The seventh Sermon.: A commentary upon the epistle of Saint Paul written to the… by Thomas Cartwright | AskReformation

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:146p. 48–49§13

Doctrine Again, here we learn that sith our inheritance cometh to us by lot, wherein God only sitteth, judgeth and directeth, it is not by any labour of ours, but only by the grace and favour of God alone. Sith then it is so, let us see what our duty is, for as the Prophet saith, the Lord is my lot, my portion, it is a¹ fair and beautiful inheritance, and hath fallen unto him in an excellent ground. And seeing our inheritance is the same with Davids, and as excellent as his was; and yet it is more notably set forth 1. Peter 2.² That whereas the Jews were scattered from their inheritance into Pontus &c. This is now trodden down under foot by wicked men, this cannot be so. Again that is faded and decayed, this can never decay³ and perish, and therefore seeing our inheritance is so excellent, and so precious; whatc are ought we to have to keep it and maintain it? for as we use in proverb, It is my free-hold, and therefore I must ⟨p. 49⟩look to it: so seeing this our free-hold, we are to have special care, and regard above all things to keep it sure.

Doctrine Againe, here we learne that sith our inheritance cometh to vs by lot, wherein God onely sitteth, iudgeth and directeth, it is not by any labour of ours, but onely by the grace and fauour of God alone. Sith then it is so, let vs see what our duty is, for as the Prophet saith, the Lord is my lot, my portion, it is a¹ fayer and beautifull inheritance, and hath fallen vnto him in an excellent ground. And seing our inheritance is the same with Dauids, and as excellent as his was; and yet it is more notably set forth 1. Peter 2.² That whereas the Iewes were scattered from their inheritance into Pontus &c. This is now troden downe vnder foot by wicked men, this cannot be so. Againe that is faded and decayed, this can neuer decay³ and perish, and therfore seeing our inheritance is so excellent, and so precious; whatc are ought we to haue to keepe it and maintaine it? for as we vse in prouerbe, It is my free-hold, and therefore I must ⟨p. 49⟩looke to it: so seeing this our free-hold, wee are to haue speciall care, and regard aboue all things to keepe it sure.

:147p. 49§13

He hath fitted us for this, wherein he doth plainly teach us, that there is no readiness, aptness, and fitness in our own nature, and therefore we must have our fitness from God: A man is fit for his fathers inheritance: but for Gods inheritance we are not so, for we are (even all the world, in regard of Gods matters) naturally but blind borne. Again though¹ we had our sight, yet we are lame and cannot reach so much as a hand to it, nor go one foot to it, and have both these naturally, and therefore cannot by us be cured, as the blind man said. Again, which² is more, we are dead in sin, and therefore must be new creatures, which we cannot make our selves. And therefore the Apostle saith, that we are not able³ to do good, because we are not apt, nor fit to do good, and therefore what fitness soever we have it cometh from God: And this ought to cause and stir us to thankfulness unto God, as the Apostle here doth. For seeing we are both made fit by God for his inheritance, and seeing he hath bestowed it freely upon us, therefore we are the more carefully to be thankful, which we should not be bound to do, if it were of our selves, What this inheritance is he showeth in making it consist of two parts.

He hath fitted vs for this, wherein he doth plainely teach vs, that there is no readinesse, aptnesse, and fitnesse in our owne nature, and therfore we must haue our fitnesse from God: A man is fit for his fathers inheritance: but for Gods inheritance we are not so, for wee are (euen all the world, in regard of Gods matters) naturally but blind borne. Againe though¹ wee had our sight, yet we are lame and cannot reach so much as a hand to it, nor go one foote to it, and haue both these naturally, and therefore cannot by vs bee cured, as the blind man said. Againe, which² is more, we are dead in sinne, and therefore must bee new creatures, which wee cannot make our selues. And therefore the Apostle saith, that we are not able³ to doe good, because wee are not apt, nor fit to doe good, and therefore what fitnesse soeuer we haue it commeth from God: And this ought to cause and stirre vs to thankfulnesse vnto God, as the Apostle heere doth. For seeing we are both made fit by God for his inheritance, and seeing hee hath bestowed it freely vpon vs, therefore wee are the more carefully to bee thankefull, which wee should not bee bound to doe, if it were of our selues, What this inheritance is hee sheweth in making it consist of two parts.

