Sermons of Master Iohn Caluin, vpon the booke of Iob. Translated out of French by Arthur Golding

The▪ cxxvij. Sermon, which is the sixth vpon the▪ xxxiij. Chapter.

26 He shall pray vnto God who will be fauorable to him: he shall see his face with ioy, and he will render (or returne) a man his righteousnesse.

27 He will looke towards men, and say, I haue sinned: I haue turned away from goodnesse, and it hath not profited mee.

29 He hath redemed my soule, to the ende it should not go downe into the graue: and my life to the ende it should see light.

ACcording to that whiche was declared [ 20] yesterdaye, here Eliu sheweth vs that when men are reconcilied vnto God, they maye call vppon him with a quiet and stedfast cōscience. And it is the true frute of faith to haue such a quietnesse as we may be sure that God loueth vs, and flee to him for refuge. For without that, wee were in cursed cace. And vndoubtedly although we had al the goods of the world, wee should not bee sure to inioy them one minute of an [ 30] houre, except God maynteyned vs in the possession of them. Moreouer let vs put the cace that a man myght cō∣tinue in ease and pleasure all the tyme of his life. Yet should all Gods benefites turne too his destruction and damnation, vnlesse hee vsed them purely, and were sure of the sayd fatherly loue of God. VVee see then that if wee cannot call vppon God with such certeinty that hee will heare vs, and accept our prayers: it is pitie of our life. Somuch the more then behoueth it vs, to marke well the order, that is shewed here by the holy ghost: which is, [ 40] that when God shal haue certified vs of his goodnesse to∣wards vs, wee knowing that therein hee will bee fauora∣ble too vs, and pardon our sinnes, may seeke vnto him and boldy present our selues before him. And that is the cause why it is added in the text, that God will shew him his face, and that his righteousnesse shall returne vnto him by that meane: or else that a man shall see the face of God. But wee must not greately stand vppon the words, seing that the meening is euident. Therfore it is all one as if it were sayd, that so long as men are accused in their owne con∣science, [ 50] they cannot think vpon God but with all terrour, so as they could find in their harts neuer to perceiue any thing of him, nor that any man should speake to them of him, nor that they might haue any inckling of him. And out of doubt wee see that so long is sinners are asleepe in their euill, they desire nothing so much as to forget God. And if any mention bee made of him: it is an intollerable torment too them, as if an offender were brought before his iudge. Yee see that as long as wretched creatures are buried in their sinnes, they cannot thinke vppon God but [ 60] to their greate greef. But when we haue assurance of the forgiuenesse of our sinnes: then we come boldly to God, we are glad to thinke vpon him, wee are willing to heare of him, yea and it reioyceth vs too behold his face. And this is it which Sainct Paule meeneth by saying, that wee finde peace to Godward when wee bee iustified by fayth. Also by that saying hee meeneth that the wicked haue no rest, but when they bee fallen asleepe, or rather dulled in such wise, as they thinke not vppon God. Thus yee see how the heathnishe sort and such as seke too feede them selues in their vices, do labour too forget God, and settle themselues thervpon: But when God bringeth them to their remembraunce, then they wake, yea euen too their sorowe. Cōtrariwise, if we be certified that God receiueth vs to mercy (wherof fayth is a good and sure warrant) we good boldly vnto him, and haue peace with him, and the neerer that we come to his maiestie, the more trust haue wee of our saluation, forasmuch as hee desireth nothing, but too bee our father, according as hee hath shewed in deede. And the matter which was treated of yesterday, is confirmed yet once againe in that it is sayd, that righteous∣nesse shall be restored vnto a man. Eliu had sayd heretofore that if a wretched creature bee in trouble, so as hee feele Gods wrathe and vengeance, there is no way to comfort him, and specially to restore him too life, except the gos∣pell be preached, and that God send him some man to tel him his word purely, wherby the wretched sinner, that was