wyll of God and brynge forthe the sentes of the spirite WhaÌ„ we worke the wyll of God and fashon our lyfe â—â—â—â—rdynge to the rule of Christes gospell than may we be certen that â—ur sayth is ryght and that we are the sonnes of God fellowe enheritâ—â—rs w t Iesus Christ. Nether nede â—e doubte of ony thynge that God hathe promised in his holy scriptuâ—â—â— but beleue stedfastly y t we shall â—aue al thiÌ„ges accordiÌ„g to hys promises in asmuch as we bryng forth the frutes of faythe But if we lyue 〈◊〉 carnally and do the fylthy worâ—â—â— of the 〈◊〉 as droÌ„ckeshyp whore 〈◊〉 theafte couetousnes amp c. than 〈◊〉 we no cause to reioyse nor yet 〈…〉 of our faythe For the true 〈…〉 the great maruelous thynges as we maye se in AbrahaÌ„ whiche truly beleued in God therfore wroughte many godly workes He obeyed the word of God he lefte hys owne natiue countrey he was contented at the commaundement of God to kyll offer hys owne soÌ„ne to what soeuer the spiriâ—e of God moued hym to do Of this nature are so many as truely beleue They y t thus worcke not haue not Abrahams fayth neyther are they y e sonnes of Abraham For Christ sayd to the Iewes if ye were the sonnes of Abraham ye woulde do 〈◊〉 workes of AbrahaÌ„ Therfore after that we are persuaded of the goodnes of god towarde vs and beleue fâ—ythfully y t god for his promises sakâ— which hâ— hath made vs in christe 〈…〉 be bouÌ„teous and mercifull vnto vs we must note that the scrâ—pture coÌ„maundeth workes to be dne of the faythfull For after that we be once iustifyed by fayth before GOD we must expresse that faythe whiche is knowne to god alone by externall outward workes y t we may appere â—â—ghteous both before God man Nether is there ony better sygne or more manifest argument as I sayd before y t our fayth is ryghâ— true lyueth than whan it produceth and bryngeth for the good workes euen â—s there is not a more manifest probacion that a tree is good than by the bryngynge forth of good frute I faythfull man therfore is not coÌ„pared without a cause of the Psalmographe to a tree planted by the ryuers syde which bryngeth forthe 〈◊〉 fruyte in due season I beynge 〈◊〉 a frtefull Olyue tree saythe Dauid in the house of GOd haue trusted in the mercy of god for euer 〈◊〉 euer A christen man is compared to a grene Olyue for he is euer full of fruyte and neuer barren all waye grene neuer seare â—â—er workyng and neuer idle He y t truly beleueth hath no nede of lawes to coÌ„pell hym to do good workes as the scripture sayth the lawe is not gyuen vnto a ryghteous man but vnto the vnrighteous disobedieÌ„t c. For of hys owne fre wyll sâ— lyuyshe and myghty in operacion iâ— faythe whan God gyuethe an occasion he wyll bryng forth good workes euen the frutes of faythe vnto â—he glory of God and the health of hâ—s neyghbour The sonnes of God are not coÌ„tent to syt ydle sayth Chriâ—ostome but the spirite prouokethe them to take some great and commendable worke in hande Hereto agreeth the sayenge of S. Gregory The loue of GOD is neuer idle for it worketh great thynges if it be y e loue of God in dede but if it cease the to worcke than is it no loue The vnfaythfull is lyke vnto a dead stocke which briÌ„geth forth no frute at all but is vnprofitable altogyther and therfore shall he be hewen downe and cast into hell fyre To be shorte in this matter they that are frutefull bryng forthe good workes pertayne vnto the chyrche of God and they whych are vnfrutefull and bryng forth no good workes belong vnto y e chyrche of the Dyuell for there is a double chyrche and shall be cursed as the â—ygge tree was Fortely we ought to do good worâ—es that we may wynne our neyghâ—our also vnto Christ as S. Peter â—ryteth you wiues be ye obedieÌ„t to our husbandes y t they also whiche â—hey not the worde maye be wonne â—y the conuersacion of theyr wyues â—ythout the worde whyle they consydre