Because the word of God is called our spiritual sword, we have need to be armed with it, considering that in this world the devil ceases not to fight against us, to deceive us, and to draw us into his lies. Therefore Saint Paul exhorts us the better to do so, saying first of all that the whole word of God deserves such reverence that every one of us ought to submit ourselves to it, and give quiet ear to it without all twarting or gainsaying.

And he adds moreover what profit we reap by it, which is another reason to move us to receive it with all reverence and obedience. He speaks precisely of the holy Scripture. For there have been at all times some fantastical fellows who would bring the holy scripture into doubt and question, and whatsoever is contained in it, though they were ashamed to deny that the word of God deserved to be received without contradiction. And in all seasons there have been wicked men who confessed at first blush frankly and freely that the word of God had such a majesty in it, that all the world ought to stoop before it.

And yet this text gives us to understand that if we thinke to be wise in our own brains, we shall never profit in God's school, but we shall remain confounded in our pride. As they that will judge after their own phantasie, they that vouchsafe not to ask counsel at God's mouth, but thinke themselves pretie fellows enough to discerne between good and evil, God will mock at such presumption: well, you will needs be great doctors, although you were never taught, go on, go on, and confound your selves utterly, overheade and eares. Thus will God use them which trust in their own wittes after this sort.

And for this cause Saint Paul, saying in this place that our wisdome is in the holy Scripture, sheweth that we must not thinke so of our selves, as though we had such a perfection in us, to know what is good and right, but rather that we must be the beginning of our wisdome? To be fooles, as Saint Paule speaketh in the first Epistle to the Corinthians. Truth it is that at first blushe it seemeth to be rude, that we must be fooles if we will be wise. But while a man has one drop of conceit of him selfe, and thinketh he hath any wit in him to governe him selfe, that man will to the end give good proof that he is a foole: for he will be led astray, though he go crooked as serpentes.

Therefore let us marke well, that Saint Paule in this place, to shewe us that we must holde the holy Scripture as an undoubted truth, saith not, Moses was an excellent man, he saith not, Esai was verie eloquent, he allegeth nothing of men to get them credite touching their persons: but he saith that they were the instruments of the holy Ghoste, that their tongues were guided in such sort, that they put foorth nothing of their owne, but it was God that spake by their mouthes. We must not accompt of them as of mortal creatures, but know that they are the servants of the liuing God, and we must be throughly resolved in this point.

He saith first of all, that the holy Scripture is given by inspiration of God. And then he addeth, that it is profitable. These are two commendations which Saint Paule giveth to the holy Scripture, to make us to be in love with it, and sheweth it is worthie to be received with all humbleness. When he saith it is given by inspiration of God, it is to this ende, that no mortall man should take vpon him to controll God. For what a thing were it if we should resist him? And is it so, that the creatures would make war against God, and will not accept the holy Scripture? What is the cause? It is not forged by men, as Saint Paule saith, there is no earthly thing here.

Now it is true that the word of the Apostle may be as well taken for nourishing, but because there is no more but this worde, that is the naturall cause and meaning which I touched before, to wit, that if Timothie abide and dwell upon that that may build up the children of God and make them growe up more and more in faith and holinesse of life, he shall shewe thereby that he was well brought up in the faith: as if he said, that Timothie was of a childe purely instructed in the true religion, as also he saith in the seconde Epistle, that he had both his mother and his grandmother who were women of a good religion, and that he was without any other schoolmaster or teacher, verie well instructed in the doctrine of trueth even at home from his childhood.

Now wee haue to marke here first of all, that Saint Paul setteth not downe a simple vse of the holy Scripture, but when he hath spoken of the doctrine he addeth to reprove, to correct, to instruct. And why so? It is not ynough that god shewe us what is good, because we are so colde that it would pitie a mans heart to see it. And therefore he hath neede to pricke us to the ende we may knowe, he speaketh in good earnest, and that we may not jest with him. And therefore there is not a naked and deade doctrine in the holy scripture, but there are reproues and corrections in it, to stirre us vp to the quicke to come to God.

