And too be short, we may see here, that all such as ween too obtain aught at Gods hand but by the mean of our lord Jesus Christ, do but range and wander in vain, and shall always find themselves empty: insomuch that when they think themselves too be full fed, it shall be but with wind, that is too say, with vain and trifling imaginations, as I told you this morning. They therefore which deuyze patrons of their own head, and surmise that God will favour them for it, and in the mean while let Jesus Christ alone: must understand, that they be so far of from obtaining their requests, that God doth rather abhor them, insomuch that when they once swerve from the anchorhold which is set forth for us in the scripture, (that is too wit, from having our Lord Jesus Christ for their lodesman) the Angels of heaven must needs forsake them, and the Saints also, to whom they behighted themselves, must needs deny them, yea & all of them must set themselves against them as adversary parties. For there is no means ⟨image 160⟩for us too be matched with the Angels, Prophets, Apostles, and Martyrs, till we have true concord with them. And how shall we have that? By faith: that is too say, according too the pure doctrine of the Gospel. Not that it is enough for us too have our ears beaten with it: but that we must receive the things that God promiseth us there, so as we abhor all that ever Satan can set afore us, and have none other guide than only our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath told us, that he is the light of the world,1 and that whosoever walketh in him, cannot stray. But by the way we must search and examine our selves narrowly, that we take not a vain cloak under the name of Jesus Christ, as we see many do now adays, which protest themselves to be Gospellers. And even among our selves, what a number are there which will show signs great enough, that they be willing too follow Gods word? But they think too discharge themselves with petty trifles: and when they have once given ear (too the doctrine) and spoken a few good words: then, too their seeming, God is highly bound unto them. But here it is showed us, that we have none acquaintance at all with him, until Jesus Christ dwell in our harts. And that is the very mean whereby too be filled with his benefits, and too have his holy spirit dwelling and reigning in us.
And too bee short, wee may see here, that all such as weene too obteyne aught at Gods hand but by the meane of our lord Iesus Christ, doo but raūge and wander in vayne, and shal alwayes fynd themselues emptie: insomuch that when they think themselues too bee full fed, it shalbee but with wynd, that is too say, with vayne and tryfling imaginations, as I told you this morning. They therefore which deuyze patrones of their owne head, and surmyze that God will fauor them for it, and in the meane whyle let Iesus Christ alone: must vnderstand, that they bee so farre of from obteyning their requests, that God dooth rather abhore them, insomuch that when they once swarue from the ankerhold which is set foorth for vs in the scripture, (that is too wit, from hauing our Lord Iesus Christ for their lodesman) the Angels of heauen must needs forsake them, and the Saints also, to whom they behighted themselues, must needs deny them, yea & al of them must set themselues ageinst them as aduersarie parties. For there is no means ⟨image 160⟩for vs too bee matched with the Angels, Prophets, Apostles, and Martirs, till wee haue trew concord with them. And how shall wee haue that? By fayth: that is too say, according too the pure doctrine of the Gospell. Not that it is ynough for vs too haue our eares beaten with it: but that wee must receyue the things that God promiseth vs there, so as wee abhorre all that euer Satan can set afore vs, and haue none other guyde than only our Lord Iesus Christ, who hath told vs, that he is the lyght of the world,1 and that whosoeuer walketh in him, cannot stray. But by the way wee must serche and examin our selues narrowly, that wee take not a vayne cloke vnder the name of Iesus Christ, as we see manie doo now adayes, which protest themselues to bee Gospellers. And euen among our selues, what a number are there which will shew signes greate ynough, that they bee willing too followe Gods woord? But they think too discharge themselues with petie tryfles: and when they haue once giuen eare (too the doctrine) and spoken a fewe good words: then, too their seeming, God is hyghly bound vntoo them. But heere it is shewed vs, that wee haue none acquayntance at all with him, vntill Iesus Christ dwell in our harts. And that is the verye meane wherby too bee filled with his benefits, and too haue his holie spirit dwelling and reigning in vs.
- 1John. 8. b. 12.Iohn. 8. b. 12.
