Sermons on Ephesians, Sermons · Sermon 32
The .xxxii. Sermon, which is the twelfth vppon the fourth Chapter.
29. Let no filthie speeche proceede out of your mouthes, but onelyonly such as is good too edifye, as neede shall require, that it may giuegive grace too the hearers.
30. And greeue not the holy spirit of God, vvherby you bee sealed for the day of redemption.
SAint Paule correcteth a vyce heere which is very daungerous, and yit notwithstanding so common as can bee among men, bycause they see not at the first what harme it bringeth, and therfore doo take leaue the easlyer too doo it. For it will bee sayd, that too hold pleasant talke, and in the meane whyle too think no man no harme, is a thing that may bee abidden: as who should say, it were possible too poyson our neyghbours mynd, and yit for all that, it should bee no harme. And hardly may men bee perswaded that it is so, notwithstanding that the holy Ghoste hauehave sayd it. I say that when there is any lyght or leaud talk, or tending too giuegive libertie vntoo euill: it is all one as if talk were ministred too poyson mens soules. Nowe then it behoueth vsus so much the more too mark what is told vsus heere: for Saint Paule termeth it filthie and leaud talk, which cannot but infect. Men will deny it (as I sayd afore:) but experience sheweth sufficiently,1. Cor. 1…. d. 33. how it is not without cause sayd in another place, that euill woords corrupt good manners. Though wee weere neuer so modest, chaste, cleane mynded, and giuen too good: yit if wee admit wanton talk, it perceth euen too the bottom of the hart, and wee bee atteynted with it before wee perceyue it, insomuch as it marreth vsus vtterly. And in very deede if a woman giuegive eare too the messages that are brought hir, tending too seduce hir: a man may well say shee is a harlot alredie, and the thing it self is manifest ynough. Then is it certein that all vnchaste and leaud speeches, are baudie tricks: and although the parties that are so giuen too casting foorth of such leaud talk, doo it not alwayes of that mynd: yit of what intent so euer they doo it, Satan is the author of it. And (as I sayd afore) if such vnchaste and looce talk hauehave full scope, needs must wee bee poysoned out of hand, and the mischeef hauehave his course. And therfore not without cause dooth Saint Paul forewarne vsus, that no Vncleane speeche, or (as I sayd afore) no filthie speeche proceede out of our mouth. And on the contrarie part he setteth downe, that wee hauehave sufficient matter too talk of one with another: that is too wit, too edifye, that men may fare somwhat the better by our communication. Accordingly as euen the heathen men can say, that it dooeth one good too bee in such a mans companie. And why? For he shall euer heare some good sentence, and he neuer goes from him without carying away of some good. And it is nature that monethmonth them to say so. Therfore let vsus learne too abhorre and shun such plaginesse, when a man shall hauehave his tung so looce too speake woords that smell of the pump (as men say), and one shall hold the one syde, and another the other, and that in stead of receyuing good, a man shall feele himself too bee stung by Satan. And in deede, of a very truthe when such words enter into our harts ere we be aware of them, they be stings that Satā giueth vsus in secret & vnespyed. Seing then that they be so, can it be sayd, that such a man is worthie too bee heard? Should wee not hate him rather as a deadly plague?
Yee see then that the thing which we hauehave to mark in the first place, is that our Lord hath giuen vsus tungs too make one another priuy of our myndes, and that is too the intent we should make them serue too the benefyte of our neyghbours, and therabouts ought wee to imploy them wholy. And the tung which is the meane too vtter our harts and mynds one too another, ought too guyde all the residew, as hauing the superioritie ouer them.Psal. 16. c. 9. & 57. b. 9. On the other syde, not without cause is it termed by the name of glorie, too shewe wherabouts wee ought too imploy it, and too what vse, namely too the honoring of God. Therfore if wee looked well vppon the order of nature, it ought to bee sufficiently printed in our harts, that our woords should bee necessarie, and too the furtherance of our neyghbours welfare and profit. The first poynt therfore which wee hauehave too beare in mynd, is that our Lord will hauehave all the partes of vsus too serue too dooing good, and specially our tung, so as the drift of all our talk bee too edify. As for example, one hath neede of Counsell, another of warning; another of rebuking, and another too be put in mynd of some thing, or else to be taught, bycause he is vtterly ignorant: and agein, it extendeth too all things in this present lyfe. Trew it is that the principall thing which wee hauehave too looke vntoo, is too teache the ignorant, and too shewe them the way of saluation. Besyds that, if any man misbehaue him selfe, so as he bee negligent and slothfull, he must bee spurred foreward by good exhortations: and if he bee vnruly, hee must bee shamed, (as much as lyeth in vsus,) that it may bring him backe tooo the seruis of God. Agein, a man must comfort such as are in heauinesse, and giuegive counsell too such as are in distresse, too the intent they fall not intoo despayre. Too bee short, wee must indeuer too hold backe the poore s…ules that should else go too destruction. And of all others that is the principall benefyte. But yit if wee see a poore man that is lyke too bee deceyued, wee must giuegive him some warning of it. And when we bee once come too that poynt, it is certein that wee shall giuegive our selues continually to the benefyte and behoof of our neyghbours, yea euen infinite wayes, as well in respect of the bodie as of the soule.
