Sermons on Ephesians, Sermons · Sermon 45
The .xlv. Sermon, which is the third vppon the sixth Chapter.
10. Moreouer my brethren, bee strong in the Lord, and in the mightinesse of his povver.
11. Put on the complet harnesse of God, that yee may stand out ageinst the assaultes of the diuell.
12. For our vvrestling is not ageinst fleshe and blud, but ageinst Principalities, ageinst Povvers, ageinst the Lordes of the vvorld, (euen) the rulers of the darknesse of this world, (and) ageinst the spirituall vvickednesses vvhichwhich are in the heauenly places.
WEe knowe that prospertie dooth so puffe men vp, as they beare themselues on hand that they ought too bee priuiledged, and theyr state exempted from the common aray: and too bee short, that they ought too doo what they lyst. On the contrary part, the poorer sorte which are despyzed and shaken of, thinke that God hath as good as forgotten them, and thereuppon they cannot conceyue that he hath any care of them. Therefore it is expedient that such as are so drunken with presumptuousnesse, as they take ouermuch vppon them vnderunder colour that they bee in credit and authority, should hauehave their corages abated, and heare it told them, that they hauehave a mayster in heauen, too punish them, though they scape the handes of men. On the other syde, it is requisyte that they should be comforted which are redye to quayle, and should bee tempted too fall intoo despayre. And Saint Paule shewed them both heere. For he telleth the Seruants they neede not bee afrayd but that God regardeth them, so they walke in his feare, and that he hath a care of them, and accepteth their seruice, as well as though they were in honorable state, and very great dignitie too the worldward. And vntoo the maysters he sayeth, they hauehave a superiour in heauen, before whom they must yeeld their account, and that there their greatnesse and hyghnesse will not go for payment. For al those things are nothing before God, bycause all things that beare a great glosse and countenance too the world, doo vanish away when they come before the souerein iudge. On the other syde also heere followeth that which is sayd in another text,1. Thes…. 5. c. 14. namely that they which are faynt harted, must bee comforted: for else they myght quayle, bycause it would seeme too them, that God regardeth them not: I speake of such as are despyzed too the worldward. Therefore it must bee told them, that God hath not forgotten them, though it bee his will too keepe them lowe for a…yme. It behoueth eueryevery of vsus too apply this too his owne vse, according too the state that God shall hauehave set vsus in. For when wee bee trubbled wrongfully, when men make none account of vsus, when men shake vsus of: if wee imagin that God hath giuen vsus ouer too, wee cannot call vppon him. And on the other syde also, wee cannot serue him with a free hart, bycause wee thinke it is but labour lost, & too no purpose. Therfore when we be assayled with such temptation, let vsus call this lesson too rememberance, which is, that though wee bee now afflicted in this world, and men laugh vsus too scorne, and spit in our faces, and too bee short, though wee indure all the reproche that can bee: yit wee fayle not for all that, too bee in the safe keeping of our God, bycause he esteemeth vsus & setteth store by vsus, and will in the end shewe that he dooth so, insomuch that although wee linger and pyne away, and he withhold himselfe as it were hidden from vsus, and a man myght deeme (according too naturall vnderstanding) that wee bee (as yee would say) razed out of his rememberance: yit neuerthelesse, after he hath hild vsus vnderunder for a whyle, and tryed our humilitie & obedience: wee shall fynd, that our walking faythfully and vncorruptly in his feare, shal bee admitted in our account in the end, and that we hauehave not labored for mooneshyne of the water, as they say. That is the thing in effect which we must beare in mynd, when the great personages of the world exalt themselues in their pryde, and are able to trample vsus vnderunder their feete.
