Sermons of M. Iohn Caluine vpon the Epistle of Saincte Paule to the Galathians

The. 30. Sermon, which is the seuenth vpon the fourth Chapter. (Book 30)

26 But the Ierusalem vvhiche is from aboue is free, vvhich is the mother of vs all.

27 For it is vvritten, be glad thou barrein vvhich bea∣rest

no children, breake forth and crie thou that trauellest not: for the desolate hath many mo chil∣dren than she that hath a husband

28 And vve my brethren, vve be children of promise, after the maner of Isaac.

29 But like as then, hee that vvas borne after the flesh persecuted him that vvas borne after the spirit: euen so is it novv.

30 Neuerthelesse, vvhat sayth the scripture? Cast out the bondvvoman and hir sonne: for the sonne of the bondwoman shal not be heire with the sonne of the free vvoman.

31 So then brethren, vve be not children of the bond∣vvoman, but of the free vvoman.

WE haue seene this morning that many do boast themselues to be faithfull, pretending falsly to be Gods childrē, & are so taken to the world∣warde, who notwithstanding are but bastards, and God disclaymeth them, bicause they haue corrupted the good seede whiche is the pure doctrine, wherby we be begotten new again to be made partakers of the free adoption wherto God calleth vs. Thē all that we haue to do, is not to be counted too bee of the Church, except we be of the pure & sound seed, that is to say, except we fol∣low Gods worde without any corruption or mingling. And for this cause doth S. Paule bring vs backe too the heauenly Ierusalem, that we might know who is our mother. Truly to speake properly, such as peruert the naturall sense of the scripture are not the children of God, and all their crying and calling vpon him as their father, is but starke lying and hypocrisie. Howbeit forasmuch as they be taken to be of that degree: S. Paule discerneth them out by their mother, too the end we might know which are Gods true and lawfull children and allowed of him. For the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Church is oftentimes pre∣tended

at al aduenture, and in these dayes the Papists make a buck∣ler of it to sheeld their errours withall. And bicause the holy scrip∣ture is against them: they thinke it may serue them for a couert, that they (as they wene) haue the Church on their side. Yea but S. Paule telleth vs that we must be wise to discern which is the true Church. For the Iewes had colour ynough to shew that God had his abiding place in Ierusalem,* 1.1 bicause hee had chosen it out with assurance that he woulde rest there for euer, as we haue seene this morning. And yet notwithstanding the very same Ierusalem became as a denne of theeues, bicause our Lord Iesus Christ was crucified there, and the Iewes were for their vnfaythfulnesse cut vtterly off from the house of God, bicause they had indeuered to the vttermost of their power to abolish his truth. Though the name of Ierusalē had earst bin ho∣norable: yet was it then had in reproch and disdein both before the Angels and before all the faithfull. Euen so at this day wee ought to consider well which is the Church, to the ende that we be not chil∣dren of a bastarde seede, and so God shake vs off and banishe vs out of his house, for pretēding his name so falsly through hypocrisie be∣fore men. In deede it is a verie excellent honor that God giueth to his Church, in saying that she is the mother of all the faythfull, and it agreeth with S. Paules report in another place,* 1.2 where he sayeth, that shee is as it were the piller that vpholdeth. Gods truth in thys worlde. Not that the truth hath any neede to be mainteyned by vs, which are inclined to all lightnesse and inconstancie, and which haue nothing in vs by nature but vntruth: for what stedinesse is there to be found in vs, to say that Gods truth shoulde stay vpon men? But bicause that of his infinite goodnesse it is his will to haue his worde preached here beneath, and hee hath committed the charge thereof to such as he calleth therto,* 1.3 in respect where of the Church is called the mother of vs all. For as our lord Iesus Christ telleth vs) we haue but one father, which is God, yea and he is the father as well of our bodies as of our soules. Howbeit God is our spirituall father with∣out hauing any make, & yet notwithstāding he begetteth vs into the hope of eternall life, and that is by the meanes of his Church, wher∣into he hath put the said incorruptible seed,* 1.4 according as he saith by the Prophete Esay: My worde (sayth he) shall be in thy mouth, and

