in bondage ¶ Agaynste dyuers vices of menne Capitu. 35. THey are wythoute excuse in as muche as when they knewe God they gloryfyed hym not as God neyther were thankefull but waxed full of vanytyes in theyr ymagynations and theyr foolysâ—e heartes were blynded Wherefore God likewise gaue theÌ„ vp vnto their harts lustes vnto vnclennes to defile theyr owne bodyes betwene them selues And as it semed not good vnto them to be knowen of God euen so god deliuered them vp vnto a lewd minde that they should do the thinges whiche were not comlye beinge full of al vnrighteous doinge of fornication wickednesse coueteousnes maliciousnes full of enuy murther debate disceite euyll condicioned whisperers backebyters haters of God doers of wronge proude bosters bringers vp of euyll thinges disobediente to father and mother without vnderstanding couenaunt breakers vnlouinge truce breakers and merciles Which men though they knew the righteousnes of God howe that they which suche thinges committe are worthye of death yet not onelye do the same but also haue pleasure in them that do them We haue already proued how that both Iewes and gentiles are al vnder synne as it is written There is non righteous no not one there is none that vnderstandeth there is non that sekeeth after God they all are gone oute of the waye they are all made vnprofitable there is none that doth good no not one Their throte is an open sepulchre with their tounges they haue disceaued the poysonne of Aspes is vnder their lippes Whose mouthes are full of cursinge and bitternes Theyr fete ar swifte to shed bloude Destruction and wretchednes are in their wayes And the way of peace thei haue notknowen Ther is no feare of God before their eies Yf anye that is called a brother amonge you be a fornicator or couetuous or a worshipper of ydols eyther a rayler eyther a dronckarde or an extortioner with him that is such see that ye eate not Put awaye from you that euyll person Be not deceiued for neither fornicatoures neâ—ther worshippers of ydols neither who remongers nether weaklynges neither abusers of them selues with the mankynde neyther theues neither the couetuous neyther dronâ—kards neither cursed speakers neither rauishers shal inherit the kingdome of God Let vs not iuste after euyl things as they lusted Neither let vs commit fornication as some of them committed fornication and wer destroied in one day 33. thousande Neither let vs tempt Christ as some of them tempted and were destroyed of serpentes Neither murmure ye as some of theÌ„ murmureâ— and were destroyed of the destroyer All thynges happened vnto them for ensamples and wâ—re written to put vs in remembraunce whome the endes of the worlde are come vpon Be angrye but synne not let not the sunne goo doune vpon your anger neyther geue place vnto the deuyll And greue not the holye spirite of God by whome ye are sealed vnto the daye of redemption Let all bitternes fearcenes and wrath roringe and cursed speakinge be put awaye fromâ— you wyth all malicyousenesse Some there are whiche preache Christe of ennye and strife and somâ— of good wyl The other part of louâ— because they see that I am set to defende the gospell Some other preacheth Christ of strife and not purely supposinge to adde more aduersitye to my bondes But nowe put ye also awaye from you all thinges wrath fearcenes maliciousenes cursed speakinge filtâ—ye speakinge out of your mouthes lye not one to an other And vnderstande this how that the lawe is not geuen vnto a righteous man but vnto the vnrighteous and disobediente to the vngodlye and to synners to vnholy and vncleane to murtherers of fathers and mothers to mansâ—ears and whoremongers to them that defyle them selues with mankinde mensâ—elers to lyars and to periured and so foorth if ther be any other thinge that is contrarye to holesome doctrine accordinge to the gospel of the glory of the blessed godâ— which is committed vnto me The spirit speaketh euideÌ„tly that in the later tymes some shall departe frome the fayth and shall geue hede vnto spirites of erroureâ— and deuilish docâ—rine of them whiche speake false thorowe ypocrisye and haue theyr consciencâ—s marked with a hote yron forbyddinge to mary and commaundinge to abstayn from meates which God hath created to be receiuâ—d with geuinge thankes of them which beleue and knowe the truth For al the creatures of God arâ— good and nothing is to be refused if it be receaued with thanks geuing For it is sanctifiâ—d by the worde of God and praier This vnderstand that in y â— last daies shal come parilous tymes for the meÌ„ shall be louers of their owne selues coueteous lusters proud cursed speakers disobediente to father and mother vnthankfull vnholye vnkynde truce breakers stubburne false accusers riâ—tous fearce despisâ—rs of them whiche are good traytours heddy hye minded greedye vppon voluptiousnes more then the louers of God hauinge a similitude of godly liuing but haue denyed the power thereof and suche abhorre Of this sorte are they whiche enter