Sermons on Galatians, Sermon 1

Sermons on Galatians · Sermon 1

p. 1¶ The fyrſt Sermon vponupon the fyrſt Chapter.

PAule an Apoſtle, not from men, nor by men, but by Ieſus Chriſt, and by God the father, vvhichwhich hath rayſed him from the dead,

2. And all the brethern that are vvith me, to the Churches of Galatia:

3. Grace be vvith you and peace from God the father, and [from] our Lorde Ieſus Chryſt,

4. VVho gaue himſelfe for our ſins, to deliuer vsus from this euill vvorlde, according to the vvill of God our father.

5. To vvhom be glorie for euermore, Amen.

NOT WITHOVT cauſe doth S. Peter ſo earneſtly warne vsus to watch againſt our enimie who goeth about like a roring Lyon,1. Pet. 5. c. 8.1 Pet 5 with his mouth alway open to ſwallow vp the pray that the fyndeth. For although that on the one ſyde our Lord Ieſus Chryſt aſſure vsus,Iohn. 17. c. 12.John 17 that God his father hath giuen him the charge of vsus, and that the thyng which he hath in his keeping ſhall neuer periſhe: yet doth it not follow that we ſhoulde therfore fall aſleepe, and in the meane whyle hauehave no care to call vponupon God, conſidering the need that wee hauehave to do ſo. For fayth doth in ſuche wyſe aſſure vsus of Gods goodneſſe, and that the ſame ſhal neuer fayle vsus, that yet neuertheleſſe we muſt hauehave an eye to our owne frayltie, and thereby bee ſtirred vp too pray God to giuegive vsus inuincible conſtancie.1. Iohn. 5. a. 4.1 John 5 It is ſayd, that faith ſhall always get the vpper hand of the whole world: but yet it foloweth not that we ſhall not hauehave battayle. Now, on our owne ſide we hauehave no ſtrength at all: but we muſt be fayne to borowe it elſewhere: and that we may ſo do, it ſtandeth vsus in hande to pray vntounto God. For as I hauehave ſayde alreadie, it lyeth vsus vponupon to be ſtirred therevnto, by reaſon of the great neede that we hauehave of it. And therefore here is a myrrour offered vntounto all the faythfull, whereby wee maye fare much the better, if wee can put it too our vſe. For Saint Paule had preached through all the countrey of Galatia, which is a meetly large countrey, and there had reered many Churches. If euer man were filled with all the giftes of Gods ſpirite too winne men too the Goſpell: wee bee ſure that S. Paule excelled all others, or at leaſtwiſe all that were of his companie. And it is certaine that he diſcharged his duetie. Yet notwithſtanding hee had ſcarcely ſo ſoone turned his backe, but by and by Satan gaue a puſh to ouerthrow all, and too make a horrible hauocke in the whole countrey: and hee wonne ſo great a multitude there, that the Goſpell was as good as quite aboliſhed, euen among thoſe that had bin taught ſo faythfully. Sith wee ſee ſuch an example, ought wee not too caſt downe our eyes, and too conſider that God warneth vsus too flee vntoo him, and to pray him ſo too ſtrengthen vsus, as wee may holde out too the ende? VVhichWhich thing we cannot doo, except wee bee vphilde by him. Ye ſee then that the faultes which Saint Paule bewrayeth heere in the people of Galatia, muſt ſerue for our learning. For it is all one as if God ſhoulde in theyr perſon ſhewe what our conſtancie woulde bee, if hee gaue vsus it not.

Although then that wee hauehave bin faythfully inſtructed in the Goſpell: yet muſt God bee fayne too woorke from day too day, or elſe wee ſhall bee ſo fickle minded, that wee ſhall bee caryed away by and by, and for euerie little occaſion. Furthermore (as I hauehave fayde alreadie) Satan is a dreadfull enimie. And therefore it is not for vsus too bee negligent, ſeeing hee lyeth alwayes in wayte for vsus, ſeeking on all ſides to inuade vsus, and that if hee ſpie neuer ſo little a hole, by and by he taketh hys aduauntage too enter: It ſhall not ſeeme that there is any gappe open for him, and yet wee may bee taken tardie before wee bee aware. VVherefore let vsus marke well the warning that God giueth vsus in this text, and let vsus make our aduauntage of it. And on the other ſide wee ſee howe the Diuell hath at all tymes ſerued his owne turne with the name of God, and made thereof a falſe cloke too diſguize the truth, and p. 2too turne it into a lie, or elſe too ſowe ſome diſcorde, that by little and little the Goſpell might quite fade away. The Apoſtles (as they that were choſen by our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt too beare abrode his Goſpell, and to preach it through the whole worlde) were well woorthie too hauehave bin reuerenced euerie where, and to hauehave bin of ſuch renowme and authoritie, as the things that proceeded from them ſhould hauehave bin [throughly] receyued. For their calling was lawfull: it was [well] knowne that they did not thruſt in themſelues of their owne heades, but that the ſonne of God had choſen and appoynted them by his owne mouth, yea and made them as it were new creatures: being ſillie ſoules and ignorant folke, they were ſo chaunged, as it appeared well that their doctrine came altogither of heauenly myracle. For they had not learned ought but in Gods ſchole: and he had in one inſtant of time ſo indued them with his grace and power, that they became as inſtruments of the holy Ghoſt. Yet notwithſtanding, the Diuell miſſed not too abuſe their name and tytle, too bring ſtore of troubles and ſtumbling blockes into the Church▪ For ſuch as went in their companie, made their brags when they came in far countrys, that they had bin familiarly conuerſant with them: