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QyjCe-t^!^^^^-d
LIBRARY OF THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
<^^ n PRINCETON, N.J.
Purchased bt the
Mary Cheves Dulles Fund
m
^kwk^Wk^^^
Foure
SERMONS OF
zPi^aiUer lohn Caluin,
Entreating of matters very
profitable for our iime^ as may
face :
With a brief e expofition of the
• LXXXf^ILPfalme.
Tranflatcdout of Frencheinto
EngUflie by lohn Fielde,
?rJ
^ fmprinted at London
for Thomas Man,dwening
in T utter Nofler Rawe^at the
Signe of the Talbot.
Totherigntliono-
rahle andtnyverie good Lorde, Henry
Earle of Huntington, Lor d Haftings^
Hiingerford, Botrcaux , Mullens and Moyles , of
themofi Homrabie order of the Garter KKight,ci>id Lorde
Prefident of the Queenes Maiefties Councell eftabli-
fhed in the North partes, M«fi^/^tf wifliethen-
aeafe of true faith tutd continuance in the\eale of bis
iUjfedjreligiinfor euer Jimen.
T may bec(right honoura-
ble 5c myverygoodLord)
that men will maruayle ,
wliye I (houldc publiftic
thcfe foure excellence Ser-
mons of Maiftcrlohn Cal-
uincs , the Argumentcs
whereof bee not fo fitte and
agreeabk ( as they thinke )
to thefe times : feeing G O D in mercy hath gcuen vs
pcace,and fee vs at libertie from that Romilh yoke,{uf
iering the beamcs of his glorious Gofpcl to fprcad far
and wide,to the great comfort of many,andhis ownc
cuerlafting glory. Thefe benefits,as they are acknow-
ledged By mc : {o I befeech God to make vs all more
thankfuU then we hauc bcenc, that the litle fruicc they
' haue brought foorthamongeftvs, the common ignor
rance chat is yet vpon the faceof the whole landc, the
fmall preparation to the croffe and bending our backs
too bcare ic with Icfus Chrifte our head, docnoc
prouoke him too gcuc vs ouer coo followe our owne
waycs,to hauc no confcience nor care of any religion:
as I fearc rac the worldc is too to ful of fuch,thc more
fi5"2. is
TheEpifth
is the pitic.For who fceth not,that the comon fort arc
iofar from being inftru6tedjhauing plaidc the Tru-
antes in Gods Scholc thefe twenty andodde yecrcs,
that they hauenot yet taken oiit this one IcfTon, to bee
of mindewhenGod iball triethcni,too Separate them
fclucs fronj the curfcd fellowfliip of Antichrifle^ For
they hauenot yet learned too make any difference of
religion, but bendc them felues too ferueall times:
come there falihood or trueth , lighter darkriefle, re-
ligion or fupcrft ition,the Gofpcll or the MafTe, Tur-
cifme or Chri/lianifme,al is one too them,ro that they
may liue at eare,they are at a point : no Scripture lo
ftrong,orteftimonie foeuident^ that can conuincc
them, too make them (land faft too Gods enerlaftmg
trueth,the feale of their adoption ♦ Though Chriftc
haue •proaouQccd that whofoeuer denye him before
iMttUio, meo, hec wy U dcnie him before his father which is in
3$.}*. i heauen : though he fay playncly that hee that will foi-
lowehim muft take vphis croiTe and followe him,
jifoe.is.4» and that he that is afliamed too confeffe him before
- men,hewildenyhimbcforehisheauenlyfather;yca
^pc^ H'h although we bee commaunded too come out of Ba-
— byloD^and it be plainelyfaidc that the red Dragon will
powreouthiswatcrsasariuertooucrtakcrhe woma
•with childe,anedtcatorie.
men , if they may inioy him with their plcafurcs and
proccedingon in finnc,thcywil be concent with Pha-
lifecs a litlc to cntctramc him, that they make a mock
of him.But if in the entertaining of him,he fhal neuer
io lidc touch the ir botch and pinch iheyr pleafure : if
bee /hall come nearc their purfc and endanger they r
Icaft commoditie,if he fhal require mortificatio with
obedience 3c fandification,thcn cither they wil come
by night like Nicodcmusjorclfc they wilpray him to
be packing with the Gergefites, or too conclude they
wil lay violent hands vpon him, and naile him faft to JIJ*''^'^'
the crofle with the proudcScribes and Pharifees . As jJ^J^' '^^' ^
for the common fort they thatycflerday receiued him /^y^^j ii.'^^
SiS a kingjwith ofanna inexcelfis^ihcy wil to morow cry Mdrkju.so,
out Cr»r//^tf>with the high Priefls, that they mayliue M4rkfH,6/^
iofecuritie^Thefefermons thereforcas for their wor- if.x»;
t'lincflc they hauc been tranflated long agoe into othcf
tongues,and(as I vnderftoode,when 1 had almofl ii-
nifhcd them)out of thcLatinc into ours alfo ; fo my
labour beingpaft,thcy bcingalfo by authoritieallow-
cd:and I cfpecially following maifter Caluinesownc
french copie,6what diiFering fro the other: I thought
they coulde not but be very profitablc,at the leafle toa
prepare vsagainft the time to come. For God hath
geucavslongpcacejand ourrell hauingbred rufl:,gro-
wcnvp cue to the height of the conrept of hisgraces^
muftnecdesprouokchimto punifhthe wicked with
wonted plagues &. tocorre£t vs with thcfire ofaducr- ;
fitie,that we may be purged fro our foulc corruption.
Our coldllaruedPapiftcsJ cannot tcl what warmeth
hath draws the out of their holes,but now they begin
a litlc to fhcvv thcfelucs, they loke big, Sc their haging
looks flicw what malice lurketh in their cakred harts:
G-l but
TheEp'tfih
Butoar God liueth and therefore wee will notfcarc;
we know that all powers both inhcauen and in earth
arcfubiedto himrand we nothing doubt though our
(inncshaucftreDgthcnedthehandesofhisaduerfaries,
that they flioulde be heauy vpon vs, yet our God will
in our puniflimentes geue themancucrlafling ouer-
throw and an vnrccouerablc confufion .Though there
be many Newtcrs which haue made a couenant with
their ownc heartes rather to be of all religions, and to
ferae al timcs,thcn to endure the lead danger,yet there
are an infinite number of true Chrifliansjthat by his
grace to dicfor it, will neuerbow the Knee too BaalJ,
E, Kingfs.i^. YviU neuerpertake with the table of God and the table
of deuillcs,will neuer draw in that vnequall yoke tO'
geather with fuch Infidelles . Thefefhal neither the
lvvoordesofHazael,norof Iehu,or of Elifliaoncc
touch,for they are marked of the Lotdc. And if the
woorde of God be fare as him felfe,and hee haue ioy-
ned himfelfe as head too vs his members,why flioulde
we feare?If our head Hue we fliall liue^if he be afceu-
dedjwe his members flialbe drawcn vp vnto him.Our
blood flialbe of flrength too breake all their cheines.
The fliame, flaundcrand reproche that they lay vpon
vsjflialbe our grcateft glory , and our innocency^ laidc
to they r cruekie, flialbe ftrong enough tofct thefcale
of true happineffc vpon vs for (ufFeringfor righteouf-
ncffe rake,and of wretched confufion vpon the, that;fb
KMat% j.io. rage againfl: fuch as hauedonetheno harme,and who
they ought too haue moftcfteemedof, as for whole
fakes they haue Sc pofTclIeal thofe tcmporall bleffings
that god in his mercy hath gcuen the. We wil there-
fore in the name of our God,like wife M.irrincrs,tn
diis calmc time prouidc againft flormci and tcmpcfts ,
V\'eare
T)edtcatorie.
Wc arc not ignornnt what the order of nature fctrcth
beiore vs: there is no {ommcr but bnngeth a VV inter,
no day but hath a night : nor any profcfTed trueth that
bringcth not a tryall. Health is alwayes ioyned with
fickneiTcj and the bodily life is fubied to death : fo the
peaceof the Church is feldo me without aduerlitie: 8c
GOD forbid that wefhoulde not preparCjCuen to the
po wring foor ih of our blood j to ftriue for the trueth
of ourGod,yeatoo death icfelfe,if Godfo appointc*
If they bc(as Chryfoffora lairh)not oncly betraiers of
the trueth that fpeake lyes in ffccdeofthc trueth, but
alfo that doo not freely vtter the trueth : God forbid
that wee (houlde not be ready in time and place when
he willeth, both to vtter it freely, and to flandc too it
valiauntly and conftantly for the glory of his name,
i^nd one thing I docaflure the Papiftes of and all of
Caynes progenie,that the more they kil and perfccutc
the children of God,thc more wil Chrifl&his Gof-
pcll floorifh» Our blood wilbe a fru£tifiyng 5c multi-
pliyng reede,thcy hauefccne it and knowen it true by
long experience,8c herein they be but the inftrumcnts
of haflening vs too our happinefle. Not when thejr
will/orwc arc not fubiedvnto them .The Deiiil him
(clfe their Father and all helliftic furyes are fub-
ie6}: too our God,and cannot touch one heare of our
heades,tyll he haue gcuen them Icaue and that for our
good and tryall» Letthefonnes therefore of fcruitudc
in the pride of bondage ieareneuer fo muchcagainft
thelonnesof libertic,yetaday fhallcomewhcn their
righteoufnedefhaU breakc foorth and appeare more
glorious then the Sunneandall the Starrcs : when
as too them (what plcafuresfoeuer they Jhall vfurpc
in this world ) Ihall belong nothing but pcrpctuall
t5'4 fliamc.
TheEpifik
(hamcioyned with an euill name too z\\ poftcritfcs,
andancucrlaftingdcathinthc cndc woride without
cndc. Whcrefore(good my Lorde ) I am bold'c too
ofFcr vp thcfc fcrmons vnto your honour,rudeIy tran-
flatcdbymcjbcfecchingyour honour in the bchalfc
of Gods Church to accept of them. I will fay nothing
in their commendation, they are ableand of fufficient
age to fpeake for thcmrclucs* Onely I thought good
to fliew this humble duetic towards y ou,by this pub-
liquc tcflimonic. And I beleech God the father of all
mercies to ftrcngthcn you in that happy courfc of the
Gofpel , wherinto of his finguler goodocfTc hec hath
drawenyou : that you may be as abright ftarre in his
Churchc comfortably fliining forth in conftancieand
maintenance of the fame tructh,too the ilirr ing vp of
many : that not onely it may be geuen you ( as the A-
poftlefaieth) to beleeuc in him, but alfo too fufFer for
him. For this is true honour too fuffer for righteout
neffe : The caufc is it that muft comfort all that are af-
fli£J cd , and herein we hauc wonderfully to reioyce ,
when it is for his name lake, hercvnto alfo , wee muft
(as I hauefaid) prepare our (elues.For it is impolfible
that Chriftc and his Croffe (hotildebee fundred. The
worldcmuftclouc herowne,and in the woride wee
flialbe troubled, Chrift in his members muft be cruci-
iied til he come againe in his fecond & glorious com-
mingto fubdue all his cnimics. The remainder of his
affli^ions muft bee borne in our bodies, notbecaufe
hcehath not faffcrcd fully, but bccaufc wee mufte bee
made conformable vnto him, till wee bee fined from
the droftethat is in vs , too detcft it and wholly too
louc his righteoufiiefte^Whcrforewc mufte deteft
all thole Libertines, who count thca^ielues th^ Fami-
lic
A Sermon wherein all Chriltians f
arc exhorted to flic from outward Idolatric,
vponthc4.vcrre of thci5»
Pfaimc.
/ vfillttot commtinicAte with their fterifices oftrUod^ 4k4.
their names pjallnotfajfe through m^ rncMb,
Ehauehere to handle a do^
£trinc cleareand cafie inough, were it
notthatthcmofl part of thofewhicfe
call them felucs Chriftians,fought, I
can not tell what mancr of fubtiltics,
to cloke their cuiil withall, Thefiimme is, that after
we knowc the liuing God to be our father, and lefus
Chriftour redeemer, wee ought to dedicate both our
body and foule vnto him, who by his infinit goodncs
hath adopted vs for his children, and cndeuour to do
homage vnto this fo good a Sauiour, for that it hath
coft him fo dcare. And becaufe we arc bound not on-
ly to renounce all infidel itie,but alfo too feparatc our
fclues from all fupetllitions, which arc contrary as
well to the (cruice of God,as to the honour of his
Sonne, 8c which can not agree with the pure dodrinc
of the Gofpel, and the true confellion of faith: I haue
(aide that this do £lrinc is eafieynough of it felfc, and
that there remsincth nothing but to put the fame well
inpractife, fan ing that there arc a fort of peoplethac
feelccccicaine'flartingholes and fubtillfhiftes,tothc
cnde they may not fecmc culpable, in chat which is fo
greatly condemned by Gods owne mouth ♦ This
A cau&
1^ he frjl Sermon ofMJo.CaL
canfe conftrainetli vs to dwcl longer in the declaration
of this mattcr,tothe€nde that eueryoDc mayknowe
what is his duetie, and that no.'man decciue him-
felfe^ inaaginingthat hec is efcaped by couering him
felfe,as the common faying is^ vnder a wette fackc,
Batbccaufethatfome may thinkethat this is a fu-
perfluous argument in refped of vs;who haue^by the.
grace of God,oiir churches purged from the infe6li-
onsandthe Idolatrycs of the Papacic : before wee
pafTe any farther,it is good tofliewethat fuch people
are foulcly deceiued . Forinthefirft place when it is
fkowed vs, what an offence it is too defile our felues
with Idolatries, fa igning to confent or tocleauc too
their impieticsjweareputin mindtomournc for our
former faukes> and to afkc pardon of God for them
with all humilitic: andthcreypon too acknowledge
the ineftimablcbenefite that he hath fhewed vnto vs,
in pulling vs out from fuch filth wherein wee were
plunged. For wee can not too much magnifie fuch
an excellent gracc» And becaufe we knowe not what
may happen vnto vs, nor to what end God dooth rc-
fcruc vs , it is good that wee be al way es armed afore-
handeandinareadincfTe, tothcendethat in what fo
cucr place wccome,or with what temptation foeuer
we be afTaultcdjWc neuer fwaruc from the pure word
of God# It may fall our that many in this company
which hauc to traucil into the countries of Papiftes:
they bceing there in the combatc hauenecdc to bee ar-
med aforehand.On the other fidc,if GOD giue vs at
this day libcrtie to ferue him purely, wee knowe not
how long it wil indure^Lct vs therefore take the time
whc^invyebeinrefl, not as though it ihould alwaies.
-^ laflr
agatnjljciolattie* z
laft vsrbntas a truce in which god giueth vs leafurc to
fortifie our fclucstto the end iliat being called to make
■confeflion of our faith^we benot to fceke for not ha-
iling thought vpon it ill time couenient. In the meanc
while,wehauealfo to think vpon our pore brethren,
which arc kept vnder the tyranny of Antichrifl-,to the
end to hauc pittie vpon them,and to befecch God that
he wil fortifie them with fuch conftancie,as he requi-
rcth by his word^Furthcralfo we hauc to ftir them vp
to the end that they flcepe not Sc flatter thcmfeluesjbuc
rather that knowing their dutie,they inforce thefelues
to giue glory to God,For it is not only for our felues
that we are taught: but to th'end that euery one accor-
ding to the meafure of his faith,impane to his neigh-
bors of that which hath bin fliewed him in the fcholc
of God .We fee therforethat it is very profitablc,yea
nccefifary not only for vs,but forour brethren,that the
memory of this do£fcrine be oftentimes renewed vmo
vs,elpccially feeing the text which we haue to cxpoud
Icadeth vs thereto . As in this place, Dauid maketh a
great proteftation,and as it wereafolemnc vo we that
he wil neuer be a partaker in the lacrifices of the Ido-
laters efpccially to haue the Idolles in fuch hatred and
deteftation , that he wil abftainetonamc them, as
though he (houlde defile his mouth in naming them.
This is not the particular fa£lc of any meaneman:
but the example of DauidamoftexcellentKingand
Prophet , which ought to bea generall rule to all the
children of God.
Notwithftandingto the end that this may be kno--
wen more clccrcly, Scthatwealfo may be better tou-
Caicd thcrwith, let vs mark the reafonthathe addeth,,
tlie which is,as it were the grou ad ofthe horror that
A. 2. he
1 mnrjt lyermon oj ivi.ioxai.
Iiee hath to mingle himfelfe amonge the idolaters,
Ihe Lorde (&yeth hee) is mine MheriUKce, And is noE
this common to all the faithful! ? At the leaft there
is not ante one which dooth not rcioyce herein.
And in izt(iz it is very certayne, that God being once
giuen vnco vs in the pcrfon of his Sonncjdoeth day-
ly iniiite vs, to the cnde that wre fhoiild pofTefle him:
but there arc verief ewe which are fo affcded in this
behalf as the matter deferueth^For we cannot poffede
God but with this condition, that weealfo bealtogi-
ther his» It is therefore for good caufe that Danid^
groundcth himfelfe vppon this theame, feeing that
God is his inheritance that hee will abftayne from all
pollutions of idolSjthewhichdoturKevs away and
cftraimge vs from him .
This is the caufc why theProphct Efaie when hee
had vpbraided the lewcs, that they had giuen them-
felucs to falfc and flraunge gods, whiche they had
made vnto them felues, hee addcth, Loe theft, the fe ( I
Uy) are thy ponton: ftgnifying by thcfewordes, that
Goddenicthall couenauntandfelowlhip with idola-
ters >and difheriteth and depriueth them of that fo infi-
nite a benefite^which he would haue bellowed vppon
them by giuing him felf vnto them . Some man will
repliethatheentreateth thcrcjofthofe which put thciir
truft in idols, and dcccyuc them felues through vn-
bcleefe . I confcfle it : but contrariwife I aunfwcre^
that if they which wholic attribute, the honour of
Godrnto idolles, are fully cut off frpm him r they^
alfoat the leaftftraye in part from him, who through
fcare and infirmitie faigne thefclues to c5fcnt vnto fu-
pcrftitions. Foritcauotbc,thatany main what forte
focucr itbc^can draw ncrc vnto idols,cithcr in hart,io>
gefturcj
agatnfl fdolatrie. 5
gcfturc, in vvil, or m Ihcwc ,but he mufl: rccoylchim«
fclfc fo much the farther from God. Wherefore let
vs hold this article for rcfolute, that they VYhfch feekc
truely and in puritic of heart to polTefTe God for their
heritage, will haue no fcllowfliip. with Idolles, with
whom they haue fuch a diuorce, that hce will that all
chofe thatarchisjfliould proclaimeS: make continual
and deadly warre againft them. And Dauid exprcffc-
ly fetteth forth in this place, that hc.wil not be a parta-
ker with their offi:ingcs,and that their names flial not
paffc by his mouth* Hemighthaucfaid,! will nota-
oufe my felfe with the foohfli deuotions of vnbelec-
«crs, I will not put my confidence in fuch abufcs, I
will not leauc the trueth of God to f ollowe fuch lies^
He fpeaketh not {o : but rather that he will haue no-
thing to do with their ceremonies.Hcprotefteth thca
that he will abide continually in thcpuritie both of
body and foule, concerning the feruice of God . la
the firft place we haue here to fee, if this be not idola-
trie;to fhewe by outward fignes that a man agreeth to
fupcrftitions, through which the feruice of God is
corrupted and per uerted . They who fwimme (as
they fay) betwecne two waters, alledge, that feeing
God will be worfhippcd in {piritc, that one can not
woorfliip idolles, without hauing his trufl in them.
But the aunfwere is eafic : That God will not bee
woorfliipped in fpirite in fuch forte, that hee forfai
iccth the other parte to witte,the body, as though
that pcrtayncd not vnto him. For hee hath fpokene-
Hough thereof in other places, of bowmg the knees
before him, and of lifting vp the handcs vnto hea*
lien: whatthcn ? The principall feruice that hee dc-
maundcth^ is in deedc fpirituall.: but. the open dcr
A3 dacatioa
TIjefirJl Sermon oj ^JMjo.C^l.
claration which the faithful! make, that it is hconc-
ly whomc they feme and lionour, folio wethimmc-
diaily, andmufteftraightwayc bee ioynedvnto it^
But the obie6tion which they make,taking occafion
of one woorde, one onely place (hall be fufficientto
rcproouethem. It is written in the (econde Chaptci:
of the Prophet Daniel, that Sidrach, Mifachand A-
bedncgo, refufing too Nabuchodonofor once too
feemc to confent to the fuperftition whiche hee had
created J they plaincly declare , that they will not
woorihip his gods.
If thefe fubtil Sophifters had becne there , they
■woulde hauc laughed too skorne the flniplicitie of
thefe three feruauntes of G OD. For they woulde
hauc (aydc, Poorc foules , This is not too woor-
ihippc them, feeing you put no affiance in them :
thecrc is no idolatrie but where there is deuotion.
But thefe holy pcrfonages followed better eounrcll.
And in dcedc 9 this aunfwerc proceeded not from
their owne brainc : but it was the holye Ghofte
that enforced their tongues: againft which if we will
notrefiftejitismeetewetakc out of this place a true
rule and definition,that this is a true kinde of Idola-
trie, when any outward a£tc is done that is contrary
to the true feruiceof God,although that it be doneco-
lourably and through hypocrifie. Thefe hypocrites
cauill gaily, This no Idolatrie, (zcmg wcehaue no
truft in them : yet (hall thefe mtn continually rc-
mayne condemned by this fentenec, that the great
iudgc hath pronounced therof . But fuch kinde of
people flriue about a woorde, pretending onely in
parte too lefTcn their faulte, whiche they can not
aliogythcr excufc « They will cafily graunt and
coafeiFc
againjl fdolatrie. ^
coofeffe, that this is yll done : but they wouldc
banc men too eftceme it as a vcniall finnc.
But ii a man (houldc agree with them concerning
tlic name and yeclde that which they dcmaunde, yet
theyhauc gained nothing thereby « Letvs put the
cafe J that it were not called Idolatrie , too faignc
tooworlhippe IdolU : yet this cealeth not toobeca
trayterous ade againft G O D, an ade repugnaunt to
the confellion of Faith , a pollution and afacriledgc."
I pray you,when the honour of God is violated, thac
we falfifie the promife that wchauemade vntohim,
that through cowardifc and fayntnefle of ftomakc
wee crookedly renounce our Chriftian profeflfion,
that wee arc fo double and defile our felues in
thinges which G O Dhathaccurfcdiisthisfolightc
a matter J that after wee hauedooncit, wee fhouMc
onely wipe our mouth, andfaicthat we haue com-
mitted fome little faultc ? Let vs th'erefore puta-
waythefe (h if tes, feeing they ferue to no other pur-
pofcbuttomake vs boulder in cuill, without leffc-]
ning our faulte any whit.