ouerwhelmee, may knowe that the gate of paradise was opened vnto him. In discoursing herevpon, Eliu sayd that the preacher of the gospel should declare to him that was so afflicted, his righteousnesse. And what is that righ∣teousnesse? I haue declared already, how it is not that men are righteouse in themselues, or that they are able to stand before God: but that this righteousnesse is, that God burieth their faults and imputeth them not vnto them, but clenseth them of his owne free goodnesse. For the blood of Iesus Christ is the spirituall washing of our soules, namely when they be watered by the holy Ghost as sainct Peter sayeth. And there yee see also the vnder∣standing of this text, that a mans righteousnesse shal be resto∣red vnto him or returne to him againe. For so long as God pursueth vs as a iudge, and summoneth vs too yeeld vp

our account: we be ouerwhelmed by our sinnes, and there needeth no other processe nor witnesse agaynst vs. But whē God calleth vs to himself, and sheweth vs that there is good remedie for vs too bee discharged of the bond of death, wherin we are bound: (which remedy is to put our whole trust in the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ, and to receiue and imbrace the promises of salua∣tion which hee giueth vs) that is the returning of our righteousnesse vnto vs, which had bin erst alienated from vs, and wherof wee had bin vtterly bereft. So then let vs [ 10] learne, not too nurrish our sinnes in our boosome any more. For wee shall gayne nothing by laying playsters v∣pon our sores to hyde them: the rottennesse of them will increace the more, and wee must needes drop asunder in the ende, and be altogither infected. Then is it not for vs to flatter ourselues and too seke vayne startingholes, but we must come right foorth vnto God, and suffer our sel∣ues to bee reproued by him. And when wee feele any re∣morse of conscience, let vs receiue it humbly and be sory for our misdoings. If wee haue profited litle by the war∣nings [ 20] that God hath sent vs, at leastwise let vs not be past amendment when he chastizeth vs. And when we be bea∣ten with his roddes: let vs be so cast downe in ourselues, as we may seke nothing but his mere mercy, considering that we are vtterly vndone if he helpe vs not. Ye see thē how it behoueth vs too deale. And by that meanes let vs not doubt, but that our righteousnesse shall bee restored vnto vs, according as it is sayd by the Prophet Esay, that when wee bee imbrued with the blood of our sinnes, in∣somuch that the stayne of it is soked into vs, God will [ 30] make vs as whyte as snowe, if wee returne vnto him with a pure hart. But let vs not thinke herevppon, that God pardoneth our sinnes too let vs fall asleepe in them: but to the ende wee should seeke to him, and make the priui∣ledge which is giuen vs auaylable, that is to wit, bee bold too call vpon him as our father, and assure our selues, that he will heare vs. Eliu hauing spoken so, addeth: he wil loke towards men and say I haue sinned, I haue turned awaye from goodnesse, and it hath not booted me: hee hath deliuered my soule from the pit: This text is expounded by some men as [ 40] though Eliu spake of God, saying that it is hee that loo∣keth so towards men, and that if any man say I haue done amisse, then wheras hee had beene in the darknesse of death, God deliuereth his soule from the pit, and resto∣reth to him the light of life. Howbeeit forasmuch as word for word it is set downe thus, he will looke towards men and say I haue done amisse, I haue turned away from goodnesse and it hath not stoode me in any stead, or was not meete and con∣uenient for mee: a man maye see and easly gather, that Eliu goeth on still with his matter, shewing that they [ 50] which are brought so lowe as to feele their sinnes, and to bee euen at deathes dore, if God shew them the fauour to call them back againe, and giue them hope of life, and spe∣cially cheere their harts, so as they are able to cal vpō him in true assurednesse of faithe: doo afterward turne them∣selues to men, and declare their miseries, to the intent to magnifie the infinite goodnesse of God which they haue felt. And so the second frute of the forgiuenesse of sin∣nes, is that when the wretched sinner knoweth that God hath not shaken him off, but as yet openeth him