Sermons on Galatians, Sermon 3
The. 3. Sermon vponupon the first Chapter.
6 I maruell that you are ſo ſodenly caried avvay from him that had called you through the grace of Chriſt, vntounto another Goſpell.
7 VVhichWhich is none other thing but that there are ſome vvhichwhich trouble you, and vvould ouerthrovv the Goſpell of Chriſt.
8 But if I my ſelfe or an Angell from heauen tell you othervviſe than I hauehave tolde you: curſed be hee.
WEe ſee here more openly the thing that I hauehave touched alreadie this morning: that is to wit, that Saint Paule ſpareth not the Galathians, although he mind not too ſhet them out of the gate of ſaluation. For inaſmuch as his meening is to bring them backe to repentance: it is good reaſon that he ſhould ſet the grace of God before them, as a thing common to them. But yet for all that, he flattereth them not, but rather rebuketh them for their faults, and ſpecially for the ouergreat lightneſſe that was in them in giuing eare to deceyuers, which came vntounto them to diſguize the doctrine of the Goſpell. And to make them perceyue their owne vnthankfulneſſe the better: he ſayth that he wondereth to ſee them caryed away ſo ſoone and ſo eaſily from the heauenly calling, and how it cōmeth to paſſe that they could be ſo quickly thruſt out of the way, & continue yet ſtil in their doing, ſeing that they had already felt & tried Gods grace in our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. For inaſmuch as he labored to bring thē back againe, he ſayth not at the firſt daſh that they had turned away from the Goſpell, but that they had bin ouercome by that temptation. And afterwarde he addeth, that the ſame was nothing elſe, but that thoſe buzibodies intended to ouerthrow the truth of God. For ther is but one pure doctrine of the Goſpell, like as there is but one Ieſus Chriſt, vponupon whom the ſame is grounded: ſo as it is not in vsus to forge a newe Goſpell, but whenſoeuer any bodie goes about too mingle any thing with the pure ſeede which we hauehave of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, it is nothing elſe but an ouerthrowing of Gods building. This in effect is the thing which is conteyned in this firſt ſentence of S. Paules. But here he might ſeeme to bee ouer ſharpe and rough in finding fault with the feebleneſſe of the Galathians, ſeeing they neuer ment to forſake the goſpel, nor yet Ieſus Chriſt who had bin preached amōg them. Howbeit S. Paule paſſeth not for their opinion, but hath reſpect to the matter in it ſelf, which is, that as ſone as men turne aſide from Gods truth, by and by they forſake Ieſus Chriſt, and make themſelues ſtrangers to him. Many men woulde thinke this ſtrange, according as we ſee there are many that woulde faine mingle the light and darkneſſe togither. And ſpecially the confuſion that is in Poperie is a very notable example hereof: for ther ye ſhall heare men make wonderfull proteſtations of holding ſtill the Chriſtian faith wherin they hauehave bin baptiſed. But yet for al that it is apparant, that al is turned vpſide down: for al ſuperſtitions reign there: and beſides that, there is too manifeſt Idolatry, yea and that as groſſe as euer was any among the heathen. By reaſon wherof al reuerence of God is as good as quite aboliſhed there, bicauſe euerie man makes himſelfe a Sauiour in ſteade of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. But now will the Papiſts luſtily replie, that they be no backſliders, nor hauehave forſaken Chriſt. Yea, but our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt is no Ghoſt, he cannot tranſforme himſelf after the appetites of men. To be ſhort, he cannot be ſeparated from his Church. VVhenſoeuer the Papiſtes vtter this ſaying: they robbe Ieſus Chriſt of all authoritie. For (ſay they) if there were but one Mediator, what ſhoulde become of the Heeſaintes which are patrones, and of the Sheeſaintes which are our Aduocates▪ if any man ſpeake to them of the ſacrifice wherby our Lord Ieſus Chriſt hath once purchaſed perfect righteouſneſſe for all the faythfull: VVhat (ſay they) and muſt not Maſſe be ſayde eueryevery day, and Chriſt be offered vp newe againe there, too appeaze Gods wrath? If a man tell them of the free forgiueneſſe of ſinnes: and what ſhall become (ſay they) of our owne ſatiſfactions, whereby we deſerue to hauehave pitie at Gods hand? Againe, if a man ſay too them, that all our goodneſſe commeth of our regeneration through