Sermons on Galatians, Sermon 28
The. 28. Sermon, which is the fifth vponupon the fourth Chapter.
15 VVhere is then your bliſſedneſſe? for I beare you vvitneſſe, that if it had … poſsible, you vvoulde hauehave plucked out your eyes, and giuen them vntounto mee.
16 Am I then become your enemie bicauſe I tell you the truth?
17 They be ielous ouer you, [hovvbeit] not for [any] good. Nay rather they meene to ſhet you out, too the end you ſhould be fond of them.
18 It is good too bee alvvayes earneſt minded in good things, & not only vvhē I am preſent vvith you.
19 My little children of vvhom I trauell in birth again till Chriſt be faſhioned in you.
20 I vvould I vvere vvith you novv & could chaunge my voyce, for I ſtand in doubt of you.
WEe neede no teaching to ſeeke the thing which we thinke to be good and profitable for vsus: for eueryevery man is inclined to that by nature, yea & too much giuen vntounto it. But the miſchief is, that we know not the true profite frō the thing that is harmfull, but are oftentimes ſo blinded with our fooliſh luſts, that eueryevery of vsus ouerthroweth himſelf wilfully. Not that we forget the thing which I ſaid to be imprinted in our hartes: but for that we be caried away by our vnruly luſtes, or elſe ſo bleared with the vanities of this world, that we hauehave no diſcretion at all to iudge rightly. And therfore we ought to flee vntounto God continually ſo much the more, that he may giuegive vsus skill to diſcerne what is good for vsus, to the intent we may ſerue him, and hauehave our mindes ſo wholly ſet vponupon him, as we may neuer be remoued: ſpecially for ſomuch as it oftentimes falleth out, that ſuche as are taken to be very wiſe to the worldward, become lyke little children according to the alteratiō of their deſires, giuing vp the things which they had ſet much ſtore by, and gadding after ſome pelting trifle that cōmeth in their ſight, ſo as there is no ſtay at all in them. Sometimes we ſhall ſee a chiefe runne after three or foure at once, and if there come a thing, that he fought for he catcheth at that by and by: and anon after if he ſpie an apple or a cherrie, or ſome other thing that likes him, he leaues all the reſidue too runne after that. Euen ſo play wee: no doubt but we alwayes thinke our ſelues wiſe ynough, and wee take ſcorne too bee taught at any mannes hande, or too bee warned what is good for vsus, for it ſeemes too vsus too bee an offering of wrong too vsus: but yet experience ſheweth that wee want bothe wit and reaſon. For what is the cauſe that men doo ſo toſſe and turmoyle themſelues out of meaſure, and yet runne aſtray all their lyfe long? As I ſayde afore, all of vsus with one common accorde holde this principle, that wee deſire too ſeeke our owne profit, there is nother greate nor ſmall but he is inclined vntoo that. But lette vsus ſee wherevntoo men apply their mindes: there is not that man whoſe affections boyle not within him, in ſomuch that ye ſhall ſee the greateſt number (as yee would ſay) racke themſelues, and their mindes neuer ceaſſe day nor night too runne ſtill vppon the things that come afore them, whereby they hope for any profite. And when they hauehave well tormented themſelues, a man ſhall ſcarſly finde one among a thouſande that hath his affections well ordered: in ſomuch that it were much better for them too bee a ſleepe all the time of their lyfe, than too take ſo much trauell without knowing why or wherefore. Nowe then ſeyng that the moſte parte of vsus are proued not to diſcerne betwixt good and euill as were requiſite and expedient, wee hauehave neede to ſubmit our ſelues vntounto God, praying him too guyde vsus by his holy ſpirite. And ſpecially when the ſouerayne felicitie or welfare commeth in queſtion, ſurely whereas wee ſhoulde bee caried away and rauiſhed in louelove with it: wee bee haled another way, and doo nothing but fiske too and fro, and there is ſo greate inconſtancie and lightneſſe in vsus, that the thing whiche wee louelove more deerely than our lyfe too day, ſhall bee as good as deſpyzed too morrowe. And that alſo is the cauſe why Sainct Paule dooth in this texte vpbrayde the Galathians with their forgetting of their owne happineſſe.Math. 6. c. 21. For this ſaying of our Lord Ieſus Chriſts, that looke where a mannes treaſure is there is his harte alſo, is taken