continue with thy children from time too time, and with all those that shall come of thy race. Thus ye see how God intendeth to go∣uerne his faithfull ones, namely by his worde, which he maketh to bee as a pledge and inestimable treasure of saluation in his Church, to the ende that we should be begotten and nurrished with it. Ther∣fore (as I haue touched alreadie) we had neede too bee so much the more skilfuller in discerning the Church. For seeing it is the mo∣ther of Gods childrē, the name of it ought not to be dishonored and trampled vnder foote, nor yet defiled as it is seene to be nowadayes. There is not a more common treacherie, than to put forth the name of the Church to deface and darkē Gods truth. For whereat do the Papists ame nowadayes in vaunting with full mouth and full throte that they be the Church, but to stoppe Gods mouth, and to thrust his worde vnder foote, that it might no more be spoken of, and that in the meane while the things that men haue forged after their own lyking, should be receyued without any gainsaying, and sticked to and obeyed? VVe see then that men which are but earthwormes and rottennesse, are put into the balance agaynst God, and all vnder pretence of the Church. But here Saint Paule warneth vs to seeke the Church which hath the pure doctrine whereby wee were adop∣ted of God to be his children. Nowe I haue tolde you heretofore, that the whole matter lyeth in our being ingreffed into the bodie of our Lorde Iesus Christ, and also in our acknowledging that wee be accursed by nature, that all our workes are but filthinesse, that the Diuell holdeth vs subiect to his tyrannie, and that there is none o∣ther helpe for vs, but that God should receyue vs to mercie and pi∣tie. Therefore let vs go into Gods house by the sayde gate, that is to wit, by acknowledging that there is none other way for vs to get in but by the onely mere grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ. Thus ye see howe the Church doth breede vs and beare vs, verely euen by the foresayde incorruptible seede. Nowe that we may sore the bet∣ter by this text, wee haue two poyntes too marke. The one is that we must not be like these fantasticall fellowes, which thinke they may be faythfull without readings or preachings, bearing them∣selues in hande, that the holy Ghost ought to reueale himselfe too them by dreame, or I wote not ••owe else. And in good sooth they

despize all doctrine, and (to their seeming) all instruction is but as an Apcie for yong children. Let vs beware that we let not our sel∣ues looce after that fashion by the meanes of Satan and of his wiles. But if we couet to bee counted Gods children, and to haue the true marke whereby wee may bee knowne before the Angelles: let vs suffer our selues too bee taught, and let vs keepe the order of the Church with all reuerence and lowlinesse. And so the greatest sort and such as are exalted to any degree of honour, ought alwayes to be throughly persuaded in themselues, that the greatest dignitie which is possible for them to haue, is to bee children of the Church, yea through they were Kings and Princes. For hee that exempteth himselfe from that state, doth vtterly renounce God, and cut him∣selfe quite off from all hope of saluation. Therefore marke it for a speciall poynt, that so long as we be in this worlde, wee must in∣deuer too profite in Gods woorde, bycause that that is the place where all our spirituall life lyeth: and that like as God hath begot∣ten vs againe by it, so also we shall bee fed by it too the ende, as by the onely food of our soules. Then let vs not bee so proude and presumptuous as to despize all teaching, as though we had no more need to be scholers. But let vs from day to day receyue that which is tolde vs, and by that meanes let vs become true children of the Church. Thus much for that poynt. The seconde poynt is that we must discerne, and not bee as beastes that are driuen ouer marises, and ouerthwart the wide fieldes: but consider which is the Church, according as God hath imprinted certaine signes of the Churche, which signes will neuer deceiue vs. Therfore when we haue Gods worde preached vnto vs purely without any mingling, so as there is no corrupting of the Gospell, but we be led wholly vnto God to seeke all our welfare in him, and kepe the way which is shewed vn∣to vs, which way is our Lorde Iesus Christ, so that wee beeing ridde of all pride and ouerweening, do suffer our selues to bee clad with the clothing that is offered vs in our Lorde Iesus Christ, and repose al our glory ther, I say whē we haue the doctrine after that maner: then is it Gods house and Sanctuarie, then is it the true Church and our mother, and we may bee well assured that God also auoweth and accepteth vs as his children. T•• (say I) is a must sure and in∣fallible

