Sermons on Galatians, Sermon 42
The. 42. Sermon, which is the fifth vponupon the ſixth Chapter.
12 As many as deſire vvith outvvard apparance to pleaſe in the fleſh, conſtreyne you too bee circumcized, onelyonly to the ende they may not ſuffer perſecution for the croſſe of Chriſt.
13 For euen they themſelues vvhiche are circumcized keepe not the Lavve, but vvoulde hauehave you circumcyzed that they mighte glorie in your fleſhe.
IT is not for nought that God hath ſo often warned the Preachers of his woorde, not too ſeeke the well liking and fauour of men, but as it were too ſhet their eyes againſt all worldly reſpects, to the end that they gaze not heere & there, nor be hindered to do their duetie rightly. For wee ſee it is impoſsible for vsus too diſcharge our ſelues aright, vnleſſe wee looke vp vntoo God, and turne away our looke from men, bycauſe wee ſhall bee eaſly corrupted when wee bee ſo ledde, whereas nothing ought too bowe vsus one way or other. Howbeeit, this conſtancie is cheefly requiſite in ſuche as ſhoulde beare abrode Gods woorde, namely that they bee not ledde nother by ambition nor by couetouſneſſe too ſpeake in fauour of men, or too pleaſe them, and that they bee not abaſhed at any threatening or perill. For experience ſheweth that ſo ſoone as a man is afrayde of his …inne, or hath reſpect of … owne profite: he will bee chaunged in the turning of a hande. True it is that ſuch as couet mennes fauour after that faſhion, will not at the firſt daſh ſhew themſelues to be wicked & enemies of the truth according as our Lord Ieſus Chriſt alſo putteth a differēce betwene the hyrelings and the woolues.Iohn. 10. b. 12. After he hath ſpoken of the good and faythfull ſheepeherds which ſeeke the cōmon welfare of the flocke: he ſayeth, there are alſo rauening woolues or theeues whiche ſeeke nothing elſe but too put all too ſpoyle, ruine, and confuzion. And theſe are they which fight openly againſt God, laboring and indeuering to ouerthrow the pure doctrine of the Goſpell. Neuertheleſſe there are alſo which rowe betweene twoo ſtreames, who do make a countenance to ſerue God. And truly ſome men builde, howbeit not for any zele: for there is no ſoundneſſe of hart in them. Notwithſtanding, ſo long as it is not to their coſte, they ſet a good face vponupon the matter, ſo that the world is oftentimes deceyued by them, and taketh them too bee the miniſters of Ieſus Chriſt: but yet their ſeeking is but for wages, they bee wholly giuen too their bellies. For proofe whereof, if yee do but threaten them, by and by they be diſmayed, and they will turne the cat in the pan, ſo that wheras yeſterday they ſeemed too maynteyne Gods woord, too day they bende crooked and a croſſe. And why? For they ſee it is the way to pleaſe the world, and to profite themſelues. And for the ſame cauſe doth Sainct Paule nowe warned the Galathians to marke well, that ſuch as had troubled them and thruſte them out of the right way, were men giuen too their owne profite, and by that meanes had brought their doctrine in ſuſpicion. Heeretofore he hath already ſufficiently diſcuſſed and ſhewed by reaſon, that if wee put our whole truſt in Ieſus Chriſte, the Ceremonies of the Lawe are henceforth ſuperfluous: for they ſerued but for a time, too ſhewe that it is not for vsus, too mingle any merite of their owne, or any fonde opinion of purchacing rightuouſneſſe before God, if wee bee well ſettled vponupon the grace of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte. Sainct Paule then hath handled and layde foorth that matter as much as needed. And now too the end that the ſimple ſorte may bee the more moued: he turneth his …ale too the perſones themſelues, ſaying: Conſider what is the … that theſe men againſt whom I ſtriue heere, make ſuch a minging of the Ceremonies of the law with our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. Is it zele that moueth thē therevnto? or is it for that they be deſirous to ſerue