the iniquitie of vs all he hath taken away the sinnes of the world God loued the world Go into all the world he will all men to be saued and come to repentance he hath shut vp all in vnbeleefe that he might haue mercie vpon all God is wonderfull in his worke whom he calleth and whom he chaungeth Therefore I thanke him saith Saint Paul which hath made me strong that is Christ Iesus our Lord For he counted me faithfull and put me in his seruice when before I was a blasphemer and a persecuter and an oppressour but I was receiued to mercie c. Againe Be not deceiued neither fornicators nor idolaters nor wantons nor buggerers nor theeues nor couetous nor drunkards nor railers nor extorcioners shall inherite the kingdome of God And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the spirit of our God Also the Ephesians dead in sinnes and trespasses walking according to the course of this world after the prince that ruleth in the aire euen the spirit that worketh in the children of disobedience c. You hath he quickened saith the Apostle Among whom we also had our conuersation in times past in the lusts of our flesh in fulfilling the will of the flesh and of the minde and were by nature the children of wrath as well as others c. but God which is rich in mercy c. hath quickened vs c. Now then they that will profite in the schoole of Christ. Behold he freely sendeth to all people to all nations to all creatures to the good to the bad to as manie as ye can find to the high waies to the lanes to the laden to the oppressed to al the world to blasphemers fornicatours adulterers and idolaters to men dead in sinnes possessed of Satan children of the world children of wrath and disobedience That none should despaire that none should be discouraged that all should draw neare vnto him That hee might doe vnto them as he did to the Corinthians to the Ephesians to wash them and sanctifie them by his spirit that they beeing once farre off might be made neare by the bloud of Christ that they might be no more straungers and forreiners but Citizens with the Saints and of the household of God And for this cause as a learned man saith The nations are so often inuited to laud and to glorifie God both in the Psalmes and Prophets as in the 117. Psalme Praise the Lord all ye nations praise ye him all ye people For his louing kindnesse is great towards vs and the truth of the Lord endureth foreuer And a-againe Let the people praise thee O God let all the people praise thee And further to the great comfort of all those that seeke the Lord while he may be found The Lord is no lesse bountifull towards halt lame blind and dead miserable man in perfourming of his mercies then he is in promising But according as it is said The Lord is full of compassion and mercie long suffering and of great goodnesse Hee will not alway bee chiding neither keepeth he his anger for euer Euen so walketh he and dealeth with his children We know how like a louing Father he reasoned with Abraham with dust and ashes to haue condiscended to his request if there had been but ten good men How inuiteth hâ— his people Israel to be conuerted vnto him If a man put away his wife and she go from him and become another mans shall he returne againe vnto her Shall not this land be polluted But thou hast plaied the harlot with many louers yet turne againe vnto me saith the Lord. And againe Thou disobedient Israell returne saith the Lord and I will not let my wrath fal vpon you For I am mercifull saith the Lord and will not alway keepe mine anger Let vs looke vpon examples It was taught vnto Peter Whosoeuer shall denie mee before men him will I also denie before my father which is in heauen But Peter which was taught this doctrine denied the Lord with an oath yea with cursing and swearing That he knew not the man but the Lord forgaue him David sate in the throne of iustice and iudgement yet to make way vnto his wicked lust he tooke Bersabe killed Vrias with the sworde of the Ammonites made the enemies of God to blaspheme his name wrought great wickednesse in the sight of the Lord in numbring the people yet the Lord pardoned him King Manasseâ— led the people in abhominations fiftie and fiue yeares And when he was in tribulation he besought the Lord his God and humbled himselfe exceedingly before the God of his Fathers and made intercession to him and God was entreated of him and heard his praier Out of the woman sinner the Lord cast out seuen Diuels Yea despairing is not cast vpon Simon Magus that great bewitcher of the people but that the Apostle saith vnto him Repent therefore of thy wickednesse and pray God that if it bee possible the thoughts of thine heart may be forgiuen thee c. But I surcease vpon the multitude of examples and conclude with Dauid that thus burst forth in his wonderfull strait Let vs fall now into the hands of the Lord for his mercies are great c. Let vs in all the imperfections of this life draw neare vnto him who so louingly inuiteth vs saying O ye disobedient children returne and I will heale your rebellions Let vs most gladly and readily answere Behold wee come vnto thee for thou art the Lord our God And for these his mercies his name be blessed and praised for euermore But now wee come to the last part concerning praier the will of the Lord being so manifestly set downe as before I doubt not but according to the same will it is very plaine and euident to discerne for whom wee ought to pray and on the other side the vanitie of those that haue coined formes of praier herein contrary to the good will of God doth appeare also When Moses was about the work of the tabernacle of the Lord and to finish the same he was warned by God See said he that thou make all things according to the patterne shewed thee in the mount so I doubt not but the Apostle being a minister of a better testament which is established vpon bettâ—r promises would ordeine publique praier for the church of God according to the mind of Christ and the wisedome from aboue reuealed vnto him As if he should reason Is it thy mind O Christ to call in halt lame blind maimed Wilt thou in mercie bring in the fulnes of the Gentiles shall theeues adulterers and Idolaters bee chaunged and sanctified vnto thee shall thy holy commission of the word and sacraments for the subduing of the kingdome of sin for the working of faith in thy children goe forth to
