Sermons on Ephesians, Sermons · Sermon 21
The .xxi. Sermon, which is the sixth vppon the third Chapter, and the first vppon the fourth.
20. Novv vntoo him that is able too doo most abundantly aboue all things that wee aske or thinke, according too the power that vvorketh in vsus,
21. Bee prayse in the Church through Iesus Christ throughout all generations for euer more. Amen.
The fourth Chapter.
1. I therefore vvhichwhich am a prisoner in our Lord, vvarne you too vvalkeas becommeth you in the calling vvhervvith yee be called.
2. VVith all lovvelinesse and meekenesse, vvith pacience. &c.
WHen God hath doone vsus neuer so much good, although wee feele our selues beholden vntoo him, and bound too yeelde him his dew praise: yit can wee not discharge our selues of our dewtie with a free hart, except wee hope that he will holde on still hereafter, and shewe himselfe the same too the ende, which wee hauehave knowen him too bee heretoofore. Now, without fayth we cannot hope, and so is it vnpossible that God should hauehave his dew praise at mens handes. Put the cace wee had found Gods helpe at our neede, and whatsoeuer wee could wishe: and in the meane whyle wee thinke it was but a sodein brayd which is vanished away out of hand, and that hensfoorth wee may looke for no more at his hand, and that it shalbee in vayne for vsus too requyre it: it is certeyne, that wee would come no more at him, bycause wee should bee pinched and pressed with heauinesse and griefe. Therefore, that wee may holde out in praysing Gods name, wee must cupple these twoo things toogither: that is too wit, that on the one syde wee bethinke vsus of the good that wee hauehave receyued of him, and that on the other syde wee hope still that he will alwayes bee stedfast and constant in his purpose vntoo the end, and neuer ceasse to doo vsus good. And that is the order which S. Paule keepeth heere, saying, Prayse and glory be yeelded vntoo God. And how? vntoo him (sayeth he) vvhichwhich is able too doo all things, beyond our asking, yea and beyond our thinking too. Now it is certein, that heere Saint Paule had an eye backe too that which wee hauehave seene before, which is, that God did then vtter the infinite riches of his goodnesse, when he voutsafed too hauehave the Gospell (which is the message of saluation) published throughout the world. Neuerthelesse, he quickeneth vp the faythful, to discharge themselues cheerefully, by telling them that they must not mistrust that God will withdrawe his hand, as though his shewing of himselfe liberall towardes them, had bin but for once and away. His meaning then is, that God will go through with his woorke, and therefore that wee may giuegive our selues too the praysing of his name without any stop, as well in respect of the good that wee hauehave receyued already, as vppon beleefe that he will holde on without euer fayling vsus. That is the effect of the matter which wee hauehave too gather vppon this streyne.
Now his saying is, Let glory bee yeelded to God in the Church: wherby he sheweth, that it is not ynough that eueryevery of vsus doo priuately acknowledge the benefites that God hath bestowed vppon him: but that wee must also ioyne toogither in that mynd. For if the body bee well at ease, surely no member will bee so addicted too it selfe, but that it will hauehave regard of all the rest. Now then, when as God hath made his Church too prosper, so as the number thereof is multiplyed, and it is also increaced in spirituall giftes: not onelyonly they that hauehave receyued those benefites, must inforce themselues too praise God: but also all the rest of the body, for so much as it becommeth vsus too bee knit togither with the holy bond, whereof S. Paule will speake heereafter. That then is the cause why he speaketh purposely of the Church: as if he should say, that seeyng God dooth so vtter his goodnesse, eueryevery man ought too bee inflamed too glorify him, bycause that looke whatsoeuer he dooeth too our neyghbours, wee ought too take it as doone too our selues. And verily he had an eye heere too that which myght hinder the praysing of God with one trew consent. For the Iewes had alwayes a certeine disdeyne ageinst the Gentiles, bycause they thought it was meete that themselues should keepe stil the birthryght, and that they had wrong, if any of those were made equall with them, which had bin vtterly shaken of afore. And likewyse the Gentyles perceyuing the Iewes too bee giuen too foolish bragging of the lawe, which had taken an end, myght hauehave despyzed them on the other syde. Saint Paule therefore telleth them here, that inasmuch as God had called them as brethren too the heritaunce of saluation, it became them too agree in such wise in the praysing of him, as his prayse myght sound euerywhere.
