v. Gala. v. The workes of the fleshe be opeÌ„ adulterie whore huntynge vncleanlynes vncleanes of liuinge Idolatry impoisoning or sorcery hatred chidiges brauilinges desire of glori strife sectes enui murder druÌ„cknes vnmesurable eatiÌ„g and drinkyng wherof I shew vnto you that they whiche do committe suche shall not possesse the kyngdome of god ☞ What thynkest thou of the diuision of actual synnes whyche olde writers vsed that is inwarde actual synne and outwarde ¶ This diuisyoÌ„ is not so ieopardouse If thou saye some actual synnes be inwarde lyke as affectyoÌ„s and thoughtes be whych maye be called venyall in them whyche resyste wyth fayeth and therefore be as yet reputed iuste Some be outwarde as euell doinges and sayeinges wherin they whyche falle be destitute of grace nor be no more reputed iust Yet shalte thou knowe that as well inwarde as outwarde synnes be mortall in them whyche lacke fayeth nor dooe not resiste suche euel motyons For because they lacke fayth they haue no remission of synnes Therfore in such can no veniall synnes be ☞ What sayest thou of the synnes of omission and wylful ignoraunce ☞ They be also mortall synnes For thys same wylfull ignorauÌ„ce is agaynst conscience as if a man wil not knowe the gospell or wyl not perceiue his dewtye or doetâ— it negligently Such be the faiâ—tes of manye men nowe a dayes whych dispyse to here and knowe the gospell althoughe they knowe that this is commaunded of god heare hym Suche lyke was the ignoraunce of the Iewes whiche dyd persecute Christe Euen so is the Idolatrye of the Gentyles deadly synne ☞ What is to be required in them which be conuerted ☞ That they maye repaire to haue a cleare conscience and thei beinge sory for their sinnes shalt not contynewe in them whyche they iudg in them selfe to haue coÌ„mitted agaynst the wyl of God As it is writteÌ„ I wyl not the death of a sinner but rather that he be conuerted And againe if I shall saye vnto the vngodly thou shalt dye and if it shal repente hym of his sinnes and if he do iudgemeÌ„t and iustice he shall liue And yet let theÌ„ knowe in the meane tyme the saied obedience whiche they perfourme not to be perfect And therfore in the iudgemente of god let them not trust in the dignitie or worthines of their workes but let theim beleue the person to be accepted for Christes sake Then let theÌ„ obserue this which Paul saith Make not sorye the holye spirite of God wherwyth we bee marked vnto the daye of redemption that is let vs not cast away the benifite of Christe and so perishe Of Grace ¶ What signifyeth thys worde Gratia THis word gratia in scripturs especially in Paull wheÌ„ he disputeth of iustyfication signifyeth not a quality or state which is poured into the soule as the Papistes do teach of gratia and abuse the worde for charitie or loue whyche is in vs But it muste be taken incomparyng wyth an other and it signyfyeth the vndeserued receyuynge into fauoure or reconsiliation of God towarde vs. ¶ What is Gratia then ¶ Gratia properly is remissioÌ„ of synnes and reconcilyng or reputyng of righteousnes or acceptacion or allowaunce of the person whych is by mercye for Christes sake vndeserued with the whych allowaunce the gyfte of the holye gost is conioyned whereby oure hertes in repentaunce bee lyfted vp wyth fayth and receyue comforth wherby newe motions are created and agreable vnto the lawe of god ☞ Howe shall thys be vnderstanded when it is sared we be iustifyed by grace ☞ It must not be vnderstanded as the papistes do Imagine that it shoulde signyfy that we purchase remissioÌ„ of synnes or be iustifyed for anye state or qualitye whyche is in vs that is to saye for oure loue or newe obedyence for that is the verye waye to opresse the doctrye of fayeth and to take awaye Christe our mediator But it must be so vnderstanded that we obtayne remissyon of synnes or rekeninge to be iustifyed when god accepteth vs without any of our deseruinges bi his mercy for an other thynge whyche is wtout vs. that is to saye for Christes sake And yet is it to be knowen that the giuyng of the holy gost is conioyned with remissioÌ„ of sins that is to saye when we be lyfted vp wyth fayeth whyche maketh in vs the performed obedience Therfore in the stryuynge of our conscience when it seketh for remissioÌ„ of sinnes disputeth of the wil of god toward it we ought not to haue respect vnto our qualities or our own worthines but we muste beholde the promisse of Christe accordig vnto that shal we iudge of the wyll of god towarde vs we shall receyue the self mediator by fayeth Thys done the holye goste is giuen which bringeth coÌ„forte taketh effect that new motioÌ„s be created Therfore both these seÌ„tences must be hold both the newe motioÌ„s ought to be made in vs bi the holigost and that oure conscience neuer the lesse oughte to haue respecte without our selfe to be iustified bi him that is to say that we haue remission of synnes and be accepted vnto euerlastynge lyfe ☞ Whiche be the causes of grace ☞ The efficient cause is the wil of God which would that Christ shoulde be a sacrifice for vs for his sake to be merciful vnto vs. Therefore onlye the merite of Christe is the cause for the whiche grace is gyuen ☞ Howe chaunceth grace vnto vs. ☞ The instrumeÌ„t all cause is the preaching of the gospell and mynistringe of the sacramentes For god wyl be effectual by hys word if so be we receyue it in fayth For our wyl muste come therto also which mai receiue the word For he wyl not take effecte in theÌ„ which do resyst and in theÌ„ whych obteyne not grace in heareynge the worde the cause is their owne wyl whych resysteth the word So then obteyne we grace when by the worde or promysse declared and set forth in the gospell oure hertes conceyue comforth and ouercome feare and lifte vp theym selfe wyth fayeth vndoubtedly iudgyng that they haue remission of synnes and are accounted to bee iustifyed accordinge vnto the promisse for Christes sake Therefore sayeth Paule Galath iii. that we shoulde take the promission in spirite by fayeth that is when we affraied for the iudgemente of God dooe lyfte vp oure selfe with fayth whiche leaneth vpon the promesse of Christ Here are fantastical and mad spirites to be condempned as the Anabaptistes whyche looke to be lightened by the holy goost without the worde of God Also they whyche do imagyne the holy gost to rune before the word and wheÌ„ they perceyue that they haue those new lightninges they faine that they wil beleue Also disputatioÌ„s of predestination are to be casten awaye here For lyke as the doctrine of repentauÌ„ce which rebuketh sin is vniuersal ther is an vniuersal commaundement of Christ euen so is the promysse of the Gospell vniuersal commauÌ„ding that we shal al
the powers of man agaynst the lawe of God ☞ Whiche be the effectes of synne ¶ Effectes be the punishment of sinne But ther be .iii. degrees The first punishmente is the very corruption of nature whereof we haue spoken that is to saye concupiscence whych afterwardes engendereth all actuall synnes wherefore they be also motions of the corruption of nature The seconde punyshemente is deathe and all wrechednes of mankinde The thyrd is tirranny of the deuell to whome mannes nature is subiected whyche laboureth boeth to destroye men wyth bodely eueles and prouoketh them to all kynde of synne to Idolatrye the despite of God heresyes ▪ vniust man slaughter curssed lustes and other mischiefe ¶ Remayneth not original synne in holy mē Or how is original syn forgeuē in baptisme ¶ When it is sayd that original sinne is forgiuen in the sacramēt of Baptysme it muste not be so vnderstanded that no vicious thyng remayneth after baptisme whyche is worthy damnacyon But so is to be vnderstāded that in baptisme the giltines is forgyuen that is to say it is not reputed for synne althoughe corruption or concupiscence remayne as yet in nature whych remayneth also in holy men and is a thynge by it owne nature worthy damnation but it is not reputed or ascribed for Christes sake when we receyue hym wyth fayth Therfore the formality of synne that is to say the reputyng or accusation of it is taken awaye in baptisme in thē whych be sāctifyed but the naturall cause that is the very affection an corruption of nature remayneth as yet in nature and yet when the holy goste is gyuen vnto them whyche haue