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 seuenth Sermon vpon the first Chapter.

17. I pray for you, that the God of our Lord Iesus Christ, the fa∣ther of glorie, giue you the spirit of wisedome and reuelati∣on, too haue the knoweledge of him:

18 That is too wit, too haue the eyes of your vnderstanding in∣lightened, too the end ye may know what the hope is which you ought too haue of his calling, and what the riches are of the glory of his heritage among the Saintes.

ALl men haue naturallye some vnderstan∣ding. Not that it sheweth itself as soone as they bee borne: but in processe of tyme all haue some discretion of good and euill. And for that cause are thei reasonable crea∣tures. But the vnderstanding which wee haue of nature, is not ynough too bring vs too the kingdome of heauen. For wee stop farre short when matte••s that concerne the heauenly life doo come in question: Wee see that euery man hath wit in matters and affayres of the world: and euery man will looke about him. Agein although dyuers could fynd in their harts that their owne consciences were dead: yit notwithstanding God hath so graued a kynd of feeling in their harts, as our liues must needs bee brydled, and euen the wickeddest and woorst natured of vs all, shall of force haue some remorse or hartbyting, and bee constreyned whether they will or no, too allow the good, and condemne the euill. Trew it is that when they haue committed any fault, they will labour too hyde it with vayne excuces. But if a man aske them whether murther, extortion, robbe∣rie, whoredome, deceyt, and forswearing bee vertewes or no: thy will say, they bee vyces woorthy too bee condemned. Euerie man will talke so. For it is Gods will that there should bee such a knowledge printed in mans harte, too the end that all should bee condemned with∣out excuce, and bee inforced too bee thir owne iudges. But (as I said afore) this is not ynough too leade vs vntoo God, and too open vs the kingdome of heauen in such wise, as wee may knowe how too bee sa∣ued,

or howe too call vppon God. Then are wee starke blynd in that behalf: for our insyght reacheth not beyond the world. Therfore God must bee fayne too woorke in vs, and too giue vs new eyes too spye out the things that are requisite too our saluation. And that is the cause why S. Paule prayeth vntoo God heere too giue them inlyghtened eyes. Wherin he presuppozeth that men haue alredie some enterance, not too atteyne so hygh as is requisyte: but too haue some seede of Re∣ligion in them, and too perceyue that there is a God: Furthermore God must bee fayne too giue a greater lyght, and such a one as wee be quyte voyd of, by reason of Adams sin: for wee bee plundged in such darknesse, that we go cleane awk frō the ryght way, till God haue rea∣ched vs his hand. Yee see then that the thing which is conteyned heere, is that God hath doone more for vs in giuing vs the eyes of vn∣derstanding, than in making vs men, and putting vs intoo the world? bycause that therby he reformeth vs, and giueth vs a cleere and sure insyght, as to those whom he hath chozen. For it is a priuiledge which is peculiar too his owne children, and not common too all men. And truely wee see that when God vttereth his power, it is not knowen but onely too such as haue inlyghtened eyes, according too this saying of Moyses,* 1.1 Thy God hath not giuen thee a hart too vnderstand, nor eyes too see, euen vntoo this day. Wee knowe that miracles were wrought in the sight of the people: yit notwithstanding the passing of the red sea, the issuing of the water out of the rocke, the falling of the Manna downe from heauen, the thicke cloud by day, and the fiery pil∣lar by night, the abundaunt comming of the fleshe vntoo them, and the horrible punishments that God layd vppon the rebells, and vppon such as had giuen full scope too their owne lustes, all this geere the people vnderstoode not. Moyses telling them that they had neede too referre themselues too God, that they might bee inlightened by his spirit, sayeth, I see that euen vnto this houre Gods gracious dooings haue bin buryed among you through your vnthankfulnesse:* 1.2 but that is bycause men are blockish, and doo neuer vnderstand aught that be∣longeth too their welfare, till God haue wrought in them. Therefore it standeth you on hand too rid your selues of all ouerweenyng, and too craue vnderstanding at Gods hand, acknowledging your selues too bee vnable too reache so hygh as too iudge ryghtly of Gods woorkes, and too profite your selues by them, vntill he haue gyuen you a hea∣uenly syght in your myndes. This is the summe of the thinges that

wee haue too marke in this streyne.

