Here S. Paul meant shortly to blame the unthankfulness of such as are not contented with the having of Jesus Christ, but think that he should have some helps added too him. Therefore he sayeth, what desire we more than too be knit unto God? Is not our full happiness there?1 Now it is so, that by believing in Jesus Christ, we hau• confidence that we may •reace unto God: the access is given […] And whereas trust or confidence is not enough, we have also boldness ⟨p. 129⟩too come unto him with our heads upright, not as presuming any whit of our selves, nor yet too come thither recklessly, but we must always practise this saying of the Psalm,2 that although we rest upon Gods goodness, yet must we evermore worship him with fear. Notwithstanding, we may always come boldly unto Gods throne, assuring our selves that his Majesty shall no more be terrible to us, seeing he showeth himself a father towards us in the person of his only son. We see then how S. Pauls meaning is, too hold us fast too Jesus Christ. And therein we see also what our frowardness is. For it is certain, that the care and zeal which S. Paul had too make us cleave fast too the son of God, came of the wisdom of the holy Ghost, who knew our frailty and unsteadfastness. Had we (as ye would say) but one drop of settled wit, it were enough too do us too understand, that by the Gospel we may possess Gods son, who giveth himself unto us, and that having him, we have all that ever we can wish.3 It were enough too have spoken this in one word, as S. Paul hath showed already: but we see how he doubleth and confirmeth his saying, as though it were a hard thing too be believed. And of a truth, it is very hard, because we be too much given too distrust and unbelief. Again, too believe for one day, is not all that we have too do: it is required that we should hold on still, which is a very rare thing too be found in this world, because we be always risking. By means whereof, men do as it were wilfully bereave themselves of the thing that was given them. Furthermore, forasmuch as all the world is at the point, and we cannot be won or persuaded but with great pain, too come too our Lord Jesus Christ, and too rest upon him, let us use the remedy that Saint Paul setteth us down here.
Heere S. Paule ment shortly to blame the vnthankfulnesse of such as are not contented with the hauing of Iesus Christ, but thinke that he should haue some helpes added too him. Therefore he sayeth, what desire wee more than too bee knit vntoo God? Is not our full happinesse there?1 Now it is so, that by beeleeuing in Iesus Christ, we hau• confidence that wee may •reace vntoo God: the accesse is giuen 〈…〉 And whereas trust or confidence is not ynough, wee haue also bol••nesse ⟨p. 129⟩too come vntoo him with our heads vpright, not as pre•uming any whit of our selues, nor yit too come thither rechlesly, but we must alwayes practize this saying of the Psalme,2 that although we rest vppon Gods goodnesse, yit must we euermore worship him with feare. Notwithstanding, we may alwayes come boldly vntoo Gods throne, assuring our selues that his Maiestie shall no more bee terrible to vs, seeing he sheweth himself a father toowards vs in the person of his onely sonne. Wee see then how S. Paules meaning is, too hold vs fast too Iesus Christ. And therein wee see also what our frowardnes is. For it is certeyn, that the care and zeale which S. Paule had too make vs cleaue fast too the sonne of God, came of the wisdome of the holy Ghost, who knew our frailtie and vnstedfastnesse. Had we (as yee would say) but one drop of settled wit, it were ynough too doo vs too vnderstand, that by the Gospell we may possesse Gods sonne, who giueth himself vntoo vs, and that hauing him, we haue all that euer we can wish.3 It were ynough too haue spoken this in one word, as S. Paule hath shewed already: but wee see how he dubbleth and confirmeth his saying, as though it were a hard thing too bee beleeued. And of a truth, it is verye hard, bycause wee bee too much giuen too distrust and vnbeleefe. Agein, too beleeue for one day, is not all that wee haue too doo: it is required that wee should hold on still, which is a verye rare thing too bee found in this world, bycause wee bee alwayes •isking. By meanes whereof, men doo as it were wylfully bereue themselues of the thing that was giuen them. Furthe•more, forasmuch as all the world is at the poynt, and wee cannot bee wonne or perswaded but with great peyne, too come too our Lord Iesus Christ, and too rest vppon him, let vs vse the remedie that Saint Paule setteth vs downe heere.
- 1[…]〈…〉
- 2Psal. •. b. 8.
- 3Rom. •. f. 32.
