Sermons on Galatians, Sermon 5
The. 5. Sermon vponupon the first Chapter.
11 But brethren, I do you to wit, that the Goſpel which vvas preached by me, is not of man.
12 For I receyue it not of man, neither learned I it but by the reuelation of Ieſus Chriſt, &c.
WEe ſaw this Morning, that all ſuche as hauehave the charge & office to teach in gods Church, muſt forget all lyking and fauour of the worlde: for otherwiſe they can neuer diſcharge theyr duetie faythfully, conſidering howe men doo alwayes deſire and couet too be flattered, and cannot abide to hauehave their faultes rebuked as they ought to be. Thereupon I tolde you alſo, that eueryevery man muſt rid himſelfe of all fleſhly affections, that they maye become true diſciples of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. For ſo long as we ſhall follow our owne luſtes, the gate ſhall bee ſhette agaynſt vsus, and wee ſhall neuer hauehave any enterance in vntoo the Goſpell. And truely we ſee howe the Prophete Eſay ſpeaketh thereof.Eſay. 30. 6. 10. 11. Hee ſayth that all ſuch as will hauehave men to preache pleaſurable things to their lyking, doo dryue away God as farre off from them as they can. True it is that they will not ſpeake after that ſort. For euen in the Countrey of Iewrie, euerie man proteſted to ſerue the God that was reuealed too their father Abraham, and which had publiſhed his law by Moyſes. Sacrifyzes were offered in the Temple, and there were fayre ſhewes ynowe there. Neuertheleſſe the Prophete concludeth in one woorde, that men were deſirous too bee ſoothed, and fayre ſpoken too, and by meanes thereof coulde not ſuffer God too guide them, nor giuegive him leaue too lay hys yoke vponupon theyr necke. Ye ſee then that the meanes for vsus to bee prepared too receyue the doctrine of the Goſpell, and to bee edified by the ſame, is that wee bee not wedded too our owne lykings, but ſuffer our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt to ſpeake the things that are expedient for our inſtruction. Howbeeit beſydes this, wee muſt alſo bee as it were wounded to the heart by the worde that is preached to vsus, or elſe wee ſhall neuer fare the better for it.Heb. 4. d. 12 For (as I declared this morning) it is not without cauſe that the Goſpell is lykened to a ſharpe ſwoorde, and it behoueth vsus verely too bee made true ſacrifizes by renouncing all our owne luſtes, and all other things which God condemneth, and too indure the ſame paciently, too the intent too bee wholly brought backe too the obeying of his will. And heerewithall we muſt alſo call to minde what hath bin treated of heeretofore: that is to wit, that all men as wel great as ſmall, muſt ſtoupe, and the ſonne of God muſte hauehave the preeminence and mayſterhood, in ſuch wiſe as there may be no mo Sheepherdes but hee, and wee all of vsus bee his ſheepe. True it is that ſuche as hauehave the charge too preache the Goſpell may well bee called Sheepheards: howbeeit, that is not for that they maye doo any thing in theyr owne name and authoritie, or that the ſame ſhoulde impeache the ſuperioritie of the ſonne of God. For as for mee whiche doo ſpeake heere nowe, I muſte not bring ought of mine, nor aduaunce my ſelfe aboue others: for my ſpeaking vntounto all this companie is in ſuch wiſe, as my doctrine muſt firſt be applied to my ſelf, and [afterwarde] beare ſway ouer all other men without any exception. For there is no highneſſe in the worlde, which can exempt it ſelfe from the ſubiection whiche all of vsus owe too the ſonne of God: according as wee hauehave ſeene heeretofore, howe it is the propertie of the Goſpel to bring downe all the glorie of the world, ſo as men may not preſume too ſet vp theyr briſtles, nor too chalenge ought to themſelues, but that ſuch as weene themſelues too bee moſt excellent, maye be vtterly abaced and made nothing, and all things bee made captiue to the obedience of the Goſpell. And that is the cauſe why Saint Paule too confirme his doctrine, declareth that it came not of men, nor was learned in their ſcholes: but that hee had it of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, concerning whom the father gaue commaundement, that men ſhoulde heare him. For that prerogatiue is giuen peculiarly vntounto him, and ought not to be communicated,Math. 3. d. 17. &. 17. 