in to houses and bringe in to bondage women loden with sinne whiche women are ledde with diuers luâ—tes euer learninge and neuer able too come vntoo the knowledge of the truth Unto the pure are all thynges pure but vnto them that are defiled and vnbeleuinge is nothinge pure but euen the verye myndes and conscyences of them are defyled They confesse that they knowe God but wyth the deedes they denye him and are abhomynable and disobedient and vnto all good woorkes dyscommendable ¶ An exhortation to dyuers vertues and to the actes of the same Capitu 36. GEue not your members as instrumentes of vnrighteousnes vntoo synne but geue youre selues vnto God as they that are all alyue from death Let not sinne haue power ouer you For ye are not vnder the lawe but vnder grace what theÌ„ shal we sinne becâ—use we are vnder not the lawe but vnder grace God forbydde I desyre you to folow me For this cause haue I sente vntoo you Timotheus whâ—ch is my deare sonne and faithfull in the Lord which shal put you in remembraunce of my wayes which I haue in Christe euen as I teach euery wher in al coÌ„gregations For though ye haue ten thousand instructors in Christ yet haue ye not many fathers For in Christ Iesu I haue be gotten you thorow the gospell I write not these things to shame you but as my beloued sons I warn you This I saye brethen the time is shorte it remayneth that they which haue wyues be as though they had non and they that wepe vs asthough they wept not and they that reioyceâ— be as thoughe they reioysed notâ— and they that bye be as though they possessed not they that vse this world be as though thei vsed it not For the fashion of this worlde goeth away I would haue you without care Watche ye stand fast in the faith
Thankes be to God whiche hathe geuen vs victorye through our Lord Iesus Christ. For it is God whiche sâ—ablished vs and you in Christe and hath anointed vs which hath also sealed vs and hath geuen the earnest of the spyrite in our harâ—es Yf ye be Chrstes then are ye Abraham sede and heyres by promes Because ye are the sonnes of God God sente the spirite of his sonne in to youre hartes whiche crieth Abba faâ—her Wherefore now thou art not a seruaunte but a sonne if thou be the sonne thou art also the heire of God through Christ. As manye are ledde by the spirite of God they are the sons of god For ye haue not receaued the spyrite of bondage to feare anye more but ye haue receiued the spirit of adoption where by we crye Abba father The same spirite cerâ—ifieth our spirit that we are the sons of god Yf we be the sonnes we are also heiâ—rs the â—eiers I meane of God and heiers annexed with Christe if so be that we suffer together that we maye be gloryfied together Therefore brethren we are after the nature of Isaac children of promes But as thou he that was borne carnallye persecuted hym that was borne spiritually Euen so it is now Neuerthelesse what sayeth the scripture put awaye the bonde woman and her sonne For the sonne of the bonde woman shal not be heier with the sonne of the free woman So then brethren we are not children of the bonde woman but of the free woman ¶ Of the exellencye of the supernall graces graunted vnto the faythfull of Christe newlye in the primytiue churche Capitu. 43. BLessed be God the father of our Lorde Iesus Christe whiche hath blessed vs with all maner of spirituall blessinges in heauenlye thinges by Chriâ—te to the prayse of the glory of his grace wherewith he hathe made vs accepted in the beloued by whome we haue redempcion throughe his bloudde euen the forgeuenesse of synnes accordinge toâ— the riches of his grace In whom alâ—o ye after that ye hearde the worde of truthe I meane the Gospell of youre saluation where in ye beleued were sealed with the holye spirite of promes whiche is the earnest of our inheritaunce to redeme the purchased possession and that to the laâ—d of his glorye But God whiche is riche in mercy thorowe his greate loue wherewith he loued vs euen when we wer dead by synne hath quickened vs together in Christ for by grace are ye saued and hathe raysed vppe together and made vs sytte together in heauenlye thynges thorowe Christe Iesus for to shewe in tyme too come the exceadinge riches of his grace in kindenes to vs wardâ— in Christe Iesu. Nowe therefore ye are no more straungers and â—oriners but citysins with saints and of the hosholde of God and are bâ—ilte vpon the foundation of the Apostles prophets Iesu Christ being the head corner stone in whom euery buildinge coupled together groweth vnto an holye temple in the Lorde in whome ye also are builte together and made an habitation for God in the spirit Uâ—to euery one of vs is geuen grace accordinge to the measure of the gift of Christe Wherfore he saieth He is gone vp an hye and hath ledde captiuitye captiue and hath geuen giftes vnto menne And the verye same made some Apostles some prophets some EuaÌ„gelistes some Shepeherds and some Teachers That the saints mighte haue all thinges necessary to worke and