Sermons on Ephesians, Sermons · Sermon 33
The .xxxiii. Sermon, which is the thirteenth vppon the fourth Chapter, and the first vppon the fifth Chapter.
31. Let all bitternesse, and hastinesse, and wrath, and roring, and iniurie bee put from you, with all spytefulnesse.
32. And bee yee gentle one too another, and kynd harted, forgiuing one another, euen as God though Christ forgaue you.
The fifth Chapter.
1. Bee yee therfore folowers of God, as deere children.
2. And vvalke in louelove, euen as Christ loued vsus, and gaue himselfe for vsus an offering and sacrifice vntounto God, for a sent of good sauour.
WEe knowe that all Gods children not only should bee peaceable themselues, but also procure peace too the vttermost of their power: and make attonement whereas was disagreement and stryfe, forasmuch as it is the marke that our Lorde Iesus Christ hath giuen vsus. Now if we ought too reconcyle those betweene whom there was any secret grudge: much more ought wee too absteyne from all mouing of dedate. For what authoritie or meanes shall wee hauehave too bring them toogither which are greeued one at another, and too set them at brotherly attonement, or too asswage their choler, when they bee moued with some ouer vehement passion: if wee our selues bee full of stryfe and trubble, and giuen to crying, roring and storming? So then, not without cause dooth Saint Paule declare, that all bitternesse, vvith testinesse, and anger, and cursed speaking, ought too bee put avvay from the faythfull, euen vvith al Spytfulnesse. For he setteth downe spytefulnesse heere, as the roote that yeeldeth the frutes which he speaketh of. And by that woord he meaneth such a Churlishnesse as maketh eueryevery man too bee giuen too himself, and too drawe alone without regard of others. For it cannot bee but that the man which loueth himself ouer much, must needes disdeyne his neyghbours, and so shake them of, as no gentlenesse can bee gotten at his hand. Then if wee intend too auoyde stryfe and quarelling, wee must begin at this poynt of putting away churlishnesse, and considering that God hath linked vsus toogither, indeuer eueryevery man too maynteyne peace and freendship, & regard those whom God hath so inhonored as too make them his children, or in leastwyze created after his owne image. That is for the first poynt.
Now out of this Spytefulnesse springeth Bitternesse, which is, when wee bee wayward and easye too bee moued, and there reigneth such a scornfulnesse in vsus, as we thinke all the world to be our vnderlings, and that other folkes are nothing in respect of vsus. When wee bee puffed vp with such pryde, it cannot bee but that wee must needes bee bitter, and by and by bee out of pacience at the stirring of eueryevery strawe, if it bee too our mislyking, and take all things in yll part, and seeke occasions of vnquietnesse. According as wee see a great number, which are not contented with chafing when any wrong is doone too themselues: but although the matter touch them not, doo seeme too bee set as spyes too marke if there bee any thing too checke at. In deede if a man speake but one word that mislykes them, they wil not in any wyse be quyeted, but are still fynding fault with eueryevery thing. And howsoeuer the world go, they must needes bee medling where they hauehave nothing too doo: for they bee of so froward a nature, that they will bee quarelling for the furthest straunger in the world. But if the matter concerne themselues: though a man labour neuer so much too please them, and too doo the thing that may content them: yit will they euer mislyke of somewhat: and if a man aske them the reason why, there is none other too bee found but their owne cankerde stomacke, bycause they hauehave conceyued a rancour, and are puffed vp with pryde too esteeme their owne selfwill with disdeyne of others. Wee see then that Saint Pa…le hath shewed vsus heere the trew remedies too hold our selues in awe, that wee may liue peaceably, and keepe our selues from entering intoo quarels and braules. A Phisition will not only bid a man beware of the feuer or any other disease: but he will also consider wheretoo he is inclined, and see what things may bee ageinst him, and thereuppon say vntoo him, beware of such a thing, for surely yee cannot but fall into such a sicknesse or such an inconuenience, if you take not heed too your self. Now wee would bee heedie ynough too keepe the orders that are prescribed vsus for the health of our bodies: but when it comes too the soule, eueryevery of vsus is negligent: whereby wee shewe that wee make none account of our saluation: and that is, bycause we consider not that on the one syde the diuell laboreth too seduce vsus, and wee on the other syde are so frayle, as wee neuer cease too giuegive our selues too euill, except our Lord hauehave armed and fenced vsus with his woord. So much the more therefore dooth it stand vsus on hand, too marke the order that is set downe heere: which is, that too liue quietly toogither, and too keepe our selues from contention and stryfe: first, we must not bee blynded with excessiue louelove of our selues, but rather indeuer too rid away all pryde, that wee may make account of our neyghbours, and liue meekely with them: for that will restreyne vsus from being so bitter and testie in taking all things in ill part.