fayeth they conceyue newe and godly motions whereby the euel is somthynge mitygate After the same maner teacheth vs Saynte Austen of the remission of origynall synne in baptysme when he sayeth Synne is forgyuen not to the intente that it shal remaine no more but that it shal not be ascribed or laied vnto our charge Item Synne passeth awaye as concernyng accusation but it remayneth in acte ☞ Wherefore remaineth punishement that is to saye bodely death and other miseries seinge synne is forgyuen ¶ Because syn or corruption remayneth in nature therefore remayneth death also as it is sayed Rom. viii The body is mortifyed for synne that is to saye beynge presente and remaynynge as yet in nature For thys corruption must vtterli be abolyshed that afterwarde we maye be clothed wyth a new and perfecte nature But the corruptyon of thys nature can not be abolished and put awaye but by death ☞ What is actual synne It is euerye motion euerye thought euerye worde and dede againste the lawe of GOD and wythoute doubte what so euer is done without fayth Or more briefelye Actuall synne is the fruites of nature corrupted lyke as euell motyons bee thoughtes wordes and deades done agaynst gods lawe But we muste intertayne boeth the personne and the worcke together for althoughe the vngodlye haue honest worckes yet neuertheles because the persons be viciouse the workes be not acceptable to god What maketh the personne viciouse ¶ Infydelity to doubte of God to lacke feare and truste in God For althoughe Pomponius and Cicero where excellente men I put the case that they had a certain knowledg of the law that is to say that God is rightuouse good c. Yet they do not know Gospell that God remytteth syn wythout oure deseruinges And therefore in greate aduersytyes troubles they iudge their selfe to be reiected of God Wherefore seynge they haue euell effections inwardelye theire external actes be so polluted accordynge vnto thys of Paulle what so euer is not of fayeth it is synne Romaynes .xiiii. The stoutnes of mynde in Achilles was an excellēt vertue and the verye gyfte of God but it is by chaūce viciouse that is to saye by the personne whyche is euel whyche doubteth whether God haue respect of men or no. Also he lacketh the feare trust of God ☞ What Maketh the personne acceptable vnto God ¶ Fayeth For if fayeth be ioyned wyth vertuous liuyng and good workes the person is acceptable vnto God ☞ How many kindes of affections be in the nature of man ¶ Two some do playnelye resiste the lawe of God to desire the gooddes or the wyfe of an other man to be sorye that other men haue the benifites of God to dystruste in god to hate God to desire prayse whiche is not dewe to exalt ones selfe aboue other men to be angry with the iudgemente of god These mocions be properly the fruit of originall syn And they be manifestely euell viciouse and to be reiected oute of mannes nature ¶ There be other affections whych do not resyste the lawe of god as for a mā to loue his wyfe his chyldren and frendes Also to be angry wyth vices If anye mā go about to take these affections frō nature he destroieth motyon and lyfe And although they be defyled also by original synne yet of them selfe they be not euell or vicyouse but they must be keped in nature and we muste laboure to make them more pure and cleane ☞ Howe be sinnes knowen ⧠By the preachynge of the law Rom. vii By the lawe is synne knowen For I should not know that cōcupiscence were sin vnles the lawe sayed Thou shalte not carnally desire ☞ What iudgest thou of mortal synne and veniall synne ☞ Mortall sinne that is to saye whiche is worthy death euerlastynge is not onlye a certayne action but it is the euell whyche is infixed in nature whyche is called original synne Thys motion condempneth the vnbeleuynge and vngodlye accordynge vnto this saiyng Iohn .iii. He that beleueth not he is alredi iuged But thys affection is forgyuen them whyche receyue remission of synnes by fayth according vnto that Rom. viii No condempnation is now vnto thē which be in christ ☞ From whence come veniall sinnes then The originall synne is not idle but it engendereth vicyouse desires and lustes euen in holy men accordynge vnto thys sayeinge The fleshe lusteth agaynste the spirite But because suche affections be foregyuen them whyche be godly they be made veniall For the godlye doeth not allowe those affections but doeth resyste them Therefore because fayeth is in them whyche dooe resyste yet be they pronownced ryghtuousse neuer the lesse ☞ What is mortall synne ☞ It is a kynde of actyon whych is suche that they whyche do cōmit it fall from the grace of God be no more reputed righteousse and be condempned vnlesse they do amende These actions be called mortal synnes for an example To allowe or do anie thynge agaynste cōscience that is to say vngodli opiniōs misbeleuing not to resist viciouse affections also to cōmit bodily syn agaynste the cōmaūdemēt of god Of thys speaketh Paul .i. Cor. vi Neither whoremūger nor Idolater nor adulterers nor the effeminat nor buggers nor theues nor the defaitfull nor drunkardes nor slaunderers nor robberes nor rauishers shal possesse the kyngdome of God So. Ephese
with fayeth And whē we take cōforth after thys sorte we receyue also vndoubtedly the holy gost whiche stirreth vp our hertes that they begyn to haue newe motions as feare of God faith loue c. ⧠Whiche be the causes of iustification ¶ The fyrst principal is the holy gooste hereunto is an other to be ioyned that is to saye the worde whereby the holy gost doth moue and it taketh effect Thyrdly our wyll when it is moued of the holy gost by the word it ought not to resist but to consent and receyue the word accordinge vnto thys if ye wyll heare his voice harden not your hertes ☞ Doth not our wyll somthinge ¶ When we saye men to be iustifyed not for their deseruinges the merit is wythdrawen from workes that muste not be so taken as our wyl shuld do nothing at all and be as a verye stone or Image But seynge we muste begyn of the worde as I haue sayed mannes wyll doth certainelye somthyng It moued of the holye gost agreeth or consēteth and receyueth the worde and doeth susteyne or vpholde it selfe therewyth for it ought not to caste away or resyst the word Also it must esteme that christ doth vnfainedly keepe hys promyses that is to saye that he wyl gyue vnto them whyche beleue the holye gooste that he wyll take effecte by hys worde ☞ What is the meanynge of thys sayenge we be iustifyed by faith ¶ Thys sentence is dyuersly depraued Some do expounde it wyth fayeth that is to say wyth the whole doctryne of religyon or wyth obseruinge of Christen profession or obedyence of al vertues These doe playnelye depraue the worde fayeth and calle it a knowledge or professyon of doctryne and they speake nothynge of Christe nothynge of truste whych lyfteth vp and comforteth consciences And they stycke only in the doctryne of the lawe Other some all thoughe they be somethynge wyser and graūt that by the worde Fides not onely the knowledge of the hystorye is signyfyed but also truste yet do they imagyne a Sinecdoch to be in thys worde we be iustyfyed by fayeth because it is the mooste excellent vertue and begynneth godlynes therefore maye iustyficatyon be attrybuted vnto it yet not so that other vertues should be excluded frome iustyfycation that is to say loue etc. But these do also erre frome the sentence of Paul and do leane to muche vpon theyr owne quallities they thinke that they be iustified for the dignitye of the or other vertues which must be in holi mē But the true interpretatyon is we be iustifyed by fayeth that is to saye by the truste of mercye for Christes sake be we iustifyed or acceptable before God Therefore this word must be vnderstāded in a comparynge wyth an other We be iustified wyth fayth that is wythout oure deseruinge by mercye be we counted ryghtuouse But thys mercy must be taken with fayth Therefore the mind of Paulle is that we be iustifyed by fayeth that is to saye not for the dignitie of our qualities or vertues or for any thing which is in vs but for an other thinge which is wythout vs that is to saye for Christ be we reputed rightuous ☞ What doth this worde Gratis excepte ¶ It doeth not excepte repentaūce or cōtrition good workes but it excepteth the condicion of our worthynes and it