Sermons on Job, Sermons · Chapter 33 · Sermon 127
The▪ cxxvij. Sermon, which is the ſixth vponupon the▪ xxxiij. Chapter.
26 He ſhall pray vntounto God who will be fauorable to him: he ſhall ſee his face with ioy, and he will render (or returne) a man his righteouſneſſe.
27 He will looke towards men, and ſay, I hauehave ſinned: I hauehave turned away from goodneſſe, and it hath not profited mee.
29 He hath redemed my ſoule, to the ende it ſhould not go downe into the graue: and my life to the ende it ſhould ſee light.
ACcording to that whiche was declared yeſterdaye, here Eliu ſheweth vsus that when men are reconcilied vntounto God, they maye call vppon him with a quiet and ſtedfaſt cōſcience. And it is the true frute of faith to hauehave ſuch a quietneſſe as we may be ſure that God loueth vsus, and flee to him for refuge. For without that, wee were in curſed cace. And vndoubtedly although we had al the goods of the world, wee ſhould not bee ſure to inioy them one minute of an houre, except God maynteyned vsus in the poſſeſsion of them. Moreouer let vsus put the cace that a man myght cō tinue in eaſe and pleaſure all the tyme of his life. Yet ſhould all Gods benefites turne too his deſtruction and damnation, vnleſſe hee vſed them purely, and were ſure of the ſayd fatherly louelove of God. VVee ſee then that if wee cannot call vppon God with ſuch certeinty that hee will heare vsus, and accept our prayers: it is pitie of our life. Somuch the more then behoueth it vsus, to marke well the order, that is ſhewed here by the holy ghoſt: which is, that when God ſhal hauehave certified vsus of his goodneſſe towards vsus, wee knowing that therein hee will bee fauorable too vsus, and pardon our ſinnes, may ſeeke vntounto him and boldy preſent our ſelues before him. And that is the cauſe why it is added in the text, that God will ſhew him his face, and that his righteouſneſſe ſhall returne vntounto him by that meane: or elſe that a man ſhall ſee the face of God. But wee muſt not greately ſtand vppon the words, ſeing that the meening is euident. Therfore it is all one as if it were ſayd, that ſo long as men are accuſed in their owne conſcience, they cannot think vponupon God but with all terrour, ſo as they could find in their harts neuer to perceiue any thing of him, nor that any man ſhould ſpeake to them of him, nor that they might hauehave any inckling of him. And out of doubt wee ſee that ſo long is ſinners are aſleepe in their euill, they deſire nothing ſo much as to forget God. And if any mention bee made of him: it is an intollerable torment too them, as if an offender were brought before his iudge. Yee ſee that as long as wretched creatures are buried in their ſinnes, they cannot thinke vppon God but to their greate greef. But when we hauehave aſſurance of the forgiueneſſe of our ſinnes: then we come boldly to God, we are glad to thinke vponupon him, wee are willing to heare of him, yea and it reioyceth vsus too behold his face. And this is it which Sainct Paule meeneth by ſaying, that wee finde peace to Godward when wee bee iuſtified by fayth. Alſo by that ſaying hee meeneth that the wicked hauehave no reſt, but when they bee fallen aſleepe, or rather dulled in ſuch wiſe, as they thinke not vppon God. Thus yee ſee how the heathniſhe ſort and ſuch as ſeke too feede them ſelues in their vices, do labour too forget God, and ſettle themſelues thervpon: But when God bringeth them to their remembraunce, then they wake, yea euen too their ſorowe. Cōtrariwiſe, if we be certified that God receiueth vsus to mercy (wherof fayth is a good and ſure warrant) we good boldly vntounto him, and hauehave peace with him, and the neerer that we come to his maieſtie, the more truſt hauehave wee of our ſaluation, foraſmuch as hee deſireth nothing, but too bee our father, according as hee hath ſhewed in deede. And the matter which was treated of yeſterday, is confirmed yet once againe in that it is ſayd, that righteouſneſſe ſhall be reſtored vntounto a man. Eliu had ſayd heretofore that if a wretched creature bee in trouble, ſo as hee feele Gods wrathe and vengeance, there is no way to comfort him, and ſpecially to reſtore him too life, except the goſpell be preached, and that God ſend him ſome man to tel him his word purely, wherby the wretched ſinner, that was ouerwhelmee, may knowe that the gate of paradiſe was opened vntounto him. In