Sermons on Galatians, Sermon 24
The .xxiiij. Sermon, which is the firſt vponupon the fourth Chapter.
1 I ſay that vvhyle the heire is a chyld, he differeth nothing from a ſeruant, although he be the Lord of all things:
2 But is vnderunder Tutors and gouerners till the tyme appoynted by the father.
3 VVe alſo lykewyſe vvhen vve vvere children, vvere kept in bondage vnderunder the ordinaunces of the vvorld.
4 But vvhen the accompliſhment of tyme vvas come, God ſent his Sonne, made of vvoman, and made vnderunder the Lavve.
IT is out of all doubt that there was neuer yet; any mo meanes than one whereby men might atteine too ſaluation. And whereas many men beare thēſelues in hand, that they ſhall by their owne merites obteine the thing that they hope for: it is but a mockerie and a beguiling of thē ſelues. For (as hath bin ſhewed heeretofore) we are all of vsus reiected of God, curſed, and the children of wrath. On our owne part we be not able to recouer that which wee hauehave loſt in Adam, but God muſt of his infinite goodneſſe be fayne to worke in that behalfe: for all other helps are vayne and vnauaylable. But, now hath God ſtabliſhed one only meane whereby men may get out of the dungeon of curſedneſſe wherein we be all hild. Therfore it muſt needes be that the fathers of old time were ſaued by Gods meere grace,2. Cor. 1. d. 19. euen as we be, which hope for the like at this day. For it is too be ſeene in the ſecond Epiſtle to the Corinthians, that all the promiſes which God hath giuen in al ages, were grounded vppon our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and that he is the pledge of them, which maketh them auaylable and giueth them effect and force towards vsus. Then, to be ſhort, it muſt needes be, that there is but one ſaluation common to all the faithfull, both whiche are at this day, and which hauehave liued at any time ſince the beginning of the world: and it muſt needes be alſo, that God hath gathered vsus togither in one accord, to the intent we ſhould be reconciled to him by the grace of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and by that meane be counted rightuous and enioy the inheritance of heauen. Yet notwithſtanding, wee ſee great difference betweene the Church that is now adayes, and the Church that was vnderunder the law. For the fathers were ſubiect to many Ceremonies. They were circumciſed from their childhoode. Beſides this, they had their Sacrifiſes, waſhings, and ſuch other lyke things. At this day all thoſe things are aboliſhed, and none of them is in vſe. How then ſhall, we ſay that the ſubſtance of faith is all one among vsus and the fathers, and yet that the gouernment was diuers and that God hathe vtterly chaunged it? If it bee alledged that this diuerſity proceedeth of God: it would ſeme that he is variable. And if it bee ſayd that it commeth of men: then muſt we conclude that we hold two ſundry ways, and that there was great oddes betwene them and vsus. I hauehave anſwered already too the firſte obiection that may be made: namely that there is no variableneſſe in God, though he hauehave altered the order of gouernment in his Church. For when he ſendeth faire wether or foule, heate or colde, and diſpoſeth the ſeaſons of the yeere diuerſly, ſhall we ſay therefore that he chaungeth his mind, and that he is mutable in himſelfe? No, but contrariwiſe we muſt ſay that he hath ordeyned the things that were conuenient for mankind, and yet notwithſtāding doth by thoſe changes and turnings warne vsus that wee muſt not ſeeke our reſt heere beneath, but paſſe away as wayfarers, and as they that vndertake a long iourney to come to the kingdome of heauen. As touching the ſeconde obiection, Sainct Paule ſheweth that if there be any difference betwixt vsus and the fathers that liued vnderunder the Lawe, it is not in that our religion is not all one, it is not in that wee hauehave not all one God, it is not for that the promiſes which we receyue belong not to vsus nowadayes, or for that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt hath not at all times had the power to make attonement among al men, euen from Abell to thoſe which ſhal be found in the laſt end of the world: but he ſayth that the diuerſitie is in the outward gouernement. And the better to expreſſe that, hee alledgeth a ſimilitude which we ought to be well acquainted with. For if a father leaue his children fatherleſſe and vnderunder yeeres of diſcretion, he will appoint tutors and gouernors of them till they come too full