Sermons on Ephesians, Sermons · Sermon 20
The .xx. Sermon, which is the fifth vppon the third Chapter.
14. For the vvhichwhich thing I bovv my knees too the father of our Lord Iesus Christ:
15. (Of vvhom all kinred is named in heauen and in earth.)
16. That according too the riches of his glory, he graunt you too bee strengthened vvith povver by his spirit in the invvard… man.
17. And that Christ may dvvell in your hartes by fayth.
18. And that yee may bee rooted and grounded in LoueLove, too the intent yee may comprehend vvith all the Sainctes, vvhat the wydenesse, and the length, and the deepth, and the heyght,
19. And knovve the louingnesse of Christ, vvhichwhich passeth all knovvledge, that yee may be filled vvith all fulnesse of God.
WEe hauehave seene this morning by what enterance wee must offer our prayers vntoo God, if we intend too be heard at his hand, and too hauehave full assurance that our prayers shalbee well lyked: namely that Iesus Christ bee our guyde and aduocate, and make intercessiō for vsus, so as we speake not but as it were by his mouth. Now he hath set it downe for a rule in praying vntounto God,Math. …. b. 9. that wee must call him father. And how dare men bee so bolde or presumptuous, as to call God their father? Surely wee can alledge no ryght wherby too clayme any such dignitie. For not euen the Angels hauehave it, but by meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ. Then is it vnpossible for vsus too pray too God, as he commaundeth vsus, and after the manner which he teacheth vsus in his woord except Iesus Christ bee our aduocate. For on whether syde are the Angels akyn too vsus? shall the Uirgin Mary be found to bee our greate Aunt or Graundmother? What are the Apostles? Too bee short, wee must resort too our Lord Iesus Christ, too hauehave his spirituall kinred, wherby God avoweth vsus for his adopted children. And when wee once hauehave that, wee must no more doubt whether God will heare our prayers or no, seeing wee come not to him vppon a foolish rashnesse, by presuming vppon our owne naturall reason or selflyking, but with obedience too his commaundement. Agein, wee hauehave his promis, which can neuer deceyue vsus. Contrarywyse all they that thinke too obteyne fauour at Gods hand by any other meane, doo but run astray, and hauehave shet them selues out of the doore already. And therfore there is now none excuce, but that wee must simply hold the way which the Gospell sheweth vsus, to come vntounto God by, that is too wit, in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ, without adding of any other creature, as we see doone by the whole world. In deede they that pester vp a throng of patrons and aduocates, (as they terme them,) hope too bee well welcome vntoo God. But by what warrant? Who hath promised them, that God will accept their deuotion, and all that they offer vntoo him? For it is not in vsus too appoynt officers in heauen. In a Court of Iustice of the world, it myght well bee a matter of course (as they terme it,) and it myght lie in the power of a Iudge, too giuegive leaue too whom he listeth, too pleade mens caces, too the intent there myght be no confuzion. But if wee will make aduocates at our owne pleasure, and vppon our owne head (in heauen:) it is all one as if wee would rob God of his authoritie and souereintie. Yea, and wee must bethink vsus how S. Paule sayeth, that all our prayers and supplications, shall neuer be aught worth, but vtterly vnprofitable and vayne, if they be not conformable to Gods word, so as we take our rule frō thence. For how shall wee call vponupon a God (saieth he) whom wee knowe not, at all aduenture? And how shall we knowe after what maner we should pray, and what style and speeche wee should vse?Rom. 10. c. 14. Wee must come too hearing, not of the things that men shall bring vsus of their owne brayne, but of the things that God commaundeth vsus. So then, wee must vse this modestie and sobrietie, and not speake at randon when wee pray vntoo God, but simply obey his word. Yea and we know that prayer is the cheefe sacrifice that God requireth. For whereas it is sayd, that wee must worship the only one God:Deut. 6. c. 13. &. 10. d. 20 & Math 4 b. …0. it is not alonly with ceremonies, as with kneeling downe before him. In deede that is requisite: for it is meete that wee should honour our God both with our body and with our mynd, bycause they bee both his. Howbeit in worshipping him, wee must acknowledge truely that wee hold all good things of him: and that doo wee in praying too him. For wee come thither as poore soules vtterly destitute of all thinges that are meete for vsus, knowing that without him wee bee woorse than miserable. It is sayde in the lawe, that in offering sacrifyze too God, men must not doo any thing at all of their owne head, but follow his ordinaunce, insomuch that it was forbidden them too take straunge fyre too vse vppon the aulter: whereby it was ment in a figure,Leuit. 10. a. 2. that men should vtterly forbeare all their owne deuotions, when they intend too offer any thing vntoo God. Likewyse they were forbydden too offer sacrifyze without salt,Leuit. 2. d. 13. &. Mark. 9. g. 48. thereby too shewe that wee ought too hauehave a sure instruction, so as all the offerings which wee offer vp too God, bee sauced or poudered with his woord: for without that, there will bee nother taste nor sauour in them. But seeyng that wee now adayes hauehave the substance and truth of the figures of the Lawe: whensoeuer wee offer our prayers and supplications vntoo God, or yeeld him prayse and thankes, let vsus doo all by our Lord Iesus Christ,Heb. 13. c. 15. as the Apostle too the Hebrewes exhorteth vsus. This serueth too finish vp the matter that was begunne this morning.
