Sermons on Ephesians, Sermons · Sermon 47
The .xlvii. Sermon, which is the fifth vppon the sixth Chapter.
18. Praying vvith all prayer and supplication, at all tymes in the spirit, and vvatching theruntoo vvith all instance and supplication for all the Saintes:
19. And for mee, that in opening my mouth, vtterance may bee gyuen mee vvith boldnesse, too vtter the secret of the Gospell.
MAny supposing themselues too hauehave profited well in fayth, are yit notwithstanding ignorant what belongs too prayer. They thinke it ynough if they can say, God help mee, when they see any daunger at hand, and yit in the meane whyle flee not too him for refuge. But such folke wote not too what purpose the promises serue that are made vntoo vsus. For God sayeth not singly, that he will hauehave a care of vsus, and that he will help vsus in all our needes: but also allureth vsus too him, and therewithall incorageth vsus too praying. Then cannot the one bee separated from the other, that is too wit, that wee should rest vppon the hope of Gods promises, and hauehave them throughly rooted in our hartes: and also bee stirred vp too resort vntounto our God, so as our fayth exercyze vsus in prayer and supplication. Thus see wee that they bee vnseparable things. And looke how much wee bee forewarder in fayth, so much with the earnester zele should we call vponupon our God, and acknowledge and confesse that our saluation lyeth in his hand, and that wee looke for all good things from him. And forasmuch as wee bee so …lothfull in that behalfe: he setteth downe twoo woordes, Prayer and supplication, too expresse the better that wee must not go too it coldly, nor slyghtly, and as it were for courtesie sake: but that wee must bee touched too the quicke, too continue at it (as he will adde anon after) and too hold on ryghtly without ceassing at anye tyme. Trew it is that God telleth vsus by his Prophet Esay, that he will heare vsus before wee cry,…say. 65. d. 23. and his hand shalbee redye too succour vsus before wee hauehave opened our mouth. Howbeeit, that is not too make vsus slothfull, that wee should lye gaping at him with open throte (as they say:) but too shewe that he will not suffer vsus too linger, when wee shall hauehave called vppon him, as though he were carelesse too help vsus: and that for proof thereof, he preuenteth vsus, as wee fynd by experience. Yit notwithstanding, he will hauehave vsus too yeeld a trew proof of our f…yth by praying vntoo him. For the very way for vsus too shewe truly that his promises hauehave taken effect in vsus, and that wee trust too them,Psal. 50. c. 15. is, that as soone as wee bee touched with any greef or affliction, wee go streyt vntoo him,Psal. 62. b. 9. and vnburthen our hartes there, as is sayd in another place. Now wee see how wee must make our aduauntage of Gods woord, whereby wee bee certyfied that he wil neuer fayle vsus: that is too wit, by seeking the things in him which he protesteth that wee shall fynd there. And so, prayers are as it were keyes whereby too come too the treasures that God reserueth for vsus, and which he will not keepe from vsus. Therefore wee must open the way too them by praying.
And yit Saint Paule thinketh it not ynough too say, that our fayth must bee matched with prayers and supplications too our God: but he sayeth also, Yea all prayer. As if he should say, that in all matters, in al things both great and smal, in al our dooings, whatsoeuer they bee: that must bee our shooteanker. For it myght happen that wee would call vppon God, onelyonly when wee thought on him, or else when we had some matter of importance in hand. But Saint Paule (as I sayd) will hauehave vsus too doo God that homage eueryevery where and at all tymes, protesting that wee cannot hauehave any good but at his hand, and of his mere free gift. So much importeth the woorde All. And in good sooth wee see how our Lord taketh charge of our whole lyfe, with condicion that wee should seeke too him euen for the bacest things, and for such as wee durst not requyre of our freend that were our equall and companion. Euen those things will he hauehave vsus to ask of him. For vnderunder this saying, that he giueth vsus our dayly bread, it is certeyne that he comprehendeth all that belongeth too our lyfe. Alas, what a number of small things hauehave wee neede of, which wee would bee ashamed too bee acknowen of, euen too our inferiours? And God abaceth himselfe so farre, that he voutsafeth too hauehave a care of our persons, which are but wretched and rotten carions, and yit neuerthelesse he will not hauehave vsus too stick too aske him the thinges that are expedient and needefull for vsus. Sith it is so, let vsus remember well this saying of Saint Paules, which willeth vsus too pray too our God for al things that wee deede, assuring our selues that he wil yeeld so farre vntoo vsus, as nothing shal (as yee would say) scape his handes.
