of the ChaldeaÌ„s It is not reason that the tiranny of men shoulde break or any deal diminish from vs that due honour we ow vnto god Here is no exceptioÌ„ or pretence of preuelege which high or low riche or poore may or ought to vsurpe vnto them selues Let al men therefore bow downe their neck with moste humilitie submit them selues to god Let the poore maÌ„ haue the true fear of god let him not say vnconstantly I know not what to do least god answer him nether know I what to do with thee The riche and wealthy men let theÌ„ not like drunken sloggards slepe in their wealth and consume in their prosperity and abundance of al thynges as it wer in a certain draftubbe but rather after the example of S. Paule let them learn to esteme al that as dirt and dammage which doth withdraw vs from godly christian life or may seme any thing to hinder vs. We also whiche liue here in rest quiet enioyeng the vse of the greatest and singuler benefits of god let vs not forget that I touched in the beginning that we apply these things to our learning that what so euer hereafter befall vs or into what soeuer countrey we shal be led yet may we alwayes constantlye abide in the pure confession of our faith detesting al idolatrous religion superstitions and abuses which are against gods trueth do obscure his honour and vtterly subuert his religion The .ii. sermon conTEINING AN EXHORTATION to suffer persecution that we may therein folow Iesus Christ and his gospell taken of this saying in the .13 Cap. to the Hebrues Let vs go forth to him without the gates and suffer rebuke with him AL the exhortations which can be made to instruct vs to suffer paciently and constantly for Christ Iesus name and his gospel shall not much moue vs onles we know and be perfectly persuaded of the right truthe and worthenes of the cause wherfore we contend For when we be in that Ieoperdie danger that we must loose our lyfe we ought to be most certain of that thing wherfore we enter to so great perill But that constauncye and firmnes of minde caÌ„ not be had onles it be depely fouÌ„ded in a certaintie sure perswasioÌ„ of faith Ther be many which will vnaduisedlyâ— rashly ventre to dye for certain folysh opinions inuented of their own brain But suche forwardnes of minde ought rather to be thought a furiousnes then a christian zeall and loue For assuredly ther is no firmnes other of minde or wit or of common sence in these men which do cast them selues in to peril with such hardie rashnes How so euer it be god wil not acknowlege and take vs for his martirs and witnesses without a good cause For death is coÌ„mon for all men also the condemnation of theues and of gods children the sufferaunce of shame and punishment semeth to be al one but god maketh a difference betwixt theÌ„ because he can not denie and forsake his own truth This also is required that we haue a sure witnes void of al errour of that doctryne whiche we will defend â–ª Wherfore as I said ther is no exhortation so weightie that can moue and perswade vs to suffer for the gospel but yf a true certaintie of faith be imprinted in our hartes For to put our lyfe in danger without any coÌ„sideratioÌ„ vnaduisedly and chaunceably is most against nature And so to do shuld be thought rather rashnes theÌ„ christian boldnes Morouer god aloweth nothing that we do onles we be plainly perswaded that it is for his name sake and for his cause that the world is so against vs doth hate vs. But when I speak of suche certaiÌ„tie and perswasion of minde I do not only vnderstand this that we shuld know to discern and iudge betwixt the true religion and folish opinions constitutioÌ„s of men but also that we be thorowly perswaded of euerlasting lyfe and the â—roune promised vnto vs in heaueÌ„ after â—ure conflict in this world Let vs now marke wel that these two reasons do partaine to oure dutye and muste be Ioyned to gether that the one may â—n no wise be separated and disioyned from the other It is mete therfore to take oure begynning of thys that we vnderstand and know what is our Christian religion what faith it is that we oght to holde and folow what rule of lyfe god hath geuen vs. Nether must we only haue our minds instruct with thys godly doctrin but also haue our mindes so armed and prepared that we maye freli and boldly damne all errours lies and superstitions which Satan hathe brought in to the world to corrupt the pure simplicitie of gods doctrine Therfore it is no meruaill that ther is so small a number of men that haue a ready mid and desier to suffer for the gospell and that the greatest part of them the profese them selues Christans knoweth not the power of the Christian religion and there own profession All meÌ„ in a maner are negligeÌ„t and haue no desier or very small to here and read who thynketh it sufficient yf they haue gotten some small taste of the Christian faith And thys is the cause why there is sene in these no surety and constancie of minde and that so sone as they come in to any conflict they are so abashed as though thei shuld hiÌ„ bi vtterly perish for which coÌ„sideratioÌ„ our desier oght to be greater to pursue and serche oute most diligently gods truth that therw t our hartes may be perswaded with out any doubt Nether is this al to haue suche knowledge and vnderstanding For we see many so well trauailed in gods doctrine that thei seme as though thei were stained died ther with in whom neuer the less there is no desier and loue of god no more truly then if thei had knowen nothinge at any time of the godly doctrin but by a certain vnsure light and wauering opinion But what other cause is there of this so great vncertaintie and leuitie but that thei did neuer perceaue in there minde the maiestie of the holi scripture And truly if we wold rightly waye that it is god that speaketh to vs theirin we wold here him with more diligence attention and reuereÌ„ce If we wold think in reading the scripture that we are in the schole and discipline of angels we shulde haue an other maner of desier to exercise our selues in that doctrine which is set forth to vs to confort strenghtheÌ„ instruct our miÌ„ds now we se what is the wai to prepar our selues to patieÌ„ce sufferauÌ„ce for the gospel that is so to go forward in the doctrine thereof that being throughly persuaded of the true religion and that doctrine which we oght to holde and defende we may nothing esteme and despise al the fraudes and illusions of the deuell and al the inuencions of men as things not only of value but also execrable because they