There are yctfome others which arc more im-'
pudente; For noc oncly they labour too wrefte the
>vorde, making men beleeue that it is not fo great 5C
cnorinious afinne: but they moft plainely and flatly
maintaine that it is no finne at all. It is fufficient, fay
they, that GOD bee ferued with the hcarte: veric
well, if the heart were not double « For where there,
is an integritie and foundneflc, there the body flial nc-
uerbe drawneinto a contrary parte.I would knowc
of them what it is that carryech their fecte too the
Church,when they goeto hcare MaiTe^ Their legges
would neucr flurre of their ownc motion^
A.4.t They
The firjl Sermon of (SKfJo.Qal.
Thcymuft therefore necdcs Coufeffe that they haiie
fomcmannerofaffediontoferuethcidoUcs : yea in
that they defirc too bcholdc them with the cnimies
ofthctrueth, and that their lifeis more precious vii-
to them then the honour of God. But albeit their im-
pudencic be coo too fliameful : in fuch forte, that I am
afhamcd to difputeagainflit^as though they had (omc
colour of rcafon : y ct neucrthclcffc i c bchoucth to doa
it forafmuch as they plcafe them felues fo much therc-
in,5careas it were (o drunken therwith. Itisinough
as they thinkc, if God bee worfhipped in fpirite, Buc
%JCorJ,20, whereto then fhal the body (crue? Saint Paulecxhor-
teth vs to fcrue the Lord widi both : bccaufe they be*
long vnto him.God hath created the body,and Dial it
be permitted th erewith to do homage to the Diuell >
It were much better that they fhewed them felues to?
be flat Manichecs, denying that God were the creator
of the whole man. If they had the leaft taftc in the
"World of the Gofpcl, they would neuer burfl out inta
fuch liccmious libertie: For they fhe w that they know
notwhatitistohaucbinboughtby thcbloud of the
fonne of God. And if it bcfo, howe ftiould wee hope
for the rcfurredion of the flefhe, vnlefTc it were fop
that Icfus Chrifl is the Redeemer both of our bodies,
and foulcs. Saint Paule in the firfh Epiflle to the Co-
rinthians,and thc7.Chapter, giueth vs warning, that
wee ought not too bee the Icruauntes of men , fee-
ing that wee were bought fo dearcly. Hee there-
fore that giuffs himfelfc too the feruice of Idolles,
treadethhcnotthebloodof lefus Chriftevndcr his
fcrte, which is thepriceof the immortall glory that
wc wait for in our bodycs? Andto what reafon is ir,
that our body cs (hould b^ defy led and prophancd be*
fore
againfi fdolatrh^ y
fore Idols, feeing that the crownc of life is pfomifcd
vato the ill hcauea?Is this the mcAne to enter into the
hcau^nlykingdomeof God,tovNallow ourfcluesin
Sachans ftevves? Moreoucr it is not faid in vaine,thac
our bodycs are the temples of the holy ghoft. Wher-
f ore they who knowe not that they ought too kcepc
them in all holyncs, they fufficiently declare that they
neuer vndcrftoodcany thing of the Gofpeh they fticw
alio that they knowe not what bclongeth too lefus
Chrift nor to his grace«For when it is fayd, that wcc
are bones of his bones,and flefli of his fleQi,this plain-
ly fticwcth that wc arc ioyned to him, bothc in body
and foule. And therefore a man can no (ooncr defile
his body withanyfuperftition,buthc dcpriueth him-
felfeot that holy voion through which we arc made
members of the fonne of God •• Letthcfe fubtilc doc-
tours anfwere mc if they hauc rccciucd baptifmc only
in their foules, hath not God ordayned that this fignc
(hould be ingrauen in our flcfhe? Should therefore the
body in which the markeof IcfusChnfte is engra-
ucn , be defiled with contrarie Abhominations. Is
the Supper onely reccyued of the foule , and not
alfo with the handes and with the mouth? GOD
hath put the Armes and Badges of his Sonne vp6 our
bodyes, and fhoulde wee beray them with durte
and dounge? It is not lawefiilltoo imprince twoo
Coynes vpon onepceccof Golde: or to fet two con-
trarj'feales one vpon another to a publikcinflrumcnt
and writing: andfhallamortall man take vpon him
to falfifie baptifmc Si the holy Supper of lefus Chriftc
and lay, there is no cuillin it ? Such men trucly arc
worthy that their fcruants (hould make them bclccuc
that they were well minded to feruc them, in flccping
A.5* "" and
Thefirjl SermonofaSM^Jo.CaL
andrportingthcmfclues,andyct not mooning a fin-
ger to docanything.If they alledge that it is not all
pnc, for afmuch as wee hauc neede of their fernicc
that are vndcr vs: lanfwerc, that Teeing God with-
out hauing any neede, will imployvs to his honor,
that it is a great fliame for vs, that in doing all things
quite contrary to his wiI,wouldbc quite rid of him:
and yet a greater (hamc thata wormc of the c^rth, &:
a ftincking carrion would hauc more prcheminencc,
then his creator. It behoueth a man yet too fpcake
more grofcly to fuch beafts.They fay that it is lawfull
forthemtodiflcmbleamongftPapiftcs, Who is ic
then that giueth them the brcadc they catc therc>
And who is it thatmakcth the earth to bring foorth
fruite? If they cannot deny but that God nourifheth
them as others „wherfore doc they homage to the de-
uill wnh their body cs? If they were Chriflians, I
would vfc more waightie rcafons, towittc, in de-
maunding of them , to what end wc Hue hccte be-
neath : but it is piticjthat they who wil through their
fubtletiesfo dally and iefl: with God, (hould become
fo brutilh that they muft be handled as men voyde of
common fenfe. Itfeemeth to them that they haue faid
fufficiendy to the mater, when they fay they doe no-
nothing in this behalf but for fcare-But if this collouc
may take place,then it muft be (aid that lofeph fhould
haue don no euil,to haue committed whordom with
his maiftrcffc,notfeeking the fulfilling of his pleafure:
but only to yeelde to the violence which Ihee off red
him .This had then bin folifhly donof him to fuffcr fo
inuch,and to lay him felf open to fuch infamie, iQcing
he had the meanc to efcape it. But it rather becomcth
ys to hold vs to the tcftimonic of the holy ghofljwho
> prayfcth
againjl fdolatrie^ ' 6
praifech this conftancic of his. If men doe no cuill in
playing the idolaters,to auoid the rage of Papifts: He
that fhall bee his maiftcrsbaudc,(]iall not offende. A
man fhalbcexcufed when hcpoyfoncth his neighbor,
or when he comraitteth any trcafon for fcarc of offen-
ding him to whom he is fubicfttThis article is much
ftoodevpon,butasIhaue(aid,thcreisno hardnes or
doubt in It: but it is good to fee into what confufion
they fallow ho imagine by their cunning fleights to ef-
cape the iudgemcnt of god. There are diucrs which ac
thi s day vfe another flarting hole : for cof effing that it
is a detcftable thing to mingle therafelues with thcl-
doiatrics of the Painims, they wil not rhat this extend
It fdfe to the fuperftitions of the Papaci€:as though all
the impieties of the Panims had not bin the corrupti-
ons of the true feruiceof God. Fr5 whence 1 pray you
drew the Panims al their ccremonies,but from the ho-
ly fathers? The mifchief was that they corrupted that
which was wel inftitutcd of God. And yet all the ab-
hominations that euer were in the worlde, had this
goodly clokc of the name of God 8c of Religion: but
this made them not therfore iuftifiable, neither might
the faithful communicate with them. Let vs procedc
farther.Although that I agre herein with the thatther
was a difference betwixt the idolatrieof Papifts , and
that of the Painims in times pafl:,yet they canot deny
butthatGodasftraightlyforbadhis olde people the
Idolatrieof Beth el jasiheldolarieofflraungccon-
tries* When the Calues were fet vpin Dan and Be-
thel, it was dooncvnder die name of God : yea,'
of him which broughte his people out of Egypt*
But, forafmuche as the Scruicc there eftablifhed ,
was contrarie too die do(3:rinc of tjic Lawe, God
copdcm-
ThefirjlSermonofoLMJo.Cal
condcmacd all thofc that went thither to defile them
felucs.Andtruely thefethinges , the Supper of lefus
Chci(l,andthePopi(h MaflTc, arethingcsno IcITere:
piignaiint and contrary one to the other, then the fa-
crificcs of Moyfcs &: leroboham.Wherforeiwhcnce
came thatdifpcnfation to goc to the Maire,vndcr coii-
lour,that it is but an altering or difgaifing of the vSup-
pcroflcfus Chrifte> Contrarywifc I fay , that they
whichc truely fearc God oiightc too haue it in a dou-
ble detcftation,forafmuch as it more manifcftly pro-
phancth the holy ordinance of the fonnc of God, then
if It had notbecne fo contrary and repugnant vnto ir»
Let vs then briefely holdc this rule, that all the iuucn-
tionsof menjwhicharcfet vpto corruptethe fimplc
puriticofthewordof God, and to ouerthrowc the
fcruicc which he demaundeth and alloweth, they are
very facriledges,whcrcwith a Chriftian man may not
communicate,withoutbla(phemingof God : that is
to fay,without treading his honor vnder his fcctc. I
knowcvcry wclthat this rigour wil fcemeharde and
intollcrable to them that would hauc a man to handle
them according to their appetite. But what wouldc
they that I (hould doe hecrcin,kno wing them to be (o
delicate? I would fparc them if it were pofiblc for mc#
Butyetmuft bothc I and they fuffer condemnation,
when God once fpeaketh : They fay they linde no
man more feuere herein then I am.But I would them
to vnderftand^that hitherto I hauc handled them but
too gcntlcly,whichbceingfo, they cannot be exemp-
ted from that which the Prophet lercmie requireth of
the Icwes, who were Captiucs in Babylon . It was
cotonely forbidden rhcm to goe to the abhominati-
bdsof the ChaldsanSjor to make flicw to confent vnto
'^ - ihcm,
cgdwjl Idolatrie. y
them : but: ,ar cxpreffc commaundcmcntc is giuca
thcai,to ILewc thacthey (hould count it a moflc vile
andfikhielauour , His words are thcfe: Iqh fijall f^ ■
v^its them . 7 he Gods which haue not mt^de Heauen and earthy
flfAllpertMfrom the earth ^anA from vnder the Heanen, There
is one circumftance woorthy to bcc well marked i
that the Prophetc hauing written his Booke in He-
brcwccouchcththis vcrfe in greatc Caldxy letters :
as chough he hadpreffcdthc lewcsto chaunge their
language, to theende to (hewe more play nly the dif-
agremenc they had with the idolaters*
Nowclet them-hardly goe and complayne of me,
as though I were too excclliuc. And yet 1 neucr re-
quired half fo much ofthcm as the Prophet doth.Buc
whether Ifpcakeofit,orholdemypeace, wecccafe
not to be all bound to that Law which GOD hath
laid vpon vs. And indeed it is not without caufe, that
God fpcakingynto his faithfulljhcfaycth vnto them.
Tee aremymtneffeii andmy feruaumei whome Ihaue chofen^ ^/%^'44'2«
Whofoeucr will approuehimfelfe to be a member of
lefus Chrifte , muft fhewc that this title agrecth vnto
him,(o t hat they that through their falfc diffembling
and hypocrifie bury this tcftimonie of thejtrueth , can
in no wife be excufcd* And what then (hall become of
themjl prayyou,who all their lifclongfubuert it, as
they do,who not only hid their ehriftian profefliOjto
the end they may /hew no (ignc therof before men:but
do commit a6ts altogither cotrary to it? There rcmai-
ncth nothing then to the Children of God, that are in
the midrt of fuch pollutions, but to afflid their foules
by the example of good Lott : yea to fpeake againftc
cuill,accordingasG O D fhallgiue them the meanc
and opportunitic, Nowc let vscomc coo fpeake
The firjt Sermon oj^yS/IJo^ id.
of thofe Idolaters which at this day beare the fwayr
I haue already fomewhat touched the Made • Now
although this bee a blafphemia fo foulc and fliame-
full, as nothing can bee more , yet notwithftanding
there are yet found aduocates of fo ill a caufc, who in
this behalfcflinkebacke: and yet will they nill they,
they are conftrayned to confeffc that which I Tay: that
is,that the Maflc in it fclfe is a renouncing of the death
oflefusChriftjandafacriledgeforged by Sathan,vt-
taiy to abolifli the Sacramenr of thcfupper^They can-
not likcwifc denie but that the Prayers made vnto
Saintcs^and fufftages that are made for the dcadc , arc
wickcdabufes, whereby the inuocation of the name
of God(whichaboue all others is mofte holy) is pro-
phaned: notwithftanding medling them fclues with-
fiich filthineflcs amongft the Papiffes, they think that
they are not faultic. What fliould wc doe heercin
fay they? It is not lawful! for ys to reforme thcfe thin-
gcs which weknowc to be euill : For we are priuate
meniand they who haue publique authoritie main-
tainc them: wherefore itbchoueth vs to goe thorow
that way: I grauntthem all that they fay : but this is
nothing to thepurpofe.Itis not theirpartSjto reforme
the common eftate of the people: and no manrequi-
rethitofthem:butamanmayadmoni(h them tore-
forme them felues: the which belongeth to their due-
tie. It is not fayd vnto them,that they (hould purge
the Churches or the flreeres: but that euerye one
fhoulde kecpe his owne boJie and (oulein puririe,
and labour by all meancs , that GOD may be ho-
i>ouredinhis ownchoufe,
Jhefc twoo things are diunf: enoug:-!, too abolifli
agdinjl fdolatrie. 8
thcmifTcoutafany Countrie,arenoc to bee foundc
there, when he cannot let the vfc of it. But yet they cfc-
fooncs reciirne to the foote of their foiige : that is that
they renounce not the death 5c paflion ot lefiis Chrift,
bccAufc they haueno fiich intent* But I afke of them
whatitisthata Chnflian man confcfleth^with his
mouthc , but that fAme that hce belccueth with his
heart? That the a£lc which they commit is altogither
contrary tooChriftian profcllion, is notorious c-
uoiighc , So that, ( afmuche as lycth in them ) they
renounce and forfakc that which is of pure faith ♦
I will fpeakc yet more familiarly ♦The maffc isa la-
crifice^whcrein thePapifls will offer vppeChrift, to
bee reconciled too God. If this were true, lefus
Chriftc by his death and paflion had not purchafcd
rightcoufneflcnorcuerlafting faluation for vs, let a
man go« aboutethc bufheas farreas hewill,yethec
muflcomc tothispoynt. All they that goe to MafTc
vndcr the title of deuotion , proteffe too confentc
heerein ♦ So thap, afmuch as lyeth in them , they
fhcwe that they holdc not their redemption pcrfedc
by the death of lefus Chrifte^ And there bee fomc
which bounde them felues a little more natrowlye:
that is J that they referue but fome Parrifh or highe
M afle, in which it feemeth to them that there is more
conformitie with the flipper of lefus Chriffe.
Andindeedca man might faye that the MafTes
whiche are faide afwell by thofc hedge Prcifles as
whiche by thofe Chanons and Chaplayncs , and
all thofe are founded vppon fome particular dcuo-|
lion , whiche ^they fette out eucry day to falc, arc
as Harlotcs of the Stcwcs . The Parilhe Prieftes
Mailc
Thefirjl Sermon of^i^MCJo, CaL
MafTcisasaftumpct, that fhroudeth her felfc vnder
thenamcofherhufbandeitokcepeher felfeinthc re-
putation of an honcft woman. Although thcfimili-
tudebccnotaltogither fitte: For a married whorc>
will alwayes yet haue fome fhamc from giuing oucr
her felfe too all commcrs : but that famcParrifhc
Prieftes Mafle , is the mofte common idolatrie of
allothcrs.Sofarrcis it off^that they that paint her ouc
with this coulourjkeepehere yet any trace of thefup-
peroflefus Chrift: ycaasif a thcefc were eucr the
better, whcnhce (hall be apparelled with the fpoyle
of him, whofc throtc hee hath cutte , and Ihall bee
mounted vp vpon hisHorfc. Wee feeke (fay they)
thefupper of lefus Chrifte. Seeing we cannot haue
it pure^in the tyranny in which we liue,wc mufl: con-
tent our felucs too take that which is left c , way tinge
when God will put to his hand, Forfooth a goodly
cxcufc. Forafmuchas they haue no right and founds
vfe of the Supper, by way of prouifion,they proteft,
that they account not lefus Chrift for their onely e-
iierlafting Sauiour ,and they feeke euery morning a
newe facrificc to blot out their finncs. Forallthis is
in the Parrifh Prieftes MalTe, afwellas in that of S*
Nicholas,or in thofe that are faid for thedead. They
faigneto worfhipan Idoll;^andyetboaftethcmreIucs
to feeke lefus Chrift, And to the end, they may cot
'£ghtagainft God without a fwoordeand a Buckler,
they bring foorth the authofitie of this man here.and
of that man thcre.As if the abfolution of a man could
exempt ihcm,from bceing condemned of God. I fpare
to fay that they notably bcliechemjwhom they bring
for their aduocares. But admit it were fo, thara holy
man for a time thought it not fofrrcate an cliilhoo
againjlfdolatrie.
!goc to an kigh MafTc : yet yf afterwardcs he knew ,tr>c
^crour wherein he was, his latter iudgement is fo
much the more to bcbeJecucd,for thecondemnation
thereof,fora(miich as men may fecjihat the power of
■God hath compelled him tberevntOjandhc is plainly
found to be ouercomc in that thing , which before he
better comparifon too painte them out liu<:ly in their
colours, then that of Efau : For when he iawe that I-
iaack his father fent Jacob into Mefopotamiatotake
him awife,forafmuche as thofe of the Countrey of
Canaan difpleafed both him and Rebecca his wifc> fo
farre foortn as they hated them deadly, to fatiffie his
parentcs in partejic tooke him a ncwc wife : but hcc
f orfookc not her wh5 he had alredy . He kept the euil
then whereof Ifaack complaynedtbut to botch vp the
matter in fbme fort, he huddled vp a newc marriage*
So, they who are fo wrapped in the world that they
cannot follow that which GOD commaundeth,they
make many medlayes, and hotchpotches of fundry
fortcs,that in fome forte they mayc eouforme them-
felucstooGoddeswyll : but they ceafc not for all
that, alwayes too retainc fome corruption/o as all
that they doo , is neither pure nor fincere . I know
very well that there are many poore foules in great
pcrplexitie ,who without hypocrijfie dcfireto walkc
thcryght way , and yet notwithftanding they can
ixotridde them fclues from many doubtes: wherat
I doic
againjl fdolatrie. \z
Hoc not much woonder, coniddering the horrible
confulion that is in the Papacy. In very decdel
much pitiethcyr cafe, who fcckc the meancs that
they may to (crue GOD, keeping them fclucs if ic
werepolTiblc, amongeft the cnimicsof the faith , But
what > I know not what clfc to do cither to the one
or to the other^ but to fhcwe them wherein they hauc
faulted, to theende they may amend it,
Ifany will comeanddemaundc this or that parti-
cularly,! will fendefuche enquirers to that gencrall
rule of G O D whichl holde* I fpeake thiSjbecaufe
there are fomc fo importune a thata man (hall neuer
hauc doonCjif he would anfwere all theyr doubtes#
Such pcop le may rightly be compared to them who
after they hauehcardea Sermon,wherein they arc ex-
horted without fupcrfluitie Si pompc foberly to hear-
ken vnco it, would rather haue the preacher to make
theyr Hofe and fcwe their fliooes, Well,what muftc
wedoothen? wee haue in all this a certaine markc
whereuntowemuftaime : that is, that the zealc of
Gods houfe do euen cate vp our hcarte, and (o mouc
vs that we take yppon our felucs all the diflionours
and opprobrics which are doonc vntoo ys for his
name.
When fuch zcale fhall be well kindled in our
heartcs, and fliall not be like ftubble fct on fyer,
and quickly quenched, but (hall burne continually
therewith : a man (hall bcefo farrc of, from n?a-
kyngfhewetoo approuethe abhominations where-
with G O D is diQionourcd, that it (hall bee im-
pofTible for vs too holde our peace, andtoodi(rcmblc
wlienwc Ice them.
B4 And
The fir Jl Sermon ofewc out their blafpemies, as Soueraigne andvn-
reuocablcdetcrminationsandfcntenccs » Andfuchc
manner of Idolles wyll bee fo prowde that when
they hauc once fpoken a woorde , they cannot a-
tide that reafon or trusth haue anye place * But
ycr
againjlfdolatrie^
yet this I flicw them by the way that it were much
better forthcm to think what an horrible vengeance
is prepared for all thofe that turnc the tructh of God
intoalye.Lctnotthcfe chamber and carpet Doctors
take heerc any higher eilate vponthcm then is fit for
them .For this were to chatter againfte our heaucnly
maifter,towhomeitis raeetethat all we giue audi^'
cnce* Thefe goodly titles auailc nothing hccre too
exempt any man from iudgement: except it bee that
the Lord Abbots, Pryors, Deanes, and Archdeacons
be conftrained to lead the dance in thi s greeuous con-f;
demnation that God ihallpronounce^Now although
my Lordes the Courtiers were woont too pleafc men
with their holie Water, yet they fliall not fo pleafe
God « To conclude, let all thefc trifling Spendthrifted
lefters and Praters holdc their tongue, and not caftc
foorth their accuftomcd cauills, vnlcffe they wil feeic
his mightie handc y at whofc woorde they ought toa
tremble. This is a foule errour to make men beleeue,
that in taking me to be their aduerfarie they fhall not
haue God any more to be their ludge* Let them then
blot my name out of their papers in this matter,! prc-
tcnde therein nothingbutthatGodmaybe heardeSC
obay ed j and not to gouerne mens confciences accor-
ding to my appetite, nor to lay any necclfitie or lawc
vpon them. Concerning others,that rcied not Gods
word in fuch pride and outrage, and yet notwithftan-
dmg are fo weake and fluggifh, that one cannot make
them once to wag,I cxhorte them that they take bet-
ter heedeunto them relues,not to flatter themfelucs, as
they haue doonehetherto . But that they open their
cy es,8c awaken , to fee and to feclc their wretchedncs
and miferie * I knowc the difficulties andftraights
B.J, whcrpia
TloefirjlSermonof(S\4^Jo£aL
wherein .they arc, ncythcrdoelrpeakc vnto them of
feruingG ODpurely among IdoIaccrs,as of an ea-
fie matter : but if they want ftrength , let them flye
vntoo GOD, toothcendc hee may forciiie them,
and they may learne to prcfene his glory before all
the thingcs in the worldc. I defire al the poore faith-
full ones that arc in thiePapacic that they wyll mark
this, as the Prophet leremie beyngin leruialem,
fente the fame leiTon too the people that were kept in
captiuitic at Babylon. If the tyrrannie of the Pope
and of his becfo hardcand cruell, the Icwes of that
time had their parte thereof : And yet notwithflan*
dyng they were commaunded too detefland abhorrc
the Idolatricof Chaldea, cucn intheverybofomeof
the Coiintrcy : For it is no reafon that the ty rrannyc
of menfliouldcempayrc ordiminifhthe duchonor
that wee owe vnto GOD. There is here no excep-
tion or priuiledgc,for greater fmall, rych or poore.
