Sermons on Galatians, Sermon 33
The .xxxiij. Sermon, which is the third vponupon the fifth Chapter.
7 Yee ranne vvel, vvho hath letted you that ye ſhould not obey the truth?
8 That counſell came not of him that called you.
9 A little Leuen ſovvreth a vvhole lump of dovve.
10 I hauehave hope of you through the Lord, that yee vvil be none othervviſe minded. But he that troubleth you ſhall beare his iudgement vvhatſoeuer he bee.
WEe knowe that God hath ſet downe ſuch a rule for vsus too liue by, that if wee giuegive eare too his word, wee ſhall not be ſubiect to walking at rouers, but ſure to hold the right way. And that is a thing wherein the faythfull differ from the faithleſſe. For all ſuch as ſubmit themſelues to Gods word, are not in any doubt or diſputation with themſelues, whither their doyngs are allowable or no: for who hath power too iudge of that matter but onelyonly God? But he hath giuen his ſentence alreadie. So then foraſmuch as mans life is lykened too a race: let vsus learne too followe whither ſoeuer God calleth vsus, and then ſhall wee not ſtray as wretched wanderers that do greatly ouertrauell and tyre themſelues without any profit. And for that cauſe alſo doth Sainct Paule in this text ſet downe a dubble race, the one good which hath a right direction, and the other wandering and vncerteine. Now it is not ynough for men too take great peynes: but they muſt alſo …ame at a certeine end. Moreouer we ſee herewithall a true difference betwene the race that is to bee counted good, and the race that doth but ouerlabor men in vayne. For S. Paule layeth them foorth certeinly and infallibly, ſaying that all ſuche as obey the truth doo runne well. Lo heere a ſaying of greate weyghte. For therevppon wee may gather, that when menne bee gyuen too theyr owne fancies, or walke only by geſſe, or receyue all that is tolde them wythout diſcretion or skill: they maye runne ſwiftlye ynoughe, but they ſhall come neuer the neerer vntoo God. VVhen they hauehave ſpent all theyr lyfe in traueling, they ſhal fynde themſelues further off than they were at the firſt. And therfore let vsus learne to begin at this poynt, that is to wit, to giuegive eare vntoo God who dooth vsus the grace and honour too teache vsus, aſſuring our ſelues that there is none other truth but that which proceedeth of him, and that when mē follow the deuiſes of their owne braine, it ſhall bee but vntruth and leaſing. Yee ſee then that the waye for vsus too fare the better by this ſaying of S. Paules, is firſte of all too conſider, that all the deuotions whyche men doo frame of theyr owne heades, are but mere illuſions of Satan, and that all ſuch as doo w…at they lyke beſt themſelues, may runne faſt inough, howbeit they ſhall be neuer the further forward in the right way, but rather the further backe. Then is nothing too bee taken and allowed for a good courſe or race, but only the obedience which wee yeelde vntounto Gods truthe. VVere this throughly well knowen to the world nowe a dayes, there woulde not bee ſo muche trouble and contention as is ſeene. For what is the cauſe that wee drawe not all by one lyne, and that eueryevery of vsus reacheth not out his hande to his neighbour? It is for that moſt men cannot be perſuaded to obey God. Therefore the true courſe of the faythfull is well ſhewed to vsus by the Prophet Eſay when he ſayth,Eſa. 2. a. 3. that eueryevery man ſhall take his fellow by the hand, and ſay, Go we, let vsus go vp too the Lords hill, and he will teache vsus his wayes. Nowe were wee fully reſolued of this poynt, ſo as wee were altogither willing and deſirous to ſubmit our ſelues to God: it is certayne that wee ſhoulde all of vsus runne togither, and the formoſt ſhould helpe forward the hindermoſt, and the weaker ſort ſhuld not enuy ſuch as were their guides, yea and that would giuegive them courage to go on. But although we ſee the world full of ſtubborneſſe, and eueryevery man giuen to his own liking, yet muſt we profite our ſelues by this doctrine: that is too wit, by impriſoning our ſenſes, that wee take not a licentious libertie too doo what wee liſt, but that wee obey the truthe, aſſuring our ſelues that the foundation whervpon it behoueth vsus too buylde, is the ſayde faythfull