diſcourſing herevpon, Eliu ſayd that the preacher of the goſpel ſhould declare to him that was ſo afflicted, his righteouſneſſe. And what is that righteouſneſſe? I hauehave declared already, how it is not that men are righteouſe in themſelues, or that they are able to ſtand before God: but that this righteouſneſſe is, that God burieth their faults and imputeth them not vntounto them, but clenſeth them of his owne free goodneſſe. For the blood of Ieſus Chriſt is the ſpirituall waſhing of our ſoules, namely when they be watered by the holy Ghoſt as ſainct Peter ſayeth. And there yee ſee alſo the vnderſtanding of this text, that a mans righteouſneſſe ſhal be reſtored vntounto him or returne to him againe. For ſo long as God purſueth vsus as a iudge, and ſummoneth vsus too yeeld vp our account: we be ouerwhelmed by our ſinnes, and there needeth no other proceſſe nor witneſſe agaynſt vsus. But whē God calleth vsus to himſelf, and ſheweth vsus that there is good remedie for vsus too bee diſcharged of the bond of death, wherin we are bound: (which remedy is to put our whole truſt in the death and paſsion of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and to receiue and imbrace the promiſes of ſaluation which hee giueth vsus) that is the returning of our righteouſneſſe vntounto vsus, which had bin erſt alienated from vsus, and wherof wee had bin vtterly bereft. So then let vsus learne, not too nurriſh our ſinnes in our booſome any more. For wee ſhall gayne nothing by laying playſters vponupon our ſores to hyde them: the rottenneſſe of them will increace the more, and wee muſt needes drop aſunder in the ende, and be altogither infected. Then is it not for vsus to flatter ourſelues and too ſeke vayne ſtartingholes, but we muſt come right foorth vntounto God, and ſuffer our ſelues to bee reproued by him. And when wee feele any remorſe of conſcience, let vsus receiue it humbly and be ſory for our miſdoings. If wee hauehave profited litle by the warnings that God hath ſent vsus, at leaſtwiſe let vsus not be paſt amendment when he chaſtizeth vsus. And when we be beaten with his roddes: let vsus be ſo caſt downe in ourſelues, as we may ſeke nothing but his mere mercy, conſidering that we are vtterly vndone if he helpe vsus not. Ye ſee thē how it behoueth vsus too deale. And by that meanes let vsus not doubt, but that our righteouſneſſe ſhall bee reſtored vntounto vsus, according as it is ſayd by the Prophet Eſay, that when wee bee imbrued with the blood of our ſinnes, inſomuch that the ſtayne of it is ſoked into vsus, God will make vsus as whyte as ſnowe, if wee returne vntounto him with a pure hart. But let vsus not thinke herevppon, that God pardoneth our ſinnes too let vsus fall aſleepe in them: but to the ende wee ſhould ſeeke to him, and make the priuiledge which is giuen vsus auaylable, that is to wit, bee bold too call vponupon him as our father, and aſſure our ſelues, that he will heare vsus. Eliu hauing ſpoken ſo, addeth: he wil loke towards men and ſay I hauehave ſinned, I hauehave turned awaye from goodneſſe, and it hath not booted me: hee hath deliuered my ſoule from the pit: This text is expounded by ſome men as though Eliu ſpake of God, ſaying that it is hee that looketh ſo towards men, and that if any man ſay I hauehave done amiſſe, then wheras hee had beene in the darkneſſe of death, God deliuereth his ſoule from the pit, and reſtoreth to him the light of life. Howbeeit foraſmuch as word for word it is ſet downe thus, he will looke towards men and ſay I hauehave done amiſſe, I hauehave turned away from goodneſſe and it hath not ſtoode me in any ſtead, or was not meete and conuenient for mee: a man maye ſee and eaſly gather, that Eliu goeth on ſtill with his matter, ſhewing that they which are brought ſo lowe as to feele their ſinnes, and to bee euen at deathes dore, if God ſhew them the fauour to call them back againe, and giuegive them hope of life, and ſpecially cheere their harts, ſo as they are able to cal vpō him in true aſſuredneſſe of faithe: doo afterward turne themſelues to men, and declare their miſeries, to the intent to magnifie the infinite goodneſſe of God which they hauehave felt. And ſo the ſecond frute of the forgiueneſſe of ſinnes, is that when the wretched ſinner knoweth that God hath not ſhaken him off, but as yet openeth him the way and giueth him acceſſe too come vntoo