Twenty-Seven Lectures Upon Hebrews, Lectures · Lecture 10
¶ The tenth Lecture, vponupon the 11. 12 and 13. verses.
11 For he that sanctifieth, and they which are sanctified …re all of one: wherfore he is not ashamed to call thē brethrē.
12 Saying, I will declare thy name vntounto my brethren: in the middes of the Church wil I sing praises to thee.
13 And againe, I will put my trust in him. And againe: Beholds, here am I, and the children which God hath giuen mee.
THe reasons before vsed, to proue the humanitie of our sauiour, were these. First he dyed for man: and therefore it was necessarie hee shuld be man. Secondly, it was the decree of God, to bring man into glorie, through many afflictions: but so Christe our head was also consecrate to enter into glorie, therfore he was naturall man.
Now it followeth: For he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of o…e. This word (For) noteth a cause of that whiche was saide before: as hee had said this: He that leadeth other into the glorie of God, by the same way he must enter also him selfe. He addeth now the cause and grounde of that saying: because they must be of one nature, bothe hee that leadeth, & they that are led into this saluation.
Now, because the Apostle hath spoken so plainly of the nature of our Sauiour Christ, that he is perfect man, to teach vsus that yet not in our owne nature, but being regenerate by his grace, we are made children: Therefore the Apostle chaungeth his former speache: and in sted of saying, He that leadeth into glorie, which is the work spoken of, he sayeth: He that sanctifieth: naming the vertue incident, by which the work was done: and in sted of, They that are ledd, which is ye benefite imployed, he saith: They that are sanctified: which is the qualitie, with whiche they are indued: meaning yet one thing before and now: there, in plaine wordes calling it our entrie into saluation: here, by a figure naming it our sanctification, whiche is the meanes of our inheritaunce of it: and by this, exhorting vsus that we would followe holinesse, which is our likenesse with Christ. And thus much touching these wordes, how they hang with the former. Nowe, to consider them in them selues, we hauehave the third argument, for the humanitie of our Sauiour Christe: which is this. He that shall sanctifie his people, must beecome one with them: but Christ hath sanctified vsus, therefore he is of our nature. And the force of this argument standeth vponupon that ground whereof wee hauehave spoken: that this is the decree of the iust God: that the nature of man could not be sanctified, but in the person of man.
A proofe & declaration that it is so, is added by the Apostle in ye residue of the verse: And for this cause he is not ashamed to call vsus brethren: whervnto is streight added the testimonie of the 22. psalme, out of which he proueth it: I wil shew forth thy name vntounto my brethren, in the midds of the congregation I will praise thee: a plaine & euidēt testimonie, where our Sauiour Christ calleth vsus brethren: for the prophet Dauid, who in manie of his afflictions bare the image of our Sauiour Christ, wrote that Psalme, thoughe in his owne great calamities, yet especially in the person of Christ, as it is certeine: because the Euangelistes and Apostles alledge out of that Psalme many places, applying them all to our Sauiour Christ: besides yt, the whole Psalme is a liuely descriptiō of the passion of Christ, and the latter ende foretelleth the calling of the Gentiles, whiche were only to be gathered to the setting vp of this glorious kingdome of Christ: so that yt is aptly here applied vntounto Christe, which there the prophet Dauid spake in the person of Christ. And here let vsus mark this, while the Apostle proueth our sauiour Christ to be man, he alledgeth the scripture so, as distinctly shew the offices of Christ, that he is our Prophet, our King, our Priest, that we might know we can not giuegive him these offices, and denie his manhoode: nor graunt him his manhoode, and denie him these offices: so heere, this texte, as in the name Brother it proueth he is of our nature: so these words, I wil declare thy name, and I