Sermons on Ephesians, Sermons · Sermon 3
¶The third Sermon vppon the first Chapter.
… hath choozen vsus in Christ, before the foundation of the …: too the end vvee should bee holy and vnblamable … him, in LoueLove.
… hath predestinated vsus too adopt vsus too himself by … Christ, according too the good pleasure of his vvill.
… the praise of the glory of his grace, vvherethrough he … accepted vsus in his vvelbeloued.
I Began too shewe you this morning that it is not lawfull for vsus too take libertie too loocenesse, vnderunder colour that God hath chozen vsus before the making of the world: as though it were meete for vsus too giuegive ouer our selues too all naughtinesse, bycause wee cannot perishe, seyng that God hath taken vsus for his children.Math. 16. a. 6. For wee must not put the thinges a sunder which he hath … toogither. Seyng then that he hath chozen vsus too bee holy, … in purenesse of lyfe: our election must bee as a roote that … good fruites. For so long as God lettes vsus alone in our owne … wee can doo nothing but all manner of naughtinesse, bycause … so great corruption and frowardnesse in ma…es nature, that … they thinke or doo, is contrarie too Gods rightuousnesse. … there is none other shift but too bee chaunged by God. And … …ommeth this chaunge, but onelyonly of the grace that wee spake … for that he did elect and chooze vsus for his children, before … borne intoo the world? Herewithall wee hauehave too marke …, that God letteth his choozen ones go for a tyme, so as they … too bee strayd away & vtterly lost, & yit bringeth them home … too his flocke when it pleaseth him. And that serueth too … the more, and too make his goodnesse and mercy so much the … knowen too the whole world. If God should make all his … too walke in perfectnesse of conuersation euen from their …: it should not bee so well discerned, that the same … of the grace of his holy spirit. But when wretched folke that lyued loo…ely, and were giuen too all naughtinesse for a time, are quite chaunged: that cannot come too passe without Gods woorking & putting too of his hand. Thus yee see that the cause why God delayeth the calling of those whom he had chozen, is (say I) too touche them too the quicke by his holy spirit, that he may make them too walke in his obedience. For when wee see them refourmed vponupon the suddayne, and beyond the common expectation and opinion of men: therin we perceyue that God hath vttered his power in them, as I sayde afore. And agein on the other part, eueryevery of vsus is conuicted by experience, that wee bee beholden too God for all the good that is in vsus. For when wee bee naturally inclyned too any vyce, and afterward the same is corrected: wee perceyue well that God hath looked mercifully vppon vsus. Yee perceyue then that wee hauehave so much the more cause too humble vsus, seyng wee were in the way of perdition, till he had drawen vsus out of it. And it standeth vsus in hand too mark that well: For there are some fantasticall heades, which imagin that God dooth so guyde his chozen ones by his holy spirit, that they bee sanctifyed aforehand, euē from the tyme that they bee borne intoo the worlde, as soone as they come out of their moothers womb: but the contrarie appeereth. And in good sooth wee see how S. Paule in another text speaking too the faythfull,Rom. 1. d. 29. sayeth, some of you were plundged in couetousnesse, some were giuen too crueltie, some were scorners, some were whoremongers and looee lyuers, and othersome were gluttons and drunkardes: and too bee short, yee were full of all vnclenesse: but God hauyng chaunged you, and made you cleane from such filthinesse and infection, hath dedicated you too himselfe. Agein he sayeth too the Romanes, you …ught too bee ashamed of the lyfe which you led before he drewe you too himselfe. So then, whereas it is sayd in this text, that God choze his seruantes to make them walke in holinesse of life: it is not ment that he is bound too gouerne them with his holy spirit euē from their chyldhood forth. For (as I hauehave sayd alredy) experience sheweth that he letteth them runne astray, till conuenient tyme bee come for too call them. But yit must wee alwayes beare in mynd, that Gods choozing of vsus, was too the end too call vsus too holinesse of lyfe. For if he should let vsus alone still as wretched castawayes: surely wee could doo nothing but all manner of naughtinesse, according too the corruption that is in vsus. The good then proceedeth of his free bestowed mercy, which he hath vsed alredy towardes vsus before wee were borne, yea … the world was made. Thus yee see in effect what wee hauehave … this streyne. And so the blasphemies of such as would … praise are repressed, which make a iarre, and as it were … Gods free election, and indeuer of dooyng well. …, Hath God chozen vsus? Then let eueryevery of vsus doo what … wee cannot petishe. And what shoulde wee passe of … good or euill, seying that our saluation is grounded vppon … grace, and not vppon any vertew. The answere … easie: namely that if Gods election were not, looke … thoughtes and appetites there are in vsus, so many … should there bee ageinst all ryg…uousnesse: for wee tende all … euill, and wee bee not only inclyned too it, but wee bee as it … hot with it, and wee runne too it with frentik … cause the diuell possesseth all such as are not reformed by … spirit. And so we must needes conclude, that our giuing … too doo good, is for that God guydeth and leadeth vsus … his holy spirit, and all bycause of his election. … erewhyle) wee must not separate the things that God … toogither. For wee bee not chozen too take leaue too doo … list, but too shewe by our deeds that God hath adopted vsus … children, and taken vsus intoo his keeping, too the intent too … by his holie spirit, and too knit vsus too himselfe in all … ryghtuousnesse.