Gods ſpirit, and that there is nothing but ſpottineſſe & rebelliouſneſſe in vsus, till God hauehave changed vsus: how ſo (anſwer they) and what ſhall then become of our own free will? To be ſhort, Ieſus Chriſt ſhalbe named oft ynough, and men wil reſerue vntounto him the title of Redemer. But in the meane ſeaſon his office ſhalbe parted, and put too the ſpoyle, and eueryevery man ſhall catch a portion of it too himſelfe. Beſides this, they imagine that the Saints and Angels of heauen are as patrones to them, and finally they hauehave infinit wayes (to their owne ſeeming) wherby to come vntounto God. But herevpon we may well conclude, that the holy Ghoſt doth iuſtly auow them to be backſliders, and to hauehave giuen ouer Ieſus Chriſt, and to be become ſtrangers to him. For they falſly abuſe his name. Ieſus Chriſt is not variable,1. Co. 1. d. 19 according as wee hauehave ſeene howe S. Paule in the ſeconde to the Corinthians ſayd, that we ſhall not finde yea and nay in him, but that he will continue alwayes at one ſtay. To be ſhort, whatſoeuer the Papiſts bable concerning Chriſtianitie, is altogyther hypocriſie and leaſing, and they doo but falſifie the name of Gods ſonne, and abuſe it wickedly. For they make a mumrie of it, or rather an Idoll. Yee ſee then why Saint Paule blameth the Galathians for beeing ſo caryed away. Nowe if a man demaunde the reaſon howe: it was in that ſome woulde hauehave made them to obſerue the ceremonies of the lawe as things neceſſarie: and yet had God commaunded them. Yea verely, howbeeit that was but with a temporall condition for the people of olde tyme, ſo as they muſte of neceſsitie hauehave all ceaſſed at the comming of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. Foraſmuch therefore as the Galathians mingled the olde figures and ſhadowes of the lawe, with the cleare light of the Goſpell: Saint Paule being not able too ſuffer it, ſayth that they were turned aſide from God, yea and vtterly falne away from him. But there is yet a worſe thing than that: namely that the grace of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt was thereby diſanulled, bicauſe men doo always beare themſelues in hand, that they deſerue and earne righteouſneſſe before God, to be in his fauour for their ſeruing of him: and ſo when theſe deceiuers had brought in the ſaid error, that men ought to kepe the old forworne figures: it was all one as if they had threaped a meritorious ſeruice vponupon God [whither hee woulde or no.] But our ſaluation muſt bee of free gift, or elſe Ieſus Chriſt is nothing woorth. I terme it ſaluation of free gift, bicauſe it is giuen vsus ſimplie of God, ſo as wee bring not any thing with vsus [to the attaynment thereof] but onelyonly an eager deſire too be filled wyth the thing that wee want. Therefore it ſtandeth vsus on hande too come as poore beggers vntoo God, if wee mynde too bee iuſtified for our Lorde Ieſus Chriſtes ſake. For if wee imagine neuer ſo ſmall a droppe of deſeruing in our ſelues, it ſtoppeth vsus from comming too our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. And not without cauſe dooth an auncient Doctor ſay, that wee cannot receyue the Saluation that is offered vsus in our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, except wee hauehave firſt diſpatched the mynding of our owne deſertes, and acknowledged that there is nothing but vtter wretchedneſſe in our ſelues. Thus yee ſee why Sainct Paule had yet more iuſt reaſon too ſay, that the Galathians were caryed away from Ieſus Chriſt and from his father. But there was yet this clogge more: namely that they were made too beleeue what other men lyſted, and thereby brought in ſubiection too a ſlauiſhe bondage, too bee robbed of the quietneſſe of conſcience which wee ought too hauehave in our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. For beſydes that wee bee reconcyled by the ſacryfize of hys death and paſsion, wee bee alſo ſet free from the rygor of the law, vnderunder the which wee were hilde in bondage. As for example (according as we ſhall ſee more fully hereafter, for as nowe I do but ouerrunne matters whereof we ſhall ſee a larger diſcourſe afterwarde.)Deut. 27. d. 26. Ye know howe it is ſayde in the lawe, that whoſoeuer performeth not al that God commaundeth to the vttermoſt point, ſhall be accurſed. But it is impoſsible for vsus to attaine too ſuch perfection. Therefore it ſtoode vsus vponupon too hauehave freedome