he maketh vs knowe that we be his and adorneth vs with all the giftes of his holy spirite and putteth vs in hope of life euerlasting he sheweth manifestly by these that he doth not reward vs according to our deserts neither recompence vs as we haue deserued By nature therefore we doe nothing but offend yet for our vnhappines hee restoreth goodnes againe Wherefore it is sayde that there is great mercie with the Lorde true it is that sometimes hee correcteth vs for our wickednes but neuer chasteneth nor puniâ—heth vs according to our desertes no more then if he had not regarded them or as they had neuer bene coÌ„mitted seeing then that he remits wholy forgiues vs by which it is sayd that the mercies of the Lord is ouer all his workes and his goodnes reacheth vnto the cloudes not that it endeth there for it can not be contayned in the Heauen of heauens but because in this world nothing can seeme higher then Heauen which is raysed aboue the earth by an incomprehensible distaunce as it is said in the Psal 36. that the goodnes of God reacheth vnto the heauens therefore it is added afterward that it is excellent it is ouer our heades it doeth ouerpasse our sight it is altogether to be marueled at this is the height the breadth the deapth of the loue of Christ which is spoken of in the 3. Chap. to the Ephes It is marueylous high and wonderfull to behold it reacheth to the deepes beneath there is nothing which the spirite of man can Imagine to bee greater but onely Gods loue and bountie towardes vs who from the highest Heauens from his celestiall and glorious throne vouchsafeth to come to the bottomlesse Pit of the earth to drawe vs from it and to make vs ascendeâ— where hymselfe abideth it scatereth it selfe here and there in length infinite in breadth wonderfull so that among so many regions the people may feele the vertue of it in their hearts by the holy ghost and yet wee must knowe that God neuer vseth this clemencie to them which shewe themselues profayned and coÌ„temners of his grace but those which doe feare him and sheweth him honour and reuerence therein lyeth properly the greatnesse of the bountifulnesse of the Almightie This is againe shewed by a notable effect when it is sayde that hee casteth from vs our offences as for the wicked their malice doth not remoue but remaynes still lying euen at the gate as the Lord speaketh of the sinne of Cain Gen. Chap. 4. ver 7. concerning the offences of the faithfull although they be set before theÌ„ and that they doe present them selues oftentimes before the eyes of the soule as it happened to the Prophet when he said that his sinnes was continually before him Psal 51. ver 5. which is nothing vnto them but an exercise of true repentance to bring them vnto humilitie and after makes them more circumspect yet neuerthelesse in respect of Gods mercie they be all put away for he putteth them farre from him scattereth them abroade and casteth them behinde â—im neuer to be remembred againe Which is shewed by a comparison of the distaunce betweene the East and the West which is the farthest distaunce that can bee imagined vnder the Sunne euen so then as the East is farre from the West and the West farre from the East by a separation and great distance euen so farre GOD doth cast all our sinnes away from vs yea so farre that they cannot be perceiued or no more appeare theÌ„ that which is carried away from one ende of the world vnto the other And to confirme al that is spoken before God is in holy Scripture compared vnto a father which is mercifull vnto his children for as you see a father couer many of his sonnes imperfectioÌ„s neither vseth such rigour and seueritie towards them as he might but spareth them as much as possiblie he can In like maner also God who is our great and celestiall father is moued with all pittie compassion towards vs and readie to forgiue vs all our sinnes so that wee feare to offend him neither doe abound in our iniquities Psal 130. If thou O Lord shouldst straightly marke our iniquities O Lord who should stand before thee but mercie is with thee that thou maiest be feared Let Israel waite on the Lord for with the Lord there is mercie and with him is great redemption and he shall redeeme Jsrael from all his iniquities THere is none of vs which are not in daunger to fall into eternall ruyne and destruction if God should looke narrowly into our sinnes and offences to examine them in seueritie and execute a iust punishment for them for there is no man that could stand before his tribunall Seate nor bee able to iustifie himselfe by his owne righteousnesse Therefore Dauid in his prayers and supplications to the Lord desireth him not to enter into iudgement with him as he had deserued Psal 144. ver 2. neither may this seeme straunge or