him: like as hee reſted thervpon too call vponupon God and afterward made the frute of faith auaylable: ſo alſo it behoueth him too confeſſe the ſayd goodneſſe of God before men, and not to be aſhamed to ſhewe the miſery wherin hee was vntill God had deliuered him by his mercy. To be ſhort, like as when God hath ſent vsus the promiſes of his goſpell, wee ought to acknowledge thē, and to ſeeke vntounto him: ſo alſo it behoueth vsus, to mourne before mē. For it is not ynough that eueryevery of vsus ſhould pray to God priuily by himſelfe: but it behoueth vsus alſo to ſet forth his glory, and to indeuer to prouoke our neighbours too the ſame, ſo as one of vsus may be edified by another: and hee that hath felt how good and mercyfull God is, muſt ſhewe it vntoo others, that they may take example at it: And when there is ſuch an agrement amongs vsus, we muſt alſo preache Gods praiſes togither, according as eueryevery one of vsus is bound vntoo him, and there is not any man which may not iuſtly confeſſe, that God hath a hundred times plucked him out of his graue and quickned him. Ye ſee thē in effect what the meening of Eliu is. Howbeit, that we may the better profit by this ſentence: let vsus marke that it behoueth vsus firſt to enter into ourſelues, and thē to go vntounto God, & afterward to go vntounto our neighbours. Thus ye ſee three things which wee hauehave too marke, and it is an order which wee ought to kepe well. The firſt is, that men ſhould examin their owne conſciēces, & hauehave an eye to their whole lyfe. And why? To be aſhamed of their ſinnes: For vntill wee hauehave well perceyued that wee bee worſe than wretched, how will we hauehave recourſe vntounto God? VVee will not be moued to ſeke him, nor to deſire forgiueneſſe. So then it is requiſite for vsus too begin at the ſayd point, namely too feele our ſinnes how greuouſe they bee, and alſo too feele and conceyue the wrathe of God, too the intent wee may bee as it were forlorne, and behold hell as it were gaping vponupon vsus to ſwallowe vsus vp, and be ſo vtterly aſtoniſhed, as we may be driuen to ſay, Alas, what is to be done? So that we may hauehave no reſt in ourſelues, but languiſhe ſo in our miſeries, as wee may come with an earneſt zeale too ſeke the Lord. Thus ye ſee the firſt ſteppe that wee muſt begin at. The ſecond is, that wee muſt come vntounto God, and ſeeing hee taryeth not till wee ſeeke him, but of his infinite goodneſſe preuenteth vsus, in ſomuch that hee inſpireth vsus to the end we ſhould ſeeke him and flee for refuge vntounto his merciemercy, & there reſt: whē we hauehave any promiſes of his goodneſſe ſet afore vsus, ſeing that hee ſeketh ſinners to bring them from death to life: wee muſt take thoſe promiſes and apply them too our vſe, ſaying: euen ſo my God, thou ſheweſt that thou art willing to receiue ſinners too mercy: behold I am one, yea and I am ſo forlorne, as I wote not any more what too doo. Therfore I doubt not Lord, but thou wilt make mee feele they grace and goodneſſe. So Lord, there will I reſt, and although I bee hemmed in with many troubles and ſorowes which were able to turne me from thee: Yet will I reſt vponupon thy promiſes, and therwith call vponupon thee, aſſuring myſelfe that thou wilt ſtrengthen mee againſt all Satans temptations. Thus ye ſee how it behoueth vsus to deale. The third point is the concluſion that Eliu maketh here: which is, that we muſt declare Gods goodneſſe to our neighbours ſo farforth as is needfull to their edifying, that he may be praiſed with one accord, and that all men may confeſſe, that there is no welfare but in his mercy, and that we are all damned, if the only goodneſſe of our God remedy it not. Theſe (ſay I) are the three degrees which it behoueth vsus to keepe. But I told you that we muſt begin at ourſelues. And why? VVee ſhall ſee many which will blaſe abroade Gods praiſes with full mouth, but they hauehave not well foremynded thē in their hart. There are which think themſelues diſcharged when they hauehave ſayd, O my God, hauehave pitie vponupon mee, I hauehave bene ſuch a one, I hauehave done ſuch an euill deede. True it is, that ſuch men hauehave ſome feeling in themſelues, and ſpeake not altogither through hypocriſie: But yet notwithſtanding there is much wind in them, and their mouth is larger than their heart. For ſcarcely hauehave they taſted of Gods mercy: and yet they