Sermons on Galatians, Sermon 30
The. 30. Sermon, which is the ſeuenth vponupon the fourth Chapter.
26 But the Ieruſalem vvhiche is from aboue is free, vvhichwhich is the mother of vsus all.
27 For it is vvritten, be glad thou barrein vvhichwhich beareſt no children, breake forth and crie thou that trauelleſt not: for the deſolate hath many mo children than ſhe that hath a husband
28 And vve my brethren, vve be children of promiſe, after the maner of Iſaac.
29 But like as then, hee that vvas borne after the fleſh perſecuted him that vvas borne after the ſpirit: euen ſo is it novv.
30 Neuertheleſſe, vvhat ſayth the ſcripture? Caſt out the bondvvoman and hir ſonne: for the ſonne of the bondwoman ſhal not be heire with the ſonne of the free vvoman.
31 So then brethren, vve be not children of the bondvvoman, but of the free vvoman.
WE hauehave ſeene this morning that many do boaſt themſelues to be faithfull, pretending falſly to be Gods childrē, & are ſo taken to the worldwarde, who notwithſtanding are but baſtards, and God diſclaymeth them, bicauſe they hauehave corrupted the good ſeede whiche is the pure doctrine, wherby we be begotten new again to be made partakers of the free adoption wherto God calleth vsus. Thē all that we hauehave to do, is not to be counted too bee of the Church, except we be of the pure & ſound ſeed, that is to ſay, except we follow Gods worde without any corruption or mingling. And for this cauſe doth S. Paule bring vsus backe too the heauenly Ieruſalem, that we might know who is our mother. Truly to ſpeake properly, ſuch as peruert the naturall ſenſe of the ſcripture are not the children of God, and all their crying and calling vponupon him as their father, is but ſtarke lying and hypocriſie. Howbeit foraſmuch as they be taken to be of that degree: S. Paule diſcerneth them out by their mother, too the end we might know which are Gods true and lawfull children and allowed of him. For the … of the Church is oftentimes pretended at al aduenture, and in theſe dayes the Papiſts make a buckler of it to ſheeld their errours withall. And bicauſe the holy ſcripture is againſt them: they thinke it may ſerue them for a couert, that they (as they wene) hauehave the Church on their ſide. Yea but S. Paule telleth vsus that we muſt be wiſe to diſcern which is the true Church. For the Iewes had colour ynough to ſhew that God had his abiding place in Ieruſalem,Pſal. 137 c. 14. bicauſe hee had choſen it out with aſſurance that he woulde reſt there for euer, as we hauehave ſeene this morning. And yet notwithſtanding the very ſame Ieruſalem became as a denne of theeues, bicauſe our Lord Ieſus Chriſt was crucified there, and the Iewes were for their vnfaythfulneſſe cut vtterly off from the houſe of God, bicauſe they had indeuered to the vttermoſt of their power to aboliſh his truth. Though the name of Ieruſalē had earſt bin honorable: yet was it then had in reproch and diſdein both before the Angels and before all the faithfull. Euen ſo at this day wee ought to conſider well which is the Church, to the ende that we be not children of a baſtarde ſeede, and ſo God ſhake vsus off and baniſhe vsus out of his houſe, for pretēding his name ſo falſly through hypocriſie before men. In deede it is a verie excellent honor that God giueth to his Church, in ſaying that ſhe is the mother of all the faythfull, and it agreeth with S. Paules report in another place,1. Tim. 3. d. 15. where he ſayeth, that ſhee is as it were the piller that vpholdeth. Gods truth in thys worlde. Not that the truth hath any neede to be mainteyned by vsus, which are inclined to all lightneſſe and inconſtancie, and which hauehave nothing in vsus by nature but vntruth: for what ſtedineſſe is there to be found in vsus, to ſay that Gods truth ſhoulde ſtay vponupon men? But bicauſe that of his infinite goodneſſe it is his will to hauehave his worde preached here beneath, and hee hath committed the charge thereof to ſuch as he calleth therto,Mat. 23. b. 9. in reſpect where of the Church is called the mother of vsus all. For as our lord Ieſus Chriſt telleth vsus) we hauehave but one father, which is God, yea and he is the father as well of our bodies as of our ſoules. Howbeit God is our ſpirituall father without hauing