Sermons on Ephesians, Sermons · Sermon 1
The first Sermon vponupon the first Chapter.
…. Paule an Apostle of Iesus Christ by the vvill of God, too all you holie and faithfull ones in Iesus Christ vvhichwhich are at Ephesus.
…. Grace bee too you and peace from God our father, and from the Lord Iesus Christ.
…. Blissed bee the God and father of our Lord Iesus Christ, vvhichwhich hath blessed vsus vvith all spirituall blessings, in heauenly things in Christ.
WHen we reade the Epistles which S. Paule wrate abrode to diuerse places, we must alwayes consider that God mēt they should serue not only for some one time alone, or for some certaine people: but for euer, & generally for the whole Church. And truly if a man cōsider wel the doctrine that is conteined in thē, it will be easie to discerne, that Gods intent was to be herd in the things that are spoken there, euen to the …rldes ende: and also that he hath had such a care of vsus, that he hath …ot ouerslipped or forgotten any thing, that might further our welfare …nd saluation. The slainne of this Epistle which I hauehave now taken in … and too expound, is that S. Paule confirmeth such as had bin trayned … the Gospell before, too the ende they might knowe that that is the …ing wheruppon they must rest, as vppon the trewe lawfull and perfect wis…ome, and that it is not … too adde anything theruntoo. And he …lleth vsus that the bene…tes which are brought vsus by …: Lord … …hrist, and whereof wee bee …, are so excellent, that wee must needes bee tootoo vnthankefull, if wee …iske too and fro as folke that are neuer at rest nor contented. And theruppon he sheweth vsus also what wee hauehave in Christ, too the end wee should so sticke vntoo him, as not to presume too seeke helpe any where else, but assure our selues that he hath bought vsus all. Againe on the other side he sheweth vsus, that Christ hath so wel prouided for his church, that if wee hauehave the wit to vse the giftes of grace which he offereth vsus, wee shall hauehave full and perfect happinesse. Therewithall he warneth such as hauehave bin instructed in the truth of the Gospell, too leade a holy lyfe, and too shewe that they hauehave profited as they ought too doo in Gods schoole. Now, these thinges serue not onelyonly for the Citie of Ephesus, nor for any one Countrie, ne for any one age or time: but wee had neede too bee furthered more and more, seyng that the diuell practizeth without ende or ceassing, too thrust vsus out of the way. And when he cannot leade vsus quite away from the doctrine of Iesus Christ, he laboreth too bring it out of taste with vsus by some way or other, and too intangle vsus in new curiosities, onelyonly too bring too passe that wee may not bee constant in the faith that wee hauehave receiued, but stand alwayes in a mamering. Now, whensoeuer our fancies are so ticklish, it is certaine that there is a gap opened too wype out the rememberance of all that wee had learned afore, & too take in many folies, yea and erroneous doctrines, which serue too corrupt and peruert all the purenesse of our faith. We see then that the doctrine which is conteyned in this Epistle, is directed and dedicated vntoo vsus at this day, & that God hath by his woonderfull prouidence so dispozed thinges aforehand, that wee not onelyonly hauehave had the foundations of the Gospell whereuppon too ground our selues, but also whereby our faith may from day too day growe and increase, and wee go still forward, till wee come too perfection. And first and formest S. Paule claymeth the authoritie vntoo him which had bin giuen him of God, too the intent that men should not stop at his person, as though it had bin but a mortall mannes saying. For in very deede our Lord Iesus Christ is the onelyonly mayster at whole hand wee must learne:Math. 17. …. 5. for it is witnessed of him from heauen, that it is onelyonly he and none other whom wee must giuegive eare vntoo. And it hath alwayes bin Gods will too hauehave the guyding of his owne Church himselfe, and that his woord should bee receyued without geynsaying, and he hath not giuen that priuiledge too any creature.1. Tim. 3. …. 