A Golden Chain

Lastly, those which have been impenitent sinners through all their life past, must not only learn to repent for their sins; but also endeavour to perform obedience unto Gods word. God is a creator, and the thing created should in all respects be conformable to his will: for David saith,¹ Thine hands have fashioned me, and framed me, give me understanding therefore that I may learn thy commandments. And good reason: for there is no man of any trade, but he would fain have all that he maketh and deviseth to be used: but yet so as the use thereof must be conformable to the will of the maker. For this cause Moses that faithful servant of God saith, that the people of Israel dealt wrongfully with the Lord: why? for he hath created them, and proportioned them, he is their father and be bought them: yet they have dishonoured him by corrupting them selves towards him by their vice. All creatures in heaven and in earth do the will of the Creator, except man, and the devil and his angels: for the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars, they keep that course which God hath appointed them: but man though he be bound to do the will of God, because God is his Creator, yet he rebels against him. The potter if in tempering his clay, he can not make and frame it according to his mind, at length he will dash it in pieces: so God, he createth man, not that he should do his own will, but Gods will: and therefore the Lord in his wrath will confound him eternally who soever he be that followeth the lusts of his own wicked heart, and will not be brought to be conformable to Gods will, but goes on his rebellion without stay. For this cause it stands every man in hand to yield himself pliable unto Gods will, & to endeavour to obey it by keeping a good conscience before God and all men, and by walking faithfully in his calling, least the end be confusion. If a man have a trade and other men come into his shop, and use such tools and instruments as be there to wrong ends, he will in no wise brook it, but take the abuse in great displeasure: now the world is as it were an opened shop in which God hath set forth unto us his glory and majesty: and the creatures of all kinds be instruments appointed for excellent uses, and specially man for the accomplishment of his will.

Lastly, those which haue beene impenitent sinners through all their life past, must not onely learne to repent for their sinnes; but also endeauour to performe obedience vnto Gods word. God is a creator, and the thing created should in all respects be conformable to his will: for Dauid saith,