obedience which wee yeelde vntounto Gods worde. And whereas S. Paule vſeth this worde Truthe, it is ſpecially to beate downe all fooliſhe preſumptuouſneſſe and ouerweening, bicauſe men beare them ſelues in hande that they be wiſe inough to order their owne lyfe. And out of this ouerboldneſſe ſprang alſo the Seagulfe of all ſuperſtitions. For if men knewe them ſelues too bee ſuche as they bee in deede, that is to wit, to be poore, blinde, and ignorant: it is certein that they woulde with all humbleneſſe hearken vntoo God, and then ſhould not there be ſo many partakings and ſectes as there bee. But what? As I ſayde afore, men will needes bee ouerwyſe. Now S. Paule, too pull downe all loftineſſe, and to ridde vsus of all pride and preſumption, ſayth that there is no truthe to be founde but in the doctrine that commeth … God, and that howe ſure ſo euer wee weene our ſelues to bee, there is nothing but mere follie in vsus, except God gouerne vsus, and Gods word reigne wholly ouer vsus. Further let vsus vnderſtande, that to yeeld our ſelues techable is a farre greater vertue without all compariſon, than to enter into diſputation, and to be inquiſitiue of things that belong not to vsus, nor are lawfull for vsus. It is true that fayth is not a dotage or ſottiſhneſſe to receyue and beleeue without gaynſaying, whatſoeuer ſhall be tolde vsus: but yet when God ſpeaketh, it behoueth vsus too yeeld him ſo much honor, as to keepe our mouths ſhut, & to open our eares to herkē aduiſedly to that which he telleth vsus, & to frame our ſelues ſimply to the ſame. Yee ſee then that the good race wherin we can not go amiſſe, nor bee caried aſide one way nor other, is to follow the way that god ſheweth vsus by his word. Otherwiſe (as I ſayd) wee ſhall but roue, according alſo as S. Paule vſeth the ſelfe ſame ſimilitude, in taunting all the things that the ignorāt and vnbeleeuers doo to ſerue God withall. For although they take neuer ſo much payne, yet they doo but looſe their labour. But by the way let vsus marke alſo how he blameth the Galathians for turning aſide in the middeſt of their race, ſaying that their faulte is ſo much the leſſe to be excuſed, in that they had begon well, and not hild out likewiſe to the end. True it is that euen the ignoranteſt in the world ſhal not fayle to be condemned if they follow not Gods word: but howſoeuer they fare, we offend much more groſly, whē God hath once bin ſo gracious vntounto vsus as to call vsus vntounto him, & to ſhewe vsus his will. Then if wee turne head, and forſake oure holy calling from heauen after we hauehave bin taught in Gods ſchole, and entred into the way: ſurely our fault is double, & we deſerue much ſorer puniſhment. This is it that S. Paul ment in this text by ſaying, how now? You ran well. Surely this forwardneſſe of fayth is a great vertue, namely when we be readie to anſwere God as ſoone as he ſpeaketh the word to vsus: but yet is it nothing worth without holding out. Then if we be ſo fickle and inconſtant, that when we hauehave gone forward a ſtep or twayne, we be readie to runne back ageyne, or elſe to ſtart out on the one ſide or on the other: ſuche vnthankfulneſſe is much more ſhamefull, than if we had neuer harkened to God at all: for we can not … …ore ſheelde our ſelues by ignorance, as they doo which are bred & brought vp in errour and miſknowledge, who will ſay, if we knew which is the truth, we would not doo ſo as we ſhould neede to be pulled by the eare: but we be in doubt, and we wote not on which ſide to turne vsus. Then if they which hauehave begonne to followe God, yea and hauehave had ſome certayne and infallible inſtruction by his worde, doo afterward ſtarte aſide, or go backe agayne: doo they not ſhew that they doo it not of ignorance, but of wilfulneſſe and ſtubborneſſe, as though they mente of ſet purpoſe to ſpyte God? Now it behoueth vsus to marke well this thing, ſpecially for ſo muche as God is ſo gracious vntounto vsus, as too ſhewe vsus whiche is the waye of ſaluation, whiche thing he dooth not too the reſt of the worlde. For wee ſee many blinde wretches, that runne and trotte vp and downe, and wote not what they doo: but yet they ſhewe ſome deſire of ſeruing God. If a man aske them whether they thinke