Now hereupon it is easye too gather, how the wretched world hath bin beguyled by the opinion of freewill, which hath bin put into their heades. For the Papistes will wel ynough graunt, that without Gods grace we cannot walk as we ought to doo: but yit they say therwithal, that we may well further Gods grace by our owne freewill: & so they make a medly of thē togither. Whē they mynd to defyne freewill, they say it is a mingled thing, so as wee haue reason and wit too chooze the good, and too refuze the euill, and that therwithall we haue also power and abilitie, to performe and put in execution the thing that wee haue purposed. But wee see after what manner S. Paule speaketh heere of mamies reason, which they terme the Queene that ouerruleth and brydleth all our thoughtes and deedes. He sheweth that shee is starke blynd, vntill God haue renewed hir, and not that he dooth but supply our wantes where any bee, as though there were some peece of power in vs. Had it bin so, S. Paule would haue sayd, that God furthereth our light, or that he increaseth it, or that he addeth too it whatsoeuer it hath neede of. Howbeit he speaketh not so: but he sayeth, God giue you inlyghtened eyes: shewing therby that it is a free gift, & not only that our Lord must bee fayne too beare with our infirmities, and too put some further portion theruntooo: but also that we being blynd can see nothing at all, till he haue opened our eyes, and that wee bee guy∣ded and gouerned by the sayd manifestation of his holy spirit, which wee haue touched heertoofore. And now forasmuch as men runne al∣wayes flinging ouer the feeldes, & buzie their heades about many vn∣profitable things: S. Paule sheweth vs wherto we ought too apply all wholy both our vnderstāding & wit, namely about the seeking how too knowe what the hope of our calling is. I haue told you alreadye, that men are as yee would say, borne to curiositie, and that they roue & raunge, and frame many wicked gazes (in their heades:) & that is the cause why many men doo martir themselues out of measure,* 1.3 euer lerning, a••d neuer atteyning too the knowledg of the truth, as sayeth S. Paule. Therfore let vs mark well, that all the trew knowledge which wee must seeke, is too atteyne to the hope wheruntoo God hath called vs. For the scripture serueth not too feede vs with vayne and superfluous thinges: but too edifie vs too our welfare: that is too wit, to make vs perceyue Gods goodnesse, that wee myght be ioyned vntoo him, and he bee our trew happinesse. And hereuppon wee may

gather also, that vntill such tyme as our Lord haue inlightened vs by his holy Spirit, wee can find nother waye nor path too come neere the heauenly lyfe, no nor so much as gesse what it meaneth. Wherfore it is for our behoofe, that our Lord should put vs in possession of our saluation, by the power of his holy spirit. I told you heertoofore how that fayth serueth too giue vs an enterance intoo the kingdome of hea∣uen, and intoo the heritage that is purchased for vs by our Lord Iesus Christ, and that God must bee fayne too giue it vs by his holy spirit. Then sith it is so, let vs marke that wee haue neede, not only too haue ••he Gospell preached vntoo vs, but also that God bore our eares, so as wee may hearken too the things that are conteyned in the same, and he open our eyes too see the thinges that he sheweth vs: and too be short, that he may both begyn all, and bring all too passe. Howbeit for as much as men (as I saide afore) doo by their fond imaginations take more vpon them than they ought too doo, and on the other syde despize Gods giftes: S. Paule magnifyeth heere the hope whereof he had made mention before, saying: VVhat the richesse of the glorye of his heritage are among the Saintes. No doubt but that when there 〈◊〉〈◊〉 any speaking of God, and of our Lorde Iesus Christ, wee will say, ••••ey be high thinges: howbeit that is but too exempt our selues from ••••em, if wee coulde scape: soo as wee coulde bee contented to knowe ••ightnought of the things that concerne our saluation. Wee bee vn∣••aciable when any body feedes vs with vanities and leazings: but if God call vs too his schoole, wee shrinke backe as muche as wee can ••ossibly, yea and wee set this afore vs as a shielde, that wee bee rude, ••nd that wee haue but a smal and ouer grosse vnderstanding, & that the secretes of Gods word are too deepe and incomprehensible for vs. We haue skyl inough too say so: and yit is al but hypocrisie and feyned∣nesse. And for proofe therof men wyl alwayes iudge after their owne liking, so as if any thing be propounded to them frō out of Gods word: Is it so, say they? And howe is that possible? They reason, they scan of it. Beholde, it is God that speaketh, and yit wyll not they without gainsaying, receiue the thinges that are shewed them in the name of God. Wee see then that they doo but lye, in saying that they bee dull and grosse witted: for they thinke the cleane contrarye. The starkest idiots (say I) and the veryest doltes of them al will styl bee wizer than God. Ageine, on the other syde, what causeth the Gospel too bee des∣pized, but that a number of per•• and fantastical felowes, thinke it too