Howbeeit, let all such as hauehave superioritie ouer others, aduyze themselues well, and consider that God hath not giuen them the brydle without reseruing his owne ryght too himselfe, but that both great and small must bee fayne too appeere before his iudgment seate, and there there wilbe no accepting of persons. Wherfore let such as are riche, let such as are in authoritie, let such as hauehave any aduantage aboue their neyghbours, remember wel this saying, that there is no accepting of persons before God: but that although that in this world one man goes before, & another followes after: yit when the Trumpet soundeth, so as wee must all come before the great Iudge: then there shalbee no more any such difference. And for the same cause are euen Kings and Princes brought too that poynt, and too that consideration in the Psalme,Psalr. …. …. 6. where it is sayd, Yee bee Gods, and yee bee children of the hyghest: which is, bycause God hath ordeyned thē to be as his leeutenants, and set them in hygh degree. Trew it is that this must stand in force for a tyme: but yit shall yee dye as men (sayeth he) and as any one of the common people, and then shall yee bee driuen too knowe that yee were but mortall men. For all these great and gay shewes shall then bee layd awater. And of a truth, the setting downe of the woord Person, ought too put vsus well in mynd, that they bee but temporall things, and that wee cannot bring any of them with vsus before God, as though they were our owne. Trew it is tha… in our common speech we take the woord Person it another sense: for we call a man or a woman a person. But when the Scripture speakes of it, it meaneth all things that are without vsus, as riches, states, offices, nobilitie, great birth, and all things that men possesse in this world, and whereof they may also bee bereft. Therefore when it is sayd, that there is no accepting of persons before God: it is as much too saye, as he will iudge vsus simply as mortall men, and as brittle and frayle creatures, and that wee cannot sheeld our selues with one thing or other, insomuch that the richest cannot bring their treasures, landes, and possessions with them, to aduaunce themselues with them aboue others. They that hauehave bin in any great dignitie, shall not say, how so? EueryEvery man trembled vnderunder mee. Such geere shall bee nothing woorth afore God. All the greatnesse and all the authoritie of the world will serue too no purpose, but eueryevery man shall be taken as a chyld of Adam. So then, let such as hauehave any occasion too exalt themselues, beare well in mynd, that all the thinges which hauehave any gloriousnesse too the worldward, and are esteemed and had in reputation, shall fade away lyke smoke, and bee consumed too nothing, when wee come too bee iudged of our God. And therefore let all men both great and small lyue in humblenesse and trust.Iames. 1. b. 9. And that is the c…se why Saint Iames sayth, let him that is small, glory in his hyghnesse. Why so? Bycause God hath adopted vsus too his children, and although wee bee but poore earthwoormes, and euen men themselues account vsus as filth and dung: yit hath God voutsafed too print his marke in vsus, that wee myght bee knowen too be his children, and that he hath giuen vsus leaue to call vponupon him as our father with full mouth. Therefore wee hauehave iust cause too glory, notwithstanding that wee be of lowe degree. For wee hauehave a hyghnesse whereby God exalteth vsus aboue all the world. And on the contrary part, Saint Iames sayeth, that he which is great, must glory in his lowenesse. For wheras the vnbeleeuers are so bewitched with pryde, that they despyze God, and (as I sayd afore) doo beare themselues on hand, that they bee exempted from all lawe, and that their state is set alone by it selfe from all the rest of the world: the beleeuers must vnderstand, that all the dignitie and excellencie in the world, serueth but for a tyme, and passeth away, and that when wee come before God, wee shall hauehave nother one thing nor other to clothe our selues withall. Too bee short, the things which the scripture calleth Persons, are as apparels and clothings. Let vsus take this similitude: If he that is richly apparelled, thinke too scape from God, vnderunder colour that he gazeth at his owne gay fethers, and that the world woondereth too beholde him: he deceyueth himself very much. For all those things must bee layd asyde when God calleth vsus too iudgement. Agein, the poore folke that scarsely hauehave wherwith too couer halfe their body, yea and that but with a fewe ragges and torne cloutes, must not thinke themselues the lesse esteemed (of God) for all that. For there shall bee no more persons, that is too say, there shall bee noth … riches nor pouertie, honour nor bacenesse: wee must all appeere as wee bee, that is too say, mortall men, and children of Adam. That is it in effect which wee hauehave too gather vppon that lesson.