spoken without speciall purpose but it is the same in substance which the author of this Psalm speaketh of here which is done for our consolation and trust that forgiuenes of our sinnes only coÌ„meth from the Lord neither doth he take any heede of them therby to condemne vs but he sheweth himselfe gentle and mercifull to vs which made the Prophet in conclusion to say That because there is mercie with God therefore he should be feared And that this might not be done in himselfe onely he stirreth vp all sortes of men and euery state and coÌ„dition of nations to the due feare and true reuerence of his Maiestie thereby that high and lowe rich and poore one with an other might wholly giue themselues to serue him in thankfulnesse and heauenly melodie for the more he powreth on vs his bouÌ„tifull and mercifull liberalitie the more we are bound to him and ought to be much more desirous to serue him in holinesse and righteousnesse all the daies of our life So that the forgiuenesse of our sinnes is ioyned with the honor and glorie of GOD and our obedience which ought to followe his grace not onely particulerly but also generally among all true Christians For for this cause Dauid doth giue certaine assuraunce vnto the Catholicke Church of GOD vnder the name of Israel saying that the Lord would deliuer Israel from all his iniquities and purge them from all their sinnes although the Church be not without sinne during the time that it is in this earthly perigrination but hath wrinckles and spots subiect to many infirmities and transgressions by whom it is as it were made captiue and brought into bondage yet God will deliuer it continually out of such miserie and by his infinite mercie forgiue it not some faults onely but all her iniquities how great soeuer they bee and of what number soeuer Vpon this hope then the Prophet exhorteth the Church to trust in the Lorde hoping in him in time of oppression when
THE Consolation of the Soule being an assurance of the forgiuenesse of sinnes with the most notable promises of God conteined in holy Scripture both in the olde and newe Testament briefly expounded and applied as hereafter followeth With certaine examples woorth the bearing in minde touching the great mercies of God towards poore and miserable sinners When I am troden vnder foote thy mercies doth lift me vp againe Psal 94. Made by Iohn Chassanion and englished by H.S. of Greyes Inne Gent. Imprinted at London for Symon Waterson ⧠To the faithfull of the refourmed Church of Metz grace and peace through Iesus Christ our Lord. SEING it hath pleased GOD deare bretheren to make mee an Instrument wherby to declare his holy worde vnto you I thought it very needfull to present this little Booke wherein I entend not to teach any newe matter but to put you in mind of your saluatiō which you haue of long tyme knowne and doe daily heare to the end it may be the better rooted in your hearts And so much the rather seeing by this you haue at all tymes such meanes to reioyce and comfort your selues in God whereby we may gather very many good instructions in Gods schoole if we bee certainly perswaded of his grace and indeuour our selues both to obey him and to amend that we finde to be amisse in vs. Also we shall cōtinually lift vp our harts towards him that we may be partakers of his felicitie bountifulnesse the very ground of our saluation After which maner doe the children of God truely exercise them selues in meditation looke throughly into the vnspeakable goodnesse of him by whome they are saued through Iesus Christ euen with an vndefiled thought and hope Also it is requisite that there bee a true amendment of life agreeable both to the seruice obedience honor which we owe vnto him and to cal vpon him vnfaynedly All which are the chiefest points comprehended in holy Scriptures and here summarily spoken of for the confirmation of our faith and hope the full assurance wherof is as it were the foundation of all others cōsisting in the certaine perswasion which we ought to haue of the forgiuenesse of our sinnes to which end also principally the preaching of the Gospell doth attende by reason whereof S. Paule calleth it the ministrie of reconciliation How happeneth it thē that the Cleargie men in our companie by an holie and religious custome euery Sonday in morning prayers declare the grace of God that is to say the forgiuenesse of sinnes to all true penitent Christians beeing necessarie for euery one to knowe Certainly principally for this cause that all may bee perswaded that their offences bee forgiuen them before God and that they bee reconciled vnto him and receiued into his grace what iniquitie soeuer they cōmitted And this certaine perswasion ought to be stedfast and deepely rooted in our hearts chiefly in the tyme