On Wednesday the xxij. of May. 1555. The xxij. Sermon, which is the fourth vpon the fourth Chapter.

I Declared yesterday after what maner wee must come together in the name of God, to appeare before him. For the meeting of the wicked is to make confede∣racies, and it is apparant that their seeking is but only to conspire against God and all goodnesse: but yet their meeting is by hiding themselues from Gods presence, & they would faine turne their backes vppon him, so as [ 10] he shoulde not see them. Truely they doe but loose their time: for all things must needs come to account before God. And if mortall men e∣spie their wicked practises, so as they perceiue that their banding of themselues is but to ouer∣throwe all order: the same must needes bee knowen to the heauenly iudge,* from whom no∣thing is hidden. If their lewdnesse appeare euen to little children: thinke they that God hath his eyes stopped? But it behoueth vs on our side to [ 20] present our selues before God in all our mee∣tings, to the intent that he may sit among vs, & wee bee taught as it were by his mouth and go∣uerned by his hand. Furthermore forasmuch as wee see that the wicked seeke altogether to rend a sunder the vnion of the Church: let vs inde∣uour so much y^e more to come togither in Gods name. For wee can not prooue our selues to bee his children, if wee haue not the marke whereof Moses speaketh here. And thereby it may bee [ 30] iudged, that such as passe not to haunt the com∣panies of Christians, when they meete together in the name of God to heare his worde and to pray vnto him: are but as dogges, and deserue not to bee reckened in the common aray of mē, but are to be abhorred as dung and filth, bicause they haue cut off themselues from Gods house. Thus yee see what wee haue to remember con∣cerning that text.

And nowe Moses addeth, that if we minde to [ 40] fare the better by the meetings that are made in the name of God: Wee must hearken to the things that he telleth vs, and that must bee to the ende that wee may feare him, that is to say, to the ende wee yeeld him al reuerence, and it may appeare that wee take him for our Father and God. For if we thinke to content God with ceremonies, we de∣ceiue our selues, as they doe which could finde in their heartes to haue no Religion at all, and therefore resort hither, some but once a moneth, [ 50] and othersome as seldome as may bee. There are also which come hither vpon the Sundayes and Wednesdayes as it were for fashions sake: but in the meane while doeth it appeare that they bee any whit edified in the feare of God? Doeth it appeare that their comming hither to crowd themselues into the flocke, doth any whit amend them or make them the better? Nay ra∣ther they become the more venemous against God, & therefore their comming to infect Gods house, is to their greater condemnation: for they bee vnworthie to come here, they bee no better than swine. Therefore our comming to the Church must be to another ende: that is to wit, that wee may profite in the feare of God. Nowe (as I haue touched alreadie) this feare impor∣teth that he shoulde ouerrule vs, and that wee should bee subiect vnto him. And for the same cause also doeth Moses match these two sayings together, namely that wee must doe the things that God commaundeth vs, and also, that wee must feare him. Many men thinke they feare God well, whē they haue some fond deuotion towardes him, as wee see in Poperie, where euerie man sayes that his intent is to serue God: but after what fashi∣on? Euen euerie man after his owne fansie. But y^e obedience which God requireth at our hands in yeelding our selues wholly to his worde, and the reuerence which wee owe him as to our Fa∣ther and King: are things vnseparable. Where∣fore let vs marke well that if we be minded and desirous to come together as wee ought to doe: Gods worde must haue all authoritie ouer vs, so as our receiuing thereof bee not onely to con∣fes it with our mouth, but also to frame our liues wholly thereafter. For if wee will needes liue af∣ter our owne swindge, and euerie of vs doe what seemeth good to himselfe: God holdeth scorne of vs and disclaimeth vs, though wee protest to feare him and serue him [neuer so much.] For it is no reason but that he should be heard, special∣ly seeing he taketh paine to teach vs. That ther∣fore is the first point.