And hereupon S. Paul telleth vsus, that when we be so purged within, both of spytefulnesse & of bitternesse: we must absteyne from Hastinesse, & from wrath, and from roring. For here he setteth downe the suddein heats of choler wherthrough men ouershoote themselues ere they bee aware of it, and afterward fall intoo rages that cannot bee stayed. For this cause it behoueth vsus too bee mortifyed, for then will it bee easie too alay the heate yea and euen too quenche it. But when wee bee so inflamed with wrath, all must needs bee full of thundering, and there wilbee no measure of our anger. Yee see then that the thing in effect which wee hauehave too marke here, is that forasmuch as Gods children ought too liue in peace and concord: they must, too the vttermoste of their power brydle all their passions, yea and consider what commeth of wrath and anger, namely that fyre is kindled, open warre preclaymed, many woords escape which a man would wish in agein, and finally therof springeth incurable mischeef. Now then if wee looke well whertoo all our moodinesse leadeth vsus, or rather earyeth vsus away: namely that the diuell taketh possession of vsus, and holdeth vsus in the the stocks, and that wee hauehave nother reason nor stay of our selues when we be so farre out of pacience: certesse we would stand vponupon our gard, & not giuegive place to the diuel, as hath bin declared afore. Howbeeit, that we may auoyd stryfe & debate, let vsus learne to clenze our hartes of bitternesse and testinesse. And too bring that too passe, let vsus learne too esteeme well of those that are linked vntoo vsus, and vntoo whom also we be bound. Thus yee see in effect how wee ought too put this text in vre.
And forasmuch as it is a thing as hard to bee kept as any, & a thing that dooth greatly hinder vsus: therfore Saint Paule addeth, that it behoueth vsus too bee myld, gentle, and courteous one too another. Heere he setteth downe the contraries too the bitternesse and spytefulnesse that he spake of. And he bringeth vsus backe too this principle, that in asmuch as wee bee men, God hath created vsus after his owne image, and that inasmuch as he hath called vsus too the beleef of his Gospell, therby he hath marked vsus new agein, and there wee behold his image, which ought too moue vsus too the Gentlenesse wherof he speaketh. Therfore let vsus mark well that we cannot despyze the least that is, without dishonoring God. For (as I told you afore) all men are made after his image. Now were it tollerable that an earthly woorme should esteeme it self so much, and exalt it self so farre as too set lyght by his maker? Let vsus make no excuce in this behalf, for all that wee can alledge will stand vsus in no sted. And (as I sayd) seeing that God hath inhonored men so hyghly as too giuegive them so excellent a nature: it is good reason that wee should yeeld honour and reuerence too his maiestie, and not tread them vnderunder foote by whom he representeth him self vntoo vsus. Agein, if a man consider him self well, shall he not see his owne nature as it were in a glasse, in all his neyghbours? (Yis:) For the greatest personages in the worlde, cannot say that they bee made of any otheer stuffe, than the rest of Adams children are. Seeing it is so then, what cause hauehave we too bee so proud as too disdeyne those that are lyke vsus, & are alyed too vsus by such a kinred as cannot be worne out? Howbeit, there is yit a more peculiar reason as in respect of the faithfull. For in them God hath ingraued his image new agein, which was as good as defaced by Adams sinne. Then sith it is so, let vsus learne too bee gentle and courteous one too another, and not too bee so churlish, as no man may hauehave accesse too vsus, nor yit so straunge and scornefull, as too separate our selues from the common aray and company of other men. This is the thing that S. Paule ment by the gentlenesse or courtesie that he spake of.