age. VVhen the father is deceaſſed, his children ſhall be vnderunder Tutors and gouerners, without enioying of the goodes that their father hath left them▪ and yet do the goodes belōg to them: neuertheleſſe they hauehave not the rule of themſelues, but in ſted of following their wanton appetite, men giuegive them ſchoolebutter with a rodde. Thus ye ſee that although the children be heires, yet hauehave they not libertie at the firſte day, bycauſe they bee too weake, and hauehave nother wiſedome nor diſcretion. Now according to this ſimilitude Sainct Paule ſayth, that the fathers, (that is to ſay the Iewes which lyued vnderunder the law) were Gods childrē and heires as well as we: but that the Church was thē as it were vnderunder age as a yong child, & needed a bridle, and therefore they were in …age & ſubiectiō of the law. S. Paule then compareth Gods law whereby the Iewes were hylde in ſtreight awe vnderunder the yoke of Ceremonies, I ſay he compareth it to a Tutorſhip. But nowe is that time paſt and gone ſayth he: for God hath ſent his only ſonne, in ſomuch that in our Lorde we bee men growē and are come to ſuch perfectiō of age, that the gouernment which was vnderunder the law is now ſuperfluous & vnprofitable, yea & it ſhould be altogither contrary to Gods will, and to the order which he hath ſtabliſhed. And ſo we ſee whereat S. Paule amed. For it is a thing of great importance to know that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt is no newcome thing, as though god had ſodenly bethought him to remedie the deſtruction of mankind. For Chriſt had that power from the beginning, and it behoued all men to ſeeke their ſaluation in him, for the faith hath always bin one ſelfſame, as the Apoſtle alledgeth in the Epiſtle to the Hebrues.Heb. 13. b. 8 And truly Abels ſacrifices were not accepted for any worthineſſe that was in his own perſon, nor for any valew that was in him: but only by the meanes of faith: faith was faine to be his foundatiō and buttreſſe. In reſpect whereof alſo the Apoſtle ſayth,Heb. 11. a. 4 that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt whiche was yeſterday, is alſo to day, and ſhall be ſtil to the end. Therefore we muſt be well reſolued of this point as a thing vndoubted & out of all queſtion: namely that wee in theſe days hauehave not any newe hope of atteining to ſaluation, but the very ſame that hath bin at al times heretofore, and that the Goſpell is not a newfound doctrine forged within theſe few yeeres, but the very ſame doctrine wherein all the rightuous men that euer were, hauehave bin inſtructed. And truly it hath bin ſaid heretofore, that we be made the childrē of adoption when we once hauehave our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. For S. Paule intended to rebuke the folie & preſumptuouſnes that was in the Iewes, for that they boaſted always of their earthly linage. He ſheweth that in this behalf we muſt hauehave reſpect of nothing but of the incorruptible ſeede of Gods word, whereby wee bee begotten new agayne. Now when God adopteth vsus and receiueth vsus to bee his children, thē doth he auow vsus to be the ſpiritual ofſpring of Abraham. How then cā we be Abrahās children, except we agree with him in faith? Ye ſee then that Paules handling of this point here is to good purpoſe: namely to do vsus to vn…ſtād, that frō al time out of mind, then hath not bin any other meane to renue men to ſaluation, and too bring them into Gods fauour and louelove, than by truſting in Ieſus Chriſt, and by fleeing altogither vntounto him for refuge. Thus yee ſee why it is ſayd that yong children are maſters of the houſe, and that the inheritance belongeth to them, though they do not yet enioy it by reaſon of their age. And heere we hauehave alſo to marke further, that it wer great wrong to the fathers of old time, to ſhet them out of the felowſhip and onement of the faith that is ſhewed heere by Sainct Paule. For their life was of all mens moſt miſerable, bycauſe God kept them occupyed with many afflictions: and the liues of the fathers (ſpecially of thoſe whome God marked out too make them excellent) were all mirrors of inuincible patience. For what things indured Abraham? How hard and great incounters dyd hee heare out? VVhat manner of temptations did Iſaac and likewiſe Iacob abide? Again what vertues ſee we in Dauid? Now if they had ſet their mind vponupon this world, they had bin in worſe plight than the brute beaſts. Therefore (as I hauehave ſayd afore) it muſt needes bee that they