proofe, at leastwise if we become not brute beastes wilfully, as we see many do, who shet their eies & stop their eares, and beare themselues in hand that they be safe, if they can once pretende the name of the Church, to hide all their abuses and trumperies, and the illusions of Satan with it. VVherfore let vs not bee so beastly by our owne wilfulnesse: but let vs consider whither God sendeth vs to be truly regenerated by the seed of his worde, and to bee fed with it as with our only food. And for the same cause also is this text of Esay aledged, God speaketh not at randon to some multitude that might vaunt themselues too bee the Church,* 1.5 but onely to the flocke that should be left, after that the Iewes had bin horribly run astray and scattered asunder, as we know to haue happened vnto them. Surely at the first sight a man woulde haue thought that God had vtterly banished and abolished his Church out of the worlde: and yet not∣withstanding he had gathered togither a small number of them, and those are called the remnant of the free election. For which cause the Prophet Esay sayth, that such as are redeemed and vnfeynedly returned vnto God,* 1.6 to rule their life obediently after his worde, are the children of the Church. And here we haue to note by the way, that the Church tryumpheth not in this world, neither shineth with so gay and stately pompe, that men might bee rauished at the onely sight of it, so as they should submit themselues vnto it: but that it is most commonly forsaken, & as it were disfigured, and that is a point well worthie to be marked.* 1.7 For whereas the Papists brag that they haue the Church on their side: how are they able to do that? They must needes bring some euidence. But they alledge not aught saue their riches, their authoritie, and the great pompe and brauerie that is among them: but those are not the things that God will haue his Church knowne by. For we knowe that our Lord Iesus Christ will reigne heere in the thickest of his enimies, insomuch that the lesson which he taught his disciples must alwayes bee verefied vppon vs, that is to wit, we shall be forsaken and despyzed of the worlde, men shall bleare out their tongues at vs, and we shall be so troubled and vexed heere, as we may not seeke for any peace or rest heere. Now then, whensoeuer any man talketh too vs of the Church, let vs be∣thinke vs well of the thing that Saint Paule telleth vs heere. For

he likeneth the Church to a widdow, which is all alone in hir house and hath neither succour nor helpe. The world forsakes hir, no man makes account of hir, shee is as good as halfe dead and buried alrea∣die. Neuerthelesse God sayth that she shall be set aflote againe, and that she shall haue mo children than she that is maried and is in cre∣dit and reputation. This lesson must we (I say) put in vre nowadayes when we see the poore Church so troden vnder foote, and the eni∣mies thereof in suche pride or rather madnesse, that they set vp their crests and triumph ouer vs, as though we were no better than dust and smoke. VVhen we see such things, let vs wayt paciently till God gather togither those whom he hath chosen: and let it content vs that he auoweth vs for his children, though the world disdeyn vs, and shake vs off after that sort. Yee see then that wee muste not bring eies full of vanitie, to discerne which is the Church, as they do which will haue nothing but pompe and great outward shewes. But contrariwise let vs consider that god will so afflict his poore church, as there shall not appeare any beautie or shape in hir too the world∣warde, but rather vtter desolation, yea (and as we cōmonly see) eue∣rie man shall rise vp agaynst hir. But howsoeuer she fare, let it con∣tent vs, that God gathereth vs to him as his children: yea and let vs marke, that when we be called by the pure doctrine of the Gospel, we be made fellowes with all the fathers whome God chose vnder the Lawe, with all the holy Kings and Patriarkes, with all the Pro∣phets and Martyrs, and finally with all the faythfull ones that haue bin since Abell to this day, or which shall be to the worldes ende. No doubt but the Papists will bragge ynough of their multitude: yea, but wee see that the Prophete laugheth all of them too scorne. And why? VVee must alwayes discerne which are the [true] chil∣dren. For what else we are all the Churches of the Papistes than Bro∣thelhouses of Satan? All things are infected, nothing is there but fylthynesse, Gods seruice is there vtterly marred, and too bee short, there is no soundnesse at all in them. The Papists therefore for all that euer they can pretende too make themselues Gods Churche, are but misbegotten Bastardes, as they that are tyed too the Brotherlhouse wyth theyr mother that Sinagog of hell.