After Saint Paule hath shewed eueryevery mans dewtie particularly: now he returneth agein too generall doctrine. For (as I sayd afore) there is one rule common too all men without exception, which is the same that is conteyned in Gods lawe, namely that wee should leade a holy lyfe, giuing our selues ouer vntounto his seruis: and also louelove one another, liuing chastely and soberly, in all myldnesse and honestie. This is common. But it is sayd afterward, that eueryevery man must hauehave an eye too his owne calling, as, the husband hath a speciall dewtie towards his wyfe, and the wyfe towards hir husband, as wee hauehave seene hertoofore: for Saint Paule hath layd foorth all those things. Now he attempereth his talk too all men, saying, Moreouer my brethren, bee strong in the Lord. Wherin he sheweth that wee cannot giuegive our selues too the seruing of God without hardnesse, but must take peynes too prepare our selues thertoo. Trew it is that if wee were whole and sound, and that our nature were vncorrupted, it would neuer dare vsus to liue according too Gods commaundement: nay rather it would be our whole pleasure, accordingly as the faythfull doo feele by experience, when God hath touched them too the quicke. And for that cause also dooth our Lord Iesus Christ say,Math. …. d. 30. that his yoke is nother hard nor rough, nor his burthen heauie: as if he should say, that he desyreth nothing but too guyde vsus by all gentle aud louing meanes. But if wee consider what wee bee: that is too say, how vnable wee are too bee firme and constat, and too hold out in the way which God sheweth vsus: surely wee shall well see how it is not without cause, that Saint Paule exhorteth vsus heere too bee strong. As if he should say, I hauehave exhorted you hithertoo too doo your dewties: but I knowe well that eueryevery of you shall fynde such stubornnesse in him self, as he shal not be able too ouercome his wicked lusts but by fyghting manfully. And though you be weake, yit think not that that ought to serue for excuce. When your passions on the one syde are stubborne and rebellious ageinst God, and your selues on the other syde are frayle: think not that that shall quit you before God: for yee shalbee condemned in your sinnes neuerthelesse. What is too bee doone then? Bee yee strong in the Lord (sayeth he:) that is too say, wheras most men doo welter in their sinnes, and think themselues discharged by…use their thoughts and affections are so rebellious ageinst the ryghtuousnesse of God: you knowing all the same miseries must mislyke of your selues for them, and seeke the remedie of them. And what is that? Strengthen your selues: that is too say, wee must inforce our selues: As if hee should say, It is a hard thing too walk aryght: for wee shall hauehave as many impediments as may be. The diuell wil not ceasse too seeke all meanes possible too thrust vsus out of the way, and wee shall hauehave store of oppressions and vexations, for he hath slyghtes ynow and too many, and besyds that, he assayleth vsus now after one maner, and now after another, and we hauehave not wherwith too resist him. Therfore it behoueth vsus too get strength too vsus.