an especiall desyre of goinge to the tabernacle and visitinge the courte of God for after he had made an exclamation O lorde of hoastes how amiable is thy tabernacle he saith that his hearte and bodye dyd leape and dance for the earnest desyre to enter into the courte of the lord and he giueth this reason for thei are al Blessed that dwell in the house of God because they do praise him that is to say they acknowledge his benefites with a thankfull minde and with one comune consent and yelding a confession of their faith do glorifie hym Now whan Dauid suche a worthy man which was so deaply grounded in al godlynes religion who lyued in the worlde lyke an Angell sente from heauen doth cōfesse hīselfe nothing notwtstanding to haue nede of suche aydes meanes and spurres as God hath appointed to hys people what is to be supposed of vs I beseche you who are so rude and carnall and whose faithe is so weake whose religion is so colde and barren Surely we oght thus to iudge and thinke of our selues that although dauid for his perfectiō colde haue wanted these inferiour aydes and helpes yet vnto vs they are alwaies moste necessary namely for that infirmitie wherwith we are oppressed continually But wherof doubte we Such as haue attained to greater perfection more worthy commendation of vertue do better vnderstande how muche they yet wante then those which haue no vertue at all Dauid was endued adorned with Angelical vertues The which excellency of vertues and perfectiō in him maketh hym better to vnderstande and perceiue how necessary it was vnto hym and how mete for the comforth of his conscience and his saluation to be styrrid vp and inflamed more and more to the loue and desyre of a godly lyfe by the preaching of the word by sacraments and other suche like exercises But these great boasters voyde of all vertues but notable in all syns and vices which at this day despyce things so excellent so necessary so holsome declare thereby moste euidently that they haue not one droppe of Christen religion and true holynes I do speake of such great clarkes and graue philosophers in corners and chambers which do lyue in the papistry not professing any religion Suche do say O it is a goodly matter and muche to the purpose that no man can be a Christian onles he runne to Geneua that he may there fyl his eares with the sarmons vse such ceremonies as in that citie are obserued can not we ourselues euery one alone bothe reade and praye what must we all nedes go to the churche to be taught when euery one hath the scripture at home To the which things I do thus answer We do binde no man to departe from that place wherin he dwelleth and hath his certāe trade But rather if my mā do liue purely and godly vnder the same tiranny of the pope and worship God as he oghte I will accompt him of far greatter pryce then vs that haue this rest and lyberty But heare I must demande .ii. questions first whether suche do syn which feeling their infirmitie and weaknes do resorte to some Christian churche that thei may fynde there that comforte and confirmation of conscience whiche Dauid sought for at Ierusalem in his time Secondly whether that all generally euen suche as be reteined and oppressed by violence oght not to sobbe to syghe to mourne and to lament when they se themselues destitute of those means and far of from those waies whiche might guyde them and bringe them vnto God The brute beastes which wante all reason do crye for fode whan hounger assaileth And shall they whiche professe themselues to be the sons of God haue no care nor consideration of that thing wherin onli the most holsome fode of faithe and the most stable comforth therof is conteined Or can thei not be thus content thus proudly themselfe to treade vnder fote the graces of God so excellent and precious onles also they deryde them which flye into strange countryes to seeke suche comforthe by Godly zeale and do enioye the same with most pleasant tranquillitie of the mynde and ioye of the spirit wherin their proude stomak and the arrogancy wherby they are broght to this opinion to iudge sermons sacraments and publyke prayers vnprofitable and vaine for them is so sure and cleare a testimony that they oghte to be excōmunicate and caste forthe of the churche that there nede none other witnes For paull dothe not say that this order which the lorde hath appointed in his churche doth only perteine to the rude and ignorant but that it is commune to all membres of the churche without exception of any The lorde saithe he hath ordeined teachers Apostles and pastors to the restauratiō of the saints to the edification of the body of christ vntill we all do come to the vnitie of faith to a parfyte man to the measure of a perfyte age in Christ firste of all let vs note that he saith not that god had lefte his scripture for eueri man to reade it alone but that he hathe ordened suche a policy and ordre of the churche wherin certain men appoīted shold teache others by the which only offyce he vnderstandeth comprehendeth all other things which depende of the same doctrine Wherfore thoughe euery man may pryuately reade it yet this oght to be no hinderance but that they sholde heare it opēly But who are they whom he calleth to this publike doctrine and discipline Bothe hyghe and lowe without any exception What dothe he binde it to one day No surely but he commādeth to vse continually this order of publike and ecclesiastical discipline vnto the laste ende of our lyfe euen to the day of deathe wherin beginneth our redemption Suche therfore as disdaigne to be broght vnder this discipline as vnto a certain order wherby they being gouerned by the commune order of the churche maye growe forwarde in faithe and in all kinde of vertues can cutte themselfe of from the communion and feloship of the chyldren of God by nothing so muche Let them excuse the matter as fynely and craftely as they liste For the sentence of paul is most euident that none is of Christs body neither can or oght to be compted a membre thereof onles he submit himselfe to this commune rule order Wherfore deare brethren Let vs not so proudly lifte vp our harts but rather derecte and cast downe our selues and let vs not tempte God with thys great temeritie thinking ourselues able to flye without wings But some man wyll obiecte That dauid did speake of that time whan the shadowes figures were in their force For God then gouerned his people like children with child-like discipline As sante paull speaketh and therfore those so feruent desyres do not belonge to vs at this present especially now seing we are compared vnto them who beīg passed their infancy and childhode are growne to a more stronge