will sing of thee: they shew that our Sauiour Christ is our prophet, to reueale the wil of his father to vsus. Now, where it is saide here: He that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are al of one: we hauehave to cōsider, y• euen in the manhoode of our Sauiour Christe, is vertue and grace, in which he doth sanctifie vsus: for not only as he is God he sanctifieth vsus, but also in his humane nature he hath this vertue and power, to make vsus holie, not taking his nature suche from the virgin Marie but making it such by pouring into it the fullnesse of his spirit. And this our Sauiour Christ himselfe witnesseth: for speaking of his sending into the worlde, how he was sent of his Father to call his lost people vntounto saluation, he saith in like sort, he also sendeth his Apostles, and streight addeth: For them I sanctifie my selfe,
The holinesse which the Apostles had in their calling, they had it from Iesus Christe, made man, and walking in that vocation before them. Euen so it is with vsus: all that is good in vsus, and all the righteousnesse that can be in vsus, we hauehave it neither out of the East, nor West, but from the bodie of Iesus Christ: neither is there in the worlde any other sanctification: so that all we that be heere this day, and all people else of the world, except wee know perfect manhood, and our own nature to be reallie vnited vntounto the person of the sonne of God, who hath sanctified himselfe for vsus, there is no sanctification for vsus vnderunder heauen. Euen as our hands and armes, & other members, are not nourished but only by the meate receiued of the head: so our spirituall meate of righteousnesse and life, is not giuen vsus, but from our head Iesus Christ. And as the veins are meanes, by which nourishment is conueyed to euerie parte: so fayth is the meanes by which we receiue from Christ, all that is healthfull vntounto vsus. And as by ioyntes and sinewes, our members are really knit, and made a bodie vntounto the head: so really, truely, and in deed, by one spirite wee be knit vntounto Christe, as perfectly and substantially made one with him, as our members are one with our head.
If thou vnderstand not this, or sayst with Nicodemus, How can this be done? I say vntounto thee againe, Pray that thou mayst be taught of God, and that his spirit may reueale it vntounto thee: for if the tounge of Paule were dumb, not able to speake what he sawe in vision: how much lesse is man able to speake the trueth of greater mysteries? And if our harts cannot comprehend all the wisdome of God in the winde that bloweth, how he rayseth it vpp or maketh it fall againe: how canne wee vnderstand this wisedome of our vniting vntounto Iesus Christ? OnelyOnly this I can say: God hath giuen vsus fayth, in whiche wee may beleue it, and out of which such ioy shineth in our mindes, as crucifieth the worlde vntounto vsus: how farre our reason is from seeing it, it skilleth not, it is sufficient if we can beleeue it.
We beleeue in the Lord our God: yet we know not what is his countenaunce. We beleeue & apprehend by hope his glorie: yet neither eye can see it, nor eare can heare it. We beleeue and see immortalitie: yet our heart can not comprehend the height, the breadth, the length, the deapth.
We beleeue the resurrection of the dead, yet wee can not vnderstand such excellent wisedome, how life is renewed in the dispersed & scattered bones & ashes. We beleue our sauiour Christ is man, & we hauehave seene him and felt him: yet how he was man, borne of a virgin, all men in the world hauehave no wisdome to declare: Euen so (dearely beloued) wee beleeue that our Sauiour Christ and we be one, hee of vsus and we of him, he the head, we the bodie, really, substātially, truly ioyned together, not by ioynts and sinewes, for that vniting I knowe wel enough: but by his spirit, of which we hauehave all receiued, and this vnitie I cannot conceiue nor vtter, till I knowe God euen as he is, and his holie spirite which hath wrought this blessing. Thus we learne what here ye Apostle teacheth vsus, and thus wee vnderstand what is heere said: He that sanctifieth, and they that are sanctified are all of one.