16. And whereas Iesus Christ is ordeyned in the roome of God his father: it is bycause he is God manifested in the fleshe, and the infallible truth itselfe, and his …sdome which was before all time. Furthermore when men speake, … must not doo it in their owne name, nor alledge aught of their …ne fancie and brayne: but they must faithfully set foorth the thing … at God hath inioyned them and giuen them in charge. Thus yee see …hy S. Paule dooth as it were euerywhere vse this preface, that he is … Apostle of our Lord Iesus Christ. And so he holdeth it for a sure and …bsolute grounde, that if any man thrust foorth himselfe too speake in …is owne name, there is nothing but rashnesse in him. Why so? For he taketh that thing vppon him, which belongeth alonely vntoo God. Ageine, forasmuch as our Lord Iesus Christ was purposely sent, too be our last teacher, that wee might hauehave such wisdome as were perfect and vtterly without fault: therefore dooth S. Paule call himselfe an Apostle sent of him. This presuppozeth twoo thinges: the one is, that S. Paule had that charge committed vntoo him: and the other is, that he acquited himselfe dewly of it, by imploying himselfe faithfully in …he office that he was called too. For were a man the best able & most …xcellent in the world: yet if he thrust foorth himselfe of his owne head, he trubbleth all common order. And wee knowe that God will hauehave order, and not disorder among vsus, as S. Paule sayeth in the fowrteenth chapter of the first Epistle too the Corinthians. He then that speaketh (at leastwise too teache) must hauehave calling: that is too say, he must bee admitted, & hauehave his charge (giuen him,) so as eueryevery man may not put foorth himselfe of an vnaduized zeale, as I sayd afore. Now too speake any further of S. Paules calling,Act. 9. c. 15. it is not needefull at this present. For wee knowe how God gaue record that he auowed him for his Apostle. And in deede he disputeth not much of it heere, bycause it was knowen well ynough in the Church of Ephesits. But forasmuch as the Galathiās had bin trubbled by deceyuers, in so much that S. Paules authoritie, yea and the name of God himselfe had bin disgraced there: wee sawe howe he mainteyned his owne state, telling them that the reuerence dew too an Apostle of Iesus Christ coulde not bee taken from him,Gal. 1. c. 13. 14, 15. &c. without ouerthrowing the order of God. And therfore it is ynough for him heere too hauehave sayd in one woord, that he is an Apostle of Iesus Christ. Let vsus come too the seconde poynt which I touched, namely that it is not ynough for a man too bee called, except he discharge his dewtie with a pure conscience and vpright dealing in his office▪ which thing S. Paule tooke vppon him as a thing out of all Qutesion and he had giuen sufficient proofe of it. The deceyuers may well boast themselues with full mouth that they bee called, as wee see they doo. For all they that fight ageinst God and his woord, and sowe trubble and darnell in his Church, would fayne make a buckler of their calling, and also of their zeale, for they will needes bee called Christians, yea & more too. But S. Paule had sufficiently proued that he came not of himselfe, ne sought any thing else than too spend himselfe in the building vp of the Church. And forasmuch as the same was well knowen in Ephesus,Act. 19. (as wee may gather by the storie of S. Luke) yea and that he had borne out many a hard brunt: therefore he thinketh it ynough too say in one woorde, that he is an Apostle of our Lorde Iesus Christ. And heere wee bee warned, first too holde our selues too the pure doctrine which wee knowe too hauehave proceeded from God: for wee cannot doo amisse if wee followe that rule. And bycause that in our Lord Iesus Christ wee hauehave the performance of all that is requisite and needefull for our instruction, so as wee neede not too doubt whither wee may hold vsus too the Gospell, or adde somewhat too it: Let vsus bee co…tented too take the sonne of God for our mayster, specially such he vout…afeth too stoope so lowe as too take that charge vppon him, and also protesteth that if wee hauehave profited well in his doctrine, wee shall come too the trew marke wheruntoo wee should go. Yee see then that the first less…n which wee hauehave too gather vponupon this text, is that our faith must not wauer one way nor other, but hauehave a sure and vnmoueable foundation too rest vppon, that is too wit, Gods truth, euen as it is conteyned in the Gospell. And seyng that S. Paule is sufficiently auowed vntoo vsus: let vsus not doubt but Gods spirit speaketh too vsus at this day by his mouth, nother let vsus heere the doctrine as though it were subiec… too our iudgement: but let vsus imprizon our owne vnders…ding & wittes, and receyue it without scanning, except wee will wilfully make warre ageinst God, and aduaunce our selues aboue him. And so, that is one of the thinges which wee hauehave too marke vppon this text. Furthermore too the ende that this doctrine may not onelyonly bee reuerenced among vsus, but also bee amiable too vsus: let vsus marke that S. Paule speaketh in the name of Christ, who was sent vntoo vsus of God his father, too bring vsus glad tydinges of peace: and also let vsus beare in mynd how he sayeth in another text,…. Cor. 5. …. 