And for the same cause Saint Paul sayeth expressly, Let not your service be eye service, as though ye sought too please men. And in very deed, they that play their pageants so fair (as they say) seek either recompense, or else too be well entertained and fed with the fattest, or else too have greater wages, and afterward too have ⟨p. 315⟩some extraordinary gift or reward when occasion serveth. That is the thing that men hunt for, when they have not an eye unto God. But Saint Paul telleth us, that although they whom we serve be so froward, as we cannot tell how too content them, and we have not any hope that ever we shall get the value of a button at their hands: yet we must nevertheless perform our duties towards God. And here we have too gather, that in all things which God commandeth us, we must not only employ our eyes, our feet, our hands, and our arms (as they say:) but we must begin with the inward affection. Therefore when as Saint Paul sayeth, not with eye service: he showeth us, that if we desire that our Lord should allow our serui••s as good and lawful▪ our hart must go foremost, and guide all our members, so as there be no counterfeiting: accordingly as it is said, that he regardeth faithfulness, that is too say, that we should deal soundly,1 plainly, and substantially. Thus are all gay shows quite dashed. For (as I said) there is grea•e pre•ence of virtue in many men, but God accounteth it every whit as nothing, and in deed it is but hypocrisy. Therefore if we will begin too serve God well, let us learn too leave doubleness: and that we may build substantially, let us always lay that foundation, accordingly also as we see how he had lever too be loved than feared. True it is that we owe him reverence, and that we ought too tre•ble at his majesty▪ but yet when he showeth us the chief thing which he ••quyreth, and which pleaseth him best, he sayeth, What is it, O Israel, that thou shalt find in my Law,2 but that thou lo•e me, and stick too me? Seeing that our Lord requireth this willing affection, and that we should resort too him with a free and frank hart: think we that he accepteth aught at our hands, when we come too him grudgingly & repiningly, & yet pretend too marvellous earnestness towards men?
And for the same cause Saint Paule sayeth expresly, Let not your seruice bee eye seruice, as though yee sought too pleaze men. And in very deede, they that play their pageantes so fayre (as they say) seeke eyther recompence, or else too bee well interteyned and fed with the fattest, or else too haue greater wages, and afterward too haue ⟨p. 315⟩some extraordinarye gift or reward when occasion serueth. That is the thing that men hunt for, when they haue not an eye vntoo God. But Saint Paule telleth vs, that although they whom we serue be so froward, as wee cannot tell how too content them, and wee haue not any hope that euer wee shall get the valew of a button at their hands: yit wee must neuerthelesse performe our dewties towards God. And heere wee haue too gather, that in all things which God commaundeth vs, wee must not onely imploy our eyes, our feete, our handes, and our armes (as they say:) but wee must begin with the inwar• affection. Therefore when as Saint Paule sayeth, not vvith eye seruice: he sheweth vs, that if wee desyre that our Lord should allowe our serui••s as good and lawfull▪ our hart must go foremost, and guyde all our members, so as there bee no counterfetting: accordingly as it is sayd, that he regardeth faythfulnesse, that is too say, that wee should deale soundly,1 playnly, and substancially. Thus are all gay showes quyte dasht. For (as I sayd) there is grea•e pre•ence of vertew in many men, but God accounteth it euery whit as nothing, and in deede it is but hipo•risie. Therfore if wee will begin too serue God well, let vs learne too leaue dubblenesse: and that wee may buyld substan•ially, let vs alwayes lay that foundation, accordingly also as wee see how he had leuer too bee loued than feared. Trew it is that wee owe him reuerence, and that wee ought too tre•ble at his maiestie▪ but yit when he sheweth vs the cheef thing which he ••quyreth, and which pleaseth him best, he sayeth, What is it, O Israel, that thou shalt fynd in my Lawe,2 but that thou lo•e mee, and sticke too mee? Seeing that our Lord requyreth this willing affection, and that wee should resort too him with a free and franke hart: thinke wee that he accepteth aught at our handes, when wee come too him grudgingly & repyningly, & yit pretend too maruelous earnesnes towardes men?
- 1Psal. 101. b. 6.
- 2Deut. 10. c. 12.
