The sermons of M. Iohn Caluin, vpon the Epistle of S. Paule too the Ephesians. Translated out of French into English by Arthur Golding

The .xliiii. Sermon, which is the second vppon the sixth Chapter.

5. Seruauntes, bee obedient too such as are your maysters as tou∣ching the fleshe, vvith feare and trembling, in singlenesse of your hartes, as vntoo Christ,

6. Not vvith eye seruice, as men pleazers, but as the seruantes of Christ, dooing the vvill of God from the hart,

7. Seruing the Lord with good will, and not men:

8. Assuring your selues, that euery man, bee he bond or free, shall receyue of the Lord the good that he shall haue doone.

9. And you maysters, do the like vnto them, forbearing threates, assuring your selues that the Lord both of them and of you is i•• heauen, & that in him there is no respecting of the out∣ward appearance of persons.

WEe haue seene already, that besydes the generall rule which God hath giuen too all men, heere are also seuerall warnings, how euery man should behaue himselfe in his degree and calling. And we haue seen already what the husbandes ought too bee towardes their wyues, and how the wyues should behaue themselues towardes theyr husbandes: what gentlenesse parentes ought too vse towardes their children, and what subiection children ought too vse towardes their parentes. Now Saint Paule speaketh of Maysters and Seruantes, howbeeit, not of such seruantes as we haue now adayes, for at that tyme there were no seruantes that serued a yeere or two for wages, but they were hild in bondage for lyfe and death, and were in the same taking that they bee whom now adayes wee call bondslaues. But wee neede not too stand any longer as now too haue further knowledge of them. Yit notwith∣standing wee haue great cause too prayse God for taking away of such bondage from among men. For no doubt but it was too excessiue an authoritie which maysters had in those dayes ouer their seruantes. They hild them as brute beastes, and they had libertie too kill them

for euery fault. And in deede they had prisons in theyr houses to keepe them locked in the stocks, they racked them, they rent them in peeces, and (too bee short) they vsed them horribly, yea and euen beastly. Yit notwithstanding, bycause of mans naughtinesse, it was our Lordes wyll that this state should bee styll suffered. Moreouer, wee see that euen they which are auowed too haue lyued in the feare of God, and to haue excelled in his Church, left not too keepe bondmen or slaues in their houses, howbeeit, they vsed another manner of gentlenesse to∣wardes them, than the Infidels did, according as wee shall see heere in Saint Paules teaching.

Also there was a reason that constreyned maysters sometymes too vse the greater rigour towardes their slaues, bycause it was a com∣mon prouerb among them, that looke how many slaues they had, so many enemyes they had: and that was by reason of their holding of them in awe by extreme force and violence, as those are now adayes vppon the Sea, which are called Gallie slaues. And I haue alredy touched what & how excessiue o••trages were done vnto them. There was a great number of those bondfolke, and riche men had as it were halfe armies of them, insomuch that some had fyue thousand slaues in one house, and that was the way too haue ones throte cut fyue thou∣sand tymes, if there had not bin good heede taken too keepe them fet∣tered. And this came of sin, as one mischeef tolleth on another, vn∣tyll things bee come too vtter confuzion. But if wee consider what the ryght or authority of maysters was, wee will alwayes say, it was a thing vttterly ageinst all order of nature. For wee bee all fashyoned after the image of God, and therefore that a reasonable creature in whom God hath printed his marke, should bee put too such reproch, it was tootoo farre out of all square. But such are the fruites of the dis∣obedience and sin of our father Adam, that all things were turned top∣siteruie. Also on the other part, inasmuch as seruantes were in such subiection: it seemeth that if they could by any meanes plucke their neckes out of the collar, it ought too bee lawfull for them, and it was an honest excuce so too doo. But howsoeuer Seruantes fare, Saint Paule commaundeth them to obey their maysters, & too be subiect too them. In deede he dooth also exhort the maysters not too abuse the power that was giuen them, nor too thinke that the thing which was graunted them by the Lawe of man, was so ryghtfull and vnparciall before God, as they could not bee blamed for it. Saint Paule then

counselleth maysters too asswage the excesse of their superioritie: but yit will he haue their seruantes too submit themselues too it, and too beare the yoke that was so hard and heauy. Now it myght seeme that he did seruantes wrong therein, and that he should rather haue cried out ageinst the common abuse, that such outrage myght haue bin layd downe. But we haue two principles to remember to restreyne vs from attempting of any chaunge.

