Sermons on Ephesians, Sermons · Sermon 38
The .xxxviii. Sermon, which is the sixth vppon the fifth Chapter.
18▪ And bee not drunken vvith vvine, wherin is loocenesse: but bee yee filled with the Spirit.
19. Talking among you in Psalmes, Praysinges, and spirituall songs, singing and making melodie in your hart too the Lord.
20. Giuing thankes alvvayes too our God and father▪ for all things in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ▪
21. Beyng subiect one too another in the feare of God.
WEe ha…e seene this morning how God is offended when men abuze the benefytes which he would hauehave to be applyed …o such end as he sheweth by his word: & therfore that all exce…e and drunkennesse ought too bee shunned of the faythfull, bycause they knowe that God sheweth himself a father toowardes them, by nurrishing them in this world: howbeeit not as when they shal bee come too the heauenly heritage, but by hauing at leastwyse some tast of his goodnesse: for they be continualy confirmed in the hope which is giuen them by our Lord Iesus Christ. Now if in sted of beeing drawen vpward, men become so brutish, as to looze all reason and māhood: it is an vtter peruerting of the order of nature, it is as a defying of God for his owne ben…fytes. But yit when drunkenesse draweth a long tayle after it, and men flush foorth into all lea…dnesse, so as they bee past all shame, and yit their shamefulnesse may make folke too loth and abhorre it: the mischefe is increaced so much the more. And therefore too the intent too kepe vsus in sobrietie and orderly conuersation: Saint Paule sayth, wee must keepe our selues from being so ouercome and vanquished of wyne.
And now on the contrarie part he addeth, that vvee must rather be filled vvith the Spirit. For they that burst themselues so with eating and drinking, and keepe no measure, tyll they can no more, doo well shewe that they hauehave no feeling of the kingdome of God, ne neuer tasted what the heauenly lyfe is. This remedie therefore is ryght conuenient too correct all the excesses and superfluities that reigne among heathenish men, and such as neuer conceyued any incling of Gods grace and spirituall benefytes. Lyke as if a man that were emptie, should deuoure & swallow vp al without chawing, it were rather an ouerlaying of his stomack, than a taking of sustenance and repast: and therefore if another man sawe that vyce in him, he would restreyne him: euen so is it with all such as hauehave inordinate lustes: it is a token that they bee too emptie. And wherof? Of fayth, of the feare of God, and of the ioy which is in the holy Ghost: and that they know not a whit of Gods goodnesse and fauour toowardes them, nor of the grace which he sheweth vsus in our Lord Iesus Christ. For had we once our bellyes full of such vittelles, surely we would not play the Wolues in rauening, but wee would keepe mea…ure. That then is the cause why Saint Paule sayth, that wee must bee filled with the holy Ghost. As if he should say, that the despyzers of God, and such as hauehave none other religion but too lyue at ease heere, and too hauehave all their delyghtes and pleasures, are excessiuely full, beyond all reason and measure. And that is a defyling of Gods benefytes, and a despizing of the order of nature, as I sayd afore. Now then if yee bee so sharpe set too knowe what God is, and what it is too profit in his woord: come your wayes to deuoure it, as they doo which hauehave eaten no meate a twoo dayes afore: bee not afrayd of eating too much of that foode, for it will neuer burst our soules. Therefore let vsus hardily cram our selues with the giftes of Gods spirit, and with his Ghostly benefytes, wherby he feedeth vsus in the hope of the heauenly lyfe: for in so dooing wee cannot doo amisse: but wee cannot giuegive head too our lustes, in taking foode for the bodie, but there will by and by followe some euill and offence. The matter which wee hauehave in effect too remember vppon this streyne, is, that all they which glut themselues after that fashyon, and cannot satisfie themselues but by playing the beastes: shewe well that they hauehave not so much as one drop of fayth, nor of the feare of God, nor of religion in them▪ but that their bellye ouerruleth them, and that they bee so subiect thereuntoo, as too their peculiar & principall Idoll. Now seeing it is so, let vsus learne to long after the foode of our soules. And forasmuch as it is liberally offered vsus from day too day, insomuch that it is Gods whole desyre that wee should hauehave all that suffyzeth for our saluation: let vsus sharpen our appetytes too take such repast, and then shall wee bee sure that (our other) meates shall not allure vsus too such gluttonie, that wee shall become as vnsatiable gulfes, but wee shalbee contented with the hauing of that which is meete for vsus, and sufficient for our necessitie, at leastwyse too our behoof.