bee but a simple doctrine, and that it hath not finenesse and suttletie ynough for them? So much the more neede therefore haue wee too bethinke vs of the thing that is shewed vs heere by S. Paule: which is, that the glorious heritage wheruntoo God hath called vs, is an in∣fi••ite riches. For besydes that wee bee nothing else but myre and rottennesse, s•••••• shetteth vs out from all hope of saluation. And so long as wee bee Gods enemyes, what can wee looke for at his hand but vtter confuzion? Yit notwithstanding it pleaseth him too make vs fellowes with the Angells of heauen, yea and more than that too: for we be made members of our Lord Iesus Christ, to the end we should bee parttakers of his lyfe and glory. How excellent riches are these? When wee shall haue imployed all our wittes about them, ought wee not too bee tootoo much ashamed, seyng that God hath vttered so in∣estimable goodnesse towardes vs? So then, S. Paule too waken vp mennes drowzinesse, and to rebuke and correct their vnthankfulnesse, for that they commend not the hundreth part of Gods grace, as they ought too doo: telleth vs that if wee thinke better vppon it, wee shall fynde that his speaking after that maner, is too stirre vs vp too pray God too inlyghten vs, bycause that without him, wee should not bee able too come any thing neere fayth, nor neere any knowledge at all.

Thus wee see now S. Paules meaning, which hee pursueth and continueth much more in adding, what the excellencie of his power is in vs that haue beleeued. And ageyn, according too the effectual voorking of the strength of his power. He gathereth and heapeth vp many woordes heere toogither, which import all one thing. Ne∣uerthelesse it is as it were a correcting of mans leawdnesse, which la∣bour too deface Gods goodnesse as much as they can, insomuch that wheras they bee not able too deface it altogither, they diminish it in such wyse as it appeereth not, as if it had but a sparke wheras it ought to haue full light. But by the way let vs mark, that wheras S. Paule setteth downe here the Saintes and beleeuers: he meaneth the faith∣full whom God hath already called too him. And therein he sheweth that euen when wee haue fayth, all our holynesse proceedeth of Gods mercy, and men bring nothing of their owne growing. Truely this ti∣tle of Saintes is very honorable: but yit it behoueth vs to go to the wel∣spring of holynesse: for in our selues we haue nothing but vnclennesse. Gods children must nedes be holy: yit must they consider from whēce they haue it, whether they haue of their owne purchace and polli••ie, or

of Gods gift. S. Paule sheweth here, that the prayse thereof ought too bee yeelded simply vntoo God.* 1.4 For it is not for nought that he sayeth so oft, I am holy. And agein, wee know that Iesus Christ was sancti∣fied for vs, too the inten••e that wee might bee washed and scoured from all our vnclenenesse. Thus much concerning the first poynt.

Afterward followeth the cause of our fayth: namely that men atteyne it not otherwise, thā by the drawing of a secret motion,* 1.5 according as it is sayd, ••hat we must learne of God, not only bicause his woord contei∣neth all wisedome, and God doth thereby teach vs faithfully the things that are for our behoofe: but also bicause our Lord expoundeth it more∣ouer, saying, he that heareth it of my father. He himself spake it,* 1.6 which was the wisedome of God: and yit he sheweth that the things which ••e vttered with his mouth, could not preuaile, except God spake with∣•••• a man by his holy spirit. Now if Iesus Christ could not profot men by his teaching, further foorth than Gods spirit wrought within their harts▪ what shall the preaching doo which wee heare at the mouthe of mortall men, who are nothing? men then must plant and water, and God must giue increace,* 1.7 as S. Paule sayeth in the third Chapter of the first Epistle too the Corinthians.