… let vsus mark also, that although God hauehave reformed vsus, … in the good waye, and made vsus too feele that he hath … vsus alredie, to subdew vsus to his word and to make vsus serue … in all things: yit doth it not therfore follow, that we be … at the first day, no nor yit in all our whole lyfetyme. … sayes not that God bringeth his chozen and faythfull ones … poynt of perfection, … he sayes that he draweth them … And so are wee but in the way thitherward euen vntill our … Therfore as long as wee liue in this world, let vsus learne too … go foreward more and more, assuring ourselues that there is … somewhat amisse in vsus. For they that imagin anie … are as good as bewitched with hippocrisie and pryde, or … no feeling nor feare of God in them, but mocke him … face. For he that examineth himselfe, shall alwayes fynd … of vyces, as he shalbee ashamed of them, if he consider them well. They then which say that wee can come too anie perfection whyle wee dwell in this mortall bodie, doo well shew that eyther they bee vtterly blynded with diuelishe pryde, or else that they bee … folk voyd of all religion and godlinesse. As for our part, … vsus mark (as I touched afore) that God hath chozen vsus too the … wee▪ should bee blamelesse: Howbeeit, that wee bee not able too bee so,Rom. 7. d. 24. till wee bee quyte r…d of all our infirmities, and departed … of this prison of sin, wherin wee bee hild fast as now. And therfore when wee feele anie vyces in vsus, let vsus fyght manfully ageinst them, and not bee out of hart, as though wee were not Gods children, bycause wee bee not yit faultlesse before him, but that our sinnes are alwayes before our eyes, which make vsus giltie. Although then that wee fynd neuer so manie miseries in ourselues too thrust vsus out of the way▪ Yit let vsus go on still, assuring our selues that as long as wee liue heere beneath vppon the earth, our waye is neuer at an ende, but wee … alwayes go still forewarde, and wee can neuer come too our resting place. Lo how the faythfull ought too harten and strengthen themselues, although they bee not perfect. And let the same also cause … too gro…e and sigh vnderunder the burthen which wee bee driuen too feele. For the perfection of the faythfull and of Gods children, is too acknowledge their owne weaknesse, and too pray God not onelyonly too amend all their misdooings, but also too beare with them of his infinite goodnesse, and not too call them too account with extremitie and rigor. Yee see then that the thing whereuntoo wee must resort for succour, is Gods mercy, whereby he couereth and buryeth all our sinnes, bycause wee hauehave not yit atteyned too the marke whereunto he calleth vsus, that is too wit, too a holy and faultlesse lyfe. But howsoeuer the world go with vsus, let vsus go foreward still, and take good heede that … step not out of the right way.
