vs now then because our Lord Iesus held his peace he dyd it to this ende that he might now fréely make intercession for vs vnto God his father and although we are but miserable wormes yet haue we accesse to God to call famyliarly vpō him which open mouth to chalenge him for our father And this is it which he ment to shew vs saying Heereafter shall you see the son of man sitting at the right hand of the power of God We must therfore let slip all regard which might bring with it any offence when as we sée our Lorde Iesus to be thus abased And let vs also sée what the ende of it was His meaning then was to bee condemned without resistaunce before the iudgment seat of God that we might frankly go thither without feare Let vs therefore in summe learne that as often as we heare the passion of the history recited vnto vs so to sigh and grone since the sonne of God must néedes so wonderfully suffer for vs as that in the meane while we tremble at his maiestie vntill such time as he appeareth vnto vs and be so fully resolued that when soeuer he shal come it shal make vs effectually to féele the frute which he hath purchased vnto vs by his death and passion And besids let vs feare to be of the number of such as he thus threatneth saying Heereafter shall you see For it is méete that the wicked and reprobate should féele how terrible the iudgement seat of God is and how great his power is to throw them headlong into hell when as he setteth him selfe against them And when Saint Paul also wil speake of the condemnatiō which the wicked cursed of God shal abide he saith that they shal tremble feare at the countenaunce of his infinite maiestie Since thē it is so let vs learne to humble our selues before our Lord Iesus 2. Thes 1.9 let vs not looke to beholde with the eye the maiestie which he wyll shew at his last comming but let vs looke vpon him at this day as our King and as he is head of the Angelles and of all creatures and receiue him as our souereigne Prince giuing vnto him that honour which to him belongeth knowing that since he is made our wisdome redemption rightuousnesse and holinesse in God his father that to him wee must giue all praise 1. Cor. 30. and be filled with the fulnesse which we must draw out of him And therfore let vs be well aduised to doo this honour vnto our Lord Iesus Christ although we sée not at this day his iudgment seat set vp but let vs beholde it with the eyes of faith and beséeche God to inlightē vs with his holy spirite that we may be strengthened to call vpon him in the last hour so that it may carye vs beyonde all our wittes and vnderstandings that we might so glorifie our Lorde Iesus Christ at this day as he deserueth And this is the effect which we are to kéepe in minde But as concerning that which is sayde that Cayphas and the Priestes condemned him to death let vs learne not to feare the obstinate bouldnesse of the vngodlye and enemies of the trueth Now this is a very necessary doctrine for vs at this day for wee sée the mightie men of this world with open mouth speake euill of the Gospell yea we sée some euen amidst vs which professe the Gospel and would be taken for people reformed and from whom as it should séeme there commeth nothing els out of their mouths but the Gospell who notwithstanding lyke Deuilles incarnate or rather lyke wylde and cruell beastes whom Satan possesseth do condemne the doctrine of the Gospell And we néede not go verie far to sée al these things Wherfore that we might be strengthned against such offences and learne alwaies to glorifie our God Let Cayphas and such lyke vomit out their blasphemies as much as they lust and say that Iesus Christ is worthy of death must hold his peace at such a poynt because it is naught And let them also infect the ayre with their villanous and damnable blasphemies neuer so much yet let vs hold vs to this saying of our Lord Iesus Christ that although we at this day so falsely condemne his trueth and stand in doubt of it and that it be also falsified euill spoken of and turned cleane contrary to the meaning thereof yet is he strong and mightie inough to defende it and let vs paciently looke for his apparaunce for our redemption And in the meane while let vs al learne to humble our selues giue hym all the glory since it was his wyll so to abase him selfe and to make him selfe of no reputation in the world for our saluation Let vs now fall downe before the maiestie of our good God and acknowledge our offences beséeching him to cause vs more more so to féele them as that wee may bee brought with true confession to séeke for the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ as behoueth vs to doo come vnto hym lyke famished hungry soules make accompt that the benefits which he hath purchased for vs are not to be valued to the end to make vs féele our selues to bee so much the more bound vnto him that we might thereby be stirred vp to giue our selues wholy to worship him and be displeased with our sins iniquities vntil such time as we be euen ashamed of them and that God hath mercy compassion vpon vs and not suffer vs when we are once come vnto hym neuer to forsake hym but to be more and more confirmed towardes him and not to care for what soeuer offences the Deuil shal lay before vs and that we might in such sort perseuer vnto the ende in the confession of his Gospell as that our Lorde Iesus Christ might acknowledge and allow vs at the latter day for his Schollers Now that it would not onely please hym to bestow vpon vs this grace c. The fourth Sermon of the passion Matthew Cap. xxvi 67 Then spatte they in his face and buffeted him and other smot him with their roddes 68 Saying prophesie vnto vs O Christ who is he that smote thee 69 Peter sate without in the hall and a Mayde came vnto hym sayinge thou also waste with Iesus of Galyle 70 But hee denied before them all sayinge I woat not what thou sayest 71 And when he went out into the Porche another Mayde saw hym and sayde vnto them that were there this man was also with Iesus of Nazareth 72 And againe he denied with an othe sayinge I knowe not the man 73 So after a while came vnto him they that stood by and sayd vnto Peter Surely thou art also one of them for euen thy speach bewraieth thee 74 Then began he to curse himselfe and to sweare sayinge I knowe not the man and immediatlye the Cocke crew 75 Then Peter remembred the wordes of Iesus whiche had sayde vnto
haue bestowed one péece of it in this place and another in that and haue diuided it euen as pleased themselues and whereas Iesus Christe shoulde haue béene onely exalted and the Prophetes and Martyrs made of no estimation in respect of him they haue turned all cleane contrary Wherefore séeing we are inclined to this sinne to magnifie Creatures and to robbe Christ Iesus of his glory Let vs so muche the rather remember that which is said That Iohn baptized with water to shew that if we would haue any grace we must neither goe to Peter nor yet to Iohn Iohn 1.15 3.34 but to Iesus Christ of whom it is saide that he receiued the grace of God full and whole to shewe that we must come to him alone Moreouer héerein hath béen occasion taken to say that the baptisme of Iohn was imperfect but this is plain deceite for the meaning of Iohn when he spake so was not to declare the truth of the Sacrament which hee administred but onely to shewe the difference that was betwéene him Iesus Christe And therefore although the sacrament of Baptisme which Iohn administred and the Sacrament which Iesus Christ administred was al one tended to one the selfesame end yet Iohn declared that it was not in his power to make baptisme of any force But that Iesus Christe must do it And therefore it is not to be doubted but that he administred true baptisme For we looke not to the signe but to the truth and yet the signe agréeeth with the trueth of Iesus Christ But the principall matter which we haue to consider of in Baptisme consisteth vpon two points that is that we haue put of the old Adam and are renued vnited to Iesus Christ cleansed of al our spots when God forgiueth vs our sinnes And this is the summe effect of Baptisme Mat. 3.2 8. Mar. 1.4 Luke 3.3 8. Let vs now consider if Iohn did not al this It is most certaine that he did For he came preached remissiō of sins baptized to that end purpose Moreouer whē he baptized he preached repentance which importeth as much as we haue said That wee our selues must be mortified this corruptiō which wee receiued frō Adam must be put of that the righteousnes of god might reigne in vs. And so when as we haue thrust out all the corruption we can yet shal we find nothing els in vs But what we must make a difference betwéene the person of the Minister and the person of Iesus Christ In déed this is true that when we speake of baptisme as it is in it self Acts. 9.18 it is a washing away of our sinnes How so Because by it we are cōfirmed ingraffed into Iesus Christ that we might be cleansed liue by his mighty power For so saith the scripture as may be séen whē Annanias baptized Paul who said to him come and wash away thy sins And whē baptisme is spokē of we speake not only of the signe but of the thing signified to wit that we are acceptable to God through the forgiuenesse of sinnes and renued by his holy spirit to the ende we might no longer liue to our selues and as we lust Wherfore doo wée saye that all this is within the compasse of Baptisme forsooth because the commission of Iesus Christ is most certaine and sure and hee performeth that inwardlye whiche is outwardlye signified for otherwise it were but a may game if the truth were not ioyned together with the signe Thus we sée how God ioyneth the truth with the signe to the end wée might vnderstand and know that as the visible signe signifieth a thing euen so also receiue we the graces therein signified And the like may bée saide of the Supper For when wee come to the supper looke how the minister distributeth to vs the bread and wine euen so doth Iesus Christ make vs partakers of his body blood that we might bee truly and indéede his members and by that meane we may say that the supper is a partaking of the body and blood of our Lorde Iesus But when wee shall come to handle by péece meale the thing which mortall man doth we must then looke what power and authoritie he hath As when I baptise to wit whether haue I the holy ghost in my sléeue to giue or not or when I celebrate the holy supper haue I the body blood of our Lord Iesus to giue to whom it liketh mée Now this were ouer great arrogancy to attribute that to mortall men which properly belongeth to Iesus christ And therfore let vs not take from Iesus Christ the office of baptising with the holy ghost For as I take water to baptize euen so doth Iesus Christ accomplishe the thinge which I signifie by his owne power and might Wherefore let vs mark the saying of Saint Iohn I baptise with water saith hée and Iesus Christ baptiseth with the holy ghost Thus we sée what we haue héere already handled and shal be more throughly in the eleuenth chapter Moreouer it is for vs thus to make aunswer to witte Acts. 11.16 that wée cannot fulfyl the things wherof we make a shew And yet neuerthelesse we must assure our selues this that God accomplisheth that which is signified by the signe and as by the water is signified the washing away of sinnes euen so doth he accomplish it by his blood And thus we sée how we must distinguish betwéene the person of our Lord Iesus Christ and the person of the Minister to the ende euery man might haue his degrée and measure and wée to know that Iesus Christ is the fountaine of all perfection Moreouer this is certaine that whē Iohn said that Iesus Christ should baptize with the holie Ghost and with fire this doth not restrain Mat. 3.11 but that the holy Ghost did once appeare in the same shape For this promise hath byn already performed and shal take place vnto the worldes end Let vs then consider that when the holy Ghost was visibly sent vnto the Apostles it was to signifie vnto vs that the Church should bée alwayes gouerned by the holie Ghost should fill vs with so many of his graces as were néedfull In very déede we shal neuer haue them in ful perfection because it is néedful that we should be humbled For if wée shoulde haue them in ful perfection what would become of vs Surely we would neuer haue anie care to call vpon God neither yet once thinke that wée stoode in néede of him And therefore it is méete wée shoulde alwayes féele the want of his benefites to the end wée might bée stirred vp to beséech him liberally to bestow them on vs. But by the way let vs vnderstand that wée are all baptized with the holy Ghost and with fire and that Iesus Christ will in no wise that his Sacramentes should bée receiued in vayne of his faithful ones In déed although a man bée baptized
aydeth vs. Rom. 5. 4. Thus we sée that although God deliuereth vs not foorthwith yet leaueth he not vs euer languishing For so long as we are able to say that we haue life God promiseth to assist vs against all assalts and to deliuer vs howbeit we must warre against all the temptatioÌ„s of our flesh so long as we are in this world That is very true But if we looke into the shortnes of our life shal we finde it to be of any long continuance No 2. Pet. 3.8 For a thousand yeares are as but one day with God If we coÌ„sider theÌ„ of this it wil be no charge vnto vs to abide it all our life long Let vs now sée wherefore hée said that it should be within a short time after And so let vs learne to make our profit vpon this place which is not onely to vnderstand that Iesus Christ spake it to his Apostles but that it was also spoken to vs. True it is that we receiue not the holy Ghost in a firie maner and yet this office was not giuen to Iesus Christ in vaine and we haue also the power thereof neither hath hée taken Baptisme a way with him But euen as hée hath left vs the signe so likewise is it eftsoones a manifest proofe that he will alwayes bée present with vs to make this Sacrament availeable vnto vs by his holie spirite And we must also acknowledge that we are altogether polluted to the ende we might goe to Iesus Christ and bée made cleane by him In déed this counsell would neuer come from our selues and therefore must God by the admonitions which he hath set downe for that purpose bring vs to Iesus Christ for the finding out of the trueth of Baptisme And let vs noâ— be 〈◊〉 foolish as to thinke that any creature is able to helpe vs But let vs goe directly on to Iesus Christ and acknowledge him to be wholy ours Surely when it is saide That he baptizeth although we sée him to be far froÌ„ vs aduanced vnto this excelleÌ„t maiesty aboue al other creatures a man would thinke that this might bée an occâ—sion for vs to mistrust but because hée is our brother wée haue a ready way to come vnto him Let vs therefore beléeue that hée will stand to his promise and that whatsoeuer hée hath said is vndoubtedly true and besides that it will not bée long too Wherefore when wée haue abidden a day let vs also bée ready to tarrie a moneth and looke vnto that euerlasting kingdome and so without doubt wée shall not onely steppe for ward but also continue to goe on vntil such time as wée haue attained vnto the marke which is set before vs. And according to this doctrine let vs fall downe before the face of our good God and beséech him not to punishe vs for our sinful life past but so renue vs with his holy spirit as that we cease not marching on vntil such time as we be come vnto this glorie wherof he hath already giuen vs some taste and féeling And so let vs say O Almighty God and heauenly Father c. The third Sermon of the Ascention Actes first 6 VVHen they therefore were come together they asked of him saying Lorde wilte thou at this time restore the kingdome of Israel 7 And hee saide vnto them it is not for you to knowe the times and the seasons which the father hath put in his owne power 8 But yee shall receyue power after that the holy Ghost is come vpon you and yee shal bee witnesses vnto mee both in Hierusalem in all Iurie and in Samaria and euen vnto the worldes ende IF wée could enter into the consideration of our weakenesse whenas God forsaketh vs we should doe our selues greate good Nowe vnder this woorde weaknesse I meane all our vices and imperfections as very féeble thinges and easily to bée ouercome with euery temptation according to the corruption and peruersenesse of our grose wits and mindes Wherefore whenas wée shal haue déepely considered of these thinges wée must pray vnto God and beséech him to haue an eye to the remedying of all the miseries wherunto wée are subiect Thus we sée I say how wée shal greatly profite our selues by the consideration of these things We haue therfore to note the matter which Saint Luke setteth downe héere in this place because hée declareth how grosse mynded the Apostles were hauing béen taught by the space of thrée whole yéeres from the mouth of our Lorde Iesus Christ all whatsoeuer belonged to their saluation Héere then wée sée that they are like vnto young Schollers as if they had neuer vnderstood one woord of that which was taught them And what is the reason Forsooth wée should bée continually vnable to any goodnesse without GOD shoulde firste correct this ignoraunce which is a thing that ought greatly to humble vs. And therefore wée must vnderstand that our hearing of whatsoeuer is saide vnto vs will bée to no purpose and that because it is spoken as vnto a Blocke vntil such time as God taketh away the grosnesse of our corrupt nature for els wée shall neuer vnderstand what hée saith vnto vs by reason his woord is farre beyong our reach Neither néed wée any other proofe to coÌ„demne the ignorance of the Apostles theÌ„ their own words For the questioÌ„ which they asked Iesus Christ was foolish of no valure but only a superfluous curiosity whenas they saide vnto him wilt thou at this time restore the kingdoÌ„ of Israel now by saying at this time they declared that they would eueÌ„ at the first dash haue come to honor without any more paynes taking whereas they were called to take paines for the plaÌ„ting of the gospel throughout the world they wold in no wise away with that but be forth with filled with al maner of prosperity with was a double fault besides wheÌ„ they spake of the Kingdome they â—ayled also in that For they thought our Lorde Iesus Christ should haue béen an earthly King and reigne after the manner of worldly Princes and so they being neare about him should take no paine nor haue any harme but liue honourably with great offices and in high dignitie And they fayled also in naming of Israel because they restrained the grace of God to Israel which hée had promised to all the world Thus we sée that they spake neuer a word which was not false and erronious Moreouer Iesus Christ reproued them with the answere which hée made them and although hée saide not flatly you are deceiued yet the wordes which hée vsed declare no lesse but that hée spake them to their reproofe when as hée saide It is not for you to know the times and the seasons which the Father hath put in his owne power hée reproued them of this fonde curiositie for where they shoulde haue enquired after some necessarie or profitable matter their mindes roued at curious thinges and of no valure Howbéeit we must
shall neuer perish as hée himself hath said Iohn 6.39 10.28 Wherfore let vs submit our selues vnto our lord Iesus Christ if we will féele the benefite accomplishment of the thing which S. Luke here speaketh of to our saluation to wit that God doth not onely speake to our eares his voice resounde in the ayre But his doctrine also pearseth our heartes that wée might be so enflamed perboyled renued as that we might cast away the corruptions of this world So that as we would be taken allowed for his people we might in trueth call vpon our God in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ vnto whō we are conioyned to this end that he might perfectly vnite vs vnto God his father And therfore behold why this holy Table is at this present made readie for vs. For as I haue before said we cannot possibly be partakers of any of the graces of the holy Ghost but by being the members of our Lord Iesus Christ Now how can we attain therto without he offer himself vnto vs biddeth vs vpon such a condition as truely ioyneth vs vnto him and he so dwelleth in vs as that whatsoeuer hée hath is oures whereby we might enioy the benefites which were graunted to him in our name Isaiah 11.2 It is said in the prophesie of Isaiah That the spirit of God rested on him howbeit it was not because he had any néed of the same nor yet for his own priuate vse But it was for the benefite of his whole body to wit the whole Church Let vs then know that since the Supper is at this time offred vnto vs that the meaning of our Lord Iesus is that we shoulde séeke all our felicitie in him And because we are very farre from him he of his great goodnesse commeth neare to vs. In very déed hée leaueth not his heauenly glory For we must not thinke that hée descendeth héere below as the Papists imagine to bestowe his body and blood vpon vs But although wée are farre from him yet ceaseth hée not to refresh vs with his body and blood neyther let vs leaue so farre foorth as shall be néedefull for vs to bée perfectly vnited to him Nowe marke why I say perfectly although in very déede hée maketh vs go on in some measure but yet how euer it is let not vs leaue to ioyne our selues to him And let vs vnderstand that hee will not deceiue vs of our hope séeing hee hath declared vnto vs that hée is our head and wée his members and that if wée suffer him to gouerne and guide vs wée shall finde him to bée a good and sure guide and the power of his holy Spirite to bée infinite to defend vs. In the first place then when wée come to this holy Table Let vs vnderstand that it is a secrete surpassing our capacities and therefore wee must héere giue place vnto faith And let vs know that the thing which wée cannot conceiue and vnderstand is notwithstanding accomplished by the secret and inuisible grace of the holy Ghost for sée how we are made partakers of the body blood of our Lord Iesus Christe Moreouer since hée dwelleth in vs and that wée are truly and in déed his body let vs not doubt but that whatsoeuer Isaiah speaketh of the graces of the holy Ghoste they belong and are proper vnto vs In very déede wee receiue not the holy Ghoste perfectly Ephe. 4.7 because there is a measure of the gift according to the saying of Saint Paule and wée must increase in it more more Besides it is not without cause that our Lorde Iesus hath so distributed it to vs by certaine and sure portions and degrées For it is néedefull that his power shoulde bee made perfect in our weakenesse to the end wée might hang alwayes vpon him 2. Cor. 12.9 and carefully call vpon his holy name that wée myght also bée humbled because wee know that there are many things in vs which may be amended Wée see then that wee should vnderstand that Iesus Christ dwelleth not in vaine in vs because hee will effectually witnesse vnto vs that his holy Spirite will powre foorth his power to strengthen vs in him that we might forsake this world and come vnto heauen It is said in that place of Isaiah That the Spirit of wisedome rested vpon him by which hée meaneth to shew that we are nothing but darknesse and miserable blinde foules and in steed of thinking our selues to be both able and skilfull wee shal alwaies peruert and falsifie the trueth of God vntill such time as hée inlightened vs and graunted vs an heauenly cléerenes which commeth not vnto vs either by birth or yet by inheritance And it is said besides that he hath the spirite of the feare of God and al because our desires are so many enimies against the will of God vntill such time as they be refourmed Rom 8.7 and altogether chaunged Besides it is said also that he hath the spirite of power to the ende we might vnderstand our weakenesse so that we coulde not choose but quaile if we were not strengthened from aboue wée shoulde then feele al these things whenas we should come to the receiuing of the testimonie which is héere set downe vnto vs and we should be persuaded that as mortall men distribute the bread and wine euen so will our Lord Iesus worke therein because it is done by his authoritie in his name is no deuised thing of mans braine but that Iesus Christe is the Authour thereof Thus we sée wherunto we must apply this history Moreouer let vs bée so vnited vnto this head as that wee may worship our God with one heart and one mouth and in the meane while let vs ioyne our selues together For it is not said that the apostles ioyned with all in one accord Because al the whole towne of Ierusalem was an enimie vnto them and yet although they were but few in number and a contemptible people they ceased not to persist and ioyne themselues together vnder the Ensigne or banner of God in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ Euen so thē séeing there are such a number of Curre Dogges barking against vs and that the Diuell raiseth vp so diuersly many troubles let vs ioyne our selues together so much the more constantly and let not the bond of our concord bée loosed Rom. 12.18 that wée may by that meane be able to set our selues against Satan all his supporters True it is that we ought generally to séeke for peace with all men without exception For we should loue those which hate and persecute vs and wish them good although they deserue it not and yet wee must be their enimies for otherwise we should separate our selues from Iesus Christe And therefore let vs set our selues against all the world and let vs besides vnderstand that we must forsake our selues to be ioined to our Lorde Iesus Christe and he doth
vseth these tearmes yet doeth he it only to fit himself vnto the time wherin he was because we shuld not say but that we haue a greater measure of knowledge For to say truely GOD neuer shewed himselfe so manifestly in the olde Testament as hée hath nowe doone to vs by Iesus Christe For where God had appointed the offerings to bée sacrificed in the old Lawe which were but figures and shadowes to bée oftentimes vsed that it might bée séene that men could not come néere vnto God but by the meane of a Mediator wée haue at this present the personall presence of the Mediator himself who once for all hath fulfilled euery thing by his alone Sacrifice And therefore there is nowe no Sacrifice to bée doone for the purging and sanctifiyng of sinnes Mala. 1.11 but onely the Sacrifice of thankesgiuing vnto our GOD who therewith is well pleased through our Lorde Iesus Christe And although it is said in the Scripture that at the comming of our Lord Iesus Christe Altars shoulde bée set vp throughout the whole worlde to Sacrifice vnto the Lorde our God yet must wée leaue the figure and rest in the trueth For inasmuch as the Altar was a signe of the worship of God because it is saide that Sacrifice should bée doone all the worlde through the meaning is that God shoulde vniuersally bee worshipped No doubt of it the Pope with all his Colledge of Cardinalls and all other his deare friendes the Romanistes wyll conclude vppon this place that there must néedes bée Sacrifices had And therefore when they woulde haue their Masse allowed they bring in this testimony of the Scripture Howbeit if it were so as they make themselues beléeue Surely surely they muste néedes conclude that Iesus Christe hath not yet appeared nor that his kingdome is yet come Neuerthelesse wée sée the contrary And therefore séeing the Prophets haue thus said it is not only to shew that God should be vniuersally worshipped in spirite trueth and not in figures Moreouer héere is to bée noted that the saying of Prophesie is not meant by the Prophet to tell of things to come as in the olde time it was taken but the meaning is that whosoeuer shal haue the gift of Prophesie shoulde bée able to teache and apply doctrine to the ende wee might bée brought to the knowledge of the trueth and profite therby And so the promise that was made vnto vs of the cōming of Iesus Christ conteyneth thus much that we should be more déeply séene in heauēly things then heretofore we haue béen For we sée in very déede that S. Paul calleth it the wisdome of God ◠Cor. 2. vnder which all things should be subiect Wée are nowe therefore briefly to conclude vpon all things That as our Lord in sending Iesus Christe his sonne into the worlde to make vnto vs a more liuely assurance of our saluation Euen so by sending vnto vs his holy spirite hée hath made vs greater partakers of his graces then euer hée did before The Prophet Ioel soone after setteth downe in this place That God will doe wonderful things in heauen aboue and signes in the earth belowe blood fire and vapour of smoke that the Sunne shall bee turned into darkenes and the Moone into blood These wordes shewe that greate and maruellous things must come to passe whenas Iesus Christ shall manifest himselfe And why so Forsooth because the the worlde shall then bée changed For they which woulde followe Iesus Christe must wholy alter their nature And therefore is the comming of our Lorde Iesus Christe called the latter dayes Moreouer this is not spoken for a day or for a moneth But the Prophet referreth all that is héere spoken vnto the whole time frō the comming of our Lorde Iesus Christe vntill the day of iudgement so that wée must inclose the wonders which shall bée doone at the comming of our Lorde Iesus Christe from the time of his comming vnto the last day And to say truely the forwarder wee goe the greater thinges will hée doe as wee dayly finde by experience Nowe that we vnderstand the meaning of the Prophete let vs apply the same to our owne vse For where it is said in the first place that God will powre out his spirite vpon all flesh we are to consider that the greatest benefite which we can possibly haue is to bée partakers of the graces of his holy spirite And this is the most excellent gift which God bestoweth vpon vs in respect wherof all the worldly liberalitie which he rendreth vnto vs is nothing For whensoeuer wée are bereaued of this gift Iesus Christe is taken from vs and vntill suche time as wée are clothed with him all whatsoeuer wée doe tendeth to our condemnation Wherefore God saith that we cannot be his children without wee bee bedeawed and sprinkled with his holy spirite Nowe if wee bée not his children wée shall neuer be partakers in the communitie of Iesus Christe For although God offereth vnto vs his graces yet is Iesus Christ nothing vnto vs vntill such time as wée haue receiued the holy Ghoste Let vs then conclude héereupon that vnto the time that wee are partakers of the holy Ghost wée are reprobate and the children of perdition because it is hée which sanctifieth and maketh vs holy in the sight of God So then vntil such time we be as called by the knowledg of the holy scripture which wée can no way haue but by the gift of the holy ghost to lift vp our mindes on high wée are fast tyed to the earth as if it were in Hell And héereupon it is that Saint Paule speaketh when he saith Rom. 8.14 That they which haue receiued the holy Ghost guiding themselues according to the will of God declared in his word are I say the children of God and they without all doubt are the children of the Diuell who following their carnall affections giue themselues ouer to their pleasure and delight Thus we sée how necessary a thing it is for all those that would bee acccounted the children of GOD to haue the knowledge of Gods trueth Moreouer wée cannot excuse our selues if wée receiue not his graces because hée offereth them vnto al but wée are so accursed as that we forsake the benefite which hée would bestowe vpon vs. And héerein is knowne the goodnesse of God to vs warde that although wée striue alwaies against his will yet ceaseth hée not for all that to offer himselfe vnto all as it is héere said by the Prophet That young and olde men and women shal all receiue of one and the selfe same spirite And it is to this end that no man might bée able truely say O Sir I am vtterly vnlearned and therefore it is impossible for one to vnderstand the Scriptures whereby I might receiue the holy ghost Why I beséech you hath God promised vnto the learned alone the grace of his holy spirite to none other Nowe surely this is a very
strange kinde of excuse And therefore when wée sée that God so liberally dealeth as that hée will neither exclude age nor sexe from receiuing of the holy ghoste are not wée very accursed to withdraw ourselues from him when as hée is desirous to come néere vs And to say the truth the prophesie that is héere spoken of is to be accomplished at the comming of our Lorde Iesus Christe Wherfore since he at this day hath all power and dominion it must néedes bée manifested wée must also vnderstand that the thing which was foretolde is most true And therfore since the thing that was spoken of hath so manifestly appeared cursed are we if wée doe not our best to walke in the feare of the Lorde and receiue the graces whiche hee offereth vs. Wée haue alredye saide that hée taketh exceptions too none Howbeit wée are so wicked as that wée cannot take in good part the thing offered vnto vs. What is the cause thereof surely surely our infidelitie Wherefore neither young nor old can excuse themselues of this fault in not submitting themselues vnto the obedience of God séeing hée hath called all thereto Neither is it to be wondered at although they so little profit in this doctrine For if we marke it the elder sort will growe so obstinate and ouer growne in wickednesse as that no exhortation will doe them good And the younger sort are as dissolute as Diuels For if they bée exhorted they waxe so madde as that to any mans thinking they would tread vnder foote both God and his worde and as many as deliuer it Now Iesus Christe who is the wisedome mildenesse and méekenesse of the Father wyl haue nothing to doe with such foxes and Lions And if they be told that they must humble themselues vnder the mightie hand of God to the ende they might vnderstand that they haue a Father in heauen who will not care onely for their bodily nurriture but will also entertaine and gouerne them by his holy spirite they passe not an hawe of al this but take leaue to doe what wickednesse soeuer they lust Now because the time will not serue to procéede any further héerein we will reserue the handeling of the residue vntil Sunday next And sith we cannot be acceptable in the sight of the Lord our God but by the meane of our Lord Iesus Christ let vs fall downe before his maiestie in his name and beséech him so to instruct vs by his holy spirite as that wée may vnderstande that the Prophetes spake by him for our instruction and that we also might learne to benefite our selues so that it might turne to the glory and praise of his holy name and the edifying of our neighbours And so let vs most humbly say O Almighty God and heauenly father c. The third Sermon of the descending of the holie Ghost Actes second 18 ANd surely in those dayes I wil powre out of my spirit vpon my seruants vpon my handmaides and they shall prophesie 19 And I will shewe wonders in heauen aboue and tokens in the earth beneath blood and fire and the vapour of moke 20 The Sunne shal be turned into darknesse and the Moone into blood before that great and notable day of the Lord come 21 And it shall come to passe that whosoeuer shall call vpon the name of the Lorde shall bee saued VPON Sunday last past we declared vnto you howe that at the comming of Iesus Christe God so powred out his great treasures in the worlde as that both men women young and olde were partakers of his grace Now the riches which the Lord God of his bountifull goodnesse so liberally bestowed were no earthly riches which could perish come to naught But euen the holy Ghoste himselfe from whom commeth all the riches and treasure of saluation And besides wée haue shewed that God hath not doone it only for a time but is also redy to continue the same which hée hath spoken yea and at this day he inricheth vs with his graces if the fault be not ours But wee bée so accursed as that wée are voyd of them by reason of our vnthankefulnesse For his liberalitie is as great at this day as euer it was in the time of the Apostles whenas hée sent downe vnto them the holie Ghost euen to make vs partakers of the self same grace which hée liberally bestowed vpon them howbeit wée are so incredulous and faythlesse as that we stoppe that way vpon him by which he would come vnto vs. For when hée calleth vs by his worde to make vs partakers of his holie spirite wée drawe arsewarde so that a man would thinke wée had conspired to set our selues against him And where both olde and young men and women are called to be partakers of this grace and ought to endeuour them selues by all meanes possible to receiue the holie Ghost and more and more to perseuere and continue in receiuing of the same we sée the elder sort to be more hard hearted and obstinate then the rest and the younger people to be giuen ouer to all kinde of lewdnesse so that if they be tolde of their dissolutenesse they wax so madde and furious as that it should séeme they would marre all And when men should be manlyke and sharpe witted to giue diligent héede vnto the word of God they are become as blockish as bruit beastes And where the women also shoulde be humble and walke soberly and honestly they are extreame dissolute and too too gallaunt and full of all superfluous vaine vanities And therefore if nowe we sée not men enioy the graces of the holie Ghost which God here speaketh of that hée will poure out vpon his seruantes and handmaydes it is not because hée hath chaunged any whit his determination and purpose but by reason we will not suffer him to do vs good For when he commeth neare vs we drawe backward Wherefore hée is not the let why we doe not all receiue his graces For the Prophet saieth as wée haue heretofore saide That God will poure out his holie spirite vpon all flesh Hée namely sayeth vpon all flesh which is vpon all people without exception True it is that Iesus Christ was sent vnto the Iewes not onely to pull them from out of the bondage of the Deuill but to make them partakers also of the giftes of the holie Ghost Howbeit wée are at this present gathered altogether into one Church and therfore there remaineth nothing but to shewe the effect of our Christianitie and of the graces which God hath bestowed on vs and thē let vs not doubt but that we shall receiue the giftes of the holie Ghost since it is saide that God hath not poured them out vpon one or two but generally vpon all men Wherefore it is not enough for vs to boast that we are Christians without we shew the effect thereof that it may be knowne that we vainly take not vpon vs this name of Christianitie For
able to giue our selues either to one thing or other but that we shall swarue from the right rule yea and spurne as it were dispituously against his Maiestie And therefore what conflict is it that wée can set in order to doe any good For when we sée that our Lord Iesus Christe in whom was nothing but purenesse and righteousnesse was not able to submit himself vnto God his father without he had denied himselfe is it not to bee doubted that we are any way able throughly to performe it Let vs then learne to fight more couragiously But because we see we cannot and that all our strength and power bendeth it selfe rather to doe euill and not one droppe of goodnesse in our nature but so weake as that wée shoulde be ouercome an hundred times euery minute of an houre let vs come to him that was made weake that wée might as S. Paule saieth be filled with his power And therefore since our Lorde Iesus Christe hath thus denied him selfe let vs learne if wée will bée his Disciples to doe the like And because wée sée that wée cannot of our selues attaine thereto but goe altogether backewarde let vs beséeche him 2. Cor. 13.4 that hée woulde by the power of his holy spirite haue dominion in vs to strengthen vs as it is said that hée suffered in the infirmitie of his fleshe but was raised vp againe through the power of the spirite that we might bée partakers of the afliction which hée susteined and féele the fruit and excellencie of his power in vs. Heere nowe wée sée in effect what it is that wée must beare in minde when it is saide that Christe gaue ouer his owne will that hee might fully and wholy submit himselfe vnto God his Father Notwithstanding we haue heere continually to remember that the Sonne of GOD determined not onely to set foorth himselfe héere for an example or glasse but to shew vs how dearely our saluation cost him For the Deuill meaning to darken the infinite grace of GOD which hath béene shewed vs hath saide That Iesus Christe was onely as it were a patterne of all vertue For marke how these hypocriticall pratling Iacke dawes in Popery behaue them selues who although they cannot set down what obedience is nor yet what it is to forsake a mans selfe yet they say that whatsoeuer the Euangelist hath written of Iesus Christe is to this ende that wée shoulde followe him and bée like vnto him Now this is somewhat But yet not all neither the principall matter For an Angell might very well haue béene sent to haue tolde vs that wee muste followe him But when Iesus Christe became the redéemer of the worlde hée of his owne good will submitted himselfe vnto this miserable condition as héere wée see And therefore must wée alwayes vnderstande that when wée can finde nothing in our selues that may giue vs any hope of saluation it remaineth that wée must séeke for that in him which is wanting in vs. For wee are neuer able to obteine the grace and fauour of GOD nor yet come néere him without wee come as poore Beggers vnto Iesus Christe which can neuer bee doone vntyll such time as we knowe our miseries and wants and to be short except we know vtterly our vnablenesse wee sée then what it is that wee are to remember to the end that after we haue vnderstood that the whole perfection of our life is to obey God and to forsake our affections and thoughts and whatsoeuer els that is in our nature which is to make vs agréeable vnto him when wee vnderstand this much we must craue at the handes of God that which we haue not And that wée might know also that our Lorde Iesus Christ is not deliuered vnto vs for an example onely but is eft soones declared vnto vs that if we be separated from him our life must néedes bee accursed and that in death we sée the bottomlesse depthes of the curse and that gulfe of Gods wrath to swallowe vs quite vp and that not onely one feare but a million of feares haue laide fast holde on vs and al the creatures of God crie for vengeance on our behalfe And therfore let vs haue this féeling because we might acknowledge our sinnes sigh and be ashamed of our selues and take boldnesse to come vnto God with true humilitie and repentance Let vs likewise estéeme of the goodnesse and mercy of our God as héere is shewed vs and haue our mouthes wide open to pay vnto him the Sacrifice of thanksgiuing and depart from the inticements of Satan who hath pitched his nettes to holde vs still in this worlde Let vs also leaue our commodities and pleasures that wee might come vnto this heauenly inheritance which hath béen so dearely purchased for vs and because we haue to communicate the Supper of the Lorde the next Sunday and that God after he hath opened vnto vs the kingdom of heauen setteth before vs a spirituall banket let vs bée so much the more touched with this doctrine And to say the trueth when wée dayly eate and drinke for the refreshing of our hungry bodies God therein sheweth vs sufficiently that he is our father and careth for these earthly bodies insomuch that we cannot eate one morsell of bread but that it witnesseth vnto vs that God is careful ouer vs. But in the Supper is a speciall reason for God doth not there fill our bellies but lifteth our mindes vp into the kingdome of heauen hee setteth before vs our Lorde Iesus Christe his sonne for meate and drinke And Iesus Christe is not onely contented to receiue vs to his Table but intendeth therewith to bee our féeder for hee sheweth vs in effect that his fleshe is meate in déede and his blood drinke indéede Wherefore when wée sée our Lorde Iesus thus gently to bid vs vnto him are not wée too too villanous if we holde not our selues back from doing of any thing that may withdraw vs from him And although we come but as men trailing our legges after vs yet let vs stil be displeased with our sins that we might obey him and streine our selues so much as is possible to be rid of this worlde and come to the kindgdome of heauen And therefore let euery one consider to what ende the holy Supper serueth For when we see that our Lord Iesus calleth vs vnto it that we might be partakers of his death and passion let vs inioy the fruite which he hath obteined for vs by that meane be fully resolued that God alloweth vs for his children and with open mouth claime him for our father Let vs also bring with vs a true faith because we knowe wherefore God the father sent our Lorde Iesus vnto vs and is at this day a Mediator as he hath alwayes béen And thereupon set vs labour to bée so vnited to him as that we may knowe that this is not onely spoken to euery of vs in particuler but to euery of vs in