Let all menthercbre bowedownc theyr neckes , let
the poore fearc, Icaft he faying for fearc I knowe not
what to do , G O D aunfweare, neyther knowe I
what too make of thee. Let not the rychc be drun-
ken with theyr cafe, as it werclying vppon theyr
Bedde ? But rather let them learne by the Apofilc
SaintcPauIe his example tooaccounteall but Dung
and lofTe, which may turne orhynder them from
Chriflian life*
Inthemcatiet/mc,letnotvs forget for our parte,
that which I touched in the bcginn ing : that is , too
appliethis to our inilrudion , too beealwayes ready
into what coafl: of the world foeucr wee fhall be car-
ded, or what thing focuer happen vnto vs, too con-
tinue
againjl fdolatrie^ i^
tiniiefleJfaftctnthe finccre confcflion of our faith,
dctcftyngall fuperflitions. and Idolatries andabu»
fcs which arc contrary too the trueth of GOD , dar- ^^
ken his honour, and oucrthrowe his feruice.
5*jThefcconde Scrmon^conteining
an exhortation tofuferperfecution
toofoUowc Icfus Chriftc and his Go-
ipell, vppon that place which is i|a the
shr/tcefJth chapter too the / '
Hebtcwes, /
tct vt therefd^e ^oeoik^fotirtmiti^^tt CWifl ie'krfng
bisrefrochc,
LL thcexhortatiosthatcanbcmadf
vnto vs to fuiFer patiently for.Ghirftc
his name, and for the Gofpcls caufe,
(hail hauc no place , if wee bee not
wcHaflurcd of the caufc for whiehc
wefyght . For when the (^ucftion is
of forfaking our ly fe wee niufl be well refolued and
certayne, wherefore it is . Andfuchconftanciecan
not bee in vs 1 vnlelTe it bee grounded in the certain-
tie of faith . It is true that ccrtaine wyll fooliihly and
ra(hly venter too die, too vpholde certainc fooliihc
opinions and dreamesjthattheyhaue conceyuedin
theyrownebrainc^ Butfuch hcadinefTedeferueth ra^
ther to be holden for frenfie.then for Ch riftian zcalc*
As alfo ia veryc dccdc there is no flaycdneflcnox
fetlcd
^oefirjl Sermonof and wcchaiie him for our
guidc.If it had beenefimplyfaidc vntovs, that to bee
Chriftians wehaue to march thoroweallthe oppro-
brycsoftheworldc,to come freely to death as often
as it Aiould pleafc God, wc (hold haue had fomc coul-
lor as it fliould (ecmc to reply c, that this were a very
flrange thing and farrc from our nature, to wander fo
without a guide ♦ But feeing wc arc commaunded
to foUowc our Lordc lefus j his leading is more
right and honourable^then for vs to rcfufe iu But to
the cndcthat wee may bee better touched, it is not
bnely fay de that lefus Chriftgoeth before vs as our
Gaptaincibutlhat we are conformed to his image : as
Jltm-^'^ S^Paulehath fpoken in the 8. to the Romaincs, that
God hath ordcinedal thofc whom he hath adopted to
be his Children, that they fhould be made conforma-
ble to him who is the head and paterneof all. Are we
fo nice anddayniic that wc w HI indure nothing? thea
mufl wc renounce the grace of Godjwhereby he hath
called vs to the hope of faluation* Forthcfcare two
things,thatcannotbcfundreditoobeameberofIefus
Chrift,Sito becxercifcd with manyafflidios. Surely
;wc ought a great dealc more to cflecmc fuch a confot-
j»itic
ofjuffermg Terfecution. 18
miry with the f5nc of God the wc do.It is true that in
the world,to fuffcr for the Gofpcl is a thing condem-
ucd:but feeing that wc know that Infidels arebiindct
ought not we to haue clcrer & better eies the they ? It is
alhamc to bcafflidcd of the which occupye the place
of iiifl:icc:but S.Paul (hcwcth vs by his cxaplethat wc
Iiaucgrctly to reioicc our felues in the wouds of lefiis
chrifl:,as it were in certain imprinted marks,by which
God acknowledgeth vs, and auo wcth vs for his. And
we know what S. Luke rchcrfeth of S,Peter & lohn: AB^s^u
to wit, that they rcioyccd, that they were accounted
worthy too fuffcr infamy Si reprochc for the name of
our Lord lefus.Loetwo things quite cotrary, igno-
mj SC dignitic:yca inafmuch as the world being mad
and outragious,iudgeth contrary to all reafon:and by
this mcanes turneth the glory of God into difhonourr
But for our part let vs not rcfufc,c5cerning the world
to be dsfafcd and bafely cftcmed,that we may hereaf-
ter be honored before god Sc his angels«We fee what
pain ambitious men take to obteinc the order of fomc
kingjSc what triiiphcs they make therof.The fonnc of
god prcfetcth his order vnto vSySC euery one dcfpifeth
it. I pray you in doing this arc wc worthy to hauc a-
ny thing comon with him > Our voluptuoufneffe is
here bitten and can perceiue nothingrfor thcfcarc the
t-rucarmesofhcauenlynobilitie.Prifons^baninimets
curfed fpskings^import nothing but altogether (hamc
Sc reproch in the fatafie of membut what (bal let vs to
look vp vnto that which God hath iudged SC pronoii-
ced therof,vnles it be our own infidelitie? Wherefore
let the namcjof the (one of god hiuc fuch credit amog
vs as it defcrueth, to the end that we may learn to take
it for ^ fingular honor^tliat he fcttcth his marks vpo vs
Ql othcrwifc out
ThejecondSermonojiyvlJo,Ut*
our vnthankfulnefle is intollerable. If God handle vs
according too our dcfcrtcs, hath hcc not iuft caufe,
too chaftifc vs dayly a thoufafidekinde of wayesr
yea which is more,a hundred thoufand dcathes^ were
notfuffiicientforfomclitleportionofourmirdcedes*
Bur by his infinitegoodneflTcheputtethallour faultcs
vnder his feeteandaboliflieth them : and whereas he
mightpuoiih vs as wchaucdcfcruedjheiindcth a w6-
deufulmeanejtoeaufeourafflidionsto bcturncd toa
our honor,5{: a ipeciaU priuiJedge : forafmuch as tho-
rowe them,weare aflbciatedand knit into the felow-
Ihyp of his tonne. And mufl we not fay that when wc
i,Ptf7.4.i5» difdayncfuch a bleffed condition that we haueil pro-
fited in the Chnftian dodrinc > And this is the rcafo»
vvhy S. Peter,after that he hath exhorted vs,to walke^
holily in thefeare of god,that we fufFer not as thceucsj.
Whoremaifters and Murderers,hce addeth by Si by,
that if we fufFer as Chrifliansjthcrein we glonfie god
with that benefitc which he hath bellowed vpponvs.
Ic is not without caufe that he hath fpoken To ♦ For
who are we I pray you,that we ftioulde beewitnefTcs
ofthetrueth of GOD and procurers of the main tc-
uancc of his caufe ? Loe wc bee poore wormes of the
carthjcreaturcs ful of vanities and lyes : and-yet God
wil that his trueth bedefedcd by vs: which is truly fo
greate honour that it apperteincth not, no not too the
angels of Paradife. Ought not thisconfideratio alone
efficiently inflame vs to offer vp our felucs vntogod,
feeing that it pleafeth him to iraploy vs to fo honora-
ble a thing? Notwithffanding many cannot withold
them felues from reafoning againfl GOD : or at
the Icaftefrom making theyr complayntes for thac
GOD doo th not better fupportc theyr wcakencfTe*
offufertngperfecution. tp
Itisamcrucilous matccr(ray they) feeing that GOD
hath chofen vs tor his children,how he can fuffcr that
wecfhoulde bee (o trodcn vnderfoote and tormen-
ted of the wicked. I anfwere,althoiigh that it appearc
not vnto vs wherefore he doth it,yet that he ought by
good right to hauc this authoritie ouer vs to br i ng vs
in to order according to his pleafure. Bur w hen wee
fee that lelus Chriftc is ourpatterne,ought wenot too
cfteeme it a great blcffingto be made like vnto him,
w^ithout any further enquirie? Notwithftanding god
(heweth vs moft cuident ciuks why hcc will hauc vs
tobeperfecured ♦ When there (halbc no ctlicr thing
but this admonition which S. Peter maketh, wee arc uPet.i.'j^
difdainfuli and fturdy enough, if wee doo notrefte
our (clues vpon it , that is, that forafmuch as gold and
filuer which ate but corruptible mettallcs, are purged
and tried by the firc,it is good reafon that our faith,
which cxcclleth al the riches of the worldc,(hould be Pf^^f**f*'*^i
pr jucd. God couldc very well crownc vs at the firflc
dafhc^without making vs too endure any combates:
but as hzt woulde that lefus Chriftc (houlde raigne in
the middcftofhisenimiesvntil the end of the world:
fo likewile he would that webcing mingled amongft
them,wee fhoulde (uffcr their wrongcsand oppreffiSs
vntillthathefliouldedeliuervs from them. I know
very well that the fleQie will fpurne when it mufte
be brought to this pointe,but yet muft the wil of god
haue the maifterie.If wefecleanycontradi6tion iti
vs,wemufl:notwoonderatit.Forthisis very natu-
rall,toof!iethecrofre : Notwichlbndingletvsnot
ccafe to go forward knowing that god acceptcth our
obedicnccjfo that we bring vnder and fubdue all our :•*
"tcnfcs and defir:s,to the end to make them fubie£b vn-
Cs to him
^efecond Sermon of;*B'o«^
<^7?«(7/.So whcnfuchfeares of death Ihallpricke vs:
let V3 labour to haue the vpper hand,or rather let G od
ouercomc forvs: andnotwithftanding letvs holdc
our {elucsaflured,that this is an acceptable facrificcvn
to him, that we refift & fight againft ouratFedions,to
the endc wc may be wholy at his commaundemenr.
And this is the principall warre , wherein God wyl
haue thofcthat arc his to employ them fclucs : that is,
that they enforce themfelues^to bring downc all that
which exaltcth it felf in their minds Sc vndcrftadings,
too turne them away from the path that is ihcwcd,
vnto therajnthc meane time the confolations are fo
ample, that wc may well fay that wee arc more then
flouthfull,whcii we fa ile and waxe faint hearted * In
oldc time a great number of people/or the defire of a
filly Garland of leaues , ref ufcd no trauaile, no paine
nor trouble: yea they made no accounte to die: Not-
withftanding there was not any one oftliemjwhiche
fought not at aduenture,bcing vn certaine whether hq
Ihouldc winneorloofethcpnfe. God hath fctfoorth
vnto vs an immortall cro wne,through which we are
made partakers of his glory e» Hce mcaneth not chat
wc fhouldc fight at aduenture : but he promifeth vnto
vs all,fuch a reward as wee ought {pecially too defirc.
What occafi5 then haue we>to fcekcany farthendoe
wc think that it isfaid in vainc that if we die with le-
iijs Chrifl we Oialalfo line with him? The triumph is
%Ttf»'^* altogeathct like,&wc (hun to fight as much aslieth m
' y$t TThis ia the iudgemcnt of man is a dodrine quite
coatrarj^
ofjuffermgperjecuttotu 2Z
contrary.IconfcfTe it :and alfowhcnlcfusChriflpro-
nouccth, that rhcy that differ perfccut io for righteouf- j^at.s,ul
nes fake are blc(rccl,hc propoudeth a fcntcnce which is
notcafily receiucdjin the worlJ.Cotrariwifcjhcwold
that wc ftiold cileemc that to be our chief eft happines,
whichourvndcrftandingwouldiudgetobcourgrca-
teft mifery. It feemeth vnto vs that we arc miferablc,
when God Icaucth vs to be troaden downc by the Ty-
ranny and crucltic of our enimics : but the want is
that we looke not vnto the promifes of G O D, the
which ccrcific vs that all ihall turne to our good, Wc
arcthrowcndowne, feeing the wicked ftrongcr then '
wc,andto fet their feetevpon our throtc : butfuchca
confufion as S.Paulc faith, ought rather to liftvsvp
oti high, Forafmuch as we are to to muche giuen, too
imbuiic our fclucs,withchcprcfet things of the world,'
God in fulFcring that the good are euill intreatcd,and
that the wkkcdhauc their fway,flicweth vsbycuidec
fignesjdiat aday Djal comc,wherin al that is now con-
fufcd (halbe reformed. If the time fecme long vnto vs,
let vs run to the rcmedie, and not flatter our felucs in
our vicc:for it i^ certainc,that wchaue no faith at all,
vnleffeweliftvptheeyes of our foules to the com-
ming of our Sauiour Icfus Chrifle, Now God to the
cndhemightleaue no meane vnattcmpted , whichc
myghtbefyttodriue vs forwardc,hefetteth before
vs the promifes on the one fide, and his threatningcs
on the other * Doe we thinke that the promy fcs hauc
not power enough m vs > let vs ioync the threatnings
for too ftrcngthcn them. It is very true that wee
muft bee fo muche the more pcruerfc and froward,
not too adioync more fayth then wee doo too the
promyfesof GOD, when the Lorde Icfus laycth^
C4 that
1: he fecond Sermon ofiy\d.Jo.QaL
that hec will auowe and acknowledge vs before his
M(tt,id,si. father/o that we conFefle him before men. And what
is there that ought to let vs,that we Ihoulde not yecld
%,uk$^i2,^, hiro that confemon that he requireth.When men flial
haucdoone their vttecmof]:, they can doe no woorfe
but murder vs, And what (hall eternal! life be in com-
parifon thereof > I heapenot not vp hcercall the pro-
mifes conteincd in the Scripturcs,which icnde to one
and the fame ende: yctCforafmuch as they are fo ofte
rimes repeated) we ought wholy to ffayvpponthema
But if when the plague hang oucr our headcs, if three
'* orfourebc not enough, one whole hundred wilnot
feruetomakevstoouercomealladuerfitie and con-
trary temptations. But if God can not drawe vs vnta
him felfe through gentlenefrc,mufl wee not bee more
then beetle blockifli headcs , when his feuere thrcat-
%Hk{,^:l6, ninges can do no more therein ? lefus Chrifte citeth
all thofe before his father , who (hall through fearc
of bodyly death deny the truech : and faith that
'M^f'lO^St both the body and foulejfliall be throwen too perditi-
on. And in an other place hee(ayth,that he will deny
all thofe that Ih all deny him before men, vnleilc that
wcebeetoomuche bcreaucd of all vnderftanding,
thefe woordes ought to make our hear to ftinde vp-
rightVppon our headcs, Howfoeuer it be^ when wee
flial not bee moucd therewith as were mectCjthere re-
mayneth nothing for vsbutan horrible conmfion:
For in tha,tthat all the woordes of Itfus Cirifl do fo
littleprofitevs,wearcconuioced of too to great infi-^
dclitie. Wee (hall haue alleadged coo godly purpofe
that there is fome pitic in vs , forafmucheas our na-
^^b.ii iy turc is fo brittle: ForitisfaidcomrariwifethatMoi-
fcs Iqoky ng viuo G Qp through faith, was flrength-
ned
ojfttjferingperfecuiion. ii
neJ not to bow vndcr any tentation* W herforc when
we aic fo (oft and flexible, yea, that there h no zealc
andconftaitctc in v.^ it isa figne thatwee are vtterly
ignoratint both of God and iiiskingdome, When ic
is fhe wed vs that wee ought to be ioyncd t o our head,
we thinkc that we haue a goodly coulour to exempte
our (elucs from it , by laying that wee are men. Euc
they which haue gone bctorevSjwho were they ? " Ic
is true,that when we Ihall not haue die pure do6lrine,
al the excufes that we can bring foorth Ihall be vaine :
but hauingfo many examples which ought too ferue
for the greater approbation/o much the more are wc
to be condemned, Butheerc wchauetwoopoimes
to be confidercd. The firft is, that all the body of the
Church generally ,was and (halbealwayes fubied till
theendcjtobcatflidedby the wicked: as it is f.^idc in
the Pfalmc, They haue vexedme from my youth vptthey ^^^*^ ral^i29\
drarven the Plovevportme from one ende to an other. The holy j ^^
Ghoftebringeth in the olde Church (peaking , to the
ende that we, after wee haue knowcn the atfli£tions
thereof,wc fhould not finde i t ftraunge or troublefom
if the like at this day be done vrjtovs,Saind Panic al-
fo drawing this place from an other Pfalme where it Rom, s.sf.
h faid, PVie haue beer.eas fheefe that are led to the flaaghter,
fheweth thatthis was not for one age alone; but that ?fa,44>ii
itisandlhal be ordinary and yfuall in the Church^So
feeing the Church of God to beat this day troaden
vnder,by the pride of worldelings,thatone batketh,.
another by teih,that men torment it,andal waves mi(^
chieuouflydeuife againfl it, that without ce;.ring it is
afTay led of madds Doggcs and fauage bcafles : let vs
remember that this was doone vnto it of oldc time,
C -^ Ic
The fecond Sermon of(t%fJo. Qal.
It isrruc that God may wel gene itfometimes ccrtaiii
trufcs and iclcafements/And this is it that is fayde in
the Pfalme before alicadgcd, hee cmteth afmderthecordes
of the mcked. And in an other place,that he wyll breakc
theyr ftuffc,for fcarc that the good doe not ouermuch
vexc them felues,bceing too muchcoppreflfed. Buc
God wouldc alwayes that his Churche fhouldc bee
toflcd in this world, and be as it were in a continuall
confli<3:c,rcfemyng reJftc for it abouc m the heauens.
Notwithftanding that yet the iiTue of thefc afliflions
was alwayes bleffed^and at theleaft GOD brought
to palTe, thatbcing oppreffed with many euyls^it was
neuer vtterly opprcfTcdjas it is fayde that the wicked
ffalm/jj^, withal their forces ncucr attained to thatjwhich they
immagined.'SaintPaule alfo reioyfeth him felfe of the
like too flicw2 ^ that this is a continuall grace of
t.Ct^n^*/!* God:^(faythhe)^»^»^^ tribulatims j But we are not there
"" ' »'$th diftr^Jfed^weearepoore hHttvearenotdeftttute: weare
perfecmed but rve 4re not forfake»:we are cafldowtte hm wepe^
r^fhenot, eneryivhere haryngabout in omt bodies the dying of
fiur Lorde Jefus , too the ende that htslife maje bee made many*
fefi in our mortal! bodies^ Such iffue as wee fee that God
hath geuen in all tymes in the perfccutions of his
Churche, ought well too encourage vs, knowing
that our Fathers , who were brickie men as wee are,
had alwayes the vidoric ouer theyr cnimics : in as
mucheas they remayned fledfaft in patience* But I
doo but touch this poynt briefly, to the ende I may
come to the feconde, the which more agreech to our
purpoferthat it is to make our profiteof thofc particu-
lar examples of the Martyrs,which haue gone be-
fore vs 4
^^ Now
offuferingperfecution. 20
Nowc there are not onely two or three of the , htti
athickeatjdgreat chnAe^ as the Apoftlc faith m the Epiftic Hcb,\x.\^
rothcHeb. Whcrby he fignificrh that the number is
fo grcat,that it ought as itwerecuen to flop vpp one
cyes.And that I be not too tedious, I will take onely
the example of the lewesjwhich were perfccuted for
true Religionjafwell vnderthe tyranny of Antiochus
the K ing,as alfo a little after his death, Wc cannot al-
leadge that it was a fmall number of people : for there
were then as it were a grcate armie of Martyrs. Wee
cannot fay that it was of Prophets, whome God had
fcparated from the common pcopleifor the women 5C
young infants were of this company. We cannot fay
that they were let go for any prife: for they were tor-
mented as cruelly as was pomblc'. W ce hcarc alfo
that which the Apoftle fljeweth vs therof . Some{{x^i[\ ^f^*U'iji
\'\Cc)rvereljiit>jgedvpltkeheilesaiidrAck?d.makiMg no account t9
he deltuered, to the ende they might rece'me 4 bttter refurreUion*
Other i. were tryedby viockings andfcourgwgt:jeAhj bondes and
frifonmenti others xvere fi one dor hew en asunder ; other wandred
vp and dorvne hither and thither, in wildernejfes by mount aynet
andCauet^ Let vs now enter to make comparifon of
them with vs. If they fuffred for the trueth of God,
which was yet fo darke at that time, what ought wee
to doe in this great light that Ihineth no we? God hath
fpokcn vnto vs as it were with full mouth : the grcate
Gate of thekingdomc of Heaucn is opened , lefus
Chrift hath called vs vnto him, beeing come downe
vnto vs, to the ende that wee iLouldc haue him , as it
were prefente before our eyes « And what a (hamc
lliall it bee vnto vs too haueleffe zealc to fufef or
the Gofpell , then they had which onely falutcd and
behcldc the promifes of GOD, as it were a farre ofF>
'"" - yVhicIi
^~ inoefecondSeYmonofit is not becaufc our lines arc
not dearc vnto him5and in greater recommendation
an hundred fold then it is worthie, feeing itisfo,that
Pfal. ii(J.//» he hath pronoucedby the mouthof Dauid ,7"^^^ the
Ef
but that he will eafily oucrcom al mens cruelties .And
heccofamongftoiKcrs wchad.an notable example ia
our time not toobee forgotten*
TiiisiscalUd A certain young man who dwelthcrewith vshce-
af^D^ty^ ing taken in the Citic of Tournay was condemned to
"^^v bee but beheaded if he recanted : and too bee burned
aliucj yf he continued inhis opinion. When hce was
.afkcd what he wouldc do,he aunfwercd iimply : Hee
that Ihall geue me grace toa dye pacicntly for hts
name, he wyll geucmeegtacc to endurcthefier, Wc
ought too cftecmc this fentence not as the fentcnce of
amortall man : but as a fentcnce of the holy Ghoft^to
the cnde too allure our felucs that G O D is as able to
ftrcngthen vs, and too make vs too ouercomeall tor-
mentes as too moouc vs too take any other kinde of
meeker death in good part^W hieh i^morcjwc fee of-
ten tymes, what conftanciehegeucthto pooremale-
fadours vvhofuffer for their offences, Ifpcakenotcf
theobftinatc: but of thofe which comfort themfelues
^the grace of Icf us Chr ift,and by this mcanc receiuc
offujferingT^erfecuticn. 51
Yf'wh peaceable heart thcmofl grieuoiis piiniflictneiic
that can dc doonc vnto them : As wc may fee a no-
table example thereof in the Theefe who was conuer
ted at the death of our Lorde lefus Chriflc* GOD
who fo mightily aiSfteth poorc oiFcndcrs , beeing
worthily punilhcd for their mifdeedes , wyll he failc
his who fight for his caufe, that he wil not geuc them
an inuinciblcpower? The third point concerning the
promifes that GOD hath made to his Martyrs,is of
thefruttc that they ought too hope for of their fufFc-
ringes : and in the endeifnccdcbcofdcathit felfc*
Nowe this fruitc is after that hec hath glorified his
namcj&c edified his Church through theyr coftancic,
when they (halbc gathered with the Lord lefus Chrifl:
into his immortal glory ♦ Buthccaufc that wee haue
fpoken more fully of it before, itis enoughnowetoo
bring it in our remembrance* W herfore let the faith-
firll learne too lifte vp theyr headcs on high too this
crown of immorulity &gl6ry,whervnto G06. doth
call them : to the end that he do them n o hurce in ma-
Jcingthem to forfakc theyr prcfent life for (uch a rc^
warde : and to be afiured of this inellimable bencfite,'
let them alwayes haue before their eyes this confor-
mitiewhich they haue widi otir Lorde lefus, too be-
holdc life in the middeft of death,as heby the oppro-
brye and Ihame of the croffe , came too that glori-
ous refarredon in whiche.confiftech alour feliciti^
ioyc and triumphe,
Dz H
The
5^ The thirdbcrmon shewing how
the FaithfuU ought too efteeme the
bccynginthcChurcheof GOD, where
the^ haue free lihertis purely to jvoorlh/p
Godjgathcred vponthe
theameofthe
/hafff required 0»e thing of the Lprde.andthat Iml require:
itiSythat I way dwell m the houfe of the Lord all the dates
ef my lyfe^oo the end I may hehold the beatttie of the hard
andmayvifte his holy Temple.