The one is, that forasmuch as it had bin Gods will too put mayn∣kynd intoo confuzion, and that all men both great and small should be put in mynd that Adam had peruerted the order of nature. Therfore S. Paul counselleth seruantes to beare such subiection, assuring them∣selues that it commeth of God, and therefore that they must take it pa∣ciently. The other is, that the Gospell serueth not too chaunge the common policies of the world, and too make Lawes that belong too the temporall state. It is trew that Kings, Princes, and Magistrates ought alwayes too aske counsell at Gods mouth, and too frame them∣selues vntoo his word: but yit for all that, our Lord hath giuen them libertie, too make such Lawes as they shall perceyue too bee meete and conuenient for the gouernment that is committed vntoo them, howbeeit they must call vppon God too giue them the spirit of wise∣dome and discretion, and bycause they bee not of abilitie too rule of themselues, they must take aduice and counsell at Gods woord. Yit notwithstanding, the doctrine of saluation, which is called the king∣dome of heauen, and the thinges that belong too the brydling of vs in this world, that men may knowe how too behaue themselues one toowardes another, are sundrye thinges. That therefore is the cause why Saint Paule left slauerye, bondage, or seruiship as it was.

And he exhorteth Seruants to doo their dewtie, in feare and trem∣bling, that is too say, with all lowelinesse and reuerence: yea and hee addeth further, with singlenesse of hart, which he matcheth ageinst all the fyne slyghts and shifts wheruntoo the seruants and slaues of that tyme were too much giuen, as is too bee seene in them that haue written of them, & haue set forth the maners and trade of lif which was in course and vse at those dayes. And let vs mark first of all, that S. Paul thinks it not ynough for seruants too seeke the benefyte & profit of their maisters, and to be willing to obey them, and too be foreward in executing whatsoeuer is commaunded them: but he requyreth re∣uerence

aboue all things, as I sayde afore. Let Seruants vnderstand, that although they should not bee inforced, nor chastized with whip∣ping when they doo amisse, but that they had gentle and meeke ma∣sters: yit notwithstanding they ought too beare paciently the state wherin they bee, assuring themselues that God alloweth of it, and that the superioritie which their maysters haue ouer them, how hard and greeuous so euer it be, is neuerthelesse ordeyned and stablished of God. And that is the cause why he setteth downe the woord Singlenesse. For wee bee ouer wittie in seeking our owne aduauntage, and there is none of vs all which is not a great doctor in matters concerning his owne profit. Why should such a one (say wee) haue this prerogatiue a∣boue mee? What reason is there that I should bee bound too him in that▪ Take mee the handicrafts men, that neuer knew word of lear∣ning, and deale with them in dayly matters, and in things that may make with them, and they bee so skilfull in debating their cace, that yee would take them too bee all men of lawe. Forasmuch then as men are so wyly in seeking their owne commoditie and profit, too the hinde∣rance of others: Saint Paule dooth purposely set downe singlenesse of hart, which serueth too sift all affections, and too ouerthrowe all things that men can deuyze too hinder themselues from dooing of their dewties.

Now he setteth downe purposely (these woords:) As seruing the Lord: and it is the cheef foundation that wee haue too leane vntoo, when the cace concerneth the dooing of any dewtie towards men. For if wee sticke too creatures, wee wil say, Came wee not all out of the Ark of Noe? Why should he bee better esteemed than I? Is it meete that I should bee put vnder his feete? what reason is that: And all the rest of the woords which wee heare euery day. For wee haue skill ynough too alledge exemption, and so little doo wee think our selues bound vnto others, that wee think all others bound vntoo vs. The mark therfore that al mē shoote at, is, that euery man would be a Lord, and no man admit any subiection. And so it would needs followe, that wee should bee as wyld beasts, or rather as doggs and Catts (as men say), vntill wee knew that God lyketh well of the seruis that wee doo too creatures. If wee bee not throughly perswaded of that, wee may well make some fayre countenances, and please men: but out mynd shall neuer bee ryght and well dispozed, vntill wee bee come to the poynt that wee know, that our Lord accepteth our seruis.