faithfull keper When he hath ordeined and kept diligentlye this maner and fashion of lyfe yf afterward he fal in to the handes of enemies let him thinke and persuade himselfe that he is brought into that place of god for this cause that he mai haue him a witnes of hys sonne Therefore seing he is called and brought to that confession by the certain decree of god there is no way to go backe onles he wil be vnfaithfull vnto him to whome we haue promised all our endeuours both to liue and dye yea whos 's we are although we had promised nothing at all I meane not hereby to driue euery man of necessitie at all time to geue a full and perfect confession of their faith no not some times when thei be asked For I knowe-what measure and moderatiō S. Paule vsed who was as ready with heart and minde to defende the gospell as any other Neither was this spoken by the Lorde Iesus and promised without a cause that god woulde geue vs in that tyme and matter a mouth and prudence As though he would haue sayde the office of the holy ghost is not onely to confirme vs that we may be willing bolde and stronge but also it consisteth in geuing vs iudgement prudence and counsail how we may as it becometh vs gouerne and rule our selues in so great and so harde a matter Truly this whole treatise is to this end that they that be in such distresses shoulde desier and receyue from heauen that moderacion and prudence not folowynge the counsel of the fleshe to seke some shiftes to escape But ther be that do obiect in this place that the lorde Iesus yea whē he was asked woulde make to them no answere But I saye that this sufficeth not to take awaye that rule which he hath geuen to vs to witnes our fayth then when the confession thereof is necessarily required Furthermore that he did neuer dissemble or kepe silence for this purpose to saue hys lyfe Last of all that he dyd neuer make so doubtfull an answere but it conteined an apt testimonie of that which he had spoken before or els did first satisfie thē that lay in waite to marke both his words dedes Wherfore let al christiās be wel persuaded sure of this thing that no man oght more to esteme his life then the testimonie of the truth wherin god wil haue the praise glory of his name to appear Is it without a cause that he calleth his witnesses for this doeth the worde martyr signifie who are broughte to make answere before the enemies of faith and religion Or is not this rather the cause for that he wold vse al their speakyng and whole course of life to the confession of his name Wherein euery mā must not so loke to his neighbour felow that he will seme to do nothyng at al without his example and testimonie And this curiositie is so much the more to be eschued because we are prone to this vice of our own nature Peter whē he had heard of Christ that he should be led in his old age whether he would not he enquired what shuld become of Iohn his felow cōpanion There is none of vs which to auoide perill and daunger woudl not gladly make answere in that wise because when we shoulde suffer any thing by and by this cometh into our minde what is the cause wherefore I shoulde suffer more then others But Iesus Christ doth coūsel monish other wise vs al in comon and euerie man priuatly to be prepared and readie that as he calleth one or other so euerie mā comforth in his ordre And I haue shewed this before that we shal be vnarmed and vnprepared to take and suffer martyrdō onlesse we be fēsed and armed with the promises of god Now remaineth to declare plentifully such promises not that we wil sett forth euerie one exactli but to shewe the chefe and most excellent thing wich god wold haue vs to hope for to comforte vs in our calamities And there be thre such thinges the first that seing al the times both of our lyfe and death do consist in his hād he wil so defend vs by his power that not one heare of our head shal fall but after hys wyll Wherfore al faitfull men oght thus to be perswaded in whose handes so euer they be tossed that god in no wise will lay a side that gouernaunce custodie which he hath taken vpon him for them with so great care Yf this perswasion of gods fatherly care and prouidēce did rest and cleaue depe in our hartes we shuld be deliuered out of hand of the greatest part of these doubtes difficulties which do now trouble hinder our duty We behold now the bitterness of the tyraunts vnbridled crueltie brawling pinishly in al sharpnes of punismēts And here by we iudge that god hath no more care nor regard to defend and kepe vs in sauetie And therfore we be so stirred prouoked by our own reasons to looke and prouide for our selues as though the whole hope of gods helpe and succour were clean taken awaie But on the other part the so great prouidence of god as he hath shewed vnto vs oght to be vnto vs like a stronge fenced castle which can be ouercome with no power Let vs therefore learn and hold fast thys short sentence that our bodies are in his hand power who also did creat them And this is the cause wherfore god hath deliuered hys after a merueilouse sorte and contrarie the opinyon and hope of all men as Sydrach Misach and Abdenago forth of the burning ouen Daniel out of the lions denne peter out of Herods prison where in he was short watched most diligētly fast boūd in chaines By these examples he wold declare vnto vs that he could staye our enemies as it were with a certaine bridle and that he had that power that when he wold he could preserue and as it were pluk vs out of the mouth of death it self Not that he doeth alwaies thus deliuer his from such perils but of right hauing the autoritie to apoint our life death he will haue vs persuaded that we are so continued and kept vnder his custodye and tuition that what so euer the tyraunts do inuēt or with what furie so euer thei set vpon vs yet it is only in his hand to apoint lyfe or death and therefore thys mater oght onely to be refferred to hys wil. But yf he suffer the teraunts to kyl vs yet our life is vnto him deare much more sett by of hym then it is worthie The which he did plainly declare to be so when he pronoūced by the mouth Dauid that the death of his saints was honourable and preciouse in his sight And also whē he say by esay that the earth it self shuld shew forth the bloud that was shedde which semeth al to gether hidden Now then let the enemies of that gospel be
