The sermons of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the fifth booke of Moses called Deuteronomie faithfully gathered word for word as he preached them in open pulpet; together with a preface of the ministers of the Church of Geneua, and an admonishment made by the deacons there. Also there are annexed two profitable tables, the one containing the chiefe matters; the other the places of Scripture herein alledged. Translated out of French by Arthur Golding.

On Saturday the xxj. of December. 1555 The Cxx. Sermon which is the first vpon the one and twentith Chapter.

WHen a bodie is found slaine lying vpon the ground in the Land which the Lord thy GOD giueth thee to possesse, and it is not knowen who killed him:

2 Then shall thine Elders and Iudges come foorth, and measure the Townes that lye rounde about the slaine man.

3 And when they perceiue which of the Townes is nearest to the slaine man, then shall the Elders of that towne take a young Hekfar from the droue, which hath not beene labored nor hath drawen in the yoke:

4 And the Elders of that Towne shall driue the young bullocke downe into a harde valley, which hath neither beene plowed nor sowed, and they shal strike off the bullocks neck there in the valley.

5 Also the Priestes the children of Leuie shall come forth, for the Lorde thy God hath chosen them to minister vnto him, and to blesse in the Lords name: And at their worde shall all cases and euery plague be determined.

6 And all the Elders of that towne shall come to the deade man, and wash their hands ouer the bullocke that is beheaded in the valley:

7 And protest and say, Our handes haue not shed this bloude, neither haue our eyes seene it.

8 O Lord, be mercifull to thy people Israel whom thou hast purchased, and lay not the guiltlesse bloud among thy people Israel. And the manslaughter shalbe forgiuen them.

9 And so shalt thou take guiltles bloud from among you: for thou shalt do that which is acceptable in the eyes of the Lord.

I Haue spo∣ken of this [ 40] Law alrea∣die hereto∣fore, and de∣clared brief∣ly what god ment in the ordeining of that Cere∣mony: name¦ly that wee [ 50] shoulde ab∣horre the shedding of bloud, and murthers, and outrages. He had spoken heretofore of the law of armes. And nowe hee addeth that the killing euen of one man is a defiling of the whole coun∣trey, vnlesse the remedie bee sought by praying vnto God to forgiue the fault, and by protesting that none of them is guiltie thereof. Wee see then that mens liues are deare vnto God, sith hee will haue so solemne a redresse to bee made [ 60] of a murther committed, yea euen when the do∣er thereof is not knowen, nor the trueth can bee founde out. If a man had heene murdered, and the doer thereof knowen: then woulde not this ceremonie haue sufficed. For God commandeth the crime to bee punished: and if a murtherer be suffered to scape, the Iudges and all the people become guiltie of the fact. But when it is vn∣knowen by whom a man is slaine, then GOD thinketh it not ynough for euery man to protest for himselfe y^t hee is neither partie nor priuie to the matter; but he will also that the town where the deede was done, or which was neerest to the place where the deede was done, shoulde bee examined for it. For wee knowe that a parti∣tion of the townes & villages was made to eue∣rie tribe. Insomuch that euerie Citie had the Countrie about it, and the townes and villages in it were called as it were the daughters of that Citie. Yet notwithstanding, in this case our Lorde will haue them to make a newe suruey and measuring of the distance of places againe, and that the Citie which is found to bee neerest to the dead bodie, shalbe at the charges to make a solemne sacrifice, whereat hee will haue the Elders, Iudges, and Priestes, to be present. And he setteth downe the Priests by name, as wel for sacrificing as also because it was their Office to make the purgations: whensoeuer there befell any blotte, so as the people were defiled before God; it was the duetie of the Priestes to make them cleane againe towards God. And that was the cause why that order was required in this case.