And let vsus see nowe whether wee hauehave not sufficient ground and matter too woorke these things vppon. Wee cannot go one step, but wee see how one hath neede too bee spurred, another too bee rebuked, the third too bee comforted, and another too bee taught. If wee hold our toungs at all this, and care nother for the bodyes nor for the soules of them that are linked too vsus, and with whom wee ought too be vnited as the fingers of a hand: is it not an open dispyzing of God, when wee imbace the naturall vse of our toung in such wyse? And therefore let vsus keepe vsus from marring of the thing that wee ought too set so much store by, namely the meane which wee hauehave too glorify God, by making confession of our fayth, and by calling vppon him, and also by seruing our neyghbours turnes after so manye sortes, as I hauehave shewed alredye. And so the first poynt which wee hauehave too marke in this streyne, is the lawfull vse whereuntoo God hath ordeyned our toungs, and how they ought too bee applyed wholly thereuntoo.
Now if wee ought too procure the furtherance of our neyghbo…rs saluation, and also their temporall benefyte and welfare: what a thing is it if wee seduce them by our disorder, and vtterly quenche and put away all feare of God in them? When wee serue Satan by our looce talk, when wee labour too deface all honestie, when wee moue men too a beastly lyfe: is not such defyling of our toungs an vtter peruerting of the order of nature? Then let vsus learne so too occupy our selues in good and necessarie talke, as wee eschew the defyling of our selues with wicked communicatiō, which are as baudes trickes of Satan, too corrupt such as were well dispozed too serue God. And so wee see that looke how manye looce speeches passe in the worlde, so many spirituall poysonings are there (as I sayde afore) too corrupt good manners. And although wee cannot be made to beleeue it: yit is it certein that it is proued sufficiently ynough, euē by experience. Howbeeit let vsus not bee as fooles that will not learne but by great harme: but rather let vsus yeeld too that which is told vsus by the holy Ghost.
And heereuppon wee may gather, that it is not too bee thought straunge, though the world bee now adayes giuen too all leaudnesse. For it seemeth too bee no euill at all too vse iesting and scoffing talke, insomuch that men would make a vertewe of it, and fynd no bones at all in it. Lykewyse wee see a great number of iesters and scoffers, whose drift is too put away all shame, that men myght let themselues at raundon, and become vtterly shamelesse. Wee see this too much in vse, and therefore no maruell though wee gather the frutes of that wicked and cursed licentiousnesse, which is too much suffered. And heereby wee see also, what is too bee thought of all wanton (and baudie songs, and of louemakings. If a young mayd vse (as it is vsed too commonly) too sing foolish songs of louelove: shee will bee made a whoore, euen before shee knowe what whooredome is. And so is shee (imboldened and) inhardned too all vnshamefastnesse, and the diuell getteth possession of hir before shee knowe what chastitie meaneth, and how horrible a thing it is to put foorth hirself too such leaudnesse, and too breake hir fayth and troth which shee shall hauehave plyghted, when shee comes too mariage. Before a mayd can bee able too discerne all this: shee shalbee vtterly mard aforehand, if shee acquaynt hirself with leaude songs. And it is wonder that this mischeef can not bee redressed. Whereby it appeereth, that Satan laboreth in that behalf, and streyneth himself too the vttermust, knowing that he hath vsus at a great aduauntage, if he may so sowe his cursed cockle, too corrupt our good manners. For surely if the diuell wrought not in it, wee myght more easly deale too dispatch and rid away all those ribawdries and filthinesse out of rememberance, which are as deadly plagues, as I hauehave sayd afore. But it is impossible. For though there were sorer punishment for it than there is: yit both wyues and maydes had leuer go too prizon, and too bee taken for harlots, than too correct that vyce, which is the corrupter of the whole world, and too brydle their cursed toungs, which serue for nothing but too infect all things with that filthinesse. Yit notwithstanding, wee shall hauehave the lesse excuce after such warning, and as for them that stop their eares, and wil needes harden their hartes ageinst the holy Ghost: they shalbee driuen too yeeld an account, not only for offending God so many wayes, but also for poysoning of folkes soules after a sort, which is a thing much more heynous and horrible, than if they had murthered their bodies. They that doo but poyson beastes, shalbee driuen out of the world, and they deserue it well. And what shalbee doone too them which not only slea the bodie with their poysons, but also make assault vppon the soule, and ceasse not too corrupt all goodnesse and all feare of God, yea and all honestie (as I sayd afore) by their leaude talke.
