which dooe not receiue Iesus Christ the remission of sinnes and the reconciliation that is gotten for vs by him with the handes of faith may not nor cannot receiue him by meanes of any other woorcke that they can dooe but are euermore in their sinnes and subiecte to eternall malediction We may not haue peace with GOD by any other way or meane then in that we are acceptable vnto him by fayth we are acceptable and admytted vntoo hys fauour and grace by fayth in Iesu Christe He is by and by alwayes pleased with vs we haue rightuousnesse before him as the Apostle teacheth saying we being iustified by fayth haue peace with God by our Lorde Iesus Christ by whom we haue a waye through faythe vnto this grace the which must be firme surely fixed in vs Whereby it is declared that Iesus Christ is the onely aucthour of our rightuousnesse that we be made partakers of his health by the fayth we haue in him By the which we be surely certified that we be all ready reconsiled to God that he is in peace with vs by this reason we are assured that we possesse lyfe euerlasting The diuine Scriptures doo teache vs the same all the Prophetes sayth sainct Peter beare testimony of Iesus Christe and that through his name all that beléeue in him shall receiue remission of sinnes Also S. Paule in the Actes of the Apostles speaking of Christ sayth by him is preached vnto you remission of sinnes and by him all that beleue are iustified in all thinges from the which ye could not be iustified by the law of Moyses wherefore all that beleue in Christ Iesus are iustified by fayth in him So that it must néedes be that remission of sinnes and all other benefites promised of God we receiue them of him by fayth in his Gospell Dauid taught by the holy ghost dyd sée that all that was in him and that he might doo was cause of condempnacion at the handes of God beinge seuerely examined by the rigour and iustice of his Lawe He had his recourse to the Almightie God and dyd take him for his Patrone in iudgement and dyd pray to him with great vehemency besechinge him that he should not iudge him according to his law enter not into iudgement saith he with thy seruant bicause that no flesh is to be founde righteous in thy sight So that he confessith that we are iustified onely by grace and mercy and by the pittie and loue that god behouldeth in his sonne Iesu Christe for and towardes vs For that by the loue that he hath to vs in him he hath called vs put from before him quite away all our sinnes offences wickednesse that euer we committed and hath forgiuen vs all our disobedience and graunted vs true obedience and satisfaction neither more nor lesse then as if we had gottē it our selues For to take vs out of all doubts and to the ende to deliuer vs from our olde wicked lyinge errours in the which vntill now we haue liued the Lord mightie Iehouah sayth by the Prophet Esay it is I it is I my selfe O my people that haue blotted out all thy misdéees and wickednesse for the loue of my selfe and for myne owne sake I haue done it will neuer remembre them againe So that it is he that deliuereth vs from our sinnes and iniquities without any merit or desert on our behalfe that is any thing auailable at all And of his owne frée will loue and liberalitie doothe vse the same towardes vs. Of an excelent comfort by the loue of god Cap. vii SO it restith that all that men can doo or may or can inuent to work by any kinde of meane by this scripture it is excluded condēpned for most horrible wicked abhominable For why ther is but one Iesus Christ who is the pardener of our sinnes by god the Father there is no cause why without Christ that we should be pardoned by god the father for them By Christ onely are we pardoned we are the vnrightuous he the onely aucthor of rightuousnesse In vs there is no cause why but that we should be most iustly cōdempned and in him onely is there great cause why we should by him be saued S. Peter saith there is none other name vnder heauen giuen vnto men wherby we should be saued but onely the name of Iesus Christ In an other place S. Peter saith again that neither we can not nor our forefathers could not beare the weightie yoke of the Lawe yet we are in béeléefe to be saued by our Faithe in Iesus Christ our Lord by his grace as well as they For as by fayth God dyd purify their hartes so likewyse dooth he purifie ours Christ sayd vnto his disciples that by the word which they had heard and beleued they wer made cleane and thereby had purified them of their sinnes and made them freindes with god So that we haue rightuousnesse and diuine holinesse by fayth that doothe remaine to vs in the promises of god and the hope that we haue in his mercy and trueth with that which he doothe promise vs to be our fréendly Father and pittifull for the loue of Iesu Christ From hence it is that the Prophet Dauid doothe acknowledge that there is but one rightuousnesse that is of any valour at all before god and that may apeare and come valiently before him in his diuine iudgement The Prophet sayth I will thincke and all wayes haue in remembraunce thy onely iustice and rightuousnesse By which reason he dooth recken houlde and account all humaine and carnall rightuousnesse and holinesse for most wicked and vnrightuous Bicause they are so filthie fowle and spotty that men may haue no help of them to satisfie in part nor in all before the diuine iudgement of god But of necessitie they are to retourne againe condempned eternally bicause they ioyne the cleane works of the Lawe with the vncleane and filthy fowle spottid woorkes of the fleshe Wherby we sée derely beloued brethren that there is no more but one Iesus Christ redemer of the world wherfore we can haue no more rightuousnesse but that which is his by the which we are to be saued Nor there is no other meane and waye to obteyne a pardon generall for our sinnes and reconciliacion with God then the fayth and hope whereby we doo beleue his diuine promises and do assure our selues of all that which by those promises are declared vnto vs Wherby we haue frée libertie giuen vs to call and saye O our Father c. The holy ghost doothe teach vs in his Church the doctrine of this true catholicke And therefore as taught and guided thereby let vs imbrace folow him by whose word we haue receued this reuelaciō clearnesse For this cause dyd Iesus christ giue thāks to god the father in the name of all his faithfull and therewith together dyd
