his first rebellion and corrupting of hys nature we are all gilty of that as he was and then also gilty of our sinnes proceeding of that rebellion wherefore we may well be worse then he but no better Thinke well he confessed him iustly punished thought he deserued more punishment than euer was put vpon him Taking euer consolatiō of the sweet promises of god in the which he beleeued and in all his troubles conforted him with hope to be deliuered of them as all faithfull doe And to be restored to the glorie hee was eiect frō for his owin foolishnes without al merits or deseruings of himself which ware nothing in him and muchles in vs. There hath beene no difference betweene the expulsion of ADAM forth of paradise and Lucifer out of the heauin if the promisse had not beene made to ADAM Through faith in the which promis he euer hoped victory against the deuill who had deceaued him that by power and strength of the promissed seed not through any power or might of him self Euin so should we do cōfiding in the promisses of god and the merites of the promissed seed Christ Iesu to be deliuered of the tyrannie of the Deuill the calamities and trubles of thys miserable world THE VI. CHAP. 1 Wherfore we should reioyce in tribulation 2 Vnder what pretext the wicked pursues the iust 3 Whereby ryseth the dishonoring of God 4 The diuersitie of opinions touching the article of iustification and who are iust before God 5 What is the substance of iustification and why the article therof should be holden in memorie TO the faithful these bodily afflictions and troubles are marueilous necessarie for by them the faith is tryed and made more pretious thē gold which is purified by the fire for by many troubles it is needefull to vs to enter in the realme of heauen by firme and constāt perseuering in faith as sayth S. P. And also it behoued Christ to suffer so to enter into his glory that is not for him selfe but for vs. Therfore the godly men in theyre troubles and afflictions take great consolation and confort And anchors them vpon God alone by faith to whome they can come no other way thinke them no better nor greater then their maister christ but should take both confort consolatiō of his word saying seeing the world hath persecuted mee they shal persecute you also This persecution is a communiō with the passions of Christ in the which wee haue great matter to reioyce so we suffer not as homicides theefes or euill doers but for Christs sake and his word as S. Pet. sayth in his first Epist. the 4. Chapter But in this matter take no care what the world iudge of thee but to thy owne conscience and the scriptures of god for the iudgemente of the world pronuncis cōtrarie to the word of god calling them which professes the same Heretikes seditious men and perturbers of common weales Therfore they thinke they punish iustly in birning slaying banishing and confisking of landes and goodes And howbeit the faithfull suffer all patiently and vndeserued yet they say they suffer iustly as traitors heretickes homicides perturbers of common weales and euill doers Let these sayinges not moue the faithfull brother but confort thee with thy Maister Christ who was called by the aduersaires of veritie a seducer of the people a drūkard a deuourer or glutton an open sinner conuersant amongest them an authorizare of their sins His Apostles were called heretikes and their doctrine heresie The Prophets were called perturbers of common weales and traitors to their countrie prophesing cōtrary the common weale and libertie of the realme as ye may reade of Elias and Ieremie in diuers places of his prophesie Which Scriptures I praye you reade and ye shall perceaue no difference betwene the blasphemations of the Prophetes of Christ himselfe and his Apostles and the faithfull in these dayes for all was and is done by the wicked vnder colour of holynes Herefore let vs seek refuge at our god and sticke fast to his word who can nether deceaue nor be deceaued for the world is full of deceit iudgeth euer the wrong part of the which vniust iudgement cōmeth all the diuersity of opiniōs and sittes ruling this day in the church of Christ to the dishonoring of the name of god deminishing of his glory and no little perturbation of common weales the cause hereof is the neglecting of faith taking frō the same her due office which is to iustifie only by her selfe without the deedes or workes of the law that is mā of wicked is made iust by the mercy of God through faith in the bloud of Iesu Christ without the deedes or workes of the law This I dare affirme because the scriptures of god testified the same to be true as herafter shalbe declared at lēgth Here ryseth the contention for some brags and boastes them to haue faith haue no works others reioysing them to haue faith attribute and giue the iustification to works others haue workes and looke nothing to faith as hipocrites others again there are the which haue nether faith nor works as the plaine wicked vngodly My welbeloued brethren let vs auctorise neither of these persons For all they impung this article of iustification Against the first speakes S. Iames in his Epist. Against the next Saint Paule speakes in his Epist. to the Roma Galath and diuers other places And against the other two kindes of men the hole scriptures speakes By these cōsideratiōs moued I thought necessarie for my owne eruditiō your confort my welbeloued brethren to declare forth show my beliefe cōcerning the article of iustification as the scriptures teache mee hauing no respect to mās opinion that thereby we may haue consolation through our mutuall faith And be more ready to giue coumpt and reakoning to all which aske of vs any question of our faith Alwayes in this and all other thinges submitting my selfe to the scriptures of god and aucthoritie of the faithful church of christ which is gouerned ruled keeped and defended from all spot of heresie by the holy spirit who moues this ardent thirst in our soule to seeke Christ the fontaine of liuing watter loue charity in our harts to Christ our brothers saluation as our owne The fondatiō and grondstone hereto is faith and the shielde or buckler to defende vs with against the firy dartes of Sathan at the which he euer shoots becaus it is our victorie against him and gets dominion of the world but if he finde vs destitute or disarmed of our shield he shal wound vs so that hee may safely or lightly take vs captiue to his realme therfore this our faith shold neuer be idle but euer working by loue that is to bee euer cled with our shield being vigilant walkfull because our said aduersarie Sathan is euer
and iustice as we may clearly perceaue in our first parent For after he had transgressed the law and commandemēt of god he fled from him whom god followed moued of loue toward his handie work and called him again in the which he did shew his goodnes and whē he accused Adam of his sin he was not penitēt nor trusted not in the mercy of god or asked forgeuenesse But excused hys transgressiō and fault Neuerthelesse god of his infinite mercy made the promes of saluatiō or euer he would prononce the sentence contrarie the man or woman saying to the serpēt I shall put enymity betweene thee and the woman and betweene thy seed and the womans seede The seed of the womā shal tread downe thy head and thou shal sting the same on the heele Adam was cōforted with these words and through faith in thys promis was of wicked made iust that is receaued again in fauour and through faith in the bloud of Christ to be shed was accepped as iust And thereafter god manifested his Ire and wrath contrarie sinne which of his righteous iudgemēt he can not suffer vnpunished and pronūced the sentēce first against the woman and then against the man and eiected them forth of paradise cloathing them with skinne coates saying behold Adam is made as it were one of vs knowing good and euil that is asmuch to say O miserable mā now thou mayest perceaue thy state and the fruites thou hast gotten for the transgression of my cōmandemēt what is thy knowledge that thou hast learned nothing but to fly from thy Maker to passe frō life to death from great pleasure to all miserie And so Adam is spoyled of all the noble gifts he was indued with in his creation as here after time place at more length shalbe showen read with order the 3. Chapter of Genes and thou shalt vnderstand this matter clearly Nowe yee may see what was our first parents part in the obteining of this promisse of God Very lie no more then he had of his creatiō but rather lesse for beyng but dust and clay hee made no euill cause but being made man he disobeyed his Maker trangressed his law vsurping glorie to hym selfe and knowledge which became him not to seeke For the which he deserued nothing but eternall dampnation Abraham in his fathers house an Idolater as he was and the rest of his house made no good cause to god nor merite to obteyne the promisse that he should bee the father of all faithfull but only beleeued in the promis of god as hereafter shalbe discussed but euen as thei were accepted as iust through faith without all their merites or deseruinges so shall wee bee which are the Sonnes of Abraham and heires of the promisse No other way shold we seeke but the order taught vs in the scriptures of God that is if wee wilbe sure of our saluation and haue passage to the father passe vnto Christ who sayeth I am the waye the trueth and the life no man commeth to the father but by me If yee had knowledge of me ye should also haue knowledge of the Father Therefore if we will walke right in the way go with christ and walk in him if wee will not bee deceaued passe vnto him for he is the veritie who cā nether deceaue nor be deceaued if we wil not die the eternal death he is the life These gifts may we haue of no other but of him by him only through faith in the mercy of God by the operation of the holie spirit THE V. CHAP. 1 The consolation of Adam expelled from Paradise 2 The consolation of Adam whiche hee tooke of his two sons turned in dolor 3 What Adam did when hee receaued Seth for Abell whome Cain slew 4 The confort of Adam in all afflictions and example left to vs therinto GReat was the trouble and afflictiō both of body and spirite which was in Adam standing trimbling before god whome hee had so highlye offended perceauing him self deceaued of the false promis made by the Serpent which was that he shuld not die how beit hee eat of the aple but should bee like vnto God knowe good and euill being therefore eiected forth of that pleasant gardin of all delite and pleasure in to the miserable earth to eat his bred with the sweat of his face Trust well he was sore penitēt now would haue suffered great torment vpon his body to haue satisfied for his offences but that could not be nor might not stand with the iustice of god What was his confort then nothing but this promisse which he apprehended by faith and beleeued him to be in the fauour of god for that promiseth seedes sake This conforted his spirite or els of despair he had perished in this sorrow trouble for he found no remeady in himself For his bodily cōsolatiō god sent him twoo sonnes by naturall propagation to his owne Image and similitude This was no litle consolation and confort to Adam but this bodilie confort turned shortly into great displeasure when the one Brother slewe the other of malice by the which Adam was destitute of all succession Thus dolorously lead he his life a long time desiring euer at God succession in place of Abell Of whome god had pitie and compassion and sende him a Sonne named Seth of whome descended the promissed seed that god might be found true in his sayings for rather would he haue raysed Abel frō death to life then his promis shuld not haue bene fulfilled By this was the dolor and trouble of Adam conuerted into ioy and gladnes For the which hee gaue thankes and praise vnto God saying god hath sēt me another seed for Abell whom Cain hath slain here he saith not that he hath gottē a sonne in place of Abell Howbeit by naturall generation he begat him Eue bare him of her bosom but saith god hath sent me another seede for Abell ascriuing the same to the gift of god and not to the work of man This is a notable exāple to al the faithful to receaue all thinges forth of the handes of God giuing him euer thankes therfore as the holy Fathers did not contemning the work nor helpe of man whome God maketh the instrument to do that thing which is his godly will to performe Let vs herefor take example of our forefather that like as he was subiect to trobles and afflictions all the daies of his life in this miserable world Euin so are we let vs take therefore all thing in patience thinking vs to haue deserued the same iustly how iust that euer we be or appeer to the world trust well there is nor was neuer mā which descended of Adam by naturall propagation iuster nor he was after his fall for there is no mention in the scripture of any offense done by Adā cōtrarie the lawe of his god after his expulsion forth of paradise And as for
