away the mooste dampnable doctryne of the Monkyshe and Popyshe sort concernynge dubytation and merites committynge them selfe all togither to the comfortable promise of Chryste oure moost mercyfull Lorde ¶ But for what cause I praye you is thê word frely which is called in latyn gratis Frelye only added by Paul nat these wordes also by oure workes but for Chryste hys sake Aboute the whiche wordes nat onelye the consciences of men but also the Prophettes and Apostles haue spoken largely It doeth comprehende in it selfe .ii. thynges mooste hyghly to be noted It doeth exclude all merytynge of oure selfes and our owne deseruynges settynge as it were before oure eyes the deseruynges and merytes of Chryste In the which place specially aboue all other is to be obserued and marked the dradfull angre and wrath of God agaynste synne The greate wrathe of God in so muche that no kynde of oblatyon or sacrifice coulde pease and swage hys wrathe but the death onely of hys owne sonne The vnspeakable loue of God On that other syde the greatnesse of his loue towarde vs is declared in gyuynge his only begotten sonne for oure sake whiche was an excedynge loue farre passinge al other loues The whiche bothe as wel the wrathe of God as the loue of him togyther we must comprehende and hold fast what tyme our consciences beynge in the conflycte and battayle agaynste synne are moste sorowfully payned and greued To God must we lay for vs the merites of Christe what lawe muste we wage with God for whose sake we muste bothe aske and surely truste and loke for pardoÌ„ nat for our merites sake In this poynt consysteth the whole end of thys conflyct and battaile The mind beynge in greate feare of the wrathe of God doethe nat seke to knowe whether God wyll be mercyfull to them whiche haue sufficiently meryted and can shew many godlye dedes and other gaye vertues For that thynge the mynde knoweth wel ynoughe without any question that is to say that God is good and mercyfull to them that are worthye and without sinne for the knowledge of the lawe whiche we do brynge into the worlde to vs as sone as we are borne doethe teache vs that God is good and mercyfull to them whiche are good it is nat that thinge whiche the mynd and conscience seketh after but an other maner of tryng that is whether God wyl be mercyfull to the vnworthye and to the sinner ye or nay wherin this word freely doeth declare what difference is betwene the Gospel and the lawe For the lawe doeth teache that God is good and mercyfull The lawe requyâ—â—â—â—e our owne worthynesse but besyde that it doethe set forthe a condicion of our owne worthynesse and merytes sayenge that god is mercyful to them which are without sinne or whiche be leaste defyled therewith As for the Gospel it doth remoue and put away the condicion of our worthynesse and merytes bearynge witnes that God is recoÌ„ciled againe to vs frely for the merytes of Chryste his owne sake and nat for our merytynge consyderynge that thys faythe that is to saye the sure confidence of the mercy of God doeth leane and depende only on Christ and hys merytes We vse otherwyse in the Scripture in the steade and place of thys exclusyue frely we are iustified by faythe to speake after thys maner Freelye by faythe only by faythe / and by faith we are iustified is all one sayinge Onely by faythe we are iustyfyed The whiche worde onely doeth nat exclude all other kynde of vertues and good dedes that we shulde nat do them But it doeth remoue frome our mindes that dampnable opinion of hope and truste in our merytes and the condicion also of oure owne worthynesse excludynge it cleane and shuttynge it forthe from the cause of oure iustification or acceptation to God as here after I wil speake more largely And verely it is al one thyng to say By fayth we are made iust and by faith we are made iust frely And by onely faythe we are made iuste For it coulde nat be called faythe if our confydence were set in oure owne worthynes and merytes as the Papystes do dreame Fayth is clene banyshed away yf I shoulde thynke that God wyll be then mercifull to me On what thynge dependeth our faythe when I haue done workes ynough and meryted sufficient lye it foloweth therfore that faythe can depende on no thynge but onely on the promyse of God whiche promyse doeth shewe to vs Chryste for whose sake the father hathe promysed that he wyl with oure any fayle be mercyfull vnto vs. ¶ ALSO when Paull in reasonyng thys matter doethe demaunde whether by faythe or by workes we shulde be iustified The mercy of God and our woâ—thynesse are contrary he doethe meane by that worde faythe the perfect trust in the mercy promysed for Chryste sake the which truste of mercy he doeth laye agaynste and as cleane contrary vnto our worthynesse As thoughe he wolde saye to the these wordes folowynge Howe doeste thou thinke that thy sinnes are forgiuen the and that thou arte made the chylde of God for the dignitie and worthynesse of thyne owne workes vertues other good qualities or els by the moost tender mercy of God only for Christ sake Therefore trulye he doethe exclude the dignitie of our workes sayinge that by faythe we are iustified ⧠VVHERFORE without doubt thys sentence is exclusiue and barryng of all our worthynes when Paul saieth By fayth we are iustified that is to say nat for oure dignitie and deserte so that who that wyll truly iudge and deme on thys thynge maye easely perceyue that it is all one thynge to say By fayth we are iustified by faythe we are iustified frelye and by onely faythe we are iustified Thus muche haue I spoken that the phrase and maner of speakynge of these wordes myghte be perceyued and weyed diligently But howe so euer we do vse oure speakinge and wordes lette vs take hede and beware that the thing and matter it selfe be nat confounded and made darke but that thys sentence exclusyue of all worthynes may be kept in hys ryght sence farre from our free acceptation wherby we please God the father for Chryste hys sake For that makethe the difference betwene the lawe and the Gospell as I haue sayde Therfore I haue spoken of thys worde frely that the vertuous and Godly maye consyder Our merytes must be repelled frome oure free acceptacion all merites to be taken and cast awaye Nat to make vs to be the more ydle in well doynge absteynynge frome good woorkes But to make the promyse certayne whiche promyse shoulde be vncertayne if it shoulde depende on the condicion of our merites and to rendre to Chryst the honoure due onelye to hym besyde that it makethe vs se and vnderstande that all oure dedes be they neuer so glorious are neuer able to atteyne to the perfectnes of the lawe For faythe doeth spryng