Furthermore this similitude which Saint Paule vseth, must not bee thought straunge, when he sayth, that wee must drinke our fill of Gods spirit.Esai. 55. …. 1. For wee knowe that the Prophet Esay sayeth, that Gods spirit is lykened too Water, and too Milke, and too Wyne, wherby wee bee inuyted too come vntoo God, to take our repaste, and too hauehave whatsoeuer is behooffull for vsus. Come on (sayeth he) and take at your pleasures both Milke, Wyne, and Water, without money, or monyes woorth. Hereby therfore God declareth vntoo vsus, that wee shall hauehave abundance of all spirituall benefites, and sufficient too content vsus too the full, if so bee that wee will but open our mouthes (as it is sayd in the Psalme) and not bee so forepossessed of our owne inordinate lustes,Psal. …1. b. 11. as wee cannot fynd in our hartes too seeke the principall. That is the further meaning of the similitude that S. Paule vseth heere.
Now forasmuch as this doctrine is so yll put in vre euerywhere, we ought to thinke the better of it. If a mā consider how great emptinesse there is in them that professe Christianitie: (he shall fynde that) they can scarsly say three woordes too yeeld confession of their fayth, for had they any in their hartes, surely their mouthes would vtter it, according too this saying,Rom. 10. b. 10. that wee beleeue with the hart vntoo ryghtuousnesse, and confesse with the mouth vntoo saluation. Howbeeit, if wee bee desyrous too bee filled: wee neede not too bee counselled too go seeke the things that wee neede: wee neede but onelyonly too receyue the foode that is profered vsus and set afore vsus. Yea, and this serueth well too vpbrayd vsus with our leaudnesse, in that wee voutsafe not too go vntoo God though he call vsus, nor too make account of that which he offereth vsus. Wee will not forget too eate and too drinke for refresshing of our bodyes: and yit that will not content vsus nother: for wee could fynd in our hartes too cobble vp (as yee would say) the whole world. Yit notwithstanding euen the soberest are willing too hauehave their ordinarie repaste. The other sort doo cram in meate and drinke a foure or fyue tymes a day, and in the meane whyle the wretched soules of them are hungrie still. Therefore wee must beare in mynd that the warning which Saint Paule gyueth vsus heere, telleth vsus, that too bee sober and well ruled, and too vse measurably the benefites that God bestoweth vppon vsus: the soule must not bee forgotten, but wee must feede vppon the spirituall giftes, too leade vsus too the heauenly lyfe, and too maynteyne vsus in the hope therof, vntyll the full possession and fruition thereof bee gyuen vsus at the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ.
And hereuppon Saint Paule addeth, that vvee should talke toogither in songs and hymnes, and also that the same should be done vvith the hart: bycause the toung would but vnhalowe Gods woord, if the mynd match not with the speeche. Now wheras he sayeth, that wee must talke toogither in hymnes, praysings, and songs: it is too correct all fond talke, wheruntoo wee bee too much giuen. For wee see that all of vsus hauehave as it were itching eares: there is none of vsus which is not well apayd too heare tryflyng bibblebabble: he that hath receyued in on the one syde, is ready too delyuer out on the other syde: and so the day passeth away in things of nothing: or else our talk shall bee wanton and looce, meete too infect good manners, and God shall bee offended with it. Yee see then, that the thing whertoo men are too much inclyned, is, that too please one another, they banish all talk that may edifye, and common of pelting tryfles too moue laughter, as they say. Now Saint Paule perceyuing this vyce to be ouer common in the world, sheweth vsus heere the remedie of it, that is too wit, that wee should talke one too another in songs and hymnes, that is too say, that men myght heare the prayses of God at our mouthes. And he pursueth styll the similitude that he had vsed heretoofore. For drunkards are not contented too become beastes themselues: but they doo also drawe others. And ryot hath alwayes this inconuenience with it, that men incorage one another too drinking,Esai. 2. d. 13. & 56. d. 12. & VVisd. 2. b. 6▪ & 1. Cor. 15. d. 32. saying: come on, let vsus eate and drinke, after the same maner that the Prophet Esay speaketh of. Forasmuch then as Ryotters, after they hauehave well stuffed themselues, would that the same vyce should raunge abrode euerywhere: Saint Paule sayeth on the contrarie part, that when wee hauehave taken our repaste of the giftes of Gods spirit, the same must not serue for our selues onelyonly, but also too giuegive refection and foode too others that hauehave neede. The trew feasting therfore which wee ought too make one too another too cheere our selues well, is that he which hath profited in Gods woorde, indeuer too deale some part and portion of it too his neyghbours, according too his owne measure. Nowe he vppeneth heere Songs, Psalmes, and Hymnes, which differ nothing at all one from another: and therefore I neede not too buzie my selfe in setting foorth any curious distinction of them. For all commeth too this end, that all our myrth should euer tend too the glorifying of God. And surely we should take pleasure ynough in the mynding of Gods grace, if wee were not withh…d by our owne maliciousnesse.