And he sayeth expresly, that vvee must pray at all tymes, and in Spirit. Whereas he sayth, in Spirit: it is surely too exclude all Hipocrisye: for we knowe that the most part of the world babble ynough when they should come vntoo God: howbeeit, it is but their lippes or the tippes of their tungs that doo their dewtie. But that is not the manner that God will bee prayd vntoo and called vppon: he lyketh not of such supplications, but rather abhorreth them, bycause that when wee pray so fondly vntoo him, wee make a false shrowding sheete of him, and that is a kynd of trecherie. For if wee thinke too be heard of God for our babling, when in the meane whyle our hart is dead, and our prayers proceede not of a ryght dispozed and earnest mynd, wee make God as an Idoll, or as a little babe, wherein wee doo too great wrong to his maiestie, and to be short, we do but transfigure him after our owne fancie. Therfore it behoueth our prayers, not only to be made with our mouth, but also too come from the bottom of our hart.
And now forasmuch as we hauehave not that of our owne power: the holy Ghost must be fayne to worke therin. And therfore by the word Spirit may be vnderstood, that we should beseech God to gouern vsus in such wyse, as he touch vsus throughly, to the end we may pray to him as we ought too doo, and he also accept our prayers, acknowleding in them the marks of his holie spirit. For wee must alwayes remember how it is sayd in the Epistle too the Romans,Rom. 8. c. 26. that wee know not what too pray: for as in respect of our selues, it is a thing that surmounteth all our vnderstanding, and the ablest of vsus all fayleth in that behalfe, notwithstanding that there are a number which beare themselues on hand that they knowe perfectly howe and what too pray vntoo God. Howbeeit all such opinion dooth but shet vsus out of the gate, vnlesse that vppon the knowing of our defaults and infirmities, wee resort ryghtfoorth too the remedie,Rom. 8. …. 26. according too this saying of Saint Paules, that the spirit of God driueth vsus to vnutterable gronings which cannot bee expressed, without the which wee could not vtter so much as this woord Father: Gala. 4. a. 6.according also as he sayeth too the Galathians, that when the spirit cryeth in vsus, wee can open our mouthes too call freely vppon God,Rom. 8. c. 15. as is reherced in another place. Now then, it is certein that wee shall neuer bee throughly dispozed too pray vntoo God, except he gouerne vsus by his holie spirit.