looked higher: and that did they witneſſe ſufficiently, not only by word of mouth, but alſo by deede. Then let vsus marke well the point that is ſet downe heere: whiche is, that the fathers hoped for the ſelfſame heritage that we looke for, euen by the meanes of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. And for aſmuch as we agree with Abraham, Dauid & the other holy kings & Prophets in faith: we ſhall be gathred into the heauenly life with thē, & obtein the ſame crowne of ſaluatiō with thē,1. Pet. 2. b. 9 which is the reward of faith as S. Peter termeth it in his firſt Epiſtle. Furthermore wheras S. Paule ſayth that the child differeth nothing frō a ſeruant: he doth it, always to magnify Gods grace towards vsus, and the priuiledge which we obteine by meanes of the Goſpell. It is much for vsus to be called the children of Abraham: but it is much more whē it is ſaid of vsus, that God hath aduanced vsus to a higher degree by the Goſpell, than euer Abraham came vntounto. For in aſmuch as our Lord Ieſus Chriſt was not yet come: he was vnderunder the yoke of the law. But we at this day are free from it: and ſo ye ſee that God hath exalted vsus aboue all the Patriarks and Prophets. And wel ought we to acknowledge this grace, and to eſteeme it as it deſerueth, to the end we… …ay giuegive ourſelues to the ſeruing of God with the earneſter affection and zele.Chap. 4. But (as I hauehave touched already) we muſt marke, that S. Paule ſpeakes not heere of any ſeueral perſon. For there is none of vsus all but he ought to confeſſe himſelfe to be much rawer and weaker in faith, then were the Prophets and Patriarkes: and that doth their liues ſhew full well. Then if we be not come to ſuch perfection as they were, how is it ſayd that they were as little children, and that we be nowadays as it were at the ſtate of men? I told you before, how S. Paul ſpeaketh not of one man or other, but of the common gouernment of the Church. For he ſpeaketh not of the men themſelues, but of the faſhion that God vſed in guiding thoſe that are his. This will be ſhewed the better by things contrary.1. Cor. 3. a. 2 S. Paule vpbraideth the Corinthians, that hee was driuen too giuegive them milke as to little babes, bicauſe they were not yet able to brucke ſtrōg meate, & he maketh them aſhamed of their dulneſſe, & of their weltring in their vntoward afectiōs, for that they had not profited in the faith as the time required. Therfore it was a kind of childiſhneſſe for them to be always new to begin. Yea & we ſee how the Prophet Eſay condemneth the Iewes yet more roughly,Eſa. 28. c. 10 whē he ſaith that they were little childrē, to whom mē ſay A, A, B, B, ſo as they be ſtill new to begin agein, & looke what they learne to day, they forget to morrow, ſo that they neuer go forward but with great hardneſſe. This is a vice that is too cōmon in the world.Eph. 4. c. 14 Moreouer, S. Paule in the fourth to the Epheſians, doth generally exhort al the faithful & al ſuch as are well ſtrengthned & able to be teachers of other mē, which be as it were anteſigne bearers to ſhew the way of ſaluatiō: I ſay, he exhorteth thē to grow ſtil til they be come to the ful age of manhood. It ſhuld ſeme at the firſt bluſh that there is ſome contrarietie. For hee ſayth here, that al thoſe whome God hath receiued into his Church & made them of the houſhold of faith, are already come to ful age, yea euen the verieſt idiots that ſcarſly vnderſtand three wordes of faith, ſo they hauehave the principles and as yee would ſay the groſſe fūme of the power of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt S. Paul ſayth that they be already as good as men growen, & that God wil not hold them any lōger as children vnderunder a maiſter, or as vnderunder tutors & gouerners. And in another … he ſaith, that not only ſuche as are weake and ignorant, but euē the excellēteſt ſort, which ought to carie the torch before others to giuegive them light, muſt grow ſtill. And how long? Not for a yeere or two, but al their life time: ſo that as long as they liue in this world, they muſt dayly acknowledge thēſelues to be weake ſtill, & that they hauehave neede to inforce and ſtreine themſelues to go forwarder and forwarder. But al this agreeth very well togither. For if eueryevery man examin himſelfe what he is, ſurely euen the forwardeſt of all, ſhall finde thēſelues to be ſtil as little children. For although we indeuer to come vntounto God, yet we drag our legs after vsus: and howſoeuer we bee diſpoſed of