Sermons on Ephesians, Sermons · Sermon 12
The twelfth Sermon, which is the fourth vppon the second Chapter.
11. VVherfore remember that you vvhichwhich vvere sometime Gentiles in the fleshe, beyng called vncircumcision, in respect of that vvhichwhich is called circumcision, made by hand in the flesh:
12. VVere at that time vvithout Christ, straungers too the common vveale of Israell, and straungers from the couenants that conteyne the promise, vvithout hope, and vvithout God in the vvorld.
13. But novv in Iesus Christ, you that vvere erevvhyle farre of, are made neere by the blud of Christ.
ALthough the things that are preached vntounto vsus generally cōcerning Gods grace, ought too mo…e vsus too magnifie his name, and to acknowledge the benefyts that wee hauehave receyued of him: yit notwithstanding if a thing bee doone priuately vntounto vsus, then ought wee to bee touched yit the more therwith. The same order keepeth S. Paule here. For wee have seene this morning, how he made cleane riddance of all that is in man, that there myght bee but only one ground woork of saluation, that is too wit, the mere goodnesse of God. Now hee applyeth the same particularly too the Ephesians, willing them too bethink themselues of their plyght wherin God found them: as if after his speaking of all mankynd, he should send eueryevery one of vsus too his owne experience. And in verye deede, that which is spoken heere too the Ephesians, concerneth vsus also, lyke as if a man hauing told vsus of the forlornnesse wherintoo wee bee tumbled by Adams fall, should say: Consider also what you were, and after what sort you liued in all beastlinesse, before such tyme as God called you too the knowledge of himself. The thing then which wee hauehave too mark, is, that S. Paule hauing shewed how that all mē from the greatest too the least, ought too confesse that they hauehave their saluation through Gods only goodnesse, addeth another particular declaration, wherin he sheweth the thing that eueryevery one of the faythfull ought too knowe in himself. Trew it is that the thing which he hath sayd for that tyme, would not agree in all poynts too our dayes: but yit shall S. Paules answer alwayes hauehave his course, and serue too good purpose. For although wee hauehave bin baptized from our infancie, yit come wee of such as erst were cut of from Gods Churche. For the Iewes were sholed out from all other nacions of the world, as a people whom God had ordeyned too himselfe, wee were then all Heathen, (I meane as in respect of our forefathers,) before the Gospell was preached too the world. But now agein wee see what confuzion is come vppon vsus, through the vnthankfulnesse of such as were called too the truthe of the Gospell, and how wee hauehave strayed away after such a sort, that wee hauehave bin as good as cut of from Gods Churche agein. For the baptim that wee receiued in our chyldhod, stoode vsus in none other sted, but too make vsus dubble giltie before God For they that were plundged in the superstitions of poperie, and in all the Idolatries that are committed there, had as good as renounced their baptim, and were become renegats: and wee can not excuze our selues too hauehave bin forsworne vntoo God, seing wee were start away from his obeysaunce. Therfore it is not for vsus too make any boasting, or too seeke any excuce too couer our wretchednesse withall: but rather too confesse freely that wee were as deadly enemies too God, and woorthie too hauehave bin vtterly giuen ouer of him, bycause he had reached vsus his hand too bring vsus backe agein too the way of saluation. So then, first wee take this text as it lyeth, to apply it to the Ephesians, and afterward looke too take profit of it our selues. Now then let vsus see the contents and substance of these woords, Bethink your selues, and remember how yee were sometyme Gentyles.
First he putteth a difference betweene the Iewes, and those whom God had suffered too walke on still in their owne darkenesse. For it was a speciall priuiledge that God gaue vntoo Abrahams ofspring, when he adopted them, too say too them, you shalbee my people whom I lyke of, as though yee were of myne owne houshold. Those then which came not of Abrahams lyne, were as good as banished from Gods kingdome and Church. And he addeth, in the fleshe. Not as he speaketh in dyuers other places, where he vseth that woord in reproche: but too shewe that God had shewed by a visible fashion, how wretched their state was, and that they needed not any greate deepenesse of wit too perceyue it. For circumcizion (sayeth he) serued as it were too rid men of their vncleannesse. And furthermore that Sacrament was ordeyned of God, too shewe that all the seede of man is cursed, and that wee cannot bee ryghtly made holy and pure, but by the cutting of, & putting away of the thinges that wee hauehave by nature. Too bee shorte, lyke as nowe adayes wee bee taught by Baptime too renounce whatsoeuer wee hauehave by birth: so also was circumcizion a token to shew how all men were filthy and lothsome, till they had forsaken their owne kynd. Now then, S. Paules meaning is, that the sayd visible signe, shewed well too all the heathen, that they were (as yee would say) vnwoorthie too preace vntounto God, and that he voutsafed not to receyue them into the companie of the faythfull. For the Iewes had not inuented circumcizion of their owne brayne: but (as I hauehave sayd afore) God had sholed them out from the rest of the world, & all was by reason of the priuiledge of his owne mere grace & goodnesse.