Moreouer Saint Paules intent (as I hauehave declared alredie) is too exclude all counterfetting, and that wee should not hope too iustify our cace before God by ceremonies, or by popeholines (as they terme it) in making of long prayers and many circumstances, but suffer the spirit too beare sway. Wherfore first of all let vsus bee so touched, as the spirit may bee our mayster and teacher, and indyte the things too vsus which wee hauehave too vtter in calling vppon our God: and secondly let our prayers proceede from the bottom of our hart, & let vsus put this saying of the Psalme in vre,Psal. 145. d. 18. that wee must sue vntounto our God in truth: for it is sayd that he is not neere too any, but too such as hauehave that qualitie. And not without cause is such exposition set downe: for (as I hauehave declared alredie) wee bee so much inclyned too shifting, that (too our seeming) God ought too yeeld too vsus and too our nature: but it is cleane contrarie. Now then forasmuch as God perceyueth that men abuse his name after that fashyon, and make prayers after their owne maner, that is too say, prayers that are wrapped in hipocrisie and vntruthe, and hauehave no substancialnesse nor soundnesse in them: he sayeth expresly, that we must not hope too bee heard at his hand, nor too obteyne any thing of him, except our prayers bee ruled by a ryght meaning, that is too say, vnlesse wee pray with a hartie affection. Thus yee see what wee hauehave to remember vponupon that saying of Saint Paule. And that wheras he sayth, Stedfastly, and with holding out throughout too the ende: it is too expresse the better, that it is neuer out of season too call vppon God. And euen therefore is this added, bycause wee would fayne exempt our selues from our God. Wherein a man may well perceyue howe vnperfect our myndes are, and howe destitute of wit and reason wee be. For all our welfare consisteth in hauing accesse too our God, that wee seeke help at his hand, and too bee short, in being neere vntoo him, so as wee bee sure that he regardeth vsus, and hath a care of our welfare. And besyds that, who is he that would not fayne bee heard? Yit notwithstanding, when wee should pray vntoo God, it seemeth that wee bee haled to it as it were by force, and wee should bee rauished in louelove with it, as I hauehave shewed alredy. Now then, this vyce of rechlesnesse and coldnesse in that wee neuer pray vntounto God, but when we be compelled or constreyned, had neede to be corrected. Saint Paule therefore telleth vsus, that wee must not tarie till vtter necessitie inforce vsus, but we must vnderstand, that al times are seasonable and conuenient too resort vntoo God. Iu deede after as wee bee picked foreward, so must wee runne the swiftlyer, according as it is certeyne that wee bee as it were spurted by the afflictions and manifold trubbles that God sendeth vsus. And lyke as if an Asse wil not go, he must hauehave a good cudgell layd vppon his backe: euen so God perceyuig that wee come not too him with a good will, is fayne too drawe vsus too him as it were by violence. But yit must eueryevery man cheere vp him self, though no vrgent necessitie compell him. Too bee short, we must pray vntoo our God bothe in tyme of prosperitie, and in tyme of aduersitie. That is the thing which is ment by these woords, at all tymes.
And theruppon S. Paule sayeth, that wee must bee watchfull in it, euen with all instance, too pray for all the Saints. In saying that wee must bee watchfull, hee toucheth a vyce whertoo wee bee too much inclyned, yea and wholly giuen ouer: that is too say, that wee bee sleepie when wee should pray vntoo God, and had neede too bee waked. Bycause of our heauinesse and sluggishnesse, wee bee commaunded too wake and to keepe as it were a continuall wacth, to the end wee should not let occasions slip, but alwayes resort vntoo God with prayer. Now there is not so perfect a man, which fyndeth not this maladie by experience in him self: namely that when wee should pray vntounto God, a number of things crosse vsus, that set vsus wandering abrode: insomuch as wee shall woonder, that in sted of holding out earnestly, our mynd shalbee rouing here and there. Seeing then that wee bee so fickle, and our wits so skittish, and is hard too hold vsus …ast any whyle: it standeth vsus on hand to be the more watchfull, to the intent to bring our selues back agein intoo the good way, when we be started out of it. And let vsus not tarie till the diuell hauehave woone so much at our handes, as to plucke vsus quyte from our prayers and supplications, and to breake of the continuall course of them, and of the stedfastnes that ought too bee in them: but when wee pray, let vsus be as it were locked vp and fast tyed too it, that is too say, let all our wittes bee full bent and settled vppon the thing that wee hauehave too doo. For euen the heathen men, when they were about too make sacrifyze too their Idolls, vsed this proueth among them: whyle thou woorshippest God, doo nothing else, but bee thou so wholly occupyed and fastened theruntoo, as thou think vponupon no other thing. If God wrested such a confession from them, what ought wee to doo when wee offer him the cheef sacrifyze which he alloweth aboue all other, that is, when wee confesse our selues beholden too him for all good things? Should wee mingle our owne vanities with it, and make our prayer too bee but for custome and fashyons sake? Now then this watchfulnesse wherof Saint Paul speaketh, is verie requisyte, by reason of the fraylnesse of our wits, and specially bycause wee bee so wandering as is horrible. Seeing it is so with vsus: when wee goo about too pray vntoo God, let vsus bend our whole mynds vntounto it, and let not our wittes bee intangled about other cares and affections, but let our comming vntoo it bee as though wee had broken all other bondes. That is the cause why mention is made of lifting vp of our selues in our prayers and supplications. Trew it is that in offering our selues vntounto God, wee must come with all lowlinesse: but yit must wee lift vp our hartes in such wyse, as wee may bee after a sort in the prese…ce of our God. That (say I) is the thing that is imported by the sayd diligentnesse.