ourſelues, a number of hinderāces ſtep before vsus, & eueryevery little ſtraw ſtoppeth vsus: or elſe if a flie do but croſſe our eyes, byandby we bee ready to turne away. And although wee had neuer ſo great courage in vsus, yet hauehave wee many vices to fight againſt, & our knowledge is not ſuche but wee hauehave neede to pray God dayly to increace our faythe, and correct the remnant of vnbeleefe that is in vsus. Thus ye ſee what eueryevery man ſhal find on his owne behalfe. But if we looke vponupon the faſhion that God keepeth in guiding & gouerning his Church: it is certaine that we be fully men growen. And why? For we be no more hilde in ſo ſtreight ſubiection of the law as the fathers were: but for aſmuche as we hauehave our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, we reſort vntounto him, whē we hauehave ſinned. VVe ſee welynough how we be berayed with ſpots & blots before God: but yet is our waſhing ready at hād, in ſomuch that by being dipped in the bloud of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt by faith throgh the working of the holy Ghoſt, we become pure & cleane, & God accepteth vsus into fauour. Againe we be bound to euerlaſting death by reaſon of the faultes that we cōmit dayly againſt him: but yet the amends for thē is to be found in our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, for he is ordeined the ranſome to diſcharge vsus. Ye ſee then that we be no more vnderunder the bridle wherto the fathers were ſubiect, namely in reſpect of God and of his gouerning of vsus. Therfore although we feele our owne infirmities, yet doth not that barre vsus frō being men growen: that is to ſay, it is not let but that God giueth vsus greater libertie and priuiledge, than he did to ſuch as liued vnderunder the law. Thus in effect that queſtion is aſſoyled. And it ſerueth to bring vsus backe too that which I hauehave touched already, … that we muſt magnifye Gods grace towards vsus, for aduauncing of vsus to ſuch dignitie. But therwithall we ſee alſo, that it is not lawful for men to deuiſe a new gouernment at their owne pleaſure vnderunder pretence that folke are raw, or that many are not yet fit to be led and guided after a higher and wiſer faſhion. And it behoueth vsus to marke that wel. For when the ſuperſtitions that reigne nowadayes in poperie did firſte enter into the world: they began not with ſuche diueliſh blaſphemie as they bee now mainteined with. For looke how many Ceremonies there are in the popedome, tearmed by the name of Gods ſeruis: ſo many be their Idolatries and the Illuſions of Satan: and to be ſhort, all is abhominable before God. VVhy ſo? For they imagin them to be things neceſſary to ſaluation, that by the meanes of them they be able to raunſome themſelues, and too get forgiueneſſe of theyr ſinnes. Moreouer they deface our Lord Ieſus Chriſt and the grace that is brought vsus by him, bycauſe they hope too raunſome themſelues by their owne ſatiſfactions, and by that meanes vſurp and plucke to themſelues the thing that belōgeth to the ſonne of God. Thus ye ſee that they be curſed villaines. Neuertheleſſe whē al their gewgawes were firſt brought into the Churche, they were not yet ful of ſo groſſe dotages: but they crept in vnderunder a ſomewhat more fauorable pretēce: that is to wit, that men were rude & dul, & vnable to comprehēd the ſecrets of the kingdome of heauē, if they had not bin hādled & dandled after the maner of little childrē. Now (as I hauehave touched alredy) it is true that eueryevery mā ought to hūble himſelf whē he knowes his owne infirmitie: but yet doth it not therfore follow, that we ſhuld bring vp new faſhiōs after our owne fancies. VVe muſt be cōtēted with that which God hath ordeined. A yong child muſt not chooſe his tutor of his own head: no, he ſhould not be ſuffered to do ſo: But his father will apoint him one. True it is that there are other meanes ſtabliſhed by lawes: but heere S. Paule hath taken a ſimilitude agreable to the matter that he deales with. Then if an earthly father hauehave authoritie to apoint Tutors to hys children: why ſhould not God hauehave the ſame power? A childe ſhall not be licenced nor ſuffered to chooſe a Tutor to his owne liking. Sith it is ſo: by what right or title will wee deuiſe this or that, too ſaye, wee bee yong …yldren, and therefore we muſt hauehave a faſhion meete and agreable to our ſlenderneſſe? Yea, and God hath prouided one for vsus: now ſhall wee be wiſer than he? Howſoeuer the cace ſtandeth, the very cauſe why mens