your chaste and pure conuersacion ioyned wyth reuerence For as christ came not iÌ„to thys world to wynne the fauoure of hys eternall father for hymself but what so euer he dydde was done for vs so in lyke maÌ„ner what so euer we do we must do it also for oure neyghboures to wynne theÌ„ vnto Christ to make th â— professours of Christes Gospell anâ— the perfecte chyldreÌ„ of GOD our father Let that same affeccioÌ„ be in you saythe S. Paule that was in Christ Iesus whyche beynge in the shape of God thought it no robber to be equall wythe God Neuerthelesse he made hymselfe of no reputacion and toke on hym the shape of â— seruaunt and became lyke vnto in was founde in the figure as a maÌ„ He humbled hym selfe beâ—ame obeâ—dient vnto the death eueÌ„ the death of the crosse Fyftely we must do good workes that the mouthes of y e vngodly may be stopped as S. Peter sayth thys is the wyll of God that by well doyng ye shulde stoppe the mouthes of folysh and ignorant parsonnes Do all thynges wythout murmurynge and disputyng sayth S. Paul that ye maye be fautlesse and pure and the sonnes of God wythout rebuke in the myddes of a croked peruerse nacion among whome se y t ye shyne as lyghtes in the worlde holdynge faste the worde of lyfe Uerely if it ware euer expedient that Christen meÌ„ shoulde lede a godly lyfe it is at thys tyme moost necessary For whaÌ„ the aduersaries of Goddes trueth se them y t professe the Gospell of Christ lyue dissolutely not fast not praye not gyue almes not mortify the affectes of the flesâ—he but lead a more vngodly lyfe thaÌ„ the other sorte do than blaspheme they the gospel thaÌ„ call they the worde of God heresye than hate they extremely persecute presonne condemne and vtterly destroye so many as cleaâ—â— purely to y e doctrine of christ And all this come to passe thorowe the wyckednes and vngodly conuersacion of the grosse Gospellers the raylyng readers of the scripture the â—aye lâ—ke ianglers of Gods worde and brâ—yneles bablers of y e gospell whych â—able muche of gods trueth and yet â—yue no part therof Oh what a great hinderauÌ„s is this to goddes mooâ—â— holy wordâ— God giue vs grace both to loue and lyue the gospell Finally we ought to do good workes seynge it is none â—nprofitable seruice neyther shal our laboure be loste in so doynge but we shall hyghly be rewarded for doynge of them not only in thys worldâ— but muche 〈◊〉 pleÌ„teously in y e worlde to come Reioyse and be mery saythe Christ to all that do good workes for great is your rewarde in heauen Agayne he that receaueth a Prophet in the name of
the lust therof But he that fulfyllethe the wyll of God abydeth for euer I haue not spoken these thynges w t out a cause I thanke my lord God of his gyfte I haue bene from my yought studious of y e holy Scripture and very glad whan I might eyther reade it my self common of it wyth my neyghbours or els hear other preache and talke of it that I myght be edifyed therby recouÌ„tyng that daye but a lytle fortunate vnto me that was transacted and passed ouer without some repast of goddes worde seyng that man lyueth not w t bread alone but wyth euery worde that cometh out of y e mouthe of God But lo no maÌ„ in this world is so happy that he canne haue hys mynde satisfyed in all poyntes For I desyrynge nothyng more than to be quiet that I myghte frely gyue my mynde to the studye of the holye scriptures sometyme comoÌ„ of theÌ„ wythe my neyghbours haue ben so turmoyled vexed wythe the cares troubles of this worlde for y e space of syxe or seuen monethes y t I haue had no lesure almoost ones to thiÌ„ke of the holy scripture O Lord what is it to liue in this wretched world ony other thyng than dayly more more to be plucked awaye estraunged from the to heape synne vpon synne prouoke thyne anger more feruently agaynst vs But now seyng it hath pleased God partely to deliuer me out of