Sermons on Galatians, Sermon 14
The .xiiij. Sermon which is the eyght vponupon the ſecond Chapter.
20. So, I liue: [yet] not I novve, but Chriſt lyueth in me, and vvhereas I liue novv in the fleſh, I lyue by the faith of the ſonne of God, vvho loued mee and gaue himſelfe for me.
21. I refuſe not the grace of God: for if righteouſneſſe come by the lavv, then Chriſt died in vayne.
WE hauehave ſeene this morning to what end we be offered vp in Sacrifiſe vntounto God, when oure Lord Ieſus Chriſt knitteth vsus togither in hys body. It is not to the ende we ſhould lye ſtill in death, wherein we bee plunged already by nature: but rather to make vsus partakers of the heauenly lyfe. Nowe the Apoſtle hauing ſpoken after that manner, magnifyeth Gods grace, ſaying that he hymſelfe lyueth not any more, but Ieſus Christ in him: which is aſmuch as if he had ſayd, that all of vsus by nature hauehave nothing in vsus but curſedneſſe, and therefore that looke what good ſoeuer God beſtoweth vponupon vsus, it becommeth vsus to acknowledge and confeſſe the ſame to come of him, and to do him ſeruis for it. For faith bringeth alwayes this humilitie with it, that men imbace themſelues too gyue all prayſe vntounto God. But by the way it may ſeeme ſtraunge, that a faithfull man ſhould boaſt that Ieſus Chriſt liueth in him, and yet be mortall ſtill. So long as we liue in this world, we be ſubiect too many infirmities: and therefore this ſaying ſhoulde ſeeme to bee a vayne ſpeculation or [fantaſticall conceit,] that Ieſus Chriſt liueth in vsus. But S. Paule bringeth vsus backe to faith, and telleth vsus that although our life be corruptible to outward apparance, and we ſubiect to all the aduerſities of the world: yet doth faith quicken vsus, ſo as our Lord Ieſus Chriſt ceaſſeth not to make vsus partakers of his heauenly life, yea and in very deede we poſſeſſe it, in ſomuch as we muſt no more conſider the ſtate of the faithfull according too that which may be iudged of it by our naturall wit, but mount vp higher. For the life which our Lord Ieſus Chriſt imparteth vntounto vsus, is a hidden treaſure which we attaine not too but by faith which mounteth aboue the whole world. Now it behoueth vsus to hope for the things which we ſee not, and which are hidden from vsus: and God is then highly honored of vsus, when we make ſuche account of hys worde and promiſes, as that all the thinges whiche we ſee in the worlde, cannot hold vsus backe from ſeeking him continually, and from going to him, and from imploying all our wits about hym. Now then, firſt we hauehave to gather vponupon this text, that a man hathe neuer profited well in the Goſpell, till he father all his welfare vppon our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. For if we reſerue neuer ſo little to our ſelues, we be vnthankfull to God out of hand: and his grace cannot be darkned by vsus, but that we be bereft of it as we are worthy. And therein it appeereth, that all ſuch as truſt in their owne merits, are ſtill full of pride, and as it were mortall enimies to Gods glory. It is true that they will not profeſſe it with their mouthes: but yet for all that, the hypocrites which hope to be righteous by their owne worthineſſe, do decke themſelues with Gods fethers. Humilitie is the principall vertue among all others. For what are all their merites? Contrariwiſe, when the faithfull humble themſelues, it is not to purchace grace in Gods ſight as though they were worthy of it: but to confeſſe as truth is, that they hauehave not aught whereof too boaſt, but muſt receiue all things of Gods meere liberalitie. At leaſtwiſe it ſerueth to make vsus acknowledge how greatly wee bee bound vntounto him, ſeing he hath ſhewed himſelf ſo kind towards vsus, as to ſpare nothing from vsus. That therefore is the thing that Sainct Paule ſheweth vsus heere. And it behoueth vsus to wey well the ſecond point where he ſaith, that we liue in the fleſh, howbeit by the faith of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. This word liue in the fleſh, doth in this text ſignifie as much as to be a wayfarer heere vponupon earth, and too paſſe through this tranſitorie life.Rom. 8. c. … For when he ſpeaketh of liuing in the fleſh in the eight to the Romanes, he meeneth to be giuen to wicked luſts, as they be which hauehave no feare of God, who giuegive themſelues to do what they liſt. Therefore ſuche as follow their owne ſwindge like brute beaſts, do liue in the fleſh. But in this place ſaint Paule compareth this outward life with the heauenly life which we poſſeſſe by faith. For how ſhal a man put a difference betweene the faithfull and the