any make, & yet notwithſtāding he begetteth vsus into the hope of eternall life, and that is by the meanes of his Church, wherinto he hath put the ſaid incorruptible ſeed,Eſay. 59. d. 21. according as he ſaith by the Prophete Eſay: My worde (ſayth he) ſhall be in thy mouth, and continue with thy children from time too time, and with all thoſe that ſhall come of thy race. Thus ye ſee how God intendeth to gouerne his faithfull ones, namely by his worde, which he maketh to bee as a pledge and ineſtimable treaſure of ſaluation in his Church, to the ende that we ſhould be begotten and nurriſhed with it. Therfore (as I hauehave touched alreadie) we had neede too bee ſo much the more skilfuller in diſcerning the Church. For ſeeing it is the mother of Gods childrē, the name of it ought not to be diſhonored and trampled vnderunder foote, nor yet defiled as it is ſeene to be nowadayes. There is not a more common treacherie, than to put forth the name of the Church to deface and darkē Gods truth. For whereat do the Papiſts ame nowadayes in vaunting with full mouth and full throte that they be the Church, but to ſtoppe Gods mouth, and to thruſt his worde vnderunder foote, that it might no more be ſpoken of, and that in the meane while the things that men hauehave forged after their own lyking, ſhould be receyued without any gainſaying, and ſticked to and obeyed? VVe ſee then that men which are but earthwormes and rottenneſſe, are put into the balance agaynſt God, and all vnderunder pretence of the Church. But here Saint Paule warneth vsus to ſeeke the Church which hath the pure doctrine whereby wee were adopted of God to be his children. Nowe I hauehave tolde you heretofore, that the whole matter lyeth in our being ingreffed into the bodie of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, and alſo in our acknowledging that wee be accurſed by nature, that all our workes are but filthineſſe, that the Diuell holdeth vsus ſubiect to his tyrannie, and that there is none other helpe for vsus, but that God ſhould receyue vsus to merciemercy and pitie. Therefore let vsus go into Gods houſe by the ſayde gate, that is to wit, by acknowledging that there is none other way for vsus to get in but by the onelyonly mere grace of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. Thus ye ſee howe the Church doth breede vsus and beare vsus, verely euen by the foreſayde incorruptible ſeede. Nowe that we may ſore the better by this text, wee hauehave two poyntes too marke. The one is that we muſt not be like theſe fantaſticall fellowes, which thinke they may be faythfull without readings or preachings, bearing themſelues in hande, that the holy Ghoſt ought to reueale himſelfe too them by dreame, or I wote not …owe elſe. And in good ſooth they deſpize all doctrine, and (to their ſeeming) all inſtruction is but as an Apcie for yong children. Let vsus beware that we let not our ſelues looce after that faſhion by the meanes of Satan and of his wiles. But if we couet to bee counted Gods children, and to hauehave the true marke whereby wee may bee knowne before the Angelles: let vsus ſuffer our ſelues too bee taught, and let vsus keepe the order of the Church with all reuerence and lowlineſſe. And ſo the greateſt ſort and ſuch as are exalted to any degree of honour, ought alwayes to be throughly perſuaded in themſelues, that the greateſt dignitie which is poſsible for them to hauehave, is to bee children of the Church, yea through they were Kings and Princes. For hee that exempteth himſelfe from that ſtate, doth vtterly renounce God, and cut himſelfe quite off from all hope of ſaluation. Therefore marke it for a ſpeciall poynt, that ſo long as we be in this worlde, wee muſt indeuer too profite in Gods woorde, bycauſe that that is the place where all our ſpirituall life lyeth: and that like as God hath begotten vsus againe by it, ſo alſo we ſhall bee fed by it too the ende, as by the onelyonly food of our ſoules. Then let vsus not bee ſo proude and preſumptuous as to deſpize all teaching, as though we had no more need to be ſcholers. But let vsus from day to day receyue that which is tolde vsus, and by that meanes let vsus become true children of the Church. Thus much for that poynt. The ſeconde poynt is