Furthermore, as I haue told you, that wee must drawe all our holy∣nesse frō out of Iesus Christ, in whom we shall finde al the fulnesse and plentie of it: so also let vs vnderstand, that by that saying we bee war∣ned, that wee bee not called too filthinesse, too take leaue too doo euill: but too bee as it were sholed out too the seruice of God. Most men can well ynough brag that they bee faythfull, and that word runnes round∣ly vppon euery mans tongue: but fayth is a preciouser thing than wee thinke: for it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 our harts (as it is sayd in the foftenth of the Acts) too the intent wee should bee as it were sholed out and set a side,* 1.8 too giue our selues wholly too Gods seruice. But her••by it is ment, that men are as it were of a corrupt and infected lump, till God haue draw∣en out the one so••t from the other. Then differ wee nothing at all from ••hem that are as deepely plundged as is possible, in all manner of euil and wickednesse. Wee bee all alike (say I) as touching our nature. But they that beleeue in our Lord Iesus Christ, must bee as it were ••orted out from the rest of the worlde, as S. Peter also sayeth in his first Epi••••le. Agein, wee haue seene heeretofore, that wee bee clenzed by the b••ud of Iesus Christ, too the intent too bee drawen out of this worlde,* 1.9 according also as he sayeth in S. Iohn, where he prayeth too

his father, not too take vs out of this world, and out of this transitorie lyfe, but too keepe the naughtinesse of the world from bearing rule in vs, and too exempt vs from it. Yee see then that the thing which wee haue too beare in mynde, is that holynesse is the trew recorde of ou•• fayth. And therefore whosoeuer is called a Christian, ought too fee consecrated vntoo God, and not too intermeddle or defyle himself with the vnclenenesse and f••••thinesse of the world. Trew it is that our holy∣nesse shall neuer bee perfect, so long as wee bee in this world: for wee doo alwayes drawe the lynes too vs, and although sinne ouer mayster vs not, yit dooth it dwell in vs, and wee keepe continuall battell a∣geinst it, to get the vpper hand. But howsoeuer the world go, yit when God once hath sanctified vs, we must apply our selues to his seruice, we must indeuer too clenze our selues more and more from all vyces, and wee must giue our selues wholly vntoo him, so as wee bee no more as worldlings, which take leaue too doo what they list. This in effect is the thing that S. Paule ment too say.

Moreouer, no do•••••• but that in this place he maketh comparison be∣tweene such as are drowned in all ignorance, or rather are so hardened, that they haue no mynd at all too submit themselues too the obedience of the Gospell, but doo fyght furiously ageinst it: and the faythfull which are as sillie sheepe, herkening to the voyce of the good shepherd. S. Paule then condemneth heere all scoffers and scorners which des∣pyze God, and are as Doggs or brute beasts, without any feeling of religion. When wee see these things, they are all of them mirrours vntoo vs, too make the heares stand vp vppon our heades, by making vs too knowe what wee should be, if God pityed vs not. And therfore when we see folkes scorne God so openly, and rush forth at randon in∣to al leaudnesse, let vs acknowledge the infinite goodnesse of our God, in that he hath separated vs from the companye. Wherefore when wee see one sort sotted in their vnbeleefe, and an other sort full of pryde, bitternesse, and stubbornnesse ageinst the Gospell: let vs vnderstand that wee our selues should bee lyke them, but that God hath reached foorth his arme vppon vs.

But now let vs marke well the woordes that S. Paule vseth heere∣in, saying, the excellent greatnesse of his m••ghtinesse, according to the effectuall vvoorking of the povver of his strength. It should seeme that the holie Ghost ment too thunder downe vppon this diuelish opinion wherwith the world hath at all tymes bin besotted▪ that is too

wit, of freewill. For the heathen men presumed so farre, as too say that God had in deede created them too bee in the world, and that it was in his power too giue thē good or bad fortune, as they termed it: but that it was in euerye mans owne power and freechoyce too follow vertew, and too behaue himself in such wyse, as no fault myght bee founde in him. Loe how the heathen men parted the stake betweene God and themselues. The lesser matter, which is the setting of vs heere beneath too crawle heere lyke frogges, they left vntoo God: but the greater matter, namely our atteyning vntoo heauen, and the ruling of our selues in all vertew, that sayd they, was in mans owne abilltie, and belonged only too himself. The Iewes and Papists haue not bin altoogither of this mynd: for (as I haue touched alredye) they confesse that we haue neede of Gods helpe: But yit for all that, they will haue vs too mingle some peece of our owne holinesse with Gods grace, and too bee able too woorke ioyntly with it, as they say, insomuch that when it commeth too the reckening, the cheef part shall alwayes bee found in our selues.