Againe let vs vnderstand that our keeping of Gods Lawe,* and our walking according to his will, doe not aduauntage him at all: for what can he receiue at our hands? But it is to the end that the world may know that we feare him, that is to say, that wee take him for our maister, & that we would faine be wholly his, and that he should gouerne vs. That is the effect of the matter that Moses sheweth here. Howbeit forasmuch as Churches are oftentimes defiled with hypocrits and wicked folke which crowde in couertly, who notwithstanding are worthie to bee euen thrust out of the world:* Let vs marke what is saide in the fiftieth Psalme, where God declareth that he separateth his [true seruantes] from such as falsely abuse his name: so as his voyce thunde∣reth to summon those that feare him aright, and Page  129 haue not couenanted with him vnfeynedly, nor serue him onely with Ceremonies, but also in ve∣ry deede: them will he assemble together. And on the contrarie part, hee vpbraydeth those that take his name in their mouth, and yet notwith∣standing doe take part with robbers, murderers, theeues, and traytours. Therefore when men will needes match GOD and the diuel toge∣ther after that fashion, as it appeareth that most men doe: God complaineth of it, and prote∣steth [ 10] that it shall not scape vnpunished. Now if he shewe such a separation aforehand: Let vs bee well assured,* that when the day commeth wherein the Goates shalbe put asunder from the Lambes, the shame of such as haue preaced af∣ter that sorte into Gods Church shall then bee discouered, and they shalbe abhorred of all crea∣tures as they deserue. But in the meane while let vs see that wee separate our selues from them as neere as we can: and when we see such vnclean∣nesse, [ 20] at leastwise let vs beware that wee mislike them, and let vs pray God to rid and cleanse his Church of such infections. Howsoeuer the case stand, let vs be mindeful of the thing that Moses speaketh in this text, whensoeuer we intende to meete together in the name of God.

Afterward hee addeth, that when wee our selues haue walked in the feare of God, euery of vs must teach his children to do the lyke. Wherein we see that it is not enough for euery man to discharge his duty [ 30] in liuing orderly himselfe: but that we must (to y^e vttermost of our power,) procure the cōtinuance of Gods honor and seruice after our deceases. And in good fayth, is it reason that Gods name should be buryed with our death? We know how flightfull our lyfe is: but Gods glory must indure for euer without decaying.* Therfore let vs learn our owne duetie: that is, to walke righteous∣ly all y^e time of our lyfe, and to indeuer to traine vp our children aright, so as religion may florish [ 40] and prosper when wee be dead, and God be al∣wayes honored in the world, that his name may be called vppon purely. And that is the very cause also why God commaundeth fathers so straightly to teach their children. For the coulde well send his creatures into the worlde, though no man had any speciall care of them: but hee chargeth fathers to bring vp their children. And why? To the ende they should knowe that they must yeelde an account of them. And for the [ 50] same cause also doth he communicate his name vnto them.* For the title of father belongeth to himselfe alone: but yet hee honoreth men so much as to grant them the name of fathers. And to what ende?* That they should be the earnester and carefuller in teaching their children their dueties.

So then, let vs doe our indeuour, that there may remaine a good afterspring after our decease, so as Gods Church may florishe still, [ 60] and his name be worshipped from age to age. And wee ought to labour so much the more in that behalfe, because wee see how the diuil pra∣ctiseth to ouerthrow all that euer is builded in the name of God. So farre of is it that the fruite which ought to come of the Gospel doth ripen: that men doe labor to plucke it vp, or else to marre it and to turne it out of the owne kinde. Sith wee see this, ought we not to bee the more prouoked to doe the duetie that is commaunded vs here? Without going any further, what is to be seene heere among vs? The Gospell hath bin preached to vs now a long time: and yet for al that, what maner of ones are they which haue bin borne of all this time, to whome God hath graūted the grace to be suckled with Gods word euen from the teate, and to bee brought vp in it lykewise, so as they being then but little babes, did neuer see any of the diuelish abhominations of poperie, and therefore ought to bee euen throughly soked in the doctrine of saluation? what maner of ones are they? doth it not ap∣peare that most part of them are so frowarde, as if they were the brood of Serpents? The world may see that they despise God openly, and com∣mit such wickednesse and lewdenesse, that there is much more honestie and more shewe of Re∣ligion among the Papistes, than there is among these. Seeing then that thinges are so farre out of order, and the diuill indeuoreth to put all to hauocke, ought we not to be the more inflamed to doe our indeuer, that there may remaine at leastwise some little seede after our decease, so as the remembraunce of the Gospell be not vt∣terly abolished, nor the thing that hath bin set vp so happily in the name of GOD and by his wonderfull power, be decayed and pulled downe againe by the enemies? Now then, seeing that God hath graunted vs the grace and priuiledge to bee called to the hearing of his worde, and to haue it set forth in the pure simplicitie among vs: let vs vnderstand that we be the more bound to serue and honor him, not onely seuerally for our owne partes, but also by teaching our chil∣dren, and by taking paynes to make them also to liue vertuously, so as the doctrine which they shall haue heard in their youth bee not loste nor marde, as wee see too much by experience. And generally let vs all haue this regarde, that such as come after vs may agree in the true reli∣gion, so as there may be no chaunge. But so far off is that from being done, that the enemies of the trueth, (I meane the housholde enemies and not the Papistes, for they bee farre woorse than the Papists,) think they shall neuer come time enough to ouerthrowe all order and to pull downe all that GOD hath set vp here. Sith wee see it is so, let vs vnderstand that wee ought to bee as earnest in building vp to the Lorde as the diuill is in pulling all downe. For let vs not mistrust but that Gods power is stronger than al the fiendes of hell. Thus yee see what wee haue to note vppon this streyne: but the chiefe mat∣ter is the putting of it in vre.

