For after that in the wisdom of God, 1the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. Take heed unto thy self; and unto the doctrine: continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thy self, and them that hear thee. 2Wherefore lay apart all filthiness, and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. This also is manifest of the Sacraments,3 which be truly called a visible word, because that which is spoken in the word to the ear, is in visible signs represented to our eyes, and sealed to our hearts, that we may be the more assured of them to be ours: And were purposely ordained of God to help our weak faith, that having his word and seal, we might be put out of doubt, that we shall as certainly be made partakers of Christ himself, and all his benefits, as we are of the outward signs of his covenant. What the Apostle saith of Circumcision, that is true of Sacraments in general,4 They are seals of the righteousness of faith, or of the covenant of grace. And for the better assurance of the believer, that receiving the outward sign as he ought, he shall be partaker of the thing signified, very oft that which properly belongs to the thing sealed, is given to the outward sign; ⟨p. 414⟩as that Baptism saveth, 5that our sins are washed away in Baptism; and that we are buried with Christ by Baptism: And the like of the Lords Supper, when our Lord Jesus did ordain it, he speaking of the Bread said, This is my Body, 6and of the Wine, This is my Blood of the New Testament. These promises are firm grounds, whereupon the faithful soul may build this affiance, that by the sincere and conscionable use of Gods holy Ordinances, the Word and Sacraments, he shall be made wise unto salvation, confirmed in faith, strengthened in grace, refreshed with joy and comfort, and perfected unto everlasting happiness. And the serious meditation and remembrance of these things, is exceeding profitable to quicken and encourage unto cheerful and constant attendance upon God in his ordinances, that so we may in due season reap the sweet fruit thereof.7 Blessed is the man that heareth me: watching daily at my gates, waiting daily at the posts of my doors. For who so findeth me, findeth life; and shall obtain favour of the Lord.
For after that in the wisdome of God, 1the world by wisdome knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishnesse of preaching to saue them that belieue. Take heed vnto thy selfe; and vnto the doctrine: continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both saue thy selfe, and them that heare thee. 2Wherefore lay apart all filthinesse, and superfluitie of naughtinesse, and receiue with meeknesse the engrafted word, which is able to saue your soules. This also is manifest of the Sacraments,3 which be truly called a visible word, because that which is spoken in the word to the eare, is in visible signes represented to our eyes, and sealed to our hearts, that wee may bee the more assured of them to bee ours: And were purposely ordained of God to helpe our weake faith, that hauing his word and seale, wee might be put out of doubt, that wee shall as certainly bee made partakers of Christ himselfe, and all his benefits, as we are of the outward signes of his couenant. What the Apostle saith of Circumcision, that is true of Sacraments in generall,4 They are seales of the righteousnesse of faith, or of the couenant of grace. And for the better assurance of the belieuer, that receiuing the outward signe as he ought, hee shall be partaker of the thing signified, very oft that which properly belongs to the thing sealed, is giuen to the outward signe; ⟨p. 414⟩as that Baptisme saueth, 5that our sinnes are washed away in Baptisme; and that wee are buried with Christ by Baptisme: And the like of the Lords Supper, when our Lord Iesus did ordaine it, he speaking of the Bread said, This is my Bodie, 6and of the Wine, This is my Bloud of the New Testament. These promises are firme grounds, whereupon the faithfull soule may build this affiance, that by the sincere and conscionable vse of Gods holy Ordinances, the Word and Sacraments, he shall be made wise vnto saluation, confirmed in faith, strengthened in grace, refreshed with ioy and comfort, and perfected vnto euerlasting happinesse. And the serious meditation and remembrance of these things, is exceeding profitable to quicken and encourage vnto chearefull and constant attendance vpon God in his ordinances, that so wee may in due season reape the sweet fruit thereof.
- 11. Cor. 1.21. 1. Tim. 4.16.
- 2James 1.21.Iames 1.21.
- 3And Sacraments.
- 4Rom. 4.11.
- 51 Pet. 3.21. Acts 22.16. Col. 2.12. Rom. 6.3.
- 6Math. 26.26, 28
- 7Prou. 8.34.35.