Ye see then how the cace standeth and it is not I that doth say it,

but it is the Prophete Esay that speaketh so, and Saint Paule who is a faythfull expounder of Gods meening, confirmeth the matter. VVherefore let vs learne too ioyne with the true children of God, which haue the infallible recorde of the holy Ghost, and not follow the greater throng, but let all these wretches go, whiche cast them∣selues wilfully into Satans snares, & wander like brute beasts with∣out any discretion. But by the way wee haue to marke, that such as are the children of the Church ceasse not to bee our fathers, inso∣much that besides the common brotherhood that is betwixt them and vs, there is this moreouer, that by their meanes we be begotten in the worde of God,* 1.8 according as it is sayde that we bee Abrahams children, and the true Israell of God, as if we were discended of Ia∣cobs race. Therefore wee haue those for our fathers which are our brothers too: and all of vs togither are the children of God and his Church. For whereas our Lorde Iesus Christ is in verie deede the onely sonne of God: he is to this ende called our head, that we be∣ing knitte togither in him, and becomming members of his bodie, might be hilde and taken for Gods children, becomming that thing by free adoption, which we be not by nature. And Saint Paule tel∣leth vs, that this befalleth vs by promise after the example of Isaac, too expresse that wee must not haue any vaine confidence in our owne desertes, or in any vertue that is in our persons, but be vtter∣ly voyde of all pryde, knowing that all the woorthinesse which wee haue, commeth of Gods mere grace and free gift. Thus ye see that the thing wherein we differ from the bastard children which boast themselues falsly of Gods name, is that whereas they be puffed vp with selfelyking, and delight in their hypocrisie, and are alwayes prating of their free will, of their meritorious woorkes, of their sa∣tisfactions, and of their vertues as well cardinall as theologicall, as they terme them, and (to be short) haue nothing in them but pride: VVe on our side sticke to the promise, that is to wit, that God ha∣uing looked vppon vs with mercie, hath drawne vs out of the dun∣geon of destruction wherein wee were and by his Gospell tolde vs, and assured vs that he will be our father, and that an heritage tary∣eth for vs, which is purchased for vs, not by our selues, or by any mortall creature, but by Iesus Christ, who being verie God became

man, to the intent we might obteyne the thing in him which is not to bee found in all the world. Yee see then in effect that the ende wherevnto S. Paules conclusiō tendeth, is that if we mind to be well grounded in the doctrine of the Gospell, and to be sure of a good stud and ankerholde of our saluation, we must not intermedle any opinion of our own deseruings with it, nor surmise that we be able to bring any thing of our selues, but simply receiue that which God offereth vs, and suffer Iesus Christ to be our sauiour wholly & not by halues. That is the thing whervnto the word promise tendeth, as I haue declared more at large already. But the law had also his pro∣mises, howbeit with condition, as I haue declared. The promise that S. Paule speaketh of presently, is the thing that abolisheth all mans pride, and disgraceth the men them selues, shewing them that there is nothing in them but vtter confusion, and that all their welfare lieth inclosed in our Lord Iesus Christ, so as we cannot come by it, nor inioy it but by meanes of the Gospell. Nowe the Gospell tel∣leth vs that we must holde all of God, and do him homage for our saluation, bicause he giueth it vs, and it is not a wages due vnto vs, that he should by any meanes be bound vnto vs. And heerevpon S. Paule sayth, that it is so euen yet still at this day, according as Moy∣ses declareth vnder the figure whiche he dyd set foorth this mor∣ning. For in Abrahams house (sayth he) there was an elder some called Ismaell, and he persecute ••. Isaac which was the lawfull sonne. Now then it behoueth vs to be so handled and delt withal, that such as haue no∣thing but dissimulation & hypocrisie in them, which are but as ba∣stardships, and which are vtterly corrupt & become strangers, may neuerthelesse crake & boast their fill, & set vp their bristles ageinst vs, as though we were vnworthy to kisse their feete. Suche maner of men then must perke vp in all pride, and persecute vs: but yet let vs be constant sayth S. Paule, and let not our fayth bee shaken downe by such loftinesse, nor by the wiles that are cast in our way by those hypocrites and falsifiers, which haue peruerted Gods doc∣trine: For in the ende the fame will happen too them (sayth he) which is reported of the house of Abrahā, namely, driue out the sonne of the bonde woman, for he shall not be ••••ire All they then that vaunt them selues to bee faythfull, and win needes bee taken to bee of