But let vs see how the holy Ghost speaketh of it. Too what end v∣seth he all these terme of hyghnesse, power, strengh, effectual vvor∣king, and myghtinesse? wherfore heapeth he vp all these toogither, but too shewe that men bee mad when they will take more vpon them than becōmeth them? Ther is not that woord heere, which serueth not to abate our cackling, if wee boast of neuer so little a drop of goodnesse. For if men say, I haue yit some good mouing in mee, I haue some peece of vertew: behold, S. Paule speaketh of Hyghnesse: as if he ment to shew that all the goodnesse which we haue, is aboue the world, and hath not his roote nor spring in our selues, but cōmeth from aboue, as S. Iames sayeth.* 1.10 Agein, if men say, wee haue some power too withstand our owne vyces, and to fyght ageinst temptations: S. Paul sayeth heere, that our strength, our power, and our myght commeth of God, and that he must bee fayne to vestowe it vppon vs, and we to re∣ceyue it of him. If men say still, yit by streyning our selues we may be able too doo somewhat: S. Paule telleth vs, ther is no effectuall wor∣king, ther is no bringing of the thing to passe, vnlesse God giue it vs, according too his speaking of it in the second to the Philipians, where he sayeth,* 1.11 that it standeth vs on hand too walke in feare and warinesse, bycause it is God which giueth both the will & the abilitie to performe the will, according too his owne good pleasure: that is too say, he be∣ginneth

the woorke, and bringeth it too the end and knitting vp. Too bee short, let vs marke, that looke how many woordes there are heere, so many great thunderclappes and lyghteninges are there too beate downe and too sinke all the pryde of man, too the intent that being con∣founded in our selues, wee myght giue God the glory which he deser∣ueth, and with all lowlinesse frankly and freely yeeld our selues giltie, acknowledging that al goodnesse commeth of him, & that we be behol∣den to him only for it. Thus yee see how the effect of the matter which wee haue too marke vppon this streyne, is too imbace our selues in such wyze, as wee myght haue no desyre too part halues with God, too saye that he dooth but helpe vs, and that there is some portion of his grace and holy spirit in our owne freewill: but too yeeld him purely and simply the whole prayse of our saluation.

Furthermore, let it also make vs too despyze the world, that wee may content our selues with the hope of the euerlasting lyfe which is purchased for vs by our Lord Iesus Christ. For wee knowe that al∣though men bee generally subiect too many afflictions, and that this lyfe of ours bee notwithout cause termed a vale of wretchednesse: yit god exercizeth his owne childrē with greater abundāce of aduersities, than he dooth the other sorte: for they also haue neede too bee alwayes put in mind to renounce the world. If wee should liue heere to much at our ••ase and pleasure, what woold become of vs, seeing wee misse not too fall a sleepe heere, notwithstanding that God doo pricke vs and quicken vs vp so many wayes, to passe hence in poste without ••esting heere bylowe? yee see then in fewe woordes, howe God will exercyze vs many wayes after he hath called vs too the fayth of the Gospell, for else wee would bee weery of seruing him, and it would seeme too vs that his loue were but a very slender thing, if wee should not learne to giue ouer all other things as little or nothing woorth, and too imbrace Iesus Christ. Therefore let vs learne that S. Paules intent heere, is too drawe vs in such wyse vntoo God, as nothing may let vs too walke in our calling: and that if wee haue not all thinges to our lyking in this world, wee may lerne too esteeme the inestimable benyfites of our God better than wee haue doone, that wee may say with Dauid (as he speaketh in his sixtenth Psalme) I haue myne heritage, which suffizeth me: seeing that God hath giuen himself too mee, I haue so ex∣cellent a portion,* 1.12 that I passe not for going through all the afflictions of the world, Pouertie, sickenesse, reproche, feare, & threatinings, all