the way [ 60] and giueth him accesse too come vntoo him: like as hee rested thervpon too call vpon God and afterward made the frute of faith auaylable: so also it behoueth him too confesse the sayd goodnesse of God before men, and not to be ashamed to shewe the misery wherin hee was vntill God had deliuered him by his mercy. To be short, like as when God hath sent vs the promises of his gospell, wee ought to acknowledge thē, and to seeke vnto him: so also it behoueth vs, to mourne before mē. For it is not ynough that euery of vs should pray to God priuily by himselfe: but it behoueth vs also to set forth his glory, and to inde∣uer to prouoke our neighbours too the same, so as one of vs may be edified by another: and hee that hath felt how good and mercyfull God is, must shewe it vntoo others, that they may take example at it: And when there is such an agrement amongs vs, we must also preache Gods prai∣ses togither, according as euery one of vs is bound vntoo him, and there is not any man which may not iustly con∣fesse, that God hath a hundred times plucked him out of his graue and quickned him. Ye see thē in effect what the meening of Eliu is. Howbeit, that we may the better pro∣fit by this sentence: let vs marke that it behoueth vs first to enter into ourselues, and thē to go vnto God, & after∣ward to go vnto our neighbours. Thus ye see three things which wee haue too marke, and it is an order which wee ought to kepe well. The first is, that men should examin their owne consciēces, & haue an eye to their whole lyfe. And why? To be ashamed of their sinnes: For vntill wee haue well perceyued that wee bee worse than wretched, how will we haue recourse vnto God? VVee will not be moued to seke him, nor to desire forgiuenesse. So then it is requisite for vs too begin at the sayd point, namely too feele our sinnes how greuouse they bee, and also too feele and conceyue the wrathe of God, too the intent wee may bee as it were forlorne, and behold hell as it were gaping vpon vs to swallowe vs vp, and be so vtterly astonished, as we may be driuen to say, Alas, what is to be done? So that we may haue no rest in ourselues, but languishe so in our miseries, as wee may come with an earnest zeale too seke the Lord. Thus ye see the first steppe that wee must begin at. The second is, that wee must come vnto God, and seeing hee taryeth not till wee seeke him, but of his infinite goodnesse preuenteth vs, in somuch that hee in∣spireth vs to the end we should seeke him and flee for re∣fuge vnto his mercie, & there rest: whē we haue any pro∣mises of his goodnesse set afore vs, seing that hee seketh sinners to bring them from death to life: wee must take those promises and apply them too our vse, saying: euen so my God, thou shewest that thou art willing to receiue sinners too mercy: behold I am one, yea and I am so for∣lorne, as I wote not any more what too doo. Therfore I doubt not Lord, but thou wilt make mee feele they grace and goodnesse. So Lord, there will I rest, and although I bee hemmed in with many troubles and sorowes which were able to turne me from thee: Yet will I rest vpon thy promises, and therwith call vpon thee, assuring myselfe that thou wilt strengthen mee against all Satans tempta∣tions. Thus ye see how it behoueth vs to deale. The third point is the conclusion that Eliu maketh here: which is, that we must declare Gods goodnesse to our neighbours so farforth as is needfull to their edifying, that he may be praised with one accord, and that all men may confesse,

that there is no welfare but in his mercy, and that we are all damned, if the only goodnesse of our God remedy it not. These (say I) are the three degrees which it behoueth vs to keepe. But I told you that we must begin at oursel∣ues. And why? VVee shall see many which will blase a∣broade Gods praises with full mouth, but they haue not well foremynded thē in their hart. There are which think themselues discharged when they haue sayd, O my God, haue pitie vpon mee, I haue bene such a one, I haue done such an euill deede. True it is, that such men haue some [ 10] feeling in themselues, and speake not altogither through hypocrisie: But yet notwithstanding there is much wind in them, and their mouth is larger than their heart. For scarcely haue they tasted of Gods mercy: and