And it is a woonder too see how desyrous eueryevery man is, that God should shewe him self liberall and louing towards him. Wee would fayne inioy his benefytes, and yit in the meane whyle we put the rememberaunce of them vnderunder foote, and labour (as much as in vsus is) euen too burie them: and too our seeming, the tyme is lost that is spent in acknowledging how many wayes wee bee bound vntoo God: and yit notwithstanding it is the thing wherin wee ought too occupie …ur selues, it is the thing wherin our lyfe ought too bee cheef…yest imployed. And soothly if men were well aduyzed, there is no mirth comparable too this, nor meete too bee matched with it, namely with the acknowledging of how many wayes God hath witnessed his goodnesse and louelove towards vsus. For (as I sayd) it serueth too further vsus in the hope of the heauenly lyfe. And vndoutedly, none of the things that wee receyue at Gods hand hauehave any trew sauerinesse, vnlesse we come too put our trust in him, and can call vppon his name, and flee too him for refuge, and yeeld him his dew and deserued prayze. And therfore let vsus marke well what is sayd heere, namely that when wee talk one with another wee must alwayes magnify Gods name. Trew it is, that wee cannot atteyne too such perfectnesse in this lyfe, but that wee must bee fayne too hauehave much communication of the needs wheruntoo wee …ee subiect, and of the dooings and dealings which wee hauehave one with another, and of dyuers things besyde. But yit for all that, the principall poynt must not therfore bee let alone, and cast behynd our backs: that is too wit, wee must not foreslowe too acknowledge the benefyts wherby wee bee bound vntoo God, and therby bee prouoked too prayse him, so as eueryevery of vsus not only doo his dewtie in secret, but also drawe one another too it by mutuall example. That therfore is the pith of the things which wee hauehave too remember in this strey…e.
Now by the way Saint Paule dooeth vsus too vnderstand, that wee must sing vntoo God in spirit, too the intent wee imagin not too discharge our selues as a number of hipocryts doo, which magnifye God alonly with their tung, hauing their harts full of coldnesse still within. Heere therfore he setteth downe twoo things which ought not too bee put asunder. The one is, that wee should sing vntoo God, and the other is, that wee should talk with our neyghbours. The whole ground then of our matter is, that the benefyts which God hath bestowed vppon vsus, should bee commended, and that the rememberance of them should prouoke vsus too louelove him and serue him, and too giuegive our selues wholly too him, too seeke him, and too knowe that too cleaue vntoo him, is our full happinesse. That is the ground of the matter that S. Paule setteth vsus downe heere. Now first of all wee must (sayeth hee) sing vntoo God: and that cannot bee doone but with the hart. For we knowe that God accepteth not any thing which is not agreable to his owne nature. Then if wee will so sing as he may alow of it, and as hee may accept our songs: wee must goo too it with a hartie affection. For if there bee any counterfetting in our dooings, so as wee make a greate shewe before men, and in the meane whyle bee nigardly in our harts, and hauehave no zele at all, so as all is doone but for fashyons sake: surely wee vnhallowe Gods name in so dooing. And euen for the same did he say by his Prophet Esay,Esay. 29. d. 13. that such as came neere him only with their lippes,Math. 15. a. 8. were farre of from him in their harts. Therfore let vsus markMa…k. 7. a. 6. well how it is sayd heere, that too sing Gods prayses, the hart must go before, and (as yee would say) make a thundering within. For it is the cheef melodie that can bee, and therin wee agree with the Angels of heauen. For if the mouth speake alone, surely it is but flat mockerie. And although men allow of vsus for it: yit dooth God refuze our paying of him with such coyne, that is too say, with follies and things of nothing.