of Calamities and great affliction whereunto the children of God are continually subiect hauing the obstinate and peruerse worlde their enemie which will neuer agree with them being set forward and inflamed by him which from the beginning is a murtherer and an aduersarie to all mankinde and neuer leaueth in rest those that giue themselues to the true seruice of their god but doth procure vnto them all hinderances and lets that he can and continually assaults them with mortall warres compassing them with euilles roūd about strangely oppressing them when they doe protract tyme. It may seeme then that for a tyme God doth giue them ouer and that he is very angrie with them and that he would vndo them and that they be lost but they hauing this ful knowledge that by his infinite bountie and clemencie he doth receiue them into his mercie and quiet orders See how they are reuiued and comforted and their consciences in rest And to this end is the worde of saluation giuen vnto them by the which God doth promise to be mercifull vnto them If then such a simple promise bee sufficient to make them certaine of his loue towards them how much more will it be when al other promises doe aboūd It is therefore for this cause that I haue gathered here a certain number of most singuler notes of the holie Scripture which consequently are added which are taken from one and the selfe same spring which shal be like towers strōg places most high to defend vs against the terrible and perilous assaults of the deuill and to put off from vs all incredulitie and mistrust That which I present vnto you welbeloued brethren I dedicate it to witnesse the good affectiō that God hath giuen me towards you wishing that more and more you may be stedfast and conformable in the faith and certaintie of the fatherly goodwill of our God We cannot but alwaies hope well of such a gentle and gracious father which haue looked on vs a long tyme with his owne eyes and hath visited vs as his owne only by the true happy light of his word and by excellent Shepeheards of which some are already receiued into perpetual rest with the Lord others serue him yet happely in other places he hath established the ministrie of his Gospell among you which you inioye at this present by his inestimable bountie although the blustringes of the tempestes lately past haue brought into many and diuers places some straunge troubles and calamities This good God neuerthelesse hath alwaies care to preserue you in such extremities that you haue continuall occasion to giue him thanks the very tokens and witnesses of your faith which may appeare in that that you neede not greuously to seeke for the nourishment of your soules three long myles farre from your houses neither in painfull and sorrowfull waies Continue alwaies therfore in this zeale for the glory of God and in the confidence of his goodwill and mercie towards you vnto the ende I desire those which bee slouthfull to come into the pasture of the Lord to consider what he sayth in this place when he sayth that his sheepe follow him and doe heare his voyce Ioh. 10. And what he sayth in an other place He which is of God heareth Gods worde Ioh. 8. I doe warne them therefore with my brothers and fellowes to be most affected in it not to bee giuen so much to the loue of the world to their vanities to the end that they maye not depriue themselues before they be aware from the celestiall goods and riches which are euerlasting Deare brethren I pray to our God father that in houlding you alwaies vnder the shadowe of his winges he may cause you to profite more and more in his holy knowledge and continually to fortifie you in his seruice and to replenish you withal the gifts of his holy Spirite to his honor and glory to your consolation Your humble and affected brother in the Lord. Iohn Chassanion ¶ The Consolation of the Soule being
vertue that he can blot out our sinnes perticularly how many soeuer they be Iohn 1. Epist Chap. 2. ver 1. If any man sinne wee haue an aduocate with the father Iesus Christ the rightuous and he is the reconciliation for our sinnes and not for ours onely but also the sinnes of the whole world THere is none without sinne and consequently al are guiltie before GOD yet behold the Apostle witnesseth that the Lord Iesus Christ doth pray and make request for vs as it is sayd in the Epistle to the Romaines Chap. 8. and to the Heb. Chap. 7. which intercession betweene God and man was of such force and vertue that no others but he was found worthie and able to make vs vnderstande the gentle and fauourable goodwill of God the father for he dyed for our sinnes vndertooke to make an agreement and reconciliation for our misdeedes to God which excellent and worthy desert is not onely restrayned to some particuler