heauenly hope that they had did pearce the boiling bowels of his loue and mercy And did obtein the fruit of their faithfull desires So that when the curssed crueltie and tirannie of the Egiptians was at the full the highest and the greatest euen then did God extende hys mightie arme from heauen so that they being without any humain helpe or remedie at all he did deliuer them onely by his own mightie potencie and power There is no tirannie nor persecution that can continue long for looke how much the more it is malicious out of measure so much the nigher is the ende and distruction thereof As did appeare by Pharao for when that the crueltie and tirannie of him his ministers was most extréemest agaynst God and his people euen then did it perishe and ende with most cruell distroy thereof and the executioners togyther for there is nothing that will more sooner distroy and consume the euill tyrannie and crueltie of the tiranicall persecutors then the pacience and humilitie of the Sainctes with submitting thēselues in harte and mynd to the onely will and pleasure of God askyng of him succour and ayde with fayth in his promise There is no suche whetstone to blunt nor beate downe the rasor sharpe edges of the sweards of the Tirantes nor no suche water to quenche the burnyng flames of fyre which they vse for the faithfull as is a sure faith and hope in the Lord bicause as all the enimyes that doe afflict and torment vs be deade Euen so althoughe wée sée it not with our bodily eyes he doeth kill them styll for vs And notwithstanding that they doe séeme to our carnall fight to bée aliue yet for the hatred they haue to the truth they are dead in the presēce of god And howe muche the greater their frensie furie is towardes vs So much the surer is the signe that theyr vtter distruction is at hand The people of God were so occupied and dryuen vp against the read Sea in such a streight thereby that the weaklings amongest them faynted feared and began to yéelde them selues for dead men by the handes of their enimyes the men of warre who so fiersly folowed them as was possible makyng accompt of the same they were armed in all points for the purpose but God prouided a present remedie for his people to put their appoyntment cleane to the contrary He diuided the hugie heapes and waues of waters so that they stood stil on eche side like stone walles till his people the children of Israell had passed throughe the myddest thereof drye footed And presently passing the same and lookyng backe to beholde the huge armie of Pharaoes hoast their furious foes that folowed so faste for filthie thirst they had after bloud they sawe the waters agayne kéepyng their course in a most swifte maner and coulde sée nothing els but the ouerwhelmed and drowned bodyes of those furyous fightyng fellowes who folowed them so fiercely Those fonde furyes were blynded so that they could not sée till they came to that distruction the which then they would haue fled from but it was to late they were mightie and most magnanimous and valiant till then But being thus killed dead distroyed and ouercome by him that mightie Iehouah he discouered the same to them his most louing people bycause they should not feare nor fainte at the lyke agayne though it séemed neuer so mighty or terrible Euen so those which persecute vs at this present tyme so trimly lyke as they would roote cast out the name of God from the earth yea and out of heauen also that he myght neuer bée neyther knowen nor professed are dead and killed by the same our most myghtie and eternall God though to our foolishe fleshe it séeme to the contrarie and to the sight therof And therefore dearely beloued there is no cause at all that may make vs by any iust reason that our enimies can vse to fainte feare or leaue the true professing of our fayth in our master Christ though they doe threaten it out neuer so lustily for that we béeing once passed the seas of sorowes in thys worlde by suche crosses and calamities as it shall please God to vse for a meane to passe vs ouer the same Shall haue lykewyse discouered and shewed vnto vs that those which now séeme vnto vs liuing doo intreat vs so euill without pietie or pittie blasphéeming the name of Christ and his holy Gospell are not in truth but dead bodies which can nothing hurt vs If it should be great foolish folly to feare the pictors paynted in parishe churches of images or the puppetly Idols set vp in popish temples as though they might helpe vs to good or saue vs from euill It were and should be ten tymes treble greater folly without comparison to leaue and renounce the friendship and obedience of faith in him which is an euerlasting mansion for vs in all ioye and felicitie If there were any cause at all to fear those dead bodies which can doe vs neyther good nor harme The holy Ghost would not giue such counsell cleane to the contrary Saying feare you not any