of a moral lawe and of the maners of a cyuyl lyfe ¶ FOR the cyuyll lyfe doeth require but an externe and an outewarde dyscyplyne onely that we myght outwardlye appeare honeste and iuste Ciuyll lyfe what doeth the lawe oâ— god requirâ— But the lawe of God doeth requyre a perfect obedyence bothe an inwarde and an outward as wel a spirituall obedience to appeare iuste before God as a corporall in the outward obedience of the lawes where to beareth witnes the commaundement Thou shalte loue the Lorde thy God with al thy hert And so Chryst his selfe in Mathewe .v. cap. doethe expounde the lawe ¶ FOR as muche therefore as the nature of man beynge infected and corrupted by the naturall corruption and dysease of sinne whiche dyd sprynge from Adam can nat possyble perfourme a perfecte obedience the lawe declarethe the wrathe of God against synne accusinge and condempnynge al men Chryste only excepte whiche hathe delyuered vs frome the malediction and curse of the lawe He hathe delyuered nat onely the Iewes and al other whiche lyued after the lawe was gyuen forthe but also the fathers whiche were before Moyses Wherfore it doeth folowe that these fathers The fathers before Moyses were saued by theyr truste to the promyse which were before Moyses were vnder a lawe And so beyng accused and brought into greate feare hadde vtterly peryshed yf they hadde nat styckt and clouen faste to the promyses of Chryste For whose sake they knewe well they shuld be deliuered from sinne and death These wordly politike and cyuyl wise men peraduenture wyl deride and make a mocke at that we do say that the law of God doeth requyre a perfecte and an absolute obedience and that we do saye that no man can satisfie and perfourme al that the lawe doeth requyre of vs bycause that naturally the greate blyndenesse ignoraunce and contempt of God is so roted in vs whiche doeth seme and appere to the Philosophers and to them whiche do vse theyr iudgementes after the wordlye fashyon nothynge els but foly and madnes But howe so euer they do take it I do assure you that the Prophettes and Apostles mente none otherwyse than I haue declared to you Therfore the Prophettes wyl that men do know the greatnesse of sinne bycause they do nat knowe God in dede as they oughte to do no nor glorifie him as witnesseth Paul This ignoraunce and contempte of God is the sinne which the Prophettes and Apostles do shewe and teache to be the cause of al our calamities and miseries The ignoraunce of God is the roote of all mischiefe wherewith thys weake and feble nature is opressed they do teach I say that we shulde seke the true iustyce and delyuerance from sinne and death frely gyuen by Chryste As touchyng al other thinges of the lawe that I might nowe speake of I do referre and send al them whiche are studious and desyrous to knowe them vnto the boke of common places of the scripture whiche I dydde wryte and gather togyther Wherfore nowe I wyll speake of thys vocable Gospell ¶ Gospell THE GOSPEL DOTH preache repentaunce The promyse of the Gospell is nat to be ioyned with the promise of the lawe promisynge forgyuenesse of sinne and lyfe euerlastynge The whiche promyse we must be ware that we do nat ioint with the law For thoughe the lawe hathe certayne promises annexed to it yet they do differ and varye muche from the promyses whiche are peculyer and proper only to the Gospel for the promises of the lawe are promysed condicionallye requiring a perfecte obedience as witnesseth the fyrste precepte The Lorde sayenge I wyl be good to theÌ„â—hat loue me with al theyr herte Where as the promyse conteyned in the Gospell doethe declare to vs the remission of sinne our iustification and lyfe euerlastynge freely withoute any condicion of our merites and worthynes but for Christ sake only No mannes voyce or tonge can declare this great benefyte which the Lord thorow his sonne Iesu Christ doeth bestowe on vs that is to say that the greate blotte of sinne by hâ—s bloude scraped and rasshed forthe and deathe vtterly vanquisshed we maye haue the fruition of the syght of the Godhed in euerlasting life iustyce and gladde ioyfulnes The promyse of thys benefyte by no man but from heauen is declared to vs as Iohn sayeth The sonne whiche is in the bosom of the father he hathe declared and made manyfest to vs. An other dyfference of the Gospel and of the lawe And although that there is a certayn knowlege of the lawe in vs euen from oure byrthe it is nat so with the knowledge of the Gospell for the knowledge therof we haue nat naturally Mannes reason of it selfe being nat able to perceyue and knowe the wyl of God that God wyll sende hys sonne downe to be oblatyon and sacrifice for the churche and forgyue sinne frelye without the deseruynge of our merites Thys is farre frome mannes vnderstandynge Therefore the wordes of the lawe and the promise of the Gospel must be dyuers and sundry wayes taken and perceiued In the writinges of Phocillides and Hesidus o with such other lyke wryters a man shal fynde many sayinges of the lawes but as touchyng the promise of the free forgiuenes of sinne and of the sonne of god it is neuer to be founde amonge them Whiche in theyr writinges dyd imitate and folowe the iudgemente and naturall reason of man onely Moreouer for as muche as a certaine knowledge of the lawe is natural to vs ye from our fyrst byrthe and natiuitie our owne myndes and conscience accuseth sinne in vs what doeth our owne conscience â—udge oure synne thynkynge and be leuyng no thyng els but that God wyl punyshe and also cast forth of his syght those men which be vniust and synners This is the iudgement whiche the lawe doethe gyue beinge bothe a iuste and a ryghte iudgemente accordynge to the mynde of the lawe Agaynst the whiche heuye sentence of the lawe in the tyme of knowledgynge thy sinne and repentaunce thou must obiect agayne and lay for the the most lyberal and fre promise of mercy whiche ought to be preferred before the lawe As by example when Adam after hys offence Adam was accused he coulde thynke none other thyng in him selfe but that which was the lawe that he shulde peryshe bicause he obeyed nat the Lorde But streyght way the Lorde natwithstandynge that he hadde made him subiecte for his disobedience vnto the deathe of the body whiche was before immortal and to other miserable calamities The promyse giuen to Adam yet God gaue to hym a comfortable voyce promysynge deliuerance from sinne and death and the restoring agayne of mankynde sayenge that the sede of a woman shulde breake the head of the Serpent The whiche voyce spoken and declared by God streyght way the son of God mouynge and styrrynge the hert of Adam dyd poure into hym a newe lyfe and lyghte At that