minister with all to the edifyinge of the bodye of Christe tyll we euerye one in the vnitye of faith and knowledge of the sonne of God growe vp vnto a perfecte man after the measure of age of the fulnesse of Christe Ye were an ensample to all that beleue For youre fayeth whiche ye haue to God sprede her selfe abroade in all quarters so greatelye that it nedeth not vs to speake anye thynge at all For they them selues shew of you what manner of entringe in we had vnto you and how ye turned to God frome ydols for to serue the liuinge and true God and for to looke for his sonne frome heauen whome he raysed frome death I meane Iesus which deliuereth vs from wrath to come For this cause thanks we God with oute ceasinge because that when ye receaued of vs the worde wherewith God was preached ye receiued it not as the worde of manne but euen as it was in deede the woorde of God which worketh in you that beleue The grace of oure Lord was more abundant with fayth and loue which is in Christ Iesu. God saued vs and called vs with an holy callynge not accordinge to oure deddes but accordinge too hys own purpose and grace which grace was geuen throughe Christ Iesu before the worlde was but is now declared openlye by the appearinge of oure sauioure Iesus Christe whiche hathe put awaye death and hath broughte life and immortalitye vnto light through the gospell wherunto I am appointed a preacher and Apostell and a teacher of the gentiles For the whyche cause I also suffer theese thinges Neuerthelesse I am not ashamed For Christ gaue him selfe for vs to redeme vs frome all vnrighteousnesse and to pourge vs a peculiar people vnto him selfe feruently geuen vnto good workes For we our selues also wer in times paste vnwise disobediente deceiued in daunger and geuen to lustes and diuers manners of voluptiousnes liuing in malitiousnes and enuy full of hate hatynge one an other But after that the kindenesse and loue of oure sauioure to man warde appeared not of the dedes of righteousnes which we wroughte but of his mercye he saued vs by the fountayne of the new byrth of the holy ghost whiche he shedde on vs aboundantly thorowe Iesus Christ our sauioure that we once iustifyed by his grace shulde be heyreâ— of eâ—â—râ—alâ— lyâ—e thorowe hope We haue an altare wherâ—of they maye not â—ate whiche serue in the tabernacle For the bodyes of thâ—se beasts whose bloud is broughâ— in to the holye place by the pryest to pourge sâ—nne are burnt wâ—â—hout the tenâ—â—s Therfore Iesus to sanctifye the people with his ownâ— bloud sufferâ—d wâ—â—hout the gaâ—e ¶ Of predestination and the â—oreknowledge of God Capitâ— 44. WE knowe that all thynges work for the best vnto them that loue God whiche are called of purposâ— For those which he knewe beâ—orâ— he also ordayned before that they shuld be like fashâ—oned vnto the shape of his sonne that â—e mighte be the firâ—t begotten sonne amonge manye brethren Moreouer whiche â—e predestinated and appoâ—nted before them also he called And whâ—â—he he called them also he â—ustâ—â—â—ed which â—e iustâ—fâ—ed them he also â—lorâ—â—â—ed What shall we then saye 〈◊〉 these thâ—nges Yf God be on oure â—â—de who can be againste vs which â—paâ—ed not hiâ— owne sonne but gaâ—â—â—im fâ—r vs all how shall he not with him geue vs al things also who shall lay any thinge to the charge of Gods chosen It is God that
one mediator betwâ—ne God and maÌ„ which is the man Christ Iesu which gaue him self a raunsome for all men that it shuld be testified at his time wher vnto I am orâ—aynâ—d a preacher and an Apostle I tell the truth in Christ and lye not beinge the teacher of the gentyles in faith and veritye ¶ Of diuers misteries of Christ that is of his incarnation naâ—â—uiâ—y humility pouertyâ— passion resurrection apparition ascention and glorification And also of the effectes of his saluâ—iferous passion Capitu. 47. BUt hym that was made lesse then the Aungels we see that it was Iesus which is crouned with gloryâ— and honoure for the sufferinge of death that he by the grace of God shoulde taste oâ— deathe for all men For it became him for whome are all thinges after that he hadde broughte manye sonnes vnto glory that he should make the Lord of their saluation perfecte thorowe oâ—fering For he that sanctifâ—eth and thei whiche sanctified are al of one For whiche causes sake he is not a shamed to call them brethren sayinge I wyll declare thy name vnto my brethren and in the myds of the congregation wil I praise the. And againe I wyll put my truste in him And againe behold hear am I and the children whiche god hath geuen me For as much then as the children were partakers of fleshe and bloude he also him selfe likewise toke part with them For to put doun thorow death him that had Lordeship ouer death that is to say the deuil and that he mighte deliuer them which thorowe feare of death were all theyr lyfe tyme in daunger of bondage For he in no place â—aketh on hym the Aungels but the â—eede of Abraham taketh he on him Wherefore in all