going about vs as it were a roaring lion seking for the pray to deuour or swolow Against whom we shold resist stoutly into faith taking in our hand the sword of the spirit which is the word of god with the rest of the armour perteyninge to a christian knight specified by S. P. Ephe. the 6. Chapter The substance of the article of iustification is to cleaue and stick fast by our God knowing him our Maker and Creator and to beleeue firmly and vndoubtedly that wee are not righteous nor iust of our selfs nor yet by our workes which are lesse nor wee but by the helpe of another the onely begotten Sonne of God Christ Iesu who hath deliuered and redeemed vs from Death the Deuill and finne And hath giuen to vs eternall life as hereafter at length shalbe declared Aboue all thing the saide article is to be holden in memorie recent among the faithfull And at euery tyme houre driuen and inculcat in their eares as it were a trumpet without the which faith which is the fondation of the christian religion and Church of Christ is made so darke and mistie that no place shalbe founde where vpon to build the the perfite workes of faith THE VII CHAP. 1 What obtained Adam and Eue seeking wisdome contrarie Gods commandement and what they which seekes iustification other wayes then teacheth the scriptures 2 Whereby is the wicked man made iust 3 Where may Sathā enter and where not 4 What wrought the lawe into Adam and the office thereof vnto vs. THe ground stone and sure firme rock whereupon all godly workes and vertues are builded our said aduersarie Sathan vexed in the paradise when in the beginning he perswaded entised our forefather Adam and Eue to leaue their faith into God their Maker and Creator and consent to his false perswasiō which was that through their owne wisedome strength and power they might be made equall and like vnto god who gaue them life promised the same euer to endure with all pleasures commodities in paradise The Deuill perceauing the woman voide and without faith loue and feare of God said howbeit ye eat of the fruicts of this trie ye shall not die the death ye know not wherefore God hath forbiddē you to eate of the same but I shall show you the cause God knoweth that in what soeuer daye yee shall eate of the fruict of this trie your eyes shall be opened and ye shall be like Gods knowing good euill This same persuasion hath all the wicked which perswades man to trust to his owne workes merites power and strength therby to be made iust and to get greate rewarde of god for doing of workes not commanded by God but inuented by mās vaine conceat thinking that God shallbe pleased therewith But surely euen as our forefather was deceaued so shall we be if we consent thairto Heerefore giue trust to no thing in this case or matter but to God and his word keeping euer faith pure and clean without all mixtiō of works in the making of a wicked mā iust And then our aduersarie shall get no place to enter to deceaue vs. Ye shall vnderstande that Adam knew good and euill before the eating of the aple for that teached him the law of nature and the other great wisedome hee was cloathed with as yee may reade in Eccles. the 17. Chap. saying god created them with the spirit of knowledge and with wisedome and vnderstanding hee fulfilled the harts of them and shew vnto them good and euill His iudgementes iustice also he shew to thē What thē was the knowledge Adā got of the eating of the aple onely that he had offended his good god trāsgressed his law the which shew to him his offences and sin By this knowledge he vnderstood that hee was fallen frō the good state in which he was created shuld haue remained if he had obeyed the law of his god into the miserable estate of sin for he had neuer knowen what the trangression of the lawe had bene if he had not sinned The law before taught him what he should doo leaue vndone what was good what was euill and after he sinned the lawe vttered the same to him broght him in knowledge thereof for it can do no other thing to the sinner but trouble his minde and bring vpon him great feare and dread This proues the sayings of god to ADAM inquiring who hath showen vnto thee that thou was naked but that thou hast eaten of the tree of the which I commauded thou shouldest not eat This hatred and enimity is old which Sathan hath moued cōtrary mankind had the beginning at the first creation of man of malice cōceaued to bring man in the same rebellion he was in This persecution of sathan shal endure to the latter iudgement therefore let vs bee walke full and diligent euer armed with our shield faith the word of god euer printed in our hartes taking no care of wordly troubles hoping hastely to be deliuered therfrō cōsidering we haue no permanēt Citie here but as Pilgrimes trauailing to and fro beholding and looking for that heauinly citie and place prepared to vs from the beginning of the world THE VIII CHAP. 1 Wherefore Cain slew Abell howe long god suffered the article of iustification to be pursued by the seede of Cain 2 What paine hee tooke at last and howe Sathan reserued his seede 3 Whereof sprang the Idolatrie whiche abounded betweene the dayes of Noe and Abraham and vnder what pretext it was defended SHortly hereafter the said aduersarie a man killer and lyer perswaded entised the one brother to slaye the other of malice without any cause but that the one brother Abell being iust godly offered into faith a more pleasant and acceptable sacrifice vnto God then the other Cain who was wicked and an hipocrit whose sacrifice pleased not god becaus the person was not acceptable to him Therefore god looked to Abell and to his workes vnto Cain and his workes he looked not There followed against the saide article the perpetuall persecution of Sathan intolerable by the sonnes of Cain while God wes compelled prouoked of his ryghteous iudgement to drowne the whole worlde once to purge the same from sin reseruing defending through his mercy onely the perauthor of faith and righteousnesse Noe. Neuerthelesse Sathan keped his seed in the third sonne of Noe Cham as testifies the historie After this the whole world rysing in a madnes fury impugning this article of iustificatiō finding inuenting innumerable Idols and religions with the which they pretēded to please God with their owne works and inuentions euerie one making to him selfe a particular or peculiare god or gods The which is no other thing but to think that without the help of Christ of their owne power works Inuentions they may redeeme them selues from sin all euils and please
opinions iudgements but the perfite christian mā should looke first in his corruption of nature consider what the law requireth of him in the which he finding his imperfection and sinnes accused for that is the office of the law to vtter sinne to mā and giueth him no remedy then of necessitie is he cōpelled either to dspaire or seeke Christ by whome hee shall get the iustice that is of value before God which can not begotten by any law or works because by the deedes of the lawe no fleshe shalbe iustified before God Yee shall not meruell of the oft rehearsinge of these wordes that of the deedes of the law no fleshe shalbe made iust that is declared reputed foūd or pronounced iust before god for they are rehearsed before the forthsetting of the article of iustification that it may seeme the more cleare and to that effect the same wordes were spoken by the Apostle Rom. the third Chapter Of this maner we know what euer the lawe speaketh to them it speaketh whiche are in the lawe that all mouthes may bee stopped and all the worlde made subiect vnto god because by the deedes of the law no fleshe shalbee made iust before him And therefore I haue repeated them so oft because they lead all men to the perfite knowledge of their iustificatiō which is in Christ. This proposition of the holy spirite is so perfite that it excludeth if ye will vnderstande the same right all the vaine foolish arguments of sophistrie made by the iustifiers of them selfes which peruerte the wordes of S. Paule as they doo the other scriptures of god to their peruersed sence and mind saying that the Apostle excludeth by these wordes the workes of the law Ceremoniall and not the deeds of the law of nature morall law of Moyses The which shameles sayings are expresly euacuat by the wordes of the Apost Insomuch that no man of righteous iudgement can denye but shall feele the same as it were in their hands by this probatiō the law speaketh to all that is accuseth all men that are vnder the law All men are vnder the law of nature or the law of Moys Therefore the Apost speaketh of the law of nature Moy. and of all men which he comprehendeth vnder Iewe gentill as he proueth by his argumētes in the first and second Chap. to the Roma And concludeth in the third Cha. all men are sinners If all men bee sinners none is iust If none bee iust none fulfill the lawe If none fulfill the lawe the lawe can pronounce none iust Therefore concludeth he that of the deedes of the law no flesh shalbe founde iust before God The same is proued by Dauid in the 13. Psalme Here ye see by the words of the Apostle he intendes to proue and declare all men Sinners That is to stoppe all mens mouths and to dryue them to Christ by the accusation of the law No law may make or declare all men sinners and subdue the whole world to God but the law of nature and Moyses Therefore vnder that word law the Apost comprehēded the law morall and not the law Ceremonial only Becaus it followeth in the text The knowledge of sinne is by the lawe And also I knewe not sinne sayth S.P. but by the lawe Nor I had not knowen that lust or cōcupiscence had bene sinne were not the law said Thou shal not lust Therefore ye cānot eschew but confesse that the Apostle speaketh of