to that doctrine of Paull in the exposition of thys Epystle to the Romaynes I wyl refute and take awai with so manifest argumentes and and profes that they theyr owne selfe shal se and also say that all togyther is a wrye and amysse We wyll byde by the wordes of Paull which sayeth that we be iustified by Faythe frely that is that we do obteine remission of our sinne beynge reputed iuste before God nat for any of our merites but by Fayth which is the trust of mercye promised to vs for Christ sake only We wil nat make Paul speakynge here in figures we do nat chaunge his wordes but we do lerne of him to take the true meanynge as the nature of the worde and the matter whiche the Apostle takethe in hande to dyspute doth requyre It is very profitable and necessary to al good men to haue certayne sure testimonies of the Scripture wiâ—h the confirmations of this proposition alway redy and at hande bothe to instructe other and also to styrre vp true Fayth and perfecte prayer The whiche vocables by vs declared and perceyued of you I trust in the Lorde that this proposition By Faith we are iustified is easy and lyght for euery man to vnderstande For the which cause at other tymes we haue gathered togyther forthe of Paull many places for this purpose Wherfore at this present it shal be sufficient to haue touched the principall In the ende of the thyrde chapiter to the Romaynes Paull mooste lyke a cunninge clerke propoundynge this proposition By Faythe we are iustified freely vseth weyghtye and clerkly confyrmations whiche moost of all are to be printed in mennes myndes to kyndle vp our Faith that in al our perylles and dangers they may be alway before our eyes ¶ THVS muche haue I spoken of Iustification and of Faythe workes Nowe wyll I declare some thyng concernyng the doctryne of good workes which are called the newe obedience Dure newe obedience whiche necessaryly foloweth Faith There be .iiii. thinges that we wyll speake of The fyrste what workes are to be done the second howe they maye be done Thyrdly howe they maye please God In the which thyrde part we wyl dyscusse whether we be iustified that is to say accepted of God to eternal felicitie for that newe obedience sake whiche be borne agayne in a newe kinde of life and whether we be without sinne and worthye euerlastinge lyfe for our owne purenesse Fourthlye we wyll treat of deadlye sinne whiche maketh vs voyd of Grace of Fayth and of the holy Ghost consequently declaryng what are called venyall sinnes and whiche they be â—hat worâ—es are to â—e done TO THE FIRST QVEstion what workes are to be done wherin it is right that we do lede the mindes of meÌ„ to the worde of God that they may know that al theyr life as wel concerninge the conflicte of conscience as their outwarde dedes must be gouerned and ruled by the worde of God as witnesseth the Prophete saienge The candle or lanterne to my fete is the worde of God I do aunswere therfore to thys question worde of God that those workes whiche are commanded to vs of God are to be kept and done and that by the manifest word of God As the ten commaundementes in maner and fourme as they be declared and also expouÌ„ded in the newe testament yea and also if there be any other preceptes or commaundementes perteynynge to the outwarde lyfe in the teachynges and lessons of Christe and hys Apostles This I do say bicause I wold nat that men shulde make and faine no newe worshippinges and workes with out the worde and commaundement of God As dyd the Monkes ChanoÌ„s and Fryers Nonnes Monkes with other Popysshe prelates and nowe of late the Anabaptistes whiche nat takinge the worde of God to councell did inuente and pike out for them selfes workes after theyr owne iudgemente and phantasies makinge men beleue afterward that they were styrred therto by the holy spirite The which may in no case be resisted or coÌ„traryed but obeyed by allawes right reson This was the cause of the dissolute and vnlawfull liuinge of the Anabaptistes Anabaptystes Wherfore here after it shal be declared to you what is to be vnderstaÌ„de and ment by this wordes to be deliuered from the Lawe purposyng nowe in fewe wordes to shewe that they whiche be regenerated and new borne by Faith as I haue sayde do receyue the holye Ghost that there may be begon in them a newe obedience or better maner of liuinge a newe lighte and life eternall whiche is a beginning and an entrance into the lawe of God ¶ THERFORE the Prophete sayeth I wyll gyue and put my lawe into theyr hertes Faythe of necessitie muste nedes go before this newe life the whiche life must also folow as necessarily Many sentences in the Scriptures bearynge therto witnes Example If thou wylt entre into heuen kepe the commandemeÌ„tes Also Excepte the iustice of you do abounde aboue c. Fornicators and adulterers shal nat possesse the kingdom of God And. The holye Ghoste doeth moue and styre the hertes of men by the worde of God to the which worde we muste gyue all our obedience As Paull witnesseth we are detters that we doo nat lyue after the fleshe For Fayth can nat stande in vs withoute repentaunce For by Faythe we muste receyue the remission of sinne And that man doth nat in dede aske and call for remission of sinne whiche agaynst his owne conscience deliteth in mischiefe It is nat the outwarde discipline only whiche is requyred of vs. But the beginninge of the inwarde obedience that is to saye the godly motions of our herte agreable to the lawe of God A man may se that the aduersaries of the truth when they doo crye and barke good workes they doo play as though they shulde teache chyldren how they shuld behaue them selfes in modest and honest wearinge of their garmentes in theyr eating drinking Nowe and then peraduenture they doo speke of almes dede But touchyng the workes commaunded in the fyrst table they do playe mum nat one worde for a good pounde beynge as dum as a fishe Wherfore is the but bicause they knowe nat the doctrine of Fayth therfore they can gyue no good instruction But God commaundethe and requyreth of vs the workes of both the tables ⧠HE wyllethe that we do feare and drede the angre and wrathe of God agaynst oure infyrmities innumerable offences He wylleth also that we being reconciled by the sonne of God do beleue that he hath receyued vs to hys fauour that he wyll saue vs that he wyll helpe vs. With this Faythe wyll he be called on He wyllethe that with thys Faythe we do bothe call and surelye to loke and trust after helpe as the psalme Call on me c. He wyllethe with this Fayth that we do depende and hang on him and nat to seke other aides helpes contrary to his worde and wyll