I is woondcrfuU what a diucrfitica
man fhall findc in mens dcfircs : and
yet notwithftading there is one thing
wherein all agree and iumpe togca-
thcr, and that is to bee occupied here
beneth in the worlde.Euery man may
WcUhauc his marke and meane by hymfelfc : but
this vaniticraignethouer all,notto feekc their good»
and fclicincany where elfc but in this corruptible life.
The which fhewcth that men arc wonderful bruti/h:
Foe wee are created too an ende altogeather contrary
and that is thathauing our conucrfatio in this worldc
wee fhoulde afpyre to thatheaucnjy kingdome of
G O D « And this is the cau{e,why this prcfent life
is called a pilgrimage or a way. Wherefore whofo-
cuer will not dcpriuc him felfc wittingly and wil*
lingly of the euerlafting inhcritaunce of the kingdom
of God, hee muft beginnc at this point too cut of all
foolyflie defires and light thoughtes, whereby hec
may bee occupied and wicholdcn in this worldes
ofheeinginthe Church of (^od. jy
fo as his principall dcfirc be to draw ncarc vnto God,
and chat nothing at the Icaft hinder vs from making
hade thither ♦ I fay at the leaft, forafmuch as it were
very reqiiifite that all our eanhly affedions which do
nothing but caufe vs to drawe backe from God, were
fully rooted out of our heartes, to the ende wee mayc
run ne through fw if tly in this voyage wee haue too
perfourmc, Butbecaufewe arefo farrc of from ha-
uing a minde that is pure and voyde from all afFedi-
ons, it remayneth in the feconde place, that wee ouer-
-come all the lettes that may hinder vs i and followc
ourcourfehowfoeuerube*. Co as in the middeft of
our infirmities,we doe neuerchelcfle prefcrre the hea-
uenly life before all that is in this world,! t reraaineth
no we, that we fee by what mcaneswcemay attaync
thecreto*
Nowe this is not in vs to deuifcjbut wc muft take
thefe which God hath ordeincd : of which the moft
pr in cipall are named heere by Dauid: to wit,thc order
and pollicie,that God hath eftabliflied in his Churchc
that wc be taught by his woorde, that wee woorfliip
him all with one accorde,and cal vpon him;and hauc
the vfe of the Sacramentes to ayde vs herevnto. And
thus muft wee be exercifed, too the ende we way bee
better & better confirmed in thefaith,in thefcare of
God,inholynefre,in the contempt of this worlde and
inthcloueoftheheauenlylife. And to this purpofc
and none other ^tendeth this that Dauid proreftcth,
tfiat he hath a defire aboue all to d we lin the teqiiple of
God . For vnder this woorde of the Temple he com-
prehendeththelibcrtieofhauingfrecdomc purely to
worfhip God with thefaithful,to make confellion of
Ills faith, to pray S^to be a partaker in the facraments^
Di For
Tljeiii, Sermonof^M^Jo.Qal
For God for this time had chofen a ceitainc placci
in which he vvoulde that men Ihouldefacrifice vatoo
him , Ihoulde doc him homage, protefting that
they accounted him for theyr alone God^wcre inftru-
£led in his Iawe,&: had the teftimonies of his prelece.
And indccde he fufficiently exprefleth what regard he
had, in defiring to dwell in the Temple , wheuhcc
addethjthat he was m thebeautie of God. Wherein
he fliewcth that the Temple of itfelfewas nothing:
but that he rcfted him felfe in the vfe whereto it was
confecrated and appointed* If we thinke that he was
occupied with a materiall building of wood Sl ftonc
wee fliouldedoo him great iniury and wrong: For
this wercto charge him with fupcrftition, and not too
attributcittohisvertue. Weought therefore to bee
refoluedjthat heefettcth foorth howe honourably hee
•cftccmed the outwarde order and regiment -whereby
the faithfull are gouerned m the Church . To be (hort
hcfignifieth that this is an ineftimablc benehte , and a
clpciall priuiledgeto be in the Churche of God, to be
a partaker of thofe meanes, that that good father hath
geuen to his children thereby too draw them to him ,
Let vs mar ke well whoitisthac fpcaketb, Itisnota
pooreldiotc without knowledge and expcrience:but
a ProphetCias excellent and as greatly enlightncd by
the holy Ghoft as eucr was any . Hee fpeafcethnot
of a thing profitabl e and good in thepopulare opini-
on: but he protcftethforhisowncparte, that he de-
fired nothing more then that he might bee founde in
theaflemblic of thepeopleof GOD, too the ende
that declaring his faith heemyght alwayes bee more
edified therein , through the doctrine of fahiatioa
which is there prcachcd,and through the facranients:
'peithcr onely in tliis place makcth he thisprotcflatio,
but
of heeingin the Church of (^oct. ^6
but in many other places, as in the Ffalme before go-
y ng, when hce faith, C> Lar^e I haUelonedthe hdttation of py-^,^ ^^^ ^.
thme honfe & the f lace where thy glory hath his dxvellitig, Alfoin
the 4z ./>/. Js the Han hrayethtoo bee refrePiedrnt hthe riuers of
jVater,fo fayjtethmj fonle after thee O horde ', Myfoulebur- pf^j
veth with thyrfi wfeeking after Cod : }Vhen fhallit bee that I "' * **'*
Piall come a»dappeare before the face of the linyyig God} It had
b:cnecnoughtohaucfpokcnthis : buthis vchememc
affcftio carriethhim higher: for he addethimmediatly
that teares were his meateduryng the time that hce wasdepri'
uedfromcomming too theTemple.Ytl hcfayth yct further
that his heartc was powrcd out like water , when face
rcracmbrcd the time wherein he went to the Temple
praifingG OD with the multitude of the faithfully
Afterwardes hauing mourned his fill and powrcd
foorth his complaintcs and gricfesjheefindeth no bet-
ter confolation,then in thefaope that he had coceiued
that God would reftorethatbenefiteagaine which he
hadlofl:e.^i>A»''(faith hcc)»'^7 art thon vexed andvn.
tjHtet wtthmme ?y^t [hall Ifynde againe theprefence of the Lord pf^i %^,t2 \
As alfo inthc43.Pfalmche repeateth againe the fame
matter. And cfpecially in the 84. Plalrac,he dcclareth
howe he was affe^ed towardcs it ♦ For after that hec
hath cried OUt,0 Godofhoftes howe amiable are thy taberna-
f/«!hee fayth that hts heart e and his body doe leape for the fer^
uefft dejtrethat he hath to enter into the courtes of the Lord, And
hefcttethdownethereafon, that they whch dwell tn the
hoHfeofGodarebleJfedbeca(ifetheyprAyfehim:\.hzt'n tO fay^
they acknowledge his graces with oneaccord,5i they
reioyce in himjmakingcofclTio of theyr faith. Seeing
the that dauidwho wasfomuchaduaced inalholincs»
yea&: wasas anangelofhcauedweUuiginthe world
acknowledged that hehadfo great nccdc to be aided
andllirred vp by the mcanc s tliat god had giue to his
£>4 people.!
Theiii Semonof^5MiJo.(^aL
I pray you what is too bee fuppofed of vs,who arcfb
rude SC earthly ,whore faith js fo wcake,8c whofe reli-
gion is fo colde andbarraine? Wee mud needes con-
cludc,albeit thatDauid for the perfeaion that was m
him might welhaue let flip fuchba(ehclps,yet they arc
more then ncceffary for vs : confidcring the infirmity
that is in vs. But what > Tliey who are the pcrfeftefl
know much better what they lacke them fclues , then
thofc which haue no pcrfc6ti6 at alU Wliat is Dauid
foindued and adorned with angelical vertues "^Why,
this is to make him better too vnderflad, howc meet
it was for him to be more enflamed by the preach ing
of the law,by the SacrameteSjand other like exercifes.
ContrarywifethefegloriousvillainesthataE this day
make no reckoning of all thcfc thinges,iliewe euidet-
ly thereby, that they hauc not fo much as a droppe of
of Chriiiianitic in them: I fpeake of our corner cree-
ping and cafkatePhilofopherSjthat Hue in Paplftrie.
O it is agoodly matter(fay they)and mucli to thepur-
pofcjthat a man cannot be a Chriftia vnlefTe he trot ta
Gencua,to hauehis cares filled with Sermons,and to
vfcfuchc Ceremonies as arc obferued in that Citie*
Can not we our felucs alone both reade Sc pray?Muil
men yet goe to Church to be taught/eeing that euery
one hath theScripturc in his houfc? I anfwcare here-
to, thatweebindenoman to depart from that place
where he dwelleth : yea when a man lines purely and
feructhGodasheoughtamiddcftthePopestyrranny
wee cftecme an hundred times better of him,thcn of
ourfelues whoareinliberticand reft. But the qucfti-
on IS heere of two poindesjto wit, whether they that
feeling their ownc infirmitie,and commyng to fcekc
in a Chriftian Churche/uch a confirmation as Dauid
did
ojheeing in the Church of God. 5 7
did at that time when the Temple was at Icrufalem,
doc not well : Alfo whether all generally, and efpeci-
ally thofc that are witholden by force ought not too
figh, feeing them felues deftitute of the ordinary
meanesjwhich were to bring them to GOD? The
very beafts who haue no vnderftading nor reafo,they
wilbray after their pafturcjandthofe who are called
the children of God^ftal not they care for that which
ferueth to nouryfli and mainteine their faith? And yet
they are not contented thus proudly too treadc vnder
footetheraoft precious graces of God, but they alfb
fcorne them which flie into ft raunge countries to fcek
them,8c to reioycein them, As touching their haw-
tmefTcjwhereby they beare them felues in hande, that
^ermonSjCommon prayers,and the Sacramentes arc
thinges fupcrfluous and vay ne, there necdc no other
teftimony to excommunicate ^aud banifli them out of
the Churche of God, And that it is eucnfo , Saintc
Paule,fay th not that the order which God hath fet in
his Churche^isonely for the rude and ignoraunt: but
he maketh it Common for all,exempting none, Hee
hath ordemedfiaixh hcc)^pofi^^^iP'*fiotirSyAmiDoHours,for Sphfif^J^
the ejtabltpjin^ of the Saint es, for the bmlciing vp of the bodye of
Chrifie^vntt\lweegY9VPe allvp^into the vnnie offaith,if3to a per"
fe^ man , into the meafure ofaperfeBe age in ChrifieJl^ci VS
marke well that hee fayth not that God hath Icfte the
Scripture to the end that euery one flioulde readc it
alone: But hee hath inftituted a policie wherein
certain are appointed to teache^S^ vnder this be com-
prehendeth all other th ingcs which doeth, as it were
depende thcrevpon, W herefore though euery one
may reade it priuatly ^ this Ictteth not but that they
Ihould heare it alfo publiqucly . And to who dircftcth
D5 he
Tlje Hi. Sermon of No furely he com-
raandeth that this courfe be kept cusn vntil death: for
this wasthctymcof ourperfcdion* They therefore
which difdain to keep thcmfelues in this range to pro-
fite in faith and al vertuc by the common order of the
Chiirch^they can by nothing fo much cut thcmfelues
of fr5 thefcilowlhip of the childreof God as by this.
Let them excufc the matter as finely Siascraftely as
theyliftryetthefenteccof S.Pauleis moftclcare, that
none is neither aught to bee accomptcd of the body of
chriftjvnlcs that hefubmit himfelf tothis general rule*
Wherfore my brethren let vs humble our felues and
let vs not tept god,thinking our felues able to fly wi>h
outwings,ButComcma wil fay, it is pofsiblethat Da-
ufd fpakc for the time of thofe figures: bicaufcthat the
god gouerned his people as it were little childre,as al-
fo S.Paulc faith: & thcrfore that thofe feruentlameta-
ti5s 8c hearty rcquefles that he maketh coccrning the
teplc are not fo fitt for vs,fcing that wc are copared to
thofcjwho being paft our enfancie are come to a more
ful age»To whom I anfwcrc firfl of al,that the ncceffi-
tie of being taught by fermons, of being confirmed by
the SacrametSjof being cxercifed in publike praiers ^
the cSfefsio of our faith,is comon to vs with the aun-
ciet fathers .And here vnto ted afwcl the promifes e(J5e-
cially thofe that arc in the Prophet Ef^y, whcrcGod
faith that his Church (hal haue infinite childrc:&: that
after fhe hath coceaucd 8c brought them forth, (lie (hall
nurifh the vp»It canot be denied that this belogethalfo
to the kingdom of chrifi 5c to this our time efpecially.
Now Godexprcfly fendechhis children into the bo-
fome
ojheeing in the Church of God. 3 8
fomcand lap of his Church, And whcrfore is thfs,buc
that an order and rule might be kept, which hcehath
appointed, to the end to gather his own togcather as it
were by flocks?The which is notably cxprcfled by an
apt {imilitude,which the Prophet himfelf vfeth in the
60. Chapter jlaiyng that the ehtldren ofCocipjalhasDoiies gr^^ ^^ j
Iff ho retire thefelftes bjifltght into the'tr Doftecctes.'And what I ' "''"
pray you is that fame Douecotc thcrcjbut ciiery place
where the worde of God ispreached,whcre the lacra-
ments arc adnQiniflred,and where thcname of Godis
called vpon $c praired?Indeede they which weenetoo
bcfoftrogthattheyhaneno further need of this fame
outward order and gouernment,thcy il confidcr their
owneflateandcondition. For wherefore hath God
ordeined his facraments. vnlefie becaufcthat we being
clothed with our bodies ^we are too vile to lay holdc
vpon fpiritual things,vnleffe we be aided by thcfc via-
ble fignes^ The angels indecdchauc that tnieth of the
Sacraments,8c thisfiiififcth them but God inuft come
downelowcrvntovsjby reafonof ourrudcneflcand
ignorance. Let thcfe fantaftical Chriflians flrip them-
felues hardly of their bodies,Sc make thefelues angels
of heaue,Sd then they may exempt thefelues fro thofc
fmall helpcs wherof they make (o I ide account. But ic
bchoucth al rhofe which acknowledge thefelues to be
me that they paffethis way,to fubm it thefelues to the
ordinary pollicy ,thar god hath comauded to all thofc
that are his « It is true that the grace of God is not
boud,nor the power of the holy ghofl: is not cnclofed
cither in the (;icramet3 or in any other outward thingi
that he fhold not be able to workc whefocucr it plea-
fcth himwithoutany mcanc:butherc weintreat of the
perpetual order that he hath fct in his church:&: not o£
that which he worketh extraordinaryly, as it were by
myraclc,Ncu«-
Tloe in. Sermon of (^I\fJoXaL
Neucrthelcfic this is mofl true that they which arc
dcpriued of the vfeof the facraments, Sc of libertie to
call vpon his name, and yet feelcnot their wretched
and miferable conditionyto the endc to bewaile it they
are more blockifli then brute beads. I fay farther that
if Dauid had iuft occafion in his time, to fay ♦O Lorde
hoKV amiable is thy temfle ! blejfedare they thatdwelinthy honfe-
Myfoulebttrnethfor very de fir e^ that it hath to enter into the
CoHrtes of the Lord: thsit we ought to bec twifcasmuch
mooued and inflamed vnto th is^at this day. For what
were the bcnefitcs of the Temple, which Dauid io
much lamentethjcnen chat he is weary of his life , fee-
ing himfelfetobc dcpriued of them? It is true that
in fubftauncc they were the fame thatwec hauc at
this day : howbeit we knowe that the(e were but as
darkcfliadowes, wherein GOD difplaiednothis
grace fo largely as we hauc it at this prefent. For God
hath declared himfclfc fo familiarly to vs in the order
of the Church,that as a man would fay, the very hea-
ucns are opened vnto vs^Thc Sacraments do not (hew
Icfus Chrift fo farre of as vnder the lawc : but fetteth
him liuely before our eyes, Wherfore we muft needs
be very vnthankful, if weprefcrrcnot thefc blclfings
farre before all that which Dauid might eucr finde in
the temple of Syon.Wc are not any more in the vtter
Courts, as Dauid hath fpoken.There is no more any
vailc drawen,which might feparatevs from the fanc-
tuary.To be ihortjthis is an cuil honouring of the in-
finite greatneflc of the bcnefites which God hath be-
flowed vpon vs, when our defireis not equall at the
leaft with that of Dauids. I [peake this by a fimplc
forme of fto£trine. For the exhortation fhall followc
after in his place. It leraaineth then that wee fee next
ofheeing in the Church of God 1 5
of all , what mancrof defirechis was,to the ende that
we may conforme our felues vnto it,as vnto ouriulc,
Ihane afkedyfaith he,a thing oj the Lord-By fpeaking of one
thingcalonc,he{iguifieththathcwas{o mightily gi-
ue vnto itjthat he call al other things behindc his back
as if he hadquitcforgottenthe.Wasitfo thathcein-
ioy ed all h is other dciires,in fuch fotte that there was
nothing but this thing that fayled him? Contrary wife
he was a fugititie from the land of his birth,yea bani-
Ibed from the houfeofhis father, and from the com-
panie of his Parents and friendes: he was fpoylcd of al
his goods,and depriued of all his dignities Sc honours
•which were very great,his wife was rauifhcd : to bee
iliort, loe a man akogither defolate Sc quite forfakcn*
Ncuertheles he laraenteth nothing but this one thing,
that is to fay^to haue acccflc to the Temple, as alfo on
the contrary parte,when he giueth thanks vnto God,
for al the benefits which he had beftowcd vpon him,
after he had made mention of drinking and eating,of
reft and other commody ties of the body : hee fetteth
do wnc for conclufion that he wil dwell in the church
of God: whereby he pro teileth that beeing at his eafc
and in all pleafure.notwithftanding he accounteth no-
thing morepretious then to be in the C9mpany of the
faithfull,ta be lead vnto that {ame foueraigne hap- P/a/m.^^,6
pineiTe, Let vs then diligcndy marke that Dauid af-
wellin his aflFii£tions asinhisprofperities , hadal-
waycs this fame courage to reioyce himfclfe in this li-
bcrcie that God had giuen vnto the children of Ifrael:
which cannot be accounted any (mall vcrtuc. Wee
(hall finde many who beeing opprcffed with aducrfi-
ties and affli6tions,dce remember God gladly : but
as foonc as they are dcliucrcd from them^Sc that they
findc
^Ihettu dennonojAd.Ioxal,
find their eafe,thcn they caft of ail remebracc of him:
ycijSc which is moft ihamcful they kick and fling a-
gainfl:him,asrcfty lades that aretowcl fed. Others
io vexcthefelucs Sc rage againft god inthcir aduerfity,
that they canotabideto hearcanyfpcach of him.Was
not Dauid throwe downe with fuchan hcapc of mi-
fcricsjchathecfeemcdthc mofl: miferablc creature ia
the world ? And yet is he Co far of fro being wounded
with the grief of his mind to vcxe himfclf e,Sc difdain
when god (peakcth vnto him, that c5trariwi{c it is the
only way wherby he is cofoned:ycaalthogh he could
not fo foonc t hinkc of G od,but he lamentct h that he is
baniihed fro his teple,8c ibut outfrS the vfc of hisfacra
mets 8C other excrcifes of faith,yet hath hcno greater
plcafurc then to lamer fuch an euil. Now on the other,
fide was not this his chiefeft labor?Had he oucrcomc
his cnimies to be peaceable inhis rcalme Screnowmed
amongft akhad he the mcane to pludgehimfelfe in all
pleafurcs.'yct for al that he remained firme in this^that
his true felicitie is to haue acce/Tc to the temple , to the
end he might comunicat with the order of the church,
Whcrfore we fee that he proteflethnotin vaine too
haue af ked this oncthig?for it wasfo deare vnto him,
that he did al waies let goe the refl for it . Let vs fee
nowwhoitisamSgftvswhichhathfucha iudgemct
as Dauid had.They who cotet thefclues with felicitie
in ihofegoodes which they haue in their handes, do
they eftecm the libcrtie of calling vpo the name of god
purely ,hcaring his word preached, or vfing his Sacra-
mets,morerhcn their domefiical refi? Thercare very
few that do fo-*but rather their fames fMaketh them fo
fluggifli that they care for nothing but for their pauch
& to make good c hear c. To bcf3jort,the world is fuch
that it fctteth more ftore by a trough wel /luiFcd with
novate-
of heeing in the Church of God z 5
mcate the for ihe cburch of God«If a ma fpcake of th e
troubles which may comc,euerymi greatly feareth co
befpoiled by warres,to fufferlofTesjgricfes 5c hatreds:
but ihcy neucr make any recknig of lofing the prcchig
of tbcdoftriueof their faluation>of the pure vie of the
SacramecsjSC (uch like helpcs which feruc to draw the
nearc vnto god : Sc alfo one (hal pcrcciue that they that
aredepriued iherof are not greatly touched with it. If
the reucncw come not io^at the ende of the ycere or at
the quarter day,to the end they may keep fuch a trainc
as t'leir ambitio drmeth the to dcfi.rc:if their gaioc and
trades decay,if their credire bccloft, they continually
tormecthefcluesrnotwithftadingtheordinariepafture
ofthcehildreofgod (after which they ought greatly
to hunger) is nothing vnto the.And yet this is it thac
God (heweth very wcl by that threatning that he ma-
keth,that there cannot a greater euil come vn too vs. I
m/fePtd^{a,ithke)afdmi»e,f20tofi'ua£inorof7rAter:(2iSiihcc . ^
ftiold fay this is a fmal matter:) but of hearing my woorAe, ^^^{"^'^t
W hcrforc my brcthre let vs take good hecde that wc
ruffernotour felucs,to be made brutifh by theDeuil 3c
by the world ^to the end that we haue not alwaies this
bsnefic in eflIraatioabouealothcrs^that is to fay jto be
mainteined in the flock of god,vnder the outward or-
der 8c gouernment which he hath placed am on gfl his
owncAndthisisyct better exp relied vntovsby thac
which Dau id addech : that is, thac he w il rcqu ire again
the thig which he before had afkcd, Whti by he fjgni-
iicchthat he had not fbme fodain deuotio , which was
quickly cooled,but that he was coilat 5c flil remained
fcirching after this benefitc,wec (hall fee fbme which
wilbecfo well affefted for a little time,that itfcemcih
the ncxtday,they would forfak al thatcuer they hauc
but this cofiacie wherof Dauid fpcaketh is a very rare
tiling. Yea
The in. Sermon of M.lo.Cal.