5 neither to any man, nor to any Angell of heauen. Good reaſon it is, that men which ſpeake as inſtruments of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, ſhoulde be heard: but (as I tolde you before) that is not to impeach the authoritie which he hath ouer vsus. But howſoeuer the cace ſtande, the certaine and infallible rule to attaine to ſaluation, is that our Lorde Ieſus be the onelyonly maſter and teacher, and that we be teachable to receyue his worde without gaineſay or replying. And Saint Paule thinkes it not ynough that he holdeth the things of Ieſus Chriſt which he hath publiſhed: but alſo he vtterly reiecteth & excludeth men in that behalfe, to ſhew that the authoritie of them were not ſufficient to ground and ſettle our fayth vppon. For wee ſhall neuer leaue ſtaggering till we bee come vntoo God, and vntoo that perſon whom hee hath ſtabliſhed as heade and cheefe teacher ouer vsus. Nowe whereas Saint Paule ſayth that hee telleth it them: it is not for that the Galathians and others had not heard the like afore: but bicauſe they had bin vnthankfull, ſo as they had bin intangled in many errours and paltryes. Therefore hee bringeth them backe againe too the well head: as if he ſhould ſay, vntill ſuch time as men hauehave full concluded with themſelues too ſuffer themſelues too be gouerned ſimply by the pure woorde of God, they ſhall bee alwayes in a mamering, and the Diuell ſhall no ſooner rayſe vp any trouble agaynſt them, but they ſhall bee ſo diſmayed, as they wote not which way too turne them. For it behoueth vsus too bee firſt of all ſure, that as touching the doctrine wherevppon our fayth is ſettled, wee holde it of God and not of men. True it is that all men ſhall not hauehave the like reuelation that Sainct Paule had: but it ought too ſuffize vsus, that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt hauyng ratyfied the Goſpell wyth his owne bloud, and alſo commaunded his Apoſtles to publiſh it abrode, hath giuen them ſuch proofe, that the doctrine which wee receyue of them is of full authoritie, and vtterly out of all doubt: this (ſay I) ought to ſuffize to holde vsus as it were in priſon, and too keepe vsus from admitting anie of all the things that men can alledge. But let vsus alſo call to minde what the Apoſtle telleth vsus in the firſt too the Hebrewes:Heb. 1. a. 2. namely that God hath laſtly ſpoken to vsus by the mouth of his owne ſonne, to the intent we ſhoulde hauehave all perfection of doctrine in him. Ye ſee then that the thing which we hauehave to beare away, is that the reualation whereof Saint Paule ſpeaketh here, ſhall not bee common to al other men, but ſerueth to warrant the doctrine which we hauehave receyued by his meanes, ſo as wee ſee it is our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt that hath ſpoken. And whereas hee excludeth men after that ſort: it is to ſhewe vsus, that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt doth not giuegive vsus ſome bare enterance, as if a man ſhoulde teache a childe his Apcie, and afterwarde ſende him to a better learned mayſter: Our Lord ſpeaketh not ſo by halues vntoo vsus, but in full perfection: inſomuch that both in lyfe and death, we muſt alwayes ſtand ſtedfaſt in the things that we receyue of him, and forſake whatſoeuer commeth of men: for all mingling will bee but corruption; as I tolde you thys morning.1. Pe. 4. c. 11 And that alſo is the cauſe why he exhorteth thoſe that ſpeake in the Churche, too holde faſt continually the Maieſtie of God, and not too bring in ought of their owne, nor too put foorth any thing whiche breedeth of theyr owne brayne. For in what cace ſhoulde wee bee, if men myghte intermeddle themſelues wyth our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, and eueryevery man caſte in his morſell and coluppe (as they ſay) and that wee mighte hauehave a Goſpell ſtuffed with mens dreames and fancies? It woulde bee nothing elſe but a horrible confuſion. Yee ſee then that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt hath not his authoritie among vsus, vntill men bee put downe, and all other creatures with them, and that all giuegive eare vntoo him fro the leaſt too the moſte. This in effect is the matter which wee hauehave to beare in minde. And in deede wee ſee howe that in another Text too the Corinthians,1. Co. 2. b. 6 Saint Paule declareth that he had preached the perfect wiſedome, when he did ſet foorth our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, and that there a man ſhall finde whatſoeuer hee can wiſhe for his welfare. And in one other Text too the Epheſians hee ſayeth,Eph. 3. d. 18 that that is the thing wherevntoo wee muſt applie all our ſtudie, bothe farre and wide, ſo as wee neede not too bring