wée might bée the better confirmed in this doctrine let vs note that when our Lorde Iesus prayed hée did not onely pray for himselfe and for his owne behoofe but hath so consecrated all our petitions and prayers as that they are sanctified and allowed of God according to his heartes desire as is saide in Iohn Iohn 17. Hée was sanctified that wée might bée sanctified in him And this may also bee a very good conclusion for vs. That hee prayed because his prayer is auaileable and strong euen at this day by meane whereof wée are all hearde And this reason wée are highly to estéeme of when hée saith that the spirite is ready but the fleshe weake which declareth vnto vs that wée haue all néede of that remedy which hée héere ordeined for his Disciples For many thinke that if they bee neuer so little well disposed that they haue gotten all the worlde and this supposall in very déede maketh them nothing worth And héereby they become soone after so idle and colde as that they fall from GOD and contemne his ayde which is the cause also why God many times withdraweth him self hideth his power For it is good reason that when men truste too much vnto them selues they should bée left to their owne willes that GOD might scorne their arrogant and foolish imagination Wherefore to the end both great and small might knowe and vnderstande that they ought not lightly to passe ouer the helpe of God and the graces which they haue receiued of him hée must therefore alwayes continue and increase that in them which hée hath giuen vnto them that they might be made strōg It is said here that the spirit is readie c. That is to say that although wée féele some willingnesse in our selues and that God hath set vs in the right way and giuen vs his hande so that wée may finde by very good proofe that hée guideth vs by his holy spirite Although I say we haue all this yet must we not bée slacke in praying And why so Because if we well consider the matter wée are no better then a puft of winde Now no doubt of it wée shall finde many remnants of infirmities in vs although god hath alredie so holpē vs as that we are highly to thanke him and to magnifie his goodnesse yet is it good reason wée shoulde stoupe and cast downe our heads and sée in very déed that if hée forsake vs wée shall soone I say not onely be weakened but bée vtterly ouerthrowne To be short our Lorde Iesus Christe his meaning héere is to shewe that the most perfect and forewarde of those vpon whom God hath enlarged the graces and vertues of his holy spirite must notwithstanding humble themselues and carefully and fearefully walke and call vpon God euery houre that they might knowe that it is not enough for him to haue begunne except hée make it perfect and that all goodnesse commeth from him so that when hée hath giuen a good minde hee must eftsoones graunt the perfourmance thereof Forsomuch as perseuerance is the most speciall and rarest gift that may be And thus we sée whereunto the exhortation of our Lorde Iesus tendeth Now if they who call themselues spirituall to wit who haue a feruent zeale to serue GOD and still haue recourse vnto his Maiestie with Prayers and supplications are yet so weake as that they may bee ouerthrowne euen in the minute of an houre except they continually call vpon GOD Howe shall they then doe who are so earthly and heauie as is lamentable insomuch as they are not able to traile their legges after them and haue scarsely any good motion or yet one good thought howe greatly ought these men I say in respect of the rest inforce themselues Let euery man therefore examine himselfe and wée shall finde our selues to bée so cold and blockishe as when any question shall bée mooued of praying vnto God wee goe to it sometimes more for a fashion then for any affection and loue we haue thereto when we see this to be in vs let vs learne to bée displeased with such a vice and with such a coldnesse yea let vs detest such a corruption and doe our best to call vpon God and lift vp our mindes vnto heauen and séeke for the remedie which is héere set before vs Thus wee see in effect what it is that we must remember For where it is saide that the Disciples were a sléepe the thirde time yea although they were so liuely stirred vp ouer and besides that which we haue this morning spoken of to wit that we right well see that our Lorde Iesus Christe chose vnto him no companion for the helping of him to finishe the worke of our saluation Let vs also behold our dulnesse for it is most certaine that wée haue no more ablenes then these thrée of whō mention is héere made and yet were they the most notable men of all the company and those whom Iesus Christe had marked as it were to bee the very floure of the twelue for the publishig of the Gospell throughout the worlde And although héere was already neuer so good a beginning yet for all that wée sée howe weake they were And this is set downe to this ende that we should altogether haue recourse vnto the Sonne of God and seeke for our want in him and not to bee faint hearted whenas we shall féele suche weaknesse in our selues In very déede the example of the Apostles must not giue vs occasion to flatter ourselues as many there are which wil say that they may very well sléepe because that Peter Iohn and Iames stept But let vs be angrie with our selues for our sinnes and know that our Lorde Iesus is ready to receiue vs if that wée will come vnto him Moreouer this hath alwayes béene the most speciall reason which wee haue declared this morning That what soeuer is in men must néedes bée weake to the ende wee might knowe that in him is the accomplishment of our saluation whom God had appointed to bée our Mediator And besides wée are to note that the néerer wée come vnto our Lorde Iesus Christe wée ought then to bée most watchfull For the worldlinges and such as God hath cut of as rotten members and forsaketh thē neuer haue any great conflict Because the Diuell hath alreadie dominion ouer them And therefore wée see that they may sléepe at pleasure But as our Lorde Iesus sheweth vs this fauour to call vs vnto himselfe and familiarly to come néere vs euen so likewise doeth Satan prepare combates for vs because hée woulde retire vs from the obedience of the sonne of God And therefore I say when hée séeth vs in any good towardnesse then doeth hée most roughly assaile vs. Wherefore let euery man make readie himselfe knowing whereunto God hath called him and what his charge is This then is the summe of that we are to kéepe in minde Moreouer where it is said Sleepe hence
hée could if it pleased him euen with the breath of his mouth ouerthrow whatsoeuer stood against him By this we haue to learne to feare the wordes of our Lord Iesus Christ and although he is not here conuersant amongst vs after a visible sort neuertheles since the Gospel is preached by his authoritie that he saith he that heareth you Luk. 8.16 heareth mée Let vs learne most reuerently to receiue whatsoeuer is preached in his name submit our selues thereto and we shal finde that this saying which thus made the souldiers and those that were sent against him too fall must be our onely foundation stay For what is all our ioy comfort without the sonne of God appeareth vnto vs that we sée him nigh vs sheweth vs what a one he is wherefore it was that God his Father sent him vnto vs And so let vs vnderstand by this saying I am hee That when it shal please our Lorde Iesus Christ to manifest him selfe as he doth to all his faithful that he therin declareth vnto vs why he calleth vs vnto him selfe why he is come downe vnto vs why he dwelleth in vs by the power of his holie spirite and thus we sée wherein all our felicitie and quietnesse resteth But if we will become rebellious and contemne the worde of God as a number of prophane men doe wheron we ought to build our saluation let vs be assured that it will be a lightening to throw vs all downe headlong into the pit of hell And so let vs feare and although our Lord Iesus Christ openeth vnto vs the gate and saieth after an other manner beholde mée which hée hath not done to those who were his professed enemies let vs come vnto him Moreouer let vs also learne so patiently to beare the treasons which wée sée to bée at this day in the Church as that we yet abhorre and detest them and so shewe our selues truely and in déede to cleaue fast vnto the Sonne of God because he is our head and since we haue his truth let vs liue so together one with an other as that we may be vnited together in true brotherly cōcord And this is it that wée are to remember But howe euer it be let vs learne this principall point for our instruction which we must gather out of this Text to wit That the Sonne of God became fully and wholy obedient that he might repaire our transgressions It is verie true as I haue alreadie saide that all the members of God must be ruled after his example and it is great reason since hee who is Lorde and maister ouer all so humbled him self that we should be readie both in life and death to obey our God But yet let vs vnderstand that this is an especiall obedience which our Lord Iesus Christ shewed in this behalfe to wit by reason of the fruit effect which came thereby The Apostle tooke the death of our Lord Iesus Christ for an example verie wel for it strengthened them when as they were to abide the combat for the testimony of the Gospel then slept they not for we sée their watchfulnesse and readinesse in the following of their calling neither feared they the torments of death but offered them selues when God called them thereto for the glorifying of his name and the confessing of our Lord Iesus Christ But they chiefly stood vpon this that all our spottes are washed and cleansed by the sheading of the blood of our Redéemer that he fully satisfied God his father for all our debtes for which we were bound and hath obteined for vs perfect righteousnesse And therefore wée must vnderstand the difference that is betwéene the head and the members learne that by nature we are wholy giuen to doe euil and although God hath partly regenerated vs yet doeth our fleshe stil resist against his maiestie notwithstanding through the power vertue of the obediēce which we sée to be in our Lord Iesus Christ let vs not leaue of to do those things which may please our God according to his heartes desire And although we cannot doe the good we would but do the euill we would not and oftentimes slip or els are too too slack let vs looke vnto that which the Sonne of God hath suffered for the amending of all our offences and behold that he hath so combatted as that he was not against it when as our sinnes offences were layd vnto him as this morning hath more at large béen spoken Seeing then that our Lord Iesus Christ hath fully wholy made satisfactiō that although we at this day haue done our best to obey God cannot come to that perfection we ought but continually traile our legges after vs haue many thinges in vs which may be amēded yet let vs know that we shal not but please God our imperfections be continually abolished through the obedience of our Lord Iesus Christ so that they shal neuer come in account against vs before his maiestie And besides let euerie one according to the measure of the faith grace which he hath receiued striue to fight vntil the time we attaine vnto the heauenly rest And although we sée our weaknes to be so great conuinced that wée are not able once to thinke a good thought and being cast downe not able to rise againe except God reach vs his hand and strengthneth vs euerie minute Let vs beséeche him to augment in vs the graces of his holie spirite as he hath promised vs and hath set Iesus Christ before vs to be our head and Captaine to the ende wée might get that victorie which hee hath obteined for vs the fruite whereof we alreadie féele and then shall perfectly and throughly féele Let vs nowe fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God in such acknowledgement of our offences as that it may rightly humble vs before him and bring vs to true repentance and more and more labour to make voide whatsoeuer is against his righteousnesse And because we cannot be without conflicts and enemies that it would please him to powre vpon his the succour which hée hath promised and make vs so to féele it as that we may resist vnto the end all temptations and learne also to thanke him for all our victories without attributing any of them vnto our selues to the end we prouoke not his wrath through arrogancy but beséeching him to continue his graces continually in vs and prosecute more and more the thing which he hath done and begunne in vs. That hée will not onely bestowe this grace c. The third Sermon of the Passion Matthew xxvi 51 ANd behold one of them which were with Iesus stretched out his hand and drew his swoord and strooke a seruant of the high Priest and smote of his eare 52 Then Iesus said vnto him put vp thy sword into his place for all that take the sword shal perish with the sword 53 Either thinkest
are to consider of that which hath bene before spoken to wit that the death and passion of our Lorde Iesus Christ is not effectuall to all men because it is a speciall grace whiche God bestoweth vpon his chosen whenas hee toucheth them by his holy spirit and although they fal yet lifteth he them vp agayne yea though they stray lyke wandring shéepe yet gathereth he them together agayne and giueth them his hand to bring them to the fould For wee sée how Iudas was cleane rased out from amongst the number of Gods Children and therfore it was méete his condemnation should bee séene and layde wide open before the face of the whole worlde And so let vs learne as we haue already said altogether to acknowledge the inestimable goodnesse of our God For as he hath declared his loue vnto mankynde when hee spared not his onely begotten sonne but put him to death for sinners Euen so declareth he vnto vs the especall loue he beareth vs whenas he toucheth vs with the acknowledging of our sinnes by his holy spirit and causeth vs to grone that wee might bee brought vnto him by true repentaunce Wherefore the entraunce whiche wee haue to come vnto our Lorde Iesus Christe commeth not from our selues but because that God gouerneth vs pleaseth to shew his choice Now these circumstaunces are greatly to be noted wee sée that Iudas who was one of our Lorde Iesus Christ his Disciples wrought myracles in his name and yet what became of him let vs learne carefully to feare and walke and submit our selues wholye vnto our God beséeche him not to suffer vs so shamefully to fall as dyd this miserable man And agayne let vs also beséech him that if we shal fal at any time into the like to lift vs vp by his power that we may returne vnto him not with such repentaunce as Iudas dyd but with a true and right confession For the wicked as it is said by the prophets Ieremiah and Ezechiel will laugh God to skorne as much as is possible because they take pleasure glory in their sinns and in the end become lyke shameles whores But yet God at the last maketh them to féele their sinnes and so terrifieth them as that they chafe and cry out alas neuerthelesse they doe not thus of any hope they haue neither doe they present them selues before God But are rather pushed forward with a fury and flye from him as farre they can and woulde bee glad to pluck him out of his thorne by the eares For there is no speaking to thē because they are angry and rebelliously whet their téeth against him Howbeit we must be brought to another kinde of repentaunce whiche is we must not become like wilde and sauage beastes séeing we cannot escape the hande and heauy iudgement of God but let vs confesse our sinne and abhorre it and stil draw néere vnto God with out enforcement and worship him willingly confesse the we are worthy of destruction but yet let vs be assured that although we are guilty of an hundred thousand deathes that hee will alwayes haue compassion on vs for we sée how Peter repented But the repentaunce of Iudas ought to shewe vs that it is not enough that we féele our sinnes bt we must be fully brought home vnto God And this is a very notable thing to consider because we sée that a great number and almost all men doo flatter themselues for they thinke that if they haue in worde acknowledged their offences be they neuer so haynous that they are cleane discharged of them as if their mouthes were fully cleansed Agayne if a man be earnest with them they think they are offered great wronge What saye they haue I not confessed my falts and haue I not repented me And this is al the reckoning that they make of it as if God were a yong child who would be appeased with a smiling dissembling coūtenance ful of leasing hipocrysy Howbeit this is our cōmon māner for we would appease god we know not how euē as it is said with such a repentance as Iudas repēted Wherfore let vs feare and tremble when God giueth vs warning causeth vs to féele our sins not stay altogether vpon it for that is no true repentance but this is the true triall by which we must know whether we be true penitent sinners or not which is whenas we of our owne accord séeke to be at peace with God forsake not his iudgmēt yea seing he receiueth vs to mercy Which he wil do whenas we shal condem our selues for whsoeuer shal be his own iudge condēne himself before God before Angels men the man I say shall bée iustified pardoned because hee desyreth none other thing but to haue God mercyfull vnto him This then is the summe and effect of that which we are héere to obserue Now Iudas must néedes make this confession because the priests might be so much the more without excuse The Euangelist likewise maketh this recital that we might the better behold how Satan had blinded al these reprobates and that euery of vs might looke narowly into himselfe And when God setteth before vs such exampels of his yre vengeance and to be short that we like men betwitched and voyd of sence reason become so beastly as to throw our selues headlonge into an hellishe furie This is to make euerye of vs to stoupe and to cause vs know that wee may oftentimes fall into the same were if not that our God preserueth vs by his grace and goodnesse But by the way let vs beware that we fight not agaynst our own consciences as the priestes did for as many as so harden themselues against God shal in the end fall into such a reprobate sence as that they shall be cleane without all reason for after they haue once so excéeded against GOD they will also bee past all shame before men For it is good reason that the whole worlde should sée their beastlinesse and that there shamlesnes should be so knowne as that euery man might abhorre their villanie Héere then wee sée why the Euangelist maketh this recitall that when Iudas came to restore the siluer the priestes were no whit moued therewith Indéede they sayde it was not lawfull to put it into the treasury because it was the price of blood And héere also we may sée that hypocrits will alwaies be sure to haue some fine shifttes or other to shadow and couer their iniquities but it is all to mock God For they neuer come perfectly and soundly vnto him For what is this to say ho surely we wyll neuer put this siluer amongst the holye offerings because it is the price of blood Now I pray you tel mée from whence came this siluer truly we know this that the priests liued vpon the offerings of the temple as at this day they whiche in popery are called prelats and churchmen glottonously consume the
foolishe glorious woman who woulde faine haue séene her children in some glistringe earthly tryumph But beholde she saw héere a farre other manner of Schole for she saw our Lorde Iesus Christ hanging vpon the Crosse so shamfully and reprochefully as that all the worlde was against him and there honge as if God had cursed and forsaken him And thus wée see that when we shall bee brought vnto such a shame as that our mindes shal be terrifyed with feare gréefe that God then taketh from vs all earthly affections to the ende we might not be hindered from lifting vp our mindes vnto heauen and to the spirituall lyfe wherunto we must attaine Which we shall neuer be able to come vnto except we be cleansed of al whatsoeuer kepeth vs back héere below Thus we sée what we are to consider of touchinge these women Iho. 19.26 And yet for all that the meaning is not but that there were men also for we know that our Lord spake vnto Iohn and commēded his mother vnto him But the intent purpose of the holy ghost was to set héere such a mirror or glasse before vs to the ende we might vnderstand that it was God who guided these women by his holy spirit by which hee would set forth his power and grace by choosinge in mennes iudgementes suche féeble and weake instrumēts The like was also seene in Nicodemus and in Ioseph Indéede S. Matthew S. Luke and S. Marke make mētion of none but of Ioseph because it was he that came to Pilat thervpon Nicodemus tooke hart when hee sée himselfe to haue so good a guide True it is that Nicodemus was a Doctor of great estimation and Ioseph of Arimathea was a riche man and of hie calling and a Counsailor also as héere it is said But yet let vs sée whether their zeale was such as that they would geue their liues for our Lorde Iesus Christ or not and whether they had in their life time forsaken their houses to follow him No no but when it came to that that they must giue theyr liues it was God that stirred them therto cleane contrary to all worldly iudgement Héere then we sée that God hath made a straunge and wonderfull alteration in geuing this bouldnesse to Ioseph and Nycodemus that they feared not the rage of the people when they came to bury our Lorde Iesus Christ Before time Nycodemus came in the night for feare of being euill spoken of and yet when it was growne euen now to the worst Ioh. 3.2 he burieth him And therfore it cannot be chosen but that God gaue him a new harte for he came before closely there was no darknesse dark ynough considering his fearefullnesse and cowardize if God had not corrected this fault in him To be short we see what good the death of our Lorde Iesus Christe hath done in that he then powred out the graces of his holy spirite vpon these wretched people who neuer before durst declare their faith nor yet render a reason thereof Wherefore they doe not onely confesse it with their mouth but that which they did sheweth that they had rather bee accounted cursed before the worlde then that they would not be the disciples of our Lorde Iesus Christ and so the thing which they had before obteined to wit the free saluation which was set before them And héere we also sée why it is namely said that Ioseph looked for the kingdome of God Now by these woordes wée are tolde that God hath forsaken vs and we are banished his kingdome vntyll such time as hée gathereth vs vnto himselfe as his people in the name of our Lorde Iesus Christe Wherefore wée sée how miserable our estate is vntill our Lorde Iesus calleth vs vnto himselfe to consecrate vs vnto God his father And if this benefite bée taken away from vs cursed and confounded are we Nowe this then was a wonderfull power strength to waite for the kingdome of God because the Iewes were made Bastards vnto it and in the opinion of the worlde the occasions therof were very great For the Prophets had foretold that at the returne of the people out of Babylon Agge 2.10 that God woulde become such a redéemer vnto them that his kingdome should florish most honorably that the temple should be built more gloriously then euer before it was that they should inioy al the pleasures that might be lead a most blessed life that all men should be in quiet no talk be had but of reioysing in God of blessing his name and of yéelding him praise thansgiuing And this is it which the Prophets promised But how fared it with the people Forsooth their neighbours dyd eate drinke thē vp they gréeued vexed them there was such tyranny vsed as that innocēt blood was spilt throughout al the towne the booke of the law burnt euery man forbidden vpon paine of death not once to read it such cruelties cōmitted as were horrible The temple also was altogether polluted And what became of the house of Dauid Forsooth it was cut cleane downe at last the whole state became worse worse And therfore no maruel although so rude a people so giuen ouer to all their desires lustes had not almost fallen from the true religion and béen cleane out of heart because we sée that the number of those which paciently suffered Luk. 2.25.36 Mat. 2.19 and were constant in faith were very rare and fewe And of this number were Simeon Anna the Prophetesse and Ioseph But what The holy Ghost setteth downe vnto vs in so great a multitude amongest the Iewes and in a countrie so notably peopled foure or fiue as a thing which was not ordinary and witnesseth that it were they onely who looked for the kingdome of God and it was to this end that we might learne that when things were confounded in a desperate case that we should then looke stedfastly vpon God And because his trueth is infallible vnchangeable let vs bée constant vnto the end ouercome all troubles offences and griefes of the world neither let vs when we sigh grone cease to go on whither our Lord calleth vs which is let vs paciently abide vntyll his kingdome bée established in vs and in the meane while let it suffice vs that hée hath giuen vs a pawne from his holy Spirite by which hee witnesseth vnto vs our frée adoption And therefore when God sheweth that hee taketh vs for his children and engraueth the same in our heartes by his holy Spirite and besides when wée haue the doctrine of the Gospell dayly sounding in our eares Let our faith be confirmed and let vs not slyde albeit all thinges were so confounded as could not be possibly be more wished And thus wee sée what it is that we haue to consider of out of this place Wee are also to note the thing that Saint Iohn reciteth before our Lord
partakers therof And to say the truth if it were not so what shoulde the story of the resurrection availe vs but when it is said that the Son of God was so manifested would haue the benefit therof to be cōmunicated vnto al the world we may now the better tast of it So then let vs vnderstand that our Lord Iesus his meaning was that we should be certified of his resurrectiō bicause that whē we know in truth that our Lord Iesus is risen againe that therin consisteth all the hope of our saluation rightuousnesse Not that he hath not cleansed al our filthines by his death passiō but because it should not remaine continue stil weak And therfore it behoued that hée should poure abrod the vertu of his holy spirit that he might by his resurrection Rom. 1.4 be declared to bee the sonne of God as S. Paul in the Epistle to the Romaines and in diuers other places sufficiently declareth Thus now we sée that we must assure our selues that our Lord Iesus is rysen againe leaueth the way open vnto vs that wee might come vnto him looketh not that we should séeke him but hath prouided that we might be called by the preching of the gospel that his message should sound in the mouthes of those his heralts whom he had chosen Since then it is so let vs vnderstand that the rightuousnes whiche wee at that this daye haue for the attaining vnto the heauenly Kingdome wee enioy by the righteousnesse of our Lord Iesus Christ because he will not seperat him selfe from vs. And héere we sée why he calleth the Disciples his brethren Indéede this is an honorable name and was reserued for all those whom he accompted as his houshold Seruants and this kinde of speche no doubt he vsed Iohn 20.17 to shew the brotherhood that hee would should betwéene him and them And so also is it common to vs as Saint Iohn more plainly declareth Now to say truly Psal 22.23 we must haue recourse vnto that saying of the Psalm out of which this place is taken I will declare thy name vnto my Brethrē which place the Apostle in the exposition of the person of our Lord Iesus Christ did not only comprehend the 12. hebr 2.11 Apostles by the name of the Brethren of Iesus Christ but geueth also the same title generally to as many as follow the sonne of god and would haue vs to enioy the selfe same honor We sée also why our Lorde Iesus saide I goe vnto my God and to your God vnto my father and vnto your father now this was not ment by a few but it was spoken to the multitude of all the faithfull And although our Lord Iesus Christ bee our eternall God yet is hee contented notwithstanding euen in the person of a mediator to abase himself and come néere vs and to haue all thinges common with vs in respect of his humaine nature For although hee bee the naturall Sonne of God and we by adoption and grace yet this community remayneth that the Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ is by his meane ours also in diuers respectes For it is not méete that wée should be exalted as hie as our head and soueraine and surely this could not but be a wonderfull confusion if the head of a mans bodye should not be aboue all the rest of the members for otherwise it would séeme a very monster and a confused lump and therefore it is also very good reason that our Lord Iesus Christ should kéepe his chiefe degrée because he is by nature the only sonne of God and yet this letteth not but that we may be ioyned with him in Brotherhood that we might fréely and with good assueraunce call vpon God and bee hearde because we haue familiar accesse vnto him We sée then what the meaning of this saying is when our Lorde Iesus calleth his Disciples Brethren to wit he dyd it to this end that we at this day should haue the like priuiledge with them by the meane of faith And yet this is nothing derogatorye from the power and maiestie of the Sonne of God when he thus conioyneth himself with such wretched creatures as we are and be as it were one of our company Wherfore we ought to bee so much the more in an admiration with the matter whenas we sée him vse such his goodnes towards vs as that by his resurrection hée hath purchased for vs the heauenly glory for the purchasing wherof he abased himself became of no reputation Since it is so that our Lord Iesus vouchsaueth to allow vs for his Brethrē to the end we might come vnto God let vs boldly séeke him and come vnto him whiles hée thus gently inuileth vs neither doth he maruellous cōsiderately vse his word only to draw vs but addeth withal a visible sacramēt also the we might be brought thereto according to our smal ability And to say the truth let it be that we be neuer so weak blockishe yet shall we not be able to excuse our slacknes if we come not vnto our lord Iesus Christ behold the table wherunto he hath called vs to what end forsooth it is not to the end to fil our bellies although that therin God declareth himself to haue a fatherly care ouer vs and our Lorde Iesus also sheweth that he himselfe is indéede the life of the world Wherefore when wée daily eate and drinke it witnesseth thus much vnto vs that our Lord Iesus declareth his goodnes vnto vs But in this table there is a special cōsideration to be had for it sheweth vs that we are the brethrē of our Lord Iesus Christ to wit Iohn 17.21 that because as S. Iohn saith he hath vnited vs vnto himself he hath also vnited vs vnto God his father so by little little telleth vs that he is our meat our drinke we are takē to be of his own substaunce that wee might haue al our spirituall life in him And this is more then if hée called vs his brethren an hundered times Let vs therfore vnderstand and know the vnitie that wee haue with our Lord Iesus Christ to wit that he will haue his life to be common with vs and his lyfe to be our life yea that he wil effectually dwell in vs and not by imagination and after an earthly maner but after a spiritual how euer it is he so worketh in vs by his holy spirit as that we are knit faster suerer vnto him then the mēbers to the body And as the roote of a trée thrusteth out his substaunce and strength into all the braunches euen so receiue we our substaunce life from our Lord Iesus Christ 1. Cor. 5.7 And this also is the cause why Saint Paul saieth that our paschall Lamb was crucified and offered vp and that we should now kéepe holyday and bée partakers of the sacrifice And as in the old law when any
sée in summe what we haue to cōsider of in this place For if we should at this day come to voyces and a fewe weake people should beholde it what would they say There is but a small handfull of men which beléeue the Gospell howbeit if they were the greater number I could bée well contented to goe that way but for mée to thrust my selfe into so small a company and forsake the greater multitude what a folly were that Now the Prophet to the end hée might cut the throat of these obiections sayeth that there woulde not be aboue foure or tenne at the most but that all men for the more parte woulde refuse to obey our Lorde Iesus Christ And no doubt of it his meaning was to finde fault perticulerly with the Iewes For wée haue alredie alledged out of the eight Chapiter that hée should be a stumbling blocke to these two houses to wit to the trybe of Abraham Wée sée then that a man would haue thought that the people whom God had specially chosen to him selfe must néedes haue knowne their Redéemer For to whom was Iesus Christ promised Forsooth euen to the Iewes For it is saide that he was the Minister of the Circumcision to the ende hée might accomplishe the promises made vnto the Fathers Rom. 11.8 Psal 118.22 And therefore the Iewes must néedes bée acquainted with Iesus Christ before he appeared vnto the worlde and with ease receiue him Nowe it is sayde that the principall and chiefe builders refused him to wyt the Princes and heades of the people And euen so fareth it at this day For not onely Turkes and Infidelles refuse Iesus Christ but also verie many false Christians in name yea and wée shall haue numbers that professe the Gospell who many tymes become prophane and villainous scorners of God and woulde gladly that all the doctrine of saluation were clearely abolished for the shewe that they make of it is onely for the shame of men But howeuer it is we are sure of this that Iesus Christ shall be refused and contemned and if it had not béen so foretold of our fayth might very wel haue bin shaken But this saying of Isaiah is a verie good staffe for vs to leane vnto euen as vnto a sure rock when as we sée all the worlde thus stumble at him as to sée some to set them selues furiously against him his doctrine some to scorne him and put out their tongues to speake euill of all religion But yet let vs notwithstanding constantly perseuere in our Fayth Surely it is greatly to be wished for that we might sée Iesus Christ a far off and submit our selues vnto him because hée is the true Glasse and patterne of al holines Howbeit the more we sée the world refuse him the greater ought our fayth to be For howe is it possible for vs to discerne that Iesus Christ is the Redéemer of the worlde Forsooth let vs consider what all the Prophets haue saide of him For to say truely this is the onely Glasse wherein we must beholde the onely Sonne of God For behold the true testimonies which God hath sent down from heauen to set a sure marke of him that should be the Redéemer to wit that all the worlde should forsake him and euery man lift him selfe vp against him And therefore since it is so let vs receiue him with this condition and not doubt that although it séemeth to vs that we should be vtterly ouerthrowne and troad vnder foote through the boldnesse and pride of the vngodly yet that God will magnifie our Lorde Iesus Christ and so strengthen our fayth by his holie spirit as that it shall haue victorie vnto the end and that as our Lorde Iesus hath ouercome the Deuill as in the end both hée and all his Supporters must be made his footestoole euen so likewise will hée cause vs to tryumph with him to march vpon all those which persecute and lift them selues vp so furiously against vs and against all those which contemne and despight him Nowe let vs fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God and acknowledge our offences beséeching him to cause vs so to féele them as that we may grone and sigh for them so that we being after truely humbled may come to our Lorde Iesus Christ knowing that in him must be all our helpe and comfort And forsomuch as it pleased God his Father to punish him for our sinnes Let vs set all our affection vpon him and be so willingly gréeued for our prouoking of our God vnto anger as that we may haue both our selues and our sinnes in detestation and hatred vntill such time as we be throughly cleansed of them And that it would please him in the mean time so to assist vs as that we neuer dout but that hée will be alwayes mercifull vnto vs because that Iesus Christ hath not once onely suffred to abolish our sinnes but also daily offreth vs forgiuenesse of the same when as we séeke that at his handes which is wanting in vs. So let vs beséech him that hée will not onely graunt vs this grace but vnto all people and nations of the world c. The third Sermon of the Prophesie of Christe Isaiah liii 4 SVrely hee hath borne our infirmities and carryed our sorrowes yet we did iudge him as plagued and smitten of God and humbled 5 But hee was wounded for our transgressions hee was broken for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was vpon him and with his stripes we are healed 6 All wee lyke sheepe haue gone astray wee haue turned euerie one to his owne way and the Lorde hath layde vpon him the iniquitie of vs all WHen wee beholde all the woorkes of GOD héere in this worlde wee are taught to prayse him according to his excellency and highnesse But when we looke vpon the person of our Lord Iesus Christ wée are then to magnifie him in his lowlinesse and humilitie Héere then are two manner of wayes set downe vnto vs howe to praise God The one is Because hée sheweth vs his infinite goodnesse righteousnes and power in the creation and framing of all things and in the ordering and disposing of the same therefore we ought also to honour and exalt him not that we are able to make him honourable But the scripture vseth this kinde of spéech to the ende we might lift vp our mindes vnto heauen aboue all worldly things whē as we would glorifie our God according vnto his worthines The other is that because our Lorde Iesus Christ in whom dwelleth the fulnesse of the Godhead was not onely abased for our saluatiō but also wold be made of no reputation no not refusing to suffer the sharpe anguishes of death as if he had entred into hell for this cause therfore I say is God more to be glorified then for all the mightie gloriousnesse that is to be séene in all the worlde besides And of this we spake somewhat yesterday But because the Prophet