yet they would haue men to thinke that they haue felt it through∣ly, and that they be full fraught with it. But there is va∣nitie and ambition in such men, when they wyden their mouth after that sort too speake well, and in the meane whyle haue not mynded Gods grace too feele it accor∣dingly, that it myght be well imprinted in their conscien∣ces, [ 20] and they themselues bee ryghtly nurrished with it. That is the cause why I sayd, that before wee speake, it behoueth vs to haue considered well what we haue seene afore: that is too say, too haue examined well our selues, too haue bene diligent in serching how wretched wee be, and too haue bene come too the verie point to haue bene swallowed vp into the dungeon of hell. And afterward when wee haue bene brought too that afterdeele, too im∣brace Gods promises, and too haue such a lyuely feeling of them, as wee maye call vppon him with a full trust. [ 30] True it is, that this cannot bee doone perfectly, but yet must wee go towards it, yet must wee creepe neerer and neerer too it, and wee must strayne ourselues too come at it. Verie well, haue wee made such profers? Then is it tyme too open our mouth and too prayse Gods good∣nesse, that other men may bee drawne too him by our example, and that all men may know, how there is none other hope of saluation, than in his only infinite good∣nesse, when it pleaseth him to make the death and passion of his Sonne auaylable to take away our sinnes, so as wee [ 40] may be wasshed cleane from all spottes and vncleannesse, and be accepted for ryghteouse before him. And this mat∣ter concerneth not the shrift of the Papistes, but the con∣fession of a Christian, which ought to be put in vre among vs, and is not. I haue told you heretofore, that one of the cursed blasphemies in the Popedome, is too tye the forgiuenesse of sinnes to the Shrift that is made in a man∣nes eare: for God neuer requyred it. And in good sooth, it is vnpossible that euer any men should knowe the hun∣dreth part of their faults, I meene euen of their grossest [ 50] faults. And how shall they doo then if they go about too number the offences which they haue doone vnwitting∣ly? Therfore the Shrift that is amōg the Papists is as a gulf of hell. But there is a Christian confession which is al∣lowed by the woord of God: which is, that wee should generally confesse our sinnes, and when any of vs hathe giuen any cause of stumbling, hee should acknowledge his fault too amend the euill. That (say I) is the thing which wee haue to do when God shall haue afflicted vs, and afterward remedied our aduersities. It is not ment [ 60] that wee should go blowe in a mannes eare, too tell all our offences there: nor also that wee should mount vp vpon a scaffold, too tell particularly the faults that wee haue committed, and after what maner wee did them. No: wee neede no more but too confesse our defaultes in generall, and therewithall too consider that our Lord hath bound vs to him exceedingly, in that hee hath giuen vs a happie and wisshed end of our toubles, which would haue ouerwhelmed vs if hee had not reached vs his hand, and set vs vp againe. Also when wee haue offended our neyghbours by giuing euill example, wee must acknow∣ledge our faults, and not bee ashamed too confesse them with sorinesse in our harts. I sayd that this latter confes∣sion is ill practized among vs: for wee see the pryde that is in most men. True it is that they dare not say, that they bee righteouse: howbeeit when they confesse themsel∣ues sinners, it is but a cloke of hypocrisie: they say that all men are so: and so wheras euery man ought too feele his owne misdooings, wee fall too couering of them with the mantle of other men. And that is a playne mocking of God. So then, if wee intend too confesse vnfeyned∣ly that wee be bound vnto God, and to humble ourselues before him: let vs speake according to the feeling of our owne consciences, and the miserie wherin wee haue bene plūdged, and the deadlinesse wherout of God hath made vs way. Marke that for one point. Also there are other∣some, who when they haue committed any offence, doo fall too blaspheming of God: when a whole streete is infected with whoredome, if a man reproue them for it, they will aske him whither they bring him backe too po∣pishnesse or no, bycause they