If the woord LoueLove bee referred too men, then S. Paule ment too betoken the trew right…ousnesse of Christians, that is too wit, to deale faithfully and vprightly. For wee knowe that the hypocrites would content God with ceremonies and Gewgawes, as men terme them: and in the meane whyle some of them shalbee giuen too catching and snatching: some shalbe full of enuie, malice, crueltie and treason: some … drunkard…, and othersome shalbe whoremongers and looce … themselues the brydle too all naughtinesse. And yit for all … al is safe, if they may make a fewe moppes & mowes, … some countenaunce of holinesse by vsing a fewe … Paule too cut of all such stuffe, sayeth that wee must walke in … is the bond of perfection and the fulfilling of the Lawe) if … too hauehave our lyfe allowed of God. And so yee see what wee … marke vppon that strey ne.
… let vsus marke, that in this place S. Paule exhorteth … acknowledge our selues beholden to God for all the vertew and … that is in vsus. As for example, if wee hauehave any good zeale, if … ageinst our owne vyces, or if wee walke in the obedience of … whence commeth it? Euen of this welspring, that he purposed … is to wit, that he choze vsus aforehand. Then let vsus consider, … prayse thereof is dew vntounto him, and let vsus not defraud him of …. For although wee lyued as perfectly as Angells: yit if we … fond as too thinke that the same commeth of our owne free … selfmouing: wee misse the chiefe poynt of all. For wheretoo … our good workes, but to glorify God withall? And if we take … spring of our selues, wee see they bee marred by so dooyng, … turned intoo vyces, so as they be nought else than stark … Yee see then that the thing wherat S. Paule amed in this … too bring vsus alwayes backe too Gods free election, that wee … know how all goodnesse dependeth theruppon.
… addeth immediatly that wee be predestinated in adoption in … through Iesus Christ, according too the good pleasure of … will. Wheras he sayth that God hath predestinated vsus in …: it is too shewe that if wee bee Gods children, it is not … nature, but through his onelyonly grace. Now, this onelyonly grace … respect of any thing that God foresawe in vsus (as I touched …:) but bycause he had erst marked vsus out and … too such adoption, yea euen in such wyse as the cause thereof is … bee sought elswhere than in himselfe. And that is the cause why … addeth immediatly, that he did it in himself, and according … the good pleasure of his ovvne vvill. Also he repeteth the same … that I declared this forenoone, namely that all was done in … Christ. Yee see therfore that the thing which wee hauehave too marke … sentence, is, that none other cause maketh vsus Gods children, … onelyonly his choozing of vsus in himselfe. For wee hauehave no such … by birth or inheritance, nother commeth it of fleshe and blud, … sayd in the first chapter of S. Iohn: insomuch that al that euer can bee sought in our our owne selues, is vtterly excluded and abolished. And that is too shewe vsus, that if men bee let alone in their former plyght, they hauehave no intercommoning at all with God, but are vtterly cut off from his kingdome.Gen. 1. c. 26. Trew it is that our first father Adam was created after the image of God, and that he was excellent in his first state: but after the comming in of sinne, wee were all vtterly forlorne. Insomuch that euen Adam had not any stay of himselfe, and his free will that was giuen him, serued him too none other purpose, but too make him the more vnexcuzable: For he fell wilfully and through his ow…e malice. But heereby we see what maner of constancie he had in him, sith he was no sooner made, but he by & by fell & drew vsus downe intoo his fall with him.…ph. 2. …. 3. Then as nowe wee bee all of vsus borne the children of wrath, and are cursed of God.