Notwithstanding, when wee shall hauehave bin zelous in the praysing of God, a…d he can well bee our iudge and witnesse, that wee lay open our harts before him: then must wee also doo …ur dewtie towards our neyghbours, that eueryevery man may be incoraged and tolled foreward by our example. And heere wee see first of all, how little account is made of God now adayes. For all the countenance that men make of singing his prayses, is but a howling and yelling. It is one of the grossest abuses in papistrie, that they think that God ought too hold him self well apayd, when they hauehave barked at their parchment, as they say. But in so dooing the holy scripture is vnhalowed, torne in peeces, yea and vtterly falsifyed. Howsoeuer the cace stand, there is nother aduyzednesse, wit, nor vnderstanding in their dooings: for it is ynough with them that the throte hath yelled it out aloud. Yea and euen among vsus too, it is certein that such as pretend to set foorth Gods prayses, doo commonly seeke nothing but too glorifye themselues by it, and keepe backe the principall in making countenance too pay God some peece of their arreerages. Agein, let vsus consider how cold and s…ender this exercyze of talking one too another in songs, hymnes, and prayses of God, is among vsus. For hardly can one woord bee wroong out of vsus that may edify. Leaud talk can by no meanes bee banished frō vsus: all the world shall heare vsus sing vnchaste and ribauldly songs: and such things cannot be plucked out of mens mynds. But then ought this matter too bee rayzed out of the holy scripture. Howsoeuer the cace stand, if men pardon themselues, they shall answer for it before God, according too the sentence that Saint Paule pronounceth heere by the authorie of God, and by the power of his holy spirit.
And by the way let vsus marke, that his touching of three woordes heere togither, which import all one thing, is not for nought. It is too shewe that wee shal hauehave ynough wherwith too interteyne one another, if wee acknowledge the s…ndrie benefytes that God hath bestowed vppon vsus, as becommeth vsus. If varietie delyght men: let vsus consider how manie wayes God layeth foorth the tre…sures of his goodnesse toowardes vsus. Looke how many there bee of them, so many … are there, and if wee had a hundreed melodyes too delyght vsus in all the things that wee occupye our selues about, it were nothing in comparison of the inestimable diuersitie of benefites which wee receyue at Gods hande. Saint Paule therefore hath heere cor…ected our vnthankfulnesse, by adding these dyuers woo…d…s, too shew that it must needes bee that wee bee too dull, if wee bee not moued when our Lord stirreth vsus vp so many wayes, seeing wee cannot set our mynd vntoo any thing, but his benefytes must needes come in our syght.
For the same cause also he addeth, Yeelding alvvayes thankes. As if he sayd, that if wee were well aduyzed, the continuall repeting of Gods prayses, and the harping vppon them should neuer greeue vsus nor weery vsus. And why? Seeing that God continueth his benefyting of vsus, is it not reason that there should bee an answerablenesse on our part, too hold out in dooing him honour for his good turnes? Dooth any one day passe wherein wee receyue not at the least a hundred good turnes at Gods hand? Now is it meete that wee should thinke, that when wee hauehave thanked him a twyce or thryce for the greate number of benefytes which we receyue of him al our lyfe long, we hauehave leyzure to occupy our selues otherwyse euer after? When as our Lord renueth and refresheth the rememberance of his goodnesse: were it not meet that wee should bee moued by it? Therefore it behoueth vsus alwayes too marke well this saying, whereby Saint Paule declareth, that wee bee tootoo vnmyndfull of God, if wee bee not prouoked too acknowledge his benefytes from yeere too yeere, from mooneth too mooneth, from day too day, and from houre too houre, and too yeeld him the sacrifyze that he requyreth of vsus, which is, that wee shoulde protest our selues too bee wholy at his will, too bee beholden too him for all good things, and that it is impossible for vsus too performe the hundreth part of our dewtie, according as wee heare how Dauid sayeth, What recompence shall I yeeld vntoo the Lord for all the goood that he hath doone mee?Psal. … 6. b. 12. 13. Psal. 40. a. 6.I will receyue the cup of saluation, and call vppon his name. And in the fortith Psalme he sayeth expresly, that the order which God keepeth in gouerning vsus, is so woonderfull a thing, as it passeth the heares of our heades in number, insomuch that wee must needes bee amazed at it. And therefore seeing wee cannot come at the infinite goodnesse of God, though we indeuer too apply all our wittes thereuntoo: al leastwyse let vsus ame toowardes it. And lyke as wee see that God is neuer werie of shewing him…elfe liber all towardes vsus, but floweth continually as a founteyne, yea euen by so many streames as are able too sati…fie vsus in all things: let vsus also shewe continually without ceassing, how much we be bound … beholden to so good and kynd harted a father.