And wee must call to mynd what S. Paule told vsus this morning: namely, that in praying vntoo God, wee must not bee giuen too our wordly affections, but seeke that God may bee glorified, and that the residue may bee but as an appurtenaunce too it. That is the cause why he spake purposely of the inward man. For if God should giuegive vsus the brydle too aske whatsoeuer came in our head, or if wee on our side should take such libertie: what a thing were it? If he should giuegive vsus al our owne asking, it would turne to our ruine and confuzion. For we hauehave our lusts further out of square, than litle children or sick folks. And all of vsus generally doo by experyence find in our selues, that wee bee fast settled heere bylowe, and would fayne bee hild continually in this world: wee hang our heads groueling downeward, and cannot lift them vp. So much the more therefore doth it stand vsus on hand, to mark wel the thing that S. Paule sheweth vsus in this sentence: namely that wee ought too pray God to renew vsus, and too strengthen vsus by his holy spirit, and too increace his giftes in vsus more and more, that in passing through this world, we may alwayes ame at that mark, and bee heere but as wayfarers, too the end that our Lord may auowe vsus for his children, and the heritage be kept for vsus, which he hath promised vsus, and bought so deerely for vsus by the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ.
Now heereuppon S. Paule inferreth, that Iesus Christ may dwel in our harts by fayth. Wherby he sheweth, that without Christ wee shall neuer bee made partakers of any one drop of Gods grace. It is trew, that God hath the whole fulnesse of life, light, rightuousnesse, and all goodnesse in himself. But where is the head welspring? It is vtterly hidden, & we shall neuer be able too come at it of our selues. And if wee think too doo any good by our owne inuentions: it is but a deceyuing of our selues: wee shall but dig pits continually, yea euen such pits as are full of holes, and hauehave no springs of water in them. Behold,Ierem. 3. c. 13. the thing that men gayne by following their own inuentions, is, that they make much trotting vp and downe, and are neuer the neerer. But our Lord Iesus Christ is a fountayne wherout we may well drawe ou… fill: yea and wee neede too make no long windlasses too come vntounto him, bycause he offereth himself, saying: All you that are a thirst come vntounto me & drink, for whosoeuer drinketh of the liuing water that I giuegive him,Iohn. 7. c. 37. shall hauehave ynough, both for himselfe, and also too make it flowe … his neighbours. Now then, for as much as our Lorde Iesus Christ do…th so … and bountifully offer vsus the benefits which wee receyue of God his father: therfore S. Paule sayth, that he must bee fayne too dwell in our harts, that wee may bee reformed by Gods spirit. And let vsus mark, that Iesus Christ hath the full perfection of all goodnesse in him, not onelyonly in respect that he is the euerlasting sonne of God, but also euen in his humane nature which he tooke of vsus, and wherein he became our brother, hath he also receyued all fulnesse, according too this saying of the Prophet Esay, that vppon him shall rest the spirit of wisedome,Esay. 11. a. 2. 3. 4. the spirit of vnderstanding, the spirit of the feare of God, the spirit of rightuousnesse, and the spirit of strength. And too what end? Is it for his own vse? He had no neede of it: but (as it is sayd in another Text) it was to the end that he should distribute it vntoo all his members, and wee all of vsus from the most too the least drawe of his fulnesse, not fearing that fountayne can dry vp. Seeing then that our Lord Iesus Christ dooth by the Gospell dayly communicate and offer vntoo vsus the things that wee want, and are needefull for our saluation: it is not for nought that S. Paule hauing shewed that wee can do nothing furtherfoorth than wee bee vphild by Gods grace: addeth, that God must bee fayne too dwell in our harts.
Now vppon these words, wee hauehave too gather first of all, that God thinking it not ynough too remedie all our defaultes and misdooyngs, and all our wantes, hath voutsafed too giuegive himselfe too vsus in the person of his onelyonly sonne. If it were told vsus that wee bee restored too the former state from whence our father Adam fell, that were very much, and therein wee should hauehave an excellent record of the goodnesse of our God: but he hath not onelyonly giuen vsus both heauen and earth, that is too say, all things that are fit for vsus both in respect of this flyghtfull lyfe, and of the euerlasting saluation of our foules: but also he hath giuen himselfe vntoo vsus. And how is that? Euen by giuing vsus our Lord Iesus Christ, as is sayd of him in the nyenth of the Prophet Esay. And all the Scripture also leadeth vsus thither, when it sheweth vsus how God giueth himselfe vntoo vsus, and how wee possesse him, and hauehave full fruition of him. And theruppon wee must conclude with that which S. Paule sayeth, in the eyght too the Romanes, namely, that inasmuch as Gods sonne who hath all excellence and dignitie in him, is giuen vntounto vsus? shal any thing else be withhild frō vsus: Seeing that God hath graunted himselfe so f…rfoorth vntoo vsus, as too hauehave his sonne to dwell in vsus: shloud we now doubt (of the obteyning) of the things which …ee knoweth to be for our profite and behoof? Thinke we that▪ they shalbe denyed vsus? Yee see then that the thing which we hauehave to remember in the first place, is, that God hath shewed himself so bountifull toowards vsus,Psal. 119. 