And now Moses addeth, that GOD shew∣ed himselfe to his people with dreadfull to∣kens, which were able to haue astonished them. For hee spake to them (sayth he) from the middes of the fyre. And therewithall there was a great clowde, darknesse, and miste. By these wordes Moses sheweth that the lawe was not brought without good warrant: for it was Page  130 accompanied with wonders that were able to astonish the whole worlde. And to what pur∣pose serued that, but to make it certainly knowē that the lawe came from heauen, and that God was the author thereof? According whereunto it is sayd in Exodus,* that when God appeared after that sorte in a thicke cloude, and a flaming fire, making the ayre to rore and the mountaine Sinay to shake, and the sound of trumpets to be heard: all those thinges (sayth he) were done of [ 10] purpose to make you hearken to your Lorde God, and to knowe that it was hee that spake, and that whosoeuer receiueth not the doctrine that I haue brought you, must fight against the maiestie of God. But [if he doe so:] he shall finde God too strong for him. Thus yee see what be∣longeth to this text. And so wee see now wher∣fore [ 20] Moses made mention of the cloude, darke∣nesse, and mist: namely to the ende it should be knowen, that the lawe was not put forth but by the authoritie of the liuing God, and that men might be fully assured that it came from heauen.

And let vs mark by the way, that Gods chosing of the signe that is mentioned here, was to do vs to vnderstand, that we must not inquire of his maiestie further than he giueth vs leaue. GOD shewed not himselfe in any visible shape, least it might bee thought that his essence or being had some shape, whereof we will treate to morrowe by Gods leaue: but hee did set a cloude, darke∣nesse, [ 30] and mistinesse before him.* And why? To the ende that wee shoulde learne to be humble, and to know that hee dwelleth in vnapprocha∣ble light. Wee knowe howe curious and ouer∣bolde men are, for they woulde faine knowe what Gods being or substance is, and searche out euery whit of him by inchmeale, and that so presumptuously as though they would pushe vp their hornes into heauen. Such is their na∣ture. But God will haue vs to worship him in [ 40] feare and humilitie, as good reason is it should be so. And he withdraweth himselfe the fur∣ther from vs, when wee inquire further of him than hee commaundeth vs. For o∣therwise were it not all one as if we would make him our vnderling? What preheminence should he haue if he were so shut vp w^tin mans conceit? Therefore to expresse so great and so excessiue rashnesse, hee did set a darke clowd before him. But wee must marke, that whē God did set dark∣nesse [ 50] before the eyes of the people, it was not to the intent to be vtterly vnknowen, but to hold the people in awe, that they should not preace nie the hill where the fire and flame appea∣red that are spoken of in Exodus as is said afore: and therefore was there a great and thick clowd hard by the people. That then was the meane which God vsed to shewe himselfe to the peo∣ple. Marke that for one poynt.