And so, as long as wee abyde in our former state and plyght, there is nothing but endlesse death in vsus. Therefore God must bee fayne too call vsus home to him. For are wee able too purchace such prerogatiue? Where is the goold or siluer too buy it withall? W…ere are the vertewes wherewith to recompence God for so great and excellent a priuiledge?Iohn. 1. …. 23. Too bee short (as is sayd alredie vppon this sentence) it commeth nother of flesh nor of blud, that is too say, it commeth not of anie thing that wee can fynd in this world: but alonly of Gods adoption. For the word which S. Paule vseth, betokeneth an appoynting of children: lyke as when a man adopteth a chyld, he choozeth him too bee his heire, and all the goods that he hath afterward, doo passe vnderunder that tytle. Euen so are wee heires of the heauenly lyfe, bycause God hath adopted and chozen vsus for his children. Yea, but S. Paule is not contented too hauehave magnifyed Gods grace so farre foorth: but he sayth moreouer, that God had also predestinated vsus, and appoynted the thing aforehand. Wee see the… that S. Paule g…t…ereth toogither all the things that may beate downe the fond imaginations, which wee myght conceyue of bringing aught vntoo God, or of auauncing our selues towards him, too make our selues acceptable vntoo him. Therefore all such thinges mu…t bee layd awater, so as Gods only grace may bee acknowledged in that behalfe. And that also is the cause why he repeteth, through Iesus Christ. Then if it bee demaunded why and how wee bee predestinated of God too bee his children: it is bycause he voutsafed too looke vppon vsus in Christ: for (as I hauehave sayd afore) he is as it were the register, wherein wee … too atteine too the heritage of lyfe and saluation. For … pitie our miseries: yit should we alwayes be hateful in his … Iesus Christ came not before him, bycause that all of vsus … descended of Adam, are all of one mould and making, and … none better than other among vsus. Now then the one sorte …: and why is that, but bycause God looking vppon them … dooth mislyke them? But he choozeth vsus in our Lorde … Christ, and looketh vppon vsus there as in a glasse that he lyketh …. And so yee see whereof the difference proceedeth. … the thing yit better, he sayeth that Gods choozing of vsus … himself. Trew it is that God doeth all good of himself. But … S. Paule ment too set out the thing which is not seene in all the … workes of God: that is to wit, that none other cause moued … chooze vsus, than his owne will. S. Paule therefore taketh … all respectes, when he sayeth that God choze vsus in himselfe. If he … any desert or woorthinesse, if he had found any disposition … if he had found any goodnesse or vertew, or (too be … had found any one drop of aught that he myght like and … he had not chozen vsus in himselfe, but wee our selues shoulde … some partnership with him. Seyng then that S. Paule … all thinges in Gods purpose which belong too our saluation, … that our election also is shet vp there: it is all one as if he … saye, that men doo fowly ouershoote themselues, when they take … them too bee any thing woorth, or too hauehave bin furtherers or … of themselues too the receyuing of such grace. Therefore … bee caryed vp aloft, if wee will knowe whereuppon our … grounded, and what is the very originall welspring and the … only cause of the same. And so yee see what is ment by this …, that God did it in himselfe.
…ut S. Paul addeth yet further, according too the good pleasure … owne will. If he had set downe no more but onelyonly the woorde …, it had bin ynough: accordingly as wee hauehave seene heertoofore, & … declared vppon Sonday last, that S. Paule was chozen … too the will of God. And why so? Bycause he was nother fit … to hauehave such a prerogatiue, but that it pleased god to choze …. S. Paule therfore braggeth not that he had gotten the … but with all myldnesse acknowledgeth it too bee the free gift of …. Thus yee see what the woord Will betokeneth, and that not in any one place only, but throughout all the whole holie scripture. Therfore whensoeuer Gods wil is mencioned, it is to shew that men cannot bring ought of their owne. Neuerthelesse S. Paule setteth downe heere a woord of ouerplus, and sayeth, according too the good pleasure. As if he had sayd, truly seing that Gods will is the cause of our saluation, wee should not fleete too and froo, and seeke other reasons & meanes therof: Howbeit forasmuch as men are so vnthankefull and malitious, that they would alwayes darken Gods glory: & so puffed vp with fond ouerweening, that they continually chalendge more too thēselues, thā belongeth vntoo them: therfore if they be not sufficiently perswaded of Gods wil, let them vnderstand that it cōmeth of the good pleasure of his will: that is too say, of a free inclined wil which dependeth not vponupon any other thing (than it selfe,) nor hath any respect one way or other, but vou…safeth too chooze vsus freely, bycause it lyketh & ly…eth so too d…o. Now then wee see that such as serch out the cause why God hath chozen vsus, woold (if it lay in them) ouerthrowe his euerlastyng ordinance: for the one is vnseparable from the other. If God hauehave chozen vsus as it is shewed vsus heere: then can nothing hang vppon our deserts, nor vppon aught that wee myght hauehave too comme, but God wrought it according too his owne free inclyned will, and found not any other reason (to moue him therto) than his owne good pleasure. If any mē think this to be strange geere, it is bycause they would be haylefellow with God. And heerin appeereth their diulish malapertnesse, that they cannot suffer God to raine freely, as the thing that he lyketh myght bee receyued as good, iust, & ryghtfull, without geynsaying. But let such folke barke lyke doggs asmuch as they list, yet is this sentence definiti…e vnable too bee repealed, which the holie Ghost hathe vttered heere by the mouth of S. Paule: namely that it is not for vsus to searche any further cause of our election, than the good pleasure of God: that is to say, than his owne free inclyned wil, wherby he hath chozē vsus, though we were not worthy in none other respect than for that he listed too say, so it pleaseth me. And so yee see in effect what wee hauehave too gather vppon those words of S. Paules.