purchaſed for vsus by our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, that the Lorde might not any more holde vsus vnderunder his yoke,Act. 15. b. 10 whiche was intollerable as it is ſayde in the fifteenth of the Actes. Nowe wee ſee in effect why Saint Paule blameth the Galathians for falling away lyke periured perſons towardes God, and towardes our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, as hauing gyuen him the ſlippe, and forſaken the fayth whiche they had plighted vntoo him. And by this example wee bee warned to holde vsus to the pure doctrine and ſimplicitie of the Goſpell, wythout wauering one way or other. For it is not ynough to hauehave the name and title of Chriſtians, no nor yet to beare the marke of baptiſme: but we muſt continue ſtedfaſt in the doctrine of the Goſpell. For (as I hauehave ſayd heretofore) our Lord Ieſus Chriſt cannot denie himſelfe: and when we hauehave dreamed this and that of him, yet muſt we bee fayne to knowe him for ſuch a one as he is giuen vsus of God his father. Nowe the Goſpell ſheweth wherefore he is come, what his office is, the benefites that wee receyue by him, and what hys power is towardes vsus. And therefore if wee hauehave not the pure and ſingle doctrine, wherein our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt was manifeſted vntounto vsus: ſurely wee hauehave nothing at all: and whenſoeuer wee hauehave once bin inſtructed in it, wee muſt holde it ſtill too the laſt puſhe. For if we ſwarue neuer ſo little from it, there will bee nothing but vnfaythfulneſſe in vsus. And in good ſooth it ſtandeth vsus on hande to bethinke vsus of the horrible fall wherevnto we were tumbled with others, when wee were plunged in ſo many errours, trumperyes, and Illuſions of Satan, that Ieſus Chriſte was vtterly vnknowne too vsus. Seeing that God hath nowe of his owne infinite goodneſſe plucked vsus out of ſuch a bottomleſſe gulfe: let vsus ſettle our ſelues too hauehave a conſtant and faſt fayth, that wee bee no more ſhaken like Reedes with eueryevery winde, but abyde faſt in the roote of the Goſpell, grounded vppon the inuincible power of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. And againe, ſeeing that in him all Gods promiſes are yea,2. Co. 1. d. 20 and Amen, and hauehave their truth in him, ſo as they be performed there: let our fayth alſo abyde ſtedfaſt there. This is it that wee hauehave to remember in this ſaying of S. Paules. Furthermore to put the Galathians to the greater ſhame, hee ſetteth before them their calling by grace. Theſe woordes, from him that hath called you, maye bee referred as well too Ieſus Chriſt, as too GOD the Father: for there is no great difference in the matter.
But in the meane time we ſee in effect what Saint Paule ment too ſay. Therefore hee caſteth the Galathians in the teeth with theyr lewdneſſe, in that they had ſo much the leſſe excuſe of their ſhrinking aſide after that ſort, conſidering the goodneſſe that God had ſhewed vponupon them. For if God call vsus, although it were too ſummon vsus too our confuſion, yet ought wee too obey him, bycauſe we bee his creatures. It becommeth vsus to bee ſubiect too his authoritie, and howſoeuer hee diſpoſe of vsus, it is alwayes our duetie too ſay, beholde Lorde I am at thy pleaſure: ſo that too vſe any ſhrinking away when God calleth vsus, is an vtter peruerting of all order. Much more when God not onelyonly calleth vsus vntoo him, but alſo ſetteth all the treaſures of his goodneſſe before vsus in our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and ſheweth that hee ſeeketh nothing elſe but too make vsus his owne by gyuing himſelfe ſo wyllingly vntoo vsus, when God (I ſay) vſeth ſuch bountifulneſſe towardes vsus as ought too rauiſhe all our wittes vntoo woondering: muſte wee not needes bee too too lazie if wee ſhrinke backe? Moreouer, if wee fortune too wander too and fro after wee bee once come vntoo him, wee ſhall hauehave ſo much the leſſe excuce, and feele the ſorer and horribler condemnation, as I hauehave touched alreadie. Nowe then wee ſee what is imported in thys ſaying where Saint Paule maketh mention of the grace that the Galathians had bin called too. And out of doubt wee in theſe dayes are muche more blame woorthie than the fathers that liued vnderunder the lawe, if wee continue not in the pure doctrine of the Goſpell, without turning aſyde from the things that are conteyned therein. For albeeit