these thinges shalbee sweete too mee, so I possesse my God, and he make mee to feele that he hath chozen mee, and reserued mee too him∣selfe, and is mynded too haue mee partaker of all his goodes. Thus you see in effect, that by this text wee may bee hartened and strengthe∣ned vntoo pacience, too beare myldly all the afflictions and aduersities of the worlde, and not too bee greeued or out of conceyt: and that al∣though God make vs now and then too drinke of a bitter cup, and giue vs cause too sigh and lament, yit wee must not fall too repyning and grudging, but assure our selues that God hath giuen vs a good com∣fort, in that he hath called vs too bee parttakers of his kingdome, and so vttered his power already in vs, as wee ought as it were too ad∣uaunce our selues aboue all earthly thinges, and too looke downe at them as at our feete.

And for as much as wee doo not yit perceyue such fulnesse of Gods grace, as were to be wished, therfore S. Paule sendeth vs to the per∣son of our Lord Iesus Christ. And surely if he had not added, that God hath vttered his power in his only sonne, after such maner as we haue herd it: what a thing were it? For we myght alledge in way of reply, howso? where are these riches of God? For we be not only bereft of the goods of this world, but also we be as a dry & barrein grōud in respect of the grace of Gods holy spirit. If there bee any portion of it in vs, it is so smal, as wee ought too bee ashamed of it: and yit for all this, wee bee moreouer plundged in our infirmities. If yee speake of Gods power, it ought too get the vpper hand of all sinne in vs. But wee bee so weake, that wee bee as good as beaten downe. Agein, it were meete that Gods image should shyne foorth in vs, and wee beare such store of fylthinesse and such blemishes about vs as is pitie too see. Wee should bee wholly consecrated too God, but the worlde holdes vs backe, and wee bee as it were snarled in it. Loe how the faythfull myght bee a∣basshed when any talke were ministered concerning Gods grace, if they stayed there, and were not led foorth too Iesus Christ. Not with∣out cause therfore doth S. Paule adde here, that God did then vtter the excellencie of his power, when he rayzed our Lord Iesus Christ from death. And he speaketh purposely of his resurrection, bycause that in his death wee see nothing but astonishment. For there appeered no∣thing but weaknesse: but by his vanquishing of death he shewed him∣self too bee the sonne of God, yea and the Lord of glorie and lyfe, who ••ad all power in himself. And that also is the cause why S. Paule

sayth, that God did set him at his ryght hand. For it had not bin y∣nough for Iesus Christ to haue bin rayzed agein, except he had a con∣tinuall and abyding dominion. Trew it is that euen in his (only) re∣surrection, wee haue a record that he is the sonne of God: but yit for all that, wee must passe one step further, namely that he had not a blast of power and away, but that by his ryzing agein, he atteined such superi∣oritie, that all the world is gouerned by him, and he is now set downe at the right hand of God his father, to maynteyne and preserue his ser∣uantes that call vppon him, and put them selues intoo his keeping, and hath sufficient power to ouercome Satan and al the world, and all our enemyes. Now then wee see S. Paules meaning: that foras∣much as wee myght bee cast downe, and our fayth at least wyse sore shaken, if wee should looke no further than too our selues: therefore he setteth Iesus Christ before vs, as the trew patterne, wherin wee may see the thing that as yit is vnseene in our selues: that is too wit, Gods inestimable power which surmounteth the whole world. For first he is rayzed from death: and secondly he is set at the ryght hand of his father. Now the speaking of Gods ryght hand is a resemblance ta∣ken of men. It is certeyne that God hath nother ryght hande nor lefte, for he is infinite, and fylleth both heauen and earth, and agein, he hath no body, but is a spirituall beyng. Therefore wee must not imagin any place certeine, when Gods ryght hande is spoken of. And wehn as it is sayd, that Iesus Christ sitteth there, it is too shewe that he filleth all the world with his power. Trew it is, that as in res∣pect of his manhood, he is in heauen: and it is one of the Articles of our fayth, that he is ascended into heauen. But yit notwithstanding, although he bee absent from vs in his body: and that there is a great distaunce betwixt vs: it is no let but that he filleth all things with his holy spirit, and dwelleth in vs himselfe, and that wee bee nourished by his owne substaunce,* 1.13 according to this saying, that his flesh is our meate, & his blud our drinke. Yee see then how that Gods right hand is not some certeyn place for Christ to sit in, but the souereinty which he hath obteyned too gouerne the whole world. And (as I sayd afore) it is a similitude borowed of men, as when a prince maketh his vice∣gerent, he setteth him at his right side, as who should say, Loe here the second person (of my Realme) whom I will haue men too obey. God then in the person of our Lord Iesus Christ,* 1.14 ment too shewe that he is our father. Trew it is that the whole fulnesse of the Godhead is in Ie∣sus