And where it is said heere, He that doth sanctifie, shewing the present time & the worke still a doing: it teacheth vsus, that our sanctification hath a daylie increase, & when it is fully accomplished, then God calleth, and our dayes are at an end. And let vsus note this well, for it behoueth vsus much: If we be Christians, we are still sanctified by the spirit of Christ, for so it was in him: He grewe still in grace before God & men: If thou begraffed into his bodie, thou hast his spirite, and it will hauehave his worke in thee. Thou shalt not be wearie of well doeing, nor ceasse to reioyce in God thy Sauiour: but still increase in spirituall grace, til thou come to the age of the fulnesse of Christe. There can be no affection in thee, according to the fleash, but if it be greate, it will appeare in his work: much more this which is of the spirit of God. If thou be sorrowful, it wil make thy face sad. If ioy be within, it maketh thy countenance merrie. If thou hauehave a flattering heart, all the members of the bodie will streight serue so vile a thinge. If hatred bee within thee, thy bodie will shewe it forth in all manner of cursed doing: and there is nothing that can possesse the minde, but it leadeth the members in obedience of it. Howe much more if the spirite of God hath replenished thy minde, will all the bodie shewe foorth godlie desires. This the Apostle noteth, when he sayth: He that sanctifieth.
It followeth: For this cause he is not ashamed to call vsus brethren. VponUpon good cause the Apostle sayth: He is not ashamed: for if hee humbled not him selfe in great louelove of vsus, how iustly might hee accompt it shame to be as we are? He that made Heauen and earth, he that is the immortall and glorious God, one with his father, before whome all Angels do obey, and all Princes are earth and ashes: ought wee not to say, seeing it pleaseth him to acknowledge vsus that are but poore creatures, that hee is not ashamed of vsus? It was great praise in Moses, beeing so highly esteemed of Pharaoh, that yet hee would vouchsafe to visite his poore brethren. It was singular louelove in Ioseph, when he was nexte vntounto the King in honour and dignitie, yet not to be ashamed of his fathers house, who were heardmen and shepeheardes. But all is nothing in comparison of this, that Iesus Christ is not ashamed of vsus: for what? the glorie of the vaine worlde made not a mortall man ashamed of his duetie, to acknowledge his poore father and brethren, in whose persons hee might suffer a little reproch: but how much greater was this doing whereof we speake? The shining brightnesse of the glorie of God, made not the onlie begotten sonne ashamed, of his free grace, to acknowledge vsus that were his enimies, in whose persons he should suffer a moste shamefull and slaunderous death.
This is the case betweene Christe and vsus, and this the Apostle meaneth, when he sayth: He is not ashamed to call vsus brethren. And if his highnesse abased it selfe to our lowe estate, and was not ashamed: let vsus (dearely beloued) learne to be wise, and knowe what the lord requireth of vsus, for all the good which he hath don vntounto vsus. He sayth in the gospel: He that is ashamed of me and my word before men, I will bee ashamed of him before my Father which is in heauen. And is not (trowe you) this a iust condēnation: if we wretched men wil be ashamed of him, who beeing the God of glorie, was not ashamed of vsus? How much is he greater then we? Abraham, when he approched nere vntounto him, he felt him self how he was but dust. Gen. 18.When Iob came nere to see the tokens of him, he abhorred him selfe, and confessed how vncleane he Iob. 39.was. When Dauid saw the glorie of his dwelling, Psal. 84.he said, he had leuer abide but one day as a dore keeper in the house of him, then tenne thousand dayes to beare rule in Kinges palaces. When Paule sawe the glorie prepared for vsus in his resurrectiō, he said Phil. 2.he accompted all the worlde to be but doung, to the ende he might winne him.
If then, such a Christ be not ashamed to call vsus brethren: a marueilous & vnspeakable foolishnes is bound vp in our heartes, if we be ashamed to call him brother againe. He were a folishe poore man, that were ashamed of the kinred whiche the King did chalenge of him: he is more foolishe, thoughe he were a King him selfe, that is ashamed of the Sonne of God, when he offereth himselfe vntounto him. Yea, and be he neuer so proude a man, that nowe despiseth him, he shal confesse his follie then, when all that shal see him shal say: Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord.
