Sermons on Galatians, Sermon 40
The. 40. Sermon, which is the thirde vponupon the ſixth Chapter.
6 Let him that is taught in the vvorde, make him that teacheth him partaker of all good things.
7 Deceyue not your ſelues: God cannot be mocked. For looke vvhat a man ſovveth, that ſhall he alſo reape.
8 For hee that ſovveth in the fleſhe, ſhall alſo of the fleſhe reape corruption. But hee that ſovveth in the ſpirite, ſhall of the ſpirite reape euerlaſting lyfe.
WEe ſee well ynough that whereſoeuer S. Paule was knowne, he could not be ſuſpected to be a man much giuen too his owne profite. For although it were lawfull for him to hauehave his finding, bicauſe hee bare abrode Gods worde: yet notwithſtanding (as we ſee) he forbare that libertie,Act. 20. g. 34. to the end to preuent al occaſions of ſtūbling. And he proteſteth that he was fain to labor day & night with his hands to earne his liuing. But yet was he ſo much the better able without ſuſpition to call vponupon the negligent ſort to do their dutie, as we ſee in this text. He commaundeth men to find their teachers, & not to ſuffer them to want any thing. Nowe if Saint Paule (as I ſayde) had bin a couetous man in ſcraping too himſelfe other mens goods, or if hee had bin deſirous too ſet out himſelfe in pompe and ſuperfluitie: hee ſhoulde hauehave had his … hauehave bin tolde him that he ſpake for himſelfe, and that it had bin no giuing of himſelfe to the ſeruice of God. But foraſmuch as he had ſhewed ſufficiently by experience, that forgetting himſelfe and hauing no regarde of his owne perſone, he ſought nothing elſe but to aduaunce the kingdome of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, and to edifie his Church: therefore he might rebuke the vnthankefulneſſe of ſuch as behaued themſelues amiſſe towards their ſheepherdes, in abridging them of ſuſtenance for their bodies, whereas by their meanes they had food and ſuſtenance for their ſoules. Now it is a verie vnkinde dealing, whē a man conſidereth not that he which bringeth him the doctrine of ſaluation, is as a foſterfather ſent vntounto him of God, and at leaſt wiſe findeth not in his heart to giuegive him bodily food. Therfore when men are ſo retchleſſe in that behalfe, they bewray a contempt of Gods worde. For nature ought to teach vsus, that when we be in any mans dette, wee ſhoulde ſtreyne our ſelues to the vttermoſt to requite him the like: and if we be not able to do it: then at leaſtwiſe to ſhewe that it is not for want of good will. But in this cace, lyke cannot bee requyted for lyke. For Gods worde findeth not any thing in the worlde that may be layde in balance agaynſt it. Yet notwithſtanding, ſuch as are taught, ought at leaſtwiſe not to ſpare theyr temporall goodes, for the finding of thoſe at whoſe hande they receyue the ineſtimable treaſure of the Goſpell. And verely we ſee howe it hath alwayes bin the pollicie of Satan, too ſpoyle Gods Church of good Sheepherdes and miniſters, by after a ſort ſtaruing of them. Satans vpholders ſhall alwayes hauehave ynough to cramme themſelues withall: according as wee ſee howe that in the Papacie, theſe ydle bellyes which do nothing elſe but barke oute theyr Maſſes and Mattins, are crammed too the full. Though all the worlde ſhoulde hunger and thirſt for it, thoſe kinde of people ſhall neuer feele penurie: yea and they ſhall hauehave good ſtore of prouiſion though all the worlde ſtarue in the meane while. But cleane contrarywiſe, when ſuch as ſerue God ſhall hauehave ſhewed the ſingular zeale and care which they hauehave for the health of mens ſoules: men let them alone, and thinke them greatly bound vntounto them that they giuegive thē the heering. VVell (ſay they) we hauehave heard him … him well, he hath done his dutie. And how many are there nowadayes that … contribution when they come too heere a Sermon? They could find in their hearts that God ſhoulde neuer be ſpoken of, bicauſe it is a melancholike matter too them. VVhereby wee ſee, that the Diuell hath by that meanes gyuen a puſhe, too ridde away all teaching, and too bring to paſſe that there might bee none but Idolles, nor any man care howe hee behaued himſelfe. Then was it not without cauſe that Saint Paule was deſirous to remedie ſuch inconuenience, ſaying, that hee which teacheth ought at leaſtwyſe to bee nurriſhed and mainteyned, and