of kinde that thei seeme vtterly to be brute beastes For we were created to another end farre contrarye that whiles we remain in this worlde we should with our whole minde care contende towardes the heauenly kingdome of God And this is the very cause wherefore this present lyfe is named a certain pilgrimage course or trauaile Wherefore who soeuer will not wittingly and willingly depriue himself of the eternall inheritance of the kingdom of god he must nedes begin his course and iorney at this principle to wit that he oght to cut of al the folishe light desires wherby he may be reteined withholden in the worlde so that his chiefe care desier always be to draw nere vnto God and that he haue none impediment but that in minde desier at the least he hast thither In minde I say and desier at the least because it were greatly to be desired and wished that all earthly affections which do withdrawe vs from God shoulde be vtterly plucked vp rooted forth of our mindes that we might spedily passe ouer the race and space of this world which we haue to runne thorow and to atteyne to that place whither our iorney lieth But because we are so far vnable to haue such a mynde as is pure and voyde from all euel affections this remaineth that we conquer and ouercome all the impedimentes that hynder vs that what faut or stoppe so euer be in vs we pursue our course with that minde and desire that in our greatest infirmities we alwayes preferre the heauenly life to al worldly thinges But nowe let vs consider by what wayes and meanes we may learn this It neither lieth in mans wit nor authoritie to inuent or appoint them but those wayes are to be troden and holden which god hath ordeined and appointed vnto vs whereof the chiefe and most sure are here named of Dauid that is to say the order and policie and state of a churche so gouerned that we maye be taught therein and instructed in the worde of god that we may worship him with common consent pray vnto him and praise him with one voyce haue the right vse of his sacramentes as the aydes and stayes of his whole worship and religion For these are the rules wherein we must exercise our self that we may be confirmed in faith in the feare of god in holines finally in contempte of the worlde and loue of the heauenly life And to this purpose and none other perteineth Dauids testimonie and praier that emonges many thinges which he was moued to wishe and desire in his banishment this was the chiefe principal that he might dwel in the temple of god For vnder this name of the temple he doth comprehend that fredome libertie wheteby he may both worship god purely godly with the faithfull and geue the confession of his faith prayse god and make his praiers and to be partaker aswel of al these so great comfortes and ioyes as also of the sacraments which were in that temple rightly and lawfully institute For at that time in dede God had chosen a certaine place in the which he commanded to offer sacrifice vnto him and to shew him all reuerence and honour whereby thei might professe and testifie that he was their only god in whom thei put their trust by whose lawe they should be instructed and finally shuld ther haue al the tokēs of hys presence And doubtles he hymself vttereth most plainlye what it is that he chiefly regardeth in this request when he desireth to dwell in the temple of god seyng he doth ioygne this therevnto that he doth require this for that cause that he may behold the beauty of the Lorde Wherein he declareth that the temple of it selfe was nothyng neither that he had fastened his eyes vpon it alone but that he rather had his hart and hys minde bent vpon that vse and worshyp whereunto it was consecrate and appointed If we sholde suppose that he regarded or desyred nothing saue the buildyng made of woode stone we sholde iudge far a mysse and iniuriously of this most godly and wyse man for this colde not be geuen hym as a commendation of vertue but a wicked superstition We must therfore rather iudge and beleue of such a man that by the declaration of suche a feruent desyre he hath testified how honorable he esteamed the outward order and regiment wherby the faithful are gouerned in the churche And to vtter in fewe wordes what I iudge hereof he signifieth and declareth that it is a singular benefite and suche a special prerogatyue as can not for the great dignitie therof sufficiently be pryced to remaine and lyue in the churche that he may be partaker of all those thīgs wherby God doth vouchsafe to allure and to ioyngne his children vnto hym And let vs note diligently his dignitie and authoritie the speaketh thus For he was not one of the rude multitude a man wtout knowledge and experience but the moste excellent prophete that euer was bothe in vertue and knowledge and inspiration of the holy ghoste He doth not here speake what is profitable or comfortable for the multitude but in this peticiō hauing only regarde of his own profite and welthe he dothe witnes moste planly that he neithere wisheth nor desyreth any thinge more earnestly then to be in that company assimbly of the people of god wherin he may declare his faithe and may cōfirme and edefye himselfe by the holy sacraments and the holsome doctryne there preached Nether gyueth he this testimony in this place only but also in many other he declareth his moste feruent desyre to the same as in the former psal he saith O lord I loue the habitacion of thy house and the place wherin thy glory hath his residens Again psalme .xlii. lyke as the Hyndebrayeth for the water brokes so my soul panteth after god my soull is a thyrst for God euen for the lyuing God saing whan shall I come and appeare before god It had bene enogh to haue sayd these wordes but his vehement affectiō doth cary him higher For emmediatly he addeth that he was fed with teares in steade of breade al that time that he was absent colde not come to the temble of god And he forthermore adioyned that this hearte is powred forth lyke water within hym selfe for the remembrance of that tyme whan he come to the temple with the multitude of the faithfull to prayse God Thē after so many so greate mornīgs and wailings and desyres most lamētably oppressed he fyndeth no better comforthe then in that expectacion and hope which he conceiueth of god that he wyl restore agayne vnto hym the benefyte comforth whiche he had loste My soule saith he why arte thou so vexed so vnquiet and troubled within me put thy trust in God for I wyll yet giue hym thankes for the comforthe of his countenaunce And in the .lxxxiiii. psalme he declareth