Yee see then that the thing which wee hauehave too remember in this streyne, is that in asmuch as God hath appoynted our toungs too such vse as wee hauehave heard, that is too wit, too the seruice of our neyghbours, and too the benefyting of them both in bodie and soule: wee must imploy them diligently thereuntoo. And therefore let vsus aboue all things keepe vsus from infecting of those that were inclined too serue God, and from thrusting them out of the way by casting foorth such speeches before them as may coole their goodnesse, & prouoke … too euill, yea and make them more licentious and negligent. For euill speech corrupteth good manners many wayes. There are some naughtipackes too bee seene, that are … …corners of God. And if they bee warned too hauehave any remorse of their dooings: …ush say they, God passeth much for this. Agein, othersome come not too such extremitie, but yit will they lessen their faultes, so as they shalbee but veniall sinnes with them. Othersome doo cloke all things: and all others generally will say, Tush, wee must not bee so carefull, God will not hauehave vsus too liue so sadly, for what a thing were that? It should not bee lawfull for vsus too laugh within a whyle. And their speaking after that manner, is too burie all feare of God by little and little. Yee see then that manie sortes of such folke, yea many mo than needeth, doo shew themselues too much: and they bee as manie recordes, that leaude woordes are poysons too murther mennes soules withall. And therefore let vsus stand vppon our garde in that behalf. And first of all (as I sayd) let eueryevery man beware that he speake chastely, and vse none other than honest speeche. And therewithall let vsus shun all them as diuels, which iest out the matter after that fashyon, notwithstanding that for their mirthes sake they bee welcome too vsus, and sometymes also fare well of free coste, (O, say wee,) He is a good fellowe, he will make all the companie merrye. Now whereas men are desyrous too hauehave such folke, too tickle their eares by casting foorth their iestes and daliances, and such other lyke things: let vsus learne too shet them out of our doores. For wee would not willingly hold vp our throte too a dagger, when wee sawe it drawen: nother would go seeke one too murther our bodies. And why then doo wee long sore too hauehave our soules murthered, which is much woorse? Wherefore let vsus eschew such folkes as can doo nothing but quenche and put out the feare of God in vsus, and make vsus shamelesse and hard harted▪ and bereeue vsus of all honestie, and shamefastnesse, for feare least God pay vsus the wages that wee deserue, for hauing acquayntance and familiaritie with such people: and therefore let vsus doo our indeuer that such plagues may not reigne among vsus. Bee not deceyued, (sayeth Saint Paule) speaking of such scoffers,1. Cor. 15. d. 33. which serue but too prouoke our lustes, too bereeue vsus of all remorse of conscience, too abate the feare of God in vsus, and too abuse vsus in such wyze, as sin may delyght vsus. Beware (sayeth he) that none of you bee deceyued by lying woordes, bycause it hath bin a common thing in all ages. And therfore let vsus put Saint Paules counsell in vre, and not onelyonly let eueryevery of vsus keepe good watch that he bee not surpryzed: but also let vsus hauehave a care too keepe other folkes from beeing corrupted after that fashyon. That is the thing which wee hauehave too remember heere.