that hee which receyueth the doctrine of ſaluation, is bounde at leaſtwiſe to giuegive of his goodes and ſubſtance, to him that hath miniſtred ſpirituall foode vntoo him. And Saint Paule ſpeaketh here expreſly of Gods woorde. For whereas humane ſciences hauehave alwayes bin ſo highly eſteemed, that ſuch as hauehave profeſſed them, hauehave bin mainteyned: the woorde of God, whiche ſurmounteth all other things, is as it were caſt downe. Therefore Saint Paule blameth mennes naughtineſſe, ſaying: See what a worthie thing it is to hauehave Gods worde brought vntounto you: See what fruite redoundeth vntounto you by it. For we be all miſerable and curſed, ſauing that God calleth vsus to him by meanes of his worde: for that is the power which he ſpreadeth ouer vsus to gather vsus intoo his kingdome. Sith it is ſo then: howe can you bee nigardly of the tranſitorie goodes of thys worlde, that ſuch as trauell for your welfare and edifying, ſhoulde not at leaſtwiſe bee ſo mainteyned, as they might giuegive themſelues wholly vntoo that, and not bee drawne awaye by cares that might ſtoppe them and hinder them of doing their duties? The woorde that Saint Paule vſeth heere, is Cathechiſe, whiche ſignifyeth too teach, traine, or inſtruct, and therof commeth our word Cathechiſme, which ſignifieth a Teaching, Trainment, or Inſtruction. Then he that cathechyzeth, ſayth hee: that is to ſay, he that is a faythfull Teacher to edifie the people in Gods worde, let him be mainteyned by ſuch as are Cathechyzed, that is too ſay, by ſuch as are taught, or as are brought as ſcholers vntounto God. Now we ſee Saint Paules meening: and therevppon we hauehave to gather, firſt of all that we muſt not take any nowadayes for Miniſters and Herdmen of Gods Church, but ſuch as bring his woorde. Marke that for one … for our behoofe ſo to do. For the Papiſtes boaſt that they hauehave the Church on theyr ſyde. But it is certaine that it cannot be verified of Gods children, that they ſhoulde bee a flocke without a guide. Then what are the markes of the Churche? That there bee a flocke gathered togither, and that therewithall there bee a ſheepeheard too leade the ſheepe too our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. And in good ſoothe the Papiſts alledge alſo that they hauehave a Hierarchie, that is too ſay, a holy and ſacred Soueraintie, but in the meane while the marke that Saint Paule ſetteth downe heere, is not too bee founde among them. For wee ſee that all the horned Prelates, and all the route of the Popiſhe Clergie, hauehave no more but the bare tytle. For where is the ſayde worde of God? They thinke that that were a ſteyne to theyr ſtate: it is ynough for them to doo their Ceremonyes and gewgawes, and they beare themſelues in hand that they hauehave very well diſcharged their dutie, whē they hauehave ſo played an enterlude: and ſo thoſe Hipocrites doo nothing elſe but fill the worlde full of their abuſes and Illuſions. Therefore let vsus learne to diſcerne Gods true Churche, from all the Synagogs that Satan hath builded in the worlde, and wherewith he dazeleth our eyes nowadayes. That is to witte, when Gods worde is preached faythfully, let vsus conclude that God alſo dooth both knowe and acknowledge the flocke that is aſſembled there. And heere yee ſee howe they ought to diſpoſe the goodes of the Church, as Saint Paule ſheweth. Furthermore whereas hee ſayth, Let thoſe that are taught impart all good things: it is not ment that they ſhould beſtow ſuch abundance vponupon the preachers of the doctrine of ſaluation, that they ſhould bee readie too burſt with it. For the ſuperfluitie of ryches hath bin a deadly plague, when a number of men were moued, and driuen by fond deuotion, to giuegive their ſubſtance to ſuch as they thought woorthie to poſſeſſe the greateſt part of the world, whereby they brought all to horrible confuſion. And therefore wee muſt not thinke that Saint Paule ment too inrich he Miniſters of Gods worde in ſuch wiſe, as they might hauehave wherewith to ryot with all exceſſe, or as they might hauehave wherewith to mainteyne a diſſolute life in pompe and brauerie: Saint Paule ment not to open a gappe for …: but onelyonly ment to do men to vnderſtande, that they ought to ſuccour the… … all their needes, ſo as they ſhould not be driuen to extreme penurie.