This is one point. Beside this we see also the order that saint Paul holdeth here. For he saith that it is profitable for doctrine: And afterward addeth, to reproue, and correct. And why beginneth he with this worde doctrine? Because it is the verie naturall order. For if we are not taught, to say, this is the truth: it will be to small purpose to exhort us: but we must first of all know, that that which is taught us, is good, and true, and right. And thus the word doctrine beareth thus much with it, that we must be instructed in the truth, that we may be well resolved, and so edified in it, that we doubt no more whether it be so or no.

And nowe we must call to mind what was saide before, what holy doctrine is, as Saint Paul spake: yea and we have seene this morning, that the end of it is to know Jesus Christe, that putting all our trust in him, we may bee Godly wise. And againe we shewed before speaking of prayers and supplications, that we must put our hope in GOD, and look to the heavenly life, where unto he calleth us, and mortifie all our affections in us, and reform our selves to his righteousnesse.

So then the doctrine of the Gospell in few words is this, that we know that God would have us put our whole trust and confidence in him, and flee to him onely: and moreouer, how he sheweth himself selfe to be our father and saviour, to take him for our maister, and cleave fast to the simplicitie of his doctrine. And moreouer, we must knowe, that we have all righteousnesse in him, and through him we are set at one with God, having obtained forgiuenesse of our sinnes, and that through him we are made holy, to walke in all purenesse of life.

True it is that the word of the Apostle beareth this much, that Saint Paul addeth in the seconde place, besides the reference, by doing homage to him, we must confesse moreouer, that he sought our profit and salvation when it pleased him to teach us by the holy Scripture. For he will not have us busie our selves in vnprofitable things. Therefore if we be diligent to read the holy scripture, there is nothing couched in it, but is fit for us, and whereof we may reape some commoditie.

And seeing it is so, what vnthankfulnesse were it in us, if we accept not the profit that God offereth us for our part? So to be short, after Saint Paule had magnified the holy Scripture, shewing the maiestie of God appeareth in it, he would also give us some tast, that we might come to it with an affection and desire to profit in it, knowing that it was Gods drift and the end he shoat at. And touching the first article, let vs marke well, that the holy Scripture will never let us against it, vnlesse we be perswaded that God is the Author of it.

For if you come to read it after your own phantasie, and follow your own appetite, our Lord will cause you shall keepe no way, and you shall never come to the marke: as we see there are apprentises who never profit, but rather go back. What must we do then? Seek Jesus Christ, and when you have found him, you must content your selves wholly in him, and know that to beleeve in his Gospell is all your perfection. This is it we have to note in this place. And let us remember also, how we must weigh this word Faith, and by what meanes hee sheweth himselfe to be our father and saviour, to take him for our maister, and cleave fast to his doctrine.

For wee are all the bottomless pit in ourselves and drawn out of it by his grace and incomprehensible vertue: we thinke not on this. And yet this text giveth vs this lesson. So then, if the Papistes now a dayes say it were a straunge thing that the worlde should forsake the doctrine of the Gospell: let vs marke first of all, that there is nothing came to passe but that that was pronounced by the spirite of God, whose instrument Sainct Paul was. And therefore this is a solemne decree which we must stande to, that the world should fall away from the obedience of the Gospel.

And therefore the Papistes cover themselves with a wet sacke, when they say, that it is a verie strange point and not to be credited, that God hath suffered the worlde to go astray in such wise, so long time, and so many yeares. Secondly we have to note, that the frowardnesse of men was verie horrible: yea, very diuelish, that they could fall away, seeing that God taught them so familiarly, and had so plaine a doctrine, and yet left all, and cast them selves into such deceites, to their utter blinding and vndooing.

And in the meane while doe but this fleshe borne vppon him: but yet it is neither in him willeth, neither in him runneth, as Saint Paule saith, but in him sheweth mercie. For it is not for our good will, or for our running that we obteine euerlasting life, for we are not onely slothfull and vnprofitable to all goodnesse, but we drawe clean contrarie to it, driuing vs to wickednesse, and as seething pots, in so much as there is not one thought in them, but he fighteth against God.