that God called the Fathers too ſaluation vnderunder the lawe as well [as vsus now:] yet was not that calling with ſo open and abundant vtteraunce of the ryches of his merciemercy, as wee hauehave it in our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. Therefore let vsus looke well about vsus, and ſeeing hee hath alreadie made vsus too feele his grace: let the ſame ſtirre vsus vp and inflame vsus too bee the bolder too hauehave an inuincible courage too continue in the ſame calling, vntill wee bee come too the place wherevntoo God allureth vsus. So then, if wee compare our ſelues with the great number of misbeleeuing and ignorant ſoules, it is certain that our vnthankfulneſſe wilbe ſo much the greater, as Gods grace hath ſhewed it ſelfe larger and deepelier vntounto vsus. VVee ſhall ſee many ſillie ſoules ſtraying heere and there, and yet ceaſſe they not for all that too be ſubiect too damnation. For he that hath offended without lawe,Rom. 2. b. 12 ſhall periſh without Lawe. Now for aſmuch as God hath declared his will ſo freendly vntounto vsus, and that togither with the vſe of diſcretion wee hauehave alſo the doctrine of his Goſpell, which (as I hauehave ſayd heretofore) ſerueth too ſhew vsus that our damnation ſhall be more horrible if wee labour not too dedicate ourſelues wholly vntounto him, by meanes whereof our bonde becommeth ſo muche the ſtreighter: S. Paule addeth another circumſtance, whiche is that it came too paſſe very haſtely. For certeſſe it was a horrible thing, that the Galathians hauing bin taught by the holy Apoſtles own mouth, ſhould bee ſo corrupted as long as he was alyue. Yee ſee then how it was the more too their blame, that within three [or foure] dayes after their receyuing of the Goſpell, they were fleeted away and had mingled many falſe opinions with the truthe of God. But although they had continued in the truthe ſome good whyle after Paules deceaſe: yet dothe it not followe that their ſo doyng might hauehave bin a ſufficient diſcharge for them, if they had fallen away afterward. For as the truth wherevppon our fayth reſteth is euerlaſting, although bothe heauen and earth doo paſſe away: ſo muſt our fayth hold out too the end, and not hang eyther vppon the lyfe or vponupon the death of any man,Luke. 21. f. 33. but hauehave hir ankerhold faſtened in heauen. Therfore if wee chaunge [at any tyme,] whither it bee to day or too morrow, wee ſhall bee the more too blame, and our vnthankfulneſſe ſhalbe ſo much the ſhamefuller. And truely the thing that S. Paule ſetteth downe heere in the perſone of the Galathians, is ſeene nowe adayes too much. For ſuch as hauehave gotten ſome ſmattering of the Goſpell, will bee wearie of it within a twoo or three yeares, if there come no new chaunge in the meane tyme. For they hauehave itchyng eares, and wee ſee many fantaſticall perſones become backeſliders: and bycauſe the truth of the Goſpell liketh them not, they would alwayes be fleeting, & hauehave I wote not what new ſtuffe brougtht in, too feede them in their fond ſpeculations. VVe ſee otherſome greeued, bycauſe they perceyue that the Goſpell aduauntageth them not too the worldward: yea and there are ſome that turne away, bicauſe they ſee it is an occaſion too make them too be perſecuted, and too purchace them many enemies, or elſe they ſtarue (as they thinke) whyles other men proſper and fare well. Thus yee ſee howe Ieſus Chriſte is forſaken of many, howbeit not from the father too the ſonne, but by reaſon that ſuch as hauehave ſhewed him a fayre countenance, are ſuddainely chaunged and fleete away from him within a twoo or three yeares, or at leaſtwyze within halfe a ſcore yeares after. So muche the more then ought wee too marke well this doctrine, bycauſe it is ſpoken too vsus: and alſo too thinke vppon the reproche which Ieremie layd vntounto the Iewes. Go your wayes intoo farre Countries (ſayeth he) runne beyond ſea,Ierem. 