Sermons on Ephesians, Sermons · Sermon 35
The .xxxv. Sermon, which is the third vppon the fifth Chapter.
8. For yee vvere sometyme darknesse: but novv are yee lyght in the Lord: walke yee as children of the lyght:
9. (For the fruite of the spirit consisteth in all goodnesse, and rightuousnesse, and truth.)
10. Trying what is acceptable too the Lord.
11. And hauehave not too doo with the fruitlesse woorks of darknesse, but rather euen rebuke them.
WEe knowe how hard a matter it is too reclayme men from euill custome, when they bee once inhardened vntoo it. For the mischeefe dooth easly take roote in vsus, bycause wee bee inclyned and almost wholly giuen too it of nature. But yit wee bee not so soone chaunged, when wee hauehave continewed along tyme in dooing euill. For it happeneth vntoo vsus as vntounto sicke folkes, whose diseases hauing once gathered strength, doo so sticke too their bones, as they can by no meanes bee purged away. Now a great number of folke … giuen to naughtinesse, and beare with themselues in many vyces, before they bee called of God, and touched too the quicke with repentance. Therefore wee hauehave neede too practyze the doctrine that Saint Paule teacheth vsus heere: that is too wit, too knowe that when wee hauehave hild aloofe from God, and strayed from the way of saluation, wee must not flatter our selues in it, nor make a buckler and excuce of it, bycause it is become an ordinarie thing with vsus. For wee must not pardon our selues a whit the more for all that, but rather consider that God hath pityed vsus, and that his drawing of vsus from the euill wherein we were, was too the end too chaunge vsus, and too make his power and grace the better knowen by our lyfe, in that it beareth witnesse that wee bee no more the men that wee were before. That is the cause why Saint Paul sayth in this text, Yee vvere once darkenesse, but novv hath God inlyghtened you. As if he should say, that wee must not respect eyther what others doo, or what hath befalne in our selues, too hope too bee iustifyed, and acquit of our faultes by that meanes. For when it hath once pleazed God too reache vsus his hand, and too shewe vsus such merciemercy as too adopt vsus for his children, and to make vsus heires of the heauenly lyfe, in sted that wee were forlorne, cursed, and damned afore: that grace ought too preuayle greatly in vsus, too make vsus become new creatures. And as for them among whom wee liue, if God giuegive them the brydle and let them alone as men forsaken: let vsus vnderstand, that it was his will too shole vsus out from so miserable taking. And therefore let them bee as looking glasses vntoo vsus, too behold what a wretchednesse it is for men to followe their owne lustes. So little then ought the offending and sinning of a multitude, too couer our faultes: that wee ought rather too take warning by them to withdrawe our selues, and too hold our selues as it were fettered vp vnderunder the feare and obedience of our God, seeing he sheweth so speciall fauour vntoo vsus, wherof the residew which abyde still ignorant and vnbeleeuing, are depryued.
Howbeeit for the better vnderstanding of the whole, let vsus marke first, that Saint Paule hath shewed vsus heere what the state of all men in generall is, vntill God hauehave drawen them too him. And he telleth vsus there is not any cause at all why wee should …ooth our selues in our vertewes, insomuch that this only speeche of his, where he sayeth, that wee be darknesse, (that is too say, that there is nother lyght, reason, nor any gouernement in vsus, but rather that wee bee become stark beasts) …ught well too make vsus all too cast downe our eyes and too submit our selues with humilitie. In deede many shall hauehave some showe of wisdome, and bee commended of the world as well aduyzed men, and as able not only too guyde themselues in their whole lyfe, but also too counsell (and direct) others. Yit notwithstanding, God auoweth that in stead of hauing ryght wisdome and reason, wee bee but brute beastes as in respect of him. Now lyke as this saying warneth vsus to sygh and grone before God: so also doth it prouoke vsus too seeke the remedie that is necessarie for the well ruling of our lyfe, that is, too suffer God too bee our maister and teacher by his woord, (as shalbee declared more at length anon) and also too pray him that his holy spirit may so woork in vsus, and that wee may not bee led with such ouerweening, as too count our selues wyse in our owne conceyt and fancie. And so yee see in effect what wee hauehave too remember vppon this streyne, where Saint Paul intytuleth men by a reprochefull name, saying that they bee darknesse, and that there is nothing but vtter brutishnesse in them. And hereof I hauehave treated alredy in the last chapter, where Saint Paule shewed, that men discerne nothing, ne go but too their destructions, vntill such tyme as they bee reformed.