And he addeth yit further, that vvee must thanke God for all things. Whereby he dooth vsus too wit, that men are too blockish, in that they consider not how many wayes God allureth and spurreth them, notwithstanding the slothfulnesse that is in them. As if he should say, my freendes, considering how much wee bee bound vntoo God, both in respect of our bodyes, and in respect of our soules, can wee comprehend it? No, it is not possible: for wee hauehave too small and narrowe a wit. And when wee hauehave after a sort comprehended Gods benefytes, yit hauehave wee not tung too expresse nothing neere how much wee bee bound vntoo him. So then, of whom is it long that wee bee so cold, that as soone as wee hauehave spoken but one woord, wee thinke it is ynough, and that we bee discharged till another tyme, and returne too it agein as slowely as may bee? whereof commeth such slacknesse? Euen of our shetting of our eyes. Although God shewe vsus by all meanes, that it becommeth vsus too bee occupyed in blissing his holy name: yit will not wee see it one whit. Agein, as touching the bodie, we beare our selues on hand, that our goods come too vsus eyther by our owne cunning, or by good fortune, or by fauour of the world: as for God he is alwayes let alone: and as for his goodnesse wee thinke not on it. Now then, when wee intend too doo our de…tie in yeelding God his dew prayse, which is the cheef sacrifyze that he requyreth (as I sayd afore:) let vsus hauehave regard too cons…der better what wee bee,Psal. 116. b. 12. c▪ 17. and what our state is, and how wee bee subiect too so many necessities, as God must bee fayne too succour vsus i…finite wayes. And when wee hauehave considered our wretchednesse both in bodie and soule, and on the contrarie part also considered how God prouydeth for all, and suffereth vsus not too hauehave any penurie without rel…ef at his hand: surely wee shall hauehave wherwith too continue the praysing of his holy name without ceassing. And Saint Paule will hauehave vsus, not onelyonly too thanke God for the benefites which wee feele apparantly: but also although he afflict vsus, and handle vsus diuerse tymes otherwyse than wee would: yit will he hauehave vsus too prayse him styll, after the example of Iob,Iob. 5. a. 1. …. 21. who (as wee see) not onelyonly thanked God when he had his children at his table, and they made merry in feasting one another: but also when he was bereft of his issew, and left desolate in his house: when all his goods were taken away, partly by robbers, and partly by lyghtening that fell from heauen: and when he was so miserable, as it seemed that Lyce should eate him vp, he ceassed not too say, The Lord hath giuen, the Lord hath taken away, blissed bee the name of the Lord. So then, Saint Paule sheweth vsus, that euen in our sorowes, and when wee receyue chastizements that are rough and bitter too vsus, yit let vsus not grudge ageinst God, but rather perseuer in praysing his name,Phil. 4. a. 6. as he exhorteth vsus in another place, (where he sayeth) that in praying too him wee must alwayes prayse him. Although wee hauehave not the things that wee craue,1. The…. 5. c. 18. and that in our peticions wee shewe our selues too want this and that, and are pinched with greefe and care: yit must thanksgiuing be mingled still with our prayers. There are a great number that pray vntoo God: but yit they do but prouoke Gods wrath, bycause they intermingle their grudgings and repynings, g…ashing their teeth at him. They will in deede say, My God, helpe mee. But which is that God? If they could plucke him out of heauen, they would doo it with all their hart, too the end he myght hauehave no more power ouer them. Ye see then that a number thinking too pray vntoo God, doo but prouoke him to wrath, bycause their requestes are full of pryde, spytefulnesse, and defyance. And therfore Saint Paule telleth vsus too the Philippians,Phil. 2. a. 6. that all our petitions and requestes must bee matched with thanksgiuing, too shewe that wee doo paciently abyde too bee gouerned by the hand of God. Likewise in this text he sayeth, that wee must thanke God for all things, not only when wee bee in prosperitie, and all things fall out as wee would wish, so as God giueth vsus