But there is yit one other cause that myght hinder vs, or rather coole vs in the discharge of our dewtie towards other men: and that is, mens vnthankfulnesse. For they whom wee pleasure, doo commonly 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vs no thank, but rather think that wee bee made for none other purpose but too serue them. When wee see them requyte our seruis so euill, it spyteth vs: and it were ynough too make vs leaue of altoo∣gither. Now then it is needfull for vs too come backe too that which Saint Paule telleth vs: namly that God is aboue all degrees, and that he hauing superioritie ouer the world, will haue euery man im∣ploy him self with all humblenesse, and that all subiections which he hath ordeyned in the world, too remayne firme and vnuiolable. This is the effect of the thing that Saint Paule telleth vs heere.

Now first of all wee haue too mark the generall article which I come now to touch: which is, that whē we haue superiours ouer vs, we must not obey them as inforced, but bycause God hath ordeyned them, and there is no preheminence but of him, as Saint Paule declareth to the Romanes. It is trew that there he speaketh expressely of Princes and Magistrates: but yit for all that, it extendeth too all authoritie, as too that which parentes haue ouer their children, husbandes ouer wyues, and Maysters ouer their seruantes. Therefore wee must bee fully perswaded of this, that Gods intent is not that all men should bee shuffled toogither, (as it woulde come too passe, if there were no re∣streynt,) but that some should rule and haue authoritie too commaund others, and that they which are vnder them, should obey. Then is it an vnreuocable sentence of God, wheruntoo wee must hold our selues and bee contented. For if wee protest our selues too bee willing too obey God, and in the meane whyle will needs remoue all order that he hath set among vs: all that wee speake wyth our mouth is but hypocri∣sie. Therefore wee must gyue a proofe of our humilitie too God∣ward, by our willyng and easye bearing of mans yoke which he hath layd vppon vs as it were his owne handes. Let that bee for one poynt.

Now (as I sayd) this comprehendeth all subiection, as well of peo∣ple towardes Princes and Magistrates, of children towardes theyr parentes, and of wyues towardes their husbandes: as also of seruantes towardes their maysters. And when wee once haue that, it wyll bee easie for vs too withstand all the trubbles and incomberances that hin∣der vs, and turne vs away from our dewties. For what is the cause

that wee cannot submit our selues too Gods wyll? As I sayd, all these disputings are vnauaylable and fond, when a man shall say, Why am I bound too such a one? Why shoulde he holde his foote vppon my throte? Who hath giuen him more authoritie than mee? But seeyng God hath told vs that he will haue it so: it behoueth vs too holde our peace. Therfore if wee bee fully perswaded of it, wee shall be too fro∣ward if wee shewe not by our deedes that wee bee willing too please our God, and too fulfill his good wyll. For if a mayster haue a great multitude of folke in his house, he shall bee of sufficient authoritie too appoynt whom he listeth too haue the ouersyght of it, and they must be obeyed. A Prince hath his officers, and they must commaund, and o∣thers must herken too them, and simply obey them. And what is too bee doone then, when our God who is the souerein Lord and father, & hath the ryght of preheminence and dominion ouer vs, will haue vs too obey such as he hath appoynted, without making any reply? For what can it boote too say the contrarie? Therefore (as I sayde) let vs print this counsell of Saint Paules throughly in our hartes, That when wee doo our dewtie willingly and vnfeynedly towardes those whom God hath set in authoritie ouer vs, wee serue God himself. And soothly, without that mynd, all the vertewes that wee can haue in out∣ward shewe too the worldward, shalbee but smoke, as yee shall see a number of men that pretend maruelously well, insomuch that they whō they serue, shall bee contented tootoo well with them. But although such dealing bee allowed among men: yit is it nothing woorth before God. And why? For God will bee honored at our handes: He wyll haue men too inioy theyr ryght in such wyse, as nother he bee forgot∣ten, nor they as it were defaced. Therefore if wee will but onely obey men, and despyze the thing which God will haue too bee as an accep∣table sacrifyze too himselfe: what a dealing were that? Then let vs tend alwayes too him, and dedicate our selues too him. And foras∣much as it is hys will that wee should bee vnderlyngs, let vs beare that yoke willyngly, and with a free and vnslauishe or vnconstreyned mynd.