faithleſſe? As well the one ſort as the other do eate and drinke. Surely the faithfull do eate and drinke ſoberly. Yea and ye ſhall ſee of the faithleſſe ſort very well ſtayed, and not gyuen to any drunkenneſſe or exceſſe. But howſoeuer they fare, a man would deeme at the firſt ſight, that this life is common to all men. Neuertheleſſe, the faithfull do oftentimes drag their wings after them, and nothing elſe but droope in this world, and finally dye as well as all other men. Then if a man looke but vppon the outward ſhew, there is no diuerſitie betwixt them. To be ſhort, a man might ſay it is but loſt labour to beleeue in Ieſus Chriſt. For we receiue not heere the reward of our faith: and although God call vsus to a further thing, yet hauehave we all one common and like life, in reſpect that all of vsus muſt come to death. How then doth Ieſus Chriſt liue in vsus? For his liuing is hidden. S. Paule bringeth vsus backe vntounto faith. Now remayneth to know what the nature of faith is: It is to behold the things that are incomprehenſible to our ſenſes to forſake the worlde, and to ſeeke the kingdome of God: and to holde ourſelues to the pure & ſimple word that proceedeth out of Gods mouth, without reſpect of any thing that we can perceiue heere. If we hauehave not this groundworke, we ſhall neuer vnderſtand what S. Paule telleth vsus in this text. For when men hauehave red it a hundred times, yet ſhall they not know what difference there is betweene liuing in the fleſh, and liuing in the faith of our Lord Ieſus Chryſt. Then is there an outward ſtate: in reſpect where of S. Paule dothe (vnderunder that ſaying) comprehend all things that concerne this tranſitory life. There is alſo an inward ſtate whiche is hidden from vsus, that is to wit, the ſtate which is promiſed vsus, and which we wait for [by hope.] For the outward man muſt needes be defaced, and decay by little and little, til it be vtterly done away. According whervnto, although it be promiſed to Gods children that God wil giuegive them new liuelineſſe,Pſa. 103 a 5 and make them as it were to caſt their fethers: yet notwithſtanding ye ſhall diuers times ſee them ſo diſeaſed as it is pitie, and the ſtrongeſt men of the world waxe old and come to death. Seeing it is ſo: what preferment hauehave they aboue the vnbeleeuers? [Great:] howbeit that the ſame cannot be perceiued by eyſight. For we hauehave an inward man whiche lies hidden within vsus: and what ment Sainct Paule by that? he ment that God worketh in ſuch wiſe in vsus by his holy ſpirit, as we be always aſſured of the heauenly life that is prepared for vsus, and that although we do but glide away here below,2. Cor. 4. d. 16. and be as ſtraungers, yet there is an euerlaſting heritage which cānot fayle vsus. According as the outward man decayeth (ſaith S. Paule) ſo the inward man renueth. For the more that the faithfull ſee themſelues decay, the more are they warned and prouoked to looke vpward. For we know that ſuch as are ſtrong and luſty, do beſot and forget themſelues, and therefore our Lorde is faine to tame vsus in ſuch wiſe, as we may renue by decaying: I ſay in ſuch wiſe as we may be (as ye wold ſay) new caſt in a mould again, to the end that the hope of the heauenly life may be ſtabliſhed in vsus, and we hauehave our ſight cleered to behold the thyng which otherwiſe would be wrapped vp frō vsus. Marke how gold and ſiluer do greatly waſt when men make them to paſſe the furnace. VVhē it is caſt into the fire, it is a great maſſe of metall: but whē it is takē out again, ther is but a ſmall quantitie of it. And yet the gold (if it were not ſo fined) would neuer ſerue to any purpoſe, no more would ſiluer nother. Euen ſo is it with vsus: we could neuer be renued to come to the kingdome of heauen, except we dyed firſt. VVe muſt euer go forward to that vtter defacement, and not reſt by the way vponupon any thing that we ſee with our eyes. For this earthly life is but a ſhadow, and a ſmoke that ſlideth and vaniſheth away: & yet neuertheleſſe we be renued thereby within. Not that all men hauehave that benefit: For the faithleſſe do well ynough finde their owne weakneſſe, and are inforced to feele the ſummonings of death, ſpecially when they be growen old, for then they perceiue that any little blaſt is ynough to caſt thē downe: and therevpon they fall to ſtorming, and could find in their harts to fall out with God & nature. Howſoeuer the world go, though they rotte, yet are they not renued.Iohn. 12. d. 24. For one graine of corne may well rotte, and yet not take roote to ſpring againe and to bring foorth frute: and another grain ſhal rot likewiſe, howbeit