Sermons on Ephesians, Sermons · Sermon 11
The eleuenth Sermon, which is the third vppon the second Chapter.
8. Surely you bee saued by grace through fayth, and that not of your selues: it is the gift of God:
9. Not by woorkes, least any man myght boast.
10. For wee bee his vvoorkmanship, created in Iesus Christ, too good workes which God hath prepared for vsus too walke in.
SSaint Paule hath shewed heeretoofore, that our saluatiō is the true looking glasse, wherein too behold the infinite glorye of God: for it is his will, too be knowne by his goodnesse aboue all things. And for that cause also hath he shewed, that God choze vsus before the making of the world, howbeeit not in respect of any thing that could bee found in vsus: but too content his owne onelyonly merciemercy. Here therefore he concludeth that matter, and sheweth what he ment when he told vsus, that our adoption hangeth and proceedeth of Gods chozing of vsus in his owne euerlasting purpose, that is too wit, too the intent wee should be as it were cleane defaced, and confesse that whatsoeuer wee bee, and whatsoeuer goodnesse wee hauehave, wee hold it all wholly of God and of his onelyonly free goodnesse. That is the cause why he sayeth, that wee bee saued by grace, not of our selues, but by Gods gift, and not by works. It had bin ynough …o hauehave excluded all the goodnesse and vertue that man could imagin. But for asmuch as it is hard to beate downe the pride wherto wee bee too much giuen: S. Paule reherceth this matter agein, too the end it might bee the better vnderstoode, and confirmed more at large. And therwithall wee hauehave too mark, how he matcheth fayth ageinst it, as well too shewe the meane wherby too come too saluation, as also too page missing page missing more therfore doth it stand vsus on hand, too marke well the thing that is sayd in this streyne, which is, that wee bee saued by grace, and that wee doo nothing at all too it, but that God giueth vsus all that euer belongeth too our saluation. And why? Bycause wee can doo nothing at all: we hauehave nother good workes nor deser…es too alledge for our selues.
Furthermore, this speech is well worth the weying, when he saith, least any man myght boast. For theruppon wee hauehave too gather, that it is not ynough for vsus too father some part of our saluation vponupon God: but that we must come to that poynt, & yeeld so farre, as not too make any countenance too it at all, but abyde too hauehave all our owne glory so abaced, as only God may hauehave all preheminence, as wee hauehave seene in other textes, and specially in the place of Ieremie, where it was alledged,…ere. 9. g. 24. that God is not glorified as he ought too bee, nother is it possible for vsus to glorie in him, till all that euer wee think our selues too hauehave of our owne, bee cast downe and doone away. For nother the vertue, nor the wisdome, nor the abilitie, nor the ryghtuousnesse of man mu…t bee put foorth, if wee intende that God should keepe still that which is his owne, and which he reserueth too himself. Now therfore wee see that all the partnershippes which the world woold make with God, are but fond dotages, yea and illusions of Satan, who laboreth too make vsus beleeue that wee are able too doo somewhat of our selues, too the intent too plucke vsus therby quyte and cleane from ou… God. For so long as a man imagineth himselfe to hauehave any one drop of goodnesse of his owne: he will neuer giuegive ouer himself vntoo God, but bee puffed vp with vayne presumption, and rest vppon himself. Satan therfore hath wonne much at our handes, when he hath once perswaded vsus, that wee bee able too doo any thing of our selues, or that wee can make any meanes to atteyne too saluation: for his drift is, too make vsus leaue seeking of the thinges in God, which God offereth vsus. And by that meanes wee abyde emptie still, according too the virgin Maries song,Luke. …. g. 53. where it is sayd, that such as are so filled with ouerweening, shall abyde still hungrie, and God will laugh their vayne presumption too scorne. Then can wee not bee fed with Gods grace, except wee long for it, and feele our owne lacke, according too this saying of the Psalme,P…al. 81. b. 10. Open thy mouth, and I will fill it. So then, let vsus marke well, that men shall then bee dispozed to receyue at Gods hand all that is requisite for their saluation, when they reserue nothing too themselues, but acknowledge that all self boasting must bee put away. And (as I sayd afore) by that meanes the partnershippes which the world pretendeth too make with God, doo fall too the ground. For the Papists are driuen too confesse, that without Gods helpe they can doo nothing, and that they bee too weake too withstand