And wee see what he sayeth, namely that wee bee weake ynough, yea and too weake: yea and so saped in euill, as is horrible too see: and therefore when wee couet too record still some newe lesson (of leaudnesse,) and are quickened and spurred vp by others, is it not as if a drunkard hauing well stuffed and filled himself alredy, euen till he bee redye too burst, should seeke still too prouoke his appetyte, that he myght drinke and lade in wyne newe agein? So then, is not eueryevery man sufficiently giuen too euill of himself, though there were no leaude songs nor vnthriftie talke at all? But when the diuell fyndeth any gap open, and can drawe vsus further too naughtinesse by his flatteries, so as he can harden vsus in it: I pray you doo wee not giuegive him the vpper hand of vsus, so as we be wholy at his pleasure, that he may driue vsus and drawe vsus whither he listeth?
Now hereuppon S. Paule addeth▪ that vvee must not greeue the spirit of God, wherwith vvee bee marked and sealed ageinst the day of our Redemption. Heere is yit one declaration more, which ought too touche vsus neere. Trew it is, that the things which hauehave bin spoken, ought well of good desert too bee throughly mynded. For what a thing is it for vsus too peruert the order of nature, by applying our tunges too the cleane contrarie, which God hath appoynted to his honour, and too the benefyte of our neyghbours? And agein, too bee giltie of infecting all men with our filthinesse, of peruerting those that were giuen too the seruing of God, and of prouoking those persons vntoo beastly vnshamefastnesse, that had some shame and honestie in them? Should not this moue vsus sufficiently, if wee were not tootoo blockish? But S. Paule telleth vsus of a thing that ought too scare vsus yit much more. Greeue not Gods Spirit (sayeth he.) And why? For wee bee marked with it (sayeth he) and it dwelleth in vsus, and sealeth the hope of our saluation in our hartes, and it is also the seede of lyfe, which wee hauehave too warrant vsus our euerlasting saluation. Now it is certeine that when wee take such libertie both too doo euill and too speake euill: it is a fyghting ageinst Gods spirit as much as in vsus lyeth, and a choking of the lyght which he hath kindled in vsus, & a taking of the brydle in our teeth too doo all naughtinesse. And that cannot bee doone but too his griefe. This is the thing which S. Paule intended too say heere.
Howbeeit let vsus marke first of all, that he speaketh heere after the common maner of the holy scripture. For wee knowe there are no passions in God. It is the propertie of men too bee sorie and greeued: God is vnchaungeable. Notwithstanding, bycause wee conceyue not the hyghnesse which is in him, and that his maiestie is so infinite as wee cannot come neere it: therfore vseth he that similitude, euen for our rudenesse sake. Therfore when as it is sayd, that God is prouokod too wrath, it is not for that there is any moodinesse in him: but too make vsus hate the euil, bycause we fyght agenist God in transgressing his lawe, and that is all one as if wee would prouoke him too anger through our spytefulnesse. The scripture then meaneth not too make God subiect too any chaunge, when it sayth, that he is angrie or sorie: but it leadeth vsus too our owne dooings, too the intent that our vyces should displease vsus so much the more, and that we should euen abhorre them. And heere Saint Paule speaketh not only of Gods anger, but also sayth, that the holy Ghoste is sorie or greeued. And why? Wee bee not Gods children (as he speaketh of it in the Epistle too the Romanes,)Rom. 8. b. …. except his holy Ghoste dwell in vsus. For are wee woorthie by nature, too bee mustered in such aray as too bee fellowes with the Angells? wee (I say) which are but rottennesse, and moreouer cursed in Adam, and chyldren of wrath? Howbeeit, God by his holy spirit calleth vsus too this inestimable honour and dignitie of beeing his children, so as wee may call vponupon him as our father, and hauehave familiar resort vntoo him.Rom. 8. c. 15. & Gala. 4. a. 5. That therfore is doone by the holy Ghoste: and for the same cause is he called the spirit of adoption: For the inheritance of heauen belongeth not too vsus, but in respect that wee bee Gods children. Wee bee not so of our selues and by nature, as I told you: and therfore it followeth that it commeth of Gods freebestowed goodnesse. Now hee sealeth vp all this in our harts by his holy Ghoste: and that is the cause why it is sayd, that wee hauehave a mortall bodie. The thing