Sermons on Ephesians, Sermons · Sermon 43
The .xliii. Sermon, which is the first vppon the sixth Chapter.
1. Children, obey your fathers and moothers in the Lord, for that is ryght.
2. Honour thy father and thy moother, (which is the first commaundement in promis,)
3. That thou mayst fare vvell, and bee long lyued vppon earth.
4. Fathers prouoke not your children too wrath, but nurrishe them vp in the nurture and vvarnings of the Lord.
OUr resorting vntoo Sermons, must bee, not onelyonly too heare the things that wee knewe not: but also too bee stirred vp too doo our dewtie, and too bee wakened when wee bee s…othfull and drowzie, by good and holy warnings, and too bee r… buked, if there bee any stubbornnesse and malice in vsus. And that is the thing which Saint Paule telleth vsus heere, which eueryevery of vsus ought too hauehave ingrauen in our hartes. For it is a thing which all of vsus vnderstand by our moother wit, that children ought too bee obedient and subiect too their fathers and moothers, and also that there ought too bee such gentlenesse in those that hauehave children too gouerne, as too vse them myldly, and not too giuegive them cause of frowardnesse, through their ouer great roughnesse. This (say I) is knowen well ynough of all men: but yit is not the warning that is giuen vsus heere, more than needeth: For who is he that dischargeth himselfe of the things that are told vsus heere by Saint Paule? Fathers and Moothers doo dyuers tymes marre their children with cockering them, and make them such Cocknyes, as they leade them too vtter vndooing. Agein, somtymes they bee in such cholers and heates with them without measure or discretion, that they hauehave no hold of themselues, nor no indifferent dealing with them as there ought too bee. As for children, although it bee sufficiently proued too them, that they ought too bee obedient and subiect too their parentes, dooth not the world see how they despyze them, & as it were hold vtter scorne of them? Nother are there almost any, which hold themselues in awe, and yeeld a ryght reuerence too their fathers and moothers, in respect that God hath bound them too it, and that they ought too doo it. Therefore sith wee see heere, that Saint Paule exhorteth the faythfull too things that are so common: therein wee may perceyue the frowardnesse of our owne nature. For th…se are such things as wee ought not too bee put in mynd of them, but eueryevery of vsus ought too bee inclyned of himselfe too doo his dewtie without warning. Gods spirit then rebuketh vsus for being so fleshly, that although wee knowe a thing too bee as ryghtfull as may bee, yit wee cannot giuegive our selues too it. Wherfore let vsus indeuer to fyght ageinst our owne vyces. For it is not ynough for vsus too hauehave learned what wee ought too doo: but also, forasmuch as there is much fyghting and stryuing in our selues ageinst it: after wee once knowe Gods will, and what is ryghtuous and conuenient, eueryevery of vsus must enter intoo himselfe, and beware that he drawe not cleane backe, but that he imprison and bridle himselfe, and beare wel in mynd that it is not ynough for him too hauehave bin instructed & taught, vnlesse he do also thrust foorth himselfe by force, and subdue all his wicked affections, how hard so euer it bee too bring it too passe.
Now let vsus come too that which is sayd heere. Yee Children (sayth Saint Paule) obey your fathers and moothers. Trew it is that (as Paule alledgeth afterward) God hath in his lawe set downe a more generall terme: that is too wit, Honour. For God ment too doo vsus too vnderstand, that children ought too yeeld bothe subiection and reuerence too their fathers and moothers. For such a one myght yeeld obedience and subiection, as myght neuerthelesse hauehave a spytefull, a proud, and a loftie hart, and despyze the partie whom he serueth. But when as our Lord commaundeth vsus too honour our fathers and moothers: therunder he meaneth too comprehend reuerence, and moreouer a performance of all dewtie: that is too wit, that children should vnderstand, that they bee bound too serue their fathers and moothers, & to be subiect too them in all things too the vttermoste of their power. Yee see then that generally God will hauehave children, not only too bee obedient and subiect too their parents, but also too yeeld them reuerence, and moreouer too doo their dewtie towards them, in succoring them, and in dooing them all the ease and comfort that they can, assuring themselues that they be not their owne, nor at their owne libertie, but that they owe all seruis vntoo them▪ by whose meanes they came intoo the world.