wits hauehave bin ſo tickeliſhe to deuiſe ſtore of Ceremonies in the Chriſten Churche, was that they ſawe ſo much rudeneſſe among the common people. Yea mary (ſay they) it is good reaſon that there ſhould be this & that. Baptiſme were to ſimple a thing if there were nothing elſe to bee ſeene in it but water, and that water would not bee ſufficient. For there are a great number of lay folke, which are ſo dull that they vnderſtande not what that miſterie meaneth, that is to wit, that we be renued by our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. Therfore there needeth oyle and creame to repreſent the holy Ghoſt, as it were in a viſible figure. Beſides this there needed light, and a white Chriſome, and ſalte, and eft one thing, and eft another. Very well: thus was baptiſme dayly decked, yea in the opinion of men: but all of them are but defilings: for did not our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, who is the incō prehenſible wiſdome of God his father, knowe well inough what ſhould be for our profit? Shal men come creeping like little todes, and ſeeke I wot not what, and beare them ſelues in hande that the things which our Lord Ieſus Chriſt hath ordeyned are vnperfect, and that they will take in hande to make them perfect? As muche is to be ſayd of all the reſt. Specially the Supper of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt hath not only bin corrupted and maymed: but alſo vtterly defaced by the diueliſhe abhomination of the helliſhe maſſe. For they make it to be but an ordinarie matter to take a bit of bread & to drinke three ſippes of wyne. [Gods word willeth vsus to] looke to the promiſe [namely] that wee be made partakers of the body and bloud of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, when wee receyue his holy Supper with true fayth and obedience, and that in him onelyonly lyeth the foode of our ſoules. But contrariwiſe men hauehave bin fayne to apparell themſelues like players in an enterlude, & therwithall to vſe ſo many murlimewes, as it was a ſhame to beholde them: and what was the ende of al? Mary …ir, it was a ſacrifice for the remiſsion of ſinnes, both of quicke and dead. VVherin yee ſee howe our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt is berefte of his prieſtly dignitie which was giuen him of God his father, euē with ſolemne oth that he ſhould neuer hauehave any ſucceſſor: but yet for al that the Papiſts make him a thouſande thouſande ſucceſſors. And what maner of men I pray you? Surely if they were Angels of heauen, yet ought they to bee taken for diuels. But their choyce is of al the vermin of the world, of all the raſcals, and of all naughtipackes: and ſhall wee ſay that ſuche a rable are the ſucceſſors of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. And yet neuertheleſſe yee ſee what the Papiſtes alledge for their couert: namely that men muſt needes hauehave ſome helpes bicauſe of their infirmitie. And thereof came all the reſidue of their ſuperſtitions: as for example, when they did ſet vp their Idols and puppets, they termed them the lay mens bookes. But wee ſee that all their malapertneſſe is confounded heere, when S. Paule bringeth vsus backe to the order that God hath ſet, bicauſe wee muſt all wholly holde vsus too it, and there reſt. So then, will wee not diſclayme the heritage of heauen whiche our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt hath purchaſed for vsus? Let vsus followe the gouernement which God hath ſet downe in his Church, and aſſure our ſelues that God will ſupply al wants. Howe rude or rawe ſoeuer wee be, he can well skill too drawe vsus to him. Yea, ſo we keepe the beaten way, for as for them that hauehave ſo mingled and turmoyled things, and pyled vp ſuche a heape of Ceremonies: they hauehave ſo little remedied their infirmities therby, that they hauehave rather eſtraunged themſelues quite and cleane from our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. For wee know that men are of their owne natures too muche inclined to viſible things. Therefore by taking vp many ceremonies, men are ſo intangled, ſo ſnarled, & ſo depely drowned in them, that afterwarde they forſake God and our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. If any man alledge, why ſo? Had not the fathers of olde time many ceremonies alſo too helpe their infirmities? Yes: but all theirs were reuealed too them by God. For firſt it was tolde them that the patterne of all thoſe things was heauenly, as it is ſayde in the .xxv. of