Satan, if they bee not strengthened by the holy Ghost. They can fynd in their hartes too graunt, that they cannot deserue aught at all, except God supply their wantes, and also that they hauehave neede of the forgiuenesse of their sinnes. But yit for all that, they cannot abyde too giuegive ouer their freewill, but imagin verily that they can partly further themselues. Theruppon they are alwayes buylding of some desert, and although (they graunt that) Gods grace preuent them at the first, yit they alwayes mingle therwith some indeuer and good will of their owne, and when they flee vntoo God for release of their sinnes, they bring him their owne satisfactions for the same. And so yee see, that the Papistes will not in any wise freely and wholly yeeld and gyue ouer vntoo God the prayse of their saluation, but keepe backe some part of it, commonly the one halfe or more, too themselues. But S. Paule passeth further here, & sheweth that we doo wrongfully alwayes defraud & bereue God of his glory, till wee hauehave forgotten all the false opinions wherwith the world deceyueth it selfe. Therefore the onelyonly way for vsus too glorifye God, is too acknowledge that wee bee nothing of our selues. And so, humilitie or lowelynesse is not a feyning or false pretence, as many suppoze, which thinke themselues too hauehave contented God by saying in one woord, that they bee wretched sinners, and as weake as is possible: but wee must bee fully resolued, that all that euer men imagin in their owne braynes concerning desertes, freewill, preparation, helpe, or satisfaction, is eueryevery whit but leazing & trumperie of Satan. When we once know this, then will we submit our selues as we ought to doo, & then shall God keepe his estate, as he deserueth, & we also shall yeeld him such honour as is dew to him. But this cannot be done (as I sayd) vnlesse all that euer men conceiue & imagin concerning good workes, wherewith too deserue well at Gods hand, bee vtterly razed out.
Moreouer let vsus mark therwithall, that if wee wil bee partakers of the saluation that God offereth vsus, wee must bring nothing with vsus but only fayth. For (as is sayd in another place) fayth taketh no help of good woorks. Although it hauehave record of the Lawe,Rom. 4. a. 4. 5. yit dooth it not bring aught vntoo God, wherby too bynd him … vsus, but rather witnesseth that wee bee vtterly emptyed, and that wee hauehave none other hope than only in his free goodnesse. But lyke as a man that is pinched with great distresse, so as he can scarsly stirre a fynger, and hath nothing but his tongue too cry out, alas that some body woulde helpe me, & pitie mee: euē so must fayth ryd away al the ouer weenyng which wee hauehave in our selues, that wee may receiue what soeuer God offereth vsus, so as al the prayse thereof bee reserued vntoo hym. That therfore is the thing that wee hauehave too beare away.
And heerby wee bee warned, not too bee vnthankfull when God calleth & al…ureth vsus so gently: but too run vntoo him as poore hungry soules, & to hauehave an earnest mynd too bee succored at his hand, bycause it pleaseth him. For what is the cause that our Lord Iesus Christ profiteth not a great number, but for that they hauehave deaf eares when God incorageth them too come too him? And veryly some of them are so beastlyke, that they passe not for the heauenly lyfe, so they hauehave heere wherof too feede and too drink lyke Swyne, or wherewith too wallowe in their owne delyghts and pleasures: as for the spirituall goods (which wee ought too labor for) they bee nothing with them. Yee see thē that the one sort shet God out of the doores, bycause they bee dulled with the allurements of Satan, and drunken, or rather vtterly bewitched with the delyghts of this world, eyther in pomp and honour, or in riches, or else in whoredome and other loocenesse. And the other sort think they hauehave wherwith too make God beholden too them, as wee see manie hipocryts doo, which cannot giuegive ouer the vayne self-trust wherwith they bee swolne lyke Toads. Wherfore too bee short, let vsus marke well this woord fayth, that the pleasures and ease of this world hold vsus not backe from lifting vp our harts vntoo God. And that is the very way too fasten our anker in heauen. For wee can neuer hauehave the sayd substancialnesse of fayth, which S. Paule speaks of, except wee passe swiftly through the world, and know that our heritage and resting place is elswhere than heere: and moreouer shake off all vayne imaginations that may come in our heads: for they serue but too turne vsus away from Iesus Christ, so as wee may not come at him, nor he hauehave any entrance at al vntoo vsus. That is the thing which wee hauehave too gather vppon that text.