God? No: it is rather for that they bee lothe too put themſelues in daunger of perſecution. Seyng then that feare cauſeth thē too misfaſhion Gods woorde: yee neede not too make any long inquirie too knowe what maner of men they bee, and whither they bee to be credited or no: for yee ſee that their chaunging and tranſforming of themſelues after that faſhyon, is bycauſe they would fayne ſhunne the battell. Nowe then ſeing that they bee ſuch traytours vntounto God through their cowardlineſſe, deſerue they too bee beleeued, or to hauehave any reuerence yeelded to their ſayings? Thus yee ſee Sainct Paules meening. But heere all Miniſters of Gods woord are taught to hauehave ſuch conſtancie and ſtedfaſtneſſe, as they may not paſſe whither the doctrine that they bring bee hated or beloued of the worlde, but go on ſtill in their race, and not ſtrike ſayle at eueryevery winde, nor be ſhaken like wauering reedes that bowe too and fro: but alwayes hold on in ſeruing of God, what turnings and chaunges ſo euer happen, and what troubles and diſorders ſo euer befall.
To bee ſhort, wee muſt practize the thing that we hauehave ſeene before: which is, that if wee will pleaſe mennes fancies, wee muſt giuegive ouer the ſeruis of the Sonne of God. Marke that for one poynt. And heerewithall alſo all the faythful may receyue a good and profitable leſſon in this text: that is too wit, that they muſte looke well vppon ſuch as ſeeke their owne profit and aduauntage, and are deſirous to winne fauour with the worlde, and woulde fayne be prayzed: for a man ſhall neuer hauehave any holde of ſuch folke. They will not ſhewe themſelues too bee ſuch at the firſte brunt (as I ſayd afore): for there are that play the Popeholy hypocrites, in ſomuch that it ſeemeth that but for them the woord of God woulde growe odious: and ſo long as it is well lyked, they caſt out fire at their mouthes, and yet in the meane whyle yee ſhall ſee them chaunge their minde from day too day. If any perill happen, and they ſee that they muſte witneſſe with our Lord Ieſus Chriſt in good earneſt: then ſhew they their cowardlineſſe, and in the end turne quite away, & chaūge their coates as it is ſayd in the Prouerbe. But howſoeuer they fare, let vsus ſta… vponupon our gard continually, that wee may beleeue ſuch as walke vprightly, and ſtart not out when they ſee the world cōfederate themſelues againſt them, no though there happen ſuch rage as it may oftentimes ſeeme that they ſhal be ſwallowed vp, but which euen whē they ſee the perilles preſent, doo neuertheleſſe continue in vpright conſtancie: let vsus marke ſuch men as Gods ſeruants. But as for ſuch as be variable and counterfetting, which ſay now one thing and now another to eſchew mennes hatred, or for feare of perſecution: let vsus beware of them, that we be not deceyued and beguyled by them, for they bee deadly plagues. And it is certaine that wee ſhall neuer bee firme and well ſettled, except we hauehave that diſcretion and wareneſſe with vsus, according as S. Paule ſheweth vsus in this text. And this is very needefull now adayes. For what cauſeth ſo many hypocrites too gabble agaynſt Gods woord, and too play the ſhameleſſe brothels in maynteyning the outrageous abuſes that are too bee ſeene in the Popedome, as their ſuperſtitions, idolatries, and errours: but for that they knowe well ynough, that if they make not the pot too boyle apace, they are lyke too ſtarue, and ſhould they not therefore holde faſt the poſſeſsion of their things? Againe on the other ſide they cō ſider alſo the daunger of perſecutiō for maynteyning ſuch doctrine: for yee ſee it is condemned of the Princes and great menne of this world, and therfore it is good ſleeping in a whole skinne. See I pray you howe an infinite number doo now adayes diſguyſe and falſifie Gods truth, and maynteyne all corruptions, bycauſe they bee lothe to ſuffer for Ieſus Chriſtes ſake. True it is that they bee not ranke Papiſtes too blaſpheme