And therefore Moses addeth, that God hath appointed them to serue him, and to blesse in his name, and that it belongeth to them to iudge of Leprosies and all other like thinges, and of all other kindes of vncleannesse where∣with the people might be defiled. In attribu∣ting this office vnto them, he declareth to what purpose their presence ought to serue in this act. Also there was prayer to bee made, and the priestes were inioyned thereunto. And [ 10] because the whole order of them was a figure of our Lorde Iesus Christ: they blessed in Gods name, as I haue declared heeretofore, and as I shall shewe somewhat more hereafter as I passe ouer it. And therefore our Lorde appointed them to make the solemne prayer that is set downe heere. Nowe wee see whereto this Lawe tended: Namely that our Lorde hath shewed howe precious mens liues are vnto him, that wee on our part might bee the more pro∣uoked [ 20] to take him for our father. For what an vnthankfulnesse is it, that God shoulde haue so great and so fatherly a care of vs, of vs I say which are but Caryons: and yet notwithstan∣ding that hee shoulde not bee honoured of vs as of his children, nor finde any obedience at our handes? So then, forasmuch as we see our Lord vouchsafeth to haue a regarde of our life; let vs be the more moued to honor him, and to yeeld him all reuerence. [ 30]

Heerewithall it is shewed vs also, that wee must maintaine our neighbours as much as in vs lyeth, and abstaine from all violence. For if murder bee so hatefull to GOD, that al∣though the doer thereof bee vnknowen, yet it behoued a solemne clearing thereof to be made: what will become of vs if wee spare not our neighbors? Is it not a setting of our selues vtterly against God? Here then is a bridle to restraine vs from all violence and outrage, so as vnlesse wee [ 40] will bee hatefull to our God, wee must liue in concorde and brotherly loue with all our neighbours. Nowe I haue tolde you hereto∣fore, that whereas murder is forbidden vs, it is not meant thereby that wee shoulde but onely forbeare the drawing of our swords to slea men, but also that forasmuch as all they which hate their brethren euen in secrete, are murderers; we should beware to haue our heartes as cleane as our handes, and abstaine from all hatred and [ 50] enmitie. Thus yee see what wee haue to re∣member in the seconde place of this Lawe which is set downe heere. For it is not ynough for vs to loue our neighbours and not to haue stepped out into any iniurie or violence: but wee must also (to the vttermost of our power) bee a let to the anoyance that is done to others. Indeede it is a great thing to be peaceable: but God requireth yet more of his children, namely that they shoulde procure peace towardes o∣thers. [ 60] Therefore whensoeuer any man fals to quareling or offereth wrong to his neighbour, let vs looke that wee set our selues against him as much as wee can. I knowe that euerie man is not armed with the sworde, neither may e∣uerie of vs take vppon him to redresse wrongs: but yet let vs haue an eye to that which GOD permitteth, so farre as our duetie will beare, and as occasion is ministred to deale: And therein wee shall shewe our selues not to consent to any outrage, but rather that wee bee willing to suc∣cour the innocent that is oppressed and wron∣ged, whom let vs looke that we help to our pow∣er and abilitie. That is the third point which we haue to gather vpon this text.

Moreouer let vs marke, that Iudges and Ministers of iustice are warned heere to doe their dueties. For it is not ynough for them to protest that they haue not supported nor fa∣uored any euill: neither is it ynough for them to bee able to say, y^t they haue yeelded euerie man his right when they were complained vnto: but they must also inquire diligently of misorders, and although no man speake to them or mooue them, yet must they of their owne selues bee vi∣gilant in making serch. And if they finde a∣ny fault committed: they themselues must fol∣lowe the suite of it. But this is ill obserued of most Iudges. For they thinke themselues to bee come to the full perfection of vertue, and that they be greatly to bee commended, when they haue not refused to giue men the hearing. If a man that is grieued doe come to complaine to them, and they heare him and make counte∣nance to helpe him: they thinke they haue ac∣quitte themselues verie well. But our Lorde is not contented with that. Although then that the partie which is hurt doe holde his peace, and patiently put vp the wrong: yet notwith∣standing the Iudge or the Magistrate that is in office must not forbeare to doe his duetie for all that. And therefore it is a fonde allegation to say, there is no information, no man complains of it. Yea: but yet neuerthelesse the euill is com∣mitted, and God seeth it, and hee hath com∣maunded that it shoulde bee punished; hee will haue all misdeedes redressed, and that no liber∣tie bee giuen to the stronger to beare downe the weaker. And shall the Iudge in the meane while holde his peace? Let vs marke then, that God will not haue the ministers of iustice to winke at mens misdeedes: no not euen though there be no informer, protector, aduocat, attour∣ney, or plaintife to moue thē therunto. For they bee bound to punish crimes euen of themselues, though no man prosecute any suite in Law. And what ought they then to do, when they be sued vnto, and when the partie that is misused com∣meth sorowing and declaring his griefe? If hee bee not hearde, or if hee bee skorned for his complaining, or let alone, or peraduenture so vexed that hee is inforced to giue ouer his right, and in the meane while the offender goeth vn∣punished: shall such trecherie be excusable be∣fore God? Yet notwithstanding, we see often∣times, that if a man which hath bin wronged do come to demaund Iustice; he shalbe trayned on. In deede hee shall not bee driuen away with a kudgell, it shall not bee saide vnto him that hee doeth but lose his labour: but he shal bee so dri∣uen off with shifts and delayes, that the poore soule is sorie that euer hee attempted any suite,