the father giueth the son laieth downe his life for the sins of the world and the holy spirit of God sanctifieth our hearts For he performeth that washing inwardly in the soul which the water is said to do outwardly to the body Now after that our good and gracious God hath thus into his peculiar and family receiued vs as his children and sonnes as a louing father most carefull of his people and chosen ones he forsaketh vs not but cherisheth and feedeth vs in the whole and continual course of our life And therfore vnto his church he hath giuen by the hand of his only begotten son a spirituall and heauenly banket where our Sauiour Christ is vnto vs that bread of life wherewithal our soules should be fed to the true and blessed immortallitie and to haue the end euerlasting life And therfore at this holy supper being so called of the first institution thereof the Lord Christ promiseth and sealeth vnto the faithful That his bodie was broken and offered on the crosse and his bloud so surely and truly shead as with my eies I beheld the bread of the Lord to bee broken and the cup to be destributed and therefore so surely is the child of God fed to life euerlasting by his bodie crucified and his precious blood shead as my bodie is outwardlie fed by the hand of the minister by the bread and cup which are giuen vnto me as sure pledges of the same To this end saith the Apostle The cup of blessing which wee blesse is it not the communion of the blood of Christ The bread which we breake is it not the communion of the bodie of Christ For we that are many are one bread and one bodie because we all are partakers of one bread For as often as ye shal eat this bread and drinke this cup yee shew the Lords death till hee come In this holy institution of the Lord therefore we seeke the confirmation of our faith our vniting vnto Christ the testification of our obedience to the church of God our desire and loue that we haue to dwell togither in vnitie our gladnes when they come together to eat that we may confirme the peace vnitie and loue of brethren For that holy supper sheweth foorth vnto vs that vnder one head we are all made the members of Christ Iesus because we are all made partakers of one bread But herein I may say woe to the world because of offences yea the offences I say against this holy institution of the Lord who are desirous hereof to be partakers who applieth and vseth it as the remembrance of the death of Christ Iesus for his sinnes who doth oft resort thereunto to confirme the band of loue amongst brethren Or rather is it not in most places set downe for an ordinarie worke at Easter only and neuer thought vpon all the yeare following So that holy band of Christian vnitie of setting forth of the Lords death is reiected and contemned we desire the world and looke vpon the earth the things of God and the things that are aboue where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God we seeke not for nor hearken after them If we would iudge our selues wee should not be iudged of the Lord but hee iudgeth vs and calleth for a plague and it deuoureth hee iudgeth vs and calleth for a famine and that famine together with the adamant brassie and flintie hard hearts rangeth and ragâ—th ouer the poore of the land to eat vp my people as they would eat bread And lastly hee will call for a sword to make an end of vs if wee repent not O consider this ye that forget God least I plucke you away and there be none to deliuer you O let not the earth be your reioicing Christ calleth vs vp into heauen vnto the table of the great king Ascendamus cum domino in caenaculum magnum stratum atque mundatum accipiamus ab eo sursum calicem noui testamenti Let vs ascend vp with our Lord into that great dining chamber adorned and made cleane and there aboue let vs receiue the cup of the new testament Againe Vt terra nobis coelum sit facit hoc misterium Ascende igitur ad coeli portas diligentèr attende Imò non coeli sed coeli coelorum tunc quod dicimus iutueberis This mysterie causeth that vnto vs the earth is heauen Ascend vp therefore vnto the gates of heauen and marke diligently Nay I say not vnto the gates of heauen but vnto the gates of the heauen of heauens and so shalt thou see the things that I tell thee To conclude therefore this part which containeth the means whereby we are called that is the preaching of repentance and forgiuenesse of sinnes in the sweet promises of the Gospel and the ministration of the holie Sacraments it is set downe before in this effect That we feele our burthen that wee taste of his feast that we sit at his Supper that we be partakers of the Sacraments that hee stretcheth forth his mercie vnto all that wee might beleeue in him that wee might liue through him and enioy euerlasting life Now then it followeth by order that we shew whom he calleth vnder the