Theruppon S. Paule addeth further, that they were at that tyme vvithout Christ. And this serueth too shewe yit better, that men are horrible scattered, and can do nothing but runne astraye, till God hauehave knit them toogither in the bodie of his sonne, and adopted them too bee his children. For wee knowe that Iesus Christ is the lyght of the worlde, and that all ryghtuousnesse dwelleth in him, and that he is our redemption and lyfe. So long then as wee hauehave none acquayntance with him, wee must needes bee as poore blynd men in the darke, wee must needes bee as good as dead, wee must needes bee naked of all holynesse, ryghtuousenesse, power, and all goodnesse. And forasmuch as our freedome dependeth vppon him: wee must needes bee hild vnderunder the tyrannie of the diuell and of sin, till he hauehave raunsomed vsus from them. For this cause therfore doth S. Paule send vsus heere vnderunder the person of the Ephesians, too Iesus Christ, too the end, that they which are not parttakers of Gods sonne, should knowe that it were better for them too bee drowned a hundred tymes, than too continew alwayes in that state. And why? For sith wee can hauehave nother lyfe nor soule health nor ryghtuousenesse, nor ought else that is allowable, but in Iesus Christ: it is all one as if he sayed, that wee hauehave nothing but vtter naughtinesse and destruction in our selues.
He addeth thereunto, the common weale of Israel: shewing thereby that all the promises which were made too the Iewes, were grounded vppon Iesus Christ. And therefore they that belong not too his body, are foorthwith depryued of all Gods promises, and cannot conceyue any hope of lyfe, but onelyonly by imagination, wherin they beguile themselues. And verily he addeth, the instrumentes (or couenantes and conueyaunces) of the promises: as if he should say, that God had not called the Iewes as it were in hudder mudther, but had passed a solemne conueyance or euidence, which serued too leaue all the world in condemnation. Therfore forasmuch as God had aduaunced Abrahams linage, it must needes bee that the rest of the world was so much the more confounded, like as if some Princes or some Cities should make a league, all others that are not comprehended in it, are as good as depriued of the benefite that is conteyned in it. And when God declared that he tooke the Iewes too bee his flocke, and that he would be their father and sauiour: he declared also that no part thereof could come to the Gentiles, whom he had after a sort forsaken, and to whom he had not voutsafed too shew the like mercy. Finally he sayeth, that they had bin vvithout God, which is the full measure of all mischief. For what shall become of man, when his God hath so shaken him of, as there is no accesse for him, nor no comming too him agein? And that not onelyonly he is forsaken of his God, but also cannot but plundge himselfe deeper and deeper intoo the bottom of hell, and make warre ageinst God, as though he were at defiāce with him, bicause he is stubburne and rebellious ageinst all goodnesse? Thus yee see, that the thing which S. Paule setteth forth here, too the intent that the Ephesians should profit themselues, by the things that he had sayd this morning concerning the onelyonly cause of our saluation: is that there is none other thing for vsus too trust vntoo, but onelyonly Gods meere grace.