of the cōmon order of nature. He termeth that thing our treaſure, which we ſet moſt ſtore by, and whervpon we do wholly repoſe our ſelues: for there are many things which men do well like of, the which neuertheleſſe they can eaſly finde in their harts too forbeare. Though a man ſee a fayre and coſtly thing, yet can he content himſelf quietly with his owne ſtate ſtill, if he hauehave wherewith too maintayne himſelf. But if wee eſteeme our life vnhappie or vnfortunate without the inioying of any welfare at all, ſurely we ſhall bee toſſed with continuall vnquietneſſe, till wee hauehave obteyned it: and that doth common experience ſhewe well inough. Seing then that our hartes muſt needes bee tied too the thing which wee take too be requiſite too our chiefe felicitie, let vsus now ſee how eueryevery man behaueth himſelf. Such as are giuē to the flightfull goodes of this world, or are ſo inflamed with ambitiouſneſſe and deſire of honour, that they ſeeke nothing elſe but too magnifie themſelues, and too bee in ſome high degree and great eſtate, that they might bee had in eſtimation: will alwayes labour for the ſame. Such as are poſſeſſed with couetouſneſſe, will neuer leaue gathering of goodes, nor neuer bee ſatisfied with any thing. They indure hunger and thirſte, heate and cold, and dare nother eate nor drinke halfe their fill, and all too the intent to heape vp out of meaſure. Lo at what poynt they bee. Againe, ſuch as couet to bee eſteemed and exalted too the worldward, indure as great miſerie as if they were in the hands of the hangman: nay, the hangman would not torment them ſo cruelly as they doo themſelues: and yet they bee ſo headſtrong, as they cannot by any meanes bee turned from it. But when God is ſo gratious as to ſhew vsus where our welfare lieth, that is to wit, in the kingdome of heauē: although wee be warned that our life is of no continuance, and that wee ſlip away out of hand: yet are wee ſo rauiſhed in louelove with our vanities, that we forſake the ineſtimable ioy wherevnto God calleth vsus, and ſet light by the heritage of heauen, in compariſon of theſe worldly things which are right nought. Therefore let vsus conſider, that S. Paules preſent vpbrayding of the Galathians when he asketh them where their happineſſe is become, toucheth and concerneth vsus now adayes. For he preſuppoſeth that the Galathians knew that God could not hauehave done them a greater good turne in this world, than to inlighten them with the knowledge of his Goſpell, whereby they had bin throughly perſu…d and reſolued, that the world hath nothing but deceitfulneſſe in it, for ſomuch as it turneth vsus away from the heritage of heauē, according alſo as our Lord Ieſus Chriſt alledgeth the ſame ſimilitude,Math. 13. f. 44. that the Goſpell and the treaſures & riches conteined therein are a precious ſtone, and that if we ſhould giuegive ouer all the things which we eſteeme in this world, and which we like beſt of, we ſhould loſe nothing by the bargaine, nor hauehave any cauſe to repent vsus. But now are we dubble too blame, ſeeing we turne away after we hauehave knowen that God drew vsus from beneath to make vsus partakers of his heauenly glory, and put that ineſtimable benefyte out of our remembrance for the whisking of a flye ouerthwart our eyes as they ſay. For aſmuch then as it hath pleaſed God to open our eyes, and too plucke vsus out of the myre wherein we were plunged with the vnbleeuers and ignorant perſons, not only in following ſuperſtitions and idolatries as others did, but alſo in giuing ourſelues ouer to our fleſhly likings and wicked luſts: and ſeeing that God hath made vsus to perceiue where our true ioy lyeth, and giuen vsus ſuch a taſt of it as we ought to reſt wholly vpō it: let vsus take good heede that we neuer change our purpoſe, nor alter our mind hereafter. And if we do: let vsus conſider how the ſpirit of God doth heere condemne vsus of vnthankfulneſſe by the mouth of Sainct Paule, ſaying, VVhere is your happineſſe? For had we bin alwayes let alone like brute beaſts without knowing wherein our welfare and ioy conſiſt, it had bin no maruell though wee had ſtill kept on our common trace. But ſeeing that God hath ſhewed vsus that we muſt ſeeke all our welfare in our Lord Ieſus Chryſte, and that he is the full perfection in whome we muſt wholly reſt: if