and yet for all that, ſome of them were ful of vainglorie & pride, & ſought nothing but their own aduancement. Otherſome were ſelfwilled, and could away with nothing but that which they had ſeene in the Citie of Ieruſalem, and in the land of Iewrie: and they would hauehave had the whole world ſubiect to their Iure, and therwithal would hauehave turned al things vpſide down as they ſay. Others were led yet with a more wicked minde, ſo as they ſought nothing elſe but to ouerthrow all that S. Paul had builded. And all theſe (as I ſayd afore) boaſted that they had not learned any thing of him, but that they had bin taught their doctrine by the Apoſtles themſelues. Thus yee ſee howe Sathan hath alwayes defaced Gods glorie, euen vnderunder the ſhadow of the gracious giftes which hee had beſtowed vponupon his creatures. And in good ſooth, we ſee how that vnderunder the names of the Apoſtles, and of the virgin Marie, the Idolatrie is the ſame at this day in the Popedom, which it was among the Painims vnderunder the names of their falſ gods: for ther is nothing changed, but only the names of thē. As for the ſuperſtitiō, it is as filthie and deteſtable in the Popedome, as euer it was among the Heathen.

Heere therefore wee bee warned to bee wiſe, to the intent that if the Diuell abuſe Gods name, wee may bee able to reſiſt him, and to diſcerne what authoritie men ought to hauehave, and therewithall not to be ouerhaſtie of beleefe, nor ouer eaſie to be moued and ſhaken with euerie winde. For if wee hauehave not the conſtancie to walke in the doctrine that hath bin deliuered to vsus, when wee bee once fully reſolued that it is Gods pure truth: it will happen to vsus as it did too the people of Galatia. Yee ſee then that the thing which wee hauehave too beare in minde, is in effect, that when God hath giuen vsus the grace too vnderſtande his woorde, wee muſt alwayes go forwarde in it, and not be ſhaken lyke Reedes, nor caryed too and fro, nor led vp and downe like little babes: but wee muſt hauehave the witte and diſcretion, to ſticke to the thing which wee knowe too bee offered vsus of God. Marke that for one poynt. But by the way, foraſmuch as wee cannot hauehave ſuch power in our ſelues: let vsus pray with all lowlineſſe and earneſtneſſe vntounto God, too reforme vsus by his holy ſpirit, and too giuegive vsus ſuch ſtedfaſtneſſe as wee may neuer ſwarue aſide, and that when we ſee all things turned vpſide downe in this worlde, yet notwithſtanding, this foundation may abide ſure, namely that forſomuch as God which cannot lie hath ſpoken to vsus, and ſhewed vsus his will: we may ſafely ſtande thervpon without turning any way from it. Howbeit forſomuch as the Diuell hath many cunning knacks too thruſt vsus out of the way, yea and that (as I hauehave earſt ſayd) he will not ſticke to abuſe Gods name to winde himſelfe in, and to get ſome acceſſe to vsus: it behoueth vsus to vnderſtand that our reuerencing of men muſt be in ſuch wiſe, as God may in the mean ſeaſon continue vnimpeached, and that our Lord may hauehave the whole mayſtrie ouer vsus to himſelfe, as hee that is the teacher of the Church: and that our fayth depend not, neither vponupon mens knowledge, nor vponupon any reputation that we hauehave of their wiſdome, power, or holineſſe: but that our Lord Ieſus may alwayes hauehave the preeminence for vsus to reſt and ſettle our ſelues vponupon. For if our fayth be not grounded vponupon Gods pure truth, which is vnvariable: certeinly it will be but a loaſing. This is the thing that wee hauehave too gather of the example that is ſette downe heere p. 3concerning the Galathians. But by the way a man might thinke it ſtraunge, why Sainct Paule ſhoulde deale ſo roughly with them as wee ſhall ſee hereafter, conſidering that the caſe ſtoode not vppon the open denying of God and the renouncing of the Goſpell, nor vponupon the blaſpheming of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, or the ſetting forth of any notorious idolatrie: but vponupon the ceremonies of the Lawe. For they againſt whom ſainct Paule ſtriueth in this Epiſtle, mainteined none other thing, but that the ceremonies of Moyſes lawe were to be kept, and that men were bounde to them vnderunder peyne of deadly ſinne. Now, at the firſt bluſhe it myght be ſayd that their cace was fauourable in that behalfe. For the cace ſtoode not wyth them as it doth with the Pope, who during his tyrannie hath forged many lawes, and commanded this and that, bringing poore ſoules into bondage: but their ſaying was, that inaſmuche as the lawe was not of men, but of God: therfore it was to bee kept. Heereby it ſhould ſeeme, that S. Paule had no cauſe to be ſo moued agaynſt that opinion, although it were not altogether ſound and good. Ageyne, there is yet an other reaſon: namely that wee muſte not make ſo muche a doe about outward things, as whether one day is to bee obſerued more than an other, or whether Swines fleſh be not to be eaten as wel as mutton. For whether a man obſerue any ceremonies, or whether he obſerue none, as for example, If he forbeare the eating of Swines fleſh, or do any other like thing: is his ſo doing an vtter forſaking of chriſtianitie? No Yet notwithſtanding, that is all the quarell that S. Paule hath: yea and thervpon he crieth out, that the Galathians are backſliders, that they hauehave forſakē our Lord Ieſus Chryſt, and that they are become renegates. Some man wold ſay, he vſeth ouermuche vehemencie: but herein wee be ſtill warned, that the diuell will now and then finde ſmall trifles to draw vsus from the Goſpell ere we be aware, and therfore it behoueth vsus to be ſo muche the better aduiſed: for of our ſelues we ſhal not be ſo, but muſt in verie deede bee fayne to be gouerned by God.Eſay. 11. a. 2Isa 11 And not without cauſe alſo is the ſpirit of wyſedome fathered vponupon him, to the intent wee ſhould ſeeke it in him. Therfore let vsus reſort thyther: and if any man goe about to bring in a thing that ſeemeth not to bee of any great importance, let vsus bethynke vsus what a tayle it myght drawe after it. And for proofe heereof, when wee be once turned from the ſimplicitie of the Goſpell, wee ſhall become like whooremongers: according as wee hauehave ſeene in the laſt Epiſtle, howe Saint Paule ſayth expreſſely,2. Ca. 11. a. 3 that the Diuell vſeth Bawdes trickes and Ruffian trickes, when hee commeth too turne vsus from the doctrine of the Goſpell. Hee will alwayes make ſome goodly and fayre proteſtation, like as when a Ruffian intendeth to deceiue a yong wife or a mayde, hee will not vſe any lewde termes or knauerie, for hee knoweth that ſhee woulde abhorre them: but hee will marke by little and little howe hee may infect hir with hys deadly poyſon. Euen ſo playeth the Diuell in that behalfe. For if he ſhould ſhewe his hornes (as they ſay) at the firſt daſh, and ſhewe himſelfe openly too bee Gods enimie: euerie man woulde ſhunne him, and we would abhorre him. But hee windeth himſelfe ſlily in, and creepeth in at ſmall cranies, ſo as wee ſhall woonder that he coulde preuayle with vsus in ſundrie things, and wee ſhall ſtill beare our ſelues in hande, that wee ceaſſe not to holde with Ieſus Chriſt and his Church. And yet for all that wee ſhall bee turned away, and in the ende wee ſhall perceyue our ſelues too bee quite cutte off. Therefore when we reade this example, that the Diuell had marred and corrupted the Churches whereof mention is made heere, [and that,] vnderunder the ſhadowe of the Ceremonies of Moyſes lawe: let vsus bethinke our ſelues the better, and ſtande ſtiffely without turning aſyde by any meanes from the ſimplicitie of the Goſpell. Furthermore ſeeing hee hath ſtryued and diſputed about the Ceremonies of the lawe: let vsus looke well aboute vsus too profite our ſelues by all that is heere conteyned, and let vsus ſtande continually vponupon our garde, that wee may finde out the craftes and wyles of Satan. And whenſoeuer hee ſhall go about too vndermine vsus, let vsus looke well too our buſineſſe, and ſtande alwayes too that which wee hauehave learned, ſo as we may be out of all doubt, that wee ſhall not finde any thing in the doctrine of the Goſpell, which is not the pure woorde of God. For (as I ſayde) that is the thing wherevpon our fayth muſt bee grounded. And if any man will adde neuer ſo little too it, let vsus not onelyonly ſuſpect it, but alſo abhorre it: for when there is ſuch a mingle mangle made with Gods pure truth, p. 4it can be nothing elſe but corruption. Now let vsus come to the order which Saint Paule keepeth in handling the doctrine which wee ſhall ſee poynt by poynt. That hee may bee the better heard and alſo receyued, he confirmeth his owne authoritie, which ſome men had gone about too impeache. For beholde, the pollicie of thoſe dogges that incountered agaynſt him, was too alledge that the Apoſtles taught otherwiſe than hee did. Nowe foraſmuch as Saint Paule had not bin conuerſant wyth our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt while hee lyued in this worlde: it was ſuppoſed at the fyrſt, that the Apoſtles were a degree aboue him, and ought to be preferred before him. And on the other ſyde they inquired who had put him in that place, as though hee had thruſt himſelfe in, and had done it rather of raſhneſſe than otherwiſe. Saint Paule therefore was fayne too ſet himſelfe agaynſt all this geere, and too ſhewe that hee was truely ſente of God. Furthermore (as I ſayde earſt) the Diuell ſtirred vp others, who comming from Ieruſalem, ſayd that that was the mother Church, and the holineſſe of all Chriſtendome: and they pretended too bee zeelous ſetters foorth of the pureneſſe of the Goſpell. By reaſon whereof, it behoued Saint Paule too go forwarde in ſhewing that hee had not aduaunced himſelfe, nor taken any thing vponupon him of his owne heade, but had obeyed the calling of God, and of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, who had made him his Apoſtle. Yea and hee compareth himſelfe with Iohn and Iames and Peter,Gal. 2. d. 9.Gal 2 who were (as men termed them) the pillers of the Church, and ſo taken to be among all men, ſhewing that hee was no whitte inferiour to them. And why [doth hee ſo] To the ende his doctrine might be receyued: for that is the marke that he amed at. Afterwarde when he hath prepared the Galathians too receyue obediently the warnings that he giueth them: thē he debateth the matter which was at that time in controuerſie, and ſheweth that the Goſpell is beaten downe, if we hauehave not the freedom which is purchaſed for vsus by the bloud of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt: which is, that the ceremonies of the law ſhould not holde vsus any more in ſubiection or awe. For (as we ſhall ſee hereafter) if ſuch ſubiection ſhould be admitted, all the frute of our redemption and of the ſaluation which is purchaſed for vsus by the ſonne of God, ſhould go to wreck.