attributeth the cause of the benifite that is to saye of remission of synnes and giuynge of euerlastyng lyfe only vnto mercye ☞ Wherfore is it necessary to make this exception ¶ This doctryne is all together to be referred vnto the very contentyon of the conscience before the iudgement of God nor it can not be vnderstanded vnlesse the mynd be referred vnto the sayed contention or stryuynge For in so greate feares oure conscience hath experience that we cannot set our vertues and merites before the iudgement and wrath of God nor it can not be quyete or ouercome doubting and despare so longe as it seketh it owne vertues and good workes Dauid althoughe he had manye excellente vertues and merites yet cā he not certaynly esteme that he obteyneth remyssyon of synnes for them but all these vertues be oppressed with one synne Therefore to obteyne a quiete conscience and to ouercome feare and desperatyon he is cōpelled to seke the vndeserued mercy nor he can not rest before he obteyne the voyce of the gospel with fayeth that hys synne is forgyuen hym wyth out hys deseruinges Therfore then is thys sentence to be holden that we be iustifyed wythout deseruyng by mercy for Christes sake that the benyfyt may be certayne and that consciences may haue a sure cōforth and that desperatyon maye be ouer come wyth fayth And thys same worde Gratis properly maketh differēce betwen the law the gospell For the lawe hath also promyses but it graunteth not remissiō of sinnes for nought but it requireth the condityon of oure fulfyllynge the lawe or obedience Thys then is the princypall cause wherfore it is necessarye to defende thys excepcion that is to saye that the promysse maye be certayne The seconde cause is that dewe honour be attrybuted vnto christ that is to saye that we esteme verely that we haue the benifytes of the gospel for hys sake that we may learne to vse hym for our medyator For they whych hold not this doctryne do rob Christ of his dew honour nor thei can not take him for theyr mediator ☞ Shew the testimonies of this exceptyon Romay .iii. They be iustifyed frely by thys grace by redemptiō in Iesu christ c. Itē Ga. iiii Therfore by fayth frely etc. Ephe .ii. Through grace be ye saited by fayeth not of your selfe For it is the gyfte of God not by workes Galat. ii knowynge that a mā is not iustifyed by the workes of the lawe but by fayeth in Iesu Christ Ad Titum .iii. Not by the worckes of rightuousnes which we haue done but by hys mercy hath he saued vs. ⧠Is not this proposition true we be iustifyed only by fayth ¶ I answere it is true for it is al one to say we be iustifyed frely for nothyng and to saye we be iustifyed by fayth And the sentence shal be better vnderstande if it be changed into a cōparyson to an other We be iustified only by mercy For it is so much only by faith that is by the truste of mercy only be we pronounced iust But although thys particle alone be not added yet thys propositiō we be iustifyed by fayth is plainly an exception Because to saye wee be iustifyed by fayeth is for the same purpose that is to saye because fayth leaneth onelye vpon mercy not of our dygnytye and it signifyeth trust of mercye onely and it is sette agaynste the trust or confydence of oure owne dignitye and workes Therefore it is a contrary saying to say we be iustifyed wyth fayth and then to imagyne that we be iustyfyed for our worckes or deserue remyssion of synnes and euerlastynge lyfe ☞ I argue
contrary ⧠Thou saydest before that contrition repentaūce were necessarye Therfore fayth alone doth not iustify I answere thys particle alone doeth not excepte repentaunce or contrition nor it is not so to be taken that fayth a lone is in them whych be renewed and no other vertues But it excepteth the cōdition of our worthynes and merites as the cause of recōsiliatiō that is to say that we be reputed iust for none of our workes And the cause of iustifycatiō that is the price of remission of synnes doeth not atribute the merite of euerlastynge lyfe vnto vs but that repentaunce and beginning of new obedyence be in vs yet haue wee not therefore remission of synnes An other argument ☞ We be iustifyed wyth fayeth Fayth is a worke ¶ Therfore be we iustifyed by workes ☞ Here doeth the answere of thē not auayle whiche saye fayeth is the worke of god because loue also and other vertues be the workes of god yet are we not iustified by them The maior is not so to be vnderstanded we be iustyfyed wyth fayeth because it is a worke or qualitye in vs but because it leaneth vpon mercye and receyueth mercy And thys saying we be iustifyed wyth fayeth must be vnderstanded by the waye of a comparison that is to say by mercye be wee pronounced iuste but it must be receiued wyth faith Althoughe then fayeth be a worke or newe qualitye in vs yet be we not iustified bi the worthines therof for this fayth is as yet vnperfect like as other vertues be but wee be iustifyed by that thynge whereupon fayth leaneth and the which fayth receyueth that is to say for Christes sake ☞ If we be not iustified with good workes ☞ What nede we then to do good workes ☞ I answer The benefite of iustification is wholy atributed to Christe nor it hangeth not of our dignitie to the intēt it shuld be certaine And yet newe obedience is necessary as the effect necessarily folowing For whē we receiue remissiō of sines by faieth be rekened iust a renuing is also created wyth in vs whych is the begynnyng of a new and euerlastynge lyfe but the begynninge of the said newe euerlasting lyfe is in deede this saied new obedience Therefore this said new obedyēce is necessary in thē whych be iustifyed ☞ I axe of Paule nowe conuerted or renewed is Paule iustified after his conuersion wyth fayeth only or wyth fayth and workes or new obedience also ¶ I answere He is iustyfyed only by fayeth For althoughe he haue nowe a newe obedyence excellent vertues yet cā he not iudge hys persone to be accepted for those vertues For he perceiueth that the sayed new obediēce begun now in hym doth not satysfy the law nor he can not set vp hys vertues agaynst the iudgment ogod like as his self sayth I know no euell that I haue done yet am I not therfore iustified Therfore it is necessari that he iudge the persō to be acceptable for an other thīg that is to saye for Christe Then after because fayth beginneth vpon mercye iudgeth it self therfore to be accepted before God it cannot be sayed that we be iustified wyth fayeth and worckes togither For it should be a contrary saiyng to put our trust in mercye and in oure owne dignytye also ¶ Of good workes ☞ What is to be holden in the doctriee of workes i. What workes be required ii Howe they be done iii. Whether they satisfye the lawe or no iiii How be they acceptable v. Of the merite and cause of good workes What workes be required and which be Good workes GOd requireth not only out warde workes whyche be a certayne ciuile forme of liuyng and carnall iustice whyche is in hypocrites and the vngodlye For that may mans wyll in a maner performe wythout the holye gost and God requireth it also of thē which be not sanctifyed But he requireth also inwarde motyons of the herte that is to sayethe feare of God trust inuocatiō loue paciēce such lyke accordig vnto this sētēce I wyll geue my lawe in theyr hertes And Christe sayeth vnlesse your righteousnes abound more then the righteousnes of the Scrybes Pharyses ye shall not enter into the kyngdome of heauen Therefore good workes be not onely outwarde workes but also inwarde and spiritual motyons But I cal those onely good workes which be cōmaunded of god be taught in the ten cōmaūdemētes Wherefore when inquiry is made of good workes wee muste haue respect vnto the x. cōmaūdemētes it is to be knowen that only they are to be called good works whych ar taught in the .x. cōmaūdemēts For ther must be a testimony of the word of God what works god requyreth whych be acceptable vnto God But it is not to be iudged that those works do please God whyche haue no testymony of hys word like as the workes of tradiciōs kindes of worshiping of our own electiō be but the scripture doth rather refuse those workes denieth thē to please god as Christ sayth Thei worship me in vayne with mans cōmaūdementes ⧠Saythe regester of good works cōtained in the ten commaundementes Vnto the first belongeth repentāce or