And he sayeth, Let prayze bee yelded too God, yea euen for euermore, from world too world, and by Iesus Christ. Forsomuch as Saint Paule hath treated hertoofore of the grace that serued to guyde the faythfull too the kingdome of heauen: therfore dooth he of good ryght say, that men must not only prayse God for once and away, but also that there is cause too continewe the same, not the lyfe of one man but throughout all ages. Yea and moreouer S. Paule ment to doo vsus too vnderstand, that the Churche should bee preserued for… euer, and that there should alwayes remayne some seede of it in the world, so as the record of sauation should neuer bee frutelesse, but there should bee some people still too bee gathered toogither, which should bee a looking glasse, wherin too behold the inestimable merciemercy which our God sheweth vsus in our Lord Iesus Christ. So then, wee see Saynt Pauls meaning, wherby wee ought too bee assured, that although Satan practyze all that is possible, too wype away the remembering of God, and too make hauocke in the Church, as the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ may bee as good as defaced: yit will God ouercome all by his power, so as the Church shall continew still, and the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ shall bee auaylable, notwithstanding the crueltie of Tyrantes, and the practyzes of houshold enemyes, and of such as would ouerthrowe the whole buylding. And that also is the cause why Saynt Paule setteth vsus downe the name of Iesus Christ. It is trew, that wee cannot yeeld God thankes but by that meane: for it is certeyne that wee should not bee meete too receyue one drop of good, but by the meane of our Lord Iesus Christ,Coloss. …. c. 21. bycause wee bee enemyes too God by nature. Insomuch that although he bee freeharted euen too the vnbeleeuers: yit shall the same turne too their greater condemnation, so that they bee dubble accursed, in beeing partakers of Gods blissynges:Titus. 1. c. 15. for too hym that is vncleane, all thyngs are vncleane, as sayth Saint Paule in an other place. And therefore wee can neuer giuegive God thankes but in the name of Iesus Christ, by whom wee rereyue all good things. Howbeit, Saint Paules meanyng was too doo vsus too vnderstand in this Text, that Gods once shewing of hym selfe too bee a father too all men in the person of his onelyonly sonne, by ordeinyng hym too make the attonement, was too last for euer, and too continue world without end, insomuch that wee must assure our selues (as I sayd afore) that God will mainteyne his truth in this world, and by that meanes hauehave alwayes some flocke gathered vntounto him, among whom his name shalbee called vppon.
But let vsus come now too the second part. He sheweth that it is not ynough for vsus too hauehave knowne Gods goodnesse by experience for the tyme past: vnlesse we be strengthened in such hope by it, as we doubt not but that God will shewe himself mercifull toowards vsus euer after. And that is the cause why he sayeth, Too him that is able too doo al things exceeding abundantly, aboue our asking or thinking. Now wee see heere how S. Paule warneth vsus, that if God hauehave vsed great mercifulnesse towards vsus heeretoofore, wee must not doubt of his continuing of the same, bycause he is not lyke mortal men, which be fickle mynded: nother must wee bee afrayd that his fountayne will drye, when he shal hauehave bestowed great benefits vppon vsus already. Why so? for he hath such store of them, that the more wee take to our contentation, the greater abundaunce hath he still. Wee see then the meane too dispoze our selues too acknowledge the good that God hath done vsus, at leastwyse too honour him for them, is too bee alwayes fully resolued and perswaded that wee shall euer fynd him a father, bycause he hath promised so too bee.