But now let vsus come too o…r selues. I hauehave alreadie declared breifly, that our fathers were in the same state that S. Paule setteth downe here. And therefore wee hauehave no cause too brag of, as oft as we thinke of what roote and originall wee spring. For if the very Iewes bee at this day a record of Gods wrath and horrible vengeance, which he layeth vppon them for their vnbeliefe: is there not much more cause for too cast downe their eyes, which are but as things borne out of tyme? For the Iewes are of the holy roote that God had chozen, and wee bee but graffed intoo it in their steade. If God hath not spared the naturall braunches,Rom. 11. b. 16. &. 17. c. 21. what will he doo too vsus that hauehave bin brought in as it were ageinst nature? Loe how S. Paule exhorteth vsus too lowelinesse, too the end wee should lerne to submit our selues alwayes too Gods meere goodnesse, and frankly and freely confesse that our welfare consisteth therin. Also I told you secondly, not onelyonly that our fathers were straungers to the hope of saluation, bicause they were not adopted as well as the Iewes: but also that the horrible scattering which came vppon the whole world, and which reigneth in it still at this day, ought too beate downe al pryde and presumption, that Gods grace may shine the brighter vppon vsus. Now then (as I sayd) although wee bee baptyzed, and hauehave the badge of Gods goodnesse and free adoption: yit, notwithstanding we hauehave bin wretched idolaters, and were gone away from our Lord Iesus Christ, and the things that wee had in greatest estimation, turned too our greater damnation, in steade of being for our welfare. Therefore wee hauehave good cause here too bethinke our selues.
Furthermore for asmuch as wee bee short witted in magnifying Gods grace, let vsus wey well this woord which S. Paule vseth heere to bring vsus to remembrance of the things which wee myght forget. For when wee bee indewed with Gods grace, and it hath pleased him too giuegive vsus some good desyre too walk in his feare, & he hath wrought so in vsus by his holye spirit, as men may perceyue that there is some goodnesse in vsus: it maye make vsus too forget by and by what wee were afore, by meanes wherof Gods grace is as good as buryed. Too the intent therfore that our present plyght hinder not our continuall praysing of God, and our esteeming of his goodnesse and grace as it deserueth: let no length of tyme darken the benefites that we hauehave receyued of God, but let vsus as it were enter intoo examination of them eueryevery day. And although God hauehave chaunged our state at this day, so as wee bee no more the men that wee were afore: yit notwithstanding let vsus beare in mynd, that before God had pitie vppon vsus, wee were as seely sheepe that went astray, and as beastes that are vtterly lost, and that without the same small beginning, wee had bin damned ten hundered thousand tymes erst, had not God preuented vsus, and giuen vsus remedie for the cursed state wherin wee were. Yee see then, that the thing which we hauehave to consider vpō the sayd speech, wherby S. Paule putteth the Ephesians in mynd, what they were afore, is, that although God had put awaye the thing that shoulde hauehave made them ashamed, and marked them afore hand with his holy spirit, so as they were become as precious perles: yit notwithstanding he will hauehave them too bethink themselues, (lyke as in very deede it is, the frutes of repentance which the scripture setteth downe,) that when God hath reached vsus his hand, and brought vsus home agein from our straying, wee ceasse not too beethink vsus of our (former) sinnes, euen in such wyze as wee may bee sorye, abashed, and ashamed of them.
Whereas he sayeth, that the Gentyles hauehave good cause too hold downe their heades, bycause they were sometyme without assurance of Gods goodnesse and louelove: therby wee bee put in mynd, that wee receyue a singular benefyte at Gods hand, when wee hauehave the vse of his Sacramentes, which are as warran…es, that he taketh and auoweth vsus too bee of his household and Church. Trew it is, that if wee abuse them, wee shall pay deerly for it: but yit whatsoeuer come of it, when the Sacramentes are put too the end wheruntoo they were ordeyned, it is certein, that they bee as it were inestimable treasures, as I sayd afore. For although wee hauehave Gods promis that he taketh vsus for his children, euen from our comming out of our mothers womb: yit is there nothing but vnclennesse in our flesh. Now then, hauehave wee baptim? There it is shewed vsus that God washeth and clenzeth vsus from all our vnclennesse, that he pulleth vsus out of the confuzion wherin wee were with our father Adam: and that he will hauehave vsus clothed with Iesus Christ, too bee parttakers of all his goods, as though they were our owne.