And Saint Paule sayeth expresly, in the Lord: meaning that there is a dubble bond too hold vsus in this subiection. For (first) there is the order of nature, and agein, God telleth vsus, that he hath set vsus in this earthly lyfe with condicion, that fathers and moothers should hauehave superioritie ouer their children. The Heathen men shal not fayle too bee found giltie, though they had not the lawe too direct them, nor were taught the doctrine which wee heare now by the mouth of Saint Paule. Insomuch that if a chyld were stubborne ageinst his father and mother among the heathen, he was as it were abhorred, and there was nother greate nor small which could not iudge of it: Nother shall they scape Gods hand, sith they bee condemned alredy in this world: for (as I sayd afore) it is a thing that is grauen in the harts of vsus all, and also as manifest as may bee. Howbeit, besyds that which wee knowe naturally, God addeth his owne will for a further and more ample confirmation, and telleth vsus, that he hath so ordeyned and appoynted it, and therfore that wee must passe that way. Then sith wee perceyue that God holdeth vsus vnderunder awe of our fathers and moothers: it is certein that wee bee so much the more vnexcuzable, if eueryevery of vsus submit not him self with meeknesse and humilitie. And they that hauehave followed the order of nature among the heathen and poore blynd soules, shalbee our iudges. For who hath stirrred them vp theruntoo? They had not the helpes that wee hauehave: and yit they performed their dewtie. That then is the thing which Saint Paule intended, in saying, that children ought to obey theyr fathers and moothers in the Lord.
Now he addeth, that that is ryght. As if he should say, no man shal gayne any thing by stryuing in this behalf. For wee knowe that mans mynd is so full fraught with pryde, as there is no man but hee would bee a lord. As for subiection, it irketh men to yeeld too it, vntill our Lord hauehave framed vsus too it by his holie spirit.VVis. 1. b. 6. And for that cause also is the spirit of God called the spirit of meeknesse and gentlenesse. And why?Gala. 5. d. 22. Bycause pryde maketh men lyke wyld beasts, and puffeth them vp lyke Toades, so as they cannot humble themselues. Saint Paule therfore perceyuing that this vyce is so rooted in our nature, and mynding too redresse it, sheweth that it is ryght, and that it becommeth eueryevery man too imploy him self theruntoo, and that although there bee any such sturdinesse in vsus, as wil not suffer vsus too bee subiect too our superiours, yit this ryghtfulnesse … Gods (that is too say, the rule that he hath set) must ouerwey it. For when he sayeth, it is ryght (or ryghtfull) he bringeth vsus backe too Gods authoritie: as if he should say, seeyng God hath sayd the woorde, there is no further scanning of the matter, but men must stop their mouthes, and seeyng God hath commaunded it, men must obey it, assuring themselues that his wyll is a sure and infallible rule, from the which it is not lawfull too swarue nother too the ryght syde nor too the left. And it is a good warning. For wee see that although men were willing too doo well, and had some good zeale towardes it: yit will eueryevery of vsus bee wyze in his owne conceyt, and when it commeth too the guyding and gouerning of our selues, wee will needes beare sway aboue the woorde of God. Forasmuch then as men are so fond and presumptuous, as too attribute somewhat continually too their owne wit: it standeth vsus the more on hand too marke well what is sayd heere: that is too wit, that wee must hauehave the discretion and skill, too perceyue what God commaundeth and alloweth, and lykewyse what he disalloweth. HaueHave wee then a warrant of Gods will? Wee must bee contented with it. And if he once say, This pleaseth mee: then is it ryghtfull, though wee perceyue not the reason of it. Agein, if there bee some hardnesse: yit let vsus not aske why, nother let vsus reply ageinst God, whē he condemneth the thing that seemeth not too bee vtterly euyll in our eyes. Let vsus (say I) beware of such malapertnesse and diuelishe rashnesse, and let vsus followe that which Saint Paule telleth vsus heere, that is too wit, that all that euer God hath vttered by his woord, is ryghtfull, and that wee also must auow it too bee so without geynsaying. For the trew proofe of our fayth and obedience, is that when wee thinke that this or that ought not to hauehave bin commaunded or forbidden: yit we accept it for good and auaylable, bycause God hath spoken it.