any petie traſhe, too further the thing that hee had ſette out afore. Then ſith it is ſo, wee ſee that all ſuche as intangle themſelues in mens deuices and inuentions, hauehave a diſguiſed Ieſus Chriſt, and a baſtarde Goſpell whiche God diſclaymeth, ſo that our Chriſtianitie can bee no Chriſtianitie, except wee continue in the things whiche wee hauehave learned of the ſonne of God, who is our onelyonly Maſter, and in the things which the Apoſtles alſo hauehave taught vsus in his name. Lo what wee hauehave too remember in this Text. Nowe heerevppon Saint Paule ſheweth his owne conuerſation, whereby it maye bee gathered, that out of doubt hee was as it were faſhioned by the ſpirite of God. For ſo ſtraunge an alteration as was ſeene in hys perſon, coulde not happen, except God had put too hys hande, and wrought after a ſecrete and vnaccuſtomed faſhion. And ſo yee ſee in effect whereat hee amed, when hee ſayeth that the Galathians knewe his conuerſation or maner of lyuing. VVee hauehave heere a good leſſon. Howbeeit, that we may profite the more by it, let vsus marke howe Saint Paule continueth the thing that hee had touched afore: which is, that a man ſhall not find a ſtedfaſt foundation in any creature whereon to ſetle fayth, but that God onelyonly muſt bee the founder thereof, and although men bee meane, and inſtrumentes of it, yet notwithſtanding they hauehave neede too bee authoriſed of God, and too hauehave it knowne that hee hath ſent them and allowed them, and that they bring not any thing which they hauehave not receyued of him. Nowe if a man hauehave an eye too the vertues that were in Sainct Paule, certainly hee deſerued well too hauehave ſome credite and audience among menne. Yet notwithſtanding hee acknowledgeth and confeſſeth, that hee is nothing as in reſpect of himſelfe, and that all that euer he hath, is onelyonly to ſerue our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and to ſet forth the things faythfully which he hath receyued of him.foreign VVhat ſhall wee then ſay too ſuch as hauehave neither good life, doctrine or ought elſe? VVhereas they call themſelues Prelates, and take vppon them ſome ſtatelineſſe and ſuperioritie, ſo as their ſayings go for ſawes: are they therefore aduaunced aboue S. Paule? [Admit they were:] yet muſt all loftineſſe of man ceaſſe, and bee pulled downe, ſo as nothing may hinder the exalting of Ieſus Chriſt. As for example,Math. 11. b. 11. although S. Iohn Baptiſt had recorde borne vntounto him that there was not an excellenter man borne of woman: yet notwithſtanding he ſaith that both himſelf and others muſt be diminiſhed,Iohn 3. d. 30. that Ieſus Chriſt might grow and increaſe. Likewiſe S. Paule ſpeaking of it in another place,Ephe. 1. d. 20. ſayth that the Church muſt in ſuch wiſe be builded, as our head Ieſus Chriſt may always hauehave preemī nence.Col. 1. c. 18. For if we ſhould ſo aduance men, that Ieſus Chriſt ſhould be defaced among them, that were a terrible building, and ſuch a one as ſhould bring nothing but ruine and confuſion. And in good ſooth, if a man ſhould become as big as a Piller of this Church, and his head of the bigneſſe of ones fiſt, ſo as it ſhould be hid betwene his ſhoulders: He ſhould be a monſter, and it were much better for him too keepe his ordinarie proportion. But like as the Church is the bodie of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt:Eph. 1. d. 23 ſo muſt hee bee aduaunced aboue all men, and eueryevery man muſt loke vponupon him, and ſticke to him. And certeſſe the Papiſts condemne themſelues at this day by their own prouerb, in that they ſay a man cannot knowe God for his Apoſtles. And in verie deede they hauehave buryed Ieſus Chriſt in ſuch ſort, that he is as good as hidden in the worlde. For they hauehave robbed him of all that belonged to him:Eſa. 33. d. 22 inſomuch that whereas he is called the lawgiuer, the Iudge and the King, to ſhew that he alonely ought to beare rule: we ſee how mē hauehave decked thēſelues with all thoſe feathers. Therfore let vsus kepe our ſelues from ſuch confuſion: & if we increaſe, let vsus always abide in the root & groundwork of the ſimplicitie of the Goſpell. Let vsus take good heed that we ſwarue not a heare breadth from it. And as touching that which is reherſed heere concerning the conuerſion of S. Paule: it tendeth ſtill to this ende, namely to do vsus to wit, that he did not thruſt himſelfe in of his owne heade, but that God reached him his hand, and that the doctrine which he had preached was giuen him by