person but reacheth to all generally that all might perceiue the loue of their Redeemer Iohn 1. Epist Chap. 3. ver 10. In this are the children of God knowne and the children of the deuill whosoeuer doth not rightly is not of God neither he that loueth not his brother and this is appoynted a reward for sinnes THis place is like vnto the place afore rehearsed contayning more fully the loue and mercifulnesse of GOD towards vs in that he hath brought vs againe vnto him by his welbeloued Sonne who gaue himselfe for vs. Of faith in Christ Ioh. Cap. 3. ver 16. God so loued the world that he hath giuen his onely begotten sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue life euerlasting THe beginning and first cause of our saluation is in GOD who in his mercie and fatherly loue saued vs. The second is in Christ who by the merite of his death passion redeemed vs the onely instrument and meanes to obtain such great good is by faith in Iesus Christ which is of such vertue and efficacie that by it man is reconciled vnto God by the free remission of sinne wherfore he cannot fall vtterly in as much as he is deliuered from eternall death and made partaker of an happie life Iohn Chap. 5. vers 24. Verely verely I say vnto you he that heareth my words and beleeueth in him that sent me hath euerlasting life and shal not come into condemnation but passeth from death to life THis is to confirme our selues in the assurance wee haue in Christ and in the certaine perswasion of his doctrine when as wee doe vnderstand that our faith resting in him is not founded vppon a mortall man but on the very and true sonne of God wherefore it is sayde that we are iustified that wee are sanctified in and by the bloud of Christ Iesus Rom. Chap. 3. vers 27. we be absolued from our sinnes neither can bee condemned any wise beeing so warranted by him which is eternall by whome we obtaine life and felicitie which continueth for euer Rom. Chap. 10. vers 9. If thou shalt confesse with thy mouth the Lord Iesus and shalt beleeue in thy heart that God raysed him vp from death thou shalt be saued HOw easie the way of saluation is vnto vs S. Paule sheweth in this place not vsing many words neither sending vs backe to the profound and deepe secrets of almightie God but giueth vs to vnderstand that by the grace of God which is in vs we are saued if so be we hould fast the faith not lightly in the Braine but rooted profoundly in the heart apprehending perfectly Iesus Christ which once died for our sinnes and rose againe for our iustification as it is in the 4. Chap. of this Epistle And although the confession of the mouth bee required which principally serueth for an outward testimony and a manifest declaration of the hope which is in vs yet especially wee must haue the heart lyne lye touched with a sure perswasion of faith whose mouth will not bee stopped Seeing that with the heart we beleeue and with the mouth declare our iustification as the Prophet saith in 116. Psalme vers 10. I haue beleeued and therefore I haue spoken Acts Chap. 10. ver 43. To him do all the Prophets giue witnesse that through his name all that beleeue in him might receiue remission of sinne IT is thē by the meanes of faith in Christ that we doe obtaine forgiuenesse of sinne if so be we assure and rest our selues wholy vppon the merrit and intercession of him following the predictions and writings not only of the Prophets but of those also which haue Prophesied in the vnitie of the same spirite whereby we attaine fully all the promises of eternall life by and through the meanes of Christ Iesus and let this be for a full confirmation of this Article Of Repentance FOr so much as the grace of God and saluation hath appeared to al men to the end we might giue ouer al vnfaithfulnesse and worldly desires and that we should liue iustly in all christianitie seeing we be bought by the bloud of the immaculate Lābe Iesus Christ and therefore ought to bee vnto him a peculiar people giuen vnto all good workes for this cause we must take great heede that we abuse not the great benignitie and long sufferance of God by continuing in sinne and iniquitie which is the only meanes to heape vppon vs his wrath and vengeaunce to our condemnation For whensoeuer we erre or fall into sinne whether it be by the imperfection of our nature or frailtie of our flesh sufficient meanes to heape the burning coles of Gods seueritie vpon vs if in iudgement hee should stand against vs yet we must not deferre from day to day but rent our heartes not our garments and in earnest contrition of our soules and sincere repenting by confessing our miserable estate and desirous to bee loosed from the heauie burden of our sinnes shewe all duetie and amendement of life For as saint Cyprian saith that the