The other poynt is that God did vtter him∣selfe [ 60] in such maner, as the people sought no fur∣ther than was lawfull for them, but helde them∣selues contented with such discouerie as was gi∣uen vnto them. And these two poyntes are well woorthie to bee marked. For many men when they list to excuse their ignorance, will say that wee ought not to be inquisitiue of Gods secretes▪ No truly, but yet is it not meant that we should bee brute beastes. Wherefore hath GOD created vs after his owne image,* but to the intent that his trueth should shine forth in vs? And yet notwithstanding, it is as a common prouerbe that hath reigned and doth reigne still in the popedome: insomuch that the foundation whereon they haue grounded their implyed faith, is that they must not knowe any thing, but that it is enough to beleeue as the Churche beleeueth. And in the meane while they wote not at what marke they shoote, nor what God they worship, nor how his name is to be called vppon. But as I touched afore, Gods meaning is not that men should so abolishe and destroy the grace that hee hath put into them, for it were an vtter defacing of his image in dis∣pite of him: but rather after as hee cōmeth nee∣rer vnto vs & we vnto him, so wil he haue his I∣mage y^e more knowen in vs & his trueth y^e more shine foorth there. Let vs vnderstand then that Gods intent is not that men should be ignorant of him, but to vtter himselfe in such wise, as we may be able to discerne him from the idols that haue bin forged,* so as wee may take him for our father, and assure our selues y^t we be called to the knowledge of his truth, and y^t we may boldly resorte vnto him to call vppon him, and to seeke succour at his hand. After that maner was it Gods will to manifest himselfe to the people of Israell at the setting foorth of the lawe: and af∣ter y^e same maner continueth he still at this day.

But yet for all that, the clowde is still before his face, to make men knowe their owne rude∣nesse. Againe forasmuch as wee be ouerfickle and would knowe dubble as much as is lawfull for vs, insomuch that wee attempt to knowe the things that are vnpossible to bee knowen: there∣fore did God cast a great and thicke clowde be∣tweene himselfe and the people. And if wee were throughly perswaded hereof, it would be as a key to open vs the vnderstanding of y^e whole holy scripture. For why? Whensoeuer we came to the reading or hearing of it, we should be sure that our Lord iesteth not when hee speaketh af∣ter that maner, and when hee protesteth thus by his prophet Esay:* I haue not spoken it in se∣crete, neither haue I sayd it in vaine, that men should seeke mee. Therefore whosoe∣uer heareth mee, and receiueth the trueth that I tell him, shall not bee disappointed in seeking mee. Thus ye see that wee shall profite, if wee beare well in minde that GOD manifesteth himselfe vnto vs, so farre foorth as is behoofe∣full for our soules health. And besides this, wee shoulde with all singlenesse reuerence the thinges that we comprehend not, wee should euery of vs walke according to the measure of his faith, and wee should continually indeuor to come neerer and neerer vnto him and to ga∣ther strength. And moreouer if the thinges were too high for vs:* very well, wee would (as Saint Paul warneth vs in the third to the Philippians) tary till God shewed them more playnely, and yet in the meane while not cease to glorifie Page  131 him. But we see the clean contrarie. For vnder pretence that Gods word seemeth dark, many shrinke from it, and make a defence of it to ex∣cuse their ignorance withall. Othersome againe doe rush foreward with diuelish presumptuous∣nesse, to seeke out thinges that God hath not reuealed, and through vnsatiable desirousnesse of knowledge, doe picke out newe questions e∣uery minute of an houre, and if they may not see all thinges at will, they bend their hornes a∣gainst [ 10] God as wee see these rascalls doe, which spewe out their blasphemies when Gods secrets seeme strange to them after their owne fancie. If they conceiue not Gods eternall election▪ if they perceiue not how he choseth the one sort & refuseth the other euen according to his will: if they vnderstand not how hee disposeth of his creatures, and that nothing happeneth but by his good will: by and by they fall to fretting and chasing, yea and they dare euen murmure a∣gainst [ 20] God and would haue all thinges rased out of the holy scripture, which agree not with their fantastical braine. So much the more ther∣fore doeth it stand vs on hand to remember well what is tolde vs here: namely that God casteth a clowde before our eyes. And why? To the end wee should be sober in inquiring of him, and in∣deuour to profite according to his teaching of vs: for it belongeth him to knowe what is for our behoofe: and moreouer that wee shoulde [ 30] alwayes walke according to the measure of the faith which he shal haue giuen and imparted vn∣to vs.* Thus much concerning the clowde.