But nowe let vsus come to the order that S. Paule keepeth for the mayntenance of his authoritie. He ſayth, that he is an Apoſtle, not on mennes behalfe, nor by man, but by Ieſus Chriſte, and by God the father, which hath rayſed him from the dead. Fyrſte of all, we hauehave to marke here, that Saincte Paule, to the intente too bee receyued, groundeth himſelfe vppon the ordinaunce and appoyntment of God. For ſurely no man ought to take vppon hym anye honoure in the Churche,Heb. 5. a. 4.Heb 5 ſaue he that is called, as I hauehave declared alreadie. Beſides that, our fayth ſhould be verie feeble, if it ſhould bee ſettled vponupon men, howe great excellencie or worthineſſe ſoeuer were in them: yea thoughe they were perfecter than Angells, yet were that nothing: our fayth is ſo precious a iewell, as it muſte reſt altoogether vponupon God and his truthe. Seing it is ſo, if a man intend to be heard, it muſt not be alledged, that he is wittie and skilfull, or that he hath ſeene and hearde muche, and is a man of great experience: al thoſe things are but ſmoake, when it commeth too the leadyng of vsus too the kingdome of Heauen. For there the matter ſtandeth not vponupon profounde witte, and high and exquiſite knowledge: all thoſe things are but the ſleyghts of Satan: Ageyne, wee knowe howe it is fayde generally of all mannes wyſedome,1. Co. 1. c. 201 Cor 1 that it is but ſtark follie, yea and that God laugheth it to ſcorne, and abhorreth it, bicauſe it turneth vsus away from the obeying of him. Therefore whenſoeuer the cace concerneth the teachyng of vsus, all thyngs that beelong too man, or too anye creature, muſte be layde a water, that there maye bee a well ordered gouernemente in the Church, and ſuche a one as God alloweth. For if men aduaunce themſelues in that cace, God is thereby plucked backe, and in the ende there wyll bee nothyng but vtter confuſion.

So muche the more then behooueth it vsus too marke well what S. Paule ſheweth vsus heere, in that hee doth not alleadge or bryng any thyng of his owne for the ſtabliſhyng of his authoritie, but holdeth hymſelfe wholly too Gods callyng. Marke that for one poynt. And herewithall wee hauehave too note, that Sainct Paule boaſted not hym ſelfe at all aduentures, as manye harebraynes doo. For they coulde fynd in theyr hearts to preache with ful mouth, that God hath ſente them, when as notwithſtandyng they bee but p. 5fantaſticall fellowes, and Satans very Champion, ſeruing to ouerthrowe all. But by the way, S. Paule in proteſting his calling, mente alſo to ſhewe by whome [he was called,] as wee hauehave ſeene here before. And it was ſufficiently knowen, that he had bene conuerted by miracle to the Goſpel, that he had bin taught vponupon the ſuddaine, that God had by his meanes wrought after a ſtraunge and vnaccuſtomed faſhiō, and not only that it had bin openly reueled vntounto two or three men in the Citie of Antioche that S. Paule was appoynted too be the Apoſtle of the Gentiles, but alſo that he had good warrant of it in all places where he came, bycauſe God vttered his power moſt manifeſtly in him. So then when as S. Paule told them that he was an Apoſtle, he preſuppoſed that it was already ſufficiently iuſtified, that God was the author of that office of his, and that the thing which he pretended, was not a falſe ſurmize, after the maner of men, whome we ſee too much ſubiect too vaunting of themſelues. Therfore we muſt put a difference betweene S. Paule, and all ſuch as falſly boaſte and brag themſelues too bee ſent of God, as the Pope dothe, who too beguile the wretched world, and to maintayne himſelfe in his helliſh tyrannie, which he hath vſurped, ſayeth and ouerſayeth that he is the vicar of Ieſus Chriſte, and the ſucceſſour of his Apoſtles. And all the cankerwormes of his Clergie who name themſelues Prelates, togither with all the horned beaſtes and all the rable of Maskers in the Popedome, will needes chalenge that honorable title: and (if a man liſt too beleeue them vponupon their ſingle worde) they bee all of them deſcended of the Apoſtles. But yet for all that, it behoueth vsus to conſider what likeneſſe and agreableneſſe they hauehave too the Apoſtles: and alſo it ſtandeth them on hand too ſhewe by certaine and infallible record, that their calling is approued of God. In theſe dayes the Pope and all his, are too opē ly proued too hauehave falſified and corrupted the doctrine of the Goſpell, and that the thing which they terme the ſeruis of God, is nothing but ſtarke abhomination: and moreouer, that there is nothing among them, but outrageous lies and falſehodes, yea and inchauntments of Satan. All this is knowen well inough. But beholde, their ſhield wherwith they caſt the miſt that couereth al their filthineſſe, is that there hath bin a continuall