reuelation, ſo as it might ſafely be hilde as the worde that proceeded out of the mouth of God, and [conſequently] as the certaine and infallible truth. I hauehave tolde you heretofore, that if a man ſeke to be heard for his owne skil, for his great and deepe vnderſtanding, for his fayre ſpeech, or for his great eloquence: all thoſe things are nothing but filthineſſe and dung, and that God only muſt hauehave that authoritie and honor at our handes: and that foraſmuch as it pleaſeth God to ſpeake to vsus by the mouth of his only ſonne: only Ieſus Chriſt muſt hauehave the preeminence to be the maſter and teacher of all his, and wee likewiſe muſt become his flock to heare his voyce. Lo how our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt is to be honored among vsus: namely by becomming his true ſcholers, and without feyning. In the Popedome a man may wel ynough worſhip ſome Marmoſet with the honor of Ieſus Chriſt, whē as in the meane while the Goſpell is troden vnderunder foote and blaſphemed, and yet notwithſtanding thoſe blind wretches thinke themſelues too hauehave made a fayre hande. Yea, but [in very deed] it is an open ſpitting in the face of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, when men renounce his woorde wherein they ſhould beholde his glorie and maieſtie, as Saint Paule ſayth in the ſeconde to the Corinthians.2. Co. 3. b. S. Then is it no honouring of Chriſt, when men make many murlimewes and ceremonies: but when they ſubmit themſelues ſimplie to the doctrine wherein it is his will to be knowne, and wherein hee ſheweth himſelfe vntounto vsus as it were face to face. Thus ye ſee in effect what wee hauehave too beare away. And herewithall in this conuerſion of Saint Paules, wee ſee perfectly the heauenly power which he minded to ſhewe vsus heere: that is to wit, that it was not of man, but that God had vttered hys arme, to the ende it might bee knowne that ſuch chaunge came of him, and that S. Paule was become a new creature. For ſurely it is a more excellent worke of God, when a man is repayred after his Image, than when we be borne into this tranſitorie lyfe. And ſo wee ſee howe Saint Paule was made a newe man. And that is the cauſe why he ſayth expreſly, that he perſecuted the Church of God, that he made hauocke of all things, and that he played the cutthrote (as ye would ſay,) vntil God had changed him, and of a rauening woolf made him a meeke ſheepe, and finally a ſheepheard in his Church vnderunder our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. Thus then we perceyue, that S. Paule was ſent vsus by the hand of God, and that he bringeth a ſure marke, ſo as we ſee he did not thruſt himſelf in, but that it was a worke of the holy Ghoſt, and there was nothing of his owne coyning in the doctrine that he preached, forſomuch as it behoued him too hauehave quite and cleane renounced himſelfe, to the end to giuegive and applie himſelf to the ſeruice of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. For had S. Paule bin led with vainglorie, wee bee ſure he was honoured among his owne countrymen, and he could hauehave wonne his ſpurres there. Againe, if he had ſtood vpō the reputation of a holy life, he was vnblameable. On the other ſide he was at his eaſe & liued in reſt. But it ſtood him on hand to hauehave made no more account of all the things that are to be deſired to the worldward, and which he had highly eſteemed before,Phil. 3. b. 8. than of dung & durt, (as he himſelf proteſteth to the Philippians) and it behoued him to caſt thē al away as things hurtfull, foraſmuch as he ſaw well how they were all of them impeachments that hindered him frō comming to our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. S. Paule therfore not onelyonly gaue ouer the reputation which he had to be a great doctor, & therwithal a holy mā, & as it were a little Angel: & moreouer the reſt, eaſe & commodities of the worlde: but alſo did before god giuegive ouer all his opinion of purchaſing eternall life by his own good workes. All theſe things he reiected as abhominable, knowing well that he was blinded with pride, in that he had imagined that any thing was auaylable before God, or that he could purchaſe any fauor by that meane. It behoueth him (ſay I) not only to hauehave thruſt all theſe things vnderunder foote, but alſo to hauehave abhorred them, as hee himſelfe proteſteth. Forſomuch then as we ſee this, we be ſo much the better confirmed in that which he ſayth: namely that in executing his office of Apoſtleſhip, he