our hartes desyre, and wee lyue in delyght and pleasure: that is not the onelyonly fit tyme and season too yeeld praise vntoo God: but although he squoorge vsus, yit must wee acknowledge that he procureth our saluation (and welfare) by that meane. Let vsus see then, if wee hauehave not cause to blisse God in all our aduersities? Yis: For first, whatsoeuer betyde vsus, he beareth with vsus: insomuch that if he should touche vsus but with one of his fingers in good earnest: wee should bee ouerwhelmed at the first blowe. Seeyng then, that wee hold out, it is a token that he spareth vsus: and hauehave not wee cause too thanke him for it? Agein, when he turneth his chastizings too our benefyte, for that he purgeth vsus by that meanes, too further vsus continually therby too the kingdome of heauen, and too lift vsus vp bycause wee bee too much tyed too the world, too the end wee should bee gathered toogither, too come too the full perfection that is prepared for vsus in heauen: when wee see all this, hauehave wee not cause too prayse our God, notwithstanding that wee bee full of greefe, care, feare, and doubtes? Yis certeinly, but that our owne vnthankfulnesse hindereth it. So much the more behoueth it vsus too marke well the thing that S. Paule telleth vsus heere, namely that wee hauehave cause too praise God without end or ceassing. And if our mouth bee stopped sometymes with grief, so as wee seeme too bee barred from praysing God, and wee cannot apply our selues freely theruntoo: let vsus vnderstand that God neuer sheweth himselfe so rough and rigorous towardes vsus, but that he asswageth the bitternesse which is in our afflictions, too the intent too drawe vsus vntoo him, and that wee myght thanke him, and glorify him for it. Forasmuch as wee receyue no grace but by the meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ, who dooth also turne the corrections too our welfare, which wee should suffer as punishments for our sinnes: therfore it is sayd, that vvee should yeeld thankes too our God and father, namely by our Lord Iesus Christ. Now he setteth downe on the one syde, God the father: and afterward sheweth how God is our father in all respectes: that is too wit, by meanes of the mediator, through whom we be reconcyled vntounto him, and he hath so put away al our sinnes, that whatsoeuer things we can indure in this world, are all furtherances of our saluation,Rom. 8. c. 28. as is sayd of them in the Epistle too the Romans. And heere wee hauehave to marke first of all, that without fayth wee cannot prayse God as we ought to doo, insomuch that whatsoeuer prayses wee sing with our mouth, all is but feyning and hipocrisie, except wee bee throughly perswaded that God is our father. And marke heere what is ment by fayth. It is not as the Papistes suppoze it, namely too beleeue that there is a God in heauen, and in the meane whyle too knowe no whit of his will: but Saint Paule telleth vsus, wee must bee throughly resolued, that God accepteth vsus for his children, or else wee shall neuer bee able to prayse him with a pure and free affection. And how may that bee doone, but by being grounded vppon the free adoption, wherethrough he taketh vsus too him for our Lord Iesus Christes sake? For is it by inheritance, or for any woorthinesse of ours, that God is our father, and wee his children? Alas no:…phe. 1. a. 3. but cleane contrariwyse, wee bee called the children of wrath: and God must needes disclayme vsus, bycause there is nothing but sin and wickednesse in vsus. Then …ntill wee come too our Lord Iesus Christ, it is certein that wee cannot bee sure of Gods fauour, nor that he will accept our …eruice. And therefore Saint Paule hauing sayd, that wee must y…eld thankes v…to God in and for al things, bycause he is our father: dooth iustly adde, that that is doone by our Lord Iesus Christ. Then let vsus vnderstand, that all they which are afrayd of Gods maiestie, and cannot trust him, nor rest vppon the promises of his fauour, too call vppon him as their father: can neuer prayse him. In deede they may well vse some Ceremonies, but all shal bee but leazing. Therefore whensoeuer wee wil pray vntounto God, and yeeld him prayse and thankes, fayth must leade the way. Marke that for one poynt.