first degree of our felicitie is to commit no sinne so the second is to acknowledge our sinne committed Therefore whensoeuer we fall as who is not vncleane in the eyes of his Creator And the righteous man sinneth seauen times aday yet we must not lye groueling on the ground but rayse vp our selues by faith in the promises of God in the hope of eternall life assuring our selues that he will receiue vs to mercie and spred vpon vs his grace for he is our Shepheard and wee shall not want he hath placed vs as a signet on his finger and printed vs in the palme of his right hand so that none shall be able to plucke vs of or blot vs out of his remembrance but of his mercie he hath regenerated vs and made vs partakers of the inward washing sealed into vs in the outward Baptisme and grafting vs into the bodie of Christ by receiuing vs into his Church neuer to be hereafter excluded
an assurance of the remission of sinnes with the most notable promises of GOD conteyned in the holy Scripture as well in the old as new Testament briefly expounded and applied vnto the same IF hee to whome the forgiuenes of sinne is giuen froÌ„ whome sinne is put away bee happie as it is sayd in the xxxij Psalme Happie is the maÌ„ to whom God imputeth no sinne He needeth not to doubt but on the contrary parte he is vnhappie which is tyed and bound in sinne he must looke for none other thing but for his coÌ„demnation and ruyne onely Be it for a time he liues in ease takes his pleasure and altogether giues himselfe to delight though he be increased with honor and euery bodie doe loue and cheare him yet he is neuerthelesse vnhappie if he be not set at libertie by grace and forgiuenesse of his iniquities for sinne is a burthen so hard heauie that no man is able to beare it pulling downe euery one that is laden with it from whence it appeareth that some do bowe vnder it and falles into ruine and brings them selues into dispayre as it happened to Iudas Other being oppressed in such sort that they cannot scant receiue any comfort and rest I haue seene a man which hauing committed as himselfe doth confesse some great and notorious faults was so abated troubled in his spirite by the memorie of them that he did resemble a poore man which was indepted and condemned to a greeuous sufferance and shamefull death he did alwaies grone and sigh with the trouble and paine of his Soule feeling himselfe so guiltie and doubting of the mercies of God for the inormitie of his sinnes in such sort that he made not any account to eate any meate and refused to take any nourishment if hee had not beene carefully mooued thereunto by those which did keepe him companie his heart being so oppressed with dolor that sometimes he wished that his bodie might bee punished with Iustice and that hee might suffer some greeuous paine to make his torment lesse which hee thought hee had deserued in his soule Sometimes in his anguish he did require to bee comforted and receiued into the Church by publicke pennance but he was a straunger and did but passe away I haue seene an other which hauing a long time abused the true knowledge of God yet at the last had such remorse of conscience which did gnawe his heart so that he was constrayned to lye as sicke and out of breath See therefore how horrible heauie sinne is of it selfe from which whosoeuer is lightned though he bee neuer so poore miserable and dispised of the world or otherwise afflicted he is neuerthelesse an happie man The blinde man of this world doth not esteeme nor iudge of these things otherwise then by apparance of deceiptfull vanities and not in trueth as it appeareth daylie but the spirite of GOD doth teach the godly otherwise as it is afore sayd That man is then very happy that feeleth the grace of God to be such as to haue his sinne forgiuen him for then his coÌ„science is in peace and rest and he feareth not to perish neither hath he the iudgements of God in horror but assureth himselfe of his fauour and bountifulnesse which God is to be esteemed the greatest that a man can receiue in this mortall world Among the Sarasines those which haue not considered of thinges very narrowlie haue yet well knowne that it was a precious treasure not to bee troubled by any committed forfeite of which the most wittie and sufficient among them haue made a treatise which he calleth the quietnesse of the Soule but altogether ignorant of this poynt of the free forgiuenes of sinne as all other Philosophers not esteming any other rest of conscience but in vertue and integritie of life which is but an imagination of no value before God for this man is like vnto him which buildeth without foundatioÌ„ and would make a shew of that thing which is not For to come then vnto such blessednesse and to inioye so happie felicitie wee