And it behoueth vsus to beare in minde how that in another place he ſayth,2. Tim. 6. b 8. if we hauehave wherewith to feede and cloth our ſelues, let vsus be contented. Alſo we know that God hath a care of all creatures: and therefore much more of his faythfull ones. So then let vsus liue ſoberly, as if we had but a day to liue, and let vsus not make a hoord of the tranſitorie goodes of this world. VVhen the miniſters of Gods worde beare this leſſon in minde, namely to liue ſoberly and thriftily, and not too hauehave a care ſo full of vnbeleefe as ſhoulde torment them and burne them, and prouoke them to heape vp vnmeaſurably: then wil they content themſelues with a little, and yet notwithſtanding men will be bountifull and liberall too them without their crauing of it, ſo as they ſhall alwayes hauehave wherewith to be fed & clothed. And in good fayth, beſides this that hath bin ſayd, we ſee that Saint Paule did not onelyonly practize this doctrine himſelfe, but alſo exhorted his brothers and companions to the ſame. For in the twentith of the Actes he alledgeth principally, that he had trauelled and taken paynes with his handes to get part of his liuing: howbeit that it is much better to giuegive than to take: for (ſaythe he) the thing that wee ought to hauehave learned in the ſchoole of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, is that we ſhoulde be better apayde when we hauehave occaſion to do good, and to giuegive to the releefe of others: than when wee receiue to become rich our ſelues. For it cannot agree with Gods ſeruants, that they ſhould couet to hoord vp. To be ſhort, now we ſee whereat Saint Paule amed: namely that he ment not to giuegive bridle to the preachers of Gods word, to hauehave a delicate and deintie table, or to be braue to the worldward: but that they ſhould hauehave wherewith to find thēſelues ſoberly according to their degree. And therwithal alſo he blameth the vnkindneſſe of the world, for that they which are bound to their Shepherdes do ſhewe themſelues ſo niggardly, that it ſeemeth to be as it were a plucking out of the guttes out of their bellies, when they be ſpoken too for the releefe of the neede of thoſe to whom they be bounde beyonde meaſure. Nowe foraſmuch as that vyce hath reigned at all tymes in the worlde, and the diuell (as I ſayde) hath by that …llicie giuen … …urage the miniſters, that there might bee no more teaching and inſtruction: let vsus learne that Saint Paule hath not without cauſe ſet downe this rule, that they whiche take peines in preaching of Gods worde, muſt hauehave wherwith to fynd and mainteyne them. And wee ſee nowadayes a greater churliſhneſſe in the world, than that which S. Paule blameth and cōdemneth. For they that are at no charges at all with them, will not fayle too grunt and grudge when the miniſters of Gods woord bee talked of. O (ſay they) theſe fellowes muſt be nurriſhed in idleneſſe: verily as who ſhould ſay it were idleneſſe too ſerue God and the whole Churche. Againe, the Apoſtles (ſay they) did nother ſo nor ſo. No, but it is apparant that the Apoſtles were fetched a farre off: and eueryevery man did ſtreyne himſelfe for the ſame, not onelyonly in his goodes, but alſo in his owne perſone. If any Apoſtle were too bee accompanied, it appeereth that the riche and welthie men paſſed the ſea with them. And now adayes there ſhall bee nothing but murmuring and grudging at Gods ſeruants, though they bee enterteyned nigardly. But this diſcouereth and ſheweth the wickedneſſe of thoſe repyners, and bewrayeth them to be Heatheniſh folke, that could finde in their hartes too liue in barbarouſneſſe and beaſtly conuerſation, without hauing any doctrine of ſaluation, and that all were thruſt vnderunder foote, that eueryevery man might liue after his owne luſtes. So then, let vsus beare in minde the thing that S. Paule telleth vsus heere, to the ende that ſuch as are called too the ſtate and office of preaching Gods woord, may know that where as they bee founde and maynteyned, it is bycauſe they ſhoulde take payne, and profite the whole people with their ſeruis, and be thereby the more prouoked to do their duetie warely and carefully, and finally bee quickened vp to become ſo much the more diligent. And let not men enuie them nor grudge agaynſt them when they hauehave conuenient finding and interteynment, ſeyng that God hath ſo ordeyned: and we our ſelues alſo doo ſee reaſon why it ſhould bee ſo. Now herevpon S. Paule addeth, Bee not deceyued, for God is not mocked, and looke what a man ſoweth, that ſhall he reape. S. Paule, in willing men not to bee deceyued, ſheweth ſufficiently that men hauehave at all tymes had ſtore of ſhiftes, and that when they intended too doo or ſay …, they hauehave euerpret… … ſome cloke. But heere he citeth them to Gods iudgement, as if he ſhould tell them that they might well ynough content men and ſtoppe