the law morall yea and of all lawes and all men because hee excepts none Therefore let vs conclude with the Apost and the holy spirite that the iustice of god is without the law made patent and forthshowē by the lawe and prophetes And then shall we come to our Iustice which is Christ as S. P. saith the 1. Epist. the first chap. to the Corinth If yee will saye of your vaine conceate as ye which are aduersaries to faith euer obiects vanities that the Apostle in his conclusion comprehendeth not all men proceeding from Adam by naturall propagation but that some iust men are excepted Ye shall not finde that exception in scripture of any man except Christ. Who beeing both God and man is expresly excepted because hee neuer contracted sinne Fraude nor deceat was neuer found in his mouth by this exceptiō all other are excluded because there is no other who can be found iust but he For that cause he only fulfilled the law and satisfied the same By whome all which beleeue are accepted as iust without the deedes of the lawe through faith in the bloude of Iesu Christ. Let vs passe forward therefore in the scriptures for to finde the Iustice of a christian man which can not be founde in the lawe nor deedes thereof THE XVI CHAP. 1 The diuersitie of names of that iustice which is acceptable before God 2 Iustice is plainly reueled in the euangell 3 What is to liue in faith or by faith THe iustice whereof we haue made mentiō in the beginning and that is so cruelly and tyranously persecuted by our aduersarie Sathan is called the iustice of God the iustice of faith and the Iustice of a Christian man The whiche is all one thinge glued and ioyned together that by the same wee are in Christ and hee in vs by the mercy of god purchased by christ through faith in his bloude without all our deseruings either proceeding or following the same And it is so farre different from the other iustice of the law as darkenesse from light and heauen from earth becaus it wilbe alone and not participant with any other thing that Christ may haue his due honour Who obtained this iustice frō the father and is the price thereof And first it is called the iustice of god because it proceedeth only of the mercy of God Secondly the iustice of faith because faith is the instrument whereby in Christ we obteine the mercy of God freely giuen to vs for Christes sake And thirdly it is called ours because by faith in Christ without all our deseruinges wee receaue the same and are made reputed and compted iust and accepted in to the fauour of god And all three ar one Iustice deuided by sundrie names as is before saide which is this article of iustification As by example almes deede is but one name And yet after the common maner of speaking it is appropriat truely to three that is to the Giuer to God and to the Receauer In almes the poore and indigent haue no part but only to receaue and giue thankes The giuer freely giueth of his liberalitie substance and for gods sake So it is properly called the almes of the giuer and iustly attribute vnto god becaus for his sake it is giuē And also to the receauer becaus he is made rich therewith In the like maner this iustice of God proceedeth of his aboundant mercy and grace fauour and goodnes which hee beareth toward man kind that is poore
all to himself saying Come vnto me all yee which labour and are laden with sinne and I shall refresh you And Peter saith there is no saluation but in Iesu Christ Nor no other name giuen vnder heauen by the which mā may obteine saluation Therfore sithēs no other may saue but he we should put all our trust hope in him and in his mercy only and neither in the law nor works for to all them which thinke they may bee safe by workes or made iust Christes death is in vaine or if there had beene giuen a lawe whiche might haue giuen life then righteousnes surely had beene of the law but it is manifest that by the law no mā is made iust before god because the iust shall liue by faith What wordes may bee more plaine then those are to exclude workes foorth of this article Now sithens the scripture teacheth vs so plainely that Christ is our Iustice our Sauiour and Redeamer satisfaction for our sinnes the ende and consommation of the lawe and hath freed vs from the lawe sinne and death and from the kingdome of Sathan our aduersarie and bought vs to the kingdome of righteousnesse without our merites or deseruinges Why will wee vsurpe his office to our selues and spoile Christ of his glorie or be come thrall againe to that thing from the which Christ hath freed vs. The which we do if we wilbe participāt with Christ in the making of our selues iust or mixt any workes with the article of iustication THE XIX CHAP. 1 As the good tree beareth good fruite so the good man worketh good workes 2 But as the fruit maketh not the tree good So workes make not the man iust 3 For as the tree is before the fruite So the mā is iust before the work be good 4 The cause why wee should worke good workes 5 The Captaines in the kingdome of christ his subiectes and reward and of his aduersarie Sathan THis faith which only iustifieth and giueth life is not idle nor remaineth alone Neuertheles it alone iustifieth And then it workes by charitie For vnfained faith may no more abyde Idle from working in loue then the good tree may from bringing foorth her fruite in due time and yet the fruite is not the cause of the tree nor maketh the tree good but the tree is the cause of the fruite and the good tree bringeth foorth good fruite by the which it is knowen goode Euen so it is of the faithfull man the workes make him not faithfull nor iust nor yet are the cause thereof But the faithfull and iust man bringeth forth and maketh good works to the honor glorie of God profit of his neighbour which beare witnesse of his inward faith and testifie him to be iust before man Therefore yee must be iust and good or euer yee worke good workes for Christ sayeth may yee gather grapes of thornes or figges of thrisles no no it is contrary theire nature Euen so it is with man till hee be made iust by faith as it is before writtin Hee may neuer doe a good worke but what euer hee doeth is sinne for al which is not of faith is sinne and christ sayeth to the Pharisies how can yee speake good while yee ar yet euill Therefore or euer we speak good or do good we must be made good that by the mercy of god through faith in christ without al our deseruings Then shal we worke al good works in the kingdome of Christ as his faithfull subiects There is two kingdomes two kinde of subiects which are direct contrary to other because there princes ar as cōtrary as ar light darkenes That is to say the kingdome of Christ and the kingdom of the Deuil To the kingdom of the Deuil mā is of his owne nature a perfite subiect the sonne of ire wrath To the kingdome of Christ man is made subiect through his second birth or regeneration which is by Baptisme in the bloud of Christ. To this kingdome man is bought neither with gold nor siluer but with the precious bloud of the sonne of God Christ Iesus and so is made seruaunt to righteousnes to serue vnto life Therefore who is made iust by faith through the mercy of god and merites of Christ Iesus must in faith which is not idle but euer working in loue serue Christ and embrace him in his hart Then shall he remaine in Christ Christ in him by the which ioyning through faith sinne shall haue no dominion nor shall not rule as a prince howbeit the dregges remaine in vs. They shall not be imputed to vs if we perseuere in faith as our forefather Abr. did euer working by loue and charitie And this is the cause why we shuld work good workes because wee are bought to the kingdome of Christ in the which rule as valiant Captaines faith hope charity working euer righteousnes vnto life The kingdome of the Deuill hath thre valiant Captaines which gouerne the same that is incredulitie dispaire and enuye euer working sinne and vnrighteousnes vnto death because the reward of sinne is death In this kingdome sinne ruleth as a prince hauing dominiō therefore if ye will serue sinne and obeye the same ye are seruants to that thing which ye obeye whither it be of sin vnto death or righteousnes vnto life But Christ hath redeamed vs and bought vs from this Realme that euen as Christ hath risen from death to the glorie of the Father right so we should liue in a new life and let not sin haue more dominion ouer vs. There is no mā so foolish who wil thinke he being deliuered of a vile prisō by the grace and mercy of a great Prince and brought to serue in his hall so made tēder to the prince that he is made participant of his sonnes heritage will say I will passe againe to prison because he is not a part of his owne deliuerance Verily it is euē so of their sayings which say I wil do no good becaus christ hath deliuered me And being deliuered I will sin and follow all libertie of flesh Wherfore should I do any good workes sithens Christ hath redeamed me without my deseruings My hartes ye which obiect these sayinges reade the scriptures and yee shall finde another lesson taught you And attend vpon your Schoolemaister which is the holy spirite who shall teach you the right waye that yee passe neither to the right hād nor to the wrōg but the right kingly way That is to confesse and euer haue prented in your hartes that by faith onely of the mercy and grace of god yee are made safe And then followe the example of our Lorde Iesus Christ giuing your whole studie and cure to loue charitie and all maner of righteous liuing to the glorie of god profit of your neighbour Not that there through ye ar made safe but that ye may be found
But beleeued in one god and that the same god had promised a Saueour to redeame the world So god looking vpon the faithfull hūble and simple hart of Cornelius and the feruent desire of his prayers which desire doubtles was conforme to the sayinges of the Proph. Esay O if thou wouldest break a sunder the heauens that thou might come doune would not haue him deceaued to looke for him which was already come Therefore he caused him send for Peter to instruct him in the present faith And to certifie him that Christ was come whome he looked for so ardentlie Yee may read the text thē shall yee perceaue the sermon Peter made vnto him which was only of the opening of the Scripturs testifieing the comming of Christ in the fleshe and fulfilling of all the promises and Prophets sayings spoken of him before and that he was risen from deathe and had giuen Peter and the rest of his Disciples Apostles cōmād to preache repentance and remission of sinnes to all which would beleeue in his name c. To the which words and preaching of S. Peter Cornelius his whole housholde gaue firme faith and receaued by a visible signe the holy spirit The which is no other thing but this article of iustification For hee beleeued the word of god and by faith in Christ through the mercy of God receaued the holy spirit without all working of any deede of the lawe of Moyses but onely being vnder the Law of nature and so was baptised c. Therefore yee can not proue by this authority of scripture that either the works preceeding or following the gift of the holie spirite was the cause of his iustification or yet any parte thereof But first being iust through the faith which the fathers had who had also the holy spirit truely worshipped god and feared him of loue so he was iust And in that righteousnes