and is faine to leaue off to his great griefe. That is the common course which is kept in execu∣ting of iustice on the earth. But wee see heere that such persons as haue so abused their autho∣ritie, must come to account for it. For the hea∣uenly Iudge will haue them not onely to heare mens complaints and to releeue them: but also to make inquisitions, and to search out matters to the verie bottome, though it be not knowen that any fault is committed, or that any man is [ 10] wronged, yea and euen though no man open his mouth to complaine. And when men haue done the best they can, yet will he haue them to offer Sacrifice, as though some blame lay vppon the countrie it selfe, vntil forgiuenesse of the offence were desired.

So then, let vs learne on our part, that our Lord watcheth ouer vs, so that although we be oppressed and haue all the outrages in the world done vnto vs, yet our Lord ceaseth not to haue [ 20] a care of vs. True it is (as I haue said afore) that Iudges and Magistrates haue heere a good les∣son, and that they ought to consider that they shal not scape the hands of the Heauenly Iudge, when they haue bin negligent in mainteining good men that are troden vnder foote. If they passe not to defende them, they must make a reckening for that loose dealing of theirs. For it is al one as if they themselues were confederate with them. And therefore we must vnderstande, [ 30] that seeing God hath such a care of those that are deade, it is much more of consequence, that our Lorde beholding all things would we should resort boldly vnto him for refuge, when we pine away in this worlde, suffering many troubles & vexations, though we speake neuer a worde, ne finde any defence or helpe at all among men, in how great extremitie so euer we be. For al∣though he shew not himselfe by and by neere at hand: yet must we not thinke that he hath tur∣ned [ 40] his backe vpon vs: for hee marketh all the wrongs that are done vnto vs, and our teares (as it is saide in the Psalme) shall come vp before him. For Dauid saith that the tears of the faith∣full are put vp as it were into bottels, as men put vp sweete waters into glasses, and oyntmentes into vyols. And so our Lorde keepeth the treares of such as make their moane to him, and resort to him for refuge. He keepeth all those teares of theirs, to be reuenged for them in time con∣uenient. [ 50] But we must passe yet further. For if God succour them that are departed; it is a to∣ken that we be not as the brute beastes. For (as is shewed in S. Luke) hee is not the God of the deade, but of the liuing. Therefore let vs con∣clude, that when wee be gone out of this world, we shall haue a better life and be in the hand of God. Loe what a recorde of the immortall life here is vttered in the marke that God giueth vs here, namely in that if a man be found murthe∣red, [ 60] solemne sacrifice must bee made to clense the Lande from the defiling whereto it was sub∣iect. For thereby hee witnesseth that after our decease we liue with him, and that wee must not thinke our selues to bee vtterly done away and come to nothing, when God taketh vs out of this worlde; but rather that it is but a passage whereby to goe into the seconde life which hee promiseth vs. Seeing that this was spoken in the Law, we ought the more to assure our selues thereof nowadayes. For we haue the holy scrip∣ture more at large. Wee haue the heauenly life shewed vnto vs much more apparantly in the newe Testament, than it was shewed to the fa∣thers of olde time before the comming of our Lorde Iesus Christ. And therefore wee ought to bee so much the more assured of it, and not bee like the vnbelieuers, who quake when they heare death spoken of, as though all were fordone with them, and as though they shoulde vtterly perish. But wee must vnderstand, that when God gathereth vs to him by death, wee cease not to liue still to himwardes. Although a mans bodie rot away, and become a Carion like the bodies of brute beastes: yet is God a faithfull keeper of our soules, so as they be preserued in his hand & by his power, wherein he giueth vs hope of the last resurrection, in the which we shalbe wholly restored againe. For wheras we be nowe corrup∣tible, and tende to corruption by death▪ we shall then be clothed again with such a newe nature, that y^e thing which is now corruptible and tran∣sitorie in vs, shall become newe and vncorrupti∣ble, when we be renewed after y^e likenesse of our Lord Iesus Christ. Thus ye see what we haue to remember yet further, in that God sheweth him selfe to haue such care of them that are deade.