And wheras he speaketh of Gods power or myght: wee must not imagin it too bee an ydle power, as the worldlings doo. They will graunt well ynough that God is almyghtie: but yit in the meane whyle they trust neuer the more in him. Too their seeming he takes his rest in heauen, or else he dispozeth not things in this world, but (at starts) when he bethinks himself of them. But contrariwyse, when God speaks vntoo vsus of his power, it is, too the end wee should make it our sheeld ageinst al the distresses, hinderances, and lets, which the diuell casteth before our eyes, too make vsus distrust Gods promises. Lyke as when it is sayd, that Abraham beleued that God is almightie: it was not generally and confuzedly, but with an applying of Gods infinite power too the thing that had bin promised him: which was, that in his seede all the nations of the earth should bee blissed. Abraham looking vppon himself, sawe he was a man as fast decaying as myght bee: He drooped, and (as yee would say) dragged his wings after him: too bee short, he was hard at deathes doore: His wyfe had bin barrein all hir lyfe long: she was past the age of teeming anie more, insomuch that the thing which was told him by Gods own mouth, seemed vtterly vnpossible. And why is it that Abraham dooth neuerthelesse beleeue assuredly,Rom. 4. a. 3. that God will keepe promis with him? It is, bycause he had an eye too his infinite power, which is able too ouercome all lets and hinderances. Wee see then how Abraham applyed Gods power too his owne behoof, assuring himself, that Gods truthe and his power are things inseparable.…. Tim. 1. c. …2. After that maner also dooth S. Paule say, that he whom he hath put in trust with his gage, is myghtie. For he sawe himself too bee a poore and frayle creature, he sawe how hee was hunted at all hands, (he sawe) that he was shaken of and despyzed, (he sawe) how the doctrine that he bare abrode, was hated and abhorred, he sawe how his lyfe hung as by a threede, and he had such a number of trubbles, as were able too ouerwhelm him, yea and finally too confound him and dispatch him quyte. And how ouercame he all this, & abode inuincible, yea & euen tryumphed ouer them, being in prison, & seing himself at deathes doore? How could he hauehave such victory ageinst so manie temptations and incounters? It was by knowing that God was the keper of his soule, whervpon he conceyued his infinite power, which is able too performe all that he appoynteth. Yee see then, that Saint Paule imagined not a power in the aire, but knew that God wrought so in him, as he should neuer fall but vppon his feete (as men say.) And why? For he had promis of it. Wherfore let vsus learne to put this lesson as well in vre, as it is common in the scripture. The repeting therof so oft is not for nought. For wee see the frowardnesse that is in our selues, insomuch that although God hauehave promised too keepe vsus, yit if neuer so little a blast of wynd come vppon vsus, wee bee dismayed by and by. And howso? Surely if wee yeelded God the honour that hee deserueth, and acknowledge him too bee almightie (in deede:) we should boldly defye all that seemeth too bee ageinst vsus. And why? For if God bee on our syde, who shalbee ageinst vsus, sayeth Saint Paule?Rom. 8. c. 30. And wee see also how Dauid defyeth, both all his enemyes, and also death, saying: though I should walk in the shadowe of death, & within the graue:Psal. 2…. a. 4. yit should I be safe, bycause God is my shepherd, and hathe his sheephooke too guide mee withal. And in another place he saith agein.Psal. 3. a. 7. Though I were beset round about with a million of enemyes, yit should I not shrink. And why? for God is with mee. Were wee then as well perswaded of Gods almyghtinesse, as wee confesse it with our mouth: surely wee should not bee so soone dismayd, nother should our fayth bee shaken at eueryevery brunt. So then let vsus conclude, that inasmuch as wee bee so weake, and eueryevery thing of nothing, will scare vsus out of our wits: there is nothing but hipocrisie in vsus, and our confessing that God is almightie, commeth not from our hart. So much the more therfore behoueth it vsus too put this lesson in vre, and too exercyze it nyght and day, that wee may taste it throughly. And that is the cause why it is so often mentioned vntoo vsus, for wee take it not too bee a matter of so greate importance. But when our Lord dooth so often tell vsus, that he hath al things in his hand, that he disposeth of his creatures (as he listeth himself), and that nothing is able too let his determination, nor the performance of the things that hee hath promised: it is too