they doo well, or no, they anſwere, yea: howbeeit it is but a weening, they bee not ſure of it. But wee on our ſide hauehave the warrant of the holy Ghoſt, whiche oughte too bee ſealed in our hearts, that the doctrine whiche is preached vntounto vsus is not deuiſed by men, but that God is the very author of it. The holy Scripture is ſufficiently proued: wee know, without adding of any thyng, that God is oure guyde, ſo that nowe a dayes there is not ſo very a dullarde or idiote, but hee is iuſtly too bee condemned, if hee receyue not the doctrine that is preached and ſet foorth, and maye vppon hys owne knowledge iudge that hee dooth manifeſtly make wylfull warre agaynſt God. Seeing that oure Lorde hathe doone vsus the prerogatiue too call vsus too him, and dooth ſtill dayly allure vsus and incorage vsus to come forwarde, till wee bee come to our races ende: if wee bee weery to heare him, and eueryevery of vsus would fayne take his owne ſcope, to followe whatſoeuer his owne luſt liketh: what excuſe or ſhift can wee hope to hauehave, that we ſhould not bee condemned with the Galathians, for falling to our owne byaſſe after wee hauehave runne well, and bin well forwarde on our way? Yea and wee muſt alſo marke this ſaying which S. Paule interlaceth, Who hath letted you, ſayth he? He might hauehave ſayde ſimply as he ſayde in the begynning of the Epyſtle▪ that they were quyte gone away, yea and vtterly reuolted as Apoſtates or backſlyders. But he vſeth the worde Let, too ſhewe that it is not inough for vsus not to turne quite and cleane away from God, but that if wee doo but ſtoppe or linger that wee go not right foorth on ſtill, nor continue alwayes ſtedfaſtly in comming neerer and neerer vntounto God: it is alreadie a very dangerous matter. So then let vsus be ware of Satans wyles, and not onelyonly be afrayde of vtter reuolting from the obedience of oure God, but alſo beare well in minde, that when the Diuell ſhall once hauehave cooled vsus, and made vsus too ſlake our pace, ſo as wee fall to loytering in our gooing: he ſhall hauehave gayned ouer much at our hands. Thus ye ſee in effect what we hauehave to gather vponupon this text. Now to condemne the vnthankfulneſſe of the Galathians the better, he addeth, that that counſell came not of him that called them. In the firſt chapter he had ſayde, I maruell that yee bee ſo ſoone caryed away from Ieſus Chriſt which called you to the grace of his Goſpell. For it is good reaſon that God ſhould be heard when he openeth his holy mouth to teach vsus. VVhat are wee? VVretched wormes of the earth, and rottenneſſe: and yet notwithſtanding our Lorde maketh his voyce to ring from heauē, to aſſure vsus that if he inlighten & guyde vsus, we can not do amiſſe, and therefore that wee muſt depende wholly vponupon him, and reſte vponupon his truthe. But if wee giuegive eare to this and that, and when God ſpeaketh wee be ſoaring in the ayre, and hearken to one that whiſtleth, and to another that ſingeth: Is it not too ſhamefull an vnthankfulneſſe? If a Scholemaſter ſee his ſcholers prattling togither while he ſpeaketh to them, or buylding of Caſtles in Spayne, ſo as they heare not what he ſayth: the rodde muſt bee fayne too walke among them, and good right it ſhould ſo. Verily a man can not abide that his mate or companion ſhoulde muſe vppon other matters when he is talking with him, but he will take it in ſcorne and deriſion. But beholde, God calleth vsus, and yet if there come any deceyuer to whiſper vsus in the eare, wee hearken too him and followe his counſell: which is a token that there was neuer any knowledge in vsus too diſcerne the maieſtie of oure God, and too yeelde him the reuerence that he deſerueth. VVee knowe that the chief honor that he requireth …, is to hauehave our wittes & minds bent to vnderſtande what he commaundeth and appoynteth. For that cauſe therfore S. Paule ſayth, that the ſayde counſell came not of God, who had called the Galathians. Now it is certayne that he had called them long afore that time: Neuertheleſſe he thinketh it not inough to hauehave tolde vsus once for all how wee ſhould walke: but alſo he holdeth on ſtill, according alſo as wee hauehave neede too hauehave the remembraunce of that doctrine to be