Sermons on Galatians, Sermon 23
The. 23. Sermon, which is the ninth vponupon the third Chapter.
26 For all of you are Gods children through the fayth vvhichwhich is in Ieſus Chriſt.
27 Surely as many of you as are baptiſed, hauehave put on Chriſt.
28 There is neyther Ievve nor Greeke, there is neyther bonde nor free, there is neither male nor female: For yeare all one in Ieſus Chriſt.
29 Novv if ye be Chriſts, thē are you Abrahams ſeede, and heyres according to the promiſe.
WE hauehave ſeene heretofore to what dignitie we be aduaunced by the Goſpell. For not only we be called to be of the felowſhip & company of the holy fathers whom God honored ſo highly: but alſo our ſtate is yet more woorthie and noble, bicauſe we be deliuered from the bondage of the Lawe, whervnder they were hilde. And for the better confirming of this doctrine, S. Paule addeth that we be al made the children of God by beleeuing in our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, Iohn. 1. b. 12according alſo as it is ſayd in the firſt Chapter of S. Iohns Goſpell. For there this dignitie is commended to vsus as it deſerueth: namely, that we hauehave preeminence and prerogatiue to be counted. Gods children through fayth, verely for our Lorde Ieſus Chriſts ſake, who is his only and naturall ſonne. For that tytle belongeth alonely to him by right, and is cōmunicated to vsus but only by grace, inaſmuch as God hath voutſafed to adopt vsus for his ſake. So thē Ieſus Chriſt is the hed of the Church: howbeit for his ſake god acknowledgeth & auoweth vsus for his children. And here we ſee that the word Beleefe importeth more thā mē cōmōly take it to do, according alſo as I hauehave declared before. For they that are not exercized in the holy Scripture, thinke it ſtraunge that God ſhould honor vsus ſo highly for beleeuing, & (to their ſeeming) fayth is not ſo great a vertue that it ought to obteyn ſo great a benefite. But I hauehave ſhewed you heeretofore, that our beleeuing in Ieſus Chriſt is not as the crediting of ſome ſtorie when we heare it or reade it, but a receyuing and conceyuing of him inwardly with full aſſuredneſſe as hee is offered vsus by God hys father. Therefore when wee imbrace our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, as the partie that hath made amendes for our ſinnes too reconcyle vsus too God, ſo as wee repoſe the whole truſt of our welfare in him, not doubting but that hee hath brought vsus all that is for the inheriting of heauen: I ſay if wee bee once aſſured of that: it is no maruell though God acknowledge vsus as his children for our beleefes ſake. Howbeeit therewithall we muſt call to our remembrance, what we hauehave diſcourſed before: namely that this [benefite of God in acknowledging vsus to bee his children] commeth not of any deſert of fayth, neyther muſt wee wey it heere in the balance what maner of vertue it is: for wee bee made Gods children by free adoption. If a man demaunde the cauſe: I anſwere, that the verie well ſpring and foundation is not too bee ſought elſewhere than in Gods onelyonly goodneſſe, inaſmuche as it pleaſed him too pitie vsus. Neuertheleſſe it is brought to paſſe by the meanes of fayth (as I hauehave ſaide alreadie,) bycauſe that beeing rid of all fonde ouerweening, and acknowledging our ſelues to be damned in our owne nature, wee flee for refuge to our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. Thus you ſee in effect what S. Paule ment to ſay. And he goeth on ſtill with the matter, to the end we ſhoulde knowe, that onelyonly fayth ought to ſuffice vsus to the atteyning of ſaluation, without ſeeking any other meanes one way or other too helpe vsus. VVhat ſhoulde wee deſyre more than that God ſhoulde acknowledge vsus for his children? VVill we needes hauehave an ouerplus added too ſo ineſtimable a benefite? Ye ſee then that our full felicitie and perfect glorie, is that we hauehave leaue to call vppon God as our father, not doubting but that ſeeing he hath receyued vsus into his fauour, hee will alſo handle vsus as his owne children. But howe ſhall we come by that? Saint Paule ſayth it is onelyonly fayth that maketh vsus parttakers of that dignitie. Then let vsus conclude, that the Lawe can nothing aduauntage vsus, or