that is ment heerby, is not only our feete, hands, skin, bone, and flesh: but that there is a lump of corruption in vsus by reason of the dwelling of sin in vsus, which bringeth nothing but death. For hauehave wee liued any tyme? wee go away intoo dust and cindre, and there is not that man which seeth not himself alredye beeseeged with a hundred deaths, considering the diseases and infirmities wheruntoo wee bee subiect. Agein, age makes vsus to stoope, so as we perceyue a long whyle aforehand how we be summoned too come too our graue. Seeing then that wee perceyue such a number of deathes all at once toogither in our bodies, and a much greate dungeon in our soules: how should wee hope that God would take vsus vp intoo his kingdome? But Saint Paule sayth, that the spirit is lyfe. If there bee but one grayne or one spark of the spirit of our Lord Iesus Christ in vsus: let vsus assure our selues that wee shalbe parttakers of his glorie: for it is sayd, that he is raysed agein from the dead, and hath gotten the vpper hand of it by his holy spirit. After that maner are wee quickened with him, wayting till wee bee deliuered from all the corruptible nature that compasseth vsus about. And now S. Paule sayeth, that wee bee sealed by the holy Ghost,2. Cor. 1. d. 22. as is sayd of it, in the first chapter heertoofore, and in other places besyde, as in the second to the Corinthians. And this similitude is very fit. For although Gods promises ought to be of sufficient authority, & to hauehave ful credit with vsus of thēselues: yit notwithstanding, such is our misbeeleef, that wee cannot giuegive credit too them, nor rest vppon them, till they bee confirmed, and warranted vntoo vsus, so as wee may say, behold, it is euen God himself that speaketh. But what for that? On the one syde we be forepossessed with distrust: & on the other syde we be alwayes doubtfull and misgiuing, and cannot rest vponupon the things that are told vsus in Gods name. By reason wherof his promises are alwayes vnauaylable, vntill he print thē in our harts, which thing he dooeth by his holie Ghost. For as a peece of euidence is made authentical by setting too of the seale: so God warranteth his promises of our saluation in our harts, by signing and sealing of them there with his holy spirit. That then is the cause why it is so often sayd, that Gods spirit sealeth vp the inheritance of our saluation in our harts. And for the same cause also is he named the earnest penny, in another place.2. Cor. 1. d. 22. For when a bargain is made, although there bee no present payment seene, yit if an earnest penny bee giuen, the bargayne is concluded, and the chapman cannot say afterward, tush, I repent mee of my bargayne, and I will…forsake it: nother can the other say, I fynde my selfe deceyued and ouerseene, and therfore I will rather keepe my wares styll: but eche of them is bound, the one too make the money, and the other too deliuer his wares. Euen so is it sayd, that Gods spirit is the earnest penny of the lyfe of our soules. And why? For (as I sayd) God byndeth himself vntoo vsus in respect of our infirmitie, whertoo wee bee too much inclyned. In deede it is not for that he oweth vsus any thing: but wee hauehave so much the more cause too magnifye his goodnesse, in that he is so free harted as to bynd himselfe willingly vntoo vsus, wheras he oweth vsus not any thing, and vou…safeth too assure vsus of it, bycause he seeth vsus so feeble and weake. Lyke as when hee sweareth: it is not for that he on his owne part needeth too adde any thing too his single woord: for he himselfe is the truth, and the thing that commeth of him must not bee doubted of. It myght seeme therefore that the othe which he maketh is superfluous, and that he dooth but abuse his owne name. (No:) but he dooeth it bycause he seeth vsus weake, and that wee hauehave neede too bee hild vp many wayes, and specially bycause he seeth vsus giuen too misbeliefe, and therefore that he must bee fayne too remedie it. So then, whensoeuer God sweareth, therin he stoopeth vntoo vsus for pitie of our wretchednesse: and the sealing and ratifying of his promyses in vsus by his holy spirit, is euen bycause it is impossible that wee of our selues should beleeue him, and wee could not bee sure of the thinges that he promiseth vsus, to call vppon him, and too ouercome all the temptations of the world, vnlesse he vsed that meane. And therefore wee hauehave so much the more neede too beare this text in mynd, where S. Paule sayth, that the holy Ghost sealeth in our hartes.