renued dayly. Then ſeeing it is ſo that God is alwayes at hande with vsus, yea (as the Prophet Eſay ſayth,Eſa. 65. a. 2 both early and late, that is to ſaye, ſeeing he hath a continuall care to bring vsus to him ſelfe, and to draw vsus neerer and neerer: it is certayne that our fault is ſo much the haynouſer if wee hauehave one of our eares in the fielde, and the other in the towne, as the Prouerbe ſayth, and that we be not wholly giuen too him and to his worde. To be ſhort, we ſee heere that the true perfection of Gods children, is too offer vp themſelues wholly vntounto him, and to ſuffer thēſelues to be gouerned after a peaceable maner with all teachableneſſe, ſo as none of thē ſay, this is mine opinion, this is my fancie, this hauehave I lerned of men: but alwayes preferre the obedience of fayth before all things. For there is none other lampe to guide vsus aright, than Gods word. Mark that for one poynt. Now after that S. Paule hath ſpoken ſo: he addeth, that a little Leuen marreth a whole lumpe of Dowe. This ſerueth to confirme the matter which I touched not long ſince: which is, that it is not inough for vsus, not to make any full reuolting from God, & to forſake him vtterly, & to renounce al his word: but that we muſt alſo continue pure & ſound, & be as it were vntruſſed to put ourſelues more & more forward, and although Satan deuiſe and practiſe too caſt blocks and barres in our wayes to ſtoppe vsus, yet muſt wee not ceaſſe to go on foorth ſtill. And this is to be marked the better, bicauſe the diuell ſhewe…h not his hornes at the firſt (as they ſay) to withdrawe vsus away from God, but transformeth him ſelfe into an Angell of light, and creepeth vponupon vsus by bypathes and mines vnderunder the ground. And by that meanes are we beguyled. For to our ſeeming, this or that is no great matter, by meanes whereof wee ouerleape it lightly, and ſtrike ſayle as they ſay. But wee bee vtterly amazed when the Diuell holde … vsus masked in his nettes. Too bee ſhorte, S. Paule ment too ſay here, that when men hauehave learned the Goſpell, it is not inough for them to profeſſe the receyuing of the doctrine that is conteyned there: but they muſt alſo hauehave a pure, ſound, and ſubſtantiall fayth, and not ſwarue aſide too the right hand nor to the left, nor be corrupted with any error, nor admit any mingling, but holde faſt the pure truth which God ſheweth vsus. This is the ſumme of the matter which we hauehave to gather vponupon this text. But if euer this warning were neceſſarie, it is neceſſarie at this day. For Satan ſtraynes him ſelfe too the vttermoſt, too intangle, yea and too imbrace Gods worde, too the ende that men might no more diſcerne betweene white and blacke, but that al Religions whatſoeuer men liſt to hauehave, might be taken for good. And ſuch as vſe that cunning do ſerue the diuel, and hauehave no more feare of God nor Religion, than dogges hauehave. Nowe a dayes they that be the beſt vpholders of the Pope, perceyuing well that their abuſes hauehave bin ſo groſſe and out of all ſquare, as it is impoſsible to maynteyne them, ſay, very well, yet muſt yee not ſeeke ſuche a reformation, as to breake of the Eele by the waſt as they ſay: men muſt bee contented with ſome good meane. And all this is but too couer their filthineſſe, as if a man that woulde plucke vp a venemous weede, ſhoulde but nippe off ſome leaues of it, and ſay, Lo, nowe it is as good as cut vp. Yea but the roote is ſtill behinde togither with the reſidue of it, which is able to doo harme inoughe, and that is all one as if it had not bin touched at all. Neuertheleſſe the world now a dayes is full of ſuch vermine and corruption: for wee ſee that theſe ſticklers and neuters which rowe betweene two ſtreames, would fayne diſguize our Lord Ieſus Chriſt after ſuche a ſort, as he ſhould be Iacke out of office, and be no more knowen, and that the doctrine of the Goſpell mighte bee mingled lyke a hotchpotch. And ſo muche the more dooth it ſtand vsus in hand to marke well the thing that is tolde vsus heere by the holy Ghoſt, namely that a little Leuen ſoureth a whole batch of Dowe. Sometime this ſimilitude is applied to men: for one ſcabbed ſheepe is inoughe too infect a whole flocke, as they ſay. But