feare fayth or trust of mercy promised for Christ loue also obediēce in aduersityes or paciēce Vnto the seconde precepte perteyneth inuocation thankes giuyng acknowledgyng of the doctrine preachyng of the worde of God if thy vocaciō require it Vnto the iii. belōgeth obseruyng of cōmō ceremonies which be ordened of god reuerence towarde the mynysteryng of the word Vnto the fourth the deutyes perteining toward lyuyuge obedience toward parentes diligēce in our vocation Vnto the sixt Chastitie faythfulnes in mariage temperaunce and sobernes Vnto the seuenth iustice in couenauntes and vsynge of oure goods liberalitye almesse dedes Vnto the Eight trueth in al our liuinge to hate dyssemblynge and lyinges Vnto the nyneth and the tenth belongeth resystyng of concupiscence and euel affections ☞ The .ii. question ⧠Howe are good workes done ☞ Here must thys rule fyrst of al bee obserued that it is impossible to fulfyll the lawe wythout fayeth For seynge it is not sufficiēt to accomplyshe external workes or the fantasy of the lawe but inwarde motions of the hertes are required This true obedience can mē not accomplishe withoute fayeth or wythout the vnderstandynge of the Gospel of Christ But by this rule wtout fayth the law is impossible to be vnderstanded two wayes Fyrste of spirituall obedyence as it is sayed For although men fulfil in a maner externall workes yet in the agonye or striuinge of conscience when their hertes perceyue the wrath iudgement of God then doubt thei they fle God they dispaire they loue not God they call not vpon hym therefore they fulfil not true obedience Secondarily it is to be vnderstanded also of acception that is the selfe thyng also whyche man doth wythout fayeth doeth not please God because it is not done in the trust of Christ the mediator For
the deuel Peter monisheth the same Endeuoure your selfe sayeth he that ye make sure your vocation and election ☞ Which is the seconde cause The dignitye of good workes For although in our great infirmitye we ought not to iudge arrogantly of our selfe yet oure vocation is much to be made of and although our vertues and good workes be not pure and cleane inough yet belōg they vnto the glory of christ Therfore their dignitie is great that we shal knowe that they do greatlye please god adourneth them with honorable titles for thei be called sacrifices the is true worshipinges honours wherw t god is delited Christ sayeth the the father is glorified wyth oure good workes Peter fayeth that we be a holi priesthod ordeined to offer spirituall sacrifices acceptable vnto the father by christ Moreouer seinge good dedes and good works be the giftes of the holy gost it wer an vnthākful an vngodlye herte whiche woulde not know the author Also good workes be sacramentes that is to saye tokēs admonishing vs of the wil of god testifiyng the we haue remission of sinnes and other godly benifites according vnto thys ☞ For geue ye and ye shal be forgeuen ☞ Whiche is the third cause ¶ Rewardes as well bodely as spirituall whyche good workes deserue But althoughe euen in this life rewardes are geuen vnto manye yet because the church is subiected vnto the crosse the most speciall and excellent rewardes shal be gyuen after thys lyfe lyke as Christe sayeth youre rewarde is plētiouse in heauē And Paule sayeth godlines hath promises of thys presente lyfe and of the lyfe to come Which is the fourth cause ⧠Exercisinge of fayth for therfore doeth God adde promises vnto the workes that we should exercise oure fayeth by suche occasions we shoulde thinke that therfore we ought to giue almesse because that duetye pleaseth God and we shoulde beleue that God will in lyke maner be benificiall and good vnto vs. Lyke as the exāple of the widowe of Sarepta teacheth vs .iii. Regum .xvii. ☞ Whiche is the fyfte cause ☞ That they whiche gooe delygently aboute to do good workes be holpen of the holye gooste and preserued leste the deuell shoulde drawe and entice them into daingerousse errours vngraciousse mischieffes Therfore christ saith I will not leaue you fatherles This benifit of god cā no mans mouth prayse inoughe For the craftes and wyles of the deuel cā no mans wisdome eschewe without the helpe of the holy gost Therefore let these causes stirre vp and prouoke vs vnto good workes ⧠But what of euel workes Do they hurt vs or no ☞ Yes Fyrste of all they deserue the wrath of god and euerlasting dampnation Secondarely they deforme the Gospel and the glorye of God as he sayeth For youre sake is the name of god euell spokē of amōg the gentiles Thirdlye they haue presente punishmente the tiranny of the deuel which hath the vngodly in his power and doeth driue thē to al kyndes of errours myschefe Ther foloweth also vodely punyshmēte warre and other wrechednes and miseries Moreouer all spirituall exercises be hindered faith is dead in thē which giue thē self vnto vices Finally that whych is most horrible sinnes deserue hardening of the hert sīnes be punished with more mischeuous synnes These causes are diligently to be considered to the entent we should caste out of our hertes fleshly surenes or cōfidēce that we shuld learne to feare the wrath of God stire vp our selfe vnto good workes ▪ ☞ Do good works deserue euerlasting life ☞ I answere Some althoughe they graūt the good workes do not deserue remissiō of sins yet afterwardes they Imagine that good works deserue the euerlasting life in thē which be renued but it is not to be iudged the euerlastīg life is giuē for the clēlines dignity of those works but it is the vndeserued benifit or reward it is giuē bi mercy for Christes sake And the cause is the oure obedience is euer as yet vncleane or it pleaseth not for it owne sake but by Christe doth it please And ther is no man which is so mad or impudēte if he serche hys owne conscience that dare be so bolde as to affirme that his good dedes be worthy euerlastynge lyfe for them So sayeth Paul I am nothyng gilty in my cōscience yet am I not iustified therefore If Paul nowe holy and ful of good worckes denyeth hym selfe to be Iustifyed wyth them he iudgeth muche lesse that they deserue euerlasting life Also Christe sayeth when ye haue done all which be commaūded you saye yet ye be vnprofitable seruātes Rom. x. He hath shyt vp all vnder syn that he myghte be mercifull vnto all Nor we maye not suffer thys to be mocked wyth the subtyll cauillacyons whereby they fayne Sinecdochine that is to say althoughe good works be not the whole meryte yet be they partely and lesse principall merite For so shoulde fayth leane vpon that sayed parciall merite whiche is impossible For it is a contrary saiyng to esteme that we receyue euerlastynge lyfe for nothynge by mercye for Christes sake and then to Imagine that our obedyence deserueth euerlasting life And that same partyall if so be ther were any such yet should it be vtterli shakē of of vs in the battell of conscyence when wee shoulde perceyue oure obedyence not to be suche as it ought to be To be shorte none of our merites can be sette agaynste the iudgemente of god for the lawe dooeth euer accuse vs and condempne vs of synne As Paule sayeth The power of synne is the lawe But thankes be vnto god whych gaue vs the victory by Christ c. Therefore so is it to be iudged althoughe oure obedience be not the merite of euerlasting lyfe nor we are not saued by it but for Christes sake wythout our deseruinges yet it is our deuty which must necessarily folowe and it deserueth rewardes boeth bodelye and gostly which shall be gyuen vs partely in thys lyfe and partely after this life as Christe sayeth Gyue and it shal be gyuen vnto you ☞ Wherefore then is euerlastynge lyfe called a rewarde as it is sayed he shall gyue vnto euerye one accordyng vnto hys workes c ▪ I answere it is a phrase of the lawe whiche descrybeth in what state they shal be to whome euerlastynge lyfe is gyuen and it sayeth that euerlastynge lyfe is gyuen to them whyche be iustifyed For when the lawe speaketh of workes it meaneth the ryghtuousnes or vnrightuousnes of Euerye one So speaketh the lawe as thoughe we had fulfylled the lawe wyth oure obedyence and were so rekened iustyfyed and it promyseth euerlastynge lyfe vnto them whyche be iustifyed But in the meane tyme we must learne in the Gospel that by fayeth frely we receyue imputīg of ryghtuousnes for christes sake that euen so as we oure selfe had fulfilled the lawe Therefore because ryghtuousnes or fulfyllynge of the law is imputed vnto vs therfore is