elſe it muſt needes bee that wee bee woonderfull couetous, yea and as good as out of our wits, to deſire more than too be the children of God.Iob. 1. b. 6. The Angelles are greatly honoured in the holy Scripture, and yet the cheefe tytle that is giuen them, is that they be the children of God. Now ſeeing that we, we (I ſay) poore wormes of the earth, in whom there is nothing but filthyneſſe, no nor aught but corruption of ſinne, bee matched with the Angelles, inſomuch that God openeth vsus the kingdome of heauen, and intendeth too hauehave vsus fellowes with them, who bee vertues & are nere about him, ſeing (I ſay) that we be made partakers of that glorie: ſhall we be ſo preſumptuous to ſeeke I wot not what moreouer? Truely it is not onelyonly fayth that maketh vsus to obteyne that benefite. VVherfore lette vsus learne to renounce all other meanes that may bee ſet before vsus: for when men offer vsus any other helpes as though the fayth that we hauehave in him were not ſufficient, it is but a turning of vsus away from our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. That then is Saint Paules meaning. But wee ſhall neuer conceyue the frute that is conteined in this texte, except we alwayes beare in minde, that by this worde Fayth S. Paule meaneth to exclude all the deſert & worthineſſe that men ſuppoſe or imagin thēſelues able to bring with thē vntounto God. VVhen they will needs go through with the matter by their owne power and vertues: It is all one as if they would cut off a peece of the grace of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. But he cannot be rent in peeces or deuided. Therefore all the working of our ſaluation muſt come of him alone, and we muſt not skulk heere and there, nor ſeeke bywayes, but come right forth vntounto him by the ſtreyte way of fayth. Herevpon S. Paule addeth, that beeing baptiſed in Ieſus Chriſt, we hauehave put him on. And this is too take away a doubt that might be caſt heere, namely howe it is poſsible that we ſhould become the children of God, ſeeing that that dignitie is peculiar to our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt.Heb. 1. d. 15 For whereas he is called the Sonne of God, the Apoſtle ſheweth that that tytle cannot be verified of the verie Angels of heauen. True it is, (as I hauehave ſayde heretofore) that they be named the children of God: howbeeit, that is not without an addition. So is it out of doubt, that there is not any creature to whom that dignitie belongeth. But nowe ſeeing that Ieſus Chriſt is the only ſonne of God, howe doth the ſame extende vntoo vsus? S. Paule declareth that it is by reaſon of the vnion that is betwixt him and vsus,Iohn. 17. d. 32. according as it is ſayd in the .xvij. Chapter of. S. Iohn. Then if we were not one with our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, ſurely wee ſhould hauehave none acquaintance at all wyth God: for we be quite cutte off from all hope of lyfe by ſinne. Yea and wee muſt needes be as deadly enimies vntounto him, and he vntounto vsus, till hee hauehave altered and renued vsus. Howſoeuer the worlde go, beeing ſeparated from Ieſus Chriſt, and conſidered in our owne nature, we bee vnworthie too be called men, and therefore much leſſe can we boaſt that God is our father. But here (as I ſayde) Saint Paule intended to aſſoyle that queſtion, ſaying that by Baptiſme we be clothed with our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. And this ſimilitude of clothing is verie ryfe in the holy Scripture, and it betokeneth in effect, that Ieſus Chriſt is our apparell or rayment, whereby all is couered and buryed that might make vsus to be reiected at Gods hand, and grace is purchaſed vntounto vsus, ſo as he doth not any more ſift vsus and ſearch vsus in our ſelues, but accepteth vsus as if we came in the very perſon of his owne Sonne. To be ſhort, Saint Paule ment to ſhew here the vnion that is betwene our Lord Ieſus Chriſt and all the faythfull, which are the members of his body. And like as all the ſubſtance of a tree commeth from the root, and al the powers and abilities of a natural bodie come from the head: euen ſo is it betwene the ſonne of God and vsus. For (as I hauehave ſayd alredy) we hauehave not ſo much