that we muſt diſcerne, and not bee as beaſtes that are driuen ouer mariſes, and ouerthwart the wide fieldes: but conſider which is the Church, according as God hath imprinted certaine ſignes of the Churche, which ſignes will neuer deceiue vsus. Therfore when we hauehave Gods worde preached vntounto vsus purely without any mingling, ſo as there is no corrupting of the Goſpell, but we be led wholly vntounto God to ſeeke all our welfare in him, and kepe the way which is ſhewed vntounto vsus, which way is our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, ſo that wee beeing ridde of all pride and ouerweening, do ſuffer our ſelues to bee clad with the clothing that is offered vsus in our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, and repoſe al our glory ther, I ſay whē we hauehave the doctrine after that maner: then is it Gods houſe and Sanctuarie, then is it the true Church and our mother, and we may bee well aſſured that God alſo auoweth and accepteth vsus as his children. T… (ſay I) is a muſt ſure and infallible proofe, at leaſtwiſe if we become not brute beaſtes wilfully, as we ſee many do, who ſhet their eies & ſtop their eares, and beare themſelues in hand that they be ſafe, if they can once pretende the name of the Church, to hide all their abuſes and trumperies, and the illuſions of Satan with it. VVherfore let vsus not bee ſo beaſtly by our owne wilfulneſſe: but let vsus conſider whither God ſendeth vsus to be truly regenerated by the ſeed of his worde, and to bee fed with it as with our only food. And for the ſame cauſe alſo is this text of Eſay aledged, God ſpeaketh not at randon to ſome multitude that might vaunt themſelues too bee the Church,Eſa. 54. a. 1. but onelyonly to the flocke that ſhould be left, after that the Iewes had bin horribly run aſtray and ſcattered aſunder, as we know to hauehave happened vntounto them. Surely at the firſt ſight a man woulde hauehave thought that God had vtterly baniſhed and aboliſhed his Church out of the worlde: and yet notwithſtanding he had gathered togither a ſmall number of them, and thoſe are called the remnant of the free election. For which cauſe the Prophet Eſay ſayth, that ſuch as are redeemed and vnfeynedly returned vntounto God,Eſay. 1. a. 9 to rule their life obediently after his worde, are the children of the Church. And here we hauehave to note by the way, that the Church tryumpheth not in this world, neither ſhineth with ſo gay and ſtately pompe, that men might bee rauiſhed at the onelyonly ſight of it, ſo as they ſhould ſubmit themſelues vntounto it: but that it is moſt commonly forſaken, & as it were diſfigured, and that is a point well worthie to be marked.Mat. 10. b. 10. For whereas the Papiſts brag that they hauehave the Church on their ſide: how are they able to do that? They muſt needes bring ſome euidence. But they alledge not aught ſaue their riches, their authoritie, and the great pompe and brauerie that is among them: but thoſe are not the things that God will hauehave his Church knowne by. For we knowe that our Lord Ieſus Chriſt will reigne heere in the thickeſt of his enimies, inſomuch that the leſſon which he taught his diſciples muſt alwayes bee verefied vppon vsus, that is to wit, we ſhall be forſaken and deſpyzed of the worlde, men ſhall bleare out their tongues at vsus, and we ſhall be ſo troubled and vexed heere, as we may not ſeeke for any peace or reſt heere. Now then, whenſoeuer any man talketh too vsus of the Church, let vsus bethinke vsus well of the thing that Saint Paule telleth vsus heere. For he likeneth the Church to a widdow, which is all alone in hir houſe and hath neither ſuccour nor helpe. The world forſakes hir, no man makes account of hir, ſhee is as good as halfe dead and buried alreadie. Neuertheleſſe God ſayth that ſhe ſhall be ſet aflote againe, and that ſhe ſhall hauehave mo children than ſhe that is maried and is in credit and reputation. This leſſon muſt we (I ſay) put in vre nowadayes when we ſee the poore Church ſo troden vnderunder foote, and the enimies thereof in ſuche pride or rather madneſſe, that they ſet vp their creſts and triumph ouer vsus, as though we were no better than duſt and ſmoke. VVhen we ſee ſuch things, let vsus wayt paciently till God gather