57. & Psal. 16. b. 5. that he hath not thought it ynough too put vsus in possession of all his goods, but hath voutsafed too become our portion and cup himself, as the scripture sayeth, which vseth such similitudes, to shew, that as a man seeketh his ordinary repast, and is well appayd when he hath meate and drinke, bycause he is refreshed by it: so must we resort vntounto God, too hauehave the trew foode: and wee must hold our selues contented with him, when he giueth himself so vntoo vsus. And heerewithall let vsus euer beare in mynd what I hauehave sayd, namely, that wee neede not too sore in the ayre, nor too make any farre fetches for the possessing of God, bycause he hath knit himself too vsus in the person of of our Lord Iesus Christ, and in him we are made partakers both of him and all his benefits. And S. Paul setteth downe the word fayth, too shewe vsus how deere the doctrine of the Gospell ought too be vntoo vsus. For it is not ynough too hauehave sayd, that Iesus Christ dwelleth in vsus, bycause wee will alwayes hauehave our replyes (and say) How may that bee? For wee cannot stye vp so high. He is in the glory of heauen, and wee bee crawling heere in the world, subiect to miseries without number. Seeyng then that there is so long a distance betweene him and vsus: howe may he dwell in vsus? Now S. Paule addeth purposely, that the Gospel is of such power, as too vnite vsus to Gods sonne, at leastwyse so wee receyue it by fayth: for it behoueth vsus too consider the contentes and substance of the things that are preached vntoo vsus, concerning the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ. It is not onelyonly sayd, that it was Gods will too hauehave him offered in sacrifyzce, too the intent wee myght bee reconcyled, and all our sunnes bee wyped out, so as they myght neuer come too account, and (too bee short,) that full amendes myght bee made for all our sinnes by his death and passion, and that he was rayzed agein for our iustification, as S. Paule sayeth in the fifth too the Romanes: not onelyonly those things are sayd of Iesus Christ, but it is also said, that he is our head, as we hauehave seene already, & that we liue of his owne substance, as a tree draweth his sap from his roote, and that as the head of a mā sheadeth foorth his power through all the body, so hauehave wee a secret vnion, and such a one as is woonderfull and farre aboue the order of nature, bycause that although Iesus Christ bee in heauen, yit he fayleth not too dwell in vsus. And soothly if the Sunne can so cheere vsus vp by his beames without fleeting out of his place, insomuch as wee see that eueryevery morning wee bee as it were refreshed and comforted (by his ryzing,) yea and euē sicke folkes feele some cheerlinesse by him though they lye a long in their beddes: seeing that a creature which is not onelyonly transitorie and corruptible, but also senslesse and vnmoueable of it self, hath notwithstanding such force and propertie giuen it of God, too reioyce and refreshe vsus after that fashion: what shall our Lord Iesus Christ doo, who is ordeyned too hauehave the fulnesse of the Godhead dwelling in him,Coloss. 2. b. 9. and to shed foorth all the gracious giftes of God his father vppon vsus, too deale them vntoo eueryevery of vsus according too his measure, as is sayd of him in the .xiiii. Chapter of Saint Iohn? Then if wee come too Christ with beleefe in him, that is too say, if wee receyue the promises of the Gospell: let vsus assure our selues that he will dwell in vsus, euen by the meanes of fayth. But hereof wee shall treate more fully in the fifth Chapter. Notwithstanding, this text could not hauehave bin vnderstoode, vnlesse I had noted the thing that I hauehave briefly touched euen now: that is too wit, that Iesus Christ dwelleth in vsus by fayth, and that our receyuing of him as he offereth (himselfe with) all his grace by the Gospell, is not alonely too looke vppon him aloofe, or too hauehave it tolde vsus, that he hath offered himselfe in sacrifyze for vsus once for all: but too the end he should dwell in vsus by the power of his holy spirit, and wee bee knit vntoo him, and feele that he dooth truely execute the office of a head towardes vsus, so as we bee members of his body, and liue of his proper substance. That then is the cause why S. Paule added the woord Fayth, when he sayd, that Iesus Christ ought too dwell in vsus.
Neuerthelesse wee must not go about too plucke Iesus Christ out of his heauenly glorie, too the intent too bee the neerer vntoo him, as the vnbeeleeuers doo, who will needs dwell euer still beneathe, and transfigure God after theyr owne lyking. And wee see what is doone in the popedome. For there is no God among them, but a sort of puppets which they call Images and remēberances. And moreouer, bycause they see well that those are but dead stocks and stones: they hauehave made another God, whom they hauehave shet vp in a box, and too him they resort as too a liuing God. In deede if they had the supper of our Lord Iesus Christ according too his institution, in stead of the abhominable Masse which they hauehave brought in on their owne head, Iesus Christ woulde bee present among them: howbeeit not as they imagine. For in the Supper wee doo truely receiue the bodie and blud of our Lord Iesus Christ, too bee fed of him, and of his owne substance, so as he performeth the thing which he speaketh by his woord, namely,Iohn. …. f. 35. that he is our spirituall bread and drink, and hath wherwith too satisfie vsus too the full. Yea, but yit are the bread and the wyne of the Supper, as pledges that our Lord Iesus giueth himself too vsus, to the end wee should seeke him aboue after a spirit…all fashyon. So then, Saint Paule sheweth vsus, that if wee will hauehave Iesus Christ ioyned vntoo vsus, wee must not bee giuen too our owne beastlinesse, but our harts and mynds must bee lift vp aloft too seeke him aboue, as hath bin declared alredie.Coloss. …. a. 1. It is trew, that he commeth downe too vsus by his woord, and by the power of his holie spirit: but that is too the end that wee should mount vp thither too him.