wrought the fruites of faith in prayers and almes deeds And secondly being taught by Peter beleeued that Christ was comme the sure Sauiour of the world and had fulfilled all which was spoken of him by the prophetes By this faith was hee by the mercy of God made iust and receaued the holy spirite visiblie without all works or deseruings And then in the kingdome of Christ and righteousnesse wrought the fruites of faith vnto life as all perfite Christians should doo They alledge another text Galath the 5. Chap. Faith which worketh by loue c. by these wordes they would inferre of their corrupted maner that faith onely iustifieth not before god but faith which worketh by loue By this maner of vnderstanding they not only make the Apost false but also cast all downe destroye the same thing which hee hath builded for in the fourth Chap. of the same Epist. preceeding with great laboures and inuincible arguments hee setteth forth the article of iustification prouing faith only to iustifie without all deedes or workes of the law And then in the 5. chap. he beginneth to set foorth the fruites of faith saying ye are abolished frō christ which would be made iust by the lawe Ye haue left grace for we by thee spirite of faith beholde or looke for the hope of righteousnes for into Christ Iesus neither is circumcision nor vncircumcision any thing worth but faith which worketh by loue In these words shortly in briefe termes the Apost excludeth all workes and lawes sacrifices worshippings both of Iew and gentill to haue any mixtiō with Christ in the iustificatiō of a christian for if there had bene any more excellēt work or greater in estimation among the Iewes which were the chosen people of god thē circūcisiō no doubt but the Ap. would haue excluded the same so the principall work cōmanded by god and giuē by him as the seale of his promis couenāt made to Abrahā being excluded forth of of this article how can any other worke of lesse or equall estimation haue parte thereinto Therfore the Apost cōcluding shortly cōprehēding the whole estate of a Christian mā saith neither is circumcision nor vncircūcision any thing worth in christ but faith which worketh by loue he saith not loue which worketh by faith but faith whiche worketh by loue that is faith inwardly maketh a mā iust before God who hath no neede of our workes for the whole worlde and all that is therein is his and loue outwardly testifieth of thy inwarde faith towarde thy neighbour who hath need of thy works for whose vtilitie and profite thou art cōmanded to do good workes To whome thy faith auaileth nothing And so this text impungeth not the article of iustification but fortifieth the same Ye read loue greatly extolled by S.P. the 1. to the Corinth the 13. chap. as it is worthy but ye find neuer iustificatiō before god attribute to loue for that is not the office therof But loue followeth faith in the third degree whose office the Ap. setteth forth in the said ch Specially how that loue suffereth all thinges beleeueth all thinges hopeth all thinges and endureth all thinges Yea verily some thinges which faith may not suffer nor wil on no wayes suffer as a light superstitiō repūgning to the word of god loue will or may suffer the same to be in it for the weakenes of the infirme brother But faith may in no maner suffer the same because it may be preiudiciall to the article of iustificatiō and induce the mixtion of works Also Faith Hope and Charitie being reakoned the Apost exalteth Charity to be the most excellent of the thre but giueth her none of their offices But if ye wil vnderstand the text well ye shall know the Apostles mind by the cōclusion saying now we see through a glas darkly but thē we shall see face to face Now I know in part but then shall I knowe euen as I am knowen and nowe abydeth Faith Hope and Charitie but the chiefest of these is Charitie as he would say Now we ar imperfite but then we shalbe perfite Faith and Hope shall both perish and vanishe awaye but Charitie shall remaine in her perfection for then she is in her perfectiō when the other two haue takē effect and are vanished away for in the heauē there is neither faith nor hope but Charitie is in her most excellēt degree there which neuer hath an ende The cause wherefore the Apo. extolleth Charitie yee shall consider in the first to the Corinth the 12. ch the which I pray you reade For in that whole Epist. there is no question of the Article of iustification nor of the office of faith but an instruction how the Christian man should liue reprouing hatred enuy dissentions and opinions amōgst the Corinth which became not to be amōgst christiās therefore he exhorted them aboue all thinges to Charitie which is the band of peace the most excellēt vertue to be had euer kept among the Christians for by that
may saue you It is writtē all which is not of faith is sinne How then can ye do any worke preceeding faith that it may please God or prouoke him to loue you considering all that ye doo out of faith is sinne Will ye say that he deliteth in sin No no it is a thinge most abominable in his sight therfore all that euer ye do how excellēt the work be in your sight it is sin before God and yee heape sinne vpon sinne which is abomination in his sight as sayeth the Prophete Esay The workes which follow faith make you not iust because or euer yee worke good works yee must be made first iust and thereafter in faith yee worke the works of iustice Neuerthelesse the saide workes may not saue you nor merite the kingdome of heauen to you muchlesse may they merite to others But yee are made safe by the mercy of God and not of workes as S. P. sayeth Not of workes of righteousnesse which we haue done shall we be saued but according to his mercy God hath saued vs Here yee see not onely workes excluded in generall forth of this article but also the workes of iustice which can not be done but by the iustified man where are then your workes which deserue the kingdome of heauen of their worthinesse not onely to your selues but superaboundant to others They are excluded by the Scriptures of God Therefore I exhort you to exclude them also cleaue to faith THE XXI CHAP. 1 The opinion of the wicked seeking their owne glorie 2 The workes commanded by God done without faith ar abomination before him 3 Whereby commeth the new birth 4 Paule refuseth his workes seeking no Iustification thereby 5 The conclusion of all the Scriptures 6 What is giuen to man which hath true faith I Meruell greatlie of your blindnesse which are aduersaries to this article would euer mixt it with works specially of your owne making that yee may bee a parte of your owne saluation But I ought not meruell thereat because yee seek your own glory not the glory of god for euer ye cry the law the law good works good works the which yee neuer doe nor yet it is in your power of your selfe to complete according to the perfectiō that yee may set thē before the iudgement seat of god And this same thing did your forefathers the scribes Pharisies against Christ. And now yee against his faithfull litle flocke of the same blindnesse and ignorance For to establish your owne iustice yee neglecte the iustice of god and will not be subiect thereto as the Apost sayeth And Christ sayeth Yee are they which iustifie your selues before men but god knoweth your harts because that which is of great estimation in mens eyes is abominable before god Euen so it is of your workes not commanded by god how honest or shining that euer they be in the sight of of man for verily God wilbe pleased with no workes of mans innentioun but with the workes commanded by him selfe And the same should be done in faith according to his will and not ours for the which we are commanded and should daylie praye Thy will o heauenly father be fulfilled not ours What better works cā mā doe thē the works cōmāded by god as praiers almes deedes fastings and keeping of holy dayes and others as ye may reade Esay the first Chap. The which god by the mouth of the prophet calleth abomination And Christ called prophecying preaching casting forth of Deuils miracles wonders and signes and many other great and excellent vertues done in his name The workes of iniquitie and the doers of them the workers of iniquitie saying passe away from me all yee which are workers of iniquitie for not all which say vnto mee Lord lord shall enter in the kingdome of heauen But they which doo the will of my Father whiche is in Heauen These workes are contemned by god for no other cause but that they ar wrought by the wicked without faith or mixt with the article of iustificatiō thinking therethrough to be made iust or to be a part of their owne iustification And therefore cannot please God but greatly displease him because the good worke is conuerted into sinne through the iniquitie of man Neuerthelesse they appeare in the sight of man to be most excellent good and should haue a great reward after the iudgement of man but yee see here what rewarde god giueth them And seing the workes commaunded by God to be done are so displeasant in his sight wrought by the wicked without faith What shalbe of your workes which are not commanded by God nor haue no authoritie in his Scriptures but inuented by your selues of your good zeale and intention to make your selues iust by them hauing no respect to faith but to the working of them of the selfe deed yea verily expresse contrarie the scripture and plaine Idolatrie Neuerthelesse he that doth them yee make iust and he that doth them not yee condemne Is this any other thing but to make the death of Christ in vaine and to be iustifiers of your selues for seing the iustice which is of value before God is not of the deedes of the law how can it be of your deeds Therefore Christ wil say vnto you Passe from me all ye workers of iniquitie I know you not Notwithstanding in other places of the scripture yee shall finde the same workes greatly commended by God where they are done by the iust man as the fruites of faith reward promised to the workers of them So they confesse them vnprofitable Seruantes when they haue done all that they can For Christ saide to his Disciples when yee haue done all whiche is commanded you to doe then say wee are vnprofitable seruantes Wee haue done that which wee were bounde to doe And if they which fulfill all the commandements of god are compted or repute by him vnprofitable seruants what haue wee to glorie in which fulfill not one of his commandements Now I pray you lay this text to your assertion if thou wilt enter into life keep the commandements and ye shal thinke shame of your sayings insomuch as yee would impung the article of iustification there with and mixt workes with faith to the making of a wicked man iust Now I trust it be sufficiently prouen by authority of the scripture as is before rehearsed at length to the satisfactiō of a Christian and godly man that works are excluded forth of this article of iustificatiō haue no participatiō therewith but follow faith as the due fruites therof that all glorie may redound to god howbeit the wicked hypocrits and iustifiers of thē selues will neuer be satisfied by any authoritie of the scripture for they cannot nor will not be content with god nor his word but euer impung the same to establish their owne authoritie and glorie And therfore are neuer at rest