we do afterward fleete too and fro and bee ſhaken now one way and now another: it is certaine that wee can no more excuſe ourſelues by ignorance. Ye ſee then that the thing which wee hauehave too beare in mind in this text, is that when we hauehave once bin taught the Goſpell, we muſt ſet light by the thinges that wee made too great account of before, and which men couet without end or meaſure: that is to wit by the allurements of Satan and of the world, and by all tranſitory and flightfull things whiche hauehave no ſubſtantialneſſe in them and continually ſeeke our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, till wee come to the full enioying of al the benefyt… which hee hath brought vsus. And now herevppon S. Paule blameth the Galathians yet further, that he cannot be their enimie but for telling them the truth. For it is too great a leawdneſſe to fall out with our freende, only for ſhewing himſelfe faithfull towards vsus. VVhat is the thing that wee ſhoulde cheefly deſire in a freend, but that he ſhould deale roundly with us, and not beare two faces in one hood, nor vſe any craft and vntruth towards vsus? EueryEvery man can tell that welynough, and it is as a naturall leſſon which we know without ſchooling: and yet notwithſtanding we be greeued and diſpleaſed with them that tell vsus the truth, and by that meanes do worke our weale: and therefore muſt it not needs be that we are bewitched of Satan, if we ſtep vp againſt them and become their enimies? Sainct Paule then ſheweth the cauſe of his feare that they ſhould be alienated from him, and blameth thē that they were become his enimies, for none other cauſe than that he had dealt ſoundly and roundly with them. Nowe although this vice be horrible, and all men condemne it: yet is it as common as any other nowadayes in the world. For what elſe mainteineth frendſhip, but lying, flattering, diſsimulation, counterfetting, and ſuch other like things? In ſomuch that if a man go roundly to worke, hee ſhall purchace himſelfe hatred and ill will on all ſydes. And the very cauſe of the greateſt contentions and debates that are nowadayes in the world, is that men ſtop their eares againſt all truth and reaſon: for we would fayne hauehave all thinges buried that might miſlike vsus: Therefore this was not written for the Galathians only, but is to be applyed ſtill at this day to the common inſtruction of all ſuche, as cannot abide that men ſhoulde deale faithfully and truly with them. For let eueryevery of ys looke vppon himſelfe and examine himſelfe well, and he ſhall find that all of vsus are atteinted with that vice, till God hauehave purged vsus of it. So then let vsus aſſure ourſelues that if we greeue ſuch as tell vsus the truth, in ſo doing wee deſpiſe God, and fall out with him rather than with the men. VVe will proteſt the cleane contrary: neuertheleſſe we do but lye, when we cānot indure that God ſhould bewray the thing that we would hauehave concealed, I meene, that he ſhould diſcouer our faultes, and rebuke them, and hold vsus in awe, and not beare with any thing that is not lawfull for vsus. Thus … ſee in effect what wee hauehave to marke vponupon this text. Now heerevppon Sainct Paule laboureth too win the Galathians by great gētleneſſe. My little Babes (ſaith he) of whom I trauell in birth againe, till our Lorde Ieſus Christ be faſhyoned in you. Howbeit, although that his words be ſomewhat ſweete, yet doth he not fayle to ſauce them a little to the intent to quicken them vp, by calling them little babes, telling them that whereas they ought too hauehave bin faſhioned and borne long ago, yea and to hauehave bin growē to mans eſtate in Ieſus Chriſt, he wiſt not what too make of them. For you driue me ſo to my ſhifts (ſayth he) that I cannot tell what ſpeech I may vſe towards you any more: and therefore ſeeing you be ſo ſtraunge and vntoward, and ſo fickle to bee dealte with that I cannot tell how to handle you, I muſt faine to tranſforme my ſelfe into a new man. Lo how he vſeth a manner of ſpeech mingled with rigoure and great freendlineſſe. And hee is not contented too take vppon him only the perſon of a father, whoſe louelove notwithſtanding is tender ynough towards his children: but hee likeneth himſelfe alſo too a mother that is towardes hir trauell and full of throwes, who (notwithſtanding