the troublous waues of this occean and to bryng me into an haueÌ„ of some quietnes I entend to repare vnto myne olde studies to participate them with my neyghbours as I was wonte to do heretofore For I feare much vnlesse that dissolucion slackenes maye also be found in them that these certeÌ„ monethes hathe not wanted in me so prone redy are we to faull from goodnes vnto lewdnesse if we haue not y e spurre of gods grace to pricke vs forwarde Syns I gaue them a nosegaye I neuer spake vnto them but good euen good morow Therfore haue I nowe sent for theÌ„ by my seruaunte to come vnto me that I maye imparte and gyue them some spirituall treasure for theyr new yeres gyfte this holye tyme of Christmas I trust they wyl not tary loÌ„g What do I saye tary long Me thiÌ„ke I heare theyr voyces euen nowe at y e dore It are they Neyghbours euen with one worde welcome vnto you all Theo. Brother PhilemoÌ„ right hartely we thancke you Phil. Wyl it please you to take the payne for to come wythe me into my parloure Euse. We follow you gladly Phil. Neybours yet once agayne welcome I praye you take euery man a chayre syt downe quietly For I entende to talke w t you Chri. We are all set speake what it shall please you Phil. Neyghbours and brothers it is not vnknowen vnto you how desyrous I haue euer ben syns oure fyrst acquayntaunce to seake no lesse youre soules healthe than myne owne Euse. we are not ignorant of this brother Philemon and we all giue you ryghte hartye thanckes for it Phil. I haue done nothyng but my duty I confesse my selfe to be an vnprofitable seruaunt Notwithstandynge neyghbours thys greuethe me very muche that I haue ben so negligeÌ„t these certayne monethes in doynge my duty toward you Theo. No duty brother Philemon It commethe of your mere goodnes what so euer ye do toward vs. But it is not vnknowen vnto vs howe greatly ye haue ben disquieted w t diuers businesses for a great space Phil. Ye say trueth but nowe heare the cause of my sendynge for you Twelue monethes passed if ye do remeÌ„ber neyghbours at this tyme of the yere I made you a Christmas banckette which as I haue syns perceaued ye haue ryght well digested The Lent ensewyng I called you all to a PotacioÌ„ wherat I trust ye tasted of y e wyne which maketh the spirite mery The May followyng at myne instauÌ„ce full geÌ„tylly ye resorted vnto myne house accordynge to season of the yeare I gaue you a Nosegay All these were not for the bodye but for the soule yea rather both for body and soule Euse. We remember all these thynges wel nether haue we forgotteÌ„ what you taught vs in them Phil. It maketh me greatly to reioyse for to heare these thynges of you For nowe I perceaue full well that ye are no forgetfull hearers but diligent fulfyllers of such thiÌ„ges as are taught you therfore are ye blissed in your acte Well neyghbours my loue toward you is nothyng abated I desyre your furtherauns in the knowledge of Gods worde euen nowe so muche as I haue done heretofore In consideracion wherof I entend at thys present to gyue you a newe yeares gyfte Theo. Can ony thyngâ— be more welcome to vs than suche a gyfte coÌ„myng from so dere a frend and so in tyme place It is now a newe yeare and men vse customably to gyue gyftes one to another wherby they declare theyr good wyâ— wysshe that all good prosperous thynges maye chaunse to theyr freÌ„des all the whole yeare longe Therfore in gyuyng vs this gyfte we do not only acknowledge your accustoâ—med gentylnes toward vs but also confesse our selues to be more endeâ—â—ted toward you thaÌ„ we may at any tyme be able to recoÌ„peÌ„ce your kyndâ—nes Chri. Neighbour Philemon thâ— daye passethe awaye let vs therfoâ—â— I pray you se our New yeres gifte For there is nothyng that can offer it selfe more welcome to these our eâ—â—es Euse. Trueth is this nothynge more true Phil. You re Newe yeares gyfte is red