of God conteynyng no maner of folyshe questions but settyng forth the glory of Christ and makynge open the great infyrmitie and weaknes of man being in al pointes agreable to the scripture both of the olde and newe Testament and for as muche I say as in all ages in the churche all godly disposed people do find by experience this consolation and comfort to be trewe most necessary and expedient I meruayle greatly that our aduersaries be so blynd that they can nat fynd in theyr hert to alowe it and muche more that they be full of furye and madnes that with toothe and nayle they do openly resist it But the Deuyll is in the cause whiche diuers wayes doth poure in errors into maÌ„nes mynde to the entent that the glory of Christ myght be obscured made darke ⧠LET godly men therefore praye that it wold please the Lord to preserue his owne worde and Gospel that he do nat suffer it to be forsaken and put oute of the waye that it wolde please hym to gouerne vs with his lyght and that in settynge and shewynge forth his truthe and veritie vnto al men the foule darke cloudes which the Deuyl hath brought in maye by the bryghte clearenes of his worde be vtterly expulsed Finally that the contagious and stinkynge myste of his traditions full of rotte and all infection with this brennynge heate may be dryed vp frome the face of the earth ⧠LET our industry and diligence prouoke and styrre vp Christ towarde vs. Let lerned men endeuor them selfes to set forth this great cause and matter plainly openly and diligently that our posteritie maye haue at oure handes without knottes or knorres withoute Sophisticall and deuelysshe elusions let them nat refuse neyther payne nor labour in lerning therof nor yet no kinde of punishment in professing and confessing therof For without lerninge thys matter can not be made playne And to beare the hatred and displesure of great heades and wordly wyse men which do resist the word some for one cause some for an other cause improuing and condempning this matter it is requisite to haue a manly herte and a good stomake Good and godly men must contende and fyght spiritually vnder the banner and standerd of the Gospel as Christ witnesseth In this my father heuenly is glorified if ye be my disciples bringing forth fruite bounteously Wherfore lette vs set forthe this doctryne faythfullye and truly with al simplicitie and plainnesse making our inuocation to the Lord that it wold please him to gyue to vs his holy spirite and graunt vs increase therof ¶ TO this matter we wyll adde and ioyne certayne argumentes and obiections wherwith the aduersaries of God doth impunge this our iudgemente and mynde ¶ THE fyrst principal of theyr obiections is borowed forth of the epistle of Iames nat takinge him as he mente but to make him for theyr dogged stubborne proude stomakes purposes and intentes ⧠NAT by Faith only but by workes c. Wherto it is very easy and lyght to make answere being no great difficultie to him which doeth vnderstande Iames aright The fyrst obiection of the papistes wheroâ— thei dâ—â—onâ—de theyr iustificaâ—â—â—n by workes Iames in thê place doth cal faith the hystorycal knowledge of Christ for he sayeth The Deuyl doth beleue But Paul speaketh of fayth in his other signification which is the certayne confydence and trust of mercy promised to vs for Christ sake Wherfore Iames doeth reprehend and rebuke the error of those which do suppose them selfes to be iust in that they do professe the knowlege of the hystory and lyfe of Christ which is a thinge very necessary in dede as all other good workes be but that is nat the truste and confidence whiche we haue wherby we do receyue remissioÌ„ of sinne as it is manifest And where he sayeth that Abraham was iustified by his workes you muste marke and obserue the maner of speakynge ⧠HE meaneth nat that Abraham for his workes is reconciled but that the workê of Abraham being by Fayth recoÌ„ciled to God ar after his reconciliation pleasant and acceptable to God For the workes are a certayne outwarde iustice of the Lawe and are acceptable in them which be reconcyled but they deserue nat remission of sinne or acceptation to eternal life Therfore he sayd that Abraham by his workes is iustified that is as much to say as the workes of Abraham are pronounced iuste the which is true in Abraham being iust and reconcyled and beleuing And truly it is necessary that workes do folowe in the whiche our Fayth may be lyuely and put in practyce Let vs go vpright in this matter and handle it in his owne kind with out Sophistical bablinge Iames doeth nat treat and medle with that argument that Paul speaketh of but of that fayth whiche is the belefe of the hystory of Christ whiche the Deuyll as wel as the faythful had Wherefore the wordes of Iames are nat contrary to the wordes of Paul nor yet to be alledged agaynste him or agaynste any other parte of the Scripture ¶ An other obiection â—he second â—biection ☞ IF thou wylt enter into lyfe kepe the commaundementes Ergo then for our workes is gyuen lyfe euerlastinge and nat frely to him which beleueth you must marke distinction betwene the wordes of the Lawe and the wordes of the Gospell ☞ THESE be wordes of the Lawe which must nedes be expounded by the Gospel for no man shulde be saued yf he shuld be iudged by the Lawe as by thys reason folowing appeareth The keper of the commaundemente shall enter into lyfe but no man kepeth the commaundement and Law being therfore nat with out sinne and so no man which is without sinne shal be saued bicause he caÌ„ nat kepe the commaundement as he oughte to do Solutyon ⧠Therfore you muste adde to those wordes yf you