Now hereuppon he addeth, Mercifulnesse. Let vsus (sayeth he) hauehave compassion one of another. And this compassion stretcheth very farre, and is as it were the welspring that moueth vsus too gentlenesse. Wee will alwayes graunt that a myld spirit is a singular vertue, and one without the which wee cannot continew in the world. And how may it bee mainteyned among vsus? The onelyonly meane is this compassion, that is too say, (the disposition of mynd which causeth vsus too thinke) that when wee see any despyzed person, yit is he our neyghbour, that is too say, our owne fleshe and bone. Yea, but yit is he dispyzed, nother hath he any thing too bee esteemed for. Yit notwithstanding, the myseryes that are in him, may also fal vppon mee. Then if wee consider that: surely our hartes will yirne too see the man that is brought too so great an afterdeale in respect of others: and whether he be weake of body, or hauehave some infirmitie of mynd, it will greeue vsus and touch vsus with pitie too rew his cace. And so there would bee no gentlenesse in vsus, if it were not for this compassion. Now then, put the cace there bee a poore man that is sore diseased, or that droopeth and draggeth his winges vppon the ground: should hee bee hild scorne of for that? (No:) but contrariwyse, if wee were not vtterly mercilesse lyke wyld beastes:Phil. 2. a. 1. & Coloss. 3. b. 12. surely the very same ought to moue our bowells (as the scripture teacheth vsus:) and too inclyne vsus vntoo pitie, at leastwyse if wee did our dewtie. Agein, if there bee any impediment of wit or mynd: (as for example, some sillie soule hath much adoo too vnderstand one saying among a hundred, yea he is not able too discerne whyte from blacke:) if I hauehave not compassion of him, what letteth me to do it, but myne owne crueltie, which maketh mee too forget common kyndnesse wherby God knitteh vsus all toogither? Yee see then, that if wee hauehave any droppe of pitie, too keepe vsus from reiecting them that are alyed vntoo vsus, and also from disdeyning them in whom there is any cause of compassion and merciemercy: wee shall not fayle too bee gentle and courteous towardes our neyghbours in all caces and at all tymes. To bee short, lyke as the myseries which God knoweth too bee in vsus, do moue him too bee mercifull towardes vsus: so the myseries that are in our neyghbours, ought to be as spurres too prick vsus and prouoke vsus to be pitifull vntoo them. Yea and there is yit more: that euen their vyces which inflame vsus too choler and anger, ought too minister occasion vntoo vsus too pitie our neyghbours. I see some▪ man that hath doone mee wrong: not it is the diuell that hath dryuen him therunto, & the wretched man dooth but vndoo himself, for he prouoketh God ageinst him. Now then, if there were no more in mee but the common nature wheruntoo God hath knit vsus all: ought I not too bee sorie at the hart, when I see a soule that is beguyled by Satans … go too destruction? Yis verily. Therefore let none of the wrongs carie vsus away which are doone vntoo vsus, nother let vsus bee so farre prouoked, as not too pitie those that doo amisse, namely, bycause they bee blynded by Satan, and prouoke Gods wrath, and fight ageinst their owne saluation. Behold then, the very remedy which wee hauehave too hold vsus vntoo and too keepe,Phil. 2. a. 1. & … Colos. 3 b. 12. is, that too bee gentle, wee must bee pitifull and hauehave compassion, as is shewed in the foresayd textes. For there is none of vsus but he would gladly be borne withall: and without that, we could not tell how too lyue one day in the world. The perfectest man that is hath yit some infirmitie, insomuch that if men should deale altoogither rigorously with him, he should bee disdeyned, yea and as good as vtterly disgraced and defaced. Nay further, where is that man too be found which hath not many infirmities in him, and would not fayne bee greatly borne withall, (as neede requireth) and that men should not shake him of, though he hauehave some vyces that deserue their withdrawing of themselues from him? Now if wee woulde so fayne bee borne withall our selues: ought not wee also too pitie others? And soothly when wee see a man hath some blemishe, ought wee not too thinke, I am subiect too the same? verily when I hauehave sifted all things throughly, I shall fynde other things in my selfe, that deserue more iustly too bee condemned: and yit would I fayne bee borne withall, though I were neuer so much conuicted. Therfore lyke as wee would that other men should pardon vsus: so let vsus learne too pitie other men, for they bee no more Angels than wee bee. That then is the thing which S. Paule ment too bring vsus too.