togither thoſe whom he hath choſen: and let it content vsus that he auoweth vsus for his children, though the world diſdeyn vsus, and ſhake vsus off after that ſort. Yee ſee then that wee muſte not bring eies full of vanitie, to diſcerne which is the Church, as they do which will hauehave nothing but pompe and great outward ſhewes. But contrariwiſe let vsus conſider that god will ſo afflict his poore church, as there ſhall not appeare any beautie or ſhape in hir too the worldwarde, but rather vtter deſolation, yea (and as we cōmonly ſee) euerie man ſhall riſe vp agaynſt hir. But howſoeuer ſhe fare, let it content vsus, that God gathereth vsus to him as his children: yea and let vsus marke, that when we be called by the pure doctrine of the Goſpel, we be made fellowes with all the fathers whome God choſe vnderunder the Lawe, with all the holy Kings and Patriarkes, with all the Prophets and Martyrs, and finally with all the faythfull ones that hauehave bin ſince Abell to this day, or which ſhall be to the worldes ende. No doubt but the Papiſts will bragge ynough of their multitude: yea, but wee ſee that the Prophete laugheth all of them too ſcorne. And why? VVee muſt alwayes diſcerne which are the [true] children. For what elſe we are all the Churches of the Papiſtes than Brothelhouſes of Satan? All things are infected, nothing is there but fylthyneſſe, Gods ſeruice is there vtterly marred, and too bee ſhort, there is no ſoundneſſe at all in them. The Papiſts therefore for all that euer they can pretende too make themſelues Gods Churche, are but misbegotten Baſtardes, as they that are tyed too the Brotherlhouſe wyth theyr mother that Sinagog of hell.
Ye ſee then how the cace ſtandeth and it is not I that doth ſay it, but it is the Prophete Eſay that ſpeaketh ſo, and Saint Paule who is a faythfull expounder of Gods meening, confirmeth the matter. VVherefore let vsus learne too ioyne with the true children of God, which hauehave the infallible recorde of the holy Ghoſt, and not follow the greater throng, but let all theſe wretches go, whiche caſt themſelues wilfully into Satans ſnares, & wander like brute beaſts without any diſcretion. But by the way wee hauehave to marke, that ſuch as are the children of the Church ceaſſe not to bee our fathers, inſomuch that beſides the common brotherhood that is betwixt them and vsus, there is this moreouer, that by their meanes we be begotten in the worde of God,Gal. 6 d. 16 according as it is ſayde that we bee Abrahams children, and the true Iſraell of God, as if we were diſcended of Iacobs race. Therefore wee hauehave thoſe for our fathers which are our brothers too: and all of vsus togither are the children of God and his Church. For whereas our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt is in verie deede the onelyonly ſonne of God: he is to this ende called our head, that we being knitte togither in him, and becomming members of his bodie, might be hilde and taken for Gods children, becomming that thing by free adoption, which we be not by nature. And Saint Paule telleth vsus, that this befalleth vsus by promiſe after the example of Iſaac, too expreſſe that wee muſt not hauehave any vaine confidence in our owne deſertes, or in any vertue that is in our perſons, but be vtterly voyde of all pryde, knowing that all the woorthineſſe which wee hauehave, commeth of Gods mere grace and free gift. Thus ye ſee that the thing wherein we differ from the baſtard children which boaſt themſelues falſly of Gods name, is that whereas they be puffed vp with ſelfelyking, and delight in their hypocriſie, and are alwayes prating of their free will, of their meritorious woorkes, of their ſatiſfactions, and of their vertues as well cardinall as theologicall, as they terme them, and (to be ſhort) hauehave nothing in them but pride: VVe on our ſide ſticke to the promiſe, that is to wit, that God hauing looked vppon vsus with merciemercy, hath drawne vsus out of the dungeon of deſtruction wherein wee were and by his Goſpell tolde vsus, and aſſured vsus that he will be our father, and that an heritage taryeth for vsus, which is purchaſed for vsus, not by our ſelues, or by any mortall creature, but by Ieſus Chriſt, who being verie God became man, to the