the end that wee should yeeld vntoo his promises, that which they behyght vsus: that is too say, whensoeuer wee shall seeme too bee at the poynt of vndooing, and the diuell shall giuegive vsus so whole skirmishes, as we shall see no way too escape, nor any end of our distresses: let vsus think thus with our selues, who is he that hath spoken it? Who is he that hath promised too bee our defender? Is it not he that is almyghtie? Could not he with one blast blowe away all that the diuell practizeth? Though all the world were ageinst vsus, what could it doo, so our Lord voutsafed too maynteyne our part? After that maner must wee aduaunce Gods power aboue the whole world, that wee may rest vppon his promises. For (as I hauehave sayd alredye) Gods woord, and the power of bringing too passe the things conteyned therin, are things vnseparable. And wee blaspheme God, as oft as wee bee in dout and perplexitie, whether he bee able too performe his defending of vsus or no. For sith he hath promised it: out of all doubt he wyll perfourme it, or else should his power bee shortened, which is impossible. And so yee see why Saint Paule hath spoken heere of Gods power. And that also is the cause why the prophets, in speaking of the succour which God hath alwayes in redinesse, too reskew the faythfull withall from death, when they bee plundged in it,E…ay. 45. …. 18. hauehave commonly sayd, Is it not the God which hath made both heauen and earth? This should seeme too bee farre fet. For the cace is, that I am in some trubble, and hauehave none other refuge, but onelyonly Gods pitying of mee, whereof I seeke too bee assured: and he telleth mee, I hauehave created heauen and earth. He seemeth too send mee very farre, and too make mee leape out of Gods blissing intoo the warme sunne. But Gods telling of vsus that he created heauen and earth, is too doo vsus too vnderstand, that it belonges too him also too rule his creatures, that he hath a care of vsus as of his children, that there is not any thing aboue or beneath, which is not subiect too him, and that he turneth all things round about, & too and fro as he listeth. Sayeth he so? Then must wee out of hand apply it too our benefyte, so as wee doubt not but that his power hath such preheminence, as he is well able too roote out whatsoeuer seemeth too bee ageinst vsus. And so yee see how yee must alwayes hauehave the sayde cheyne to tye Gods promyses, & the truth of the brynging of them to passe togither.
And S. Paule sayeth, that he can doo all things aboue our asking, and our thinking. Not without cause hath he inclozed heere all that belongeth too our saluation. For he that trusteth in God for one thing, will not misse too enter into debating, whether he will adde a second benefite, or a third. That therfore is the cause why S. Paule will hauehave vsus too looke for all things at the hand of our God. And he sayeth, Aboue our asking. Trew it is that wee must not fall asleepe, when wee would bee succored and gouerned at Gods hand, or be filled with his benefites: but if wee beleeue in his woord, we must also bee moued too pray: for it is a trew proof of our fayth, when wee resort so vntoo our God.Psal. 55. d. 23. And for that cause is it sayd, that the faythfull must discharge all their cares intoo his lappe. For it is the trew record of it, when at all tymes of our neede, wee resort too him, who will hauehave vsus too seeke all our welfare in him alone. The faythfull therfore must be diligent in praying,Coloss. 4. a. 2. according as S. Paule sayeth in another text, wher he exhorteth vsus too prayer and supplication, and setteth downe this diligence also, too the intent wee should hauehave no slothfulnesse too plucke vsus backe. But albeeit wee giuegive ouer all our wittes too praying vntoo God: yit notwithstanding, considering the necessities that compell vsus too resort vntoo him, God must bee fayne too outgo our requestes, and too doo much more for vsus than wee requyre. And for proof therof, when any (of the faythfull) feeles his owne infirmities, he will streyt wayes humble himself, and theruppon repayre vntoo God, and that not for once only, but eueryevery minute of an houre. And afterward he will resort to him both for his body and his soule, and think thus: Alas, yit want I such a thing, I must too him agein. Lo how the faythfull doo throughly sift out the miseries and wantes wheruntoo they bee subiect, therby too prouoke themselues too pray vntoo God. But doo not wee think that the diuell hath a hundred thousand wyles which wee perceyue not? And God must bee fayne too prouide for them, or else what would become of vsus? For although wee