2. c. 10. ſee what other people doo: eueryevery man keepes him too his owne Idolles, and yet there is no Godhead in them: Satan beguyles them vnderunder colour of deuotion, and they be ſo ſettled in the ſame, as they cannot by any meanes bee turned away from it. Now at leaſtwyze bee you as conſtant as they, ſeyng that God hath ſhewed himſelfe too you, and you know his will fully and certainly. Let vsus beware that the lyke bee not ſayd too vsus now adayes: for wee ſee the ouerearneſtneſſe of the Turkes [in their Religion]. And although the Iewes bee no better than vncleane Dogges, yet are they ſtiffe ſtill in maynteyning the authoritie of their Lawe. As for the Papiſtes, they hauehave nothyng but dotages, ſo beaſtly as it is horrible too ſee: euen children are able too iudge of them: and yet for all that, wee ſee howe they burne with furious zeale too maynteyne their treacheries. But as for vsus, the Diuell doth no ſooner holde vp his finger, but by and by wee gad after him: it ſhoulde ſeeme that eueryevery of vsus watcheth too ſpie if there come any newe toy, and the leaſt occaſion in the worlde will by and by ſhake vsus and ſcare vsus out of our way: and thereof wee fee too many examples, euen here without goyng any further. So much the more therefore doth it behoue vsus too marke the blame that is layd heere by the mouth of Sainct Paule, agaynſt the vnconſtancie of ſuche as turne away from God, ſpecially ſo ſoone after he had called them to the grace of our Lord Ieſus Chriſte. And therevppon S. Paule ſayeth, that it is nothing elſe but that there bee ſome among them which trouble them, and would ouerthrowe the Goſpell of our Lord Ieſus Chriſte. Heere S. Paule ſheweth, that what ſoeuer men bring beſides the Goſpell, is eueryevery whit of it but ſtarke ſmoke, and that in the end it will bee perceyued that the Diuell did caſt gewgawes in their wayes, too couzen ſillie fooles that could not reſt wholly vppon Gods truth. It is none other thing (ſayeth hee) but that ſome trouble you. Truely this woord Other importeth that it is nothing elſe or nothing at all. Neuertheleſſe Sainct Paule declareth, that the Galathians may well pretend, that they whiche came from Ieruſalem and from the countrie of Iewrie, had tolde them that they ought not too ſeparate the Lawe from the Goſpell. No, no, (ſayeth hee) there is no more but one Ieſus Chriſte, nother is there any more than one doctrine that leadeth vsus vntoo him, and holdeth vsus in the faith, where through wee obtayne ſaluation by his meanes. So then all ſuch as intend too cleaue vntoo the pure knowledge of the Goſpell, and to continue in the ſame, muſte not ſeeke any other perfection [than that]: as for them that go any further, they be troublers that ouerthrow and diſorder all things. And this ſaying is well woorthie too bee marked, too the ende wee may knowe that when our Lorde hath done vsus the grace too teache vsus in his ſchoole, wee muſte no more hauehave a wauering fayth too reele too and fro, but a reſolute iudgement and determination too ſay, this is the thing wherein wee muſt liue and die. But ye ſhall ſee many that will not ſpeake openly agaynſt the doctrine of the Goſpell, but will ſuffer the grace of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt too be preached. If a man aske them what it is that they finde fault with: nothing, ſay they. But let an Altar bee neuer ſo ſoone ſet vp, and puppets vponupon it, and by and by they runne to it, they muſt needes go heare Maſſe and ſee al the reſt of the Popiſh traſh, they care not which way the world go, and when all thoſe diſorders are ſet afore them, they thinke not that there is any difference at all. But let vsus marke that ſuch beaſtlineſſe bewrayeth that there is no fayth in them. And why? For, the thing wherein we may ſhewe, yea and (as in reſpect of our ſelues) feele, whither wee bee faythfull, is too hauehave ſuche skill of the Goſpell, as to conclude that it is Gods infallible truthe, and that it cannot leade vsus amiſſe if wee followe it. Contrarywize the Papiſtes hauehave deuized an Implicate fayth (as they terme it) and that is ynough for them: and although the wretched ſoules wote not what they meane themſelues, yet notwithſtanding, beholde (ſay they) I referre my ſelfe too our mother the holy Churche, I beleeue as ſhee beleeueth. But ſuch folke ſhewe openly, that they hauehave no fayth at all, ne knowe by what meanes too bee ſaued. Neuertheleſſe it is ſayd that wee obtayne rightuouſneſſe and ſaluation by fayth, namely for that wee imbrace Chriſt as the partie by whom all good things are imparted vntounto vsus. Then if our Lord Ieſus Chriſt bee vnknowen, it is no longer fayth, but a groſſe Illuſion of Satan, who hath bewitched the Popiſh doctors too ſpeake after that ſorte: and thereby we ſee that they hauehave no knowledge of God, but are vtterly giuen ouer too a lewd minde. VVherefore let vsus marke well, that whereas S. Paule ſayeth heere, that there