:149p. 49–50¶2

2. Carrying us into the Kingdom of his beloved Son. (Pulled us) Thereby showeth that he useth great strength to deliver us, which confirmeth to us the doctrine before, of being unable our selves to do. And therefore he delivers us, and pulls us out as of a prison, ⟨p. 50⟩which are usually dark. And more notably he saith, that he pulls us out of the pit without water, setting down¹ and comparing this prison to a pit or dungeon, wherein is only dirt, wherein we stick, where is no water, where he describeth our damnable estate, for seeing we are cast into such a prison, but especially being cast by God himself, in his just judgement, how is it possible that we should deliver our selves, and therefore our Saviour faith: No man can come to me, but he must be drawn by my Father. A man may² be in prison and have no will nor affection to come out, and therefore it maketh to the glory and praise of God, in doing the whole work of our Redemption. And if, after the Church is called to CHRIST, she findeth such dullness and heaviness in her self, that she must be drawn, though they³ have received grace and are drawn out of the pit. How shall they have any strength to get out, which are not yet drawn out of the pit and dirt? So that the first part is to be delivered from blindness, from ignorance, hardness of heart, the wrath and judgements of God, and condemnation.

2. Carrying vs into the Kingdome of his beloued Son. (Pulled vs) Thereby sheweth that hee vseth great strength to deliuer vs, which confirmeth to vs the doctrine before, of being vnable our selues to do. And therefore he deliuers vs, and puls vs out as of a prison, ⟨p. 50⟩which are vsually darke. And more notably he saith, that he puls vs out of the pit without water, setting down¹ and comparing this prison to a pit or dungeon, wherein is onely dirt, wherein wee sticke, where is no water, where hee describeth our damnable estate, for seeing we are cast into such a prison, but especially being cast by God himselfe, in his iust iudgement, how is it possible that wee should deliuer our selues, and therefore our Sauiour faith: No man can come to me, but he must bee drawne by my Father. A man may² bee in prison and haue no will nor affection to come out, and therefore it maketh to the glory and praise of God, in doing the whole worke of our Redemption. And if, after the Church is called to CHRIST, she findeth such dulnesse and heauinesse in her selfe, that shee must bee drawne, though they³ haue receiued grace and are drawne out of the pit. How shall they haue any strength to get out, which are not yet drawne out of the pit and dirt? So that the first part is to be deliuered from blindnesse, from ignorance, hardnesse of heart, the wrath and iudgements of God, and condemnation.

1Isaiah 42. Zach. 9. 11.Esay 42. Zach. 9. 11.
2Joh. 6.Ioh. 6.
3Cant. 2.

:150p. 50–51§2

The second part is the making us partakers of his Kingdom, And as the darkness we are delivered from, is partly in this life, and was after to be accomplished, in hell, if we had not been delivered: so the Kingdom of God is begun in this life, and is within us, and shall be perfected in heaven after this life: So that we see those, that are the children of God indeed, will in this life endeavour, to give obedience to the commandments of God. And therefore though men profess themselves the servants of God, yet their lives being not according to God, they are no subjects of God: For as he that ⟨p. 51⟩will profess himself to be subject to the King, and yet in his deed will yield obedience to the King of Spain, and serve him, he is doubtless a Traitor. So it is with those, that profess themselves to be Christians, yet if in their lives and behaviour they do not show forth the fruits of it, they are nothing but Rebels to God, and servants to the devil, come they never so diligently to the Word, and Sacraments, &c.

The second part is the making vs pertakers of his Kingdome, And as the darkenesse wee are deliuered from, is partly in this life, and was after to bee accomplished, in hell, if we had not bene deliuered: so the Kingdome of God is begunne in this life, and is within vs, and shall be perfected in heauen after this life: So that wee see those, that are the children of God indeed, will in this life endeauor, to giue obedience to the commandements of God. And therefore though men professe themselues the seruants of God, yet their liues being not according to God, they are no subiects of God: For as hee that ⟨p. 51⟩will professe himselfe to bee subiect to the King, and yet in his deed will yeeld obedience to the King of Spaine, and serue him, hee is doubtlesse a Traytor. So it is with those, that professe themselues to bee Christians, yet if in their liues and behauiour they do not shew forth the fruites of it, they are nothing but Rebels to God, and seruants to the diuell, come they neuer so diligently to the Word, and Sacraments, &c.