ſucceſsion, euer ſince the tyme of the Apoſtles, and that they repreſent thē and are the Church, and therfore that whatſoeuer they put foorth muſt bee taken for good. VVell, gooto, if they which do nowadayes take that title vponupon them will be herd: they muſt looke whither they hauehave any reſemblance of the Apoſtles, and whither they execute the duetie of good and faithful ſhepeherds. But ſeing they be cleane contrary to the order which our Lord Ieſus Chriſt hath ſet in his Church, what ſhall men ſay to them? Yea (ſay they) but we hauehave a continuall ſucceſsion from the Apoſtles. That would be ſhewed firſte of all. They will alledge ſome recordes, howbeit very triflyng ones. Yet notwithſtanding, it may be ſayd on the cōtrary part, that there were as good ſucceſſors in the Church of Galatia, as euer there was in Rome: and not only in ſome one Churche, but in many, as well of Epheſus, of Coloſſus, and of Philippos, as of other places. And where is all this ſucceſsion now? If any man thinke himſelf to hauehave any priuiledge, and name himſelf S. Paules ſucceſſour: it were meete he ſhould go preach the Goſpell, and therwithall ſhew good euidence why he ſhould be rereyued. Therfore let vsus marke well at a worde, that when there are men to preach the Goſpel, and when there are Shepeherds and Ouerſeers, it is not ment that they ſhould diminiſh the authoritie of God, or preiudice aught that belongeth to him, that is to wit, that he alonly ſhould not be honored, & that our fayth ſhould not reſt vpō his word: but that by the meanes of men, we ſhould alwayes be hild vnderunder his obeyſance. Marke that for a ſpeciall poynt. And aboue all things our Lord reſerueth that right to himſelfe: namely that men ſhould not thruſt themſelues in through their own preſumption, but that they ſhould be raiſed vp & ſent by him. Now therfore (as I hauehave erſt ſayd) there ought to be cauſe why, too the end we may diſcerne and not beleeue at all aduenture, nor at randon. For Satans champions can boaſt and crake ynough and too much, and ſtand in their owne conceyt to the vttermoſt, to the intent to wind themſelues in by their preſumptuouſneſſe. But it behooueth vsus to trie what is in them, that we may be ſure of Gods calling. And how doth S. Paule ſpeake of it heere? Not on the behalfe of men (ſayth he) nor by men. VVhen S. Paule ſayeth that he is an Apoſtle, not on the behalfe of men: it is a generall poynt which ought too extend to all the miniſters p. 6of Gods woord, and too all Shepeherds of the Churche. For (as I hauehave ſayd heretofore) wheras it pleaſed God that there ſhould bee Prophetes in old tyme, and that afterward there ſhoulde bee ſhepeherdes too teach his people: he bereft not himſelf of his ſoueraintie: but rather it was too ſhewe, that men muſt not gouerne heere after their owne luſt, and in the meane whyle bee but as Cyphers in Algoriſme themſelues, ſauing onelyonly for maynteyning ſtill the title, but that vvee ſhould all of vsus giuegive eare vntounto him, ſo as the men whom he ſetteth in office, ſhould bee as inſtrumentes or veſſels of his holy ſpirite. Now then wee ſee whereat S. Paule amed, when he ſayd that he was not ſent on the behalfe of men: for therby he ſheweth that he was authorized of God, and that he was his ſeruant. The ſecond poynt where he ſayeth that he was not ſent by men, belongeth peculiarly too the Apoſtles. For although that wee bee called of God, and that he allow of vsus: yet are wee neuertheleſſe called of men: and if that maner of calling were not agreeable too Gods will, S. Paule would not hauehave vſed it. Wee knowe how Sainct Paule proceeded in that cace, namely how that in eueryevery place where he came, he ordeyned Miniſters and Shepeherdes by election: and no doubte but that doyng of his was lawfull. Then let vsus marke well, that Sainct Paule dothe not vndiſcretely heere condemne ſuch as were called by mens meanes: but onelyonly treateth of the thing that was peculiar too the charge of an Apoſtle. For that was the difference betweene the Apoſtles, and ſuch as had charge of particular Churches: according whervnto the ſame ſtate remayneth at this day, and ſhall remayne to the worldes end. For the Apoſtles were not chozen by election of men, nor by the common policie of the Church: but by the very mouth of the Sonne of God.Act. 1. d. 24Acts 1 In ſomuch that when it behoued the Apoſtles too put another ſucceſſor in the roome of Iudas, too make vp the full number of twelue againe: although they themſelues were there preſent, and a greate multitude of Diſciples with them: yet durſt they not make any election. VVhen there was any choozing of a Shepeherde for the Churche of Ieruſalem, or of Antioche, or of any other people, this faſhyon was vſed: that is too ſay, firſte they