Pride, or flatterie, or couetousnesse, or vanitie, or feare, or what you will, may make vsus nowe ashamed to confesse him, or to dissemble that euer we knewe him: but when all this corruption is taken from vsus, and the graue and death shall take their owne, that we shall liue againe in immortalitie, and knowe the length of his dayes in our owne bodies: our former foolishnesse will make vsus so affearde, that we will pray vntounto the hilles to hide vsus, and to the mounteines that they would couer vsus: but vowes and wishes shalbe but foolish thoughtes.
Let vsus therefore despise the shame whiche Christe hath despised before vsus. If it be imputed vntounto vsus for follie, that we feare the Lorde: let vsus beare his reproche. If our companie hauehave no liking, except we bring our sinnes with vsus, to bee content to heare the blaspheming of Gods name, religion euill spoken of, Godlinesse mocked at, wordes to sowe discorde among brethren, yll reportes of men absent, boasting and bragging of vaine persons, wanton & vnchast speaches, or other vaine and vnprofitable babblings, such as is most vsuall among men: if without this our companie be not pleasaunt, seeing in this our Iesus is dishonoured, let vsus rather denie them, then be ashamed of him: and goe rather out of Babylon the mother of whoredomes, then out of Ierusalem the citie of God.
It foloweth: I will declare thy name vntounto my brethren: we are called the brethren of Christ, not in societie of fleshe and bloud: for that the wicked hauehave with him as well as we, who are yet no brethren, but straungers euen from the wombe: but as they are naturall brethren which are borne of the same parents, so we are brethren with Christ that are borne of God, through the same spirite by which we crie Abba, Father, the fruite wherof is in glorifying his name, euen as our Sauiour Christ saith: He that doeth the will of my Father which is in heauen, he is my brother. And where it is further sayde: In the middes Matt. 12. 48of the congregation I will praise thee: First, heere wee must needes confesse what duetie is amoung men, euen that they edifie one another: for as many as are of Christe, are called in this couenaunt: I will declare thy name vntounto my brethren, in the middes of the congregation I wil prayse thee. He that considereth the dayes of his life, and findeth his yeares many, & in al them can not remember that he hath bene careful for his brethren, to tel them the feare of his Lord, or how in companies and meetings he hath spoken of his praise, he can not knowe that he hath any portion or fellowship in this kinred. The graces of God are not such that they can be locked vponupon our harts, or kept secret, but they will burne within like fire, and make vsus speake with our tounges, that we may make many brethren partakers of our ioy. The prophet saith: I hauehave beleeued, therfore I hauehave spoken. Saint Psal. 116. Psal. 19. 2. Co. 14. 23Paule teacheth that it is so with vsus, if we beleeue we will also speake. And tell me (I beseech you) what man excelleth in any thing, and hath not a delight to speake of his cunning? Doth not the shipman talke of the winds? the plowman of his oxen? will not the souldier be reckoning vp his wounds? and the sheepheard telling of his shepe? If hee be good in hounds, haukes, horses, shooting, or any such exercise, is not his name spoken of according to his skil? nay, let it be in things worse then these, cardes, dice, tables, daunsing, is not euer the mans talke according to the delight of his minde? And shall we think the knowledge of God hath lesse affectiō of our hearte, or lesse obedience of our toung, then the most vaine and vnprofitable desires of worldly minded men? Or my bowe & mine arrowes, hauehave they my tonge tyed vntounto them, to delight in their talke? and shall not the mysterie of Christ, and God, wherein I apprehend the forgiuenesse of my sinnes and eternall Esa. 43. 6.life, hath my toung no portion of suche comforte? or if it be in my heart, wil it not fill my mouth with praise? If I hauehave heard of it, wil I not also declare it? I remember the Prophet Ieremie, once made with him selfe a solemne decree, that he would no more Iere. …0. 9.speake in the name of the Lord: but the woord of God saith, He was in my heart as a burning fire shut vp in my bones, & I was wearie with forbearing, and I could not staye. So, when the Apostles were Act. 4. 20.threatened exceedingly, not to speake a word of the gospel of Christ, they answered directly they could not choose: for the things which they had sene and heard, were such, as they were constrayned to speke of them to other. So it is with vsus, if wee be the brethren of Christ, the couenant of our kinred, is: I will declare thy name vntounto my brethren, in the midst of the congregation I wil praise thee: let them knowe this, all, to whome it is spoken, and let them discerne betweene hypocrites and true Christians. Some thinck it a prayse to be close men, secret to them selues, that by their words you shall neuer knowe them, of what religion they be: those men, where they think they hide them selues moste, there they lay widest open their shame: and while they thinke to kepe it secret of what religion they are, this their dissimulation proclameth it lowder then the blast of a trumper, that they be of no religion at all, at all (I say) touching any religion of God: for if it were of him, it would shew foorth his praise: and what their heart beleued their mouth wold cōfesse it. But these Laodicoeans, that be neither hott nor colde, nor what God they louelove you cannot tel, y• Lord hath appointed a day when he will spue them out of his mouth. Let vsus learne a better profession: I wil declare thy na… vntounto my brethren: & let vsus hold it with ioy and gladnes, that in the middes of the congregation we will singe prayses to him.