And hereupon wee may gather a good lesson to humble vsus withal: namely, that wee shall neuer yeeld God the chiefe honour that he requyreth at our handes, except he himself drawe vsus too it, and giuegive vsus grace too discharge it whithall. The thing that he requyreth aboue all other, is, that his woord hauehave all authoritie ouer vsus, and that wee yeeld it such reuerence, as he may no sooner speake, but wee shall by and by answer, Amen: that is too say, as there may bee a ryght (or full) accord betwixt them. That is the obedience of fayth, which is the cheef sacrifyze that God requyreth. But contrariwyse, on our part there is nothing but replying ageinst Gods woord, wee bee full of lustes: and although wee seeme not too make vtter resistance ageinst him, and too play the mad bedlems as many doo: yit are wee giuen to a number of wicked imaginations, as we see, insomuch that some are as it were frantike, specially when a man speakes too them of God, for then will they hauehave their mouth open too spew out their blasphemies, and too enter into disputation and debate, shewing themselues vtterly vnwilling too receyue any good doctrine. And othersome fall not intoo such furie and outrage, but yit they let slip whatsoeuer is sayd too them, & looke what comes in at the one eare, goes out agein at the other. Howsoeuer the cace stand, nother the one nor the other doo giuegive glory vntoo God in receyuing his woord with such humilitie as they ought too doo. Therefore let vsus acknowledge our owne naughtinesse, and bee sorie for it, seeyng wee prouoke Gods displeasure, in not yeelding him the honour of thinking him too bee soothfast and trew. In deede wee wil not say in open speeche, that his word is vayne, wee will not accuze him of leasing and deceyt: but yit dooth he protest that wee doo him as much wrong as that commes too, if wee credit not his sayings? How long will this people slaunder mee (sayeth he,) and rob mee of myne honour?Num. 14. b. 11. It is a complaynt which he maketh there by Moyses, and in many other places of the scripture. And surely if Saint Iohns saying bee trew,Iohn. 3. d. 33. namely, that when wee beleeue God, we set to our seales that he is trew, that is too say, wee vphold him to be faythfull: then contrariwyse, if we hauehave not that sure groundwoorke in our fayth, & that Gods word win not so much at our handes as too make vsus too betake our selues wholly vntoo it without any gaynsaying: it is all one as if wee counted God a lyer, insomuch that although wee would hate and abhorre too vtter any such blasphemie, yit dooth he complaine that wee hauehave doone him the like reproch, and not without cause. And therfore wee see what frowardnesse there is in our nature, vntill God remedie it.
Furthermore wheras he sayeth, that the holy Ghoste sealeth his promises after that fashyon in our harts: let vsus vnderstand that that is bycause he hath voutsafed too chooze vsus. Wee hauehave seene alredy heertoofore how he calleth vsus too him, and inlyghteneth vsus with the truthe of his Gospell, according too his choozing of vsus before wee were borne, yea and before the making of the world. Therfore let vsus vnderstand that Gods spirit is a speciall gift, which is not bestowed vppon all men indifferently, but is reserued as a treasure for his children whom he hath chozen. And for that cause wee ought too beare well in mynd the foretouched tytle, that he is the spirit of adoption. Also the vnbeleef which is throughout the whole worlde,Rom. 8. c. 15. giueth an euident proof of our Gods goodnesse, in that it hath pleazed him too ingraue his woord in our harts. For it is certeyne that in all such as fyght ageinst God, or which bee as brute beasts, and so carelesse that his woord dooth no whit moue them: wee see what wee bee of nature, and what wee should bee still, if our Lord for his mercies sake had not touched vsus with his holy spirit. And so yee see what wee hauehave too beare in mynd. Wherfore whensoeuer the doctrine of our saluation is talked of, let vsus beeware that wee presume not any thing vppon our owne wit and policie: but let vsus bee small and lowely, that our Lord may inlyghten vsus by his his holie spirit. And when wee perceyue that wee hauehave receyued such grace alredy: let vsus not burye it, but let vsus giuegive the prayse of it too him that deserueth it. And on the contrarie part, sith wee feele many perplexities, douts, and vnquietnesse, and that sometymes we bee tossed lyke a ship that is redie too topple ouer, and too be sunk in the bottom of the the sea: sith we perceyue our selues too bee so trubbled: let vsus consider our owne fraylty, that although wee hauehave bin trayned vp in Gods woord, yit will there bee no stedfastnesse in our harts, except God woork it there: and theruppon let vsus runne too the remedy, and pray God too keepe the seede that he hath sowen in vsus from choking, and the assurednesse of our heritage from euer wearing out: that although Satan streyne him self too the vttermoste, too destroy that which God hath put intoo vsus, yit it may bee strengthened in vsus from day to day, as is needfull for vsus. And so yee see what wee hauehave to beare in mynd in this that Saint Paule sayeth, that wee be sealed and marked by Gods spirit.