would hauehave men to thinke that they hauehave felt it throughly, and that they be full fraught with it. But there is vanitie and ambition in ſuch men, when they wyden their mouth after that ſort too ſpeake well, and in the meane whyle hauehave not mynded Gods grace too feele it accordingly, that it myght be well imprinted in their conſciences, and they themſelues bee ryghtly nurriſhed with it. That is the cauſe why I ſayd, that before wee ſpeake, it behoueth vsus to hauehave conſidered well what we hauehave ſeene afore: that is too ſay, too hauehave examined well our ſelues, too hauehave bene diligent in ſerching how wretched wee be, and too hauehave bene come too the verie point to hauehave bene ſwallowed vp into the dungeon of hell. And afterward when wee hauehave bene brought too that afterdeele, too imbrace Gods promiſes, and too hauehave ſuch a lyuely feeling of them, as wee maye call vppon him with a full truſt. True it is, that this cannot bee doone perfectly, but yet muſt wee go towards it, yet muſt wee creepe neerer and neerer too it, and wee muſt ſtrayne ourſelues too come at it. Verie well, hauehave wee made ſuch profers? Then is it tyme too open our mouth and too prayſe Gods goodneſſe, that other men may bee drawne too him by our example, and that all men may know, how there is none other hope of ſaluation, than in his only infinite goodneſſe, when it pleaſeth him to make the death and paſsion of his Sonne auaylable to take away our ſinnes, ſo as wee may be waſſhed cleane from all ſpottes and vncleanneſſe, and be accepted for ryghteouſe before him. And this matter concerneth not the ſhrift of the Papiſtes, but the confeſsion of a Chriſtian, which ought to be put in vre among vsus, and is not. I hauehave told you heretofore, that one of the curſed blaſphemies in the Popedome, is too tye the forgiueneſſe of ſinnes to the Shrift that is made in a mannes eare: for God neuer requyred it. And in good ſooth, it is vnpoſsible that euer any men ſhould knowe the hundreth part of their faults, I meene euen of their groſſeſt faults. And how ſhall they doo then if they go about too number the offences which they hauehave doone vnwittingly? Therfore the Shrift that is amōg the Papiſts is as a gulf of hell. But there is a Chriſtian confeſsion which is allowed by the woord of God: which is, that wee ſhould generally confeſſe our ſinnes, and when any of vsus hathe giuen any cauſe of ſtumbling, hee ſhould acknowledge his fault too amend the euill. That (ſay I) is the thing which wee hauehave to do when God ſhall hauehave afflicted vsus, and afterward remedied our aduerſities. It is not ment that wee ſhould go blowe in a mannes eare, too tell all our offences there: nor alſo that wee ſhould mount vp vponupon a ſcaffold, too tell particularly the faults that wee hauehave committed, and after what maner wee did them. No: wee neede no more but too confeſſe our defaultes in generall, and therewithall too conſider that our Lord hath bound vsus to him exceedingly, in that hee hath giuen vsus a happie and wiſſhed end of our toubles, which would hauehave ouerwhelmed vsus if hee had not reached vsus his hand, and ſet vsus vp againe. Alſo when wee hauehave offended our neyghbours by giuing euill example, wee muſt acknowledge our faults, and not bee aſhamed too confeſſe them with ſorineſſe in our harts. I ſayd that this latter confeſſion is ill practized among vsus: for wee ſee the pryde that is in moſt men. True it is that they dare not ſay, that they bee righteouſe: howbeeit when they confeſſe themſelues ſinners, it is but a cloke of hypocriſie: they ſay that all men are ſo: and ſo wheras eueryevery man ought too feele his owne miſdooings, wee fall too couering of them with the mantle of other men. And that is a playne mocking of God. So then, if wee intend too confeſſe vnfeynedly that wee be bound vntounto God, and to humble ourſelues before him: let vsus ſpeake according to the feeling of our owne conſciences, and the miſerie wherin wee hauehave bene plūdged, and the deadlineſſe wherout of God hath made vsus way. Marke that for one point. Alſo there are otherſome, who when they hauehave committed any offence, doo fall too blaſpheming of God: when a whole ſtreete is infected with whoredome, if a man reproue them for it, they will aske him whither they bring him backe too popiſhneſſe or no, bycauſe they bee told of