for aſmuch as it is in good earth, & hathe takē roote, it will bring foorth frute in ſeaſonable time. So thē the faithful come to decay, and the rewithal are renued and gather new force: and why? For they rot in this world, to the end to be reſtored and renued againe in the heauēly heritage. The faithleſſe alſo do go away to, they rot likewiſe, they ſlip aſide, & they vaniſh quite away: but they hauehave no vauntage by it, bycauſe they be not reſtored to eternall life. So then let vsus marke well, that whereas S. Paul ſayth we liue by the faith of Ieſus Chriſt: it is to wakē vsus ſo as nothing in the world may keepe vsus from reſting cōtinually vponupon Gods promiſes. VVhen we looke vponupon al the things that are about vsus, there is nothing but death. But what for that? God hath giuē vsus his word, that being dead in our own nature, we hauehave our life elſewhere, namely in our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, in aſmuch as he was purpoſely ſent to bring vsus from death to life. Seing then that we hauehave that promiſe of god, ye ſee how he may be honored at our hands. And for aſmuch as the cace ſtandeth ſo, that only ſaying ought to ſuffiſe vsus. And if wee ſetle and reſolue ourſelues fully therevpon: it is a token that we ſet our handes to Gods truth as faithfull witneſſes thereof,Iohn. 3. d. 33 as ſayeth Sainct Iohn. Contrariwiſe when we doubt or be in a mamering, then hath Gods word no authoritie nor reuerence among vsus. For if we looke no further than to the things that are before vsus, and to the things that are neare at hand: we cannot acknowldge that God is faithfull, and that the things which God hath vttered wyth his owne mouth are vnfallible. Moreouer, in ſo doing we turne away from our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, who notwithſtāding is the pledge of all that is conteined in Gods word. Seeing we hauehave the worde, we muſt no more aske (as Moſes ſaith) who ſhall climb vp aboue the Cloudes?Deu. 30. c. 12 or who ſhall go downe into the deepe? or who ſhall go ouer the Sea?Ro. 10. a. 6. The word (ſayth he) is in thy mouth, and in thy hart: and we muſt content ourſelues with it. And moreouer ſeeing that we hauehave our Lord Ieſus Chriſt for a larger confirmation: we know that he went downe into the hells, that is to ſaye, bare the curſe that was due to vsus for our ſinnes, and anſwered as our pledge and ſuretie before the iudgement ſeate of his father: and afterward went vp into heauen, and in our behalfe tooke poſſeſsion of the heritage that he had purchaced for vsus. For he was exalted vp in our fleſh and nature. Seeing that we hauehave ſuch an aſſurance, muſt wee not needes be tootoo wretched, if we cannot hold ourſelues too it?2. Cor. 4. d. 18. Agayne, the matter willeth vsus to looke ſtill backe to that whych hath bin ſaid: namely, that we hope, not for thinges that are open and manifeſt, but for the thinges that are vnknowen to worldly perceiuerance. Then ſith it is ſo, let vsus learne to liue by the faith of Ieſus Chriſt: that is to ſay, although we be miſerable in this worlde and be faine to indure neuer ſo many hartbitings, greefes, anguiſhes, troubles, and diſtreſſes: yet notwithſtanding let vsus continue in this conſtancie, of beleeuing that there is nothing but ſingular happineſſe in all our miſeries, bycauſe God bliſſeth and halloweth them for our Lord Ieſus Chriſts ſake, and all is turned to our helpe and welfare as it is ſaid in the .viij. to the Rom.Ro. 8. e. 27. Therfore as we hauehave ſeene in another text,2. Co. 12. c. 9 God muſt vtter the perfectneſſe of his ſtrēgth in our weakeneſſe, and we ſuffer him to make vsus to ſtoupe, in ſuch ſort as this world may not keepe vsus backe from hauing the promiſes of the Goſpell throughly printed in our heartes, nor hinder vsus to be glad and cheerfull in the mids of our miſeries and afflictions, nor boldly too diſpyze all the ſlaunderings and mockages of the faythleſſe, when they offer vsus reproch, ſaying? Godes, you ſilly wretches, thinke your ſelues to be princes when you beleeue the Goſpell. But alack poore ſoules, where is the ioy and happineſſe which you ſay is promiſed you of God? VVhere is the ineſtimable benefit which you make ſo great account of? For ye hauehave no more than thoſe whō you call Gods enimies, reprobates, and curſed kaytifs. But (as I ſayde) all this geere muſt not thruſt vsus out of the way: for we muſt come backe vntoo fayth. Although then that heere beneath we perceiue not the things that are promiſed vsus in the Goſpell: yet let vsus aſſure our ſelues of them out of all doubt. For (as ſayth S. Paule) our life is hidden,Col. 