the worde of grace whyche is preached and confyrmed wyth gostely testimonyes he committeth syn agaynst the holy gost ☞ Is not euerye fal after the trueth be once knowen synne whiche can not be forgyuen ¶ No. For ther be many examples and wytnesses which teach that suche fallynges be forgyuen And euerye persecution of the Gospell is not to be iudged synne vnforgyueable Because Manasses Pauli and other persecuted the worde of god yet purchassed they forgeuenes Wherefore boeth the sentences are to be holden Fyrste that all synnes be forgyuen them whyche beleue because the promysse is vniuersall accordyng vnto thys he hath coÌ„cluded all vnder synne that he myght be merciful vnto all Also i. Iohn .i. He is a sacrifice not only for oure synnes but for the synnes of the whole world Secondarelye thys is also to be holden that ther is a synne whyche can not be forgiuen or a synne vnto death But who committeth that the cannot be forgiueÌ„ it is not oure deutye to iudge it is sufficieÌ„t to iudge of the whych foloweth that ther is no such sin in theÌ„ which come to repeÌ„tauÌ„ce faithe And vnforgiuable sin perteineth only vnto theÌ„ whyche continewe vnto the veri end in infidelity do no repeÌ„tauÌ„ce for thei which do repeÌ„t haue no vnforgiuable sinnes ☞ What is the effecte of repentaunce The effects fruits of repeÌ„tauÌ„ce be together newenes of lyfe and maners For in theÌ„ which be receiued into grace the rightuousnes of good coÌ„scieÌ„ce must folow whereof IhoÌ„ sayth do the worthi workes of repeÌ„tauÌ„ce of the necessitie of this newe obedieÌ„ce haue we entreted ¶ Of faith ☞ What is fayth Faith is not onli a knoledg of the historie of christ but it is the vnfained trust of the hert which ê¯seÌ„teth vnto the promis of the gospel but specially it signifieth the trust of merci promised for christ For altough there be many kyndes of promises diuers purposes wher about fayth is occupyed like as the busines pereles of diuerse meÌ„ be as the busines of Moises of Dauid of Paul be diuers yet this is the pricipal purpos of faith which i al busines is euer the first most speciall that is to say trust of merci wherw t the hert iugeth that it hath remissioÌ„ of siÌ„nes pleaseth god for christ Thys faith must go before giue light in euery inuocacioÌ„ the hert lifted vp ther with desireth loketh for the help of god in al maner of teÌ„tatioÌ„s Againe wtout this fayeth or trust of mercye ther is no inuocatioÌ„ nor no ieoperdies can be ouer come For vnles their be such faith in the hert the mind is oppres led w e doutiÌ„g indignatioÌ„ agaiÌ„st god in the sore striuiÌ„ges of the coÌ„cieÌ„ce ☞ Howe standeth this faith in our herte The holy gost moueth our herts bi the gospel which teacheth the sin is forgeuen vs for christ which was made an offering for vs. So theÌ„ standeth this when we heare this promisse and behold Christe our mediator we beleue for hys sake that we be forgyuen and acceptable before god and to be heard nor we sufferre not thys truste to be shaken of vs. Thys fayeth is the self reuiueing of herte and ouercommeth feares of sinne and death it bryngeth a sure comfort it vpholdeth in al periles it axeth obtaineth things of God ⧠Proue the faith signifieth truste of mercy ☞ In thys tyme also certayne learned men do contende thys worde Fayeth to sygnifye onely the knoweledge of the historye or professioÌ„ of the Articles which may be also in the vngodlye and they denye truste of mercye to be signisyed by thys worde Fides Therefore stronge argumentes must be holde that Fides in thys proposition signifyeth truste of mercy .i. Paule confirmeth the promise and fayth whiche taketh the promesse Rome iiii when he sayth therefore by faith without deseruynge that the promes maye be sure for he meaneth that the promes is of none effecte vnlesse it be taken wyth fayeth Therefore seinge fayth is compared vnto the promesse as to a thinge about whiche fayeth doth exercise hys office it is necessarye Paule to speake of such a fayeth whiche is a conseniynge wherewith we consente and agree vnto to the promis But thys fayeth agreing vnto the promisse is the very truste of mercye not onely the knoweledge of the hostorye For so Galla. iii. saith he that the promisse by fayth maye be gyuen vnto them whyche beleue c. ii Rome v. speaketh he of Abrahamme He doubted not wyth distruste but he was confyrmed in fayth here speaketh he playnelye of faith whych resisteth douting despaire and recouereth the promis For he speaketh manifestly of the trust of the promis He dyd not doubte of the promyse of God by mystruste .iii. Paul speaketh of such a fayth which is not an idle knowledge of the history but which worketh for remissioÌ„ of sinnes he attributeth vnto it liuely causes the is to say that it coÌ„forteth our hertes in feares maketh our coÌ„sciences quiet and ouercoÌ„meth syn death Rom. iiii We iustifyed by faith be pacified IteÌ„ Eph. i. By whoÌ„ we haue truste enterauÌ„ce by iayth Therefore it is necessari that fayth be taken for the trust which coÌ„forteth lifteth vp oure hertes Also Christ whiche saieth vnto the sinfull womaÌ„ thi faieth hath made the safe speaketh surely of such a faith whiche beleueth knowledgeth that hir sinnes be remitted according to the worde of Christe Thy synnes be forgiuen the So also in suche lyke places when he speaketh after the same sort vnto the woman of Cananie and to hir which was affected with the flux of bloud he vnderstaÌ„deth the trust which did loke for helpe vpoÌ„ him nor it was no idle knowledg of the history iiii Peter in the Actes saith our hertes to be purified with fayth to haue remission of synnes and quietnes of conscience But it is manifest that our hertes be not clensed with the bare knowledge whyche is also in the vngodli Therfor it is necessari that fayth signifieth here trust which receiueth merci remissioÌ„ of sins v In the seÌ„teÌ„ces of prayer it is manifest this word fayth to signifye nothing els but a trust which beleueth with fauoure as Iacob i If any maÌ„ nede wysâ—om let him axe it in fayeth doubtinge nothyng So sayth Christe also what so euer ye praienge do axe beleue ☞ So also in the old testament for ye shall receiue it c. this word fides and Credere signifie truste of mercy as Abraham beleued God c. Also Iosaphat .ii. Paralip xx Beleue in god ☞ What is the meaning of thys senteÌ„ce the ryghtuouse shal lyue by hys fayth It attributeth vnto faith two thinges that is to say iustification lyuelines that is deliueraÌ„ce from sin death It teacheth that by fayth we be iust or accepted vnto god that by faith we be reuiued and quikned that is that we receiue coÌ„forth wherbi
euerlasting death is ouercome euerlastyng lyfe is purchessed Therefore in this sentēce also it is necessary that faith be not takē for the naked knoledg of the history but for the true trust of mercy which purchesseth remission of synnes and cōforteth our hertes and deliuereth vs frome feare and certifyeth vs of euerlastynge lyfe ☞ What then Is the knowledge of the historie to be wythdrawen from fayth No but it is necessary to beleue al the Articles of faith Yet it is not sufficyent to know the historye onely but the hystorye is to be referred vnto the finall cause whyche is the Crede that is to say I beleue remission of sinnes For this is the vse of the history That thou beleue Christ the son of God therefore to be borne in fleshe to haue suffered and risen vp againe that thou shuldest obtayne remissyon of synnes and euerlastyng lyfe ☞ What is the profession of the Christen fayeth ¶ Ther be thre Symboles Credes or professions of the Articles of oure fayeth the common crede of the Apostles that whiche was made in the counsell at Nicene And the thyrd of Athanasius ☞ Reherse the apostles Crede i. I beleue in God the father allmighti maker of heauē and earth ii And in Iesus Christ his onely son our Lorde iii. Which was cōceiued bi the holie gost borne of the vyrgyn Mari. iiii Suffered vnder ponce Pilat crucifyed dead and buried v. He descended into hel the third daye he rose from death vi He ascēded vnto heauen he sytteth at the right hande of god the father almyghty vii Frome these he shall come to iudg the quicke and the dead viii