their faults. As who would ſay, that God would hauehave ſtumbling blocks nurriſhed, and that the partie which hathe troubled the church, ſhould fare the better for his hardneſſe and wilfull ſtubbornneſſe. So then let vsus marke, that when God diſcouereth our ſinnes, it is too the ende that if wee hauehave cauſed any trouble or offence, wee ſhould labour too amend it, and not be aſhamed to open our mouth to confeſſe what wee hauehave doone. And that is the thing which is ſhewed vsus now: namely that when the ſinner wil ſeeke vntounto God for pardon, and afterward come familiarly to him to take him for his father, truſting in his mercy: hee muſt alſo turne himſelfe vntounto men. Hee muſt not only pray in ſecret, nor only ſay in his hart I hauehave ſinned, and after that ſort aske forgiueneſſe, and returne vntounto God: but hee muſt alſo turne vntounto his neighbours. And wheras erſt hee went aboute too deceiue God, and would hauehave rocked his owne conſcience aſleepe: he ſhall cōceiue ſuch a greef and confuzion in himſelf, that God ſhall be glorified by it, and ſuch as were as it were aſleepe ſhall awake: thoſe whoſe mouthes were out of taſt ſhall find ſome …auour in the grace of God: ſuch as were ſwalowed vp with ſorowe ſhall knowe that God opened them the gate too come vntounto him: and (too bee ſhort) ſuch as were in deſpayre ſhall recouer hope of life and ſaluation. Ye ſee then that the holy ghoſt ment in effect to declare in this text, that when we hauehave prayed vntounto God eueryevery man ſecretly by himſelf, wee muſt likewiſe offer him a generall ſacrifice before men▪ in acknowledging how much we be boūd to his goodneſſe, and in humbling our ſelues in our ſinnes, conſidering how wee had bin damned creatures if he had not pitied vsus. Therfore it is ſayd that hee will hauehave an eye vntounto mē. And it behooueth vsus to mark the order, wherof I hauehave made mention already. For Eliu began not at that point, but ſayde at the entraunce, that the ſinner ſhall be wakened: namely, for that God ſhal ſend him remorſe of conſcience: and if hee receyue not that, nor become the better for the warnings which are giuen him, nor bee afrayd of Gods iuſtice for all the threatnings that are made vntounto him: hee ſhall feele his hand ſo hard and heuie, as hee ſhall be inforced to perceyue his owne confuzion, and to be greeued at it, and to become as a dead mā. And afterward when hee ſhall come to quickening, God ſhall cauſe the goſpell to be preached and the promiſes of ſaluation too bee offered vntounto him: and hee ſhall receyue them to his benefit. Herevpon he ſhall call vntounto God and conceiue ſuch a confidence, as he ſhall without any douting go vntounto God as vntounto his father, and ſay. Seing that God hath adopted me into the number of his children, I may well take this libertie of cōming vntounto him: and ſeing he allureth mee ſo ſweetly vntoo him, I muſt not doubt but he will receyue mee. This doone, it is tyme to looke towards men. If wee ſhould looke firſt vntoo men, and make fayre confeſsions before wee hauehave beene ſorie and throughly greeued within: it were a peruerting of the order of nature. But when wee hauehave once felt well the greeuouſneſſe of Gods iudgements, and afterward are able too receyue the promiſes of the goſpell, and too call vponupon God with truſt in him, and too reſt vponupon his merciemercy and fatherly goodneſſe by feeling him fauorable too vsus, and that he is redie to help vsus: when wee hauehave doone all this: then is it tyme to looke towards men, that is to ſay too edifie our neyghbours. This then is an inferior thing to that which hath bin declared afore. And what is to be done in looking towards men? wee muſt ſay I hauehave ſinned, I hauehave turned aſide from goodneſſe: I hauehave bene a wretched man. Here then it is ſhewed vsus after what ſort God ought too be glorified by vsus: that is too wit, we muſt acknowledge that he only is righteouſe, and that there is nothing but iniquitie in vsus, as S. Paule ſayeth in the third too the Romaynes. For whē he ſayth there, that God is iuſtified: he meeneth that we ourſelues muſt firſt bee condemned. If God ſhould bee counted ryghteouſe, and wee ryghteouſe to, what a thing were that? Then ſhould hee hauehave a ryghteouſneſſe that were common and intermedled with men: but when wee bee vtterly conuicted and no man dareth exempt