3. a. 3. and the time of the diſcouerie thereof is not yet come. And where is our life but in our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt? Now the kingdome of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt is apparant inough: howbeeit, that is but in part: we hauehave but a taſt of it: and things are ſo troubled & diſordered in this world, that if we will iudge of our ſaluation by the outwarde apparance, what would become of it? Therfore let vsus ſuffer our life to be hid till our Lord Ieſus Chriſt come, and then ſhall we perceiue that we hauehave not bin beguiled in putting our truſt in him, and in admitting the doctrine of his Goſpell. Yee ſee then after what maner we muſt liue by fayth: that is to ſay, wee muſt not be ſo nyce as to ſeeke a quiet life heere, and too hauehave all our commodities and eaſe here. For in ſo doing we ſhould forgo the thing that God hath promiſed vsus, we ſhoulde forget him, and it woulde be an vtter deſtruction of our fayth. But let vsus take the myrrour of Gods worde, and there looke vponupon the things that furmount all our wit, and are ſet far out of this world, and are vtterly inuiſible: and let vsus lift vp our eies thither, not ſo far forth as our own reaſon & skill ſhalbe able to guide vsus, (for that is not inough) but ſo as we may climbe aboue the world, and forſake the preſent things, to the end to holde our ſelues faſt in Gods promiſes, and to be pacient in all afflictions and miſeries wherby we ſhal be exercized, and againſt which we muſt befain to fight, till we receyue the frute of our victorie, whē we be cōueyed vp into the reſt of heauen. Thus ye ſee what hauehave we to gather vponupon this ſaying of S. Paule, which might ſeme darke at the firſt ſight: but whē we hauehave on the one ſide marked wel what our ſtate is while we bee in this worlde, and on the other ſide conſidered what the nature of fayth is, we ſhall eaſily perceyue that there is no darkneſſe at all in it. And now Saint Paule addeth expreſſely, that Ieſus Chriſt loued him, and gaue himſelfe to the death for him. This is an expoſition of that which we ſawe erewhiles. For men do oftentimes miſconſter the woorde Fayth, bycauſe they conſider not what the pithe of of it is. And in deede euerie man will bee called faythfull, and yet euen among thoſe that make profeſsion of Chriſtianitie, yee ſhall ſcarce finde one of a hundred that hathe ſo muche as one droppe of fayth. For (as I ſayde afore) it is neuer ſought what is ment by fayth. The worde is verie ſhort, but it draweth a long tayle after it, as wee ſee by the addition that is ſet downe heere. For Saint Paule declareth that hee liueth by fayth, bycauſe Ieſus Chriſt had loued him, and deliuered himſelfe to death for him. As much muſt we do. For inaſmuch as wee ſee that the Sonne of God; the Lorde of glorie, the heade of the Angels, hee by whome all things were made, and by whome all things are ſtill mainteyned, yeeldeth himſelfe to death,Deu. 21. d. 23 yea and too ſo vile a death, that hee tooke our curſe vppon him, and not onelyonly was hanged vponupon a Croſſe, which was an yrkſome thing to all the worlde, but alſo was pronounced accurſed by Gods owne mouth: ſeeing (ſay I) that wee hauehave ſuch a price to raunſome vsus from death, and too purchaſe vsus life and ſaluation: hauehave we not cauſe (if we thinke well vppon it) to ouerleape all the lettes that Satan can caſt in our wayes to make vsus turne head or to retyre backe, that wee might not continue in the certaintie of our fayth? Surely the victorie will bee eaſie ynough for vsus agaynſt all, remptations, if we can conſider of what value the death and paſsion of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt is, and what it importeth. So then S. Paule armeth vsus heere, too the ende wee might holde out wyth inuincible conſtancie, agaynſt all the ſtoppes that Satan laboureth too lay afore vsus, to hinder vsus from keeping on our courſe. VVhen the faythfull are pinched with hunger or thirſt, they bee troubled with looking heere and there for the promiſe that they ſhall be heyres of the worlde, and in the meane while do well neare ſtarue for famin and penurie. But if they looke to our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, that will diſpatche them of all their trouble, and ſweeten all the bitterneſſe that might hauehave put the promiſes of ſaluation out of taſt with them. Therefore whenſoeuer the faythfull are in any perill, or bee perſecuted, ſo as they hauehave many wrongs and iniuries done them, and yet are not ſuccoured of all that while:Exo. 25. b. 8 they might thinke thus with themſelues:Pſal. 