is none other Goſpell: it is too hold vsus ſtill in ſuch ſtedfaſtneſſe, that after we hauehave once learned what our Lord Ieſus Chriſt is, wee may continue in him, and vtterly giuegive ouer all things that are contrarie too the doctrine of the Goſpell. HaueHave wee once ſuch skill, it will ſerue vsus too fight agaynſt Satan and all the diuerſitie of opinions that are at this day in the worlde, ſo as wee ſhall not bee ſhaken downe what trouble ſoeuer happen, nor finally bee turned aſide from the certaintie of our fayth. But if wee wauer after ſuch a ſorte that wee become like little children, who if one man offer them an apple at one ſide they runne thither, and if another man offer ſome other pleaſant thing atother ſide they runne thither likewize, and leauing the firſt go too yeeld themſelues too the ſecond. I ſay if wee bee ſo fickle minded, it is a token that there is nothing but mere vnbeleefe in vsus. Then let vsus aſſure our ſelues, that there muſt bee ſuch a mutuall agreement betweene our fayth and the Goſpell, that wee muſt giuegive our ſelues wholly therevnto, and neuer bee plucked from it, and our knowing of the things that are conteyned in it, muſte bee too reſt our ſelues vppon them, as I hauehave ſayd already heretofore. Not that all men can bee teachers a like (for it is very certayne that the moſt parte of thoſe whom our Lord Ieſus Chriſt hath in his flocke, comprehend not the tenth part of the vnderſtanding of the holy Scripture) but that how ſoeuer the world go, it behoueth vsus all to be grounded in theſe poynts, namely that there is but one God the father, of whom we hauehave al things, and who hath adopted vsus of his owne mere merciemercy: That there is but one onelyonly Ieſus Chriſte, by whoſe meanes wee be made parttakers of all good things: And that wee bee begotten new agayne by the holy Ghoſt: And as touchyng our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, it ſtandeth vsus on hand too bee well aſſured that he is our aduocate, and that without him wee cannot come vntounto God, nor durſt once open our mouthes to call him our father, ſaue in reſpect that we be members of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and that he beareth woorde for vsus as our ſpokeſman and patron, guyding vsus as it were by the hand, too bring vsus vntounto God his father. If wee knowe not theſe things, it is certayne that wee can obtayne no Saluation. And that is the cauſe why S. Paule blameth the Galathians, for that they conſidered not that there is but one onelyonly Goſpell, whiche could not bee altered without doyng of wrong too our Lord Ieſus Chriſte, who all onelyonly ought too hauehave all audience. Therewithall alſo he warneth vsus, that when ſoeuer there come any buſie bodies to turne vsus from the pure ſimplicitie which wee ought too hold vsus too concernyng God and our Lord Ieſus Chriſt: wee ought too holde them accurſed. For (as ſhall bee ſayd more fully hereafter) they ouerthrow the Goſpell of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. And it is a right horrible thing, that the Goſpell which is the foundacion of our fayth and the key too open vsus the gate of Paradice, ſhould bee ouerthrowen. For that is all our welfare, that is the kingdome of God from whence we (after a ſort) are baniſhed: and wee can by no meanes come vntoo him, vntill he hauehave made vsus way by meanes of his Goſpell, to the end wee may be his people and he our king, and wee bee guided and gouerned by his authoritie. Yee ſee then that the ineſtimable benefites whiche are comprehended in the Goſpell, are theſe: namely that men are reconciled vntounto God: that the gate of Paradice is opened vntoo vsus: and that our Lord Ieſus Chriſt is giuen vsus for our heritage, ſo as we bee made pattakers of all the benefites that he hath powred vponupon vsus, and that he hath warranted our endleſſe Saluation. Now, were it not better that the whole world ſhould ſinke and periſh, than that all this ſhould bee ouerthrowen? That therfore is the cauſe why S. Paule telleth vsus, that all ſuch as come too ſet troubles after we hauehave bin faithfully taught, and that all ſuch as bring in any curioſities or foyſt in this or that of their owne brayne, do turne men away from the kingdome of God and from his royall ſeate, too the intent that they ſhould not any more be gouerned by him, nor the Scepter of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt be any