thing that they can doe nor be you not troubled but sanctify the Lord God in your hartes So that it is a plaine consequent that as by sure fayth and hope that the children of Israell had in almightye God with their incessant and humble prayers and petitions which they vsed vnto him he did distroy and ouerthrow the Egiptians Pharaoes hoast and that they were so set at libertie celebrating of Sacrafice with himnes and songes of prayse and thankes gyuing vnto him the onely aucthor therof Euen so nowe in these present tymes by the lyke faith hope which they had and that we oughte to haue in his mercie And by the power and strength of the same God shall perish all those that persecute vs for the profession of his name and Gospell for they are no lesse enimyes and rebelles to him and his people thē was Pharao and his vaseils or subiects Wherfore let vs bée firme and constant in the trueth and in no wyse leaue the communion or congregation of the true catholike church but with a sure hope belieue in Christ Iesus By whome we shall as well be defended and deliuered from harmes as were the childrē of Israell And all those mischiefs which our persecutors doe threaten and thunder against vs the most mightie God will confound and conuert or turne them vppon their owne heads as the holy Ghost hath promysed by the Prophet Dauid Of Predestination and of glorification thereby c. The xxvij Chapter JF we consider the end and what stoppe and stay we are brought vnto by abiding so bitter crosses persecutions no doubt we shal finde therby great occasion to passe in sufferyng them with great ioye S. Paule doth declare vnto vs the effect of the end therof and what it shal be Those whom I
iustifie sayeth hée doe I also glorifie So that the ende thereof is to be glorified as Iesus Christe was when God the father did put hym in hys kingdome and there made him Lorde ouer all hys enimyes by the afflictions and crosses which hée had suffered passed And as the way which our redéemer Tetragramatō tooke to be glorified by was crosses of persecutiō whereby he passed and tooke possession of his heauenly kingdome In lyke maner by those persecutions whych now we suffer is the most perfect way for vs to bée glorified by also As wée may be well assured by Iesus Christ our head who is alreadie gone before vs by the same way whose footesteps of force we must follow This way is so direct that whosoeuer passeth by it it is not possible so he do it with faith that he should misse but with all perfectnesse enter into his kingdom Bycause as those that passe any other way doe walke till they loose them selues so those that kéepe this way which is the true way cannot but bée glorified in suffering with Christ for that they did perseuer in his truth and true religion till the end And therefore all those which shall suffer dy for so iust a cause let thē reioice be glad assurīg thēselus of their glorification with Christ Iesus for euer For why Gods truth cānot alter nor chaūge nor yet any thing that is ioyned therw t cānot be seperated by mā The holy ghost saith by the apostle S. Paule that all those which God dyd knowe and acknowledge he did predestinate bycause they shoulde be conformable and lyke in shape vnto the image of his sonne And those which were predestinate he did call those which hée called he also iustified those which he iustified he did glorifie So that of necessitie those which he did predestinate he did also glorifie and the way and meanes to come to be glorified is to be called and iustified by passions and crosses to be conforme and lyke vnto his sonne Wherefore those two things be so vnyted and knit togither that the one is comprehended within the other for that in suffering with Christ and to be made lyke vnto him is comprehended the ioyntely beyng glorified with him And therefore all them that suffer afflictions and calamities in this world may assure them selues that in the ende they shall bée glorified in Christ for whome they were afflicted Beloued bretheren we haue béene alreadie called of God by the Gospel And although that before our callyng we were loste yet nowe we are washed sanctified and iustified by the bloud and name of our Lord Iesus and by the spirit of our god This is a plaine testimony that we haue all our secret election from one and that is Christ by whom we doe certifie our selues thereof Also the world by the persecutions and sorowes that we suffer in it and by the hatred that it vseth towardes vs doeth manifestly shew that by the diuyne mercie of God we are called and iustified For why the world can not abyde vs nor none but his owne Whilest we were of the worlde hée made vs many delycate deintie delightes and trimly intreated vs as if we had bene his owne But afterwardes whē God had giuē vs the true light of his Gospell and so seperated vs a sunder that it was euident and apparant vnto all that we were the true members of Christ our head and none of his Then he blustered and blowed against vs he rufled roared brayed and rayled at vs and did so extréemely abhorre vs that he did nor will not rest to vse all kynde of crueltie that he can to cast vs out quyte from hym And so our sauiour Christ doeth confyrme vnto vs by Sainct Iohn saying if the world doe abhorre and hate you then remember howe that fyrst it hated mée If you were of the world the world would loue you as hys owne But bycause you be not of the worlde and that I haue chosen you to my self the world doeth hate and abhorre you Remember the wordes which I haue sayde vnto you the seruaunt is not greater then his Lorde if they haue persecuted mée they will also persecute you Wherby it resteth manifest that those which