name of Iew and Gentile is comprehended All mankind Now when it is said Goe into the High wayes and as many as ye find call them to the marriage Herein is described the calling of the Gentiles which might haue stirred vp the Iewes vnto zeale as we reade They haue prouoked me in them which are no gods I therefore will prouoke them to iealosie in them which are no people yea in a foolish nation will I prouoke them to anger The Iewes because they were chosen by God in the former place flattred themselues as though the grace of God should be addicted and onely shut vp in them euen as though God himself could not want or be without them by any means Nay saith God Seeke in the high waies in the lanes and streets of the cittie For the place for the degree for the person make no regard bee they halt lame blind maimed poore rich All which generality of places and persons sheweth the franck and free bountifull and liberall louing and vniuersall inuiting and calling of the Lord our God For the word witnesseth accordinglie The seruants went forth into the waies gathered all as many as they found both good and bad together so the wedding was furnished with guests both good and bad together these they gathered without making choise no man being shut out for the kingdom of heauen is like vnto a draw net cast into the sea that gathereth of all sorts Also to his feast in mount Sion hee inuiteth all people he sendeth his word the Gospell to be preached the Sacraments to be ministred to all nations to all the world to euery creature Amongst them he will not the death of a sinner vpon his sonne he hath laid
onlie And againe Paul by my iudgement simplie commandeth as oft as publike praiers are made to make supplications and to intreat for all men yea euen for them which for the present time haue no coniunction or fellowship with vs. And againe when Saint Paule commaundeth vs to pray for all men he giueth vs to vnderstand that we must exercise our charity one towards another desiring God to be mercifull to all and to gather vs togither into his heauenly inheritance seeing hee hath made and fashioned vs to his owne Image Also following Yet notwithstanding his mind was to shewe that we must not onely pray for the faithfull which are our brethren alreadie but for them that are very far off as the poore vnbeleeuers although there seeme to be a great distance and a thicke wall betwixt both yet must we notwithstanding haue pitie on their destruction to the end that we might pray to God that hee would draw them vnto him And in the next sermon We haue shewed already what Saint Paules meaning is in this place that is to say That the faithfull pray not onely for the bodie of the church but generally for all men as our Lord Iesus Christ exhorteth vs also to doe good to them that persecute vs and pray for them that curse vs. For what know we whether it will please God to haue mercie vppon them or no and bring them to the way of saluation For we ought to hope well of them seeing they are created to the image of God And seeing our saluation commeth onely for the meere and free goodnes of God why will hee not do the like to them which now are in the way of damnation as wee were Therefore the faithfull ought to haue care of them which are not yet ioyned to them but are rather their deadly enemies Thus farre master Caluin comprehending all mankind and infidels whatsoeuer to pray for them in hope for we know not whether the Lord will do as much for them as he hath done for vs seeing hee created them to his owne image and similitude The note that Beza giueth is thus Vbi absoluit quae ad doctrinam spectant c. Hauing absolued and dispatched those things which appartaine to doctrine he speaketh now in the second place of the other part of the ministerie of the word that is of publike praiers and first of al declaring this question For whom we ought to pray He teacheth that we must pray for All men Yea and especially for all maner of magistrates Lastly Tremelius thus translateth the wordes Prò quibusuis hominibus prò omnibus hominibus He translateth them Prò omnibus filijs hominis That is That praiers supplications c. be made for All the sonnes of man And these few shall suffice for the late Interpretours and for the sence of the wordes All men In consideration whereof we see the Apostles rule expounded That praiers are to be made for All men for vniuersall mankinde for all the world for all manner of men for all men in generall for all the sonnes of man Since that therefore it is a rule taught vnto the Church of God by the Apostle That praiers and supplications should bee made for all mankind I see no cause why I may not say and conclude with Saint Augustine Nunquid cum audieris sacerdotem dei ad eius altare populum hortantem ad Deum orandum vel ipsum clara voce orantem vt incredulas gentes ad fidem suam venire compellat non respondebis Amen An etiam huius fidei sanitati contraria disputabis Nunquid beatissimum Cyprianum in hoc errasse clamabis vel susurrabis vbi prâ— inimicis fidei Christiana vt etiam ipsi â—d eam conâ—ertantur orare nos docet c. Wilt not thou when thou shalt heare the Priest of God at the Aultar of GOD exhorting the people to pray vnto the Lord or when thou shalt heare him himselfe with a loud voice praying That it please him to compell in and driue vnto the faith and make to come the vnbeleeuing people and nations Wilt not thou answere Amen And wilt thou dispute contrarie things against the soundnes of this faith wilt thou crie out or priuily whisper that blessed Cyprian erred herein whereas he teacheth vs to pray for the enemies