And thereuppon he concludeth, that vvee should forgiue one another. For if compassion go not alwayes afore, surely wee will not let a pinnes poynt go without examination and rigorous sifting of it, and without vnmeasurable displeasure, as experience sheweth in very deede to much. Therfore a body should not stirre a strawe, but wee would bee out of pacience at it. And why? Bycause there is no pitie in vsus. But if wee bee touched with mercy, surely wee will easly forgiue, and let many things slip and passe (vnseene): and moreouer wee wil not bee …yghtly moued, but there will bee a brydle too hold vsus backe, and wee will not refuze too admit them alwayes too freendship, which hauehave so offended. That therefore is the order which Saint Paule keepeth too bring vsus too charitie, and too maynteyne vsus in it: for it is the whole summe of this Lesson. Too bee Gods children (say I), we must louelove one another, & be knit toogither in good agreement, that peace may bee maynteyned among vsus. And how is that possible too bee? For eueryevery man is too much medded too himself. Agein, their myndes are as farre differing as may bee. Their manners and conditions also are differing. Too bee short, wee hauehave infinite causes too put vsus away, and too cut vsus of from all company. And surely if eueryevery man let himselfe looce, Charitie shall neuer take place, but bee banished farre from vsus. What is too bee doone then? Wee must first rid away all scornfulnesse and pryde (as is sayd afore) and afterward bee clenzed from bitternesse and frowardnesse, so as wee fall not too bee cholerike and testie, but eueryevery man brydle himself and subdew his owne affections. But this cannot bee doone, except wee bee gentle and kynd harted, namely bycause wee bee creatures fashyoned after the image of God, and knit togither with an vnseperable bond. Yit would not all this suffize, vntyll wee hauehave learned too knowe our owne infirmities, and that eueryevery of vsus bee angrie with himself, bycause he seeth that he hath neede too bee quickned vp, and that there bee many vyces in himself of the same sort that are in his neyghbours: and that therefore wee hauehave neede of this bond too hold vsus fast togither: which will then bee doone, when wee bee mercifull and pitifull. Now if common courtesie ought too moue vsus too succour such as are in necessitie: it ought also too bee of force too reconcyle vsus.Luke. 6. c. 36. For when our Lord Iesus exhorteth vsus too bee merciful: it is not only too the intent wee should releeue the hungry and thirsty with meat and drinke, or help vp a man agein that is falne in decay, or that wee should succour eueryevery man according too our owne abilitie, and the parties neede: our Lord Iesus intendeth not that alone. Trew it is that all things are comprehended therein: but he will hauehave vsus specially too shewe merciemercy, in forgiuing the faultes that are committed, and not too bee so extreme as too shake of those vtterly which are not altoogither too bee commended, or in whom wee spye many vyces. In deede wee ought not too flatter one another: for trew freendship will not beare that, bycause it would bee but a foading of vsus too our owne destruction. If a man bee a freend too another, and suffer him to ouer come himself with meate and drinke, so as in the end he killeth himself: is it too be sayd, that his flattering of him after that manner, and his foading of all his foolish appetytes, is freendship? (No:) So then, if wee see a poore man at the poynt too throw himself headlong intoo destruction, wee doo well shew our selues too bee rather traytors than freendes too him, if wee indeuer not too plucke him backe.
The compassion therefore whereuntoo our Lord Iesus exhorteth vsus, is not a rocking of vsus asleep in our infirmities through flatterie: but a holding of our selues in measure, and a tempering of our rigour in such wyse, as oyle may alwayes bee mingled with our vineger, as they say. That is in effett the thing whertoo Saint Paule ment too bring vsus. For although eueryevery man doo his best too bee pitiful, so as he may shew no ouer greate rigour towards his neyghbours: yit is it as contrarie too our nature as any thing can bee. For (as I hauehave sayd alredye) this selfloue of ours dooth so blynd vsus, that wee make the least scapes in the world, too bee heynous sinnes and offences vnpardonable. By meanes wherof if any man anger vsus, too our seeming his fault ought not in any wyse too bee forgiuen. So then, mercifulnesse shall neuer bee found in men, vnlesse they fyght it out too the vttermost, (ageinst their owne affections.) As for single teaching, it wil not boote in that behalf. Wee hauehave this (Churlishnesse) so deeply rooted in our harts, that if wee bee told of our dewtie, it dooth but half moue vsus. For this cause Saint Paule setteth Gods example afore vsus heere, who hath forgiuen vsus in his only sonne. And immediatly therunto he addeth our Lord Iesus Christe, who spared not him self for our redemption and