more lifted vp among them too their ſaluation. Nowe if wee ſet ſo much ſtore by Gods honour as wee ought to do, or eſteeme it a precious thing too bee parttakers of all heauenly benefites, or if wee make account of our owne welfare: ought not eueryevery of vsus too ſhunne thoſe troublers, and too caſt them out as deadly plagues of the world, when they come among vsus and fall too aboliſhing of the whole Maieſtie of God, and of the grace of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and conſequently of our ſaluation alſo? Thus yee ſee in effect, that the thing which wee hauehave too marke heere, is that wee muſt ſticke with ſo earneſt a minde to the Goſpell, as wee may not ſuffer our ſelues too bee thruſt out of the way by any meanes, nor abide that any man ſhould trouble our wits, by bringing in any new thing more than was afore. Although the men bee neuer ſo skilfull, ſuttle, ſharpwitted and eloquent: yet let vsus ſhake it off eueryevery wit as accurſed, if it go about to turne vsus from the pureneſſe of the Goſpell. That is the thing whiche Sainct Paule teacheth vsus heere. And when he hath ſpoken ſo, he addeth, that if he himſelfe, or an Angell came too preach any other Goſpell than that which the Galathians had heard and vnderstoode, they ſhoulde ſhake them off, hold them as accurſed, excommunicate them, and take them too be as Diuelles. Heere wee ſee that S. Paule is (as yee would ſay) whote to mayntayne the ſtedfaſtneſſe of the fayth, to the intent we ſhould not by any meanes bee ſhaken from it, and that is not without cauſe. For we ſee what frayltie is in vsus, and not only frayltie but alſo fondneſſe and rebelliouſneſſe, which are yet woorſe. At the firſt bluſh, if a man teach vsus Gods woord, and that wee be not touched with it in good earneſt:2. Cor. 2. d. 14. we will thinke it the ſtraungeſt thing in the worlde: for the doctrine will alwayes ſeeme fooliſh too mannes wit, as wee hauehave ſeene heretofore. And what is the reaſon? Euen our fondneſſe, bycauſe our wittes are wandering and rouing, and wee bee naturally bent and foreward too leaſing, and deſire (as it were wilfully) too bee beguyled. Now then ſeyng that our wittes are ſo marred, it is no maruell though wee lyke not the woord of God, or though it hauehave no enterance intoo vsus, for all our luſtineſſe is but rebelliouſneſſe, and whereas we thinke our ſelues to hauehave reaſon, we be ſtark blind: and to be ſhort it is not for nought that the ſcripture ſayeth, that men are nothing but vanitie and leaſing, yea and rebelles too God, ſo as they draw alwayes backe from that wherevnto God calleth them. But put the cace that God had done ſo much for vsus as too draw vsus too him, and to make vsus taſte that his truth is the thing wherevnto it behoueth vsus too hold our ſelues, and that we were ſo tamed that there were no more wilfulneſſe in vsus, but that wee were ready to yeeld him all obedience: yet is there ſuch a fraylneſſe and vnconſtancie in vsus, that the Diuell ſhall eaſily thruſt vsus out of the way eueryevery minute of an howre. And hereof wee ſee experience euen in thoſe that had bin as mirrours of holineſſe, ſo as yee would wonder to ſee them ſodainly chaūged and gone from the right way. And what is the cauſe of it? As I ſayd afore, although we be in a good forewardneſſe, yet can we not hold our owne long, but that we ſhall by and by go cleane awrie, except God worke in vsus and amend our frayltie. Thus ye ſee why S. Paule doth with ſuch maieſtie maintaine the doctrine of the Goſpell and the occaſion therof was giuen him by the Galathians, for they were thruſt out of the way, by reazon that they were borne in hand, that it behoued them too keepe the ceremonies of the lawe. S. Paule therefore beholding ſuche an example and image of mens infirmitie and ouer great lightneſſe, ſayeth that the beleefe of the Goſpell muſt ſurmount all that wee can conceyue, and that wee muſt not bee remoued from it, nother by the knowledge, nor by the great cunning, nor by the eloquence of men, in ſomuch that euen though the Angelles of heauen ſhoulde deale with vsus in that cace, wee ſhoulde take them too bee but Diuelles. But howe ſoeuer the cace ſtandeth, this were verie ſtraunge. VVhat? The Angelles of heauen? And agayne, what is it that Sainct Paule ſpeaketh of? His owne preachyng. Hee fayeth not ſingly the Goſpell of Chriſte, but the Goſpell which I hauehave preached vntounto you. And ought that