As touching the things that are spoken here concerning the priests, we neede not as nowe to stande verie long vppon them: but it will suf∣fice to speake a word or twaine thereof. Moses saith that they were ordeined to blesse in Gods name, that is to say, to make publike prayers. True it is, that wee at this day haue the same office of making praiers in the name of y^e whole church, and that the people must say Amen, (as S. Paul saith in the xiiii. of the first Epistle to the Corin∣thians): but there was a speciall consideration of this matter in the tribe of Leuie, & in the priests of the Lawe: namely, that they bare the figure of our Lorde Iesus Christ who is our aduocate, and our mouth, as it were. Forasmuch then as it belōgeth to our Lord Iesus Christ to offer vp our requests to God our father, bicause they can ne∣uer bee acceptable to God but for his sake, nei∣ther are we worthie to preace vnto God, except hee leade vs and make way and meanes for vs: Therefore in the time of the Lawe, the Priestes blessed the people, that is to say, they made the publike prayers for them. Againe there is ano∣ther thing, namely, that their blessing of y^e peo∣ple was a witnessing of Gods fauour and loue to∣wardes them. And that also belongeth to our Lord Iesus Christ, howbeit that the same pertai∣neth not to himself alone, but also to al the prea∣chers of the Gospel. Whē we preach Gods mer∣cie, the blessing of God is vpon al them that har∣ken to vs. For it is all one as if God himselfe came to declare his fauour towards vs, and y^t for asmuch as wee be reconciled vnto him, hee in∣tendeth to take vs into his keeping. Seeing then that the doctrine of the Gospell importeth

such thinges, wee see that all the Shepheardes of the Christian Church, doe blesse the people. But this is not because they are figures of our Lorde Iesus Christ, but because of the charge that is committed vnto them. They doe in¦deede represent his person as his officers; but in the time of the Lawe, this was of force that the Priest during the continuance of those sha∣dowes, did after a sorte supply the roome of our Lorde Iesus Christ vntill hee was come. [ 10] That then was meant by blessing the people in the name of God, as we see our Lorde Iesus Christ himselfe hath declared. For hee blessed his disciples by laying his handes vppon them. Therefore let vs resorte to him as oft as wee thinke vppon our owne cursednesse: that is to say, forasmuch as wee knowe our selues wor∣thie to bee reiected of God, and to bee as it were accursed, because there is nothing but vtter wickednes in vs: Let vs flee to our Lord Iesus [ 20] Christ. For if God gaue that remedie to his peo∣ple vnder the Lawe, of being blessed by the priestes who were but mortall men: shall wee mistrust that our Lorde Iesus Christ hath not suf∣ficient power to doe away all our accursednesse, so as God shall looke fauorable vppon vs, and receiue vs as his children? Then let vs hardily giue eare hereunto, and rest vppon it with full trust. And when wee bee about to pray, let vs assure our selues that wee haue an aduocate, [ 30] who will make vs to finde fauor. And let vs not alledge as the Papistes doe, I am not worthie to pray to God; but let vs bee sure that our Lorde Iesus Christ calleth vs to him. Trueth it is that wee ought to perceiue our owne vn∣worthinesse: howbeit not to make vs to raunge away when wee pray vnto God, or to cause vs to seeke long windlasses, as who shoulde say, Such a Saint shall bee mine aduocate, or such a Sheesaint shall bee my patronesse: but to di∣rect [ 40] vs to him which is giuen vs of God his fa∣ther, namely to our Lorde Iesus Christ. Thus much concerning the blessing.