Howbeeit there is one thing more which wee ought too mark well in Saint Paules saying, that Christ must dwell in our harts. For manie men hauehave him in their mouth, yea and also in their brayne, as they vnderstand him, and they think themselues well discharged, when they can babble of him: but in the meane while there is no lyuely roote in them. Then is it not ynough for vsus to hauehave some rouing knowledge of Christ, or too gaze at him in the aire, as they say, and too bee able too talk of him with full mouth: but he must hauehave his seate in our harts within, so as wee bee knit too him vnfeynedly, and with a trew affection. That is the meanes for vsus to be made parttakers of Gods spirit.
And too bee short, wee may see here, that all such as weene too obteyne aught at Gods hand but by the meane of our lord Iesus Christ, doo but raūge and wander in vayne, and shal alwayes fynd themselues emptie: insomuch that when they think themselues too bee full fed, it shalbee but with wynd, that is too say, with vayne and tryfling imaginations, as I told you this morning. They therefore which deuyze patrones of their owne head, and surmyze that God will fauor them for it, and in the meane whyle let Iesus Christ alone: must vnderstand, that they bee so farre of from obteyning their requests, that God dooth rather abhore them, insomuch that when they once swarue from the ankerhold which is set foorth for vsus in the scripture, (that is too wit, from hauing our Lord Iesus Christ for their lodesman) the Angels of heauen must needs forsake them, and the Saints also, to whom they behighted themselues, must needs deny them, yea & al of them must set themselues ageinst them as aduersarie parties. For there is no means for vsus too bee matched with the Angels, Prophets, Apostles, and Martirs, till wee hauehave trew concord with them. And how shall wee hauehave that? By fayth: that is too say, according too the pure doctrine of the Gospell. Not that it is ynough for vsus too hauehave our eares beaten with it: but that wee must receyue the things that God promiseth vsus there, so as wee abhorre all that euer Satan can set afore vsus, and hauehave none other guyde than only our Lord Iesus Christ, who hath told vsus, that he is the lyght of the world,Iohn. 8. b. 12. and that whosoeuer walketh in him, cannot stray. But by the way wee must serche and examin our selues narrowly, that wee take not a vayne cloke vnderunder the name of Iesus Christ, as we see manie doo now adayes, which protest themselues to bee Gospellers. And euen among our selues, what a number are there which will shew signes greate ynough, that they bee willing too followe Gods woord? But they think too discharge themselues with petie tryfles: and when they hauehave once giuen eare (too the doctrine) and spoken a fewe good words: then, too their seeming, God is hyghly bound vntoo them. But heere it is shewed vsus, that wee hauehave none acquayntance at all with him, vntill Iesus Christ dwell in our harts. And that is the verye meane wherby too bee filled with his benefits, and too hauehave his holie spirit dwelling and reigning in vsus. For vnlesse we feare God, and walk in his obedience, so as wee behaue our selues according too his will, and all our wits and desyres ame thitherward: it is a token that wee liue after the flesh,Gala. 5. c. 16. as Saint Paule sayeth too the Galathians. Therefore wee must shewe by our outward fruites, that wee bee truly ioyned too Iesus Christ,Rom. 8. a. 5. and that he hath made vsus partakers of his holie spirit.
Now hereuppon Saint Paule addeth further, that vvee must bee rooted and grounded in charitie. This woord Charitie or louelove, may bee taken as well for the louelove that God beareth vsus, as for the mutuall louelove which wee ought to beare one towardes another. But the verie trew and natiue sense of Saint Paule heere, is, that he ment too hauehave vsus knit toogither. For as he spake heeretoofore of Gods free louelove towardes vsus, so now he sheweth how fayth importeth that wee should hauehave brotherly louelove one towards another. And the holy Scripture bringeth vsus alwayes to that poynt: insomuch that when there is any speaking of the full perfection of good lyfe: fayth goeth before, & then comes Charitie next vntoo it. For the end that wee must begin at, is the vtter abacing of our selues, too the end wee may seeke all our welfare at Gods hand, and that our seeking of it there, may bee, first too acknowledge that he giueth vsus all things in the person of his onelyonly sonne: and secondly, too call vppon him too settle our fayth in him, too flee wholly for refuge too his mercy, and after as eueryevery man feeleth himfelf bound vntoo him, (as all of vsus are exceedingly,) so to acknowledge by our thanksgiuing, that he is our rightuousnes, our holynes, our victorye, our ioy, our glorie, and our happinesse, that wee may performe the thi…g which is sayd in Ieremie, whosoeuer glorieth, let him glorie in the Lord,Iere. …. f. 24. bycause it is he that woorketh ryghtuousnesse, Iustice, and mercy. Yee see then that wee must rest wholly vppon our God, or else all the vertuousnesse which wee seeme too hauehave before men, shalbee but filth and dung. Now then, hauehave wee fayth? Charitie must be matched with it, and wee must liue euenly and vpryghtly one with another, & eueryevery of vsus acknowledge thus, I was not created for my self, nor to seeke myne own priuate benefyte & commoditie, but for the benefite of my neighbours also. And therfore let vsus absteyne frō al guile, wrong, outrage, and malice, and indeuer to serue eche others turne, according too our abilitie. That is the perfection of good lyfe.