saluation. The thing then that can breake all hardnesse in vsus, the thing that can mortifye all our excessiue passions, the thing that can reclayme all our crueltie, pull downe all our pryde and loftinesse, and sweeten all our bitternesse, is to hauehave an eye too Gods behauing of himselfe towardes vsus.Iohn. 3. b. 16. Nowe he hath loued the world so well, that he hath giuen his only sonne too death for our sakes. If we compare our selues with God, what a distance is there betwixt vsus? So then, the greatest wrongs that wee can possibly imagin (too bee doone vntoo vsus:) are nothing in comparison of the least fault that wee commit ageinst God. For a man cannot deuyze to break Gods will neuer so little, but the same is an incountering of his souerein dominion, a violating of his maiestie, and an ouerthrowing of his ryghtuousnesse: which are thinges too precious (too bee abuzed. What lyke thing is too bee found in man? can it bee sayd, that if one hauehave misuzed vsus, it ought too bee esteemed as if a man had infringed Gods ryghtuousnesse? Now then wee hauehave iust cause too condemne our selues, vntill wee serue God as wee ought too doo. And who dooeth that? Wee bee enemyes too him aforehand, euen from our moothers womb: and as wee growe in age, so growe wee continually without ceassing in naughtinesse, in all sinfulnesse, and in all vnryghtuousnesse. And yit for all that, God hath not forborne too looke mercifully vppon vsus: insomuch that the more wretched we were, the more hath he vttered his infinite merciemercy, in sending vsus his only sonne. Now if wee consider this: ought not all pryde too bee layd downe, all bitternesse asswaged, all rebelliousenesse tamed, all spytefulnesse rid out of our harts, and all vntruthe put away? Yis verily. What is the cause then that wee bee so wayward, and that when heate hath once caryed vsus away, wee ceasse not euen too spurre foreward our selues, and that wee doo so easly enter intoo contention and stryfe, that all the house where we bee, must ring of vsus? What is the cause hereof? Euen our owne vnthankfulnesse, for that wee think not vppon Gods incomprehensible goodnesse towards vsus, in that he hath not spared his only sonne, notwithstanding that wee were his deadlie enemyes, notwithstanding that wee were at warre with him, notwithstanding that wee were cursed alredy of nature, bycause of the corruption that is in vsus. But yit notwithstanding all this (as I sayd afore) it is vnpossible that wee should taste of Gods merciemercy, except wee bee touched with compassion, and hauehave our harts rid cleane of that cursed affection of reuendge. So then albeeit that Saint Paule hauehave exhorted vsus too things that are very hard, yea and vtterly repugnant too mans nature, and which cannot bee brought too passe except God woork in that behalf: yit notwithstanding the declaration that is shewed vsus heere, ought too preuayle so much with vsus, as too make vsus forget all wrongs. For admit that another man hauehave offended mee: what then? Can I try my self ryghtuo…s and giltlesse, when I shall come before God? Alas, there are so many iniquities and transgressions in mee, that I should bee confounded a hundred thousand tymes. Should one fault then which is committed ageinst mee, bee vnpardonable: and shall a hundred, yea a whole Million which I hauehave committed ageinst God, bee nothing? What am I in comparison of that souerein Maiestie: So then, following this warning of S. Paules, whensoeuer wee bee moued too impaciencie for any displeasure or wrong, so as we hauehave any desire of reuenge: let vsus learne, let vsus learne I say, too gather our wittes aboute vsus, and too consider what wee bee. For first of all, if a man hauehave committed any fault ageinst vsus, wee our selues doo the lyke or farre woorse. On the other syde let vsus consider how God hath redeemed vsus, yea and specially by that most precious pledge of the blud shed of his onelyonly sonne. And hauehave we deserued that? Agein, what cause hath moued God too bee so mercifull towardes vsus? Nothing else but our wretchednesse. Now seeing that he which is so good, and that he beyng not of our nature hath notwithstanding had compassion of our wretchednesse wherin wee were plundged: what shall wee doo? Ought not wee too hauehave much more compassion one of another, bycause wee fynd the things in our selues which wee pardon in our neyghbours? God can fynd no infirmities in himselfe: & howe then shall he bee moued too forgiue vsus? Truely euen bycause he is the welspring of all goodnesse and mercy. But when I see the thing that greeueth mee in my neyghbour, if I examin well my selfe, I shall fynd the lyke there, or else much more. Should not all these things perswade mee too some compassion, if I forgat not my selfe too much? The way then too make vsus easly forgiue many faultes, and too beare with many vyces that may mislyke vsus in our neyghbours, is, too cast our eyes vppon the inestimable louelove which God hath borne vsus in the person of his sonne.