Christ. Howbeit forasmuch as wee bee heauie and sothfull, and vnable too atteyne too the maiestie of God, therefore it is sayde, that Iesus Christ hath obteyned all souereintie, so as wee bee sure that he hath vs in his protection, & that being vnder his hand, wee be safe, and all the diuels of hell (doo what they can) cannot preuayle at al ageinst vs. For who is it that hath al power? It is euē our head. Although thē that we which are his members be weak: yit is there strength ynough in the head, which is the chiefe part of the body. And so ye see for what cause it is sayd, that Iesus Christ is set at the right hand of God his father: namely too shewe vs that wee neede not too seeke farre for his help, seeing he gouerneth all things both aboue and beneath, and wee ••ee committed too his charge here. He sayeth that God hath vttered his high and infinite power in vs. Howebeeit forasmuch as that suf∣fizeth not, by reason of the infirmities which wee feele, & for that there is so much amisse in vs still, and wee bee not yit come too the full mea∣sure, no nor too the hundreth part of it: therefore too the intent we may bee the better assured of all the things that wee want, wee must con∣sider them in Iesus Christ: Are wee then subiect yit still vntoo death? Behold Iesus Christ is receyued vp intoo euerlasting life: for the ve∣ry cause why he became a mortall man as wee bee, was that the life which he hath, might belong vnto vs. Doth sinne dwell still in vs? Be∣hold, Iesus Christ hath no spot nor blemish in him. Are wee weake? He is the power of God his father, and looke whatsoeuer he receyued in his manhod, which he tooke of vs, was for our sakes and too our be∣hoofe. Too bee short, looke whatsoeuer wee want, and whatsoeuer may comfort or quicken vs, we shall fynd it in our Lord Iesus Christ, bycause wee should not bee in care and perplexitie, as though we were excluded from the benefites that S. Paule hath made mention of here∣toofore. Finally wee should neuer haue any settled trust, except wee knew that the things which are wanting in our selues, are in our head. For the measure of Gods gracious giftes is very fimall, yea euen in the perfectest folke, and in such as are forewardest▪ and haue profited most of all. Sith it is so then, wee should alwayes hang in a mame∣ring and doubt. But when wee know that all is accomplished in our Lord Iesus Christ, and that he is as it were the first fruites, and that wee were sanctifyed in him, and that in his person wee haue receyued the things aforehand, which shall bee 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vs in all plentifulnesse hereafter when he hath taken vs out of this world: there verily lyeth

our certeintie, wheruppon wee ought too rest, that wee bee not shaken downe with any temptation. Too bee short, wee bee taught by this text, that although Gods grace bee weake in vs, that is too say, al∣though he haue put but a small beginning of it in vs, and not so large an abundance as were requisite or too bee wished for: yit notwithstan∣ding the same giueth vs a taste and sauer too trust in him. For there cannot bee so little grace of his holy spirit in vs, but that (as sayeth S. Paule in the eyght too the Romanes) we know the same is as a gage or earnest penny aforehand, of the lyfe that he hath promised. Trew it is that this lump of sinne dwelleth still in vs: but it ought too content vs that God voutsafeth too bestowe neuer so little of his holy spirite vppon vs.