Now he sayeth immediatly, that it is too the prayse of the glorie of his grace. Heere he sheweth the finall cause that God looked at in c…zing of vsus: namly that his grace myght bee praysed by it, and that not after a cōmon and ordinary manner, but with a certeyne glorie: for he hath cuppled those twoo things togither, to the intent we should … when wee see how God hath drawen vsus out of the bottom … open vsus the gate of his kingdome, and too call vsus too the … saluation. Heere wee see yit ageyne the thing that I treated …: namely that all such as woold put awaye Gods …, or are loth too heere it spoken of, doo therin shewe … bee mortall enemies of Gods prayse. Too their seeming … & vanisheth away. Yea, but who is the competent iudge … they themselues wyzer than God, who hath spoken the … too that which they alledge? O (say they) that were the … to open the mouthes of many mē to blaspheme God. … the wicked, it is certeyn that they wil alwayes find wherat to … they cannot be letted so too doo.Rom. 3. a. 4. But yit for all that God shal … wherwith to iustifie himself,Psal. 51. a. 6. and all they that doo so spyte … his rightuousnesse, shall bee confounded. Howsoeuer the cace …, it is not without cause sayd heere, that God is then dewly glorified▪ … his praise maynteyned, when wee acknowledg that he hath … whome he listed, & that there is none other cause of … betweene man and man (than only his wil:) so that they whō … doo perishe, bycause they be woorthye of it, and they … calleth too saluation must not seeke the cause therof, elswhere … the sayd free bestowed adoption.
… by those twoo woords, S. Paule ment also too stirre … a greater and feruenter earnestnesse of praysing God. For it … …nough for vsus too confesse coldly, that our saluation springeth of … good will: but wee must bee as it were inflamed too … selues wholly too his praise, as if wee were wholly wedded to … as S. Peter sheweth,1. Pet. 2. b. 7. that forasmuch as wee bee drawē … darknesse of death, it is good reason that wee should be … the vnvtterable prayses of God.Psal. 107. And hereby he dooeth vsus too …, that when the faythfull hauehave streyned themselues too the …,Luke. 17. b. 10. too discharge themselues in praysing Gods goodnesse: yit … neuer compasse it, bycause it is a thing incomprehensible. … well therefore what wee hauehave too beare in mynd. And so, vponupon … or grace wherof he speaketh, it behoueth vsus too gather …, shall neuer yeeld God his dew glory, till they bee vtterly …, so as there remayneth not any thing at all in them for too glory … vsus put the ca…e that Gods election were neuer thought of: … he therefore ceasse too bee praysed? No: but he shoulde hauehave some peece of his prayse still. For if men should say no more but that God causeth his daysunne too shyne vppon them,Math. 5. g. 45. that were a cause too prayse him. And when we open our eyes too looke vpward and downwarsd vppon the wonderfull woorkes that he sheweth vsus, the same is a large prouocation too exercise vsus in his praise all our lyfe long. Moreouer, when his Gospell is preached vntoo vsus, there also wee hauehave whereof too praise him, though no mention at all bee made of his election: I say there is ynough as in respect of vsus, but then should he bee robbed of his chiefe pra…se, and wee should yeeld him but a peece of that which is dew to him. And why so? For the faythfull should thinke that they hauehave fayth of their owne selfmouing and free inclyned will. I told you this morning, that fayth is a fruite of election. For there is none other oddes betweene vsus and the vnbeleeuers, but that God reached vsus his hand, and drewe vsus too him by a secrete meane, at such time as wee turned our backes vppon him, and were straungers too him.Rom. 5. b. 10. Too bee short, it is not for naught that S. Paule sayeth heere, that Gods praise shall neuer bee glorifyed as it ought too bee, till wee acknowledge his election too bee the cause of all the benefites which he bestoweth vppon vsus, and that if he of his infinite mer…y adopted vsus not of set purpose from euerlasting, wee should hauehave a peece of the prayse too our selues which is dew vntoo him. And so should God bee diminished and abridged of so much of his ryght. Too bee short, wee see well ynough how it is sayd heere, that men must bee vtterly abaced, too the end that God may hauehave his right, and no man bee made copartener with him, but all men confesse that he is both the beginner and the accomplisher of our saluation.