Howbeit, he sayth, in the Lord, least men should imagin themselues able too furnish out the matter with their owne freewill, and with their owne cunning. Therefore, Bee yee strong in the Lord (sayeth he) yea and in the myghtinesse of his power. When hee dooeth vsus too wit, that God will vtter such power, as wee shal not neede to doubt of victorie ageinst all that the diuell can practyze, so we bee not rechlesse, ne fall asleepe. Wherfore let vsus call vppon God, that he may help vsus and succour vsus at our neede. So then, let these twoo things go toogither with vsus: that is too wit, first wakefulnesse, and such care as the faythfull should hauehave too strengthen themselues: and on the other syde, hartie desyrousnesse too call vppon God. And this is a text well woorthie too bee marked, as which conteyneth a greate matter in fewe woords. For first wee see that wee must not bee slothfull if wee couet too rule our lyfe according too Gods will, but forasmuch as eueryevery man beareth with him self, and we desyre nothing but too shake of all care, and too cast the things at our backs (as they say) which myght trubble vsus: too the end wee bee not so nyce, wee must mark first of all, that if wee will serue God, wee must inforce our selues, and that is as much to say as we must fyght ageinst the diuell. For (as I sayd afore) he is not ydle, nother will he suffer any of vsus to doo our dewtie with such ease, as though wee did but walk vp and downe in some foyre place: but he will set thornes, and cast logs in our wayes too stop vsus. Agein, he will giuegive such girds at vsus, as shalbee ynough too ouerthrow vsus a hundred tymes, before wee can step one pace, vnlesse God ayd vsus. Forasmuch therfore as wee cannot walk in the feare of God without fyghting: wee ought too beare Saint Paules warning in mynd. Furthermore he intendeth also too make vsus perceyue our owne weaknesse. For wee knowe that men doo beare much with themselues, and seeke nothing but too welter in their pleasures. Also there are which presume vppon their owne strength, & beare thēselues on hand that they be able to worke wonders as though they were as stout as could bee requyred. And this cursed perswasion hath deceiued wretched mē in al ages, and by that meane hath freewill trotted in eueryevery mans mouth. But S. Paule telleth vsus heere, that wee hauehave neede too bee strenthened: which saying importeth that wee bee weake by nature.
And afterward he expresseth him self yit better, in saying, that it is in the Lord that wee must bee strong, and that he hath all power in him, too giuegive therof vntoo vsus, as much as needeth. Then if wee enterpryze any thing without calling vppon him, wee shalbee punished for our rashnesse and pryde. Saint Paule therfore sheweth vsus, that men cast themselues into decay by their ouerweening, in imagining themselues too hauehave that which they hauehave not, which conceyt turneth them away from calling vppon God, Now it myght bee sayd heere, that it is a superfluous exhortation too bid vsus bee strong in the Lord: for no man is able too vphold him self: that lyeth not in any bodies power too doo. (No:) but yit for all that, wee feele by effect, that God woorketh in such wyse in vsus, that wee doo the same things that he dooeth. But yit must that woorking needs bee amyable too vsus. If a mā hauehave liued holily, so as he may hauehave bin as a mirrour of holinesse and of all vertew: it may well bee sayd, he hath doone this or that. And in deede wee bee not as timber logs: and therfore wee doo good. Yea, but yit must wee vnderstand that this (woorking) commeth from elswhere than of our selues: and there lyeth the knot of the cace. Then if it bee demaunded, whether men can doo good or no: yea, but not of themselues, nor of their owne selfmouing, or of their owne kynd, but (only) bycause they bee guyded by the holie Ghoste. If it bee demaunded whethr men can doo euill: yea, they bee giuen wholy too it, it is their common byasse. So then, men doo euill of themselues, and the roote of it remayneth in them, and the blame of it is ryghtly imputed vntoo them, and they must not fetch wyndlasses aboue nor beneath too fynd tryflyng shiftes. Whosoeuer hath doone euill, shall abyde alwayes in his condemnation: but let vsus consider well that God woorketh in vsus when wee doo good, and the prayse thereof ought of ryght too bee giuen too him. Howbeeit, although there bee nothing in vsus nor on our syde when wee serue God: yit notwithstanding S. Paule exhorteth vsus not in vayne, in saying that wee must bee strengthened in God.Phil. 2. …. 12. 