be persecuted killed and abhorred of the world are alreadie taken called by God from the worlde to him selfe and washed and purified with the bloud of hys sonne Iesus Christ So that we are to acount our selues glorified if we be hated doe suffer in such maner And therefore sith we be so certified and shewed by such signes and tokens so euident that we be elected and chosen eternally in Christ Iesu and that wée be partakers of his rightuousnesse let vs also be assured of it that we shall atteine to the ende of our election in dispite of the world and all the ministers thereof and of all their false and curssed religion When that men without God and hys Christ will and doe burne vs or giue vs any other kynde of death let vs vnderstand that it is the checkmate and ende of all our troubles and calamities and that then is set open vnto vs the gates of the glory of God that we might enter in enioy with him for euer the inestimable ryches of his eternall kingdom When the enimies of God and his Gospell persecuted S. Steuen to the death euen whē he was in the most chiefest checks tauntes troubles amongest them he sawe the glorie of God did sée heauē open Iesus Christ sitting on the right hād of the father ready to receiue him to crown him as his martir faithful witnesse So that in the strongest torments and most cruell deathes heauen is opened vnto vs And therefore we ought not to be abashed to faynte nor to feare at any of their torments but to stand strongly and go forward with a good stomake and courage and neuer to looke behynde vs that wee might ouertake attain to and apprehend or comprehende the resurrection of Christ Iesus accordyng as wée be in him comprehēded Our enimies are vnwilling herewith but god willeth and hath ordeyned that there is nothyng that may or can be any let hinderance or impediment to kéepe backe that hys election and eternall counsell wherein he loued vs should not take effecte accordingly that wée might be made conformeable and like vnto his sonne as well in his death as also that we should be pertakers of his glorious resurrection All the euill that men doe against the faithfull is to none other end but to let and hynder if they could the predetermination of god Thinking to make them beléeue that there is no other way to bring the same to passe or that it passeth by none other meane or rule thē by those which they doe allowe and not by the truth which they cōdempne after their owne fantasies delights No no God nor no pointe of hys gouernement and will
shewe the cause of so supreme a benifit Sayinge I giue thée thankes O Father Lorde of heauen and earthe bicause thou haste hidden these thinges from the wyse prudēt of the world and openid it vnto babes euen so father for so it pleased thée The cause of this benefit and of all ioyned with it commeth to vs by the great good will of God and the delight which he hath in his sonne As before it is sayde forasmuch as we doo knowe it is so let vs desire that we may be of that numbre of the lyttle ones that our Sauiour Christe dyd giue thankes vnto his Father for and not leane to any false variable doctrine whose ende is to bringe them that doo beleue in the same from the vnitie of the true faith which the prophets Apostles and Iesus Christ himselfe hath taught vs. Wherefore being partakers of the fruite of redempcion that our sauiour and Lorde Iesu Christ hath redemed vs with and by fayth that we haue in the Gospel let vs concider wel what we haue to doo that to our best power we may perseuer and increase in that rightuousnesse and holinesse that he hath communicated vnto vs Before we were called and when we had not receiued pardon for our sinnes we were such and euen the lyke as the children of perdicion were But now being reconciled to GOD by his sonne Iesus Christe we are taken foorthe of the Empire rule and dominion of the diuell and receiued of GOD by the holy Ghost and by the vertue of the same ioyned with Iesu Christ made one body with him From whome as from our head there is deryued into vs membres with lyfe and spirit by the which we ought to doo the works of lyfe for that thereby is a plaine testimony that Iesu Christe who dyd pardone vs of our sinnes and paye his moste precious bloud for a raunsome for the same dooth liue in vs and that he onely is the foundacion of our hope and affiaunce and also that of him and by him we are beloued of god the father as his childrē As teacheth sainct Peter saying that Iesus Christe is the liuinge Stone refused of men but elected chosen and precious with god and sayth further you also as liuing stones are built in one spirituall buildinge and one holy presthoode for to offer a spirituall sacrifice acceptable to god by Christ Iesu and a little after that you that beléeue and trust in Iesus Christ which in tymes passed were no people are nowe the people of God but before now you had not obteined mercy yet now you haue and are a chosen lynnage a royall presthoode a holy nacion a peculiar people for that you preach and shew the vertues of him that called you from the darcknesse in which you were to an admirable most merueilous light In this he dooth giue vs to vnderstand how we ought to spend our whole lyfe tyme and that is in perpetuall sacrifise of prayse vnto the Lord for that he hath béene so mercifull and pittifull towards vs so that all our woorks ought to be with a chearfull voyce singinge and makinge proclamacions of his glory of his vertuous prayse For to dooe this saythe Sainct Paule we ought to renounce and deny the vngodly worldly desires of the flesh and in this transitory lyfe to liue temperatly in rightuousnesse and godlinesse tarying and looking