17. b. 8 VVhere is God? Hee hath promiſed to dwell in vsus, to keepe vsus as the Apple of his eie, and to be our ſheeld and fortreſſe: and yet in the meane while wee bee caſt vp too the ſpoyle, wherefore it is certaine that we ſhall be vndone at eueryevery blow. But when we come to the death and paſsion of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, wee muſt conclude that the Sonne of God was not offered vp in vaine. Seeing then that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt ſpared not himſelf, but abaced himſelfe ſo farre as too ſuffer ſo ſlaunderous, yea and curſed a death, and afterwarde alſo the paynes of Hell, howbeeit but for a while, too the ende too ſet vsus free and cleare, and too purchace vsus grace before the iudgement ſeate of God his father: ſhould that dooing of his bee vnauaylable? Is it poſsible that it ſhoulde bee? No: For if Heauen and earth were turned vpſyde downe, it were not ſo great a confuſion, as too imagine that the Sonne of God hath ſuffered in vaine. Then ſee wee nowe why Saint Paule telleth vsus that hee liued by fayth. For it behoueth vsus to be ſettled vppon the death and paſsion of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, aſſuring our ſelues that it is able ynough too drawe vsus out of the dungeons of death.
And furthermore it behoueth vsus▪ too looke vppon our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, not onelyonly as deade in the infirmitie of his fleſhe, but alſo as ryzen againe through his diuine and heauenly power,Rom. 1. a. 4 as is ſaide of him in another Text. And therefore when there is any ſpeaking of the death of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, it ſtandeth vsus on hande too conſider what the ſame importeth: that is too wit, that it is a ſacryfice to make an attonement of Recōciliation betwene God & man, an obedience too couer all the naughtineſſe that is in vsus, and a waſhing too ſcoure away all our vnclenneſſe and filthineſſe. For aſmuch then as wee knowe that there is ſuch power in the death and paſsion of the ſonne of God, and that therevpon wee marche further, that is to wit, too the glorie wherevntoo it leadeth vsus: let vsus not any more imagine, that man ought hereafter to continue ſtill in hys owne nature, but that hee ought too liue in the fayth of the Goſpell, aſſuring himſelfe that he ſhall not be diſappoynted in reſting vppon the promiſes that are conteyned there. Thus ye ſee in effect wherevnto we ſhould referre this ſaying, where Saint Paule telleth vsus expreſſely, that the Sonne of God gaue himſelfe. And hee contenteth not himſelfe too ſay, that Chriſt gaue himſelfe for the worlde in common, for that had bin but a ſlender ſaying: but [ſheweth that] euerie of vsus muſt applie too himſelfe particularly, the vertue of the death and paſsion of oure Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. VVhereas it is ſayde that the Sonne of God was crucified, we muſt not onelyonly thinke that the ſame was done for the Redemption of the worlde: but alſo euerie of vsus muſt on his owne behalfe ioyne himſelfe too our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, and conclude, It is for me that hee hath ſuffered. Likewiſe when wee bee baptized, as it is not for any one man alone, ſo is not the water ſprinckled vppon all men in common: but euerie man is baptized ſeuerally in his owne behalfe, too the ende that euerie of vsus may applie it particularly too himſelfe, too ſaye that wee bee all members of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. Alſo when wee receyue the holy Supper, eueryevery man taketh his owne portion, too ſhewe vsus that oure Lorde Ieſus Chriſt is communicated vntoo vsus, yea euen to euerie one of vsus. S. Paule therefore dooth purpoſely vſe that maner of ſpeech, too the ende wee ſhoulde not hauehave any colde imagination, after the maner of diuerſe ignorant perſons, which take themſelues too bee Chriſtians, and yet in the meane while are as wretched beaſtes. But when we once knowe that the thing which was done for the redemption of the whole worlde, perteyneth to eueryevery of vsus ſeuerally: it behoueth eueryevery of vsus to ſay alſo on his owne behalfe, The ſonne of God hath loued me ſo deerly, that he hath giuen himſelf to death for me. Furthermore the worde LoueLove is not ſuperfluous here: for Saint Paules intent is too magnifie the gracious goodneſſe of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt: as if he ſhoulde ſay, that we be verie wretches if we accept not ſuch a benefite when it is offered vsus, ſeeing that God in ſending vsus his ſonne, had none other reſpect but to our miſeries