Wee see then what baptim importeth, and consequently how much we ought too esteeme this grace of Gods comming vntoo vsus in such wyse, and of his shewing of himself too bee our father after so homely maner. As much is too bee sayd of the supper. For there it is shewed vsus visibly, that Iesus Christ is the trew foode of our s…ules, that like as our bodyes are susteined & nurrished with the bread and wyne, so wee hauehave our spirituall lyfe of the verye substance of Gods sonne. Seing then that our Lord Iesus dooth as it were from hand too hand shewe vsus, that he giueth vsus his bodie and blud too bee our spirituall meat and drink: is it not a thing much more worth than all things that are too bee found in this world? And herin wee see how malicious and frowarde most men are: for as touching the Lords Supper, manie come to it, which rush thither lyke wretched beasts, not knowing why it was ordeined. Some agein make but a custome & ordinarie vse of it: & although thei hauehave bin taught to what purpose it auaileth vsus: yit they do but wring their mouth at it, & all is one to thē, when it is once past with thē. And othersome defyle it euen wilfully. And as touching baptim, we se how the world goeth with it. For wheras we ought to think dayly, & not only once aday, but eueryevery houre of the day, both vpō Babtim, & also vponupon the Lords supper, to confirme our selues the better in Gods grace: so little dooth any man sett his mynd that way, that if baptim bee minnistred in the Church, men make none account of it. Scarsly can one bee found among a hundred, that can fitly tell and vtter what that signe of our adoption betokeneth. And yit yee see what disdeyne is matched with that ignorance. Must not God after his long suffering of vsus, and his pacient wayting for vsus, be reuenged of such dishonour, when his grace is so lyghtly esteeemed among vsus? So much the more therfore dooth it stand vsus in hand, too marke well what S. Paule telleth vsus heere, when he sayeth, that the Gentyles being depryued of the Sacramentes which God giueth too his children for a warrant of his goodnesse and louelove, are in miserable taking, too the end wee may lerne too make much of the priuiledge which he hath giuen vsus, not too boast folishly of it, as hipocrytes doo, who abuse Gods name continewally: but too make vsus too fare the better by a thing of so greate pryce and valew, and too make vsus knowe that wee bee no whit better than they which are as poore hungrestarued soules, ageinst whom God shetteth the gate still, and too whom he voutsafeth not tooo impart those pledges of his, wherein he sheweth and witnesseth that he will bee our father. Yee see the Turkes hauehave circumcision as well as the Iewes, and yit is it nothing woorth, bycause there is no more any promis of God goyng with it: and yit notwithstanding wee come of Adams race as well as they. Wherefore hauehave wee Baptim, but bycause God intended too shewe himselfe the more pitifull towardes vsus, and too vtter the riches of his goodnesse? Agein, the Papistes will needes bee called Christians, and hauehave Baptim as well as wee. And yit in the meane whyle they bee bereft of the holy Supper, yea and they hauehave the abhominable Masse, wherein they renounce the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ. And what cause is there why wee should bee so preferred before them, sauing that God would hauehave vsus too bee as myrrours of his infinite mercy? So much the more therefore behoueth it vsus too walke in awe and warenesse, and too set store by the things which God sheweth vsus too bee of such woorthinesse and excellencie, that wee may fare the better by them. Wherefore marke it for a speciall poynt, when S. Paule speaketh heere of Circumcision and vncircumcision.1. Cor. …. d. 19. & Gala. 5. …. …. & 6. d. 15. For although he say in other places, that Circumcision is nothing, (howbeeit that was but bycause it was abolished, and the vse therof ceassed, as of all other figures of the Law:) yit notwithstanding, at such tyme as God ordeyned it, and so long as the Iewes vsed it holily, it was a sure warrant to them of Gods adoption, as if he had clenzed them from all the filthinesse that is in Adams race, and appropryed them vntoo himselfe.