as one drop of the heauenly life, but of his inſpyring or breathing into vsus. Therefore if we will come vntounto God, and be partakers of the holy Ghoſt, and of the giftes that belong to the endleſſe life: let vsus be in Ieſus Chriſt, and not thinke our ſelues to be any thing or aught worth of our ſelues. And for the ſame cauſe, our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt in the ſayd text which I alledged out of the xvij. of S. Iohn, ſetting out the true and perfect happineſſe of his, fayeth: Father I pray thee that they may bee made one with vsus. Ye ſee then that the way for vsus to get out of the dungeon of death wherein we were drowned, is to be vnited to our Lord Ieſus Chriſt by the bond of fayth. Now S. Paule ſayth, that that is done in Baptiſme. Not that all they which are baptized are true members of Ieſus Chriſt in deede: for we ſee the cleane contrarie, inſomuch that there are ſome which vnhallow and defile all the holineſſe of Baptiſme, and are giltie of high treaſon too God, bicauſe that whereas they profeſſe to holde of Ieſus Chriſt, they deſpyze and ſpyte him, and are as dung and filthineſſe too marre all things. Baptiſme then maketh vsus not all Chriſtians, and againe wee knowe, that too bee made the childe of God, is too great a benefite to bee fathered vppon a corruptible Element. VVhat is the water? Too ſay that the water begetteth or regenerateth vsus againe, and that thereby we be deliuered from death, and obteyne the glorie wherein God lyfteth vsus vp too himſelfe: as (ſay I) a peruerting of all order.
But firſt of all let vsus marke here, that when Saint Paule ſpeaketh of Baptiſme, he preſuppoſeth that we receyue the thing that is offered vntounto vsus in it. Many that are baptiſed do wype away the grace of God: and notwithſtanding that it be offered them, yet they make themſelues vnworthie of it through their vnbeleef, lewdneſſe, and rebellion. Thus yee ſee that the power of baptiſme is diſfeated in many men. But when there happeneth a mutual agreement & melodie betwene God and vsus: then hath baptiſme the effect whereof S. Paule treateth and diſcourſeth in this text. And ſo the thing that maketh vsus Gods children and clothed vsus with Ieſus Chriſt, is that God draweth vsus out of the corruption wherin we were by nature, and will hauehave Ieſus Chriſt to be our head, and vsus ingraffed into him to be parttakers of his goods. Therfore looke when we receiue that, then is all accōpliſhed that is figured by baptiſme. If hypocrites brag of their baptiſme,Gal. 6. b. 16 S. Paule ſheweth them that it is but vanitie and illuſion, ſaying that the circumciſion of the letter is nothing: that is to ſay, if we loke no further but to the outward and viſible Sacrament, it is all of no value. Euen ſo is it with baptiſme: it ſhall ſtand them in no ſted which with their mouthes vaunt themſelues to be Chriſtians and great pillers of the Church, foraſmuch as they defile the thing which God had dedicated to ſo excellent an vſe, as I hauehave told you before. Then let vsus marke well that S. Paule ſpeaketh this ſentence, not to all without exception, which beare the ſigne and mark [of baptiſme] outwardly: but to ſuch as fare the better by their baptiſme. Againe S. Paule meeneth not that baptiſme, that is to ſay the water hath the power to chaunge vsus in ſuch wiſe, that we ſhould be clothed with our Lord Ieſus Chriſt: for by that meanes God ſhould be robbed of the prayſe that is due to himſelf alone. But he ſheweth here the meane whereby we be certified that we be the members of our Lord Ieſus Chriſts bodie. I hauehave tolde you alredie, that we muſt not ſeeke any other cauſe of it than Gods mere goodneſſe: for if we fetch windlaſſes one wher or other, it is like as if a mā were a thirſt, and would turne his back to the fountaine [to ſeeke water.] Therfore let vsus learne, that it is only God which knitteth vsus to our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, of his own mere goodneſſe, & that he doth it by the ſecrete power of his holy ſpirit, and yet notwithſtanding ceaſſeth not too woorke by baptiſme as by an inferiour inſtrument, according as wee ſee how all light cōmeth of him, in ſomuch that there was light in the world, euen