nor quietnes in their conscience with God because they reiect the mercy grace and peace of god the which ar the substāce of the estate of a christiā wherein the iust liueth by faith ar so necessary that they should euer be blowen in at the eares of the faithful by the ministers of the word Therefore where euer the Apost S. P. writed or preached howbeit there was no question of the law nor workes thereof hee neuer pretermitted in the beginning of his Ep. as the other Apost in like maner vsed to certifie the Christian congregation of the substance of this article saluting thē with grace and peace which is asmuch to say as the mercy of god by the which ye are made iust and accepted as righteous in the fauour of god the Father through faith in Iesus Christ our only Lord and Sauiour Rest quietnesse in your cōscience I desire to be with you and remaine with you continually that thereby ye may worke the fruites of faith by charitie or loue in righteousnes to the glorie of god and profite of your neighbour through Iesus Christ by whome we haue this mercy and grace and entres to the father and the same grace the which grace is giuē to vs by god in Iesus Christ that no fleshe should reioyce in his sight who hath giuen him selfe for our sinnes that he might deliuer vs out of this presēt wicked worlde according to the will of god the father according to the riches of his mercy the which hee hath aboundantly shed forth vpon vs by whose mercy we are made safe He hath called vs by his holy vocation not according to oure workes but according to his purpose and mercy the which hee hath giuen to vs by Iesus Christ. And S. Peter saith blessed bee god the father of our lord Iesus christ who according to his great mercy hath begotten vs of newe into a liuely hope by the rysing of our Lorde Iesus Christ from the death Therefore if wee bee borne and gotten of new by mercy It is not of workes nor of our deseruinges but freely giuen vs by the grace and mercy of God through faith in Iesu Christ. Nor we haue no righteousnesse of the law nor workes as is before clearely proued by the scriptures at length And the same S. P. testifieth in his owne body to bee true who wrought many excellét works of the law Neuertheles he reputeth all but filthines that he may winne Christ and be found in him not hauing his owne iustice or righteousnes which is of the law but that iustice which is of the faith of Iesu christ And seing the holy Ap. the chosen vessell of god might not obteine righteousnes in the law nor works but in the mercy of God through faith in the pretious bloud of Iesu Christ Alace what blindnes is in vs wicked and miserable sinners which will euer glory cry good works which we neuer do and will haue them mixt with this article of iustificatiō In so much that Christ after our iudgement is not sufficient to saue vs and make vs iust howbeit it be the cause wherfore he was made man for vs only Therefore let vs cōclude with the Ap. and the holy scripturs that by faith only in christ we ar made iust without the law workes thereof And after mā be made iust by faith and possesseth Christ in his hart knowing perfitely him to be his iustice and his life thē shall he not be idle but euē as the good tree shal bring forth good fruite because a man truely beleeuing hath the holy spirite and where he is hee suffereth not man to bee idle but doth moue and prouoke him to all godly exercises of good workes as the loue of god patience in troubles and afflictions calling vpō the name of god thankesgiuing to the forthshowing of charity and loue vnto all This is the order of a Christians life and the substance of good workes as hereafter followeth and as we haue also touched some thing in the beginning concerning the trouble and patience thereof THE XXII CHAP. 1 What workes should Christians doe 2 The life of man is a perpetuall battell 3 What is the law of the members and what the law of the spirite 4 What sacrifice we should offer to god what is required that our sacrifice be acceptable 5 Who followeth Christ who goeth before him who is equall with him BEcause good workes are the fruites of faith and necessarie must follow the same and proceede of the iustified man as the good fruits of the good tree without the whiche no Christian man may gette witnessing of his faith Therefore after the forthsetting of the article of iustification should euer mention be made of good workes and all faithfull taught to doe the same The which methode S. P. vseth in all his ep but specially in the Epist. to the Romans and Galath For being iustified by faith we are at peace with God by our Lord Iesus Christ. But then hastely riseth the battel and strife with the world and persecution because all which wil liue godly in Christ Iesus shal suffer persecution Then shalt thou begin to reioyce of thy trouble knowing surely that thou art the sonne of God because he chasteneth all sonnes whom he loueth This affliction whether it be in spirit or body bringeth pacience to thee which is the proufe of thy faith Then conceaue thou hope whose office is to confort thee that thou bee not ouercomme in thy affliction so then faith and hope being ioyned together the loue fauour and grace of god are by his holy spirite shed abroade in our hartes by the which we as valiant knightes passe to a new battell against the deuill the world and the fleshe of whome wee obteine victorie by faith and suffer not sinne to rule ouer vs. This methode to good workes teacheth the Apost Rom. the .5 and 6. Chapter exhorting vs that as wee of before gaue oure members to bee weapons of vnrighteousnes vnto sinne to the death that now wee being iustified by faith giue to god our members weapons and armour of righteousnesse vnto life For the rewarde of sinne is death but the grace of god is eternall life by our lord Iesu christ Then let vs surely beleeue hee who hath begunne the good worke in vs which is god shall performe the same to the daye of our Lord Iesus Christ. And so to begin good works is not to suffer sinne to rule in this mortall body that we obeye not the lustes concupiscence of the same The whole life of man is but a battell vpon the earth And who soeuer will pas fordward in the seruice of god hee must prepare him for tentation and trouble This battell S. P. had and as a knight of great experience taught vs the same how he fand a law in his mēbers repungning
thereby the strentgh of the flesh somewhat is dantoned and ceaseth to rebell against the spirite And beginneth to seeke god who is a peculiar Father to the faithfull deliuering them from all tribulations Not for their worthynesse but for his own mercie Worldly tribulations are the signe and token of gods loue albeit the wicked and vnfaithfull iudge otherwise which in tyme of tribulation runne from God seeking help at man which is but vaine whereof they being frustrate and deceaued fall in desperation The sommary of the fourth Chapter THe faithfull thanke god in tribulation and albeit our wicked nature teacheth vs to flye from God as did our first parent Adam after his transgression Yet faith in Iesus Christ leadeth vs to the throne of our Fathers grace where we finde goodnes mercy iustice giuen to vs freely by Iesus Christ as they were giuen to Adam Who albeit fled from god yet he moued of loue toward his own handywork followed him and albeit Adam at the voice of god repented not but obstinately excused his sinne yet god made to him the promisse of saluation before hee pronounced his wrath cōtrary sinne which of his righteous iudgement hee must punish And so Adam wrought nothing which might moue god to make this promisse more then hee wrought that of dust and clay hee should be made a liuing Creature to the Image and similitude of god And to Abraham being an Idolater was made the promisse hee should be the father of many nations which hee merite not to whiche promisse Abraham giuing credite was reakoned iust by the which it is plaine that the mercy of god and not our workes is the cause that hee calleth vs by his worde whereto wee giuing credite are reakoned iust all our deseruinges or merites being excluded The Sommarie of the 5. Chapter ADam expelled forth of paradise had no consolation except in the blessed seede promissed By whom hee beleeued him to stande in gods fauour for all bodily consolation which hee had of his two Sonnes was turned in dolour when Cain killed Abell In the which dolour Adam many yeares remained will God hauing compassion vpō him gaue him another sonne named Seth of whome descended the blessed seede For this sonne Adam gaue thankes vnto god taking all afflictions in patience knowing him worthie of greater punishmēt by whose example we should patiently with thankesgiuing vnto god suffer all tribulatiō For none descending of Adā by naturall propagatiō are iuster then hee was after his fall which all his life suffered trouble hauing no confort but that he should ouercome all worldly calamitie yea and also the slightes of Sathan which had deceaued him by the blessed seede promissed And this same should be our confort in all tribulations The sommarie of the 6. Chap. BY bodily afflictions our faith is tryed as gold by the fire They are also a communion with the passions of Iesus Christ. And therefore in them haue we matter and cause to reioyce considering we suffer without cause committed contrarie man Notwithstāding the wicked persecute the faithfull in all ages as if they had beene mischieuous or euill doers as may be seene in the persecution of the prophets Apost of Iesus Christ him self The cause hereof is the neglecting of gods word and taking from faith her due office whereof riseth all dishouring of god for none may or can honour god except the iustified man And albeit in diuerse men there be diuerse opinions of iustification yet they alone in whome the holy spirit worketh true faith which neuer wanteth good workes are iust before god The substance of iustification is to cleaue fast vnto god by Iesus christ and not by our selfe nor yet by our workes And this Article of iustification should be holden in recent memorie because without the knowledge thereof no workes are pleasant before God The sommarie of the seuinth Chap. AS by perswasion of Sathan Adam and Eue seeking wisedome contrarie Gods commandemēt were deceaued and fell in extreame miserie So they seeking iustification otherwise then teach the Scriptures remaine vnder the wrath of god for faith alone reconciliateth man to god which the Lawe whose office is onely to vtter sinne and trouble the conscience as it did to Adam after his transgression may not doe Therefore who list to resist Sathan let him cleaue to faith for it is the onely shield which his dartes may not pearse The sommary of the eight chapter CAin a wicked hipocrit killed his brother Abell For no other cause but that his brothers sacrifice pleased god because it was offered into faith And the posteritie of Cain pursued perpetually them which depēded vpon the blessed seede while god was compelled to drown the whole world 8. persons being reserued amongst whom yet was keept the seed of Sathan in the third sonne of Noe Cham. From the dayes of Noe to Abraham this article of iustification altogether was obscured Idolatry spredding ouer all The cause thereof was they followed the external works of the holy fathers in sacrifice but had no respect to faith without the which all sacrifices ar Idolatrie The sommarie of the ninth Chapter GOd of his mercy prouiding that his Church should not perish