all the peines that ſhe feeleth) is more charie ouer the child that is to come out of hir womb, thā ſhe is of hir owne bowells and lyfe. VVhen Sainct Paule vſed thys ſimilitude, it is certaine that hee wiſt not how to ſhew himſelfe more affectioned towardes them, to the intent to breake, or at leaſtwiſe to ſoften the hardneſſe that was in them to whome he ſpake. But yet whatſoeuer come of it, he is flat with them in vpbrayding them with their leawdneſſe, in that they acknowledged not their mother that bare them and nurriſhed them with the ſubſtance of hir owne bloud, but for all the gentleneſſe that hee vſed towardes them, became as wilde beaſtes that could not bee tamed: and that was an outrageouſe vnkindneſſe. And ſo wee ſee how Sainct Paule doth continually followe the meane that I tolde you of to day: whyche is that to the vttermoſt of his power, hee laboreth too bring thoſe backe againe by louingneſſe, which were gone out of the way. And to that end he telleth them, that he hath a greater care of their welfare, than they would thinke. But yet howſoeuer the cace ſtande, he mingleth their oyle with tart vineger, which quickened them vp as neede was, leaſt they ſhould fal…ſleepe in their ſinnes. For it is no cockering of ſuch as hauehave offended God, and are as good as poyſoned or rather bewitched by Satan, ſo as they perceiue not their owne filthineſſe: All ſuch geere muſt be razed out. And therefore, hap what hap will, he holdeth ſuch an euen hand, as they muſt needes perceiue that he procureth their welfare, and that all hys ſeeking is to bring them vntounto God. This in effect is the thing that we hauehave to marke vponupon this text. Howbeit we hauehave alſo too marke particularly, that when Sainct Paule tearmeth them little babes, he vpbraydeth them cloſely for that they had profited no better. For to what purpoſe is the Goſpell dayly preached vntounto vsus?1. Pe. 1. d 23. It is ſayd to be the incorruptible ſeede whereby we be begotten againe to be the children of God. Now when we come into the world, we grow by nurriſhment of milke, and from time too time become ſtronger, ſo as at length wee feede no more vppon milke, but vſe ſubſtantialler foode, whereby we gather force and ſtrength more and more, till we come to mans ſtate. Now then, what a thing were it if after wee hauehave bin made new creatures by meanes of the Goſpell, wee will needes hang ſtill vppon the dugge, and hauehave ſo little proſpered, that wee muſt ſtill bee lulled in armes, and bee not able too ſwallowe a peece of bread, but will needes bee ſtill muzzling at the teate? Doth thys proceede of the nature of the Goſpell? No ſurely: and therefore wee muſt acknowledge the fault to be in ourſelues.
So then whe…eas Sainct Paule calleth the Galathians litle babes, although he do therin ſhew an earneſt louelove towards them: yet doth he ſting them alſo, according alſo as we ſee how the Apoſtle in the Epiſtle to the Hebrues ſaith:Heb. 5. c. 12. How now? You ought to bee greate Clearkes conſidering the long time that you hauehave gone to ſchoole: for this is not the firſt day that the Goſpell hath bin preached vntounto you, and yet you be ſtill at your apcie: and what a ſhame is that? For God hath done the office of a good ſchoolemaſter towardes you and taught you ſufficiently: and you on your parte hauehave played the trewands: and ſo what will now become of you? For S. Paule had long time bin deliuered of the Galathians in Ieſus Chriſt, and they ought to hauehave bin growen ſtrong in the faith of the Goſpell. But behold, they be ſtil nouices & raw ſchollers, yea & ſo brutiſh as they wote not wherevnto to …icke, nor what to follow. That is the firſt point. And now conſequently he addeth: that hee traueleth of them in birth new againe. Hee had bin brought abed of them before: howbeit, that was as ye would ſay before their time. Not that hee had not giuen them all that was requiſite for their inſtruction: but for that they were not able to receiue it, bycauſe they were ſtil too much giuē to their earthly luſts and likings.1. Cor. 2. d. 14. Now we know that the ſenſuall man comprehendeth not the ſecrets of God. Therefore we muſt be diſcharged of our owne nature, that we may be renued in God: and the thing which we call Regeneration, that is to ſay new birth or ſecond birth, doth vsus to wit