Gods woorde openly: but yet they would fayne hauehave a meane, yea of their owne deuiſing. For they blame vsus of ouermuch rigour and extremitie, in that wee condemne ſuche as go to Maſſe, and beare themſelues in hand that they woorſhip not ydols. O (ſay they), howe ſhould that be, ſo a man thinke it not in his harte? Should men bee driuen ſo neere hand as too make it a ſtumbling blocke, and a matter of lyfe and death? Too what purpoſe were that? God ſetteth greate ſtore by our lyfe, and although wee ſhould doo amiſſe, yet will he hauehave pitie of our frayltie. Surely they that ſpeake after … faſhyon, hauehave none other reaſon too moue them, but that they ſee playnely that all the worlde is ſo ſore inflamed agaynſt vsus, and it ſeemeth that wee ſhould periſhe and be quite confounded eueryevery day. Thus ye ſee that they flee backe and labour too imbattell themſelues alone from the reſt, when they ſee any daunger appeering. But when we ſee theſe liuerharted folke ſhun perſecution after that ſort, & loth to come to any hand ſtrokes for our Lord Ieſus Chriſtes ſake, and winding and transforming thē ſelues after that maner, only to hauehave peace in this world: it ſtandeth vsus ſo much the more in hande too marke this warning of S. Paules, and to diſcerne which are the true ſeruantes of Ieſus Chriſte: that is too wit, they which regard not their owne profite, nor would hauehave men too faune vppon them, nor ſeeke the belly cheere and honour of the world: but do ſimply content themſelues with the doyng of their duetie, and paſſe not what winde doo blowe, whither it be tempeſtuous and ſtormie, or whither it be fayre and calme: but to profit their heerers, and to maynteyne in all pureneſſe the doctrine committed vntounto thē. If we follow the thing that is ſhewed vsus heere, ſurely our faith ſhall neuer ſtagger as many do now adayes, which know not what to do, and yet notwithſtanding will ſay, I feare the troubles and diuerſities of opiniōs, and the bickerings that are in this world. Some cā well ynough ſay, it were meete that I ſhould giuegive my ſelfe wholly to our Lord Ieſus Chriſt: but there are another ſorte which take a much pleaſanter way, and would hauehave a reformation but onelyonly in half. And which of theſe ſhall I beleeue [ſay they Opē thine eies: for all they that alledge any ſuch excuces, ſeeke not too followe the truth, but are well apayde if they can get ſome ſhrowding ſheete too hide their ſhame, and would fayne bee flattered: but in the meane whyle, what gaine they by it? For Satan leades them to deſtruction, and they be willing too follow him. Bicauſe they are afrayd of their liues, they louelove the couert, and bicauſe they bee giuen too pleaſure, they ſeeke their owne eaſe. Therfore they muſt hauehave ſuch payment as they deſerue. But how ſoeuer the worlde go, S. Paule declareth that ſuche as wilfully become brutiſhe, are ſo ouertaken by Satan and caſte in ſuch perplexitie, as they wote not what too do: bicauſe they conſider not that ſuch as do ſimply beare abrode the truthe of the Goſpell, are no wauering perſon…, but ſuche as keepe on … pace, and paſſe not whither the worlde like of their doctrine or no… but for aſmuch as God hath cōmaunded them to ſpeake, they do ſo. Contrariwiſe, as for the nicelings which ſay it is good too beware, and not to caſt themſelues out of the Saddle, and woulde hauehave men to counterfeyt, and to beare two faces in one whoode: it is certain that ſuch maner of men are not ledde with any zeale or affection to ſerue God, nor hauehave any regarde of edifycation or of the welfare of the Church: nor (to be ſhort) hauehave any other care or reſpect, than to eſchew all perſecution, and too liue at their eaſe, ſo as no man might faſten vppon them. Nowe then, ſeeing that this is manifeſt ynough: it is certaine that all ſuche as nowadayes do keepe themſelues ſo in their neſt, do offende God, and are vtterly wythoute excuze. VVhy ſo? For Saint Paule