their mouthes: but yet for al that they muſt bee fayne too come to account before the heauenly iudge. And therefore all your ſhiftes (ſayeth he) will ſtand you in no ſtead. It is true that theſe excuces will eaſely bee admitted among men, and (as I hauehave touched alreadie) many men will hold their miniſters at the ſtaues ende, and there ſhall bee nothing but quareling with them. For their eares are ſo itching, that a man ſhall hardely finde one of a hundred which will not be glad to heere ſuch matters, and to adde ſome skoffe beſides, or elſe too make the ſauce ſharper. This is too common a cace. Neuertheleſſe Sainct Paules doctrine extendeth generally too all the excuces that wee bee wont to make when wee would iuſtifie our euill doing, or make men beleeue that the Crowe is whyte. Firſt of all therefore let vsus hauehave an eye too the grounde that Sainct Paule treateth of heere. Now the cace concerneth the finding of the miniſters of Gods woorde. He willeth men that they ſhoulde not beguyle themſelues. And why ſo? For it is a fonde thing to ſay, why ſhould not the Miniſters of Gods woord labour for their liuing, ſeing they ought to giuegive example vntounto others? VVhen they come out of the pulpet, can they not ſpend the reſt of the time in ſome labour, that they might not burthen the Churche? This will eaſly bee receyued of ſuche as gabble after that faſhion, thinking themſelues too hauehave a good cace, and too bee very zelouſe of the common welfare and of the order of the Churche. But ſuche men deceyue themſelues. For there is nothing in them but malice, and Satan thruſteth them foorth therevnto, to the end to make the world to lothe the doctrine of ſaluation, or at leaſtwyſe too ſet light by it and to skorne it. [That is the very welſpring], thither muſte we go, and there muſt we holde vsus. So then, it is not without cauſe that S. Paule warneth the Galathians, too beware that they beguyle not themſelues in vſing theſe fayre colours. And ſecondly we muſt alſo apply this warning of Sainct Paules generally to al the couertes which wee take in going about too diſguize things, for wee will alwayes hauehave wherewith to cleere our ſelues, if men will beleeue vsus: And there is not ſo very a naughtypacke but he will ſtill hauehave ſome ſhifte too conceale his owne ſha… before men▪ … if wee were a hundred times conuicted, yet the Diuell would euer put ſome deuyce in our minde, too ſet a good face vponupon a foule matter. And bycauſe we be inclyned thereto by nature, and hardened therein by cuſtome: it ſtandeth vsus the more in hand too marke the thing that S. Paule telleth vsus heere: which is, too beware that no man beguyle himſelfe, and that wee erre not wilfully. For it is certaine that hypocriſie ſhal neuer deceyue men, till they beguile themſelues willingly and wittingly. The hypocrites ſhal now and then be deceyued, and yet notwithſtanding bee conuicted therewithall, and they ſhall hauehave ſuch hartbitings, that they ſhal be the firſt that ſhall condemne themſelues, though all men elſe did acquit them. But there are that fall aſleepe, and beare themſelues in hand that nothing is amiſſe in them. Yet ceaſſe they not therfore to hauehave ſome pricking within thē: and although they be blinde, yet doth God make them vnexcuſable, bicauſe he quickneth thē vp, & they ſeeke ſhifts ſtill to intangle thē ſelues in, ſo as they themſelues perceyue not the miſchief, that they might repent thē of it. Ye ſee then that the woorſt kind of Hipocriſie that can be, is when men deceyue thēſelues by fond flatterie in alledging this & that, & in ſeking to ſhift off the matter, not only before mē, but alſo before God. Now S. Paule ſayeth heere, that God will not be mocked▪ And if he ſhould ſay, that ſuch as beguyle themſelues after that faſhion with their fond excuces, are mockers, yea & very mockers of God. For if wee bare ſuch reuerence too God as we ought to do: it is certaine that when we be cyted before his maieſtie, we would ſound our ſelues to the hard bottō of our thoughts and affectiōs, ſo as there ſhould not be any thing that were not examined to the quicke. All they then which make ſo light a matter of cōming before God, as though he were but ſome litle babe & might play with him at their pleaſure, do thereby ſhewe themſelues to bee full of vngodlineſſe. Now therfore we ſee how profitable this texte is for vsus, where S. Paule hauing warned men that they ſhoulde not beguyle themſelues, addeth that God cannot bee mocked. This ſhould ſeeme not too make too the purpoſe. For what though wee bee deceyuers? dooth it therefore followe that we be mockers of God? Yea ſayeth Sainct Paule. And for proofe thereof, yee ſeeke vayne ſhift … your ſelues to them. But if you looked rightly vponupon the deede, and were not wrapped in your owne maliciouſneſſe: ſurely you ſhoulde hauehave a righter iudgement than you hauehave.