After he hath sayd so, he addeth, that they vvere vvithout Christ, and vvithout promises. Here he sheweth that the Sacraments take and borrowe their force of Gods woord. For if there were nomore but the bare signes, it were no matter of great importance. If Circumcizion had bin giuen too the Iewes without any doctrine or instructiō: too what purpose had it serued? Surely they had bin neuer the better for it. But when as God sayeth, I am the God which sanctifyeth you, you shalbee my children, I will receyue you, and therwith all take you for myne heritage: and on the other syde also I giuegive my self too you, and wilbee your lyfe: forasmuch as Circumcizion had such promises, it was as an inestimable treasure too the Iewes, bicause the foundation (that is to wit, our Lord Iesus Christ) was layd sure, wheron the promises were setled, and as yee would say, confirmed. That then is the cause why S. Paule ioyneth heere the common weale of Israell, and the instruments of Gods promises, and our Lord Iesus Christ al toogither. Howbeeit in speaking of the common weale of Israell, he sheweth, that God had chozen one certeyne linage which he would hauehave too bee holie: and so was it too bee concluded, that all the rest were vnholie. In speaking of the instruments of the promises, he sheweth (as I hauehave touched alredie) that wee must not looke vppon Circumcision in it selfe, but wee must direct it too the ryght end of it. It becommeth vsus too knowe wherefore God would hauehave it vsed among the Iewes: for otherwyse it is but an Apes toy, as the number of fond deuotions which the Gentyles had, whereby they hoped too hauehave had holynesse: but all of it was but abuse and trumperie, bycause they had no promis of God. Lykewyse they say now adayes in the papacie, that they hauehave many Sacramentes, and therewithall as many murlimewes and gewgawes as can bee: but all that God disalloweth, is but pelting trash. And why? for there is no woorde that sanctifyeth them. So then let vsus marke well, that too profit our selues by the Sacramentes, wee must alwayes be taught them by Gods doctrine. And thereby wee may iudge, that manie are cut of from the Church of God, who notwithstanding are now adayes thought to bee hyghest in it. For in the meane whyle where is the instructiō, which they should hauehave too be partakers of the benefytes that God offereth them? They will alledge their Baptim, and they will say, they receyue the Lordes Supper. If a man ask them too what end: they vnderstand nothing at all, and that is as an vtter abolishing of the power of the Sacramentes. So much the more therfore dooth it stand vsus on hand too come backe too this poynt, namely too lerne of the Gospell, too what end Baptim was ordeyned, what frute it yeeldeth vsus, and which is the ryght and lawfull vse of it: and also too consider whertoo the holie Supper auayleth vsus. For if wee hauehave not Gods woord: our Lord himselfe telleth vsus, that the Sacramentes which we recey…e, are as it were imbaced, and there is nothing but falsehod in them. And lyke as if a man should set a (Princes) seale to a letter that had nothing therin, or which had but imaginations and dreames contryued in it, it were an offence woorthy of death: so also forsomuch as the Sacramentes are as Seales too warrant Gods promyses vntoo vsus, and too make them of authoritie among vsus: if wee separate them from his woorde, it is certeyne, that wee bee falsifyers before God and his Angells. That therefore is one thing more which wee hauehave too marke vppon this streyne.
And wee must marke also, that Iesus Christ is set downe with the common weale of Israell, and with the Sacramentes and promises, too shewe that it is he on whom all of vsus depend. For it is certeyne that God neuer commeth at men without the mediator. For sith he hateth vnrightuousnesse, & all men are cursed in Adam: it was requisite that our Lord Iesus Christ should step in, that wee myght hauehave some enterance and accesse vntoo God.2. Cor. 1. d. 20. And that is the cause why S. Paule sayeth also, that he is the yea and the Amen of all Gods promises. For there shall neuer be any certeintie of Gods promises without Iesus Christ.Exod. 24. b. 8. And for the same cause also all things were dedicated in the Lawe with blud, yea and euen the booke of the Lawe it selfe. When the couenant was red openly,Hebr. 9. …. 20. and published solemly too the people, the booke was besprinckled with the blud of the sacrifize, too shewe that all the doctrine conteyned in the Lawe, and all the promyses wherby God adopteth those too bee his children, whom he hath admitted intoo his Church, must bee confirmed by the blud of our Lord Iesus Christ. So then, will wee hauehave the promyses too bee sure and infallible? Will wee bee assured of them, that wee may freely call vppon God, and fyght ageinst all temptations? Wee must resort alwayes too Iesus Christ. It is much when God telleth vsus with his owne holy mouth, that he will reserue vsus for his owne: but yit must we needes tremble continually at his maiestie, till wee hauehave cast our eye vppon our Lord Iesus Christ, and knowe that God lyketh well of vsus for his sake, so as our sinnes bee buryed, and shall neuer come too account. Thus yee see how the promises, the Sacramentes, and all that euer wee hauehave, must bee ratifyed by Iesus Christ. Too bee short, (if I may make an humane comparison, and speake gr…ssely) he is the trew sauce too make all things sauerie that belong too our saluation. For without him, wee should continue euermore as men in a swound, and (as I hauehave sayd alredye) wee could conceyue no hope at all, nor hauehave our myndes so settled, as wee myght resort vntoo God for refuge. Not without cause therefore d…oth Saint Paule say, that such as hauehave no Circumcision, nor other Sacramentes whereby too bee consecrated vntoo God, nor any pr…myses of saluation, are without Christ.