giueth vsus heere an infallible marke, which ſheweth vsus who bee the true ſeruants of God, and who bee the hyrelings whom we muſt eſchue, that is too wit, ſuch as ſeeke but to feede their bellies, and too hauehave their commodityes in this worlde. Herevpon he addeth, to the ende they might not ſuffer perſecution for the Croſse of Christ. No doubt but that vnderunder the woorde Croſſe, Saint Paule comprehendeth the whole doctrine, howbeeit with a conſideration, that it is right harde for a man too preache ſimply and plainly the things that are conteyned in Gods worde, but that he ſhall hauehave many incounters. For although God ſpare vsus (vsus I meane which preach his worde) and will not alwayes put vsus too ſo hard tryall, that our enemies ſhall hauehave their ſwordes drawne vponupon vsus: yet the worlde doth neuer receyue the Goſpell ſo obediently, but that there is ſtill ſome murmuring and ſpeaking agaynſt it, as is too bee ſeene yet ſtill at this day, and muſt bee yet hereafter. For our Lorde intendeth too trie the conſtancie of hys faythfull ones, and therewithall to ſhewe the inuincible power of his worde, in ouercomming all the lettes that Satan ſtyrreth vp agaynſt it:Ier. 1. d. 19. according too this ſaying of Ieremie, They ſhall fight agaynſt thee, but thou ſhalt get the vpper hande of them. Thus ye ſee that God is glorified when the world and Satan ſtreining themſelues to the vttermoſt, are not able too let the truth of his courſe. For this cauſe Saint Paule ſayth, that they which be ſo variable, and do diſguize Gods worde or falſifie it; do ſhunne the Croſſe, that is …ay, the true preaching of the Goſpell, euen too eſchue perſecution. Now here againe we hauehave a verie profitable counſel. For if we deſire to ſerue God and his Church: wee muſt alwayes bee readie to receiue alarums. And although the fire bee not yet kindled, or the enemies not yet armed too make ſo cruell perſecution as they woulde, or finally our Lorde do brydle all thoſe that are wearie of his worde, and woulde faine ſhake off his yoke: yet muſt wee bee ſcorned at many mens handes, we muſt be diffamed, there muſt be murmuring and rayling agaynſt vsus, and we muſt put it vp and harden our ſelues agaynſt it. Yea and wee ſhall ſee a thouſand backbytings againſt ſuch as imploy themſelues faithfully, euen where the Goſpell is preached. Some ſhall bee arreigned as felons, and ſome ſhall be indited of this and that, and yet all ſhall be but ſtarke ſlaunders. To be ſhort, all ſuch as minde to go through with their race, muſt prepare themſelues too indure many temptations that might make them reele, if they were not ſettled in this poynt, that God muſt bee obeyed in ſpyte of the whole worlde. Marke that for one poynt. And here withall we hauehave alſo to marke, that this extendeth to the whole Church in generall. Therefore when wee heere the meſſage of peace that is brought vsus in the name of God: let vsus not thinke to be in reſt to the worldwarde, but too hauehave manie troubles and incomberances continually. And he that determineth not vponupon that muſt needs ſhrinke away from our Lord Ieſus Chriſt: for he can neuer be any of his diſciples,Math. 10. d 38. according as he himſelf declareth with his owne mouth, that ſuch a man is not worthie to be of his ſchole, and ſo he ſhetteth them all our of the doores. VVherefore let vsus learne, that when we be once called to our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, wee muſt be partakers of his croſſe ſo long as he liſteth, according as it is ſayde, that if we ſuffer with him we ſhall alſo bee glorified wyth him,Ro. 6. a. 5. and be made partakers of the power that is ſhewed in his Reſurrection. But yet notwithſtanding the ſufferings which he indured muſt firſt be accompliſhed in vsus that are his members. True it is that he ſuffered as much as was requiſite for our ſaluation: but yet muſt wee bee faſhioned like too his Image, as it is ſayde in the .viij. too