that the old man whiche is in vsus, muſt be mortifyed and as it were chaunged. For aſmuch then as the Galathians had not giuen place to the doctrine of the Goſpel: therefore Sainct Paule ſayth that hee muſt bee fayne to bee wyth childe with them agayne, yea euen till Ieſus Chriſte bee faſhioned in you ſayth he. This ſaying is added to ſweeten that whych was ſomwhat ſowre of itſelfe. For what a ſhame was it that they whych had receiued the earneſt pennye of their ſaluation in baptim, and in the Lords ſupper, (as there were many of them both men and women that had bin taught at the age of twentie, thirtie, fiftie, or threeſcore yeeres) after proteſtation made before God that they were fully renued in Ieſus Chriſt, ſhould neede to be as it were new molten, caſt, and faſhioned agayne? And in that reſpect Sainct Paule ſayth, till Ieſus Christ be faſhioned in you. As if he ſhould ſay, I maruell that you ſhould be ſtill as little babes, and that I ſhould be forced (as ye would ſay) to receiue you againe into my womb and bowells, till the time came that yee might be riper than you hauehave hitherto bin: and yet am I afraide alſo leaſt the peine and trauell that I hauehave taken among you be loſt and miſpent, and that you bee not ſo well ſhaped and faſhioned as were to be deſired. Thus yee ſee breefly howe Sainct Paule mitigateth the rigoure that myght hauehave bin too great, and hauehave wounded the Galathians too ſore, when hee ſayde vntounto them, VVhat? Yee bee as it were borne before your time: I thought I had cōceiued you, bred you, borne you, and brought you vp in Ieſus Chriſt, and I ſee now there is no life in you, at leaſtwiſe no ſpirituall life, and that all is ſlipped and vaniſhed away. If Sainct Paule had ſtayed there: ſurely thoſe wretched people had bin driuen to confuſion and vtter deſpaire. Therefore to giuegive them courage to returne againe, he ſayth: Go too, truly ye hauehave profited very ill hitherto: but enter new againe into the right way, and let that which ſeemeth to be ſtarke dead bring foorth new frute againe, and let it be perceiued that your proteſting too walke according to the Goſpell heeretofore, hath not bin vayne. For like as if a tree bee as good as dead, and ſeeme to be vtterly withered, it wil ſpring againe if a man put new earth to the roote of it and cheriſh it: ſo will it fall out that a man which is quite ſtrayed away from the Goſpell, ſhall not only bee as it were eftſoones begotten new againe, if hee bee brought backe agayne into the way: but alſo the thing that hee had receiued afore ſhal do him good, as is to be ſeene whereſoeuer God giueth the grace too bring thoſe backe againe intoo the right way which were ſtrayed from it. But ſurely that happeneth not too all men: and therefore let vsus beware that wee abuſe not Gods goodneſſe, as many of theſe skoffers do, whiche turne away as though they had confederated themſelues with Satan, whereof we ſee examples in theſe folke that defyle and vnhalow themſelues, and deface Gods truth to the vttermoſt of their power. And if any man turne away through vnconſtancie, it ſeemeth that all is marred, and ſome will ſay, what ſhall a man win by teaching of them? behold, he is but a loſt child: and ſo they will conclude that there is not one drop of good knowledge in them. But if God call them agayne, as there are many ſuch examples to be ſeene: a man ſhall find that the thing which was as good as choked & ouerwhelmed before, ſprouteth againe, like as if dung were caſt vponupon a well tilled grounde, or as if duſt and ſuch other things were ſtrowed vponupon it, that which is vnderneath it ſhoulde lye hid for a time, but afterward it woulde ſhoote vp againe. This in effect is the thing that Sainct Paule ment to tell vsus heere. But by the we way we hauehave to marke, that whereas hee ſaith that Ieſus Christ ſhall be faſhioned in them new agayne it is meant condicionally that they returne vnderunder his obeyſance. Surely thys ſaying might ſeeme ſomewhat harſh at the firſt ſight: for we be rather faſhioned in Ieſus Chriſt, than he in vsus. For proofe whereof, beholde, Ieſus Chriſt is our full and whole perfection. Now, too ſay that he is nurriſhed in vsus as a little babe, or that he groweth or is furthered: is not ſeemely for hys perſone. Neuertheleſſe Sainct Paule ſaith ſo: howbeit, that