for that blessed hope glorious apearing of the mightie God our Sauiour Iesus Christ So that we ought to put away all kinde of supersticion false religion all desires and concupisences of the flesh and the worlde and to liue a godly lyfe according to the wil of God the which is declared vnto vs by his worde But sith that we are bought with the inestimable pryce of the most precious bloud of our Lord Iesus Christ his sonne so made his seruants we ought not to serue him in anye other maner nor with any other thinges then those which hée hath commaunded by his worde and lawe The Lorde dyd call and electe vs for that we should be holy and without reprehencion but we be prophane before him and no such saints if we serue him with any other thinge then that which his lawe dooth commaund or by the rule of his cōmaundements For that we be called in Iesu Christ as Sainct Paule sayth in the same Chapter bicause we should dooe the good workes that God dyd ordeyne for hs and that we should walke in them for those onely are good that he hath commaunded by his worde we ought also to imploy our whole studies in those workes For the apostle dooth teache vs that Iesus Christ dyd giue him selfe for vs to redéeme vs from all kinde of wickednesse and to purify vs that we might be a peculier people vnto him and that we might be onely dedicated to his seruice feruently giuen to good works All true beleuers sayth the Prophet Esay are tréese of rightuousnes and planted by the heauenly Father that he might be glorifyed in them Wherefore we ought to adresse our whole myndes all our affections and all our desires and thoughtes to glorifie him with all those things which we are sure and certeine he dooth and will allowe But sith he euen our God hath opened our eyes for to sée the lighte it were not iuste nor reason that we should walke any more in darcknesse that is to say thincking falsly that those thinges will content his goodnesse which dooth content vs or those thinges which are allowed of men without the holy Ghost Of the cause of Christes comming and of the fruites of christians The .viii. Chapter GOd hath giuen vs Iesus Christe to be our onely maister and teacher and doothe commaunde vs to heare him bicause he is the onely expositer declarer of his wyll and most mightie power and to direct vs for the accomplishment of the same So that they that doo heare the woorde of god and kéepe it for a rule in their doings and workes doo shewe themselues to be tréese of rightuousnesse planted beloued of him and that his spirit is resident and remayning in them But of them that teache and doo to the cōtrary he sayth by Sainct Mathewe they are plants that his heauenly Father hath not planted and althoughe they florishe for a tyme and be séene yet in th end they wil be withered dry and rotten Thus Iesu Christ doothe testifie that those which are gouerned and séeke to serue him by the commaūdemēts of men are none of his plāts We ought to abhorre and houlde for abhominable all such maner of seruices for that we are instructed by the word of trueth that al they which doo delight in them are subiect to the condempnacion wherein they were firste borne The hatred of them with all the rest that god hath forbidden and the obedience of his commaundemēts diuine are those fruites
doth exhort vs to an excelent comforte The x. Chapter OVr conditions qualities estates in this world is common and according to the same which Iesus Christ him self had when he was therin For that the same causes that he did suffer for euen the lyke doe wée suffer for also The cruell intreatie that was vsed and done vnto him in the world was bicause that he was the sonne of God faythfull to his father that sent hym did séeke in all things his glory and teach vnto men suche holines rightuousnes as God his father dyd alow For the same cause doe we suffer also for that by hym made the sonnes of God we doe allow none other holines and rightuousnes then that which he doth incite vs vnto So that according to the cōmunion that we haue with him we doe séeke in all things hys glorie doe hate them that abhorre it and doe condempne by his word all the which he holdeth condempned This is the onely cause that he commaunded his discyples in them vs to reioyce saying and assuring thē with vs that theirs and ours is the kingdom of heauē We ought to ponder this in our myndes and to think of it in our afflictiōs that although they bée neuer so great our afflictors can not let vs from the kingdome promised vnto vs for the God is disposed hath purposed that we shal inherite it by them Christ Iesus is the chiefest and the greatest amongest the childrē of God which are his bretheren Euen so he is the first principallest and greatest in all things The afflictions passions and persecutions that he did suffer were in the supreme superlatyue degrée greatest of all his dishonour greatest his pouertie most déepest all kynd of hatred was had against him in most brauest maner his persecutions most violent and cruell the wrath of God wherewith he was charged dyd lye most heauily vppon him and so heauy a burthen in déede as euen the verie toyle and trouble in bearing therof did make him to sweate by extremitie water and bloud He was not only held and accompted for wicked with the wicked but amongest them hée was thought to be most chiefe principall chiefteine of sinne wickednes and vnrightuousnes Though he wer the onely wisdome of the deitie yet they intreated him as one most ignorant and diuilishe Yea and although it was he onely that was chiefe and principall pacifier and accomplisher of the lawe and maker of peace and amitie with God hys father for all mankynde