Exodus.Exo. 25. d. 40. And it was ſhewed too Moyſes in the mountayne, too the intent they ſhould not muſe vppon theſe preſent and corruptible things. And when God ſawe they were too muche giuen vntounto them,Pſa. 50. b. 8 & Eſa. 66 a. 3. wee ſee howe he rebuked them ſharply by his Prophets, ſaying: away with your ſacrifices, fye on them, for thinke yee that …ake pleaſure in your cutting of the throtes of beaſtes, in hope too pacifie mee thereby, as thoughe I were an hungred or a thirſt? Thinke yee that I hauehave neede of ſuche helpes? Yee ſee then that God dyd alwayes drawe his people from ſuperſtition, notwithſtanding that there were many ceremonies ordeyned, which was done for the neceſsitie of the time. For it was requiſite that there ſhould be figures and ſhadowes in the abſence of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, according too S. Paules ſaying, who telleth vsus that the fathers of olde tyme were by that meanes directed too ſeeke Chriſt: but nowe that he is come, wee hauehave no more neede of any ſuche thing. As for example, if a man bee away from mee, ſo as I can not come too the ſight of him, and I would fayne hauehave a repreſentation of him too finde him out by, I muſt at leaſtwiſe hauehave an Image that may reſemble him: but if I ſee his body preſent, and may beholde him face too face, I neede no more any Image or counterfet too paynte him or expreſſe him more liuely vntounto mee. Euen after the ſame maner the fathers of olde time had many figures and ſhadnwes,Mal 4. a. 2 bicauſe our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt was not yet reuealed.Mat. 27. f. 51. But nowe that he ſhineth vponupon vsus, and ſheweth him ſelfe as the dayſonne of rightuouſneſſe ſo brightly vntounto vsus: were in not a wilfull burying of him agayne, if wee woulde needes hauehave figures ſtill? And for that cauſe alſo was the vayle of the Temple rente a ſunder at hys death. For now a dayes wee may enter in familiarly vntoo God, and offer him our ſpirituall Sacrifices, that is too wit, our prayers and petitions, and that is bicauſe wee hauehave the very body and ſubſtaunce as Sainct Paule ſayth in another texte to the Colloſsians.Coloſ. 3. Now then wee ſee that all they which hauehave forged new deuiſes after that ſort, hauehave vtterly corrupted and falſified the Goſpell, and hauehave tied towels and napkins before mens eyes, too keepe them from the ſeeing and knowing of Ieſus Chriſt, as they ought to hauehave done, and as was requiſite for their ſaluation. And therfore it is certayne that all they which buſie them ſelues about ſuch gewgawes, do in ſteade of ſeeking Chriſt, throwe them ſelues headlong into damnation by following ſo their owne brayne. They bee ſo giuen too it, as they can not be plucked from it: they play the little children that are buylding of ſome houſe of oyſte …els, who are ſo earneſt at their work, that they forget to eate or drinke, and are contented to ſuffer heate and colde, hunger and thirſt. And why ſo? Bicauſe their fondneſſe carieth them away. Agayne they remoue their ſtuffe too and fro, and bring in this and that, and when they once begin to ſet them ſelues to it, they can neuer make an ende. Euen ſo is it with men when they will needes ſerue God after their owne liking. Yee ſee then that we had neede to be ſober in that behalfe, and to content our ſelues with the helpes & meanes that are ordeyned already to bring vsus to our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. VVe hauehave Baptiſme & the Lords ſupper: let vsus hold our ſelues contented with them, for our curioſitie will always draw vsus vntounto euill, vnleſſe we yeeld to Gods appoyntment, and giuegive ouer al our owne ſpeculations and fancies. Yea and let vsus vnderſtande that it is a blaſphemie agaynſt God, when men ſay [of their owne heads] this or that is good for vsus. I tell you playnly, when ſoeuer men ſay, we muſt hauehave this, and we muſt hauehave that, or we muſt hauehave our Church or religion of this faſhion or that faſhion: It is as much as if he ſhould ſay, God was not well aduiſed how wee ſhould bee gouerned, he wiſte not what was meete for vsus. As for example, it ſeemeth to them to be too ſlender a matter that there ſhould be no more but only water in Baptiſme: and they muſt hauehave ſomewhat elſe to giuegive it a greater grace and maieſtie. Therfore they hauehave tapers, and ſalte, and creame, and all the reſt of the pompes of their owne making. Lo how men wyll alwayes bee adding of ſomewhat vntounto Gods