himſelf, but cōtrariwiſe, we willingly yeld ourſelues gilty and reſort to the only goodneſſe of God, knowing that it belongeth to him only to iuſtifie vsus, bycauſe he is the fountayne of all righteouſneſſe: that is the ryght acknowledging of him to bee righteouſe. VVherfore let vsus learne too do as is ſhewed vsus here: For it is a generall rule for all the faythfull, and it is not giuen by a mortal man, but by the holy ghoſt. Are we then deſirouſe to publiſh Gods goodnes which he had ſhewed vsus in forgiuing vsus our ſinnes. It behoueth vsus to make this confeſſion with the mouthe, to our ſaluation: according alſo as Sainct Paule ſayeth in the tenth too the Romaynes, that our beleuing with the hart maketh vsus righteouſe, and our confeſsing with the mouthe maketh vsus ſafe. And ſainct Paule is a good and faythfull expounder of this preſente text. For (as I ſayd afore) if wee begin at the mouth, all will bee but wynd and ſmoke. Therfore we muſt firſt beleeue with the hart, that is to ſay, we muſt gather ourſelues vntounto God, and enter into our owne conſciences, and therewithall bethinke vsus of his promiſes, that wee may flee vntoo him and vntounto his mere mercy for refuge. This done, the mouthe muſt followe next. And the confeſsion of the mouth will then bee too our ſaluation when wee ſhall hauehave ſo beleeued with our hart vntounto righteouſneſſe. Yet notwithſtanding theſe two things muſt bee matched togither, according as wee ſee that they are inſeparable. Now wheras it is ſayd I hauehave ſinned, I hauehave turned away from goodneſſe, and it hath not profited mee: The holy ghoſt ſheweth vsus that our confeſsion muſt bee pure and freeharted, and that we muſt not ſpeake by halues as the hypocrites do which ſay. O it is true that all the world is ſinfull and all men are faulty: and ſo (too their owne ſeeming) they are wel quit. Surely there is no dallying after that ſort with God: but wee muſt ſet foorth our ſinnes to the vttermoſt: that is too ſay, wee muſt feele them to bee an intollerable burthen: according alſo as wee ſee that Daniell doeth, ſaying: Lord wee hauehave ſinned. Is that all? no: but he addeth, wee hauehave delt wickedly, wee hauehave trayterouſly tranſgreſſed the lawe, and wee hauehave beene wilfull and froward. For what cauſe doeth Daniell packe ſo many words togither and make ſuch a heape of them? It is to ſhewe vsus, that ſuch as will diſcharge themſelues ſo lyghtly too Godward with ſpeaking but a word of their faults and away, are but hypocrites, and neuer felt what their offences are. So thē let vsus marke wel, that there is no ſuperfluitie in this text, where Eliu, (after hee had ſhewed that the ſinner which is quit at Gods hand, will cōfeſſe his fault,) ſayth not only, I hauehave ſinned, but alſo addeth I hauehave turned away from goodneſſe. VVherin hee doeth vsus to vnderſtand, that a man muſt not ſtick to confeſſe his det fully, and to ſay, I hauehave bene vtterly froward and maliciouſe, I hauehave bin giuen to all wickedneſſe, I hauehave ſtrayed … & cleane from the waye of ſaluation, I hauehave be…elf againſt God, and I hauehave giuen myſelfe wholy vntoo Satan as much as was in me. Thus ye ſee how wee muſt deale: [that is to wit,] not for countenaunce ſake, but ſo as the hart do ſpeke before God, and then the mouthe alſo agree with it, too confeſſe before men what wee hauehave felt within ourſelues. And this is in effect the thing which is ſhewed vsus here. But now let vsus apply this too our ſelues, & cōſider what entraunce we giuegive vntounto God, to lay forth the treaſures of his goodneſſe towards vsus. For a man ſhall ſee nothing throughout but hardneſſe of hart, & ſhameleſſeneſſe. How many are there in theſe dayes that humble thēſelues? Nay, cōtrariwiſe al are wild beaſts, and thoſe which bee moſt faultie are leaſte aſhamed too mainteyne their wickedneſſe, and to ſet vp their briſtles againſt men whēſoeuer they go about to amend thē: and yet notwithſtanding theſe men ceaſe not too vaunt themſelues of the goſpell. As for reformacion it is nothing worth with thē, and yet it is the Apcee of the chriſtians: And what is the firſt leſſon that wee ought to beare in mind, but only this: namely that wee may be inlightened, to knowe the wrath of God, & to feele how haynouſe our ſinnes are, ſo as we may bee ſory and vtterly aſhamed of them: and that wee may imbrace Gods mercy and