NOT WITHOUT cause doth S. Peter so earnestly warn us to watch against our enemy who goeth about like a roaring Lyon,1 with his mouth alway open to swallow up the pray that the findeth. For although that on the one side our Lord Jesus Christ assure us,2 that God his father hath given him the charge of us, and that the thing which he hath in his keeping shall never perish: yet doth it not follow that we should therefore fall asleep, and in the mean while have no care to call upon God, considering the need that we have to do so. For faith doth in such wise assure us of Gods goodness, and that the same shall never fail us, that yet nevertheless we must have an eye to our own frailty, and thereby be stirred up too pray God to give us invincible constancy.3 It is said, that faith shall always get the upper hand of the whole world: but yet it followeth not that we shall not have battle. Now, on our own side we have no strength at all: but we must be fain to borrow it elsewhere: and that we may so do, it standeth us in hand to pray unto God. For as I have said already, it lieth us upon to ⟨image 22⟩be stirred thereunto, by reason of the great need that we have of it. And therefore here is a mirror offered unto all the faithful, whereby we may fare much the better, if we can put it too our use. For Saint Paul had preached through all the country of Galatia, which is a meetly large country, and there had reared many Churches. If ever man were filled with all the gifts of Gods spirit too win men too the Gospel: we be sure that S. Paul excelled all others, or at leastwise all that were of his company. And it is certain that he discharged his duty. Yet notwithstanding he had scarcely so soon turned his back, but by and by Satan gave a push to overthrow all, and too make a horrible havoc in the whole country: and he won so great a multitude there, that the Gospel was as good as quite abolished, even among those that had bin taught so faithfully. Sith we see such an example, ought we not too cast down our eyes, and too consider that God warneth us too flee unto him, and to pray him so too strengthen us, as we may hold out too the end? Which thing we cannot do, except we be upheld by him. Ye see then that the faults which Saint Paul bewrayeth here in the people of Galatia, must serve for our learning.
NOT WITHOVT cause doth S. Peter so earnestly warne vs to watch against our enimie who goeth about like a roring Lyon,1 with his mouth alway open to swallow vp the pray that the fyndeth. For although that on the one syde our Lord Iesus Chryst assure vs,2 that God his father hath giuen him the charge of vs, and that the thyng which he hath in his keeping shall neuer perishe: yet doth it not follow that we shoulde therfore fall asleepe, and in the meane whyle haue no care to call vpon God, considering the need that wee haue to do so. For fayth doth in suche wyse assure vs of Gods goodnesse, and that the same shal neuer fayle vs, that yet neuerthelesse we must haue an eye to our owne frayltie, and thereby bee stirred vp too pray God to giue vs inuincible constancie.3 It is sayd, that faith shall always get the vpper hand of the whole world: but yet it foloweth not that we shall not haue battayle. Now, on our owne side we haue no strength at all: but we must be fayne to borowe it elsewhere: and that we may so do, it standeth vs in hande to pray vnto God. For as I haue sayde alreadie, it lyeth vs vpon to ⟨image 22⟩be stirred therevnto, by reason of the great neede that we haue of it. And therefore here is a myrrour offered vnto all the faythfull, whereby wee maye fare much the better, if wee can put it too our vse. For Saint Paule had preached through all the countrey of Galatia, which is a meetly large countrey, and there had reered many Churches. If euer man were filled with all the giftes of Gods spirite too winne men too the Gospell: wee bee sure that S. Paule excelled all others, or at leastwise all that were of his companie. And it is certaine that he discharged his duetie. Yet notwithstanding hee had scarcely so soone turned his backe, but by and by Satan gaue a push to ouerthrow all, and too make a horrible hauocke in the whole countrey: and hee wonne so great a multitude there, that the Gospell was as good as quite abolished, euen among those that had bin taught so faythfully. Sith wee see such an example, ought wee not too cast downe our eyes, and too consider that God warneth vs too flee vntoo him, and to pray him so too strengthen vs, as wee may holde out too the ende? VVhich thing we cannot doo, except wee bee vphilde by him. Ye see then that the faultes which Saint Paule bewrayeth heere in the people of Galatia, must serue for our learning.
- 11. Pet. 5. c. 8.
- 2John. 17. c. 12.Iohn. 17. c. 12.
- 31. John. 5. a. 4.1. Iohn. 5. a. 4.