And for the same cause Saint Paule sayeth expresly, Let not your seruice bee eye seruice, as though yee sought too pleaze men. And in very deede, they that play their pageantes so fayre (as they say) seeke eyther recompence, or else too bee well interteyned and fed with the fattest, or else too haue greater wages, and afterward too haue

some extraordinarye gift or reward when occasion serueth. That is the thing that men hunt for, when they haue not an eye vntoo God. But Saint Paule telleth vs, that although they whom we serue be so froward, as wee cannot tell how too content them, and wee haue not any hope that euer wee shall get the valew of a button at their hands: yit wee must neuerthelesse performe our dewties towards God. And heere wee haue too gather, that in all things which God commaun∣deth vs, wee must not onely imploy our eyes, our feete, our handes, and our armes (as they say:) but wee must begin with the inwar•• affection. Therefore when as Saint Paule sayeth, not vvith eye seruice: he sheweth vs, that if wee desyre that our Lord should allowe our serui••••s as good and lawfull▪ our hart must go foremost, and guyde all our members, so as there bee no counterfetting: accor∣dingly as it is sayd, that he regardeth faythfulnesse, that is too say, that wee should deale soundly, playnly, and substancially. Thus are all gay showes quyte dasht. For (as I sayd) there is grea••e pre••ence of vertew in many men, but God accounteth it euery whit as nothing, and in deede it is but hipo••risie. Therfore if wee will begin too serue God well, let vs learne too leaue dubblenesse: and that wee may buyld substan••ially, let vs alwayes lay that foundation, accordingly also as wee see how he had leuer too bee loued than feared. Trew it is that wee owe him reuerence, and that wee ought too tre••ble at his maiestie▪ but yit when he sheweth vs the cheef thing which he ••••quy∣reth, and which pleaseth him best, he sayeth, What is it, O Israel, that thou shalt fynd in my Lawe, but that thou lo••e mee, and sticke too mee? Seeing that our Lord requyreth this willing affection, and that wee should resort too him with a free and franke hart: thinke wee that he accepteth aught at our handes, when wee come too him grudgingly & repyningly, & yit pretend too maruelous earnes••nes to∣wardes men? Howsoeuer the world go, wee will alwayes haue this backe nooke in vs, that wee would bee exempted from the obeying of God. Therfore we must take pleasure in his seruice, and it must be our ioy and delyght, so as our bondage must be more sweete and lee••∣some too vs than all liberty, yea and than all the Realmes and King∣domes of the world.

And Saint Paule sayeth expresly, Maysters as touching the flesh, bycause that among other ••lyghtes of Satan wherewith he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 too trubble the world in old tyme, and also too make the doctrine of