Now on the contrarie part he sayeth, Lyght in the Lord, too shewe that all the wisedome which wee hauehave, commeth of a supernaturall grace, as they terme it, that is too say, wee hauehave it not by inheritance, nother can wee father it vppon our selues, but it is altogither of Gods woorking, and wee must bee linked too our Lord Iesus Christ too bee parttakers of such a benefyte. For it is not for naught that the scripture sayth,Esay. 11. a. 2. that Gods spirit was giuen vntoo him too rest vppon him with full perfection. Therefore let vsus learne too distrust our selues, & to know that all that euer wee can bring of our owne, will stand vsus in no stead, but to turne vsus from the way of saluation, and that we hauehave no wisedome, except it bee giuen vsus of Gods free goodnesse, too the intent too gather vsus vntoo him, and too make vsus members of our Lord Iesus Christ his sonne, who is our trew lyght, as wee shall see anone.
Too bee short, it is all one as if S. Paule should saye, that by nature wee bee but onelyonly darknesse in Adam, and that wee bee inlyghtened agein in our Lord Iesus Christ. Now (as I sayd afore) it is too the intent wee should seeke none excuce, by alledging that wee cannot put off our olde skin, nor vtterly forsake the thinges that are so printed in vsus: (for those shiftes are but tryfling, and they … passe in account before God:) but contrariwyse too the intent wee should learne, too examine well what wee bee, and what our state is, tyll God hauehave redressed it, and too consider what wee hauehave of our owne, namely that wee bring nothing but cursednesse with vsus from our moothers womb: and therwithall make the grace effectuall which God hath giuen vsus, that it bee not (as yee would say) choked through our vnthankfulnesse and malice, but that wee consider well to what end our Lord▪ hath reached vsus his hand, and shewed himselfe so pitifull towardes vsus: namely that wheras wee were plundged in darknesse, it was his will to bring vsus agein too lyght.
And wee bee called lyght in the Lord, not onelyonly bycause wee hauehave the woord of his Gospell, which is as a burning Cresset too guyde vsus by: but also bycause that he himselfe is as the spirituall Daysonne, and dooth therewithall inlyghten vsus inwardly by Gods spirit. For wee see by experience, that men fare neuer a whit the better by hauing their eares beaten with the doctrine of truth: for one may take payne too teache them, and yit it shalbee but labour lost. Therfore our Lord must bee fayne too make his sonne shyne, that is too saye, lyke as he hath commaunded and ordeyned his woord too bee preached vntoo vsus: so also must he giuegive vsus eyes too inioy the same lyght. For though the sunne shyne neuer so bright in the skye, yit should wee fynd nother frute nor profit by it, vnlesse wee hauehave eyes which are as instruments to receyue the lyght that commes from aboue. So must God bee fayne too giuegive vsus spirituall eyesyght, to conceyue the things that are taught vsus by his woord. Yee see then that the meane how wee become lyght in the Lord, is, that on the one syde God sheweth vsus the way of saluation by the preaching of his woord vntoo vsus: and therwithall giueth vsus a new spirit, or mind, too the intent wee should not abyde in the ignorance wherin all of vsus are by nature.