Saint Paule hauing spoken alredie of fayth, addeth now, that wee must also bee grounded in Charitie: as if he should say, wee must not hauehave alonly some fit (or pang of louelove) as manie men hauehave: but there must bee a stedfastnesse and euen holding on in it all our lyfe long. For a thing may giuegive a greate blaze, and yit quayle anon after. Behold, a huge building may be ouerthrowen with one blast of wynd, if it be not set vppon a sure foundaton. Also a man may set vp a greate tree: but if the roote bee cut asunder, what will come of it? It must needes fall downe out of hand, or else if it hauehave some hold a the one ende for a tyme, it must needes wither at the heate of the Sunne. Euen so is it with vsus, when we hauehave a greate zeale which is not well rooted in our hartes: for it wilbee but as a maske or a gay showe before men. That is the cause why Saint Paule exhorteth vsus purposely too bee grounded in charitie, too the intent too correct the vyce of louing, by startes or fits (as they say) which is too common a thing. Neuerthelesse, it were a fondnesse too conclu… therefore, that our saluation were grounded vppon our good woorkes. For heere he treateth not of the cause of our saluation, but …nly how wee ought too rule our lyfe. Agein, wee knowe there is but one onelyonly foundation of the Church, as S. Paule sayeth in the third chapter of the second Epistle too Cori… thians, and as wee hauehave seene alredie in this selfsame Epistle, and specially as Iesus Christ himself declareth in the sixteenth chapter of Saint Matthew. And which is that foundation? It is Iesus Christ, and no man can lay any other than that which the Prophetes and Apostles hauehave layd, and wee must hold our selues too it at this day, and euen vntoo the worldes end. And yit may wee not ceasse too bee rooted in louelove by meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ. When men demaund what is the cause of our saluation, by what meane wee be brought into his fauour, and how wee may come vntoo hym, and cal vponupon hym with full trust:Coloss. 2. b. 9. (wee must answeare) it is, bycause our Lord Iesus Christe is giuen vsus, and it is he in whom the fulnesse of the Godhead dwelleth. Now wee bee yit farre of from such perfection: Howbeit, forasmuch as wee bee grounded vponupon our Lord Iesus Christ, wee hauehave a steadynesse that continueth all our life. So then let vsus marke, that Saint Paule exhorteth vsus here too true stedfastnesse, too the intent we should neuer bee weery of wel doing, though wee hauehave neuer so many occasions too thrust vsus aside. For euen such as are best mynded (too see too) doo neuerthelesse take pritch at it, when men shewe themselues vnkind towardes them: and when they consider, that for their well dooing men wyll requite them with all euyll, they bee sore greeued at it, and become quite out of hart. And that is a cause why so fewe continue in the feare of God, and walke as they ought too doo: for it seemeth too them, that they hauehave lost their labour in doing well. Agein, there foloweth this inconuenience also, that the wicked take occasion too rush out so much more intoo all maner of harmfulnesse: so that if a man liue in simplicitie, and beare the wrongs paciently that are doone vntoo hym: all men wyll bee dooing with him, and eueryevery man would eate hym vp, as if he were a sheepe among an hundred Woolues. Such as are easily intreated too giuegive of their goodes too their neighbours, seeme too bee set out too the spoyle, and eueryevery man wyll bee catching al that euer he can from them. When men see so lea…de dealings in th… world, it maketh eueryevery man too take out his owne share, as men say. But contrariwise it is told vsus heere, that if wee bee rooted and grounded in charitie, although men thrust vsus aside, and discorage vsus by their vnthankfulnesse: yit wyll wee not ceasse too hold out in well dooing, bicause wee hauehave a good and deepe roote.
And S. Paule hauing spoken so of the good will that wee ought … beare towardes our neyghbours, returneth too his matter of fayth. And surely the cheef poynt for vsus, is too knowe that God auoweth vsus for his children, and that our sinnes are forgiuen vsus, so as he taketh vsus for ryghtuous. If wee hauehave not that, how can we fynd any sweetnesse in seruing and honoring of him? And how or with what corage can we pray to him? What prayse can wee offer to him? Too bee short, it standeth vsus on hand too bee certified of the infinite good that is doone vsus by our Lord Iesus Christ, too the end wee may bee rauished in louelove with our God, and inflamed with a ryght zeale to obey him, and holde our selues short vnderunder his awe, too honor him with all our thoughtes, with all our affections, and with all our hartes. The cause then why S. Paule contineweth this matter, is to prynt it in the myndes of the faythfull, where their saluation lyeth, and how they may bee sure of it. And so much the more doo wee see what the wretchednesse of the world is. For there is none other assurance, than the calling vppon God on this groundworke, so as a man bee lifted vp by fayth too offer himself into his presence. But on the contrary part, we see how men hauehave gone too worke. And in deede they hauehave not bin ashamed in the popedome, too say, that wee ought too bee alwayes doubtfull of our saluation, and that wee cannot hauehave a sure beleefe of it. And it is not the ignorant sort which say so: but all the doctors of their Sinagoges hold it for an article of their fayth, that wee ought too bee alwayes in a mamering and doubtfull. And that is euen as much as too cast men vp at aduenture vntoo Satan. So much the more therfore behoueth it vsus too beare well in mynd the doctrine that is conteyned heere, that is to wit, that when wee once knowe the louelove that God beareth