before there was eyther Sunne or Moone. And yet neuertheleſſe God hath ſtabliſhed the Sunne whereby we hauehave light heere bylowe euen vntounto this day. But yet doth not the Sunne ſerue too diminiſh the power that is in God alone. Againe it is ſayd that man liueth not by bread onelyonly,Deut. 8. a. 3 but by eueryevery woord that procedeth out of Gods mouth. And in good ſooth the bread it ſelfe is a dead thing. VVho giueth it vsus? It is God that inſpireth life into vsus: for wee liue in him as S. Paule ſayeth in the .xvij. of the Actes.Act. 17. f. 28. And yet notwithſtanding it is his will too doo it by bread, and he applieth it dayly too our vſe, too the intent we ſhould bee fed with it. So then there is none inconuenience that wee ſhould bee clothed with our Lord Ieſus Chriſt by baptiſme, and yet notwithſtanding that the ſame ſhould proceede of Gods meere grace, and that it ſhoulde bee done by the ſecrete working of the holy Ghoſt, ſurmounting the whole order of nature, whereof baptiſme dothe certifie vsus, bycauſe we bee rude and earthly. God therefore is fayne too drawe by little and little by reaſon of our infirmitie, too make vsus too conceyue the things that otherwiſe are too high for vsus. For where are our wings too ſtie with aboue the heauens? VVee hauehave much a doo to creepe heere beneath vponupon the earth, and therefore God is fayne too come downe to vsus, which thing he doth by his Sacramentes. Thus are we clothed with our Lord Ieſus Chriſte by baptiſme, according alſo as S. Paule ſhe weth by another ſimilitude in the ſixth to the Romanes.Rom. 6. a. 5. For he ſayeth that we bee greffed into the death and paſsion of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, too the end alſo to bee made partakers of his reſurrection and life. This ſimilitude of greffyng is as fit as the other of clothing. For take mee the ſyen of a tree, and cut mee of the head, or ſome bough of another tree, and greffe mee that little ſyen into it, that was taken from another, and yee ſee they growe bothe into one, ſo as they become bothe one ſubſtance, and the roote yeeldeth his ſap too the little ſprig that was taken from another tree. Euen after the ſame maner are wee greffed intoo our Lord Ieſus Chriſte (ſayeth S. Paule) and that is too the end that our old man ſhould be crucified in him, and we be rayſed vp againe in newneſſe of life. But heere wee hauehave firſt too marke, howe gratious and bountifull God hath and ſtill doth ſhew himſelfe towardes vsus, in that it pleaſeth him too vnite vsus too his owne ſonne: for that paſſeth all the benefites whiche wee can conceyue in our imaginacion. And therefore alſo doth S. Paule proue, that all things which God hath, do belong vntounto vsus,Rom. 8. f. 31. and that we hauehave the inioying of them, whē we once poſſeſſe his Sonne. Seing (ſayeth hee) that God hath not ſpared his owne Sonne, how ſhould he not giuegive vsus all things with him. Too be ſhort, God coulde not hauehave vttered the infinite treaſures better, than by ioyning vsus after that maner to his only Sonne. It is more than if he had giuen vsus heauen and earth: For ſurely if wee compare Ieſus Chriſt with all the goodes of the worlde, yea and all the goodes that are aboue the earthly world: he farre ſurmounteth them all. Marke that for one poynt. Furthermore let vsus vnderſtand that God hath ſo vnited vsus to our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, as wee muſt be fayne to hauehave all our lyfe in him. And it ſerueth to humble vsus the better, and to make vsus perceyue how horrible a thing it is to bee wrapped in the curſedneſſe of Adam. For if the holy Scripture told vsus not that wee muſte be vnited to our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, before wee can bee in Gods fauour: wee ſhould not feele ſufficiently the wretchedneſſe wherein we be hild by nature, nother ſhould wee hate our ſinnes ſo much as we ought to do. But now that it is tolde vsus how it is impoſsible, (yea though all the Angels ſhould come to our ayde, & that all the world ſhoulde helpe forward the matter): and too bee ſhort, that although nothing wanted yet it were impoſsible for vsus to come neere vntoo God, or that he ſhould looke vpō vsus with a fatherly