had nothing of man, nor of himſelf, for he had bin quite & cleane ſtripped out of all the things which he had made great accoūt of before. For in that he cōfeſſeth himſelf to hauehave bin a perſecuter of Gods Church, we ſee that to the entent to mainteyne ſtill the honour of God, and the authoritie and maiſterhod of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, whom he ſerued, he doth not in any wiſe ſpare himſelfe. But behold alſo it behoueth vsus to proceede in the like cace. If we purpoſe to imploy our ſelues to Gods ſeruice, it ſtandeth vsus on hande to forget our ſelues, and not to be curious in ſeeking the things that are for our owne behoofe, or for our owne honour. Vntill ſuch time then as we bee come to the vtter abaſing of our ſelues, wee can neuer giuegive our ſelues to the ſeruice of God wherevnto we bee called. I ſpeake purpoſely of thoſe that hauehave the charge to preach the Goſpell, whom it behoueth too bee abaced in themſelues, or elſe they can neuer execute faythfully the charge that is committed vntounto them. On the other ſide, we ſee howe Saint Paule doth not diſguiſe any thing, nor take any ſhadowe or couert to bee receyed among men, but had rather reape the blame that hee had deſerued, and to bee ſhamed afore men, than to couer himſelfe with vaine ſtartingholes. For he ſayth he had perſecuted the Church, bin a rouer and a cutthrote, and had ſhedde innocent bloud. But yet doth not this proue that Saint Paule had not indeuered to liue in holineſſe and perfection:Phil. 3. b. 6. for hee had bin a myrror of great vncorruptneſſe. He termeth himſelfe vnblameable: and not without cauſe. For he ſayth he was ſo blynded, that he thought himſelfe righteous before God, bicauſe there was not any ſpot in him that coulde bee condemned by men. Truely there was hypocriſie in him, like as there is in all men that are not renued by Gods ſpirite. VVhen they ſurmyze themſelues to bee well lyked of all the worlde: then is it certaine that they are nothing but corruption, till God hauehave taken them into his guiding. And ſo ye ſee that men ſhall bee abuzed, bicauſe they ſticke too theyr mother witte in iudging what is good and euill. But contrariwiſe our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt telleth vsus,Luc. 16. d. 15 that all the things which are highly eſteemed afore men, are abhominable before God. Surely howſoeuer the cace ſtand, S. Paule had indeuored himſelf to liue holily and without any blame or reproch, And yet for al that, when he was once conuerted, hee coulde not ſay hee had done well, and that his deuotion was woorthie too bee allowed. But contrariwize hee declareth that he had bin a perſecuter, and that all this geere was nothing woorth. VVhat is too be ſayd then of that which now adayes is called deuotion and the ſeruis of God?foreign As for example, in poperie thoſe termes runne roundly ynough in eueryevery…mans mouth: al things are done of good intent, all men (too their owne ſeeming) hauehave affection and zeale, and they beare themſelues in hand that God is much beholden and indetted too them for the things whiche they doo. Yea, but wee know that God hath not commaunded them any of the things that they bring vntounto him, but eueryevery of them behaueth himſelf after his owne fancie. How ſoeuer the worlde go with them, it is but an opinion, that they weene they doo well, and that is all. One ſayes, it ſeemeth ſo to me: another ſayes, I learned it ſo, and ſo was I taught. Now if God ſhould allow all theſe things, he ſhould hauehave great burthens to beare. For the things that men hauehave inuented of their own heads, are but ſtinking dung before him. And yet for all this, eueryevery man alledges this fooliſh bragge, that he ment to ſerue God. But therefore it is ſayd in one woord by the Prophet Eſay,Eſay. 1. c. 12 who hath required theſe things at your hands? Lette him that ſet you a woorke pay you. For as for mee, I will neuer put this geere in my reckening booke: I vtterly diſclayme it, bicauſe I require obedience. Now S. Paule hath very wel gathered this matter. For if he had iudged here of other men, it ſhoulde hauehave had leſſe power and force, than when he ſpeaketh of himſelf, and in nowiſe ſpareth himſelf, but ſayeth that all the holineſſe for which he had bin commended among men, was but a the euerie, bicauſe he had bin as a mad beaſt, full of fierceneſſe and rebellion againſt God. Then if S. Paule make ſuch a playne and free confeſsion: muſt not all mouthes bee ſtopped, and al of vsus