Gods housholde, shall be cut off as rotten members, and not haue any part or peece of inheritance there. And it is moreouer a righte excellent lesson, which conteyneth a very profitable admonition, euen to confirme the thing which I haue touched already, which is, that the pompes of this world must not bleare our eyes, to carie vs away at a gaze when wee see great solemnities and gorgeous dec∣kings. If a man should beleeue no further than he sees, when the Pope were in his Pontificalibus, he might bee taken for a God, he hath so many knicknacks glistering about him. And no maruell though many be amazed at it, as thoughe one had knocked them on the head with a club, and become as good as brute beastes. For why? men are so giuen to iudge fleshly, that they bee worse than little children in things that concerne Gods kingdome. But yet for all this, ••eholde, Sainct Paule sayth, that they whiche haue the primacie, and are al in all, and are dreaded of euery man, and final∣ly which beare the title of first begotten, are oftentimes but Ismae∣lites, so as they be but bastards, alledge they their eldership neuer so muche. But if S. Paule were aliue at this day, that one texte of his were inough too make him too bee burnte a hundred tymes. For let men write and speake as muche as they liste, and they can not more liuely decipher or bewray that the Pope and al his cler∣gie are a heape of Ismaelites and filthie bastardes, whiche fighte a∣gaynst God, and all his true and right begotten children, according also as Moyses hathe reported it. For what else alledge the Papists for them selues, saue that it is not a day or twayne ago, or a hun∣dred yeeres ago that they haue had possession: but that they haue kepte their traditions and Ceremonies these eyght or nine hun∣dred yeeres? But surely euen in this behalfe also they lye, and are past shame. But put the cace that the world had not appayred these eyght hundred yeres: yet notwithstanding, that eldership of theirs which they alledge, is not better nor of greater value than was the eldership of Ismael. Agayn, vnto their eldership they add also mul∣titude, saying, that wee be but a handfull of folke in comparison of them, they haue kings & Princes on their side, the whole world a∣greeth with thē, both great & smal say as they say, & the largenesse of their kingdome stretcheth out far & wide throughout al Europe

welneere, and into a peece of Affrike. VVhen they haue all this for themselues, very well, it is euen as the eldership of Ismael. Nay, it were more meete for them to haue begon at the other ende, that is to wit, at the holding fast of the pure doctrine of the Law & the Gospell, without mingling any thing at all with it: for else it is a generall conclusion, that there is nothing in them but corruptnesse and bastardie. But they will not enter into this discourse, that men might knowe whither they be bacebegotten of Gods word or no: for it is seene too manifestly alreadie. And in good fayth (as I haue sayd alreadie) vnder the name of the Church, they haue boldly ta∣ken vpon them to disanull and falsifie the whole worde of God. Sothē there is no bringing of the Papists to the true trial or touch∣stone, that men mighte discerne certenly whether they be Gods children or no: but they stande proudly vppon their eldership as Ismaell did: they alledge that they are an infinite number, and wee but sprules as ye would say, and folk despised to the worldwarde, which haue neither estimation nor credite. Thus yee see howe Is∣maell speaketh now a days by the mouth of the Papists. Now wee for our part had neede to be armed with pacience: for it is a right hard tēptation, that they which are Gods deadly foes, shuld after a sort possesse the highest roomes in his house: & that we should be hidden vnder thē like corne vnder chaffe vpon a barne floore. This is a hard & irksome plight. And surely we see many that giue ouer the Gospell through infirmitie. VVhen the poore simple soules heere these so braue titles of Catholike Church, of Apostolike sea, of Vicar of Christ, of Successor of S. Peter and S. Paule, of Pre∣lates, and of Bishops: I say when all this gay geere is flashte oute before the sillie soules: they are amased at it, and conclude by & by, then must wee needes sticke to it. For they bee rauished at the sight of these vizors that serue to scare little children. But they that haue any firmnesse in them, & iudge according to that which God sheweth them, are not at that poynt. And in good sooth, when the Papists say that they be the representing Church, they say truely: for in deede they make a godly representation [resemblaunce, or shewe] that is too say, there is as it were a gaye gazing stocke: but as the Prouerbe sayth) all is not ••••de that glistereth. Therefore