to Christian faith that they may be conuerted brought home thereunto Lastly wilt thou blame Paul the Apostle hauing such kind of praier for the Iewes infidels concerning whom he saith Brethren my hearts desire and praier to God for Israel is that they might be saued Thus farre saint Augustine To conclude then the first part we haue found a rule out of the sacred scriptures That we may pray for All men And what maner of All men we haue sufficiently heard I see therfore no cause but I may thus end For whom soeuer the Lord commaundeth vs to pray for in our publique praiers for them we may safely pray But the Lord by the Apostle saint Paul commandeth vs in our publique praiers to pray for All men for vniuersall mankind for All men in generall for the sonnes of man Therefore we may pray for All men for all men in generall for vniuersall mankind for the sonnes of man Of the second part concerning the Reasons NOw we come to the second part that is to the Reasons why all men should be prayed for and wee will first set downe the rule and so grow on to our purpose 1. I exhort therfore that first of all Praiers supplications intercessions and giuing of thanks be made for All men for kings and for all that are in authoritie 2. That we may lead a quiet and a peaceable life in all godlinesse and honestie 3. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Sauiour who will that all men shall bee saued and come vnto the knowledge of the truth These wordes containe especially three things First the exhortation or commaundement concerning praier in the Church and for whom in the first verse according as I haue set downe Secondly the end and effect that may come thereof in the second verse To lead a quiet life c. Thirdly A reason of such kind of praier For it is acceptable in the sight of God c. in the third verse Concerning the exhortation or commaundement which is the first verse hath beene sufficiently spoken that is That it is a commaundement that praier be made for all mankind in generall publiquely and vniuersally in the Church and congregation yea for kings and for all that are in authoritie vnto whom any dignitie or ciuill function is committed For Christians might thus thinke That they ought not to pray for them which conferre and bestow all their riches and power to withstand the Gospell and the kingdome of Christ Iesus which thing before all things is to bee sought For Rulers how many so euer they were at those times were euen as
were in authoritie who might bee thought through pride and worldly pompe to abhorre from the humilitie of Christian faith Therefore saying For this thing is good before God our Sauiour That is that euen for such praiers be made Forthwith That he might take away desperation he addeth who will haue All men to bee saued and to come to the knowledge of the truth For this thing the Lord iudged to bee good That at the praiers of the humble hee might vouchsafe to giue health and saluation to such as were in authoritie And again the same Father Remota tamen ergò hac discretione quam diuina scientia intrà secretum iusticiae suae cōtinet sincerissimè credendum est atque profitendum Deum velle vt omnes homines salui fiant Yet therefore this discerning set apart which the wisdome of God containeth within the secret of his owne iustice we are most sincerely to beleeue and to professe that God would that All men should be saued Saith Saint Augustine After the Apostle had said and charged to pray for euerie man and all that are in authoritie That he might take away desperation hee added Who will haue All men to be saued This saith he he speaketh that none should despaire And againe leauing Gods secret discerning and iustice to himselfe we must sincerely beleeue That God would that all men should be saued So then these fathers diminish nothing of the Lords commission Pray saith one as God commaundeth If hee will saue all pray thou for all He will saue all saith an other but thou must keepe the condition and draw neere vnto him Lastly These wordes who is the Sauiour of all men c. are added to take away desperation So these fathers nothing diminish the nature of the wordes but make consideration how they bee applied concerning praier for all mankind in generall But let vs heare later writers and what they haue thought First therefore maister Caluine speaketh thus hereof Sequitur deinde huius secundi membri confirmatio Quia velit Deus omnes homines saluos facere Quid autē magis aquum quà m vt huic decreto vota nostra subseruiant Postremò autem deo cordi esse omnium salutem demonstrat quià omnes ad veritatis suae agnitionem vocat Argumentum est à posteriori nam si dei potentia est Euangelium in salutem omni credenti Rom. 1.16 certum est inuitari omnes ad spem vitae aeternae quibus Euangelium offertur Afterward followeth the confirmation of this second member because God will saue All men Then what is more right then that our praiers should readily serue at that our Lords decree Lastly he sheweth that the saluation of all men is well pleasing vnto God because he calleth all men to the acknowledging of his truth It is an argument Aposteriori For if the gospel be the power of God vnto saluation to all that beleeue Rom. 1.16 it is most certaine that all are inuited to the hope of eternall life vnto whom the Gospell is offered c. Master Caluin here inioyneth vs to pray as the Lord commaundeth That the saluation of all is pleasing vnto God That all are inuited to whom the Gospel is offered Also in his sermōs thus he writeth This is the reason why S. Paul vseth this argument that God would haue all the world to