wyll enter into lyfe c. that is to say after the Gospell whiche promiseth forgiuenes of sinne and iustification or imputation of Iustice for Christe sake and so begynneth in vs a newe obedience which the Lorde doeth approue and allowe ye though it be vnperfect nat that it shulde be the pryce of lyfe euerlastinge And so it is necessary that the commaundement be kept and the Lawe taught that repentaunce and fayth may growe in vs. But the Lawe alone is nat to be taught without the promise which promise being taken away the Lawe is nothinge els but a minister of wrath bringinge death euerlastinge without ende It is playne that Christe is the ende of the Lawe Wherefore we may nat consyst and byde styl in the law But when we do heare the Lawe preached to vs trymblyng and quakyng therat we maye nat thynke that we be accused bicause we shuld perishe but bicause we shulde thereby haue occasion to seke our mediator the sonne of God whome let vs take to be gyueÌ„ to vs that by him we may be deliuered frome sinne frome the
iustice Men of â—ower agaynst coÌ„science and right care nat a beane what wrong and iniury they do to the meane sorte if that eyther house or lande pastures or woddes doth lie commodiously for theyr purpose and specially when it ioyneth to any part of theyrs Such as doth thus haue nat red the blessing in the olde Testament conteyned with the reward prepared for them which do ioyne house to house felde to felde farme vpon farme some one maÌ„ .xx. some .xxx. some .xl. scant xx good meÌ„ which shuld be able to serue theyr prince at nede maynteyned where in tymes past hath nat ben so fewe as .v. hundred as by experience in places nat long dayes paste was almoste founde to true As for fynes and incoms with reysinge of theyr rentes they be so importable so tedious and so heuy that the pore tenantes or theyr yeres be halfe expyred shall be glad to lay the keye vnder the dore and runne theyr wayes ¶ Such is the pitie we haue of our christian bretherne so lytle is the feare and loue of God among vs ye which professeth the Gospell which thinge makethe wel for the Papistes to the sclaunder of the worde of God As for the office of a iudge Iudges what man can saye but it is moste iustly executed vpright without parcialitie nat fauouringe of one man more than an other nat prolonging of sutes in the fauor of the ryche to the vtter vndoing of the pore nat takyng of gyftes worthy to be compared to the courte of the Ariopagittes which to auoyde percialitie iudged al causes by night darkling If it be any otherwise thaÌ„ I haue declared it is to be ascribed and imputed to none other thing more nay to nothiÌ„g so much as to that they be nat in feare of the iudgement of the lorde which doth commaunde with these wordes Iudge and ministre right iudgement you sons of men There is no man that can fynde fault with those kind of men which are occupiers Occupyerâ— liuing by theyr laborius venter and trauayle so vpeight is theyr dealinge so iust so indifferent that almoste no faith no truth no trust no confidence is to be giuen to theyr othe muche lesse to theyr worde and bare promise Theues What Thefe wolde steale and robbe to be hanged on a gallow if he were toched with the feare and loue of the lorde Murtherâ— Who wold be so stony harted to quel and sley his brother for whom Christ did suffer and shedde his bloude Aduouter persons What man wold be an aduouterer a fornicatour a committer of rapt if he had but one sperkil of the feare and loue of God knowinge that they which do so shall nat inherite the kingdome of heauen iudged by sentence diffinitiue without helpe of appellation to euerlastinge sorowes excepte there be in this lyfe or they departe a true and perfect repentance with truste in the mercy promised for Christe sake Traytors What causeth so many ranke traytours and rebelions againste theyr moste lawfull kinges and gouerners constituted immediatly vnder God and by God ouer them to kepe them in a good rule quietnes peace and tranquillitie but that they do want and lacke the fear and loue of the lorde the hygh king and gouernour ¶ The want wherof the more and greater it is the more ranke and poysonous are the treasons which are wrought Adam ¶ Howe great an euyll this is howe huge and foule a monster of howe innumerable calamities and sorowes which we haue and do susteyne this is a moste wicked mother what thinge can better set forth or paynt as it were in a table or in a glasse before your eyes more euidently more lyuely than the great fall of Adam beinge for lacke of the feare and of the loue of the lorde which broughte vs into thraldome bondage and captiuitie of the Deuyl For if he had loued him for his benefites bicause he was created by him a heauenly creature like vnto his owne image or if he had feared him for feare to displease him whom he found so good a lord or for feare of breaking of his commaundement as of hys heade and mayster for he that is commaunded is vnder him that doeth commaunde he wold nat haue transgressed whose transgression is our transgression whose fall is our fall Oure sinfull lyfe and corrupt maners beinge the relyques dregges and remenaunte of hys olde sore Cayn ☞ What caused cursed Cayn to slee so cruelly Pharao and vnnaturally his owne brother What caused Pharao to persecute the children of Israel Dauyd What made kynge Dauyd to commyt abhominable aduoutry nat contented with one mischeuous dede but also to ioyne and adde bloudy murdre to stynkynge aduoutry in sleying the husbande of the woman with the most lamentable distruction of many mo Iudas What caused Iudas to be a traytor to his most louing mayster To be truely certayned and assured there was nothinge elles in the cause but the want of the feare and of the loue of the lorde O cruel and dampnable mischiefe comminge from the bottomlesse pytte of Hell What remedy and salue is to be founde for this foule sore what is the cause that it reygneth so much among vs christiaÌ„s euery where that almost no feare nor loue of the lord is found in any place nay rather open contempt and blasphemy and dishonor to his most blessed and holy name what man can expresse the cause therof that this plage more to be feared than any pestelence hath so infected the ayre thorowe al the worlde that no man hygh nor lowe what state degree or dignitie so euer he be hath escaped it Iob. The foule botches and sores of Iob did neuer stinke so sore