And heereuppon wee may conclude, (as I sayde afore) that if wee were not too vnthankefull, there would bee another manner of myldnesse among vsus than there is, and wee would not so soone fall out for eueryevery wrong that is doone vsus. For ought wee not too thinke early and late, and day and nyght vppon the fauour that is graunted vsus in our Lord Iesus Christ, who is the daysunne too inlyghten vsus? Should wee be so brutish, as not too consider that he maketh his spirituall lyght too shyne vppon vsus, of purpose too guyde vsus too saluation? And how is that doone but by Gods mercy? Agein, when wee behold the fauour that God sheweth vsus in maynteyning vsus in this present lyfe: are wee woorthie too be be found at his cost? No: but all commeth too vsus through our Lord Iesus Christ. Therefore it would become vsus, both sleeping and waking, eating and drinking, in rest and in labour, and in all things else, too consider alwayes the mercy that God vseth towardes vsus, and too beare it in mynd, and too make it our continewall exercyze. And specially must this grace come alwayes before our eyes, when wee pray vntoo God. For what accesse may wee hauehave too talke familiarly with him, and too discharge all our cares and greefes as it were intoo his lap, yea and too call him our father: if wee bee not called too him through his free bestowed goodnesse in our Lord Iesus Christ, and he forgiue vsus our transgressions? If wee bethinke vsus not of all these things, wee bee too dulheadded and brutish. And heereby it appeereth full well, that we shall alwayes bee disallowed in bragging our selues too bee Gods children, and his household folke, and faythfull children, (if wee bee not willing and glad too forgiue:) wee may well boast of it afore men, yea and wee may bee had in estimation through a fond opinion: but yit will God disgrade vsus. So then, if wee bee loth too forgiue, our vnthankefulnesse bewrayeth it self therein, how that wee consider not the infinite goodnesse of our God as he sheweth it in our Lord Iesus Christ. That is the thing in effect, whertoo S. Paule intendeth too bring vsus.
Now he addeth, that vvee must bee follovvers of God, as vvell beloued children. For a man myght yit reply, it is trew that Gods mercy ought too rauish vsus all and too amaze vsus, and it is so woonderfull a thing, that all our affections ought too bee fastened vppon it. But what for that? Are wee able too bee lyke vntoo God? No: for he is the fountayne of all goodnesse, and wee bee leaud and vntoward: yea, God hath the full perfection of all goodnesse in him, and there is not so much as one drop of it in our nature. No maruell then though we come nothing neere him, ne hauehave any resemblance or lykenes vntounto him. Such reply (say I) myght men hauehave made, if S. Paule had not added this saying, Bee yee follovvers of God: that is too say, follow yee him, let him bee your example or patterne. For although God be the souerein goodnesse it selfe, and that wee hauehave not any peece of vsus which tendeth not too euill: yit is it no sufficient excuce for vsus, that wee should therefore bee vtterly ageinst him, for that is a token that wee belong nothing at all too him. Truely as in respect that wee bee but onelyonly men, Adams sinne hath so alienated vsus from God: that theroutof spring malice, spytefulnesse, pryde, excessiue passions, and wicked desyre of reuenging: and it separateth vsus from God, in whom is the fulnesse of all goodnesse. Such are wee from our moothers womb through Adams sinne, as I sayd afore. But yit for all that, must wee not needes chaunge our kynd, when it pleaseth God too reache vsus his hand, and too gather vsus too him, and too knit the things agein in one, which were scattered asunder? (Yis.) And that is the cause why S. Paule sayeth, as Gods deere beloued children. Heerein he sheweth that wee shall hauehave our mouthes shet, vnlesse we answer God in goodnesse, by bearing one with another, according also as our Lord Iesus telleth vsus in S. Mathew.Math. 5. g. 45. Follow your heauenly father (sayeth he,) which maketh his sonne too shyne both vppon good and bad. For too say that wee bee Gods children, too call vppon him, too pretend the name of Christians: and yit in the meane whyle too bee despyzers of God, and too make as though wee would defye him, by shewing that wee drawe aloofe from him: is it not vtterly ageinst kynd? (Yis:) and therefore let no man deceyue himselfe, but let vsus consider that wee bee not onelyonly full of hypocrisie, but also vtterly past shame, when wee fashion not our selues lyke vntoo God, and yit will needes bee hild and taken for his children. Trew it is, that too bee so fashyoned lyke vntoo God, and too resemble him so fully, as one man commeth neere vntoo another, is vnpossible: but yit must wee not bee out of hart for all that. And soothly wee must call too mynd how the scripture sayeth, that if wee go on too Godward, although wee bee farre of from the marke that wee ame at, yit dooth he accept that willingnesse of ours, when wee keepe our way and indeuer continually too go on forwarde styll.