VVhat cauſeth you then to fall aſleepe in your ſo fond excuces? it is bycauſe yee conſider not that wee muſte all of vsus appeere at Gods iudgement ſeate, and that it is he whiche ſearcheth mens thoughts, and from whom nothing is hidden. But you take him too bee but an Idoll: you would beare him in hand that he ought to be contented with your fooles bables: and whē ye hauehave beguiled men & laughed them to skorne, yee thinke that God is of the ſame ſtampe, and vſe yet greater boldneſſe towardes him. Therefore it is certaine that all ſuch as flatter themſelues and ſeeke ſtartingholes, are Infidelles, and the thing it ſelfe ſheweth them to be playne mockers of God. Now although this ſaying be ſhort: yet ought it to make vsus quake, for aſmuch as we heere ſo great a thunder, or ſee ſuch a lightning cōming vponupon vsus from aboue. And I pray you, is it a fault too bee pardoned, when men that are but ſtarke rottenneſſe, do ſo vaunt themſelues agaynſt God, yea euen to mocke at him? Surely wee knowe it is the greateſt reproche and ſpite that can bee done vntounto a man, too laugh him to skorne after that faſhion. If it be intollerable among vsus that are nothing: will God ſuffer himſelfe to bee mocked? Sainct Paule therefore hath well giuen vsus occaſion heere to looke neerely to our ſelues, and to walke playnely, and not too vſe our skoffing trickes, as though we thought to mende our market by it, for aſmuch as God is prouoked by it, as though wee defied him, or as though we intended too diſpoſſeſſe him of his right, and to make him beleeue that a man might plucke him by the noze, and doo all maner of villanie to him and he not perceyue it. VVere this ſaying well marked, wee would walke in another maner of awe than we do: but we ſee how men become Heatheniſh, yea euen wilfully, and wex ſo hardharted, that they regarde nother ſhame nor honeſtie when good or euill cō meth in queſtion, but yee ſhall ſee them corrupt and peruert all doctrine with full mouth, and caſt out blaſphemies agayſt God. Yee ſhall ſee then now adayes that all Tables, all houſes, and all ſtreetes are full of mockers of God. And whereof commeth that? It is true that there are many Hypocrites and ſelfe ſoothers: Howbeeit, the Diuell hath ſo poſſeſſed ſome, … ſpit openly … that is too ſay, they defie God without any remorſe of conſcience, and thereby it appeereth that they bee giuen vp too a reprobate minde, and ſpirit of madneſſe. And whence proceedeth ſuch malapertneſſe of aduauncing mennes ſelues ſo againſt God? As I told you before, it cōmeth of the ſayd hypocriſie, when wee thinke to diſguiſe things in ſuch wyſe by our ſuttle ſlightes and fayre replies, that there is no more difference betwixt white and blacke. So much the more therfore dooth it behoue vsus too beare well in minde this warning of S. Paules. Now herevpon he proceedeth with the matter that he had touched, in ſomuch that he extendeth it yet further, in ſaying that looke as wee ſowe, ſo ſhall we reape: He that ſoweth in the ſpirite ſhall of the ſpirit reape euerlasting lyfe, and be that ſoweth in the fleſh, ſhall reape corruption. To be ſhort, heere S. Paule likeneth all the ſtudie, care, and paynes that we take, vntoo ſeede which husbandmen ſowe. For wherfore do men buzie themſelues about this or that, or wherefore doo they trauell and take paynes, but for ſome end which they hauehave purpozed to themſelues▪ I ſay, euen bycauſe they hope for fruyte to their commoditie: that is the very cauſe why they be not weerie of their labour. As for example: he that intendeth too get muche, will ſuffer hunger and thirſt, cold and heate, and nothing will appall him. And why? For his couetouſneſſe carieth him on ſtill, ſo as he forgetteth all things elſe, and tormenteth himſelfe more than if he were in his enemies handes: nay, his enemies woulde not torment him ſo much. So then, when a man taketh great paynes too gather goodes, it is lyke the ſowyng of a husbandman: and he hopeth that harueſt will come, and that he ſhall gather it vp againe in the ende. He that woulde aduaunce himſelfe too the worldward, dares not ſleepe half his fill: and what ſeeketh he by his watching? To come to ſome honour or worſhip, and to winne credite. VVell then, Ambition is the harueſt of them that couet worldly honour. Their deſire is to gather. And what▪ The thing that their owne nature liketh and …ongeth for. Euen ſo is it in all other things. Like as an vnthrift will labour too ſatiſfie his appetite, and he will not ſticke the rather to do ſome lewd pranke, as too play the bawde; or ſome other lyke thing. And to what ende? To the end he may eate his fill and fare delicately or elſe play the drunkard. And otherſome fall too robbe… and murther that in fine they become arrant Theeues. Lo wherevnto mennes luſtes bring them. For they purpoſe with themſelues to make a harueſt: that is to ſay, to hauehave the thing that they luſt for▪ though it be to their ruyne and confuzion. But howſoeuer the world go, if ye conſider why men giuegive themſelues