commaundement: which doing is a curſed blaſphemie, as I ſayde afore. And it riſeth of this, that they had not an eye to the principall, but gazed ſtyll vponupon the appurtenances. The principall is the promiſes: for all the Ceremonies of the world are not onelyonly vayne and baggagely, but alſo diueliſhe illuſions, excepte Gods worde bee printed in them, and that that be the thing whereat they looke, and the marke wherat they ame. As how? If wee had no promiſe for baptiſme, ne knew to what end it was ordeyned: what a gewgawe were it? It were much better for vsus to forbeare it. Agein, if we knew not what the Lordes Supper meaneth, it were better that the remembrance of it were vtterly buryed. But when Gods word goeth with it, ſo as we hauehave the promiſes to w… …ant vsus that we be waſhed and clenſed from all our ſpottes by the bloud of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt: then lyeth all our truſt there. And moreouer it is ſayde that there we be renued by the holy Ghoſt. Lo how baptiſme leadeth vsus to the promiſes, and the promiſes leade vsus to Chriſt, as to the partie that is conteyned in them. Thus ye ſee what wee hauehave to beare in minde, when S. Paule exalteth vsus in degree aboue all the Patriarkes, and thoſe that lyued vnderunder the Lawe: namely, that it is not for that there was not more perfection, conſtancie, and fayth in them, than is nowe a dayes in vsus. And therewithall (as I hauehave earſt ſayde) wee bee ſtill confirmed in this poynt, that there is no newe meane of ſaluation ſet foorth vntounto vsus, but that God gathereth vsus too hym for our Lorde Ieſus Chriſtes ſake, in like wiſe as he hath in all ages called his choſen, and thoſe whome he lyſted too cull out, and whome he voutſafed too make partakers of the adoption that is imparted too vsus at this day. For if it mighte bee ſayde, that men hauehave had the meane too bee iuſtified, and too come in fauour with God, but onelyonly ſince Ieſus Chriſte came into the worlde: what ſhould become of thoſe that lyued afore? Our fayth ſhoulde bee but weake, and it would caſt vsus into ſuche a maze, as wee ſhoulde not wote where too become. How nowe, would wee ſay? Hathe not God bin the father of his creatures in all ages? VVas there no ſaluation tyll Ieſus Chriſte came intoo the worlde? Yes, but where as it is ſayde that the ſaluation is manyfeſted vntounto vsus by the Goſpell, yet was it alſo alreadie before: and althoughe there was a veyle in the Temple, and other ſhadowes, yet neuertheleſſe the fathers had alwayes an eye vntounto Ieſus Chriſte, vntounto whome wee bee led at this day. Thus you ſee howe they mighte walke freely and without doubting, and howe that at this day alſo there is not any thing that can ſhake vsus, if wee keepe on our waye too our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte, knowing that by his meanes wee bee all called too the heritage which he hath purchaſed for vsus. And therefore wee ought ſo muche the more too abhorre theſe Deuils, that …eare vsus in hande and ſtrayne them ſelues too proue, that the fathers of olde time were like to brute beaſtes, as though they had knowen nothing of the ſpirituall lyfe. Beholde a blaſphemie meete too deface all the religion of the worlde. Of which number was that curſed creature that was puniſhed heere according to his deſerts, I meane that dogge whiche durſt bee ſo bolde as to write, that Abraham neuer taſted nor knew of the heauenly life, nor…euer worſhipped God but imaginatiuely, and that the reporting of him to be the father of the faythfull is but a mockerie, and that his fayth was but a ſhadowe of fayth, and finally that he neuer knewe of Ieſus Chriſt, nor of his comming. Beholde (I praye you) the blaſphemies wherwith his bookes were ſtuffed. But let vsus in theſe dayes abhorre ſuche plagues of Satan. For it is certayne that the ſayde Champion of the Diuell was purpoſely bent too bring too paſſe, that there ſhoulde bee no more fayth in the worlde. For inas muche as the Diuell tranſformed him ſelfe, and ſhewed not his hornes at the firſt, it was very daungerous when he came after that faſhion, as it were too digge downe the foundation of oure fayth, as it were vnderunder the earth. And Sainct Paule warneth vsus expreſly heereof, too the ende wee ſhould ſtande vppon our garde, and keepe good watche that wee bee not taken tardie. Then let vsus marke well, that wheras it is ſayd heere, that to be made the heires of God, we muſt be made the members