Now for further confirmation, S. Paule addeth hereuppon, that vvee bee Gods vvorkmanship. He meanes not this of Gods creating of vsus, and of his setting of vsus in this world: but his meaning is, …hat men, as they bee borne in Adam, are vnme…e for the heauenly life, and that if they thinke too get any thing by that, they deceyue th…mselues too much, bycause they bee but as dead creatures, and as caryo…s wherein is nothi…g but rotten …ilthynesse. For proofe hereof wee neede too seeke no further matter than this present Text, where he sayth, that wee bee created in Iesus Christ. Here therefore S. Paule maketh a comparison of the dubble birth that is in al the faithfull. For wee hauehave all of vsus one generall creation, wherby wee liue in this world: and God createth vsus new agein, when he voutsafeth too giuegive vsus newenesse of life by his Gospell, I meane when he printeth it in our harts and mynds by his owne secret working: for the word alone were not ynough too doo it. So then, as in respect of our first creatiō, there is no differēce betwene the Iewes, the Turks, the Heathen men, & vsus. Wee are al of vsus taken out of one Lump, wee are al the children of Adam, yea wee are all heyres of Gods wrath, and cursed by nature, as wee hauehave seene alreadie heretoofore. Then if men examine them selues, and searche what they bee by their first birth: they shal finde how there is nothing in vsus but sinne and wickednesse, & that the wisedome which wee weene our selues too hauehave, is but beastlynesse: and that the light whiche wee thinke wee hauehave too discerne betweene good and bad, is but stubbernesse and starke spytefulnesse ageinst God: and so yee see wee be corrupted in all parts of our soule.
Now then what can wee doo too finde fauour at Gods hand, and too make him beholden vntoo vsus? for if wee can doo nothing but euil, it is but a kindling of his wrath more and more ageinst vsus. Wee bee worthye of endlesse death alreadie before wee come out of our mothers wombe: in somuch that although wee perceyue not the sinne that is in a yong babe: yit hath he the seede of it within him, and God auoweth that all of vsus deserue too bee drowned in the bottom of hell: Then if the little babe bee so rightfully condemned afore hand, euen ere he hauehave seene the light of the world: what is too bee sayd of vsus when we bee come foorth, and doo shewe that wee bee naughtie (in deede) and that our nature is altoogither sinfull: And when wee bee come to age, what can we do (as I said afore) to fal to cōposition with God, so as we might helpe foreward his grace, and that our so dooing might bee a meanes too further our saluation? Loe what S. Paule meaneth by this Text, where he sayth, that wee bee Gods woorkmanship. As if he shoulde saye, poore creature, thou thinkest too play the d…utie fellowe in this behalfe, by putting thy selfe foreward too alledge some deseruing, and that thou art able too begin and too approche vntoo God, so as he on his syde must bee fayne too bee beholden vntoo thee: When begannest thou that? If thou say, thou begannest it before thou wart borne: thou deseruest that men shoulde spit in thy face. If thou say, it was afterward, betweene the age of seuen yeeres, and the age of twentie or thirtie yeeres, at what tyme thou wart inlyghtened with the Gospell: thou art on the contrarie part sufficiently disproued, that thou couldest not hauehave one drop of willingnesse too doo good, but that all thy thoughtes and desires were vtterly rebellious ageinst God, and as men of warre fyghting ageinst his rightuousnesse. Therefore thou hast doone nothing else but fyght ageinst God, euer since thou wart borne. Agein, if thou take it too bee from the time that thou wart a little babe, vnable too discerne betweene whyte and blacke: yit wart thou of the cursed race of Adam. And so turne thee on which syde thou wilt: and reason must needes driue thee too perceyue, that thou wart vnable too doo any thing too Godward, and consequently that all that euer he hath wrought for thy welfare, ought too be fathered vppon him alone, without chalenging any drop thereof too thy selfe.
