasmuch as the ryght way too atteyne thertoo, is too profit in his woord, it may please him too graunt that wee may neuer bee destitute of that benefyte, and that when wee hauehave it in our handes, wee may vse it well, & labour too profit in it: and he woorke in such wyse in vsus by his holy spirit, as it may not be a sound that vanisheth away in the aire, but a roote that groweth fast in vsus, to yeeld frute in our lyfe, euen too the end, that wee way bee so grounded in him, as his louelove and fear… may growe more and more in vsus, vntill he hauehave gathered vsus togither intoo his heritage. That it maye please hym too graunt this grace, not only too vsus, but also too all people and Nations of the earth. &c.