intent we might obteyne the thing in him which is not to bee found in all the world. Yee ſee then in effect that the ende wherevnto S. Paules concluſiō tendeth, is that if we mind to be well grounded in the doctrine of the Goſpell, and to be ſure of a good ſtud and ankerholde of our ſaluation, we muſt not intermedle any opinion of our own deſeruings with it, nor ſurmiſe that we be able to bring any thing of our ſelues, but ſimply receiue that which God offereth vsus, and ſuffer Ieſus Chriſt to be our ſauiour wholly & not by halues. That is the thing whervnto the word promiſe tendeth, as I hauehave declared more at large already. But the law had alſo his promiſes, howbeit with condition, as I hauehave declared. The promiſe that S. Paule ſpeaketh of preſently, is the thing that aboliſheth all mans pride, and diſgraceth the men them ſelues, ſhewing them that there is nothing in them but vtter confuſion, and that all their welfare lieth incloſed in our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, ſo as we cannot come by it, nor inioy it but by meanes of the Goſpell. Nowe the Goſpell telleth vsus that we muſt holde all of God, and do him homage for our ſaluation, bicauſe he giueth it vsus, and it is not a wages due vntounto vsus, that he ſhould by any meanes be bound vntounto vsus. And heerevpon S. Paule ſayth, that it is ſo euen yet ſtill at this day, according as Moyſes declareth vnderunder the figure whiche he dyd ſet foorth this morning. For in Abrahams houſe (ſayth he) there was an elder ſome called Iſmaell, and he perſecute …. Iſaac which was the lawfull ſonne. Now then it behoueth vsus to be ſo handled and delt withal, that ſuch as hauehave nothing but diſsimulation & hypocriſie in them, which are but as baſtardſhips, and which are vtterly corrupt & become ſtrangers, may neuertheleſſe crake & boaſt their fill, & ſet vp their briſtles ageinſt vsus, as though we were vnworthy to kiſſe their feete. Suche maner of men then muſt perke vp in all pride, and perſecute vsus: but yet let vsus be conſtant ſayth S. Paule, and let not our fayth bee ſhaken downe by ſuch loftineſſe, nor by the wiles that are caſt in our way by thoſe hypocrites and falſifiers, which hauehave peruerted Gods doctrine: For in the ende the fame will happen too them (ſayth he) which is reported of the houſe of Abrahā, namely, driue out the ſonne of the bonde woman, for he ſhall not be …ire All they then that vaunt them ſelues to bee faythfull, and win needes bee taken to bee of Gods houſholde, ſhall be cut off as rotten members, and not hauehave any part or peece of inheritance there. And it is moreouer a righte excellent leſſon, which conteyneth a very profitable admonition, euen to confirme the thing which I hauehave touched already, which is, that the pompes of this world muſt not bleare our eyes, to carie vsus away at a gaze when wee ſee great ſolemnities and gorgeous deckings. If a man ſhould beleeue no further than he ſees, when the Pope were in his Pontificalibus, he might bee taken for a God, he hath ſo many knicknacks gliſtering about him. And no maruell though many be amazed at it, as thoughe one had knocked them on the head with a club, and become as good as brute beaſtes. For why? men are ſo giuen to iudge fleſhly, that they bee worſe than little children in things that concerne Gods kingdome. But yet for all this, …eholde, Sainct Paule ſayth, that they whiche hauehave the primacie, and are al in all, and are dreaded of eueryevery man, and finally which beare the title of firſt begotten, are oftentimes but Iſmaelites, ſo as they be but baſtards, alledge they their elderſhip neuer ſo muche. But if S. Paule were aliue at this day, that one texte of his were inough too make him too bee burnte a hundred tymes. For let men write and ſpeake as muche as they liſte, and they can not more liuely decipher or bewray that the Pope and al his clergie are a heape of Iſmaelites and filthie baſtardes, whiche fighte agaynſt God, and all his true and right begotten children, according alſo as Moyſes hathe reported it. For what elſe alledge the Papiſts for them ſelues, ſaue that it is not a day or twayne ago, or a hundred yeeres ago that they hauehave had poſſeſsion: but that they hauehave kepte their traditions