vsus in our Lord Iesus Christ, and in such wyse as he hath witnessed it too vsus by his death and passion, and dooth still dayly warrant it by his Gospell: wee hauehave the perfect knowledge, and such as shall giuegive vsus full happinesse. And that is the cause why he sayeth, too the end yee may learne with all the Sayncts, what his heyght, & depth, and wydnesse, and thicknesse is: that yee may knowe all this, sayeth he. How now? Ment S. Paule too make vsus Carpenters or Masons, that he speaketh heere as of the heygth of a buylding? Intendes he to teach vsus th… science of Masourie, that he speaketh thus of wydenesse? No: but he openeth his owne meaning by & by, saying: It is the LoueLove that hath bin shevved vsus in Iesus Christ. Therfore when wee once knowe how well God loueth vsus, and how inestimable the merciemercy is, wherof he hath giuen vsus so good a pledge, in the person of his only sonne: wee hauehave all that can bee, sayeth he. Let vsus inforce all our wittes both vpward and downeward, let vsus stye aboue the cloudes, let vsus pierce too the Centre of the earth, let vsus go downe too the bottoms of the deepes, and let vsus rake ouer sea and land, yit shall there bee nothing but vanitie and leazing. When wee hauehave ended all our wyndlasses, surely weee may peraduenture discourse lyke folk that are verie suttle, & hauehave learned the vnderstanding of manie things: but yit shall there bee no substance in vsus. But when wee once knowe that God is our father in Iesus Christ, and how that commeth too passe, and by what meanes wee obteyne so greate a benefyte: that is the thing (sayeth he) whertoo wee must hold vsus. For it is the trew measure of our fayth, they bee the bondes of it, and whosoeuer couers too knowe more, dooth but go astray, as though he would wilfully enter intoo a maze, wheroutof he could neuer wynd himself agein. Wherfore let vsus hold our selues contented with Iesus Christ as he is, and as he vttereth himself by his Gospell, and then shall wee bee filled full, sayeth S. Paule. With what filling? Euen with the fulnesse of God, sayeth he. As if he should say, Wretched folke as wee bee, there is none of vsus but he coueteth knowledge, and it is a naturall desyre which burneth all men. Insomuch that wee shall see many which consume all their goods, and spare nother their bodyes nor their lyues. And what too doo? Too get knowledge. Wee shall see othersome trot from place too place. And what too doo? Too get knowledge. All men then hauehave that desyre, some more, and some lesse, and there is not so ignorant a person, which would not faine come too knowledge. Now then, seeyng wee bee all inclyned thertoo of nature: let vsus learne which is the trew knowledge. In deede there are sciences which are behoofefull too passe this world withall, and requisite it is that men should hauehave artes and trades, and also the liberall sciences, as they be termed. All these are good, if they bee referred too their dew endes. But yit notwithstanding wee must come too the Science of Sciences: for that is it which will neuer fayle. For when a man shall hauehave trotted all the earth ouer, (about other Sciences,) what profyt… wyll come of it? It will bee but vanitie, as I sayde afore. Wherefore let vsus not seeke any thing out of Iesus Christ, but let vsus rest wholly there, and not swarue any whit at all from him.
And heere wee see first of all, the thing that I hauehave touched already heeretoofore: namely, that if wee knewe wel what our Lord Iesus Christ is, wee would easly giuegive ouer all other things, according as it is sayd in the third too the Philippians,Phil. 3. b. 8. that S. Paule counted all his former high esteemed things as losse and dung, to the end he might hold himself too Iesus Christ, and that he went forewarde therein all the tyme of his life, yea and did as it were hold his armes stretched out too catch it, as he himself protesteth. Yee see then, that the thing which wee hauehave too marke heere, is, that when wee once knowe that Iesus Christ, and the benefits that he bringeth vsus, namely that wee may resort too God in his name with full trust: we shall no more hauehave our mynds so vexed with vnquietnesse, but wee shal stand fast and stedy in pure simplicitie of the Gospell. Howbeit, for the better vnderstanding hereof, let vsus see how men speake of our Lord Iesus Christ. In deede they wyll call hym the sonne of God, and they wyll take hym for theyr Redeemer: but in the meane whyle they wyl make a doale of his offices, and part them here and there as a pray. The holy Scripture calleth him the onelyonly Priest, bycause it belongeth alonly vntoo him too reconcyle vsus vntoo God. And how many doo now adayes take that vppon them? Euen as many Moonks, Freers, Masse Priests, and Hipocrites as bee in the world: for they sell their prayers, as though Iesus Christ had resigned his place vntounto them. And vnderunder pretence therof, they deuoure all the wealth of the world, and in the meane whyle Iesus Christ is thrust a great way of. Agein, it is sayd, that by the one sacrifize which he offered once for all, he hath gotten vsus grace and saluation, yea euen for euer, so that his death and passion appeaseth Gods wrath, bycause that therby we hauehave full rightuousnesse. But yit for all this, the Masse is brought in, as though the sacrifize that Iesus Christ offered in his owne person, were but a bare figure, and that the thing which the Papists hauehave inuented, were the only meane (as they say) too purchace fauour at Gods hand. For the whoremaster goes thither too pay his raunsome: so does the drunkard, the wicked swearer, the looce liuer, the piller and poller, the quareller, the glutton, the eater vp of his neighbour: all these resort too the Masse for their raunsome, and beare them selues on hand, that God is well appayd.