to one thing or other: ye ſhall find that they alwayes hope for a harueſt. So then, the things which they do, are the ſeedes of the labour whiche they hope to gather frute of. Heere S. Paule ſayeth, that after as we ſowe, ſo ſhall we reape. And afterward he openeth himſelfe in ſaying, that the one ſort ſoweth too the ſpirite, and the other ſort too the fleſhe. Now to ſowe to the ſpirit, is too withdrawe a mannes ſelfe from the worlde and from this tranſitorie lyfe, and to know that we be created not too tarie heere beneath, but too paſſe foorth on till wee bee come too our inheritance: and that our life is not to bee heere but for a little whyle, and to walke away (as hath bin ſayd in the Pſalme that hath bin ſong and ſhall be ſong againe),Pſal. 90. a. 5. 6. ſo as our beyng heere, is not too abide heere for euer, nor as though wee had an euerlaſting dwellingplace: but God giueth vsus as it were a ſhorte walke, and cauſeth vsus too make but a turne or twayne, and ſtreytwayes after ſayeth vntoo vsus, Come away Sirs and returne yee intoo duſt, as Moyſes alſo ſpeaketh in his ſong. Seing it is ſo, if wee bethinke our ſelues well to renounce all our owne luſtes, then ſhall we ſowe too the ſpirite, that is too ſay, wee ſhall ſee that it behoueth vsus too apply all our ſtudie too the heauenly lyfe wherevntoo we be called. Yee ſee then howe the one ſorte, of whom the number is very ſmall and ſcant, doo ſowe too the ſpirit, bycauſe they ſtarte not out intoo worldly cares too bee tied too them, but conſider that God calleth them higher, and therfore prepare and indeuer themſelues to come thither. The other ſorte doo ſowe to the fleſh: that is to ſay, they bee ſo wholly poſſeſſed with a beaſtly affection, that too their ſeeming there is nothing too bee compared too this lyfe. And truly if yee marke at what marke men ſhoote, yee ſhall finde that the world holdeth them backe well neere all. Yee ſhall ſcarce finde one among a thouſand that goes any further, too conſider that this world is but a ſhadow that vaniſheth away, and too bend themſelues earneſtly and rightly too the heauenly lyfe. Therfore all men welneere doo ſowe to the fleſhe. True … that their reſpectes …-what differ. For one is a whorehunter, another a drunkarde, the thirde a niggardly pinchpennie, and another a ſpendall. Then if yee looke vppon the humours of the menne, they bee diuerſe and as it were repugnant, ſo as the one hateth the other. And wherefore? Bycauſe (ſayeth he) he is not of my nature, he and I cannot agree. But howſoeuer the worlde go, if a man ſifte them, he ſhall finde that all of them ſowe too the fleſhe. Therefore there are many ſortes of of ſowyng: but yet notwithſtanding all of them ſticke faſte heere beneath, ſo as they cannot conſider wherevntoo God calleth them, and wherevntoo they ought to apply themſelues. For ſome would bee riche, ſome would hauehave honour and credite, ſome would lyue at their eaſe, and take their pleaſure, ſome woulde hauehave this, and ſome that: but in the meane whyle all of them poare vppon this tranſitorie lyfe, and cannot lift themſelues vp. Nowe Sainct Paule ſayeth, it is good reaſon that wee ſhould reape according too our ſowyng. They then which do ſo giuegive themſelues to the worlde and ſowe too the fleſhe, ſhall (ſayeth he) reape corruption: that is to ſay, in the end they ſhal perceyue that al the things which they eſteemed ſo highly, were but ſmoke. True it is that this woord Corruption might be taken for euerlaſting death: but that is not Sainct Paules meenyng. For he intendeth to ſay that men are deſtitute of wit and diſcretion, when they wil needes intangle thēſelues in their blockiſh and groſſe cares. For why? if a man aske them: go too, what is the world? They will ſay, it is a ſhadowe that ſlippeth away. And what is our life? It is nothing. And what are the goodes of this worlde? They be but a dreame. All of them will ſay thus much, and yet neuertheleſſe they bee ſo rauiſhed, as a man cannot tell how to plucke them from it, and the Diuell holdeth them as it were bewitched, ſo that God crieth out at their eares, wretched men where are you, and yet they go on ſtill too plundge themſelues deeper in the quamyre. And although they knowe well ynough that all their luſtes are nothing, & that this life ſlippeth ſwiftly frō them: yet will they needes bee wedded to it ſtill. Although then that God doo crie too theſe vnaduized folke to bring them intoo the right way: yet are they ſo dulled that they cannot obey …er the Counſell nor the warnings whiche they heere. Thus yeeree why S. Paule ſayeth, that ſuche as hauehave ſowen after that maner, ſhall of the fleſhe reape corruption. But they (ſayeth he) which ſowe to the ſpirit, (that is to ſay, whiche know that there is a much preciouſer life than this wherein we bee, and ſet their whole affection and minde therevpon) ſhal reape of the ſpirit euerlaſting life. That is to ſay, bycauſe they hauehave bin gouerned by Gods ſpirit, and hauehave labored to come vntounto him and too bee