Sainct Paule ſpeaketh nowe of doctrine, as if he ſhoulde ſaye, that wee muſte holde our owne, and not ſuff… any thing to bee added to Gods pure worde,2. Co. 11. a. 3 according as we hauehave ſeene in the ſeconde to the Corinthians, how he ſayd that ſuche as giuegive eare to Satans illuſions, are like a woman that hearkeneth to a baude, whoſe comming is to beguile & abuſe hir. Now as ſoone as we be ſo corrupted in our fayth: by and by we be alienated from our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and we break the promiſe of mariage which is made betwixt him & vsus, as ſoone as we ſwarue aſide from the ſimplicitie of the Goſpell. And like as in that place he vſeth the word ſimplicitie of ſet purpoſe: ſo in this place he ſayth, that if we mingle neuer ſo little leuen with the dow, by and by it is all made ſowre. VVhat muſt we doo then? VVhereas it pleaſed God to ſhewe the Iewes by his lawe the true meane to walke in ſuch wiſe as they ſhould not be harried heere & there: in the Goſpell he hathe taughte vsus yet with muche greater perfectiō, bicauſe that there he hath made an end of all propheſies. Then ſeeing it is ſo: let vsus now frame our ſelues therafter. And although Satan whiſper vsus on either ſide, let vsus not be as reedes that are ſhaken with eueryevery winde, but let vsus be ſo rooted in our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, as he may make vsus to indure al winds and wethers by the power of fayth, and all aſſaultes that can bee put vntounto vsus. To bee ſhorte, if wee will bee taken for Diſciples of oure Lorde Ieſus Chriſt: let vsus not hearken too any other maſter or teacher than him: for we can not do him greater wrong than to adde any thing to that which he bringeth vsus. For it is ſayd that it is he whom the father hath ſet ouer vsus with full preheminence, and whiche is the good ſhepherd,Iob. 10. a. 4 and that they which are of his flocke, will heare his voyce, & eſchue the voyce of ſtrangers. Howſoeuer the world go, we muſt ſtand whiſt at that ſtay, & without reſiſtance follow whither ſoeuer God calleth vsus, and ſuffer our ſelues to be ſo turned & returned by, as we may deſire nothing but too ſubmit our ſelues to his worde as I hauehave declared before. And therefore althoughe that nowe and then men finde fayre clokings to verniſh the minglings withal which they put foorth: yet let vsus hold vsus to that which is ſayde heere, namely that a little Leuen is inough too marre a whole batche of dowe: according as wee ſhall ſee manye, who too make vsus ſwarue aſide, wyll alledge, what? It is no renouncing of Ieſus Chriſt, ſo wee holde the groundes of the Goſpell, that wee be iuſtified by the free goodneſſe of God, & that wee can call vponupon him in the name of him that hath promiſed too bee our mediator. VVhen wee hauehave done amiſſe wee flee too the onelyonly and euerlaſting ſacrifice of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte; and if there bee any ſmall ſpottes or wemmes beſide, they muſt be borne with and winked at. And ſpecially ſuche as woulde winne by their pride, will ſay, yea mary Sir, and what elſe ſeeke wee but concord? For wee be contented that eueryevery man ſhould walke in the doctrine of the Goſpell: but yet is not that a matter of ſo great importance, that it ſhoulde bee ſoo greatly ſtoode vponupon. Therefore when the Diuell goes about to beguyle vsus with ſuche baytes, let vsus alwayes ſet this buckler agaynſt him, that a little Leuen ſowreth a whole lumpe of Dowe. And in very deede euen experience (whiche is termed the miſtreſſe of fooles) hathe well ſhewed in our time how true this Sainct Paules ſaying is. For wee ſee nowe a dayes that where the Goſpell hath bin preached purely, there are ſo many diuers opinions as it is horrible too thinke, ſo as it ſeemeth dayly that all ſhoulde go too ruine, and Gods truthe is as it were torne in peeces. And whereof commeth this, but of mens lazineſſe in that they woulde maynteyne them ſelues in reſt, and hauehave their commodities and eaſe at wyll, too take their pleaſure euerywhere, and ſo hauehave conſented too ſuche as came too diſguyſe the pureneſſe of the Goſpell? God therefore hathe yeelded them their deſerued hyre. For aſmuche then as wee ſee