to the nose of man as thê maketh vs to be abhorred of god stopping his heuenly nose and turninge his merciful visage frome vs. Among our earthly phisicions which do take cure of bodyly deseases only which bodies being neuer so wel healed shall at the last go to corruption the cause of the disease and sicknesse knowen being the chefe point of theyr scieÌ„ce the parth which is sicke is halfe cured and holpen alredy For lykewyse as in ministration of medecines the cause of the bodily infyrmitie nat knowen perfectly they do kyl sley and murdre nat with knife but with poyson the party which seketh after helpe and remedy So the cause and rote of the sicknes perceyued the medycation is made therafter to the helpe and comfort of him that complayned and lamented his grefe and infyrmitie Euen so agayne of our spirituall infyrmities and sicknes which kylleth nat the body ye oftentymes doth sende both body and soule to the whorlpole of hell paste remedy and helpe if he commeth ones into that place speaking our Heuenly mayster and doctor and spirituall phisicion Christ whiche knoweth all our waters a litle better than we do our selfes to whom al our diseases and maladies are thorowly knowen which
sercheth with the instrument of his spirite the very reynes of our backes ye the depest thoughtes and cogitations of our hertê declared the cause the very principall cause and cause efficient of all our malydes with these wordes Quia non cognouerunt me neque patrem meum bicause they knew neyther me nor yet my father It foloweth therfore that if we knowe him and his father we wolde both loue and feare both him and his father And contrary wise bicause we know neither we loue and feare neyther nay we hate and persecute both The ignorance then of God being the cause that we be voide of all feare and loue of the lorde what maruayle is it if we do runne headling into all kinde of mischefe if we sette nought neyther by God nor by the world if we regarde nat his precept his fruyt full teachinges and most beneficial promises Nay truly Sathan the father of ignorance is nat so contented to leâ— hys disciples rest at that point of lytle regardinge of the lorde his goodnes but he doth styrre them to high treason against his maiestie to open contempte and manifest blasphemy to the defiance of his godhed proclayming warre against his infinite power with trompettes and heraldes of armes of his owne begettinge and sendinge dishonouring him minishing of his godly and imperiall tytles those I say which do belonge of ryght by his own purchase and great coÌ„quest to the heuenly crowne I do meane the titles of our creation of our redemptioÌ„ of our iustification and free acceptatioÌ„ they giuing honor vnto the creatures in the stede of the creator with lyke detestable most dampnable and hereticall persuasion and opinion in ascribinge part of our saluation ye sometyme altogyther to our own worthy deseruingê and merites the prayse whereof he hys owne selfe lyke a most valiant captayne with no feyned sweate of his owne body with no counterfeyted bloude with no mocking death for he was a right naturall man and no man dyd euer offer so much as he dyd obteyne and wyn ¶ What meruayle is it though such as they be are traytors against theyr prynces here in erth if they do worke in huggar muggar theyr most pitiful and lameÌ„table distruction to the ouerthrowe of whole realmes to the vtter castinge away and decay of common welthes to the impouerishinge of al the worlde to the mayntenans of theues murtherers of theÌ„ that are voyde of al pytye against theyr fathers and mothers of whormongers aduouterous persons rauishers of vyrgins breakers and dispysers of the most holy state sacrament of wedlocke and finally the very roted sede of al kind of mischiefe ¶ If therfore the knowledge of god causeth the loue of god so that without we knowe him we can nat haue neyther him nor none of his benefites in estimation and valour of a good strawe it foloweth consequently of necessitie that the lacke of the knowledge of him causethe the hatred and lytle good affection towarde him or any of his workes So that it foloweth that the cause that we loue him nat is the cause we know him nat Nat as Iudas knewe hym whiche alway was present in coÌ„pany with hym familier with hiÌ„ at borde table with him which kyssynge his blessed mouthe and knowinge him corporally betrayed him Nat as the Iewes knewe him whiche scourging and beating of his blessed body commytted al kynde of vilany nayled his body to the crosse and so forth as the hystory maketh most godly ghostly mention For that corporal knowledge howe lytle it profiteth nay howe much it hurteth if you do rest there and go no further the mayster of al heuenly knowledge Christ declareth with verye playne wordes speakinge of his owne flesshe and bloude saying the flesshe profiteth nothing at al it is the spirite that gyueth lyfe and quickeneth The lorde dyd speake playnly nat meaninge any other thing then he did with his mouthe speake and declare To mannes iudgement what thing coulde be more heuenly more blessed as it is in dede than to haue the body of our sauiour forty wekes within our owne bodies as the vyrgin Mary had But if that she had nat knowen him in her spirite a lytle more perfectly than her corporal knowlege might haue gyuen informatioÌ„ forsoth it shuld haue profited her very lytle or nothinge she had ben no mete vessel habitacle or mansion place for that sacred body But gyuinge credyte at the last forsakinge her owne reason and iugement wherby she coulde nat attayne to the knowledge of God his wyl plesure being of her selfe counseled to the contrary by natural reason as by these wordes appeared Quoniam virum non cognosco I neuer had flesshely knowledge and company with man I knowe nat what it meaneth I can nat tell whiche way it shulde be so most lyke a playne simple and vertuous mayden felinge her spirites moued and newe altered in her selfe for the holye Ghost wrought merueylously in her and strongly nature gaue place reason quaked fayth relyued so that to the wordes pronounced by the Aungell Thou shalt conceyue c. she made no more a do but yeldinge herselfe vp cleane as one hauing no power of her selfe answered these wordes here I am the handmayde of the lorde let the lorde do with me as it shal please him This worde whereto Mary gaue credit and belefe did get her with chylde this word was made flessh