euery one Forsooth I will tell you because when as wee are generally condemned we are not so liuely moued and touched as we ought to be In déede this must néedes bée a plaine condemnation whenas it is saide that there is not amongst the children of men one iust man Psal 14.2 and is also said in another place of the Psalmist That God looked downe from heauen saw not one man that was not corrupt in his sinnes Hée speaketh also there aswell of the godly who were in great estimation and dignitie as also of the wicked It is saide that all men haue gone astray and that there could not bée founde one who was not corrupt before the Lorde and of this doctrine the holy Scripture is full Rom. 3.9 Saint Paul also sheweth this very sufficiently in his Epistle to the Romans whenas he bryngeth in the sayinges of the Psalmist and of the Prophets where any thing is spoken of infamous men saying That there is nothing but malice and treason in them full of crueltie poyson violence deceipt and robbery and their throat an open Sepulchre When all these thinges are spoken of Saint Paule saith that all men are heerein comprehended without exception vntill such time as GOD hath changed and renued them by his holy Spirite Nowe let this doctrine bée preached and wée must néedes all stoupe and yéelde for shame and feare will not suffer vs to reply against our God And to say the trueth what shall wée get by our reasoning and disputing For wee must feele in despite of our téethes that wée are not condemned in vaine since it is God that iudgeth vs. And yet notwithstanding euery of vs wil return home to his house and bee no whit moued thereat and the thing that hath béene tolde vs will not touch vs at all Wée will well enough agrée that wee are all sinners and that euery man is guiltie before the Lorde But doe wée in the meane while féele the burden of our sinnes and be displeased with them and besides are we stirred vp to séeke for the fauour of our Lorde Iesus Christe and deny our selues No no and yet we think we are sufficiently discharged if wée say that wée are sinners And that which is worse wée shall oftentimes sée men bouldly couer and cloke their sinnes when they are accused and conuinced of them Ho good Syr wyll they say It is very true that al mē are sinners Surely if a mā exhort a wicked blasphemer of the name of God or some such one as hath committed a cursed and horrible déede hee will deny it at the first chop and neuer confes it but by constraint But what if he see him selfe to be conuicted In very déede Syr will he thē say we are all sinners And that is asmuch to say that thou art a wicked hypocrite that thus scornest God Thus we sée that vnder these general words there are very many which wil finde out this excuse to the end they would not haue their filthinesse knowne as it ought to be And for this cause after the Prophet had saide That all haue erred he addeth Euery one euery one as if he should haue saide looke not generall what mankinde is but let euery man sift himselfe a part and consider and way wel with your selues what you are For the way to cause vs to be touched with the iudgements of God and to be brought to true humilitie is whenas wee are brought to repent vs of our wickednesse that euery man in this sort shall as it were haue secretely examined his owne conscience Thus we sée the meaning of the Prophet Moreouer when hee saith That euery man hath departed from his way hee declareth in the first place that he speaketh of those mē who are gouerned by their lustes and according to their owne reason and wisdome And this is a point to be throughly marked of vs because we sée the folly of some to be such as that all the persuasions in the worlde cannot withdrawe them from running into destruction by doing of that which séemeth best in their owne eyes The other sort doe so beastly follow their desires as that they vnderstand not that they plunge themselues wittingly into the bottome of Hell except god restrained them For we sée how the Papists at this day deale whenas they are found fault with by the word of God are conuinced therby I beséech you sir wil they say let me alone for be as be may I will be sure to go on that course which I haue begunne And wilt thou so why then thou surely goest the direct way to hel for this is thy way if thou folow that thy course Ho tush why man I haue such a good deuotiō as that it is impossible for God to reiect it Wel sir but the Prophet Isaiah speaketh also héere of the deuotiō which euery man maketh to himself thinkest thou that the holy ghost who spake in those daies by his mouth knew not that thou wouldst be an hypocrite full of poyson pride that thou wouldest be ruled as thou lustest that thou wouldst deuise a seruice of god at thy owne pleasure that thou wouldst worship idols thinke thou diddest wel that therein should stand thy religiō hath the holy ghost vnderstood all thy villanies Then looke thou to that which he hath spoken Euery man hath walked in his owne way to wit euery mā hath gone the straite way to hell Euery man hath run into destruction by taking his own course Héere then we see what the waies are that we take And so we are taught by this place to cast of all fond arrogancie to vnderstand that when we doe that which séemeth good in our own eies which we think to be very resonable it is as if we had made a league with Satā to catch vs in his snares And therfore this doctrine serueth for the correction of all presumption to the end we might be cōtented to be ruled only by spirite of God by his word and let vs also in like maner obserue that the Prophet Isaiah hath declared by these wordes that although wee know the thing that is good yet wil we not leaue frō doing the thing that is wicked naught And why so Forsooth because al our affections are enimies to God although we sée that we must refuse the euil yet wil we be carried away therwith that not forcibly but euen very wittingly wickedly it is so hid in vs as that the fruit must néedes shew what the rootes are And therefore let vs in the first place vnderstand that we know not how to walke a right there is but one only way which God alloweth of which wil bring vs to saluatiō to wit whenas our Lord Iesus shal take vs into his protection be the shéepe of his flocke follow him as our shepheard let vs also further vnderstand that al the affections are
corrupt wil hunt after euill in stéede of good vntil such time as our Lord Iesus Christ hath corrected reformed vs put into vs a right affection to obey him And this is it which the Prophet meaneth to declare Now let vs conclude that all such as tosse to fro doe depart frō our Lord Iesus For the Prophet saith That all the Patriarkes Prophets euery one of the holy Fathers and Martyrs haue néeded to be reconciled vnto God through the death and Passion of our Lord Iesus Christ For if Abraham the father of the faithful If Dauid the mirrour of al righteousnesse and if others such like as Iob Daniell who are called as it were the myrrours of all holinesse and perfection If these I say were poore strayed and lost shéepe vntill such time as they were recōciled by our Lord Iesus Christe Alas what shall become of vs And therefore when we shall séeke after our Mediators and thinke by their meanes to escape the destruction wherein wée are do wée not shew our selues too too vnthankefull vnto our Lord Iesus Christ And are not wée in the meane while too too voyde of sense and reason to craue any thing at their handes who also haue néede to runne for help to the death and passion of our Lorde Iesus Christ For if necessitie inforceth vs to séeke for remedie we must goe vnto him vnto whom all the faithfull in euery age had recourse For neither Saint Peter nor yet Saint Paul ne the virgin Mary nor any whatsoeuer that are exempt frō it And therefore let vs learne to goe to the spring head and fountaine and drawe cut of that which is wanting vnto vs. For our Lorde Iesus hath wherewith to satisfie vs all and wée must not feare that the fulnesse of his grace can any way bée drawne dry but bée assured that he will giue to euery one his parte and portion thereof which will come to séeke for it Wherefore let vs come vnto our Lorde Iesus Christe and he will satisfie vs all But whosoeuer declineth from him either one way or other suche a one cannot bée holpen with that remedie which is offered vnto him but refuseth it asmuche as in him lyeth so that his vnthankfulnesse is a let for the inioying of the grace that is presented vnto him And so much the more shall wée bée inexcusable since this is dayly preached vnto vs. For God was not contented to haue sent his Sonne for a time to thrust him out to bée slaine and to beat him in his wrath although hée loued him as his onely sonne for notwithstanding he woulde cast him downe to the outward shew and vsed all the rigour that was possible against him yet was hée alwayes his best beloued sonne as alredy hath béene said howbeit all was to the end that we might bée pardoned yet was hée not I say contented with this but dayly deliuereth vnto vs this treasure to the end wée might inioy it hée declareth vnto vs that Iesus Christe who was thrust into the side hath at this day his hart as it were wyde open that wée might bée assured of the loue hee beareth vs and that as his armes were tyed fast to the crosse euen so hath he now stretched them out to imbrase vs and pull vs vnto him and woulde haue all these thinges to doe vs good and as hée hath shed his blood so would hée that wée should at this day bée plunged therein Wherefore when God so neatly inuiteth vs and that Iesus Christ also séeth before vs the benefite of his death and passion and telleth vs that his blood is alwayes freshe according to the saying of the Apostle to the Hebrewes that it is not like dry blood which becōmeth nothing Heb. 10 2◠but because it is sanctified by his heauenly power therefore this blood is continually fresh for the Apostle hath vsed this spéeche that wee might vnderstand that his power is not lessened but hath continually his full and whole strength such as it had from the beginning to the end wée myght all come and submit our selues vnto our Lord Iesus Christe And after wée haue confessed our sinnes and be ashamed of them let vs not doubt but that he is sufficient to giue vs such remedy as that we may conclude that God hath receiued and allowed vs as his own children and accounteth vs as righteous and perfect where before wée were abhominable in his sight Thus wée sée what we haue to learne out of this doctrine And because we sée that at this day some iest and mock and other some waxe proude presumptuous and thinke by their righteousnesse to satisfie God let vs deny all such blasphemies and in true faith and repentance séeke for our Lorde Iesus Christe and with all our affections submit our selues to him whenas we shall féele our selues thus charged with so insupportable a burden Let vs nowe fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God acknowledge our offences beséeching him to cause vs so to féele them as that wée may grone for them all our life longe and be moued to haue recourse vnto him and not to wander and roile in our foolish wicked and diuelish opinions But in vnderstanding that al our blessednesse and whatsoeuer els belongeth to our saluation is in our Lord Iesus Christ that it would please this our good God to make vs come wholy vnto him and so kéepe our faith as that we neuer be turned away from it And that it would please him also by his holy spirite so to worke in our heartes that we knowing our selues to bee fréely forgiuen of our sinnes might also acknowledge what a great pryce it cost and howe deare and precious it was vnto his onely Sonne that thereby wée might bée so much the more styrred vp to magnifie him And forasmuche as wee must bee healed by him that it woulde please him to cleanse vs dayly of all our faultes and sinnes vntyll such time as hee hath brought vs vnto that perfection wherunto wee ought to growe al our life long that it would please him not onely to shew vs this fauour but also vnto all people and nations of the earth c. The fourth Sermon of the Prophesie of Christe Isaiah liii 7 HEE was oppressed and afflicted yet did hee not open his mouth hee is brought as a sheepe to the slaughter and as sheepe before her sherer is dumbe so he openeth not his mouth 8 Hee was taken out from pryson and from iudgement and who shal declare his age for he was cut frō out of the land of the liuing for the transgression of my people was hee plagued WHen the Prophet had shewed that euery of vs was to looke into himselfe and vnto his owne sins if we woulde receiue any benefite by the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christe hée now saith that he suffered not cōstrainedly but willingly for if he had not done so we should neuer haue
with him that crucified him Howbeit they coulde neuer haue doone any thing against him do the best they had could without it had béen so before ordeined by the sacred decrée appointment of God the father as hath béen alredy alledged out of the Actes Acts. 2. 23. 4.28 where it is saide That they did nothing but that which the hand and counsell of God had ordeined But ouer and besides all this our Lorde Iesus Christe was contēted well pleased with the sentence iudgement that was giuen vpon him for our sakes Now the prophet setteth it namely down that it was for sin For all sacrifices were called sin offerings because that he who had cōmitted an offence whē he came to ask pardon brought his sacrifice with him thereupon was discharged as if hée should haue said Alas my good God behold I stande héere before thée as a guiltie condemned person and it is impossible for mee to beare the punishment that I haue deserued for it but should rather bée a burden vtterly to cast mée downe into the pit of hell Howebeit for remedie héereof I craue pardon at thy maiesties hand by meane of the sacrifice which héere is offered vp vnto thée Héere we see why they were called sinne offeringes to wit because the curse which we deserued vnder the which we were altogether cast downe was as it were discharged and laid vpon a bullocke or shéepe or vpon some such like thing that was offered Now all this was done in the lawe vnder a figure So then our Lorde Iesus was called sinne because he bare our curse that God his Father might blesse vs. Neither let vs thinke that this is any whit derogatory from his Maiestie but that wée ought rather so much the more to magnifie him For as S. Paule saith in his Epistle to the Corinthes That hée who knew not what sin meant 2. Cor. 5.21 was made sinne for vs that we might be the righteousnes of God in him There is no doubt but that Saint Paul meant to set foorth vnto vs the fruite and benefite of the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ euen as the Prophet héere setteth it downe vnto vs. Wée sée then that Iesus Christ was innocent without spot or wrinkle And therefore since it is so hée was méetest to beare the charge of others Nowe hée in such sort beare it as that hée was made sinne to wit hée susteined our curse And how so Forsooth to the ende that wée now might haue righteousnesse to aunswere the Maiestie of God For the obedience of our Lord Iesus Christ is as a cloke to couer al our iniquities and besides his blood is as a thing to cleanse vs when wée are washed therein and as Saint Peter saith Bedeawed and begot therewith by his holy Spirite Héere then wée sée the meaning of this place 1. Pet. 1.2 Marke also héere againe that to the ende wée might detest and abhorre both our sins our selues we must cōsider of the wonderful sufferings of the sonne of God because it is so strange a thing as that it ought to put vs in a maruellous admiration that he who is the fountaine of all righteousnes was made sinne that hée who is blessed sanctifieth all things yea euen the very Angels of heauen became accursed Nowe when wée heare all these thinges spoken of and sée them to bée very strange yet haue wée not the wit and vnderstanding to apply them to our edifying For since the Sonne of God was brought to this point is it possible for vs to finde any remedy els where No surely for wée may soone iudge that neither men Angels nor nothing els whatsoeuer was able to doe vs any good but that we must néedes haue our help at the hāds of the sonne of God And therfore this Diuel Seruetus which was héere executed is so much the more accursed and damnable because he hath falsified stayned the holy Bible in saying that all this was prophesied of Cyrus an Heathē Idolater and robbed our Lord Iesus Christe of the thing which so properly belonged vnto him as that when Isaiah had fastened this as it were vnto a liuely Table that euen thē Iesus Christ was crucified the things could not be made more manifest and plaine And yet this Diuell brought with him such an horrible wickednesse as that hée hath spoyled our Lorde Iesus Christ both of his dignitie and office and saith That it was an Heathen man that suffered for the people whenas in déede what by reason of his ambition and couetousnesse hée would néedes shed the blood of a man and therefore receiued his iust rewarde for the same Howbeit this is a fearefull falsifiyng of this godly Prophesie and to say truely neuer man aliue euer once thought of any such meanyng as this cursed fellowe hath deuised For although a great number of shamelesse Heretikes haue peruerted the doctrine of the holy Scripture yet neuer did any of them come thus farre And therefore it cannot bée chosen but that al the signes and tokens of a reprobate appeared in this cursed man Wherfore wée are héere so much the rather to note that whē the Prophet bringeth vs backe to the consideration of our Lorde Iesus Christe that in the first place it is to this ende that wee might bée ashamed of our selues and besides that we might magnifie the inestimable goodnesse of our God because hée would haue his onely Sonne to become sinne for vs and that our Lord Iesus Christe himselfe refused it not but as one forgetting himselfe had such care of our saluation as that hée descended into the bottomeles depthes of horror to the ende hee would beare our curse And therefore wée are héere also to consider of this point that there is none other meane for vs to be discharged before God but to set before vs the satisfaction of the Sacrifice which was offered vp for vs once for all Indéede this is very true that the worlde alwaies hath a meaning to deuise some one thing or an other I know not what wherewith to pay God as hath heeretofore béene saide and for example wée sée what store of pretie fonde triflyng bables many Papistes vse wherwith to appease the wrath of god For in déed they tell vs that it is impossible for vs to bée forgiuen without we make satisfaction for say they although God of his frée mercy goodnesse forgiueth vs the fault yet hée reserueth alwayes the punishment vntill such time as euery of vs hath discharged himself before him And héereupon wée sée from whence commeth the foundation of Purgatorie For because wée cannot whiles wée lyue héere make satisfaction but that there must remaine alwaies some remnant and arrerages wée must therefore say they beare the punishment out of this worlde that is it that must pay god Loe héere howe the miserable worlde hath béen deceiued and blinly lead with the leasinges and doting dreames of
were notwithstanding infected with verie gréeuous sinnes And therefore let men presume as much as they lust and think howe they will to liue vertuously yet when they haue done all they can and set downe many lawes and rules for their gouernment they shall neuer be able to be iustified before God by that meane And why so Forsooth because sinne hath taken suche déepe roote in vs as that it cannot bee pulde out of vs by mans helpe To bee shorte wee shall neuer bee iustified by goyng to Schoole with men although they teache neuer so muche what vertue is And that which is more Beholde God publisheth the lawe wherein is true and perfect righteousnesse for marke what Moyses sayeth Beholde sayeth hee I pronounce at this day both good and euill I shewe vnto thee the way both of life and death But by the way can wee bee iustified by it Can it so order vs as that God will take our life to bee good and holie 2. Cor. 3.7 Rom. 4.15 No surely it is all cleane contrarie For the lawe engendreth death redoubleth our condemnation and kindleth the wrath of God against vs. Thus wee see what tytles the holie Scripture giueth vnto it And therefore since the lawe of it selfe cannot iustifie vs how then is it possible for men by their doctrine statutes and ordinaunces make vs to be truely righteous Nowe if it be asked howe and wherefore the lawe is not able to iustifie the reason is alredie set downe It is true in deed that God declareth vnto vs in his lawe howe wee ought and may attayne vnto lyfe if so bee wee were suche as that there were no let in vs. Wherefore although the lawe of God speaketh vnto vs yet it refourmeth not our heartes For when God telleth vs and sayeth Beholde what it is that I require at your handes But if in the meane while all our desires affections thoughts bee altogether against that which hee commaundeth wée are not onely condemned But the lawe also as I haue alredie saide maketh vs so muche the more guiltie before the Maiestie of God For before the lawe was giuen wée sinned through ignoraunce but nowe wee so wittingly and willingly stande against him as that it séemeth we woulde euen despight him For we know that the seruant which knoweth his Maisters will and doeth it not shall be beaten with many strypes Thus we see why it â—e said that the lawe engendreth nothing els but wrath to wit that when wée haue béen instructed in it it kindleth God his wrath so muche the more against vs and bringeth with it death but howe Because forsooth we sée in it that we are condemned and vtterly cast away What is it so that it announceth not life no and yet by the way we cannot attaine theretoo And therefore we must be iustified after an other maner which is by the Gospell For God saieth not vnto vs in the Gospell Beholde yée shall doe this or that But hée saieth Beléeue that my onely Sonne is your Redeemer embraâ—e his death and passion as a remedie for all your diseases wash your selues in his blood and he shall purge you and ye shall bee made cleane therewith staye your selues vpon the sacrifice whiche hee hath offred vp vnto mee and then see in what sort you shal bee iustified Wherefore forsomuch as the Gospell bringeth vs back vnto our Lorde Iesus Christ and commaundeth vs to seeke for all our righteousnesse in him because he hath made full satisfaction for vs through the free mercy of God see howe we shall be iustified by his knowledge Rom. 10. And this is it which Saint Paule handleth in his Epistle to the Romanes For there hee maketh a comparison betweene the righteousnesse of the lawe and the righteousnesse of Fayth For he sayth that there is this righteousnesse in the lawe when as it sayeth Whosoeuer shall doe all these thinges shal liue by them For this is most true that if wee be able to fulfill all the commaundementes of God so that our life be in such sort ruled as that it is without spot or wrinckle God hath promised to receyue vs as righteous that wee shall be verie sure of our rewarde and not misse of it Marke then the certayntie that is in the lawe but tel mée who it is that doeth al that the law commandeth Surely we goe altogether backward and a man would thinks as I haue beforesaid that wée would go about euen to set our selues against God Thus we sée that the gate of the righteousnesse of the law is quite shut vp against vs and that there remayneth nothing els for vs but the very curse of God But in the Gospel it is saide behold the woorde is in thine heart and in thy mouth But how forsooth after thiâ— sort S. Paule speaketh of it and saith Rom. 10. â— That if wée will haue the word in our heartes and mouthes wée must come vnto Iesus Christe because it is hée which wryteth and imprinteth the doctrine of saluation by his holy spirite with which doctrine wée haue had our eares beaten vnprofitably and in vayne And therefore since our Lorde Iesus Christ putteth his word in our heartes let â—â— beséech him to graunt vs this grace as that we may haue a pure and frée affection to the end we might séeke in him whatsoeuer is wanting in vs. Thus wée sée howe wée shall bée iustified by his knowledge for it is out of al doubte that wée are no way able to bring any satisfaction of our owne with vs which may please God and to make this accompt as to say wée haue deserued O Lord that thou shouldest receiue vs but we should rather say we confesse O Lorde that wee are miserable sinners bound ouer so thy iudgement and it is impossible for vs to make satisfaction therto so that wée must néeds acknowledge that there is no sufficieÌ„cie in any but in Iesus Christ alone to make satisfaction for the same Wherfore we should most humbly coÌ„fesse this say that we are forlorne damned creatures vntil such time as our Lorde Iesus reacheth out his hand to pâ—â— vs out of the pit of hell Now here we confessed all this to be so And besides wee knowe that our Lorde Iesus also supplyeth all our wantes For if wée â—ée foule and filthie his blood washeth vs wherewith wee 〈◊〉 â—â—eane If wee bee fallen in debte not onelye vnto GOD â—ut also vnto Satan as too our enemie Ephe. 5.1 the payment was made â— the death and passion of the Sonne of GOD And if wée bée defyled and not to bée abidden the Sacrifice which our Lorde Iesus Christe offered is suche a sweete smelling sauour as that all our wickednesse is defaced Thus then we sée how we are iustified by the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ And according to this doctrine wée sée in the first place that we must not séeke far for our righteousnes because we shal find it in
before the Maiestie of our good God and acknowledge our offences beséeching him to make vs more and more féele them that it might bée so to our humbling as that wée might daily fight against them and be spoiled of all together and that we might séeke to be clad with his righteousnesse and enriched with the giftes of his holy spirite to the end we might appeare pure and innocent before him And forsomuch as we had néede to be daily reconciled vnto him by meane of the Mediator that it would please him to graunt vs the grace to pray vnto him with a sure hope and trust so that we staying our selues on him might by true faith and power embrase the promise which hée hath made vs Mat. 11. â—8 when as hée saieth Come vnto mée all yée that labour and are heauy laden and I wil ease and refresh you So that we may féele that the office of the Mediator which was giuen him is not in vain and of no effect But that by his meane wée might at this day bée heard and our petitions and supplications so dedicated and consecrated vnto him as that God would receiue and allowe them Let vs therefore beséech him that hée will not shewe this fauour to vs alone but also vnto all people and nations of the world c. The first Sermon of the ascention of our Lord Iesus Christ Actes first 1 THe former booke haue I made O Theophilus of all that Iesus began both to doe and teach 2 Vntill the day in which hee was taken vp after that hee through the holy Ghost had giuen commandements vnto the Apostles whom he had chosen 3 To whom also he shewed himselfe aliue after his passion and that by many tokens appearing vnto them fortie daies speaking of the kingdome of God 4 And gathering them together commaunded them that they shoulde not departe from Hierusalem but wayte for the promise of the Father whereof saieth he you haue heard of me BEcause wée are too buyld our faith vppon God and his truth S. Luke héere telleth vs that Iesus Christ sent not his Apostles to teach what they themselues thought good But put his word into their mouthes and gaue them sure and certaine instruction to the end they might carrie such a faithfull message as that wee might take no occasion to doubt thereof And therefore when as we at this day heare the Gospel preached we ought to be fully resolued that it is the charge which God committed vnto his Apostles and receiue it as the thing which commeth from himself as indéede it doeth Moreouer to the end we should beare greater reuerence vnto the Gospel it is not said only that Iesus Christ deliuered it but that it was also done by the holy Ghost For as Iesus Christ is the very natural Sonne of God euen so likewise is he man and hath taken vpon him our fleshe and nature Nowe vnder this shadowe as no doubt of it the worlde is wicked a man might vnder a colour take occasion to contemne this doctrine or els not make so greate an account of it Here then we sée that Saint Luke saith that the charge which was geuen vnto the Apostles to teach procéeded not from Iesus Christ alone but from the holie Spirite also Wherefore wée at this present sée that the preaching of the Gospell is heauenly and not earthly and ratified by God himselfe Notwithstanding wée muste also obserue that the summe and effect of the Gospel is comprehended in these fewe woordes to wit That Iesus Christe both taught and made it So that if we will beare the name of Christians we must be taught that doctrine which Iesus Christ brought vs and besides be also eftsoones confirmed therein For he hath not onely spoken but hath likewise accomplished whatsoeuer was necessary for our saluation Moreouer because his death and resurrection was of al the rest the most principall poynt wée haue therefore spoken of it in order as it followeth S. Luke then saith that Iesus Christ after he had suffred shewed himselfe aliue vnto his Disciples and that by many manifest proofes which was not without good cause For when wée heare the promises of God spoken on our faith wil still hang in suspence vntil such time as we are assured of his grace and fauour which can neuer be without the gage which he hath geuen vs to wit that Iesus Christ suffered for our redemption beare the punishment due for our sinnes Thus héere wée sée that Saint Luke speaketh not in vaine of the proofes which were giuen to assure vs that Iesus Christ is risen againe 1. Cor. 15.14 For harken what Saint Paul saieth that if Christ be not risen our faith is in vaine and our Preaching also in vaine wée haue no more hope then very Beastes By this we sée that the ende of our hope is that Iesus Christ is rysen from the dead And this is the victory indéed which he hath gotten yea euen to shew that he is Lorde ouer lyfe and death Rom. 4.15 Saint Paul also saith that Iesus Christ dyed for our sinnes and if hée had remayned dead still what hope might wée haue had by him but beholde hée rose agayne that is the triumph which he had ouer death to the end we might beléeue in him Saint Peter likewise to shew that wée ought to beléeue in Iesus Christ 1. Peter 3.21 bringeth for proofe héereof none other thing but his resurrection Let vs therefore obserue that when Saint Luke sayeth that Iesus christ shewed himselfe aliue he speaketh of a thing that was requisit for the assurance of our saluation Wherefore if wée woulde haue the principall poynt of Christianitie wée must come to this resurrection by which hee purchased for vs lyfe and saluation and shewed himselfe to bée the very Sonne of God Moreouer let vs also learne that since Saint Luke saieth that Iesus Christ hath made vs such proofes of his resurrection let vs not call that thing into question which God himselfe hath so well approued And therefore if we are not at this day fully persuaded that Iesus Christ is risen agayne let vs thanke our owne vnthankfulnesse Saint Luke also vseth a kinde of spéech which a fourdeth an argument that bringeth with it a present proofe And in deed we sée what payne the Euangelistes haue taken in this matter For when they come to speake of the resurrection they lay foorth all the circumstaunces and besides they recyte all the testimonies of his wordes for hée hath saide and declared that it was no vaine imagination or vision whereby some trouble might afterward arise And therefore wée ought to vnderstande and knowe that since they haue taken so great paynes héerein that wée must not stande in doubt of it but it is fit wée should receiue their wordes as sure and certaine séeing they bring so good a proofe with them And therefore for this matter whereof Saint Luke speaketh that Iesus Christ
shewed him selfe a lyue after hée had béen dead with so manifest and many proofes wée must learne to build vpon such a foundation as shall neuer be able to be shaken And as he hath thus ouercome death euen so doeth hée now stretch foorth his hand to guide and bring vs to saluation And so often as wée would assure our selues of our saluation wée must not runne vnto Creatures but let vs behold as it were in a glasse that as Christ Iesus is risen againe and hath ouercome death euen so also hath he opened the kingdome of heauen that we might enter into it vnder his charge It is further saide that when hée shewed him selfe That hee spake of the kingdome of God amongst his friendes Wherein wee are to note that the Commission which was graunted vnto these from whom we receiue the doctrine of the Gospell was not set downe in a worde or for a minute of an houre but that they were so sufficiently instructed for a long while and that they haue not instructed vs at randon not knowing what they meant but were taught and instructed as they shoulde bée And when they had thus fully and wholly receiued this doctrine and therewithall authoritie to bestow it they haue deliuered the same faythfully vnto vs. Thus we sée what wée haue to note in this saying Nowe it is saide that Iesus Christ shewed him selfe vnto his Apostles and in shewing him selfe Hee spake of the kingdome of God amongst them But héere we are to vnderstande what it is that Saint Luke meaneth by the kingdome of God hée meaneth not by this kingdome of God euerlasting life as we commonly take it and as at the first sight it might here be taken as who shoulde say That that is the kingdome of God which we wayte for through hope But Saint Luke taketh it to bee the spirituall gouernment by whiche Iesus Christe holdeth vs in his obedience vntill hée hath wholly refourmed vs vnto his owne Image and hauing dispoyled vs of this mortal body sendeth vs to heauen And this is the very meaning of S. Luke But to make the matter more easie and plaine let vs take the kingdome of God cleane contrarie and that is this the life of men which follow their corrupt nature And in déede if Iesus Christ should goe from vs and let vs goe whether we listed our selues surely we should be quite clean out of the kingdome of God For by the kingdom of God is meant a reformation and we bring nothing with vs but miseries corruptions in this worlde to be short we are wandring beasts and the Deuill ruleth vs and so thralleth vs euen as it pleaseth him selfe Thus we sée what man is vntill God hath refourmed him Wherefore let vs take out this lesson to know what wée are vntill such time as Iesus Christ hath refourmed vs. Why then would we haue a greater mischiefe then this as to haue Satan so to possesse vs and to be our Maister And thus I say we sée what we are vntill such time as God of his infinite goodnesse stretcheth foorth his hande vnto vs euen to bring vs into his kingdome that we might be obedient vnto him and to his iustice Nowe by the way we are also to sée howe highly we ought to estéeme of this grace when it is offred vs and that Iesus Christ draweth vs vnto him And loe here is all our blessednesse that God is our King In déed although Kings couet to haue kingdomes to encrease their honour and wealth and to be Lordes ouer nations without any regard to a better ende yet if any Prince be endued with excellent graces euerie man will think him selfe blessed that is his subiect But when Iesus Christ reigneth ouer vs we haue a king that is not onely endued with many excellent graces but also who reigneth ouer vs for our benefit And to say the trueth he is no whit bettered by vs for we can no more encrease then we can diminish Psal 16.2 Thus we sée that the thing which I haue alredie said is very true That we are blessed when as God setteth vp his kingly throne amongst vs to reigne ouer vs. Here we sée what we are taught in the secōd place to wit to esteeme and make muche of such a benefite when God bestoweth it vpon vs now the meane commeth by the Gospel We also sée why Iesus Christ spake so oftentimes of the Gospel Mat. 13.24.31.33.44.45 calling it the kingdome of God For if we sticke not to it we are verie rebelles to God and banished from all his graces For wée shall neuer haue parte of them vntill we be refourmed Which thing the Gospell worketh by calling vs to Iesus Christ and shewing vs that we must be regenerate by his holie spirite Since then it is so when the Gospel is preached it is to the end we might bée lyke vnto Iesus Christ forsake whatsoeuer is in our selues that we might be raysed vp agayne by his grace And therefore the Gospell is not called the kingdome of God without good cause And in déede as without it the Deuill reigneth and by reason therof is called the King of this world Euen so when Iesus Christ causeth his Gospell to be preached in any countrie it is as much as if hée shoulde say I will reigne ouer you and be your King But yet it cannot be saide that all they which dwell in that countrie where the Gospell is preached doe obey God For we sée some of them lift them selues vp and shewe foorth their iniquitie which before laye hid in them and othersome contemne the doctrine in whom is no fruite of the kingdome of God And yet Christ Iesus hath alwayes a little congregation where the Gospel is preached And howe so Forsooth because there is no King but hath subiectes Neuerthelesse wée may conclude that it is an inestimable benefite when GOD offreth vs his Gospell For what would wée more then when our Lorde Iesus Christ sayeth vnto vs. Loe héere I am and take charge of you to the ende you might bée vnder my winges and protection nowe what can you desire more Wée knowe then that all this commeth vnto vs by the Gospell And this is the perfection of all our happinesse if wée could rightly vnderstand it Moreouer this is certaine that when Iesus Christ thus bringeth vs into his kingdome and taketh vs vnto him selfe it is because hée woulde cloth vs so much the rather with immortalitie incorruption to the ende wée might enter into his promised glory And therfore when we receiue this Gospel we enter into the kingdome of God But what This is only but an entraunce howbeit we must go on a great deale further into it which thing is brought to passe when as he deliuereth vs from this cursed bondage of sin and setteth vs at the libertie which he promised vs. Thus wée sée that it is not enough to haue an entraunce but wée must goe still forwarde
vntill such time as wee are wholly vnited vnto Iesus Christ And in déede we knowe that although God enlightneth vs with his holie spirite and we haue a desire to walk in his feare and acknowledge his goodnesse wherevnto wee trust yet are our infirmities so many as is lamentable and we are to fight against a number of temptatiōs wherwith we are oftentimes ouercome What shall become then of all this geare Is it enough that wée haue entred No no But wée must vnderstande that our lyfe is a way and we must still be going on vntill wee be come vnto our Lorde Iesus Christ And so must the kingdome of God more and more encrease vntill wée are quite rydde of sinne For wée daily haue experience enough héereof although we are a great way of from being vnited to God as we ought Wherefore this is a token that God reigneth not in vs as hée shoulde For if he did all our power and force woulde bende it selfe that way Contrariwise wée féele euen as great rebellion as may be when as wée woulde goe about to doe that whiche God teacheth vs. Séeing then we in such sort stande against God and his iustice it is a signe that hée ruleth not vs peaceably For all that euer we haue euen without our bellies as we say should goe that way that the glorie of God might appeare and shine throughout Contrariwise we sée that there is nothing in vs euen from the toppe to the toe but horrible rebellion ◠Cor. 15.18 And thus we may sée that the kingdome of God is not accomplished Wherefore we are admonished to goe on vntill such time as God is all in all to wyt we should be so full of him as that we should be emptie of our selues namely we shoulde be vncloathed of this bodie be raysed vp into that glory which is promised vs. The spéech then which our Lord Iesus Christ had with his Apostles of the kingdome of God tended to this end that wée shoulde forsake our selues and ouerthrow whatsoeuer is oures and that Iesus Christ might set vp his Throne and guide vs so that we might be altogether agréeable vnto his righteousnes seeke only to folow him as our soueraigne and liege Lord King And all this is spoken to vs. Why so Forsooth because the Apostles were not taught onely for them selues but for vs. And therefore let this be a note vnto vs that whensoeuer the Gospel is deliuered vnto vs it is to this end that we should be readie to leaue this world to wit al the wicked affections and vanities that are in vs which kéepe vs back here below For we must be wholly chaunged God must giue vs a new life Thus we sée how it is that the Gospell must doe good to the end it might be indéed the verie kingdome of God beare such authoritie with vs as is méete And by the way God calleth vs not vnto him meaning to kéepe vs alwayes in one state but will continually pricke vs on vntill he hath brought vs to perfection making vs to vnderstande that this present life is like a Sea full of all miseries thus we sée howe Iesus Christe bendeth him selfe to bring vs vnto the heauenly kingdome after we are once entred into the kingdome of God in this world It is saide That he forbad them going from Ierusalem vntill such time as they had receiued the promise of God And all this was spoken for the building vp of our Fayth For we sée howe necessarie it is for vs to be assured and resolued of this point to wyt that men deuised not the doctrine of the Gospell but that God sent it from heauen And therfore this ought to be put out of all doubt What would then become of it if it were not throughly declared and verified vnto vs that Iesus Christ in such sort sent his Apostles and were not ledde by their owne motion counsell or will but sent by God who taught them their lesson and vnderstood not of their owne witts this doctrine but by the holie Ghost And therefore the wordes of Saint Luke are here to bée well marked that hée handled this doctrine oftentimes amongst them to the ende they might be the better instructed therein and not runne at randon Ouer and besides this it is saide that they must néedes be enlightened with the holie Ghost that they might bée quite voide of all worldly wisedome and that it might be knowne that their doctrine was the verie word of God Let vs therfore marke this well that our Fayth may alwayes cleaue vnto God as a fast Anker holde For wée shall finde nothing in the Creatures but shall flyt away lyke water and therfore it were an yll foundation to builde our Fayth on them but when we shall builde it vpon God it shall not be subiect to réele this way and that but shall stande fast and sure And héere wée sée why the Apostles were forbidden to departe from Ierusalem vntill they had receiued the holie Ghost Nowe by this we sée their obedience For in mans reason they might haue somewhat replyed and saide What Are not we the Apostles of God haue not we authoritie to preach his worde Are not we able to execute our charge They had some shewe why they might thus haue saide For to what purpose had God iustified them in this charge without they might doe it But they knew well enough that it was he whom they must obey For cursed is that man who trusteth in him selfe to doe any worke before God putteth him forwarde to doe it And contrariwise when God sendeth him hée must not striue against it but say Loe here am I Lorde employ mée as pleaseth thée And thus we sée howe Saint Luke sheweth that the Apostles obeyed Iesus Christ when as he forbad them to depart from Ierusalem vntill suche time as God had perfourmed his promise vnto them And herein we sée that the grace of the holy Ghost had alredie wrought in them For not long before they were clean out of the way they had forsakē their Maister they knew nothing what the assistance sauegard of God ment and suffred Satan to disperse them abroad But what when as God had once graunted them the grace to vnderstande his voyce and meaning hée néeded not but to haue beckened his finger and they woulde haue obeyed him And if he had forbidden them any thing they would not haue attempted it But contrariwise when he commaunded them to goe neither fyre nor water coulde staye them Thus then wee sée that it is God whiche must worke in vs to bring vs vnto such a subiection For els when he would say retyer we would goe on and when he woulde byd vs march on Num. 14.3 40. we woulde goe backe Nowe héere we sée what our nature is And this notable myrror haue wee euen in the Iewes For if we reade howe they behaued them selues after they were deliuered out of