yea the moft part in fteed of bio wing the fire to kindle
the good zeale that God hath put in thcm,do witting-
ly quench it* Wc hauc the like teftimony concerning
Dauid in the Pfalmc which I hauc already rehearfed:
forbecaufe that it might hauebeenc laydc before him
that being driuenoutofthcCounrreyof Iudea,hec
might haue gone here or there too fome other place:
He crieth out Thj^ Altars O horde ofHoflcs^y godandmy
Kifjg.^s if he (houldehaucfaid that hee could not find
a deledablc place>although that he poflcfl: all the pala-
ces in the worlde,when he had no entraunce into the
Temple of GOD4 Hccomplaincth that the Spar-
rowcs and the Swallo wes found a place there to make
their Nefles,and that his condition was woorfc. And
why was this> Was it becaufe he had neither cham-
ber nor Kitchin? Hefaithnotfo but becaufe he found
no good nor mcetc place ^ forafmucha?hewaslhuc
out and driuen away from the Aultars of G O D, Ic
is very ccrtainc that if this dodrinc were entred in-
to our heartcs,wc fhoulde not be fo,ncither one forte
loo hindred^nor the other fo quite turned away from
cxercifing our felucs in the meanes that God hath put
into our handc, to helpe vs forwarde in the path of e-
uerlafling lifc^But what is the caufctherof? Ambition
holdcth back the one fort with dignities or high pro-
motions, and entifeth others to purchafe and to fcekc
themXouctoufneffc enflameth and carrieth awaye o-
thers : many haue nothing m their hcarte but they r
vainc pleafures and wanton delightes . Yea , all lan-
guiflie and wallowe in their luftes? fo as none crye
OUX^T^^y Atilters O Lorde^rvhere are thy Aultars' my God my
kt^g> And indeede the vanities of thcworlderaignc to
muche in thcm^to fufe God too bee obeyed. This
woordc
offpffcringTerfecuttGn. 55
This woordc alfo is of great imporraunce, w hen Da-
uidfaithjthathehathdemaiindcd of God the thingc
whereof he fpcakcth : for it (hail be an cafie matter to
make fuch a goodly flicw before men, that me would
ve haue to change the name of the
Tcmple,beciureweare no longer tied too anye one
certayne place: Nocwithftanding the thing which
Dauid chiefly regarded,touchcth vs no lellc the hifclf^
It is very true that hawtie and proude men make no
great matter, that men aflcmblcthemfclucs to heaic
El Sermons
^ho tlL Sermon of ^SS/IJo, Cal.
Sermonsjto make publiquc prayers and coo adminii
ftcr the Sacramentes : but this is the want that they
doo not examine their, confciencc. For our partes fee-
ing it is none other but Gods ordinaunce,let vs con-
tent our felues,in that it hath pleafed him by fuchc
nieancs,too chcryftic and fufteine our faith in fuche
weaknefTe : Butyet(as vvc haue before declared) wee
f celc the profitc which commeth thereof, Howfoeuer
it be^fceing Sain tPaule hath declared that the way to
pcrfedion, istokecpcthe order of the church which
Chrifle hath in{lituted,w hen hegauc Paflors*. accur-
fed be the arrogancy of them,that will flye vp into the
aire,Sc pretend to mount vp into heauen by their fpe-
culations,indefpifingboth preaching and the vfeof
the Sacraments : as though thefc were outward things
and not fo much requi(itc»Marke well my brethrenot
what maner of people I fpeakcj confelTc that GOD
keepeth thofc that arc his vndcr the captiuitte of An-
tichriftc, albeit that they be deflicuce of thofe helpes
which we cnioy with great liberty ♦The word of god
is not preached vn to them,neither haue chcy any place
wherein it is lawful for them too' make confeffion of
thcyr faith,yca,the Sacramentes are taken from them:
but forafmuch as in feparating thsfclucs fro the abho-
minatios of Antichrift,they figh &: lament for not ha-
uing that which were more profitable for them, God
workethin them by thcpower of his holy Tpirite,and
fupplicth that which is wating vnto the, Buc there arc
others who for the mofl part being in fuch dcfolatio,
do yet neuerthelelTc pleafe thefelues :and being hunger
bitten and flarued,haue no luft at all too cate. Thefc
are they whichc countcrfayte them fclues to be great
Philofophers , contenting them felucs too haue read
ofbecing in the Church of, (jod. ^ j
oucr a Icafc or two,as a man would (ay, and then they
thinkc they know what focucr is nccedary for them.
Thefemcn thinke they haiic no ncedeof any preach-
yng . And as concerning the Supper they make
no accountc whether cucr they come tco it or no*
And as concernyng the outward order of the Church
they Icaue that vnto little children, as though it were
too bafc for them . I pray you may we not thinke fuch
people too bee more then blinde? Notwithftanding
they can accufc vs becaufc that wee exhorte them too
whom our Lorde lefus Chrifle hath declared his
truethjto vfe the meanes that God hath ordeined for
the encreafing preferuation and continuance of our
faith.And wherefore is this,vnlc(Ie it be bccaufe they
ilarckle,S£ can not abide to be awakened by vs,to the
cndetoo make them feelc theyr cuill ? I put the cafe
that they did not commit Idolatry with the Papiftes:
yet can they not deny bat that this is a miferable and
curfed bondage, that they cannot be fufeed too
call vppon the name of God and too confcde Icfus
Chriftc. The holy Ghofte when hec woulde peercc
the heartes of the faithfull who w^re captiuc in Baby-
lon, puttcth this fentCHce into their mouth,^^»'A^^^7^/../37.^
"Pfee fing the frayfet of the Lorde inaftranngeUnde^ \ con-
feiTe that the kingdome of God is at this day through-
out all the worldc,and that there is now no difference
betwccne ludeaand other Countrcis : But I (ay not-
withftanJing that the Countrey where the feruice of
God is abohlhcd, and true rel igion caft of, it well de-
feructh to be accounted for a ftrange and prophanc
Coun trey. It mufl: necdes bee then, that they whichc
haucnorcmorfe,noctoodaretomakeprotefl;ationof
their faith'.nor to celebrate or fct foorth the name of
Ei God
Theiii, Sermon of df^ Jo. (^ah
God,that they be altogeather blockiflic : Now Jet the
children of God takcheedeby this admonition not to
become blockifti with them» Cocerning chofe which
babble, (corning and deridmgvs in this,asking whe-
ther no man can goe to heauenjbiit by Gcneua : wold
toG O D that they had the heart and care to aflemblc
thefelues together in the name of lefus Chi ift, in what
part (oeuer they becom,Si that they would erc6b fomc
formeof aChiirchjafwelintheyr owne houfes as in
their neighboursjto do for their part that which wee
doe here in our Churches, But what? in difdainins to
vfc the meancs that GOD hath gcuen vnto thcm,they
will be counted religious and fo befaued ^ This were
cuen afmuch as if they Ihold aike whether they might
not ariue at thcHauen going quite cotrary ; and whe-
ther they might not by tempting God boaft of his fa-
uour.ButletthcmbcasboIdeand braggeas they lift
'too brcakc the yoke : yet let all the faithful take hcedc
.how they lyft vp thefclues with them : Sc who foeuer
hath not the meane to be in a Chriflian Church,wher
god ispurely worftipped^at the leaft let them n^ourn
dayand night, with Dauid, Thine Altars O Lorde
there is nothing that I defire but thine A I tars my pod
and my king. And Jet this fire remaine al w ayes kind-
led in all good heartes, too the ende that whatfocucc
ciayfalout, that they think it not paineful tocrdure
any thing, that the length of time coole them not
from feeking alway eS to purchafe to be gathered into
aflockcjandto come to Chriftes fold. Moreouer that
cuery one aduife well with him felfe howe hee may
mofle fpecdily gette him felfe too the ftandarde:-fo
foQOcasour L orde Hall gcuc him the meancs . For
this
ofhecing in the Church ofCjod. 5 ^
this is the way too witncfTe , that a man doothnoc
faintlyc mak^ this requeflc too dwell in chchoufic of
God.
N owe too conclude, icreraaineththat wcc markc
well that which Dauid addcth: that iSyThxthefhalfinde
the hamie ofthe L9rde,andmUcoMjider hif Temple: For this
is not all to cxercifc our (clues with the faithfull in all
the outward order of the Church,vnlcfle we Iiauc ouc
eyes hen tc to this cndc, to knowc GOD better and
better. Hccre there arc two things requisite : one is that
we be diligent to frequent rermons,and publiquc prai-
crs^ The feconde is, that we knowe wherefore wcc
frcqucntc tlicra • For nianye come thither with z
foolifhedeiiotiony imagining that they haue well ac-
quitted thcmfclucsjwhe they haue fliewcd thcmfclucs
at Church*
Let vs thercforc'my brethren take good hcedc^For
it is to be feared ,lefte the mofl parte finde thcmfelues
condemned either in the one or in the other* Howe
many be there that flee Sermons,and think thcmfelues
bcftat cafe if they neuerhearc anyfpcaking thereof >
But I leaue them there, as thofc that fully fhew them
fclues too bee contemners of God, Onely I fpeakc
of the contempt or coldencs that is in many, who nc-
uer remember to come to the SermoHjVnleflc that the
Sunday put them in minde thereof : and yet they ima-
gincthey haue doonc well , as though they wouldc
makcvppc anumbcrtogichcrof many running too
God* The Bell mayc well ringc dayly, but it is
cnoughc if they flicwc thcmfelues at the ende of the
wccke,They Arc called foure times cucry funday: but
tlTicycomcvcrynotably,if they be found there once^
E.44 For
The Hi Sermon of z!M'Jo.Qal.
For thcrearc that can fufficicntly di{pcnce,withthem-
fclucs for coming once in xv^dayes- Tobefliortthc
grcatcfl fort of the mulcitude verifie the oldcProucrb:
The nearer the Churche the farther from God. Yea and fome
be of the number of thofe whoe hauc forfakcn their
coutrey to come here to feriie God, there are who yet
in this behalf behaue themlelucs negligently enough*
What is too be doone then? forafmucheas God hath
fhcwedhimfelfc veto vs, let vs beholde his bcaurie,
Butwcemuftnotcaftbehindeour backcthe manner
ofbcholdingit: andthatis, that wee bee rauifhcd in.
>. 18 ^^^ ^^"^ thcreof,and chaunged into h is likencUcjas S *
If'C :S* 'paulcfayth. And that wee may the better doe this, it
is meet that we be more attentiue then we are,or hauc
been accuftomcd too be, too marke that which God
fettcth f oorth vnto vs in his Temple : For what is the
caufe that we reapc fo littlcfruitCs but that we doe not
more diligently apply our ftudy to thatwhich is there
(aide and doone? Thus we haue our earcs beaten with
continuall do^rine, whereas our heartes are no whit
touched. Morcoucr there arc a great many which nc-
uerhearcSi vnderftand a whole fermon thorow, but
here and therca woordc or halfe a worde rather with
out regarde* Wherefore it is not without caufe that
Dauidfpcakcth of viTicing the temple of the Lordcfo
diligently. And in very deede the great treafures of the
wifedomcof God which are there fetoutvntoovst
worthily defetue that a man IhouJde fettle himfelfc
carefully to markcthcm. But as I haue already ton-
€hcd,God wouldc not that we fliouldefo marke ihcm
thatwefliouldc returne cmptic and without proiitc
fromthem. Let vs knowe therefore that thedodrinc
hath profited and jQiewcd her fruite in vs , when wee
arc
ojheeing in the Church of(jod. ^ 9
arc dcwly reformed to fcruc God : and this is it that
Dauid meaneth in the 84,Pfalmc, which wcc haueal-
1 edged hzioit{rhatthej that dvfeltn the houfc ofG O DfhaU
pra/fehtm-To what end therefore doc weailcmblcour
fciues? Wherefore is the Gofpell preached vntovs?
Wherefore hauc we Bapcifmeand the Lords Supper-,
vnlefle it be that God may be magnified in vs? Nowc
this prai(e confifteth not onely in the tip of the tongue
orthclippes,butitflretcheth out it felferhorowc ouc
whole life, And therefore it is faidc in another place. /
rfill rvmfh my handes 6 Lorde w innocencie, and then I rvill enter ^ . -
«■«/(? /^y^«/Mr.Wc fee nowe what the true vfe of the ^ ' *"
whole order of the Church is,to wit, that we fhouldc
fcruc God purely. In the time of the lawc they whicli
came to worfhip in the temple , cfpecially the Priefts
entering into it to doe their office waflicd themfcluesj
This cercmonic is paftc, but wee ought too keepc the
trucihof it:thatis,forafmuchaswchaue the meancs
to leadc vs to the feruicc of God, we ought to walkc
in greater integritie then the other: For in afmuch as
God hathgiucn vs the meancs, fo much the Icffc are
we to becxcufed;if wc make them of no effedjf wee
jn:umble5ic is not bccaufe we fee not the pathbcforc our
feetcjf itfallout^thatwegoeoutof the way it is not
b icaufe god hath not more (hincd vnto vs the vnto the*
If we be forgetful to do our dutie,it is not for want of
bceingprouoked andflirredvpvntoit. To be ihort
God hath omitted no mcane to further and aduaunce
our faluation. Let vs fcare then that rebuke and rc-
proch that he makcth by his Prophet Efayjin the ^5.
Chapter. / hauejiretched out my hande all the day long^ to a rr- Ep^*€sJ^
helltoH! andJlifneckedpeopfeMthcy w hich flay in the wil-
dcrneiTes of rhe Papacic (hall not be (pared, whe they
Tloe Hi. Sermon of
too the end that our Lorde lefus Chnftmay allowc
and account vs in the number of thofe whichchauc
cal led vppon his name without all hypocrifie in that
great day.
I[ The four th Sermon shewing what
paine v^ee ought to tak^ytoo pur chafe
libsrtic to feruc GOD purely in a Chri-
flian Chiirche, vponaThcame
omofthe 27.Plalme,
My hem Uth fayde oftheejeehe Wffact : I wj/llfeeke thy
face O Lorie,
S men throw thcmfclucs in-
to a woondetful confufion,
in letting the bridle loofc to
theyr appetites and dcfircs:fo
alfo is it a great wifcdomc ia
them that fccke after that that
God hath comaundcd them,
to the ende to follow it. And
of this thingwechauehcerc
a goodly cxaple. Dauid was a ma much fubie£t to the
lame paflions, which torment and tofle vs hythcr and
thither : aud there is no doubt but that he was prouo-
kedwith many temptations which might welihaue
lhakenhisminde,andhauecau{cdhimto ftray from
God.Howbeic to remedy all occafions of falling and
tohaucacertaine and furepath,heconely regardeth
that which God ihewed him: he meditateth and conti*
flually thinketh vp it. The fume is that God biddcth
SCcxhorteh al the faithfuho fccke his face^Dauid pro-
teftcthto haue applied al hisftudy to this comaiide-
met: in fuch fort that there was as it were a goodly me-
lody, 8c agremet bet wcenc god who fpcaketh faying,
fekcme 8c him who anrwcreth,yeamy god I wil fcekc
thee. But here we mud coiider wherfore God cxprefly
memio-
of feruingGod purely. ^9
mentioncch this woordc/'<^')For if hehauc not fomc
face, wherein he (hcwcth himfclfc^hcfhoulde deceiue
vs in comraaunding vs too (ccke it J know that ma-
ny men who are full of fubcilties make no more of it^
then if hehadfaidcfeckcmeibutthcy which arc wcl
cxcrcifcd in the Seripture^knowe very well that God
would rpecifie,that manner of fliewing and declaring
himfelfe familiarly too mcrt, which he hath kept m at
times , And indeede this is an often and vfuall fpcach©
in theScnpture,to call the fanduaty and the arkc of
the couenauntthefaceof God. Aridwhctforc is this?
It is bccaufc God who js incoraprtfhdiirible in hi*
Eflcncc and Maiefl:ie,vreth fuch tatitiz§ 4§htt kttdw-'
cth cobc meetcfor mens rudenefTeand ihfirttiltii , too
thecndetodrawe them vntohimfelfe.lt is true thai
tB'Cl^Ttjtld forgcth alwaycs falfe and Vainc Ibapes of
God^r'but all that' we itnagifie of 6ut dwne brainc, arc
nochin^ clfcbdr falfe vifeyrl whctcby G OD is dtf-
giufed^: or too fpeaTccmorc plaintly j when men forge^
fomc forme or remembraunce to hauc GOD vifiblc
withthcm,thcyhaucnothingbutan IdoU. But when
GOD reprefcnteth himfelfe according too his ownc
plcafurCjand geuech vs cuiderttfigrics and rokens to be
knowenofvs, thcnhctakcthasit were a face. And
hereupon it is,that he comaudcth that euery one of v$'
doturnc ourfightthither,Sithatwtbe diligcnttobe-
hold it. For it is alfo ouc foueraignc good,and where-
with wee ought to be fully fatilfied , to reioyce in the
countenance of our God as it is (aide in the i^.Pfalm. ?^/. iS^ii
Now bccaule we cannot climbe vp fo high without a
Laddcr,the fcconde benefitethat he can beftow vpon
vs,is too geue vs the meane to attaine too that princi- •
palScchicfegoodncs.Wherforclctvs note thatthis
fcntcncc
V- Hoe iii'h Sermon of M.IoXaL
l^r^^cc w.heri Go^ 6ycb :y^4?/W?'/^f«, is as much as
-^^ lie flii]iul;ti'«'^p?a thj2gcU/2fiO make vs to .enter mu) e?
uerlaRitlg liffii ; lltfeelpahct-hatics^as not fogieata
piatcer in thecimje ot Dauid ^ooxjOiractp tlie Temple,
to fee fochaijcape of;.C?rcmonies,as they obfcrue4
there ; but if \v^cpnfi4c^ wclUhatfpirituall patCGrae
yfhichjVva'slipwedtaMayrqsinthe mountainc, wee
Ihall ncK thinkcit ftrafigeihacGod fayth it is his face^
Andindccdcfeciflg chacJcfu$,ChriIie was thccc rc-r
i^icalcd jw hatlliai 1 wc fay cKc but that God was flicvv^
cdjthei^ Nq«vi Icdy s ice if God hat h ordjcined any:put
yiaixia n^ieanq yotp vs,tO;()c,rcene pfivs. It h true; that;
'h^ hath appeared.Vuto v^h^ his fonne, who is his liue
ijr image ,and in whole pcrfon he woulde be knowea
in al perfedion: but SaiatPaiil dcclajeth.fpoithvvith,
in the-^.of the ^«;50 thcG^rinthian^ tii^t^
isxhac looking g!^c yyheccin Ictus Ch^iftcJi^all; bec>
KJecne and confidered> The Sacracncimcs, haue one and.
t|ic feme nature: 8c to be fliorc,the orderof the cliurch,
Imeane inch as God hath cftabliflied in it^docth (hew
.thetamcvnto vs. Thcrforc.iccchefc proudcgallantes
of thcwotldc mockcas much as they lift : buc foraf-
much as God hath flicwed this bcnefitctoo ftoupc fo
Ipwc vnco vsjlet vs not be aftiamed to geue this honor
viJtP his wpprdcand tP his Sacramcntcs : in them to
behpld as it were his face: not tp the ende tp be hplde*
here bcnfcth in the cprruptible Eleracntes pf the wprld
asthcPapifteswhpmakcIdplspf allthc figncs that
Gpdhath gcuen vs cop Icade vs toplcfus Chtifte:
but ncucrthelcffc too the ende wc may fully reipycc
inthcprefenccpf GOD, wemuft gocvntop him by
tlicfe inferiour mcancs^ It is true that this whiche I
% mttftpotbc tp ftricktly taken^as chpugh the faith-
ful
of JeruingGod purely. a,o
fall ncucr drew ncare to God,but when they come to
Church :For this (houlde beatouIcfnperftition.But I
meane that we rmift not place God fo high aboiic the
cloudes : as fome fautafticall hcadcs do, & imagin of
his high maieflie as fcemcth good vmo vs,ncgle6lin'g
and carting bchinde our baekes ^rwcli the preaching
of the gofpcUjas other fuch likcineanes and helpeS: as
though men coulde fee when they ihut their eyes* For
in very trueth they vvhodefpife as I fay^ not oncly thc'
vfc of thefacramcncs.as atfo al the order of the churcll'
they difdaynetolookevponGod when he appcarctli'
vnto them* Let vs markc now6 howc fiecefTary it it^>
for vs.that God ftirre vS vp toconw vntO-him, Wed
bauc already fayde what faiioiirand honour he Ihew-'
ech vnto vsjwhc he calJcth vs fo gently vnto him tofct
forwardc ourialuationjandtooleadcvs too the true
pcrfedfelicitiefromvvhichwcarefar enough of in.
refped of our felues. But we haue alfo too note tbarit
i^ not without great necelTitic,that God prickcth and
prouoketh vs too takehecdc that we fall not in tomi-
fcry,
Andfirftof all,wehaucfo wanton and wandring
cyes,that it feemcth a very miferablc cafe.For nothing
occcupie all our fenfes but the vanities aft his worlde,
and Satan hath infinite illufions to deceiuc vs , It is
true that all his fubtilties are nothing clfc but ccrtainc
mumerics and trifling ftiewcs to occupicfoolcx : but
experience fheweth what fooles or rather midbraines
we arejinfuffcringourfelucs to be too too cafily delu-
ded and dcceiucd. Wherefore if wee were wife and
well aduifcd this voyceof god woukiealwayesfoud
in our eares,'S'tf^i^»?r/4tv.But what? Forafmuch as god
is circful for his part,wcare die more caiclcs & flow*
The Hiu Sermon ofM. lo.CaL
And wQuldc to God we yyer^. not like kicking and
refty ladcs that in ftcedcpf going Cprwardes draw
backwardcs . Neucrthejeffe this example is not fet;
foorthvntovs invaine : For theproteftation whiche
Dauidmaketh , of meditating this doftrioe in his
^c^rtjthat he and all the faithfuU ought too feeke the
iice of God,(hewcth, vs whetto we ought to employ,
Quriludy,that God loofe not his labour in calling vs
too hiraiclfe » Nowehe loyucth here twopointes* ,
which arc woorthy too be marked » The finl is that
when God hath fpqkenA^i'w;'/''*?*: that hcanlwereth
tpo this voyce with an carnefl: affedion of the hcarte.