20. that he was ordeyned too bring the message of attonement, and beseecheth men in Gods name too bee reconcyled too God. Now I told you that this was done too make the doctrine of the Gospell sweete, that wee myght bee desirous of it and giuegive our selues … too it. For whensoeuer it is told vsus that God speaketh too vsus: … it is ynough too authorize all that he shall speake: but yet might … at his voyce, and therwithall bee weerie of it, according … see a great mu…ber confesse well ynough that God deserueth … obeyed, and too hauehave all men subiect to him: but in the meane … they start away, and shun him as farre as they can, bycause his … maketh them afrayd. But when Iesus Christ speaketh too vsus … mediator betweene God and men: wee may go too him boldly. … (as it is sayd in the Epistle too the Hebrewes) wee bee no more … were at Mount Sinay,Heb. 12. d. 18. 19. 20. …xod. 9. b. 12. where the lyghtenings flashed in the aire … the Lawe was published, in so much that if a beast had come … it, it must hauehave dyed. The voyce therefore which God vttered at … time was terrible. But now a dayes seyng he incorageth vsus by … Gospell to receyue the grace that he offereth vsus, and is mynded too … away the rememberance of our sinnes: let vsus suffer our selues … iustifyed by his free goodnesse, and let vsus bee peasable and … vntoo him. For that ought well too moue vsus too resort vntoo him … poore hungrie soules, to bee fed with the heauenly foode that he … giuegive vsus. Thus yee see in effect what wee hauehave too remember when … Paule calleth himselfe the Apostle of Iesus Christ.
Whereas he addeth, that it is by the vvill of God: it serueth too … off all scanning, too the ende that men should not blame him of pre…ptuosnesse, as though he thought himself of more reputation than … men. For he protesseth that it was not for any woorthinesse of his …, but bycause it had pleased God too chcoze him too that office. … surely it is no feyned humilitie, that he sayeth he was set in that … by Gods mere grace & choozing.1. Cor. 15. 9. &c. For wee see how he protesteth … other places, that he is not woorthy of such honour, but rather had … serued vtter damnation,1. Tim. 11. 13. 18. and therefore was too bee taken as a … of Gods infinite goodnesse, in that he had exalted him so high, … him that had bin a murtherer of Christians, that had shed the blud … the Martirs, and that had rayled ageynst God and his woord, as he … reporteth it. Wee see then that there was no feynednesse in … is confession of his, where he sayeth, that he was set in that state and … …gree by the onelyonly will of God. And this serueth vsus too great purpose …, too the intent wee esteeme not Gods woord after the qualitie of … that bring it too vsus. For one of the ordinarie polices which the diuell vseth too diminish the reuerence of Gods woord withall, is too outface vsus with the persons that bring it. Now it is certaine that wee bee frayle vessels, and of no valew, yea and euen as good as broken pots. What is there in them whom God hath ordeyned too bee the ministers of his word?2. Cor. 4. 7. But it is the treasure alwayes inestimable, notwithstanding the dyspizednesse of the vessells. Then let vsus marke, that when men come too warrant vsus the forgiuenesse of our sinnes, & the saluation which wee ought too hope for: our fayth must mount vp hygher, and not stand scanning whether such a man bee woorthie too bee herd or no, or inquyring what maner of person he is. Let vsus holde or selues contented, that God by that meanes intendeth too drawe vsus too himselfe. That is the way which wee must walke: and if wee st…p asyde from it, by and by wee …e astray, and are in the high way too destruction. Then let vsus marke well, that wee must submit our selues too Gods will and ordinance, and receiue without let, the doctrine that is preached too vsus by the mouthes of mortall men. For wee must not bee wyze after the maner that a great number are, which demaund whether God could not send his Angells from heauen, and teache vsus by reuelations: nor also after the maner of some buzibodies, which beare thēselues in hand that they hauehave the holy Ghost in their sleeues, by meanes wherof they hold skorne too receiue the giftes as they bee delt abrode by God. Too the end wee bee not bewitched by Satan after that maner: let vsus marke how it is sayd heere, that it is Gods will that the Gospell is preached by the mouthes of men, and that they bee as it were witnesses of it vntoo vsus: and that whosoeuer exempteth himselfe from that order, is in like cace as if he did thrust backe Gods hand, when he offereth him sure and infallible recorde of his saluation. Thus yee see still what wee hauehave too marke vppon this text.