coūtenance, yea or that he ſhould acknowledge vsus for his creatures, til we be clothed with our Lord Ieſus Chriſt: This were ynough to make vsus abhorre our ſelues. And needes muſt it be that we be worſe than lothely, ſeing there is none other meanes to appeaſe Gods wrath towards vsus, and to ſet vsus againe in his fauour, than by his couering of our ſinnes, & by his clenzing of vsus frō al our filthineſſe & infection, by blotting out all our wickedneſſe: & that the ſame muſt be done by clothing our ſelues with Ieſus Chriſt, according to the figure therof which we fee in Iacob,Gen. 27. d. 27. whē God bliſſed him by the hād & meane of his father. True it is that Iacob was ch…en as Iacob: but yet was he faine to be appareled as Eſau. So was he himſelfe as in reſpect of Gods calling of him to the heritage or birthright: and he was another man in reſpect of his borrowing of his brothers clothing. Euen ſo come wee alſo as chozen of God and as hauing his promis, whereby he aſſureth vsus that he is ready to receyue vsus to merciemercy: but yet muſt we firſt & formeſt be clothed with our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. For if we appeere in our owne likeneſſe, God muſt needes hate and abhorre vsus as we be worthie. That is the thing whereof we be warned. But in the meane while let vsus fare the better by the warrant that is giuē vsus in baptim, that we may be able to fight againſt al the temptations and diſtruſtes which Satan ſetteth before our eyes to ſhake our fayth withall. If we be blockiſh ſo as we perceyue not our owne vices, but be as it were rotten in them, wo be to vsus. But if we bee wakened, to bethinke our ſelues what it is to make accoūt before god, ſo as it cōmeth euening & morning to our remēbrance, that he is the iudge of the world and cānot giuegive vp his office: if we enter into our ſelues to make examinaciō of our ſinnes: ſurely we muſt needes be afrayd & as it were beſides our ſelues: & if we had no help to releeue vsus, we ſhould needes be drowned in deſpayre. But let vsus hauehave our recourſe to our baptim, & aſſure our ſelues that it is not for nought that God hath called vsus to be partakers of the pureneſſe of his only ſonne, & made vsus al one with him: & then ſhall his bloudſhed hauehave ſuch effect to clenze vsus frō all our ſpottes, as we may come before God with our heads vpright: not with ſuch loftineſſe as hipocrites hauehave, which preſume vpō thēſelues: but vpō truſt of his ineſtimable goodneſſe, in aſmuch as he hath told vsus that all things which belong to our Lord Ieſus Chriſte are cōmon to vsus. Againe if we perceyue our ſelues to hauehave cōmitted ſo many offences that Gods wrath is kindled againſt vsus: behold, Ieſus Chriſt hath offered a ſacrifice, wherby we know that the attonement is made betweene God and vsus. Seyng then that God hath ſo teſtified his louelove towardes vsus: let vsus not miſtruſt but that he will preuent vsus when ſo euer wee ſeeke him in true fayth, that is too ſay, with ſuche ſtedfaſtneſſe as wee doubte not that he ment too diſappoynt vsus when hee pretended too bee ſo liberall towardes vsus. Thus yee ſee that the way too make our baptiſme auaylable to vsus, is too vſe it as a ſheeld too beate backe all the diſtruſtes that come vponupon vsus too ſtoppe vsus from praying vntoo God, and from hauing our whole recourſe vntounto him, if we went not vntounto him, [ſaying thus in our ſelues]: Surely it is true that I hauehave ſuch ſtore of ſinnes in mee, as the number of them were able too make God too lothe mee: but therefore I will not go too him in mine owne perſone: I renounce my ſelfe and mine owne nature, as wherein there is nothing but ſhame and confuzion: and I go to him in the name of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, yea and he goeth before mee, he giueth mee as it were his garment, he ſpeaketh for mee, and in his name do I preſent my ſelfe as though I were very he, bicauſe it hath pleaſed him to bee ſo gracious too mee as to make mee all one with him. Thus ye ſee that we muſt leaue our ſelues behind vsus when we come before God, and wee muſt take vppon vsus the perſone of our Lord Ieſus Chriſte, yea we leaue our ſelues behind vsus. Not that we ſhould not