which hee intended too relieue. Alſo our Lord Ieſus Chriſt did ſo neglect himſelfe, that he ſpared not his life for our welfare. And what was the cauſe of it? The louelove that he bare vsus. Seeing it is ſo: muſt wee not needes be worſe than out of our wittes, if we accept not ſuch a benefite?Iohn. 3. b. 16 But it is a verie common doctrine in the holy Scripture, that God ſo loued the worlde, that hee ſpared not his onelyonly ſonne, but gaue him too death for vsus: and alſo that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, at ſuch time as wee were his deadly enimies as ſayth Saint Paule,Rom. 5. a. 8 did confirme a maruellous louelove towardes vsus, in that he offered himſelf in ſacrifice to make attonement betweene God and vsus, and too doo away all our ſinnes, ſo as they might no more come to account. Lo heere a warrant of our ſaluation, ſo as wee ought to thinke our ſelues throughly aſſured of it. Howbeit S. Paule ment purpoſely here, too rebuke mens vnthankefulneſſe, in that they accept not the benefite which God graunteth them ſo bountifully, yea and of hys owne free goodneſſe.1. Iohn. 4. d. 19. For it behoueth vsus too call to minde, howe Saint Iohn in his Canonicall Epiſtle ſayeth, that we loued not God firſt: (as if ſhoulde ſaye, wee did not preuent him, as thoſe thinke they doo which ſay, I hauehave done him ſuche ſeruice and ſuch. For alas what is it that wee can do too him?) but that he loued vsus, [yea euen] at ſuch time as we were his deadly enimies,) and came euen then to ſeeke vsus out in the verie deepeſt of the bottomleſſe Dungeons. And therevppon Saint Paule addeth, that hee dooth not diſpize or ſhake off the grace of God. This is the knitting vppe of the things that wee hauehave hythertoo ſeene. For heere he ment too ſhewe, that the Diuell muſt needes poſſeſſe thoſe that make none accounte of Gods merciemercy, that is vttered in our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, and dayly offered vsus in his Goſpell. For looke howe oft the death and paſsion of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt is preached vntoo vsus, and the infinite goodneſſe of our God talked of: ſo oft is this meſſage renued vntoo vsus, that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt calleth vsus vntoo hym, to the ende we ſhould forſake the worlde and being out of all hope in our ſelues, faſten and ſettle our whole truſt in him. Sith it is ſo: it is good reaſon that we ſhould not reiect the grace of God. And S. Paule in ſaying ſo, ment to call backe ſuche as had gone aſtray before, and too ſhewe them the way, as if he had ſayde, whereas the poore ignorant ſoules that neuer heard worde of the Goſpel might be excuzed: we muſt needes be worſe than damnable, ſeeing we refuze the grace of God when it is offered vsus: for it ſmelleth of ſuch an vnthankefulneſſe, as can by no meanes be excuſed. Saint Paule therefore dooth heere make mention of thoſe whome our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt calleth too the hope of ſaluation by his Goſpell, and yet doo ſtill welter in their owne wretchedneſſe, and become brutiſhe, not knowing whither there bee a better lyfe or no… or elſe of ſuche as are ſufficiently tormented wyth inwarde heartbyting, and yet ſeeke no remedie nor cōfort. Yet notwithſtanding, all they too whome our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt hath not preached his Goſpell, ſhall not fayle to periſhe without merciemercy, They cannot defende themſelues by ignorance: I ſay that all the heathen folke and Idolaters that euer were, muſt hauehave their mouthes ſtopped. And what ſhal become of vsus then, which hauehave had our eares beaten dayly with the meſſage that God ſendeth vsus: which is that hee requireth nothing but that we ſhould be drawne vntounto him, wherevnto he incourageth, yea and beſeecheth vsus, as we hauehave ſeene in the ſecond to the Corinthians?2 Cor. 5. d. 20. It is not a great ſhame for vsus, that God ſhould ſo farre abace himſelfe in the perſon of his onelyonly ſonne, that he ſhould beſeech vsus? Let vsus fall to attonement, ſayth he. And what hath he done on hys ſide? VVhat hath hee offended vsus? Nay contrariwiſe, wee ceaſſe not to prouoke him dayly agaynſt vsus, and yet he commeth too ſay vntounto vsus, I will fall too attonement with you, whereas notwithſtanding there is nothing but ſpitefulneſſe in vsus, we be like little feends, and to be ſhort, we bee damned and forlorne, and yet commeth he to ſeeke vntounto vsus, and deſireth nothing but too hauehave th… attonement made. After that maner ſpeaketh Saint Paule woorde for woorde. But nowe what will become of