And he sayeth further, with all instance: which serueth still too shewe vsus, that if wee intend too bee wel disposed too praying, wee must not go too it lazily, yea and that if wee followe that which our owne nature sheweth vsus, wee shal bee farre of from comming at God. Therefore must eueryevery man inforce him. For seeyng Saint Paule speaketh so, it is as much as if he sayd, My freendes, yee shall fynde such a coldnesse in your selues, as yee shall neuer pray vntoo God, nother shall yee euer bee willing too pray, except ye prouoke and inforce your selues. For the Diuell will alwayes bleare your eyes, too the end yee should not see what neede yee hauehave too pray vntoo God. And if yee lye sleeping still, it will cause your God too forsake you, seeyng you bee so thanklesse as too despyze his benefites, and too yeeld him no honour for them, no nor too acknowledge that all your welfare proceedeth of him. For lyke leaud lozels, wee defyle the benefytes which God bestoweth vppon vsus, vnlesse wee acknowledge that wee hauehave all things at his hand, yea euen by crauing all thinges that wee want, of him, and also by yeelding him thankes for the things that wee receyued already. So then, let vsus learne too match our watchfulnesse with all instantnesse.
And herein wee comprehend holding out or continuance: so as it is not ynough for vsus too pray vntoo God by startes and braydes (as they say:) but wee must continue in it, and that twoo wayes. For first when wee hauehave prayed too day both euening and morning, and eueryevery houre: wee must holde on still, and neuer swarue from that trade, so long as wee lyue. For our fayth (as I sayd) must exercyze it self: and the meane too exercyze it withall is this, There is yit one other maner of perseuerance or holding out: which is, that when wee hauehave desyred God too helpe vsus in this or that, wee must repete the same request, not twyce or thryce onelyonly,Esay. 65. …. 23. but as oft as wee hauehave neede, a hundred, yea a thousand tymes. As for example, Although God hauehave told vsus that he will succour vsus before wee open our mouth too him: yit doth he not shewe it (alwayes) openly too the eye. Therefore wee must neuer bee weery in wayting for Gods helpe. Also it is not good that wee should bee heard after our owne lyking, bycause God knoweth what is meete and expedient for vsus. So then, he must gouerne vsus according too his owne will. But (as I sayd) if wee pray too him after his fashion and after his maner: he protesteth that wee shall obteyne all our requestes at his hand, euen before wee hauehave vttered them with our mouth. Yit notwithstanding he will sometymes hold vsus as it were at the staues end, in so much as it shall seeme that he is asleepe when wee call vppon him, and that he hath turned his backe vppon vsus. For this cause is perseuerance requisite, so that if wee bee pinched with any distresse, and would fayne seeke ease of it at Gods hand: we must not doo it once and away, but wee must returne too it (oftentymes,) and bee (as yee would say) importunate,Luke. 18. a. 1. according too the similitude which our Lord Iesus telleth vsus of the widdowe, which had too doo with a Iudge that was without any feare of God, or shame of the world, and yit neuerthelesse shee obteyned hir sute euen by importunatenesse. So must wee doo: that is too say, wee must bee importunate vppon our God: not that he is slowe in succouring vsus (as I sayd afore:) but bycause he will trye the constancie of our fayth. For they that pray vntounto God and fall to stomacking, chafing, and impaciencie, if he releeue them not out of hand: doo not pray vntoo him, but (as yee would say) summon him too bee at commaundement of their lustes. But it behoueth vsus too restreyne all our passions and desyres too Gods good will, so as when wee pray him too make speede, wee may neuerthelesse bee pacient, and bee contented too tary his leazure, in delaying too day or too morrowe, or as long as it pleaseth him. Yee see then that wee must continue in prayer and supplication, so as wee must pray presently for the necessities that pinch vsus too day, and lykewyse too morrow, for those that may come then: and so wee must pray ordinarily eueryevery day. And besydes this, if God list not too deliuer vsus so soone as wee fayne would: let vsus not ceasse to renew our petitions still, euen vntill wee perceiue that wee hauehave profited by our praying, and that he hauehave shewed vsus the effect of his promis.