yet he was condempned for the chiefest breaker of the lawe and greatest rebell to god And also though he were the first begottē sonne of God his best beloued and the Lord of all yet he was accompted for such a straunger and so vnknowne to the people that he sayde of him self I am a shadow and no man but am rather a mocking stocke to men and cast out of my people And S. Paule sayeth of him he did adnichilate him selfe taking vppon hym the forme of a seruaunt and made hym selfe a man amongest men and humbled him self to be obedyent vnto death yea the death of the crosse He was brought so lowe that he discended to the déepest of all euils and did abide the extremitie of all paine and punishment that was due for our sinnes offences We did sée him sayeth Esay and he was disfigured we did desire hym and he was the last and the most simple amongest men full of griefes and infirmities there was nothing in him wherby he might be knowne So that we did not knowe what he was hée was loaden with all our sinnes offences hée was whypped wounded for vs as though he had bene the onely offender that none had offended the maiestie of God but he Here wée may sée that he was the greatest passioned persecuted that could bée wherby as by degrées he did ascend to god to be also the greatest in glorie the fulnesse whereof he doeth participate to all beleuers And therfore for that he hath bene so passioned for our causes sinnes and offences it is iust reason necessarie that we doe not will nor desire to be of better estate then he was him self in the world and sith he was iniured and mocked it were not reason that wée should be honored and praysed sith he was so poore that he had not where on to laye his heade but was forced to weare a crowne of thorne it were not conuenient that we should abound in riches that doe perish nor yet that wée should goe apparelled in delicate royall gorgious rayment Hée was reproued of meny in séeking the glorie of his father we ought not therefore to thincke to be allowed praysed of men in séeking of the same let vs be contented that God doth allow vs accompt it good to fauour the rightuousnes of our cause And also let vs not peruert the ordinance of God sith he doth giue vs a cōforter in our passiōs for that we should be imitators folowers of his sonne bicause in allowing that which the world doth allow wée should forsake the imitatiō of him the effecte of our doings therin were none other but to leaue our being his seruāts and séeke to be his superiors or being but disciples to shew our selues to be more fauored greater thē our master We cānot haue more honor nor more firm and certeine securitie thē to tread the steps to passe the same way that he himself wēt Although to our fleshly iudgemēt to the iudgemēt of the world that in the way which we haue to passe after our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ there be many stones blocks and bryers to stumble at and more readie to tosse and teare vs in péeces that are to passe by them then to let and suffer vs to atteine to the ende of our iourney yet in truth there is none more certeine sure and substanciall passage then the same is to bring vs to that blessedest ende and moste glorious inheritance And sith our swéet sauiour hath gone and made the same so playne before vs there is no cause at all that shuld make vs to doubt of any daunger therin Let vs consider that the crosse and bitternesse thereof is ended quickly and in bearing passing and comming foorth of the same with loue and charitie we doe presently enter into an inestimable glorie as our most louyng swéete sauiour hath promised doeth vndoubtedly accomplyshe and fulfill the same dayly from day to day in all those that doe suffer persecution and are slayne for the profession of his holy and blessed name It is greatly necessarie that all the ordinaunces of god be fulfilled in and by vs as was by Iesu Christ all that god had determined in his diuine coūcell from the beginning and before any thinge hapned vnto him It was saide by the Prophetes that God dyd ordeigne
nor withoulde our selues from them that doo execute vnto vs our afflictions griefes and calamities Let vs not doo so much as lowre or looke with an euill countenaunce therefore bicause they are but instruments very necessary that God dooth vse as scourges ministers of his will. For that we may behould that he doothe chasten vs but as his children with them for his vncurelesse care thought is otherwise towardes vs then our persecutours doo thincke for bicause all that God dooth vnto vs is for our euerlasting delighte That which they doo vnto vs is nothing but euill God dooth chastise vs bicause he loueth vs they doo afflict persecute vs bicause they horribly hate and abhorre vs and to the ende that they would vtterly and wholly destroy vs. Great were the losses troubles calamities and causes of calamitie to the sighte of men in this worlde that happened to that holy man Iob and diuers were the afflictions and persecucions that he dyd suffer the ministers whereof were the diuell his seruantes But that faythfull fellow of ours did take it neither of him nor them but at the handes of God bicause that he knew that all did procéede from him If we receiue sayth he the good thinges from the handes of the Lorde why should we not receiue the bad also yea how aduersse so euer they be the Lorde giueth and also taketh away blessed be the name of the Lorde and so he dyd conclude with giuing of thankes aswel for the worst as for the best So likewise let vs doe no lesse for our afflictions and troubles then for our ioyes and prosperitie bicause all are the benefits of god and giuen to one selfesame