And note how expresly i… is saide, in the middes of the congregation: as shewing y• no feare of man should keepe him backe from it: for before one, we will peraduenture speake: or, before two or three we wil be bolde to rebuke swearers or other vngodly doings: but if it be before many, in solemne assemblies, and one impudent man alowde blaspheme the name of God: where is he that in the middes of the congregation will praise the Lorde▪ ô how squeamish we be heere, and full of good manner! not to speake openly for feare of offence.
But, ô poore wretched men that we be! who taught vsus this modestie, to be ashamed of Christ before manie? What is this else; but to keepe the honour of God for holes, and corners, and solitarie places: and offer vp sacrifice to the diuell, in our dyning chambers, and in the market places?
We are not ashamed at open feastes to fill our tables worse th… with sp…ng, that is, with opē blasphemie of the name of God, & with many vnclean wordes: but we are ashamed of the sweete incense y• makes all the house full of pleasure, that is, brotherly to reproue y• lewd sinner, that he may … to … before the lord. A maruelous affection of mans corrupt minde, & I cannot tell how to … it: for it is tenne thousand times woo… then …y madnesse.
Wee are ashamed to exho… men to doe well: wee are no… ashamed to provoke them … sinne. We are ashamed to minister talke of saith & religion: we are not ashamed of rotten & vncleane works of wantōnes. We are ashamed to speake to the praise of God, we are not ashamed to blaspheme his name. We ar ashamed of Christ, we are not ashamed of the diuel. But such sinnes the Lord confoūd them. It is no reason in many wordes to cōfute thē, for where so euer they hauehave any louers, I am sure without any mans words their own hearts wil confute them when they go to bed. Our sauiour Christ is our scholemaister, and hath taught vsus thus. In the midds of the congregation I will prayse thee. The prophet Dauid was a good scholer in this doctrine, when he opened his mouthe vntounto God and vowed: I will speake of thy name before kings, and will not be ashamed. Psa. 145. 21. Psa. 119. 46.Pray (dearely beloued) that we may bee partakers of the same grace. What can they say of vsus? The woorst report they can giuegive vsus, is, that we be godly men: if they account this a reproche, let vsus be content to beare it: for when their iudgement is done, we shall reape the fruite of a better sentence.