prayed snto God, and therevppon choze ſuche a man as was found meete and conuenient for that office. But as for the other, they referred it wholly too the will of God, and caſte lottes for it, as for a thing that paſſed their witte. The cauſe (as I ſayd) was, for that it behoued the Apoſtles too bee chozen by ſpeciall priuiledge from aboue, bycauſe they were the perſones by whome the Goſpell was too bee publiſhed ouer the whole world. Nowe as for S. Paule, he was chozen afterwarde. But howſoeuer it was, he had equall priuiledge with the reſidue, bycauſe there came a reuelation from heauen, too ſhewe that he was admitted too the executing of that office:2. Cor. 12. a. 2.2 Cor 12 he was rapted vp intoo the third heauen, and wee hauehave ſeene that he was well lyked of in all things. Finally, that it might appeare too bee Gods will too giuegive him a larger commiſsion, and too hauehave marked him out for the Apoſtle of the Gentyles: he had the holy Ghoſte immediatly, whiche ſpake and vttered the woorde from aboue. Yee ſee then that S. Paule was not chozen by meanes of men. And yet notwithſtanding, this maner of choozing (as I ſayd afore) is no faulte in thoſe that are Shepeherdes and Miniſters of the Churche. But it was requiſite that S. Paule ſhould bee priuiledged, too the intent he might bee comparable with Peter and Iohn, and with all thoſe that had bin conuerſant and kept companie with the ſonne of God, while he dwelled in this worlde, and was in this mortall lyfe. Now wee ſee in effect whereat S. Paule amed. And hereby wee bee taught, that the reuerence whiche wee owe too ſuch as carie abrode Gods woorde and beare the name of Shepeherdes, ſerueth not too barre God from beyng herd continually, nor to barre our Lord Ieſus Chriſte from being the onelyonly Schoolemayſter of the Churche. It behoueth vsus too beare this ſchoole point well in minde, or elſe our fayth will alwayes bee ſubiect too many varieties, and he that is cunningeſt among men, ſhall euer go away with the gole: and ſo ſhall wee hauehave nothing certaine, but we ſhall be ſtill chaungyng from day too day, yea euen eueryevery minute of an howre. VVherfore let vsus marke well, that if men alledge the names of the Churche, of Prelates, or of Biſhoppes: wee muſte alwayes come backe too this poynt, that they cannot climbe any higher than too be the ſeruants of Ieſus Chriſte, and to bee allowed of him. And how ſhall we know that they be allowed of him? Firſt if they hauehave p. 7bin chozen by lawfull order, with calling vppon the name of God. And ſecondly if ſuche be chozen as are meete, that hauehave in them wherewith to execute their office. Lo heere the markes whereby we may know and be well aſſured, that they be ſuche Shepeherdes as God alloweth and accepteth. And herewithall it is not ynough for a man too be called too that vocation: but he muſt alſo execute the charge that is committed too him, according as S. Paule ſayeth not ſingly that he was ordeyned an Apoſtle: but in taking that name too him, he ſheweth that he is ſent to beare abroade the meſſage of ſaluation, and too preache the Goſpell too the world. Therfore they that wilbe taken for Biſhops and Prelates, muſt teach: and if they be Idolles and dumbe dogges, it is certaine that as they doo ſhamefully mocke Gods name and abuſe his maieſtie, ſo alſo men may reiect them and deſpize them, yea and that they ought too be hild as accurſed, bicauſe they pretend Gods name falſly. Thus yee ſee what we hauehave to marke vponupon this ſtreyne. Now S. Paule ſayeth purpoſely, that …e was ſent of Ieſus Christe, and of God his father who rayzed him from the dead. VVhereas he ſayeth that he was ſente of Ieſus Chriſte, it is too bring vsus backe too the thing whiche I hauehave touched already: that is to wit, that if we couet too obey God and to be ſubiect to him, wee muſte imbrace our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and giuegive eare vntounto him as too the only ſchoolemayſter: and both great and ſmall muſt ſubmit themſelues to him and too his doctrine: for he that honoreth not the Sonne, honoreth no… the father, as it is ſayd in the fifth of Iohn.Iohn. 5. d. 23.John 5 And this is well woorthie too be marked: for eueryevery man will needes be thought to honour God, and to deſire nothing ſo muche as too hold himſelfe vnderunder his yoke. But in the meanewhyle, we ſee that the worlde fighteth againſt the Goſpell, and noman can willingly finde in his hart to yeeld too it. VVhen it commeth to the poynt that Ieſus Chriſt calleth vsus to him, eueryevery of vsus playes the rebell: we be ſo wilde that he cannot tame vsus: wherby our faythleſneſſe is to playnly proued, and we ſhewe ourſelues to deſpize God, how goodly proteſtatiōs ſoeuer we hauehave made before. For he ſendeth vsus