vsus, if wee reiect ſuch grace, ſeing that God offereth it, vsus ſo freely? This is it which is ment by that ſaying. And therevppon hee concludeth in the ende, that if wee ſeeke rightuouſneſſe in the Lawe, Ieſus Chryſt dyed in vayne. As if hee ſhoulde ſay, that if wee iutende to inioy the grace that is conteyned in the Goſpell, wee muſte vtterly gyue ouer the fonde opinion of our owne merites. For men are deceyued by bearing themſelues in hand, that there is euer ſomwhat of value in them: and to be ſhort, they cannot finde in their heartes to come as poore beggers before God, but wyll alwayes bring ſome preſent with them. And yet notwithſtanding all that euer wee thinke our ſelues too hauehave, is but abhomination. Therefore Saint Paule ſheweth vsus, that there is none other meanes for vsus too receyue lyfe at our Lorde Ieſus Chriſtes hande, and too bee made partakers of his death and reſurrection, and ſo to attaine too the heritage of heauen by his meanes, than to be vtterly voyded of all the fooliſhe ouerweenings, which the children of this world conceyue, when they imagin with themſelues, ô as for mee, I hauehave ſome vertue in mee, I hauehave ſome towardneſſe: and to lay it all downe and caſt it quite away. For vntill wee hauehave forgotten our owne deſertes, ſurely wee ſhall neuer be able to conceyue the grace of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. Do wee then come vntoo him? Let vsus come vtterly emptie. For if wee make any countenaunce of hauing aught, it is nothing elſe but winde. Truely whenſoeuer men are puffed vp with pryde: they become ſo full that they are readie too burſt, howbeeit all of it is but wynde. But yet howe ſo euer wee fare, that wynde holdeth vsus backe from receyuing the benefites that are purchaced and brought vntoo vsus by the Sonne of God, and which he communicateth to vsus by his Goſpell. Thus ye ſee wherevnto the concluſion tendeth which Saint Paule maketh heere. Now the Papiſtes will graunt well inough that wee bee not able to purchaſe ſaluation, except we bee helped by our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt: howbeeit they imagin that men may halfe ſaue themſelues, and that looke what wanteth is ſupplied by the grace of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, &c ſo they ſuppoſe thēſelues to hauehave a good & auailable ſtartinghole. But in ſaying ſo, they ſhew thēſelues deadly enimies of the grace of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and vpholders of the cace and quarell of the falſe Apoſtles and deceyuers that had corrupted, defloured, and falſfied the pure truth in the Church of Galatia. For thoſe ſort of men coulde well inough confeſſe that Ieſus Chriſt was the Sauour of the world, and they would hauehave bin aſhamed too ſay that Ieſus Chriſt was nothing, nay rather they profeſſed Chriſtianitie. And what deemed they of Ieſus Chriſt? That he came too help mens infirmities, bycauſe they were not able to diſcharge the lawe too the full, and that for aſmuch as they could not hauehave ſo great and large perfection as was requiſite, therefore it behoued them too bee helped by Ieſus Chriſt: and euen as much doo the Papiſtes ſay at this day. But S. Paule concludeth on the contrarie part, that then Ieſus Chriſt had died in vayne. If any man replie, no not ſo: for there ſhould come ſome frute of his death and paſsion, by helping vsus too the forgiueneſſe of our ſinnes: and although we hauehave meanes to ſatisfie God withall, yet would not the ſame ſuffyze, vnleſſe Ieſus Chriſt ſhould worke therewith. I ſay if any man make ſuch replie: let vsus marke that S. Paule hild this for a certaine and vndeceyuable principle, that doo the beſt we can, there is nothing but curſedneſſe in vsus, till God hauehave receyued vsus of his meere grace. Lo wherein the Papiſts beguile themſelues, and not they onelyonly: for it hath bin a common errour among the Turkes and among all the Heathen men that euer were. The Turkes can confeſſe well ynough that they hauehave neede of Gods merciemercy, & that hath alwayes bin an opinion through the whole world: but they hauehave intermingled their own ſatisfactions with Gods grace, as if they ſhould ſay, although God be pitifull towardes vsus, yet muſte we procure fauour in his ſight by our owne deſeruings. After that maner were the Heathen folke woont too ſpeake. And what ſay the Papiſtes now adayes? All one thing. For after they hauehave once graunted themſelues too be wretched ſinners, and to hauehave neede to be ſuccored by our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and that his death and paſsion are auayleable to make them way