And Saint Paule vttereth his meaning yit better, when he addeth that vvee should vvalke as children of lyght. Nowe wee see that heere he not onelyonly prayzeth and commendeth Gods grace, too stirre vsus vp too gloryfye him for it, as wee bee bound too doo: but also therewithall sheweth the vse of it. As if he should say, beware in any wyse that yee thrust not Gods grace vnderunder foote, ne make it vnauaylable vntoo you. For his calling of you too the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ, was too the intent yee should bee wholly chaunged, tod bee brought vntoo this lyght. For if wee would hauehave the sunne but onelyonly too stande ydly gazing vppon it lyke folke out of their wittes, what a thing were that? Wee were better too hauehave continuall nyght. But the Sunne must serue vsus to apply our selues too the buzinesse which we hauehave too doo, and too labour in getting of our liuing, eueryevery man according too his charge, office, and calling. Yee see then that wee should abuze the sunne, which bringeth vsus so great benefyte, if we should not eueryevery of vsus occupie our selues in the things that wee knowe too bee our dewtie. Now Saint Paule applyeth this similitude too the spirituall daysonne: that is too wit, too the doctrine of the Gospell, saying that it shyneth, howbeeit not for vsus too giuegive our selues too ydle speculations, but too the end wee should set our hand too the plough, and eueryevery of vsus looke wherwith he can and ought too doo seruice, and theruppon make the lyght auaylable that is offered him.
Furthermore Saint Paule in one place calleth vsus Lyght, and by and by he addeth, Chyldren of light. Both of them come too one end. But yit is it not for nought that he termeth vsus Lyght. For it serueth too expresse the better, that Gods grace is not only offered vsus, but also imprinted in vsus, so as wee bee after a sort new shaped by it. And it is not only heere that he dooth it,Phil. 2. b. 15. but also in the Epistle too the Philippians. Now wee hauehave too marke first of all, that that tytle belongeth properly too none but too our Lord Iesus Christ, according as he himself sayeth, I am the lyght of the world, he that walketh in mee,…ohn. …. b. 12. shall neuer stray. Yee see then that our Lorde Iesus Christ is sufficient of himself alone too giuegive vsus lyght, and that if wee keepe our selues aloofe from him, we shall fynd nothing but darknesse nother in heauen, nor in earth, nor in any creature else. For if wee speake of Gods maiestie, it is aboue all the heauens: yea and the very Angels hauehave no lyght but that which they borrowe of our Lord Iesus Christ. And that is the cause why Saint Iohn Baptist is excluded from that honour,Iohn. 1. a. 8. when he sayth, that he was not the lyght, but that that dignitie belongeth peculiarly to the sonne of God, who inlyghteneth all men that come intoo the world. Agein, the Apostles, and all such as preache Gods truthe are also termed lyght in their degree,Math. 5. b. 14. when as it is sayd, yee bee the lyght of the world. Not that that belongeth properly vntoo them: but bycause God serueth his own turne by them, when he deliuereth them his word to guyde others by, and to shew them the way of saluation. Now if he that beareth the Candle too lyght other men, doo reele and stumble, and stray heere and there, what a thing is it? Therefore in asmuch as God hath giuen vsus the charge too preache his woord, wee bee warned too walke in such wyse as eueryevery man may bee edifyed by our lyfe. And yit in the meane whyle, this is no derogation at all too the honour of our Lord Iesus Christ: for they that are inlyghtened by him, must not thrust forth themselues to be fellow and fellow lyke with him: but he alone must continewe the ly…ht still, and wee inlyghten one another, according too Saint Paules saying in the text that I alledged afore,Phil. 2. b. 15. where he sayeth thus too all the faythfull: You bee as Lampes burning in this world, euen by hauing the woord of God. The lyght then which the Scripture allotteth, as well too the teachers, as too them that are taught, is, that all of vsus must hauehave Gods woord, which must bee as a candle set vp aloft, and our lyues must so ruled thereby, as the vnbeeleeuers may bee drawen too the fayth and reformed, or else confounded and put too shame, when they see that our Lordes calling of vsus too profit in his scoole is not in vayne. And so yee see in what sense S. Paule sayeth, that wee bee lyght in the Lord, namely bycause Gods woord ought too bee as a burning Lampe vntoo vsus, not only too guyde our selues by, but also too shewe the way too all such as otherwyse should go astray.