Now hereuppon Saint Paule alledgeth the commaundement of the Lawe, Honour thy father and thy moother. And agein he addeth further, that it is the first commaundement of promis. As if he should say, that God intended too bring vsus by all meanes too the subiection which wee should yeeld too our fathers and mothers. It ought too suffyze vsus that it is acceptable too God: but seeyng he allureth vsus moreouer by gentlenesse, and will not fray vsus with authoritie & force, but promyseth too prosper vsus, in seruing our fathers and moothers: that ought too make vsus too lyke the better of our subiection. Therefore Saint Paule hauing shewed vsus that wee must bee subiect too our fathers and mothers, except wee will bee rebels too God, and bend our hornes ageinst him, and turne all ryght and order vpsyde downe: addeth, that wee shall bee tootoo hard harted and wilfull stubborne, if after Gods commaūding of vsus, this promis of his moue vsus not, wherby he intendeth too induce vsus so graciously, too doo the thing that he willeth vsus. And surely if wee bee not moued, yea and euen meekened by it: it may well bee sayd, that the diuell reigneth wholly in vsus, and that he possesseth our hartes. His saying then is, that it is a commaundement which hath a speciall promis, and so hath none other commaundement of the lawe but that. The promis is, that wee shall liue long vppon the earth, yea and in prosperitie, bycause God will blisse vsus, if wee honour those that were the meanes whereby wee came into the world.
And on the other syde he sheweth what the dewtie of fathers and mothers is towardes their children: that is too wit, too intreate them gently. Not too pardon them altoogither, or too lay the brydle in their neckes,Coloss. 3. d. 2…. and too let them doo what they list: but too deale so myldly with them, as they doo not in any wyse put them out of hart (as it is sayd in another place,) but nurrish them in the feare of God. By this woord Nurrish, Saint Paule meaneth that they should deale gently with them, and shewe themselues louing towardes them. Howbeeit, this woord is also sauced (as yee would say) with nurture and correction of God. Then is there on the one syde Nurrishment, that is too say, kyndnesse and gentlenesse: and on the other side, Chastyzement and Discipline, that children may bee hild in awe, and not bee suffered too bee wanton and vnruly, but so brought vp in the feare of God, as they may knowe that God hath not left them awelesse and lawlesse, but that he hath giuen them ouerseers too rule their lyfe. This is the effect of the thing that S. Paule sheweth vsus heere.
Now too the intent wee may hauehave the fuller and certeiner vnderstanding of this text, wee must marke first of all, that (too speake properly) wee hauehave no father but only God. Trewe it is that now and then he is called the father of our soules and of our spirites,Heb. 12. c. 9. according as he is spoken of in the Epistle too the Hebrewes. Howbeeit, euen as in respect of the flesh also, the honour and dignitie of bearing the name of father,Iob. 13. b. 15. belongeth not too any mortall creature: for it is God that fashyoneth vsus, as it is sayd in the booke of Iob. Is the seede of man (which is but corruption) able to… fashyon a body, wherein appeereth so excellent woorkmanship of God? (No.) Then let vsus vnderstand, that forasmuch as our bodyes are all of them recordes of Gods woonderfull power: he onelyonly deserueth too bee hild and accounted as our father. Yit for all that, they also that beget vsus, and by whom wee bee brought intoo this world, are our fathers. By what tytle? Bycause God hath voutsafed too make them parttakers of the honour that belongeth too himselfe alone. And heereby wee bee put in mynd, that in stryuing ageinst our fathers and mothers, we make warre ageinst God. For he hath imprinted his marke in them, & that tytle of theirs dooth vsus too wit, that God hath set them as it were in his place. Therefore we must hold it for an vndoubted truth, that in honoring our fathers and mothers, wee yeeld God the seruice that he requyreth of vsus, and which we owe him. And contrarywyse, if wee despyze our fathers and moothers, and hold scorne too do… our dewties towardes them: God is expresly offended in it, not only bycause wee breake the commaundement of his lawe, but also bycause wee despyze his maiestie, whereof our fathers and moothers doo beare a certein marke, as I hauehave sayd afore. And that is the cause why there is so rigorous punnishment in the Lawe, ageinst them that were disobedient too their fathers and moothers,Leuit. 2…. b. 9. that whosoeuer had despyzed his father or moother, or vttered any cursing ageinst them, or doone them any harme, should bee stoned too death. Therefore when children bee so farre out of square, as too set lyght by their fathers … moothers: God will hauehave them dispatched out of the world: for they bee monsters, and an infection too defyle the whole earth. Also he will not hauehave any long examination, for such as lift vp themselues ageinst their fathers and moothers:…ent. 21. d. 18. 19. …0. 21. but if the father and moother hauehave once giuen this witnesse, Behold, this our sonne will not bee amended: by and by thereuppon let him bee stoned (sayeth he,) and let the world bee rid of such an infection. Gods saying so, is too shewe vsus, that it is tootoo outrageous & horrible a cryme, when children cannot fynd in their hartes too yeeld submission too their fathers and moothers: for it is al one as if they were full bent too abolish the whole order of nature. That therfore is the end that wee must begin at, to profit our selues well by this doctrine.