is but too ſhew the vnion that is betwixt vsus and Ieſus Chriſt our head. Although then that Ieſus Chriſt can neither increace nor diminiſh in himſelfe: yet doth hee take all our faultes and infirmities vppon him. I hauehave told you already that we are then borne in him, when we bee called too the hope of ſaluation by the doctrine of the Goſpell: for wee bee all dead and damned in Adam. There is but one meane of lyfe, whych is, to be made one with our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, who is the fountaine that hath all fulneſſe in it, and whereoutof it behoueth vsus too drawe. Then we are borne in Ieſus Chriſt (as I ſayd afore:) ſo doth hee ſuckle vsus with the doctrine of his Goſpell, till we bee able too receiue perfecter learning, and till our faith be ſo farre forward, that wee reſemble little babes no more, but increace ſtill in profiting more and more, till we be come to mans age, as Sainct Paule ſayth in the fourth to the Epheſians. Furthermore to the end wee may know that oure Lorde Ieſus Chriſt intendeth not to bee ſeparated from vsus, but that he and we be all one: hee ſayth that hee taketh our faultes vppon him, and becommeth as a little babe in vsus. How ſo? Can Ieſus Chriſt be weake? No, not in reſpect of hymſelfe: but for aſmuch as we bee members of his body, hee ſayth he is little in vsus in reſpect of the little knowledge of hym whiche wee hauehave. And for aſmuch as we proceede ſtill further and further: he ſaith alſo that hee groweth and is increaſed in vsus. Lo heere a record of excellent goodneſſe, yea of the infinite goodneſſe of Gods ſonne, in that it pleaſeth him ſo to abace himſelfe, as not onelyonly too hauehave compaſsion and pitie of our infirmities, too releeue them and remedie them: but alſo tranſformeth himſelfe, and is contented too ſay that he is as it were vnperfect, and as a little babe, and that hee groweth greater and greater according too the continuall increaſing of our fayth.Eph. 1. d. 23 And heere ye ſee alſo why in another place Sainct Paule calleth the Churche the fulneſſe of God and of his ſonne our Lord Ieſus Chriſte. But ſurely if we imagine that God is not throughly full and perfect in himſelfe, but that he hath neede too borrow of vsus: it is ranke trayterouſneſſe: for what are wee able to gyue vntounto him? VVhen hee ſhall hauehave gathered vsus all before him, what can he find in vsus but vtter miſerie? For we bee plunged, yea and vtterly ſaped in it. Yet notwithſtanding he telleth vsus by the mouth of Sainct Paule, that we be his accompliſhment, and that in that reſpect he is after a ſort imperfect. Not that he could not bee without vsus. for he hath bin always euerlaſtingly, before he had created the world. And although there were nother heauen nor earth, could not God be ſatiſfyed with himſelfe? VVere hee nor riche ynough of his owne glory? Yes ſurely: but he will not be perfect nor fully ſatiſfyed til he hauehave vsus knit in one with him. Thus ye ſee what we hauehave to marke vponupon this text. And by this word Faſhion we be warned, that it not ynough for vsus to hauehave ſome ſlight knowledge of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt: but that he muſt be ſo liuely ſhaped in vsus to the full, as we may hauehave ſuche a print of his power, of all his graces, and of all his benefytes grauen in our harts, as may neuer bee blotted out or defaced againe. He ſayd heeretofore, that when the Goſpell is preached with ſuche efficacie as belongs vntounto it, Ieſus Chriſt is after a ſort crucifyed among vsus: in ſomuch that wee not only ſee him peinted liuely afore vsus, but it is aſmuch as if wee ſaw him vponupon the Croſſe, with his bloud ſtreaming downe, as though he were preſently offering vp the euerlaſting ſacrifiſe to God hys father, to waſh away all our offences and miſdeedes. Now lyke as God ſheweth vsus that fauoure: ſo let vsus on our ſide beware that we let not the thing ſlip that is ſet afore vsus, as many folke do, who whē they hauehave gotten the vnderſtanding of a two or three wordes of the Goſpel, do fall to floriſhing, and thinke themſelues to hauehave too much, whereas notwithſtanding they hauehave but a confuſed imagination. Therefore it is not to be wondered at, though they be vtterly at their wittes ends in eueryevery temptation be it neuer ſo ſmall, ſo as