And now seeing the Lawe was giuen with record that God is the author thereof: Let vs in these dayes learne to rule our selues thereafter, and not call the thing any more in question, which wee ought to bee most assured of. Second∣ly if wee compare the lawe with the Gospell, let vs vnderstand that there is much more reason [ 40] why wee should humble our selues, and reue∣rently receiue all that is conteyned in the Gos∣pell. For although the lawe was ratifyed with so many miracles: yet did it not fayle to stryke the people in feare, and to bring them in greate vex∣ation of minde, insomuch that they sayd, Let not the Lorde speake vnto vs,* for then are wee all dead.* And why? For if a man looke no fur∣ther but to Gods commaundements, there is no∣thing but cursing. By reason whereof men be∣holding [ 50] themselues bound to things vnpossible, and perceiuing that God wil be their iudge: must needes be cast downe, yea and driuen to vtter despaire. After that manner was the lawe deli∣uered to the people.* But y^e Gospell nowadayes is friendly vnto vs. For there God calleth vs to bee of his houshold, not for any desert of ours in per∣forming the thinges that he commaundeth, but of purpose to beare with vs as with his children, forasmuch as he hath adopted vs in our Lorde [ 60] Iesus Christ. Seing then that God allureth vs to him so louingly, haue wee not the more cause to receiue the doctrine of saluation with all reue∣rence, considering that it is the message of lyse, whereas the lawe was a recorde of death to ter∣rify the people,* I meane the people of the Iewes? And as in respect of miracles, wee are sure y^t the Gospel hath bin warranted w^t moe, than euer y^e lawe was. And besides the miracles y^t haue bin wrought, behold, Iesus Christ in whom dwelleth all glory and maiestie,* is come into the worlde to beare witnesse thereof. Seeing then y^t we haue the Gospell & the doctrine of Iesus Christ,* who hath y^e fulnesse of y^e Godhead in him: ought not we to be more humbled vnder the obediēce of y^e Gospel, than y^e people of olde time were vnder the subiectiō & bondage of the lawe? yes▪ and therfore is it sayd, y^t heauen & earth were both shaken,* as y^e prophet Aggeus speaketh of it, say∣ing that y^e earth was throughly shaken at y^e pub∣lishing of the lawe. And the Apostle alledgeth y^e same text in the Epistle to the Hebrewes, say∣ing: but now must all be shakē, & the power of God must vtter it selfe farre greater in the Gos∣pell. So then let vs learne that if the clowde and darkenesse which appeared at y^t time to y^e Iewes, ought to haue taught them to obey God & to submit themselues to his lawe: much more ought the same to preuaile w^t vs at this day: specially se∣ing wee haue not a darke clowde: for (as sayth S. Paule) there is not so much as any veile before vs,* but wee haue y^e image of God shining forth, and wee see him as it were face to face. Seeing then y^t God doth nowadayes appeare to vs after another maner than he did to y^e fathers, so as he sheweth vs his liuely image in our Lorde Iesus Christ, to the intent we should beholde him for our father and Sauiour, and in stead of the dark clowde we haue nowadayes the great light of y^e Gospel: Let vs assure our selues that we ought to be y^e more desirus to obey him in al things. That is the thing which we haue to remember here.

Herewithall let vs also wey this saying that is set downe here: namely, that the people ought to haue rested altogether vppon the voyce that was vtte∣red vnto them, as the very marke whereby God will be knowen. To morrowe it shall be declared more at length, why God would not haue any visible image: but yet notwithstanding wee must at this present, wey well this poynt, that GOD did vtter foorth his voyce. And why? To the intent that thereby the people shoulde bee re∣streyned as with a bridle, and consider with thē∣selues that their eyes must not be wandering and gasing about, to seeke any shape of God, but that their eares must be attentiue to heare his voyce, so that whensoeuer God speaketh, men must be as it were imprisoned to it, and content them∣selues to be taught by him. Therefore when we come before the Lorde, accordingly as it is sayd that they which meete together in his Church doe appeare before him: let vs note that wee must make account of his voyce, [and think thus with our selues.] What come we hither to doe? Whereas the Papistes gase vppon their Church walles, and fiske about after their foolish cere∣monies and after murlimewes of their own ma∣king: insomuch that although they thinke they please God, yea and hold him bound vnto them, yet they doe but play the brute beastes in y^t be∣halfe: Let vs haue Gods word as y^e certaine mark that he sitteth in y^e middest of vs, & is [alwayes] Page  132 at hand with vs. After that maner must wee thinke, if wee will not erre: for the true marke for all the faithfull to shoote at, when they as∣semble together in the name of GOD, is to haue his voyce as a warrant of the presence of his maiestie. And of a trueth, lyke as the eare was the cause of the withdrawing of the first man from God: so must it drawe vs to him again at this day. What was it that banished our father Adam out of Gods kingdom? What cary∣ed [ 10] him away from the hope of lyfe,* but his eares which receiued the voyce of Satan, and the fals∣hoode that was put to him? Now then, lyke as wee be separated from God by that damnable voyce, when wee haue yeelded vnto euill: so now wee knowe that the onely meane to bee called vnto God and to enter into his house, that wee may be of the number of his children: is to heare Gods voyce and therby to be vnited vnto him. Thus muche concerning that [ 20] worde.