the Romanes. Nowe whereas God ſpareth vsus, ſo as wee bee not among Tyrantes that might t…ent vsus: or if the wicked …ee not able too byte vsus, but onelyonly barke at vsus: or if hee let vsus … in peace: let vsus knowe that it is bycauſe he pityeth our feebleneſſe, and that hee ſpareth vsus bycauſe hee ſeeth howe weake we bee. But yet for all this let vsus not flatter oure ſelues, but praye God too ſtrengthen vsus ſo by his holy ſpirite, that whenſoeuer hee ſhall call vsus intoo the aray too fight, wee may not bee lyke freſhwater ſouldyours, but that wee maye hauehave mynded it a long tyme before hande, that wee muſte bee made partakers of Ieſus Chriſtes ſufferings, too come too the glorie of his Reſurrection. Nowe Sainct Paule hauing ſpoken after that maner, addeth for a larger confyrmation of his matter, that they whiche are circumcyzed, and whiche preache circumcizion, keepe not the Lawe: but onelyonly ſeeke too glorie in the fleſhe of thoſe whome they bring too that Iewiſhe faſhion. In thys Text Saint Paule dooth ageine accuſe his aduerſaries of double dealing and vtter hypocriſie. VVhy ſo? Circumciſion was the marke of the ſame thing before the comming of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, whereof Baptiſme is the marke vntoo vsus at this day. For the Iewes had recorde [thereby] that they were ſanctified by God as his heritage. But yet for all that, they that mingled Circumcizion with the Goſpell, were vtterly of opinion that the Lawe of Moyſes was to be obſerued, foraſmuch as it was giuen of God, & that it was not at any time to be aboliſhed. Heere then yee ſee that the couert which they tooke, was that Circumcizion ſerued for a ſigne of the keeping of the whole Law. But now S. Paule layeth to their charge that they kepe not the Law: and therfore they do but mock God & men in making a countenance by an outward ſigne, to do the thing which they do not: for it is clene cōtrarie. Now thē we ſee S. Paules meening. And as touching this ſpech of keeping the Law, it is ſometimes takē for the doing or performing of all that is cōteyned in the Lawe. But no man can keepe the Lawe, that is to ſay, no man can diſcharge himſelfe throughly of all things that the law cōmandeth. For it is not for nought that it is called an intollerable burthen. Alſo we ſee our owne infirmitie,Act. 15. b. 10 and there God ſheweth vsus an angelicall rightuouſneſſe. How then is it poſsible for vsus to attaine vntoo it? So then, if wee take the worde Lawe for a perfect and faultleſſe obedience, no man keepeth it in effect. Neuertheleſſe the fayth… beeing guided and gouerned by Gods ſpirite, do keepe the Law, that is to ſay, they walk according to the rule that is giuen thē there. Not that they run ſo ſwiftly as they ſhould do, nor that they attaine to the marke at the firſt brunt: but yet they go on ſtill towards it, and God beareth with them, and layeth not their faultes too their charge. The faythfull then do kepe the Law. But here S. Paule ſpeaketh of the Ceremoniall Lawe, howbeeit that by occaſion hee had ſhewed heretofore, that all Gods commaundements coulde bring nought els but condemnation, except we had refuge to the grace of our lord Ieſus Chriſt: but (as I ſaid) here he ſpeaketh of the ceremonies & ſhadowes. Now let vsus ſee what he meaneth by it. They (ſaith he) which are circumcized keepe not the Lawe: that is to ſay, they hauehave in deede that ſigne as a ſtandarde too make men beleeue that they be Iewes, to the intent that they might not be hated nor perſecuted: but yet for all that, they keepe not the whole Lawe: for they take leaue to deſpize all that ſhoulde bee matched with Circumciſion. For he that is circumcized ought alſo to do ſacrifize, too abſteyne from the meates that are forbydden by the lawe, to keepe the dayes and feaſts appoynted there, to vſe the inioyned waſhings and purifyings, and to do diuerſe other things. But theſe men make none account of them. VVhen they