Also wee must marke well how S. Paule addeth, that of his owne grace he hath accepted vsus in his vvelbeloued. By this he vttereth yit much better, why our saluation is grounded vppon Gods mere election and free bestowed goodnesse. For men will neuer giuegive ouer their foolishe ouerweening, if they bee not so vanguished as they hauehave not one woorde more too reply. S. Paule therefore too bring vsus too such reason, telleth vsus that wee bee damned & lost in our selues. Now when such a thunder bolt lighteth vppon our heades, it is not for vsus too stand checking any more. Then if men will bee so foolishe as still too hunt about with wyndlasses too hauehave somewhat alwayes belonging and reserued too themselues besides the onelyonly grace of God: there needeth no more but this saying too turne them from it, namely that … not in Gods fauour, till wee were in Iesus Christ, bycause … damned and accursed in our owne selues. This matter … declared already, if wee were not ouer…owe in … thing that is so needefull, and which ought too be so cleere … And in good sooth, euen experience ought too teache vsus in …. And surely if hipocrisie blynded vsus not too much, … well perceyue that there is nothing but wickednesse … Gods wrath would strike vsus in such feare, that wee shoulde … wittes end with it. But God must bee fayne too compell vsus … by strong hand, or else wee cannot fynd in our hartes too … all praise vntoo him. Therefore let vsus marke well what is … this speeche, where it is sayd that wee were taken too fauour … Christ,Math. 17. a. 5. bycause he is the welbeloued. And why is Iesus … Gods welbeloued, according as he is termed in the xvii. …, and in other places, and also is shewed too bee so in the …?Esai. 43. a. 4. Thereby it is shewed vsus, that God dooth iustly hate … vsus, so long as wee abyde in our owne naturall plyght. For … were not peculiar too Iesus Christ, then was it sayd in … is my welbeloued sonne in whom I am well pleased.Luke. 3. f. 22. But … too Iesus Christ, then can none other creature claime … that although. God louelove his Angels, yit can they not bee … beloued of him, but by the meanes of Iesus Christ. And as … is a farre other respect. For (as I hauehave sayd alredy) wee …, and Iesus Christ is the mediator or spokesman too set … at one with God, insomuch that there should bee no … constancie in them,Coloss. 1. c. 20. if they were not vphild by him. And … their rightuousnesse should not bee perfect, but that they … and chozen in him. Let that serue for one poynt.
… for vsus, seyng wee bee estraunged from God through sinne: he … take vsus as his enemyes, and be an aduersarie too vsus. … therefore is the onelyonly welbeloued among men: and as for … of vsus, God vtterly mis…yketh and disclaymeth vsus, yea euen …,G…n. 6. b. 7. that he sayeth he repenteth him that he made man. Which … of his importeth that wee bee not woorthie too bee of the … Asses, Dogges, and other beastes. For they continue still Gods … in the same plyght that he made them: but we bee so leawd …, that wee deserue too bee razed out, and too hauehave our … cursed and hatefull before God. Nowe let vsus go brag and boast and seeke armes too innoble our selues: for wee see how the holy Ghost disgradeth all such as thinke themselues too bee aught woorth. Wherfore let vsus consider that if wee bee enemies vntoo God, wee bee in woorser taking than if wee had neuer bin created.