vnderſtand that when wee thought too hauehave ſerued God, wee were (as yee would ſay) in a maze, and it was but a leading of vsus too the bottome of Hell? And in good ſooth, as the wretched vnbeleeuers rack themſelues, they doo but double their owne condemnacion, for the Diuell ſnarleth them ſo much the more in their damnation. Therfore let vsus acknowledge that wee hauehave bin rebelles too God euer ſince the time that wee would needes ſerue him ſo after our owne fancie, and that there was nothing in all our whole lyfe, but errour too make vsus ſtray all the world ouer, and too plucke vsus backe rather than too ſet vsus foreward, and finally that all the deuotions whiche men deuyze, are but ſlightes and illuſions of Satan, to ſinke vsus down too the deepeſt dungeons of death. So then let vsus returne too this obedientneſſe, and acknowledge that there is no way for vsus too rule our life wel, but by being taught in the ſchoole of the Sonne of God. But doo wee thinke that the Superſtitions that raigne now adayes in the world, and hauehave their full ſcope there, are better than the traditions that were in the tyme of S. Paule? It is true that there were many wicked corruptions in the Churche of the Iewes. For Sectes were ſprung vp, and the Phariſies (whiche were yet the pureſt and ſoundeſt of all the reſt) had mingled many gewgawes with the ſeruis of God, in ſomuche that all was corrupted among them. But howſoeuer they fared, yet Sainct Paule had alwayes the lawe and the holy Scripture. As for the traditions whereof he ſpeaketh, he tooke them as appurtenances: but yet in the meane whyle his mynde was too mayntayne the Lawe of Moyſes, whiche had Gods woorde in it, and the vnchaungeable truthe, and whiche ought too hauehave the ſame reuerence to the worldes end. Yet notwithſtanding he had but the letter of the lawe, as wee hauehave ſeene heretofore in the Epiſtle too the Corinthians.2. Cor. 3. b. 6 But now adayes as for them that bee the deuouteſt in the Popedome, what hauehave they? VVhen they hauehave alledged all that they can, it is certayne, that the holy Scripture is as good as buryed among them, and noman makes account of it. They will not ſay that it ought to be caſt away, for that were too great a blaſphemie, and men would abhorre it. But what ſoeuer they pretend, the Goſpell is nothing with them in compariſon of that which hath bin ordeyned by their holy Councelles, and by our moother holy Churche. Yea and they are not aſhamed too ſay, that the Goſpell & al the holy Scripture is as a noze of waxe, ſo as there is no certaintie in it, but that it muſte bee interpreted altogither by men. Lo how Ieſus Chriſt is mocked and skorned. Thinke yee that ſuch men may make vsus beleeue all their owne inuentions, when as they be ſo manifeſtly contrary to themſelues. Then let vsus marke, that if S. Paule did ſo condemne himſelfe with his owne mouthe [in the things that he did] when he followed not our Lord Ieſus Chriſt: no excuſe ſhal be auayleable nor go for payment before God, when men ſwarue aſide from the ſimplicitie of the Goſpell. This is in effect the thing that we hauehave to gather vponupon his text. But let vsus marke therewithall, that God vttered a ſingular grace in S. Paule, too the end that by his example wee might know, that our calling too ſaluation hath bin of his meere and vndeſerued goodneſſe. And furthermore, that if we hauehave ſliddē backe, and broken our promis made in Baptime to our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, yet how ſoeuer the cace ſtand, we ſhall not fayle to be receyued to merciemercy, ſo we confeſſe freely & without hypocriſie, that there was nothing in vsus but confuſion, and that God muſt hauehave bin fayne to remedie the matter of his wōderfull goodneſſe. True it is (as I hauehave touched afore) that S. Paule was taken for a holy man, and it might well hauehave bin ſayd, that God had accepted his deuotions, and that there had bin ſome good preparation in him afore hand: howbeit, all that was but a pluckyng of him backe,Phil. 3. b. 8. as I hauehave touched already in the thirde too the Philippians, where he ſayth he could not take hold of Ieſus Chriſt, and of the incomprehenſible benefites that are in him, vntill he had miſlyked all the things that he had earſt eſteemed and had in reputation, as his owne rightuouſneſſe and holineſſe. VVee ſee then after what ſorte God wrought in the perſone of Paule, in ſomuch that in the firſt to Timothie,1. Tim. 1. c. 13. he ſetteth foorth himſelf for an example & patterne, ſaying that Ieſus Chriſt had ſhewed in him, that he was come to ſaue all wretched ſinners, to the end we ſhould not doubt too bee receyued when we keepe the right way. VVhat did Frewill in S. Paule for the bringing of him to the obediēce of the Goſpel? [nothing:] but God was fayne too thunder downe vponupon him from heauen, too driue out the pryde and preſumption that was in him. He was not only drawē by the hand, but alſo God did caſte ſo thicke ſcales vppon his eyes, that hee was as a blynde wretche. And beſides that, he was ſtricken too the ground and aſtoniſhed, too ſhewe that the knowledge and cunning, whiche he thought himſelfe too hauehave before, was but ſtarke blindneſſe, and that this darkneſſe had ſerued too bring him too a new light. For if God had lette him ſtill alone in his perfect plight, ſurely there woulde alwayes hauehave remayned ſome fooliſh ſelfeweenyng in him, and he would alwayes hauehave mingled ſome tricke of his owne deuyce and brayne, with the doctrine of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt: & therfore it behoued him to be blinded & to abide ſo. For in aſmuch as he had earſt bin in great reputation, and bin tempted to hold his ſtate ſtill: it was requiſite that he ſhould be brought downe, and lifted vp againe, and caried like a little babe, or rather like a carkeſſe or dead body. Thus yee ſee how it behoued S. Paule too bee corrected after a violent maner: whereby wee ſee that nother free will, nor deuotion, nor holyneſſe ſtoode him in any ſteede, but that all ought too bee attributed to the meere mercy of God. And in very deede wee ſee how he yeeldeth a pure and vnconſtrayned confeſsion thereof. Then ſeyng it is ſo, let vsus marke alſo, that when God calleth vsus too him, it is not for that he ſeeth vsus diſpoſed therevnto, or for that wee bee in any good readineſſe too it afore hand: but bycauſe it pleaſeth him too drawe vsus of his owne meere merciemercy, as we ſhall ſee yet more at large hereafter. And if we minde too be parttakers of the grace of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte as S. Paule was, the way what wee muſt take, is to confeſſe that there is nothing at all in vsus, but that wee muſt bee fayne too receyue from aboue, all the things whereof wee bee deſtitute, and too hauehave God woorke in vsus after ſuch a ſorte, as the prayſe of our ſaluation may bee reſerued too him alone without any exception. And in that reſpect alſo S. Paule addeth, that when it had pleazed God too call him too preache the Goſpell, he did immediately fall in trayne, and w…yted not at all for the aduice of man, for it was ynough for him that God had ſente him, and that he was auowed by ſuch a Mayſter. VVherevppon he did not in any wiſe ſpare himſelf, nor ſtand ſcannyng of the matter, but reſolued himſelf fully to go foreward on his way, and to hold out in ſuch wyſe as wee hauehave ſeene, which is a ſure record that God gouerned him by his holy ſpirite. This is the thing which wee hauehave too beare in minde. And therwithall we muſt alſo marke well how he ſayeth, that God had prepared him from his mothers wombe, and in the end called him too publiſh his Goſpell. Here S. Paule ſheweth that his calling after that maner, was not for any forewardneſſe or woorthineſſe that was in his owne perſone: but bycauſe he had bin chozen of God, euen before he was borne. That is the cauſe why he purpoſely vſeth this ſaying that from his moothers wombe, he had bin as it were ſeparated and dedicated vntounto God. How then could he bring any thing of his own power? For what could he do when he was yet vnborne? God therefore muſt needes bee the woorker in that behalfe. Again, he addeth that God called him. True it is, that he ſpeaketh this cō cerning his office: but yet notwithſtanding hee magnifieth Gods goodneſſe in generall, to ſhewe that too him onelyonly we be beholden for all that wee hauehave, not onelyonly in reſpect of this flightfull lyfe, but ſpecially for the euerlaſting ſaluation of our ſoules. This cannot be layd out too the full at this time, and therefore wee will leaue a peece of it till the next time. Howbeit for a concluſion, let vsus marke how S. Paule ſheweth vsus as it were in a mirrour, that our yeelding of our ſelues in obedience vntounto God, happeneth not through any mans putting foorth of himſelf, but through Gods reaching out of his hand from aboue, and through his drawyng of vsus too himſelfe, euen at ſuch time as wee could not ſeeke him. No doubte but men will alwayes