be saued to the end that as much as lieth in vs we should also seeke their saluation which seeme to bee as it were banished men out of the kingdome of God especially at such time as they are vnbeleeuers And againe a little following And indeed we see how holy writ doth greatly set forth this adoption that God had made of this people of the Iewes But S. Paul commandeth vs to pray for all the world and so not without cause addeth the reason which is here set downe to wit Because God will haue all men to be saued Also afterward For why are we in this world but onely to set forward the good will of God as much as we can Thus maister Caluin Wee must pray as the Lord decreeth The health of al is wel pleasing to God All are inuited to whom the gospell is offered We must seeke the saluation of all Wee must set forth Gods will We must pray for all the world And out of the Siriac the words are thus translated Qui vult vt omnes filij hominis seruentur sese conuertant ad cognitionem veritatis c. Who wil that all the sonnes of man be saued c. So translating all the sons of man for that which we say All men And master Bullinger hath thus Christianorum enim est imitari exemplum dei patris Iesu Christi filij sui Ille autem sinit solem suum oriri super bonos malos pluit super iustos iniustos Mat. 4.53 Hic vero etiam prò persequútoribus orauit Luk. 23.34 Gentiles in sacris suis deuouent Christo addictos at Christiani prò vniuersis hominibus etiā inimicis peccatoribus orare debent It is the part of Christians to imitate the example of God the father and of Iesus Christ his son For the one suffereth his sun to shine forth vpon the good and the euill and sendeth his raine vpon the iust and vniust and Christ also praied for his persecutors The Gentiles in their rites curse such as professe Christ but Christians must pray for All men vniuersally euen for their enemies and sinners And Erasmus thus interpreteth Last of all let thanks be rendred vnto him c. And let these be done not only for the Christians but for all manner of men also lest Christian loue should appeare to bee but a streit-laced loue as though it fauoured none but of his own sort but let it be extended abroad in most large manner after the example of God both to the good and to the bad like as he being perfectlie good and beneficiall to al as much as in him is bestoweth his sun to shine vnto the iust and also to the vniust And in as much as God giueth publike quietnes by means of Ethnick rulers it is reason that thanks be rendred also for them And it is vncertaine to vs whether that ruler being a wicked image worshipper shall in short space receiue the gospell for that cause Christian loue wisheth the saluation of all The Iew loueth the Iew the brother loueth the brother c. This is not a gospell-like loue but that is a gospell-like loue that loueth the godly for Christ and loueth the wicked that they may once repent and turne vnto Christ. And praier is to be made not only for the whole generall sort of men but also especially for kings c. Againe Christ is the Sauiour of all he excludeth none from saluation he bringeth the light of the gospell vnto all c. Also If the common father of al sent him to saue
all and if he gaue himselfe for the redemption of all it is meet for vs to endeuour by all means that his death may indifferently be auaileable vnto all And Beza giueth this note vpon that verse saying Another argument why churches or congregations ought to pray for all men without any difference of nation kind age or order to wit because the Lord by calling of all sorts yea sometimes those that are greatest enemies to the gospell will haue his church gathered together after this sort and therefore praiers to bee made for All. To this point commeth that that we haue hitherto set down◠in both these chapters First the proposition is made plaine and proued that praiers supplications intercessions and giuing of thanks is to be made for all mankind Secondly the reason of the Apostle is expounded to maintaine the proposition in such ample sort as is required and that God will haue al men to be saued and to come to the knowledge of the truth Thirdlie the reasons of the learned gathered herevpon are added also As that such praier is to be made for all that there may be made a change of them that of persecutors they may be made cherishers seeing hee hath made vs to his image we should exercise our charity one towards another we must haue compassion on the destructiō of infidels we must follow the example of God that giueth his sun and his rain to the vnrighteous and we must follow the example of Christ his son that praied for his persecutors wee must hope well because they are created to Gods image We were in the way of damnation God may do as much for thē as he did for vs we may not despaire of them the saluation of all is well pleasing to God we are in this world to set forward the good will of God our loue must not be a straitlaced loue but a gospell-like loue to loue euen the wicked If God gaue his son for all If Christ offered himselfe for a redemption for all we must indeuour by all meanes that his death may be auileable to all And therefore I conclude that such a praier is neither superstitious nor superfluous nor more charitable then God requireth but most holy accepted religious and agreeable to the mind purpose and will of God And thus much concerning the two first points The third part Of the doctrine establishing such praier THese things being thus deliuered concerning the Apostles rule of publike praier for mankinde I come to the doctrine thereof and to shew how