this worde came into the worlde naturally sinne excepted To this worde before any thinge was nothinge did gyue place to be made some thing and of nothing al thing To this worde if Adam had gyuen credit and belefe by the whiche worde he was made and created he had nat fallen nor many more after him This worde the holy fathers froÌ„ Adam to Moises had nat writen but declated and pronounced by the mouthe of God wherby they knewe God and beleued God to be God and the Messias to come To this worde Moyses gaue credyte which was gyuen to him in the mounte in the tables of stone written with the fynger of God that he shulde gyue them to the people that they might be his people a people that shuld feare and loue the lorde This word Moyses dyd wryte in the boke called the Deuteronomium This worde the lorde commaunded to be in the handes of his people and neuer to be left out of theyr handes to be alway with them in al places at al tymes at theyr eatinge and drinkinge ye and at theyr slepinge hauing it for a pyllow to lay theyr hedes on and in theyr iurneys to be theyr companion to comfort them to be theyr staffe to staye them and holde theÌ„ vp And finally in al theyr pastimes to be theyr reioyse delyte This worde was harde of the people in the mounte wherby they knewe God by the whiche he wolde be knowen and nat by any out ward vision bicause partly oure flesshe and corrupt carnall nature can nat aryse vp into the mount to
beholde the cleare glistering bryghtnes of his Godheade and partly bicause they shulde nat delude deceyue and blinde theÌ„ selfes with none outwarde apparance and similitude of thynges to auoyde the great incouenyence of Idolatry to be committed vnder any spiritual or godly colour ¶ With this worde were all the Prophettes and godly kinges illumined and set a fier with the loue and knowlege of God vnto the tyme of the son of God be comming man which declared thê word by mouthe and myracle that therby he might be knoweÌ„ perfectly what he was and is in dede This worde had the disciples and Apostles committed vnto theÌ„ with a speciall coÌ„mandement to declare this worde nat theyr owne phantasies or imaginations the worde I say of preching the Gospel to al creatures that is to say Repentance and remissioÌ„ of synne for Christ sake the hope of our saluatiuÌ„ by Christ only and his merites This word the holy most vertuously disposed Apostles moste faythfully putting in writing did leue behind them to our discipline and saluation as witnesseth Paull sayinge the Gospell is the power of God to saluation of all them that beleueth commaunding also vnder the payne of bytter curses neyther to minisshe or plucke awaye neyther to adde nor ioyne one worde or tytle to this worde as Iohn in the last of his reuelation sayeth If thou wylt be so bold to enlarge his worde adding any thyng to this boke of lyfe wherto nothing can or may be ioyned more than it is or els to plucke any thinge from it I do beare witnesse sayeth he the lord shal encrease on the the plages conteyned and written in this boke and for his boldnes to take away any thing from this boke the lorde shal take away from him his parte and portion out of the boke of lyfe oute of the holy eytye neuer to be partaker of any thing coÌ„teyned in this boke Against this worde our mortal enmy hath continuall warre and battayle this is the castel which he goeth about to vndermine coueting to ouerthrowe it if he myght At fewe worde the euerlasting being of God without begynnynge al his power as muche as maye be perceyued by man that he created the world with al thing there in conteyned that he sent downe his only begotten son moued with compassion of our imprisonment and captiuitie to set vs at liberty with ful saluation and what is there els that is nat knowen by this worde Considerynge then that lykewise as in our corporal bodies corruption and putrefaction commeth of corrupt matter as sometyme the cause of corruption beinge without vs by the corrupte infection of the ayre and poisonous sauours doth cause the inwarde partes to be infected and corrupted sometyme the cause beinge within the body as raw and indigested humors comming of yll dyet of surfetinge with other kindes of vnhonest and inordinate ordre of lyfe so proceding from corruption to putrefaction from putrefaction to mortification and sleynge of the matter which is fyrst corrupted Euen so the cause why we lacke the loue and fear of the lord is the want of the knowlege of God spiritually wherby we shulde glorifie God as Paul wytnesseth to the Romains Yet muste there folowe an other cause why we knowe nat the lorde and that truly is bicause we embrace nat him with our armes in his word bicause we do nat make muche of him in his worde bicause we kisse him nat with the mouth of our herte earnestly and hartely in hys most blessed worde and so to folow him in lyfe with al purenesse and godlynesse of liuinge What is the occasion of all these our spiritual infyrmities that we may lerne and know the original cause and fountayne that hereafter we may be preserued from this most poyson and pestiferus infectioÌ„ the better being as the prouerbe sayeth ons warned and so half warned ☞ He that was sometyme an Aungell the father of pryde the olde enmy of god and man SathaÌ„ the chyld of euerlasting wrath and dampnation he I say whiche made to our sauiour many great promises and gay if the lorde wolde haue fallen downe and worshipped him of whom Sathan knew wel his head shuld be broken he worketh al this mischiefe al our sorowes he enuieth vs to be the chyldren of God he wolde fayn haue vs to be as he is in extreme miserie he plucketh from vs the lyuely and most holsoÌ„ fode of the soul he knoweth that as our bodies beinge destitude of bodily sustenance can nat chose but dye so the bodye of the soule being without the heuenly and most comfortable fode of the worde of God of pure necessitie must perysshe As Christ the ryght scholemaister of helth answered Breade is nat only c. Thys is our aduersary wel ware of he knoweth hê power very weke and feble where the worde of God is in place ⧠Some Antechrist therfore lyke to him selfe muste he styrre vp and ordeyne as he knowethe what makethe for his purpose making and constituting hym as god in earth lorde ouer al the worlde felowe and chekmate with God forgyuer and holder of sinnes hauing the keies of Heuen and of Hell nat beinge vnder any â–ª but holding the