too hauehave preheminence aboue all the Angelles of heauen? Firſt and formeſt we ſee, that it is too no purpoſe too magnifie the doctrine of the Goſpell in generall and vndiſtinct termes: but wee muſte alſo therewithall bee ſure which is the ſame doctrine. To be ſhort, there are many among vsus that can well ynough mocke at the fondneſſe of the Papiſts: but if a man poze thē in the principles which euen yong children ought too know perfectly, they can no skill of them: and ſo that one of them bee talking of one man and another of an other, all is one too them, they hauehave no diſcretion, they make ſuch a hotchpotch of the matter, as if a man ſhould iumble ſalt and water and muſtarde and verie wee all togither. Yee ſee then that they can well ynough confeſſe in generall termes that the Goſpell ought too bee preached, but in the meane whyle they know not what the Goſpell is. Nowe too correct ſuch faults, S. Paule ſayeth Namely the Gospell that I hauehave preached vntounto you. And hereby (as I ſayd) he ſheweth vsus that wee ought too know, what ſubſtance is contayned in the doctrine that is ſet foorth vntounto vsus in the name of God, to the intent that our faith may bee fully ſetled vponupon it, ſo as wee may not bee fickle minded to bee toſſed with eueryevery winde, nor go at all aduenture too alter our purpoſe an hundred times a day, but that wee may ſtand out too the end. This is in effect the thing that wee hauehave too beare in minde. But by the way, it ought too make Paules doctrine of the more authoritie, that he ſpeaketh ſo boldly in the mayntenance of it, and that not through humane raſhneſſe and preſumption, but in the name of God. For in very deede he ſtandeth not heere vppon the prayſing of himſelfe in his owne perſone: and that doth he ſhewe right well in that he ſayeth, If I my ſelf. He ſetteth himſelf formoſt, as if he had ſayd, Let mee, euen mee my ſelfe I ſay bee taken for a Diuell, if I chaunge the doctrine, or if you finde me to hauehave ſwarued in any maner of wize. Heere S. Paule ſheweth that he ment not too purchace reputation too himſelfe, ne fought in his owne quarell, to hauehave it ſayd of him that he was a fineheaded fellow, or a wyze and excellent man: no, but he raungeth himſelf in aray with the faythfull, and ſayeth, let vsus all imbrace the doctrine of that Mayſter too whoſe charge God hath cōmitted vsus, and vntounto whoſe gouerment we ought too bee ſubmitted. For although I bee he that taught you the doctrine: yet is it not mine, but Gods who is vnchaungeable: and although yee ſhould ſee me chaunge, yet bee not you remoued nor abaſhed for it, but eſteeme mee as a Diuell, hold mee accurſed, and for your own partes continue you ſtil ſettled in the truth which you hauehave learned, and as for mee, curſe you mee, and ban you mee, yea and the very Angelles of heauen too, rather than too chaunge any whit of the truthe of Gods Sonne, or too turne aſide from it. Heere wee ſee well ynough, that S. Paule ſought not aught elſe, but that Gods truth might hauehave ſuch reuerence among men as it deſerueth, and bee ſo receyued, as all our wittes, all our thoughts, all our luſtes, and all our affections might bee ſubdued and hilde pryſoners vnderunder it, and that it might not be lawfull for any liuyng creature to chaūge aught therof, but that God only might ſpeake by the mouth of his only Sonne, and we hold him for our Mayſter, yea and eueryevery of vsus obey him without gaynſaying. That is the thing which S. Paule ſought. How beit for aſmuch as wee cannot now lay forth the reſt, it ſhall bee reſerued till the next Sunday if it pleaſe God.
Now let vsus fall down before the Maieſtie of our good God, with acknowledgement of our faults, praying him too make vsus perceiue them more and more, and that the feeling of them may draw vsus too right repentance, and cauſe vsus too growe and increace in fayth, ſo as wee may bee true ſacrifizes too him: that like as our Lord Ieſus offered himſelf for our redemption, ſo wee alſo may bethinke vsus too dedicate our ſelues wholly vntounto him, and be guyded by him in ſuch ſtedfaſtneſſe, that nother in lyfe nor death wee may not ſeeke any other contentation and reſt, than too apply our ſelues too his good will, nor glorie in any other thing than in the Saluation that is purchaced for vsus in him. That it may pleaſe him too graunt this grace, not only to vsus but alſo too all people and nations of the earth, &c.