in the chyrche on Christmasse day in the mornyng at y e fyrst masse for the Epistle it is wrytten of S. Paule in the second Chapter of his Epistle to Bisshoppe Titus Theo. I pray you let vs heare it Phil. Behold take your new yeres gyfte The gyft of God that brigeth saluacion vnto all men hath appeared and teacheth vsâ— that we shoulde deny vngodlynes and worldly lustes that we shoulde lyue soberâ—y ryghteously and godly in â—his present worlde lookyng â—or that blyssed hope and appearynge of the glorye of the greate GOD and of â—ure Sauiour Iesus Christ whych gaue hymselfe for vs maner A yonge chylde is 〈◊〉 for our sake and a sonne is gyuen â—â—to vs. Also S. Paul God hath 〈◊〉 â—â—red his own son but hath gyuâ—◠〈◊〉 for vs all how is it thaÌ„ possiblâ—â—ut that he must gyue vs all thynge 〈◊〉 hym Euse. Is Christ frely gyuen 〈◊〉 to vs Phil. Yea verely neyghbourâ— Eusebiê° Neuer was ther any thing so frely gyueÌ„ vnto you as Christ is Theo. The goodnes than of God the father appearethe here towarde vs great vnmesurable Phil. It muste nedes be great vnmesurable seing y t he loued vs whan we were siners Beholde sayth s. IohnÌ„ what a loue the father hath giuen vnto vs that we should be called y e sonnes of god And that ye maye well
and was very man and he toke thys flesh of y e seed of Dauid which was Mary the most pure viâ—â—gine These wordes are open â—nough for them that wyllâ—e A lyke thyng he wryteth to Timothe remember that Iesus Christ is rysen agen froÌ„ death of the seed of Dauid Behold howe he styl maketh mencion of the seed of Dauid because he wold haue vs earnestly imprynte the humanite of Christ in our brestes whych he receaued of the virgine Mary For he dyd afore se in y e spirite that ther shulde aryse certen false Prophetes which should labour to wreste oute of our hartes thys necessary article of Christes humanite To the Galathians also he wryteth on this manner whan the tyme was fulfylled God sente hys sonne borne of a woman or rather as the Greke worde â—enomenon â—ouÌ„deth begotteÌ„ or made Christe by the wounderfull and supernaturall operacion of the holye Ghoste was begotten made man of the virgine Mary yea and that wythoute the seed of ony man He only receaued hys flesh and man heâ— of Mary whiche God so workynge by his holy spirite was so pure clene and vndefyled that there was no spot of vnclennes in her at all And as Christ was begotten of God the father goddes owne sonne and very God from euerlasting yea and that wythoute the coÌ„pany of ony womaÌ„ so was he begotteÌ„ conceaued made borne very man of the moost pure virgine Mary wythout the seed of ony maÌ„ the holy Ghoste dyd so come vpon her and the power of the hyest ouershadowed her And as Christ receaued hys godhed only of God the father â—o receaued he hys manhedâ— onely of the virgine Mary hys mother Wherof we may coÌ„clude the as Christ is very God of God the â—â—â—ther without a mother so is he very man of Mary his mother wythout ony father Therfore maye hâ—â— godâ—hed be as iustly denyed as his 〈◊〉 and fleshe takynge of the blyssed virgine Mary But Christ abydeth very God and very man what so euer the wycked Heretykes bable in thys behalfe I wyll rehearse another text of S. Paule to the Hebrues and make an end of thys matter He was tempted made lyke to vs in all thynges synne alone excepte If he were lyke vnto vs in all thynges synne alone excepte than followeth it that he had a body of flesh as we haue and that there was no differeÌ„ce but that hys moost blyssed body was wythout all synne and our bodyes are synful For he was borne wrapped in cloutes layd in a maunger fedde circumcised embrased in armes grewe was made stronge in y e spirite profited in wisdome age hongred thyrsted wepte was wery reioysed was moued w t wrathe and indignacioÌ„ sorowed was heuy sad at the last suffered the moost spyteful death of the