And in the meane whyle what becommeth of the sacrifize of Iesus Christ? Tush, that must be thrust vnderunder foote. Agein, it is sayd, that Iesus Christ is our onelyonly Aduocate, which maketh intercession for vsus vntoo God his father. Yit notwithstanding, in the Popedome there are whole warreins and Swarmes of Patrons, which eueryevery man hath forged of his owne brayne. And they bee not contented alonly with the Apostles and Martirs: but they must also hauehave their S. Christopher, & their S. Catherin, which are night Ghosts that were neuer borne in the world: but looke whatsoeuer the diuell did put in their heads,…. Cor. 1. d. 30. it was receyued. Agein, it is sayd, that Iesus Christ is our rightuousnesse. But what for that? Yit neuerthelesse eueryevery man takes vponupon him too make attonement with God by his owne woorks. And therevppon sprang the ground worke of merits and of all the rest. Agein,Iohn. 14. a. 6. it is sayd that Iesus Christ is our loadestarre, and the way wherby wee must come too God his father, and finally too euerlasting saluation: and yit will they needes hauehave whatsoeuer commeth in their owne imagination. O (say they) mee thinks this is good, and seeing I doo it of a good intent, why should not God take it in good worth? Thus they make God a pretie fellow to stoope at their appoyntment, and as a Iacke to creepe vnderunder their sleeue (at their pleasure.) See how proud men are, whē they once turne away from Gods pure truth vntounto their own foolish inuentions, so as there is not so pure and sound a thing, which they corrupt not. What is then the cause that all things hauehave bin turned vpside down in Poperie? It is for that they knew not Iesus Christ for such a one as he is set forth in the Gospell, but onelyonly hauehave made, I wote not what, a dead and vnauaylable thing of him, and kept no more but the bare name and titles of him.
Then is it not ynough for vsus to say, we beleeue in Iesus Christ, and that wee take him for our redeemer: but wee must also knowe to wha… purpose hee is sent vsus of God his father, and what benef…ts hee hath brought vsus. When wee once knowe all this: then shall wee bee filled with him. We shal not neede to go bibbling heere and there, nor to lap or licke vp mudde and stinking water one where or other, for want of meate ad drink that is fit for vsus. Our Lord Iesus Christ hath told vsus, that wee shall fynd both meate and drinke in him, so as wee may throughly satisfye our selues both with meate and drink that is good & wholsome for the nurrishmēt of our soules. So much the more therfore behoueth it vsus to go thither: & when we reade the holy scripture, let the mark that we looke at, be alwayes too know what the grace of God is which he hath shewed vsus in the person of his onelyonly sonne: and when wee once know it, wee shall hauehave profited very well in Gods …, & may well cast away all other things as filth & poyson. In deede … doctrines will hauehave some sauor at the first syght, for wee see … doo alwayes follow that which Saint Paul speakes in the second too the Colossians, that is to wit, that bycause theyr dreames and dotages hauehave some showe of wisdome,Coloss. 2. d. 23. therfore they giuegive themselues vntoo them. But we must vnderstand that there is no trew foode, but that which God giueth vsus, and that it is his will to prouide vsus of all things which he knoweth too bee needfull for vsus. Will wee then bee filled without him? Thinke we, that if wee seeke too the Uirgin marie, and call hir the moother of grace (after the maner of the papists, which doo commonly giuegive hir that title): wee shall there fynd the things that we want: Surely it is all one as if we would go seeke foode, & snatch here a bit & there a bit by morsels & gobbets. But Iesus Christ sayth, Come vntounto me, & ye shal fynd all that you hauehave neede of: according wherunto, it is sayd, that al the treasures of wisdome & knowledge are inclozed in him.Coloss. …. a. 3. Thē if we once know the louelove that God his father hath shewed vsus in his person: we shal hauehave the fulnesse of all wisdome, we shal no more neede too trot heere and there, wee shall no more neede too go vp nor downe, nor farre, nor wyde: for wee shall hauehave wholly whatsoeuer is good and requisite for our welfare. When wee heare this, must it not needes be, that wee be as good as bewitched, if wee beleeue not God, too rest wholly vppon his sayings, without flinging abrode after that fashyon, and without making of so manie wyndlasss to trubble and tyre our selues too no purpose? And that it is which is ment in the Prophet Esay, where he sayeth, Go tread in your owne wayes: and when yee hauehave compassed and gone about both heauen and earth,Esai. 66. a. 3. what shall it boote yee? Then if wee bee so blynd as too stray out heere and there, and cannot keepe the way that is shewed vsus, but will needs go dig pits at our own pleasure,Ierem. 8. c. 13. and forsake the spring of liuing water, which God hath set before our eyes: it is good reason that wee should bee both ahungered and athirst, & ly broyling in our owne foolish lusts, to trot to and fro like women with chyld, which long too eate char Coales, and had leuer drink the water of some puddle, thā the water of a fayre clere spring. If wee fall too gadding in that maner after Satan, and bee … gre of his illuzions and trumperie, and cannot content our selues with the good that our Lord setteth afore vsus: must it not needes be, that we be worse than bewitched, and that the diuel hath made vsus stark beasts? So then, let vsus vndestand first of all, that all things which men can bring vsus of their owne behalf, are but tryfles or rather illuzions of Satan. And secondly, that when the …ori…ture …etteth Iesus Christ afore vsus, it is not for nought told vsus, that wee must rest wholly vppon him, and hold vsus too him, when wee be come thither, bycause he hath the fulnesse of all goodnesse in him, and therfore wee neede not too bee haled too and fro, or too take too greate peyne in seeking the things that are needfull for vsus, nor finally too wander any more abrode, but to stick wholly vntoo him, as too our perfect and souere in blisfulnesse.