the Gospell hated: he did put this heresie intoo a number of mens heades, that if wee bee once spirituall, wee must no more bee subiect too any worldly and transitorie policie, nother is that the state of Gods children. And wee also haue seene in our tyme a sort of seditious and mad headed people, which haue indeuered too abolish all principali∣ties too take away taxes and impostes, and too make euery man mayster of himselfe, lyke myce in the chaffe, as they say. And they grounded themselues vppon this foundation, that in asmuch as God hath adopted vs too bee his children, and the world is now renewed, too the intent wee should bee graffed intoo the bodye of our Lord Ie∣sus Christ: it is a thing ageinst reason, and contrary too all equytie, yea and euen ageinst the honour of God, that vnbeleeuers should reigne ouer vs, or that they which name themselues faythfull, should 〈◊〉〈◊〉 souerintie ouer their brethren and neyghboures. Lo how the d••uell laboreth too driue it intoo mens heades, that the Gospell ••on∣foundeth all order in the world, too the intent that men should hate it & abhorre it. Agein, too say that there is no man better than other, is a pleasant speech, and very fit too intyce a great number of folke. S. Paule therefore sayeth purposely, that although maysters 〈…〉〈…〉 temporall authoritie, and that their superioritie dooth 〈…〉〈…〉 the fleshe, that is too say, this present world, and this transitorye lyfe: yit must they not bee defrauded of their ryght, nother did our Lorde Iesus Christ come too make a confuzed equalitie heere, so as it should not bee knowen who is great, and who is little, but too make e∣uery man too hold himselfe quyietly in his calling, without looking lo••tyly, as it is sayd in the Psalme. The way too make vs humble and meeke, is too haue an eye euery of vs too his owne calling, so as the person that is aduaunced too authoritie and honour aboue others, bee not puffed vp with pryde and presumption for it, but rather abace him∣selfe before God, assuring himselfe that he is dubble bound vntoo him, for exalting him after that sort•• and the meaner sort maynteyne them∣selues in their meannesse, without vsurping that which belongeth not too them. Lykewise the way for fathers too haue such obedience of their children as is requisite, is too treate them gently? that husbands also rule their wyues with all concord and freendlinesse: that Princes abuse not their subiectes as wretched beastes: and that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 de∣uoure not their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 too much: and therwithall, that such as are the meanest sort too the worldward, consider that God hath set them

in that state, as though he had appoynted them their place there with his owne hand. Therfore let not the common sort aduaunce them selues, but bee contented with their state.

That (say I) is the cause why Saint Paule setteth downe this say∣ing expresly, as touching the flesh. It was not too bring maysters in contempt for reygning ouer their slaues, but too preuent all obiec∣tions that men myght alledge, when they would seeke priuiledge too exempt themselues from obedience too God, and too all order that he hath set. And therewith all hee dooeth vs too vnderstande also, that the same subiection is no preiudice too the faythfull, but that they may continew still in full libertie, as in respect of their soules. For the di∣uell vseth that colour also. What (sayeth he)? Seeing that our Lord Iesus Christ hath shed his blud too purchace vs freedome, why should wee not continew in it? Yea, but Saint Paule answereth theruntoo, (as he hath doone with more large circumstance in the fifth Chapter of the first Epistle too the Corinthians:) that the bondage which wee yeeld too our superiours, is alonly as touching the flesh, and that our soules and consciences ceasse not too bee alwayes frank and free before God. And therfore it is a chyldish ob••ection, too say, that seeing our Lord Iesus Christ hath set vs free, why should men make vs bond? He hath not set vs free as touching our bodyes, for it is his will that there should bee principalities and Lordshippes still in the world: which cannot bee, but that some must be subiect, and o∣thersome haue preheminence and authoritie. For asmuch then as our Lord hath so distinguished the twoo gouernmentes of the bodie and of the soule, and that the one is spirituall, and too bee gouerned by his word, as in respect of our walking before him too atteyne to the king∣dome of heauen: but when it commeth too the behauing of ou•• selues towards men, which are of our owne bodie, then wee must learne too frame our selues too all good policie: let vs assure our selues that yit for all that, our state is no whit woorse ••efore God, than if wee were Kings and Princes, and all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••rembled before vs. Yea and the things which wee doo hart••ly in seruing of creatures, doo turne so much the more to the exalting & magnifying of God. For needs must he bee a man of noble mynd, which can stoope so lowe as too obey willingly, (not regarding) how great, how skilfull, nor how riche so 〈…〉〈…〉

chaunge their state: for wee see how Saint Paule hath cut of all occa∣sion of such dealing. And therfore let vs learne by that which is told vs heere, that first and formest wee must haue God as it were fastened before our eyes, and knowe that he hath set vs in this world too serue one another in such sort, as wee must notwithstanding liue toogither in all humilitie, and not disdeyne too doo our dewtie euen towards such as are not so sufficient as wee could wish, & as wee take our selues too bee. Bee wee once at that poynt, it is certein that wee will euery of vs submit our selues willingly according too the state that God calleth vs too, and hold our selues in the place where he hath put vs.