And now he addeth a thing which may seeme hard & straunge at the first sight, when he saith, that the Ephesians were vvithout God. For it is certaine that although they were wretched Idolaters, yit they had a certeyne opinion that the world was not made of it selfe: for wee k…we that all men hauehave continually hild so…e seede of Religi…n, and euen they which ouersho…e them selues so farre, as too wype out all knowledge of God, are first most vgly monsters, and secondly although they striue too thrust all knowledge of God vnderunder foote, yit must they needes hauehave harthitings, that sting them in spyte of their teeth, and they bee driuen too feele that they cannot scape the hand of God. Howsoeuer the cace stand, wee bee na…u…ally inclyned too knowe that there is a God. And the heathen men hauehave alwayes had their deuotions and deuine seruices (as …hey termed them) to shew that they worshipped some Godhead. How then doth S. Paul say here, that they were without God? Wee hauehave to note, that it is not ynough for men to confesse that there is some certeyne Godhead, and to indeuer to discharge themselues of their duetie by seruing of a God: but they must also hauehave a certeyne settled beleefe, that they wander not too and fro after the manner that is spoken of in the first Chapter too the Romanes,Ro…. 1. c. 21. where it is sayd, that such as deuyze straūge shapes of God, doo vanish away in their owne foolishe imaginations. Now it is certeyn, that all such as are not taught by Gods worde, by the lawe, by the Prophets, & by the Gospell, are out of the right way, and after a sort, at their wittes end, so as they bee tossed too and fro like wauering reeds that yeeld too eueryevery wynd, and theruppon make sundrye shapes of God. For eueryevery man buildeth and forgeth crooked conceytes in his owne brayne, and wee knowe that mans wit is as a shop of Idolatrie & s…perstition, in somuch that if a man beleeue his owne conceyt, it is certeyne, that he shall forsake God, and forge some Idoll in his owne brayne. Lo… what wee bee. And it may right wel be sayd, that we be without God, when wee wander away after that fashion in our owne imaginations, and in our false opinions. And that is the cause why S. Paule sayeth, that such as hauehave had a mynd too worship some vnknowen Gods, hauehave woorshipped nothing but Idoles and fantasticall imaginations, and that God belongeth not at all vntounto them, and so consequently, that they were vtterly forsaken of him, lyke as they were become renegates, & had renounced him before. Somuch the more then behoueth it vsus too trauell and take peyne too knowe which is the God whom wee ought too worship. I hauehave told you alreadye, that it is not ynough for a man too alledge that he hath a good intent, and that he ment too worship God: that will go for no payment: for God lyketh not of the libertie that men take too make themselues beleeue this or that. Sith it is so, wee must present our selues before God with all warenesse, that be may shewe vsus the way too come vntoo him. For else wee shall but go astray, and he that runneth swiftest, shalbe furthest of frō him, yea & in the end breake his necke. Lo in what cace wee bee till God hauehave reached vsus his hand, and set vsus in the ryght way, that wee may not bee as poore wandering beasts all the tyme of our lyfe.