And the same also is the cause why Saint Paule sayeth, that wee ought too bee subiect too our fathers and moothers in God: meaning thereby, that the thing which the Paynims and vnbeleeuers conceyue darkely, ought to… bee much better knowen vntoo vsus. For the Paynims wi…t not well, how too yeeld a reason why children ought too yeeld this subiection and obedience too their fathers and mothers, sauing that it appeered that there is a certeine equitie and ryght that required it, and that that was the reason. But as for too … too this ground of the matter, that God is our father, and that he requyreth this subiection at our handes: that could they not doo. And why? For they knewe not whether there were a God that created and fashyoned them, or no. But wee which knowe that God who is our Creator, is also our father, and that too bee so, belongeth vntoo him, and that he hath reserued that honour and dignitie too himselfe: and agein, that he will hauehave fathers and moothers too be also parttakers of that priuiledge: wee must of necessitie conclude, that wee ought too obey our fathers and moothers, ye… euen in God, as though he receyued at our handes the honour and seruice which wee doo to them that represent his person and maiesty heere (as I sayd afore,) which is despyzed in the stubbornnesse and disobedience of children too their fathers and moothers.
Here agein I must put you in mynd of a thing that I spake of afore: that is to wit, that whē Gods wil is once knowē to vsus, we must brydle our selues short, & not take leaue to reply ageinst God, & to aske why God lyketh this, or dislyketh that: but admit his will as the souerein ryghtuousnesse & equitie. And where shall we fynd that will of his? In his word. For when S. Paul intendeth to proue Gods will, he soreth not in the aire aboue the clouds, but bringeth and alledgeth the things that are conteyned in the Lawe. So then, too rule our lyfe aryght, let vsus apply our whole myndes too seeke out the things that are pleasant and acceptable too God, as he sheweth them in his lawe, in the Prophets, and in the Gospell. That is all our wisdome. And let vsus beware of the ouer boldnesse which I sayd was diuelish, which is, too bee wyse in our owne conceyts, and too say, How should this bee? Why should that bee? But let vsus simply obey our God.
Furthermore here is also a promis. In deede a question myght be moued heere, why Saint Paule sayth, it is the first commaundement of Promis: seeing there is a promis added lykewyse too the second commaundement of the lawe.Exod. 2…. b. 6. For there it is sayd, I am the Lord which doo shewe merciemercy in a thousand generations, too such as louelove mee, and keepe my commaundements. Heere is a much larger promis than that wherof mention is made in this text. And how then dooth Saint Paule say, that it is the first commaundement with promis? The answer is easy: For Gods promising of merciemercy too a thousand generations in the first table, is not a restreint of it too that only cōmaundement, but an extending of it to the whole law: as if he should say, there is nothing better for you thā to submit your selues to my wil, for otherwyse you be in a cursed plyght. And for proof therof, doo not all things that you can hope for, come too you of myne only free goodnesse? Now, for my part, I will not fayle such as serue mee, and seeke too honour mee: but they shall fynde continually that I am a mercifull God. Heerin (as I sayd afore) our Lords intent is too drawe vsus too the obeying of his commaundements and ordinances with a willing mynd. And so it is no speciall promis proper too any one commaundement alone. But the promis that Saint Paule speaketh of heere, (where it is sayd) Honour thy father and mother, that thou mayst liue long vppon the earth, is peculiar (too that commaundment alone.) As if he should say, God is so gracious, that he will cause them too prosper through his blissing and fauour, which behaue themselues humbly and meekly, and yeeld dew reuerence too theyr fathers and moothers. Not without cause therfore dooth Saint Paule say, that it is the first commaundment with promis, namely with such promis as is speciall, and hath respect too none other commaundement than that.