Although wee bee slowe and weake, and although wee trip and stumble, yit God imputeth none of those faultes vntoo vsus, when wee bee desyrous too fashyon our selues lyke too him. When wee shoote at that marke, although wee bee farre short or wyde of it, yit dooth God take it in good woorth, as I sayd. And that ought too giuegive vsus corage? For if wee should bee dryuen too fashyon our selues lyke vntoo God poynt by poynt in all respectes: alas how could it bee doone? For euen the very Angels, notwithstanding that there bee nothing but holinesse in them, and that Gods glorie shyne foorth in them: are yit farre short from the perfection that is in God. A…d what are wee then, which bee so corrupted and marred, which hauehave such abundance of naughtinesse, and which are so plucked back and turned away, by so many vyces and temptations which Satan trumpeth in our way? yit hauehave wee this too reioyce of, that our Lord beareth with vsus, and accepteth all our dooings in good part, so wee keepe on toowardes him. That is the manner of following him, which is commaunded vsus heere. Trew it is that wee must not in the meane whyle fall asleepe, and say, as many doo: I would fayne be lyke vntoo God, and then doo but wring their mouth at it: but wee must consider eueryevery day and eueryevery houre, that wee hauehave ill profited in the trew rule of fashyoning our selues lyke vntoo God, and theruppon condemne our selues for it, and thinke thus: I had some good will yisterday, how is it increaced since? (nothing at all,) but rather to my seeming it is become colder. After that maner must we quickē vp our selues, & fyght ageinst the things that hinder vsus, that wee may indeuer too go styll foreward, and too come neerer and neerer too our marke from whence wee bee yit so farre of. But howsoeuer wee fare, yit wil not our Lord fayle too esteeme vsus alwayes too bee lyke him, and too bee trew followers of him, if wee willingly and without hipocrisy forgiue them that hauehave offended ageinst vsus, at leastwyse after his example, who hath giuen vsus a pardon that is farre greater than all the pardons that can bee gotten at our handes, so as wee beare with the vyces and infirmities of our neyghbours, as wee see that he hath borne with vsus. For he myght iustly sinke vsus downe too the bottom of hell: and yit he forbeareth not too adopt vsus for his children. Seeing then that he loueth vsus after such a sort, notwithstanding all the vnworthinesse that is in vsus: It is good reason that wee should resemble him in so dooing. And although wee had no better prerogatiue than our naturall birth: yit ought wee too knowe that God hath not separated vsus asunder. Euen the wretched Paynims had some vnderstanding heereof. For they sayd, that mans lyfe is too tend vntounto God, and too bee fashyoned lyke vntoo his image, and that the same is also the full perfection of all happinesse. And agein, they added that wee cannot resemble God better in any thing, than in vsing gentlenesse one towardes another, and in dooing good, and in being pitifull. So then let vsus consider, that in asmuch as God hath made vsus his welbeloued children, vsus (I say) which were his enemyes, and had nothing but filthinesse in vsus, and were clogged with so many vyces, that we were woorthie too bee lothed of him, and yit he hath not letted too louelove vsus, it is good reason that wee should winke at manie things that myght offende vsus, and hinder our louing of our neyghbours, and our holding with them.