Now if Saint Paule would that the Slaues of his tyme should be so obedient too their maysters, there is lesse excuce in these dayes, for Seruants that take wages. Let vs compare the one with the other. Those poore soules (as I tolde you before) were handled so rigorou∣sly, that their maysters myght imprizon them, put them in the stocks, racke them, dismember them, mayme them, yea and kill them. It was a greeuous cace, and yit were they bound too it for lyfe and death. There was no limitation of terme but only among the Iewes, among whom God had appoynted a terme. But the common and generall lawe of all nations was, that bond folks with their children should continew bond for euer, so as the father had no more ryght too his owne chyld, that a horse (as yee would say) or any other beast had ouer the young ones that came of their seede. And was not such a state as bad as a hundred deathes? Yis: for man dooth alwayes co∣uet libertie, and too take his ease, and too eate his bread with quiet∣nesse: and those wretched slaues had not a bit of bread at their owne appoyntment. As touching their persons, they were woorse than Captyues, as I sayd afore. And yit for all this, God willeth and commaundeth streytly, that they should beare this state paciently, and performe their dewties faythfully, and fall too it with a free and cheer∣ly hart. Now what is too bee sayd of hyred seruants, which may warne themselues away, and haue their wages payd them when they haue serued out their yeere, and are vsed and treated much more gent∣ly and liberally than those poore slaues were? For they were fayne too labour euery one in his trade and craft, they earned their bread, they drunk water many a tyme scarce their fill, and they were shet vp in Cabanes, where they were inforced too doo their taskes. Then if Serua••tes now adaye•• can not stoope so lowe as too beare the state

that God hath layd vppon their backes: it is certein that they be too∣too vnexcuzable. As much is to be sayd of subiectes towardes their Magistrates. Therfore inasmuch as we see that our Lord spareth vs: wee bee so much the more bound too the subiection which S. Paule speakes of heere.

Furthermore wee haue too wey yit agein the woordes where he speaketh of franke and free harted willingnesse. For it is impossible for vs too fynd any tast or sauour in our state or calling, of what sorte so euer it bee, except wee knowe it bee for our benefyte and welfare. For we can reape no great profit of the seruing of Creatures. Wee must therefore resort alwayes too our God, and ame at this marke, namely that seeyng he hath bin so good and gracious too vs as too set vs in this world, and too maynteyne vs heere, and too shewe himselfe so good a father towardes vs, that all that euer wee haue, dooth come of him: wee must shewe the reuerence which wee beare too his maie∣stie, and labour too please him in such wyse, as wee sticke not too bee subiect too men, nor take it in greefe or in scorne. So shall our state bee greatly sweetened, when wee know that God accepteth it in good woorth at our handes.

And that also is the cause why he setteth these things as one ageinst another: not too shewe any contrarietie, but rather too accord them toogither. For he sayeth, that wee must serue God on the behalfe of our maysters, with all willingnesse: and afterwarde setteth downe Gods will on the other syde. Then is it a very good melodie which answereth very well, that wee should know how it is Gods wyll, that seruantes should obey their maysters. And this will of Gods must dispatch all obiections that myght hinder vs or stop vs. When the diuell tempteth vs too thinke any thing straunge that is commaunded vs, he intyceth vs too our destruction. Now then, let vs take Gods wyll as our souereine welfare and perfect happinesse, assuring our sel∣ues, that howsoeuer wee bee handled at his hand, yit he loueth vs styll, and hath an eye too that which is good for vs. Let that serue for one poynt. And if wee haue such perswasion well rooted in our hartes, it is certein that this willingnesse which S. Paule speaketh of will fol∣low with it, so as wee shall fynde no lothnesse in our selues, too grudge ageinst it, as wee see they doo which are inforced to doo things ageinst their wils: for they grunt at it, and although they dare not bee a∣knowen of it, yit their hartes are fell, and there is nothing but rancor