knit to him: therefore is their reward alſo ready for them. Now heere firſt of all wee bee warned, to thinke better vponupon all our thoughtes, doings, attempts, wiſhes, and indeuers, and to conſider well too what end they tend. For this ſimilitude ſhall alwayes be found true, that we do then ſowe, when we apply our labour or trauell to any thing. Therfore let vsus looke well to our ſelues, and conſider that although God will hauehave vsus to gather Corne and wyne in this worlde for the ſuſtenance of our bodies: yet notwithſtanding he calleth vsus yet higher, and will not hauehave vsus to be hild ſtill heere. VVherefore let vsus learne to ſeeke firſt that God may reigne, and beare rule, ſo as we may yeeld our ſelues wholly to him and his rightuouſneſſe, and that the care of this tranſitorie life dull vsus not, as I hauehave ſayd afore: but but that it may be as an income to the principall wherevnto we muſt go, that is to ſay, to the kingdome of God. To be ſhort, let vsus conſider that God hath put vsus into this world to ſowe, that is to ſay, not to be idle nor vnoccupied. And how? Truely the Miniſters of Gods woord ought to ſowe, to the end to gather in ſuch a harueſt, as they may offer vp to God as an holy offering. And their ſowing is too teach faithfully, to the end that Gods woord may bring forth frute, and his name be glorified and bliſſed, accordingly as our Lord Ieſus Chriſt ſayd to his Apoſtles,Iohn. 15. c. 19. I hauehave chozen you to the end you ſhould go and bring forth abundance of frute, and ſuch frute as ſhall laſt for euer. The miniſters then hauehave this peculiar to themſelues: howbeit all of vsus in common muſt ſowe to eternall lyfe, that is to ſay, wee muſt paſſe through this worlde as ſtraungers, lifting vp our mindes to the heritage where wee ſhould reſt, and wherevnto alſo it behoueth vsus to apply all our indeuer. And euen when wee trauell for the ſuſtenance of our bodies, let it be alwayes with tending to the ſayde marke, according as it is ſayd that we muſt not liue to eate … but eate and drinke to the end to be conueyed to another life: and that our liuing in this world is not to ſettle heere, but to atteyne to a higher thing, that is to ſay, to the heauenly life. Sith it is ſo, whenſoeuer any man buzieth himſelfe to get his liuing, whither it bee by tillage, or by ſome handicraft, or by trade of merchandiſe, or howſoeuer it bee, in all the cares that wee take for ourſelues or for our houſholdes, let vsus alwayes ſhoote at a higher mark. For ſurely it is a naughtie thing, if a man buzie himſelf but only about the getting of his liuing, and hauehave no regard of Gods ſeruice. For in the getting of his liuing he ought too conſider thus with himſelfe: Howe will God allow of my dooyng? How will he accept my ſeruice? Truely that will he doo if I walke not after myne own luſtes, if I looke that I doo no man wrong, and if I buzie my ſelfe faythfully about the thing that I am bounde too doo. This (I ſay) is the way for vsus too ſowe: that is too wit, that wee bee not wedded to the worlde, nor hilde downe heere beneathe, but that wee may alwayes mount vpwarde too the lyfe of heauen. Now then let vsus looke well vppon the meane of ſowing after that ſorte: that is to wit, of ſowing too the ſpirit, ſayth Sainct Paule. VVherefore let vsus conſider that wee bee not as Aſſes and Oxen that toyle and labour, and afterwarde doo eate and drinke, and are fed as reaſon and good right require: but that God hath adopted vsus too come to the life of heauen. Therefore let vsus ſowe to the ſpirit; and cut off all that may hinder our mounting vpward, let vsus ſhake them off as hurtfull things, and aſſure our ſelues that al ſuch as labor to get reputation in this world, ſhall in the end finde themſelues diſappointed. VVhy ſo? For they ſhall ſee plainly that it is but corruption. VVhen he that ſhal hauehave gathered great abundance of goods commeth vntounto death, he hath ſo much the more greef, bycauſe he made this world his paradiſe. Therefore he then gnaſheth his teeth at God, and he ſtormeth and tormenteth himſelfe, much more than if he had not takē ſo much peynes to gather. Thus ye ſee that ſuch as hauehave ſowed in the fleſh, perceiue [at length] that they hauehave ſowed to corruption, bicauſe they gather nothing elſe but corruption: but it is all to late, and therfore let vsus bethink ourſelues. And although we … men beguile themſ…s, and too make their reckening that it is a happie life to hauehave all thing that they wiſhe, as commonly euerie man is ruled by his owne lyking: although wee ſee men ſtorme after that faſhion: let vsus learne to do otherwiſe & conſider that God calleth vsus to an euerlaſting life, which he ſetteth cōtinually before vsus by his Goſpel. Let vsus ſet our whole mindes vpō that, and let al our intents & deſires tend thitherward, & let vsus indeuer to profit more & more in the doctrine of ſaluation, that he may lift vsus vp and drawe vsus hence from beneath,Eph. 6. c. 15 according alſo as S. Paule ſayth when