Agein, for asmuch as he hath giuen vsus a record of his maiestie in the holy scripture: it becommeth vsus too hold our selues short therunto, and not too couet too knowe any thing which is not shewed vsus there. What must then bee our lodestarre too knowe God by? Too suffer our selues too bee taught by his woord, and too bee so discret, as to receyue whatsoeuer is conteyned there, without geynsaying, and not too presume to adde any thing at all thertoo. And wee ought so much the more to hauehave that care,1. Iohn. 2. d. 22. 23. sith we knowe how S. Iohn auoweth, that he which hath not the sonne, hath not the father. Then lyke as I hauehave told you, that bycause God reueleth himselfe in this woorde, it behoueth vsus too seeke him there: so also forasmuch as our Lord Iesus Christ is his liuely image, let vsus not enter intoo ouer hygh speculations, to knowe what God is: but let vsus repayre too Iesus Christ, acknowledging that it is his office too bring vsus too God his father, and that it is he by whome wee must bee guyded, and so shall wee bee sure that wee shall not bee without God in this world. Now if they that take so much peyne, and trott vp and downe too serue God, bee condenmed heere too bee without God, bycause they hauehave not hild the trew rule, but hauehave bin beguyled in their superstitions: what shall become of the dogges and swyne that hauehave no awe at all of God, specially sith they bereue themselues of all knowledge, and degenerate intoo beastes, after they hauehave had some vnderstanding of the truth, by hauing their eares beaten with the holy Scripture: Of which sort wee see a great number nowe adayes, who too take the aduauntage of the tyme, and too make good cheere at their pleasure, could fynd in their hartes too quench, or too darken the lyght that God had caused too shyne vppon them, yea euen too the vtter defying of Gods maie…tie, as though there were no more instruction at all. Wee see how this cursed …eede is dispersed abrode at this day through all the whole world. But (as I sayd afore) if the poore ignorant sort, which neuer had any certeyne way, but hauehave bin as blynde wretches wandering heere and there too seeke God, and yit he hath not s…ewed himselfe vntoo them, hauehave none excuce at all, but are condemned at Gods hand, bycause they had not a trew roote: what shall beco…e of the vnhappie wretches that despyze God in that wyse, and … ageinst him, saying, wee knowe no more what the trew doctrine and Religion meane. So much the more then ought wee too humble our selues, and too knowe that sith God hath reueled himselfe vntounto vsus, now that he is ioyned too vsus with an insepa…able bond, and hath shewed himselfe a father too vsus, and hath voutsafed too make vsus members of the bodie of our Lord Iesus Christ, and made vsus one with him, with condition that whatsoeuer he hath, belongeth now vntounto vsus: we ought too lerne too magnifie that grace, and too acknowledge what we hauehave bin, and what wee should bee still, if God had not shewed himself mercifull towardes vsus.
Heruppon a man myght demaund what S. Paule ment by the woord VVorld: for it should seeme that out of the world they were not without God. Howbeeit, that was too aggrauate the matter so much the more, by saying that the Ephesians had inioyed the lyght of the Sunne, all the Elementes had serued them, & they had receyued so manie commodities of Gods gift in all his creatures, and yit had not knowen him. For what else is the world but an open stage wheron God will hauehave his maiestie seene? Let vsus lift vp our eyes: doo not the Sunne, the Moone, and the Starres, leade vsus too him that gaue them the vertewes which wee perceyue in them? For behold, the sonne is farre of from vsus, and yit he giueth vsus lyght. Agein, he causeth the earth too bring foorth frutes, also wee see the dubble course that he keepeth: and although he wander now on the one side, and now on the other, yit notwithstanding he keepeth his compas continually, and neuer fogetteth how farre he ought to go on the one side or on the other, as huge a masse as he is. If a Ball or a Boule were too bee hild vp, it woold neede some help: but behold, the Sunne hath nothing to hold it vp, but the secret power of God: and yit notwithstanding he is so huge and infinite a masse, as exceedeth all the whole earth. Mount he vp, or go he lowe, turne he, or returne he, on the one side or on the other: yit keepeth he his course stil eueryevery day through the whole world, & eueryevery yere also on the contrary part, and yit for all this he misseth not in any of all those thinges. Too bee short, when wee behold the skyes, wee ought too bee rauished with desyre to go vntounto God. Agein, when we behold the thinges that are neerer vsus, namely the varietie of the good things that God bestoweth vppon vsus: (wee hauehave cause too doo the lyke.) Finally without going any further, let vsus but enter intoo our selues. If a man looke but vppon one of his fyngers, what workmanship and what goodnesse of God is there? Wee then are in the worlde where God vttereth such abundance of myracles, wherby it is his meaning, too bee knowen and worshipped: and yit notwithstanding wee play the beastes, and go on lyke blockeheades without any vnderstanding, not knowing the God that made vsus and fashyoned vsus, euen him that vttereth and sheweth himselfe in all his creatures both aboue and beneath. Is not this ynough then too bereeue them of all excu…e, which play the beastes in their ignorance, lyuing heere but only too deuoure Gods benefytes, and in the meane whyle repayre not too him, too doo him honour, or to offer him their seruice? Then is it not without cause, that Saint Paule addeeth yit further this saying, that such as were so destitute of the knowledge of the Gospell, were without God in the world.