Ageine, they that are called too beare abrode Gods woord, ought too take warning by Saint Paules example, too walke in lowelynesse. For who are wee if wee compare our selues with him? He sheweth vsus that he was not chozen for any sufficientnesse or abilitie that was in him: but bycause it was Gods will to hauehave it so. Therefore let vsus assure our selues, that wee holde all thinges of him and of his mere grace, and that wee cannot chalendge aught too our selues, vn…esse wee mynd too rob him of his ryght. And wee knowe that such vnthankfulnesse were not too bee borne withall.
Hereuppon he sayeth, Too all the holy ones that are at Ephe…, and too the faythfull in Iesus Christ. Trew it is, that the name … Citie is expressed heere, but yet (as I hauehave touched alredie) the … is common too vsus all, and God hath ordeyned it too our vse … day, and wee must receiue it as if S. Paule were still alyue, … …mong vsus: yea and wee must not onelyonly hauehave an eye vntoo him, … the partie by whom he is sent. For although he dyed when … finished his race: Yit notwithstanding Gods spirit dyeth not. … … …soeuer the cace stand, wee must for our learning beare in mynd … S. Paule meaneth heere, when he speaketh too the holy & … ones in Iesus Christ. Albeit then that wee bee not of that tyme, … of the Countrie and people of Asia: yit notwithstanding, seying it … pleased God too match vsus with those too whom S. Paule wrate … time: let vsus assure our selues that it standeth vsus in hand at this …, too bee strengthened in the fayth which wee hauehave receyued by the Gorpell bycause it was the intent and purpose of the holy Ghost, too incorage all those too holde out, which hauehave bin entered in the Gospel, … yet weake and hauehave neede of larger confirmation. But let … well in mynd these woordes, where it is sayd, the holy and … ones in Iesus Christ. For S. Paule sheweth, that all the … of men is nothing else but feynednesse, till God hauehave applyed … too his owne seruice, & dedicated and consecrated them therunto … faith. For wee are all vncleane by nature, and there can neuer any … come from vsus but vnclenenesse. Trew it is, that if men can set a … glasse & countenance vponupon things, they shalbe taken for as righ…us as may bee, & their vertues shalbe commended euerywhere, ac…ing as wee see that a man shall purchace the fame of great perfec…, if he hauehave but some gay things in him. But wee must remember … it is sayd in the fifteenth of the Actes, that God clenzeth mennes … by faith. And he had great neede too doo so: for (as the Pro…et Ieremie sayeth) manmes hart is a dungeon of horrible confuzion.Ierem. 17. 9. … our selues perceiue it not: but God hath cleerer eyes than wee. …owsoeuer the cace stand, let vsus assure our selues of this, that all the ho…nesse which men surmize themselues to hauehave, is but corruption & vt…ly abhominable before God, till such time as they be made one with … by belief of the Gospell. Therfore marke it for a schoole poynt, … none other holynesse is lyked and allowed at Gods bande, than … holynesse of the beleeuers. For except wee first become Christi…s, wee bee blynde and can neuer yeelde God his dewtie.