Now the seruing of God imported the sacri∣fices and all the rest of the ceremonies. And at this day, they that are appointed ministers of Gods woorde, haue the administration of Sacramentes, because it is an appurtenance to Gods worde and doctrine which they bring: but our Lorde Iesus is hee that hath made the [ 50] onely and euerlasting sacrifice whereupon wee must rest. And herein wee see the foolish∣nesse that is in the Popedome: for the Priestes will needes counterfeit his sacrifice, saying thus: O beholde the tribe of Leuie was appoin∣ted to serue God. Yea, but we must consider what maner of Sacrifice God requireth and al∣loweth at this day. Will hee haue vs to slea Bullockes, Sheepe, Lambes, and such other thinges? No verily. But Saint Paul sayth that [ 60] the sacrifices which the Shepheardes of the Church must offer to God, are mens soules whome they winne by the preaching of his worde. Those doe they dedicate vnto God, and that is the seruice which hee lyketh of. This is a part of that seruice of God, which is spirituall. And therefore let vs marke that wee must let Iesus Christ alone with that which the holy scripture reserueth vnto him: Namely the offering vp of himselfe once for all, to purchase vs euerlasting forgiuenesse of all our sinnes, and the making of vs cleane and pure yet still before God. Now then, there remaineth nothing but this onely, that wee be confirmed in the power that is brought vnto vs by his death and passi∣on. And howe may that bee? By the vse of the sacramentes. When we receiue the Supper, wee make not a newe sacrifice, as the Papistes were woont to doe in that diuelish abhominati∣on of their Masse: but we protest that God is at one with vs, when we be grounded in the death and passion of his onely sonne, and that we be partakers thereof: and our present receiuing of the bread and wine that are giuen vs, is all one as if we were fed with his body and bloud as with meate and drinke. Thus ye see how we ought to apply the thinges to our instruction, which are spoken here concerning the sacrifices that were to bee offered to GOD by the priestes of the Lawe.

Now let vs proceede with that which Moses addeth here. He saith that the Priestes shall resort thither with the gouerners and Iudges of the Citie, and take a young Heckfar (or Bullocke as they terme it here;) and cut off the necke of it, yea and that in a val∣ley (saith he) as in a secret place, and namely in a valley that is barreine, and vntilled, as in a desert place. This circumstance is set downe to moue the standers by to the more terror, when they saw the cutting off, of the Heckfars neck, and that they were come as into a secrete place. For it is certeine y^t God passed not for the bloud of the Heckfar. Hath God a care of Oxen or kine (sayth Saint Paul,) as though he regarded them? His speaking of them is for mens sakes. And therefore let vs marke how God poynted out a valley, yea and a barraine valley, to the end that they which were there present, should conceiue a certeine terror in themselues. Wher∣at? At the smiting off of the bullockes head, as who should say; Must wee come to this deserte place for such a matter? And what a thing is it thē that a man which is shaped after the image of God should be slayne, and that such a crime should be committed? Shal not the Sunne, and and the Moone, and all the starres of the skye cry out for vengeāce to God? Shal not the large∣nesse of the earth frame an inditemēt as though it were written in paper or parchment? Thus yee see what we haue to consider, in Gods ap∣pointing out of the place so with such circum∣stance.

Nowe afterward followeth the protestati∣on. Our handes haue not doone this deede, neither haue our eyes seene it. When the Iudges & gouer∣ners say, Our handes haue not done this deede; they meane the whole people as well as them∣selues. For it is not enough that the ru∣lers themselues bee cleere of the murder: but they speake in the name or behalfe of the whole bodie of the people whome they represent. And hereby it appeareth, that

if the Magistrates suffer any wickednesse to lie lurking in any citie or countrie, they them∣selues are guiltie thereof, and it is as much be∣fore God, as if they had giuen their consentes to the dooing of it. Therefore let men marke well this saying, Our handes haue not done this deede: namely that such as are in authoritie must aun∣swere for the whole bodie of the people, so farre as lyeth in them: that is to say, that wicked doo∣inges haue not bin suffered to nestle by their [ 10] slouth and negligence: but that they haue sear∣ched them out diligently, and done their dutie in that behalfe: otherwise it will be in vaine for them to say, I was not the dooer of the deed. No, but thou diddest represent the whole people, thou wast put in commission by Gods appoint∣ment, and therefore sith thou hast suffred leawd∣nesse to be committed within thy Iurisdiction, it is at thy hand that God wil require the account. And in very deede, wee see how it is Gods will, [ 20] not onely in this place but also throughout the whole holy scripture, that when any trespasse was committed in any trybe, the Elders should stand forth as it were to confesse the peoples of∣fences in their persons. For inasmuch as they were set in authoritie and place of honor, it be∣hooued them to know that their charge was so much the more hard and weightie. That is the point which is to bee noted here.