vntounto God: they interlace their owne freewill, and their preparations, and thervnto ſay that they deſerue on their ſide, and that although Ieſus Chriſt help them, yet he dooth not all himſelfe. And in very deede that is the flat doctrine of the Papiſtes woord for woord. For they ſay wee cannot deſerue aught except Ieſus Chriſt go before vsus and ſhewe vsus the way, for they ſay that he hath purchaced vsus the firſte grace, and that it lieth in vsus to follow on and too attayne to the ſecond. And if a man aske them what is ment by that firſt grace they ſay it is the occaſiō of meriting or deſeruing: for that is their terming of it, and their maner of ſpeache. And this occaſion of meriting is nothing elſe with them, but that men are able of themſelues too binde God too them by their owne ſatisfactions. But S. Paule telleth vsus that it is to outrageous, yea and too Diueliſh a trayterouſneſſe too hauehave ſuch pride: and therefore he cōcludeth that Ieſus Chriſt ſhould hauehave died in vayne, if wee ſhould ſeeke rightuouſneſſe in the lawe. VVill wee then poſſeſſe our Lord Ieſus Chriſt? It behoueth vsus too know wherefore wee come vntounto him: namely bycauſe that by the Lawe we are already condemned, curſed of God, cut off from hope of life, and full of all corruption, ſo as God muſt be fayne too clenze vsus by his holy ſpirit, and for aſmuch as there are many infirmities in vsus, we muſt alwayes come to our Lord Ieſus Chriſte, and to confeſſe that there is nothing in vsus but all curſedneſſe and miſerie: wee muſt needes come too this concluſion of S. Paules, that Chriſt had died in vaine, if it behoued vsus to obtayne rightuouſneſſe by the law, whither it were wholly or partly. VVee muſt needes confeſſe that, and the verieſt idiotes are able to perceyue it, in ſo much that if we receyue not Ieſus Chriſt with that condition, it is certayne that his comming ſhall profite vsus nothing at all. It will be but as a winde to blow vsus away together, ſo as wee ſhall be no more able to take hold of Gods merciemercy that is offered vsus in Ieſus Chriſt. Now ſeyng it is ſo: let vsus learne to leaue ſuch maner of mingling, and acknowledge our ſelues beholden too our Lord Ieſus Chriſte for all things: for when we go about too interlace our owne merites with the free remiſsion of our ſinnes, it is but a falſifying of Gods truth. Beſides this, when we hauehave learned to reſt our ſelues after that maner vppon him: let vsus bee taken in louelove with the ſpirituall benefites which he bringeth vsus, and let not the afflictions and aduerſities of this world hinder vsus from holding on our courſe, and from the ouer comming of all temptations and diſtreſſes, but that we may hauehave full ioy in the middes of all our ſorrowes and troubles, aſſuring our ſelues that al that euer wee can ſuffer in this world, is nothing in compariſon of that which is prepared for vsus in the kingdome of heauen. And that is the thing whervnto S. Paule leadeth vsus. For firſt of all he exhorteth vsus to a holy and well ruled lyfe, and to be lowly as becommeth vsus, to giuegive our ſelues wholly to our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. And ſecondly he exhorteth vsus to arme our ſelues with patience, that we may ouercome all the aſſaultes and diſtreſſes that come vponupon vsus, and walke in ſuch wiſe in this world, as we may alwayes go foreward to the heauēly heritage, which we ſee not, and which paſſeth all our vnderſtanding, not ceaſſing for all that to aſſure our ſelues of it, ſith we hauehave ſo good a promis of it made vntounto vsus. And further ſeing we hauehave the earneſtpēnie and pledge of it giuen vntounto vsus in our Lord Ieſus Chriſt: let the ſame ſerue vsus for a full aſſurance, to ſhew vsus that wee neede not runne at randon, but hauehave a perfect fayth & a firme and ſubſtantiall hope, for aſmuch as wee hauehave already in the perſone of the Sonne of God, a full performance of all things that we can wiſh.
But now let vsus fall downe before the maieſtie of our good God, with acknowledgement of our ſinnes, praying him to make vsus feele them more and more, and to touch vsus in ſuch wiſe with true repentance, as the ſame may prouoke vsus more and more to ſeeke forgiueneſſe and merciemercy at Gods hand, & therewithall alſo to beſeech him to gouerne vsus ſo by his holy ſpirit, as we may be incoraged more & more to forſake all the luſtes of our owne fleſh, and all that is of our old Adam, till we be come to the perfection wherevnto he allureth vsus, & from which we be ſo farre off as yet. That it may pleaſe him to graunt this grace not only to vsus, but alſo to all people &c.