crosse Are not these very signes manifest tokeÌ„s of maÌ„ Coulde he haue done these thynges if he had had eyther a fantastical body or elles a body from heauen Na verely for what fantasticall or heauenly thynge hongreth thyrstethe wepeth slepeth reioyseth c. which all Christ dyd A lytle before hys passhon was he not in such an agony y t his sweat was lyke droppes of bloud tryckelynge downe to the ground Dyd he not so greatly feare deathe that he desyred his father to wythdrawe the cuppe of hys pashon from hym Are not all these euident tokens of a verye man seynge hys flesshe so greatly feared deathe â–ª Seyng than that he was very maÌ„ whense had he thys body but of the moost holy virgine Mary thorowe the meruelous operacioÌ„ of Goddes spirite CoÌ„founded therfore be Manicheus whiche deny the humaniâ—e of Christ. ConfouÌ„ded be Ualentius which affirmed that Christ brought hys bodye withe hym from heauen toke no flesh of the virgine Mary Confounded be the Anabaptistes so many as holde mayntayne this wycked doctrine contrary to Gods trueth For God was shewed in the flesh iustifyed in the spirite sene of Angels preched vnto the Gentiles beleued on in the earthe and receaued vp into glory Thus se you neyghboures that Christ the gyfte of God which bryngeth saluacion to all men hathe appered yea that in the flesh whiche he receaued of the moost blyssed and pure virgine Mary He appered say one S. IohnÌ„ that he myghte 〈◊〉 awaye our synnes yet was there 〈…〉 in hym Agayne for thys cause appered the soÌ„ne of God that he myghte loosen the workes of the dyuell but of all theyse thynges ye haue heard abundaÌ„tly before therfore wyll I go forthe wythe youre newe yeares gyfte It followeth And teacheth vs that we shulde deny vngodlynes and worldely lustes We hearde before that christ beynge borne of the virginne Mary brought health and saluacion to all men bothe Iewe and Gentile Here agayne S. Paule teachethe what pleasure he hathe done vs more He hath not only brought saluacion to vs by that meanes delyuered vs out of the miserable state where w t we were deteined before but he hath also taught vs what we shoulde do that thorowe oure owne faulâ—â— we loose not agen y e dignite whiâ—â— we haue gotten thorowe the fre mercy of God And in this behalfe also are we much bound to thys oure gyfte For what doth it profytte to haue a treasure gyuen vs to loose it agen streyght wayes Are we not muche bound to them which both gyue vs treasures and shewe vs also howe we maye safelye kepe them to oure great pleasure and conforte Howe muche than are we endetted to our sauyour Christ whyche hath not only gyuen vs the treasure of saluacioÌ„ which of all treasures is moost excellent but also taughte vs howe we shall behaue our selues that we lose it not hereafter But let vs heare what he hath taught vs Euse. I pray you speake on for we desyre greatly to heare it Phil. His doctrine is this That we shulde deny vngodlynes and worldely lustes We heare here none vnwrytten verites nor the fansys of men nor yet olde wyues fables and suche thynges as edify not but those thynges that haue ben taught of Moses and the Prophettes many yeres before hys commyng as we maye se in the holy scriptures therfore maye they not be reiecte and cast a waye The olde Ethnyckes harkened not more to the Oracles and answers of Apollo than we oughte to harken gyue eare to the doctrine of this gyfte of God Christ our sauyoure For he is that Prophet which God promised that he would rayse vp and put his wordes into hys mouth so y t who so euer wyll not heare hym God wylâ— be reuenged of hym He is a master sent from God He hath the wordes of euerlastyng lyfe He is the lyghte of the world Who so euer followeth hym walkethe not in darkenes but shal haue the lyght of lyfe â–ª He is the waye trueth and lyfe He is y e God that can not lye He is faythefull in all