bee told of their faults. As who would say, that God would haue stumbling blocks nurrished, and that the partie which hathe troubled the church, should fare the better for his hardnesse and wil∣full stubbornnesse. So then let vs marke, that when God discouereth our sinnes, it is too the ende that if wee haue caused any trouble or offence, wee should labour too a∣mend it, and not be ashamed to open our mouth to con∣fesse what wee haue doone. And that is the thing which is shewed vs now: namely that when the sinner wil seeke vnto God for pardon, and afterward come familiarly to him to take him for his father, trusting in his mercy: hee must also turne himselfe vnto men. Hee must not only pray in secret, nor only say in his hart I haue sinned, and after that sort aske forgiuenesse, and returne vnto God: but hee must also turne vnto his neighbours. And wheras erst hee went aboute too deceiue God, and would haue rocked his owne conscience asleepe: he shall cōceiue such a greef and confuzion in himself, that God shall be glori∣fied by it, and such as were as it were asleepe shall awake: those whose mouthes were out of tast shall find some ••a∣uour in the grace of God: such as were swalowed vp with sorowe shall knowe that God opened them the gate too come vnto him: and (too bee short) such as were in des∣payre shall recouer hope of life and saluation. Ye see then that the holy ghost ment in effect to declare in this text, that when we haue prayed vnto God euery man secretly by himself, wee must likewise offer him a generall sacri∣fice before men▪ in acknowledging how much we be boūd to his goodnesse, and in humbling our selues in our sin∣nes, considering how wee had bin damned creatures if he had not pitied vs. Therfore it is sayd that hee will haue an

eye vnto mē. And it behooueth vs to mark the order, wher∣of I haue made mention already. For Eliu began not at that point, but sayde at the entraunce, that the sinner shall be wakened: namely, for that God shal send him remorse of conscience: and if hee receyue not that, nor become the better for the warnings which are giuen him, nor bee afrayd of Gods iustice for all the threatnings that are made vnto him: hee shall feele his hand so hard and he∣uie, as hee shall be inforced to perceyue his owne confu∣zion, and to be greeued at it, and to become as a dead mā. [ 10] And afterward when hee shall come to quickening, God shall cause the gospell to be preached and the promises of saluation too bee offered vnto him: and hee shall receyue them to his benefit. Herevpon he shall call vnto God and conceiue such a confidence, as he shall without any dou∣ting go vnto God as vnto his father, and say. Seing that God hath adopted me into the number of his children, I may well take this libertie of cōming vnto him: and seing he allureth mee so sweetly vntoo him, I must not doubt but he will receyue mee. This doone, it is tyme to looke [ 20] towards men. If wee should looke first vntoo men, and make fayre confessions before wee haue beene sorie and throughly greeued within: it were a peruerting of the order of nature. But when wee haue once felt well the greeuousnesse of Gods iudgements, and afterward are able too receyue the promises of the gospell, and too call vpon God with trust in him, and too rest vpon his mercie and fatherly goodnesse by feeling him fauorable too vs, and that he is redie to help vs: when wee haue doone all this: then is it tyme to looke towards men, that is to say [ 30] too edifie our neyghbours. This then is an inferior thing to that which hath bin declared afore. And what is to be done in looking towards men? wee must say I haue sinned, I haue turned aside from goodnesse: I haue bene a wretched man. Here then it is shewed vs after what sort God ought too be glorified by vs: that is too wit, we must acknow∣ledge that he only is righteouse, and that there is nothing but iniquitie in vs, as S. Paule sayeth in the third too the Romaynes. For whē he sayth there, that God is iustified: he meeneth that we ourselues must first bee condemned. [ 40] If God should bee counted ryghteouse, and wee ryghte∣ouse to, what a thing were that? Then should hee haue a ryghteousnesse that were common and intermedled with men: but when wee bee vtterly conuicted and no man dareth exempt himself, but