13. For wee must not bee lazie, as he speaketh of it in another place, where he sayth, woorke your saluation in feare and trembling, for it is God that giueth both wyll and the abilitie too performe it, and all according too his good pleasure freely and of his owne mercy. This saying seemeth straunge at the first blush, when S. Paule wylleth vsus too woorke our saluation. For is that in vsus? (No:) But he correcteth that which myght bee conceyued through presumption and ouerweening, by saying that it must bee done with trembling, and that wee must walke in feare: that is too say, wee must distrust our selues, yea and bee vtterly abashed, assuring our selues that wee cannot stirre one of our little …ngers, no nor thinke one good thought (as he sayeth in another place:2. Cor. 3. b▪ 5.) except God giuegive it vsus from aboue. And afterward (which confirmeth this matter yit better) he addeth for a conclusion, that God giueth both the wyll and the performance of the wyll. Then is it God that dooeth all, and yit ceasse not wee too doo also: yea, but that is by him, and of him, as I hauehave declared already. Too bee short, the holy Scripture sayeth, not that God doth renew vsus, and that when wee bee begotten agein by his holy spirit, wee begin too hauehave a good mynd and too bee well inclyned: too the intent wee should bee slothfull and ydle, but too the intent that God should bee glorifyed, and wee not imagin our selues too bee the woorkers of our owne saluation, but yeeld him the honour of all the good that he hath put intoo vsus. Howsoeuer the world go, yit must wee bee watchfull, that is too saye, wee must keepe good watch ageinst the diuell, and indeuer too giuegive our selues too goodnesse, so as eueryevery of vsus inforce our selues, for wee must imprizon our owne wit, and wicked will too make them obedient too God: but yit must all bee acknowledged too bee of him.
His adding of these woordes, of the myghtye povver of God, is too make vsus ouercome all distrust, for wee see wee bee geuen too bee out of hart, insomuch that if wee cannot compasse the thinges as wee would, which he commaundeth vsus, wee conclude, that in the end wee must needes quayle. But contrarywyse Saint Paule sayeth, that God will vtter a myghty and victorious power, according as it is sayd, that he which is on our syde is stronger than all the world. Seeing then that God taketh our part, and vpholdeth vsus with his power: let vsus not feare too bee surpryzed by Satan and all that euer hee can deuyze ageinst vsus, but that whatsoeuer distresses betyde vsus,2. Cor. 12. c. 9. in the end wee shall ouercome all, euen by resting vppon Gods inuincible power. And of a truth God perfecteth his power in our weaknesse: that is too say, he woorketh not in such wyse, but that in the meane … go limping, and are plukt backe, and stumble, and step man… pace awry, and now and then start out of the way. Yee see then that our Lordes assisting of vsus with his holy spirit, is in such wyse, as he holdeth vsus styll in awe, too giuegive vsus occasi…n too humble our selues. Our weaknesse therfore is mingled with the strength of Gods assistence, and that is too the end wee should knowe what neede wee hauehave too call vppon him, and too flee too him for refuge. For wee bee redye ynough of our selues too barken Gods glory. And therefore God is fayne too waken vsus, and too say vntoo vsus, wretched Creatures, should yee not bee forlorne a hundred thousand tymes, if I hild yee not by the hand▪ Now then, our Lordes leani…g of infirmities in vsus, is too drawe vsus too him, and too subdew vsus too meeknesse, that wee may hauehave matter too prayse him for, in that he suffereth not our falles too bee deadly: and agein, that wee should seeke him eueryevery minute of an houre, knowing that if he helped vsus not vp agein, and hild vsus on our feete, wee should perish without any mercye. That then is the cause why that vntoo Paules former saying, wee must also ioyne this sentence, that God doth in deede leaue some weaknesse in vsus as long as wee lyue in this world, but yit ceasseth not too vtter his inuincible power in making vsus too get the vpper hand: and that wee must dwell vppon this concluzion, that when Satan hath wrought the vttermost that he can, yit must wee marche on neuerthelesse, and keepe our way too our iournyes end. And why▪ For it is not onelyonly sayd, that God will humble vsus, and that he will hauehave pitye vppon vsus: but also that his power shal shewe it selfe in succoring vsus, and that not with a single and common operation, but with a myghtye power, that is too say, with a power that shall ouercome all the lettes of the world.