The feconde is, that after he hath confented and iayd,
yea : he fayth that he wil employ him lelfe indeed e, to
(cckethcfaceof Gpd , And in deedc this is the order
according too which we haue to proceedc : that is,to
gcue entrance and acceffe to that which God faith vn-
to vs,8c according to which hcc hath alfo (hewed vs
P/»/..95»S, in the Pfalmc : T'A// daj if yen heare his voice harden not pur
heartes:)^ut there arc foiid very few that do it, A great
uuberwillaywel todifchargc the(clues,yeajitis rea-
foa; It is not lawfull too reply againft him : but they
ihouldc fufler that too enter into theyr heart,that they
confeiTcwith their mouth . Therefore lee vs learnc
to bcginne at this pointe,that we anfwere GOD tru-
ly and vnfeignedly,that we doe fully vndcrflande the
beneflte that he hath bellowed vpon vs^in bidding vs
tobeholdehisface^Ifthisoncebedoone, it cannot
bee but the refte (hall folio we : that is too (aye,
ftrengthtoo perfourmc that which we knowetobe
iuftlycommaundcdvs,andforour lingular bencfitc.
For Dauid (hewed that hee hadnotacoldeor dead
meditation without ftirring either armcs or legges:
but
of fermng God purely, ^ i
but hailing concluded that he mufl feeke God, he fct-
tethhimfclfem the path, and protcftcth that he will
purfue if. Now it is a great ftiamc too them who call
themfelucs Chriftians, To yll too put in pradtice both
the one and the other. Some wyllalleadgc that it is.
not lawful! for :hcm too forfakc the Countrey where
they werebornCjalbeittheybedeftitute there of the
foodcof I ife,and that they haue nothing but defoiati-
on,conccrn ing the order of the C hu rch : Why fo? Bc"
caufeof the duety they beareto theyr naturall prince.
To which I will make no longe reply, onely I af kc
of them^if they had nothing to cate and too drinke in
theyr owne houfe, whether they woulde be To fcrupu-
lous to tarry there flill. There is none that would noc
boldly aduenturc too forfakc his Countrey , that hec
might not flarue for hunger ♦ I put a cafe which is
not yetfo priuiledged : that is, if a man /houlde gcuc
them fixe times as much fubftaunce as they haue, in a
ftrange countrey ;whether they wold make any great
curteiie, too goe quickly 8c takepoffcflion ? To
what purpofc ferueth it them to pretend thcfe colours,
feeing that may appeare to be f arre from their hcartc
which they fpeakc? There is no queflion here of going
into their enimies lande,where they (hall be conflrai-
ned to bearc armes againll their princc,to make warrc
with their naturall Countrey : but onely of fcckinga
placepeaceably to ferueGod^where nothing fiiallJet
but they may praye for their Prince and for all
his fubie6les« Too bee fhortc fuche a iourncy is
none other, but fuche as they make d.iyly forfome
earthly commodities , whichc is dcuoyde of fall
crime and offence. But ycc let vs fee wliecher neceffity
doo not fufficientlycxcufe them that goe, Loc God
F who
The iiiu Sermon of M.loi'aL
who i2Cfih.,Seik€myface'. Thcprinccs of the woldc,
biutcagainfl: him,and turne their backs towards him:
or rather they robbe the poore foulcs of their com-
mon foode : and in ftecde of Gods face ^ they fet be-
foretheyrcyes the mafkesof fnperftitions.Mnft they
be preferred before the lining God? If GOD be to be
heard,vvc mufl go rather a thoufand miles of to fee his
face,whereitis(hewed,thetolienefllinginoiirncfls.
So thenasoftenasPrinccswil attempt any thing, in
prciudiceofhimwho hath all fbueraigne authoritie
aboue them, men do them no wrong in obeiyng him»
Albeit, befides that which I haue faidcj fuchc kinde
of men fhewc fufficiently , that they ncuer greatly
wayed nor confidered theyr owneflate and conditi-
on* And what a mifcrable captiuitie is it,in whiche
they arc holden? Onlcile their cofcicncc were too too
fluggiflie , it were impoflible but that they (hoiilde be
in contiimal anguifhc and diftrefTc , as though they
were tormented in Hell , And howe is it permitted
vnto them, too honour G O D in their houfcs ? W e
neede notgofarrefor an example , If any of them
haueachildeborncvntoohim, his duetieis too of-
fer him vp too GOD with prayers and geuing of
thankcs , requiring the Scale of Taluation through,
Baptifme to be imprinted into his body*
Now we knowe chat Baptifme is Too corrupted
in thePopcdome, and fo defiled with fuperftitions
and filth ineffes, that a childe cannot receiue it, but
hcmufle out of hande be defiled with it» So a father
cannot baptife his childe w^ithout {inning • And if
hcabfteincyct he is in the fame tran igrt{Iion,yf there
were no more but the offence which hegiuethtoo
men
Of I eruing God purely. ^z
menjin refufiug the Sacramentjthat the fonne of God
hath inititutcd. And vvhataperplcxitie is this, that a
man can neither donor leauc vndoonc (nche a thing,
bnt he miift geeuoufly offende GOD ? I omit the
rciljbecaufe that this one example alone is more then
enough . But when a man fliall fo miferably languifti
all thedayesof his life, not knowing which way too
turnc him ,yct in death great alTaultes fhall aflaile him
and then wyll the Diuel haue his whole armie in a re-
dyneflcagainfthim. If themiferablcCaptiuc were in
time too fore let fro mferuing of G O D, in refpede
ofhis wife and family,cheri he fliall be in woorfccafc
then euer before.
They therefore who doubt whether it bee lawfull
for the to ridthemfelues foorth of (uchfilthiemud^ or
rather from fuch an helhfh gulfe,vnder the colour of
fubiedion they owe to their earthly Princes,certaine-
ly they oucrthrow the wholeordcr of naturejt is ve-
ry ccrtaine that the prayer that God woulde haue vs
too make to him for our princes j is agreeable too the
auchoritie that he hath geuen them oner vs,and alfo to
that duetie,wherewith he hath bound vsvntothem. t,Ttm.i.2
No we Saint Paule exhortcth vs,that men /hould pray
vntoGodfor Kinges and Magiftrates, tootheendc
that we might leade a peaceable and quiet lifc^ with al
honcftie and feare of God, This fubie£tion and obe-
dience therefore, which wee owe vntoo our earthly
Princes,is ouermuch ftrctched out,whcn they would
haue the feruicc and honour of the king of heauen to
geueplacc vnto it»Itis verye truethat thofe poorc
lewcs mufl: tarry in budage at Baby 16, vntil that time
was fulfilled that god had appoiccd vnto the^But thcfc
ms with wh5 1 cotcndjlet the (hew that we areboudc
Fi too
Ihe un. dermonojMJoXal,
too depriiic our fellies of our owncaccorde of thofe
fame rpirituall benefices which God hath bountifully
beftowed vpon his children,They feele the nccellitie
■wherewith they arc grccuoufly opprefled, their io-
lirmitieprouokeththem, andGodfticweth them the
remedy? What reafon then is there^that they fhouldc
not dare too helpe thcmfclues to the end to complain
ofthofc, who fnatch thebreadoutof theyrhandes?
There is alfo another reafon of the hufbande towards
the wife,and of the wife towards the hulband.Foraf-
mucheas God hath knit them togeathcr as it were in-
to one fleflie,the one (hould not doo well too forfake
the other vnder colour of feeking God . Not for that
they /hould depart fro him to maintayne thefclues to-
geathcr : but becaufe that ech one ought diligently to
labourthat he might alfo draw his companion with
him. Loe then what they ought to doo rthatisjthat
the huCband doo fhew the wyfcj howe miferable and
vnhappy they are,that are feparated from the Com-
munion and fello wfliip of the Faithfull^that arc Acdi-
tute of the woord and Sacraments, which are the vn •
doubted pledges,too make vs aflurcd chat God d wel-
leth with vs : And that therefore he exhort her not to
diftruftjbut coo be of good comfort, and y f fo be that
he cannot win her/o (ooneas he would,that he there-
fore leaue not of vntill he haue obtcinedhlspurpofe*
Although that the wife be vtterly againil: it, yet that
helcanc not of to deale importunatly with her,vntyll
that Ihe ihew herfdf altogether obflinat and wilful* If
after he haucdoneal that which he (halbe able 5c can
no longer rcmaine there, he is altogether free &: at li-
bertie: for he hath performed his duety tothe vtter-
mpil;8C for any thing that was in him,his wife might
haU^
offer uing (jod purely. ij.j
haiic followed him as flic wa? boud & ought to hauc
cioo;ic,Ahhough that fiich a kinde of departure from
the wife IS no dcLiorfc: but the hufbandegocth before
to leade his wife the way. Now concern mg the wife
inarmucha>ftieisnotihehcad>fhei<; bounde with a
more ftraightbonde. Therefore flic is bounde too la-
bour by al I maner of meanes (afmuch as ffialbe podi-
ble for her)too perfwade her huf bande, to the fetting
of both them two at 1 ibertie, W hen flic fliall haue di-
Jigendy pcrfourmed all this afmuch as flie flialbeablc,
yet is (he no t therefore at Iibertic,to Icauc her hufband
too whom flic is {\ibicCty vnlefTe that fomc pcifecuti-
onbe rayfed,and that her many feft daungcrbcin it:
andfpeciaDy ifhcr hufband be as it were a prouoker
too perfccute her to death* Now then fliee forfakcth
not her hu(band, but flic flycth the cuill which is pre-
pared for hcr,and the rage of her enimies as it is per-
mitted and graunted vnto her of god ^To be fliort,thc
conftraint and force which is doonc vnto her , freeth
and fctteth her at libcrtic : notwithftandingc note-
fpcdoftheworldeoughtto witholdethc hufbandc
or the wife one from the other,but onely the mutuall
louc which they owe one to the other in God,for the
procuring of cch others faluation. For if the hufband
mufl: forget him fclfe concerning that which belong-
geth to this earthly life and to the body, he mufl: hauc
no regards too any thing that any whit belongeth to
him felfe , Lctvs rcturne therefore too this cfl:i-
mation which Dauid maketh of feeking the face
of God, as aUo he fpeaketh thereof in the 84.Pralme, ?fal.'^J{, 1 1.
fay in'^ . f^^^ '^ '^ better to Ime one day in the court es oj the Lord
thfnathoufitnde too bee f^rre from it. \'\/hercmhcC\gni^Cih
that the ly fc of the faithfuil cannot bee too fliorcc, foo
F3 that
The iiiKSermon ofzy\dJo.(^aL
that G O D Ibew them this gracc,that liuing in this
woilde>they cxercire themfclucs in feming and hono-
ryng him,confirmingthem fclues in his piromifcs, 8C
making conteffion oi his name ♦ If any man obiedc
that this might well be doone in fome wildernc{Te,or
amongeft thcenimies of the faith : I snfwcre that it is
not without caufe, that Dauid cxprefly mentioncth:
the coHrtes oftheTem^le :For he confidcred howencccfla-
ry thcordcroftheChurchcis too all mortallmenc-
fpeciallyknowyngthebluntnelTeand infirmitie that
isinthcm, Ifthis admonition were well imprinted
in the heartes of allpllat the leaftc woulde come into
fome Chriftian Churche where they might dye qui-
edy and peaceably , and there would not bee any one
that would not quickly truflevphispackandbe irud
ging.Butwhatfeeke we? Alldefirctoo Hue, and that
at their eafc, 5c euery one according to theluft whcr-
with he is led . And this is the caufe why the temple
of G O D at this day is negle6led and contemned.
Yea which is morejthcrcare very many fubtill ones,
toofetbeforc menseies euyllallurementes and ilum-
blingblockestoo turnevsawayefrom thatfiudyof
godlineffethat was in Dauid. They allcage what ihal
it pifofite vs to chaunge the place:w hether foeucr wee
goe, wefliall findcthc worldethere afwellasin ouc
Countrey : all at this day is corrupted, there are like
ofFenccs in all places ^ and temptations too make men
fall fromGod, Igrauntthemal this* Butif theque-
Hion were of their bodies, and that they were admo-
niflicdthat in fome place they might fynde good phi-
(itionsjfit remedies and other helpes for they r health,
woulde they fay, that they cared notforthem,bec-
cauf^
offeruing (jodpurely. ^^
canfe that men mighte beeficke in any place of the
worlcle? I confelTe that where roeiierwcbccomc,that
we (hall finde many occafions to do o euill,and many
occafions of falling away: but there is a great diffc-
rencc,whetherwehaue thofe helpes which GOD
hath giuen vnto vstokeepe vs indooingour dcwtic
and reforming vSfOr to be quite deftitutc thercof.Lec
vs put the cafe that all vices doe equally reigne in the
worldc ,'fo that the very ayrc is infe^ed therewith.
asitwerewithaPeftilence: Is irnotagreateadaan-
tagc tohauetheprelcruatiucs that God hath orday-
ned for his Children? to haue thofe purgatioas and
med icines, whereby hee wouldc healcvs? Nowc I
meanc alwayes the dodrine of the Gofpell when it is
purely preached: as alfo the Sacramentcs when they
are rightly miniftred as it becorameth : then alfo
publique prayers and other meanes which feruetoo
thcflirringof vsvp,and awakening of vs , that wee
fljouldnotbepoyfoDcd with the temptations of the
world.Now cuery manknoweth that nothing of all
this is found in the papacie,but rather altogithcr con-
trary* Lctvs therefore take good heedc j leafi: that
in fuch neccffitie, wherein wee haue needc to bee fuc-
coured , we reie£tnot the helpes that G O D in mer-
cic hath o£fred vnto vs.Therc are others, whiche yet
more playnely , vomite out the filth and difcafe of
their flomack. Shall wegoe (raythey)toaChurchc,
wherein to our greate offence, wee (hall fee troubles
and flumblinge blockcs whiche are altogither vn-
knowcn vnto vs> If in thofe places where the Got
pell is preached , there were fuch goucrnmcnt and
polycie , as were moilc requifite too cdyfye vs,
F.4» ^
The iiii. Sermon of^^yvijo. Qal.
if we were (ure that we fhouldc hnde none but angels
there that ihouldleadevs into Paradife, wcewoulde
rurine thither moft fpeedily , But when we fhall come
thither we fhal iieare many thinges, and peraduenture
more then were meete that Chall doo nothing but of-
fend vs : Yea and there (halbe people geuen too all
kindeofiniquiticjwho through they r lewd anddil^
folute life defame the Gofpcl ♦ Befides thar,vanitics,
pompesjdrunkenncfle and fuch like thinges Ihal there
bcare to much fway.And whichis worfeto be borne,
many (hal (hew them felues fuch obflinate and vnruly
contemners of God,that more vngodlincfle fhall bee
foundamongft them,thenamongcfi: thePapifts. Fur-
thermore am ongeft the Magiftratcsandthofe that fit
atthehelue of iuflice, there flialbefoundcnoleflca-
bufeand corruption then in other places : yea men
ihall findc many amongeft the preachers that might be
amended. Some wyi be founde negligent in their mi-
nifterie,or rather they wil be fo geuen to fecke their
owncprofite,that they wilhaueno great care of their
office. And which is worfl of all, there are amongeft
thefefome iefters and belly Gods which defire no-
thing but too make good cheare, and too make them
felues companions of the wickeddeft forte, that they
mayhauelibertietoo liueastheylifte* But let vs put
the cafe thar it were ten times as yll as they fay: yet
notwithftanding their excufe is alwayes friuolous
who fct fuch barrcs vnto them felues, leaft they fhould
draw neare and come too the Chur che of God .
Butlctvsmdeede fixe our eyes vpon the example
of Dauid # I befeechyou, was therefuch vprightnes
mtheefhtcof iudice inSaulcs time,ashadbecnetoo
be
of feruingC^od purely. ^^
be wiflied? Nay contrarivvife we hear the complaints
which they often times made afwcU of the mahcc dc
cciptcsjcrucltic, and pride of thckiiig,asof hisoffi-
cers» Furthermore the Priefts & the Leuites,did they
behauethemfcluesfoholylyasmen had occafionto
be contented therewith? Nay rather wc mayc gather
that the gteateft parte of them cleaned vnto euill and
nouriflied thcyr iniquities flattering 'them felues in
them. And as concerning the common people, there
was amongefl them great hypocrifjCjand many mani-
fefl: vices and wickednefTes . Loc then the Churche
of God full of many corruptions , and yet notwith-
ftand ing Dau id lotheth not to enter therin,and the dc-
fire that he had waxed not cold. This is a merueilous
hard temp tatio : I confefle it: For the more that any is
touched with the zcale and honour of God, fo much
the more luft caufe.hc hath of greening and vexing
himfe]fc,whcnby the corruption of the Churche hec
ieeth the (hamcful things which are doone vnto him*
Butthercmedieto ouercomc aUthis,is(hewcdvsby
Dauid:thatistofay,thatwefeckcthe face of God&j:
fo cotcnt our felues m the only beholding of him,that
in dcfpitc of al the troubles which Satan ray feth vp a-
gaynfi vs,we on the contrary part fetdownc this con-
clufion.that there is notliing more pleafant and beau*
t ifuU, then to dwell in the Temple of God, where wc
may behold his prefence. So,as often as fnch offences
Ihalbc fei before vs, let vs rcmebcr that it is Satan that
woorketh, according to his accuftomedcraftjthat he
may trouble our fightJ and therfore let vs be wife and
wary that we bencucr led away from beholding the
faceof God,too thcende wc may more fully reioyce
our felues, in the beholding thereof . Let vs be alha-
F5 mcd
TToe iiii. Sermon of(S\d^Jo£aL
medof thofc miferable Idolaters: for if any of them,
after he hath ill fpcnt his man£y,and wafted his body
with trauaile, too goeon feme foolyjQic pilgrimage,
w hen he is corac vnto that fame place whither he de-
termined, he find forac Hofte which dcaleth hardly
with him, or fomc boifteons knaues , which offer
him violence, or fome prieftes which decciue him,
tobefliort,he findcth nothing there but confnfion:
yet for all this he defifteth not fro his deuotion : For
hewill fay, that he went thither for this caufe,that
he might fee and woorihip,eythcr the body of fomc
bleffcd Saint,or fomc image of onr Lady , or els fomc
fochrelique:fliall the onely beholding of fomc dead
carrion or fome apifh Idol haue more power to har-
den the vnbeleeuers in their fuperftitions , then the
face and prefencc of God fhall haue towardes vs, in
geuing vs conftancictoo follow that which is good?
Wefee thisthingand that thing which doth vexcvs:
God calleth vs vnto himfelfe and wouldc haue vs,in
beholding his face and countenauncc too take fuchc
pleafurc and delighr,as wee might patiently beare all
the reft^ Wherfore let this be the buckler and oncJy
refuge of all the faithful 5c godly to hold themfelues
faftc,in thecontinuall contemplation of the face of
Godjhowfoeuer Satan craftcly goc about to turnc vs
from iu And in very decde when we (hal fp cfteemc it
as it deferucth,wc flial fuffcrno damage in the loffe of
any other thinges whatfoeuer *. albeit to fay the tructh
the grcateft partof the,J>clet and hindred not fo much
in the difficultieand difcommoditieof thofc things
which conccrnethcbody. Notbut that the children
cfGod hrtuc very great and hardc combatesin the?c
cdjifcicnces when they finde in the Churches whiche
are
offeruing (^od purely. ^6
arc faide to be refourmcd, thofc offences whereof wc
banc [poke before. And thcrforc they that aduife with
thenifckies to withdraw thcmfelues, into thofe places
where the Gofpel is preachcd,mLift be warned too rc-
fift grceuoufe aflaultes Sc too prepare them (elues to
withltande them. And they alfo which hane had ex-
perience already, mull fortific themfelues , and in dc-
(pitcoftheDeuiil,conftantIy continue toofcekethc
face of God. Bu t when all Chalbcwel way ed, there is
nothing but very diftruft,which flacketh and holdeth
backthegreateftmultitudrg^ as men are very cunning
to deuifcexcufes, fo thcrichehauc theirs on the one
fidc,5t the pore haue theirs on the other. But how can
itbe,wil fbmc great rich landed man {ay,that 1 fhould
{poylc my felfc of al that I haue? Shal I fo go and ftrip
my fclfeof al my goodes and poffeflions? I haue wife
and children : and we haue been brought vp and nou-
rifhed without any trauaylc : and what (hall wc do in
a ftraungc country where we (halneyther haue rests
nor reueriewcs? And againe the poore man he wil al-
ledgCjindeede I haue but a little hecrc : but I haue
friends who relicuc me through their liberaliticj am
called to line by my labor: what fhal I do in a ftrangc
countrey without peny or halpenybeiiig akogcathcr
vnknowen.hauing no fauour nor maintenance ? And
it may be that theleexcufes may be in parte true '• and
without any further inquirie I graunt vnto all , that it
is avery bktcr Sl troublefome ihing,notonely to for-
fake the countrey where we were borne, but any place
wherin wc haucdwclt.Notwithflanding, al theledc-
uife ho we they may fct lets and flops before thefelues
that they comenot too GOD : that is to fay,although
they find,not onely things fo hard as they make them:
yet
Theiiii. Sermon o f(S\d^ Jo £aL
yet they willingly Qiroudcthcm (elues vndcrany pre-
text or colour whatrocuer. Which IS more, when
chcy haue made their s^oodly compl aynts,ihey thiuke
that they hauc flopt Gods mouth , Si ifthat he would
preflethem any farther , that hec dooth them greate
wrong,as though he compelled them to an impoffibie
matter. To this I haue no other aunfwerc, but that
which is written in the 84. Pfalmjto witiThat the faith.
fHllgooing by the dry v alley es and de[ertes, togoe vmo the Ttm*
fieofGodyfhalldigvntothentfeli^espittesorceflerfjes. And I
bcleeuc that this isfufficieotinoughtotamealthofe,
who will not through obftinAte mallice refill God-
Wherefore let thofc which fee them (eles to be fo
befet with difficulties, that they can fee no way to ef-
cape out,rcmeber that euen the dcfcrt places in which
there is not to be foundc one drop of water, ought
not to flop their palTagc. And too the endetbat wee
may more fully vnderftande this matter , let vs markc
that God caufeth his children to feckehim, not in the
goodly medowcsjor in thofe fame pleafant and beau-
tiful IhadowcSjbut euen by fharp & roughe pathes,by
rocky and ftony places , through wafte and hidious
regions,andallthishc dooth too cxcrcifc their faith,
and to try their zcalc and defirc which they haue too
come vntohim.Although then that wc cannot come
vnto God,but wc mufl pafife by fome defert and waffcc
way,yetletvsknowe5 that this is not the firflc time
that God hath fo delt with his faithful! ones, and Jet
vs be of good courage to follow e thofe which hauc
gonclongtimcbcforevs^
The fccond poynt is>that there ought to bee fuch a
great and feruent defire in the Children of God , that
nothing fliould let them from comming to woorfhip
him
of feruing (joci purely. /^y
him.Thc which thing at this day is to be fcenc in very
fcwe,al in a manner ate as it were become fo delicate
and fo nice,thac there needs not(as a man woiildc fay)
but the wagging of a flrawe too ftop them and altogi-
thcr to ftay thera,They w il fay wc can goc no farther.