it bitter to dwell therin Now this is moste certane the if this doctrine were well perswaded vnto our hearts we shold not be so much hindred or rather so with drawne froÌ„ the exercise practise of those meanes which god hath geuen vs to go forward in that wai which leadeth to euerlastig life But wil ye haue the veri cause therof the ambitious desier of honor wtholdeth som in executiÌ„g their offices mainteining their estates entiseth others to seke to couet the like dignities promions couetousnes enrageth others with a gredy desier of gain carieth theÌ„ backward an other sort mindeth nothiÌ„g els but their delits pleasurs their vain dissolute wantoÌ„ life Yea al euery one do so wallow iÌ„ their lusts carnall coÌ„cupisceÌ„ce that not at al thus crieth thine altars o lord wher ar thine altars o my god mi kiÌ„g No certenly the vanity of this world beareth such rule amoÌ„gs theÌ„ that thei caÌ„ by no meanes suffer the obedience of god This word also is of great importaÌ„ce where Dauid fayth the he hath ernestly required of god the thiÌ„g wherof he speaketh It is a veri smal matter to giue such tokeÌ„s of holines religioÌ„ befor meÌ„ that thei may seme to be set on fier with singular zeale loue therof but theÌ„ may a maÌ„ say assuredly that he coÌ„eth vnfanedly to be coÌ„uersaÌ„t amoÌ„g the lords flock wheÌ„ he is moued with this ernest desier of holines althogh he haue none other witnes of his miÌ„d but god alon for when we muste come to this iudge then all hipocrisie fained shew of holines must be put away and the trueth purenes of the heart wil appear Minde we then to folowe the notable example of Dauid Let euery man entre into his own conscience and direct his praier vnto god and say O Lorde thou knowest that I do esteme the societie of thy churche more then al the goods of the world hereof also are we in this place to be admonished lest in sorowing mourning or complaining we byte the bridle and grudge at our state but direct our desires vnto him and powre forth our complaints as it were into his bosome which only can remedie our griefe and miseries And this must we knowe assuredly that this horrible corruption and confusion of religion which we see at this day in that the whole worship of god is corrupted the doctrine of the worde is adulterat depraued and altered al the sacramentes are contaminate defiled and peruerted is the greuous sore punishement of sins procedyng from gods most iust iudgement To whom then shal we flie for the redresse amendmeÌ„t of these so great euils that we may obteyne the pure doctrine of the sacraments cal vpon the name of god with libertie make coÌ„fession our faith but vnto him which doeth chastise vs with this so miserable want and losse of so great treasures Howbeit yet this greuous bitternes of pain punishment oght not so to alienat turne vs froÌ„ god that we shuld not come vnto him in whoÌ„ all succour mercy is only to be fouÌ„d Much lesse then may we kick against the pricke grudgyng disâ—â—yning which our selues to seke the remedy at his holsom haÌ„d who hath laide this greuous and dangerous plague vpoÌ„ vs. Dauid in dede knew right wel that he was banished from Iury not wtout gods prouideÌ„ce yet is he not thereby stayed nor letted to come vnto god to make his complaints vnto him not because his tentation was easie light for he semed vtterly to be cast of froÌ„ god if we only coÌ„sider the miserable state of this present life But his faith which he had in the promise made vnto him causeth him to surmont al difficulties holdeth him vp brigeth him into the coÌ„fidence that he praieth god to giue him the fruitioÌ„ of the thing coÌ„tinually which he had taken froÌ„ him but for a certaine space heare me thinke I haue sufficently applyed this doctrine vnto vs to the state condition of our times but that the wits of certen men ar so dul that nothing caÌ„ enter into their harts mindes vnles the matter proposed as the meate of most holsom doctrine be minced cheued made most small that so it may be offred to the stomake receiued Althogh to speake the matter plainly it is not the sklendernes of the capacity or the obscurenes of the doctrine which hindreth the vnderstaÌ„diÌ„g of these matters so much as their own wicked wils wherin thei wrap theÌ„selues seking al shiftes that thei can by their subteltie finde out to obscure that thing which is of it selfe cleare and euident But in this resistance yet finde we this coÌ„moditie that we are coÌ„pelled therby to declare more plainely diligently howe this doctrine which we haue pronounced doth also pertein vnto our age I do grant in dede that now there is no more material teÌ„ple vnto the which we must go to offer our sacrifice but that we are now the spiritual teÌ„ples that we mai in al places lift vp our hands to the heauen notwithstaÌ„ding the order maner of calling vpon god is alwaies one Niether may the inuocation be coÌ„pted amoÌ„gs the figures of the figures of the old testament but iudged and estemed as a most certain rule that our lord Iesus hath geuen vs to obserue vnto the ende Wherfore though the temple of Sion and the maner of the sacrifices then institute religiously obserued maketh some difference diuersitie betwixte vs Dauid yet surely in this point we are like vnto him that we cal vpon god pray vnto him publikely with one consent that we come into one common place to declare the confession of our faith We are not now as childreÌ„ to be kept vnder the skaliÌ„g of Moses law yet are we meÌ„ shal be so loÌ„g as god permitteth vs in this world Wherefore thogh the figures shadowes which had their force in the time of dauid do now nothiÌ„g pertein vnto vs yet haue we great necessity to be stirred vp drawen to the seruice of god both by the preachiÌ„g of the gospel the administratioÌ„ partipacioÌ„ of the sacrameÌ„ts Now if any will striue against this sentence order very experieÌ„ce mai be broght to coÌ„uince him For thei that haue most of al profited in religioÌ„ do most euidently declare in the course of their whole life the necessity of this godly helpe to be most mete profitable to releue their iÌ„firmitie We take not in hand here to dispute whether god can gouerne and leade his people wtout any inferiour aides or meanes but to declare howe his will is to gouerne and guide vs to reteyne vs in his true worship and seruice For this is certain that god of his great loue mercie seing our infirmitie and weakenes hath geuen vs as it were certain aydes stayes wherby we being weake