all that they weene themſelues to hauehave learned, ſerueth them to no purpoſe: for God doth by that meanes puniſh their negligence. VVherefore, in aſmuche as God hath graunted vsus the grace to knowe hys ſonne: let the foreſaid repreſentation be printed in vsus as oft as we come to any Sermon, and let vsus bee renued in knowledge and remembrance: that when the Diuell ſhall labour to darken, and finally to deface the fayth which we ſhall conceiue, he may gaine nothing at our hands bicauſe we hauehave the liuely impreſsion [of Chriſtes ſacrifize] ſo deepely grauen in our hartes, as it may well bee ſayd that he is truely and throughly faſhioned in vsus. And herein it to is be ſeene, that the Papiſtes hauehave vtterly renounced our Lord Ieſus Chriſt: For they cokes the world, ſaying that it is ynough too hauehave a confuſed faith, and that men muſt not bee too inquiſitiue, and that it is perlous for men to indeuer themſelues to profit in the Goſpell. Behold their blaſphemies. But heere wee ſee how S. Paule telleth the Galathians, that it is a great ſhame for them that Ieſus Chriſt Chriſt ſhould bee faſhioned new ageyne in them, ſaying that it is all one as if they were doted, and had not receiued the doctrine as they ought too hauehave done which had bin preached among them. Therefore if wee doo our dutie and bee as good ſcholers too Godwarde, as he is a good and faithful ſcholemaiſter towardes vsus: ſurely wee ſhall not hauehave an intangled fayth of ſome confuſed imagination,2 Cor. 3. d. 18. but wee ſhall beholde the ſonne of God as he is ſpoken of the Corinthians, where it is ſayde that the Goſpell is the true looking glaſſe wherein wee behold Ieſus Chriſt as it were in the face. Not that wee ſee him with our eyes, for that is reſerued to the laſt day, at what time we ſhall be lyke vntounto God. As then his glorie ſhall bee fully diſcoured vntoo vsus: but as nowe wee behold our Lord Ieſus Chriſt in the Goſpell ſo farre forth as is meete for vsus, and as our weakneſſe and rudeneſſe will beare, that wee may bee transformed and faſhioned like vntounto him. And wheras S. Paule addeth, that he would faine be with the Galathians, to change his ſpeeche bicauſe he was ſorie for them: therein he bewrayeth ageine howe groſſe and intolerable their fault is, ſithe he woteth not at which ende too begin with them, and that although he hauehave bred them in Ieſus Chriſt, and fed them vp with the doctrin of the Goſpell, yet he knoweth not how to rule them any more, whereas notwithſtanding, a mother ought to knowe the complexion and nature of hir childe. Needes then muſt thoſe men bee vtterly froward and leaudmynded, whoſe fathers and mothers are at their wits end and wote not how to behaue themſelues: and when their children are become eyther ſerpents full of poyſon, or Lyons full of pryde and ſtubbornneſſe, ſo as they be paſt teaching or handling: it muſt needes be that they are become feendes. And yet doth S Paule vpbrayd the Galathians with it. Howbeit, in ſtead of blaming them, let vsus ſee if the like vice bee not to bee founde in vsus: namely that when God openeth his mouth to teache vsus, he finde vsus ſo fickle-headed, that he muſt be fayne to alter his ſpeeche at eueryevery turne. It is true that he can welinough weeld our hearts when it ſhall pleaſe him. But we treate not heere of his ſecrete power whereby he worketh in his choſen. VVe treate heere but only of our owne nature, how beaſtly it is if it be conſidered in it ſelfe, and of the preaching of the Goſpel. Are not they that would preach the doctrine of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt faythfully, ſtriken continually in heauineſſe to ſee men ſo beaſtly as they ſhew them ſelues to bee? For our taſting of the goodnes of our God ought to tame vsus. Surely we ought to giuegive good eare to his doctrine: and if wee could bee drawn vntounto him by gentleneſſe, or if wee would bee warned with eueryevery little beckening of his finger, like the childe that ſeeketh too pleaſe his father, who as ſoone as his father dooth but ſpeake the worde, hath his feete readie out of hande too runne whither ſoeuer his father ſendeth him, and both his hands ready to doo whatſoeuer he commaundeth him: he ſhould not neede to vſe long proceſſe with vsus. But when God ſpeaketh to vsus, we be ſo dulwitted as we