Heeruppon S. Paule telleth vsus, that God hath accepted vsus in his welbeloued. Seing then that our Lord Iesus Christ is receyued of God his father too bee the beloued, not only in his owne person, but also in respect of the louelove that is extended too all the members of his bodie: by that meanes wee bee called home agein, and God imbraceth vsus for his children, wheras erst wee were his enemyes and vtterly hated of him. But howsoeuer the world go, wee must alwayes come backe too the election that wee hauehave spoken of before. For the grace that is communicated too vsus by our Lord Iesus Christ, dothe issewe lykewyse out of the same spring. Theruppon going foreward with the matter that I hauehave touched alredie, he sheweth vsus howe greate neede wee hauehave too bee welbeloued in Iesus Christ. For if it were not proued too our faces, wee woold neuer graunt (I meane vnfeynedly) that wee bee beholden too God for all things. For wee bee alwayes laboring too aduaunce our selues some way or other, and eueryevery of vsus seeketh how he may reserue somewhat too himself, though it bee but the mountenance of a pinnes poynt. But contrariwyze S. Paule telleth vsus, that God must be fayne too louelove vsus out of our selues, and that if he lyke well of vsus, it must not bee in respect of our owne selues. And why? For wee be prisoners and bonds…aues of sin, wee bee hild downe vnderunder the yoke and tyrannie of Satan, and finally wee bee shet vp in the bondage of death, till wee bee raunsomed by our Lord Iesus Christ. Now then wee see that the summe of this lesson is, that men are admonished too depart out of themsel…es, and too seeke their saluation in Gods only goodnesse, euen by holding the meane that is shewed vsus heere, which is too resort too our Lord Iesus Christ. For there are two euill extremities wherof wee must beware.Math. 8. …. 8. The one is, that in comming too our Lord Iesus Christ, wee must not imagin that there is anie woorthynesse in vsus, why he should make vsus partakers of his benefytes. And how may that vyce bee corrected? Euen by being led too Gods free election. For the verye cause why men presume so much vppon their owne free will, and the very ground also wheron they build the opinion which they hauehave conceyued of their owne deserts and woorthinesse, is that they know not how they bee nothing in any other respect, than for that God hath accepted them of his owne mere free goodnesse, bycause he had chozen them alredie in his owne euerlasting purpose. Therfore wee cannot by any meanes father the beginning of our saluation vppon God, except wee confesse that which is shewed vsus heere, namely that wee were vtterly damned and accursed at such tyme as he adopted vsus, & that the verie originall cause of his adopting of vsus, is for that he had predestinated vsus before hand, yea, euen before the making of the world. Marke that for one poynt. The other euill extremitie whereof wee must likewyze beware, is speculation. Many fantasticall folke will say, As for mee I shall neuer knowe whether God hath chozen mee or no, and therfore I must bee fayne too abyde still in my destruction. Yea, but that is for want of comming too Iesus Christ. How knowe wee that God hath chozen vsus before the making of the world? By beleeuing in Iesus Christ. I sayd heeretofore that faith sprinketh of election, and is the fruite of it, which sheweth that the roote is hidden within. He then that beleeueth, is therby assured that God hath wrought in him: and fayth is as it were the copie or counterpane which God deliuereth vsus of the originall register of our adoption. God hath his euerlasting purpose or determination, and that he keepeth alwayes too himselfe as a chiefe president or originall record, whereof he gyueth vsus a copie by fayth. I speake heere after the manner of men, for wee knowe that God vseth nother paper nor parchment too ingroce vsus in: and I hauehave told you alreadye, that too speake properly, the register wherein wee bee inrolled, is our Lord Iesus Christ. Neuerthelesse God reserueth too himselfe the knowledge of our election, as a Prince would doo an originall President, Register, or Record: but yit he giueth vsus copies or counterpanes of it, autenticall ynough, in that he imprinteth it in our hartes by his holy spirit, that wee bee his children. Yee see then that the fayth which we hauehave in our Lord Iesus Christ, is ynough too warrant vsus our election: and therefore what seeke wee more? I tolde you euen now that Iesus