and feable might be stayed What foly I pray you and how great folishnes is this when we feele our feete to faile and our legges to bow vnder vs to contemne and despise these so great and necessarye helpes to prop stay our feete as though there were no profit at all of such thinges Wherefore what difference soeuer is betwene vs the Iewes yet must we know that this doctrine which Dauid here setteth forth is common for al. The name of the temple onely must be changed because that we are no more boūd nor tied to one certē place But as concerning the order maner to worship God truly which Dauid chiefly regarded that perteineth as much vnto vs as to hym Now proude men which haue a false opinion of themselfe wil not much regarde this exercise of religion order by God appointed that the faythfull shoulde come to one place to heare the worde of God to make publike prayers to vse and receiue the sacramentes But we thogh there came no profit only because it is the most holy institution of God himself wolde yet rest thervpon most wilingly and wold giue him most hearty thankes that it pleaseth him by such means to cherishe susteine our infirmitie how be it yet as we haue before declared we do feale the fruite of religiō which cometh vnto vs of this institution ordinance of god to be most abundant and moste excellent How so euer the matter is where as S paul declareth that this is thouly way which leadeth to the perfite blessed lyfe that we do remaine in the order of the church which Christ ordeined when he apointed pastors cursed be their pryde arrogancie which will fle in the ayre which their vaine speculations clymbe vp to heauen setting at noght al doctrine and sermons and vse of the sacramēts as thogh thei were such vaine ceremonies wherof small commoditie profit colde be receiued And heare deare brethrē I desyre you to considre marke of what maner of mē I do now speake For I do graunte vndouttedly that god dothe preserue his vnder the tyranny of Antichriste and that miserable captiuitie althoghe they do wante these aydes and helpes which we haue with greate libertie The worde of God is not preached vnto them neither haue they any place wherin it is lawfull to make profession of their faith yea the Sacraments are taken away from them But because thei seperate thēselues from the abhomination of Antichrist do syghe morne compte it an heauy burthen that they want those thīgs which they do compte most necessari to consolatiō comforth god by the vertue of his spirite worketh in thē supplieth their want But there be others which is the greattest parte of those that there do tary who thoghe thei be vtterly destitut of these most necessary comfortable thīgs yet are they veri well pleased being in extreme famine they haue no lust at all to eate Those are the men that feygne themselues great philosophers professe themselues hyghe clarkes which thinke it enoghe to know all that can be knowē if thei haue red ouer one leafe or twane These men thinke which thē selues that they haue no nede of preaching doctrine for as concerning the lords supper they thinke it maketh no matter at al vnto thē thogh thei neuer come neare vnto it And thei reiecte the outwarde policy of the churche to yong children as ouer base vnworthi for thē what I praie you may we iudge or say of this kinde of mē but that they are vtterly blinde in minde iudgment Yet notwtstanding they cā accuse vs because we exhorte them vnto whom God hath declared his will to vse those reasons means which God hath prepared to encrease our faith to confirme it to manteine the same vnto the last day of our life Why do thei so but that they can not abyde to be admonished by vs and to be wakened as it were forthe of slepe that they may haue some sauour and felyng of those euyls wherein they are Let vs thus iudge thinke of them that they do not worship nor reuerence Idoles with the other papists yet truly they can not denye but that it is a miserable bondage and by all means to be abhorred and auoyded that they can not be suffred not onlye to call vpon the name of God and Iesus Christe with any publyke testimony of their confession neyther yet to mention or acknowlege the same by any meanes The holye ghoste when he wolde wounde the consciences of the faithfull which were at Babilon most deply he giueth them this sentence to grate vpon how can we syng the prayses of the lorde in a strange lande I do graunte verely that the kingdom of God is now in euery place that there is now no difference betwixe Iury other contreyes yet do I thus plainly Iudge and pronounce that euery land contrey out of the which that order of true religiō holines is absent is worthy to be compted of vs strang polluted Then must this of necessitie be concluded that thei which are nothīg moued with ani grief of mīde or sorow of heart for this cause that thei cā make no protestatiō of their faith nether set forth publishe the praise of God by any means are all together oppressed with most grosse dulnes daising madnes Now the childrē of god must take hede be taught bi this admonition diligently to beware that they do not cast themselues into the same error daising of heart But as cōcerning thē which scornefully do bable question if ther be none other way to heauē but by Geneua wold to God thei had the heart care that in what place soeuer thei remain thei wold or colde haue some holy assemblies and cōgregations gathered in the name of Iesus Christ that thei wolde set vp in their own houses and their neibors the forme of suche a church as may be like thys of ours in some point How be it lo their great excellent wisdome that in dispising and casting away these stayes of religion saluation they will be counted religious to haue saluatiō This is as muche as if they sholde aske if they might saile into the hauen dryuing to the contrary side as far from the hauen as were possible for so do they tempting god and declininge from the way of saluation enquyre if thei can not com to saluation But let them make as bolde bragges take vnto them as high and stoute corage as they lyst that so resting vpon their powre and pryde they may fall down headlong to destruction so that faithfull men take that they be not puffed vp so proudly with them but that thei reteine themselfe in al modestie humilitie and reuerence And if ther be ani of them that can by no meanes lyue in Christs church yet let him do that thing which no