heades of al princes vnder his gyrdle crowned with the crownê nat of glory as he wolde haue them betaken but with the crown of the world of the flesshe and of the Deuyl aboue all potentates in power hauing his power in euery kyng his dominioÌ„ more stroÌ„ge than the most natural and lawful kingê them selfe and for none other cause but to remoue frome the hertes of men thys stomblinge blocke the worde of God by his power threatening and cursyng the rowe his most wicked ministers which shulde be the vpholders and defenders of this most holy and blessed worde puttynge into princes heades that it is nat lawful for the lay and common people to meddle with the Gospels with the secretes of God to knowe the wyl of god to knowe by whom they are created by whom they do obteyne saluation and remission of sinnes declaring many more greate inconuenyences and hurtes that wyl folowe therof if they be suffered to haue it at lybertye ascribing and imputing to the knowlege and redinge of the worde of God those thinges and vyces which are clene contrary to the nature of the worde of God making the magystrates and rulers beleue that it wyll cause sedition tumultes and insurrections in the common welth O most cruel sect of vipers whiche doeth shut vp the kingdome of Heuen from men neyther wyllynge to enter in your selfes nor coÌ„tent that any els shal most lyke vnto baÌ„dogges which lye tyed at the maunger nat feding of the hay that therin is nor yet sufferinge the pore Oxe or Horse to eate and fed of it to theyr sustenaunce What thing doth teache peace but the word of God What preacheth tranquillitie in feldes townes cytyes and realmes ye thorowe all the worlde but the worde of God What meanethe these wordes
haue shutte vp this worde frome the pore and handye craftê men as though they had no souls permitting it to ryche and great landed men wherin is a great point and pece of theyr leger demayne and craftye iuggeling to be noted They do shut and locke it vp frome the pore bicause they be alway most redy to receiue it they do giue and grant it to the rych nat that it shuld be set forth the more fruitfully by them but for .ii. other causes whiche they do kepe close within theyr owne bosomes to them selfe that one is knowing that the most part of the ryche sort ar so choked vppe with this worlde and the care therof that they passe nat for it which maketh well for theyr purpose that other cause is if any of the ryche do receyue the word thankfully knowleging the benefites of God yet they wyl be afrayed to professe it openly for daunger they shulde be entrapped with the losse both of theyr bodies and goodes ¶ These be the practices of the prelates of Antechrist hê church to suppresse and put downe the worde of God that Sathan his kingdome myght florishe God therfore declaringe his manifolde benefytes and vnspeakable loue toward this realme in the stede place of that noble kyng deceased nowe restynge in the bosom of Abraham hath sent downe to vs a lytle Dauyd to breake greate Golyath his heade with the stone of the worde of God to ouerthrow on the heades of the inhabyters hygh and proude Babilon nat leauing one stone or stycke standing but to burne it al to pouder with brymstone and wyld fyer And in the stede therof to buylde vp a newe the temple of God to sette forthe the righte honor and glory of God that we appere nat vnthaÌ„kfull to him for the preseruation of thys our yonge vyrgyn kyng from the handes of his mortall enemyes which lokinge and gaping for a day which shulde haue ben to vs blacker then any pytche more bytter then any gall were most luckely we may say deceyued made frustrate of theyr hope ¶ We nede make none other rekenynge but that his grace was deliuered plucked out by the myghty and strong hand of God forthe from betwene the iawes and sharpe tethe of the Lyon at the houre when his cruel enemies were taken and dystroyed beinge as greate a myracle wrought by God in his grace as was the deliuerance of the chyldren of Israel in the reade Sea from the tyranny of Pharao The lorde requyreth againe for his manifolde kyndnes no golde nor siluer nor any other kynde of wordly treasure but a thankful hert a knowledge of hys godly wyl open confessinge of his benefytes before al the worlde ☞ The lorde rebuked the chyldren of Israel for theyr vnkiÌ„dnes in forgetting and nat hauinge in mynde theyr deliuerance from the captiuitie in Egypt and from the tyranny of Pharao ¶ Your good lordship can do no better seruice to the lorde than to se his moste blessed worde Truste nat â—â—togyther â—o the Byshoppes most purely with al sinceritie sette forthe in his owne nature and kynde It is youre grace his offyce and duety to se that it be done in dede for as muche as it hath pleased God to cal you to so hyghe administration and gouernance This is one of the tytles perteyninge to the crowne of England the defence of our fayth whiche consysteth in seynge the worde of God ryghtly ministred and truly broken vnto al the kyng his grace his highnes most louing subiectes as your grace alway hathe declared your selfe most earnestly affectioned thereunto and so to procede to the honor and glory of God Then shal SathaÌ„ be banyshed with his adherentes and coÌ„missioners forth of this realme ¶ Then shal the worde of God florishe and bryng forth goodly fruyt that is to say the ryghte knowledge of god and of his benefytes a perfect loue and feare to offende his heuenly maiestie with godly liuing accordyng to his wyl and pleasure Then wyll he lette his worde be amonge vs to the comfort of our soules and honeste conuersation of oure lyfe This worde is the way the truthe and the lyfe who that doth nat go this way goeth forth of the way and is deceyued Who that teacheth any other doctryne teacheth nat the truth but false doctrin and lies who that seketh any other life can nat mysse but fynde most terryble death Let vs therfore kepe this truthe and we shall nat erre in opinions lette vs kepe this waye and we shall nat be deceyued of oure iurney Let vs seke after this lyfe and we shall nat fayle but fynde it to the only honor and glory of the lorde who be praysed for euer worlde without ende AMEN Domine saluum fac Regem ⧠Imprinted at London in Flete strete at the Signe of the George next to Saynt Dunstones church by VVilliam Powell In the yere of of our Lorde God M. CCCCC XLVIII the XI daye of October ¶ Cum priuilegio ad imprimen dum solum