Now thereuppon on the other side, he setteth downe the grace of God, which they had receyued, too the ende, they should knowe that it was not of their owne purchace, nor obteyned by their owne pollicy and abilitie, but that they ought too consider well how greatly they bee bound vntoo God, for rayzing them vp too heauen from the deepe dungeons of hell. If God had but lent vsus his hand to lift vsus vp when wee were falne but too the ground, and so let vsus alone in our owne state, wee should be beholden to him for it. For when we bee falne, and some body helpes too lift vsus vp agein, wee will cun him thanke, & so ought we too doo. Behold now, God hath not only lift vsus vp from the ground, but also drawen vsus out of the gulf of hell. And his so dooing, is not too make vsus crepe here beneath vponupon the earth, or to make vsus too inioye the benefits that he offereth vsus here presently: but too aduaunce vsus too the kingdome of heauen, as wee hauehave seene heretofore, how wee bee put in possession of it alredy by fayth, and are set in the person of Iesus Christ in the glory that he hath purchaced for vsus, for he is entred into it in our behalf. The seeing it is so, hauehave we not cause too magnifie Gods grace so much the more? So hauehave yee Saint Paules meaning, in that he sayth, that novv by Iesus Christ you be come nere vntoo God, euen you (sayeth he) vvhichwhich vvere farre of before. Therefore at a word (forasmuch as the whole, cannot be layd foorth at this tyme) let vsus vnderstand, that whereas men seeme to hauehave some worthinesse in thēselues, they cannot but stray away to their own destruction, so long as they bee separated from God, bycause that by nature they …ee straungers vntoo bim, yea and quite cut of from him. Moreouer let eueryevery of vsus knowe for his owne part, how wee had forgotten God, and were quite turned away from him, till he called vsus agein vntoo him. When wee knowe this, let vsus learne too magnifie his grace for voutsafing too reconcyle vsus too himselfe, and too put away all the enmitie that was betwixt him and vsus, and too make vsus his children of his deadly enemyes, assuring our selues, that all this is done by meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ, too the intent wee should out of that fountayne drawe all that belongeth too our saluation. And furthermore let vsus consider also, what furtherance wee hauehave by the helpes that God hath giuen vsus too come too Iesus Christ by, and too confirme vsus in him, too the end wee may hauehave a resolute and sure doctrine. As for example, when the Gospell is dayly preached vntoo vsus, Iesus Christ is offered there vntoo vsus, and he on his side calleth vsus vntoo him. Too he short, he hath his arm…s stretched out to i…brac… vsus. Let vsus vnderstand that: and afterward let vsus adde the Sacraments theruntoo, and seeing that Iesus Christ hath not onelyonly commaunded the open preaching of the Goswell, … he sheweth himself too bee our Shepherd, and that he will hauehave vsus too bee his flocke, but also confirmeth the same by Bapti…, & by his last Supper: let vsus take good heede that we make not those signes vnauaylable through our owne malice and vnthankfulnesse: but let vsus (rather) consider to what end God hath ordeyned them, and let vsus so vse them, as wee may growe more and more in fayth, and bee thereby in…amed with such zeale, as wee may indeuer too give our selues wholly vntoo God, sith it hath pleazed him also too giuegive himselfe vntoo vsus.
And now let vsus f…l downe before the maiestie of our good God, with acknowledgment of our faults, praying him, not only too make eueryevery of vsus too knowe the vyces wherwith wee bee atteynted, but also those which he hathe voutsafed too cle…ze vsus of, and specially that wee may come too our originall, and consider that euen from our moothers wombes wee bring nothing but …, and that wee ceasse not too increace the … and more, that when wee knowe it, wee may blisse his holie name for the knowledge which he hath giuen vsus, and bee so prou…ked too repayre vntoo him, as wee may hold the ryght way, without swaruing from our Lorde Iesus Christ, bycause that without him wee must needs bee …ani…ted the kingdome of …, and shut qu…te and cleane out of it. So then, let vsus hold that way, and call vppon this good God of ours in…e…antly, that he voutsafe to make vsus feele by experience, that his calling of vsus vntounto him, is not in vayne: that wee fynding such frute of our prayers, may bee so much the more incoraged too flee too him for our ref…ge, and also to giuegive him thanks for all the benefyts which wee receyue at his hand. That it may please him too graunt this grace, not only too vsus, but also too all people. &c.