And now he warneth vsus, that it is too heynous a cryme too greeue him, yea & to intollerable a trecherie. I hauehave told you alredy, that this similitude intendeth not to impute any excessiue passiō to Gods spirit: but too put vsus too shame, and too make the heare too stand vp vponupon our heads. Behold (sayeth Saint Paule), Gods spirit hath chozen his dwelling place in vsus,1. Cor. 3. d. 17. & 6. d. 19. & 2. Cor. 6. d. 16. (according as it is sayd in another place, that not only our soules, but also our bodyes are the temples of the holy Ghoste) and he is glad too bee in vsus, and too abyde there, and too make it his continuall home: nowe then if wee fall too spyting of him, as though wee mynded too chace him and banish him from vsus, is it not too diuelish a dealing? And yit notwithstanding, when wee seeke allurements of vnthriftinesse, when wee take leaue too corrupt our selues by leaud and loose talk, and when wee labour too hauehave other naughtie meanes too turne vsus awaye from the feare of God, and too bring our consciences asleepe: it is all one as if wee indeuered of set purpose too chace away and too banish Gods spirit from vsus, and too say, wee will hauehave no more acquayntance with him. Must wee not needs be moste miserable and cursed creatures, when wee ouershoote our selues so farre? That then is the thyng that S. Paule had an eye vntounto.
Therefore whensoeuer wee bee tempted vntoo euill, and the diuell laboreth to make vsus take pleasure in it, that all remorse of conscience maye bee put away: let vsus call too mynd the things that are spoken heere, and say: How now? Thou reioycest: And wherin? In the seruing of Satan: and on the other syde thou lettest him go that is thy lyfe, the earnestpenny of thy saluation, and the foundation of the felicitie which hath bin purchaced so deerly for thee by our Lord Iesus Christ. Let vsus thinke aduyzedly vponupon this. And moreouer it is certein, that eueryevery faythfull man ought too feele the thing that is declared heere. For if our Lord hauehave touched vsus, and giuen vsus the sealing that is spoken of heere: it will bee a greef vntoo vsus when wee bee tempted vntoo …uill. And so the thing that holdeth vsus in awe, is the spirit which watcheth and wardeth too withstand the enemie. And if wee go aboue too kill this benefyte, that is too say, this inwoorking that God giueth vsus, it is al one as if wee greeued the holy Ghost. This then is a most certein experience, and such a one as sheweth vsus that the thing which the holy Ghost hath put intoo vsus, is vtterly ageinst all euill, and that there must needes bee a battell and stryfe betwixt them, insomnch that none of Gods children can sin, but he shall by and by bee stirred vp too feare, and too say in himself, Alas, where shall I become? In what plyght hauehave I brought my self? what shall I doo?…. Cor. 7. c. 10. 11. And that is the sorrow that Saint Paule speaketh of, which wee must not shun. But if wee neuerthelesse go on still in euill: it is all one as if wee tooke pleasure in dryuing and chacing away of Gods spirit. The Prophet Esay sayeth, wee prouoke Gods spirit too bitternesse,Esay. 63 c. 10. when wee refuze the good doctrine that he setteth afore vsus. But S. Paule passeth yit further heere. For in deede it is a kynd of prouoking God too wrath, when wee yeeld not too his doctrine, which is a sure record of the care which he hath of our saluation, and of the louelove that he beareth vsus. But wee must come too the considering of eueryevery of vsus by himself. God hath voutsafed to ingraue the beleefe of his Gospell in my hart, too the intent I should bee sure of my saluation. And how dooth he that: By voutsafing to chooze mee for his house, and too dwell in mee by his holy spirit. Now then if I blot out this grace: it is asmuch as if I ment to estraunge my self from God wilifully, And therefore let vsus beware of such extemitie, and let vsus hold our selues in awe.