take hold of it, to the ende to be reconciled to him for our lord Ieſus Chriſts ſake, and by the meane of his deth and paſsion: And finally, to confeſſe our wretchedneſſe before men, to the ende that the whole prayſe may bee yeelded vntounto God, as meete is it ſhould be? Beholde I ſay wherevnto wee ought to inure our ſelues. But what? as I hauehave touched afore, when men hauehave done amiſſe, and that not lyghtely but greeuouſly, ſo as one becommeth a drunkard, another a whoremayſter, a third a ſwearer, the fourthe full of malice and crueltie, & another a beater of him that ſeeks nothing at his hand: If a man ſhewed them their faults, what ſhall he ſee? wild beaſts which can by no meanes be tamed, and which make but a skorne of all the warnings that are giuē them. For ſcarcely is there one amongs ten whiche hathe ſuch lowlineſſe and modeſtie in him, as too confeſſe his fault when hee hath done amiſſe. Seing it is ſo, do we not ſhet the gate againſt our God? do we not reiect the grace which is offered vsus by the goſpell? To be ſhort, we cannot abyde that God ſhould forgiue our ſinnes. And ſo wee ſee that the preaching of the goſpell vntounto many men, muſt be too bereue them of all excuſe, & to drown thē in the deepe of hell bicauſe they could not make their profit of it. Neuertheleſſe the holy ghoſt prouoketh vsus to receue the exhortacion that is made vntounto vsus here. VVherfore let vsus fight againſt the pride and hypocriſie that are in vsus. For they be the two things which keepe vsus from humbling of ourſelues before God, and from confeſsing of our faults before men. Hypocriſie maketh vsus to labour cōtinually to cloke our ſinnes, & to pretēd to giuegive ourſelues vntounto goodneſſe: when in the meane whyle our hart is farre from it, and we go the cleane contrary way. And againe, pride maketh vsus to deſire always to be in good reputacion. Alas we ſeke to be eſteemed among men, or at leaſtwiſe to kepe ourſelues from reproche, and although we know our owne ſinnes, yet are we loth to be told of thē, and in the meane whyle behold our condemnacion increaſeth and doubleth before God and his Angels. And therfore let vsus learne too tame this pride vntill it be fully ſubdewed, ſo as wee may come to our God with all humilitie, and not only cōfeſſe our wretchedneſſe before him, but alſo indeuer too edifie our neighbours. If a mā demand for what cauſe we ſhuld ſpeake ſo before men: there are two reaſons. The one is that God might bee knowne too bee only righteouſe as I hauehave ſayd, and that his grace might appeare and ſhyne forth. Although God could forbeare our confeſsion: yet notwithſtanding hee will hauehave it openly and manyfeſtly knowne that we are in his det. And we ſee it is impoſsible to knowe his goodneſſe towards vsus, if wee be not vtterly caſt downe, and euen at the point of diſpaire. Thus ye ſee the firſt reaſon why wee ought too confeſſe before our neighbours, the goodneſſe that we hauehave felt at Gods hād, in that hee hath deliuered vsus frō death, and frō the deſtruction wherin we were plunged. Alſo there is a ſecond reſon, which is, that other men ſhould be edified by our example. I hauehave bin exerciſed in affliction, and God hath bin ſo gratiouſe to deliuer mee out of it: It is good that other ſhould knowe of it, that when God ſhal afflict them, they may think with themſelues, behold Gods hand is vponupon me, and he ſummoneth me: And why? For I was as it were drunckē in my ſinnes, I was as a ſtray beaſt, and now I ſee that he intendeth to drawe me home, and to ſet mee into the waye of ſaluation again. Therfore it is good that men ſhould be warned of Gods working which wee hauehave felt in our ſelues: according as we ſee in very deede, that the confeſsions whiche the faithfull hauehave made in tymes paſt, do ſerue at this daye for our learning. If wee had not the example of Dauid in the greate numbers of afflictiōs which hee felt and ouercame: As ſoone as wee felt any ſmall aduerſitie, wee ſhould forthwith bee at the point of diſpayre. But when wee ſee that the iſſewe was good and profitable vntounto Dauid, and that he confeſſeth it too hauehave bin a neceſſarie thing for him too bee ſo afflicted and chaſtized at Gods hand, wee alſo doo truſt in God, and flee vntounto him, aſſuring our ſelues that it is his office too raiſe men out of the graue when hee hath caſt them into it. So then