perceiue our owne miſdoings and be rightly humbled and ſorie for them: but [that we ſhould doo the cleane contrarie, and] yet notwithſtanding take it for a full and reſolute certaintie, that God accepteth vsus when wee come vntounto him as in the perſone of his onelyonly Sonne. But there are very fewe that thinke vppon this. And in good ſooth, although that all of vsus profeſſe the Goſpell, yet wee ſhall finde a number that know not the true vſe of baptiſme, nor wheretoo it auayleth, nor to what end it was ordeyned. But ſuch folke ſhall pay deerly for taking ſuch a pledge at Gods hand. He will ſhewe that it is to coſtly a thing too bee abuſed, for aſmuch as it is ſayd to be the meane whereby we bee vnited to our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and ingreffed into his death and reſurrection. Then whereas many hauehave receyed baptiſme in their childhood, and hauehave liued a fortie or fiftie yeeres in the world without knowing too what ende they were baptized: it were better for them that they had bin borne dead, and too hauehave bin ſunken a hundred times into the earth, than too hauehave vnhallowed ſo holy a thing. And therefore let vsus bethinke our ſelues the better, and learne that although there bee but a little water caſte vppon our heads, yet notwithſtāding it is not a vaine figure: for God ſpeaketh in it as it were from heauen, and Ieſus Chriſte is there preſent as a witneſſe of the vſage and operation of the ſacrament, and ſpecially his death and reſurrection are warranted too vsus by it. Let vsus thinke well vponupon theſe things, and conſider too what end we be baptized and what benefite it bringeth vsus: let it bee well rooted in our hartes, and when ſoeuer any yong childrē are baptized, let vsus bethinke our ſelues the better: For to what end is baptiſme ſolemnized in the companie [or congregacion] of the faythfull? Truly to the end that the babe ſhould be commended vntounto God. Againe it is a certaine infraunchizing of him into the heauenly Citie, and therefore it muſte not bee done in hudther mudther: but it is ſo excellent a deede, as ought to be done after a more orderly and ſolemne faſhion, than any thing belonging to worldly pollicie. For therein wee hauehave a mirrour of the benefite that was beſtowed vppon vsus before, to the intent we ſhould ioy in it to the end. But we ſee that the vnbeleeuers do through theyr own vnthankfulneſſe depriue themſelues of this adoption of Gods, and quite baniſh themſelues from it. To the end then that we may bee confirmed more and more, wee muſte conſider well, that when baptiſme is celebrated, it toucheth vsus very neerely, and God calleth vsus to him, too ſhewe vsus in another bodies perſone, that wee our ſelues are forlorne and damned by nature. Howbeit for aſmuch as he hath knit vsus into the bodie of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, we be no more conſidered in our owne kinde, nother doth God looke what wee bee of our ſelues, nor what wee hauehave deſerued: but accepteth vsus as if Ieſus Chriſt were in vsus, as in deede wee muſte not bee ſeparated from him. This in effect is it that wee hauehave too conſider vppon this text. Now herevpon S. Paule cōcludeth, that there is nother Greeke nor Iew bond nor free, male nor female, but that Ieſus Christ is one in vsus all, and all wee are one in him. And by this ſentence S. Paule ment to expreſſe yet better, that only fayth ought to ſuffyze vsus, and that we muſt exclude all other meanes: for elſe it were a derogacion as well to the grace of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, as to the working of his holy ſpirite. If any man alledge that circumciſion was alwayes a recorde too the fathers, of the ſame thing that wee hauehave at this day in baptiſme: the doubte is aſſoyled in the ſecond too the Coloſsians,Coloſs 2. b. 11. where S. Paule ſayeth that in being baptized wee bee circumcized: [howbeit] not with mans hand, nor with viſible circumciſion: but that it ought to ſuffize vsus that God acknowledgeth vsus to bee partakers of the ſpirituall circumciſion, namely for ſomuch as baptiſme is ordeyned too the ſame end now adayes. And let vsus marke, that circumcizion ſerued to put a difference betweene the Iewes and