they must bee searched to the bottome, to see if there bee truthe in them or no. And so let vs marke what is tolde vs heere by S. Paul, that is to wit, that it was not once only that there was an Ismaell in Gods Church to persecute Isaac: but that wee see the lyke at this day: and that the children of God shall be borne downe and trampled vnderfoote, by such as haue no more but the bare title of Eldership, and vnder that shadow beguyle the simple sort, cloking all their filthes & foulnesse vnder the pretence of gay colours. But howsoeuer the world go, let vs prepare our selues to battell (sayth S. Paul) and let not our fayth quayle at the sight of the pride of the enimies of Gods truthe, yea euen of the housholde enimies of it, which are not as Turkes and heathen men, but keepe a garison in the Church, and yet will needes be Prelates and more than greate pillers of it. How soeuer the world go (I say) let vs not be abashed for it, sith we be fenced with the example of our father Isaac, to the intent we should hold out stoutly, for asmuch as we be regenerated by the pure seede which God alloweth, whereby wee bee made his lawfull children, and heires of his heauenly kingdome. But heere a man might thinke it strange that S. Paul should say that Isaac was persecuted of his brother Ismaell.* 1.9 For Moyses rehearseth no more but that at the day when Isaac should be weaned, & at the feast that was made at it, Ismaell laughed him to scorne. It is not sayd that Is∣maell layd any persecution vpon Isaac, for aught that is recorded by Moses: only it is said that he beeing then of some age, & thin∣king to haue a much higher degree thā Isaac, bicause he was already come to yeres of discretion, did laugh at him, & mocke him. Nowe if there were nothing more thā simple mocking & laughter, it see∣meth that S. Paul should not terme it persecution. VVe must mark that the persecutiōs of Gods children are not done, only by sword, fire, racking, imprisonment, or other torments of the body: but also in that they be woūded with the scornful reproches which the vn∣beleeuers and enimies of Gods truth doo spue out agaynst them.* 1.10 And if we do wel practise the thing that is sayd in the Psalme, wee shall not thinke the maner of speeche straunge which S▪ Paul vseth heere. For where as it is sayde, that the raylings whiche are caste foorth agaynst Gods maiest••••, ought too rebounde backe vppon

vs: it is to shew that we ought to be very tender harted or squey∣mish when we heere Gods name set light, or his honor diminished in any maner of wyse. If any of vs bee touched in our good name or honestie, wee will be angry and make a quarell of it: wee see that for one crosse worde, cholerike fellowes doo by and by draw their swordes, and all is vnder colour that they muste maynteyne their honor and honestie. If a man speake euill of our Parents or kins∣folke, we will be in such heate and fumish passions, as wee can not be appeased. Then if God be misused, or his maiestie dishonored in mens mouthes, aught we to suffer, and not to be moued to cho∣ler and anger?* 1.11 Euen for that cause also it is sayde, that the zeale of Gods house ought to eate vs vp, so as wee must not only bee wel∣minded and sory for the defacing of the maiestie of our God, and for the corrupting of the doctrine of saluation, and for the disorde∣ring of his Church: but these things must also bite vs at the hart. According heerevnto it is sayd heere that Ismaell persecuted Isaac. If a man demaunde, what? had he neyther torture, fyre, nor sword to cut his throte? No, none of all these: but he scoffed at the pro∣mise that had bin made concerning Isaac. For it was sayd expresly, Ismaell shall liue: but yet is he not therfore heire of the promise, Isaac is he in whom they shall bee blissed. Yee see then that Iesus Christ, and consequently all hope of saluation was closed vp in the person of Isaac.* 1.12 VVhen Ismaell did so disdayne and scorne the so∣uerein welfare and happinesse, that mockage of his wounded all the children of adoption, & all the faythfull, yea euen with a dead∣ly stripe. Nowe then wee see what S. Paule mente, and howe wee ought to put this doctrine in vre, which is, that wee must prepare our selues to inwarde battels, knowing that not onely the Turkes and Paynims shall bee aduersaries of the Gospell, but also the hy∣pocrites, who too the vttermost of their power, doo deface the doctrine of grace that is offered them in our Lorde Iesus Christe, to abolishe all the dignitie and reuerence which wee ought to giue vnto it in magnifying the mere bounteous goodnesse of God, and in acknowledging that all our whole welfare lyeth there. Let vs bee ready (I say) too abide suche battels at the hands of our hous∣holde enimies, whiche boast them••••••ues too bee Gods children,