Howbeeit, (as I sayd afore) it is vnpossible for vsus too bee grounded in any certeintie of fayth too take God for our father, vntyll wee knowe that wee bee made one in our Lord Iesus Christ, and that forasmuch as wee bee members of his bodie, we bee also parttakers of the benefytes that he hathe purchaced, so as his death and passion are our ryghtuousnesse, his holinesse our clenzing from all our own defylementes, and the sacrifyze which he hath offered dooth set vsus cleere, and drawe vsus out of the damnation wherin wee were, and finally hath set vsus free from the bondage of sin, and purchaced vsus full ryghtuousnesse. Forasmuch as wee hauehave all these things in our Lord Iesus Christ, therefore ought wee also too geue thankes vntoo God by his meanes. And that is the cause why the Papistes cannot frame so much as one request, that God alloweth. Yea and in very deede, they bee as good as dumb. For though a man may heare Hymnes and Canticles ynow (as they terme them) among them: yit cannot God bee praysed at their handes. For although they wynd vp all things with this saying, By our Lord Iesus Christ: yit doo they not beleeue that God is mercifull too them, nother are they woorthie of it, bycause they disclayme our Lord Iesus Christ, and doo so intangle him with patrons and aduocates of their owne forging, as a man cannot discerne him from others, insomuch that they coope him vp in a corner, or else set him behynd in the reerward, whyle in the meane tyme there is hunting after the merites and intercessions of Saintes, and that is their trust, that is the moother of their diuelish presump…ion, namely that they can make amendes (for their sinnes) and redeeme themselues. But as for vsus, when as it is told vsus that wee must thanke God in all things: it is too the end that wee should alwayes abace our selues. And for that cause did I say, that fayth openeth vsus the way as wel too pray vntoo God, as also too giuegive him thankes for the benefites that wee hauehave receyued at his hand.
Now heerupon Saint Paule addeth, that wee must bee subiect one too another in the feare of Christ, or in the feare of God, for any of bothe will fit the text wellynough. In saying that wee must bee subiect, he sheweth, that lyke as God will hauehave his children too exercyze themselues in his prayzes: so also he wil no… hauehave them too bee vnprofitable heere beneathe, but too serue one anothers turne. For inasmuch as wee bee not able too doo God eyther good or harme: therfore is he contented that wee doo but prayse his name. For though we imploy all our abilitie: what is there in vsus wherwith too inriche God, or too aduauntage him? For the giueth vsus all things, and needeth nothing him self. Therfore is it an inestimable goodnesse, in that he quitteth vsus of all that wee can owe him, so wee protest our selues too bee so greatly beholden and bound vntoo him, as wee cannot discharge our selues of it. Then if wee come with all humilitie, and confesse the bond wherin wee stand bound vntoo God: it is the payment that he requyreth of vsus, and (for his owne part) hee seeks no more. But yit he will hauehave vsus seruisable one too another, and not too seeke our priuate profit in such wyse, as too forget that wee bee knit toogither in one mutuall bond of charitie. That is the thing wheruntoo he intendeth to bring vsus now in this text. Now a man myght think it straunge at the first blush, that he should say, wee ought too bee subiect one too another. For it seemeth not meete that the father should bee subiect too his children, the husband too his wyfe, or the magistrate too the people whom he gouerneth, yea, or that euen they also which bee equal in degree, should bee subiect one too another. But if wee looke well vppon all things, wee shall fynd that Saint Paule hath not without cause put all Christians vnderunder this subiection. For why? The magistrats which are aduaunced in authoritie and glorie aboue other men, are bound neuerthelesse too those whom they gouerne, for they bee not ordeyned rulers for theyr owne saks, but for the common welthes sake. For Gods ordeyning of Principalities, kingdomes, and States, was not to the end that some should hauehave preheminence aboue others: but for that it is for our behoof too hauehave some brydle too hold vsus in obedien…e vnderunder lawes, and too hauehave some power and authoritie ouer vsus, and to stand in feare and awe of magistrats, bycause wee cannot forbeare such a remedie. Seeing then that God hath set magistrates in such state: it is certein that they be therfore subiect too those whom they ought too serue in reigning ouer them. As much is too bee sayd of fathers. It is trew that the father ought too bee honored of his children. Yit notwithstanding, forasmuch as it is an honorable tytle, it shal cost them ryght deere, if they gouerne not their housholds discreetly. And in that gouernment there is also subiection. Lykewyse is it betweene the husband and the wyfe. For is it not a subiection that the husband beareth with the frayltie of his wyfe, and hath the discretion too forbeare rigour towards hir, holding hir as his companion, and taking vppon him a part of hir burthen both in sicknesse and in helth? Is not that a subiection? yis. Not without cause then dooth Saint Paule pronounce heere generally, that all they which will proue themselues faythfull, must bee subiect one to