by doctrine it standeth and that Gods children ought so to pray I find concerning praier for others two grounds or foundations from whence they flow and wherunto they haue respect and relation that is Election Vocation The first setteth downe knowledge assurance manifest euidence concerning the persons spoken of and praied for The second an heartie desire an expectation an attendant hope that he which aireth should aire in hope and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope For if we hope for that we see not we do with patience abide for it But of these two points I will speake more at large and first of praier grounded in election When the great shepheard of the sheepe the Lord Iesus walked on earth and chose vnto himselfe his twelue disciples these he taught these he instructed he shewed vnto them his works his secrets his glory They heard the voice of God aucthorising his Christ. If they were weake he strengthened them If they were worldly he reproued them If they were ignorant he opened their wits he reproued their enemies excused his disciples shewed them the readinesse of the tempter armed them against temptations teacheth them to watch and to pray confirmeth them with his spirit and grace So of all sides prepareth them to the seruice and worke wherevnto it was his good pleasure to send them according as it is written You haue not chosen me but I haue chosen you and ordained you that ye goe and bring foorth fruit and that your fruit remaine c. This his flocke so instructed and taught so conformed to his heauenly purpose was notwithstanding of two sorts of people For it consisted of Elect and Reprobate Haue I not chosen you twelue and one of you is a diuill He spake it of Iudas Iscariot the sonne of Simon for it was he that should betray him though he was one of the twelue And as the Lord instructed taught them so also this bondslaue of Satan euen Iudas the Lord ceased not to speake vnto to reproue and to checke As to say vnto them That one of them is a diuell That one of them should betray him That he dippeth his hand with him in the dish to say Friend wherefore art thou come Iudas betraiest thou the sonne of man with a kisse It had beene better for that man hee had neuer beene borne He that eateth with me hath lift vp his heele against me All which reproouing spoken from him as hauing authoritie and not as the Scribes and Pharisies had beene sufficient to haue pierced the flintie and adamant heart had not Satan so throughly bewitched and possessed him to that his vile and traiterous purpose When Iesus knew therefore that his houre was come that he should depart out of the world vnto the Father Forasmuch as he loued his owne which were in the world vnto the end he loued them And therefore as we reade commendeth them being taught and instructed of him vnto the father saying I haue declared thy name vnto the mē which thou gauest me out of the world Thine they were and thou gauest them me and they haue kept thy word Againe while I was with them in the world I kept them in thy name Those that thou gauest me haue I kept and none of them is lost but the childe of perdition that the scriptures might be fulfilled For these he praieth vnto the Father saying I pray for them I pray not for the world but for them which thou hast giuen me for they are thine Consider in this most heauenly and diuine praier these points and circumstances 1. Who praieth 2. For whome he praieth not 3. For whom he praieth 4. And the reason He that praieth is that true shepheard that laboured painfully that wrought righteousnesse that was without sinne that came to be the light of the Gentiles and the glorie of his people Israel That giueth vp as it were in this praier his account to his Father that careth for mankind that prepareth his Disciples to send into all the world that hath gotten redemption for his people that worketh the ouerthrow of the kingdome of sinne and Sathan euen Christ Iesus God and man entring into the secrets of the Godhead euen he as now departing out of the worlde vnto the Father concerning his office which he receiued of the Father thus humbled as man maketh intercession and praier
vnto the going downe of the same He being the fountaine and fulnes of all good things hath prepared marriage for his son and inuited guests thereunto whereby is vnderstood That he tendreth vnto mankind the holy fellowship of his son Christ Iesus That he wil in him gather together his people his saints his church and lastly bestow vpon them the most comfortable and heauenly ioies eternall in his glorious kingdome For Christ is the end of the law for righteousnes to all that beleeue Neither tendeth the worke of the righteous God in his couenant to any other point but this That Christ should be their God his church married vnto him in faithfulnes that they might know the Lord. And that he might be as is written I will be a father vnto you and you shall be my sons and daughters saith the Lord God almightie To this end and for this holie calling and that it might be truely said as a iudgement against the wicked world and worldlings one day for contempt of the gospell What could I haue done any more to my vineyeard that I haue not done vnto it Therefore is God like vnto a certaine man that made a great supper and bad many and sent his seruant at supper time to say to them that were bidden Come for all things are now readie But they all with one mind began to make excuse c. Or as it is in S. Mathew they would not to come God extended towards the Iews a double grace or fauour First he preferred them before other nations that if