back to his Sonne,Pſal. 2. b. 12.Ps 2 & willeth vsus to ſtoupe to him to doo him homage. Yet notwithſtanding, as wee ſee and as experience ſheweth too much, eueryevery man would ſhrinke away from ſubiection too our Lord Ieſus Chriſte. S. Paule therefore ſheweth what a maieſtie there is in Ieſus Chriſte: that is too wit, that wee ought too tremble at his woorde, and to hold our peace when ſoeuer he ſpeaketh, and too receyue without any gainſaying, whatſoeuer he teacheth, or procedeth from him. And without that, it is certaine that God reiecteth all the proteſtations that wee can make of our deſirouſneſſe too ſerue and honour him. Thus are wee exhorted in this ſtreyne, to giuegive our ſelues wholly ouer vntounto our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, ſeyng he is our [only] Shepeherd, thereby to ſhew that wee be his true ſheepe, and that wee herken too his voyce, and diſcerne it from the voyce of ſtraungers. Now ſeyng that God ſheweth himſelf in ſuche wiſe vntounto vsus, as wee know that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt calleth vsus too him: let eueryevery of vsus follow him, and ſhew that wee be of his flocke in deede. Thus yee ſee what we hauehave too beare in minde. Howbeit for aſmuch as there is ſuch vnthankfulneſſe in a great number, that they cannot finde in their hartes too ſubmit themſelues euen too the Sonne of God: Sainct Paule doth heere ſet downe the name of God the father as an Ouerplus. True it is that the whole fulneſſe of the Godhead dwelleth in Ieſus Chriſte,Coloſs. 1. c. 29. & 2. b. 9.Col 1 and curſed bee he that ſeeketh any other God. But yet for all that, for aſmuch as our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte appeared vntoo vsus in the ſhape of man, and was conuerſant in this world, and there deſpized yea and abaced euen too a moſt ſhamefull death, wherein he receyued all the curſes that were due vntounto vsus: therefore it is ſayd that if wee giuegive not eare too the Sonne of God, the father is preiudiced therby, accordyng alſo as our Lord Ieſus himſelf declareth in that he ſayeth,Luke. 10. c. 16.Luke 10 He that deſpizeth you deſpizeth mee, and he that reiecteth mee reiecteth the liuing God that ſent mee. Marke then whervnto the order tendeth which S. Paule keepeth: namely that if we do not willingly honour our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, by accepting his doctrine for certain and infallible: God is ſet at naught, and we cannot ſay that our intent is too woorſhip him, for he will reiect all our doyngs. And why? For (as I ſayd afore) it is ynough too proue vsus rebelles, if wee ſeparate the Sonne from his Father. And S. Paule addeth expreſly, that Ieſus Christe was rayzed from the dead, too the end that his Apoſtleſhip ſhould not be the leſſe eſteemed, p. 8and alſo that men ſhould match him with the number & companie of the other Apoſtles, according alſo as he was added too them after that Ieſus Chriſte ceaſſed too bee any more vponupon earth. For (as I hauehave touched already) the thing wherwith the falſe Apoſtles which came too ouerthrowe all vpbrayded him, was this: How now [ſayd they]? He hath not bin the Diſciple of the Sonne of God as Peter and Iohn were: he is a thing borne out of ſeazon. And how cā he ſhew that he hath receyued his doctrine of Ieſus Chriſt? S. Paule declareth that if they will needes inquyre of the authoritie of our Lord Ieſus Chriſte, his ryzing againe ought not too hauehave diminiſhed it. Surely though our Lord Ieſus Chriſt were brought lowe whyle he had the veyle of mans nature vppon him, whereby his glory was after a ſorte hidden: yet was he not abaced in himſelfe.Luk. 2. b. 13.Luke 2 For wee knowe that the Angelles acknowledged him for their ſouerayne king, and although he were [borne] in a ſtable and layd vponupon the ground as a creature deſtitute of all help: yet we ſee that the Starres of the skie bare record of him.Mat. 2. b. 2.Matt 2 To bee ſhort, the maieſtie of our Lord Ieſus Chriſte was alwayes ſufficiently auouched, as long as he was in this world. But yet for all that, there was a muche excellenter glory in his reſurrection, accordyng as it is ſayd in the firſt too the Romanes,Rom. 1. a. 4Rom 1 that then he was ſhewed too bee the Sonne of God. And wee alſo hauehave ſeene in the ſecond Epiſtle to the Corinthians,2. Cor. 4. d. 14.2 Cor 4 that as he ſuffered vnderunder weakeneſſe of the fleſhe, ſo he was rayzed againe through the wonderfull power of Gods ſpirite. So then, S. Paule ſheweth, that although our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt bee not conuerſant with vsus nowadayes, yet muſte not his Maieſtie therefore bee diminiſhed nor defaced, that we ſhould not yeelde him his due and deſerued obedience, and receyue his woorde reuerently without