another, namely eueryevery man in his state and degree. Let them that are hyghly aduaunced consider well, that Gods aduauncing of them, is too the end they should the willinglyer submit themselues too beare the paynes and cares that belong too their office: and let such as are inferiours vnderstande, that they ought much rather too humble themselues, and too beare the yoke that is layd vppon their necke. And let such as are equals and fellowes, (vnlesse they will needs bee as wood beasts, and are loth too maynteyn any c…urtisie among them) consider neuerthelesse, that eueryevery mā ought to beare with his neyghbors. And is not this a subiection? Wee cannot liue one with another without forbearing. Now surely al forbearing importeth bo…dage,Rom. 13. b. 8. therfore must we be serued for necessities sake. According wherunto it is said in another place that wee must owe nothing but that which charitie byndeth vsus vntoo. And heerin wee see what a statelinesse it is, when any man shall say, what owe I vntoo you? It is trew that men may well vpbrayd one another, that they owe them no dewtie: but they must step yit further. And that is the cause why Saint Paule setteth downe the feare of our Lord Iesus Christ, or of God. As if he should say, If wee were here without a God, and that eueryevery man would get alone by him self: wee myght well hold scorne one of another, and say, I passe not for thee. Trewly, yit were it a greate and intollerable follie too say, I passe not for thee. For the richest man that can bee deuyzed, dooth notwithstanding stand in neede of a hundred folks helpes, yea of all mens help. Then is it a greate ouer statelinesse too thrust away our neyghbours after that fashyon, vnderunder colour that they can nother boote vsus nor hurt vsus. And it is apparant that wee bee too blynd in so dooing. But put the cace wee myght say, I passe not for thee, I owe thee nothing: yit must wee come too God, who is our head. For when he did put vsus intoo this world, he linked vsus togither, and would hauehave vsus too serue one another in charitie▪ and wee knowe there is none other bond of perfection but charitie: and charitie bringeth a bondnesse with it. So then, although I owe a man nothing as in respect of him self: yit doo I owe him somwhat as in respect of God. And that is the thing whertoo Saint Paule bringeth vsus backe. As if he should say, Consider with your selues that yee were not created and put intoo the world, but with condition that yee should serue eueryevery man his neyghbours. Otherwyse, if yee shrinke asyde one from another: it is lyke as if yee would cut asunder the sinewes of the body, too the intent it should fall in peeces, yea and that our Lord Iesus Christ who is our head, might hauehave no more too doo with vsus. They then that will needes play the wyld beastes, and cannot fynd in their hartes too stoope too any bondnesse too their neyghbours, must go lyue abrode in the wyld woods, for they bee not woorthy too lyue among men. For wee see how God hath knit vsus toogither, and therby separated vsus from the brute beastes, and yit notwithstanding bound vsus one too another. Now if wee wyll needs shake off this yoke, is it not a playne bewraying that we thinke not our selues beholden for any thing too our Lord Iesus Christ, and that wee bee loth too bee ruled by his hand, or too submit our selues too the order wherunder he hat… put vsus, and which he would hauehave too bee kept without breaking? So then, forasmuch as eueryevery of vsus is so wedded too himselfe, that wee cannot submit our selues one too another: let vsus beare in mynd that which Saint Paule hath set downe for vsus heere. For it is the very sauce that will make vsus fynde taste in this doctrine, that is too wit, that if wee feare God, and can fynde in our hartes too submit our selues quietly too his wyll, it must not greeue vsus, nother must wee thinke it irksome and straunge, that eueryevery of vsus should serue them whom he is bound too serue, and by that meane so maynteyne his degree, as we may all linke toogither vnderunder our head Iesus Christ, and atteyne too the heauenly glory which he hath purchaced for vsus.
Now let vsus fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God, with acknowledgment of our faultes, praying him too make vsus so too feele them, as it may drawe vsus too trew repentance, and make vsus too profit in it from day too day, and too examin our myseries in such wyze, as wee may bee moued too call vppon our God for remedie, that he may clenze vsus and defend vsus from them, vntyll he hauehave brought vsus too the perfection of ryghtuousnesse, which we ought too labour for, and from which wee bee yit farre of, and in the meane whyle he so beare with vsus, as wee may not ceasse too hauehave the priuiledge of calling vppon him as his children, and also hauehave wherefore too thanke him through our Lord Iesus Christ, bycause he hath by his holy spirit sealed the adoption in our hartes, wherby he holdeth vsus fast too him, and that wee may so perseuer in fayth and hope, as wee may euer persist in acknowledging the manifold benefytes which he addeth one vppon another, and learne too receyue them so at his hand, as they may be made holy vntoo vsus, both by fayth and thanksgiuing. That it may please him too graunt this grace, not onelyonly too vsus, but also too all people and Nations of the earth. &c.