ende for them that be called and elected to his knowledge and grace Iesus Christ our redéemer and sauiour dyd acknowledge his father to be the onely authour of all the troubles crosses passions that he did suffer he did take them as from the hands of him not from the handes of his enimies He sayd to S. Peter whē as he went about to resist against and to let his aduersaries and to make other lets that he should not suffer as it were rebuking him beinge angry offended what Peter I say wouldest thou let it shall not I drinke of the cuppe that my father hath giuē me Surely with a harty and singuler good will dyd he drinke it for that it came from the hāds of his Father So that we may see he looked for nor desired nothing at all but euen as his father would that he ordeigned that he himselfe should beare and suffer He was not angry he dyd not persecute againe he did not speake euill nor vsed any kinde of iniury for any part of reuenge to them that crucifyed and intreated him so cruelly and vngodly But he was rather sory for them and loued them although they were wicked and with a great affection dyd pray to god the father for them in taking the cuppe or challis from the handes of his Father he neither did nor saide any thinge contrary to his will nor yet contrary to the healthe and saluacion of them for whome he dyed sée and behoulde my dearely beloued bretheren fellowe membres what an example this is that he hath here shewed vnto vs so diuine if we vnderstande well what paines and passions he our head dyd suffer we that are his membres of force shall vnderstād what we ought to doo His very footesteppes must we followe trauaile passe by if we wil be in conformitie with him We be now afflicted as euil doers we are cōdempned for common barratours and curssed abhorred so horribly as may be Shal we cursse abhorre do the like to thē no no not for thought god for bidde we should As they desire all the mischiefe that may be to vs shall we doo the like vnto them no in no maner wise But rather sith that we be the sonnes of god let vs kepe his cōmaundemēts which are cleane to the contrarye Loue sayth the Lord your enimies blesse them that cursse you doo good to them which abhorre you and doo you harme praye for thē which persecute you for that you be sonnes and children to your Father which is in heauen that maketh the Sunne to shine vpon the good and euill and dooth send his reigne vpon the iust vniust Let vs consider how louingly our Lorde sauiour Christ Iesus dyd answere to so and such curssed works and to such obstinate and euill myndes and how truely he dyd loue his euill doers Although they were giltie had greatly offended he dyd excuse them before his father sayīg they know not what they doo O Father forgiue them for thy name sake Oh immensable charitie of God Oh celestiall heauenly example worthy to be followed If we doo consider attentiuely our vocacion and calling with the which God hath called vs to his knowledge we shall fynde it in this like maner that he dooth teach vs. Of the propertie of persecutours with a perswasion to pacience c. Cap. xii GOd dyd call and vnite vs to his flocke dyd put vs in his fowlde which is his Churche catholicke for that we should be his shéepe might haue his sonne Iesus Christe to be our shéepeheard We were wolues before we were called but nowe are we shéepe and the shéepe cannot nor dooth not knowe how to dooe any kinde of euil but yet is subiect to take receiue any euill that is offered She hath no tongue to cursse nor speake spitefully no téethe to byte no nailes to scratch no anger to be irefull no hatred to abhorre and finally she hath nothinge wherewith to doo euill but hath many thinges wherewith to doo good Euen so it ought to be with vs bicause we beare the name of christians the which doothe import in all points asmuch as I haue spoken of Men doo persecute vs like fearce Lyons they doo afflict vs with fury lyke raueninge Wolues they dooe teare vs in péeces lyke Tygers they search vs by suttelties and wyles lyke fine fickle Foxes They doo leaue neither arte nor crueltie vnvsed nor vnpractised against vs Is it méete or were it well that we should pay them with theyr owne mony or with the lyke againe No God forbid for why we were not called to be lyke vnto them but for that we should be lyke vnto himselfe He dyd call vs to be his children so that we must be like vnto his sonne Iesus Christ he is our head God hathe bidden and commaunded vs to be guyded by him And bicause we should learne of and followe him Christe saythe Sainct Peter dyd suffer for vs geuing vs example to followe his footesteppes In what should we follow them mary in suffering the euil which our enimies offer vs and in answeringe them againe the best we can therefore what with enuie
is not nor shall not be directed by them neither hée his people nor yet his doctrine is nor are not guided by any parte péece or pointe of their wayes or teachings As great distance are betwéene my wayes and yours sayeth the Lord as is betwéene the heauen and the earth God wil not haue to deale with the wicked least it be to vse them as the vessels of his wrath for the health and wealth of his chosen For whn by their wayes institutions and decrées they goe about to blotte rase vs out of the memoriall of God that we might not attaine to the lande of the liuing But in that mansion and most mightie monarchie God hath vs in remembrance and doth lift vp enriche and glorifie vs with his inestimable giftes and riches where our ende will be to rest shyning in great ioye and glorie lightned by the lyght of truth in all heauenly felicitie The bretheren of holy blessed Ioseph what did they leaue