be in corners and no man ſees them, they paſſe not what they do, neyther make they any conſcience at all to deſpize all the Ceremonies of the Lawe. Thus it appeareth that they do it not for any zeale, but only in reſpect of men. Nowe it behoueth vsus to marke, that Saint Paule ſpeaketh heere of ſuch as ſtoode vponupon the ſayde poynt,Act. 16. a. 3. that men ought of neceſsitie to bee circumcized.1. Co. 8. b. 6. For at ſome tymes Saint Paule had a ſpeciall regarde to faſhion himſelfe like to the Iewes, and abſteyned from the libertie which was permitted him, for eſchuing of offences: but did he alwayes mainteyne that there was no bonde of neceſsitie in the matter. So then, when Saint Paule ſubmitted himſelfe of his owne accorde, he ment not to bring other men in bondage, according as he proteſteth that he intendeth not to binde any bodie. True it is that the cace is altered when hee ſpeaketh of mariage: but yet hee ſayeth generally,1. Co. 7. f. 35 that he will not lay any yoke of bondage vponupon the ſoules that are redeemed by our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt: And thus yee ſee howe Saint Paule behaued himſelfe in that behalfe. Nowe … ſayth here, They that conſtreyne you to bee circumcized, that is to ſay, they that lode you with the lawe, and ſay you muſt keepe that Ceremonie vnderunder paine of deadly ſinne: ſeeke nothing elſe but too bring you in bondage without cauſe why. To be ſhort, we ſee here whereof they be blamed which woulde ſubdue Chriſten folke too the keeping of the Ceremonies and ſhadowes of Moyſes Lawe: that is to wit, that they were double fellowes, and paſſed not vppon the truth of the matter, whither God required ſuch things or no, but had a minde to pleaſe and pleaſure the worlde, and by that meanes to eſchue perſecution. And we nowadayes hauehave neede to bee warned thereof, as well as the Galathians needed then. And if we looke vponupon the ſtate and diſpoſition of our time, we ſhall eaſily perceyue that this doctrine is not needeleſſe, and that the holy Ghoſt intended to prouide for the thing whiche he knew to be for our behoofe. For what a number are to be founde nowadayes, which do ſtrongly and ſtoutly mainteyne the Ceremonies of the Lawe, and yet notwithſtanding make none accounte of them? But (which is worſe) they mainteyne the follies and traditions that are inuented by men, yea and euen ſuch abuſes, errours, and deceytes as are ſo groſſe and fonde as may bee. All theſe things ſhall be mainteyned with extreeme rygour, by ſuch as will needes hauehave men to obey them. Like as nowadayes, if a man charge theſe Hypocrites that the grace of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, and the brightneſſe of his Goſpell are darkned by the great number of their obſeruations, and that wee bee become as good as Iewes: (for in very deed the Papiſts hauehave borowed ſo many things of the Lawe, that a man ſhall hardly diſcerne the difference betweene the Iewes, & them that call themſelues Chriſtians:) I ſay if a man doo charge them with theſe things: yet wyll they mainteyne to the vttermoſt, that men muſt do ſo ſtill, bicauſe they hauehave bin kept time out of minde. If a man go further wyth them, and ſay, howe ſo? Yee hauehave ſo many dotages, that the verie heathen men were neuer ſo groſſe and fonde in their ſuperſtitions as you be: O tuſh (ſay they) yet muſt we keepe ſtill the traditions of our mother holy Church. And therewithall they crie, to the fire with him. But nowe what doo theſe Hypocrites, which moue the … of Princes and Iudges agaynſt thoſe that preach Gods worde faithfully? So long as they be among themſelues, they make but a mocke at theyr owne traditions. And when they diſpute of them, they will ſay cleane contrarie too theyr preaching, and talking in the Pulpit. VVhereby it appeareth that there is no zeale of God, nor no ſoundneſſe in them: but that their whole ſeeking is to be fedde and pampered fatte, and too liue in