Hereunto he addeth, that vvee bee children of lyght, to doo vsus to vnderstand, that our lyght commeth from elsewhere than of our selues, and that wee borrowe it of him that is the lyght of the world,Iohn. 8. b. 12. as I hauehave alledged before. According whereuntoo it is sayd, that God is the father of lyght, and so also dooth the Scripture name him. Agein, our Lord Iesus Christ is the trew lyght,Iames. 1 …. 17. wherby God appeered vntoo vsus, and whereby it is his wyll too inlyghten vsus. Therefore are wee the children of lyght: that is too say, wee bee so i…yghtened, that Gods lyght is in vsus: namely bycause wee bee members of our Lord Iesus Christ (as I sayde afore) and communicate with him, and he guydeth vsus by the lyght of his Gospell, and inlyghteneth vsus also by his holy spirit. And forasmuch as our Lord woorketh in vsus by fayth, he dreepeth it intoo vsus by measure, as he himselfe thinketh good, as we hauehave seene in the fourth Chapter. Howsoeuer the cace stand, let vsus esteeme Gods grace as it is woorthy, and as it deserueth, and theruppon turne it too our owne benefyte, that it be not disappoynted through our rechlesnesse, but that wee may walke, that is too saye, consider whertoo God hath called vsus, and eueryevery of vsus imploy and inforce himselfe theruntoo.
Now hereuppon Saint Paule giues a warning, that the frute of this lyght is, Goodnesse, Ryghtuousnessr, and Truthe. As if he should say, that he speakes not here after the common fashyon of men▪ but intendeth too bring vsus vntoo God, and too shewe vsus too what purpose it serueth vsus to be Christians, & which is the trew vse of the learning that wee hauehave by the Gospell, and also how the power of the holy Ghoste ought too shewe it self in vsus, that is too wit, in the well ordering of our lyfe. For by these three woords, Goodnesse, Ryghtuousnesse, and Holinesse, he meaneth that wee should not doo any body wrong, but indeuer too liue vpryghtly and faythfully with our neyghbours, and also bee kynd harted in hauing compassion one of another, too beare paciently one with another, and too succour one another as neede shall requyre. Trew it is that there are other things requisyte in a Christen mans lyfe: but heere Saint Paule comprehendeth all vnderunder one kynd. As if he should say, my freends, God is singularly gracious vntoo vsus, in gathering vsus vntoo him, wheras wee were strayed away intoo destruction: and that wheras wee were hild in thraldome vnderunder the tyrannie of the prince of the world,Iohn. 12. e. 31. & 14. d. 30. &▪ 16. b. 11. which is the diuell: he hath set vsus free, and made vsus members of his only sonne our Lord Iesus Christ. Lo heere an inestimable benefyte. And now must wee shewe too what end our Lord hath vsed so greate merciemercy towards vsus. That (sayeth he) must bee knowen by our lyfe, euen by walking one with another in all goodnesse: that is too say, that wee be not cruell as dogges and Cattes, nor giuen too guyle, craft, and malice, too deceyue and wynd one about another, but go on soundly and roundly in all things, & deale so vpryghtly as eueryevery of vsus indeuer to yeeld his neyghbour that which is his dew, so as no man be wedded to his owne profit to greeue others. Whē our life is once ordered after this maner, then shall men percey…e that we beare frute in the lyght, & that the light also beareth fruit in vsus, that is to say, that the light which God hath giuen vsus is not ydle, but that lyke as God hath inlyghtened vsus, so wee apply our selues too doo the things that he commaundeth and appoynteth. That is the cause why Saint Paule speaketh of the frute of Ryghtuousnesse, according too my former saying, where I told you that the sunne giueth not lyght to the world, too the intent that eueryevery man should sit still with his armes folded one within another, or too the intent wee should bee as the foules that flye in the ayre: but too serue our turne, by guyding vsus in all our dooings. That is the frute and vse of the Sunne. Therfore the Gospell is not a frutelesse thing, the woorking of it must shewe it self in our lyfe, that is too wit, by being ryghtuous, kynd harted, and faythfull. Now vnderunder those woords Saint Paule hath compryzed all things belonging too the twoo tables of the Law. For (as I told you afore) Charitie serues not too make vsus forget what belongs too Gods seruis, as though that were a thing of small weyght: but it is the maner of the scripture too send vsus backe too our neyghbours when it speaketh of the seruing of God. For it is certein that if wee louelove our neyghbours as wee ought too doo, and liue with them according too Gods law, God shall alwayes hauehave his cheef ryght. For vntill wee bee ruled vnderunder his awe, eueryevery of vsus will louelove himselfe too much, and desire too drawe too himselfe, and too glorie in himselfe: and too bee short, there will bee nothing in vsus but Pryde, Uaynglory, Couetousnesse, Crueltie, and al maner of Deceyt, vntyll our Lord hath brought vsus vnderunder his yoke, and wee bowed our selues vntoo his obeysance, too honour him and serue him, and to blisse his holy name. And this shal bee doone when we yeeld men their dewtie: for that is a trew tryall and record that wee feare God.