Christ is the looking glasse wherein God beholdeth vsus, when it is his will to lyke well of vsus. Likewyse also on our side he is the glasse wheruppon wee must cast our eyes and lookes, when wee mynde too come too the knowledge of our election.Iohn. 1. b. 12. For whosoeuer beleeueth in Iesus Christ,1. Iohn. 5. c. 15. is Gods chylde, and consequently his heire, as I hauehave declared before. Then dooth it followe, that if wee hauehave fayth, wee bee also adopted. For wherfore doth God giuegive vsus fayth? Euen bycause he choze vsus before the creation of the world. This therefore is an infastible order, that inasmuch as the faythfull receyue Gods grace and imbrace his mercy, holding Iesus Christ for their head, too the intent too obteine saluation by his meanes: they knowe assuredly that God hath adopted them. Trew it is that election is of it selfe secrete: it is so deepe & hidden a determination, as it beh…ueth vsus to honor it. Yit notwithstanding God sheweth it too vsus so farrefoorth as is requisite, and as he knoweth it too bee for our benefite and welfare: and that dooeth he when he inlyghteneth vsus with the beleefe of his Gospell. Thus yee see why that after S. Paule had spoken of Gods euerlasting election, he setteth foorth Iesus Christ, as the partie too whom wee must resort, too bee assured that God loueth vsus and auoweth vsus for his children, and consequently that he had adopted vsus before wee knewe him, yea and before the world was made.
Moreouer we hauehave to gather vppon this sentence that the doctrine of predestination serueth not too carie vsus away intoo wandering speculations: but to beate downe al pryde in vsus, & the fond opinion which wee conceyue alwayes of our owne woorthinesse and deseruings: and too shewe that God hath such free power, priuiledg, and souereyn dominion ouer vsus, that he may refuze whom he listeth, and chooze whom he listeth: and that by that meanes wee bee led too gloryfye him, and therwith too acknowledge that his choozing of vsus is in Iesus Christ, too the end wee should bee hild fast vnderunder the fayth of his Gospell. For if wee bee his members and take him for our head, according too the couenant and holie vnion that is betwixt him & vsus, which can neuer bee broken so long as wee beleeue his Gospell: wee must repayre too him too be made sure of our saluation, bycause we see and feele by experience, that God had adopted and chozen vsus, and that he presently calleth vsus, & telleth vsus that the assurance which he hath giuen vsus and dayly giueth vsus by his Gospell, namely that he will bee our father, & specially his ingrauing of it in our harts by his holy spirit, is no deceytfull thing. For the Gospell may well bee preached too all men, yea euen too the castawayes: but yit for all that God is not so graciouse too them, as too touch them too the quicke. Therfore when wee hauehave Gods adoption ingrauen in our harts, then (as shalbee declared further herafter) wee hauehave a good and vndeceyuable gage, that God will guyde vsus vntoo the end, and that sith he hath begunne too lead vsus intoo the waye of saluation, he will bring vsus too the perfection wheruntoo he calleth vsus, verely bycause that without him we could not continew so much as one day.
But now let vsus fall downe before the maiestie of our good God, with acknowledgment of our faults, praying him too make vsus perceyue them more and more, that being vtterly ashamed of them, wee may hate our vyces, and al our whole lyfe, with the naughtinesse and frowardnesse therof, & resort to him who alonly is able to remedie the same, & not swarue one way or other from him, as he communicateth hymselfe too vsus in our Lorde Iesus Christe: but keepe on right foorth too hym, acknowledging that as we be chosen in hym, so also wee bee mainteyned and preserued for his sake, and that he wyll vtter his power more and more in vsus, vntyll wee hauehave finished our race, and bee come to the heauenly heritage, wheruntoo wee bee going: beseechyng him that although we be yit farre from it, yit he will voutsafe too giuegive vsus a stedie and inuincible strength to hold out continually, till we hauehave fully renounced the world, & being quyte consumed in our selues, be so renewed in the image of God, as the same may shyne perfectly in vsus, vntill wee bee made parttakers of the glorious immortalitie, which he hath bought deerely for vsus. That it may please him too graunt this grace, not only too vsus, but also too all people and nations. &c.