vndone and not put in practise to punish let and hinder the comming to passe of the counsel of God wherby he had determined to lift on high glorifie his seruant they persecuted him iniured him mocked him stripped him sold him as a slaue he was caried into strauÌ„ge couÌ„treis there vsed intreated most extréemely and hardly But wheÌ„ they thought no more to haue hard of him behold he remayned lifted vp by the handes of God and made a mightie maiestrate in Egipt and a superior Lord and ruler ouer his byers sellers All that they did against him was onely and vppon set purpose a pretence to hinder him that hée should not atteyne to any parte thereof I meane that glorie but they could not in no one iote let or hynder the good will of God nor yet coulde vse no impediment in his loue towardes Ioseph nor in guyding him as a shéepe that had bene among Wolues from all his troublesome enimyes and persecutors till hée had performed hys great glorification in this world and in the worlde to come inherited hyporsioÌ„ of those inestimable treasures prepared by the loue and good wil of God for the faithfull from the beginning Thus it appeareth how he tooke hys steppes into all hys troubles and doynges by degrées as it were vp a ladder or paire of stayers til God had assumpted and lifted him vp into the toppe of all his glorie accordyng to his determination before the foundation of the world So that as these carnall and worldly bretheren did agaynst Ioseph euen so at this day doe the children of this world against the faithfull in beating downe and persecuting them by all the meanes and wayes which possibly they can but therein God doeth lifte them vp tyll they be glorified in Christ Iesus Of the mightie povver and exceeding loue of god The xxviij Chapter THe Hipocrites scribes Pharises and other the enimyes of God were greatly against the glorifycatyon of Iesus Christ and to conclude him from the same they persecuted hym with so great and gréeuous furie and also condempned hym to death beastly beléeuing that after the same there would nor coulde bee no more noyse of hys name that wholy he should peryshe for euer and so be most out of memorie altogither in obliuion that they should holde his kingdome in peace and haue his people subiecte to theyr tirannie But the dyuyne meaning of God and hys prouidence was cleane to the contrarie By those meanes and wayes which they wrought to ouerthrow hym he lifted hym vp in such maner that there is nothing in heauen nor earth more highe sublymate and supreme then he Where they sought all the mischieuous meanes they could to darken and hinder hys glory it was to no purpose God made it with maiestie the more to shyne and did spred the beames thereof the farther throughout the vnyuersall world They did crucifie hym in most cruellest and most spytefullest maner and killed hym with the most vylest death such as was most infamous bycause he myght be the more hated and the lesse accounted vailâ—able for the health and saluation of his chosen But in thys was fulfilled that which was spoken by Esay the Prophet the father shall drawe vnto him an innumerable number of disciples that neyther shall nor will loue nor séeke after none other helpe holines nor rightuousnesse but his owne And also it is written that God by hys death vppon the crosse dyd cause that his sonne should haue emperiall rule and be the onely Lord ouer all his enimyes It was a thyng which they could not conceiue in their hard harted harts mindes But in that they thought by their doinges to deface and foredoe for euer the name of our swéete sauiour Iesus Christ it is fallen out quyte to the contrarie and so altered and turned that there is none other name in the worlde where to or to which all creatures shall bowe but onely his So that where they did their best indeuour to spoyle all hys honour and dygnitie it is nowe so come to passe that therby he is most gloriously glorified hath greatest supremisie and a name aboue all names the greatest As it is of his owne wordes written by S. Iohn If I be lifted vp from or aboue the earth I shall and wil drawe vnto me all things Meanyng that by his death he should gayne and win the victorie and bryng all things in subiection vnder hym As hys enimyes and rebellious aduersaryes could not with all the force and power they had preiudise or hinder his glorification no more can those terrible tormentors that séeke to persecute kill vs let nor preiudise ours Bycause it is dependant vppon hym and altogither his owne for that the glorification of the head is also common to the members vnited and knit therevnto Euen as at those dayes the crosse and passion of our Lord did Annunciate and declare his glorie potencie and might to all beléeuers So the persecutions calamities and afflictions that we doe suffer also those which an innumerable number of our fellow members and bretheren haue suffered sithens haue bene bée shall be for euer publishers proclaymors and preachers of the same glory The enimies of the gospel aduised taught by the spirit of Sathan when they doe lead vs to the place of the execution of our death they doe tye our tonges an act as diuilish pagan like as possible bicause that we should neither speak nor yet that they woulde heare the laude and prayse of Iesus Chryste our maister but those tyinges or strings wherewith our said tonges be restrayned shall be tonges to talke and speake agaynst them as agaynst the greatest enimyes to the glorie of God and vse a new language wherby shall be vnderstoode and knowen the vertue and mightie power of the highest vnto them that he hath ordeined to health and saluatioÌ„ It is greatly necessarie that all be