Moses addeth thereunto, that at the same time God published his couenaunt which hee had made afore, and commaunded Moses to bring them the ten articles in two tables, charging him to teach the peo∣ple his lawes and iudgementes, that they might doe them. Hereby wee see againe that which I haue touched heretofore: that is to wit, that God will not haue his doctrine to be as a dead thing, but to bee of power to reforme vs, so that wher∣as [ 30] naturally wee be frowarde and giuen to all naughtines, wee must be subiect to him in such wise as his righteousnesse may raigne in vs. To that intent was the lawe set foorth. True it is that the lawe being writtē in two tables of stone, could not be kept vnlesse God subdewed the hardnesse of mens hartes by his holy spirit: and therefore it serued as a figure to shewe that the lawe ought to be written in mens hearts,* though they be neuer so hard.* Those stones then were [ 40] as an image of our heartes. For as God auow∣eth by his prophet) wee haue such a hard∣nesse in vs, as hee can neuer bow vs till wee be softened. Neuerthelesse lyke as hee ingraued his lawe in the stones: so also doeth hee print the same in vs when it pleaseth him to touche vs by his holy spirit. And this was done at the same time that the lawe was put foorth. And here yee see why comparison is made betweene the Gos∣pell and the lawe. God tolde the people how it [ 50] behoued thē to know thēselues, for such as they were in deed, that is to wit y^t they were hardned in naughtinesse,* stubborne, and ful of all corrup∣tion, so as there was no concord nor agreement betweene the thoughtes and affections of them, and the righteousnesse of himselfe. And for proofe thereof, let vs marke that there are two thinges betokened by that which Moses rehear∣seth here. The one is the goodnes that GOD hath shewed in setting forth his lawe. For it is [ 60] not enough for men to be taught: that will not boote them vntill such time as he subdew them. Wee may haue our eares beaten long enough with the doctrine of the Lawe, but wee shall con∣tinew still giuen to our owne naughtinesse: and therefore it shall be but labor lost and mispent to preach Gods word vnto vs. And why? For it will slip out againe, and so shall wee continewe alwayes lyke our selues. That is one thing that is betokened vnto vs.

And therewithall God hath shewed, that yet notwithstanding, the setting foorth of his worde in that wise by the mouth of a man, is not in vaine, for it serued to put the people againe in hope of thinges that were yet hidden, wherof wee haue not onely a full sight, but also the ef∣fect and accomplishment, by the comming of our Lorde Iesus Christ,* according as it is sayd by the prophets Ieremie and Ezechiel, that God will make a newe couenant, after another ma∣ner than that which he made with the fathers of olde time. For that couenant (sayth he) was soone broken, because they had no holde of themselues: but I wil ingraue my Iawe in your heartes. God then did testify this newe coue∣nant by Moses in mount Sinay, which our Lord Iesus Christ hath performed by his comming in∣to the worlde, and which is offered vnto vs still euery day. And therefore let vs learne that when wee come to be taught, it must not be to any o∣ther ende than to be renewed by God, so as hee put away the hardnesse that is in vs, and soften our heartes after such a sorte, as wee may stoope vnder him to receiue his yoke, and hee holde vs in awe, because wee be so fickle that we would start away from him euery day, if hee gaue vs not steddie constantnesse to goe through with our vocation. That is a thing which wee ought to marke well. And why? Euen to humble vs, and to make vs knowe that although GOD spare our liues yet should they bee turned into death, if hee should let vs alone in our owne plight, and not adde a second grace in refor∣ming vs by his holy spirite. And therewithall let vs be of good comfort, forasmuch as wee see that nowadayes wee haue not onely the aunci∣ent figures, and the tables of stone wherein God wrate his lawe: but also that hee worketh effe∣ctually by his holy spirit, as Saint Paul sheweth in the thirde to the Colossians.* Seeing then that God worketh after such a sorte, as wee perceiue that our heartes are no more stony, forasmuch as wee be willing to stoope vnder him, and de∣sirous to honor him, insomuch that although there be many lettes and hinderances in vs, (as wee see that the fleshe striueth continually a∣gainst goodnesse:) yet notwithstanding our Lord giueth vs the grace to be sorie for our infirmi∣ties and sinnes, being desirous to eschewe them, indeuoring to withstanding, and inforcing our selues with all our heartes to serue him: Let vs acknowledge the singular grace that hee vouch∣safeth vppon vs, and therewithall let vs learne to preace boldely vnto him, and not to stand a∣loofe vnderneath the hill as is sayd heere. And it is the same thing the Apostle sheweth in the Epistle to the Hebrewes when he sayth,* that wee be not come to the mountaine where there was nothing but fire, where nothing was heard but thundering and tempest, where lightninges flashed, where trumpets sounded, and where there was nothing but terriblenesse: wee be not Page  133 come to that mountaine: we bee not nowadaies called to bondage: but wee bee heere in the pre∣sence of our God, where we haue friendly felow∣ship with the Angels: wee be matched and knitte in companie with the holy fathers, and with the soules whom God hath already taken out of the world: and we be all called to the end we should with open mouth call vppon God as our father. Then if we bethink our selues hereof, let vs goe boldly to our God. [ 10]