they will heare his voice indeed and keepe his couenant then shall ye be my cheife treasure aboue all people though all the world be mine A kingdome priesthood a holie nation thus would the Lord build them vp and not lucke them downe Secondly by his prophets he opened to them his wil his fauour his adoption That he would be their God and the God of their seed but they made excuse but they would not come they would not know the day of their visitation most ingratefully reiecting the feast contemning God and contemning saluation Therefore now let vs heare what the Lord saith not onely to the Iew but to the Gentiles yea to all the world For through their fall saluation commeth to the Gentils to prouoke them to follow them and the fâ—l of them is the riches of the world This world vnto these riches thus the Lord inuiteth and calleth and sheweth forth his will vnto them Luk. 14.21 Then was the good man of the house angrie and said to his seruant Goe out quickly into the streets and lanes of the citie and bring in hether the poore and the maimed and the halt and the blind And the seruant said It is done as thou hast commanded and yet there is rome Then the maister said to the seruant Go out into the high waies and hedges and compell them to come in that mine house may be filled Esa. 25.9 And in this mountaine shall the Lord of hostes make vnto all people a feast of fat things euen a feast of fined wines and of fat things full of marrow of wines fined and purified Mat. 28.19 Go therefore and teach all nations babtising them in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy ghost Mar. 16.15 Go into al the world and preach the gospell to euery creature Esa. 53.6 All wee like sheepe haue gone astray wee haue turned euerie one to his owne way and the Lord hath laid vpon him the iniquitie of vs all Io. 1.29 Behold that lambe of God that taketh away the sins of the world Io. 3.16 God so loued the world that he gaue his only begotten sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life For God sent not his son into the world that he should coÌ„demn the world but that the world through him might bee saued 1. Iohn 2. vers 2. And he is the reconciliation for our sins And not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world Ro. 11.32 For God hath shut vp al in vnbeleefe that he might haue mercie on all Mat. 11.28 Come vnto me al ye that are weary and laden and I will ease you Ezech. 18.23 As I liue I will not the death of a sinner but rather that he conuert and liue 2. Pet. 3.9 The Lord of that promise is not slacke as some men count slackenâ—sâ—e but is patient towards vs and would haue no man to pâ—rish but would All men to come to repentance 1. Tim. 2. I exhort therefore that first of all praiers supplications intercessions and giuing of thankes bee made for all men For kinges and for all that are in authoritie c. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Sauiour who will that All men shall be saued and come to the acknowledging of the truth Vniuersall vocation or calling is a setting forth and manifest declaration of the good pleasure and will of God whereby he doth draw and bring vs to the knowledge of faith and saluation in him Or as an other saith When by the preaching of the Gospell wee are called out of the world That we should be a new creature or spirituall kings and priests vnto God For the manifestation wherof according to the scriptures set downe wee gather these circumstances to bee considered 1. Who calleth and what moueth him thereunto 2. The meanes of calling 3. Whom he calleth 4. The dutie of man to preach and to pray for the effecting thereof For the first The Creator louer of man euen God thy sauiour and redeemer which hath said Feare not for I haue redeemed thee I haue called thee by thy name Thou art my owne If thou goest through the water I will be with thee The strong flouds shall not ouerwhelme thee and if thou walkest through the fire it shall not burne thee and the flame shall not kindle vpon thee For I am thy Lord thy God thy holy one of Israel thy sauiour c. Feare not for I am with thee I will bring thy seed from the East and gather thee together from the West I wil say to the North Let go and to the South Keepe not backe but bring me my sonnes from farre and my daughters from the ends of the world Euen all these that bee called after my name For them haue I created fashioned and made for mine honour This Lord is that good man of the house that prepared all things readie that is the Lord of hoasts that inuiteth all nations that fetcheth his people from the endes of the world that prepareth the daintie feast that saieth Come to the waters All ye thirstie come buy wine and milke without any money that reioiceth if they come that is moued with zeale if they come not Which saith Incline your eares and come