ſuche examples, let vsus bee ſo muche the warer, and let vsus ſo walke in the pureneſſe of the Goſpell, as wee may refuſe all mingling, and vtterly abhorre it. Nowe heerevpon Sainct Paule addeth further, that hee trusteth of the Galathians, that they wyll not bee otherwiſe mynded. VVe hauehave ſeene howe the rebukes that he did ſet downe hitherto heretofore, were rough and ſharpe. Nowe when men exceede meaſure, it is alwayes daungerous for diſcoraging of men, and for caſting them into a melancholie. For this cauſe S. Paule moderateth him ſelfe, and ſeeketh ſtill too bee at one agayne with the Galathians. And in good ſooth that is the order which all men ought to keepe, that are deſirous too builde vp Gods Churche. It is true that mens vyces ought not to be ſpared, & ſpecially if there appere any hinderance of the pure doctrine, or too the ouerthrowing of fayth: then muſte wee hauehave a firie zele too fight manfully, and to maynteyne the quarell of our God. Yet notwithſtanding we muſt labour to the vttermoſte of our power to bring thoſe backe that are gone aſtray, and to keepe ſtill thoſe that are yet in good way, though they be weake and go not forwarde with ſuch ſtrength and corage as were requiſite and to be wiſhed. Ye ſee then what the duetie of thoſe is which hauehave the charge to beare abrode Gods woord cōmitted vntounto them: that is to wit, that in reprouing ſuche as were gone aſtray, their vſing of ſeueritie & rigour ſhould be ſuch, as yet neuertheleſſe they ſhould ſhew ſome good hope, to the intent that their hearers be not vtterly ouer greeued, and therevpon fall intoo wilfulneſſe, and ſhake off all good doctrine. But eueryevery of vsus muſte apply this too his owne vſe. For what cauſeth vsus now and then to gnaſh our teeth when God rebuketh vsus, and to be forepoſſeſſed with ſuch ſtubbornneſſe that we rebell agaynſt him? It is bycauſe wee be paſt hope, and therevpon play double or quit as they ſay. Therefore our Lord laboreth too bring vsus backe when he ſeeth vsus ſo forlorne, or rather in the way of perdition, and he would ſtill fayne win vsus too himſelfe againe, howbeeit that in the meane whyle wee knowe not the end and intent that he ameth at. By reaſon whereof wee ſhet the gate agaynſt him, ſo as he can not by any meanes compaſſe vsus. So much the more then ought we to minde well the thing that is ſhewed vsus heere by Sainct Paule which is that if our ſores bee rubbed, although it greeue vsus and ſting vsus too bee ſharply rebuked: yet wee muſte not ceaſſe too abyde it patiently, bycauſe God meeneth not too throwe vsus headlong intoo the bottomleſſe pit, but rather calleth vsus home too himſelfe. And nowe according herevntoo, let vsus marke that there is none other remedie for all our vyces, than too yeeld our ſelues too that which God telleth vsus. For Sainct Paule preſuppoſeth that which was true: namely that he had preached the doctrine of the Goſpell purely, and that he had not intruded himſelfe too put foorth his owne dreames and dotages, but had purely diſcharged his duetie and the commiſsion that was giuen vntoo him. He ſayeth now that the Galathians will thinke all that too bee ſo. And ſo he ſheweth vsus generally, that if we hauehave bin ouerſeer …nd the Diuel hauehave troubled our mindes, and the deceyuers alſo hauehave thruſt vsus out of the way: there is none other help but to hold our peace and to anſwere Amen vntounto our God, and too ſuffer our ſelues too bee guyded by his woord, ceaſsing not too yeelde him true obedience though he come not downe from heauen in viſible ſhape, nor ſende any of his Angelles that beare the badges of his Maieſtie, but ſpeake too vsus by frayle men, that are not of any greate eſtimation. Lo heere in effect what wee hauehave too beare in mynde. Nowe heerevpon Sainct Paule turneth aſide the ſoreſt matters vntoo the Couſiners that had ſowen their darnell in the Churche of the Galathians. He that hath diſquieted you (ſayeth he) ſhall beare his iudgement, whatſoeuer he bee. Hereby he declareth that if there bee any whom Satan hath ſo ſore poyſoned, that they wilfully prouoke Gods wrath vppon their heades: wee muſt not bee ſhaken downe nor moued therewith. This warning is very neceſſarie. For though wee be hard