Now let vsus come too the promis. God sayth, that such as obey so, shall liue long. Heeruppon wee may gather, that this present lyfe is not too bee despyzed, bycause it is a record of Gods fatherly goodnesse and louelove towards vsus. And in good sooth it is no small thing, that God voutsafeth to create vsus, and to set vsus in this world, not only to liue here as brute beasts, but also too reigne as his children, and too hauehave dominion ouer all other creatures. It is sayd, that his goodnesse and merciemercy extend euen too Asses,Psal. 104. b. 11. Oxen, and horses. And why? For when he maketh the earth too beare hay for Cattell: dooth he not therin shewe a wonderfull goodnesse towards the poore brute beasts, as I sayd afore? But there is a farre other reason in respect of vsus. For how inioy wee all the goods and riches wherof the earth is full? God hath powred out his bountifulnesse in that the earth bringeth vsus foorth such a sort of sundry fruts. Yea wee cannot looke vp too heauenward, hygh nor lowe, but wee may perceyue a thousand (yea infinite) records of Gods goodnesse.Psal. 104. c. 19. Too what ende shyneth the sunne, but too giuegive vsus lyght? And are not the Moone and the Starres ordeyned to doo vsus seruis? And yit are they as noble Creatures as may bee, insomuch that the heathen folk woorshipped them, thinking that there was some Godhead inclozed in them. Agein, when wee looke downward, wee see what good things God hath appoynted for our vse. And although he feede the beasts,1. Cor. 9. b. 9. 10. yit in the end all redoundeth too vsus, according as Saint Paule speaketh of them, saying: hath God a care of the beasts? That is to say, when as God voutsafeth too succour the beasts in their neede by his prouidence, he doth it for mens saks. Seing thē that God hath harborowed vsus after such a sort to make vsus possesse so many good things, besyds his creating of vsus after his owne image and lykenesse: is it not an inestimable benefyte? So then, this present life is not to be hild scorne of. But there is yit more: God hath set vsus heere as it were in a iourney, too come too a further matter: that is too wit, too the euerlasting rest, and too the heritage of heauen. Then if this present lyfe guyde vsus thither, that is too say, too the glory which God hath prepared for vsus, and which was purchaced for vsus by the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ: therbey wee see that it is a great benefyte, and meete too bee esteemed at our handes. Trew it is, that there are so many myseries in our lyfe, that it were much better for vsus neuer too hauehave bin borne, than too linger (continually) as wee doo. Therefore if a man consider how wretched our lyfe is in it self, and too what a number of greefes, anguishes, peynes, and vexations it is subiect: surely he will say, it were better neuer too hauehave come out of our moothers womb, than to enter into such a sea of confuzion as we see vppon earth. Neuerthelesse when all commeth to al, we shal fynd that Gods goodnesse exceedeth all the chastyzementes that he sendeth vsus for our sinnes. This lyfe should of it self bee nothing but happinesse and rest, if God made vsus vsus not to reape the frute of our sinnes & transgressions. Yit notwithstanding when as God dooth now and then afflict vsus with some barrennesse, or kill our vynes with frost, or drowne our Corne with wet, or parche it vp with drought, and (too bee short) send vsus famin and derth: they bee as a rod of God, too shewe vsus that in sted of his former leberalitie, he is now become contrarie to vsus. Likewyse are the plague, warre, particular diseases and sicknesses, harmes, reproches, and all other such thinges as woorke vsus greefe or displeasure. They are all chastyzements whereby God putteth vsus in mynd of our sinnes and faultes, of purpose too humble vsus that wee myght knowe what wee bee, and finally too make vsus ready too forsake the world the more willingly. Howbeeit, when wee hauehave gatherrd all the afflictions, trubbles, and greefes that we see, intoo one heape: yit see we well (as I sayd afore) that God maketh vsus too feele the taste and sauour of his goodnesse, in that he gyueth vsus sustenance in this world. And this present lyfe is euer as a record of his louelove. For proof wherof, we should quayle at eueryevery temptatiō, & at eueryevery vexation that myght befall vsus in this world, were it neuer so little, if God gaue vsus not some cheering to mitigate his rigour withall. For he dooth alwayes shew such euent, as may cause vsus to cōceiue that he myndeth not to handle vsus according to our desertes, but that in his chastizing of vsus, he leaueth alwayes roome for his merciemercy,Hab. 3. a. 1. as he himself sayeth in Habacucke. Not without cause then doth God promis prosperitie in this lyfe, to such as obey their fathers & mothers. Trew it is, that Moyses ment the land of Chanaan, bycause he spake to the people of Israel which were to be settled there. Therefore as in respect of that people it was a particular lesson.Exod. 6. a. 4. b. 8▪ Yit notwithstanding, not euen wee at this day can set our foote in any place, but that wee bee after a sort harbrowghed there by God. Therfore wee must all of vsus hope for the blissing that was promised in olde tyme too the Iewes, of bringing them intoo the land that was behyghted them for their inheritance.