must knowe that GOD to whom we must giue an accompt is gentle and mercifull to whom wee ought to haue all our refuge being certaine that he will be quiet and mercifull towards vs neither imputing our iniquities but will forgiue vs them freely Then as the mâ—st sicke and lingering deseased haue more neede of remedies for to be helped and eased of their griefe and paine likewise also the most troubled soules which are tormented with sorrowe and anguish by feeling and acknowledging their greate sinnes dreading the anger and most feareful iudgement of God haue more neede of consolation and greater assurances of the mercie of God wherevpon their hope should be totally founded and rooted Who although some times they be debased by diuers temptations yet by the mercies of their God they neuer fall into any dissolation or confusion by dispaire although it happen that the most forwarde in Religion and in the feare of God haue to susteine many temptations of Sathan who doth often giue them hotte skirmishes and shooteth against them his poysoned and mortall arrowes for to abate their faith and to cast them into euerlasting distruction if it were possible for them so to fall and if they some times seeme to doubt being trobled by distrust and fearefulnes yet it neuer happeneth that they can fall vtterly from the trust which they once conceiued of the mercies of God Dauid was not without some anguish and perturbation of spirit when he cried My soule why art thou vexed and why art thou so disquieted within me But when he addeth by exhortation that it should hope still in God he declareth the stedfastnes and constancie of his faith wherein hee saith that he was shut vp from the sight of the Lorde it seemed that by the great aduersitie which hapned to him that God had cast him of and quite forsaken him yet he did not for all this leaue to call and to hope in him so that in the ende he was highly exalted And thus it happeneth oftentimes to the children of God finding them selues intangled with a gulfe of euils their hope seemeth to bee swallowed vp and drowned although in the end it freshly appeareth and lifteth vp the head and comming vnto it selfe againe wholy trusteth in GOD and resteth vnremoueable vpon his greate bountie and mercie in which onely they glade and comfort themselues and not by any vertue or desert which is in them aluding to that which is in the 9. Chap of Ieremie that he which glorieth may glorie in the Lorde that is in his blessednes and in his mercie In this point then consisteth our trust by the which wee must needes see what the foundation is and how farre it reacheth if so bee it bee firme and sure and because wee ought to bee certaine and resolued thereof for this cause wee will bring foorth the holy Scripture as wel of the Old
as Newe Testament which are most fit and notable promises of the grace and mercie of God for the forgiuenes of sinnes which beeing here set on a rowe one by another and placed as it were on a table all in sight it shall serue for the instruction of the poore penitent sinner and that in this wee may keepe some order we wil first shewe the testimonies which are apparant of the goodnes of God which is as it were the surest foundation and the first cause of all our hope In the second place we wil adde the causes which are as it were the matter and substance concerning the desert and intercession of our Lorde Iesus Christ the sonne of GOD then the causes of faith and repentaunce shall followe and finally that which belongeth to Inuocation and praier these are the poyntes and degrees by which the faithfull soule ought to goe vp to the throne and to the grace of God for to receiue the consolation and Spirituall health First therefore it must looke vppon the obiects of the loue and mercie of God and the benefites of Christ to haue therein a perfect knowledge then it must by Faith allie and whollie trust vpon him with a perfect consolation of God in calling vpon him it must I say perswade it self of the loue and mercie of God and after haue full assurance of the merites of Christ which caÌ„not be done without faith it is therefore requisite to vse this prayer which followeth Of the bountie and mercie of God Exo. Chap. xxxiiij WHen the Lord passed before Moses face hee cryed out The Lord the Lord strong mercifull and gracious slowe to anger abouÌ„dant in goodnes trueth reseruing mercie for thousands forgiuing iniquitie transgression and sinne not pardoning the wicked As God hath created the world mainteineth and preserueth it so doth he mainteyne nourish and giues vs health and prosperitie in this life wherein he shewes vnto vs his omnipotent and eternall power his wisedome and wonderfull foresight and his great bouÌ„tie but in that we haue offended him by our sinnes