Moreouer let vs alwayes beare in minde how it is tolde vs here, that Gods inioyning of vs to keepe his lawe, is by way of couenanting with vs. And that ought to giue vs the more •ourage. True it is that if God did simply vse his authori∣tie, euen in shewing vs our duetie towards him, and delt with vs by playne rigor, saying, yee must obey mee spyte of your teeth: yet ought wee to doe it, and it were not meete for vs to gainesay him. But now when wee see that Gods subdew∣ing [ 20] of vs vnto him is in such wise, as hee vouch∣safeth therewithall to be our sauiour and father, couenaunting as it were by mutual consent with vs, and binding himselfe to vs in requiring vs to come to serue him: ought it not to moue vs greatly, if wee were not woorse than blockishe? Ought it not to prouoke vs to giue our selues o∣uer to our GOD, seeing that hee vouchsafeth to ioyne with vs? yes: and therefore let vs al∣wayes marke well this word Couenaunt. And that [ 30] worde ought specially to touch vs to the quicke in these dayes, when wee compare the lawe with the Gospell. For if God in those dayes made a couenaunt with the people of olde time: it is in farre other taking with vs nowadayes,* that is to say, infinitly better. And for proofe thereof, the pledges of those times were earthly, and ser∣ued to keepe folke alwayes in feare. True it is that God did alwayes set to his mark, so as the auncient fathers had an eye to the Lorde Iesus [ 40] Christe,* and were not destitute of this warrant, that hee of his free goodnesse was their Sauiour: howbeit that was done but (as yee would say) aloofe. But nowadayes God vttereth his coue∣nant vnto vs so largely, that wee be sure of the forgiuenesse of our sins: and that although there be many thinges amisse in vs▪ although wee haue a number of incomberaunces by reason of our infirmities, although wee limpe and hang our winges, yea and although wee stumble and take many a fall: yet shall not all this let him to vse that inestimable goodnesse of his stil towards vs,* whereof hee speaketh by his prophet: name∣ly that hee will not deale roughly with vs, no more than a father doth with his children. See∣ing then that wee perceiue that our Lord of his free fauour accepteth our seruice though it bee vnperfect and full of faultes: wee ought to bee the more willing to giue our selues vnto him euen with all our power. And sith wee see it hath pleased him to stoope so lowe, as to shewe himselfe to be our father and teacher, dealing more familiarly with vs than hee did in old time with the fathers vnder the lawe: let not vs on our side be slothfull in comming to him, but let vs labor the more earnestly in his commaunde∣mentes, and striue to withdrawe our selues so from the worlde, as nothing may keepe vs from atteining to the holy vnion, which is conteined in the couenant that God hath made with vs on the behalfe of our Lorde Iesus Christ.

Now let vs kneele downe in the presence of our good GOD with acknowledgement of our sinnes, praying him to make vs feele them bet∣ter, that wee may mislyke of them in such wise as after wee haue condemned our selues for thē, our whole seeking may be to feele the mercie that hee hath promised vs, not onely in not im∣puting our faultes to vs, but also in correcting them by the power of his holy spirite, that wee may all liue in his obedience. And so let vs all say, Almightie God heauenly father, &c.