That they must feare to be excluded out of the foresaid rest (which he proueth out of the
psalme) 12 considering that Christ seeth their must inward secrets. 14 And that he (as their
Priest who also himself suffered) is able and ready to strengthen them in confession of their
faith.
1. LET vs feare therfore lest perhaps forsaking the promise of entring into his rest, some
of you be thought to be wanting.
2. For to vs also it hath been denounced, as also to them. But the word of hearing did
not profit them, not mixt with faith of those things which they heard.
3. For we that haue beleeued, shal enter into the rest: as he said,
*
Ps. 94,11.
As I sware in
my wrath, if they shal enter into my rest: & truely the workes from the foundation of the world
being perfited.
4. For he said in a certaine place of the seuenth
✟
If the Apostle had not euidently here shewed that the Sabboths rest was a figure
of the eternal repose in heauen, who durst to haue applied that Scripture of Gods
rest the seuenth day, to that purpose? Or how can our Aduersaries now reprehend
the like application manyfoldly vsed in al holy ancient Writers to the like end?
day thus:
*
Gen. 2,2.
And God rested the
seuenth day from al his workes.
5. And againe in this, If they shal enter into my rest.
6. Because then it remaineth that certaine enter into it, and they to whom first it
was preached, did not enter because of incredulitie:
7. againe he limiteth a certaine day: Today, in Dauid saying, after so long
time, as is aboue said,
*
Heb. 3,7.
To day if you shal heare his voice: doe not obdurate your hartes.
8. For if
✟
So Iosue is called in Greeke.
Iesus had giuen them rest: he would neuer speake of another day afterward.
9. Therfore there is left a sabbatisme for the people of God.
10. For he that is entred into his rest, the same also hath rested from his workes,
as God from his.
11. Let vs hasten therfore to enter into that rest: that no man fal into the same
example of incredulitie.
12. For
✟
Whatsoeuer God threatneth by his word concerning the punishment of sinne and
incredulitie, shal be executed, be the offense neuer so secret, deepe, or
hidden in our harts because Gods speach passeth easily and searcheth throughly
euery part, power, and facultie of mans soul.
the word of God is liuely and forcible, and more persing then any two-edged
sword: & reaching vnto the diuision of the soule and the spirit, of the ioynts also and the
marowes, and a discerner of the cogitations and intents of the hart.
13. And there is no creature inuisible in his sight. But al things are naked and
open to his eyes, to whom our speach is.
14.
⋮
The Epistle in a Masse for the election of the Pope.
Hauing therfore a great high Priest that hath entred the heauens, Iᴇꜱᴠꜱ
the Sonne of God, let vs hold the confession.
15. For we haue not a high Priest that can not haue compassion on our infirmities:
but tempted in al things by similitude, except sinne.
16. Let vs goe therfore with confidence to the throne of grace: that we may obteine
mercie and find grace in seasonable aid.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAP. IV.
16. Let vs goe with confidence.)
Scripture abused against inuocation of Saints.
The Aduersaries goe about to proue by these words that we need no help of Saints to
obteine any thing, Christ himself being so readie, and we being admonished to come to
him with confidence as to a most merciful Mediatour and Bishop. But by that argument they
may as wel take away the helps and praiers of the liuing one for another. And we doe
not require the help either of the Saints in heauen, or of our brethren in earth, for
any mistrust of God's mercie, but for our owne vnworthines: being assured that the praier
of a iust man auaileth more with him, then the desire of a grieuous sinner; and of a number
making intercession together, rather then of a man alone. Which the Heretikes can not deny
except they reproue the plaine Scriptures. Neither doe we come lesse to him, or with lesse
confidence, when we come accompanied with the praiers of Angels, Saints, Priests, or
iust men ioyning with vs, as they fondly imagine and pretend: but with much more affiance
in his grace, mercie, and merits, then if we praied our selues alone.