And he addeth Our eyes haue not seene it. And [ 30] hereby we may knowe (as I sayd afore) that it is not enough for vs to haue our handes cleere: but it is required also that we should not be priuie to any euill: For if we cloke it knowing of it, to whom is it to bee imputed? Truely we may well washe our hands of it (as Pilate did) before men, as who should say, I did it not, I am guiltlesse of it▪ but God admitteth no such mockerie. Ther∣fore whensoeuer we bee examined or deposed vpon any matter, let vs not imagin that we shall [ 40] scape skotfree before God because we haue not done the actuall deede: Fo•• we must to the vt∣termost of our power find meanes that the mis∣chiefe may be redressed, so as one man may not be trodden vnder foote, and another be bolste∣red and borne out, and consequently common robberie be suffred to reigne disorderly among men; but that right and euen dealing may bee mainteined among men: and let euery man fur∣ther the same on his owne behalfe. And as con∣cerning [ 50] Iudges and Magistrates, let them also learne to haue eyes, that they play not the blin••∣kar••es and blindefolkes when euill is commit∣ted, ne thinke to escape when they can say, As for me, I haue no such thing. Yes, but such as are in authoritie of Iustice, must know that God hath set them aloft as it were in a watchtower to discouer thinges afarre off. If the Magistrates themselues doe set a watchman in a high tower, and he excuse himselfe saying, I sawe nothing: [ 60] will they hold him excused? No, For hee was set there to looke about him, and that was his charge. Euen so our Lord ordeineth Magistrates to keepe good watch. And if they notwithstan∣ding doe shut their eyes, and make as though they sawe nothing at all: shall it serue to acquit them? What an excuse were that? Were it not too fond and trifling? So then, let vs marke well, that Magistrates must open their eyes and bee watchfull, that they may see what their due∣tie is. And if they wil be taken for guiltlesse, they must looke to it that they may bee able to vse this present protestation in trueth, Our eyes haue not seene it, neither haue our handes done this deede.

But yet besides this, Moses sheweth that the citie or towne where a murder is committed, is not altogether cleere of it, and therefore that they must bee faine to craue pardon at Gods hand. Surely this seemeth to be with the ex∣tremest. What? Seeing we haue not consented to the euill, but woulde haue punished it, if it had bin done in our presence, and wee protest that wee our selues did not the deede, neither doe wee knowe the dooer of the deed that wee might punishe him: ought not God to bee con∣tented with all this? Nay, there is yet a further thing, namely that the committing of such a fault, is as a defiling of the whole countrie, and a warning giuen vs of God to looke narrowlyer to our selues. True it is that he will not take vs for murderers: but yet for al that, his suffering of such an offence to be committed, is as though he shold shew vs with his finger, y^t he is gone frō vs. For when God blesseth a countrie, he preserueth it from all defilement. And the falling out of any defilement, is as a turning of Gods backe vppon vs, as if hee should say, I haue no more care of you, I let you alone, I giue you ouer. The nation therefore that perceiueth God to giue any signe of his displeasure, haue good cause to humble themselues. And that is the cause why hee commaunded the Iudges and gouer∣nours of the citie where a murder was commit∣ted, to thinke earnestly vppon it, as if they should say, Lorde haue pitie vppon thy people Israel, and take away this guiltlesse bloud from among vs, and let not this deed bee imputed vnto vs.

Now if it be so, and y^t there be no remedie to be found but only to flee to Gods mercie, and to craue forgiuenesse not only for y^e fault, but also because men ought to feele y^t he is angrie with the whole Citie: What is to be done when the misdeede is apparant? Ought not men much more to make supplication to God, and to flee to his mercie, at leastwise if they were well ad∣uised? Yes; but wee see what hardnesse or ra∣ther blockishnesse is nowadayes in most men, yea and well neere in all men. For when a misdeede is committed, who is hee that re∣gardeth it? True it is that if an outragious wickednesse be committed, men will perchaunce say, hee is a wicked man. But they consider not that God warneth all folkes generally to say euery man in himselfe. Alas how happe∣neth it that such an enormitie is committed among vs, that all of vs shoulde bee defiled with it before GOD? For that this is come to passe and wee neuer wist it, is a token that wee haue euill profited in Gods worde. For wee thinke not that his giuing of such exam∣ples