altogether renewed to Abraham the promisse of the blessed seede made to Adam whereto Abraham giuing credit is without his workes reakoned iust But shortly after begā sathā newly to pursue the iust by his mēbers stirring vp Ismaell against Isaac Esau against Iacob but the iust at the end shall preuaile as hath done Iesus Christ whose brethrē we ar by reason he is very man of the seed of Adam And also because in him wee are adopted and made the sonnes of god The fleshly mā is euer deceaued iudging the wicked to bee the chosen as Abraham beleeued Ismaell And Isaac beleeued Esau to haue beene their heires But faith iudged righteously which caused Rebecca to labour with diligence that Iacob the youngest sonne should be blessed by his father The sommary of the 10. Chap. THe Iewes hauing a carnall opiniō of the seede promissed that their Messias should rule temporally as did Dauid refused Iesus Christ appearing simple poore But the cause which moued Sathā to stirre vp his members against Christ was that hee plainly taught that by faith without all workes man is reakoned iust For the wicked thinking to make their foolishe workes a part of their iustificatiō may neuer suffer them to bee damned And the true Preacher can neuer but exclude them from the iustification of man as did the prophetes Iesus Christ him selfe and his Apostles for which they suffered death leauing to vs a sure testimonie for confirmation of this article which after Christs death was plainly preached The sommarie of the 11. Chapter SAthan perceauing his crafts wherewith hee deceaued mankinde discouered and his head troden downe by the death of Christ cled him in a new arrayement And finding them whiche should haue truely preached idle perswaded man to inuent new
whome god gaue consolation saying there is in thy bosom conceaued two sundry nations two people shalbe deuided of thy belly That is thou knowes not which of them is the seede of the promesse the yongest haue I chosen to whome the eldest shall serue This is conforme to the sayinges of S. Paule Rom. the 9. Chap. But trust well she vnderstoode spiritually by faith that Iacob was the promised seede when shee procured and laboured so diligently that he should get the blessing of his father defrauded the eldest Esaw This was not knowē to Isaac for he wold not only that Esawe should succeede to the heritage but to haue gottē the blessing also which Iacob obtained by perswasion of his mother Neuerthelesse Esaw remained with the heritage in his fathers house and ceased not still to pursue Iacob who at last was compelled to fly for feare of his life And so euer the seede of the serpent pursues the chosing conforme to this beginning Let Abell dye and Cain liue But finally the seede of Iacob succeeded to the land of promission And inioyed the heritage Howbeit they were long troubled and afflicted in Egipt THE X. CHAP. 1 The wrong opinion of the Iewes of the promised seede 2 Wherin the vngodly place iustification 3 Sathan moues his members against the true professours of faith 4 Ieremie the Prophet of God resisted the whole Ecclesiasticall power of the Iewes 5 The head of the serpent troden downe by the death of Iesus Christ. 6 The article of iustification preached after the death of Christ. YE shall vnderstande that the Iewes had a fleshly opiniō of this promised seede for they vnderstood that the Messias which was promised to them should rule temporaly as Dauid did and establish his realme in great quietnes rest withal pleasure voluptuousnes as yee may vnderstand by the desire of the mother of the Sons of Zebedee Her Sons being with Christ and his Apostles were of the same opinion as testified the aunsweare of Christ saying to them yee knowe not what ye aske But the spirituall knowledge which the Fathers had was farre different therefrom Who vnderstoode in the spirit that the realme of Christ was spirituall and not temporall to the which they were led by faith By this yee shall vnderstande not only that the fleshely iudgement is deceaued in knowledge of this seede but also of the persecution of Sathan Euer perswading the wicked and vngodly which are his seede to persecute the womans seede of the promisse That is the chosen who according to the promisse of God obtaine victorie by faith in the bloud of Christ. For Sathan intending to destroye this article of iustification may not suffer the preaching thereof that is That by grace through faith and not of our owne rightuousnesse and workes We ar made safe please God are receaued into fauour with him and accepted as righteous and iust not of our merites or deseruinges but through the merits of Christ Iesu our Sauiour By the cōtrary the wicked trusts in their owne strength and merites And will haue their good works inuented by them selfe without the commandement of god a part of their saluation And who will not authorise the same they persecute of deadly hatred and must needes dye as Abell did So let Abell dye and Cain liue that is our law sayeth the vngodly In the Church of the Iewes our saide aduersarie ceased not to impung this article and perswade the wicked to persecute the godly and kill the prophets for preaching the same for defence of the which Ieremie the Prophet resisted the hole Ecclesiastical power authoritie of the Church of the Iewes that is the multitude of the wicked being a few number of the chosen that assisted to him as yee may reade Ieremie the 26 Chap. Not the les afterward hee was stoned to death for the same cause which is the reward of mā that is which mā giueth for the true preaching of this article So let Abell dye and Cain liue Finally the persecution of sathan our aduersary perswaded the death of christ his Apostles and martyres and their true successours all for this article But euer Christ got victorie and triumphed by his word only In so much as he got victorie of the deuill hell and death of the lawe sinne the world and the fleshe through his death and resurrection So by faith in his bloud al the Prophets Apostles martyres confessors with their bloud haue watered the Church and haue left a sure testimonie to vs for confirmation of this article that in the bloud of christ and not in their owne bloud workes or deedes they are made safe and haue gotten the realme of heauen conquest and purchased to them by Christ and not by them selfes nor their merites The which confession is the cause that the godly ar euer persecuted by the wicked So let Abell dye and Cain liue that is our lawe THE XI CHAP. 1 How sathan hath deceaued the worlde after Christ and wherewith he hath cled him 2 An euident argument showing them which this daye are called bishoppes to be the church malignant 3 An exhortation to them which enter in the church by the Popes authoritie aend of his power to make bishops 4 Wherein the wicked Iewes gloried and wherein the Pope his kingdome NOw our aduersary perceauing by the death of Christ that the promise made in Paradise was fulfilled and his head troaden down that is his power strēgth by the sheding of the bloud of Christ this article of iustificatiō laid so abroad the church of christ is so strongly edged with the same that all his imaginatiōs with the which he deceaued mankind had no place to peruert the perfite faith Then inuented he a new maner of habite which hee founde in the same church amongst the slouthfull ministers whome by processe of time seeing them idle not occupied in the reading teaching and preaching of the scriptures hee prouoked to inuent workes of their own conceite And also to abuse the holy sacramentes and good workes of God with vaine superstitions the which they call good workes And by this meanes he hath so drawen them from faith that they knowe not what the same is nor what Christ is but as it were a Theefe hanged vpon a gallous or gibbit innocētly or like another maner of prophane history of Hector or of the great Alexander And therefore hath prouoked them to pursue this Article more cruelly then euer it was pursued from the beginning of the worde Them selfes by worde confessinge the same with their mouth reading singing and of their maner dayly teaching and preaching the same And yet neuerthelesse dayly burning killing banishing the true faithful preachers of the said article confessours therof And so euer shall Abell dye and Cain liue that is our lawe say they Our said aduersarie that he should not be perceaued hath transformed him selfe in to an Angell of light
That is in forme of holynes He hath entred in the church in wonderfull subteltie for hee hath cled him with the most honest and shining works inuented this day by mens wit or reason Yea with the same works commanded also by God and by them maintaineth defended him selfe wholy yea verylie he had cled him with the blessed sacramēt of the body and bloud of christ for hee can well disguise him in workes with pride vaine glorie hipocrisie diffidēce dispaire Idle faith as to beleeue the historie onely presumption of the owne merites c. But in perfite faith which is the groundstone of this article of iustification he can neuer enter Therefore vnder colour of holines he hath caused and dayly causeth the prelates of the Church as they call them who should of their vocation haue to the shedding of their bloud defended this Article pursue the same most cruelly with all tormentes inuented by mans wit vnder the false pretence of good workes hauing no respect to faith And so shall Abell dye and Cain liue Ye shall vnderstand that the oft repeating of the death of Abell and the life of Cain is no vaine storie nor purpose but the true similitude of the Church of christ which first watered with the bloud of Abel remaineth example to this houre and shal to the seconde cōming of Christ to the latter iudgemēt In the which two persons is set forth to vs the perfite knowledge of the Church which consistes in the godly and vngodly And euer the perfite and iust Churche is pursued with the wicked neuer pursueth by which the disciples and seruauntes of Christ are knowen as testifie the holy scriptures I exhort you which are aduersaries to this article of iustification consider with your selfe if euer ye red the history in canonical scriptures or prophane histories that euer the true and perfite church frō the beginning of the world to this houre persecuted any but euer was persecuted and the godly glad thereof Herefore the forme order of this tyrannicall persecutiō vsed this day by them hauing the ecclesiasticall power in their handes against the faithfull professours of this article I iudge to be of the deuill and may say truely to them as Christ saide to the Scribes Pharisies all the bloud which is shed from the bloud of Zacha. whome they slew betwene the altare the temple shall come vpon these cruell tirantes which impunge this Article and slaye the faithfull professours thereof Against these sayings the aduersaries of faith and veritie crye The canon Lawe the aucthoritie of the Church the long consuetude the examples of the Fathers the Bishop of Romes aucthoritie the generall Counsels Heresie Heresie So there is no remeady but let Abel dye and Cain liue that is our lawe My hartes yee which haue entered in the Church of Christ by the bishoppe of Romes law and aucthoritie with his faire bulles your shauen crounes smaring you with oyle or chreame and cloathing you with all Ceremonies commanded in your law If yee thinke you therethrough the successours of