Although there were none other leadwnesse than this, were it not ynough too marre all the vertues that wee could hauehave besides? Againe seyng that the spirit of perfection, the spirit of the feare of God, the spirit of righteousnesse, and the spirit of purenesse abydeth and resteth in Iesus Christ: it is certeine that all such as are separated from him, hauehave nothing else in them but vyce, and all maner of vnclenenesse, how much so euer the world fawne vppon them. And on the other side let vsus marke also, that all such as boast themselues of beleefe in the Gospell, and are not sanctifyed of God, doo bewray their owne hipocrisie and lying, and dote themselues by their owne lyfe, whatsoeuer their mouth sing or say, according as wee see many now a dayes, which defyle and vnhalowe the name of faith which ought too bee holie. For euerie man will say he is faithfull, and they that hauehave least faith, are boldest too say that there is no faith but in themselues. And would God it were so but in the one halfe of vsus. But wee see euen among all that beare the name of Christians, their whole life is disordered and looce, in so much that they mocke▪ God too the full, and despyze all religion, and yet notwithstanding doo in the meane whyle thinke (as I hauehave sayd already,) that they hauehave great wrong if they bee not taken for good Chrirtions and Catholikes. Yet for all this wee see how S. Paule knitteth these … things toogither in vnseparable bond: namely that if wee hauehave the faith of the Gospell, wee must therwithall giuegive ouer our selues wholly vntoo our God, and separate our selues from the corruptions of the world, according as wee hauehave seene how that in the Epistle too the Galathians,Gal. 1. 4. &. 4. 5. 6. &. 7. he sayeth that the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ, … too the end wee should bee sanctifyed by his blud, too yeeld obedience hensfoorth in all purenesse vntoo God his father. And as he sayeth … another place,1. Thess. 4. 7. wee bee not called too vnclenenesse, but vntoo right… ousnesse, too the intent that Gods name should bee honored and glorified by vsus. Thus yee see what wee hauehave too remember in this preface, too the end wee may bee the better prepared too receiue the … conteyned in this Epistle, & the same may hauehave such authoritie among vsus, as it deserueth, and moreouer bee made amyable too vsus, so as wee may vnderstād, how it is for our singular benefite too learne at Paules hand, forsomuch as he witnesseth the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ vntoo vsus, and leadeth vsus too God too bee reconcyled vntoo him, wheras wee bee naturally the children of wrath, and furthermore that wee may stand in his fauour, so as wee may bee hold too call vppon him as … father, & bee sure that he also taketh vsus for his children. Theruppon … a thanksgiuing, too lift vp a mennes hartes; too acknowledge … much they bee bound and beholden vntoo God, specially conside… that he hath shewed himselfe so bountifull towardes them, in … foorth himselfe after all maner of sortes.
…essed (sayeth he) bee the God and father of our Lord Iesus …, vvhichwhich hath blissed vsus vvith all spirituall blissings in hea…ly things, or in heauenly places in Christ. Forasmuch as the chiefe … which God requireth at mennes hands, is that they should ac…wledge his benefites and be thankfull too him for them: S. Paule … …sidereth first of all, how the same maye prouoke them too doo their …: For wee bee so rechlesse, as it is▪ pitie too see. Wee can well … confesse, that our chiefe studie and indeuer ought too bee too … a well ordered lyfe: that is too wit, to praise God. For if a man aske vsus wherefore wee bee in this world, wherefore God hath such a care of vsus, wherfore his goodnesse feedeth and cherisheth vsus, & finally … he dooth as it were put out our eyes with the great number … which he bestoweth vppon vsus: it is too the end wee should … some acknowledgement of them vntoo him. For (as it is sayd in … Psalme) wee … our side cannot profit him at all, nother requyreth … else of vsus in exchaunge than thanksgiuing, according as it is … in the hundred and sixteenth Psalme, What shall I render too the … for all the benefites which I hauehave receyued of him, but onelyonly too … the cuppe of welfare at his hand, and too call vppon his name? … see then that all that euer wee can bring vntoo God, is but too ac…owledge our selues bound too him for all things. And yet for all that … dischargeth his dewtie, no nor the hundredth part of it in that b…halfe, but rather all of vsus from the greatest too the least doo defraud … of it, in as much as wee ceasse not through our leawdnesse, to bury … praise, which ought too ring … in our mouthes. For this cause … Lord rebuketh vsus for our negligence, for wheras the holy scripture exhorteth vsus too praise God, and vseth so many woordes too that pur…ose: let vsus not thinke that they bee super…ous: but let vsus acknow…edge them too bee as many vpbraydings of our churlishnesse