A man myght moue other questions heere. For wee see some that are disobedient too their fathers and mothers, which notwithstanding doo lyue still, and othersome which are of a good, gentle, and tractable nature, doo dye: so as God should seeme too disanull the promis that he made in his lawe. The answere heretoo is this. That God dooth them no wrong whom he calleth out of this world too take vp to himselfe, nother dooth he appayre their state. But too the intent wee may hauehave an euidenter and easyer answer: let vsus marke that things fall not alwayes out alyke as in respect of temporall promyses.Psal. 34. b. 10. As for example: God promyseth too prosper all them that serue and louelove him in singlenesse of hart. And how falles this out? Wee see a number of poore beleeuers, which are wretched too the worldward, and reiected and despyzed of all men. And where is this promis of God? As I sayd, we must alwayes hauehave this condition added, that God giueth vsus whatsoeuer he knoweth too bee expedient for vsus. There are twoo sortes of Gods promises: and wee must marke well that. Some of Gods promises belong too the saluation of our soules, as his receyuing of vsus too merciemercy, his pardoning of our sinnes, his shewing of vsus his will, his giuing of vsus power too withstand Satan, and his strengthening of vsus ageinst al temptatiōs, by holding vsus vp with strōg hand, that wee may neuer quayle: in all these things wee must firmly and sted…astly beleeue that God will performe whatsoeuer he sayeth, yea and farre more than our vnderstanding can see or conceyue. God then will surmount all our wit and capa…ity, in things concerning the euerlasting saluation of our soules.
But there are other promises to passe this world withall, for the easing of vsus in our miseries. In those God wil cantle vsus out our morsels, so as wee shall now and then hauehave hunger and thrist with them. Yea and yit dooth not that impeach but that he is faythfull styll. For (as I sayde) he knoweth what is meete for vsus, and therefore wee must not take his promises precyzely woord for woord in those caces: that is too say, we must not take them according too the bare letter or sound of them, too say, that God should doo all that is sayd there too the vttermost sillable: No: but wee must alwayes beare in mynd, that he knoweth what is for our behoofe and benefite. Now then, if he take vsus soone out of this world, it is bycause he knoweth it too bee for our welfare and saluation. And so yee see that God dooth not falsifye his promis, when he taketh those away in the flower of their age, which hauehave obeyed their fathers and moothers. Surely none dooth so discharge himselfe, but that he should alwayes bee found faultie, if God listed too sift him with rigour: but yit shal some hauehave doone their dewtie in such wyse, as God lyketh well of the obedience which they hauehave yeelded, and yit notwithstanding he fayleth not too take them out of the world: for he seeth that it should not bee for their profit too tarye there any longer. As for (other) reasons that are hid in him, and in his secret wisedome, it behoueth vsus too cast downe our eyes at them, bycause wee cannot atteyne vntoo them. Howbeit let vsus vnderstand, that if there were no hope of a better lyfe, those that are taken away so soone out of the world, were too bee greatly lamented. But seeing wee knowe that this world is but a pilgrimage, and this lyfe but a iourneying to bring vsus too the rest of heauen: wee must not complayne when God deliuereth vsus from the great number of miseries wherewith wee bee beseeged heere beneath, too take vsus vp too a perfect happinesse which wayteth for vsus (aboue.) But howsoeuer the cace stand, let vsus beare in mynd the thing that is sayd heere: that is too wit, that when God holdeth vsus long tyme in this world, it is as a pledge of his fatherly louelove towardes vsus. And therefore wee ought too bee the wa…er in reckening the dayes that wee liue, whyle wee bee in this lyfe. And for the same cause also dooth Moyses say in his Song,Psal. …. c. 12. that it is great wisedome when men can skyll too count their dayes, and too consider the shortnesse of their lyfe, that they may hye them apace too heauen.