the Apostles and Fathers of the church ye are greatly deceaued for that is but a politike successiō or ceremonial The successiō of the Church is farre otherwyse the which requireth you to haue knowledge in the scriptures of God to preache and teache the same with the other qualities cōditions cōteined in the scriptures as hereafter shalbe showē in the speciall vocations of the which if ye be expert and your vocation lawefull according to the worde of god doubtles ye are the successors of the apostles haue the same auctority they had committed to them by Christ. And if ye want the saide conditions and qualities Yee are but reauing wolfes clede with shepe skinnes what authoritie that euer the bishop of Rome giue you For it is no more in his power to make a Bishop of him which can not preache nor hath the knowledge to rule the flocke committed to his care according to the word of god then it is in his power to make an asse to speake or bee man or yet cause a blinde man to see Therefore I pray you learne the scriptures that ye may walke in your vocation right for of your succession yee haue no more matter to glorie then the Iewes had to glorie against Christ calling them the sonnes of Abraham whom he called the Sonnes of the deuill They gloried in the carnall succession and ye glory in the politike or Ceremoniall succession And all is one thing God sende you knowledge and vnderstāding of his worde that yee may cease from your tyrannie and the true faithfull may liue in rest and quietnes THE XII CHAP. 1 The diuision of iustice in generall with the definition of euery part thereof 2 The cause that no man is iust by the law 3 Scriptures and examples prouing all me except Iesus Christ to be sinners LEt vs passe forewarde in the discussing of this Article of iustification for knowledge of the which necessarie it is to showe what iustice is of man what of the lawe either of God or man which being shortly discussed wee shall the more easily come to the knowledge of our christiā iustificatio which is a thing farre aboue all law either of god or man for it is the iustice by the which a wicked man is made iust through faith in the bloud of Iesus Christ without the works of the lawe because of the deedes of the law no flesh shalbe made iust before god as the apostle saith This is asmuch to say as because no man fulfilleth the law nor doth the deedes and workes of the same in the pure and cleane estate as the lawe required them to bee done according to the puritie of the same Therfore the law can pronunce none iust before god This worde iustice or rightuousnesse generally by the philosophers is takē cōmonly for the obedience and outwarde honesty according to all vertues of morall maners the which a man may doo and performe of his owne power and strēgth This is called an vniuersall or general Iustice after the philosophicall definition the same S. Pau. called the righttuousnesse of the law or workes because the Transgressours of this iustice are punished as wicked and vnrighteous For whome the Lawe is made and ordinate as Saint Paule sayeth 1. Timoth. the first Chap. for the iust needeth no law These morall maners and discipline is the most excellent rayment or habite wherewith man may bee cled Neuerthelesse they can not make a man iust before God nor is not the Iustice which we speak of here in this treatise The Politike or Ciuill Iustice is the obediēce which euery Subiect and Inferiour estate of mā giueth to their prince and Superiour in all the worlde The which proceedeth of the lawe of nature and is a good worke without the which obedience to the punishmēt of the wicked and defence of the
whē we cast frō vs all our wisedome righteousnesse holines and redemption and receaue them frō Christ who is made to vs by god our wisdome iustice holynesse and redemption And confesse vs to haue nothing of our selues but euill and all our goodnes to be from god as S. Iames saith in his Ep. the 1. Ch. This our crosse is no other thing but the troubles and afflictions both spirituall corporall that we haue in this presēt life the which are the probatiōs exercises of our faith whereby the same is tryed searched by our heauenly father to our weale And testifie vs to be the sonnes of god and not bastardes And therefore we should gladly accept the same with thankes giuing from the bottome of our hart thinking them to come to vs for the best and that we are the beloued of god So accepting them And then in the greatest troubles and afflictions raise vp our hartes with faith hope beleeuing surely our good god to be so faithfull and true that he wil not suffer vs to be ouercome or confoūded tēpted aboue that we be able but will euen giue the issue with the tentatiō that we may bee able to beare it because our weak and fragill nature is knowē to him He will haue cōpassion vpō vs for Christs sake by whome wee are reconciliate to his fauour So let vs not go astray but follow Christs footesteppes That is to suffer all thinges patiently and thinke that we haue deserued more for our sinnes Also remembring that Christ our sauiour hath suffered ten thousand times more for vs. On this maner we followe Christs footsteppes who hath borne our sinnes in his body vpon the crosse that being dead frō sinne we shuld liue in righteousnes My harts ye which are aduersaries to the article of iustificatiō learn to read the scripturs with effect to the perfite vnderstanding thereof and thē ye shal obteine knowledge to begin to do good workes in faith pleasant and acceptable to god Since we haue made mention of three kinde of personnes that is of them which goe before Christ of them which goe astray from Christ and of them which follow Christs footesteppes It is necessarie to let them bee knowen by them selues that the true and faithfull may be knowē by their deedes They which confide in their owne workes merites and deseruings thinking therethrough to obteine the kingdome of heauen and satisfie for their owne sinnes Not onely for them selues but also of the superaboundāce of their merits for others of the which they make marchādise These are they which goe before Christ and are called Antichristes or contrarie to Christ because they vsurpe his office and wilbe Iustifiers of them selues and others They which thinke faith not sufficient to iustifie without workes but will haue their own good deedes ioyned to helpe Christ in their iustification These are they which go astray frō Christ wilbe equall with him in their owne iustification for none of these hath Christ suffered death Therefore hee shall abstract frō these two kindes his wisedome righteousnes holines and redemption and shall suffer them to contend with the law in the latter iudgement whose workes being accused and the puritie and cleanes required according to the perfection of the lawe all their noble workes and deedes of good zeale and intention shalbee found abomination in the sight of God how excellent or shining that euer they be before men to whome it shalbe said Passe your waye from mee ye workers of iniquitie Lucifer was throwen downe out of the heauen because hee would haue made him equall with god Adam forth of paradise becaus he pretēded to know more then was giuen him in commandemēt to know c. The Pharisie of whom Christ maketh mention pretended no other thinge but a great rewarde for his good workes The same thing pretende all they which impūg this article of iustificatiō for will ye compare their sayings and doinges it is the same selfe thing but of another arrayemēt Neuertheles they are as like as a egge is like another And so they are not of Christes little flocke which hee hath chosen and follow him The thrid kind of personnes are they which putte all their trust hope and confidence in Christe take his crosse vpon their backes and dayly followe Christ in his footsteppes neither declining to the right hande nor to the left that is grounded in faith euer working by charitie absteining frō euill and doing good works in the which they put no confidence but thinke when they haue done all whiche is commanded them to doo neuertheles they think them selues but vnprofitable seruants they lay their sinns vpō Christes backe and follow him by faith ascribing all their wisedome iustice holynesse and redemption to Christ and nothing to them selues nor their merites because they are sinners and through the dregges of sinne left in them of the old corrupted man their workes are not perfite according to the perfection which the law requireth Therefore they may not stande in iudgement with them of their owne power and strēgth but beleeue the same workes through faith in Christ to bee accepted as obedience to the lawe and through Christs merites made perfite These are they to whome it shalbee saide Come vnto mee yee blessed of my Father and possesse the Kingdome of Heauen prepared vnto you from the beginning of the Worlde Against the whiche the Lawe hath no place to accuse nor condemne their workes of any imperfection because they are Christs workes made by him perfite through faith in his bloud THE XXIII CHAP. 1 What the reason of man perswadeth to be done in the matter of religion 2 Argumentes against good zeale and good intention 3 The papisticall church this day is worse thē the externall church of the Iewes in the dayes of the Prophets Christ. 4 What fruite bringeth the good zeale of man THe blinde reason witte and vnderstanding of man which is but the desires and appetites of the fleshly man is the cause why wee misknowe the good and perfite order to doe good workes taught vs in the scriptures neglecting the worde of god following our own will which teacheth vs good zeale and good intention This our reason affirmeth good and thinketh that God shall approue the same according to our desire whiche is but flesh I meane of the whole man and all that is in him But the spirit and word of god teacheth vs to walke in the spirite not to performe the desires and lustes of the fleshe For the flesh euer contendeth against the spirite and the spirite against the flesh Therefore we are commanded to fight valiantly against the desires of the fleshe and to absteine from the lustes and appetites thereof and to followe the will of God which is to walke in the spirite and clothe vs with Christe Iesus This order the Apostle teacheth Galath