and vn…y…dnesse for fayling in the thing that is so requisite, and (as yee would …) the principall poynt of our life. Trew it is that the holy Ghost …ooth oftentimes set foorth other reasons why wee shoud magnifye Gods name, as the order of nature, the fruites which the earth yeeldeth the ayde and help which God giueth vsus & such other things: and those are sufficient matter wherfore too prayse God. But S. Paule leadeth vsus hygher heere, and will hauehave vsus too glorifye God aboue all things, for bycause he thinkes it not ynough too hauehave set vsus in the worlde, and too cherish vsus there, and too hauehave prouided all things needfull for the passing of this transitorie lyfe: but also hath chozen vsus too bee heires of his kingdome, and of the heauenly lyfe. Then are wee dubble bound vntoo God, and that much more streytly than the ignorant and vnbeleeuing wretches are. For although they bee sufficiently bonnd alredye: yit notwithstanding the good which he hath doone vsus in Iesus Christ, is without all comparison more excellent and noble, bycause he hath adopted vsus too bee his children. Truely inasmuch as wee bee men, wee bee of the nomber of his creatures which he hath fashioned after his owne image: but what for that: This image is defaced in vsus by sin, and by the corruption wherwith we bee atteinted by Adams disobediēce. And now what other heritage hauehave wee, than of his wrath and of endlesse death? Too bee shorte, wee bee not woorthy too bee reckened in the number of brute beasts, if wee abide in the state which wee hauehave of nature. Now then seyng that God maketh vsus members of his onelyonly sonne, & setteth vsus in the aray of the Angels, & prepareth vsus too become parttakers of his owne nature and glory (as sayeth S. Peter in his first Epistle:)… Pet. 1. 12. ought not wee too perceiue there so hygh and noble a grace, as should rauish vsus wholly in louelove with it? Thus yee see that of the thinges which S. Paule ment too say in this text, the first is, that wee bee heere exhorted too apply our whole indeuer too the praising of God, verily bycause wee bee too cold & slothfull in that behalfe, if wee bee not driuen and inforced thereuntoo. Besydes this, S. Paule had one other respect more: which was, too feede vsus in such wise with the grace that we hauehave by the Gospell, as wee may no more couet this thing & that thing after our ordinary manor. We see how fickle wee bee of nature, & when God is so good vntoo vsus, as too set his woord before vsus: wee will needes hauehave some other thinges beside, and nothing can content vsus. And what is the cause of it: It is for that wee bee dull, & neuer conceiued nor vnderstoode what God sheweth vsus by his word.…. 3. 18. For we shal see heereafter, that such as know the louelove which God sheweth vsus in our Lord Iesus Christ, hauehave all that they can wish vpward and downward, farre & wyde. Also S. Paule dooth now call vponupon vsus too blisse God, too the end too holde vsus to the doctrine wherin consisteth the fulnesse of all felicitie, at leastwise if we … skill too vse it too our profit.
…thermore let vsus marke also, how not without cause he sayeth, … is in spirituall blissings. For although wee cannot eate a bit of … nor drinke a drop of water without theft too Godward, except …cknowledge & confesse that he therein sheweth himselfe a very … towards vsus: yit notwithstāding, the things that concerne this … and transitory life of ours, are nothing in respect of the thinges … serue for the euerlasting welfare of our soules. And in very deede … Paules exhorting of vsus heere too praise God for his heauenly blis…s, is in such wise, that therwithall he giueth vsus an incling that we … bee pacient if we bee pinched in respect of the flesh, & hauehave not all …ges at will, but that God cutteth vsus short of our pittance, & hand… vsus not so tenderly as we would bee. Two things therfore are con…ed heere. The one is, that we should learne too knowe wherin our … and perfect happinesse consisteth: that is too wit, in the lyfe … wee hope for, and which is hid from vsus as yit, too the intent we … not bee tyed too the world: (Marke that for one poynt.) And se…ly, that if this world shake vsus off and dispize vsus, and men make a … stocke of vsus, wee must settle our selues in pacience, and while … despizers of God vaunt themselues with pompe and brauerie, and …eemeth that wee bee vnhappie in respect of them, in so much that … of vsus suffer hunger and thirst, and othersome be trubbled & vexed …ongfully: wee must looke further. And why? Euen bycause wee … too content our selues with the heauenly blissings which God … bestowed vponupon vsus. Then must this so great, so hygh, and so inesti…le prerogatiue, make vsus too ouerpasse all incomberances that we can conceiue, whensoeuer God exercizeth and tryeth vsus in this worlde … many afflictions, and will hauehave vsus too indure scarcitie and pe…rie … many things. This is the effect of the things which wee hauehave too …arke in this streyne.