and Ceremonies theſe eyght or nine hundred yeeres? But ſurely euen in this behalfe alſo they lye, and are paſt ſhame. But put the cace that the world had not appayred theſe eyght hundred yeres: yet notwithſtanding, that elderſhip of theirs which they alledge, is not better nor of greater value than was the elderſhip of Iſmael. Agayn, vntounto their elderſhip they add alſo multitude, ſaying, that wee be but a handfull of folke in compariſon of them, they hauehave kings & Princes on their ſide, the whole world agreeth with thē, both great & ſmal ſay as they ſay, & the largeneſſe of their kingdome ſtretcheth out far & wide throughout al Europe welneere, and into a peece of Affrike. VVhen they hauehave all this for themſelues, very well, it is euen as the elderſhip of Iſmael. Nay, it were more meete for them to hauehave begon at the other ende, that is to wit, at the holding faſt of the pure doctrine of the Law & the Goſpell, without mingling any thing at all with it: for elſe it is a generall concluſion, that there is nothing in them but corruptneſſe and baſtardie. But they will not enter into this diſcourſe, that men might knowe whither they be bacebegotten of Gods word or no: for it is ſeene too manifeſtly alreadie. And in good fayth (as I hauehave ſayd alreadie) vnderunder the name of the Church, they hauehave boldly taken vponupon them to diſanull and falſifie the whole worde of God. Sothē there is no bringing of the Papiſts to the true trial or touchſtone, that men mighte diſcerne certenly whether they be Gods children or no: but they ſtande proudly vppon their elderſhip as Iſmaell did: they alledge that they are an infinite number, and wee but ſprules as ye would ſay, and folk deſpiſed to the worldwarde, which hauehave neither eſtimation nor credite. Thus yee ſee howe Iſmaell ſpeaketh now a days by the mouth of the Papiſts. Now wee for our part had neede to be armed with pacience: for it is a right hard tēptation, that they which are Gods deadly foes, ſhuld after a ſort poſſeſſe the higheſt roomes in his houſe: & that we ſhould be hidden vnderunder thē like corne vnderunder chaffe vponupon a barne floore. This is a hard & irkſome plight. And ſurely we ſee many that giuegive ouer the Goſpell through infirmitie. VVhen the poore ſimple ſoules heere theſe ſo braue titles of Catholike Church, of Apoſtolike ſea, of Vicar of Chriſt, of Succeſſor of S. Peter and S. Paule, of Prelates, and of Biſhops: I ſay when all this gay geere is flaſhte oute before the ſillie ſoules: they are amaſed at it, and conclude by & by, then muſt wee needes ſticke to it. For they bee rauiſhed at the ſight of theſe vizors that ſerue to ſcare little children. But they that hauehave any firmneſſe in them, & iudge according to that which God ſheweth them, are not at that poynt. And in good ſooth, when the Papiſts ſay that they be the repreſenting Church, they ſay truely: for in deede they make a godly repreſentation [reſemblaunce, or ſhewe] that is too ſay, there is as it were a gaye gazing ſtocke: but as the Prouerbe ſayth) all is not …de that gliſtereth. Therefore they muſt bee ſearched to the bottome, to ſee if there bee truthe in them or no. And ſo let vsus marke what is tolde vsus heere by S. Paul, that is to wit, that it was not once only that there was an Iſmaell in Gods Church to perſecute Iſaac: but that wee ſee the lyke at this day: and that the children of God ſhall be borne downe and trampled vnderfoote, by ſuch as hauehave no more but the bare title of Elderſhip, and vnderunder that ſhadow beguyle the ſimple ſort, cloking all their filthes & foulneſſe vnderunder the pretence of gay colours. But howſoeuer the world go, let vsus prepare our ſelues to battell (ſayth S. Paul) and let not our fayth quayle at the ſight of the pride of the enimies of Gods truthe, yea euen of the houſholde enimies of it, which are not as Turkes and heathen men, but keepe a gariſon in the Church, and yet will needes be Prelates and more than greate pillers of it. How ſoeuer the world go (I ſay) let vsus not be abaſhed for it, ſith we be fenced with the example of our father Iſaac, to the intent we ſhould hold out ſtoutly, for aſmuch as we be regenerated by the pure ſeede which God alloweth, whereby wee bee made his lawfull