And now too shewe vsus how wee should liue in the world, S. Paule setteth downe these three things: namely Goodnesse, that is too say, kynd hartednesse in hauing pitie and compassion vppon such as are in distresse, too releeue their neede, and too beare paciently with their infirmities. Thus much concerning the woord Goodnesse: Next that, is Ryghtuousnesse, which signifyeth vpright dealing, so as wee take away no mans goods, nor go about too aduauntage our selues by the hinderance of our neyghbours, nor bee giuen too pilling and polling, but (too bee short) be contented with whatsoeuer God giueth vsus, without raking of other mens goods or possessions vntoo vsus. Last of all is added Truth, which is contrary too all craftie packing, and too all leaud practyzes, whereby wee labour too draw other mens goods too vsus. Then hauehave wee once these three things, it is certein that Charitie reigneth fully and perfectly in vsus. These are the things that we hauehave too remember vppon this streyne. Wyll wee then shewe that our trayning vp in the Gospell hath not bin in vayne, and that wee hauehave not forsaken the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ? Let vsus liue vprightly and euenly among men: and agein, let vsus be kynd harted both in bearing one with anothers infirmities, and also in succoring them at their neede: and (finally) let vsus bee faythfull, that is too say, let vsus vse no craft nor suttletie, but let vsus bee soothfast, and wherin so euer we hauehave too deale with others, let them not fynd vsus dubble.
The thing therfore in effect which wee hauehave too beare in mynd, is that Gods inlightening of vsus, is to the end we should no more plundge our selues in darknesse, but that when wee hauehave once taken lyght of him, wee also should indeuer too giuegive light too wretched vnbeleeuers; which wander and reele, and stumble, and are lyke too breake their neckes, bycause they bee as silly beasts: and no maruell at all, for they hauehave no lyght too guyde themselues by. Trew it is that that shall not excuze them, but that they shall alwayes bee giltie before God: for their ignorance is matched with malice. But what shall wee on our syde hauehave too lay for our selues when wee stray so away, seeyng that God hath inlyghtened vsus by his woord and holy spirit, and knit vsus too our Lord Iesus Christ, who is the daysunne of ryghtuousnesse, as I hauehave declared alredie?
Now hereupon S. Paule telleth vsus, that we must trye and examin what things please God. And this reacheth further than that which he hath sayd: for it sheweth vsus which is the trew rule, which if wee followe, wee cannot doo amisse: namely too frame our selues according too Gods will.Psal. 11…. b. 10. And truely we know that the feare of him is not without cause called the trew wisedome. For wherof commeth it that men ouershoote themselues intoo all euill,Prou. 1. a. 7. & 9. c. 10. but bycause they forget God, and bury the rememberance of his name and maiestie? For they that hauehave God in their myndes, shall euer bee restreyned as it were with a brydle. Although their fleshe tempt them too euill: yit will they resist, and consider that as long as they lyue in this worlde, they must spend their lyfe in his seruice that gaue it them. Then if our myndes bee vppon God, surely it will arme vsus and giuegive vsus strength ageinst all temptations. And S. Paule sayeth heere, that we must examin well what things please him: wherin he wakeneth vp our rechlesnesse. For in the foresayde despyzing of God which I spake of, there are twoo things. The one is that men fall as…eepe in soothing themselues, and thinke not that euer they shall come too account, and theruppon doo rest so soundly, as if it were in vsus to make good or euill. And afterward they fall outrageously too flinging themselues at aladuenture ageinst God. Therefore it is not ynough for vsus not too fyght wilfully ageinst God, nor too play the wyld beastes, or the (mad) Bulles, which push eueryevery way with their hornes: that is not ynough: but wee must bee watchfull in inquyring throughly what is lawfull for vsus, that wee may discerne betweene the things that God permitteth, and the thinges that he disalloweth. Too bee short, the first thing that Saint Paule sheweth vsus heere, is, hat our lyfe shall neuer be well ordered, vntill it bee wholly conformable too Gods will. Marke that for one poynt.