A beleue in the holy gost ix The holy catholike church the communion of Sayntes x. Remission of synnes xi Resurrection of the flesh xii And euerlastyng lyfe ☞ Saye the crede of the counsel at Nicenum ⧠I beleue in one god father al mightie maker of heauē earth al things visible vnuisible And in one lord Iesus christ the only be gotten son of god borne of hys father before the worlds god of god light of very light god of veri god begottē not made like in substāce vnto his father by whom he created althings Which for vs men and for our helth came downe frō heauen and is incarnate by the holie gost of the virgin Marye and made man crucified also vnder pōce Pilat suffered rose the .iii. day according to the scriptures he ascēded into heauen He sytteth at the ryght hand of god the father shal come againe with glorie to iudge the quick the dead whose kingdō is wtout end And in that holy gost the lord which giueth life which procedeth from the father the son which also wyth the father and the sonne is worshypped like glorified which hath spoken by the Prophetes And one holye catholike and apostolycal church I acknowledg one Baptysme in remission of synnes I loke for the resurrectiō of the deade the lyfe of the world to come So be it ¶ Say the crede of Athanasius ☞ Who so euer wil be saued before al thinges it is necessari that he kepe the general faith Which vnles euery man obserue perfecte and vndefyled he shall wtout doubt euerlastingly perish But this is the catholike fayeth that we worshipe one god in trinite and the Trinite in vnite Neyther confoundynge the persons nor seperatyng the substāce For the personne of the father is one of the son an other and of the holy gost an other But of the father and the sonne and the holy goste is one diuinitye equalle glorye lyke euerlastynge maiesty Lyke as their be not thre vncreated nor thre vnmeasurable but one vncreated and one vnmeasurable Likewise the father is almighty the son almyghtye and the holye goste almyghtye And yet be ther not thre almightyes but there is one almightye Euen so the father is god the son is god and the holy goost is god And yet be there not thre goddes but one god So the father is lorde the sonne is Lord and the holy gost is lord And yet be their not thre Lordes but ther is one Lorde For lyke as we be compelled by christen veritye to acknowledge euery persō one after an other to be god or Lorde so be we forbydden wyth catholyke religyon to saye that there be thre goddes or thre lordes The father is made of none other neither created nor yet begotten The son is of the father only not made nor created but begotten The holy gost is of the father and the son not made nor created nor begotten but procedyng Therfore ther is one father not .iii. fathers one son not iii. sonnes on holy gost not thre holy gostes And in thys trinite their is nothynge before nor after nothyng greater nor lesse But the whole thre personnes be like euerlastynge wyth their selfe and lyke equall So that in al thynges as it is nowe aboue sayde and that the trinity is to be worshipped in vnitie the vnity in the Trinitie Wherfore he whych wylbe saued let hym so iudge of the Trinitie But it is necessarye for euerlastyng health that he beleue faithfully also the incarnacion of our Lord Iesus Christ Therefore it is ryght faieth that we beleue and confesse that our lord Iesus Christe the son of god is god and man He is god of the substaunce of his father gotten before the worldes and he is mā of his mother borne in the world Perfect God and perfecte man of a reasonable soule and mans flesh subsistyng Equall vnto hys father accordynge vnto hys dyuynytye lesse then hys father accordynge vnto hys humanity Whiche althought he be god and mā yet be their not two but ther is one Christ But one not in conuersion of the godheade into flesh but in takeyng of manhead in god One altogither not in confusion of substaunce but in vnitye of personne For lyke as a reasonable soule and fleshe is one man so Christ is one God and man Whyche suffered for oure saluacion wente downe vnto hell and the thirde day rose from the dead He went vnto heauen sitteth at the right hande of god the father almyghty Frō thense he shal come to iudge the quicke and the deade Vnto whose commynge all men shall ryse wyth theyr bodies And they shall gyue a counte of their owne dedes And they whiche haue done well shall enter into euerlastinge lyfe but they whyche haue done euell into euerlastynge fyre This is the catholyke fayth whiche vnlesse euery man do faythfullye beleue he can not be saued ¶ Of God ☞ What is God GOd is a spirituall vnderstandinge substaunce the euerlastinge maker keper and defender of al thinges of one endles wysdome goodnes ryghtuousnes and mercy ☞ Shewe wytnes of the vnite of God ¶ Deut .vi. Heare Israell Thy Lord god is one Lord Esai xliiii I am the fyrste and the laste and besyde me is there no god And xlv I am god nor there
ceremonies of the whiche thynges in all ages infinite disputations and coÌ„tentions haue bene How many degrees of christeÌ„ libertie be there †Four The fyrst that remission of synnes and reputing of iustice is gyuen not for the lawe but for nothynge by Christe This is the must speciall and principal degree perteyning nothinge vnto ciuile life but only vnto the striuing of the conscience in the iudgemente of God wherein thys comforte is necessarie Of thys degree sayeth Christe Iohn viii If the sonne shall deliuer you ye shal be free in deede ☞ The seconde is gyuyng of the holy goste whereby the beleuers be iustified and gouerned and defended against the tyranny of the deuyl Here of speaketh Paule .ii. Corhinthi iii. Where the spirite of the Lorde is there is libertie ☞ The thirde That the Gospell delyuereth vs from the ceremonies Iudiciall lawes of Moyses Thys decree perteyneth in a maner vnto outwarde lyfe but it hath the cause of these whiche be aboue sayed ¶ For the Gospell doeth not require Leuiticall ceremonies because it teacheth vs to purchaise remission of sinnes freely and pronounceth vs iustified by mercie for Christes sake not for any seruice or our workes The fourth teacheth what is to be iudged of ecclesiastical ceremonyes whyche the byshoppes or other men haue instituted For because in thys lyfe certayne rites places and tymes be necessarye the gospell permytteth customes to be made in the churche wythout vprore and contention Therefore be certayne dayes appoynted that the people maye knowe when they ought to come together to heare the word of god These tradicions be tollerable yet iustificatioÌ„ is notto be sought in them ☞ Vnto what thynge is thys doctrine of Christen libertye profitable ☞ Vnto manye thynges For if this doctrine be not in the church there insue many discoÌ„modites Fyrst the iustification of faith is blynded and blotted out that is to saye when the benifyte of Christe is attrybuted vnto tradicions that is when men esteme them selues to deserue remission of synnes be pronounced ryghtuousse for such rites customes by the whiche persuasions consciences dooe fall into desperation and they lose the true knowledg of fayth and of Christ The seconde the vnlerned fainynge suche outwarde obseruations and rites to be true worshipping and and seruice of God and true perfection when perfection is neuer the lesse feare faith loue and the workes of our vocation The thyrde the concorde of churches is confounded as it is of the easter The fourth If consciences esteme those rites to be necessarye they caÌ„ neuer rest For who euer hath obserued al mens tradicioÌ„s whereof suche summes so manye bokes haue ben written that they can not wel be numbred ☞ But thou saiest obedience is necessarye althoughe the powers do abuse the right For ☞ Christ sayth vpon the chayre of Moyses sitte the Scribes and Phariseis c. ☞ What soeuer they shal commaund you do it In thynges whiche perteyne vnto goddes lawe the conscience muste necessarily obeye the Pastours accordynge vnto thys he whiche heareth you heareth me But in Ecclesiastical traditions it ought so to obey that it auoyde offensions and that iustification be not sought in theÌ„ nor the opinion of necessitie be added therto But wheÌ„ vngodly thinges be commauÌ„ded or taught theÌ„ is the rule of the Apostles to be folowed God muste rather be obeyed then men ☞ But what saye ye of