Now before wee go foreward with the rest, let vsus marke that this …oord Blissing, is taken in diuers sences, when S. Paule applyeth it … ther too God or too our selues. It is said that wee blisse God, & how? … he blisseth vsus? After what maner dooth he blisse vsus? Wee blisse … him as he blisseth vsus, wee come farre short of that. For (as I hauehave …edged alreadie out of the sixteenth Psalme) all our seruices can doo … no good: & agein we must needes conclude, that (as I hauehave also alledged out of the hundred & xvi. Psalme) all that wee can bring vntoo God is no more but this acknowledgement, that wee bee beholden too him for all the good things which wee hauehave. Yee see then that all our blissing is but too yeeld the sacrifice of praize vntoo God. Let that serue for one poynt. But now when God blisseth vsus, is it but onelyonly in woordes? No: but it is a filling of vsus, and a bestowing of all things vppon vsus which wee want, so farre foorth as is needefull. And why is this woord Blissing attributed vntoo him? Bycause he needeth not too trauell and take much paine too helpe his seruantes, and too giuegive them the things that he knoweth too bee expedient for them. If he doo but say the woord, that is too say, if he doo but vtter his will, the thing is doone. Forasmuch then as God hauing created the world by his onelyonly woord, hath power also too doo vsus good by his alonely behyghting of it: therefore it is sayd that wee become riche by his onelyonly blissing, that is too say, by his shewing of himself louing and fauorable too vsus. Now let vsus see if wee bee too bee excuzed when we defraud God of his dew, by disdeyning too open our lippes too confesse howe much wee bee bound and beholden vntoo him, after wee hauehave receyued so many benefites at his hand. Let all the blissinges that all the men in the world can giuegive vntoo God, bee layd intoo the balance ageinst the onelyonly blissing wherwith he inricheth vsus: and which shall outwey other? All that they can alledge, is, but that they must bee fayne too confesse, that they can nother doo, nor say any thing that is aught woorth: wheras on the other side God sheweth vsus that he hath all that is requisite for our welfare. Therefore it is not without cause that S. Paule sayeth heere, that the faithfull must giuegive and apply all their wittes and indeuers too blisse God, seyng he giueth them so great cause: for else they bee vnthankfull and starke churles. Therefore he speaketh twoo thinges: The father of our Lord Iesus Christ, vvhichwhich hath blissed vsus in Christ.
Whereas he sayeth, the God and father of our Lord Iesus Christ, it must bee layd foorth after this maner: namely, that the God whom wee feele so fauorable vntoo vsus, is the father of our Lord Iesus Christ. This circumstance deserueth too bee well marked. For thereby S. Paule dooth vsus too vnderstand, that Gods benefites, & specially those that belong too the heauenly lyfe, and too the euerlasting saluation of our soules, cannot come at vsus, except Iesus Christ bee as it were the cundit pype of them, so as wee may bee made parttakers of them for … Therefore let vsus marke well that wee bee shet out from all …, and from all things that concerne the saluation of our … Iesus Christ become our mene. Trew it is that the … doo eate and drinke and glut themselues to the vttermost, … shyneth vponupon them. But yet howsoeuer they fare, to speake … they inioy not any of all the thinges that God giueth them, … they vsurp them without any lawfull tytle too them. For the … was made for Gods children, yea and that in respect of their …, which is our Lord Iesus Christ. Too be short, it is not … that S. Paule shewing how God hath giuen himselfe …, sayeth that it is bycause he is the father of our Lord Iesus …. But (as I told you euen now) heere the matter standeth not … eating and drinking, but vppon farre greater and preciouser …: namely that God hath adopted vsus for his children. And so ye… … effect what wee hauehave too beare in mynd.
…wbeit, for the better profiting of our selues by this streyne: Let … that we must brydle our selues, least wee wander intoo … when wee knowe God the father of our Lord …. And why? For the Papists hauehave this word God often … in their mouthes, and lykewyse the woorde Iesus Christ, … the meane whyle they hauehave disfigured Iesus Christ, and … the doctrine of his Gospell wherin he should bee seene. So … they a God: howbeit but by confuzed imaginatiō: & in the meane … they knowe him not. And truly, they wo…e no more what God … worship, than the Turkes doo. Wee know that our Lord Iesus … (in the fourth of Iohn) sayth, that they which hauehave not the … too rule themselues well, wote not what they worship, … continually forge Idolls too themselues. Therfore there is … one way too hauehave good and infallible accesse vntoo God: and … by beholding him in his lyuely image, for his maiestie is too …, too farre of, and too deepe for vsus. But Iesus Christ hath … himselfe too vsus, and applyed himselfe too our weaknesse, and … vsus whatsoeuer was requysite too knowe, that wee myght … too God his father. Yee see then that wee must hauehave our Lord … Christ for our way, too the intent wee stray not. For seing that … is the father of our head and of him that is made one with vsus, yee … wee may hauehave accesse too come familiarly vntoo him. And … without that mediatour, wee are all shet out from him, and the maiestie of God must needs make the heares of our head too stand vp for feare. But when we consider that he calleth himselfe the father of him that is our head: wee knowe that he also must needs auow vsus for his children, bycause he hath bought vsus.