It followeth nowe in the 13. verse. And againe, I wil put my trust in him: This Psalme the prophet made when he was deliuered from the layinges of way to of Saule, and from all his enimies: wherein, as he was a figure of Christ, so it is most properly & truly verified in Christ, that he said of himselfe. Besides this, many sentences in the Psalme are plaine, agreeing onelyonly to Christe. S. Paule in the 15. to the Romanes alledgeth this as spoken of the merciemercy of God, in calling the Gentiles by our Sauiour Christ, I will confesse thee among the gentiles, & sing prayses vntounto thy name. And in the 43. verse of the same Psalme the prophet saith: Thou hast made me the head of the heathē, a people whō I hauehave not knowen shal serue me: by which it apeareth, how this psalme is aptly aplied to Christ: for these words were neuer accōplished in the prophet Dauid. So it is alledged truly, as spoken by our sauiour Christ: I wil put my trust in him. Now, because the Apostle alledgeth this, to prooue our Sauiour Christ to be man, like vntounto vsus, mark how ye argumēt foloweth. Christ saith, I will put my trust in God: but it were a verie improper speach, and suche as the scripture neuer vseth, to say, God wil trust in God: therefore, there must be a nature in our Sauiour Christ inferiour to his Godhead, in which he speaketh thus: I will trust in him, & that was his perfect humanitie like vntounto ours, in whiche we sawe him subiect to perill, and howe, according to his trust, God his father deliuered him. And here the Apostle alledgeth such scripture for proofe of ye manhood of Christ, as also proueth y• he is our king: for where he saith: I will trust in him: it noteth that Christe was not weake in faythe, but assuredly trusted in the power of God his father, that he should ouercome the diuel. And where it is saide: Beholde me & my children: he noteth the sure safetie of his children, that he will keepe them all from death, and hell, and not one of them shall perishe. And that the Apostle had this meaning, to proue also his kingdome, by these places, his owne words after, plainly shew: for of these places he cōcludeth, that Christ in his manhood, by death ouercame the diuell, and set his children free from the bondage of the feare of death. Beside this, y• apostle (we are sure) made best choice of the Scriptures, to prouchis purpose: and therefore with great wisdome writing vntounto the Iewes, who knew the lawe, he tooke suche places, not as in most cleare wordes proue the humanitie of Christe, but suche as proued it necessarilye, and proue plainely with all, that which they must needes learne, that Christ is our Prophet, our King, and Priest. And let vsus heere learne, for our instruction, when we hauehave had experience of Gods benefits, as the prophet had, let vsus vowe as he did: We will put our trust in him. When Dauid remembred how God had deliuered him from a Lion and a Beare, he was not affraide Sam … li. ca 17.of the vncircumcised Philistine. When Saint Paule had reckoned so many calamities, out of which God had deliuered him, he boasted of a holie hope, and said: he was sure that euer God would deliuer him. Our Sauiour Christ, when he would teache his disciples that they ought not to be carefull for meate & drinke, he bad them remember, when of. v. loaues & two fishes, he multiplied so much, that he fed 5000. men: yet remained xii. baskets full. Likewise, how Matth. 16. …with vii. loaues and a fewe fishes, he fed at an other time 4000. & seuen baskets full remained. By this experience he would make them bolde, that God would feede them in all places: euen so it ought to be with vsus. Hast thou experience of any benefite of God, whiche thou hast receiued in all thy life.
In this is the greatest thanks thou canst render vntounto him againe: to trust assuredly that he will be good vntounto thee stil. Hath God giuen thee ioy at any time in his Gospel, that thy soule hath had comforte in the hope of eternall life? Be glad of that in all tentations, and know that God is wel pleased in thy faith, and this shall be the fruite of the former benefite, if thou persuade thy selfe that God will be merciful vntounto thee, and giuegive thee the life that is euerl…sting. Thus we shalbe like our Sauiour Christ, and Gods benefites shalbe thankfully receiued of vsus: hee hath beene good vntounto vsus, and wee will trust in him for euer.
An other testimonie yet followeth, to proue the humanitie of our Sauiour Christ, and it is this: Beholde me and the children which thou hast giuen me: This is written in the eight of Esaie, in which chapter the Prophet fortelleth the captiuitie of the Israelites, by the King of Ashur: how it is determined of God, that the people for all their rebellions, should surelie perishe: but yet so, that God for his Churches sake would bridle their rage, and saue some who might prayse his name.