Christe neuer went beyond his bondes Whatsoeuer therfore that we waite for let vs neither looke this way nor that but stand to his worde Moreouer because the name of God is often abused let vs looke narrowly and warely whether it is hée that hath spoken vnto vs or not And although Iesus Christe himselfe speaketh not at this present vnto vs yet hath hee ratified whatsoeuer is conteined in the Lawe and the Prophetes Wee must not therefore stand in doubt of the doctrine Why so Because it is allowed Thus we sée that if wée follow this doctrine we cannot do amisse and contrariwise this were a trimme kinde of spéeche to say wee are Christians when in very deede there is nothing in vs but a vaine opinion And nowe let vs beholde the faith which is taught in Popery They will say forsooth I beléeue this and that but if they be asked why beléeue you so They will answere because they were so told But who is it that taught you thus Our auncestours Thus wée sée that there is no certentie in their beliefe but a vaine opinion And therefore we are to consider of the great grace of GOD to vs warde in that he hath pluckt vs from that religion for wée go not nowe by thinking and ghessing but we must stay our selues vpon this infallible trueth which he hath giuen vs. In very déede wee cannot doe thus without the holy Ghoste ratifie the same in our heartes For otherwise it were a iolly kinde of spéeche to say God hath saide it and this is his doctrine And therefore vntill suche time as the holy Ghost hath wrought in vs to shew vs that the promises of God are Autenticall wée shall but stumble But as Iesus Christe is a faithfull witnesse of God his Father euen so confirmeth hee vs by his holy spirite and wee are to beseech him that he would perfourme it more and more in vs. And this is it which wee at this present are to stande vpon For Iesus Christe promised to send the holy Ghoste vnto his Apostles as may bee seene in Iohns Gospell Iohn 14.16.26 15.26 where this promise is set downe that Iesus Christ said vnto them when I am ascended vp into heauen I will sende you the holy Ghoste This saying then hée confirmed vnto them that they might constantly looke for it It followeth Iohn baptized with water but yee shall be baptized with the holy Ghost And this is a confirmation of the promise which he gaue them as if hée shoulde haue saide my office is to baptize not with water but with the holy Ghost And God my Father hâ—th not giuen mée this office in vaine and therefore you must féele the benefite thereof by experience Let vs therefore vnderstand this one point that nothing is in vain giueÌ„ to Iesus Christ Now he hath no néede of this himselfe But it is for his members to the end we might all draw grace with grace Iohn 1.16 out of his fulnesse And so let vs conclude that since Iesus Christe hath this office of baptizing with the holy Ghoste wée must néedes féele it by proofe and be partakers of such a benefite for otherwise it were but an vncertaine title and no trueth in it which were very blasphemie so to say Wee are therefore to vnderstand that Iesus Christ acquainteth vs with such a Baptisme For mark what it was that he said to his Apostles Now S. Iohn Baptist had told the Iewes before that he baptized but with water and the reason why hee so saide was this that they would haue giuen ouermuch honor vnto him and so haue derogated from Iesus Christ And therefore he refused this and said that he did but administer the visible signe of water so that it belonged not to him to giue grace to Baptisme but was the office of Iesus Christ to doe it Behold saith he I baptize you with water Mat. 3.11 Mark 1.7 Luke 3.16 Iohn 1.26 But there is one whom you yet know not that hath power to baptize with the holy Ghoste whose shoe latchet I am not worthy to vntie for although I came before him yet am I no body and it is hée that must haue all the honor And this is the spéech of Iohn Baptist and now Iesus Christ vseth the same as if he should say This ought to be no strange thing vnto you for it was knowne vnto you long ago how that the priuiledge of baptizing with the holy Ghost was reserued to me alone Nowe héere might arise a questioÌ„ why Iesus Christ rather spake of Iohn baptist theÌ„ of any other The reason is manifest because the greatnes of Iohn Baptist as they had abused it was a let that Iesus Christe was not honored as he ought although he had spokeÌ„ of any other yet would it haue ben thought notwithstanding that Iohn might wel enough haue béen compared to Iesus Christ And therfore he chose to speak of the most excellent man to the end he wold shew that he would not haue the worlde deceiued but that it was himself vnto whom all honor was to be giuen And thus we sée that where men go about to get themselues credite estimation amongst men Saint Iohn baptist here doth al he can to abase himself Iohn 3. 30. because he would haue no more giuen vnto him then became him And after hee had vsed many spéeches hée concluded that he must be abased and Iesus Christ exalted Neither was this hypocritically saide of him but in trueth and in déede And I would it pleased God that the world would take foorth this lesson But what Wée are so continually giuen to this wicked superstition as that we looke stil vnto the creatures who are so many vailes to kéepe vs from beholding of Iesus Christ And by this wée sée what the cause hath béen of the setting vp of such an infinite number of Idols in the world For looke how many holy men and women haue béene in the world euen so many Idols haue béen set vp yea although the graces which God hath liberally bestowed vpon vs ought to be Argumentes sufficient to haue vs put our trust in him not in creatures And the papists when they will honor their Saints say it is written Praise God in his Saints I will not call them beastes Psal 150.1 for taking of this place after this sorte séeing the Prophet in saying Praise God in his holy place or in his Sanctuary meaneth the heauens as if hée should haue said praise this diuine maiestie who ruleth in his heauenly throne ouer all his Creatures And yet they so magnifie the Saints amongst them as that as they themselues say God is not knowne from his Apostles or els is placed all in one ranke with the rest Now this diuelish Prouerbe which is among them A man cannot know God from his Apostles will bée a testimony against them that they haue torne in peeces the glory of god like mastiffe Curres
in the name of God yet when hée commeth to age wée sée him enclined to all mischiefe and therefore wée cannot say that hée is a new man but rather like a bruite beast And yet wée cannot say but that the Sacrament had his full nature and proprietie For baptisme of it selfe is as much as if we were renued and then if wée bée not so the fault is oures because wee will not suffer Iesus Christ to accomplishe his grace in vs and so for want of beliefe wée in such sort close vp our heartes as that there is no entraunce for his graces which hée woulde largely bestow vpon vs. Thus we sée that the Sacrament is neuer without his power and vertue howbeit we receiue no fruit nor benefite by it because it cannot enter without faith Wée haue héere therefore to note that the trueth of Baptisme is not in the water but in the holie Ghost And besides Iesus Christ geueth vs the holie Ghost And therefore wée are throughly to marke that if we woulde bée benefited by Baptisme we must not sticke so much to the water as though our saluation were enclosed therein but let vs vnderstand that it is the holie Ghost that must woorke all Moreouer wée sée that the worlde hath receiued this doctrine very perniciously for the Papistes thinke that the grace of God is tyed to it and they charme it like Coniurers geuing to the water the power of the Sacrament And therefore they say that that childe that is not baptized is damned Wherefore for the preuenting of this danger they are not onely contented to geue power authoritie to all men of what state and condition soeuer they bée to baptize but euen to women also for feare say they that the children might die without baptisme And so they think that the truth of baptisme consisteth in the water so that by this meane the blood of Iesus Christ is layde cleane aside But as for vs let vs learne that the truth of baptisme is not in the water but in the holy Ghost And yet is not the signe vnprofitable for it witnesseth vnto vs that our soules are washed But if wée wil haue the truth of it we must come to the holie Ghost as wée haue already shewed Moreouer it is saide that Iesus Christ giueth the holy Ghost to the end wée should neither séeke for it in the water nor yet at the handes of men but looke vp vnto heauen And this is also a poynt wherewith the world hath béen deceiued For who is hée that looketh to Iesus Christ when we speake of any thing concerning our saluation No man For wée thinke it to bée in the power of men as if Iesus Christ had resigned his office vnto them that he had no more to doe in heauen Sée I pray you how blockishe wee are Nowe the Scripture choketh vs by the chin as wée say to make vs looke aloft for in it is the thing which wée heare Iesus Christ teache vs beholde it is I that baptizeth you I graunt it is said that God sendeth the holie Ghost and so doeth Iesus Christ also Iohn 14.16.26 Iohn 15.26 16.7 Mat. 28.18 For when the father sendeth him hée sendeth him in the name of Iesus Christ at his request And besides Iesus Christ speaking of himself said that hée would send him And indéede hée is one and the selfesame God with the father And besides inasmuch as being made man hée became our Mediator al power both in heauen and earth was giuen him so that hée is as it were the very arme and hande to bestow the graces of God vpon vs. Let vs also note why it was that Iohn spake of the Baptisme with the holie Ghost and with fire vsing these twoo woordes For it is all one thing When hée speaketh of fire it is because hée meaneth to boyle vs againe to scombe of al our filthynesse as men vse to melt golde or siluer when they would fine it and as we sée men purge filthy places with fyre And therfore the holy ghost beareth not this name in vaine séeing it is hée that must purge all our spots and blots and it is also to signifie vnto vs that so soone as we come into this worlde we bring nothing with vs but vncleanesse and the longer wée liue the greater heape of vncleane thinges wée lay vp together whereof Ieremie speaketh sayinge that man knoweth not himselfe Ierem. 17.9 for there is such a gulfe of wickednesse in vs as there is none but God alone that knoweth it A man may well cast an Anchor into the bottom of the sea but none is able to search our harts but God For we stinke before the face of God and are more filthy then Lazarus yea too too horrible stinking and filthy But what of all this Beholde héere is our comfort whenas wée sée that Iesus Christ wil purge vs by his holy spirit for we haue thereof a sure testimonye in Baptisme that he wil make vs new cretures by purging of our infirmities But as by purging with fyre all superfluities are taken away euen so also let vs vnderstande that when God will reconcile vs to himselfe all what soeuer is ours must bee cleane taken away Moreouer let vs note that so longe as wee shall remayne in our selues wee cannot choose but perish and yet if wée would alwaies remaine safe and sounde GOD must néedes bray vs that hée might saue vs and make vs become acceptable in his sighte And this hée doth by his holy spirit And thus wée sée that it is by God alone that we must be gloryfied Indéede we are contented to haue a good opinion of our selues that we might be extolled amongst men but when it shall be sifted before the maiestie of God the thing that wée thought to be excellent hée will make no reckoninge of Let vs learne then that there is no goodnesse at all in vs but if there be any it is because that he hath purged vs with his holy spirit Moreouer when he saieth That it shall be after a while it is to encourage them the more and not to murmer and be discouraged when God deferreth his aide for wee must appoint him no time And indéede the time which he taketh is alwaies very short How so because hée leaueth vs not one minute of an houre without ayde As for example let it be that we are any war afflicted and then we call vpon God howbeit he wil not at the first cho◠forthwith deliuer vs but commonly for the most part the torment encreaseth and yet God assisteth vs because hée comforteth vs. And this shall we verie well perceiue when as we fall into the consideration thereof For what man is able to beare the least griefe that is if God assist him not By this we see a proofe of his ayde when as we quaile not For as S. Paule saieth if we haue any tribulation and doe beare it paciently then we knowe that God
And sodainly there came a sounde from heauen as it had been the comming of a mightie winde and it filled all the house where they were sitting 3 And there appeared vnto them clouen tongues like as they had been of fyre and it sate vpon each one of them 4 And they were all filled with the holie Ghost and began to speake with other tongues as the spirite gaue them vtteraunce WEe are all so naturally enclined vnto incredulitie as that it behoueth vs to haue the trueth of the Lord Authentically sealed in our hearts to the end we might receiue it stay our selues wholly thereon Ephe. 1.13 It is verie true that God sealeth it in the heartes of all his faythfull ones by the holy Ghost and marke also why it is called the seale of the Gospell yet they which are to deliuer this doctrine all the worlde ouer ought first of all to be sealed and besides God must so gouerne and guide them as that we might at this day be fully assured of the doctrine which they haue published vnto vs and not receiue it from them as from mortall men but as from God the true Authour thereof For we know that our fayth should haue a weake foundation if we should laye it vpon the authoritie of men And we shoulde then continually wauer and doubt if we lifted not vp our mindes farre beyonde the worlde and founded them in and vpon God since we know that this word of saluation which is daily preached vnto vs commeth from him Thus we séee why it is that this historie is set downe vnto vs in writing to wit because that as often as we read or heare the word of God we should remember that whatsoeuer is cōteined in the old and new Testament was not deuised by mans brayne but that God hath testified by a visible signe so farfoorth as was néedfull that men were but the instrumentes onely of his holie spirite For as concerning Moses and all the rest of the Prophetes they approued them selues to be sent of God Insomuch that if we should stande in doubt of their doctrine it were both vnthankfully and wickedly done of vs. Now it is here said That before the Apostles preached the Gospell throughout the world God sent downe his holy spirite vpon them to the ende we might know that they deliuered nothing as from them selues but faithfully distributed the thing which God had commaunded them We sée then to what purpose this present historie must serue our turnes For if we were not assured that the Apostles had as it were become newe men and that God had giuen them a sure and certaine token which declared that he allowed and authorized them what should become of our faith Surely it would be but a running opiniō For thus we might well enough say I think so or it should séeme so But it were impossible for vs to say that we were rightly and firmely grounded stayed theron For what is in man And therfore because this worlde is nothing but vanitie Hebr. 6.9 it is very méet we should according to the saying of the Apostle take Anker hold in heauen Here then we sée how we may ryde out all stormes tempests so that whatsoeuer either the world or the Deuil deuise yet are they not any way able to hurt vs But we shall alwayes haue a sure faith which shal neuer bend one way or other whē we shal take this for a grounded principle That it is God that guideth calleth vs to himself that the doctrine which is taught vs is his pure vndoubted trueth Loe then to what end we must referre the whole summe effect of that which we haue at this present read Forsooth euen to this ende purpose that whē God raised vp this mighty winde his meaning was to declare by a visible signe that he had chosen the twelue Apostles to carry the glad tydings of saluation hither thither In very déed there were at that time but eleuen of them But yet there remained alwayes a full and setled number because that Matthias was placed in Iudas stead Thus we sée that the number was filled vp which was before scattered howbeit this want was but for a litle while as appeareth by the words of Saint Luke in the first Chapiter going before Act. 1.26 Here nowe we sée the full number of the twelue Ambassadours of our Lorde Iesus Christ whom he had before chosen and marked Neuerthelesse it was méete hée should furnish them with graces sufficient and requisite for so high and wonderful a calling Wherefore it was behoueful they should be fashioned and framed from aboue and that God should miraculously worke in them far beyond mans reach and capacitie Now as for the sound of a mightie winde or tempest that shewed that the holy Ghost came not downe vpon the Apostles to make them onely partakers of his graces but also that the whole world should be shaken therwith For it was so spoken of by the Prophet Aggeah in these words After a while saith the Lord Agge 2. I will make heauen earth tremble Which was in déede fulfilled in the preaching of the Gospel We sée then that when the holy Ghost descended that it was not only for a handful of men but he came down to fill all the endes and borders of the worlde For otherwise we shoulde haue had but a colde pull of it as we say if we were not throughly persuaded that God all at one time sent his holy Ghost for vs also for the establishing of our fayth Moreouer God could haue sēt the holie Ghost after a mylder maner if he had listed But let vs note that this sodeine violent winde was to abate the pride of the flesh and againe to waken vs because we are ouer slow and drousie Surely there are two great faultes in vs which hinder our féeling of the power of the spirite of God for the submitting of our selues vnto the Gospell The one is That wee are proude and verie presumptuous Nowe all this must be pulde downe that both great and smal of vs might humbly learn so to worship God as to abase our selues altogether and be contented to liue by him and by his méere fauour grace And therfore it is méete that this pryde which is so déepely rooted in our nature should be violently reformed Because we are ouer much hardened therein On the other side euery mā féeleth such an heauy earthly burthē in himself as that our mindes are altogether occupied nusled in this world To be short we are become so blockish as it were as that we can féele no taste either of God or of the power of his holie spirit without we be wakened spite of our téethes We sée then why it is saide that there arose a tempest as if it had béen a violent or mightie winde Nowe we are to consider in the first place that the holie Ghost descended to shake
God And héerein Saint Peter reprooueth drunkennesse and sheweth it to bée a very dishonest thing for a man to be drunke in the morning And yet wée shall finde a great many moe then néedeth that are giuen to bée so drunkenne as that they haue neither wit nor reason And some of them will not bée drunke with that which they take in the morning but will be so blockish with their wine which they gull in the euening as that a man woulde thinke they had doone nothing els but bybbed from the péepe of the day Another sorte there are who for feare they should not haue drinke enough will beginne so early as that they will bée drunke all day long and thereupon the wine so bereaueth them of their wit and vnderstanding as that they can neither goe nor stand And therefore Saint Peter saith That these men héere are not drunke whereby he declareth that God is highly displeased therewith Nowe wée are in this place to note that the Iewes so abhorred drunkennesse as that when any of them woulde fall to bee drunke they woulde bée sure to drinke drunke in the night because they were ashamed that any other should sée thē And héerein we sée that men were more shamefast at those dayes then they are in these because at that time they loued to doe it in the night season now they make no reckoning to be drunk at noone dayes and then forsooth they must néedes haue a nap so kéepe the liquor warme in the presse And this we are sure to sée by them that they will shew themselues what they are euen at the sermon time For yée shall not see them scarscely an houre at the hearing of the worde of God but they will foorthwith manifest the very effect of their drunkennesse by their drowsines so that they receiue no benefite in the whole worlde by comming thither And no maruell For the wine and the meate being not perfectly digested by reason of the ouer gorging of them selues wherein they excéede the very bruite beastes causeth them to be so heauie a sléepe Yea and yée shall many times see them sléepe at a Sermon in the morning whenas a man would think they had neither eate nor drunke But héerein they shewe what greate delight they haue in the woorde of God and to this they can make no excuse because they come presently from their rest And now to the matter S. Peter speaketh according to the manner and custome that then was saying It is not like that these men are drunken since it is but the thirde houre of the day Hee nowe heere applieth this myracle which was doone vnto his doctrine For the holie Ghost was not geuen to the Apostles that they should bée silent whenas any thing were mooued which tended to the glorifiyng of the woorkes of GOD but that they shoulde be strong constantly to deliuer out the woorde of God and publishe the Gospel accordingly as our Lorde Iesus had graunted them the meane And therefore wée sée that God wrought wonderfully and that the preaching of the Gospel throughout the whole worlde by so small a number came not from men Now S. Peter in his Sermon sheweth an holy boldnesse of the spirite of God and geueth them to vnderstand who made a mocke at the myracle that was done and thought not reuerently of it that Iesus Christ manifesteth not himselfe vnto those which scorne and scoffe at his woorkes Moreouer when hée sayeth And all yee that dwell at Hierusalem Hée speaketh vniuersally to all men and yet it appertayned not but vnto those which made a scoffe at the myracle For there were many at that time who reuerently accompanied the Apostles that greatly woondred at the matter Why doeth S. Peter then attribute it to all those that iested thereat Forsooth hée did it to this ende and purpose that by the reproouing of this their faulte hee meant too doe good too all the companie and by that occasion confirme so muche the rather the heartes of all suche as were abashed and make them in an admiration and reuerence of the woorkes of GOD by vtterlye refusing the foolishe and fantasticall opinion of all these and suche like Gybers And euen so woulde wée likewise at this day doe For if there were any scoffers amongest vs and that we meant to reprooue this fault we would crie out against all although the whole companie were not to bée charged therewith And yet no doubt of it all they whose consciences were guilty would surely condemne themselues for their owne wickednesse would sufficiently witnesse against them without béeing charged therewith or yet the matter by péecemeale layde open Neuerthelesse it is méete that men sometimes shoulde somewhat bée narrowly pressed and found fault with as it were by name and to bée remembred and poynted at with the finger for their offences because they woulde then bée more ashamed then if they were generally reprooued Howbeit it is a wonder to sée that some men can in no wise abide to be rebuked of their faultes although it bee generally done for thus they would couer it why say they although there are a great many guiltie of the vice which is spoken of yet are there some innocent thereof And so we shall heare them murmure saying why crieth he out thus against al mē For if ther be any such must hée therfore reproue al the rest and speake it so generally Thus wée sée howe al of vs continually murmure against doctrine and yet we sée that although there are but a very fewe which made a iest at this myracle here spoken of yet S. Peter deliuereth his spéeche vnto all men when he saieth All yee that dwell in Hierusalem be this known vnto you that these are not drunke as yee thinke And therfore when we sée that S Peter spake after this maner let not vs be wiser then the holy Ghost and when there shal bee a faulte which is not in all men yet let not vs for al that cease to tel al men of it and although there may be some which are not guiltie thereof yet let them by this example take héede they murmure not because they knowe themselues to be voyde of such a vice and yet if they should be more narrowly looked into it may be they woulde be found guiltie of a thousand other as great Let vs now see what Saint Peter meaneth by the making of this Sermon Forsooth his intent is to bring the people to the knowledge of Iesus Christ and this was indeed the end why the tongues were geuen to the Apostles For the diuersitie of tongues did euen shut vp the gate against the Gospel so that without the knowledge of them it seemed impossible to haue the Gospel to bee preached throughout the worlde And therefore Saint Peter saith If yée remember the prophesie of the Prophet Ioel the promise therein conteined is accomplished by the comming of Iesus Christe For after the threatnings of the Prophet
should be founde in them But if they be narrowly sifted and the bottome of their heartes searched we shall finde nothing lesse in them then that they promised and would be the first that would forsake God And why so Forsooth because they haue not this consideration with them selues to thinke what they are For whensoeuer euerie man shall looke well vnto him selfe hée shall finde a sea of sinnes whereof hée can no way be ryd without by sighing and groning we runne vnto God and call vpon him in our necessitie Moreouer we are to vnderstand that the Sermon which S. Peter made in the Citie of Ierusalem is at this present made vnto vs to the end we might profite our selues thereby and let vs also note that hée brought not in the place of the Prophet Ioell for naught And therefore let vs be sure to trust vnto this promise That whosoeuer calleth vpon the name of God shall be saued And according to this holie doctrine Let vs fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God and acknowledge our offences beséeching him so to blesse vs with his grace as that we may so confidently call vpon him as that our prayers may be acceptable in his sight so that wée being deliuered from all superstition and idolatrie might truely worship him to the ende wee might take him for our Father and Sauiour and he likewise at last acknowledge vs for his children And so let vs all say O Almightie God and heauenly Father c. The fourth sermon of the descending of the holy Ghoste Actes second 22 YEe men of Israel heare these wordes Iesus of Nazareth a man approued of God amongst you with myracles wonders and signes which God did by him in the midst of you as yee your selues also know 23 Him after you had taken by wicked handes beeing deliuered by the determinate counsell foreknowledge of God haue yee crucified and slaine 24 Whom God hath raysed vp hauing loosed the sorrowes of death because it was impossible that he should be holden of it AFter that Saint Peter had in his Sermon declared that the promise conteined in the Prophesie of the Prophete Ioel was accomplished by the descending of the holie Ghost vpon him and vpon his companiōs the Apostles for a testimony and as a pledge which the Lord God meant to communicate vnto his Church and vnto euery faithfull member therof and yet that there must néedes fall out great troubles and that the fayth of the Christians might be proued and tried After all these thinges I say hée bringeth the Iewes to Iesus Christ For fith the holy Ghost was giuen they could not choose but acknowledge the comming of Iesus Christ Because it was saide That the Prophesie of Ioel should not be accomplished vntill the latter dayes And therefore when as we sée the holie Ghost thus poured out it is a sure token that God hath sent Iesus Christ to the ende hée might make an ende of our saluation Now this is an excellent maner and a verie conueent order of teaching which we are here to note to wit That looke how many graces of his holy spirit God giueth vs are euen so many meanes to bring and guide vs to Iesus Christ whereby wée might learne all wisedome of him For he is the verie fountayne out of whom we must all drawe the same And to say truely First of all forsomuch as he was the worde of God from the beginning hée is also the life and light of men And because hee hath receyued most perfectly Iohn 1. 4. Iohn 1. 16. all the graces of the holie Ghost forsomuch as hée was made man we are to receiue from out of his fulnesse grace for grace Wherefore by him it is that wee must haue fauoure before God For if we would drawe neare vnto his Maiestie without this meane we were neuer able to haue accesse vnto him And therefore must we goe the direct way vnto Iesus Christ For since we know that he hath most perfectly receiued the graces of the holy Ghost wée must be all partakers of them by him and through him And so Saint Peter vseth here a verie good reason to admonish the Iewes that the Redéemer was come to wit that in as much as the holie Ghost was poured out that it was in the latter dayes And besides hée saieth Ye men of Israel heare these words Iesus of Nazareth a man approued of God amongst you with wonders myracles signes which God did by him in the midst of you as you your selues also know him I say being deliuered by the determined counsell and prouidence of God you haue by wicked handes crucified and slaine This is euen hée by whom God hath wholely giuen him selfe vnto you and yet haue yée put him to death And yet notwithstanding yée must néedes confesse that it is the verie selfe same man which was promised you in the lawe Hée came to be your Sauiour and Redéemer and this you can neither will nor choose but acknowledge because he remained not in death For God gaue him victorie ouer death and hée ouercame it Thus we sée in the first place what it is that Saint Peter telleth vnto the Iewes that he might bring them to the knowledge of Iesus Christ And it is to be noted that hée speaketh of nothing here but of the death and resurrection of Iesus Christ For first of all it can not be otherwise but that the Iewes must néedes vnderstand that Iesus Christ was the Sonne of God And this is it whereby Saint Peter meaneth to proue it in that which hée héere propoundeth Nowe there are two thinges which we are to vnderstand of Iesus Christ The first is That we must néedes beléeue that he is the Messias to wit the annointed of the Lord promised in the lawe and the verie same of whom the Prophets haue written and that it is he who suffred death for our redemption and yet was not ouercome of it but gloriously rose againe tryumphing ouer all his enemies And thus much for the first point Nowe for the seconde when as wée know that Iesus Christ dyed for vs we must néedes acknowledge what hée is and the benefit which we are to receiue by him Here are then two thinges throughly to be considered of vs For if wée haue to deale with a Iewe wée must begin to instruct him in the principles of Christianitie and tell him that Iesus Christ was borne of the Virgine Mary and that it was hée whom God had promised them and whom in verie déede his predecessours had put to death and that he appointed them the verie time when hée should come into the world And besides that he had giuen him a testimony that he was his Sonne by approuing it with the signes and myracles which he did in the middest of them and likewyse that after he was ascended into heauen he sent the holy Ghost according to the saying which long ere that was foretolde Thus must we
in such sort neither but that he alwayes hath a great prerogatiue ouer his children for it is good reason he should be the head of his Church And to say the trueth the glory which hée communicateth with vs is not derogatorie from his neyther yet is it therby made any whit lesse howbeit we must be transformed as Saint Paule saieth to the Phillippians Phil. 3.21 and where wée are nowe so full of infirmities as is lamentable it cannot be chosen but that our life must be made like vnto the heauenly life of our Lord Iesus Christ And so when Saint Paule spake after that maner hée namely had regarde vnto the state of the faythfull as it is in this worlde For we are noted pointed at with the finger and our tongues pulde out wée sée howe the wicked and vngodly make a iest at the children of God and it is méete we shoulde bée made thus contemtible to the end we might learne to looke for no glorie here in this worlde Howbeit God will when it pleaseth him haue vs exalted aboue them all but his meaning in the mean while is that we should suffer such slaunders and reproches that we might looke vp into heauen and séeke for our triumph and victorie there For to what purpose were it for vs to be glorified and made much of here in this life and to haue God in the meane time to be dishonoured In verie déede the wicked with open mouth make a scorne of God and make no reckoning of them which wil not spit in his Maiesties face And would we then be honoured by them Surely if we should desire it must it not néedes be said that we are too too faint hearted Wherefore according to my first saying that forsomuch as the faithfull are at this present contemned and naught set by and that some laugh them to scorne and other some oppresse them so that their flesh is eaten to the bones and troaden cleane vnder foote therefore the Apostle calleth vs backe vnto the latter day saying That we shall at that tyme appeare wonderfull euen like vnto the Sonne of God him selfe for which cause let not vs feare but that the glorie which he wil giue vs shall so terrefie our enemies as that they shall be made our footstoole according to that saying of the scripture Howbéet Saint Paule here namely setteth downe who they are that must looke to be partakers of the glorie of the Sonne of God Psal 110. and hée declareth the fruites of all those that haue beléeued in these wordes Saintes For hée sheweth that they which are carried away with the pollutions corruptions of this worlde must not looke to haue any parte or portion in this enheritance nor yet be partakers of any thing which belongeth vnto the Sonne of God Neuerthelesse in this saying They which haue beleeued hée sheweth that fayth is the verie right springhead and beginning of all holinesse Thirdly hée sheweth that if our fayth be pure and right that it is impossible but that we must eftsoones be sanctified Thus wée sée thrée pointes which we are to obserue The first is That if we foyle and tumble our selues in our filthinesse and corruptions we are quite cut off from the Sonne of God and therefore let vs not looke to be any whit the better for his comming but call to minde the saying of the Prophet in these wordes Desire not the comming of the day of the Lorde Amos. 5. For it shall be a day of terrour and feare and not of health and ioy For by reason there were in those dayes a great number of hypocrites who cloaked them selues with the name of God the Prophet telleth them that it will cost them deare After the same verie maner shal we sée the most wicked at this day with opeÌ„ mouth and wyde throate say What I beséech you good Syr thinke you that we feare not God and that wée will not be as good Christians as the rest Thus no doubt of it will they say and yet in the meane while a man shall sée nothing in them but wantonnes and all vngodlines and as religious as Dogges and Swine And examine their lyues and we shall finde them altogether disloyall and faythlesse like Foxes full of treason periurie crueltie and bitternesse vnto their neighbours giuen to all kinde of harme and outrage and full of all corruption so that whosoeuer giueth them most they will be sure to be no losers They will kéepe open shop to take of all handes insomuch that they will not onely sell their fayth and credite but their honour and honestie also euen in open sight and will kéepe open fayre and market to vtter all wickednesse To be short they will shewe them selues extreame impudent contemptuous persons and yet forsooth they will not sticke to bragge that they are the frowardest men in all the Church of God and thinke that God will helpe them as if hée were greatly beholden vnto them And therefore as we sée it to be thus at this day euen so the Prophet speaking to those that were in his dayes saith What what kinde of bragges are these that you make of the Lordes comming Why thinke you to receiue any benefite by his comming No no But be assured that it will be a terrible and a most fearefull day to you And so according to my first saying we haue to note out of this place of Saint Paule that if wée would haue the comming of our Lorde Iesus Christ auaileable to vs and doe vs good and to be the Redéemer of our saluation wée must learne to consecrate our selues to holinesse of life and to separate our selues from the corruptions of the worlde and the fleshe And thus much for the first point But to the attaining héereof let vs note that we must begin with fayth according to that which we haue lately said For to say truely fayth Actes 15. 6. is the spring head of all holinesse as it is saide in the Actes where Saint Peter sayeth That God cleanseth the heartes of men by fayth And this was spoken to this end and purpose to shewe that whatsoeuer glorious shewe we make that we shall alwayes be corrupt and stinking before the Maiestie of God vntill such time as God cleanseth vs by the meane of fayth As for the third point we are admonished that if we haue a liuely fayth it cannot be chosen but that we must eftsoones be sanctified to wit that we cannot but be refourmed to the seruice of God and be consecrated to honor him And howe is that Forsooth because that wee embrasing Iesus Christ by fayth hée will dwell in vs according to the saying of all the whole scripture and namely Saint Paule vseth these words to the Ephesians Iesus Christ saith hée dwelleth in your hearts by fayth Ephe. 3.17 I beséech you tell mée doe not these thinges hang yll fauoredly together That Iesus Christ dwelleth in vs and we in the meane while giue our selues to all villainy and filthinesse Do wée thinke that hée will dwell in a Swine stie And therefore we must consecrate our selues vnto him Moreouer hée cannot be with vs but by his holie spirite And is not this the spirite of holinesse righteousnesse and cleannesse Will not this be a straunge medley when as we will bragge to haue fayth in Iesus Christ and yet liue wantonly and wickedly and be stayned with all the corruptions of the worlde This is as a man would say I holde the Sunne and it shineth not and as if a man would turne vpside downe the whole order of nature For it is more like that the Sunne should be without light then that Iesus Christ should be without righteousnesse And therefore let vs make this obseruation that we take not this cloake of hypocrisie vpon vs and say that we haue fayth in the Gospell and that we beleeue in good sadnesse without our life and conuersation be answerable and shewe that we haue receiued Iesus Christ and that through the grace of his holie spirite hée consecrateth sanctifieth vs to the obedience of God his Father We sée then that we must not come with falâ—â— ensignes to vsurpe this name of faith being a most holie thing And therefore let vs take héede we prophane it not But if we beleeue in the Sonne of God let vs effectually shewe that we haue done so And then no doubt hée wil make vs féele his power and giue vs grace paciently to tarry his comming And although we must in this worlde suffer many iniuries for his names sake yet shall we in the end be clothed with his glorie and righteousnes as hée hath promised which hée wil make vs féele so wée receiue it without doubting And now let vs fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God and acknowledge our offences beséeching him that after hée hath made vs to feele them that hée wil deliuer vs from them and because hée cannot doe it but that there must néedes bée an yll remnaunt left behinde that it would please him to support vs vntill such time as hée hath quite and cleane ridde vs of all this corruptible fleshe of ours and brought vs to his heauenly kingdome which wée wayte for at the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ And so let vs all say O almighty God and heauenly Father c. ¶ Jmprinted at London by Thomas Dawson for George Bishop 1581.