Thus wee see now why Saint Paule dooth in this text call vsus the woorke or woorkmanship of God, according also as it is saide in the Psalme,Psal. 79. …. 13. that they which were the houshold folke of his Church, were also his flocke. For there the Prophet sholeth out the children of Israell, whom God had gathered toogither of his owne mere goodnesse, too set them asyde from other heathen nations. For it is certeine, that God found none other cause too keepe that linage too himself, or too preferre them before others, saue only that he of his own mere mercy had them theruntoo. As much is to be sayd of vsus at this day. And that which he addeth, namely that wee were created in Iesus Christ, ought too touche vsus yit the more too the quicke. For there he sheweth that the creating of vsus in Adam, is but a bringing of vsus too destruction: and therfore that it standeth vsus in hand too bee fashyoned and cre…ted new agein, namely euen in Iesus Christ, who is the second Adam, as he him self termeth him in the first too the Romans, and in the fif…eenth of the f…rst too the Corinthians. Yee see then that this woord create, is ynough too stoppe the mouthes, and too put away the cackeling of such as brag of the hauing of any woorthinesse. For when they say so, it is a presupposing that they were the makers of themselues. He that chalendgeth too himself any fredome of will, and taketh vppon him too hauehave any meane or abilitie to doo good (of himself:) it is certein, that his meaning is, too step intoo Gods place, and too shew himself too bee a Creator. But there is noman which abhorreth not such blasphemie. The blyndest betles and maddest bedlems in the worlde, account the woorde Creation, as a holie and sacred thing, & will say, that God is the verye Creator or maker of all things, and thou Hipocrite confessest the same with thy mouth, and yit thou doost but lye, forasmuch as thou thinkest that thou hast some freewil too further thy self too welfare & saluation. And so thou denyest the first article of our fayth: for thou makest God but half a creator, So then they will well ynough confesse with their mouth, that God is the Creator, yea and as farre as the lyfe of this world comes too, they will say, they holde it of him. But now is there a much excellenter lyfe, namely which wee hope for, and which wee possesse alredye by fayth, howbeit that wee inioy it not alredye now presently. And how much more precious and woorthie is that lyfe wherin wee shallbee parttakers of Gods glorie, than this wayfaring which wee make in this world, that is but a shadowe that vanisheth away out of hand? Now if yee aske the Papistes of whom they hauehave the (heauenly) lyfe, wee hauehave it partly of Gods grace (say they) and partly of our owne feeewill. Forasmuch then as they father some peece therof vppon themselues, and thinke too part stakes after that fashyon with God: wee must conclude that they bee their owne creators. But heeruppon they will reply, and protest that they neuer ment any such thing, and that they had leuer dye, than too vtter any such blasphemie. Yea, but in the meane whyle, which is the thing of greater valew? too create a mans self too bee a mortall man in this world, or too purchace euerlasting lyfe? S. Paule telleth vsus, that if wee can doo any thing by our owne freewill and power, God is not fully our creator. But he sayeth, wee bee his woorkmanship and of his making, yea euen in respect of the heauenly lyfe: it behoueth vsus too beare that alwayes in mynd: for S. Paule speaketh not of this transitorie lyfe, but of the inheriting of the kingdome of heauen. Wee see then that the Papistes defye God in their pryde, lyke villanous blasphemers as they bee. And therefore for our part, if wee mynde too bee parttakers of the grace which is purchaced for vsus by our Lord Iesus Christ, wee must bee rid cleane of all selfweening, and acknowledge that our beginning too doo well, springeth of Gods voutsafing too call vsus too him, and of his preuenting of vsus through his owne free goodnesse. Too bee short, S. Paules meaning is, that all they which thinke themselues too hauehave deserued aught at Gods