These threatenings and promises bothe, while the people did contemptuousely reiect: the Lord hiddeth the Prophet ceasse, and bynde vp these promises, for another people, that should beleeue: and then the Prophet aunswering againe to God, in acknowledging all his trueth & goodnesse, saith thu (s). Beholde, I and the children that God hath giuen me. This is the sense of the Scripture, a…cording to that time, But in all deliuerances of the people of God, theē the benefite came vponupon them only in respect of Christ, and it was euer a figure of the greate deliueraunce through him, which at last should be openly giuen, from death, and from the diuel: For this cause in all extreme perils of that people, whēthey would conceiue any hope, they would make mention of their Messias, and of the promises of God in him, which should neuer be frustrate: euen so in this place, whē the Prophet would speake certeinly of saluation, in the middest of daunger, he said of all those troubles they shall happen in thy lande, ò Emanuel: at the mention of whose name, he hath so sure hope, that Esa. 8. 8.he defieth the world, & sayth: Gather together on heapes, ô ye people, and ye shalbe broken in pieces: gyrde your selues and you shalbe broken in pieces: take counsel, and it shalbe brought to nought: pronounce a decree, and it shall not stande: for God is with vsus: & so cōtinuing his prophesie all according to the similitude of the happie dayes of Christe, he sayth presently in his own person, and figuratiuely in the person of Christe: Though bothe the houses of Israel stumble, and the inhabitants of Ierusalem fall down: yet beholde, I and the children that God hath giuen me, will endure the reproches of men, & wil beleeue the promises. Which wordes in Christ hauehave this meaning: That how soeuer the wicked of the worlde doe fall, and are snared and taken: yet Christe wil keepe his, and not one of them shall perish. Now, heere we must learne, as the Apostle teacheth: Was the Prophet Esaic a man like vntounto his children, that is, like vntounto those whiche obeyed his worde? Then was our Sauiour Christ perfect man, like vntounto vsus, whome he hath deliuered from sinne and death: and if he hauehave saued vsus, he hathe saued those whom God hath giuen him, flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bone: For this is his intercession vntounto his Father: Beholde me and my children.
One other thing we must learne in this. There was an apostasie of all men, so that they which beleeued were made as signes & wonders: yet how so euer the world was, the prophet saith: Beholde me and my childrē. Such shalbe the days of Christ, many shall fall away, religion & faith shalbe persecuted, iniquitie shall abound: What then? Our Sauiour Christe saith: Lo, I and my children, if the whole world fall away, we would not regarde their multitude to followe them to doe euill, but we would alone stande with the Lord our God. Such a faith & constancie was in Iosua, when he saide vntounto all the people of Israel, If it seeme euil to you to serue the Lord, or if you will serue the Gods which your fathers serued Ios. 24. 13.beyonde the riuer: or the Gods of the Amorites in whose lande you dwell: yet I and my house will serue the Lord. Such a faith was in Elias whē he cō stātly folowed God, although he thought there was not one man beside in Israel, whiche had not worshipped …. Reg 19. …Baal. Such a faith was in Peter, when hee sawe all decline, euen the disciples and kinsfolke of our Sauiour Christ to fall from him, & vtterly forsake him: yet Peter vowed it vntounto Christ, that he & the apostles would not forsake him, shewing a good Ioh. 6. 68.cause of al their constancie: Thou hast the words of eternall life, & whether should we go? Suche a faith was in Paule, who cared neither for man nor Angel in this respect, but grounded his faith vppon Iesu Christe. Gal. 1. 