As for any goodnesse, I warrant you we will never thinke of it: for we cannot have so much as one thought to doe well, as Saint Paul saith. And therefore it is good that he disposeth us to runne, he sheweth us the way. Hath he done so much? yet it is not ynough: for we shall halt in the mid way and fall downe oft times, yea, we shall go out of the way. Therefore must God supply all these faults, and make his calling sure in us, and strengthen it by the selfe same grace, from whence it sprang and arose.

Therefore whosoeuer will not shewe him a starke rebell to God, and set him at naught, must submit himselfe to the holy scripture. Thus much touching the authoritie. Now Saint Paule addeth in the second place, that besides the reference, by doing homage to him, we must confesse moreouer, that he sought our profit and salvation when it pleased him to teach us by the holy Scripture.

Let vs then come to those two pointes which are touched here. He saith first of all, That the holy Scripture is given by inspiration of God. And then he addeth, that it is profitable. These are two commendations which S. Paule giveth to the holy Scripture, to make us to be in love with it, and sheweth it is worthie to be received with all humbleness. When he saith it is given by inspiration of God, it is to this ende, that no mortall man should take vpon him to controll God.

And thus we see that by the Scripture, we must governe our selves in all things, so as it is not for vs to reserve so much as one myte of praise to our selues. For it is sayed beforehand, that the Gospell was not given to men to add any thing either to the law or the prophets. Let vs read and turne all the leaves of the new testament, we shall not find one syllable added either to the Lawe, or the prophetes: it is but onely a plainer setting foorth of that which was taught before.

Trueth it is that God hath beene more gratious to vs herein then to the fathers which liued before the comming of our Lorde Jesus Christ, in that matters are more clearly set forth to vs: but yet there is nothing added. So then, when Saint Paul pronounceth that we shall finde vprightnes and perfect righteousnesse in the lawe and in the prophets, this diminisheth nothing of the Gospell: for there is good agreement in all the holy scripture of the old and newe Testament: for beside the doctrine which was contained in the lawe the Apostles which were after Jesus Christ, expounded matters so familierly to vs, that God draweth vs to in all such sort, that we cannot say we must do this or that, save that onely whiche was commanded euen from the beginning.

But yet because God hath made things so cleare to vs, and hath given us so many reasons, we must needs be convicted by so great familiarity, vnlesse we be monsters, and go clean against hay. Thus we must in few words practise this text, to wit, if we will profit in the holy scripture wee must employ our studie to holinesse of life, and know that god will not be served after our phantasies, but that he hath given us a certeine rule, which we must take as a perfect rule, and such an one as can not be found fault withall.

And when wee finde any doctrine which seemeth to be against this, let vs arme our selves with this consideration: that God who is vnchangeable, who is the God of truth, cannot speake contrary to himselfe. And let us marke well that when S. Paule speaketh of the holy Scripture, he sheweth vs that we must holde the holy Scripture as an vndoubted truth, saith not, Moses was an excellent man, he allegeth nothing of men to get them credite touching their persons: but he saith that they were the instruments of the holy Ghoste, that their tongues were guided in such sort that they put foorth nothing of their owne, but it was GOD that spake by their mouthes.

Therefore let vs marke well that this is one point. And why so? Because God speaketh there and not men. So then we see how he shutteth out al mans authoritie, God must have his preeminence above all creatures whatsoever, both great and small must submit themselves to him, and no man may presume to encroach and say, I will speak: as S. Peter also will have vs have this certeintie, when we go into the pulpit, we shew that it is God that sent vs, and that we bring the message which he committed to vs. Let them tell vs what is good, and that the doctrine which is sheewed vs here: to wit, vnlesse we know Jesus Christe, and the blessings that are sent vs by him, which he calleth us to.

Now let vs fall downe before the face of our good God, confessing our faultes, praying him to make vs so feele them, as every one of vs may learne to bee the better sorie for them, not only to condemne them with our mouthes, but also to be sorie all our life long for the naughtinesse that is in vs: and that wee may perceiue that the goodnesse which God hath put into vs, is not because of any righteousnesse of our owne, nor through our owne purchase, but is given vs of his owne meere free goodnesse, to the ende that wee may bee contented to be wakened againe. That is it in effect, which we have to gather vpon this doctrine.