And therewithall let vsus marke also how Saint Paule addeth for the last woord, that Gods sealing and marking of vsus after that manner by his holy Ghost, is ageinst the day of our redemption. Hereby he sheweth vsus, that if wee will well ouercome Satans allurementes, and the lustes of our flesh, and all the temptations of the world: wee must alwayes mynd the heauenly lyfe that is promysed vsus, and wheruntoo wee ought too trauell. Now then, Gods spirit (sayth S. Paule) is not giuen vsus too bee withdrawen from vsus agein when wee hauehave once felt his grace and power: but too the intent that the seale and print of him should abyde with vsus euen vntoo the day of our redemption: that is too say, tyll wee bee delyuered from this transitorie lyfe, and from all the miseries wherwith wee bee beseeged. Now therfore seeyng that God hath giuen vsus his holy spirit, too guyde and gouerne vsus both in lyfe and death, and with intent that wee should neuer bee depryued and destitute of him: Let vsus looke well too it, that he may alwayes keepe the possession that he hath taken in vsus, and wee also inioy that inestimable benefite of his continuing with vsus for euer, that he may guide vsus, and hold vsus alwayes vp by strong hand, duryng all the course of our life. The cause then why Saint Paule doth purposely call vsus backe too the last day, is too make vsus lyue soberly, knowing that like as wee hauehave neede too bee guided throughout by the power of Gods spirit, so if wee bee depriued of it, and estraunged from hym, and left destitute of his grace: it is too bee feared, that wee shall fall intoo a reprobate mynd.
As touching the day of our redemption, S. Paule by that woord vnderstoode the happinesse which wee hope for, and which is hidden from vsus as yit. It is trew that wee were redeemed in the person of our Lord Iesus Christ: but wee inioy not that benefyte as yit. Wee may well say, Iesus Christ is our Redeemer, that is to say, he hath deliuered vsus, and set vsus free from the bondage and subiection of death & sinne wherin wee were, by paying our raunsome, and by makyng our attonement. Ye see then,Iohn. 19. c. 30. that wee bee redeemed as in respect of the sonne of God: for he hath performed all that was requisite for our deliuerance and saluation, as he hym selfe auoweth with his own mouth. But when wee come too our selues, wee fynde not thys redemption there. And for that cause, as well in thys place, as in the eyght too the Romanes, Saint Paule sayth, that the last day, wherin Iesus Christ will appeere, is the day of our saluatio… and deliueraunce. And why? Wee see what a number of miseries beset vsus round about: yea wee carye them with vsus, and they bee inclozed in our bodyes and in our soules. It behoueth vsus therfore too seeke a better state, than that which we see heere.Rom▪ 8. c. 24. And for the same cause is it sayd, that our saluation lyeth in hope, and that wee hope not for the thing that wee see: but that God intendeth too feede our hope. And wheras he sheweth not the things too our eyes which he promiseth, and which it behoueth vsus too wayt for at his hand: it is too the end that although wee bee forlorne wretches in this world, yit wee should not ceasse too reioyce in him, knowing that wee shal not bee disappoynted in wayting for the heritage which he hath purchaced for vsus. And so yee see what is ment by the woord Redemption which is set downe heere. Wherefore let vsus learne too bee so armed and fenced with Gods spirit, too fyght ageinst all Satans temptations, as he may neuer fynde vsus vnprouided, nor out of order. And that that may bee doone, let vsus pray God so too ingraue his truth in vsus by the same spirit, as wee may get victorie by it, and ouercome all that is ageinst our saluation, and that we continuing in our vocation that God calleth vsus too, may take corage and bee pacient vntyll our Lord Iesus Christ (who is our lyfe) doo appeare, that our lyfe and our full happinesse may also bee manifested in him at his comming.
And now let vsus fall downe before the maiestie of our good God, with acknowledgment of our faults, praying him too take vsus too mercy, and not too impute the great number of our sinnes vntoo vsus, whereby wee bee blame woorthy before him, but rather too beare with our infirmities, and too clenze vsus of them from day too day, that wee may growe and increace in all his gracious gif…es, and put farre from vsus all euill that may seduce vsus and thrust vsus out of the way, and that by that meane wee may draw neerer and neerer vntoo him, vntyll wee bee fully knit vntoo him at the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ. That it may please him too graunt this grace, not onelyonly too vsus, but also too all people and Nations of the earth. &c.