thinges it became him to be made lyke vntoo his breethren that he mighte be mercyfull and a faithfull hye prieste in thinges concerninge God for to pourge the peoples sinnes But Christe beinge an hye prieste of good thinges too come came by a greater a more perfecte tabernacle not made with hands y â— is to say not of this maner building nether by the bloud of gotes and calues but by his owne bloudde he entred in ones for all in to the holye place and founde etternall redeÌ„ption For if the bloud of oxen and of goetes and the ashes of an heyfer when it was sprincled purified the vncleane as touchynge the purifyingâ— of the flesh how much more shall the bloude of Christ whithorowe the eternall spirite offered him self without spot to god pourge your consciences from deade workes for to serue the lyuing God And for this cause is he the mediator of the new Tâ—stamente that thorow death whiche chaunced for the redemption of those transgrâ—ssourâ—s that were in the firste Testamente they whiche were called might receaue the promes of eternall inheritaunce For whersoeuer is a TestameÌ„t ther must be also the death oâ— him that maketh y e Testament for the testameÌ„t taketh auctoritye when men are deade For it is of no value as longe as he that made it is alyue For which cause also neither that firste Testamente was ordayned withoute bloude For when all the commaundements wer redde of Moses to all the people he toke the bloud of calues and of gotes with water and purple wull and ysope and sprinckeled both the boke and al the people sayinge this is the bloud of the Testament whyche God hathe appoynteâ— vnto you Moreouer he sprinckled the tabernacle with bloude also and all the ministringe â—essels And also almost all thinges are by the lawe pourged with bloud â—nd withoute sheddinge of bloude is no remission It is then neede that the similitudes of heauenlye thinges be purifyed with suche thinges but the heâ—uâ—nly thingâ—s them selues are puryâ—ied with beâ—ter sacriâ—yces then are those For Châ—iste is not entred in to the holye places that are made with handes whiche are but simiâ—â—â—udes of true thinges but is entâ—red in to verye heauen foâ— too appeare nowâ— in the sighte of God for vs not to offer him â—elâ—e often as the â—ygh prieâ—â— entreth in to the â—olye place euâ—rye year with â—traunge bloud foâ— then muâ—te bee haue oâ—ten suffered sence the worldâ— began But nowe in the ende of the worlde hath â—e appeared once to put lyâ—ne to â—lighte by the offeringe vâ— of him selfe And as it is appoinâ—ed vnto men that theâ— shall once dye and then commeth the iudgemente euen so Christe was ones offered to take away the sinnes of manye and vnto them that looke for him shall â—e appear again withoute synne vnto saluation There is then no dampnation too them which are in Christ Iesu whiche walke not after the â—leshe For God â—â—nte his sonne in the simylitude of synâ—ull fleâ—he and by synne dampned synne in the â—â—â—he c. I deliuâ—red vnto you tâ—at which I reaceaued howe that Christe dyed for our sinnes agreeâ—ge to the scriptures And that he was â—uriâ—d and that he rose agayne the thyrâ—â—ay accordinge too the â—criptures and that he was seene of Cephas then of the twelue After that he was sâ—ene of more then fyue hundred breâ—thren at once of whiche manye remayne vnto this daye and manye are fallen a sleâ—pe After thaâ— he appeared too Iames then to all the Apostels And laste of all he was seene of me as of one that was borne out of due â—yme Thereâ—ore remember that â—esus Christe beinge of the seede of Daâ—id rose agayne frome deathe accordinge to my gospell wherein I suffâ—r trouble as an euyl doar but the woâ—d of God is not bounde But when the â—â—me was fâ—ll come God sent his son borne of a woman and made bond vnâ—o the law that to redeme theÌ„ which were vnder y e law that we thorowe election mighte receaue the inâ—erytaunce that belongeth vnto the naturall sonnes Ye know the liberality of our Lord Iesus Christ which though he were rich yet for your sakes became poore that ye thorow his pouerâ—ye might be made riche Whether the fâ—re runner is for vs entred in I mean Iesus that is made an hye priest for euer after the order of Melchisedeâ—h That he ascended what meaneth it but that he also dâ—sâ—ended first in too the lowest parâ—â—es of the earthe He that descended is euen the same also that ascended vppe euen aboue all heauens to fulfyll all things The whiche beinge in the shape of God thoughte it no robberye to be equall wyth God Neuerthelesse he made him selfe of no reputation and toke on him the shape of a seruaunt and became like vnto men and was founde in his apparell as a man He humbled him selfe and became obedient vnto the deathe euen the death of the crosse Wherfore God hath â—xalted him and geuen him a name aboue all names that in the name of Iesus shoulde euery knee â—owe both of thinges in heauen and thinges in earth and thinges vnder the earth and that all tonges shoulde confesse that Iesus