reſt, and too hauehave their eaſe and commodities. Seing then that nowadayes there are ſo many men that hauehave not one whitte of the feare of God, nor of the reuerence of his woorde in them, who notwithſtanding pretende too bee verie zealous, and yet in verie deede doo but allure poore ſoules with baytes or rather (as ye woulde ſay) choke them: it ſtandeth vsus ſo much the more on hande too marke well the thing that Saint Paule telleth vsus heere: which is, that foraſmuch as wee ſee that they which crie out and ſtorme at others: do nothing at all of that which they ſpeake of, we muſt ſtande vponupon our garde, and conſider whereat they ame which teache vsus. True it is that although the partie do cleane contrarie too that which hee ſayeth, yet muſte not Gods woorde therefore bee of the leſſe authoritie towards vsus: For it is no reaſon that bycauſe the man is wicked, therefore God ſhoulde bee diſpoſſeſſed of his ſoueraine prerogatiue. And though a man leade a looce lyfe, or do ſome ſhrewde turne, yet ought not that to deface the heauenly doctrine, ſo he preach faythfully. Although a man be mutable, fleeting and variable, or though he bee an hypocrite, and his life be not anſwerable to the things that hee ſpeaketh with his mouth: the truth of Gods worde muſt not therefore be imbaced towardes vsus. Neuertheleſſe, I ſay now that whenſoeuer we ſee men pretend great zeale, and yet let themſelues loce, and take leaue to do contrarie to their preaching: we muſt conſider of it, and hauehave the diſcretion not too bee ledde by theyr Pype nor drawne by the noze, but to looke into theyr doctrine, and to make a good and liuely tryall of it. And when we go ſo to worke, we ſhall ſee that the doctrine of the Papiſtes is but a couert which they take to liue quiet to the worldwarde, and as for to Godwarde they care not how things go. For they would not abide any chaūges, but that they be loth to put themſelues in daūger of any diſpleaſure: for they be alwayes afrayd to bee vexed or greeued in any wiſe. Sith … this: it is an infallible marke to make vsus beware of all Satans ambuſhes, ſo as it ſhall not be poſsible for vsus to be deceyued, except wee lyſt our ſelues, as I hauehave declared before. Furthermore, Saint Paule addeth, that ſuch men deſire to glorie in the fleſhe of the ſimple. It is very certaine that heere he hath an eye to the ſigne of Circumciſion, as if he ſhould ſay, they intende to prynt their marke vponupon you, to the ende they may vaunt, VVe hauehave wonne them. Yea, but their winning of men after that ſort, is to make them ſo much the more deteſtable for ſo abuſing the ſigne which God hath giuē them, to warrant the adoption which he had made with Abrahams ofſpring, and for corrupting the true and lawfull vſe thereof. For God had commaunded the Iewes to be circumciſed. And why? To the ende they might ſee that all mankind is accurſed, and that there is nothing but vncleaneſſe in vsus, and that wee muſt be faine to renounce all that is of our owne nature, or elſe we ſhall neuer ceaſſe too bee filthie and damnable before God. Lo what the Iewes ought to hauehave learned by their circumcizion. Neuertheleſſe, therwithal they had alſo a record, that by mans ſeede they ſhould recouer their ſaluation, according as we know that we be bleſſed of God for our Lord Ieſus Chriſts ſake. And therefore Circumciſion ſerued too humble the Iewes, and too make them miſlyke of themſelues, and to be aſhamed, when they ſawe there was nothing but curſedneſſe in their nature. That ſay I was the true and lawfull vſe of circumciſion. Nowe what do they agaynſt whom S. Paule ſpeaketh? They knowe that Circumcizion is no longer in vſe: that is to witte, that Baptiſme ſuffizeth euer ſince the comming of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt: but bicauſe the Iewes called all them Apoſtates or backſliders, which were not circumcized: therefore theſe raſcalles will needes hold ſtill the ſigne without