hand, doo beare themselues on hand, that they bee men of great abilitie, wheras in deede they bee already dead, & are nothing at al. What can a dead man doo? And surely wee bee dead (as I hauehave declared heretofore) till God …uicken vsus agein by the meanes of faith, and by the woorking of his holy spirit. Now if wee bee dead, what good can wee doo, or whereuntoo can wee dispoze cur selues? Agein, wee bee nothing at all: for the woorde Create, importeth that all that …uer is in vsus, is of Gods putting intoo vsus. Lyke as when it is sayde that he created the worlde of nothing, it is as much too saye, as that where as there was not any thing at all before, he gaue beyng too that which was not. Euen so as in respect of the spirituall lyfe, that wee bee cre…ted, is as much too say, as that wee were nothing at all before. Now, if wee bee nothing, shall wee bee able too bynd God too gyue vsus this or that? Are they not things vtterly ageinst nature? Then let vsus marke well, that too knowe how wee bee saued by mere grace, and that wee hauehave all thinges of Gods gift, and of his free goodnesse, wee must bee fayne too come too this poynt, namely that God gaue vsus our beyng, according as it is auouched by the example of Abraham in the fourth too the Romanes.Rom. 4. a. 1. For in Abrahams body wee see what is in our soules. When Iesus Christ was promised too Abraham in his sonne Isaac,Gen. …. c. 19. yee knowe he was a man altoogither drooping and barrein: and his wyfe also was farre striken in age. And therefore that eyther he on his syde should beget, or his wyfe on hir side brede a child, are things impossible. But he beleeued God, which calleth foorth the things that are not,Rom. 4. c. 17. and giueth them beyng. Seyng then that Abraham was as a withered blocke, and had no s…rength nor lustinesse in him, and yit notwithstanding receyueth the promis that was made vntoo him: therein it behoueth vsus too behold that wee cannot bee parttakers of Gods grace, except wee acknowledge our owne vnabilitie, and bee first of all v…terly abaced in our selues, that our Lord may begin our lyfe, & continue the same, till he hauehave brought it too ful perfection.
Furthermore let vsus marke well, that his saying in Iesus Christ, is too sende vsus backe too the corruption which wee hauehave by inheri…unce in Adam. For wee can neuer fynde in our heartes too yeeld our selues giltye, tyll wee feele it proceed in our selues. And moreo…er it serueth too shewe, that this benefyte is not common indifferently to all men, but only to those whom God hath chozen, accordingly as wee hauehave seene alredie, that we were chozen before the making of the world. Now then this extendeth not generally too all Adams ofspring, but only too so many as are renewed in Iesus Christ. And therfore it is all one as if S. Paule should shewe, that wee had neede of a remedie, for somuch as wee bee alredye forlorne and damned, at such tyme as God by the meanes of Iesus Christ plucketh vsus out of the dungeon wherin we were. And this serueth too confirme yit better the thing that we hauehave seene heertoofore, which is, that wee can not be faythfull, except God make vsus new agein, so as wee hold of him all things that belong to the heauenly lyfe, and all the spirituall goods which wee hauehave. Now seing wee bee created in Iesus Christ, it is all one as if it were sayd, that all the ryghtuousnesse, all the wisdome, all the vertue, and al the goodnesse that is in vsus, wee drawe it from out of that fountaine, and that God scattereth them not abrode at aduenture, but hath put the fulnesse of all things belonging too our saluation, into Iesus Christ, in somuch that when wee bee once made members of his bodie,Iohn. 1. b. 16. & Colos. 1. c. 19. &. 2. b. 9. wee be allso made parttakers of all his benefyts, and that without him, wee bee cut of from all parts of our saluation, as though wee were rotten and stinking wretched carkesses, and that there were nothing in vsus but filth, as I hauehave declared before. Thus yee see what wee hauehave too mark further, when S. Paule sayeth, that wee bee not only Gods woorkmanship, but also created in Iesus Christ.