imagine ſomewhat too commend themſelues withall. Neuerthelater all is but illuſion: and the Diuell vſeth that tricke to make vsus too darken Gods grace, too the intent wee might be bereft of it. For it is good reaſon that God ſhould leaue men in ſuch plight as they bee, when they will take vponupon them that whiche belongeth vntoo him, and not condemne themſelues as they bee woorthie. Therefore let vsus marke well, that all the goodneſſe which wee perceyue in this world, proceedeth of Gods meere grace, and that there is not any thing that can bee graunted too our ſelues. And that wee may the better perceiue this free goodneſſe: let vsus vnderſtand that wee muſt lay downe all worthineſſe of our owne deſertes, and hauehave an eye, firſt too Gods free election, and afterward too his callyng. VVherefore then are wee inlightened with the knowledge of the Goſpell? Is it for that wee hauehave deſerued aught? No: but bicauſe God hath chozen vsus before wee were borne, yea and euen before the making of the world,Eph. 1. a. 4. as it is ſayd in another place. Yee ſee then at what poynt wee muſt begin, too the end wee bee not puffed vp with vayne pride whiche woulde make vsus breake our neckes in the end, but rather bethinke vsus too walke in lowlineſſe, remembering how it is ſayd in another place, VVho is it that ſholeth thee out, or that maketh thee more excellent than others? It is God (ſayth he,) who hath done it of his owne meere goodneſſe. VVhen S. Paule confeſſeth there that it is God which hath ſeparated or ſholed vsus out: it is to cut off all allegations of men, beyng well aſſured that no man can ſay he is better than his fellowes, ſaue onelyonly bicauſe God hath chozen vsus, yea euen before we were borne. And this choyze of God is ſecrete, vntill he ſhewe by effect that he calleth vsus too him. And how doth he that? By his Goſpell: and therein there is a double grace. The one is when the doctrine is preached too vsus. For we ſee the miſerable ſtate of the world, how a number of ſillie ſoules, and a number of blinde wretches wander there in darkneſſe, without ſuccour or ayde, when in the meane whyle our God offereth vsus foode, yea and putteth it intoo our mouthes: and is not that a ſingular grace? But yet further, God muſte bee fayne too call vsus inwardely, and too touch vsus in ſuch wiſe by his holy ſpirite, as his doctrine may rightly hauehave authoritie with vsus, & wee acknowledge that it comes of him, and he ſeale the ſame in our hartes by his holy Ghoſt,…. Cor. 1. d. 22. accordyng as he ſpeaketh of it as well in the ſecond too the Corinthians, as alſo in the firſt to the Epheſians. To be ſhort, according as it is ſayd by the Prophete Eſay,Eph. 1. c. 13. that it behoueth vsus too bee taught of God:Eſay. 54. c. …3. Let vsus vnderſtand that we muſt be throughly aſſured in our hartes by the holy Ghoſt, that the doctrine whiche wee hold commeth not of men, but is the infallible truthe of God: and wee cannot but hauehave ſo ſure record of it, that (if wee be not to leude and vnthankfull,) wee may perceyue by eye ſight, that it is the very ſame wherevnto we ought to ſticke euen to the end, and alſo which will bryng vsus into the kingdome of heauen, when wee ſhall hauehave finiſhed our courſe in this mortall life.
But now let vsus fall downe before the maieſtie of our good God with acknowledgement of our faultes, praying him to make vsus perceyue them more and more, to the end that beyng humbled to miſlike of our ſelues, and to renounce all our own wicked affections & deſires, we may offer our ſelues to our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and yeeld him the honour that he requireth at our hands, not only for faſhion ſake, but alſo in ſuch wiſe, that as he hath his mouth open too ſhewe vsus the way of Saluation, ſo wee alſo may hauehave our eares attentiue to ſubmit our ſelues quietly vntounto him▪ and our hartes open, ſo as there may be nother hardneſſe nor ſturdineſſe in them, but that wee may abide his yoke, beyng readie too receyue the ſame, and too dedicate our whole life too the obeying of him, and too the framing of our ſelues vntounto his holy will, that when Gods name is ſo glorified in vsus, others may alſo be drawen therevnto, and all of vsus be gathered into his flocke, to the end wee may woorſhip him with one common accord, and our Lord Ieſus Chriſt hauehave the due honour and ſeruis that belongeth vntounto him. And for the performance hereof, it may pleaſe him to rayſe vp true and faithfull miniſters of his woord, &c.