Now forasmuch as it is hard for vsus too bee brought too pray well vntoo God: Saint Paule heere setteth vsus foorth the thing out of our owne persons, which ought too perswade vsus: that is too say, that wee bee bound too pray vntoo God, not onelyonly for our selues, that is too say, eueryevery man for himselfe: but also too hauehave a care of our neyghbours, and to respect them also. It is trew that if wee considered our owne miseries well, and the great number of sinnes that are in vsus, and the great neede which we hauehave to be succored at Gods hād: we should hauehave cause ynough without going out of our selues, too imploy our selues in prayer and supplication, yea though wee did nothing else al our lyfe long but sygh and lament before God for our offences, and pray him to reach vsus his hand, too the end that Satan might not ouercome vsus. As I sayd, wee should hauehave matter ynough in our selues. But now that wee must extend our prayers further, that is too wit, too the whole Church of God, and vnderstand that he will not hauehave mee too thinke alonly vppon my selfe, but also too bee myndfull of all his chozen, inasmuch as he hath knit mee too them, so as I must indeuer too comprehend them in my prayers as much as is possible for mee: seeing (say I) that wee bee resolued herof: it must needs bee that we be too blockish, if we be not touched yit more to the quicke, and set on fyre with this carefulnesse that is spoken of here, and therwithal continue in the same.
Howbeeit Saint Paule speaketh heere expresly of the Saintes or faythfull, but yit is that no impediment that wee should not pray generally for all men. For the wretched vnbeleeuers and the ignorant sort hauehave greate neede too bee sewed for vntoo God: for behold, they bee in the hygh way too destruction. If wee sawe a beast at the poynt to perish, we would hauehave pitie of it: and what shal we do when we see a soule in perill, which is so precious before God as he hath shewed, in that he hath raunsomed them with the blud of his owne sonne? Then if wee see a poore soule go so too destruction, ought wee not too bee moued with compassion and kyndnesse, too desyre God too remedye it? So then Saint Paules meaning in this text, is not that wee should let the wretched vnbeleeuers alone without care of them: but that wee should pray generally for all men: howbeeit he sheweth vsus therewithall, that wee must hauehave a speciall care of those whom God hath knit vntoo vsus by a streyter bond. Lykewyse when he speaketh of Almesedeedes,Gal…. …. c. 1…. his intent is that they should bee doone too all men without exception which hauehave neede: but yit he addeth, that wee must specially succour them that are of the houshold of fayth. Euen so is it with our prayers and supplications. For the spirituall brotherhood which God hath set among vsus, ought too touch vsus the more, and too make the Church of God too come before our eyes, and intoo our remembrance as oft as wee pray. And these words, Our Father, ought too teache vsus too make our prayers common. For none of vsus can say My father, alone of himselfe, but wee call him Ours, too shewe that wee ought not to hauehave such care of our selues, as to forget them that belong vntounto vsus, and are linked to vsus with so neere a knot, as I hauehave declared already. That then is the cause why S. Paule sayeth expresly, that wee must pray for the Saintes.