vnto vs, is for our instruction. But although wee sleepe, yet dooth not GOD cease to doe his office. Wee heare what hee sayth when there is no Iustice nor vpright dealing in a citie. They bee princes of Sodome, they be theeues and murtherers. Hee sayth this to Iudges. Not for that they had cut mens throates that were traueling: No; but because they had not main∣teined the good and guiltlesse. Therefore he saith, Beholde, it is a citie of bloud. The very [ 10] citie of Ierusalem it selfe, which God had cho∣sen to bee his royall pallace and Temple, is cal∣led a citie of bloud and a denne of theeues. And why? Because many outrages and disorders were there committed, and many poore soules were trodden vnder foote without succor, and Iustice was become as an open robberie. So then, let vs learne to resorte to our God when any offence is committed, and let euery of vs thinke with himselfe, Alas, our Lorde doeth vs to vn∣derstande [ 20] that he is angrie with vs, in that such things are hapned, and that such enormities are committed among vs. And therefore let euery of vs craue pardon of them, and also thinke thus with our selues: Of whom is it long that I am not lyke one of them, but onely of Gods preser∣uing of me? And let vs also beware for the time to come. Thus yee see in effect what wee haue to beare in minde, as in the respect of the things that are spoken here concerning murder. [ 30]

There was also the striking off of the Hekfers heade, to make men the more afraid: as who should say, that the beholding of a poore beast slayne after that sorte, doth moue men the more. And what is to bee sayd then of a man, which is shaped after the image of God? Wee see then, how our Lord meant to teach the El∣ders and Iudges that were present at the sacri∣fice, that they might the better learne the hor∣riblenesse of all murders. For if wee bee afraid of a beast: it is good reason that wee should bee [ 40] touched much more to the quicke without all comparison, for a humaine creature. As tou∣ching the washing of their handes, it is added to doe the people to vnderstand, that they were af∣ter a sorte defiled, or rather that they should de∣clare both before the Angels and before all creatures, that they might washe themselues from it. And this serued for the time of the ceremonies of the Lawe. But wee must vn∣derstand [ 50] that it was not our Lordes meaning to foade his people by such signes in counter∣feiting and hypocrisie. What gayned Pilate by his washing of his handes? Was hee clea∣red from the death of Iesus Christ? No, that washing of his was a token of his defiling. Wherefore washed he his handes, but because hee knewe himselfe guiltie of the death of Ie∣sus Christ? Whereof hee thought to cleere himselfe by a drop of water: and that was too [ 60] great a dalying with God. And that is the cause why I sayd that his washing ingraued his sinne the deeper before GOD, and made him the more vnexcusable. And therefore had the people come dissemblingly to washe their handes; it had bin but a further charging of themselues, and a making of themselues the more faultie. But Gods will was that the Elders should vse such ceremonies, to doe vs the better to vnderstand, that wee be flesh∣ly, and consider not our sinnes vnlesse they bee as it were pointed out with the finger. Wee conceiue not Gods wrath, except wee haue some signe of it before vs. God then meant to declare, that when there is any such offence, wee bee defiled, so as there is no∣thing but filthinesse in vs, but God mislyketh of vs, & we cannot preace vnto him without pro∣uoking him to wrath. Marke that for one point.

And therewithall hee meant to shewe vs, how we ought to apply our indeuour to clea∣nesse. And this cleanesse is not compassed with corruptible water; but it must bee first in our consciences, and afterwardes in all our members. Wherefore let vs learne to looke to it, that our handes bee not bloudy, as the Prophet Esay termeth the hands of those which did wrong to their neighbours: and let not our feete runne after bloud, neither let our mem∣bers bee defiled, nor made instrumentes of vnrighteousnesse, as Saint Paule speaketh of them in the sixt to the Romans. When we indeuour after that sort to keepe our selues vn∣defiled to Godward; then do wee obserue the washing that was vnder the Lawe, to reteine the trueth and substance thereof. And at this day whereas we haue baptisme, the water be∣tokeneth the lyke; not that it is sufficient of it selfe, nor that it is of force to washe away our sinnes, for what should then become of our Lord Iesus Christes bloud? It were too grosse a blasphemie for a man to put his trust in a visible signe: we must lift vp our mindes higher. In lyke case is it with the Lordes supper; Insomuch that when wee come to the table of our Lorde Iesus Christ, if wee thinke to finde our soule-health in a bit of bread or in a droppe of wine; wee bee very brutish, and there is neither rea∣son nor vnderstanding in vs. But when we bee led further, so as by eating of the bread we con∣ceiue that Christ is our very sustenance, and that although wee bee spiritually dead in our selues, yet we cease not to liue in him: then doth the sacrament turne to our benefite. And to that vse must we apply the doctrine that is set downe here.