cōtrariwise, we willingly yeld ourselues gilty and resort to the only goodnesse of God, knowing that it belongeth to him only to iustifie vs, by∣cause he is the fountayne of all righteousnesse: that is the ryght acknowledging of him to bee righteouse. VVher∣fore let vs learne too do as is shewed vs here: For it is a [ 50] generall rule for all the faythfull, and it is not giuen by a mortal man, but by the holy ghost. Are we then desirouse to publish Gods goodnes which he had shewed vs in for∣giuing vs our sinnes. It behoueth vs to make this confes∣sion with the mouthe, to our saluation: according also as Sainct Paule sayeth in the tenth too the Romaynes, that our beleuing with the hart maketh vs righteouse, and our confessing with the mouthe maketh vs safe. And sainct Paule is a good and faythfull expounder of this presente text. For (as I sayd afore) if wee begin at the mouth, all [ 60] will bee but wynd and smoke. Therfore we must first be∣leeue with the hart, that is to say, we must gather oursel∣ues vnto God, and enter into our owne consciences, and therewithall bethinke vs of his promises, that wee may flee vntoo him and vnto his mere mercy for refuge. This done, the mouthe must followe next. And the confession of the mouth will then bee too our saluation when wee shall haue so beleeued with our hart vnto righteousnesse. Yet notwithstanding these two things must bee matched togither, according as wee see that they are inseparable. Now wheras it is sayd I haue sinned, I haue turned away from goodnesse, and it hath not profited mee: The holy ghost sheweth vs that our confession must bee pure and free∣harted, and that we must not speake by halues as the hy∣pocrites do which say. O it is true that all the world is sin∣full and all men are faulty: and so (too their owne see∣ming) they are wel quit. Surely there is no dallying after that sort with God: but wee must set foorth our sinnes to the vttermost: that is too say, wee must feele them to bee an intollerable burthen: according also as wee see that Daniell doeth, saying: Lord wee haue sinned. Is that all? no: but he addeth, wee haue delt wickedly, wee haue trayterously transgressed the lawe, and wee haue beene wilfull and froward. For what cause doeth Daniell packe so many words togither and make such a heape of them? It is to shewe vs, that such as will discharge themselues so lyghtly too Godward with speaking but a word of their faults and away, are but hypocrites, and neuer felt what their offences are. So thē let vs marke wel, that there is no superfluitie in this text, where Eliu, (after hee had shewed that the sinner which is quit at Gods hand, will cōfesse his fault,) sayth not only, I haue sinned, but also addeth I haue turned away from goodnesse. VVherin hee doeth vs to vn∣derstand, that a man must not stick to confesse his det ful∣ly, and to say, I haue bene vtterly froward and maliciouse, I haue bin giuen to all wickednesse, I haue strayed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & cleane from the waye of saluation, I haue be〈…〉〈…〉elf a∣gainst God, and I haue giuen myselfe wholy vntoo Satan as much as was in me. Thus ye see how wee must deale: [that is to wit,] not for countenaunce sake, but so as the hart do speke before God, and then the mouthe also a∣gree with it, too confesse before men what wee haue felt within ourselues. And this is in effect the thing which is shewed vs here. But now let vs apply this too our selues, & cōsider what entraunce we giue vnto God, to lay forth the treasures of his goodnesse towards vs. For a man shall see nothing throughout but hardnesse of hart, & shame∣lessenesse. How many are there in these dayes that hum∣ble thēselues? Nay, cōtrariwise al are wild beasts, and those which bee most faultie are leaste ashamed too mainteyne their wickednesse, and to set vp their bristles against men whēsoeuer they go about to amend thē: and yet notwith∣standing these men cease not too vaunt themselues of the gospell. As for reformacion it is nothing worth with thē, and yet it is the Apcee of the christians: And what is the first lesson that wee ought to beare in mind, but only this: namely that wee may be inlightened, to knowe the wrath of God, & to feele how haynouse our sinnes are, so as we may bee sory and vtterly ashamed of them: and that wee may imbrace Gods mercy and take hold of it, to the ende to be reconciled to him for our lord Iesus Christs sake, and by the meane of his deth and passion: And finally, to con∣fesse