1. Ep. the 5. Chap. exhorteth you to feed the flocke of Christ cōmitted to your charge Euen as Christ said to him thrise feede my sheep So sayeth he to you feede the flocke cōmitted to you euery one within his boundes according to your vocation This foode is the word of god and wo be to you which doe not the same because it is your vocation For the Apost saith Wo be to me if I preach not the Euangel c. for the neglecting of this good work vndone yee shalbe accused before god but not for the neglecting of the other vaine superstitious workes inuented by man but rather yee wilbe accused for the doing of them And it wilbe said vnto you Wherefore haue yee left the command of god vndone for your statuts and traditions Yee should teache euerie estate of man how they should behaue them in their conuersation The poore to the rich the riche to the poore the seruaunt to the maister and the maister to his seruaund And giue your selues forth for an example in deed to be followed as yee are teached by the Apost and play not the tyrant or the lord vpon the inferiour ministers and estates of the Church But from the bottome of your harte bee as it were a forme or rule to the flocke as S. Pet. teached you in the first Epistle the 5. Chap. Labour continually in your vocation as the good knights of Christ being ready if neede require to suffer death for the flocke resisting the vnfaithfull and eshewing prophane and worldly triffles as yee are taught by the Apost If ye will attend vpon these workes which are good taught and commanded you to doe as the fruits of faith ye should finde your selues so wel occupyed in the scripture that there shalbe no place found to your vaine superstitions aboue written which are not commanded by God nor his word For in the vsing of them ye do that which is not commanded you and leaue that vndone which is cōmaunded For this cause god suffereth you to be contemned and cast off because ye haue left him he hath left you and will punish you after the same maner as ye haue sinned For the cōtempt of god neglecting of his worde Hely the chiefe Priest was deposed and all his posteritie of the priesthood His sonnes killed in battell the arke of god put in the handes of his ennemies And the people also heauely tormented as testifieth the historie The holy King Dauid for the slaughter of Vrias and adultery of Bath-sheba the sonne of his owne body defiled his daughter The one sonne slew the other and also defiled his wiues and concubins in publike presence of the people and vsurped the crowne of his realme as yee may read the second booke of the kings the 13.15.16 and 18. Chapter This example of Dauid perteineth aswell to you as to princes and to all estates of the world that they may learne not to sinne And if they fall in sinne that they dispaire not but turne to repentance and come vnto god whose will is that all bee safe and come to the knowledge of the veritie THE XXVII CHAP. 1 The office of the fathers to the sonnes Housholders to their families and of Husbandes to their wifes 2 What kinde of men were chosen to bee bishops in the primatiue Church IF thou bee an housholder rule and guide thy familie and houshold bring vp thy childern in all godlynesse and honestie exercising thy selfe in thy occupation faithfully and truely without deceate or fraude to thy neighbour either in word or deede loue thy wife euen as Christ hath loued the Church For thou art debt bounde to loue thy wife euen as thy owne body There is no man which hated or detested his own body but nourisheth feedeth the same as Christ the Church for we are members of his body of his flesh and his bones for that cause man shall leaue father and mother and cleaue vnto his wife they shalbe two in one flesh And in like maner thou womā be subiect to thy husband as if it were to the lord for the man is thy head euen as Christ is the head of the congregation And as the church is subiect to christ euē so be thou subiect to thy husband in all lawfull things This is your vocatiō in the which ye should walke according to the commandement giuen to you by the Ap. Ephes. the 5. Chap. and Colos. the third In these wordes Let euery man loue his wife as himself And let the woman feare and dread the husband this is the commandement of god If ye mē and women wold take care vpon your vocation how honourable the estate of the same is and what yee ought euery one vnto another there were none of you who would commit adulterie or defile your owne bodies nor defraude one another of their duety and right For thou man hast not power of thy owne body but the woman Nor thou woman hast not power of thy owne bodie but the mā Therefore there is neither of you that should giue your bodies to other mē or womē nor abstract one from another that mutuall loue which yee are commāded to haue together This doing ye exercise the good work of god Be not outrageous nor thraward vpon the woman but teach her with meekenes and sweetnesse forbearing her somewhat as the weakest vessell And thou woman pretend no dominion vpon thy Husbande but obey him as thy lord taking example of the obedience of that noble woman Sarai If ye wold keep this order and rule in your own vocation there would be no strife betwixt you but all godlines and loue No mā would cōtemne or disdaine his wife nor no woman her husband but euery one loue other as their own body take care one for another in all things Thou mā should dayly hourely exercise the according to thy vocatiō And labour diligently for sustentation of thy wife children familie That thou mayst minister vnto them their necessaries for if a man take no thought of his owne and specially of his houshold and familie hee hath denyed the faith and is worse thē an infidele Suffer not thy children nor seruants to be idle but se euer that they bee occupied in some good vertueous occupatiō For that is the right way to keep them from vice and sinne because idlenes is the beginning of all euill Teach thē the law of god vse all things with discretion and prouoke not your childrē to anger but bring them vp in good teaching discipline and correction in the erudition of the Lorde Giue vnto your seruants that thing which is iust and right What yee promisse paye them knowing well that ye haue a Lord in heauen And thou womā exercise thee in nourishing and vp bringing of thy children in ruling all thinges within thy house as thou hast cōmandement of thy husband take
Luc. vltio Act. 1. Act. 2. Io. 14.15 16. Gene. 6. Psal. 103. * That is giue credit to the doctrine which Iesus the sonne of God hath teached Io. 14. * That is thogh my father wer present no other workes should he work then I haue wroght in your presence nor yet other doctrine should he teach to you nor I haue done * Math. 11 Io. 4. Psal. 62. * That is thou alone are sufficient to saue thogh all men be enemyes Ro. 8. Psal. 62. Rom. 1. Malach. 3. Exod. 3. Exod. 3. Psal. 17.30 70. 1. Pet 5. Psal. 61. 143. Iaco. 1. * Note well Ier. 31. Prou. 3. Heb. 12. Apo. 3. Psal. 118 Esa. 26. 28. Ezech. 18. * Quhat Gop requires of vs in time of tribulation Psal. 49. Roma 5. Psal. 59.61 108. Nahu 1. Nu. 14. Gene. 3. * Skinne coates were the signe and remembrance of their mortalitie Gene. 11. 12. Iosu. 24. Io. 14. Gene. 3. * All pleasure of earthly thinges turnes and ends in sorrow Gene. 4. Marke well * This victorie fall we obtein in the generall resurrectiō for then both body and soule shalbe glorified 1. Pet. v. Act. 14. Luc. 24. Io. 15. Io. 7. Math. 27. Mar. 2. Luc 5. 3. Reg. 18. Iero. 20.21.25.26 27. Psal. 90. * Wherby man is made iust Rousa. 1. 1. Pet. 3. Io. 4. 1. Io. 5. Eph. 6. 1. Pet. 5. The persecution tion of Sathan * That is Sathan after he perceaued the woman doubt of the faith and verity of Gods word durst affirme the contrarie saying though ye eate of the tree ye shall not die wherto the woman giuing credit transgressed Gods command and so to doubt of Gods promis is rute of all wickidnesse Gen. 3 Rom. 3. The office of the law Gene. 3. 1. Pata 29 1. Pet. 2. Heb. 13. 1. Io. 3. * Cain gloried hee was the first begotten thought therefore he wes acceptable But Abel knew him self a sinnar seeking for Gods fauor by that promesed seed alone Gene. 4. Gene. 9 The wicked florish in earth Gene. 4. Gene. 3. Mark dilligentlie 〈◊〉 12 Gene 21. Io. 4. Gen. 15. 〈◊〉 5. Eph. 6. The seede of the serpent and the seede of the woman Io. 7. Math. 27. Mar. 2. Luc 5. 3. Reg. 18. Iero. 20.21.25.26 27. Psal. 90. As he would say sufficient haue I receaued of thy mercy in that thou hast giuē to me a sonne of whom I am content Gen. 17 Gen. 21 Gen. 25. Gene. 27. Math. 20. Mar. 10. Note wel Where may Sathan enter and rule * Which shalbe separate when the Lord shal send forth his angels in his haruest Note wel Luc. 11. The voyces of the wicked 1. Tim. 3. Tit. ◠Note wel Io. ◠The entres to the article of iustification Rom 3. Galath 2. The cause that no man is iust by the law Iustice in general Rom. 13. What is to be iust before man The thinges which should be eschewed in keeping Ceremonies Deut. 10. Math. 22. Mar. 12. Math. 56. 7. * That is by originall sinne all man is becomme blind and is fallen from that Image of God which was integritie of nature iustice and righteousnes in which mā was first created and now is cled with the contrarie Rom. 3. Gen. 3. Rom. 7. Let euery man iudge if in time of tribulation hee finde not this battel within him self Originall sinne The breaking of the first commandement * The sin of Moys and punishment therof Exod. 34. Exod. 33. Io. 6. 15 Iob. vltio 1. Reg. 13. 16. Psal. 124. Augustine concluded all man to haue sinned Marke the wordes of S. Bernard Psal. 139. Note Sacrifice for our sinnes Esay 5 3. Heb. 9. Galath 3. 4. Ephe. 1. Tit. 2. Apo. 5. The obiections of the wicked The nature of the wicked Rom. 2. Note wel Iob. 9. Io. 14.16 Whome to the scriptures are difficil Gene. 1. 2. * The cause why God gaue the law to man What it is to obey God Eccle. 15. All creatures of god were perfite in their first creation Ro. 3. 7. Rom. 4. * Why mā may not fulfill the lawe Rom. 7. 8. * Men may work outwarde workes of the law The opinion of Philosophers 1 Argumente against Sophistes 2 Argument Rom. 3. Rom. 3. Esa. 53. 1. Pet. 2. 1. Io. 3. The iustice of a christian men hath diuers names An apt similitude Rom. 1. Galath 2. What is to liue in faith Heb. 2. The definition of faith Ier. 23. 33. Esa. 4. 45. Ezech. 34. The faith of the fathers before the incarnation of Christ. Act. 15. Marke the wordes of S. Peter Rom. ◠Heb. 2. Gen. 3. 1. Reg. 19. * The man is first iust before the workes be good The purpose of Paule in his Epist. to Rom. Galath Galath 2. The office of Iesu Christ is to pacifie the wrath of God which our workes may not doo Cor. 6. 1. Io. 5. Psal. 5. Psal. 30. Psal. 43. Psal. 70. Psal. 4. Psal. 7. Psal. 142. The holy ghost is neuer cōtrarie to himselfe Why iustice is ascribed to man The faith of Iesus Christ what wee receaue thereby Math. 9. Io. 11. Rom. 10. 3. Reg. 8. 2. Par. 6. 1. Io. 1. Eccle. 7. * The law is a mirrour Rom. 2. Galath 3. 1. Cor. 1. Iere. 9. Note Esa. 42. 48. Ephe. ◠* That is remission of sinnes were not freely giuen Galath 3. Ehe 1. The wrath of God against sinne Heb. 9. Heb. 10. 1. Io. ◠Rom. 6. Io. 8. Heb. 6. The heresie of the Nouatiās Io 1. 1. Io. 2. The false opinion of Sophistes Note What is glorie Rom. 4. Gene. 15. Rom. 4. Galath 3. Heb. 2. Wherfore God loueth vs. Ezech. 18. 33. Ephe. 2. 1. Cor. 4. To bee crucified with Christ. Act. 17. Psal. 99. Esa. 45. Iere. 18. Rom. 9. * The office of the branche Who remaineth in Christ. Wherfore the Law nor sathan may not cōdemne the works of the faithfull 1 Cor. 1. 2. Cor. 10. Iere. 9. Rom. 8. Rom. 6. The conclusion of Paule That is he beleeued the promis of god albeit the same appeared impossible to nature or manlie power Gene. 15. Rom. 4. Circumcision after Iustification Rom. 4. Gen. 21. The obedience constancie of Abrahā Gen. 21. Gen. 22. No man liuing wickedly is called iust Grace Ephe. 2. Veritie * The office of the lawe Luc. 5. Io 1. Io. 3. Io. 5. * The Law rightly considered compelleth us to seek christ Io. 8. Io. 5. Math. 1◠Act. 4. Galath 3. * The fruites which we haue of Christ. * Who spoyleth Christ of his glorie Mat. 7. Rom. 14. Mat. 12. Diuerse kingdoms What we haue of our owne nature Eph. 2. 1. Pet. 1. The Captaines of the kingdome of Christ. The Captaines of the kingdome of Sathan Rom. 6. * The right kingly way The answere to the question why we shuld worke good workes 2. Cor. 5. * Note the minde of S. Iames in his Epist. * Marke diligently