Now he addeth, too good vvoorkes vvhichwhich he hath prepared for vsus to vvalke in. His setting down of good woorkes in this place, is to shew, what a follie, or rather what a madnesse and frentiknesse it is in men, too beare themselues in hand that they can bring good workes on their behalf, as who should say, they had thē in their sleeues, or as if they were of their owne growing. For needes must God hauehave prepared them (sayth he) and that wee should hauehave them at his hand. And it is all one as if he should say, go too, shew heere your prowesse and vertewes: enter a litle into account with God: seeing your pryde will not bee daunted, but yee hauehave all wayes some bristles set vp still, bring foorth all that yee think may make for yee. Well, say you, and wee will bring our good workes, as the Papistes are wont to doo: who alledge in this wyse: what? how now? shall we not be saued by our owne merites, and by our good workes? And whence draw ye them, sayeth S. Paule? HaueHave yee coyned them in your owne shop? or hauehave ye some gardin of your owne planting, whence too gather them? or spring they, I wote not how, of your owne trauel and pollicie, so as you may further your selues by them? No, but contrarywyse, knowe yee that God hath prepared them. And is it meete that you should fall too replying ageinst him, when he hath pityed you, and shewed himself bountifull towardes you? Is it meete that yee should presume too step foorth too pay him, as though yee had wherwith of your awne? When a man hath bin well kept and tended, and his host hath lent him mony at his neede, and he hath receyued it at his hand (too pay him withall:) shall he afterward boast, that he hath payd his hoste? There is an hoste, that not onelyonly is contented too doo his charitie vponupon a man, but also after he hath found hym both at bed and at boord, wyll say too hym, Hold here wherwith too pay: too the intent it may not seeme too you, that my charitable dealing hath bin too make an vnderlyng of you, I wyll receyue payment for it at your hand, yea, …ut yit the same shall come out of myne owne purse. Nowe, shall he too whom suche franknesse hath bin vsed, go and say, he hath wel payd his host? Yea, and with what money? Euen with the same money that was put intoo his hand. So standeth the cace with those that put forth theyr good woorkes, too say, that God hath not saued them freely, but that they them selues were a helpe too it. Yea, but where come they by those good workes? That was the thing that S. Paule amed at, when he sayd that God prepared the good woorkes. Trew it is that God prepareth mennes conuersations by the Lawe, wherein he gyueth vsus a certaine rule how too walke according too his will: and it is all one as if he prepared the way for vsus too go in as wee ought too doo. But that would nothing boote vsus, except wee receyued the good woorkes themselues at Gods hand. When God commaundeth vsus any thing, wee may well hauehave our eares beaten with the sound of it, but it will neuer enter intoo our hartes, for wee bee full of pryde and naughtinesse, and too bee short, it is impossible for vsus too obey God, till he hauehave softened our hartes, and vtterly chaunged them.
And that is the thing which is declared too vsus by the Prophets, and in all the holy scripture. God therefore must bee fayne too make another preparation: that is too wit, when he hath taught vsus, and told vsus what is good, and what he lykeeh of, afterward he must reforme vsus, and so guide and gouerne vsus by his holy spirit, as there may bee one accord betweene our life and his lawe. Then vntill such time as God prepare good woorks after that fashion, that is too say, till he giuegive vsus them by shewng vsus his will, and also make vsus to do them by his power: wee must needes bee vtterly vnprofitable Now sith it is so, let vsus learne too humble our selues before God, both for that is past, and also for that that is too come. For that which is past, let vsus acknowledge that God hath plucked vsus out of the gulf of hell, and that whereas wee were by nature damned, he hath voutsafed too hauehave vsus too bee his children, and therfore let vsus not bee so ouerweening, as too thinke that wee hauehave this or that, but let him be gloryfied as he deserueth, and let vsus assure our selues that he hath pulled vsus backe from death, to the intent, that the beginning, welspring, roote, and onelyonly cause of our saluation, should proceede of his onelyonly free bestowed goodnesse. Thus ye see in effect, that it is a poynt of trew humilitie, to giuegive all the glory of our saluation vntoo God. And for that which is too come, it behoueth too knowe that wee could not stirre one of our little fingers too doo any good, except wee were gouerned by God, and receyued the good works them selues at the hand of him, and of his holy spirit. So then, as oft as wee feele our owne weakenesse, let vsus flee too him for refuge: and when wee hauehave doone any good, let it not puffe vsus vp with any pryde, but let vsus alwayes thinke our selues so much the more straytely bound vntoo God, yea euen by dubble. He that is yit very weake, must confesse him selfe exceedingly bound vntoo Gods mercy, for bearing with him: but he that goeth afore others, and is as a mirrour of all holinesse, must confesse himselfe much more bounde vntoo him. For why? He hath nothing of his owne, he holdeth all things of God, and of his onelyonly free goodnesse. Wherefore let vsus all our life long walke in such sort, as wee may still from yeere too yeere, from mooneth to mooneth, from day to day, from houre to houre, and frō minute too minute, continually acknowledge our selues bound vntounto God for the goodnesse which he hath giuen vsus of his owne mere mercy, and let vsus thinke our selues beholden too him for all things.