in them. Therefore Saint Paule setteth downe willingnesse, that is too say, that wee should doo all thinges with a good will and freely. And so shall we make our state lee••some and pleasant. For as for them that doo nothing but by force and constreynt: they cannot eschew the necessitie of obeying, and yit in the meane whyle they bee tormenters too themselues, and woorke themselues more spyte then they could re∣ceyue by all the sorrowes that they can alledge. For when wee bee handled roughly by our maysters, superiors, and Magistrates: yit if wee bee sure that God accepteth our seruice, it asswageth all the greef that wee can conceyue, so that when wee haue doone our dewtie, wee take our repaste with praysing of God, wee take our rest as a releefe that he giueth vs for our infirmities, and besydes this wee wyll euer haue an eye too the heauenly lyfe, and take corage at it too walke on, though wee haue neuer so many stoppes. Yee see then that Gods chil∣dren shall alwayes make a hundred tymes better market, when they doo their dewtie in seruing God freely: than they that go too it as though nyne men hild them, (as they say) and discharge it very coldly with grudging and repyning.

Furthermore let vs marke, that Saint Paule heere bringeth vs three tymes backe vntoo God and too our Lord Iesus Christ: and that is too rid vs of this imagination which wee myght conceyue, that if other men misbehaue themselues towardes vs, the bond is broken too vs, and therefore that wee may exempt our selues from subiection if wee can. As for example, if a seruant haue a mayster that is too ri∣gorous and froward, he thinkes with himselfe, why? What doo I? And so, seruantes thinke themselues halfe quit, if their maisters per∣forme not their dewties towardes them. But S. Paule declareth ex∣pressely, that although maysters be so cruell as they doo by no meanes spare such as are vnder their hand: yit is not their superioritie dimi∣nished therby. Trew it is, that in respect of themselues such maisters are vnwoorthie too haue authoritie, as wee shall see hereafter. But yit for all that, he that is the inferiour must holde himselfe styll vnder the yoke, bycause he sees that God hath so ordeyned it. That is the effect of the thing which wee haue too beare in mynd.

And on the other syde, Saint Paul forgetteth not seruants, that he should not procure them their right, and that which belongeth too them. For he commaundeth maysters too doo the lyke too them, not as ma••e and matelyke (as they say) but so as maisters consider, that al∣though

though the ciuill lawes lay the brydle looce in their necks, yit dooth not God graunt them leaue too doo what they list, but speaketh as well for the one as for the other: which thing wee must beare well in mynd. Now for the maysters he giueth this rule, namely that they must looke well about them how they rule, bycause they haue a com∣mon mayster in heauen, who accepteth no persons. As touching Seruants, he sayeth, my freends, though yee haue not such recom∣pence in this worlde as yee would desyre: let it suffyze you that God accounteth you not as slaues. It is trewe that yee bee despyzed too the worldwarde, but you haue your inheritaunce in heauen, and our Lord accepteth your seruis, and yee shall haue your reward payd you as well as if yee were Kinges and Princes. That is the thing which wee haue too remember heere. In deede the tyme will not serue for the whole discourse of it: but yit wee see, that first Saint Paule ment not too currye fauor with the greate and riche sort, by maynteyning their ryght ageinst their slaues: & also that he laboreth on the other syde, too bring those too lowelinesse and meeknesse, which otherwyse myght haue aduaunced themselues too much. And the same order ought too bee obserued by such as haue charge in the Churche, & are ministers of Gods word: namely that they spare nother great nor small, but tell euery man his dewtie. For sith there is no accep∣ting of persons before God: his woord must bee handled roundly, and wee must not bee dismayed at the hyghnesse and authoritie of such as are in estimation among men. For seeing it is God that speaketh, his woord must pull downe all loftinesse, according as Saint Paule speaketh in the second too the Corinthians, where he sayth, that com∣mission is giuen too all Shepherds and ministers of the Gospell, too pull downe the pryde of men, and too subdew their ouer loftinesse, when they will needs exalt themselues ageinst our Lord Iesus Christ, and step vp ageinst his doctrine, so as they wil not submit themselues too his yoke. The way then for ministers of Gods woord too discharge their office faythfully, is too exhort the meaner sort too doo their dewtie, and the poore and oppressed too beare their state paciently without re∣plying, howsoeuer they fare, and without grudging ageinst men, by∣cause that in so dooing they should rebell ageinst God.