sodēly spoken by him Neuerthelesse we seeing the great benefite which might come by the putting abrode of these Sermons were not afeard somewhat to displease and disobey him heerein to the end we might make you partakers of those excellent riches which wee possesse in this litle Angle and corner of the world so abhorred and detested howbeit precious in the sight of the Lord. In deede we were so much the bolder by reason of the liberal dealing of our honorable Lords and magistrates who desiring the aduancement of the Church of God haue priuiledged vs to print them Now when we see that we were to make choyse of such a great nūber of collections as were of them we thought it best to set a few of them abrod to the end that as we see them thankefully receiued so also we might goe forward in putting foorth of moe This then is the order which wee haue taken In the first place we haue set downe a congregation vpon the beginning of the Gospell of S. Iohn where is largely handeled the diuinitie of our Lord Iesus Christ Now by this word Congregation I meane a certaine assemble which is made one day in the weeke at the Church where euery Minister in order handleth some text of the scripture more like the maner of a reading then of a preaching that being done if any of the rest vnto whome the spirite of God hath reuealed any thing tending to the better vnderstanding and laying open of that which hath beene spoken hee hath free libertie to speake After that foloweth the Sermon touching the natiuitie of Iesus Christ Next to it wee haue placed the Sermons of his death and passion of his resurrection and ascention of the comming downe of the holy Ghost vpon the Apostles Of the first Sermon that Peter made after he had receiued the holy Ghost Last of al we haue set downe a Sermon treating of the last comming of Iesus Christe After we had thus doone and thinking to haue finished this booke it pleased God to graunt vs to come to the hearing of the most excellent sermons that are possibly to be hard or spoken vpon the end of the fiftie two Chapter of the Prophet Isaiah vpon al the fiftie three wherin the mistery of the death and passion of our Lorde Iesus Christe is set foorth and so liuely pictured out that a man would thinke that the holy Ghost meant to set before our eyes Iesus Christ condemned in our name and nayled to the crosse for our sinnes to the end that he suffering the punishmente for them which was due to vs and bearing the wrath and iudgement of God for our sakes hath deliuered vs from eternal death which Sermons doe so agree with the Sermons going before which wee haue heere set downe that wee coulde not choose to ioyne them vnto them because we woulde not bereaue you of so great a benefite Moreouer wee haue had respect to choose out those Sermons aswell as we coulde which were vpon such dayes as the Lordes Supper was administred in this Churche aswell for that that there is a farre greater and more effectuall vehemencie in them as also for that the point of this Sacrament is therein more cleerely shewed for the which at this day is the greatest contention and striefe in the worlde And therefore we haue determined hereafter too deliuer vnto you the Sermons which this godly learned man hath made vpon the tenth and the eleuenth Chapter of the Epistle of S. Paul to the Corinthians wherein is manifestly set foorth the true institution of the Supper the corruption and abuse which sithence haue come vnto it liuely refuted Wherefore if wee perceiue that these presents like you wee will vse all the meanes possible that God shal graunt vs to make you partakers of the heauenly riches which he vouchsafeth vpon his seruants heere in this Church In the meane while wee beseech you dearely beloued to follow that blessed coursse and not feare the threats and cruelties of tyrants who thinke at this day to do god high seruice in persecuting Iesus Christ in his members and set before you this incorruptible crowne and euerlasting prepared for you if you constantly perseuere vnto the ende in your holy calling knowing that the sufferings which you abide in this present life are not worthie the glory of the life to come wherevnto wee may attaine through Iesus Christ our Lord. Geneua 1563. A Sermon made by M. Iohn Caluin vpon the beginning of the Gospell according to S. Iohn in which the diuinitie of our Lorde Iesus Christ is excellently prooued 1 In the beginning was that worde and that word was with God and that word was God 2 This same was in the beginning with God 3 All thinges were made by it and without it was nothing made of that which was made 4 In it was life and that life was the light of men 5 And that light shineth in the darknesse and the darknesse comprehended it not THis worde Gospel The word Gospell what it meaneth signifieth the declaration that God hath shewed vs of his loue in our Lorde Iesus Christ when hee sent him into the worlde which thing we ought wel to marke because it is verie much to know the vse of the holie Scripture euen in respect of the wordes it vseth It is true that wée ought not to stand simply or onely vpon the words and yet for all that we are not able to comprehend howe excellent Gods doctrine is vnlesse wée knowe the procéeding that it vseth and also what is the style and spéech therof And indéed we are so much the more to marke and weigh this worde because it is a verie common receiued sentence to distinguish the holie Scripture into the law and the Gospell and those that speake thereof in that sort meane Diuision of the Scripture that all the promises which are conteined in the olde Testament ought to bée referred to this word Gospel If any man speake let him speake as the words of God 1. Pet. 4.11 True it is that their meaning is good but for all that the holie Scripture vseth not such manner of spéech and we ought to be sober in that respect and to yéelde such a reuerence to Gods spirite as to kéepe such a manner of speaking as hée him selfe vseth to teach vs withall Behold thus much then concerning the word Gospell which is a publishing that God hath made vnto vs at the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ his sonne declaring him selfe a father to all the worlde as also Saint Paule speaketh thereof in his Epistle to the Ephesians Ephe. 2.19 when hee saieth that Iesus Christ came to preach the Gospel vnto them that were nigh and to those that were farre of from God nigh to wit the Iewes who were alreadie entred into the Couenant with God and farre to wit of the Pagans and Heathen who are as it were farre remooued from his Church Now when wée
and vaine speculations and by a certaine deuilish boldnesse For when the question hath béene to handle these matters men haue ouerwhelmed them selues in as much as they ment besides the reuelatiō of the doctrine to search out with a certain curiositie boldnes the eternal essence and being of Almightie God as a man in the Papacie shall heare disputations that are made thereof euen as if men disputed of a flocke of Goates or I know not whereof They haue no more reuerence to God thē to a beast Now we néede not séeke out a better witnesse against the doctrine of the Sophisters of Sorbone to know that the Deuill raigneth there Sorbone is the name of the place wher the brotherhood of the Sorbonists doe yet remaine to this day in Paris and hath alwayes raigned there thē this And this I say that albeit their doctrine were not false yet so it is that when men sée they haue so litle reuerence and regard to Gods maiestie we must néeds say that it is a deuilish doctrine euē that I mean which is at this day practised by the Sophisters Sorbonists in all the Popes Colledges So then let vs as I haue saide content our selues with that simplicitie which is declared vnto vs by the holy spirite for he toucheth and speaketh of that which is good profitable for our saluation and as I haue alreadie declared he hath heere brought and deliuered vnto vs that which was méete fit for vs to knowe Iam. 1.17 Rom. 11.29 Let vs come now to this true word When S Iohn calleth Iesus Christ That word it is as if he should say the eternall counsell of God or the wisdome that remaineth in him Notwithstanding we must marke that God is not like to men when we haue a Counsell it may alter and chaunge but it is not so with God for that which is in God is vnchaungeable Besides the counsell which we haue Though man be wauering yet God is constant Iames 1.17 is not our verie Essence or substance but the counsell which is in God is verely truly God for God is not as a vaile or couerture wher ther are shadowy places as S. Iam. vseth this similitude we are as a shadowe that flitteth vp and downe and we cannot abide firme and constant But this is not in God for that which is in him is of his essence and eternitie And this is the cause wherfore S. Iohn declareth that this word is verely and truely God But as concerning the worde wee must not as I haue alreadie saide imagine a counsell or a wisedome in God which should be like to the worde of men True it is that we may well take some comparison from our selues but yet we ought alwayes to marke the long distance and great difference An apt similitude that is betwéene vs and God for if the heauens be much higher than the earth much more must it néedes be that we should knowe and confesse that God is more high than we yea there is no proportion or resemblance as it were betwéene God and men So then when men shall bring or alledge vnto vs some similitude taken from the creatures wée must alwayes marke this great distance difference There are two partes or powers of a mans soule to wit vnderstanding and will See his Institut Lib 1. Cap. 15. Sect. 5.7 which is betwéene God and vs. As a man may verie well say that in the soule of a man there is a certaine vnderstanding which is in such sort ioyned to the soule that the soule cannot be without vnderstanding There is also a will not as when we haue nowe one desire nowe another but a certaine power as a man would say to wil which thing man hath in him self for man is not as a stone or as a pile of wood without sense and reason but he hath imprinted in him this propertie to will this or that So then we may take and vse such similitudes but yet notwithstanding we must consider that spéech is here had of so high thinges as of necessitie all mans vnderstanding and wit must be abased and brought low and we must handle them and intreate of them in all humilitie applying them to their true meaning Curiositie and vaine imaginations must be auoided must not be ouer curious we then haue that fonde imagination which hath borne swaye and ruled heretofore in the worlde but we must come to Gods schoole to hearken to that which he shall speake vnto vs and to flye from al that which men shall set out Gods voice must onely be obeied and shal be founde contrarie to that which the holie Ghost hath left vs. Nowe furthermore we must also marke that some hauing been thrust forwarde by the deuill haue peruerted the meaning of this doctrine affirming that this worde was nothing els A perillous opinion confuted but some certaine counsell deliberation and purpose that God had to redéeme mankinde in the person of Iesus Christ who was a certaine forme as they call him as when a man shal haue purposed to doe some worke and shall haue conceaued the same in his spirite or vnderstanding leauing not by so saying euerlastingnes of essence or being to the sonne of God But we sée alreadie shall sée héereafter more largely how and in what sort S. Iohn calleth Iesus Christe that worde of God thereby to declare set out his deitie as I haue alredy said And that so it is behold a plaine testimonie of God himselfe for he saeith that this worde was in the beginning so then it must néedes be that it hath béen eternall euerlasting It is true that some will replie against it because Moses saith Gen. 1. ◠that God in the beginning created heauen earth and that now S. Iohn saith that this word was in the beginning that it séemeth hereby séeing that so it is that the heauen the earth other creatures had a beginning that we cannot proue the eternitie or euerlastingnes of Iesus Christ because it is saide that the worde was in the beginning But the answere is easie to wit that when Moses speaketh of the beginning An obiection answered we are to remember mark whereof he speaketh that is of heauen of earth other things that haue indéede a beginning But now let vs weigh and marke that which S. Iohn saith In the beginning saith he was that word And where was the beginning verely in God And what is Gods beginning I pray you Certainely he had none for otherwise it must néeds be that God should be framed made So that when mention is made of the beginning of God we must conclude that it is such a beginning as hath not any time at al. There is then much to be sayd and great difference also betwene Moses his place when he saith Iesus Christ i◠our God eternall 1. Tim. 3.16 that God created all
vs but because that God had compassion of our miseries as it is also saide in Iohn That God so loued the worlde Iohn 3.16 as that hée spared not to deliuer his onely begotten Sonne to death for vs. And therefore let vs after this manner come vnto our Lorde Iesus Christe to wit that the message which is héere published vnto vs by the Angels might bée a burning Lanterne to shew vs the way faith to bée our guide so that wée might vnderstande that hée is nowe God in vs because he is God with vs. For as I haue alreadie saide hée is declared to bée our God with vs when as hée meant to dwell in our humane nature as in his temple But hée is nowe God in vs. That is to say wée féele him conioyned to vs in farre greater power then when hée shewed and declared himselfe a mortal man Yea for he is nowe both God and man in vs. For first hée quickneth vs by the power of his holy spirite and hée is besides man in vs because hée maketh vs pertakers of the Sacrifice which hée offered vp for our saluation and declareth vnto vs that it was not without cause that hee saide that his fleshe was meate indéede and his blood drinke in déede And therefore wée sée why the holy Table is made ready for vs to wit to the end that wée knowing our Lord Iesus to bée descended héere belowe Iohn 6.35 and vtterly abased yet that hée is not for all that separated from vs although hée bée ascended into the heauens in glory and maiestie But rather vpon this condition that wée might bée partakers of his body and blood And why so For wée knowe that his righteousnesse and obedience was the satisfaction for our sinnes and hath appeased the wrath of God through the Sacrifice whiche hée offered of his body and blood in the same humane nature which hée tooke vpon vs. Since thē it is so let not vs doubt when Iesus Christ biddeth vs to this Table although wee can perceiue nothing els but bread wine but that hee verily dwelleth in vs and wee so surely knit vnto him that there is nothing which is his but hée will communicate the same to vs. Let vs therefore I say acknowledge this to the end we might know to make our profit of this Sacrament which he himselfe hath established and let vs vnderstande that so often as wée receiue the same that hée might verie well haue deliuered vs by some other meane from the bottomelesse pitte of Condemnation wherein wée were if it had pleased him but that his meaning was to graunte vs more assurance of the loue hée beare vs when as we haue Iesus Christ for a pawne because we might séeke after our saluation in him and acknowledge that wée are no manner of way whatsoeuer able to reioyce vntill suche time as hée bée geuen vs as it were amongest vs and bée so néere vs as that by his meanes wée might bée brought to the kingdome of heauen whereof wée were depriued by reason of our sinnes And thus wée sée that Iesus Christ must bée the ready way for our saluation if euer wée intend to come vnto God desire to haue a true spirituall ioy and a spirituall contentation and quietnesse and if wee also desire to bee armed against all the temptations wherewith Satan is able to attempt vs. But and if wée will be partakers of this holie table let vs consider wel with our selues in the first place acknowledge our miseries and be displeased and vtterly ashamed of them Moreouer let vs acknowledge and confesse that God meant to asswage all our sorowes griefes when as hée so liberally shewed himselfe in his onelye begotten Sonne and would haue vs fully and wholy ioye in him And although we be subiect to many miseries in this world and are besieged with enimies like vnto rauening woolues so that the deuill ceaseth not to make a pray of vs and the Infidelles barke at vs like mastyfe curres although I say wée be on euery side troubled and threatned and although we must abyde many griefes Philip. 4.7 yet let vs hold this for a most sure ground that wée shall haue alwayes peace in our God and let vs beséech him that he will make vs féele it by his holy spirite because it is a thing that surpasseth all mans reason as we haue already touched of S. Paule and learne to bée so contented with our Lord Iesus Christ and with the spirituall benefites wherof we are pertakers as that we may patiently abide all the afflictions and miseries of this worlde And besides let vs beséeche him that wée take it not in euill parte to bée contemned and on euery side troubled to bée short to bee put too all reproche and shame so that Iesus Christe bée with vs and blesseth all our myseries and afflictions and that wée bryng foorth suche fruite thereby as that it may bee knowne that in the middest of all our miseries wée desire nothing els but the glofiyng of our GOD. And where the worldlinges triumphe to their shame and confusion because all their ioy is too striue against GOD Let our true ioy bée too serue him in all feare and humilitie and yeelde our selues wholy to his obedience And héere wée sée the way by which wée must make our profite vpon this doctrine Let vs nowe fall downe before the Maiestie of our good GOD and acknowledge our faultes beséechyng hym too make vs more and more to féele them that héereby we may learne to submit our selues vnto our Lorde Iesus Christe knowyng that if wee bée separated from him all our whole life and whatsoeuer benefites els wee receiue from GOD shall turne to our most gréeuous condemnation And that wée maye féele his death and passion to bée communicated vnto vs and bee taken for the members of his body to the ende the afflictions whiche wée shall abide héere in this worlde may be so many helpes and furtherances vnto saluation So that wée may all saye O moste Mightie GOD and Heauenlie Father c. The first Sermon of the passion of our Lorde Iesus Christ Math Cap. xxvi 36 Then went Iesus with them into a place called Gethsemane and saide vnto his Disciples Sit ye here while I goe and pray yonder 37 And he tooke Peter and the two Sonnes of Zebedeus and beganne to waxe sorrowful and grieuously troubled 38 Then sayde Iesus vnto them my Soule is very heauy euen vnto the death tarie yee here and watch with me 39 So he went a little farther and fel on his face and praied saying O my Father if it be possible Let this cup passe from me Neuerthelesse not as I will but as thou wilt WHen any thing is spoken which concerneth our saluation The scripture setteth before vs thrée endes The one is That wée might know the inestimable loue which GOD beareth vs to the end wée might glorifie him therfore as he is worthy The
wée knowe Iesus Christe to bée the myrror of all perfection and enter into the tryall and examining of our sinnes and bée displeased with them and condemned and we should haue béene had he not deliuered and fréed vs. Nowe when Pilate had taken the Bason and washed his hands that was ouer trifling a a Ceremony and a very foolish fashion as though he coulde haue discharged himself before God for it Howbeit when he attempted to appease the rage of the people that was not to make his excuse vnto God For he protested not before God that he was innocent but said only to the people looke well to your selues my maisters For as for my selfe I am innocent As if hée shoulde haue said it is you that inforce mée to doe this But all this as I haue said wil not excuse him Neither did he the duetie of a Iudge For he shoulde haue chosen rather to die an hundred times then to haue declined from the doing of his duetie whenas he sée such troubles in the worlde yea hée ought to haue had this magnanimitie with him to do the thing which he knew to be both good and iust But when he saw the people in this heat he was contented to be carried as pleased them Notwithstanding he must in spite of his bearde be a witnesse of the innocency of Iesus Christe euen for the iustifiyng of him by his owne mouth And yet he would néedes condemne him howbeit therein lyeth al our comfort for we know that when we are at this day brought to appeare before the iudgement seat of God it is not to the end wee shoulde bee condemned But because the blood of our Lorde Iesus Christ which was shed for vs is the true and right clensing and washing of our soules hée receiueth vs as pure and cleane And thus wée see whereunto wée must trust Yet for all this we héere what the Iewes say for they are so headlong caried by the strength of Satan as that they crie out His blood be vpon vs and vpon our children Now they were Gods inheritance and the very elect and chosen amongest all the nations of the earth and yet they gaue ouer this honor and all the promises of saluation and this holy aliance which God had established with their line And héere we sée how they were deproued of al the benefites which God had before distributed vnto them because they came of the seede of Abraham and it came so to passe that the blood of our Lorde Iesus must fall on their heads euen to the vtter destruction of them and their posteritie as before he had also declared For thus it is saide Mat. 23 3â— It must néedes be that your iniquitie must be great and that the blood of Martyres euen from the iust Abâ—â— vnto Zachare as the sonne of Baâ—acheas whom yée somtime slew do put you in remembrance and that you might sée that you haue béen alwaies murderers of the Prophets and by that meane haue waâ—â—ed against God and his worde Thus we sée that the blood of our Lorde Iesus which shoulde bee the saluation of the whole worlde but specially of the Iewes because the first begotten apperteineth to them hath cryed for vengeance against them Howbeit let vs nowe learne to plunge our selues in and beséeche the Lorde to light vpon vs after another maner both vpon vs and vpon our children particularly that is to say that we myght be washed cleansed of theÌ„ wheÌ„as we sée our selues by reasoÌ„ of our sins to be abominable in the sight of god vntil such time as we be washed and let vs suffer the blood which hath béene shed for our redemption to light vpon vs and bée deawed with it by the power of the holy Spirite as Saint Peter saieth in his Canonicall Epistle and haue great regarde howe wée refuse the grace which God offereth vnto vs 1. Pet. 1.2 which the Iewes lost through their vnthankfulnes and prouoked him more and more to wrath And therefore let vs at this day dispose our selues and bée ready to receiue the cleansing of our Lorde Iesus Christe which wée cannot lay holde on but by faith and beséeche the Lorde that wee may not receiue this washing in vaine but that wée may from day to day haue all our spots wyped away Let vs also desire our God that it woulde please him to increase in vs this puritie which our Lorde Iesus Christe purchased for vs vntil such time as wée are come vnto his kingdome where we shal be discharged of all the corruptions of our sinnes Let vs nowe fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God and acknowledge our offences beséeching him that wée may haue such a liuely féeling of them as that it may make vs runne with a greater desire to the remedie which is set before vs to wit to the death which his onely Sonne suffered And that wee may come with suche repentance as may obteine mercy at his handes and that not onely for a day but that it may also continue with vs both in life and death And in the meane while that wée myght bée so renued by his holy spirite as that wée might perseuer in seruing and glorifiyng of him as he is worthie and wholy cléene vnto our Lorde Iesus Christe that since hée died and is rysen againe wee might liue and die in him seeke nothing els but to make our selues conformable and fitte vnto his worde And so Let vs all say O Almightie God and heauenly father c. The sixt Sermon of the Passion Matthew .xxvii. 27 THen the souldiers of the gouernour tooke Iesus into the common hall and gathered about him the whole band 28 And they stripped him and put vpon him a Scarlet Robe 29 And platted a crowne of thornes put it vpon his head and a reede in his right hand and bowed their knees before him and mocked him saying God saue thee King of the Iewes 30 And spetted vpon him and tooke a reede and smote him on the head 31 Thus when they had mocked him they tooke the Robe from him and put his own raiment on him and lead him away to crucifie him 32 And as they came out they founde a man of Cyrene named Simon him they compelled to beare his crosse 33 And when they came to the place called Golgotha that is to say the place of dead mens sculles 34 They gaue vineger to drinke mingled with Gall and when he had tasted thereof he would not drinke 35 And when they had crucified him they parted his garments and did cast lots that it might bee fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet They deuided my garments among them and vpon my vesture they cast lottes 36 And they sate and watched him there 37 They set vp also ouer his head the cause written THIS IS IESVS THE KING OF THE IEWES 38 And there were two theeues crucified with him one on the right hand another on the left 39 And
humblinge them selues and to bee repentaunt are so much the more infected and poysoned prouokinge eftsoones the wrath of God and driuing him into an hoat burning flame to consume them therin and all this we sée And therefore let vs looke vpon these two théeues as the mirrors of all the worlde for from hte hyest to the lowest wee are all gultye before the Lorde Yea and yf we all suffered this together what is hee that might bragge of his innocencye or who is hee that coulde purchase his pardon Wherefore séeinge wee are ouer head and eares in condemnation wee iustly suffer for our sinnes and yet we wyll not all alyke graunt it because there are some as we haue said which waxe rather worse and there rebellion agaynst God is openlye séene For they gnashe their téeth spewe out their rage and crueltie and will neuer agrée to this condemnation or els they take the bit in their mouthes and shewe them selues so stubborne as that they wyll not stick to saye that God shall winne nothing by it nor yet haue the masterie of them Now let vs conclude that when miserable sinners acknowledge their sinnes and be humbled and confesse the debt giuinge glory to God declaring also that he handleth thē iustlye and rightlye and that it is good reason they should be so chastised when I say wretched sinners be drawne to this reason let vs vnderstand that God hath put to his hande and touched them with his holy spirit that we may sée his wonderful infynit goodnes whēas he pulleth those out of destruction and hell whose case before was as it were desperat In sūme we sée in the person of this miserable théefe so excellent an example of faith as neuer was séene And therfore we should be so much the rather rauished with such a miracle as thē God wrought for in what state stoode he Beholde he was nie his death hée suffered horrible tormentes he looked to haue his bones to be crushed and broken and to be dismembered whiche was so sharppe and terrible a torment as that it was euen enough to haue made him haue lost both sence and memorye hee sawe also our Lorde Iesus who most flaunderouslye was to be hanged there as well as him selfe and yet sée what wordes he vsed for he doth not onely acknowledge his sinnes for the humblinge him selfe before God he doth not onely vse the office of a teacher to bring home his companyon and to set him in the right way but maketh suche a confession as is more worth then all the rest if we consider well the circumstances I beseeche thee saieth hée remember mee whenas thou commest into thy kingdome How was it possible that he could conceiue that Iesus Christ had a kingdome for hee was hanged on trée and cursed of God and men For this sayinge of the lawe was spoken by the mouth of God cursed is hee that hangeth on tree Deut. 21.23 Galat. 3.13 Neither dyd this come to passe by chaunce as we commonly say that God put his onely sonne to it And therefore when he sée Iesus Christ to be there accursed both before God and men yea as one throwne downe into a desperat case as farre as mans reason could reach vnto hee had not such a stayed brayne to say that Iesus Christ was a Kinge without hee had spoken it in faith and in spirit For he saw such thinges as might haue made him decline from the son of God to haue made him thus conclude that it was but an abuse mockery to trust in him and yet he called him king whē he sée him ready to dye I beseeche thee sayeth hee saue mee and graunt mée lyfe For it thou wilt remember mée that is all the blessednesse that I desyre Now when wee shall well consider of these circumstances without all doubte the faith of this théefe was so excellent and great as that neuer any man that euer lyued had the lyke And therefore let not vs be a shamed to be his disciples for to say the trueth the death of our Lord Iesus Christ wyll neuer stande vs in any stead except we condemne our selues that we might be saued through him neither will God euer pardon vs without wee confesse our selues to be most wicked filthy Since then it is so that we are guiltie before God and that our owne cōsciences doo iudge and condemne vs let vs not be a shamed to folow this théefe his steps séeing he may be a good Scholemaster vnto vs. And because our Lord Iesus is ascended now into heauen and hath taken possession of the glory which God his father hath giuen him Phil. 2.10 to the end euery knée might bow vnto him let vs not doubt to put our selues wholy into his custody cōclude say loe wherin lieth our felicity to wit the Iesus Christ is mindful of vs gouerneth vs because he was ordayned to be our shepheard he wil be watchful ouer our saluation that we might be safe sure vnder his hand and protection Moreouer let vs learne paciently to beare the miseries of this present life so that it maketh not vs decline from comming vnto our Lord Iesus Christ For we sée here that the théefe was heard and yet was hee faine to abide and harde and terrible death Let vs therefore so estéeme of the spirituall grace which is giuen vs by our Lord Iesus Christ and which is dayly offred vnto vs by the preaching of the Gospell as that it may make vs ouercome all the anguishes griefes domages troubles and temptations which any way may come vnto vs so that all our afflictions might be mitigated because we know that they shal all turne to our benefit and welfare through the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ And this is it which we are here to obserue And besides let vs here to ioyne the the answere of our Lord Iesus Christ when he promised that hée should be that day with him in Paradise For although our Lord Iesus was not as yet risen from death nor had not accomplished all that was requisit for our redemption and saluation yet had hée alreadie powred abroad the power fruit of his death and passion True it is that the fulfilling of all rested in the resurrection But since it is conioyned with his death and passion and that we know he suffred in the weaknesse of his flesh euen so is he risen again by the vertue of his spirit and as he suffred for our sinnes that wée might be made frée before God so likewise rose he againe for our iustification Nowe when we knowe all this I say let vs with so much the more bold courage come frankly vnto him not doubt but that whē he pleaseth to remember vs and hide vs vnder the shadow of his winges that we may be able to stande against Satan death and al miseries glory in our weaknesse And although we be in the sight of the world
but miserable wretched caâ—tifes yet let vs not for all that cease to reioyce in God by reason of the tast which he giueth vs by faith of the heauenly glory enheritance which hée hath so dearely purchased for vs from the which we cannot be put if we hope for it Let vs now fall downe before the maiestie of our good God and acknowledge our offeÌ„ces beséeching him to make vs more more to féele the gréeuousnes of them to be so touched with theÌ„ as that our repentance might continually be mightiller coÌ„firmed that we might grone for them and so walk in the feare of our God as that he might be glorified by vs to the end we might shew wherfore hée hath redéemed vs and learne to consecrate our selues in all puritie to him and to this great Sauiour who hath sanctified him selfe that we might also be pertakers of his holinesse And that it would please him to poure the graces of his holie spirite vpon vs that by the same meanes wée might be cleansed of all the infirmities and corruptions of our flesh That hée would not onely graunt vs this grace but vnto all people c. The seuenth Sermon of the passion Matthew xxvii 45 ANd from the sixt houre there was darknesse ouer all the lande vnto the nineth houre 46 And about the ninth houre Iesus cryed out with a loude voice saying Eli Eli Lamasabachthani That is to say My God my God why hast thou forsaken mee 47 Then some of them which stood there when they heard that saide This man calleth for Elias 48 And by and by one of them ranne and tooke a spoonge and when hee had filled it full of vineger and put it on a reede hee gaue him to drinke 49 The rest saide Let bee Let vs see whether Elias will come to saue him 50 When Iesus had cryed againe with a loude voice hee yeelded vp the Ghost 51 And behold the vayle of the Temple was rent in two peeces from the toppe to the bottome and the earth did quake and the stones rent 52 And graues were opened and many bodies of Saintes which slept arose 53 And after they were come out of the graues after his resurrection came into the holie Citie and appeared vnto many 54 When the Centurion and they that were with him who watched Iesus sawe the Earth quake and the thinges that were done they feared greatly saying Truely this was the Sonne of God WE saw and heard yesterday that al the scorners and blasphemers of the Maiestie of God were no wayes able to hinder and let that the death passion of our lord Iesus should not bring foorth and manifest the power force thereof euen amiddest the most horrible coÌ„temners and vnthankful people of the world For marke and beholde that notwithstanding the hornorablest of the Iewes chiefliest scorned the sonne of God yet had hée compassion of the poore and miserable théefe and graunted him euerlasting life And therefore no man ought to darken and lessen the glorie of the Sonne of God Nowe if any man alledge say that the state of the miserable théefe is not to be compared with the chiefe Gouernours of the Church being the Priestly trybe whom God had chosen for the teaching of the lawe it is out of all doubt that when we speake of the saluation which God of his fré mercy purchased for vs we must not looke for any worthinesse that is to be founde in vs But rather agrée to that saying of Saint Paule 1. Tim. 1.13 That this is a true doctrine that Iesus Christ came into the world to saue sinners And therefore when wée consider of the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ it is méete that all men should yéeld and confesse them selues to be most miserable and shameful to the end God might poure vpon them by that meanes the treasures of his mercy without any other regard to helpe vs saue that he seeth vs most miserably to be plunged ouer head and eares And because that this théefe was a most abiect man and that God had so sodeinly called him yet séeing the death and passion of our Lorde Iesus Christ which hée suffred for all mankinde was auaileable vnto him the same should a great deale the rather confirme vs. Wherefore it is out of all question that God here thrusteth out his hand as it were to all those who thinke them selues worthie thereof and deserue it or at the least to such as the common people thought the most excellent But when hée pulleth damned soules out of the pyt of hell and when hée sheweth himselfe merciful vnto those who were vtterly voide of all hope of life herein shyneth his wonderful goodnes And this is it which giueth vs an entrance into saluation for although hypocrites confesse that they are greatly beholden vnto God for his grace and fauour yet shut they the gate vpon them selues by reason of their arrogancy for their pride is such as that they cannot submit them selues vnto our Lord Iesus Christ And therfore let vs in the first place be fully resolued that Iesus Christ calleth vnto him miserable sinners which are ashamed of themselues stretcheth out his armes to receiue them For if this be not in vs we shal neuer haue the heart to come vnto him But when we shal be throughly persuaded that hée purchased saluation for those who would acknowledge and submit theÌ„selues to be most miserable and wretched sinners and be vtterly ashamed coÌ„fesse their giltines as in déed they ought before the iudgement seate of God let vs be well assured that we shal soone attain to be partakers of the righteousnes which is héere offred vs which is the obteining of fauour and grace at the handes of God Now héere vpon followeth That from the sixt houre vnto the nineth there was darknesse ouer all the lande Hée speaketh thus cleane contrary to our common maner of spéech for wee woulde say from six houres to nine houres But the Euangelist hath followed the ordinary maner of spéech that was then vsed For wheÌ„ he speaketh of the third houre hée meaneth not at thrée of the clocke but the fore part of the day And here in summe are two things to be considered of The one is that they counted the houres otherwise then we doe at this day for they reckoned the day to beginne from the Sunne rising vnto the going downe which was twelue houres where we take the day to be foure and twentie houres accounting from midnight vntill midnight folowing And therfore the clocks were to be set in such sort as that the houres in Sommer shoulde not be longer then they were in Winter and as the dayes were longer or shorter euen so were the houres longer or shorter The other point is this They deuided the day into foure partes quartered it froÌ„ thrée houres to thrée houres calling euery quarter by the beginning of the first houre Insomuch that the time