Thirdly, we must consider in Iesus Christ, the infinit grace that is brought vsus, and imparted too vsus by his meanes. And Saint Paule in saying heere the LoueLove, sendeth vsus too the wellspring. For though wee knew all Gods secretes, and were priuie too the rest of his will: what were it, till we were perswaded of the louelove that he beareth vsus? For wee see that when any man speakes of God too the vnbeleeuers, it dooth so greeue them, that they wote not where too become, and it is but a matter of heauinesse too them, bycause they conceyue nothing but rigour in him. But when his grace and fatherly goodnesse is vttered vntoo vsus, as he hath shewed it in our Lord Iesus Christ: then come we boldly vntoo him, and wee bee no more afrayd of his seate, but hauehave familiar accesse to it: and therin he dooth vsus an inestimable good turne, such a one as surmounteth all that euer wee can wish in this world, according as S. Paule setteth vsus it downe heere. And so yee see what this saying, the LoueLove of God, importeth. And he sayeth purposely, in Iesus Christ, bycause that without him wee could not bee beloued of God. For let Iesus Christ bee (as yee would say) let alone, and let vsus put the cace that wee thought vppon God, and that wee did apply all our wits theraboutes, and therwithall that wee bethought vsus of our selues also: what were all this? Wee shall fynd such an incomprehensible maiestie in God, as shall swallowe vsus vp lyke a deepe gulf. Agein, his Iustice is so perfect, as it wilbee much lesse possible for vsus to stand before it, than for Snowe to abyde ageinst the Sunne. Now when wee come too our selues, wee must needes see a sea of all miserie before vsus, that is to wit, that our senses are blynd, that wee bee vtterly vnfurnished of all vertew, that wee bee giuen too all euill, that wee bee hild downe vnderunder the thraldome of sin, and that nothing in vsus (no not euen of the excellentest thinges that wee thinke our selues too hauehave) which is not lothsome before God. Therfore when we once know these twoo things, that is too wit, when we hauehave once conceyued a terrour of Gods maiestie, and bee drowned in despayre at the syght of our selues, then let vsus afterward go seeke al the meanes that can bee, and let vsus call the Angels too help, and they will come neuer the neerer vsus for all that. Let vsus take the Hee sayntes and Shee sayntes, aud by what tytle can they belong too vsus? Nay rather wee bee separated from them. And agein, will God who is the fountayne of all purenesse receyue vsus, vsus (I say) which are so wretched creatures? Thinke we that he will intermeddle himself with our filth and vnclennesse? No: but contrariwyse he must needes abhorre vsus. So then, it is not without cause that Saint Paule hauing spoken heere expresly of Gods LoueLove, to the intent wee myght know that he dooth iustly hate vsus, so long as he beholdeth vsus in our owne naturall state: addeth immediatly, that the same louelove is grounded vponupon the bludshed of our Lord Iesus Christ, too the end that all our spottes should bee scoured away thereby, and wee bee so clenzed, as wee myght not bring anye thing hensfoorth before God, which myght displease him
And by that meanes are wee discharged and quit of all our dettes, bycause he hath yeelded perfect obedience. Lo how our stubbornnesse is doone away, and shall neuer come too account, bycause he offered himself in sacrifice for vsus. Lo how wee be set free from all thraldome, bycause he hath ouercome both the diuell and death, and sinne, too our benefite. Lo how wee at this day inioy his victory, and make our tryumphe of it. And so wee see briefly, how God hath loued vsus in Iesus Christ. Agein, when we know this, we must vnderstand also, that we must not make long fetches any more, ne trubble our selues in vayne, in stying vpward by our fond speculations, or in going downeward by our fantasticall imaginations, and in the meane whyle let Iesus Christ alone, as though he were too farre of from vsus. For he commeth neere vsus, yea he dwelleth in vsus, he will hauehave vsus knit …ntoo him, so as wee should bee his body, and lyuely members of his owne substance. Sith it is so, let vsus learne to hold our selues in such wise vntoo him, as nothing may turne vsus from him. And although we may be tempted by our owne fancies, too shrinke away from him: yit let vsus cut of all such occasion, and get the vpper hand by fayth. And when wee hauehave so doone, let vsus vnderstand, that God will still shewe himselfe a louing, and kindharted father towardes vsus, and that Iesus Christ also will doo the dewtie of a shepherd towardes vsus, if wee herken too his voyce, and rest wholly vppon him, not doubting but that he will preserue vsus, so as wee shallbee safe vnderunder his protection, as he himself protesteth, saying, that he will receyue all that are giuen him of God his father,Iohn. 7. d. 37. and so keepe them when he hath receyued them, as none of them shall perish, but he will rayze him vp agein, at the last day.
Now let vsus cast our selues downe before the maiestie of our good God, with acknowledgment of our faultes, praying him too make vsus perceiue them more and more, that our miseries may driue vsus to seeke the good things that he offereth vsus, euen with trew singlenesse of fayth, and that we may not wander here & there, in our owne fond speculations and gazes, but abyde so settled vppon his word, as it may bee our only leaning stocke, and take such roote in our hartes, as it may not only make vsus too walke in all purenesse before him, and too …eeke his merciemercy in the person of his only sonne, but also make vsus to liue vprightly, and indifferently one with another, and that we may so profit therin, as wee may abhorre al the abuses of the world, assuring our selues that seeing wee hauehave Iesus Christ for our guyde, wee cannot fayle to come thither, as he is ascended alredy in our behalf, that is too wit, too the euerlasting heritage which he hath purchased for vsus, according as it is his will, that wee beeing made his fellowheires, should in the end come too the same perfection wherintoo he is gone afore vsus. That it may please him too graunt this grace, not onelyonly too vsus, but also to all people. &c.