feele that diuerse things doo pinch vsus, yit are ther many other things that are vnknowen and hidden from vsus. So then it will alwayes bee found trew, that God outgoeth all our prayers, and all our wishes. Mark that for one poynt. Therfore let vsus doo what wee can, and indeuer too resort continewally vntoo God: and yit therwithall let vsus bee fully perswaded, that he must bee fayne too watch ouer vsus, and too bee much more sharp syghted than wee, in espying what wee hauehave neede of, and the meanes also that are fit too compasse it to our behoof: all these things must God bee fayne too looke too. And so must wee cast all our cares vppon him,Psal. 55. d. 23. as I alledged afore out of the Psalme.
And soothly his adding of aboue our abilitie too thinke, is too shewe that although men bee inlyghtened by the Gospell, too distrust themselues, too walke in feare, yea, and too bee abashed at the syght of their owne wretchednesse: yit perceyue they not the hundreth part of it, but must bee fayne too referre the residew vntoo God, and too looke for more at his hand, than they can wishe. And herewithall S. Paul sheweth vsus, that wee cannot passe measure, in trusting vntoo God, and in asking him the things that wee hauehave neede of. In deede wee must not vse a foolish libertie, too pray too God too giuegive vsus this, or that, as our fleshly desyre prouoketh vsus. For wee must referre our selues wholy vntoo him: and specially we must in praying, fyght ageinst all our owne lustes, that wee bee not too importunate in them. And in good sooth, weee see what hath befalne too such as would needes hauehave God too graunt all their demaundes too pleasure them withall. The children of Israell were fed with flesh,Exod. 16. c. 13. & Num. 11. …. 31. and were glutted with it, till they were redye too burst: but whyle the meate was yit in their throtes, Gods wrath and vengeance fell vppon them. It had bin much better for them, that their request had bin denyed, than graunted. Therfore when wee pray, wee must not take such libertie, as too say, that God should bee subiect too our affections and desires, but wee must aske him the things that he hath promised vsus, assuring our selues that hee will lyke well of our requestes. And (as I sayd afore) let vsus not feare that wee shall bee too excessiue, for wee see that he will doo yit more, and so had he neede too doo. And let vsus not bee afrayd too bee blamed of any presumption or malapertnesse, in assuring our selues of his promises. In deede if men warrant themselues more than Gods woord will beare them out in, or beare themselues on hand that they shall obteyne whatsoeuer they imagine in their owne brayne: all such hope shall doubtlesse bee a s…ope. But if wee ground our selues vponupon Gods truth, which is sure and vndeceytfull: let vsus hardily reache out the trust farre and wyde which wee hauehave in him, and let vsus not doubt but he will performe it too the full, yea, and much more too, as S. Paule sheweth vsus heere. Yee see then, that the summe of the things which wee hauehave too remember in this streyne, is, that wee must behold Gods benefites, not onelyonly those which wee hauehave had experience of, but also which are seene through the whole world, that they may moue vsus to praise Gods name, and that there may bee such an agreeable melodie among all the faythfull, as they may honour God for all the benefites which he bestoweth generally vppon the whole body of his Church. And agein, that wee must hope that he will go through with all that euer he hath once begunne: and that inasmuch as wee hauehave already felt how mercifull he is vntoo vsus, so that he hath sought vsus out when wee were strayed away from him, and pulled vsus out of the bottome of hell: wee must not doubt but that he will hold on still, and increace the benefites more and more which wee hauehave felt already in part: And furthermore that in praying vntoo him, wee must hauehave an eye too the great number of necessities, which moue and constreyne vsus too come vntoo him, and theruppon consider, that he will doo much more for vsus, than wee can wishe, and that wee bee so weake witted, and so vnskilfull, that we wote not what is meete for vsus: howbeeit that he remedyeth the same twoo wayes, namely, by stirring vp vnutterable gronings in vsus, as is sayde more fully in the eyght too the Romanes:Rom. …. c. 25. and on the other syde by supplying such vnskilfulnesse, so as he taryeth not till wee craue his succour, but preuenteth vsus through his mercy, notwithstanding that wee welter in our wretchednesse, and perceiue not the tenth part of the things that wee want.