of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt: thereby the holy Ghoſt intendeth too confirme vsus, to the ende we ſhould be ſo muche the better diſpoſed to go on forwarde continually vntounto God, and to holde out in the hope till wee hauehave ouercome all the battels of this world, to be brought into the ſpirituall reſt which we looke for. Alſo we hauehave therewithall to marke well, what is ſayde concerning the fulneſſe of time. For according too mens vnmeaſurable inquiſitiueneſſe, it mighte bee demaunded heere, why and how ſo? VVhy hathe God: driuen it off ſo long… ſeeing wee were forlorne and damned in Adams fall? How happeneth it that he hath not remedied it rather? Surely S. Paule doth not altogither ſatiſfie mens appetites, but cutteth it quite off by the waſte. And in good ſooth if God mente too content vsus, hee ſhoulde bee fayne too feede vsus with many needeleſſe things: but he intendeth too t…ye the obedientneſſe of our fayth. And Sainct Paule alſo dooth barre vsus of that thing, in ſaying, that the fulneſſe of time was not yet come. And what meaneth he by the fulneſſe of time? He meaneth the time that God hath appoynted in his owne purpoſe, and not according as men might hauehave iudged of it: for they bee no competent iudges of that matter, but muſte ſubmitte them ſelues to God, and allowe of that whiche he hath ſtabliſhed. Thus yee ſee what S. Paule ment by ſaying, that the full time was then come, when God ſente his onelyonly ſonne into the worlde. Therefore let vsus learne that our cheefe wiſdome is this ſoberneſſe of ſubmitting our ſelues vntounto God, too accept for good and rightfull what ſoeuer thing he dooth, knowing that on our owne part, though wee hauehave neuer ſo muche vnderſtanding, it is but folly for vsus too thinke our ſelues aught woorth, or too take vppon vsus the skill of any thing: and that wee muſt learne too humble our ſelues to our God, and not doo as many men doo, who are ſo haſtie as to ſay, VVhat? I thinke thus, and thus is mine opinion. For there is not any thing more contrarie to Gods doctrine; than when men preſume ſo much vponupon them ſelues as too ſay, thus muſt the matter go, and ſo and ſo do I thinke or ſuppoſe. Truely it becommeth vsus too behilde as captiues,2. Cor. 11. a. 3. as S. Paule ſayth in the ſeconde too the Corinthians. Let vsus holde our ſelues in ſuch awe, as wee may not once lifte vp our heades too diſpute agaynſt God, nor make any eſtimation of our ſelues as though we were of ſome abilitie. Let vsus holde vsus contented with the libertie that he hath giuen vsus, and not abuſe the grace that he hath graunted vsus, in preferring vsus before thoſe that were as Angels in this worlde, and yet notwithſtanding were not aduanced to the libertie which wee hauehave by the Goſpell. Furthermore S. Paule doth heere bring vsus back to the thing which we ought to conſider aboue all others: which is that our beeing at the time of full age in theſe dayes, is not in reſpect of any vertue that is in vsus, but in reſpect of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. The difference betweene vsus and the fathers of olde time, is (as I hauehave ſayd already) that they were led as vnderunder awe, and wee bee nowe ſet free into … why are wee … ▪ Is it bicauſe wee bee of more value tha… they… … for that there is any worthineſſe in vsus? No: but bicauſe it pleaſed God too honor vsus with the preſence of his only Sonne. VVill we then inioy the libertie of the Goſpell? Let vsus go right foorth too our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, who as he is glorified in him ſelfe, wyll alſo bryng vsus intoo the heauenly glory, whereinto hee is gone before vsus. This is the thing that Sainct Paule ment purpoſely too tell vsus. As touching that it is added that he was made of woman, and put vnderunder the Lawe: it can not be diſpatched at this time, and therefore we will reſerue it tyll an other time.
And nowe let vsus fall downe before the maieſtie of our good God, with acknowlegement of our faultes, praying him to make vsus ſo too feele them, as wee may mourne and bee ſory for them with true repentance, and goo thither as he calleth vsus, that is too wit, be ſo rightly bereft of our fleſh, and of all the corruptions therof, as we may come to the ioy whereto he dayly calleth vsus, and vntounto that vncorruptneſſe wherein it behoueth vsus to go forwarde all the time of our life. That it maye pleaſe him too graunt this grace, not onelyonly too vsus, but alſo too all people and Nations of the earth &c.