Now then wee see what diuersitie there is betweene the doctrine of the Papistes, and the doctrine that we follow, which is grounded vppon the holy Scripture. For these blynd wretches say, they can woorke woonders by their freewill. In deede they will giuegive some little snippet vntoo God, saying, that he supplyeth their wantes, bycause they bee inclined too euill and too vyce, but that they bee restreyned by him. God therefore is as a pretie fellowe too help them at a dead lift: but in the meane whyle it is their owne freewill, and their naturall power that beares all the sway. But when they hauehave made the vttermost of their owne strength: yit doo men dwell alwayes in doubt, & if they happē to hold their own one houre, by and by they slumble, and can neuer get vp agein. But contrariwyse wee hold opinion, that man must bee vtterly beaten downe (as wee bee taught by the holy Ghost,) so as wee may not hauehave one drop of power resident in our selues, but bee vtterly emptied. Are wee once at that poynt? Our Lord sheweth vsus the remedye. If wee repayre too him, and acknowledge our wantes, and bee redy too beg, so as wee hauehave our mouthes open, and bee not pu…t vp with mynd, but (rather) vtterly emptye: then dooth our Lord assure vsus, that he will not fayle vsus, and wee shall hauehave whereof too presume, howbeeit not after the manner of the Papistes, who make their brags… and aferwarde come short (of theyr reckening,) and are put too vtter shame. On our part, when wee hauehave acknowledged that nothing wee bee, nor nothing can doo, wee resort vntoo God, too glory ageinst Satan, and ageinst all the assaultes that he giueth vppon vsus, and ageinst all the munitions of hel, and ageinst all the impedimentes and temptations in the worlde. Thus yee see how wee ought too put this lesson of Saint Paules in vre.
After he hath spoken so of the myghtye power of God: now he addeth, that vvee must arme our selues vvith his complet Harnesse. As if he should say, that it is long of none but our selues, that wee bee not wel armed and weaponed too ouercome all Satans assaultes, and that our owne negligence is the cause that wee bee so often vanquished a…d foyled. And why? For God not only promiseth to succour vsus by his power, and that in such measure, as wee shall get the vpper hand: but also putteth meanes intoo our handes, and armeth vsus: and yit notwithstanding wee hang vp our armour vppon the wall. And is it any maruell if wee bee taken vnwares, or bee vnable too resist at the pinch, when wee hold scorne too vse the meanes that God offereth vsus, and are so neere our hand? Now what is this armour? Saint Paule will shewe it in dew place, as now let it suffize vsus too knowe his intent. Then whereas it is sayd, that wee must bee armed with Gods complet harnesse: it is too rebuke and quicken vp our rechlesnesse, in letting the things alone which he offereth vsus. In deede wee will lyke well if a man tell vsus that God is redye and foreward too succour vsus, and that we neede not too doubt of victorie ageinst all our enemies, so long as he is on our syde: we accept this geere willingly: but in the meane whyle wee bee contented too sit styll, and it is not for vsus too incounter our enemie, for he is farre too strong for vsus. But yit must wee in this cace incounter hand too hand: and wee would that Gods armours should lye styll, and bee prepared for vsus without vsing of them. For this cause are wee commaunded too put them on, that is too say, too apylye them too our vse, sith our sta…e is such, as wee must maynteyne battell, and it pleaseth God that wee should bee so armed, and that the diuell should not come vppon vsus vnprouded.
And Saint Paule not onelyonly vseth the woord Armor or Harnesse: but also addeth, all the furniture, as if he should say, wee must bee armed from top too toe. And that shalbe set foorth particularly yit better heerafter. Howbeeit his meaning in this text, is that our vnthankfulnesse is knowen so much the more, in that God armeth vsus at all poyntes, so as nothing is missing, except the fault bee in our selues. In deede wee will not sticke too put on some part of the armour that God giueth vsus: howbeeit, it is but as if one man should clap on his Morion for a countenance, & take nother Target, nor Corselet nor any thing else: and another catch vp his swoord, and the third his halberd, & in the meane whyle eueryevery of them want many other things that they should hauehave neede of. So wee perhaps apply some part of Gods armour too our vse: that is too say, wee will not vtterly reiect or refuze all the grace that he offereth vsus. But there is none of vsus all that armeth himselfe as he should doo: that is too say, which is fenced with all the vertues that God giueth him. For it is certein, that both from the ryght hand and from the left, from aboue and from beneathe, God ordeyneth meanes for vsus too fyght withall, which are sufficient, so wee despyze them not, but vponupon knowledge of our want, receiue the things which he giueth vsus so liberally.