all gayneſaying. This warning is verie behooffull for vsus. For what a number of lightheaded perſones doo wee ſee, which woulde hauehave Ieſus Chriſte too be heere in viſible ſhape? Their ſaying is, that they would fayne ſee Ieſus Chriſt conuerſant heere beneathe, and that [then] they would at the firſt puſh accept what ſoeuer he ſpake to thē, ſo as there ſhould neede but one woord of his mouth to rauiſh them, and there ſhould neede none other teaching, nor any other man to be much with vsus. Yea, but the Sonne of God which came downe, hath performed his charge whiche was committed to him of God his father: that is to ſay, he hath preached the Goſpell, and ſufficiently confirmed it by his death and paſsion. Afterward beyng rizen againe, he ſent foorth his Apoſtles. And nowe that he hath all ſoueraine dominion, ſo as the Angelles bow their knees before him, and that he hath ſuche a maieſtie as ſurmounteth all glory both in heauen and earth: ought not all that which he hath done, to ſuffize vsus throughly? VVhen it pleaſeth him too ſend vsus mortall men, and too ſend forth the meſſage and ineſtimable treaſure of his Goſpell in brittle veſſelles, and yet notwithſtanding will hauehave vsus to receyue them: is it not a mockerie to ſay, that if Ieſus Chriſt were with vsus and in our companie, we would obey him? For if heauen and earth muſte bee fayne too quake vnderunder him, and his Maieſtie bee knowen euen to the Diuels of hell: and yet for all that, wee continue blockiſh, and pretend that he is to farre of from vsus: yet notwithſtanding our Lord Ieſus ſheweth ſufficiently that he hath not forſaken vsus, ſeing we hauehave the Goſpell preached vntounto vsus: And that although he dwell not with vsus here by lowe in viſible ſhape, yet notwithſtanding we ſhalbee continually ioyned with him, and that foraſmuche as he is our head, hee will gouerne his bodie, and there ſhalbe one vnſeparable bond betwixt him and vsus. Now ſeing it is ſo, we ought of right to yeeld him obedience, and his reſurrection ought to touch vsus to the quicke, & to worke ſuche a reuerent awefulneſſe in vsus, that whenſoeuer the name of our Lord Ieſus Chriſte is ſpoken of,Eſa. 65. c. 16Isa 65 we may be ſure that it is the name whereof the Prophet ſpeaketh, wherby all men ought to ſweare, and whereat they ought to bow their knees. Thus ye ſee in effect that the thing which we hauehave to beare in minde, is, that we ſhould not meaſure the Goſpell after the reſpect and reputation of thoſe that ſpeake vntounto vsus, for why, they be frayle men. Nother is that the thing whereon we ought to ſtay: for that were as muche too ſay, as we ſhould ſettle our ſaluation vponupon the credite of men, which might cauſe vsus too reſt vppon the world: but wee muſt vnderſtand, that it is Ieſus Chriſt which ſpeaketh. And howe? In the Maieſtie that is giuen him by God his father: for the power of the holy Ghoſt was then ſhewed too the full, when he was rayſed from p. 9the dead. Then ſeyng our Lord Ieſus Chriſt hath obteyned ſuch authoritie when he was lifted vp into heauen, as too hauehave ſuperioritie ouer all creatures: let vsus learne too ſubmit our ſelues too him, and let the ſame ſerue to hold vsus in awe, that his woord may be receyued of vsus, and we aſſure ourſelues that he gouerneth vsus, and that it becommeth vsus too ſuffer our ſelues too be taught in his name, and [too vnderſtand] that although the woorde which is preached vntounto vsus proceede out of the mouth of men, yet notwithſtanding it is by the authoritie of God, & our ſaluation muſt be grounded thervpon, as well as though heauen opened an hundred thouſand tymes too ſhew vsus the glory of God. Lo (ſay I) how it behoueth vsus to be taught in this world, vntill God hauehave gathered vsus into his euerlaſting heritage. And that is the thing which we hauehave to beare in minde, concernyng that the glorie of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte is expreſly ſet downe in this place.

Now let vsus fal downe before the Maieſtie of our good God with acknowledgment of our faultes, praying him to voutchſafe to make vsus too feele them, that he may draw vsus too repentance the better, and that we may alwayes hope that if we be once renewed by him, we ſhall throughly perceyue that it is he which ruleth vsus by his holy ſpirit, ſo as hauing that record imprinted in our hartes, wee may boaſt without hipocriſie that we be not tied to this world although we bee in it, and that wee dwell in it but as pilgrims and ſtraungers, bycauſe we hauehave a better dwelling place in heauen, where our heritage is throughly aſſured vntounto vsus by fayth, although wee poſſeſſe it not preſently. That it may pleaſe him to graunt this grace, not only to vsus but alſo to all people and nacions of the earth, &c.