our wretchednesse before men, to the ende that the whole prayse may bee yeelded vnto God, as meete is it should be? Beholde I say wherevnto wee ought to inure our selues. But what? as I haue touched afore, when men haue done amisse, and that not lyghtely but greeuously, so as one becommeth a drunkard, another a whoremay∣ster, a third a swearer, the fourthe full of malice and cru∣eltie, & another a beater of him that seeks nothing at his hand: If a man shewed them their faults, what shall he see? wild beasts which can by no meanes be tamed, and which [ 10] make but a skorne of all the warnings that are giuē them. For scarcely is there one amongs ten whiche hathe such lowlinesse and modestie in him, as too confesse his fault when hee hath done amisse. Seing it is so, do we not shet the gate against our God? do we not reiect the grace which is offered vs by the gospell? To be short, we cannot abyde that God should forgiue our sinnes. And so wee see that the preaching of the gospell vnto many men, must be too bereue them of all excuse, & to drown thē in the deepe of hell bicause they could not make their profit of it. Neuer∣thelesse [ 20] the holy ghost prouoketh vs to receue the exhor∣tacion that is made vnto vs here. VVherfore let vs fight against the pride and hypocrisie that are in vs. For they be the two things which keepe vs from humbling of oursel∣ues before God, and from confessing of our faults before men. Hypocrisie maketh vs to labour cōtinually to cloke our sinnes, & to pretēd to giue ourselues vnto goodnesse: when in the meane whyle our hart is farre from it, and we go the cleane contrary way. And againe, pride maketh vs to desire always to be in good reputacion. Alas we seke to [ 30] be esteemed among men, or at leastwise to kepe ourselues from reproche, and although we know our owne sinnes, yet are we loth to be told of thē, and in the meane whyle behold our condemnacion increaseth and doubleth be∣fore God and his Angels. And therfore let vs learne too tame this pride vntill it be fully subdewed, so as wee may come to our God with all humilitie, and not only cōfesse our wretchednesse before him, but also indeuer too edifie our neighbours. If a mā demand for what cause we shuld speake so before men: there are two reasons. The one is [ 40] that God might bee knowne too bee only righteouse as I haue sayd, and that his grace might appeare and shyne forth. Although God could forbeare our confession: yet notwithstanding hee will haue it openly and manyfestly knowne that we are in his det. And we see it is impossible to knowe his goodnesse towards vs, if wee be not vtterly cast downe, and euen at the point of dispaire. Thus ye see the first reason why wee ought too confesse before our neighbours, the goodnesse that we haue felt at Gods hād, in that hee hath deliuered vs frō death, and frō the destru∣ction [ 50] wherin we were plunged. Also there is a second re∣son, which is, that other men should be edified by our ex∣ample. I haue bin exercised in affliction, and God hath bin so gratiouse to deliuer mee out of it: It is good that o∣ther should knowe of it, that when God shal afflict them, they may think with themselues, behold Gods hand is v∣pon me, and he summoneth me: And why? For I was as it were drunckē in my sinnes, I was as a stray beast, and now I see that he intendeth to drawe me home, and to set mee into the waye of saluation again. Therfore it is good that [ 60] men should be warned of Gods working which wee haue felt in our selues: according as we see in very deede, that the confessions whiche the faithfull haue made in tymes past, do serue at this daye for our learning. If wee had not the example of Dauid in the greate numbers of afflictiōs which hee felt and ouercame: As soone as wee felt any small aduersitie, wee should forthwith bee at the point of dispayre. But when wee see that the issewe was good and profitable vnto Dauid, and that he confesseth it too haue bin a necessarie thing for him too bee so afflicted and cha∣stized at Gods hand, wee also doo trust in God, and flee vnto him, assuring our selues that it is his office