And too the intent wee should bee the more prouoked too arme our selues, and too receyue the helpes that God giueth vsus: S. Paule addeth, That yee may vvithstand all the assaultes of the D…uell. Heere he confirmeth the matter that I spake of afore: that is too wit, that wee cannot serue God at our owne ease, as though there were nothing too let vsus: as, a man may go too his woorke all day long, and it shall go foreward quietly, bycause he is not distrubbled. But it is not so in the obedience which the faythfull should yeeld too their God. And why? The diuell ceasseth not too trubble them, and too woorke them a thousand spytes and incomberances. Therefore if wee desyre too walke in the feare of our God: wee must bee armed, that …ee may bee ready too battell, for our enemye wyll neuer let vsus rest. And for that cause Saint Paule setteth downe many assaultes of Satan. As if he should say, Satans assayling of vsus too bring vsus too wickednesse, is not for once or twyce and away: but he maynteyneth a continuall battell, and when he hath giuen vsus o…e alarum on the one syde, he commes about agein on the other, insomuch that besydes our owne inforcing and strengthening of our selues, wee hauehave neede of armour too repulse our enemy, on which syde soeuer he assayle vsus.
And agein he amplyfyeth it yit better, saying, that our fyghting is not only ageinst flesh and blud: but (also) ageinst the powers, and principal…ties of the aire, ageinst the Lords of the world, and ageinst wicked Spirits, which fyght from heauen ageinst vsus: Commonly when wee hauehave too doo with an enemy that is not greatly able too anoy vsus, so as wee feare not that he can doo vsus any harme: wee despyze him, and that is oftentymes a cause, that such as yee would esteeme too bee the valeantest in the world doo come short home. And why: Bycause they despyzed their enemye. But Saint Paule telleth vsus, we hauehave to do with other maner of wyghts than mortall men: and yit wee feare them not. If a man hate vsus, although he bee not of any great abilitie: Yit hauehave wee a flea in our eare (as they say) and wee think it wisdome too preuent the things that our enemie can practyze ageinst vsus. But specially if our enemyes be myghtie and strong, and wee vnable too stand ageinst them, and too repulse them: then are wee as much amazed as may be, & yit they be but mortall men as wee be. Howbeit S. Paul tels vsus, we hauehave not to fyght ageinst mortal mē, but ageinst enemies that doo farre passe thē. And for that cause doth he cal them powers and principalities, giuing them authoritie as though they had the ouer hand of vsus alredye. If wee were too fyght with an enemye that were ouer our head, it would trubble vsus curstly. Now such are the diuells: they hauehave that aduauntage of vsus: for they bee named euen Kings of this world: and besyds that, they hauehave a thousand wyles and policies. And therfore it is sayd, that they not only assayle vsus with force, but also lay so many stales and ambushes too intrappe vsus, as wee could not scape them, if wee stoode not vppon our gard. Heere it standeth vsus on hand too bee throughly waked, though wee were not only asleepe, but also as it were in a swound. Yit notwithstanding, this warning dooth little boote vsus: for wee see how cold wee bee in buskling our selues to the battell. Saint Peter telleth vsus the lyke,1. Pet. 5. b. 8. though he vse not the same woords. For in saying that the diuel is as a roring Lyon, going about and seeking some pray to deuoure, so as he will swallowe vsus vp …ut of hand, if wee bee not waking: hee sheweth vsus that it is not for vsus too bee rechlesse and out of feare, but rather too sticke well too our talking. Not that wee should bee afrayd out of measure: for the intent of Saint Peter and Saint Paule in setting foorth the diuells force, is not too discomfort vsus and dismay vsus, that