all the world to euery creature shall the word be thy power to saluation to all that beleeue of the Iew first and also of the Gentile Shall the Apostles then goe into all the world and shall I be an Apostle of the Gentiles to set forth these glad tidings amongst them surely then shal I teach the vnrighteous thy waies and sinners shall be conuerted vnto thee And then let the Gentiles praise God for his mercie as it is writen For this cause I will confesse thee among the Gentiles and sing vnto thy name And again he saith Reioice yee Gentiles with his people And again Praise the Lord All ye Gentiles and laud ye him all ye people together And againe Esaias saith There shall be the root of Iesse and he that shall rise to raigne ouer the Gentiles in him shall the Gentils trust Then O Lord shew thy seruants thy worke and their children thy glorie And the glorious maiestie of the Lord our God be vpon vs prosper thou the worke of our hands vpon vs O prosper thou our handy work Let me care for all congregations let mee learne in what estate so euer I am to be content let me be made all thinges to all men that I might by all meanes saue some And first then I giue in precept vnto thy church concerning the truth of thy word and doctrine and I say vnto Timothie So doe that thou warne some that they teach none other doctrine neither that they giue heed vnto fables and genealogies which are endles which breed questions rather then godly edifieng which is by faith For the end of the commandement is loue out of a pure heart and a good conscience and of faith vnfeined c. Then after ye haue had a special care for the soundnes of the truth and wholsome doctrine I exhort that first of all supplications praiers intercessions and giuing of thanks be made for al men For kings and for all that are in authoritie c. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our sauiour who will that all men shall be saued and come vnto the acknowledging of the truth Thus the Apostle according to the instruction giuen vnto him establisheth not only in the church of Ephesus but in the same in the whole church of Christ that there be not only sound doctrine established but also publike praier for all estates and all mankind vniuersally For God inuiteth them and calleth them to bee partakers of his sauing health And great reason it should be according to the patterne set downe and will of the Lord the maine ground and foundation whereof is this To whomsoeuer the word and sacraments doe belong for them we ought to pray But the word and sacraments doe belong to all the world to all nations to all creatures Therefore wee ought to pray for all the world for all nations for all creatures The Apostle in this calling counteth it not a time to desseuer them whom God in the participation of his promises of his word and sacraments and in the preaching of the acceptable yeare of the Lord hath ioined and knit together and therefore would that all might be praied for vnto whom this mercie of the Lord is offered He doubteth not but the foundation of God remaineth sure and hath this seale Tâ—e Lord knoweth who are his but in this charge that is laid vpon him who is offended and S. Paul burne not and therefore according to the will of the Lord he would haue all know him and come vnto the truth Againe the Apostle by the spirit of the Lord saw the wonderfull effects that should grow and spring from the preaching of the gospell For thereby and by the preaching of the same the fierce lions shall be tamed and made meeke and humble the wolfe and the lambe shall feed together the people that dwell in darkenes shall behold the true light all nations shall see the saluation of our God For this wonderfull worke and building of the Lord hauing the foundation in the great loue of God towards vs is dispensed first by Preaching and Hearing whereby in the effectuall working of the spirit from aboue faith is fashioned in vs For without faith it is impossible to please God Then are we buried with Christ by Baptisme into his death that like as Christ was raised vp from the dead to the glory of the father So we also should walke in newnes of life For to walke in newnes of life is to be to the glorie of the father also according as it is said Let your light so shine before men c. Now then that the law of the spirit of life which is in Christ Iesus hath freed vs from the law of sin and death we must haue our Education in the word and sacraments that wee may grow from faith to faith That wee may ioine vertue with faith and with vertue knowledge and with knowledge temperance and with temperance patience and with patiâ—nce godlines and with godlines brotherly kindnes and with brotherly kindnes loue that we benot vnfruitfull that Christ Iesus may dwell in vs that we may auoid the danger of sinne that we may be sober and watch for the aduersary as a roaring lion goeth about seeking whom he may deuour him we must resist stedfast in the faith And therefore oft hereunto we must ioine the exercise of the faithfull the participation of the holie supper of the Lord to set forth the death of the Lord till his comming And especiallie herein the ministers of the Lord must not be straunge but to be oft with the people of God partakers and receiuers That the flocke by their example may be more stirred and moued highly to esteeme of the sacraments and the ordinance of God in his church And therfore as one saith Qui autem pastores raro communicant exemplo suo faciunt vt sacramenta veniant paulatium in comtemptum And those shepheards which seldome communicate by their example bring to passe that by little and little the sacraments grow into contempt Herein is also daily rising againe and comming to the Lord to say vnto him Forgiue vs our trespasses And O Lord though our sinnes testifie against vs deale with vs according to thy name for our rebellions are many we haue sinned against thee O the hope of Israel the Sauiour in the time of trouble why art thou as a stranger in the land as one that passeth by to tarrie for a night Why art thou as a man astonied and as a strong man that cannot helpe Yet thou Lord art in the midst of vs and thy name is called vpon forsake vs not c. And the most effectual power of the word preached vnto vs appeareth herein also For in it hope is confirmed and by hope wee are saued by the same worde faith is established and the victorie