the Gentiles. It was (as the Scripture termeth it) a wall betwixt them, too fence in the Iewes as the people whom God had chozen.Eph. 2. c. 14 But nowe the bliſsing is publiſhed euerywhere, ſo as there is no more diuerſitie. Now then baptiſme being in theſe dayes ſucceeded in the place of circumciſiō, ſupplieth the want of that old ſigne, which was a figure and ſhadowe of things too come. And that ſhould not needed too hauehave bin, if our Lord Ieſus Chriſt had not bin away. But nowe that he is manifeſted vntounto vsus▪ we hauehave baptiſme ordeyned in ſteade of it. Notwithſtanding let vsus marke (as I hauehave ſayd already) that we cā bring nothing of our owne wherwith to purchace fauour before God: all that we can do is but ſimply to confeſſe our ſinne, which were ynough too drowne vsus in deſpayre. Furthermore wee hauehave fayth, whereby wee recouer that whiche is requiſite for our ſaluation. I ſay wee recouer it, by ſeeking it in our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. Nowe then if wee ſay, yea but wee bee weake and rude, wee cannot mount ſo high as too the ſecretes of heauen: let vsus looke vponupon the baptiſme that is giuen vsus, as though God reached out his hande too vsus. There he ſheweth vsus to eyeſight, after what maner he plucketh vsus out of the curſe wherin we were plundged, and couereth vsus with our Lord Ieſus Chriſte, to the end that all our miſdeedes ſhould be buried by the perfection of his rightuouſneſſe. For wee knowe he yeelded ſuche obedience too God his father, that if wee come grounded therevppon, we cannot but finde fauour at his hand. Thus yee ſee how that on the one ſide God wil hauehave vsus to reſt vponupon him and on our Lord Ieſus Chriſt his ſonne, to the end we ſhould draw out of the fulneſſe of that foū tayne, and yeelde the whole prayſe of our ſaluation to the woorking of his holy ſpirite: and on the otherſide giueth vsus baptiſme as a help of our rudeneſſe and infirmitie. Seyng wee hauehave all this, what ſeeke we any more? Is it not a wilfull robbing of God, if wee will needes hauehave other helpes, and put too other opinions and fancies as they come in our heades? VVhereto ſerueth all this? But ſuche minglings are Diueliſh corruptions. Therefore S. Paule telleth vsus, that wee muſt be ſo vnited too our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, as none of vsus muſt aduaunce himſelf as though he were better worth than his fellowes, but acknowledge our ſelues beholden too Gods meere grace for all things, and bothe great and ſmall muſte indeuer the ſame togither, and with one cōmon conſent confeſſe, that in our Lord Ieſus Chriſt they hauehave all that is to be wiſhed for, and therefore giuegive ouer all the inuentions and deuices that can come in their owne brayne. Yet not withſtanding, S. Paule ment not too ſay that there is no diuerſitie of degrees as in reſpect of worldly policie. For wee knowe there are mayſters and ſeruants, Magiſtrates and ſubiectes: in a houſeholde there is the good man which is the head, and the good wyfe whiche ought to bee ſubiect. VVee know then that this order is inuiolable, and our Lord Ieſus Chriſt is not come into the worlde to make ſuch confuſion as to aboliſh that which was ſtabliſhed by God his father. But when S. Paule ſayeth that there is nother mayſter nor ſeruant, man nor woman: he meeneth that too bee ſure of their ſaluation, men muſte not ſet vp theyr tayles lyke Peacockes, and ſtand gazing vppon their owne fethers: but looke what woorthineſſe ſo euer we weene too bee in our ſelues, wee muſte wipe it away and caſt it vnderunder foote, and acknowledge all to bee but hinderances that turne vsus aſide from comming to our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. Therefore when both great and ſmall doo acknowledge that they cannot bryng aught of thēſelues, but muſt receyue all things of Gods only free goodneſſe: Then is our Lord Ieſus Chriſt himſelfe alone is all in all in vsus: that is to ſay, we wil not go about to adde aught to the grace that he hath purchaced for vsus, and which he offereth vsus dayly by his Goſpell too the end wee ſhould be partakers of it and inioy it too our ſaluation. Thus yee ſee in effect, that on the one ſide wee muſt keepe