this word And if we do forget our dutie this negligence forgetfulnes cometh not herof that we not admonished of god most diligently called to all Christian duetye for god leaueth no meanes at all where in there may be any furtherance to religion to holines to saluacion Therfore let vs fear that rebuke which god vseth by the mouth of his prophet Esai I haue daily stretched forth myne armes vnto a stubburne rebellious people If thei which wander go astray by the desert places of the papistrie and that horrible wildernes shal not escape iust punishment and vengeāce because thei haue not folowed the right waye what maye we loke for which are broght vp norished at home like children in the eyes of our heauenly father Some hath leaft their most deare contrey and the place wherein thei wer borne broght vp that thei might come to some christen church Other hath gotten a greater benefite as it wer a special prerogatiue that it pleaseth god to visit thē in their own countrey as it were in their own nest Nowe if thei that are borne here wil not acknowledge this so great fauour of god meanes of saluacion most to be desired and with thankefull minds mindful harts testifie the same that thei may wholly giue consecrat thēselues vnto god that cometh so nigh vnto thē can this ingratitude remaine vnpunished Let them rather say thus O Lord thou hast here builded they temple set vp thine altar amongs vs grant we beseche thee for thine euerlasting goodnes and exceding mercy that grace vnto vs that we maye be purged in minde life and maners that we do not polute thy holy gifts with the filthy spottes of our sinnes so turne the excellent glorye of thy benefits into reproche shame And thei which do come from far countreyes must be ware wise and diligent that they do liue so godly blameles as becometh men in the house of god Thei might haue liued in other places wildly wantonly neither should thei forsake the papistrie for this end that thei shuld leade a dissolute life not comely for the gospel in the church of god And surely there be some to whō it had ben much better that thei had broken their neckes when thei set that first fote forth of their dores then that thei shuld entre into this churche to behaue them selues therin so shamefully wickedly Some linck themselues with the scorners mockers and so confirme thē more more in their malice Other do liue most rietously in meate drinke and al kinde of pleasures Some as enemies of all peace and concorde couet nothing but discorde debate and brallings And there be some families wherin the man wife do braule striue like dogs and catts And certein will seme yonge princes encreasing amplifiyng their state without measure geuen wholly to pompe to costlynes to excesse of thys worlde And others are so idle so deynty so delicate that thei can not tell what it is to labor and yet no liuing can satisfie them Finallye there be some sklanderous backbiters which coulde fynde some faute euen with the verye angels who ready to brest with their manifolde vices set all their holines only in thys that thei requier a strait accompte how their neighbors do liue supposing that God is muche in their debt because they are come to Geneua as though it had not bene better for them most filthyly to haue corrupted in their owne donge then to geue suche offences in the churche of God Wherefore if the lyfe by passed haue bene ful of such vyces synnes now let euery man take care and diligence that he conuert and bestow all the residue of his tyme to a better more sobex and more honest kynde of lyfe And yf there be any so hardened in their vices that they can by no meanes be corrected nor amended yet the chyldren of God muste confirme and arme them selues with thys doctrine that they be not corrupted or infected wyth the noughtye and wicked life of others Verelye we oughte alwayes to take it heauenly and to lament when we do see the Churche of GOD prophaned and defyled wyth so manye fylthy blottes and malicious wyckednesse But seing that we muste heare lyue conuersaunt wyth the wycked as the Corne is mixed wyth the Chaffe let vs suffer thys confusion wyth all pacience and quietnes whiles that god shall take vs clean away frō the cōpany of the wicked For it is no doubt but that this churche wherin we are is like a touch stone appointed to trie many men to make thē knowen How so euer the matter be let vs now bende our selfes to this minde purpose seing god by his wonderful and infinite mercy hath gathered vs home into his familie from that miserable wāderyng that we bestow al our diligence vpon purenes of life innocency and holynes abhorryng from all polution of the worlde which maye spot or blemishe the profession of an holy christen lyfe that after we haue ended the course of this life the Lorde Iesus at that great and glorious day may acknowledge vs and accompte vs amonges that company that haue called vpon his name purely and truly without any vntruth or hypocrisie The fourth Sermon VVHEREIN IT IS DECLARED with howe great paines and care the liberty to worship God purely in some christian church oght to be sought taken forth of this sentence of the .27 Psalme My heart hath sayde of thee seeke ye my face Thy face wyll I seeke O Lorde LYke as men caste themselues into horrible confusion when they louse the bridle to their concupiscence and lusts runnyng at ryot whyther they lust euen so is it a rare most high wisdom to search forth the commaundements of god and to embrace and folow them with the whole heart diligence Wherof we haue in this place an excellent exāple most worthy to be folowed For Dauid was not fre nor voyde altogether of those perturbations of the minde whereby we are sore enticed and driuen the contrary way but he doutles was moued with such tentations wherby hys spirite myghte wander and go astray from God Howe be it to fynde a remeady against al such occasions wherby we fall from the feare of God and true holines to keape the sure waye he doth onli regarde that which God doth declare vnto hym that doth he meditate and ponder in his mind And to declare this precepte admonition in few wordes God doth styre al the faithful and exhorte them to seeke his face Nowe Dauid witnesseth that he hath so aplied all his dilygence in obseruing and keaping this cōmandement that there is a goodly harmony cōsent agreement betwixt god that thus speaketh and commandeth Seke ye my face and him that answereth so my lord I wyll seeke thee But heare muste we consider wherfore God putteth this name face expressedly For if he had no face but as