And why fo?Becaufethcy wilnot vouchfafetoo take
the payoc, to leape oner theleafl block. It muft needs
befaid,thatthatzealeis very wcakethatisdifcoura-
gedforfofmalathing. But wcemiiftnot onelybee
aftonifhed fo eafilyjbut we mtift be armed agaioft the
greateft lets and hindcrances in the world* And that
this may be brought about^letvs remember this Icflo
that God atknowledgcth none for his children, but
they that fcekc by dry and barren places , and whichc
diggc ceflernes where there w as not any drop of wa-
ter.Nowvnderthiswoorde hec fignifiethvntoovs,
that there is no labour or trouble fo grcate that is not
mecte for vs to endure,to the cndc we may enioyc the
face of God Js the queflio therfore of feeking a place,
where a man may hauelibertie of feruing of God and
worfhipping him purely?howcuilfocuerthc pafTagc
be,beit as they fay betwixt fire or water, let not a man
leaueoftogoeonforewarde* Is any maningooing,
pinched with famine or thirfl:>yct therefore muft hec
not faint. Neither let any manfothinke as though I
fpake thereof at myne owne eafe for it is the fpirite of
God,which teacheth vs,that rather thecarth is too be
fcratched with our naylcsjthen wee too bee turned,or
driuenbacke from comming too the Temple of God.
Now if they which d wel in farre countries,and in the
iudgement of men arc dcflitute an d fhut from al thofc
meancs, of drawing themfelues intoo the Countrie
where the Gofpel is preached haue nocxcufc, what
con'
Theini.Sermon of \5M[Jo^ Cal
condemnation I pray you,ought they too looke for,
which haiie thcgofpd at their doore, 8c yet vouchfafc
not to moue one footc that they may enter intoo the
temple of God?Therc are fermos had euery day .pub-
like praiers areconccaucd,thatthey might come too
Church,and there is but the ftcpping ouer of one little
brooke,to come thither, and yet euery one pretedcth
that he hath fome bufines in his houlc.To bee fhort it
fecmcth that men place their fclicitie in this too turnc
away from God.For it fecmcth vntoo them that they
hauc gotten al,whcn they haue founde but one (hifte,
though it bee the raoftfriuolous andlighteft in the
world^Butfcingthatit is fo that wcarefo enclined by
nature to runne from God,yca to parte our felues fr5
him when he draweth neercft vnto vs,let vs pray that
hcwil fo flregthen vs that wc may goe couragioufl y
forcward,vntil that wee hauc founde liuely foun-
taines where there was nothing but drought before.
And although that thatfhould faile vs,yet let vs diggc
cefterns, way ting for rain e fromHeaucn, And if it
pleafe God that wc feele not his helpe fo qu ickly ,that
yet wee giue not ouer too goe on forcwarde.I doubt
not but that this w il bee founde darke too many peo-
ple: but wherefore is it,but euen for wantofpradife?
wee may preach a hundred thoufande yeeres andnc-
uer vnderftande a worde thereof, vntil that wc learnc
by expcriencc,what it is too goe by a dric and thirftic
way, when wee muft come vnto God. But yet ought
this doctrine too bee familiar too all thefaithful,too
wit,that they prepare and armcthemfcluesagainft all
the temptations that Sathan can deuife againfi: them,
too breakeof this path whereby they are brought vn-
too
offeruing (jodpurely. 48
too God. And in very dccdcal they which faithfully
employ them felues too feeke God, although they goc
nocout of their placcjye: they finde many lettes and
incombrauncesjwhich might eafily turncthem away
if they hadnotafecled courage too refill: them. But
it is great pitic , that the greateft parte of them (as I
haue ahead iefaid31ie downcvndcr thofe difficulties
which offer themlelues vnto them. They will graunt
that they ought too doo fojand wil feeme too be very
well appointedjbut when neede is their heartc failcth
them : and they which arc well entred, forthcmoffc
part lye downe for wearincflein the middeft of the
way. This leflon therefore of digging pittcs , is fo
much the more to beremembrcd of vs : that is to fay,
that we feeke themeanes which arc yet hidden from
vs^that we may goc on forwardes. Let vs I fay en-
force our felues and ffriueaboue all humane flrength.
If thinges fall not out to our defire, let vs not thertorc
gcue ouer,to follow with pacience^that happie courfc
wherein God hathfet vs. It is certaine that when wee
Ihall cal vpon the name of God in true faith > that hec
can eafily turne thefe dry defertes, intoo running wa-
ters : but in the meane time it is mcetc that wee accar-
ding to our dueticj put our handcs as they fay too the
worke ♦ For God woulde not that wee fhoulde rc-
maineblockiftieandflouthful, without remoouitig
cither hand or footCi Rather he com maundethvs too
diggc pittes « Let vs thcrf ore trauaile too digge vntill
that wee hauc accoplifhedouriourney.Lct vsfet be-
fore our eyes the poore miferablc Sonldicrs,who cue
iiemoncth fel their life for a ccrtayn price as forthcir
wagesJf theybe inthccampewbatpoucrty do they
endure? If
T^heiuiSermon of *SM^Jo, Cal
If they bcbefiegcd in any place^ they yet indiire much
more grecuous thiiigesrlf chey yndertakc any voyage,
there is neichcrcoldnorhcat,wind nor rainc^diatmay
let them of , fro the cnterprifc they haue take in hand.
Andfomctimes they are brought to fucheexremitie,
thatvnleffe they digge too finde water^they haue not
a droppe to drinke . Thcrcis no labour diilrefTe or
miferie , which they will not fuffer for the perfour-
inaunce of that which they haue vnderrakcn .And yet
when they haue doone all, whether they efcape orno,
they haue but loiftheyrlabourjbecaufe they haue but
yrlloode ^^^"^^ Satan* The fonneof God through his infinite
Ifet^l&^ic S^^^^ ^^^^ chofen vs to be his fouldiers : &; we kno w
kedfoHlMeru ^^^^ reward he hath prepared for vs . How muchc
that httuenot morccouragious then ought we to bee in his feruicc >
the fear e of the chofcmiferableSc defperatemen,thatdobutpur-
GO"B before chafe their own dcftrudion? Neither is this metioned
thstreyes. hcercthat any roanlhould reckon how many miles
there is fro his houfcto the place where he may freel/
worIhipGod,makeconfeflion of his faith, andhcare
thcpurcdoiarincof thcGofpell: We haue yet to goc
a farre longer iourney which lafteth allour lyfelong^
Haue we haunted the Church of G ODa yeere or
more? If we continue,we itall dayly finde new cares «
For fometimes wefiialbevifited with fickncfle/ome-
times with pouertie, cyther our wiues or children,
fliaUdie,oreirethcmeanes weehauctoo feme God
flialbe taken away as before time,Sc we Ihall be toiTed
with difquietnefle and fundry troubles ♦ W hcreforc
it isveryrequifitethateuenvntothcendwehaue our
handcs ready too diggc Pittcs, and our nayles too ,
fcratch the earth,if neccfiitie io require. If any mnn al\
leadgCjhow then? arc we not in the Temple of God? ;
I an-
of feruing (jod purely. 4 9
HUiifwcarc that wcarefo in it, as wcmufl comeeucty
•day nearer & nearer vnto it,5c enter into it. True ii is
t\vix wee daylyc beholdcthc face of God, but wee
arc not yet fo fully fatiffied therewith, as wee fhall bcc
whe we (halbc gathered vnto him^Wherfore it beho-
ueth that all generally apply this to their vfejSc becaufc
Satan ccafeth not to hinder al thofe that go vnto God,
\tt euery one enforce him{elfe,too continue conftant-
ly too doo that too morrow which he hath doone to
day* For if the cnimie ceafe not too endcuour to driuc
vsbacke from our courfe towardes G O D,muchc
Icffe ought we too loofc our courage to fct our (elucs
forwardjand continually withoutceafing gather new
flrength.But to the end we may do this ching,itbcho«
«eth that wc hauefuch an afFedion wcl printed in our
heartesasDauidhad: Ihadrather ({m\i[ic) dwell at the
thrcfholdeofGodshoHfe,the>t'tn the Tentesdrtd Tabernacles 4>f
ihewickfd: Wherein he plainely declarcth that to pur*
chafe this benefit, to dwel in the houfe of God, he will
^ccountc it no euili too be abafed and made the moflc
defpifed in the worlde. Let vs confider I bcfeech you,
whathiseftatewas,Hewasthekingcs fonnein lawc
and one of the chiefe Princes in the Countrey ,and yet
notwithftanding heeis content too bee fetbehindc,
and put among the bafcft fort of the common people,
vppon condition too haue fome litdc corner in the
Churche of God* If this defirc raigned in all, they
wouldc not make fo much adoetoo nddethcm (clues
and fpende fo long time in bargcning for exchaungc
they haue too make , in forfaking their houfes and
Countrey t© come to the Church of God , But there
are very fcwe founde, whichecantakeinhandeand
willingly beare the diminiftincr of their fublbunce,
G cucry
7 he m /, Sermon oj^yVlJo. Cal.
cuery man doth greatly defirc^nicely tobccariedina
horlclitter where he may worfliip god at libcrtie,and
he would haueboth lads Sc poflcfsios, trading of mcr^
chandife,credite,kinrcd and friendefliip,and all other
comoditics of this life,by Sc by to follow, Bnt whiles
they arc at this point, I pray you how cfteeme they le- '
fus Chiifl?For all that euer they wil dojat his defire is
butasicwereby way ofpaftimc: which isbuta very
poore 5c fcelyconfideration.For albeit wcbe nothing
woorth indecdc,yet hath he of his infinite goodncs io
greatly eftcmed vsjchat hehath notfpared him for our
laiuation: yeal fay him in whom confifteth the pcr-
feftion of all our fclicitie* And (hall we in the meanc
time grudge SC repine to forgo fome trafitoric things^
and to account our cftate &: condition worfc,ff we be
not fo wel handled SC entreated Sc hauc our pleafurcs
as beforc>.This is vcrie far fro following that which
S.Paulc hath (hewed vs by his cxaplc *• that is^that we
ihould count all things as filth Scdung that doth hin-
der vs fr5 poffefling of Icfus Chrift^Se that we (hould
forfake it as a hurtful thing^knowingthat whatfoeuee
leparatethvs from the true life muftneedesdrawe vs
Vnto death.This alfo is far of from folowing that ex-
hortation which is made vnto vs by Icfus Clinftjthat
wc fliould fel 5c forfake al that we hauc in this world
forthekmgdomcofhcaucn,knowing that this is that
.precious ftonc,that is a hundredthoufand times more
worth tlicnalthofc things that men fomuch defire S£
fo gpcatly cftcemc. If any man w il obied that a man
may come to the kingdomc of hcaucn^w Jthout forla-
king of his houfe : lanfwerethat k is Hot without
caufe that our Sauior Chrift doth thus name the pr ca^
chingof chcgofpeU They therefore thac arcdcflitutc
thcc-
of ferimg(jo({ purely. 50
thcrof S^makcnot accept afmuch as i$ pofsible to (eke
thofc m canes wherby they may cnioy ir,fnfficietly de-
clare that they are too carnally affc£} cd to the pelfe of
this world 58c are not yet difpofed to exchange thcni
with the kingdom of heaue.Biu if they might poflefTc
both togither,! would not cnuie thc:but if they canot
hold their poireino,8c ncftle ftil in their ncaftes,vnles
they wil dcfraude thefclues of thefodc of the children
of Godryca if they cannot maintaine thefclues in the
ilatc wherin they are,withouc cutting thefclues of fr5
the churchc, it is mcete for them to regard that neccfli
ty which god hath laid vpo the. They may eafily bring
forth fuch excufcsas thefCjbutal thcfe (halftand the in
noftced, whe that great ludgcflial thunder vpo thofc
with his terrible voice that fcrmore (lore by that
earthly life that is commo vnto vs with brute beaftcs,
then by the cuerlafting iohcritaunce which hec hath
appointed for his child re. And it is a very ftragc thing
that many imagine to ftop our mouth,vnleifc wedo
afligncthefome raeanesSc ftatc wherby they may liuc
infcruiQggod,Myconditio,(thcywiI(ay) is thus ia
my conntrieiif I forfakc it,what(hal become of mec»
or how (hall liue? As though god had appointed the
that preach the Gofpeltobcftewardes&ouerfeers,
to appoint euery man his ftate & his ordinarie,and to
giuc euerie one according to h is worthincire&: digni-
tiehis certain penci5 &: wagcsf Ifwccanhelpetheni
by coufcl or d ire6bi6 we are bound to do it,yea thogh
they do not rcqucd it:but if wc be not ablcjflial our li-
bcrtic therforc be loft to tcache euery man that which
God hath commadcd him? But if they' had wcl lear-
ned and rcoicmbred this do£trincof Dauid,toolouc
better a lictlc corner in the porch of the temple of god
tlien the hia;hefl: and mofte honourable pl.iccs that
they might cho^fc amongcd: the vnfaithful! ^ i!v.:y
G 2 wouldc
T^heiiiiSermon of iS'yfJoX^l
woiildc ncncr tliinkc fo harde, and ftand fo doubtf till
what waic werebeft too be taken. But this is the mif-
chicfeth.uthey would holdeall,andflccpe in whole
ikinnes not fuflering they r riches or honours too bee
dimini(hcdinanypoint,nor forgoing their cafe and
dclightcs»that is too fay , they cannot bow their necks
nor bend their backes too bearc Icfus Chrift . Let the
plcade and contende about the matter,afn[vuch as they
lifte,yet muft they needes in the cndc be condempned.
Concerning fuch as hauealredy forfakentheyr coun-
trey , that they might come too a place, where they
might freely ferue God , and where the tructh of the
Gofpell might be faithfully preached vnto them, it is
very neceffary that they oftentimes call this {cnrencc
to their remembrauce^to the ende they may from day
too day exerciCe them fclues in the pradice thereof^
that tlicy may be hartened in the continual vfe and cu-
ftoc of it , For many thigs may come to pafle with the
timc^and daily do,which may difcourage the chat had
agreatzcale . They that ioynethemfelues to the chur-
ches of God?arenotalwayes fo receiued as they arc
■woorthic. Order many times is fo perucrted,that the
worthieft too befet forwarde^are fct behindc. Suchc
temptation might indeedc turnc them backe from
their faluation, caufing them too kaue of the good
courfe whcrunto they were entred, were it not that
they rcfted contented rather too bee in thelaft, and
jnofte defpifed in the boufc of G O D then too bee
^itefhutout«
' Thus the good faiihfull men indeede , not hauing
all that they might well dcfire, but contrariwife fee-
ling a great many troubles in forfaking thcyr coun-
trey Icarnc to cpfo rte thefcli^es with thisoncly wordy
' yet
offertiing (jodpurely. ^zj.
yctareweinthehoureof God. Noweletthc world-
lings deride afmuch as they liftj&i blafe vs out in their
pride as abiedes and outcaftcs : ic is enough that God
doth vs this honour^tooaccountysofhisPallace and
of his fanduary.We fee what paine ambitious fooles
take that they may bee counted and reckoned of the
familieandhoufeoffomePrince : and iio we happy
they reckon thcmlelues, iftheymaybut come into
the kitchin or Hall. Now when wc Hial be t he vcrieffc
abiedes in the \vorlde,yet fo that we bcof the churchc
ofGodjheleadeth vs toothemoft high and meniei-
lousfecretes of his wifedomc withruchefamiliaritic
as if a father fhouldecommunicateand open himfelfc
too his children. Aud furc we were very vnthankeful
if this recompence fliould not fatiffie vs. It is very true
that the faichfull may well be tempted and prouoked
when their affaires (hall goe backwarde 9 and that the
wicked fhall triumphe in all profperitie. But when
they (hal cofider on the other fide,that God hath cho-
fen them too bcof his houfe,and that hecentertaineth
them there as his children, this confolation fhall bee
woorthlitle, ifitbcnot fufficicnt toappcafc all the
griefes and enimities wherewith they may bee trou-
bled. And certainly they that murmureand vcxe them
felues,becaufe they arc not entreated of God as they
defire, orrepentethemfeluesforhauing begun wel,
fhew plainely that they haue not followed the coun-
failc of our lord Ierus,which is,that they fhould haue
made theyr thoroweaccountCjwhcn they begin their
building ,what it will coft them to make an end of it:
to the endc: they vexe not thcmfclucs for hauing fpenc
too much, and fo by this mcancs leauc the woike im-
perfect. Which is worftthe moftpart of thofe which
Gj fq
T'hemiSermon of^PvIJoCal
fo fayncin themiclc!eIl:oftheway,doleauc of with-
ouc any caiife: wherin they lliew themlehies moil: im-
pudent« For they which had neither iioufc nor landc,
and wi th whom it was all one^eiihcr to dwel m their
own Countrey ,or m the fartheft part of the world^yec
they are not aftamed to vpbraid God , that they haiic
left this and that for hisfake.Butyetletvs put the cafe
that they had loft much of their fubftance for the Gof-
pelles fake : yet notwithftanding ir is a very mockery,
more to cfteeme a dandiprat them a golde noble. In
the meane fcafon nothing is hearde but thefe murraii-
rings and complaintes : and would to God that fuchc
people were farre away from vSjat they r owne cafe «
And yet notwithftanding there are neither poore nor
rich thathaue any iuftcxcufetoofallaway fortheaf-
fiidions whichehappenvntoothcm . by following
God3atbecanre this is a very hard thing,the remedy
is ihewed vnto vs in the 84»PfalmjVvherc Daiiid5aftcr
lP[dnt*%i»b, he had faide,f^^^ the mm it bleJfedthathp^ethinGod^^^^
dcth by and byj^» vfkofe heart are his wajes:- As if he w old
fay,he that hath his minde wholy bent too waikc as
God hath comauded him. Loe therefore two thinges
which cannot be feparated the one fro the other : that
we haue our hope in godySC that we walk in the right
path.Whereforcasourinfirmitiedothlctvsjornja-
keth vs {o laficjihat wc could be content at al affaics to
tiirne another way,letvs fortiHe ourfeluesjnfaith,Si
hopejpray ing our good God,that hee will make vs fo
to looke vnto him, that nothing trouble vs, whileft
wee traftein hispromifes, whereby hee hath affu-
red vs that he will be with vs for cuer both in life and
in death.
'^^
^■^v
J^^'Ci^
f\
i^#
^te
VVA^P
lyf
"VTfl
v/w
P^
^Mfe
^^
//^ exjpojttionypon the Z-j.Tfalme.
TheArgumen%
f * ?/;^f K"^rackes,yea which is more^is oftentimes feene as it Trfrejrva*
lorvedvpxaltogeather like as a 'Boatenvhtch iseuenreadytoobec
drowned : the feltcft'te thereof con ffieth principally tn that CHer*
lafling eflate whteh God hath laid vpfor it in his kingdome .