the truth [or ſubſtance.] VVe ſee then that they were verie falſaries, and wreſted the doctrine cleane contrarie too Gods meening when he ordeyned that ſpirituall Sacrament, bicauſe their deſire was nothing elſe but to pleaſe the worlde. As much is done at this day. And they that labour to ouerthrowe Gods truth, are much worſe than Saint Paules aduerſaries. For they had yet ſome cloke of honeſtie mainteyne Circumcizion and the figures of the Law, bicauſe they were al ordeyned and ſtabliſhed by God. But as for theſe hypocrites which crie out vpō vsus nowadayes with full throte, [ſaying] ye muſt keepe the olde cuſtome without chaunging of any thing: whereon are they grounded? They cannot ſay that God is Author of any of their ſtuffe. Men hauehave contriued them after their owne fancie, or rather Satan hath blowne them into their eares: ſo that (at a word) all that is termed Gods ſeruice in Poperie, is nothing elſe but a confuzed maze: all is but dreames of mens ſetting forth, and the diuell is euer the cheefe Authour of them. And yet theſe naughtipacks ſay that nothing muſt be taken from them. And wherevnto hauehave they reſpect? Truly they will alledge that men muſte purchaſe Gods grace by them, and that they ſtirre folke vp to greater deuotion. Againe, they giuegive the title of Sacrament too all the fooliſh deuices of their owne heades, ſaying: ſuch a thing muſt bee kept, for it is a Sacrament. But when all is iuſtly reckened, a man ſhall ſee that theyr intent is to pleaſe the worlde, and to mainteyne themſelues ſtil. For they be inforced ſpite of their teeth to confeſſe, that it maketh neyther here nor there as in reſpect of God, and that he paſſeth not for their kinde of ſeruice, but vtterly diſlyketh it, bicauſe he will be ſerued with obedience. But what? There will bee horrible confuſion (ſay they) if men cut off all after that faſhion, and ſpeake plainly of things. See I pray you, how they woulde faine diſguiſe themſelues, and in ſuche wiſe corrupt and falſifie religion, as there ſhoulde bee made a mingled confuſion of all: or elſe that there ſhoulde no more be taken away but the groſſeſt and fondeſt things, and in the meane while ſuch Ceremonies be let alone as may be any whit ſufferable. It is certaine (ſay I) that all they whiche ſpeake ſo, deſire nothing elſe but to hauehave fayre winde and weather to the worldwarde. Seing it is ſo: let vsus take warning at the holy Ghoſtes hande to flee ſuche plagues: And although we cannot triumph in this worlde, although we be nothing ſet by, although men rayle vponupon vsus with opē mouth: yet let vsus not ceaſſe too holde oure owne for Gods truth, and let it ſuffice vsus to be allowed of the heauenly iudge, though all the world abhorre vsus. Although then that we ſee all theſe things: yet let vsus be pacient, and tarie till our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt ſhewe himſelfe to bee our warrant, and therewithall giuegive … victorie in the behalfe of his truth, ſo that all his enemies may bee put to ſhame and hauehave they… mouthes ſtopped vp.
Nowe let vsus fall downe before the maieſtie of our good God, with acknowledgement of our faults, praying him too touche vsus with ſuche true repentance by his holy ſpirite, that beeing vtterly caſt downe in ourſelues, and quite & cleane rid of all preſumption, we may be hartily ſory for them: and that moreouer it may pleaſe him ſo to increaſe the giftes of his holy ſpirite in vsus, as wee may no more be giuen to our fleſh, and the world to be hindred and hilde downe by them, but that we may go forwarde to ſerue him, and indeuer that his name may be glorified more and more, and we beare ſuche a marke of his adoption, as wee may bee ſo confirmed with it in our ſelues, that other men may hauehave occaſion to glorifie the name of this our good God for working ſo in vsus. That it may pleaſe him to graunt this grace, not only to vsus, but alſo to all people and nations of the earth. &c.