when wee confeſſe our ſinnes, and report how God hath viſited vsus with rigor for a time, and afterward quickned vsus againe: it ſerueth to inſtruct our neighbours, that they may not bee nouices nor thinke it ſtraunge, when God ſhall viſit them in their turne: and that (as I hauehave ſayd) they may know themſelues to be wretched ſinners, and ſeeke the remedie of it by putting their truſt in the death and paſsion of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt: and be more and more ſtirred vp too ſerue and honor him, when they ſhal hauehave felt his goodnes and grace by experiēce, in that he hath receyued them ſo to mercy. Thus ye ſee that the thing which is ſhewed here, is not vnprofitable. For a hū dred are edified and inſtructed by the example of one mā. And therfore let vsus learne to put away retchleſneſſe whē our Lord ſhall hauehave ſhewed vsus any fauour, ſo as wee may magnifie his goodneſſe before men, and the ſame may bee preached with one common accord. And afterward it is ſaid for a concluſion, he hath deliuered my ſoule from the pit, and my life from entring into the graue. Truely this cannot bee throughly diſpatched as now, but it muſt ſuffize vsus, to hauehave a ſhort abridgement of it, as neede requireth for the ioyning of this parte too that with I hauehave declared already. Diſcourſe hath bin made of the cōfeſsing of ſinnes, how mē ought not to be aſhamed to cōdemne thēſelues, & that afterward it behoueth thē immediatly to adde the praiſe of God in that they hauehave knowne his goodneſſe. And therfore it is ſaid, I hauehave ſinned, I hauehave turned away frō goodneſſe, yea, and It hath not booted me at all: But my God hath drawne me out of the pit. Thē aſſone as the holy ghoſt hath taught vsus to acknowledge our wretchednes & to be aſhamed of it: he will hauehave vsus immediatly to preache gods mercy, according as we hauehave felt it, how he ſuffred vsus not to periſh, as we muſt needs hauehave don if he had not helped vsus. And let vsus marke wel how it is ſayd here vntounto ſinners, that it ſhal not boote thē to reſiſt their maker. Then what ſhal we gaine when we hyde our ſinnes and thinke not vpō thē, but rather nouriſh them by fond ſelfelyking? Alas, alas, it is alwayes too our greater deſtruction. But when God diſcouereth our iniquities, and maketh vsus too feele them, thē doth he procure our profit. For therein he prouoketh vsus too reſort vntounto him. Thus ye ſee the firſt point that we hauehave to marke in this ſtreyne: and further lette vsus marke alſo, that when God ſhaketh vsus off and layeth our wickedneſſe too our charge, there is no remedy but wee muſt be forlorne, vntill our God be pitifull to vsus, and receyue vsus too merciemercy. And therfore whenſoeuer God forgiueth our ſinnes, it is all one as if he rayſed vsus frō death, ſo as wee muſt conclude, that when wee be ſo reconciled vntoo God, then hath hee wrought a reſurrection in vsus. VVe were dead, and there was no hope of lyfe in reſpect of our ſelues, and he reacheth out his hand to make vsus alyue agayne, and too drawe vsus vntounto him. So then lette vsus learne to magnify the grace of the forgiueneſſe of ſinnes, acknowledging that God doth rayſe vsus to life, as often as it pleaſeth him to receyue vsus to mercy. And foraſmuch as we ſee that Satan ceaſſeth not to thruſt vsus from ſo great a benefite, let vsus be ſo much the more inflamed and prouoked to exalt it highly as it deſerueth.
Now lette vsus fall downe before the face of our good God, with acknowledgemente of our ſinnes, praying him ſo to exerciſe vsus in his iudgementes & in the knowledge of our wretchedneſſe, as we may alwayes learne to ſerue and honour him, and to yeeld ourſelues to him with true humilitie, that we may be ſtrengthened more and more in his mercy, to truſt thervnto & to ſettle ourſelues wholly vponupon it, and that therby we may learne to confeſſe before men, howe gratious our good God hath bene vntounto vsus in receyuing vsus to his mercy, to the ende that the prayſe of our ſaluation may be yelded vntounto him alone, as to whom it is dewe, and that we may be ſo aſhamed and abaſhed in our ſelues, that he onelyonly may be exalted, and all of vsus bee humbled vnderunder him, to yeeld him his due honor and homage. And for the dooing heereof it may pleaſe him too rayſe vp true and faythfull miniſters of his worde, which ſeeke not. &c.