children, and heires of his heauenly kingdome. But heere a man might thinke it ſtrange that S. Paul ſhould ſay that Iſaac was perſecuted of his brother Iſmaell.Gen. 21. a. 8 For Moyſes rehearſeth no more but that at the day when Iſaac ſhould be weaned, & at the feaſt that was made at it, Iſmaell laughed him to ſcorne. It is not ſayd that Iſmaell layd any perſecution vponupon Iſaac, for aught that is recorded by Moſes: only it is ſaid that he beeing then of ſome age, & thinking to hauehave a much higher degree thā Iſaac, bicauſe he was already come to yeres of diſcretion, did laugh at him, & mocke him. Nowe if there were nothing more thā ſimple mocking & laughter, it ſeemeth that S. Paul ſhould not terme it perſecution. VVe muſt mark that the perſecutiōs of Gods children are not done, only by ſword, fire, racking, impriſonment, or other torments of the body: but alſo in that they be woūded with the ſcornful reproches which the vnbeleeuers and enimies of Gods truth doo ſpue out agaynſt them.Pſal. 69. b. 10. And if we do wel practiſe the thing that is ſayd in the Pſalme, wee ſhall not thinke the maner of ſpeeche ſtraunge which S▪ Paul vſeth heere. For where as it is ſayde, that the raylings whiche are caſte foorth agaynſt Gods maieſt…, ought too rebounde backe vppon vsus: it is to ſhew that we ought to be very tender harted or ſqueymiſh when we heere Gods name ſet light, or his honor diminiſhed in any maner of wyſe. If any of vsus bee touched in our good name or honeſtie, wee will be angry and make a quarell of it: wee ſee that for one croſſe worde, cholerike fellowes doo by and by draw their ſwordes, and all is vnderunder colour that they muſte maynteyne their honor and honeſtie. If a man ſpeake euill of our Parents or kinſfolke, we will be in ſuch heate and fumiſh paſsions, as wee can not be appeaſed. Then if God be miſuſed, or his maieſtie diſhonored in mens mouthes, aught we to ſuffer, and not to be moued to choler and anger?Pſal. 69. b. 10. Euen for that cauſe alſo it is ſayde, that the zeale of Gods houſe ought to eate vsus vp, ſo as wee muſt not only bee welminded and ſory for the defacing of the maieſtie of our God, and for the corrupting of the doctrine of ſaluation, and for the diſordering of his Church: but theſe things muſt alſo bite vsus at the hart. According heerevnto it is ſayd heere that Iſmaell perſecuted Iſaac. If a man demaunde, what? had he neyther torture, fyre, nor ſword to cut his throte? No, none of all theſe: but he ſcoffed at the promiſe that had bin made concerning Iſaac. For it was ſayd expreſly, Iſmaell ſhall liue: but yet is he not therfore heire of the promiſe, Iſaac is he in whom they ſhall bee bliſſed. Yee ſee then that Ieſus Chriſt, and conſequently all hope of ſaluation was cloſed vp in the perſon of Iſaac.Ge. 21. b. 12 VVhen Iſmaell did ſo diſdayne and ſcorne the ſouerein welfare and happineſſe, that mockage of his wounded all the children of adoption, & all the faythfull, yea euen with a deadly ſtripe. Nowe then wee ſee what S. Paule mente, and howe wee ought to put this doctrine in vre, which is, that wee muſt prepare our ſelues to inwarde battels, knowing that not onelyonly the Turkes and Paynims ſhall bee aduerſaries of the Goſpell, but alſo the hypocrites, who too the vttermoſt of their power, doo deface the doctrine of grace that is offered them in our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte, to aboliſhe all the dignitie and reuerence which wee ought to giuegive vntounto it in magnifying the mere bounteous goodneſſe of God, and in acknowledging that all our whole welfare lyeth there. Let vsus bee ready (I ſay) too abide ſuche battels at the hands of our houſholde enimies, whiche boaſt them…ues too bee Gods children, which are aduaunced euen aboue vsus, & which outface vsus with their elderſhip, as who ſhuld ſay, that vnderunder the colour of that, we ought too bee vtterly borne downe and ouerwhelmed. But there is yet more: that is to wit, that we muſt be touched too the quicke, and ſorie at the harte to ſee Gods doctrine ſo corrupted. True it is that naturally wee ſhunne the harmes that come agaynſt vsus, as bodily perſecutions and ſuche other. But yet for all that, wee muſt not be ſo wedded to this world, as not to preferre