too raise men out of the graue when hee hath cast them into it. So then when wee confesse our sinnes, and report how God hath visited vs with rigor for a time, and afterward quick∣ned vs againe: it serueth to instruct our neighbours, that they may not bee nouices nor thinke it straunge, when God shall visit them in their turne: and that (as I haue sayd) they may know themselues to be wretched sinners, and seeke the remedie of it by putting their trust in the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ: and be more and more stirred vp too serue and honor him, when they shal haue felt his goodnes and grace by experiēce, in that he hath receyued them so to mercy. Thus ye see that the thing which is shewed here, is not vnprofitable. For a hū∣dred are edified and instructed by the example of one mā. And therfore let vs learne to put away retchlesnesse whē our Lord shall haue shewed vs any fauour, so as wee may magnifie his goodnesse before men, and the same may bee preached with one common accord. And afterward it is said for a conclusion, he hath deliuered my soule from the pit, and my life from entring into the graue. Truely this cannot bee throughly dispatched as now, but it must suffize vs, to haue a short abridgement of it, as neede requireth for the ioyning of this parte too that with I haue declared al∣ready. Discourse hath bin made of the cōfessing of sinnes, how mē ought not to be ashamed to cōdemne thēselues, & that afterward it behoueth thē immediatly to adde the praise of God in that they haue knowne his goodnesse. And therfore it is said, I haue sinned, I haue turned away frō goodnesse, yea, and It hath not booted me at all: But my God hath drawne me out of the pit. Thē assone as the holy ghost hath taught vs to acknowledge our wretchednes & to be ashamed of it: he will haue vs immediatly to preache gods mercy, according as we haue felt it, how he suffred vs not to perish, as we must needs haue don if he had not helped vs. And let vs marke wel how it is sayd here vnto sinners, that it shal not boote thē to resist their maker. Then what shal we gaine when we hyde our sinnes and thinke not v∣pō thē, but rather nourish them by fond selfelyking? Alas, alas, it is alwayes too our greater destruction. But when God discouereth our iniquities, and maketh vs too feele them, thē doth he procure our profit. For therein he pro∣uoketh vs too resort vnto him. Thus ye see the first point that we haue to marke in this streyne: and further lette vs marke also, that when God shaketh vs off and layeth our wickednesse too our charge, there is no remedy but wee must be forlorne, vntill our God be pitifull to vs, and re∣ceyue vs too mercie. And therfore whensoeuer God for∣giueth our sinnes, it is all one as if he raysed vs frō death, so as wee must conclude, that when wee be so reconciled vntoo God, then hath hee wrought a resurrection in vs.

VVe were dead, and there was no hope of lyfe in respect of our selues, and he reacheth out his hand to make vs a∣lyue agayne, and too drawe vs vnto him. So then lette vs learne to magnify the grace of the forgiuenesse of sinnes, acknowledging that God doth rayse vs to life, as often as it pleaseth him to receyue vs to mercy. And forasmuch as we see that Satan ceasseth not to thrust vs from so great a benefite, let vs be so much the more inflamed and prouo∣ked to exalt it highly as it deserueth.

Now lette vs fall downe before the face of our good [ 10] God, with acknowledgemente of our sinnes, praying him so to exercise vs in his iudgementes & in the knowledge of our wretchednesse, as we may alwayes learne to serue and honour him, and to yeeld ourselues to him with true humilitie, that we may be strengthened more and more in his mercy, to trust thervnto & to settle ourselues wholly vpon it, and that therby we may learne to confesse before men, howe gratious our good God hath bene vnto vs in receyuing vs to his mercy, to the ende that the prayse of our saluation may be yelded vnto him alone, as to whom it is dewe, and that we may be so ashamed and abashed in our selues, that he onely may be exalted, and all of vs bee humbled vnder him, to yeeld him his due honor and ho∣mage. And for the dooing heereof it may please him too rayse vp true and faythfull ministers of his worde, which seeke not. &c.