But wee must also count our dayes too a dyuerse end, and for another respect, which notwithstanding is not contrarye, but both agree very well, and that is, that when wee bee come too the age of discretion, so as we know that God hath created vsus too be glorifyed by vsus in this world: wee must on the othersyde consider how wee hauehave dishonored him, and thinke continually vppon the tyme past, remembering how wee hauehave spent it: and this must wee doo from day to day, and from mooneth too mooneth. And when wee come too the yeeres end, let vsus thinke thus with our selues: Behold, God hath bound mee too him a great sort of wayes: and howe hauehave I counted his benefytes that I hauehave receyued of him all my lyfe long? Can my mynd atteyne vntoo them? Alas no, nor too the hindredth part of them. Therefore we must make a rehersall of all our yeeres and dayes, that wee may bee put in mynd too louelove and honour God, when wee see how greatly we bee bound vntoo him, for his maynteyning of vsus so long a tyme, and for his pacientnesse towardes vsus in bearing with vsus. For if wee should make comparison of the faultes that wee shall hauehave committed: there is not so little a fault which craueth not that wee should bee confounded at his hand, and yit notwithstanding he continueth styll his goodnesse towardes vsus. Therefore let vsus marke well this doctrine, that is too wit, that this present lyfe byndeth vsus too God, bycause he maketh vsus too tast his fatherly goodnesse in voutsafing too maynteyne vsus well, and in extending his bounteousnesse towardes vsus, and in being so gracious as too turne all his corrections too our benefyte and behoofe, and moreouer sheweth vsus that he will hauehave vsus too bee inured in this world too knowe him for our father, in that he giueth vsus his word and Sacraments, whereby he assureth vsus that his setting of vsus heere beneath for a tyme, is too drawe and too gather vsus in the end too himselfe. Therefore if wee consider whertoo wee bee called, and too what ende wee bee created, namely, too passe through this worlde and too bee taken intoo the heritage of heauen: wee shall perceyue that this present lyfe is well woorthie too bee esteemed, if wee consider the benefytes that God imparteth too vsus heere.
It is too bee noted heerwithall, that wee shall neuer hauehave any prosperitie nor welfare in this world, except we be in Gods fauour. Therfore in saying, that thou mayst liue long, and fare well: he sheweth that the hauing of long lyfe is not all, but that it standeth vsus on hand too feele his blissing therwith. For the wretched vnbeleuers which conceyue not the thing that I intend too declare, (that is too wit) that God powreth out his riches vppon vsus, too the intent we should knowe him too bee our father, and bee confirmed more and more in trusting too his goodnesse and louelove:) may well come too greate yeeres: but what doo they in this world? What is their lyfe? It is certeyne that all that euer they hauehave, shal turne to their greater condemnation, and their riches wherin they ioy, toogither with their delyghts and pleasures, shall but prouoke Gods wrath, and all the goods that they inioye, shall serue but too the further inchauncing of their wickednesse, and too make them the more damnable. Then is it but a wretched lyfe, if wee can perceyue no …oken of Gods goodnesse in it.