Furthermore although S. Paule doo set downe heere but the one woord of Spirituall blissinges: yit notwithstanding he sheweth that God hath shewed himselfe bountifull towardes vsus mo wayes than one. And therof he will make a more large declaration hereafter, by laying foorth the benefites particularly which wee obteyne by the Gospell. For all this chapter is full of them. But howsoeuer the eace standeth, yit dooth he giuegive vsus too vnderstand in this streyne, that Gods giuing of his gracious gyfts vntounto vsus, is not by patches and parcells, and that his making of vsus too taste them, is not with a wet finger and away, as they say: but that he hath giuen vsus them so diuersly and fully, that wee hauehave cause too magnifie him in all respectes. Therfore let vsus vnderstand, that seyng that Iesus Christ is so giuen vntoo vsus, in him wee obteyne all that is auaylable too our saluation, and too make vsus happie, according also as Paule speaketh of it in the eyght to the Romanes. For if the onelyonly sonne bee giuen vntoo vsus, how should not all the benefites which he hath in him, bee communicated too vsus with him and by his meanes?
But howsoeuer wee fare, let vsus learne too fauour Gods spirituall giftes in such wise, as all our wittes may bee gathered home to make much of them. And for the bringing therof too passe: let vsus beware that wee hauehave not our myndes too much wedded too the world. For the verie cause that draweth vsus away, so as we perceyue not the hundredth part of the good that God hath doone vsus, nor can apply his benefites too our profit: is our owne vanitie, bycause eueryevery of vsus begulleth himselfe with his owne fond and wandering lustes. Therfore let vsus learne too shake off the things that stop vsus from comming too our Lord Iesus Christ. And although our naughtie nature prouoke vsus too seeke the transitorie things of this world: yit let vsus doo our indeuer to withdrawe from them, so as wee may yeeld our selues with a free hart vntoo God, and bee earnestly mynded too obey him, and too giuegive our selves wholly vntoo him, for so is it his will too hauehave vsus ioyned vntounto him. This is the thing which wee hauehave too marke vppon S. Paule, when hauing spoken of the spirituall blissings, he addeth immediatly, in heauenly places or thinges: whereby he ment too shewe, that wee bee not … receiue the gracious giftes which are communicated too vsus in … Iesus Christ, and which God would hauehave vsus too possesse: till … howe there is not any thing in this world, that ought too …. Wherefore when wee once knowe that wee bee not … and made too dwell alwayes in this world, but that wee must … as wayfarers in it, and that our euerlasting heritage and … in heauen: let vsus thereuppon make thitherwarde, and … our selues too it more and more. And although wee bee feeble: … not faynt, but plucke vp a good hart, and pray God too giuegive … Moreouer yee see that the cause why S. Paule setteth downe … Blissings, is too doo vsus too wit, that wheras the diuell … any traynes too thrust out of the way, God will prouide (… them all. And why? For he hath such store of blissings, that he … and destroy all that euer may bee ageinst our ….
But now let vsus fall downe before the maiestie of our good God, … of our faultes, praying him to touche vsus more … with them, that wee may bee brought to trew repentance, so … may condemne our selues, and seeke to our Lord Iesus Christ … that wee want, and that not for one day or at a brayd, but … and stedfastly too our lyues end: and that whatsoeuer befall vsus, … alwayes assure our selues that we hauehave cause too praise our …, and that if wee be poore and miserable in this world, the … is ynough too quiet vsus, & to sweeten all our afflictions and …, and too giuegive vsus such contentation, as wee may neuerthelesse … mouthes open too blisse God for shewing himselfe so kynd … and liberall towards vsus, as euen too adopt vsus too his children, … shewe vsus that the heritage which hath bin purchaced for vsus by … of his only sonne, is redie for vsus, and wee can not misse of it, … go too it with trew and inuincible constancie of fayth. That it … please him too graunt this grace not only too vsus, but also too all …. &c.