the ciuill orders of this world. Let ſuch as are great men, and men of authoritie aboue others, knowe that God intendeth too be ſerued by them in that ſtate. As for example, let the Magiſtrates conſider that they be ſo much the more bound to do their duetie, ſeyng that God hath done them the honour too aduaunce them after that faſhion aboue others. Agayne, they that are priuate perſones and ought too obey the Magiſtrates, muſt looke that they ſubmit thēſelues, vnleſſe they purpoſe to ſtriue with God and to make warre againſt him. Yee ſee then that S. Paule holdeth vsus in ſobrietie and modeſtie, and vnderunder a bridle which was not deuized by men, but dedicated of God too our vſe, bycauſe mankind could not continue without it. And truely we ought too honour and reuerence the ſtate of gouernance, as a thing ordeyned of the Lord. And yet for all that, when wee come too the heauenly life, let vsus aſſure our ſelues that all worldly things paſſe and vaniſh away,Cor. 7. e. 21. as the world and the faſhion thereof paſſeth, ſayeth Sainct Paule: but the kingdome of God indureth for euer. Then as touching our being children vntoo God, and as touching our beyng his heires, we come not to it by riches, nobleneſſe, or dignitie, or by any power or vertue of our owne. How then? By Gods meere grace and goodneſſe. For the great ones muſt be fayne to ſtoupe and to humble themſelues, and the little ones muſte needes wonder at the ſight of Gods ſo ineſtimable goodneſſe, who hath vouchſaued to lift them vp after that forte aboue the heauens, whereas they be fearſly counted worthie to dwell vponupon earth. Furthermore let vsus hauehave the skill to profite our ſelues hereby. Truely the chiefe poynt is that we go foreward and trauell ſtill to the inheritance of the heauēly kingdome, and that our ſtudies, thoughtes and deſires be chiefly applied therevnto. But yet therewithall wee muſte alſo in paſsing through this world, hauehave regard of the degrees which our Lord hath ſet too be kept. And when any are to be chozen to the ſtate of gouernment, to weeld Gods ſwoord, and too ſit in the ſeate of Iuſtice: let eueryevery man bethinke himſelf well, and pray to God for ſuch as are too bee chozen, that they may be found to be good and faithful Magiſtrates, and imploy themſelues too doo their duetie. And let vsus on our ſide walke peaceably in their obediēce and ſubiection: let vsus feele there as it were the firſt frutes of the kingdome of heauen: and let vsus cō ſider that our Lord Ieſus Chriſt doth by that ſigne ſhew vsus aforehād that he hath a care of vsus, and ouerlooketh vsus, and watcheth ouer vsus, vntill we may feele it to the full when he ſhall hauehave gathered vsus vp to himſelf. And to the intent we may the more cherefully and with the better courage beare the yoke which he hath appoynted: let vsus vnderſtand that it is acceptable too him, and a ſacrifize whiche he liketh well of, when wee walke according to the order which he hath ſtabliſhed, and when wee proceede to liue, not onelyonly without doing any man wrong, or without offering any violence or deceyt: but alſo doo walke in all godlineſſe and honeſtie,Tit. 2. c. 12 (as S. Paule ſayeth) that is to ſay, when we firſt feare and reuerence God aboue all thyngs, and labour to dedicate ourſelues wholly vntounto him: and ſecondlye liue after ſuch a ſober manner, as we do well ſhewe that we be not giuen to the world, though we dwell in it: but that we take it as a ſtraunge countrie, through the which wee trauell continually towards the heauenly reſt, till we ſee the thing in very deede whyche is taught vsus heere, that is to wit that we hauehave not bin knit vntounto our Lord Ieſus Chriſt in vaine.
And now let vsus fal downe before the maieſtie of our good God with acknowledgement of our ſinnes, praying him to make vsus ſo to perceiue them, as we may continually ſeeke him, euen with as earneſt zele as may poſsibly be, and giuegive ourſelues wholly to oure Lord Ieſus Chriſt, to the ende that being ioyned to him, wee may giuegive ouer all the cares of this worlde, and ſtill more and more go forward to the felicitie of the heauenly kingdome, till we be fully come thither. And ſo let vsus all ſay, Almightye God heauenly father. &c.