And for a conclusion let vs marke further, that although the men that are murthered doe••no more speake vnto vs, because they be dead: yet the bloud of them cryeth out for vengeance a∣gainst vs. See wee not what proceeded from the bloud of Abell? Hee needed no man of lawe to pleade his case: for his very bloud cryed vnto God as is reported thereof. Whereby wee bee done to vnderstand, that although the parties whom we haue misused doe forgiue vs, yet will God euer be a Iudge to vs, vntill we haue ac∣knowledged our faults, and indeuour to amend thē. Insomuch that although his wrath appeare not towardes vs, & that our wrong dealing haue lyen long concealed, so as it seeme to bee starke dead & quite forgotten: yet notwithstanding, the

rememberance thereof is alwayes fresh before God. Let vs consider this, and let euery of vs in true repentance rebuke himselfe and amende his misdoings, indeuoring to liue quietly & with∣out doing any harme. And for the doing there∣of, let vs thinke vpon the outcrie whereof the Apostle speaketh in the Epistle to the Hebrues, saying that the bloud of our Lord Iesus Christ cryeth much better than did the bloud of Abell. Not to aske vengeance of God against vs, so we [ 10] receiue him in such wise as our sins bee washed & clensed away. For to that purpose was that holy bloud of his shed. True it is that the bloud of our Lord Iesus Christ shall cry out for venge∣ance against all the faithlesse and froward sorte, & against such as haue refused the doctrine of y^e Gospel & troden it vnder foot, & made a skorn of it, & al prophane folk; for al such shal be guilty of the bloudshed of our Lord Iesus Christ. But when we receiue his bloud by faith, & know y^t it [ 20] ought to serue vs as a purgatiō to make vs righ∣teous and innocent before God: let vs assure our selues y^t the same bloud hath his cry. And in deed we see how the Gospell soundeth and ringeth in our eares to y^e intent we should know the ver∣tue of y^e bloud of our Lord Iesus Christ. For it is no dead thing: but it is euer fresh, as the Apostle speketh of it in another place. Yea & it is so fresh y^t it hath his liuely force continually, to recon∣cile vs vnto God. Therefore let vs rightly weigh [ 30] this inestimable benefit, & receiue the peace of the Gospell, whereby God witnesseth vnto vs, that he admitteth the bloud of his sonne for our washing, that we may appeare before his maie∣stie with full hope.

Now let vs cast our selues downe in the pre∣sence of our good God with acknowledgmēt of our faults, praying him to make vs perceiue thē more and more. Yea and let vs confesse, not on∣ly the faultes which we know by our selues, and which we perceiue, & whereof we ought to be a∣shamed before men: but also our ignorances & our secret sinnes whereof we be now guiltie. And forasmuch as we know how there be many vices and infirmities in vs, let vs mourne for them be∣fore God, and let it make vs to proceede more and more in true repentance. And in the meane while let vs not continue wilfull; but let vs take courage to turne vnto him; and let vs not looke to haue a bullock or a brute beast to answere for vs nowadayes, as though the bloud thereof should serue vs for a sacrifice: but let vs resorte to our Lorde Iesus Christ, that seeing hee hath offered vp the onely and euerlasting sacrifice, in his death and passion once for all, to set vs free from all our debtes, and that hee calleth vs day∣ly vnto him by his Gospell: wee seeke not any other meane to serue God withall, but proceede in all purenesse vnder his hand & guiding. That it may please him to graunt this grace, not one∣ly to vs but also to all people and nations of the earth, &c.

Notes

• Psal. 56.7.
• Luk. 20.38.
• Luk. 24.50. & Act. 1.4••
• Phil. •• 17. Rom. 15.16
• Act. 13.3••.
• 1. Cor. 9.9.
• Matt. 27.24
• Esa. 6.••0.
• Esa. 1.15.
• Heb. 12.25.
• Heb. 10.20.