Now were this well printed in our hartes (as I sayd afore) wee should bee well waked too pray too our God without end or ceassing. For let vsus consider the state and plyght of the Church in these dayes. Although our Lord giuegive vsus some rest: yit are our poore brethren tormented by tyrantes, and by the enemyes of the fayth. Some are fayne too flee, some hauehave their goods taken from them, many bee thrust intoo prizon, and other some are burnt at the stake. All these poore soules are in vnquietnesse, and put too some new terrour eueryevery minute of an houre. Wee see that there is as tirrible manacing and threatening as may bee. Wee see how the diuell dryueth all those foreward with outrageous fury, which would abolish the doctrine of the Gospell. Wee see what scatterings are made by the stumbling blockes that Satan thrusteth in by his champions. Wee see how a great sort seeke nothing else but too put the Gospell too all shame. And in the meane whyle, the poore seruantes of God which imploy themselues in his seruice, are trubbled and vexed by all meanes. Then if we gather toogither all the miseries and aduersities wheretoo the Church is subiect, and consider well the distresse of eueryevery of our brethren: must it not needes bee that wee are duller than brut beasts, if wee bee not moued too pray vntoo God, yea euen with a ryght perseuerance in the same? For though I bee at myne ease too day, there are many thousands in great perplexitie: and I shewe wel that I cut of my selfe (as much as I can) from the bodye of our Lorde Iesus Christ, if I pitye not the members too whom I am linked. Not without cause therefore dooth Saint Paule set all the Saintes heere afore vsus, when be intendeth too inflame vsus the better too a ryght dispozed mynde in praying, and too continewe throughout in the same.
And therupon he requyreth also that men should pray for him. Yee shall pray for mee also, (sayeth he) that God giuegive mee boldnesse in opening my mouth, so as I may vtter the secret of the Gospell accordingly. When Saint Paule commendeth him self too the prayers of his neyghbours, therby he sheweth well in what humilitie wee ought too walk. For he did not counterfet in exhorting the Ephesians too such praying. He protesteth before God and his Angels, that he had neede of it. But now let vsus compare our selues with Saint Paule. What man is of such abilttie, that he can forbeare too bee succored by the prayers of his neyghbours, when Saint Paule exempteth not him self from it? Now then, let eueryevery man in his praying vntoo God, desyre too bee made parttaker of all the prayers that are made throughout the Churche,Psal. 145. d. 18. both generally and particularly. In deede this promis shall alwayes stand trew, that God wil bee neere at hand too all such as call vppon him. And Ionas fayled not too bee succored of God,Ionas. 2. a. 2. though he were in the whales belly. Now therfore, when we bee forsaken of men, when we be as good as dead, and the remembrance of vsus is as good as buryed: yit wil not God ceasse to regard vsus, and too cast his eye vppon vsus too succour vsus, according too this saying, that the eyes of God are alwayes vppon them that feare him,Psal. 33. d. 18. and his eares open too such as repayre vntounto him. Notwithstanding, too the intent too humble vsus the better,Psal. 34. c. 16. our Lord telleth vsus, that wee hauehave neede one of anothers help, and that there should bee an intercommoning among vsus. And besyds this, there is also another reason, which is, that he will keepe our charitie occupyed. Wherfore, let vsus learne too shewe both by our almesdeeds, and by our counsell, and by all other helpes, that none of vsus is giuen too him self, nor too his, too owne priuate profit: but that after as God hath linked vsus toogither, eueryevery of vsus coueteth too succour our members, and too communicate toogither in our prayers & supplications. For our commending one of vsus of another after that maner vntoo God, is the cheef dewtie of charitie: And therfore it caused Saint Paule too desyre the Ephesians expresly too pray for him.