he telleth vsus what the weapons of Chriſtenfolke are, making the doctrine of the Goſpell to bee our ſhooes. For it ſtandeth vsus on hand to be armed from top too toe, or elſe wee ſhould ſoone be wounded with the aſſaultes that are giuen vntounto vsus in this world. After he hath declared this (ſay I) he ſayth that the Goſpell muſt lift vsus vp, and drawe vsus from the corruptions wherein wee be plunged, ſo as wee may atteine too the kingdome of God wherevnto he calleth vsus. Ye ſee thē what we hauehave to beare in mind. Now as touching that S. Paule ſaith, that they which hauehave ſowed in the ſpirit ſhall reape euerlaſting lyfe: he meaneth not that wee in ſo doyng deſerue ſo woorthie and excellent a thing as the kingdome of heauen is: but he ſheweth that the faithful hauing knowen their owne calling, ſhall neuer fynd themſelues deceyued, though they ſeeme wretched too the worldward. VVee know that God adopteth vsus of his owne free goodneſſe: that is the groundworke of our ſaluation. He forgyueth vsus our ſinnes: and that is our ryghtuouſneſſe. For if he ſhoulde conſider vsus in our owne nature, he coulde not but caſt vsus away as lothſome and accurſed: So can we fynde no grace at his hande, excepte he admitte vsus of hys owne free goodneſſe. And wee knowe alſo that our workes are euermore vnperfect and blemiſhed with ſome vyce, ſo as they cannot be accepted of God. VVee are ſure that when we ſhould go about too ſerue him and to doo good, oftentymes wee go cleane backeward, ſo that we are euermore in his daunger. But howſoeuer the world go, when God hath once adopted vsus to bee his children, buried all our ſinnes, and ſhewed that he lyketh well of our ſeruice though it be vnperfect: then declareth he further & addeth as an ouerplus, that we ſhal not be de…ed in dedicating our … vntounto him, and in laboring for the heauenly life. It is true that men wyll laugh vsus to ſcorne. Behold theſe fondlings ſay they: ſee how they martyr themſelues? And wherfore? for the kingdome of heauen. And who hath brought them tydings of that? It is I wote not what a kinde of Religion that beguileth theſe folke, and in the meane while they be poore outcaſtes, in whom there is neither corage nor any thing elſe. According whereuntoo wee ſee now adayes, that ſuch as ſtand vppon their reputation, do rayle vppon vsus ſaying: as for theſe wretched ſillie ſoules what thinke they to doo? Lo how wee bee ſcoffed at, bycauſe wee couet not too aduaunce ourſelues nor too bee in reputation of the world. Although then that wee bee ſo ſcorned, let vsus gyue eare too the promiſe that is made vsus heere: which is that if wee followe our vocation ſimply, wee ſhall perceiue that God who hath begonne is faythfull, and that hys intent of winning vsus vntoo him is our ſouereyne welfare, and that he not only ſeeketh our profit in al reſpectes: but alſo will through his infinite goodneſſe ſhewe himſelfe a father and Sauiour towards vsus. VVherefore let vsus ſtreyne our ſelues too the vttermoſt too come vntoo him, let vsus dedicate ourſelues wholly to him, and let vsus giuegive ouer all worldly things that may hinder our comming vntounto him, I ſay let vsus giuegive them all quite and cleane ouer, ſeeking continually the things that may guide vsus vpward, & let vsus continue in them to the end. And if we do ſo: ſurely our Lord Ieſus Chriſt will ſhewe that there is a harueſt prepared for vsus, not of theſe worldly riches which are ſubiect to corruptiō (for the coſtlyeſt & richeſt apparel & deckings of this world ſhal be eatē with mothes & worms: and there is neither gold nor ſiluer nor any thing elſe, but it periſheth in the end. And moreouer whē mē will needes take of thē vnmeaſurably: they ſhal burſt with the goods which they hauehave heaped togither, & they ſhal not only become vnprofitable to thē, but alſo they ſhal turne to their vtter deſtruction. In ſted of this thē, we ſhal find that we hauehave hoorded vp a good treaſure, which ſhal be laid vp ſafe for vsus in the hand of God, to receiue the fruite of it when wee ſhall hauehave finiſhed our courſe in this world, and continued the ſowing of our ſeede, that is to ſay, when wee ſhall hauehave proceeded in the … of our God without wearineſſe, looking alwayes vp to heauenwarde, and withdrawing ourſelues from the world as much as is poſsible for vsus.
And nowe let vsus caſt downe our ſelues before the Maieſtie of our good God with acknowledgement of our ſinnes, praying him too make vsus ſo too feele them, as it maye bring vsus too true repentance, and yet notwithſtandyng wee not ceaſſe too comforte and cheere vp our ſelues wyth his goodneſſe, not doubting but that he receiueth vsus too merciemercy, at leaſtwiſe if wee repaire too him too bee reformed by his holie ſpirit, till he hauehave rid vsus quite and cleane of all the imperfections and vices of our fleſhe, and renued vsus after his owne image, to bring vsus to the perfect rightuouſneſſe wherevntoo we trauell. And ſo let vsus all ſay, Almightie God heauenly father. &c.