And now Saint Paule hauing spoken of God, addeth also the example of our Lord Iesus Christ.Iohn. 3. b. 16. The heauenly father loued the world so well, that he spared not his only sonne, but deliuered him to the death for vsus. And what did Iesus Christ? He forgate himself, he regarded not his owne person:1. Cor. 2. b. 7. he that was the Lord of all glorie, submitted him self too all reproche: He that was the lyfe from the beginnig, made him self mortall:Iohn. 1. a. 4. He that was the power of God the father, made him self weake for louelove of vsus: He that had all things in his hand, became poore,2. Cor. 8 b. 9. to inriche vsus: He by whom all things are blissed, became subiect too cursing. Seing then that o…r Lord Iesus Christ abaced him self after that fashyon (as Saint Paule also sayeth (in another place) where he setteth him foorth as an example for vsus) and in sted of his glorie,Phil. 2. a. 7. tooke vppon him al shame,2. Cor. 5 d. 21. and in sted of his ryghtuousnesse became sin,Esay. 53 a. 5. & 12.(not that he offended or had any blemishe or spot in him, but as bearing the punishment of our sumes, in which respect also the scripture termeth him by the name of sin:1. Cor. 15 a. 3.) and agein, in sted of lyfe tooke death, and voutsafed too bee cursed of God in this world, that wee myght hauehave blissednesse by his meanes: when wee think vppon al this, ought not all pryde, all presumption, al feercenesse, all scornfulnesse, and all bitternesse, too be layd away, considering the meane wherby our Lord Iesus Christ hath reconcyled vsus too God his father? So then, let vsus thinke wel vppon all those things.
And furthermore, too pull vsus the more downe, and too breake the hard hartednesse whertoo wee bee too much inclyned: Saint Paule sayth, that he offered a sacrifyze of good sauour vntoo God his father. As if he should say, my freends, had you once well weyed the grace and fauour that is purchaced you by our Lord Iesus Christ, you would soone beate backe all the wicked affections which make you to stomack things, and yee would fyght ageinst them vntill yee had ouercome them. And therfore bee kynd harted in bearing one with another: and seeing it hath pleased God too gather vsus as it were intoo one flocke, and that our Lord Iesus Christ dooeth the dewtie of a shepherd too leade vsus toogither, shewe your selues too bee as a flocke of sheepe, and not as rauening wooles. For somuch then as our Lord Iesus disdeyneth vsus not in any thing, insomuch that he hath made an offering and sacrifyze of his owne person vntoo God his father, wherby he hath wyped out all our sinnes: let it moue vsus, and rauish all our wyts to glorifie God, and too doo homage too our Lord Iesus Christ, as oft as wee thinke vponupon it. And whereas he sayth, that the sacrifize which was offered by Iesus Christ, was of sweet sent or sauor: therby he sheweth, that there is nothyng but stynche in vsus. Too what ende hath he sanctifyed vsus? Too ryd away our infections and filthynesse, which made vsus stynkyng and lothly before God: as when Sacrifizes were offered in the materiall Temple, God sayd, they were of good sauour vntoo him: howbeeit, that was in respect of men, who could not come vntoo God by reason of their sinnes, for that they bee infected with them, and therfore God must needs hauehave shunned them. But all was fulfilled in our Lord Iesus Christ, who is the truthe of the shadowes of the Law. Seeing it is so: let vsus vnderstand, that wheras it … sayd, that the sacrifyze which Iesus Christ offered, was of sweete sauour before God: it was too put away the rememberaunce of all our infections, too the intent that when wee appeere before the face of our God, (as wee must dayly in our prayers and supplications:) our sinnes may not bee layd too our charge: so that although wee bee disfigured like wretched lepers, so as there is nothing but infection in vsus: yit the same may bee no impediment, but that God may imbrace vsus as ryghtuous and innocent, too bee companions with the Angels, and fashyoned fully according too his image. And how may that bee doone? Euen bycause our Lord Iesus Christ will hauehave all our spots wyped away, so as wee may come before him with our heads vpryght, being well assured that he will alwayes make vsus fynd the frute of his merciemercy which he hath once told vsus of.
Now let vsus kneele down before the maiestie of our good God, with acknowledgment of our faults, praying him to make vsus so to feele thē more & more, as it may draw vsus vntounto trew repentance, and yit notwithstanding wee not dout but that he beareth with vsus, too the end that wee should ask him merciemercy and forgiuenesse, assuring our selues that he will heare vsus if wee keepe the way that he sheweth vsus by his word, and reforme vsus more and more according too his image, so as wee may giuegive a trew proof, that as wee call vppon him for our father: so wee couet nothing else also but too bee his trew children. And so let vsus all say, Anmyghtie God heauenly father. &c.