the ceremonies whiche be instituted of Christe ¶ They muste be obserued because they haue the commaundement of God And yet the libertie of the gospel teacheth that we be not iustified with ceremonies wythout fayth also that necessitie doth excuse vs if we haue impediment whereby we can not vse them as if by some chaunce a certeyne maÌ„ coulde not obteyne baptisme yet if he shoulde beleue stedfastly in Christe he shoulde be saued wythout the ceremony ¶ Of Councels ☞ Be councels taught in the Gospel by Christe or no SOme haue feyned councelles to be in the Gospell of not reueÌ„ging of pouertie of virginitie of chastitie Then after sayd they that those workes were perfectnes But these opinioÌ„s be full of errours superstition For the lawe of God is one which conteyneth nothyng but preceptes and Christes longe sermon Mathew v. is nothynge els then the enterpretyng of the awe For Christes purpose is to declare the perfecte obedience that is required in the lawe Wherefore when he forbiddeth hatred concupiscence desiâ—e of vengeaunce he bryngeth in no newe counceles but he expoundeth the verye lawe of God and doeth teache the preceptes He threateneth also euerlasteing punishmente He whiche is angrye sayeth he wyth hys brother he is accused of iudgemet Also who so euer seeth a woman for to desire hir he hath committed adultrye alredy in hys herte ¶ Of Reuenging ☞ What commaundeth he of reuengynge HE forbyddeth priuate reuengynge that is desire of reuengynge and that whiche is without the authority of the officers he doeth not inhibite comon reuengynge which is exercised by the officers For the Gospell doeth not abolyshe rulars or magistrates But rather confirme them Rome xiii Therfore thys sediouse opinion which teacheth that ther is a counsel of reuenging is to be reiected And we must wysely make difference betwene open and priuate reuengynge for the Lorde sayeth giue me the vengeaunce I shal recompence ☞ But what of this seÌ„tence is it lawful to resiste force wyth force ⧠The Gospell doth not resiste thys sayeing For to resiste force wyth force belongeth vnto the lawe of nature if it be rightly vnderstanded for it must be applied vnto the coÌ„mon reuengyng that is vnto the office of the rulers So the rulers do resiste force by force wheÌ„ they driue awaye theft and robbery with harnais sweard For wherefore shoulde rulars be necessarye if we should priuately euery one exercise reuenginge Of Pouertie ☞ What commauÌ„deth it of pouertye THe Gospell doeth neyther commmaund nor yet couÌ„sel any man to forsake hys goodes or conferre vse all thynges communely but rather alloweth politike ordeynynges and diuision or proprietie of goodes But the Gospell commaundeth to helpe them whiche be pore and needy leberally and it promiseth great rewardes boeth bodely and gostli for such liberality as Christ sayeth Geue and it shal be gyuen vnto you And â–ª ii Corhint ix He which soweth scarsli he shal reape scarsly c. Solomon Prouerbes .v. doeth excellently set furth and describe a great part of house rulynge drynke sayth he water out of thyne owne fountaynes and thy fountaynes shall be deriued the ryuers shall runne into the streetes Be thou alone the mayster of theÌ„ none other wyth the. Solomon wyll that euerie one giue vnto the needful of the fruites of his farme holde but so that he keepe styll his farme holde lest he be brought vnto beggerry So Paule commaundeth to gyue so that we make not oure selfe pore and that slogardes shall not misuse our liberalitie To be shorte many testimonies do coÌ„firme
Ihon Baptist saith be conteÌ„t with your wages c Wherfore the place of the kingdomes right or title in Samuel grauÌ„teth not vnmesurable liceÌ„ce vnto prynces But it speaketh of their wages that is to saie it grauntethe them to take wages of the goodes of pryuate men for the necessity of the comon wealthe ☞ But what if they shal commaunde any thing agaynst Godes lawe ☞ Then muste we answer with the apostles God must rather be obeied then men For an example be Daniel the thre Childer also the Machabies also the apostles Act .iiii. Thei must rather be monyshed that they oughte to kepe not only the second table but the first also that is that it belongeth not only vnto rulars to take care for defendyng of the tranquillitie and peace of their citisens and to wythdrawe and expell wronges from their goodes and bodies but also to kepe good order coÌ„cernyng religion Wherfore the rulers must forbid vngodli seruice vngodli doctrine Heresies forswearynges and coÌ„tention of religioÌ„ Like as not only the Kynges of Israell did but also of the Gentiles Nabuchodonosor and Darius whiche made proclamacions wherein thei dyd forbid that ani blasphemi should be spoken agaynst the God of Israel So shall commone wealthes be truely happy for God in lyke maner wil defend them and geue theÌ„ aboundaunce of al goodnes as he hath sayd I wyl glorify theÌ„ which glorifie me ☞ Be these politicke workes acceptable vnto God ¶ Yes Domestical and politike workes of thys life whiche euery one doth according to his vocation be good workes and in them which be Godli be the true seruice of God for they be workes comauÌ„ded of God and therfore prophets doo ofte praise these politike workes wherof some be workes of mercy commended aboue facrifices Esa i. yseaketh of sacrifices Who doth require these things of your handes c. But of suche polytike workes he saith Seke iudgmeÌ„t healpe them whiche be opressed defende widowes c. And he promysethe therunto rewardes If your synnes shall be redde as scarlet they shal be made as white as snows Ose vi I wyl mercy and no sacrifice c. And of domesticall offices Paule saith .i. Timo. ii A woman shal be saued by generacion of childer c. Here doth he ioyne faithe and the workes of vocacion ☞ Wherfore dooe hipocrites then so greatli prayse monastical workes ¶ They do impudently and sore greue the coÌ„sciences of many meÌ„ for the worke of Ciuile life ought to be preferred before monasticall workes for thre causes ☞ Firste bycause they be coÌ„mauÌ„ded of God and be oure vocation ⧠Seconde They be offices of Loue ordeined for the comon profite of al men ⧠Third Thei be in ieoperdy of the crosse and commoÌ„ aduersities therfore they be exercisynges of faythe Contrariwise monastical workes haue no commauÌ„dement of God or vocation wherfore thei be vnprofitable seruice Math. xv They worshippe me in vayne teaching the commaundementes and doctrynes of men Besyde that they whyche teache these workes dooe not helpe other but rather enioye moste pleasaunte idlenes whose bealy is their God RoÌ„ the last chap. Finalli thei wil take no payns in the troubles and aduersyties of the comon wealthe c. Therfore Ciuile life is muche to bee preferred before monastycall ceremonyes and workes ¶ Of matrymony ☞ What is Matrymonye IT is lawful coupellyng of maÌ„ woman instituted vniuersally for the brynging furth of children and auoyding fornicatioÌ„ ☞ Whose Ordinaunce is it It is the ordinaunce of God for God is the ordeiner of Matrimony Fyrst by the counsell of God maÌ„ is created Gene. i. Let vs make a man after the similitude of oure owne ymage Secondarelye the woman is also created by the couÌ„sel of God In the same place It is not good that the maÌ„ shal be alone lette vs make hym an helper c. And he castynge Adam in a slepe dyd take a rybbe c. and thereof buylded a womaÌ„ Thirdly he dyd bring hir vnto Adam and blessed theÌ„ Increase and multiplye and fyll the earth ☞ Betwene How many may Mariage be made at one tyme Betwene two alone ⧠For Matrimony is the laweful coupling of man and woman And although the examples of the olde testamente do wytnes that Poligamia or hauyng of many wyues was vsed perchaunce for the more encreasing of childer orâ— eâ—mitted for other causes yâ—t the new testament doth generally forbide it Christ being the author which doth call agayne matrymony vnto the first institution Math. xix He which made man made theim man and woman Gene. ii They shal be two in one fleshe ☞ Wher was it instituted In paradise a place most pleasauÌ„t ☞ When was it instituted In the begynnyng of the worlde in the tyme of innocencye when ther was as yet no synne ¶ Wherfore was it instituted ¶ Fyrste for the procreation of Childer that mankynd myght be preserued Gen. iii. Increase and multiplye c. ¶ Secondarili for