wee should conclude (with our selues:) how shall wee then doo? wee bee quyte past hope of recouerie. No: but Saint Peter addeth, withstande him beeing strong in fayth. And Saint Paule sayeth also vntoo vsus: the diuell is strong and myghtie, but yit God surmounteth him: and if yee bee armed with his power, feare not but yee shall farre ouercome Satan and all his assaultes, and in the ende get the vpper hand of him. So then, the thing that wee hauehave too beare in mynd, is that as oft as wee perceyue the lets that hinder our walking where God calleth vsus, and our holding out as were requisyte: we must acknowledge our owne infirmitie, and condemne all the foolish ouerweening of poperie, as their freewil, their works of preparation, and all things which they imagin themselues too bring vntoo God. Let all such stuffe vanish away. And when wee hauehave acknowledged that wee can doo nothing at all of our selues: then let vsus on the other syde consider who is our enemie, and bee afrayd: not as men in a maze too sinke in our owne wretchednesse: but that the same may the better waken vsus, and driue vsus too seeke succour at Gods hand by prayer and supplication, and too imbrace his promises with fayth, which shall get the vpper hand of all the world. And therwithall let vsus not doubt but that God wyll alwayes hauehave the vpper hand of Satan and of all his practizes. For he hath promised too vse an infinite power, whensoeuer the cace concerneth the succoring of vsus. Yee see then that wee must walke in feare and warenesse. And why? Bycause wee bee beseeged with many enemyes, and yit are destitute of all goodnesse, and giuen too al euill. Then standeth it vsus on hand to distrust our strength, and too mourne, and too bee quickened vp with feare, bycause of our enemyes, which might so deuoure vsus at the first chop with one grayne of salt (as men say) as wee should bee vtterly vndoone. For not onelyonly once, but a hundred thousand tymes should wee bee ouerwhelmed by the power of the Diuell, if our Lord vphild vsus not. But howsoeuer wee fare, let vsus marche on with our heades vpright, pr…suming vppon the helpe that is promised vsus from aboue: and wee shall feele it in such wyse, as wee shall continue vnuanquishable. And although wee alwayes hang our wings, and indure hote skirmishes, … as e…ewhyles wee feele stinking hartgrypes,2. Cor. 12. c. …. (as in deede God will performe hys strength in our weaknesse:) yit howsoeuer wee fare, let vsus not doubt but all shall turne too our benefyte, and that euen our trubbles shall bee a meanes too make vsus modest, and serue vsus for spurres too pricke vsus foreward too call vppon God, and moreouer moue vsus too yeeld him thankes and honour, when wee see he hath graunted vsus the grace too ouercome our enemy, so as wee shall eueryevery minute acknowledge the goodnesse that wee hauehave receyued at his hand. Thus the way for vsus too order our lyfe well, is, first too knowe God, and afterward too vnderstand that wee bee beholden too him for all the goodnesse, and good things that wee hauehave, and therefore not bee cold and lazie, but inforc… our selues eueryevery man too glorify him, in such wyse as wee walke continually in his feare.
Now let vsus fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God, with acknowledgment of our faultes, praying him too make vsus perceyue them better than wee hauehave doone, and that our so dooyng may cause vsus too resort too him, that wee may not onelyonly obteyne forgiuenesse of our faultes past, but also bee so strengthened, as wee may order our whole lyfe according too his holy commaundementes, euen according too the measure of grace that he shall hauehave giuen vsus, vntyll he hauehave taken vsus out of this world, and rid vsus of al the vyces and spottes wherwith wee bee steyned as now. And so let vsus all saye, Almyghtie God heauenly father. &c.