and ſlow too beleeue the things that God telleth vsus: yet notwithſtanding on the contrarie part, when wee ſpie any errour, wee bee ready too runne after it, and ſo yee ſee a froward inclination, which is common welneere euerywhere, and a vyce more than ordinarie. Furthermore to our ſeeming wee bee well at eaſe, if wee can get any couert, too ſuffer Satan too beguyle vsus though he ſeeke nothing but our deſtruction. Therefore it behoueth vsus ſo much the more too marke well how it is ſayd heere, that ſuche as trouble the Churche ſhall beare their owne iudgement. For thereby S. Paule doth vsus to vnderſtand, that there are many deſpyzers of God, which make no conſcience to peruert all things: ſo they may win themſelues eſtimation with the world, and purchace themſelues credit, all is one with them, for they paſſe for nothing but to exalt themſelues. Such maner of men doo trouble the church a thouſand waies. There are others who through vayne glorie and too ſeeme skilfull and ſharpwitted, forge new doctrines. That is one other kind of Couſiners. And there are otherſome ſo malicious and ſpitefull, as they can not brooke any peace and concord,Gen. 16. c. 12. according as it is ſayd that the hande of Iſmaell ſhould bee againſt all men, and all mennes handes agaynſt him. Then there are a ſort that ſeeke nothing but diſſention and variance. Seing then that wee perceyue that the Diuel… hath ſo many bolſterers to turne vsus from the right way: had not eueryevery of vsus neede to looke well to himſelfe, leaſt he be ſhaken downe: and too continue alwayes ſtedfaſt in the thing which wee knowe too bee of our God, whatſoeuer this man or that man doo babble or prate? Yee ſee then that the thing whiche Sainct Paule ment, is that wee ſhoulde not one of vsus looke at another, lyke ſheepe which leape one after another intoo a riuer or a pit when one is leapt in afore them, or lyke Cranes and other byrdes that flie all on a rowe one after another, no wee may not doo ſo: but wee muſte alwayes bee conſtant without ſwaruing aſide from the woorde of God. Marke that for one poynt. But aboue all things Sainct Paule telleth vsus, that wee muſte not bee dazeled at mennes gay ſhowes, when they peruert Gods pure truthe vnderunder colour of their owne skill: but that when wee ſee them too hauehave no regarde of any thing, nor religion, no feare of God, no awe, yea and that ſometymes they bee woorſe than paſte ſhame, ſo that if they once come ſo farre foreward as too get the Lawe in their owne handes, they paſſe for noman, but do after a ſorte ſpit euen in Gods face: I ſay when wee ſee them become ſuche Monſters, wee muſte wayt that God ſhould execute his iuſtice vponupon them, and ſhew how much ſtore he ſetteth by the ſoules which he hath bought ſo deerly. And that is the cauſe why he addeth purpoſely whoſoeuer he bee. For heere he intended too deface all the gay titles whereof men vaunt themſelues, in ſetting vp their briſtles againſt God. Like as at this day, whereas the Pope turneth Gods truthe vpſide downe, and through Diueliſh pryde mingleth and mangleth all things: yet notwithſtanding he ceaſſeth not too call himſelfe the Seruant of Gods Seruantes, the Succeſſor of Ieſus Chriſt, and the Vicar of Sainct Peter. The Biſhops alſo ſuppoſe themſelues too hauehave a very lawfull tytle to ſuppreſſe all knowledge of the truth, in naming themſelues Prelates. But Sainct Paule telleth vsus heere, that when men are ſo diſguyzed, they bee but Idolles for all that, and God is vnchangeable and altereth nother his nature nor his minde. Then ſith it is ſo: although men were exalted too the third heauen, yet ought wee too take them for ſtarke Diuelles, if they go about to mingle aught at al of their owne deuizing, with the pure ſimplicitie of Gods woord. To bee ſhort, we ſee heere all worth…eſſe of man beaten downe when the obedience of fayth commeth in preſence. True it is that in ciuill caces there hath alwayes bin ſuperioritie: but yet muſte God not withſtanding gouerne ſtil by his woord, and his ſeruis muſt be ruled thereby, that our fayth may be wholly conformable therevnto: and though all the world ſhould ſet it ſelf againſt it, and heape vp neuer ſo huge and high mountaynes of moſt excellent titles euen