And moreouer we must proceede further to the second poynt, which is, that such as are so disobedient too God, and too their superiours, hauehave no rest, but hauehave a woorme that gnaweth their consciences, and are alwayes in vnquietnesse. Too bee short, experience sheweth, that there is no welfare in this present lyfe, except wee bee blissed of God. This diuersitie is not too bee seene alwayes as in respect of outward apparance: but yit doo the faythfull know well ynough in themselues, that God giueth them all things that they want. And so God promiseth not long lyfe only, but also his blissing. As if hee should say, you shal not liue, alonly too linger heere beneath, or too get your selues greeuouser damnation, or too repyne and too gnash your teethe, and too torment your selues with afflictions, miseries, and trubbles: but too tast my goodnesse. Although I exempt you not from the trubbles, comberances, and greefs of this world: yit shall you alwayes hauehave some cheering, so as yee may feele that I hauehave not forgot you, but that I take you for my children, yea and that all your sorrowes and greefs shall turne too your benefyte and welfare. Wheras the di…ell laboreth too keepe you from comming too mee, and too turne you away from your perfect felicitie: I will drawe you too it by meanes of the afflictions that you shall hauehave in this world. The thing therfore which wee hauehave too beare in mynd, is, that too bee filled with the benefyts which God bestoweth vppon vsus in this world, and too liue at ease, is not all that wee hauehave too desyre: but too knowe that it is God that maketh vsus too prosper, and that as he giueth vsus lyfe, so will he maynteyne vsus in it, and prouyde vsus of all things expedient and needfull for the same. Wherfore let vsus hauehave it well printed in our harts.
Now then if wee bee desyrous too inioy this promis of God: let eueryevery of vsus looke too the discharging of his owne dewtie. In deede I cannot as now go through with the things that are inioyned heere to children, & to fathers & mothers: & therfore I wil reserue thē to another tyme. Yit notwithstanding for a short conclusion, let vsus vnderstand that God allureth vsus too our dewtie, by shewing that he seeketh nothing else but our welfare and benefyte, too the intent that wee should with a frank and free hart receyue the yoke that he layeth vppon our shoulders. And although it be an irksome thing too bee subiect too those whom God hath appoynted too bee superiours ouer vsus: yit when wee hauehave first condemned our selues for it, let vsus neuerthelesse yeeld to that which he sayeth and vttereth, assuring our selues th…t he procureth our welfare, & would fayne win vsus by gentlenesse, and not by rigour: and let that make vsus the more obedient. And also generally, forasmuch as wee see that all superiorities are of God: let vsus vnderstand that wee cannot geynsay them, but wee shall lift vp our selues ageinst his maiestie, and bend our hornes ageinst him: and that contrariwyse if wee beare subiection willingly, wee may assure our selues, that it is an acceptable sacrifyze vntounto him, and not doubt that our labour shalbe lost in seruing him. Not that God will recompence vsus by his promises, as though we had deserued aught at his hand: but he wil doo it of ouerplus. For as I hauehave declared alredie, wee bee bound too obey him in all things that he commaundeth, nother must wee think him beholden too vsus for it, nor think too bynd him too vsus by any meanes, but that although wee bee bound too him, (as wee bee wholly his) yit he of his ouerflowing goodnesse voutsafeth too blisse vsus, and too make vsus feele his fauour, when wee hauehave awfully and reuerently followed the things that he ordeyneth in his woord. That then is the recompence which wee ought too hope for at Gods hand: howbeeit not as the Papistes say, ho, God promiseth vsus, and therfore we deserue. They beare themselues on hand that God is beholden vntoo them, bycause he hath bound himselfe willingly: yea, but that is of a free (and vndeserued) goodnesse. Howbeeit, wee must not fall intoo such dotages, but vnderstand that God beyng no whit at all bound vntoo vsus, dooth notwithstanding voutsafe too win vsus by gentlenesse, too the intent wee should serue him with the freer mynd and cheerfuller corage. Thus dooth he call vsus too him by all wayes. And therfore so much the leauder are wee, if wee bow not our neckes willingly too giuegive our selues wholly vntoo him, without seeking of any thing but onelyonly too frame our selues too his good pleasure and will, which is our cheefe rule, by renounceall our owne affections.
Now let vsus fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God, with acknowledgment of our faultes, praying him too voutsafe too burye them, and too washe vsus from them, for our Lord Iesus Christes sake, and too gouerne vsus in such wyse by his holy spirit, as wee may bee reformed too obey wholly his holy will, and too follow his commaundements, which he hath giuen vsus for a rule, and that therin we may shew our selues too bee his trew children, lykewise as he hath voutsafed too she… himselfe our gentle and louing father. And so let vsus all say, Almyghtie God heauenly father. &c.