the auoiding of fornication i. Corinth vii Let euery man haue his wife and. Euery woman hir husband ¶ Thirdly for the eschewing of Idlenes that is to say that they whyche be maryed shoulde haue some thing to do leste they should synne in idlenes ¶ What is to be done in Matrimonye ¶ Let them whyche be maryed put al their trust in God whyche is the author and institutor of matrymony Let them lyue togither peaceably and wyth one hert let theÌ„ bring vp their Childer which GOD hath sente them and their houshold in the feare and loue of God let theÌ„ so vse their goodes that they do not hurt other men ☞ What is to be suffered What is the crosse of mariag After breakyng of the coÌ„mauÌ„dmeÌ„t God said vnto the man Thou shalt eat thy bread in the sweate of thy browes c. He sayede vnto the woman thou shalt bryng forthe thy childer in sorowe c. And yet dothe he comfort them in the crosse He saye the vnto the maÌ„ whils thou be retorned into erth whereof thou arte made c. He saith vnto the womaÌ„ Thou shalte brynge furthe but in sorowe And Paul .i. Timoth ii The woman shal be saued bye generation of childer If she will remayne in faythe ☞ May matrymony be dessolued or no ¶ No for Christe saythe Math. xix Let maÌ„ not separat that whiche God hathe coupled Yet when adultery doth chaunce the bande of maryage is broken and that faith which is promissed is also broken wherfore in such case it is lawfull to separate according vnto the doctryne of Christe ☞ What are to be obserued in matrymony ¶ The consente of fathers and mothers or of them whyche be in their stead Also the consent of the persons whyche make the contract Also the lawes of nature Imperial and the customes of the coÌ„trey For matrymony perteyneth also vnto Ciuile or politike order Also let them whyche bee maryed thynke that this kynd of lyfe is acceptable vnto God therfore is it anorned with
loste for he hath ben dead for our synnes whych he hath al clensed purged by his death hath abolished our death and he is made resurrection lyfe vnto al them which beleue He which beleueth in him althoughe he shal be dead yet shal he lyue And euery one whych lyueth beleueth in him shal neuer dye Iohn .xi. Our bodies be meÌ„bres of Christe Therfore lyke as God hath raysed vp Christe our lorde our head eueÌ„ so will he raise vp vs by his power .i. Corinth vi ¶ Of the rysyng again of the dead ☞ What is the resurrection of the dead IT is wherin at the laste day al men shal ryse from death they which be godly vnto euerlastiÌ„g lyfe and they whych be vngodly vnto euerlastyng punishement ⧠How canst thou proue the resurrection of the dead ☞ This article of our fayth is counted the best for whose cause we professe al the other Therfore the scripture specyally the newe Testament is ful of testimonies And to confyrme oure myndes agaynst Epicures opinions and to noryshe fear and our fayth it is good to haue in a redynes many testymonies which may testyfye that we shal rise wyth these same bodies Math xxiii Christe proueth the resurrection of the dead because God hath sayed I am the god of Abraham and the god of Isaac and the god of Iacob etc. God sayth he is not the god of the dead but of the liuyng Therfore it is necessari that holy meÌ„ which be dead shall ryse agayne wythe their bodyes Also cap. xix He calleth resurrectioÌ„ a regeneratioÌ„ wheÌ„ these bodâ—es raised from their graues or sepulchres shal be renewed Luke .xiiii. It shal be restored to the resurrection of the iuste Iohan .vi. This is the will of my father that euery one which seth the sone beleueth in him shall haue euerlasting lyfe and I will rayse hym vp agayne in the laste daye Rom. viii If the spirite of hym whiche raised Iesus from death do dwell in you he wyll reuyne your mortal bodies for the spirite of him which dwelleth in you In the same place But we also hauing the first fruits of the spirite do longe after the election of the childer of god amonge our selues lokynge for the redemption of our bodies i. Corinth xv He dothe purposly defend this article thorow out the hole Chap. For he proueth by the resurrection of Christe that we shal also of necessity ryse agayne For therfore hath Christe rysen that he myght ouercome and abolyshe death and that he myght restore anewe an euerlastynge lyfe vnto them whych beleue Lyke as death sayth he entered in by man euen so by man is the resurrectioÌ„ of the dead And like as al be dead in AdaÌ„ euen so shal al be reuiued in Christ ii Cor. iiii Euer cariing about the diyng of Iesu christ in our bodies that the life of Iesu might also appere in our bodies If the lyfe of Christ ought to be declared in our bodies it is necessary that our bodies deliuered from death and raised vp againe shall liue an euerlastynge life If we beleue the Christ is dead hath riseÌ„ againe Thessa ii euen so wil god bring theÌ„ wyth him whych haue sleped ☞ Brynge forth wytnesse out of the olde Testament Esa xxv The face of theÌ„ which be wrapped in shal be deuoured in this hill wherwythe all people be wrapped and the couering wherwyth all people be couerede and death shal be deuoured for euermore The prophet calleth the face of them whych be wrapped death synne wherin al people be wrapped for deathe before God is as it were a wrappyng in wherin al the world is inuolued but this wrappyng in in the hil Syon that is in the church shal be abolished froÌ„ the godly for that is the fruit of the Gospel that it reuiue theÌ„ which be dead ¶ Esaie xxvi The deade shall lyue My kylled menne shal ryse Awake and be mery ye whyche dwel in duste etc. Go my people entre into thy chambre and shite thy dores c. Esech xxxvii Loe I will open your graues bring you out of your sepulchres mi people etc. Iob xix I know that my redemere lyueth and in the laste day shall I be raysed from the erth and I shal be couered agayne in my Skyn in my fleshe I shal fe god my sauiour ¶ To be shorte this artycle is conteined al ouer in the promisses exaÌ„ples of the fathers For bicause delyueraunce and gloryfication is promised vnto holy men and yet they neuer thelesse be in this lyfe punyshed and in the power of deathe therfore it is necessary an other life to remayne wherin they gloryfied shal lyue euerlastingly So the epistle vnto the Hebrues teacheth that the fathers of the old testament keped the faythe and beleue of resurrectioÌ„ For in faith be they al dead not receyuyng the promysses etc. Therfore Iacob commaunded his childer to bury him in the sepulchre of his fathers And Ioseph commauÌ„ded his bones to be caried out of Egipt ☞ Shal al men ryse both good and euel The resurrection of al men shall be one comoÌ„ as wel of the godly as of the vngodly but in vnlyke conditioÌ„ For the godly shal ryse into euerlastyng lyfe but the vngodlye into iudgement and euerlastyng paynes ☞ Proue that the vngodly shal also rise wyth there bodies vnto punishment ☞ Iohn .v. Christe sayth The hour shall come wherin all they whych be in theyr graues shall heare the voyce of the son of man and they whych haue done good shal procede into resurrection of lyfe but they whych haue done euel into resurrection of iudgmeÌ„t ¶ Daniel .xii. Manye of these whych do slepe in the duste of the earth shall awake Some into euerlastyng lyfe and some into Euerlastyng reproffe that they mai se euermore ii Corinth iiii We must al appeare before the iustice seate of Christe that euery one maye make account of his owne deedes like as he hath done whether it be good or euel Math. x. Feare hym whych can cast both the body and the soule into euerlasting fire Esai lxvi They shal goe forth se the carcases that is to saye the bodies of men whyche haue broken my commaundementes The worme of them shal not dye and the fire shal not be quenched and al fleshe shal be ful wyth syght of them ☞ How shal the resurrection be ¶ Paule .i. Corinth xv In the twyncklyng of an eye in the last trumpet for the trumpet shall blowe and the deade shall aryse vncorrupted we shall be chaunged ☞ How shall this alteration be ¶ That whyche is corruptible saith he must be made vncorruptible and that which is mortalle must be chaunged into immortalitie but when that whych is corruptyble shal be made incorruptible and that whych is mortal shal be chaunged into immortalitie Then shal the word be fulfylled whych is wryten death is deuoured and swalowed vp in the