And let vsus marke by the way for a conclusion, that S. Paules intent here, is not to decypher al the causes of our saluation one by one, but too abate mens lustinesse, that they might not make any bragges, or any countenance … God is in their debt. Therefore it is ynough for S. Paule to hauehave stopped all mens mouthes in such wyze, as they may not take vppon them too hauehave aught of their owne. For contrariwize whensoeuer God giueth vsus good works, although they bee the fruites of his mere goodnesse: yit can they not purchace vsus any thing at his hand: for wee must alwayes ground and settle our selues vppon the forgiuenesse of our sinnes. There lyeth all our rightuousnesse.
Too bee short, there are twoo things requisite in yeelding God the prayse that is dew for our saluation: first that wee acknowledge our selues too hauehave all things of him: and secondly that wee acknowledge that all the good workes, and all the good will which he hath giuen vsus already, serue not too purchace vsus fauour at his hand, nor for vsus too trust vppon: but (too shewe vsus) that he had neede too vpholde vsus, and too burye and forget all our sinnes, and that by that meanes wee bee iustifyed before him, bycause he acquitteth vsus, notwithstanding that wee deserue too bee condemned a hundred tymes. So then, too be shor…, when it is tolde vsus, that there is nother freewill, nor any thing else in man: it is too the ende wee should learne too gyue all glory vntounto God, and not hauehave any cause too vaunt our selues any more. And that afterwarde vppon the knowing thereof, wee should vnderstand that wee should bee in continuall trubble and perplexitie, were it not that wee bee sure that wee shall alwayes obteine grace and mercy, by comming too God with teares and lamenting. And how so? Bycause he voutsafeth too acquit vsus, and although he could thunder downe vppon …, and drowne vsus: yit he buryeth our sinnes by meanes of …ur Lord Iesus Christ, and receyueth vsus alwayes too mercy.
Thus then yee see how men ought in all poyntes, and in all caces too bee confounded in themselues, and too bee ashamed of their owne leawdnesse, that they may glorifie God: and therwithall ackowledge that they should alwayes bee in doubt and anguish, but that God dooth euermore pitie them, and the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ, is the sacrifize wherby wee be reconcyled too him. That therfore is the trew way too vphold and auow God too bee the Sauiour of the world: & that also is the way for vsus to father all things vponupon the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ, as he deserueth: namely by rayzing and putting quyte away all the glorying which we pretend to hauehave in our selues, and theruppon too confesse, not only that all the goodnesse which is in vsus, is of Gods putting intoo vsus, but also that he must bee fayne too beare with our infirmities, bycause wee ceasse not too prouoke his wrath, till he make that satisfaction auaylable, which was made by the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ.
But now let vsus cast our selues downe before the maiestie of our good God, with acknowledgment of our sinnes, praying him to make vsus too feele them more and more, till wee bee so pulled downe, as there may bee no more showe of sin in vsus: and that in the meane whyle, wee may neuerthelesse seeke the ayde and helpe of our Lord Iesus Christ. And that forasmuch as he hath partly inlyghtened vsus alredy by his holy spirit, it may please him too increace his grace in vsus more and more, till he hauehave communicated it wholy vntoo vsus: and in the meane tyme so vphold vsus and gouerne vsus by his holy spirit, as our whole indeuer may bee nothing else but too frame our lyfe after his holy lawe: and he not passe vppon the great number of our sinnes which we commit, neuer ceassing too stray away too our owne vndooing, but hold vsus backe by his secret power, vntill he take vsus away out of this world, and ioyne vsus with our Lord Iesus Christ, who is the fountayne of all perfection, that wee also may bee perfect in him. And so let vsus say, Almyghtie God heauenly father. &c.