Now heervppon Saint Paule exhorteth the faythfull, too vvalke as becommeth their Calling, vvherin they bee called. This is not only too the intent they should thanke God with their mouthes, as he warned them too doo: but also too profit themselues by the spirituall giftes which they receyue, and too put them too such vse as God may bee glorifyed by them. For if wee should set foorth all Gods prayses, and in the meane whyle men could perceyue no zeale of honoring and seruing him in all our lyfe: it were but a feyning, and such a confession were but an vnhalowing of Gods name, when our lyfe were not answerable theruntoo. Not without cause therfore dooth Saint Paule adde heere, that men should walke according too the calling wheruntoo they bee called. And theruppon wee hauehave too marke, first that forasmuch as wee bee slowe, and there is euer too much sloth and coldnesse in vsus: wee cannot deuyse a better way, nor which may touch vsus more too the quicke, too make vsus go on forewarde in the obedience of God, than too thinke vppon his infinite merciemercy which he hath shewed towardes vsus.Rom. 1…. a. 1. According wheruntoo, Saint Paule in the twelfth too the Romanes, intending too win the faythfull too teachablenesse, and too put their trust in God, setteth before them the merciemercy that they had receyued at his hand. As if he should say, that whensoeuer wee heare of the stone that ought too bee remoued, or thinke vppon the inestimable goodnesse which God hath vsed towardes vsus, in that he spared not his only sonne, but gaue him for our saluation, voutsafing too hauehave him offered vp in sacrifize, too put away the rememberance of our offences and misdeedes: it ought too clyue our hartes asunder. Therfore in this text he setteth Gods calling of vsus before our eyes. Truth it is that wee bee sufficiently bound aforehand by nature too serue and honour God: for wee hauehave our lyfe of him, and we liue heere at his cost: and wee see how all his creatures serue vsus. That therefore is bond great ynough whensoeuer the ruling of our lyfe according too Gods will, commeth in question. But seeing he thinkes it not ynough too hauehave set vsus in the world, and too giuegive vsus sustenance for our bodyes, but also taketh vsus too bee his owne children, too bring vsus vp in his Church, which is his house, and vponupon his adopting of vsus behyghteth vsus the inheritance of heauen, and too assure vsus of it, hath giuen vsus the pledge that I spake of, that is too wit, our Lord Iesus Christ: seeing wee knowe that God hath so manie wayes vttered the infinite louelove that he bare vsus: ought it not too inflame bs too runne vntoo him, too the end that by renouncing our selues more and more, wee may▪ indeuer too giuegive our selues so vntoo him, as he may quietly hauehave the vse of our whole lyfe, and wee mynd none other thing than the exalting of his name? Yee see then wherat Saint Paul looked, when he sayth, that he warneth the Ephesians too walke agreeable too the vocation wherein God had set them. So then, wee hauehave too gather vppon this text, that to correct the slothfulnesse that is in vsus, and specially to subdew the stubbornnesse that hindereth our pleasing of God in all poyntes, (for it is certeyn, that all our thoughtes, and all the disposition of our nature are inclyned vntounto euill, & doo both draw vsus back and driue vsus farre of from the obedience which wee ought too yeeld vntoo our maker:) (I say) too correct all this throughly, and too come vntoo God, we must learne to lift vp onr senses too the infinite grace that God hath, shewed vsus, in making vsus parttakers of the spirituall goods of our Lord Iesus Christ, by voutsafing too hane vsus too bee members of his bodie, and too adopt vsus too bee his children and heires.