Secondly (as I hauehave told you) wee must not thinke that God forgiueth our carelesnesse, when wee doo (as it were) wilfully shet our eyes, and are contented too go astray without taking any great heede: but that it behoueth vsus too stand vppon our gard, and too seeke diligently what God alloweth. Those are the twoo poyntes which wee hauehave too marke. As touching the first poynt, wee see how men hauehave alwayes taken leaue in all ages too followe their owne inuentions, as they terme them. And soothly it hath euer bin a common prouerb, that the intent iudgeth men: and it is very trew in part, but men hauehave misexpounded it and misconstrewed it. For vnderunder that presence, eueryevery man hath imagined that he should bee cleered before God, and bee taken for ryghtuous, so he had no intent too offend. After that maner do the Hipocrites weene themselues to do well: and when they hauehave inuented a sort of follies & superstitions, they beare themselues on hand, that God ought too take all in good woorth, bycause they weened them to be good. But God deales not according to our imagination. Wee see then, that men did foully beguyle themselues, in imagining that it was ynough for them too hauehave a good intent or meaning, as they terme it. And euen therefore is there nothing but hellish confuzion in poperie, bycause they hauehave forsaken Gods woord, and regarded not what he bade or forbade, but tooke leaue too doo some this thing, and some that, as it came in eueryevery mans fancie, and al vnderunder colour that men are too bee iudged by their intent. Trew it is (as I sayd afore) that the intent iudgeth men (in some respect.) For although wee doo the most commendable woorke that can be deuyzed: yit shall wee not fayle too bee condemned at Gods hand, if it bee not doone too the ryght end. If our honest dealing bee but in outward apparance, too get report that wee bee the henestest men in the world, and in the meane whyle all our vertuousnesse is but dung and filth within: it is but a showe of honestie. And why? Bycause our intent is leaude and crooked. But yit for all this, (as I sayde afore) wee must not take head too doo whatsoeuer our owne brayne teacheth vsus:Rom. 12. a. 1. 2. for our cheefe wisedome is to seeke what Gods will is, according wheruntoo Saint Paule sayeth, it is our reasonable seruice which God commaundeth vsus, and wherin our obedience shalbee well allowed. But if wee will needes doo all vppon our owne head, God will reiect it all: for that is not reasonable, it is but trash and trumperie of Satan. Wherefore let vsus marke well what is told vsus heere▪ that is too wit, that wee must not seeke any other difference betweene good and euill, than by weying it in Gods balance, and not in our owne, too say, It seemeth too mee, and I thinke it too bee good, and I will take some taste of it. Let vsus beware (I saye) of bringing such rashnesse with vsus, and let vsus bee as little children that are newlye weaned from the teate. Let vsus learne of God, and suffer our selues too bee guyded and gouerned wholly by him. Yee see then that humilitie is the beginning too serue God well, when as wee bee not puffed vp and caryed away with ouerweening, nor so rash as too say, I weene so, I thinke so: (but contrariwyse, too thinke thus:) is this of God? hath he spoken it by this woord? Although it seemed too bee the best and excellentest thing in the world: yit notwithstanding; I would not fayle too refuze it, if it bee forbidden of God. And that is the cause why it is expresly sayd,Deut. 12. a. 8. thou shalt not doo the thing that seemeth good in thyne owne eyes. And for the same cause are wee forbidden too bee wyse in our owne conceytes. Only let vsus assure our selues, that too be taught of God, is the infallible wisedome. But as soone as wee step asyde from that which he sheweth vsus, wee bee but wanderers though wee were the wyzest too outward showe, and the best esteemed in the world. Too bee short, wee see how all that euer men can bring of their owne, will stand them in no sted, but onelyonly too condemne them. And why? There is nothing that can guyde vsus but only Gods will: it is the only rule whereby wee may say, this is noughtwoorth, or this is good. Now seeing that the diuell hath gone about too bereeue vsus of such a benefyte: it behoueth vsus so much the more too stand