Now if any man alledge that that was a signe of vnbeleef, for if this promis suffyze vsus not, that eueryevery man shall obteyne his owne requests, is it not a poynt of distrust? the answer thertoo is easy. For wheras God sayeth, that he will hauehave pitie vppon all such as seeke it at his hand: he meaneth not too disanull the thing that he commaundeth vsus in so many other texts: which is, that wee should bee myndfull one of another. Furthermore let vsus mark, that in following Gods woord wee can neuer bee blamed of misbeleef. For how comes it too passe that men fall to misbeleefe, but by passing their bounds, that they wil needs adde too that which God hath vttered? As for example: Wee see that in the popedome men hauehave forged so many patrones and aduocats, as they wote not which too beetake themselues vntoo. And whence procedeth that? Euen of that their heads bee ticklish: and agein, that they distrusted the things that are conteyned in Gods word. Wee hauehave this generall lesson,Psal. 50. c. 15. Call vppon me in the day of thy neede, and I will heare thee. God then will hauehave vsus too resort vntoo him, and too looke only at him, assuring our selues that he will neuer refuze vsus, when we pray vntounto him in his sonnes name. And our Lord Iesus Christ commeth afore vsus, and offereth himself too vsus, saying, that hee will beare woord too and fro for vsus, and that as long as we hold vsus in that path, wee neede not feare that wee shall not fynd accesse vntoo his father, or that he wil not receyue vsus familiarly. So dooth the holie scripture report. But what hauehave the papists doone? O, (say they) wee hauehave neede of aduocats too make intercession for vsus. It is trew: but our Lord Iesus Christ whō God his father hath assigned vntounto vsus, ought to suffyze vsus, forasmuch as he only is appoynted to that office. Contrariwyse the papists make Aduocats in paradyse at their owne pleasure,Psal. 110. …. …. and in the meane whyle spoyle Iesu… Christ of the priestly dignitie which is giuen him of God his father, yea euen with a solēne othe. The papists are not contented with that, but hauehave made such a patching to it, that their cace is become a horrible confuzion. As for vsus, if wee followe that which is taught vsus by Gods woord, then shall wee walk in fayth, and wee neede not feare any straying, or that wee shall bee blamed of vnbeleef: for God wil alwayes guyde vsus aryght. That then is the answere to this question and doubt which myght bee cast, whether it bee not a poynt of distrust too desyre other men too pray for vsus, seeing that eueryevery man may be heard him self, bycause that what things God hath ioyned toogither, men must not presume too put them asunder. For wee must alwayes beare in mynd howe it is sayd, that eueryevery man must occupie himselfe in praying, and moreouer drawe his neyghbours too bee matched with him: and so shall wee neuer bee turned from the fayth.
Now if any man obiect further, that our Lord Iesus Christ cannot bee the onelyonly aduocate and patrone, if wee make supplication one for another: the answer theruntoo is easie. For it is sayd, that Iesus Christ is the onelyonly mediator, and that all men both great and small must resort too him too obteyne our sutes.1. Iohn. 2. a. 1. For vnlesse our prayers bee dedicated by his holinesse, surely they shall euer bee foule and infected. When Esay was commaunded too beare the message that God had appoynted,Esay. 6. b. 5. he sayd, Alas my God, I am a man of vncleane lippes, and dwell among a people that is vncleane also. How shall I doo then when I must call vppon my God, and speake familiarly too him as it were mouth too mouth, seeing wee bee full of vncleannesse and infection? Now then, all our prayers must be sanctifyed by our Lord Iesus Christ, or else wee shall neuer fynd fauour at Gods hand. Also it is most certeyne that Christ is the only aduocate and Intercessour, and that all the auncient Patriarks were fayne too hold that rule, and lykewyse the Prophets and Apostles in their tymes, and so must wee also continew in the same. And yit for all that, wee bee not letted therby too pray one for another, inasmuch as wee hauehave albut one cōmon head, which is our Lord Iesus Christ, in whom all our prayers must bee ioyned toogither, too the intent wee may all with one accord, and with one wel tuned melody protest, that wee hauehave none other welfare, than that it pleaseth God too hauehave care of vsus, insomuch that that is our full felicitie, and vppon that trust wee come ryght foorth vntoo him. The meane then for vsus too continew euermore in the ryght way, and too see that our Lord Iesus Christ bee not defaced, is too take him for our only aduocate, and not too turne asyde one way nor other after our owne fond fancies, as is come to passe in the popedome. And wee see that the papists hauehave not bin ashamed too alledge this text, too perswade vsus too pray too Saint Peter and Saint Paule, yea too Saints of the Popes owne forging, or rather to the Idols whom the diuell hath blowen intoo his eare. But heere wee hauehave too consider that wee bee commaunded too praye mutually one for another, bycause God hath also commaunded vsus too seeke helpe and comforte at our neyghbours handes. And our Lord willeth it so, and promiseth that wee shall fynd it. After the same maner also dooth Saint Iames speake of it.Iames. 