vnto our Lord Iesus Christ hée kept himselfe very couert and close and was afearde to shewe himselfe a true Disciple for wée knowe that the confession of our faith is required in vs Iohn 2. 2◠1◠But when hée came to bury him he declared and confessed that he was of the number of the faithfull company Wherefore since he did so let vs at this day follow his constancy And although the worlde hateth and detesteth our Lorde Iesus Christ and the doctrine of his Gospell yet let vs stick vnto it Let vs also vnderstande that the greatest benefite and contentation that wee can continuallye haue is this whenas God accepteth and liketh of our seruice and besides although wée must suffer abide troubles here in this worlde yet let vs knowe this that because he hath gloryously rysē againe that he dyd it not to the ende to make a separation betwéene him and vs but that hee would when he sée his good time gather vs vnto him selfe Moreouer let vs not maruell although our Lorde Iesus rose againe the third day for it is very good reason that hee should haue some more priuiledge then the common order of the church And héerein is the saying of the Psalmist fulfilled Thou shalt not suffer thine holy one to sée corruption Psal 16. 10. And therefore it was méete that the body of our Lord Iesus should remaine vncorrupt vntill the third day but it was for that time so appoynted and established by the counsell of GOD his Father Howbeit wee haue no time assigned but the last day And therefore let vs abyde troubles and miseries so long as it pleaseth GOD and let vs vnderstand that he wyll in the ende when hee séeeth conuenient time restore vs after wee haue bene cast quite and cleane downe For therevnto Saint Paul exhorteth vs 1. Cor. 15.10 when as hée saieth that Christ Iesus is the first fruites whiche is to pull backe that feruent zeale wherewith wee are often times too too much carryed awaye for by our wylles wee woulde flye without winges and wee are gréeued with God for houldinge vs so longe heere in this worlde because hée wyll not bringe vs to heauen euen at the fyrst 2. Kin. 2. 11. and carry vs vp in a fiery Charit as Eilas was to be short we would faine triumph before we haue fought a blow Now that we might withstand this desire and these foolish lusts Saint Paul telleth vs that Iesus Christ is the first fruites wée must be contented that by his death we haue a sure pawne of the resurrectiō Neuertheles bicause he sitteth at the right hād of god his Father hauing all rule and dominion both in heauen and earth and although his maiestie hath not as yet appeared and that our life is hid in him let vs become like wretched dead people and although we séeme to be liuing héere in this world yet let vs bée as men quite forlorne and abide all this vntill the comming of our Lord Iesus For euen then shall our life be made manifest by him when as he shall thinke it good And thus we sée what it is that wée must obserue about the buriall of our lord Iesus Christ vntil such time as we attaine to the rest which will be a declaration that he hath not onely made satisfaction for all our sinnes but also hath by his victorie obteined all perfect righteousnesse for vs by whiche meane we are become acceptable at this day vnto the maiestie of God both to haue frée accesse vnto him and also to call vpon his holie name And in this confidence and beliefe Let vs fall downe before his diuine maiestie beséeching him to receiue vs all to his mercy and that we may not cease to haue recourse vnto his frée goodnes how miserable wretched soeuer we bée And although we dayly prouoke his heauy wrath and indignation against vs and iustly deserue that hée should forsake vs Let vs patiently wayte vntill hée sheweth the fruit and power of the death passion which his onely Sonne hath suffred by which we are reconciled and not doubt but that hée will be alwayes our Father so long as hée wil graunt vs this fauour as that we may be able to shew our selues his true children Let vs also beséech him that hée will cause vs to declare this by the effect in such sort as that we desire nothing els but to be wholy his and as hée hath very dearely bought vs so wee may also of right fully and wholly agrée to serue him And forsomuch as our weaknesse is such as that we are not able to discharge the hundreth part of our duetie without hée worke it in vs by his holy spirite because the infirmities of our flesh doe alwayes beare such a resisting and striuing sway as that we doe nothing els but euen créepe where we should in déede march as becommeth vs Let vs beséech him to ryd vs of all together that we might be vnited to him by that holy bond which bée hath ordeined to wit our Lorde Iesus Christ his onely Sonne That hée will not onely graunt vs this grace c. ¶ The ninthe Sermon is of his resurrection at which time was celebrated the holie SVPPER Matthew xxviii 1 IN the latter ende of the Sabboth day whiche dawneth the first day of the weeke came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the Sepulchre 2 And beholde there was a great earthquake for the Angell of the Lorde descended from Heauen and came and rowlled back the Stone from the Dore and sate vpon it 3 His countenaunce was like lightninge and his rayment white as Snow 4 And for feare of him the keepers dyd shake and became as dead men 5 The Angell aunswered and sayde vnto the women feare yee not for I knowe yee seeke Iesus whiche was crucifyed 6 He is not heere hee is risen as he saide come see the place where that the Lord was laide 7 And goe quickly and tel his disciples that hee is risen from the dead And beholde he goeth before you into Galile there shall you see him loe I haue tolde you 8 And they departed quickly from the Sepulchre with feare and great ioye and dyd runne to bring his Disciples worde 9 And as they went to tell his Disciples beholde Iesus met them saying al hayle And they came and helde him by the feete and worshipped him 10 Then sayd Iesus vnto them bee not afraide goe tell my Brethren that they go into Galile and there shal they see mee A Man would at the first sight thinke it straunge that our Lorde Iesus Christ woulde shew him selfe after his resurrection rather to women then vnto his Disciples Howbeit wee are hereby to consider that his meaning was to trye the basenesse and lowlinesse of our faith Because we must not build vpon mans wisdome but obedientlye receiue what soeuer we know to come from him Againe no doubt of it his meaning was
wit reason doo become euen very brutish But the faithfull although they bee terrified yet ar they reléeued and take good courage because that God comforteth and gladdeth them And therfore the feare wherew t the presence of the maiestie of God terrifieth the faithfull is but a preparatiue to humble them to the ende they might reuerence and obey him as he is worthy and confesse themselues to be nothinge that they might looke for al their blessednes in him alone Héere then we sée why the Angell saide feare not Now this sayinge is worthy the noting for it is as muche as if hee had saide I wyll clearely giue ouer these faithlesse and scombe of the world for they are not worthy of any mercye and I direct my speache vnto you and bring you glad tidinges Be not you therfore afeard because yée come to séeke Iesus Christ Nowe when wee sée this let vs learne to séeke our Lorde Iesus but not as I haue sayde thus grosely as these women of whom we haue spoken did as indéede there is now no occasiō to séeke the sepulchre but let vs go directly without hipocyisie vnto him by faith And let vs vnderstand that this message appertaineth to vs and is spoken to vs that wée might bouldly and without feare come vnto him and not in contemptuous maner for we ought to worship the maiesty of GOD in feare and trembling but how euer it is let vs not be so sauadge as though distrust had oppressed vs. And therfore let vs vnderstād that the sonne of God will conforme him selfe like vnto vs whenas we come vnto him by faith yea and wee shall bee sure to finde wherwith to comfort and glad our selues because he hath purchased the kingdome and principalytie of euerlasting life for our profit and welfare And yet notwithstandinge the women departed quicklye with feare and great ioy Loe how the weaknesse of their faith appeared I haue saide that the thing which they went about was to a good ende but they kept not the right course as may be séene by their feare for they were not fully resolued and assured of the resurrection And yet they had hearde it many times spoken of but their mindes were not so setled as to conclude for a truth that there was no looking for our lord Iesus in the sepulchre We sée then from whence this feare came And hereby wee may perceiue that this is a sinful affection Indéede wee must as I haue saide feare GOD reuerence his maiestie obey him and wholy be humbled to the end he might be gloriously exalted and all mouthes be stopped he therby be known to be the only iust wise omnipotēt god But this feare wherof mentiō is made in the 2. place is wicked dānable for it turned to the shame of these séely womē bicause that although they both sée heard the Angel speake yet they thought it to be but a dreame as it were Now by this we are aduertised the god oftētimes so worketh in vs as that we do not perceue as a man would say whether we haue profited any whit or not for we ar so ignorant so fantastical as that we are ouershadowed as with clouds wherby we are not able to behold the clere light to be short all the doctrine of God séemeth to vs very vnprofitable yet wée find some tast amongst which maketh vs féele that god hath wrought in our harts For although ther be but a spark of grace in vs let vs not be discouraged but beséeche the Lord to encrease that litle that he hath begun vntil such time as we be brought to a ful perfection frō the which we are as yet very far of And although the feare and ioy which these women had be accomted and condemned for a falt yet we sée that God continually gouerned them by his holy spirit and that the message which the Angel deliuered vnto them was not altogether vnprofitable We are now to looke farder into the matter and that is this that Lord Iesus appeared in the way vnto them and said feare ye not but goe and tell my Brethren that they meete altogether in Galile and there they shall see mee We see héere in this place a great deale more how that the sonne of God draweth vs vnto him by degrées vntill such time as we be throughly confirmed whereof wee haue great néede Now this was sufficient enough that the women had hard the message deliuered by the mouth of the Angel the signes and tokens wer such as that they could not chuse but think that he was sent from God for his face did shine as it were In very déede the whit garment and such like was not liuely to expresse the maiestie of God howbeit the women had an assured testimony that it was not a mortall man which spake but an Angell from heauen And therfore this was a sufficiēt testimony vnto thē but yet they were a great deale the more assured whenas they had séene our Lord Iesus whom they before knew to be the sonne of God his vnchaungable truth And this more fully ratified the thing which they had before heard by the mouth of the Angel And thus wee sée how we may encrease in faith for at the first we shal not be able to vnderstand what power and effect is in the worde of God but if we be taught well somthing we learne by it and yet is this litle or nothing God wat howbeit God by litle and litle toucheth vs with his holy spirit in the end sheweth vs that it is he himselfe which speaketh And then are we fully resolued insomuch as we haue not only some knowledge but we are also so perswaded as that when the deuill shall go about to deuise whatsoeuer he can possibly yet shall he neuer be able to shake our faith because we hold this principle that the sonne of God is our teacher vpon whom we stay because we know him to haue all mastership ouer vs is worthy of most excellent authority And this we sée was in these women Indéede God worketh not alike in al men For God wil so cal some euen at the first as that we shall perceue that he hath powred vpon thē wonderful extraordinary power yet we shal be oftentimes so taught as that we may plainly sée our grossenes and weaknes to the end we might therby so much the more gloryfy our God acknowledge that whatsoeuer we haue commeth al from him Let vs now come to the saying which hath bene already spoken of Go tel my Brethrē that they meete all together in Galile We see then héere that the son of God appeared not to Mary and to the company which were with her only as to show himself to seuen or eight persons but his meaning was that this message should be published vnto the Apostles the it should be at this present deliuered vnto vs that we might be
would at this present say ho this was not spoken by the Prophet Isaiah for our time For we see al to be cleane contrary in stéed that the earth should be bedeawed for the obteining of saluation we sée here to be a deluge or monstrous flood of al iniquitie we sée that we become as it were brutished with an hellish rebellion euen to the casting of of God all godlinesse To be short wée sée the Gospel to be so ill intreated as is horrible And since it is so the saying of the Prophet shall not be as yet verified Nowe this as I haue alredy said were euen enough to turn our faith vpside downe but when this saying is ioyned with that that went before which is that notwithstanding that God sendeth raine to quicken and refresh vs hee bestoweth not this speciall grace vpon all men to receiue that which is spoken of But that the greatest number of the faithlesse will haue their eares stopped or els will bee so hard hearted as that they will bée the more inuenomed to doe mischiefe and the rest will make no reckoning of the inestimable benefite which is communicated vnto them Wherefore séeing the Prophet hath declared all these things and that wée sée it we must not be abashed thereat But our faith should rather be strengthened thereby Héere then we sée in summe what we haue to consider of this And so let vs make this reckoning that the world will neuer bée conuerted vnto God in such sorte but that Satan will haue the possession of the greatest number who shal continue blockishe desiring rather to perish then to receiue the benefite offered And there are diuers kindes of them as hath béene before saide Some will bée blockish some will haue a pride to iest at GOD and bée so foolishe arrogant as to condemne all that is conteined in the Gospell and other some will bée ouer head and eares in the carckes and cares of this world and will bee so preuentyng of things by their cunning and deceites that they wil tast of nothing that is heauenly and other some will bee so brutishe as that it is impossible for a man to enter into their mindes to shewe them any doctrine And therefore when wée sée all this geare let vs make this reckoning that although the Gospell bée preached and that the voice of GOD resoundeth and ringeth throughout the worlde yet will a great number of people be no changelinges out continue as they were so that all doctrine shal lye dead to them as it were And thus much for this point Wée sée also that the beléeuing number is very smal And therefore we are to beware howe wee become wanton but let vs rather vnderstande that whatsoeuer god hath spokē he will performe And in the mean time we should be the carefuller to shroude our selues vnder his wings by reason that the worlde at this day is full of wickednes and rebellion In very déede wee ought to stande in feare and walke more carefully For if all men were well giuen to serue God wee shoulde haue good examples on euery side which shoulde sufficiently stirre vs vp very valiantly for our partes to bestowe our selues but when it is saide that the greatest number of those which come to heare the Gospell preached shall liue like Diuels and nothing els to be found amongst them but dissolutenesse and wantonnesse so that a man woulde thinke that the world had conspired to estrange vs quite and cleane from God then had we most neede to walke in trembling and in feare For if God myraculously preserued vs not what would become of it And therfore let all such as meane to stand to the gospel prepare thēselues to withstād the like occasions although we see that other men do not their duties as they ought yet let vs take héede that we turne not aside But let vs when we sée the whole worlde treade the word of God vnder foote sticke to it and not that onely but let vs so much the more duetifully submit our selues vnto our God whenas wee see that offences and euill examples might giue vs occasion to slyde away from him and continue in the Gospell whereunto God hath called vs. Thus we sée what it is that wee haue to consider of the Prophetes crying out when hee sayeth who will beleeue our doctrine For hee presupposeth that the number of thē will be thinne sowen and whenas the Gospell shall be published ouer the face of the whole earth if wée looke what great effect it hath wrought we shall find that it hath taken déepe roote but in a very fewe for the reformation and bettering of their life forsaking thē selues and consecrating them wholy vnto God wée shall sée I say very fewe suche But hée setteth downe by the way the cause which at this present wee cannot handle to wit that in it wee shoulde also note that faith is an especiall gifte of God and that to haue our eares beaten with the doctrine is not al that is required but God must also touch vs and so worke in vs by his secrete power as that we may be drawne to him and be edified by the preaching which is deliuered vnto vs. Howbeit because we cannot goe forward with it at this present therefore we will reserue it vntyll another time Nowe let vs fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God and acknowledge our offences beseeching him to make vs more and more to féele them that we may come vnto him so repentant as that we neuer cease all our life long to labour for it vntill such time as all our corruptions vices and wicked lustes be abolished and wee bee deliuered of them by his holy spirite looking after nothing els but the glorifiyng of our God And because he would haue all prayse rendered vnto him in the person and mediation of his onely Sonne let vs beséech him that wee may all moste humbly imbrace this Redéemer which is offered vs and in the meane while bée so mortified as that we may bée exalted to that Maiesty which hée hath giuen vs for the partaking of the life purchased by him for vs. That it woulde please him to bestowe this grace not onely vpon vs but vpon all people and nations of the earth c. The second Sermon of the Prophesie of Christe Isaiah liii 1 WHO will beleeue our report And to whom is the grace of the Lord reueiled But he shall grow vp before him as a braunche and as a roote out of a dry grounde 2 Hee hath neither forme nor beautie When wee shall see him there shall bee in no forme that we should desire him 3 Hee is dispised and reiected of men Hee is a man full of sorowes and hath experience of infirmities We hyd as it were our faces from him he was despised and wee esteemed him not 4 Surely hee hath borne our infirmities and carryed our sorrowes yet we did iudge him as plagued and smitten
of God and humbled WE haue already begunne to treatise and say that although the Gospell shoulde bée published throughout the face of the whole earth yet that it should be very hardly receiued intreated by the greatest number which thing the Prophet hath also so declared to the end the children of God might not bée abashed whenas they sée the faithlesnesse of such as haue had their eares beaten with the doctrine of saluation and yet haue cared no whit at all for the same And is not this a strange kinde of dealing that when God as much as is possible calleth vs vnto himselfe and laboureth so gently and graciously to winne vs that we should peruersly drawe our heades out of the collor as wée say and euen for the very nonce refuse to receiue the benefite thus offered vnto vs A man woulde thinke that this were an impossible thing and yet wée dayly sée it by experience Loe here why it is that the Prophet cryeth out whenas God as it were by the sound of a truÌ„pet would publish his Gospel yet that there should be notwithstanding so fewe beléeuers hée addeth the reason that it was very méete that God should shew forth his power to graunt faith vnto those which naturally would be faithlesse What is the cause that wée sée so many people reiect loath coÌ„ceiue so great an hatred against the Gospell had rather be like vnto them which so set theÌ„selues against God then quiethly come néere him What is the cause I say Forsooth nothing els but that we imagine we haue faith tied to our gyrdels Howbeit the Prophet telleth vs another maner of thing for he saith that although god coÌ„mauÌ„ded that his word should be published to all both good bad yet worketh hée such a secrete effect in his chosen as if he made theÌ„ féele his arme power And therefore let this bée our obseruation that whensoeuer the Gospell is preached it wyll bée but as an vnprofitable sounde vntyll such time as our Lorde sheweth that it is hée him selfe which speaketh neither bestoweth hee this benefite vpon all men Thus wee see the power of GOD to bee hidde from the reprobate and therfore that this priuiledge belongeth but to a few whoÌ„ he hath chosen adopted to attaine to euerlasting life whenas hée telleth them that the Gospell is the doctrine of saluation and a most infallible trueth whereto they must sticke Thus we sée in summe the meaning of the Prophet in this place Nowe we must heereupoÌ„ be fensed armed against this obiect which the diuel setteth before our eyes wheÌ„as we sée such a mightie number of people withstand the Gospel euen of the greatest and highest in calling for theÌ„ we think it as a maÌ„ would say not to be the worde of God And why so verily because we depend too too much vpon meÌ„ thus we sée howe weake and vnstable our faith is And therefore let vs ouercome the worlde and let vs vnderstand that when God speaketh we must submit our selues vnto him and although none will accompanie vs héerein but bée all against vs yet let vs for al that be contented to receiue with a pure and cleane faith whatsoeuer God speaketh vnto vs. Moreouer to the end we might not be abashed to sée men so wickedly bent as to fight against their God yea euen their Creator Redéemer let vs therefore vnderstande that faith is not giuen to all men but is a singuler gift which God hath reserued as a precious Iewell for his elect and chosen and although we vnderstande that our duetie is to cleaue vnto him yet let vs notwithstanding know that euery of vs hath not faith of our owne proper motion but that God hath inlightened vs made vs sée by his holy spirite and in thus doing hath shewed his power that is to say hath giueÌ„ vs such a liuely féeling thereof in our heartes as that we may very wel know that the Gospell is not of men but froÌ„ him And this is the effect which we are to consider of out of this place To be short let vs boldly set our selues against the faithlesnes stubbornes of all such as are the enimies of God let vs march on whither soeuer he calleth vs receiue the benefit which he offereth vs to the end we may be found blameles of this vnthaÌ„kfulnes wherof the Prophet accuseth condeÌ„neth héere all such as would not obey the doctrine of the Gospell Nowe héereupon he sheweth that they vouchsafed not to beléeue Iesus Christ because they sée him as a forlorne and coÌ„temptible man Râ—m 9.32 1. Pet. 2.8 We know that our Lord Iesus Christ is called the stone of offence and stumbling blocke because the worde stumbled at him And yet God his father gaue him to vs for another vse which is that wée might bée grounded vpon his fauour and grace and as a stone vppon which wee myght all stande because there is none other sure stay but hée And therefore wée stand all in réeling maner and Hell mouth is wide open to swallowe vs vp Thus wée sée that our saluation hath no sure ground worke in this worlde and therefore must we stay our selues vpon our Lorde Iesus Christe Isaiah 8. 14 Wherefore sée why it is saide That he shoulde be placed as a precious stone vpon which the Temple of God shoulde bée built and such a sure stone as shoulde bee able to beare the whole building the Prophet also furder saith that he shoulde be a stumbling stone vnto the kingdome of Iuda and to the house of Israel And according héereunto it is nowe saide that he shal be as A small twigge and as a roote comming out of a dry and barren grounde And that when he should be séene no man shoulde once vouchsafe to looke on him but that euery man shoulde turne away his face from him and abhorre him Wée see nowe that there are but a fewe which will beléeue the Gospel for wée séeke continually to make a goodly outwarde shew and would gladly that all shoulde bée séene and come to light Nowe the dealing of the Lorde God was after another maner when he ment to redéeme vs For as Saint Paule saith because the worlde woulde not benefite it selfe by the wisedome of God whenas he in such sorte shewed himselfe the Creator as that the very beholding of the heauen the earth might haue sufficiently made it to haue come vnto him 1. Cor. 1.21 hee then made an alteration in the worlde and hath vsed as it were a certaine kinde of foolishenesse to teache vs For as I haue saide wée shoulde haue beene taught by the wonderfull wisedome of God which appeared both in the heauens and in the earth vnto the whole worlde but wee haue béen ouer blockishe théerein And therefore God hath vsed a kinde of foolishnesse when as he sent his onely sonne who submitted himselfe to all our infirmities whom the worlde refused
power was in him to blot out all our iniquities at once let vs bouldly runne vnto his death and passion and not doubt but that it wil alwayes haue this strength in it as to reconcile vs vnto God Now the life wherinto our Lorde Iesus Christ entred is heauenly for it was such a perfect condition as could not be amended And when S. Paul saieth that he liueth vnto God it is as muche as that he is now cleane exempt from all our miseries and from the condition that hée had before taken which was to become a mortall man Wherefore Iesus Christ hath discharged al this geare and is now rid of all humaine frailenesse to the end that we which are his members might hope for the like in our selues And so let vs in the first place note that the Prophet hath héere declared that our Lorde Iesus Christ rose not agayne to bée any more subiect to death but hath purchased euerlasting life In the 2 place we haue to learne that this was not done onely for himselfe but also for all his whole Church For when it said by the Psalmist that God was exalted and tooke the spoyle of his enemies this is to shewe that when our Lord Iesus christ was lifted vp after his death that it all turned to the common benefit welfare of his Churche Psal 68.19 The ouercomming then of Satan and of sinne was to this end that we might be deliuered of them and enioy the fruit of such a conquest and therein triumph This then is the very effect of that whiche we haue to learne out of this place Now the whole substance of the matter is this that wée might vnderstand how to apply it rightly vnto our owne vse And therfore when it is saide that the son of God was lifted vp from out of anguish condemnation let vs learn that when we are moued to become desperat to set Iesus Christe before our eies since we know that he hath passed the course that God his father stretched out his hand vnto him that he might not be oppressed all which was done for our sakes Wherfore we haue a very good way to come out of our angushes and paines so long as we haue Iesus Christ for our Captaine and follow his steps because that whatsoeuer was accomplished in him as being our heade belongeth to vs and the effect thereof will appeare in euery faithfull man And when his age is spoken off it is to this end that we might vnderstande that hee will bee of power able to defende his Church euen vnto the ende for he will not be deuided from his body In very déede our estate and condition differeth greatly from his vntill such time as wée be taken out of this world but in that he is the first borne of the dead he is also the first fruits of all those which shall rise againe Let vs then vnderstande 1. Cor. 15.20 Coll. 1.18 that because the Sonne of God is not onely in his owne essence or being and in his deuine maiestie immortall but also in his flesh and humaine nature that it is to this end that his church might be alwaies preserued in this world neuer â—ecay True it is we shal sée great troubles and indéede a man would think many times that the church of God should vtterly perish for if there arise neuer so small a tempest the surges will by and by be so mightie horrible as that a maÌ„ would say all were lost cleane dasht And this is so common a thing as may be For what outwarde shew of maintenaunce can there be to the church of God wheÌ„as it is assailed thus on al hands must it not néedes be thought that it cannot be but vtterlye ouerthrowne whenas it is thus wonderfully assaulted howbeit this is the truth of it we must be faine to resort to our head Wherfore since the age of our Lord Iesus is without end and that all the changes in the world cannot stay him from hauing a very good eye vnto his church although the temptations were farre greater and more violent then they are yet let not vs shrink at the matter And this is not to be applied only to the whole company of the faithful but also to euery one of vs. And therefore let vs vnderstand and be throughly perswaded that although our Lyfe be but a blast we ready euery minute to vanish away yet notwithstanding that we haue a lyfe which lasteth for euer because we are the members of our Lorde Iesus Christ Moreouer let vs eftsoones learne to walk through this world since this is not our life which we héere presently enioy but a pilgrimage which we must passe on quickly vntil such time as we haue come vnto our quiet enheritance Thus we sée that in hoping for euerlasting life wee must forsake all this which is but a shadow not suffer our sences to be eÌ„folded in that which we openly sée and may occasion vs to tarry stil héere in this world for surely as many as haue their mindes set héere on this lyfe without doubt doo thereby seperate themselues from the sonne of God and are vnworthy to haue any part or portion with him in his euerlasting kingdome And therfore let vs forsake this world if we wil ioyne our selues vnto the son of god Furthermore because this doctrine might take the better holde of vs the prophet cryeth out he saieth not that the age of our Lord Iesus Christ shall be onelye euerlasting but casteth it out as a man meruelously abashed saying Who shall be able to number his yeares Wherfore we are admonished to striue against all temptations although we be some times hindred this way and that be as it were cast downe wtout mouing yet let vs resist with much to doo enforce vs vntill such time as wée haue attained vnto this which is héere shewed vs to wit the mans reason is not able to vnderstande nor yet any mouth able to expresse the age of our Lord Iesus And for the bringing of this matter about we must be also very wel aduertised to surmouÌ„t all our thoughts wheÌ„as we fal in reasoning of putting our trust in our lord Iesus Christ folow him for the partaking of the heaueÌ„ly enheritaunce which he hath purchased for vs. Neither must we stick to our own opinion and fantasy whenas this doctrine shal be well treated of as if it were to bée debated by words But let vs know this that although our faith hangeth vpon hearing yet shall it neuer haue through assurance except it receiue such a testimony from God and from his holy spirite as surpasseth whatsoeuer the tong of man is able to expresse For this cause must wée not dwell in our owne vnderstandinges and iudge as we thinke best but let vs know that it is a wonderfull and an in comprehensible secret the the sonne of God became a mortall man and subiect to death that
Satan And therfore wée are so much the rather to make an obseruation of this doctrine That as God hath not set downe in the Law and saide You shall not serue mée this way and that as pleaseth you But placed and ordeined the sacrifices Ceremonies conteined in the Law thereon stay them selues without deuising any newe and strange kind of Seruice meane to obteine fauour grace Euen so likewise must we at this day be contented with the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christe because we know that that is the only meane by which God will be mercifull fauourable vnto vs by which also he wil receiue adopt vs vnto himselfe Thus we namely sée what it is that the Prophet meaneth to offer héere vnto vs. Now it is moreouer said That he will prolong his dayes that he shall see his seed to be permanent that the wil or plesure of the Lorde shall prosper in his handes Héere he bringeth vs yet once againe back vnto the consideration of the glory excellencie of our Lord Iesus Christ to the end wee might be so muche the more assured that we may come vnto him for if hée had remoued in death as a vanquished person it had béen impossible for vs to haue béen euer iustified quickened by his grace For how could death a lone haue brought righteousnes life with it as of it selfe but because of the sacrifice of his death he rose again therin resteth our ful whole cōfidēce Thus we sée that we haue obteined victory ouer sin to the end we might be takē to be righteous death is abolished in vs that wée might haue life In déede this in the first place hath relation vnto the person of the Sonne of God For as wée haue alredy said hée dyed according to the infirmitie of his fleshe 2. Cor. 13. 4. howbeit the heauenly power of his holy Spirite was shewed in his resurrection and heereof hée gaue this testimony for these were his wordes destroy yée this Temple and within thrée dayes I will rayse it vp againe Iohn 2.19 Loe héere howe the Sonne of God as touching his person did sée a great age For hee rose not againe to shew himselfe vnto the worlde for a whyle and then dye againe But after hée had shewed himselfe vnto his Disciples and made them witnesses of his resurrection hée ascended into heauen and so exempted himself from all humane frailtie This then it is whereon wee must builde our faith in him when as wee sée him to haue in such sort ouercome death and the Diuell and triumphed ouer him as that after that hée was offered vp for a Sacrifice hée was receiued and exalted vnto this power and dignitie whereof mention hath alredy béen made But wée must also note by the way that all this belongeth to the whole body of the Church for it is not the purpose of Iesus Christe to separate himselfe from it Heb. 2.11 And in déede it is further said that hee shall see his seed True it is wée are called the brethren of Iesus Christe For wée coulde not bée called the children of god but by the same name And therfore hée who is the onely beloued must receiue and ioyne vs so vnto himselfe as that we might haue that by adoption which is onely his by nature howbeit this is no let vnto vs from being as children ingendred of his séede For what is the true séede of the Churche Verily euen the worde of the Gospell as Saint Peter telleth vs. 1. Pet. 1. 23. 25. And in déede it is the very selfe same which we haue already séene veryfied vnto vs out of the Prophet Isaiah That the worde of the Lorde endureth for euer because by it wee are made incorruptible Isaiah 40.8 whenas wee receiue profite thereby according to that measure that it is giuen vnto vs by the holy ghost this then is the séede by which wee are regenerate into euerlasting life Howbeit wee must fyrst come vnto our Lorde Iesus Christe And how commeth it to passe that the Gospell hath this office and Property to beget vs to bée the children of GOD Forsooth the reason is this because the blood of our Lorde Iesus Christe was a true séede to quicken vs. And therefore it is not for naught sayde héere That hee shall see a seede of long continuance or an euerlasting seede So then wee are againe to conclude that the benefit which our Lorde obteined by his resurrection was not particuler for him selfe alone But that wée might haue parte thereof and be called vnto his company because we are members of his bodie Nowe wée are héere by the way admonished not to séeke for one droppe of life in our selues but to take it wholly from our lord Iesus Christ Why howe will God then acknowledge vs to be his children Howe shall wée haue any place in his Church Howe shall wée be taken to be of his flocke Forsooth wée must come to this point Because wée are partakers with our lord Iesus Christ Thus wée sée howe God accepteth of vs this is our begetting and first birth And nowe let our fréewill men goe and brag of their frée will by which they suppose them selues to be readie to receiue the grace of God For what abilitie is hée able to haue to doe eyther good or yll that is not yet begotten in the wombe of his mother Wherefore let vs vnderstande thus much that since our chiefe and first creation is this that we are begotten in Iesus Christ that wée are able to doe nothing neither yet that any thing procéedeth from our power and strength but that all whatsoeuer wée haue commeth from that frée goodnesse of his whereof we are made partakers And this is the summe and effect of all that which wée haue to consider of But by the way to the ende wée might also haue a great deale the better taste of his death passion it is saide Because hee gaue his soule an offring for sinne to wit for satisfaction or for sacrifice that hee should see his seede For wée right well shewe that wée would blot out all hope of saluation if wée glorified not the goodnesse of God in the death and passion of our Lorde Iesus Christ And to say truely they that proudly disdaine to cleaue vnto our Lorde Iesus Christ because hée was crucified rightly declare that they haue not knowne the ende thereof For without it what should become of vs Surely wée shoulde haue no Church in the worlde there should be no saluation and to be short there should bée no hope of any goodnesse For without doubt wée should bée all remedilesse confounded lost and condemned without Iesus Christ had offred vp his soule bought vs againe by that onely meane 1. Cor. 6. 30. And for this cause the Scripture also oftentimes sheweth vs that wee were redéemed with no small price And thus much we