vppon our gard, that is too say, too be heedfull, and too apply all our wits throughly too the seeking out of Gods will. Wee be carefull ynough for our temporall profit, for men neuer (lyghtly) take thing in hand without forecasting wel what may insew. O (say they) behold, I shall cast my selfe intoo such a daunger: agein, this will serue my turne that way, or else this may hinder mee, or hurt mee. Now then we be heedfull ynough in seeking the things that belong too this flyghtfull lyfe: but in the meane whyle wee step forth at aladuenture in seruing God. And although we pretend great zele in seeking the heauenly lyfe: yit we shew therby that wee make none account of it, and that all that euer wee doo is but for fashyons sake, and as it were taskwoorke. Therefore let vsus marke well that men shall not bee so sore condemned, when their rebelling ageinst God is not wilfully and of set purpose, as when they harden themselues in their frowardnesse. Trew it is that men shall doo some things without looking neerly too them: but yit must they looke whether God lyke of them or no. The thing wherin wee must bee wyzest and best aduyzed, is not too make our owne profit after the manner of the world, which counteth the wylyest folke wyzest, but too get vsus spirituall discretion, too know what things God alloweth, and too followe the same.
Now heeruppon he addeth also, that wee must not hauehave too doo with the fruitelesse woorks of darknesse, but rather rebuke them. This is not added without greate reason. For although we bee well dispozed too frame our lyfe according too Gods woord: yit shall wee bee shouldered from it, if wee learne not too resist all temptations. Truely although wee sawe no vyces about vsus too withdrawe our obedience from God: yit hauehave we such store of vyces alredie in vsus, that we must needs hauehave profited very well in Gods schoole, beefore wee can bee disposed too submit our selues in true obedience, and to say, Lord reigne thou ouer vsus, and let thyne only will bee our rule. But yit let vsus put the cace, that wee were come so farre foorth, as too feele no resistence nor geynsaying in our selues, but that wee could so subdew all our affections, that they myght after a sort bee ruly: yit notwithstanding, the diuell neuer ceasseth too assayle vsus on all syds, one whyle by lyght biekerings, another by vndermyning, and another whyle by giuing alarums & open assaults, so as he wil soone ouerwhelm vsus, except we be well fortifyed, & God hauehave giuen vsus inuincible power to withstand all his pollicies. That is the cause why Saint Paule addeth, that wee should not hauehave too doo with the vnfruteful woorks of darknesse. As if he should say, my freends, I knowe well that the vneazinesse of going vntoo God in this world, wil be as a blocke too keepe you backe from dooing of your dewtie. And although yee knowe that God ought too hauehave the maystrie, and that wee ought too bee vnderunder his subiection: yit notwithstanding when yee bee conuersant with the despyzers of God, and with vnholie persons, it is very hard for you too walk vncorruptly. For looke how many vyces reigne, so many infections are there too atteynt you, and it is very hard for you too scape vnperuerted, lyke as it cannot bee but that wee must feele some prickings whē we walk among thornes. Forasmuch thē as there is such abundance of corruptions through the whole world, as a man can scarsly remoue one foote but he shall stumble vppon some euill or other: It standeth vsus on hand too hauehave greate strength too maynteyne vsus vnimpeached in the seruing of God: or else we must be vtterly …urned away fron his obedience. But what for that? There is no excuce for vsus, sayeth Saint Paule. It wil not boote vsus too alledge, Alas, what shall I doo, I that am a poore frayle creature? If God had set mee alone by my self, I could serue him the better: but I am heere among so many vyces, that I must needs doo as other men doo: for some pill, and some poll, some are whoremongers, some are drunkards, and some swearers: and finally I see so much wickednesse, that it maketh my hart too quake: and seeing I am hemmed in with all these things, what can I doo in such extremitie? Wee will alledge all this geere (say I): but it is in vayne. Wherfore let vsus learne too prepare our selues in such wyse too the seruing