wote not what he meeneth: or elſe wee ſtop our eares, that cry he neuer ſo loude, it is to no purpoſe, for wee abide alwayes at one poynte. Therefore the thing that S. Paule hath ſpoken in this text, ſerueth not for any one people alone: but it is all one as if he blamed the whole world in all ages for vnthankfulneſſe, ſaying that God is after a ſorte greeued with vsus for beeing ſo crooked and frowarde, and for the great number of lurking holes and hypocriſies that are in vsus: in ſo muche that if he vſe vsus gently, wee become ſo muche the more ſturdie: and if he handle vsus roughly, wee kicke agaynſt the ſpurre. And in good ſoothe wee ſee what his gentleneſſe and roughneſſe auayle vsus: that is to wit, ſo little, that our leaudneſſe muſt needes be ouergreat, ſeeing he can not winne vsus by the one nor by the other. Therefore let vsus bethinke our ſelues throughly. Furthermore foraſmuch as God is willing to beget vsus by his word, to the end we ſhould be his children, and in the end obteyne inheritance whervnto he hath adopted vsus by our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and which he hath purchaſed for vsus by the death & paſsion of him that is the true & only heire: as oft as we come to Sermons, or any of vsus reade the holy Scripture, let vsus conſider to what end it ſerueth. And moreouer, if wee finde not ſuche power and efficacie in Gods worde when wee heare it preached or read: let vsus blame our own naughtineſſe or dulneſſe for it, aſſuring our ſelues that the worlde doth ſtill holde vsus backe and hinder vsus too much: and let vsus pray God that his worde may not bee vnprofitable to vsus. Beſides this, when we be once reformed by it, ſo as we are become his children: let vsus dayly feede vponupon it, aſſuring our ſelues that wee hauehave neede of it all the time of our life, and that wee bee not yet come to the perfection wherevnto wee muſt tende. VVherefore let that ſtirre vsus vp, and let vsus alwayes be earneſtly minded to go ſtill forwarde, till wee ſticke faſte too oure Lorde Ieſus Chriſte, and let vsus take good heede that wee doo not ſtop and ſhet vp the paſſage that he ſhould hauehave to vsus,2. Cor. 6. c. 12. to guide and gouerne vsus to our ſafetie. And this is the very ſame thing which we hauehave ſeene S. Paule vpbrayde the Corinthians with, namely that he coulde not come at them: and why? It was not long of me, ſayth he. VVherof then? Euen of your owne ouerſtrayghtneſſe & ſhrinking backe: and bicauſe ye ſubmit not your ſelues to God, but rather draw from him, or elſe ſhrinke backe into your lurking holes: I am fayne to talke to you, now in one ſpeeche and now in another. So then according to his vpbrayding of the Corinthians there, and of the Galathians ſtill heere, let vsus beware that we be not ſo ſtreightlaced as we be of our owne nature: but let vsus pray God to giuegive vsus acceſſe to his worde. And ſeeing that all our luſts, our ſinfull vanities, and our frowarde affections are as barres, gates, and ſuche other things caſt in the way, too the intent that Gods worde ſhould not paſſe: let vsus fight agaynſt them, let it not only enter in vntounto vsus as at a creuis, but let it finde the gate wide open, and when ſoeuer God ſpeaketh, let vsus giuegive good eare, and open our harts and minds, to receyue the doctrine rightly and roundly, wherby we ſhould be clenſed, till wee be come to the fountayne of all clenneſſe.
But now let vsus fal downe before the maieſtie of our good God, with acknowledgement of our fau…s, praying him too make vsus ſo to feele them, as wee may condemne our ſelues, not only with our mouthes, but alſo with a true meening hart, and fight valeantly agaynſt all our vices, forſaking our ſelues more & more, and laboring to rid vsus quite and cleane of them, and of all the corruption and ſinfulneſſe that is in vsus, till he hauehave drawen vsus fully to himſelfe, and that wee bee ſo tranſformed to the likeneſſe of his image, as wee may enioy his immortall glory, wherevnto he nowe allureth vsus, & which we can not poſſeſſe as yet but in hope, vntill the latter day. That it may pleaſe him to graunt this grace, not onelyonly to vsus, but alſo to all people and nations of the earth, bringing backe all ignorante ſoules from the miſerable bondage of errour and darkneſſe, to the right way of ſaluation. &c.