make all our whole life agréeable vnto God and as hée hath shewed him selfe fauourable vnto vs we might also labour most obediently to please him That it would please him not to shew this fauour vnto vs onely but also vnto all people and nations on the earth c. The sixt Sermon of the Prophesie of our Lord Iesus Christ Isaiah Liii 11 HE shall see of the trauaile of his soule and shall bee satisfied by his knowledge shall my righteous seruant iustifie many for hee shall beare their iniquities ALthough the Prophet for a confirmation of that which hée hath alredy said bringeth in this sentence to wit that the death of the Sonne of God shoulde not be vnprofitable but should yéeld a most excellent fruite for the saluation of the worlde yet doeth hée more liuely set it foorth then héeretofore hée hath done For in the first place hée sheweth vnto vs the loue whiche Iesus Christ beare vs saying That hee shall be satisfied by reason hée had purchased for vs by his death euerlasting life and besides hee sheweth in the second place that hée shall not suffer onely in his bodie but in his soule also Nowe we knowe that this saying to be Satisfied or to be Contented importeth or carieth with it a great desire For many thinges shall come to passe which shall touch vs no whit and we ouerslip them yea and although they be for our commoditie yet is not for vs to say that we altogether rest in them And a man may haue a great number of things and yet not be contented For it is possible that he hath not the principall or els that hée hath not the whole But the Prophet sheweth that the Sonne of God shal be throughly satisfied neuer respecting him selfe when as hée shall sée that hée hath gotten vnto him his Church and that poore sinners shal be deliuered from the curse wherein they were and so be reconciled vnto God for the obtayning of the heauenly enheritance To be short wée sée here that our Lorde Iesus neuer respected his owne person but was rauished with the loue of vs wherin hée sought his whole contentment and felicitie as if that had béene his onely desire loue and care Now we haue againe here to note that if so be we looke for the benefite which our Lorde Iesus Christ purchased for vs by Fayth which is dayly offred vnto vs by the Gospell wée shall neuer be voide of our hope For the Prophet sayeth That hee shall see by which hée expresseth that God doeth not onely meane to shewe his mercy vnto vs in the person of his Sonne when as hée deliuered him to death But will bring it also to passe by his holy spirite that this his death shall not be fruitlesse and that many shall see finde by experience that it was not in vayne nor for naught that hée suffred so great tormentes And therefore let vs embrase our Lorde Iesus Christ to the end we drawing neare vnto him by fayth might be made partakers of the fruite of his death passion and let vs be assured that whēsoeuer we shal at any time estrange our heartes from him that God will not adde this benefit with the rest that as his wil was that his Sonne should be our Redéemer euen so also should we truly enioy the benefit which he hath brought vs and vnderstande that it was not in vaine that hée suffred such cruell torments for vs. And this is the thing which we are to consider of out of this place As for the second point which is propounded it is here shewed that Iesus Christ should not onely be beaten scourged and afflicted by the hand of God his father that he might beare the chastisement which wée were woorthie of but that his soule also shoulde bée gréeued and vexed It is not héere said that hée shall sée the fruite of his strypes affliction and death as the Prophet had before saide But also the fruite of the trauayle and griefe of his soule For the woordes which hée vseth importeth as much And therefore hée meant to expresse that Iesus Christ was not onely crucified after hée had aboad the gréeuous tormēts in his bodie but that hée should goe a great deale farther to wyt that hée should be heauy and sory for vs and suffer the sorrowes of death and be euen subiect theretoo for our iustification And to say truly to what purpose had it bin if our Lord Iesus Christ had but openly suffred in the sight of the world For if he had suffred but in body hee should then haue bin a Redéemer of bodies onely But because the principall matter why wée should beléeue in him is that we might féele and be fully persuaded that death shal be no more deadly vnto vs and that wée are freed from the curse of God it was méet that our Lord Iesus shoulde féele these pointes in himselfe so comming before God might be as a wretched malefactor before his Iudge For we know that the sin of man brought not with it a temporall death onely but also a féeling of the enmitie of God and of his horrible iudgement against vs. And what is that Forsooth the most insupportable and terrible thing that possibly may be And therfore it was méet that our Lord Iesus shuld be driuen theretoo for our deliuerance and this is it whiche the Prophet at this present declareth vnto vs. And héere we sée a great deale the better howe God hath loued vs and what the infinite Treasures of his grace and goodnesse are which hée hath powred out vpon vs. Moreouer wee may also verie well vnderstande what care and zeale our Lorde Iesus Christ had ouer our saluation when as hée forced not to make his owne bodie answere the satisfaction of our sinnes but also to bring him selfe into such an horrible feare as one that should féele the iudgement of God who layde holde on him as vpon him who had deserued the curse which God had pronounced from his owne mouth to wyt that it was the verie thing to swallowe vs vp into hell and a gulfe vtterly to destroy vs. And therefore it was méete that Iesus Christ should féele all this Nowe to say the trueth when wée sée that hée had thereby sweat water and blood Luk. 22.3 and that the Angels came downe to comfort him this could not choose but be an wonderfull extream sorrow and griefe séeing the like example had neuer béen séene all the worlde ouer Thus we sée the meaning of these wordes Of the trauaile or griefe of the soule of our Lorde Iesus Christ Nowe it is true as Saint Peter sayeth that the sorrowes of hell could not hold him vnder howbeit it was méet hée should striue with them Act. 2.24 and in the end hée had the victorie ouer them but it was not without great and painefull fight Moreouer wée are presently to gather out of this place that although wée must dye wée must
Seruant we haue before séene that it is no whit derogatorie from the maiestie of our Lorde Iesus Christ For although hée was Lord ouer all Creatures yet obteined he a newe gouernment in the person of a Mediatour and in our nature according to that saying of Saint Paule to the Philippians and as we haue also séene partly heretofore Phil. 2.9 for it was his meaning to become a seruant and to humble him selfe vnder that state and condition And therefore it was not in vaine that hée was called the seruaunt of God Now this ought to be no straunge thing vnto vs But this should be much more strange vnto vs that Iesus Christ being the verie Sonne of God Iohn 17.9 and coequall with God his Father in glorie should become a seruant to men as it is saide in the Gospell after Saint Iohn and so abase him selfe vnder this condition Mat. 20.28 as that hée woulde serue vs and yet notwithstanding it was so in déede Marke also why hée saide I was conuersaunt amongst you as a seruant and not as a Maister Nowe since it is so that Iesus Christ became so humble as to make him selfe the seruant of men it is not for naught then that hée is here called the seruant of God And to say the truth he could not otherwise haue redéemed vs. I speake now in respect that God his Father had so decréede it as we haue alredie heretofore sayde For I know that God could if it had pleased him haue saued vs without any meane But we are alwayes to presuppose that it was Iesus Christ which must purchase life for vs. And therefore for the bringing of this matter to passe it was eftsoones méet that he should become a seruant because hee could not otherwise haue yéelded his obedience vnto God his Father and without this obedience it was impossible for him to haue repaired our transgressions and iniquities Thus then we sée why he was called a righteous seruant To be short the Prophet doeth vs to wit that because we were and yet are rebels to God vntill such time as he hath reformed vs by his holy spirit and againe although after he hath giuen vs the touch of a good mind yet are we vnprofitable seruants and tryp and stumble euerie hand while and besides when wée shall thinke that the seruice which we doe him should be well accepted of him yet may it be verie well amended yea worthie to be reiected and therefore for the blotting out of our offences it was méete that the seruice and obedience of our Lord Iesus Christ should please God and that it should also carry with it a right and full satisfaction This then is the summe and effect of his meaning And herevpon we are to gather that Iesus Christ did not onely iustifie vs in that he was God but through the power of his obedience in that he tooke vpon him our nature and therein would accomplish and fulfill the lawe which was impossible for vs to doe because it was such a burthen as would haue pressed vs all downe and haue broken our neckes Forsomuch then as our Lord Iesus Christ forsooke himselfe for our saluation and became obedient vnto God his Father we sée in what sort he hath iustified vs. Now he speaketh also namely of his knowledge meaning thereby to expresse that it was not inough that our Lorde Iesus Christ performed in his own person all whatsoeuer that was necessarie for our saluation but that wee also should take fast hold therof by fayth And therefore knowledge is verie requisite For how many incredulous or vnbeléeuing persons doe we sée perishe vnto whom the death and passion of our Lorde Iesus Christ serueth to none other purpose saue onely for their greater condemnation because they treade his most holie and precious blood vnder their féete and vtterly refuse his grace which hee offreth vnto them Iohn 3.14 Numb 21.9 And so although our Lorde Iesus Christ be lyke vnto the Serpent whiche was set vp in the wildernesse for the healing of all diseases yet can we for our partes receiue no profite by him except we know him For as it was méete also that the brasen Serpent should be looked on in the wildernesse and without which looking on the byting or stinging of the Serpentes was alwayes deadly Euen so at this day is the Gospell vnto vs as a Scaffolde whereon to set vp our Lorde Iesus Christ or els lyke a Banner to represent him vnto our eyes 3. Cor. 4.1 that we might sée him a great way of To bee short The preaching of the Gospell as Saint Paule sayeth is not darke For we may in it beholde the grace of God appearing in our Lorde Iesus Christ or els the Deuill hath blindfolded our eyes But howe euer it is we are throughly to consider of that which is here spoken that Iesus Christ iustifieth not but by his knowledge In deede it is most true that the verie substance of our saluation must come from thence For when it is saide that we are iustified by Fayth this is not to exclude Iesus Christ neyther yet the mercies of God but rather to lead vs and bring vs vnto them But to the ende we might the easelyer come to the vnderstanding hereof we are to consider in the first place that we are not righteous of our selues since we must borrowe it of some other For if wee were able so to rule and order our life that it might be all in all answerable vnto the law and will of God then in déed we deserued that hee should accept vs. And why so Forsooth because he is to allowe of the good since he is the fountayne thereof for els hee shoulde deny him selfe And therefore if we coulde frame our lyues to agrée with the lawe of God and bee so perfect as hee requireth we should then without doubt be iustified by our woorkes and Iesus Christ as Saint Paul saith should profite vs nothing Collos 5.4 But contrariwise when we are driuen to borow our righteousnesse of our Lorde Iesus Christ and séeke it at his handes that is as much to say that we are as bare of it as we say as my nayle Wherefore let vs thus conclude that the whole worlde is condemned of sinne and God sheweth vs that wee are all accursed when as it is saide that wee must come vnto our Lorde Iesus Christ And thus much for this point Now to say the trueth the auncient Philosophers spake thus much of vertue and this hath béene alwayes a common opinion that God will accept of vs for our good life and conuersation But what are wee the better for all this For there was nothing but hypocrisie in the best liuers and in such as was thought coulde in no wise be touched and as for the rest they were altogether giuen to wickednesse But to speake of those who were thought of all others to bée the most able and renowmed people
if they doo but sleightly conceiue of that whiche is taught but wée are taught to take our Lorde Iesus to be the only cause of our saluation Whiche thinge wée are neâ—er able to doo without wée liuely féele that wée are lost in our selues and besides that as God ment to receiue vs once for al to his mercy euen so he at this day encreaseth the same in vs. And to say the trueth it is impossible for vs to attain to this knowledge except we be inlightened with his holy spirite Which wheÌ„ we haue obteined it is an vndoubted signe that god meaneth to worke in vs to the ende he woulde put vs into the possession of that righteousnesse from the which wée were before very farre of Wée see then that God would gladly haue the Gospell preached But yet that is not enough for we shoulde vnderstande no more of it then an high Almane as we say vntill suche time as he inwardly touched vs with his holy spirite thus wée sée from whence faith procéedeth and then are we the true good disciples of Iesus Christ able to feele the fruite of this doctrine And this is it which the Prophet here sheweth vnto vs. Now he again maketh a recitall of Iesus Christ his bearing of sinnes whereby he meaneth to declare that he made satisfaction for them and that our sinnes should be such a charge as should cast vs headlong into the bottomeles pit of hel if we were not holpen eased by our lord Iesus Christ For what is meant by sin but the very wrath of god For if God but once hold vp his finger it is enough to destroy and ouerthrow the whole world for it is said that with his breath the rockes should riue in péeces Psal 104.32 the mountaines bee softned melt like waxe Wherefore if God sheweth the least token of his fury and wrath there is nothing so firme sure in the worlde but shall melt away and what shall become of vs then who are so fraile creatures when as God shall shewe vnto vs the face of a terrible iudge call vs to an account Were it not méete that we shoulde hearken vnto his voice howebeit the only signe that hee will giue vs to summon withall shal be a bottomeles depth to swalow vs vp in And therfore it cannot be chosen but that our sinnes must néeds bée a burden not able for vs to beare Nowe there is an infinite number of them in vs and we haue not the shoulders to stand vnder them and to beare them But although our Lord Iesus Christ suffered in the weaknesse of his flesh yet did the power of the spirite which he had alwaies vphold him 2. Cor. â—3 4 Collos 2.1.5 And marke howe hee himselfe as Saint Paule sayeth tryumphed vpon the Crosse And therefore wée muste alwayes come backe againe to the saying of the Prophete and Saint Peter also is a good expositour heereof when hee sayeth That hee beare our sinnes vpoÌ„ the trée 1. Pet. 2.24 Indéed the vertue of the trée did no way help our Lord Iesus Christe for the bearing of our sinnes howbeit it is said hee bare theÌ„ on the tree because that wheÌ„ he was crufied he was as one accursed of God and had receiued the whole curse wherein wee were plunged All this then he tooke vpon him to the end that we might féele the fruite thereof and reioyce in the victory whereof at this day he hath made vs partakers And therefore if wee be ouercharged let vs come vnto our Lorde Iesus Christe that we might be eased and acknowledge him to be the meane because we are so discharged by him of al our debts as that we must not once imagine that we are euer able to make satisfaction or payment when as we shal come to make our Audite before God we must therfore beginne at this end to be vtterly ashamed and besides not stand in doubt but that we are nowe discharged since our Lorde Iesus Christe hath borne our burden and that wee may also be bold because we knowe that we are freed from the iudgement of God This then is the summe of that which we are héere to consider of That forsomuch as we haue once for all beene sanctified through the Sacrifice which Iesus Christe offered vp whenas he consecrated himselfe vnto the seruice of God as he then saide wee must at this day lay all our sinnes on his backe Gala. 3.10 Deut. 27.29 and séeke our full righteousnesse in him for the perfourming wherof let vs lend our eares to the hearing of the Gospell because we knowe that God with a louing voice calleth vs vnto himself requiring no impossible thing at our handes which might make vs dispaire as it is saide in the Lawe Cursed be he which doeth not fulfill all these things which was to exclude vs from all hope of saluation But that it is héere tolde vs that although we are miserable sinners yet that God applyeth a conuenient remedy vnto vs which is that we comming vnto our Lorde Iesus like poore beggers might be iustified by him and be holpen in such a necessitie as in deede wee are And besides that we might vnderstande that when our Lorde is called Righteous Rom. 10.6 it is to shewe vs that we are iustified by him inasmuch as he hath taken vpon him our nature that we might haue familiar recourse vnto God for the inioying of such a benefite and not say Who shall ascend vp into heauen For when Saint Paule alleadgeth this place of Moses he sheweth that when wee heare the Gospell preached we must not make any long discourses to knowe whether God bee neare vs or not For that were to plucke Iesus Christe out of his heauenly throne And likewyse that we myght no more say Who shall goe down into hell For Iesus Christe descended thither to the ende we might be assured that hee hath fetcht vs out thence and playeth nowe the parte of a Mediator and meaneth to make vs such partakers of his righteousnes as that wee shall be clothed therewith and haue suche possession thereof as that it shall dwell in vs and that by it we might with a full hope be so lifted vp vnto God his father as to call vpon him without doubting Let vs nowe fall down before the Maiestie of our good God and acknowledge our offences beséeching him to make vs so too féele them as that we may truely repent vs of them and dayly amend our liues vntill such time as we haue so muche profited as that we may be ioyned vnto that perfection of his righteousnesse whereunto wée must bende our selues and also seeke to attaine vnto it all the dayes of our life And in the meane whyle in suche sort magnifie the grace of our Lorde Iesus Christe as that wee may wholy rest therein so that we might no more wonder after our false and deceitefull imaginations which Satan continually laboureth to set
Egypt wée shoulde there sée their wonderfull vnthankfulnesse For when God commaunded them to goe against their enemies and promised them that they should haue victorie they woulde not goe on but murmured against him Why say they whether shoulde wée goe It shoulde séeme that hée goeth about to destroy vs and to sende vs lyke shéepe to the Butcherie Loe such was their rebellion Contrariwise when God saide stirre not they would néedes march on and would not be staide What say they wee loose time why march we not forwarde Héere we sée howe that wée will march when God sayeth we shall not againe when he saieth march on there is no man that will step one foote forward To be short it séemeth we woulde endeuour our selues to gainsay God Loe here our dealing Surely we are much of the boldnesse of mad men For they are strong and a mad man will be strong enough both to kill him selfe and others For when God woulde retire vs we are madde and would make hauocke of all thinges and againe when God would haue vs march on we are so slack as that euerie finger is a thumbe And therfore we are to beséech the Lord to graunt vnto vs the lyke grace that hée gaue vnto his Apostles that we stay when he commaundeth vs to stay and march on whē hée biddeth vs. Thus we sée why hée hath appointed to euery one his seuerall office and charge When he ordeined housholdes hée declared what authoritie the man should haue ouer his wife and family and what the womans obedience was vnto the husbande and the childrens to the Parentes so hée ordeined a lawe for euerie one And to the same purpose and effect was his ordinaunce for the administration of Ciuill gouernment For hée declared vnto Magistrates what their duetie was and howe they ought to vse the authoritie committed vnto them and to the Ministers of his worde likewise hée set downe a lesson in writing Thus wée sée that Iesus Christ hath so well ordered vs Rom. 14.25 as that if we haue any regarde vnto him we will attempt nothing which hée commaundeth vs not We sée also the saying of Saint Paule That whatsoeuer is not of Fayth is sinne Nowe if God leaueth vs in doubt of any thing that we haue to doe we cannot but continually sinne and therfore he hath set downe a rule vnto vs what we shal doe and what we shall not doe Wherfore let vs looke well that we be ruled by him and attempt nothing on our owne foolish braine Moreouer we sée that the Apostles staied in Ierusalem because Iesus Christ had so willed them yea although they knewe that God had ordeined them to that calling And although Iesus Christ had giuen them the holie Ghost by breathing vpon them neuerthelesse they might very well know that they were not as yet fenced as was méete Ioh. 26.22 but looked for the promise of the Father This promise as wée shall héereafter sée was the holie Ghost Wherefore wayted they forsooth it was euen for vs. Wée sée then héere that although Iesus Christ was ascended into heauen yet that hée had care of vs helpeth vs from thence neither is hée so farre from vs but that hée keepeth vs companie and gouerneth vs by his grace And héere wée sée why S. Luke sayeth that hée was taken vp into heauen after that hée had by his holie spirite giuen commaundement to his Apostles whom hée had chosen And hée went not thus away without thinking of vs. Howe then Forsooth hée gaue a charge vnto his Apostles and shewed them howe they shoulde gouerne them selues after they had receiued the holie Ghost And now wée haue héere a pledge that wée shall neuer want his helpe so that wée sticke vnto him Moreouer this is one notable comfort for vs that Iesus Christ béeing ascended into heauen hath all power and authoritie in his owne hande and is aboue all Creatures because hée is made Gods Lieutennaunt to the ende hée might rule all thinges both in heauen and in earth Nowe that wée might make our profite by this let vs marke that although God hath so highly exalted Iesus Christ as that all Creatures are subiect vnto him Col. 1.16.17.18 yet is hée our head and that this his great rule and Empire is all for our benefite if so be we are his members But hée can not be our head without we be truely vnited vnto him This then is the full assuraunce of our saluation which is that because Iesus Christ is ascended into heauen and ruleth all thinges insomuch that the verie Angels are his subiectes both they and all the rest of the Creatures shoulde minister to vs herein And againe hée so fast and sure holdeth in the Deuilles as that they can doe nothing without his leaue Wherefore we are assured that they can doe vs no hurt And why so Forsooth because they were not able any way to stand against him Moreouer wée must ioyne this glorious power with that knowledge which wée héere haue not as though it was doone but for that present but the power thereof extendeth it selfe euen vnto vs because it reacheth ouer heauen and earth Nowe this witnesseth vnto vs that hée is with vs whenas wée vnderstande his word because hée hath so promised and hée vseth not to lye as men doe Thus wée sée howe sure wée are of his presence and wil defend vs by his holy spirite For els what should become of vs Euery thing woulde make vs quaile because wee are as fraile as is possible Contrariwise wée sée howe the Diuell is armed at all pointes against vs. And therfore it is néedefull that God shoulde assist vs with his holy spirite that wée might withstande all his forces Wée sée then that although the body of our Lorde Iesus Christe bée farre from vs yet are wée néere him through his power and might which thing hée sheweth vs in the Supper and therefore are to apply this doctrine to our selues For the bringing of which to passe wée must not approch vnto him as many doe which come vnto him like beastes but let vs vnderstand what it is that is there giuen vs. When wée see God giue vs foode for our bodies it is a great blessing But wée come not thither to fill our paunches Why so Because it signifieth vnto vs that wée ought not to séeke for our bodily sustenance therein For as Saint Paule saith 1. Cor. 11. 22 Wée haue houses to eate and drinke in and therefore wée came not hither to fill our bellies Wherefore then Forsooth it is a testimonie that Iesus Christe will féede our soules What shall our soules bee fed with bread and wine No no that is not the meaning For there is nothing wherewith they can bée fed but with Iesus Christe For they must bee mainteined with euerlasting life which the Angels themselues cannot giue For as they had no being from eternitie so also may they haue an ende And
it is true It should séeme then that his meaning is that wée ought not to make enquiry after these thinges No not so for that is not the thing which the father hath in his owne power whereof Iesus Christ spake vnto his Apostles that it is not for them to know of it but hée spake of thinges which hée reserued a part vnto himselfe and the knowledge of which is cléerely forbidden vs and therefore not for vs to know of it Now hée hath declared vnto vs the thinges which come by order of nature that winter must bée cold and Summer whot For if wée haue any great colde in Summer let vs vnderstand that such a peruerting of the order of nature commeth by reason of our sinnes and that for the horriblenesse of them wée iustly deserue that all thinges shoulde bée turned out of course Howbeit God ceaseth not to helpe all those things So thē since God hath declared this vnto vs hée hath not reserued it to himselfe alone For hée would not haue vs to imagine his power to bée a superfluous power but the thing which hée would not haue vs know hée so kéepeth backe as that wée shall neuer bée able to vnderstand it This saying then of Iesus Christ it is not for you to knowe the times seasons which the Father hath put in his owne power is as much as if hée had sayde Bée contented with that which I haue sayde vnto you and hold you there For if you would enter into disputation with him to enquire after that which he would not haue you knowe It woulde turne to your confusion séeyng hée hath not spared to let you vnderstande whatsoeuer hee thought to bée méete for you to knowe Nowe if wée woulde goe beyonde this this were as a man would say to set our selues against him Let vs sée then what we are to note out of this place to witte wée must learne to submit and kéepe our selues within a compasse and not séeke after that which God would not haue vs know and diligently vnderstand and search to know whatsoeuer hée woulde haue vs for to learne And ouer and besides all this let vs not bée too too inquisitiue and say Why is this and wherefore is that But let vs take héede of such curiousnesse as of a deadly Plague Now this can no man doe without euery of vs violently striueth against his owne nature for we are naturally inclined to such foolishnesse as to leaue the principall matter which is most necessary for vs and to occupie our heads about that which is neither necessary nor profitable but onely foolish and vaine curiousnesse as euery of vs for our own part sheweth himself As for example behold wée haue the Gospell the very fountaine of all wisedome which teacheth vs to beléeue in God to runne onely to him and cal vpon him to the end we might fight against all our carnall affections to submit our selues wholy obedient vnto him Loe this is the very meaning of our Lord throughout all the Scripture Now wée thinke this to bée but a small matter to vnderstand euery of vs séeketh to sticke vnto such thinges as God woulde not haue vs knowe wée woulde faine contruoll our Lorde and wee thinke hee had doone better if hée had doone otherwise Marke how it fareth with vs. And therefore as I haue said If we would put this doctrine in practise and not bée curious wée must euery of vs brydle his nature because it driueth vs into such imaginations whereby man is not contented to consider of God in the creation of the world although these workes therein are enough wherewith to satisfie vs. But what Wée forget euen those his workes which he wrought for our redemption a worke without length depth breadth and heigth and goe about to enquire why God so greatly busied himselfe in the creation of the worlde Ephes 3.18 séeing it is not yet seuen thousand yéeres since it was made But let vs note that before God created the worlde hée had made Hell to throwe suche curious searchers into And surely hée had great reason in it for ouer and besides that this curiositie of entring into such thoughts is worthie reprehension what a boldnesse is this to lift our selues vp against GOD in lifting vp our selues against his workes as though wée thought them not to bee good We sée therefore that we must content our selues with the things which God hath giuen vs to vnderstand for although we haue beheld them all our lyfe long yet haue we not haue had time inough to vnderstand the least part of them And let euery man know that he must obey whatsoeuer Iesus Christ hath saide and not enquire after that which the Father hath reserued to himself to wit the thinges which are not declared by his word Héereby we sée that he sheweth vs our vncapablenesse which hée more and more confirmeth in this that followeth saying But you shall receiue power after the holy ghost is come vpon you and then shall you be better able to vnderstand the thing whiche God hath declared vnto you In this Iesus Christ aduiseth vs that wee doo rashly in enquiring to vnderstand farther of any thing then God declareth vnto vs For it is as if wée who haue no winges would flye beyond the Moone séeing that if wée knew our state wée would be very warie how wée aduaunced our selues as wée are wonted to doo And héerein we are diligently to note this saying The power of the holy ghost comming vpon you Which is as much as if he had said vnderstand yee poore and miserable wretches What you are what spirite haue you to vnderstand so hie thinges how is it possible for these thinges to enter into you Learne therefore to humble your selues rather and acknowledge your ignorance and pray vnto God In summe wée haue héere a generall aduertisment that whiles God leaueth vs to our owne wittes we are as bruitishe as maye be and the least thing in the world will dull vs so that wee shall not be able to vnderstand the least percell of scripture although it be handeled before vs péecemeale And therfore this vnderstanding must come from God who of his méere goodnesse bestoweth it vpon vs. For although we haue the Scriptures expounded vnto vs it is none otherwise then as if the Sun shined vpō vs being stark blinde Wherfore there remaineth nothing for vs but to beséech the Lorde to helpe our ignoraunce Let vs now come to the seconde errour which is they woulde haue bene honorable at the first and besides they would haue lyued according to their harts desire without any paines takinge Now this is a falt which is common vnto vs all for there is neuer a man in the worlde but desireth to reigne with Iesus Christe in that euerlasting kingdome which he hath promised But when we are tolde of the bearing of his Crosse and of fightinge against Satan the world and our owne flesh when we
corrupt and defiled For let our mindes be searched our affections and desires examined and they will be founde altogether soule and stinking And therefore we must be as men new perboyled that God might purge vs after a straunge maner Agayne wée are on the other side as colde as may bée Wherefore wée had néede to bée enflambed with the loue of GOD and where wée are wholly geuē to the world let vs looke vp into heauē which must bée brought to passe by his word Thus we sée to what purpose this historie serueth vs at this day In the first place it is to the end we might receiue the doctrine of the Gospel as a certain and vndoubted truth because it beareth about with it the marke of God is sealed with his holy spirite and is also an excellent testimonie of our adoption Wée sée then how we are brought to obedience by reason that God hath allowed and confirmed his Gospel to the ende our faith shoulde not be changeable and wée become wauering for the altering of our mynde and opinion But that wée shoulde goe on continually in the right way vntil such time as we haue finished our course Here we sée howe by the power of the spirite of God our faith shal ouercome the worlde Colos 2.23 For as wée haue already said and as S. Paule also saith if we should buylde vpon the wisedome of men what should become of it But so long as we haue the spirite of God for our ground woorke let vs be sure neuer to bee shaken In the meane while wée haue to cōsider with our selues because God maketh vs at this day Partakers of the thing which we haue of late declared that is let vs call vpon him with one accord although I say we are deuided in tongues besides let vs become new mē through the doctrine which is preached vnto vs in such sort as that we might know that there is fire in it to change and cleanse our minds wits hearts frō al the corruptiōs of this world For although Gods chosen people are brought home agayne by the meane of the Gospel yet sée wée the enemies of the truth become more cruel and rebellious so that it is euen sufficient to set all the worlde together by the eares as by experience at this day may bée séene For during the time that the Gospel was not preached all the world liued carelesly and quietly and there were not many questions nor disputatiōs And how so Forsooth because the diuel then raigned without gainsaying But when our Lord Iesus appeared with the pure doctrine of the Gospel what skirmishing was there foorthwith Wée sée also at this day what contentions there are amongst those which beare the name of Christians So much the rather therefore are wée to beséech the Lorde to make vs féele wherefore the holie Ghost descended vpon his Apostles and to beséech him also to graunt vs that grace that we may obediently testifie that it was to gather vs together that where before we were seuered wee might nowe bee conioyned vnto our Lorde Iesus Christ as members of his bodie and let him bee our true head Moreouer for the attayning thereto we are also to beséech him so to strēgthen vs as that our hearts may be set on fire where now they are key colde and also to perboyle vs that the corruptions of our nature might be scoombed of and to be short that we might bée so renued as that wee might be quite and cleane separated from the worlde Wée shal oftentimes sée how the word of God becommeth a fire but it is after another sort euen to cōsume those which speake against it according to that saying of the prophet Ieremiah where he sheweth that it fared euen so with the children of Israel whom the worde of God consumed like straw and stubble for their wickednesse and rebellion And I beséech you let vs sée how many at this day can pleade not guiltie because they stubbornely lifte vp themselues against God like foming wild beasts or els some scorning and profane men who set themselues against God not geuing any authoritie or honour vnto his holy word In very déede these people shal neuer make the worde of GOD vnprofitable not yet without power but it will consume them like a whot consuming fire to cender and ashes Let vs therefore make this obseruation why it was the wil of God to haue the holie Ghost appeare in fyery tongues Surely it was to this end and purpose that the faithfull might vnderstande that they had great néede to be so touched to the quicke as that GOD might chaunge and renue them Thus wee see in summe what wee are to consider of for the better applying of this historie to our vse Howbeit ouer and besides al this let vs marke the twoo principall poyntes of fayth and then let vs returne to our selues and vnderstand what wée woulde doe if GOD wrought not therein First of all there is in faith knowledge and certayntie and next of all is assurednesse and constancie Now whē God speaketh we are euē deaf at his words bicause our mindes are altogether set vpon this world and indéed we wil account all the wisedome that is conteined in the Gospell to be verie foolishnesse vntill such time as God hath enlightened vs. 1. Cor. 2.14 In the first place therefore God must open our hearres for the vnderstanding of this trueth for sticking thereto otherwise we shall be both deafe blockish without apprehending of this word Thus much then for this point Nowe for the second point it shall stand vs in hand stoutly to withstand all the assaultes attempts wherewith Satan assaileth vs and to be well armed appointed for the same purpose And how is it possible for vs to be so vntill such time as God hath put to his helping hand and there is no way to help that but by the onely power of the holy Ghost And therefore although we be an hundreth times taught the Gospel yet forsomuch as wée are light fickle brained we should soone be pulled from it if God did not strengthen vs therin yea and at this day it is so full of perils threates as that the silly faithfull soules can no sooner open their mouthes to call vpon God but that they are foorthwith at the point to be put to death neither can they any sooner confesse their faith but that the fire is lightned vtterly to abolish the memorie of our Lord Iesus Christ Since then it is so mightily stood a-against as that they who should defend the Christian faith Satan hath enflamed thē if it were possible vtterly to ouerthrow al must not God therfore shew his power herein We are then at this day taught by experience admonished what néede we haue to put in practise the thing cōteined in this history thervpon pray vnto the Lord beseech him that as his wil pleasure was to testifie
