And undoubtedly, if I knew any nearer way to bring you unto GOD, then by preaching the Law, to make you know your selves, surely, surely, I would use it. Or if I could be persuaded, that the preaching of the Gospel, and mercy would do you more good: you should hear of nothing, but Gospel, Gospel, mercy, mercy: But alas, I see that every careless, and every ignorant man presumeth upon Gods mercy, I see that every filthy liver, and notorious blasphemer abuseth Gods mercy, in applying it to him self without Repentance, so that they would make Gods mercy a cloak for their sins, I see that every man would fain be flattered in his sin, & hear of it no more, but ⟨image 18⟩have the Gospel preached, which in deed belongeth not unto them, continuing in their stubbornness: but only to the penitent sinner, which forsaketh himself, and groaneth, and panteth under the burden of his sin. Therefore, when I see you humbled with the conscience of your sins, and groan and pant under the burden of them, when I see your faces blubbered with weeping, and your hearts mollified, and sorrowing with care, then will I comfort you, and cease to preach the law. But I pray you, will you steal, murder, and commit adultery, and yet hear of mercy? Will ye Mock, Swear, blaspheme, and Rail, and yet hear of mercy? Will you serve sin, hate virtue, and follow your own lusts, and yet hear of mercy? Would you have Plasters before you have wounds: Would you have Physic, before you be sick? Would you be let blood, before you have need? Would you not account him a foolish Physician, that will minister Physic to a whole man? Would you not think him an unskilful Surgeon, that will apply a gentle salve to an old festered sore, and not rather Corsie it? Then ⟨image 18⟩know my brethren, that because you are full of gross humours, you must have strong purgations: Because ye are full of old festered wounds, you must have Corrosive Salves, for that is the best for you, and the speediest way to recover your health, and for as much as you be rough Horses: you must have a rough rider: And hard knobby timber, must have hard wedges, and hard strokes with a beetle. We preach the Law to drive you to Christ, We preach Judgements, to make you seek Mercy: We preach damnation, to bring you to salvation.
And vndoubtedly, if I knewe any neerer way to bring you vnto GOD, then by preaching the Lawe, to make you knowe your selues, surely, surely, I would vse it. Or if I could be perswaded, that the preaching of the Gospel, and mercie would doe you more good: you shoulde heare of nothing, but Gospel, Gospel, mercie, mercie: But alas, I sée that euerie carelesse, and euerie ignorant man presumeth vppon Gods mercy, I sée that euerie filthy liuer, and notorious blasphemer abuseth Gods mercy, in applying it to him selfe without Repentaunce, so that they woulde make Gods mercie a cloake for their sinnes, I sée that euerie man would faine be flattered in his sinne, & heare of it no more, but ⟨image 18⟩haue the Gospell preached, which in déed belongeth not vnto them, continuing in their stubburnes: but only to the penitent sinner, which forsaketh himselfe, and groneth, and panteth vnder the burden of his sinne. Therefore, when I sée you humbled with the conscience of your sinnes, and grone and pant vnder the burden of them, when I sée your faces blubbered with weping, and your hearts mollified, and sorrowing with care, then will I comforte you, and cease to preach the lawe. But I praye you, will you steale, murther, and commit adultery, and yet heare of mercy? Will ye Mocke, Sweare, blaspheme, and Rayle, and yet heare of mercy? Will you serue sinne, hate vertue, and followe your owne lusts, and yet heare of mercy? Would you haue Plaisters before you haue woundes: Would you haue Phisicke, before you bee sicke? Would you be let bloud, before you haue néede? Would you not account him a foolish Physitian, that wil minister Phisicke to a whole man? Woulde you not thinke him an vnskilfull Surgion, that will applie a gentle salue to an olde festered sore, and not rather Corsie it? Then ⟨image 18⟩knowe my brethren, that because you are ful of grosse humors, you must haue strong purgations: Because ye are full of olde festered woundes, you muste haue Corasiue Salues, for that is the beste for you, and the speediest way to recouer your healthe, and for as muche as you bée rough Horses: you muste haue a rough rider: And harde knobbie timber, must haue harde wedges, and hard strokes with a béetle. We preach the Lawe to driue you to Christe, Wee preach Iudgementes, to make you séeke Mercie: Wée preach damnation, to bring you to saluation.