Furthermore let vsus consider the end whereat he amed, too the intent God complayne not of vsus, as he doth of the Israelites by his Prophet Esay,Esay. 5. a. 4. bycause of the vnthankfulnesse which they had shewed towardes him. He sayeth, that he had taken them as his Uyneyard, or as a costly heritage. And he telleth them, that for all his manuring of them, they had brought him foorth nothing but wyld Grapes and bitter frute. Let vsus beware (say I) that God hauehave not iust cause too blame vsus now adayes, as well as he did them. For if the people of Israell receyued excellent giftes: much more are wee bound vntoo God now adayes since the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ. For loke what he gaue too the Fathers of olde tyme in figures and shadowes: that hauehave wee at these dayes in truth and substance, wee bee in the ful tyme wherin it was Gods will too powre out al his benefites vppon vsus too the full. Sith it is so, wee shalbee the lesse excusable, if wee bee vnthankefull, and acknowledge not the good that God hath doone vsus. That is the thyng which wee hauehave too beare in mynde.
And moreouer,1. Pet. 2. b. …. let vsus consider that (as sayeth Saint Peter) our Lord hath drawen vsus out, and reskewed vsus from the tyrannye of death, and called vsus too his kingdome of lyght, too the intent that wee should blaze abrode his vertewes, and bestowe our whole lyfe in magnifying him too the vttermost: according too this present text, where it is sayd, that wee must walke according too the vocation that God hath called vsus vntoo. Now this importeth a gathering and drawing of vsus out by our selues, as though God ment too make a new world of vsus. And in verye deede the thing whertoo the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ tendeth, is, that we should bee sholed out from the vnclenenesse of the world. Seeing then that wee bee as it were sorted out by our selues, and God hath dedicated vsus too himself, intending too hauehave vsus for his inheritance: let vsus learne not too disappoynt him of his purpose. And if wee bee the children of lyght, (as he sayth in another place:Ephe. 5. b. 8.) let vsus walke no more in darknesse, as the vnbeleeuers doo, but let vsus make the grace effectuall which wee hauehave receyued. That is it in effect which we hauehave to remember concerning the woord Uocation or Calling. Too bee short, we shalbee much more blame-woorthie than the sis…ie ignorant and blynd soules, if we indeuer not too hold our selues as it were locked vp vnderunder Gods hand, and vnderunder his guyding. Truth it is, that at this day there is no corner of the world, but it is so corrupted, as is horrible too see: insomuch that euen they that hauehave had no tast at all of the Gospell, but hauehave bin nuzzeled and imbrewed continually with superstition, shal not fayle to be iustly condemned at Gods hand. And as for vsus, it is certeyne, that wee shall hauehave a much harder account too make, for that God inlyghtneth vsus with his woord, and wheras other folkes stray and wander in destruction, he sheweth vsus the way of saluation, calling and alluring vsus daylye vntoo him. Seeing then that wee hauehave such a priuiledge: wee ought too bethinke our selues well, that wee quench not the lyght, by thrusting it vnderfoote, and so put away the speciall grace that was graunted vsus, and which God voutsafed too direct vntoo vsus, too the end wee should bee the more prouoked too serue him.