Furthermore, for asmuch as wee can not be sure of all these things, consydering the slendernesse that is in our selues, and the infirmities and wantes which wee haue: therfore wee must lift vp our eyes to Ie∣sus Christ. Yea, what auaileth it vs, that wee may fynd all perfection in hym? for wee bee tootoo farre of from hym. Wee bee farre from hym as in respect of distance of places, & in that respect doth S. Paul say, that wee bee absent from hym, bicause we walke but by faith, and not by open eye syght and beholding. But yit for al that, wee he mem∣bers of his body. Then seeing it is so: like as a roote cannot bee se∣parated from the tree, but sendeth foorth his sap intoo all the boughes and braunches of it: Euen so let vs vnderstand, that the end wherunto our Lord Iesus Christ hath in such fulnesse receiued the spiritual gifts that belong too the heauenly life, is too communicate them too vs so farre foorth as needeth, euen from degree too degree, according as w•• shall haue profited in the faith. And heerewithall let vs continually beare in mynd, that wee must stoope and humble our selues, and (bee contented too) bee still farre of from the perfection whereuntoo it be∣commeth vs too aspyre, and too bee as hungrie folkes, so as wee fee∣ling our owne necessitie and lacke, must runne too our God too beg at his hand, knowing that he is able too increace it from day too day, and that if it were not so, wee should bee vndoone out of hand, and al should go too wrecke and vanishe away, but that he continueth the thing that he hath begunne. Yee see then how it standeth vs on hand too bee ioy∣ned too our Lord Iesus Christ, and too knowe that there is an insepa∣rable bond betweene him and vs. And inasmuch as he once became poore too make vs ryche, as it is sayde in another place: that is the

very meane wherby all the riches that are in him, are at this day com∣municated vntoo vs. Not that wee haue the full fruition of them, as I sayd afore: but bycause it is ynough for vs that wee haue some small portion of them, too make vs taste the loue of God, and too knowe that he will not fayle vs in any thing, but that sith he hath giuen vs a war∣rant that he is come neere vntoo vs, and dwelleth in vs by his holy spi∣rit, as wee haue seene in the second too the Corinthians: he will also ••ll vs euen vntoo the end. His vsing of the woord Inriche, is too shew that there shall alwayes be want & needinesse in vs.* 1.15 Neuerthelesse let vs trust boldly to this promis, that he which hath begun the good work in vs, will go through with the same, yea euen vntoo the day of our Lord Iesus Christ. And that is sayd too giue vs some refreshing when our lyfe is (too our seeming) ouerlong, and wee would fayne that the sayde perfection were alreadie shewed openly in vs, and that Iesus Christ were come agein. But it is sayd that vntoo that day wee must alwayes bee iourneying, and go on still foreward further and further, and beseeche God that he suffer vs not too quayle. Sure wee bee that wee shall neuer fayle too susteyne want and necessitie: but yit will he succour vs in such wise, as wee shall perceyue that if he haue once vout∣safed too behold vs with the eye of his mercie, it is too accomplish the ••oorke of our saluation throughout, and (too doo vs too wit,) that he hath not knit vs too our Lord Iesus Christ for nought, but that his so dooyng hath bin, too the ende that euery of vs myght euen now, accor∣ding too the measure of his fayth, possesse the goods that are peculiar too him, till he haue fylled vs too the full: which shall bee when he hath knit vs fully too him.

But now let vs cast our selues downe before the maiestie of our good God, with acknowledgment of our sinnes, praying him too make vs so too feele them, as it may drawe vs from them, and cause vs to direct our lyfe obediently according too his commaundements, so as we may shewe by our deedes, that he hath not bought vs so deerely in vayne, but that wee giue ouer all our owne fleshly lustes, and yeeld our selues wholly too the seruice of him that hath once adopted vs for his heri∣tage. And therefore let vs all say, Almyghtie God our heauenly fa∣ther. &c.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Deut. 2••. a. 4.
• * 1.2

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.3

  2. Tim. 3. b. 7.
• * 1.4

  Leuit. 11. g. 44. & 19. a. 2. &. 1. et. 1. c. 15.
• * 1.5

  Math. 11. d. 29.
• * 1.6

  Iohn. 6. e. 45.
• * 1.7

  1. Cor. 3. b. 6.
• * 1.8

  Act. 15. b. ••.
• * 1.9

  Iohn. 17. c. 15.
• * 1.10

  Iam. 1. c. 17.
• * 1.11

  Phil. 2. b. 12. 13.
• * 1.12

  Psal. 16. ••. 5.
• * 1.13

  Iohn. 6. f. 55.
• * 1.14

  Colo••••. 2. b. ••.
• * 1.15

  Phil. 1. a. 6.