of God, as wee may stand obediently in battell ray too resist all temptations. It is trew that wee shall hauehave much adoo too bring it too passe▪ but yit will God bee strongest, so wee pray him too gouerne vsus with his holy spirit. And that gouernment serueth not only to subdew vsus too his dominion: but also too giuegive vsus victorie ageinst all the things that Satan practizeth too ouerthrowe vsus. Yee see then that if wee call vppon God and put our selues to his guyding: it is certein that wee shall hauehave ynough too make vsus keepe on our way, notwithstanding that this world be ful of wicked stoppes, too thrust vsus out of the way. The thing then which we hauehave too remēber vponupon this streyne, is, that besyds the good mynd which wee must hauehave too submit our selues vntoo God, and besyds the lowlinesse too accept and receyue whatsoeuer God commaundeth vsus, & too frame our whole lyfe therafter: wee must also be armed to fyght ageinst all the assaults that Satan maketh ageinst vsus, and though we see the whole world set vppon naughtinesse, wee must not think that that may serue too diminish our fault before God, but consider that it is his will too exercyze vsus after that fashyon. Yit notwithstanding if wee call vppon him, and put our whole trust in the working of his holy spirit: surely wee shall obteyne victorie ageinst all that euer Satan can trump in our wayes. And so yee see how wee may ouercome all things that hinder our seruing of God.
Finally, S. Paule following still the …imilitude which he brought in afore, telleth vsus that wee must not hauehave too doo with the woorks of darknesse. As if he should say, that wee must bee separted from the vnbeleeuers, and that when wee liue at aladuenture, as though God had not wrought in vsus, & as though his word had done vsus no good at al, it is as much as if we trāpled Iesus Christ vnderunder our feete, abolished the frute of his death & passiō, & defyled his blud, which is the fountaine of all holinesse? Si…h it is so, let vsus looke too retyre out of darkenesse, and not too hauehave to doo with it in any wyse. And his calling of them by the name of frutelesse woorks, is too shewe vsus, that when wee bee so mingled with the vnbeleeuers, worldlinges, and despyzers of God: wee shall receyue but a poore reward, which shall yeeld vsus no fruite at all. What gayne wee then by taking leaue too doo euill, vnderunder colour that the most part of the world is giuen too wickednesse (nothing) for all of them must reape the reward of euerlasting death, for follow one another after that fashyon. Now then let vsus looke neerlyer too our selues: for when men pardon them selues so lyghtly, that they seeke nothing else but too keepe themselues fast fettered vnderunder the subiection their father Satan, and too cast themselues as it were intoo the bottom of hell: Alas is it not a wretched libertie? Saint Paule therfore telleth vsus expresly, that wee ought so little too intermeddle our selues with the corruptions of the world, that wee should rather indeuer too amend those which take such libertie too doo euill, that they vtterly ouerthrowe themselues: and that both wee and they ought too bee so hild in obedience to our God, as his woord and holy spirit may serue vsus as an inuincible power too fyght ageinst all assaults, and that wee may bee so armed and furnished therwith, as it may bee vntoo vsus bothe a helmet,Ephe. 6. c. 14. and a brestplate, and a harnesse, and a swoord, as wee shall see heerafter. And let vsus beware too walk so in this world, as wee may serue our God with trew constancie, and not bee turned from him for any trubbles, impediments, lettes or stoppes that can bee layd in our way.
Now let vsus fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God, with acknowledgment of our faultes, praying him too touche vsus with such repentance, as wee may bee sorie for them, and rid them away more and more, too the strengthening of vsus in his feare, and in the keeping of his holy commaundementes: and the meane season he beare wyth our infyrmities, vntill wee bee quyte and cleane rid of them: and make vsus too profit from day too day in the doctrine, that is too wit, in the remission of our sinnes, vntyll wee come too the perfection of his rightuousnesse and glory. And so let vsus all say, Almightie God heauenly father.