But by the way wee must marke well how S. Paule sayeth, that this must bee doone with all submission and lowelinesse, with pacience and meeknesse. Hereby he ment too expresse that it is not ynough for eueryevery man too imploye himself too the dooing of his dewtie: but that we must also reach out our hands eche one too his neyghbour and brother, so as God may bee serued with one common consent among vsus. Let vsus marke well therfore (forasmuch as the residue cannot bee dispatched at this tyme) that S. Paul speakes not heere too eueryevery man seuerally, but that he comprehendeth al the whole bodie and companie of the Churche. As if he should say, my frends, it is not ynough for eueryevery of vsus too withdrawe himself and too abstein from all euill, and too shewe himself well mynded and zealous too liue in the feare of God, and in all vprightnesse: but wee must also hauehave a mutuall care one of another, and bee fully resolued that it is no seruing of God, if we indeuer not by all the meanes wee can, that others may doo the lyke. And so wee see heere how it is the rule of all the faithful (first) that eueryevery man looke too himself, and though all the world bee mad in doing euill, yit notwithstanding that he which is taught in Gods schoole, doo hold himself in awe and vnderunder subiection, and consider whertoo he is called: and therwithall that if there bee many of vsus, and God hauehave shed out his grace so as he hath gotten himself a Churche, wee must to the vttermost of our power, seeke to ioyne with them whom God calleth, as well as vsus, so that he which goeth formest, reache his hand too him that is next him, and say, let vsus goe altogither, and one of vsus incorage another, that he which goes faintly and hath infirmities in him, bee taryed for by those that go swifter, and bee borne vp also if neede be…, so as wee may all bee drawen vntoo God. And this must not onelyonly bee doone in eueryevery towne and village, but also wee must looke yit further of, and consider that they whom we knowe not are neuerthelater of the body of our Lord Iesus Christ, and therfore wee must serue them for looking glasses and examples, and confirme them so much the more too leade a godly conuersation, by shewing them the way that they may followe vsus. And let vsus also profite our selues, so as if wee see any other men more vertuous, zealous, and constant than wee bee, eueryevery of vsus may bee ashamed of it, and saye thus too our selues: How now? Is it meete that thou shouldest lag behynd, when other folkes marche on so fast afore, and runne so cheerefully toowards God? Yee see then that the thing in effect which wee hauehave too beare away heere, is that inasmuch as God hath not called vsus eft one man alone, and eft another, as though he ment too sette vsus a sunder, but directeth his voyce too all, and will hauehave it serue for a holy bond vntoo all: wee also must aunswer him, not onelyonly with our mouth, but also with our whole lyfe, and there must be trew vnitie among vsus, and we must indeuer to bring to passe, that God may bee purely worshipped eueryevery where, and consider that sith wee bee called all too one inheritaunce, there ought too be a ryght brotherhood among vsus, and that sith wee call vppon God as our father, it becommeth vsus as his children too bee ioyned too our head, that is to wit, to our Lord Iesus Christ. And when wee bee so ioyned vntoo him, it is certayn that wee shal not bee cut of from those whom he will hauehave too bee of his body, nother shall the hand despyze the foote, nor the foote holde scorne of the hand: but forasmuch as wee knowe that our lyfe resteth onelyonly in Iesus Christ, wee shal indeuer as much as wee can too vphold one another, and pray too God too strengthen vsus ageinst all Satans assaults, & ageinst all that he can practize to set vsus at ods, that wee may mainteyne the battell, and with inuincible constancie followe still the way which God hath shewed vsus, vntill wee attayne too the heritage which he hath promised vsus, and purchaced so deerly by our Lord Iesus Christ.
Now let vsus cast our selues downe before the Maiestie of our good God, with acknoweledgement of our sinnes, praying him to drawe vsus too trew repentaunce, so as wee may bee vtterly cast downe in our selues, too bee set vp agein too serue him, and that not for one day, but so as wee may hold out too the end, that as his grace neuer fadeth, so wee on our side may neuer ceasse too serue him, but according as he increaseth his gifts in vsus, so wee also may bee more and more inflamed to come nerer too him, and too bee throughly knit vntoo him. And so let vsus all say, Almighty God heauenly father. &c.