the heauenly heritage before all things that we eſteeme moſt worthy to be deſired. And therfore when ſoeuer Gods name is blaſphemed, & when men labour to aboliſhe the doctrine of life: let vsus in thoſe caſes ſet ſuche greef to our hart, as we can not beare with it, or at leaſtwiſe as if we were perſecuted in our bodies. For he that ſhould cut our throte, yea & put vsus to all the torments that were poſsible, as wee ſee the enimies of the Goſpel do, whoſe rage againſt their poore brethren, can not now a dayes be ſtanched with racking, burning, cutting out of their tungs, and ſuch other like torments: all this aught not to greue vsus ſo much, as to ſee Gods name torne in peeces, & ſcorned by the wicked. For the very ſame is ſuch a cutting of our throtes, as not only bereeueth vsus of this flightfull and tranſitorie life, but alſo bereth vsus quite out of the kingdome of heauen. For whē Gods doctrine is corrupted, then is foode turned into poyſon, lyfe into death, and light into darkneſſe. So then let this texte of S. Paules warne and exhort vsus, not to be ſo giuen too the earth and too the world, but that we may alwayes hauehave our minds & vnderſtandings lifted vp to the ineſtimable benefite that is offered vsus by the Goſpell, and fight more earneſtly for that quarell, than for our owne life. For truely a whole million of ſuch liues as wee hauehave here beneath, can not be comparable to the endleſſe life that is promiſed vsus in our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. Thus yee ſee wherin it behoueth vsus to exerciſe our ſelues, and we can not exceede meaſure in beeing too angry, when we ſee wicked men blaſpheme God after that ſorte, & labour by their wiles and pollicies to ouerthrowe and to falſifie the onelyonly doctrine whereby wee liue ſpiritually. Furthermore let vsus marke alſo, how S. Paule addeth in the ende for a concluſion, that all they which now a dayes … boaſt themſelues ſo highly to be the Church, and ſpecially thoſe that hauehave the title of elderſhip, ſhall be driuē out as baſtard children. Therfore let vsus not be beguyled with al the pompes that are among thoſe which fight agaynſt Gods pure truth, to maynteine them ſelues in their tyrannie by force, perſecutions, braggings, & ſuch other like things: but let vsus tarie the ende, which is, that they ſhal be cut off, for they be none inheritors. VVel may they dwell in the houſe, as it is ſayd of Antichriſt that he ſhall ſit in the Temple of God: but yet muſt they needes be ſwept out of it, as filth and vnclenneſſe. And although this bee not ſo before men, but that it is hidden from vsus for a time: yet let vsus wayte tyll God ſhewe his truthe more full, and vntill our Lord Ieſus Chriſt confound his enimies with the breath of his mouth, and by the power of his worde. Thus yee ſee how wee ought to be ſetled in inuincible conſtancie. And although we be now deſpiſed & ſcorned, yet let vsus not ceaſſe to holde out in the holy calling of our God, knowing that we ſhall not be diſappoynted, if we be grounded vpō the doctrine of the Goſpell, and reſt wholly thervpon till God diſcouer the things that are nowe hidden, & that wee be throughly gathered vntounto him, and finde that it was not in vayne that we were trayned vp in his pure worde, giuing ouer all the fancies of men, & not ſeeking life elſewhere than in the ſeede wherby wee were begotten agayne, and in the foode whereby wee bee ſuſteyned and nouriſhed to the ende.
Nowe let vsus fall downe before the maieſtie of our good God, with acknowledgemēt of our ſinnes, praying him to make vsus feele them in ſuch wiſe, as it may leade vsus to true repentance, that wee may mourne continually before his maieſtie, and bee ſo abaſhed in our ſelues, as yet notwithſtanding wee may not doubt but that he accepteth vsus for our Lord Ieſus Chriſts ſake, & that we ſhal always obteine ſure forgiueneſſe of our ſinnes, if we ſeeke it in true fayth without ſwaruing to the right hād or to the left, but only folowing the path which he hath ſhewed vsus, as in deede we can neuer go amiſſe when we hauehave the day ſunne of righteouſneſſe ſhining vponupon vsus. That it may pleaſe him to graunt this grace, not only to vsus, but alſo to all people and nations of the earth▪ &c.