vnto vs the comming of the Gospel into the world which was wrought by the power of his holy spirit euen so likewise that euery of vs for our part might feele the same And as we ought fully to be persuaded and resolued that the word which is preached to vs is not of men Euen so also ought not the interpretation therof as S. Peter saith 1. Pet. 1. 20 he handled according to euery mans fantastical head for he setteth down these two pointes together saying Since the spirite of God hath spoken by his holy Prophets we for our parts also when wée wold vnderstand that which is deliuered vnto vs by their doctrine ought to lay aside our owne naturall reason fantasies in saying It séemeth thus to mée I thinke so soberly discréetly beséech the Lorde to gouerne and lead vs by his holie spirite vnto the vnderstanding of his word wherof he him selfe is Authour And thus much for this now forsomuch as at this day we see how the Deuill hath filled the world with a number of Sectes so that there are many heretikes which cease not to trouble and infect the puritie of the Gospell and besides since there are such a sort of contemners of God and of Mastife Curres in whom is neither fayth nor yet religion so much the rather had we néede continually to offer our selues before the Lord to the end he might enlighten vs with his trueth and we to be so vnited vnto our Lord Iesus Christ as that nothing may be able to separate vs from him And againe let vs beséech him to graunt vs a stout and constant minde vnto the end Because that although the enemies of the truth be neuer so fierce yet that we may notwithstanding perseuere coÌ„tinue still therin that Satan therby might be vaÌ„quished Neither must we be careful onely for our selues but also think of others In déed it is an easie matter for vs here at this day to make coÌ„fession of our faith for we sée not the bright stambing fires before vs as our poore brethreÌ„ do neither do we heare the terrible threats wherwith they are threatened nor yet féele we the tempests garboiles that â—ight vpoÌ„ their heads yet are we the members of one bodie Now what is the reason why we thus assemble our selues together but to the ende wée might be ioyned together in a true brotherhood since God of his infinite goodnesse hath adopted vs for his children daily witnesseth vnto vs that he will be our Father And therfore it is good reason that we should be careful for these who are as it were in the Wolfes chapes daily féele straunge troubles let vs haue this compassion vpon them at the least as to beséech the lord to succour and strengthen them in all their conflicts so farfoorth as shall be néedfull and not suffer them to be confounded So that howsoeuer Satan goeth about to ouerthrow their fayth yet that it would please him to giue them patience and perseuerance vnto the ende We had néede also to be admonished of the thinges that are euen at this day come to passe For if euer there were any persecution at any tyme attempted it is euen nowe and especially in one place the furie of the enemies of God hath within these eight dayes béene so set on fire as that they haue taken greater occasion theÌ„ euer hath hitherto yet been séene to execute their crueltie against the poore faythfull soules of God We sée also howe Satan hath possessed these cursed Tyrauntes insomuch that they are become so frantike as that there is no hope any way of their recouerie And euen there are our poore afflicted brethren thrust out for a pray being watched and narrowly looked vnto and it may very well bée séene that there is the greatest preparation for fury and cruelty that may possibly bée thought on so that the obstinacy of the wicked against God is more incorrigible then euer yt was This then is our benefite that God in the meane while hath graunted vs leasure earnestly to consider of it and to put this historie in practise which here we sée to wit that since the holy Ghost descended vpon them who were of one accord as Saint Luke maketh mention Let vs learne to assemble our selues and although we be far from blows yet let vs ioyne our selues with them that fight by ayding them in their conflictes with our prayers and supplications and that in such sort as that the spirit of God may be the guider of the whole and we for our part so zealously enflamed that in stead of our key coldnesse that we may feruently and earnestly call vpon our God And as for our brethren who haue néede to be confirmed in such assaultes wherewith they are attempted let our good God shew that it is he him selfe which worketh in them and guideth and gouerneth them Moreouer we are throughly to consider of this saying of consent and accord that we might be brought backe againe vnto our head euen Iesus Christ our lord For we sée how plentifully the Gospell is at this day preached but if there were a register kept of the faithfull we should finde a small number of them thin sowne For there are but a fewe places where the pure doctrine of God is preached and yet where there is any Church there are in it many coÌ„temners of God and dissolute and prophane people who would infect all the rest if God by his wonderful power preserued them not And besides there are some which would euen coÌ„tinue stil in their beastlines Yea ther are such a number of them at this day as that for these twenty or two and twenty yeares a man cannot perceiue that they haue gone one step forward in the knowledge of God for they no more know faith nor worship theÌ„ very bruit beasts Other some there are who although they haue knowledge sufficient yet want courage and boldnes and are altogether drowsie making no reckoning either of God or of his word so that the number of the true shéepe Lambes is verie small Now we sée by the way what scope and elbow roome the Deuill hath all Europe ouer for there all his leasings deceits and illusions are receiued and the world is so bewitched as that it is impossible to bring it againe in frame We sée how men doe not onely set them selues against God wittingly blaspheme him but also are furiously enflamed that a man woulde thinke they would pull the Sonne out of heauen take his light from him Now when we sée all this geare we had need ioyne our selues againe vnto our head Christ Iesus our Lord. For what is the cause of this coÌ„tempt and vngodlines of so many rebellions mockeries in the world but because grace is not graunted to all men to be ledde vnder this excellent Shepheard whom God his father hath appointed for vs. And we know that they whoÌ„ he kéepeth
vs no hurt nor wrong in raysing vp the incredulous people against vs whenas we goe about to make an accord amongst our selues and to ioyne and vnite our selues together in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ and let vs also vnderstand that he alloweth and liketh of our accord and although we are but a handfull of people yet let vs boldly contemne the worlde and all Satans adherents gods enimies And although in respect of them wée are nothing let vs not doubt but that God alloweth of vs and dwelleth amongst vs. At what time that S. Luke described this matter here in this place the Sacrifices were vsed in the Temple as they had béene before time and the Priest was there present in all his dignitie and pontificalibus There was also the common order of all their glorious and glittering shew so that a man would haue thought that God had been tyed to this people Now the holy Ghost descended but vpon one house nay rather but vpon one chamber wherein the poore fearefull Disciples were euen like silly lambes coÌ„passed about with wolues A man would haue thought that the state of these people was miserable and yet see the holy Ghost appeared vnto this little and simple company Euen so although we at this day be contemptible in the worlde no great number yet let vs not doubt but that the Sonne of God will poure out the power of his holy spirite vpon vs and cause vs to féele his graces so farre foorth as he séeth to bée néedefull and therfore let vs be so coÌ„tented with this inestimable benefit as that we enuie not the prosperity of the vngodly enimies of God and that hee doth vs no wrong that the worlde despâ—eth vs and bee taken for rotten meÌ„bers let this bée but as a matter of nothing vnto vs so that we remain vnited and ioyned together I meane in that vnite which we haue by the meane of the Gospell and of our Lord Iesus Christ who is the fountaine of all goodnesse and life and in whom also is all perfect ioy Now let vs fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God and acknowledge our offences beséeching him to forgiue vs them to correct vs for them wholy to rid vs of them And so let vs al say O Almightie God and heauenly Father c. The second sermon of the descending of the holy Ghoste Actes 2. 13 OThers mocking saide These men are full of newe wine 14 But Peter standing forth with the eleuen lift vp his voice and said vnto them Yee men of Iury and all yee that dwell at Ierusalem be this known vnto you and heare my wordes 15 For these are not drunken as yee suppose seeing it is but the third houre of the day Ioel. 2.28 16 But this is that which was spoken by the Prophete Ioell 17 And it shall come to passe in the laste daies saith God that I will powre out my spirite vpon all fleshe and your sonnes and daughters shall Prophesie and your young men shall see visions and your olde men shall dreame dreames THese wordes which Saint Luke hath héere set down in the beginning of this percell of Scripture serue for a notable example of the wickednes and vnthankefulnesse of men For beholde how the Apostles who were very wel knowne to bée plaine countrie men of base estate spake diuers and sundry forreine tongues and languages excellently handling the true religion and declaring the saluation which was in Christe Iesus Nowe this thing in déede was sufficient to haue caused theÌ„ who heard it spoken of many dayes after to fall into a great admiration and therefore it could not be chosen but that they which presently beholde with their owne eares heard them speake must néedes bee stirred vp to bée brought to the true obedience of the worde Howbeit they would not acknowledge the workes of God whereby they ought to haue magnified and glorified him but euen made a iest at them Well this fault was not onely in the worlde at those dayes but wee may sée it also in this our age For God worketh so mightily and effectually alwaies as that wee are no way able to comprehend his doings and yet for all that wee are no whit moued to thanke him for them but especially for that great benefite of calling vs to the knowledge of his Gospell which hée hath largely bestowed vpon vs. But coÌ„trariwise do we not see a rabble of scoffers mocke and iest at the wordes of the Lorde and make as great an account of preaching as if it were an olde wiues tale tolde vnto them In which their doing beare they that reuerence vnto the worde of God which they ought without all doubt no. Notwithstanding although there bée a great number of suche scoffers as neither profite by the word of God nor yet by his miracles as some such there were in the coÌ„pany of the Apostles yet let vs not be any whit offended at them but continue firme and constant least we fall into the like condemnation for the contempt of the wonderfull works of God for our not honouring of him as hée ought And this is a good obseruation for vs in the first place Now S. Luke saith that Peter in the behalfe of all the Apostles shewed that the scoffers and contemners of God were greatly ouershot to scorne and iest at such a myracle which they manifestly saw before their eies and that they ought not to haue attributed it vnto any such drunkennesse wherof they accused the Apostles For he saith Yee men of Iewry and all yee that dwell at Ierusalem bee this knowne vnto you and heare my wordes for these are not drunken as yee suppose seeing it is but the thirde houre of the day We haue héere first of all to obserue that the men in olde time reckoned the houres otherwise then we doe For they made the first houre to begin at the rising of the Sun and so they had alwaies twelue houres from the Sunne rising vnto the going downe thereof and as the daies grew loÌ„ger or shorter euen so made they their houres Moreouer they deuided the day into four quarters to wit the first quarter beganne at the first houre and continued vntill the third the second from the thirde houre vnto the sixte the thirde from sixe to nine and the fourth from nine vnto twelue So that the sixt houre was as it were noone and the third was betwixt eight and nine in the morning as wée reckon Let vs now come to the reason which S Peter brought by which hée shewed that they were not drunke as the Iewes thought For it is as much as if hée had saide It is nowe about the thirde houre of the day and that is as I haue alredy saide betwixt eight and nyne in the morning and therfore it is not likely that men would bée drunke at that time of the day and such men especially which gaue themselues to serue
hée setteth downe this promise That God woulde powre out his Spirite vpon all fleshe Wherein hée sheweth that when God will punishe the iniquitie of the world it is not to make his chosen people dispaire but to confirme them by the exercise of the troubles in this world which are rather laide vpon the chosen then vpon the reprobate Wée sée then how that our Lord is not so redy to powre out his vengeance but that he pardoneth al those which haue recourse vnto his goodnesse and mercy For hée is alwayes néere vnto theÌ„ Psal 145.18 which truly call vpon him Now this hath continually béen the common vaine of the Prophetes that when they woulde comfort poore sinners they would bring them to the knowledge of Iesus Christe And it was not without cause for take vs from Iesus Christ and then what shall wée finde in God Surely we shall finde suche an excellencie and highnesse in him as shall throwe downe all creatures into the bottomeles depth because that when we are come to the knowledge of our selues wée shall finde nothing in vs saue sinne and iniquitie to present our selues before the maiestie of so great and mightie a Iudge wée can by no meanes possible looke for any other thing then the iustice and rigour of his vengeance prepared for vs by reason of our iniquities And I beséeche you which of vs in déed shall bée able to exempt him self from out of the number of sinners that hée may bée bolde to say hée had not néede haue recourse vnto the knowledge of Iesus Christe And yet wée sée howe carelesse wée are in this behalfe In déede there is no man that will openly say that he woulde not know Iesus Christ howbeit there are but a fewe which will trauell to séeke for him as hée ought to bée sought for And therefore it is no maruell though the Prophetes stoode alwaies vpon this point to bring vs to the knowledge of Iesus Christe for that is the only meane by which wée must bée reconciled vnto God and wheron we must be grounded Wée sée then that when the holy Ghost came downe so abundantly that it was to none other end but that al such as were estraunged from the knowledge of Iesus Christe might bee called and we al be brought together to be the people of God so receiue him But for the better vnderstanding of this place we must lay open the saying of the Prophet It will come to passe saith hée in the latter dayes that I will powre my spirite vpon all flâ—she and your sonnes and daughters shall prophesie and your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dreame dreames Heerein is to bee obserued that although the Prophet saith that the holy ghoste shall bée powred out vpon all fleshe yet that all men shall not receiue him because we sée that a great many are bereaued thereof Neuertheles God calleth vs all but we vnthankefully and wickedly withstand him And this is alwayes a true saying That none commeth to him but such as the holy Ghost draweth By this also wee are let to vnderstande that if wee come vnto Iesus Christe by faith and so humbly holde vs there we shal receiue the graces of the holy Ghoste so abundantly as that we may bee able to communicate them vnto our neighbours And thus we see that Iesus Christe calleth vs all in generall howbeit it is very farre of that all doe come vnto him because we refuse the benefit that is offered vs. And how so Forsooth by reason we make our selues not worthie thereof alwaies desiring rather to giue our selues vnto our vanities then vnto the feare of God Wherefore since it is so that many receiue not the graces which are offered them although they are all called heere might a question be asked why the Prophet then speaketh after this maner In very deede the Prophet his meaning is to vse this generall kinde of speech to shew that God wil bring some of all estates and ages to knowe him and also because he maketh now no difference betweene the Iewe and the Gentile For the power of the holy Ghoste worketh euery where We see that the people of the Iewes were euen the very first amongst all other nations who knew the true God and although the beléeuing Iewes were few in number yet was the holy Gâ—st offered vnto them all In like case were the Gentiles also instructed by the preaching of the Gospâ—l Thus we sée it to be no wonder in the saying of the Prophet that God hath powred out his spirite vpon all flesh Nowe the doctrine which at the beginning was set foorth by the preaching of the Gospell came first of all to the Iewes to the ende that the saying of Ezechiel might be fulfilled that from the fountaine of Hierusalem the riuers should ouerflowe euen vnto the vttermost partes of the earth Wherein the meaning of the Prophet is that the diuersitie of tongues had neuer byn spread abroade if the holy Ghost had not byn sent vnto the Apostles to haue dispersed their doctrine throughout al the world And therefore let vs rightly coÌ„sider how God by his incoÌ„preheÌ„sible wisedom hath woonderfully wrought to haue the gospel to be published for although Iesus Christ had very sufficiently instructed the Apostles yet were they but grosse headed vntill such time as they had receiued the holye Ghost But after they had receiued him sée howe they became of simple soules such great and learned Clarkes as that they vnderstood the diuersitie of tongues the want of which as I haue alreadie said was an hinderance to the publishing of the Gospel And therefore it was not without cause that the Prophete Ioel saide that God had powred out his spirite vpon al flesh Moreouer wee are to obserue héere in this place this saying That the olde men and young men shoulde prophesie Whereby hee declareth that both olde and young shoulde bee partakers of the grace of the holie Ghost And therefore it is not now néedful for vs to séeke for any glose to vnderstand the meaning of the prophet in this spéech All fleshe because the very Texte sufficiently sheweth his meaning Nowe when hée saieth That the young men should prophesie Hée spake then according to the manner of the time in those dayes because GOD vsed these two kindes of meanes with his seruantes either in vision or els in dreame according to that which is set downe in the booke of Numbers Num. 12.6 that God would shew himself vnto his Prophets by visioÌ„s speake vnto them in dreames But it is said that he would speake with his seruant Moses mouth to mouth Howbeit it might bee alleadged that the doctrine of the law the doctrine of the Gospel is not like that although God manifested himselfe vnto the Prophetes in the olde Testament yet will hée not shewe himselfe vnto vs after that sort To answere this it is to bée considered that although the prophet
we must not doe as many of the Papists doe who neither care for God nor his worde but content them selues onely with this bare name of a Christian and so they may be called by that name they care for no more Nowe if they be asked and if they be Christians I pray you what answer will they make Surely they think they haue great wrong offred them to haue this question demaunded What I beséech you good Syr will they say are we not Christians haue we not béene baptized Yea ywis I graunt it But what faith haue you for all this Verely they will say that they beléeue as the Church beléeueth And so by this meane they haue aswadled fayth wherin their teachers haue instructed them in saying That it is sufficiēt for them to beléeue as the Church beléeueth Let them also be asked how God is to be serued and worshipped why they thinke that question is soone answered And thus doeth God iustly punish the iniquitie of men when we sée simple soules guided by such instructers of Satan to bring them tumbling headlonges together into the bottomlesse pyt of hell with them selues Thus we sée howe this Romish Idoll hath licoured Christendome with all kinde of lying and false doctrine And howe so Forsooth because men haue stopped vp the way against the word of God and are contented to be lycoured with leasing But by the way let vs come home to our selues and let vs neither condemne the Papistes nor yet any others but eftsoones apply this doctrine vnto our owne vse First of all we haue the Gospell the doctrine of all wisedome and yet how deafe and blockish are wée we are daily preached vnto But what instruction receiue we thereby for all that Surely surely it is wel enough perceiued and the fruit that commeth by it Without all doubt it is truely sayde That wée haue the Gospell But if we liue not in all obedience therevnto what testimony shall wée haue that wée are the seruants of God For according to that which wée handled on Sunday last we cannot be the seruants of God without wee be partakers of his holie spirite who is not without cause called the spirite of wisedome For by this we are shewed that we cannot haue so small a portion of the holy Ghost if we will continue it but that God wil more and more augment it in vs. In verie déede euerie man cannot haue the lyke measure thereof howbeit that is no let why we shoulde not encrease our small Talent For although a man hath the gift of tongues yet may he not haue one some grace which an other man hath And héerevpon is that saying of Saint Paule verefied Rom. 12.3 Ephes 4.7 That God will giue of his graces to euerie man according to such measure as wée are the members of Iesus Christ As we sée that the members of one bodie haue not all one office For the féete will doe that which the handes cannot doe the eyes are put to an other maner of vse then the eares are and so consequently are all the parts of the bodie Euen so our Lord will bestow his holie spirite vpon some after an other sort then hée will vpon other some and yet it is all one and the selfe same spirit and therfore if we would be knowne to be Christiās we must haue the knowledge of that which is spoken of and that it is God which guideth vs by his holie spirite to the ende we should not be like vnto those blinde ones which walke in infidelitie And thus much for this saying That God wil poure out of his holie spirite vpon all flesh Moreouer where it is saide That they shall prophesie herein the meaning of the Prophet is to signifie vnto vs That when God will instruct vs hée will doe it so perfectly as that the doctrine shall not onely profite our selues but that we shall also be able to teach others And in déede whosoeuer shall receiue greater graces from God then the rest is so much the more bounde to instruct the base and simple ones and giue him selfe to teach his neighbors Wherefore let vs vnderstande that after God hath instructed vs that it is our duetie to labour to bring others vnto the knowledge of him And hereupon it is that Isaiah speaketh saying Isaiah 2.2 Mich. 4.1 Let euerie man take his neighbour by the hand and lead him vp vnto the holy hill And this is one of the most principall pointes whereby God alloweth our Christianitie whē as we so loue our neighbours as to instruct them in the word of God Now this is done by the doctrine which we haue receiued of him at the handes of the Apostles which came out as we said last Sunday of the fountaine of Ierusalem whose riuers so ouerflowed the whole world as that euery man might not onely receiue it for his owne behoofe but also distribute it vnto our neighbours In déed all men are not Doctors to teach howbeit if we be Christians we haue sufficient wherewith to exhort our neighbours Let vs now come to the other part of the prophesie of the Prophet Ioell where it is saide That God will send terrible and wonderous signes blood and fyre and the vapoure of smoke The Sunne shall be turned into darknesse and the Moone into blood Wherein as wée haue briefly saide the Prophet meant to shewe that when God would visite his people at the comming of Iesus Christ although great felicitie and blessing was promised yet the meaning was not for all that but that we should sée horrible and merueylous thinges And therefore it was verie néedfull that we should be told of it to the ende we might vnderstande that the comming of Iesus Christ was not to place vs in this world as in a Paradise and to liue in it at our ease and pleasure But that Iesus Christ was sent to an other ende to wit that wee might be drawne from these earthly things and be lifted vp vnto heauenly matters And to say truely there were neuer so horrible and wonderfull thinges as were at the comming of Iesus Christ Nowe if it be asked why such thinges came to passe after that Iesus Christ was manifested it is because we were so cursed as that we would not receiue the graces which hée would haue bestowed vpon vs. And therefore when our Lorde offreth him selfe vnto vs and we refuse him must hée not then of necessitie so lift vp his hande as to thunder and storme that we might be afearde of that our so great vnthankfulnesse We sée therefore why it is saide that when God had poured out his holie spirit that we must néedes sée wonderfull troubles and whē we haue looked vnto heauen aboue and vpon the earth beneath we shall sée in them both such great trouble and feare as that a man woulde think heauen and earth should euen goe together so that the Sunne shoulde bée darkened the Moone be turned to blood the Starres
Rebels and this kind of spéech importeth a very profitable doctrine For if a man shoulde aske the most wicked men that were possibly to be found out whether they would make warre against God or not they would surely say no and yet for all that they do cleane contrary to their words because they will not fully and wholy submit themselues vnto the Gospel And how is that It is saide that wée cannot obey God without faith For marke how Saint Paul speaketh thereof aswell in the Epistle to the Romans as in the Actes of the Apostles Rom. 1.8 Actes 6. 7. Sith it is so saith hée that faith is such a true and right obedience as god requireth liketh of it necessarily followeth that all they which will not beléeue the Gospel are his enimies and doe what in them lyeth to set themselues against him Now if they say they haue no such meaning it is all one the case so standeth for all that We are hereby taught that our seruice cannot please God without wee first beléeue the Gospell and accept of all therein conteined for our humbling To bée short faith is the chiefest thing that God requireth at our handes In very déede wée are to note this by the way that faith simply leadeth vs not to consent vnto that which is taught vs but that wée must withall bring our heartes and affections with vs For wée must not only accept of that that is said vnto vs with our mouthes or in a fantasticall maner but it must bée imprinted in our heartes and we must also vnderstand that it is not lawfull for vs to stand against our God And therefore let vs with a true desire craue to sticke vnto the doctrine which is offered vs. Faith then is in the heart and there taketh roote and is no simple and bare knoweledge For if wée were once brought to beléeue that the doctrine of the Gospel is true and yet wée in the meane while coulde finde no sauour in it but were gréeued and wéeried with it were this to bée obedient vnto it No surely Let vs learne then to obey God and take not the doctrine of the Gospell to bee good and holy onely but let vs also loue it and not only loue it but also reuerence it accordingly as Dauid speaketh of the Lawe where hee saith Psal 19.11 That hee thought it to bee swéeter then hony and more precious then golde or siluer And therefore wee must haue the doctrine of the Gospell in suche an estimation and prise and chiefly it must be euen so swéet and pleasant vnto vs. Now when wée shall thus doe then as I haue saide will God like of our obedience This then is the most worthie seruice which hée desireth at our handes For els it is a wise thing for vs to doe this or that because that whatsoeuer wee shall take in hand to doe will stincke before the face of God vntyll such time as wée beléeue the Gospell And heerein may bée séene the miserable estate and condition of the Papistes for they excéedingly torment themselues with their religions as they call them they thinke that god is greatly beholden vnto them whenas they haue plaid the masking Idiots as they doe and when they haue babbled out their Pater Nosters hearde a number of Masses trotted on Pilgrimage and spent their money abhominably they thinke that God should allowe all this geare for currant But what Forsooth they want the principall matter and that is Faith For admit that these thinges in themselues were good and godly yet yf men haue not faith God will account them all as fond and foolish And therefore wée sée that the more the Papistes goe about to think to serue god the greater condemnatiō they heape vpon them selues and prouoke his anger to light vpon their heads And therefore they are héere called the enimies of GOD because they will not bée subiect vnto the doctrine of the Gospell well Good sir will they say you sée that our meaning is to serue God and this and that wée doe to the same ende Yée say well But behold how God inuiteth you vnto himselfe hée telleth you that all your felicitie and blessednesse resteth in his onely méere fauour and mercy and woulde haue you séeke for no saluation but in Christe Iesus alone hee hath tolde you that hée hath sent his Sonne vnto you that you might feele the fruite and effect of his passion and that in his name and for his sake all your trespasses are pardoned and forgiuen you and that you shoulde looke for none other Aduocate but him to bring you vnto his Maiestie and desire to bee renued by his holy spirite Thus you sée after what manner the Lord speaketh to you And you puppetly Papists what doe you Surely there is nothing but pride and presumption in you For you bend all your force against all the promises which God hath made you and thinke to gaine by your owne industry the thing which is promised you in Iesus Christ For you trust in your owne merites and woorkes you looke after such Patrones and aduocates as you like best of and in the meane while Christ Iesus is shutte cleane out of the doores without doubt faith you haue none and that which is woorse yée rebell against GOD and in stéede as you thinke of woorshipping and honouring him yée proclayme mortall warres against him Wherefore wée are highly to magnifie our good GOD for bringing vs out of so bottomlesse a pitte and shewing vs the right way howe to serue him to wit in sincerely conioyning vs vnto the doctrine of the Gospell receiuing the promises which by it is made vnto vs. Moreouer if wée doe perceiue that men are once humbled this is a right preparatiue to bring them vnto the true seruice of God yea euen to the full and perfecte obedience which GOD liketh of as already hath béene sayde Héere then wée sée one point That infidelitie is an enemie to GOD For there can bée no obedience without it be begunne by fayth Nowe Saint Paule saieth that they which obey not the Gospel knowe not God Wherein wée sée that ignoraunce shall not excuse although many there are which woulde fayne make it their defence and they thinke it sufficient if they haue not manifestly and of set purpose offended therein making this reckoning that GOD ought to forgiue them euerie whitte Yea forsooth But marke that Saint Paule namely saith that Iesus Christ wil come to destroy all those that haue not knowne God Let vs therefore vnderstand that wée cannot choose but bée confounded and vtterly ouerthrowen if so bée wée know not him who created vs him also who redéemed vs And to speake truely there is great reason in it for why hath God giuen vs wit vnderstanding but to this end that in knowing of him wée should worshippe him and yéeld him that honor which belongeth vnto him We sée how desirous we our selues are to be
estéemed and honoured and yet will wee thrust him out at the Cartes arse as wée say who made vs for what purpose doe they this Is it not a thing cleane against nature but let vs by the way marke that the ignorance of Infidels and incredulous Papistes procéedeth not of méere simplicitie but of very malice pride and hypocrisie which causeth them to bée so cléerely voyd of wit and discretion And how so because without all doubt if we might once come to the knowledge of God we could neither will nor choose but huÌ„ble our selues before him For it is impossible for vs to bee able to thinke what God is except wée bée liuely touched with some feare which may make vs yéelde vnto him And therefore so long as wée are Rebels and his enimies it is a token that wee neuer knew him for this knowledge of God is too too liuely a thing to say there wée sée him and yet bée as obstinate and rebellious as Infidels And if any man say that they are ignoraunt I graunt but let them take this withall that they are also cursed hypocrites Is there either one or other of vs that hath any thing in him able to excuse him No surely for if wée had but the séede of nature in vs giuen by God the verie beholding of heauen and earth were ynough to make vs think that there were some one who created all these thinges God reuealeth vnto vs as it were in a glasse his maiestie and glorie and yet there is none of vs all that will yéeld vnto it Surely the moste vngodly and such as make a scorne of GOD whenas they bée in any paine or griefe will call vpon him and yet thinke no whit at all indéede of him and héerevnto doeth GOD driue them that they might bée without all excuse insomuch that they as I haue already sayd which are most incredulous are not yet so ignorant but that they play the very Hipocrites They would gladly couer and cloake it Howbéeit they close vp their eyes for the very nonce Wée are proude also malicious for if wée did beare that honour vnto God that wée ought we would haue another maner of care to séeke to know him and his will And therefore whenas wée are so lazie and colde it is a token that wée care not for him So that by that meane our desire is to walke altogether in the darke Why so what is then to bée done Forsooth when wée come néere vnto GOD and that hée rebuketh vs for our offences wée shoulde learne to bée offended with our sinnes and reforme our liues Howbéeit wée are contented to lulle our selues asléepe in our miseries and thus wée sée howe wée flye from his brightnes Wée are therefore héere to note that we are not punished without good cause although we bée ignorant for wée cannot iustly say that wée are simple but rather hypocriticall proud and malicious We sée then why S. Paule saith That they which had sinned without law to wit they which had no vnderstanding of the woorde of God should notwithstanding die without law saying further that God had ingraueÌ„ a law in euery mans heart for although we had neither Scripture nor preaching yet doth our consciences serue for a law to condemne vs and this shalbée sufficient at the latter day well wée may haue many starting holes to deceiue men withall and wée thinke it a good discharge but when wée come once before the heauenly Iudge wée shal come short of our reckoning for there wée shall sée all our excuses to be vaine Let vs then note out of the saying in this place That the Lord wil come to render vengeance vnto al those which haue not knowne GOD and obeyed the gospel to wit vnto al incredulous persons Now by this wee sée that faith is the only port or gate vnto saluatioÌ„ life because Iesus Christ wil come to confound al those which haue not beléeued Moreouer we must vnderstand that vntill such time as GOD enlighteneth vs wée are altogether ignorant and blind And why so Forsooth wée haue a faire catch to know whatsoeuer is in heauen in earth yet not knowe God then to what purpose serueth all our knowledge And surely wée shal neuer know him aright vntil such time as hée hath enlightened vs with his holie spirit Whervpon we sée that our ignorance shal not excuse vs to the end no man should flatter himselfe and become carelesse yet let vs also note one thing by the way that when wee are come to the knowledge of God wée ought of very right submit our selues vnto him to the end hee might kéepe vs in awe that all our thoughts and affections might be guided after his wil so that wée may haue such a faith vnto the Gospel as that we may say with Dauid Psal 19 1â— that this doctrine is sweeter then hony more precious then gold or siluer And thus much for this poynt Moreouer wee here sée how GOD meaneth to certefie vs of our saluation For if Iesus Christ must come to doe vengeaunce vpon all those which haue not beléeued the Gospel but resisted it wée must néedes conclude that the worlde shall bée iudged by the Gospel Nowe it is there sayde vnto vs that when wee haue receiued the promises of God with a true and liuely faith we must not stand in doubt of his fauour and loue to vs warde neither yet doubt that Iesus Christe will not stande to the thing which hee hath offered for vs and for our redemption And therefore all they which doe beléeue in the Gospell may without all doubt reioyce that Iesus Christe will come to be their Redéemer And this assurance as I haue alreadie said God maketh vs so that wée refuse not such a benefite As for the power and glory of Iesus Christe which Saint Paul héere speaketh of it is as hath béene before saide to this ende that his comming might bée the more terrible to all incredulous and rebellious persons And is this a small matter to say that Iesus Christe wyll come accompanied with his Angels in flaming fier and with an incomprehensible Maiestie thundering and lightening vpon all those that are his enimies By this wee sée that Saint Paule his meaning héere is to admonishe all faithlesse people if they are to bée holpen to beware how they continue still without amâ—ndment Notwithstanding because wee sée that such as Satan leadeth and whose heartes hee hardeneth doe nothing els but make a mocke at the threatninges of God let vs for our partes make our profite thereby and when wée heare that Iesus Christe wyll come in such a feareful maner as that hee will so feare and bridle vs that when Satan shall goe about to spurre and pricke vs forwarde to withdrawe vs from the obedience of the Gospell wée might bée able to thinke thus with our selues and say how fareth it with vs how headlong runne we into destruction What meane