But on the other syde also he telleth the greate ones, that they must not be as beasts that deuoure others, and eate them vp, but that they must behaue themselues vpryghtly. And in deede euen the heathen

men themselues, when they listed too speake according too naturall equitie, declared that euen at that tyme it became not the maysters too abuze the authoritie which they had ouer their seruants: and these were their woords, that bondmen and slaues ought to be hild as Hyre∣linges that were interteyned by the day. Sith the Paymins spake so, without hauing any other vnderstanding than their moother wit auorded them: what excuce is there now adayes for such as are tray∣ned vp in Gods schoole, where there is a brotherhood betweene both greate and small, and where the maysters ought too become fellowlie with their seruants, bycause they haue all one hope of the endlesse lyfe? If they that haue power aboue others, will needs set their feete vppon their throts by abu••ing the ryght of their authoritie: what a thing is it? So then, so much the more ought both the one and the other sort of vs, too think how too walk in our owne state and calling: so as the in∣feriour sort grudge not that our Lord suffereth them too bee abandoned too so many wrongs too this worldward, and too bee so mocked and scorned: but that although they should indure a hundred tymes as much, yit they repyne not ageinst God, bycause it were but a kicking ageinst the spurre: And the greater sort also doo the lyke, that is too say, that they consider, that the neerer God hath drawen them too him∣selfe in giuing them preheminence, the more will he also haue them too fashyon themselues too his image and lykenesse. And what shall wee fynd in God but goodnesse? according as wee see that throughout all the Scripture he is called the fountaine of all lowelinesse, gentlenesse, and mercy. And therefore let such as are in degree of honour thinke cheefely theruppon. For it is certein, that if they discharge not their dewtie, they shall pay full deerely for that they haue bin so honorable in the world, and yit abuzed the singular benefyte of God. And (as I sayd afore) bycause both the one and the other are hard too bee brought too conformitie: insomuch that they which are oppressed, cannot re∣freyne grudging, but are prouoked too breake all bondes: Let them be hild in awe by Gods woord, and by earnest exhortations. And let the great ones also bee subdewed, that they forget not God as they are woont too doo. For they ouershoote themselues so farre, as to thinke they bee no more mortall men. And it is certein, that if men bethinke themselues well of their owne state, and view themselues in the per∣sons of the meanest, it will leade them too humilitie. So then, Gods woord must haue his course in this cace, too brydle as well the one as

the other, that wee may lyue in such sort euery man according too his calling, as God may bee quietly obeyed, and wee in herkening too his voyce, desyre nothing but too performe our dewtie towardes him, and towardes all creatures, vntyll wee bee come too the euerlastyng kingdome, where wee shall bee parttakers both of his glory, and of his maiestie, and of all the good things that are in him.

Now let vs fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God, with acknowledgment of our sinnes, praying him to voutsafe to touch vs with trew and lyuely repentance, that wee may bee so sorie for offen∣ding of him, as it may make vs too hate our vyces, and too craue par∣don of them at his hand, too the intent he may gouerne vs by his holy spirit, and make vs too liue according too his holy commaundements, and beare with our weakenesse, vntyll hee haue rid vs quyte and cleane of it. And so let vs all saye, Almyghtie God heauenly fa∣ther. &c.

Notes

• Math. 13. c. 24. d. 31.
• Rom. 13. a. 1.
• Psal. 101. b. 6.
• Deut. 10. c. 12.
• Psal. 131. ••. ••.
• Exod. 21. ••. 1.
• Deut. 10. d. 17. &. Rom. 2. b. 11.
• 2. Cor. 10. b. 5.