and iniquities yet he receiueth vs into his mercie againe reconciling himself to vs forgiuing vs our transgressions so that in this hee declareth vnto vs his clemencie and infinite mercie whereof he certifieth and giueth vs full assurance in his worde as he doth in this place to Moses saying that hee is not onely the eternall God almightie but also mercifull and gentle for to haue mercie and compassion vppon poore miserable sinners belongeth to God and in that he is of great patience he sheweth a manifest declaration that he neuer punisheth the wicked so soone as they offend but a long time staieth for their amendment before he makes them feele his wrath and indignation by which reason he accompteth himselfe to bee slowe to anger and of great patience And in the ende that none may thinke his mercie be either short or scant that it cannot suffice for diuers sinners he also addeth that he aboundant in benignitie shewing by the same that his bountie is so full that it can neuer bee emptied He is altogether infinite eternall and cannot be restrayned nor contayned in the heauen of heauens nor determined in the measure of any time it can neuer be stayed being a liuely flowing spring which cannot be dryed vp for most certaintie whereof he maketh meÌ„tion of his fidelitie repeating vp his promises by which he may assure vs that he will mercifull vnto vs wherein he sheweth himselfe alwaies to be true in that he is aboundant in benignitie and also faithfull in keeping promise how full of mercie he is he declareth in that which followeth that he is mercifull vnto thousands wherein wee may learne that he sheweth not his mercies vnto some little number or some particuler place but to many hundreth and thousands shewing by this word an infinite and the greatest number that can be expressed by which maner of speech diuersitie of ages and varietie of liues maye bee vnderstood as it is sayd in other places that he is mercifull gentle and faithfull in which words he expresseth that he is alwaies prone and readie to forgiue our sinnes and to pardon our misdeedes wherein we see that the true and proper effect of God is to haue forgiuenesse of our sinnes Then to the ende that none may think that he forgiueth some light offences onely he vseth diuers words which comprehende all kinde of sinnes not only naming the sinne whereby all offences are shewed but also the iniquitie which is done maliciously with deliberation and setled purpose when iniurie or hurt is wrought against others The meaning then of this worde transgression is a disobedience or rebellious action or intent against God which is a greeuous and horrible sinne which although of all others it be most detestable yet God doth here promise to make full remission and forgiuenes of sinne Let vs hold this then for a certaine and vnfâ—llible rule that there is no forfeite so great or transgression so monsterous but it is forgiuen by the meere mercie of God And wheras it is said in the end that he forgiueth none it is onely ment of those which are wicked and obstinate in their wickednesse and those which shall feele finally the seuere vengeaunce of God For so much then as he is named gentle it is to poore and penitent sinners which doe repent them of their sinnes committed so is he also termed a iust Iudge for to giue punishment to the hard and impenitent sinner to the ende that none should abuse his grace and clemencie ouer much Deut. Chap. 32. ver 4. Ye nations praise him praise him his people for he will auenge the blood of his seruants and will execute vengaunce vppon his aduersaries and will bee mercifull vnto his land and to his people MOses speaketh this here in the name and authoritie of GOD as a Prophet assuring the people of Israell that after GOD hath visited them with his rod and punished them with sudden and straunge calamities for their misdeedes he would also make punishment of their enemies and deliuer them from their miseries and tribulations being mercifull vnto the land that is to the inhabitants of the land The Children of Israell hauing purged themselues and made them cleane of their sinnes by Gods mere fauour and onely mercie that he might bee alwaies fauourable towards them and that forraine nations and straunge people might praise the children of God and haue them in estimation and accompt them happie in hauing the fauour of such a mightie God and that thereby others should haue occasion to reioyce together for so great and bountifull benefites froÌ„ the Lord. If then the Gentiles had receiued such ioye as to be partakers of so great happinesse we must needes esteeme this promise to pertaine to vs also and that continually though he doth afflict vs which is not but in good cause and iustly for to correct vs for our offences Yet he is