which are aduaunced euen aboue vs, & which outface vs with their eldership, as who shuld say, that vnder the colour of that, we ought too bee vtterly borne downe and ouerwhelmed. But there is yet more: that is to wit, that we must be touched too the quicke, and sorie at the harte to see Gods doctrine so corrupted. True it is that naturally wee shunne the harmes that come agaynst vs, as bodily persecutions and suche other. But yet for all that, wee must not be so wedded to this world, as not to preferre the heauenly heritage before all things that we esteeme most worthy to be desired. And therfore when soeuer Gods name is blasphemed, & when men la∣bour to abolishe the doctrine of life: let vs in those cases set suche greef to our hart, as we can not beare with it, or at leastwise as if we were persecuted in our bodies. For he that should cut our throte, yea & put vs to all the torments that were possible, as wee see the enimies of the Gospel do, whose rage against their poore brethren, can not now a dayes be stanched with racking, burning, cutting out of their tungs, and such other like torments: all this aught not to greue vs so much, as to see Gods name torne in peeces, & scorned by the wicked. For the very same is such a cutting of our throtes, as not only bereeueth vs of this flightfull and transitorie life, but also bereth vs quite out of the kingdome of heauen. For whē Gods doctrine is corrupted, then is foode turned into poyson, lyfe into death, and light into darknesse. So then let this texte of S. Paules warne and exhort vs, not to be so giuen too the earth and too the world, but that we may alwayes haue our minds & vnderstandings lifted vp to the inestimable benefite that is offered vs by the Gos∣pell, and fight more earnestly for that quarell, than for our owne life. For truely a whole million of such liues as wee haue here be∣neath, can not be comparable to the endlesse life that is promised vs in our Lord Iesus Christ. Thus yee see wherin it behoueth vs to exercise our selues, and we can not exceede measure in beeing too angry, when we see wicked men blaspheme God after that sorte, & labour by their wiles and pollicies to ouerthrowe and to falsifie the onely doctrine whereby wee liue spiritually. Furthermore let vs marke also, how S. Paule addeth in the ende for a conclusion, that all they which now a dayes •• boast themselues so highly to be the

Church, and specially those that haue the title of eldership, shall be driuē out as bastard children. Therfore let vs not be beguyled with al the pompes that are among those which fight agaynst Gods pure truth, to maynteine them selues in their tyrannie by force, persecu∣tions, braggings, & such other like things: but let vs tarie the ende, which is, that they shal be cut off, for they be none inheritors. VVel may they dwell in the house, as it is sayd of Antichrist that he shall sit in the Temple of God: but yet must they needes be swept out of it, as filth and vnclennesse. And although this bee not so before men, but that it is hidden from vs for a time: yet let vs wayte tyll God shewe his truthe more full, and vntill our Lord Iesus Christ confound his enimies with the breath of his mouth, and by the po∣wer of his worde. Thus yee see how wee ought to be setled in in∣uincible constancie. And although we be now despised & scorned, yet let vs not ceasse to holde out in the holy calling of our God, knowing that we shall not be disappoynted, if we be grounded vpō the doctrine of the Gospell, and rest wholly thervpon till God dis∣couer the things that are nowe hidden, & that wee be throughly gathered vnto him, and finde that it was not in vayne that we were trayned vp in his pure worde, giuing ouer all the fancies of men, & not seeking life elsewhere than in the seede wherby wee were be∣gotten agayne, and in the foode whereby wee bee susteyned and nourished to the ende.

Nowe let vs fall downe before the maiestie of our good God, with acknowledgemēt of our sinnes, praying him to make vs feele them in such wise, as it may leade vs to true repentance, that wee may mourne continually before his maiestie, and bee so abashed in our selues, as yet notwithstanding wee may not doubt but that he accepteth vs for our Lord Iesus Christs sake, & that we shal always obteine sure forgiuenesse of our sinnes, if we seeke it in true fayth without swaruing to the right hād or to the left, but only folowing the path which he hath shewed vs, as in deede we can neuer go a∣misse when we haue the day sunne of righteousnesse shining vpon vs. That it may please him to graunt this grace, not only to vs, but also to all people and nations of the earth▪ &c.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Psal. 137 c. 14.
• * 1.2

  1. Tim. 3. d. 15.
• * 1.3

  Mat. 23. b. 9.
• * 1.4

  Esay. 59. d. 21.
• * 1.5

  Esa. 54. a. 1.
• * 1.6

  Esay. 1. a. 9
• * 1.7

  Mat. 10. b. 10.
• * 1.8

  Gal. 6 d. 16
• * 1.9

  Gen. 21. a. 8
• * 1.10

  Psal. 69. b. 10.
• * 1.11

  Psal. 69. b. 10.
• * 1.12

  Ge. 21. b. 12