"T he circumflance of the time wherein this Ffalmewas made
ferueth vs very much^the better too make vs too vnderflande tt»
For although the people were thenreturnedfrom Babylon,xphere it
had been longtime holden Capti/ie, although that the Church f^
lap ere gathered as it were into one bodyejtoo bee no more fo fcatte*
red as it had bcene: although that the temple were builded and
the Altar fct vp, there t^pon to offer vp facr/fices, an^ all the wor-
fhip ofGodrejlored : Neuerthcleffe becaufe there was but one
handful of people returnedinto iheholy landeyin refpeEiofthe
great multitude that went out of it -.and of that thatremainedyWas
dayly dsmintpjed through the violences and outrages of the enimt-
mies.'in fuch fort that the Jl ate of the people was very com eptible:
andalfo becaufe the temple had no fuch maiefiie as it had before*.
uill this maketh that the faithfull cotddc haue no great hope, for
the time is come , And furely it feemeth impoffible that euerthey
fhoulde be refiored too theyr former^ ate from whence they were
fallen, wherefore it was very daungerous^ leafl in calling too re^
membrane e theyr difcomfiture and ouerthrewy and thinkingalfo
^ffo many euilles wherwith they ceafednot too bee oppreffed^that
they hadffot beenepjaken/mdtn the ends hadnot fallen too vtter
defpair^^
The Argument, 4tf
Aefpajrft The ende therefore of this Pfalme is too comfort them,
that they might not be dtfcouragedm theyrmiferies . Andthebet^
ter to bring this tofa^e^Godfromtfeth the, that they pjal not onely
recofier that which they had lo^fbutalfo Itfteth the vp into a bet'
ter hope jt JO veit^of an incomparable glory ^as a! fo tt had beene pro-
ntifedvnto thsnt by their Prophet ^ggeusy thatthemaieflteof j^^^^j^^
the feconde Temple jhonlde bee greater then that ofthefirfi^ ^^
It remayneth n owe that rve applie this Pfalme to ottr vfe^ God
wotflde that this confolatton, fljoulde be of fach power Andimpor-
taunce towardes thefanhfulloft hat time^ that not onely it might
re for me them^ to the ende they might not be oppreffed withfo ma*
t^eHilles.-butthatitlJjouldeasa manwoulde faye haue drawen
them out ofthegraue , to hane lifted them vppe^ euen to Heauen,
NoweforAfmuchaswehnow^thatthe thinges rvhich were fore*
tolde of that time were rxcompliflied^ we are more then vnthanke-
fttil^ifthe experience which our auncient Fathers had, beyng ioy^
tjedwiththepromtfesofGod^doenotfufifeto confrme our f ait b
fo much the more. For it cannot be fufficiently exprsjfedin wordes,
howe lefus Chrifi with his comming hath adorned and magnified
his Churchy For then the true religion^ which waspiut vp^tilthat
time inthe countrie of I ewrte,was fpread abroade througkeeut
the whole worlde : and God which before was onely knowen of one
onely race, began nowe to be called vpon in all tongues and thoro-»
out all nations. 7 hentheworldewhich bejore hadbeene fo mife-
rably difhaEledc^ as it were tome inpeeces wtthfo manyfeUsyCr-
rors ^Cfr f»perfiitids,-was vnitedcfrk^i' i^^-o one holy cocord of faith »
Then all people acquainted them fehes of very feruent defre,
"with the lewes , whom before they greatly abhorred anddete-
fied Alfo htr.ges andpeople^oftheyr owne accord, nillingly yeelded
themfelues toobe fuhtecl tolefus Qhrife.lVolues and Lions were
ehaungedtnto lambes. God powredout vpon the faithfulthe gifts
of the holy Ghojle.yxhich excelledall the glory of the worlde. And
this was a thiKg fo much the more wonder full /hat the body of the
Church which was gathered together and compounded oj fo many
dtuers members tand which werefeparated the one from the other,
hyfarre dtflaunt Countreis that yet notwithflandingthat hee fa
ettcreafed & mamtetned thtwherefore it mufi needes be alfo that
6' 5 Gfd
The Argument.
■Godvfirought mightily , in miihtplying the preaching of the Go-
fpel in foipjort a time, and in maktng ttfo wonder [filly to fruHtfie
andto profite^JVherefore although that thenobilUie and dignity
of the Church, had neuef htnfetjoorth in this prefent Pfalme, yet
votxvtthfianding the incomparable graces which GOD difplayed
foon h at the commmg of his Sonne, fhetveth that the Church e is
truely^an heauenly y<¬ an earthly htngdome. Morecuer it mufi
fieedes be that this be that prefent ttme,wherem ^odfo magnified
and made theflate of his Church too (hine^ that thefaithfull, the
Better to ejieeme the worthinejfe ofttjooke more high then mans
reafon and vnderflanding can attayn vnto. For fro the time that it
[ofiomjhedasxveehaue fayde^ ithadnopompe neither of Golde^
fior filuer, norpretiousflones : but rather her triumph es were in.
the bio od of Martyr es: and as^e rvas rtche in fp trite sfofhee was
naked and poor e concerning the mucke of the worlde : as fhee was
frecioHsandbeaHtifull in holineffe, before God and his Angelles,
fojhe was contempttbls tntheworlde. Shehadmany outrvardand
epe enemies who cruelly perfecHtedher : or rather did mifcheueuf.
iydeuifeto cafiher headlodg vnder the earth. There were
wanytraynesandplatformeslayed : astheDiuell willneuer
veafeto molefi to entrappe her by Hypocrites, lo be ^ort the dig*
^itie thereof was tuermore hidden vnder the C^'ojfe of Chrifl. On
the other [idea man mtght eafly i:idge^ that all the woorthmes
fvhichpjee hathy isfptrituallafo as pje cannot befeene with car^
Tialleye, wherefore the confoUtion which is contayned here cea^
feth not to be very meete and fafonable for this time : to the ende
the faithfuUmay be warned^to thinhs vppona more per feUs Jlate
cfthe Churche, then that which is apparaunt vnto them^ *But
this is veryenecejfaryeforvs at this day . It is hngefithcns that
fortheflnmsofour Father s, G O D fufferedthis noble and ex-
cellent flate whiche hee had ereBed in his Chttrche , too beg
diffigured, and placed in fieade the^-eof an horrible defolation.
\Andysteuen at this time , the poor e (Jnirche is woonderful-
iy oppnjTed by our tranfgrejfons , and mourneth vnder the
cruell Tyranny of the aduerfaries of his trueth , vnder the
flaunders a^d reproches of her eniwies^ and vnder the moc-
i^rtss of the Deutl, andofwtcked men : in fuche forte that
there
The Argument,
5z
there is nothing that their orUlwges^ivho defreto heat their ea[e
dogmorePjUnneithentoheeholdenandaccompted of the nnmhr
and companje oj the Faith full : rpherfofit commeth that the
mofle^artefeparate themftlues from the Churche, asthougho
mencoHlienotbeeoftt ^'nleffe they were mcjl vnh.^ppie and aC'^
Cfirftci, ivheretiponttts e/jie for vs too gather hQWC
troftahle the doBrine of this prefente
Pfalme is vnto vs'tot he ende wee
might without cenffmg wf-
ditatevppontt%
Pfalme87«
YeTA' To thefonnes ofChorah,4 Tfalme and a SonguetThefoHtn
dmons thereof are laide amongefithe Mount apei ofhif
holwejfe,
■«»■
HE naming of the Tonnes
of Cliorah,clo not fo much
(hewe that they were the
authours of this Pfalme >
as that they were fpeciall
Muficions appointed too
fing in the Temple, How-
.bcit it might bee faide al{b>
"*that fome or this familie,
was the Auchour thereof ^ Conccrci.iv^theTexte
where it is (a.id^hatthefou»dathnsth^.'.i>farclajfd amongji
f^tf^i^/yMff; :this muftbeeapplied vntooGod. Fox
itisacommon manner of fpcachc amongcfttheHe-
brues too put the Relatiue before the Name of hirp
of who mction is made.The meaning therfore is this.
That he hath laid his fudation amog thofc holy hilles.
An Expofition of (i^M^Jo.Cal.
Many hauevnderftood this of the Temple:but this a-
grecthnot. Others vndcrflandc it of the Pfalmc as-
thoughitwcrefaide that the argument or matter of
this Pfalme is too entreatc of thofe holy mountayncs
where the Temple was builded : but this is no more
agreeable then the formcr.But as I hauc alreadic (aide
the purpofe of the Prophet is to fhowe that God hath
chofen thcholy mountaines,to the ende he may there
build his royal Cittic lerufalera and his Temple, For
it folio wcth a litde after in the text that the wofi htghefl
(haleflabltfhitAi is very certaine that God i% the true Si
principal! founder of all the Cities in the world : but
this fo excellent a title is not attributed too any other
Citie but to lerufale, that it Ihould be the euerlafting
reftingplaceofGod,and that hew il dwel there, bc-
ffoLiu-i. caufe that he hath chofen it. We miifle alwayes note
this differenccjthat other Cities were not builded by
the power and authoritie of God,vnleffc it were for
their earthly poliicie:butthat lerufalem was hisfanc-
tuary, and that he had fpecially chofen it as it were the
fcate of his maieftie. And fo alfo doth the Prophet E-
fay fpeake thereof; fVhat fhaU the mejffngersofthe people fay f
Efajf'iA'l^»\ it is,that the Lord hath fomdedSpn, Which is more, al-
though that al the Countrie of ludea was dedicated
vnto him,yet it is faidc that cafling al other afide, hec
hath referued this Citieof lerufalem to himfelfethac
he may raigne thereiand this is that whiche foloweth
inthefecondverfe,
yerfe.t, 7 he Lordloueth the gates ofSyon done 'althe ta&er*
naclesof lacoh.
Too which agrecth that which is faide in the 78*
TfiU7%,6o. p(^iuje^ that God hath reieded Siloh the try be of E-
phraim.
phraim, the tabcrnaclc,of lofeph that he m ight dwell
in Syon which bchadloucd. Let vs markc well ilfo
the caufc which the Prophet mentioneth here, why
God hath preferred orie certaine place , before all o-
thers : to wit,not for the woorthineflc of the placej
but for the mecrclouc which he barcvnto it, where-
fore if any man afke, whence this excellent priuiledgc
that Hietufalcm had came,that it (houlde be called the
holy Citicof God,andhis royall Paliace : the aim-
fwere is cafie and (hort, and that is becaufe it hath foo
pleafcd God, Thispleafureis as it were, thefountain
and rooteofhis louc,Theendasheflicwethwas,bc^
caiifehe would hauc there feme place,wherin his reli*
gi5 (hold haue dwelling to norifh an affured vnitie o£
faith amongcft the Iewcs,vntil the commmg of oue
Lordlefus : and that in the end thcGolpellfhould
fprmgfromthenceatoobe publiftied throughout the
whole worlde. And thus the Prophet to magnificthc
Citic of lerufalcm {aith,that God is th e found crther^
of,and that he there ruleth as the gouernour.But to the
cnde that men (houldc not take occafion too be proud
' of fuchanhonour,headdethandflieweth, that all the
cxccllcncic which Icrufalem hath, mufl be attributed
too the mcere grace and adoption of God , in that hec
putteth Syon for the whole Citie,and the gates for the
whole wal and Co mpaffe of the Citie, it is by taking a
'part for the whole»By thcmountaines^whcrof he fpca
keth in the plural number, they vndcrftand common-
ly Syon ^and Motiah,butted either vpon other* Now
although I doo not vtterlyreied this cxpofition, yet
me thinkes one might extend this worde further : too
witjto the whole region. For lerufalcm was fituated
among raountaincs.
pynmltrfHi
An expolttion of M. h, Cal,
Ver^ 5 . Wonder fttU tbingcs 4re ffok£» ofthee, thft Cttie of
God.SeUh.
W orde for wordc it is, that that which is faide in
thcc,arc wonderfull thinges»But wehaue to marke the
purpofc of the Prophet, or rather that which the holy
Ghoft would here fpcake by the Prophet » The condi-
tion of the people of the lewes , was at this time very
conteptible^fo as there was fmal account made of the*
They had many great and grecuous enimieson euery
fidewhichvcxcdthem,andbutfew had the courage
to put backc oficnces* Euery day there fell out , newc
alterations beyond all hope of men : in fuch forte
that it fecmed,that after thinges went fo to wracke 8c
waxed worfe and woorfe, that all in the ende Ihouldc
come to vtter ruine, in fuche fort that any man couldc
hardly hope that cucr the Citieof lerulalem Ihouldc
bercftored againe* Now to the ende that the hcartes
of the faithfuU (houlde not bee vtterly fwalowed vp
with hcauineiTe and difpaire,thcy are hereby the Pro-
phetc,fet to leanevpon that woorde which God had
pronounced of the eflate of his Church to come : for
there is no doubt but that the holy Ghoftc withdraw-
cththe faithful! in this place from the beholding of
things prefentjto the ende he might bring them vntoo,
ihcpromifes, which did allure them of an incredible
glory that God woulde (hortly geue too h is Churcli*
So then ho wfoeuer the thing that appcareth jfcrue not
to make the children of God reioicc,yctnotwithftan-
dmg the Prophet c5maundeth the to lift vp their fen-.
les on high, by the vertue of that worde the which is
gcucnvntothcm : too the ende they might patiently
waytevntil thofe thinges which had beencpromifed.
ynto
yponthe^-j.Tfalme. yrf
vnro tficm fbould be executed and perfournicd. Oh
this minner they were admoniftcd and exhorted too
reade diligently and to meditate day and night, thofc
auncicntprophelics which concerned the reSoring of
the Churchrand {pecially thofe which wereconteined
in the booke of Efay from the 40 .chap, vnto the ende
of the booke. Further that they fhould reach out their
eare and d iligently hearkcn,geuing faith and credit to
theProphctSjwhich were fent at that time to comfort
them and to preache vnto them thekingdomeof Ic-
fus Chrifte which was neare : wherevpon it folowctb
that wee can not iudge aright of the felicitie of the
Churche j vnleffewce iudgeofitbyihewooideof
God,
Verji. / rviltrehearfe Rahah 4ndBahjl(tn amofigefl them that
kriowe mee .* hcholde Palijiinc and TjtHtt with u£thtopia^
hewasbornethert^
The name of Rahab is put afwell in other places of
tlie Scripture for Egypt : and here it very well agre-
ech to this fcntence : For the Prophetes mindc is too
defcfibe the excellente and glorious eftate of the
Churche whiehe then was hid . Hec fay th therefore
that they who before had beene deadly cnimies, or
were altogeather ftraungers vnto it,(houlde not oncly
bee her familiar frccndes but as it were engraffed
into one body,too the ende too bee accounted for Ci-
tizens of Hierufalcm . I will put (fayth hec) intoa
myne accounte , or I will cnrotvle Egypt awd Baby-
lon, amongert: my famy liars or hou(holdeones» Fur-
ther heeaddeth that the Philiftines diey of Tyreand
Ethy:
Jnexpojition of M.loXal,
Ethiopia,who hithertoo had had great difcordc with
the people of God,(hoiilde bcevncoo him as good
ffiendc$jas if they were the naturall borne of lewry.
Now in (peaking fo therof he fpecifieth a fingular dig-
niticoftheChurchcofGOD : and chat is that they
which did defpiTc it, and did wifhe it too bee vtterly
fa(ed and deflroied,0ioulde gather themfelues round
about vntoo it, yea , and fliould account it for a great
feonour too be enrouled and acknowledged amongcft
dispeople. For the Prophet fignificth that all of rheir
ownc accorde, (houldc renounce heir ownc natu-
all Countrcycsjwherein toforcthey put all their glo-
ty«This is therefore afmuch as if he (houldc fay , that
from what quarter foeuer men wercborne, were it in
^Paleftine,ia Tyre or Ethiopia,they (houlde be gladdc
andwcllapaidetoobe numbred with the people of
God and acknowledged for Citizens of lerufalemj
The Rabbines of the lewes 9 make a crooked glofc
of this place,that is 9 that from other nations of the
worldc jthcre fhall come very fewe excellent men , in
wittc or vertue : but that in their race there fliall be a
great number. As though it were faide that there wil-
behardly found a man woorthy of praife in any coun^
trey. So as they may bee pointed at which are fuchc
with the finger : But that in Sion there (halbe great
abundauncc ♦ The Chriftian Dodours with one
confent apply this to our Lordelefus jand they think
that thereafonis here remedied, why the ftraungcrs
yea the cnimies of the Churche fliall defite too be in-
grafKed and inrowlcd therein, too wit jbccaufc the
(onncof God (haIbebornethcrc,whofe office it is too
gather men which wcredilpcrfed into an holy vnitie
pf faith, 8i to hcape the fcatiered mcn^bcrs togcather
to
vpon the 87. Tfalme. 57
too make one whole bodie thereof. Nowc this fen-
tence indeede is very true in it felfc : but it agreeth not
vnto the place. And wc muft alwaies diligently take
hccdc that the Scripture vndcr colour of (ubtiltie bee
not racked too any other fenfe then it ought . Let it
fuffifc vs therefore too haue the plaine and fimplcex-
pofition thereof, that euerye one may defircitfor a
great benefit, to bcrecefued a Citizen of the Church.
The which is yet more fully confirmed by that which-
followeth«
Ver f . And of Sy on 'ti fhdbe fai^e^this Andthat mtM isBornem
it I andthfmofihighefjhallefiahiiib it.
As I haue faidc already the Prophet eontinuah his
fcntence minding to fjgnifiejchat God fhal gather peo
pie togeatherafall Countries of the worlde, too in-
corporate them into hk Churchc^ as neweburgefles
andCitizens* Albeit thathcvfe an other manner of
fpeakingjit is bccanfe Grangers fhalbc reputed among
the holy people of G O D, as if they weredefcended
of theflockeof Abraham. He hadfaideinthsformer
verfcjthat the Chaldeans and Egyptians fhould yeeldc
themfelues to become ofthehoufhold of the church-
that the Ethyo plans ,Philiftines,&: the men of Tyre,
fliouldedefire too bee enrowled in the number of his
Children: nowehec addeth for confirmation of his
fcntence that the troupe fhalbe great and infinite, too
replcniHitheCitieof Herufalcm, whichefora time
was derolate,and to make it moll populous : or rather
which had been inhabited but eucn of an handfull of
men m comparifon of the people which fliould arriue
therc.That which IS hecrcbriefely prom ifcd is dccla-
H red
An Expoftion of/^/»«45.n . P^^g^^^*^^^ ^^^ marrieth himfelfe with the Faithful vp-
CalJ^^i^' ' pon this condition, that they Ibouldc f orgette, their
' ' owne people, and the houfe of their Father, And
this is the caufe why Saint Paulc faycththat wee be-
ginne too bee the Children of G O D and of the
Churche, when wee are borne anewc , of incor-
ruptible Seedc, and are made ncwe Creatures, And
furcly wee are not otherwife regenerate into the hca-
ueiily life then by the Minifterie of the Churche.
Jflthemeane time let vs call too remembrauncethe
" - '" diiFe-
vpon the Sj. Tfalme, 58
c^ifFcrcx^cechatSaintePalJleplKtcthI^e^c betwixt the
earthly Hieruralcm , which as it is a feruaimt, cannot
but bring foorth children into bondage : and the hea-
uenly,which conceaucth and bringeth forth children
into libertie through the GofpcU Iti the endc of the
verfe, there is a promife of the long continuance of
the Church : for oftentimes it commeth to pails that
Cities,the fooner they creepevppc, into fuddainc ri-
ches and greatnelTejthe /hotter while they continue
in their profpcritie . To the ende therefore that men
thmkc not the felicitfc of the Churchc too bee fo
tranntorie,theProphetc declarcth that ftiec ihal hauc
,her fiabilitie in G O D , and that therefore flieefhall
continue • As though he (houldcfay, it is no maruaile
though other Cities be al wayes fhaken, and fubie£t to
many alterations : bccaufe they arc tofled with the
worlde, and hauc not cuerlalling keepers. But the
condition of this newc Hierufalcm fli^Jbe othcrwife:
forherperpetuitie being founded in God, fliallfland
lure, though Heauen and Earth (houldefall^
rl;;.'::.
Ver.6, The LerdefhatlenfoivU hisffofU by TtfTitwg: he wat
borne there* ScUb,
The Prophcte meaneth that the nanac of Syop,
fiiall bee fo Noble and Honourable j that cuerie
one (hall defirc too bee receaucd there for a Citi-
7en ♦ For hee fpeakcth of the principal! bcncfite,
and of a thing the moftetoo bee wiftied for that cucc
coulde happen ♦ The meaning diereforc is thus:
H2 whcQ
An Expo/idon of(tyvLjo.CaL
when God Ihall take accountc of his people, or fiiall
cnrow le them , the greateft benefice and honour that
he can doe vntohisbeft beloued, fhalbe too accountc
them for Citizens of Syon, rather then of any other
Citie^ For this flialbc a greater dignitic, to hauc fomc
corner among the common people of the Churche,
then to be greately cfleemed or too rule in any other
place. Notwithftanding the Prophetc admoniflieth
vs, from whence it is that fuchc a benefite proceedcth|
that they which wercftraungcrs flioiild fo fodenly be
brought into the Church : to wit of the free gifte of
God. And in deed they which are the flaues of Sathan
andoffinnecanneucrgetteby their owne diligence
any fuch titleand right to be Citizensofheauen.lt is
therefore God onely which difkibuteth according
to his owne good pleafure, peoples in their orders, 5c
feuereth them one from the other , as it feemcth
good vnto him: forafrouch as the condition is cquall
and alike in all by nature. The cnroulement whereof
he fpeaketh here^ is too bee vndcrftood of the calling
whereby God dcclarethwfao arethofe that heehath
chofen* Ror although that hec hath written his chil-
dren in the bookc of life , before the creation of the
worlde , yet notwithftanding hee folempnly fet-
teth them downe in hisrcgitter, when hce gcueth
themthemarkeofhis adoption, callingthem to his
trueth and renuing them by his fpirite*
verf,7* As well the fngers as the PUyers on inflrumentes^all
tnjf^YVtges ar-e in thee<.
Partly the fliortnes of this fentence, caufeth it to be
doiibcful, & partly the doubtfull fignification of the
word.
iDpon the 8 7. Tfalme. yp
word;:^ ^11 cxpofitors agree very well in this, tPvAttbc
wordc rpring or foutaiucis taken liercby a Metaphor
or fimilitude* But one fort apply it to the affe£lion of
the heart,otherfonic to the inward thoughtes . There
arc alfo whichc tranflate it Veines or Melodies,
whofe opinion I would wel allow of,if the propriety
oftheHebrwe tongue wouldefufeit : but becaufe
that this is fomewhat wrcflcd, I tye my felfc to that
which is more proper and naturall : and that is , that
the Prophet by this woordefignifieth the eyes or the
lookc. As if he fliould fayj hauealwayes my fight fix-
ed and faftened vpon thee • For the loote of the He-
brew word fignifieth an eye. It reraaineth therforc to
fee , what that other member fignifieth aj\veUthe fingen
Ai thcpl*j/ers oninfruments^ This is a very abrupt fen tcce,
but this letteth not but that men may eafily gather
the meaning therof :to wit,that there fhalbeio largcaa
argumet of ioy in the church,after that it flialbe refto-
Tcdjthat the prayfes of God, (hall (oiinde foorth,thcrc
withouticeafing,a{welofthevoyceas of the infiru-
mentes of mufick«Hc cofirmcth therefore that which
he had faide before of that glorious repay ring of Sion
and'ofHierufalem : thereby (hewing that for the great
felicitic which (halbe there, men (hal haueoccafion to
reioyfe.too fing,and too prayfe God for euer , In the
meaue feafonhe fhcweth alfo to what end and purpofc
God fo liberally enricheth his Church with his giftcs
and graces : to wit,that the faithful! might fliew forth
by hymncs and prayfes and fonges, that they are not
vnthankcful towardes him : On the other fidewcc
banc to note the ze-ile, the loue,and carefuincfle , and
afFc£tion of the Prophet towardes the Chnrthe« For
lie gcucth tcdimony thereof , too the end to exhort vs
^3 ahoo
JnexpoJitmof(^f.foXaL '
aUtoofollo\vehisexanQple,as itis(ayde in an otiicr \
placcjUc my right lunde be forgotten if Hierufakm ;
be not the chiete of my ioy , N-.nv then all our (enfes
ffalm,w*6, and afFedions rcfl: them felues in the Church ^whcn as
wc labour too withdigweihem frcm the vanities
of this world,wbich caufethem to wander and flray* '}
Thewhichthing;i,y 1/«'V»/
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