5. d. 16. Acknowledge your sinnes (sayeth he) one too another, and pray one for another: that is too say, when yee bee pressed with any temptation, and yee feele many infirmities and vyces in you: let eueryevery man vnburthen him self towards his neyghbours, and say, Alas, I hauehave such a thing that greeueth mee, I hauehave offended my God after such manner and such. And if yee doo so bewray the infirmities that are in yee: it wel stiree yee vp to pray one for another. But now is there any lyke thing betweene the Sayncts deceassed and vsus? Will Saint Peter and Saint Paule come tell vsus their sunnes, too the end wee myght pray for them? Or hauehave they eares long ynough too heere our prayers? (No:) wee see then that God intended too restreyne mennes mutuall praying one of another, to such as are conuersant in this world, and are yit in the battell. They therfore that hauehave neede of our prayers, shall also pray on their syde for vsus, and wee must doo the lyke for them on our syde. But as for them that are departed out of the world, it is not in vsus too make them our aduocats before God. For if wee cannot make an Aduocate in a matter of law, that shal not be past fyue shillings, but it is in the Iudges power too appoynt such one for aduocate as he listeth, and too put him in that office: what a presumptuousenesse is it, if wee will take vppon vsus too make aduocats in heauen? What a pryde and presumptuousnesse is it? Is it not a plucking of Gods maiestie and authoritie from him? Now then, let vsus learne too pray so one for another, as wee passe not our bounds, nor wander out one way nor other eueryevery mā after his owne conceyt, but bee contented too hauehave a care of all the members of the Church, as wee bee bound too doo, and too take comfort and ioy our selues, in that God hath voutsafed too bynd all his Churche vntoo vsus, and that by the same mutuall communicating, we (shewe our selues too) bee members of the bodie of our Lord Iesus Christ. And therwithall let vsus all tend too our head, knowing that our prayers should not bee woorthie too bee receyued, but rather bee foule, filthie, and stinking, if our Lord Iesus Christ hallowed them not by his holinesse and perfection. Knowing this, let vsus neuer presume too open our mouth too call vppon our God, but in the name of our mediatour, assuring our selues that it is his office too bearewoord for vsus, and too make vsus to bee heard, so as wee may fynd God fauorable and foreward too help vsus. That then is the meane for vsus too pray vntoo God boldly and with open mouth, as is sayd in the texts which I alledged euen now both out of eyghth to the Ramans, and out of Saint Iames, and also as wee hauehave seene in the third chapter of this Epistle. Wee must call vppon God through the beleef which wee hauehave in Iesus Christ, assuring our selues that he not only came downe intoo the world too shead his blud once for the remission of our sinnes: but also is incessantly before God too pray for vsus, so as wee bee fully resolued, that although wee bee but wretched earthwoormes, yit God accepteth vsus, and auoweth vsus for his children by his meanes, & will alwayes be mercifull in receyuing our prayers and supplications, bycause wee offer them not too him in our owne name, nor by our selues, (for in good sooth that were a foolish presumptiō of our owne imagination) but bycause he hath commaunded it, and shewed vsus the way which we should hold vsus too.
Now let vsus fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God, with acknowledgment of our faultes, praying him too pardon them, notwithstanding that wee deserue too bee quyte cut of from the hope of saluation. And forasmuch as it hath pleased him too call vsus too him, and too promis vsus that wee shalbee receyued too merciemercy, if wee come too him with fayth and humilitie: let vsus pray him too prepare our hartes in such wyse, as wee may make such requestes too him, as he alloweth: and that therewithall he so beare with our infirmities, as wee may not fayle to obteine fauour, though there be many imperfections in our prayers. And so let vsus al say, Almyghtye God heauenly father. &c.