vp too the cloudes, all muſt be hild but as ſmoke, yea and as filth and dung. Thus yee ſee in effect what Sainct Paule ment to ſay. Yet doth he it not too excuſe the Galathians of their vnaduized ouerſhooting of themſelues, but too giuegive them courage to returne vntounto God. There are many too bee ſeene now adayes which thinke themſelues to bee ſcaped out of Gods hands, and too be quite diſcharged, when they can ſay that their Prelates and Shepeherdes hauehave taught them ſo. But S. Paule admitteth no ſuch excuce, but ſayeth that the way for them to ſcape the damnatiō that is prepared for the deceyuers, is to returne to Gods pure truth, & not to refuze to be brought backe againe, though they hauehave ſwarued from it for a time. And herewithall alſo for a cōcluſion, he doth vsus to vnderſtand how deere our ſaluatiō is to God, and how great ſtore he ſetteth by it. For whereof cōmeth that which S. Paule ſayeth heere, namely that all ſuch as trouble the Churche ſhall giuegive a reckening of it, and bee ouerwhelmed at Gods hand: but of that wee be his heritage, and he taketh all his pleaſure in vsus, as in them whom he hath chozen and adopted, and for that we be as it were his accompliſhment, as S. Paule termeth vsus? Seing it is ſo: let vsus learne to truſt in God, ſeing he hath ſo fatherly care of our ſaluation. And ſo let vsus learne to put from vsus all falſe doctrine conſtantly and with ſuch ſtoutneſſe as we ought to do. For wee ſee that God is chafed and moued too anger, telling vsus that he will neuer pardon thoſe that hauehave ſo troubled his. For aſmuch then as wee ſee that God powreth out his indignatiō vponupon them that hauehave troubled his Churche: let vsus hauehave a zele anſwereable therevnto, and let vsus abhorre all falſe doctrines. And when wee ſee men deſirous of nothing but too ſowe ſome troubles: let vsus take them as our mortall enemies, let vsus make warre valiantly agaynſt them, and let vsus fight too the vttermoſt for the truth of our God, aſſuring our ſelues that that is the thing wherein lieth all our happineſſe.
Thus yee ſee in effect what we hauehave to gather vponupon this ſtreyne. And ſo for aſmuch as God hath once called vsus too him, and ceaſſeth not to pricke vsus forward dayly by exhortations: let vsus hold vsus vnderunder his obedience. And although we ſee many troubles, diſſentions, and debates in the world: yet let vsus alwayes ſticke ſtedfaſtly to the truth which cannot deceyue vsus. And for aſmuch as we may be ſoone ſeduced and deceyued: let vsus pray God too giuegive vsus wiſedome and diſcretion: and alſo let vsus giuegive diligent eare to his woord, as whiche is able to ſtrengthen vsus againſt all Satans illuſiōs, and let vsus no more be led too daunce after other mennes pypes, as S. Paule warneth vsus in the end of this Epiſtle. Seing then that we hauehave the meane which God hath ſtabliſhed too holde vsus alwayes too bee of his houſe and Church: let vsus ſtand ſtedfaſt therein. And if we happen too bee turned aſide through the fooliſhneſſe and vnaduizedneſſe of our fleſh: let vsus by and by herken to the warnings that are giuen vsus heere, let vsus mourne for our faults, and when wee hauehave mourned, let vsus ſerue our God, knowing that he is euer readie too receyue vsus. And although we ſee neuer ſo great a number of deſpyzers and worldlings which ceaſſe not to corrupt and peruert the doctrine of the Goſpel, yea and too bee vtterly ſotted in their corruptions: although (I ſay) that we ſee ſuch ſtumblingblockes: yet let vsus take good heede, that vnderunder the colour thereof we be not turned away vntounto wickedneſſe, and ſo be wrapped in the ſame damnation with them for following of their ſteppes: but let vsus go forward to the ſaluation that is ſet afore vsus, and wherevnto God prouoketh vsus dayly to come.
Now let vsus fall downe before the maieſtie of our good God with acknowledgmēt of our faults, praying him to make vsus feele thē more & more, & therwithall to beare with our infirmities till he hauehave rid vsus quite and cleane of thē, and clothed vsus againe with the pureneſſe of his rightuouſneſſe, which ought too grow in vsus vntill it bee fully perfect. And ſo let vsus all ſay, Almighty God our heauēly father &c.