that he did meditate this doctrine in his heart wherby he and al the faithfull are admonished to seke the face of god doth declare vnto vs to what thing we ought to applye our study and diligence that god calling vs vnto him lose his labour altogether vpon vs. And in this doctrine there be two poynts most worthy to be marked The first is that so soone as God had thus spoken commanded Seke my face he answereth with most earnest affection vnto this worde The second is that after he hath consented to the precept of god affirmed it he promiseth that he will seke the face of god in dede in worke diligence shewe the same And surelye this is the order that we muste kepe in worshippyng of god first of al to giue accesse entrie to the worde and commaundement of god as we ar taught in another psal Yf you do here his voice this dai hardē not your harts But very few ar foūd which embraceth the cōmandements of god of this mīd thogh the most part wil sai after this sort vse the like answer truli it is our duty we oght not nor cā not speak against it But that wherunto thei agre with their mouthes is far awai frō entrīg percīg into their minds Therfore let vs learn hereby to lay the beginning of our religiō that we do answere vnto god truly vnfeindly that we do fully vnderstād fele his most excellēt benefit when he calleth vs so mercifully to behold his face When this sense felīg hath thus touched the hart prepared it it cā not be but that the other part of religiō duty shal straight waies folow which is a power to performe that the which we do know to be most iustly cōmanded of god to belōg to our singuler cōmoditie For Dauid had no cold nor dead meditatiō wtout any mocion or applicatiō of the whole life to be bestowed ī the seking beholdīg of the face of god But so sone as he hath determined that he oght to seke god he goth forward with this protestatiō that he wil prosecut this desire of his hart with al diligēce wherin thei must nedes be much ashamed which professe thēselues christiās nether haue that desire of hart nor good mociō nether yet apply nor exercise thēselues in the duty of life which depēdeth therevpō But some wil sai thus that it is not lawful for thē to forsak their contrie wherin thei ar born althogh thei be destitute of the fode of life nothīg be sene ther but an horrible desolatiō whereby the hole order of the church is deformed or rather destroied Whi so lest thei break their allegiance thei say the which thei do ow to their natural ciuil gouernor I wil answer to this their excuse ī few words I do ask of thē this thīg only if thei wer ī such penury wāt of liuing that thei had nothīg at home to eate drīk wold ani such dout stai thē in those places ther is no mā truly which wolde not ask pardō to forsake his contrey that he starue not for hūgre I wil also put this case which is of no necessity if ther shuld be offred vnto thē in a strāge cōtrei syxe times so much riches as thei haue ī their own ther shuld nothīg stai thē frō that iorney that thei might attain such possessiōs What nede thei then to brīg such cloks coloured excuses seing that it is euident plain that their talke is far awaye from that they do feele in their owne conscience We treate not this matter that they may be letted with nothing but that thei maye pray holily purely profitably for this prince all his subiectes Now such a Iornay plainely taken to such a place cā be no more crimninal thē others which are taken for the cōmodities apportunitie of this present life which no man cā blame ī any point But let vs farther se if this necessitie do sufficiently excuse them Behold it is the lorde which commādeth saith Seeke you my face The ciuilemagestrates now fall frō god decline away most farre do cōpell others to the same desection rebellion or at the leaste doe depryue the miserable soules of their daily fode and rayse vp the inuētions of supersticious Idolatries in the stead of the face of God Is it righte in this point to preferre mortall men to the liuing and immortal God If God must be obeyed they oght rather to trauail in to all the coastes of the world to seeke his face wher he doth shew it thē to lye lurking pyning in ther nestes whāsoeuer then the princes cōmand or enterprise anithīg preiudiciall vnto him that hath the chief authoritie power ouer thē vpō euery one of thē ther is no iniury done vnto thē thogh mē do not obey thē Althogh besydes that which I haue now spokē such mē do suffeciently declare that thei neuer haue considered nor ponderred what is ther state cōdition how miserable and filthy is that captiuitie wherin they are reteined oppressed Onles their cōsciēce were altogether broght a sleepe it were not possible but that they should be in continual angrish grief of minde as great as if their body were in paine torment For what libertie haue they to honour God in their famylyes houses by any means As for an example If any of thē haue a child borne his deuty is to offre him to God with prayer thankesgeuing and to require that his bodi may be sygned with baptisme which is the sygne of saluaciō Now we do know that baptisme is so corrupt ī the papistri so defiled with such superstion pollution that the child can not receiue it but that he is streight wais polluted defiled So that the father cā not baptize the infant wtout syn And if he abstein he synneth likewise althoghe it were in nothīg els yet in this point that he giueth offence vnto mē omitting neglecting the sacramēt which the son of god hath institute In what perplexitie then standeth his minde that the matter cā neither be done nor vndone but that god must most greuously be offended I do not rehearse their other incōmedities miseries for this only example is more thē sufficient to declare their miserable state and cōdition Now whan a man hath bene in this miserable perplexitie all his life longe vncertane whether to turne himselfe yet at the deathe must he loke for most greauous assaltes tentations for then certainly satā wil heape together al hys ar tillarye of this miserable captiue was letted before that he colde not serue god for the sollicitude care of his wife familie then at the point of death his state is most miserable Wherfore thei which doute whether thei may rid themselues forthe of this mire or rather forth of this helly pitte vnder a certaine