9.And if an Angel would teache otherwise, let him (saith S. Paule) be accursed. Thus (dearely beloued) our faith must be sealed in our owne hearts, hauing the witnesse of the worde of God, on whiche we must so surely rest, that thoughe we sawe the whole worlde to fall away: yet we would stande alone, & in the midds of skorners and presumptuous sinners, we would speake as the prophet speaketh of our Sauiour Christ: Beholde I and my children whiche God hath giuen me. If other will needes by vnbeleeuing, seale vp the promises that they may neuer see them, and binde vp the testimonies that they may neuer heare them, let them fall and be snared, and be taken: yet I and my children will serue the Lorde. This boldnesse is the witnesse of a true faith: & this triall shalbe made of men, while the Gospel is preached: For thus Christ cōmeth vntounto his Father when all the worlde forsaketh him: Beholde me and my children. Here I would faine know of any learned man, nay, of any wise man, or rather of any reasonable man, whose heart is prepared to heare the word of God, & to obey it: let him tel me, why do they crie, The Church, the Church? Or why do they thinke the Church is alwayes in a visible gouernment? Or why do they carrie vsus away to Rome, and tel vsus the Pope cānot erre, his faith is catholique: beleeue as he beleueth & y• shalt be safe? how cā this prerogatiue of place and person, stand with this tryall where vntounto Christe calleth so manie: Beholde me and my children? that is, to holde the assurance of their fayth in their owne heart, when all the worlde shall be against it. The Prophet would then hauehave said, if such priuiledged places had bene: Behold Ierusalē I & my children wil dwel in it: And our Sauiour Christ would hauehave said: Beholde Rome, the Citie whiche thou hast chosen, I and my children will abide in it: but neither Ierusalem, nor yet Rome hauehave any exception: the prophet Esaie & our sauiour Christe regardeth neither of thē: but if Rome or if Ierusalem or if the Pope, or if the high priest teache an other fayth then out of the woord of God: Beholde, I and my children, we wil beleeue the Lord, & beare recorde against Popes & prelates: they be all lyers. All places and all people are brought in order: if they teach things that the word of God knoweth not let them beleue it them selues: Behold I and my children beleeue an other. And is it not (trowe you) straūge, or hauehave not those mē lost their vnderstāding, who yet runne after the cry of the church, the church, and beleeue a man they know not, a place they neuer saw, a people they neuer heard, & a religion they knowe not what? But with such froward persons the Lord hath dealt frowardly, & when they ran headlong they knew not whether, and inquired after a say the they knewe not what, God in his iustice did bring thē to Rome, the sinck in y• world of all sinne & iniquitie, & gaue thē their scholmaister to be the Pope, a man made of all abhominations and whordomes,
This is true (dearely beloued) and the Angels are witnesses with vsus, this is true: but to this day, God hath not giuen some a hart to beleeue, we owe them a dutie, and let vsus perfourme it vntounto them. Let vsus pray that God may open their mindes, and let vsus speake vntounto them the word of God, that they may learne wisdome, that at the last in their happie conuersion we may glorifie God, who hath, and will deliuer his out of all tentations.
We must farther marke in these words, that the Prophet sayth: Beholde the children which thou hast giuen me. In y• it is said, God hath giuē vsus to his Sonne Christe, it teacheth vsus to acknowledge his free gift and grace. And let none of vsus think, there was any wisdome in our selues, why we wold choose him: nor any constancie in vsus, by which we could cleaue vntounto him: but God in his grace drewe vsus, that wee Iohn. 5.might cōe vntounto him, & with his power he strēgthned vsus, that we should abide with him. This is it that our Sauiour Christe said vntounto the Iewes: All 1. Pet. 5. 10.that my father giueth me, cōmeth vntounto me & shewing in an other place, that his children can not perish, he sheweth this reason: Because my father who hath giuen them to me, is greater then all: and in the long prayer which he maketh for all that do beleue, in the 17. of Iohn, he repeateth this often times, that God his father had giuen them vntounto him: that Iohn. 6. 37.we by so many instructiōs, might be taught humilitie, that in vsus, that is in our flesh, there dwelleth no goodnes: but y• he chose vsus, he did it of his free grace and merciemercy, which he would shew vntounto vsus. And as Iohn. 10. 29we knowe, that thus God hath once freely giuen vsus to his sonne Christe, to inherite with him eternall life: so we knowe our election standeth sute, beecause it is according to this purpose, who hath loued vsus, and is not changed for euer. But the time is past. Now let vsus pray &c.